Summary:  When Little Joe finds a badly injured stranger on the Ponderosa, the Cartwrights’ lives are nearly turned upside down.

Rating: T
Word Count: 21,027

Romancing the Ponderosa series:

The Redhead (Book 2)
Leo (Book 3)
Rose, My Love (Book 4)

Mrs. Little Joe

Chapter 1

Reining in Cochise, I look out at the field in front of me. Patting Cochise on the neck I’m about to turn and head back to the house, when I see a man stumbling along in the field not quite a hundred yards away from me. Drawing my gun, I turn Cochise with my knees and trot out to meet the man. But before I’m halfway to him, he collapses hard into a heap. Snapping my reins on Cochise’s flank, I gallop the rest of the way, hurriedly re-holstering my gun and leaping to the ground before Cochise has even stopped.

Turning the man over, I gasp. The man is apparently young, his face smooth and soft looking. But his youth isn’t what makes me gasp. The man’s face is battered, black and blue, with blood oozing from gaping wounds. Wounds that weren’t made from a hand, but something else, like the butt of a pistol or a small horse whip. Feeling wet warmth on my hand, where it lays on the man’s arm, I look down to see it covered in blood. Pulling back the man’s sleeve, I can’t help but cringe. His arm is torn to shreds, and from the looks of it by some sort of whip.

I bend and pick the man up. Since the whole situation doesn’t seem right and has me a little spooked, I talk to the unconscious man while I remount Cochise, “Well, you ain’t that big of a man, that’s for sure. You seem mighty thin; you hardly weigh a thing!”

Riding back to the house as fast as I can without dropping the little man in my arms, I can’t help but wonder who this man is and why he’s on the Ponderosa. It also seems a little funny that during this whole time, with the man’s fall, getting picked up, and now bouncing along on Cochise, that his hat hasn’t moved a bit. It’s like his hat’s glued to his head or something.

“Cooch, I know it’s silly of me to be thinking of this man’s hat and all, but it just doesn’t want to fall off. If I went through all that, my hat would have already been off and gone!” I comment to my horse, trying to settle my nerves.

Coming up to the front of the house, I yell, “Pa, come quick!”

The front door opens and Pa comes out, Hoss and Adam following. Seeing the man, all three rush over and take him from me. Dismounting, I answer Pa’s questions while Hoss carries the man into the house.

“Joseph, where’d you find that boy?”

“In the west pasture, Pa. I don’t know who he is, he collapsed before I got to him.”

“He looks badly beaten!”

“Not just his face either, but his arms. I’m not sure about his back or chest, I didn’t stay around long enough to look that far but tried to get him here as fast as possible.”

Walking into the house with Pa, I see Hoss and Adam bending over the man, gently wiping the blood from his face. Hanging up my hat, I take off my jacket. Throwing it down on the table, I roll up the sleeves of my creamy tan shirt, ready to help.

“Hoss, take off the poor boy’s hat! You can’t bathe his face with it in the way!”

“Yes, Pa!” Adam answers for him.

“Dadburn it, Pa! This dang hat won’t come off!”

“What do you mean, won’t come off? It’s not like it’s glued on or something, it’s a hat!”

“Pa, that hat hasn’t come off the whole time the boy’s been with me.” I comment.

“Well, ladies use hat pins to keep their hats in place, maybe this boy has some sort of pin holding his in place.” Adam says as he runs his fingers along the inner edge of the hat. When he runs his fingers along the right side of the hat, he freezes for a second, and then slowly pulls a long black hat pin out of the hat’s brim. “Just what I thought, a hat pin.”

“But why would a boy…” Hoss’s words stammer to a stop as Adam pulls the hat off of the boy’s head, and a long dark brown braid slowly untwists itself from where it’s been coiled on top of the boy’s head.

Feeling my eyes go wide, I manage to stammer out, “He’s not a boy, but a girl!”

“Exactly.” Adam says looking up at me. “I had a feeling he really was a girl dressed up like a boy. Look at how small she is, no boy is that small, plus look at her face, no boy’s face is built that delicate.”

“I had no idea! All I saw was that his, I mean her, face was beaten and bloody.”

“Well it’s a good thing you brought her home, son.” Pa says laying his hand on the back of my shoulder. “But now we can’t help her like we would have if she were a boy.”

“Pa, I can go get the Doc.” Hoss volunteers.

“You do just that Hoss.” Then turning back to me, “Little Joe, go upstairs and get the spare room ready. We’ll carry her up there.”

“Yes, Pa.” I say as I run up the stairs.

After I come back downstairs, I tell Pa that the bed’s ready. Walking over to the couch, where the girl lays still unconscious, I bend to pick her up and carry her upstairs, when Adam pushes me to the side. Bending down, he gently picks her up and cradles her to his chest. Looking back at my angry face, he smiles, “Joe, go change your shirt.”

I quickly look down at my shirt. The front is streaked with blood where the girl’s arm and face had rested on my chest. I begin unbuttoning my shirt as I walk back across the big room to grab my green jacket from off the table. Holding my jacket up I look for blood stains and find a few across the left side. Turning, I take my jacket to the kitchen to give to Hop Sing, so he can wash the blood out.

“Hop Sing!”

“Yes, Mr. Little Joe?”

“Can you wash the blood stains out of my jacket?”

“Yes, right away.”

“Oh, and this, too.” I fling my shirt at him. Hurrying across the room and up the stairs, I peek into the spare room to see if the girl is awake yet. But since she isn’t, I continue on to my room to get a new shirt.

Coming out of my room, I finish buttoning my shirt as I walk back, but hearing Adam’s voice, I quiet my steps. I stop and lean against the wall beside the door where Pa and Adam can’t see me. I know I shouldn’t eavesdrop, but I can’t resist.

“Pa, I just don’t understand, why would someone do something like this to a man, let alone a young girl?”

“I don’t know, son, there are lots of cruel people in this world. I just don’t know.” From the sound of Pa’s voice, I can tell he’s slowly shaking his head.

“But, Pa, she felt so thin when I carried her up here. The person who did this to her deserves to be killed. To have this done to her is one thing, but then not knowing whether her face will be scarred for the rest of her life is an entirely different matter.” I hear Adam sigh angrily and begin to pace the floor.

“Adam, just imagine how Little Joe feels. He’s the one who found her. The open agony on his face when he told me where he found her, made me ache for him. And then to find out that it’s actually a girl! We all know how Joe is when it comes to a pretty girl, but a girl beaten nearly to death! I can’t imagine what he’s going through, he’s only a boy after all!”

“Speaking of Joe, where is he?” Hearing Adam walking towards the door, I quietly run on tiptoe back to my doorway. Walking normally, with my boots clicking, I go back to the spare room making it look like I just came out of my room. Sticking his head out of the door, Adam sees me coming out and tells Pa, “Ah, here he comes now.”

“I see you changed your shirt, Little Joe.” He smirks at me as I walk into the room. Giving him a small cocky smile, I walk over to Pa where he’s sitting on the edge of the bed studying the poor girl’s face. Looking up, he pats my arm.

“Everything is going to be alright.” He stands up and walks towards the door. Looking back at Adam and I, he says, “I’ll be right back. I’m going to have Hop Sing make some coffee and heat some water so we can clean her face.”

Once the sound of his footfall on the steps is gone, Adam turns towards me and begins to talk, “What I can’t figure out is why she’s dressed like a boy and not like the pretty girl she apparently is? And not only just dressed like a boy, but she had all her hair under that hat. Why? I just don’t understand it.”

While Adam is talking, he walks over to the girl and picks up the end of her braid, fiddling with it between his thumb and finger. It’s like he’s trying to see how soft it is or something. He has such a dark, quizzical look on his face, that I can’t help but ask, “Older brother, what are you figuring?”

“Well, the only logical thing I can think of is that she’s hiding and doesn’t want her identity known.” He drops her braid and fingers the slits in her sleeve, where bloody torn flesh peeks out. “But then by the looks of this shirt, she was wearing it during the beating.”

Hearing Pa walking down the hall, both of us look towards the doorway. He comes in carrying a bowl, which I assume is the warm water he went to get, and a handful of soft rags. Sitting the bowl on the small table by the door, he dips one of the rags in the water. After ringing it out, he walks back to the bed, waving me to the side so he can reach her better. Adam and I both watch as he gently dabs at a swollen gash on her face. All of us cringe when the rag comes back red. Pa lays his palm tenderly on her forehead, pushing back small, sticky strands of brown hair. Looking to the right of him, where Adam stands, he says, “Adam, go get a bowl of cool water, I didn’t realize she was burning up like this.”

“Yes, Pa.” He says walking out of the room.

“Pa, do you think she’ll live?” I have to ask, even though I’m not sure I really want the answer.

“I think she will, but then I’m no doctor. As long as these wounds don’t get infected and the fever goes away, I think she’ll make it.” He puts the wet, red rag in my hand, which I carry back to the bowl of now useless warm water. I’m about to dip it in the water to rinse it out, when I hear a horse gallop up outside. Dropping the rag, I quickly walk to the window and see Hoss dismount Chub.

“It’s Hoss, Pa, but the doctor’s not with him.” I say as I quickly leave the room and run down the stairs. I’m halfway across the big room, when Adam beats me to the door. He swings it open and angrily questions Hoss before the fella even has a chance of getting all the way in the house.

“Where’s the doctor?”

“Well, Adam, he wasn’t in town, so I left him a note saying to come right quick once he gets the chance.”

“Did you say what we need him for in the note?”

“Yeah, Adam, I said that we found a little gal, who’s in awful bad shape.”

“Well, Adam, what do you supposed we do now? It’s not like we can just undress her like we would if she were a boy.”

“I don’t know, Little Joe. What do you suggest we do?” He yells back at me, the stress of the day making his temper flare.

“Now don’t you go gettin’ mad at me, Adam! I didn’t do anything but bring that girl home, just like any of us would have done!” I point my finger at him and pull myself up to my full height.

Adam steps closer to me and grabs the front of my shirt, lifting me a little higher, so that we’re eye to eye, “Younger brother, don’t you get smart with me!”

“Ha! You think that was smart? I’ll show you smart!” But before I have a chance to even say anything else, he punches me hard in the jaw. Falling backwards, I scramble back to my feet. Running towards him, I punch him in the face. When he falls back I see blood streaming out of his nose. He quickly gets me back by punching me in the gut, which causes me to flip back and hit a chair, knocking it over.

“Adam, Little Joe, knock it off!” Hoss yells at us, but neither of us listen as we continue to throw punches. Yet both of us know that Hoss can, and will, break our fight up.

“Boys!” Both of us stop at the sound of Pa’s voice. I quickly wipe my hand across my mouth, not at all surprised at the blood on my hand. All three of us turn to look at Pa where he stands on the top step and from the looks of him, he’s real mad. His chest is heaving and his hands are fisted at his sides, but the look on his face tells me exactly how made he is. His mouth opens and closes and then opens again, “Boys! We’re all upset at the state that young girl’s  in, but it’s no reason to pick fights! I expect you to act like men, not brawling fools!”

He steps down until there’s only the bottom half of the staircase and a mere ten feet between us and him. Looking between Adam and I, he takes in Adam’s bloodied nose and my busted lip. As he shakes his head, I know he’s not done yelling at us yet. But then he turns and barks out, “Adam, where’s that water I sent you down here for?”

“On the kitchen table, Pa, where I sat it before letting Hoss in.” Adam calmly says walking back to the table.

“Little Joe, get the brandy, and bring some more cloths, too. We need to get those wounds cleaned.”

“Yes, Pa.”

All three of us follow him back upstairs and into the room. Adam sits the bowl of cold water beside the warm water Pa had brought up. I put the extra cloths and brandy on the desk that’s on the other side of the room.

“While you boys were downstairs I rolled her over and she doesn’t appear to have any wounds on her back. It seems to be just her face and arms that were injured.”

“So what do you plan on doing, Pa?” Hoss stands at the foot of the bed.

“Well, my plan was to cut off her sleeves and bathe her arms that way.”

Adam leaves the room as I walk to the left side of the bed. I can’t help but try and imagine what her face looked like before. I look up at Pa where he stands across from me on the right side of the bed. Adam hands Pa the pair of scissors that he went to find.

Taking the scissors, Pa begins to cut off the girl’s left sleeve at the shoulder. He pulls it gently away from her torn skin and hands it to Adam, who lays it on the desk next to the bottle of brandy. Pa hands me the scissors and points to her right sleeve. I know he wants me to cut off the other sleeve since I’m on that side of the bed, but just the thought of what’s underneath it makes my eyes burn and my hands tremble. I quickly look up at Pa and he gives me a reassuring nod. I begin to gently cut at the thin fabric above her shoulder. Once the sleeve is free from the shirt, I cut down the length of it instead of gently pulling it down like Pa did. Lifting her thin, torn arm up I pull the fabric out from under it. Before I even lay her arm back down, Adam’s hand appears to take the other sleeve, which I gladly give him.

“Adam, bring the brandy and those cloths.”

Adam lays both into Pa’s outstretched hands. Pa looks at Hoss and I before he uncaps the brandy bottle. He soaks a cloth and bends to begin wiping the gashes on her left arm, when he quickly stops and says, “Be prepared to hold her down, she’ll probably wake up from the pain this brandy will bring.”

All three of us brace ourselves ready to gently keep her from moving should she wake up. Brandy burns like fire in wounds, so if the pain of it doesn’t wake her up she might be too far gone. I pray she wakes up, I honestly don’t care if she screams bloody murder at this point.

 

Chapter 2

 

We all hold our breath waiting for her reaction as Pa lays the brandy-soaked cloth on one of the gashes. A small hissing sound escapes from her swollen lips. Seconds later her eyes open, revealing glassy green eyes. She rolls her head to the side and looks at Pa. She looks at him with fearful eyes as she tries to jerk her arm away from him, where he’s still dabbing away at that gash. She begins to mumble, which makes Pa look up and all of us lean in closer. With our movement, her eyes take in each of our faces, the fear getting deeper with each look.

“Please, don’t hit me!” She whispers in a fear laden voice.

“Don’t worry, child, we won’t hurt you.” Pa reassures her, yet she still looks scared to death. “I’m trying to help you. See, I’m cleaning your cuts. I’m sorry that it hurts.”

“Would you like some water?” I ask as her eyes travel back across our faces and stop and stare at me. I can’t help but find her eyes beautiful despite their feverish look.

She tries to say something, but nothing comes out. She gives a very slight nod instead, which from the pain in her eyes must mean it hurt horribly just to do that. I start to walk across the room to get her a small glass, when Pa stops me, “Little Joe, just wet a rag and hold it to her lips. We don’t know when the last time she had something in her stomach and I don’t want her to get sick on top of all this.”

I dip a rag in the bowl of cool water and hold it to her lips. They part and her little tongue appears, giving the rag a feeble lick. I smile as her eyes slowly close again. Pa continues to clean her arms and face. During the whole thing she only lets out a few whimpers and by the time Pa’s completely finished, she’s fallen into a restless sleep.

As Pa lays a cool, wet rag on her forehead, he turns his head to look at Adam. “That’s all we can do for her right now. We’ll take turns watching her through the rest of the day and tonight.”

“ I’ll take the first watch, Pa.” He replies before I even have a chance to say anything.

“Well, since she’s resting right now let’s go downstairs and drink that coffee I had Hop Sing make.” We all start for the door, but I stop halfway across the room. Turning, I look back at the poor girl laying there ripped up arms exposed to the air.

“Ya comin’, Little Joe?”

“Yeah, I’ll be down in a minute, Hoss. Save me some of that coffee, will ya?”

“Sure thing, little brother.” As Hoss disappears down the hall I walk back to the bed and ease myself down onto the edge. Keeping my eyes from trailing the length of her arm, I reach out and gently cradle her small hand between my two larger ones. Just looking at her arms makes my blood boil and from the way she looked at us, begging us not to hit her, I know for sure that a man did this to her. But the question is, what man? Adam is right, this man deserves to be killed.

“Too bad you didn’t tell us your name before you went back to sleep.” I rub my thumb across the back of her hand, “I bet you have a real pretty name. Only a girl with eyes as beautiful as yours deserves a downright pretty one.”

Her lashes flutter slightly, which makes me stop rubbing my thumb over her hand. Breathless, I lean a little closer, but she doesn’t wake up. Sighing, I give her hand a pat before standing up to leave the room. Pa will probably be back up here to get me if I don’t get downstairs soon.

I walk slowly down the stairs for some reason feeling exhausted and defeated. I flop myself onto the sofa putting my boots on the table. Pa gives me a look as he hands me a cup of coffee. I quickly take my boots off the table, “Thanks, Pa.”

Taking a drink of the hot coffee, I look around at everyone. To my right, Hoss looks worried from where he sits slouched low in a chair. Adam looks to be in deep thought with a dark look on his face from where he stands with his foot resting on the fireplace. Sitting in the red chair to my left Pa looks sad and slightly disturbed. Now that I think about it, I probably look tired and agitated just like I feel.

“Well, I better get upstairs since I’m taking the first watch.” Adam tramps back up the stairs, making it only up the first half, when Pa’s voice stops him.

“Adam, if she wakes up or seems worse, come get me.”

“Sure thing, Pa.” He continues up the stairs and disappears down the hall.

“Pa?”

“Yes, Joe?”

“Can I sit with her after Adam?”

“Why, of course, but you need to get some sleep, it’s already late as it is.”

“I’ll go up to bed as soon as I put Cochise in the barn. He’s still standing out there with his saddle on.” I move to get up, but Hoss waves at me to sit back down.

“Don’t worry about it, Little Joe, I’ll take care of him when I  take care of Chub. Both of ‘em are still out there all saddled up.”

“Well, thank ya kindly, Hoss. I’ll go on up to bed right now.” I give Hoss’s arm a slap as I walk by. Once up the stairs, I turn to peek into the girl’s room. Looking in, I see Adam just settling into a chair, he’s pulled up close to the side of the bed, with a book. I give the doorframe a small rap with my knuckles to get his attention. He turns to look at me. “I just wanted to tell you to wake me up, so I can sit with her when you’re done.”

“Ok, Joe.”

“Well, I’ll just let you get back to your reading.” I quickly say after I see the look he gives me. Hurrying back down the hall to my room, I make the quick decision to sleep with my clothes on so I don’t have to throw them back on in a hurry when Adam wakes me up. If Adam wakes me up, that is. By the look he gave me, he just might try to sit up the whole night without letting anyone else relieve him.

I fall asleep a lot faster than I expect but wake up to the sound of hurried boot fall and Adam’s voice, “Pa, come quick! She’s delirious.”

I jump out of bed and am in the hall before I’m even completely awake. I see Pa run into the spare room, Adam right following like a shadow. Hearing a loud yawn and heavy footsteps, I look over to see Hoss rubbing his eyes, clearly confused, “What’s goin’ on, Little Joe?”

“I don’t know! All I heard Adam say is that she’s delirious!” I quickly push past him and hurry into the room. Hoss follows behind me so closely I can feel his breath on the back of my neck.

The first thing I see once I’m in the room is Pa and Adam on either side of the bed, trying to calm the thrashing girl. Her head tosses back and forth while unintelligible words come out of her mouth. But then she starts to sob and the words surprisingly become clear, “Please don’t hit me again! Step-pa! Please, not again! I won’t go to Virginia City! Please, stop!”

“Ssh, child, you’re safe. Your step-pa can’t hit you anymore. We won’t let him.” Pa tries to hold her arm down since she’s flinging it all around trying to protect her face.

“Please, don’t hit me again! Please…” her voice quiets as she continues to sob, taking deep shuddering breaths. Just watching her causes tears to come to my eyes and a lump to form in my throat, which I vainly try to swallow down.

When her sobs and shudderings stop and they’re replaced by small, agitated breaths, Pa stands up. Turning to face all three of us, he lets out a deep sigh, “Well, boys, we know now who did this to her.”

“Yeah, but who’s this step-pa she was begging to not hit her again?” Adam sounds angry.

“We’ll have to wait until she’s in her right mind to find that out. If she’ll tell us, that is.”

“The moment I know who he is, I’m going to hunt him down!” Adam begins to pace the floor.

“You will do no such thing, Adam! Once we find out who this man is we’ll notify the sheriff and let the law take care of this. I won’t have my son take the law into his own hands!”

“We’ve taken the law into our own hands before, Pa, what’s the difference this time?”

“I don’t want you charged for murder if this man has allies who’ll testify in his favor.”

“Murder! This man is worse than a murderer and he might end up being one should she die!” He yells, waving his right arm out, left hand on his belt. “Anyways, I didn’t say I was going to kill the guy, all I said was that I was going to hunt him down. I’ll give him a very large piece of my mind but I won’t kill him.”

Letting out a moan, the girl stirs a little at the noise that Adam’s making. She needs quiet, not the sound of Adam’s big mouth. “Adam, simmer down will ya! You’re disturbing the poor girl!”

Turning towards me, he’s about to yell back but what I said must have registered in that hard head of his. Quickly looking down at the girl, he makes sure that she’s no longer being disturbed.

“Adam, go to bed. You won’t be any help to her in that state.”

“Yes, Pa, I think I will, I am quite tired. But I don’t want Little Joe sitting with her while she’s like this.”

Seeing my angry face, Pa quickly interjects, “Little Joe and I will sit with her. Now go to bed, Adam.”

Adam leaves the room, but not without giving me another one of his looks first. Standing meekly in the doorway, Hoss looks like he wants to say something but isn’t sure if he should. Glancing up at him with a small smile, Pa says, “Go back to bed, Hoss. Someone needs to get some sleep around here tonight.”

“Ok, Pa.” He turns, the sound of his bare feet telling me he makes it back to bed.

Pa slowly sits down in the chair that Adam had pulled close to the bed. Looking quickly around the room and not seeing another one, I walk back to my room to get a chair. Coming back with it, I place it next to the bed on the side opposite of Pa. Grabbing the bowl of cool water and a cloth, I hand them to Pa as he asks.

He begins to sponge her forehead attempting to lower her very high fever. Continuing to dip the cloth making it cooler and sponging her forehead, she drifts off into a deep sleep. Leaning back in our chairs, we both know there’s nothing else either of us can do.

 

Chapter 3

 

I must have dozed off for a little because I wake up with a start when Pa shakes my arm. I don’t remember where I am at first but then Pa’s words bring it all back to me, “Joseph, she’s awake.”

And sure enough she is. Leaning forward, I rest my elbows on my knees and stare into clear, green eyes that stare quizzically back at me. Laying his hand gently on her forehead, Pa checks to see how warm she is. “Is her fever gone?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Should I go get Adam?”

“No, not yet we don’t want to bombard her with too many faces at once.”

“Can I please have some water?” The quiet, tired sounding girlish voice catches Pa and my attention.

“Why, yes, of course.” Pouring her a small glass and gently lifting her head, he holds it to her lips. She takes a few feeble sips before Pa stops her, “That’s enough for now, we don’t want you getting sick on us.”

Laying her head back down she turns, looking at me again. Her eyes are a beautiful color of green like I’ve never seen before. They look even prettier now that the feverish glaze has cleared out of them.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Her quiet voice sounds slightly angry.

Hearing Pa chuckle quietly to himself, I answer, “Your eyes, I’ve never seen eyes that color before. I find them quite beautiful.”

“Oh! I’ve never had anyone tell me they were beautiful before. Well, except for my Pa. Thank you.”

“ You’re welcome, I’m Joe Cartwright, but you can call me Little Joe.” Smiling, I point across the bed, “This is my Pa, Ben Cartwright.”

Rolling her head in the direction of Pa, she gives him a small smile, which must have hurt because it immediately turns into a grimace. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Cartwright. I’m really sorry you have to see me like this.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, too, miss. My sons and I are glad to be able to help you, so don’t feel sorry.” He chuckles. “Now that you’re awake it would be nice to know your name. We’ve all been calling you, ‘the girl’ or ‘that girl’, and I feel you’d appreciate being called by your actual name instead.”

Hesitating for a moment, she looks back and forth between Pa and me, “My name’s Hannah.”

“Well, Hannah, welcome to the Ponderosa!”

“The…the Ponderosa?”  Her stammering words are emphasized by wide almost frightened eyes.

“Yes, the Ponderosa Ranch. I assume you’ve heard of it?”

“Heard of it? Who hasn’t heard of it?” A small merry laugh slips out of her throat but sobering quickly, she’s serious again. “It’s just your family’s kindness is quite a shock to me. I’ve always been told the Cartwrights were unmerciful men who would shoot and kill anyone that dared to trespass onto their thousand acre spread. But apparently the people who told me this didn’t truly know who you Cartwrights really were.”

“We have shot and killed trespassers in the past, but we try to be as helpful and kind to others as we can. Most people who say that kinda thing about us either hate us or they’re just jealous that we have something they don’t. Anyways, who told ya that?” Leaning back in my chair, I cross my arms across my chest.

“Oh, just some people.” Lowering her eyes, she looks away from both of us.

Standing up, Pa stretches his back. Setting the glass of water on the desk, he picks up the clock, facing it towards the light. Putting it back down, turning to look at Hannah and I, he says, “Well, since it’s five in the morning, Little Joe and I will leave you alone to get some sleep. I’ll be back later to clean the wounds on your arms again and bring some food.”

Jumping up out of my chair, I pull it away from the bed. Turning to Hannah, I touch the top of my head, tipping an invisible hat, “I’ve had a fine time visiting with you, Miss Hannah.”

Smiles at me despite the pain it causes as it pulls on the gashes across her face, she replies, “The pleasure’s all mine, Mr. Cartwright!”

A grin splitting my cheeks, I walk to the door. Turning once more, I look back at her. Pointing my finger in her direction, I correct, “It’s Little Joe to you.”

Hearing her giggle quietly to herself, I pull the door shut behind me. Walking together down the hall, I turn to go down the stairs with him but he lays his hand on my arm, “Little Joe, go back to bed for a few hours. You didn’t get that much sleep last night and we have a full day’s worth of work ahead.”

“You didn’t get that much sleep either, Pa. Anyways, I dozed off for a little while sitting in there.”

“Don’t tell Adam,” Quickly looking behind him, he lowers his voice, leaning in a little closer, “but I dozed off for about two hours, too!”

Throwing my head back, I let out a laugh; not because he admitted to sleeping on the job, but because he’s failing to not laugh. We know how serious Adam is and how he would be in a boiling rage if he knew someone slept on the job. Too busy laughing, we don’t hear Adam’s door open. He’s there standing beside us before we know what’s what.

“And may I ask, what’s the joke?” He asks, his hands behind his back while he rocks forward on the balls of his feet, brows raised.

“Oh, nothing, don’t worry about it.” Pa says, slapping him on the shoulder.

“And why are you not still sitting with the girl?”

“She’s sleepin’.” Sticking my thumbs into my belt, I rock back on my heels.

“I figured that but what about her fever, has it gone down any?”

“Her fever’s completely broken and she was awake for a little bit.” Pa tells him.

“Did she say anything while she was awake?”

“Oh yeah, she talked alright.” I tell him. “She told us her name’s Hannah and that our kindness shocked her.”

“Why would our kindness shock her?”

“Well, she’s been told that the Cartwrights are an unmerciful lot of men, who shoot and kill people that dare to trespass on their thousand-mile acre spread.”

“Everybody knows we’re not like that!”

“That’s what I told her, Adam.”

“Well, sure I hope so.”

“Is there anything else I should know?”

“Let me think.” I playfully scratch my chin. “Well, she’s got a real pretty laugh and the most beautiful pair of green eyes I’ve ever seen.”

“Of course things you’d notice. I bet you told her that, too.”

“Only the part about her eyes.” Shrugging, I grin. “Anyways they’re such an unusual shade of green that even Hoss would notice them.”

“They are a very unique shade, Adam. In fact, now that I think about it, I’ve only ever seen one other person with eyes that color.”

“Who’s that, Pa?” Adam asks.

“Mrs. Lilia Craddock.”

“Mrs. Craddock!” Adam and I’s voices blend as we nearly chorus the name like church ladies in the choir.

“You don’t mean that little miner’s wife who used to walk up and down the street in Virginia City years ago, do you?” Adam asks, a look of confusion on his face.

“Wait a minute! I remember how she used to drag a scrawny little boy around behind her.” I say, snapping my fingers.

“And what about this boy, Joe?” Pa asks, but by the look on Adam’s face I can tell he knows where I’m going with this.

“Well, he always wore a hat and kept his face bent low so you couldn’t see it. I bet that he was Hannah dressed in boy clothes.”

“That’s a possibility, but why would her mother let her run around dressed like a boy?” Adam begins to pace in front of the staircase.

“A mining town is a rough place filled with greedy men who’ll do anything for money. Her mother probably dressed her like that to protect her, especially since she’s such a pretty girl.” Pa explains as he turns, beginning to go down the stairs, calling over his shoulder, “I’m going to send Hop Sing to town to buy her some new clothes. Dresses and skirts, plus whatever else a girl needs, he’ll know what to buy.”

“But, Pa, what about breakfast?” I ask, hurrying after him.

“You always think with your stomach, don’t you, Little Joe?” Adam follows me down the stairs.

“No, not always, but I didn’t have any supper last night.”

“None of us did. You don’t hear me complaining, do you?” But right as the words come out of his mouth, his stomach growls loudly.

“Not complaining? I think your stomach is doing that for ya, older brother!” I laugh.

“I’ll cook some eggs so Hop Sing can leave earlier.” Pa takes off for the kitchen.

“Only eggs?”

“Stop complaining, Joe.” Adam shakes his head.

“Oh, don’t worry, I ain’t complaining, I was just thinking about our other brother.”

“And just what were you thinking about our other brother?” Sitting down in his blueish green chair by the staircase, arms crossed over his chest, he yawns.

“Well, ya know how Hoss is in the morning.” Propping my foot up on the table, I gesture with my hands. “He wants a good hot meal. Plus if there’s only eggs, he might eat ‘em all.”

“That’s why we get our share before he wakes up.”

“But what if the smell of ‘em cooking wakes him up? He’s gonna be real hungry, not eating supper and all.”

“Well, there’s a way to fix this problem of ours.”

“How’s that?”

“We go help Pa in the kitchen.” Standing up, he walks across the big room towards the kitchen, “Ya coming or not, Little Joe?”

“Oh yeah, you better bet I’m coming! Maybe Pa’ll let me make some pancakes to go with them eggs. What kinda eggs do figure Pa’s making, anyhow?”

“I have no idea, but there’s only one way to find out.”

 

Chapter 4

 

We hear Hoss before we see him. There’s a thump followed by heavy footfall and then we see the big fella himself at the top of the staircase. Pausing on the second step, he sniffs the air. Adam and I have finished filling our plates and it seems just in the nick of time, too.

“I thought I smelled hot food a cookin’.” He exclaims, “I’m so darn hungry, I think I could eat fried bear fat.”

“See, Adam, just like I told ya, he’s real hungry.”

“Well, it’s a good thing we’ve already got our share.” Looking down, he gazes hungrily at his plate filled with scrambled eggs and four or five pancakes.

Sitting down, Hoss begins to fill his plate, almost taking all the eggs and six or seven of the dozen pancakes that are left.

“Hey, Hoss, take it easy, Pa hasn’t got his yet.”

“Oh I’m sorry Little Joe, but I’m just so dadburn hungry.” He scraps about a quarter of the eggs back off of his plate and onto the platter.

“Good morning, Hoss,” coming out of the kitchen, Pa carries a plate, “I’m glad to see you’re up and ready for the day. I hope you slept well last night.”

“Mornin’ Pa.” He replies before shoveling eggs into his mouth. “I couldn’t stop thinking about that little gal laying upstairs, how’s she anyhow?”

“Oh, she’s doing better. Her fever broke around five o’clock and she was awake. She talked to Little Joe and I for a bit before we left her to sleep for a while.”

“What she’d tell ya?”

“She said her name’s Hannah, but she didn’t tell us her last name. Pa thinks she might be Mrs. Craddock’s daughter.” I chime in since Pa’s got a mouth full of pancake.

“Mrs. Craddock? You don’t mean that little miner’s wife from Virginia City, do ya?” Pausing, he looks at us before shoveling more grub into his mouth.

“That’s the only Mrs. Craddock we know of.” Adam points out, lifting his forkful of eggs.

“But I thought she had a boy, not a pretty little gal like…what’s her name?”

“Her name’s Hannah.” I remind him and he nods his head.

“How’d ya figure out she’s that Mrs. Craddock’s daughter, Pa?” Hoss asks, turning towards him.

“Well, Little Joe pointed out that her eyes were such an unusual shade of green. The color of her eyes reminded me of someone, but I couldn’t remember who until Joe was telling Adam about them.”

“And then it just sorta clicked in your head, didn’t it Pa?”

“Yeah, I guess that’s how you’d put it, it just sorta clicked into place and I remembered Lila Craddock’s eyes being that very same shade of emerald green. It’s truly such an unusual shade and I guess that’s why I remember them.”

We continue to eat in silence, all of us deep in thought when Hoss starts talking again, “These pancakes Hop Sing made sure are good!”

Slowly looking up from my plate, I peer at Hoss, “Hop Sing left for Virginia City over an hour ago.”

“Well then, who made all this good food?”

“Pa made the eggs.” Adam puts in.

“Did he make them pancakes, too?”

“No, I did.”

“You made ‘em!” He looks shocked.

“What’s the matter, ya didn’t think I could cook?”

“No, no not that Little Joe. I just didn’t reckon your cooking tasted this good, that’s all.”

Adam and Pa start to laugh but I just glare at Hoss. “Gee thanks, Hoss. It’s not like I cooked mesquite beans, or something!”

“Now, Little Joe mesquite beans aren’t that bad, ya just gotta plug yer nose when ya take a bite to keep from smellin’ ‘em.”

“Well, boys, since we’re all finished here, I’m going to take a plate of food up to Miss Hannah.” Scooting his chair back, Pa stands up, carrying his plate into the kitchen.

“Joe, Little Joe?” Glancing over at Hoss, I find his face scrunched up in a very worried look.

“Yeah, Hoss.”

“We done ate up all the food, what’s Pa gonna take up to little miz Hannah?”

“Pa filled a plate before you came downstairs, it’s been sitting on the stove keeping warm this whole time.”

“Oh good, I wouldn’t want the little lady to go hungry on account of me eating up all the grub.”

“Ah, don’t worry about it, Hoss! I could always make some more of those pancakes you liked so much!” Laughing, we carry our plates to the kitchen.

In a few moments all four of us are standing in the hallway outside of the spare room. Pa knocks, “Miss Hannah, it’s me, Ben. I’ve got a plate of food for you, may my sons and I come in?”

“Come on in, Mr. Cartwright.” Her voice sounds cheery

Looking back at us, he hesitates a moment, “My sons, too?”

“Yes, I’d like to meet all of them now.”

Opening the door, Pa enters with all three of us following behind him. Looking around Pa, I see Hannah sitting up in bed looking a lot better than she did two hours earlier. Her face is split in a huge grin and those green eyes of hers are sparkling away. Hearing Adam take a quick breath behind me, I turn to look at him and find he’s entranced by her. Catching me looking at him, he quickly hides his emotions behind a mask of indifference. The fact that he finds her attractive makes me feel a sudden burst of jealousy and a sense of responsibility for her, which I guess comes from the fact that I found and brought her home.

“Well, how are you feeling now, Miss Hannah?”

“Quite better, Mr. Cartwright. Those few hours of sleep helped tremendously, but I find myself feeling just about half starved lying here with all the smells of that fine food wafting up from downstairs.”

Adam, Hoss, and I all look at each other, shocked that Hannah talks so fancy, especially if she’s really that miner’s daughter. She must have had some fine learning in order to talk like that. Even Adam doesn’t talk that fancy and he went to school back East.

“Good! I’ve brought you a plate of that fine smelling food.” Handing her the plate and a fork, she lays it on her lap.

“Oh, thank you, Mr. Cartwright! It all looks so delicious. Would you please give my compliments to whoever cooked it?”

“I will, if you’d please call me Ben and not Mr. Cartwright. It makes me feel old coming from someone like you.”

“I’ll only call you Ben if you would be so kind as to just call me Hannah.” Swiftly cutting a bite of pancake, she pauses, “Now, please, don’t forget to give my compliments to the cook.”

“Well, Hannah, you can give them yourself, because you see, I made the eggs and Little Joe made the pancakes.” Pa explains. “We don’t normally cook our own food but I sent our cook, Hop Sing, to Virginia City to buy you some new things since we ruined your shirt trying to clean your arms up.”

“Oh,” she looks down at her arms like she just realized that they’re bare, “you didn’t have to buy me new clothes, but I thank you for it anyways. I guess I’d better go easy on this food since I haven’t eaten anything since yesterday morning. Ben, the eggs are delicious, and Little Joe, I’ve never eaten a better tasting pancake!”

“Thank you, Hannah.” I smile as she continues to eat. After a few more bites, she lays the fork down, taking a deep breath. Turning her head, she looks past me at Adam and Hoss, who’re standing behind me out of the way.

“I presume these are your other sons?” Waving her hand in the direction of Adam and Hoss, she looks at Pa.

“Yes, my oldest son, Adam.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Hannah.” He bows slightly at the waist in true gentleman fashion.

“Adam, it’s a pleasure to meet you, too.” Giving him a nod, she smiles prettily.

“And my middle son, Hoss.”

“Howdy, Miz Hannah.” Stepping up to the bed, he holds out his hand for her to shake.

“How do you do, Hoss?” Her hand completely disappears into his meaty paw.

“Oh, just fine, ma’am!” A huge grin spreads across his wide face.

“Of course, you already know my youngest son, Little Joe.”

“Oh, yes, the pancake maker and,” grinning, she cocks her right brow up, “the young man who gives eye color compliments.”

“I hope I didn’t offend you.” I feel a little bad, but don’t know why. “I was just saying what I thought was obvious and I meant every word of what I said about them being beautiful.”

“Don’t worry about it, it just caught me off guard is all. The only person who’s ever told me they were beautiful was my Pa, who’s dead now.” Quickly looks down at her plate, her eyes fill with tears.

“I’m sorry if I brought back memories.” Sitting on the edge of the bed, I cover her hand with mine, trying to comfort her the only way I can think of.

“It’s alright, Little Joe, I don’t have very many memories of my Pa but that one is very special to me.” Looking up at me, I watch the tears stream down her bruised cheeks.

“Hannah, would you like to talk about it?” Pa asks, sitting down on the other side of the bed while Adam and Hoss plop into the chairs beside us.

“I don’t really have a choice, do I?” She gives Pa a small, sad smile. “I knew I’d have to explain everything and I guess now’s the time.”

“My Pa, Rhett Craddock, and my Ma, Lilia, moved to the Nevada Utah Territory back around the time that gold was first found here. I was just a little girl at the time and when Ma saw how rough the mining town was, she made me dress in boy clothes so the men wouldn’t hurt me. Pa spent so much of his time digging and panning for gold that he was almost never home. The times he was home, he always fell into a deep sleep from sheer exhaustion. Once the mines were officially up and running, Pa began working in the Ophir Mine. He died in that mine when the timber collapsed and Ma and I hadn’t seen him for two days. The last thing he told me was that my eyes were like emerald gems and that every time he looked at me he saw my Ma.” Adam shifts behind me, no doubt remembering the time he spent trapped in that very same mine and then afterwards helping that Dutchman build new honeycomb timbering in it.

“Ma married out of necessity six months later. I begged her not to, that we would make do somehow, but she married him anyway. Cyl Lunberg, the drunkest, meanest, and ugliest man in the whole mining camp. They were married for about two years before he beat her to death during one of his drunken rages one night.” Stopping for a moment, she tries to keep her emotions in check, “That was a year ago.”

“And you’ve had to deal with his drunken rages for the past year, haven’t you?” Pa asks her.

She only nods, tears continuing to stream down her cheeks. Pa pats her hand for a moment, “I presume this isn’t the first time he’s done this to you?”

“No, no it’s not, he uses a small piece of braided whip.”

“If you don’t mind me asking,” leaning up, Adam rests his elbows on his knees, “last night while you were delirious, you said something about Virginia City. What did you mean?”

“He doesn’t like me to go to Virginia City, he thinks I parade myself through the saloon, I really go to get supplies from the general store. But yesterday he came home earlier than normal and was extremely drunk. He found me about to leave for Virginia City, something I always try to do when he’s down in the mine. His temper flared and out came his little whip.”

“But how did you get on the Ponderosa?”

“I went to one of the miner’s widows who used to be close friends with my Ma and she loaded me in a cart. The next thing I knew, she had dropped me off in a pasture beside the road. She told me to start walking south and that somebody would find me and take care of me. I started walking and I probably walked for about an hour before I collapsed. The last thing I remember was seeing a horse riding towards me.”

“Little Joe found you but I’m the one who discovered that you were actually a girl and not the boy he thought you were.”

“And just how did you find that out?” She asks, looking suspicious.

“I removed your hat.”

 

Chapter 5

 

Going back downstairs, Adam, Hoss, and I leave Pa with Hannah while he cleans her wounds again. About to sit in the living room, we hear a wagon pull up outside. Quickly going to the door, since I’m the closest, I open it, hoping maybe it’s Doc Martin.

“Well, who is it, Joe?” Adam asks, walking up behind me.

“It’s Hop Sing.”

“Hop Sing get lots of things for girl.” He holds up a few items,   “See pretty dress, skirts, and plenty of underclothes.”

“Good job, Hop Sing! Hannah’ll love these things.” I grab a package from the back of the wagon as Adam and Hoss snatch the others.

Carrying all the packages upstairs, we find the door to Hannah’s room shut. Hoss lifts his hand to knock but Adam stops him as Pa’s voice drifts through. Holding his finger to his lips, he signals us to be quiet.

“Hannah, thank you for sharing your story with us, it must have been a hard thing to do.”

“It was but I couldn’t keep it from you all. It wouldn’t have been right of me, especially with all you’ve done for me in the short amount of time that I’ve been with you.”

“I have to ask, since I find myself rather curious, where did you go to school? You talk so well for somebody like yourself.”

“You mean like a poor miner’s daughter who dresses like a boy?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you in the least, I just didn’t know how else to put it, you see?”

“It’s okay, Ben, I completely understand.” The sound of her laugh floats through the air. “My mother was a schoolteacher for five years before she married my Pa; she was almost an old maid by the time they tied the knot. She had a very strong love for books and proper talking, so she drilled correct grammar into my head at a young age, plus I have her love of reading and when I’m not busy, I like to get lost in a good book. Yet despite all of that, Ma made me talk like a typical miner’s child whenever we were in town or around other people. It would have stuck out too much, she said me.”

“Ah, yes, I can see it sticking out alright!” Pa chuckles. “My son, Adam, loves to read as well. He actually went to college back East in New England.”

“Oh, what did he study?”

“Architecture. He designed and built this very house; I figure it will stand for another hundred years or more.”

Hearing Pa walk around, all of us inch backwards and then down the stairs so we don’t get caught eavesdropping. Laying the packages on Pa’s desk, I step over to the sofa and flop myself on to it. Adam paces in front of the fireplace again while Hoss sighs from his chair.

“Ya figure Pa’s tellin’ little miz Hannah all about us?”

“It sure sounds like he’s telling her about Adam, compared to him I don’t think we’re much, Hoss.” I snort.

“Yeah, compared with his book learnin’, I ain’t nothin’ but a big bumblin’ idiot.”

“Come on, Hoss, there’s work to do outside.” Getting up, I strap on my holster before following Hoss outside. We leave Adam to his quiet brooding by the fireplace.

“Hey, Little Joe, ya don’t figure Adam’s gonna try an’ track down miz Hannah’s step-pa, do ya?”

“I don’t know. I want that man put in jail just as much as Adam does, but I think we should do what Pa says and let the sheriff handle it.”

“Yeah, I think that’s the smart thing to do, too.”

We’re saddling our horses, getting ready to go and look for strays when Adam walks into the barn. Going over to his horse, still looking a little moody, he throws the saddle over to the horse’s back and begins to cinch it down. Hoss and I stay clear away from him, not wanting to add to his mood or get snapped at. Swinging into my saddle, not even bothering to use the stirrup, I follow Hoss out of the barn. Adam joins us in the yard, “Pa said to check the south pasture and mend any broken fences.”

“Is Pa comin’?” Hoss asks.

“No, he’s staying in the house so someone’s around if Hannah needs anything. He came downstairs right after you two went outside.”

“Well, let’s get a move on it then.” I turn Cochise in the right direction.

We check the south pasture and find only three breaks in the fence, which we quickly fixed. By the time we make it back to the house it’s already after noon and probably close to one o’clock.

“Oowee, I sure am hungry!”

“Aren’t we all, Hoss?”

“Yeah, Little Joe, I figure we are, but I might be a tad bit hungrier than ya.”

“With all this talk about food, you’d think that’s all you two ever think.” Adam shakes his head at us. He’s in a little bit of a better mood but Hoss and I know he’s still thinking about Cyl Lundberg.

We stop and wash up before going into the house. Getting a good look at my reflection, I see a dust covered young man, “I think I’ll go change real fast before lunch, older brothers.”

“What’s the matter, you a little dusty?” Adam asks, arms crossed and a small grin on his face.

“Yeah, and I don’t want to scare our new little lady friend.”

“Ah shucks, Little Joe, she won’t get scared of a little ole trail grime, she grew up in a mining’ town.”

“I know that Hoss, but can’t a fella at least try to look nice for a pretty gal?”

“You think maybe I should change, too?” He looks down at his clothes that’re just as dirty as mine.

“Ah, come on, Hoss, can’t you see, Joe just wants to impress the girl.” Laughing, Adam slaps Hoss on the back as they start walking to the house. Looks over his shoulder at me, he calls, “Anyways, Little Joe, there isn’t enough time. Lunch is probably already on the table, we’re late, remember?”

Swiping my hand through my hair, I try to at least fix it as I follow Hoss and Adam into the house. Stopping to hang up my hats and holster, I hear a cheery laugh come from around the corner at the table as I hear Pa say, “And then there was this time when Little Joe…”

“And just what did I do this time, Pa?” Stepping around the corner, I feel my jaw drop.

“What’s the matter, cat got your tongue?” Adam slaps me on the back, but when his head turns in the direction of the table, I watch his eyes go wide.

“What’s gotten into you two? It ain’t like you’ve never seen a purty little gal before.” Turning towards Hannah, Hoss says, “Now, miz Hannah don’t let their starin’ bother you, it’s just we didn’t expect you down here so soon like, and especially not all prettied up like you are, you see?”

“Don’t worry about it!” She laughs. “I practically shocked the socks off myself when I stepped in front of that mirror. I haven’t worn a dress since I was knee high to a grasshopper!”

“Well, I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but you just might be the prettiest gal I’ve ever laid my eyes on.” Finally getting my tongue back, I pull out the chair next to her. She smiles up at me and despite the now scabbed lines going across her face, I find it a beautiful smile. “I take it you’re feeling better?”

“Oh, yes. Almost one hundred percent better, in fact,” she explains. “You see, it takes a lot to get me down and when I do get down, I typically bounce back pretty fast.”

“I just never would’ve thought, with the way you were delirious and all last night, that you’d be sitting here at the table with us so soon.”

“Well, I normally don’t get a fever but I guess all the moving around I did yesterday brought it on.” She fiddles with the steak on her plate.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but the way you said normally, I take it this happens to you quite often.” Ignoring the filled plate in front of him, Adam watches Hannah.

“About every other month, sometimes two.” Avoiding eye contact with all of us, her voice lowers to a whisper, causing all of us to lean in to hear.

“Every other month!” Adam exclaims, “Why don’t you just leave?”

“I don’t have anywhere else to go, Ma and Pa were all the family I had and they’re gone.” Letting out a sigh, she continues, “My step-pa threatened to marry me off and when I protested, he beat me nearly to death and to make it worse, he was sober that day. It’s been almost two months and that place on my back is still tender to touch.”

“You poor child! Who’s the man he wants you to marry?”

“Old Man Lloyd.”

“I don’t believe I’ve ever heard of him.”

“I’ve never heard him called anything but Old Man Lloyd. He looks and smells as if he hasn’t had a bath in twenty years and he’s never seen without a whiskey bottle in his hand. He’s always so drunk, I’m honestly surprised he can even stand up, but to make things even worse, he’s nearly old enough to be my grandfather.” As she looks at Pa, a big grin spreads across her face instead of the grimace or even tears I expected to see. Her right brow goes up towards her hairline as she says, “Just the man to fulfill every girl’s romantic dreams.”

Her attempt to make light of the situation impresses me, it takes guts to have a cheerful spirit when you’ve lived a rough life. I can’t even begin to imagine what Hannah’s been through but I do know that I won’t let her go through anymore. And from the look on Adam’s face, it looks like he’s going to make sure of it as well.

Since we’re all done eating, we push away from the table. Offering my arm to Hannah, which she takes, I lead her to the sofa.  Sitting down beside her, about to start a conversion so I can get to know her better, I hear Adam walk to the door. Looking over my shoulder, I watch him strap on his holster and slap on his hat as he says, “I’m going to ride into Virginia City, I’ll be back in a few hours.”

Glancing up quickly, Pa clearly knows what Adam’s up to, “I’ll go with you. There’s a few things I need in town.”

 

Chapter 6

 

Sitting together, Hannah and I talk for nearly two hours. We’re laughing about a story Pa had told her this morning, when I suddenly hear horses ride up outside. Hearing them too, she stops laughing and looks up at me, a question written plainly across her face.

“Don’t worry, it’s probably just Pa and Adam.” I tell her, walking to the door. Throwing it open, I look out into the yard and find Pa and Adam swinging down from their saddles. Both look worried as they stride over so I know there must be trouble. “What’d ya find out, Pa?”

“Well, nothing good, that’s for sure.” He sighs, smacking his gloves on his palm.

“We’ve got news from town and none of it’s nice.” Adam chimes in, tossing his hat on the table.

Hearing the swish of a skirt, I glance over my shoulder to see Hannah gliding towards us. Placing her hand in the crook of my left elbow, which just happens to be bent because my hand’s resting on my belt, she looks up at me with a small grin and I quickly smile back at her. I’m finding out she has a little bit of a bold streak and I’m liking it so far.

“There’s no use in just standing here,” Pa takes off towards his chair across the room, “let’s sit down to discuss this. Joe, where’s Hoss? I want him to hear this, too.”

“Hoss’s out in the barn, one of the hands brought in a lame horse about an hour ago.”

“Well, go get him!”

“Yes, sir!” Stepping out the door, I sprint across the yard to the barn. Entering, I see Hoss just finished wrapping the lame horse’s leg, his back’s to me, so I yell, “Hey, Hoss!”

Jumping a little, he yells back, “Dadburn it, Little Joe, don’t sneak up on me like that! What you want anyhow?”

“Pa wants you in the house, they found out some bad news in town.”

Hurrying back to the house together, I see Adam already sitting next to Hannah on the sofa as we walk through the door. Feeling a little jealous, I throw myself into an easy chair. I can tell by the smile Adam sends my way that he’s enjoying the little bit of jealousy he’s stirring up.

“Well, I guess I’ll get straight to the point.” Pa starts, “After getting the few things I needed in Virginia City, Adam and I rode into the mining camp where Hannah lives. We were going to try and find Cyl Lunberg to turn him over to the sheriff, but apparently Lunberg left town yesterday afternoon around the same time Hannah would have been dropped off on the Ponderosa.”

“Left town! Cyl never leaves town.”

“Well, Hannah, he did, and he didn’t just leave town, he left a lot of trouble behind.”

“What kinda trouble? Surely nothing we can’t handle.” Getting up, I move over to sit on the sofa arm next to Hannah. Leaning back into the couch a little, her face goes pale, making me slightly worried.

“Before Lunberg left town he promised Old Man Lloyd Hannah’s hand in marriage.” Adam continues where Pa left off, “But the only problem is, Hannah disappeared so Lunberg then promised to find her for Old Man Lloyd by Saturday.”

“Why by Saturday?” Hoss asks, his brow all wrinkled up.

“That’s the day Old Man Lloyd plans on marrying Hannah.”

“Just how does Cyl plan on finding me?” All the color comes back to her face as she leans up with a small, nearly mischievous looking smile.

“Old Man Lloyd told us he went to find some men who he plans on using as a posse to find you. Lunberg told Old Man Lloyd he’d search every town and ranch within twenty miles of the Ophir Mine.”

As Hannah falls back on the sofa, Adam and I lean in, thinking she’s fainted or something, but no, she just has her eyes shut tight while her closed lips tremble slightly. By the way her shoulders are shaking, it looks like she’s sobbing yet when her eyes finally pop open, she lets out a cheery laugh. She keeps laughing until tears run down her cheeks. Staring at her in amazement, none of us at all get what the joke is.

“He’s, he’s leading a…a,” wiping her cheeks, she tries to catch her breath, “marrying posse! Sounds just like something good ole Cyl would do, he ain’t that smart and this just proves it even more. A posse to find the missing bride of the oldest man in the whole darn mining’ camp!”

“It actually does sound rather ridiculous when you put it that way.” Pa’s laugh floats through the air, mingling with Hannah’s higher pitched one.

“But it’s not!” Jumping to his feet, Adam up begins to pace. “Those men will be armed, and not only armed, but drunk, too and we all know what a drunk man with a gun can do. Who knows how many men Lunberg will round up, and there’s only four of us here who can fight back?”

“I’m awfully sorry to have put your family in danger like this, Ben, I truly am.” Getting slowly, she walks towards the staircase. up and slowly walks towards the staircase. He starts to say something, Pa stops as she walks past the stairs to the rifle rack. Pulling out one, she inspects it. Putting it back, she turns towards Adam, right brow cocked saucily up, “Mr. Cartwright, I wouldn’t be so sure about only having four. How many cowboys y’all got on this ranch?”

“About half a dozen, why?”

“They loyal? Can you count on ‘em?”

“Yes, they’re loyal but they have work to do, which doesn’t involve fighting a posse of men who’re looking for a girl.”

“A fight you ain’t willin’ to lose your hairy hide to, am I right?” She gives him a cocky smirk, hand saucily on her hip. Trying not to grin, I glance over to see Pa discreetly hiding his own smile behind his hand. But Adam sure isn’t cracking a grin, he looks so mad I’m surprised there ain’t steam coming out of his ears.

“I never said that! I’m willing to defend you if needs be, but I can’t help wondering whether or not you’ll just end up going along with Lunberg and marrying Lloyd anyways.”

“Never in a month of Sundays would I even dream of marrying Old Man Lloyd, you’ve seen the man!” Walking towards Adam, she stops directly in front of him, leaving only about two feet of space between them. Sticking out her hand for him to shake, she quietly says, “I’m terribly sorry for the way I’ve spoken to you, I only did it to see what direction this was going and how much help I would be receiving. Will you please forgive me?”

With a look of shock and surprise, Adam shakes her hand, “You’re forgiven. You sure have a way of changing your speech when you want; one moment you talk like a lady and the next like a saloon girl.”

“It’s something I’ve had to learn to do over the years.” Walking back across the room, she plops down beside me, “Now for the fight that’s bound to happen, you don’t just have four people, you have five.”

“And just who’s this fifth person?” I ask, completely amazed at the bold and almost wild girl Hannah is turning out to be.

“Why me, of course!”

“You can shoot?”

“I sure can,” she grins up at me, “I can shoot an apple off of a bear’s head from a mile away without even takin’ a hair off of him!”

“Well, that’s something I’d sure like to see!” I laugh.

 

Chapter 7

 

The next day as I go about doing my chores, I find that I have an audience. Leaning with her back against the fence, head slightly cocked to the right, left hand resting on her cheek, Hannah watches me crawl around on the ground trying to fix a wagon wheel. Peeking out from underneath it, I look at the pretty picture she makes standing there like that, her light-yellow skirt swishing softly around her ankles. All of her waist length, dark brown hair is down and blowing gently in the breeze. Catching me looking at her, she smiles so I grin back, knowing I’ve been caught staring.

“What’s the matter, never seen a man work before?” Joking, I crawl out from underneath the wagon.

“No, quite the contrary,” she steps away from the fence towards me, “I’ve never seen men do anything but work. Work till they’re so tired they fall asleep standing. But the type of work you’re doing is so different from what I’m used to seeing, that I can’t help but find it fascinating.”

“Fascinating? I wouldn’t call fixing a wagon wheel fascinating.” As I walk over to get a drink of water from the bucket, she follows me, leaning with her shoulder against the barn wall. “What type of work are you used to seeing?”

“Mining.”

“What’s wrong with mining?” I drop the dipper back into the bucket.

“Oh, you know, men going down into the earth digging for something that they think will make them rich because they assume riches will make them happy. But in the end all they get is either death or a crucial health ailment.” Reaching over, she twirls the dipper around in the bucket, pulling it out full. She moves it to take a drink but then with a mischievous grin, she dumps all of it over my head.

“Hey! What’d ya do that for?” Shaking the water out of my eyes, I hear her laugh as she skips out of reach.

“Oh, I don’t know,” shrugging her shoulders, her grin gets larger, “I guess I sorta figured you were hot after all that hard work.”

“Well, let’s just see how you feel about gettin’ cooled off!” Taking off after her, she lets out a shriek and runs around the wagon. Both of us laughing, I chase her towards the water trough and grab her around the waist. Swinging her up to throw her in, I move to toss her in but she grabs onto my arm and the front of my shirt.

“No, Little Joe!” Her screeches mix with the giggles still bubbling out of her, “Please, don’t, I’m sorry!”

“Oh, yes I will!” Laughing, I feel her nails dig into my arm. “You got me wet now it’s your turn.”

“What in tarnation is going on out here?” Pa asks, walking over from the house. “Joseph, what are you doing to that poor girl?”

“Oh, I was just… um…goin’ to dunk her in the water trough.” Sheepishly, I put her gently back down, watching Pa’s right brow go up and a small smile play on his lips.

“And just why were you going to dunk her in the water trough?” He asks as Hannah quietly slips behind me.

“Well, you see, she dumped a dipper full of water on my head, so I figured it was only fair if I got her wet, too.” Pa’s eyes watch something behind me and he starts to smile but quickly stops himself.

“Logical. I’m glad to see you’re using your head, Little Joe.” He nods with sarcasm. Giving him a little sassy smile back, I know that he’s really thinking what an immature kid I’m acting like.

Suddenly I feel a shove from behind and with the way I’m standing, it makes me lose my balance. With a splash I fall into the water trough. Shaking the water out of my eyes yet again, I see Hannah practically bent in half with laughter and Pa nearly in the same position.

“Ha, ha, ha, very funny.” Slowly standing up, I cup water in my hands and throw it in Hannah’s direction. Laughing even harder, she steps backwards, out of my range. Reaching down, I scoop up more water, sending it in Pa’s direction this time.

“Hey, don’t get me wet! I have to go back inside.” Still hooting with laughter, he shakes his finger at me.

“You knew she was going to do that, didn’t you?” I ask, stepping out of the water trough, a puddle forming at my feet.

“Maybe I did, but it didn’t hurt you any to get all wet.” He slaps me on the back. Walking over to Hannah, he puts his arm around her shoulders. “I’ve got a little surprise for you, Hannah.”

“Oh, you do!” Looking up at him, she looks like an eager little girl and the expression makes her look years younger.

“Yes, I figured since Hoss and Adam were out scouting around today and won’t be home until supper,” he walks with her towards me, “I’d have Hop Sing pack you and Little Joe a picnic lunch. Little Joe oughta know a good picnic spot and a young girl like you needs to have some fun.”

“Oh, I’d love that! I haven’t been on a picnic since before my Pa died.” Turning, she looks at me expectantly. “Little Joe, would you please take me?”

“Of course I will, Hannah,” I give her a smile, “just let me go change into some dry clothes.”

About ten minutes later, Hannah and I are riding to a place I know will be the perfect spot for our picnic. Once we’re there, I help her dismount her chestnut horse. Standing with her hands clasped in front of her stomach, her green eyes take in everything around us.

“Oh, Little Joe, it’s absolutely beautiful.” She breathes, looking up at me, her eyes shining like stars. “It looks just like a painting!”

“I know, that’s why I brought you here.” Rubbing my hand down my shirt, I continue, “I don’t know about you, but I’m just about half starved. Let’s get this blanket spread out so we can see what Hop Sing packed for us.”

She spreads the blanket out as I pull the picnic basket off of Cochise’s back, handing it down to her. Opening it, she pulls out two empty plates, a platter of fried pork chops, a bowl full of fluffy mashed potatoes, an uncut loaf of bread, and a whole apple pie. Lowering myself gently onto the blanket, I try not to spill any of them.

“What a feast! Hop Sing sure packed a lot, I hope you and I can eat all of it.” She exclaims, glancing around at all the food with wide eyes.

“Oh, don’t worry about it,” chuckling at the look on her face, I know in the back of my mind she’s probably never seen this much food at one time, “I’m hungry and when I’m real hungry, I can almost out eat Hoss.”

Peering over at me, her right brow raises suspiciously,  “You sure don’t look like you’ve ever eaten that much in your whole life.”

“That’s because I work it off.” Filling our plates, our hands bump every now and then as we scoop the food out of the many dishes in front of us. By the time we’re done, her plate is nearly as full as mine; apparently she’s taking advantage of the abundance while it’s here or she can really eat if she wants to it.

“I figure Hoss does an awful lot of work, too.”

“Yeah, yeah, of course, but he’s such a big fella it just seems to stick to him.”

“I guess he would look rather funny if he were as skinny as Adam and you.” She giggles.

“He’d look like a big twig or something, all tall and willowy.” I joke.

While we finish our platefuls of food a peaceful silence relaxes around us. Setting my empty plate and fork in the basket, I lay down on my back, stretching out with my hands behind my head. Hannah begins to pick up the rest of the food that’s left and as I offer to help, she just waves for me to stay put.

“You know, Hannah, you’re what I call a right pretty girl.” I comment.

“You really think so?” Watching her, I see her cheeks go rosy, pink in a blush as she glances over at me with a shy, pretty smile.

“I don’t just think so, I know so.” Propping myself up on my elbow, I reach out and tip her chin up so she’ll look me in the eye. “I like you a lot, Hannah.”

“How can you like me when you’ve only just met me?” Her eyes dart back and forth between mine with a quizzical, searching gaze.

“Sometimes you don’t have to know a person for a long time to like them.” Cupping her still bruised cheek in my hand, the softness of it surprises me. There’s still scabbed cuts streaking across her face and I figured her cheek would be a little rough but it isn’t.

“But how can you know I’m not a bad person? I haven’t done anything yet to prove myself to you and your family.”

“You don’t have to; I can tell you’re a good person.” Having to know her answer, I ask, “Do you like me, Hannah?”

“Yes, Little Joe, I like you. I think you’re a very handsome, charming, funny young man.”

“A lot?”

As she slowly nods, I lean in closer. Her eyes slip closed just before my lips touch hers and I feel her hands move up my back as I deepen the kiss. Leaning into me, we hear a horse approaching fast behind us and she quickly jumps away from me, her fingers resting gently on her lips.

 

Chapter 8

 

Adam rides up hard, like the devil himself is chasing him as I jump to my feet, hand near my gun, ready to be pulled out if needs be. Letting his horse dance in front of me, he calls down, “Lunberg’s posse is about two miles away from the ranch. Pa wants you and Hannah back at the house.”

“Think there’ll be trouble?” I ask, feeling Hannah put the basket into my hand before beginning to fold the blanket.

“Oh, there’ll be trouble alright, Lunberg’s posse nearly tore Virginia City apart; They killed two men and destroyed the inside of the saloon.” He reigns his horse in, making him stop moving so he doesn’t have to shout. “Roy is bringing three deputies out with him to the ranch and they should already be there. He said when the posse left town they were drunk and mad as hell.”

“Well, let’s get going.” Swinging the basket and blanket onto Cooch’s back, I move to help Hannah onto her horse, but she’s already in the saddle. I leap onto Cooch just as Hannah and Adam take off towards the house; I’m right behind them in seconds.

“What a way to spoil a romantic moment!” I mutter under my breath. Hannah’s a little bit in front of me so I take advantage of the view and watch the way she moves in the saddle. It’s like she’s one with the horse, the way their movements blend together is spectacular. And to think she told me this morning she’s only ridden a few times yet she rides like an accomplished rider, apparently she’s just a natural, either that or she lied to me. But that thought doesn’t sit right so I push it out of my mind. Surely she wouldn’t lie about something like that, especially after she’s already told us so much.

I like the way that Hannah didn’t show fear at Adam’s news, she just started to do what needed to be done in order to leave fast. I’ve known girls in the past who would have frozen up with fear at news like that. Not only freeze up on you, but you would have to lead them gently by the hand and speak softly to them or else they’d start screaming their pretty little heads off. But then, of course, Hannah knows Lunberg better than any of us, and she knows how far he’s likely to take this thing.

We’re at the house within minutes, where Pa’s waiting on us by the hitching post. As we dismount, he tells Adam and I to take the horses to the barn where Hoss is waiting for us. Grabbing Cooch’s reins while Adam snags Hannah’s, we go into the barn.

Inside Hoss and one of the deputies sit with rifles across their laps near the door. Standing when he sees us, Hoss takes Hannah’s horse from Adam and leads him to his stall.

“Joe, go ahead and put Cochise in his stall, I’ll get to him in a minute.” He calls me over his shoulder. We normally take care of our own horses, but I do as I’m told, knowing there must be a reason behind it. Hoss’s deep voice drifts across the barn towards me, “Anyhow where you been, Little Joe? Adam and me have been home for nearly half an hour now.”

“I took Hannah on a picnic up by the lake. It was Pa’s idea, and Hannah wanted to, so I took her.” I snap, the stress of everything about to happen making me edgy.

“Oh, and I take it was Pa’s idea for you to get some kissing in, too.” Adam sounds angry. Looking over, I find him standing there with his hands on his hips.

“Now, don’t you start, too!” My temper flares as I point my finger at him. “You’re probably just jealous that you weren’t the one to kiss her first, I’ve seen the way you look at her when you think no one is watching.”

“I will admit that she’s a pretty girl, but Joe, we barely know her. She could be just as bad as her stepfather for all we know.”

“Oh, I oughta!” As I leap towards him, Hoss yanks me back by my waist before I can get close enough to do any damage.

“Little Joe, now you stop that, you hear. That posse can be here any minute and the last thing we need is you and Adam fightin’ over that little filly up at the house.” He shoves me towards the barn door. “Now go see what Pa needs you to do.”

I storm over to the house, my boots kicking up more dust that they should as my chest heaves in and out with each angry breath. How dare Adam accuse Hannah of being just like her step-pa, it just ain’t right! Why would he beat her if she were just like him? Adam’s just jealous because she likes me more than him.

As the door opens and Hannah’s slightly pale face looks out at me, I feel my anger evaporate like steam off of a pot of boiling water. Walking in, my hand on her shoulder, I see Roy talking to Pa at his desk. Looking quickly around the room, I discover it’s just them; the other two deputies Adam told me about must be posted somewhere outside.

“Oh, Joe, there you are,” Pa says, looking up, “I want you to stay in the house with Hannah. Adam, Roy, and I are going to ride out and see if we can talk some sense into this posse. Hoss and Danny are guarding the barn, Bill’s in the bunkhouse, and Todd’s around somewhere outside.”

We nod at each other as he stands up, grabbing his hat. He follows Roy out the door, but just before pulling it shut, he sticks his head back in and calls out, “Hannah, don’t worry, everything’s going to be alright.”

Hannah and I stand staring at each other, listening to their horse’s hoofbeats fade into the distance. Letting out a quiet sob, she runs towards me as I open my arms. She sobs while I rub my hand up and down her back trying to give her a little bit of comfort.

“There’s no reason to cry, Hannah,” I murmur in her ear after her sobs quiet into soft, little whimpering breaths, “you heard Pa, everything’s going to be alright. Don’t worry, I won’t let your step-pa take you back, I’ll kill him first, or die trying.”

“Oh, don’t talk like that Little Joe!” Leaning back, she looks up at me, eyes red rimmed and cheeks wet. “Just because your pa says everything’s going to be alright, doesn’t mean it will! I know that man, and the men with him, and just what they’ll do. Little Joe, it won’t be pretty! I don’t want you or any of your family to get hurt because of little ole me. I’m not worth it, Little Joe, and I’ll never be!”

“What if I think you’re worth it?” Putting my hands on either side of her face, I make her look me in the eye. “Every time Pa’s said everything’s going to be alright, it almost always is. As a matter of fact the very night you had that fever, Pa said those very words. And look at you now, you’re almost all the way better.”

“I guess you’re right,” she sighs, “but I won’t just stand here and let your family get killed, not on my watch.”

“There, that’s more like it!” Bending down, I give her a quick kiss. “I think the first thing we oughta do is get our guns ready.”

Walking together towards the rifle rack, we each choose one. Quickly beginning to load mine, I look over and see Hannah doing the same. She didn’t lie about being able to shoot a gun, the way she’s loading those shells shows that she knows what she’s doing.

“You ever shot a rifle before?”

“Yeah, many times. I’m not too good with a pistol but rifles, they’re easy. You see, my Pa taught me how to shoot before he died and I’ve kept on practicing ever since but we only ever had a rifle.”

“I could teach you how to shoot a pistol sometime, I’m a pretty fair shot myself.” I offer with a smile.

“I just might take you up on that, Little Joe,” She laughs, loading the last shell into her rifle. “but I think we should see whether or not we can survive today first.”

Grinning back at her, I lay my rifle down on the table as she suddenly stops smiling and turns her head, listening and I hear it also. It sounds like galloping horses coming from the direction Pa, Adam, and Roy went not even half an hour ago. I didn’t think they’d be back this soon, but maybe the posse was closer than they thought.

Walking over, I throw the door open. Looking out I find Pa, Adam, and Roy swing down from lathered horses. Adam takes all three horses into the barn while Pa and Roy hurry to the house.

“Were you able to talk to them, Pa?” I ask, stepping out of their way and back into the room.

“No, they’re past the point of trying to talk to.”

“Is it bad?”

“Oh, it’s bad alright, worse than I expected.” He turns to look at Hannah who’s still by the table, “Hannah, I want you to go to your room and I want you to stay there until I tell you can come down. Take the rifle with you and stay away from the window.”

“Yes, sir.” She picks up the rifle but doesn’t move towards the staircase. “Ben, I’d like to hear what you’re going to tell Little Joe. I want to know what you think is going to happen.”

“Ok, but as soon as I’m done I want you in your room.” Walking over to the staircase, she leans her back against the railing. “Well, Lunberg has about twenty men in his posse and all of them are so drunk they can barely stay in their saddles. They’re a little less than a quarter of a mile away, that’s why we’re back so soon. When Roy tried to talk to them they demanded to have Hannah and when we said we weren’t going to give her to them, they fired some shots at us. But thankfully they’re so drunk their aim was off. I just don’t understand why they want Hannah so badly; it can’t just be to marry Old Man Lloyd. There has to be something else, yet I can’t figure out what it is.”

Striding over to the rifle rack, he pulls one out as he door swings open and Adam stomps in. Throwing his hat down on the table, he begins to anxiously pace. Hannah looks around at everyone before turning towards me and asking, “Little Joe, I know it’s a rather foolish question, but would you please walk me to my room?”

“Yes, of course.” I follow her up the stairs. Stopping in the doorway of her room, she turns towards me and she gives me a small smile. Since she looks like she wants to say something, but doesn’t know how, I ask, “Did you want to tell me something?”

She looks quickly down at the floor before glancing back up at me. “Little Joe, I’m really sorry about all of this. I should have never gone to that widow’s house and just dealt with it myself like I always have.”

“Don’t be sorry.” Stepping closer, I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. “I like helping a pretty girl like you get out of trouble.”

“But I don’t think your father and older brothers do.”

“Oh, yes they do. Hoss has the kindest heart of any man I know, he hates seeing anything hurt, especially pretty little gals and my Pa’s nearly as soft hearted, too. Adam’s serious and sensitive, but once you get to know him you find out he’s really a great fella with a pretty big heart.”

“I just have this weird feeling that Adam doesn’t like me.”

“Trust me, he likes you, he’s just different about trusting people, is all.”

“Well, I guess I’d better get in my room and quit wasting your time.” She tries to break free from my arm, but I quickly pull her closer, kissing her nice and slow before letting her go. She pulls back, one hand on a flaming red cheek as I turn to walk down the hall.

“Little Joe,” she calls after me, “be careful and don’t get yourself shot.”

“Oh, don’t worry, I won’t!” I laugh. “And stay away from that window!”

 

Chapter 9

 

I make it downstairs just as Adam, Pa, and Roy finish talking. Grabbing their rifles, each takes a post within the big room; Adam’s at the window behind the kitchen table, Pa’s at the window behind his desk, and Roy covering the front door. Snatching my rifle off the table where I’d left it, I look between the three and can’t help wondering where I’m supposed to be in all this mess. “Hey, Pa, where do you want me?”

“Cover Roy from behind.”

Moving over behind Roy, I hear gunshots and yells mingled with hoofbeats outside just as I lean my back against the wall.

“They’re here.” Roy says even though we all know it. “Once they get close to the house, I’m going to go outside and see if I can try and talk some sense into them now. Little Joe, I want you to come and cover me, keep your gun out in plain sight to show them we’re not playing around. Ben, Adam, I want you two to stay in the house, and don’t come outside unless you’re needed.”

“Roy, but don’t you think it would be better for Joe and me to switch places?” Pa’s voice drifts around the wall.

“No, these men need to see somebody new standing up to them. And not only new, but young.” I hear Adam mutter to himself. “No offense to you Adam but these men are going to be hard to take down, and we’ve got to use what few men we have to do it. I’m not saying you’re not as good, but Little Joe here is a good, fast shot and, he’s what I need out there with me.”

There’s more yelling and gunshots outside and now they sound closer. Pa starts to chuckle as he watches them dismount in the front yard, “I know this is no laughing matter, but they’re all so drunk that five or six of them just fell from their saddles onto the ground, they’re not getting back up either.”

“Well, Little Joe, you ready?” Roy asks, his hand already on the door latch.

“Yes, sir.” Nodding, I push myself off the wall, cocking my rifle.

Opening the door, he steps outside with me following right behind him, my rifle laid across my arm, ready to use and fire if I need. I take a good look at the men who’re coming to take Hannah. And what I see disgusts me; men so drunk they’re staggering on their feet, eyes all glassy looking. I presume the man in front is Lunberg. He’s got sagging cheeks and a potbelly, clearly showing the fact that he’s a drunk. His clothes are dirty and so thin and torn that Hop Sing would refuse to use them as rags.

“Cyl Lunberg,” Roy calls out and the same man I was watching starts walking towards us, “I want to talk to you about Hannah Crawford.”

“Yeah, well, she’s my stepdaughter,” I can smell the liquor on him from ten feet away, “and that makes her my property. I have a right to her and I want her.”

“I don’t believe that just because she’s your stepdaughter makes her your property; she’s a human being, not a piece of livestock.”

“Lil ole Hannie girl’s been under my care ever since her ma died.” Pausing, he takes a swig from the whiskey bottle tied to his belt. “Her ma wanted me to take care of her and that’s just what I’s a doin’. Ya see I’ve found a man who wants to get hitched to that scrawny lil brat and I won’t leave or rest until I get her to that preacher.”

“Well, Mr. Lunberg, you can’t force any person to get married so why don’t you let Miss Craddock make that decision. Who’s the man who wants to get married to Miss Craddock?”

“Old Man Lloyd.”

“Is he with you?”

“Of course he’s with me, he wants to see his lil bride.” He gives us a creepy smile before turning around and yelling, “Old Man Lloyd, get over here!”

The old man who walks over to Lunberg can’t be a day younger than eighty. He sways while he walks and looks worse than I  expected with his clothes in worse shape than Lunberg’s and a stringy white beard that goes all the way down to his belt accompanied by just as greasy shoulder length, white hair. It looks like he hasn’t taken a bath in at least ten years and he smells like it, too. The wind is blowing towards us from behind them and I have to keep myself from gagging on the smells of liquor and dirty old man that are drifting over to us. It doesn’t seem to faze Roy, he just keeps on standing there, a blank expression on his face.

“So, you’re Old Man Lloyd.”

“Yes, siree, there’s only one Old Man Lloyd, and that a be me.” He slurs.

“Old Man Lloyd, tell me, just why do you want to marry Miss Craddock?”

“ ‘Cuz she’s a purty lil gal, despite her wearin’ britches an’ all. None of ‘em gals at the saloon pay me any mind, an’ I want me a real purty one, so’s when ole Lunberg told me miz Hannie would marry me, I jumped at the chance.” He takes a drink from the bottle that’s resting in the crook of his right arm.

“But what if Miss Craddock doesn’t want to marry you?”

“Well, then ole Lunberg will get her for me. That’s what I paid him twenty dollars fer, ain’t it? An’ he’ll get her, even if he has to whip ‘er into shape again.”

“Lunberg, do you admit to beating the girl?”

“Yeah, of course, I do! That little brat needed taken down a notch or two.” As he takes another swig from that bottle of his, a hot fury starts to eat me up inside and with the way Roy’s dilly dallying around it just might take control. I know I’m hot headed and tend to  lose my temper easily, but this man’s a murderer and woman beater, Roy needs to do something real soon or else I’m going to end up doing it for him.

“Well, Lunberg, I’m going to have to arrest you on account of what you just admitted to and what Miss Craddock has told the Cartwrights.”

“You can’t arrest me! I ain’t done nothin’ wrong, I’s only taken my little whip to her backside a few times. There ain’t nothin’ wrong with that!” Lunberg stretches himself to his full height, his face getting redder by the second.

“Ain’t done nothing wrong, my foot!” My anger is getting the better of me and I can’t keep quiet any longer. Waving his hand at me, Roy signals me to calm down, but I’ve had enough. “If you’ve only taken your whip to her backside, then how do you explain the marks on her face and the scar on her back? Or the fact that you beat her mother to death?”

“Well, lookie here, no wonder ole Hannie girl doesn’t want to leave!” He croons, looking at me like he’s just seen me for the first time despite the fact that I’ve been standing here the whole time. “With a good-lookin’ feller like you around, why would any gal want a leave, right, boys?”

All the men with him let out whoops and hollers and I feel my patience begin to wear even thinner. If Roy doesn’t do something real fast, it just might get ugly. He must feel my impatience because once the posse simmers down, he takes a step closer to Lunberg.

“I’ve already said it, but I’ll say it again. You’re under arrest Lunberg.” He takes another step towards him. “I want you on your horse and ready to ride.”

“Well, I’s a don’t think that’s gonna happen, Sheriff.” Pulling out a pistol, he points it right at Roy’s chest. I quickly pull my rifle up to my shoulder but he starts talking again, “I was a wantin’ Old Man Lloyd to get a lil looksie at Hannie girl and that’s just what I’s a gonna do.”

“What if she ain’t here?” I ask.

“Oh, she’s here alright, I’s a know that for certain.” He spits on the ground. “You see, purty lil feller, I went an’ talked to one of those wider women back at the camp an’ I got me some answers as to Hannie girl’s whereabouts. An’ those answers got me here, right here on the ole Ponderosie.”

“I’m guessing you had to beat the answers out of the poor widow woman, didn’t you?”

“Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t,” Grinning, he cocks his gun. “but now I want what I came for an’ I aim on gettin’ it one way or the other.”

Someone runs towards the door inside the house as Pa’s deep voice shouts out, “Hannah, don’t do it!”

The door swings open, then loudly slams shut. I want to turn around to look but I don’t dare take my eyes off of Lunberg. The door rattles again and Hannah’s voice comes from the other side, “Adam, let me go, I won’t let Little Joe get hurt!”

“I won’t let you go out there! Lunberg’ll take you again, do you want that?” Adam sounds angry and slightly winded. “They’re all armed, it’s dangerous out there! Do you want to get yourself killed?”

“Oh, let me go! If it’s so dangerous then why’d you let Little Joe go out there?”

“Because Little Joe can take care of himself.”

“Adam, let the girl go.”

The door flies open behind me again, this time staying open. Lunberg looks past me and I watch an ugly, wicked grin spread across his face while Old Man Lloyd rubs his eyes, amazement written plainly on his face.

“What’s the matter, didn’t think she was a pretty girl?” Hearing her skirts swish across the ground behind me, I feel her hand on my lower back. Stepping to the left, she fully exposes herself to Lunberg. I quickly try to step in front of her but then notice her hand move slowly down my back towards my leg. Shifting slightly in front of me, her skirts blocking my gun belt from view, she slips my gun out of my holster and hides it behind her skirt. A pretty smart move on her part, that is as long as she can shoot it where she aims.

“Your ma sure did ya a favor dressin’ ya up in man’s clothes.” Lunberg slowly looks her over top to bottom and she shifts slightly, his stares clearly making her uncomfortable.

“Get behind me.” I whisper to her,

“No, Little Joe, I want to tell Cyl something,” she takes a deep breath, “Cyl!”

“So, lil Hannie girl’s gonna talk to an ole buzzard like me.” Letting out an evil sounding laugh, he keeps that pistol pointed right at Roy’s chest.

“Yes, I’ve got something to say to you, so you better listen and listen good!” I can feel the fury building up inside of her. “I won’t marry Old Man Lloyd; I flat out refuse and I won’t go with you either.”

“Well, you’ve made up your mind an’ now I’ve made up mine,” Turning, he points that pistol at Hannah, “since ya won’t marry Old Man Lloyd, ya won’t marry any man!”

“Hannah!” Throwing my left arm out, I shove her behind me as Lunberg shoots. My upper arm takes the bullet and I drop my rifle, falling backwards. Hannah catches me from behind as all hell breaks loose.

 

Chapter 10

 

Quickly regaining my balance, I pull Hannah out of the range of fire. The window in Pa’s office shatters and he begins shooting just as I hear the same come from Adam. Hoss and Danny begin firing from the barn and their shots are quickly followed by Bill’s coming from the bunkhouse and Todd’s somewhere near. The posse is firing back but in their drunken state, their shots aren’t doing much. They start to fall one by one, hitting the ground like limp rag dolls.

Even though Old Man Lloyd is lying dead at his feet, Lunberg continues to shoot in our direction from where he stands behind one of the porch posts. His wide girth sticks out past the post yet he’s so drunk he doesn’t realize it. I would shoot him myself, but my rifle’s lying on the ground just out of reach and Hannah has my pistol.

“Hannah, give me my gun.”

“But, Little Joe, you’ve been shot!” She exclaims, laying it in my right hand anyways.

I don’t answer her as I get Lunberg in my sights but my shot is off. Trying again, I fail. My aim with my right hand isn’t any good and I know it, yet I’m desperate. Hannah moves beside me, I don’t pay her any mind. Suddenly she takes off running into the middle of it all.

“Hannah! What the heck are you doing?” Continuing to send bullets in Lunberg’s direction, I watch her as she makes it to my rifle. Realizing what she’s trying to do, Lunberg shoots at her as I send a bullet towards him but it misses. Cursing my useless left arm, I watch his bullet hit her in the leg taking her down. But to my surprise, she uses the fall to her advantage, rolling over and grabbing my rifle where it lays beside her. Quickly pulling the hammer back, she fires, hitting Lunberg in the lower gut. She fires off two more quick shots, smacking him directly in the chest and he falls dead to the ground, the thud of his body loud in the now silent yard. And just like that it’s all over.

The remaining posse men quickly mount their horses and ride out when they see that their leading man is dead. Quickly jumping to my feet, I hear the door slam open behind me but I get to Hannah first. I bend down next to her as Pa, Adam, and Roy check to see if Lunberg’s really dead or not.

“Hannah.” I gently lay my right hand on her cheek.

“I’ll be ok, Little Joe,” she gives me a small smile, “I had to do it. When you took that bullet for me, I realized my life would always be the same as long as Cyl was alive, so when I saw all your shots missing, I knew what I had to do. Anyways, now we’re even, we’ve both got a bullet hole.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” I smile at her attempt to make light of the situation. “Hannah, you’re the bravest girl I’ve ever met.”

“Well don’t you think we oughta get you two into the house now?” Adam interrupts. Looking up, I see Pa, Adam, and Hoss standing over us. Bending down, Adam gently picks Hannah up, while Pa helps me to my feet, telling Hoss to go get the doctor.

Adam carries Hannah up to her room upon her request as I slowly sit down on the sofa. Coming over to me, Pa start unbuttoning my shirt. After he inspects my bullet wound, he slaps me on the back, which causes pain to shoot up my arm. “You’ll be alright, it’s not that bad. The bullet just needs to be removed; you’ve been hurt worse before.”

Both of us turn at the sound of Adam walking down the stairs. Showing us the blood on his hands, he walks past us towards the kitchen. Pa and I quickly follow him, both of us wondering where the blood came from.

While he washes his hands, he turns to look at us, “Hannah’s leg was bleeding pretty bad but she’s got it stopped now. The bullet’s in quite deep, I’d say about an inch or so in right above her knee.”

“She let you look at it?”

“Yes, but only because she couldn’t get the bleeding to stop by herself. She needed a little bit more pressure than she could apply herself, so I helped her.” He glances over at me as he continues, “Joe don’t worry, I didn’t look at anything but the wound. I know how you feel about her and I’m sorry for the things I said to you earlier, I was wrong and I realize that now. Can you forgive me, Joe?”

“Of course, Adam.” Resting my hand on his shoulder, I give it a sharp squeeze.

We walk back into the big room together and Pa goes over to his desk. Leaning against it, his expression turns thought as he starts to speak, “Hannah’s a very brave young lady, I never thought she’d have the gumption to shoot her own stepfather.”

“Well, she did, and not only did she do it, but she also made a fair job of it, too. Shooting him again so he wouldn’t die a slow death thanks to that gut shot was probably the nicest thing she could have done for him.” Sinking back in a chair, my arm begins to throb something fierce.

“Either that or she just got trigger happy and wanted him dead fast.” Adam watches me as I slowly bend and pull my arm across my bare chest. “Hurt bad?”

“Oh, no, it’s just fine!” Squishing my face into a painful expression, I purposely exaggerate it knowing it will make them laugh. “Just fine I tell you, just fine! It only feels like someone stuck a nice hot Ponderosa brand on me instead of one of those cows!”

As Pa and Adam begin to laugh, I slide further down into the chair, the look of pain and suffering still on my face. Of course, they just laugh even harder.

“Ah, come on Joe, you’re going to be alright!” Laughing, Adam sobers quickly, “Hannah’s in worse shape than you are, do you hear her complaining?”

“No, but then she’s not in the room. Anyways, I don’t think she’d complain, she’s a tough gal. Just so you know, I’m worried about her, not my own hide.”

“Hoss should be back with the doctor soon and then he’ll have both of you fixed up in no time.” Pa pours himself a brandy. “Would either of you care for a drink?”

“I’ll take one, maybe it’ll help with the pain.”

“Sure, Pa.”

“Where’d Roy disappear to?” I ask, taking the little glass from Pa.

“He’s outside checking on the men that didn’t run away, well at least the ones who are still alive.”

Opening the front door, Roy walks in. After laying his hat on the table by the door, he comes to stand next to Pa, who offers him a drink. Taking it, he sits down, relaxing like Pa asked him to. After looking over at me where I sit still slouched down in my chair, empty brandy glass in my hand, he asks, “Your arm hurt bad, Little Joe?”

“Nah, I’ll be ok once the slug’s out.”

“How about the girl, is she alright?”

“Well, despite taking a bullet to the thigh, she’s alright.” Pa sighs.

“Do you know how bad it is?”

“She asked me to help her stop the bleeding and it appears to be about an inch in.” Adam tells Roy as we all hear a horse and buggy pull up outside.

“That must be Hoss with the doctor.”

 

Chapter 11

 

After the doctor takes the bullet out of my arm, I walk upstairs to go see Hannah. The doctor took care of her first since she was the worst of the two of us and he told me she was alright, but I have to make sure she’s alright myself. Knocking on her door, I call, “Hannah?”

“Come in.” Her soft voice drifts through the wooden door.

Slowly opening the door, I stick my head in and find her lying flat on her back, right arm folded under her head. Closing the door behind me as I step all the way into the room, I ask, “How are you feeling?”

“Oh, I figure about as good as I can after getting shot in the leg.” She smiles as I gently sit down on the edge of the bed beside her. “How about you?”

“About the same, except…” I purposely trail off, trying to rouse her curiosity.

“Except what?” Cocking her brow at me, she raises herself to a sitting position.

“Except I got shot in the arm not the leg.”

“Very funny.” Letting out a fake laugh, she crosses her arms over her chest. “Mine should hurt worse than yours, my bullet went in farther. But then, of course, it could hurt just as bad, I’ve never been shot before so how could I know? Have you ever been shot before?”

“Oh, yeah, plenty of times, it hurts for a couple of weeks and then you’ll have a pretty scar to show for it afterwards.”

“Just what every girl wants, a bullet scar on their thigh.” She laughs but then she stops, she grins at me, tapping her chin with finger. “You know something, Little Joe?”

“No, and what might it be?”

“You lied to me earlier.”

“I lied to you! What do you mean I lied to you?”

“Well, you told me you wouldn’t get shot, and what did you go and do?”

“Hey, I didn’t get shot on purpose, I took that bullet so it wouldn’t hit you.”

“Yeah.” Sobering down, a sad look makes its way over her face.

“What’s the matter?” I ask, laying my hand over hers, worried I said the wrong thing.

“I can’t help wondering,” Her eyes leave mine, resting on my slinged arm before traveling across my chest, down my right arm and finally stopping where my hand lays on top of hers, “if it would have been better in the long run if I took that bullet instead of you.”

“Hannah, how could you think, let alone say something like that!”

“Little Joe, don’t you realize I have nowhere to go, no family to speak of?” She grabs my hand. “At least when Cyl was alive I had a roof over my head. Now I’m just living off of your family’s charity; eating your food, sleeping in your bed, and wearing clothes that your money bought.”

“But, Hannah, having you here has brought so much to our family.”

“All I’ve brought to your family is trouble. Even though I haven’t actually seen it, I’ve caused trouble between you and Adam; I can tell something’s between you two.” Reaching up, she caresses my cheek. “And you, if I’d never come here, you’d never have gotten hurt.”

“Adam and I fight all the time, don’t worry about it.”

“But I don’t like coming between the two of you, it’s not right for me to split a home.”

“Hannah, don’t you see, Adam and I have had things come between us before. In fact, one time it was so bad that he almost left for New England.” I squeeze her hand tight so she’ll listen good. “I’ve gotten shot before, and I probably will again, so don’t feel bad about any of this.”

“Well, I hope you don’t get shot again, it could end up being really bad next time.” Squeezing my hand back, she gives me a small smile.

Giving her a quick wink, I raise her hand to my lips, “You know, Hannah, there’s been something missing in my life and I didn’t even know it but I think I’ve finally found it.”

“And just what’s that?” She asks, her face displaying her curiosity.

“You.”

“Me?” Pointing a finger at herself, her curiosity turns to shock.

“Yes, you.” I nod. “I told you earlier that I thought you were a right pretty girl, and I meant every word of it, but since then I’ve found out that you’re so much more than just pretty.”

“And just what do you think I am?”

“I think you’re brave for what you did out there today, you’re calm in an emergency, and kind to others, thinking of what a burden you are to them, even though you aren’t.” Pausing, a grin stretches across my face. “And I also think you love to have fun, whether it be dunking people in the water trough or filling your belly on a picnic.”

A big smile pushes her blushing cheeks up as her eyes fill with tears, “You really mean all of those things about me, Little Joe?”

“Of course, I mean it, I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t. Hannah, I believe you’re brave, smart, kind, funny, and beautiful gal and I don’t tell girls all that unless I’m serious. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve told a few girls that they’re beautiful but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a girl as pretty as you.”

“I knew there had to have been other girls, but only a few?” As her right brow goes up, all her sass comes back.

“Well, more than a few,” I sheepishly admit, “but none of them matter now.”

“Little Joe, you can really put a damper on a girl’s plans.”

“What do you mean, what plans?”

“Well, laying up here while the doctor was tending your arm, I started doing some hard thinking about my future. I realized I can’t continue to live off of your father’s charity,” holding up a hand, she quiets me when I start to interrupt, “so I made a decision. A very hard one, Little Joe, one that I now regret but I have to do it. Once my leg’s healed enough for me to be on my feet again, I’m moving to Virginia City to find a job.”

“Hannah, you can’t, the only job for a girl like you in Virginia City is at the saloon.”

“And I’ll get a job there if I have to. Do you go to the saloon when you’re in town?” After seeing my nod, she quickly looks down at her lap, but not quick enough to keep me from seeing the tears streaming down her cheeks. “Well, Little Joe, we’ll see each other whenever you come to town.”

Reaching out, I gently grab her chin, tilting her face up so she’ll look at me, “Hannah, can’t you see what I’m trying to tell you? I love you Hannah, I love you more than anything in my life.”

Big tears fall off her cheeks and onto my wrist as she starts to sob, “I love you, too, Little Joe, It would just break my heart to have to leave you!”

“Then don’t, Hannah, stay right here on the Ponderosa with me. Let’s have a life here together and we can raise a bunch of little ones, however many you want!” I exclaim getting excited. “Hannah, will you marry me and make my life complete?”

“Yes!” She sobs, tears still dripping down her cheeks. Leaning in, I kiss her, tasting her tears and wetting my cheeks with them. Pushing back, she lets out a cheery laugh, “I just thought of something.”

“Yeah?”

“I’ll be Mrs. Little Joe!”

“You know what, I like the sound of that!” She giggles as I lean in, kissing her again.

“Mrs. Little Joe, I’d love to be called that.”

“Well, don’t worry, honey, we’ll make it happen.”

 

Chapter 12

Running down the stairs, I make such a ruckus that Adam, Hoss, and Pa look over to see what’s going on. Pa hurries over towards the staircase, “Joe, what’s wrong, she isn’t worse is she? The doctor just left but someone can go get him.”

“Oh, nothing’s wrong!” I wave for them to follow me up the stairs. “Hannah and I want to tell you all something.”

All four of us walk up the stairs and into Hannah’s room together. She’s still sitting up in bed, a huge grin splitting her rosy, pink cheeks as she waves to Pa, Adam, and Hoss.

“Now, what’s this that you and Little Joe wanted to tell us?” Pa asks, noticing our excitement as he crosses his arms over his chest. “Apparently it’s something important, both of you sure seem wound up.”

“You tell them, Little Joe.” Reaching up, she touches my hand.

“Well, you see, Pa, Hannah and I, we’re going to get married!”

“Married!” All three shout in unison. Looking down at Hannah, I grimace but she just gives me an encouraging smile and squeezes my hand.

“Yeah, married.” I repeat, not knowing why I feel so jittery inside.

“Well, son, if this is what the two of you want,” he says after what I’ve said has sunk in, “then I congratulate the both of you!”

Reaching out, he shakes my hand and then turns to Hannah, sitting on the edge of the bed beside her. Taking both of her hands in his, he leans in close, kissing her on the cheek, “I’ve always wanted a daughter and I’d be proud to have you as one, I couldn’t be any happier. You’re such a brave, sweet girl, that you’ll make all of us Cartwrights proud to have you as family. Congratulations Hannah!”

“Oh, thank you, Ben!” Throwing her arms around his neck in a hug, she looks like she’s going to cry again. “I was so worried you wouldn’t approve since we barely know each other.”

“Hannah, sometimes you don’t have to know a person that long to know they’re that special someone in your life you find yourself not being able to live without.” He tells her, wiping the tears off her cheeks.

“Thank you, thank you so much for understanding.”

“Don’t worry child, I understand.” Standing up, he lays a hand on each of our shoulders. “I wish you both happiness and a long life together whether it be here on the Ponderosa or elsewhere.”

“Pa, don’t worry, we aren’t planning on leaving the Ponderosa.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear that.” Looking at all of us, turning halfway around in order to see Adam and Hoss, where they stand at the end of the bed, he exclaims, “This calls for a celebration, I’ll go get the sherry!

Adam and Hoss come swarming in to give us their congratulations as soon as he’s out the door. Nearly ripping my arm off as he shakes my hand, Hoss croons, “Little brother, you did a fine job findin’ yourself this little filly.”

“I’ve never been called a filly before but I figure that’s a real big compliment coming from you, Hoss!”

“Yes’um,” reaching out, he shakes her hand a lot gentler, “I congratulate you, miz Hannah. Now, if my little brother here gives you any trouble, you just tell me and I’ll skin his ornery hide for you.”

“Oh, don’t worry, I will, just as long as you won’t skin him too bad. I don’t want to have to fix him up too much.”

“Alright, I’ll skin him just enough and that’s it.” He winks, his serious tone matching hers.

“Well, Hannah, you shouldn’t have to get Hoss to skin Joe for a while,” Adam says, slapping me on the back, “he should behave himself at least for the first few months. Congratulations to both of you and Hannah, I’m so proud to have you as a sister.”

“Thank you, Adam.” They share a special smile as he shakes her hand.

Coming back into the room, Pa carries the sherry and glasses on a tray. Sitting it on the desk, he pours a glass for everyone. After handing one to each of us, he lifts his in the air, proclaiming, “I propose a toast to the marriage of Joe and Hannah!”

“To Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cartwright.” Adam chimes, lifting his glass.

“To miz Hannah and Little Joe.” Hoss raises his glass high above his head.

Holding our glasses up to join the others, huge grins on our faces, Hannah and I only have eyes for each other.

 

The End

 

Tags:  Family, Joe / Little Joe Cartwright