Chapter

The Man of the Hour

The Frenchman when he was here loved to walk out of the room and nosy himself about the house. He took great pleasure in this. The woman (or the Haitian when it were his turn) stood guard making sure they wouldn't try anything stupid. Of course, doing something stupid would be a bit more difficult to achieve as they were in constant binds now. Even when not tied to the banister, they were rarely let out of their ropes, which usually kept their hands at their backs. Their shoulders ached at the length of time they'd been in them. Hopsing had been allowed more freedom to roam around and fix meals as needed and has so far not violated their trust. Adam secretly told him not too, at least not yet. Having the servant out of his binds could prove to be useful to the boy's but they needed to play their cards right and not be too haste.

The Frenchman liked to walk out a lot. He took great enjoyment in scouring the rooms, going through their personal things. The violation Adam felt in this irritated him.

On one such occasion after spending some time up there, he came down with Joe's lance, whipping it around and slicing air. He stopped at the middle landing to examine both brothers. Settling on the older boy he asked.

"Is this yours?" Adam refused to answer. "Do you fence?" He continued on down to the bottom floor. When Adam still didn't respond, he put the fatal end under Adam's chin just under his collarbone. Adam looked so helpless like this with his arms behind him, but he was leant forward into the point glaring up at his captor, and he refused to let fear draw him to lean back. "I'm willing to bet you're pretty good with this thing. Did Marie teach you?" Adam furrowed. This was the first mention of her. The first indication that he knew her, or of her. "Were you two close?" He lifted Adam's chin with it, enjoying the control.

Hoss asked, "What do you want?"

The man whipped it against Hoss's cheek without hesitation, drawing blood. "When I wish to speak to you, I'll address you." Adam wanted to attack the man right there for what he had done to Hoss but he refrained. Hoss was successful at drawing the attention off of Adam but at what cost? The man stared down cruelly at his younger brother as if challenging him to do more. Now it was Adam who wished to draw his attention back.

"Did you know Marie?" He eyed Adam then pressed the length of the lance into Hoss's cheek just below where he had struck him to examine his deed.

"Marie?" He stared at Hoss but his question was clearly directed to Adam. "Is that who she was to you?" He asked nonchalantly. "You don't call her mother?" He finally glanced at the older brother. "How very interesting."

The woman from their father's desk, as if hearing something outside, jumped up and glanced out the window. "He's here."

"Hopsing get in here!" He called the servant from the kitchen. The Frenchman glared at Adam again. He whipped the lance back to the eldest brother's throat threateningly. "Get up." He demanded of Hoss. "Undo his ties." Hopsing obeyed. The moment Hoss felt the release he rotated his cuffs in a grimace stretching out his arms. "Answer it." He commanded of Hoss who gulped and rubbed at his raw wrist, keeping the grimace. "No funny business. Remember, Joe isn't the only one who could be hurt in this." Hoss furrowed seeing the predicament Adam was in and went for the door.

"You sit." He commanded the servant to take Hoss's spot.

~.~

The young man said a silent prayer before pushing his mount into the yard. He did not secure him to the post. Stopping into the middle of the yard he slipped down. He wasn't sure what to expect. He might need the quick getaway. He drew his gun and held it at his thigh. Hoss appeared from the door and Clay felt chagrined. Last he had left them it wasn't on good terms. He'd disappeared in the night without the respect of an explanation nor the dignity of a goodbye. Hoss seemed to be just as stunned to see him, so stunned in fact that there were no words to greet him just a large man with a concerned look. Concern for Joe as Clay's return likely wouldn't be healthy for him in the mind of the elder brother. Oh well. He hadn't come here to visit. He had a purpose.

All seemed quiet. He didn't know if that were good or bad.

"Are you alright?" Strange way to greet them he knew, but If they were okay, he could explain the strangeness of the greeting later. Hoss seemed stumped for words giving him no indication as to whether or not he was in trouble. As awkward as it was, he kept his gun at his side just in case.

Having Clay before him frightened him. He hadn't wanted to put Clay in any danger but warning him would risk Adam whom had the lance to his throat now. If he had to choose between the two (he surely didn't want to have to choose) it would be Adam, every time. The gun was on his own head now. The Frenchman had drawn it up at Hoss from his position in front of Adam. He now threatened both of their lives.

Clay saw his expression change as the middle brother flicked his head to his side at something behind him, with that movement unwittingly revealing to Clay the fresh gash on his cheek. Clay returned a nod to let him know he knew. He was going to help. He went to slip away to a position of defense.

"Put it down." A click came from aside the bunkhouse before he could move. The voice came from that of a girl. "You recognize me?" She stepped out with her gun drawn down. Clay frightened to see her. He struggled to find the words to answer her. "Of course you wouldn't." She answered instead. "I'm nobody to you. Just the little girl whose father you murdered." She spit out, drawing her pistol up and aiming it down at him. Some commotion happened inside and the Frenchman came charging out lance still in hand.

"Maria. Not here! Not now! Remember we have a greater purpose. You'll get your chance. But now's not the time!" She took a breath and relaxed her gun.

"Into the house." She commanded. Clay considered the situation and went for the door, the Frenchman standing aside to let him pass. "When this is over, he belongs to me." She said as they passed through the threshold. The Frenchman whipped the lance towards the settee directing Hoss to sit. Clay went to join him but the Frenchman put up an arm to stop him, leaving him standing in the foyer.

"Don't worry. A deal's a deal." He told the woman. "You'll get your time. I will not forget our agreement. I pray you will not either."

"Perhaps it is best I go to the-"

"hem." The Frenchman cleared his throat stopping the woman. "I will go to the Haitian." She proceeded with caution. "I will inform him of Clay's arrival."

He grabbed her arm. "I can trust you with Joe?"

"I have no qualms with the boy." She eyed the brothers as she said this. "He will be safe in my care."

"I'm sure he will be." The Frenchman sneered before releasing her. She went for the door to take her leave but turned to the brothers one last time and winked before walking out. The Frenchman didn't see this. What did that mean? That wink said so much. She was a scrappy young woman who was capable of much. What did that mean for Joe?

"Kind of you to finally join us." The Frenchman teased when the little lady had walked out.

"You didn't leave me much of a choice."

"I took a gamble. Made a bet that there was something in that hard little heart of yours."

"So I'm here. What do you want?"

"I need you to do something for me."

"What?" He asked appearing a bit perturbed.

The Frenchman leaned in whispering something in Clay's ear to which Clay shot him a look.

"What?" He asked astounded. "Why would I ever...?"

"Because you know what's at stake if you don't." Clay lunged but the Frenchman quick-drew aiming it at the half-brother, then whipped the lance (which he still held) back on the older boy.

"Tell me. If you have Joe, then why do you need them?"

"The quick answer, in case Joe wasn't enough to convince you." Hoss melted worry. Adam shot daggers at the mere idea of Clay not doing everything in his power to help Joe. Clay had been directed to take the Windsor.

Together they waited for the others to return, the Frenchman making small talk but no more had been revealed to the brothers about what this was really about. It mattered little to Adam. He just needed Joe to be safe. That should be Clay's concern too. He feared though that this was not enough to convince him. Clay was mostly silent burrowing his fist in his lips as the Frenchman jabbered away.

~.~

"Hoss? You doing okay?"

"Yeah, I'm alright."

The brother's had been tied to the banister and left alone. Maria had come back with the Haitian and now all three with Hopsing and Clay were in the bunkhouse. They'd been warned not to attempt an escape. That multiple lives were in peril. Including that of their humble servant and now added to the list Clay Stafford.

"He whipped you pretty good."

"This old thing. That ain't nothing. I've been hit harder before."

"I know but that don't mean it didn't hurt."

"To tell you the truth it's that little filly that scares me the most." Adam chuckled. "I'm serious Adam. That girl moves around like a badger on coffee."

"I'm not sure about her. Something about her seems really off."

Hoss scoffed. "There's a lot about her that seems off. She ain't no lady, I can tell you that. Well you know. She done took on the both of us and nearly got away with it. That little Chihuahua, mangy mutt." Adam laughed at his brother's cant. "Tell me she aint the biggest scoun…"

"Hoss, there's something about her."

"Yeah, Adam. There is." At Adams scowl he considered. "Why do I suddenly get the feeling that what I think about her and what you think about her are two different kinds a thinking's?"

"I've been going over the things she's said."

"Yeah?"

"She couldn't tell us outright because there were other ears. But the things she did say."

"Like what?"

"Joe will be alright."

"He better be alright."

"Clay is my real concern."

"Yeah, she wants to kill him."

"He'll be happy to know of the loyalty we have for him."

"I'm sure it'll warm his heart right up just before she puts a bullet in him."

"Why be concerned about somebody you want to kill."

"You of all people should know sarcasm when you hear it."

"Yes, I would. I get the feeling that wasn't sarcasm. When you put it with the other things she's said."

"She just don't know better how to talk. That's just her accent."

"That's what I thought at first. But there's just too many things she said."

"What are you thinking?"

"How did she get mixed up with guys like these? How did they find each other?"

"Maybe they found her?"

"Why? Why would they seek out a small girl like her to do their bidding?"

"She may look small Adam, but let me tell you. She's something fierce."

"Come on Hoss. She didn't really hurt you all that bad."

"Like she didn't hurt you?"

"Well, when you're kicked there, it tends to put you out of the fight for a bit."

"That's just what I'm talking about."

"Hoss, she could have shot you but she didn't. Everything she did, she did for self-preservation. Think about it. She doesn't want to hurt us. Other than what she needs to, to put on a good show."

"What are you trying to say Adam?"

"I don't know how, and I don't know why but I think that girl is on our side."

"So is she trying to protect Joe or is she trying to protect Clay?"

"Maybe all of us. Twice now it seems like she wanted to tell us more, but she couldn't. There were always others listening."

"If that's true then why has she let it get this far. Why not just let us go when she had the chance or Joe for that matter?"

"I don't know. Maybe she's buying her time. Waiting for the right moment." Hoss mulled on this.

"There is something else. Something you don't know about."

"What?"

"When they were outside, when she had the gun on Clay, he looked as if he'd seen a ghost. She asked him if he remembered her. It looked to me as if he had but didn't know how to tell her. She done cut him off for he could answer. If what your saying is true Adam then she might have been feeding him the answers.

"So what is she waiting for?" Adam asked himself the question Hoss asked a moment earlier. "There must be more to this story that we don't know. Something we're not seeing."

"Maybe it's like you say. She's waiting for the right moment."

"Or I could be wrong about her. Maybe I'm just reaching out for a line. Hoping to God he sends us something to help us get out of this."

"You and me both."