Summary: Two opposites collide, a serial killer targeting young men and 17 year old Little Joe whose cavalier attitude puts him in harm’s way.
Rating: T
Word Count: 31,000

 

Harm’s Way

“Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.” (Proverbs 4:1)

 

Ben Cartwright slapped the newspaper down onto the sheriff’s desk angrily. The news was grim, just as it had been for weeks.  Settling into the chair next to Roy Coffee’s desk Ben sighed worriedly.

“That’s three murders in three weeks now.  Something’s got to be done about it!”

“I know, Ben, I’m doing all I can do right now,” Roy replied defensively.

Ben put his hand on top of his old friend’s arm and forced a smile of reassurance.  “Of course you are, Roy!  Nobody’s saying anything different.  Besides it’s not just on you–the sheriff in Carson City is just as stumped over these crimes as you are.  This makes three young men dead, one in Carson, one in Genoa, and one here in Virginia City.  No clues and nobody has seen anything.”

“It just don’t make no sense!”  Roy called out angrily as he stood from his chair. “Why in tarnation would someone go around killing these boys?  No sign of robbery—nothing.  And the way this killer goes about doing it–” Roy stopped his statement as a flurry of gruesome pictures formed in his mind.  He still remembered finding Josh Crane’s body.  The eighteen year old bank teller had his throat sliced and other signs of frenzied mutilation done to his body when Roy had come upon him behind the blacksmith’s shop.  “Never in my forty years as a lawman have I come across this type of bloody maniac.  The folks in this town, and even over in Carson and Genoa are scared out of their wits.  Lately the town looks deserted at night–other than the party goers over in the saloons.”

“Can’t blame them all, Roy,” Ben said and also stood as his son Hoss came through the door and approached the two men.  “You get the supplies loaded already, Son?”

“Yeah, all set, Pa. How you doing, Roy?”  Hoss smiled and shook the man’s hand.

“I’ve Been better—you all heading out?”

“Yeah, we got to get back, Hop Sing is waiting on some of these supplies to fix dinner so don’t want to waste any time,” Hoss grinned thinking about the feast the cook had promised him that night in return for some ingredients from the mercantile.

“Where’s Little Joe and Adam?”  Roy asked as he walked the two men to the door.

Ben tucked the newspaper back under his arm and replied, “They are up at the flume but I expect them to be home by the time we return.”

“You’re keeping an eye on Little Joe I take it–what with all that’s happened?”

“Oh, you know he is!  Heck, Pa worries about the kid when there isn’t something like this going on–you can just imagine now,” Hoss answered and noticed his father’s scowl shot his way.

“Nothing’s funny about this, Hoss.  We’ve got three dead youngsters—all around the same age as your little brother.  He’s been warned already to hang around you and Adam.”

“We got us a detective coming over from Carson tomorrow, Ben.  How about coming back into town and meeting with me and him and a couple of other men over at the courthouse around noon?”

“I’ll be there.  We’ll get the killer, Roy–don’t worry,” Ben nodded and patted the sheriff’s shoulder as he pulled the door open to leave.

*****************************

Joe Cartwright dismounted from his pinto and reached for the horse’s front right hoof.  Just as he had suspected, the shoe had been thrown off. ****Pa is gonna have my hide***Joe thought to himself and sighed.  He had argued with his brother Adam some two hours earlier and won the right to head back to the ranch house without a bodyguard.  Joe had promised his oldest brother he would go straight home, but now it looked like it would be one hell of a walk.  He did not want to chance making his beloved horse Cochise lame by trying to ride her any farther.

“Come on, Chise, we got some walking to do,” Joe muttered and pulled the reins out in front of the horse and started his trek back towards the ranch house.  He knew Adam would be taking a different path home so he couldn’t count on any help coming anytime soon.  Joe wished now he hadn’t disobeyed Adam’s strict instructions.  Instead of the most traveled road back from the flume to the house, Joe had veered a long way from the normal route.  He lately had felt stifled by the forced companionship of his two brothers and decided to take the long way home to enjoy a little freedom.  Now as he walked down the dirt road he cursed his stupidity and knew he was in for big trouble when he did make it home.  Not only had he not obeyed his father’s strict orders to stay with his brothers at all times, but he also had forgotten to get his horse re-shod which was another thing Ben had told him to do days ago.

It had been almost two miles of leading Cochise and toughing out the rocky trail before Joe spied a wagon coming his way in the distance.  His heart leapt thinking he would find some badly needed help which might just get him home sooner and perhaps put him in less trouble with his father.  He waved and the driver made his way over in front of the young man, pulling his team to a halt.  Joe noticed the sign on the canvas wagon that said “ Samuel’s Dry Goods” and then smiled up at the stranger.

“Hi, you heading into Virginia City by any chance?”  Joe asked.

“Yes, I am.  Looks like you’ve had some trouble, huh?”  The man nodded towards the pinto.

“Yes, sir–I have—threw a shoe.  You mind if I ride with you?  I was gonna try to walk all the way home, but getting into town would be better.  I would be able to get that shoe fixed and make it home a whole lot faster that way.”

“My name is Samuel Lincolns, and you would be?”

“Sorry—forgot to introduce myself.  My name’s Joe–Joe Cartwright.  Please to meet you.”

“Likewise, I am sure.  Come on tie your horse behind the wagon and hop up here.  We will be in town soon.”

“Thanks–thanks a whole lot!”  Joe called over to the man and hurriedly tied Cochise’s reins to the back of the wagon.

****************************

Adam Cartwright rode his horse into the front yard of the Ponderosa ranch house and dismounted.  He was tired and was looking forward to a short nap on the settee before eating supper.  Hoping to catch his youngest brother coming out of the barn and coercing him into stabling Sport, Adam pulled open the barn door.  He stopped in his tracks when he noticed the empty stall.  Turning back out of the barn, reins still in his hands, Adam heard the approach of horses and it was then that both his father and brother Hoss appeared.

“Hey, looks like we all fell in here at the same time, Adam!”  Hoss called down to the man and dismounted.

“Not all of us I am afraid,” Adam replied and noticed the statement made his father stop his dismount.

“Where is he?”  Ben asked angrily.

“He’ll be here soon, Pa–don’t worry.  Just took the long way back most likely,” Adam explained.

“If he knows what’s good for him he will,” Ben said and finally dismounted and handed his reins to Hoss.

“We’ll put away the horses, Pa.  You go and sit down and relax.  Oh, and take these packages in for Hop Sing so he can finish dinner, okay?”  Hoss tried to lighten the mood.  He could almost see the wheels turning in his father’s mind and knew his only thought was his wayward youngest son at the moment.

Ben took the packages as Hoss removed them from the backs of the two mounts and turned and walked into the house.  Adam and Hoss could see in the set of their father’s shoulders that he was very worried and very mad.

“That kid better come home soon or Pa will be doing some tanning tonight,” Adam said to Hoss as they led the horses into the barn.

“Sometimes I just don’t know how to figure that youngster out!”  Hoss exclaimed shaking his head.  “He knows there’s been three murders and he knows that they were all young men.”

“You know Little Joe–the kid thinks he is indestructible!”

“Yeah, well he has proved that a time or two but his luck won’t last forever,” Hoss returned as he removed the saddle from Buck and tossed it onto the stall railing.

“His luck may not hold out for one more night if he makes Pa worry much longer,” Adam quipped and helped his brother tend to the animals.

*****************************

The journey into Virginia City had been very pleasant, and far easier on Joe than the walk home would have been.  Mr. Lincolns seemed like a nice man and Joe had been told all about his adventures peddling his wares from town to town.  When they parted in front of the blacksmith’s shop Joe had offered to pay the man but he refused the money.  Telling Joe that he should pass the favor to someone else in the future, the man headed on down the road.

Joe was in luck to find the blacksmith over at the Silver Dollar Saloon and the man had agreed to do fast work of the horseshoe repairs in exchange for two bottles of whiskey.  So, in less than an hour Joe was heading back towards the Ponderosa at a good clip trying to make it home before dark.

Dinner had been held up due to the absence of the youngest member of the family.  They had held off as long as any of them could stand to but finally it was decided that it was time to head out to see what had happened to the errant young man.  Hoss did not envy his little brother each time he looked across at their father and saw the mounting anger etched on his face.  The three men stood by the entranceway and secured their gun belts readying for the search for Joe.  Just as Adam had reached for the door it opened by itself and in walked Joe.

“Hey—sorry I’m late but–” Joe started but was cut off very quickly before he could continue with his explanation. Ben grabbed Joe by the arm and started right in on him.

“You get yourself upstairs this minute, Joseph!”  Ben yelled and turned his son around.

“But–” Joe protested.

“Now!” Ben boomed and Joe stopped his protests.  Adam and Hoss stood back and watched the scene unfold.  Joe’s temper mounted, but he knew better than to challenge his father after witnessing the look on the man’s face.  He headed towards the staircase fuming inside.

Ben unbuckled his holster and dropped it angrily on top of the credenza.  Hoss followed his father as he headed towards the stairs.  He worried about his little brother now and hoped he could intervene.  “Pa–he’s home, he’s all right—why don’t we sit down and eat and you can talk to him after you settle down a little?”  Hoss pleaded.

Ben never turned around to answer his middle son, he ascended the stairs to address his disobedient youngest.  “I’ll talk to Joseph now,” Ben muttered harshly.

Joe had made it into his room and moved over to his bedroom window before his father entered the room.  He knew he was in trouble, but he thought that Pa would at least let him explain before he started yelling at him.  Joe was mad now, but not nearly as mad as his father was as he approached the window and reached for his son’s arm.

“You just refuse to follow directions, Joseph, and that’s going to stop right now!”

“I don’t know what you’re so mad about!”  Joe fired back loudly and then wished he had lowered his voice and not screamed at his father.  He couldn’t help it, once his temper was at its peak Joe couldn’t control it.

Ben grabbed Joe’s other arm and locked him there in front of him with both of his hands.  “You had better watch that tone, you’re in bad enough trouble at this moment.”

“Why? What did I do?”

“Don’t play me for a fool, Joseph.  Adam told me you promised to come right home.  He’s been home for hours.”

“Yeah well his horse didn’t throw a shoe and mine did!”  Joe snapped back and watched his father’s face become even harsher in appearance.

“You are this close,” Ben stopped and released one of his hands from Joe’s arms and held up his fingers to signify an inch.   “Go ahead, make it worse–keep on firing back at me!”

“Hey—you jumped ME remember?  You wouldn’t even let me explain before you sent me up to my room like a two year old.  How do you think that made me feel in front of my brothers?”

“How do you think it made ME feel when you didn’t arrive home on time?  How do you think it made your brothers–and even Hop Sing feel for that matter?”

“I couldn’t help it—I told you Cochise threw a shoe,” Joe tried to get his point across but wasn’t having much luck.

“Oh so she threw a shoe—just like I told you she would a week ago when I reminded you to get them fixed.”

“Okay–you told me, I didn’t do it, but it’s still not my fault,” Joe reasoned to deaf ears.

“So that’s not your fault–you coming home late isn’t your fault–nothing is YOUR fault right, Joseph?”  Ben replied full of sarcasm.

“Go ahead and hit me if you want–I don’t care!”  Joe yelled and moved over to his bed and dropped down on his stomach.  “You don’t want to listen to my explanations, you just want to yell.”

Ben made the move over towards his son and sat down on the bed and forced him to roll over and face him.  “No, it’s not going to be that easy.  And I will hit you whenever I decide to, but that’s not the main issue at this particular moment.  You said you walked home?  All the way?”

“Well–no—I started to walk home,” Joe dropped his eyes down away from Ben’s gaze.  The more he thought on his upcoming explanation the more he realized that a whole lot of his problems he actually did bring on himself.  But, he was still angry with his father anyway.  “I was kinda far from the ranch house when I started out.”

“Did you tell Adam you would come right home?”

“Yes–but I took the long way home,” Joe stopped again and saw Ben shaking his head upset over the facts that were starting to come forward.  “Pa–I’ve been watched over for weeks now and I just wanted a few minutes alone–is that a crime?”

“If you told your brother you were coming right home then it’s not a crime– however it is a lie.  So, you have that one against you let’s see how many more you can come up with.  Now, I thought I heard someone riding up right before you walked inside—was that your horse?  Did you ride Cochise with a missing shoe?”

“No, Sir–you know I’m not that stupid!”

“I am beginning to wonder—go ahead–tell me the rest of it,” Ben sighed he was starting to run out of steam.  It was never easy to stay mad at Joseph, but he was trying his best.

“I met up with a peddler—he drove me in his wagon into Virginia City and I had the shoe put on and hurried home,” Joe replied and then saw what looked like stark terror in his father’s eyes.

“You did what?!”  Ben exploded and grabbed Joe up, pulling him from his somewhat reclining position.

“What’s wrong now?”  Joe asked, surprised by the abruptness of his father’s movements.  Ben was holding his son’s arm so tight that Joe was not sure what was going to happen next.

“You actually rode into town with a stranger?  Are you crazy?  You haven’t listened to one thing I have said for weeks!  There’s someone running around killing boys, boys YOUR age!  And you got in that wagon with a stranger!”

“Seemed okay to me,” Joe argued and watched as Ben stood from the bed and looked down at him.

“I am going downstairs now, Joseph,” Ben whispered trying to fight back both his fear and anguish over what his son had revealed to him.  He knew he was so close to unleashing his anger and frustrations on the boy that it scared him.  Ben didn’t want to take any drastic measures until he had thought them through.  If he were to get his hands on his youngest son at that moment he was worried that he might do serious harm.  “If I do what my gut tells me to do at this moment we are both going to be sorry–especially you!  So, you sit up here and think about it, Joseph.  Think about all the ways you have disobeyed me and all of the worry you have caused this family.  Then I want you to say the same prayer I am going to say when I leave this room.  You thank God that you weren’t killed today!”  Ben pulled the door open and left the room, shutting it loudly as he walked into the hallway.

Joe rolled over onto his stomach and cussed under his breath, ***that was totally ridiculous–what’s he so mad for? I came home!  You’d think I robbed a bank or something.  Just because a couple of people got killed he wants to keep me under lock and key.  Yeah like I am too stupid to stay away from trouble or something! *** Joe closed his eyes and pressed his face into the pillow.  He knew he still had round number two with his father coming up later and tried to figure out what he would tell the man.  He hoped Ben would calm down before returning to his room, but from past experiences with his father, Joe didn’t really think that was going to happen.

*****************************

Adam and Hoss ate their dinner with little conversation exchanged between them both.  They kept a watchful eye towards their father and waited for him to tell them what had gone on with his talk with their brother.  Ben seemed to be in deep thought and totally ignored Hop Sing’s offer for second helpings.

“Pa?  You okay?”  Adam finally opened the subject for discussion.

“No I’m not actually,” Ben sighed and sipped on his coffee.  He had hardly tasted the meal but had evidently polished off the food on his plate nonetheless.  “Your brother took the long way home, just like you suspected, Adam.  Then his horse threw a shoe.”

“I been after Joe to get those horseshoes fixed,” Hoss commented shaking his head.

“I told him to change them last week, but no, he didn’t bother to follow those directions either,” Ben grumbled.

“So, then what happened?”  Adam continued his questioning.

“Oh, here is the best part—this shows just how much Joseph has been listening to all of us!  He caught a ride with a passing peddler who took him into town.”

“What!”  Adam and Hoss exclaimed and now knew why there had been loud voices earlier coming from their brother’s room.

“That’s right—he rides into town with a perfect stranger.  You know what he said when I blew up about it?”  Ben focused in on his sons and they shrugged their shoulders.  “He said he thought the man looked okay!”

“I hope you smacked him good!”  Adam announced disgusted over what Joe had put them all through that day.

“No I didn’t — at least not yet.  I am going up there after I cool down.  I am gonna give him one more chance to redeem himself.  But, if he doesn’t–” Ben stopped himself.  He was not at all sure of how he was really going to handle the young man who never learned anything the easy way.

“Well, usually I would argue to Joe’s defense,” Hoss said and looked into his father’s distraught eyes “but, this time the stakes are too high–he could have been killed, Pa.”

“Just think—if that peddler happened to be the killer.  I mean, that almost fits the profile, doesn’t it?  I mean he travels town to town–and the murders have jumped from town to town,” Adam offered his feelings on the subject.

Ben shook his head sadly, just the thought of Joe taking such terrible risks made his chest tighten up.  “He just better be ready to apologize when I go up there.  I will remind him just what kind of a maniac this killer is.  Three boys dead, and the way they died–” Ben trailed off once more.  The graphic details of the murders might just make the difference in his conversation later with his youngest son.  He made a mental note to use them.  “I think I’ll go out for some air–excuse me,” Ben announced and stood from the table.

Hoss and Adam watched their father as he walked away and they both knew that he had a very heavy heart at the time.

“It’s not fair that the kid put Pa through all this unnecessary worry,” Adam fumed.

“I think I’ll try to get through to him tomorrow, Adam.”

“Don’t think you are gonna have to—I am laying my odds on our father.  I’ve seen that look on his face before.  I think Joe is gonna be paying the price for this stunt soon enough.”

************************

Ben stood outside on the porch for a long time just mulling over the situation at hand.  He argued the pros and cons of punishing Joe and just how he would do it.  Joe was always the biggest challenge of his three sons and the one who never seemed to learn the error of his ways the first time they were addressed.  The boy had just turned seventeen two weeks prior and he thought that he was all grown up and no longer had to follow any rules.  Joseph didn’t even seem to be bothered by the fact that there was a killer on the loose, one who was killing boys his exact age.  Ben shook his head wearily.  This particular time it was just as Hoss had earlier stated, the stakes were far too high to do nothing in response to Joe’s disobedience.  Ben drew in a breath and let it out slowly, trying to arrange his thoughts on what he would do next.  Finally he walked solemnly back inside the house and headed once again to the staircase.  He noticed both of his other sons looking over at him and Ben just shook his head and shrugged his shoulders in response to their questioning gaze.

Joe had also been thinking, or rather, calculating his next move.  He may have lacked somewhat in common sense at the age of seventeen, but he knew from past history what his chances were with his father now.  Part of him, his wiser self, wanted to simply apologize and hope that would be enough to get his father to ease up on him a little. But, unfortunately Joe’s larger self was one that never turned from a fight, especially if he felt he was truly in the right.  And Joe felt he was in the right this time and that his father had gone overboard with his anger earlier.

When the door to his room opened again, Joe stood from his bed and tried to gauge his father’s mood accordingly.  The man still wore the previous frown on his face and the tight set of his shoulders as he neared his son.

“Well?”  Ben asked and stared into the bright hazel eyes and also tried to read what he saw in them.

“Well what?”  Joe asked innocently.

“Have you thought on all I told you to, Joseph?”

“Yeah—and if it’s an apology you want then fine—I’m sorry my horse threw a shoe,” Joe stated with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.  He crossed his arms over his chest and squared off with his father, not willing to apologize more than he had.

“Oh then that’s it?  You are sorry your horse threw a shoe–but you are not sorry that you lied to Adam and disobeyed me?  You are not sorry that you hitched a ride with a perfect stranger all the while knowing the danger in doing so?” Ben replied, raising his eyebrows to show his increasing ire.

“You’d of done the same thing—wouldn’t you?  Would you have walked all the way home if you could’ve gotten a ride into town? No!  And the only reason you are mad at me is because you are worried about some killer on the loose!”

“Well, first of all I would NOT have hitched a ride with a stranger–unlike you I would have more sense–” Ben started but Joe unthinkingly cut his father off.

“What do you want me to do?  You want me to go around thinking everyone’s a killer out there, Pa?!”  He shouted and Ben grabbed his arms tightly, stopping Joe from his disrespectful tirade.

“I want you to stop taking chances with your life—that’s what I want you to stop doing!”  Ben yelled back at his son.  “And I want you to stop lying and I want you to stop disobeying me–are you getting my drift yet?”

“If I had walked all the way home it would’ve still been late and you would’ve still been mad at me–so it was a no win situation,” Joe replied bitterly.

Ben forced Joe to look into his eyes to make sure that his son could see the pain that was still in them.  “I might have been mad—no–I take that back– I would have been mad–but not nearly as mad as I am to know you caught that ride with a stranger, Joseph!  I’ve seen the body of Josh Crane—but you haven’t.  He was sliced ear to ear and gutted like some kind of animal.  That’s all I thought about when I learned that you never made it home–that you had run up on that maniac!”

“Well I didn’t so what’s the problem?”  Joe asked and saw his father’s expression turn into a scowl.

“The problem is your attitude, Young Man–and we are going to address it right now!  You may not care about how badly you worried your family, but it’s not going to happen again,” Ben stepped back and loosened his belt.

Joe watched the move his father had made and knew what was going to happen next.  It only angered him more.  He felt like he was being punished for no real reason other than his horse throwing a shoe and making him come home late.  Joe felt he had proven that his ride into town with the peddler was a harmless venture and he had returned home safe and sound.  Now he was about to be on the receiving end of a tanning and Joe was none too happy about it.  He defiantly decided to not even utter a sound during his punishment so that his father would not know how badly he was hurting.

Ben pushed Joe over to the end of the bed, his heart in his throat as he readied for the punishment that his son more than had coming to him.  He hoped that when he finished that his son would hurt as badly as it was hurting him in doing it to the boy.  Joe closed his eyes as his hands held onto the bedpost.  He braced himself for the punishment to begin.  Ben measuredly sent out his belt hitting his son across his backside just hard enough to get his point across without causing any serious injury to his son.  After only a few passes with the belt Ben felt he had gotten his message conveyed sufficiently, causing more damage to the boy’s pride than to his backside.   He pulled Joe back around to face him once more.  Joe stood there rigid in stature and refused to look directly at his father.

“You are restricted to the ranch house and front yard indefinitely.  There’s more than enough work for you to do outside cleaning the stables and cutting firewood.  Until you can prove to me that you are taking this threat of danger seriously, no-one is going to take their eyes off of you.  Do I make myself clear, Joseph?”

Joe still held his breath and fought the welling of tears in his eyes.  He was doing his best to keep from breaking down due to the tanning and the humiliation that he felt.

“Do I make myself clear, Joseph?”  Ben repeated louder.

“Yes, Sir,” Joe finally answered, looking away from his father’s eyes.

“Good.  Now you go to bed–I’ve got plans for you tomorrow that will more than keep you occupied,” Ben stated firmly and walked over to the door.  He paused and shot a look back at his youngest son.  Ben knew Joe was trying his hardest to keep the tears from spilling from his eyes.  He had also noticed the somewhat quivering chin before his son had turned away from him.  “You will recover from a tanning, Joseph–but you won’t recover from being killed.  Think about it.  I’ll see you in the morning,” Ben stated firmly and walked out of the room.

Joe walked back to the side of his bed and slowly lowered himself down onto the mattress.  He buried his face in his pillow and finally the tears came pouring out.  Joe still had no real clue as to why his father had been so upset with him.  He still felt like he had been punished unjustly.  The boy fell off into a troubled sleep thinking about all that had happened that day.

************************

Ben came down the stairs very slowly and Hoss and Adam noticed that he was buckling his belt as he moved down to the last step.  It was very apparent what had happened upstairs and they knew that there were two very sad people in the house now.  Joe, because he was on the receiving end, was hurt, but their father was hurting just as badly.  Ben walked over to his study and poured himself a shot of brandy and sighed.  It was at times like these that he didn’t care too much for having to be the disciplinarian in the family.  He noticed both Adam and Hoss had moved in closer and witnessed the looks they had on their faces.

“I just dusted his pants a bit – the boy deserved far more than I just gave him.  I only hope it will help to end his reckless behavior,” Pa sighed.

“I think you were too soft on the kid,” Adam threw in.

“Probably,” Pa nodded.  “I wasn’t trying to hurt him – I think my belt is hurt far more than Joseph’s backside is!  I tried to talk sense into him and he just wouldn’t listen.  I don’t like to use physical force – but the boy won’t take that chip off of his shoulder.  Going off with that peddler — it just really got to me.  But Joseph still thinks that it was a perfectly harmless thing to do.  If he had only apologized and meant it,” Ben shook his head and didn’t know why he felt guilty for what he had done because his son had all but asked for it in all that he had said to him.

“When we wuz younger we didn’t even pull half of the stunts that Little Joe has in seventeen years but you were never easy on us!” Hoss exclaimed. “If it had been either of us and we’d done what Joe did today you would still be upstairs wearing us out!’

“Well, if that boy does anything like that again he’ll get far worse – I just hope it doesn’t come to that.  I never liked to use my belt on any of you boys.  Fortunately you and Adam learned right away.  Joseph – well – is Joseph,” Ben frowned.

“Joseph” may be “Joseph,” Adam smiled and patted his father’s arm.  “But “Joseph” got off easy tonight.  He’d better be glad that you’ve mellowed over the years.”

Pa smiled over what his eldest had said.  “I don’t think I’ve mellowed – I just think Joseph knows how to play me better than you two did.  But that stops right now.  There’s too much on the line with that killer on the loose.  I’ll keep a close rein on that boy from now on.”

Adam and Hoss exchanged glances.  They could read their father’s face and knew that this time he meant exactly what he had said.  Pa wasn’t playing around anymore and they hoped that Joe would straighten up before he had to find out just how tough their father could be when he wanted to.

*******************************

The next morning Joe slowly came down the stairs and shot a look over towards the dining room where his family was already seated for breakfast.  He walked past the settee and moved over to the credenza to grab his jacket.  Ben saw the move and called out to him.

“Joseph, come in for breakfast.”

“I’m not hungry,” Joe faintly muttered and reached for his hat.  Ben came around the corner and stood next to his son.  He had told Adam and Hoss that he would keep a tight rein on the youngest and Pa figured that he had to start on that plan right away for his son’s own good.

“Well, then you can sit and watch us eat.  Come over to the table now,” Ben replied sternly.

Joe’s face winced and he closed his eyes, fighting back his anger at the situation.  He did not want to sit with the others in fact he didn’t want to sit at all.  But, he could tell by his father’s tone of voice that he was not asking, he was telling him to come to the table.  Joe followed Ben back to the dining room and slowly lowered himself into his chair.  Ben sat down as well, and poured a cup of coffee and passed it over to Hoss to set in front of his little brother.

“I have a meeting in town at noon with Roy, so don’t expect me back until later this afternoon, Boys,” Ben started and shot a glance down towards Joe.  He frowned when he saw the defiance still written all over his youngest son’s face.  Joe was having no part of the breakfast and no part of the conversation either.

“We’ll be done up at the flume by three, Pa, then we’ll come right home,” Adam jumped in sensing the mounting tension going on between Ben and Joe.

“Yeah, might have to start in on that branding tomorrow, looks like,” Hoss took his turn at trying to take everyone’s mind off of the hostility.

“That’s fine if I get the chance I will come out and help you both tomorrow,” Ben replied and looked once again towards Joe.  He felt a bit guilty, but then he always felt that way after he had to physically punish any of his sons.  Fortunately over the years, Adam and Hoss had learned their lessons early and had not needed many tannings.  But Joe more than made up for the ones Ben had been spared doing to the two oldest sons.

Hoss and Adam stared again at their father and could tell that they needed to finish breakfast to allow him to handle Joe privately.  They hurried through their meal, and after excusing themselves, the two men left the house and headed out to get to work.  Joe sat silent and unmoving waiting to be dismissed.  He refused to ask his father for permission to leave.

“That’s now two meals that you have missed, Joseph.  You’re gonna be mighty hungry later on.  This is your last chance to eat before a solid day of chores.”

Joe said nothing in response, still trying to show his displeasure with his father’s form of punishment.  Hop Sing came into the room and began to remove the plates.  He stared over at Joe and his heart went out to him.  Hop Sing knew what had happened the night before, as the telltale signs were written all over Joe’s face, not to mention the rigid way he sat in the chair.

“Little Joe?  You no eat!”  Hop Sing protested.  Joe just shook his head in response.

“He’ll eat when he gets hungry enough–right, Joseph?”  Ben called down to his son and shot him a very displeased look.  Joe did not reply.  Ben stood and approached Joe’s chair.  “I said–isn’t that right, Joseph?”  He repeated and this time Joe knew he had better say something.

“Yeah, that’s right,” Joe muttered and felt his father’s hand pulling him to standing.

“Sorry–didn’t hear that quite right—what did you say?”

“Yes, Sir, you are right–I will eat when I am hungry,” Joe answered this time, knowing he had better or possibly face another thrashing.

“Oh, that’s what I thought you said,” Ben nodded and then forced his gaze on the boy.  “Now that barn needs a thorough cleaning–all the stalls–new straw–the works.  Then when that’s done you can start cutting wood.  Hop Sing here is going to do me the great favor of keeping an eye on you.  So, I am sure you’ll manage to stay out of trouble–am I right again?”

“Yes, Sir–you are always right,” Joe replied, fighting back his sarcasm but failing dreadfully.

“Remember that and you and I won’t have to have the kinds of discussions like we had last night.  And, I’d advise you to come back in here for supper tonight with two things,” Ben paused and lifted Joe’s chin to bring home his final point “ a good appetite, and a better attitude!”

“Yes, Sir,” Joe answered right away, knowing he had pushed his father farther than he should have that morning.  “May I go now?”

“Yes, you may,” Ben nodded and watched as Joe slowly walked towards the front door.  He knew exactly what was going on in Joe’s mind and also knew he had to somehow rid the boy of his careless ways before something serious happened to him.

*************************

Ben made his way into Virginia City, his mind on many things, but most of all Joseph.  He was not at all surprised that his son had continued to work raking straw in the stall next to Buck’s and never even looked over at his father as he saddled the horse.  Joe was being Joe, defiant and always hard headed enough to stand his ground, even when all the evidence proved he had been in the wrong.  Ben sighed and kicked his horse’s sides to pick up the pace.  He wanted to get into town early enough to have a good talk with the sheriff before heading over to the meeting.  Ben wanted to mention the peddler to Roy and have the man thoroughly checked out.

Later that afternoon the assembly room in the courthouse was filled with the town’s council members and other very worried citizens of the community.  Ben and Roy headed through the double doors and pulled them shut to signify it was time for the meeting to begin.  Ben had already met the detective who had been brought in on the case.  He and Roy had filled the man in on all they knew about the murdered boy and other information concerning the town’s folks.

“I’d like to introduce Mr. Dex Farwell, formerly with the Pinkerton Detective Agency,” Roy made the introduction and the man stepped up to the podium set up in the front of the room.  He was a tall man of medium build and appeared to be in his late forties.  His dark wavy hair was dusted with a bit of gray and his facial features were striking.

“Thank you, Roy,” the man nodded over to the sheriff, who had taken a seat next to Ben.  “I have been asked by both your sheriff and Mayor Jacobs to come in on the case of Josh Crane.  I am also working in conjunction with Sheriff Bill Clayton over in Carson City.  There have been three murders already, as you all probably know.  One in Carson City, one in Genoa, and one right here.  I’m gonna give you the run down on what facts we have put together and then I will be glad to take your questions along with any helpful suggestions.”

The room fell totally silent as they waited to hear the details of the investigation.  There wasn’t anyone present who wasn’t worried about someone in their family or a friend.  Most had already heard about the brutal way that Josh Crane had been killed and they all had questions and concerns about what was going to happen next.

“The first boy, Vinton Majors, was seventeen years old.  He lived on a ranch just outside of Carson City.  He was last seen heading out to tend his father’s cattle.  The next time anyone saw him was behind the Golden Nugget Saloon in Carson City.  No-one saw anything, no-one heard anything.  And as far as we have observed there were no clues left as to the identity of the killer.  No money was stolen, and the young man, according to his family, had no known enemies.  The second case was a boy, seventeen years old as well, named Ben Hardin.  He lived on the Circle W Ranch in Genoa.  That boy disappeared on a Saturday and his body was found two days later behind the mercantile in Genoa.  Nothing missing, no witnesses just as before.  The ranch hands on the Circle W were questioned and they could come up with no apparent enemies for that boy either.  Lastly,” Dex stopped and took a sip of water and set his glass back down on the table and turned toward the crowd.  “Your bank teller, Josh Crane.  Apparently he was new to this town.  Both Roy and I questioned Mrs. Wilson over at the boarding house.  She said he was from Texas, had no family, and had moved west three months ago.  Mrs. Wilson said he was a quiet, well- mannered boy, and he was eighteen years old.  The bank manager told the same story, and also corroborated Mrs. Wilson’s story, and agreed he knew of no enemies that Josh had made.  Josh Crane was heading back to the boarding house after eating dinner at the hotel that night.  His body was found very early the next morning in the alley behind the blacksmith’s shop.”

Dex walked from behind the podium and approached the men sitting in the audience.  His eyes fell to the one woman member he spotted.  “Excuse me, ma’am, but if you don’t mind–I have to relate some very gruesome details at this time—and I think it would be wise if you waited until I was through–perhaps out in the lobby?”

The woman stood from her chair and forced her gaze on the detective.  “My name’s Sarah Jean Milford, and I can handle anything these men can.  I run my own ranch, I brand my own cattle and I can out shoot half the men in this territory.   I’m staying–not because I want to hear the gory details, but because I have a seventeen year old boy.”

Dex nodded the woman’s way and said, “pardon me, Mrs. Milford, I spoke out of turn then.”  The detective walked back to his podium and faced the crowd once more.  “Three random teenagers—no connection whatsoever —no robbery–no apparent motive for their deaths.  This is a rare madman we are dealing with.  He is calculating, cunning, and obviously likes to shock folks.  In the cases of the first two boys they were apparently murdered elsewhere but brought into their respective towns—to grand stand the murders so to speak!  This killer wants the public to be scared–to be terrified–” Dex was cut off by a rancher in the audience.

“Well, that’s the case now all right!  We are all terrified!”  The man shouted out.

All the audience agreed verbally and called out in unison, “what are we going to do about it?”

“That’s what I am here for,” Dex nodded and Roy stood and signaled the town’s folks to quiet down and listen.  Once the noise died down again, Dex continued, “as I was saying—this maniac is purposely killing these boys and bringing their bodies back to announce what he has done.  I’ve dealt with these types before—case in point–the Barbary Coast Killer, he went around strangling ten young women before he was caught.  He always planted their bodies in full view, never trying to hide the corpses.  It took the combined efforts of the town’s folks to nab that madman.  That’s what we need from you folks —as well as from those in the surrounding areas.”

“Where’s them details you was so worried about me hearing?”  Mrs. Milford called from the crowd.

“Yes, Ma’am, I was just going to get to that.  To find a killer you have to try and figure them out.  This man has a great deal of anger in him–that’s obvious–”

“You can’t figure out a crazy person!”  another rancher protested Dex’s logic.

“You are right–but even the craziest killers have a motive—and now–if I may be allowed to finish?” he shot a look around the room and everyone stopped talking again.  “Each victim has been slashed–ear to ear—across the throat–almost to the point of decapitation.  Each victim has had a massive stab wound to his abdomen.  And each victim–” Dex turned and shot a look towards the one lady in the crowd and dropped his voice just a tad “has been castrated.”

A wave of gasps filled the courtroom as the town’s people took in the information which they had not earlier been aware of.  That particular detail had been kept away from the newspapers.  All eyes turned toward Dex, and they were all filled with terror.

“This is a person, maniac if you will, who has a great hatred toward men–particularly young men–and it’s gonna take all of you to help us catch him!  To start with, Roy Coffee, with the approval of the town council will institute a curfew.  I don’t want to see any young man under the age of twenty-one out on these streets after nine at night.  You parents out there need to do your jobs now–more so than before.  Keep a watch on your youngsters!  Kids, especially in this age group–late teens that is, seem to think they are well capable of defending themselves.  Unfortunately we have three victims who tell the sad tale that isn’t the case.”

Ben closed his eyes and the picture of his youngest son came into full view.  It almost sounded like the detective had met his errant son.  It also proved to Ben that it wasn’t just the fact that he alone had a wayward defiant youngster, it sounded from Dex’s opinion that it was the norm for young men that age.  Ben said a silent prayer that he could break through to his son and sufficiently explain to him the seriousness of the situation at hand.

“I’ll turn this back over to Sheriff Coffee now for any questions,” Dex said and took a seat next to Ben.  Roy moved to the podium.

“Questions folks?”

“Yeah—what are YOU going to do to protect us!” one man hollered out.

“Same things I been doing all along, George–watching the streets, checking with all of you, asking for information and warning everyone of the danger.  I also am adding four new deputies until we get this killer.  They are gonna be patrolling the town day and night.”

“Roy?  You still in touch with Bill Clayton?  Has he found out anything new?”

“Yes, like Dex here said–we are all working together on this–we are keeping the lines of communication open and sharing whatever information we have.  Unfortunately he has no more information right now then we do.  I just ask you all to be patient and kinda watch after each other for right now.  Anything else?”  Roy stared down the aisles and there were no more hands in the air nor anyone shouting out questions.  “Then let me let you all go back to your jobs and I will go back to mine.  My door’s always open whenever you folks need me.  Thank you.”

The town’s folks filtered out of the meeting room and it just left Roy, Ben and Dex standing in the front of the room.

“Oh–Ben–didn’t get a chance to tell you yet–but after you and me talked earlier I went and checked out that peddler fellow Lincolns.  He’s okay.  Got proof he was staying with the Billings family the weekend of the second murder.  Already contacted the family and they assured me he was there the whole time.  Seems like a likable fellow and he agreed to help us by keeping an eye out in his travels from town to town,” Roy said, patting Ben’s arm to reassure the man.  He knew how petrified his friend had been about Joe’s ride the previous day and wanted to put him at ease.

“Thanks, Roy–I appreciate you telling me.  Dex, if my boys or I can assist you in any way you just holler, okay?”  Ben asked, shaking the detective’s hand.

“I will, Ben.  Heading back to Carson tomorrow and then into Genoa.  I’ll make it back around here by the end of the week and let you and Roy know anything I’ve come up with.”

Ben nodded and patted Roy on the shoulder and turned to leave.  As he stepped out of the courthouse he looked down towards the Silver Dollar Saloon.  His throat was parched and had been ever since he had learned of the whole details of the murders.  He had seen the body of Josh Crane, but it had been from the chest up, the rest of his body had already been covered.  Ben had no idea that the poor young man had been castrated.  It made his stomach churn just to think of the horrendous way Josh had died.  Ben walked down the sidewalk towards the saloon for a much needed drink.

**************************

After the usual pleasantries were exchanged between Ben and Sam the bartender, he stood at the bar and slowly sipped his beer deep in thought.  A few moments later he heard a voice addressing him and Ben turned to look at the man standing to his right side.  He was a short man, Ben assessed him to be in his late sixties.  He wore a black suit and a hat that seemed a bit large for his head.  Nevertheless the stranger offered Ben a bright smile as he reached for his hand.

“Mr. Cartwright–I would like to introduce myself, my name is Samuel Lincolns.  I believe I met your boy yesterday. I just saw the sheriff again and he said you were over here. I wanted to speak with you.”

Ben shook Mr. Lincolns’ hand and set down his beer mug on the bar.  “Yes, you helped my son Joseph–he told me you gave him a ride into town.”

“I am afraid I may have hurt more than I helped that time,” the man paused and shook his head upset to have caused Ben any grief “the sheriff said you were very concerned about your son riding with a stranger.  So, I wanted to try and reassure you if I could.  I am a harmless peddler, who did not mean to cause that lad’s father any anxiety.  I had no idea what was going on in Virginia City.  I knew of the problem over in Carson City–but had no idea that a killer was around these parts too.  I hope you will forgive me, and your son as well.  It was my fault I offered the boy a ride.”

Ben smiled graciously at the man.  He now could see in the man’s face and eyes the same thing Joe apparently had seen the previous day.  Joe had said the man looked “okay” and that was a correct assumption apparently.  It still did not alleviate the problem of Joe’s haphazard behavior but it did explain it a tad.  “No harm done, Mr. Lincolns, I am very grateful that you brought the boy into town safely–especially since no-one knows where the killer is.  You may just have helped the boy more than you know–the killer could have easily have done the same thing and offered him a ride.”

“Then–I am forgiven?” the man asked smiling his relief over what Ben had said.

“Certainly you are.  Let me buy you a beer please–to repay your kindness.” Ben signaled Sam over to them both.

“I am afraid I need to be going, Mr. Cartwright, but I would gladly take a rain check on that offer,” Samuel replied and reached out to shake Ben’s hand again.

“Of course–any time.  As a matter of fact why don’t you stop by our ranch the next time you are around these parts?  I am sure my cook would love to see what all you have in your wagon.  Perhaps there would be a sale or two in the visit?”

“I would be most happy to I should be back around later this month.”

“Fine–then you come by the Ponderosa and visit us.”

“Thank you, tell your son I said hello,” the man said and turned to leave.

“I will,” Ben answered and watched as the peddler left the bar.  He felt much better now about Joe having ridden into town with the man and it showed on his face as he smiled over at Sam and ordered one more beer before heading back home.

*******************************

Hoss entered the barn and noticed that his little brother was still hard at work.  Joe threw a saddle over the stall railing and reached for the next one as his brother approached.

“I ain’t seen such a good cleaning job on this barn in a long spell, Little Brother.  You done good!”  Hoss called out and stood next to the boy.

“Like I had a choice,” Joe spat back and turned to hang up the lead ropes lying on the floor.

“Well, Pa should be happy with your work today.”

“It would be nice to have him happy about something!”  Joe returned sarcastically.

“Joe—Pa did what he had to–you got to stop being so mad about it.  We wuz all scared to death yesterday thinking something had happened to you–what with that killer on the prowl,”  Hoss tried again to get through to his stubborn brother.  Joe spun around and anger painted his face.

“You would think that I committed some great big crime!  My horse threw a damn shoe–and none of you will ease up on me.  And Pa–yeah that’s a funny story–Pa was worried about me getting “hurt”.  The only hurt I got yesterday was what he did to me!”  Joe flailed his arms full of emotion and anger.

Hoss caught his brother’s left arm and held it in his massive hand.  “Just a second there, Joe, you aren’t completely innocent like you’re painting this picture!  You told Adam you would come straight home and you didn’t, now did you?”

“So I took the long way home!”  Joe shouted trying to break from his brother’s hold.

“So, you worried a whole lot of people because you couldn’t follow directions.  Not to mention not fixing Cochise’s horse shoes, I told you about ‘em just the day before didn’t I?”

“Hey, if I want a lecture I will go and see Pa, okay?  Now let me go!”

“That temper of yours is gonna cost you big time if you don’t simmer down.  I wasn’t giving you no lecture neither!  I was just trying to explain to you why Pa was so upset.”

“I got to finish in here–so leave me alone.”  Joe replied and finally got his arm loose from his brother’s tight hold.  He didn’t want any part of hearing how fair his pa was, because Joe did not believe it to be true at the time.  Joe had been wallowing in his self- pity all day, and had grown accustomed to the idea that no-one on the ranch understood him at all.

“Okay, Joe,” Hoss sighed, giving up on trying to help “you better get moving though, Pa sent me out here to bring you in for supper.  And one last suggestion—don’t pull the kinds of stunts you did at breakfast or he might just go off on you again.  You got off easy last night whether you realize it or not.”

Joe watched as his brother left the barn.  Deep down he knew that Hoss was trying to talk to him because he cared but Joe wasn’t ready to hear it.  Joe threw down the pile of tangled harness guides and headed into the house.  He may have been mad, but he wasn’t stupid.  If Pa expected him at the dinner table then that’s where he would be.

***************************

Ben had watched the meager amount of food that Joe had placed onto his plate.  He could see how the boy was trying to show him that he would eat, but only to a certain point.  Joe did not speak unless a direct question had been addressed to him, showing his continued resentment over all that had happened the previous day.  When everyone was finished with their meal Ben stood and spoke to all three of his sons.

“I want to tell you boys what happened at the meeting.  I didn’t want to talk about it at supper but I guess now’s as good a time as any.  Let’s go sit down in the living room,” Ben said and walked into the next room.  Adam and Hoss followed their father but Joe lagged behind.  When he finally started to approach them, he shot past the settee and headed to the stairs.

“This concerns you as well, Joseph–come over here!”  Ben called to the boy.

“Now why would it concern me?  Unless you think that the killer will come right into this house or our barn, looks like I am safe!”  Joe retorted sarcastically.

“Right here!”  Ben replied and pointed to his left in front of the fireplace.

Joe drew in a deep breath, he was angry and it showed on his face.  But, he had enough sense to notice the tone of his father’s command and decided he had better do as instructed.  He moved to stand next to the fireplace and leaned against the cold stone face of the hearth.

Ben continued but kept his eye on his youngest, reminding the boy with his gaze how close he was to being in trouble once again.  “There’s three young men dead, all either seventeen or eighteen years old.  Just like this wayward youngster who is trying his best to rile me,” Ben motioned his hand towards Joe and the boy dropped his head to avoid his father’s piercing stare.

“Any clues at all, Pa?”  Adam asked as he stretched out a bit on the settee.

“No, they hired a Pinkerton detective named Dex Farwell, he’s leading the investigation and coordinating it with the sheriff in Carson City and the authorities in Genoa.  Roy has put on four new deputies to help patrol the town.  Oh, they have also instituted a curfew.  No-one under the age of twenty-one can be on the streets of Virginia City after nine at night.”

“That doesn’t affect me either,” Joe muttered and felt his father’s hand on his arm.

“You were saying, Joseph?  Come on if you have something to say speak up now so everyone can hear your comments!”

Joe looked at his father and knew the man was challenging him once again.  It was only his awful temper which forced him to take the bait this time. “Okay, I said that it doesn’t affect me and it’s true!  Why are you even telling me this stuff?  I am confined indefinitely remember?  So, since Virginia City and everywhere besides the front yard is off limits I really don’t know why I have to stand around and listen to this,” Joe argued against his father’s logic.

Ben stood and put his hand on Joe’s shoulder forcing his gaze.  “We are talking about this, Young Man, because it affects everyone!  There is a maniac running around killing people!  I thought I got this fact through to you last night but evidently you need a constant reminder of the situation!”  Ben shouted.  Joe dropped his head down and his face flushed with embarrassment over being verbally corrected in front of his two brothers.  Ben continued, “these three boys were murdered, their throats slashed and their insides ripped open.  I don’t want to even think about that happening to someone we know—let alone my own hardheaded ornery son!  Do I have your attention yet, Joseph?”

“Yes, Sir,” Joe whispered, his voice beginning to betray him.  He knew he had made his father mad once more and he wasn’t very happy to be dressed down by Ben in front of Hoss or Adam.  Joe decided to try and do his very best from that point forward to keep his mouth shut.  He wanted to go to his room and get away from everyone at the moment, but he knew that wouldn’t happen until his father was through.

Ben shook his head a bit bewildered to see Joe being so belligerent.  The boy usually had sense enough not to rile his father right after he had been punished for something he had done, but this time it almost seemed like Joe was trying to egg him into another go-round.  “Please try and remember why you are standing instead of sitting tonight, will you, Joseph?”  Ben said to his son and sank back down into his chair to further discuss what he had learned in town.

“May I be excused?”  Joe whispered.  The last statement his father had made had cut him deeply and he knew he had to remove himself from the room so he would not let loose a few tears over the humiliation his words had just caused.  He didn’t need the reminder of the tanning he had gotten nor did he need it to be mentioned in front of his brothers.

“Fine–go on–go to bed–there’s no getting through to you anyway!  At least this way I can inform your brothers and not be interrupted,” Ben replied harshly.  He had actually had quite enough of his youngest son for the moment.  Joe hurried to the stairs and took them two at a time as he headed to his room.

“I can’t believe the way Joe is acting—what’s gotten into him?”  Adam asked, exasperated by his brother’s performance.

“He thinks Pa wasn’t very fair with him–least ways that’s what he told me in the barn,” Hoss returned, shaking his head.  He felt both anger and a little sadness as well towards the boy who he usually defended.

“Joe just doesn’t have a clue–don’t worry about it, Pa–he’ll cool down eventually,” Adam tried to lift his father’s spirits.  He could see the tenseness in the man’s jaw and knew how hard Joe had pushed him with his attitude.

“I am not worried about him cooling down, Son.  I am worried about him doing something foolish.  There was one thing I left out on purpose–didn’t want Joseph to hear this.”

“What?” both Adam and Hoss asked at the same time.

“The three boys were also castrated,” Ben announced and watched the look of total horror spreading across both of their faces.

“Oh—Pa–” Adam began and then had to swallow to get the words out, “this is a whole different kind of killer—this is a sick and twisted maniac—anyone who can do that–”

“I know, Adam, I know,” Ben sighed wearily.

“Maybe you ought to tell Little Joe, Pa–scare the hell out of him!”  Hoss stated angrily.

“No, Son–I’d just as soon spare the boy that grief right now.  What I told Joseph is bad enough already.  No sense explaining any further–not now.  We just have to keep a good eye on him, that’s all.”

“We will, don’t worry, Pa,” Adam replied and Hoss reached over and patted his father’s arm to try to reassure him.

“Besides—-like the kid said earlier—he ain’t going nowhere!”  Hoss stated and headed over towards the brandy.  He figured they could all use a drink after what had just been revealed.

*******************************

Five full days later the news of yet another murder spread like wild fire.  A body had been dumped behind a grain storage shed in Carson City.  Just as with the three previous victims, the body was that of a boy who had just turned seventeen that month.  Citizens of all the townships involved began to protest the investigator’s inability to catch the madman.  Dex Farwell was both angry and frustrated when he and Roy Coffee gathered at the Ponderosa for a discussion with Ben and his sons.  Standing around the desk in Ben’s study, sipping coffee to keep alert and awake after many sleepless nights the two men addressed their worries to the Cartwrights.

“Nothing left at the crime scene again?”  Adam asked sinking down into one of the hard straight back chairs to the side of his father.

“Found a couple of boot prints is all,” Dex shook his head disgustedly “but, nothing that would account for anything peculiar.”

“Where was the boy from, Roy?”  Ben asked setting down his cup and looking past Hoss’ shoulder to see Joe as he entered the room and began filling the wood box on the hearth.

“Miller’s Ridge—a little four acre spread just east of Carson,” Roy explained.

“Joseph!”  Ben called and watched as his son turned his attention towards his father finally.  Ben had been trying to wave the boy over to them but he had been either ignoring the gesture or had been too deep in thought.  “Come over here please–there’s someone I want you to meet.”

Joe tossed the last stick of firewood into the wood box and slowly approached the five men gathered in the study.  He never came within an arm’s length of his father, still showing his displeasure with him.  Though Joe had watched what had come out of his mouth the last five days, he still showed his stubborn side by refusing to enter into any lengthy conversations with his Pa.

Ben was fully aware of his youngest son’s overall less than courteous attitude of late, but chose not to let his behavior get the better of him at the time.  “Joseph, this is detective Dex Farwell.  Dex this is my youngest son, Joseph,” Ben called over the introductions and threw in a warning glance with it directed at Joe.  Joe saw the look and obediently reached out his hand to the detective.

“Nice to meet you,” Joe nodded and tried his best to bite back his underlying ire.

“Pleasure to meet you, Son,” Dex returned and then paid very close attention to the young man’s appearance.  “How old are you, Joe?”

“I just turned seventeen,” Joe answered as politely as he could, still wondering what the heck he was needed for anyway.  His father had all but determined he was a mere child earlier in the week and Joe knew his opinions or ideas would go nowhere with the other five men there in the room.

“I sure hope you are doing your best to stay out of harm’s way, Joe–you are aware of all that’s gone on, aren’t you?”  Dex continued.

“Yes, I am aware,” Joe began and then shot his father a quick glance before going any further with his answer “but, you don’t have to worry about me—I never leave the front yard.  Excuse me–I have some chores to get to,” Joe sounded off and then turned on his heels and left the house.

Ben shook his head and let out a groan in response to his son’s behavior.  “I’m sorry I must apologize for my son.  He hasn’t exactly been very happy with me lately.  I restricted him to the house and front yard and he still hasn’t quite forgiven me, I am afraid.”

“I think that was probably a very wise move, Ben,” Roy nodded “that hard-headed kid would only get himself in trouble and this kind of trouble is deadly.”

“He also looks a whole lot like the last couple of victims, Ben.  All of them were under six feet tall, slender built and with dark wavy or curly hair.  I’m not too sure what to make of that, be it coincidence or perhaps this lunatic is purposely choosing boys who meet that description.   I haven’t quite figured it out yet.  If he were my son, and if what Roy here tells me is true about your boy, I would keep him very close until this business is over with,” Dex said and set down his coffee cup readying to leave.

“Oh, don’t worry I plan to keep Joe well within reach.  Now, how can we help you?”  Ben asked and stood and moved in between Roy and the detective as they started to move into the living room towards the door.

“Well, I was telling Dex here all about Hoss–and how he’s about the best tracker around.  He thinks he could use Hoss’ skill to check things out in Carson with him.  What do you say, Hoss?”  Roy looked over at Hoss who had followed the three men to the door.

“If you can do without me, Pa–I sure would like to try to help.  Sure beats waiting around for something else to happen!”  Hoss exclaimed.

Ben was full of the normal worry about one of his sons at the time, this time his middle boy.  But, he trusted Hoss’ instincts and knew he wouldn’t take any unnecessary chances, unlike his little brother.  “That’s fine, Son.  But, you be real careful, you hear?”

“Sure, Pa,” Hoss smiled and reached for his hat.

“You sure you can spare him?”  Dex asked.

“Yes–I have Adam here to help with Joe –between the two of us–make that three of us if you count Hop Sing–we can watch the boy just fine,” Ben smiled as he saw Hop Sing standing over by the living room retrieving the coffee cups.  The Oriental was very happy to hear his name brought into the conversation.  It made him feel like he was indeed a valuable member of the Cartwright family.  He was.

“Okay—we’ll make it back here tomorrow probably late, Ben.  Maybe we will actually have some good luck for a change!”  Dex smiled and patted Ben’s arm and walked out with both Hoss and Roy.

“You all be careful!”  Ben remarked as he stepped out onto the porch and watched the three men head to their horses.  He had an apprehensive feeling in the pit of his stomach as he saw Hoss ride out of view, but he always had that same feeling whenever any of his sons left the house anymore.  Turning back towards the door, Ben’s eyes fell on Joe standing at the end of the porch throwing the cord wood into piles just at the bottom of the steps.  Ben walked back over to where Joe stood and put his hands on his hips as he watched the boy at work.  He hated being on the outs with his youngest, but this time he had to keep up the discipline because it might very well mean the difference between life and death.  “Supper’s almost ready, Joseph–time to come in!”

Joe never looked back around towards the voice.  He freed his arms of the firewood and rolled down his shirt sleeves.  “I’ll be in shortly,” Joe answered and tried his very best to sound pleasant for a change.  Ben turned again and walked into the house wondering just what all was going on in his son’s mind.

*******************************

The following week passed by quickly with Hoss trying to assist the detective in trying to come up with any clue that might shed some light on who was committing the murders.  Dex was starting to formulate his own ideas on how the maniac was procuring his victims but still had nothing tangible to prove his theories.  He had spoken to the authorities and tried to assure them and the citizens of all three towns that the killer could be caught if everyone helped.  One such meeting was with Roy Coffee and Ben Cartwright at the jail house in Virginia City.

“It still makes no sense–” Ben started and walked back over to Roy’s desk.  He had been pacing back and forth trying to take in all that Dex had related to him and Roy.  “How could this maniac grab the boys, kill them and dump their bodies in such a short period of time and all out of the sight of witnesses?”

“I still think that he is not taking them to any particular location, Ben.  Not like he has some kind of a hide out that he has to drag them back to.  He’s just randomly going around, kidnaping the boys, taking them somewhere close and killing them and then dumping them in full view of the town they are from,” Dex replied, shaking his head still upset over his inability to locate the killer.

“He’s slick all right–slick and crazy!”  Roy said exasperated.  “And all you and Hoss came up with was a set of boot prints that led nowhere?”

“Yeah, that’s kinda strange in itself–like he must have gone down behind the alley and then climbed the closest building–only thing that would account for the footprints disappearing.  We saw no sign of him covering his tracks–nothing brushed away–they just stop,” Dex answered frustration mounting in his tone.  “In all the years I’ve been doing this kind of work I’ve never run upon anything like this.  You would think—with four boys dead now–that someone would have seen or heard something!”

“Well, we’ll get them, Dex, just have to out think him is all,” Roy stood from his desk and patted the detective’s arm.  He knew that the man was as emotionally stretched out as a person could get.

“I’ve gotta get on home,” Ben said and moved toward the door “let me know what the next move is and if you need me and my boys to help.”

“Thanks–we’ll do that.  Tell Hoss I really appreciated his help, Ben,” Dex nodded towards the man.

“I’ll do that—you both get some rest–you both look played out,” Ben called and then walked outside.  He wanted to get home and see how things were going there.

********************************

Joe had just walked out of the barn as his father rode up into the yard.  He turned toward the sound of the approaching horse.  Ben dismounted and led his horse over to where Joe was standing.  He had noticed in the last several days that his youngest seemed to be trying harder to get along with everyone and the chip on his shoulder had shrunk down a bit.  Ben hoped it meant that the boy had finally understood why he had been punished and that he now assumed some responsibility for having caused his family to be worried about him.

“I’ll stable him, Pa,” Joe said reaching for Buck’s reins.

“Thank you, Joseph.  How are things going today?”  Ben asked and smiled over at him.

“Good, Pa—I’ve got the tack room all fixed up–took most of the day.  Then I helped Hop Sing put up some chicken wire in the back.  All’s I got left is the saddles–I was gonna polish them all.”

Ben stared hard at his son.  He wondered what had caused all the compliancy.  Joe seemed over eager at that point and Ben knew what that usually meant.  He was sure his son wanted something in return for his obedience.

“Sounds like you’ve done a full day’s work already, Son.  So?”  Ben lifted his eyebrows and stared into the reflective hazel eyes.

“So?”  Joe asked innocently.

“So–what is it that you want to ask from me, Joseph?”

“Well—there was one thing–” Joe paused and looked toward the ground, a bit upset that he was so transparent and that his father was so good at reading him.

“Go ahead and ask–that doesn’t mean I will go along with it–but it doesn’t mean I won’t discuss it with you,” Ben offered and put his hand on the boy’s shoulder.  It was the first physical contact between the two of them in weeks which was very rare.

“Well–Mitch stopped over—his folks asked me over for dinner—and I was hoping you’d let me go.  Can I?”

Ben frowned and shook his head.  He might have known that Joe always had an ulterior motive for working so hard and being so pleasant as well.  But, the boy had behaved and he also knew how hard it had been on Joe to hang out around the house while his two brothers rode out every day.  It almost seemed unfair to Ben now, but he had stuck to it since Joe hadn’t proven that he could follow orders.  And the stakes had still been high, especially since the murderer remained on the loose.

Joe noticed the long pause as well as the frown on his father’s face and jumped back in before Ben could respond.  “Please, Pa?  I’ve done what you’ve wanted me to do for two whole weeks!  I’m gonna go stir crazy if I hang around here much longer.  All I’m asking is just for a couple of hours of freedom!  ‘Sides Mitch’s father let him ride over here by himself–he’s the same age as me–he’s even been going into town and everything!”

“Hold on–hold on–simmer down,” Ben called out and squeezed his son’s shoulder to stop his protests “I didn’t say I wouldn’t let you go—I am just thinking on the best way to do this.”

“Huh?  Best way?  What do you mean?  Just let me ride over there, have some time to hang out with Mitch, eat dinner and I’ll ride back.”

“No–it’s not going to go like that, Joseph!  Now if you want this time away it’s going to be with some conditions.”

“What conditions?”  Joe asked frowning.

“I’ll have Adam ride with you over there—and I will come and ride back with you later tonight.”

“Oh Pa!  That’s gonna make me look like a little kid!”  Joe protested loudly.

“Joseph?  You want to go or not?”

Joe looked down at the ground and mulled over the stipulations his father had put into the night’s plan.  He gave up.  Joe hated that he would have escorts but knew by the look in his father’s eyes that the man was not going to budge.  If he was going to have a night away from the ranch Joe knew he had better agree to his father’s conditions.

“Yes, Sir—how soon can I go?”

“You go and get those saddles done real quickly and I will tell your brother to get ready to take you in an hour.  How’s that?”

“Okay–Pa–thanks,” Joe smiled at his father and nodded.  He turned to leave, pulling Buck into the barn with him.

******************************

Adam and Joe rode up to the Devlin ranch which was on the eastern border of the Ponderosa.  When the ranch house appeared in sight Adam turned to his little brother and looked at him.

“Now, Joe, don’t blow this chance!  Pa’s counting on you to act right, okay?”

“Huh?  Of course I’ll act right!”  Joe sang out indignantly.  “I mean what with having my own escorts, what kind of trouble can I get into anyway?”

“Oh, I don’t know–but you always find something to get in trouble for–don’t let it happen tonight.  And remember—Pa’s going to be here around eight to come and get you.”

“I know–well–let me at least ride up into the yard by myself will you, Adam?  This is kinda embarrassing you know?”  Joe pleaded with his brother.  He didn’t want to look like a child in his friend Mitch’s eyes.

“Okay–go on, Kid—have a good time!”  Adam called as he turned his mount back towards the ranch.  He had taken pity on the boy, knowing how hard the lengthy restrictions had been on Joe.

“Thanks, Adam.”  Joe replied and kicked at Cochise’s sides and headed towards the Devlin house.  Adam watched to be sure that Joe did as he promised this time and didn’t leave the area until he saw his brother dismount in front of the ranch house.  Content that Joe had been delivered safely, Adam rode on home.

Mitch and Joe entered the house and both Mr. and Mrs. Devlin greeted the dear friend of their only son.  After all the pleasantries were done, Joe and Mitch walked back outside and decided to go for a walk just a short distance from the house so they could talk privately.

“I can’t believe you got your pa to let you come over.  Bet it feels good to get out after two weeks stuck there.”  Mitch said as the two young men sat down in the meadow and leaned back in the tall grass.

“I tell you, Mitch, if they don’t catch that killer soon I am gonna die all right–but of sheer boredom!  You don’t know what it’s like to be watched over day after day–it’s driving me nuts.”

“Oh–well–I get watched too, you know.  I mean my folks aren’t all that concerned about my sister Mattie, but that’s because this guy is killing young men, not girls.  Still, they haven’t let her anywhere near town in a month.”

“Yeah–but your pa lets you go into town, right?”

“Well, yeah—during the daylight hours—but not too often.  Just to get the mail or bring in supplies, you know?  I haven’t gone to the bar in ages.”  Mitch shook his head frustrated over what was going on.

“Well, I ain’t been in town in two weeks–and that was just to get my horse shod–haven’t had a beer in two months.  Hey–what’s the chance of your pa letting you go into town for a little while now?”  Joe sat back up his mind racing with ideas that might work.

“Huh?  You mean now before dinner?  Ma’s got it about ready–we wuz gonna eat early.”

“Well, then afterwards?  You think he’d let you go–for say an hour?”

“Joe—I thought you told me today you are restricted?  Now how are you going to pull this one off?”  Mitch stared into Joe’s eyes trying to see if he was telling the truth.

“Well–I don’t see the problem–I mean not if I am with you—why wouldn’t that be okay?”  Joe fired back.

“Well, it’s fine with me–but I ain’t your pa—and how do you think he would take the news of you doing that?”

Joe frowned again.  He didn’t even want to think about the repercussions.  He only wanted to have some freedom and was more than willing to take his chances.  Besides, he had it all planned out in his head now.

“Look—we eat dinner–then tell your pa that my pa said it was okay as long as we stayed together.  My pa isn’t due back here to ride back home with me until eight o’clock–we’d have plenty of time.”

“Joe–you are gonna get me in big trouble–just as always!”  Mitch stood and stared down at his friend.  Joe and he always had great plans, and over the years they had successfully pulled off quite a few stunts.  But, there were a whole lot of times that their schemes had back-fired and Mitch ended up getting in serious trouble due to his friend’s ideas.

“No!”  Joe yelled springing to his feet.  “I will do all the talking–that way–well–if things go wrong you won’t be lying so you won’t get into trouble with your pa.  Besides, it’s me who’s taking the risks here, Mitch–not you.”

“Is it really worth it, Joe?  I mean–just to go into town?”

“Yeah—I am tired of being treated like a two year old!  I have the right to go to town my brothers go there most every day.  Pa just doesn’t think I have the smarts to stay away from a killer.  He’s selling me short!  I can out-shoot most men twice my age!”  Joe pulled out his Colt 45 and aimed and shot a pinecone off a tree a good distance away.

“Well, yeah–you can out shoot almost everyone I know.  But, Joe—sounds like this guy doesn’t give the victims much time to get to their guns,” Mitch tried to reason with his friend to no avail.

“Look–that killer’s probably long gone–no-one’s been killed in a week.  Let’s just go into town–have one beer then I will come back here and wait for my father.  When he gets here I will be all ready to leave–he won’t even have time to talk to your pa so he will never know I was in town today.  Please Mitch?”

“Damn, Joe—you know I always go along with your stupid ideas.”  Mitch laughed and threw his arm around his friend’s shoulder and they walked back towards the house.  Neither of the two young men had any idea what kind of danger lurked in Virginia City that day.

After supper the two young men mounted their horses in front of the Devlin home.  Mr. Devlin stood looking up at his son and Joe as they prepared to leave for town.

“You sure this is okay with your pa, Joe?”  Mr. Devlin asked for the third time, trying to be sure the boy was telling him the truth.

“Yes, Sir–he said as long as Mitch and I stayed together it would be all right.  We won’t be long,” Joe lied.

“Well, if Ben thinks it’s okay–then it’s okay with me.  Now don’t stay in town more than an hour–like you promised, Mitch!”

“Sure, Pa—we won’t be long,” Mitch replied and waved goodbye as he turned his horse in the opposite direction.  Casting a brief glance Joe’s way he saw his friend wink at him.  Once again, it looked as though his friend’s plan would work.

*******************************

Hoss walked out to the barn and saw his father saddling his horse.  He approached Ben and called over to him, “Hey–Pa–thought you didn’t have to get Joe until eight–ain’t you leaving kinda early?”

“Well,” Ben paused and tightened the saddle cinch and reached for the bridle “I haven’t talked to Mac Devlin in awhile–thought we could catch up a bit.”

“Sure, Pa!”  Hoss exclaimed and laughed.  “You are just worried about Little Joe–might as well tell the truth.”

“No—I know he is safe out there–but–” Ben stopped again as he looked into the blue eyes of his middle son.  He knew he was caught and finally admitted to the truth.  “Yeah–you ‘re right, Hoss.  I just have an uneasy feeling–call it father’s intuition–or unnecessary worry–but whatever it is–I just want to make sure Joe is okay.”

“You don’t have to apologize, Pa,” Hoss said and patted his father’s shoulder and helped him pull the bridle over Buck’s ears.  “What with Joe’s track record I’d be worried about him too.  But, I am sure he’s fine—he’s got the hardest head of any person I know–but he isn’t stupid either.  I don’t see no harm in going on over there if it will put your mind at ease.”

Ben smiled and nodded and led his horse out of the stall.  He wasn’t sure what he was feeling inside, but knew it was building each minute.  Perhaps Joe was safe and sound, but nevertheless Ben knew he had to see the boy to be sure.

*****************************

By the time Ben had reached the Devlin ranch the sun had just started to set over the great mountain range in the distance.  He was only a little less than an hour early and felt Joe shouldn’t complain too much about his arrival.  Just as Ben slid from his saddle and started to tie Buck’s reins to the hitching post in front of the house, Mac Devlin stepped out into the yard.

“Ben!  Haven’t seen you in a while, how you been?”  Mac called as he approached the other man.

“Fine, Mac, just fine,” Ben replied and shook the outstretched hand.  “How are you and Carol?”

“We’re doing okay, got us that new stove she’s been hounding me for years about.  Tried it out tonight and I will say she fixed a fine meal on it.”

“Thanks for inviting Joseph–where is he?”  Ben asked looking around for his son’s pinto.

“Mitch and Joe are in town–should be back shortly.”

“What!”  Ben shouted and neared Mac.  “What are they doing in town?”

“Hold it, Ben, simmer down–it’s okay–they are together.  Joe said you told him it was all right as long as he rode in there with Mitch.”

“I said no such thing—that boy!”  Ben replied anger taking over his facial appearance.  “Wait till I get my hands on him.”

“Sorry, Ben—I didn’t know—” Mac stopped as a rider started to appear in the distance, and from the cloud of dust that was being formed he could tell that the horse was coming in at a fast clip.

“Mac!”  The rider called as he came into full view.

Mr. Devlin saw that it was the foreman of his ranch, Jim Sellers.  He waved the man over.  “What’s the trouble?”  Mac asked as he and Ben watched the man come to a dead stop in the front yard.

“Been another murder in Virginia City–don’t know who–just ran into Cleve as I was coming in from the herd. He said they just found the kid’s body.”

Ben and Mac looked at each other and their hearts fell in their chests.  Both of their sons were there in town.  The only thought at the moment was to get there as fast as possible.

“Jim–can I take your horse–don’t want to waste time saddling mine!”  Mac sang out and the man dismounted and handed his boss the reins.

“Let’s go!”  Ben shouted as he mounted his horse and turned out of the yard.

**************************

Ben never remembered it taking so long to reach Virginia City.  Though it was only three miles from the Devlin ranch it seemed much longer with the worry of who had been killed in town.  Neither father spoke as they rode side by side, the anxiousness showed in their faces and in the way they urged their horses faster.

Dismounting in front of the livery stable both Mac and Ben could see the crowd which had formed half way down the street.  They ran down to see what was going on.  The first person they ran into was Roy Coffee.

“Roy–who was it?”  Ben called out to the man as Roy looked up from the crime scene.  The body had already been removed and taken down to the coroner’s office.

“Brady Milford—Sarah’s boy,” Roy replied fighting back tears.  He had known the youngster the boy’s whole life.  It tore the sheriff in two to see the horrible way the boy had been senselessly murdered and he dreaded having to tell Brady’s mother.

Both Mac and Ben were saddened to hear of the boy’s death, but were so relieved to learn it wasn’t either of their sons.  It wasn’t long before joy turned to anger and they turned towards the saloon where they had spotted both Joe and Mitch walking outside to get to their horses.  The two fathers rushed down the planked sidewalk.

“Mitch!”  Mac shouted and grabbed his son’s arm spinning him around.  “You get your horse–you’re coming home this minute!  And you and me are gonna have a good long talk!”

“But, Pa–” Mitch started but when he read the look on his father’s face he reconsidered his protests and grabbed the reins of his horse.  Mac led the boy down to the livery to get his own horse.

*********************************

Joe knew he was in big trouble.  He had already heard about the Milford boy’s death and unfortunately had stayed longer than he should have to learn about the details.  He wished now he had done as Mitch suggested and left as soon as the word hit the saloon about the boy’s body being found.

Ben’s eyes were a bit harder to read at the moment due to the increasing darkness falling over the town.  If Joe had been able to get a good look into them he would have seen the terror that had changed over to tears of relief.  Just as quickly the relief had changed to the most intense anger Ben had ever felt towards his son.  Joe didn’t speak because he knew there wasn’t anything he could say that would get him off the hook this time.  He bowed his head and waited for what would come next.

Roy spotted Ben and Joe and made his way over to them.  He could tell that there was an impendent fracas about to begin between the two Cartwrights.  “Ben–sorry to interrupt, but I got to ask Joe something.”

“Go ahead,” Ben answered sharply never taking his eyes off the boy in front of him.

“Joe–I already asked Sam and he said Brady was in the saloon about two hours ago–did you see him in there?  And if you did, do you know which way he left–did he say anything?”

Joe looked down to the ground, his stomach tightening as each second ticked by.  He felt awful about Brady’s death. They had been school mates and the boy was a likable kid.  To think of him as being gone, especially murdered was still hard to comprehend.

“I saw him—me and Mitch had just gotten our beers when Brady was leaving.  All I did was say hi and bye to him.  He just walked out–didn’t say nothing about where he was going.”

Roy sighed and kicked at the ground with his boot.   “Broad daylight!  The boy was taken shortly after he left the Silver Dollar that’s for sure.  And the killer couldn’t have gone far to kill the kid.  He either killed him right there in the alleyway or he killed him just outside of town and dumped him back here. You and Mitch are lucky that it wasn’t you!”

Joe nodded and then felt his father’s grip on his arm and knew that he was about to reap the rewards for his disobedience.

“Roy—need to borrow your office for a minute,” Ben said pushing Joe down the street.  Roy walked along with both of the Cartwrights until they came to the jail house.  The three walked inside and Roy stopped at his desk.

“You can use my room down there, Ben,” Roy pointed to his personal quarters.  He knew what the angry father had in mind and what with all he had seen that day, Roy didn’t fault the man at all for what he was about to do.

Ben shoved Joe inside the room and slammed the door shut.  Joe was trying his best not to look at his father and that was only adding fuel to the man’s anger.  Filling Ben’s mind were thoughts of how narrowly Joe had missed becoming the next victim to the killer at large.  It made him sick to his stomach and Ben felt a rage that had been increasing with each moment since seeing Joe standing in front of the saloon.  His son’s total arrogance was no longer going to be tolerated nor was his disobedience.  Ben was far too mad to take the time to contemplate what he should or should not do to the boy, as he had in the past.   He had reached all limits of endurance with his son and decided that enough was enough.

“Hand me your holster,” Ben commanded.   Joe was quick to unstrap his weapon and give it to his father.  Ben tossed it down on the chair next to the sheriff’s bunk.

“Do you know what you did to me?  Do you know how terrified I was a few minutes ago thinking that you were dead?” Pa asked staring piercingly over at his son.

“Pa –I –I wasn’t thinking –,” Joe tried to alibi himself out of what he had purposely done in lying to Mitch’s father and going into town.

Ben grabbed Joe’s shoulders and forced his gaze.  “No more, Joseph!  No more –I’ve had it with all of this now.  This is not a game — it could have been you out in that alley!  You could’ve been killed – I could’ve lost you forever!  No more of this – it ends now.”

Ben pulled off his belt and folded it in his hand as Joe stepped back.  “I’m sorry, Pa–I didn’t know–” Joe began but was cut off from his statement when his father turned him by the arm and struck his backside with the belt.  Ben unleashed his anger, frustration and worry on his son.  He did not measure nor count the lashes this time as he had two weeks earlier.  Ben wanted Joe to hurt and hurt bad.  He wanted the boy to feel as awful as he had felt when he had ridden into Virginia City expecting to be retrieving his youngest son’s body.  Joseph had been warned over and over again about the danger and had gone toward it and had almost been killed because of it.  Ben knew he had to get tough and that’s exactly what he did.

Roy heard the commotion from the next room and sighed.  Ben was usually a patient man and a loving father.  But, the man had been pushed by his youngest far too hard of late and Roy knew that Joe was finally going to know that his father meant business.  He did hate for Joe’s sake that the kid was getting what was obviously one hell of a tanning, but, Roy decided he would much rather see that happen to the boy than to find him like he had Brady Milford lying dead somewhere.

Ben pulled Joe out of the back room and the two of them made their way into the main room of the jail house.  Leaving Joe, his face turned toward the wall to hide his tears and the shame that he felt due to his arrogant behavior, Ben neared Roy and pulled him aside.

“Where’s Brady’s body now, Roy?”  Ben whispered as he tightened his belt around his waist.

“Down at the coroner’s still–why?”

“I need your help, Roy–I know this is gonna sound awful–but it’s the only way.  I want Joseph to see the boy—see what happened to him,” Ben explained, his face showing the strain of having hurt the son he loved so much.

“Ben–that’s gonna be awful rough on him—it’s bad–you know–like the others?”

“Roy–I have to get through to him—and I don’t think just a tanning is the answer–the kid still thinks he is indestructible-I have to get it across to him that he’s not,” Ben’s voice now was pleading with the sheriff.

Roy nodded and opened the door to step outside.

“Let’s go, Joseph!”  Ben announced sharply and grabbed his son’s elbow and led him out of the jail.

Joe had no idea where the two men were taking him.  He was distraught over what had happened in Roy’s back room at the time and wasn’t even paying attention when they stopped in front of the coroner’s office.

“Be right back, Ben,” Roy whispered and went inside the building.  He wanted to tell Patrick Moody, the coroner, what was going on and why they were going to bring Joe in to view the badly mutilated body of the latest victim.  After a few minutes Roy opened the door and waved the two Cartwrights inside.

It was about at that point that Joe became very aware of what was going on.  He had never been in the back room of the coroner’s office and it scared him to even think about going any farther.  Ben noticed Joe had stopped in his tracks.  He walked back behind his son and pushed him forward into the coroner’s examination room.

Joe moved in towards the table where the body of Brady Milford lay covered with a sheet.

“Do it, Patrick,” Roy nodded to the man.

The coroner pulled down the sheet so that Joe could see the whole body.  The young man’s neck had been severed, just as the previous victims.  Brady’s stomach was sliced straight through laying his abdomen wide open for full view.  Joe’s heart stopped as he stared down at the boy he had known for years and who he had just a few hours ago spoken to.  His eyes focused on the whole gruesome scene, including the blood soaked towel which lay over the boy’s private parts.  Joe now knew all that had happened to the kid.  He pulled his hand up to his mouth and almost knocked his father over as he bolted from the room.  He knew he was going to throw up and hoped he could make it outside to do so.

“Thank you,” Ben whispered to the coroner and turned to go to his son.

By the time Ben stepped off the sidewalk and moved into the alleyway next to the coroner’s office Joe was already giving up the contents of his stomach.  He had fallen down to his knees as he suffered through the nausea that racked his body.  Ben’s heart went out to his son, but he had to try and maintain his strict demeanor in order to thoroughly get his message across.  Still, it was difficult to just stand there and watch Joe’s agony and do nothing.

After ten minutes had passed Joe was having dry heaves and there was nothing further left in his system to come up.  He rocked back onto his heels and sobbed.  He hurt inside and out.  Seeing Brady’s body had devastated Joe and now he finally understood what his father had been trying his damnedest to protect him from.  He was now swept away with guilt and sorrow over all he had done and all the grief he had put his father and the rest of his family through.

Ben could take no more.  He walked briskly over to the horse trough in front of the alleyway and removed his neckerchief.  Holding it down into the cool water Ben soaked the cloth and then wrung it out and carried it back over to his son.  Ben knelt down next to Joe and placed the cooled cloth on the back of the boy’s neck.  Once his stomach finally let up on him and the cramping had subsided Joe covered his eyes with his hands and continued to weep.  He could not even find the words to tell his father how sorry he felt.  His father’s small gesture of placing the neckerchief on him made Joe feel even worse.  He thought Ben should leave him there to suffer through his ordeal since he had brought the whole thing on himself.  Joe’s heart and soul were filled to capacity with a kind of self- loathing he thought he’d carry forever.  He knew he had played around with deceit like a little kid instead of the young adult he had tried to prove that he had become.  While a killer stalked the town all he had thought about was tricking his father into a visit with Mitch, all the while knowing he would be urging the other boy into his plan to go towards danger.  The results could have meant that either he or Mitch might now be lying in the coroner’s office instead of Brady Milford.  Joe now detested himself for what he had put both fathers through just because he had wanted a little freedom.  The cost for that freedom was far too high and Joe knew he would never forget what had happened to him that night.

“I’ll be right back,” Ben whispered and turned back towards the walkway where he spied Roy standing.  “Will you keep an eye on the boy for me, Roy?  He’s in no shape to ride back home–I need to go and rent a buckboard.”

Roy nodded, “I won’t move till you come back.”

“Thanks,” Ben replied, patting the sheriff’s shoulder and casting one final glance back towards his son who still knelt there in the alley unmoving.

**************************

The whole ride back to the Ponderosa was done in silence.  Pulling both Cochise and Buck behind the buckboard Ben kept a moderate speed heading home.  Joe sat stiffly next to his father and tried to fight off the pain which controlled his body.  With each bump and rut in the road Joe groaned as quietly as possible.  He was not about to complain to his father.  Joe knew he had more than earned every lash of his father’s belt and then some.  He wondered what his father was now thinking.  Joe was sure the man was full of contempt for all the grief his son had caused him.  He knew that Ben’s total lack of conversation was due to the disappointment and anger he still carried.

When the buckboard finally reached the ranch house, Ben turned over the team as well as Cochise and Buck to one of the hired hands.  He walked towards the house with Joe following close behind.  Ben pulled the door open and watched as Joe walked past him and stopped to hang up his hat.  Ben carried Joe’s holster and gun, something he had removed from the boy back at the sheriff’s office, and set it with his own on the credenza.  Joe hung his head and waited for whatever his father planned next.  He was sure that Ben wasn’t done with him just yet, and wouldn’t have blamed him if his father purposely berated him in front of his two brothers who stood from their seats in the living room.

Ben’s eyes scanned Joe’s appearance, giving way to the notion that the boy had suffered enough for one night.  The kid looked awful.  Joe’s shirt was untucked and his pants were dirty from where he had knelt in the alleyway.  The usually bright hazel eyes were clouded and tear stains marked Joe’s face.

“Go on to your room and wash up, Joseph.  I’ll be up in a little while to talk to you,” Ben said calmly but firmly.

“Yes, Sir,” Joe whispered fighting back his tears.  He walked slowly towards the staircase visibly hurting with the movement.

Hoss and Adam’s faces filled with confusion.  As far as they knew, Ben had gone to the Devlin ranch to escort Joe back home.  They both wondered why Pa and Joe were back so late and why Joe had apparently been crying.

“What’s going on, Pa?”  Hoss was the first to ask as he and Adam moved over to their father.

Ben sighed and turned and walked towards the kitchen calling over his shoulder, “follow me in here and I will tell you both.”

Assembled in the kitchen were the three Cartwrights and Hop Sing.  Ben hadn’t said anything yet, other than to ask Hop Sing to put the tea kettle on.  He sagged down into one of the kitchen chairs and began his story.

“Joseph coerced Mitch into going into town–told Mac Devlin I said it would be okay–”

“What!”  Adam shouted.

“Let me finish, okay?  It’s been a long night,” Ben replied wearily.

“Sure, Pa–go on,” Adam answered and sat down next to the man.  He could read the tension on his father’s face and worried about what Joe had put him through that night.

“So, they went into town.  Went to the bar—and then another body was found.  Brady Milford.  The kid had just been in the bar right before Joe and Mitch got there.  In two hours’ time he was abducted in broad daylight, taken somewhere and murdered.  Then his body was dumped in an alley.”

“Oh, no–” Hoss muttered and shook his head.  Now he knew why both his father and his brother looked so bad off.

“So, Mac and I got there in time to see the crowd gathered–they had already moved the body.  We found Roy and then Joe and Mitch.  So, I took your brother over to the jail and whipped the tar out of him,” Ben paused and sipped at the coffee Hop Sing had sympathetically placed in front of him.

“That’s why Joe looks so bad, huh?”  Adam asked remembering how hurt Joe appeared to be when he had slowly made his way upstairs.

“It’s part of the reason at least.  I also made him view the body.”

“Oh, Pa!”  Hoss exclaimed.  “Why’d you do that?  It must have been awful for Joe–he knew Brady pretty well.  And, if the kid had done to him what the others had done to them–”

Ben cut Hoss off with his reply.  “Yes, Brady was killed the same way!  But, your little brother just refused to take this seriously–I didn’t know of any other way to get through to him.  I had to do it,” Ben tried to defend his actions, though he still wasn’t too sure he had really done the right thing.  In hindsight, Ben wondered if he had harmed the boy far more than he had intended.

“Pa’s right, Hoss, if it teaches our brother that you don’t come back from death then so be it!  Bet he’s gonna remember what he saw tonight for a long time,” Adam replied.

“Water ready–what you want?”  Hop Sing jumped in when he heard the tea kettle sounding off loudly.

“Whatever kind of tea you think will settle the boy’s stomach, Hop Sing.  He lost his dinner after he went in to see the body.”

Hop Sing shook his head a bit upset with his employer.  He was just as worried about the stubborn youngest Cartwright as the others, but Hop Sing always had a soft spot when it came to Little Joe.  He hated to think of all the poor boy had gone through.  “Have herb tea that will help Little Joe,” Hop Sing replied and reached for a canister and placed it on the counter.  He spooned some of the concoction into the tea ball and poured the boiling water over it in the tea cup.

“So?  What are you gonna do now, Pa?”  Hoss asked worriedly.

“Take some tea up to him and tell him to go to sleep.  Anything else I will address in the morning.  I think Joseph has had enough for one day,” Ben said and stood when Hop Sing handed him the cup of tea to take upstairs.  “I’ll see you boys in a little while.  Thanks, Hop Sing,” Ben said and turned to head towards his son’s room.

***********************

Joe could never remember a time when he felt so completely awful.  He had pulled off his clothes and tried as best he could to wash off all of the dirt and grime from his body.  It had taken quite a while to accomplish the task as he was hurting with the movement.  He pulled a nightshirt over his head and then walked to the wash basin to rinse his face once more.  The cool water felt good on his face but his eyes stung from all the tears he had shed that night.  Just as he began to dry his hands off on a towel his father entered the room.  Joe’s heart ached as badly as his body did at that moment.  He couldn’t think of any words, any excuse or apology that would adequately explain away his actions that day.

Ben stared over at the boy and then walked to the night stand and set the tea cup down.  An uneasy silence hung over the room as the two pair of eyes met one another.  Ben couldn’t stand to see his son hurting so badly and decided at that particular moment that he had over done the boy’s punishment.  No matter what Joe had done, no matter how many rules he had broken, no matter how much anguish he had caused, Ben felt he had over reacted and had been far too rough on his boy.  He could see how Joe stayed at a distance, as if he was afraid of his father now.  Ben never wanted that, and it almost brought tears to his own eyes to see the pain that was very evident on his son’s face.

“Joseph–” Ben began, his voice lowered almost to a whisper as he fought to find the right words to use.  Taking two steps closer to his son Ben wondered how he would ever break through with an explanation that might bring Joe to a clearer understanding of why he had done what he had in town.  Before he could even say his next word Joe looked directly at his father and started to speak in a broken whisper.

“Pa—-I–I don’t blame you—blame you for what you did to me,” Joe stuttered, his heart feeling as though it was lodged tight in his throat.  “I–I brought it all on myself—everything–because I just wouldn’t listen—to what you were saying.”

Ben was surprised and a bit amazed to hear his son putting all the blame on himself.  It was not at all the same young man who had defiantly disobeyed his father earlier that day.  Ben could read the total remorse on Joe’s face and knew the tears which were tracking down his face were sincere ones.  “I was a bit hard on you,” Ben nodded towards Joe but the boy jumped right back in.

“No–no, Pa—I deserved that tanning—for risking my life–for risking Mitch’s life too!  You’ve been trying to protect me—–and I fought everything—never listened–” Joe trailed off consumed with regret.  He covered his eyes with his hands and shook his head so heartbroken over all his stubborn and reckless behavior of late.

“Yes, while you did earn that tanning, I didn’t want to have to show you what the killer had done.  Son, I just couldn’t get you to understand that death is forever.  It so very easily could have been you instead of Brady.”

“I–I know that—now— and I’m so sorry—I just hope—” Joe stopped, choking up again on his words.

“Hope what, Joseph?”  Ben asked quietly.

Joe drew in a deep breath and pulled down his hands to stare at his father.  “I–I hope you will forgive me—for all that I did—all the worry I caused you,” Joe whispered, his chin quivering due to the thought that he might never have his father’s trust back again.  He knew he had pushed his pa to the brink and back and in Joe’s heart he really wouldn’t have blamed the man if he wasn’t ready to accept his apology.

Ben’s heart filled with the love he had for the young man who now stood in front of him begging for forgiveness.  He knew that Joseph was truly sorry for all he had done and saw no point in prolonging the boy’s heartbreak.  Ben did not respond verbally to Joe’s plea.  Instead of words, he reached his arms out towards his son.  At that moment Joe knew that his father was ready to forgive him.  Two precarious steps later Joe was in his father’s protective and loving embrace.  He pressed his face against Ben’s strong chest and sobbed tears of relief.

“Oh—Pa—I’m so sorry–so sorry—I–I didn’t know—when I saw Brady laying there—oh God!  I–I can’t believe what happened to him—it was awful–so awful, Pa!”  Joe relived the torment of seeing the young man’s mutilated body.

“I know, Son.  I know,” Ben whispered feeling the boy’s body quake as he unleashed the vivid pictures in his mind.  He allowed Joe a few minutes to just feel protected and safe held there in his father’s arms.  Gently stroking the back of the boy’s head, Ben waited for the sign that he was calming a bit.  Ben closed his eyes and thought about the images which infiltrated his own mind at the time.  The gruesome sight had bothered him, so he knew it had devastated the young man in his embrace much more.  Ben wished there had been another way to have gotten through to his son other than to show him the body of Brady Milford, but unfortunately there wasn’t.  Apparently it had the expected effect on Joe, though Ben hated that it had come to that.  At seventeen years old, Joe had formed the opinion somewhere that he was indestructible and it had been up to his father to show him otherwise.  Now dull reality had finally struck and the boy knew all too well that he had narrowly missed a run-in with the killer.

“Why?  Why, Pa?  Why would anyone–anybody—why?”  Joe continued to cry in his father’s arms.

“There’s an evil that lurks in some men, Joseph–an evil which cannot even be explained nor comprehended by the rest of us.  All we can do is try to stop them—and try to protect the ones we love,” Ben replied in a whisper.

“I’ve never been so scared in my life—to think—he was there–in town–the same time as me and Mitch!  If anything happened to us—it would’ve been all my fault—all my fault!”  Joe sobbed uncontrollably just thinking about what might have been.

“I just thank God it wasn’t you–or Mitch, Joseph.  You are safe—you are home—and you are with someone who loves you very much.”

“I love you too, Pa,” Joe answered looking up into his father’s eyes.  “I promise I won’t ever disobey you again.”

Ben smiled knowingly and hugged his son closer.  “Ever is a long time, Joseph.  Maybe you shouldn’t quite make that big a promise.  I would be happy if you just promise to obey me until this killer is caught.  We’ll worry about ever after that, okay?”

Joe nodded and Ben released him from his hold.

“Let’s get that tea in you,” Ben said and walked Joe over to the side of the bed.  He handed the cup to his son and Joe obediently drank the contents of the teacup and set it back down on the night stand.  “Now–how about turning in?  You look awfully tired.”

Joe spread out on his bed gingerly still aching from all he had experienced that night.  His backside was hurting pretty bad, but his heart was feeling much better after he had apologized to his father.  Ben bent down and pushed the curls from off Joe’s forehead and planted a kiss there to show his son that he was forgiven of his dreadful disobedience. He normally would have blown out the lamp at that point but Ben figured that Joe might just have a little problem with being in the dark that night considering all that had happened.

“I’ll just turn this down a bit–in case you have to get up later,” Ben explained.  “You go to sleep now.  It’s been a long day and a longer night.”  Ben patted Joe’s arm and turned toward the door.

“Pa?”  Joe called out as his father pulled the door open.

“Yes?”  Ben asked turning back around.

“Are they gonna catch him—the killer?”  Joe asked fear written all over his face.

Ben drew in a deep breath.  He tried to be truthful with his son, but at the time he wasn’t at all sure that the madman would ever be found.  Deciding to try and ease the boy’s mind so he might be able to sleep, Ben answered, “yes, they’ll catch him, Joseph.  Now you go to sleep.”

Joe watched as his father closed the door.  He reached over to the lamp and turned the wick up higher.  With all the awful visions still locked into his mind, Joe wondered how he would ever be able to close his eyes and fall to sleep now.

***********************

Daylight streamed in through Joe’s bedroom curtains and woke him from yet another nightmare.  His sleep had been interrupted several times by awful visions of what he had seen the night before.  Joe had dreamt that the killer was chasing him and he ran harder and harder into the dense woods trying to flee his attacker.  Just before he felt the knife at his throat Joe had bolted up in the bed gasping for air and feeling like his heart would explode.  How he had ever fallen back to sleep Joe did not know, but he had.  Though it just meant falling back into another terrifying scenario of trying to run away from the killer, Joe had slept again till dawn.

He pulled himself from his bed and walked to the water basin and rinsed his face to become more alert.  Joe knew he needed to go downstairs and start whatever chores his father had planned for him, but, he hated to face his brothers.  He assumed that just as always, Ben had filled both Adam and Hoss in on all that had happened in town.  Dreading anything being said about his terrible disobedience, Joe slowly dressed and readied to make his appearance at the breakfast table.

Ben looked up from his coffee as soon as he noticed the descent of his youngest son on the staircase.  He shot a warning look over at his other two sons.  Ben had already told both of them that he didn’t want them riding their little brother about his escapades.  He had decided that by now Joe felt about as awful as he could feel and wouldn’t need the reminder.

Joe made it to the dining room table and called out a solemn good morning to his family.  They all answered a bit more cheerily.  Joe stared at his chair and he sighed not wanting to plant himself down onto the hard seat.  He was still hurting from the harsh tanning he had received the night before.  Ben was well aware of the look on Joe’s face as the boy contemplated just how he was going to manage to sit down without making a spectacle of himself.

“Joseph—before you sit down–I believe Hop Sing wanted to see you first,” Ben called over to his son.  Joe stared over at his father and wondered what the cook would want from him.  Not minding the brief delay, since he wasn’t all too keen on sitting at the table, Joe headed into the kitchen.

Hop Sing turned from the stove as the boy walked over to him.  “Pa said you wanted me for something, Hop Sing?”  Joe questioned.

“Have breakfast for you—you come over here,” the cook walked over to the counter where he had set a plate and cup out for the boy.  “Maybe you eat better here then in other room, Little Joe,” Hop Sing smiled and patted Joe’s shoulder and turned to bring over the platters of food to serve him.

Joe shook his head and grinned sheepishly.  He now knew that his father was very aware of his plight and had decided to let Joe handle his condition as tactfully as possible.  Joe was relieved that it had to be true now that Pa had forgiven him.  Just the thought that the man had not embarrassed him in front of his brothers made Joe feel both grateful and still very sorry for all he had done.  Hop Sing handed the boy the food and Joe put a meager amount on his plate and then thanked the cook.  His appetite hadn’t returned to normal, but he was trying to do the best he could so no-one would think he was being as disagreeable as he had in the past by refusing to eat.   Joe stood there at the counter and began eating his breakfast.  It wasn’t long before he felt like someone was staring at him, and he turned towards the kitchen entranceway.  Ben was standing there with his coffee cup in his hand looking over at Joe.  Casting a knowing smile over at the boy Pa nodded his head and walked back into the dining room, he knew Joseph had gotten the message that he was forgiven.

*******************************

Both Adam and Hoss left after breakfast to saddle the three horses so their father and them could ride into town and find out the latest news concerning the death of Brady Milford.  They prayed that the killer had left some kind of clue as to his whereabouts this time.  Ben watched from the living room as Joe helped Hop Sing clear the table of the place settings and took them back into the kitchen.  He called Joe in once the table was cleared.

“Joseph—come here for a minute, please.  I’m about ready to leave,” Ben waved the boy over.  Joe obeyed the request and moved to stand next to his father “I know I probably don’t have to tell you this—but you do know you are still restricted to the house and yard, right?”

Joe swallowed hard, his mind still filled with horrifying images of Brady’s corpse.  “You don’t have to worry, Pa,” Joe paused and his face showed complete fear on it “I never want to leave the yard—never in life!”

Ben shook his head and let his right hand fall softly on the boy’s face.  “No–Joseph—that’s not what I want at all.  I don’t want this fear to control you–to stop you from living.  You’ll only be restricted until this killer is caught.  Do you understand, Son?  I don’t want you to stop living just because of one evil man.”

“It’s not really just one evil man is it, Pa?”  Joe asked, his gaze seeking truth from the man he trusted above all others.  “There are killers out there—and even if you get this guy—who’s to say there won’t be others?”

Ben pulled Joe into his arms and hugged him tight.  He hated to see the usual brave and independent youngster turning away from his former self.  The last thing Ben had ever intended to do was scare the boy into never venturing out into the world due to fear.  He just wanted him to avoid it as much as possible until the current situation was over.   “I have tried to teach you how to defend yourself over the years, Joseph.  And, from what I’ve seen in the past—you have learned very well.  You have good instincts—most of the time that is.  I want you to return to that way of life as soon as this maniac is caught.  That’s not to say that there isn’t some danger at large elsewhere, just that this particular threat is too close to home.  Do you understand?”

“He’s killing boys my age–yeah–I know.  But, who knows–maybe it isn’t just one man–there could be several,” Joe protested.

Ben pulled Joe’s chin up and stared into the troubled eyes.  “We believe it’s one man, Son.  Just give us a little time, we will catch him.  Now–what are you going to do with your day?”  Ben tried to change the subject as he let loose of his son.

“Hop Sing says he has some things he needs help with.  I thought I’d stay close to the house today—most of the other chores I took care of earlier this week.”

“Good—I’m sure that Hop Sing will be glad to have some company for a change,” Ben smiled and walked to the credenza to strap on his holster.

“Pa?”  Joe called over to his father as Ben pulled the door open.

“Yes?”

“Be careful, okay?”  Joe pleaded.

Ben patted his son’s shoulder and nodded, “I will, don’t you worry.  We won’t be long.  See you later.”

Joe watched from the front door the departure of his family.  He hurried into the kitchen to be with the cook.  Joe could not shake the terror he still felt in his soul and hoped his father would safely return and soon.

**********************

The three Cartwrights reined their horses to a fast halt when they spied the sheriff and detective standing by a grove of oak trees a mile from Virginia City.  Dismounting, they approached the two men.

*************************

“Hi, Roy–Dex—what’s going on?”  Ben asked.

“Found us some tracks that looked a bit suspicious and followed them out here,” Dex began his explanation and stooped down and pointed to the base of one of the trees.  “Looks like the Milford boy was killed here and not in the alleyway.  There’s blood here—and a couple of pieces of hemp on the ground.  Looks like the killer tied the boy up, butchered him and then dragged him back into town.  We knew he had to have taken him somewhere close to be able to dump him off in such a short amount of time.”

“I can’t believe no-one saw him—where were the other deputies?”  Adam jumped in with his question.

“Dinner time—all’s we could come up with.  Two of them decided to go to dinner at the same damn time.  It won’t happen again I can guarantee that!”  Roy replied disgusted.

“But, there’s four of them–where were the other two?”  Adam continued as Ben and Hoss looked the area over hoping to come up with another clue.

“They were at both ends of town–this killer has been watching us, that’s for sure!”  Dex said and moved over to his horse.  “I sure hate it—Roy had to tell that poor woman–it broke her heart to lose her youngest son.”

“Sarah asked us all to be at the cemetery at noon tomorrow, Ben.  You all coming aren’t you?’  Roy asked as he neared his old friend.

“Yes, we will be there,” Ben sighed and looked over at Hoss.  “See anything else, Son?”

“No–but just thinking—you said that Brady was in the saloon—anybody ask around to see if they saw any stranger in the bar at the same time?”

“Checked it out already, Hoss,” Dex answered.  “Sam didn’t notice any strangers–didn’t sell any drinks to anyone he didn’t know.”

“Then maybe it’s someone we know,” Hoss fired back.

All four men looked at each other and worried that Hoss was right.  If that was the case then it made it that much harder to find the killer.  It also meant that the person would be able to come and go and show no suspicion as he did.

“Someone sure has a powerful hate for young boys, that’s all I know so far.  And, it isn’t any coincidence that they all looked a lot alike either.  He is singling out certain boys and butchering them.  It’s anybody’s guess at this point why though,” Dex called over to the Cartwrights as he mounted his horse.

“Anything we can do today?”  Ben asked Roy.

“No, not unless you want to give me one of your boys to help watch the town this afternoon so I can have me a good long talk with my deputies?”

“I’ll give you both of them, Roy.  Adam—Hoss–how about helping out until dinner time and coming on home?”

“Sure, Pa,” Adam nodded.  He mounted his horse and waited for Hoss to do the same.

“I’m gonna go back home.  Joseph is a bit skittish right now—and I want to make sure he’s doing okay,” Ben called to his sons.

“I imagine he would be, Ben,” Roy smiled wryly.  “You gave him one helluva dose of reality last night didn’t you?”

Ben nodded and swung up into his saddle.  “I scared him—maybe too much–don’t want him running from his shadow.  But, I don’t want him ever to pull another stunt like he did yesterday either!”

“See you tomorrow, Ben.  Come on, Men!”  Roy sang out and turned his horse towards Virginia City.

*****************************

The scene was somber and heart rendering the next day at the funeral of Brady Milford.  The crowd of mourners stood at the grave site and listened to the preacher’s words.  There was only one thing on the minds of the citizens of the town and the surrounding ranchers, and that was how something that awful could have happened to such a young man.  Sarah Jean Milford sobbed as they began to shovel the clods of dirt on top of her son’s casket.  She was surrounded by her other children as she watched her youngest being buried next to her late husband.

The Devlin family was in attendance that day and Mitch sought out his friend Joe after the last prayer was said.  “You sure got me in a heap of trouble, Joe!  My pa went off on me when I got home.  Darn near got a tanning ‘cause of your lies.”

Joe stared over at his friend and anger took over his face.  “Hey—we deserved it!  I got a tanning to end all tannings–but I ain’t complaining.  Do you realize that could be us?”  Joe paused and pointed at the grave in front of them.  “Your pa had every reason to be upset that we were in town.  And my pa had every reason to punish me too!  We were idiots, Mitch.  This killer doesn’t play.  Be thankful that your pa cares enough to be mad at you, okay?”  Joe said angrily and turned and walked away from his friend.

Ben had been standing a few feet away as the discussion had gone on between the two young men.  He was very happy to hear his son’s words.  It proved to him that Joe was truly sincere about his regrets over all he had done in the past.  Mitch couldn’t believe that Joe went off on him about his complaints, but then, he was not aware of the fact that his friend had been forced to view the body of Brady Milford.  Ben was somewhat amused to see the look on Mitch’s face as he walked back over to his father.  That amusement soon faded as Sarah Milford approached Ben.

“Sarah—my deepest sympathy.  If there’s anything I can do–” Ben trailed off as he put his arm around the woman’s shoulder trying to offer some comfort.

“Ben, you just watch your boy.  Don’t let him run off like my boy did.  I told Brady time and time again that this wasn’t anything to play around with.  I told him not to go into town.  But, did he listen?  No.  He was supposed to be with his brother Cleve up at the breaking corral instead he decided to go get him a beer.  And now look—” the woman broke back down and cried, leaning into her old friend.  “Just watch your boy—don’t let it happen to anyone else, Ben, It’s such a waste—such a waste–when will they learn? My poor boy—my poor boy—” Sarah whispered and turned and walked back over to her other children.

Joe was standing behind both Ben and Sarah at the time, unbeknownst to his father.  When Ben turned around and spotted the boy he could see the tears streaking down Joe’s face.  He knew that the kid was thinking about how Brady and he had both tried to deceive their parents and it had cost one of them his life.  “Come on, Joseph—let’s go home,” Ben called out and put his arm around Joe’s shoulder and walked him down the hill to their carriage.

There was one man in the crowd of mourners who had taken a special interest in the boy in the green corduroy jacket who was being ushered to his surrey by his father.  He watched and observed carefully the height and weight and full appearance of the boy and it was at that moment that he decided who his next victim would be.  The man walked away and blended right into the crowd.  No-one would have suspected that the man, who was known to all, had come to the funeral to watch the sorrow he had caused the Milford family.  No-one would have known that he had not come to pay his respects but to revel in the thrill of his kill and to pinpoint which boy would be next.

************************

Dex Farwell poured over his notes as he sat in Roy Coffee’s office late at night.  He knew that the answer to the murders was somewhere there in front of him but could not for the life of him figure it out.  Roy had given in to exhaustion and went to sleep in his quarters there in the jail house, leaving the detective to mull over the information the two men had collected over the past four days since the death of Brady Milford.  Sipping his warmed over coffee Dex drew a line through fourteen of the names on his list.  He had spoken with the bartender over at the Silver Dollar Saloon and had ascertained the names of everyone that Sam could remember stopping by the bar the day that Brady had been abducted.  Dex had spoken in length to the sheriff regarding all of the possible suspects.  One by one they were crossed off the list after a bit of scrutiny.  There were only four other names on the bottom of the list that had not been dismissed for one reason or another.  Though the sheriff knew each man that Sam had pointed out to the best of his recollection, Dex refused to accept each dismissal as fact.  Roy had traveled with Dex to the house or ranch of each person Sam had remembered to be present at the saloon.  All the leads were dead ends.

Dex stood and threw down his pencil, his anger and frustration mounting.  Four men left to speak with, that was it.  The detective still hadn’t figured out an adequate motive for anyone to have purposely butchered the young men.  This crime spree had Dex stumped, but he refused to give up.  He sat back down in the chair and read over the last four names on the list. ****Jason Hill, Greg Parley, Hutch Coleson, Marcus Hunter****Dex thought to himself. ****a rancher, a merchant, a bronc buster and a farmer—-could one of you be the killer?****

******************************

Ben was worried, worried about a lot of things in fact.  Whereas his youngest had totally fallen to being a very obedient young man, he also seemed very withdrawn and frightened since the terrible night when he had been forced to view the corpse of Brady Milford.  Ben wanted the boy to be wary, he wanted him to follow orders, but he didn’t want his son to be consumed with fear either.  He prayed that the killer would be captured soon, worried about the long term effects of what the delay was causing Joe.

Standing at the front door readying to leave, Ben shot a glance Joe’s way.  The boy was sitting on the hearth staring into the flames of the fireplace lost in thought.  Ben couldn’t help feeling that Joe looked like he was trapped.  In some ways the boy was.  He was trapped between being a child and a man.  Ben knew the progression was bad enough under normal conditions, but now to have to face the advance of puberty and adulthood with such terrible trauma in his life was tearing his son apart.   Normally Joe would have fought his father tooth and nail to ride with him into town, gun strapped to his hip ready to assist in the capture of the killer.  Now, however, Joe wanted no part of anything other than the safety of the house.  Ben hoped the lesson he had tried to teach his son had not back-fired and thrust the boy into a life of fear and insecurity.

“Joseph, I’m about ready to go,” Ben called over to his son and the boy stood and approached him.

“You gonna be in Virginia City long, Pa?”  Joe asked a hint of a tremble in his tone.

Ben put his hand on Joe’s shoulder and smiled, “no, not long.  Your brothers and I are just gonna go talk to Roy, check on a few things and come back.  Now, you remember that your friend Mr. Lincolns is going to be here in a little while to show Hop Sing what he has in his wagon?”

“Yeah—Hop Sing’s making up a list.  Thanks—” Joe stopped and forced a smile towards his father.

“For what?”

“For giving Mr. Lincolns the business, Pa—I know you usually order everything from the mercantile.  It’s nice of you to have him come out here.”

Ben returned the boy’s smile, “well, he did a good turn for you.  Besides, I did feel a bit guilty for thinking the worst of the man in the beginning.  It does show me that your instincts were correct—that time.”

“Yeah—but I still shouldn’t have gone off with him.  You were right that time, Pa—it was stupid on my part.  But, then, I’ve done some pretty stupid things lately.”

Ben hugged Joe to him and chuckled.  “It’s all part of growing up, Son.  You’re getting there—just don’t rush things, okay?”

Joe nodded and walked his father to the door.  “See you later, Pa,” Joe said and watched as the man walked towards the barn where his two brothers were waiting with the horses.

******************************

Samuel Lincolns drove his wagon through the lush green countryside eager to get to the Ponderosa.  He was glad to be getting some business after a few weeks of slow profits.  Samuel was also happy to be visiting Joe Cartwright, the boy he had driven home weeks prior.  He found the boy to be pleasant and very easy to speak with.  Having met and spoken with Ben Cartwright the previous day, Samuel knew that the young man was not doing very well from what he had heard.  Ben told the man why Joe was not leaving the Ponderosa and why a visit would be most welcomed by his son.

As he turned down the main road that led directly to the Ponderosa ranch house, Samuel spotted something lying in the road in front of him.  It appeared to be a man laying face down on the rock laden ground.  Pulling his team to a stop, Samuel stepped down from his wagon and hurried over to aid the fallen man.  Just as he had stooped down to touch the man’s shoulder, the other man turned in an instant and cracked Samuel in the head with his gun.  The elderly man fell to the ground, the side of his head split opened.

Slipping the unconscious man’s coat on, the stranger was satisfied that it was a decent fit.  He bent down and grabbed the peddler’s top hat off of the ground and secured it on his own head.  Next, the killer climbed up into the wagon and maneuvered the team of horses around the body left in the road.  He continued the trek towards the ranch house, knowing there was a seventeen year old boy waiting for the peddler’s wagon to arrive.

**********************************

“Looks like he’s here, Hop Sing,” Joe said peeking out from the window in the kitchen.

“I put on tea—we sit and talk then go see to wagon.  Be right back–Hop Sing go get list!” the cook replied and walked over to the stove to set the kettle on the flame.

“I’ll go and welcome him—be right back,” Joe announced and pulled the kitchen door open and sauntered slowly across the front yard.

The wagon had come to a stop right in front of the barn.  Joe figured that the man might want to water the horses before going inside and walked toward the team.  He could just barely make out the back of Mr. Lincoln who was leaning into the rear of the covered wagon.

Joe put his hand on the man’s shoulder and said to him, “glad you could come, Mr. Lincolns—our cook just put the water on for tea.”

The man in the dark coat turned slowly and it was only then that Joe realized two things, two dreadful things.  First, there was now a Colt 45 pointed directly at his chest, the second, it was not Mr. Lincolns behind the weapon.

“Mr. Hunter?  What’s going on?  Where’s Mr. Lincolns—what’s the gun for?”  Joe spat out full of confusion which changed abruptly to mortal fear.  He tried to step back, but the man swung around with his other hand and knocked the boy in the head with a block of wood from the inside of the wagon.  Joe collapsed onto the ground.  The killer bent down quickly and tossed Joe like a sack of wheat into the back of the wagon.  He then hurried back around to the front seat and climbed up and grabbed the reins.  Then, he sent the team into motion and they had disappeared from sight before Hop Sing came out of the kitchen.

***********************************

Dex had slept for only a few hours.  He had awakened with a gut feeling of danger and could not shake it.  Images of all the dead boys flashed in his mind in a rapid succession.  One after the other he saw their faces displayed.  It was then that another picture came into view.  He could see the face of Joe Cartwright.  Dex had no idea why the young Cartwright came to mind, but he did and it was enough to make him strap on his holster and head out to get his horse.  He wanted to get to the Ponderosa.  If his instincts were wrong, Dex figured he could head out from there and start to interview the other men on the list of suspects.  The Hunter farm wasn’t too far from the Ponderosa, so either way, Dex felt it wouldn’t be a wasted trip.

Roy Coffee had spotted the departure of the detective and hurriedly saddled his own mount to catch up with the man.  By the time Dex came to the main road to the ranch house he noticed the still form laying in the road.  He had just dismounted and bent down to check for a pulse when Roy rode up next to him.

“Who is it?”  Roy asked breathlessly as he jumped down from his saddle.

“It’s that peddler—-the one we checked out weeks ago,” Dex replied and pulled off his neckerchief and placed it against the man’s head to try and stop the bleeding.

“He alive?”

“Barely—Roy—if this is the peddler—where’s his wagon?”  Dex asked and noticed the sheriff’s face went white.

“I heard Ben say that Lincolns here was gonna stop by the Ponderosa!”

“You stay with him, Roy— I gotta catch up with that wagon!”  Dex shouted and threw himself into his saddle.  He kicked at his horse’s sides and sent the steed into a fast gallop.

************************************

Hop Sing was in the barn trying his best to saddle a horse when he heard another rider approaching.  He looked out of the door and saw it was the detective he had met weeks ago.  Running out in the yard the cook yelled out in Chinese.

“Hold on–hold on—in English please!”  Dex called down to the Oriental.

“Little Joe—he come out to get peddler—Hop Sing turn around Little Joe gone—peddler wagon gone! Got to get to Little Joe!” the cook yelled out distraught over the thought that something had happened to the boy he had raised as his own son.

“Where is Ben?”

“Head to town–little while ago–before wagon come!”

“You go on and catch up with him, Hop Sing—I’m gonna go get the boy—head out!”  Dex shouted, turned his horse away from the ranch house, and raced off.

*******************************

Ben, Hoss and Adam had been surprised to find both Dex and Roy out of town when they arrived in Virginia City.  Having no idea where either of the men had gone, they decided to ride back home and wait for news.  Ben had taken the time to jot down a message for Roy and left it in the man’s office asking him to get in touch later in the day.

Roy had pulled Mr. Lincolns over against a tree and was trying to tend his head wound when he noticed the coming riders.  As they came closer, Roy was both filled with relief and sadness to see it was the Cartwrights minus Little Joe.

“What’s going on, Roy?”  Ben called over to the sheriff.

“Lincolns—he was hit–hit hard–”

Horror filled Ben’s mind and squeezed his heart tight in his chest.  “Where’s his wagon!”  Ben shouted, knowing in his gut that it was bad news.

“The killer must’ve taken it and headed to your house—Dex is right behind him—leave me one of your boys to help with the peddler and go catch up!”

“Adam—you go with Roy–Hoss–let’s ride!”  Ben shouted and hurriedly rode away from the scene.

****************************

Ben and Hoss hadn’t gone three miles before they saw Hop Sing riding towards them.  The Oriental was just barely staying in the saddle, and bobbed up and down frantically trying to get to the family with his news.    “Mr. Carlight!  Mr. Carlight!  Man take Little Joe!  Detective go to save him now!”

“We know—which way did they go?”  Hoss hollered over to the cook.

“That way—-follow wagon now!”  Hop Sing pointed west.

Hoss and his father left Hop Sing and a cloud of dust in their wake as they raced to catch up with the detective, the killer and Little Joe.

*********************************

Marcus Hunter had always been very meticulous in how he dealt with his victims.  It was true, as the law had suspected that he rarely brought his victims to his home and usually just took them far enough away from the boy’s home towns to accomplish the kill and then dump their bodies back where they had been taken.  Today was no different.  Having driven the team of horses just a few miles from the Ponderosa ranch house, the killer stopped at a small clearing and hoisted the boy from the wagon and carried him into the dense forest in front of him.  Joe had been unconscious the whole trip and had not felt the jar to his body as the man dropped him roughly onto the ground at the base of a tree.

Marcus slapped the boy’s face trying to bring him back around.  One thing he enjoyed was to see the look of terror on his victim’s faces before they were slain.  Joe became aware of the ropes which bound his wrists first.  He blinked hard and groaned from the pain of his head wound.  It was at that time that Joe fully realized what was going on.  He felt as though it was at that moment that his world stood still and his heart stopped beating.

Joe’s arms were over his head with the rope binding both wrists and encircling the tree behind him.  He was lying flat on his back and could see all too clearly the smile on Marcus Hunter’s face as he stared down at him now.

“Mr. Hunter—-why—why you?”  Joe stammered.

“Never figured it was me–huh, Cartwright?”  Marcus laughed and pulled out a ten inch knife from his boot.  The blade glimmered in the early morning sun and as Joe looked up at it he knew that each victim had felt that very knife before he had died.

“But—why—why—you’ve got a wife—you’ve got a baby on the way—why?”

“No I don’t,” the man shot back and stared into the penetrating hazel eyes.

“Your wife—-she’s with her sister—remember?  She’s gonna come home—-before your baby comes—she’s just visiting her sister!  I remember you telling my pa that!”  Joe tried to stall for time, praying with all his soul that someone would find him before it was too late.

“NO—she’s buried under my house, Joe!”  Marcus shouted and then broke into maniacal laughter.  “Funny thing about that —funny thing—you know that baby?  That baby that we wuz gonna have—that baby that I’ve been waiting for —for twenty years of marriage? It wasn’t gonna be mine!”

“What—–what are you talking about?  Why did you kill her?”  Joe asked trying to keep the man talking.  As long as he was talking he would not be doing anything else, Joe figured.

“Caught her out in the barn—–with my farm hand—you knew him Joe—you know—Zack—-the one I said left to go to Texas?  He was the father of that baby—-and now the three of ‘em are all together—all nice and neat—under the floor of my kitchen!”

“Okay—okay—that was bad—that was wrong,” Joe paused and fought to think of something else to come up with to keep the conversation going “but, why—why kill all the other boys?  Why kill them?  They didn’t do nothing to you—I didn’t do nothing to you!”

“God told me—God told me—kill all the seventeen year olds—all the eighteen year olds—who look like Zack–they are full of bad seed—they have to be stopped!   They have to be slain to show everyone how evil they are!  They are all spawns of Satan—-and you are one of them!”

“NO—no I’m not—you are insane!”  Joe protested and then felt the man’s hand on his shirt.

“Go ahead, Joe—go ahead and beg me–go on ahead and cry and plead with me—go on!”  Marcus shouted as he ripped the boy’s shirt open scattering the buttons everywhere.  He laid bare Joe’s chest and the boy sucked in air.

Joe tried to listen, tried to comprehend all that the maniac had just told him.  The man, Joe figured, wanted him to beg him not to kill him.  Joe refused to die that way.  He hoped by acting in a different manner than the other victims that he might stand a chance with the killer.

“I ain’t crying—and I ain’t beggin’ either!  You might kill me—but you’re not gonna get away with this–not this time!”

Marcus was now enraged by what the boy had said to him.  He turned his head when he thought he heard a horse approaching.  Lifting the knife Marcus sent it down into the boy’s abdomen and Joe screamed out in anguish.  Just as the killer began to move the impaled knife further down the boy’s body, to lay the cavity open as he had done to each victim, the blast of a shotgun rang out.

The weight of the killer’s body fell over Joe’s chest, rending the knife lower into his stomach.  Dex Farwell jumped down from his horse.  Tossing down his rifle he drew his six-gun.  He hurried over to Joe and shoved the killer off of him.   Dex checked the pulse of Marcus Hunter and found him to be dead.  He then turned his attention to the badly injured boy.

“Hang on, Joe—hang on,” Dex whispered as he attempted to pull the knife out of the boy as carefully as possible.  The crimson stained blade was imbedded in Joe’s stomach a good three inches.  The detective grimaced when the tip of the knife finally pulled through the puckered skin and a tide of blood poured out of the wound and spread it’s pattern down the boy’s abdomen and onto his trousers.   Joe groaned and tears fell from his eyes.  The wounded boy’s face paled and the detective was sure the young Cartwright was about to pass out.  “Got it out, Kid—hold on let me get your arms loose,” Dex took the knife and slashed the rope that was wrapped around the tree.  By the time he began to loosen the hemp from Joe’s wrists he could hear the riders coming closer.

Ben’s legs shook as he approached the gruesome scene.  He had already spotted the dead Marcus Hunter lying over to one side, and now Ben’s eyes fell on his youngest child.  Blood seemed to be everywhere from the gash in the boy’s stomach and the anxious father could hardly believe that the green eyes were still opened and focusing in on him.  For one brief moment Ben had presumed his son dead, and now looking at the boy, he wasn’t sure if death was imminent.

“Oh–Joseph—”Ben paused and knelt down next to the boy.  He took Joe’s hand into his own and squeezed it.

“Gotta get him a doctor—and quick!”  Dex insisted.

“Pa—Pa—” Joe fought to get his words out but was feeling very woozy from blood loss.

“It’s okay, Son—your Pa has you now–” Ben whispered as he drew his son up in his arms and stood.

“Gotta tell you, Pa—gotta tell you–” Joe continued as Ben set him inside the wagon and climbed in with him.  Hoss had already tied both Chubb’s and Buck’s reins to the back of the wagon and had jumped aboard and sent the team forward.  They needed to get home as soon as possible.  It was determined that Dex would head to town and bring the doctor back with him.  He rode towards town, spurring his horse to move faster.

“Pa—Pa–” Joe continued to try to get his meaning out.

Ben cradled the boy’s head in his lap and applied pressure to the wound in his son’s stomach

“You just rest, Joe—you can tell me later,” Ben whispered trying to calm the frightened boy. The terrified father could feel the tears falling from his own eyes as he stared at his precious son who had fallen victim to the killer.  He prayed that the maniac would not claim the boy as his last kill.

“NO–tell you now–gotta—” Joe muttered barely lucid, as he reached up and grabbed Ben’s shirt collar.

“Okay–okay–what is it?”  Ben asked, knowing the boy was not going to give up until he had his say.  He knew he had to keep Joe as calm as possible hoping to stop the pulsating flow of blood from advancing.

“I—I was in the yard, Pa—in the yard—-just want you—want you to know–” Joe choked out, tears filling his eyes.  Those were his final words before he passed out, his head falling to one side.

Ben’s heart skipped a beat listening to his son’s ironic confession.  Joe had been doing exactly as he had been told to do, and yet the killer had gotten to him.  The boy wanted his father to know that this time the evil had come after him and not the other way around.  “I know—Joseph—I know–” Ben whispered and lowered his head and kissed his son.  “You did exactly what I told you to do, Boy, exactly—-don’t leave me—please—don’t leave me,” Ben sobbed as his hand pushed Joe’s hair off his forehead and sent off a silent prayer for his life.

*********************************

The scene at the Ponderosa ranch house later that afternoon was a grim one.  Ben paced back and forth in front of the fireplace while Adam and Hoss continually tried to reassure their father that Joe was in good hands.  Doctor Martin had arrived shortly after they had brought Joe up to his room, and after assessing the situation, had ordered everyone from the boy’s bedroom except Hop Sing.  He didn’t want anyone hovering over his shoulder as he worked on Joe, and had read the anguish on the family members faces well.  Doctor Martin knew that each man present was wondering if the boy could pull through in spite of the massive gash in his abdomen.

“He’s been up there for more than an hour now,” Ben argued and turned to face his two sons.  “Something must have happened—maybe he can’t get the bleeding under control?”

“Calm down, Pa—no news is good news.  He’s just taking his time to make sure the sutures will hold most likely,” Adam replied and reached for the coffee pot sitting on the coffee table.  Hoss had prepared the brew and it was good and strong, though a tad bitter.  “Here—have some more coffee and sit down a spell–Doc will come get us soon.”

Ben fell into the chair exhausted mentally.  He accepted the cup from his eldest son and leaned back trying to come to grips with all that had happened.  “He was in the yard–” Ben muttered.

“Huh?”  Hoss asked, unable to hear his father well.

“Joseph–he was in the yard–where I made him stay–now look what happened!  I should have brought the boy with us—instead he was left as a target for that maniac!”  Ben fired back upset with himself mostly.

“Now, Pa, that ain’t right and you know it!  How’d we know that the peddler would be ambushed?  There was no way any of us could have known that Mr. Hunter plotted this whole thing out just to grab Little Joe,” Hoss tried his best to ease his father’s misplaced guilt.

“Why in the world would Marcus turn like this—into a killer?”  Adam asked his family, though he knew the only one who might know the answer was his kid brother upstairs.

Ben shook his head frustrated, “to think I had that man to our house just a couple of weeks ago!  His wife is due to have a baby any time now—he said she was coming back from St. Louis soon.  I wonder if she’s dead too?”

“Maybe Joe will tell us when he comes back around,” Adam said, hoping for the best.

“If—” Ben started and then decided against what he was about to say.  Surely Joseph would pull through all of his injuries as the boy had done time and time again in the past through other crises.  Ben closed his eyes and said another quick prayer.

A few minutes later Doctor Martin appeared on the staircase and called over to the family.  “I could sure use some coffee,” he said as he made it to the bottom landing.

Ben sprang to his feet and met the man by the staircase.  “Is he gonna be okay—how is he–is he awake?”  Ben fired his questions as rapidly as his heart was now beating.

“Hold on–hold on–Ben.  One at a time, okay?  First, yes it looks like Little Joe is going to survive his injuries–though it was touch and go for a while I will admit.  I would say it was a miracle that the knife barely missed any vital organs, but, then the boy has been lucky like this in the past so it shouldn’t surprise me.   He’ll be hurting for quite a while I am afraid, but I expect him to recover fully.”

“Thank God,” Ben exhaled and patted the doctor’s shoulder “and thank you, Paul.”

“Here, Doc,” Hoss said and handed the man a fresh cup of coffee.

“Thanks–it’s been a long day already.  I had just patched up Samuel Lincolns when Dex came in and told me about Joe.”

“Is Mr. Lincolns gonna be okay?”  Adam asked.  He had ridden the elderly man on his own horse all the way into Virginia City that morning and had worried about the severe head gash the man had received.

“Has one heck of a concussion—I left him in my office with Roy tending to him.  I think he will be okay in a week or so.  Been a very interesting day—to say the least,” the doctor sighed and moved to one of the chairs and sank down tired.

“Can I go see Joseph now?”  Ben asked staring down at the doctor waiting for a sign that it was okay.

Doctor Martin laughed and pulled out his pocket watch and winked over at Hoss and Adam.  “You’re getting a bit slower, Ben—I bet Hop Sing it wouldn’t take you a minute before you ran up the stairs to see the boy.  It’s been three whole minutes,” the man nodded back towards the worried father.  “I imagine you will be up there for quite a spell so don’t over do it. You get some rest so I don’t have to come back tomorrow and find you sick.  I left instructions with Hop Sing on Joe’s care and I will examine him again tomorrow morning to see how those sutures are holding.  Now–go ahead!”

****************************

Ben smiled and almost charged the steps anxious to be at his son’s side.  He hurried up the staircase and down the hallway, finally reaching the bedroom.  Pulling the door open, Ben could see Hop Sing sitting in the chair next to his son’s bed holding the boy’s hand.  He walked over to change places with the benevolent caretaker of the Ponderosa.

“I’ve got it now, Hop Sing–why don’t you go and get some coffee and rest awhile?”

Hop Sing reluctantly gave up his seat to his employer and friend and headed towards the door.  “Little Joe sleep—need rest—you no wake!” the Oriental was firm with his instructions.

Ben smiled and nodded towards Hop Sing, knowing how much the man loved the boy lying wounded in the bed.  “I’m not about to wake him.  Now go make some decent coffee will you–before Hoss poisons us all!”

Hop Sing returned Ben’s smile, and left the room leaving the wounded boy to the care of his father.  Ben stared over at the still figure on the bed.  He pulled down the comforter to inspect the bandages which encircled the boy’s lower torso.  Doctor Martin had once again performed his magic.  There was no further sign of bleeding, the bandages as pristine as when the skilled physician had secured them on Joe.  Ben pulled the covers back up around his son’s shoulders and felt the boy’s forehead for fever.  He was relieved to find the feel of the skin to be only slightly warm to his touch.

Ben leaned back in the chair and stared at Joe as though he had never seen him before.  He purposely etched into his memory each feature, planting it like a seed for all time. ****how could this be the same tiny baby I held in my arms****Ben began to reflect on the boy there in front of him****it seems like just yesterday that I was teaching you to walk, Joseph—and now look at you!  I miss that little boy, the boy who sat in my lap and learned to read—the little boy who surprised all of us with his ability to make us laugh and cry.  Where have the years gone, Son?  How can someone who looks so angelic get into so much trouble?****Ben found a smile pulling at his lips just thinking of all that his third son had put him through over his seventeen years****I never know what to expect from you, Joseph.  Sometimes you make my life so rewarding just watching the things you accomplish—and sometimes you lead me to the brink with your antics!  You are like two very different people—the best and sometimes the most aggravating human God ever created.  One minute you are arrogant to the point I want to smack you, and the next minute you are the most tender and loving person I’ve ever known—and I just want to hold you and protect you from the rest of the world****Ben found the tears falling faster now, rolling down his cheeks as he thought on how close he had come to losing the boy forever****Sometimes I wish I could lock you away from all the evil—all the pain—but to do that I would also be keeping you from all the good there is as well.  Was I wrong for keeping you here—trying to keep you from that killer?  If I hadn’t forced you to stay—maybe this would never have happened—and you wouldn’t be lying there now. ****Ben stopped his internal rendition of doubts when Joe began to stir in bed.  “Joseph?  Joe can you hear me?” Ben asked as he moved to sit on the side of the bed right next to the boy.

“Pa—Pa?”  Joe whispered and winced as both reality and pain came back into his head.

“Right here next to you, Son,” Ben responded as he put his hand on Joe’s arm, stroking it softly to help bring the boy back slowly.

“He got me—” Joe whispered and then focused in on his father’s careworn face.

“He’s dead now—-he can’t hurt you–or anyone else ever again, Son,” Ben replied gently.

Joe coughed from the medication which the doctor had given him earlier.  It stung the back of his throat and the taste was still on his tongue.  Ben saw the pain written all over the boy’s face and pulled an extra pillow over from the other side of the bed.

“Here—this might help some,” Ben said and placed the pillow in front of his son, “you have some stitches in your gut, you don’t want to rip them when you cough.  Press on the pillow to cushion yourself.”

Joe did as instructed and nodded that the extra padding in front of him did help the situation.  He pointed over to the night stand, indicating he wanted a drink.

Ben poured a glass of water and handed it to Joe.  “Take it easy to start with.”

“Thanks,” Joe whispered after taking a few sips.  He handed the glass back to his father and eased back against the other pillows at the head of the bed.

“I’m so sorry, Joseph—if I hadn’t made you stay here–” Ben trailed off, still consumed with guilt for what had happened.

“No—Pa—don’t say that.  Mr. Hunter was crazy—he was gonna get me one place or another—you know—you know what he told me?”  Joe stuttered.  Ben could tell that his confrontation with the killer had scared the boy very badly.  Joe was starting to shake just thinking about the man.

“We don’t have to talk about it right now,” Ben replied, worried about the boy’s emotional state just as much as his physical state now.

“No–want to tell you—Pa—he killed his wife—and that farm hand—remember?  His name was Zack—the one that was supposedly down in Texas?  Mr. Hunter said—said they are both buried under his kitchen—under the boards in the kitchen.”

Ben’s eyes grew big as he listened to what his son was trying his best to explain to him.  He had no idea that Joe had actually had a conversation with the killer and that the evil man had confessed some things to him.  “Why—did he say why he killed his wife?  She was going to have a baby in a few months—we all thought she was visiting her sister.”

Joe had another brief coughing spell and Ben waited patiently for the boy to gather himself a little more before continuing.  “Maybe we should finish this later–really—Joseph—you just had surgery, you don’t need to be going through this now.”

“Pa—I gotta tell you—tell you it all.  I got it all in my head—and it’s getting to me—please?”  Joe turned his sad hazel eyes on his father and the man nodded back over to him.

“Go ahead, if it’s something you need to get out,” Ben replied softly and touched the boy’s cheek to show him that he understood how badly he had been affected by what he had heard and seen.

“He said that his wife and that farm hand—well–you know—and that’s who the father of the baby was—not Mr. Hunter,” Joe began again, but felt just a bit shy to be telling those kinds of things to his father.  He hated to even think about a woman cheating on her husband.  Joe had been told that those kinds of things were wrong.  Joe knew it was, but he didn’t feel that it was enough reason to kill two people either.

Ben nodded once more that he understood what the boy had said.  “Go on.”

“So, he said that he killed them and put them under the floor in his house.  Then I asked him why he was killing boys—boys who had done nothing to him.  You know what he said?”  Joe asked, his facial expression lending way to the horror he had survived.  It was now just starting to dawn on him that he had been the only survivor of the maniac’s killing spree.

“What did he say?”  Ben responded again, knowing the boy had to get it out of his mind somehow.  He hoped that by sharing it with his father that Joe might somehow eventually get over all he had witnessed.

“He said that God told him to kill all the seventeen and eighteen year olds in the area who looked like Zack.   Said something about them all having evil seed or something.  How crazy is that, Pa?”

“Very crazy—he must have just snapped—he was sick, mentally sick, Joe.”

“Pa–I came so close you know?  He stuck me with that knife and I thought–I thought–I was gonna be next—the next one at the coroner’s office.  Just like Brady—” Joe stopped as his words struck a nerve deep down in his soul and suddenly his brave facade gave way.  He had been so brave, so controlled laying there staring up at the killer, when in fact, he had been petrified at the time.  Now all of that was gone.  He was safe there in his own bed, his father at his side.  It was finally time to give in to the awful ordeal and cry out the emotions which had been kept from the killer on purpose to try to stay alive.

Ben saw the look on his son’s face just as soon as the boy had halted his sentence.  He knew what the boy needed now, and there was only one person who could accomplish the task.  Ben leaned forward and wrapped his arms as gently as possible around the boy’s trembling shoulders and Joe leaned into the embrace his father had offered.  It was at that moment that the wall of tears broke down and Joe sobbed in Ben’s arms.

“It’s okay, Joe–go on–get it out–you’ve been through one heck of a terrifying experience.  What you are feeling is normal.  Anyone who had gone through something like that would do the same thing, feel the same thing,” Ben whispered and stroked the back of the boy’s head trying his best to calm him.

“I—I almost was killed—-Pa—-I was so sure—when he stabbed me—so sure it was all over—that I’d never see you again—never see Adam–Hoss–Hop Sing.  I was so scared—but I didn’t cry—I didn’t beg—he wanted me to, Pa–but I didn’t!”

“You were very brave, Joseph– very brave,” Ben replied, trying to reassure his son that he had done everything he could do while held by the killer.

“I don’t think I’ll ever feel safe again, Pa—ever—not after this—not after what I saw—not after what I heard,” Joe cried.

Ben pulled Joe back a little so he could stare into the boy’s eyes.  “Yes, yes you will, Son.  I promise you that you will.  Not right away maybe—but that’s okay.  You have a while before you will be getting out of your room anyway.  But, I am willing to make you a wager that two months from now you will be back to normal.  You will be going into town—coming back late as always,” Ben paused and forced a smile as he pulled Joe’s chin up so he could get through to him better “and driving me crazy!”

“No—Pa—I — don’t think I’ll ever go into town again—don’t think I’ll ever want to leave this house,” Joe insisted on what he believed to be the truth at the time.

Ben grinned and ruffled Joe’s hair.  Whereas the boy there in front of him was adamant that he would always be afraid, his father was just as sure that the inner strength of his youngest would come back just as strong, or perhaps, stronger than before.  “Want to make a little wager?  How about twenty dollars?”

Joe stared into his father’s sympathetic gaze and shook his head but didn’t speak.  He wondered how his father could even joke about such things after all that had happened.

“Well?  Is it a wager or not, Joseph?  I will bet you twenty dollars that two months from now you will be going into town just as feisty as always!  If you are NOT then I will give YOU twenty dollars.  If you ARE then you will give ME twenty dollars.”

Joe sighed it seemed like an easy twenty dollars at the time.  He pushed his tears aside and reached out his right hand to shake with his pa.  “Okay—but you will lose, Pa.  I’m telling you I don’t ever want to leave this house–and I mean it!”

Ben shook Joe’s hand and smiled.  “Okay–well, we will see. But, as for now–you need to sleep,” Ben announced and helped to settle Joe back in bed.  He leaned over and planted a kiss on his son’s forehead as the boy closed his eyes, visibly exhausted.  “I’m very proud of you, Joseph—in case I haven’t told you lately.  You are growing up—too fast for me–but that’s the way of things I guess.  You kept your wits about you which is why you are still here now.”

“Thanks, Pa—but to tell you the truth from what I’ve seen today–I am not all that big on growing up anymore,” Joe replied and drifted off to sleep.

“That will change,” Ben whispered knowingly as he settled down into the chair and watched his son fall back under.

EPILOGUE:

With all the unanswered questions about the murderer finally addressed to his satisfaction, detective Dex Farwell bid the Cartwrights and Roy goodbye and had left for another town, another crime to solve.  Roy’s life went back to normal, and he was very glad to have the somewhat mundane life of a sheriff in a quiet town back again.  The curfew was lifted in the town of Virginia City, and only the graves of the two victims Josh and Brady stood now as a reminder of the tragedy which had taken their lives.

The Cartwright’s lives went back to normal as well.  Joe healed after almost an entire month in bed and then limited activities for the second month.  Ben and his other two sons kept a watchful eye out for the youngest, but, they had done that before the murders had taken place and figured they would be doing it for many years to come.  That was the nature of the youngest, and his family eagerly awaited his very first wild escapade to prove to them all that he had at last gotten over the trauma of all he had witnessed.

Joe did seem a bit withdrawn those first few weeks and Ben had tried to help him the best he could.  Usually that meant a talk here and there as needed or just sitting and listening to what the boy had to say without offering suggestions.  He wanted Joe to be able to work out some of his difficulties on his own, but to assure the boy that his father would always be there if he really needed his help.  By the time the second month had passed Ben was not at all sure just where Joe’s mind was at times, and he was worried that perhaps the boy was still dwelling on the awful events and his run-in with Marcus Hunter.

Joe worked on the barn chores and helped to stack hay most of the day.  He still had yet to leave the front yard, though the doctor had now lifted all restrictions as had his father.  Ben watched the boy from the front porch where he worked on ledger books.  Joe seemed to be wearing a very strange expression on his face as he approached the steps of the porch.  He stopped abruptly and put his hands on his hips, striking a pose that almost mimicked one his father usually struck when he was about to give a lecture.

“Pa?”  Joe called up to his father.

“What is it, Joseph?”  Ben asked looking down from his position at the table on the porch.

“You owe me twenty dollars—-time to pay up,” Joe called out, his facial expression most severe now.

Ben frowned knowing exactly what his son was referring to.  It had been two months, in fact almost an entire week beyond the two month deadline, in the wager that they had made.  Two months and not once did Joe ask to go into town, though Ben had even nudged him a couple of times to ride into Virginia City with his brothers.   Joe had made it very clear that he wanted no part of leaving the yard.  Ben didn’t want to force the issue but had hoped that the boy would start to show signs of reclaiming his former life.  He would actually welcome a slight bit of disobedience at that point.  Ben wanted to see a sign of any kind that would prove to him that it was really Joe Cartwright on the ranch. He wasn’t very pleased with the watered down version of his son, one who had no spunk, no light in his eyes, and no zest for living.

“Here you go,” Ben sighed and pulled out twenty dollars in greenbacks from his wallet and handed them down to his son “a bet is a bet–but I sure would’ve liked to win this one, Joseph.”

Joe broke into the grandest smile that Ben had ever seen.  Then the twinkling green eyes let his pa know that the devious youngest son was truly back.  To confirm Ben’s assumption, Joe finally spoke up as he tucked the bills inside the pocket of his jacket.

“Thanks, Pa—I needed some money—can’t go into town broke you know!”  Joe winked at his father and turned to make his way over to the barn.

“Joseph!”  Ben hollered at the departing figure.

“I’ll be back before dinner, Pa—-least I will try to!”  Joe sang out and continued his trek to the barn.   The twittering sound of his laughter followed him all the way across the yard.

Ben stood on the porch and shook his head, grinning. *** The little shyster! ***He thought to himself and then whispered, “Welcome back, Joseph.”

The End

Author’s Notes:

7-26-02 (reformatted 6-20-25 )

Dedicated to Carm, who made me find this old story which, such as it is, was found in an old forgotten vault of Wrangler stories.  I hope it does okay, as it’s been over twenty years since it was written.  Several readers have asked for it but none more persistent than Carm!

(And to Rob the story consultant who also chose the picture)