Adam’s New Friends

By Tennessee

Adam was riding to town when he heard yelling. He rode on, and as he got closer to town, he saw two little boys. He thought they looked like brothers, but he was not sure. When he came in sight, the two boys took off running.

"Wait!" Adam said, but they were gone. He went on into town. He thought the two boys probably went on home.

When he got to town all the men were talking. He listened and heard someone say two boys were missing. Adam said, "I saw two boys on my way to town. They were fighting. I stopped but they ran away."

Big Dan said, "Their pa and ma said someone stopped them and took everything they had and took their two sons."

"Where are they?" Adam asked.

"In the store."

Adam went in and said hi to Ruth. He saw a man and woman standing there and said, "My name is Adam Cartwright. I think I just saw your sons."

The man said, "You did?"

"Yes, sir. I saw two little boys fighting by the road. I stopped but they ran when they saw me."

The man said, "My sons are twins. Did they look alike?"

"I didn’t get a very good look at them, but they did look alike. They were wearing dark pants and white shirts."

The woman said, "Those were our sons. It has to be."

Adam said, "I will go back where I saw them and look around."

"Thank you," the couple said.

Adam took off. When he got to where he'd seen the boys, he rode in the direction he'd seen them run. He came to an old barn so far back in the woods it was hard to see. He walked over to the window to look and someone hit him on the head. When he woke up he was tied up. He tried to get loose but he could not. Then he saw two boys. He called to them, but they said nothing. They were crying.

"My name is Adam. What are your names?"

One of them said, "My name is Jim and his name is John."

"Are you twins?"

"Yeah."

"Your ma and pa are looking for you. They are in town."

Both boys were crying. "They hurt ma and pa. They said they did."

"Are you the boys I saw by the road?"

"Yes, sir. We got away but they got us."

"Who are they?"

Jim said, "We don't know. We never seen them before."

"How many are there?"

"Four men, sir."

"Can you untie me?"

"No, sir. We're tied too."

In the dim light, Adam saw that it was true. "We're going to be fine. Let me just think a minute here."

"We heard the men leave. They ain't here right now."

Adam said, "Try to get your hands loose. Move your arms." He saw both boys moving around. After several minutes, John got one hand out of the ropes. "Good! Now try to untie your brother."

When the two boys were loose, they both untied Adam, but just as they got him loose they heard horses coming. Adam said, "You two listed to me. We have to go out that little window. I'll help you. Stay low to the ground once you're out. Don't make a sound."

"Ok," they said.

Adam put the boys out the window. He was going out the window when a man ran in the door and shot Adam. Adam made it out the window. He and the boys started to run. Adam heard a man shout. Adam said, "Keep going." When Adam saw that they were far back in the woods, Adam called for them to stop. They all sat down, breathing heavily.

Adam looked at his arm. The bullet had gone in and out. He took off his shirt and wrapped it around the wound. "Are you two all right?"

"Yes, sir," they said.

Adam told them to lie down and covered them with his coat. "You two get some sleep. We'll try to make it back to Eagle Station tomorrow." Adam knew four men would be looking for them in the morning.

* * * * * * * * *

Ben was watching for Adam. It was getting late. By morning, he knew something was wrong. He, Hoss, and Little Joe went to town. When they got to the store, Ruth asked, "Did Adam find the twin boys?"

"Twin boys?"

A man approached him. "Our sons. Your son went looking for them."

"Adam didn't come home last night. I have not seen him since he went to town yesterday."

Little Joe looked out the door. "Hey, Pa. Adam's horse."

Ben went outside. He yelled for Adam, but there was no response. When he went back into the trading post, Ruth introduced John and Alice Edwards. "Their sons are missing," she said. "I think Adam is out looking for them. Adam thought he saw them on his way into town."

"Did he say where he was going?" Ben asked.

"No, but I'm sure I saw him riding out of town as if he was going back to the Ponderosa."

"Let's go, boys," Ben said.

John Edwards called, "Our sons' names are Jim and John, if you see two little boys."

Ben nodded.

* * * * * * * * *

At daybreak Adam roused Jim and John. They began to walk. Adam wasn't sure where they were, but he knew town had to be to the east. When they came out of the woods, Adam stopped short. There was his father and brothers.

"Adam!" Hoss shouted in surprise.

Ben jumped down from his horse. "Son, what happened?"

"I found these two boys. The man who was holding them captive shot me in the arm, but the bullet went through. It's okay."

"Let's get you three back to town," Ben said.

When they got to town, they went to the store. When Jim and John saw their parents, they ran to them and hugged them. Ben took Adam to the saloon so Shelby could stitch up his arm. Adam told Big Dan where he thought the old barn was, and Big Dan went to investigate but found no one there.

The Edwards family got on the stage that afternoon. The townspeople had helped them pay for tickets. Jim and John both hugged Adam before they got on the stage.

Adam's arm was sore for a few weeks, but that was all. He got a letter from Mr. Edwards once telling him thank you and that they were all fine. As for the four men, no one knew who they were or where they went.

The End