JUDGEMENT AT OLYMPUS - Episode 273. JUDGMENT AT RED CREEK - Episode 259. This web site is officially licensed by Bonanza Ventures, Inc. The name 'BONANZA' is a. Bonanza (1967) Episode: 'Judgment at Olympus' as Mary Elizabeth Fuller; The Big Valley (1967) Episode: 'The Stallion' The Virginian (1966) Episode: 'The Mark of a Man' Gunsmoke (1966) Episode: 'Sweet Billy, Singer of Songs' Run for Your Life (1966). Candy is accused of killing the son of a wealthy man in the town of Olympus. Joe is jailed along with Candy after he is accused of killing a witness to Candy's guilt. It is up to Hoss to find the real killers. The Cartwrights Lorne Green: Ben Cartwright, Dan Blocker: Hoss Cartwright, Michael Landon: Little Joe Cartwright.
- Bonanza Season 9 Episode 4
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- Bonanza Judgement At Olympus
First opening scene of Candy in season nine's 'Sense Of Duty', marking his debut on Bonanza, filmed on stage 16 at Paramount Studios. Second opening scene of Candy seen in nine's 'Judgement At Olympus', and used in a few more episodes that season, which was filmed on stage 16 at Paramount Studios. Judgment at Olympus. Set in Nevada, in the 1860s, Bonanza chronicled the adventures of the Cartwright family who owned a large ranch – The.
A/N: I do not own Bonanza, only my OC.
Tonight: Check Rein. This is another one that got adjusted a little since Annie can't be in two places at once.
Annie sat her horse between her pa and Hoss, watching the logging operation from the ridge above. No sense wasting what that snake Fillmore had started; there was always a market for good timber. A giant pine tipped over slowly and crashed to the ground, shaking the earth.
'Beautiful, isn't it? Looking at a view like this, it makes you feel a mite insignificant.'
'It is beautiful, Pa.'
'Yep.' Hoss leaned forward. 'Almost a shame to have to cut a logging road through it.' Ben hummed agreement, then frowned.
'Sure aren't breaking any records doing it, are they? Let's go see what's been happening.' He nudged Buck into motion and they rode down off the ridge.
Annie took a deep breath, the air scented by the tang of fresh cut pine. Who in their right mind would want to live in a city when they could have this?
They rode up to where Joe and Candy were digging away at the roots of a tree stump. 'How you doing, Pa?' Joe set his shovel down.
'Going a little slow, aren't you?'
'Yeah, we hit a lot of stumps and boulders, had to do a lot more blasting than we figured on.'
'Oh. You got enough warnings posted?'
'Yeah, I think so.'
'That fellow didn't see 'em.' Candy pointed behind them. Annie turned in her saddle in time to catch sight of a lone rider disappearing over the ridge. Ben looked back to Joe.
'Get three or four more up there.'
'Right away.' Candy dropped his shovel and started to walk off.
'I'll help.' Hoss reined Chub around Buck and trotted off. Annie and Ben started to ride on.
'Hey, Pa! We got an extra shovel here, Pa.' Annie snorted. It never failed. 'If you want to give me a hand.'
'Well, Joe, that looks like a mighty fine shovel, you should be doing a lot of good work with that one.' Joe's smile slipped. 'I got things to do up there.' Ben pointed and rode off.
'Annie?' She laughed and reined Reno around the stump.
'That's men's work, Joe,' she called over her shoulder.
'You'll blast 'em!'
'Work smarter, not harder.' She threw him a smug look, nudged Reno into a lope, and rode off, drawing rein beside Hoss and Candy near the wagon full of supplies.
'Was he one of your cowboys?' Candy asked. Hoss frowned up at the ridge.
'Don't know, didn't get a good enough look.'
'I don't think he was, our men know we're blasting up here, they wouldn't go riding through like that.' Annie swung down off Reno and handed the grulla's reins to a nearby hand. The man led the gelding off a safe distance and tied him with the rest of the horses. 'Get the rest of those signs up so we can get to blasting that stump.'
'We?' Candy turned. 'You ride through Paiute country, threaten sheriffs, act good enough to be on the stage, and you handle dynamite?'
'Pa taught me everything he taught the boys. You never know what can happen out here, he wanted me able to handle the whole empire if, God forbid, the need ever arose.'
'I think you'd be just fine.' He and Hoss drove the wagon away to finish the signs and Annie headed over to the carefully stored crates of blasting supplies, selecting what she needed. By the time they returned, she had the dynamite ready. She carried it over to the stump and carefully set it down.
'I wonder if those clipper ship captains appreciate all the work it takes to harvest all this Ponderosa pine?' Hoss laughed.
'I don't know, do us cowboys appreciate all the effort it takes to get our pants from Boston to San Franciso?'
'Good point.'
'Hey, I need a shovel of dirt over here,' Joe called over his shoulder. 'At this rate, I'll have it dug up before we can blast it.' Candy came over and scooped up some dirt. 'Easy, now, I've got a date tonight.'
'She won't mind a few missing pieces, she's only after him for his money anyway.'
'She is not, Mary Ellen is a fine girl. How'd you like to be walking home, sis?'
'Reno won't listen to you, and you know it.'
'Can we blast the stump, please?' Candy looked up. 'Just the stump, that is, not us, too.'
'No need to worry, Candy, they know what they're doing.' Hoss straightened and went to move the wagon. Candy took a deep breath and struck a match, touching the tiny flame to the end of the fuse. It caught and they all scrambled back.
'Fire in the hole!' They ran down the logging road and took cover behind some felled trees.
'Candy, get off me.' Annie wiggled, trying to get herself out from under his chest. Joe looked over and grinned, a giggle escaping.
'I'm sure Mr. Cartwright would rather me catch any flying debris instead of you.'
'I've been helping blast stumps since I was fifteen, get off, I can't breathe.' He shifted a little, but didn't move completely.
'Better?'
'You –'
Hoof beats drummed on the road, coming closer. The three of them exchanged looks and popped up over the trees. A rider galloped down the road towards them, every second bringing him closer to the sparking fuse. Joe leaped to his feet.
'Get back! Dynamite!' The stranger reined his horse up short and whirled around. The fuse sizzled and sparked closer to the stump. Annie grabbed Candy's sleeve and yanked him down just as Joe threw himself flat.
The dynamite exploded, shaking the ground and blowing dust and tiny splinters everywhere. Annie raised her head over the trees. The stranger's horse trotted off down the road, riderless, the man sprawled out on the ground fifty feet away.
Joe and Candy leaped over the trees and ran. Annie scrambled after them. Joe reached the stranger first. 'He's alive.'
'Oh, yeah. The others turn pale right off.'
'I hardly think this is the time to be cracking jokes,' Annie hissed through her teeth.
'Hey, Hoss! Get down here with that wagon,' Joe hollered, and their brother rushed off. 'Hey, tie that off, slow down the bleeding before I take that stake out.' Candy wiggled past her and yanked his bandanna from around his neck, tying it around the man's leg.
Joe pulled the stake, then they loaded the man into the wagon and Hoss drove off towards the bunkhouse with Joe and Candy riding along in the back with the stranger. Annie collected Reno and swung into the saddle, riding out right behind them.
'Pa! Hey, Pa, get out here!' Joe leaped out of the wagon as soon as they reached the bunkhouse. The door opened and Ben stepped out. 'We got a man hurt bad.' Their pa broke into a run and came around the back of the wagon. 'He ignored all the warning signs.'
'Get him inside. Watch his shoulder.' They carried the man inside the bunkhouse and Ben set to work cleaning up the man's leg. 'See if he's got any papers on him so we can find out who he is and notify his family.' Joe dug around in his pockets.
'Bill of sale for that roan he was riding, made out to a Jace Fredericks.'
'Buy him back … get away …' The stranger's head rolled as he began to come around. Annie bit her lip. She knew how that felt, having been knocked out more than once over the years. He blinked and shifted on the bed.
'Take it easy, we're taking care of you.' Ben finished tying off the bandage.
'What happened? I've got to get to Rimville.' The man – Jace, she supposed unless he'd stolen the horse – tried to sit up.
'Now lie back now, you're hurt.'
'I don't care if I'm hurt, I –' He flinched and looked around at all of them. 'Who are you?'
'I'm Ben Cartwright. You're at a logging camp at the edge of the Ponderosa. Your leg's hurt real bad, so lie back, would you?' What man ever listened to that advice?
'But I've got to get to Rimville before noon tomorrow.' Hoss made a noise in the back of his throat and ambled over to sit down beside the bed.
'You might as well make up your mind you ain't gonna be riding with that leg for some time.'
'There's a horse auction over there tomorrow. There's a black, the only one in the string and I've got to have him.' Jace sat up. Ben shook his head.
'This leg's more important than any horse I know of.'
'Where's my bag? I have money.' Joe handed it over.
'Take it easy.' The man dug into his bag and pulled out a leather wallet, his gaze dropping to where Ben finished with his leg.
'Mr. Cartwright.' Annie turned when Candy spoke up. 'I don't have any blasting to do for a couple of days. I'd be delighted to go to Rimville and take care of it for him.' Jace looked hopeful, until Ben opened his mouth.
'Rimville's not just over the next hill, it's a long ride overnight.'
'Pa, I could go along with Candy, keep an eye on him.'
'And who's going to keep an eye on you?' Annie said tartly. Ben and Hoss just exchanged amused glances.
'And he could keep an eye on me,' Joe added weakly. Ben gave him one of those looks.
'First time you've volunteered for anything in over a month.'
'That's the reason I'm doing it, I feel kind of guilty.' Annie snorted. Hoss slapped his knee and stood.
'Well, I got plenty to do here.' He turned and left the bunkhouse. The stranger handed over his wallet to Joe.
'There's five hundred dollars in there.'
'Five hundred dollars for one horse?'
'What's he made of, pure gold?' Annie elbowed Candy in the ribs and he darted a sideways look her way.
'I got to have that horse. he's the only black in the string and I got to have him.' Joe shook his head and tucked the wallet inside his jacket.
'Don't worry, we'll get him for you. Take it easy on that leg.' Joe stood, running right into her when she planted herself in his path. 'What?'
'If you think I'm not coming, you better think again.'
'We're going to buy a horse – a ridiculously expensive horse, but a horse – and come right home. What –'
'I wouldn't finish that sentence if I were you. Olympus, Sand Dust, Coulter Corners, even the Ponderosa … any of that ringing a bell? And that's just the last six months.'
'You know something, sis?'
'What?'
'One of these fine days, you're going to be wrong.' He stalked past her and out the door. 'Come on.'
They rode through the night, arriving in Rimvelle just after noon the next day. They trotted up to a corral near the edge of town, the auctioneer's sing-song chant currently aimed at selling a rather plain chestnut gelding.
'Looks like we made it just in time.' Joe dismounted and Annie followed, watching the crowd, then turning her attention to the horses milling around the corral.
'I'll see to the horses.' Candy led their mounts away to a nearby hitch rail. Annie walked over to the corral, her gaze lingering on the black horse square in the middle of the herd. Pretty animal, but five hundred dollars pretty? No. The hammer came down on the chestnut for thirty-five dollars.
'Hey, Tommy,' the auctioneer called, 'Get that good-looking black in here.' A man entered the corral, but his every attempt to get within two feet of the black was futile, the animal darting around the corral like an unbroken mustang. 'You can see how much spirit he's got.'
'I call that halter shy,' someone called out to a ripple of laughter. Annie turned to look at Joe. What could that fellow possibly want with this horse?
'He'd be a fine animal to the man that could tame him.'
'But you got to take him as is,' someone protested.
'As is, $5,' called out the smart-mouth perched on the corral fence.
'As is, $50.' Annie shook her head. It was too much, no matter how pretty the animal.
'Now there's a man who knows horse flesh! $50, looking for a hundred!'
'You got it!' Annie turned her attention to the newcomer, a tall man with a scar cutting through his cheek and a beer in his hand. She looked back to the horse in the corral. Joe gave the man a casual glance and upped his bid.
'$150.' All eyes went back to the man with the scar.
'Exactly $200 and no cents.'
'If he's worth two hundred, he's worth three, I hear three, don't I?' The auctioneer focused on Joe. Her brother worked his jaw.
'You just heard it, three hundred.' The scar-faced man raised his beer in a mocking salute.
'You just bought yourself a horse, friend.' He turned away.
'Do I hear anyone else? $350, $350, going once, going twice, sold for $300! Pay the tally and collect your bill of sale.' Joe made his way over to the cashier and dug out the money. Candy ambled over.
'Well, I'll try to get a halter on him. Why anybody would want to buy him, I'll never know.'
'Good luck,' Joe called with a grin. Annie rolled her eyes. When they got back, Jace was going to have to explain just what it was about this animal that was so appealing.
It took Candy three tries to rope the troublesome horse, accompanied by wild laughter that increased with each miss. Getting a halter on didn't take quite as long, then they were leading the animal down the street. Behind them, she could hear the auctioneer calling for the next horse.
'The next one is one you can lasso,' the same smart-mouth called out. Annie sighed. They got the horse settled in the livery stable, then made their way to the only saloon in town, finding about what she'd expected: no activity and overpriced beer.
'Hey, when does it liven up around here?' The bartender eyed Candy.
'Mister, this is Rimville.'
'They call it Rimville cause it's on the edge of nowhere,' Joe added. 'The hotel we saw coming in, that the only place to stay around here?'
'Just across the street there.'
'That's what I was afraid of.'
'Sometimes, things liven up around sundown.'
'Hooray.'
'I can't hardly wait.' The three of them collected their beers and found a table, not that it was all that difficult. Finding an occupied table, now that would have been another story. As soon as she took a sip, she had another knock against the place. 'Flat,' Candy muttered.
'Rimville,' she replied. They traded looks and set their mugs on the table.
By sundown, the crowd had increased, but nothing else had. The elderly bar maid leaned against the gramophone, weeping. She wiped her face and made her way back to the bar.
'If things pick up anymore, I just don't think I can take it,' Joe muttered.
'We can rest up from all the excitement over at the hotel,' Candy said, sounding half asleep already. 'Bet the chamber maid will be seventy-two.'
'He is.' Annie perked up when a strange man entered the saloon and made his way over to the their table. She kicked Joe's leg and he looked up, but not the right direction. 'What, sis?' About that time, the man reached them, and began to lay hundred dollar bills in a neat stack on the table between Joe and Candy.
'$400. A hundred dollar profit. I'll take the bill of sale for the black.' He held out his hand.
'That sure is a nice profit, mister, but I ain't interested.' The man dug back into his wallet, dropped more money on the table.
'Double your profit.' He straightened, and with the air of a man who thinks himself very important, said, 'I'm Gabriel Bingham, and I want that horse.'
'Should have bid higher.' Annie gave him a sweet smile. His face darkened. Candy cleared his throat and sat forward.
'I don't remember you inviting anyone over here, Joe, did you invite anyone over here?'
'Hm, no, I didn't invite anybody, did you invite somebody?'
'No, I didn't invite anyone.' They shared a look, then turned her way.
'Annie?' She spread her hands and shrugged.
'Don't look at me, boys.' Bingham just watched them in silence. Joe sighed.
'Look, Mr. uh, Bingham, I'm sorry but I can't sell you the horse, it's not mine to sell. You see it belongs to a fella that's in bed hurt and to hear him talk, that's the greatest animal in the world, so sorry.' Candy took the stack of money, counted it, shook his head, and handed it back to Bingham. The man stalked out without a word, two men at the bar following him.
The bartender rushed over. 'Hey, cowboy, do you know who that was?'
'Will it bruise his ego if we say no?' Annie studied her nails. Candy snickered.
'Hm? Oh, that's Gabriel Bingham, he likes black horses.' The bartender's jaw fell open. The three of them laughed. Joe picked up his flat beer. 'I have a feeling our exciting evening in Rimville has just come and gone.'
'Hey, Joe, let me have another look at that bill of sale.' Joe dug it out of his pocket.
'What you want with the bill of sale?'
'I must have missed something when I looked at that horse.' Candy unfolded the paper and skimmed it.
'No, I counted four legs and a head. Hey, bartender! What do we owe you for the champagne, the pheasant under glass, and the dancing girl?'
'Huh?'
'The bill.'
'Oh, oh, uh four dollars.' Joe fished in his pocket for the coins. Candy stood and grabbed his hat.
'I'm going back over to the stables, take another look at that horse.' He started to put the bill of sale in his pocket. Annie snatched it from his hand.
'Not with that, you're not.' She tucked it into her own pocket. Joe giggled.
'We'll be up in the room, figuring up exciting stories to tell brother Hoss when we get back.' Annie rolled her eyes. It might take someone with a better imagination than even Joe could lay claim to, to make this trip sound exciting.
They left Candy outside the saloon and made their way back to the hotel. Joe pulled out the key, but stopped short of inserting it in the lock. He twisted the knob and the door swung open. They looked at each other, the same thought flashing through both heads at once:
Rimville.
They walked into the room, Annie running into Joe's back when he stopped short. 'What –' She followed his gaze to the strange woman standing across the room, one hand tucked behind her back.
'Come in and close the door.'
'Ma'am, I think you've got the wrong room.'
'I know she does,' Annie said through her teeth. At least, she better have.
'Just come in and close the door.' Joe shrugged and kicked the door closed. 'I want that horse you bought.'
'You and everyone else, it seems.'
'What?'
'Look,' Annie shouldered past her brother. 'If you wanted that animal, you should have bid at the auction. He's not ours to sell, so take it up with the man who owns him now.'
'And who's that?'
'Jace Fredericks.'
'He told me he was coming himself.'
'Thanks to his inability to read a warning sign, he got too close to a dynamite blast and laid himself up in bed. He sent us instead.'
'You can't expect me to believe you, I know Jace wouldn't let anyone buy that horse for him.'
'Look, lady, if you would just try telling me half as much as I'm trying to tell you, I think we'd get along fine.' Joe advanced on the woman. 'He had no choice. He gave us five hundred dollars, we spent three hundred dollars, and I've got two hundred dollars left over.' Joe plucked the wallet from his jacket and waved it in her face.
'Now I know you're lying, Jace never had five hundred dollars in his whole life.' Joe sighed.
'What's the use?'
'Why don't you just admit you work for Bingham?' Bingham? Annie straightened. Joe threw his hands in the air and stalked across the room.
'Lady, I wouldn't work for Bingham –' The door flew open, admitting a disheveled looking Candy, complete with straw in his hair. Joe frowned in consternation and walked over, looking their friend up and down. 'What the heck happened to you?'
'From the looks of him, it may not be polite for mixed company.' Joe threw her a dark look. Candy looked past them at the girl.
'You said he was seventy.'
'Well, I was wrong again, what happened?'
'Thirty-five bad men hit me on the head and took that black away from me.' He had a goofy look on his face, making Annie worry just how hard he'd been hit. Joe reached up to check his head. 'Hey, who's your friend, there?'
'She hasn't said, too busy calling us liars. Come on, sit down.' He led Candy over to the bed.
'What are you lying about?'
'She just thinks we are.' Joe went over to the washstand and wet a rag. 'Insists we bought that horse for Bingham.'
'Bingham? Well, now that is going to be very easy to straighten out.' Candy stood. 'Give me a few minutes to get cleaned up, the night is young, there's wine and music next door, and –'
'Shut up.' Candy froze, then turned back to Joe.
'She's not very friendly, is she?'
'No. Look, show her the –' Joe stopped and looked up at the ceiling. 'Annie, why haven't you shown her the bill of sale yet?' She laughed. Candy shook his head and sat back down on the edge of the bed.
'Because neither one of you has bothered to ask about it. I figured it would be the first thing out of her mouth.' She retrieved the bill of sale and held it out. 'Read me the name of who it's made out to, will you?' The girl took it, her right hand still tucked behind her back.
'You could have faked it.'
'I wouldn't go to all that trouble.'
'Did you see which way they went?'
'No. I was kind of taking a nap at the time.' Candy rubbed the back of his head.
'And you two wanted to come alone.' Joe threw her another dark look.
'I did get a good look at one of them. It was that ramrod that was bidding against us, the one with a scar on his face.'
'His name is Rio.' They all turned to look at the girl. 'He's Bingham's foreman.'
'Oh. Bingham's foreman. So Bingham's foreman steals a horse from us that we paid three hundred dollars for. Now you still think we're working for Bingham, or are you beginning to believe what we've been telling you?' She lowered her head.
'I guess I was wrong.' Her throat worked. 'Please, take me to see Jace right away, it's very important.' Candy stood.
'I'm sorry to say this, but you'll have to go without me. I'm gonna be busy.' Joe grabbed his arm.
'Now, hold on. You're going where I think you're going, you're gonna need help.'
'He'll have it.' Annie plucked the bill of sale from the girl's fingers. 'And you two take this. I don't want it within a mile of that black horse right now. Roy can bring it back with a posse once we get our hands on the animal.'
'Annie – '
'Please, take me to see Jace right away.' Joe drew in a deep breath.
'Alright, but keep your eyes open. And you, we'll go first thing in the morning, on one condition.'
Bonanza Season 9 Episode 4
'What?'
'Put the gun away.' Her brow furrowed, then she brought it out from behind her back and offered them an apologetic smile.
The next morning, Joe and Kathy – as she'd finally introduced herself – rode out for the Ponderosa, the bill of sale tucked safely in Joe's pocket. Candy stopped in the saloon to ask the bartender where they could find the sheriff.
He came back out in less than five minutes, looking less than pleased. 'What?'
'He's the bartender and the sheriff. Completely unconcerned about the situation. Let's go, it can't be that hard to find this ranch.'
He was right; people were only too happy to give them directions to Gabe Bingham's ranch. They rode up to the corrals in front of a fancy house and halted the horses. Annie nudged Candy's arm.
The black they'd come for ran around inside the far corral, chasing the other horses. Candy nodded and reined his horse over. 'Candy,' she hissed.
'What?'
'We can't just take him.'
'We've got the bill of sale, maybe not with us, but we've got it. He's the thief, not us.' He dismounted and walked over to the gate. Annie swung down and followed him. His hand was on the latch when a gunshot rang out, chipping splinters off the fence not two feet from Candy's hand. She spun, her hand dropping to her Colt on instinct. Candy raised his hands, his face pleading with her not to draw.
'Go ahead and touch that gun, girl.' Gabriel Bingham stood five feet away, his rifle aimed and ready for another shot. She raised her hands. 'No?' Bingham looked between them and slowly came closer. 'Too bad. Killing you two now would save the trouble of hanging you.'
'I think you're the one who needs to worry about that.' Annie jerked her chin at the corral. 'You got a bill of sale on that black?'
'I will have.'
'You actually think we brought it with us, hm?' She laughed. 'You'll see it alright, as soon as Sheriff Coffee from Virginia City comes riding in with my brothers and a posse.'
'You ain't got it now, girl.' He motioned with the rifle. 'Walk.'
'Where to?' Candy asked, with a sideways glance her way.
'Somewhere I can keep an eye on you until the law gets here.' Annie laughed again.
'You might be a big man where Rimville is concerned, but you put the name Bingham up against that of Cartwright and you come out the loser every time.'
'Your daddy ain't here, girl. Walk.' Candy slowly started off, his eyes pleading with her to just shut up and wait for a better chance, but she wasn't quite finished yet.
'Not yet,' she said with a smirk, and fell in behind Candy.
'Sure wish one of you would go for your gun. Man kills a horse thief, he's doing the world a favor.' Annie turned back with a feral smile.
'I'll remember that when I get you in my sights.' His face clouded and she laughed again. 'Unless another Cartwright beats me to it.'
'Annie.'
'You don't know what you've done, mister. Pa and the boys find out you have us here – and they will, make no mistake about that – there won't be a rock in this country you can hide under.'
'We'll see about that, girl.'
Bingham marched them into the barn and called to his hands to tie them up. 'I apologize for the accommodations, but it's only till the sheriff gets here.' Another hand brought the black horse inside and tied him in a stall. Bingham chuckled and followed his hands out the door and latched it from the outside, leaving them alone.
Annie immediately wiggled around, trying to work the gag out of her mouth. Candy leaned closer, attempting to do the same thing. All they succeeded in doing was knocking heads.
And they needed a better plan. She worked her jaw and scanned the dim interior. Nothing obvious she could catch it on, except maybe that support beam over near the stall the black was in. They'd tied her hands too tight for her to slip them down over her legs.
Candy made a noise; she glanced over. He shook his head and leaned back against the stack of hay bales. She raised her eyebrows and huffed in annoyance.
Giving up? He shrugged.
Play along and live to fight another day.
I told you we couldn't just take him.
You think he'd have done anything different if we'd asked real nice? Annie rolled her eyes and struggled to get to her feet, only to stumble sideways and land half in Candy's lap. He shook with silent laughter. She stared up at him with narrowed eyes; he laughed harder. She made a disgusted noise in her throat and rolled off of him, landing near his hip. She froze, then swung her legs around and kicked his leg. He frowned. She rolled her eyes again and wiggled until her face lay within reach of his hands. She raised her eyebrows. His eyes lit up and he grinned, then shifted so he could get his fingers on the gag.
Bonanza Cast Candy
It wasn't perfect, but he had it loose within minutes. Annie wiggled until she could sit up and drew in a deep breath. 'Could have been faster, but not bad, Canaday.' He made a noise and shifted so she could get his gag off.
'I couldn't exactly see what I was doing,' He explained once he was able to. They leaned back against the hay bales. 'Any ideas?'
'Not at the moment. Can't do much of anything anyway, he locked us in from outside. Unless you happen to be part beaver?' Candy chuckled.
'Never liked the taste of pine.'
'Looks more like oak to me.'
'I prefer a good hickory, myself.' They traded looks and began to laugh. 'Joe ain't gonna let us live this one down, is he?'
'Would you?' Candy hummed agreement and stretched his legs out in front of him.
'Well, what do we do now?'
'Could figure out how to rob Bingham blind.' She gave him a smirk. 'Just to pass the time.' He laughed.
'I thought you heard that. We could try and untie these ropes while we pass the time. Just so Joe doesn't have that to tease us about, too.'
'Good point.' They turned back to back, fingers searching for the knots at each other's wrists. 'All we'd have to do is wait until something else happens to catch his interest.'
'How long you think that'll take?'
'On average? About once or twice a month one of us will give Pa a few more gray hairs. Not as bad as when we were younger, but it still happens.'
'The two of you? Nah.'
'Pa didn't even start going gray until we hit about seventeen, then Joe fancied himself in love with Lotta Crabtree, you know, the famous actress? She came through Virginia City and Joe fell hard.'
'Of course he did.'
'She happened to be aiding a group of men who wanted the Ponderosa and thought kidnapping Joe would be a great way to get it.'
'It figures.' He twisted around to look over his shoulder. 'That happen a lot?'
'Often enough.'
'I would think they'd go after you instead, the whole only daughter bit.'
'A few times they did.' Her fingernail bent backwards and she winced. 'I usually didn't fall for the trap they laid in the first place and Joe would get caught in it instead.'
'I'm beginning to see a pattern.' Annie smiled and they worked in silence for several minutes.
'Joe ever tell you we rode for the Pony Express?'
'Really?'
'Um, hm. We were nineteen and gave Pa several handfuls of gray hairs that time. Joe got captured by Indians.'
'It figures.' Candy was silent for a moment. 'When I was nineteen, I'd already been scouting for the Army over a year.' Annie half turned to study him over her shoulder, adding that little nugget of information to the precious few others he'd ever revealed about his past.
'How old are you, Candy?'
'I've got ten months on you and Joe,' he said at last. Her eyebrows rose.
'I was figuring two years.' He sighed.
'I grew up fast.'
'Who doesn't out here?' She doubled her efforts on a stubborn loop.
'Some folks have it easier than others. You and Joe have your family, the Ponderosa, probably more friends than you can count. Not everybody has that.'
'You've got it, too, Candy.'
'I'm just a cowhand, easily replaced.'
'You're more than that, Candy, you're a friend.'
'Maybe,' he allowed. 'You making any progress on your end? Sorry to say I'm not having much luck.'
'Not sure if we're going to get out of this before they show up or not.' She glanced over her shoulder. 'Depending on how fast Joe and Kathy ride back, how long it takes them to explain the situation, and how fast they ride back out, I'd look for them to show up on Bingham's doorstep no later than breakfast tomorrow.' She paused. 'But probably this evening, if I know Pa.'
'He's not one to wait when family is in trouble.'
'He'd come just as quickly if it was only you.'
'Maybe.' Silence fell again as they kept picking at the knots. By the looks of the sun through the back window, it was almost supper time when Candy spoke again. 'You hear that?' She stilled.
'I bet you a can of peaches it's that bar-tending sheriff.'
'They can't do anything to us, not without that bill of sale in Bingham's hands.'
'Why do you think I sent it with Joe? We've had enough experience with Bingham's type to know how to handle him.'
'Come on, I think it's a little bit looser now. Can you focus on the right hand loop?'
'I can't see what I'm working on, so I wouldn't count on it.'
'Do the best you can. Any slack on your feet?'
'Not enough.' They kept working, Annie half surprised no one came for them, but they did have the advantage as long as Bingham didn't get his hands on that bill of sale. His hands were tied as bad as theirs were. The thought brought a smile to her face.
'Horses.' She listened hard. 'It sounds like three animals,' Candy added. A horse nickered outside the barn.
'That was Cochise.' They shared a knowing look. 'We better get at least one of us loose before they fling open that barn door.' About ten minutes later, just as Annie was ready to spit over the knots, more horses arrived outside.
'Who do you think that is?'
'I'm hoping they're on our side.'
'Me, too. I think I've almost got my feet loose.'
'Caballado,' Jace's low hiss drifted though the barn wall. The black neighed and stomped at the ground. Annie and Candy exchanged looks. 'Caballado!' The animal set to chewing on the rope that restrained it.
'I'm thinking we may want to move.'
'I'm thinking you're right.' Candy twisted his legs, hard, and the rope finally snapped. Above them, the black chewed the last strands of rope and pranced out of the stall, only to halt at the closed doors. The animal neighed again and reared high, hooves crashing against the wood.
'Caballado.' The black reared again.
A gunshot rang out.
'Uh, oh.' Candy scooted down to where he could reach the rope around her ankles. 'I'm thinking that's our cue.' He worked at the knot; Annie twisted her legs. 'Got it.' Leaning against each other, they managed to struggle to their feet.
'Over there, I think there might be a nail sticking out on that support beam.' More gunfire rang out, sounding like a battle. The black reared again and struck at the door. The latch gave way and the animal raced outside. They reached the beam, but the nail she'd seen was too high.
A flash of movement out of the corner of her eye caught Annie's attention. Bingham pressed himself up against the barn wall, just inside the doors. He started to raise his rifle, then stopped, looking down and to his right. The gun came up again, a satisfied smile spreading over his face.
That couldn't be good.
She didn't stop to think, just threw herself against Candy, knocking him into Bingham, both of them landing hard on the ground. Candy flipped over, gained his feet, just as Bingham went for his gun.
'Bingham!' She breathed a sigh of relief. 'Touch that rifle and I'll kill you!' The man froze, staring at her pa in stunned disbelief. Annie ran out of the barn, meeting up with Joe and Hoss as they brought the rest of Bingham's hands over at gunpoint. Ben strode over and stopped in front of Bingham. 'I understand you a whole lot better now, Bingham.'
'You okay, sis?' Hoss' brow furrowed.
'What took you so long? We almost had to do everything ourselves.'
'Admit it, you had to have a horse get you out of the barn, and us to untie you.' Joe grinned.
'My tally is still smaller than yours.' His grin widened. 'Combined our tally is still smaller.'
The black horse walked over, slinging its head over Jace's shoulder where he stood with Kathy in his arms. They smiled and stroked the animal's nose.
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'Let's get these men to the law and then we're going home.' Ben waved his gun at Bingham. 'Come on.' Annie leaned against the wagon parked near the barn.
'You know,' she said to no one in particular. 'You'd think that someday, somebody would believe us when we tell them they shouldn't mess with a Cartwright.'
'But think of what that would do to your brother's tally,' Candy said with a grin. 'No getting kidnapped, no pretty girls offering a doomed romance, no –'
'Ha, ha, very funny.' Joe shook his head. 'Let's go.' She went to find Reno, Candy tagging along.
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'You know,' she said once they were out of hearing range, 'you still haven't told me why my name bothers you.'
'Not yet.' He stared out over the ranch. 'But I will. I promise.'
'Fair enough. Let's see if we can find where Bingham stashed our horses.'
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'After you.' Candy grinned. 'Sweetheart.'