THE FRAME
By: Deborah S.
 
 
Adam and Joe rode into Virginia City, one Saturday night in September. As 
they rode, Adam thought back to the conversation, he and Joe had had 
earlier, as they were saddling their horses. Adam and Joe tried to remember, 
the last time they spent Saturday night in Virginia City, with all the work 
they had had to do on The Ponderosa lately. “What’s the first thing you’re 
going to do Adam, when we get to the saloon?” Joe asked, placing his saddle 
on Cochise. Adam just smiled. Joe smiled back. “Brother, I plan to do that 
myself, but first, I’m going to try my hand at some poker,” Joe said. Adam 
put his saddle on Sport. “Oh come on now Joe. Not another poker game? You 
always lose all your money. Now why don’t you just observe the game this 
time, instead of throwing all your hard earned money away, like you always 
do?” Adam asked. Joe cinched his saddle. “Older brother, it’s times like 
this, that I wish Hoss could have gone into town with me instead. He never 
says boo to me,” Joe said. Adam cinched his saddle as well. “Well younger 
brother, it’s unfortunate for you, that Hoss isn’t home from Placerville 
yet. Now, if you’d like to wait for him to return, I’d be more then happy to 
go into Virginia City by myself,” Adam replied. Joe mounted Cochise. “Let’s 
go,” he said. Adam mounted Sport. “Ready when you are,” Adam replied. 
Cochise took off, with Sport following.
 
Adam and Joe rode just past the saloon, dismounted, and tied Cochise and 
Sport up. The saloon was packed. Adam and Joe walked in. There was a big 
poker game going on at one of the tables. Joe smiled, and began to walk over 
to it. Adam grabbed his shoulder, stopping him. “Joe, my advice to you, 
would be to wait for another game,” Adam suggested. Joe turned to look at 
Adam. “Why should I wait?” Joe asked. “Don’t go,” Adam ordered. “Adam, I 
came here to play poker, and play poker, I’m going to do,” Joe stated, as he 
began to walk again. Adam grabbed his shoulder again. “I don’t like those 
men, and I don’t trust them,” Adam said. “Why, because their friends of Bill 
Enders?” Joe asked. “Yes, because their friends of Bill Enders, and because 
I just don’t like, or trust them,” Adam replied. Joe rolled his eyes. “Adam, 
I thought you were all over that Bill Enders thing. I mean, everyone knows 
he should have hung, but because of you, the man didn’t get away with Toby’s 
murder, and died while trying to escape from prison. Adam, let it go,” Joe 
said. Adam gave him a hard look. “It’s not because of me he died trying to 
escape prison, Joe. He chose to rob Toby, then shoot and kill him. . He just 
got what he deserved is all,” Adam replied. Joe shook his head. “So Adam, 
you think that his friends there, are playing poker, just waiting for me to 
come in, and join in their game, to somehow get back at you? Is that what 
you're thinking?” Joe asked. Adam took a deep breath, and looked back at the 
men playing poker. “I can’t explain it, but that’s how I feel. I don’t trust 
John Wilkins, Dan Stevens, or Ray Cochran,” Adam replied. Joe hit Adam’s 
chest three times, with the back of his left hand. “Well that’s your problem 
older brother. Right now, I have some money that’s burning a hole in my 
pocket, and I’m going to join that game,” Joe said. “No matter how I feel 
about it Joe?” Adam asked. “No matter how you feel about it ,“ Joe replied, 
and then walked over to the table, asking to be dealt in. He sat down, and 
Adam looked away.
 
Adam saw Sam behind the bar, and walked over to him. “Give me a beer Sam,” 
Adam requested, while still looking at Joe. Sam put Adam’s beer on the bar. 
Adam picked it up, took a drink from it, then turned back to look at Joe. “I 
saw you talking to Joe over there. I can only imagine what it was about. I 
don’t trust those three either Adam,” Sam said. Adam put his coin down to 
pay for the beer. “Wish my brother felt the way you do Sam,” Adam said, as 
he walked over to the table, feeling very uneasy. Adam stood behind Joe, and 
looked at his hand. He had a good hand. Adam took another sip of his beer. 
Susie came up to Adam, and kissed his cheek. Adam looked at her, then took 
another sip of his beer. “Hey Adam, would you like to go upstairs, and 
talk?” Susie asked. Adam looked up at Susie’s room. “May as well,” Adam 
said, putting his beer down next to Joe, who took a drink from it. Adam 
followed Susie upstairs.
 
Once in the room, Adam took off his gun belt. “Been waiting for you to come 
into town. Been a long time, since you and I have spent Saturday night 
together,” Susie said. “Well, I’ve been busy Susie,” Adam replied. Adam 
began to unbutton his shirt, when he heart a gunshot. He grabbed his gun 
belt, put it on, and headed downstairs. There was a crowd of men around the 
table. Adam pushed his way to Joe. The men were accusing Joe of killing Dan 
Stevens. Adam grabbed Joe. “What happened?” he asked. Joe tried to say 
something, but Ray Cochran spoke. “I’ll tell you what happened Cartwright. 
Your little brother here, just up and killed my friend, for no reason. 
That’s what happened. Just up and shot him - dead. Isn’t that right 
everybody?” Ray Cochran asked. Adam looked at the crowd of men, who were 
agreeing with Cochran. “That’s not what happened, and you know it,” Joe 
replied in his defense. “All we know is you killed Dan Stevens in cold 
blood, and being that we are all witnesses to this fact, we’re going to see 
you hang for it,” Ray Cochran replied. The half drunk crowd cheered in favor 
of Joe’s hanging, and walked towards Joe, and Adam. Adam pulled out his gun. 
“The next man, who comes near my brother, and myself, will end up dead,” 
Adam stated.
 
“Put the gun down, Adam,” Roy Coffee ordered. Adam looked at Roy, who was 
holding a rifle at the crowd. “Sheriff, Joe Cartwright shot Dan Stevens here 
in cold blood, and now Adam Cartwright is threatening to shoot us. Isn’t 
that right?” Ray Cochran asked. “Yeah,” the crowd said in agreement. Roy 
shot off his rifle at the ceiling. “Now I want all of you to break this up, 
and calm down,” Roy said. John Wilkins stood up. “Well, could we expect 
anything else from Sheriff Coffee? He’s friends with The Cartwright’s, isn’t 
he? Everyone knows they own him. Pays to have the name of Cartwright, if you 
choose to commit murder in Virginia city, but Lord help you, if you commit 
murder, here or anywhere else, and are fingered by a Cartwright,” John 
Wilkins said. “Meaning What?” Adam asked. Meaning that Bill Enders would 
still be alive, if you weren’t a Cartwright,” John Wilkins stated. Adam 
began to walk towards him, but Sheriff Coffee grabbed his shoulder. “Now, 
you all know that I don’t play favorites in this town,” he said. The crowd 
disagreed. Doc Martin showed up, to take care of the body. Roy didn't like 
the look and feel of the crowd. “Joe, I think you’d better come with me to 
my office, and Adam, I think you’d better come a long as well,” Roy said. 
"What about us sheriff? Doesn't what we have to say count, or doesn't it 
count, because we aren't Cartwright's?" John Wilkins asked. "You can give 
your side of the story in my office, but I want you to settle down first," 
Roy replied.
 
Once at his office, Roy took Joe’s gun, and put him in the cell. Adam walked 
over to the cell, grabbed the bars, looked at his brother, then walked back 
to Roy's desk, where he was standing. “You can’t seriously believe, that Joe 
could possibly kill Stevens in cold blood like that, and over a poker game?” 
Adam asked. Roy sat down at his desk. “Did you see the actual shooting 
Adam?” Roy asked. Adam looked down, and relaxed his body, leaning on his 
right leg. “Well no, but I was down there within minutes,” Adam replied. Roy 
put the keys to the cell in his top, right drawer, and closed it. “Adam, I’m 
afraid, that if you didn’t see the actual shooting, then how can you say 
that Little Joe didn’t do it?” Roy asked. Adam turned his head to the right, 
and looked at Roy. “Because I know my brother, Roy, and I know he's not 
capable of doing anything like that. Do you actually think, that Little Joe 
there, could possibly do, what they are saying he did?” Adam asked. Roy 
didn’t want to say, what he had to say, but he had to. “Now Adam, you didn’t 
witness the shooting, but those men did. I have to go by what the witnesses 
say, and not a brother, who would do anything, to not see his younger 
brother hang,” Roy replied.
 
Joe stood in the cell, his hands around the bars. “Roy, I didn’t do it. I 
swear to you. I didn’t do it. I was just…..”Joe was cut off. “You were just 
what, Little Joe?” Ray Cochran asked, as he and John Wilkins, walked into 
the sheriff’s office. Adam looked at the two men coldly. “What my brother 
has to say, he’ll say to the sheriff, and not to you,” Adam stated. “Well, 
we have a lot to say to the sheriff ourselves, “Ray Cochran said, walking up 
to Adam. Adam stared him in the eyes. “I’ll just bet you have, and what 
about you Wilkins? You have your story all made up, and ready to tell the 
sheriff as well?” Adam asked. John Wilkins looked Adam straight in the eyes, 
and began to go for his gun. Adam began to go for his. Sheriff Coffee stood 
up, his rifle in his hands. “You two men, you just relax those hands, and 
don’t even think of going for those guns, because I’ll shoot the first man 
who does,” Roy ordered. Adam reluctantly relaxed his hands, and Wilkins 
reluctantly relaxed his as well. “Adam, I think you should wait outside, 
while these two men give me their statements,” Roy said. Wilkins and Cochran 
smiled at Adam. Adam gave them a hard look, and walked outside.
 
While outside, Adam could hear all the commotion in the saloon. He knew 
Wilkins and Cochran had riled those half drunken men up, and he knew what 
would become of it. Before the night was over, his brother would be hung by 
a lynch mob. Adam couldn’t let that happen.
 
Awhile later, Cochran and Wilkins walked out, passing Adam outside the door. 
Cochran turned around to face Adam, who was turned, facing the door, his 
hand on the knob. “John, I wonder how Adam Cartwright will feel, watching 
his baby brother swinging back and forth, to and fro, on a rope. Dancing at 
the end of that rope?” Ray Cochran asked. It took every bit of willpower 
Adam had, to not turn, and beat that man within an inch of his life, but he 
knew, if his brother had any hope at all, he had to remain calm. These two 
men, would want nothing more, then to have Adam arrested on assault charges, 
and he knew that. Adam opened the door, and walked back in.
 
Once inside, Adam saw that Roy was seated at his desk, writing. Adam walked 
over to the desk, after spying his rifle, which was leaning again it. Adam 
grabbed the rifle, and pointed it at Roy. Roy looked up. “Adam, now what in 
tarnation are you doing, pointing that rifle at me?” Roy asked. “What I have 
to do, Roy. I’m sorry, but that crowd isn’t going to wait for a trail, to 
see my brother hang. I have the feeling, that Cochran and Wilkins, are over 
at that saloon right now, putting more of that idea, into those men’s heads. 
I have no choice Roy, but to put you in the cell, and take Joe with me. Now 
get moving,” Adam ordered. Roy stood, and said, “Adam, you can’t be serious 
son. You walk out with Little Joe, and you’ll end up in jail yourself.” Adam 
moved the gun, motioning for Roy to move towards the cell. "That's a risk 
that I’m willing to take, if that’s what it takes, to save the life of my 
brother,” Adam stated. As Roy walked, Adam moved carefully, still keeping 
his eyes on Roy, except to look into the top, right hand desk drawer, where 
he pulled out the keys, and a pair of handcuffs. He then proceeded to walk 
over to the cell. He threw Roy the keys. “Open the door,” he ordered. Roy 
opened the door, and Joe walked out. Adam threw Joe the handcuffs. “Put 
those on Roy, Joe,” Adam ordered. Joe put Roy’s hands behind his back, then 
put the cuffs on. “Now, tear up enough of that sheet, and gag him with it,” 
Adam ordered. Joe did. “Now close the door, lock it, and let’s get the hell 
out of here,” Adam said. Joe did, and he and Adam walked to the door. Adam 
looked back at Roy. “I’m sorry Roy, but you left me no choice,” Adam said, 
as he walked out the door behind Joe.
 
Once outside, Adam and Joe could hear the mob getting uglier in the saloon. 
There was no doubt in Adam’s mind, that Wilkins and Cochran were behind it. 
Adam and Joe saw the coast was clear, and walked to their horses, mounted 
them, and started off slowly, as they didn't want to draw attention to 
themselves. Once out of town, they rode their horses, as fast as they could, 
in the darkness of the night.
 
The next morning, Roy Coffee came to see Ben Cartwright. Ben heard someone 
riding up, and went out front to, thinking it was Adam or Joe. “Well Roy 
Coffee. What brings you out here, so early in the day?” Ben asked smiling. 
Roy didn’t smile back. Ben knew something had to be wrong, and walked to 
where Roy had just dismounted his horse. “Ben, it pains me to say this, but 
I’m here to arrest Adam and Little Joe,” Roy said. Ben shook his head, and 
frowned. Hoss walked up, to where Roy and his father were standing. “You’re 
here to what Roy?” Ben asked. Roy looked down. “Ben, don’t make me say it 
again. I have no choice, but to take them back with me, and put them in 
jail,” Roy replied. Hoss asked, “Put them in jail? What’d they do?” Roy told 
them the story of what happened, up until they locked him in his own cell. 
“I can’t believe any of this,” Ben replied. “Well, I don’t believe it. I 
know for a fact, and you should too Roy, that Little Joe, wouldn’t have 
killed that man in cold blood period. You know Little Joe has been cheated 
by other men, who he played poker with, and lost lots of money at times, but 
never once, did he ever even threaten to shoot any of them. Why now?” Hoss 
asked. “Because these men said that Roy Stevens, threatened to kill Adam, 
for what he did to Bill Enders. They said, that Little Joe, just hauled off, 
and shot Stevens dead, to save Adam’s life. So it had nothing to do with 
poker itself. Now you know, as well as I do, that Little Joe has a hard time 
controlling his temper at times,” Roy stated. Ben shook his head. “Roy, none 
of this makes any sense to me. "So, you're arresting Adam, for what?" Ben 
asked. “Well Ben, I was getting to that. Seems Adam thought Little Joe would 
be lynched, by the angry mob in the saloon last night, and helped him to 
escape, locking me in my own cell. Adam was right in doing what he did, I’ll 
admit that, because not long after they left, that mob came into my jail, 
looking to hang Joe, and they would have, it he had been there. I couldn’t 
have stopped them by myself,” Roy said. “Well then Roy, you surely can’t 
hang that charge over Adam’s head. He just did what he felt he had to do, to 
save his brother’s life. Right?” Ben asked. Roy took a deep breath, and 
looked at Ben, then Hoss. “It gets worse Ben. As soon as those men sober up, 
I’m getting together a posse to go after Adam and Joe,” Roy stated. “Is that 
really necessary, Roy? I mean, we can look for Little Joe, and Adam 
ourselves,” Ben stated. “I’m afraid it is necessary, Ben. Seems Adam and Joe 
robbed the bank last night, before leaving town, and got away with over 
$25,000 dollars. Worst then that, Adam shot down Ray Cochran, and killed him 
in cold blood,” Roy said.
 
Ben shook his head. “Roy, none of this makes any sense. Why would Adam and 
Joe rob a bank? Why would Adam kill Ray Cochran in cold blood? Adam isn’t 
that kind of a man, and you know that, Roy,” Ben stated. Roy mounted his 
horse. “Ben, they had to run, and needed money. Now, seeing they aren’t 
here, I guess they figured they couldn’t come back, and needed some money to 
run with. Now, Cochran and Adam had some words, and I saw how Adam looked at 
him, Ben. Well, you know the old saying, if looks could kill. Besides, there 
was a witness, who said he saw Adam and Joe, coming out of the bank, and run 
into the alley, and mount their horses. When Cochran saw what was happening, 
he ran in front of their horses, and Adam just plum shot him down, in cold 
blood,” Roy replied. “Who was this witness?” Ben asked. “John Wilkins,” Roy 
replied. Ben narrowed his eyes. “Why doesn’t that surprise me? Roy Coffee, 
you just make sure you remember, that those are my two sons when you catch 
up to them, and the kind of men they are, before you do anything else. In 
fact, I want to come along on that posse with you,” Ben stated firmly. Roy 
looked down at Ben. “Now Ben, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Roy said. 
“I don’t care what you think Roy. I’m going to town, and I’ll be on that 
posse. You just make sure, you don’t leave without me,” Ben ordered. “Ben, I 
still don’t think your going is a good idea. It might stir up a lot more 
emotions, and create more problems,” Roy replied. Hoss thought for a moment. 
“Pa, Roy’s right. I think it’d be better, if you didn’t go,” Hoss said. 
“What?” Ben asked. “Listen to your son, Ben. He knows what he's talking 
about,” Roy said, and then left.
 
“That figures,” Hoss said. Ben looked at Hoss. “What figures?” Ben asked. 
“That John Wilkins, would be the witness to frame Joe in the saloon, and 
Adam and Joe on the bank robbery, and Adam’s shooting, and killing Cochran. 
Adam and Joe have gotten themselves in a real mess Pa,” Hoss said. Ben 
stared ahead. “Both Adam’s and Joe’s lives depend on what a jury will do,” 
Ben stated sadly. “Then they ain’t got a chance in hell Pa, because the 
three men Roy mentioned, have been threatening Adam, ever since the day he 
took that ride, and framed Bill Enders for Toby’s murder. They’ll just say, 
that Adam retaliated, and Joe as well, to protect his older brother,” Hoss 
said. Ben shook his head, still not able to believe what he had heard. “Pa, 
I have some business to take care of back in Placerville, that I left 
unfinished. I’d like to go back there, and get it finished right now,” Hoss 
stated. Ben looked at him strangely. “Hoss now? Right now? Hoss, I don‘t 
understand you at all son. First you don‘t want me to go on that posse, and 
now you want to leave for Placerville, when all this is going on?” Ben 
asked. “Yeah Pa, I can‘t explain right now, but I have to. I’ll have Hop 
Sing make me up enough food for my trip, and I’ll head out, and be back, as 
soon as I can,” Hoss replied, then walked to the house. Ben waited a few 
minutes, thinking of all that had been said to him, then walked into the 
house himself. The one thing Ben Cartwright knew were his sons, and he knew 
his two sons, could not have done, what they had been accused of doing. He 
just wondered, with all the witnesses that were against them, how he would 
be able to save their lives.
 
Adam and Joe rode all night. Joe couldn’t figure out why Adam was riding the 
roads, where everyone could follow their trail. At the first sign of 
sunlight, Adam raised his right hand, indicating to Joe to stop. “What is it 
Adam?” Joe asked. “We’ve given the posse a trail to follow. Now we’ll ride 
up to those rocks ahead, and they’ll think that’s where we’re headed, but 
we’ll trail back to The Ponderosa, and to the cabin,” Adam said looking at 
Joe. “Yeah Adam, the cabin,” Joe replied. They both rode up to the rocks, 
then trailed back through the rocks, towards the cabin on The Ponderosa. 
Hours later, they arrived, tired and hungry. They let their horses graze, 
and get water at the creek, then put them in the small barn, then went into 
the cabin. It had been a very long time, since any of them had been there, 
and it showed. The cabin was once used by their father, when he wanted to 
get away from the pressures of The Ponderosa, and his sons. More often then 
not, one of his sons, still found their way a long with him, on his 
getaways. The cabin, and tiny barn, were so hidden, that nobody but Ben, his 
sons, and Hop Sing knew they were there.
 
“Adam and Joe left the door open, attempting to air out the cabin. Adam 
walked over to the two windows, and opened the curtains. He coughed, as the 
dust flew in the air. “Well, we’re safe here for now, but we have no food. 
At least we have a creek full of water,” Adam said. “We have the fish in the 
creek to eat, and we could hunt,” Joe replied. Adam looked at him, making a 
face. “No hunting. We can't fire our guns, without worrying that someone 
might hear them. Also, you know my motto Joe. Nothing that smells as bad as 
fish, was ever meant to be eaten. I hate fish,” Adam said. “I’m sorry I 
didn’t listen to you Adam. I wish now, I’d never joined that poker game. 
It’s because of me, we’re running,” Joe said turning his back to Adam. Adam 
put his hand on Joe’s shoulder. “It’s not your fault Joe. Think about it, 
what do Stevens, Cochran and Wilkins have in common?” Adam asked. Joe 
thought for a moment, then replied, “They are all friends, and they all 
blamed you for convicting Bill Enders.” Adam turned his head, and said, 
“Yes, that’s the key thing they all have in common, Joe. Bill Enders.” Joe 
looked at Adam, confused. “I don’t get what you’re getting at Adam,” he 
said.
 
Adam walked a few steps away, then turned to face Joe. “Dan Stevens, Ray 
Cochran, and John Wilkins. They had it all planned, and would have framed 
you for the murder of Stevens, that night, even if you hadn’t joined in that 
game with them,” Adam stated. Joe shook his head. “I don’t get what you’re 
getting at Adam. You mean, Stevens would have agreed to be killed, just to 
set me up for murder, to get back at you? It doesn‘t make sense,” Joe said. 
Adam walked over to him, and looked him in the eye. “No, but it does make 
sense, if Stevens were led to believe, that they were going to kill someone 
else instead. Think about it Joe. Of all three of those men, who would have 
been the one, that would have spilled the beans under pressure?” Adam asked. 
“Stevens,” Joe replied. Adam nodded his head. “Stevens. He was the weak one, 
and the one they had to eliminate, because of it. Cochran was the loud 
mouth. The tough one. The trouble maker. Then there’s Wilkins, who’s smarter 
then the other two, but was he smart enough to figure out, this whole plan, 
including that I would have gotten you out of jail, and run? They knew by 
getting those men in the saloon all riled up, we'd have to run. Why did they 
want us to run, Joe?” Adam asked, walking a few steps away from Joe. Joe 
turned to face Adam. “I don’t know Adam. Why do you think?” Joe asked.
 
Adam turned to face Joe. “I don’t know Joe. I have some of the pieces of the 
puzzle, but I don’t have them all, so the puzzle isn’t quite put together 
yet,” Adam stated. He and Joe could hear a horse riding close. They closed 
the front door, then the curtains. They heard the horse stop, and someone 
get off. They heard someone walking towards the front door. They pulled 
their guns, ready to use them. “Adam? Joe?” Hoss called. Adam and Joe smiled 
in relief, then put their guns back in their holsters. They opened the door. 
Hoss walked in. “I thought you two could use some food,” Hoss said, carrying 
in a basket in his hands. “Thanks Hoss,” Adam said, as he grabbed some 
chicken, and began eating, with Joe doing the same.
 
Hoss told Adam and Joe, what Roy Coffee had told them that morning, then he 
and Joe sat down at the table, and ate. Adam started to think, saying, “The 
puzzle pieces are almost together now. So Wilkins and Cochran robbed the 
bank, and made up the story of seeing us do it, and then Wilkins killed 
Cochran. Why? To keep the money for himself? How’d he hide the money so 
fast? No, there had to be someone else involved, waiting. The mastermind,” 
Adam said. Hoss and Joe looked at each other. “Who Adam?” Hoss asked. Adam 
turned to face them. “Bill Enders,” Adam replied. Hoss and Joe looked at 
each other. “Bill Enders? Adam, Bill was killed, trying to escape prison,” 
Joe replied. Adam looked at Joe. “Was he? Was he really killed Joe? A 
gunshot to the face? I’ve dealt with that one before. No, I think Bill is 
very much alive, and I think the dead man in prison, must be the guard who 
disappeared. Somehow Enders got him to change clothes with him, then killed 
him. Maybe he got the drop on the guard, who was maybe was helping him to 
escape,” Adam stated. “Adam, it makes sense, but it’s all speculation. You 
can’t prove any of this,” Hoss said.
 
Adam thought a moment. “Susie,” he said. Joe looked at Adam, then asked, 
“What about Susie?” Adam walked to the end of the cabin, his back to his 
brothers, his right pointer finger on his lips. “Susie. Her words to me, 
once we were in her room were, “I’ve been waiting, for you to come into 
town.” Now why would she have been waiting, for me to come into town? 
Susie’s only does favors for the rich men of Virginia City. Could Bill 
Enders now be one of those rich men? After all, they never found the rest of 
that money he stole from Toby. Only the money he planted. Remember, he 
wouldn’t tell, where he had hidden the money. He wouldn't tell, because he 
knew, that someday, he was coming back for it, and someday soon. Think about 
the jury. Cochran, Wilkins and Stevens, were all members of it, and Wilkins, 
a personal friend of the judge, that tried the case. That’s why Ender's 
didn't hang, but got life imprisonment instead. Think back to Ender’s 
reaction when they found him guilty. I found it strange, that he didn’t 
react the way he should have. He didn‘t, because he had bought himself three 
friends on that jury, and those three friends, were going to split the 
stolen money, when Enders go out of prison, somehow. I‘ll bet you anything, 
if we look into this close enough, we‘ll find that that missing prison 
guard, had been friends with either John Wilkins, Dan Stevens or Ray 
Cochran,” Adam said.
 
Hoss and Joe listened. “Adam, how can we prove any of this?” Hoss asked. 
Adam looked at him from across the room. “We can’t, unless we can get Susie 
to talk, if Susie’s still alive. Remember the strange circumstances 
surrounding Bill’s wife, Mary’s death? She told on Bill. My ride, though it 
would have proved Bill could have robbed and killed Toby, and gotten back to 
Virginia City, to have been seen by those witnesses, wasn’t 100% proof that 
he did do the robbery and killing, but Mary’s testimony was,” Adam said. 
Joe, looking at Adam said, “ You think Bill could have had Mary killed?” 
Adam walked up the table, and replied, “Without a second thought. She 
betrayed him, and so did I. That’s why he wants me dead. He knew he couldn’t 
just have had me killed. No, that would be too suspicious. Let them hang me, 
a long side my brother, and kill me that way. Our only hope, is for me to 
ride into town tonight, and talk to Susie, and try to get the information I 
need out of her,” Adam replied.
 
Adam went through the dresser in the cabin. He found some of his father’s 
old clothes from years ago. He found a pair of beige pants, a green shirt, 
and he looked up, and spotted a tan hat. “Maybe wearing these clothes, and 
riding Hoss’s horse, maybe people won’t see Adam Cartwright. We see, what we 
want ourselves to see. At least, I hope that‘s true, seeing I can‘t get to 
Susie‘s room from outside, and will have to walk through the saloon, and up 
those stairs, to get there,” Adam replied.
 
That evening, Adam rode into town, making sure it was dark, when he got 
there. He tied Chubb up, then went into the saloon, going unnoticed. The 
clothes, and hat were working. Nobody paid any attention to him. He walked 
up to Susie’s room, and opened the door. Susie was sitting on her bed, 
counting money, and was taken by surprise. Adam pulled out his gun, and 
pointed it at her. “If you scream, I’ll kill you right here and now. I have 
absolutely nothing to lose, thanks to you,” he said.
 
Susie walked over to him, and started to unbutton his shirt. “Sure Adam, but 
first, we have some unfinished business to attend to,” She replied. Adam 
grabbed her left wrist, with his left hand, and squeezed it hard. Susie 
complained that it hurt. “Bill Enders is alive, isn’t he? He thought up this 
whole plan to frame Joe, in order to frame me, didn’t he? Didn’t he?” Adam 
asked, grabbing her wrist tighter. Susie’s face showed the pain she felt. “I 
can’t tell you. He’ll kill me if I do,” Susie replied. Adam squeezed her 
wrist harder. “What makes you think, that I won’t kill you, if you don’t?” 
Adam asked. Susie looked into Adam’s eyes, and realized he was a man, who 
had nothing to lose. “All right, I’ll tell you. Just let go of my wrist,” 
she said. Adam let go. Susie rubbed her wrist, and said, " Bill Enders, and 
John Wilkins, thought this whole thing up.” Adam looked towards the door. 
“Now, you and I are going to walk downstairs, and I’m going to have my gun 
in your back, so don’t try anything,” Adam said. Susie walked in front of 
Adam, with Adam’s gun in her back. Adam hated to have to treat a woman like 
this, but he had no choice. What happened next, was his life, and his 
brother’s life, and Adam wasn’t going have him or his brother die, for 
something they hadn’t done.
 
They made it out of the saloon, and were walking towards the sheriff’s 
office, when John Wilkins appeared in the alley, that Adam and Susie were 
walking by. Wilkins put his gun in Adam’s back. “Now throw down your gun, 
and you and Susie, just walk to the end of the alley,” Wilkins ordered. Adam 
threw down his gun, and Wilkins picked it up, putting the barrel of the gun 
in his pants. Susie was scared. She knew she wasn’t going to be alive, once 
she went into the alley. Adam figured that one out as well. He went towards 
Wilkins, and yelled “Run Susie.” Susie ran towards the sheriff’s office, and 
heard a gunshot. She paused, then ran until she reached the sheriff's 
office. Once inside, she saw Roy going for his rifle, to see what that 
gunshot was about. Susie was panting. “Sheriff Coffee, John Wilkins, and 
Bill Enders robbed that bank. Enders is the one who shot Stevens, not Little 
Joe. He’s also the one who killed Gardner. Enders and Wilkins planned this 
whole thing, to get back at Adam. I think they may both be in the alley with 
Adam. I think they killed him,” Susie said sobbing.
Roy ran out of the office, and into the alley, where others had gathered. 
There on the ground, lay the body of John Wilkins. Adam and Enders were 
nowhere in sight.
 
Hours later, Bill pushed Adam hard against the outside walls, of what had 
been Toby‘s house. Since the killing, the stage line moved their stop to 
another location. Adam grabbed his right shoulder in pain. Bill smiled. 
“Your shoulder hurt Adam? Well, take my word for it, it’s doesn’t hurt 
nearly as much, as the bullet I’m going to put in your gut. Bill looked 
around the porch, and smiled. We’ve come back full circle, haven’t we Adam? 
You had to make that ride, didn’t you Adam? You just had to prove I killed 
Toby. It’s because of you, my Mary had to die, and now Adam, it’s your turn 
to die,” Bill said, pointing the pistol at Adam’s stomach. “Tell me Bill, 
would you have killed Susie tonight, to keep her quiet as well?” Adam asked, 
stalling. Bill smiled. “All right, you want to know, do you? There can’t be 
any harm in telling a soon to be dead man the truth. Yes, I was going to 
have Wilkins kill Susie, and then I was going to kill Wilkins, and make you 
the scapegoat. How I dreamed of watching you hang, and see you hang I would. 
Oh, I’d be disguised, just like you are now, but even more so, so nobody 
would recognize me. Still holding his right shoulder, Adam asked, “Where’d 
you hide the money Bill?” Bill smiled. “Where you, or anybody else, would 
never think to look for it. I buried it under the floor in your barn,” Bill 
replied.
 
Adam rubbed his shoulder, his eyes showing the pain he was in, then replied, 
“That’s very clever of you.” Bill smiled. “You in a lot of pain Adam? Didn’t 
take much to hurt you badly, did it? I’m enjoying seeing you suffer, but 
even more so, I’ll enjoy seeing you suffer, with this bullet I’m going to 
put into you. Adam, still holding his right shoulder, turned the right side 
of his body towards Bill, and caught him of-guard, tackling him. They 
struggled with the gun, it went off, the bullet lodging itself in Bill’s gut 
instead. Bill went down to the porch floor. “Your shoulder, it, it didn’t 
hurt really, did it Adam?” Bill asked. “No Bill, it didn’t.” Adam replied. 
“You got me, got me again, Adam. I wanted to kill you. I wanted you to die,’ 
were Bill’s last words.
 
Adam looked down at Bill’s body. Adam thought how appropriate it was, to 
have Bill Ender’s die, exactly where Toby had died. “You were right Bill. We 
had come full circle,” Adam said aloud.
 
 
Adam returned to Virginia City, holding the reins of Bill’s horse, which had 
Bill’s body hanging over the saddle. Ben, Hoss and Joe were in the sheriff’s 
office, relieved when they saw Adam walk in. Adam told his story. Roy told 
Adam, that all charges against he and Little Joe, had been dropped, thanks 
to Susie. “What about Susie?” Adam asked. “With everyone dead, there’s 
nobody to tell me how she came upon her information,” Roy replied. “I guess 
not,” Adam said, not planning to tell what he knew.
 
Ben, Hoss and Joe mounted their horses. Adam was about to untie Sport, when 
Susie came up to him. “Adam, you saved my life tonight, in more ways then 
one. Thank you,” Susie said, kissing him on the lips. Adam looked at her. 
“Well, we’re even. You saved mine, and my brother’s, by going to the 
sheriff, and telling him the truth,” Adam replied. Susie looked at Adam’s 
family, then back at Adam. “Do you have to go home now, Adam, or can you 
spend some time with me?” Susie asked. Adam smiled. “Well, I think um, I 
could spend some time with you,” Adam replied. He waved to his family, who 
smiled, and took off for home. “Now where were we?” Adam asked, as he and 
Susie walked back to the saloon.
 
THE END
 
 
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