Summary: Little Joe is having a rough go of it. Things get worse when a fired ranch hand decides Joe owes him. Will life get better for the youngest Cartwright?
Written as a response to 2nd quarter chaps and spurs challenge.

Word count: 15,015

Rated: T

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Joe sighed and went back to grooming his horse. The black and white pinto nickered at him, seeming to enjoy the attention. Joe dropped the curry comb back into its place and picked up the dandy brush, working off all the loose hair and dirt that he had just curried up. He and Cochise had gotten covered in mud earlier that day while trying to cut out the yearling calves from the rest of the herd. The group had decided with their hive mind that the best course of action for escape from the young cowboy was to cut through one of the creeks in the area. Unfortunately, the late spring run-off had left the banks soft and slick. Cochise had done what any good cow pony would do and had stood his ground against the calves. He hadn’t let a single one pass. However, all the action had kicked mud all the way up his flank, covering not only himself, but also his rider. 

 

“You did so good today, Cooch. I couldn’t ask for any better horse. Thanks to you, we got half of tomorrow’s work done already. Honestly, you probably didn’t even need me out there.” Joe chuckled wryly. It really was true, though, Cochise was such a good cow pony that Joe often wondered if he really was needed at all. He took a bite of apple and held the rest out to his horse, smiling at the feel of the soft lips gently plucking the apple from his palm. His smile faded as he remembered that he had promised Tess that he’d be her date for the dance in town tonight. It wasn’t that Tess wasn’t fun to spend time with. She was a nice girl, they had similar senses of humor, and Cochise liked her. It was more the fact that the dance was full of people. And people was exactly what Joe didn’t want to spend time with right now. If he was lucky, maybe she would agree to take a walk with him or something. He could play up the romance of being alone under the moonlight maybe. Anything to get away from the rest of the people.

 

Giving his horse another pat and tossing a flake of hay into the stall’s rack, Joe made his way out of the barn and trudged to the bathhouse. He figured he had about an hour and a half before he had to head to town. It didn’t take him very long to get cleaned up and dressed. For once, he was the first one ready. He sat down in front of the fireplace to wait for his brothers, and stared into the flames. Joe really preferred to stay busy instead of having down time like this. When he wasn’t working toward any specific goal, his mind tended to overwork, leading down rabbit holes that really weren’t the most productive. He sighed again and thought back to all the mistakes he had been making recently. He’d remembered the size wrong on the timbers for one of the bridges they were repairing. He had them all cut and delivered to the site only for Adam to inform him he had done every single one wrong. The one saving grace was that they had all been too long instead of too short, so he was able to correct his mistake, and Adam hadn’t given him too rough of a time, but still. 

 

And earlier in the week, Joe had yelled at two of the hands for drinking whiskey while they were supposed to be branding. Joe had called them lazy crowbait. Not his best insult, but he got his message across. He told them to knock off that behavior and shape up or get off the ranch. They hadn’t taken kindly to his bossing them around and had lashed out verbally. They’d informed him that they had no reason to listen to him. That his brother Adam and father Ben were their bosses, not him. That he wasn’t a good example, nor a good worker in his own right and that he was too stupid to know what he was talking about on a good day. After that Joe had lost his cool and had taken a swing at first one then the other. When he came back home that night, Hoss had been worried because of how stiffly he was moving, but Joe hadn’t wanted to hear his brother agree with the two men, so he had just brushed off his concern and went about his business. He knew he should have handled the whole situation differently.

 

Added on to both of those mistakes, he had calculated incorrectly on some of the bookwork that Ben had assigned to him. He’d been working out how much time and payroll was needed to add a second crew up at the timber camp. A single miscarry of a digit had thrown off all his figures. He had caught the mistake before anyone knew, sure, but Joe still kicked himself for doing it in the first place. If he hadn’t found the problem, the whole timber operation would have been bungled. 

 

Not only that, but he had been the one who was supposed to keep an eye on the remuda horses and ensure they were fit enough for riders every day. Hoss had pushed Chub hard one day and decided to give him a break, so he rode out on Sylvester the next day, expecting Joe to have done his job correctly. What neither one of them knew is that Joe had missed that Sylvester had a loose shoe which had subsequently been thrown and caused the gelding to go lame. Hoss had walked back to the main house to prevent any more harm coming to his mount. He said he wasn’t mad at Joe, but Joe knew he should have been. 

 

He continued ruminating over all the mistakes, errors, and faults he had made over the last few weeks and didn’t notice when Hoss and Adam passed through the room to go saddle their horses. They exchanged a look and continued to the barn, figuring that Joe would join them before too long.

 

“That’s the third time this week I’ve found him just staring into space.”

 

“It’s not doin’ any harm, Adam. He’s gettin’ all his work done. Why’s it bother you so much?”

 

“It’s not so much that it bothers me, Hoss, as much as it makes me worry. You know how our little brother is. When something’s wrong, he just bottles it up and eventually explodes. I guess I just get a little worried about what’s to come.”

 

“Aw Adam, just let him be. If he needs to talk somethin’ out, he knows where to find any one of us.”

 

They had their mounts tacked and Joe still hadn’t joined them, so Adam saddled Cochise as well and Hoss shouted back toward the house, “Hey Joe! Shake a leg, or else we’re gonna leave ya here!” Joe appeared in the doorway a moment later, muttering an apology and swinging up on to the pinto. The ride into town was uneventful. Joe mostly kept quiet and listened to his brothers banter back and forth. He hoped that they weren’t staying too long. He really didn’t have enough energy for dealing with a lot of people tonight. They left their horses down the street from the town hall where the dance was taking place. Tess and her friend Josie met Joe and Hoss as they walked in the door. Josie smiled up at Hoss and stood on her tiptoes to whisper something in his ear. He smiled back at her and nodded. They walked off together and joined the throng milling around in front of the musicians. Adam made himself scarce looking for his steady girl and Joe was left with Tess.

 

“I haven’t seen much of you recently, Little Joe.”

 

“Well do you want to stay in here with everyone else, or you want to go take a walk under the moonlight and just spend time the two of us?” He gave her a grin and a wink. Tess smiled back and nodded taking his arm in hers and following him back out the door. They wandered across the street and through the flower garden that the ladies of Virginia City had started. Joe plucked a primrose from one of the shrubs and tucked it behind Tess’s right ear. 

 

“Sure are pretty in the moonlight, Tess.”

 

“Then why have you been avoiding me?”

 

“I haven’t been avoiding you. Just haven’t been in town much recently. You know that when the snows melt, spring is always a busy time out on the ranch.”

 

Tess shook her head. “I know that, Joe. But it’s more than that. The last three weeks, I’ve barely seen you at all. I’m beginning to think that maybe you don’t want to be involved with me anymore.” 

 

“Tess, I…”

 

“It’s alright. I’m not mad at you. And I’ll still stay your friend, but Joe, I just don’t want to waste my time in a relationship that’s going nowhere. Is this going somewhere?”

 

Joe sighed and looked away from her. She was right. He was a waste of time. “I’m sorry, Tess. I like ya. I like spending time with ya.” He bit his bottom lip briefly. “But you’re right. I don’t want to hold you back. I’m sorry.” He gave her a sad smile. “Maybe I’ll see you around.” She smiled briefly back as he kissed her on the cheek and they turned back to the town hall. Tess re-entered the building and Joe watched her go. He was gonna miss that girl. But she was right. She didn’t deserve to be dragged down by him. Shaking his head, he turned and walked back down the street. He didn’t want to join in the frivolity. He’d just bring the whole atmosphere down. Joe leaned against his horse and buried his face in the coarse hair of his mane. He just seemed unable to do anything right recently, now he couldn’t even keep a steady relationship. 

 

“Joe?”

 

He closed his eyes and bolstered himself before straightening back up and turning around. 

 

“What’s wrong? Why’d Tess come back in without ya?” Hoss looked at his little brother in concern. “You two not getting along?”

 

Joe shook his head. “Naw, we’re still friends. But that’s it.”

 

“Why’d you break up with a pretty little filly like Tess?”

 

Joe just shrugged. He didn’t want to admit to his older brother that he wasn’t worth her time. That he wasn’t good enough for her. That he wasn’t good enough for anyone. “I’m just gonna wait out here, if that’s ok. Not really in the mood to… socialize.” He sat down on the boardwalk outside the closed general store. Hoss frowned and sat down next to his brother. 

 

“Little Joe, is there anything that’s bothering ya? Aside from this with Tess?” Joe shook his head again and avoided looking at Hoss. His brother didn’t deserve to have Joe’s problems unloaded on him. 

 

“Do ya want to head home?”

 

“Naw, don’t let me ruin your night. Josie’s waitin’ for ya, isn’t she? You’d better get back to her. I’ll be here.” He mustered up a smile, which he was sure wasn’t believable. But Hoss took pity on him and let him get away with it. He nodded and patted Joe on the shoulder before he stood and went back to the dance. Joe let the weak smile fall from his face. He stood from the stoop and made his way down to the saloons at the opposite end of town from the dance hall. Hesitating in front of The Silver Dollar, he turned and walked through the batwings of The Red Dog instead. He didn’t normally go there, but he also didn’t want to run into anyone that he would have to be friendly with. Ordering a beer, he settled into a seat along the back wall that faced the rest of the room.

 

Joe was mid-way through his third beer when another customer finally walked in. Up until now, the establishment had been nearly silent. The two other people who were there when Joe had walked in had left for the night, and the girls who worked the saloon had been rebuffed by the young cowboy enough that they had given up on him and left him in peace. 

 

The group that walked in had very obviously come from one of the other many bars in town. They were loud, unsteady, and smelled strongly of booze. Joe groaned inwardly when he recognized two of the men as being the pair that he had gotten into it with the prior week for drinking on the job. When they hadn’t shown up for work following the altercation, he figured that they had moved on, unfortunately, it seemed they were still hanging around town. He stayed quiet and hoped they wouldn’t notice him in the dark back corner. Luck was not on his side tonight, however, and it wasn’t even four minutes when one of the drunkards nudged his companion and gestured in Joe’s direction. They spoke between themselves quietly at first then raised their voices very obviously trying to get a rise out of the youngest Cartwright.

 

“That runt thought he could talk to you that way!? And you let him get away with it?”

 

“Naw, I decked him! He’s too scrawny to really be any contest. Sides, he didn’t have his daddy or big brother there to bail him out.”

 

One of the other men laughed. “Isn’t that how it always is though? He’s always the one startin’ trouble then one a them gotta come get him outta it!”

 

“I heard he aint even a real Cartwright. I mean, look at ‘im. Smaller and dumber than all the rest.”

 

“So small he’s almost dainty.”

 

“Not much good for ranch work, but maybe he could find a job over at Madame Karrie’s!”

 

Joe seethed in anger listening to the drunks talk about him that way. He drained his beer and stood up. He had gone through three mugs in a half hour, not his smartest move of the day. The men at the bar laughed and turned to face him.

 

“Oh Cartwright, didn’t see you there.”

 

“Sure you didn’t, Kirby. I can see how you missed me though, what with how busy this place is right now.”

 

Kirby stood straight from where he leaned against the bar, not liking the snark that Joe used talking to him. He sauntered across the room and loomed over Joe. Kirby had a good seven inches on the younger man, and was nearly twice as big around. He had often used his extra height and weight to get what he wanted, but Joe had learned a long time ago not to be intimidated by it. 

 

“You gotta problem with me, kid?”

 

“Sounds like you’re the one who has a problem with me. But hey, you’re right. I screw up most things I’m supposed to get done. I’ve spent more time looking for a fight than making any sort of friendships, and I’m really not worth much.” The entire saloon went silent. It was hard to say which man was more surprised by the words that came out of Joe’s mouth: the tall man in front of him, or Joe himself. Deciding that he would be better off just leaving instead of starting trouble, Joe tugged his hat down onto his head and simply walked out of the building. He made it out to the street before he heard raucous laughter follow him into the dark night. More taunts followed the laughter and Joe curled his hands into fists listening to them.

 

Fighting the urge to go back and face them, Joe walked slowly back to the horses. He figured it wouldn’t be much longer until Hoss and Adam left the dance, and he didn’t want to be found in yet another saloon brawl. Sure enough, just a few more minutes passed and he saw his older brothers strolling down the street to their horses. Joe tightened the cinches on all three and mounted Cochise to wait for them. As they reached him, the drunks from before stumbled out onto the street still carousing and carrying on. Joe urged Cochise to a lope, but once again luck was against him as they recognized his pinto. 

 

“Oh look, it’s the abomination!”

 

“Run home baby boy!”

 

“Unless you’re looking for work, then just go down the road!”

 

Joe kicked Cochise to a faster gait and left a trail of dust to settle behind him. Hoss looked at Adam in concern and they followed their younger brother out of town. Cochise slowed to a trot a mile out of town limits allowing Chub and Sport to catch up. 

 

“Joe, what was that about back there, boy?”

 

“Stop calling me that, Hoss! I’m nearly 21!”

 

“Alright fine. Now tell me what happened with them drunks. There something me and Adam can help with?”

 

“You can’t solve everything for me. Just cause you’re the older, smarter brothers, doesn’t mean you can just magically come up with a solution every time someone —” Joe cut himself off before he let slip what had transpired in the saloon. “Just forget it.”

 

“Come on, Joe. If there’s something wrong, we want to help you.”

 

“Yeah, well I don’t NEED your help, Adam.” Joe urged Cochise back to a lope and headed for home. He wasn’t in any mood to listen to a lecture from his older brothers. And he also didn’t want to explain to them why he and Tess weren’t together anymore. But mostly he really didn’t want to tell them what the drunks had said about him. 

 

“What in tarnation has gotten into our little brother?”

 

******

 

Joe beat his brothers home by fifteen minutes. He knew it wasn’t a smart decision to ride so fast at night, but the moon gave him enough light to see by and his horse knew the route. He gave Cochise a quick rubdown and a measure of grain before walking into the house, hoping that his father had already headed up to bed. Following the pattern of the night, Ben had waited up for them to return. 

 

“How was the dance?”

 

“Fine.”

 

“Did you take Tess?”

 

“Kinda.”

 

“Joe, please try to form full sentences in conversation.”

 

“Sorry. Just, it’s been a long week and I’m ready for some sleep.”

 

Ben had crossed the room to where Joe was standing next to the credenza removing his gun belt. He placed a hand on the younger man’s shoulder. “Is there something bothering you, son?”

 

“No, Pa. I’ll see you in the morning.” Joe shrugged off Ben’s hand and went up stairs avoiding his brothers as they walked into the house. He had told the truth. He was tired. But just like every other night over the last few weeks, once he actually made it to his bed, he seemed to toss and turn all night long and didn’t get any real rest. Giving up on trying to sleep, Joe rose before the sun the next morning. He rode Cochise down to the lake and sat next to his mother’s grave. The location was always peaceful, and he soon found himself nodding off. It seemed only a few minutes before the sun shone in his eyes and the morning bird racket woke him. Joe rubbed his eyes and sat up, feeling refreshed for the first time in a long time. He whistled for his pinto and rode back home, not noticing the tall man on the sorrel with three white socks. 

 

Adam watched his youngest brother stand from where he had fallen asleep next to Marie’s final resting place and ride back to the house. Whether or not he would admit it to the rest of the family, Joe always came here when something was bothering him. Adam was sure Joe would come to one of them eventually. He just hoped it was sooner rather than later.

 

****** chapter 2

 

The next day, Joe volunteered himself for the task of gelding the yearling colts that they weren’t going to be using for breeding. Normally it was a task that everyone tried to get out of. It was unpleasant, dirty, and extremely physically demanding. Adam and Hoss had exchanged looks of surprise when their younger brother had voluntarily taken the assignment. 

 

“What did you do that yer tryin’ ta make up for by volunteering for this, Little Joe?” Hoss asked him with a grin.

 

Joe bit back the snark that he almost answered with and just shrugged instead. Joe admitted to himself that he was always shirking responsibility. By volunteering for this, maybe he’d show that he was useful around here.

 

“Very well. Joe, you take a couple of the hands and go sort out the gelding. Adam, finish up cleaning out the waterholes on the southern section, then you can join Joe’s crew. Hoss, you’re still going with me over to check in with the Snyders? I know Tom says he’s better, but I’m worried about him pushing it too far after just getting over pneumonia.”

 

Each went to his assigned task. Joe had taken Isaac and Walt with him and they worked slowly through the seven colts that needed gelding. Each one had to be separated out from the rest of the group and subdued prior to the procedure. The first three went off without a hitch. The yearlings were kept separate from each other in pens after the torsion was complete. The forth colt, however, broke free of the hogtie holding him down. He kicked out just as Joe was reaching forward with the leather cord. One hoof caught Joe directly in the ribs, knocking the young man back with a gasp. He jolted backward from the sudden force and an audible smack was heard when his head hit the ground hard. Joe lay still for a moment before he pressed a hand into his side and tried to catch his breath. He panted and squeezed his eyes shut with a grimace as he tried to control the pain that jolted through his body. Isaac had caught the horse again and he and Walt were trying to force him back to the ground. Joe scrambled over unsteadily and between the three of them, they regained control of the colt enough for Joe to get the leather cord tightly wound. He stumbled back as Walt let the horse up and led him over to the holding pens. Joe sat on the muddy ground trying to clear his head. He looked up when he felt a hand touch his shoulder.

 

“What?”

 

“I asked if you’re alright. That looked awful.”

 

“Yeah. I’ll…. fine. Just a little…. Ow.” 

 

“Joe, you better take it easy for a bit. We-” Sound faded out and the next thing Joe knew, he was flat on his back staring up at the sky. Someone was shouting and Joe groaned before bringing his arm up to cover his eyes. 

 

“Joe! Come on, buddy.” The shouting continued, getting closer and louder. No wait. No one was shouting. That was just Isaac speaking normally. Joe groaned again and moved his arm from covering his eyes enough to squint up at the other man. 

 

“Too loud.” 

 

Isaac sighed in relief. “Welcome back to the land of the living.” He held a hand on Joe’s shoulder as the young cowboy tried to sit up. “Nuh-uh. You stay put for a bit. At least until you can tell me how many of me you see.” 

 

Joe blinked his eyes hard and breathed deeply to try to assuage the sudden nausea. It backfired when his ribs protested the deep breaths and shot pain from one side of his chest to the other. “Ugh, think I’m gonna be sick.”

 

Isaac furrowed his eyebrows, “Try not to, Joe. With the shape those ribs are in…” 

 

Joe felt sweat break out on his forehead and he swallowed convulsively. He knew Isaac was right, but knowing and convincing his body were two different things. He gagged once and felt the other man move him as gently as he could so he was lying on the side opposite the one he got kicked in. He closed his eyes and let his mouth hang open, still trying to fight against the inevitable. Isaac placed a wet handkerchief on the back of Joe’s neck. The sudden change in temperature helped and Joe regained control over his body. 

 

Walt rejoined the two men and handed Isaac a clean roll of bandages that he had fetched from Joe’s saddle bags. “How’s he doing?”

 

Isaac took the bandages and cleaned the area where Joe’s head had struck the ground, pressing the gauze into the area and securing it. “It’s not deep, but he hit really hard. Probably has a concussion, and certainly needs to see a doc to make sure nothin’s wrong inside.”

 

“What about where he was kicked?”

 

“I dunno yet. Couple broken ribs for sure. Joe, I’m gonna put you down on your back and check your ribs, ok?”

 

“K.”

 

Walt and Isaac eased the other man onto his back again. Walt opened Joe’s shirt and pushed the fabric back as gently as he could. Even the soft touches caused Joe to flinch though. The two ranch hands grimaced at the sight that was revealed to them. All of Joe’s right side was a deep purple, fading to an angry red on the edges. There was a slight protrusion under his skin, but nothing had broken through the skin. Isaac and Walt exchanged a glance over him.

 

“Should we let him ride back? Or go get a wagon?”

 

“I dunno. It’s a pretty rough route back, bouncing around like that might do more harm. Cochise has a fairly smooth gait. It might just be better to let him ride…”

 

“You know, ‘m right here. Don’t I get a say?”

 

“Can you see straight yet?” Isaac looked down at Joe who tried to summon a reassuring smile. It came out more of a grimace. 

 

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

 

“You are certainly NOT fine.”

 

“Help me sit up. I’ll be ok.”

 

Against better judgement, but knowing it would be a losing battle, Walt helped Joe to a sitting position. He winced and whimpered quietly, taking his time to control the wave of pain that washed over him. Joe nodded and the other two men helped him stand slowly. He wavered a bit once he got upright. Walt held his shoulders until he was sure the younger man wouldn’t fall over again. Isaac had brought Cochise over and both men assisted Joe in mounting. He held onto the saddle horn with both hands and let his head hang down with his eyes closed. 

 

“Ok?”

 

“Yeah, gimme a minute.”

 

“Isaac, ride in and have a doc meet us back at the house. I’ll make sure Joe gets there.

 

******

 

Adam had completed cleaning out the last waterhole in the southern section and rode over to join Joe’s crew to help finish the gelding. When he got there, though, none of the three men were in sight. Four colts stood in the pens that kept them separate and three were left still ungelded. Adam frowned when he saw Joe’s hat and what looked like Isaac’s jacket both lying crumpled in the middle of the gelding pen. Leather cording lay nearby and Walt’s knife had also been left behind. He didn’t know what had happened, but the entire scene filled him with a sense of unease. Remounting Sport, he urged his horse back to the main house. He kept Sport at a quick lope and before long saw two riders holding their horses at a walk in front of him when he crested a rise. He recognized his brother’s pinto and easily caught up with the two. 

 

“Joe? Walt? What’s going on? Where’s Isaac? Why did you leave the colts like that?”

 

Joe whipped his head around in surprise. He hadn’t heard the other horse ride up behind them. He groaned at the sudden direction change and instantly regretted the movement. Joe’s face paled and Adam grimaced as he watched his youngest brother lean over in the saddle and lose his breakfast onto the muddy ground. Joe clung to the saddle horn with one hand and Cochise’s mane with the other. He felt a hand on his back steadying him and preventing him from falling off the horse. He had no option but to ride out the pain that came with getting sick while having unbound broken ribs. Gradually sound faded back in and he listened to Walt filling Adam in on the circumstances.

 

“…in the ribs, but it knocked him down and his head hit the ground really hard. Isaac went to fetch the doc out to the house.”

 

“Joe? How’re you doing, buddy?”

 

“Nothin’ I don’t deserve, Adam.” But Joe’s words were slurred and mumbled, and his brother didn’t understand what he had said. 

 

“What was that?”

 

“I said I’ll be fine, Adam.”

 

The group made slow but steady progress. Walt rode close to Joe to make sure he stayed in the saddle, and Adam took Cochise’s reins. Eventually they made it to the main house and helped Joe down and inside. Isaac pulled up with the doctor not five minutes after they had gotten Joe situated inside.

 

******

 

“This next part is going to be really painful, Joe. You need to hold as still as possible. With the hit you took to your head, unfortunately I can’t give you anything for the pain or to knock you out. Are you ready?”

 

Joe stared back up at the doctor with a glazed look on his face. “What?”

 

Paul sighed. He couldn’t tell if Joe was having trouble hearing or the issues lay with retaining information. “I said I need to realign two of your ribs. You’re lucky they didn’t break the skin or go the other way and puncture a lung. But before I can bind them, I need to make sure they’re lined up. And it will be very painful. I can’t give you anything for the pain because of your head injury. Think you’ll be able to hold still enough or should I have someone come hold you down?”

 

Joe’s mind muddled through the word salad that was thrown at him. On one hand, he didn’t think he deserved any painkillers. On the other, he wasn’t entirely sure that he would be able to hold still without them. Resetting any bone was agonizing. Resetting a rib, though, held additional worries because if Joe jerked around too much, he could cause internal damage. 

 

“Joe?”

 

“Yeah, maybe someone should help.”

 

Paul patted Joe’s shoulder and walked to the door. Three sets of eyes turned his way when he descended the stairs. Walt and Isaac had refused to go back to the gelding until they knew that the youngest Cartwright would be alright. 

 

“Paul?”

 

“He’s in pretty bad shape, Adam. Where’s your pa and other brother?”

 

“They’re over at the Snyder’s place, be back tonight. What’s wrong with him? Is it that bad I need to get them right now?” Adam tried to contain his anxiety, but his voice hitched and his jaw clenched, giving him away to anyone who knew him well enough.

 

“Nothing that terrible, no. But he’s going to be out of commission for a while. More pressing, though, two of his ribs are misaligned. I need to fix that before I can bind them. But because of the hit he took, I can’t give him any ether.”

 

“You need me to hold him down.” Adam didn’t relish the thought of putting his younger brother through that, but he knew that it was really the only option they had.

 

Paul nodded. “I need two more sets of hands. Decide who’s helping, then come upstairs.” The doctor turned and went back to his patient to prepare for what he had to do.

 

“Who doesn’t mind getting kicked?” Adam tried to lighten the atmosphere, but with Joe being the patient, the question was a valid one. Isaac joined him and they ascended the stairs together. Walt sighed then went out to untack and stable all the horses. He was leading Sport and Cochise into their stalls when he heard an ear splitting shriek rend the air.

 

Inside the house, Adam pressed his weight down on Joe’s shoulders and Isaac had to abandon holding the younger man’s legs and instead had thrown himself across them to use his whole body to hold him down. But they had him pinned and unable to move the slightest inch, and that is what the doctor needed. Paul steadied himself then felt along Joe’s broken ribs until his hand came to rest on the fifth rib on his right side. He probed the area to find the angle he needed then pressed firmly and quickly with both thumbs. There was a sickening grinding sound and Joe screamed, the naked emotion apparent in his raw voice. But the rib slid into position. Paul didn’t give him a break and moved on to the sixth rib. This one was offset at a different angle, and he moved slightly to get into position. Once again pressing both thumbs about an inch away from the break, he maneuvered the pieces back together, ignoring the pained wail that Joe emitted. He glanced up quickly when the yell broke off abruptly. Joe had passed out. He supposed it was for the better. Paul instructed both Adam and Isaac to release their restraints and went about binding up Joe’s ribs. 

 

Isaac left the room after getting a nod of thanks from Adam. He made his way down the stairs and out of the house before walking over to the water trough and dunking his head under the spigot. That was unpleasant. He didn’t like causing anyone pain, much less someone he considered a friend. He shook the water droplets from his hair and took a deep breath. But as much as it had bothered him, he was sure Adam was worse-off. He looked back up at the window to Joe’s room and went to find Walt to fill him in. 

 

Up in Joe’s room, Dr. Martin was explaining to Adam what to expect and how to care for his youngest brother.

 

“He’ll be out of it for a bit, and he’ll probably be nauseous and have quite the headache for some time. Pain powders, though, are not a good idea for the first 24 hours. Just keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn’t get any worse, but I don’t think there will be any lasting damage from the knock on his head. Keep him as quiet and still as you can. His ribs will be hurting, but shouldn’t cause any major issue now that they aren’t moving about. Try to keep him on his left side. It’ll take the pressure off those ribs and the back of his head.”

 

“Is it ok to let him sleep, or should I wake him up every now and then?”

 

“There are two different schools of thought on that. I have found that sleeping only offers benefits. So if he wants to, let him. But don’t be surprised if he gets sick when he wakes up.”

 

“Food?”

 

“Whatever he can handle.”

 

“Thanks, doc.”

 

Paul nodded and packed up his bag before letting himself out of the house. Adam sat next to his youngest brother for a minute more before standing and gently moving the younger man so he rested on his left side and his right arm and knee bent up to keep him in that position. He spread a towel on the mattress in front of the other man. The last time Joe had gotten a concussion, he had woken up ill, and Adam figured this time would be no different. Sure enough Joe fidgeted and moaned quietly. His abs twitched and he gagged in his sleep, vomiting across the towel and whimpering in pain. Adam softly stroked back Joe’s bangs and murmured words of comfort. He thought back to the many times he was the one in charge of taking care of Little Joe and had done the same actions. When his youngest brother quieted down again, Adam folded the towel with the mess inside and tossed it to the ground, replacing it with a clean cloth. Joe stayed unresponsive for another half hour before stirring and slowly coming back to his senses.

 

“Hey, Little Joe. Come on, buddy. Wake up.” Adam used a cool wet cloth and bathed Joe’s head and neck to help rouse him.

 

“Mmmm…. A’am?” 

 

“Yeah, it’s me. How do you feel?”

 

“Sick.”

 

“Gonna throw up again?”

 

“Ugh. No, I don’t think so. What’d the doc do to me? My ribs…”

 

“He had to realign two of your ribs before binding them up. Do you remember that?”

 

“Vaguely… What happn’d?” Adam frowned, hearing his brother slur his words and obviously not remember what had happened to land him injured. He knew temporary memory loss was often a side effect of concussions, and hoped that it was limited to just the time right before this had occurred. 

 

“One of the colts kicked you and your head hit the ground really hard. Walt brought you back here and Isaac got the doc. I think they’ve probably gone back to finish the gelding by now.”

 

“They’re doin’ it alone? I gotta …” He tried to sit up, but only made it halfway before his vision blurred and he lay back down with a groan.

 

“What you’ve got to do is stay here. Take it easy for a few days.”

 

Joe nodded slowly, but he wasn’t happy with the situation. He’d already been feeling useless, and this didn’t help matters. “You mad at me?”

 

“Why would I be mad at you?”

 

“Cause I didn’t finish the branding.”

 

“You were working on the gelding, Joe.”

 

“Oh. Well I didn’t finish that either.”

 

“No, I’m not mad at you. You didn’t mean to get hurt. Take it easy for a bit. Drink some water. If you lie back down, stay on your left side. I’ll be back up to check on you in a bit, ok?”

 

******

 

The rest of Joe’s day passed slowly and uneventfully. His nausea gradually lessened, and he was able to keep water down enough to stay hydrated. He refused the offer of food, though. The other two Cartwrights returned from their neighbor’s spread and were concerned to find their youngest in his present condition. Adam filled them in on the situation and they went up to check on him. Joe heard their footsteps on the stairs and closed his eyes. He was exhausted, and really had no energy left for interactions. He sighed quietly. He knew he was taking the coward’s way out, but really couldn’t find the wherewithal to care. He felt a hand carefully and gently push the hair back from around where his head was bandaged. Then he heard quiet voices murmur to each other.

 

“How is he, Pa?”

 

“I think he’s just tired. You heard Adam. The doctor said he’d be ok.” 

 

They left the room as quietly as they had entered and Joe kept his eyes shut even as he felt a single tear leak from his eye. He really didn’t deserve the care they gave him.

 

****** chapter 3

 

The next morning, Joe was up and about again, but for once obeyed instructions and took it easy. He assigned himself the task of sorting through bridles, halters, and traces in the tack room and finding which ones needed repair. He’d been at it for about two hours when he remembered that he was supposed to be meeting with Tess. After saddling Cochise, Joe headed over to her house.

 

******

 

“Joe?”

 

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

 

“What are you doing here?”

 

Joe furrowed his eyebrows. “Aren’t we taking the buggy down to the waterfall for a picnic?”

 

“I.. I thought that since we weren’t together anymore, we wouldn’t be doing that. I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear.”

 

“We’re not… Of course.” Joe shook his head. He didn’t quite remember that, but it did sound familiar. He smiled sadly and excused himself, walking listlessly back to where he had left his pinto tied to the hitching post. He mounted and pointed the horse toward home. Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t pay attention as he approached the turn off to the ranch, and only avoided colliding with another rider because his horse did the thinking for them both.

 

“Hey, watch it!”

 

“Sorry…” Joe thought he was apologizing a lot recently. “Wait, Kirby? What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be out with the herd today?”

 

The other man looked at Joe silently for a few moments, studying the bandage on his head, and seemingly trying to make a decision. He slowly smiled before responding, “I switched with another hand. Your old man told me to come find you. He said you were supposed to come with me to haul lumber down for the new fence line.”

 

“Oh.” Joe couldn’t figure out what was wrong with that sentence. He gestured for Kirby to lead on, and the two men turned and rode east. Kirby kept just ahead of Joe and Cochise. He hid his growing smile. Seems Joe Cartwright didn’t remember their skirmish just the other night, nor did he remember sacking him for drinking on the job. Head wounds and concussions were a wonderful thing when you wanted to talk someone into believing something.

 

After an hour and a half, Joe began to question the situation. “Kirby, what’s going on? We aren’t heading anywhere near the timber camps.”

 

“Here’s the deal, LITTLE Joe.” He emphasized the adjective, knowing it would rankle with the other man. Kirby pulled his mount to a halt and waited for the other man to copy him. “I aim to get what’s owed me. But to do that, I need you out of the way. So you’re gonna dismount and give me your reins.” He pulled his sidearm and aimed it right at Joe who clenched his jaw and thought about fighting back until the gun was cocked and re-aimed to point at Cochise. “Now, here’s what’s gonna happen. Feel free to walk back, I don’t care. You’re far enough out, I’ll have plenty of time. But if you’re asked, you haven’t seen me.”

 

“And just why should I obey you?”

 

“What, you’d rather be the hero? You know you aren’t brave enough for that. You’re a coward and you know it. Besides, no one would believe you anyway. I was seen in town getting on the noon stage. Even made a point to give a wave to the sheriff as it pulled away. If you go against me, Tanner is going to claim he saw you and your horse riding away from the hold up and that you took the army payroll that we all know is being transported through here. Afterall, we were all seen a few nights ago. We tried to talk you out of it, but you wouldn’t listen and stormed off.”

 

Joe didn’t like hearing it, but he started to agree with the other man. He did remember being upset the other night, and riding out of town rather quickly. But it just didn’t seem like him to plan or be involved in any way with a hold-up and robbery. However, he had been out of sorts the few weeks before his concussion, just because he couldn’t remember making the plans now, didn’t mean he hadn’t done it. The confusion must have been evident on his face because Kirby laughed derisively and spurred his mount back the way they had come, pulling Cochise harshly behind him. Joe stood in the road, the dust from the departing horses settling around him. He sighed and started walking. 

 

The first mile wasn’t too bad. He went much slower than he normally would, and each step hurt a bit, but he had no other way to get home except to walk, so he did. The second mile, he made it through with sheer determination. Breathing was becoming difficult and a headache had made itself known. The third mile simply was not an option. Joe ached, his ribs protested all the movement, and his head pounded. He was dizzy and probably dehydrated again. He wavered where he stood and realized that he hadn’t moved a step in about ten minutes. His knees buckled and he fell more than sat down right where he was on the road. His exhausted mind wandered and he tried to get his thoughts in order. Had he really been involved in planning to steal the army payroll? He just couldn’t believe that of himself. But. Would other people? Afterall, no one knew where he was. No alibi to say he wasn’t involved. And if someone recognized his horse, he had no one to back up his story that Cochise had been taken except the very person who took him. He blinked hard and tipped his head forward to rest against his arms that he balanced on both knees. 

 

Again given the time to just do nothing but think, his own brain beat up on him and listed everything he didn’t like about himself and what he assumed other people thought of him as well. He was lazy. He was stupid. The only reason his brothers put up with him was to make their father happy. The only reason his father put up with him was because he had some sense of misguided loyalty and was stuck with him. Joe sighed. Maybe he should just leave. He had been enough trouble in the last twenty years. Maybe it was time that he just solved the problem for everyone else and took himself out of the equation. He could go to California and the gold fields there. No one would question him just showing up out of the blue. Or even catch a ship from San Francisco. Or maybe…

 

No, those were just thoughts, and his thoughts at that, no one else’s. If he was that worried about it, he should at least talk to his family before doing anything rash.  He shook his head to try to clear it, and ended up groaning as it ramped up his headache instead of helping. Having wasted enough time, he stumbled to his feet again and continued on his trek. 

 

******

 

Joe had made it another half mile before falling again. He lay on the ground and huffed a self-derisive laugh at himself. He could add worthless to that list. Couldn’t even walk well enough to make it home. He heard the squeak of a wagon needing its wheels oiled and the rhythmic beats of a two horse team and rolled over to sit up. He squinted against the bright sun and closed one eye to look up at the driver when the wagon pulled up next to him.

 

“Little Joe? What are you doing all the way out here? Where’s your horse?”

 

Joe shrugged. “Someone took him. Left me here. I tried walking, but… Well maybe it’s not the best idea after a concussion.” 

 

Isaac shook his head and stepped down from the wagon to help Joe up into it. “Seems all I do these days is find you hurt. Your pa is gonna start wondering about me.”

 

Joe swayed in the seat of the buckboard and Isaac frowned. “Think you should lie down in the back? There’s room for ya. I’m just hauling a few things back that they didn’t need anymore over at the Fredrick place.”

 

“Yeah, alright.” Joe shuffled about and landed unceremoniously in the back of the wagon. He was a little ashamed that Isaac was having to haul him home yet again, but at the same time, he was so exhausted and lackadaisical that he found he simply didn’t care. 

 

“Do you know who it was who took Cochise?”

 

Joe stayed silent. He didn’t know what Kirby would do if Joe went against his wishes and reported what he had done. 

 

“Joe? … Well whoever it was must not be from around here, or else he’d know how well recognized that horse is.”

 

“Do you have any water?”

 

“Sure, here.” Isaac handed back a half-full canteen. Joe spilled some down his front as the wagon jolted, but drank a few mouthfuls. He recorked the container and set it down next to himself. He sighed and closed his eyes. 

 

“You can take a nap. We still have about four miles to go. I’ll wake you when we get there.”

 

“Thanks, Isaac. You deserve better. Shouldn’t have to put up with everything I keep putting you through. But you’re a good guy.” Joe kept his eyes closed and missed the look of concern that the other man shot his way. 

 

******

 

“Your son’s horse was seen carrying a rider away from the scene.” Acting sheriff Lenn Brickle stated. 

 

“Well it wasn’t Joe riding him!”

 

“If it wasn’t him, then where is he?”

 

Ben and Hoss exchanged worried looks. The sheriff raised a good point. They could argue his innocence all they wanted, but with not knowing where he had left to, and an eye witness saying Cochise was at the scene, it didn’t look good for Joe. 

 

“Sheriff, we don’t exactly know where he is right now…”

 

“Well let me tell you then. He was seen riding that pinto along with three other riders on the Carson City road. They shot the driver and the guard. Luckily, their aim was poor. They rode off with the army payroll and met up with a wagon to switch it over to. They left the horses behind and headed outta the territory. Now, if you can prove he wasn’t there, I’ll leave ya be, but until then, I’m holding him under suspicion.”

 

“Joe wouldn’t just leave that pony behind. If it really was him, then he musta been threatened. You should be looking at him as a hostage, not an accomplice!” Hoss was getting more and more upset at the sheriff the longer he ignored their logic. Three sets of eyes turned when the sound of hoofbeats sounded around the barn. A moment later, Adam pulled rein and Sport slowed to a stop. He dismounted and shook his head. He’d had no luck locating his youngest brother. 

 

“All I found out was that he stopped by to see Tess this morning.”

 

“Did she say what time?”

 

“Around ten.” Adam frowned slightly and Ben sighed.

 

“Which would have given him plenty of time to join the rest of the gang on the Carson City road three hours later.” The acting sheriff stated rather smugly.

 

The Cartwrights ignored him and Hoss questioned his brother,“Adam, why would he have gone to see her? I thought they weren’t together no more?” Ben looked up in surprise at that. Joe hadn’t mentioned breaking up with the girl to him.

 

“She said he seemed confused. I’m willing to bet that the knock on his head caused him to forget the entire night before. He didn’t stay there long, just apologized then left.”

 

“You admit then that he was acting irrationally, and you still say that he is innocent? As far as I’m concerned, that just solidifies things. He needs to be arrested.

 

“Sheriff, what he needs is help.” Adam rounded on the other man. “As the law, you should be acting to help your constituents, not-” Adam was cut off when the sound of a wagon being driven quickly reached the four men. They turned again to see Isaac pull the blue roan team around the barn. Ben gestured for them to retreat to the house to continue their conversation, but Hoss excused himself when he saw Isaac pause and look his way before climbing into the back of the wagon.

 

“Isaac, you back from the Fredrick’s place?”

 

“Yeah, they got their forge up and running, so I brought some of the equipment back here. And guess just who I found on the road on the way? Why was your brother five miles out, alone, and without a horse a day after getting hurt like he did?”

 

Hoss’s jovial look turned to one of concern and he hurried to join Isaac at the wagon. “Where was it you found him?”

 

“Just on the side of the road. He said someone took his horse and he tried to walk back. He fell asleep pretty quick. Hoss, he seems exhausted. I dunno how far he had already walked, but I’m worried that he hadn’t even recovered from that concussion before this. He shouldn’t have been -”

 

Hoss cut the other man off, “The sheriff’s inside. I need you to tell him what you told me. And be exact as you can with locations.”

 

Isaac frowned, “Sure, but I think we should do something about Joe first.”

 

“I’ll take care a him. You just go clear things up with the sheriff.”

 

“Hoss.”

 

The tone he used caused the older brother to stop his movements and look directly at Isaac.

 

“I think there’s something other than just his getting hurt that’s wrong. I don’t know what it is, but over the last few weeks, maybe a month or so. He’s just seemed… sad. And today he was just really down on himself. And I think he knows the person who left him out there, but he refused to say who it was.”

 

Hoss nodded, “Just tell them about where you found him. We’ll sort the rest out later.”

 

Isaac hopped out of the wagon and exchanged places with Hoss before heading over to the house to tell the sheriff what had occurred. Hoss thought for a moment on if he should just carry his brother inside, or if he should wake him up. Deciding which would be less of a shock for Joe, he touched him gently on the shoulder. 

 

“Hey, Joe. Time to wake up, little brother.”

 

Joe shifted and sighed, but didn’t wake. Hoss stroked back Joe’s curls from his forehead and tried again. “Isaac got you home. Now you gotta wake up to get inside.”

 

Joe’s eyelids fluttered open and he grimaced at the headache that still persisted. “Hoss?”

 

“Yeah, it’s me. Can you get inside under yer own steam? Or you need some help?”

 

The younger man sat up slowly and waited for his vision to return to normal before scooting to the edge of the wagon and gingerly sliding to the ground. He wavered before reaching out to steady himself. Hoss caught his arm to keep him upright. “Ya good?”

 

“Gimme a minute.” Joe breathed as deep as his bound ribs would allow him then pushed away from the buckboard and aimed toward the house. His older brother stayed close and together they made their way across the yard to the door. As they crossed the threshold, the sheriff pushed his way past and Joe stumbled back. 

 

“Sorry…” He mumbled and moved back out of the way.

 

“Watch where you’re going, kid.”

 

“You watch where yer going, mister. My little brother’s hurt. You’ve done nothing this whole time but come down on him. You should be apologizing to him, not making things worse.” Hoss gripped Joe’s upper arm and tugged him into the main room past the lawman before he said something he’d regret. He made his brother sit down and Joe slumped forward to rest his head in both hands with his elbows balanced on his knees. 

 

“Was my fault, Hoss. I was in the way as usual.” 

 

“Joe, hush.” Hoss left him there and went with Isaac to make sure the acting sheriff left the ranch. Ben sat down next to Joe and urged him to look up.

 

“Are you alright, son?”

 

Joe looked at the worry in his father’s eyes. He knew he was more trouble than anything. He knew he wasn’t deserving of the concern he saw. But in that moment, he simply didn’t care. He was miserable. In pain. Exhausted. And terrified of what Kirby had in store for him. Joe shook his head and tipped sideways, trusting his father to catch him. Tears leaked from his eyes even as he tried to stop them. Ben caught him, just as he knew he would and held him securely, a levee against the storm. He didn’t try to stop Joe’s tears, just murmured words of love and support, knowing that Joe had to work his way through it by himself. 

 

Adam had joined the pair on the settee on Joe’s other side and rubbed soothing circles onto his youngest brother’s back. He exchanged a concerned look with their father, each knowing that there was more going on here than simply a reaction from getting hurt yesterday and over doing it today. Eventually Joe’s sobs quieted and Adam handed him a glass of water. The younger man sat up and took the glass, avoiding eye contact with either of his family members who sat with him.

 

“Joe” He didn’t get a response.

 

“Joseph.” That time the young man looked at his father briefly before averting his eyes again.

 

“I need you to tell me how you ended up out there without Cochise.”

 

Joe shrugged, “Was heading home and someone took him.”

 

Adam and Ben exchanged a look again. “Heading home from where?”

 

“Tess’s.” Joe heaved a sigh. “Forgot I wasn’t worth her time and went in to pick her up for a picnic.”

 

“Why didn’t you tell me you and Tess weren’t together anymore, son?”

 

“Didn’t think it was important.”

 

“Not important? I thought you two were getting pretty serious.”

 

“She couldn’t see a future with me. And she was right. Let’s face it, I’m going nowhere in life.”

 

“… We’ll come back to that. But Isaac said he found you on the road out to the Fredrick’s place. That’s nowhere near either here or Tess’s place.”

 

“Oh, well. I guess… I wasn’t really paying attention to where I was going. I suppose Cochise just decided to go that way.” That was a pretty flimsy excuse. Little Joe never was a good liar.

 

“Look Joe, we can both tell you’re trying to hide something. Now, why don’t you just come out and tell us what it is.” Ben shot Adam a look, thinking that was the wrong way to go about this.

 

Hoss came back into the house and took a seat in the blue chair next to the fire across from the other men and Joe cast him a desperate look. If anyone could get him out of talking about this, it would be Hoss. The big man understood the distress in Joe’s silent plea. 

 

“Pa, we’re not gonna get anywhere by pressuring him. Why don’t we rustle up some grub, and I’ll go put Cochise up and we can figure this out later.”

 

“Cochise? He’s home?” Joe perked up at that. Ben smiled gratefully at Hoss, knowing what his son was trying to do. 

 

“That sheriff brought him back. He’s fine. A little miffed at being kidnapped and used like he was, but not harmed. How ‘bout you come out to the barn with me, and I’ll fill you in as I give him a rub down?”

 

He was rewarded by a slight smile from the youngest Cartwright and crossed the room to pull him to his feet. He shook his head when the other two tried to follow. They walked slowly to the barn where Hoss made Joe sit down out of the way while he picked up a curry comb and brushed down the pinto. 

 

“Ya know, Joe, we can all tell something’s been bothering ya for awhile now. Even Isaac mentioned it. Now, I’m not gonna force ya to talk, but it would probably help ya feel a might better if ya did. Do ya wanna tell me what’s wrong?”

 

Chub stuck his head over the stall partition and nibbled Joe’s hair. He reached up a hand to stroke the velvety soft nose as he thought about his response. He snagged a molasses treat and held it up, smiling slightly when he felt the horse gently take it from him. On one hand, he knew his brother was right. Talking out worries and troubles generally did help him feel better, even if nothing was resolved right away. On the other hand, Hoss didn’t deserve to be unloaded on. But. It was Hoss who offered. That must mean he was ok with it, right? That he wanted to help. That maybe Joe wasn’t the burden he thought he was. He turned his face into Chub’s warm cheek and felt the horse nicker lowly against him. 

 

“That’s just the thing though. There isn’t anything wrong.” Hoss stayed quiet and waited for Joe to continue. “I mean, I was with the perfect girl. I have a family that cares about me and a horse who seems to want to stick around with a loser like me. But I just don’t … Oh I dunno. I guess I just don’t feel like I deserve any of it? I know it’s stupid.”

 

“Joe, it’s not stupid.”

 

“Yes it is! There’s so many problems right now! That mine that caved in killed five people. Their families will never see them again. The unrest back east and threat of secession. Even just smaller things, you know Tess’s mom is ill and they don’t know the reason. Then here I am. Oh boo hoo. Joe Cartwright is sad.” He scoffed at himself, hating how he was being so selfish when there were so many other people in the world with real problems.

 

Hoss set down the horse’s brush and tipped a flake of hay into the rack for each horse before moving to sit next to his younger brother. “Joe, there’s always gonna be someone worse off in the world. That’s just how it is. It doesn’t make yer problems any less.”

 

“Maybe not, but… I guess I’m just…” Joe sunk his head into his hands again. “You’re not gonna laugh at me, are ya?”

 

“Joe you know I won’t. Not when it’s important to ya.”

 

The younger man ran a hand through his hair and tugged lightly. “It’s been getting worse. Over the last few months. I just don’t care about things anymore. I mean, take Tess. She’s a great girl! We got along well. But I know I’m not good enough for her. Face it, I’m kinda a wreck. I’m always overreacting to things, thinking second, acting first. I don’t do much good around here. You’re always having to take care of whatever mess I get involved in. Heck, even tonight, you had to bail me out of this conversation with Pa and Adam. I’m just… I don’t like me, Hoss. And it doesn’t matter how much I try to prove myself, I’ll never live up to my own expectations.”

 

“Do you really think all that about yourself? Cause that’s not what I see. I see someone who reacts based on emotion because he cares deeply about everything he does. A man who is always the first to help if someone needs it. I know we rib ya, but Joe, you’re a stand up guy. Whatever you think you’re worth, you’d better multiply that by at least ten.”

 

Joe tried to smile back at his older brother, but he knew basic math. And ten times zero was still zero. He really did want to believe Hoss. Maybe he was harder on himself than he should be. Maybe he really was worth something. Joe frowned, remembering what had happened with Kirby earlier that day. It seemed that Isaac’s alibi had gotten him out of suspicion from the sheriff. He worried that Kirby would come back for some sort of retribution.

 

“Hoss, I gotta tell you something.”

 

“Sure. You know you can tell me anything.”

 

“Kirby McAlister was the person who took Cochise. He was gonna frame me for robbing the army payroll. I guess his plans were kinda foiled when Isaac proved I was nowhere near there.”

 

“Why didn’t you tell anyone that earlier?”

 

Joe just shrugged. He wasn’t entirely sure himself, but he figured it might have something to do with barely being able to think straight after his concussion. Speaking of which, his headache was still present. “I dunno, Hoss. Seemed like maybe it was the safe move. He’d taken Cochise. I didn’t want to do anything that would make him hurt him. And…” Joe trailed off. He still didn’t fully remember the conversation that Kirby had eluded to, and didn’t really want to get himself in any trouble. 

 

“And what?”

 

“Well, remember the dance? How I left after Tess and I broke up? I ran into Kirby at the Red Dog, I don’t really remember what happened, but today, he kinda said that it was my idea for the hold up. I don’t like to think that it would be but… what if it was?”

 

Hoss frowned at that. “Well who else was there? Anyone who might have heard the conversation and can prove you innocent?”

 

Joe shook his head. “The bartender and two saloon girls. But I don’t even know their names. I kinda made them mad by ignoring them, so I doubt they’ll help me, even if they did hear the conversation. Other than that, just Tanner and some other guys in their group that I didn’t know. Sides, even if the sheriff does believe that I had nothing to do with it, I’m still a little worried about Kirby.” Joe yawned and realized in surprise that the shadows had lengthened and the sun was setting. “Do me a favour, Hoss?”

 

“Sure thing. What do ya need?”

 

“Can you fill the others in on all that? I don’t really want to repeat it.”

 

“They’re not gonna think you’re any of those things either, Little Joe.” Hoss didn’t like the downtrodden look that hung on his little brother’s countenance. “Come on. Bedtime. Yer still recovering.”

 

The two brothers slowly walked back to the house. Hoss shook his head when Adam, Ben, and Hop Sing stood and looked to their entrance. He simply herded Joe up the stairs and into bed. He was not surprised in the least when Hop Sing showed up with a light dinner and a tea. Leaving his little brother to the small man’s ministrations, Hoss left the room to fill in the others on the information he had extracted from Joe.

 

“Thanks, Hop Sing. But.. what’s this tea? I don’t think I’ve had it before?”

 

“Peppermint, chamomile, lavender. Help Li’l Joe sleep and feel better about himself.” Hop Sing moved to leave the room before turning once more. “Family all care for Li’l Joe. Li’l Joe should care for himself.”

 

Joe smiled slightly. “Thanks Hop Sing. I know you all do. I’ll try.” He ate only a few bites of the food, but drank all the tea. He wasn’t sure if it would help his mental state, but it was calming and helped him fall asleep.

 

****** chapter 4

 

The following morning, Joe found that he felt better after his talk with Hoss. His older brother hadn’t marginalized his feelings and worries. Instead he had accepted that Joe felt that way, and offered support and his own view of his younger brother. Joe lay for a while in his bed thinking before getting up for the day. Hoss had said that even though other people had it worse, that Joe’s problems were valid, and that right there, just the reminder that Hoss was on his side, helped Joe feel better.  

 

He wrapped his arm around his injured ribs as he stood from the bed and struggled into his clothes. Finally making it downstairs, he found that Hop Sing knew he was awake and had steeped some of the same tea from last night. 

 

“Li’l Joe want some breakfast?”

 

“No thanks, Hop Sing, but this tea is wonderful.” 

 

“You need eat.”

 

“I know, but I just don’t feel all that great still. Maybe later, ok? Did everyone leave for the day already?”

 

Hop Sing nodded. “Back by dinner. I go Virginia City today for supplies. You stay here and recover.”

 

Joe nodded and for once intended to obey the instructions. He sipped at the tea that Hop Sing had made him and took the cup to sit down outside on the rocking chair. It was a pleasant morning, but there was a bite to the air that promised a storm later. Joe wondered if it would hold off long enough for everyone to get home. He waved as Hop Sing left in the buckboard for town, and settled back with his feet propped up and closed his eyes.

 

He was harshly jarred back to reality when someone kicked his legs and toppled the chair over. Joe winced when he hit the ground and his ribs shifted and grated on each other. Instantly angry, he scrambled to his feet and glared at the man standing over him. He was unsurprised to hear the abrasive sound of Kirby’s jeering laugh. The taller man stepped back out of Joe’s reach and easily avoided the fist that he swung at him. 

 

“Well looks like baby boy had his family talk him out of trouble again. And here I thought we had that sheriff plenty convinced that you had been involved.”

 

“Kirby, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll get outta here.”

 

“Now just why would I want to do that? Seems to me that I hold the upperhand.” He drew his revolver and leveled it at Joe. “As I recall, I told you to stay silent about yesterday. I know you’re stupid, but I don’t think you’re quite dumb enough to go against that. I suggest that you come with me and do exactly what I tell you to.”

 

“Or what, you’ll shoot me? Then how much good would I be to you?”

 

“I don’t need you unharmed. I just need you alive.”

 

“Well you’ll need more encouragement than that.” Joe almost laughed. Kirby thinking that threatening someone who already didn’t care for himself would help get his way was a rather entertaining premise. But the other man had come prepared. Tanner and the rest of his cronies came around the corner of the barn and pushed another person in front of them. Joe’s eyes blazed as Hop Sing was shoved to the ground, hands tied and gagged with a bandana. 

 

“How’s that for a good reason. The Chinaman means nothing to me. I won’t even get a slap on the wrist if I hurt him. But I know all you Cartwrights like havin’ him around. You come with us, or he gets shot.” Tanner’s lips curled into a wicked grin when he saw the fight leave Joe’s stance and he nodded.

 

Joe was shoved toward the barn and told to saddle a mount. He was restricted from taking Cochise, so he settled on a pretty little silver dapple bay. She was a rather new addition to their remuda, but her colouring was rare enough that Joe hoped she would be nearly as recognizable as his normal pinto. He led her to join the rest of the men, but dropped her rein to go to Hop Sing who still lay on the ground. He was stopped by the cocking of a revolver. 

 

“At least let me untie him!”

 

“So he can go for help and bring a whole posse after us? I don’t think so. He can stay just as he is. Now get on that horse. You’re gonna be our alibi. We’ll go straight through Virginia City. No one would think that someone who just held up an army payroll would stay in the area, let alone traipse through town. And with you there, having already been cleared, it’ll solidify our innocence. We’ll just be your normal hired hands. Then we’ll be in the clear. You do your part, and maybe I’ll let you go unharmed. 

 

Joe stayed silent. Kirby didn’t know that Joe had told Hoss. And Hoss had told the rest of the family for him. What Joe didn’t know was if anyone had filled in the sheriff yet. If he hadn’t been told, Kirby’s plan might work. If he had, there was a chance this would end in gunfire. Having no choice, he left Hop Sing with a regretful look and murmured apology and mounted Echo. She was a nice horse with a sure foot, but her gait was rougher than his normal horse. Tanner leaned over and bound Joe’s hands to the saddle horn then stretched the rope up and looped it around his neck before mounting his own horse and keeping hold of the end of the rope. 

 

It was in that manner that the group made the whole ride to Virginia City. Once they reached the edge of town, Kirby halted the group and moved to untie Joe. He had undone the rope around his neck and was reaching to unbind his wrists when there was a shout and the order for hands up.

 

“Kirby McAlister, you are under arrest for assault, horse theft, and the robbery of an army revenue wagon!”

 

The irate man lunged at Joe, “You son of a bitch, you really were that stupid to go tattling to the law. Well your luck’s just run out.” He backhanded Joe across the face then drew his sidearm and waved it maniacally. He fired toward the sheriff and Joe saw the man fall. Then Kirby remounted his horse and yanked Echo’s reins to tug her along with them as the group lit out away from town. Joe had no choice but to go with them. They were heading into the high country when the temperature dropped and Joe shivered, regretting that he hadn’t been allowed to grab even a light jacket. The outlaws slowed their mounts and discussed quietly among themselves before Kirby and the rest of the group turned and left Tanner with Joe.

 

“It’s your lucky day, brat. We’re lettin’ ya go.”

 

Joe watched the other man with caution. He didn’t fully believe they’d let him go, just like that. Sure enough, his fears proved true when Tanner laughed and continued, “All ya gotta do is figure out how to get free.” He dismounted and moved to reach up to Joe. Seeing his opportunity, Joe kicked Echo to run. She took off, reins trailing and mane flying. His hands still tied to her saddle horn, Joe tried his best to communicate with her just through his legs where he wanted her to go. He heard a curse behind him and then hoofbeats following. He ducked as a lasso passed by his head. There his luck ran out and on the next pass, the loop caught Echo’s rear hoof and she stumbled, tossing her rider. Joe plummeted from the saddle and came to a sharp stop hanging from his wrists. He gasped as he felt one of his shoulders separate from its socket. 

 

Tanner walked up to them and cut his bindings, laughing as the younger man fell to the ground with a yelp. He loosened the lasso and slapped Echo on the rump. She trotted off a distance before slowing and lowering her head to graze. “Shouldn’ta done that.” He drew his sidearm and Joe’s world went black as it was driven down onto the base of his skull.

 

******

 

Hop Sing watched as number three son was forced onto a horse and dragged away from the ranch. He waited until the men were out of sight before regaining his feet and making his way into the house. Struggling briefly with the door because of his tied hands, he finally made it inside and to the kitchen. A quick slice along a knife that lay on the counter, and the rope fell away. He yanked the bandana from around his head and tossed it to the floor. He moved to the desk in the main room and wrote a short note before going back out and saddling a horse to go into town and get help.

 

******

 

“Pa, his horse is still here. He can’t have gone far.” 

 

“Maybe he went with Hop Sing. He was going into town for supplies today.”

 

They untacked Buck and Chub and were making their way into the house when Adam came through the door, a piece of paper in hand and a worried countenance on his face. “We’re going into town. Come on.” He handed the paper to their father and crossed to the bard to re-saddle the horses. Ben read the note and looked up at Hoss in worry. 

 

“What’s it say?” 

 

“It’s from Hop Sing. Joe’s been taken. He went to get help in town. We’ll meet him there.”

 

******

 

When Joe clawed his way back to awareness, the first thing he noticed was the cold seeping into his body from every direction. The second thing was pain. His ribs, his head, his shoulders, everything hurt. He groaned and debated the merits of succumbing to the darkness again. A splash of water interrupted his thinking and he looked around him to gain his bearings. He blinked a few times before figuring out where he had ended up. He was tied again. This time, ropes were around his ankles and stretched to stakes driven into the ground. His wrists were bound in front of him, but he wondered how necessary that was when he realized his shoulder was still dislocated. More concerning, there was rope looped around his neck again. It was stretched tight and answered why his breathing was constricted. 

 

Another drop of water hit him in the face and he felt his heart rate pick up in panic. The clouds had finally broken and rain was beginning to fall. Joe struggled against his bindings and only caused himself more pain. He kept fighting the ropes desperately. He had been staked out in a dry arroyo. Dry only until there was rain higher up and the area flash flooded. He mentally told himself to pause and think through his situation. If he could reach the stakes, he could either pull them up or untie his ankles. But to do that, he would have to get the rope from around his neck. He reached up to try to untie it and immediately screamed at the movement. While he was able to use his right arm, his left was incapable of raising above his head. Once he gained control over the sudden pain, he realized he would have to get his wrists free in order to free his neck. 

 

He blinked rain out of his eyes and noticed with worry that there was now water trickling down the once dry arroyo. It was less than an inch, but this territory was unpredictable. If there was heavy rain higher up, gullies like this one could flash from nothing to five feet in seconds. Getting back to his problem at hand, Joe stared at his bound wrists. He was lying on a multitude of sharp stones, but they were bound in front and the stakes prevented him from turning over, so he couldn’t use any of the rocks to shred the ropes. 

 

Wait. His knife. Had they taken it?

 

He wiggled about until he could get a view of his left boot. He saw the hilt and breathed a sigh of relief. He still had it. But that just led back to the original problem of not being able to reach down because of the rope around his neck. Joe let his head fall back to the ground with a dull thunk, not even caring about the sharp pain that shot through him when he hit the barely healed injury.  He lay in the shallow water feeling despair wash over him. He was alone. The water was rising. He had no way to get free. 

 

Joe felt a tear slowly make its way down his face. He wouldn’t even get to say goodbye to anyone. The last time he had seen anyone in his family, he had ridden away leaving him tied on the ground. Hopefully Hop Sing would forgive him. His thoughts strayed to his brothers. Would Hoss understand that he hadn’t simply given up? Would Adam take care of Cochise for him? He inhaled shakily when his father crossed his mind next. Pa. 

 

“Pa, I’m sorry. Thanks for everything.” He knew no one would hear him, but it helped to say it aloud.

 

The water was rising now. It lapped at Joe’s sides and plastered his hair down. He lay passively, accepting that there was very little hope for him now. When the water started to carry sticks and other detritus, Joe closed his eyes. A single sob escaped him. He tried again to reach the rope around his neck, and again, his left arm physically wouldn’t lift far enough. In the face of his looming demise, Joe found that thinking of his family instilled in him the desire to continue to live. No matter how he felt about his life, he didn’t want it to end. In a fit of panic, he yanked his neck down harshly. It did no good. He tried the same with his ankles.

 

The left stake moved.

 

The water had loosened the dry earth enough so it was no longer firmly driven into the ground.

 

Joe pulled again. The right had no progress, but again the left stake moved. He continued to strain against the ropes. Progress was slow. And the water continued to rise quickly. Soon Joe was coughing as every other inhale brought in water along with air. He heard a loud roar and knew what was coming next. Sure enough, a wall of water turned the corner and the arroyo transformed from a drainage ditch to a fully rushing stream. Joe watched in horror as the flash flood rushed toward him. In desperation, he wrenched his legs one more time. As the water overtook him, he felt the stake come loose. 

 

He closed his eyes and held his breath. He bent his left leg up to reach the hilt of his knife. Drawing it out, he flipped it around so the tip faced his stomach. Making sure he didn’t lose his grip, he firmly grasped the blade itself so he could line it up with the bindings. He worked the knife between his wrists and sawed at the rope. He nearly dropped the hunting knife when it sliced through the last of the fibers and his hands separated. 

 

Not having a moment to lose, he reached up with his right hand and quickly cut the rope above his head. It was faster and easier to cut the rope above his head instead of working the knife against his neck and risk slitting his own throat. He was nearly free. Fighting the current, he sat up and drew desperate breaths, his face barely breaching the top of the flood waters. Holding his breath one more time, he ducked back below the surface and cut the last remaining binding holding him hostage. The water instantly took hold of him and swept him headfirst down the gully. Joe dropped the knife and flailed about. He was thrown into the wall of the arroyo and grasped desperately at the roots that stuck out. 

 

Successfully catching himself, he pulled his battered body out of the water. He breached the top of the arroyo and collapsed. Flat on the ground, he coughed roughly until he rolled onto his side and was able to slowly regain his breath. He was beyond exhausted. He tried to rise, to move away from the waters that had nearly taken his life. The last thing he was aware of before unconsciousness reclaimed him was the sound of hooves and someone shouting his name. 

 

******

 

Ben, Hoss, and Adam had ridden into Virginia City and hadn’t even dismounted when Sheriff Coffee came out of his office with Hop Sing and four other men right behind. Roy had returned to find that his deputy who had been left as acting sheriff had been shot in the leg when he had tried to make an arrest for a robbery. He had barely set his hat down back in the office when Hop Sing burst through the door and informed him that the same men had taken Little Joe. Not wasting any time, they left the office to find help to go after them. Lenn had told him which direction he had watched them ride off. 

 

“Roy! Hop Sing!”

 

“Mr. Cartlight, sheriff back. Other sheriff shot. Say they went north.”

 

“Let’s ride.

 

******

 

They had been able to follow the very obvious trial for about four miles. There the trail split. The sign showed that two riders had turned away from the rest of the group and another had joined.

 

“So we split up then. One group still has Little Joe, and there’s no way to know which.”

 

“No, they’ve left him somewhere.”

 

“Adam…”

 

“Hoss, you said yourself. The horse that rejoined. That is the same track as one that left. So he took another rider, then came back alone. Why? Because that other rider was Little Joe. And they’ve left him out here alone somewhere. Probably hurt.” Adam left it unsaid that he might be dead instead of just hurt. He looked at the sky as rain started to fall. They would have to move fast, before the falling water obliterated the trail. 

 

“Adam, Ben. I know finding Joe is your priority. But as a lawman, I have to find those men. I’ll take the posse and follow the group. You go find Little Joe.”

 

Hoss didn’t wait to listen to any more. He urged Chub to follow the trail and Adam followed immediately, Ben and Hop Sing right behind. The rain started to come down in earnest and steam rose from the horses, their overworked bodies contrasting to the chilly temperature of the falling water. He looked up from the ground and over to his brother. 

 

“The rain has washed out the trail, Adam.”

 

Adam looked back at him, his jaw tight and fear present in his eyes. Suddenly, his gaze shifted and he looked past Hoss. “Look over there. That’s Echo. She must have been the horse Joe was on.” He turned Sport’s head to go that direction as the sound of rushing water reached their ears. They all recognized the sound of a flash flood tumbling its way down one of many dry gulches in the area. The riders pulled up next to the silver dapple bay and cast desperately about for any sign of Joe. The mare had been standing close to the edge of an arroyo which was now rushing with water. Ben gasped and turned Buck downstream. The others followed him and were in shock to see a figure pull himself up over the edge of the gully before coughing harshly and collapsing. 

 

Ben fell to his knees beside his youngest son and gently pulled him into his arms. He was horrified to see  ropes hanging from Joe’s neck and from each ankle. 

 

“Pa! Is he…”

 

“He’s unconscious, but breathing. His shoulder is dislocated and his right hand has been cut. Adam, help me.” His eldest son joined him and together they gently felt down Joe’s neck and spine to make sure nothing was broken before moving him any more. He held Joe gently as Adam pulled his knife and sliced the ropes hanging from his little brother. Anger built in them as the rope was removed revealing deep bruising on his neck to match that around his wrists. 

 

“Hop Sing. Ride back to town. Tell the doctor what to expect. Hoss, Adam. Help me get him up on Buck.”

 

Together the three of them lifted their youngest. His brothers held him on the horse as Ben mounted before pulling Joe back to lean against his chest. Joe’s head flopped loosely back onto Ben’s shoulder and his breath rasped in his chest. Buck moved toward town at the nudge Ben gave him and slowly the family made their way back to civilization.

 

******

 

Joe swam slowly back to awareness. He blinked a few times as the room came back into focus. Unsurprised to see someone by his bedside, he smiled weakly and moved to reach out to Hoss. His hand barely twitched, but Hoss woke up anyway, knowing his little brother needed him.

 

“Joe! How do you feel?” 

 

He opened his mouth to respond and instead found himself sobbing. 

 

“Hey, what’s wrong, Punkin?” Hoss reached out to comfort Joe, concern evident on his face. Joe moved as best as he could toward his older brother and Hoss got the message easily. He pulled Joe into his arms and slid behind the younger man on the bed. Joe rested his head against Hoss’s chest and let the tears flow. He had given up ever seeing his family again. Had resigned himself to die alone. Had accepted his demise. Yet here he was. Alive. Somehow, he had been granted a second chance.

 

“You found me.” His words were whispered, as if he didn’t fully believe them. 

 

“Course we found you, buddy.” Adam had joined them and knelt by the bed reaching out to Joe and helping to solidify the realization that he was alive.

 

“I didn’t think you would. I thought I’d never see any of you again. But you did.”

 

“Joseph, we’ll always be there for you.” Ben sat on their other side and stroked back Joe’s curls before wiping the tears from his son’s face. 

 

Joe smiled and closed his eyes again. Maybe he was still a bother to them, but they accepted him as he was. Maybe life wasn’t so bad. It wouldn’t be an easy path, but maybe with his family, he could get through anything.