Summary:  Adam, Hoss and Little Joe find themselves in a life-threatening situation while they are waiting for Ben to come home one evening.
Rating:  G   10,275 words

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The Intruder

 

 

Adam took off his jacket and hung it on the peg by the door next to his hat. “The stock is all bedded down for the night,” he said, turning towards his younger brothers who were sitting in front of the fireplace. Hoss was holding onto the end of a long piece of half-braided leather strips, while Little Joe sat on the edge of the coffee table and concentrated on the other end.

 

“How’s it going?” asked Adam, as he walked across the room.

 

His youngest brother looked up at him and held up the rather uneven braid for him to see. “Real good Adam,” he said proudly. “I’m nearly halfway finished. I’m gonna make a bridle out of it for my new pony when it’s done.”

 

“What pony?” asked Hoss. “You ain’t got a pony!”

 

Joe jutted his jaw out and gave his brother a stubborn look. “Pa said I could have a pony when I’m six, so I gotta be ready for when my pony comes,” he declared.

 

Adam patted him on the top of his curly hair and winked at Hoss as he did so. “That’s real good squirt,” he said. Their father had only recently shown their little brother how to braid and Joe had been so taken with the technique ever since that he insisted on doing some nearly every night after supper. At the rate he was going, Adam figured that he’d have the long strips braided in about a week. He glanced over Hoss’ shoulder at the uneven braiding. “Looks real fine,” he added.

 

Hoss smiled at him as he patiently held onto the end of the braid for his little brother. “Hold it tighter Hoss!” commanded Little Joe in a bossy tone as the braid sagged. “I can’t do it iffen you don’t!”

 

Hoss obediently held it tighter and Joe put his tongue between his teeth as he concentrated on the braiding again.

 

“Did you check on Brandy’s leg when you were in the barn?” asked Hoss as Adam sat down and picked up a book. “Is it any worse?”

 

“Doesn’t seem to be,” said Adam, yawning. “I’m sure he’ll be OK.” He looked across at Little Joe who was busy concentrating on his braiding. “Time for bed squirt,” he added, glancing at the grandfather clock near the front door.

 

Joe immediately frowned at his older brother. “Not yet,” he protested. “I ain’t finished.”

 

“You still wouldn’t be finished if you sat there all night,” said Adam. “Put it down and get on up to bed now.”

 

“But I wanna stay up till Pa gets home,” Joe protested.

 

“No,” said Adam firmly. “Pa said that he wanted you to be in bed by the time he got home. You don’t want me to have to tell him that you didn’t do as you were told, do you?”

 

“No,” the little boy admitted.

 

“Well then, get on up to bed,” repeated Adam. “Get changed into your nightshirt and I’ll be up to check on you in a little while. Go on.”

 

Joe reluctantly put down the braided leather on the coffee table. “Don’t you do none of it after I go Hoss,” he warmed his brother.

 

Hoss looked quite amused at the comment. “I won’t,” he said. “Night Joe.”

 

“Night,” replied Joe, dragging his feet towards the staircase. “Don’t forget you’re gonna come and check on me,” he reminded Adam, glancing back over his shoulder to look at his brother.

 

“I won’t,” said Adam, opening his book. “Stop stalling and go.”

 

It took Joe a full three minutes to slowly walk up the stairs, dragging each step in order to spread out his time out of bed for as long as possible. But it was a technique that was studiously ignored by his two older brothers, who were well used to it. Adam kept reading and Hoss simply picked up an apple and began to chew on it as he poked at the fire with one of the fire-tongs.

 

“He’s gone,” he said, when Joe finally disappeared around the top of the stairs.

 

“About time,” muttered Adam, not looking up from his book.

 

Hoss picked up the braided leather and looked at it. “He’s done it all uneven,” he said. “Reckon I should straighten it out?”

 

“Better not,” replied Adam, still not looking up from his book. “He might notice it in the morning.”

 

Hoss nodded and put it down again, then began to hum softly under his breath as he looked around the room. “What time will Pa be home?” he asked.

 

“He said he wouldn’t be late,” said Adam. “You’d better go on up to bed too before he gets here though. He wouldn’t want ….” He jumped as a loud knock on the front door startled him. “Who could that be at this hour?” he said. “There’s no one in the bunk house tonight.” The branding had finished the week before, and all of the itinerant workers had moved onto other properties in the area. The few men who worked full time on the ranch had all gone into town this evening, so Adam knew that they were all alone out here. Even Hop Sing was staying overnight with his cousin in town, so until their father came home from his meeting there was no one for miles around except the three of them.

 

Hoss shrugged. “Don’t know,” he said. “Maybe it’s Pa come back early?”

 

“Pa wouldn’t knock,” said Adam, getting up and walking to the front door. He hesitated before drawing his gun out from its holster where it hung next to his jacket, and checking it.

 

“What are you doing that for?” asked Hoss anxiously, also getting up. “Is there trouble, do ya think Adam?”

 

Adam smiled at him. “No, of course not,” he said. “You can never be too careful though.” He opened the door slightly and looked out into the darkness. “Who is it?” he asked.

 

“Sorry to disturb you, young fellar,” said a voice outside. “My horse slipped a shoe aways back and I’ve had to walk him here. Just wondering if I could get a bed for the night?”

 

Adam hesitated. He knew his father was always willing to help folks in need, but the man had also instilled in his eldest son the need to always be careful of strangers at the same time. “Sure,” he said finally. “You can sleep in the barn in you like. There’s some blankets out there and you can stable your horse.”

 

“Mighty obliged,” said the voice. “That’s right kind of you. I’ll be able to fix him up in the morning and be on my way.”

 

Adam began to close the door, but the man held it open with the pressure of his hand. “One more thing,” he said. “Sorry to have to ask, but I ain’t eaten since sunup. Wouldn’t be any chance of a bite to eat, would there?”

 

Adam hesitated again. “OK,” he said finally. “You go out to the barn and I’ll get something for you and bring it out.”

 

“Much obliged,” said the man gratefully and let go of the door. Adam shut it and put his gun back in the holster.

 

“There’s some leftover stew in the kitchen Hoss,” he said. “Will you get a plate and bring it here?”

 

“Sure,” said Hoss, getting up. “I’ll take it out to him if ya like Adam. Maybe I can take a look at his horse’s foot? It might be all banged up if he lost a shoe.”

 

“You just get the stew,” said Adam. “I’ll take it out to him.” He waited until Hoss had left the room before taking his gun out of the holster again and checking it for a second time. Even though the man had sounded genuine enough, Adam knew that he should be wary of drifters, especially when he had the responsibility of his two younger brothers to think about. He strapped his holster onto his leg and straightened up just as Hoss came back into the room.

 

Hoss’ eyes widened as he looked at the gun. “Why are ya wearing that?” he asked. “Don’t ya trust him Adam?”

 

Adam shrugged, hoping that the gesture showed his brother that there was no need to worry, for Hoss tended to get quite anxious at times when their father wasn’t around. Adam figured that it had something to do with the fact that he’d only had Pa to look after him when he’d been a young’un. “Of course I do,” he said, taking the plate of food. “Only it’s like I said before, you can never be too careful. You stay here while I take this out to him.” He smiled at Hoss as he opened the door and stepped out onto the front porch. He reached up and took the lighted lantern off the hook near the front door. “Close the door Hoss,” he said. “I’ll be back in a ….” He froze as a tall figure came out of the shadow beside him. “Oh,” he said, taking a step back. “Here’s your food mister.”

 

The man walked towards Adam, his gun pointed directly at him. “Just you walk back into that there house sonny,” he said. “Right quick.”

 

Adam backed into the house slowly, his eyes never leaving the gun in the man’s hand. “Hoss,” he said as he reached the door. “Get away from the door.”

 

Hoss let go of the door and backed away, his eyes wide with fright as the man entered the house behind Adam. He swallowed twice as he stared at the gun in the man’s hand. “What do you want mister?” he asked, his voice wavering in his fright.

 

“Shut up kid,” said the man, looking around the large room. He glanced back at Adam. “I’ll take that,” he said, taking the plate of food out of the young man’s hand and putting it on the credenza. He gestured at Adam’s holster. “Now the gun,” he said. Adam held his gun out to him and watched as the man tucked it into the waistband of his trousers. “Who else is here?” snarled the man, gesturing with his gun for them to walk towards the fireplace.

 

Hoss opened his mouth to answer, but Adam cut him off. “No one,” he said quickly. “We’re all alone.”

 

The man’s eyes narrowed as he stared at him for a moment, trying to work out if he was telling the truth. “No one upstairs?” he asked.

 

“No,” said Adam quickly. He shook his head slightly at Hoss when the man turned to look at the staircase.

 

“You’d better be telling the truth,” snarled the man. “I’ve been watching for a few hours out there and I ain’t seen anyone coming or going, so I reckon you are. Sit down,” he ordered, gesturing with his gun at the sofa.

 

Adam sat down and pulled the wide-eyed Hoss with him. “Take whatever it is that you want and go,” he said. “Leave us alone.”

 

The man picked up the fork that was resting on the plate of food and began to eat hungrily, his gun still pointed at the two of them. “What I want ain’t here yet,” he said between mouthfuls. “I can wait but.”

 

Adam studied him for a moment. “What does that mean?” he asked finally.

 

The man took another large mouthful and looked around the house again. “This here is The Ponderosa, ain’t it?” he asked. “You’re Ben Cartwright’s kin?”

 

“Yes,” said Adam, beginning to sense trouble now. If the man knew about their family, then he wasn’t a drifter as he’d first thought. “What of it?” he asked.

 

The man snorted. “Then I’m in the right place,” he said. “Mmm, good stew. You cook this sonny?”

 

“No,” piped up Hoss. “Our cook Hop Sing did.”

 

The man took a step forward and looked at him menacingly. “I thought you said that no one else was here?” he demanded. “Where is this cook?”

 

“He’s in Virginia City,” said Adam quickly. “I told you that there’s no one here but us.”

 

“How come you know about our family?” piped up Hoss again, eyeing off the man with distaste.

 

“Nosey kid, ain’t ya?” snarled the man, licking the fork before putting it down on the plate. “Let’s just say that your Pa and I go way back. I known him from a long time ago.” He gestured towards Adam again. “When’s your Pa due back from town?” he asked.

 

“How do you know that our Pa is in town?” interrupted Hoss.

 

“You shut up!” the man shouted. “I’m talking to him!” He looked at Adam again. “Well?” he asked. “When’s old man Cartwright coming home?”

 

Adam swallowed. “He won’t be back tonight,” he said. “In fact, he won’t be back for a few days. He’s gone on a business trip.” He dug his nails into Hoss’ arm to silence the boy as he spoke.

 

The man’s eyes narrowed again and he stared at Adam for a full minute before speaking. “You’re a damned liar,” he said finally. “I saw him ride outta here with a few men a couple of hours ago and he weren’t taking no overnight things with him. He pointed the gun at Hoss while continuing to speak to Adam. “Now tell the truth sonny. When’s he coming back?”

 

“Why do you want to know?” demanded Adam, drawing the terrified Hoss towards him on the sofa. “What business is it of yours anyway?”

 

“You’re a smart mouth, ain’t ya?” snarled the man. He walked across the room and pointed the barrel of his gun directly at Hoss’ head. “Well?” he said, eyeing Adam off.

 

Adam swallowed. “Later tonight,” he said in a low voice.

 

“That’s better,” said the man. He took the gun away and sat down on their father’s favourite easy chair. “We’ll just wait for him then, won’t we?”

 

Hoss looked across at Adam, tears beginning to well up in his eyes. “Adam?” he said anxiously.

 

Adam patted his brother on the arm. “It’s OK Hoss,” he said, trying to keep his own voice calm.

 

“Sure it is sonny,” said the man, leaning back in the chair and putting the gun on his lap. “We’ll just have a nice time here while we wait for your Pa.”

 

Adam smiled reassuringly at Hoss and then faced the man. “I asked you what you wanted with my Pa?” he said again.

 

The man studied him for a moment in silence. “Your Pa and me needs to have a talk,” he said finally as he fingered the gun absently. The gesture didn’t go unnoticed by Adam and his blood ran cold at the sight of it. Whatever was in this man’s mind wasn’t good and his thoughts ran at a mile a minute as he considered what would happen when their father did eventually walk through the front doorway.

 

He felt the weight of Hoss leaning into him as he sat on the sofa next to him and he prayed that Joe would keep quiet upstairs, for the responsibility of looking after his two younger brothers in the face of such danger weighed heavily on him. He knew that his Pa would want him to protect them at all costs and their safety was paramount in his mind, but he couldn’t help but try and work out a plan to safeguard his Pa at the same time. His eyes unconsciously turned towards the gun-rack.

 

“You just keep your mind off them guns,” said the man suddenly, noticing where Adam was looking. “You wouldn’t want to go and do nothing stupid now, wouldn’t you sonny? Not with the youngster here.” He gestured to the terrified Hoss meaningfully. “Just get your mind off them guns if you know what’s good for you,” he added.

 

Adam looked away from the guns, knowing that none of them were loaded anyway. Pa would never allow it with Joe in the house, for the little boy was fascinated with guns and his father didn’t trust him yet not to touch them. There were only three guns that Adam knew of in the house. One was his own, currently tucked into the man’s waistband and so out of reach. The second was hidden in his father’s bedroom upstairs where neither of the two younger boys could reach it. His father had always maintained that it was there for emergencies and only he and Adam knew about it, but it was also well out of reach at the moment. The third one was high up on the top of the shelf in Hop Sing’s kitchen. The cook sometimes used it for scaring foxes away from his chickens, but Adam didn’t even know if it was loaded at the moment and the only ammunition was in his father’s desk drawer right across the other side of the room. Whichever way he looked at it, it seemed that he couldn’t get to a weapon easily.

 

He felt Hoss beside him trembling and he put his arms around the boy’s shoulder. “It’ll be OK Hoss,” he said.

 

“Sure it will sonny,” said the man, picking at his teeth. “Just as soon as your Pa gets home … me and him is gonna leave all of you alone.” He chuckled at his own joke. “In fact, your Pa is never gonna worry any of you agen.”

 

Hoss sat forward on the sofa. “Why don’t you just get outta here?” he said. “When my Pa gets home he’s gonna make you wish you’d never come here!”

 

The man snorted. “It’s gonna be the other way around kid,” he said. “Your old man’s gonna wish he never came home tonight.” He fingered the gun again and Hoss’ eyes widened.

 

“What do you want our Pa for?” he demanded.

 

“Shut him up!” the man said to Adam.

 

Adam pulled on Hoss’ sleeve. “Quiet,” he said in a low voice. “You’re not helping any by carrying on like this Hoss.”

 

Hoss gave his brother a pleading look. “But Adam …” he began.

 

“You never came to check on me!” a small voice shouted from the top of the stairs and everyone turned to see Little Joe clumping downstairs in his nightshirt, still wearing his boots. “You said you were gonna come up and check on me, and you never did!” he said to Adam accusingly, putting his hands on his hips and glaring at his brother.

 

The man in the chair leant forward and also glared at Adam. “I thought you said there was no one upstairs?” he spat. “Who the hell is this?”

 

Joe’s jaw dropped as he turned to notice the man for the first time. “You said a bad word!” he said, his eyes wide. “He said a bad word Adam,” he said again, turning to face his brother.

 

“Well?” said the man. “Anyone else up there that you haven’t told me about?” He pointed the gun at Adam accusingly.

 

“No,” said Adam, shortly. “Joe … come over here.”

 

“Ain’t anyone else up there but me mister,” said Joe, ignoring Adam’s instruction and standing his ground as he stared at the man. He took a couple of steps forward and held out his small hand as he remembered his manners. “Nice ta meet you. I’m Joe Cartwright.”

 

The man ignored the small boy and cocked the gun. “If I find out you’re lying ….” he spat at Adam.

 

“There isn’t anyone else in the house,” replied Adam. “This is only my little brother and I didn’t think he counted.”

 

Joe bristled at his brother’s words. “I do so count!” he said indignantly. “I’m a people too!” He looked at the man curiously. “What’s ya name mister?” he asked.

 

“Joe, come over here,” said Adam again.

 

“Get over there with them two kid,” said the man. “Hurry up and do as you’re told!”

 

Joe frowned, but walked over to Adam and Hoss without protesting. Adam pulled him towards them and sat him in between them on the sofa. “You didn’t come up and check on me,” Joe said again. He put one small boot up on Adam’s leg. “I couldn’t get my boots undone. You have to undo them for me.”

 

“Leave them for now squirt,” said Adam in a low voice. “Just sit still.”

 

“But I can’t wear my boots to bed,” insisted Joe, tapping his foot up and down on Adam’s thigh for emphasis.

 

“You’re not going to bed just yet,” said Adam. “Sit still.”

 

“I ain’t?” said Joe, grinning at his brother. “Oh boy!” He put his foot back on the floor and grinned around at everyone happily.

 

“No, you ain’t kid,” snapped the man. “You’re gonna sit still there if you know what’s good for you!”

 

“OK,” said Joe, happy to be able to stay up for longer. “Are we gonna play a game now?”

 

“Joe, be quiet,” said Hoss, urgently. “Sit still like he told you to.”

 

“Hey you!” The man pointed at Hoss. “Get that whiskey bottle for me!” He indicated their father’s whiskey decanter that stood on a small table near his desk. “Hurry up,” he said.

 

Hoss looked at Adam, who nodded. He stood up and walked over to the table, picked up the decanter and took it over to the man. “Now sit down,” the man snarled as he took the decanter, pulled the stopper out with his teeth and took a swig.

 

“Hey!” shouted Little Joe, indignantly. “That’s my Pa’s! You’re sposed ta ask if you can have some first!”

 

“Shut that brat up,” snapped the man.

 

“Be quiet Joe,” said Adam, as Hoss sat down again. Adam picked up the child’s discarded braiding that was on the coffee table. “Here, do some of this.” He handed it to him, hoping that the activity would keep him occupied and stop him from making any further difficult comments.

 

Joe took the braid. “You gotta hold the other end for me,” he said, holding it up.

 

“Hoss, you do it,” instructed Adam and Hoss obediently took hold of the braid as Joe happily began to work on the other end.

 

There was silence in the room for a few minutes as Joe and Hoss bent over the braid and Adam and the man eyed each other off.

 

“So how long are we gonna have to wait fer your Pa?” snapped the man suddenly. “What time’s he gonna be home?”

 

“Late,” said Adam, with a shrug. “Maybe not until the morning.”

 

“Nuh uh,” interrupted Joe innocently. “He’s gonna be home real soon. You said that after I went to bed he would be back.”

 

The man snorted again. “Thanks kid,” he said, grinning nastily at Adam. “At least someone around here can tell the truth.”

 

“I always tell the truth,” Little Joe assured him earnestly and then thought for a moment. “Well … nearly,” he said. “I sorta didn’t tell the truth about the time I kicked Hop Sing’s chickens, but Pa didn’t never asked so  …”

 

“What the hell is he talking about?” asked the man. “Shut him up!”

 

Joe’s jaw dropped open again. “You said that bad word again,” he said, his eyes widening. “He said that bad word again Adam.”

 

“Shh,” said Adam.

 

“You wanna see my braid, mister?” asked Joe, holding it up for the man to see. “I’m making a bridle for my pony.” The man ignored him and took another swig from the whiskey bottle. “I ain’t got a pony yet,” prattled on Joe. “But Pa’s gonna give me one for my birthday and when I get one I’m gonna ….”

 

“Can’t you keep that brat quiet?” snapped the man.

 

“Be quiet Joe,” said Hoss, giving the man a fearful glance.

 

“But I was just saying …..” insisted Joe.

 

“Shh,” said Adam.

 

Joe gave both of his brothers a puzzled look, wondering why on earth they seemed so jumpy all of a sudden. “Why?” he asked.

 

“Because you were told to,” snapped the man. “Now shut up!”

 

Joe’s eyes widened again. “You ain’t sposed to talk like that,” he informed him. “It’s rude.” He stared at the man for a moment. “You wanna hold my braid mister?” He hopped down from the sofa before Adam or Hoss could stop him and trotted over to where the man was sitting and placed the leather strips on his lap. “See? You hold it like this and I ….”

 

The man shoved him away and forced Joe to take a couple of steps backwards. “Hey!” said Joe, angrily and kicked him square on the ankle.

 

The man reached down to rub his ankle with one hand and tried to grab for Joe with the other, but Adam reached his brother first and pulled him back towards him. “Leave him a alone,” he said.

 

“You’re a mean man and I don’t like you!” shouted Little Joe, despite Adam trying to keep him quiet. “Go away!”

 

The man snarled at them all and then pointed the gun in their direction. “Get up,” he said abruptly.

 

“What are you gonna do?” asked Hoss, trying to keep his voice under control as Adam pulled him to his feet.

 

The man ignored the question and jerked his head towards the dining room. “There a back door around here?” he asked Adam.

 

“Sure is,” piped up Little Joe. “And you can’t use it neither!” He poked his tongue out at the man and scowled at him.

 

The man ignored Joe as well, all his focus still on Adam. “Out the back door,” he ordered. Adam swallowed, his blood running cold at the thought of what could be in their captor’s mind. “Leave my brothers alone,” he said. “They …”

 

“Shut up and move!” shouted the man, gesturing with his gun again. “Now!”

 

Adam picked up Little Joe, placed him on his hip and held onto Hoss’ arm protectively. “Come on Hoss,” he said in a low voice.

 

Hoss gave Adam a terrified look and brushed away the tears that were beginning to trickle down his cheeks, but he did as he was told and quietly allowed himself to be led across the dining room and out of the back door. “Why are we going outside in the dark, Adam?” asked Little Joe, but his brother didn’t answer him.

 

Adam tensed up as he faced the man, still in the silhouette of the back doorway. “There’s no need for this,” he said, his voice wavering a little as he pulled Hoss towards him and clung onto Joe tightly. “If you …”

 

“I said to shut up!” shouted the man again and stepped out into the darkness. He looked around. “You got a cellar here?” he snapped.

 

Adam nodded and then realised that his captor probably hadn’t seen the gesture in the darkness. “Yes,” he said. “Over there.” He pointed to the cellar door, his heart lifting just a little as he realised that perhaps the man had it in mind to merely lock them up instead of doing something more permanent.

 

“Open it!” The man pointed the gun at Adam, who put Joe down on the ground and walked over to the cellar. Hoss held onto Little Joe’s hand as Adam pulled the heavy door up.

 

“Get down there!” the man said. “Hurry up!”

 

Hoss’ eyes widened. “W … Why?” he stammered.

 

“Hoss, bring Joe over here,” instructed Adam. “Hurry.”

 

Hoss began to pull Little Joe towards Adam, but the little boy had other ideas. “I don’t wanna go down that cellar,” he declared. “It’s too dark.”

 

“Move, you little brat!” shouted the man, giving him a slight push. Joe didn’t take too kindly to that and kicked out at him, causing him to yelp suddenly in pain and strike out at the child. He hit Joe on the side of the head and the little boy fell to the ground and rolled over a couple of times in the dirt.

 

“Leave him alone!” shouted Hoss, leaping across at him and pummelling into the man with his fists. “He’s just a little kid!”

 

Adam sprinted over to his two brothers and picked Joe up. “There wasn’t any need for that,” he said, pulling Hoss away from the man who by now had cocked the gun again and was giving them all dark looks.

 

“Get down in that cellar or I’ll loose three bullets!” he shouted. “Now!”

 

Without another word, Adam pulled the protesting Hoss down the few steps into the cellar, while carrying the sobbing Little Joe on his hip. He put his arm around Hoss as the door of the cellar was flung shut above them and they heard the scraping sound of something being dragged on top of it.

 

“He’s putting something on the door so’s we can’t open it again,” said Hoss. He bounded up the few steps before Adam could stop him and pushed on the cellar door, but sure enough, he couldn’t budge it. “Help me Adam,” he said desperately. “We gotta get out of here.”

 

Adam put the still-sobbing Joe onto the dirt floor and joined his brother in trying to open the door, but to no avail. “It won’t open,” he said after a moment or two. “It’s no use Hoss.”

 

The two brothers descended the stairs again and Adam picked up Little Joe and tried to soothe him. “It’s OK now squirt,” he said. “He’s gone.”

 

“No … no he … ain’t!” declared Little Joe between sobs as he held onto his hurting face. “He’s still … up there in … the house!”

 

They were all still as they listened to the footsteps above them in the dining room, for Little Joe was right. The man had obviously gone back into the house.

 

“It’s dark,” said Hoss in a low voice and Adam drew his brother to his side, remembering just how frightened of the dark Hoss had always been. For a moment they stood in silence, the darkness enveloping them, the only sound being the diminishing sobs of Little Joe as he cuddled into Adam’s shoulder.

 

“Let’s get some light,” suggested Adam when Joe had finally stopped crying and begun to rub his eyes clear of his tears. “Hop Sing always keeps a lantern down here, doesn’t he?”

 

“Yeah,” said Hoss. “He hangs it on a hook near the steps.”

 

Adam walked over, found the lantern and sat down on the stairs with Joe on his lap. “Here,” he said, handing it to Hoss. “You light it.”

 

Hoss swallowed and began to light the lantern, the activity and the small light that emanated from it when it was lit making him feel a little better. “I don’t like the dark much,” he admitted in a low voice.

 

“It won’t hurt you none Hoss,” Joe said, sitting up on Adam’s lap and reaching across to pat Hoss’ arm in a comforting way. “Don’t worry. I’ll look after you.”

 

Adam smiled at him. “We’ll all look after each other,” he said.

 

“Adam?” Hoss set the lantern down and gave his brother an anxious look. “What’s he gonna to do when Pa gets home? Is he gonna hurt him?”

 

Little Joe swivelled around on Adam’s lap and gave his big brother an incredulous look. “He ain’t gonna, is he Adam?”

 

Adam hesitated, not wanting to scare his brothers any further, but not wanting to lie to them either. “He wants to,” he said. “But we’re not going to let him, are we?”

 

“Sure ain’t!” declared Hoss. “But how are we gonna stop him Adam? Pa’s gonna be home soon and we’re stuck down here.”

 

“I’ll sneak out and get a gun and shoot him!” declared Little Joe. “He ain’t gonna hurt my Pa!” He gave them both a fierce look that in other circumstances would probably have caused both his brothers to dissolve into laughter.

 

“You’re not doing anything of the sort,” said Adam. “Besides, there’s no way out of here.”

 

Joe pulled himself up straight. “I’m little,” he said. “I can sneak out of a hole if I can find one. Then I’ll go in the house and shoot him!”

 

“There ain’t no hole down here,” said Hoss miserably. “Talk sense Joe.”

 

Adam looked down at his little brother on his lap, his eyes lighting up suddenly. “There just might be,” he said softly. “Joe, sit here with Hoss for a minute.” He pulled the little boy off his lap and stood up.

 

“Where are you going Adam?” said Hoss quickly. “Don’t leave us!”

 

Adam turned back to his brothers and knelt down in the dirt in front of them. “You stay here,” he said. “I’m going to look for something, but I’ll be back in a minute.”

 

“What are you gonna look for?” asked Hoss, clutching onto Joe beside him to keep the child still.

 

“I remember when Pa first dug this cellar out,” said Adam. “Before he started building the house on top. He put in a small hole round the front near the kitchen.”

 

“Why?” asked Hoss.

 

“He thought that it might be useful for dropping supplies down from the buckboard in the front yard,” replied Adam. “But we never really used it, because when Hop Sing came he just always used the door back here. Pa said it didn’t matter and the hole would do for ventilation instead.”

 

“What’s ven …vent … lashion?” asked Little Joe curiously.

 

“Air,” replied Adam. “As I recall, he put a grate on top of it, but maybe we can push that out. Stay here while I look.” He gave Hoss a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry Hoss, but I have to take the lantern, or I might miss it in the dark.”

 

“That’s OK,” said Hoss bravely. “You take it and go look Adam.”

 

“I’ll look after Hoss,” said Little Joe as they watched Adam take the lantern away. “He’ll be OK with me!” He held onto Hoss’ hand as they sat together on the steps in the dark. “Don’t you worry none Hoss,” he said. “You’ll be OK.”

 

“I’m fine,” said Hoss, a little embarrassed at being afraid of the dark. “Sides, I’m looking after you, not the other way around.”

 

“Nuh uh!” declared his little brother. “I’m looking after you Hoss!”

 

Hoss rolled his eyes at the stubbornness of his small brother. “How can you be looking after me when I’m bigger than you?” he said.

 

Joe thought about that for a moment. “Well I just is!” he said at last. “Sides ….” He stopped as Adam appeared again with the lantern.

 

“Did ya find it?” said Hoss anxiously.

 

Adam smiled at them as he nodded. “Yes,” he said. “Come on.” He picked up Little Joe again and led the way behind some barrels. Hoss followed, holding onto Adam’s shirt so that he didn’t lose his way in the dark. “There,” said Adam, stopping and pointing upwards. “See?”

 

Hoss and Little Joe looked up and saw a faint glimmer of starlight above them. “It’s awfully little Adam,” said Hoss, uncertainly. “Do ya reckon we can get out that way?”

 

“No,” said Adam, glancing at Little Joe in his arms. “But Joe might be able to. What do you say squirt? Can you try and squeeze through?”

 

“Course I can!” declared Little Joe.

 

“You can’t send him up there to stop that man,” said Hoss. “He’s only a little kid!”

 

“I can shoot him!” declared Joe bravely. “You just see iffen I don’t!”

 

“You are not shooting anyone,” said Adam firmly. “Now both of you listen. We’re going to see if Joe can squeeze through there first. If he can, then he’s going to run and get help. OK squirt?”

 

Joe frowned. “I don’t need to run nowheres,” he said. “I’m gonna shoot that mean man!”

 

“You are not going to shoot him!” said Adam, beginning to get frustrated with his small brother. He turned Joe’s head so that their faces were close and his little brother had no choice but to look into his eyes. “Now listen carefully Joe,” he said. “You want to help Pa, don’t you?

 

“Yeah!” said Joe emphatically.

 

“Then you’ve got to do as I say. OK?”

 

“OK.”

 

“I’m going to push you out of that hole and you’re going to very quietly creep around the side of the kitchen until you get to the pine trees at the side of the house.”

 

“OK,” said Joe, his eyes becoming wider with the excitement of what he had to do.

 

“And then you’re going to go behind them until you reach the side of the barn,” continued Adam.

 

“OK.”

 

“And when you reach the shadow of the barn you’re going to run as fast as you can. Pretend that Hoss or I are chasing you. OK?”

 

“OK. Where do I run to?” asked Joe, excitedly.

 

“Down the trail towards Virginia City,” said Adam.

 

“He can’t run that far,” scoffed Hoss. “He’d never make it to Virginia City!”

 

“Can so!” declared Joe indignantly. “I can run real fast!”

 

“It’s too far,” said Hoss.

 

“Not for me!” declared Joe.

 

“Is too!”

 

“Is not!

 

“Would you two be quiet!” said Adam crossly. “You have to run as far as where the trail branches off down towards the Devlin ranch. You remember where that is Little Joe?”

 

“Sure I do. Near the big rock,” said Joe.

 

“Yes,” said Adam. “And you run and get help from Mr Devlin.”

 

“That’s too far,” protested Hoss. “He’ll never make it to the Devlin place.”

 

Adam looked at him. “It’s all we can do,” he said. “The Devlins are the nearest neighbours we got Hoss. There isn’t anyone closer.”

 

“Pa will make it home before he gets there,” said Hoss gloomily.

 

Inwardly, Adam agreed that his brother was right, but at least this way Little Joe would be well and truly clear of danger if the man upstairs took it into his head to come down and get rid of them once he’d dealt with their Pa. He only wished that could send Hoss out of that hole as well and out of danger, but his middle brother was far too large to fit.

 

“He won’t get home first,” declared Little Joe. “I’m going run and run and run so fast and I’ll get there before Pa comes. Mr Devlin will come here cause I’m gonna tell him to!”

 

Adam bit his lip as he looked at his little brother, considering for a moment how Joe had a tendency to get things muddled up in the telling when he was excited. Lord knows what he’d say to the Devlins once he got to their ranch and he’d most likely cause Mr Devlin to ride up unprotected to The Ponderosa to check things out. Having Pa and his brothers in trouble was enough and they sure didn’t need any neighbours in danger of being killed as well.

 

Suddenly, he snapped his fingers. “I’ve got an idea,” he said. “Stay here!” He put Joe down on his feet again and disappeared into the darkness.

 

“Hey Adam!” shouted Hoss. “Come back! Where are ya going Adam?”

 

“I’m here,” said Adam, stepping back into the light of the lantern again. “I remembered the note pad and pencil that Hop Sing always keeps by the lantern to write down his list of shopping supplies. Hold the lantern up Hoss so that I can see what I’m writing.”

 

“What are you writing?” asked Hoss.

 

“A note to Mr Devlin,” said Adam. “Joe can give it to him.”

 

“I wanna see!” said Little Joe, jumping up and down in his excitement. “Show me Adam!”

 

“Quiet,” said Adam as he continued to write. “Wait a minute while I finish it.”

 

Joe continued to jump up and down while Hoss held the lantern for Adam to see by. “There,” said Adam after a couple of minutes. “All done.” He looked down at Little Joe and frowned as he considered the best way to ensure that the note got to where it was supposed to. After a moment he bent down and stuffed it into the little boy’s right boot. “Leave that there,” he instructed the child. “And when you get to Mr Devlin’s, you give him that note. OK?”

 

“OK,” replied Joe. “Am I gonna go now?”

 

“In a minute,” said Adam. “Hoss, hold the lantern over here while I try and get that grate out.” He stood up on a barrel as Hoss held the lantern as high as he could. For several minutes Adam pushed and strained on the small grate, loosening it slightly. “It’s moving,” he called down to his brothers. “But not much.”

 

“You want me to try?” suggested Hoss.

 

“Hang on …. There!” Adam smiled down at them as the grate came loose in his hand. “I got it,” he said. “Joe? Come up here.” He held out his arms to his little brother and Joe held his own small arms up and allowed himself to be pulled up into Adam’s. “Now you remember what I told you squirt,” Adam said to the little boy. “Run as fast as you can, you hear?”

 

“Yes,” said Joe. “I can do it.”

 

“I know you can,” said Adam. He gave the little boy a quick hug, trying to blot out of his mind that it could well be the last time he might ever see him, and lifted him high up towards the small hole. “Try and reach it,” he said.

 

Joe reached upwards. “I can’t,” he said, struggling to get higher. “It’s too high.”

 

Adam stood his little brother on his shoulders, holding onto his feet to steady him. “Can you reach it now?” he asked.

 

“Yes!” Joe shouted down at him. “I’ll climb through.” He scrambled out of the hole, rolled a couple of feet away from it and then sat up to find himself at the side of the kitchen. He wriggled over to the hole again and peered down into it. “I’m out!” he shouted, excitedly.

 

“Shh!” said Adam, from down below. “Be quiet! Now do as I told you and go. When you get to the side of the barn, you run!”

 

“OK,” said Joe, and then disappeared.

 

Adam climbed down from the barrel and put his arm around Hoss. “Don’t worry Hoss,” he said. “Joe’s a smart kid. He’ll be OK.”

 

Hoss nodded and wiped away a couple of tears that overflowed with the sudden emotion of what was happening. “Yeah,” he agreed.

 

“Now,” said Adam, looking around. “I want to find a hiding place for you. Come on, let’s shift some of these barrels to make a space.”

 

Hoss’ eyes widened. “A hiding place?” he said, warily. “Why?”

 

“In case he comes back down here,” said Adam, trying to sound casual about it. “Maybe he won’t see you in the dark if we hide you away.”

 

Hoss stopped and looked at his brother. “Do ya think he’s gonna come back down here and hurt us after Pa gets back?” he said.

 

Adam bit his lip. “No,” he lied. “But there’s no harm in being prepared, is there? Remember what Pa always says.”

 

Hoss nodded as their father’s words came back to him. “Always be prepared,” he said. “But … what about you, Adam?”

 

“I’ll hide too,” said Adam. “Only I’ll be over there near the steps, so that if he does come down I can jump him. Maybe I can get his gun away from him in the dark.”

 

“Then I’m gonna hide over there too,” said Hoss. “Two of us jumping in the dark is better than one.”

 

Adam ruffled his brother’s hair. “Maybe, but I’d feel better if you were right over here away from the steps,” he said. “I don’t want you to get hurt, brother.”

 

“Well I don’t want you to get hurt neither!” declared Hoss.

 

“Listen Hoss,” said Adam. “Pa would want you to be safe. If he were here, he’d tell you to hide where you mightn’t get hurt, wouldn’t he?”

 

“Well … yeah,” admitted Hoss.

 

“Well then,” said Adam, as if that settled everything. “Let’s get a space behind these barrels set up. OK?”

 

Hoss nodded reluctantly. “OK,” he said finally. “Hey Adam? Joe’s not gonna make it to the Devlin’s in time, is he?”

 

Adam bit his lip. “No,” he admitted. “But at least he’s safe now Hoss and that’s the main thing.”

 

“And Pa’s gonna come home and get shot by that man,” continued Hoss, the tears beginning to fall from his cheeks so freely now that he didn’t even bother to wipe them away.

 

“Not if I can help it, he won’t,” said Adam in a firm voice. “I’ve got a plan.”

 

“Hoss’ eyes brightened. “Yeah?” he said. “What?”

 

“Once you get hidden, we’re going to make as much noise as we can,” explained Adam. “Maybe Pa will hear us when he comes into the front yard and come round the back to see what it is.”

 

“And if he don’t?” asked Hoss.

 

Adam put his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Then maybe that man will come down here to shut us up and I’ll get the chance to jump him in the dark and get his gun,” said Adam.

 

Hoss thought for a moment. “Sorry to say it Adam,” he said. “But it don’t sound like too good a plan.”

 

Adam nodded in agreement. “I know, but it’s all we’ve got,” he said. “Now come on … let’s get these barrels shifted.”

 

While his two brothers were having this conversation, Little Joe had managed to do precisely what Adam had instructed him to. He had slipped quietly around the side of the kitchen, behind the pine trees and made it to the barn without any problem. As soon as he reached the shadow of the barn he took one look over his shoulder at the house behind him and then took off on his little legs, running down the trail as fast as he could.

 

Within minutes, he’d left the house behind him and was breathlessly running down the trail. The little boy had always been fast on his feet and many was the time that his brothers and father had failed to catch up with him when he’d been in trouble for something or other. This talent was being well used now as his small legs carried him down the trail at a fast rate.

 

After a few moments, he found himself out of breath and was forced to stop and catch it again. As he stood there in the darkness, he heard a rustling sound by the side of the trail and drew his breath in sharply as a faint shadow emerged. “Go away!” he shouted. “I ain’t scared of you none!” He swallowed, and in spite of his brave words backed away a step or two, breathing a sigh of relief when he realised that the shadow belonged to two small rabbits.

 

“Don’t you be scared of me fellars,” he said to them. “I ain’t scared of you none.” He turned sharply as a loud hoot from a nearby tree caught him off guard and he looked up anxiously. “I guess that’s just an old owl,” he said, with uncertainty in his voice. “I ain’t scared of it neither!”

 

Little Joe had always been a child with little fear in him, managing to overcome most obstacles with the supreme confidence that his father and brothers were always there to help him. Yet as he stood there alone in the pitch dark, he suddenly found himself feeling very uneasy. Every shadow seemed to be looming over him and every sound seemed magnified. He felt his skin prickle with the uneasy feeling that came over him and he shivered.

 

“Reckon I’m jest cold without my jacket,” he said to the two rabbits that were looking at him curiously. “I gotta go now. I gotta save my Pa from that mean man.” With one last look at the rabbits he took off again into the darkness as fast as his little legs would carry him.

 

Meanwhile, Adam and Hoss had managed to clear a hiding space for Hoss. “Get down in there,” instructed Adam. “Here. Take this and bang on the barrel while you’re hidden and start yelling at the top of your voice once I tell you to.” He handed his brother a chunk of wood.

 

“Be careful Adam,” said Hoss, trying to smile at his brother.

 

Adam put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Always,” he said, smiling back at him. “Now get down there behind those barrels and don’t come out … no matter what … understand?”

 

Hoss nodded and squeezed in behind the barrels with the chunk of wood in his hand. He leant against the rough wood of the barrel and closed his eyes for a moment, praying as hard as he could that they would all be safe … including his Pa. When he heard Adam’s voice calling out, he began to yell at the top of his voice and bang his piece of wood on the barrel.

 

At that precise moment, Ben Cartwright rounded a corner on the trail and peered into the darkness in front of him as his horse jumped slightly. He could have sworn that he’d seen the flicker of something white in the distance and he rubbed his eyes wearily as he patted the neck of his horse. “Easy Buck,” he said. “I think we’re both seeing things.”

 

He frowned as he saw a flash of something white again and took his gun out of his holster. It was probably a deer, but a man couldn’t be too careful in this country late at night. He urged his horse forward at a walking pace, peering into the darkness.

 

Suddenly, out of the darkness in front of him came a small white figure and he drew his gun up and cocked it, pointing it at the small white apparition in the darkness. The small figure stopped and looked up at him. “Hi Pa!” shouted Little Joe.

 

Ben lowered the gun and stared down at his youngest son in disbelief. “Joseph!” he exclaimed. “What on earth are you doing out here?” He stared at the boy and noted his filthy appearance. “And in your nightshirt!” he added in disbelief.

 

Joe grinned up at his father. “It’s OK Pa,” he said. “I got my boots on!” He lifted up one small leg to show his father.

 

Ben blinked a couple of times before leaning down and reaching out for his son. Joe held his hands up and allowed himself to be pulled up onto his father’s horse and seated on the front of the saddle, sitting backwards so that he was facing his father. He put his arms around the man’s neck and gave him a tight hug. “I’m so glad to see you Pa,” he said happily.

 

Ben took off his coat and wrapped it around the little boy. “Little Joe,” he said. “Tell me what’s going on. Why are you running around out here in the dark? What’s happened?”

 

“I ran real fast,” said Joe proudly. “Adam told me to.”

 

“Why?” said Ben again, anxiously. “Tell me what’s happened son!”

 

“I climbed out of the hole,” explained Joe. “Adam held me up so’s I could. I heard a owl, but I wasn’t scared Pa. I saw two rabbits too, but they was scared of me.” He looked up at his father. “Adam said to run real fast, so I did.”

 

“Why?” repeated Ben, becoming increasingly frustrated with his little boy’s way of not really getting to the point. Obviously there must be a serious situation if the child was running out here in the middle of the night, and his blood ran cold at the thought of what it might be. “Concentrate Little Joe! Tell Pa why you were running! Where were you going?”

 

“To Mr Devlin,” explained Joe. “Adam said …” He put his hand over his mouth and widened his eyes. “I forgot …. I got a letter what Adam wrote.” He reached into his boot and pulled it out. “It’s not for you,’ he explained. “But I reckon that Adam won’t mind if ya read it. The man that’s at our house is real mean Pa,” he added.

 

Ben gave his son a horrified look, snatched the note from the child and then urged his horse forward out of the shadow of the pines to look at it under the moonlight. He uttered an involuntary exclamation and then without another word he lifted Little Joe up, seated him the right way around on the saddle and took off at a fast pace towards the ranch house.

 

As they neared the Ponderosa barn, Ben pulled his horse to a halt and listened. “What’s all that noise?” he asked aloud, to no one in particular.

 

Little Joe bent his head back and looked at his father upside down from his position in front of him on the saddle. “Dunno,” he said. “Adam and Hoss are in the cellar Pa. That mean man made us go down there.”

 

Ben nodded and dismounted from his horse, leading the animal on foot to the back of the barn and tying it up. He lifted Little Joe down, grabbed his rifle from its holster and crept quietly towards the front yard. He put his finger on his lip to indicate to Little Joe to be quiet and then carried the little boy around the side of the house to the cellar door.

 

He placed Little Joe on his feet and pushed the large water barrel off the door, opening in as quietly as he could and noting as he did so that the banging noises from down below immediately stopped.  He picked up Joe again and descended the stairs into the cellar quietly, straining his eyes to see in the darkness. “Adam? Hoss?” he said in a low voice. “Are you here? It’s me …. Pa.”

 

Adam poked his head out from beside the stairs and smiled at his father, his relief evident on his face. “Boy am I glad to see you!” he exclaimed.

 

Ben drew his son towards him and gave him a brief hug with his free hand. “Where’s Hoss?” he asked, urgently.

 

“Here I am Pa,” said Hoss, flinging himself onto his father and hugging the man around his waist. “I’m so glad to see you Pa!”

 

“I found him,” said Little Joe, jigging up and down in his father’s arms in his excitement. “I done good, didn’t I Adam?”

 

Adam reached over and ruffled his little brother’s hair. “You sure did squirt,” he said fervently. “Pa … there’s a man upstairs who ….”

 

Ben nodded. “I read your note,” he said shortly. He put Joe down and handed Adam his rifle, taking his own pistol out of his holster as he did so. “Hoss,” he said, turning to his middle son. “You need to stay here with Joe for a little bit longer son,” he said. “Take him back to where you were hiding and stay there until Adam and I get back. Hurry now.”

 

Hoss nodded and grabbed Joe’s hand. “Pa?” he asked, as his father and brother turned towards the steps. “What if you don’t come back?” His face showed the depth of his emotions as he asked the question.

 

Ben smiled at him and then placed a hand on his head for a moment. “We’ll be back,” he said firmly. “Now do as I say son. Take your brother and hide.”

 

Hoss nodded again and pulled Joe behind him, disappearing into the darkness of the cellar again.

 

Ben motioned to Adam and they quickly walked up the stairs. “Cover the front door,” said Ben in a low voice. “I’ll go in the back way.” Adam nodded and turned to go, but before he could take a step Ben touched him on the arm and he looked at his father, a questioning look on his face. “Be careful son,” said Ben.

 

Adam nodded and disappeared. Ben waited a minute for him to get into position and then quietly opened the back door and tiptoed inside. He walked slowly along the short hallway that led to the dining room, his gun cocked and ready. As he reached the end of the hall he pressed himself against the wall and slowly peeked out into the large dining room area that led to the living room.

 

The man was seated in front of the fireplace, his gun on his lap and his eyes trained towards the front door, no doubt listening and waiting for Ben’s arrival. Ben took and deep breath, pointed his gun and stepped out into the room. “Drop that gun nice and easy,” he said in a loud voice.

 

The man leapt from the chair, swung around to face Ben and pointed his gun directly at him. Ben ducked down as a bullet whizzed past his head and hit the wall behind him. He fired his own gun, hitting the man directly in the chest. As he spun to the ground, the front door opened and Adam charged in, his father’s rifle cocked and ready.

 

“It’s all right son,” shouted Ben as he got up. “It’s all over now.”

 

He walked over to Adam and put his arm around his son’s shoulder as they stood and looked down at the man on the floor together. “Do you know him Pa?” asked Adam.

 

Ben put out his foot and pushed the man’s body over so that he was facing the ceiling, staring at him for a moment in silence. “George McBride,” he said in a low voice. “I killed his brother last year, remember?”

 

Adam thought for a moment. “The rustler?” he asked. “I can’t remember his first name.”

 

“Sam,” said Ben. “Sam McBride. He and his crew were bound and determined to take as many of our spring herd as they could. I shot Sam when we caught up with them.”

 

“But you were cleared of any charges,” protested Adam. “The court ruled it self-defence!”

 

“Yes,” said his father. “But obviously the court’s ruling wasn’t enough for his brother. He was out to avenge his brother’s death by the sound of it.” He looked down at the body on the floor again. “What a senseless waste,” he said. “Damn fool.” He looked at his son and gave his shoulders a squeeze. “But at least you boys are safe,” he said. “I hate to think of what you must have gone through son.” Adam said nothing, but merely looked at his father as he put down the rifle. “Help me take his body out to the barn,” said Ben, putting his own gun back into his holster. “I don’t want the boys to see it. You’ll have to come into town with me in the morning Adam. I’m sure that Sheriff Coffee will need a statement from you.”

 

Adam nodded and helped his father lift up the body. As soon as they’d placed it in the barn, they hurried back to the cellar and Ben lifted the door open. “Hoss!” he shouted as he hurried down the steps. “Hoss! It’s Pa! You can come out now son!”

 

Immediately, Hoss and Little Joe ran out of the darkness towards their father. Hoss flung his arms around his father’s waist and Little Joe flung his arms around his father’s legs. “You’re safe Pa!” Hoss sobbed into the man’s shirt. “I was so worried that you and Adam were gonna be shot!”

 

Ben stroked the boy’s hair in a comforting fashion. “It’s all over now son,” he said soothingly. “Everything’s going to be all right now. Shh ….” He kept one arm around Hoss and bent down to pick up Little Joe with the other. “Let’s go back to the house,” he said.

 

Little Joe caught his breath. “Is that mean man still there?” he asked. “I don’t wanna go up there if he is Pa!”

 

Ben smiled at the little boy. “No son, he’s gone now.”

 

“Good!” declared Joe. “He was real mean Pa. He smacked me!” He showed his father the side of his face and rubbed it sadly, while Ben gave him a suitably sympathetic look.

 

Hoss looked up at his father. “I’m real glad that you’re safe Pa,” he said. “He was gonna hurt you.”

 

Ben shook his head. “We’re all safe Hoss,” he said, turning to climb the stairs. “It’s all over now.”

 

When they reached the living room, Ben sat down on the sofa, Little Joe on his lap, Hoss cuddled in next to him and Adam sitting on the coffee table facing him. He listened carefully as the boys related what had happened and when they’d finished, he sighed deeply. “I thank the Lord that you’re all safe,” he sad fervently. “I’m just sorry that you all had to go through that.”

 

“He was a horrible man, Pa,” said Hoss.

 

“He drank your drink from that bottle, Pa!” said Little Joe. “I told him not to, but he done it anyway.” His eyes widened as he remembered. “And he said bad words too, didn’t he Adam?”

 

Adam nodded. “The boys were scared,” he said and then added, a little awkwardly. “I guess that we all were.”

 

Ben smiled at him. “There’s nothing wrong with being scared,” he said. “But the important thing is that you all acted very sensibly when you had to.” He hugged Little Joe to him, gave Hoss a squeeze around the shoulders and smiled at Adam. “I’m very proud of all of you,” he said. “Very proud.” He looked at his three boys in the flickering light of the fire and thanked God that he had them all safe once again.

 

 

 

The End