The New Hand, Part Twenty-One

by J. Rosemary Moss

Genre: Slash Fan-Fiction (Bonanza)
Rating: PG-13

LINK TO PART ONE

~

Todd Burton gulped down another shot of whiskey at The Bucket of Blood. He’d found a saloon girl who was willing to listen to him complain about the cruel mistreatment he’d received at the hands of the Cartwrights. Well, she was willing to listen with half an ear, at any event—as long as he kept giving her tips.

But at length a well-dressed gentleman took the seat next to Todd and nodded at the girl, sending her off. Then he placed a fresh bottle of whiskey on the table and poured some into Todd’s glass.

“Did I hear you mention a David Griffin?” the stranger asked.

Todd narrowed his eyes at the stranger. It didn’t surprise him that someone might be interested in Griffin—there was something about that man that just screamed ‘trouble.’ And that being the case, he could probably get more than free whiskey off this gentleman.

“I might have,” he answered, rubbing his chin.

The stranger didn’t pretend to misunderstand. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a number of bills. “Would you mind repeating the story?” he asked.

Todd grinned as he accepted the cash and tucked it into his pocket. “It was on account of David Griffin that I lost my job at the Ponderosa,” he explained. “He’s got himself a fiancée up there—a girl named Abby with an ugly scar on her face. She used to work over at The Silver Dollar.”

“Griffin is engaged?” the stranger said, raising his eyebrows.

Todd nodded.

“What did his fiancée have to do with you losing your job?” he persisted.

Todd took a gulp of the fresh whiskey before proceeding. “She don’t match David for looks—that scar is vicious. I made a few comments on how, uh, talented she must be in other respects to entice someone like Griffin. Hoss Cartwright took exception to that and fired me on the spot.”

“I see,” said the stranger. “What did Griffin himself have to say?”

“Oh, he don’t know anything about it,” Todd assured him. “He and Adam Cartwright are in San Francisco on business.”

The stranger seemed disconcerted by that news. “Griffin and Adam Cartwright?” he repeated. “They’re both back in San Francisco?”

Todd nodded.

“Do you know what sort of business brought them there?”

“No,” Todd answered, shaking his head as he took another sip of whiskey. “Can’t say that I do.”

The stranger stood up and tipped his hat at Todd. “Thank you. You’re information has been most helpful all the same.”

Todd grinned as he poured out more whiskey for himself. “Happy to oblige, stranger.”

~

The stranger wore a puzzled frown as he left The Bucket of Blood. Ed Niles had hired him to come to Virginia City and find out what David Griffin was up to. He would not be happy to learn that the young man had made an ally of Adam Cartwright—much less that both men were back in San Francisco.

And Griffin had a fiancée now—and that fiancée was staying on the Ponderosa, presumably under the protection of the Cartwrights. But she had been a common saloon girl before she became so elevated.

Someone would know where to dig up any dirt on her, he told himself. Perhaps he’d have some useful information on the girl by the time he reported to Niles. It seemed likely that Griffin was aiming to cause trouble for Niles, so Niles would be anxious for anything he could use as leverage against him.

The stranger smiled as he thought about what Niles would be willing to pay him for some truly useful information. He paused to straighten out his coat and then headed straight for The Silver Dollar.

LINK TO PART TWENTY-TWO