Adam opened his eyes again, slowly, and glanced to his clock. It was barely five thirty. He looked to his bedroom window. It was still pretty dark out, and there were heavy layers of  grey cloud in the early morning sky. He rolled over, and gently  shook Beth’s shoulder. “ Hey, sweetheart. I’ve got to get up, and get going. Don’t want to keep Hoss waiting….” Beth buried her face into her pillow, and murmured something unintelligible to Adam then, turning to him, smiled. “ I’ll get up and make you  breakfast, Adam…” 

A short while later, he sat quietly eating his meal of eggs, bacon, and home fries, and tossed the occasional sideways glance to Beth. “I’m sorry I have to leave you and Sarah, Beth. This stallion is just really important to Pa. He’s been trying to buy him from Mr. Lambert for a couple of years, now. He wired Pa - he finally decided to sell.  If  he doesn’t buy him now, someone else will… Pa just can’t  take the time off  right now, to pick him up himself, with that logging crew working in the north section. It’s a project he just feels he has to supervise - to be sure just the right trees are harvested. You know - ‘Pa and his trees’. Hoss, Joe and I drew lots - far as who was going to pick up the stallion - and Hoss and I ‘won ’.” Beth sighed deeply. “ I know that, Adam. Sarah and I will be fine. But hurry back, alright, sweetheart ?” Adam smiled at his young wife. They hadn’t been married for very long, and neither of them really enjoyed being apart. “ It shouldn’t take more than a week or so, Beth. Hmm..  ‘The life of a rancher’,  hey ? We’ll be back before you know it.” Adam stood up from the table, and leaned to kiss her. “Say my goodbyes to Sarah, again, will you ? Though we did say our ‘goodbyes’ last night…..” Beth smiled again. “ She will miss her Pa.” Adam grinned.“ No more than I’ll miss ‘my girls’ ”. Adam leaned to kiss Beth’s cheek, again, and gave her a warm hug. Walking to the door, he buckled on his holster, and pulled on his hat. He reached his jacket on, and felt the deep inside pocket, to be sure that the three thousand dollars, to buy the horse, was still safely stored there. He grabbed his bedroll, and packed saddle bags, from the sideboard, opened the door, and was gone.

There was a bit of a nip in the air as he walked across the barnyard, and he could actually see his breath in the coolness of the early November morning. He shuddered a little as he opened the barn door, and was met  by the whinnied greetings of the barn’s occupants. The warmth from their bodies filled the barn, and the smell of fresh hay made its way up his nose. Hoss had been up for some time, and had already fed and watered all the stock. He smiled broadly, as Adam entered the barn. “Hey, big brother-Good morning ! Bet it was hard getting out of that nice, warm bed, this early, weren’t it ?!”Adam half - smiled,  as he reached his tack from its stand. “ No harder than usual, Hoss, when Beth’s still in it….” He winked at his younger brother, with a bit of a twinkle in his eyes. Hoss just smiled. “ Dadburn it - I hear that ! I wouldn’t want to leave her, either, if she were my gal!” The two men quickly tacked up their horses, and led them from the barn. Adam swung up onto Sport’s back and Hoss clambered onto Chubb’s. Rounding the  corner of the stable, they loped  off across the expanse of meadowland, on the far side. They were headed for Sutcliffe, Nevada, near the western shore of Pyramid Lake - about a hundred mile ride away. They had ridden along in silence for some time when Adam glanced up at the heavy cloud cover, and sighed. “ I hope we’re not riding into snow, Hoss. Those clouds sure look threatening…” Hoss raised his lowered head, and the cool wind whistled around his ears. “It’s too early for snow, ain’t it, Adam ? It’ll just be a bit of rain - no more than that - I hope…At least we got our slickers…..” Hoss hunkered down again, his chin resting against his chest, which was  protected from the wind, behind the generous collar of his long, dark brown coat. Adam tugged up the collar of his tan jacket, to shield his neck from the whirling wind, and pulled his hat a little lower on his forehead - if only so it wouldn’t be carried off on that wind. “I hope you’re right, Hoss. Let’s get a bit of a move on.  We still need to pick up some supplies in Virginia City.” Adam dug in his heels, and loped off, with Hoss following his lead.

When they finally got to Virginia City, it was almost like they were riding into a ghost town. With the arrival of the cooler weather, there were fewer people walking the board sidewalks and, those that were, were ‘huddled and hurried’ as they made their way, from store to store.  They reined their horses to a stop at Cass’ General Store and, stepping down, secured their horses to the hitching rail, and entered the familiar old emporium. Cass’ pretty blonde daughter, Sally, was behind the counter, serving that day, and her pale blue eyes just danced, on seeing the Cartwright brothers.“ Well - Adam, Hoss - what brings you out to town on a day like this ?!” Adam smiled as he doffed his hat, then unbuttoned his jacket, to let the warmth from the store’s wood stove penetrate his black shirt . He held his hands over the old stove, and gently rubbed them together, then smiled to Sally. “Just picking up some supplies, Sally. Heading out to Pyramid Lake, to pick up a horse, for Pa…” She shook her head and smiled. “ Seems like a long ride, just to get a horse…” Hoss winked. “ This ain’t just any horse, Miss Sally - it’s a valuable stallion my Pa’s been hankering after for a few years.  Owner finally decided to sell, so Adam and me are heading out, to pick him up.” Sally grinned. “Well, I sure don’t envy you that ride, in this weather. What can I get for you two?” Adam handed her their list, and she busily placed the required items in a small sack, and soon handed that filled sack to Adam.

“ That’ll be two dollars, please, Adam.” He smiled, as he handed her the money.
“ Thanks, Sally”. They walked to the door, to push it open again, against a strong gust. The cool wind caught them both, and Adam hurriedly re-buttoned his jacket, and shuddered a little, then smiled to Hoss. “ Too bad that Mr. Lambert hadn’t decided to sell this horse about three months ago, hey Hoss? ” He smiled at his older sibling. “You got that right, brother…”Adam glanced across the street, to the saloon there, and grinned.

“ How about something to take a bit of the chill out of  the ‘old bones’ ?” His brother smiled. “ Sounds good to me, Adam.” The two men made their way across the wind swept, dirt street, and entered the saloon. Even the saloon keeper had hooked back the usual bat-winged doors - that had been used for the warmer months - and had reinstated the use of the more solid, weather proof doors, in their place, for the colder months ahead.

Adam smiled at Sam, the barkeeper - as he and Hoss settled in to sit at one of the tables-then held up two fingers. “ Two whiskeys, please, Sam.” The man had soon placed the glasses down, on their table, then hustled off, to look after some other patrons of the busy saloon. Adam raised his glass, and took a sip. The warmth from the drink made its way right down his throat ,and seemed to reach out to every extremity of his body, and he smiled.  “Ahh… That’s the stuff… Feeling better already…” He winked at his brother, and Hoss nodded in agreement, as he sipped his drink, too.  The two of them had sat there for several minutes, enjoying their refreshments, when Hoss looked to Adam again. “Adam, you think this horse is really worth three thousand dollars ?” Adam tilted his head thoughtfully to one side. “ I guess so, Hoss. Beth has already suggested that we breed him to  Sarah’s mare - should get a real nice foal, from that cross. Pa and I last saw him as a two year old colt. He sure was a ‘lot of horse’ at THAT time. Besides, Pa thinks he’s worth that much - and it is his money, and will be his horse. We’re just the fellas buying him, and picking him up !” Adam reached for his tan jacket, from the back of his chair, and pulled it on again. “ If  you’re finished, Hoss, we’d better get a move on.” Hoss grunted in agreement, and they each stood to go. The two bearded men, at the next table, had overheard the conversation, and Adam’s comments about the upcoming ‘transaction’, and one man turned to the other, and smiled, as they saw Adam and Hoss leaving the saloon. “Just like taking candy from a baby…”

The two scruffy looking men stood, and followed them outside.  They paused just outside the door of the saloon, as another wind gust made its way down the street, and raised a swirling cloud of dust. They watched the Cartwright brothers as they mounted their horses, and slowly rode off.  Once the two brothers were well down the block, the two men mounted their own horses, and followed them. By the time they got to the edge of town, the strangers  realized - from the brothers’ tracks -  that one of the horses they were following was missing a nail from one shoe- a great way to identify them - so they reined their horses to a stop, and watched as the Cartwright brothers continued on their way. One man turned to the other. “We might as well get some supplies - it’ll be a couple of days of riding - I want a bit of ‘privacy’ when I rob those fellas. With that missing nail, they’ll be easy enough to track.” They pulled their horses around again, and headed back into town. As Adam and Hoss rode on, the gray clouds that had lingered on from the early morning had moved off to the east, and they found themselves under a blue sky again. Part way into the afternoon, they stepped down from their horses backs, to water them, and re-fill their own canteens, at a narrow stream. As they each stooped by the water’s edge, with their canteens partly submerged, filling them, Hoss suddenly glanced over his shoulder.

“ Did you hear that ?” Adam glanced up, and looked around. “ I didn’t hear anything. Just your belly rumbling, Hoss.” Hoss chuckled. “ Guess it did, at that. But that ain’t what I was talking about - could have sworn I heard horses.” Adam stood up again, and gathering up  Sport’s reins, looked out across the rolling, boulder strewn landscape that surrounded them. “ I think you’re hearing things, Hoss. The only horses I hear are our own.” Adam pushed the stopper into his canteen, and wrapped its web handle around his saddle’s horn. “You ready to eat yet ?” Hoss nodded. “Yeah. Guess so. But I’ll settle for some beef jerky. We can have a real meal once we make camp for the night.” Adam nodded in agreement, and they mounted their horses again. Adam reached a couple of pieces of the dried meat from their provisions sack, and handed one to his brother. As they continued on, Hoss just couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched, and followed….

What had started out as a cold, gray day, had turned quite a bit warmer, and the two Cartwright brothers actually had to remove their coats, under the warmth of that early November sun. Hoss was still looking back, from time to time, and Adam had noticed it. He sighed deeply, and turned to his brother. “You know, Hoss - you’re going to drive me crazy if you don’t stop that….” Hoss just shrugged. “ Sorry, Adam. I just keep getting the feeling we’re being followed. I can’t help what I feel, brother…” Adam thought about that, and it was true. Hoss was the sort of man that did rely on his feelings - a lot - been that way since he was a young boy. “ Fair enough, Hoss. How’s this? When we make camp tonight, we can take turns keeping watch - just in case you’re right ?” Hoss nodded in agreement. “Sounds fair to me, Adam.” They rode on, and by the time the sun was lowering itself in the sky, Adam was starting to feel like they’d covered many miles that day, and knew it was time to rest the horses, and themselves.  He pointed off into the near distance, as he reined Sport to a stop, then glanced to Hoss. “ How about just over there, Hoss ? That looks like a pretty sheltered place to camp. Got a river, too.” Hoss nodded in agreement. “ Sure, Adam. Looks good to me.” The two men continued on and had soon reached that welcoming spot, and wearily dismounted. After the horses were unsaddled , and hobbled - so they could graze safely, and easily - they went about gathering some firewood to build a fire. It wasn’t long before the two brothers were relaxing back against their upturned saddles, and watching their dinner cook, over the open fire.  Adam reached for the steaming coffee pot, and poured some into Hoss’s  cup, then filled his own. They both really savoured that first sip - it had been a long day, and a  long ride - and the coffee tasted so good. By the time they’d finished their meal, it was well past sunset. The next few hours were spent, huddled around the campfire’s light - playing poker - to kill time. By the time Hoss had fallen about thirty thousand imaginary dollars into debt, to his brother, they were ready to call it a night. Adam yawned and stretched, then pulled a coin from his jean’s pocket. “ I’ll toss you to see who takes first watch…” Hoss smiled.

“ That’s okay, Adam. I’m the ‘worrier’ - so I’ll take first watch.” Adam grinned, partly in relief. “ Okay, Hoss. You wake me when you’re too tired to be able to stand it…” He winked at his brother, and Hoss chuckled. “ You bet. ’Night, Adam..” Adam hunkered down under his bedroll, pulled his hat over his face, then  Hoss heard a muffled “ ’Night, Hoss”, in reply…

From a little further back on the trail, and higher up in the rocks - a good vantage point to see the Cartwrights’ camp - the two men that had been following them all day, had also made camp for the night.  They knew they couldn’t even build a fire - which would give their position away - and one of the men was more than a little angry about it. “Damn it, Calvin. I’m starting to wish I never came along with you. We could have ambushed them guys at least three times today - but, no - you’ve got a ‘better plan’…” Calvin wielded a straight razor across his face, as he worked on removing what remained of his formerly full beard.“ Oh, quit your crabbing, Henderson. Those two are carrying three grand - if I know those Cartwrights, they won’t give it up easily…” The second man looked surprised. “You know those guys ?” Calvin grinned.“ Oh - I sure do. That thinner, dark haired fella ? I went up against him, and his kin, a few months back - custody battle – to get a certain ‘small girl’ out of their hands, and into mine. She’s the daughter of my ex.

Here’s the REAL ‘clinker’ - that dark haired fella is the child’s Father. Poor schmuck - didn’t even know he had a kid, till that custody hearing… Figured if I got the kid, I would get my ex, Beth, back, too. It wasn’t to be, though. Cartwright’s cousin arrived with proof  of the child’s  ‘parentage’, so I got sent down for fraud. When I escaped jail  with you, three days ago - and I’d had to kill that guard to do that - well, I thought I’d hit rock bottom. After we stole these  ‘civilian’ clothes, from that washing line, and  ‘borrowed’ these horses, I thought our fortunes were looking up. Until that chance trip to Virginia City, and the sighting of the Cartwrights, in that saloon.  When I overheard about that three thousand dollars they were carrying - well, that suddenly made the break out seem SO worthwhile. Cartwright may have gotten his daughter, and my ex - apparently - but he’s not going to live to buy that stallion…” He moved the blade once more across his face, and the last of his whiskers were gone. Henderson looked at him with wide eyes.

“ Now, hang on Armstrong - I didn’t sign on for no murder…They hang men for that !” Calvin’s face creased into a broad smile. “Yes, they do. And they also hang men for killing prison guards. So, I’ve got nothing left to lose, my friend. That three thousand dollars will just  ‘sweeten the pot ’ a little.” He tossed his straight razor to one side, and glanced to his accomplice. “ There, how’s that ? With my beard gone, I won’t look a bit like the bearded man they’ll be putting on my wanted posters, will I ?” Henderson stood hurriedly. “ I won’t be a part of this, Calvin. Robbery is one thing - murder is quite another. And I just won’t do it !”   The man took a step towards his horse, and Calvin just laughed wickedly.  “Unfortunately, Henderson - I have to let you go. I’d sooner shoot you - but the Cartwrights would hear that…” Henderson swung up onto his horse’s back, and Calvin heard the sound of a retreating, galloping horse, as they both disappeared off into the darkness. Besides, he knew he had  ‘bigger fish to fry’. Armstrong climbed up the nearby rocks , and looked up the trail to the Cartwright’s camp - well illuminated by their campfire. He smiled slowly - it wouldn’t be too long, now….Adam Cartwright would be dead - and the money would be his….a just revenge, in his eyes….

Hoss pulled his pocket watch from his pocket, and strained to see the numbers in the moon’s glow. He thought it looked like eleven o’clock - then, again, it could have been five minutes to twelve - he really wasn’t sure. He only knew that if he stayed where he was for much longer, he’d fall asleep.  He figured he’d give it another hour - if he could stay awake that long - then be relieved by Adam. He pulled  his long brown coat around himself, and leaned against a tree. And that was the last thing he remembered, as a hard blow, to the back of his head, knocked him out cold….Armstrong smiled in great satisfaction as the large man he’d just whacked - tumbled to the ground, unconscious. He walked back towards their campsite, ready for his next victim. In the light from the campfire, he spotted Adam, still laying with his hat over his face, his bedroll pulled up to his chin. His deep, regular breathing, told him he was safely asleep. One hard kick to Adam’s left foot changed all that, as he cocked his gun. Adam threw down his hat from his face, and sat up hurriedly, and there was anger in his voice. “Hoss - what’s with the kick? Don’t you have a better way, to wake me up ?!” Adam looked, bleary eyed, to the man near him, and he suddenly realized it wasn’t Hoss at all. As his eyes focused properly, and he came fully awake, he realized it was Calvin Armstrong, and the man’s gun was pointed right at him. Adam glanced around quickly and knew, at that moment, that Hoss - wherever he was - couldn’t help him.“ What are you doing here, Armstrong ? I thought you were in jail…” The man just smirked. “ I was, Cartwright - but there’s no jail, that’s been built, that can hold ME. I just killed a guard, and escaped, three days ago.  Spotted you and your brother in that Virginia City saloon. Overheard about the money - now I’ve come to collect it…” Adam did remember those two scruffy men, at the next table, in the saloon - a little - but they both had unkempt, full beards. That would explain why he hadn’t recognised Armstrong. Adam’s mind was working overtime…His gun was just out of his reach, and Hoss seemed to be nowhere around. He was just about flat on his back, and Armstrong was standing over him, with a cocked gun… Adam didn’t like the odds, so thought he’d  ‘keep the conversation going’,  till he thought of something - anything - that would get him out of the real predicament he was in. “Armstrong - you’re a bigger  fool than I thought you were. You’d kill me, for the money  ? You’d hang for that - is it really worth it to you? ” Armstrong’s dark eyes just about drilled into Adam. “ My friend - it would be SO worth it. You got the kid, and you got my ex. I killed that jail guard - so I’ve got nothing left to lose killing YOU…They can only hang me once - if they even find me…” Adam certainly couldn’t argue that logic, so considered his options, and decided he had but one. Adam made a sudden, desperate move. He stretched out his right booted foot, and hooked Armstrong’s left leg - just below his knee- with the toe of that boot - and rapidly yanked  his foot back again, with all the strength he could muster. It worked. Armstrong fell backwards - hard - to the ground, and Adam heard a loud “Oomph” sound, as the man’s breath escaped him. In one movement Adam rolled, and stretched, reaching desperately for his gun, then spun back around, just as Armstrong had managed to pull himself into a kneeling position. Adam was looking down the barrel of the man’s gun.. Another desperate move, on Adam’s part, as he frantically rolled, one more time, to dodge any bullets from that gun. In that one moment, a bullet tore into Adam’s upper left arm, and, in that split moment, he realized this really was a life and death struggle - in the truest sense -  and he knew just what he had to lose: seeing  his family, again, and his unborn child… Adam raised his gun, wildly took aim, then squeezed off one shot…It hit Armstrong squarely in the chest. The man fell backwards, into a crumpled heap - then moved no more…

Adam winced as he clutched his arm, and struggled to his feet. He glanced around, then spotted his saddlebags. Reaching for them , he removed a spare shirt, then tore off a sleeve. Wrapping it a couple of times around his arm, he knotted the strip of material, then pulled it  tight,  using his other hand, and his teeth. The blood flow slowed somewhat, then he decided he really needed to find Hoss. He staggered off into the darkness, calling his name. Truth be told - he was scared of what he might find. A few moments later he did find Hoss, not too far beyond the circle of the campfire’s glow. He reached down, and shook his shoulder gently. “Hoss? Are you okay?” The large man sat up, rubbing his head. “Dadgum it -  someone hit me from behind… See? I told you I had a feeling that someone was following us !” Adam half smiled at Hoss’s comment - his ‘feelings’ had been proven to be right - again - then he grimaced at the sudden pain in his arm.“ Hoss, I’m shot. It was Calvin Armstrong. He was one of the men in the saloon. Overheard about the money, and came after us. Revenge, apparently… He drew down on me, Hoss - he gave me no choice - I had to shoot him…” Hoss looked into his brother’s light hazel eyes and saw the sorrow, and remorse, there. Adam collapsed to his knees, beside him, as another sudden wave of pain coursed through his arm, as he nursed it. Hoss stood, then pulled Adam to his feet, and helped him back to their camp. “ Let’s take a look at that wound, big brother…” Hoss gently removed the makeshift bandage. If a wound could be called ‘small and tidy’, this one was. The bullet had gone in, then gone right back out again - ‘slick and clean’ - and Hoss smiled, as he finished his inspection.

“ You’re in luck, Adam. No ‘surgery’ for you - the bullet went right through - just a ‘flesh wound’.  Let’s re-wrap it…”Adam watched as his brother very tenderly re- bandaged his wounded arm. “ There - that’ll do till we get to a town tomorrow, Adam, and get you to a Doc.” Adam smiled at his big, gentle, brother. “ Thanks, Hoss. How about we both get some sleep?” Hoss grinned, and nodded, in agreement. “Sounds like a great idea, Adam - I’m just about tuckered right out !”  The two brothers settled under their bedrolls, side by side, and were soon asleep.

Adam awoke in the morning to the smell of fresh coffee, and the sight of Hoss, hoisting the dead man onto his horse, and tying him there.  As Adam stood, then bent to pour himself a cup of coffee, Hoss finished his job, and ambled back to where Adam stood. “I guess we have to take Armstrong into town.” Adam nodded in agreement. “ Yeah. He’ll be a ‘wanted man’ -  the Sheriff will appreciate him being ‘found’…” They ate their breakfasts in silence, then gathered up their supplies. Adam glanced to Hoss as they saddled their horses. “ I guess the nearest town is Sparks.  We can drop Armstrong off there.” Hoss nodded in agreement, as he tightened Chubb’s girth. “Yeah. Guess you’re right, Adam. That’s the nearest town I know of…” The two men mounted up, and headed down the trail, Hoss  leading the dead man’s horse.

By the time early afternoon rolled around, they were riding down the main, dusty street, of the small frontier town. They reined their horses to a stop at the Sheriff’s office, and dismounted. Adam looked to his brother. “ I’ll go in, Hoss…” Hoss just shook his head.

“ How about we both go in ?” Adam just nodded silently in agreement, as he reached for the office’s  tarnished brass doorknob, and gave it a turn. The door opened into a small, cluttered office area. Wanted posters adorned the walls, and a small desk, piled high with several stacks of  assorted paperwork, sat off in one corner.  An older man sat behind the desk, his chair propped back on two legs, and his booted feet rested amongst the papers  on the desk top. Judging by his closed eyes, and gentle snoring, he was clearly asleep. The badge on his chest told the Cartwright brothers that he was, indeed, the Sheriff. Adam looked to Hoss and shrugged, then loudly cleared his throat.  The sound abruptly woke  the man, and his chair’s  front legs clattered to the floor, as he swung his feet down again.  “What can I do for you two fellas ?” Adam jerked his thumb towards the door.

“ We’ve got a ‘wanted man’ for you, Sheriff. Calvin Armstrong. Recent escapee from prison.” The Sheriff looked to his assortment of wanted posters, adorning his walls, then shuffled through a stack on his desk. “I don’t see no poster here for any ‘ Calvin Armstrong.’ Just who are you men ?” Adam answered that question. “Name’s Cartwright. This is my brother, Hoss…Armstrong bushwhacked us last night. Knocked Hoss unconscious, and shot me. I had to shoot him, in self defence.” The Sheriff had an expression of doubt on his face.  “Look, mister. I don’t know you from Adam - how do I know what you’re saying is the truth?”  Adam looked nothing short of exasperated.

“ Sheriff - that’s what I’m trying to tell you - I AM ‘Adam’ - Adam Cartwright. This is my brother Hoss. This man - Armstrong - bushwhacked us. He’s a wanted prison escapee - we brought him in for you. Now, think about it, Sheriff. Do you really think we’d kill a man - in cold blood - then deliver him to you ?! Why would we do that ?!” The Sheriff slowly drew his gun from his holster, and levelled it at the brothers. “ I don’t know. In this business, I’ve seen a lot of strange things…How about you put your guns down on the desk - nice and easy.” Hoss looked to Adam, then to the Sheriff. “But, Sheriff - my brother’s telling’ ya the truth !”  They both heard the sound of the Sheriff’s gun being cocked. “Now, do as I say, then raise your hands. I’m locking you up till I get to the bottom of all this…” The man poked Adam’s back, with the barrel of his gun, as he herded them to the cell. “Now look, Sheriff. If you’ll just wire Sheriff Coffee, in Virginia City, he can vouch for us, and our story. He knows ALL about Calvin Armstrong - even if you don’t…” The next sound the brothers heard was the clanging of the jail cell door, locking them in….They’d been incarcerated for about a couple of hours, when Adam rose up from the cot, where he’d been laying, and started  pacing impatiently around the cell.  He took sudden aim at a small, covered, wooden bucket, and kicked it hard . The contents, of which, splashed across the cell, and him…Adam frowned, and rolled his eyes, as he realized just what those ‘contents’ were… “Well, this is just great….” He reached a  blanket, from one of the cots, and began wiping himself down. Hoss slumped sadly on a small chair, in one corner. “ Oh, come on Adam. Not too much we can do about it. Till the Sheriff wires Roy, anyhow…” Adam threw himself down on the cot, once more, and clasped his hands behind his head, and sighed. “ I know that, Hoss. It’s just the ‘waiting’…” By the time six o’clock that evening had rolled around, the Sheriff walked into the cell room, with a tray of food. “I sent that wire, like you requested. Ain’t heard back yet, so you’ll be staying here for now…You want to stand back for a minute?” Adam and Hoss complied, as the man opened their door, and placed the small tray on one of the cots. “Enjoy your dinner, boys. See you in the morning…” They heard the door clang shut, once more, and resigned themselves to the fact that they were ‘spending the night’…

Sparks was a small frontier town, but a very noisy one. Both Adam and Hoss were kept awake, most of the night, by the sounds of a tinkling piano,  raucous singing, and  drunken, carousing cowboys, in the saloon, just a few doors down the street. By the time morning had nearly dawned, the singers were all   ‘sung out’, and the cowboys were finally staggering their ways home, on foot ,or, on what sounded to be, out of control ‘equines’.   As quiet finally reigned, and the brothers could finally get some sleep, they were awakened by the town Sheriff , as he threw back the door, to their cell room.

“  ’Morning, boys. Got that wire from your Sheriff Coffee. Why, he speaks mighty highly of you two. Your whole family, matter of a fact. Seems you were right about that Armstrong fella. So, you’re free to go…” He turned the key in the lock, and Adam and Hoss couldn’t get out of there fast enough.  As he handed them their hats, guns, and holsters, in the outer office, and both Adam and Hoss hurriedly buckled them on, the Sheriff smiled. “ By the way - seems this man was wanted   ‘Dead or Alive’. You two have a nice little reward coming.” Adam just locked eyes, and gazed, at the sheriff.

“ Why don’t you just put that reward….” Hoss hurriedly jumped in, at that moment. “ In a nice little envelope, and mail it to ‘care of ’ Sheriff Coffee, Virginia City?! Come on, Adam…” Hoss put one brotherly arm around his shoulders, and guided him outside. Adam straightened his hat, on his head, as they stepped out into the sunlight, and he sighed. “ Thanks, Hoss. I was just about to do something that would have put both of us back behind bars…. Breakfast ? ” Hoss smiled, and nodded. “ Sounds good to me !”

By the time they’d finished their meal, in the small town’s restaurant, Hoss thought it was time to get Adam’s arm checked by the local doctor. After getting a fresh bandage, and a clean bill of health - they continued on their journey.

The next couple of days went by pretty quietly. After many busy weeks of building Adam and Beth’s home, the fall roundup, and just last minute fence, and other maintenance work, around the large ranch - before the winter snows started to arrive - the two men were actually enjoying the leisurely ride to Sutcliffe.  They reined their horses to a stop,  in the Lambert ranch barnyard, early in the evening of the third day.

The Lambert ranch house was almost as impressive as the Ponderosa’s - a clear indication that the Lamberts, too, were successful cattle ranchers - and horse breeders. Adam reached the front door, with Hoss at his heels, then raised his fist to knock the dark finish.  Mr. Lambert opened the door, and a wide smile spread across his face. “ Why, Adam, Hoss - welcome ! Won’t you come in ?” He opened the door into a large living area. With the rough hewn log walls, and comfortable furniture, and cosy fire place, it really did look welcoming. “ The horse is in the barn. How about a bite to eat, then we’ll go out and see the ‘rascal’ ?!” Adam smiled, as he and Hoss shook the man’s hand, in greeting. Mr. Lambert always referred to his stallions as ‘ rascals’ - a definite ‘term of endearment’, on the man’s part. Hoss smiled in agreement. “That sounds just great, Mr. Lambert !” They were soon seated around the large dining table, digging into a delicious roast beef dinner. A nice change from the ‘trail chow’ they’d been eating for about three days.  Adam dabbed his mouth, with a napkin, as he finished emptying his plate. “ That was just delicious, Mrs. Lambert. Thank you very much!” The woman smiled, as she reached for the empty plates around the table. “ It’s nice to see two young men, with such good appetites. Reminds me of my own boys !” Mr. Lambert stood up from the table, and headed for the door. “How about taking a look at that horse of mine, boys ?” The two brothers followed him across the tidy barnyard, and entered the barn. He led them to a large box stall, in the very back of the barn. Adam just about gasped. He remembered how nice the stallion was as a two year old colt. Now, at seven years old - he had fully matured, and filled out. He was just magnificent. Rippling muscles under a sleek, richly marked, and coloured, dark dapple grey coat. His tail was a long, silky black, and his matching mane fell to his shoulder. A long, full, black forelock draped between his dark brown eyes, and he trumpeted out a loud whinny as Mr. Lambert approached him.  The man very tenderly stroked the stallion’s neck, as he reached his stall. “Here he is - ‘Nevada King’.” Adam whistled under his breath. “He’s just beautiful, Mr. Lambert.” Hoss nodded in agreement, as he reached out to pat the stallion’s muscular neck. “Ain’t HE just something !” Mr. Lambert smiled in agreement. “He certainly is. He sired a young colt about three years ago that - I believe - will surpass his sire. Only reason I’m selling King - I only have the room for so many stallions…” Adam smiled. “ Well, I know my Pa will be very pleased with him, Mr. Lambert. Shall we do the paper work ?” The man smiled, and nodded in agreement. “Let’s go to my office !”  Within half an hour, the deal was struck, and the horse’s ownership was in Cartwright hands. Mr. Lambert suggested they stay the night, and the Cartwright brothers gratefully thanked him for the kind offer.

The next morning dawned early, and the two brothers were anxious to get on their way home. Adam pulled on his shirt, as Hoss sat, on one of the beds in the room they’d shared the previous night, buttoning himself up. Hoss grinned, and his blue eyes twinkled. “ You know, Adam. I think Pa got a deal on King. Nicest stallion I’ve seen in a long time. Well - next to your Jupiter, of course !”Adam smiled. “ I agree, Hoss.  For three thousand  dollars - I almost feel like we’re stealing the animal, somehow…”

After a hearty breakfast, the two brothers set out, leading their Pa’s new horse down the trail.  Because of Adam’s wounded arm, leading the new horse fell to Hoss’s responsibility.  The trip was mostly uneventful. The brothers took turns keeping watch over the valuable stallion, each night, on the trail. After three more, long days, they rode into the Ponderosa’s barn yard. The stallion trumpeted a greeting, to the few horses in the barn’s corral, as they reined their horses to a stop, and wearily dismounted. Ben hurried out of the ranch house, as he heard the boys’ arrival home. He was in absolute awe, as he reached for the stallion’s lead shank, to take him into the barn. He reached up to pat the animal’s neck. “ Isn’t he something ?!  Better than I expected, if anything !” Adam smiled in agreement. “ He sure is. I think you got a real deal on him, Pa!” Just at that moment, Beth and Sarah hurried out of the house, their arms extended. Adam took the two of them into his embrace, and just held the both of them, tightly, for several moments.  His mind went back, just a very few days, to his life and death confrontation, with Calvin Armstrong.  He was holding ‘his girls’ - and his unborn child. Two of the people he had thought he might never see again - and the third one, he might never have even known - and he felt a sudden catch in his throat, as Beth and Sarah pulled back to arm’s length again. Beth suddenly noticed his bandaged arm. “What happened to your arm, Adam?!” He smiled slowly. “It’s a long story, Beth. How about I tell you about it after dinner?” Sarah jumped up into his arms, and reached her arms around his neck. “ I really missed you, Pa !” Adam looked into her big hazel eyes, and that sweet little face, that so mirrored his own. “ And I missed you too, Sarah!” He kissed her gently, as he held her - tenderly cradled - with his good, right arm. Then, reaching his other, wounded arm, gingerly, around Beth’s waist, the young Cartwright family walked into the ranch house, together.

By the time dinner was done - much later than usual - Adam just wanted to  ‘call it a day.’
After about a week on the trail - sleeping on the cold, hard ground - and listening to Hoss’ nightly snoring - he was more than ready for an  early night, in a soft, warm bed, with his beautiful young wife. He and Beth sat in Sarah’s room, one on each side of  her bed, Adam reading to her, as was their routine. As he closed the book, he was ready to tell them of his ordeal with Armstrong, and the sad outcome.  Beth and Sarah sat in silence, as they heard Adam tell that story. He averted his eyes from Beth’s, and dropped his head, as he told them both how he’d had to shoot Armstrong, dead, in self defense.  He felt Beth’s hands gently cradle his face, and raise it, again, towards hers. There were tears in her blue eyes, as she commented, simply. “ The right man died, Adam.” They embraced warmly, and kissed. As they parted, Sarah smiled. “ I’m glad YOU were  the one to come home, Pa !” Adam grinned in reply.“ I’m so glad myself, Sarah. You have no idea…” He reached his arms around his daughter, and hugged her tightly, then kissed her good night. “ We’ll see you in the morning, Sarah.” They each stood, extinguished Sarah’s oil lamp, then closed her door, quietly, behind them. As they walked to their room, Adam glanced down at Beth, kissed her cheek lightly, then reached his one good, strong, uninjured arm, gently around her shoulders. “ It’s just so good to be home, sweetheart…”  She smiled back at him, as she looked up into his beautiful  hazel eyes. She reached her arm tenderly around his waist, and nodded her head  in agreement.

They entered the solitude of their dark, quiet bedroom, and - closing the door -  retired for the night….

                                                                    
The End