{"id":10804,"date":"2015-04-13T14:56:50","date_gmt":"2015-04-13T18:56:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=10804"},"modified":"2025-08-01T13:29:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T17:29:14","slug":"sunup-at-dawn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=10804","title":{"rendered":"Sunup at Dawn (by BluewindFarm)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Summary<\/strong>: A WHN for Five Sundowns to Sunup \/ WHL for Death at Dawn story.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Rating:\u00a0 <\/strong>K\u00a0 (2,185 words)<strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Author&#8217;s note:\u00a0 Thank you to Belle for the first read through.\u00a0 I&#8217;ve continued to tinker and play with the story, so any mistakes, errors, or omissions are solely the responsibility of the author.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Sunup at Dawn<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">I should be in bed, asleep. But here I sit, looking out my window watching the clouds veil the moon, shadowing the land in muted blacks and greys. It should be comforting to know I\u2019m secure in my father\u2019s house, but there\u2019s a nagging presence. The only way I can describe it is to say it feels like someone is walking over my grave.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Elizabeth Lassiter\u2019s son, Harry, will hang tomorrow. She and her foreman, Kirt, will go on trial for kidnapping and extortion. Her other son, Carver, and two of those who followed her orders are dead; if it hadn\u2019t been for Hoss and Johnny finding me, it very well could have been me.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Judge Simpson, Prosecutor Merrick, and Reverend Holmes were ultimately released unharmed. That should be the end of the story. But it\u2019s not.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">*****<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">It was a relief to arrive in town, riding next to Hoss. Even more so upon seeing Pa walking across the boardwalk and taking a care-fee stance, resting his boot on the hitching rail. Never did understand why they built the boardwalk so tall instead of following the fall of the ground.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">While Johnny settled the prisoners in the cells, Pa and Roy spoke about what would happen next. My captors would be housed in the Virginia City jail until the governor could send a substitute for Judge Simpson. Roy indicated the jurist would need to recuse himself as an official of the court since he was one of the victims.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Roy\u2019s deputy stepped into the office area and said he needed take a few men out to where they\u2019d found me in order to retrieve the bodies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Upon hearing this, Pa told Hoss to take me home. The look he gave my brother indicated he didn\u2019t want me back out there. If my own thoughts hadn\u2019t been so jumbled, I might have insisted. But, deep down, I wanted to get away from anything to do with the Lassiters. So, with my brother at my side, we rode home.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">As we headed towards the Ponderosa, Hoss began to tell me everything since finding out Roy had been shot. When it came to Hoss recounting pa\u2019s anguish upon hearing I\u2019d been taken hostage, I knew exactly how Pa felt. It hurt when I heard he had stoically stood there, not saying anything. Even when Hoss championed for Lassiter\u2019s release in exchange for my life, with his back turned, Pa was quiet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">As our journey continued, my brother\u2019s voice turned into an annoying buzz. At some point I stopped listening to what he said, but I guess his words instilled a little niggle that settled in the back of my mind.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">*****<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Long after having bathed and eaten, the quiet of my room encouraged that little niggle to blossom into full bloom with memories from almost six years ago; a night when my brothers and I had faced a similar situation. We had two choices, let a condemned man go free in order to save the life of a loved one or stand up for justice and find that my loved one had met a similar fate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">How could I be so against one hanging and so oblivious to another? I guess it wasn\u2019t Farmer Perkins\u2019 hanging, but the fact that my father\u2019s life was in jeopardy. And now, with Harry Lassiter; I don\u2019t know.\u00a0\u00a0 The circumstances were different, yet both pulled us right into the thick of it by taking one of us captive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">I never gave thought to what my father experienced at the hands of Sam Bryant. I mean I remember they roughed him up a little before Farmer Perkins\u2019 sentence was carried out. Turns out, Sam Bryant crumbled like a house of cards in the wind, just as Adam said he would. And Pa was returned to us. But after my own experience; how had my father felt during the time he was held captive?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Did Pa have faith that we would do right? Of course he did, that\u2019s how he raised us. Did that mean he knew his own death was imminent? Did he accept that come morning he\u2019d die? Maybe he expected us to agree to Bryant\u2019s demands. No, that\u2019s not Pa. Even at the risk of his own life, he\u2019d want us to stand up for justice. Just like he did with my life\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Deep down I knew my father wouldn\u2019t capitulate. Is that what drove me to escape? Maybe, I just didn\u2019t want him put in the position to have to choose? No, I know better. There was no choice; just like Adam couldn\u2019t turn Perkins free.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>That presence prodded me, again.<\/em> <em>Did Pa know of the dissension that plagued the three of us before Adam carried out the execution? God, I hope not.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cCome in,\u201d I responded to the sound of a soft knock.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The dim light from the lamp burning next to my bed revealed my father opening the door. Through the shadows, his concern was evident.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cI didn\u2019t mean to disturb you.\u201d Pa\u2019s hand remained on the doorknob, even as his eyes settled on me.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cThat\u2019s okay, I couldn\u2019t sleep.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Using my response as an invitation, Pa entered. Proceeding to the chair by my desk, he gave a little snort or maybe it was a brief laugh that kept my attention from returning to the night.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">With my head tilted at an angle, I queried the change in his expression, \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cJust watching you sit there, Joseph.\u201d As he sat, Pa pointed at me, his fingers unfurling as his wrist flicked forward, palm up.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Patiently we waited, hoping the other would be the first to speak.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cWhen you were little, you used to sit just like that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">I hadn\u2019t paid any attention to how I sat; one leg bent at the knee and flopped over to the side. The other leg bent with my foot flat on the window sill, resting my chin on top of my hands which rested on top of my knee.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Pa mused, \u201cSome things never change.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cSome things do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">His eyebrows rose.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">I sat back, lowered my hands to my lap, and one foot to the floor.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cThey took me by surprise. One minute I was riding out to the herd and the next minute, Carver and two others had me surrounded with their guns drawn.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cI\u2019m sorry we didn\u2019t send word to you once Simpson was taken.\u201d\u00a0 Pa sat sideways on the chair, an arm draped over the back while his hand held on to the top slat; similar to how I\u2019d seen Adam sit so many times.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cWhy? From what Hoss said, you didn\u2019t know who the Lassiters were planning on taking next.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cStill\u2026\u201d I could see that Pa was struggling.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>Was it that hard for him to talk to me?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cI tried to send Hoss home after we learned about Judge Simpson, but he insisted on staying to help.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cAs he should have.\u201d My answer expressed my indignation at the thought of my brother leaving my father to handle everything on his own. <em>Besides Hoss wouldn\u2019t have been with me that day anyway, so what would it have mattered?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Silence settled between the two of us again.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cPa, how did you manage?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cThat\u2019s a pretty broad question. Care to narrow it down?\u201d There was a hint of amusement in his voice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cSam Bryant.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>Of all topics, I don\u2019t think that was one my father <\/em><em>expected.\u00a0 <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">After a few moments, Pa turned in the chair. Sitting hunched forward, his elbows on his knees, his head cast down, he interlaced his fingers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>This wasn\u2019t the strong image I had of my father.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cWhat do you want to know?\u201d Pa asked.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cI never considered how you felt. Your feelings about being held as a pawn against a hanging.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cI wasn\u2019t happy about it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cDid you try to escape?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cI thought about it, but I didn\u2019t have the opportunity. There were too many of Bryant\u2019s men around all the time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>How do I ask my father what I needed to know? What if Adam had been wrong? <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Unable to look my into my father\u2019s eyes, \u201cWere you willing to die?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cNo.\u201d Sitting up, Pa crisply answered. \u201cI wasn\u2019t willing to die, but I accepted that it might come to that. I knew the three of you were out there doing what needed to be done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Pa gave me that look.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Shaking my head I remembered that look from so many times during the course of my life. Pa was so willing to put his faith in someone else, be it God or his sons.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>There it was again, pushing.<\/em> \u201cI didn\u2019t know if you knew,\u201d I vaguely stated.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cThat Elizabeth Lassiter had you? Or the discord between you and your brothers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>Pa knew.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cHow?\u201d My voice trembled, my head hung low.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cHoss.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cI\u2019m surprised it wasn\u2019t Adam,\u201d I mumbled with a hint of bitterness. <em>Hoss never said anything about telling Pa how we argued with Adam.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cHe told me the night we found out the Lassiters had you. I couldn\u2019t understand how Hoss could even think about setting Harry free, and he told me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>Adam had kept it between us.<\/em> <em>So, maybe Pa did have an idea that I\u2019d bring up Sam Bryant. <\/em>I fearfully asked, \u201cAre you ashamed of us\u2026 me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cNo, Joseph. I\u2019m not ashamed of you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Upon hearing Pa\u2019s footsteps, I looked up. Pa stood in front of me, his hand reaching to wrap around the back of my neck. It was a comforting gesture that I\u2019ve welcomed for as long as I can remember.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cYou care deeply and passionately about your family. You were torn, just as I was. You acted on your emotions, as you always have. I wanted so much to do as Hoss pleaded. But I couldn\u2019t. Too many people put their trust in me when I pinned on Roy\u2019s badge.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cAll I wanted was you safe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>\u201c<\/em>Joe, believe me, after reading that note, all I wanted was you safe. I wanted to rip off the badge, leave the jail with Hoss to ride right out there and rescue you. Please don\u2019t think that I value your life less than I value seeing justice served. But if I had backed down\u2026\u201d Pa\u2019s voice quieted as his hand dropped away.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">I looked sideways to him and reached for his hand.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cYou represented the law, and it would have been seen as the law backing down.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Pa nodded. \u201cTo not let Lassiter go was one of the hardest decisions of my life. Hoss argued with me for hours that night, and I desperately wanted to agree with him. Ultimately, I put my faith in your brother\u2019s ability to find you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cIt\u2019s more like I fell into their laps.\u201d I gave a half-hearted laugh.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cI\u2019m glad you and your brothers were ultimately able to resolve your differences and worked together.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>Did we? We let Adam handle the hanging while Hoss and I continued to search, right up until it was too late. In the end, everything turned out alright, but still&#8230; <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">I squeezed Pa\u2019s hand, hoping to convey the need to know that everything was right\u00a0between us.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Pa squeezed before letting go of my hand, \u201cIt\u2019s over. You\u2019re home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cI almost didn\u2019t get away. After I freed myself, I punched Mr. Merrick, knocking him out. He tried to warn them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cSo I heard.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">I winced. \u201cI offered to untie the others.\u201d <em>I don\u2019t want Pa to think I had only thought of myself.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cJudge Simpson and Reverend Holmes came by Roy\u2019s to provide statements before I left.\u201d Pa hesitated, \u201cThe reverend mentioned it was the sweetest punch he\u2019s ever witnessed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cReally?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cSimpson stated he\u2019d wanted to do the same many times when Merrick was in his court.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cI can understand why.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Pa chuckled and gave me a smile that indicated all was forgiven, even if there was nothing to forgive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cPa, are you going back to town in the morning?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cNo. There\u2019s no need. Roy and Johnny will handle officiating Harry\u2019s hanging. Do you want to go?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cNo sir.\u201d Casting my eyes back to the land beyond my window. \u201cI\u2019d rather forget it all; all the ugliness and focus on the beauty out here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cIt\u2019ll get easier, son. Believe me, it will get easier.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">With a soft squeeze of my shoulder, Pa bid me goodnight.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Hesitating at the doorway, \u201cOh, by the way. I brought your gun and holster home. Johnny said he went back to the shack to look for any additional evidence to use at the trial and found them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Shaking my head, I\u2019d forgotten all about them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cPa?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cYes, Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Pa closed his eyes, nodded, and smiled before pulling the door closed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">At some point during my talk with pa, that nagging feeling disappeared. Shuffling across the floor to my bed, I yawned deeply. Snuggling down, my eyes closed before the blankets settled over my shoulders.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>~The End<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">This story inspired by:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Death at Dawn: \u00a0written by: \u00a0Laurence E. Mascott<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Five Sundowns to Sunup: written by: \u00a0William L. Stuart<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Tags: Ben Cartwright, hanging, hostage, Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright, JPM, kidnap<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_10804\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"10804\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif?resize=16%2C16&#038;ssl=1\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary: A WHN for Five Sundowns to Sunup \/ WHL for Death at Dawn story.<\/p>\n<p>Rating:\u00a0 K\u00a0 (2,185 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":6085,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23,61,616,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-missing-scene","category-whb","category-whn","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-61-id","wpcat-616-id","wpcat-13-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1972,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/When-dawn.jpg?fit=635%2C480&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":40828,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=40828","url_meta":{"origin":10804,"position":0},"title":"The Fifth Sunup (by Annie K Cowgirl)","author":"Annie K Cowgirl","date":"February 16, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: To fall meant capture. Capture meant death. And I wasn\u2019t ready to die; not yet, not when my life had barely begun. Joe's thoughts as he flees from the Lassiters in Five Sundowns to Sunup. Rating: K Word Count: 563 Part of the Five Sundowns to Sunup Series, links\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Drama&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Joe2.jpg?fit=717%2C573&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Joe2.jpg?fit=717%2C573&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Joe2.jpg?fit=717%2C573&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Joe2.jpg?fit=717%2C573&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61600,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=61600","url_meta":{"origin":10804,"position":1},"title":"Just One More Day (by Annie K Cowgirl)","author":"Annie K Cowgirl","date":"January 10, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u201cThe whole town\u2019s plum full of yellow bellies,\u201d I muttered under my breath as I prodded Chubb into a ground-eating gallop, leaving the disgraced major in the dust. Hoss rides out, determined to find Joe before it's too late. A WHIB for the episode \"Five Sundowns to Sunup\" and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Hoss Cartwright&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Hoss Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1006"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hoss-and-Chubb-2.jpg?fit=404%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6338,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6338","url_meta":{"origin":10804,"position":2},"title":"The Night After &#8220;Death at Dawn&#8221;(by debpet)","author":"debpet","date":"August 7, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0A brief WHN for the episode 'Death at Dawn\" \u00a0 Rated:\u00a0K+ \u00a0WC \u00a01600","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Drama&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/bonanza2.jpg?fit=720%2C475&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/bonanza2.jpg?fit=720%2C475&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/bonanza2.jpg?fit=720%2C475&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/bonanza2.jpg?fit=720%2C475&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10769,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=10769","url_meta":{"origin":10804,"position":3},"title":"CAUTION:  EASTER BUNNY CROSSING (by Puchi Ann)","author":"Puchi Ann","date":"March 30, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0A reprisal of the episode in verse Rating: K \u00a0(260 words)","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Humor&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Humor","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Hoss-bunny.jpg?fit=328%2C253&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1742,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1742","url_meta":{"origin":10804,"position":4},"title":"The Crucible &#8211; WHN (by BluewindFarm)","author":"BluewindFarm","date":"October 20, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: This is what happens when a writer responds to a Pinecone challenge, and then is reminded how easily she could have incorporated another existing challenge that few dared to attempt.\u00a0 But hey, can one writer incorporate the requirements of all three challenges into\u00a0one story to create a fourth edition?\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Adam Cartwright&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Adam Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1005"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/BONANZA-MARVIN-2-.jpg?fit=599%2C324&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/BONANZA-MARVIN-2-.jpg?fit=599%2C324&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/BONANZA-MARVIN-2-.jpg?fit=599%2C324&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7163,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7163","url_meta":{"origin":10804,"position":5},"title":"Betrothed, Betrayer and Betrayed &#8211; Part 1 (by Rona)","author":"Rona","date":"December 17, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Wedding bells are on the cards for Joe. Rated:\u00a0 T Betrothed, Betrayer and Betrayed Series, links to all the stories within the series are included.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Drama&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Saturday-at-Noon.png?fit=762%2C575&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Saturday-at-Noon.png?fit=762%2C575&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Saturday-at-Noon.png?fit=762%2C575&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Saturday-at-Noon.png?fit=762%2C575&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10804"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10804\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6085"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}