Summary: While the lives of Adam, Hoss and Joe hang in the balance, Ben reflects on the gifts he’s received from each of his sons.
Rating:  Teen
Words:  3,575

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The Brandsters have included this story by this author in our project: Preserving Their Legacy. To preserve the legacy of the author, we have decided to give their work a home in the Bonanza Brand Fanfiction Library.  The author will always be the owner of this work of fanfiction, and should they wish us to remove their story, we will.

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Strength

**********

“Remember, you’re only going up there to get things back on track,” Ben reminded his sons as they saddled their horses. “Once things are running smoothly again, I want you back here. There’s plenty to do right here on the Ponderosa.”

“Right, Pa,” Adam replied. “Once the mine’s up and running again, we’ll come right back.”

“I wish I didn’t have to send all three of you,” Ben grumbled.

“You’ve got to be at that meeting, Pa,” Hoss reminded him. “That lumber contract is too important to lose and they won’t deal with anyone but you.”

“I know, I know,” Ben waved his hand in dismissal of the reminder. “This strike couldn’t have come at a worse time.”

“We’ll take care of it,” Joe promised. “That mine will be running again in no time, one way or another.”

“Never mind one way or another, young man,” Ben scolded strictly. “I’m sending you up there as negotiators, not thugs. I don’t want any violence, do you understand?”

Joe chuckled as he placed a reassuring hand on his father’s shoulder. “I only meant that we’ll make whatever changes are necessary so that the miners feel it’s safe to go back to work.”

“Oh,” Ben nodded grudgingly. “OK, good. The safety of those men is of utmost concern. If I’d had any idea what was really going on up there, I’d have never bought so many shares.”

“Sure you woulda, Pa,” Hoss grinned as he swung himself into the saddle. “You woulda just bought ‘em sooner so you could make the changes that shoulda bin made long ago.”

Ben looked at his middle son in surprise for a moment before chuckling softly. “You’re probably right, Hoss,” he replied. “Now go on, get out of here and whatever you do…”

“Be careful,” the three younger Cartwrights finished in unison.

As his three sons rode off together, Ben turned to walk back into the house. Reaching for the door handle, he paused and turned for one more glimpse of his family. After pondering the sudden feeling of unease he tried to shake it off, chalking it up to one of those frequent, unfounded fears every parent experienced from time to time. Attempting to clear his mind of any lingering doubts, he went through the door and closed it slowly behind him.

**********

Three days later, Ben sat at the large table in the hotel, signing the final papers that would give the Ponderosa the lumber contract they’d worked so hard to secure.

“Thank you, Ben,” Alan Cheevers smiled as he shook the eldest Cartwright’s hand. “As usual it’s a pleasure doing business with you.”

“The pleasure is all ours,” Ben grinned, returning the handshake. “With all the changes afoot, I wasn’t sure we were going to be able to compete this year.”

“Since Bob Landers bought that new patch of timber up near Whitehead Creek, he’s definitely closer to the supply lines,” Cheevers agreed. “The truth is, he’s just not as reliable. My client would rather go for dependability and tack a few extra days onto the schedule.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Ben smiled. “Now, how about a drink to close the deal?”

As they were about to leave the room, Clyde Samson burst through the door, his breathing heavy.

“Ben,” he gasped. “Thank God you’re still here.”

“What is it, Clyde?” Ben frowned, the first strains of worry beginning to make themselves known.

Clyde hesitated only briefly before delivering his news. “It’s the mine,” he stated. “There’s been an accident.”

As the major stockholder, Ben felt a knot in his stomach. Despite the fact that he’d only owned the shares a short while, and that he hadn’t known how truly unsafe the working conditions were at the time, he felt somewhat responsible for the men working there.

“How bad?” he asked grimly. He didn’t need to ask if anyone had been hurt; Clyde’s solemn expression had already verified that fact.

“A dozen men trapped,” Clyde answered. “We don’t know if they’re dead or alive.”

Ben shook his head slowly, letting out a long breath.

“I’m afraid that’s not all, Ben,” Clyde continued, steeling himself for the news he had to deliver. “Your boys were in there at the time. I’m not sure how far down.”

It took a moment for Ben to grasp what he’d just heard. “My boys?” he repeated in a barely audible whisper. “All three of them?”

Clyde only nodded. “They may have them out by now,” he suggested hopefully. “I rode as fast as I could to get here.”

“Come on,” Ben stated grimly.

Clyde followed him out of the room needing no further explanation. He knew Ben well enough to know what he must be feeling. There had never been any doubt in his mind that when he returned to the mine, Ben Cartwright would be with him.

**********

They rode as long as they could into the night, but it was still nearly noon the next day by the time the reached the area of the mine. Despite the unsafe conditions, a rescue mission was well underway. Ben scanned the crowd of men, frantically looking for even a glimpse of his sons.

“They’re still down there, Mr. Cartwright,” a burly man greeted him as he dismounted. “We managed to get three men out, but that was yesterday.”

“And nothing since then,” Ben murmured, more to himself as his gaze fixed on the entrance to the mine.

“Not yet, sir,” the man answered. “We’re working as fast as we can.”

Ben immediately took stock of the situation, his keen gaze noting every detail of the rescue effort. Rolling up his sleeves, he headed to where the men were busy trying to dig through the rubble.

“You can’t go in there, Ben,” Clyde said, stopping him with a hand on his arm. “These men know what they’re doing. It’s a part of the job that they’re trained to handle. I suggest we let them do it.”

Ben glanced pointedly at the hand on his arm before raising his gaze to lock with that of his friend. “My sons are down there, Clyde,” he said simply.

Clyde took in the depth of fear and desperation in the other man’s eyes and let out a short sigh. “Let’s go,” he said, clapping Ben on the back.

The work was slow and hard. After hours of digging, it seemed to Ben as though they’d made only a small dent in the daunting task. When his arms felt like lead, he was forced to take a much-needed break. Clyde brought him a canteen of cold water and sat silently beside him as they watched a crew of fresh men enter the mine.

“Three sons,” Ben finally said quietly. “After the death of my wives, the pain of each compounded with that of the one before, I thought I’d never again know such sorrow.” He paused for a moment, struggling to swallow the lump in his throat. “But three sons, all at once… fate couldn’t possibly be that cruel.”

Knowing he had no reassurance to offer, Clyde simply listened compassionately.

Ben mercifully allowed his weary mind to wander as he thought of the lives trapped amid the rubble. Three strong sons, so different from one another, yet each demanding an equal share of his love and respect.

“Adam,” he smiled slightly as he thought of his first-born. “There’s a quiet strength in that one, Clyde. No matter what life threw at him, even as a child, he always rallied to the challenge. While I grieved the loss of three wives, he suffered through the death of three mothers, but he never let it break him. He channelled his grief into a strength that I’ll always admire. All his life he’s been there for me.”

“You’ve been there for each other, Ben,” Clyde smiled slightly.

“He’s more than a brother to Hoss and Joe,” Ben continued. “He’s like a second father in a lot of ways.” He chuckled softly as he brought the memories forth. “Sometimes he can be a little hard on them, I suppose, but that only shows how fiercely he loves them. He doesn’t always express it openly, but it’s always there in the way he watches over them, even now, and in the pain that shows in his eyes when one of them is suffering. He feels it all, every bit, and then he uses it to make him even stronger.” He allowed his voice to trail off for a moment while he thought silently about his eldest son. “Yes,” he finally murmured, “a quiet strength.”

Clyde heard the catch in his voice and tried to bolster his friend’s spirits while they waited. “When I think of strength I picture Hoss,” he joked lightly.

“Hoss,” Ben chuckled. “Yes, that’s strength all right. That boy can pull a steer out of the mud with his bare hands,” he smiled fondly. “And at the same time, he’s one of the most gentle men I’ve ever known.” His smile turned slightly more wistful. “Even with his imposing size, he radiates a sort of peace that still mystifies me at times. You can see every emotion in his eyes; the love he feels for his brothers, the compassion he shows others, the anger at injustice… you always know exactly where you stand with Hoss. His is a calming strength, one that garners deep trust and respect. Talking to him can remind the most cynical of men that there’s joy in all life.” He paused for a moment, his mind conjuring up memories of his middle son. “He’s slow to real anger, but he’s never backed down from anything in his life. You know, I don’t think I ever told him this, but I believe his influence has made me a wiser, gentler man. Some think wisdom comes merely from the lessons we’ve learned through experience, but I know for a fact that it can be seen through the eyes of another, one who takes adversity in stride and never lets it get him down. He’s taught me a lot about what strength really is.”

“I can tell you first hand, it’s not always easy being the middle brother,” Clyde offered.

“No, I suppose it isn’t,” Ben smiled softly. “But no one could fit the role like Hoss. When I think of how many times he’s served as mediator between Joe and Adam…”

“Yeah,” Clyde mused as Ben’s voice trailed off. “It’s easy to see how close he is to his brothers, especially Joe.”

“Little Joe can use plenty of looking after sometimes, let me tell you,” Ben chuckled. “I swear there were times when it took all three of us just to keep him in line.” After a moment, he continued. “It’s his passion. It shows in everything he does. He has a zest for life that I admire, but it sometimes causes him to jump into a situation without giving it due consideration. Then there are times when he plans things out a little too well for his own good.”

Clyde smiled. “You mean like some of those schemes he drags Hoss into.”

“Hoss has never found it easy to say no to Little Joe,” Ben concurred. “When they were younger, I think he went along just to keep his little brother out of trouble, but now it’s grown into a camaraderie that rivals most I’ve seen.” His thoughts wandered idly through the past, rekindling memories of his youngest son. “Joe always has been a charmer,” he mused. “But what stands out most to me is the struggle that always seems to be waging within him. Maybe it’s being the youngest, I don’t know, maybe it’s just his temperament. It’s like he’s always trying to prove something, even to himself.”

“He’s grown up in the shadow of three strong men,” Clyde reminded him.

“Yes, I’m sure that has something to do with it,” Ben sighed. “Sometimes it’s hard to think of him as anything but the baby in the family. But he’s a strong as any of us, Clyde, that’s a fact. He’s had to be. Having two older brothers to watch out for him has never made him reliant. On the contrary, he’s fought harder for his independence than any of us. Of my three sons, Joe’s the quickest to anger, but he’s also the quickest to laughter.” Ben let out a low chuckle, “I swear, there were times when I should have been so angry at him, but that giggle of his just cuts through any annoyance until it’s all you can do not to laugh right along with him.” He was silent for a moment. “Joe’s strength comes from his convictions. He’d fight to the death for something he believes in. That gives him the courage to face anything life has to offer.” He thought for a moment about Joe’s greatest gift to him. “He keeps me young, Clyde,” he smiled sadly. “I sometimes wonder what kind of man I’d be without the qualities each of them have taught me.”

Both men were suddenly distracted by the sound of shouts coming from the entrance to the mine. Ben was on his feet in an instant, hurrying toward the commotion with Clyde close behind.

He didn’t even realize he’d been holding his breath until he felt it escape his lips in a ragged rush as five men blackened by dust and debris, stumbled from the darkness. “Joseph,” he whispered, unable to call out to his son around the lump in his throat.

“Pa,” Joe croaked as he coughed on the dust. “Pa, Adam and Hoss…”

Ben cut him off as he grabbed him in a fierce hug, saying a silent prayer of thanks for the fact that he was alive.

“I know, son,” Ben replied grimly, releasing him and checking the deep cut on his forehead. “We’ll get to them; you just have to have faith.”

“I’ve got to help,” Joe muttered, trying to shrug off his father’s ministrations.

“You stay here and take it easy,” Ben scolded firmly. “There’s no way you’re going back in there.”

Joe locked eyes with his father. “They’re my brothers, Pa. They were further down in the mine than I was.” He paused only for a moment. “They’ll be running out of air,” he added in a low voice.

Ben saw the look of pain in his youngest son’s eyes and had to fight back tears. “Let’s go, son,” he urged, clapping him on the back as they both headed for the entrance to the mine.

Joe directed the men to the area where the others were most likely to be and everyone resumed digging. Joe’s emergence from the hole had given Ben a renewed strength and hope and he worked like a man half his age.

After what seemed like hours, he pulled Joe reluctantly from the mine, ordering him to rest even for only a couple of minutes.

“They’re alive, Pa,” Joe breathed, chest heaving with exhaustion as he watched a group of rested men resume the task.

“Of course they are,” Ben replied firmly as he handed Joe a canteen.

Joe took a long drink of the cool water. “But they won’t be for long if we don’t get to them,” he added, wiping his mouth with the back of one hand. With that, he turned to head back, only to have Ben stop him with a firm hand on his arm.

“Why don’t you rest a few minutes,” he urged.

“I will,” Joe forced a slight smile. “Once Adam and Hoss are here resting with me.”

Ben sighed wearily as he watched his son disappear into the darkness of the mine. “Yeah, he keeps me young all right,” he mumbled, heading for the spot where he’d last seen Joe.

An hour later, they had opened a hole big enough for Joe to squeeze through. Ben’s heart leapt with joy when he heard his excited voice calling back to them. “They’re all here! He shouted triumphantly. “And they’re alive! All of them!”

A cheer went up from the crowd as the weary men mustered all their strength to finish the job they’d started. Soon, seven men were emerging from the would-be tomb, some walking, others limping and one being carried by two others.

Ben immediately recognized one of the carriers as his middle son. His elation was quelled only briefly when he realize the one being carried was Adam.

“I’m all right, Pa,” Adam assured him hurriedly. “Just a busted leg.”

Hoss and another man propped Adam against a large rock while the doctor tended to his leg.

“It’s good to see you, Pa,” Hoss beamed, catching his father in a strong hug.

“You too, son,” Ben whispered, eyes closed against the tears that threatened to fall as he clung to his son.

Both turned to see Joe on one knee beside his brother, watching intently as the doctor examined the broken limb.

“How is it, doc?” Ben asked, concerned.

“It seems to be a clean break,” the doctor answered. “I’ll have to set it and splint it, but it should heal fine.” Turning back to Adam, he frowned. “This is going to hurt, son.”

Adam took the hand that Joe offered and clasped it tightly. As their eyes met, Joe offered a small smile of reassurance and Adam nodded briefly in response to the silent communication between them. Turning back to the doctor, he braced himself, squeezing Joe’s hand. “Do it,” he stated simply.

The doctor jerked quickly on the lower part of the leg, causing Adam to let out a sharp cry. Joe slipped his other arm firmly around his brother’s shoulders as though in an attempt to shield him from the pain.

Ben and Hoss both cringed slightly as they saw the colour drain from Adam’s face momentarily. They could see Joe’s lips moving, but couldn’t make out he soft words of encouragement from where they stood. One thing Ben could see from his vantage point, however, was the pain mirrored in Joe’s eyes.

Once the bone was set to the doctor’s satisfaction, Adam’s body relaxed and slumped back against the boulder. “Thanks, doc,” he whispered, eyes closed. Then, opening them, he focused on Joe’s face and offered a slight smile. “You too, little brother.”

Joe returned the smile and patted him on the shoulder before getting to his feet and turning to Hoss. “The two of you gave us quite a scare, you know,” Joe scolded, trying to hide the grin from his face as he hugged his brother.

“You mean the three of you, gave ME quite a scare,” Ben corrected.

“Joe?” Hoss frowned, holding his brother at arms length. “You weren’t down there too, were ya? I thought Adam told you specifically to stay topside and handle things up here.”

“What and leave the two of you to have all the fun?” Joe grinned. Then, seriously, he added, “I had to go, Hoss. Charlie Parker told us that a section was collapsing. We managed to get most everyone else out before the whole thing came down.”

“Well, least wise you’re all right,” Hoss grinned, clapping Joe on the back with such force that he almost lost his balance.

“Well, I was,” Joe shrugged, a look of feigned pain on his face.

Hoss laughed at his brother’s antics before turning back to Ben with a frown. “When did you get here, Pa?” he asked.

“Around noon,” Ben explained wearily. “And let me tell you, every hour seemed like an eternity.” Looking back in the direction of the mine, he took a deep breath. “Looks like this place is out of business,” he stated.

“Not necessarily, Pa,” Adam interjected from the spot where he still sat. “That’s why we were down there in the first place, we were checking the foundation. It’s good for the most part. If we do some shoring up, some reinforcing, it can be as safe as any mine in a couple of months.”

‘We?” Ben frowned, trying to look stern. “If you think I’m letting you boys back down there, you’ve got another thing coming.”

“A figure of speech, Pa,” Adam chuckled. “Charlie knows just what needs to be done. He’ll oversee the operation and get the best men for the job.”

“Well, that’s more like it,” Ben replied, nodding. “I’ll tell Charlie to go ahead and order whatever he’ll need.”

As he went in search of Charlie Parker, he ran into Clyde.

“A happy ending, huh, Ben?” Clyde smiled.

Ben looked back to where Joe and Hoss were helping Adam to his feet. “Yeah, Clyde, the happiest.”

“You talked today about the gifts each of your sons have given you,” Clyde reminded him with a pat on the shoulder. “Most men would consider themselves lucky to receive such blessings even once in their lives. Today you were fortunate enough to experience the gift of three sons for a second time.”

“Yes,” Ben agreed, as he struggled around the lump in his throat. “That’s very true, Clyde.” With a slight shake of his head, as though to rid himself of the threat of imminent tears, he mustered up the sternest expression he could. “Now if they’d only learn to listen. The last thing I specifically asked them to do before they left the Ponderosa was ‘Be Careful!’”

The End