Chapter

The Empty House

"Joe!"

"Hey Joe! We're home." They called out to him.

Adam nodded to Hoss who bolted up the stairs to see if he was in his room. A moment later Hoss was coming back down alone.

"Nothing." He said at Adam's questioning gaze.

"Where is that boy?"

"Maybe he's still out on the range."

"At this time and in this weather? He should have been home hours ago." It had rained the last day and a half of their journey. Adam shook the droplets from his duster and began to remove it when there was a knock at the door. He opened it to their hand.

"Jim?"

"Is he here?"

"No. No sign of him."

"You?"

"No. His horse isn't stabled."

The house was the first place the brothers had checked. Even leaving their own horses out in the storm. "We found some tools in the bunkhouse that weren't there when we left. It looks like he might have been in the middle of fixing Carlos's bed."

"Maybe he went in to town."

"What would cause him to just up and leave like that?"

"Maybe he needed supplies."

"He might have gotten caught in the storm." These were all viable scenarios.

"Should we go look for him?"

Adam was at an impasse. All of what they said about Joe could be true or none of it. Joe could be in town right now in the bed of some hotel room or out there looking for Clay, or he could be out there lost in the night stuck under a fallen branch. Either way the chances of any of them doing him any good by trudging out there in this weather to go look for him, in the condition they were in, with not even tracks to lead them was foolhardy.

"No. Not tonight. Tell the men to get a good night's rest. If he's not back by morning we may need their help looking for him."

"Yes sir, Mister Cartwright."

They had just returned after more than three full weeks away. Whatever Joe's excuse was for not being here when they got in they were sure they'd get their answers tomorrow when Joe came slinking in.

They'd been home for about an hour now. After putting the horses to bed and securing the supply wagon behind the house, cleaning it out could wait until morning, they had gone in and gotten cleaned up and into some dry clothes. Hopsing had put some coffee on to brew and escaped off into his own quarters. The men though, not wanting the hot liquid to keep them up had drunken just enough to warm them and fight off some of that cold bite. Hoss was the first to give in.

"Welp, I think I'm gonna head off to bed."

Adam admitted that he wasn't very far behind.

~.~

The rain had stopped sometime during the night. Scattered clouds made the new day tolerable. The summer storm had given the thirsty land a much needed reprieve. Rumor was, a second wave would follow. As of now the ground was left wet and muddy.

They took in breakfast and waited until mid-morning to see if Joe would return on his own. When no sign of their youngest sibling came they had to come up with more aggressive tactics. Turns out the ranch hands would be needed. They sent them off in different directions to different parts of the property. The mining camps would be visited as well as the lumber camps. If Joe was out there they had orders to bring him back or, at the very least, have a good reason as to why he couldn't return. If nothing else the men in the camps might know something.

Adam and Hoss were both a part of the search efforts separating themselves among the men. Hopsing was requested to stay put in the event Joe was to return.

Their searches however proved to be fruitless. By mid-afternoon the men had returned with no more answers than when they'd left. No word whatsoever on where Joe might be. It'd been a week since he visited the mines. Even longer the lumber camp.

Adam had made the decision to make the trip into Virginia City. He'd first ask around to see if anyone has heard from him there, then send off a telegraph to their pa whom was probably sick with worry to inform him of their findings. He'd hope he could tell him something, other than that which would only validate his worry, but that remains to be seen.

He had gone upstairs to clean himself up and was coming back down some twenty minutes later, to Hopsing bowing to Hoss who was near the table, before escaping off into the kitchen.

"What's that?" He asked of the lavender cloth his middle brother held in his hand.

"Hopsing found it." He said, holding up a purple shawl meddled with twigs and leaves. Adam was confused by the sight, wondering why a lost shawl would be of any significance. "It was just within the tree-line behind the house. He saw it there while he was cleaning out the supply wagon."

The shawl didn't say much. If anything, all this shawl alluded to was the mindless indiscretion of a boy coming of age.

"Alright, hang here for anything more. I'm heading in to town."

~.~

Less than an hour later he was asking the wandering folks of Virginia City what their take on the matter was. From what they could impart was that there had been no sighting of him anywhere for at least a week or more. Even Roy, who had gone to the house after receiving the graph from his pa and had since been keeping an eye out for the boy could tell him nothing.

Keeping in mind the annoyance he would feel at having to renege if he went home and found that Joe had been sitting right there under the stairs waiting for him, having worried his pa for nothing, preemptive or not, it was time to send the telegraph to his pa.

~.~

"Any sign of Joe?" He asked when he had made it back to the house.

"I'm not sure."

"You're not sure?"

"The hands found Cochise."

"They did? Where?"

"Not too far from here. She was in Squaw's Meadow munching on fresh grass."

"What about Joe? Any sign?"

"None. I went out there to look myself. If there was anything it'd probably been washed away by the storm. It looked like she must have been out there for a while. A few days at least. She was rain-trodden to all get-out."

"Is she okay?"

"She will be. With some good care." Adam nodded, giving up some of his concern for her. "That's not all." His younger brother recalled his attention. "Her bags were packed."

Hoss took Adam to the table where the contents had been splayed out.

"He's got food and water for days. All full. What do you make of it?"

"He hadn't even made it to his first stop." The worry grew in the elder boy.

Tomorrow they would have to get aggressive with their searching. A posse would possibly be needed. Adam would head back to town the next morning to get Roy involved. The evening passed with nothing more. They ate supper and went to bed.

~.~

A pounding at the door shook Adam awake. Who could it be this time of night? Opening his pocket watch kept on the table next to his bed told him it was just after four in the morning. Still an odd hour for someone to be calling. It wasn't Joe, he knew. Joe wouldn't knock at the door to his own home. Perhaps whoever it might be, might have some insight on Joe. A slight dread crept in, that whoever it was, whether it be Jimmy or Roy or anybody else, it would not be good news.

Adam opened to a gentleman. Unfamiliar to him. Large in build, face beige. His boulder hat overflowed water onto his leather overcoat. The rain had started up again sometime in the night.

Behind the man and off to his left was a woman, judging by the length of hair that fell to her shoulders. She was hidden beneath a felt hat, the brim of which was so wide that it covered the width of her petite frame. Both figures were protected from the storm with heavy dusters. He was bulging out of his and she nearly swallowed up by hers. She kept her hands in her pockets, possibly for warmth. Adam couldn't be sure if she kept her head low to protect herself from the tempest or if her stance was that of a humble servant. If she were a wife, or considered to be an equal partner she might have been in front, before the man, protected by him from the storm and presented to Adam as someone in need of concern. But the man kept her behind him giving Adam some insight as to their association.

Adam wasn't sure if he should invite this man in or not. He wasn't sure what to think of him. Was he a threat to them or otherwise? The night's wet atmosphere might have aided in their ominous appearance. His gentleman quality countered Adam's initial decree. Why this gentlemen would be here at this hour and in this weather was beyond him. He didn't appear hurt, neither the woman. Perhaps he got caught in the freak storm and was seeking refuge. All this he took into account within the epoch of several seconds.

"Can I help you sir?"

"Good evening. I'm here in regards to Little Joe."

"You know where he is?" Hoss asked from his rear, appearing on the landing.

"As a matter of fact I do."

"Well, where is he?"

"He is safe."

"Well where?"

Adam caught on before Hoss did.

"He's not going to tell." A hurt 'why', was written all over Hoss's face. "Because, he's the one who has him." Hoss darted a look to see if it were true. The bulky gentleman grew a knowing smile.

"What have you done with him?" Hoss thundered down the steps. He'd only made it to a few steps lower before Adam threw up his arm to stop him. Though the elder brother himself wanted to rip this man from limb to limb, and Hoss would be the best one to do it, he knew it best to hear what he had to say.

"Relax, I said he was safe."

"What do you want?"

"Money."

"People have tried before. They always fail."

"This I know. This is why I do not want to take it from you. Please sit and I'll explain everything."

The brothers were chary to obey. The eye contact they shared asking what was to be done. Little Joe isn't the only one who could be hurt in this. He drew his weapon down on them. Adam, without hesitation, slapped the man's weapon aside.

"HOSS GO!"

Adam was sacrificing himself for him. As much as Hoss would have rather traded places with his older brother, he knew not to second guess. He bolted back up the steps. Getting away was as much for Joe's sake as it was for his own. A thunderous crack resonated the house and splintered the wall at his head forcing him to stop in place. When he had turned around to face the lower floor he was surprised that it was not the large man who was aimed at him. Smoke was drifting from the pistol in the little woman's hand as she stared down at him coolly.

The large man had Adam by his collar and was lifting him onto his toes. If Hoss had escaped he would have left Adam in a bad way. Perhaps it was best he wasn't successful.

"Sit. Please." The bulked man urged lowering Adam back down to his feet. Adam righted himself and gave his brother a subtle nod before going to the settee. Hoss took the steps down, under threat of gun, and went next to his brother, both sitting themselves down.

"There. Now isn't that better. We're all rested."

"You said you'd explain."

"That was before you tried and pulled the stunt you did. I was hoping to talk like gentlemen. Now I'm not sure I owe you that much." Adam sneered. "Ah well, your brother will be here soon. All will be explained in due time." Hoss and Adam exchanged glances. "Oh I'm sorry." The Mulato apologized for his mistake. "Not your brother. Joe's brother. When he gets here I need your help to convince him to do something for me."

"Which is?"

"Well, I'm sure it won't hurt to tell you this much. You see, Clay has come into some money." They could only imagine how a man of Clay's reputation would have come about this money. What this man's roll before them might be remains a mystery. He might have been a partner whom Clay backstabbed, or a bystander whom somehow came across the knowledge of Clay's newfound fortune, or perhaps the original victim. "Joe's role is merely as leverage to convince Clay of doing the right thing."

"If you have Little Joe why do you need us?" Adam asked.

"Because I know the moment I walk away, you'll be right back out there looking for the boy like you've been."

"Why should we help you?"

"You mean besides for the sake of your brother's life?"

"Clay is also family. If we believe for one iota that you intend to do him harm then we have just as much responsibility to protect him."

"Do you?" The Mulato knew the answer to this bluff as well as the brothers did. "I'm not asking much."

They startled at the knock. It were still early as the sun was just starting to rise.

"Mr. Cartwright! It's Jimmy." The voice called out. The room fell silent.

"If we don't answer they're going to think something's wrong." Hoss clued in.

"Then we'll kill him." Came the Mulato's callous response.

"Did you not hear me? I said 'they'. They're more than just him. They're in the bunkhouse now. If you kill him then you better believe you'd have a whole heap of trouble on your hands."

"Answer it." With the gun aiming at his brother, Hoss got up to obey. "Tell them to call off the search. Tell them to stop looking."

"Hey." Hoss opened.

"Morning mister Cartwright."

"Jimmy."

"M, sorry to disturb you so early but, hey listen, me and some of the boys have been talking. Well you know, Joes had that run in with the miners before we left and all, and we's considering that maybe they might know something. I mean, has anybody gone out and asked them. I mean, not that they'd admit it but…"

"Let me stop you right there. You could call off the search."

"Call it off? You mean, stop looking?"

"Yeah, wouldn't you know it?" The middle brother sniggered nervously. "That darn little rascal. We found him in Alibaster Springs chasing after some girl." But James could see there was fret behind those blue eyes.

"It was on the tip of his tongue to ask, 'Are you alright?' but he held it back. "Yes sir, Mr. Cartwright." He responded instead.

"Hey, while I have you. You know you boys have done an awful lot of work lately and you've done one heck of a job. Why don't you take the rest of the week off? Be back here Sunday eve."

"Well that's nearly five whole days."

"That's right. Missing out on that little break in San Francisco and considering everything you've done for us since, well I think you've earned it. My pa's not going to be back for a bit still. We could pick right back up when he returns."

"Well thank you Hoss. Well that's mighty gracious of you."

"Don't think of it." But there was still sadness in that big boy's eyes. He left with a tip of the hat but walked away unsettled.

He told the others and they celebrated hooping and cheering and Jimmy sat on the edge of his bed taking off his boots so to change his socks, thinking of Hoss and Little Joe and wondering the while if there was something the big brother was holding back.

Ah well. If there was something that Hoss wanted him to know, he would tell him. It was best to just let it be and let the family work it out for themselves.

The men whom had all taken Hoss up on the offer had cleared out the bunkhouse within the hour. There was still the question of Hopsing whom had a room off the kitchen, which the brothers have so far failed to inform these two intruders about.

~.~

The Mulato, when he thought that all hands had gone went out to survey the grounds, leaving the woman to guard them.

"I don't think it's right." Hoss fretted. "What are we going to do when Clay gets here?"

"Play it safe. The quicker Clay gives them what they want the better we'll all be."

"What if he doesn't?"

"He better or I might kill him myself."

"Look, we don't know what's really going on."

"What we do know is that Clay has something that this man wants and he's using Joe to get it for him. Now if Clay had an ounce of decency then he'll comply with this man."

"What if it's not just money they want? What if they want to hurt him? We can't let them hurt him. Joe would never forgive us."

"I don't want to see Clay hurt either, but whatever mess he's gotten himself into he needs to fix. Why shouldn't Clay do whatever they're asking?" Adam argued. "He's the one who got us into this mess in the first place. Whatever Clay's problems are, they're not ours and they're certainly not Joe's but Joe's out there somewhere trapped. Now if Clay can fix this than he needs to."

"I know but still, if Clay had done something, robbed or cheated some guy out of money than jail time is what he deserves. Nothing more. Joe would never forgive us if we let anything more happen to him."

"Well, unfortunately, that may not be on us. We seem to be currently at a want for options."

"We could escape." Adam darted a look up to the woman unsure if she had heard Hoss or could even understand them. They had been keeping their voices low and she appeared unmoving which seemed promising. She kept the pistol trained on them. "Look for him ourselves." Hoss continued. "Now that we've got more answers we can get Roy involved." Adam played it cool as he leant back in to talk to Hoss.

"With her watching over us?"

"It's just her right now. We could take her." As quiet as they were being they weren't positive how much of their conversation she was actually picking up. Even if she could not depict the words they were saying she at least knew they were talking.

"You think she speaks English?"

"I don't know. I haven't heard her talk yet."

"Not even to silence us."

"She probably has no idea what we're saying."

"I think we have a chance."

"If we were ever going to try something, now would be the time."

"If we do this that could put Hopsing at risk."

"Well I do think it's better having him on our side."

"Agreed."

"Alright. What's the plan?"

"First things first, we've got to get the firearm away from her." Before they could create a plan though they heard noises from the kitchen and she jumps to her feet.

"That's our servant Hopsing." Adam jumps up to stop her from advancing. "He knows nothing. He's just gone in there to cook up breakfast. It's his routine. He does it every morning." She was agitated. He was not sure she was even understanding his words. "Let me talk to him. I will dismiss him for the week if you'd like. Just like the others. Get him out of here. I'm sure he'd be grateful to get the time off."

"You go." She commanded of the elder brother. "You stay." She directed of Hoss. She speaks at least basic English.

Adam took the lead in front of her. She, right behind, following him into the kitchen.

Hoss got up which drew her attention just enough. With the gun at his back Adam whipped around knocking it to the side but she held on kicking Adam where no man should ever get kicked and swung the pistol into Hoss's thick face. Adam was on the floor holding himself in a frustrated grimace. Hoss grabbed for the gun but she flailed out of his reach. Adam grabbed for her feet which was all he could really do at the moment. It was enough to get her to stumble but not fall. It caused enough distraction for Hoss to move in and give her a bear hug. She screeched and kicked out at the elder brother which he could only bat away as he fought to regain himself so he could get back in the fight. She kicked behind her getting the middle brother's knees but Hoss held on. She raised her gun hand in the air, to what purpose Hoss wasn't sure if she even knew but it brought it within Hoss's reach. Hoss had to let go with one arm to grab for it. Successful at ripping it away he lost his hold on her though and she scratched and clawed at his face. She wiggled and squirmed like a stray cat threatened with bath water, squirming out of Hoss's hold and the gun clattered to the floor behind him. Instead of running, with fiery determination, she turned to face Hoss, ready to take the large man on, in a hand to hand melee. A foolish move for a little lady. But she was even feistier and cat-like, facing him now, head on. Fighting someone so small wasn't something Hoss was used to. He was definitely out of his element. She was like Joe but a hundred times scratchier and bendier. He could just sock her like he'd normally do in any other fight but was afraid such a move could kill the pretty lady.

At a want for options Hoss grabbed her again and swung around and onto the floor getting on top of her. Her arms flailed about making them hard to grab onto. "Will you quit fighting?" Adam stumbled to the pistol picking it up and aimed down at her.

"I got her Adam. Go get some rope." She squirmed and struggled but could go nowhere. Adam stumbled away.

"You do not want to do this." She spits.

"She speaks."

"Listen to me." Her accent was thick but discernable.

As he reached for the door he heard another voice in the room.

"Not so fast." Another man stood with a pistol to the back of Hoss's skull. "Let her up." It was not the Mulato. This man was shorter and thinner, though about the same age as his male counterpart. Hair dark with gray streaks, loose curls that went down to the base of his neck. Hoss looked to Adam to ask what he should do. The Mulato was just coming from the kitchen with Hopsing in his grip. Worried for the both of them, Adam, with a subtle nod, urged his younger brother to obey. Hoss released his hold and let the woman squirm away. Frustrated and knowing they'd been beat Adam raised the firearm in the air hoping to quell any resentment their assailants might have for their insurrect.