THE HUNT FOR NICK WALKER

By Heidi

Two brothers looked from a hill how Mitch Cartwright was driving the herd together.
“Shall we kill that little cattledrover?”, the youngest, Nick Walker, asked.
“I wouldn’t do that if I was you”, his brother Cal said.
“Why not? It is just a little cattle drover”, Nick said.
“That is the herd of Cartwright and that little drover is his grandson. If you touch one of his sons of grandson, then you automatically touch Ben Cartwright”, Cal explained.
Nick was very disappointed but understood it.
After a while Cal said, “I go home. Are you coming. Don’t do stupid things anyway.”
“I never do that”, Nick said.
Cal left but his brother stayed.

At the herd there was the sound of the clear voice of Mitch to be heard across the field. He was clearly in his element. He had school vacation and besides that was his tenth birthday coming closer each day. Also there had fallen a lot of snow which the boy loved. Concerning the weather Mitch was pleased that his grandpa had built the Ponderosa not in in the south of Texas, New Mexico or Arizona. Then it would have not been snowing very soon but here in Nevada it did. By the white and peace giving area Mitch didn’t see that Nick Walker was riding towards him. Suddenly the boy got shot off his horse. He fell on the ground and injured his left knee very badly. White Star, the horse of Mitch, got up and ran back to the Ponderosa. Mitch remained lying on the ground injured. He didn’t really realised what had happened.

At the ranch Little Joe saw White Star coming. He was very amazed when the horse came without a rider. Hereby the young Cartwright suspected trouble.
“Where is your little master?”, Little Joe asked but of course he didn’t get an answer.
He went inside and said to his father, “White Star has just come home without Mitch.”
“Then we are gonna look for him. Candy, you stay at home in case Mitch comes home earlier than us”, Ben said worried.
The foreman nodded. Ben and Little Joe left but didn’t say much. Underway they ran into Adam and Hoss. They had the shepherd Cody with them.
“Adam, your son is missing again”, Ben just said.
His two eldest sons became worried as well.
“We go to search in a seperate part of the ranch”, the rancher said.
“Cody, you come with me”, Adam said to his dog.
Each rode in a different direction.

Meanwhile Mitch got bothered by Nick.
Nick kicked him very hard and said daring, “Come up then Cartwright!”
“Get lost Walker. Dirty coward which you are”, Mitch fighted him.
“How dare you to call me a dirty coward? You are a big coward yourself.Aleways your father or Uncles in the area to protect you but not now. Or that dirty rotten dog of yours. And then I am not even talking about that foreman”, Nick said angry.
Nick was ten year older and much stronger than Mitch. By the teasing Nick didn’t see that there had come reinforcement for Mitch.
“Keep your dirty hands off my nephew!”, Nick heard saying behind him.
He turned around and looked into the eyes of Hoss Cartwright.
“Oh eh hello Hoss. I was just playing with that lad”, Nick said laughing..
“Poor excuses! Do you know this one?”, Hoss said while he showed his left fist.
Nick shook of no.
“That is a brother of this one”, Hoss said while he showed his right fist.
The following moment the young Walker got treated at a quite a beating. Mitch watched it from the ground and enjoyed every moment of it. Nick soon started to runaway.
“so, he is gone. Now you come home with me. Everybody is looking for you like always”, Hoss said jolly.
“I can barely walk. My knee hurts since I got shot off White Star”, his nephew said.
Hoss helped him up. Mitch barely could stand and leaned on his Uncle. They mounted on and went back home.

Ben, Adam, Little Joe and Cody had returned home already and were prepared for the worst. Mitch had become now the problem child at the Pondeorsa since he had come to live there. Though the boy was very much loved despite all the difficulties. That was mainly due to his healthy sense of humour.

Meanwhile Hop Sing was already busy with making the evening meal.

It seemed like that especially Hoss and Mitch came riding at the delicious smell from the kitchen because when the two rode upon the yard the food was ready to be eten. Hoss dismounted sfter he had stopped his horse.
“Mitchy, shall I leave there?”, he asked teasing.
“Unlce Hoss Cartwright! Help me from it”, the boy protested fierce.
“You always bit so lovely”, his Uncle said laughing.
Mitch put out his tongue to his beloved Uncle. With a lot of pain and trouble Mitch came on the gorund. Ben and Adam came outisde and saw how the littlest one of the family walked. Adam ran to him and picked him up. Adam wanted to tease his son too but Hoss stopped it.
“Adam, he is already sitting upon the cupboard”, Hoss said.
“Shut up daddy!”, was the only comment of the boy.
Adam looked amused at Hoss and gave him unnoticed a wink. He returned one without Ben and/or Mitch noticed that.
“I thought that you had gone boy”, Ben said while Adam carried Mitch inside.

In the warm living room the boy told what had happened.
“First we are gonna eat and then you go to bed”, Adam said after he had heard everything.
“May I not play outside for an hour at the yard after supper? I always may do that?”, Mitch asked amazed.
“Kid, you can hardly move your knee. Besides that, you have been outside all day. I reckon you have had more than enough air inside”, his father reacted.
Mitch looked with begging eyes at Ben but Adam said, “Nice try but I don’t fall for it. Let’s go and have supper.”
The boy let clearly know that he disagreed.

After he has had face-lift from Hoss Cartwright Nick went home angry. His mood wasn’t al too good when Cal told him not to shoot Mitch but now he had gotten the well deserved beating was thet for him the last straw. He couldn’t care less what would happen with his life now. As long as the dirty Cartwrights went away. He personally would make sure that that would happen.

Nick came home angry and with wo black eyes.
Kevin, his father, asked, “How did you get those two black eyes? Have you been fighting again?”
“I got beaten up by Hoss Cartwright. I was teasing that nephew of his after I had shot him from his horse”, Nick asnwered angry.
“Nick, I had warned you”, Cal said.
“It is your own fault. I really don’t feel sorry for you”, his father reacted.
“Why may the Cartwrights actually do everything? Only because they own the biggest ranch of the area?”, vroeg Nick asked.
“They have to keep themselves to the law as well, just like everyone”, Kevin said calm.
“They haven’t been finished with me yet”, Nick groaned.
“You don’t get involved with them. What they do is their business and not yours”, Kevin said strict.
Nick kept silent but wanted to take revemnge at the Cartwrights. It didn’t matter how that happened. As long as it happened.

Later that evening Nick thought of a very mean plan. He knew that Mitch was injured at his knee, so the boy needed medical attention. As Doc Paul Martin was the only doctor in Virginia City the Cartwrights had to take the road which led way pass the Springer Ranch and he could hold them there hostage. The Springer Ranch was empty for years and Nnick had discovered it by accident. Since then it had become his hidingplace.

At the Ponderosa the eveningmeal tasted everyone great, like always. Unnoticed Ben kept on looking at Mitch from time to time. The rancher was very convcerned about his safety. The boy couldn’t hardly protect himself. This was also the worry of Adam. Mitch could shoot quite good but he had a lack of selfconfidence. This was because he had become lame by an accident. The negative reactions of the inhabitants of Viriginia City made sure that Mitch barely came to town. It cost a few fights before it became clear that a lame Cartwright was countingfor the full one hunderd precent. Sinds then Mitch didn’t get any strange loks anymore.

After supper Mitch went to bed. At least, that was his plan. But he didn’t even could get up the stairs.
“You go to the doctor with me at once”, Adam said directly.
“I may not play outside but to town yes. Sometimes I cannot follow you anymore”, was the dry reaction of Mitch.
He looked at his Uncles, Grandfather and Candy but he didn’t get support from them. Candy roped two horses in front of the wagon and helped then his little friend on it. Adam climbed upon the box and rode in a quick tempo to Virginia City. The health of his son was now more important than wahat ever.
 
In the time when Adam and Mitch were away Nick brought a visit to the Ponderosa. He knocked at the door and Candy answered it.
“Is that little mate of yours around?”, Nick asked.
“Which one? I have so many”, was the dry reply of Candy.
This answer made Nick again angry. Candy went to stand against the doorpost.
“Do you happen to be the funniest at home?”, Nick asked.
“Besides the doorknob yes. Now get lost before Hoss is gonna work on your face again amd maybe rebuild it”, Candy said cool.
He wanted to close the door but Nick put his foot between it.
“Would you like to take your foot away?”, Nick asked.
“Why?”, an amazed Nick asked.
“Or otherwise you damgae the door. I am sure that Mr Cartwright won’t appreciate that”, was the answer.
The young Walker left furious. Candy closed the door and went back to the living room. The Cartwrights were rolling on the floor laughing. Like nothing had happened Candy just went to read the newspaper.

Adam stopped the wagon in  front of the door of the doctor’s practise.
“Kid, here you gotta get out”, Adam called.
“Very funny daddy. I can hardly walk”, the boy protested.
Adam came off the wagon and helped his son on the ground. The tears came into the eyes of Mitch when he stood. Stumbling he went upstairs with his father.
 Doc Paul Martin was still there when he saw the Cartwrights come in.
“Adam, what is the matter with Mitch?”, the healmaster asked.
“He got shot off his horse sand damaged thereby his knee. He can barely walk”, Adam said.
Mitch got put on the examiningtable with care and got examined.
“Your knee is badly pushed. I will give you a painkiller and benumb your knee. It must heal with rest”, Paul said after the examination.
Adam nodded looking at his son. Mitch was nearly asleep.
After the treatment Paul said, “I keep Mitch here for the night. He can sleep in our guestroom. If you want stay with him.”
“He needs me now. The others can spend the night without me anyway”, Adam answered.

Half way the evening Mitch woke up. Adam sat on the bed looking at him.
“Good evening to you kid. How does this little lad feel himself?”, Adam asked.
“Sleepy. Where are we?”, the boy asked.
“We are at the house of Doc Martin. He has treated your knee. We will stay the night here. Just go to sleep again”, Adam said and he tucked the boy in.
Mitch fell asleep again, which his father also did.

To get self appreciation Nick decided to imprison Adam and Mitch in a deserted ranch. The young Walker waited for the couple at the road to the Ponderosa. This did cost him a sleeplessnight in the snow.

The next morning after a good breakfast Adam and Mitch went back home. It was freezing cold but Mitch was wrapped warm enough. Suddenly Nick stood uopn their way. He held his rifle pointed at both.
“Now you are coming with me”, he said.
Nick tied his horse behind the wagon and climbed upon the box.
He held Adam under gunshot and said, “Driving Cartwright. I say where we are going!”
To Mitch he said, “You keep also your trouble!”
“I do nothing!”, the boy said as innocent as possible.
“I would keep it that way Cartwright!”, Nick said.
Adam rode to the Springer Ranch.
“Here are we gonna spend the Holidays together very cozily. Come on get off”, Nick said jolly.
Mitch looked up but wasn’t feeling very comfortable. But that wasn’t Adam either. He helped his son on the ground. He brought his son inside and put him on the ground. Nick closed the door. He walked to his two hostages.
Laughing he said, “Don’t think that they will find you. At least not alive.”
“We know where you live”, Mitch said without turning a hair.
“Shut up little one. I will shoot you as first”, Nick laughed.
“Then you have to be a man, not a wet paper”, the young Cartwright replied.
Adam watched with enjoyment because he knew how Mitch could everyone angry including himself. Nick became so angry that he wanted to attack Mitch, but wasn’t looking where he was walking. First he tripped over a lose cloth, then he fell and lost then his conciousness. The Cartwrights grabbed their chance and tied Nick up.
“You hold him under gunshot while I go for the authority”, Adam said to his son.
Mitch nodded and got his revolver. Adam went to Virginia City while Mitch stayed behind.

As fast he could Adam rode to Virginia City. Nick Walker was very dangerous. He had to get moved out of the way as soon as possible. Adam knew that very well. But he wasn’t the man to just kill someone. He had learned that from his father and he had to learn his son that as well. Fortuantly for Adam he met at the edge of town deputy Clem Foster.
“Clem, Mitch is holding Nick Walker under gunshot at the Springer Ranch”, Adam said directly.
“I come along”, was the answer of the deputy.
The eldest Cartwright boy turned the wagon whereafter they went together to the ranch.
Suddenly Nick woke up. Mitch was alert and shot at his hostagetaker. The bullit hit him in his rightarm.
“You dirty rotten kid! How dare you to shoot me”, Nick groaned.
He attacked Mitch but this one fought back. By the many games of romps with his father and Uncles Mitch had learned to fight. Nick hadn’t expected that of a little boy. Suddenly Nick threw a burning match to something which caught fire at once.
“Now you will die, Cartwright! You finally get what you deserve”, he said.
Hereafter he left the ranch house. Mitch crawled tot the frontdoor but the flames were faster.

Fortuantly Ben, Hoss, Little Joe and Candy with Cody just came by. From far away distance they had seen the flames. The Cartwrights and the foreman jumped from their horses and ran to the house. Hoss broke the door open and found in the hallthe unconcious Mitch. Ben and Hoss quickly picked up the boy and carried him outside. Ben put his grandson on the ground. Cody began to lick his little master.
“He will make it , won’t he?”, Little Joe asked worried when mitch remained unconcious.
“I think he will. Mitch is a tough lad. Just enjoy this seldom moment that he is so quiet”, was the reply of Ben.

By the air outside Mitch got to breathe again. He let coughing know his exsistance on the world clearly hear.
“The rest is gone again”, Hoss sighted teasing.
As reaction he got a bit of snow thrown at him by Mitch. Meanwhile the whole ranch had burned off totally. Adam and Clem came riding towards them and right away they knew what was going on. Adam came off the wagon and ran to Mitch.
“I am alright daddy, but can we go home now?”, the boy asked.
Adam nodded. Mitch told what Nick had done.
“We will start the hunt for Nick Walker. Just you make sure that you get well. We do the rest”, the deputy said.
He looked at the Cartwrights and Candy with a questionable look in his eyes.
“Clem, we come along”, Ben said on behalf of everyone except Adam.
“Who must look after me then?”, Mitch asked a bit simple.
“I will do that”, Adam answered.
He and Ben put Mitch on the wagon whereafter Adam went with his son to the Ponderosa. The rest of the men and dog ewent to look for Nick Walker.

Very soon Adam and Mitch came home. The eldest son of the rancher of the Ponderosa stopped the wagon in front of the door. He climbed off as first and thenhe helped Mitch inside.
The boy asked, “Daddy, I surely may play outside?”
“No, not for a while. Nick Walker can be everywhere and fisrt your knee must get well. You may not play outside before that”, his father answered.
Mitch sighted very deeply and said, “It was worth a try.”
At the frontdoor he looked at the much snow which had fallen upon the yard.

Inside the fire was already burning so that it was comfortable warm. Adam put Mitch on the settee and the boy took off his coat a bit clumpsy. Adam did the same and hung both coats at the coat-rack.
Then Hop Sing came out of the kitchen with a cup of coffee and a mug of hot chocolate.
He said, “Hop Sing quickly made hot drinks for Mr Adam and little Mitch.”
Adam asked, “Thanks Hop Sing. We just needed tht. Right kid?”
Mitch nodded. He kinda liked it that everyone was away for now he would get all attention of Adam. The boy needed that often because sometimes he got a lot of less attention.

The christmastree was already trimmed.
“Daddy, may I ask you something?”, Mitch suddenly asked.
“Fire away. If I have an answer to it I don’t know”, Adam said who was busy at the office.
He got up and walked to his son.
“Why do we actually celebrate Christmas? Is that because of my birthday?”, Mitch asked.
Adam swallowed for a bit and said then, “It is just co-incidence that you celebrate your birthday then. But the real reason  why we celebrate christmas is because we remember the birth of Jesus. He was born to free all the people from their sins.”
“If that is so, how come then that are still so many bad people on the world?”, Mitch asked.
 “Good question but I have no answer to that”, his father replied.

A while later there was a knock at the door. Adam answered the door and Kevin Walker came in.
“Adam, do you know where Nick is?”, Kevin asked going straight to the point.
“No, I have seen him last when he tries to get us hostaged at the Springer ranch. Mitch shot him down whereafter your son set the ranch ablaze and left”, Adam answered.  
Kevin looked at him and said, “Your father and brothers are after Nick. It wouldn’t amaze me.”
“Indeed and Clem and Cody too. Yesterday Nick shot Mitch off his horse so that he barely can walk”, Adam said.  
“So you must look after him?”, Kevin asked.
The eldest son of Ben Cartwright nodded.
“I go home. Maybe Nick is there. He doesn’t know what he is doing”, Kevin said and he left the ranch house.
Mitch felt very responsible for everything.
His father noticed that and said, “Kid, it is not your fault but that one Nick. He started with it by shooting you from your horse. He will get his punishment somehow”
Mitch nodded understanding.

Through the warmth inside the house Mitch fell asleep after lunch. This was for Adam the opportunity to catch up with the administration. When everyone was present this was not really able.

At the Walker household Kevin and Cal both got very worried about what Nick was doing. Nick was getting himnself in trouble so many times that Cal had decided to let his brother down. Kevin was counting on the fact that his youngest son would die in a shooting one day. Nick also had the habit to stay away for days without leaving a message behind.

After the failed imprisoning Nick came home injured.
He said, “Cal, you gotta help me. Mitch Cartwright just shot at me.”
“You are a maniac. Pa has just gone to the Ponderosa to ask where you are”, his brother said.
“Take care of me and shut up”, Nick said insulted.
Silently Cal took the bullit out of the right arm of his brother. When that had happened Nick shot him dead.
His comment was, “Good riddance!”
He knew that his father would come home any moment so Nick got the hell out of the house. He just let the mortal remains of Cal lying there.

When Kevin came home he found in the living room his murdered son Cal. He was hit straight in the heart. Kevin knew directly that his dear son Nick was the killer.
“This is the last straw”, Kevin said to himself.
He left the house again and went to Virginia City. He stopped at the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Roy Coffee asked him on the spot, “Kevin, is there something?”
“Nick has shot his brother Cal dead at home. I demand that you look for him and throw him in the slammer and then destroy the key”, Kevin replied.
“Clem is already looking for him. Ben Cartwright and his two youngest sons and Candy are there too. When they find him he won’t survive it. Especially when Cody is there as well. You know how fierce he can react”, Roy said.
Kevin nodded.

Then the Cartwrights and Clem had left the yard of the Springer Ranch they went to the wood. They knew how sneaky Nick was and could be and they were at their very guard. It was dealy quiet and therefor very dangerous.
Cle,m said at a certain moment, “It is better if we split up and everone goes to search in a part for that creep. In two hours time we meet here again.”
That was an excellent idea and sop it happened. Cody accompanied Ben. But no matter how they searched, Nick was swept away from the world

At first the Cartwrights didn’t return home. They would  and had to find that bastard of a Nick Walker. No one had the right to imprison two of their familymembers. For any reason what so ever.  

By eveningtime Clem said, “I stop with searching. It is just useless. I can use my valueble time much better than to look for that crazy fool.”
“I think that we might be heading for home as well. Adam will get worried when we stay away”, Ben said.
It has delivered no result. Besides that the very cold air outside had made them all four very hungry but Hoss of course the most.

At the ranch Mitch said suddenly, “There goes our rest.”
“What do you mean?”, Adam asked amazed.
“There come Grandpa, Cody, Candy and my two teasingloving Uncles ”, the boy explained.
Adam got up and walked to a window. When he looked outside he saw indeed his familymembers coming. At their faces he saw that they hadn’t reached anything.

When everyone was inside Mitch said teasing, “All day it was quiet, then you come again.”
Candy put his cold hands on the face of Mitch and said, “This is how we deal with difficult little ones like you! ”
“Candy Canaday! Stop it! You big rotter you are!”, the boy reacted.
Everybody laughed.

During the meal they reported their failed search. It didn’t make Mitch feel at ease. He constantly kept on looking at the door like Nick Walker could walk in any moment to blow him away.

Nick kept quiet for a few days. Hereby the peace and quiet returned a bit in Virginia City. The same went for the Ponderosa. Mitch recovered very soon from his injury. Though he walked a bit crippled which they had gotten used to it.

On Christmas eve Adam said to Little Joe, “Are you gonna take your nephew to town to get the mail? Stay there for a few hours.”
He nodded and asked, “Mitch, are you coming?”
Mitch nodded and went straight along. The reason why Mitch had to get away wasbecause his relatives had to do the last preparations for the tenth birthday of the youngest Cartwright.

After riding a while Little Joe and Mitch arrived in town. None of them could suspect that Nick Walker was there as well. Uncle and nephew collected the mail and spent then some time in the saloon.

“Shall we go home?”, Mitch asked after being at the Silver Dollar Saloon for four hours.
Little Joe thought it was a good idea and went along with his nephew. Arrived at their horses they got a nast surprise. It was the new arch-enemy of the Cartwrights: Nick Walker!

Nick stood eye in eye with Little Joe and Mitch.
“Aha, two for the price of one”, Nick laughed.
He grabbed hos revolver and shot down Little Joe. The young Cartwright gto hit in his right arm.
“Damn sucker”, Mitch cursed.
He pulled his revolver. A quarter of a second later he shot Nick dead. It was on clear daylight in Virginia City. Doc Martin already had taken care of Little Joe.
Clem said to Mitch, “You come along with me.”
The boy nodded and walked along stumbling.

In the sheriff’s office Mitch got receving.
He got a cup of coffee and said, “Clem, I did it for Uncle Joe. He would do the same for me.”
“I am not arresting you and neither is the sheriff. I happened to have seen everything. It was self-defence. How are you feeling?”, Clem asked looking at him.
“I am ok. I have never shot anyone dead before. Will daddy understand it?”, Mitch asked a bit worried.
“Your father understands more than you think”, was the reaction of the deputy.
Silently the boy drank his coffee.
“Just stay here for a spell. I will inform about your Uncle’s condition”, Clem said.
He left his office and went to the practise of the doctor.

Little Joe was not badly injured.
Doc said to him and Clem, “Joe, you do stay at home for the rest of the year to recover from that shotwound. In other words: you must take it easy the next coming days.”
Little Joe nodded. They left the practise and walked to the sheriff’s office.
Arrived there Little Joe asked Mitch, “Are you coming or will you celebrate your birthday here?”
Mitch looked up from this question.
Hij said, “I come along. Or Uncle Hoss will eat my birthday on his own.”
His Uncle began to laugh.

Slowly but sure the two youngest Cartwrights came home. Ben saw them coming and walked towards them. Directly he knew that they had good news.

In the living room Little Joe and Mitch toldwhat had happened in town.
“So in fact is our little Mitchy the hero?”, Hoss asked teasing.
“Stop it Uncle Hoss Cartwright!”, the boy reacted.
Ben said, “He sure is. We wouldn’t have reacted differently lad.”
Adam was now really proud as an ape of his son and let that show very well.

In his office Roy asked his employee, “How does Mitch feel after he has shot dead that boy of Walker?”
“One hunderd precent guilty but it was self-defence. Besides that Nick first shot Joe”, Clem replied.
“I will put it in a letter that Mitch mustn’t get worried about eventually sueings for murder. Then you can give it him tomorrow”, the sheriff said.

While Roy wrote that letter Clem went to Kevin to tell him how Nick got killed. Kevin reavcted very relieved. Now at least he didn’t have to worry about both his sons anymore.

The next dat the deputy rode upon the yard of the Cartwrights. He knew that it was the birthday of Mitch and it bothered him a lot that he had killed someone.

When Mitch had read the letter at least ten times he was convinced that it is was that way. Again he had proved to his family that he was a Cartwright as well.


THE END
FEBRUARY 2003


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