Russell Gannaway, an ex-con who robbed the stage outside of North Fork four years ago, was back in town.  He paid his debt to society and wanted a fresh start.  He thought the best place to start over was back here.  He wanted a chance to prove to the town of North Fork how he had changed and just how honest he was.  He was an old friend of mine and he thought he'd look me up.  He asked me if I would give him a job.  He didn't want anything for his work, just a few weeks out in the open air and a place to sleep.  I told him he could remove the rocks in the north field.  He agreed.   

The five thousand dollars from the stage coach robbery was never found.  Little did I know that Gannaway had hidden the five thousand dollars on my ranch.  Yes, in the north field where all the rocks were.  How convenient for him.  His partners Sanchez and Brooks were interested in that money too.  Gannaway was the only one who was caught and punished for his part in the robbery.

Micah was concerned.  He asked me how well I knew him.  I told Micah that Russell had helped Mark and I get settled when we first came here.  I must admit, I was leery of hiring him on.  I wanted to be cautious because of Mark.  Mark felt Russell deserved a chance.  I never did understand Russell robbing that stage coach.  He was once a respectable rancher.       

  Mark was studying one last time before heading off to school.  Russell came in from hitching up the team.  He said it was cold out.  I told him to have a cup of coffee and warm up before heading out.  I told Mark that if he could get through the geography test today without shaming himself today, I'd buy him supper at the hotel tonight.  "Really Pa! I'll do'er!" Exclaimed Mark.  He loved to eat at the hotel.  I told him to get back here early, that I had to get into town right away.  I had some bank business to do and our catalog order would be comin' in on the stage the next day and I'd like to have the money ready.  I told Russell if he'd like he could join us for supper.  He could, depending on what Mark got on his test.  He said he'd like that.  He then headed out to start work on the north field. 

Russell went out to the north field.  He had buried the money under a large rock.  But which one?  He just started digging when Mark stopped by on his way to school.  He told him I had changed my mind.  He told him to pile the rocks on the side of the road and make a wall.  Mark just sat there on Blueboy watching Russell load the rocks.  Russell wanted to get back to looking for the money, but with Mark there he couldn't.  He told Mark if he didn't get on to school he'd ask him to help.  Mark told him school work was a lot easier then what he was doing.  He told him he'd see him later and off to school he went. 

Russell then started over to where he was originally digging when he heard someone yell....."Hey old friend.....good morning!"  It was Sanchez and Brooks.  They were watching him from the hills.  They told him they wanted the money.  Russell said he was the one who spent time in jail so the money should be his.  Brooks kept insisting that Russell strap on his gun.  Russell told him he didn't have the money.  If they killed him they would never get the money.  They figured he must have hid the money here in North Fork after the robbery or otherwise he wouldn't have come back here.  "I didn't hide it.....I gave it to someone. As soon as I get it back I'll split it with you." said Russell.  Sanchez didn't believe him.  He couldn't think of anyone here that Russell could have trusted with the money.  Brooks figured Russell gave me the money.  When he asked Russell this he agreed.  They told him to get the money.  He told them I didn't have it on me that the money was in the bank.  He told them that I was considered one of the most honest men around here and that he had promised to split some of the money with me.  Brooks said they wanted the money today.  They were tired of waiting.  He asked them to wait a week.  That was how long he promised to work for me.  Sanchez wanted Russell to tell him me that he changed his mind and that he hurt his hand.  Russell agreed.  He told them we we're going into town for supper; he'd get the money then and meet them back here.  Brooks wanted to meet him at the hotel and then we'd ride out together after dark.  They had no intentions of splitting the money with anyone other than themselves.

Micah suspected something was going on.  He asked Brooks where his partner was.  He said he had no partner, that he and Sanchez just rode in together.  Brooks told him he didn't have to worry about him; he planned on leaving town tomorrow morning.  He told Micah he had no business here.  Micah wasn't satisfied with that, and he went back to his office.  Micah watched Mark, Russell and I ride in together.  Mark and I went to the bank and Russell said he wanted to get a drink and get a few things at the store.  He said he'd meet us at the hotel.  I told him it would take us about twenty minutes.  Russell headed for the Saloon.  Brooks behind him.  Sanchez came out of the General Store.  Brooks told Sanchez that Russell didn't go to the bank with me.  They wanted to know why.  They then went into the Saloon.  As they approached Russell.  Brooks wanted to know why he didn't go to the bank with me.  Russell told them he didn't want to make me suspicious.  He didn't want me to think he didn't trust me.  Russell told them he would have the money in about an hour, after dinner.  They said they would be watching for him.           

That evening at the supper table Micah said that he had gone over his old records.  He wanted to refresh his memory on the stagecoach robbery that Russell had been involved in.  Micah said that the money was never recovered nor did they find the other men that were involved except for Russell.  I asked Micah what he was gettin' at.  He said he thought it funny that Gannaway and the other two strangers show up about the same time.  Russell insisted it was just a coincident.  Micah wasn't so sure.  Micah told us how they were watching Russell this afternoon and how Micah was watching them all.  He mentioned he saw the three of them in the Saloon.  Russell said he didn't know what they were doing there but he was just getting a drink.  I told Micah that was no reason to badger a man.  "It's enough! Suppose those two men are connected with Gannaway here? Remember the money was never found. Suppose they think he's got it hidden? Now that he's staying at your place.....that involves you and Mark," said Micah.  "What do you mean?" Asked Mark.  "Well if there's any shooting, you and your father may find yourselves right in the middle of it."  That made me stop and think.  "That's right Russell.....I know we're old friends but I still have to ask you.....did you do anything to put Mark in danger?"  He told me he could understand Micah being suspicious but we were old friends.  He said he wouldn't do that to a friend.  I watched Russell while he cut his meat.  He told me earlier he had hurt his hand bad this morning.  He handled the knife and fork quite well and didn't seem to have any pain.  I grabbed his hand and pulled down the bandage.  It was nothing but a bruise.  "All right Gannaway.....Now I want answers.....about those two men in the Saloon. And why did you strap on a gun this afternoon?"  He was getting nervous.  "To protect myself Lucas. They thought that I might have the money hidden. And they.....they threatened me."  "Have you hidden the money?" I asked.  "Well no.....no.....I told 'em I didn't have the money."  "It doesn't look like they believed you.....they're still in town," said Micah.  I asked him why they haven't left and why what else had he told them.  Again Micah started in on him.  "Did you tell them you had it hidden or maybe someone was keepin' it for you, is that why they're waiting around?"  He was getting more and more apprehensive with both of us pressuring him.  "Is that it?"  I was getting madder and madder as we questioned him.  I grabbed him by his coat and pulled him out of his chair.  "Did you put my son in danger with a lie like that?"  He didn't answer.  He was whimperin'.  I hit him across the face.  He said he couldn't help it, he had no choice.  If he didn't get the money back they would kill him.  He told them that he gave the money to me to keep for him. 
"Who?"  He said he couldn't face them alone.  That I was good with a gun.  He wanted me to do his killin' for him.  "You get out of here before I kill you!"  I shoved him and he fell to the floor.  He got up and ran out of the hotel straight to Sanchez and Brooks.

He told them that I had the money and wouldn't give it to him.  That I double crossed him and that I had the money on me.  I walked out on the porch of the hotel and called to Sanchez and Brooks.  But they wouldn't listen to me.  They started firing.  I went back into the hotel and told Mark and Ruth to take cover behind the desk.  Micah said he'd cut across to his office and get them in the cross fire.  They wanted me to throw the money out and they'd leave.  I took the butt of my rifle and smashed the window and we all starting shooting.  The three of them managed to go into the Barber Shop.  Sanchez snuck out and entered the hotel from the back.  Mark and Ruth were too busy to see him until Sanchez pushed Ruth aside to try and kill me.  "Pa.....behind ya'!"  I turned and killed Sanchez.  Gannaway ran for his horse and Brooks shot him in the back.  That left Brooks open.  I shot and killed him. 

The next day Mark and I went out to the north field and searched for the money.  We found it and headed into town to give the money to Micah.  We we're filthy and exhausted when we got into there.  Micah wasn't in his office.  The door was locked, so we sat out in front of his office to wait for him.  We both fell asleep.
One good thing was we got all those rocks cleared away.