Summary:  Joe is sold as a slave after it is discovered that his mother was part-coloured.

Rated: T (64,250 words)

Between Two Worlds Series:

Between Two Worlds
When Two Worlds Collide

Between Two Worlds

The man stood up and stretched out his hand. ‘Good morning Mr Reardon. Thank you for coming so far in response to my letter.’

Matthew Reardon took the hand and smiled as they shook. ‘Pleased to meet you sir. Your letter intrigued me. I’ve been wondering about it since I received it last week.’

‘Yes I thought you might be. I’m sorry I didn’t give you more details, but I felt it was best to explain this in person. You are aware of the death of your uncle Joshua Reardon last month?’

‘Of course.’

‘As the executor of his will Mr Reardon, I need to inform you that you are the sole beneficiary of his estate.’

Matthew’s eyes widened and he sat forward in his chair. ‘His estate? Just how much was uncle Joshua worth?’

‘You have not been aware of your uncle’s financial situation recently?’

‘No. I hadn’t been in contact with my uncle for many years,’ Matthew replied. ‘All I know is that he lived here in Tennessee and had large land holdings.’ His eyes shone with anticipation.

‘Yes, that’s true,’ continued the other man. ‘His holdings are considerable. However, as a lawyer yourself I’m sure that you’re aware that there are often complications that can occur before executing a will.’ Matthew nodded anxiously as the other man continued. ‘Your uncle had run up considerable debts, and his land holdings are subject to taxes as well. I’m afraid that it would be impossible for you to take possession of his estate until these are paid.’

Matthew sighed. ‘I see.’

‘You will need to raise a considerable amount of cash in order to finance this.’

‘Well that could be a problem. I’m not a wealthy man, and don’t have any significant funds available to me at the moment,’ Matthew answered. ‘What can I do?’

‘I have been going through your uncle’s papers Mr Reardon, and I have stumbled upon something quite interesting that may just be the answer to your problems. It seems that there are a number of assets that have disappeared from his estate that we may be able to trace and use.’

‘Assets?’

‘Slaves, Mr Reardon.’

Matthew blinked. ‘I don’t understand. How could slaves owned by my uncle be missing?’

‘You uncle inherited his considerable wealth when he was a small child. You are aware that his parents died when he was quite young.’ Matthew nodded. ‘Well it seems that in the confusion at the time a number of slaves took the opportunity to abscond, and the guardians of the estate were unable, or perhaps unwilling, to track them down.’

‘But that would have been many years ago now. Surely many of them wouldn’t still be alive!’ Matthew interrupted.

‘No I don’t suppose they are. However their papers were still in your uncle’s possession, and it could be possible to trace them now. If they are still alive, then they in effect still belong to you. If not, then their descendents do.’

Matthew sat back and tapped his chin. ‘I see. And just how difficult would it be to trace them?’

‘It could be extremely difficult. However, until a search is made it is impossible to say for sure. Mr Reardon, since importation stopped in this country, the price of slaves is extremely high at the moment and just one or two could bring you the money you need. All you have to do is give me the word and I will put the process of tracing them in place.’ He smiled. ‘For a fee of course!’

‘Of course,’ Matthew stood up and held out his hand. ‘Please begin the search.’

——————

Ben Cartwright stared at the letter in his hand and frowned as he fingered the postmark. He looked up as the door burst open and his youngest son Joseph came crashing into the room. ‘Hi Pa!’ the boy called as he flung his hat down on the settee and flung himself after it. ‘Adam said you wanted to see me.’

‘Yes I do,’ Ben stood up from his desk and walked over to his son. ‘Joseph take your feet off the table please!’

Joe smiled guiltily at his father and removed his dusty boots from the low coffee table in front of him.

Ben sat down next to him on the settee. ‘Joe I need to talk to you,’ he began.

Joe looked at his father anxiously. ‘Why? What did I do?’

Ben smiled. ‘I didn’t say you did anything Joe. I just wanted to tell you about this.’ He handed his son the letter he had been holding. ‘It came for you in today’s mail.’

Joe looked at it. ‘A letter? For me?’ Ben nodded. ‘Who’d be writing to me Pa?’

Ben smiled at him again. ‘Well you won’t know until you open it,’ he said, and watched as his son did just that. If the truth be known, Ben was feeling quite concerned about the contents of the letter. It was postmarked New Orleans, and given the fact that Joe’s mother had come from there it was quite likely that this letter would have some kind of link to her. Ben couldn’t think of any other reason for a letter to come for his son from that particular city, and certainly didn’t have any idea what it might contain. The uncertainty made him feel rather anxious.

Joe looked up at his father as soon as he had begun to read. ‘It’s from a man called Reardon. He’s a lawyer in New Orleans. Do you know him Pa?’

Ben shook his head puzzled. The name meant nothing to him at all. Joe bent his head and continued to read. ‘He says that he has information for me and he wants me to come to see him. Wonder what the information is?’

‘Doesn’t he say?’ enquired Ben. Joe shook his head and passed the letter to his father who scanned it quickly.

‘Must be about my mother, don’t you think?’ Joe asked, his eyes shining. ‘She came from there, so it must be about her.’

Ben frowned. ‘Not necessarily Joe. To be honest I don’t know what this man could possibly have to tell you concerning your mother. This doesn’t really make much sense at all. Perhaps you should write back to him and ask for more details.’

‘Aw Pa, come on! This is a great excuse to go to New Orleans! You always said that I could when I was old enough, and now that I’m just about a man there’s nothing to stop me is there?’

Ben hid a smile from his son. Joe had recently turned eighteen, and used any opportunity to remind everyone of the fact. ‘Joe I just think it would be a good idea to find out a bit more about this before you think about rushing off to New Orleans. It’s an awfully long way to go just because of one man’s letter.’

‘Aw Pa, come on! I’ve always wanted to see the place, you know that. Why shouldn’t I go? Please?’ Joe looked at him with his mother’s green eyes that Ben found so hard to resist.

‘I’ll tell you what Joe. I have some business down in Texas that I’ve been putting off. Why don’t we travel down together and then across to New Orleans from there? We could meet with this Mr Reardon and I could show you the sights of the city before we come back.’

Joe’s eyes were shining. ‘Ya mean it Pa? Really?’

Ben stroked the back of his son’s neck gently. ‘Yes really. Adam and Hoss can look after things here for a while, and you could consider this a late birthday present.’ His eyes twinkled. ‘After all it’s not every day a man turns eighteen.’

Joe grinned at his father. ‘That’d be great Pa! I’ve always wanted to see New Orleans, and I can’t believe it’s finally going to happen! When can we leave?’

Ben laughed. ‘Well I don’t see why we can’t catch next week’s stage. I still think you should write to this Mr Reardon and tell him that we’re both coming.’

‘OK Pa I will.’ Joe paused as he looked at the letter again. ‘It says he wants to meet me in Boutte. Where’s that?’

‘It’s a little town about thirty miles from the outskirts of New Orleans. Probably where the man’s law practice is I imagine,’ said Ben looking at the letter again. ‘Don’t worry the stage will pass through there on the way, so it’s easy to reach.’

Joe nodded, his happiness showing on his face. ‘I’ll write that letter now Pa, then I gotta tell Adam and Hoss where we’re going. Man are they gonna be jealous!’ Ben laughed as his son skipped over to the study to grab some paper for his letter.

————————

Matthew Reardon sat lost in thought as he studied the letter in his hand. Unfortunate that the boy is bringing his father with him. Still that can be handled as long as Bates plays his part. He looked up as a tall man entered the room. ‘Bates! I was just thinking about you!’ He motioned for the other man to sit on the other side of the desk. ‘Have you thought about our proposition?’

‘Yes, but I haven’t decided yet. I’m not going into anything sight unseen Reardon, and how do I know this is on the level anyway?’

‘What more proof do you need? I’ve shown you all the documents. Do you really think that I would take a risk on something like this? I am a lawyer you know, and I have a very good knowledge of the boundaries of the law. I’m not about to step outside them and destroy everything I’ve worked so hard to build up in this practice over the years.’

Bates shrugged. ‘I suppose not, but I just want to see the boy first. Are you sure he’s not aware of any of this at all?’

‘Absolutely. If he were, then he wouldn’t come here would he?’

Bates laughed. ‘Well not if he’s in his right mind he wouldn’t anyway!’

Reardon laughed with him. ‘Remember that he’s only one-eighth. Should be worth quite a bit so I expect you to play fair with this.’

‘Well I’ve got the problem and the expense of transporting him haven’t I? I’ll negotiate the price when I see him, not before.’

Reardon put his hand up. ‘Alright! They’re due in this afternoon, so if you’re around you can see for yourself. Remember that I’ll need you to witness the fight tomorrow and make sure the sheriff gets here on time.’

Bates stood up. ‘I’ll be here.’ He turned to go. ‘Just when did you find out about this anyway?’

‘A couple of months ago from the executor of my uncle’s will in Tennessee. The papers for the boy’s grandmother were in the estate of my late uncle. I’m his sole heir.’

‘Well it sounds like you’ve done OK for yourself then. What do you intend to do with the money?’

Reardon put his hands behind his head and pushed his legs out in front of him. ‘This town has seen the last of me that’s for sure! I’m about to use my new found wealth to stake myself in a practice back East.’

‘Oh yeah? Where?’

Reardon winked at the other man. ‘Now that would be telling, wouldn’t it? Best for me to just disappear don’t you think?’

‘Yeah, well, whatever.’ Bates shrugged his shoulders and opened the door. ‘See you at three.’

Reardon put his head back and closed his eyes. Everything to plan Matthew. It should all go exactly to plan.

—————————

‘Mr Cartwright,’ Matthew Reardon shook Ben’s hand as he stepped down from the stage. ‘Is Joseph with you?’ Ben stepped back to allow his son to jump down from the stage, and his first sight of the boy made Matthew catch his breath. Beyond my highest expectations! Wait until Bates sees this. He won’t be able to negotiate the price on this down at all! His eyes shone as he grasped the boy’s hand and pumped it enthusiastically.

Joe grinned at him. ‘Glad ta meet ya, Mr Reardon,’ he said as he tipped his hat. ‘What do you have ta talk to me about?’

Ben thumped his son on the shoulder. ‘Joe, give the man a chance! We’ve only just got here!’ He turned to the lawyer. ‘We really need to settle in first Mr Reardon. Could we meet you later on tonight?’

‘Actually Mr Cartwright I was going to suggest tomorrow morning. My office is over there next to the jail.’

‘Fine,’ said Ben. ‘We’ll be there at about 10am. Come along Joseph.’

Matthew watched as the two walked down the street towards the hotel. Oh yes! This is going to be much more profitable than I thought!

————————

‘It’s not much of a town is it Pa?’ Joe looked out of the upstairs window onto the street below. It was deserted except for a couple of dogs wandering down the covered walkway, three horses tethered across the street and an old man sitting outside the livery stable.

‘Depends what you want to do here I suppose,’ answered his father. ‘All I care about is the fact that they have a telegraph office so that we can send your brothers a wire to let them know we’ve arrived safely, and that we find somewhere that we can get a decent meal.’

‘Yeah, well I wouldn’t want ta be stuck here too long,’ said Joe. ‘A man could get real bored livin here.’

‘Well a man might, but what about you?’ asked his father with a grin. Joe made a face at him and they both laughed. ‘Come on we’ll go and send that wire now, and then I’ll treat you to dinner. How does that sound?’

Joe grinned at his father. ‘Sounds great Pa!’

Later on as he stood outside the telegraph office waiting for his father, Joe surveyed the street again. No sir! Wouldn’t want ta get stuck here alright! He turned as his father joined him. ‘All done?’

‘Yes,’ said Ben putting his arm around his son’s shoulder. ‘I let them know we’ve arrived safely, and I’ll contact them again in a few weeks. I just hope everything is going alright on the ranch.’

‘Pa you worry too much!’

Ben smiled at his youngest boy. ‘And that Joseph, is a father’s right! I will continue to worry for as long as I remain your father. Come on son, let’s find that meal.’

They walked down the street until they reached a small dining room, and entered it. They seemed to be the only patrons, but as they were waiting for their meals to arrive a man entered and seated himself across the room from them. He nodded at them before beginning to read the menu, but in reality Bates couldn’t keep his eyes off the boy across the room. His first impression of Joe was one of sheer delight. Bates knew quality when he saw it, and the boy certainly was that! The boy has looks that’s for sure! He noticed the striking facial features – the excellent bone structure, the healthy white teeth, the sparkling green eyes. At first glance his skin appeared to be as white as Bates’ own, but a closer investigation showed a creaminess that had a tinge of coffee to it. Much of that though, Bates suspected, was to do with the outdoor life the boy had experienced. He radiated youth and vitality and seemed to have a great deal of charm as well. When he laughed his whole face lit up and Bates was entranced. He’s worth a fortune! He thought with glee.

His only concern was the negotiating that he knew he would now have to do with Reardon. The man was not likely to let this boy go without a great deal of bargaining, and Bates knew that he would have to bring into play every ounce of shrewdness that he possessed. He watched in fascination as Joe and his father left the room. Oh yes! This one is going to bring me quite a bit, that’s for sure! He’s going to be well worth the effort!

———————

‘I’m sure what I am about to tell you will come as a shock young man,’ Matthew came straight to the point. ‘I am in the possession of certain documents that throw some light upon your family history.’

‘See Pa I told ya it would be about my mother,’ Joe turned to his father with a grin on his face.

‘Yes Joseph it is certainly information about your mother, but more importantly about your grandmother,’ Reardon continued. ‘You see my uncle died recently and as the sole heir to his estate I am privy to all his past business transactions. It seems that his father had died when he was a child and my uncle had his estate held in trust for him until he reached the legal age when he could claim it.’

‘What has this got to do with my son?’ asked Ben puzzled.

Matthew held up his hand and continued. ‘It seems that in the time between inheriting the estate and actually taking control of it, certain possessions became unaccounted for. One of them was your grandmother.’

‘What do you mean by unaccounted for? I don’t understand what my grandmother had to do with your uncle.’ Joe said.

Ben interrupted. ‘Mr Reardon, my late wife’s parents died when she was quite young, and she was raised in a local convent. She never really knew them at all.’

‘I realise that Mr Cartwright. But if she had, then she would have known that her mother was in fact not legally free.’

Ben stared at the man for a moment, not sure what he was getting at. ‘Legally free?’ he asked.

‘Yes, you see she and a few others took the opportunity to abscond at the time of my uncle’s parents’ death, and she subsequently disappeared into the city to live until her death. By that time of course she had married and her daughter was born.’

Ben frowned at him, beginning to lose his patience. ‘Mr Reardon would you please speak plain? Why on earth would it matter where my wife’s mother lived and how could she possibly be connected with your uncle at the time?’

‘Mr Cartwright I thought you had understood. Your wife’s mother was half-negro. She was a slave.’ Matthew watched the two men seated opposite him for a reaction, but they sat stunned and silent.

After a moment, Ben said, ‘that is preposterous!’

Matthew leaned forward and pushed a wad of paper towards him on the desk. ‘See for yourself, it’s all in there.’

Ben snatched the paper and read it, handing each page to Joe after he had finished. After a few moments he put them down and stared at the man across the desk from him. ‘So? She’s dead. Why bring this all up now?’

Matthew leant forward and placed his hands on the desk in front of him. ‘She may be dead Mr Cartwright, but he isn’t.’ He pointed directly at Joe. ‘As sole heir of my uncle’s estate I have full legal rights to this woman and any of her descendents, and that includes this boy!’

Joe sank back in his chair and gasped at the man’s directness. He looked across at his father expecting to see him looking amused at the suggestion, but paled when he saw anger and fear in Ben’s eyes instead.

Matthew continued. ‘Your son Mr Cartwright has one-eighth coloured blood flowing through his veins and I intend to claim him as my property.’

Ben stood up, leant across the desk and grabbed the man by the collar. ‘Just what are you trying to prove Reardon? How dare you sit there sprouting forth these lies?’ He pushed the man into his chair again and turned on his heel. ‘Come on Joseph, we’re getting out of here! And as for you!’ he spat over his shoulder at Reardon, ‘any more of those outlandish stories and I’ll have you in jail for slander!’

‘I wouldn’t try that if I were you Mr Cartwright. You see the law is on my side.’ Reardon replied. ‘I own that boy and I intend to take him, and nothing you can do will stop me.’

‘Ben turned to face the man again, Joe by his side. ‘Just what do you want Reardon? Is it money you’re after? Is that it?’ he yelled.

‘Of course it’s money! But not from you.’ Reardon looked directly at Joe before he spoke again. ‘Oh no, I’ll get more for this one on the open market than I ever will from the likes of you Cartwright. I intend to ……’ his words were lost as Ben stepped forward and hit him directly on the jaw.

At that moment the door opened and Bates entered. Ben hesitated for a moment, and then quickly moved towards Reardon again. ‘If you ever come near my son Reardon I’ll see you dead,’ he yelled directly into the man’s face.

‘Well that might be a bit difficult Cartwright, seeing as how he belongs to me now,’ the man goaded him. Ben smashed his fist into Reardon’s face again, only dimly aware of Joe yelling behind him. Suddenly his arms were dragged away and pinned behind his back. He struggled to free himself and glanced across to see Joe in the same position, while a man held a gun on them both.

‘Now then, what’s going on here?’ the man asked. ‘Mr Reardon, you having some trouble with these two fellas?’

Reardon stood up and rubbed his jaw. ‘I most certainly am sheriff. This man,’ he pointed at Ben ‘has just assaulted me. I wish to press charges against him.’

‘You what?!’ Ben thundered, struggling against the arms that held him.

‘And this youngster here belongs to me. He is my property.’ The sheriff looked at Joe, then back to Reardon surprised. ‘You sure Mr Reardon? He sure looks white ta me!’

‘If you doubt my word sheriff I have the papers to prove it.’ Reardon held them out towards the other man. ‘Feel free to examine them and I’m sure you will find them all in order.’

The sheriff took a deep breath and hesitated. ‘Alright, we’ll get this sorted out over at the jail. Come on all of you, march!’ He motioned with his gun, and Ben and Joe were led out of the door, still held tightly by their captors. Reardon winked at Bates and followed.

———————–

‘I demand to be let out of here!’ Ben yelled for the tenth time to no one in particular as he banged on the bars in frustration. ‘Do you hear me? Let me out!’

Joe looked up from the bunk he was sitting on in the cell next to his father. ‘They’re not listenin Pa, save your breath,’ he said mournfully.

Ben turned to face his son. ‘Don’t you worry Joseph, I’ll get us both out of here,’ he said.

Joe nodded at him and tried to smile. ‘Sure Pa, I know ya will.’

Ben crossed the floor and leaned against the bars that separated the two cells. He reached through the bars and beckoned to his son. ‘Joe come here.’ Joe stood up and walked over to his father and looked deep into his eyes. ‘Joe, I promise you that I will get us out of here son. Never for one moment give up on that thought. No matter what anyone tells you, concentrate on the fact that I am going to fix this one way or another.’ He stroked his son’s neck as he spoke, and Joe leant towards him until they were as close as they could be, given the circumstances.

‘Pa I just don’t understand how he can be saying these things,’ Joe searched his father’s face hoping to hear the words to dispel his fears. ‘Surely what he’s sayin ain’t legal? It can’t be!’

‘Joe I don’t know about the legalities, but I sure aim to find out!’ Ben replied. ‘What you have to keep in mind son is that no matter what the law says, though, I am your father and nothing about your mother’s background can ever change that!’ Joe nodded as his father continued. ‘He will never get his way in this Joe. I’ll hunt you down to the ends of the earth if that’s what it takes to find you son.’

Joe paled. ‘You don’t think that he really means to take me away?’ he asked, his eyes wide. ‘He can’t do it Pa! It’s not right for him to think like that!’

Ben held his son’s face between his hands. ‘No one is taking you anywhere Joe, but in case he tries just remember what I said boy.’ Joe nodded, his eyes filling with tears as he hung his head.

At that moment the door into the outer office of the jail was flung open and the sheriff entered followed by Reardon and another larger man. ‘Well Cartwright, you won’t be pleased to hear what I have to say, that’s for sure,’ the sheriff said.

Ben felt Joe’s grip on him tighten and he patted the boy’s arm encouragingly. ‘And just what might that be sheriff?’ he said through clenched teeth, glaring at him.

‘All the papers seem to be in order,’ said the sheriff. ‘Everything is just as Mr Reardon here says. The boy’s mother was coloured and that makes him coloured too.’ Ben felt Joe beside him stiffen.

Ben glanced at Reardon who stood behind the sheriff smiling at him. ‘I told you Cartwright. I’m not a thief you know, I only want what’s mine! Sheriff, I’d like this youngster released into my custody now.’

The sheriff nodded at him. ‘All in good time Mr Reardon. First things first. Now about that assault charge on Cartwright here, are you still wanting to go ahead with it?’

‘Of course I am sheriff. I don’t intend to drop the charges at all. Why?’

‘Well it’s just that if you intend to take this youngster with you, then you won’t be around for the trial when the circuit judge comes. Charges won’t stick if you’re not here.’

‘I see. Well that’s not really an issue sheriff. I don’t really much care if the charges stick or not, if you know what I mean. Just how long will it be before the judge arrives?’

The sheriff smiled, understanding his meaning. ‘Sometime next week, no doubt,’ he said.

‘You can’t possibly expect to keep me here until then!’ Ben exploded.

‘I can and I will,’ replied the sheriff. ‘Face it Cartwright, you’ve no choice but to grin and bear it.’

‘I demand to see a lawyer,’ Ben thundered.

‘Well the only lawyer in town would be Mr Reardon here, and I doubt you’d be interested in him handling your case now would you?’ the sheriff winked at Reardon. ‘No, I didn’t think so. Just relax now Mr Cartwright, and we’ll get along just fine. You and me got some days ahead of us to get to know each other now.’ He turned to leave the room. ‘Mr Reardon, just sing out when you’re finished.’

Ben turned to the men standing outside the cell. ‘Reardon, I don’t care how long it takes, but I’m going to make you regret this!’ he yelled.

Reardon smiled at him. ‘As I said before Mr Cartwright, I have nothing in particular against you. I just want what’s mine.’ He looked across at Joe in the other cell meaningfully, and then turned to the man standing beside him. ‘I’ll speak to you outside Bates.’

The man he called Bates stared at Joe for a moment with a sneer. ‘Sure thing Mr Reardon. I’m sure interested in talking to you as well!’ Both men turned to leave the room, and Ben began to pace up and down in the cell out of sheer frustration.

In the outer office several transactions were taking place. ‘Here you are sheriff, that should be enough to keep Cartwright here until that judge arrives,’ said Reardon handing the sheriff a fistful of money.

The sheriff grinned. ‘I’d say that might be just about enough, Mr Reardon. Nothin illegal, mind!’

‘No, not at all,’ Reardon laughed. ‘Just enough to keep him detained until then. When the judge arrives and you can’t find me, well it won’t be your fault if I’ve decided to leave town for parts unknown.’ He turned to Bates. ‘Well Mr Bates how about we adjourn to my office?’ He motioned the other man out of the door before him. ‘After you, please.’

Once they were back in Reardon’s office, Bates stroked his chin thoughtfully. ‘I don’t know Mr Reardon. Seems to me like I’m getting the worst end of the deal. I’m the one taking all the risks.’

Reardon widened his eyes at the man. ‘What do you mean? There are no risks involved at all. Everything is completely legal, and I defy anyone to prove otherwise! I am offering you a pure business proposition Mr Bates, do you want it or not? If the answer is no, then I’ll take the boy and sell him elsewhere. You can’t tell me with looks like that it will be hard to find a buyer.’

‘No, that’s true. The boy’s certainly a looker alright,’ answered Bates. ‘But I’m the one who has the trouble of transporting him.’

‘Well isn’t that what you do? Isn’t that your business?’ countered Reardon. ‘Seems to me you’d be used to it by now.’

‘Oh I’m used to it alright,’ answered the other man. ‘I just don’t usually have relatives breathing down my neck while I’m doing it, that’s all. That Cartwright fella seems like he could be a powerful lot of trouble if he wants to be.’

‘Don’t you worry about Cartwright. He won’t be any problem to you.’ Reardon sat back in his chair and smiled. ‘By the time he gets out of there you’ll be long gone.’

‘Look Reardon, you can only bribe that sheriff for so long. Once that judge gets here, if you’re not around there’s no way they’ll hold Cartwright. Sure I can get rid of the kid within a week, but I don’t want him after me before I’ve had time to look after my own interests!’

‘I told you not to worry. Judge Morrison is an old friend of mine. He won’t be letting Cartwright out of there in a hurry. I told you I have everything under control, now learn to trust me!’

Bates studied the man seated across from him carefully. ‘Hmm. Well all I can say is I ‘d hate to be on the wrong side of you Reardon.’

Reardon smiled at him. ‘You don’t spend twenty years in the business I’m in without making a few contacts along the way Mr Bates. Now are there any other concerns you might have before we get down to negotiating the price?’

‘No.’

‘Well if that’s the case Mr Bates, perhaps we can do business over a drink or two?’

‘Bates winked at him. ‘Now you’re talking Mr Reardon. ‘I’ll be able to pick up the merchandise in the morning.’ Both men walked out of the office, each determined to beat the other in their negotiations.

———————

By the time dawn arrived, Ben was feeling the effects of no sleep. He had spent the night either pacing up and down in the tiny cell or sitting and trying to comfort his son. Joe had lain for most of the night on the narrow bunk in the cell beside his father, trying to reason out what exactly was happening.

When the dawn broke they were both at breaking point, their nerves taut. Joe looked across at his father and felt a wave of sympathy for him. He looks so old. I can only imagine what this must be doin to him. It’s bad enough for me, but he’s got to sit there and watch it happen.

Joe sat up. ‘Pa?’ he said.

Ben turned towards him and rubbed his hand over his eyes. ‘Yes Joe, what is it son?’

Joe struggled to find the words. ‘Pa if it does turn out that he takes me away, then …..’

‘Don’t you say that Joe! That is not about to happen because I simply will not allow it!’ Ben said.

‘Pa you may not have much choice in the matter,’ Joe tried to smile, but failed miserably. He moved over to the bars that separated them and reached out for his father. ‘Pa I just want to say that …..’

Ben reached his arms around his son’s shoulders and hugged him through the bars. ‘You don’t have to say it Joe.’ They stood for a moment, locked in a tight embrace. Ben looked into his son’s eyes. ‘I want you to do something for me Joe.’

Joe looked up at his father, the tears running unchecked down his face. ‘Promise me two things Joe.’ The boy nodded. ‘If it does happen I want you to always remember that I will come for you. No matter where you might be, I will come for you. The second thing is that I want you promise me that you will do whatever it takes to stay safe until I can get there. I mean it Joe. Whatever it takes. Promise me that.’ He searched his son’s face and looked deep into his green eyes.

Joe nodded. ‘I promise Pa. I know you’ll come for me, and I’ll do whatever it takes.’

The door from the outer office opened suddenly, and Bates appeared with the sheriff. ‘Move away from that boy Cartwright. He’s mine now,’ he snarled.

Ben gripped onto Joe even more tightly. ‘How dare you! Sheriff I demand you do something.’

‘Ain’t none of my business,’ replied the sheriff. ‘Like I told you before Cartwright, all them papers are legal, and this Bates has gone and made a purchase of your boy from Mr Reardon. Ain’t nothing you or anyone else can do about it.’

‘Sheriff your job is to protect people!’ yelled Ben.

‘Cartwright my job is to uphold the law. And this man is well within his rights to take that boy. Now stand back if you know what’s good for you!’ He unlocked the door to Joe’s cell and stepped aside to let Bates enter it. ‘Hurry up Mr Bates. Sooner you get this over with the better.’

Joe stepped back into the corner of the cell and pushed himself hard up against the bars. He clutched at his father’s arm frantically while staring at Bates. ‘You keep away from me you filthy …..’ but his words were cut short by the blow that Bates dealt him on the head. Dazed, he slumped forward onto his knees, and Ben tried frantically to grab him through the bars.

‘Joe!’ he yelled, but Bates kicked the boy away from the wall of the cell and into the middle of the floor. Ben could only watch helplessly as the man shackled his son’s wrists behind his back and put a rope around his neck which he used to then drag him forward.

Joe began to struggle as he felt himself pulled forward, and managed to lift himself to a kneeling position. He began to choke as the rope was pulled tighter around his neck. Bates saw what was happening, and moved back to lessen his grip on the rope, and hauled Joe to his feet with his free hand. ‘Now you do as you’re told boy,’ he said pulling him forward and out of the cell. ‘You’re far too valuable for me to damage you.’ With a push he sent Joe sprawling out of the room and followed him quickly.

Ben screamed out his agony to no one as he watched the scene before him. ‘Bates! Bates! I’m going to kill you! Let me out of here! Joseph! Sheriff let me out of here now!’ The sheriff looked at him before closing the door on his way out of the room.

———————-

The rumble of the wheels on the tracks provided a steady background to the noise of the chickens beside him, and lulled Joe to a false sense of easiness that he didn’t really feel. He shifted himself on the hard floor and tried to ease the kinks out of his back, but it proved impossible, so he turned onto his other side and stared at the wall of the carriage beside him. Between the cracks in the wall he could just see a glimpse of the passing landscape and noticed the wide fields and low hills in the distance. For the tenth time he wondered how far they had come since boarding the train, but found it impossible to estimate. They had left in the early afternoon and now it was well into the next morning, but the constant stops during the night had made it difficult to tell exactly where they were. Not that Joe would have really known anyway, as this country was so foreign to him. He began to wish that he had paid more attention in geography lessons back in the small schoolhouse all that time ago.

Thinking of his school days made the lump in his throat rise again, and he shook his head to keep the feeling at bay. You can’t afford to think about that now Joe, you have to concentrate on how to get out of this! With every rumble of the wheels below him he knew that his chances of anyone coming to help him were diminished. Every mile that the train covered took him further away from everything and everyone that he had ever known in his life, and closer to ….. Joe closed his mind to that and tried not to think about what it might take him closer to.

He pulled with frustration again on the iron band that attached his leg to the wall and cursed silently as he looked at the chain that lay on the floor. Chained like an animal! He thought viciously. That’s what they think of me though, isn’t it? He pulled on it again, and was startled by a voice across the carriage. ‘You’re gonna hurt yaself if you keep doin that ya know!’

He looked over to the other human occupant of the carriage and scowled at him.

‘Mind ya own business!’ he snapped at him, then instantly regretted his remark. The other man had only been trying to help him after all, and had been nothing but kind so far. It wasn’t his fault that this had happened to Joe, so he shouldn’t be taking his frustration out on him. ‘Sorry,’ he added, ‘It pinches, and I just can’t seem to get used to it.’

‘Ya never do,’ Nathan answered with a wry smile. ‘Don’t matter how often it happens, ya never do.’

Joe looked at the man and nodded slightly. Nathan was a large man, with skin as dark as the black smoke that kept wafting in from the engine in front of them. He wore tattered clothing and no shoes, and his feet were calloused and filthy. That was the first thing actually that Joe had noticed about him. It made him very aware of the lack of boots on his own feet, and he wondered how long it would be before they looked like the other man’s. When Bates had first demanded that he take off his boots, Joe could not really understand the reasoning behind it, until Nathan had enlightened him to the fact that no slaves wore shoes. It was a mark of who they were, plus it made it difficult for them to cover much ground in a hurry if they had the chance to make a break for it.

Not much chance of that at the moment though, he thought to himself. The chain was just too difficult a deterrent. He would have to wait until a chance came his way, and at the moment that meant exercising something that Joe had very little of – patience! Never one to be still for too long, he found the interminable waiting very difficult, combined with the fact that he didn’t know how long this journey would go on for. His thoughts were interrupted again by Nathan who echoed Joe’s own query. ‘So boy, where ya headed to?’

Joe turned over and looked at the man. ‘Don’t know,’ he replied.

‘Probably Columbus. That’s where I’m goin. You’ll know you’re alive when ya get there!’

Joe decided it was better not to ask why, and merely continued to stare at the man. ‘Whatcha goin there for?’ he asked tentatively.

‘Same as you probably. Auction.’ Nathan replied with a shrug. ‘Heard Bates say they hoped to get a good price for ya, so I figured we’re goin to the same place.’

Joe jerked, startled by the man’s words. ‘Auction?’ he asked against his better judgment.

‘Yep. Biggest one this side of Atlanta,’ Nathan replied. ‘Sure hope I get out to a farm this time, city life ain’t fer me that’s fer sure. I miss the open spaces.’

Joe tried to block out everything except the rumble of the carriage wheels below him. Don’t listen! If you don’t listen then it won’t be happening! But he knew that it was. Focus on now, Joe. You may never have to face that, cause you might get away before then. Come on, concentrate and think of a plan. But try as he could, nothing came to him.

After a few moments, Joe felt the train once more slowing to a halt, and he sat up to peer through the cracks in the wall again. He could just make out a station, and as the train slowed to a stop he watched fascinated as the scene before him emerged from the blur that it had been moments before. Suddenly the door was flung open, and he raised his hand to cover his eyes from the bright glare of the sunshine outside. Two guards entered the carriage and began to unload several pieces of luggage, ignoring the two figures sitting there. Joe leaned forward and sat mesmerised by the scene before him. People were going about their business on the platform as if it were a normal day. Guards were loading luggage, men and women were hurrying about, and near him a man, his wife and two children were organising themselves to board the train. Joe looked across at a man near his own age and for a moment their eyes locked before the other man looked away. Joe realised with a start that he was invisible to him. He had a sudden urge to fling himself out of the door, and it was only the pinching of the leg iron that reminded him that it was impossible to do so. This was his own world that he was catching a glimpse of. He was the son of a rich landowner and he belonged out there, not in here with …

‘Watch it boy, move back there,’ said one of the guards as he descended from the carriage, and kicked Joe’s leg slightly as he passed. Joe reached his hand out and said, ‘hey, before you go, could I….’ but his words were cut off by the door slamming in his face. He beat against it with both his fists until they were sore, and cursed loudly. The train lurched forward again and he slumped back into the corner, crying tears of frustration and rage. Aware of Nathan watching him silently from the other side of the carriage he put his arm up to shield his face from the man, but nothing could hide the heaving of his shoulders as the sobs overtook his body. Nathan sighed and turned away from him to stare at the wall.

——————–

Joe blinked in the early morning light that fell on his face as he slowly opened his eyes. Taking a moment to orientate himself, he listened to the sounds around him and tried to make sense of them. For a moment he thought he was back in his own room and the voices in the distance were those of his father and brothers. He smiled slightly and stretched his arms over his head. It was only when he touched the wall behind him that he truly woke up and reality hit him with a thud. Staring up at the roof of the carriage he willed it all to be a dream, but he knew it was a useless attempt to block out the truth that he now faced.

The train had stopped and the door was once again open. This time he could see another platform as he sat up, but one less crowded than yesterday’s one. This time there was hardly anyone to be seen at all, and Joe reasoned that it was probably still very early. His heart sank as he realised the problems that this would cause to his planned getaway. He knew that the moment the chain was loosened from the wall was the ideal time to try to make a break for it, but had been hoping that the cover of a crowd would aid him in disappearing from his captor. Still, who’s to say this is our destination, he thought wryly. Maybe it’s just another of the stopovers we’ve had so far.

The thought was dispelled a moment later when Bates appeared framed in the doorway of the carriage and looked in. ‘Well hello there, had a pleasant journey?’ he asked with a sneer. When Joe merely looked at him and didn’t answer, he shrugged. ‘Guess not,’ he said and stepped up into the carriage. He bent over and began to unlock the chain that bound Joe’s leg to the wall. Wait for it Joe, easy. Remember to pick your moment. Wait.

Joe flexed his muscles in readiness for his anticipated move. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply for a moment, and when he opened them again found himself looking directly into the dark eyes of the man close to him. His face was so near to Joe’s that he could smell the staleness of his breath and he flinched involuntarily. Bates sneered at him again and yanked on the chain to haul him upright to his feet. Wait Joe, in a minute. Be patient.

As the man turned to lead his captive out of the carriage, Joe grabbed his hand from behind and wrenched the chain free from it. With all his might he pushed Bates forward and sent him sprawling onto the platform, then jumped down after him and took off running down the platform. Joe didn’t have any idea where he was running to, all he knew was that he had to put as much distance between himself and his captor as possible. Only when he was well clear of him would he be able to stop and plan his next move.

Behind him he heard Bates’ loud cry as he sang out for help, but Joe pushed on knocking over a pile of luggage as he did so. Mindful of finding an exit he halted for a split second to scan the area around him, when the chain that dangled from his ankle was stretched tight and pulled him sharply backwards. He turned around to see a large man standing on it, glaring at him disdainfully. Joe stooped to haul it out from under the man’s foot, but as he bent felt a knock on the back of his head and fell heavily to the ground.

Stunned for a moment, he lifted his head and began to get up to his feet, when he was pushed down again and felt the full force of many arms upon him. He shook his head and looked around to realise that he had become the centre of a small crowd, all of whom had closed in and were surrounding him. As he stared up at the faces around him, the crowd parted and Bates strode forward. With a withering look at Joe, he drew back his foot and kicked him hard in the stomach.

As Joe lay struggling for breath, Bates turned to the crowd and said in a jovial voice. ‘Many thanks everyone! This one was too quick for me. Rest assured there will be no repeat of that!’ He gestured with his hand towards Joe. ‘I’ll take him off your hands now.’

‘Just a moment,’ said the large man peering at Joe intently. ‘This youngster looks white to me. What right do you have to have him chained up like that?’

‘No right!’ Joe screamed from his position on the ground. ‘He ain’t got no right mister! Help me get up and I’ll prove it to ya,’ he searched the man’s face desperately for a spark of compassion.

Bates turned back to him and kicked him again, this time with breathtaking swiftness. ‘You shut your mouth or I’ll shut it for you!’ he yelled, and then turned back to the man again. ‘Here, his papers if you need proof.’ He handed the man a sheaf of papers and waited while he perused them. ‘You’ll see the details are correct and the description fits.’

Joe lay and stared at the man, his heart sinking as he realised that he had no way of making himself believed. After a moment’s thought he decided he had nothing to lose anyway, and tried again. ‘He’s lying! I ain’t no slave mister. Help me please!’ He grabbed hold of the man’s pants leg and clung on desperately. ‘My Pa owns a …..’ Another savage kick from Bates stilled his voice as he struggled for breath again, and he felt his grasp being shaken off from the man’s leg as he kicked himself free.

‘Glad to help,’ the man said as he handed the papers back to Bates. ‘If I were you I’d keep a tight hold on that one, he looks as if he’s more trouble than he’s worth!’ He turned and departed.

‘Oh I intend to,’ Bates sneered as he bent down over Joe again. ‘I very much intend to.’ He stared directly into Joe’s face, so close now that their noses almost touched. ‘If you ever try anything like that again boy,’ he whispered, ‘you won’t live long enough to get to that auction. I don’t care how much I lose on you.’ He raised his hand and slapped Joe’s face. ‘Now get up!’ He yanked on the chain and tried to pull Joe to his feet, but Joe held tightly to the other end and refused to budge. Bates sighed. ‘Alright then, if that’s the way you want to play it,’ and lifted his hand again. The last thing Joe felt was the knock of something hard against his head as he slipped down into unconsciousness.

———————-

When Joe woke, the first thing he noticed was how much his head throbbed. He struggled to move, but the pain made him groan and he longed to just sink back into sleep again. After a few moments he forced his eyes open and looked around him. He was lying on a narrow bed in a small room. He lifted his head cautiously and saw the bars on the window and the heavy iron door that was undoubtedly locked. He noticed with delight that the iron band had been removed from his ankle and stretched his limbs. It was the first time he had felt completely able to do so since leaving the jail in Boutte.

As he sat on the edge of the bed rubbing his head, he heard the key in the lock and looked up in trepidation in case it was Bates entering. After his treatment at the hands of that particular man Joe had no wish to see him again, and hoped that he never would. Thankfully it was not Bates, but an older coloured man who entered the room carrying a tray of food that smelled very appetising to Joe.

He set it down on the bed next to him and left without a word. Joe immediately began to eat, realising as he did so just how ravenous he really was. The food that he had been given on the train had not been particularly appetising to him and he had been too upset at the time to eat much anyway. He knew that if he was to have the strength to get away from here when the time was right, then he would need to be sensible about eating. Forcing himself to chew slowly, Joe considered what his next move should be. Until he knew exactly where this room was it would hard to decide just what that might be of course, so he once again he would be forced to wait. Joe sighed. He was certainly learning a lot about waiting lately!

After finishing his meal he stood on the bunk to see if he could get a glimpse of what was through the window, but all he could see was another wall a few feet away from where his room was. There was a great deal of noise coming in through the window though, and he lent his head against the opening to try and hear any snatches of phrases that might give him a clue as to his whereabouts. It proved to be an impossible task however, as all he heard was a jumble of sounds that blended together.

After a while he tired of trying to make sense of it all, and turned back towards the room. From the amount of sunlight coming into it he decided that it was still day at least, but calculated that it was probably now afternoon. Although I don’t even know how long I’ve been out of it of course, he thought ruefully. He realised with a start that he was beginning to lose a grip on all the basic things that he had always taken so much for granted. Basic things like his location and the time were unknown factors to him now. He wondered what else they could take away from him.

At that moment the door opened again and the old man re entered the room and picked up the plate. ‘Good,’ he said. ‘Glad to see ya eatin at least. Now we need to get ya cleaned up. Come on!’

Joe stood and followed him eagerly. This is it Joe, this might be your chance! No chains on and he’s leading you straight outside. This is it! But he was to be vastly disappointed the moment he stepped out from the room. He was not walking outside by any means, but only into another room, albeit much larger than the one he had come from. There were several rooms leading off it all identical to the one he had come from and most of the doors were closed. What captured his attention though, was the main door that led from the large room itself, guarded by a couple of men who lounged against it playing cards. No escape that way at the moment, he thought with a wave of disappointment.

The coloured man motioned towards a corner of the room where there stood a large bathtub. ‘Go on, git in there and git yaself looking presentable,’ he said. Joe hesitated. He longed to do as the man said, as the dirt and grime he had accumulated during the past few days sat heavily upon him and the water looked very inviting. But on the other hand he did not relish stripping off in front of the guards. The old man pushed him towards the tub. ‘Go on, it’s the only chance ya’ll git. Ya may as well make the most of it!’ he ordered.

That made up Joe’s mind for him. He quickly stepped out of his clothing and into the tub, relishing the warm water as he slid down into it. The old man handed him a bar of soap and he spent a few pleasant moments soaping and soaking himself. He put his head under the water and let the warmth settle around him as he felt his hair flow out around his head. When he sat up again, he was dismayed to see the man disappearing with his clothing. ‘Hey,’ he yelled out, ‘where ya goin with my things?’

‘I’ll be back with some clean ones,’ he replied. ‘Ya just concentrate on gittin clean boy!’

Joe leaned back in the tub and waited. He sure hoped the man was telling the truth! He felt utterly defenceless here in a tub of water completely naked, more than he had at any time during the last few days. He wondered why the sudden emphasis on getting himself clean, and hoped it had nothing to do with looking his best for the auction that Nathan had mentioned. Don’t go there Joe, don’t even think it.

He was relieved to see the man re enter the room a few moments later with an armful of clothing and a towel which he placed beside the tub. ‘Here ya go. Git into em,’ he ordered. Joe stood up and grabbed the towel quickly, covering himself as he wiped himself off. He admitted to himself that in spite of his modesty, the guards weren’t in the least bit interested in looking at him anyway, and they had not lifted their heads once from their game.

The clothing he had been given was slightly too large for him, but after he had turned the ends of the pants up at the cuffs and tucked the shirt in they didn’t look too bad. Still no boots though, he thought ruefully. Wonder if I’ll ever get any again? He turned to face the man. ‘Now what?’ he asked.

The man motioned for Joe to follow him, and led him back towards the small room from which they had come. When Joe hesitated in the doorway the two guards stood up and gave him meaningful looks, and he decided that this was not the time to argue. When the key had turned once again in the lock he sank down on the bed and sighed. How much more waiting would he have before he managed to find just the right moment to make a break for it? At the moment though, he admitted, he was grateful for a full stomach and a clean body. Maybe the worst is over! Joe sincerely hoped so as he lay down on the bed and stared up at the barred window far above him.

————————

That hope was quickly dispelled early the next morning. After eating a meagre breakfast Joe had resigned himself to spending another boring day impatiently waiting for something to happen when the door was flung open and Bates stood there. He motioned to the two guards behind him as he said ‘Cleaned up and rested I see? Good. Get him ready!’

Joe tensed himself for whatever was to follow, and his eyes widened as he saw the chains that were in the hands of the guards. Right moment or not, this is it Joe! No more chains without a fight! But the fight was a futile one. Resistance was not effective against the two men who seemed to know exactly how to stop it with a few well placed blows. They quickly subdued him and placed the chains on his ankles and wrists, binding them together before they hauled him to his feet.

Joe stood swaying slightly, trying to regain his balance as Bates stepped close to him. ‘Now before we get out there I’m warning you boy. Cause any trouble and you’re in for it, got me?’ He pulled on Joe’s hair and his head was forced back until he thought his neck was about to snap. He had to bite his lip to keep from crying out with the pain. Don’t know how he expects me to cause trouble like this! Joe could hardly move forward when the guard pushed him, and managed only small steps.

They crossed the large room slowly and made their way towards the outer door. The first thing that struck Joe when it opened was the barrage of noise that assaulted his ears the moment he was pushed through it. He found himself standing in a large hall which was filled with chairs and at the end was a high platform. God no!he cried to himself and immediately turned to fight to get out through the way he had come, but was only pushed further forward by the men behind him. He stumbled and almost fell, but one of the guards held onto his arm as they made their way forward to a corner of the room where several others stood. As he desperately looked around he noticed that they were all shackled just as he was.

The chairs were full of people who were noisily participating in the scene on the platform, and in spite of himself Joe felt his attention also drawn to the man standing there. It was Nathan Joe realised, and for a moment their eyes met before Nathan looked away.

Joe felt himself beginning to panic and found it difficult to breathe. He searched frantically for a means of escape, but knew that it was futile. Pa help me! I can’t do this. I know you said to do whatever it took, but not this Pa! Please God, help me! But there was no one who was the slightest bit interested in hearing his inward pleas, and as the time came closer for him to mount the platform he felt his knees go weak and he thought he would collapse with fright. He stood still, determined not to show outwardly what he was feeling.

Suddenly he was pushed from behind towards the steps leading up to the platform near him. He stood still, refusing to move until the guards grabbed him by the arms and hoisted him up bodily. Standing alone on the platform made him feel totally exposed and he turned to move away from the peering faces that stared back at him, but the auctioneer motioned to the guards and they moved over to him and held him still. Joe closed his eyes, refusing to look at the sea of faces before him, and tried to block out the words that were being said. Suddenly he felt his shirt ripped from his shoulders and down to his waist, exposing his upper torso. He closed his eyes even tighter and swayed on his feet, but was held upright in a tight grip by the two men on either side of him. How much longer? Make this finish! Please God make this finish!

The noises around him became louder and louder until it seemed to Joe that his head would burst. He tried to bring his thoughts inward and block out the external noises around him, but try as he might words and phrases kept invading his senses. ‘Come on gentlemen ….. $1000 …. not often do you see quality like this ……..$3000 thank you sir ….. looks like this are hard to come by ….. $5000 to the gentleman in the corner …..a bargain at any price……such light skin, just take a look ….. $7000, thank you sir ……come now gentlemen you can do better than that surely ……’ Joe listened as the price went higher and with each bid a bit more of his dignity was snatched from him. He willed himself to concentrate on his breathing. God make it finish! Please make it finish. Pa! Please help me Pa!

Finally he heard a hammer banging and the hall erupted into cheering. One of the guards pulled his shirt up again and he was dragged from the platform, not even bothering to keep up a pretence of defiance any more.It’s over Joe. Concentrate on it being over! As he was dragged from the room Joe’s mind closed in on himself and he refused to contemplate just what over might in fact mean for him in the future.

————————

Joe shifted his weight again as the wagon lurched yet one more time, and tried to find a place on his body to lay that was not crying out for relief. He managed with some effort to stretch one leg at a time which afforded him a bit of relief, then tried it with his arms as well. The chain that bound him to the side of the wagon allowed him minimal movement and he found the whole exercise rather difficult.

He glanced over the side of the wagon again and saw much the same scenery as he had been seeing all afternoon. The distant rolling hills reminded him a bit of the hills at home, and the thought brought tears to his eyes as he wondered what his brothers might be doing right about now. He guessed that his Pa would still be in jail, so he couldn’t even begin to hope that help was coming in any form at the moment. He thought of the sheriff’s problems when his father was finally released and smiled to himself. He wouldn’t like to be in that man’s shoes when he found out just how powerful and angry Ben Cartwright could be when he was crossed. No sir, he’s gonna pay for what he did alright!

Joe sighed. There was no getting away from the fact that the one paying the biggest price of all was himself at the moment. He wiped his sleeve over his eyes to brush the tears away, and looked over his shoulder to see if the man driving the wagon had noticed them. He hoped not. He didn’t want anyone thinking he couldn’t cope with all this even if it was only another slave like Lucas.

Joe jerked to find himself thinking like that. Another slave. I ain’t no slave! I’m Ben Cartwright’s son, and I won’t be a slave to no man! He thought to himself. Yet even as he did, one look at the chain around his ankle made him doubt the thought. I told Pa I’d do whatever it takes, and I will. But God please just don’t let them ask too much of me! I’ll try Pa, but I ain’t sure that I can do this!

He was startled out of his thoughts by Lucas. ‘Over there, see? That’s the house.’ Joe looked in the direction the man was pointing and saw a large white plantation style homestead. One thing for sure, that man certainly has money!

Joe realised that he didn’t even know that man’s name. He’d only caught a glimpse of the man who had bought him back in town before being handed over to Lucas who it appears was responsible for getting them both out to the homestead. Joe couldn’t understand why the man was so complacent, and asked him when they were on the road why he didn’t take off when his master left them.

Lucas had looked at him as though he was crazy. ‘And just where do ya think I might go boy?’

Joe couldn’t believe his ears. ‘Why just away of course! There’s no one here to see you, so why don’t you get away?’

Lucas laughed. ‘They’d track me down in a couple of hours!’ He raised his riding whip and pointed it at Joe in the back of the wagon. ‘And just you get any notions of running out of your head boy! Won’t do you any good at all.’

Joe looked at the house as they drove up the long driveway and marvelled at its size. ‘Lucas?’ he bent forward to ask. ‘Just who lives here anyway?’

Lucas stared down at him. ‘What do ya mean who lives here? Ya new master of course!’

Joe flinched at the term and frowned back at the man. ‘He ain’t my master! No one is! I ain’t no slave, how many times do I have to tell ya that?’

‘Boy, the sooner ya get ta accept things the better off you’ll be!’

Joe scowled at him. ‘I don’t have to accept anything!’ he began, and then stopped himself. He could almost hear his father speaking to him. Yeah Pa I know! I’ll do whatever it takes!‘So who is he anyway?’ he asked again.

‘Mr Samuel Edwards. Richest man around these parts. Lives here with his nephew Daniel.’ Lucas leant down towards Joe and whispered. ‘Stay away from that one if you want my advice!’

‘Why?’ asked Joe, but Lucas was already pulling the horses to a halt outside the house and didn’t answer. He jumped down from the wagon and began to unload the parcels that were packed around Joe.

‘Hey, ain’t ya gonna let me out?’ Joe asked after a few moments.

‘When they want ya, they’ll call for ya.’ Lucas motioned towards the house. At that moment the front door opened and a young man in his early twenties came strutting down the steps.

‘Lucas,’ he barked, ‘you sure took your time getting back here. Just where have you been?’

Lucas took off his hat and addressed the young man. ‘Couldn’t go no faster master Daniel. The horses were plumb tuckered out.’

Daniel brushed past him and stared at Joe in the back of the wagon. Joe stared back at him and decided that he didn’t like what he saw. The man had an arrogant air about him and he eyed Joe off in a way that made him feel decidedly uncomfortable.

‘You there boy, get down from that wagon now!’ he barked.

Joe scowled back at him. ‘And just how do ya think I’m gonna do that with this on me?’ he held up the chain for Daniel to see. Lucas grimaced at him behind Daniel’s back, but he took no notice.

Daniel stared at him for a moment, then turned to Lucas. ‘Unchain him,’ he said quietly, and stepped aside while Lucas hurried to do his bidding. When his chains were loosened, Joe took a moment to stretch his aching limbs before scrunching forward and putting his legs over the side of the wagon. He sat unsteadily for a moment while looking around.

‘I said to get down from that wagon now!’ Daniel repeated. Joe looked at him for a moment before descending to the ground. ‘Over here!’ Joe merely looked at him. His father’s voice inside his head urged him to obey, but he just couldn’t make himself.

Daniel stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face. ‘You obey my instructions as soon as you are told to do something!’ he yelled.

Joe kept staring at him, trying to hold his temper and keep from lashing out at the man. He clenched his fists by his sides. Just when he thought he might be losing the battle with himself they were interrupted by a voice from the porch.

‘Daniel, just what do you think you’re doing?’ They both looked up to see Samuel Edwards standing there.

‘Hello Uncle Samuel,’ Daniel replied. ‘I’m just showing this new one how to behave.’

‘Well don’t!’ replied his uncle crossly as he came down the stairs. ‘He cost me far too much for you to mark him.’ He turned to Lucas. ‘Take him over to Barker and see to things Lucas. And make sure you tell him nothing visible. You know what I mean.’

‘Yessir,’ said Lucas bowing his head slightly.

‘Wait,’ said Samuel and looked closely at Joe. ‘What’s your name boy?’

Joe was still trying to quell his anger from the slap, and stood for a moment merely looking at the man. When Samuel asked the question for a second time, his anger spilled over and he clamped his jaw shut. Samuel sighed and turned to Lucas. ‘Have Barker name him.’

Joe looked at him, startled for a moment. ‘My name is Joe,’ he said with a tightness that betrayed his feelings.

Samuel turned back towards him. ‘Joe. Joseph?’ Joe nodded curtly. ‘Have Barker put it down in the record book with his other details Lucas,’ said the man and turned towards the house again.

Daniel sneered at Joe as he added sarcastically ‘And make sure that you tell Barker to see to things for Joseph, won’t you Lucas?’ He turned on his heel and followed his uncle.

Joe continued to stare after them until Lucas touched him on the arm. ‘Come on boy, follow me.’ Joe turned to follow the man, looking around him as they crossed the front yard. For a moment he forgot about his desire to escape at the earliest possible opportunity, so engrossed as he was in checking out the property. By the time they had reached the barn he had decided that this was going to be no easy place to get away from. It was too far from the town for a start to consider trying for there to gain transport, and beside Joe didn’t relish going back to the scene of ……. He tried to block all thoughts of the auction out of his mind with a shake of his head.

The property itself seemed to be well equipped with horses from what he could see in the barn as they entered, but the problem was that he had no idea of directions yet. Joe decided that the best option for him at this stage was to bide his time and find out as much about the surrounding district as he could to help him when the time was right. With this feeling he entered the barn confidently, only to be halted by the sight before him.

Inside the large barn there were a number of animals, but there were also a number of men sitting around talking while a blacksmith tended to some horseshoes in the corner. They stopped and stared at himself and Lucas when they entered, and one of the men called out, ‘Barker!’

From out of the shadows a large man emerged. He gave Joe an appraising look and then turned to Lucas. ‘New?’

Lucas nodded. ‘Yessir. Mr Edwards says nothing visible like.’ Joe turned to him, the words sinking in for the first time, and wondered what he meant by that.

Barker called across to the blacksmith ‘Charlie, a new one for you!’ and the man nodded. Barker then reached up and took a large book from the top shelf behind him and sat down as he opened it up. ‘Name?’ he asked as he picked up a pen and dipped it into an inkpot that had also been on the shelf. Joe stared at him, and Barker looked up to meet the boy’s eyes. ‘I said name?’ he repeated.

Lucas interrupted, ‘He said his name is Joseph sir.’

Barker glared at him, but wrote it into the book. ‘How old are you Joseph? Sixteen, seventeen?’ he looked at Joe with his eyebrows raised.

Joe could not help himself and blurted out ‘eighteen,’ before thinking. The eyebrows raised even higher. ‘Don’t look it,’ he answered before writing that down too. ‘Parentage?’

Joe looked at him puzzled. ‘Parentage?’ Barker repeated again, then when he saw that Joe was genuinely puzzled as to his meaning he explained, ‘Your parents – how much coloured blood in them? Not much by the looks of you, boy.’

Joe’s anger came to the surface again. ‘My father is white, and so am I!’ he countered

Barker smiled. ‘Well now boy, if that were the case then you wouldn’t be here would you?’ Joe stood silently. ‘If your father is white, what about your mama? What’s she? One quarter?’ Joe acknowledged the man’s remark with a slight tilt of his head. ‘Well that makes you one eighth. Not much I grant you that, but enough.’ Barker bent his head over the book and wrote some more. Yeah enough! Enough to get me here!

Barker shut the book with a bang and motioned to Lucas. ‘Get out of here Lucas, we don’t need you any more.’ The man turned and left, but not before he gave Joe a look of sheer pity. Again, Joe wondered why.

Barker stood and called across to Charlie, ‘You ready yet?’

In a minute,’ the man replied. Joe turned to face him and wondered just what on earth they were talking about.

Barker motioned to him with his hand. ‘Over here Joseph.’ Joe stood still, not ready to obey the man until he knew what he was getting himself into now. ‘Over here,’ Barker repeated, but still Joe stood still. Barker sighed and looked over towards the men who were seated in the corner. They stood and advanced upon Joe, who backed into a corner of the barn instinctively.

He struggled as he felt their hands on him, pulling against them as they walked him over to where Barker had indicated. The next thing he knew they had him on the ground and were holding on to him firmly. Barker loomed over him. ‘Just calm down Joseph,’ he said. ‘Mr Edwards said he didn’t want no visible marks on you so it’s only the heel that we’ll use. It won’t take but a moment.’ He sat down and lit a cigarette while he watched Charlie.

Joe gasped as the realisation hit him of what was about to happen. Living on a ranch as he had done all his life, he had watched and performed branding on cattle and horses many times, and knew well the procedure. He could not believe that these men were about to do to him what he had done so many times to animals without even thinking about it. God no! Not that! Anything but that! He struggled frantically in the grip of the men who were holding him down, but to no avail. As Charlie advanced upon him he felt his leg thrust forward and his left foot pulled upwards. He screamed aloud ‘Get away from me you bastards! Leave me alone!’

Barker’s face loomed above his, and looked intently into his eyes before turning away again. Joe closed his eyes as he smelled the burning flesh that he knew was his own, and a searing pain on his heel caused him to throw his head back and scream out his agony to the world. His own screams were the last thing that he heard as he faded into unconsciousness and his body became limp.

———————

‘Papa why did they hurt the little cows Papa?’ the child tugged on his father’s coat, his eyes wide. His father looked down at him and tried to calm the child. ‘They need to mark them with our brand Joe, otherwise they might get lost.’ The boy looked at his father sorrowfully. ‘But they hurted them Papa. Why do they have to hurt them to do it?’His father lifted the boy into his arms and stroked his hair. ‘It’s the only way we have of doing it Little Joe. Besides it doesn’t hurt them for long, just a few minutes.’ The boy looked down at the calves around them as the tears fell down his face. ‘But they got hurted Papa!’ he sobbed. His father continued to stroke his curls and murmured to him gently.

Joe felt his father stroking his curls and opened his eyes to smile at him. ‘Pa?’ he whispered. But as his eyes cleared he realised that the face in front of him was not in fact that of his father, but was large, round, smiling and ….. very black! He blinked a few times to clear his vision, and peered intently upwards. Sure enough the face that stared back at him was that of a black woman probably in her mid-fifties. She leant closer to him and stroked his curls back off his forehead again.

‘Well, hello there! Back with us are ya?’ she said in a jovial voice. ‘Hang on hunny, ‘ she continued as Joe struggled to get up, ‘bit early for that yet. Lay still for a while an I’ll put some o’this on that foot o’yours.’

Joe lay back and watched her as she moved down towards his foot and started to rub something into it. God! The pain! After a moment her face reappeared and she patted him on the head. ‘Now lay still and let that begin ta work.’

Joe lay still and tried to do as she instructed him, but the pain in his foot intensified and he grimaced. Trying to keep his mind off it, he asked ‘Who are you?’

‘Katie,’ she smiled at him as she walked over to the large stove at the other end of the room and began stirring something on it. ‘Ya can call me Momma Katie – everyone round here does!’ She looked at him closely. ‘What’s your name hunny?’

‘Joe,’ he whispered and bit his lip to keep from moaning out with the pain.

‘Well Joe hunny, if you want that foot o’yours to heal up properly, then keep still for a mite longer,’ she continued as she handed him a plate of food. ‘Here eat this up an it might make ya feel a bit better.’

Joe shook his head and turned his body towards the wall, causing the pain to increase even more. How could we have done this to all those innocent animals? It does not go away after a few minutes!

‘I’d eat if I were you!’ Momma Katie continued, ‘Best thing for ya! Food fixes most things.’ She sounds like Hoss.

‘No thank you,’ Joe murmured. He closed his eyes and tried to stop the tears that he knew were hovering.

Momma Katie looked at him, then reached out and patted him on the shoulder. ‘This is all new to ya ain’t it hunny?’ Joe nodded miserably. ‘Thought so. Tell me where ya been before here?’

‘I come from Nevada,’ he answered, trying to forget the pain that was washing over him.

‘Nevada?’ she queried. ‘Where might that be?’

Joe turned back to face her, trying to keep his foot still as he did so. ‘You don’t know where Nevada is?’

She shook her head. ‘Nope. Never been much further than Columbus meself.’

‘It’s near California.’ When she didn’t appear to have understood, he continued. ‘On the west coast.’

‘Ah! Long way then,’ she nodded. ‘Who’d ya belong ta out there?’

Joe frowned. ‘I don’t belong to anyone! I never have and I never will!’

Momma Katie pursed her lips. ‘Seems to me like ya do hunny. Take my advice and git used ta it. Make it easy on yaself.’

Joe faced the wall again and wrapped his arms around his waist tightly. In spite of his best intentions the tears began to fall and he tried to brush them away without her seeing.

Momma Katie continued her questioning. ‘Must say I was surprised when Mr Barker brought ya in. Not much coloured in ya is there?’ Joe was silent, but she persisted. ‘How much coloured ya got in ya hunny?’ Why does everyone keep asking me that?

‘I’m white, not coloured!’ he snapped.

She raised her eyebrows and scratched her head. ‘Well now seems ta me that can’t be right. Ya wouldn’t be here if ya were.’ Heard that one before recently!

‘Forget it!’ he sighed and brushed away the tears that were by now falling freely down his face. He hated to think of her witnessing his humiliation in this way, and wished that she would just go away.

Momma Katie sighed and moved back towards the stove. A moment later the door opened and Lucas poked his head around it. ‘How’s he doin?’ he asked the cook.

Momma Katie pointed over towards Joe and shook her head. ‘Seems ta think he don’t belong here,’ she said with more than a touch of pity in her voice. ‘Seems ta think he don’t belong to no one but hisself!’

Joe heard the interchange between the two and turned to glare at Lucas. ‘You knew what they were gonna do to me didn’t you?’

Lucas sat down next to the narrow cot on which Joe was lying. ‘Yep,’ he said.

‘Then why didn’t ya warn me?’

‘What good would that have done boy? What would ya have done if ya’d known anyways?’

‘I could have run!’ Joe declared.

‘And just where would ya have run to, may I ask?’

Joe bit his lip and remained silent. Lucas continued. ‘Better ya didn’t know boy. Ain’t nothing anyone could of done about it anyway.’ He bent down to peer at Joe’s foot. ‘How’s it feel?’

‘How do ya think it feels?’ Joe snapped and in spite of himself grimaced with the pain again.

‘Well ya won’t be runnin anywhere for a while that’s for sure!’ Lucas declared. ‘One good thing though, I doubt they’ll put any irons on until ya can. At least ya won’t have ta worry about that!’ He patted Joe on the shoulder consolingly.

Joe looked at the man, his eyes widening in disbelief. ‘Irons? You mean chains again?’

‘Yep. Not for a few days though, I’d think. They does it with all the new ones till ya get the ideas about runnin out of ya head.’ Great! Now I’ll have to convince them that I don’t want to get away from here! How hard is that gonna be? Joe sighed and turned towards the wall again.

————————-

Ben slammed his fist into the wall for the tenth time that day and closed his eyes in frustration. Three days! How much longer is that judge going to take? When he gets here I’ll … He allowed his mind to fantasize for a few moments about the things that he would like to do to the sheriff and that Reardon character. Reardon! Ben hadn’t seen him since he and that Bates had dragged Joseph out of the cell that day.

Ben closed his eyes and tried to block out the memory of the sight of his son, tied and helpless being manhandled in that fashion. He clenched his jaw and began to pace up and down the cell again. Joe! Joe! Where are you son?

Never had Ben Cartwright felt so helpless. He was a strong and capable man who had never faced a situation that he couldn’t handle. Even at the darkest times in his life, when his beloved wives had died, Ben still had something to cling to that would help him get through. Here he had nothing but his faith that God would be looking over his son and keep him safe until Ben could get to him. Please God make that boy keep his temper! Don’t let him lose control and get carried away with something he can’t handle!

Ben knew from experience just how volatile that youngest boy of his could be, and he feared that Joe would pay dearly if he allowed his nature to overpower him. Just stay calm Joe, I’m coming to you as fast as I can. I promise you son!

Ben looked up at the stars through the tiny barred window. Look after him Lord, just keep him safe! He prayed.

———————–

Daniel sat in the shade of the porch watching the activity in the garden below him, and frowned to see his uncle’s newest purchase working his way slowly through the vegetable patch with a basket. He leant on the railing and peered closely at Joe, frowning as he did so.

‘And just what are you looking like that for?’ his uncle’s voice coming from behind startled him, and he turned quickly.

‘Nothing much Uncle Samuel. I was just wondering why that new boy is having such an easy time of it in the garden when he could be put to much better use out in the fields. He looks young and strong, why is Barker letting him stay here?’

‘I never intended him for the fields,’ his uncle replied. ‘I actually thought with looks like that he might be a good addition to the household staff.’

Daniel frowned even more. ‘He’s not that good looking!’

His uncle raised his eyebrows as he settled himself in his favourite chair and opened the paper. ‘Why does it worry you where he is anyway?’ he enquired.

‘It doesn’t particularly worry me, I just can’t stand to let these slaves get away with things. Why the garden?’

‘Until he’s trained for the house he has to go somewhere. It’s the best place for him to get to know how things work around here.’

‘Why isn’t he wearing leg irons?’

Samuel put down his paper. ‘I don’t know Daniel. If it worries you that much, then why don’t you find Barker and ask him?’

‘I think I will,’ Daniel replied and turned to leave the porch. His uncle sighed and hoped that the boy wasn’t going to get into one of his moods again. He felt it was really too hot to bother about such things.

Joe bent down and dug up another potato, taking the weight of his body on his right foot and balancing his left beside him. He stumbled slightly as he tried to pull the vegetable up from the earth and lent on the ground beside him to steady himself. For a moment he stayed in this position and looked at his feet beneath him. He sighed to see how filthy they had already become, and thought back to Nathan on the train. Wonder how long it’ll be before they look as bad as his?

His heel began to ache again and he sat down for a moment to massage it. It was still very red and swollen and caused him considerable pain most of the time. He traced the outline of the mark on his heel and frowned when he thought about what it meant. Damn bastards!

He looked up as a shadow fell over him, and held his hand up to shield his eyes from the glare of the sun. ‘What do you think you’re doing?’ a voice yelled at him, and he frowned as he recognised it to be Daniel’s. Damn! So much for trying to stay away from him!

‘Well? What are you doing?’ Daniel repeated when Joe didn’t answer him. ‘Get up immediately!’

Joe slowly got his feet balancing on one foot, and turned to face Daniel. The two men stood glaring at each other for a moment, then Daniel yelled over his shoulder. ‘Barker! Over here!’

The overseer sauntered over, taking his time. ‘What is it?’

‘Why is this boy not wearing leg irons? Surely the policy is for all new slaves to have them on?’ He glared at Joe as he spat out the words.

‘No point at the moment sir,’ Barker returned. ‘He ain’t goin anywhere with a foot in that condition.’

Daniel glanced down at Joe’s foot and noticed the way he was not putting any weight on it.’

‘I don’t care. Get them on him immediately!’

Barker sighed. ‘If you say so,’ and walked away to the barn.

Joe stood still, clenching and unclenching his fists. Easy Joe, don’t get into anything with him. You’ll only regret it.

Daniel turned back to him and slowly looked him up and down. ‘Now as for you,’ he said, ‘when I ask you a question I expect an answer. Is that clear?’ Joe said nothing. Daniel went slightly red and stepped forward. ‘I said is that clear?’ he yelled in Joe’s face.

Keep calm Joe. Think about what Pa said. ‘Yes,’ he mumbled as he looked at the ground.

‘What?’

‘Yes,’ he repeated louder this time.

Daniel slapped him across the face, and went redder still. ‘The correct response is yes sir!’ he yelled. Joe began to breathe deeply. ‘Even an idiot like you should be able to understand that! Now say it!’ Daniel yelled again.

Pa, help me! I can’t do this Pa! Joe stood still and silent, merely staring at Daniel. As the other man lifted his arm to strike him again he took a step back and put his hand up to ward off the man’s arm. Daniel stood for a moment, nonplussed, then his anger burst forth. ‘How dare you! Lay a hand on me will you?’

Joe swallowed as he realised his mistake. Now you’ve done it. Thought this was what you were trying to avoid?

Daniel over his shoulder again. ‘Barker get out here now!’ The overseer reappeared from the barn holding a fistful of chains. He shook his head to see what was happening, and walked over to where the two stood. As Daniel turned towards him he noticed the look in his eyes and frowned. Not again! Why can’t that boy just calm down for once!

Daniel rounded on him. ‘Barker get those leg irons on him now! Then I want him taken to the post,’ he spat.

‘With all due respects sir, you uncle said he didn’t want any marks left on him,’ Barker replied calmly.

‘I will deal with my uncle, now do as you’re told!’ Daniel turned on his heel and walked towards the house. ‘Have him ready when I get back!’ he yelled over his shoulder.

Barker turned to Joe and said, ‘Now what did ya want to go and get him riled up like that for boy? Come on!’

Barker grabbed Joe by the arm, but Joe by now had completely run out of patience and began to resist him. Barker stopped and looked at him. ‘Take my advice boy and cooperate. You don’t want to make things worse for yourself do ya?’

Joe looked at him and muttered, ‘Get your hands off me!’

Barker sighed and sucked on his teeth. ‘Well, guess ya do then. OK have it your own way.’ He put his hand up swiftly and hit the side of Joe’s head with the chain that he held. Joe swayed for a moment, and put his hand up to gain his balance again. Barker took the opportunity while he was recovering to knock him off his feet and he hit the earth with a thud.

Kneeling beside him, Barker began to place the irons around his ankles and shook his head as he did. ‘You’ll learn boy, you’ll learn. Shame it’s got to be on this way though. Come on!’ He hauled Joe to his feet and began to march him across the garden.

————————

‘Why not?’ Daniel demanded. ‘He defied me and I won’t have it uncle Samuel!’ He thrust his chin forward and looked at his uncle defiantly.

‘I told you before I don’t want him marked. He’s too valuable.’

‘I will not have a slave raise a hand to me!’ Daniel blustered.

‘He what?’ Samuel put down his paper.

‘He raised his hand to me.’ Daniel knew his uncle would not approve of this from any slave, no matter what the price, and played his trump card to him. ‘In front of all the others.’

Samuel sighed. ‘Just don’t mark him permanently.’ Daniel grinned and began to move away. ‘Daniel, I mean it, ‘ his uncle called after him. ‘Nothing permanent mind!’

‘OK. I heard you. Leave it to me,’ Daniel answered as he rushed away. Leave it to me alright! There are many ways Joseph. You will obey me if it’s the last thing you do!

————————-

Joe clenched his fists in an attempt to get some circulation back into his hands, but failed miserably. They were so tightly bound around the post in front of him that it was impossible to move them. He pushed back against the rough wood with his face to allow himself enough space to turn his head sideways and tried to get a glimpse of what was happening behind him, but discovered that he couldn’t stretch that far. His foot was very painful and his right leg ached from taking the weight that he couldn’t place on his left. He felt the wooden post scraping against his torso, as Barker had removed his shirt before leaving him there.

Joe didn’t know how long he had been tied here. It seemed that Daniel was in no rush though, that was for sure! Much and all as he wanted to end this, Joe was very frightened of what might be ahead. Not that I’m gonna let that bastard know it!

Behind him he heard the crunch of footsteps on the gravel and tried again to see behind him, but he just couldn’t. Suddenly he felt a hand tracing a line down his back and heard a low laugh. Joe shivered involuntarily as a cold chill ran through his body.

‘Well Joseph, not so smart now eh?’ Daniel’s face appeared in front of him and Joe steeled himself to look him directly in the eye without flinching. ‘’First we’ll deal with your insolence and then we’ll talk about instilling some manners into you.’ Daniel grinned nastily at him, then disappeared again.

Joe listened to the slow footsteps behind him and closed his eyes. You can do this Joe. Don’t let him know how scared you are. Don’t give him the satisfaction of knowing! He heard the swish of something that cut through the air and jerked as Daniel’s laugh washed over him.

‘Don’t be so jumpy Joseph, just getting ready that’s all.’ Daniel came around to face Joe again and held up a long leather strap in his hand. ‘Just be grateful it’s not the whip I’d like to use on you. You can thank my uncle for that!’

Joe went cold as Daniel disappeared again. Just get it over with you bastard! Again he heard a swish through the air and felt his whole body tense as a sharp pain cut across his back. He bit his lip and closed his eyes even tighter. Another swish and another sharp cut across his back caused him to jerk forwards into the post and he screamed inside his head. God! Stop it, just stop it!

Again and again the blows continued until Joe had lost count. Each time the leather connected with his back he bit into his lip until blood began to appear, but never once did he cry out as he longed to. Suddenly the blows stopped and he opened his eyes to see Daniel in front of him again. ‘That takes care of your insolence for now, I think.’ He tapped the leather strap against his thigh and looked at Joe thoughtfully. ‘Now there is still the matter of your manners Joseph. What is the correct response when you are told to do something boy?’

Joe stared at him, willing him to drop dead. ‘I am waiting Joseph.’ The leather strap hit against his thigh with sickening regularity. When Joe didn’t reply, Daniel shrugged his shoulders. ‘Very well, have it your own way.’

Joe moaned quietly as the blows began to rain down upon his back again. Pa, I can’t! Please Pa, you said you’d come, why haven’t you come? God no. Please! He found himself losing control and panicked to think that this might never end. He tried to shift his body away from the blows that kept coming and coming, and when he couldn’t he started to moan as each blow landed where a previous one had already left it’s mark.

‘What is the correct response Joseph?’ Daniel’s voice cut across his pain. Joe continued to moan softly. Suddenly he felt his head pulled back by the hair and felt like his neck was about to snap. He opened his eyes to see Daniel’s face peering at him and for a moment they locked eyes. ‘Well?’ Daniel asked.

Joe looked into the dark eyes of the man standing so close to him and tried to imagine it was his father’s face. The brown eyes stared at him so intently and he stared back into them. Whatever it takes Joseph. Promise me son. Whatever it takes …… I can’t Pa, I just can’t!

‘I can keep this up all day Joseph. It’s your choice.’

Promise me Joe. He stared into the dark eyes. ‘Yes sir,’ he said softly.

Daniel smiled. ‘Louder Joseph. What is the correct response?’

Joe took a deep breath and continued to look into his father’s eyes. ‘Yes sir,’ he said, louder this time.

Daniel nodded his head with satisfaction. ‘See that you remember it boy.’

———————–

‘There there now hunny, just take it easy,’ Katie tried to soothe Joe as he struggled to open his eyes. ‘Lie still there.’

He heard the quiet voice, felt the caress on his forehead and sank his face back down into the pillow with a sigh. ‘Pa, pa,’ he murmured.

‘Ain’t ya Pa, hunny. Just ya lie still for Katie now. That’s it.’ Joe felt her hands on his back and tensed his muscles. Immediately he felt a spasm of pain take hold of him, and cried out in agony. Katie’s hands continued to lightly drift over his back while she rubbed in the healing salve, and she murmured to him as she did so.

Joe squirmed under her touch, light though it was, every movement an agony to him. He shut his eyes tightly, trying to will the pain away and listening to her words to try and keep his mind off the burning sensation that threatened to make him scream aloud.

‘Now ya just can’t go on like this hunny. Old Katie has too much ta do without looking after you all the time ya know.’ She clicked her tongue to make a soothing sound and patted his arm. ‘Iffen ya weren’t hurtin so much I’d tell ya off, that I would!’

Joe squirmed again in spite of himself. He opened his eyes and turned his head to look at her. ‘I didn’t do anything wrong,’ he whispered.

She tapped him lightly on the head. ‘Ya didn’t use this though did ya? Ya just gotta learn not ta be so stupid ya know.’

‘What?’ he whispered again. His mind was screaming with the pain and he tried to focus on what she was saying.

‘Do what they tell ya and ya won’t end up like this of course! It don’t take much ya know! It ain’t a bad life if ya let yaself get used ta it!’

Joe began to whimper softly as he squirmed and Katie realised that the boy was in too much pain to be taking any notice of her.

‘Come on now. Keep still for Katie. That’s it. Nothin to be gained by fightin now.’ Her soft voice lulled him back into unconsciousness and he surrendered himself to sleep.

———————–

‘One month imprisonment to be served in the town jail!’ pronounced Judge Morrison as he banged his gavel on the bench.

Ben stared at him opened-mouthed. ‘What!’ he yelled. ‘You can’t be serious!’

The judge looked at him. ‘I am deadly serious Mr Cartwright, and if you don’t contain yourself I’ll make it two months!’ He motioned to the sheriff to escort Ben from the room, but Ben brushed him off and stepped forward to the bench.

‘How can you seriously expect me to accept this?’ thundered Ben. ‘First of all the man pressing the charges is not even here, and there are no witnesses to the event. Plus on top of that I don’t even have legal representation!’

The judge glared back at him. ‘You have been offered legal representation Mr Cartwright ….’

‘In a town that has no lawyer!’ interrupted Ben.

‘If you are prepared to wait until a lawyer can be contacted in New Orleans ….’ continued Judge Morrison, ‘then …..’

‘And just how long would that take Judge? I have a feeling no one here would be in any hurry to help me contact one.’

The judge shrugged his shoulders. ‘And as for your other statement Mr Cartwright, I have a full account in writing from Mr Reardon and the sheriff has vouched for what happened. Sheriff, please escort Mr Cartwright from the court.’

Ben brushed him off again. ‘And what about my son? What about what has happened to him?’

The judge sighed. ‘Your son is not my concern. I have dealt with the case before me, and I have nothing else to say on the matter. Good day!’

Ben struggled in the grasp of the sheriff. ‘I demand to be heard!’

‘You have been heard Mr Cartwright! Sheriff, remove him!’ The sheriff pulled Ben from the room.

The judge stood up and stretched. It had been a long day and he was ready for a good meal. ‘Judge?’ He turned as the sheriff re-entered the room. ‘Cartwright is back in his cell, but he’s asking to send a wire to Nevada. What would you like me to do?’

‘Permission denied,’ said the Judge. ‘Unless he’s contacting a lawyer, he will just have to wait until the month is up.’

‘It ain’t no lawyer he wants, it’s his sons who live there.’

The Judge shook his head. ‘No.’ Matt you sure owe me now! Passing sentence on a man without you present was one thing, but denying him contact with his family now is another completely. If it weren’t for the things I owe you for back in our college days, well I just wouldn’t be taking this risk! This is going to take some fancy talking when Cartwright does eventually get out – I hope you appreciate it!

———————-

‘Ya want ta get yourself in trouble boy?’ Lucas glared down at Joe and pointed the riding crop that he was holding at him as he sat on the step of the cabin. His back was aching and he was sitting down for a few moments in an attempt to ease it.

Joe frowned as he looked up at the man. ‘I ain’t done nuthin!’ he declared.

‘Exactly!’ Lucas replied. ‘Shouldn’t ya be in the garden working?’

Joe lowered his head and muttered, ‘I ‘spose. Don’t they even take into account around here that it’s Sunday?’

‘How d’ya know its Sunday?’ Lucas asked.

‘You told me, remember? Joe replied. It worried him that if the man hadn’t casually mentioned it he wouldn’t even have known. You don’t even know what day of the week it is Joe. You’re losin it!‘Anyway, isn’t that what the buggy’s for?’

‘Yep! Lucky me! I get ta drive em into church each week,’ said Lucas with a sneer. ‘Well at least it gets me outta here for a while and I get a look at town.’

‘They keep letting ya drive off and ya don’t keep goin! I don’t understand ya!’ declared Joe. ‘If they let me do that then …..’

‘Then ya’d take off!’ interrupted Lucas. ‘And that’s exactly why ya’ve still got them things on.’

Joe frowned as he looked down at the leg-irons around his ankles. ‘How long do they usually leave ‘em on for?’ he asked hopefully.

‘Usually till they’re sure ya’ll stay put. In your case, probably ten years!’ Lucas grinned at him. ‘I told ya before boy, learn ta play the game and ya life would be much easier.’

‘I’m trying, but it’s real hard,’ said Joe. ‘As soon as my Pa comes …..’

Lucas shook his head. ‘Not that again! Listen boy, how long have ya been here now?’

‘A bit over a week.’ Joe replied.

‘Plenty of time for ya Pa ta have got here if he was comin. Face it boy, he ain’t comin for ya.’

Joe leapt to his feet. ‘He is so comin! My Pa said he’d be here and he meant it! He’d never let me down! He’d never let me stay here like a …..’

‘A slave?’ Lucas finished for him. ‘No boy, ya ain’t like a slave, ya are a slave. It’s about time ya accepted that!’

Never! I ain’t no one’s slave, and I never will be! My Pa is comin for me and then I’ll go back ta what I was before!Joe clenched his fists and glared at Lucas.

Suddenly the front door of the main house opened and Samuel came out onto the porch. He glanced over in their direction. ‘You there, Lucas! Bring that buggy around here now. We ‘re nearly ready to leave.’ He turned towards the house. ‘Daniel, hurry up!’

‘Come on, pretend like ya helping me with the horses,’ said Lucas. ‘Make yaself look useful or you’ll be in for it.’ He handed Joe the reins and they began to walk the horses towards the house. Joe patted the horse as he walked and thought about his own horse at home, Cochise. Wonder how old Coochie’s going? Bet he misses me!

The thought of his beloved horse brought a lump to his throat and he felt the tears spring to his eyes as he stood holding the horse’s head. Memories of a Sunday morning not so long ago came flooding back to him.

‘Joseph you know as well as I do that we go in the buggy to church every week. Why should today be any different?’

‘I just thought I’d be able to give Cooch a workout on the way, Pa. He kinda needs it, ya know?’

‘No I don’t know. Why would that horse suddenly need an extra workout when you’ve been riding him all week may I ask?’

‘Well it won’t hurt him.’

‘Young man I’ll hurt you if you don’t get into that buggy immediately! You are holding up your brothers and I, and I don’t want to be late for church again because of you.’

‘But Pa…..’

‘Don’t you ‘but Pa’ me! Move it Joseph!’

‘You there! What do you think you’re doing with that horse? Who gave you permission to be here?’

Daniel glared at Joe as he descended the stairs. He was dressed in what was obviously his Sunday best, which only served to make Joe more aware of his own clothing which was beginning to become rather tattered.

‘Well?’ Daniel repeated. ‘Who gave you permission?’ Joe looked at him, trying to keep the dislike out of his eyes.

‘I asked him to help with the horses sir,’ interrupted Lucas. ‘I didn’t think it would do any harm sir.’

‘Really?’ Daniel said with a scornful expression. He grabbed the reins from Little Joe’s hands. ‘Get back to where you should be boy! Now!’ he added when Joe hesitated.

Joe turned and began to walk away from him. Gladly! Who’d want ta be around you anyways! When he reached the side of the house he hesitated and turned to see Lucas driving the buggy down the driveway, with Samuel and Daniel seated in the back. Joe had a sense of somehow watching himself from a distance.

That’s where I belong! Goin off ta church in my Sunday best, not here watchin them instead. This is not fair! He kicked a bucket that was near him and sent it flying, only to regret it as the leg-irons pinched on his ankle again. This is not where I belong!

Joe leant against the wall and closed his eyes as he thought about it. He was so used to being surrounded by people who cared for him. Ever since he could remember, his father and brothers had doted on him and let him know it. Of course Pa had been strict and had made sure that Joe knew exactly where he stood with rules, but he enforced those rules because of his love for his son. Here it was all different. Rules were to be enforced not out of love, but out of the absolute belief that he was an inferior being. I am just as good as he is – in fact I’m better than that measly worm! I deserve to be treated better than this!

But in his heart, Joe knew that no one around here saw it like that. Even Katie, whom he was becoming quite fond of, kept telling him to know his place. Well my place is not here! I am not goin ta stand for this treatment! When Pa comes … Joe concentrated his thoughts on his father and prayed to God that he would be quick.

————————-

‘Well what was that all about?’ asked Samuel as they disappeared down the driveway.

Daniel scowled at him. ‘All what?’

‘You know very well what I’m talking about,’ replied his uncle. ‘What do you have against that boy?’

‘I don’t have anything against him. He’s not worth thinking about’ said Daniel. ‘I just don’t see why you keep him around the house that’s all.’

‘I told you before. I want to train him to eventually become one of the house staff.’

‘He should be out in the fields where he belongs.’

‘Well he’s not! A boy with looks like that is worth a fortune, and I’m not having him ruined by being out there. I’ve got plans for that boy and they don’t include making him old before his time.’

Daniel looked at his uncle suspiciously. ‘What plans?’

‘I told you, he’s going to eventually be part of the house staff. He’ll make an excellent addition if he can be trained properly. And apart from that I mean to make back some of the money I spent on him. God knows he cost enough!’ Samuel stretched back on the seat and watched the clouds as they rolled along the road. ‘I’ll have to get Bates to check. If we haven’t got anything light-skinned enough then I’ll have to go back to the auction house I suppose. I’m not wasting that boy’s colouring on anything much darker than he is unless I have to.’

Daniel laughed. ‘I see what you mean! Breed them light and sell them high!’

Samuel looked at him. ‘Well it’s only good business isn’t it?’

In front of them, Lucas frowned as he sat holding the reins. He quickened the pace as best he could so that they would reach the church as soon as possible. He had no desire to sit and listen to their conversation any longer then was absolutely necessary.

————————-

‘Hold still now hunny, or I’ll be pullin this plum outta ya scalp,’ Katie tugged at the comb as she pulled it through Joe’s unruly locks. ‘I’ve never seen hair so thick!’

‘Ow,’ yelled Joe as she pulled on a particularly stubborn knot. ‘Can’t ya be more careful?’

She hit the side of his head with a brush that she held in her other hand. ‘Now don’t ya go telling me off there hunny! Ya think yaself lucky I’m doin this at all for ya!’

He sat as still as he could, while rubbing the side of his head where she’d hit him.

‘It’s no use, I’m just goin ta have ta cut some of em out!’ She ran her fingers through the mane of curls. ‘It could do with it anyways. How long since ya’ve had a haircut hunny?’

Joe shrugged. ‘I dunno. Just before I left home I spose. A few weeks I guess. Don’t you cut too much off! I like it long!’

She hit him again with the brush. ‘I’ll cut just as much as I think it needs! Now keep still!’ After a few moments she added. ‘Ya have ta look a bit more decent than this if ya goin ta work in the main house.’

Joe frowned. ‘I don’t want to go anywhere near that house!’ he declared, and received another swipe on the head. ‘Ow! Quit doin that will ya?’ he rubbed his head again.

‘I’ll quit hittin ya when ya gets some brains inta that head of yours,’ Katie said, waving the brush at him. ‘Ya can just be thankful that ya not goin out ta the fields where ya probably should be goin.’

Joe knew that she was right. He had seen the field workers coming in after a day’s work, so tired that some of them could hardly stand. He knew he was lucky to be spared the backbreaking labour that they endured, but even so he knew that in ways it would have been easier to cope with. At least out there he wouldn’t be running into Daniel at all, and there was no danger of him losing his temper and getting into any trouble. At least he didn’t think so.

‘There now, that sure looks better!’ Katie stood back to critically appraise her work on his hair.

Joe reached up and ran his fingers through it. ‘You’ve scalped me!’ he yelled. ‘You’ve cut it all off!’ He ducked as he saw another swipe coming his way.

‘I haven’t at all,’ the woman replied. ‘Ya look much more presentable now.’

‘You sound like my Pa!’ said Joe ruefully.

Katie picked up a strand of hair and looked at it closely. ‘Well ya may not have the black fuzz like lots of us do, but ya’ve got the kinks that show you’re one of us all right!’

Joe frowned at her. ‘I do not!’

She held out the piece of curly hair towards him. ‘Well what would ya call that? Did ya momma have hair that was curly like this?’

Yeah I think so,’ replied Joe thoughtfully.

‘Well there ya go then!’ pronounced Katie. ‘She gave ya the curls that she got from her momma without a doubt!’ She stopped for a moment. ‘What do ya mean ya think so? Don’t ya know?’

‘I don’t remember her much, she died when I was little,’ replied Joe.

Katie looked at him with pity. ‘Really? When ya said ya grew up with ya papa and ya brothers I thought ya meant her too.’

‘No. I remember her a little bit, but not very much,’ Joe replied. ‘Wish I did though.’

‘Why?’ asked Katie. ‘Seems ta me all ya want ta do is forget her.’

Joe stared at her. ‘How can you say that? How would you even know?’

‘Stands ta reason hunny.’ Katie replied calmly. ‘She’s the one ya got ya colour from ain’t she?’ Joe nodded. ‘Well ya’ve done nothing but tell everyone ya white like ya daddy, not coloured. So I reckon ya don’t want ta remember ya mama or have any claim on her at all.’

Joe looked at the woman appalled. ‘But I didn’t mean that!’ he declared.

She put her hands on her hips and stared at him with a challenging look. ‘Well what did ya mean hunny?’

‘I meant that … well she didn’t know she was coloured, and …..’ Joe wasn’t sure now what he meant.

‘Seems ta me if ya wanted ta love ya mama, ya’d do it no matter what she was.’

‘I did love her! I still do!’ Joe declared. ‘My Pa’s told me all about her and I ….’ He looked at Katie angrily. ‘You don’t know what you’re talkin about!’

‘No?’ she replied. ‘Well then why don’t ya admit ta what you are? What she was?’

Joe stood silently, confused about things. Katie smiled at him and patted him on the shoulder. ‘Ya think about it hunny, it’ll come ta ya when ya ready. Now, let’s see ta that back of yours again. I think ya’d better have a wash and then I’ll put some more salve on it for ya. Over there.’ She indicated a washtub. ‘Here’s some hot water from the stove and ya can get that hair of yours washed as well. Now get ya clothes off!’

Joe looked at her, stunned. ‘What, here?’ he asked.

She swiped him on the head again.’ Now don’t ya start any of that nonsense! Ya ain’t got anything I ain’t seen before. Momma Katie is well used ta getting youngsters like you clean, that’s for sure.

‘No way am I havin a bath with you here!’ said Joe indignantly as he stood and glared at her.

‘Suit yaself! But if I come back and ya haven’t got every inch of ya looking presentable then I’ll drag ya back inta that tub meself! Now move!’ She waggled a finger at him as she left the room. I’ll give ya as much time as I think ya need, then I’m comin back whether ya ready or not!’ As she closed the door she chuckled out loud. ‘Thinks I’ve never seen a body before!’

Joe eased himself into the tub and longed to soak for a while, but he quickly began to rub the soap into his hair afraid that she might just take it into her head to come back. As he rubbed he thought about what the woman had said. Was he really ashamed of his mother? He didn’t feel that he was, but as she had been part coloured, then maybe he was denying his link to her through his declaration that he was white. It hadn’t occurred to him before that he might be in fact denying a part of who his mother was, and he suddenly felt ashamed and guilty that he had. He eased himself back into the water to soak his head and think about it.

————————

‘Mr Cartwright I understand how you feel, but believe me there is absolutely nothing that I can do about it! I am a lawyer, and as such must work within the boundaries of the law.’ Mr Porter stared across the table at the man opposite him with an exasperated look.

Ben hit the table again with his fist and caused a pile of papers on it to fall. ‘What do you mean there’s nothing you can do? I’m held against my will for over a week by that poor excuse for a lawman not to mention sentenced by a judge with no real proof, and you won’t act?’

‘As I’ve already told you Mr Cartwright, the judge was merely acting within the boundaries of the law. There was an assault charge laid against you and he had no choice but to sentence you. You surely cannot hold him responsible for the fact that this Mr Reardon is now nowhere to be found.’

‘I most certainly do hold him partially responsible! He had no right to sentence me without Reardon present.’ Ben thundered.

‘He had an eyewitness account of what had happened.’

‘I told you before, the sheriff was not in the room when it happened! There was only Reardon and Bates, and neither of them was in Boutte by the time the judge arrived. The sheriff is lying, and I know he was in on this scheme from the beginning!’

‘And just how do you know that? Did you at any time hear this Mr Reardon give the sheriff any indication to that effect?’

‘Well no I didn’t actually hear him …..’

‘And do you admit that you did in fact strike Mr Reardon?’

‘Well yes I did, but he was ……’

The lawyer stood up. ‘Mr Cartwright I do sympathise, truly I do, but there is absolutely nothing that I can do for you.’

Ben stood and faced him with his hands on his hips. ‘Well then what about my son? I want charges laid against this Reardon for what he did to my boy! I demand that you do something about this!’

The lawyer sighed again. ‘As far as I can see, the papers seem to be in order.’ He paused before he continued. ‘Mr Cartwright I understand how difficult this must be for you. I can only begin to imagine how hard it must have been for you to witness a scene like that where your own son was dragged away from you. But I simply cannot act in any way for you within the law.’

Ben looked at the man stunned, and then brushed his hand over his face.

Mr Porter continued. ‘However if you want my advice…..’ Ben looked up at him. ‘You will forget what happened for now. The important thing as far as I see it is to get after that boy now if you want to find him. Let the rest of it wait until you have found him.’

Ben nodded. ‘Yes you’re right. The important thing now is Joe. I have to concentrate on finding him.’ He turned to leave the room. ‘But I will be back,’ he said. ‘Rest assured, this is not over by any means.’

————————-

‘Here try this,’ Momma Katie thrust the spoon close to Joe’s face and he had no option other than to open his mouth and accept it. ‘Well, whatcha think hunny?’

‘Mmm. It’s great,’ he answered with his mouth full. ‘Hop Sing couldn’t do any better.’

‘And who’s this Hop Sing when he’s at home?’ Katie demanded with her hands on her hips in a failed attempt to look angry.

‘He’s our cook at …. at home,’ Joe answered. The words made the feeling of homesickness wash over him again. He sat up straighter and tried to ease his aching back, and then frowned when he realised that it wouldn’t help.

Momma Katie looked at him and noticed the look on his face. ‘Ya miss that home of yours a mite don’t ya?’

He nodded and shrugged his shoulders, trying not to look too depressed. ‘Yeah, but I’ll be back there soon one way or another so it don’t matter much.’

Katie frowned at him and waved her spoon in his face. ‘I thought we’d had all that out! Don’t ya go doin nothin stupid!’

Joe smiled at her. ‘Me? Never!’ he declared and they both laughed. Joe stopped when he realised that it was the first time he had laughed for a long time, and in spite of the circumstances it felt good. He fiddled with the utensils on the table where he was seated. ‘Momma Katie?’ he asked after a moment.

‘Yes hunny?’

‘Don’t you ever want to go home?’

She stared at him. ‘Well now what kind o talk is that? I am home of course.’

‘But don’t you ever want to be free?’

‘And just what would I do if I were free? No I’m much better off here where I belong. I was born here, and I guess it’s best iffen I die here as well,’ she declared. ‘Sides I couldn’t go and leave my George now, could I?’

‘George? Who’s George?’ Joe asked.

‘My darlin George. My baby. He’s restin over in the cemetery now, but he’d sure be lonely iffen his Momma Katie didn’t come to visit now and then,’ she replied.

‘I didn’t know ya had a son,’ Joe said.

‘Got more than one,’ she replied.

‘How many children do you have Momma Katie?’

‘Let me think. Seventeen, no eighteen,’ she smiled at him. ‘Sometimes it’s easy to lose count.

‘Eighteen!’ Joe exclaimed. ‘Where are they all? Do they live here?’

‘Nope. Don’t rightly know where they is to be honest. They was all sold off when they was little. All cept George that is. He was kind of puny like, bit like you,’ she gestured towards Joe with her spoon, ‘so they let me keep him here.’

Joe tried not to take offence at her reference to him being puny. ‘How long ago did he die?’

‘Let’s see now, would be about nine years ago I guess. He died from the fever when he was about ten.’ She shook her head as she continued. ‘Missed him something dreadful when he went. Guess he’d be about your age now if he was still here.’ She stopped and looked at Joe. ‘You remind me of him a bit. Puny, but with lots of spunk. Was always a bit hard to get through that head of his too.’ She tapped him on the side of his head with her spoon. ‘Maybe that’s why I like ya hunny!’

Joe smiled at her. ‘I like you too Momma Katie, and I’m sure mighty grateful for ya helping me with my foot and all the rest of …..’ his voice trailed off as he remembered the cook’s tenderness when he desperately needed someone to comfort him and tend to his back.’

‘Lord! That weren’t nuthin,’ she declared, then studied his face for a moment. ‘But ya got to promise me that ya won’t get into no more trouble!’

‘Can’t do that,’ said Joe with a shrug of his shoulders. How can I promise her when I couldn’t even keep a promise to my own father? ‘I’ll try, but I can’t promise.’ He hung his head and sighed.

Momma Katie sat down next to him. ‘Ya know hunny, it’s not too bad here iffen ya’d only let yaself have time ta get used to it.’

‘It’s different for you. You were born here. You’ve never known what it is like to be free!’ he declared.

She shrugged her shoulders. ‘Well maybe ya’ll feel better when they find ya a nice pretty little thing.’

‘What?’

She patted him on the shoulder. ‘Just what ya need I reckon. They’ll find ya a nice one too. Boy with your looks and light colour, they’ll get lots o pretty little ones from ya that’s for sure!’

Joe jerked back from her and slapped her hand from his shoulder. ‘What? Surely you’re not serious?’ he exclaimed.

She looked at him for a moment. ‘Now there ya go again! Just take it as it comes hunny, and stop frettin bout it all. Did ya really think they’d let ya go to waste without makin a bit o money out of ya?’

Joe felt the bile begin to rise into his throat and found that he couldn’t speak. You’ve got to be joking! They wouldn’t! But in his heart he knew that she probably spoke the truth. Never! They’re not gonna do that to me! He turned his back on her and clutched his arms around his waist as he stood there fighting for control of himself before he spoke. After a moment he heard Katie ask anxiously, ‘You alright hunny?’ He nodded and left the room.

Joe walked around the back of the kitchen and stood against the wall. He found it difficult to breathe and felt dizzy. The realization of what Momma Katie had just said began to sink in fully, and he leant over and retched his heart out. For several moments he stood there bent over and when he had finished felt no better for it. He slid down the wall and crouched into a foetal position on the ground, sinking his head to his knees and rocking backwards and forwards. I can’t believe she said that! These people are animals! They are not goin to treat me like that though, that’s for sure! He looked up to the sky and focused on the white fluffy clouds drifting slowly across the sky and tried to reach in his mind the one person who had always stood by him no matter what.

Pa! Please Pa! Where are you? The tears began to roll down his face. You said you’d come for me Pa, so why haven’t you? I’m trying Pa, I really am, but I can’t do this any more. I just can’t! I know I promised you, and I haven’t meant to let you down, but God Pa! I just can’t do this any more!

————————

Ben walked out of the bank and shielded his eyes against the glare of the hot midday sun. Against his waist he felt the money belt that was tightly wrapped around him, and frowned to think of the risk that he was taking by carrying so much cash at one time. Not that it mattered what happened to the money, as the only thing that mattered now was to get to Joseph as quickly as possible. Ben didn’t know what circumstances he might find his son in, and so had decided that the best thing was to ensure that he had the means to free Joseph as soon as possible the minute he found him. Ready cash might be the only way to do that, and he was prepared now to hand it over at a moment’s notice if need be.

He sighed as he thought of Adam and Hoss’ reaction if they knew what was happening. He felt guilty about lying to them in the wire he had sent telling them that everything was fine, but Ben knew his boys well and was certain that if they knew what was really happening, then nothing on this earth would keep them from leaving straight away to join him.

The last thing he needed was three men blasting their way into an unknown situation that could perhaps hurt Joseph even more without realising it. No, better to do this by myself. If I find I need them later, then I’ll call on them then. Besides, I’m not prepared to sit here in New Orleans and wait! Every minute is important – Joseph is not going to remain in this condition for a moment longer than is absolutely necessary!

He made his way towards the train depot, fingering his ticket in his pocket to make sure that it was still there. It had not taken much to discover the direction that Bates had taken with the boy. Ben had been fairly sure that New Orleans would be the best place for him to depart from and all it had taken was a few enquiries and some well placed bribes to get the information he had needed. Bates had left from New Orleans travelling east by train. He had booked passage for himself and an unknown companion. Ben seethed when the train clerk had let him know that the companion was booked into the luggage compartment, which meant that he was a slave. My son treated in this way! Wait until I get my hands on these people!

———————–

Joe lifted the second water bucket out of the well and bent down to pick up the first one that he had filled. He found it easier to lift them when they were balanced one in each hand like this, and although his back ached from the effort he managed to stumble across the yard using short steps that didn’t stretch the chain too much.

‘Here, there’s another two. Is that enough?’

Katie turned from the stove where she was stirring a pot full of something and said. ‘I’ll tell ya when it’s enough, now get!’

Joe grinned at her. ‘You sound like them up there!’ he indicated the main house. ‘Ya getting all bossy Momma Katie!’

‘Gettin?’ she said indignantly. ‘I ain’t gettin anything! I was born this way!’ She chuckled. ‘Now get two more buckets.’

Joe went to do as she told him to. It was strange he thought, how he didn’t mind taking orders from her at all. It was different than when anyone else around here told him what to do. When he was given an order his blood boiled, although he was learning not to show it. But when Katie told him what to do he didn’t seem to mind much at all.

It seemed to Joe that the reason was that he knew Katie liked him. No one else here seemed to, that was for sure! Maybe Lucas. Although the man was so hard to read and there were times when Joe wasn’t even sure about him.

Joe had been used to taking orders his whole life. Being the youngest he was constantly on the receiving end of being told what to do, and had many times argued against this. He was a strong willed boy and often stepped outside the boundaries that his father and brothers set for him. But it was different here. Joe was beginning to realise that to step outside the boundaries here would not earn him a talking to or a token punishment to teach him a lesson, but a swift and often painful punishment. Katie was the exception and he clung to the fact that there was a tiny piece of positive feeling for him here amongst all this bitterness and hate.

He struggled in with the next two buckets of water and put them down by the stove, and Katie acknowledged him with a smile. ‘Thanks hunny. Sit a spell and have a rest. Ya back must still be hurtin.’

Joe sat down. ‘Mmm, a bit. Can’t stay too long though, or they’ll be after me!’

Katie didn’t need to ask who they were. ‘Now ya must admit, things are easier up here rather than out there, ain’t they?’

‘Yeah I spose,’ Joe acknowledged.

‘Ya know hunny, I think ya’ll be happy here after all. Ya just need ta learn ta look for the good here.’

‘Good?’ Joe exclaimed. ‘Ya got to be kiddin! There ain’t nothin good about this place! Nothin at all!’

‘What ya mean? Ya gets enough ta eat don’t ya?’

‘Yeah.’

‘And if ya do as ya told they don’t hurt ya none do they?’

‘Don’t know. I haven’t stayed out of trouble that long yet ta find out.’

Katie glared at him and wiggled her finger. ‘Don’t ya be sassy! Well what more do ya want hunny? Learn ta be happy with what ya got!’

‘Are you?’

Katie stood looking at him. ‘Am I what?’

‘Happy?’

‘Course I am! Why wouldn’t I be?’

Joe shook his head. ‘Oh I don’t know! I guess I thought ya might like ta be free or something! Just a thought,’ he said sarcastically.

Katie looked at him puzzled for a moment. ‘Are you funnin me?’ she asked.

Joe stood up. ‘Me? Never!’ They smiled at each other. ‘Well I better get back out there or I’ll get into trouble,’ he said.

‘Well I do declare I think ya learning!’ she said. ‘See? I knew ya’d catch on eventually!’

Joe left the kitchen and returned to the stables where he continued to clean out the stalls, another job that he was now instructed to complete each morning. At least here he felt a little happier. If he allowed his mind to wander a bit, he could even pretend that he was still at home and doing his usual chores.

As he worked he thought about Katie and how happy she seemed. He just couldn’t understand it. How could anyone be happy here when someone else owned them? How could she so readily accept the fact that she had no rights of her own, and was forever answerable to others? He shook his head. Well, if she thinks I’m gonna end up like that she can think again!

He suddenly stopped. But here I am thinking how lucky I am to be working here instead of out in the garden again. Is this the beginning of me getting used ta it? God I hope not! It scared him that he could think in this way.Please God don’t let me be like them! Don’t let me get used to this! I want to go home! Please! This isn’t my home, and I don’t want ta start thinking like it is! Please Pa, come and take me home. Where are you? A noise behind him made him turn and he came face to face with Daniel. Oh great! Just what I need today! Hold your tongue Joe, remember not ta let him get ta you!

‘Saddle the black for me boy,’ Daniel commanded. Joe put down his pitchfork and walked awkwardly over to the horse, while Daniel sat on a barrel and watched him. He leant back and stretched his legs out in front of him while he waited. After a few moments he spoke. ‘I suppose you’re happier in here than out in the garden?’

Joe didn’t know if an answer was expected of him, so he continued to work silently.

‘I asked you a question boy!’

Joe concentrated on the horse in front of him as he replied. ‘Yes.’

‘What?’

‘Yes sir.’

‘Why?’

Joe didn’t want to encourage any further conversation with the man, so he merely shrugged. Daniel poked him with his riding crop. ‘I asked you why?’

Joe took a deep breath. ‘Cause I like horses.’

‘You know what you’re doing with them, I’ve noticed that.’ Joe continued to work. ‘You worked with horses before?’ Joe nodded. ‘Where?’

‘On my father’s ranch.’

‘Your father’s ……’ Daniel laughed. ‘Your father owns a ranch? Really?’ he said quite amused. Joe glared at him in spite of himself. ‘And just where would this ranch be Joseph? In California with all the cowboys?’ He chuckled again.

‘No. It’s in Nevada,’ Joe replied.

Daniel frowned at him. ‘Well I must say you certainly have a vivid imagination Joseph. I think it’s going to be quite amusing having you here after all. A ranch indeed!’ He laughed again.

Joe frowned as he lifted the saddle onto the horse’s back. Yes a ranch you idiot! Is that so hard to understand?

‘I do believe that my uncle may have got his money’s worth with you after all Joseph!’ continued Daniel. ‘We’ll have to make sure that we use your talents well now, won’t we?’ Joe didn’t think that this question deserved an answer, and in fact Daniel didn’t sound like he was looking for one.

Joe led the horse out of the stall and waited. Daniel came over to pat the animal before taking the reins. ‘Beautiful animal isn’t he?’ Joe indicated his assent with a slight nod of his head. ‘We bred him ourselves you know. We maintain pure bloodlines around here if we can – in animals and slaves!’ He looked directly at Joe with a sneer. ‘My uncle has it in mind for you to be quite useful in that department as well.’

Joe stood frozen to the spot, unable to move or speak. He tried to shut his ears to what the man was inferring, and averted his eyes as he picked up the pitchfork again to divert his attention away from the situation. Daniel, however, was enjoying himself. ‘Not that I quite agree you know. A boy like you probably wouldn’t even know what to do. But don’t worry, we’ll find you a pretty little thing who’ll show you!’

Joe felt his breathing becoming rapid and his grip on the pitchfork tightened. Don’t listen to him Joe! Think about something else! He made to walk past the man to get outside, but Daniel stood in his way. ‘Don’t worry Joseph you won’t be wasted for long. You’ll like that, won’t you?’ Daniel’s looked downward to Joe’s hand clutching onto the pitchfork. He looked back into his eyes again and whispered, ‘Just try it!’

Joe lowered his hand as Daniel laughed again and turned to leave the barn. He sank down into the hay on the floor and began to retch. His whole body shook and the sweat began to form on his forehead. Somehow the man’s words made everything that had happened to him here seem to pale into insignificance and he felt his mind exploding with thoughts of violence. Don’t even think it Joe! Keep calm! You know what Pa would say if he were here. But for once Joe couldn’t think of what Pa would say. Never could he have imagined this to be happening, and he certainly had no frame of reference for it. All he could do was concentrate on the here and now, and hope that the future would never come to pass. I have ta get out of here Pa! I’m sorry but I just can’t wait no more! I can’t let them do this ta me!

———————

‘Now don’t forget Daniel, I’ll be back in about three days. I’m sure there will be no problems, but if there are just rely on Barker. He knows the running of this place well and can be trusted to know what to do in an emergency.’

Daniel rolled his eyes at this uncle. ‘For heavens sake Uncle Samuel! I am capable of taking charge here for a few days. Please have some faith in me for once. I don’t really need Barker’s advice.’

His uncle patted him on the shoulder. ‘I know you are boy, I’m sure everything will be fine.’ His worried expression did not match his words. Daniel had never proven himself to be terribly trustworthy in the past, and he didn’t see why now should prove to be any different. Barker should be able to manage things though.

Daniel stared after his uncle’s carriage as it disappeared down the driveway and grinned. In charge! What a wonderful feeling. He turned and strode over to the house and sat on the porch while he surveyed his surroundings lazily. Spying Lucas coming past he called over to him. ‘Here boy! Go and get that Joseph for me. Tell him I want him over here now.’

Lucas walked off to do his bidding, shaking his head as he did. Lord not again! That boy had better watch himself this time.

Joseph received the news that Daniel wanted him with a great deal of trepidation. Everyone knew that Samuel had left for a few days, and Joe had feared that Daniel might seek him out while his uncle wasn’t around. He had been busy making his plans for his escape and had really hoped to lay low for a while. Joe knew that he couldn’t afford to allow anything in the next few hours to get in the way of his plans, so this summons was not welcomed at all.

‘Ya watch yaself ya hear?’ Lucas cautioned him. Don’t let him get to ya, and don’t answer him back whatever ya do. Ya hear me boy?’

Joe nodded. ‘I hear ya.’

Lucas pointed his finger at him. ‘Ya need to just calm down. Do as he says and don’t cause yaself any grief.’

Joe nodded again. ‘I know.’ Nothing is going to ruin my plans for tonight! Not even that worm! I just ain’t gonna let him get to me this time!’

Shackled as he still was, Joe found it difficult to walk quickly, and so it was some time before he was able to make his way over to the porch. His slow progress across the lawn seemed to irritate Daniel and by the time he began to inch his way up the steps, the man was clenching his jaw and frowning. ‘I said I wanted you over here now! Not tomorrow!’

Joe stood before him and placed his hands behind his back so that his clenched fists couldn’t be seen. He said nothing, not really trusting himself. How the hell did he expect me to get here any quicker with these damn things on?

‘Did you hear me Joseph?’

‘Yes sir.’ Rot in hell!

Daniel sat back and crossed his legs while he stared at Joe. Joe fixed his gaze on a spot on the wall behind the man and tried to give the impression that he was calmly awaiting orders without a care in the world. He hoped he was at least partially successful.

‘Now Joseph, I’ve been thinking about you,’ Daniel began. ‘It seems to me that you still have a few lessons to learn about how to behave around here. Do you agree?’

‘Yes sir.’ Joe kept his gaze firmly fixed on his spot on the wall behind Daniel.

‘Good. I’m glad we agree. My uncle seems to feel that you would make a good addition to the household staff. But before that can happen we need to make sure that you have correct manners and that you are suitable for the work.’ He stood up. ‘Follow me!’

Joe breathed deeply. I’ll follow you to hell you bastard! He followed Daniel into the house and down the hall, wincing when the leg iron pinched his ankles.

Joe nearly groaned aloud when he saw that Daniel intended to lead him up the giant staircase. How the hell does he expect me to get up there? He shuffled painfully one foot after the other up each stair while Daniel stood at the top and waited for him. ‘Hurry up! I haven’t got all day!’ He yelled down when Joe had made it about three quarters of the way up. When he finally reached the top, Joe fought down his instinct to push the man headfirst down the stairs. He stood as far away from him as possible so that the temptation to do so wouldn’t overtake him.

Daniel motioned with his hand for Joe to follow him and walked into a large room off the upstairs hallway. Joe looked around and saw that it was a bedroom with a large dressing room off to one side. Daniel seated himself comfortably on an easy chair in the corner and stretched his legs out in front of him, contemplating Joe for a moment. ‘Now Joseph, I’ve a mind to ask my uncle for a slave to tend to my personal needs. I think you might be just the one for that job. Let’s see shall we?’

Joe didn’t move. I’ll tend to your personal needs alright! When they include throwing you out that window!

‘First of all I want every piece of clothing taken out of the dressing room in there and laid out on the bed. Understood?’

‘Yes sir.’ I’ll bury you under it!

Joe spent the next half hour walking between the dressing room and the bedroom with armfuls of clothing. When he had laid it all out on the bed, Daniel gave it a brief glance and then smiled at him. ‘Now let’s see how well you can fold it and put it all back.’

Joe tried to contain his feelings but suspected that some of his thoughts showed on his face. He turned quickly away and gathered up the clothing before Daniel noticed. After another half hour of folding and adjusting the piles, he stood in the middle of the room not knowing what was expected of him next. Daniel looked up from the book he had been reading and noticed him standing there. ‘Yes?’

Joe gritted his teeth and said in a low voice, ‘I’m finished.’

Daniel raised his eyebrows and sat forward in the chair. ‘What did you say?’

Joe clamped his jaw tightly shut for a moment before replying, ‘I’m finished ….sir.’

‘Well I hope you’ve done it properly!’ Daniel stood up and pushed past him to get to the dressing room. He fingered the piles of clothing and pushed a few of them off the shelves. ‘Very messy. If you’re going to do for me then you’ll have to learn to take more care than this.’ He pushed a few more piles off. ‘Redo these ones.’

Joe bent to pick up the pile closest to him. As he looked down at the floor he stared directly at Daniel’s boots and had a sudden urge to spit on them. Keep calm Joe. Just a few more hours, then you’re getting out of here. Keep thinking about that!

Fifteen minutes later he again stood in front of Daniel. This time he could not keep the look out of his eye that his Pa always called his stubborn look, but by not looking at Daniel directly he hoped that it wasn’t noticed.

‘Now Joseph, next I want this floor swept and polished. You’ll find a broom in the corner and the polish and rags in the cupboard over there. Mind you do it properly.’

Great! A hands and knees job with these things on! Joe looked down at his leg irons disdainfully. Don’t worry Joe, they won’t be there after tonight.

After sweeping, Joe spent the next couple of hours on his hands and knees polishing the already gleaming floor. After only a short while his back, still very tender from the other day, ached with the exertion, and his legs became extremely sore and stiff with the position he was forced to crouch in due to the leg irons. To keep his mind off how uncomfortable he was becoming, Joe went over and over the details of his escape plan in his mind as he worked.

The first thing he had to do was to remove the leg irons. He thought that should prove to be relatively easy, due to the amount of tools he had seen in the barn. He would sneak over there as soon as everyone was asleep. Then it should be easy to take one of the horses and ride ….. where to ride to was the problem. Joe hadn’t really had time to find out the location of this place, and the only landmark he could be sure of was the town from which they had brought him to the west of them. He was fairly sure that they would expect him to head for that, so his idea was to go in the opposite direction and over the hills. He had managed to find out from Lucas that there was another town over there, but it was about two days ride. One thing Joe was fairly sure about was that no one would be expecting him to be as fast a rider as he was. He was sure he could outride anyone who would be coming after him. After all, hadn’t …..

His thoughts were interrupted by Daniel who put his foot forward under Joe’s face and planted it on the polished floor beneath him. It was a section of the floor that Joe had just finished, and his boot made a large and dirty smear in front of him. ‘Missed a bit there Joseph,’ Daniel said with a grin on his face. ‘Looks like you’d better do that whole section again to make sure you get it right boy!’

Joe closed his eyes for a moment and then began to rub the floor as hard as he could. He pretended that the floorboards were Daniel’s face and he took great pleasure in applying as much pressure to it as he could. One day I’m comin back here to get you, and your life won’t be worth livin when I do you bastard!

——————-

The moon was bright that night, which Joe counted both as a blessing and a problem. A blessing because it gave him more light to see by in the darkness of the barn, but also a problem for later in case he was noticed riding away from the property. Nuthin I can do about it now, just be real careful when I get outside that’s all.

His eyes scanned the shelves for something suitable to use to pry off the leg irons. Just as he was beginning to panic that he mightn’t be able to find the appropriate tools, his eyes lit upon a small crowbar-like object that he thought might just do the trick. He knelt to start prying it against the metal ring, when he heard a shuffle behind him and turned as swiftly as the leg irons would allow him to, ready to face the intruder. He raised the bar above his head, when Lucas’ voice made him pause. ‘Hold on there boy, take it easy!’

Joe lowered the bar and let out the breath he had been holding. ‘Lucas! Am I glad it’s just you!’

‘Ya wanna bet ya’d be glad.’ Lucas glared at him. ‘What the hell do ya think ya doin boy? Do ya want to get yaself half killed?’

Joe looked at him for a moment before bending down to work on the ring again. ‘I aim to get out of here Lucas, and if you’re smart you’ll come with me.’

Lucas pushed him backwards and reached out to grab the bar from his hand. ‘Are ya crazy boy! They’ll cut ya down before ya get off the property.’

‘I don’t aim to let them!’ Joe retorted. ‘Now give me back that bar before I have to take it from you!’

The door of the barn crashed open and both men wheeled around quickly to see Barker standing there with a gun in his hand. He looked from one to the other and shook his head. ‘Well, well, and just what do we have here?’ he asked quietly. ‘This is a big mistake boy,’ he said looking directly at Joe. ‘A big mistake. And as for you!’ his eyes flashed over towards Lucas. ‘I would have thought you’d have learned your lesson by now.’

Lucas stood and looked at him quietly, but didn’t answer. Joe stood up and said, ‘It wasn’t him! He did nothing!’

Barker turned back to Joe and levelled the gun at him. ‘You shut up boy if you know what’s good for you! Now both of you get outside!’ He motioned with the gun as Lucas and Joe walked slowly past him out of the barn.

————————-

‘What did he mean by that?’ Joe asked Lucas after Barker had locked the door to the small cabin in which they had been left.

‘What?’

‘That you should have learned your lesson by now? Have you made a break for it before?’

Lucas’ voice came out of the darkness beside him. ‘Yeah. Stupid mistakes they was too. Why’d ya think I was tryin to tell ya not to do it all the time? You just thank the Lord they found you now instead of halfway across them hills.’

‘What difference does it make where they stopped me?’ asked Joe the bitterness evident in his voice. ‘Seems to me like the outcome’s the same either way.’ He swallowed and thought how glad he was that the darkness shielded his face from Lucas who would otherwise have seen the fear upon it. ‘What do ya reckon they’ll do to me now?’

Lucas shifted his position on the straw beside him. ‘What do ya think they’re gonna do boy? They’re not gonna thank you that’s for sure!’ He sighed. ‘No, we’re in for it now.’

‘What do you mean we? You didn’t do anything except try to stop me! There’s no way they can punish you.’

‘As if they’re gonna believe that! Have some sense boy and think! As far as they’re concerned I’m in this as much as you. You saw Barker’s face didn’t ya?’

‘Well I’ll make sure they understand!’ Joe declared. ‘I’ll tell them exactly what happened!’

Lucas patted him on the arm. ‘Save ya breath boy. They won’t want ta know about it.’

Joe bit his lip and lowered his head onto his knees. ‘Lucas I’m so sorry I got you into this. I didn’t mean for it to happen like this.’

‘I know. I’m not blamin ya boy. Hey, I’ve survived this before and I will again. Old Lucas is pretty tough ya know.’ Lucas lay back on the straw. ‘Try and get a bit o sleep now. I think we’re gonna need all our strength for tomorrow.

Joe lay back as well and stared into the darkness. One thing for sure, I’m not letting Lucas take the blame for this.Whatever they do I’ll face it, but he shouldn’t have to! Joe swallowed again as his mind began to race over the possibilities that the dawn might bring.

————————-

‘But he didn’t do anything! I told you it was me!’ Joe said to Barker desperately trying to make him understand.

‘I told you last night to shut up and I meant it! Now get outside the both of you!’ Barker ordered, and gestured outside the cabin with his gun.

Joe and Lucas stood and walked outside, shielding their faces from the bright sunlight. The day had only just commenced, but they could already feel the heat in the air. Barker marched them over to the driveway outside the house and told one of the hands to watch them until Daniel arrived. After an hour of standing there, Joe realised that part of the game that Daniel probably intended to play with him now included making him as uneasy as possible about what might be ahead of him. Well he’s doin a damn good job of it, that’s for sure! Joe felt the sweat trickle down his back as he stood there and he shivered involuntarily. Beside him Lucas stood stock still, never once glancing in his direction.

After what seemed like hours, Daniel appeared on the front porch, joined by Barker who was obviously explaining to him the details about what had happened last night. Joe watched the man’s face carefully from a distance, and it was obvious to him that Daniel was becoming very agitated as he listened. When Barker had finished speaking, they strode over to Joe and Lucas, Daniel glaring at them both.

Barker stepped forward and spoke. ‘I’ll lock them up again.’

Daniel turned to him. ‘Why?’

‘Well I think it’s best to keep them secure until your uncle gets back to deal with them.’

‘Oh they’ll be kept secure all right, but we won’t be waiting for my uncle. I’ll deal with them now.’ Joe tried not to look concerned at this statement.

‘I think it’s best if we….’

Daniel interrupted the overseer. ‘I don’t care what you think Barker! I’m in charge here, not you!’

Barker glared at the young man. ‘Your uncle may have left you in charge, but he has given me authority over every slave on this property. I intend to keep these two under lock and key until he gets back. I will not take the responsibility for whatever you may have in mind for them.’

‘No one is asking you to take responsibility!’ snapped Daniel. ‘I will make the decisions here, not you! What I say goes, understood?’ Both men glared at each other for a moment, then Daniel continued. ‘I want them tied to those posts now and I expect you to obey my instructions Barker, or you can get the pay that is due to you and get off this property!’

Barker took a step forward and looked as though he was about to hit the other man. ‘You know as well as I do that your uncle didn’t want this boy

here ……’

Daniel cut across him. ‘I have heard enough from you! Do as you are told or get off the property now! It’s your choice Barker!’

Barker gave him a sinister half grin as he stared at him for a moment. He turned his head slightly and yelled to the group of hands who were leaning on the fence nearby and taking obvious delight at the man’s discomfort. ‘Get them over to the posts now!’

Joe had listened to the interchange between the two, hoping that Barker would be able to persuade Daniel to wait. At least that way there would still be the hope that he might be able to think of a way out before Samuel arrived back. But when it became obvious that Barker had lost the argument, all his hopes faded and he made one last attempt to save Lucas from a fate similar to the one that he felt was coming his way.

Swallowing the little dignity that he felt he had been left with, Joe took a step forward and said to Daniel. ‘Lucas did nothing. It was my idea to run, and he was only tryin to stop me.’

Daniel turned to him. ‘Did I give you permission to speak?’

Joe stood his ground and repeated. ‘It was my idea to run.’

Daniel took a step forward until they were only inches apart. ‘Oh I’m sure that it was your idea Joseph, and have no doubts that you will pay for it. You will both pay!’ He turned to the men. ‘Tie them!’

Joe took another step forward as he was grabbed from behind and attempted to shake off the hands that were holding him on both sides. He raised his voice in desperation and yelled at Daniel. ‘I told you it wasn’t his fault!’

Daniel stepped forward and slapped his face. ‘You will not address me again unless told to, is that understood?’

Joe struggled in the arms of the men who were holding him, as all the frustrations and humiliations of the past weeks welling up inside him until he could no longer stand it. ‘You bloody bastard!’ he yelled. ‘Why won’t you listen to me?’ He leant forward and spat full in Daniel’s face. At once he felt a blow to his head and fell forward, dragging the men with him. As his face hit the ground in front of him, he felt the full force of several men on top of him and moaned to feel the pressure of their bodies weighing him down.

As they pulled him to his feet, Joe noticed Lucas had already been dragged off and was being tied between two posts, his arms stretched out from his body at about shoulder height. Joe struggled as best he could as he was dragged and tied in a similar position, but to no avail. By the time they stood away from him he was panting with the exertion, and continued to struggle to free himself. Lucas stood beside him silently.

Daniel stood and looked at them for a few moments, then took a few steps closer. ‘Let’s see how sure of yourself you are now Joseph,’ he sneered and landed a blow to Joe’s stomach that made him double forward to struggle for breath. He pulled on Joe’s hair and brought his face up to meet his. ‘We’ll see what some time out here does for you eh?’

For the next few hours Joe and Lucas were left alone, standing between the posts. Although the first time Joe tried to speak to the man beside him someone came from behind and dealt him another blow to the stomach that made him gasp with pain, and Joe realised that they were being guarded from a distance. The two men sweltered in the heat as the sun rose overhead and beat down upon them with its full force. After a while Joe’s arms began to ache with an intensity that made him want to cry out with the agony of it, but he held on, biting his lip. As the day wore into afternoon, his head drooped down onto his chest and he struggled for breath. His mouth was incredibly dry and his body and mind screamed out for water, but still he held on.

Towards the end of the afternoon, Joe felt his legs begin to buckle under him and the weight of his body hung downwards until the bonds on his wrists were stretched tight. His arms screamed out for relief, but there was none to be had.

As the sun began to sink in the west he felt a presence in front of him and looked up to see Daniel standing before him once more, grinning. ‘Well Joseph, how are you feeling? Not so ready to run now are you?’

‘Rot in hell!’ Joe managed to speak the words, although they came out as more of a croak. He glanced across at Lucas and saw that the man was in a similar position to his own with his legs bent and his head on his chest. Daniel noticed the look. ‘Why are you so worried about him Joseph? Why so concerned?’

‘Cause he didn’t do anything.’ You bastard. You know that!

‘Didn’t he? I would call helping you doing something, wouldn’t you?’

‘He was trying to stop me!’

‘Wasn’t very successful though was he? Seems to me he should pay for that.’ Daniel strode across to the other man and lifted his head. Looking at Joe all the time, he placed a few well-aimed kicks into Lucas’ stomach, then stepped back. ‘We’ll see if that helps him to remember.’

Joe struggled weakly on his bonds as he watched Daniel walk back towards the house. Bastard! Just you wait! One day you’re gonna pay for this! He sensed a movement out of the corner of his eye and turned his head painfully to see Katie standing at the door of her cabin watching him, her hands clasped to her mouth. His eyes misted over and he couldn’t see her clearly, but he didn’t need to in order to know the expression that she would be wearing on her face. He longed to call out to her, but even that was beyond him. Instead he lowered his head and closed his eyes again. He thought for a moment of the words that were probably going through her head and imagined her saying, I thought I told you ta keep out of trouble hunny! Look what ya’ve gone and done now! ‘I’m sorry, Momma Katie,’ he whispered. ‘I’m sorry!’

As the sun set and night sent its chilly air circulating around them both Lucas and Joe shivered uncontrollably, and Joe felt as if his bones were chilled to their very core. He felt the lack of water even more acutely now, but his tongue seemed to have swelled inside his mouth to the extent that he didn’t know if he could have drunk even if allowed to. His mind began to wander and he panicked to feel himself losing his grip on reality, and tried to focus on something to keep his thoughts focused. Pa I’m sorry! I’m so sorry Pa! I tried really I did, but I just couldn’t do it!

Joe began to realise that he would probably never see his father again. I know you said you’d come for me Pa, but it’s gonna be too late now. I’m sorry Pa I’m sorry I didn’t wait for you Pa. Please forgive me! Joe’s head dropped even lower onto his chest, and he drifted off into unconsciousness.

————————-

Ben alighted from the train and scanned his surroundings. The platform was busy at this time, with people rushing to and fro everywhere. He spied a porter and motioned to him. ‘Excuse me, but could you tell me where I’d go if I was looking to sell or buy around here?’

The porter looked at him. ‘Sell or buy what, mister?’

Ben had to swallow before he could answer the man. ‘Slaves,’ he muttered in a low voice.

‘Oh, you’d be looking for the Auction House I suppose. It’s down the end of Main Street.’ Ben turned away from him when he called after him. ‘There’s nothing going on down there today though!’ He shrugged his shoulders as Ben didn’t acknowledge his remark.

Upon entering the large building, Ben was struck by two things. The first was the sheer size of it and the second was the absence of anyone at all. He found his way down a corridor and opened a door into a large and imposing hall full of chairs. His heart leapt into his mouth as he realised that this was probably the main auction hall where ….. He brushed the thoughts aside and looked around. ‘Hello?’ he called. ‘Hello, anyone here?’

A door at the far end of the hall opened and a short man entered the room. ‘No auction today mister, come back tomorrow.’

Ben strode over to him. ‘I’m not here for any auction. I need some information.’

The man began to shut the door as he said, ‘Sorry, can’t help you mister.’

‘You don’t even know what I want yet!’ Ben blustered, fast running out of patience.

The man stood still. ‘OK what?’

‘I’m looking for a …. a slave that I believe might have been sold here recently. He’s ….’

‘Like I said, I can’t help you.’ He began to close the door again, but Ben stopped it with his hand. He pulled out a wad of money from his pocket with his other hand and waved it under the man’s nose.

‘This help?’

The door stopped again, and the man looked over his shoulder. ‘Listen mister, I’m just a clerk around here. If anyone found out about this….’

‘Who’s to find out? This is between you and me.’ Ben said firmly. ‘Now can you help me or not?’

The door opened and he motioned for Ben to enter the small office. He held out his hand and Ben began to count notes into it until he felt he had given enough and looked questionly at the man in front of him. His fingers closed over the notes and he smiled. ‘Alright, what do you want to know?’

‘His name is ……’

‘We don’t deal by any names. I’ll need a description, the name of the dealer and the date.’ He moved over to a desk in the middle of the room and opened what looked like an account book, then looked expectantly at Ben.

Ben hesitated before replying. ‘The dealer’s name would be Bates. I’m not sure of the actual date, but I believe it to be about a month ago. The ….. boy is eighteen but looks younger, with dark curly hair, green eyes and a slight build.’

The man held up his hand while he searched the pages in front of him. After a moment he spoke. ‘Here it is,’ and Ben’s heart lurched. ‘A month ago. Bates is one of our regular traders, you know, he….’

What does it say?’ Ben interrupted impatiently.

The man glared at him. ‘Only one sale for him that day, and the description fits. Young male, mid to late teens, slight build, etc.’ He looked at Ben. ‘Is that what you wanted to know?’

‘Who bought him?’ Ben could hardly get the words out of his mouth quickly enough.

He looked again. ‘Samuel Edwards. Lives on the River Plantation about twenty miles due east of here. He’s one of the ……..’ But his words were spoken to an empty room as he looked up and saw that Ben had already left. He shook his head and sat back down at the desk to finish his ledger, the money a welcome bulge in his pocket.

————————

‘Cut them down immediately!’ Joe heard the words through a fog, and tried to lift his head to see who had spoken them. Since the sun had risen a few hours ago he had not moved, trying to conserve the little energy he had left to merely breathe. His thoughts had drifted in and out of the present, and he had spent much of the time thinking about his father and brothers and trying to form the thoughts that he would say to them if he could. He knew now that he would never see them again, and he thought back over all the good times they had had and all the things that he regretted doing to cause them grief. Like now! I’m sorry I had to do this to all of you. I know that when you do come for me Pa it’s going to be too late. I’m sorry I couldn’t wait. I hope that somehow you’ll know that. Please Pa, I didn’t mean it. I’m sorry.

When the bonds around his wrists were cut he slumped forward onto the ground and lay still. He felt a boot push him and he groaned aloud. The voice above him said ‘The boy’s still alive, not like the other one.’ At the sound of the words Joe cringed inside. Lucas! Oh my God! Lucas! No!

‘You be mighty grateful that he is!’ Joe recognised the voice now as Samuel’s. ‘Did I not make it perfectly clear to you that I wanted this boy left alone? Look at him Daniel! How the hell am I supposed to profit on my investment when you go around treating him like this?’

‘Uncle I ….’

‘Don’t say a word! I have had it with you! Just look at him! Alright he’s alive, but at what cost? You know very well what I intended for this boy. If he is unable to breed now because of this, then you owe me the price I paid for him. Not to mention the money I would have made in the future with him! You’d just better pray that he’s alright!’ Joe lay there with his eyes tightly closed listening to the conversation. At Samuel’s words he went cold inside. Kill me now! Please God make them kill me now! I can’t do this any more! Pa! Pa! Where are you Pa? Please come!

He felt his arms lifted and the sensation of being dragged across the rough earth. He kept his eyes tightly closed and his head hung down. Suddenly the blessed feel of water on his face caused him to open his eyes and he stared up into the face of Barker. ‘Here get this into you!’ The man ordered abruptly. He held a metal cup against Joe’s face and he opened his mouth greedily. After a few gulps, Barker withdrew the cup, and Joe weakly tried to reach for it. ‘Wait!’ Barker ordered. After a moment he brought the cup back again and Joe managed a few more sips.

Joe looked up at the man above him and managed to croak out ‘Thanks.’

‘Don’t thank me! Only trying to keep you from dying on us like the other one.’ Barker indicated the body of Lucas lying next to Joe on the straw and shook his head. ‘Damn waste!’ he muttered. ‘Dang fool boy! If I had my way ……..’ His eyes gleamed with a viciousness that Joe knew was not directed at him. ‘Humiliate me like that will he?’ The man stopped when he realised that Joe was listening. ‘I’ll leave the water here. Remember to take your time with it.’ He stood up and left the cabin, dragging Lucas’ body behind him.

Joe lay for several minutes before moving, just listening to the silence around him and relishing the coolness of the cabin. When he did try to move he wished he hadn’t, as every muscle in his body seemed to protest at once and it was all he could do to keep from crying out aloud. He managed to reach out for the water bucket again and poured a cup over his head that seemed to help a little, then took a few more sips. His tongue still felt swollen and his lips were cracked and blistered, but Joe knew that they were only temporary pains that time would heal. What time wouldn’t heal was the aching within his heart for a man named Lucas who had done nothing to deserve the life he had had to endure and the painful death he had suffered. Joe lay back on the straw and closed his eyes. As he drifted into unconsciousness he saw Lucas’ face drifting before him.

———————–

Joe never knew how long he lay there. After a while he heard the door of the cabin open quietly. He opened his eyes and shut them again immediately as a shaft of sunlight pierced through the doorway. When he opened them again, he saw the outline of a man standing there very still. After a moment the figure moved across the floor closer to him, and Joe’s heart sank when he realised that it was Daniel.

For a moment the two men stared at each other, then Daniel knelt down before the figure lying on the straw. His face was a mask of anger as he stared at Joe, and his eyes were blazing. As he continued to stare at him, he drew his right hand forward and Joe went cold when he realised that the man was pointing a rifle directly at his head. ‘You’ve been nothing but trouble since you got here Joseph, and I aim to see that you don’t cause any more. Sit up!’

Joe didn’t move, paralysed by fright as he was and unwilling to do anything this creature wanted him to anyway. Daniel grabbed him by the hair and pulled him to a sitting position. ‘I said to sit up Joseph! I want you to know exactly what’s about to happen to you boy!’ He drew back from Joe and began to point the rifle at his head again, but as he did so Joe reached out and grabbed it. For a few moments they struggled with the weapon, Joe summoning a certain amount of strength that he didn’t know he had left in him. The rifle hovered between them like a sort of battering ram, and hit them both on the head several times as they struggled for control of it.

Suddenly, a shot rang out and Daniel slumped forward, his eyes wide and staring. Joe felt the man’s grip on the rifle weaken, and let his own muscles relax. He watched in satisfaction as Daniel slid sideways in the straw and came to rest next to him, lying on his back with his eyes staring at the roof above them and his mouth open. Joe had never felt as much satisfaction about anything as he did at that moment, and he couldn’t take his eyes off the man.

Suddenly there was a noise at the door, and he jerked around to see Barker staring at him. The man’s eyes shifted from Joe to Daniel and then back to Joe again, then came to rest on the rifle in Joe’s hands.

He stepped forward and jerked it from Joe’s grasp. As the two of them stared at each other, noises from behind them made them both jump. Samuel stood there with several hands behind him. ‘What on God’s earth is happening here?’ he cried as he surveyed the scene before him. He glanced over towards Daniel’s body. ‘Daniel! My God!’ He bent over his nephew’s body and cradled his head in his arms for a moment with his head down. When he lifted it again, he looked first at Joe, then at Barker and asked the man again. ‘What happened here?’

Barker stared at Joe for a moment, and Joe felt his heart lurch up into his mouth. He was certain that the man had seen enough to know what had happened, and as much as Joe had begged for death hours before, now that he was staring it straight in the eye it was a different matter. He swallowed with fright and waited for the words to be spoken while he fought the dizziness that sought to overpower him.

Barker turned back towards Samuel and looked at the body on the floor. It seemed like time stood still for Joe before the man spoke. ‘I saw the whole thing Mr Edwards. Daniel came for the boy here. But before he could do anything he tripped and fell on his own rifle. Nothing anyone could do about it.’ Barker stared at Samuel with a challenging look. There was silence in the cabin for a moment, then Samuel stood up and addressed the hands still standing in the doorway. ‘Take his body to the house,’ he said, and then turned to leave the cabin. Joe stared up at Barker, not knowing whether to believe his ears or not.

For a moment they stayed still, looking at each other. Then Barker turned towards the body on the floor and kicked it with a grin on his face. ‘You heard Mr Edwards,’ he said to the men still standing in the doorway, ‘Get the body out of here.’ He followed his employer out of the cabin as Joe sat still, watching Daniel’s body bring lifted up and carried out.

————————–

Ben turned the horse into the long driveway and surveyed the large white house before him. I’m coming Joseph! Hang on son! He spurred the horse into a trot and moved up the driveway, surveying the scene around him for any glimpse of his son. When he dismounted in front of the house, a coloured man who immediately took the horse’s reins from him met him. ‘I want to see Mr Edwards,’ Ben said immediately.

‘Sorry sir, but Mr Edwards isn’t seeing anyone today. There has been a death in the family.’

‘I want to see him, and I want to see him now!’ Ben yelled at the man, who quickly backed away from him. He nodded and disappeared into the house. Ben looked around at the pleasant scene around him and wondered how such surroundings could mask such an abhorrent lifestyle.

After a few moments the coloured man emerged and motioned for Ben to follow him. ‘This way please sir,’ he said. Ben mounted the stairs two at a time and followed the man into the imposing hallway, then into a large living area. A man of about his own age was seated in an easy chair and stood as Ben entered the room.

‘I am Mr Samuel Edwards. I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure sir?’ He held out his hand to Ben who looked at it disdainfully and ignored it.

Ben came straight to the point. ‘Last month you bought a young …… slave in town by the name of Joseph. Is that correct sir?’

‘Yes it is, but I don’t see what business it is of yours.’ Samuel answered.

‘The dealer was a man by the name of Bates?’

‘Yes. What’s all this about?’ Samuel demanded.

‘I’ve come to buy him from you, ‘ Ben answered glaring at the man. ‘How much?’

Samuel sat down again. ‘I’m afraid you’ve wasted a trip sir. The boy is not for sale.’

‘How much?’ Ben repeated. ‘Name the price.’

Samuel stared at him. ‘Look whoever you are, I don’t appreciate you pushing your way into my home like this. My family has just experienced a tragedy this morning and I am not about to ……’

‘Ben took a step forward and repeated again. ‘I said how much Edwards, name your price.’

Edwards sighed and gestured with his hand. ‘$30 000.’

The price was outrageous and both men knew it, but Ben didn’t hesitate. ‘I want the papers drawn up immediately and I’ll pay you cash. I aim to take the boy with me now.’ Samuel’s eyes widened as Ben drew out a large stack of cash and placed it on the table in front of him.

‘Sight unseen?’ he asked.

Ben stared at him. ‘Why? Is the boy ….hurt?’

‘It was necessary to discipline him a little that’s all,’ said Samuel, ‘but I’m not dropping the price because of it.’

Ben clenched his fists and fought down the anger that was rising within him. ‘Get those papers out now!’ he demanded. Just get them signed Ben, then worry about the rest of it. Just get those papers signed now so that Joseph is safe!

Samuel walked over to the door and called to someone outside, ‘Get Barker for me!’ He then turned to Ben again. ‘We’ll need someone to witness our signatures.’

Ben stood and listened to the ticking of the clock in the silent room and held his breath. Nearly there Joe! I’m coming for you son. Hold on!

When Barker entered the room, the two men were ready to sign. As soon as Ben had handed Samuel the cash he picked up the paper from the desk and barked, ‘Take me to the boy now! He’s mine and I want him.’

Samuel motioned to Barker. ‘Show this gentleman where Joseph is please, Barker.’ He turned to Ben. ‘Then I want you off my property as soon as possible.’

Ben glared at him and spat out the words. ‘With pleasure!’ He followed Barker out of the house, trying not to push the man ahead of him in his anxiety.

————————

Joe tried not to let his thoughts move too deeply in certain directions. So much had happened to him in these last few days, so much of his energy had been expended on simply staying alive that now that he could afford to think a little outside this area he found comfort in just letting his mind drift into nothingness.

He looked up as the door opened and saw Barker standing there with a figure behind him. Joe put his hand up to shield his face from the light and waited. What now? Surely to God they’ve done enough to me!

‘Joseph?’ he heard his name called softly and tried to make out whom it was speaking. ‘Joseph?’ He looked up to see someone who looked very much like his father hovering over him. It’s happened! I’ve really died this time and this is how I can say goodbye to Pa in my dreams!

He smiled at the face before him and whispered softly. ‘Goodbye Pa. I love you!’

‘Oh Joseph!’ He was startled to feel his face touched by the figure and drew back. You can’t feel dreams! I don’t understand this! He stared at the brown eyes that looked back at him with so much love and compassion, and in that moment he knew. ‘Pa?…. Pa? …. Oh God!’ He flung himself forward into his father’s arms and clung to him desperately, sobs racking his body as he rocked forwards and backwards in the loving embrace that held on to him so dearly.

Ben sobbed as he held his child close to his chest. Joseph, my baby boy. How could any one have done this to you?He encircled the boy in his embrace even tighter and vowed never to let him go ever again. Father and son held each other for a long time, neither one wanting to be the first to make a move away from the other. After a while they did almost as if by mutual consent, Ben holding his son at arm’s length to study him.

What he saw nearly took his breath away. Joe was filthy and his clothing hung on him as if in the time they had been apart he had lost weight. His hair was matted and clung to his forehead with sweat, and his face was streaked with tears. His wrists were red raw, as if something had cut into them deeply and his ankles were shackled with leg irons. Ben touched his son’s face again tenderly and whispered simply, ‘Joseph!’

Joe looked up at his father and tried to smile. He swallowed and tried to speak, but the words only came out in a whisper. ‘Have you come for me Pa?’ He searched his father’s face, desperately hoping this wasn’t a dream after all, willing him to take away all the hurt and suffering.

‘Yes Joe I’ve come for you. I told you I would didn’t I?’

Joe could only nod his head as the tears fell unchecked down his face. Ben traced the line of the tears with his thumbs and continued to stare into his son’s green eyes. ‘It’s over now Joe, I’m taking you out of here now. It’s over.’ Joe kept nodding his head over and over again, while smiling at his father.

Ben turned to Barker who was standing behind them with his mouth open, staring. ‘You! Get these leg irons off him immediately!’ Barker moved to do as he was bid and as soon as he had finished Ben bent down and supported Joe to his feet. He placed his arm around the boy’s waist as Joe swayed on his feet and said. ‘Can you walk son, or do you want me to carry you?’

‘I can walk Pa,’ the boy replied, and they began to inch their way slowly out of the cabin. Ben was steering them towards his horse, when suddenly Joe stopped and stared across the yard at a large black woman who was standing looking at them. ‘Pa?’ he murmured. ‘I gotta talk to …..’ he pointed to her and they stopped.

‘Momma Katie?’ he whispered, and the woman walked towards them smiling.

‘Well hunny looks like ya on ya way after all’ Momma Katie stood there with tears in her eyes to see him in the state he was in. ‘I’m so glad for ya hunny!’

Joe swallowed, then smiled at her. ‘Pa? This is Momma Katie. She ….. she helped me Pa.’

That simple statement was enough for Ben, who looked at the woman with tears in his eyes. ‘What can I ever do to thank you ma’am?’

Momma Katie stared at him with wide eyes. A white man callin me ma’am? Well if that don’t beat all! ‘Wasn’t nothin sir,’ she replied. ‘This one was bound ta get hisself in trouble! I just helped him out along the way is all.’ They grinned at each other.

‘Momma Katie, ya have to come with us. Can’t she Pa?’ Joe looked at his father pleadingly. ‘We have to take her away from here Pa.’

Ben smiled down at his son. ‘Of course Joe. Whatever you want. I’ll go back inside and offer to buy …..’

‘Lord what are ya talking about hunny? Me leave here? I told ya before this is where I live!’

Joe stared at her. ‘But Momma Katie! We can get you away from here! We can free you!’

She put her hands on her hips. ‘And just where would I go?’

‘You could come with us to Nevada. You could be free there.’ Joe replied.

Katie shook her head. ‘No hunny. I don’t belong nowheres but here. I was born here and I aim to spend eternity here as well. Sides, what would my George do without his momma to visit him each day? No hunny, I can’t leave.’

Ben stepped forward. ‘Ma’am, you’re most welcome to come with us. I’ll pay whatever it takes to free you for what you did for my boy.’

Katie smiled at him. ‘Thank ya sir, but as I just told this youngster here, I ain’t goin. I don’t belong anywhere but here.’

Joe interrupted her. ‘But how do ya know if you’ve never tried it Katie? You could have a good life if only you’d try! I’ll help ya, I promise! Really I do!’ He looked at her pleadingly. ‘Please!’

She shook her head slowly. ‘I can’t try hunny, I just don’t know how.’

‘But you kept telling me ta try! Ya said I had to try to fit in here if I wanted ta make it! So why can’t ya?’

Katie put her hands on his shoulders and her face close to his. ‘You had ta try ta fit in here cause ya had no choice! I got a choice hunny, and I have ta choose ta stay here.’ She screwed her face up as she tried not to cry. ‘I gonna miss ya, honest I am. But I just can’t do it.’ Her eyes misted over as she looked over Joe’s shoulder at Ben and tried to smile at him. ‘I luv ya too hunny, she whispered to Joe. ‘Never ferget that Momma Katie luves ya.’ She drew the boy away from her and looked into his eyes. ‘I just can’t do it hunny, this is all I’ve ever known. I just can’t!’

Joe looked at her with pleading eyes as the tears ran down his cheeks. After a moment he nodded and his tears began to fall again as he reached out for her. As she held him in a tight embrace he whispered into her ear. ‘Thank you for everything, Momma Katie. I love you.’

Katie patted him on the shoulder before handing him back to his father to support. ‘Ya take care of this one sir. He’s a mite puny, but he’s got spunk. See that ya try and keep him out of trouble.’

Ben smiled at her again. ‘I’ll try,’ he answered. As they turned towards the horse again, Joe looked across at the cemetery where a fresh grave was evident amongst the others. He hung his head for a moment, and then felt a hand on his shoulder again. He looked up to see Katie smiling at him.

‘He didn’t blame ya, ya know hunny. Don’t ya worry, I’ll be visitin him when I go to see my George. He won’t be lonely.’ Joe nodded, the tears streaming down his face, and Ben held him tight.

Katie stood back as Ben helped his son onto his horse, and then mounted behind him. ‘Can you ride Joe? I could always go into town and bring back a buggy.’

‘No! I can ride,’ Joe answered quickly, even though his body cried out with every movement that the horse made. ‘I just want to get out of here Pa, please!’ Ben nodded and turned the horse away from the house.

As the two riders disappeared down the driveway, a solitary figure waved to them until they were out of sight. Katie reached up and wiped at the tears that were rolling down her cheeks and sniffed a little. After a moment she straightened her shoulders and turned towards the barn. Making her way slowly, she shuffled down the pathway that led to the tiny cemetery and the one place where she felt she could take solace.

———————–

As they left the plantation behind them and headed for the road that lead to the town, Ben tried to ease Joe back to support him against his own body. But the boy tensed and he pushed himself forward again. ‘Lean back on me son. I’ll support you, just lean back,’ Ben instructed. But Joe shook his head and continued to hold his body rigid.

With every step that the horse took his body cried out for relief, but he bit his lip and hung on desperately. He didn’t want his father to have any excuse to stop, as he wanted to put as much distance as possible between them and the plantation in as short a time as possible. Joe had ached to leave for so long, that now that it was actually happening he feared to allow it to be delayed one second longer than was necessary.

As he concentrated on keeping upright on the horse to ease his aching back his thoughts were a jumble of images from the life he was leaving behind. Memories of things that lurked in the dark recesses of his mind, things that he had tried to block from surfacing at the time, now leapt up to meet him full on and he desperately tried to stop them. As he found himself unable to, he hung his head and wept.

Ben tightened his grip around the boy’s waist and whispered to him. ‘Joe, do you want me to stop for a few minutes?’

Joe shook his head violently. ‘No! I’m alright.’

But his father knew that he was far from alright and ached to know how to help him. All he could do was to whisper encouraging words to him as they rode. ‘Just hang on Joe ….. its going to be alright now son ….. We’ll be there soon ….. I’m here now Joe.’

Their progress was very slow, as Ben tried to make the journey as comfortable for the boy as he could. After a while, Joe began to moan softly and squirm in the saddle. Ben tried again. ‘Joe please let me stop. Just for a little while.’

Joe didn’t answer this time, so Ben drew the horse to a halt and they stood still. He wrapped both his arms around his boy and supported him while Joe’s head drooped lower onto his shoulder. ‘I wanted her to come with us Pa,’ he whispered. ‘She shouldn’t have stayed there.’

Ben stroked the boy’s hair and noticed how dirty it was. ‘I know you did Joe, but it was her choice.’

‘Joe looked up at his father through tear-streaked eyes. ‘I don’t understand how she could choose to stay there Pa. I just don’t understand it!’

‘She said it herself son, it was all she ever knew. You didn’t want to leave the life you knew did you?’ Joe shook his head, ‘Well it’s the same for her.’

‘But she’s a slave there Pa! She’ll always be owned by them.’

‘We all live our lives the best way we know how son. That’s the only way Katie knows to live. She’s too scared to change now. Leave it be now Joe.’ Ben gathered up the reins again and they continued the long slow ride. Joe thought about the last time he had ridden this road, chained in the back of the wagon like an animal, and he shuddered to think that that was how Katie was still being treated.

———————–

The desk clerk looked Joe up and down disdainfully as he turned towards Ben and replied. ‘Perhaps it would be better if the boy …..’

‘I said a room for two and I meant it!’ Ben yelled.

‘Yes sir,’ the clerk took a step backwards away from them. ‘Will there be anything else?’

Ben clutched his son around his waist to support him as he wrote his name in the register. ‘Yes there will! A bath sent up immediately and some soup in about half and hour.’ He turned with Joe, ignoring the stares of the other hotel patrons as they made their way slowly up the stairs. Joe was breathing heavily with each step that they took, and by the time they had reached the top of the staircase, Ben was carrying him more than he was supporting him.

As soon as they entered the room, he eased the boy gently down onto one of the beds and sat beside him, caressing his face. Joe lay still with his eyes shut, trying to get his breath back. The ride to town had exhausted him and he tried not to remember the painful journey as each step the horse took jolted his aching body. He sank down into the softness of the bed and let the feeling of relief wash over him, as his muscles relaxed. He let out a small sigh as he felt his father’s hand caressing his face.

‘Just relax son, the bath will be here in a moment and we’ll get you cleaned up first,’ he heard his father say, and acknowledged the remark with a small smile. He drifted off into a light sleep and was awoken by the feel of his father gently undoing the buttons on his shirt.

Joe opened his eyes, looked up and saw Ben hovering over him anxiously. ‘Come on Joe, up you get son. We’ll get you in that bath now and you’ll feel a lot better.’ He gently eased the boy off the bed and stood him up. Joe held on to his father’s arm, swaying a little as Ben pulled his shirt down around his waist.   Suddenly he felt his shirt ripped from his shoulders and down to his waist, exposing his upper torso. He closed his eyes even tighter and swayed on his feet, but was held upright in a tight grip by the two men on either side of him. How much longer? Make this finish! Please God make this finish!

Joe pushed his father’s arms away from him, opened his eyes wide and glared at him. ‘Leave me alone!’ he yelled.

Ben stared at him. ‘Joe? What is it son? Joe? It’s me, Pa.’

Joe stared at him, and then covered his face with his hands. ‘Pa! I’m sorry. I ….’ He swallowed, and then looked deep into his father’s eyes again. ‘I …. I…’

Ben held him by the shoulders. ‘It’s alright Joe. You need to get into the bath now. You do it yourself if you want to. Alright?’

Joe stared at him again and then nodded. He slowly took off his shirt, then bent down and removed his pants before he stepped into the bath. He allowed himself to sink down into the warm water until he was nearly submerged in it, only his face exposed. Joe lay there for several minutes, feeling the warmth seep into his very soul, and letting his body relax completely for the first time.

Ben sat and looked at his son lying so still in the water with his eyes closed. After several minutes he said, ‘Joe, here’s some soap.’ Joe opened his eyes, sat up and reached out for the soap that his father held out to him. He began to scrub his feet, watching the dirt gradually float away from them and dirty the water. After a while, Ben knelt by the tub and said quietly. ‘Joseph lean forward and put your hands in the water. Those wrists need to soak for a while.’

Joe did as his father bid him, watching fascinated as the congealed blood on his wrists was loosened in the water and floated away to reveal the raw skin underneath. Ben knelt next to him and gently soaped his shoulders. As his hands reached around the back of the boy’s neck and down his back, Joe jerked. Ben looked over the boy’s shoulder, saw his exposed back for the first time and gasped aloud. ‘My God!’ he exclaimed before he could stop himself. His son’s back was bruised to such an extent that it appeared almost completely black. There were a multitude of raised welts across it where it was obvious he had been repeatedly struck and in several places the skin was broken. Ben realised for the first time how incredibly sore it must have been for the boy on the horse as they rode to town.

Joe continued to lean forward watching the water. He realised what his father was looking at and the tears began to fall as he sat there. Ben put his arms around his son’s shoulders from behind, and rocked him gently. ‘Oh Joe! Joe I’m so sorry this happened! Boy what have they done to you! Joe!’ he murmured over and over again. Father and son swayed gently together in their embrace, their salty tears mingling in the water as they fell.

———————-

‘Just a bit more Joe. Try son.’ Ben held out another spoonful to the boy’s mouth and encouraged his son to swallow a bit more of the soup. Joe obediently opened his mouth, anxious to obey his father, although all he really wanted to do was sleep. ‘Good boy,’ Ben said soothingly as he put the bowl down. ‘Now I want you to get some rest Joe. When you’re asleep I’m going downstairs for a few moments to send a wire to your brothers. Is that alright if I leave you son? It will just be for a few moments.’

‘Sure Pa. I’m gonna sleep now. You take your time.’ Joe replied sleepily. He jerked his eyes open again. ‘Pa?’

Ben brushed the curls off his son’s forehead. ‘Yes Joe?’

‘Pa can you buy me something when you’re downstairs?’

‘Of course I can Joe. Anything at all. What do you need son?’

‘Can you get me some boots Pa?’

Ben frowned, not sure of the reason behind the request. ‘Boots? Joe you’re not going anywhere for a while son. You won’t need boots yet.’

Joe looked up at his father pleadingly. ‘Please Pa? I gotta have some boots. Please?’

‘Joe when you’re feeling a bit better we’ll go down together and buy you a complete set of new clothes including boots. Alright?’

‘No Pa, now! I don’t care about the rest of it, but I gotta have some boots. Please?’

Ben stroked his son’s face. ‘Sure Joe. Anything you want. I’ll get the fanciest pair of boots I can find. Alright son?’

Joe closed his eyes with a sigh. ‘Thanks Pa,’ he said sleepily and drifted off into a deep sleep.

—————————-

Ben sat and watched his boy sleep.   Joe was lying on his stomach in an attempt to ease his aching back, and he had his new boots clutched tightly under his arm. Ben smiled at the memory of how eager the boy had been when Ben had held out the boots to him, and wondered about the reason behind the request. I guess there are a lot of things we need to talk over Joseph. He stroked the boy’s curls off his forehead. All in good time son.

A knock at the door caused him to turn sharply. Good, the doctor’s here!

Ben opened the door to reveal a short balding man carrying a bag. ‘Mr Cartwright?’ he asked, and Ben nodded. ‘Where is the boy?’

‘In here,’ Ben motioned for the doctor to enter the room and pointed towards the bed on which Joe still lay motionless. ‘He’s been badly beaten and I need you to check him over.’

The doctor nodded and made his way over towards the bed. Ben sat beside his son, and shook him gently. ‘Joe, wake up son.’

Joe stirred and opened his eyes. ‘Hi Pa,’ he said and smiled up at his father.

‘Joe the doctor’s here to take a look at you. I need you to wake up for a little bit now.’ Ben gently pulled covers back to expose his son’s back to the doctor.

Joe frowned and lifted his head. ‘No! I don’t need no doctor Pa. Make him go away!’

Ben stroked his son’s hair and murmured softly to him. ‘I know you don’t want him here Joe, but he has to check you over. Just lay still and let him examine you son.’ Joe continued to frown, but lay still as his father asked him to.

The doctor ran his hands over Joe’s back and then picked up one of his wrists. ‘These are in danger of becoming infected. What on earth happened to this boy?’

‘I told you, he was badly beaten,’ Ben replied. ‘His ankles also need attention.’ Ben pulled the covers back further to show the doctor. ‘See?’

The doctor frowned when he saw the marks on Joe ankles. ‘This looks like …. Has this boy been shackled with leg irons?’ he demanded. When Ben nodded he stood up. ‘I do not tend to slaves, Mr Cartwright. I suggest you …..’

Ben straightened up next to him, reached across the bed and pulled the man towards him by the collar. ‘You will treat my son doctor, or you will be sorry!’ he spat at him. ‘I want this boy tended to now!’

The doctor tried to back away, but Ben had him on a vice-like grip and began to shake him. ‘Do you understand me?’ The doctor nodded and Ben let him go suddenly. ‘Then get on with it now!’ he barked.

Later on that afternoon as Ben sat and watched his son sleep, he picked one of the boy’s bandaged wrists and held it for a moment. Joe shifted in the bed slightly moaning softly, and Ben anxiously bent over him. ‘Joe? I’m here Joe, just settle down son.’

‘Hurts,’ Joe murmured softly.

‘Where does it hurt Joe? Tell Pa.’

‘My arms, my back….. hurts.’ Joe said again softly.

Ben picked up the jar of ointment that the doctor had grudgingly left for him and pulled back the covers. As he gently rubbed it into his son’s back Joe moaned again and began to kick the covers away. ‘Hurts,’ he continued to whimper.

Ben crooned to him softly as he continued to rub as softly as he could. ‘I know it does Joe. I know.’ Joe continued to kick feebly at the covers and they fell onto the floor. As Ben bent down to pick them up, Joe kicked out at him and Ben reached out to hold his son’s foot to stop it from hitting him in the face.

Ben stared down at the foot in his hand, not able to take his eyes away from a mark on the boy’s heel that he saw for the first time. Oh my God Joe, what have they done to you son? Ben fingered the mark and his blood went cold with the thought of how it had come to be there. He pounded the bed with his other fist and bent his head to kiss the foot that he held so tenderly. Joseph! Joseph! His tears fell unchecked down his face and onto the boy’s foot as he sobbed uncontrollably. Joe slept on while his father mourned for the inhumanity of men in this world.

————————–

Ben sat and stared at the beam of sunlight that cut across the room and ended on the bed on which he sat. Beside him Joe slept, muttering in his sleep. Ben reached over and stroked the boy’s curls from his forehead, and Joe settled immediately. Ben thought about all his son had been through, and longed to draw him into his arms again, and it was only the thought of disturbing his sleep that refrained him from doing so.

Ben wondered about the doctor’s attitude. The sooner I get you out of here Joseph the better! No one is ever going to hurt you again son, that much I promise you! He leant forward as Joe stirred again and muttered under his breath. ‘It’s alright Joe,’ he murmured. ‘Pa’s here son, go back to sleep now.’

Joe opened his eyes and stared at his father for a moment. ‘Pa?’ he asked, puzzled for a moment. ‘Pa? Have you come for me?’

Ben stroked his son’s hair again. ‘Yes Joe, I’ve come for you. Go back to sleep now.’

Joe opened his eyes wider and looked around him anxiously. ‘Pa? Can we leave here now Pa? I want to get away from here now.’

‘It’s alright son, we’re in the hotel room.’

‘Where?’

‘You’re safe now Joe,’ Ben assured his son. ‘No one’s going to hurt you now.’

Joe began to cry quietly and Ben reached down and held his son close to him while he murmured into his ear.

‘Pa I know you said you’d come and I did believe you, really I did.’ Joe sobbed onto his father’s shoulder.

‘I know.’

‘But I couldn’t wait Pa. I know you said to do whatever it took, but I just couldn’t! Pa I tried, but I couldn’t do it.’

‘It’s alright Joe, it’s alright. You did nothing wrong son.’

Joe lifted his head and looked into his father’s eyes. ‘Yes Pa I did. I made someone die. Someone who didn’t deserve to. He died Pa, and it was my fault.’ In between sobs he told his father of Lucas, while Ben sat and listened silently. When Joe had finished his father had no words for him, but merely hugged his boy tighter as if to take the anguish away from him with his touch.

‘I made him die Pa. It was my fault.’ Joe lifted his tear-streaked face up to look at his father. ‘If I had just waited Pa it wouldn’t have happened.’

‘Joe you weren’t to know,’ his father replied. ‘You did what you felt you had to and Lucas got caught up in a situation that you both had no control over. You said you tried to explain.’

‘Yes but they wouldn’t listen,’ Joe sobbed. ‘No one would listen.’

Ben stroked the boy’s hair silently while Joe continued. ‘But I had to go Pa. They were gonna …..’ he stopped unwilling to tell his father any more.

‘They were going to …..’ Ben prompted.

‘Nothin …. I mean …. Pa, I just can’t ……’

‘It’s alright Joe. You don’t have to tell me.’

Joe stared out of the window at the people in the street below. ‘Why are people like that Pa? Why do they do those things?’

‘Joe not all people are like that. There are many decent people in this world who would be just as horrified with the things that go on here as we are.’

Joe lay and stared at his father. ‘Pa can we go home now? I really want to go home Pa.’

Ben leant closer to him. ‘You’re not well enough yet Joe. I want you to be sure that you’re up to the trip. It’s a long way son.’

‘Pa I’m up to it! I just have to get out of here now, ya know? Now Pa, please?’

Ben smiled at his son, trying to calm him. ‘I promise you Joe, as soon as I think you are up to the trip we’ll leave. Now try and go back to sleep son.’ He wiped the tears from the boy’s face and smiled at him. ‘The sooner you get some sleep the sooner you’ll be well enough to travel.’

Joe nodded and closed his eyes. As his breathing gradually slowed and sleep overtook him, Ben closed his own eyes and prayed for his son to be at peace again.

———————-

Joe sat at the window looking down at the street below him. He had been watching the passing traffic for hours without really seeing it, and was content to just sit and stare at nothing in particular. When the door behind him opened he smiled to see his father enter the room. ‘Hi Pa,’ he smiled. ‘Did you get them?’

Ben returned the smile and sat next to his son. ‘I sure did. A couple of shirts and a pair of pants to go with those fancy new boots of yours. Underwear too.’ He smiled at the expression on Joe’s face. ‘And you’ll be wearing it young man, I know what you’re like!’ They smiled at each other. Ben’s eyes darted to Joe’s feet and wondered once again why the boy insisted on wearing the boots even with his nightshirt. Was it because of the brand on his foot? Ben hadn’t told Joe that he had seen the mark and didn’t intend to until the boy was ready to tell him about it. Yet somehow he felt though that the obsession with the boots was something else again. All in good time Joseph, all in good time.

‘I got something else too son,’ he said softly. ‘Here.’ He held out a sheaf of paper to Joe and motioned for him to take it. Joe opened it up and began to read for a few moments, then dropped it into his lap.

‘There’s a copy for you to keep son, and they’ve all been lodged in the county records.’ Ben stroked the back of his son’s neck. ‘These documents mean that you don’t belong to anyone Joe, not even me. The only person you belong to from now on is yourself. There’s nothing to worry about ever again Joe. No body can ever harm you again.’ Joe bent his head and sobbed while Ben continued to comfort him. ‘Let it out Joe. Cry as much as you need to son. Just let it out.’

Joe sobbed out his relief and his anguish in his father’s arms, while Ben waited.

After a few moments, Joe took a deep breath. ‘Pa there’s something I have ta tell you.’

Ben sat silently and waited.

‘When I first went there Pa, they ….. they ….’ Joe’s words trailed away, while Ben continued to wait for him to find the words. ‘They …… marked me Pa.’ Joe looked up at his father to see if he understood. ‘They put a mark …. here on my foot.’ He pointed to his heel. ‘They wanted to ….. to show that I belonged to them.’

‘You don’t belong to anyone now Joe,’ his father said, trying not to show the boy his repulsion at the thought of what they had done to him.

‘Yes, but …. The mark on there, it’s …. well …. it’s there forever now isn’t it? I …. guess It …. It’ll remind me I suppose.’

‘Yes, it will always be there to remind you Joe. I wish to God I could take what they did away from you, but I can’t. No one can.’

Joe tried to smile at his father, but failed. He turned away from the intense look that Ben gave him, and swallowed. ‘The ….. the boots ….. well, they’ll hide it won’t they?’

Ben frowned. ‘Yes.’

‘But I’ll know that it’s there. Even if other people don’t, I’ll still know it’s there. It’s the mark of what I really am.’ Joe looked back at his father. ‘They wouldn’t let me have any boots, ya know. Slaves aren’t allowed ta have em.’

Ah, now we’re getting to it! ‘No?’ Ben asked.

‘Even though I’ve got these papers now,’ Joe indicated the papers on his lap, ‘I’ve still got the mark. I’ll always be coloured.’

Ben reached to his son and clutched him around the back of the neck. ‘You are what you are Joe. Nothing can change that. It doesn’t matter what your ancestry was.’

Joe nodded. ‘Pa?’

‘Yes son?’

‘My mother … she didn’t know about any of this did she?’

‘No Joe, she was never aware of her ancestry. My only wish is that I could take the last few weeks away from you son, to make so that it never happened. But I can’t.’ Ben stroked his boy’s hair. ‘But what I can say to you Joe is this – you are free now, and nothing can ever change that again. You will always be free just like you were before.’

Joe looked into his father’s eyes. ‘No Pa. I might be legally free now, but I’ll never really be what I was before. It’s different now Pa, you know?’

Ben nodded at him and continued to stroke his hair. ‘But it’s OK now Pa, cause I learned something.’

‘What’s that son?’

‘I learned that it doesn’t matter if you’re free or not. Freedom is in here isn’t it?’ He touched his chest to indicate his heart, and Ben nodded. ‘Ya know what Pa? When it first happened I really hated it when people called me part-coloured, but then I got ta thinking. If being coloured was bein like people like Katie, then it was OK, ya know?’

‘Yes Joe. You should never be ashamed of who you are son, whether its your colour or anything else.’

‘Yeah I know that now Pa. I mean, it was kinda like being ashamed of who I am wasn’t it? Kinda like being ashamed of my mother. I still want ta run away from all this,’ he indicated the scene out in the street,’ but I don’t want ta run away from what I am no more.’

Ben smiled at him and patted his head.

‘That part of me belongs ta my mother, so it can’t be bad ta have it can it? If she was coloured, then its good enough for me ta be too!’

‘I think you’ve learned quite a bit more than you realise son,’ said Ben softly.

————————-

Ben led Joe along the train platform at a slow pace, not really sure how his son was coping with the crowds and the exertion. ‘Up here Joseph, I’ve booked us a compartment to ourselves so that you can stretch out and rest.’ Ben turned when he realised his son had stopped. ‘What is it son?’

Joe was staring into a carriage, his mind taking him back to the last time he had been here. Inside the luggage compartment he saw a couple of dogs tied up and luggage piled high, but nothing else. He sighed with relief, and thought briefly about Nathan. Wonder if he ever got to that farm? I hope so. ‘Coming Pa,’ he said and began to walk along the platform after him.

He thought about the strangeness of being on the other side of that door again. He was back in his own world again now, but somehow it seemed very different. He wondered if it really was his world after all. Somehow he doubted that he truly belonged in either one. As he sat in their compartment and looked out of the window at the people on the platform he wondered if life would ever be the same again. He doubted it. The things that had happened to him had forever changed his world, no matter which side of the carriage door he was looking from.

Joe glanced across at his father and smiled at him, and Ben returned the look. ‘It’s a long way ahead of us Joe. Settle back and relax now son,’ his father said.

Joe sighed and sat back in his seat as the train picked up speed and left the station platform behind them. Joe wriggled his toes inside his new boots and felt the roughness of the mark on his heel that would be with him for the rest of his life. As he glanced down at his shiny new boots, he smiled. At first he had been so grateful to have them. Grateful that he had a method of covering up the mark that told the world who he really was, grateful that by wearing them he was showing the world that he was Joe Cartwright again, not Joseph the slave. But now he knew that wasn’t so important anymore. His father was right. He had no need to be ashamed of whom he really was.

He thought of Katie back at the plantation living her life the only way she knew how. He thought of Lucas and the waste of a life with so much still to live. He thought of Nathan still living the nightmare that had so recently been his as well. He thought of his father and his brothers and how lucky he was to be going back to the life with them that he knew so well. He thought of his mother and how she had left him the legacy of her blood that she hadn’t even been aware of herself. It was a legacy that would be with him forever, whether or not others acknowledged it or even knew it existed.

Joe sighed as he watched the landscape change from the city scene to a country setting. He was on his way back to a world from which he had been cruelly torn if only for a short while, and one that he would now see with such different eyes. Never again would he take for granted the things in life with which he had been blessed. He wriggled his toes again inside his new boots and felt the mark that named him as coloured rub against the boots that showed him as white. Two worlds so vastly different, yet both a part of him.

He would never forget that he belonged between two worlds now, and the man that Joe Cartwright was becoming would take from both of them what he needed to live his life the best way he knew how.

Two Worlds Collide

by Joan

Adam straightened up from his position as he leant against a pole and peered into the distance where a small swirl of dust could be seen. ‘It’s coming,’ he said quietly. Hoss stood up and put his hat on as he followed his brother’s gaze. The two brothers stood in silence for a few moments, their eyes fixated on the ever-increasing dust in the distance. ‘Remember what Pa wrote,’ said Adam, looking at his brother. ‘We need to just follow his lead.’

Hoss nodded. ‘Sure,’ he said. ‘I’ll just be glad to see em both again.’

The stage drew to a halt in front of them and they waited as a couple of passengers alighted before spying their father getting down. ‘Pa!’ called Hoss and stepped forward to give the man a bear hug that lifted him full off the ground.

‘Steady son,’ said Ben, laughing. He turned to Adam and gave him a hug as well, then stood back and looked at both his sons. ‘How are you both?’ he asked.

‘We’re fine Pa,’ replied Adam. ‘How are you more to the point?’ His eyes travelled to the open door of the stage. ‘And Joe?’

Ben smiled at them both. ‘We’re tired,’ he said. ‘It’s been a long trip.’ He gave them both a meaningful look and said in a slightly louder voice. ‘I hope you’ve got the buggy with you. I don’t think Joe and I are up to riding just yet.’ He turned to the stage. ‘Joseph?’

The unmistakeable curly head of their younger brother appeared in the doorway and Joe stepped down from the stage quickly. ‘Hi!’ he said with a grin. Hoss made to step forward and then hesitated. ‘Well?’ said Joe. ‘Don’t I get a hug too?’

Hoss grinned at him and gave him the same treatment as he had given his father, this time twirling his younger brother around once in the air at the same time. ‘Ya sure do!’ he said gleefully as he set him down again.

Joe turned to Adam. ‘Don’t you try that!’ he warned. ‘Once is enough.’

Adam laughed and pulled his younger brother toward him as he embraced him. ‘My hugs aren’t quite so rough,’ he said. Joe closed his eyes for a moment as the two brothers embraced, a gesture that didn’t go unnoticed by his father.

‘Come on boys,’ he said. ‘We’ve got lots of time for all this when we get home. What I need is a hot bath, and I’m sure you need one as well Joseph.’ He took his youngest son by the arm and directed him to their buggy, which was across the street.

Joe allowed himself to be led hurriedly towards the buggy and just as quickly got in. He slumped down in the seat and pulled his hat over his face. ‘Can we go now Pa?’ he asked. ‘I want to get out of here.’ He looked furtively around the street.

‘Of course we can,’ said Ben in a jovial tone that sounded quite forced to Adam and Hoss. ‘Come on boys, hurry up.’

Once they were on their way, both brothers had the opportunity to study Joe without being obvious about it and neither of them liked what they saw at all. He was a bit thinner, although not unduly so, but what struck them both was the pinched and haunted look about him that he was obviously taking great pains to hide. But try as he would, the strain of the past few weeks showed clearly to them by the dark circles under his eyes, the pinched look of his usually smiling mouth and the nervous fidgeting of his hands. He was a very different boy to the excited and happy one they had said goodbye to that day when he and their father were setting off on their trip to New Orleans.

On that day Joe had been so animated and alive. Now he seemed to be a pale imitation of the person he had seemed then. Both his brothers ached at the sight of him and it was only their father’s meaningful stare that told them to take it easy that stopped either of them from reaching out to him and hugging him to them again.

‘So?’ said Adam, trying to sound casual. ‘How was the trip back?’

Ben glanced at Joe and answered for them both. ‘As easy as could be expected,’ he said. ‘We’re both glad to be home though, aren’t we Joseph?’

Joe nodded. Glad to be home! That was an understatement! He had never felt so glad to be anywhere as he was to feel the relief of coming back to The Ponderosa. The past couple of weeks travelling had been a blur for him, so engrossed had he been in trying to come to terms with all that had happened to him. He had begun to physically heal and felt much better for it, but with each day that passed had also come a great weariness that he found difficult to deal with. He supposed it was leftover from those weeks when he hadn’t been able to sleep much and now that he was safe his body was reacting in this way. He could understand that, but he still found it hard to accept.

It seemed that all he wanted to do was sleep lately and in one way he guessed that had been a good thing. It had helped the travelling time to go faster, it had helped to block out the time he had to dwell on past events and it had given him less time to talk to his father about it. Not that he minded talking to Pa at all. He gave the man a weak smile as the thought crossed his mind for the hundredth time just what his father had done for him. Without Pa he would be… He shifted in his seat and blocked his mind to the thoughts that threatened to invade it once again. Instinctively his hand came to rest on his jacket pocket where he kept his most precious possession…the papers his father had given him that spelled the end to his nightmare. There were a few times during the trip that he had woken up in a cold sweat and reached for them, thinking in his semi-conscious state that they had been taken from him. It had taken quite a bit of persuading from his father on several occasions to convince him that it wasn’t so and even now he had to keep reassuring himself constantly that they were there. Without them he would be…

Joe turned to face his father and brothers. ‘Sure am,’ he said with a forced brightness.

XXXXXXX

‘You go first Joe,’ said his father as he motioned for Hop Sing to bring the hot water in. ‘The tub is ready.’

Joe turned from the window of the washhouse where he had been gazing across towards the barn. He saw Hop Sing carrying the buckets and hurried over to help him. ‘I’ll do that,’ he said.

‘Is all right Little Joe,’ replied Hop Sing. ‘I do it all time.’

‘I know,’ Joe said as he took the buckets. ‘But you shouldn’t have to. I mean…. Let me help.’ Memories of carrying water for hours at an end came back to him and he thought about the way his back had ached with each load. He tipped the water into the tub and stood looking thoughtfully at the ever-widening ripples that raced across its surface.

‘Joe?’

He jumped at his father’s touch. ‘Yes?’

‘You go first.’ Joe hesitated while his father looked at him. ‘I’ll wait outside,’ the man said gently. ‘Let me know when you’re finished and I’ll put some more of that salve on your back.’

Joe nodded, pleased that his father understood his reluctance to undress in front of him. He still found it difficult to look at his own body with the marks of his mistreatment still on it, let alone allowing anyone else to view it. It was as much as he could stand for his father to tend to him during these past few weeks and even then there were times when he found himself cringing away from the man’s touch in spite of himself.

As he lay in the warm water, Joe let his muscles relax and his mind wander. The relief of being home hadn’t sunk in yet and he still felt quite numb with the thought of it all. He glanced across to the chair where his jacket and other clothing lay discarded and checked again that they were still there. As he did so, he cursed himself for the thought. Of course they’re still there stupid! Where else would it be? He made a mental note to ask his father to put the papers in the safe as soon as he got out of here. Those papers were his lifeline to freedom and he went cold at the very thought of what they meant to him. He slid back in the tub, letting the warm water rise up around his head. He held up his wrists to inspect them and noticed that the scabs were quite well formed on them now and wondered how long it would take for them to completely heal over.

Joe considered for a moment how easy it was for his body to heal and yet how hard for his mind. It was a pity there wasn’t some salve his father could rub on that to take away the memories as easily as it took away the hurt in his back, wrists and ankles. He sighed as closed his eyes as he felt the healing warmth of the water doing its work. For now he would just let things be while he recovered. Hopefully it would be as Pa had said…given time his mind would let things go as well.

XXXXXXX

Joe stared into the mirror and smiled thinly at his reflection that stared back at him. From this angle he looked just about the same as he always had. The same eyes, mouth and nose. Of course the mirror only showed his face and didn’t reveal the marks on the rest of his body at all. He picked up a comb and ran it through his thick curly hair, frowning as he did so. What was it Mama Katie had said? Oh yes! He got his curly hair from his mother. He frowned. His mother and her coloured blood. He put his arm out and studied the colour of his skin intently. He couldn’t for the life of him see anything unusual about it, but he supposed it must have a tinge of colour in it if he was…he pushed all such thoughts out of his mind angrily and raked the comb viciously through his hair as he tried to get the knots out of it.

‘You’ll tear it out by the roots if you carry on like that,’ said his father pleasantly as he entered the room. ‘Well I don’t know about you Joe, but I certainly feel better after that hot bath.’

Joe looked at his father’s reflection standing next to his own. ‘Much better,’ he said shortly.

‘Come over here and I’ll put some of this on your back. Pull that nightshirt down just a bit,’ said his father. Joe sat on the bed and slid his nightshirt down from his shoulders as he allowed his Pa to begin the action that they both knew so well now. He had done the same thing twice a day for the past two weeks. ‘It’s looking much better,’ said Ben from behind him. ‘The bruising will be gone in a few more days. Here, let me put some on those wrists.’

Joe allowed his father to pick up his wrists one at a time and apply a liberal amount of the salve on them. It felt cool and soothing against his skin. ‘Pa?’

‘Yes?’ said Ben as he continued to work.

‘Is it all right with you if I go into town tomorrow?’

The question startled Ben so much that he looked up at his son and stopped working for a moment. He hadn’t for one moment thought the boy would want to face people yet and the request absolutely floored him. ‘Of course it is,’ he said after a moment. ‘Why do you want to though? I thought you might like to rest for a few days first.’

Joe nodded. ‘I do,’ he said. ‘I am real tired. It’s just that I want to get a haircut that’s all.’

Ben’s jaw dropped open. It was the first time he could ever remember the boy requesting such a thing. Since he was old enough to understand what was happening around him Joe hadn’t ever wanted to have his haircut and seemed to take great delight in fighting his father about its length every time Ben had dragged him into town to have it done.

‘Sure,’ said Ben finally, not knowing what else to say. ‘We could visit Paul Martin while we’re in there as well.’

‘Why?’

‘I’d like him to look you over that’s all. Check out these wrists for a start.’

‘No.’

‘Joe, I really think he should take a look at you.’

‘That doctor in … down there…he checked me over. I don’t need anyone else to.’

‘That was two weeks ago Joe. I’d feel better if Paul took at look at you now.’

‘No.’

‘Son…’

Joe put his head up. ‘And what are you thinking of telling him Pa? How are you gonna explain all this?’ Joe gestured to his wrists and his back. ‘I don’t want him looking at me.’

Ben sighed. ‘There’s no need to say what happened,’ he began. ‘We could just…’

‘He ain’t stupid Pa. I’m sure he’ll figure part of it out and then he’ll start asking questions. You said yourself that my back is nearly better, so why don’t we just leave it at that?’

‘Joe…’

Joe stood up. ‘No! I ain’t gonna have anyone find out what happened! I ain’t going to no doctor Pa, and that’s an end to it!’ He strode over to his window and looked out.

Ben stood up and walked over to his son. ‘All right Joseph,’ he said quietly.

‘Whatever you want. Just remember that no one around here knows about what happened to you and that’s the way it will stay unless you decide otherwise. I’d never put your privacy at risk like that son.’

‘I know,’ said Joe in a low voice as he continued to stare out of the window. After a moment he added. ‘What did you tell Adam and Hoss in that letter you wrote?’

Ben took a deep breath. ‘I told them how you’d been taken by Bates and sold,’ he said. ‘I told them about your mother’s blood. You said it was all right to say that.’

Joe nodded. ‘Nothing else?’ He glanced down at his feet.

‘No. I know that they’re wondering of course, but I haven’t told them any details yet. I thought you might want to do that.’

Joe shook his head. ‘No,’ he said in the same low voice. ‘I can’t.’

‘Do you want me to?’

‘Yes.’

Ben put his hand on his son’s shoulder. ‘All of it?’

Joe swallowed. ‘Not the ….’ He continued to look at his feet and pointed to them. ‘Not that. I don’t think they need to know about that.’

Ben knew that his son was referring to the brand on his heel. ‘Of course not,’ he said gently as he massaged the boy’s neck. He noticed the socks on his Joe’s feet that he had pulled on with his nightshirt as if to cover them up. ‘I’ll tell you what Joe. Why don’t you get some sleep now and I’ll get Hop Sing to bring you up some supper in a while. You look deadbeat and you’ll need your strength if we’re going into town tomorrow.’

Joe turned at smiled at his father. ‘Yeah, I think I will,’ he said. ‘You look tired too Pa. You should have an early night.’

Ben patted his son on the shoulder. ‘I will,’ he said. ‘I’ll go and talk to your brothers first though.’ Joe nodded. ‘Sleep well son. And Joe?’ Joe looked at his father. ‘Welcome home boy.’ Father and son smiled at each other for a moment and then Ben quietly closed the door behind him as he left the room.

XXXXXXX

Adam sat silently shaking his head as he stared into the fireplace while Hoss paced up and down in front of it as he had for the past forty minutes while their father had been speaking. Ben picked up his coffee cup and noted that it was now cold, so replaced it on the table in front of him. The silence lengthened as the three men each dealt with his own thoughts. Finally Ben spoke. ‘Your brother still feels very fragile about the whole thing as I’m sure you can imagine,’ he said. ‘Now you can see why I said to take it gently with him.’

Hoss turned to him, his face a mixture of anger and despair. ‘I can’t believe what you’re telling us Pa!’ he said. ‘I just can’t believe it!’

Ben looked up at his son sadly. ‘Believe it Hoss. It’s all true,’ he said softly.

‘But how could they? I just don’t understand how anyone could do them things! Specially not to Little Joe!’

Adam rubbed the bridge of his nose as he always did when in thought. ‘Not everyone thinks about Joe the way we do Hoss,’ he said softly. ‘There’s a lot of injustice in this world and unfortunately our little brother has just come face to face with it.’

Hoss clenched his fists. ‘Well if I’d been there I woulda killed….’

‘Which is exactly why I didn’t send you both a wire until it was all over,’ interrupted his father. ‘That kind of thing would have resulted in me having more than one son in trouble.’

‘I guess so,’ acknowledged Hoss. ‘It just riles me so much to think of my little brother being treated like that!’ He thumped the back of his father’s chair.

‘It riles us all Hoss,’ said Adam. ‘But you’ve got to remember that the law was on their side.’

‘I don’t care!’ shouted Hoss. ‘The law is wrong!’

‘I agree,’ continued Adam. ‘But from their point of view…’

‘Law or no law, there’s no reason to have treated him like that!’ exploded Hoss. ‘I don’t care what they thought about his Ma and all that legal stuff…they had no right!’

‘Boys this isn’t helping anyone,’ interrupted their father. ‘What we’ve got to concentrate on now is Joseph. He’s come through a shocking experience and we have to show him our support in order to help him get through the rest of it.’

Adam sat forward. ‘Does he know you’re telling us all this?’ he asked.

‘Yes. He asked me to. He couldn’t bring himself to tell you himself, but I think he’ll be relieved that you know.’

‘So how do you think we should treat him?’ asked the ever-practical Adam.

‘Just be guided by your instincts,’ said Ben. ‘It’s difficult to know how he’ll cope with it all. Time will tell I suppose. He’s asked to go into town and have his haircut tomorrow so I suppose that’s a good sign.’

‘He what?’ asked Hoss incredulously. ‘Shortshanks never once wanted to have his haircut!’

‘I know. It surprised me too,’ acknowledged his father.

‘Pa?’

All three Cartwrights turned at the sound of Joe’s voice behind them on the stairs. Ben stood up. ‘Joe! I thought you were asleep son. What are you doing up?’

‘I forgot something,’ said Joe, avoiding his brothers’ eyes. He had a fair idea of what they’d all been talking about and didn’t feel comfortable about it at all. He held out some papers to Ben who looked at them strangely.

‘What are they?’ he asked.

‘The… them papers you got for me,’ said Joe looking at his father pleadingly as if willing him not to say anything about them in front of his brothers. ‘They’re kinda important and I was wondering if they could go in the safe?’

Ben took the papers from his son’s hand. ‘Of course,’ he said with a smile. ‘I’ll put them in before I go to bed. Now upstairs with you and get some rest.’

Joe stood his ground. ‘Could you put them in now please? I want to make sure they’re safe.’ Ben walked over to the safe and bent down to fiddle with the combination. Joe didn’t take his eyes off his father until the papers were safely away and the man stood up again. ‘Thanks, he said shortly. ‘Night.’

‘Good night son.’

‘Night Joe,’ called Adam.

‘Get some sleep,’ said Hoss with a smile.

Joe gave them all a half-hearted smile and climbed the stairs again.

‘What was that all about?’ asked Adam.

‘His papers,’ replied his father as he stared at the staircase. ‘After I’d paid Edwards the money I went down to the Town Registry and had him signed over to himself. It was important that he knew he didn’t even belong to me anymore.’

Adam nodded. ‘I can understand that,’ he said. ‘Poor kid.’

Ben nodded. ‘He still feels very insecure about it all,’ he said. ‘We have to try and help him get over it.’ He sighed. ‘I’m off to bed now boys. It’s been a long day and I’m aching for that soft mattress. Goodnight.’ He climbed the stairs wearily leaving Adam and Hoss still staring into the fire, each with their own thoughts.

XXXXXXX

‘Ben! When did you and the youngster get back into town?’ Harold Roach held out his hand and shook Ben’s enthusiastically. ‘Good to see you back.’

Ben smiled at the barber. ‘We got in yesterday,’ he said.

‘Dragging the boy in for a haircut already eh?’ replied Harold. ‘Hello Joe.’

‘Hello Mr Roach,’ said Joe sitting himself in the chair.

‘So how was the trip?’ asked Harold as he put a sheet around Joe and picked up his scissors.

Ben saw Joe wince in the mirror, so he answered quickly. ‘Fine.’

‘Who’s been hacking away at this?’ asked Harold as he combed through Joe’s hair. ‘I’ll have to even it up before I can give it a trim.’

Joe thought back again to Momma Katie and the day she’d cut his hair and commented on how curly it was… just like his mother’s must have been. ‘I don’t want it just trimmed,’ he said. ‘I want it cut real short.’

The barber stopped and stared at him in the mirror. ‘What did you say?’ he asked in surprise. For as long as he could remember the youngest Cartwright boy had fought with his father in front of Harold about how he wanted his hair left long.

‘I want it cut short,’ repeated Joe. ‘Get all the curl out of it.’

Suddenly Ben realised what was behind their trip here. The boy was worried about the look of his hair. For the first time ever, Ben felt their roles reversed. ‘Surely not too short Joe,’ he said. ‘It’s a shame to cut off all those beautiful curls.’

‘Well nothing is gonna get the curl completely out,’ said Harold. ‘But I’ll cut it short if you want.’ He began to hack away at Joe’s hair while his father watched from behind.

‘Fancy boots,’ said Harold. ‘Get them in New Orleans?’

‘Yes,’ replied Joe shortly and immediately tucked his feet under the sheet. Wasn’t it enough that he felt the mark on his heel with every step that he took? Now people were noticing his feet and drawing attention to them. Joe scowled into the mirror and caught his father looking at him, so he immediately changed the look into a smile. With every lock of his hair that fell to the ground he felt great satisfaction as if part of the last few weeks were falling away with it. Unfortunately hair grew back as he well knew, and so he knew that he’d have to maintain the cut once he had it done.

By the time the barber had finished, Joe looked quite different. Ben thought quite a bit younger, which only accentuated the vulnerability that his father knew was so much a part of him at the moment. Joe stood up and looked at the floor upon which his curls were scattered. ‘Thanks,’ he mumbled and strode out, leaving his father to pay the bill.

‘Is Joe all right?’ asked Harold as he took the money. ‘He seems a bit agitated about something.’

Ben smiled. ‘He’s fine,’ he said. ‘Just tired from the trip that’s all.’ He walked outside to find Joe scratching his head and giving him a sheepish look.

‘My hat feels too big for me now,’ he said. ‘Maybe that wasn’t so smart.’

Ben put his arm around his son’s shoulder. ‘It’ll grow back,’ he said and saw a look of concern flit across his son’s face momentarily. ‘How about we get you some new clothes while we’re in here if you’re not too tired?’

Joe shrugged. ‘No I’m OK,’ he said. But the boy looked anything but OK when they entered the next shop. As soon as the shopkeeper began to hold up pieces of clothing the agitation that Ben had observed earlier came back again and he had the distinct feeling that his son couldn’t wait to get out of there.

‘They’re fine,’ he said to the shopkeeper as the man held up a couple of shirts.

‘Don’t you want to try them on?’ the man asked.

‘No. They’re fine,’ repeated Joe. He pulled the cuffs of his jacket down over his wrists to hide them and gave Ben a pleading look.

His father stepped forward, took the shirts and held them up against Joe’s chest. ‘No need to try them on,’ he said. ‘Joe’s right. They’re fine. I’m sure it’s all right if you try on the pants in the back room though Joseph. Go in there and see if they fit.’

Joe shot his father a look of sheer relief and scampered into the back room quickly. Ben sighed as he sat down. He could well understand the boy’s reluctance to undress in front of anyone at the moment, and he hoped that his son’s concern was due to the marks on his body and nothing else. Hopefully it would pass in time.

Later on as they were riding home, Ben hesitated as they passed the trail that led down to the lake. Joe often wanted to stop there on the way to and from town and given his recent experiences, Ben was sure that he’d want to today. Visiting his mother’s grave would be good for him, even if it might cause him to be a bit emotional and Ben was prepared to spend quite a bit of time with the boy there if he needed to. He was surprised when Joe, however, stared ahead resolutely and kept riding.

‘Joe,’ he said as he caught up to his son. ‘I thought you might like to visit your mother’s grave today. Do you want to stop for a few moments?’

Joe kept staring ahead. ‘I’m kinda tired Pa. If you don’t mind I might go another time.’

Ben nodded. ‘Of course. Whatever you want son.’ He noticed his son’s reluctance to look at him as if he were worried about something. ‘It’s all right Joe. You don’t have to until you’re ready.’

Joe gave a slight nod and kept riding.

XXXXXXX

‘How about it shortshanks?’ asked Hoss at the dinner table. ‘It’s such a hot afternoon that a bit of fishing might be just the thing to do this afternoon.’

Joe looked at his brother sideways. ‘Ain’t you got work to do?’ he asked.

‘Corse I do!’ replied Hoss jovially. ‘Ain’t meaning ta do it though if Pa’ll agree ta me having the afternoon off!’ He looked at his father hopefully. The haunted look in his little brother’s eye was just about more than he could stand and he aimed to try anything to get rid of it. ‘How about it Pa?’ he asked. ‘It ain’t every day we have a family reunion.’

Ben smiled at him, knowing what was behind the request. ‘I think I can spare you for one afternoon,’ he said. ‘Why don’t all three of you go?’ He felt that an afternoon with his brothers would do the boy good.

‘How about it Adam?’ asked Hoss.

‘Fine,’ said Adam with a smile. ‘I’ve never turned down an afternoon off. Joe?’

Joe hesitated. He still didn’t feel comfortable being with his brothers yet…just the thought that they knew what he’d been through was enough to make him feel…well he didn’t quite know what he felt yet. He shrugged. ‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘I’m kinda tired.’

‘Then ya can sleep up at the lake,’ said Hoss, grinning at him. ‘Aw come on short shanks! Ya not gonna deprive us of an afternoon off are ya?’

Joe shrugged again. ‘OK,’ he said without any enthusiasm in his voice.

‘Great!’ said Hoss. ‘I’ll go and get things ready.’

‘I’m glad you’re coming Joe,’ said Adam. ‘It’ll be good for you after all you’ve been through.’ He watched his brother carefully to gauge his reaction to his words.

‘Yeah sure,’ mumbled Joe and stood up. ‘I’ll go and … saddle Cochise.’ He practically ran from the room.

There was silence as Joe left. ‘Be careful with him,’ Ben said finally.

Adam stood up. ‘Aren’t I always?’ he replied. He put his hand on his father’s shoulder as he passed him. ‘Don’t worry Pa. He’ll come back to us eventually. You said yourself to give him time.’

Ben put his hand over his son’s. ‘I know,’ he said. ‘Its just…I keep seeing him in my mind as he was when I found him. Tied up and…they kept him like an animal Adam. I just don’t know if I’ll ever…’ his voice trailed away and tears formed in his eyes. ‘I’m sorry son,’ he said. ‘I guess I’m going to take some getting over this too.’

Adam looked at his father compassionately and noted the weariness that surrounded him. ‘Hoss and I couldn’t begin to understand what both of you went through down there Pa. But anytime you need to we’re both here to listen and … well we’re here if you need us.’

Ben patted Adam’s hand again. ‘I know,’ he said. ‘I think I’ll go upstairs and rest while you’re all out this afternoon. We’re all going to need to be strong during the coming weeks and frankly at the moment I just don’t feel it.’ Adam watched his father wearily mount the stairs and turned to follow his brothers outside.

XXXXXXX

‘Whew! That’s better,’ said Hoss as he eased off his boots and socks and dangled his feet in the water alongside Adam’s. ‘Hey shortshanks! Ain’t ya gonna take off ya boots?’

‘No.’

‘Aw go on. It’s too hot ta leave em on ya know.’

Joe glared at him. ‘I said no,’ he said curtly.

Hoss looked at Adam and fell silent. Joe tucked his feet up under him and threw his line into the water and the three brothers sat alongside each other for quite a while enjoying the sunshine.

‘Pa told you didn’t he?’ asked Joe suddenly in a low voice.

‘Yep,’ said Hoss with another glance at Adam. ‘That’s why we’re so glad ta have ya back again.’ There was silence. ‘I’d kill em all fer ya if I could ya know Joe.’

Joe turned and smiled at his brother. ‘That’d really help,’ he said sarcastically. ‘Anyway the one that I really wanted dead already is.’

‘Just keep remembering that buddy,’ said Adam. ‘He can’t ever hurt you again.’

‘I know.’

‘None of em ever can!’ declared Hoss. ‘Ya’re home now and things can get back ta normal.’

Joe shook his head. ‘Things’ll never be the same again,’ he said in the same low voice. ‘I’m a different person now.’

‘You’re still our Joe though,’ said Adam, putting his hand on his brother’s shoulder in a rare display of affection. Joe looked startled at the gesture. ‘Nothing can ever change you really unless you let it.’

‘You sound like Pa now,’ said Joe with a half-smile.

‘Well some of him is bound to rub off don’t you think?’ said Adam with a grin. ‘We’ve all listened to him often enough.’

Joe’s half-smile turned into a grin as well. ‘Sure have!’ he agreed.

‘You want to talk about it?’

Joe hesitated. ‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘Part of me wants to forget all about it, but then…sometimes I just want to get it all out of me, you know? Pa’s been great about it, but I don’t want to hurt him any more with it all.’

‘How could ya hurt him?’ asked Hoss.

‘Well he was real upset when he found me,’ said Joe. ‘I just think that talking about it might upset him more. And…’ Adam and Hoss waited. ‘And then there’s that stuff about my mother you know.’

Adam frowned. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Well…I don’t know.’ Joe shrugged and hugged his knees tight to his chest. ‘It just seems…’ he shook his head and was silent.

Adam looked over at him and noticed the tears that were threatening to fall. He motioned to Hoss. ‘Hey! I got an idea!’ said Hoss. ‘How about the three of us go into town tonight and have a drink? Bet it’s been a while since you’ve done that eh Joe?’

Joe gave him a watery smile. ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘Seems like forever.’ He closed his eyes for a moment and placed his head back onto his knees. ‘Think I’ll give it a miss though Hoss. Maybe another time.’

Hoss nodded. ‘OK Joe. Another time.’ He looked at Adam sadly.

XXXXXXX

Ben looked anxiously at his youngest son sitting beside him. He wondered if he should have insisted that he didn’t come to Church today, but Joe was so insistent that he come that he just didn’t have the heart to argue with him. He knew that the boy was determined that everything should appear as normal and didn’t want anyone in town to wonder why he wasn’t around, but it seemed to Ben that he was pushing things too far and too early.

He listened as the Reverend gave his homily, acutely aware of his son’s increasing agitation beside him. He placed a hand on Joe’s thigh and smiled at him, but the boy didn’t respond and stared straight ahead as if concentrating intently on the Reverend’s words.

Suddenly Joe stood up and rushed to the back door of the building, startling everyone with the intensity of his movements. Hoss made to follow him, but Ben waved him back and stood up himself. He gave the Reverend a smile of apology and hastened to catch up with his son outside. Ben found Joe around the back of the church, leaning against the fence and breathing heavily. ‘Joe?’ he said as he approached him. ‘Are you all right son?’

Joe looked at his father. His arms were tightly wound around his waist and his eyes were flashing. ‘I’m fine!’ he said in a tight voice. ‘Leave me alone!’

Ben stood his ground. ‘Well it’s obvious that you’re not all right,’ he said. He took a step forward. ‘What is it?’

Him!’ Joe shouted as he pointed to the church. ‘I don’t have ta sit and listen to all that!’ He stumbled on his words in his haste to get them out. ‘All that talk about…. about God watching…about God looking out for us! It’s all rubbish!’ Ben tried to put his arm around his son, but Joe shrugged him off. ‘Where was God when I needed him Pa? Tell me that? Where was he?’

‘Joe, I know it seems to you that God didn’t look after you when you needed him son, but it just isn’t so. God is always…’

‘No!’ Joe pointed his finger at his father. ‘Don’t you tell me that! He wasn’t there for me! He’s not there for any of them! Don’t you understand Pa? It’s still going on down there! Momma Katie and all of them…God’s not looking after them! He can’t be…otherwise He’d make sure that none of that stuff goes on! I don’t believe in Him anymore…not after everything that happened.’

‘Joseph! You mustn’t say that son! I know it seems hard to take but…’

Joe turned on his father. ‘Hard to take!’ he shouted. ‘You’ve got no idea Pa! Hard to take?!’ He shook his head. ‘They treated me like an animal Pa! They did things to me…’

‘I know.’

‘No you don’t! You’ve never had to stand up in front of people and be shown off like… like an animal and have people decide how much you cost! Having them look me up and down and talk about…’ his voice trailed off and he hung his head and began to cry as his grip around his waist tightened. ‘Where was God that day Pa? Where was He…you tell me!’

Ben took another step forward and gathered his son into his arms as Joe continued to sob. ‘I don’t know son,’ he said feeling his own tears begin to form. ‘I can’t answer you that. I just don’t know. All I know is that God gave you back to me now and for that I’m thankful. He did bring you back to me eventually Joe. Keep that in mind.’

Joe sniffed on his father’s shoulder. ‘What about all the others?’ he said.

‘Joe not everyone in this world thinks like the people you came in contact with down there. There are many good people who even as we speak are fighting against many of the injustices that are going on. I believe that one day it will end.’

Joe looked up at his father. ‘Do you?’

Ben nodded. ‘Yes I do,’ he said. ‘Some people say that’s it’s coming to a head one day soon. I only hope in my lifetime it’s resolved.’

‘And in the meantime?’

Ben shrugged. ‘Change takes time Joe. In the meantime we need to pray and hope for all those like Momma Katie. You do believe that don’t you?’

Joe shrugged. ‘I guess so. I just don’t know any more. I don’t know if God’s there or not and that scares me. I feel like…I feel like I’m living in two different worlds at the moment.’ He looked around. ‘There’s all of this…and then there’s …down there. I just can’t get it all out of my head and I don’t want to remember it any more.’ He wriggled his toes and felt the mark on his heel as he did every day. ‘It’s like I’m Joe Cartwright, but I’m also Joseph the…the slave.’ The last word was whispered as if he were afraid that someone would hear it.

‘You’re not …that…any longer,’ said his father. ‘All that is behind you now.’

Joe shook his head. ‘No,’ he said. ‘None of it’s behind me Pa. It’s still in me.’ He pulled up his sleeve and showed his father his bare arm. ‘See? That’s me. That’s my skin…I’m coloured and there’s nothing…no papers or nothing that’ll change that. I’m like it forever!’

‘You told me that you weren’t ashamed of that,’ said his father sternly. ‘There’s nothing to be ashamed of in your background Joseph.’

Joe turned away from his father. ‘I know I shouldn’t be,’ he said quietly. ‘I told you before it’s like being ashamed of…of her.’

Ben knew whom his son referred to. ‘You’re not ashamed of your mother.’

Joe hesitated. ‘No,’ he said. ‘I’m not ashamed of her Pa. I just wish…I wish she hadn’t been born like she was. You know, her mother being half-black and all. I wish I didn’t have any of that in me.’

‘Joe we are what we are,’ said Ben. ‘It doesn’t make you any less of a man. Surely you should know that after all you’ve been through.’

Joe turned sharply as people started coming out of the church. He wiped his eyes quickly on the sleeve of his jacket and stood up straight. ‘Be careful Pa,’ he said anxiously. ‘Someone might hear.’

‘And if they did Joseph?’ asked Ben looking at his son’s face intently. ‘Would it matter?’

Joe looked shocked. ‘Of course it would matter!’ he said. ‘I don’t want anyone to know!’ He stepped forward and clutched his father’s arm. ‘You promised Pa!’ he said anxiously. ‘You promised that no one would know!’

Ben patted his son’s hand. ‘And I meant it,’ he said. ‘No one will ever know unless you choose to tell them son. But I just want you to remember what I’ve said Joseph. It doesn’t make you any less of a man.’ He gazed into his son’s eyes. ‘Do you hear me?’

Joe nodded his head and rubbed his eyes again, but Ben noticed that he didn’t meet his father’s gaze. ‘Sure,’ he said unconvincingly. ‘We’d better go over there now or people will wonder what’s wrong.’ He pulled his father back over towards the group of people who were beginning to gather in the front yard of the church. Ben nodded briefly to Adam and Hoss who gave him questioning looks.

‘Ben!’ He turned at the sound of Paul Martin’s voice. ‘I heard you were back in town.’ The doctor smiled at them both and patted Joe on the back. ‘How was the trip?’

‘Fine,’ said Ben, forcing a smile on his face.

‘Are you all right Joe?’ asked the doctor kindly. ‘I saw you run out of church before.’

‘Yeah I’m fine,’ mumbled Joe. ‘Just had ta go to the outhouse that’s all.’

Paul frowned as he looked at the youngster standing beside him. ‘Are you sure?’ he asked. ‘You look a bit pale and your eyes are…’

‘I’m fine!’ said Joe. ‘I’m gonna wait in the buggy Pa.’

Paul turned his gaze on Ben as Joe left them. ‘Ben I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset the boy, but it’s just that he looks a bit peaky. Do you want me to take a look at him for you?’

Ben shook his head. ‘No. He’s just a bit tired still from the trip that’s all,’ he said. Paul looked unconvinced. ‘He just needs a few days rest Paul. He’ll be fine. Now, tell me what’s been going on in town while I’ve been away.’

But Ben’s mind was far from the events in town as he listened to his friend. His eyes kept darting over to the youngster hunched over in the buggy and his mind was focused on a prayer for his son to be at peace.

XXXXXXX

Joe drew the brush across Cochise’s back lovingly with a wide sweep and patted his horse as he worked. ‘You’re a good fella ain’t ya boy? Did ya miss me when I was away?’ He frowned as his hand rested on the pinetree brand that marked the horse as one of their own and he shut his eyes as the memory came back to him yet again of the day they had held him down and put a similar mark on his own skin. He felt himself begin to sweat and go clammy as the horrific feeling swept over him yet again. ‘I’m sorry boy,’ he said softly as he laid his head on the horse’s flank. ‘I’m so sorry we did that to you.’

A noise behind him startled him and he quickly wiped his tears away with one hand while he pretended to work. He didn’t turn at the sound of his brother’s voice, but kept his head down as he brushed. ‘How are you this morning Joe?’ asked Adam.

‘Fine,’ he said as he continued to brush. ‘Just getting chores done.’

Adam moved to stand beside him. ‘I’m going into town to get some supplies. Thought you might like to come.’

Joe forced a smile on his face as he turned to face his brother. ‘Sure,’ he said brightly. ‘I’ll just finish up here first.’

Adam leant against the wooden railing of the stall as he watched his brother work. He absentmindedly patted the muzzle of the black horse in the stall next to him. ‘I guess you’re glad to see old Cooch again eh?’ he asked. ‘I swear that horse missed you while you were gone.’

Joe patted the horse’s flank. ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘Me and Cooch is real happy to be together again, ain’t we boy?’ He kept brushing. ‘Never thought I’d say it, but I really missed doing this chore while I was gone. Although…’ Adam waited. ‘Although sometimes they let me work with the horses. They had some nice ones.’

‘Not as nice as Cochise though I’ll bet.’

Joe shook his head. ‘There’s no horse as good as Coochie.’

Adam continued to pat the muzzle of the horse next to him. ‘Oh I don’t know,’ he said with a grin. ‘This gal here’d give him a run for his money.’

Joe returned the grin. ‘She’s new ain’t she? I don’t remember seeing her in here before.’

‘Mmm. We got her while you were away. Hoss bought her from Ab Jenkins. Thought she’d bring in some new blood. We should be able to breed some pure stock from this one.’

Joe felt the blood beginning to pound in his head as his brother’s words brought an unpleasant memory into his mind. He shook his head as he tried to get rid of it and concentrated on the horse’s flank in front of him.

Joe led the horse out of the stall and waited. Daniel came over to pat the animal before taking the reins. ‘Beautiful animal isn’t he?’ Joe indicated his assent with a slight nod of his head. ‘We bred him ourselves you know. We maintain pure bloodlines around here if we can – in animals and slaves!’ He looked directly at Joe with a sneer.‘My uncle has it in mind for you to be quite useful in that department as well.’

‘You know I think this mare is going to make us quite a bit of money,’ continued Adam, oblivious to his younger brother’s distress. ‘We’ll just have to breed her with the right…’

‘Stop it!’ said Joe sharply.

Adam looked at his brother strangely. ‘What?’ he asked. ‘What’s the matter? I was only saying that we’ll get some great colts from her if we…’

Joe dropped the brush and turned to glare at his brother. ‘Stop it!’ he repeated. ‘Don’t talk like that!’ His eyes became unfocussed and he swayed slightly as he felt himself losing control of his emotions and began to panic.

Momma Katie patted him on the shoulder. ‘Just what ya need I reckon. They’ll find ya a nice one too. Boy with your looks and light colour, they’ll get lots o pretty little ones from ya that’s for sure!’

Adam stepped forward to steady him. ‘Joe?’ he said anxiously. ‘Are you alright?’

Joe threw his brother’s arms away from him and stepped back. ‘Don’t touch me!’ he yelled. ‘Don’t you come near me talking like that!’ He whirled around and searched for a way out of the stall, his arms flailing wildly.

‘Hey buddy calm down,’ said Adam, beginning to panic along with his brother. He didn’t know what had caused this reaction from him, but he knew that he had to try and get the boy calm before he could talk some sense into him. He reached out for his brother again, but Joe pushed him away as he stumbled out of the stall and fell to his knees in the hay.

‘No!’ he cried over and over again. ‘You can’t do it! I won’t let you do it to me! No!’

‘Joseph!’

Adam looked up to see his father and Hoss standing in the doorway. ‘Adam what happened?’ asked Ben as he surveyed the scene in front of him.

Adam shook his head and he watched his little brother writhing on the floor in front of them. ‘I don’t know,’ he said distressed. ‘One minute we were talking about the horses and the next he was carrying on like this. I must have said something wrong, but I don‘t know what.’

Ben bent down and knelt in front of Joe who was still sobbing on the floor. ‘Joseph?’ he said gently. ‘It’s Pa. Look at me son. It’s all right.’

Joe looked up at his father, his tear-streaked face a picture of fear and confusion. ‘Pa?’ he said. ‘Don’t let them!’ He clutched at his father desperately. ‘Please don’t let them Pa!’

Ben stroked his son’s hair. ‘I won’t let them Joe. It’s all right now son. Your Pa’s here.’

Joe continued to clutch at his father. ‘You won’t let them will you? You…oh God! I can’t stay here any more! I can’t live like this!’

Ben drew his son to him and held him tightly, murmuring to him as he rocked him backwards and forwards. Hoss stared wide-eyed at them both. ‘Pa?’ he said softly. ‘You want me to carry him upstairs?’

Ben shook his head. No,’ he said. ‘Just go out and leave me alone with him. Both of you.’ He continued to croon to his son as he watched the other two walk outside. He could feel the boy’s heart beating wildly against his own chest and his shoulders heaving with his sobs. It took several minutes for him to calm him sufficiently to loosen him a little, and when he did he drew him back and looked into his face. ‘Joe?’ he said.

Joe looked up at his father, hiccuping on his sobs as he tried to stop. Ben smoothed his hair and smiled down at him. ‘Are you listening to me son?’ Joe nodded. ‘No one is going to hurt you now, do you hear me? Whatever it is that upset you is over now. I want you to just calm down.’ Joe nodded again and struggled to get his breathing under control.

After a few moments he sat up and looked at his father. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said softly as he wiped his eyes on his sleeve. ‘I didn’t mean to do that.’

Ben continued to stroke his hair. ‘What happened?’ he asked. ‘Did Adam say something to upset you?’

Joe stared at his father. ‘No,’ he said shortly. There was no way that he could think of to explain his thoughts to his father and he didn’t want to hurt the man by admitting what the episode had been about.

‘What were you thinking about?’ asked his father. ‘What was it you didn’t want them to do to you?’

Joe’s eyes opened wide and he looked away from his father. ‘I don’t remember,’ he said.

‘Was it when they…when they hurt your foot son?’

Joe shook his head. ‘No. I can’t talk about it Pa. I don’t want to.’

‘All right, you don’t have to then,’ replied his father. ‘But when you want to I’ll be ready to listen.’

Joe nodded and tried to smile at his father. ‘Thanks,’ he said and stood up. ‘I suppose I’d better go and apologize to Adam.’

‘He’ll understand son, there’s no need to,’ said Ben as he stood beside him. ‘Both your brothers understand how difficult this is for you.’

Joe stood silently. ‘Just take it one step at a time Joseph, all right?’ Ben watched as his son walked back to his horse and began to rub him down again. He sighed as he turned and walked out of the barn.

XXXXXXX

Joe listened to the slow footsteps behind him and closed his eyes. You can do this Joe. Don’t let him know how scared you are. Don’t give him the satisfaction of knowing! He heard the swish of something that cut through the air and jerked as Daniel’s laugh washed over him.

‘Don’t be so jumpy Joseph, just getting ready that’s all.’ Daniel came around to face Joe again and held up a long leather strap in his hand. ‘Just be grateful it’s not the whip I’d like to use on you. You can thank my uncle for that!’

Joe went cold as Daniel disappeared again. Just get it over with you bastard! Again he heard a swish through the air and felt his whole body tense as a sharp pain cut across his back. He bit his lip and closed his eyes even tighter. Another swish and another sharp cut across his back caused him to jerk forwards into the post and he screamed inside his head. God! Stop it, just stop it!

With a cry, Joe sat up in bed and found himself trembling violently. This time the dream had seemed so real…as if he had been right then and it was happening to him all over again. He put his face in his hands and tried to control his breathing, listening to his heart which seemed about ready to come bouncing out of his chest at any moment it was beating so fast.

He bit his lip as he tried to stop himself from calling out again. The last thing he wanted was for his father or one of his brothers hearing him yet again and coming in to see if he was all right. He didn’t want them to be any more concerned about him than they already were. The look in his father’s eyes alone was enough to make him want to pretend that everything was as fine as they could expect when in fact he felt himself sinking lower and lower into a nightmare world of memories. When would it all end? His father kept saying to give it time and he honestly was trying to…but it was just so hard. Every time he found himself thinking it was getting a bit better the memories just came back again and he found himself just like now.

Joe got out of his bed and walked towards the window and stared out at the night sky. He wondered what Momma Katie was doing right about now and wished for the hundredth time that she had come home with him when Pa had offered to buy her. It seemed so unfair that she was still down there living the life that … he turned away from the window and stared at his mother’s framed picture on his dresser. Carefully he picked it up and cradled it in his hands.

‘I’m sorry Mama,’ he said softly. ‘I don’t want to feel like this about you but…I just can’t help it. I’m glad you didn’t know about it. I’m glad you didn’t live to see it, cause…’ he swallowed. ‘Cause it might have been you and not me that they’d done it to.’ The thought made him shiver and he placed the picture back on the dresser again and faced the open window.

XXXXXXX

Joe leant on the fence and watched Hoss and the men driving the group of strays into the corral. He waved to his brother and smiled at him. ‘Hi!’ he said. ‘Took you plenty of time to get back didn’t it?’

Hoss got off his horse and strode over to him. ‘Some of us get out working hard all day and that’s the greeting we get,’ he said. ‘It’s all right fer others that get ta lounge around all day here.’ He cuffed his younger brother playfully on the head.

‘Lounge around?’ said Joe, pretending to be indignant. ‘I’ll have you know that Pa’s had me going all day without a single break.’

‘Yeah right!’ said Hoss with a grin. ‘Some people just find themselves in the lap of luxury without even knowing it.’ He reached over and put his little brother’s head under his arm and pretended to pull on it.

Ben came out of the barn with Adam in time to witness the scene. He smiled as he watched, thankful that Joseph had come so far in this past week to allow his brother to joke around with him this much. It did his heart good to see it. It seemed like forever since he had heard his youngest son’s unmistakeable giggle as he was hearing now. He winked at Hoss, grateful that he’d managed to get Joe to this point.

‘Well what’s going on here?’ he asked, feigning displeasure. ‘I turn my back on you two for a couple of minutes and already you’re off the job.’

Hoss let go of Joe’s head. ‘Aw Pa! It was this young’un here! He’s trying to make out that I ain’t been working when I’ve just brought in all these strays.’ He grinned at Joe who returned the look.

‘You found all these out in the North Section?’ asked Adam as he leant on the fence. ‘I hadn’t realised we’d missed so many.’

‘Seems we did,’ replied Hoss. ‘Don’t worry older brother. ‘I’ll get onto them tomorrow and make sure they’re all marked and ready to go back.’

Ben shot a look at Joe who had become very still and quiet. ‘I’d prefer you did that down in the bottom pasture son,’ he said quickly.

‘Why?’ asked Hoss puzzled. ‘We’d only have ta take all the branding irons down there. Seems a waste to move em all twice.’

Joe turned from his brothers and walked a few steps away from the corral. ‘Nevertheless I’d prefer it,’ said his father, giving both Adam and Hoss a meaningful look. ‘The bottom pasture Hoss.’

Hoss shrugged and gave his father a puzzled look. ‘Sure thing Pa,’ he said. ‘If that’s what you want.’ He glanced at Adam who shrugged.

Ben stepped over to Joe and put his arm around his shoulder. ‘Joe,’ he said. ‘I’d like you to come with me for a few minutes. There’s something in the barn I need you to look at.’

Joe walked with his father willingly, anxious to get away from the conversation. As they entered the barn he turned to face his father. ‘Thanks,’ he said simply. ‘I guess you know I couldn’t stand hearing that.’

‘Of course I know,’ said Ben. ‘Your brother didn’t mean anything by it Joseph. He doesn’t know about your foot and he never would have meant to hurt you with his remarks.’

‘I know. I just have to get used to things like that I guess.’

Ben smiled at him. ‘Just not quite yet eh?’

Joe returned the smile with a weak one of his own. ‘No,’ he acknowledged. ‘Just not quite yet.’

‘How about going into town with Adam this afternoon to get the mail?’ asked Ben. ‘The trip would do you good.’

Joe gave him a genuine smile this time. ‘Yeah sure,’ he said and turned to go.

‘Joe?’ said Ben.

‘Yes?’ Joe turned back again to face his father.

‘I’m proud of you son.’ You’re facing up to this real well and trying to handle it.’

Joe gave him a full grin. ‘Thanks Pa,’ he said. He hesitated and then walked towards his father again and flung his arms around him. ‘I love you.’

Ben returned the hug. ‘I love you too son,’ he said with tears in his eyes. He gave his son a gentle push away from him and swatted him on the backside. ‘Now get!’ he said with a twinkle in his eyes. Joe grinned at him and left the barn.

XXXXXXX

‘I don’t think Pa would mind if we had drink,’ said Adam. ‘How about it Joe?’

Joe hesitated for only the slightest moment. ‘I think I’m up to it,’ he said with a cheeky look. ‘As long as you’re paying older brother.’

Adam laughed. ‘Now how did I know that you’d say that? All right! Come on then.’

The two brothers walked side by side over to the Saloon where Adam ordered two beers. ‘Now don’t you go asking for another one,’ warned Adam. ‘One is all you’re getting.’

‘I’ll try and cope,’ said Joe with his best puppy-dog expression. He looked around the Saloon. ‘It seems like forever since we did this, don’t it?’

‘It has been,’ replied Adam. ‘I’m really glad you’re feeling better now Joe. You seem so much more like your old self.’

‘I feel it,’ said Joe. ‘There are days when I feel really awful still, but they’re less and less I guess. Maybe Pa was right and it gets better with time.’

‘Everything does.’

‘Yeah I guess. It won’t ever leave completely though. I still feel….’

Adam shot a look at his brother who had gone as white as a sheet. ‘What’s the matter?’ he asked as he leant forward in his chair.

Joe didn’t answer him, but put down his beer and stared over Adam’s shoulder. Adam turned and looked, but saw nothing. ‘What is it Joe?’ he asked again.

Joe stood up. ‘I want to go home,’ he said in a faint voice. ‘Let’s get out of here.’

Adam frowned. ‘You haven’t even had your drink yet,’ he said. ‘Sit down Joe. It’s all right.’

Joe shook his head and began to breathe deeply. ‘No!’ he said anxiously. ‘I gotta get out of here Adam. Now!’ he said urgently. ‘Please!’

Adam stood up and gripped his brother’s arm. ‘OK buddy hang on,’ he said. ‘Come on.’ He guided the youngster towards the door and onto the street. Joe stood still, looking up and down the street intently. ‘What is it Joe,’ said Adam. ‘Did you see something?’ Joe stared at his brother and nodded, his face pale and sweaty. ‘What?’

Joe gripped onto Adam’s arm. ‘Don’t leave me!’ he said urgently and Adam was surprised to see that there were tears in his eyes.

‘I’m not going to leave you buddy,’ he said. ‘What is it?’

‘I want… I have ta go home,’ said Joe urgently, looking up and down the street again. ‘Please! Now!’

Adam pulled his brother towards their horses. He didn’t know what was going on, but one thing was for sure he knew that he had to get Joe out of there immediately before the boy collapsed on him. He pushed Joe into the saddle and got up onto his own horse. ‘Come on,’ he said. ‘We’ll…’ But before he could get the words out Joe had turned Cochise and was galloping down the main street as if his life depended on it. ‘Joe!’ called Adam. ‘Wait for me!’ He turned and galloped off after his brother.

XXXXXXX

Ben looked up as the front door banged open and Joseph flew through it, followed closely by Adam. He stood up as he looked at his son’s face which was a mixture of grief and despair. ‘Pa!’ shouted Joe.

‘I’m here Joseph,’ called Ben. ‘What is it?’ Joe flung himself into his father’s arms and clung to him as if he would never let him go. Ben looked at Adam over the top of the boy’s head. ‘What?’ he asked.

Adam shrugged and held his hands up. ‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘We were having a drink in the Saloon and then Joe just up and says he had to get home. He won’t tell me what’s wrong.’

Ben tried to walk over to the sofa with his son, but Joe wouldn’t budge. He clung onto his father even tighter. ‘Joseph let me move,’ said his father ‘Over here boy and sit down.’ Joe shook his head and continued to hold onto his father. ‘Joseph,’ Ben tried again. ‘What is it?’

Joe didn’t answer, and his breathing began to quicken up again. Ben gave Adam a frustrated look. Adam stepped forward. ‘Joe you’re hurting Pa,’ he said as he tried to peel his little brother off his father, only to have Joe hit out at him.

Ben stroked the boy’s head. ‘It’s alright Joe,’ he said. ‘Just tell me what you saw.’

Joe looked at his father with wide-horror. ‘It was him!’ he said. ‘He’s here!’

Ben frowned. ‘Who’s here?’ he asked.

‘Barker! I saw him on the street outside the Saloon.’

‘Barker?’ asked Adam.

‘The overseer,’ explained Ben. ‘Joe you couldn’t have seen him son. He wouldn’t be here.’

Joe drew away from his father. ‘Yes! Yes he’s here! I saw him Pa… it was him!’

Ben looked at his son with a worried expression. ‘Joe, I know you’re very uptight about all this son, but…’

Joe let go of his father. ‘You don’t believe me do you?’ he shouted. ‘I did see him Pa. I know I did!’

Ben looked at Adam and shook his head. ‘All right,’ he said. ‘If you saw him, then what would he be doing here? We are a long way from Alabama son and Barker just wouldn’t make that trip for no reason.’

Joe shook his head. ‘Don’t you see?’ he said almost in hysterics. ‘He’s come for me!’

Ben stepped forward. ‘Now Joseph that’s just plain nonsense son,’ he said. ‘Barker wouldn’t come for you.’

Joe’s voice rose to fever pitch. ‘Yes! Yes he would! You don’t know them Pa! You don’t know what they’re like! He’s come for me!’ He flung himself on his father again. ‘Please don’t let him take me! Please don’t let him Pa!” He slid onto the floor, still clutching his father now around the legs as he looked up at him and begged. ‘Please Pa! Don’t let him take me!’

‘Good Lord!’ exclaimed Adam behind him. He gave his father a shocked look. ‘Pa….’

Ben knelt down next to his son and held his face in his cupped hand. ‘Joseph listen to me,’ he said quietly. ‘No one is going to take you anywhere. Even if this man is in town he can’t hurt you. He can’t take you anywhere Joe…do you understand me son?’ He stared intently into his son’s eyes. ‘No one is taking you anywhere Little Joe. You are staying here with me.’

Joe stopped sobbing and stared into his father’s eyes. He gulped for air for a moment and then began to quiet down, never taking his eyes off those of his father’s. ‘Yes,’ he said faintly.

Ben stood up and pulled his boy to a standing position beside him. ‘Adam get some brandy,’ he instructed as he walked Joe over to the sofa and sat him down. ‘Joseph listen to me son,’ he said. ‘This man has no hold over you remember? ‘ Joe nodded as he kept staring into his father’s eyes. ‘He didn’t own you. He only worked for Edwards remember?’ Joe nodded again. ‘And even if he did Joe, you don’t have to fear him now. You are free and you have the papers to prove it.’ Ben reached out for the glass that Adam held out to him and forced it to his son’s lips and forced him to drink it. Joe spluttered as the last of the alcohol went down his throat.

‘Pa?’ he said as he pushed the glass away. ‘I need them papers.’ His eyes searched wildly around the room.

‘It’s all right son. They’re in the safe. Remember?’ Ben said gently.

‘I need em Pa!’ said Joe, beginning to get agitated again. ‘Please! I want to see em!’

Ben nodded to Adam who went over to the safe and pulled out the papers. Joe grabbed them from his brother’s hand and stuffed them inside his jacket as if his life depended on them, which in fact he felt it did.

Ben stroked his son’s hair. ‘Listen to me Joseph,’ he said. ‘We’re going back into town and…’

Joe leapt off the sofa. ‘No!’ he shouted. ‘I ain’t going in there! He’ll get me!’

Ben stood up beside him. ‘Son…’

‘No!’ Joe turned and sprinted up the stairs and Ben and Adam heard the slamming of his bedroom door.

‘Pa!’ said Adam with a shocked look on his face. ‘I had no idea!’

Ben nodded. ‘I told you how he was,’ he said. ‘You didn’t see him down there Adam. ‘Now you can begin to understand just what they did to him.’

‘If just the thought of that man does this to him, then I’m glad I never did witness it all,’ said Adam sitting down on the sofa with a stunned expression on his face. ‘How did you stand it Pa?’

Ben sat down next to him. ‘I had no choice,’ he said quietly. ‘But what I witnessed was nothing compared to all that your brother went through Adam.’ He looked at the stairs where Joe had run. ‘For his own peace of mind we have to end this. If Barker is in town then I need to know it so that he can be dealt with. ‘If he isn’t in town, then Joe needs to know it once and for all.’

Adam stood up. ‘I’ll take Hoss with me,’ he said. ‘What do you want us to do if we find him?’

Ben shook his head. ‘Nothing,’ he said. ‘Just come back and tell me if he’s there or not. After all, the man hasn’t exactly done anything has he?’

Not here he hasn’t,’ said Adam with a scowl. ‘On second thought I’ll go alone. Who knows what Hoss might do if he comes into contact with a man like that.’

Ben nodded. ‘Adam?’

‘Yes?’

‘Do nothing,’ repeated his father. ‘Just find out if he’s there and come back home again. Understood?’

‘Understood,’ replied Adam.

Ben stood up and walked towards the stairs.

XXXXXXX

The first thing that struck him as he entered Joe’s bedroom was the way in which the boy was seated. He was huddled on his bed in a tight ball as he rocked, one hand clutching his papers firmly in his hand and the other massaging his foot.

‘Is it hurting?’ asked Ben as he sat down on the bed next to him.

Joe shook his head. ‘No,’ he said.

‘Your brother has gone into town to check out about Barker,’ said Ben.

‘He ain’t gonna tell him where I am is he?’ asked Joe looking at his father.

Ben shook his head. ‘No,’ he said. ‘Don’t worry Joseph. ‘He’s just going to find out where Barker is, that’s all.’

Joe nodded and started rocking again. Ben placed his hands on his son’s shoulders to keep him still. ‘Joe,’ he said. ‘I want you to look at me son.’ Joe looked at his father. ‘If this man is in town…’

‘He’s there!’

Ben nodded. ‘I’m going to have to talk to him.’

‘No!’

‘If I don’t then we won’t know why he’s here, will we?’

‘He’s here to take me away!’ Joe clutched his papers tightly.

Ben sighed. ‘We don’t know that Joe,’ he said gently. ‘We have to be sure what he wants don’t we?’

‘I suppose so. But I ain’t gonna see him!’

‘I don’t expect you too,’ replied Ben. ‘I’m going to deal with this. You don’t have to have anything to do with the man. All right?’

Joe nodded. ‘Yes,’ he said.

Ben tried to push the boy back on his bed. ‘Lay down and relax,’ he said. ‘You aren’t going to help anything by worrying about it.’

Joe lay down, still clutching his papers to his chest. He stared at the ceiling for a long time in silence before speaking. ‘Remember when they took me away that day in the jail?’ he said.

Ben closed his eyes. The sight of his son bound and being dragged across the floor while he stood helpless in the cell next to him would haunt him forever. ‘Yes,’ he said quietly.

‘I promised you something that day Pa. Do you remember what it was?’

Ben nodded. ‘Yes Joe I do,’ he said. ‘I made you promise that you would do whatever it took to keep safe.’

Joe rolled over onto his side so that he faced his father. ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘And I aim to do it again Pa. I’m gonna do whatever it takes to keep safe because I ain’t going back there again. I swear to you that I won’t let it happen. I’d rather die right here than go back to that place.’

Ben jerked at the intensity in his son’s voice and face. ‘Joe,’ he said. ‘There’s no need to talk like that. You don’t need to do anything son.’ Joe lay still and stared at his father. ‘Do you think for one moment that I’d let anything like that ever happen to you again?’

Joe shrugged. ‘You couldn’t stop em last time Pa,’ he said. ‘Believe me you won’t have to worry about it this time, cause I aim to stop em before they get the chance to take me!’

Ben put his hand over his eyes. ‘I don’t want to hear you talk like that Joseph,’ he said. ‘There’s no need for it son.’

Joe rolled over and faced the wall with his back to his father. Ben reached out and put a hand on his head as father and son remained silent together.

XXXXXXX

‘He’s there all right,’ said Adam grimly. ‘I thought he’d be under some kind of assumed name at least, but he’s staying at The International House under his own name. He arrived on this morning’s stage.’

‘You’re sure it’s him?’ asked Ben.

‘Well as sure as I can be,’ replied Adam. ‘As I said, he’s registered under the name of Barker. I got a look at him too. He’s heavy-set, with thinning reddish-brown hair.

‘That’s him,’ said Ben. ‘What was he doing?’

Adam shrugged. ‘Nothing. Just walking around town. It’s as if he wanted to be found.’ Ben’s eyes narrowed. ‘Where’s Joe?’ asked Adam. ‘Has he calmed down any?’

‘A bit,’ replied his father. ‘Hoss is upstairs with him in his bedroom. He still insists that Barker is here to take him away.’

‘Well I don’t see how he can. From what you told us he’s got no authority over the boy. No one has.’

Ben nodded. ‘That’s right,’ he said. ‘But he’s up to something.’ He strode over to the front door and began to put on his gun-belt. ‘And I aim to find out what it is. Stay with your brother Adam. He’s going to need both you and Hoss here while I’m gone.’

‘But Pa, don’t you think one of us should go with you?’ asked Adam.

‘No. I’m capable of handling whatever this Barker has in mind,’ replied his father. ‘It’s important that Joe is looked after while I’m doing it.

Adam nodded. ‘All right,’ he said. ‘Have you told Hoss what’s going on?’

‘Yes. And that’s another reason for you staying here,’ said Ben grimly. ‘I need you to keep an eye on him too. I don’t want him going off half-cocked.’ He looked at his son as he opened the door. ‘I’m counting on you Adam,’ he said. ‘I’ll be home as soon as I can.’

Adam sighed as the front door closed behind his father.

XXXXXXX

‘Well that didn’t take very long,’ said Barker as he opened the door to Ben’s knock. ‘Come in.’

‘You were expecting me?’

‘Of course,’ the man said simply.

‘What do you want Barker?’

Barker hesitated. ‘How’s Joseph?’ he said. ‘Better than the last time I saw him I hope?’

‘I asked you what you wanted?’

Barker turned and walked across the room towards the window. ‘Such a beautiful piece of merchandise that boy,’ he said. ‘I could understand how Edwards prized him so highly.’

Ben took a step forward, his fists clenched. ‘If you make one move towards my son I’ll see you dead!’ he said in a threatening voice.

Barker opened his eyes wide. ‘Hurt Joseph?’ he said in mock innocence. ‘Whatever would make you think that I’d hurt the boy? Oh no Cartwright, he’s too valuable to risk harming.’

Ben held a finger up under the man’s nose. ‘That boy is free!’ he said. ‘I personally had the papers drawn up and they are in my possession. You have no legal right to act on your behalf or that of Edwards if that’s what you’re here for!’

‘You’ve got it all wrong Cartwright!’ said Barker with a smile. ‘I’m not here for Edwards. As a matter of fact he and I had a disagreement soon after you left and I’m not in his employment any more.’

‘Then what are you doing here?’ demanded Ben.

‘You know, it always struck how much you must think of that boy,’ mused Barker. ‘The day you came storming into Edwards house and demanded he sell him to you. Remember that?’ Ben glared at him, but said nothing. ‘Well I was amazed when I came in to witness your signatures,’ continued Barker. ‘You plonked down $30 000 without blinking.’ He smiled. ‘I began to say to myself, Barker, if this man has that much money to throw around on a slave then just think how much he must be worth.’

Ben frowned. ‘So it’s blackmail is it?’ he asked. ‘You’ve come here for money?’

Barker put his hands up. ‘Of course,’ he said calmly. ‘You don’t think I want the boy do you? I may have worked for slave owners Cartwright, but it don’t mean that I’m one myself. No…a boy like that is worth a fortune to those who want him…personally, I’d rather have the fortune.’

Ben drew a deep breath. ‘You’ll get nothing from me!’ he declared. ‘I told you I have the papers to prove that Joseph is free!’

‘I know. I checked in Alabama before I left,’ said Barker. ‘It was all done legal like.’

‘Then what?’

‘I did some checking about you and your family back in New Orleans,’ the man continued. ‘And what I found out here in Virginia City confirms my suspicions.’ He leant forward. ‘You’re quite a big wheel around these parts ain’t ya? Wonder what people would say if they knew the truth about that precious boy of yours? Wonder what they’d say if they knew he was nothing more than a nigger?’

Ben strode forward and pulled the man forward by the collar so that he was looking directly into his eyes. ‘You get out of this town or I’ll have you thrown out1’ he said in a low voice as he threw him back against the wall.

Barker picked himself up and dusted off his jacket. ‘Really?’ he said coolly. ‘And just how are you going to do that? I’ve committed no crime. I’ve done nothing wrong. I’m simply a traveller passing through that’s all.’ He smiled at Ben. ‘Face it Cartwright I’ve got you over a barrel with this one. It’s the money or your kid’s reputation. No choice really is there?’

Ben took a deep breath. ‘How much?’ he said.

Barker shrugged. ‘I’m not a greedy man. I figure you owe me at least what you paid Edwards though. $30 000 should do it.’ Ben’s eyes widened. ‘I’ll have it by Friday,’ said Barker. ‘I’ll be on the stage to San Francisco by noon.’ Ben turned his back on the man and walked to the door. ‘That’s if you pay up,’ Barker continued. ‘If you don’t, then I guess I’ll just have to stay in town for a while longer. I’ll have some things to talk about won’t I?’

Ben gave him a withering look and slammed the door behind him. He heard Barker’s laughter through the doorway as he walked towards the staircase, his head pounding with the blood that threatened to explode inside it. He banged his fist on the top of the banister as he marched down the stairs.

XXXXXXX

‘$30 000!’ exclaimed Adam. ‘He’s got to be joking!’

Ben saw the pained look that flitted across Joe’s face at his brother’s words and he hastened to say. ‘This is no joke Adam.’

‘That’s not what I meant,’ said Adam, stealing a look at Joe. ‘I just meant that he can’t hope to get away with it.’

‘I’ll take the $30 000 out of his hide!’ declared Hoss. ‘When I get my hands on that guy I’ll…’

‘You’ll do nothing of the kind!’ said Ben angrily. ‘That’s the very thing that will lead to trouble.’

Hoss hung his head. ‘There’s no way I’m gonna let that poor excuse fer a human being talk about my brother like that!’ he said angrily.

‘He ain’t gonna say nothing about me,’ said Joe. ‘He’ll just take the money and go.’

Ben looked at his youngest son. Since he had heard that Barker wanted money and wasn’t after taking him anywhere, Ben could sense the relief in the boy. But he was still very agitated about the man being close by and obviously wanted him gone as quickly as possible. ‘Joe it’s not that simple,’ he said quietly.

Joe turned to his father with wide eyes.’ Why not?’ he asked. ‘You’ll just pay him the money and he’ll go away. He won’t say nothing about me!’ His expression was one of pleading, willing his father to agree with him.

Ben put his arm around his youngest son’s shoulders. ‘Joseph if I pay this man, then it won’t be an end to it son. I’ve dealt with blackmailers before. This will just be the beginning of it and he’ll come back for more.’

Joe stared at his father as he whispered. ‘You gotta pay it Pa! You can’t let him tell everyone!’

Ben pulled his son close to him. ‘We just need to think through all the possibilities before we do anything Joseph, that’s all I’m saying. Don’t worry son. He’s not going to hurt you.’

Joe sprang to his feet. ‘You ain’t gonna pay him are you? You’re gonna let him tell everyone that I’m a ….that I’m…you can’t Pa! Please don’t let him do it!’

Ben stood up next to his son. ‘Joseph calm down,’ he said. ‘I didn’t say that did I?’

Joe pushed his father away from him. ‘You don’t know him Pa! None of you know him! He’s the one who held me down while they did it to me! Did you know that? He told them to do it to me!’

‘Do what?’ asked Hoss with a puzzled expression on his face. ‘What’d he do to ya Joe?’

Joe pulled off his boot and sock and held up his foot for his brothers to see. ‘This!’ he yelled. ‘Now do you understand? He got them to… to hold me down. He said it would only take a minute and then he stood and watched while they did it to me. He didn’t care! He tied me up when they told him to as well so that they could beat me and he put them leg irons on me so that I couldn’t walk properly.’ Joe’s voice started to shake. ‘And you tell me that we have to think through all the possibilities! No! I ain’t thinking about anything but getting rid of him…and if you ain’t gonna pay him the money then I’ll… I’ll go and get rid of him myself!’

Hoss’ face went green as he stared at his brother’s foot. He closed his eyes and a single tear began to fall down his cheek. ‘Joe!’ he said under his breath. ‘I didn’t know.’ He put his face in his hands and wept. Adam stepped forward and stood next to Hoss and put his arm around him while he looked at his father silently, his own face showing his horror at his brother’s words.

Ben took a step forward and held onto Joe’s shoulders. ‘I’ll pay him tomorrow Joseph,’ he said quietly. ‘If that’s what you want son, I’ll pay him tomorrow and every day after that if that’s what it takes to keep you happy.’

Joe collapsed into his father’s arms and hugged him tightly. ‘Thank you Pa,’ he wept into the man’s shoulder. ‘Oh God, thank you!’

XXXXXXX

‘I thought we’d seen the last of each other for a while Cartwright,’ said Barker. ‘Come to see me off have you?’

Ben glared at the man standing by the stagecoach. ‘I’ve come to make sure you get on that stagecoach,’ he said firmly.

Barker glanced at Adam standing next to his father. ‘Need two of you to do that does it?’ he asked in a mocking tone.

‘We Cartwrights are careful men,’ said Adam in a low voice as he put his hand on his gun and stared at Barker.

‘So I see,’ said Barker in the same mocking tone. ‘Well gentlemen it’s goodbye for now.’ He patted the satchel under his arm and smiled. ‘We’ll see how long this lasts shall we? I’m sure we can do business again in the future when I’ve gone through it. Should be easy to do in a city like San Francisco I imagine.’

‘You’ve had your last dollar from me Barker,’ said Ben.

‘Really?’ replied the man. ‘Somehow I don’t think so Cartwright. No, I’m sure you and I will be seeing more of each other in the future.’ He smiled over Ben’s shoulder. ‘Ah… it looks as though I get to say goodbye to the young man in question after all.’

Ben and Adam turned sharply to see Joe and Hoss standing behind them. Joe’s face was very pale, but his jaw was set firmly in a way that Ben knew well. It was the look his father had termed Joe’s ‘stubborn’ look for want of a better term and all the family had witnessed it over the years at various times when the youngest Cartwright’s volatile nature got the better of him.

‘Joseph!’ Ben said sharply. ‘What are you doing here?’

Hoss put up his hands in a gesture of futility. ‘I tried ta stop him Pa, but he just wouldn’t listen ta me.’

Joe shot a glance at his father. ‘I had to come Pa,’ he said softly. ‘I had to…to make sure that he was really going.’ He pointed at Barker who continued to grin at him. Ben stepped over next to his son, acutely aware of the boy’s trembling body and how hard this must be for him.

‘Well you certainly look much better than the last time I saw you Joseph,’ said Barker as he gave Joe a long slow look up and down. Joe felt the man’s eyes rake over him appraisingly and he took an involuntarily step towards his father. Barker shook his head. ‘Must say that Edwards was mighty short-sighted in getting rid of you though boy.’

‘Get on that stage and shut up!’ said Adam as he grasped hold of the man’s arm. ‘Now!’

‘Steady on!’ said Barker shaking his arm free and looking around. ‘We don’t want to make a scene, do we now? There’s plenty of time to get on board.’ He turned to Joe again and nodded. ‘Yes, Edwards sure was wrong in selling you so quick boy. I still maintain that $30 000 was too cheap a price considering…’ he pointed at Joe’s crotch, ‘considering what you could have made for him in time with that.’ Joe gasped and went pale, while his father and brothers stood in shock at the man’s words. ‘Oh, didn’t Joseph ever tell you?’ continued Barker. ‘He had quite a future planned out for him in Alabama. Edwards was on the lookout for a light-skinned young filly to pair him up with and would have done it too if you hadn’t turned up when you did Cartwright.’ He grinned nastily. ‘Seems a shame to think the boy’s looks have gone to waste though. There’s a fortune there if only…’

Barker got no further as Hoss stepped forward and put his hands around the man’s throat. He squeezed tightly while staring into his eyes, his eyes boring into the man as he held onto him.

‘Hoss!’ yelled Ben as he and Adam bounded forward. ‘Hoss let him go!’ It took both of them to pull Hoss back from Barker and when they did they had to use every ounce of strength to hold him there. ‘Get on that stage now if you value your life!’ yelled Ben as he and Adam struggled with Hoss.

Barker needed no second bidding. Rubbing his throat with one hand, he quickly mounted the two steps into the stagecoach and banged the door shut. He poked his head out of the window as the coach pulled away from the curb. ‘That just cost you Cartwright!’ he yelled. ‘You haven’t seen the last of me, I promise you!’

Hoss stopped struggling as the stagecoach pulled away from them and Adam and Ben slowly let him go. Ben quickly turned to Joe who was standing as if rooted to the spot, tears streaming down his face as he stared after the stagecoach. ‘Son…’ said Ben as he stepped towards his boy, but Joe stepped back from his father while shaking his head and ran down the street towards his horse as fast as his legs would carry him. ‘Joseph!’ called Ben anxiously. ‘Come back Joe!’

Joe kept running as if he hadn’t heard his father and sprang onto Cochise. Before any of the other Cartwrights could react he had galloped down the street and was out of sight. Ben turned to Adam and Hoss whose faces were still registering their shock at Barker’s words on their faces. ‘Get after him!’ he yelled. ‘Split up and get after him boys! We’ve got to stop him! Quickly!

All three Cartwrights sprang on their horses and rode off down the street after Joe. Ben felt the blood pounding in his head as he thought about Barker’s words and the implications of them, but pushed his thought to the back of his mind. The important thing now was to get to Joseph before he did anything stupid. The rest of it would wait until he could talk to the boy. But there was one image that he couldn’t get rid of… not even temporarily. The sheer horror on his youngest son’s face as Barker spoke. It would be forever implanted in Ben’s mind.

XXXXXXX

Ben turned expectantly as the front door banged open for the second time in half an hour and Hoss strode through it, his face as black as thunder. He shook his head at his father and looked questionably at him and Adam. ‘Nothing,’ said Adam. ‘Between us we probably covered the whole of The Ponderosa today looking for him.’

Ben hung his head and regained his place on the sofa. ‘Well then he’s probably gone further than The Ponderosa,’ said Hoss grimly and turned back towards the door. ‘I’ll start looking again.’

‘No,’ said Ben. ‘Come back here Hoss.’

Hoss strode over to his father. ‘Pa I ain’t leaving that little guy out there by himself!’ he said angrily. ‘I aim ta find him!’

Ben looked up at his son. ‘And just how far will you get in the dark?’ he asked. ‘Use your brains Hoss! We’ll have to sit it out until morning now.’

Hoss shook his head. ‘I’m going back out there Pa,’ he said. ‘Who knows what’s going through that head of Joe’s right about now. You saw his face!’

Ben closed his eyes. Yes…he had seen his son’s face, much and all as he wished he hadn’t.

‘Hoss, Pa is right,’ said Adam. ‘We couldn’t hope to…’ He turned as the front door opened again and Joe appeared framed in the doorway. He walked across the room without a word, his face ashen and his eyes half-closed. His arms were tightly wound around his waist.

‘Joseph!’ said Ben, springing up from the sofa. ‘Son, we were so worried about you!’ He took three strides over to where Joe had reached the bottom of the staircase and grabbed his son from behind by the shoulders to stop him going any further. There was silence for a moment…a silence so deep that the ticking of the grandfather clock could be heard distinctly.

‘So now you know,’ said Joe in a whisper. He stared straight ahead of him up the stairs and didn’t move.

Ben held him firmly by the shoulders. ‘It doesn’t matter what Barker said Joe…’ he began. ‘All that matters is that…’

Joe thrust his father’s hands off him and ran up the stairs two at a time. Ben looked after him with a grief-stricken look. Behind him Adam and Hoss were silent.

XXXXXXX

‘Well?’ asked Adam as his father descended the stairs.

Ben shook his head. ‘He’s locked the door and won’t open it,’ he said wearily. ‘I think I need to leave him alone for a while. At least we know where he is now, that’s something.’

Hoss stared into fire and said nothing. His face was still as black as thunder and he kept clenching and unclenching his fists with rhythmic consistency. ‘I shoulda killed Barker,’ he said under his breath. ‘I shoulda killed him right then and there.’

‘And what would that have done?’ asked Adam. ‘It wouldn’t have solved anything.’

Hoss glared at him. ‘It woulda kept him quiet!’ he said. ‘It woulda kept him from hurting Joe any more!’

Adam shook his head. ‘He was only stating facts about things that have already happened. None of us can change the past Hoss, much and all as we’d like to.’

Hoss stood up and began to pace back and forth in front of the fireplace. ‘Well I can sure as anything change the future,’ he said. ‘You know as well as I do that Barker will be back for more money and I don’t aim ta let him near Joe again.’ He banged his fist into the back of the sofa.

‘Well by the look of Joe he’s just about at the end of his tether,’ said Adam. ‘I hope he didn’t do anything stupid today.’

‘Meaning?’ asked Ben. They all turned at the sound of an insistent knock on the front door. Adam bounded over to it and opened it to reveal Roy Coffee standing there. ‘Roy,’ called Ben. ‘Come in.’

Roy entered the room slowly, looking from one face to the other. ‘I see by the look of you that you’ve already heard the news,’ he said.

Ben frowned. ‘News? What news?’ he asked.

Roy faced his friend. ‘So you haven’t heard?’ he asked unnecessarily.

‘Roy get to the point,’ said Ben. ‘What is it?’

‘That feller Barker that has been in town the last few days,’ said Roy. ‘He was killed this afternoon in Carson City.’

‘What?!’ Ben took a step forward. ‘How?’

‘Seems that he was carrying a lot of money with him,’ said Roy carefully. ‘He was shot when the stage had a layover in Carson City.’

‘Why have you come to tell us?’ asked Adam. To his knowledge the sheriff had no reason to link the Cartwrights with the man.

Roy held out a gun. ‘This one of yours Ben?’ he asked. ‘It’s got your mark on it.’

Ben nodded ‘Yes,’ he said.

‘Any idea where it’s come from?’

Ben shrugged. ‘Roy I wouldn’t know. We have so many guns around here, you know that. It could have come from anywhere on the Ranch. Why?’

‘It’s the murder weapon,’ replied the sheriff.

All three Cartwrights stared at the gun in the palm of the sheriff’s hand. It was as Ben had said…a standard gun that they all used. It could have been picked up anywhere on the ranch by one of the hands or any of them. Ben’s eyes darted up the stairs and his blood went cold as he thought of his traumatised son up there in his bedroom and what he might have done. Who knows what the boy would have been capable of after today’s events? He swallowed as he realised that Roy was speaking again.

‘What?’ he asked fearfully.

‘I said that I’ll have to talk to all of you together,’ explained Roy. ‘I’m not saying any of you had anything to do with it Ben, but its standard procedure you understand.’

Ben nodded and sat down again. ‘Of course,’ he said.

Roy hesitated. ‘You’ll need to get Joe,’ he said. ‘I need to question all of you.’ Ben stared up the stairs again, his brain working overtime as he tried to sort out his thoughts. ‘Ben?’ asked Roy again. ‘Will you get Joe down here?’

Ben stood up and faced his friend. ‘There’s no need to,’ he said. ‘It’s me you want Roy. I shot Barker.’

Adam gave his father a shocked look and Hoss yelled ‘Pa!’ before he could stop himself.

Ben turned to his sons and gave them both a meaningful look. ‘You heard what I said boys,’ he said. ‘I shot Barker and that’s all there is to it.’

‘But Pa,’ said Adam,’ glancing up the stairs. ‘You don’t know for sure…’

Ben held up his hand and glanced at Roy. ‘Adam,’ he said. ‘That’s enough. I’m going into town with Roy now and I want you to get to Hiram Wood as soon as possible to organise bail for me. Hoss, you’re to stay with Joseph please.’

Hoss stepped forward. ‘Pa…you can’t,’ he said.

Ben turned to Roy. ‘I’ll saddle my horse Roy,’ he said. ‘Hoss…look after your brother. Don’t let him leave this house. Do you understand me?’ He left the room, followed by a shocked Sheriff Coffee.

Hoss and Adam stood looking at each other in silence for a moment before Hoss spoke. ‘Adam you don’t think…’ his voice trailed away. ‘Little Joe couldn’t a done it, could he?’

Adam shrugged. ‘I don’t know Hoss. You saw him when he came in.’ He picked up his hat. ‘I’d better do as Pa says and get into town. I’m sure Hiram will get bail organised quickly. Once Pa is home again we can sort all this out with Joe.’

Hoss turned to Adam. ‘This is sure proving to be an expensive week,’ he said mournfully.

Adam nodded as he glanced at the staircase again. ‘In more ways than one,’ he replied.

XXXXXXX

Hiram Wood, Attorney at Law, sighed as he looked at the man slumped on the bunk across from him in the small cell. He usually preferred to do his consulting in his office, but at this time of night and given the circumstances of the tragedy that was unfolding in front of him, he didn’t see that could he afford that luxury.

‘Ben?’ he said. ‘I need to know what this is all about…and I mean all of it. If there’s something you’re not telling me…’

Ben shook his head. ‘No,’ he said quietly. ‘I’ve told you all I can Hiram. Barker and I had a business disagreement. He was blackmailing me and I paid him the $30 000. I tried to get it back, that’s all.’

‘What was the business disagreement about?’

Ben shook his head. ‘I don’t see that it’s important,’ he said.

Hiram gave the man a frustrated look. ‘Everything about this whole incident is important!’ he said. ‘Don’t you understand what’s going on here Ben? You’re going to be on trial for murder if you don’t give me something else to go on. Without the whole story my hands are tied!’

Ben looked up at the Attorney. ‘I’ve said all that I can,’ he stated.

Hiram stood up and began to pace up and down the cell. ‘What happened at the time of the shooting?’

Ben shrugged. ‘I shot him, that’s all.’

Hiram glared at him. ‘I need details Ben!’ he said. ‘Did the man threaten you? Was there a scuffle? What happened for God’s sake?’

Ben stood up and faced his Attorney. ‘Can’t we just go through all of this later?’ he asked. ‘All I want at the moment is to get out of here and back home to my boys. Is that possible?’

Hiram nodded. ‘Yes,’ he acknowledged. ‘That’s very possible. Given your good character and background around here there’s no way that they’ll hold you until the trial. First thing in the morning we should be able to get it organised.’

‘Good,’ said Ben.

‘But after that, we’ll have to work hard on this,’ Hiram continued. ‘We can’t afford to waste any time.’

Ben nodded. ‘Just get me out of here and home to my boys,’ he said. ‘Then we’ll worry about the trial.’

Hiram narrowed his eyes. ‘Ben I know you,’ he said. ‘You’re holding out on me. If you’re covering up for someone then it…’

Ben shook his head. ‘It’s nothing like that,’ he said. ‘Hiram…please.’

‘All right, I’ll say no more for now,’ replied the other man. ‘But with your permission I’m going to wire the Governor tomorrow. I have a feeling we’re going to need his help if we can get it.’

‘Help?’

Hiram took a deep breath. ‘To save your skin,’ he said. ‘If this trial goes the way I think it could, then you could be facing a hanging. We need to get the Governor onside if we have any chance of commuting that to a jail term.’ He paused. ‘Unless you have anything else to tell me.’

Ben stared out of the small barred window. ‘No,’ he said in a small voice. ‘I have nothing else to tell you Hiram. ‘Please contact the Governor.’

Hiram shook his head and left the cell as Ben continued to stare out of the window.

XXXXXXX

‘Pa!’ said Hoss with a grin. ‘It’s good to have ya back!’

Ben returned the look. ‘It’s good to be back Hoss,’ he said as he took off his hat. ‘How is everything here son?’

Hoss shrugged. ‘Still the same,’ he said. ‘Joe’s still up in his room. Adam’s been trying to get him to come out but he won’t. He just lays up there and stares at the ceiling as if he don’t hear anything we’re saying to him.’

Ben turned as Adam came down the stairs. ‘Pa!’ he said. ‘I’m glad you’re home! I was coming into town soon if you’d hadn’t made it back here. What did Hiram say?’

‘Sit down boys,’ replied Ben. ‘We need to talk.’

‘Pa, you can’t do this,’ said Adam. ‘We all know that you’re trying to cover for Joe and its just not logical. You don’t even know that he had anything to do with Barker’s death.’

Ben nodded. ‘That’s true,’ he said. ‘And I aim to find out now if he did. But in the meantime, I wasn’t about to let that boy go through anything else after everything that’s happened to him already. There was no way he could have stood being questioned by Roy last night.’

‘So what will you do if you find out that he did shoot Barker?’ asked Hoss.

Ben shook his head. ‘It’s like I just said Hoss. Joseph can’t cope with anything else at the moment. If your brother did do this, then my story stands.’

‘Pa you can’t!’

Ben put his hand on Hoss’ shoulder. ‘Yes son, I can,’ he said. ‘I pray to God it won’t come to that, but if it does…well I’ll do anything to keep that boy safe. Lord knows he’s been through enough without having to face a trial. Besides,’ he added. ‘Hiram is going to contact the Governor in case we need his intervention.’

Hoss frowned. ‘What does that mean?’ he asked.

‘He could have any sentence overruled if he saw fit,’ said Adam as he studied his father’s face. ‘You’re thinking it might come to that Pa?’

Ben shrugged. ‘I don’t know what to think at the moment,’ he said.

‘And the truth about what happened to Joe?’

‘Is not to be mentioned,’ said their father. ‘You’ve seen the boy’s reaction to the very thought of it. I won’t have it become an issue in all of this!’ He stared at his two sons. ‘I mean it boys!’ he said. ‘There is to be no mention of it!’

Adam took a deep breath. ‘Pa, you’re asking us to choose between our father and our brother,’ he said. ‘How can you ask that of us?’

‘I’m not asking you boys,’ replied their father. ‘There is no choice in all of this. I’ve already made up my mind and it’s out of your hands now.’ He stood up. ‘Besides, it may not even come to that.’ He looked up at the stairs. ‘I’m going up to see Joseph now.’

He moved over to the staircase and walked up as Adam and Hoss watched him. ‘Adam, we can’t let him do this,’ said Hoss mournfully. ‘We just can’t!’

Adam sighed and put his head in his hands. ‘What else do we do?’ he asked. ‘You heard Pa. We have no choice.’

XXXXXXX

‘Joseph?’ Ben sat next to his son and watched as the boy covered his eyes with his hands as if to block out the view of his father. ‘Joseph?’ Ben put a hand on his son’s head and stroked his hair gently.

‘Go away Pa,’ said Joe softly.

‘Joseph we need to talk,’ persisted Ben. ‘There’s something I have to tell you son.’ Joe said nothing. ‘It’s about Barker Joe.’

Ben noticed the boy’s breathing begin to quicken and he turned his head towards the wall. ‘Listen to me Little Joe,’ he said in the same soft tone. ‘Barker is dead.’ There was no reaction from the boy on the bed. ‘Did you hear me son? Barker can’t hurt you anymore. He’s dead.’

‘Good!’

Ben flinched. ‘Joe I need to ask you something son,’ he said. ‘Did you have anything to do with it?’ Joe remained silent. ‘Son? Did you shoot Barker?’ Again the boy said nothing, but continued to stare at the wall. Ben sighed. ‘I can understand you not wanting to talk about him Joe, but I need to know. It’s very important.’

Joe began to cry softly, his tears falling unchecked onto the pillow. Ben stared at him and continued to stroke his hair, murmuring to him as he did so. ‘I know you were hurt and embarrassed by what he said about you yesterday Joseph,’ he said. ‘But it’s all over now. He’s dead and there’s no need to fear him any more.’

‘He was gonna come back again,’ whispered Joe. ‘He said so.’

Ben nodded. ‘Yes he did,’ he said. ‘But he can’t come back now. He can’t do anything to you ever again Joseph.’

‘No he can’t come back now,’ repeated Joe. ‘He’s dead.’ He narrowed his eyes for a moment. ‘I told you I wouldn’t let him hurt me again didn’t I Pa?’

Ben jerked as he stared at his son. ‘Joe?’ he said. ‘What did you do son?’

‘I didn’t let them Pa,’ mumbled Joe. ‘That’s why I was running away that day. I didn’t let them.’

‘I know.’

‘They said those things…things they was gonna do, but I didn’t let them. I had to go. I had to get out of there.’ He turned and looked at his father ‘I’m sorry Pa! I know I said that I’d do whatever it took to stay safe, but I just couldn’t stay there. I couldn’t!’ he clutched at his father’s vest. ‘Not with them saying all them things about me!’

‘I know son.’

‘What Barker said was true! They was gonna make me… like I was an animal or something! He woulda helped em too! I know he woulda! I couldn’t let him do that!’

Ben heard his son’s voice becoming hysterical as the panic took hold of him again. ‘Joe calm down,’ he said. ‘You’re not there any more and Barker is gone.’

Joe continued speaking over the top of his father’s voice. ‘I… I hated them all! I hated him! I’m glad he’s dead…he deserved to die!’

Ben leant close to his son. ‘Joseph did you shoot him?’ he asked again.

Joe stared back at his father uncomprehendingly. ‘Please Pa!’ he pleaded. ‘Please don’t tell anyone! I don’t want anyone to know!’

‘No one is going to know son. No one will know.’ Ben felt his own heart breaking as he looked at his son sobbing on the bed.

‘Don’t let them know Pa,’ repeated Joe, tightening his grip on his father. ‘No one can know about me. Please!!!’

Ben drew his son close to his chest and rocked him backwards and forwards as the tears fell from his own face and mingled with those of his son’s. ‘I promise you Joseph,’ he said. ‘No one will know. I promise you son.’ He stared over the top of the sobbing boy’s head as he rocked him and noticed Adam standing in the doorway watching them both.

‘There is no choice,’ whispered Ben. ‘You can see that, can’t you?’

Adam nodded miserably. ‘Yes,’ he said quietly.

XXXXXXX

‘Why so soon?’ asked Ben quietly.

‘Judge Wilcox sees no reason to put it off any longer,’ replied Hiram. ‘Plus there’s so much interest in this case Ben that I think he’s of the opinion that the sooner we get it over with the better really. Of course if you think we need more time to discuss your defence I can always ask for an extension.’ He looked at Ben hopefully.

Ben shook his head. ‘No,’ he said. ‘There’s no need to prolong this Hiram. Perhaps the judge is right and the sooner we get it over with the better.’

Hiram sighed as he packed up his briefcase. ‘Alright then Ben,’ he said. ‘I’ll see you in court tomorrow then.’ He stood up. ‘Oh… by the way… I got the answer from the Governor’s office this afternoon. I think we can be assured of any sentence being commuted to a jail term.’

Ben nodded.’ Good,’ he said faintly. ‘Thank you Hiram.’

‘The Governor is the one you owe thanks to Ben, not me. He must think mighty highly of you to do this.’

Ben nodded again. ‘I have many good friends,’ he said. ‘It’s at a time like this that a man realises just how important friends and family are.’

Hiram patted him on the back. ‘Good night Ben,’ he said. ‘I’ll do my best for you tomorrow.’

‘Thank you,’ said Ben.

He watched as the Attorney left the room. Behind him, Adam stood up. ‘Pa,’ he said as he came forward to stand next to his father. ‘There’s still a chance that everything will be all right.’

Ben smiled at his son. ‘I’m pleading guilty Adam, remember? That’s all there is to it son.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Now… down to business boys. We have a lot of things to go through before tomorrow.’

‘You want me to get Hiram back?’ asked Hoss.

‘No son. This is family business,’ said Ben. ‘Come over here both of you please.’ He motioned to his study where the desk was piled high with papers and sat down in his large leather chair. ‘Now,’ he said. ‘I know that you two are more than capable of running this ranch, but I’ve spent the last couple of days putting some things together to make it easier for you to get organised.’

Adam gave his father a stricken look.’ Pa!’ he said. ‘Don’t do this.’

Ben smiled at both of them. ‘Son, it’s for the best,’ he said. ‘It has to be said. I want to make sure that I’ve left everything in order for you. This pile here are the…’

Hoss stood up. ‘Pa I can’t take this,’ he said. ‘Please.’

Ben hesitated. ‘Boys please listen to me. It’s time to face the hard truth here. We all know what tomorrow is going to bring and there’s nothing that will change my mind about that. I have spent many years of my life building up this ranch for you two and,’ he glanced at the staircase, ‘and your brother. I want to make sure that what I’ve started here is going to continue. Otherwise, my life has been a waste.’

Adam put his hand over that of his father’s, which was lying on the desk. ‘Never a waste Pa,’ he said. ‘Your life could never be classified as a waste by any stretch of the imagination.’

Ben returned his son’s look. ‘Thank you Adam,’ he said quietly. ‘You can both prove that to me by doing as I am asking you now. Continue things here as I would if I could be here. I have absolute trust in you both and God willing one day I may return to see it all once more. In the meantime I’ll hold the three of you and the Ponderosa in my heart every day.’ He brushed the tears away from his eyes and smiled at them both. ‘I’m counting on you boys to look after things around here. I’m also counting on you to look after your brother. God knows that Joe isn’t out of the woods yet and he’s going to continue to need all your support.’

‘He’ll have it Pa,’ said Hoss. ‘Ya know that.’

‘Yes,’ said Ben simply. ‘I know that.’ He hesitated as he picked up another piece of paper from the pile in front of him. ‘That brings me to this,’ he said. ‘My Will has always been kept up to date. I’ve left everything to the three of you of course. You are both to have guardianship of your brother and the responsibility of his share of The Ponderosa until he is of legal age. Also, the papers I had drawn up in Alabama concerning him are here.’

Adam nodded. ‘Sure Pa,’ he said in a soft voice. ‘We’ll take care of it.’

Ben stood up. ‘Well I want you both to have a look through these,’ he said. ‘If you’ve got any questions we’ll deal them with this evening after supper. ‘I’m going up to sit with your brother for a while now.’ He walked wearily away from them both with his head bowed. Hoss sniffed and wiped his eyes on his sleeve as Adam sat with his head bowed, staring at the pile of papers in front of them.

XXXXXXX

Ben bent over and kissed his youngest son’s forehead gently. He couldn’t count how many times during the past three days he had sat here like this watching Joe sleep. It seemed that it was all his son did lately and even when he was awake Ben found it well nigh impossible to get anything from him at all. He spent his waking hours staring at the wall ignoring any attempt to rouse him from his stupor. He ate and drank when forced to, but beyond that did nothing to acknowledge any of them. After that initial outburst with his father three days ago, it seemed as if the boy had sunk into a stupor from which he didn’t want to be roused.

Ben felt a great weariness as he studied his son’s profile. Joe seemed to be dreaming again and muttered a few phrases under his breath that Ben found hard to decipher. Occasionally a word would be distinguishable, but beyond that Ben found any communication with this child of his just beyond him. He picked up the framed picture of his late wife Marie from the dresser next to Joe’s bed and studied it. He smiled as he noticed the same features as those which faced him from the bed. She had been such a beauty! Just like Joe…

Ben found his thoughts flying back to the words of Barker that last time he had seen him and the bile started to rise in his throat. The things that the man had intimated made him sick to the very core of his being and he closed his eyes as he tried to will them away. ‘Joseph!’ he said softly. ‘My baby boy! How could anyone…’ The physical gifts that the boy had inherited from his mother had been turned against him by those monsters and tore into Ben’s very soul. ‘It will never happen again Joseph,’ he crooned to the boy who was tossing his head on the pillow. ‘I’ll see to it son. It will never be mentioned again or come back to haunt you. I promise you Joe. Your Pa will take care of it all for you.’

He bent over and kissed the boy again as he heard him mumble softly. ‘No… have to… Pa…’

‘Your Pa will look after you Joe,’ he said again softly. ‘Sleep now son. Get some rest.’

XXXXXXX

Joe blinked as the shaft of sunlight shifted slightly and shone directly on his face. He scrunched up his face and yawned as he stretched his aching muscles and sat up, wondering for a moment where he was. Then he remembered. He was in his own bedroom and it was… He looked around him with a puzzled expression. It seemed to be the middle of the day and he wondered why no one had wakened him for breakfast.

Joe swung his legs off the side of the bed and they hit the ground with a thump. As usual the movement made him aware of the mark on his foot and he frowned. He stood up remembering why he was up here instead of downstairs with everyone else. As he walked towards the open window, Joe wondered why his muscles hurt so much. It felt like he hadn’t used them in days and he tried to work out how long it had been since he had left his bedroom.

He had vague memories of his father sitting with him and stroking his forehead as he tried to sleep. Poor Pa! He had given him so much worry lately. First of all there’d been that horrible trip he’d had to make to Alabama to save him and then he’d had to deal with everything Joe had thrown at him since their return. Why even the other day when… suddenly it all came flooding back to him as he caught a vision of Barker’s face in front of him and he heard the words he had spoken again. Joe put his hands over his ears as if to block them out again, but they rang around his head in spite of his efforts to block them.

They knew! Pa and Adam and Hoss… they knew what he had been trying to hide from them all this time. Barker had told them and now they knew what those people had been planning for him. He hung his head and closed his eyes tightly as he tried to come to grips with the knowledge that there was no hiding from it any more. Much and all as he would have liked to wind back the clock and pretend it hadn’t happened, it had. Barker had gone and told his family and he didn’t know if he could face them knowing that they knew.

He took a deep breath and looked at his reflection in the mirror, remembering that day when he and Pa had first arrived back home. He had been so determined to have his hair cut off that day, thinking that it would help to hide that part of him from the world. He fingered his curls that had grown back and thought ruefully what a futile exercise that had been. Nothing could ever hide the fact that he had coloured blood in him… he just had to learn to live with the fact and be grateful that no one outside his family knew about it. Thank God that no one did! Joe didn’t know how he’d cope with the fact if anyone ever found out.

He squared his shoulders and drew himself up straight. The sooner he got this over with the better, he thought. He’d have to face Pa and his brothers at some stage, so it might as well be now. Quietly he padded across the floor in his bare feet, thinking ruefully how at one time he would have made sure that he had pulled on socks to hide the mark on his foot. None of that mattered any more. There was nothing that he could hide from his family…they knew it all.

Joe reached the top of the staircase and looked down into the main living area. The room was empty, apart from his brother Hoss who was pacing up and down in front of the fireplace with his hands in his pockets and staring at his feet as he walked. Joe took another deep breath and began to walk downstairs.

‘Hi,’ he said as he reached the bottom floor. ‘Where is everyone?’

Hoss looked up at him surprised. ‘Joe!’ he said. ‘What are you doing down here?’

Joe tried to appear casual, although he felt his insides churning even as he spoke. ‘I woke up,’ he said. ‘How come no one woke me for breakfast?’

Hoss’ jaw dropped. His little brother sounded nearly his old self. ‘Um..’ he said. ‘You were sleeping so peaceful that we decided to leave ya.’

Joe looked around and said again. ‘Where is everyone?’

Hoss looked away from him. ‘Pa and Adam ain’t here,’ he said.

‘Where are they?’

Hoss continued to look away from him. ‘They’ve just gone ta town,’ he said. ‘Why don’t ya go back on up ta bed fer a while?’

Joe sat down on the sofa. ‘I’ve had enough of bed,’ he said. ‘Seems like I’ve been up there for days.’

Hoss stared at him. ‘Ya have,’ he said.

Joe frowned. ‘Have I? Oh…’ he looked away, embarrassed as he thought about the reason why he had been hiding from his family. ‘When will Pa be home?’

The question seemed to upset Hoss, who began to pace again. Joe stared at him. ‘Hoss?’ he said. ‘What’s the matter?’

‘Nuthin.’

‘When will Pa be home?’

Hoss shook his head. ‘I dunno little buddy. I just don’t know.’

Joe began to pick up on his brother’s panic. ‘Why don’t you know?’ he asked. ‘Where is he Hoss? Where are Pa and Adam? I want to know.’

Hoss sat down next to his brother on the sofa. ‘Pa asked me ta stay and look after you,’ he said. ‘He and Adam had ta go into town fer… to do some things. Don’t worry about it Joe. Adam and I’ll explain it all to ya later.’

‘Why won’t Pa explain it to me?’ asked Joe, really worried now. ‘What’s going on Hoss?’

‘Joe, Pa said I wasn’t ta talk ta you about it until tonight, he said. Best to wait fer Adam to come home and then we’ll talk about it OK?’

‘Isn’t Pa coming home?’ asked Joe, beginning to panic now. ‘Why isn’t Pa coming home?’

‘Buddy I don’t think….’

‘Tell me Hoss! Tell me now or I’m getting dressed and going into town to find out myself where he is!’ Joe glared at his brother. ‘I mean it Hoss! Either you tell me or I’m gonna find out for myself.’

Hoss shook his head. ‘Joe I can’t,’ he said. ‘Pa made me promise.’

Joe bounced up from the sofa. ‘I’m going to find my Pa!’ he shouted and ran towards the staircase. Hoss caught him in an instant. ‘Let me go!’ shouted Joe, trying to free himself from his brother’s grip. ‘I mean it Hoss! Let me go!’ He flung his feet out wildly and gave his brother a sharp kick in the ankle.

‘Ow!’ yelled Hoss. ‘Quit it will ya Joe?’

‘Then tell me where Pa is!’ shouted Joe again. ‘Tell me Hoss!’

Hoss threw his little brother down on the sofa and sat down next to him. ‘Now just you settle down,’ he said firmly as he pointed a finger at him. ‘Seems ta me it can’t do no harm now telling ya anyways. It’ll be all over soon.’

Joe’s eyes widened. ‘What will be all over,’ he said. ‘Is it something to do with Barker? Has he come back already?’

Hoss frowned at him. ‘Barker’s dead Joe. Don’t ya remember? Pa told ya he was shot.’

‘Shot?’ said Joe faintly. ‘Barker is dead?’

Hoss nodded. ‘Don’t ya remember Joe? Pa told ya himself.’

Joe scrunched up his face. ‘Oh yes..’ he said faintly as his father’s words came back to him. He looked at Hoss suddenly. ‘What’s that got to do with Pa?’ he asked. ‘Why’s Pa in town if Barker is dead? He can’t hurt me any more iffen he’s dead.’

‘No little buddy he can’t hurt ya no more,’ said Hoss. ‘Nothing can hurt ya any more. Pa’s gonna see ta that.’

Joe frowned again. ‘How? What do you mean Hoss? What’s Pa doing?’

Hoss hesitated, knowing that his brother had to know sooner or later, but unsure how he was going to take the news. ‘Well….’ He said slowly. ‘Pa’s been in jail Joe.’

‘In jail? Why?’

‘Fer shooting Barker.’ Hoss watched his little brother’s face intently as he said the words. He was prepared for his brother to break out in hysterics again, but what Joe said next surprised him.

‘Pa didn’t shoot Barker!’ declared Joe.

Hoss’ eyebrows lifted. ‘What makes ya say that Joe?’ he asked tentatively.

‘Pa couldn’t have shot him. Pa could never kill anyone Hoss. You know that!’

Hoss let his breath out on a rush. Joe had probably blocked the memory of what he’d done, which Hoss supposed was just as well considering everything. He put his arm around his brother’s shoulders. ‘He said he did Joe,’ he said gently. ‘There’s a trial.’

Joe jumped up. ‘A trial?’ he shouted. ‘Pa’s on trial for shooting Barker? No!’

Hoss pulled him down again. ‘It’s OK Joe,’ he said. ‘Pa knows what he’s doing.’

No!’ Joe shouted again. ‘I gotta go to him!’ He tried to get off the sofa again, but Hoss held him down. ‘Please Hoss,’ he begged. ‘Let me go!’

‘No!’ said Hoss firmly. ‘Pa said I was ta keep ya here and that’s what I’m gonna do. Now sit still.’

Joe stopped struggling and stared at his brother. ‘Pa didn’t kill Barker,’ he said softly. ‘I’m glad he’s dead though. I wish I’d killed him!’

Hoss jerked. ‘What?’ he said. ‘But we thought…’

‘You thought what?’ asked Joe. ‘You thought I killed him?’ He gave a snort. ‘I wish!’

Hoss’ jaw dropped open. ‘Ya didn’t kill him Joe?’

‘No. Of course I didn’t kill him!’ declared Joe.

Hoss put his head in his hands. ‘But Pa thought ya did. ‘Ya told him ya didn’t want anyone ta know that you’d killed him.’

Joe shook his head. ‘I meant that I didn’t want anyone to know about…. you know. That I was a … a….slave.’ It was the first time he’d actually said the word and he wondered why he had the courage to say it now. He looked at his brother, puzzled. ‘Hoss?’ he said as an idea formed in his head. ‘Hoss? Is Pa saying he killed Barker to protect me?’ Hoss looked up at his brother silently. ‘But he don’t need to! I didn’t kill him Hoss, I swear it!’

‘Then where were you that day when you ran off from us?’ asked Hoss.

‘I dunno. Just riding around. I had to get away after he said…you know. But I didn’t go near Barker again Hoss. I swear I didn’t. Someone mighta killed him, but it wasn’t me!’

‘Oh God!’ said Hoss, burying his head in his hands again. His head was spinning and he wished that Adam were here to make sense of it all.

‘Hoss!’ said Joe urgently. ‘We’ve gotta get inta town! Pa don’t haveta do this Hoss! He don’t haveta say he did it for me! I gotta tell them in that court that I didn’t do it either and then he can tell the truth!’

Hoss clutched at his brother’s arm. ‘Joe you can’t!’ he said. ‘Don’t ya understand boy? If you go in there and start ta testify, then they’ll start asking questions. They’ll ask all about Barker and everything will come out. Don’t ya understand that?’

Joe went white as he realised that his brother was right. ‘What?’ he said faintly.

‘It’s true Joe,’ said Hoss. ‘That’s what Pa was trying to stop happening. You’ve always begged fer no one ta know about what…about your background and such. You’d have ta risk it all coming out. Pa won’t let ya do it!’

Joe closed his eyes and heard the pounding of blood in his head that threatened to blot out his brother’s words. He felt himself go cold with the thoughts that had been haunting him for the past few weeks. He knew that he couldn’t face the thought of people looking at him and knowing what he really was. ‘Hoss?’ he said faintly. ‘What’s gonna happen to Pa?’

Hoss’ face went pale. ‘I reckon he’s going ta prison Joe,’ he whispered.

Joe stood up shakily. ‘I gotta go upstairs and get dressed now,’ he said. ‘I need to get to town quickly.’ He started to walk towards the stairs, but had to grab hold of the back of a chair to steady himself. Hoss stood up to support him. ‘Go back ta bed Joe,’ he said.

Joe gave his brother a pained look and brushed him aside. ‘No,’ he said faintly. ‘I gotta get dressed and get into town.’

‘Didn’t ya hear what I said Joe,’ said Hoss. ‘Don’t ya realise what you’ll haveta say if ya go in there? Ya can’t tell everyone Joe. Ya’ve said it yaself. Ya can’t tell everyone!’

Joe smiled at his brother. ‘I can’t not tell them now can I?’ he said quietly with tears in his eyes. ‘We’re talking about Pa Hoss. I can’t not tell them.’ He walked slowly up the stairs, supporting himself on the banister as he did so.

XXXXXXX

Judge Wilcox frowned as he banged his gavel on the table in front of him. ‘Silence!’ he ordered. He turned to the prosecutor. ‘Please proceed Mr Matthews.’

Robert Matthews turned to Ben once again. ‘Please tell the court in your own words why you paid Mr Barker the $30 000 dollars.’

‘It was a business transaction,’ said Ben as he looked around the room. It seemed to him that more than half the town had turned out to hear what he had to say and the courtroom was filled to capacity. ‘A straightforward business deal.’

‘Would you care to elaborate on what it was concerning?’

‘No.’

There was a murmur around the courtroom and the judge banged his gavel again. ‘Silence!’ he repeated.

‘Could you tell us why you don’t wish to elaborate Mr Cartwright?’ asked Matthews with a slight wink at the jury. ‘Perhaps there was something shady about the deal that you don’t want us to know about?’ Ben said nothing, but stared straight ahead of him. ‘Mr Cartwright if you don’t enlighten us, then I’m afraid the jury will have to draw its own conclusions about the legality of the transaction.

‘Objection!’ shouted Hiram Wood. ‘Mr Cartwright’s character is not on trial here. His business ethics are not the issue!’

Judge Wilcox raised an eyebrow. ‘Everything that pertains to Mr Cartwright’s relationship with Mr Barker is of importance here,’ he said shortly. ‘Sit down.’ Hiram Wood sat down with a sigh.

Robert Matthews gave the jury a smile. ‘Well its obvious that Mr Cartwright had business with Mr Barker that he doesn’t want us to know about,’ he said dryly. Let’s move on shall we?’ He turned to Ben again. ‘Now,’ he continued. ‘Can you please tell us…’ He turned sharply as a noise at the back of the courthouse reached his ears.

Ben looked up to see Hoss pushing his way through the crowd, his arms flying in all directions. ‘Let me through,’ he said. ‘I’ve got business with the judge!’

Ben stood up. ‘Hoss!’ he shouted. ‘What are you doing here?’ He swallowed in fright as he saw Joe standing meekly behind his brother.

‘It’s all right Pa,’ said Hoss.

‘Silence!’ ordered the Judge. Everyone sit down immediately! What is the meaning of this?’ Everyone was talking at once and he had to bang his gavel to get silence. ‘That’s better,’ he said and then turned to Hoss. ‘What is this all about?’

Hoss stepped forward. ‘My brother wants ta testify,’ he said. ‘He’s got some things ta say.’

Ben leapt to his feet again. ‘No!’ he said. ‘Joseph I forbid it!’

Joe stepped forward and faced his father. ‘Pa I have to,’ he said. ‘I have to tell it.’

Ben shook his head. ‘You don’t know what you’re saying son,’ he said. ‘You know you can’t do this.’

Joe ignored his father and turned to the Judge. ‘My name is Joseph Cartwright and I’ve got things to say,’ he said. ‘My father didn’t shoot Barker.’

‘Joseph!’ Ben’s voice exploded behind him.

Judge Wilcox looked at the young man standing in front of him and noticed how pale he was. He looked as if he were about to collapse. The judge leant forward. ‘Do you know who did shoot Barker?’ he asked quietly.

Joe shook his head. ‘No sir,’ he said just as quietly. ‘But I know that my Pa didn’t. I know why he paid him that money and I need to tell it to stop him pleading guilty.’

Judge Wilcox sat up straight again. ‘The boy will take the stand,’ he said in a loud voice. ‘Please get down Mr Cartwright.’

Ben shook his head. ‘No,’ he said in a strangled voice. ‘Joseph I won’t let you do this.’

Joe looked at his father sadly, his voice shaking with fright. ‘You don’t have a choice Pa,’ he said. ‘I’m gonna do it.’

Hoss stepped forward and pulled his father towards him. ‘Pa sit down,’ he said. ‘Joe knows what he’s doing.’ Ben gave his youngest son one final look before allowing himself to be pulled away from the stand. Joe sat down and took his father’s place, closing his eyes for a moment as he felt everyone’s eyes upon him. He felt totally exposed up there facing everyone and the thought brought back memories of that day that he had fought so hard to forget. The last time he had faced a crowd this large had been on the day of the auction and try as he would to block the thoughts from his mind, they came flooding back.

Suddenly he was pushed from behind towards the steps leading up to the platform near him. He stood still, refusing to move until the guards grabbed him by the arms and hoisted him up bodily. Standing alone on the platform made him feel totally exposed and he turned to move away from the peering faces that stared back at him, but the auctioneer motioned to the guards and they moved over to him and held him still. Joe closed his eyes, refusing to look at the sea of faces before him, and tried to block out the words that were being said. Suddenly he felt his shirt ripped from his shoulders and down to his waist, exposing his upper torso. He closed his eyes even tighter and swayed on his feet, but was held upright in a tight grip by the two men on either side of him. How much longer? Make this finish! Please God make this finish!

The noises around him became louder and louder until it seemed to Joe that his head would burst. He tried to bring his thoughts inward and block out the external noises around him, but try as he might words and phrases kept invading his senses. ‘Come on gentlemen ….. $1000 …. not often do you see quality like this ……..$3000 thank you sir ….. looks like this are hard to come by ….. $5000 to the gentleman in the corner …..a bargain at any price……such light skin, just take a look ….. $7000, thank you sir ……come now gentlemen you can do better than that surely ……’ Joe listened as the price went higher and with each bid a bit more of his dignity was snatched from him. He willed himself to concentrate on his breathing. God make it finish! Please make it finish. Pa! Please help me Pa!

‘Joseph?’ asked Judge Wilcox. ‘We’re waiting.’

Joe opened his eyes again and felt his heart beating wildly. He looked around the room and his eyes found those of his father’s staring back at him. He took a deep breath. ‘My Pa didn’t shoot Mr Barker,’ he said.

Judge Wilcox leant forward. ‘What can you tell us about that day Joseph?’ he asked.

Joe took another breath and spoke quickly to get the words out. ‘My Pa had paid Mr Barker $30 000 to keep him quiet,’ he said. ‘He was blackmailing my Pa to keep quiet about me. Pa told him to take the money and get out of town and he left on the stagecoach. Pa and my brothers went searching for me cause I’d run off, and he didn’t go after Barker at all. He spent the whole day looking for me.’

Judge Wilcox frowned. ‘What was Barker blackmailing your father about?’ he said. ‘What was it about you that he was going to tell?’

Joe took another deep breath and tried to control his trembling voice. He felt everyone’s eyes upon him and the room was so still that you could have heard a pin drop. ‘He was gonna tell everyone what happened to me when I went to New Orleans a few weeks ago,’ he said in a voice barely above a whisper. ‘There was a man there that Barker worked for. He ….He…’ Joe stopped and licked his lips. ‘He bought me,’ he said.

The Judge looked puzzled. ‘I don’t understand,’ he said. ‘He bought you? What do you mean?’

‘He bought me,’ said Joe. ‘They said that my mother… that she was part-coloured. It made me part-coloured too and … the man… he bought me.’ There was a deep silence in the courtroom and no one moved. Joe’s soft trembling voice carried to the far corners of the room with ease. ‘Barker said that he’d tell everyone about me being…. coloured and so my Pa paid him money to keep him quiet.’ He closed his eyes for a moment. It was done! He’d said it and it was done!

The Judge looked at the young boy intently. ‘I see,’ he said. ‘Well that explains why your father paid Mr Barker the money Joseph, but it doesn’t really help. Your father has stated that he killed Mr Barker.

Joe turned his tear-filled eyes to the Judge. ‘But he’s lying!’ he said. ‘He’s only saying that because he thinks I done it!’ He turned to his father. ‘You can tell em now Pa! You can tell em that you didn’t do it! You don’t need to protect me no more. I didn’t do it either, don’t you see?’

Ben stared at his son, his thoughts awhirl. At that moment the back door banged open and Sheriff Coffee ran into the room. ‘Judge!’ he said. ‘I have news to add to this case.’

The Judge threw his hand up in despair. ‘Well you’d better come forward then Sheriff,’ he said sarcastically. ‘It seems that everyone else is determined to run this trial, so I don’t see why you shouldn’t have your say as well.’

Roy Coffee approached the Judge, patting Ben on the shoulder as he passed him. ‘I just received a wire from Carson City,’ he said. ‘The sheriff has taken into custody a drifter who has admitted to the murder of Barker.

There were murmurs around the room and the Judge banged his gavel again. ‘What?’ he said. ‘I’ve never dealt with a case where two men admit to killing the same man!’

‘Appears they caught this guy with the money he took from Barker,’ continued the Sheriff. ‘He saw Barker flashing it around and thought he’d take his chance. Things just got out of control and he ended up killing him.’

‘What about the gun?’

‘He stole it a few weeks ago from one of The Ponderosa hands,’ said Roy. ‘He’s admitted to the whole thing.’

The Judge wiped his hand over his eyes wearily. ‘Mr Cartwright please stand up,’ he said. Ben stood and faced the Judge. ‘Do you wish to change your plea?’

Ben nodded as he smiled at Joe. ‘I do Your Honour,’ he said. ‘I plead Not Guilty.’

The Judge banged his gavel again. ‘Case dismissed,’ he said.

Hiram stood and patted Ben on the back. ‘Congratulations,’ he said.

‘Thank you,’ said Ben, shaking the man by the hand. ‘I’m sorry I wasn’t much help to you Hiram.’

‘Well I understand now why you weren’t,’ replied the Attorney. He looked at Joe who was still seated on the stand with his eyes on the floor. ‘Young man, in all my years of practising Law that was the gutsiest performance I’ve ever witnessed.’ Joe looked up at the Attorney with tears in his eyes. Hiram turned to Ben and said in a loud voice. ‘That’s one fine son you have there Ben, but I’m sure you know that.’

Ben smiled at him. ‘I sure do,’ he said as he stepped forward and pulled Joe to his feet. ‘He’s a son I’m very proud of.’ He hugged Joe to him and felt the boy dissolve into him as he felt himself engulfed by his father’s strong arms. He stroked his son’s head gently, not caring who was watching them. ‘I’m so proud of you for doing what you did Joseph,’ he whispered into the boy’s ear. ‘So proud.’

Joe drew back from his father and smiled at him. ‘I had to do it Pa,’ he said. ‘I couldn’t let you go to prison.’

‘Ironic, isn’t it?’ said Adam beside them. ‘Only a few more minutes and Joe wouldn’t have had to say anything. Roy would have come in anyway and everything could have remained a secret.’

Ben shook his head as he continued to look at Joe. ‘No,’ he said. ‘It had to be told. It was meant to be told, wasn’t it Joseph?’

Joe smiled at his father through his tears. ‘I guess so,’ he said softly.

‘Pa?’ said Hoss. ‘We should get outta here, don’t ya think?’

Ben nodded and felt Joe stiffen beside him. ‘Just stick close to me Joe,’ he said softly. ‘I told you before that nothing will hurt you anymore.’

Joe looked around him fearfully. ‘But all them people Pa,’ he said. ‘They all know now.’ He bit his lip.

Ben held his son tightly at his side as he turned him to face the back door. Adam and Hoss stood on either side of them as they inched their way through the people towards the exit. As the four Cartwrights made their way slowly forward the crowd parted around them and one after another each person stood in silence. One at a time each man that they passed put on his hat and tipped it in Joe’s direction and every women nodded to him and smiled. By the time they had reached the back door, Ben could hardly see for the tears that were running down his cheeks.

XXXXXXX

Ben smiled at the sight of his son sitting in the grass and wriggling his bare toes and walked over to stand beside him. Joe looked up and smiled at him. ‘Hi Pa.’ he said. ‘How’d ya know I’d be here?’

Ben sat down next to him. ‘I just thought you might be,’ he said. He looked out over the lake and took a deep breath to smell the aroma of the pines above them.

Joe drew up his knees and hugged them tightly as he lowered his chin onto them. ‘You know, I haven’t been here since we came home,’ he said quietly.

‘I know,’ replied his father ‘I’ve been waiting for you to come.’

‘You have?’

Ben nodded. ‘Yes.’

‘I guess I couldn’t before,’ said Joe as he looked at the stone marker beside him. ‘I… didn’t want to.’ He glanced back at his father sadly. ‘I’ve never felt like that before Pa.’ Ben waited. ‘I think… I think I didn’t want to talk to my mother about it all,’ continued Joe. ‘I didn’t want her to know what happened.’

‘She knows Joe.’

‘Yeah… Pa I gotta say something to you that you mightn’t like.’ Ben was still as he listened to his son find the words. ‘I felt like… I felt like it was her fault in a way. I didn’t want to feel that way, but still I did and it made me kinda ashamed to face her cause… well none of it was her fault was it?’ Ben shook his head as he looked at his son. ‘She couldn’t help what happened,’ continued Joe. ‘I’m not ashamed of her Pa, really I’m not!’

‘I know.’

Joe wriggled his toes again and bent down to turn over his foot. He fingered the mark on his heel. ‘Ya know it’s just a mark ain’t it Pa?’ he said. ‘It don’t mean nothing if I don’t want it to.’

‘Ben put his arm around his son’s shoulder. ‘That’s right Joseph, it’s just a mark. Nothing more.’

Joe bit his lip. ‘But…’

‘But what?’

He took a deep breath and let it go with a sigh. ‘I feel better now that I’ve told about it in a way, but… well with everyone knowing now…’ his eyes filled with tears again.

‘Son listen to me. You saw the people in the courtroom and the way they reacted to you after you testified. They were showing you a mark of respect Joseph. You’ve got nothing to be afraid of, and certainly nothing to be ashamed of’

Joe shook his head. ‘Yeah I saw em,’ he said. ‘But they weren’t the whole town were they? They were only some people.’

‘Some people who will tell others,’ said Ben. ‘You know the way word gets around town. Everyone will know exactly what happened by now.’

‘That’s just what I mean,’ said Joe. ‘Everyone will know by now that I’m part-coloured and that I was a slave.’ Ben smiled to hear his son say the words so easily that he couldn’t have uttered even a few days ago. ‘They’re not all gonna think good things about me cause of it!’

Ben nodded. ‘Joe this town is made up of all sorts of people as you know. Of course some of them will say things about you, but I believe that there are enough people who will defend you against that kind of ignorance if only you’ll let them. Sure you’ll have a hard time ahead of you, especially for a while, but remember that you’ll have a lot of people on your side. Your brothers and I for a start.’

Joe smiled at his father. ‘I know,’ he said. ‘Strange though ain’t it Pa? How I never wanted anyone to know and then I go and be the one to tell em all.’

‘You did that for me,’ said Ben, hugging his son’s shoulder even tighter.

Joe looked surprised. ‘Of course,’ he said. ‘Why wouldn’t I? Pa you’re more important to me than anything in this whole world! If I had a choice between losing you and having everyone turn against me, well….’ He searched for the words to express his feelings. ‘Well there just ain’t no choice! Don’t you know that?’ His emotions took over and his voice began to shake. ‘Sides, after what you did for me… I mean down in Alabama and all. Plus being ready to go to jail for me…’ He looked at the ground as the tears began to overtake him. ‘You did that to save me.’

‘Son I told you I would never let anything hurt you like that again. It wasn’t just words Joe…I meant it.’

Joe hung his head and began to sob quietly.

‘It’s all right Joseph,’ said Ben.

Joe shook his head. ‘No Pa, it ain’t all right. Sometimes I know I can be a real pain…’

Ben laughed. ‘Just sometimes?’ he asked teasingly.

Joe gave a short chuckle through his tears. ‘Well most of the time I reckon,’ he acknowledged with a half-smile. ‘But I don’t mean to be. I think…well I think you’re just the best Pa a feller could ever have and I want to tell you that.’ He looked up and gave his father a wider smile. ‘I really love you Pa.’

Ben patted his boy’s head and gave him a soft smile. ‘I know you do Joseph and I love you too son. More than I could ever say.’

‘Its hard to find the words to say what’s inside ain’t it?’ said Joe softly.

Ben nodded. ‘Yes son,’ he said. ‘But sometimes we don’t have to say them. We just know.’

XXXXXXX

‘So,’ said Hoss straightening up and stretching his back. ‘ Now that that’s all the loading is finished what’s say we go for a beer?’ He looked at his father hopefully. ‘Sure is a hot one today don’t ya reckon Pa?’

‘Sure is,’ agreed Adam as he wiped the sweat off his forehead and replaced his hat. ‘We’ve loaded those supplies in record time. Seems to me that we’re ahead of schedule.’

Ben gave a short laugh. ‘Well I can’t say that you two are very subtle about it,’ he said. ‘What do you think Joe? How does a drink sound to you? Unless you’d rather go down the street and have that haircut you need instead.’ He looked at his son’s hair and marvelled at how long it looked already in such a short time.

Joe returned his father’s look. ‘Aw Pa!’ he said. ‘You know I like it long! I don’t need a haircut yet! But as for a drink…well if you insist on buying…I won’t say no. He grinned at his brothers and winked.

Ben pretended to frown. ‘Now who said I was buying?’ he asked.

Adam gave him an innocent look. ‘You did!’ he said. ‘Just now…didn’t you?’

Ben laughed again and flung his arm around Joe’s shoulder. ‘Come on then,’ he said over his own shoulder as he walked away. ‘Never let it be said that Ben Cartwright was stingy with his money.’

Adam and Hoss winked at each other as they followed each other down the street. As they neared the Saloon Ben felt Joe stiffen slightly and he tightened his grip on his son. ‘It’ll be fine Joe,’ he said softly. ‘One step at a time remember?’

Joe gave his father a slight nod and tried to smile at him, but Ben noticed that the smile stayed on his son’s lips and didn’t reach his eyes. It had been like this for the past few days. Joe had faced one hurdle after another each day…mostly with dealing with the hands on the ranch…but today was the first time he’d had to do it in town and it was quite an ordeal for the boy.

No one at any time had given him the slightest indication that they were treating him any different than normal, whether by word or action, but Ben knew how tense Joe was about each new person that he came into contact with. At some stage they all knew that there would be a remark or an action to indicate what was in everyone’s minds and Ben was dreading it. He knew that Joe was too. Each place they went and each person they met was another test for his son and one that so far he had passed beautifully.

As they entered the Silver Dollar Saloon Ben saw immediately that it was crowded. They made their way straight to the bar, Ben’s arm still around Joe’s shoulder holding him tight. ‘Four beers thanks,’ he said, plonking down the money on the counter.

‘Since when did ya start serving coloureds in here?’ came a drawling voice from behind and Ben turned to see Ed Leonard standing behind them. Everyone in the Saloon stopped and stared in their direction at the man’s words. Joe swallowed and closed his eyes.

Before Ben could react in any way, Sam the bartender answered first. ‘Since about the same time we started serving white trash like you!’ he said angrily. ‘Here you go Mr Cartwright.’ He put the fours beers on the bar. ‘Boys,’ he said with a nod of his head and a smile at Adam, Hoss and Joe.

Ed sneered as he persisted. ‘Well I ain’t gonna drink with no coloureds,’ he drawled.

‘Well then you’d better get out of here,’ declared John Deakin and grabbed hold of the man’s arm as he pulled him to the door and threw him into the street. He turned and smiled at the Cartwrights. ‘How are you today Joe?’

Joe looked at the man surprised. ‘Fine thanks Mr Deakin,’ he said with a dazed expression on his face.

‘There’s a table over in the corner Ben,’ said Paul Martin as he passed. He patted Joe on the arm. ‘Nice to see you Joe,’ he said.

Ben led his three sons over to the table in the corner, pleased to feel that Joe’s body had relaxed and didn’t feel nearly as tense. As they seated themselves he smiled around and held up his beer. ‘Well here’s to us!’ he said as they all lifted their glasses to meet his. Ben took a long swallow of beer and as he replaced his glass on the table he was surprised to see a sheepish expression on Joe’s face. He glanced across to where his son was looking and suppressed a smile at the sight of one of the young barmaids giving his son a wink. Normally he frowned on that sort of behaviour, but today it meant a lot to him.

He saw that it meant a lot to Joseph too, and the boy blushed as he met his father’s eye. He looked down and studied his beer for a moment, then looked up again and tried not to laugh. With a slight shrug of his shoulders, he tried to look casual.

‘Looks like that gal over there kinda likes ya Joe,’ said Hoss with a nudge to his brother’s ribcage.

Joe gave him a threatening look. ‘Shut up!’ he whispered and went an even darker shade of red.

‘What was that Hoss?’ asked Adam in a loud voice. ‘Did you say something about our little brother and a girl?’ Joe gave his oldest brother a pleading look, which Adam ignored. ‘Seems to me that she does look rather keen on you,’ Adam grinned.

Joe turned to his father. ‘Pa!’ he said pleadingly.

Ben laughed. ‘All right boys,’ he said. ‘Leave your brother alone. You’re embarrassing him.’

Hoss grinned. ‘Oh we ain’t begun yet,’ he said with a wink at Adam. ‘Have we older brother?’

Adam returned the look and put an arm around Joe as he leaned closely to him. ‘Certainly not!’ he said. ‘Now let’s see what else we can think of to embarrass our little brother.’

Ben leant back in his chair and laughed at the pained expression on Joe’s face as he tried to ward off both his brothers. A few days ago none of them would have even dreamed about treating the boy in this way, and now it was as it had been before they had taken that fateful trip. He knew that there still some difficult times ahead for his son, but judging by the reaction of people today they would be fewer than he could ever have hoped for.

‘Joseph I think you’d better give up,’ he said with a chuckle. ‘Your brothers aren’t about to let up on you now.’

Joe looked at his father and grinned. ‘Don’t worry Pa,’ he said as he swatted Hoss’ hand away. ‘I can handle them!’

‘I’m sure you can son,’ replied his father as he leant back in his chair again and watched his three boys. He smiled as he pushed back his hat. After what you’ve been through in these past few weeks Joseph I’m sure you can handle anything!

The End

Next Story in the Between Two Worlds Series:

When Two Worlds Collide