Summary:   A sort of Valentine story for the February Chaps and Spurs challenge.

A What Happened Next for The Julia Bulette episode using the words: Joy, Frosting, Dream, Valentine and Sparkling.

Rated: K+  Word Count: 1550

                                                                           Clearing the Mind

It was February 14th, exactly six months to the day since Julia Bulette was brutally robbed and murdered in ‘Julia’s Palace’ by the hand of her ex-lover, Jean Millain.

Ben Cartwright and his youngest son stood side by side in silence as they stared towards the all too familiar building across the street; the father also watching the pale and gaunt faced Joe warily out the corner of his eye.

The impressively painted sign which had hung along the front of the saloon had long gone and the new owner had changed the décor from top to bottom, inside and out.  But just the thought of walking through the bat-wing doors, looking up towards the private rooms where he and Julia once made love and she’d finally died in his arms, had been enough to leave Joe sick to the stomach on many occasions during the past six months.

In a continuous state of melancholy ever since he couldn’t stop his mind going over everything that happened within Julia’s Palace and the fact his dreamof ever having a future with Julia had ended in such an unexpectedly violent and tragic way within its walls.

Ben had been aware of the reasons for Joe’s despondency since Julia’s death and it pained him to see his son a shadow of his former self and his boyish face lined and etched with such a pained expression of sadness he looked more akin to a man twice his age.

Having worked out Julia’s shadowy ghost was unrelentingly haunting his son and preventing Joe from moving on with his life, Ben had an overwhelming desire to come up with some fatherly answer and advice to sort out the situation.  He agonised for hours then eventually worked out the only way Joe could pull himself out of the pit of despair he’d fallen into would be to return to the place which continued to hold such contrasting emotions of love and despondency within his mind.

However Joe stubbornly continued to refuse to see the logic of his father’s words and over the months no amount of persuading or reasoning on Ben’s part would change his mind as Joe refused point blank to set foot again anywhere near the place which held such an assortment of good and bad memories for him.

Ben was at his wits end and so after completing their business at the Bank and Mercantile that crisp and cold February morning, Joe had been more than surprised and not a little taken aback when his father had taken hold of his arm and resolutely stated his intention to finally put an end to the sad state of affairs once and for all.  And sensing his father’s well known resolve and though feeling a little weak kneed, without protest Joe allowed himself to be physically propelled towards the newly painted saloon situated at the end of the main street of Virginia City.

“There’s only one man who can stop your suffering and that’s you yourself son.  And seeing as its Valentine’s Day, this seems the best time and place to do what you have to do,” Ben stated in the quiet yet determined voice all his sons knew so well.  “Though I’m only suggesting you do this for your own sake it’s your decision and your decision alone.  But as time goes on the longer you leave it the harder it’ll be to do what you have to.  You know that, don’t you Joseph?”

Ben paused and as a look of panic fleetingly flashed across Joe’s colourless face Ben thought he was going to bolt out of his reach.  But then there was a deep sigh from the young Cartwright as he felt his father’s brown eyes studying him with loving concern.  “Yes Pa.  Guess I’ve always known what has to be done but I’ve been too much of a coward to face the truth,” he answered, almost relieved to be forced into making the decision.  “But that doesn’t make the thought of doing it any easier.”

Ben nodded soberly.

Joe glanced back towards the front door of the saloon.  “Will you come in with me Pa?  I could do with some moral support.” His  request was low but so distinct Ben had no difficulty in understanding.   It was like that of a small boy about to enter the school room for the very first time and needing the reassurance of a parent by his side.

Ben’s answer was quick and comforting.  “That’s why I’m here.  You didn’t think I’d let you do this alone, did you Joseph?”

Father and son stared at each other for a long moment, then without another word made their way across the street.

The smell of stale tobacco smoke wafted in the air as they entered the busy saloon and made for an empty table in a far corner.  Ignoring all other occupants, Joe sat down, his eyes staring downwards as if he couldn’t bring himself to look at his surroundings or acknowledge anyone else’s presence.

Ben raised an eyebrow towards the bartender who intuitively walked over with an opened bottle of whiskey and two glasses, waiting a moment while Ben took out a coin and flicked it towards him with a grateful nod.

Wordlessly Ben took hold of the bottle and poured two shots, placing one glass in front of his son and the other in front of himself.  With his hands noticeably shaking Joe immediately downed the whiskey and then under Ben’s anxious eye poured his glass full again and emptied it in one long swallow.

Without comment Ben sipped back his own drink at a more leisurely pace and Joe then refilled it along with his own. “Looks like you’re figuring on getting us both drunk today son,” Ben observed though there was no sign of argument in his tone.

Joe said nothing for a few moments as he considered his glass.  Then he forced his eyes towards the stairs, Ben watching him carefully and sensing the turmoil of memories now flooding through his head.  “Last time I got drunk in this place I was with Julia in her room, drinking sparkling champagne all the way from France,” Joe finally announced with no look of joyor embarrassment at the disclosed reminiscence as his voice choked with emotion.  “I loved her with all my heart and asked her to marry me that night.”

With Joe’s vision now unmistakably blurred with hot tears Ben laid a hand on his arm and gave it an inconspicuous yet gentle squeeze of comfort so as not to embarrass him in such a public place.  “I know son,” he whispered.  “I know.”

Blinking away the wetness in his eyes Joe pursed his lips tight as he fought hard to keep his self control.   “Do you think I would have made her a good husband Pa?”

Ben drew a deep breath as he careful thought out his answer.  “Yes,” he answered slowly after a moments thought as he recalled Julia admitting to him during a private discussion how much she loved his son.  “I reckon you would have made Julia a very happy woman and she’d have made you a very happy man.”

With his father’s pronouncement ringing in his ears Joe sank back into his chair and obviously in deep thought settled himself more comfortably for a short while before raising his refilled glass.  “Here’s to Julia and what might have been…for better or worse.”

Ben followed his son’s lead and held up his whiskey.  “To Julia,” he echoed softly as they clinked glasses then drank down the warming, golden liquid; both sitting for several minutes in silent reflection of the woman who’d made such a significant impact on them both when entering their lives.

Eventually Ben reached over towards the bottle but before he could pour out another shot Joe took hold of the two glasses and turned them upside down.  He stared directly at his father, his face less drawn, colour now in his cheeks and looking as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.  “No Pa. No more.  Coming in here with you has helped in some way to exorcise Julia’s ghost.  From now on I reckon everything is going to be just fine.”

Joe pushed back his chair and as he stood up an impish flash of mischievousness suddenly appeared in his eyes and a warm quick smile formed on his lips; something rarely seen for such a long time. “Besides Pa, I don’t want to have to carry you back to the Ponderosa in the middle of the day in a drunken stupor.  What would Adam and Hoss say?”

Ben remained seated for a brief moment and inwardly sighed with relief at the reappearance of his son’s fun-loving side.  Things were looking up.   And then after watching Joe greet old friends sat around the saloon with a full formed grin now beaming from his face, for Ben it was just extra frosting on the cakeThe worst of days was truly over and now at last the caring father could relax with hope and optimism for the future.  Ben smiled.  What more could any man wish for?

The End