A/N: Welcome back to the next episode, A World full of Cannibals. I did tweak the end of this one since it just seemed way too easy to get Joe back considering the stakes involved.

I saw the views for the most recent episodes and I have a question for all of you. What was it about Yonder Man than made it more interesting than Queen High? I admit neither episode is a favorite of mine and I think it shows in the writing so any feedback is very much appreciated so I can make each new episode more enjoyable to read.

As always, I don't own Bonanza, only my OC. Please review!

Fixed line breaks 2-20-21

Annie bolted awake from a troubled sleep, the swinging noose fading into darkness as the pounding on the front door repeated. She sucked in a deep breath and rubbed her face. It was only a bad dream, it wasn't real. She was safe.

"Who is it?" Footsteps in the hallway reached the top of the stairs. Her pa repeated his question, but the only answer was another round of knocks. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up and she threw off her covers, reaching for the Derringer she kept in her nightstand, and crept to the bedroom door. She cracked the door and muted voices drifted up the stairs.

Another smooth click brought her head around. Joe stuck his head out his door with a frown. She brought a finger to her lips and he nodded. Farther down, Candy's door eased open. She didn't expect Hoss; her middle brother could sleep through a howling blizzard.

"Aren't you murdered and buried?" The three of them traded glances complete with raised eyebrows. Who was down there? And why show up at two o clock in the morning?

"Faked, of course."

"I see. Annie, boys, get down here right now. Hoss, get some coffee started." His voice rose and she ducked back into her room just long enough to change into the first thing her fingers touched. She was still buttoning her shirt halfway down the stairs.

A skinny man with his arm in a sling and bruises on his face stood near the fireplace. Another man with a star on his vest stood beside Ben. "Are you sure, Ben?"

"I'm sure, Vern. This is Charles Ball, a witness in a government case, and they want a place to hide him for a couple of days. Candy, I think you're the only one who's never met Vern, this is Vern Ludlow, United States Marshal."

"Howdy." Candy shook hands.

"Pleasure."

"Vern, we've got plenty of room, we could put both of you up."

"I won't be staying, Ben." The marshal folded his arms. "We put out the story a couple days ago that he was killed. I have to get back, it wouldn't look right. But that'll give you the responsibility of guarding him."

"Against whom?" Joe spoke up. Ball stiffened.

"Anybody. Everybody."

"Popular fella?" Candy frowned. Neither Ball or the marshal said anything; she and Joe exchanged looks. Ben clapped her brother on the back.

"Joe, you'd better go outside and see if the marshal's men need anything."

"Right, Pa." He left and Hoss appeared from the kitchen with a tray of coffee. Ben rubbed his hands and sighed. Ball snatched at the closest cup.

"Vern, if I could have a few more details about this case that Mr. Ball is involved in."

"Well, the case involves defrauding the government and misuse of government land."

"And murder, don't forget that." Ball took a drink, then froze, letting the coffee run down his chin. Vern eyed him.

"It's all right, Charles, it isn't poisoned. All came from the same pot." The man wiped his mouth with his sleeve. Candy's eyes flickered as he sat down on the settee. The marshal claimed a cup of coffee and Annie took a seat beside Candy. Her gaze slid sideways, his eyes flickered again, and he shrugged, the movement barely noticeable unless you were watching closely. "They've already tried to kill him twice," Vern explained. "After the first attempt, we put him in the security of the prison at Carson City. But the day before yesterday, one of the guards, man with fifteen years service, shot him twice."

"Money talks," Ball said with a superior smirk. Why he'd be pleased about that, she didn't know, since it was his life on the line after all.

"To some people," Candy said with assurance. And he did know, firsthand, from both sides of that equation. Vern shifted his weight.

"Ben, I do need your help, but, uh … I wouldn't blame you if you turned me down." The marshal's gaze slid sideways and Annie stiffened. "I don't want to put your daughter in danger." Her eyes narrowed. Candy's boot nudged her foot and she stilled, not looking away from the marshal.

"Marshal, whoever is after Mr. Ball doesn't frighten me. We've dealt with worse men before, just ask Endicott." Vern nodded thoughtfully and looked back to her pa.

"Well, Vern, I said I'd help you, and I'll help you." The marshal's face relaxed; Ball set his coffee on the table and hurried to the marshal's side, hat in hand.

"I'd like you to take a letter to my wife." Vern jerked upright.

"Out of the question, no one's supposed to know you're here."

"I'm not going to tell her where I am, just that I'm still alive. I promise."

"I can't take the chance."

"Harriet's been through enough, I can't let her go on thinking I'm dead," Ball pleaded. Vern shook his head.

"It's only until we get you to the grand jury next week." Ball stiffened.

"Either I write that letter, or you're gonna have to go back to the grand jury and tell them that I can't give one word of testimony." The marshal was silent. "That'll blow the case right out the window." They all looked at each other, eyebrows raised. The marshal finally nodded.

"All right … but I want to read it when you're done."

"Use my desk there, if you like," her pa offered. Ball managed to look smug.

"It does make a difference who holds the cards, doesn't it?" He ambled over to the desk and dug up paper and a pen. Annie sipped at her coffee and studied the man over the rim. He was nervous, yet smug as a bantam rooster.

Yes, it did make a difference. Now, how many cards was he holding inside his vest or up his sleeve?

"I don't trust him," Candy said under his breath as they rode drag on the herd of steers the next morning. Annie yawned, sorely missing the sleep she'd lost while they got Ball settled in.

"Who does?" she replied through another yawn.

"If it was up to me, I'd have told that marshal to keep riding." Hooves thundered closer as Joe rode up.

"Well, it's not up to us. Pa said we'd do it, so we do it, whether we like it or not."

"There's no need to get mad at Candy, he's voicing his opinion, which I happen to share. There's something off about Ball, can't you sense it? If I had to guess, I'd say he wasn't some innocent man caught in the crossfire, but a willing conspirator who got in over his head and is trying to save his own skin."

"Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. Makes no difference."

"Sure it does," Candy protested. "One option is far less likely to try and shoot you in the back if he's got a chance."

"Did you see his eyes, Joe? And that comment about who holds the cards. Mr. Ball is in this up to his skinny little neck and he's playing us all."

"Do you want your sister caught in the crossfire if whoever's after him shows up here?" That elicited a reaction. Joe swallowed hard and looked over at her.

"Pa gave his word. We'll just have to be extra careful until the marshal comes back next week."

"In other words, you just work for us, so shut up and do your job, huh?" Joe's face fell.

"Come on, Candy, you know that's not what I meant." He reined Scout around and rode off to the front of the herd. Joe turned his head slowly and caught her glaring at him. He held up his hands. "I swear that's not what I meant."

"You ought to know by now how he takes things." She went to ride off as well, but he grabbed Reno's bridle.

"What's with you lately? Ever since Postley, you've been closer to him than me. What happened?" Deliberately, she reached down and freed the bridle strap.

"He was there," she said shortly, and spurred Reno into a lope.

The rest of the move passed in silence; no one spoke until they returned to the house. Joe broke first. "I know it isn't the best idea, but we have to make it work. Cartwrights don't go back on their word." He shoved open the door.

"I don't like it." Joe flipped his hat onto the old sideboard.

"Why does it bother you, Candy?"

"Because I got a stake in it."

"I think you're making a big thing out of nothing." Oh, really? Who was more often right? Besides, he'd just as good as admitted he didn't like it either. Ben looked up from tearing apart his secretary. What was he doing?

"Get the steers moved?"

"Yeah, we got 'em moved." Joe sat down slowly in the closest chair and she leaned against the wall. Candy didn't budge. Ben eyed them all.

"What's the discussion about?"

"Candy here thinks we made a mistake." Her brother stared their foreman down, but Candy didn't bat an eye. "He thinks we brought gun trouble by taking in Mr. Ball. He doesn't like taking the extra risk."

"That's not the way I said it," he said slowly. "But that's what I meant." Ben resumed his digging.

"You don't think we ought to give Mr. Ball protection?"

"I think he's a thief." Candy took his hands off his hips and moved to the front of Ben's desk, leaning against the solid wood.

"That really isn't the point, is it?" Ben glanced over his shoulder and Annie bit her lip. "The point is, the marshal asked us to give him protection. Mr. Ball is going to give testimony so that bigger thieves will be put behind bars, where they belong." He frowned and skirted the desk, headed for the gun rack on the wall. Joe raised an eyebrow.

"Are you against putting crooks in jail?"

"No." Candy threw him a dark look. "Do you think the other crooks are gonna hold still for it?" Candy shifted, sitting on the edge of the desk. "They tried to get him while he was in jail, they'll try and get him here." Joe sighed dramatically and tugged off his gloves.

"If I didn't know you better, I'd say you were scared."

"Joe." He glanced her way, but Candy spoke before she could say more.

"Yeah, I'm scared." He pushed off the desk and parked his hands on his hips, staring Joe down. "I'm scared five or six of them are gonna come. There's gonna be one or two of you here, the rest of us out on the range somewhere, and we'll get back just in time to bury you, that's what I'm scared of!" He flung out a hand in her direction. "Have you forgotten what happened just last month? Your sister almost got hung for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, what do you think they'd do to her to get at Ball?" Joe's lips twitched.

"Annie isn't the trouble magnet we are and you know it."

"Joe, have you seen my Derringer?" So that's what he was looking for. But why? Her brother frowned.

"Isn't it in the drawer there?"

"No." Ben straightened. "It's not in the desk, it's not here." Candy shot upright and whipped around.

"Ball's got it."

"What makes you say that?"

"He sat at the desk when he wrote that letter to his wife. He must have taken it then."

"It's possible, Pa." Annie pushed off the wall, her gaze flicking between Joe and Candy. Her brother stared at them a moment, then stood, his face darkening.

"He could be right, I'll see if he's got it." He made it to the stairs before Ben stopped him.

"No, wait a minute, Joe." Her brother turned on the bottom step; she and Candy hurried over. "Let him keep it." Candy's brows shot into his hairline. Joe did a double take. Annie blinked.

"What do you mean, let him keep it?" Joe's hands went to his hips.

"He's a distraught, frightened man. Let him keep it."

"What good is the Derringer gonna do him?"

"Probably no good at all, but at least it might give him a little confidence which I think he needs right now."

"What if he decides to use it on us?" From the look on his face, she'd taken the words right out of Joe's mouth. So, she and Candy weren't the only ones worried after all.

"We're the only people who can keep him alive." Joe's mouth thinned, as did Candy's. Annie shook her head. Ben sighed and looked up at their foreman. "Candy, I have Luke keeping watch on the hill, so he can keep watch both ways. Spell him right now, would you?" Candy looked at her and swallowed.

"Okay." He headed back out and Joe leaned on the banister.

"You're sure you want him to keep the gun?" Ben glanced at them both sideways, his face appearing carved from stone.

"Yes, I'm sure." Joe threw up his hands and stepped off the stairs.

"Just don't turn your back on him." He walked away and Ben raised an eyebrow. Annie sighed.

"I second that thought."

"Do you?"

"Yes." Her hands flew to her hips. "Pa, something is not right about him, I can feel it. Candy's right to be worried."

"Maybe." He rubbed his hands. "You know I trust your instincts, and if Candy has reservations as well, it's pretty much a sure thing something is off, but there does come a time when I have to wonder if there's such a thing as too much caution." She blinked.

"Too much – if I had too much caution, I'd have never stood trial for murder because I never would have been there." Even now, the memory of those terrifying few days was enough to make her break out in a cold sweat.

"Perhaps." Ben sighed. "Let's get started on this month's books." He put his hands on her shoulders and guided her to the desk. "We can worry about Ball later, we still have a ranch to run." She bit her tongue.

"Yes, sir." She sat down and got right to work, filling in figures and dates as Ben called them out. A while later, Hoss took a tray of bandages upstairs, then came back down.

"Looks to be healing well, Pa."

"Good." Hoss nodded and made his way to the kitchen. A few minutes later, a door opened and closed upstairs, bringing their heads up. Ball made his way down the stairs.

"Well!" Ben closed his ledger. "I'm glad you decided to come down."

"I haven't wanted to impose, Mr. Cartwright."

"Oh, there's no imposition." Hoss came back out of the kitchen, stuffing the last of a sandwich in his mouth. Annie hid a grin.

"Pa, I'm headed out." He buckled his gun belt and Ball's smile slipped.

"Where's he going?" She rolled her eyes and went back to the column of figures she'd just written down.

"Outside, to relieve Candy. They're keeping watch on the road in."

"I see." His face relaxed. "Do you mind if I go outside?"

"Of course not, it's perfectly safe."

"Unfortunately, I've heard that before."

"We searched thoroughly," Annie said through gritted teeth. "There's no one around who shouldn't be." Ball spared her a cursory glance and sniffed, raising her hackles. If Candy was here right now, she knew what he'd have to say, and he'd be right.

"Mr. Cartwright, you'd be wise not to let her keep watch, the men after me won't make any exceptions because she's a woman." Ball made a swift departure and Ben shook his head.

"If only he knew. Where were we? Oh, yes, extra payroll. Anne." She glared at the door a moment longer, then bent her head to the ledger.

The books went smoothly, mainly because Joe wasn't involved, he never did have a head for figures. They finished shortly before supper and she headed outside to check Reno, glaring at Ball on her way past the chair he'd apparently claimed as his.

The grulla was munching hay in his stall when she walked into the barn. His head came up and he pricked his ears, hay dangling from both sides of his mouth like a mustache. He nickered and she rubbed his forehead. "I bet you know what he's hiding, don't you?" She ran her fingers through his glossy mane. "Nice try, Candy." She turned, meeting his annoyed frown with a sweet smile.

"Nothing wrong with your instincts." He rubbed his hands together and leaned on the stall wall. "You get the same feeling about him that I do?"

"Yes." She nodded slowly, still combing the gelding's mane. "I'm just not sure what."

"We had a talk earlier, he was trying to figure out your pa's angle." Annie snorted. "Yeah, that's what I told him, but I don't think he believed me." Candy drew in a breath. "Look, I still think Mr. Cartwright was wrong to take him in, but it's not my call, so I'll live with it, as long as none of us gets hurt because of it. This place is the only real home I've ever had for as long as I can remember and he's not gonna take that away."

"It's about time you said that, only took you what, a year and a half?" He gave her a sheepish grin.

"Just about." She grinned back and patted Reno once more.

"We'd better get in to supper, Hop Sing is mighty testy when his masterpieces get cold." Candy barked out a laugh and they headed for the house.

Supper was a tense affair, Ball refusing to even taste a bite until everyone else had eaten half of their portions. Annie rolled her eyes. Hop Sing grouched the whole time, arms crossed and eyes narrowed as Ball's meal turned cold and greasy on his plate. Ben sighed and put a hand on their cook's shoulder.

"Hop Sing, it has nothing to do with your cooking, I can assure you. Mr. Ball is simply afraid of being poisoned." It was the absolute wrong thing to say; Hop Sing ranted in Chinese several minutes before switching back to English.

"You think I poison?" He wagged a finger in Ball's face. "Is waste of good food. You eat before taste like day old slop!" Annie choked on a laugh, and even Ben hid a smile. Ball shoved his plate back and pushed away from the table.

"I can't."

"You eat! No one go hungry from Hop Sing kitchen."

"Now, now, Hop Sing." Ben hurried to smooth ruffled feathers. "I'm sure he'll eat once he gets hungry enough."

"Then he eat sandwich!" Hop Sing snatched up the man's full plate and disappeared into the recesses of his kitchen, muttering under his breath. Hoss clutched his own plate as if afraid it would be next. Candy snickered and scraped up his last few bites.

"Anyone up for a game of checkers?" The look on his face was innocent, but his skills at the game were anything but. Hoss shook his head and kept eating. Joe and Ben also refused as they drifted over to the fireplace, which her pa soon lit to ward off the evening chill. "How about it, sweetheart?"

"As long as you don't mind losing," she retorted with a smug smile.

They were still ensconced in the game when her brothers said good night and made their way upstairs. Ben watched them contemplating their next move, a small pile of Candy's pieces next to her, and shook his head.

"How about a night cap, Mr. Ball?" The man didn't even blink. Annie watched from the corner of her eye as her pa poured two brandies and took a seat beside Ball at the big parlor table. Candy nudged her foot under the table and she glanced back to the board.

Oh, he thought he had her, did he? Well, they'd see about that. She jumped one of his pieces and grinned as the smile slid off his face.

"You look like a happy man." They both glanced over at Ball. Ben relaxed in his chair and took a sip of his brandy before answering.

"I haven't given that too much thought, but I suppose I am." Ball nodded slowly and reached for his glass, then froze with a sideways look at Ben that resembled a stalked deer. Annie rolled her eyes. "Came out of the same bottle as this." Ball studied his glass.

"The first time, they used strychnine." Her pa said nothing for a moment.

"You know, your offering to give testimony, that takes a lot of guts." He glanced over his shoulder at them and she wondered if he was remembering what had happened at Sand Dust. Ball shook his head, again looking smug.

"I'm just trying to get a lighter prison term by pleading state's evidence." Annie's fingers tightened on her piece. She knew he was a rat all along. Her pa turned his glass in his hands.

"All the same, it'll do a lot of good."

"You're being used, do you know that?" Ball carefully stood, glass in hand. "This is a very dirty fight. The eight men who will be convicted by my testimony go all the way to the top of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. And if they're not convicted, and it's a very good chance they might not be, they'll kill you."

"Then what good are you?" Candy asked, heat in his tone. Ball shrugged.

"The District Attorney thinks he's got a chance, so of course, he'll take it. The government doesn't like it when people walk off with their money. The marshal neglected to mention that part, he's afraid of scaring you off."

"The Cartwrights don't scare easily," Candy replied as he made his move, which she countered immediately by jumping two more of his pieces. He blinked down at the board and she smiled.

"Well, even if he had told us, it wouldn't have changed anything." Ben took another drink. "You'll be safe here."

"I'm beginning to believe it." Ball finally took a drink of his brandy. Her pa's mouth twitched. "I think for the first time in a long time, I'll sleep through the night." He left his glass on the table and headed up the stairs. Ben finished his drink and stood.

"Haven't you finished yet? It's after ten o clock."

"Almost, Mr. Cartwright. I just need three or four more moves, then I win." Annie snickered.

"I don't even need that." She easily jumped the last three of his men with one of her kings and cleared the board, then sat back in her chair. "I thought you were getting better."

"I thought I was, too," he said softly, still staring at the board. Ben chuckled and carried the glasses back to his liquor cabinet.

"Go on, you two. Morning comes early enough as it is. Oh, and Candy, I need you to run to town for supplies tomorrow."

"Night, Pa."

"Of course. Good night, Mr. Cartwright."

From her spot hidden on the hill, she could see anything – or anyone – that moved for miles around. It was shaping up to be a boring morning. Candy had driven off towards Virginia City just over an hour ago judging by the sun, but not even a rabbit had stirred since then.

Black tipped ears flicked and she followed Reno's gaze. What had he seen? She scanned the horizon, but nothing looked out of place. His sides expanded and she backed him up sharply, cutting off the whinny he'd been about to make.

There was another horse close by, but where? A flash of mottled gray caught her eye, but it wasn't where she'd expected it to be.

It was a woman, riding a roan or something similar, riding cross country over the ridge lines. Annie bit her lip and wheeled Reno, driving him into a hard gallop for home.

The mustang slid to a stop in the yard and she jumped off. "Get him inside." Her pa rose from his chair on the porch.

"What's the matter?"

"We got company coming, a woman." Hoss left his chair, hands on his hips.

"Candy must have passed her going in."

"No, she came over the hill, almost slipped past me. I figure we've got five minutes." Ben's face hardened.

"Mr. Ball." The man was already on his feet, a smile on his lined face.

"It's my wife."

"Your wife?" Annie exploded. "How?" That smug smile was back.

"I sent for her."

"How?" They all stared at him.

"The letter I gave Ludlow had a coded message. A code we agreed on a long time ago." And was she the only one wondering why he'd need anything like that? Honest men usually didn't require such … inventions. The look on her pa's face said he was thinking the same thing.

They stood in a silent, disapproving line as the woman rode in. Ball smiled and went to her side. "Harriet." She jumped down and they embraced. Annie studied the woman with a frown. What did she see in that oily snake? Well, they did say love was blind.

"Pa, I'll get back on watch."

"Be careful."

"I'm not Joe." She grabbed Reno's reins and swung into the saddle, then loped out of the yard. When she reached the hill near the creek, she backed Reno into the stand of trees and waited.

Two hours later, Candy came into view and she rode down off the hill, pacing Reno alongside the buckboard. "Any trouble?" He shook his head.

"None. Maybe I was wrong and they don't know where he is after all."

"Was anyone in town looking for a woman named Harriet Ball?"

"No, why?"

"Ball sent her a coded message in that letter and she found her way here. If she could, someone else could, all they'd have to do is follow her." His frown deepened.

"As soon as I drop off the buckboard and that fellow's medicine, I'll be back to relieve you." He shook his head and pulled the team to a halt. "No, you drive it in and I'll take over the watch."

"Candy. Are you forgetting I've been dealing with the side effects of irritating powerful men since I was seventeen? I'm waiting on that hill up there and the only danger I'm currently in is potentially expiring of boredom."

"But –"

"Please don't turn into another brother on me. Since Younger, they've both turned into maiden aunts. Even Hop Sing hovers." Candy laughed. "It's not funny. If Pa wasn't in charge of assigning guard duty, I wouldn't be out here."

"They worry, that's all, you're the only sister they've got. If you're sure, I'll be back out as soon as I can saddle Scout."

"No hurry." He laughed and clucked to the team. Annie rode back to her position and resumed her lonely watch.

Which suddenly became interesting a little later when a stranger came up the road from Virginia City. His horse wasn't from the livery either, she'd never seen that dark chestnut before. She knew of one similar, but that animal only had a small star, not a stripe and hind sock.

Ten to one he was looking for Ball.

Common sense said to ride home and tell them more company was on the way, but common sense had also said confronting Younger on her own was a good idea, too. If she rode up to this fellow, what could happen?

Odds were, he wasn't alone, no matter what it looked like. Judging the horse she could see, it was a fairly decent animal, but not Reno's caliber.

They were close enough to the house that gunfire would carry, making back up only minutes away if she needed help.

And – while highly unlikely – it could be someone on innocent business, or simply lost. "Come on, Reno." She rode out of hiding and made her way to the road, keeping one eye on the gelding's ears. "You lost, mister?"

"Just riding through." The stranger stopped his chestnut and she studied the animal more closely. Good bred, strong, and likely fast. But still not good enough to top her mustang. "Looking for some likely land to homestead." Dressed like that? He looked more like a cardsharp.

"Not here, you won't. All of this is the Ponderosa Ranch, owned by Ben Cartwright." Reno's ear flicked. Behind her and to the right. Both ears laid back. And to the left. Sometimes she hated being right. At least she didn't hear horses; they had to be on foot, which gave her the advantage.

"Really?" He gave her an oily smile and she sidled Reno closer. "How do you know that?"

"I'm his daughter." Another two steps. His smile widened.

"How about you stop moving that pony and drop your gun?" She gave him a feral smile of her own.

"How about I don't?" She drove Reno into a dead run straight at him, banking on the hope his men would hold their fire for fear of hitting their boss in the process. A few gun shots cracked through the air, but as she'd figured, they fired high, probably hoping she'd stop out of fear.

They didn't know who they were dealing with.

She spurred Reno hard and seconds later they were back in the trees, sprinting away from danger. A bullet zinged off a nearby tree trunk, throwing splinters across her face, and she ducked low against the mustang's neck.

"Get her!" She glanced over her shoulder. The stranger was charging after her, his men scrambling to collect their horses and take up the chase. A quick change of course put her in a wide arc, aiming for the house.

Candy shouldn't be too far out, unless her pa had asked him to hang around for some reason. Even if he wasn't on the way, that gunfire would bring all of them riding down on this dandy. She just had to keep out of his range until they arrived. She drew her pistol and fired over her shoulder, not bothering to aim.

Fire licked across her arm and she hissed, glancing down at the trickle of blood staining her sleeve. Hop Sing would not be happy come laundry time.

A new burst of gunfire rang out and she darted another look back. Candy burst out of the trees on her left, firing wildly, and slid in beside Reno. "You sure that was a good idea?"

"Seemed like it at the time," she called back and fired again, knocking one man off his horse into the dust.

"Annie!" Cochise galloped up on her right. "You all right?"

"Never better." She fired again. Ben and Hoss rode up as they crested the hill.

"Let's go, we can get cover up on the high ground." Ben pointed at the looming mountains off to the left. "Make them ride into our fire. You know who that is?"

"Some dandy after Ball would be my guess. He wanted me to drop my gun and I declined." Joe cackled. Ben shook his head and glanced back.

"Let's go." They blurred into motion and galloped on.

"Shouldn't we be going back to protect his hide?"

"It's too late for that," Candy said, urgency sparking like lightning. "Look." He pointed down at the road from the Ponderosa. A buckboard and team raced towards town, kicking up dust.

"I told him to stay put," Ben growled. "They're heading for trouble." They changed course, swinging around to catch up with Ball and his wife. Ben grabbed for the horse's bridle and the buckboard slowed. "You can't run, they're right behind us!"

"It's Vardeman, I saw him," Ball said in a shaky voice. "He's here to kill me, I know it."

"Jack's line shack," Joe burst out. "We can hole up there." Ben nodded and reined Buck around.

"Candy, get in that buckboard, take the reins!" Candy jumped off Scout and threw her the reins. He scrambled onto the seat and lashed the horses into a gallop.

It was a race to the line shack, and one they could easily win, even slowed by the buckboard. She hauled Reno to a stop in the line shack's yard near the well and jumped down, snatching her rifle from the scabbard. Hoss took charge of the horses as Candy brought the buckboard to a rattling halt.

"The both of you get into that shack and stay there! Candy, get rid of that buckboard and get in there with them! Annie, you, too!" She darted inside and scanned the room, searching for the best spot. Ball and his wife huddled near the door.

"Don't just stand there," Annie hissed. "Get down!" The door flew open and Candy slammed it shut behind him.

"Get over there and get down," he hollered, motioning at the bed in the far corner.

"Charles, what have we done?" Harriet whimpered as they crouched in the floor.

"You jumped right into the fire, lady, that's what you've done," Candy spit as he took up guard near the front window. Annie measured distances, then picked the side window. Silence fell as they waited. She saw them first.

"They're coming." She cocked her rifle and eased the barrel up to the glass. She wouldn't break it until Vardeman and his men fired. The horses outside slowed, then stopped.

"Cartwright! We want Charles Ball! Then we'll leave." Ball's face went white; Annie rolled her eyes. He seriously thought they'd give him up now?

"You can't have him."

"What do you think now?" Candy asked. Ball shook his head, his wife gripping his arm. Gunfire rang out and Annie smashed the window, firing twice in quick succession. The return fire was heavier than she'd anticipated, forcing her to hit the floor. Glass shards and wood chips pelted her hair. "You all right over there?"

"Just fine." She risked raising her head and fired off another shot. "They're not even trying to move, just sitting there." But wait … was there one missing? "Candy, keep an eye out, I think one of them slipped past us."

"Vardeman won't quit, not until I'm dead, or he's dead." She glanced back at Ball.

"I'd prefer the second option."

"Charles, what are we going to do?" Ball shook his head.

"I'm going to testify." Annie and Candy both looked over, eyebrows raised. "If I get out of this alive, I'm gonna testify against each and every one of them. They can keep their 50,000." So it was money, after all. Why wasn't she surprised?

"Nothing like getting shot at to make a man see the light," Candy quipped. Outside, the gunfight raged on. Candy stiffened. "Your pa's hit!"

"What?!" She whipped around and scrambled across the room to the other window. Candy held up his hand.

"He's fine, Joe's got him." Glass shattered, bringing them both around as a man dove through the far window at the other end of the shack. Candy threw himself across the floor, gun blazing. She brought up the rifle; bullets nailed the man to the wall and he slid down it, very dead. Candy heaved a sigh and twisted around. "That was close," he said quietly. Another volley of gunfire rang out, then silence fell. Horses galloped away and they all traded nervous looks.

"Candy!"

"We're all fine, Joe!" Harriet slumped against her husband and closed her eyes. Annie dropped to a crouch and leaned on her rifle.

Too close. Way too close. She glanced over at the dead man in the floor and suppressed a shiver. "Might I suggest you stay out of trouble in the future."

"I plan to." Ball wrapped his arm around his wife. "Thanks to all of you."

"Don't mention it." Candy crawled over and took her arm. "Let me take a look at that."

"It's a graze, it'll be fine in a few days." The front door opened and her brothers swarmed into the room, their pa supported between them.

"Vardeman's dead," he said in that gravely tone. "Two fled, but I don't figure they'll show their faces again with their boss dead." His gaze landed on her arm. "You all right, Annie?"

"It's a graze," she said in a huff, and straightened. "Nothing I haven't had before."

"What did you think you were doing? When I heard that gunfire …" Ben sighed. "Your brother gives me enough gray hairs for the both of you. I don't need any more."

"What about us? When Candy called out that you'd been hit –"

"It's a graze, no worse than yours, I expect. And stop trying to change the subject." One handed, he adjusted his hat. "Let's get home."

They all rode out surrounding the buckboard with rifles at the ready. While none of them seriously thought the other two men might still be lurking around, it never hurt to be prepared.

Hop Sing met them in the front yard, his face flushing red when he saw the blood and ripped sleeves. "You think I have no better to do than mend? How many time this month you come home with clothes need repair?"

"Too many," Joe quipped, earning a glare.

"You responsible for most!" Her brother grinned sheepishly and swung down off Cochise.

"And I'm sorry." Their cook shook his head.

"You never sorry." He turned and stomped back into the house, then stuck his head back out the door. "Supper is ready, anyone no eat, too bad. Kitchen closed!" He slammed the door to roars of laughter.

Marshal Ludlow and her pa exchanged thank yous beside the buckboard while Ball said his good byes and shook hands. The other marshal waited on his horse a few feet away. Ball climbed onto the seat beside his wife and glanced sideways at Ben.

"I'm not going to say thank you." Annie stiffened. He what? After all they'd done for him? Strangely, her pa didn't seem upset.

"No need."

"No words," Ball corrected. "What words can a man use to say, 'thank you for saving my life?'" Seemed to her that would suffice, but to each his own.

"Forget it."

"I can't. I can't even pay you." Beside her, Candy muffled a snort and shook his head in amusement. Guess Ball never had figured them out. "I don't know what to do."

"Tell them what you must tell them at the trial. And walk a straight line here on in. That'll be pay enough, and thanks enough." He smiled and slapped Ludlow on the back. The marshal clucked to the team and they started out of the yard, the other marshal riding alongside.

"Think he will, Pa?" She asked softly. Ben shrugged.

"I can't answer for another man, but I hope so."

"Did he give the Derringer back?" Ben blinked and they all looked at him while he searched his pockets. He held up one finger and produced the tiny pistol from his vest.

Candy chuckled; Joe's familiar cackle burst through the clear afternoon. Hoss shook his head and Ben smiled. They all turned and went back inside the house.