A/N: And we're back with another canon episode in Queen High. I decided to throw Annie in the middle of the two as kind of an instigator in this one. I hope it reads true to character. Please read and review. I don't own Bonanza, only my OC. I'm trying to keep these short from now on so you can get right to the story. Enjoy!
Fixed line breaks 2-20-21
"You drew two cards, huh?" Joe flicked a glance up from his own cards. Candy threw him a sideways look and a half smile.
"That's right."
"Oh. I'll see you and raise you ten." He tossed a couple bills into the center of the green felt. "Up to you, Charlie."
And that hadn't taken long. Annie huffed under her breath and shook her head. Three weeks after he was shot in the back, he's playing a marathon poker game. He couldn't be comfortable sitting there like that. She'd have gotten him a pillow, if it wouldn't have offended his manly sensibilities in front of the rest of the players – his words, not hers.
Couldn't show any weakness, even when it had nothing to do with his cards. She was sure at least one person in that saloon had been shot before and would understand.
One by one, the other players folded. Except one. "And up another fifty." Candy almost smirked. He had that look about him of a cat with fresh cream.
"And another fifty. Shower down, gentlemen."
"What, what are you practicing to be a burglar betting that kind of money on a two card draw?" Joe burst out.
"My hot streak got you a little nervous?"
"Mm-hm. Yes." Joe shook his head and dropped his cards. "Forget it."
"You're gonna quit with all that money in your pocket?" Joe gave him that familiar look they'd all seen before.
"And it's going to stay in my pocket the way your luck's been running." Candy pointed a finger at her brother.
"That wasn't my fault."
"Mm, true. But your luck was still bad." Annie closed her eyes and muttered under her breath. "Say something, sis?"
"Nothing important." Joe did have a point when it came to Cartwright luck – or lack thereof. Exactly why they needed to get out of this poker game and head home before they lost all the money they'd been paid for those dozen horses.
Candy shrugged. "Well, Mr. Beggs, there's just two of us left." He grinned that disarming smile. "What's your pleasure?" The man thought a moment, then dug into his coat pocket.
"See you and raise you one thousand dollars." Her eyes bugged out of her head. He had to be joking. Candy laughed and the saloon erupted in whispers. He reached out and picked up the paper Beggs had put in the pile.
"What's this?"
"You know the Lost Creek mine and stamp mill?"
"What I hear, that mine played out a long time ago."
"It is, but the stamp mill's still in good shape, or will be as soon as Ludwig finishes the repair job." She and Joe traded glances. "What you got in your hand is the stamp mill, and it's worth a sight more than a thousand dollars." Candy studied the deed, then looked at Joe, who shook his head.
"Doesn't take much of a stamp mill to be worth a thousand dollars."
"It's a fair bet, then?"
"Uh-huh." Candy looked thoughtful, then handed the deed back.
"Mr. Beggs, do us both a favor and put this back in your pocket."
"Either see it or throw in your cards," the man replied. She heaved a sigh as Candy shrugged and turned back to Joe, who had that blankly amused look on his face again.
"I've only got about five hundred." He grinned. "If you give me that five hundred in your pocket, I can call him." Joe chuckled.
"You want me to loan you the five hundred I got for my horses –"
"Our horses," Annie snarled. She'd done her share of breaking those colts. Joe held his hands up and gave them both a tight smile.
"Our horses," he amended. "That is earmarked for the bank?"
"Loan nothing. I want you to buy half my bet, then when I win the mine, we'll be in business, we'll be partners."
"We're going to win the mine and we'll be partners," Joe repeated in that amused tone he was so good at. "What makes you think you got him beat?" Candy held up one finger and carefully showed them his cards.
"This." Annie watched as they fanned out, revealing a queen, jack, ten, nine, and eight, all of hearts.
"Oh." Joe closed up the cards and looked away. Annie shook her head. He was really going to do it. Granted, a straight flush was good, but it could still be beaten. Joe dug out the money and tossed it into the pot.
Candy drew in a breath. "Well, let's see it." Beggs laid down his cards.
"Full house, kings and queens." Joe popped his mouth and she sat back, chin in hand, as Candy's grin widened.
"Queen high, straight flush," he announced with pride. The saloon buzzed. "Well, partners, we're in business." He laughed, and raked in his winnings.
"Oh, Candy?" He looked up and she smiled sweetly. "What do you know about stamp mills?"
"About what?"
"That's what I thought."
"I have a feeling we're going to wake up tomorrow regretting this," Joe said dryly.
"You're going to regret it," she corrected. Candy chuckled.
"Nah." Her brother shrugged and leaned back in his chair, hat tipped over his face. Annie chewed on a fingernail and shook her head slowly. At least it wasn't a stolen horse, a shady deal, or able to shoot at them.
Aside from moving parts that could kill or maim if they got too close, how much trouble could it be?
An hour later, they rode out to get a look at their new acquisition. Annie pulled Reno up and studied what she could see of the mill and its works.
"There it is," Candy said. Joe grinned.
"It looks really good from here, partner."
"First thing we got to do is get a crew of men, about twenty or thirty."
"What for?"
"To work on these roads, get 'em in top shape."
"What's the hurry?" Joe threw her a look and she shrugged. It wasn't her deal.
"Once we get the mill running, we'll have ore wagons coming in here from all directions, day and night."
"Wait, wait, wait, wait. Let's get the mill started, then we'll take care of the roads."
"Well, yeah, that's what I meant." Annie made a face and stared down at the mill. A gun shot rang out, followed by another, and all three of them exchanged looks, then kicked their horses into a gallop. They reined up near the works and scrambled for cover, rifles in hand, returning fire as fast as they could work the levers.
"Joe! Annie! Candy! What are you doing here?" She looked up and found Ludwig perched on the staircase above them.
"We came to help," Joe hollered back.
"Why don't you come sooner?"
"Good old Ludwig, got a disposition like a bear with a thorn in his paw," she said with a snort, making Candy laugh.
"Hey, who we got out there?" Her brother called.
"How should I know?" Ludwig replied, and she rolled her eyes. Generally, if someone was shooting at you, you knew who it was and why. "Somebody don't like stamp mills, I guess." Something flew through the air and her blood iced.
"Dynamite!" Annie threw herself flat against the earth as an explosion blasted rocks and debris into the air on the other side of the works. Joe and Candy jumped to their feet, but didn't shoot as the men were already behind cover, and quickly headed out of range.
Why was it always dynamite?
Joe started to walk towards Ludwig, but Candy hung back and helped her off the ground. "You okay?" She brushed dirt off her shirt and squinted at the lingering dust cloud.
"It wasn't flying at me, so that's a win."
"That makes two of us." They ambled over to the works as Ludwig came down the stairs.
"Why you no shoot? Those men try to blow up my mill!"
"Simmer down, will you, Ludwig? They're gone." Joe wiped his face. "Get so excited you'll blow yourself up." Candy chuckled and checked his rifle. Ludwig clapped him on the back.
"Come. Let me repay you with a little schnapps." He walked away towards what looked like the mill office and they followed.
"I think we've inherited a lot of lumber and machinery here," Candy said softly with a look around.
"Yeah. You won us the mill, all we got to do now is win the war, huh?" Annie draped her rifle over her arm and shook her head.
Apparently, it could shoot at them. How many more surprises were they in for?
She stepped into the office and Ludwig's face lit up. "Ms. Annie, it's been too long. I think I last see you when you were knee high to grasshopper and Ben bring you both with him on business." She forced a smile.
"It probably was." Any time she'd managed to avoid the mining parts of their empire, she'd counted it as a win.
"For what you did, thank you." Ludwig poured liquor into tin cups and they all sat down, Annie making sure she was the closest to the door.
"Hey, who do you think is trying to blow this place up?"
"I can guess." Ludwig sat down and raised his cup. "Miles Renfro. He's tried it before." Annie lowered her cup to the table without tasting the drink. Well, there was a name she'd tried to forget. Joe frowned.
"He owns a couple of stamp mills, doesn't he?" He did.
"Three mills on Carson River." Ludwig took a drink. "A nice man he seems to be, but he is not." Joe nodded absently.
"Well, we're going to give him a little competition now. We just won this place in a poker game." Ludwig jerked like he'd been stung and lowered his cup. He turned to Candy, who grinned.
"Queen high, straight flush."
"Who from?" A sinking feeling settled into the pit of Annie's stomach. Why did she think there was going to be a catch?
"Beggs. Jason Beggs."
"Beggs?" Ludwig scoffed. "He only owns forty percent."
"What?" Candy and Joe traded confused looks. "Forty percent?"
"Who owns the rest?" she asked.
"A woman named Kelly. She inherited her shares from her father." Joe made a face and took another drink.
"Congratulations, partner." Candy sighed. "You just won yourself half of forty percent of a … war." Joe shrugged.
"Forty percent is better than nothing. We'll just get the place in shape, that's all."
"We got to find our other partner first."
"Oh, she will be here soon," Ludwig explained. "She will sell you her stock or put up her shares of the expenses." He hopped out of his chair. "Either way, the mill runs." He scurried over to a messy counter and started digging through the piles of junk. "Now I know it is Miles Renfro." Ludwig turned around. "He heard you won Beggs' shares in a poker game." He perched on a stool and began to write. "Nails, grease, paint."
"Can we prove it's Renfro?" Candy turned in his chair, a grimace twisting his face for a split second. He needed to stop doing that. Doc Martin had told him to take it easy, but he'd never really listened before, why had she thought he'd start now?
"Rope …" And what was Ludwig doing? "Prove?" He looked up and Candy nodded. "How? Renfro hires men from other places to do his dirty work. These men, they don't talk." Nothing new there. Candy slowly turned back around. Their eyes met and he shrugged apologetically.
"Nice man," Joe commented. Ludwig nodded absently and ripped off the page he'd been writing on, handing it to her. Her brow furrowed as she skimmed the list.
"A few things I need just to get started," he explained. Her eyebrows shot into her hairline and she handed the list to Candy. He frowned.
"Partner, we need to go back to that poker game."
"What for?"
"We got to win ourselves a hardware store." Candy folded the list and handed it to Joe. He read it and the expressions shooting across his face were truly comical. Annie snorted and drained her cup. If only there was a way to take photographs that didn't require the subject to hold still for so long. She'd love to see that face preserved forever.
The three of them rode into Virginia City and dismounted at the hitch rail in front of the mercantile. "I guess we better get these things ordered." Candy looped Scout's reins over the rail. Annie ducked under Reno's neck and blinked at the goofy, awed, look on her brother's face.
There was only one thing that put that precise look on his face. She turned and found a pretty blond in a wine-colored dress exiting the stage a few feet away. "Lovely," she muttered, catching Candy's attention. He raised his eyebrows and looked at her in confusion, then past her to Joe. A knowing look crossed his face and he turned.
Two men rushed up, snatching at the woman's bags, then at her arm. Joe nudged Candy. "You take the big one, I'll take the little one." They sauntered down the street like a couple of lions on the prowl and Annie blew out a breath and rubbed her forehead.
Three weeks and he was wading into a fight. He'd be regretting that come morning.
"Hey, leave the lady alone." Joe and Candy stepped in between the lady and the two men.
"Go find your own girl, buddy," one of them said. "You're not the sheriff." Joe chuckled.
"I'm not the sheriff." He looked at Candy.
"Oh, you're not the sheriff." They struck as one, knocking both men for a loop. Joe turned back around with a grin, an introduction on his lips.
"Ma'am, I'm Joe Cartwright."
"My name's Canaday. My friends call me Candy."
"Hello."
Annie leaned back against Reno, arms folded across her chest. It never failed. The two men staggered back to their feet and lunged. The fight drifted into the street and Joe knocked his man back into a crate filled with packing material in front of the mercantile, then turned to watch Candy headbutting his adversary. He slung a punch, the man toppled backwards, and Candy lost his balance and fell into the horse trough.
The full horse trough.
Joe giggled while Candy splashed around. He sauntered over to the woman and took her bag. "Is your friend all right?"
"He's fine," Joe scoffed. "Don't worry about him." Annie's eyes narrowed and she pushed off Reno's side. The gelding snorted.
"How can I ever thank you?"
"Oh, it was nothing. My pleasure." The woman smiled.
"I'm wondering, is it always so exciting here in Virginia City?"
"Well –"
"No, no." Candy hurried over, soaking wet and dripping water, after finally getting himself out of the trough. "Sometimes whole weeks go by and hardly anything happens at all." For the rest of the town, maybe, but not when your last name was Cartwright. Or Canaday.
"You're dripping on the lady." Candy stepped back and wiped his face.
"Can we help carry your bag?"
"Oh, thank you."
"Good idea." Joe handed over the valise. "The hotel's right down here." He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and led her down the street. "Oh, there's another bag there." Candy collected that one and Annie began to see red. She stomped down the street.
"You planning to be here long, Miss …"
"Kelly. Katie Kelly." Annie stopped in her tracks. No, just no. They all looked at the woman. Joe blinked.
"You wouldn't by any chance be interested in stamp mills?"
"Just one, the Lost Creek stamp mill." That's what she'd been afraid of. Annie smothered a groan. Joe and Candy grinned at each other.
"Ma'am, meet your new partners," Joe said as he held out his hand.
"I'm delighted." Somehow, Annie couldn't agree. This was turning into a recipe for disaster. And when disaster loomed, there was only one sane course of action.
"Joe, how about we take Katie – may I call you Katie? – out to the ranch and introduce her to Pa? I'm sure he'd love to meet her since she is our business partner." Joe's face lit up.
"Good idea, Annie, I knew I kept you around for a reason. But first we'll go see the mill." He clapped a hand on her shoulder and started off down the street, Katie Kelly in tow. "Ma'am, have you ever heard of the Ponderosa?" Annie glared after him, debating the merits of cutting his cinch versus attempting to locate something that would spook Cochise, when Candy cleared his throat.
"You've got that look again."
"I'm not unaware of that," she said carefully, her gaze never leaving her brother's retreating back. The cinch would be better, though a touch unsafe for Cochise. Maybe she ought to try another tack entirely …
"Is he?"
"Is he what?"
"Aware he just lit a fuse?" Candy swallowed hard and adjusted his grip on the bags. "I got a pretty good idea what he said, I'm just not too sure why it earned that look." Slowly, she turned.
"I don't appreciate being dismissed."
"I don't think he meant it that way, sweetheart. You know how he is: he sees a pretty face and everything else goes out the window."
Out the window? Hm. Interesting. It would work best in town, there was no one to see his unmentionables if she tossed them out at home. No one who'd care that is. Maybe …
"Uh-oh." Candy shifted the bags so he had a free hand. He caught her arm and maneuvered them both down the street towards the horses. "Whatever I said that put that gleam your eyes, it wasn't my idea."
"You three are going to run the Lost Creek stamp mill, huh?" Ben paced across the rug, while Joe stood behind their ma's settee, grinning like a raccoon in the corn crib.
"That's right." Annie shifted in the leather chair, carefully avoiding Candy perched on the arm. He looked up as Ben walked past.
"We already started. Took a load of hardware out there this afternoon."
"Yeah," Joe added. "We also took Miss Kelly out to see the mill." Ben smiled at the pretty blond.
"Had you ever seen a stamp mill before?"
"No, never. It was really exciting." Annie fought the urge to roll her eyes. Not what she'd call it. More like boring and dangerous. Ben nodded thoughtfully.
"And what do you two know about ore processing?" Annie threw a sideways glance at Candy. He cleared his throat.
"Ludwig's gonna show us how." His gaze slid to her brother and Joe shifted his weight, crossed his arms over his chest. His eyes landed on her and flickered with annoyance. He knew what she'd done by initiating this meeting. She gave him a sweet smile and and settled deeper in the chair. Beside her, Candy made a faint noise that sounded like a muffled snicker.
"Ludwig," Joe repeated lamely. Ben nodded again. Hoss came around the corner from the kitchen, toting a tray.
"Made some coffee, Pa."
"Thank you." Ben rubbed the back of his neck. "I think I need a little something stronger."
"I can fix that, too." Hoss deposited the tray on the center table and headed for the liquor cabinet. Ben motioned to the coffee and Katie smiled.
"Thank you." Ben poured her a cup and handed it over.
"You know, before you go into business, you ought to know what the market is and who the competition is. The large mines process their own ore. The small mines can't afford to, so they have somebody else do it for them."
"Right." Joe came out from behind the settee and she smothered a grin. "That's where we come in." He picked up a cup for himself.
"A lot of other people have had the same idea. That's why there've been a number of mills built to handle the ore put out by the small mines. And today, all but the Lost Creek mill are owned by one man." Candy hopped off the chair arm, collected two cups of coffee, and returned to his perch, handing her the second cup. He took a drink and turned to Ben.
"Miles Renfro."
"That's right." Ben looked between them and Annie bit her lip. Here it came. "Do you really believe that you have the resources, the ability, the know-how to compete with him? Ms. Kelly, your father was the majority stockholder in the Lost Creek mill. Now, you know the history of that operation better than I do."
"If you mean the dynamiting and accidents, yes, I do. The mine was finally bombed right out of business."
A knock came at the door and Joe set down his coffee. "I'll get it." He opened the door and Miles Renfro removed his hat and pushed his way inside. Annie gritted her teeth and debated flinging her coffee on him.
"Joe, this is my superintendent, Sam Jacks." He motioned to the man behind him. They were also rude. "Wonder if I could come in for a minute?" He already was, so why not?
"Come right in." Joe stepped back and they sauntered into the main room like they owned the place.
"Ms. Kelly, gentlemen. Ah, Ms. Cartwright, so lovely to see you." He bowed from the waist and offered his hand. She ignored it and sipped at her coffee. His face froze and he cleared his throat. "I hear you boys are pretty good poker players." Joe folded his arms and leveled the man with an even stare. Candy cleared his throat.
"I am." He glanced at Joe, no doubt wondering what was going on with the sudden undercurrent in the room.
"Well, I'm here to make a firm offer on the Lost Creek stamp mill." If that's all he was after, she'd eat her hat. It may have been five years, but his ego hadn't shrunk. "I'll give you three times what you invested in that poker game."
"Not interested," Candy said.
"Well, that's a handsome profit on a one day investment."
"Mm. Yeah, sure is," Joe agreed. "We're still not interested." Renfro's face stiffened.
"How about you, Ms. Kelly? You own more than they do." The blond looked up at him with a sweet smile.
"I wouldn't sell to you for any price." Annie couldn't stop the snort that escaped. Renfro whipped around, his eyes narrowed. She snorted again and set her coffee down so she didn't spill it on herself. Katie raised her cup and sipped at her coffee, that innocent face hiding more wisdom than Renfro had obviously counted on.
"Well, I hate to see young people go broke. Lost Creek's a hard-luck operation, has been from the start."
"Then why do you want it?" Annie asked with a sweet smile. Katie lowered her cup.
"I know why the Lost Creek has been a hard-luck operation and why Mr. Beggs just quit and let the mill sit there." She looked around, a sly smile tugging at her lips. "You see, Papa was too sick to run the mill himself, so Mr. Beggs ran it for him. Mr. Renfro tried to buy Mr. Beggs out. But of course he wouldn't sell. That's when the accidents started." She took another sip.
"Now, wait a minute, Ms. Kelly."
"There was a dynamite bomb that went off and completely wrecked the engine room. After that, Mr. Beggs found dynamite under his bed, in his boots, even in his lunch bucket."
"Are you suggesting I'm responsible?"
"I know you are," Katie replied tartly. "Papa told me so."
"Give it up, Renfro," Annie crossed one leg over the other. "You know that's your style." He glared between her and Katie.
"You'd better not repeat that, not unless you want to be sued for slander."
"Still trying to get a piece of the Ponderosa? That ship sailed a long time ago."
"I wouldn't mind," Katie said. "It might even be fun." Her eyes danced. Ben shrugged and made a face; Joe hid a smile. Candy didn't bother hiding his smirk. Renfro shifted his weight.
"Well, uh, thank you kindly for your hospitality." He motioned to his friend and they headed for the door. Joe let them out and heaved a sigh as the door closed behind them.
"Guess it was too much to hope we wouldn't run into him."
"I could have told you that, Joseph." Ben folded his arms over his chest. "I wondered why Beggs had quit." He looked up. "Well, all right, you want to run that stamp mill, you go right ahead. Oh, you'd better take some Ponderosa hands with you to stand guard."
"Nah, we'll be all right." Annie raised an eyebrow. Would they? Candy shifted on the chair arm and set his coffee aside.
"If you don't mind my asking, what was that about just now?" Annie shrugged.
"He thought I'd be flattered at the ripe old-maid age of twenty-two that someone actually offered to marry me." The words left a bitter taste in her mouth and she took another drink. "I wasn't."
"That's putting it mildly," Hoss said. "You ain't never heard such an argument as –" Ben cleared his throat and Hoss trailed off.
"There's one more thing. Have you thought about where you're going to get the ore to process?" Joe's face fell so fast it was another moment she wished could be preserved forever.
"Ore?" He looked at Candy, who was also floundering.
"Uh, well, no, not exactly."
"No, we … we … we're just gonna get to that right now. We're gonna go in town and get started." Ben and Hoss shared a look. Annie smiled into her coffee. It never failed. "We'll drop Ms. Kelly off at the … the hotel." He took her elbow and helped her off the settee. Candy stood and handed Annie his coffee. "Good thinking, the ore." The three of them vanished out the door and Ben slowly turned around, his eyebrows in his hairline, and a look of disbelief on his face.
"Did you two hear what I hear?" They both nodded; Annie set the coffee cups on the table. Ben sighed and gestured to the closest decanter. "Bring me that brandy." Her older brother loaded up a tray and carried it over. Ben poured himself a shot and drank it down, then poured a second. "Annie, take a room at the hotel and keep an eye on them, please. If I know Joe, this'll turn into an argument over that woman. You're the only one either of them might listen to."
"Yes, Pa." She hid a smile. Those unmentionables might go flying out a window after all. Plus, she might get to drive a thorn into Renfro's side again; that was always entertaining.
"What are you doing here?" Joe looked at her askance the next morning. Annie smiled and handed the clerk a dime for carrying her bags to the room; conveniently, she'd requested the one directly opposite her brother and their foreman.
"Keeping an eye on you, Pa's orders." She waited until the man left, then continued. "Besides, half that money you bought Candy's bet with was mine. In reality, half of your half is mine."
"For the love of – you don't even like mining!" His hands flew to his hips. "What are you really up to?"
"Exactly what I said. Have you learned nothing over the years, hm?"
"I've learned plenty," he muttered while straightening his jacket. "If you'll excuse me, I need to get to the dining room. We've got a lunch meeting planned with some of the smaller mine owners." She leaned back against her door with a raised eyebrow.
"And after that, who is going to keep Katie company?"
"Me, of course. Later, sis." He headed down the hallway and she bit back a snort. That's what she'd thought. Candy might have something to say about that. She let herself into her room and closed the door.
Some things never changed.
It was almost dinner time when it happened. "Hey! Hey!" Her brother's shout carried through the door. Annie scrambled off the bed, her book abandoned, and threw the door open in time to catch Candy scurrying down the hall dressed in brand new clothes. A thump and a crack sounded from their room and she bit back a laugh.
Round one went to Candy.
Annie closed the door and went back to her book. He might have said keep an eye on them, but he didn't specify how. Let Candy take Joe down a rung or two, first. She kept reading until it dawned on her that the room across the hall was far too quiet.
She left her room and listened at the door, then reached for the knob, freezing when she realized it wasn't there. How had Joe –? She rubbed at her temples. She'd lost track of how many windows, doors, and mirrors they'd paid for over the years. Oh, lamps, too. Probably enough to build their own hotel.
There were times she wondered if Joe really was the older sibling.
It wasn't eyebrow-raising late when Joe returned, escorting Katie to her room down the hall, but late enough. She stepped out into the hall before he could slip into his room. "I told Harvey to add a door knob to your bill."
"Candy locked me in."
"Oh?" She folded her arms and leaned against the door frame. "And I suppose you showed him the error of his ways?"
"The walk home will do him good."
"Because he's making eyes at the object of your affection?" His nostrils flared. "Have you ever bothered to ask her who she prefers?"
"Anyone with eyes can see it's me."
"That's what I thought." Her eyes narrowed and her voice lowered to a warning hiss. "Remember what happened last time you played this little game." She pushed off the frame and slammed her door. Joseph Francis Cartwright. She stalked over to the bed to collect her hat and gun belt.
Candy was probably about halfway back, if he'd used his normal spot, and if he wasn't, Reno had carried double before.
"You're a sight for sore eyes," Candy said as she appeared out of the darkening night.
"Not sore feet?" she retorted.
"That, too." He stopped at the grulla's side and leaned against his flank. "Thanks for coming." She kicked her foot out of the stirrup so he could climb up behind her. His arms slipped around her waist and she nudged Reno back to a walk.
"Are you two really going to fight over that sly smile of hers? The way she handled Renfro ought to be proof enough she's not showing all her cards. She'll play you off each other, mark my words."
"Gut feeling?"
"Yes."
"Thanks for the warning, sweetheart, but it's just a game. No woman is going to come between me and Joe, or me and you for that matter."
She let Reno walk for a minute in silence before she answered. "No reason you can't keep giving him a hard time. He hates to be shown up."
"You got any good ideas?" A grin split her face and she glanced over her shoulder.
"Define good."
"I dream of Katie, with the long blond hair." Annie buried her face in her pillow and smothered a laugh. He wasn't bad, but he wasn't good, either. If Joe was anywhere in the hotel, he'd show up soon. Candy's singing dissolved into loud humming. A moment later, she heard the door across the hall open, then a few seconds after that, he cut off entirely. She cocked her head, counting seconds. He started singing again and she shoved the pillow over her head.
"Hey, Joe. Joe! Come on, let me out, partner! Hey! Joe!" She bolted off the bed and threw open the door. Her brother jumped, dropping the key he'd been trying to shove into his pocket.
"What did you do?" His face tried on several of his usual expressions.
"All's fair in love and war," he mumbled, and shot down the stairs. She scooped up the key and unlocked the door.
"Joe, come on! Let me out!" Candy pounded on the other door, and her face flamed. Two options. One, dig him up some clothes and open the door. Two, open the door and let him find his own clothes. She didn't exactly want to scrounge around in his personal belongings, but she didn't really want to open that door either. "Joe!"
Before too long, all that yelling would bring somebody to investigate and that might be more humiliating than her doing it.
Oh, well. She'd gotten him into it, partly her fault, might as well pay the piper. She stomped across the room and put the key in the lock. "It's about time you came to your senses." She clapped a hand over her eyes, twisted the key, and stepped back.
The door banged against the wall. "Annie! What the – what are you doing in here?!" Footsteps shuffled around the room. "At least turn around."
"Oh, I'm definitely not looking."
"Mr. Cartwright would kill me if he saw this." Drawers slammed. "What did that jackal do with my clothes?" She felt for the bed and sat down.
"All I can say is he didn't have them with him."
"Well, they're not here."
"Is the window open?"
"You are looking!"
"Are not. I just happen to share a devious mind with the previously mentioned jackal. I bet he tossed them out." There was a beat of silence, then Candy moaned under his breath. "Did you move too fast?"
"No." He sighed. "You might be right. Give me two minutes to find something else and I'll get back in there so you can leave. He's going to pay for this." Drawers banged. "I ought to tell him who let me out."
"Did you want to pay him back or kill him outright? Because let me tell you, that would do it." Candy snorted.
"At the moment, the prospect has its merits."
"I have a better idea."
"I hope it's better than this one."
"You have an extra hammer and some nails?"
She watched them ride out to the mill the next morning. As usual, Katie stayed at the hotel. From what Candy had said, she'd figured out enough to realize the woman was playing them, though what Ms. Kelly hoped to gain was anyone's guess. Unless …
Annie slipped down the hall and knocked on Katie's door. "Yes?" Her face stiffened. "Ms. Cartwright?"
"May I come in?"
"Of course." Annie took a seat on the settee and studied her nails.
"You're after a husband."
"Do you not think me good enough for your brother?" Katie sat across from her and the two women studied each other over the center table. "What if I told you he asked me to marry him?"
"He doesn't work that fast."
"Candy is taking me for a buggy ride this afternoon. He said he had something important to talk about."
"If you want a husband, you'd best look elsewhere. Joe hasn't been serious about a girl in years, and Candy … nothing against him, but most women want more than a ranch foreman." Katie's eyes twinkled.
"I'll try and remember that." She stood. "Was that all, Ms. Cartwright?"
"Quite." Annie made her way to the door. She paused, and turned back with her hand on the knob. "I seem to recall the miner's association has a few eligible men of its own."
"I'll keep that in mind." The door closed and she went back to her own room. Now all that remained was to wait for Joe and Candy.
Her brother returned first, but still only a few minutes ahead of Candy. She had a bath waiting for him and fresh clothes. She waited in the hall until he slipped the door open. She handed him the hammer, then passed him the nails, one by one.
"Oh. Coming, partner. Coming, coming, coming." Candy kept driving nails, a smirk on his face. "Take it easy. I'll have it open in a minute. Ow!" She smothered a snort. "Hey! Hey, you can't do this to me! Come on, open it –"
"See you later, partner." Candy returned the hammer and sauntered down the stairs, whistling cheerfully. She smirked and went back to her room.
What was one more door?
"You and Candy have turned over a new leaf, I think," Katie announced during lunch two days later. Annie bit her tongue and sipped at her champagne. That woman knew just what she was about.
"How so?" Joe lowered his glass.
"You haven't had a fight in at least two hours."
"Oh, that. We took a day off. In your honor and to celebrate finishing the mill." Her brother. Candy grinned.
"Besides, I was so far ahead, I decided to take a vacation."
"Cause you had my sneaky sister helping you. How about you take a real vacation and leave the lady and I alone for a while?" Candy stood.
"Would you like to discuss it a little further, perhaps?" Katie held out her hands, looking between them.
"Um, I think it's just about time for some fried chicken, huh?" Annie threw her a warning look. Joe gave them a tight nod and sat down.
"Chicken first," Candy agreed, and retook his seat. Katie uncovered the basket and passed it around. The chicken was good, not Hop Sing worthy, but good enough, though it needed something … "Got any salt?" Candy asked.
"Right here." Katie dug around in her basket, then straightened up. "Oh, dear, I forgot it."
"I have some in my room." Ludwig stood. "I get it."
"Thanks." Joe took another bite and swallowed happily. "Hey, we ought to bring Peterson out here and let him take a look at the place."
"Oh, yeah," Candy agreed. "One look's all they'll need, they'll be begging to sign on the dotted line." Annie wiped her mouth.
"Don't forget about Renfro, I guarantee you he hasn't given up."
"Hey! Hey, you!" Ludwig's shout brought their heads up. He took off running towards the works, stopped on the platform at the top of the stairs, and looked around. Annie followed the fleeing man with her eyes. He might only be running because he'd been spotted, but Renfro's favorite trick involved –
The works exploded, flinging Ludwig down the stairs. Annie's heart shot into her throat as dust and debris floated to the ground. She took off after Joe and Candy, nearly tripping on her skirt. Why had she agreed to wear the blasted thing in the first place?
They reached Ludwig first and Joe paused only a moment before he bolted for Cochise. "I'll bring Doc Martin!" She dropped to her knees beside Candy, already reaching for her hem to use for bandages, but he stopped her.
"My shirt isn't near as pretty."
"Ludwig!" Katie reached them with tears on her face. "Will he be all right?"
"I think so, he's too stubborn to pack it in that easily." Candy threw her a look. "I've said it before, but remind me never to doubt anything you say." She sat back on her heels with a resigned sigh and stared at the billowing smoke.
There were times she hated being right.
It took four days to repair the damage Renfro's man had done with that dynamite. They still had a little bit more to do, but it looked like they'd still make Peterson's deadline after all. Until she followed Joe and Candy into Ludwig's room to ask him about the broken cog wheel. Ludwig's face fell.
"This … this you cannot fix." Candy looked down at the wheel.
"Is there any way we can run the mill without it?"
"No."
"Well." Joe shrugged. "If we can't fix it, we'll buy a new one." Ludwig pushed himself up in bed.
"Yes, you can buy a new one. In Philadelphia." Her brother and Candy traded a look that could only be described as desperate.
"In Philadelphia?" Joe repeated.
"Manlech Foundry in Philadelphia is the only place that part is made."
"That'll take a month to get here." Candy hung his head. Ludwig sank back to the bed and Katie stared at her lap. Joe shook his head.
"Guess we're out of business, partner." Candy set the broken wheel in the floor in disgust.
"No, not yet." Joe stared up at the ceiling. He wiped his arm over his face and studied the wheel a moment. "We can't fix it, and we can't buy one, so we'll … we'll make a new one."
"How?"
"It's cast iron. We'll use a foundry."
"You're forgetting Renfro owns the only foundry in Virginia City," Annie pointed out.
"The only working foundry. We'll use Hansen's."
"It's been closed for over a year, Joe," Candy protested.
"We'll open it."
"We don't know anything about casting iron!" Annie shook her head.
"But we know someone who does," she replied. "Looks like Pa's getting involved whether he wanted to or not."
"How's it coming?" Annie whispered as she slipped into the rear of Hansen's old foundry with a jug of water. Within seconds, her shirt stuck to her skin from the heat rising from the furnace. Joe and Candy hauled the form over to Ben and Hoss and set it carefully on the ground. Then, the three of them slowly poured the molten iron into the form while Candy watched. She took him the jug first.
"Thanks." He downed several gulps and handed it back. "I feel like I jumped in Lake Tahoe."
"You look like you did."
"Hey, can I have some, too, sis?" Joe reached for the jug. "This is hot work." She handed it over and he gulped water. "So, now we just wait?"
"Yes, now we wait and see what we've got."
"Uh, it's all right if I stop pumping this bellows now, ain't it?" Candy wiped his face. Ben shook his head slowly.
"I think you better keep that furnace hot, just in case."
"You mean there could be something wrong with this one?" Joe frowned and gestured at the form. Ben nodded.
"A very good chance." Her brothers and Candy traded dismayed looks. She eased over to the window and stared out at the street, her attention caught by a familiar wine-colored dress. Katie was headed for the hotel, and she wasn't alone. Wasn't that Mr. Peterson from the miner's association?
Joe was fixing to have some competition.
She refocused on the street as the couple went into the hotel. Renfro had to know they were in here, the noise and heat alone would tell anyone passing by that the furnace was in use. She kept an eye on the street and a hand on her pistol while they waited for the wheel to cool.
At last, it was time, and she held her breath. Ben shoveled sand off the casting and inspected it. His shoulders fell. "We do it again."
"What's wrong?" Joe worked his hands.
"The spoke is cracked."
"We can't," Candy protested. "We haven't got time." Ben glanced at him over his shoulder.
"We've got all night. Get those bellows going. Hoss, let's pour another form. Annie, keep an eye out."
"I am." It got difficult as the night wore on and the sky darkened, but by that time, most people were at home anyway. Renfro and his men would stand out on the deserted streets. Twice more, they poured, with the same results. Candy sighed heavily and went back to the bellows. They poured the fourth casting just after dawn, having melted down the last failures, and sat down to wait. Ben checked his pocket watch.
"Five more minutes."
"How do you hold your breath for five minutes?" Candy muttered quietly as he leaned against a stack of old crates. Ben chuckled. Joe nodded at the bad casting.
"Doesn't take much to spoil one of these, does it?" Movement caught her eye out the window and Annie jumped like she'd sat down on the furnace itself.
"Pa," she hissed, and everyone stiffened. Ben held out one hand in a motion for calm, and they took their places, Annie slipping away from the window and in between her father and Candy.
The door flew open and Renfro's superintendent burst in, gun drawn. "All of you, get 'em up." Renfro appeared behind him with two more armed men, a smug smile on his face.
"I didn't expect we'd meet again so soon, Ben." That smile widened. "Ms. Anne, even in a foundry, you look lovely. Hand off the gun, my dear, if you please." She raised her hands. "Thank you for seeing reason, it would be a shame to see you come to harm."
"You're not going to use those guns, not in Virginia City."
"Not unless you force us to, in order to protect my property." He sneered and pulled a document out of his coat pocket. "I'm here to evict trespassers."
"The door's that way," Annie said tartly, and Renfro chuckled.
"Hansen needed money, I needed another foundry, so I bought this one, lock, stock, and sand on the floor." They all looked at each other in silence, then Ben pointed at the wheel – the bad one.
"You didn't buy that cog wheel." Renfro glanced down and Annie held her breath. He nodded.
"So I didn't."
"We'll take that with us."
"As long as it's in the same shape it was in when you brought it in here. Mr. Jacks, if you'll take care of that." The superintendent grabbed a sledge hammer and started banging on the wheel until it cracked in half. He kept going until it was in pieces and Renfro held up a hand.
"That will do." He turned back to them and Annie bit her tongue to stop a smirk from spreading over her face. "Good poker players ought to know when to cash in their chips. You should have sold when I was ready to buy. Now, all you can do is pick up the pieces and get out of here."
"Well, I guess we know when we're licked." Ben let his hands fall to his sides.
"That's very wise, Mr. Cartwright." That smug smile focused on her. "Ms. Anne, you sure you wouldn't like to change your mind about anything? I'm a rich man, you know."
"I don't care for jackals," she retorted. His face froze and he tilted his head.
"I won't ask again."
"Suits me just fine." Ben cleared his throat.
"Boys, let's get our things together and take everything that belongs to us." He turned back to Renfro and Annie stepped back out of Candy's way as Ben threw a punch, and the others jumped in. She drew her gun and cocked the hammer, freezing Candy's opponent in his tracks. Hoss got his hands on a gun as well.
"Hold it." Renfro froze, hand ready to swing at Ben. His gaze landed on her and his eyes narrowed.
"You'll pay for this, Cartwright. I'll have you all up for assault and battery. I'll have you in court." Annie snickered.
"You do that, Mr. Renfro," Ben said in that low, deadly tone of his. "And you'll be the laughingstock of Virginia City. Annie told you where the door was, now get out." He jerked out of Ben's grasp and straightened his coat, then stalked out, his men tailing after him. Annie bit back a grin; Candy didn't bother trying. They hurried over to the overlooked form and watched as Ben and the boys removed the frame.
Ben dug thew wheel out of the sand and held it up. "Perfect," he announced. "Absolutely perfect." Joe whooped and they all laughed and shook hands.
"Hey, we have to go tell Katie the good news."
"You might want to get cleaned up first, big brother." Annie held her nose. "I doubt she'd welcome either of you right now." Joe flung a handful of sand at her and she laughed. Ben frowned.
"First thing is to get this wheel out to the mill and get it installed."
"Of course, Pa, we were planning on doing that." Joe nudged Candy and they scrambled into their shirts. "We hadn't forgotten." They darted out the door and she raised her eyebrows. Hoss shook his head and Ben rubbed a hand over his mouth. The door inched open and Joe crept back in. "Forgot the wheel." He picked it up and slipped back out.
"Hoss."
"Yes, sir, I'll go find the brandy."
"We're all done. We got that mill running like a Swiss watch," Joe announced as he stood in Katie's doorway, all cleaned up and preening like a bantam rooster. Katie smiled at them, but there was something in her eyes that hadn't been there before. Annie frowned as she followed her brother and Candy into the hotel room.
"Congratulations, gentlemen. Oh, hello, Ms. Cartwright." Katie smiled.
"You know Mr. Peterson."
"Yeah, yeah, sure." Joe looked confused. They all shook hands.
"It's nice to see you."
"We've been discussing the stamp mill," Katie announced, and Joe stiffened like a bird dog on point.
"Oh, the stamp mill? That's our partner, huh? Well, I guess you're ready to sign a few contracts, then." Peterson tilted his head.
"No, but I am ready to offer you a very profitable deal."
"A deal?" Candy frowned.
"Yeah. You see, the mine owners are very anxious to have Lost Creek in operation to prevent Renfro from continuing his monopoly."
"So?" Peterson shrugged.
"But they … they seem to feel you're better cattlemen than mill operators," he said with a laugh. Joe chuckled.
"Yeah, I seem to remember somebody saying that."
"It was Pa," Annie pointed out, and Joe shot her a dark look. Candy laughed, as did Peterson.
"So, they're willing to buy your stock, at a very handsome profit for you, and then have Ludwig and some others run it."
"What about Katie's stock?"
"Well, Ms. Kelly's already sold her stock to the Association. So you might as well sell yours. You'd have little or nothing to say about it, you being minority owners." Annie smothered a snort at the look on Joe's face. Unless she missed her guess, that wasn't the only surprise that lay in store.
Just because he didn't work fast, didn't mean every other man in town was slow. Or went about it the wrong way.
"Do you mind if we talk this over for a minute?"
"Go right ahead." Joe and Candy hurried over and huddled with Katie. Annie perched on the arm of a chair and smiled at Peterson.
"Are congratulations in order?"
"What?" Joe's head came up.
"You'll find out." He glared and turned back to Katie.
"Look, I don't mind selling my stock at a nice profit, I happen to like being a cattleman, but couldn't you have come to us first? We are your friends."
"Yeah," Candy added. Katie arched an eyebrow.
"That's all you were."
"I'm taking you to San Francisco," Joe pointed out.
"No, she was going with me to Denver." Joe frowned.
"You ought to let the lady decide. I think San Francisco will be the town."
"I think –"
"You're both wrong," Katie interrupted, and Annie smothered a laugh. She'd been right again. "I'm going to Sacramento with Mr. Peterson." Peterson smiled tenderly and Katie smiled back. Joe blinked several times. "On our honeymoon," she continued.
"Honeymoon?"
"Neither of you suggested it, but Ivar has asked me to be his wife." Joe and Candy looked at each other as Katie sashayed across the room to her intended and looped her arms around his waist. "We're to be married the first of the month."
Joe looked like a puppet with its strings cut. Candy wandered over to the window and stared outside in silence. He stiffened and Joe ambled over.
Uh-oh. Annie hopped off her chair and hurried over. She folded her arms and looked up at Joe. He ignored her, watching the pretty brunette at the stage arguing with the two men attempting to take her bags. Candy glanced over his shoulder.
"I don't suppose there's any use in trying to talk you into letting me handle it?"
"No, I don't suppose."
"This time you take the big one, and I'll take the little one."
"And the one who finishes first?"
"Right."
"Right." They abandoned the window and rushed for the door. "Mr. Peterson, that stock deal will be just fine. Sign the papers tomorrow." Joe ducked out the door and Annie held back a snort.
"Have a good time in Sacramento." Candy reached for the knob, but it wouldn't turn. He threw her a wide-eyed look and struggled with the door. Annie laughed harder.
Katie and Peterson didn't even seem to notice as they fell into each other's arms. Candy stared at them a second and shrugged. He leaned back against the door and looped an arm across her shoulders.
"You got any more bright ideas?"