Summary: There’s trouble brewing when Pa accuses his youngest of coming home drunk on several occasions but Little Joe insists he’s innocent. The truth proves to be unpredictable. Rating T, WC 13,401

The Truth Be Told

Well truth be told; the truth is rarely told.  Oh, am I the only one who says, “I’m fine, yeah, I’m fine, oh, I’m fine, hey, I’m fine.”  But I’m not, I’m broken.  And when it’s out of control, I say, “it’s under control.”  But it’s not and you know it.  I don’t know why it’s so hard to admit it.  When being honest is the only way to fix it.  There’s no failure, no fall, there’s no sin you don’t already know.  So let the truth be told. (excerpt from song “Truth Be Told” by Matthew West and Andrew Jacob Pruis)

Ben Cartwright walked out of the doctor’s office in Virginia City with Little Joe at his side.  He watched as his son limped his way to their buckboard and climbed up.  Frowning, he made his way to the driver’s side and eased up onto the bench seat.

“I told you so,” Joe muttered as his father gave a quick tap of the reins, sending the team of horses forward.

“You heard Doc, Joseph, that injury isn’t anything to play around with.”

“Pa, it’s just a pulled muscle.  Like he said there’s nothing you can do about it but let it heal on its own.”

Ben turned and stared at his son, wondering how truthful he had been when he spoke to Doctor Martin.  “You’re lucky you didn’t bust that leg of yours as fast as you were riding. I’ve told you before how I feel about that, Joseph.”

“Just going after that stallion — I almost had him too, Pa,” Joe countered.

“Yes, and you almost got hurt very badly when you fell from that saddle!” Ben chided his son.

Little Joe shook his head and groaned.  Pa wasn’t easing up on him about having gotten hurt yet again which was why he hadn’t been completely honest when Doc had asked him about how bad he was hurting.  He knew that if he had told the doctor or Pa how awful the leg felt at the time that he’d be confined to bed.  Joe decided to change the subject.

“I wanted to race that loudmouth Curt on Saturday – now guess that’s out.”

“Yes, that’s definitely out, Joseph,” Ben nodded.  “There’s no race in your future – well at least not any time soon.  You’re going to go home and take care of that leg.”

“I could’ve won,” Joe frowned.

Ben tried to find something uplifting to say to his son as he knew that not being able to race in the Virginia City Stakes was hard on him.  Joe had trained a three-year-old bay for months and had planned to race him that Saturday.

“There’ll be other races, Joseph.  Let’s get on home and then you’re going to take it easy.”

“Doc said I don’t have to lay around, Pa.  He said I can still ride if I don’t go fast and that moving around will help loosen this darned thing,” Joe replied and rubbed at his right thigh.

“I don’t think you know how to ride without going fast, Son.  But you’d better do as Doc said, you hear?  If not, well, I’m going to make you stay in bed,” Ben warned.

“Yes, Sir,” Joe muttered and sighed.  The last thing that he wanted to do was to stay in bed.

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

That evening the family gathered at the dinner table and waited for Joe to appear so they could begin to eat their supper.  He finally appeared coming down the stairs with a marked limp to his gait.

“Sorry,” Joe apologized for his late arrival for dinner as he took his seat at the table.

“How’s that leg, Little Brother?” Hoss asked as he began to remove potatoes from the bowl Adam had passed over to him.

“It’s going to be sore for a while—but I’m fine,” Joe returned.

Ben waited until everyone had food on their plates and then said grace.  After which, his boys all plowed into the meal that Hop Sing had prepared.

“We have lots of work to do up at the mill, Pa,” Adam began, “I’m going to need Hoss for some of that lifting.”

“How long do you think it’s going to take, Son?”

“Probably all week, Pa.  Most of those boards have to be replaced and well, the whole mill could use a good revamping.  It’s been about sixteen years since we built it.”

Ben glanced over at Joe sitting there to his right and cast a sentimental smile his way.  “We built it when Joe was a year old, I remember it well.”

“Looks like both the mill and Little Joe could use some fixing,” Hoss grinned.

“Very funny,” Joe returned.

“You and Hoss can get the mill fixed up.  I’ve got enough hands out with the herd already so it shouldn’t be an issue right now,” Ben nodded as he sipped at his coffee.

“Pa?  I was thinking about that fencing over by Syler’s Ridge.  It all needs to be replaced and since I can’t do a lot of riding – I could tackle that.  It should take about a week – so by the time I’m done that work up at the mill should be all finished,” Joe offered as he looked hopefully at his pa.

“I don’t know, Son, maybe that’s a bit more work than you should be tackling right now with your leg injury.”

“Pa, the poles are already set.  All I have to do is get that wire strung and nailed into place.  It’s a good long section of fencing – but it sure beats just hanging around here,” Joe insisted.

“You’ve still got to ride out there and back every day, Joseph,” Ben countered.

“Doc said not to ride hard, and I won’t.  Now is it okay?”

“If you promise to come on home if that leg gets to bothering you – then yes, you can handle the fencing job.”

Joe smiled and nodded over to his father.  “Thanks.”

“Good, because I sure didn’t want to do that job,” Hoss laughed. “It’ll teach Little Joe a good lesson, Pa.  He made me set most of those poles while he sat under a tree!”

Joe grinned over at his brother and replied, “You didn’t need my help – you’re so big and strong.”  He then erupted in laughter.

“Well, I get our big strong brother for the week to help me, Kid, and you’d better do a good job with that fencing because we have a herd to move when the two of us are done with the mill,” Adam joined in the conversation.

“With you boys away most of the day I’ll have some peace and quiet for a change,” Ben smiled as he set his coffee cup down.

“He’ll miss us – he’s just saying that,” Joe quipped.

“Yeah, Pa would just fall out if the three of us weren’t around to entertain him,” Hoss teased.

“Yes, you boys are very entertaining, Hoss,” Ben nodded, “But sometimes I could use just a little less entertainment.”

Seeing the look on Hoss’ face Joe jumped in, “Don’t let him fool you, Hoss, Pa will be counting the hours every night until the three of us get in.”

“Eat your supper, Joseph,” Ben returned, trying to fight a smile over what his youngest had said.  It was true, he would miss his sons, but he had no intention of saying it to them.  *** They’re all spoiled enough – no need to let them know they’ll be missed! *** Ben thought to himself as he stared over at each of his boys.

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

Hoss and Adam left early the following Monday to get up to the mill and start with the repairs.  Joe was getting his work gloves and the tools he would need from the barn when Pa approached.

“You’re going to take it easy getting up there and back, right?” Ben reiterated as he approached his youngest.  The boy had just turned seventeen and wasn’t known for following orders.

Joe spun around upon hearing his father’s voice.  “Come on, Pa.  Trust me once and awhile, will you?”

Ben laughed and patted his son’s shoulder and replied, “I trust you – because you know I can spot a lie when I hear it.  And I WILL be asking you if you’ve minded me when you get home tonight.”

Joe tucked the gloves into his jacket and tightened his saddlebags where he had placed the tools that he would need for the repairs.  “I wouldn’t even think about lying to you,” he said with a slight grin.  “I’ll see you tonight, Pa,” Joe turned Cochise out of the barn and mounted.

“See you tonight, Joseph, you take it easy!” Ben called as he watched his son ride out of the yard.

***********

Joe had made a good dent in getting some of the fencing wire strung the first day and got home in time for supper, as did his two older brothers.  He had done as his father had asked and hadn’t even sent Cochise into a gallop the whole day.  Joe’s leg was beginning to throb, and the pain was almost to the point where he was going to admit that he should just forget about stringing any wire the next day, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.  Turning in early and trying his best not to groan as he made it up to his bedroom, Joe decided that some sleep might help the situation.

It hadn’t gone unnoticed by his father that Joe was limping a bit worse the next morning.   Pa waited until Adam and Hoss had left for the mill to bring it up to his son.

“Joseph?” Ben called as Joe pulled on his jacket there at the front door.

“Yes, Sir?”

“Maybe you should take a day off and rest?” He asked as he drew closer to his youngest.

Joe frowned.  He had tried his best to disguise the fact that he was favoring his right leg all morning but apparently it hadn’t gotten past his father.

“No, Pa – I think getting out and moving around is best for my leg.  I’m okay, really.”

Ben turned his son to face him and stared hard at the boy.  “Now – is that the truth?”

“Sure, it is,” Joe replied, but looked away from his father’s penetrating gaze.

“Your limp seems worse to me,” Ben countered.

“Pa, I gotta go,” Joe complained and reached for the door.

“You come home, Joseph, if you start hurting too badly, do you understand?”

“Sure, Pa,” Joe nodded and walked away.  He didn’t want to be fussed over and he surely didn’t want to get confined to his bedroom.  Joe decided to just tough it out and hope that the pain would subside by working and moving around.

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

Joe worked for four hours without taking a break from stringing and nailing the fencing wire.  He pulled off his hat and mopped the sweat off his brow and reached for his canteen.  Joe took a good couple of swallows and then turned when he spotted the rider heading straight towards him.  He smiled when he recognized and old friend.

“Hey, Little Joe!” The man called as he dismounted right next to his friend, tying his mount’s reins up to one of the fence posts.

“Jack, haven’t seen you in ages!” Joe exclaimed as he shook the man’s outstretched hand.  The man before him had two names that he used at various times.  One was his given name which was Gray Wolf, and the other was his adopted name of Jack Winters.  He was just a few years Joe’s senior and the two of them had hunted together many times ever since he had come to the area.  Jack had been raised by the Paiutes but had left and then was adopted of sorts by a family in Genoa.  The Winters family had treated Jack like a son, so he now had two worlds who claimed him.  For the past couple of years, the man preferred to call himself Jack however he did still visit the Paiutes and was always welcomed back into the tribe.

“I’ve been pretty busy this year, Little Joe.  I’ve been rounding up horses and selling them over in Genoa.  I’ve also taken some up to the tribe to help them out,” Jack explained.

“Hold on a minute and let me set these tools down.  I’ll be right back,” Joe said and limped away from the man and placed his tools off to the side.

“What’s with your leg, Joe?”

“Oh – well— I hurt it in a fall,” Joe explained as he made his way back over to his friend.

“You sure are favoring it,” Jack returned.   He could read a great deal of pain on Joe’s face.

Joe shrugged his shoulders and said, “Well, it has been giving me fits the last day or so.  But you know how my pa is — if he knew that I’m hurting this bad he’d make me stay inside and I don’t like that one bit.”

“Did you go see Doctor Martin?”

Joe nodded, “Yeah, he said it’s just something that has to go away on its own.”

“He didn’t give you anything for pain?”

Joe shook his head, “No, and I didn’t bring it up either since my pa was right there in the room at the time.”

Jack rubbed at his chin deep in thought.  “Do you have time to take a break?”

“Sure— I’m my own boss out here.  You want to go down to the pond?  There are trees close by where we can have some shade.  It’s getting hot out here.”

“Sounds good,” Jack paused and pointed to the pond.  “You go on down there I’ve got to get something out of my saddlebags.  I’ll meet you in a minute.”

Joe nodded and grabbed his canteen and walked down to the water’s edge to refill it.

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

Joe and his friend leaned back against a pine tree and rested from the heat of the day.  They shared stories of what they had been doing and then Jack showed his friend what he had brought for him.

“I think that I just might be able to help that leg of yours,” Jack smiled as he opened his rawhide pouch.  He drew out a small pipe.

“Yeah?  What is that?” Joe asked curiously.

“Tribal remedy for pain,” Jack nodded and prepared the pipe, adding something to the bowl of it.

“I’ve never smoked a pipe, Jack.  Well – I did take one puff from my Pa’s pipe once when he left it out and turned his back on me.  I about choked,” Joe laughed.

“This won’t make you choke – and it’s going to ease that pain of yours,” Jack insisted.

Joe rubbed at his right thigh and nodded over to the other man.  “Well, it’s sure hurting right now.  I guess if you think it’ll help, I’ll give it a try.”

Jack lit the pipe and drew in the first puff and held it in his mouth.  He waited for a bit before exhaling.  “That’s all you have to do, Joe.  Take a good draw and hold it,” He instructed and passed the pipe over to his friend.

Joe did as he had been instructed though it burnt at his throat.  He didn’t want to appear inexperienced though he was.  He finally exhaled.

“Not bad,” Jack smiled as he took another puff.

“I don’t feel anything,” Joe replied.

Jack grinned, patted Joe’s shoulder, and returned, “Oh you will, just give it a little while.  Just relax and look at the pond or something.”

Joe eased back against the base of the tree and took another long puff of the pipe and held it in.  Jack watched and grinned knowingly.  He was very sure that soon his friend wouldn’t be thinking about the pain in his leg.

After about thirty minutes Joe was extremely relaxed.  He smiled over at his friend as he pointed towards the pond.

“Hey—have you ever noticed how sparkly the water is when the sun hits it just right?” Joe mused.

Jack nodded; he could tell that his friend wasn’t thinking about his leg any longer.  “Yeah, it sure can sparkle,” Jack agreed.

Joe reached for the pipe again and soon was more relaxed than he had been in a very long while.  It was also a plain fact that he no longer felt the pain in his leg.  The two friends sat together and finished all that Jack had brought in his rawhide pouch.  By the time that they said goodbye it was dark.

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

Ben stared out from the window behind his desk.  Hoss and Adam had come and gone.  They had eaten a quick dinner and then headed into town for the evening.  That just left Joseph who had yet to appear.

***Dad blasted kid!  Always makes me worry about him – he’s always late! *** Ben fussed as he grew more and more concerned about why his youngest had missed dinner and still hadn’t appeared.  *** I’ll go out and find him and then he’ll get an earful from me! ***

A few minutes later, just as Ben had decided to go and saddle his horse and find his wayward son, Joe appeared riding around from the back of the barn.  He watched through the window as the boy dismounted and pulled Cochise into her stall.  Ben sat down at his desk and sighed.  He was relieved that his son was back safely and didn’t want to appear as though he had been worried when Joe came back into the house.

A few minutes later Joe walked inside the ranch house and unbuckled his holster, setting it down onto the credenza.  He tossed his hat on top of it and then turned to see his father approaching.

“Hi ya, Pa!” Joe sounded out loudly.

Ben took a good look at his son.  Something seemed a bit strange in his appearance.  “You’re late,” He fussed.

Joe looked confused and then made his way over to the grandfather clock.  He stared up at it.  “Oh—I am late,” he nodded.

Ben had noticed that Joseph no longer had a limp however he had a noted stagger to his gait.  He drew closer to the boy and placed his hand on his shoulder and pulled him around.

“Joseph?  Are you okay?”

“Sure, I am, Pa — I am okay, yep!” Joe smiled broadly.

Ben stared into his son’s eyes and Joe’s pupils didn’t look quite right.  “Joe, – have you been drinking?”

Joe looked at his father with confusion in his stare.  “Drinking?  No sir – Pa—I’ve not been drinking.  But—hey—Pa?”

“Yes?”

“Can I maybe have something to eat, Pa?  Pa – I’m really, really hungry,” Joe asked and put his arm around his father’s neck.

Pa was surprised by the fact that his son was smiling over at him as though nothing was wrong, and he still had his arm slung around his neck.  He didn’t detect any alcohol on Joe’s breath, but his appearance was very revealing.  “You didn’t’ bother to make it home for supper, Joseph.  Hop Sing has already gone to bed,” Ben replied, still eying the boy and growing both concerned and a bit angered.

Joe held his index finger to his lips and whispered, “Pa?  Pa -we could sneak in the kitchen, okay, Pa?  Yep, he’ll never hear us – but you’ve got to be very, very quiet, Pa,” Joe insisted and turned his father as he tried to find his way to the dining room and then to the kitchen.

Ben walked with his son into the next room intending on making sure that he got some strong black coffee into the boy before launching into a lecture about drinking.

“Pa?  Pa – he’s not here – I told you, Pa – we done good!” Joe exclaimed loudly and then fell into one of the chairs.

“What you need, Young Man, is some strong coffee,” Ben said sternly and turned for the stove.  He lit the fire and set the coffee pot on top, waiting for the contents to get reheated.

Joe jumped up when he spied a loaf of bread on the counter.  He was just about to pull it apart when his father’s hand stopped him.

“No—not with your hands, Joseph,” Ben reprimanded and pulled the boy away from the counter.

“Pa? Pa – please— I’m powerful hungry, Pa.  Can I please have some bread?”

Ben groaned and shook his head growing angrier over his son’s very apparent drunken state.  He reached for the carving knife and sliced the loaf.  Gathering a good-sized piece of bread in his hand he handed it over to his youngest.

“Thanks, Pa!” Joe said gleefully and began to scarf down the bread.

Ben settled down into the chair next to his son and placed his hand on the boy’s arm.  “Young Man, just where did you go this evening?  Were you in town drinking?”

Joe continued to eat his bread.  He held up his hand for a minute signaling his father to wait until he could finish eating the piece of bread.

“Joseph, answer me!” Ben exclaimed, frustration in his tone of voice.

“Pa— this bread – it’s the best bread I’ve ever had in my whole life!  Wonder what old Hop Sing put in it?”

“Joseph, I’m getting very angry,” Ben warned sternly.

“Oh – oh, Pa.  I didn’t go nowheres — I just worked on those fences.  Hey, Pa?”

“What?” Ben groaned having gotten nowhere with the boy.

“Pa – will you please get me another piece of bread?  I am powerful hungry.  Please, Pa?” Joe begged, repeating his earlier request.

Shaking his head, Ben stood up and walked back to the counter.  He knew he should be fussing at his son and finding out why he had come home drunk, but he decided getting the boy some food had to take priority at the time.  He hoped after getting something on his stomach, that Joe might begin to sober up.

“Here,” Ben frowned and handed his son another piece of bread.

Joe took it from his father’s hand and plowed into it just as he had the first piece.  “You’re the best, Pa — you’re the best pa in the whole wide world!”

“Thank you,” Ben grumbled as he shook his head at the way his son was eating non-stop.

“This bread is so good, Pa.  You need to have some – it’s the best bread –,” Joe was cut off by his father.

“I know—I know it’s the best bread in the whole wide world,” Ben sighed, growing tired of his son’s constant reminder that the bread was good.

“Oh—Pa?  Then you know, huh?  You’ve had some?  Can I have another piece, please, Pa?  I’m still hungry.”

Ben stood and tested the coffee pot.  It wasn’t quite ready yet, so he turned and carved one final piece of bread.

“Now this is it, and I mean it, Joseph!” Ben warned as he handed his son his last piece of bread for the night and settled down into his chair.

“You’re the best pa in the whole wide world,” Joe nodded and stuffed the last slice of bread into his mouth.

“Joseph?  Why did you go and get drunk tonight? What’s going on with you?  You’ve just turned seventeen and you’ve got no business drinking let alone getting drunk!”

Joe held up his hand to signal that his mouth was full.  He waited until he finished chewing the piece of bread and then replied, “Pa?  Pa, who’s drunk?”

“YOU ARE!” Ben yelled.  He had lost all patience with his son.

Joe held his finger up to his mouth and whispered, “Pa – best not yell – Hop Sing’s sleeping.”

“That’s it!” Ben shouted and stood once more.  He reached down and grabbed Joe’s left arm, pulling him to standing.  “Get up to your room and sleep it off.  There’s not enough coffee in this house to sober you up tonight, Young Man.  And you and I are going to have a very serious talk in the morning!” Ben threatened.

“Okay, Pa – I’ll go to bed — but Pa?”

“What?” Ben asked full of exasperation.

“Can I take a piece of bread up to my room, Pa?”

“Get yourself to bed this minute!” Ben shouted.

Joe looked down at the floor sadly.  “I just wanted to tell you something first, Pa.”

“What?  And it better not be a request for bread!”

Joe stared up at his pa and then he smiled broadly, having a complete change to his demeanor.  “You’re the best pa in the whole wide world,” Joe said exuberantly and hugged his father tightly.

Ben groaned once more and released himself from his son’s hold.  Angrily he pointed to the staircase.  “Up to your room this minute, Joseph, and I mean it!”

“Okay, Pa — I think I’ll go up to my room now,” He nodded and staggered all the way to the stairs.

*** You’d better enjoy your sleep, Joseph, because tomorrow isn’t going to be pleasant! *** Ben thought as he turned back into the kitchen.

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

The following morning Ben sat at the head of the table and related to his two older boys exactly what had happened the previous night.

“No kidding?  Little Joe came in drunk?” Hoss asked raising his eyebrows.

“Yes, he was very drunk, Hoss,” Ben frowned.

Adam set down his napkin and looked across the table at his pa.  He could read the slow burn in his eyes.  “Well Sam at the Silver Dollar and Bruno over at the Bucket of Blood both know not to give Joe more than one beer, Pa.  So, the little varmint must have a secret stash of liquor somewhere around this place.”

Ben shrugged his shoulders and replied, “I don’t know where that boy got the alcohol, but he got it alright.  He was just barely able to make it up to his room.  When I checked on him before I went to sleep, he was laying sideways on his bed with all his clothes on.”

Hoss shot a glance over at his brother and gave him the eye.  He didn’t want to be anywhere around when Pa had his discussion with his little brother.  Adam read what his brother was trying to tell him in a covert way.

“Well, Hoss and I need to be getting up to the mill,” Adam said and stood from his chair.

“Yeah, Pa – we’ll see you later,” Hoss called down as he stood alongside his brother.

“You two don’t want to be here when –,” Ben paused as he spied the appearance of his youngest at the top of the stairs.

“No, we don’t,” Adam winked, and he and Hoss hurried out of the house, grabbing their holsters and hats as they left.

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

Joe took his seat next to his father and called over to him, “Sorry, Pa, guess I slept longer than I should’ve.”

Ben cast his stern gaze over at the boy.  “Did you sleep well?”

“Yeah, Pa – really well in fact.  Hey, could you pass me the eggs?”

Ben passed over the platter of eggs and then replied with a touch of sarcasm in his voice, “Would you like some bread with those?”

“Naw, just eggs are enough.  I’ve got to get going.  I still have a lot of work to do with that fencing,” Joe said and sipped at the cup of coffee Pa had handed over to him.

Ben reached over and stopped the movement of his son’s left hand.  “Oh, you aren’t going anywhere until you and I get some things straightened out, Young Man.”

“Huh?” Joe asked with confusion on his face.  “What’s wrong, Pa?” He asked innocently.

“Finish your breakfast, Joseph, and then come over to my desk where the two of us are going to have a long, long talk,” Ben announced somberly as he stood and cast a very stern look down at his youngest.

Joe watched as his father walked across the living room with a stiff set to his shoulders.  He couldn’t understand why Pa had said what he had before leaving the table.  Joe figured that it must be over the fact that he had been working hard and Pa was probably worried about his leg injury.  He couldn’t have been more wrong.

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

Joe finished eating and polished off his coffee and then made his way over to his father’s study and dropped down into one of the side chairs.  Casting a quick glance over at his pa Joe noticed that he was frowning his way.

“Joseph, we need to talk about last night,” He began as he cleared his throat.

“Yes, Sir?”

“I didn’t get anywhere with you when you got in and you never answered my questions over why you came in here in the condition that you were in.”

Joe looked at his father perplexed by what he had said.  “Condition?  Oh, you mean my leg?”

Ben groaned loudly as he stood from the chair and walked around to the front of his desk where he towered over his son.  He folded his arms across his chest and replied, “Don’t play games with me, Joseph.  I’m not in the mood.”

Joe stared up at his father and shook his head bewildered.  “Pa – I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Young Man, you are this close,” Ben held up his index finger and the thumb of his right hand to signify an inch.

Joe jumped up from his chair after his father’s not so subtle threat.  “Hey, Pa – come on – what’s going on?” He asked, his voice growing in volume.

“Sit back down and lower your voice!”

Frowning, but not wanting to raise his father’s ire, Joe sank back down into the chair.  “Pa, – what condition are you talking about?”

Ben studied his son’s face and replied, “Then you really don’t remember what you did yesterday?”

“I mended fences yesterday.”

“I was referring to what you did after you finished working.”

“I came home and went to bed,” Joe returned.

“And just when did you find the time to drink as much as you did?” Ben asked growing annoyed by the verbal sparring that was going on.

“Drinking?  Pa, what are you saying?  Do you think I was drinking last night?”

“No – I don’t THINK that you were drinking, Joseph.  I KNOW that you were drinking which was why you came home inebriated.”

Joe jumped up from his chair again, his anger mounting.  “Now just a darned minute -,” He protested but stopped when he felt the strong hand of his father on his arm.

“Watch it, Joseph, you’re already in trouble with me,” Ben warned.

“How in the heck can I be in trouble when I didn’t do anything wrong?”

“Coming home three sheets to the wind isn’t doing anything wrong?”

“I was not three sheets or four sheets or any number of sheets, Pa!” Joe insisted.

“You were drunk, and that’s not up for debate.  I just want to know why you did it.”

“I’m going to work,” Joe fumed and turned to leave.

Ben grabbed his son’s arm and spun him around.  “No, Joseph, not until we get this resolved.”

“Resolved?” Joe asked hotly.  “You mean you want me to apologize for something that I didn’t do, right?”

“Well, you got into something yesterday!  My guess is alcohol – probably whiskey.  But if you’ve found some pain medicine – that could be another issue all together.”

Joe stood next to his pa and seethed inwardly.  He couldn’t answer as he knew it would get him into worse trouble.

“Well?” Ben asked raising his eyebrows.

“I didn’t get into any kind of pain medicine.  I could’ve gotten some off of Doc if I’d wanted some.   All I would’ve had to say was that my leg was killing me, and he’d have given it to me!  But I didn’t.  So why in the heck would you say that to me?”

“Because you were under the influence last night.  It could have been liquor or it could’ve been something like laudanum – but it was something!”

“Fine, Pa – I got into anything that you want to say that I did,” Joe surrendered.  “Now is there anything else or is it okay to go and do my work?”

“Don’t use that tone with me,” Ben warned once again.

Joe stared into his father’s eyes and fought back his hurt.  He couldn’t believe that Pa would stand there and accuse him of doing something that he hadn’t done.  It was becoming very apparent that Pa wasn’t going to take his word on the fact that he hadn’t had any alcohol the previous night.

“What do you want me to say, Pa?  You’re accusing me of lying to you – what is there left for me to say now?” He asked, his voice faltering.  Joe had tried not to show the betrayal that he felt but it was a losing battle.

“I want you to tell me why you did it, Joseph.  I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”

“Pa – if you said that I came in here drunk then I guess I did.  I have no idea how that happened.  I only remember going to work and waking up in my bed this morning.”

“You don’t remember coming in here at all last night?  You don’t remember being hungry and asking for about a half of a loaf of bread?” Ben asked in disbelief.

“No, Sir, I don’t,” Joe mumbled.  He just wanted to leave the house and get as far away from his father as he could for a while.  Joe was hurt by all of Pa’s accusations, and he had to fight off tears so he could stay in control of his emotions.

Ben placed his right hand underneath his son’s chin and turned it upwards so he could get a good look into Joe’s eyes.  He didn’t read anything there in them other than hurt.

“Well, I just don’t understand how you could drink like you did and have no recollection of doing so, Joseph.  However, I will let you off with this one warning.  I won’t be giving you another.  You’re not to ever do this again, do you understand?”

“Yes, Sir,” Joe replied as he stared sadly into his father’s eyes.

“I don’t enjoy getting after you – but I’m not going to tolerate you coming home drunk either.  Now you best mind what I’ve just said.”

“Yes, Sir,” Joe nodded and dropped his gaze down onto the floor.  It was growing harder to pretend that he had been at fault and had all but admitted that he had lied when he had done no such thing.

“Alright, you can go out and work on those fences.  But I want you back home way before dark, do you understand?”

“Yes, Sir,” Joe continued to say the same two words unable to hide his frustration over being talked to like he was a child.

Ben sighed wearily and walked back around to his chair and sat down.  “I’ll see you before dark, Joseph,” Ben reiterated as he stared up at his son.

“Yes, Sir,” Joe mumbled and turned to leave.  He couldn’t believe what his pa had said that morning.  He couldn’t believe that Pa hadn’t taken his word that he hadn’t been lying about getting drunk either.  Gathering his holster and jacket but not taking the time to put either on, Joe hurried outside. It was only then that tears formed in his eyes.  The idea that Pa had lost all faith in him cut Joe to the very core.  Joe walked to the barn and saddled his horse. He urged Cochise into a full gallop as he rode away.  Joe didn’t consider the pain in his right leg because at the time the pain in his heart hurt far worse.

**********

Joe worked all day on the fencing still ignoring the increased pain to his right leg.  The more that he thought on what had transpired between his father and him that morning the more he felt both anger and sadness over the situation.  Pa didn’t lie so he wondered how he could make such an awful mistake to think that he had been drunk the night before.  Joe knew he had told more than his share of lies over the years, but he was being completely honest with his father that morning and Pa couldn’t read it on him.  He looked up at the sun and noticed that it was beginning to set. Joe knew that he was expected to show up at the house before dark, so he gathered his tools and placed them into his saddlebags.  Quickly mounting Cochise Joe urged the horse into a gallop so he’d make it home on time.  His right thigh throbbed as he picked up the pace, but Joe didn’t care.  He wished he’d had that whiskey that he’d been accused of drinking so it might dull the pain for a while.  *** I ought to go buy some –yeah and come home drunk!  Then Pa would be able to see what a drunken Joe Cartwright really looks like! *** Joe mused as he continued back to the ranch house.

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

Ben peered around the corner from his study when he heard the front door open.  He watched as Joe pulled his hat and jacket off and then unbuckled his holster.

“How did it go today, Joseph?” He asked, hoping that the two of them could get back on an even keel after their loud discussion that morning.

“Fine,” Joe replied, never turning to face his father.

“Hop Sing has dinner about ready – Hoss and Adam should be coming in any minute now.”

“I have to go get washed off,” Joe mumbled as he headed for the stairs.

Ben watched as his youngest limped up to his room.  His heart was heavy over the stern lecture he had given the boy, but he had to put his foot down.  He’d have done the same thing if it had been any of his sons who had come home intoxicated, and especially at the young age of seventeen.  Pa figured that Joe would eventually warm up to him once he had some time to think on the error of his ways and how he had lied to him about drinking.

***********

“Looks good,” Hoss called as he passed the platters around the table after drawing off a large portion of each.

“I think Hoss worked up a good appetite today, Pa,” Adam smiled.  “He can be a real powerhouse when he wants to be.”

Ben noticed that everyone seemed to be in good spirits except for the silent young man to his right.

“How did it go with the fencing today, Little Brother?” Hoss asked, trying to get him to talk.  He could tell that whatever happened between his brother and father had caused Joe to clam up.

“Fine,” Joe answered as he simply toyed with the food on his plate.

“How much more do you have to do, Joe?” Adam chimed in.

Joe shrugged his shoulders and said, “I’m not sure.”

Ben cleared his throat and decided it was his turn to draw the boy out of his shell.  “How’s your leg, Joe?”

“Fine.”

*** Well, that didn’t work *** Ben thought to himself.

“Joe, if it’s still bothering you maybe you ought to see Doc again?” Adam asked.

Joe wasn’t pleased with all of the chatter going on around the table.  Nothing was ever a secret in the house, and he’d figured that Pa had told his brothers all about his drunkenness. “It’s not my leg, Adam.  I’ve got something else wrong with me.”

“Like what, Little Brother?” Hoss asked.

“I think I’ve got that disease – you know— the one that makes you forget who you are,” Joe continued.

“You mean amnesia?” Adam asked raising his eyebrows wondering why Joe would even suggest such a thing.

Joe nodded his head.  “Yeah—that’s right.  I guess I forget who I am and what I drink,” he said with heavy sarcasm in the inflection of his statement.

“That’ll be enough, Joseph,” Ben whispered.

“You’re right, Pa, and I’ve had enough!  I’m going to bed,” Joe said and tossed his napkin onto the table.  “Let me know if I do something foolish while I’m asleep,” He muttered as he stood and headed for the stairs.

Ben shook his head as he watched his youngest limping up to his room.

“I take it things didn’t go very well this morning,” Adam called over to his father.

“No, they didn’t.  Joe said he didn’t come in drunk even though he knows that I caught him in that condition.”

“Why lie about it, Pa?  I don’t get it,” Hoss asked.  “I mean he knows that you saw him and even talked to him.  Why do you think he’s acting like this if he knows he was caught red handed?”

“Probably guilt,” Adam interjected.

Ben shook his head and replied, “No, I don’t think so.  I ran into Doc while I was in town this afternoon.  I had a good long talk with him about Joseph and his drinking.  He brought up my being gone last month.  Doc wondered if Joe might have been drinking for a while without any of us knowing it.”

“Well, we never saw him doing that the whole two weeks that you were gone, Pa.  I’m sure I’d have known,” Adam insisted.

“Then there’s no answer other than him just getting drunk last night and denying it because he’s hardheaded.  But he knows now that I’m not going to tolerate that behavior in this house.”

“What — did Doc think that Joe became an alcoholic in a month?” Hoss asked.

Ben shrugged his shoulders and returned, “He was just wondering how it could possibly be that the boy wouldn’t know that he had been drinking.  The only explanation he had was if Joe had been drinking for a long while – then he could have some kind of a blackout.  If you boys say that Joe wasn’t drinking while I was gone and none of us have witnessed the kinds of behavior I saw last night then, like I just said, it’s not a case of long-term drinking.  It’s just the plain fact that Joseph was lying to me this morning.”

“Oh, Pa, he’s still a youngin,” Hoss attempted to make his father feel better.  “He’s not such a bad kid, but he got caught – he’ll be okay.”

“He wasn’t very okay a minute ago, Hoss,” Ben replied.

“Joe’s playing the victim to try to make you feel guilty, Pa,” Adam suggested.  “You just can’t cave to him.”

“I don’t plan to cave to him, Son, but I don’t like being on the outs with him either.  And that leg of his has got me worried too.  Maybe that’s why he drank to ease his pain?”

“Pa, if Joe was as liquored up as you told us then he didn’t need to drink as much as he did just to get rid of some pain.  Whatever the reason was he sure drank more than he had to,” Adam suggested.

“Hopefully it’s all in the past now.  Once Joseph settles down about our little discussion then things will be alright,” Ben said and hoped he was correct in his assumption.

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

Joe washed off at the basin next to his bed readying to slip into his nightshirt and call it a night.  He hated the way the day had started with a lecture and had ended with even worse feelings towards his father after he had left the dinner table.  Joe just couldn’t figure out why Pa was making up the story of him coming home drunk the night before.  It made no sense.

Joe pulled off his trousers and stared at the mass of bruises there on the top of his right thigh.  He shook his head and frowned.  Carefully he washed around his injury and placed the washcloth back into the water.  Joe wondered if he should have fessed up about how badly his leg was doing.  He decided that it was a moot point now as he had bigger problems than a pulled muscle and the pain it was causing him.  Pa wasn’t listening to him and that was a pain that hurt far worse at the time.  Joe pulled on his nightshirt and slipped under his covers hoping that after a good night’s sleep things wouldn’t seem quite so glum.  *** Who knows maybe Pa was drinking last night and that’s why he couldn’t tell that I was stone cold sober? *** Joe mused as he closed his eyes.

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

Joe left for work the next day with very little conversation between his father and him.  He had tried to sound at the very least cordial, but it hadn’t come out much better than his dinner discussion the night before.  Pa had once again insisted that he get home before dark, and Joe had been forced to accept his terms.  He just wanted to get out of the house, and he once again sent his horse into a gallop as he rounded the barn.  Ben had witnessed his son’s departure and was upset over the way he had ridden out of the yard.  He wasn’t following the doctor’s nor his own instructions.  Ben would be forced to mention it to Joe later.

Again, Joe continued to pull and nail the fencing wire for four hours straight.  There had been a bit of rain the previous night and Joe hadn’t spotted the small puddle next to where he had moved over with the wire.  Before he could catch himself, he slid down and landed hard on the water-soaked ground.  The jolt to his body hurt his pulled muscle and Joe swore loudly as he began to gingerly draw himself to standing.

“You got to watch out for those puddles, Little Joe,” Jack called down to his friend.  He had ridden up just as Joe had fallen and dismounted quickly and held his hand down to his friend and helped pull him up.

“It just hasn’t been my week,” Joe frowned and looked up at Jack.  “What brings you back here?”

“I just delivered some horses up to Chief Winnemucca and decided to check on you.  How’s the leg doing?”

“Rough,” Joe replied and limped over to the fencing wire and tossed down his tools.

“You want a little something for that pain, Joe?  I’ve got a little while before I take back off towards Genoa.”

Joe sighed as he reached down and tried to rub out the pain in his thigh to no avail.  “Why not—it helped the other day, and I sure could use something to take the edge off I guess.”

“Let’s go back down to the pond.  The Chief gave me some more of his remedy.”

Joe nodded and the two friends walked down to where they had gone two days prior and leaned against the same tree.

“At least I know what to do now,” Joe grinned as Jack passed him the pipe.

“You start – I’ll catch up,” Jack insisted and watched as his friend drew in a deep pull on the pipe.

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

Joe and Jack had stayed there by the tree until it grew very late.   He hadn’t given a thought to the fact that his father had ordered him to get home before dark.  By the time the two men said their goodbyes it was after seven o’clock.  Joe mounted Cochise but didn’t send the horse into a gallop as he had earlier.  He took his time getting back to the ranch house as he was feeling very relaxed, and his leg was no longer throbbing.

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

Ben had given orders to his two older boys to go and find their younger brother and if need be, forcefully bring him back home.  He couldn’t believe that Joe would’ve gone against his orders to come home before dark.  Hoss and Adam had been out at the mill all day and had only had time to eat their supper so neither man was very happy to be going into the barn to saddle their horses once again.  When they reached the barn, they spotted Little Joe who, though no one had seen him, had just gotten home and had already unsaddled Cochise and gotten her into her stall.

“Little Brother, dad gum it we were just about ready to go after your ornery hide.  Pa told you to be back before dark—what kept you?” Hoss sang out.

Joe slowly made his way to the front of the barn where his two brothers stood in the doorway.

“Hi ya, Hoss — hi there Adam,” Joe called out exuberantly.  “How’s it going?”

Adam and Hoss exchanged woeful glances.  Joe appeared to be quite intoxicated.

“Not again,” Adam sighed as he put his hand down onto Joe’s arm.

“Little Brother, what in the world have you done this time?” Hoss asked loudly as he stared at the kid.

Joe drew his index finger up to his lips and whispered, “Shhhhh Pa’s asleep don’t talk too loud—we don’t want to wake him.”

Hoss shook his head and replied, “No, Little Joe, Pa is very much awake and he’s gonna clobber you!”

“Hoss is right, Kid, Pa’s inside the house fuming over you not coming home for supper.  And now you show up like this!”

“I gotta tell you, Little Brother, your life’s in jeopardy once Pa catches one look at you.”

“Yeah,” Adam jumped in.  “Pa’s going to give you a lecture and maybe even threaten your life.  You’ll be lucky if he doesn’t haul you back into this barn and give you one heck of a tanning.”

“Joe – you’re already in deep for lying the other night when you told Pa that you hadn’t been drinking.  If I was you – and I’m glad that I’m not right now – I’d walk into that house and fess up because he’s not playing around this time!”

Joe, looking at both of his brothers with confusion replied, “I’ve been good, good, good – Pa ain’t gonna be mad at me.  Hey — I sure could go for some bread, I’m starving.”

Ben came out onto the front porch and saw his three sons standing next to the opened barn door.  He sang out sternly, “Bring that boy in here NOW!”

Adam and Hoss exchanged worrisome glances and they each grabbed one of Joe’s elbows and began pulling him across the yard.

His brothers got him into the house and over to the settee where they forcefully made him sit down.  Joe looked over at Pa and smiled happily.

“Hi ya, Pa!” He called out.

Ben drew in a deep breath as he inventoried Joe with his eyes.  He then stared over at his other sons and said, “Please excuse your brother and me, Boys,” He sent over the look of doom on his face and they both knew it well from past history.

Joe questioned loudly, “Excuse you and me?  Why, Pa – what did you and me do?”

Adam and Hoss shook their heads knowing that their brother was in deep trouble with their pa.  They hurried to the stairs and headed up to their bedrooms before a big blow up ensued.  It had only taken one glance over at their father to see he was about ready to explode over their little brother’s condition.

Ben turned and walked into the kitchen for some coffee which he had left on the top of the stove.  He brought a cup of strong black coffee into the living room and handed it down to Joe.

“No thanks, Pa,” he said, almost dumping over the cup as he attempted to set it down on the table.  “I ain’t thirsty but I sure could use some bread.  Do we have any of that good bread from the other night, Pa?  I’m powerful hungry right now,” Joe announced and drew up his legs and planted his boots on top of the coffee table.

Ben, filled with both disdain and anger, reached down and lifted his son’s dirty boots off the table dropping them harshly onto the floor.  “Young Man, you are in serious trouble right now so don’t you even think about putting those boots back upon that table!” He warned loudly.

Joe looked down at his feet and then back up into Pa’s eyes.  “Hey, Pa?  How ‘bout you and me go get us some of that good bread?”

“Joseph, how much alcohol did you drink THIS time?  You’re just as liquored up as you were two nights ago!”

Joe stared at his father and replied with confusion on his face, “Pa?  Who’s been drinking?”

“YOU HAVE!” Ben erupted loudly and took two steps over to his errant son with his hands clenched.  “And if you value your life, Joseph, you’d better admit it to me this time.  I’m in no mood to hear any of your lies!”

Joe leaned forward and glanced up at his father wondering why he appeared to be getting ready to strangle someone.  “Now – now, now, Pa — I tell you I ain’t had a drop of nothing.”

“You’re telling me that you’ve had nothing at all to drink?” Ben asked incredulously.  He wasn’t buying Joe’s story at all.

“Wait, wait, wait–,” Joe broke in and put his hand up in the air as if he was trying to get Pa’s attention even though the man was still hovering over him fuming at the moment.  “I lied to ya, Pa,” Joe announced.

Ben sucked in a deep breath and returned as he folded his arms across his chest.  “Well, at the very least you’re finally admitting to lying – that just might save your life, Boy.”

“Yeah, Pa.  I’m sorry – I said that I didn’t have nothing to drink —that was a lie,” Joe nodded his head and then smiled innocently up at his father.  “I had a ladle full of water a minute ago out in the barn.  Sorry, Pa – didn’t mean to lie to ya!”

Ben drew his hand up to cover his face, totally exasperated at the boy.

“Joseph, I’m in no mood to hear any wise cracks!” He thundered.

“Hey, Pa?  Can I tell you something?”

Ben shook his head almost afraid to ask.  “What, Joseph?”

“I sure would like some of that bread, Pa.  You think I could get a piece?”

“You’re going to get something alright, but it’s not going to be bread!” Pa warned as he dropped a firm hand down onto his son’s shoulder.  “So – you went into town and got drunk—even after all that you and I talked about two days ago?  Isn’t that right, Joseph?”

Joe’s quizzical gaze met his father’s eyes, “No, no, Pa!  I didn’t go nowhere other than working on those fences.”

Ben raised his eyebrows and returned, “Then you obviously had a bottle of rotgut in your saddlebags or hidden somewhere – isn’t that true?”

Joe attempted to stand up but lost his balance and fell back down onto the sofa cushions.  “No, Pa, I ain’t got no whiskey in my saddlebags or any place hidden.”

Ben crossed his arms over his chest again trying with all of his willpower not to reach down and smack his son for lying to him.  *** Wait, Ben – hear the boy out—take a deep breath – they’ll be a time for all of that! *** He thought to himself.  “You are either extremely drunk or you got your hands on some kind of pain medicine.  Now which is it?  Did you find some laudanum somewhere?”

“Heck no, Pa – I wouldn’t never do that.  Hey, Pa?”

Ben shook his head again.  “What is it now?  And you’d better not ask me for bread again, Joseph, I’m warning you!”

“I just wanted to tell you that you’re the best friend I’ve ever had, Pa.  I love you – and you’re my best friend,” Joe reached over and patted his father’s arm and smiled lovingly up at him.

Pa groaned as he was getting nowhere with his inquisition and on top of that, now Joe was getting to the emotional phase of his inebriation following the gleeful euphoria.

“Pa— you are my best friend – but keep it a secret, okay?  I don’t want Hoss to find out because he thinks that he’s my best friend.  Well – he’s not you are, Pa – but keep it quiet, okay?” Joe asked pressing his index finger to his lips.

“Joseph, I will talk to you in the morning,” Ben gave up and reached down and pulled his son to standing.  “And I strongly advise you to be prepared to tell me the truth about what you’ve been up to lately.  If I hear anymore lies out of your mouth – well, you and I will be going out to the barn!” Pa threatened harshly.

Joe stared through glazed eyes at his father and said, “You and me are going to the barn, Pa?  Are we going to go saddle the horses and go into town?  Can we stop by Miss Millie’s place so I can get something to eat?”

Ben helped his youngest across the room and over to the stairs and then replied angrily, “No, we won’t be saddling the horses and going into town, Young Man.  Trust me, you won’t be able to sit a saddle if you don’t start telling me the truth.  Up to your room now!” Ben pointed to the top of the staircase.

“Hey, Pa?  Could I maybe take some bread up to my room?”

“Get!” Ben shouted so loud he almost shook the windowpanes in the dining room.

“Okay, Pa,” Joe muttered.  He stopped halfway up the stairs and cast a smile down at his father.  “Hey, Pa?”

Ben didn’t answer, he just stood there glaring up at Joe.

“You’re still my best friend — but don’t tell Hoss, okay?”

Ben groaned and watched as the boy found his way up to his bedroom.

“I’m getting too old for this,” Ben whispered as he walked to the kitchen.  “Joseph either tells me the truth tomorrow or else!  How in the world does that boy come home in that condition and thinks that I can’t tell that he’s positively drunk?”  Ben poured his final cup of coffee hoping that it would calm his frayed nerves.

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

“What’re you going to do when he gets down here, Pa?” Hoss asked worriedly.  He knew that Little Joe was in a bad fix that there wasn’t any escape from, especially not with the look that he was reading on his father’s face there at the dining table.

Ben dropped his head down onto his folded fingers and sighed.  He hadn’t slept well after checking on Joe and finding him just as he had been two nights ago, spread out on his bed sideways with his clothes on.  His legs had hung down off of the bed and his father was half tempted to wake him just to move him around, but he had resisted.

“I just don’t know, Hoss, he deserves a trip out to the barn – and it’s what I said he’d get so I guess I have to follow through with it.”

“Maybe he’ll come down and apologize?” Adam suggested hopefully.  He doubted that would happen, but he decided to sound upbeat for his father’s sake.

“Why don’t you give Little Joe one more chance to redeem himself, Pa?” Hoss asked.

Ben raised his head and stared over at his middle son.  “Then what’s to stop Joseph from doing this all again?  And in the shape he’s been in after drinking all night he could fall off of his horse and get hurt or killed.  How is going easy on him an answer?”

The three men turned as they spotted Joe coming down the stairs.

“Hoss and I have to get some things together before we leave.  We’ll be outside for a bit if you need us, Pa,” Adam said and both he and Hoss stood and walked out of the dining room and turned for the front door.

Joe limped to his chair at the dining table and sat down.  He reached for the coffee pot sitting just to Pa’s right and poured himself a cup.  Joe didn’t speak because he was still upset about the lecture he had gotten a couple of days ago.

Ben stared pensively over at his son and then said, “Joseph, how did you sleep?”

“Okay,” Joe muttered and finally looked over at his father.  He read anger on his face and figured that it was due to him sleeping too late.  “I’m going to go to work just as soon as I’m done my coffee.”

Ben reached over and dropped his hand down on Joe’s left wrist.  “No, Joseph, you won’t be going anywhere today.”

“Why?”

*** Here we go again *** Ben thought to himself.  “You came home drunk again last night.”

Joe sat rigidly in his chair and swallowed hard.  He couldn’t believe he was being accused of drinking twice in the same week.  Joe wondered if he was having some bizarre nightmare and that he would eventually wake up.

“Did you hear me?” Ben asked.

“Why are you doing this to me, Pa?” Joe replied filled with despair.

“I’m not doing anything to you – you are doing all of this to yourself,” Ben retorted angrily.

“Maybe you just think that I’m drunk, Pa – maybe I come in limping, and you just assume that I’ve been drinking,” Joe suggested suspiciously.

Ben drew in a deep breath and arose from the table.  He walked past his son and to the front door. He opened it and spied his other sons gathering supplies to take out to the mill.

“Hoss, Adam!  I need you to come in here a minute,” Ben sang out.

The two men looked over at each other and figured that their father’s request had to do with their little brother.  Both brothers headed inside the house.

Soon all three sons were there at the table and Ben took his seat once more.

“Adam, you tell Joseph what you witnessed last night.  He thinks that his father is making all of this up,” Ben called over to his eldest.

Adam stared over at Joe and shook his head.  “Kid, Pa isn’t making anything up.  When you didn’t come home and missed supper Pa asked Hoss and me to go fetch you.  But by the time we got to the barn you had gotten in.  You were without a doubt falling down drunk.  It took the two of us to get you inside and even then, you were talking out of your head.”

Joe cast a disbelieving glance at his oldest brother and shook his head.  “Then you’re lying too!” He shouted.

Ben’s hand reached down and grabbed Joe’s left wrist.  “Don’t, Joseph.  Don’t put your sins on your brother.”  Ben then looked over at Hoss.

“Tell him, Hoss,” Ben insisted.

“What Adam said was the truth, Little Joe.  You were drunk—very drunk.  And yeah—I wish it wasn’t true – but it is.”

“Alright, Boys, go ahead and get that wagon ready and go on up to the mill,” Ben nodded over at them, and the two men walked back outside.

“That’s three witnesses, Joseph, are you still going to lie to me now?”

Joe stared down at his place setting and didn’t answer.  He couldn’t think of anything that would change his father’s mind now, not with all three of his family members all in agreement that he had been drunk the night before.

Fighting back his tears Joe finally whispered, “Pa, you always said you could look into my eyes and tell if I was lying.  So, go ahead – look and see if I am.” Joe stared over at his father.

“I don’t need to stare into your eyes, Joseph, I saw you with mine,” Ben argued.

“Why?  Why would I lie if I knew that I had come in here and all three of you saw me drunk?”

“I have no earthly idea why you’re drinking and lying about it,” Ben answered with aggravation in his voice.

Joe drew in a deep breath and then whispered, “What happens now?”

“I think you know, Joseph,” Ben said sternly.

Joe stood from his chair and called down to his father indignantly, waving his arms in the air.  “Great!  I get a trip to the barn, and I didn’t do anything!”

Ben stood and grabbed his son’s arm to stop his tirade.  “Now, I warned you about what I’d do to you if you came home drunk again and you did it anyway.  And on top of that you continue to lie about it.  I’m not going to debate you about this anymore.  It’s time to get this over with, Joseph.  Now go out to the barn and wait for me.”

Joe fought back his tears as he stared over at his father.   Pa had always treated him fairly.  But now he had unjustly accused him of getting drunk and lying about it.  He wanted to run out of the house and saddle Cochise quickly and just ride away and never look back.  Joe decided that everyone in his family was against him so there was no turning back.

“Joseph?  Did you hear me?”

“Fine – Pa — but just know that after you hit me that someday you’ll find out that I wasn’t lying and then it’s going to be on your conscience.  I hope it nags at you forever,” Joe replied bitterly.  “I’ll be out in the barn,” he muttered and slowly walked away.

Ben groaned loudly after his son had left the dining room.  He really didn’t want to hit the boy and wished there was another way to get through to his son but there wasn’t.  And he had told Joe exactly what would happen if he got drunk again and lied about it, so Ben had to follow through with the punishment.

Hoss and Adam hadn’t left yet when they saw Joe heading out to the barn.  They knew that he wasn’t going out there to saddle his horse and that soon Pa would be joining him.

“I feel for the kid, Adam, from past experience I know that Pa ain’t gonna be easy on him,” Hoss whispered.

“Hey, I do too, you know?  But if Pa doesn’t get a handle on his behavior soon, he could get hurt, Hoss.  Riding around this ranch or in town stone cold drunk is dangerous and you know it.  We ought to feel sorry for our pa, he’s the one who’s going to hurt worse after he gives Joe a tanning and we both know it.  You know how he feels about that kid.”

Ben walked out onto the porch and cast a quick glance over at his older boys as he made his way to the barn.  He noticed the two of them had a bit of sadness on their faces and it didn’t help with what he had to do.

While Ben and Joe were in the barn the ranch had a visitor.  Jack Winters rode into the yard and headed over to talk to both Adam and Hoss.

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

“Joseph,” Ben began as he moved over to where Joe was stroking his pinto’s mane.  “Joseph let’s get this over with.  Afterwards if you’ll straighten out, I won’t have to resort to this kind of punishment,” Pa said and removed his belt.

Before Joe turned around, he pushed aside some fallen tears.  He didn’t want his father to see them.

“Over here,” Ben called and pointed to one of the back stalls.

Joe walked slowly like a man heading to the gallows.  There was nothing left to say to his father, and he swore to himself that he would be leaving the Ponderosa forever just as soon as he got the chance.  He wasn’t going to stay where people convicted him of something that he hadn’t done.

Ben grabbed Joe’s arm and eased him over to one of the rails of the stall. Drawing in a deep breath, he folded the belt in his right hand.

Joe looked down at the hay covered floor and braced himself for the feel of his father’s belt.  He was going to do his very best not to show Pa how badly he was hurting once the tanning commenced.  He swore that Pa wouldn’t get that satisfaction from what he was going to do to him.

Just as he was about to send the first clap of the belt to his son’s backside Hoss burst into the barn.

“Pa!” He yelled.  “Pa, I gotta see you really quick!”

“Hoss, get out of here right now!” Ben yelled, angered by the interruption.  He just wanted to get the whole dreadful event over with and didn’t need any interference.

“No, Pa!  It’s an emergency – I promise you that it is!” Hoss yelled.

Ben looked over at Joe and then back at Hoss.  “Joseph, you stay right here, I will be back in a minute,” he ordered and hurried out of the barn.

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

Standing next to Adam stood Jack. Ben was helped along by Hoss and his urgency was in his gait.

“You gotta hear this, Pa.  Tell him, Jack,” Hoss called over to the man.

“Mister Cartwright – well I came over to talk to Little Joe, but your boys here told me about the trouble he’s been in lately.  Well, it’s my fault – the whole darn thing.”

“What are you talking about?” Ben asked.  “Did you give my son whiskey?”

Jack shook his head and returned, “No, Sir, I wouldn’t do that – the kid’s too young for whiskey.  But – well I came upon him earlier this week and that leg of his was really bad.  He told me that he kept it from you because he didn’t want to stay in his room but that it’s a whole lot worse than he told the doctor.  Joe was in a lot of pain so I gave him something that I knew would help.  I just didn’t know how it would affect him once he got home.”

Ben, surprised by the confession, asked, “What did you give the boy?”

“I had him smoke a pipe that had a bit of tobacco, some hemp and a few other things in it that we’ve smoked for years in my tribe.  It helped Joe’s leg but from what your boys said it made him seem like he was drunk.  That’s been known to happen in some of the people who are new to it.  You see it helps the pain but can make you talk and act a bit foolish and yes—I guess it would look like Joe was drunk.  I gave it to him twice – and from what Hoss said he came home looking like he was drunk two times, so guess it’s totally my fault.  I’m sorry, I really am.”

“Why didn’t Joe have any memory of what he had done, Jack?” Adam asked.

“Well, sometimes that can also be a side effect in some people who smoke it, and Joe must be very susceptible to the stuff.  He probably slept pretty good, but in the morning he wouldn’t remember anything he’d done.  I thought he was okay because when he left me both times, he was riding just fine and wasn’t limping at all.  It probably hit him harder once it had been in his system a while so that when he made it back here all the effects were heightened.”

“What made you come out today, Jack?” Ben asked, so thankful that Joe’s friend had explained what had happened before he had made a terrible mistake and punished his son.

“To tell you the truth, I’m going to be in Genoa for a few weeks and I wanted to see Joe to ask if he needed any more pain killer.  Now I guess that’s out of the question.”

“Very much so,” Ben smiled.  “But I appreciate you telling us this –,”

Ben paused when he saw Joe riding out of the barn on Cochise.  The boy was riding at break-neck speed evidently trying to avoid his father coming back into the barn to carry out his punishment.

“Pa?  You want me to fetch him?” Hoss asked.

“No— just go saddle my horse – I need to be the one!” Ben sang out and hurried to get his gear.

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

Joseph Cartwright had always been a creature of habit and that held true that afternoon.  The first place that his father checked was up at Marie Cartwright’s gravesite.  Joe often went there when he was troubled.  Ben neared the granite headstone and could see that a handful of fresh wildflowers were on the grave.  Joseph had definitely been there to talk to his mother.  Ben neared the grave and spoke out loud to his deceased wife.

“Marie, I’ve got to find our boy.  I know he’s been up here – I just need to know where the kid’s gone now,” he said as he knelt there and thought on the love of his life and the child that they shared.  “I just wish that you could tell me, Darling.  I messed up this time and I know he’s running from me.”

A strong gust of wind shot out through the pines which stood on the far side of the gravesite facing the lake.  It was followed by complete stillness.  Ben stood and stared off towards Lake Tahoe.  He walked a bit closer to get a better view and it was then that he spied the solitary figure sitting on one of the large flat rocks which jutted out into the water.  It was Joseph.  Ben turned and smiled gratefully towards his wife’s final resting place.  “Thank you, Marie,” He whispered and headed down the well-worn path to retrieve his horse.  Ben needed to get to his boy before he ran off again.

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

“Joseph?” Ben called as he carefully stepped from one smooth rock to the next attempting to reach his son.

Joe never turned around even though he had heard his father’s voice.

Ben made it over to his youngest and slowly eased down next to him.  “Joseph, we need to talk.”

“We don’t really talk anymore, Pa,” Joe whispered, still not looking at his father.  “You yell and accuse me of things, and I sit there and take it.  That’s how we talk.”

Ben reached over and touched his son’s arm and noticed how he pulled back from him.  Joe was obviously having no part in anything his father wanted to tell him.

“Joe – come on – let’s work this all out.”

Finally turning to face his father, Joe spoke out with defiance in his tone.  “If you’ve got plans on hitting me – well I can be up on my horse before you can get your belt off.”

“I’m not going to hit you, Son.  I told you that we just need to talk this out,” Ben reassured the boy with gentleness in his voice.

“So, what’s changed, Pa?  I mean one minute you’re about to give me a good thrashing and now you want to talk?”

“Your friend Jack came by.  You probably didn’t notice him out in the yard considering how fast you took off on Cochise.”

Joe stared at his father and replied, “So what?  So, he stopped by.  What difference does that make?”

“What he told us clears up everything that happened both times you came home appearing to be drunk.”

“I don’t understand,” Joe returned and now was staring directly into his father’s eyes.

“He gave you something for pain, do you remember that?” Ben asked raising his eyebrows.

“Just a pipe – we just smoked it a few times.  What difference does it make?”

“Joseph, the concoction that was in that pipe is what made you intoxicated.  Jack says that happens with some people who try it and evidently you are one of those people who are highly susceptible to everything that was in that pipe.  He also said that you wouldn’t have any idea what you had done those nights that you got home after smoking it.”

Joe’s face filled with disbelief, and he shook his head and replied, “So – the pipe – or what was in it made me act like you all said that I did?  It made me act like I was drunk?”

Ben smiled and nodded over at his son.  “Yes, so you could say that truth be told you and I were both telling the truth.  You weren’t drunk though you sure did appear to be.  You thought I was lying about what I’d seen, and I thought that you were lying about what you had done.  It’s one of those rare times in life that two people tell two different truths and they’re both right.”

Joe looked away from his father for a few minutes as he fought with his emotions over all that had happened.

“I’m sure glad that Jack came by when he did.  You said that it would’ve haunted my conscience if I had hit you—and it would have once I found out that you weren’t really lying to me.  However, Young Man, you didn’t tell me the complete truth about that leg of yours.  Maybe if you had – then none of this would have happened.”

Joe nodded and then turned around to look at his father.  “You’re right, Pa.  I just didn’t want to stay in the house and rest.  I guess I own that one.”

Ben was finally able to wrap his arm around his son’s shoulder and Joe didn’t shrug it off.  “I should have looked into your eyes, Joseph — both about whether your leg was hurting you and about what you tried to tell me this morning.  I’ve always been able to read truth in them.  Maybe if I had done that none of this would’ve happened either.”

Joe smiled over at his father, grateful that he had said what he had.  Pa was acknowledging the fact that he hadn’t been totally in the right about everything that had happened between them.

“Well, now you’re going to come home and rest that leg for a week and then we’ll see how you are.  Okay?”

“Yes, Sir,” Joe agreed.

Ben stood and reached for his son’s hand to pull him up.  “We’d better get home I’m sure your brothers are worried about you.”

“Pa – I’m sorry – I thought you were lying to me,” Joe confessed and dropped his head down.

“I’m sorry for doubting you too– so let’s just agree to forgive each other, Son, okay?” Ben patted his son’s back.

“Okay, Pa,” Joe nodded his agreement.

Ben and Joe made their way back to shore and to the two horses.

“Oh – there is one last thing I’d like to ask you, Joseph?” Ben stopped just shy of where the horses waited for their masters.

“Yeah, Pa?”

“The other night—though you were – well let’s just say – feeling no pain– you told me that I’m your best friend.  I guess after all that’s happened you can’t possibly consider me that anymore, am I right?”

Joe grinned over at his father and shook his head. “No, Pa – you’re still my best friend.  But don’t tell Hoss, he thinks that he is.”

Ben laughed and pulled his son into his arms and hugged him.  “I’ll keep your secret, Joseph.  Let’s go home.”

The End

Written by Wrangler

11-3-25

*** Author’s note: Many historical figures partook in the use of hemp for various things, and many grew it on their farms including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.  It was also known to the Native Americans and was used for its healing properties.  This is just a way to verify that the plant could have been used in the 1850-60’s by the Paiute tribe. This statement is not meant to support the use of this particular plant nor to dismiss its healing properties.  No medical claims, always consult your doctor first and not a writer of fiction. ***

(Dedicated to my story consultant Rob who helped choose the picture.  Good one, Rob!)