Summary:  Joe’s ego explodes after he has faced down Doc Holliday. A WHN for ‘Calamity Over the Comstock’

Rated: K  WC 8700

Top Gun

Ben Cartwright picked up the gun which had fallen to the floor and took at it intently before handing it back to Cal.  ‘You know Cal, you’re right,’ he said. ‘A fellar who can’t hold his liquor ain’t nothing but a boy.’  He looked deep into her eyes. ‘I want to thank you Cal … for giving my boy back to me.’

 

Cal smiled at him warmly. ‘Thank you Mr Cartwright … for giving me the chance of knowing him.’ 

 

Ben smiled at her as he gave her back the gun and then walked towards the door where Doc Holliday was standing. He paused before he left the room. ‘You know Mr Holliday,’ he said. ‘You really oughta do something about that cough.’

 

Doc Holliday gave him a sheepish look as Ben turned and walked though the doorway. ‘Yeah,’ he agreed. ‘I oughta do something about that cough.’ He watched as Cal walked over to the porch and stood watching the four Cartwrights in the dimly lit street outside.

 

Adam and Hoss were putting Little Joe up into his saddle and holding him steady, for Joe was swaying precariously in his seat …. The effects of his brother’s punch obviously still with him.  Cal suspected that he was also slightly under the weather from all the punch he’d been drinking.  She sighed as she watched Ben mount up and tip his hat to her before the four Cartwrights turned and began to ride slowly down the street. She would have liked to get to know Joe even better than she had … maybe even settle down with him as she’d hinted … but it wasn’t to be.

 

Beside her, Doc Holliday stood silently waiting. Finally he spoke. ‘You meant what you said about you and me Cal?’ he asked.

 

‘Sure Doc, she replied with forced brightness. ‘We gotta lot of places to go and a lotta things to see. We ain’t hardly seen any of em yet.’  Cal took a deep breath. ‘Hey Doc,’ she added. ‘I’m thirstier than a bullfrog on a hot skillet. Would you fetch me a drink?’ She heard the man walk back into the room, but all her energy and attention was focussed on the rider in the middle of the group that was disappearing around the end of the street. ‘So long …. Little Joe,’ she whispered softly.

Adam put out his hand to steady his younger brother in the saddle yet again and rolled his eyes at Hoss who was riding on the other side of Joe. Hoss grinned back at him and then gestured towards their father who was riding in front of them, his back straight and his eyes directed in front.  Even in the darkness both of them could see that the man was not exactly happy and his body language portrayed that fact very clearly.

 

‘Pa?’ ventured Adam.

 

Ben turned slightly in the saddle and glanced at Joe who was swaying before answering Adam. ‘What?’ he said.

 

‘I’ve been thinking. You realize that we have quite a problem on our hands.’

 

Ben lifted an eyebrow as he indicated Joe. ‘I’m well aware of that fact Adam,’ he said. ‘Not all of this is from Hoss’ punch.  Your younger brother has been dipping into that punch bowl far too often this evening and he’s feeling the effects of it now.’

 

Adam hid a grin at his father’s words.  Somehow he didn’t think that the man meant that to be funny and one look at Joe was enough to tell that his father was right. He held onto his brother’s arm tightly to keep him upright as he answered his father. ‘No I don’t mean that,’ he said. ‘By tomorrow morning he’ll be over it.  I meant about what happened back there.’

 

‘Your brother will be hearing the sharp end of my tongue about what happened back there in the morning when he’s capable of listening to me,’ replied Ben firmly. ‘Don’t you worry about that!  I knew that girl would be trouble the moment he brought her home.’ He snorted. ‘Doc Holliday indeed! What was the boy thinking?’

 

Adam and Hoss exchanged another look before Hoss spoke up. ‘You know how he gets Pa,’ he said. ‘He don’t mean half of what he does.’  He held onto his brother’s arm protectively as Joe gave a slight moan and swayed yet again in the saddle.

 

Ben gave Hoss a stern look. ‘You think that facing Doc Holliday was a smart move then?’ he said sarcastically. ‘The boy could have been killed Hoss!’

 

‘No of course I don’t think it was real smart,’ replied Hoss. ‘Only …’ he gave Adam a pleading look. ‘Only Joe didn’t mean it Pa.’  He swallowed. ‘I reckon he just got in over his head is all,’ he ended feebly.

 

Ben nodded his head. ‘That he did,’ he replied firmly. ‘And he’s going to regret it in the morning, I can assure you.’

 

‘Pa!’  Adam tried again.

 

‘What?’

 

‘What I meant was …. Didn’t you see the looks that everyone was giving Joe back there? I mean … it isn’t every day someone faces down a gunfighter of that calibre and gets away with it.’

 

‘What are you getting at Adam?’

 

‘Well I think that once word gets around about what’s happened, every idiot within a hundred mile radius is going to try and make a name for himself.  They’ll come looking for the man who faced down Doc Holliday and Joe’s going to be a target for any two-bit gunslinger that comes to town.’

 

Ben stopped and stared at Adam. ‘I hadn’t thought about it like that,’ he admitted. ‘You could be right son.’ He stared at Joe who had hunched over in the saddle and was holding his forehead feebly. ‘Then we’d best keep him out of town for quite a while I think,’ he said. ‘This young man won’t be seeing anyone for quite a while Adam, so you don’t need to worry about anyone taking him on.’  He spurred up his mount again. ‘Let’s get home boys.  It’s late and your brother looks as if he’s going to throw up any minute.’  He turned and spurred his horse to a trot while behind him Adam and Hoss rolled their eyes at each other and propped Joe up between them again before following their father.

 

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

 

Ben looked up as Joe reached the bottom step and stood looking silently at his father and brothers at the breakfast table. ‘Well?’ he said. ‘Are you going to join us Joseph, or are you going to just stand there all morning?’ he asked sarcastically.

 

Joe swallowed as he glanced at the food on the table. ‘If it’s all the same with you Pa, I’d rather not,’ he admitted. ‘My stomach ain’t too good this morning.’  He gave his father a feeble smile and began to slink hopefully towards the front door, but stopped abruptly as the man spoke.

 

‘Sit down Joseph,’ said Ben sternly.

 

Joe sighed and walked to the table, sliding into his chair without a word. Ben reached over and filled his plate with eggs and bacon, putting it down in front of the young man and motioning to it. ‘Eat,’ he said.

 

‘I really don’t feel …’ Joe stopped as he saw the expression on his father’s face and sighed before picking up his fork. ‘Yes sir,’ he said in a resigned voice.

 

Adam grinned at him. ‘Feeling a bit seedy this morning?’ he asked, his amusement displayed on his face.

 

Joe shot his brother a dark look. ‘Must be that punch Hoss gave me last night,’ he muttered, giving Hoss a look as well as he fingered the dark bruise on his chin.

 

‘I think it is more likely to be effects from the punch you were drinking rather than the punch from your brother,’ said Ben, glaring at his youngest son.

 

Joe shrugged. ‘Maybe,’ he muttered. He pretended to swallow a mouthful of his breakfast, but only succeeded in making it blatantly obvious that he wasn’t eating at all.

 

‘Speaking of which,’ continued Ben. ‘We have a lot to discuss about what happened last night Joseph. Doc Holliday for one.’

 

Joe’s eyes lit up. ‘I faced him down real good, didn’t I?’ he said proudly. ‘Did ya see the way he …’ He stopped as he noticed his father’s expression. ‘I mean …’ his voice trailed away.

 

‘Yes, I did see him,’ said Ben, nodding his head and pointing his finger under Joe’s nose. ‘I also saw you make a complete fool of yourself …. Not to mention the danger that you put yourself in Joseph.’

 

‘But Pa … I couldn’t help it!’ protested Joe. ‘I had no choice! Doc Holliday was …’

 

‘Doc Holliday is one of the fastest guns in the West,’ interrupted his father. ‘No one in their right mind would challenged him the way you did last night Joseph.’

 

‘I always thought little brother weren’t in his right mind,’ chuckled Hoss gleefully. His expression changed to a serious one immediately as his father turned to glare at him and he bent his head again and began to eat.

 

‘You are very lucky that you came out of it alive,’ continued Ben sternly. ‘You were asking for trouble last night young man and it was the sheer grace of God that saved you from it.’

 

Joe puffed up a little. ‘I don’t reckon God had much to do with it Pa,’ he said. ‘Didn’t ya see Doc Holliday pretend to cough right at the last minute.  I reckon he was scared of my quick draw.’

 

Adam and Hoss began to laugh into their napkins as Ben glared at his youngest son. ‘The only thing he was scared of was …’ he stopped, unsure whether or not what he was about to say was gong to sink into Joseph’s head and yet through his anger unwilling to humiliate the boy by letting him know that Cal had really been the one to save him by holding a gun on Doc Holliday right at the crucial moment. ‘Joseph, Doc Holliday would no sooner be scared of your draw than fly to the moon,’ he said. ‘Now I don’t want to hear any more of that nonsense thank you!’ Joe pulled a face and bent over his food again, pushing it around his plate with his fork.

 

‘And another thing,’ continued Ben, ignoring the sigh that emanated from his youngest son at his words. ‘You had no right to take that girl to the Fireman’s Ball in the first place when you knew what Doc Holliday had in mind.’

 

‘But I promised Cal,’ said Joe. ‘You always say that we should never go back on a promise Pa.’ He gave his father a triumphant look which quickly turned to a worried one as Ben stared at him.

 

‘She would have understood,’ his father said firmly. ‘If you’d bothered to explain it to her.’

 

‘Oh she knew,’ explained Joe airily. ‘But I told her not to worry about it.  I told her that I could take care of myself and I was right.’  He grinned at his brothers proudly and Adam and Hoss both shook their heads at him.  However, Joe chose to ignore the warning and continued to dig himself a proverbial hole. ‘I guess she had trust in me,’ he said proudly. ‘After all … I’m a pretty good shot.’

 

Ben put his elbows on the table and placed his face in his hands. ‘Joseph have you not heard a single word I’ve been saying this morning?’ he asked wearily.

 

‘Sure I have Pa,’ replied Joe. ‘Only … well I guess that Cal at least had faith in me.’  He stood up. ‘That reminds me,’ he said. ‘I thought I’d go into town this morning and say good bye to her.  I reckon she …’

 

‘Sit down!’ said Ben sternly. ‘The only place you’ll be going this morning young man is out to the South Pasture with Hoss. You have a very full day of fence post digging ahead of you.’

 

Joe sat down and gave his father an appalled look. ‘But Pa,’ he began.

 

Ben held up his hand to silence the young man. ‘Don’t you but Pa me,’ he said. ‘I said post digging it is and post digging is what you’ll be doing … today and every day until I decide differently.  Is that clear?’

 

‘But Cal ….’ protested Joe. ‘I never got to say goodbye to Cal.’

 

‘That can’t be helped,’ replied his father. ‘Now get out to the barn and get that buckboard loaded up with the equipment you’ll need.  Hoss … go and help him.’

 

‘There are times when I wonder about that boy,’ said Ben wearily as the front door closed behind them. ‘I have a feeling that nothing I said sunk into that head of his at all Adam.’

 

‘I think you might be right,’ chuckled Adam. ‘He does have a talent for getting into trouble and then not even realising the seriousness of the whole thing once it’s over.’

 

‘One thing is for sure though,’ said his father. ‘You were right last night son.  We need to keep him away from town for a long time until this all blows over.’ He picked up his coffee and began to sip it. ‘Joseph will be becoming very familiar with many fence posts before he gets back into that town I can assure you.

 

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

 

 

‘Give it here will ya?’ Hoss gave his younger brother a frustrated look as he held out his hand for the shovel. ‘Are you gonna do anything or just stand there?’ he asked.

 

Joe grinned at his older brother. ‘I’m just admiring the way you do that Hoss,’ he said. ‘You’re so strong.’

 

Hoss’ eyes narrowed. ‘Don’t you give me none of that,’ he said suspiciously. ‘I know what you’re up to little brother. Don’t think that I don’t.’

 

Joe’s eyes widened. ‘Up to?’ he said innocently. ‘No idea what you mean older brother.’ He grinned at his brother as he resumed his position against the buckboard again while he watched him work. He fiddled with his gun-belt as he did.

 

‘I dunno why ya insisted on wearing that gun way out here too,’ grunted Hoss. ‘Ain’t no use for it.’

 

Joe gave his brother a withering look. ‘A man like me has to be prepared,’ he said smugly.

 

‘Prepared? Prepared fer what? We got our rifles in the buckboard in case we need em fer a coyote or something.’

 

Joe shook his head at his brother’s ignorance. ‘Rifles are all very well,’ he said. ‘But I’m talking bout real shooting Hoss.  The kind that only a top-gun like me understands.’  He leant forward and put his hand on Hoss’ shoulder. ‘I’d hate not to be able to defend you if someone came along and threatened us brother.’

 

Hoss snorted. ‘Defend me?’ he said. ‘I can defend myself thanks!  What do I need you to defend me for?’

 

Joe gave his brother a superior look. ‘I know you’re a pretty good shot Hoss, but you must admit that I’m the real expert in the family when it comes to shooting.  Look what happened when I …’

 

If you mention what happened with Doc Holliday agin I’m gonna wring your scrawny neck,’ threatened Hoss. ‘I’m sick and tired of hearing bout it! It’s all you’ve talked about fer the last week while we’ve been out here diggin these fence holes.’

 

Joe looked hurt. ‘Well I thought you enjoyed hearing bout how I faced him down,’ he said huffily.

 

‘I did,’ admitted Hoss. ‘Once …. Not fifty times.  I was there, remember?  I saw it with my own eyes.’

 

‘Yeah,’ said Joe dreamily. ‘It was impressive, weren’t it? I had my fingers ready to …’  He launched into yet another description of what had happened that night.  Hoss shook his head and resigned himself to listening yet one more time, noting as he did so just how the story had grown in Joe’s mind from the first telling.  If he really believed his little brother’s details, Doc Holliday had been shaking in his boots at the thought of facing Joe Cartwright.

 

‘I wouldn’t let Pa hear ya talking like that,’ he warned as Joe finished.

 

‘Pa knows just how brave I was,’ Joe assured his brother. ‘He knows exactly what happened.’  He fingered his gun again. ‘I reckon Pa is mighty glad to have a son who is so good with a gun …. Just in case of an emergency,’ he added. ‘Ya never know when you’ll need someone who is handy with a gun.’

 

Hoss shook his head again and tried to still the laughter that was threatening to spill over in his throat. ‘Yeah, right,’ he said.

 

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

 

 

‘Pa can’t ya get him to shut up about it?’ whined Hoss. ‘I’m plumb sick of it!’

 

‘Have patience Hoss,’ said Ben with a short laugh. ‘He’ll get over it. It’s just that he’s got nothing else to think about lately as he’s stuck out here on the ranch with just us.’

 

Hoss rolled his eyes. ‘Well I’m the one who has ta be out there every day with him and hear it,’ he said. ‘Can’t ya send him back inta town yet?’  He gave his father a pleading look.

 

‘Not yet son,’ said Ben. ‘It’s only been just over a week. He glanced over to where Joe was working in the barn. ‘I’ll tell you what though.  Tomorrow Adam can take him over to the branding and give you a break. How’s that?’

 

‘Well thanks a lot,’ muttered Adam. ‘I don’t want to listen to it any more than Hoss does.’  He glanced at Joe who was bending over a bale of hay in a very strange position. ‘What on earth is he doing?’ He muttered and strode over to his younger brother and stared at him.

 

Joe looked up and grinned. ‘Hi Adam,’ he said, continuing to push the bale of hay with his feet along the ground.

 

Adam put his hands on his hips and his head on one side. ‘Would you mind telling me what you’re doing?’ he asked sarcastically. ‘Is there something wrong with your hands?’

 

Joe’s grin widened. ‘Nope,’ he said. ‘’Don’t want there to be either.’ He looked at his hands proudly. ‘A top-gun like myself can’t afford to hurt em ya know.’

 

Adam groaned. ‘You are not a top-gun,’ he said. ‘None of your tricks Joe!’

 

‘Tricks? Me?’ asked Joe indignantly.

 

‘Yes you,’ said Hoss, coming to stand beside Adam. ‘I ain’t forgotten how ya tricked me into thinking Cal was a boy when she first came here neither.’

 

Joe tried to look shocked, but failed miserably. ‘I told ya I didn’t know bout that Hoss,’ he said. ‘Weren’t my fault if you was just a peeping tom. Looking in on a lady when she was in the tub … I was shocked at that older brother.’

 

Hoss lunged forward, but Joe nimbly sidestepped behind Adam and avoided his brother’s reach. ‘That’s enough,’ said Adam firmly as he pushed him away. ‘Just get your chores done will you?’

 

Sure thing older brother,’ said Joe with another grin at Hoss. ‘I wanna get em done real quick today. I’ve got practising to do.’

 

‘What kinda practising?’ asked Hoss suspiciously.

 

‘Hitting targets,’ said Joe, indicating his gun. ‘I’ve been practising with bottles every day to keep my draw fast.  I can give you both a few pointers if ya like.’

 

Adam snorted. ‘Really?’ he said in a sarcastic tone. ‘And who was it who helped Pa to teach you in the first place little brother?’

 

Joe looked smug. ‘Well you mighta helped teach me,’ he said. ‘But I sure am the best in this family now. After all … it isn’t everyone who can face down a man like Doc Holliday.’

 

‘You forget that you didn’t actually outdraw the man,’ said Adam, his sarcastic tone continuing.

 

‘I didn’t have to,’ replied Joe. ‘He knew that I would.  That’s why he let me face him down.  He was scared that I’d outdraw him. Face it brothers … no one comes close to me round here.’

 

Adam crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked at Hoss, who winked at him.  Without a word they stepped forward and picked up their younger brother … one on each elbow … and carried the protesting young man to the water trough outside the barn and dropped him into it. While Joe sat spluttering in the water, Ben watched from the front porch and discretely turned his back, laughing as he did so.

 

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

 

 

‘Now remember Joe. The deal is that you stick with me while we’re in town, OK?’

 

Joe rolled his eyes and sighed. ‘I know,’ he said. ‘You and Pa told me about a hundred times already.  I ain’t a child you know!’

 

‘Well then stop acting like one,’ said Adam in an easy tone as he brought the buckboard to a halt outside the Mercantile. ‘You should realise that Pa is making these rules for your own good. He explained to you what the reaction of people might be to what happened.’

 

‘Yeah yeah,’ muttered Joe as he jumped down. ‘But it was three weeks ago now.  No one cares.’

 

‘You’ve been told,’ said Adam firmly. ‘Stay at my side the whole time.’

 

Joe made a face behind his brother’s back as Adam entered the store and then followed him in. ‘Morning Mrs Walsh,’ he said to the woman behind the counter. ‘How are you today ma’am?’  The storekeeper’s wife reacted to the greeting in the way that most females did … by simpering and giving Joe a huge smile in return. There is something about that young man, she thought to herself. If I were twenty years younger …  She caught the eye of her husband looking at her and quickly began to clear up the goods on the counter to distract herself.

 

‘Hi Joe!’

 

Joe turned to see his good friend Mitch Devlin on the other side of the room. ‘Hi!’ he called and took a step towards him, only to be pulled back by the collar by Adam.

 

‘I said to stay next to me,’ his older brother hissed in his ear.

 

‘Aw Adam, have a heart,’ whined Joe pleadingly. ‘Its just Mitch and I won’t go out of the store.’  He gave his brother one of his best puppy dog looks and Adam felt himself weakening in spite of his best intentions not to.

 

‘All right,’ he said. ‘But not out of the store. Understood?’

 

‘Understood,’ sad Joe happily and bounded across to Mitch. ‘How ya been Mitch?’ he asked.

 

‘Fine.  Haven’t see you since the night of the Fireman’s Ball,’ replied his friend. ‘Everyone’s been asking where you’ve been?’

 

‘Yeah?  How come?’

 

Mitch slapped his friend on the back. ‘On account of what ya did of course,’ he said. ‘It’s been the talk of the town ever since.  You’re a real hero Cartwright!’

 

Joe’s face lit up. ‘I am?’ he said. He tried to look modest, but failed. ‘Well it really weren’t nothing.’

 

‘Nothing?’ said Mitch excitedly. ‘You call facing down Doc Holliday nothing? It weren’t nothing Joe. I reckon news of what you’ve done is all over Nevada by now.’

 

‘Ya reckon?’ Joe puffed up. He took out his gun and began to twirl it in his hand as a few other people clustered around the two young men. ‘I really did nothing special,’ he said, drawing himself up to his full height. ‘Nothing that I hadn’t warned him I’d do anyways.  Did ya see how scared he looked?’

 

‘Sure did,’ breathed a girl who hung onto his arm and looked at him adoringly. ‘You were so brave Joe.’

 

Joe swaggered a little. ‘Weren’t really nothing ma’am,’ he said. ‘I just did what I had to.’  He twirled the gun several more times, showing off a couple of fancy tricks that he’d been practising. The crowd of people seemed suitably impressed and he did it again to their delight.

 

‘I reckon we’ve got a real live top-gun in our town,’ said Mitch proudly. ‘He’s my best friend you know,’ he whispered to one of the girls and she smiled at him happily.

 

Across the other side of the room, Adam shook his head. ‘Can you load that order up for me please Sam?’ he said wearily. ‘I’ve got something to do.’

 

Sam Walsh nodded and laughed. ‘Sure thing Adam,’ he said. ‘You’d best get that youngster outta here before he starts shooting up the joint. He sure is a caution ain’t he?’

 

‘Tell me about it,’ sighed Adam. He sighed again as he walked over to the group of people who were clustered around his brother. Joe was busy twirling his gun and grinning at the young lady who was still hanging onto his arm. ‘Excuse me,’ said Adam, elbowing his way to the middle of the group. ‘Joe has to go now.’

 

‘Aw gee Adam,’ said Joe instantly. Adam pulled him by the collar and he just had time to add. ‘See ya!’ before the two Cartwrights left the store.

 

‘Why are you so sore?’ asked Joe, rubbing his neck as they made it to the buckboard and Adam let go of him.

 

‘Get up in the back of that buckboard and be quiet,’ ordered Adam. ‘I’ve had enough of your nonsense.

 

Joe shrugged his shoulders and climbed up, scowling down at his brother. ‘You’re just jealous,’ he said. ‘Jealous of a top gun like me.  Don’t forget it was me who faced down Doc Holliday and …’  He stopped as Adam threw a sack of grain up to him and it hit him in the stomach. Ow!’ he said. ‘That hurt!’

 

‘Keep working,’ said Adam grimly. ‘One more word out of you and you’ll regret that Pa even let you come into town today.’

 

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

 

 

‘I just don’t get it Pa,’ said Adam wearily.

 

‘Don’t get what son?’ asked Ben as he sat next to the fireplace and puffed on his pipe.

 

‘How on earth Joe managed to face him down,’ replied his son. ‘I mean … Doc Holliday!’ He gave his father a puzzled look.

 

Ben raised an eyebrow. ‘Doc Holliday had a very good reason for backing down the way he did,’ he said. ‘Cal had a Colt 45 aimed right at him. She had promised to blow him to pieces if he harmed Joseph.’

 

Adam’s jaw hung open. ‘What?’ he said. ‘But how?  I mean … where ….’

 

‘In that muff she was carrying,’ said Ben. ‘She hid it in there.  I think she was very fond of your brother you know Adam.’

 

Adam was speechless for a full minute. ‘Yes,’ he said finally. ‘But even so …. Weren’t she and Doc Holliday supposed to be … well … an item?’

 

‘So people say,’ said Ben, puffing easily on his pipe.

 

‘Well that’s even more reason to protect Joe from all of this,’ said Adam quietly. ‘We’re going to have to work on squashing that boy’s ego some you know Pa.  Hoss and I can’t stand it much longer.’

 

‘You have my full permission son,’ chuckled Ben. ‘To tell you the truth I don’t think that I can stand it much longer either.’  Father and son smiled at each other.

 

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

 

 

Joe closed one eye and stared at the bottle on the fence before reached down and pulling his gun out of the holster and shooting it to pieces. ‘Good job Cartwright,’ he said, swaggering a little as he replaced the gun. ‘Damn good shooting.’

 

‘Don’t let Pa hear you cussing,’ said Hoss.

 

Joe spun on his heel and faced his two brothers who were standing behind him. ‘I didn’t hear you sneaking up,’ he said accusingly. ‘You should be careful of that you know.  Someone with reflexes as finely-tuned as mine are is likely to blow your head off without thinking, if you get my meaning.’

 

Adam rolled his eyes at Hoss. ‘Well we get the part about you not thinking,’ he said sarcastically. ‘Where did you get all those bottles?’ he asked, pointing to the large pile of glass next to the fence. ‘If you took them from the cellar Hop Sing will have your hide little brother.’

 

‘I can’t be bothered with worrying about that,’ said Joe as he set up a few more bottles on the fence. A top-gun has to keep practising with something.’

 

Adam snorted. ‘You know Joe, I think it’s about time someone brought you down a peg or two.’

 

‘Yeah?’ Joe put his hands on his hips and gave his older brother a challenging look. ‘And who might you have in mind?’

 

Adam took out his gun and fingered it casually. ‘I might take on the job myself,’ he said easily and winked at Hoss.

 

Now it was Joe’s turn to snort. ‘Yeah?’ he said. ‘You and which army? Face it Adam … you mighta helped Pa teach me ta shoot, but the pupil has got better than the teacher now.’

 

‘Set em up,’ said Adam, unfazed by his brother’s remark. ‘Best out of five?’

 

‘You’re on,’ said Joe. ‘Only … you’ve been warned older brother.’

 

Adam checked the bullets in his gun while Joe set up some more bottles.  Hoss leant on the fence and grinned at Adam, winking at him while Joe’s back was turned. ‘OK,’ said Joe when all the bottles were up. ‘Best out of five it is.’

 

‘Hang on,’ said Adam. ‘How about making it a bit more interesting?  Best and quickest out of five?’  He smirked at Hoss who winked at him again.

 

Joe looked wary. ‘Well ….’ he said.

 

‘What’s the matter little brother?’ asked Hoss gleefully. ‘For a top-gun such as yourself that shouldn’t be a problem, should it?’

 

‘Course not,’ snorted Joe. ‘Best and quickest it is. You start us off Hoss.’

 

‘Alrighty,’ said Hoss easily. ‘On the count of three. Ready?  One … two ….’  Adam and Joe both stood side by side at the ready, their hands flexed and their eyes on the bottles. ‘Three!’ shouted Hoss and watched carefully as both his brothers shot at the bottles.  At the end of thirty seconds, Adam had hit five bottles and was putting his gun back into his holster as Joe was still shooting his fourth bottle. Joe glanced across at his older brother in disbelief and then holstered his own gun silently as Adam crossed his arms over his chest and stared at him with a smug expression on his face.

 

‘Well?’ Adam said, lifting his eyebrows in that way he had which was guaranteed to infuriate Joe.

 

‘I’m having an off day,’ muttered Joe shooting his brother a dark look. ‘That was just a lucky shot.’

 

‘Five lucky shots more to the point,’ chuckled Hoss. He walked over and slapped Adam on the back. ‘Looks like you’re the top-gun in this family after all older brother.’ They both laughed as they watched Joe turn on his heel and stomp off angrily. ‘Seems a bit mean now,’ said Hoss as he watched his brother disappear around the side of the house.

 

‘He deserved it,’ said Adam. ‘It’ll do him good.  You know Hoss, even Pa told me that he’s had enough of Joe carrying on about how good he is.’  He slapped Hoss on the back. ‘Believe me,’ he said. ‘He’ll get over it and then we can get back to normal again.’

 

‘I sure hope so,’ said Hoss. ‘I reckon you might have done this family one big favour older brother.’

 

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

 

 

Ben glanced over at Joe who was silently pushing food around his plate. ‘Well Joseph,’ he said. ‘You seem very quiet this morning.’ Joe shrugged and said nothing. ‘Would you please stop pushing that food around and eat something?’ said Ben. ‘I’d like to get to church on time.’  Joe put a mouthful of food in and chewed it noisily. ‘Close your mouth when you’re eating please,’ instructed Ben.  Joe clamped his jaw shut and glared at his father without a word. ‘And you can get that look off your face as well,’ said Ben firmly. ‘Just because your brother beat you at a shooting match is no reason to …’

 

‘He only beat me cause I was having an off day,’ remarked Joe, through his mouthful of food.

 

Adam sighed. ‘Why don’t you just accept it?’ he said. ‘You were beaten fair and square and that’s all there is to it.’

 

‘Yeah little brother,’ added Hoss. ‘Guess you ain’t a top gun after all, eh?’  He and Adam both chuckled and Joe glared at them again.

 

‘That’s enough boys,’ said Ben. ‘I think its about time we give all of this a bit of a rest now don’t you?  Since the day Joe brought Cal home we’ve had too much shooting talk.’

 

‘Well at least Cal believed in me,’ said Joe indignantly. ‘She thought I was a good shot.’

 

‘Pity she ain’t here then, ain’t it?’ said Hoss gleefully and laughed even harder.

 

‘I said that is enough!’ ordered Ben sternly.  He threw down his napkin and stood u. ‘I’ll see you three outside in five minutes at the most.  I do not intend for us to be late for church this morning.’

 

Joe glared at his brothers across the table. ‘You heard Pa,’ he said. ‘We ain’t gonna talk about it no more.’

 

Adam shook his head as he also stood up. ‘You won’t get me talking about it little brother,’ he said. ‘When someone is a top-gun they don’t need to tell everyone.’  He smiled at Joe. ‘I know I’m the best shot in this family and that’s all there is to it.’

 

Joe reached over to hit his brother, but Adam quickly stepped backwards and avoided his reach. ‘Any time you want some more lessons Joe just tell me,’ he said. ‘Seems to me like you might be needing a few more to get that draw up to standard.’

 

Hoss laughed even louder and stood up to follow Adam from the room, leaving a very disgruntled Joe behind them.

 

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

 

 

‘He was asking bout you,’ whispered Mitch in the corner of the churchyard.

 

‘Me?’ squeaked Joe. ‘How come?’

 

‘Well not by name,’ said Mitch.  ‘But he’s been asking bout the fellar that drew down on Doc Holliday.  Says that he wants to meet him.’

 

Joe puffed up with pride. ‘He did?’ he said. ‘Who is he?’

 

‘I ain’t sure,’ said Mitch. ‘But he sure looked like a man who could handle a gun.’

 

Joe fingered his chin thoughtfully. ‘In the Silver Dollar you say?’ he said.

 

‘Yeah.  For the past two days. I told him that I’d give you the message when I saw you.’

 

‘What do you suppose he wants?’ asked Joe with a worried expression. ‘Maybe he wants to draw on me.’

 

‘I reckon he just wants to see ya,’ said Mitch. ‘He said that he wants to shake the hand of the man who beat Doc Holliday.’  He slapped his friend on the back. ‘I told ya that you’d be famous round these parts, didn’t I?’

 

Joe tried unsuccessfully to look modest. ‘I reckon so,’ he said.

 

‘So are you gonna go and see him? asked Mitch excitedly.

 

Joe hesitated. ‘I reckon not,’ he said. ‘Pa told me I have to stay out of town at the moment unless one of him or one of my brothers are with me.’

 

‘So?  Get one of them to go with you,’ said Mitch.

 

Joe shrugged. ‘I guess it’s worth a try,’ he said. ‘Wait here.’  He walked over to where his father was talking to Doc Martin and smiled at him tentatively.

 

‘Yes Joseph?’ said his father.

 

‘I was just wondering something Pa,’ said Joe in his most polite voice as he tipped his hat at the doctor. ‘Morning Doc,’ he said.

 

‘Good morning Joe,’ replied the doctor with a smile.

 

‘What is it Joseph?’ asked Ben impatiently.

 

Joe looked at his father hopefully. ‘Are we staying in town this morning?’ he asked.

 

‘Of course not,’ said his father. ‘We’re going home for Sunday lunch as usual.’ He turned back towards Paul again. ‘Now as I was saying …’ he began.

 

‘Pa?’

 

Ben turned again impatiently. ‘What?’ he asked.

 

‘Is it OK if I don’t come home for lunch? I was kinda thinking that I might stay in town for a bit and …’

 

Ben’s eyebrows raised at the question. ‘No,’ he said abruptly.

 

Joe tried again. ‘Well, can I come back into town this afternoon?’ he asked.

 

‘Joseph what is so important that you want to be in town for?’ asked Ben impatiently.

 

Joe hesitated, knowing full well that his father wouldn’t like the sound of what he had in mind. ‘Nuthin special,’ he said. ‘Only…’

 

‘Good,’ said his father.

 

‘But …’

 

Ben rolled his eyes at Paul who was trying desperately hide a grin. ‘Joseph whatever you have to say, then come out and say it,’ said Ben. ‘I’m trying to have a conversation here.’

 

‘Could I come back into town tonight ….’ Joe gave his father a pleading look. ‘Please?’ he said.

 

Ben hesitated. The youngster had been isolated out at the ranch for over three weeks and he knew how hard that must have been for him.  Still … there was the question of what had happened at the Fireman’s Ball and Ben wasn’t likely to forget it. ‘I’ll tell you what,’ he said. ‘If you can get one of your brothers to come back into town tonight then you can come in for a drink. ‘How about that?’

 

Joe’s grin said it all. ‘Gee thanks Pa,’ he said. ‘Bye Doc.’  He practically ran back to Mitch to tell his good news. ‘I’ll be in tonight,’ he said. ‘You tell that guy I’ll see him then and he can shake the hand of the man who drew down on Doc Holliday.’  He grinned at the very thought of it, hoping that it was Adam who would come with him tonight.  He could hardly wait to see the look on his smug brother’s face as everyone praised him for what he’d done.

 

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

‘I said no and I meant it,’ said Adam firmly. ‘I’m not going into town tonight.’

 

‘But Hoss won’t go either and Pa said that I have to go with one of you,’ declared Joe. ‘You have to come!’

 

‘I don’t have to do anything,’ said Adam easily. ‘I’m not going.’

 

‘But … but that means that I can’t either!’ said Joe.

 

‘Very good …’ replied Adam as he turned back towards his book. ‘You worked it out in one.’

 

‘But …’

 

‘What do you want to go so badly for anyway?’

 

Joe hung his head. ‘Nuthin special I guess,’ he said.

 

‘Fine.  Then you won’t miss anything,’ said Adam and turned another page.

 

‘But …’ Joe scowled at his older brother, knowing full well that when his brother was in one of these moods that there was no shifting him. ‘It ain’t fair!’ he muttered as he stalked away. His eyes narrowed and a grin spread across his face as he walked away, and he began to strut. He’d show those brothers of his! He’d have that whole town telling him how good he was tonight and that stranger would shake his hand in front of everyone.

 

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

 

 

Joe walked into the Silver Dollar saloon and looked around the crowd expectantly. He immediately spied Mitch standing at the bar and swaggered over to him. ‘Hi,’ he said, patting him on the back. ‘How’s it going Mitch?’

 

Mitch grinned at him. ‘I’m glad you came Joe,’ he said and then looked over his friend’s shoulder. ‘Which one of your brothers came in with you?’

 

‘Neither,’ said Joe, leaning on the bar. ‘I’ll have a beer thanks Sam. ‘Pa … changed his mind.’

 

‘Great!’ said Mitch. He lifted his drink and tapped it against Joe’s glass. ‘We haven’t had a chance to celebrate your success Cartwright!’  The two friends took a swig of their beers and grinned at each other.

 

‘Cartwright!’ shouted someone over the side of the room. ‘Joe Cartwright’s here!’

 

Immediately, a group of men clustered around Joe, some patting him on the back and others shouting their congratulations. Joe puffed up and gave up all pretence of looking modest as he began to relate facing down Doc Holliday for those who hadn’t been there to see it and refresh it in the minds of those who had. Several of the saloon girls hung onto his arms and looked at him adoringly. Someone put another beer into his hand and he downed it quickly.

 

‘So this is the famous Joe Cartwright,’ said a voice behind him and Joe turned quickly to see a tall man standing staring at him.  He looked to be a few years older than his brother Adam and was just as dark as his brother. On his hip hung an impressive gun-belt, complete with a fancy gun. ‘Let me shake the hand of the man who faced down Doc Holliday,’ he said and held out his hand to Joe.

 

Joe held out his own hand and shook the other man’s trying not to wince at the strong grip that he gave him. ‘Howdy,’ he said. ‘And who might you be Mister?’

 

‘Tanner,’ said the man, looking Joe up and down. ‘Abe Tanner. I thought you’d be older.’

 

Joe puffed his chest out. ‘Age ain’t got nothing ta do with it,’ he said proudly. ‘A fast draw don’t necessarily come with age Mr Tanner.’

 

‘No I suppose it doesn’t,’ said the man easily. He took two steps back and flexed his hands. ‘Let’s see how good you are shall we?’

 

Everyone immediately stepped back, leaving Joe standing by himself in the middle of the room. ‘Huh?’ he said.

 

‘I said let’s see how good you are,’ repeated Abe. ‘I’ve been waiting for the chance to draw down on the man who beat Doc Holliday. Draw!’

 

Joe held up his hands. ‘Hey now mister,’ he protested. ‘I’m just having a friendly drink here.  There ain’t no need for …’

 

‘What’s the matter Cartwright? You yellar or something?’

 

Joe’s face flushed. ‘Of course not,’ he said angrily. ‘I just don’t see the point that’s all.’

 

‘Well I do,’ said Abe in a determined voice. ‘I’ve travelled here especially to face you Cartwright. Now draw!’

 

Joe swallowed and glanced at the man’s fancy gun. ‘Hey listen,’ he said. ‘There’s no …’

 

Abe raised his eyebrows. ‘You draw Cartwright or you walk out of here as a yellar coward. Your choice.’

 

Joe swallowed again and glanced around at the silent crowd who stared back at him. He drew a deep breath, said a silent prayer and drew his gun.  The next moment he felt a blinding pain in his left shoulder and slumped to the floor as darkness overtook him.

 

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

 

 

‘I’m going to kill that boy!’ shouted Ben as he stormed out of Joe’s bedroom and looked down from the top of the stairs into the living room. ‘Adam! Hoss! Saddle the horses!’

 

‘What’s happened?’ asked Adam, springing to his feet immediately.

 

‘Your younger brother has gone out of his window,’ thundered Ben. ‘I told that boy ….’  His voice trailed away as words escaped him. ‘I’m gong to haul him out of that town by the scruff of his neck!  I’m going to …’

 

‘Pa calm down,’ said Hoss. ‘Ya don’t know that’s where he …’  He turned as there was a knock on the front door and all three Cartwright walked towards it.  Hoss flung it open to reveal Sheriff Coffee standing there.

 

‘Roy!’ said Ben from behind his son. ‘What are you doing here?  It’s not Joseph, is it?’

 

Roy nodded his head. ‘I’m afraid it is Ben,’ he said.

 

‘I’m going to kill that boy!’ he thundered. ‘What trouble has he got himself into now?  Where is he? Joseph!’ He stared past the sheriff into the darkness of the yard.

 

Roy put his hand on Ben’s shoulder to quiet him. ‘Ben, he’s in the wagon out there,’ he said. ‘He’s … he’s been shot.’

 

The colour ran from Ben’s face. ‘Shot?’ he said breathlessly. ‘What? How?’  He took a step forward. ‘Joseph!’ he called. He pushed past Roy and ran to the wagon, followed by Adam, Hoss and Roy. Joe was indeed lying in the back of the wagon, his eyes closed and his face pale in the lamplight. ‘Joe!’ sad Ben weakly and then looked across at Roy. ‘Is he …’  His voice trailed away.

 

‘He’s alive Ben,’ said Roy quickly. ‘He’s been shot in the shoulder and he’s lost a lot of blood. That bullet has to come out.’

 

Ben’s jaw dropped. ‘Why didn’t you get Paul to do it in town?’ he asked. ‘Why put him in a wagon and bring him out here without taking out the bullet?’

 

‘Because Paul is at the Henderson’s ranch,’ said Roy easily. ‘I sent a man to get him here.  It was quicker to bring him out here than to wait in town for him.’

 

Ben nodded, the man’s reasoning making sense to him. ‘Help me get him inside boys,’ he said anxiously. ‘Careful now.’  They lifted Joe between them and he groaned at the movement. ‘Steady son,’ said Ben gently. ‘We’re taking you to your room.’ Joe groaned again, his eyes shut firmly as they made their way up the stairs towards his bedroom. Only when they had laid him on the bed did he open them and speak.

 

‘I’m … sorry Pa,’ he murmured.

 

Ben bent over him and patted him on the forehead. ‘Shh,’ he said quietly. ‘We’ll talk about that later young man.’  And we certainly will! he thought grimly. I have a few things to say to you when you’re up to hearing it, young man!

 

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

 

 

‘That bullet has to come out straight away,’ pronounced Paul Martin, looking up at Ben. ‘I’ll need …’

 

‘We know what you need,’ interrupted Adam. ‘Come on Hoss.’  They both left the room to get the towels and hot water.

 

Joe groaned again as Paul ripped his shirt even further and pulled the material away from his wound.  He picked up a cloth and wet it, wiping the blood away form the edges of it.  Ben winced and sat down on the edge of the bed, looking into Joe’s eyes as the doctor worked. ‘It’ll be over in a few minutes son,’ he said.

 

Joe swallowed and simply nodded at his father without saying anything. His hand reached out for Ben’s and he smiled slightly as he felt the man’s strong grip as he grasped it. Within minutes, Adam and Hoss were back in the room, their arms full of towels and a basin. ‘Hop Sing is heating more water,’ said Adam as he set it down.

 

‘Good,’ said Paul, as he rolled up his sleeves. He motioned to Ben. ‘Ben …’ he said.

 

Ben nodded and put his free arm across Joe’s body, effectively holding him down onto the bed.  He continued to look deep into his eyes as the doctor began to probe for the bullet, watching his son wince and bite down on his lip. Presently a groan escaped from Joe’s lips and beads of sweat began to form on his forehead. ‘Nearly there,’ murmured Ben encouragingly. ‘Hold on son.’

 

‘Got it!’ announced Paul and Joe’s eyes showed his relief instantly. Ben let go of the youngster, but continued to hold onto his hand as Paul washed the wound clean. ‘It shouldn’t need any stitches,’ the doctor said. ‘It wasn’t too deep.’

 

‘Well that’s something,’ said Ben in relief. He patted Joe on the head. ‘All over Joe.’

 

Joe nodded and let out the breath that he’d been holding.  He watched as the doctor bound up his shoulder with a swathe of bandages and drank the sedative as the man put it to his lips. Within minutes his eyelids had closed and he had slipped into unconsciousness.

 

‘He’ll be fine Ben,’ said Paul as he washed his hands. ‘He’s a lucky boy.’

 

Ben’s jaw clenched tight.  Now that the danger for Joe was over, his mind went back to how this had happened in the first place. ‘Let’s go downstairs,’ he said firmly. ‘I want to hear from Roy exactly how this came about.’

 

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

 

 

Joe looked up at the ceiling and eased his sore shoulder up and down as he did so. ‘Would you stop doing that?’ said Ben as he entered the room. ‘You’ll break the wound open again!’

 

Joe stopped. ‘Sorry Pa,’ he said. ‘Only I gotta exercise it if its gonna get back to normal.  The Doc said.

 

‘He meant later … not yet,’ said Ben as he sat down. ‘You have plenty of time.’

 

Joe made a face. ‘Yeah,’ he admitted. ‘Only it’s my left shoulder, so I gotta be twice as sure that it’ll be OK.’ When his father looked at him blankly, he added. ‘I’m left handed.’

 

‘So?’

 

‘So it’ll affect my draw.’

 

Ben frowned. ‘I don’t want to hear one more word about you and guns,’ he said. ‘That’s what led you into this mess in the first place young man.’ Joe slid down under the covers and said nothing. ‘And another thing young man,’ continued his father. ‘When you’re up and around you’ll be punished for sneaking off into town like that.  I would have thought you’d have had more sense than to put yourself in danger like that!’

 

‘Well I didn’t know he was gonna draw on me,’ muttered Joe miserably. ‘I thought he just wanted to meet me.’

 

‘When are you going to learn Joseph?’ said Ben, his eyes flashing. ‘I thought you understood what I’d been trying to tell you?  Obviously you didn’t listen to a word I was saying.’

 

‘I did!’ declared Joe. ‘Only …’  He gave his father a sheepish look. ‘Only I just wanted to hear everyone telling me how good I was I guess.’

 

Ben nodded. ‘How good you were,’ he said sternly. ‘Why do you always have to try to prove yourself Joseph? You don’t always have to be the best you know.’ He pointed his finger at his son. ‘And no one likes a show off.’

 

‘Yes sir.’ Joe gave his father one of his best puppy dog looks and absently began to move his shoulder up and down again.

 

‘And stop exercising that shoulder!’ Ben rebuked him.

 

‘Yes sir.’

 

Hop Sing entered the room and plonked a tray down on Joe’s lap. ‘Breakfast!’ he said and disappeared again.

 

‘What’s wrong with him?’ asked Joe, wrinkling his nose up at the food on the tray.

 

‘He’s angry because he found all his bottles for pickling preserves broken out the back of the house this morning,’ said Ben.

 

‘Oh.’  Joe slunk down in the bed even further and his father gave him a hard look.

 

‘Joseph? D you know anything about those bottles?’

 

Joe swallowed. ‘Well … kinda,’ he admitted, picking up his fork and beginning to eat. ‘Boy am I hungry this morning!  These eggs look great you know Pa.’

 

Ben stared at his son, not willing to be side-tracked.  ‘Well you’ll have to have that out with Hop Sing about the bottles,’ he said finally. ‘He’s not going to be very happy with you.’

 

‘You’re not going to tell him, are you?’ Joe gave his father a pleading look.

 

‘No,’ said Ben as he sat back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.  Joe breathed a sigh of relief and grinned at his father, but the grin disappeared quickly at the man’s next words. ‘You are,’ said Ben firmly.

 

 

The End