Summary: Ben is late getting back from a business trip to Carson City.

Rated  K+  Word count 4,159

 The Bond

The front door opened with a resounding crash, startling the two occupants of the room.

“Do you think he’ll ever learn to open a door like a normal person?” grumbled Adam.

“He hasn’t learned it yet, what makes you think he’s capable of ever learnin’?” replied Hoss with a backwards glance at his younger brother, who stood next to the credenza removing his gunbelt.

“One can hope.”

“Never’ll happen. If Pa can’t do it, no one can.”

“Hey, I’m standin’ right here!”

“You’re also late. Pa will be home anytime now,” chastised Adam.

“I know. I wanted to finish up with the horses today.”

“Are you telling me you have that whole string broke for the army?”

“That’s what I’m tellin’ you older brother.”

“Green broke?”

“Nope, they’re completely ready. Now if you two don’t mind I’m gonna grab some clean clothes and take a quick bath before Pa gets here.” Joe dashed up the stairs and seconds later a door slammed closed.

“Yep, he’ll never learn.”

Adam shook his head, a sigh escaping past his lips.

****

“You come eat before dinner go bad and Hop Sing throw out.”

“We will once Pa gets here.” Joe answered from his spot on the table where the checkerboard sat between him and Hoss. He shot another glance at the clock before his eyes slid over to the door, willing it to open.

“Fatha eat when come home. Sons eat now.”

“We may as well eat.” Adam pushed himself up from his blue chair. “After all we wouldn’t want Hoss fainting from hunger,” he remarked thumping Hoss on the back.

“You’re dadburn right, I’m plumb famished.”

Joe hesitated, wanting to wait for his father.

“Come on, Joe.”

“I’m not hungry, Adam.”

Adam paused, looking back at his youngest brother. He could see concern reflected in the green eyes. “Look, Pa’s fine. He’ll be home soon.”

“Yeah , and he’ll be none too happy iffen you ain’t eatin’.”

With a sigh, Joe removed himself from the table and made his way to the dining room where he only put a small amount on his plate.

Adam watched while Joe did nothing but push his food from one side of his plate to the other. “He probably decided to stay an extra night.”

Joe briefly looked up at his brother then back down to his plate. “He would have sent a telegram.”

“Buck might of thrown a shoe and he had to stop over somewhere.” Hoss tried to help relieve the anxiety Joe was feeling.

“He’d have sent a telegram.”

“He could have. . .”

“He’d have telegraphed!” shouted Joe. “Somethin’s happened or he’d be here. I know it, you know it Adam, and so does Hoss.”

It was quiet while both brothers contemplated what Joe said.

“I’ll tell you what, Joe. If Pa isn’t home by morning we’ll start looking for him.”

“We’re gonna look pretty silly when we run into him on the road.” Hoss pointed out.

“I’d rather look silly than have Pa lyin’ on the trail somewhere hurt.” Joe pushed his plate away and stood from the table. “Goodnight Adam, Hoss.”

~~~~

Ben woke to a relentless pounding in his head. When he tried to reach up to rub his temples he quickly discovered his hands were tied behind his back. He opened his eyes then promptly slammed them shut against the bright light radiating from the lantern on the table next to him. It felt like a miner, no more like a dozen of miners, had awoken and were using pick axes against the inside of his skull. Trying again, but more cautious this time, Ben opened his eyes.

“Dear Lord, I feel like Joe on a Sunday morning after a Saturday night of carousing in town.”

“It’s about time you woke up.”

Slowly raising his head, Ben tried to focus on the distorted figure in front of him. “YOU!” Shock and indignation coursed through Ben’s mind. Anger and rage were only a short step behind. “What’s the meaning of this?”

“Oh come on, Ben, you’re a smart man, you should be able to figure it out.”

“I didn’t think you were stupid enough to resort to kidnapping to get what you want.”

“Who said anything about kidnapping? You, Ben Cartwright, are going to meet with an unfortunate accident.

“You think killing me will get you the contract?” Ben snorted with disdain. “If that’s what you think you’re not just an idiot, you’ve also lost your mind. The contract was given to the Ponderosa, not exclusively to Ben Cartwright.”

“Don’t you think I took that into consideration? Why do you think you’re sitting in this nice, cozy cottage instead of lying dead on the road?” At Ben’s continued silence the man chuckled. “Your boys are going to start looking for you, and knowing those three, they’ll have every hand on the Ponderosa looking too. They’ll scour the road between your ranch and Carson City, along with every nook and cranny. They won’t stop until they find you. Once they start to give up they’ll find a lead directing them to. . . Hmm, where should I send them? San Francisco? Maybe New Orleans? How about Boston? Once they do find you, those boys will be so devastated the contract will be the last thought in their heads. By then they’ll have defaulted on the deadlines and it will then go to someone else, namely yours truly. So to answer your question; no Ben, I’m not an idiot or crazy. It’s a brilliant plan if I do say so myself.”

Ben stared at the man in front of him for a minute before shaking his head and a confident smile, which reeked of pride, graced his lips. “There’s a fatal flaw in this brilliant plan of yours.”

“And what might that be?”

“You’re underestimating my sons.”

“You think so?” The air of confidence slipped just a little.

“No, I don’t think so, I know so. Oh don’t get me wrong. I know those boys of mine will look; they’ll turn over every stone trying to find me. I know that with certainty. I know how ruthless they are, particularly Joseph. He won’t stop looking until he finds me, and Hoss will be right by his side. But they’ll all agree that Adam, much to his displeasure, will stay at the Ponderosa, waiting for me and running the ranch. He’ll make sure every deadline is met. He’ll do it to honor me. Besides, what makes you think those boys won’t be able to find me?”

The confident smile was all but gone until Ben asked the last question. “What makes me think that? Because I have you in the one place they’ll never think to look. The one place that’s too painful to come to.”

Ben’s brows furrowed in consternation. He didn’t have the slightest idea what this man could be alluding to.

“You mean to tell me you don’t know where you are? Come on Ben, look around.”

The wick of the lamp was turned up, bathing the room in a soft golden glow, and giving Ben his first opportunity to take in his surroundings. The small living room, the bedroom off to the side with a quilt on the bed, were all too familiar, and the little kitchen with the white lace curtains. He knew if he could see the table behind him there would be a lamp and red crystal dish. He was as certain of it as he was of the cradle in the corner next to the fireplace.

“Little Joe’s cabin.”

~~~~

Sunrise found three horses already saddled and waiting patiently while the youngest Cartwright, completely ready to go, paced the floor in the great room waiting for his brothers to make an appearance.

“Looky who’s already up, Adam.”

“I see. It’s one for the history books for sure.”

“Pa didn’t come home last night,” Joe said through clenched teeth, trying to control his patience, and not in the mood for his brothers’ jibes.

Shaking his head, Adam followed Hoss over to the table. “I still think you’re over reacting. He’ll be home.”

“You said if he wasn’t home by mornin’ we’d go lookin’ for him. Its mornin’ and he ain’t home.”

“Isn’t,” corrected Adam.

Joe took a deep breath and slowly released it. “Well?”

“All right, we’ll go after breakfast.”

“After breakfast! No, we need to go now.” The urgency and panic that Joe felt were clearly revealed in his voice.

“After breakfast, Joseph.” Hoss reached over and stabbed a slice of ham and dropped it on his plate.

Joe’s patience had come to an end. “When you two are done you can catch up to me if you feel the need.” He grabbed his hat and slammed the door in his wake so hard the windows shook. Seconds later the sounds of hoof beats leaving the yard at a fast gallop could be heard.

Silence reigned in Joe’s wake as Adam sipped his coffee and Hoss sliced the ham on his place.

“You think he’s right, Adam? You know how he and Pa are. They always seem to know when somethin’s wrong with the other.”

Adam pondered Hoss’ question. He has a point. There has always been some kind of link between them. A link Adam envied at times.

“Adam?”

“Yeah. We better go after him.”

Both men pushed away from the table. After strapping on their guns and grabbing their hats, they headed out the door. Neither were surprised to find their horses saddled and waiting. The urgency Joe felt now permeated their bones as they mounted their horses and rushed to catch up with their brother.

~~~~

Joe took the road he knew his father would be on and watched for signs he had been there.  “I hope Adam’s right, Cooch, and we meet up with Pa, but I have this feelin’ in my gut I just can’t shake. He’s in trouble, big trouble.”

He was on and off the road following multiple leads which led nowhere. Just before he reached the boundary of the Ponderosa he spotted signs of a scuffle on the road. Dismounting, he squatted down to study the ground. There were not only boot prints, but also signs of a horse prancing around.

“Has to be Buck.”

Standing Joe followed the tracks to the side of the road where the story played out. “Pa, you sure put up one Hell of a fight.

Joe was positive what he saw were signs a fight between his father and some unknown adversary. The brush all around had trampled, and led to a larger patch which was completely flattened where someone went down. Long trenches led off of it showing where someone had been drug away. Joe followed them until they ended and hoof prints took over leading away from the road.

Turning back to the road to retrieve Cochise Joe spotted a light colored object off to the side. Moving closer, his breath caught in his throat; partially concealed by the brush, laid Ben’s hat. Picking it up Joe immediately noticed blood on the brim.

“Pa. . .” Closing his eyes, Joe took a deep breath, then another, to steady himself. If he had any hope of finding his father, he could not afford to have his mind clouded by fear that might not have any substance.

Racing back to the road, Joe swung into the saddle and spurred his horse into the trees. “Pa’s alive, Cochise. He has to be, he just has to be.”

~~~~

Ben watched the men headed out the door. He didn’t need to look around to get the lay out of the room where he was being held captive. He knew every inch of it, after all this was supposed to be Joe’s home; Joe’s and Laura’s.

The fireplace was exactly what he needed. Scooting across the floor, Ben leaned against the rocks and started sawing the bindings on his wrists against them. It took a while, but finally they gave way and Ben’s hands were free. Making quick work of the rope at his ankles, Ben stood and took a minute to stretch the kinks out of his back. He could hear the indistinct voices of his captors out front and he knew he only had moments to make his escape.

Cautiously, he made his way to the back of the house. Opening the door he looked around making sure the coast was clear. Ben had just stepped across the threshold when the front door swung open.

“He’s getting away!”

The alarm sounded and Ben could hear the pounding of feet. Without hesitating and knowing time was of the essence, Ben headed for the trees as fast as he could.  Unfortunately, his abductors were younger and faster. Ben put up the fight of his life, but he was outnumbered. With him bloody and bruised, they drug back to the front of the cabin.

“What ya want us to do with him, Boss?”

“First off, make sure he pays for wasting your time. Once you’re done I want him strapped to the wagon wheel.”

“Yes, Sir. Gladly.”

Ben looked from one man to the other and noted the vicious gleam in each eye, and doubted if he would survive what was coming.

“I’m sorry, Boys,” Ben whispered.

~~~~

“Where the devil did he go? We shoulda caught up to him by now,” complained Hoss.

“You would have thought. Hoss, can’t you track him.”

“I’m tryin’ Adam, but with all them detours he took. . .” Without warning Hoss pulled Chubb to a stop. “Would you look at that. I guess Little Joe knew we’d be along.” At Adam’s questioning look, Hoss pointed to a tree at the side of the road. Hanging from a broken branch was, of all things, Ben’s hat.

Adam dismounted and within seconds had the hat in his hands. “And he was right too. Pa’s in trouble.”

~~~~

Frustrated by being led astray several times, but armed with sheer determination, Joe at last found a clear trail. He pulled Cochise to a standstill, the color draining from his face when he realized where the trail led. There had been so much heartbreak at a place that had held a promise of love and happiness not too long ago. Now there was the possibility he would find even more. Pulling himself together, he urged his horse forward.

When he was close to the cabin, he dismounted and made his way on foot. Careful of each step he took, Joe kept to the coverage of the trees and rocks knowing a single misstep could ruin everything.

Joe paused when he heard a rustling ahead of him. He knelt down behind a rock cluster and waited.

A few hundred feet ahead of him, just inside the edge of the clearing a man, who appeared to be a ranch hand, Joe didn’t recognize walked by with a rifle slung across his arm. He watched while he stopped and signaled to his counterpart on the other side of the clearing.  Joe waited until the other disappeared from sight before making his move. The guard never knew what hit him when the butt of Joe’s revolver came down on the back of his head. Joe caught him as he started to fall and lowered him silently to the ground.

From his new vantage point, Joe took in his surroundings, his breath catching when he spotted his father tied to the wheel of a wagon. Even from a distance he could tell Ben had been badly beaten, but he couldn’t tell if he was still breathing.

With the stealth of the Paiutes he grew up with and learned from, Joe circled the clearing using the stone wall next to the house for coverage. While he watched he realized the man never let Ben out of his sight. This one Joe did recognize. It was Art Reeves, a miner from the Lucky Strike; someone Joe had had many runs-ins with.

Picking up a stone, Joe pitched it into the trees behind Reeves. When he went to investigate, Joe made his move; moments later Reeves joined his cohort in the land of oblivion.

Starting for his father, Joe froze when the cabin door opened and Pete Dotson, the owner of a neighboring ranch walked out; a man all the Cartwrights knew and one each of them had the displeasure of dealing with, one way or another. He watched Dotson walked up to his father and kicked him in the side, making Joe’s blood boil. Closing his eyes Joe worked to push back the rage, he couldn’t afford to go off half-cocked, and his father’s life depended on him and what he did next. He waited and watched; when he was positive there weren’t any other guards, Joe walked into the clearing.

“Hold it right there, Dotson.”

The rancher spun around, shocked to be staring into the angry, green eyes of Joe Cartwright. “How?”

“How? You weren’t as smart as you thought you were. The trail was easy to follow.” Joe wasn’t bound to give him any type of credit for how tough the tracking actually had been.

“Where are your brothers, Joseph?”

“They’ll be along. Now, I suggest you untie my father.”

Dotson just stood there smiling like a cat that got the canary. “I don’t think so. In fact I would suggest you put your gun down.”

It was Joe’s turn to smile. “If you’re referrin’ to Reeves and his buddy, I’m afraid they’re a bit occupied at the moment.” He watched the smile slipped from Dotson’s face. “I won’t say it again; Untie my father.”

Consciousness returning, Ben groaned, waves of pain flowed over his battered body.

“Pa. . .”

Joe made the mistake of taking his eyes off of Dotson, who took advantage of the young man’s distraction and went for his gun.

Unfortunately for Dotson, Joe saw the move from the corner of his eye and before the other man’s weapon even cleared leather, Joe drew and fired. The rancher fell to his knees, his gun falling from now useless fingers.

Keeping his revolver trained on Dotson, he picked up the other man’s gun and backed away towards his father. Holstering his gun, Joe laid the other on the ground and knelt by his father.

“Pa, it’s Joe, everything is gonna to be fine now.” He pulled the knife from his boot and made quick work of the ropes holding his father hostage.

Once free, Ben slumped into Joe’s arms. “Joe?”

“I’m here, Pa.”

“How did you know?”

“I just did. I just knew.”

Ben reached up and laid the palm of his hand against Joe’s cheek. “This sure. . . is a. . . reversal of roles.”

Chuckling, Joe smiled at his father. “It sure is, Pa. Now don’t try to talk. You need to save your strength.”

At the sound of running feet, Joe pulled his gun, but breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his brothers rush into the clearing. “It’s about time you two caught up.”

“Is he alright?” Adam asked.

“Yeah, but get me some water.”

“We heard a shot, then we found this here yahoo you left over yonder,” Hoss said kneeling down beside his father and younger brother.

“I had to shoot Dotson.” Joe motioned to the man over by the pool of water. “Oh, you’ll find Reeves over there.” Joe explained motioning to the trees behind them.

With a nod, Hoss stood and made his way in the direction where Joe had pointed.

“How is he?” asked Adam handing Joe the glass of water he had retrieved from the cabin.

“He’ll be okay, but we need to get him home.”

“I’m lying right here,” Ben grumbled, pushing the glass away.

Joe and Adam looked at each other and started laughing, leaving Ben to look on in confusion.

“I guess it’s true; the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” chuckled Adam.

“Here ya go, Little Brother, Reeves all wrapped up nice and pretty for ya.” Hoss shoved the miner to the ground next to Dotson.

Adam turned and noticed the rancher for the first time. “Well I’ll be. Hoss take a look at his shoulder, would you?”

“Adam, we need to get Pa home and Doc Martin out to see him.”

“I’m fine Boys. There’s no need to bother Paul.”

“I know all about being fine, Pa. If it’s all the same with you, I’d like the Doc to be the judge of that.”

Ben saw the determined look in Joe’s eyes and the matching one in his oldest son, and knew he didn’t have a choice in the matter.

Buck’s saddle was placed in the bed of the wagon and Hoss helped in and made him comfortable. Joe came out of the cabin carrying the quilt. He climbed into the wagon and covered his father. Their eyes locked and Ben silently acknowledged how hard it had been for Joe to have removed it from what should have been his home.

“Thank you, Joe.”

Joe nodded his head, unable to speak due to the emotions which had taken hold of him. He looked up when he heard Hoss returned with not only their horses, but also with the first casualty of Joe’s rescue plan.

“Joe, you take Pa home, I’ll ride for the doctor, and Hoss can get these three to the sheriff.”

“Pa, I’ll be as careful as I can.”

Ben placed his hand on Joe’s shoulder and squeezed. “I know you will, Son.”

~~~~

Paul Martin rolled down his sleeves while he made his way down the stairs. Three sets of eyes looked up at him as the Cartwright sons rose to their feet.

“How is he?” Hoss asked first.

“He’s going to be fine, Boys. He has a few cracked ribs, not to mention bruises upon bruises, and a few deep lacerations. I’ve cleaned him up, put in some stitches and bound his ribs. He’s going to be sore for a while, but with time and rest he’ll recover.” He looked at Joe and shook his head. “Apparently your father is as impulsive as you are. Most of his injuries occurred when he tried to escape.”

“Escape?” Adam asked.

“From what he told me they left him alone in the cabin and he was able to break free, but he didn’t get very far.”

“Can we see him?” Joe asked, smiling at the doctor’s remark.

“I don’t think I’d be able to stop you if I said no. Besides, he’s asking to for you.”

Before he could say another word the brothers thundered up the stairs with Joe in the lead.

They found Ben propped up with pillows when they entered the bedroom.

“Boys.” Ben smiled when he saw his sons enter the room. “Thank you.”

“Fer what?” asked Hoss.

“For finding me.”

“Don’t thank us, Pa. It were all Little Joe’s doin.”

“Joe?”

“He was bound and determined something was wrong,” Adam paused and looked at his youngest brother. “and he was right. You did good Joe.”

Joe smiled in acknowledgement of Adam’s praise.

“How can I ever thank you, Joseph?”

“By getting better, Pa, so you can get back to riding herd over me. After all, who knows what kind of trouble I’ll get in to. You can’t trust these two to keep me in line,” replied Joe with a cheeky smile.

All four men started laughing until Ben grabbed his ribs and groaned.

“That’s enough. Your father needs to rest. You can visit him later,” chastised Dr. Martin.

“He’s right, you need to rest,” agreed Adam.

“Yeah, we’ll be back later,” said Hoss patting Ben’s leg when he turned to leave.

Joe didn’t say a word. Instead he sat down in the chair next to his father’s bed and made himself comfortable.

“Joe, I said-“

“I heard you, Doc. I’m staying.”

“Joe-“

Adam placed a hand on Dr. Martin’s shoulder. “Do you really think you’re going to win this one?”

Paul saw the mutinous look on Joe’s face and knew, like in times past with his father, he wouldn’t be able to budge the young man from the chair. With a sigh of defeat he glared at Joe and issued his final order. “Don’t you go wearing yourself out. I don’t I need two patients, especially you.”

“Don’t worry, Doc that’s the last thing I wanna.”

Shaking his head, Paul ushered Adam and Hoss from the room.

“Joseph, you need-“

“You heard the doctor Pa, you need to rest. Now go to sleep.”

Ben smiled at his youngest son and closed his eyes. “Yes, Sir.”

It’s nice to be on this side of the bed for once, Joe thought. He looked up towards the ceiling and mouthed, “Thank you.” He was extremely grateful to have his father alive and the bond between them was just as strong as ever.

The End

Written for the Ponderosa Paddlewheel Poker Tournament

My cards were:  cottage, doctor, kidnapping, miner, wagon wheel

Tags:  Ben Cartwright