Summary:  Little Joe travels to San Francisco to help one of Dr. Peele’s patients and encounters danger and a strange turn of events when Ben gets there.  Rated T, WC 22,000 Third in the “Whatever it Takes series”, links to all stories of this series included.

Whatever It Takes Series:

Whatever it Takes
Absolute Faith
A Part of the Main
Mustard Seed
To Help a Stranger (by Deb)
Of One Breath

 

 

A Part Of the Main

No man is an island, entire of itself,

every man is a piece of the continent,

a part of the main.

John Donne

 

Ben Cartwright read the letter for the third time, still trying to digest the contents and the request therein. As he stood from his desk in the study he thought back on all the events that had led up to the position he now found himself in. Ben walked over to the crystal brandy decanter perched on the table in the living room. He poured himself a drink still deep in thought. He again looked at the letter and read parts of it aloud. “And so, I am asking that Joseph come for a visit if it does not cause you any difficulty at this time. There is much I would like to show him and in particular, there is a patient that I really think he could help.”

Ben sat down on the hearth and pushed the poker to toy with the fire logs. He wondered if this whole idea of going to San Francisco to visit Doctor Peele would be a wise thing for his son. There still were days when he would catch a far away stare in Joe’s eyes and knew what he was thinking without even asking.

The six months that had passed since Joe had gone through his second bout with morphine withdrawal had been painful ones. There still were times when Joe seemed distant from his two brothers as well as his own father. Ben was not at all sure that the memories of Joe’s abduction and forced morphine addiction were not constantly on the young man’s mind. Yes, there were times when he felt the “old” Joe was back, full of laughter and love of life. Other times, he saw a subdued and depressed side of his son. It was that side that still scared him.

Just as had been the case in the past struggle to free himself from his addiction, Joe fought to shut out all discussion about what had taken place. As if that would fool his brain into forgetting the evil that had taken place. It made it impossible for Ben to offer help or understand what exactly was going on in his son’s thoughts. He had hoped that eventually time would mend the still open wounds and he would truly have his son back as he had been before. But, Ben didn’t see that happening yet, and a trip to San Francisco was not the remedy for forgetting as far as he could see.

Ben stood and wondered how he would address the issue of Doctor Peele’s request once Joseph was back home that evening. He had a strong urge to just tear the letter up. But, he knew he couldn’t do that either! Ben felt intense gratitude for the doctor who had done so much for Joe. He had treated him in the hospital and sent him home seemingly well. He had also come again to their aid when they tried to get the two men who had abducted Joe prosecuted and the doctor had played a major role in winning that case. Ben knew he had to at least ask his son if he wanted to visit Doctor Peele, no matter what his own feelings were. He also wondered if Doctor Peele would tell Joseph about Daniel.

Ben walked back to his desk with the realization that there was something else bothering him besides the worry over his son’s possible trip to San Francisco. It was something that bothered him almost as much as the worry about Joe’s mental well being. And that was the discussion he had with Doctor Peele regarding the doctor’s son Daniel. Ben still remembered looking at the locket, which bore Daniel’s picture. He could still see the face, the face that was a mirrored image of Joe Cartwright! Would the doctor tell Joe? Would he tell him how saving Joe’s life in the hospital made the doctor feel as if he were saving his own son Daniel?

Ben tried to shake himself out of the mental foreboding. Maybe, he thought, maybe he was reading too much in to the way the doctor felt about Joseph. But, then there were the wistful stares he had witnessed when the doctor didn’t know Ben was looking at him. Ben could see the longing in the man’s eyes as he looked upon his own son who was an exact replica of the doctor’s deceased son.

Ben stuffed the letter back in its envelope and placed it in his desk drawer, it would wait until later when Joseph was home. Then, somehow he would have to accept the fact that Joe might just want to visit his friend Doctor Harold Peele.

The three Cartwright brothers made their traditional loud entrance to the ranch house right before supper that night. Joe had beaten both his brothers inside the house and bolted the door just as Ben rounded the corner coming in from the kitchen. Then there was the loud banging and threats on Joe’s life until Joe finally conceded and unlocked the door.

“I’m gonna pound you!” Hoss yelled approaching his youngest brother. To which Joe ran behind his father. “Hey—Pa! Good to see you!” Hoss recanted his statement. Then Adam walked in.

“You are a juvenile! You’d think that this door locking stuff would have gotten old by now!” Adam sighed and took off his coat.

“Okay—what’s’ going on now?” Ben felt he had to ask even though he knew it must be something Joe had done to rile his brothers so. Joe shrugged his shoulders and tried his best innocent look. “I don’t know, Pa—guess they are just losing their sense of humor is all!”

Hoss grabbed Joe by the back of his shirt and as usual Ben had to step in. “Dinner is ready—save the beating for later, Hoss. You wouldn’t want your food to get cold!’

Hoss frowned and turned Joe loose. Joe shot back a smirk at both of his brothers and followed closely behind his father toward the dining room table.

After Hop Sing brought out the food and Ben said grace, the three brothers took turns discussing their day of work. “And Joe—well he barely did any of the hay baling! Half the time he was goofing off the other half he was sleeping!” Hoss shot his brother an unfriendly look.

“Is that true, Joseph?” Ben asked trying to hide his amusement at his oldest sons. It was a typical day and he had heard this story before. Adam and Hoss worked diligently and Joe found ways to get out of work.

“Huh?” Joe tried to act hurt at the accusation. “I worked as hard as both of them—it’s just that I get done with my part quicker. You know Pa—they ARE a lot older and slower than me!”

To that witty remark Joe felt Hoss’ boot kick under the table.

“Well—we may be older but we are not slower—you don’t take your work seriously that’s all.” Adam defended both himself and Hoss.

Joe laughed and remarked, “Oh—yeah—stacking hay is SUCH serious work!”

Ben shook his head trying to think of something to say to his sons that he hadn’t already said a thousand times. He couldn’t think of anything, so he just poured more coffee and waited for the next round of banter.

“Pa, I think Hoss and I should go look at that string of horses Mr. Dixon has for sale. And while we are gone Joe should finish with the hay.” Adam stared over at Joe waiting for his next humorous remark.

“No—Brother—buying livestock is much too serious for the two of you—I best go!”

Ben cleared his throat to gain the room’s attention. “I will send you and Hoss, Adam. I will find Joseph a suitable job to do.”

Joe frowned at his father’s statement wondering what awful chore he was thinking of assigning him. Then his mind flashed back to another time, another assignment. The time he had been given the task of going to the line shack known as Oblivion. Joe watched the scene play out as it had so many times in the past. He fought to release the memories but they kept coming back and taking him places where he struggled not to go.

Ben stared worriedly at his youngest son. There had been over fifteen minutes of conversation between Hoss and Adam that had gone totally unchallenged by Joe. Then, each man could see that familiar countenance take over Joe’s whole person and they knew where he was in thought. Ben felt uneasy at the way Joe could be so fun-loving one moment and so dark the next. He would rather have the arguments between the three brothers again. At least that was normal and even held within it a testament of their deep feelings for one another.

Hoss looked over at his father, as did Adam. They were unsure how to handle the situation, even though it had happened many times in the past. It was an awkward silence, one that the two brothers looked to their father to break.

Finally, Ben reached over and touched Joe’s arm. “Joseph? You still with us?” He asked quietly. Joe slowly shook himself out of his daze and looked around embarrassed. “What? What were you saying, Pa?”

Hoss smiled and said, “Well—I was saying pass me the biscuits or I’ll kick you again!” Hoss tried his best to reassure his little brother that all was well.

“Oh—sorry.” Joe replied and handed Hoss the basket of biscuits. Joe then wiped his mouth on his napkin and looked over at his father. “I am kinda tired—think I’ll go to bed.” He stood and walked away from his family.

“Well, there he goes again,” Adam paused as he saw Joe leave for his room. “We all know where his mind was, and rather than talking about it he chooses to run away from us.”

“Yes, I’m afraid that’s true, Son. But the past does have a way of catching up with a person. And now we have another problem to contend with.”

“What problem, Pa?” Hoss asked before Adam had the chance.

“I received a letter today from Doctor Peele, seems he wants Joseph to come and see him.”

“That’s kinda out of the blue, isn’t it?” Adam looked at his father’s troubled face.

“Well, I did promise Harold that Joseph would visit some time. It’s just the timing of it—well, I don’t think is too good. Going to San Francisco —dealing with those memories—I’m not sure it might not set Joe back even farther.”

“When you gonna tell him, Pa?” Hoss asked staring toward his brother’s room.

“I can’t keep it from him. I was planning on talking to him about it this evening. The doctor also wrote that there was a patient who he thought Joseph could help.”

“Seems to me that Joe is the one who needs some help.” Adam’s reply came off with his own sense of worry in it.

“I just don’t know—maybe it would force Joseph in to admitting some of his problems.” Ben trailed off not really believing his statement. He stood from the table and looked at his two eldest sons who shared worried expressions on their faces. “I guess I’ll go up and speak with him before he goes to sleep.” Ben walked to the staircase and up to Joe’s room.

Joe sat by his window staring out into the darkness. He hoped he could fall asleep more easily, but could not shake the troubled thoughts, which hounded his mind. When he heard the knock on his door he walked over and opened it. “Pa? What’s wrong?” Joe asked letting his father inside.

“I wanted to talk to you—I was hoping you hadn’t fallen asleep yet.” Ben walked over to the chair by his son’s bed and sat down. Joe sat down on the bottom of the bed and hoped in his heart that his father only had a lecture about being more diligent in his work performance in mind. Joe did not want anything else brought up about the past, but read his father’s face and knew what was coming.

“Joseph, I know I’ve tried to talk to you about your feelings before, and I know you want me to forget all that has happened to you in the past. I can’t do that, not when I see you troubled as often as I have here lately.” Ben spoke quietly hoping that maybe this once he could reach past Joe’s tough exterior and get to the heart of the matter.

Instead, Joe stood back up and walked away from his father and over to his window. “Pa—I asked you not to bring it up again! There’s no point! I am fine! Why do you have to always try and make me remember this stuff anyway? It’s buried—it’s over! I told you before!” Joe’s temper started to take over in his voice.

“Just look at yourself! Then tell me it’s over! You are still fighting with some of the things you went through. I understand that, I also understand your thinking that if we don’t talk about it then it’s like none of it happened! But, Son, it DID happen and you have to come to terms with it or it will never really go away.” Ben walked over to where Joe now stood.

“Look, Pa, this IS how I deal with it! I don’t think about it and someday I won’t remember it at all. Just give me time—you worry too much.” Joe tried to calm himself and sound more in control than what he really felt. “Besides, why do you have to bring it up now? I’ve been doing real good lately!”

Ben frowned at what was an obvious lie. “One reason I’m bringing this up is because I received a letter today.” Ben paused and Joe finally met his eyes confused at what his father was saying.

“Letter? From who?”

“Doctor Peele, it seems he wants you to pay him a visit. He also said he has a patient he thinks you could help.”

At that, Joe walked back to the chair and sat down again, his thoughts going back to his relationship with the doctor, and also how he felt about San Francisco. There was a hospital there that Joe really did not want to ever see again! He had hoped that when he left there, that at least that one part of his ordeal was a dead issue. Now he worried about what the doctor expected of him. It sounded to Joe like the doctor was actually expecting him to not only visit the hospital but also help in some kind of patient rehabilitation! The thought of that was really frightening to Joe. He had been on the other end of rehab himself and did not relish the thought in participating in either side of the issue.

But then there was the bond he felt with the doctor. It was a strong one and Joe could not entertain the thought of letting the man down who had done so much for him. Several times it seemed to Joe as though Doctor Peele was the only one in the world who had truly understood his suffering and had faith that he would recover, when no-one else thought it possible.

“Well?   What do you think, Joseph?” Ben finally asked sitting down next to his son.

“I don’t know; I did promise him I’d visit—I just never thought about when.” Joe was beginning to wonder why his father had even asked him how he felt. Joe figured surely his father would know that he would have to visit the doctor. There was no way he could turn down a request from someone who cared so much about him.

“But do you want to go now? Or do you think that, perhaps, you should wait a little longer until—” Ben was cut short by his son.

“Until what, Pa? Until I am perfectly FINE? Until I have gotten back to what you think is normal? I don’t think that’s gonna happen—at least no time soon. I’ll go see Doc —I owe him that much.”

Ben reached over and turned Joe’s face to meet his eyes. “Don’t do this out of a feeling of debt, Son. Only do this if you truly want to do it and for no other reason.” He whispered softly.

Joe looked into his father’s eyes and saw uncertainty in them. “Don’t worry about me, Pa. I’ll be okay—I’ll just go for a couple weeks and come home and everything will be fine.”

“You sure?” Ben was not at all convinced at Joe’s brave show of nonchalance.

Joe tried his best to muster a smile but it came off as a half-hearted effort, one Ben easily knew was a fake. “Yeah, Pa, I am sure. I’ll leave day after tomorrow if it’s okay with you. I’ll send a telegraph tomorrow to let Doc know when to expect me.”

Ben stood wearily, Joseph always did things the hard way, and it looked as though he was keeping with that pattern now. Ben felt it would have been wiser for Joseph to just admit he was having serious doubts about going and wait a few months, but then, that was not his son’s style. He always had to prove he was strong enough to take anything that was thrown at him.

Ben walked to the door and then turned back to look at his youngest son, he still had more to say. “Joseph, I would be lying to you if I told you that I thought this was all a good idea. I don’t think it is, not right now anyway. But, if this is something you truly want to do—well—I guess you have to do it.” Ben hoped for one last response from his son, maybe for once he would agree with his father.

Joe nodded and replied, “I’ll leave day after tomorrow, Pa.”

Ben walked out of the room closing the door. He wished Joe hadn’t grown up so fast. He wished that Joe was still young enough to simply be told he could not go and let that be the end of it. Unfortunately, Ben knew he had to let Joseph do what he felt he had to do, regardless of the consequences.

The noon stage was late as usual, and both Ben and Joe waited outside of the stage-line office. Ben had tried his best not to interfere with his son’s decision, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t weighing on his mind as he stared at Joe. Doctor Peele had been sent a telegraph the previous day announcing Joe’s departure and arrival times. It was going to happen and Ben knew there was no longer room for an argument about Joe’s decision.

“You have everything? You have enough money with you?” Ben asked.

Joe smiled at his father’s questions. “C’mon, Pa! It’s not like I haven’t been away before you know? I’ve got everything don’t worry.”

“Telling me not to worry is a waste of time, Joseph, because you know I will until you come home. That’s a father’s prerogative! Looks like the stage is coming!” Ben announced just as the stagecoach rounded the corner at the end of town.

Joe stepped back as the passengers withdrew from the stage. The driver called down to him. “Guess you are my only passenger out of here today! Throw me those bags up here! I want to make it to the first way-station before dark and I’m already late!”

Joe tossed the driver his two bags and paused for a minute before getting aboard. “See you in a couple of weeks, Pa!” He smiled and went to shake his father’s hand.

Ben, instead, pulled him into an embrace and hugged him. “C’mon, Pa! —people are looking!” Joe complained but that did not stop his father.

“This is another one of those fatherly prerogatives, Joseph! And I don’t care who is watching!”

“Hey, I’ll be back you know! It’s not like I’m never gonna see you again!” Joe teased as he broke from his father’s embrace and stepped into the stagecoach.

“You be careful!” Ben called and Joe nodded obediently.

“See you later, Pa!” Joe called as the stage pulled briskly away. Ben stood on the street until the stage had gone entirely out of sight. He felt a combination of worry and loneliness as he walked back to the buckboard for the drive back to the ranch.

Joe admitted to himself that the scenery had been a bit boring on the three day’s trip to San Francisco. He had seen it all before and was anxious to get to his destination. When the stage pulled up at the depot in San Francisco Joe found a carriage waiting for him driven by Doctor Peele’s own manservant. He was surprised that the man recognized him right away, having never met him before! Maybe the doctor had given the man a very good description, Joe thought to himself as the man grabbed both of Joe’s bags and set them in the back of the carriage.

“Joe Cartwright.” Joe said reaching to shake the man’s hand.

“Robert Weems, and it’s a pleasure to meet you, young man.” The older man said and both men climbed into the carriage. “I have orders to bring you to the hospital first. Doctor Peele is expecting you.” The man sent the carriage into motion and Joe’s thoughts were of the disappointment he was feeling that he was to go to the hospital so soon. He was hoping to go directly to the doctor’s home before revisiting the building, which held so many unhappy memories.

Joe entered the front door to the massive hospital. At least this time he walked in of his own accord and was not wheeled in as was the case in his first visit. Joe knew the way to the doctor’s office, having spent many days inside of it discussing his treatment for the morphine withdrawal. As he turned down the final corridor, a nurse stopped Joe in the hall.

“I don’t believe it!” She smiled and grabbed Joe’s arm. “Joe—you look well!”

Joe smiled at the woman who had been with him throughout his stay in the hospital. She was a big woman but had the grace of swan and the smile of an angel. “Nurse Hastings! Great to see you again!”

“I heard you were coming—Doctor Peele will be so happy to see you!”

“I’ll be here awhile. Maybe I can buy you some coffee and we can talk.”

“Sure, Joe. I’d like that! Well, I’ve got some unruly patients up on the next floor that I’d better get to checking on!” The nurse headed on her way and Joe made it to the doctor’s office.

Joe paused briefly outside of the room trying to make sure he was truly all together in mind and composure. He knew the doctor was one person who could read him better than anyone in the world. Joe knocked on the door and the doctor called to come in.

“Hi, Doc!” Joe smiled and walked over to where Doctor Peele sat behind his desk.

The doctor looked up and saw the smile he had missed so dreadfully. “Joseph! I’m so glad you could come!” He exclaimed. Then he walked over and shook the young man’s hand.

“Hey—I’m glad to be here! I missed you, and besides this trip took me away from a lot of chores!” Joe laughed.

“Well, for whatever the reason, I am elated! I have to check on one more patient and then I have reservations for us at a very nice restaurant on the bay.”

“Sure, Doc! Sounds good. I’ll just sit here and read.” Joe grabbed a book off of the doctor’s desk. “You know I never finished this anatomy book!” Joe teased with the man knowing he never had any intentions of finishing the book in the first place.

Doctor Peele grinned at Joe and said, “You’ll just have enough time to look at the pictures! I’ll be right back!” The doctor eluded to the fact that was all Joe had ever done with the anatomy book, simply look at the pictures.

That evening Joe and Doctor Peele were driven to the Mariner’s Cafe, which overlooked the calm waters of San Francisco’s Bay. It was a very formal dining room and Joe was glad that at the last stop with the stage line he had taken the time to put on his best suit. Both men sat at a table with glass windows, which gave a wonderful view of the waterfront. Their meals were brought out very quickly and the waiters were highly attentive and Joe marveled at the difference from the restaurants he was use to in Virginia City.

“It sure is beautiful here.” Joe commented sipping some wine and looking out the window.

“I’m glad you like it, Joseph. This has always been one of my favorite places. I use to come here all the time with my wife.”

“I didn’t know you were married.” Joe said surprised as the doctor had never mentioned it.

“Yes, but she’s been gone almost twenty-five years now.” He replied sadly.

“I’m sorry, Doc.” Joe didn’t know what else to say.

Harold smiled and patted Joe on the arm. “No sad tales tonight! We are celebrating! Just think, Joseph, do you realize in about a month it will two years since you were first brought here? You have done so well that it does call for a celebration!”

Joe frowned he didn’t feel like he had accomplished all that much, especially considering what he had been through the previous spring. “I don’t know if we can really count it as two years, Doc. Maybe six months—” Joe trailed off.

“Nonsense! As far as I’m concerned you took your first steps toward getting free of the morphine when you came here. What happened to you on your ranch is a whole other issue which never was any of your doing.” Harold was insistent.

“Yeah—well—I have stayed away from the stuff—that’s for sure. But, sometimes the memories take me back and it’s not pleasant.” Joe sighed.

“Joe—sometimes even those kinds of memories are for our own good. It’s the mind’s way of making sure we don’t forget earlier hurts so we won’t make the same mistakes or the same decisions that caused the pain.”

Joe thought for awhile about what the doctor had said. It made sense to him, for maybe the first time. The memories that he fought against might really be there to help him. It seemed like such a simple answer but it held a lot of promise in Joe’s mind.

“So, who’s this patient you wrote Pa about? He said you thought I could help him?”

“All in good time. Tonight we celebrate—tomorrow we will discuss that!” Doctor Peele refilled both glasses with wine. “I would like to propose a toast.” He said and he lifted his glass and Joe followed suit. “To what you have already learned—and to what you will learn in the future!”   Joe didn’t let on, but that toast did confuse him, however he touched glasses with the doctor and figured he would eventually find the answer to what Harold had said.

 

After dinner that evening they took a drive along the coast and Joe enjoyed the view of the bay that was lit by lamps along its shoreline. It was shortly before ten that night when the carriage pulled up to the Peeles’s residence. The house was much like Joe had imagined it to be. It was two stories with a stone facade and a cobblestone walkway, which led up to an ornate front porch.

Robert had already brought Joe’s bags to the house earlier and he now led the way, opening the front door for the two men. Joe entered the foyer followed by Doctor Peele.

“Robert has all your things up in your room. Why don’t you come into the study and we’ll talk for awhile before you turn in.” Harold said as Joe looked at the surroundings. The walls were covered in oak planking and crystal lighting reflected off the marble floors.

“Your home is incredible!” Joe announced as he followed the doctor into the next room. In there he saw a huge fireplace that was already lit and the warmth filled the large room. He glanced up at the surrounding mantle that was an ornate parquetry. Then there was the huge, gold framed portrait, which graced the wall above the fireplace. That was what made Joe stand speechless.

Harold noted Joe’s reaction to the picture of his son Daniel, he could only imagine what was going on in the young man’s mind to be looking at a picture, which could have easily been of himself. Joe finally turned and his questioning eyes fell upon the doctor.

“That was my son Daniel.” Harold stated, his own eyes going back and forth between Joe and the picture.

“He looks—-” Joe stopped and then sat down in the nearest chair. Harold sat across from him and continued Joe’s broken statement. “He looks just like you! Yes, I know. Imagine my surprise the first day you were admitted to the hospital! You two could have easily been twins!”

Joe’s eyes fell back upon the portrait still amazed by it. “You said “was”—is Daniel—”

Harold nodded, “Yes, Joseph, Daniel died five years ago. He had an incurable illness.”

“I’m so sorry—” Joe turned his view from the picture and over to the doctor. “Gee—I hate to say this but—this is kinda spooky—you know?”

Harold laughed at Joe’s description of the circumstances. “Maybe—I probably should have told you in some other way, but couldn’t think of how to bring it up. Do you believe in fate?”

Joe thought a moment and then responded, “Well, I guess—Pa always said there was a reason for everything that happens. I guess that would be fate. Why?”

Harold looked up again at the picture of his son and said, “I didn’t actually believe in fate until the day I met you. That was when I realized that, just as your father said, everything happens for a reason. You see, Joe—” The doctor paused and reached over and touched Joe’s arm. “Having had the chance to save you in the hospital had to be fate, or divine intervention, whatever you want to call it. I felt so awful for so many years because I couldn’t save my son when he lay dying—but it was almost as if God gave me that chance when I helped you find your way back. You may even say that meeting you helped me find my own faith again.”

Joe was deeply touched by what the doctor had related to him, it made him feel good to know in some way he had also helped Harold. He cleared his throat before beginning his response as he could feel the emotion in all that was happening. He could almost feel Daniel’s gaze and it was as though there were three people there in the room instead of two. “You may not understand this, Doc, but hearing you say all this has really meant so much to me! I have fought with some pretty bad notions here lately. Some of those memories I told you that keep coming back on me. I even have had my own faith challenged—especially when those two men forced me back on the morphine. I could not understand why I had to go through what I did. It seemed to me that God had been pretty unfair to have made me endure all that I had!”

“How has my telling you helped, Joseph?” Harold quietly asked staring into Joe’s bright green eyes that had filled with a certain intensity of their own.

“If I had to go through this—all of this—then at least something good came out of it! If meeting me—as you said—helped YOU find your faith—or helped you in any other way—then I feel it was worth it.”

With Joe’s words the doctor could almost hear the sound of the young man’s first attempt at letting go of his struggle and pain. He knew that Joe really needed to find some inner peace and that it had been a long time in coming. Harold thought about the feeling in the room, just as he could tell Joe had. And, for a moment Harold felt as though he was talking to Daniel and not Joe. “Joseph, it looks to me as though both you and I are still works in progress! We still have a ways to go—but I’m sure we will both get there. I am so thankful that you came here, I really needed to see you.”

Joe smiled affectionately at the doctor and asked, “So—tell me about Daniel! What was he like? What did he enjoy doing? I’d really like to know!”

Harold eased back in his chair just as Robert entered the room carrying a tray with two demitasse cups filled with imported coffee. Both men accepted the drinks gratefully and Harold spoke once more. “Daniel was a very warm and caring young man. He enjoyed many things, he had a love of poetry and enjoyed writing some of his own as well. He was very intelligent and actually was in his second year of medical school here when he fell ill.”

“Well, I guess we weren’t much alike.” Joe said somberly.

“On the contrary!” Harold argued. “He had a fun side to him just as you—and enjoyed practical jokes—oh—he loved to do that! Poor Robert fell victim many times to Daniel’s rare sense of humor! And what about you? How many times did I find your nose buried in that book of poems?”

Joe chuckled remembering how well the doctor watched him while in the hospital. “Okay—I concede—don’t tell my family though—I wouldn’t want them to think I was like my brother Adam! But, yeah, those poems helped me—still do at times! But—I never wrote anything! And as for being smart enough to go to medical school—well that’s definitely not me!”

“Oh—I don’t know about that! You don’t give yourself much credit —but I know you are intelligent! You have a quick mind, Joseph, and a willingness to learn.”

“Well—maybe—” Joe replied and thought again about the doctor’s plan requiring him to meet with a patient. “I know you said we’d discuss that patient tomorrow—but I’d kinda like to know what it’s all about—one thing I am known for is my curious nature!”

“You have that in common with Daniel as well!” The doctor laughed and continued, “Okay, here’s the situation. A patient by the name of Frank Myers was admitted four weeks ago. He is addicted to morphine. His case echoes yours in a way. He had a serious fall and suffered multiple fractures. He was put on the morphine and grew addicted, just as you did. He was on the drug longer than he should have been, but that had been the doctor’s decision as several of the bones in his leg had to be reset more than once. He still will always walk with a limp, but medically he should be fine. His father brought him here and Frank has refused all help. He wants out—even worse than you did! He is still in restraints and has a very violent streak to him. But, by this time, he should be calming down—and he’s not. His anger towards his family is extreme!”

This was where Joe broke in, “I can understand that, Doc. I was very mad at having been admitted to the hospital! Even in what I call my “crazy” state—I still remember the anger I felt.”

“I know! And that is why I think you can help him! If you show him what you accomplished—maybe, just maybe he will start trying. You have a way with people, Joseph! I’ve seen it here and also when I visited you at your home. I really believe you could make a difference!”

Joe smiled the same smile, which hung above the fireplace in the picture of Daniel. “Sure, Doc! I’ll give it a try! If I can get over the uneasy feeling at the hospital!”

“You will—I know you will!”

“Yeah—well—you just watch out for me—don’t let anyone think I’ve escaped and lock me back up!” Joe’s sense of humor came out and warmed the room more than the fire in the hearth. Both men finished their coffee. “You don’t have to worry—you will be fine. I will watch out for you in the hospital and throughout your stay here. I promised your father that. Now, I think you could use some sleep!” The doctor stood as did Joe and they walked out of the study and toward the staircase. “I will have Robert bring you to the hospital around noon tomorrow. That will give you time to get some rest and maybe see some sights.”

“Sounds good! Well, goodnight!” Joe patted the doctor’s back and followed Robert up to the guest room. Harold Peele stood at the bottom of the long staircase and watched as Joe ascended the stairs. His heart felt full, a feeling he had not had in a long time. Laughter was in the house again, and Harold had forgotten what a wonderful sound it was.

Joe enjoyed a good night’s sleep that evening and woke to coffee being served to him in his room by Robert. He thought of how he could easily get use to the pampering he was getting and figured he would enjoy it while it lasted. After he dressed and had eaten a very large breakfast, Robert drove him around the town and they stopped in several of the shops. By noon they made their way to the hospital and Joe met Harold in his office. “What do you have there?” Harold asked seeing a book Joe had carried into the room. Joe showed the doctor what he had bought at one of the shops and said, “Well, since I’m not a doctor I can’t prescribe anything to help your patient—so I did the next best thing.” Joe smiled as the doctor looked at the title.

“Best Loved Poetry” Harold read out loud.

“Worked for me!” Joe laughed. “But if it doesn’t help Frank—I figured I could beat him over the head with it and knock some sense in to him!”

Harold smiled at Joe’s unusual idea of treatment but then turned suddenly serious. “Now, Joseph, I don’t want you taking any chances—if he starts getting violent—”

Joe broke in, “Hey! I’m not the same kid I was two years ago you know! I can handle anything. Just take me to him!”

The two men walked down the hallway that led to Frank Myers room. The doctor had the orderly unlock the door and turned to him and said, “This is Joseph Cartwright—he is going to try to help Frank—but if you hear any commotion that you deem is getting out of hand, you be sure and get Joe out of there!”

“Okay, Doc—but I’m warning you both, Frank is having one of the worst days he’s had.” The orderly opened the door and Joe and Harold stepped inside.

Joe’s eyes fell on the patient in the bed. He looked maybe a year or two older than Joe and had short black hair and the stubble of a beard made him appear even older than he was. He shot the doctor and Joe an immediate look that showed that they were not welcomed. He fought at his restraints as Harold neared the bed.

“You know we could get those restraints off you a whole lot sooner if you would just start to cooperate with us!” The doctor spoke softly but with a firmness in his words. Joe looked over at Harold remembering he had heard almost the same speech two years previous.

“Go away!” Frank yelled.

“I’ll be in my office.” Harold said to Joe and walked out of the room. The orderly re-locked the door and Joe sat down in the chair by the bed.

“And just who the Hell are you?” Frank asked angrily.

Joe grinned at the man and responded, “I am either going to be your best friend in the world or the worst nightmare you have ever had! The name’s Joe, and I’ve come here to talk with you.”

“Go to Hell!” Frank yelled and struggled once more with the padded restraints, which held him to the hospital bed.

“I’ve been there already, thank you! And it looks like you are there now. I can tell you how to get out if you will listen and stop acting like the whole world is against you!”

“What do YOU know about it! It’s easy for all of you to tell me what to do! Why don’t you change places with me and see what it’s like!”

“I have been right where you are! As a matter of fact I was just fortunate enough to be there twice in one life time! So, I know what you are feeling and I know what you are thinking!” Joe retorted with his own anger coming out in his words.

The man in the bed stared at Joe bewildered. How could anyone know what he was feeling, he thought. No-one could comprehend the torture of soul and mind and body that he was enduring. Joe saw the stare and knew Frank did not trust him to be telling the truth.

“I was addicted to morphine—as a matter of fact—you could say I still am addicted to morphine!   But, I’m off the damn stuff and you can be too! There is a light at the end of the tunnel but you are going to have to fight with all the guts you’ve got to get through this!”

“I want out of here! That’s all that I want! Unless you can get me out of here then you can just go away!”

“Oh—I CAN get you out of here!” Joe smiled and walked closer to the bed. “But, you are the one who will have to work for it! Then you can go back to your family!”

“I hate my family! They are the ones who put me here!” Frank again yelled.

Joe sat down at the end of the bed and shook his head, his face softened its expression thinking of how he had spoke those same words. He remembered telling his father how he hated him for having him committed. Joe saw the same scene in his mind as he looked at the troubled man. “I know that’s how you feel now, Frank. I felt the same way. I despised my father for having brought me here! It was a long while before I realized that him leaving me here saved my life! I couldn’t see that then, all I could see was that they were keeping me from what I wanted and that was morphine! It was all I cared about! If my family hadn’t gotten me away from it I’d be dead now.”

Frank laughed sarcastically and said, “I’d rather be dead then in here! Tied to a bed, held against my will!” He tugged at his restraints and Joe reached over to the head of the bed.

“Oh—I can help you with that! I’ll let you loose!” Joe undid the restraints and stepped back. He watched as disbelief filled Frank’s eyes. “They can be put right back on if you try something—just remember that!” Joe warned and sat back down in the chair and grabbed the book he had brought in the room. “I brought you something—” He handed it to Frank, who looked at it and then said,

“Why would I want to read this? I hate poetry!”

Joe laughed and replied, “Yeah—me too! But just check it out, you might find something you can relate to! There’s lots and lots of poems all about pain and suffering—it will fit right in with what is going on in your mind! I’ve even underlined a couple of them to get you started!”

Frank tossed the book to the bottom of the bed. “You think you are so smart! Who do you think you are —some kind of a doctor?”

Joe shook his head and grinned, “No, Frank, I am a former addict! And who better to get all over you than someone who has been there already!”

Frank made his move and jumped out of the bed and ran toward the door. Joe just sat there knowing that the door was locked from the outside. “Getting a little exercise? Well, good! It will help—go on—run around the room a couple of times!” Joe chided the man.

Frank walked back toward Joe, a noticeable limp to his gait. “Get me out of here!” He screamed and reached for Joe. Joe stood and grabbed the man’s shoulders and shook him.

“No! Not until you learn what you have to about staying off the drug! If you got out of here now believe me you will head for the first place you can get the stuff! It’s not just getting it out of your system—that’s already started—it’s getting it out of your head!”

Frank shoved Joe hard up against the wall, his strength was greatly increased by his desire for freedom. Joe stared into the man’s eyes and spoke quietly. “You want to hit me, Frank? Would that help? Then go ahead—take your best shot!”

Frank reared back and threw a punch, which Joe easily blocked with his arm. “Is that as good as you can do?” Joe laughed angering the man more. He tried again, and again Joe blocked him.

“You know—I bet if you were more in control of yourself you probably could mop the floor with me!” Joe acknowledged the man’s height and weight which surpassed his own. “Why don’t you try to fight your way out of the addiction and we’ll try this again sometime?” Joe asked and the man stepped back. Joe sat back down in the chair and pretended the whole incident had not taken place. “Frank, I know a good one! How about reading “Ode to a Nightingale”? It is in there—let’s see if I can remember it!

My heart aches and a drowsy numbness pains my sense as though of hemlock I had drunk, or emptied some dull opiate to the drains—”

Joe started his recital and Frank limped back over to the bed. He sat back and listened to Joe’s words, then he picked up the book and thumbed through it. Joe kept an eye on the man and in his heart he felt some triumph in what he had already accomplished on his first visit.

By the time Joe was ready to leave Frank’s room late that afternoon the man had quieted down considerably. As Joe turned to leave Frank called over to him, “What about the restraints? Are they going to put them back on?”

Joe smiled and laughed, “Well, I guess that is up to you, Frank! If you try to run out of here then looks like they’re gonna put them back on. Believe me I did my share of that when I was in here! If you try not to act up too much I’ll see if we can finally get them to leave them off permanently. But, I’m telling you these folks here don’t play around! They’ve got a whole hospital full of patients and it’s easier for them if the restraints stay on! You decide which way you want it, I’ll mention it to Doctor Peele.” Joe knocked on the door for the orderly and the door was then unlocked.

“Joe!” Frank called before he left the room and Joe turned back around.

“Yeah?”

“You gonna come back?” Frank asked.

Joe looked at the man’s face and saw the beginning of trust displayed on it. “Sure, Frank—it’s been a whole lot of fun!” Joe joked and waved goodbye.

 

That evening Joe discussed with Doctor Peele what had gone on with Frank that afternoon. The two men sat at the long formal dining table and ate their supper while discussing what to do next. “Well, Joseph, I am glad that you informed the orderly and the head nurse about taking Frank’s restraints off. We will see how that goes for awhile. Maybe you have won his trust already?”

Joe sat down his wine glass and replied, “I hope so—you know I saw so much of myself in Frank! Maybe it was the fact that I was talking to him out of my own experience that got through to him? At least I hope so.”

“He still has a long way to go. I hope you can stay long enough to see him through to completion of his treatment.” The doctor stare caught Joe by surprised. He didn’t realize that starting to help Frank would be a long commitment.

“Doc—I only planned to stay two weeks—” Joe started and noticed a glimmer of disappointment in the man’s eyes. “But, I guess I could stay awhile longer—maybe a month. I’ll have to let Pa know though.” Joe conceded.

“That would be wonderful! Although I must admit it’s selfish on my part—not just wanting help with Frank, but also wanting to spend some time with you showing you around. I have taken some time off Saturday and I thought we would go check out the scenery and maybe take in a play?”

Joe smiled watching how the Doctor seemed to be so anxious to have him stay awhile longer. “Sounds good, Doc! I’ll write Pa and let him know. I have some other ideas on how I might help Frank—and it would be kinda nice to see some sights since I’m rarely out this way.’

“Fine—I’ll have Robert get us the tickets tomorrow for the play and we’ll make a whole day of it!”

Joe stood from his chair and said, “I think I’ll turn in now. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Joseph.” The doctor smiled as he watched the young man depart for his room.

 

That night Joe tossed and turned with all kinds of dreams. Visions of past events all merged with current events into one long nightmare. He saw himself in the hospital bed tied in restraints and then he saw Frank tied in the restraints. One minute Joe was trying desperately to escape the hospital and the next it was Frank fighting Joe to escape. Joe finally awoke with a start, his heart racing and his breathing heavy. He sat up in his bed and looked around at confused surroundings. He then remembered where he was and started to calm down. It was at that moment that he saw a sight he would never forget.

There, next to the bureau he saw a young man staring wistfully at him. It was Daniel! Joe rubbed at his eyes trying to wake himself, but something inside told him he was wide awake.

“Daniel?” Joe’s whispered voice called out to the figure.

The form of Daniel seemed to move as if it was floating across the room. Joe felt a cold breeze and a chill that went straight through him. And then, just as suddenly as the apparition had appeared he was gone! Joe pulled the covers up around him wondering exactly what he had witnessed there in the room. He knew he would not be able to fall back to sleep, but he laid back against the pillows deep in thought.

Joe wondered if it had indeed been Daniel. And, if so, should he speak about it to Doctor Peele? Joe decided that would be unwise. Firstly, he didn’t want to cause Harold any pain from the idea of his son now being an apparition. Secondly, he didn’t want his own sanity to be challenged by Harold or anyone else! And speaking of ghosts or whatever he had witnessed, would surely make people wonder if Joe hadn’t actually gone off the deep end.

For the next week Joe became more and more comfortable in his new surroundings and he was making some real head-way with Frank Myers. He had gotten the man to open up to him about his feelings and also his fears. The restraints had now been permanently removed and Frank had calmed down greatly.

Joe had also become more at ease with his feelings at the doctor’s house. There had been a couple sleepless nights since he had witnessed what he was sure was the ghost of Daniel Peele, but Joe had resigned himself to the knowledge that if it was Daniel then he didn’t mean any harm. Joe did not speak to the doctor about Daniel’s appearance but the doctor did notice how Joe, at times, stared strangely at Daniel’s portrait in the study.

The doctor had just arrived home after an extremely long day and found Joe reading in the study. “Have you eaten already?” Harold asked sitting down next to his guest. Joe looked up from his book. “Yeah—but Robert has yours still waiting for you. You put in an awfully long day, Doc! You must be exhausted!”

Harold laughed. “Joe, I’m used to long days—and nights for that matter! It’s partly my fault anyway—getting all tied up with the final plans for the addition to the hospital. All that paper work just boggles the mind!” The doctor poured himself some brandy and noticed again how Joe’s eyes gazed upon Daniel’s picture. “Is something bothering you, Joseph?” He asked.

Joe broke his stare and looked over at Harold. “No—I’m fine. Hey did Nurse Hastings tell you that Frank and I sat in the solarium awhile today? We even played some checkers!” Joe smiled pleased with his progress.

“Yes, I heard! That is wonderful! I told you that you have a way with people, Joe. As a matter of fact I wanted to discuss that very thing with you tonight.”

“Oh?” Joe wondered what the doctor was referring to.

“I want you to think about what I am going to say. Don’t give me an answer right away. I have talked with several of my colleagues, and we think you would make an excellent candidate for medical school.”

Joe looked shocked, he couldn’t believe anyone would think he was that smart! “Me?”

Harold smiled and responded, “Yes, you! Why so surprised? All it takes is some studying and the desire! You handle people so well, that is a gift that you have.”

“Yeah—Doc—but medical school? I had trouble getting out of grade school!” Joe laughed.

“Don’t sell yourself short, Joseph. It would take time, but if you decide it’s something that you really want I will help you all the way. We have a very good medical school here and you could stay right here with me while you attend. Who knows? Someday there might be a position for you at St. Francis?”

Joe’s mind swirled with all that the doctor had said. He felt very honored that the doctor would even think he was smart enough to attend medical school! But, he wasn’t sure if that was the path he wanted to take with his life. There was still the ranch, his father and his brothers to consider. Joe stood from his chair and put his hand on Harold’s shoulder. “Thanks, Doc. I promise I’ll think about it. Give me some time to think it through. I appreciate your faith in me.”

“Yes, but you must also have faith in yourself, Joseph.” He added.

Joe nodded. “That I’m still working on! I’d better turn in. You need to go get your supper before Robert gets mad!” Joe smiled and the doctor walked with him to the staircase. Joe headed for his room and Harold walked to the dining-room.

 

Adam Cartwright dismounted in front of the house. He opened his saddlebags and drew out the mail that he had gotten that day from Virginia City. Adam walked into the house and called up the stairs for his father. “Hey—Pa! You got a letter from Joe!”

Ben appeared at the top of the staircase. “Well—it’s about time!” Ben exclaimed as a smile took over his face at the thought of the letter. Surely it would be Joseph announcing his arrival plans! The boy had already been gone over a month and his absence from the home was greatly felt by each remaining member. Ben retrieved the letter from his eldest son and walked over to the fireplace and sat to read it.

Adam watched as the smile that had been on his father’s face turned in to a deep frown. “When’s he coming home?” Adam asked and Ben shook his head his anger surfacing.

“According to this he’s not! At least no time soon!” Ben showed uncharacteristic anger and crumpled the letter in his fist.

Adam, shocked to see this kind of response in his father asked again, “What do you mean? What reason did he give?”

Ben stood and began pacing, he’d had enough of his youngest son’s independence. He felt that Joseph needed to be brought back, forcefully if need be. “He has some crazy idea that he might go to medical school!” Ben countered back.

“What? Little Joe? I can’t believe it!” Adam thought for a moment and then continued, “Oh—he’s just joshing you —he just is having a whole lot of fun and wants to stay longer!”

Ben stared into Adam’s concerned eyes and said, “No, he’s serious. It seems that Doctor Peele has told Joseph that if he wants to attend medical school he will help him and that he can stay there with him. The doctor thinks since Joe’s done such a great job helping that patient he’s been working with that he would be a good doctor.”

“Seems to me like the good doctor wants Joe to stay there for other reasons.” Adam added suspiciously. Ben read Adam’s thoughts, and they were much like his own thoughts at the time. He had discussed with both Adam and Hoss what he had learned from Harold about his son Daniel. Both Adam and Ben now felt like Harold was finding Joseph a fitting replacement for his own son.

“I don’t know what to do.” Ben said sitting on the coffee table staring into the flames of the fireplace. “I could go and force Joseph home—but what if this is REALLY his calling in life? What right do I have to interfere with that?”

Adam sat down next to his father and put his arm around his shoulder. “Pa, this kinda reminds me of when I was going away to college, remember? You were so worried that I wouldn’t be coming back!”

Ben nodded and responded, “Yes—I remember, Son. But your brother—he’s so different from you! He’s so easily led at times! I worry about him making this decision based on his feelings for Harold and not on what he truly wants out of his life!”

“Joe’s still a kid in a lot of ways, but, he has a good head on his shoulders! He will make the right choice!” Adam tried to sound more sure of his brother than he really was.

“So—you think I shouldn’t go get him?” Ben questioned looking back at his eldest.

“Wait—Pa! Now I never said that!” Adam laughed. “I’m just saying to let him make his own choice—but that doesn’t mean you can’t go and see him! Maybe talk with him—”

“I’ll think on it.” Ben agreed and reached over to the letter. “Joe said he was unsure of what he wanted to do. Maybe if I give him a couple more weeks—” Ben trailed off and began to smooth the letter out, trying to release the emotion that it had brought.

Ben Cartwright went to bed early that night, full of thoughts concerning his youngest son. He fell into a deep troubled sleep. He pictured Joe standing on a hill and every time Ben walked closer to him Joe got farther and father away until he totally disappeared. Ben woke up suddenly and stared at the clock at his bedside. It was only two a.m. and he wished it was already time to get up. As he started to close his eyes once more he caught sight of someone standing over by his window. “Who’s there?” He called at the intruder. The figure by the window was partly illuminated by the full moon outside. It looked like Joseph! But, Ben thought, it wasn’t exactly like Joseph! Something was different. Then Ben thought back on the picture he had seen of Harold’s son Daniel. It was at that moment that the realization hit Ben that he was looking at the image of the doctor’s deceased son. “Daniel?” Ben whispered still wondering if he was dreaming.

“You need to go to Joseph.” Daniels voice sounded far away and yet was understandable.

“Joseph?” Ben asked bewildered. The apparition started to fade and the words came one more time before the image faded into the wall. “You need to go to Joseph.”

Ben swung his legs to the side of his bed and grabbed his robe. He put it on and headed toward the window and looked around. He could find nothing where the figure had been. The only thing that remained of the experience was the sudden chill in the room. It was at that moment that Ben Cartwright made the decision to leave for San Francisco the very next day.

Three days had passed since Ben Cartwright’s spectral visit with what appeared to be Daniel Peele. He had boarded the stagecoach for San Francisco and was on the last leg of his journey. His thoughts were of his son Joseph and what the message that Daniel had given him had been about. Ben had not mentioned the apparition to either Hoss or Adam. He just gave them the excuse that he wanted to have a long talk with their brother and then he had left hastily.

 

That same day Joe sat in Doctor Peele’s office talking again with him about Frank Myers. “Thanks for agreeing with me on this one, Doc.” Joe nodded toward Harold.

“Joseph, you have worked wonders with Frank already! He’s only been here two months now and He is just about at the point where we can release him soon.”

“I know that seeing his father today is going to be kinda tough on him. I appreciate you letting him see Frank even though you usually give it more time.”

“Each case is different, Joseph. I’m sure you are thinking about the long four months before you got to see your father. Am I right?” Harold asked walking over to where Joe sat.

“Yeah—that was a long time. I am not questioning your methods—it’s just, having talked in length with Frank about it, I think that if he can get over this hurdle that he will be able to handle anything on the outside.”

“Your case was different, though. We had to get you to the point where you were sure of yourself before addressing the issue of the problem you had with Ben.”

Joe again nodded. “What ever you did—well, it worked! And I only hope that Frank’s visit with his father goes well today!”

“Joe—I haven’t asked you lately—but have you decided about medical school?” Harold almost was afraid to ask, for he longed for Joe to stay in San Francisco with him.

“I think I know what I want now. I was hoping we could discuss that tonight.” Joe said and stood up. Harold nodded his understanding. It was obvious that Joe wasn’t quite ready to tell him what he had decided.

“Tonight will be fine.” Harold replied.

Joe walked to the door and said, “I promised Frank I would stop and see him before his father gets here. Better go—I’ll see you tonight!” Joe opened the door and headed down the corridor to Frank’s room.

Joe walked inside Frank’s room just as Frank was done putting on his shirt to ready himself for his visit with his family. “Frank! You sure do clean up well!” Joe laughed seeing the man in street clothes and freshly shaven for the first time. Frank returned Joe’s smile and replied, “I’m nervous as all get out! My Pa will be here any time now. Joe—I don’t know exactly what to say to him!”

Joe walked over to the chair by the bed and sat down. His thoughts went back to when he had faced his own father for the first time. He remembered so well Ben standing there in Doctor Peele’s office and his own sudden feeling of fear. Fear of what he had done fear for what he had caused the whole family. Then Joe remembered his father’s unconditional love that he had shown. Joe prayed that Frank’s father would do just that for Frank. Give him the same unconditional love.

“Hey, it’s your Pa for goodness sake!” Joe made light of the situation. “It’s not some stranger—you’ll do just fine!” Joe tried to reassure the man who had become a good friend to him.

“Yeah, well the last time I saw him I was screaming at him!” Frank said remorsefully.

“You know I told you that very same thing about my Pa—remember? Now if he could forgive ME—then I’m sure your Pa will forgive YOU! After all—at least you didn’t knock your Pa out like I did!” Joe was surprised by the words that had come out of his mouth. He had said it so nonchalantly that it suddenly didn’t seem as awful as it had in the past.

Maybe helping Frank had been the therapy he had needed all along. It was the first time Joe had thought about the fact that Ben had forgiven him, and he wondered if the problem in his mind was the fact that he, himself had not gotten to the forgiveness stage. Joe realized at that moment that he had to learn to forgive himself for all that had happened or he never would truly be over his ordeal.

“Joe—I can’t thank you enough for helping me.” Frank said and sat down on the side of the bed.

“Yeah—you and I have come a long way! You may not understand this, Frank, but you have helped me too! Being with you helped me work out some things in my own mind.”

Frank picked up the book of poetry that Joe had given him more than a month ago. He turned to a page and looked back at Joe and asked, “What do you think this poem means, Joe?

No man is an island , entire of itself,

every man is a piece of the continent,

a part of the main?”

Joe sat and thought a minute and then answered, “Well, I told you before, Frank, I am no poet—nor much of a scholar—but to me it means that we are a piece of something that is greater than ourselves. That we belong to something bigger than just our own lives.”

Frank nodded that he understood just as a knock came on the door. Frank looked at Joe with dread in his eyes and Joe gave another reassuring smile. “Come in!” Joe called and in walked Frank Myers father. Frank stood from his bed and walked awkwardly toward the man. Before he could get all the way to him the man met him and embraced him. Joe felt tears form in his eyes and stood and silently left the room closing the door behind him.

 

Ben Cartwright remembered the way down the long corridor, which led to Harold Peele’s office. After three long days journey, Ben felt an urgency to see his son and felt that by finding Harold he would probably find Joseph as well. He stood outside the doctor’s door wondering just what he would say to the both of them. Ben knocked on the door and Harold called for him to come in.

“Ben!” Harold was surprised to see Joe’s father. “I didn’t know you were coming!” He walked over to shake Ben’s hand. He led him to the chairs and they both sat down.

“I received Joseph’s letter and have been very concerned about him.” Ben started.

“I can assure you that he is well and happy. He has done a truly remarkable job with that patient I wrote to you about.”

“What’s this about medical school, Harold? Do you think he really wants to do that—become a doctor?” Ben’s gaze took him from Harold’s face and then over to the picture of Daniel behind the doctor’s desk.

“He’s not sure yet, Ben. And I have not pressured him.”

Ben stood and walked over to Daniel’s picture. “You are not trying to make Joe into a copy of Daniel are you?” He asked trying not to be too hurtful with his question.

Harold walked over to Ben and looked also at the picture. “No, Ben. I know that he is your son, not mine. But, if Joe wants to try medical school I will be happy to help. I know what you are thinking, and I guess if situations were reversed I would think the same thing. But, I care deeply about Joe and only want what is absolutely best for him.” Harold spoke in earnest and Ben nodded.

“I’m sorry if I came off angrily—I’m not. I just miss my son. I want what is best for him as well. I was just hoping he would choose his life on the Ponderosa.”

“We both need to let him make the choice himself.” Harold replied.

Joe stepped out of Frank Myers room feeling at peace with all he had done for the man. Frank was now in the loving arms of his father and Joe knew the healing had begun. Joe felt a tinge of regret that he couldn’t be with his own father at the moment. He had the sudden urge to go home. Just then, there was a loud commotion down at the nurse’s station and Joe ran down the long corridor. When he got there he saw a man who had his arm around Nurse Hastings neck and held a scalpel under her chin. “Get me what I want!” He yelled to the other nurse.

“All the medicine is under lock and key—I don’t have the key!” She protested.

“Get it or she dies!” The man threatened.

Joe’s mind filled with wild thoughts of what he could do to save the nurse and get the patient with the knife away from her. He slowly walked toward them. “Hey—look—I’ll get you anything you want—just let her go! I’ve got the keys right here!”

Joe said and lifted the set of house keys that Harold had given him. The man stared at Joe unconvinced. “C’mon—let her go and we’ll get you whatever you want!” Joe insisted.

“You’d better be telling the truth!” The man said and released the nurse.

“Just come with me.” Joe pointed down the hall.

“The cabinet they keep it in is down here.” The man with the scalpel walked closely behind Joe. Joe’s intentions were to get the man as far away from the nurses as possible before jumping him. They were almost to the end of the hall when two orderlies rounded the corner and the man panicked. He jumped for Joe who turned to try and stop the attack.

The man plunged the scalpel into Joe’s side and dug in. Joe collapsed to the floor just as the two orderlies got to the man and freed the weapon from his hand. Then there were the screams from the two nurses as they made their way to Joe’s side. As the two orderlies subdued the attacker two more orderlies joined them after hearing the screams. “Quick! One of you get a stretcher out here—one of you get Doctor Peele! Hurry!”

The two orderlies went in opposite directions and Nurse Hastings cradled Joe’s head in her lap. “You hang in there, Joe! You are going to be all right!” She tried to reassure her friend but she could see the life’s blood draining rapidly from him. He tried to smile but the room started to spin and he felt very light headed.

Down two corridors stood Ben Cartwright and Doctor Peele. They had just left his office in search of Joe when the orderly ran toward them. “Quick, Doc! Joe Cartwright has been stabbed!” He yelled and Ben and Harold both felt as though the wind had been knocked out of them. They hurried down the two corridors not knowing what had happened nor what they would find.

Joe was being lifted onto a stretcher as Harold and Ben reached the main corridor. “What’s happened!” Harold demanded looking at the large laceration that went across Joe’s abdomen.

“That new patient—he broke his restraints and put a scalpel to my neck when Joe came and jumped him!” The nurse tried to explain while she continued to apply pressure to Joe’s wound.

Ben reached out to his son who looked to have a fatal wound. “Joseph!” He exclaimed.

Joe opened his eyes briefly and saw his father there next to him. “Pa.” He whispered and then lost consciousness.

“Hurry! We need to get him to the operating room—we’re losing him!” Doctor Peele yelled and they hurried him down the hallway.

Both Ben Cartwright and Harold Peele sat in the waiting room. They had both taken turns pacing the floor for more than an hour waiting for some word as to Joe’s condition.

“He’s got two of the finest surgeons with him, Ben.” Harold try to reassure his friend.

“You saw his wound—what do you think?” Ben asked barely audible. Harold sat back down and sighed.

“Well, this is Joseph we are talking about, remember? The kid who beats all of the odds! It’s bad, Ben. I won’t lie to you. If they can stop the bleeding in time—” Harold trailed off not wanting to give Ben any more cause for worry then necessary. As a doctor, Harold knew that Joe’s injury was a grave one. He prayed that God would not take Joe from either of them that night.

“Here I was worrying about Joseph leaving me to go to medical school—and now—I just want him alive and well. No matter what he wants to do with his life.” Ben was now on the verge of tears.

“He’ll make it, Ben. He has to!” Harold touched Ben’s arm.

It was almost two hours later that another doctor appeared coming out of the operating room’s door. He walked over to the two men and spoke, “It’s been a long complicated surgery, and Joe has lost a great deal of blood. We’ve done the best we can.”

“Is he going to be all right?” Both men asked in unison.

“I don’t want to be blunt—-” The surgeon stopped in mid-sentence.

“Tell us.” Doctor Peele replied adamantly.

“I give him a fifty-fifty chance at best. If I were you I would do some serious praying tonight.”

Ben and Harold exchanged worried expressions.

“Where’s my son?” Ben asked trying to get his voice to stop from quivering.

“We have him up in a room. Second floor, room two thirteen. You both can go up and stay with him. The next twenty-four hours will be most critical.

“Thank you.” Ben said and shook the surgeons hand knowing he had tried his best to save his son.

“Mr. Cartwright—I will say a prayer for your son.” The doctor nodded and turned to leave.

Ben sat down in the chair at the head of his son’s hospital bed. He reached over and stroked Joe’s exposed cheek. He seemed so very cold and pale. Ben wondered why his son had to go through all the trials and tribulations that he had in his short life-time! It just didn’t seem fair! Here, once again, Joe had risked his own life to save that of another’s.

Ben ran his fingers through the hair on Joe’s forehead and remembered all the times he had fussed at the boy for growing his hair so long. It seemed like a pointless thing to have been worried about now! Ben prayed that Joe would survive his injury and not let all the suffering of the past two years have been a waste.

Ben knew that his son deserved better than what life had given him, especially recently. He wondered if this had been Joe’s last month of life, that how tragic that it had been spent away from his family! No, he couldn’t think that way! Ben had to hang on to what they had all come to know as Joe’s strong desire to live and overcome all odds!

“Joseph—I’m right here. Keep fighting!” Ben whispered and bent down and kissed Joe’s forehead. It would prove to be a long night of waiting.

Joe looked at his surroundings, he felt so odd, as if he were detached from the weight of his body. All he could see was a vast blueness, which encompassed him. He walked through the ethereal mist, which floated around him. Far in the cloudy distance, Joe could see a figure approaching him. He walked toward the vision and was soon staring at what he believed to be Daniel Peele. Daniel’s smile glowed as he met Joe’s eyes. “Daniel—am I —am I dead?’ Joe’s voice sounded as if it were echoing against the mist.

‘No, Joe. You are in between right now. Look down!’

Joe’s eyes followed Daniel’s gaze and the mist parted and Joe could view his body laying in the hospital room. He could see his father there next to him holding his hand. “Why am I here?” Joe asked trying to take it all in.

“You were sent here for a reason. I have some things to show you and then it will be up to you if you want to go back.” Daniel responded and in less than an instant both Joe and Daniel were standing high on a mountain top. Joe looked down at the land below. He saw trees and land and the azure blue of a lake. “Do you know where we are?” Daniel asked pointing off into the distance. Joe could feel the wind and smell the trees and in his mind he knew where Daniel had taken him.

“It’s the Ponderosa—it’s my home.” Joe responded feeling an intense happiness at the sight.

“You left all this behind— you went to stay with my father and you were considering a life there.”

Before Joe could say anything he was whisked away and now looked down from the top stairs of the ranch house. He saw his brothers sitting by the fireplace and heard them talking about how they missed him. He saw Adam show Hoss the letter that his father had crumpled in frustration that Joe was not planning on coming back.

Joe was filled with sadness, both his family’s and his own. “I wanted to go home, Daniel—I was going to tell your father before—-” Joe paused and tried to feel his stomach. He remembered now the attack by the man in the hospital. He remembered the pain as the scalpel ripped through his abdomen. “Will I get to come home, Daniel—or is this the end? Is my life through?”

Again Daniel brought Joe to another place. It was outside the hospital room where he saw Harold Peele pace back and forth. “Do you know why you have gone through all the trials in your life, Joseph?” Daniel asked and Joe shook his head still looking down at the bereaved doctor. “No—I don’t know—I don’t have any idea. It doesn’t make sense.” Joe said remembering all the pain of the past two years. All the things he had to endure in his fight to end his addiction. Daniel pointed at his own father and said to Joe. “You have touched many lives—even through your own pain—there was purpose in it! You saved a young girl from a fire, you saved the nurse this very day! You brought back hope and love into my father’s life. And look there!’ Daniel pointed down the hallway where they could see Frank Myers walking with his arm around his father. “See? Who is to say that would have happened if you hadn’t interceded?”

“So—it wasn’t a waste then—there was some good in all of it?” Joe could feel his heart take on the sense of joy.

“It’s never a waste, Joseph—life is never a waste! There is a purpose for each soul that comes down to Earth. No matter if they are there an hour or a hundred years!” Daniel’s smile reflected a great knowledge that he had been given and the warmth in it calmed Joe’s spirit.

“You said I have to decide?”

“Do you want to go back there?” Daniel asked and again they looked down at his body laying on the bed. “There’s pain there, Joseph. Is it worth going back to it?”

Joe could see the tears that coursed down his father’s face and his desire to return despite any pain that would be involved was great. “My father needs me, Daniel! I can’t leave him now. There’s more I have to do!” Joe pleaded with Daniel.

“There’s bound to be more pain, more heartache—are you sure you wouldn’t rather stay here? You would be free from all of it?”

“I want to go back.” Joe cried.

“Then, you can return. I do have a favor to ask you—I won’t be seeing you again—at least not for a long while!” Daniel again took Joe to where Harold Peele stood outside the hospital room.

“Anything.” Joe agreed.

“My father—there are two things I want you to tell him. First tell him to bring the locket that is on my bureau—bring it to the hospital to show your father. Then tell him I left him a letter—it’s in my Bible—he never found it. It will help him to find some peace. I love him so—tell him!”

“I will.” Joe said and all of a sudden he felt himself weighted down as if he was falling. He groaned as he was once again reunited with his injured body. Then there was the pain, the mortal pain of his incision, which he could feel.

 

Ben stared at his son. He had been so quiet, so still for the entire night that his sudden moan of pain came unexpectedly. Ben reached for Joe’s arm and tried to bring him around. “Joseph—can you hear me?” He asked and could detect the very faintest movement in his son’s eyelids. But no further response came. Ben walked to the door and looked down the corridor. He had hoped he would see Harold out there. He then turned back to the bed. Joe was once again still, no further sign of him coming around. Ben sighed and sat down in the chair again.

Doctor Peele arrived back at Joe’s hospital room at six a.m. the next morning. He had been up all night discussing Joe’s condition and possible treatment for his injury. He walked over to Ben who still kept his vigil along side of his son. “Here.” Harold said and handed Ben a cup of coffee.

Ben accepted it and stood to stretch. “Thanks—I sure can use it!”

“Any change?” The doctor asked as he reached out to check Joe’s pulse.

“One time—it sounded like he was coming around. But, then he went back under. He is breathing so shallow I can barely hear him.”

Doctor Peele pulled down the covers and checked Joe’s bandages. He looked at the incision and it was the first time Ben had actually seen how massive the cut was. Ben winced at the sight and from the discoloration on his son’s stomach.

“The bleeding has stopped—that’s a good sign. If he can just fight back from the blood loss—that will be the key to his recovery.” Harold took a seat next to Ben. “You want to go lie down in the other room? I’ll watch Joe for awhile.” He offered and Ben shook his head somberly.

“I need to be here when he comes around.”

“Ben—that could be some time!” Harold argued but found his friend to be just as stubborn as his son Joseph.

“I doubt Joseph even knows I’m here, “Ben paused and reached again for the boy’s hand and held it in his own. “I wish I could let him know.”

“He knows, Ben. Somewhere inside he knows.”

Ben thought for a moment about the reason why he had decided so suddenly to make the trip to San Francisco—he remembered the apparition of Daniel and the message to go to Joseph! He looked into Harold’s eyes and said, “Harold, I don’t know if I should tell you this—you might think that I am crazy—” Ben stopped and wondered if he should continue.

Harold reached over to Ben and replied, “Go on—what were you going to tell me?”

“I had a dream, at least I thought it was a dream—the night before I left to come here. In it Daniel told me to come to Joseph. It seemed so real—”

Harold smiled and nodded. “I’ve had those same kinds of dreams myself, Ben. In them Daniel is always trying to tell me something—but I always wake up before finding out what it is!”

Ben stared over at his son, he couldn’t imagine life without him. “Joe and Daniel—they are so much alike—maybe there is some reason for all of this—I just don’t know.”

“I don’t want to lose Joe any more than you do, Ben. I’ve grown very fond of him. I know nothing will ever bring Daniel back—but I refuse to believe we will lose Joseph too!” Harold fought back his own tears. The two men sat by the bed and waited for some sign that Joe would somehow survive his injury.

 

Two days had gone by since Joe had his surgery. There had been no outward sign that he was going to recover, nor was there any further sound other than his faint heartbeat. Ben had only left his son’s side long enough to change clothes and wash his hands and face. He didn’t bother to shave and carried a full three days growth of beard. Ben showed the telltale signs of deep exhaustion and he had argued with Harold when the man begged him to sleep.

Ben had finally dozed off for a couple of hours when Harold returned to check on Joe’s condition. Nothing had changed. The doctor sighed and walked out of the room he needed some more coffee to try to fight off his own exhaustion. Joe rolled his head slowly back and forth on the pillow and struggled to open his eyes. He could feel the weight of the covers against the deep incision. Then Joe’s vision cleared and he caught the sight of Ben slumbering in the chair by his bed. He never had seen his father look that old! As Joe tried to turn slightly an involuntary groan escaped his lips. This woke Ben instantly and he reached over to his son.

“Joseph! Can you see me?” He asked grasping his son’s hand. Joe nodded his head and spoke in a hoarse voice.

“Pa—I’ve got to tell you something.” Ben reached for the water pitcher and poured a glass and held it up to Joe’s parched lips. Joe drank as much as he could, straining at the effort it took. “Pa—I have to tell you!” Joe was insistent.

Ben pushed the hair off Joe’s forehead. “Don’t talk, Son. You have to save your strength. You are very weak right now.” Ben spoke calmly to try to ease Joe into settling back.

“No—I have to tell you—just in case—” Joe repeated himself. Ben knew what Joe meant. Joe wasn’t quite sure if he would survive his injury.

“No talk like that—I won’t hear it! You are going to be fine, Joseph!” Ben tried to make the statement sound factual.

Joe squeezed his father’s hand as pain shot through his body with a sudden fierceness. “Pa—let me talk.” He pleaded and Ben finally gave in and nodded for Joe to continue.

“I need to tell you that I was coming back to you, Pa. I was going to tell the Doc the night all this happened—I wanted to be with you, Pa.” As Joe spoke tears started to fall from his eyes.   “I had to find out some things—that’s why I stayed so long—it wasn’t because I didn’t want to be with you—”

“I understand, Joe. I never doubted you. I just missed you.”

“Pa—if anything happens—I mean If I don’t make it—” Joe trailed off again and closed his eyes fighting back the pain and heartache he was feeling.

“Joseph—-don’t talk like that—please!” Ben felt tears drift from his own eyes. The last thing in the world he needed right now was some kind of death-bed confession! He needed to believe that Joe would survive. Furthermore, he needed Joe to believe he was going to survive!

“Just in case—-tell Adam and Hoss I’m sorry—I haven’t always acted like I should have—”

“You can tell them that yourself, Young Man! When you get home!” Ben insisted.

“Pa—-I know why everything happened now—I know why I had to go through all the suffering I did—”

“Why, Son?” Ben whispered and brushed his hand across Joe’s forehead again.

“I was needed to save Mattie—I was needed to save Nurse Hastings. I was needed to help Frank fight back from his own addiction. I was also needed to help Doctor Peele. It wasn’t a waste. Pa! It all meant something!” Joe’s eyes glowed with a sudden awareness as he spoke. “I also learned that no matter how much YOU forgave Me—it wasn’t enough—I had to forgive MYSELF! I learned that from helping Frank.”

Ben nodded again that he understood all that Joe had said.

“You have learned a whole lot, Son.”

“But most of all, Pa—” Joe paused and fought to get the words out, he was feeling very weak and knew he would be fading fast. “Most of all, I learned where I want to be —”

“And where is that, Joseph?” Ben asked hoping it was with him.

“That poem—Pa—do you remember that poem?” Joe asked but he was starting to confuse what he wanted to say with what he actually was saying.

“What poem—what poem are you talking about?” Ben asked confused. Joe closed his eyes for a minute and then fought the fatigue to get his meaning out. “No man is an island—you know—that poem. Do you know it?”

Ben smiled at his son he knew the poem very well, and had even recited it to Joe as a small boy. The memory of that had obviously alluded Joe all these years. “I know it very well—what about it, Joe?”

“Every man is a piece of the continent—a part of the main.” Joe said barely audible.

“Yes—I know, Son. What are you trying to say?”

“You, Pa. You are the main—-and I’m a part of you. It’s always gonna be that way. Don’t think I’d ever want to leave you——I’m sorry I made you mad with that letter—I saw you got mad and crumpled it—-” Joe mumbled and fell back to sleep exhausted.

 

Ben sat in quiet consternation. Now how in the world could Joseph have known about him crumpling the letter he had received only a few days prior? He had not spoken of it and Joe had not spoken to Adam who was the only other person to have witnessed his own anger when he did it! He sat and took all that in, along with Joe’s insistent confession. He wondered if Joseph had thought he was indeed dying? Ben prayed that wouldn’t stop the boy from fighting back from his grave injury!

When Joe next started to come around, he could hear the quiet voices of both his father and Doctor Peele as they discussed his condition. Joe slowly opened his eyes and the doctor was the first to notice he was conscious. He walked around to the right side of the hospital bed, with Ben sitting at the left side in the chair. “Welcome back.” Harold smiled and put his hand on Joe’s shoulder.

“Hi, Doc.” Joe said weakly but still managed a hint of a smile.

“How are you feeling? Are you in much pain?” The doctor asked as he checked Joe’s bandage again.

“It hurts—” Joe paused and then looked over at his father and continued. “But—let’s not get on the subject of pain medication, okay?”

Both men laughed at Joe’s subtle joke. “You don’t have to worry about that, Joseph!” Harold grinned. “If you need anything, I guarantee you will given something that isn’t addictive!” He pulled up the covers and Joe winced at the weight of the blankets. “I’m so tired.” Joe said fighting to keep his eyes open. Ben moved closer to his son and Joe reached out to him and touched his father’s face with the palm of his hand. “Pa?”

“Yes, Son?” He whispered seeing that Joe was fading again.

“You need a shave.” Joe said feeling his father’s rough skin.

Ben looked over at Harold and shook his head amused. “Yes, I think you are right there, Joseph! I guess I look pretty rough right now.” He replied. Joe turned his attention back to the doctor.

“Doc, I have a message for you—-I need to tell you before I fall back to sleep—” Joe sighed as he fought drowsiness. Harold sat down alongside Joe on the bed.

“What is it, Joe?”

“It’s from Daniel—” Joe paused and looked as Harold and Ben exchanged bewildered expressions.

“Daniel?” Harold asked.

“I saw him—I talked to him—” Joe stopped again as he noticed disbelief in the two men’s eyes. “I’m not crazy—I know that’s what you both are thinking—just listen to me, okay?”

Harold nodded, “Go on, Joe. We’re listening.”

“He told me to tell you something. First he wanted you to know he loves you very much. He left you something—he said it was in his Bible. He said he left you a letter—but you never found it.”

Harold looked amazed at what Joe had said and wondered if it could possibly be true.

“He also said something about a locket—he said it was on his bureau—he wants you to show it to Pa.”

“A locket? You mean the one with his picture in it?” Harold asked confused. He had already shown that to Ben months ago at the Ponderosa.

Joe shook his head. “I only know he said it was on his bureau—and you have to show it to Pa.” Joe replied.

Ben had sat quietly during Joe’s unusual requests. He was not doubting what Joe had said. After having experienced so many strange things recently, he was open to anything now.

“Pa?” Joe turned his attention to his father.

“Yes, Son?”

“Go with Doc—-you both will see what Daniel said is true.”

“I’m not leaving you.” Ben stated firmly.

“It’s okay, Pa—-I promise you I’m not going anywhere.” Joe nodded to let him know that he was going to be all right and was no longer concerned about the possibility of not surviving his injury. Joe reached with his other hand to touch Harold’s arm. “Doc—get him out of here will you? And find him a razor!”

Harold laughed and nodded. “Okay, Joe—I already told your father that you get your stubborn streak from him! I’ll get Nurse Hastings in here to keep an eye on you. She’s been pestering me for days to come and sit with you!”

Harold stood and walked around the bed over to Ben. “Don’t make me get the orderlies after you, Ben!” He winked toward Joe who grinned at the thought. Ben finally stood and shook his head in defeat. “We won’t be long—” Ben paused and bent down and kissed Joe’s forehead.

“Take your time, I need some sleep.” Joe said and closed his eyes. He was soon sound asleep once more.

Harold looked down at Joe. “He’s starting to get some color back in his cheeks—that’s a good sign! It’s safe to leave him for a little while. Let me go and get the nurse then we will go home and try to figure out what Joseph was talking about.”

Ben nodded and watched as Joe slumbered on peacefully. He had a hunch that his son knew what he was talking about. He was not sure how it could be possible, but Ben’s intuition told him that Joe had indeed been in contact with Daniel Peele!

 

That evening Ben Cartwright stood in awe in front of the fireplace in the study at Doctor Peele’s house and gazed up at the life-size portrait of Daniel Peele. He stared at the smile that was identical to that of his own son’s smile. As he stood in wonderment, Harold searched the study for Daniel’s Bible. He had checked the bookcase and could not find it. Finally, he remembered placing it in his desk. He found it in the bottom drawer and eagerly thumbed through it. There, just as Joseph had foretold, was a letter! Harold drew it out and walked over to the fireplace and sat down a bit shaken. Ben saw Harold with the letter in his hand and felt shivers down his own spine. Harold read it slowly.

Dear Father,

I can tell that my time here is quickly fading. I want to tell you not to mourn for me! You have given me more love in my twenty-four years than other sons have in a lifetime! I don’t want you to think that you have failed me in some way. My body failed me—you never did! I hate leaving you, but I promise you I will always be with you in spirit. Some day we will be together again, and until that time do what you do best! You have the gift of healing, do not waste that! Each time you are able to save someone you are in a way saving me. Never forget that!

I love you very much! Daniel

 Harold wiped the tears from his eyes and Ben handed him some brandy. Harold accepted it, and handed Ben the letter to read. Harold looked up at the picture of Daniel and the smile never seemed as life-like as it did at that moment! Ben read the letter and reached over and put his hand on Harold’s shoulder. “He loved you very much.” Ben said softly and Harold nodded.

“That letter has been here all these years—” Harold paused and looked up at Ben. “I might never have found it if it wasn’t for Joseph.”

“Each time you are able to save someone you are in a way saving me—” Ben read from the letter.

“Joseph.” Harold nodded. “He is referring to Joe.”

Ben smiled and knew that everything that had happened had been part of some plan. A plan, which had eluded all of them, but now started to make some sense. Harold stood and his face took on a curious look to it. “Let me go to Daniel’s room—-I need to find that locket!” He said enthusiastically.

It wasn’t more than fifteen minutes later when Harold met Ben again in the study. He held in his hand a locket. “I had almost forgotten about this!” He said and walked over to sit down next to Ben. “It was Daniel’s mother’s locket—she had it ever since she was a young girl.”

Ben reached to look at it. He opened it and stared at the two pictures it held inside. Ben’s face went white! He looked dumbstruck at the pictures of the two young women. Finally he turned to Harold and said, “Who is this?” and he pointed to the picture on the left side of the locket.

“That is Daniel’s mother Corrine.”

A haunting stare reflected in Ben’s eyes as he gazed at the other woman’s picture. “And who is this?” Ben pointed at the other picture, even though he knew who the other woman was.

“That was Corrine’s sister Marie.” Harold said wondering why Ben wore the look he did.

“Marie Del Vie?” Ben asked quietly.

“Yes! How did you know?” Harold was more than surprised now.

“Marie Del Vie was my wife—and Joseph’s mother!”

Harold sat there speechless. Both men hastily poured themselves some brandy and tried to let this revelation sink in before speaking again.

Finally Harold broke in. “Corrine was born in New Orleans—she left when she was eighteen —that picture was made of them right before she left. By the time I married her she had lost all contact with Marie.”

“Yes—Marie told me the very same thing! Her sister had moved away. She tried to find her but never was able to.”

“I met her in Boston when I was in medical school there. We married and I came out west.”

“And both of them had a son——” Ben grinned now at the similarity and how it all made sense. “Joseph and Daniel—they were cousins!”

Harold laughed as the realization struck home. “Can you believe this!”?

He exclaimed. Ben also laughed and replied, “Harold—after all that has gone on lately I can believe ANYTHING!”

“Wait till we tell Joseph!” Harold smiled.

“I’m surprised Daniel didn’t tell him himself! He told him everything else!”

“My nephew!” Harold nodded at the thought of it.

Ben drank of his brandy and replied, “Yes—and my brother-in-law!”

“We have to give Joseph the news. But, first—I believe his request was for you to get some rest—and oh—yes—don’t forget the shave too!” Harold stood and led his newfound family member to the guest room.

 

The next morning both Ben and Harold made their way back to the hospital. It had been the first full night’s sleep that they had since Joe’s injury. They entered Joe’s room and Nurse Hastings stood and approached the two men. “He’s slept most of the night. He only woke one time and we gave him something for pain and he went back out. His spirits are good and we just changed his bandages.

“Thank you for taking care of him so well.” Ben smiled gratefully and the nurse looked up at him.

“No thanks needed! Your son saved my life! He’s a very fine young man.” She replied and left the room.

Ben walked over to where Joe lay sleeping and felt his forehead. “No fever.” He commented just as Joe opened his eyes.

“Hey, Pa—Doc how did it go? Did you find the letter?”

Harold approached the bed. “Yes, Joseph—just as you said. I think Daniel has been trying to tell me about it for a long time—but I might never have found it if it wasn’t for you!”

Joe looked at his father and grinned. “And the locket? Did you find that too?”

Ben and Harold exchanged looks and Ben said, “Yes—and you are going to be very surprised!”

Harold handed Joe the locket, but before he opened it he looked at both men and said, “I already know—guess I’ll have to call you Uncle instead of Doc now!”

“What! How did you know?” Ben asked before Harold had the chance.

Joe opened the locket and replied. “I had a dream last night. I saw it in a dream.”

“Daniel again?” Harold asked and Joe shook his head.

“No—this time I saw my mother—and another woman—this woman.” Joe pointed to the picture in the locket of Corrine. “They told me.” Joe said this time more somberly.

Ben and Harold both sat down speechless. It was all beginning to be a little too much for them to comprehend. Joe finally broke the silence, which had fallen, over the room.

“Maybe you both should lie down or something.” He kidded trying to ease the tension.

Harold stood and said to Ben, “I’m going to get some coffee—I’ll bring you back some.” He turned toward the door but paused before leaving and looked back at Joe. “And as for you, Nephew—-I’m going to get you some breakfast! You have to get your strength back if you are going to make that trip back to the Ponderosa!”

Joe looked at his father and then over to Harold. “You know? Pa told you?” Joe asked worriedly, he hated to disappoint the man he had grown to care about so deeply.

“It’s okay, Joe.” Harold reassured. “Your heart is on the Ponderosa not here. I still think you would have made an excellent doctor, though!” He smiled warmly at Joe.

Joe returned the smile and said, “I don’t know—-Uncle—to tell you the truth I don’t want to EVER see another scalpel again!”

“Yes—I can understand that. Besides—it appears to me you are destined to spend most of your time as a patient not a doctor!” Harold laughed and left in search of coffee.

Ben settled back into the chair next to his son’s bed. “Well, you have had some time here in San Francisco, Young Man! Didn’t I tell you to be careful?”

“I guess trouble just has a way of finding me, Pa.” Joe conceded and winced as he tried to pull himself up in the bed.

“You just lay still, Joseph! You have one heck of a cut there! You are not going to be sitting up for awhile.” Ben said sternly forcing Joe back against the pillows.

Joe grabbed his father’s wrist and replied pleadingly, “I want to go home, Pa! I need to go home!”

Ben sat next to Joe on the bed and tried to quiet him. “You will get home soon enough. But, we have just now got you conscious—one step at a time, okay?”

Joe frowned. “I hate being in bed. And I hate being in the hospital!”

Ben laughed and pushed the hair off of Joe’s forehead. “Well, then I suggest you stop taking risks all the time! You sure have the unfortunate knack of always being in the wrong place at the wrong time!”

Joe grinned at his father’s playful chastisement, he knew how he really felt and how proud his father was of him. “Hey—somebody’s got to be the hero, you know?” Joe responded.

“Well, sometimes it is hard being the hero’s father! You scared me half to death this time, Joseph!”

“Yeah—you and me both, Pa! But, remember I told you that everything happens for a reason.”

“Yes—and you have some of those reasons now, don’t you?” Ben asked softly.

Joe nodded. “Yeah, Pa. Now all I want is to go home.”

“As soon as you can travel, Joseph. But, you are going to do everything we tell you to do until then, understand?” Ben found it hard to sound stern now; he was still worried about his son’s condition.

Joe settled back, he was too weak to argue and too happy to have his father there with him to disagree with what he had said. “Whatever you say, Pa.” Joe agreed. Ben’s brow furrowed at Joe’s response. “What’s wrong, Pa? I said I’d do what you wanted—why do you look so worried?”

“Because you have NEVER agreed with me so readily—now I AM worried!” Ben grinned and Joe shook his head amused.

“Just because I said it—doesn’t mean I meant it!” Joe teased.

“That’s more like it—I think you’re starting to get better already.” Ben laughed again just as Harold walked back in carrying two cups of coffee.

“How about taking Pa out for awhile? He’s starting to bother me.” Joe called over to the doctor.

Harold handed Ben his coffee and replied to Joe. “Oh no you don’t! I’m not siding with you this time, Joseph. Your father and I are going to make sure when you leave here that you won’t be coming back. Well—at least not as a patient!”

Joe closed his eyes and Harold called back over to him again. “And don’t get too comfortable! The nurse is coming in here in a minute and bring you your breakfast.”

Joe sighed he was too weak to take on both his father and his newfound uncle too. “Whatever you say.” Joe gave up and frowned in defeat.

 

Joe went through a slow recovery process the following week. His strength had not fully come back, but he was staying awake longer. That was not entirely a good thing, as it made it harder for him to have the patience to stay in bed. Finally the day came Joe had waited for. He was finally going to be allowed to get out of his hospital bed and venture into a chair. He was glad, as it was a sign that he was on his way into getting closer to what he wanted most of all, and that was to go home.

Ben helped Joe into his robe and Joe slowly turned in the bed and swung his legs over to the side. Joe held a protective hand over his incision and winced from the movement. Doctor Peele reached out his arm for Joe to take hold of it. “Now slowly, Joseph, remember you have more than thirty stitches holding you together!”

“Yeah—and I’m feeling each one of them right now!” Joe replied biting his bottom lip. Harold pulled Joe into a standing position. Both Ben and Harold noticed how what little color Joe had on his face soon vanished and they hurriedly got him into a chair. Joe took a deep breath to stay the pain and let it out slowly.

“And WHO was it that kept pestering me to get out of bed?” Ben asked sarcastically witnessing his son’s apparent pain.

“I’m okay—” Joe stopped and reached again to protect his stomach. “It doesn’t hurt that much!”

Harold laughed and shook his head at Joe’s refusal to speak what he was really feeling.

“Now you can see why it will be at least another week before we can even think about letting you out of here!” Harold said and turned to leave. “I’ve got other ornery patients to check on now!” He said and opened the door. He turned back toward Ben and instructed, “No more than a half of an hour in that chair—then get him back into bed!” Ben nodded and sat down next to Joe.

“Another week.” Joe muttered irritated.

“Oh—do you think you can sit in a stagecoach for three days now?” Ben raised his eyebrows in gesture.

“Okay—you win, Pa! I just want to get home as soon as I can though.”

“As if you haven’t told me that a thousand times this past week!” Ben replied.

Right before Ben was ready to get his son back into the hospital bed there came a knock on the door. Ben walked over and opened it and saw a man standing there. “Hi—my name is Frank Myers—I was wondering if Joe was up to having a visitor?” Ben smiled warmly at the patient that he had heard Joe talk so much about. He led him into the room.

“Frank!” Joe’s called out enthusiastically. “Come on over here!”

Frank walked over to his friend and looked at him fondly. He hadn’t seen Joe since the day of his injury. “I heard what happened, Joe! You okay?”

Joe shook his head, “Sure—I’m fine!” Joe said and looked at his father who rolled his eyes at the obvious lie he had said. His son was far from fine, but as was typical, Joe would be the last one to admit it.

“Frank—this is my father, Ben Cartwright.” Joe made the introduction and Ben shook the man’s hand. Frank stared up at Ben and then back at Joe and gave a wry smile. “You knocked HIM out?” Frank asked kidding at the size of Ben compared to the size of his son.

Frank’s question amused Joe, no longer haunted by his own past actions. He grinned up at his father and then over at Frank. “Yeah—well—it was a lucky punch, Frank!” Joe laughed.

“I’m glad you and I never finished the round WE started!” Frank replied in jest, remembering his first encounter with his now close friend.

“Me too! I told you that you would probably be able to mop the floor with me, remember?”

Ben watched as the two young men conversed and could see the great respect they had found for each other. “Right now, Frank, I think that little four foot nurse down the hall could mop the floor with my son!” Ben referred to Joe’s weakened condition and Joe shot his father an amused look.

“They are letting me out of here today, Joe. I just wanted to thank you for all you did for me.” Frank spoke earnestly and reached out to shake Joe’s hand. Joe took it in his and replied, “Frank, you helped me too! More than you will ever know. I gave you my address—I wrote it in that book, remember? Write me and let me know how you are doing , okay?”

Frank nodded. “I will. When you getting out of here?”

Joe frowned and looked up at his father. “They are keeping me prisoner for another week it looks like!”

“Or longer if you don’t get your rest!” Ben replied adamantly and Joe rolled his eyes.

“Well, my father will be here soon. Thanks again—you take care of yourself!”

“You too, Frank!” Joe smiled and watched as the man made his way out of the room.

Ben put his hand on his son’s shoulder and spoke with pride in his voice. “You did a good job, Son. He looks like he will be all right now!”

“Yeah—I think so too!”

“Now—as for you!” Ben reached out his arm for Joe to take it to help stand up. “It’s time to get you back into that bed!”

Joe sighed deeply, he could tell that as usual, there was no room for an argument with his father.

He allowed Ben to pull him to a standing position and slowly made his way to the side of the bed. “Another week, Pa! I’ll do whatever you say for one more week—then I’m outa here!”

Ben pulled up the covers and patted Joe on the shoulder. “In your ENTIRE life you have NEVER done whatever I said for a whole week—now this will be something to see!” Ben laughed and sat back down in the chair.

 

A week later Joe sat in a wheelchair receiving last minute instructions from his uncle, Doctor Peele. Joe had been examined thoroughly by both Harold and the chief surgeon who had operated on him. “Now, Joseph, I don’t have to remind you that you are not totally mended do I?” Harold asked staring into his nephew’s bright green eyes.

“I know —I know! I’ll take it easy!” Joe said eager to get on his way.

Harold turned to Ben. “You have Doctor Martin check him when you get home. He will need a couple more weeks of bed rest. Just because the incision seems to be healing well on the outside doesn’t mean that everything will hold up on the inside. Especially knowing how hard this young man is to control!”

“Don’t worry, Harold.” Ben smiled and looked directly at his youngest son. “I won’t take my eyes off of him!” Joe noticed the inflection in his father’s voice and knew he was serious.

“Now that’s going to be a long ride home. Have him sleep through as much of it as possible. Then right back into bed when he’s back at the Ponderosa!”

Joe frowned as the conversation seemed to be going on as if he was not there.

“You both worry too much!” Joe complained and the two men in unison put their hands on their hips in a paternal stance. “I wonder why!” They both said and Joe blushed knowing how much they had all been through together in tending his many injuries.

“Can we go?” He protested.

Ben walked behind the wheelchair and could hear Joe mutter, “I can walk you know!”

Harold held up his hand to prevent the wheelchair from moving. “One last time—no walking! Understand?” He replied firmly and Joe nodded his understanding.

“Okay then.” Harold stepped back and they wheeled Joe out of the room. Nurse Hastings met them at the end of the corridor and gently gave Joe a hug. “I’m going to miss you, Joe! Thanks for saving me! Be sure to come back and see us!”

“I will—but —hey—next time let’s meet somewhere other than this place, okay?”

Joe grinned and the nurse laughed. “You have a deal.” The nurse replied and Joe was then wheeled out of the hospital and out to the waiting carriage.

Robert drove Ben, Harold, and Joe to the stage depot. They carefully helped Joe out of the carriage and onto a bench. Robert brought all of the Cartwright’s luggage and handed it up to the driver. Harold turned his attention to Ben. “I was told today of the large donation you made to the hospital, Ben. “ He paused and Joe broke in.

“What’s that about, Pa?” Joe’s curiosity got the better of him.

“Your father had only one request of the administration when he made his donation. They are naming the new wing after Daniel.” Harold spoke with pride and affection at the gift and also the honor that was paid his son.

“The Daniel Peele Rehabilitation Center.” Ben announced and smiled broadly. He shook Harold’s hand and reminded him, “Now you remember you promised to be with your new family for Christmas!”

“I will. And I hope to see this young man back to his normal self by then!” He replied.

“Barring fires, scalpels,……” Ben started and Joe objected loudly.

“Hey—-at least you can’t say life is boring when I’m around!”

Both Harold and Ben laughed at Joe’s response. “You are so right, Son!” Ben nodded.

“All aboard! Let’s get going!” The driver called down. Harold helped Joe stand upright and Joe was quick with his hug. “I’ll miss you, Uncle!” Joe confessed and Harold smiled.

“Christmas is only a month away—-we’ll see each other soon—-Nephew!”

 

Ben helped Joe up the step and into the stagecoach and they waved to Harold as the horses were sent forward. Harold stood there watching as they departed and the stagecoach disappeared into the distance. He didn’t feel as lonely as he had in the past. Harold knew he would always have a special bond with Joe and also now with Ben. Then there was the letter! Harold reached into his vest pocket and drew it out. He had read it many times since the night he found it in his son’s Bible. It brought him peace, just as Daniel had told Joe it would.

The three-day’s journey to Virginia City seemed longer to both Cartwright’s this time. Joe felt each rut, each bump that the stage encountered. He stretched out as much as he could in the cramped interior of the stagecoach. Ben had made arrangements in advance to have no other passengers this trip to allow his son more chance to rest. Ben could see the eagerness in his son’s eyes and they came closer and closer to their destination. The times that Joe had slept his dreams were of his home and family. No longer haunted by old hurts or memories, he was slowly becoming the Joe Cartwright that everyone knew and loved.

By the time the stage pulled down the main street in Virginia City Ben could see how the trip had taken it’s toll on his son. Joe looked more pale than when he had left San Francisco and he had been sleeping for hours with his head resting on his father’s shoulder. As the stage came to an abrupt stop Ben could see his other two sons standing outside of the stage office waiting for them. “Joseph—” Ben called trying to quietly rouse his son. “Joseph—-look where we are!”

Joe lifted his head and peered out the window and saw the smiling face of his brothers.

“You all coming out or what?” Adam said as he opened the stagecoach door.

Ben stepped down and briefly hugged his two oldest sons and then turned back to help Joe out.

“I can do it—-” Joe protested and then almost lost his footing stepping down. Ben caught him by the arm. Joe tried to stand up as straight as he could, but he admitted to himself that he was hurting and held the site of his wound with his left arm.

“Well—if it isn’t the Prodigal Son!” Adam smiled and patted Joe on the shoulder.

“No Adam!” Hoss interjected, “Don’t you remember? It’s Doctor Cartwright now!” Hoss teased and put his arm around his brother’s shoulder.

“Very funny—very funny!” Joe tried to appear unamused.

“We can finish this fond reunion when we get home—let’s get your brother to the wagon.” Ben insisted and they slowly got Joe over to the buckboard. Joe was just about to step up into the seat of the wagon when Ben caught his arm. “Oh no you don’t! I sent your brothers specific instructions!” Ben pointed to the mattress, which was spread out in the back of the wagon.

“But, Pa—” Joe started and Ben gave him the “don’t even think about it” look. Joe frowned and his two brothers helped him into the back of the buckboard. Joe would never have admitted it but stretching out on the mattress did feel awfully good and before they had gotten half-way out of town he was sound asleep. Adam drove the wagon with Ben up front next to him and Hoss followed behind on his horse.

“Is the kid okay?” Adam asked taking a quick glimpse at his slumbering brother.

“There’s so much I have to tell you and Hoss. This has been the most unbelievable couple of weeks!” Ben said cryptically and Adam was anxious to get home and hear all about it. He had only been told bits and pieces of information from his fathers several telegraphs. Whatever the details, Adam was glad that the family was once again intact.

A little past six o’clock that evening the buckboard pulled up in front of the ranch house. Hop Sing had heard the sound of the team of horses and hurried out toward his family. He went right over to Joe and climbed up into the wagon with him. “You wake up now, Little Joe! Hop Sing so happy to see you!” He gleamed and Joe opened his eyes to the man’s smiling face.

“I’m happy to see you too!” Joe smiled and Hop Sing helped him into a sitting position.

“You not take care of yourself again! You always hurt! You no leave the ranch no more!” Hop Sing chastised him letting out all of the worry he felt for the young man he loved so dearly.

Joe put his arm around Hop Sing’s shoulder and said, “I ain’t planning on leaving again—no time soon that is!” Joe replied.

The three Cartwrights, assisted by Hop Sing, helped Joe into the house. Joe stopped in his tracks and turned as if to move toward the couch. “Absolutely not!” Ben’s voice boomed coming from behind his youngest. “Up to your room, Young Man! You know the rules!”

“Just for a few minutes?” Joe pleaded.

Ben just stared again at his son and Joe frowned and gave up. Hoss and Adam led him to the staircase. “Carry him up, Hoss!” Ben called and Joe turned his head around.

“I can make it myself!” Joe insisted. “I’ll just take it real slow.” Joe took the first step and held tightly onto the banister. Then he took another step and rested a minute. Hoss turned back around to look at this father and Ben gave him a signal to end Joe’s useless self-imposed suffering.

“At this rate you won’t be up these stairs until Christmas, Little Brother!” Hoss announced and before Joe could turn to reply he had Joe in his strong arms and started to carry him up the stairs.

“Put me down, Hoss!” Joe protested and Hoss stopped and playfully lifted him over the rail as if to drop him right down into the living room.

“You sure you want me to put you down, Little Brother?” Hoss laughed. Joe looked down at the hard floor and said, “Okay—-I changed my mind!”

“I thought you’d see it my way!” Hoss replied and Ben and Adam laughed from downstairs at the typical horseplay coming from the two brothers.

After Joe was all settled in his room and Hop Sing had brought him up his supper and fussed over him thoroughly, Joe was soon asleep again exhausted by the long trip. Ben sat over dinner and discussed all that had transpired with his two oldest sons.

“That’s some spooky stuff!” Hoss commented after his father had finished his story.

“How do you think Joe knew all of that, Pa? I mean you crumpling his letter—the letter from Daniel and all about the locket?” Adam asked pensively.

Ben sighed and shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t have an explanation—at least not one that would sound rational!”

“You don’t reckon that Joe actually saw Daniel, do you, Pa?” Hoss asked still in awe of all he had heard.

Ben raised his eyebrows and responded, “Do YOU have a better explanation?”

Hoss and Adam looked at each other and shook their heads uncertain whether to believe it all as fact or some strange coincidence.

“How’s the kid anyway?” Adam decided to change the topic.

“Real good—aside from another life-threatening injury!” Ben sounded pleased with Joe’s new found peace. “He has come to cope with all that happened to him. He’s found the answers he has been looking for so long! It’s like having the “old” Joe back!”

Hoss grinned and responded to the good news. “It’s about time! He’s been gone a long time! He sure is an irritating cuss—but we’ve all missed having him around!”

Ben chuckled at Hoss’ appropriate description of his brother.

Later that same evening Ben, Hoss, and Adam walked into Joe’s bedroom and found him to be just waking up. “Have a good nap?” Ben asked approaching the bed.

Joe yawned, “Yeah, Pa. Sure is good to be back in my own bed!”

“That’s good, Son—cause that’s where you are going to be for awhile! Doc Martin will be out to check on you in the morning. Joe frowned at the news of another doctor visit.

Adam and Hoss came closer to the bed and Joe looked over at them.

“I believe you had something to say to your two brothers, didn’t you, Joseph?” Ben asked and Joe knew he was referring to Joe’s premature death-bed confession in the hospital. Joe had mentioned he wanted to apologize to his brothers for not always being well behaved around them.

Joe’s eyes went back and forth between Adam and Hoss and then Joe finally replied, “Yeah—I just wanted to tell you that—” Joe stopped and reconsidered the statement he had made to his father at the hospital. “I just wanted to tell you to be sure and get all my chores done while I’m laid up in here!” Joe laughed and the two brothers shook their heads. Unbeknownst to Joe, Ben had already informed his other two sons exactly what Joe had said in the hospital.

“Gee—and I thought he was gonna tell us how much he missed us!” Hoss protested and winked at Adam to continue. “Yeah—or tell us that he was sorry he had acted so badly in the past!” Adam stated and Joe looked over at his father embarrassed at what he had told them.

“You can’t listen to anything someone says when they are out of their head anyway!” Joe complained. Finally Joe sighed and admitted to the truth, he spoke in earnest, “No—I said it and I meant it. I am sorry for all I’ve put all of you through in the past. I know I have not been the easiest person to get along with.”

“Joe—I hate to tell you—but you have been like that your WHOLE life—it’s nothing new to the two of us!” Adam grinned at his little brother and Joe returned the smile knowing that Adam was forgiving him in his own way.

“We’re just glad to have you back!” Hoss reached over and patted his brother’s arm. Ben stood from the chair and motioned for his oldest sons to leave. “Your brother needs to get some rest. We’d better leave him alone for awhile.” Ben followed Adam and Hoss to the door and Joe called over to him. “Pa?”

“Yes?” Ben turned around.

“Could you stay a little while?”

“Sure.” Ben said and turned back into the room as Hoss and Adam left. He walked back to the chair by the bed and once more sat down. Joe acted like he wanted to say something but looked as though he was having a hard time with it.

“Something you want to talk about?” Ben asked quietly.

“No—not really—I guess I just wanted to tell you thanks.” Joe responded.

“For what, Joe?” Ben didn’t understand the need for thanks.

“For letting me go off and find out what I needed to know. For putting up with me no matter what I’ve done in the past. “ Joe stopped suddenly. His thoughts were not coming out the way he wanted them to. He wanted to tell his father how much he loved him but it was hard to come out with the words.

Ben knew what Joe was trying to tell him and was deeply touched watching his son struggle to say it in the right way. He had an idea that might say it for Joe. Ben reached over to the night stand and retrieved the book of poems that had been placed there earlier.

“Let me see—” Ben paused thumbing through the book until he found what he was looking for. “There was a poem I used to read to you when you were little—let’s see how did it go?”

Joe looked up at his father confused by his rapid change of subject.

“OH—yes—here it is

“No man is an island, entire of itself—every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.”

Ben stopped and gazed into his son’s eyes . “I remember, Joseph.” He admitted to knowing exactly what Joe had meant when he had mentioned the poem in the hospital.

“A part of the main.” Joe smiled and nodded. “Always, Pa.” Joe whispered.

Ben nodded back at his son. “Always, Joseph.”

The End

Written by Wrangler

2001

Next in the Whatever It Takes Series:

Mustard Seed
To Help a Stranger

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.

 

Tags:  addiction, Family, Joe / Little Joe Cartwright, Recovery