A/N: Sorry it took so long to update, life got in the way again. I had to come up with some filler scenes for this one since a lot of the episode focused on Endicott and his machinations which the Cartwrights wouldn't be privy to. I hope the new scenes don't slow the pacing down. Drop me a comment if it doesn't read right – or even if it does. I love to hear from my readers.
And of course, I don't own Bonanza or any characters, scenes, dialogue, etc from the canon episodes. Wish I did.
Edited 2-19-21 to add line breaks.
"Remind me why we all had to show up here when Endicott is clearly trying to manipulate Pa into doing something for him?" Annie sipped at her champagne and made a face, then handed the almost untouched glass off to a passing servant.
"Would have seemed funny if he didn't finagle an invitation for all of us since we're all in town." Joe downed his brandy. Hoss frowned at the both of them and shook his head.
"He could have saved himself the trouble." Annie glanced down at her long, satin gown. "I could have done without this." Joe cackled under his breath; she threw him a dirty look.
"And that'll be enough from the two of you." Ben slipped into the middle of his grown children, sipping at his own glass of brandy. "We've been here almost an hour, you're sure about Endicott?"
"Have you seen that face?" His eyes narrowed. "He looks like he's plotting something while he's in the middle of plotting something else." She paused. "If that makes sense."
"He does own most of the northern part of the state."
"Mr. Cartwright." The man – or should she say the devil – himself sauntered over, his slimy associate Mr. Broome hovering at his shoulder. He reached out to shake her pa's hand. "I was hoping I could have a few words with you, if I may."
"I see no reason we shouldn't, Mr. Endicott."
"Mrs. Wright suggests we use her study." The three of them vanished into the study, Endicott latching the doors behind them.
"Pay up," she said under her breath. Joe frowned.
"You said under an hour."
"I said an hour and a half."
"You –"
"Oh, Joe, pay up. It's only twenty bucks anyhow. Maybe it'll teach you to not bet against Annie." Hoss took another drink. Joe rolled his eyes and dug a double eagle out of his pocket. "What do you suppose he's after?"
"Why don't you ask her?" She took the coin and tucked it in her fancy beaded bag.
"With as many pies as he's got his sticky fingers in, it could be almost anything." They watched the door for the next few minutes. Then, it opened, and Ben came out, without his brandy glass, Annie noted. He stalked over to rejoin them.
"Ben." Judge Farraday hurried over. "Boys. Ms. Anne." They murmured polite replies. "You've talked with Mr. Endicott. I thought you might have something to tell me." Ben shook his head.
"No, John. I don't have anything to tell you. Mr. Endicott possibly has." The man's smile slid off his face.
"Judge Farraday." Annie glanced over at Broome. What was it about the man's face that made her want to punch him?
"Coming. I'll see you back in Virginia City, Ben. Good evening, Ms. Anne, boys." He hurried away and disappeared into the study.
"Let's go." Ben led them towards the front door.
"What did he want, Pa?"
"Mr. Endicott is increasing his investments in the state of Nevada."
"Property or –"
"People." Annie finished. Ben paused and gave them a concerned look.
"Both."
Back in their hotel suite, Annie sat on the sofa, her dressing gown swirling around her legs as she brushed out her hair from its fancy up do. "He's after the governor's office? With Farraday as his puppet?"
"That's what he said." Ben sat across from her in the arm chair. He uncrossed his legs and stared down at his glass of brandy. "There's nothing we can do about it now, I'll speak to John after we get home. Maybe he doesn't know what Endicott really is."
"And maybe he does." Joe pushed off the wall. "Maybe he wants the nomination bad enough he doesn't care." Ben held his hand up.
"No sense worrying about it tonight. We'll check out in the morning. Joe, wire Candy to meet us at the station with the horses."
"Right, Pa."
"It's time we all get some rest, we've got a long trip home ahead of us." Annie stood and gave him a hug before returning to her room. So, Endicott was out to ruin Nevada. Her grip tightened on her silver-backed hairbrush. That slimy toad wouldn't get away with it.
"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes." Candy leaned against the station wall as their bags were unloaded. "Nobody got abducted or fell into a doomed romance?"
"How about you get over here and help with the bags?" Annie laughed at the look on her twin's face.
"We were only in San Francisco for three days, Joe doesn't usually work that fast." Candy laughed himself and ambled over to collect the closest trunk.
"Everything went just fine, Mr. Cartwright. We did lose a couple calves to a lame wolf but the boys got it taken care of."
"Good." Ben laid a hand on his shoulder. "I'm glad I can count on you, Candy." He looked over their heads. "Leave Buck at the hitch rail, I need to speak to Judge Farraday before I head back to the ranch. The rest of you go on home."
"Sure thing, Mr. Cartwright." Annie bit her lip, but held her tongue. Now was not the time to make any comments concerning Endicott, or even Farraday. Besides, maybe he truly didn't know. They might be worrying for nothing.
And maybe Lake Tahoe would dry up tomorrow.
"So what do we do, Pa? We got plenty of people that will listen to us." Hoss leaned back against the fireplace, Joe sat on the arm of the sofa, and Annie perched on the other arm. "Just tell 'em the truth, Endicott's trying to steal the state of Nevada."
"And what do we do when they ask me to prove it?" Ben sighed. "I've got nothing."
"They been taking your word about things for years now. You're a delegate, you'll get a chance to speak at the nomination."
"And Endicott will simply tell them what he told Judge Farraday: that I came to him for support and he refused me."
"Giving Farraday the nomination," Annie said. Ben nodded.
"I'll do what I can, but without hard evidence …" He shrugged. "There's got to be a way."
A knock sounded at the front door. "Kind of late for calling, ain't it?" Hoss glanced at the clock. Joe went to answer the door.
"Good evening. Mr. Cartwright?"
"I'm one of them, what can I do for you?"
"My card, sir." Annie craned her neck to catch a glimpse of the man outside. He sounded too enthusiastic for this late at night.
"Welborn White, Hastings Hardware, satisfaction guaranteed. It's a hardware salesman, Pa."
"Well, have the gentleman come in." Joe shrugged.
"Right this way, sir."
"Much obliged." The salesman followed Joe over to the sofa, his blue hat coming off the second he saw her. "Evening, miss. I presume you would be Mr. Cartwright's lovely daughter?"
"I would." She tilted her head.
"Wonderful to meet you. And you must be Mr. Ben Cartwright, a pleasure, sir." They shook hands.
"You sell hardware?"
"Hastings. Best in the West by test," he quoted.
"I hope you haven't come out all this way just for us."
"Oh, no, you're the last of four ranches in this area."
"Because if you had, I'm afraid it would be for nothing. We've bought all our hardware from a company in Virginia City for several years now, and to be frank, there's no reason to change."
"Ah, that's how it goes, sometimes. I best be getting back to town then."
"Stay for a cup of coffee?" Hoss pushed off the wall.
"No, thank you." He turned for the door. "A city fellow like me gets awful nervous out after dark with all these wide open spaces." Annie smothered a snort. "Good night." Then he was out the door.
"Evening," Joe called after him.
"Good evening to you, young fellow." Joe shook his head and closed the door.
"Rather chipper, ain't he?"
"Why shouldn't he be? All he's got on his mind is hardware."
"I wish that's all I had on my mind." Ben rubbed the back of his neck. "Fourteen days until the convention. I'd better get some rest with all the talking I'm going to be doing in the next couple of weeks."
"Night, Pa," they chorused as he went up the stairs.
"Think we can beat him," Annie asked softly.
"Why shouldn't we? Bigger men than Endicott have tried to ruin us." She knew that, but there was something about Endicott that set her teeth on edge. It was his face, that nasty, smirking, scheming face. He thought he had everything tied up in a nice, pretty little bow.
He just hadn't counted on the Cartwrights.
A rifle boomed out in the yard; Annie and her brothers took one split second to exchange a horrified glance, then they were racing out the door. "Pa!" They ran to where Ben lay on the ground, blood dripping from his head.
"It just grazed him, he's still alive." Joe glanced around. "You see anything?"
"No." Annie's breath came in gasps. "Hoss, do you?" Their older brother shook his head.
"Let's get him inside. Hoss, grab his feet."
The next few minutes resembled controlled chaos, but finally, Ben was propped up against the back of the sofa, his head bandaged, and sipping brandy.
"Well, I think there are probably some men who might want to see me dead." He shook his head slowly, wincing as he did. "There's only one I can think of right now. Endicott." He took a breath. "That … that night in San Francisco … Mrs. Wright's. He threatened me with murder. I thought he was bluffing."
"You still believe that?" Annie snapped her mouth shut, but the words were already said. She looked down at her hands. Ben reached out and placed a hand on her knee.
"From what I hear of Endicott, he's certainly capable of anything." Hoss shifted on the coffee table.
"What about bushwhacking?" Joe leaned on the back of the sofa. "Would he risk a hanging?" Annie smothered a snort.
"Plenty of men you can hire to do the bushwhacking for you."
"So how do we prove it?"
"Don't get in my way," Ben intoned, staring off into the distance. "Those are the last words he said to me. Don't get in my way. I got in his way. I got in the way of the thing he wanted most: Farraday's nomination."
"He's not going to get away with it." Annie fisted her hands. Ben frowned, as though he'd come to a decision.
"Yes, we can. We can and we will."
"What?"
"Hoss, that bushwhacker, he wouldn't have any way of knowing if I was dead or not, would he?"
"No, I don't reckon there's any way he could."
"Alright then. One of you will go into Virginia City, and announce my death."
"What?!" Annie leaped off the sofa.
"What for?" Joe caught her shoulder.
"Doc Martin, he'll help. Talk to him first." Ben downed the last of his brandy in one swallow. "I'm going to fix Endicott once and for all."
Her black veil whipped around her face in the wind blowing off Lake Tahoe as the coffin full of rocks was lowered into the grave hastily dug beside her mother's.
One inch to the right, and this would all have been real. A shudder raced down her spine; her chin trembled. Looking around, she caught sight of all of their friends, grief and anger coloring faces stained by tears. She brought her handkerchief to her face and wiped her eyes, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks.
Roy looked like he'd aged a decade in the past week, poor Clem doing his best to keep the both of them upright. They needed to go home and sleep for several days, having been chasing down leads since the afternoon Joe had ridden into town with the news.
A hand slipped into hers and squeezed tightly. She looked over to Candy, his face lined with grief. It wasn't fair that they hadn't been able to tell him, but they'd needed his reaction to be genuine. It had helped that he was out checking the herd and hadn't ridden in until after the "body" was safely in its coffin.
Dirt thumped on top of the coffin and she shuddered again, a tiny gasp escaping. Joe looked over, then past her. "Candy, take her back to the house, please." She caught his eye and a silent question hovered. He held her gaze for a moment, then looked back to the grave.
"Of course." Candy gently took her arm and led her through the crowd. They had to pause every few steps as someone would squeeze her arm, or murmur comforting words. She bit her lip, offering them a watery smile in return.
"Annie." Roy stumbled over. "It's a darn shame, missy. Don't you worry none, I'll catch whoever did this, I promise. If it takes me the rest of my life, I will." His voice cracked. She took his hand.
"Thank you, Roy." He nodded and moved away. Candy helped her up into the buggy and took up the reins, pushing the mare into a trot. Over a mile passed in complete silence before Candy spoke.
"As soon as Joe gets back, I'll be leaving."
"Why?"
"I'm going to track down the killer." His face twisted. "Your pa was the first person who ever really cared about me." He swallowed hard. "It's the least I can do."
"Candy –"
"No. You're not talking me out of it. I can leave whenever I want, your pa agreed to that. I just … never expected this."
"You don't –"
"Annie." Her mouth snapped shut. "I owe it to all of you." They said nothing else until he pulled up in front of the house. He jumped out and reached up to help her down. Her skirt caught on the seat and she fell against him, losing her grip on the handkerchief.
A piece of onion tumbled from its folds and slid down Candy's vest. She froze, desperately hoping he hadn't noticed. She risked a glance at his face.
He had. A puzzled frown pulled his eyebrows together over his nose as he crouched to pick it up, turning the onion over in his hands. He looked back to her, confusion clouding his eyes. "Annie?" Her mouth went dry.
"Not here." She grabbed his arm – and the onion – marching them both into the house. Hop Sing darted out of the kitchen when the door slammed. She tossed him the onion without a word.
"Missy Anne, you –" He froze upon seeing Candy with her. "I bring supper soon." He disappeared as quickly as he'd appeared.
"What's going on?" Annie said nothing and proceeded to drag him up the stairs. Or she tried to anyway. "You can't cry for you own pa without an onion in your handkerchief?!" He jerked his arm free. "Or are you happy he's gone? Now this is all yours, isn't it?" He swore under his breath. "You know what? I'm gone. You don't even have to pay me for the last week."
"Candy!" She snatched at his vest. "It isn't what you think."
"Then what is it?" His voice was tight, riding the very edge of control and her heart beat fast. She'd seen hints of it before, but now it was on full display. Candy was a hard man, and a dangerous one to anyone he considered a threat.
Unintentionally, they'd just pushed him perilously close to turning on them.
He wasn't going to give her the time for long-winded explanations. She figured she had maybe thirty seconds before he turned tail and left forever. "Pa's not dead." He stiffened.
"Run that by me again, sweetheart." His tone cut deep. Joe'd called that one wrong, why wasn't she surprised?
"Someone shot at him, but their aim was off. One inch to the right and –" She swallowed hard. "Endicott wants him dead so he can get his tame judge in the governor's office, only we can't prove it. Pa set a trap."
"And you expect me to believe that?" Irritation flared.
"Ask him yourself," she spit and pointed down the hall. "Last door on the left." Eyes dark with emotion, Candy stalked past her and shoved open the door, freezing mere feet inside the room.
"Mr. – Mr. Cartwright?"
"I'm honored I mean that much to you, Candy." Her pa's dry tone slipped into the hall. "Don't be upset with them, I told them to wait. We needed your reaction to be as real as we could make it."
"Mr. Cartwright –"
"Oh, I know you can act, Candy, but every little bit helps when you're dealing with a snake like Endicott." Annie hurried up behind Candy and closed the door behind her. "Annie especially didn't want to lie to you, and it seems her fears were justified." Candy's face must have betrayed him; Ben held up a hand. "I know you wouldn't have hurt her, son. I suppose I didn't take into account how you would see it."
"I dropped the onion, Pa."
"I can see how that would have looked."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Cartwright."
"No need to apologize." Ben sighed. "Now, the important work falls to you."
"How?"
"You will be our eyes and ears until the convention begins in Carson City next week. Endicott cannot know I'm alive until the delegates take the floor."
"You can count on me, Mr. Cartwright."
"I know." Ben rubbed his hands together. "Now, does Hop Sing have supper ready?" Candy nodded slowly. "Good. I'm starved."
"I didn't – I just …"
"You went with what seemed to fit the facts as you knew them. There will be time to discuss this later, see to the buggy, will you?"
"Of course." Candy rushed from the room. Ben sighed after he'd gone.
"He's getting there. Slowly, but he's getting there."
"I knew we should have told him."
"He's got to learn to trust us, Annie, whether it makes sense or not. Remember Fillmore? If he'd wanted that payroll, there was nothing stopping him from shooting Candy right then. He can't keep going off half-cocked all the time." Ben worked his hands. "One of these days he's going to make a mistake and get himself killed." Her mouth went dry again and she nodded slowly, staring down at her shoes, noting the dust on her skirt hem. "Run along and get changed, we've got work to do."
"Yes, Pa." She left the room, closing the door carefully behind her, and hurried down to her own room at the head of the stairs. She stripped off the veil and hurled it on the bed, followed quickly by her gloves. Slowly, she sank onto the edge of the bed, her mind replaying the moments on the stairs.
How could he have thought – even for a second – that they would be happy if it had really happened? How could he have believed her to be faking? Wasn't nine months long enough see?
It hurt that he'd thought her reasons for the onion were selfish, it hurt a lot. She wanted to run out to the barn and demand he explain just how he'd jumped to the conclusion he had. But why should she? He ought to know her better than that by now, let him explain himself.
Annie pushed off the bed and dug in her dresser for something more comfortable to wear.
"Famed Westerner Ambushed!" Ben shook his head and laid the paper aside. "Coroner's Verdict: Murder! All Nevada Seeks Assassin! Western Leaders Attend Cartwright Funeral." His eyebrows rose. "Joseph Cartwright named Delegate." The Carson City paper joined the rest in a haphazard stack on the bed. "I just can't get used to reading my own obituaries." Joe smothered a cackle. Annie rolled her eyes. "All of this fills me with a great deal of respect." He looked up. "I had no idea I was such a wonderful person."
"Pa, you don't suppose some of them fellers might be stretching it a little?" Hoss said. Joe giggled. Annie elbowed him in the ribs and he threw her a dirty look.
"I'm sure they were. I hate to pull this kind of a trick on some very fine people."
"They'll understand once you can explain, Pa." She hoped. If Candy's reaction was anything to go by, it might take more than I'm sorry to fix things.
"I hope so." A knock came at the bedroom door and they all froze. Joe stood and went over.
"It's me." He opened it and stepped back, admitting Candy, saddle bags draped over his shoulder.
"Another batch of mail. How's he doing?" His voice was stiffer than it would have been before. But either Joe didn't notice, or pretended not to.
"He's fine, ate a bigger lunch than Hoss."
"Does more complaining than any corpse I ever been around." Hoss said from his place at the foor of the bed. Annie rolled her eyes.
"And how many corpses have you been around, big brother?" Ben sighed.
"I wish you wouldn't talk about me as if I weren't here." Joe ducked his head.
"Sorry about that."
"There's a lot of excitement in town." Candy looked directly at Ben. "They found the bushwhacker."
"They did?"
"Coffee thinks so, it's a man named Briggs."
"Briggs?" Ben looked thoughtful. "No, I don't know anyone named Briggs."
"Figures." Annie tugged on the end of her braid. "Endicott brought in a hired gun."
"He may be a hired gun, but he looks more like a saddle tramp. His horse had a nick in one of his shoes. The sheriff found hoof prints that match it near the barn. And a rifle cartridge."
"Has he confessed?" Candy shot a look at Hoss.
"Not yet. But he had two hundred dollars in his pocket. He admits not having worked for three months, but he claims he won it in a poker game."
"Should be easy enough to prove if it's true."
"Not so easy. It was a two handed poker game in a hotel room, no witnesses, and the loser left town."
"Convenient," Joe said.
"Sheriff Coffee is convinced he's got the right man, so's the prosecutor. Trial starts tomorrow." Hoss' head jerked up.
"Tomorrow? Rushing things ain't they?"
"Well, Mr. Cartwright was a very important man." Candy slanted their pa a look. "The town's in an ugly mood, they've got a rope, a gallows, and they're looking for somebody to hang." Ben heaved in a deep breath.
"That sure changes things."
"That convention starts in five days anyhow," Hoss tried to reassure them. "Ain't no way they can finish that trial up by then."
"I wouldn't count on it." Candy spared him a short glance before returning his attention to Ben. "Anything you want me to do, Mr. Cartwright?"
"Just keep your ears open for now. Let us know what happens with the trial."
"Of course." He turned and went out without another word, not even looking at anyone else. Joe's eyebrows rose.
"He's still mad, isn't he?"
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Annie tossed her braid over her shoulder. "I told you he about quit when I dropped that stupid onion. I was afraid he wouldn't give me time to say anything before he took off."
"Don't you three start fighting, I won't have it. We have enough on our plate already."
"Sorry, Pa." Annie stood and swept from the room. She'd known it was bad idea to keep him in the dark. Now they had a rift just when they didn't need that extra distraction. That convention couldn't get here soon enough.
"Candy, take Annie into town for the trial. They'll be far less likely to badger her with questions than they would the boys, especially with you hovering at her shoulder the entire time."
"Yes, sir." He didn't look pleased about it, and she couldn't blame him. Things had been stiff between them ever since the onion, the easy friendship that had built up dissolving into this awkward, stilted … whatever it was. His hands worked the brim of his hat. "We best be going then. After you, Ms. Cartwright." She threw him a dirty look and stomped out the front door, clambering into the buggy before he could offer to help her up. If he would have, that is.
They didn't even look at each other on the way into Virginia City. Finally, Annie had had enough of the uncomfortable silence. "Would you have taken my hand if you'd known he wasn't dead?"
"What about it?" He didn't look away from the road.
"Do you think we like pulling this trick on our friends?"
"You had no problems lying to me."
That. Was. It.
Annie shot across the seat and snatched the reins from his hands, yanking the mare to a skidding halt in a cloud of dust. "Have you lost –"
"Shut. Up." He actually swallowed hard, the buggy rocking from the sudden stop. "I suggest you get rid of the burr wedged under your saddle before we get to town and someone is affronted because you're acting like an ass to someone who just lost her pa."
"You could have told me."
"You wouldn't have dared take my hand if you knew it was a ruse. Don't you get how strong a statement that made? It was even mentioned in a few of the papers, Candy! To a man like Endicott, hired hands are just that, they don't become friends, much less dare to comfort the only daughter of their deceased employer in public. It was a brilliant move, one that probably sold it better than anything we could have said or done."
"You could have –"
"It wasn't my choice to keep you in the dark, I told them all you could carry it off, no matter what, but Pa especially wanted that extra emotion he was betting you carried. And it worked, Candy, it worked perfectly. You want to be mad at us for that, go ahead." She crossed her arms, still holding the reins. "While we're at it, I'm mad at you for thinking I'd be happy Pa was dead."
"That's not what I –"
"'Are you happy he's gone?' Isn't that what you said?"
"But I didn't –"
"Didn't what?"
"I didn't mean it like that." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I – I don't know what I meant, really. I just couldn't figure out why you'd need to use an onion."
"I can't cry at the drop of a hat. I hoped I could just think about how I would feel if it had been real, but I wasn't taking chances with the stakes this high." Silence lingered for several minutes after she finished.
"I'm still sore, you know," he finally said. "I guess I can see where you're all coming from, but that doesn't stop me from feeling like …"
"Like?"
"Never mind. Can I have the reins back now so we can get to town before the trial starts?" Wordlessly, she handed him the lines. There was something there he wouldn't give voice to, and sooner or later she'd dig it out, but he was right. They didn't have time right now, as much as she'd like to uncover the secrets he still carried locked up inside.
"I never seen a man convicted so quick on circumstantial evidence before." Candy stepped out of the court house, turning his hat over in his hands. Annie sighed.
"You saw the way everyone was looking at the jury. If they'd have found Briggs innocent, he'd have been tarred and feathered."
"Or worse." They made their way back to the buggy.
"I've never seen them hang a man so quick. Tomorrow? It's never been set that fast before." Annie tugged her gloves off and stuffed them in her reticule.
"I'm no expert on hangings, but I don't know what else Judge Farrady could have done. Much longer, and they'd burn down the jail with Briggs in it."
"Let's get back to ranch, Pa's got to hear this. We may not have a choice any more. He –"
"Anne, honey!" She froze in her tracks as the banker's wife hurried over, clasping her hands in a tight grip. "You must feel so much better now that that vile man is going to hang. If you and your brothers need anything, anything at all, you just send someone for me, you hear?"
Candy stepped forward, carefully removing her from the woman's clinging hands. "I'll make sure she does, ma'am. Right now, I'm under strict orders to get her back to the Ponderosa. Joe's being overly cautious I suppose, but he is the boss now, you understand."
"Oh, of course, Mr. Canaday. I wouldn't want to hold you up. I'll be out later this week unless you need me sooner, dear." She hurried away, leaving Annie gritting her teeth. Candy helped her into the buggy and took up the reins.
Just outside town, he whistled softly and shook his head. "Nosy biddy, isn't she?"
"She means well, I suppose. Faster, Candy. This changes everything."
"I sure didn't think they'd rush through that trial so quickly." Ben paced in his bedroom. Joe looked up from his spot next to the dresser.
"All we needed was one more day," he scoffed. "One day." Annie sighed.
"What do we do now?" Joe's head came up.
"The governor." Hoss perked up.
"He could stop the hanging."
"Yeah. He would. I'd have to show myself to him. And Endicott would know, one whole day before I want him to. The only thing I've got going for me is the surprise of showing up at the right time." He paced back to the bed. "The convention opens tomorrow morning, what time?"
"Ten o clock." Hoss looked up.
"What time is the hanging scheduled for?" Annie sighed and looked down at her hands..
"Ten in the morning." Ben rubbed the back of his neck, then looked up.
"We'll ride into town after dark and get Judge Farraday to grant a stay of execution." Hoss stood up, a worried frown creasing his face.
"He's Endicott's man."
"Mr. Cartwright." Candy, silent until now, pushed off the wall and sauntered over. "I don't see how that's going to help."
"What other choice do we have?" They all looked at each other in silence, conceding the point. There was nothing else they could do, not unless they were willing to let a man hang for a murder that hadn't been committed.
"I thought you were a ghost when you walked in." Farraday looked worse for wear and in definite need of something stronger than beer as he paced the office at the rear of his house. "I thank God you're alive."
"So do I."
"But this … Ben, your accusations are wild, totally without foundation." Ben sighed and Annie shifted her position against the wall.
"I'll go over it again. Sam Endicott hired an assassin to kill me."
"Alright. I believe there was an assassin. I don't believe Sam Endicott hired him."
"Who else would have?" She pushed off the wall before her brothers could get one word out. Farraday studied her.
"I think your father will admit he may have other enemies than Endicott."
"But who else would want me dead now, at this particular time? Just before the convention."
"It's conjecture, supposition!" Farraday turned back, stabbing a finger in the air in front of Ben's face. "Can you prove any of these things in court?" And he wasn't going to listen.
"Not at this time."
"Then your accusations are slander! Mr. Endicott could sue you for everything you own and win."
"I know that. Given time, I think I can force Mr. Endicott to expose himself."
"I'll never believe Endicott had anything to do with it."
"If Pa didn't believe it, why do you suppose he pretended to be dead?" Hoss said sharply.
"To get even with Endicott."
"For what?" Joe glared at Farraday; Annie resisted the urge to hurl one of those law books at him.
"Endicott backed me instead of him."
"Are you that deluded? Pa never wanted to be governor! You're his friend, you ought to know that." The urge was back, and much stronger. If Farraday didn't believe it, how could they expect any of the other delegates to take their side? The judge ignored her outburst, spinning back to Ben.
"Endicott said you came to him asked for his support!"
"You've known my father a long time, Judge, have you ever known him to lie?" Joe's voice could have cut steel. Farraday heaved a sigh.
"Alright, he exaggerated."
"How?"
"John." Ben stood and walked over. "Haven't you wondered why I refused to back you?"
"You made it quite clear you thought I'd be bad for the state."
"Not you, Endicott. If you're elected, you'll be in his debt. Then he'll ask you for a small favor for one of his friends, nothing important, just a matter of executive prerogative. The next favor will be for him, only it'll be bigger, and the one after that will be bigger again and you won't be able to stop him. Or stop yourself."
Farraday's face blanched bone white, then flushed crimson. "Get out!" They all looked at each other. He wasn't going to do it. He stalked back to his desk and sat down with his back to them. "Get out and leave me alone."
"You going to force me to show my hand, now?" Ben crossed the room and leaned against the back of Farraday's chair. "John, do you really think I would use my own attempted murder in self interest? That I would play this kind of trick on all my friends? If I'm wrong, if Sam Endicott is innocent, by tomorrow night, I'll be the laughing stock of Nevada, and you'll be governor." Not very likely in her opinion. "But suppose I'm right, just suppose I'm right. I came here to save Briggs from hanging." He crossed in front of the chair and leaned down. "But if Endicott finds out about this, he'll announce to the world that I'm alive and guilty of the dirtiest political hoax ever pulled in this state. If you issue that stay of execution now, without giving any reasons, you'll give me time to prove to you, and everybody, that Endicott is what I've said he is. If I'm wrong, you win. If I'm right, you lose, but you'll have done the state a great service." He straightened. "This is the biggest decision fo your life, John." Farraday's head came up and the two men stared at each other in silence.
Ben turned away first and motioned them to the door. Annie left last, looking back to see Farraday sitting in his chair, staring at the desktop. He better do the right thing, or all of this would be for nothing.
Carson City had certainly put its best foot forward, Annie noted as she and Joe hurried across the square towards the convention building. They must have spent a fortune on bunting and streamers. Candy waited in front of the building, shaking hands with an older man she almost recognized. Where had she seen him before? He was a rancher, she was sure of that.
"Later, Jack." Candy smiled at them; if he was still sore, it didn't show today. "Jack van Buren, delegate from Tonopah. I used to work for him." He shook his head. "According to him, it's all but over, the floor vote's going to be a formality."
"Farraday," Joe spit.
"That's what the man says."
"That's what we heard." She threaded her hand through Joe's arm, hyper aware they had to look the picture of grieving children attempting to hold together their father's empire.
"There's something else you may not have heard, your name being Cartwright. Endicott and Broome are talking to key delegates in the hotel, helping them to make up their minds."
"Only talking," she said acidly. "I'm shocked."
"Yeah, we heard that, too." The three of them glanced over at the towering facade of the Cattleman's Hotel. "We probably ought to get back to Pa. He's not as worried since Farraday signed the stay of execution, but still." They headed inside, stopping a few times along the way for other delegates to offer condolences.
"Terrible, just terrible. Why would that man want Ben dead? It makes no sense." Zeb Williams shook his head. "At least the three of you have each other. And you've got Candy, there."
"We'll be fine, Mr. Williams," Joe said softly.
"It's such a shame Ben will never see his only daughter marry." Annie sniffed and brought her handkerchief to her face, wiping her eyes.
"It is terrible, Mr. Williams." She sniffed again, a tear sliding down her cheek. "But he will know." Zeb smiled sadly.
"Yes, I can't imagine the Good Lord denying a man a front row seat at his daughter's wedding." He shook Joe's hand, then squeezed hers gently. "I'll catch you later."
They were halfway up the hotel stairs before Candy leaned over and whispered low in her ear, "I suppose you raided the vegetable bin again?"
"I told you I can't cry on demand," she whispered back. "Given how many people are here, and the likelihood of at least one of them mentioning Pa's death, it seemed a wise move." They were at the door to their room before he could answer. Joe knocked twice and Senator French opened it, saw them, and quickly ushered them inside.
"Good to see you. I was just telling your father that I'm complimented he chose me." Ben looked away from the window.
"I had to pick someone I could trust, Senator."
"I wish I could be of more help. I believe everything you've told me, but not all the delegates know you as well as I do."
"And I can't prove a word of it."
"Not yet," Annie insisted. "He'll make a mistake, he's got to."
"But will he make it in time?" Senator French crossed the room to stand by Ben at the window. "You know that whoever controls the key delegates will win this battle."
"I know." Ben sighed. "All we can do now is wait."
"And pray Farraday didn't wire Endicott about the stay of execution." Annie sat down hard on the bed. "If he did –"
"We'll know soon enough." Ben glanced down at his watch. "It shouldn't be too much longer before –" A knock interrupted him. Senator French hurried over and cracked it open. Jim Porter stood in the hallway.
"I think it's about time you got down there, Senator."
"Thanks, I'll be right down." he closed the door and they exchanged looks. "Well. Good luck." they all stood and made their way into the hall, careful to keep Ben in the middle of the group.
"Where's Endicott?"
"The ballroom."
"Lead the way." As they got closer, voices drifted out into the hall, one voice in particular setting Annie's teeth on edge. Endicott.
"I now speak for Ben Cartwright. I read to you from a letter that he wrote me, the day before an assassin's bullet ended his life. I can think of no man better fitted to govern Nevada, than our mutual friend, Judge John Farraday." Rage scorched its way through her veins. How dare he?
"Gentlemen." She saw Endicott freeze, and the look on Broome's face fall flat as they swept into the ballroom. "Ben Cartwright never wrote any such letter." Furious whispers overtook the room. Endicott flushed blood red, shooting dagger-like looks at Broome, who looked equally confused and quietly seething. Annie bit back a smirk. The crowd parted like the Red Sea to let Ben reach Endicott. "Yes, I'm alive." Now Endicott was the one seething, though she wasn't convinced he hadn't been already. "I'm very much alive, Mr. Endicott." Ben turned to face the crowd of delegates.
"I have never written a letter to Sam Endicott. I have never put any recommendations on paper." The delegates whispered among themselves. "Mr. Endicott has lied to you. He is not my friend, or yours and he is certainly not a friend to the state of Nevada. I told him I would not support Judge Farraday. And when I told him I would support none of his nominations, he hired that assassin to kill me."
It looked like they had them, if not completely believing it, mostly believing it. They could work with that. She looked over at Joe. He smiled before turning back to watch their pa in action. The whispers in the room rose to a muted roar. She looked back at Endicott and saw a nasty smile pulling at his mouth.
"I'd like to see that letter." Ben held out his hand and Endicott's smile faded.
"Of course." He handed it over reluctantly. Ben shook his head.
"This isn't even a good forgery." Endicott cast Broome a dark glare which she took to mean he'd been responsible for the letter, if not personally, at least finding someone to do it. And he'd failed. Did he enjoy "accidental" deaths as much as his employer liked handing them out? "This is not my signature."
"Now, gentlemen." Endicott scrambled to salvage what he could. "Ben Cartwright could, or could not, have hired the unfortunate man who was hanged in Virginia City this morning to play the role of assassin. But the blame for that poor wretch's death, must be forever on the conscience of Ben Cartwright."
She held back the urge to laugh in his face. They had him! Farraday hadn't told him. Endicott threw Ben a smug look. "A human sacrifice for political gain." The crowd fell silent; it was time for the ace in the hole.
"Gentlemen, there was no hanging in Virginia City this morning." Endicott looked stunned, the smug smile slipping from his face. "That man, in jail, is alive." Whispers took over again. "And the stay of execution was ordered by Judge Farraday himself." The room buzzed. "Now, the moment of decision. On the one hand, a governor who has served us honorably and well, who deserves our continued support. On the other hand, a puppet, controlled by Mr. Endicoot and Mr. Broome." Who both looked like they'd swallowed a gallon of vinegar. "Two scoundrels who've corrupted everythign they've ever touched. Who will stop at nothing, not even murder, to get what they want. The future course of the state of Nevada will be decided today in this room. Now, gentlemen, you can let Endicott and Broome loot and destroy our state, or you can stop them in their tracks. Your vote is the only weapon you need." The room buzzed again, and Ben turned to leave.
"Hold up, Ben." Porter stopped him. "I'll be proud to walk on the convention floor with you." Ben smiled and they shook hands.
"Come on." Several other delegates followed them out the doors. On the street, people stopped and stared as Ben made his way to the convention building. Annie grinned, a laugh escaping when Zeb Williams dropped the sack of grain he was loading into his wagon.
"Ben!"
"It's Ben Cartwright!"
"Cartwright's alive!" Her pa acknowledged most with a wave or a promise to talk later. He disappeared into the convention hall with the other delegates, more drifting past them as the last of Endicott's "meeting" broke up. If they were lucky, the snake would choke on his rage. After killing Broome for his failure of course.
The three of them entered the convention hall and found seats near the front with other delegates' families. Candy stepped back; she grabbed his sleeve and held on with a sweet smile that promised weeks of riding fence in the summer heat if he didn't put his tail end in a chair and sit. He threw Joe a nervous glance. All Joe did was giggle and turn to face the front. Candy sighed and sat down. Annie let go and smoothed her dress.
Someone called the convention to order and the nomination began.
"Well, Ben, how does it feel to win on the first ballot?" Senator French left the hall with them.
"I'm glad the governor was renominated. Farraday withdrawing his name sure helped a lot. How do I feel? I'm glad it's all over."
"Farraday had a lot more integrity than I gave him credit for." Joe sighed.
"Shame it took a man like Endicott to bring it out," Annie finished. The senator shook his head.
"How do you handle it, Ben? I'd have gone nuts before their tenth birthday."
"Where do you think all this gray hair came from?" They paused in the street to let a stage pass. Candy nodded at the hotel.
"Looks like Endicott has given up the ghost." Men loaded his bags onto a wagon while Endicott stood on the porch, watching impassively. Ben shook his head and led them past the wagon and up the hotel steps. A crash sounded and they turned. Annie's jaw fell open.
There was a hand sticking out of that trunk.
Joe and Candy crouched next to the trunk. Endicott and Broome exchanged nervous glances. Joe looked up.
"The hardware salesman." Everything clicked. It looked like he'd underestimated Endicott, or simply got too greedy. Maybe both.
"Candy. Get the sheriff." He took off at once. Endicott and Broome slowly walked into the hotel. Joe stood, hand on his gun, and followed them. Ben lingered a moment longer, staring at the trunk, before he motioned for her to join him, and they went inside.
Endicott had come so close – literally an inch away – but they'd stopped him, and he wouldn't get another chance. A discarded newspaper caught her eye. The late Ben Cartwright? More like the late Sam Endicott, once a jury got through with him.