Summary: \u00a0A Ponderosa Paddlewheel Poker Tournament story for 2015 \u00a0(A What Happened Instead for the episode \u201cBushwhacked\u201d written by Preston Wood).<\/p>\n
Word Count: \u00a08974 \u00a0\u00a0Rated K+<\/p>\n
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Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author.\u00a0 The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise.\u00a0 No copyright infringement is intended.<\/p>\n
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Someone to Watch Over Him<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n MPA191\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 R295CC\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 IF\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 FT\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 JUNE 15 1869\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 125P<\/p>\n TOM GRISWOLD<\/p>\n MOUNTAIN VIEW RANCH LONE PINE CALIFORNIA<\/p>\n BENJAMIN CARTWRIGHT<\/p>\n VIRGINIA CITY NEVADA<\/p>\n JOSEPH BUSHWHACKED STOP CONDITION CRITICAL STOP TO BE MET NLP WIRE INTENT<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Condition critical.<\/em><\/p>\n I silently cursed the economy of words required when communicating by wire, but pragmatism tempered the shock I felt at reading the telegram and I began issuing orders. \u00a0\u00a0Within a half hour Hoss and I were on the road to Lone Pine.<\/p>\n Hoss selected a direct but risky route through the mountains down to Owens Valley. Luck prevailed. \u00a0An early spring melt had cleared the trails at even the highest elevations and we made good time, stopping only to rest the horses and catch some shuteye. \u00a0Most times, we made a cold camp subsisting on jerky and hardtack, tasting neither.<\/p>\n We kept conversation to a minimum as we picked our way across streams, through narrow ravines, steep inclines, and treacherous descents. \u00a0Our thoughts centered on Joe. Hoss wondered about the when and how, the who and why. \u00a0I dwelled on my son’s physical condition. \u00a0As I recalled, the open range near Lone Pine was arid with little shade. \u00a0\u00a0How long was he exposed to the elements? \u00a0At 4,000 feet, the area could be hot in the day and cold at night. \u00a0Did he have his canteen? \u00a0His bedroll? How much blood had he lost? \u00a0Did he eat? \u00a0Did he despair? \u00a0I thought I would go mad with all the unanswered questions running through my mind.<\/p>\n “Pa, Joe don’t ever give up, you know that. \u00a0He woulda done whatever he could to help himself.”<\/p>\n “I know. \u00a0But I can’t stop thinking about how desperate he must have been. \u00a0How alone he felt, wondering if anyone would find him. \u00a0If we would ever know what had happened to him.”<\/p>\n “We’re gonna get to him, Pa.\u201d \u00a0Hoss looked skyward. \u00a0\u201c’Bout this time tomorrow, I reckon. \u00a0And we’re gonna find out who did this, you believe it.”<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n As promised in the wire, we were met on the road north of Lone Pine.<\/p>\n “Name’s Ern, Mr. Cartwright. Mr. Griswold sent me to show you a shortcut to the ranch.”<\/p>\n “Is my son all right?”<\/p>\n “Was when I left but that was over two hours ago.”<\/p>\n “Let’s ride!”<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n Joseph, pale from loss of blood and drenched in sweat, was barely coherent when we arrived. \u00a0Doctor Scully had removed one bullet from his leg, but left another in his back untouched.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s young and strong,\u201d the doctor said.<\/p>\n I groaned inwardly. \u00a0Why is it that all doctors say the same thing? \u00a0Do they learn this in medical school?<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s possible he will overcome the infection and then I can operate, although I am worried that probing too deeply could compromise the chest wall.\u201d<\/p>\n Over the next two days we kept watch over Joseph while making it our mission to find out who shot him. \u00a0Neighbors had gathered at Griswold\u2019s ranch in preparation for a community cattle drive. \u00a0From the moment Hoss and I rode in and started asking questions, they closed ranks. \u00a0Some of them, like Bill Steen, admired our dogged pursuit of justice. \u00a0Others, like Ed Flanders and Jim Fenton, thought we were foolish and stated that most likely a stranger, long since vanished, had been the one to bushwhack Joe. While I knew that was possible, I also pointed out a man who belonged in the community would feel safe sticking around to see if the man he shot was dead–a sentiment which earned me no friends among anyone. \u00a0Even Griswold was hard pressed to believe a neighbor would do such a thing.<\/p>\n Joe never awakened, not really. \u00a0Oh, the murmurings about things which made no sense continued, but no \u201cHi, Pa! \u00a0I\u2019m fine. \u00a0Really, I\u2019m fine.\u201d \u00a0Instead, Joe\u2019s fever-ravaged body grew weaker. \u00a0I listened while the surgeon detailed his experience with gunshot wounds at Gettysburg during the War Between the States. He meant to reassure me by citing his qualifications, but all I could think of was that Joe had only\u00a0sold<\/em>\u00a0horses to the Army, not fought a war for them.<\/p>\n In the end, I had no choice but to give my permission to operate. \u00a0After one last look at my boy, I left the room not knowing if I would ever look into those hazel green eyes again.<\/p>\n A wide porch surrounded the Griswold house and I could see how the ranch got its name. \u00a0Mountains were visible from every side; New York Butte, Mt. Whitney, the Alabama Hills.\u00a0<\/em>I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. \u00a0<\/em>Had Joseph prayed? \u00a0Help had certainly come in the form of Tom Griswold and Ern Campbell. \u00a0But whether it was divine intervention or pure luck, I don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were looking for strays before the community cattle drive,\u201d Griswold said. \u00a0\u201cotherwise we might not have travelled through this section for months.\u201d<\/p>\n I thought about Joseph\u2019s deliverance into the hands of this family and the doctor who cared for him. \u00a0Small acts of kindness by some are miracles to others, and I chose to believe in miracles. \u00a0I leaned on the porch railing and gave thanks to the Lord.<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n The bullet was not as deeply imbedded as we had feared and the doctor felt confident that, barring further infection, Joseph would recover. \u00a0How long that would take, he couldn\u2019t say. \u00a0\u00a0When the anesthetic wore off, Joe\u2019s words became less garbled, but still made no sense.<\/p>\n \u201cGotta get away,\u201d he muttered. \u00a0\u201cWheel. \u00a0Wagon wheel and the teepee.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that, son?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTeepee. \u00a0I\u2019m so tired.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEverything\u2019s all right, son. \u00a0Go to sleep. \u00a0Shhhh. \u00a0Go to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n Bewildered, Hoss asked, \u201cWagon wheel and teepee. \u00a0What does that mean, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s still delirious. He\u2019ll quiet down when the fever subsides,\u201d I said, using my authoritative voice but the truth was I had no idea. \u00a0Hoss nodded, but I don’t think he bought it. \u00a0“You stay with him. Mr. Griswold is going to show me where you found those tracks yesterday. The Sheriff is bringing a hunting pack along. With any luck, they\u2019ll pick up a scent.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd tell the doctor about your brother\u2019s reactions to ether. \u00a0If he starts thrashing around, he could open the incision.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will, Pa. \u00a0Don\u2019t you worry none. \u00a0I\u2019ll watch over him just like I have since the day he was born.\u201d<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n We rode about half an hour before Griswold pulled up near a scrub oak in the middle of nowhere. \u00a0I was about to ask why he had stopped when I saw the blood-stained tree trunk and a pile of spent cartridges on the ground. \u00a0My son must have fired every bullet he possessed in an effort to summon help. \u00a0If Tom and Ern hadn\u2019t been searching for strays and heard the report, Joe\u2019s bones would have soon been picked clean. \u00a0I blinked several times to clear the gruesome vision from my mind. \u00a0Only then did I become aware Griswold had been speaking and I asked him to say again.<\/p>\n \u201cI said this is where we found your son, Mr. Cartwright. \u00a0The Sheriff ought to be along any time now with those dogs. \u00a0Well, I\u2019ve got to get to the drive camp. \u00a0Would you do me a favor and give this pouch to the Sheriff? \u00a0He left it at the house.\u201d \u00a0When Griswold lifted a bag hanging from his saddle horn I saw the scarred flesh on the horse\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cIs that a teepee?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYes. \u00a0My wife and I registered the brand after we got married. \u00a0T for Tom, P for Pat — teepee.\u201d<\/p>\n I nodded. \u00a0\u201cTeepee. \u00a0That\u2019s what Joe keeps saying. \u00a0Teepee and . . . wagon wheel. \u00a0Is there a ranch around here with a wagon wheel brand?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. \u00a0Orv Petis and Jim Fenton. \u00a0They have the wagon wheel brand.\u201d<\/p>\n With clarity of hindsight, I realized Joe had been trying to tell us what happened. \u00a0I dismounted and drew Griswold\u2019s brand in the dirt, then drew a circle around the outside and a horizontal line through it. \u00a0\u201cWith some care and a hot running iron, someone could make a wagon wheel out of your teepee brand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd your son caught them at it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe told us about the brands, didn\u2019t he?\u201d \u00a0Griswold and I locked eyes, both understanding what this meant. \u00a0Joe was vulnerable–like live bait wriggling on a hook, trapped and waiting for a fish to strike. \u00a0Whomever he found changing brands had shot him twice and wouldn\u2019t hesitate to try again. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m heading back to your ranch.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll wait for the Sheriff. \u00a0We\u2019ll follow you in.\u201d<\/p>\n I mounted and urged my horse into a gallop. \u00a0I knew the gait was a lot to ask of Buck after the last few days. In fact, it was a lot to ask of myself given the bursitis in my hip, but none of that mattered now. \u00a0I did what I\u2019d reprimanded Joseph for countless times in the past–I rode hell bent for leather in the darkness, over unfamiliar ground. I was certain he was in mortal danger.<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n An orange red glow illuminated the horizon. \u00a0Fire! \u00a0As I drew closer, the flames licking upward matched the rising bile in my throat. \u00a0Buck sensed my distress and picked up speed of his own volition.<\/p>\n When I entered the compound, I was relieved to see only a single outbuilding ablaze. Griswold\u2019s wife and daughter had formed a bucket brigade along with Hoss, Ern and two ranch hands I hadn\u2019t met before. \u00a0Before I could rein in Buck, a shot rang out. \u00a0I drew my pistol and fired back, then dismounted and ducked behind the barn, continuing to fire into the long shadows cast by the flames. \u00a0It didn\u2019t take a genius to figure out the fire had been set as cover.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss! \u00a0Get inside to Joe!\u201d I yelled, trying to keep the panic from my voice. \u00a0I saw him drop the bucket and head for the house, but I was too busy trading gunfire to pay much attention to anything else.<\/p>\n In the light of the flames, I recognized the man shooting at me as one of Griswold’s neighbors, Orv Petis. \u00a0The next shot burned as it whizzed by. \u00a0Ignoring my command to stop, he crawled through the corral fence and this time my bullet found its mark. \u00a0Petis clutched his chest and fell to the ground but was still moving so I called for Ern to watch him while I ran to Joe.<\/p>\n A terrible crash resounded throughout the house and when I tore through the bedroom doorway, Hoss had his ear against Joe’s chest.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s all right, Pa,” he said, standing up.<\/p>\n I took in the shattered glass on the floor, the torn curtains, and broken lamp. \u00a0\u201cWhat happened here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat Fenton fella tried to smother Joe with a pillow. \u00a0I put an end to it.\u201d<\/p>\n Too overcome for words, I gripped Hoss\u2019s arm. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019ll stay with Joe now. \u00a0You go outside and help the women.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe shed\u2019s a loss,\u201d he said, \u201clet it burn out. \u00a0Besides, Ern\u2019s helping.\u201d<\/p>\n I shook my head. \u00a0\u201cPetis tried to get away and I shot him; don\u2019t know how bad. \u00a0Ern\u2019s standing guard.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine. \u00a0Get some rope and tie Petis up. \u00a0The Sheriff will be here soon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s the law out here,\u201d I reminded him.<\/p>\n \u201cOrv Petis and Jim Fenton.\u201d \u00a0Hoss shook his head. \u00a0\u201cYou think they was the ones who shot Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne or the other, maybe both. \u00a0Either way, there is enough evidence to charge them with arson and attempted murder. \u00a0Let a judge sort it out.\u201d<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s what?” I shouted when Hoss returned to the bedroom some 15 minutes later.<\/p>\n \u201cGone.\u201d \u00a0Hoss hung his head. \u00a0\u201cPa, I\u2019m sorry. \u00a0I shoulda tied Fenton up straight away after I pitched him through that window. \u00a0He sure enough looked down for the count. \u00a0I don\u2019t know what I was thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n Contrition flowed through me when I heard the anguish in Hoss\u2019s voice, and I set about rectifying my harsh words. \u00a0\u201cYou were thinking about your brother\u2019s welfare, of course, like you\u2019ve done every day since he was born.\u201d<\/p>\n The comment didn\u2019t change the facts, but it did appear to make Hoss feel marginally better. \u00a0He responded with a small smile and changed the subject. \u00a0\u201cHow\u2019s he doin\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBetter I think. \u00a0His breathing has evened out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGetting kinda chilly in here with that busted window,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n To remove any lingering doubts in Hoss\u2019s mind, I drove home my point. \u00a0\u201cSon, I would have done the same thing . . . checked on Joe before doing anything else. You were right to make him your first priority. \u00a0We\u2019ll find Fenton. \u00a0The important thing is Joe is going to be all right thanks to you.\u201d<\/p>\n He nodded. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019ll see if I can find something to cover that hole.\u201d<\/p>\n Maybe it was the chill of the evening air or the sound of our voices, but Joe soon stirred.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m right here, son.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHurts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know. \u00a0Hoss will be here in a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe groaned. \u201cDon\u2019t shoot me again. \u00a0Don\u2019t shoot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEasy now, son.\u201d \u00a0I placed my hand on Joe\u2019s head. \u00a0\u201cShhhh.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa.\u201d<\/p>\n The way he said \u201cpa\u201d brought back memories of when he was a child and troubled by nightmares. \u00a0I pulled the covers up over Joe\u2019s shoulders and tucked them in tight around his torso.<\/p>\n \u201cGo to sleep now. \u00a0I\u2019m right here. \u00a0You\u2019re safe. \u00a0Shhhh.\u201d<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n I stayed with Joe for more than an hour, continuing to soothe him, forcing liquids when I could. \u00a0He kept reaching toward the end of the bed and saying \u201cso tired.\u201d \u00a0All I could do was hold his hand and tell him he was safe. \u00a0He eventually settled into a deeper sleep and I had gone into the kitchen for some coffee when Mr. Griswold burst through the front door, calling for his wife and daughter, obviously shaken by the smoking remains of the shed.<\/p>\n I assured him they were fine, explained what had caused the fire, and that Ern was guarding Petis while the women tended his wound.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m grateful you were here, Mr. Cartwright. \u00a0A good gust of wind and the house could have caught.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you think we\u2019re beyond societal conventions at this point? \u00a0Please call me Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n He agreed, shaking my hand. \u00a0\u201cTom.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid the Sheriff come with you?\u201d \u00a0I asked while pouring us both a cup of coffee.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s taking care of the dogs.\u201d<\/p>\n Right then Mrs. Griswold and Julia entered the house followed by Hoss. \u00a0I slipped back into the bedroom to give the family some privacy and motioned for Hoss to join me. \u00a0We talked softly, so as not to disturb Joe, who appeared restless again.<\/p>\n We returned to front room when the Sheriff made an appearance, hat in hand, and admitted\u2014grudgingly\u2014that Hoss had been right about the tracks.<\/p>\n “I don’t know what it’s like where you come from, Mr. Cartwright, but we don’t have a lot of crime around here. \u00a0A few fights now and then, mostly the result of bunkhouse shenanigans or too much whiskey. \u00a0When everyone sobers up, we let bygones be bygones, and it\u2019s ancient history.\u201d<\/p>\n His apology did little to assuage my frustration over his reluctance to properly investigate the matter to begin with.<\/p>\n “You’re the law here,\u201d I said, forcing a calm I did not feel. \u00a0\u201cAll I asked for was your help in finding out who bushwhacked my boy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I\u2019ll remind you this is a small community. I\u2019m not in the habit of questioning my neighbors and friends,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, two of our neighbors tried to murder Mr. Cartwright\u2019s son, not once but twice,\u201d Tom chimed in.<\/p>\n The Sheriff looked surprised. \u201cTwice?\u201d<\/p>\n My blood pressure rose to dangerous levels. \u00a0I couldn\u2019t believe he hadn\u2019t seen, or smelled for that matter, the ruins of the shed. \u00a0Thankfully, Mrs. Griswold interceded before I exploded.<\/p>\n \u201cBob Truslow! \u00a0You couldn\u2019t see your hand in front of your face on a sunny day! \u00a0Orv Petis set fire to our shed as a cover. \u00a0If Mr. Cartwright hadn\u2019t ridden in and warned us, Fenton would have murdered his son.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if Hoss hadn\u2019t stopped Fenton, my son would be, as you say, ancient history. \u00a0And trust me, Sheriff, I would NOT have let bygones be bygones!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy you–\u201d \u00a0The Sheriff started towards me, but Mrs. Griswold stepped in front of him and pushed on his chest with both hands.<\/p>\n \u201c–You just get yourself out to the barn, Bob, and relieve poor Ern. \u00a0He\u2019s been guarding Orv for a good spell and could use a break. \u00a0I\u2019ll bring you something to eat in a bit. \u00a0Go on now, git!\u201d<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n Tom, Ern, Hoss and I sat at the table, ate sandwiches, and talked late into the evening considering our options.<\/p>\n Although I loathed putting the Griswolds at risk by staying any longer than necessary, the reality was that Joe was nowhere near able to travel. \u00a0And with Fenton on the loose, I feared an ambush should we leave the shelter of Mountain View.<\/p>\n Tom needed to return to the drive camp, not only to manage his cattle, which Ern couldn\u2019t handle alone, but to avert suspicion. \u00a0If other neighbors were involved in the rustling, his absence could alert them that Fenton and Petis had been found out. \u00a0But Tom was unwilling to leave his wife and daughter alone. \u00a0Hoss could have taken Tom\u2019s place on the drive, but I knew he would never leave Joe or me behind, so I didn’t bother to suggest it.<\/p>\n And, of course, someone had to guard Orv Petis until he could be transported to Fort Independence for trial for none of us trusted the Sheriff to do the job.<\/p>\n In the end, we decided Tom should go on the cattle drive as planned, but without Ern, and stick to the story everyone already knew . . . that the Sheriff borrowed hunting dogs from Huey Woodson to appease me and was out searching the area where Joe had been found.<\/p>\n \u201cWon\u2019t the others wonder why I didn\u2019t come with you?\u201d asked a disappointed Ern. His name was apt; the 18-year-old was most earnest in his devotion to his employer.<\/p>\n I hid a smile behind my hand. \u00a0Ern\u2019s enthusiasm for his first full-fledged cattle drive reminded me so much of Joe at that age\u2014so eager to prove himself as a top hand, so determined to be a man.<\/p>\n \u201cI have a more important job for you, Ern,\u201d said Tom. \u00a0\u201cI need you to stay here in case Fenton returns. \u00a0Mr. Cartwright will have his hands full protecting his son, and I\u2019d feel much better about leaving Mrs. Griswold and Julia if I knew you were here to watch over them.\u201d<\/p>\n Ern, his bruised ego assuaged, sat up straighter. \u00a0\u201cYou can count on me, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know I can, son.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBesides,\u201d Hoss added, \u201cI\u2019ll need someone to help me guard Petis.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir!\u201d<\/p>\n Mrs. Griswold set a freshly made yellow cake with chocolate frosting and a pot of coffee on the table. \u00a0\u201cYou men better eat up. You\u2019ll need your strength if there\u2019s going to be all this protecting and guarding going on.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYum!\u201d exclaimed Hoss, rubbing his hands together. \u00a0\u201cMy favorite!\u201d<\/p>\n She laughed. \u00a0\u201cFrom what I can tell, Hoss, everything is your favorite.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat ain\u2019t far from the truth, Ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n The conversation continued in this lighter vein over dessert. \u00a0I told the short version of Ponderosa history and explained what had brought Joe their way. \u00a0In turn, Tom related how he and Pat had met in Austin, Texas and wound up in California by way of Hannibal, Missouri, which is where they picked up Ern\u2014a street urchin who quickly became devoted to the family, including Julia. \u00a0\u00a0At some point, I got up to check on Joe and was surprised to see Mrs. Griswold had slipped into the bedroom unnoticed and was crocheting in the chair by his bed.<\/p>\n \u201cHe likes the sound of your voice,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen you started talking about the Ponderosa he turned his head toward the door and smiled.\u201d<\/p>\n I rested the back of my fingers on Joe\u2019s cheek and then felt his forehead. \u00a0Satisfied there was no fever, I whispered \u201cthank you,\u201d and rejoined the men in the other room. Talk of cattle and the vagaries of weather that plagued all ranchers continued for another hour before yawns overtook us and we put out the lights.<\/p>\n As usual, I slept in the chair in Joe\u2019s room. \u00a0Hoss took his bedroll to the porch outside the boarded up window. \u00a0I could hear him scraping shards of glass away with his boot.<\/p>\n \u201cDadburnit!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBe careful,\u201d I said quietly.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t know why I didn\u2019t think to do this earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I think you probably had other things on your mind. \u00a0Goodnight, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNite, Pa. \u00a0Don\u2019t you fret none. \u00a0We\u2019ll find Fenton in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n I doubted it. \u00a0Any man who could no longer hide in plain sight would be long gone.<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n When dawn broke, the first thing Hoss spied upon waking was Fenton\u2019s crushed Stetson under the porch table.<\/p>\n The Sheriff gave the dogs one sniff and they started howling, running first to the front porch, in through the house, into Joe\u2019s bedroom, and then\u2014frustrated at the boarded up window\u2014around to the back of the house. \u00a0That was enough to convince everyone, including the truculent sheriff, that the dogs were the best chance to find Fenton.<\/p>\n The doctor came by in the afternoon. \u00a0After cleaning and redressing Joe\u2019s wounds, he spent a long time listening to his lungs.<\/p>\n \u201cIs there something wrong, doctor?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no fever; no redness or unusual drainage. \u00a0But I don\u2019t like what I hear. \u00a0It\u2019s time to get Joe up and moving to prevent pneumonia.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe keeps saying how tired he is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFatigue is not uncommon after surgery and he\u2019s been through two. \u00a0He also lost a lot of blood before he was found. \u00a0All good reasons for his sleeping more than expected.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose.\u201d \u00a0I had a niggling suspicion there was more to it, but I couldn\u2019t say what that might be so I said nothing at all. \u00a0The doctor, however, wouldn\u2019t let it go.<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Cartwright, I do not know your son. \u00a0I have to rely on you to tell me of any atypical behavior.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSuch as?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnything unusual. \u00a0From the scars on his body, I can see he\u2019s suffered other injuries. Hoss mentioned his reaction to ether, so I know he\u2019s had other surgeries. \u00a0He also intimated that Joe is a man of action, hard to keep down.\u201d<\/p>\n I stifled a smile. \u00a0\u201cYou could say that. \u00a0Joseph has always lived life on the edge, always in motion, watching, listening, doing.\u201d \u00a0Always saying he\u2019s \u2018fine\u2019 when he clearly is not.<\/em>\u00a0My head snapped up. \u00a0That was it!<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cJoe hasn\u2019t once said he was \u2018fine.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNor would I expect him to,\u201d the doctor said.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, you don\u2019t understand. \u00a0That\u2019s what is unusual. \u00a0Joe always says he\u2019s \u2018fine\u2019 even in the dire circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA general malaise perhaps. Let\u2019s try sitting him up in bed for ten minutes each hour. And remind him to cough periodically to keep his lungs clear. \u00a0If he tolerates that much with no ill effects, then have him sit in a chair for no more than 20 minutes at a time. Build up his tolerance.\u201d<\/p>\n The plan sounded reasonable to me and I nodded in agreement.<\/p>\n \u201cOne other thing, Mr. Cartwright. \u00a0I’ve noticed your son appears agitated when his brother is in the room.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAgitated?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot with you or the Griswolds, only Hoss. \u00a0Is there bad blood between them?\u201d<\/p>\n I shook my head. \u00a0\u201cOf course not. \u00a0They are very close. Have been all Joe’s life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n I did not see . . . not at first. \u00a0But once the doctor pointed it out, I came to the same conclusion: \u00a0my sons were avoiding each other. \u00a0Hoss would only sit with Joe if he were already asleep, or Joe would feign sleep when Hoss entered the room. \u00a0If Hoss caught him off guard, Joe would plead exhaustion and turn his head away.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Over the next few days,\u00a0Joe started staying awake for longer periods and ceased complaining about how tired he was. \u00a0Then I heard some encouraging words . . . Joe asked about Cochise.<\/p>\n \u201cWould you like to see him? \u00a0I can have Hoss bring him around to this side of the house.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Joe said, a little too quickly. \u00a0\u201cNo, that\u2019s all right. \u00a0I\u2019ll see him later.\u201d<\/p>\n I could have sworn Joe flinched at hearing Hoss\u2019s name.<\/p>\n \u201cAny particular reason?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be too hard to see him and not be able to ride. \u00a0I\u2019ll wait until I\u2019m better, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCould you do me a favor? \u00a0There\u2019s a book in my saddle bag.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll get it for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks,\u201d Joe said, giving me the brightest smile he could muster.\u00a0\u201cGets kinda boring sitting here, staring at these pink flowered walls with nothing to do.\u201d<\/p>\n I was not fooled, but could not help but laugh. \u201cMaybe you should take up crocheting like Mrs. Griswold.\u201d<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n Mrs. Griswold was a handsome woman of middle age who wore the mantle of a rancher\u2019s wife well. \u00a0She could be brusque and brooked no nonsense from anyone, but she was also kind and competent. \u00a0Although the exterior of the house was weathered and sorely in need of paint, the inside was spotless and well-maintained. \u00a0I tried to stay out of her way as much as possible, but she seemed to enjoy having someone to talk with as she was doing her work. \u00a0I suppose it got lonely with her husband gone and no other women around aside from her daughter, who–from what I had observed–appeared to be quite a handful.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, I\u2019ve only had boys to raise. \u00a0I can\u2019t imagine what it would be like to raise a daughter, especially way out here with no girls her age about. \u00a0At least my boys had each other.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a challenge, I don\u2019t deny it, especially of late. \u00a0Julia\u2019s attention has been divided between the drama of an injured stranger in the house and the excitement of all those men milling about until the cattle drive got underway. \u00a0She\u2019s had a crush on Orv since she was 12. He\u2019s good looking, a smooth talker, and about as honorable as a snake oil salesman, as we\u2019ve found out. \u00a0I\u2019ll be mighty glad when he\u2019s gone from here and things can get back to the way . . . \u00a0Oh, I\u2019m sorry, Mr. Cartwright, I didn\u2019t mean\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014say no more, Mrs. Griswold. \u00a0I know having three of us here underfoot has been a great inconvenience to your family and I am deeply sorry for the length of our stay. \u00a0As soon as Joseph is ready to travel, we\u2019ll be on our way and things can get back to normal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what I was getting around to saying, Mr. Cartwright. \u00a0With Julia, there is no \u201cnormal\u201d! \u00a0That girl is a walking distraction and as flighty as a bumble bee.\u201d<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n Sitting up and reading had improved Joe\u2019s disposition. \u00a0He ate more and engaged in conversation not only with me, but with Mrs. Griswold whom he had thoroughly wrapped around his finger. \u00a0Nothing unusual there. \u00a0Joe could charm an 800 lb. grizzly bear if it was female.<\/em><\/p>\n I sat at the small desk in his bedroom ostensibly writing a letter to Adam, but neither of us could help overhear the conversation between the women working in the kitchen.<\/p>\n \u201cJust where do you think you\u2019re going, missy?\u201d asked Mrs. Griswold.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hot out there, Ma. \u00a0The men must be thirsty.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a pump in the bunkhouse if they need water.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI made lemonade.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou stay away from Orv Petis, Julia.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Ma.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou take that lemonade in to Joe. \u00a0He needs fluids more than Orv does.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut he\u2019s so old, Ma.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo on with you.\u201d<\/p>\n The bedroom door was open, but Julia knocked anyway.<\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s Julia, Mr. Cartwright. \u00a0May I come in?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure. \u00a0And it\u2019s Joe. \u00a0The only Mr. Cartwright\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014around here is your father,\u201d Julia giggled. \u00a0\u201cI heard that before from Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n That Joe flinched at the mention of his brother\u2019s name did not escape my attention.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought you might like some lemonade. \u00a0Get\u2019s pretty hot in here in the afternoon, especially with the window boarded up.\u201d \u00a0She filled the glass as she talked, handed it to him, and set the pitcher on the dresser.<\/p>\n \u201cTastes good, thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you reading?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe flipped the book closed and read the cover. \u00a0\u201cThe Trapper\u2019s Revenge. \u00a0A Romance of the Apache Trail.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a dime novel . . . a guilty pleasure of my youth I never quite outgrew.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust how old are you anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTwenty-six. \u00a0How old are you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFifteen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA little young to be in a gentleman\u2019s bedroom.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou sound like Ma, only she sent me in here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid she now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe didn\u2019t want me out in the barn with Orv.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOrv?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOrv Petis. \u00a0He\u2019s 22 and just about the best lookin\u2019 thing around here in pants.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I see,\u201d Joe smirked and gave me a wink. \u00a0Julia was tall, nicely proportioned, with soft brown hair that curled over her shoulders. \u00a0Pretty, but empty-headed. \u00a0Or maybe it was just youth and social isolation. \u201cYou\u2019re sweet on him, is that it? \u00a0He feel the same way about you?\u201d<\/p>\n Julia blushed. \u00a0\u201cDon\u2019t reckon he even notices me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen he must be a real geegaw.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s a geegaw?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSomething nice to look at that has absolutely no value whatsoever.\u201d \u00a0Joe almost laughed at how befuddled Julia looked over that explanation. \u00a0\u201cWhat\u2019s he doing in the barn?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s one of the men who bushwhacked you. \u00a0Guess you didn\u2019t know that \u2018cause you\u2019ve been out a your head most of the time you been here. \u00a0Your Pa shot him.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked at me wide-eyed. \u00a0\u201cPa shot him? \u00a0When?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe night of the fire.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFire? \u00a0What fire?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe fire Orv started as cover so Jim Fenton could murder you.\u201d<\/p>\n All the color drained from Joe\u2019s face. \u00a0As he laid his head back against the headboard, beads of perspiration formed on his face and chest and he began to pant.<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Cart \u2026Joe! \u00a0Are you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa,\u201d he gasped.<\/p>\n \u201cMa! \u00a0Ma, come quick,\u201d Julia yelled running into the front room just as her mother came through the front door with a basket of laundry.<\/p>\n \u201cWhoa, missy. \u00a0What are you carrying on about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s Joe. \u00a0I think he\u2019s dying!\u201d<\/p>\n I was already sponging the sweat off Joe with a washcloth by the time Mrs. Griswold came into the room. \u00a0We exchanged looks and I shook my head slightly to let her know he was okay.<\/p>\n \u201cJulia, what did you do?\u201d she asked, keeping her voice calm so as not to frighten the girl any more than she already was.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were just talking.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout what happened. \u00a0He didn\u2019t remember any of it. \u00a0Then he started breathing funny. \u00a0I didn\u2019t do anything, Ma,\u201d she hiccupped.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, Julia, let\u2019s give Mr. Cartwright some time alone with Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs he gonna die? \u00a0In my bed?\u201d Julia wailed as her mother dragged her out the bedroom and closed the door.<\/p>\n It seemed forever, but only a few minutes passed before Joe opened his eyes. \u00a0The first thing he looked at was my worried face.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry . . . Pa.\u201d \u00a0He let out a breath in a long, controlled whoosh. \u00a0And then a second one.<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you feel, son?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve been better.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot \u2018fine\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s been a long time since I’ve been fine,\u201d he shared in a rare moment of candor.\u00a0 \u201cWhen can we go home, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen the doctor says you\u2019re well enough. \u00a0Tell me something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy are you avoiding your brother?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI – I\u2019m not.\u201d \u00a0Joe lowered his chin and started picking at a loose thread in the coverlet.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo you\u2019re not feigning sleep when Hoss comes in to sit with you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you don\u2019t plead exhaustion and turn your head away if he comes around when I\u2019m with you. \u00a0The truth, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe swallowed hard and looked up with watery eyes. \u00a0When he spoke, it was barely above a whisper.<\/p>\n \u201cHe scares me.\u201d<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n I had sent Hoss into Lone Pine to purchase lumber for a new shed and groceries to restock the larder. \u00a0When he returned, I drew him aside to share what I had learned.<\/p>\n \u201cHe said that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa, I ain\u2019t never done nothin\u2019 to scare Joe, \u2018ceptin\u2019 maybe on Halloween when he was little\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know, Hoss. \u00a0It wasn\u2019t anything you actually did. \u00a0It\u2019s those dreams he\u2019s been having. \u00a0You\u2019ve heard his ramblings.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean like \u2018\u2018don\u2019t shoot me\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, exactly. \u00a0His mind is a jumble of bizarre images distorted by fever. \u00a0Even though the fever is now gone, the dreams are still with him. \u00a0He\u2019s trying hard to make sense of them, but he needs help.\u201d \u00a0I raised my eyebrow and looked pointedly at my middle son.<\/p>\n \u201cMe! \u00a0Oh, no,\u201d Hoss shook his head. \u00a0\u201cI seen the way he looks at me, like I had somethin\u2019 to do with what happened to him. I don\u2019t mind sitting with him, but only if he\u2019s sleepin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Astonished to find both sons had been playing the same game, I put my foot down.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss, he needs to work through it and you need to help him. \u00a0No arguments!\u201d<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n Joe was lying down again but awake when Hoss entered his room after supper. \u00a0 I was not far behind, but stayed out of their line of sight.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Brother,\u201d Hoss said evenly.<\/p>\n \u201cOlder Brother.\u201d \u00a0Joe said curtly. \u00a0\u201dHelp me sit up, would ya?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss set his coffee mug down on the nightstand and put his hands under Joe\u2019s armpits to lift him up. \u00a0After adjusting the pillows, he sat in the bedside chair and waited.<\/p>\n \u201cCan I have that coffee if you\u2019re not going to drink it?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you can reach it, you can have it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt hurts to stretch that far. \u00a0I\u2019ve been shot, remember.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. \u00a0But I didn\u2019t shoot you,\u201d Hoss said defensively.<\/p>\n \u201cYou did in my dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss sighed and retrieved the mug only when he held it out to Joe, his brother\u2019s eyes widened and he said, \u201cSalt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn my dreams, I say \u2018pass the salt.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCoffee was as bad as Pa\u2019s, eh?\u201d \u00a0Hoss said, setting the mug down. \u00a0The old joke earned a small smile from Joe, which dissipated quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cI picked up the salt shaker only when I turned my hand over and opened my fingers it turned into a teepee.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou kept sayin\u2019 \u2018teepee\u2019 and \u2018wagon wheel. \u00a0That\u2019s how Pa figured out Griswold\u2019s cattle was being rustled . . . someone changed his teepee brand to a wagon wheel.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe dropped his head back and stared at the ceiling. \u00a0\u201cA wagon wheel chased me while I was running. And then you stepped down from the wagon and shot me; not once, but over and over no matter how fast I ran or how far. \u00a0No matter how much I pleaded with you to stop,\u201d he said, chewing his lower lip to keep it from trembling. \u00a0\u201cHoss, I\u2019ve never felt so helpless or been so scared in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know I\u2019d never do anything like that, don\u2019t you? \u00a0I\u2019ve watched over you your whole life. \u00a0Right?\u201d \u00a0Hoss appeared pleased when his brother nodded, but the feeling was short lived.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, you were watching all right. \u00a0I was so relieved to see you standing over me; to know you\u2019d come to save me, I reached up to take your hand and . . . and you pointed your gun at me and fired.\u201d \u00a0Joe\u2019s voice broke. \u00a0\u201cYou shot me, Hoss. \u00a0Why did you shoot me?\u201d<\/p>\n Hearing those words, seeing the anguish on Joe\u2019s face, Hoss must have been heartbroken but stood his ground nonetheless.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy do you reckon it was me in your dream? \u00a0Were you mad at me or somethin\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d \u00a0Joe shrugged his shoulders. \u00a0The movement must have pulled at his stitches for he hissed long and loud.\u00a0 It was time to intercede.<\/p>\n \u201cI have an idea about that,\u201d I said, stepping into the room to where both Joe and Hoss could see me. \u00a0 \u201cDo either of you remember Grant Walker?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe was noncommittal, but Hoss said,\u00a0\u201cSure. \u00a0He came with us on the wagon train from Ash Hollow. \u00a0Settled in Carson Valley, raised a family.\u201d<\/p>\n I nodded. \u00a0\u201cWe went through a lot together in those early days. \u00a0The Walkers remained pretty good friends until 10 years ago when I caught his son Jeb changing our pine tree brand to a dollar sign.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTop Dollar brand,\u201d Joe said. \u00a0\u201cJeb and I were like brothers before that. \u00a0We trusted him and he betrayed that trust.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. \u00a0I think in your dream Hoss represented that betrayal.\u201d \u00a0When Joe looked skeptical, I sat down on the bed and placed my hand on Joe\u2019s good leg. \u00a0\u201cHave you been bothered by images of the teepee and wagon wheel recently?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI believe that once you discerned their meaning, those images no longer troubled you. \u00a0And, if you can accept the connection between Jeb Walker and the men who betrayed Griswold, you\u2019ll see Hoss was a symbol just like the teepee and the wagon wheel. \u00a0Nothing more. \u00a0Nothing to be frightened of.\u201d<\/p>\n When neither of my sons said anything, I tapped Hoss\u2019s leg lightly with my boot and tilted my head toward Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cSounds reasonable to me,\u201d said Hoss. \u00a0\u201cWhat do you think, short shanks?\u201d<\/p>\n The response was not what I was hoping for.<\/p>\n Slowly, Joe rolled off the pillow to his left side turning his back on me and his brother. \u201cI think I\u2019m tired.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss scrunched up his face, bolted from the chair and stomped out of the room.<\/p>\n Exasperated, but forcing an even tone, I asked, \u201cIs there anything you need, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. \u00a0Home.\u201d<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n It was near twilight before I found Hoss sitting under a scrub oak nearly half a mile from the house. \u00a0As dusty and desolate as the valley was during the day, the sunsets were spectacular varying from magenta to lilac, from rust to peach. \u00a0And all around, the mountains\u2014purple to black\u2014watched over us.<\/p>\n The walk had calmed me down, but aggravated my hip. \u00a0I gratefully accepted Hoss\u2019s assistance to the ground and leaned back against the thin but sturdy trunk.<\/p>\n \u201cFor someone who wants to go home, he sure ain\u2019t doin\u2019 what needs to be done to get there. \u00a0It makes me plum angry, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe, too, son. \u00a0And frustrated. \u00a0I feel like there\u2019s something more he\u2019s not telling. \u00a0It was so much easier when he was younger.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss snorted. \u00a0\u201cYeah. \u00a0Couldn\u2019t hardly shut him up then. \u00a0Every thought in his head would just spill like corn out of a silo. \u00a0Now, he takes after older brother and\u2014what is it Adam says?\u2014he ruminates, that\u2019s it. \u00a0I wish Joe\u2019d stop chewin\u2019 on stuff and just spit it out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou did good work tonight, Hoss. \u00a0Gave Joe something to chew on that\u2019s worthwhile. \u00a0He\u2019ll figure it out and when he does, he\u2019ll be the old Joe, full of spit and fire.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDadburnit! \u00a0He needs to get outta that pink bedroom. \u00a0Sometimes I just wanna throw him over my shoulder and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014you know, that\u2019s not a bad idea.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been sitting up now for a couple of days. \u00a0The Doctor said when he could do that with no ill effects, he should move to a chair. \u00a0There\u2019s no reason that chair has to remain in the house, if you get my meaning,\u201d I said, arching an eyebrow.<\/p>\n Hoss brightened. \u201cWe can carry him out to the porch and sit him where there\u2019s a good view of the corral. \u00a0Maybe watching Ern workin\u2019 with them horses will perk him up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust maybe, Hoss, just maybe,\u201d I smiled and stretched my back, aware again of the tree trunk behind me. \u00a0Anything that lived in the desert had to be strong enough to survive. Against all odds, Joe had survived. \u00a0All he needed to do now was live.<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n The next morning, Julia\u2019s giggles echoed in the rafters and Mrs. Griswold smiled when she saw Hoss carry Joe in his chair through the house out to the front porch.<\/p>\n \u201cGosh darn it, Hoss! \u00a0Put me down!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHappy to, Little Brother. \u00a0How about right here?\u201d \u00a0Hoss set the chair next to the rail to the right of the steps with Joe\u2019s back to Ern, who stood holding Cochise\u2019s bridle. \u00a0\u00a0\u201cI think there\u2019s someone who wants to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n The pinto nickered and dropped his head over the rail to nibble Joe\u2019s ear.<\/p>\n \u201cCooch!\u201d<\/p>\n I handed my son a mug of tepid coffee. \u201cI think you might want this.\u201d \u00a0Everyone laughed when Cochise nuzzled Joe\u2019s hand searching for his favorite liquid.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never seen the like!\u201d Mrs. Griswold laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, Pa,\u201d Hoss said, \u201cLet\u2019s leave these two lovebirds alone for a while.\u201d \u00a0He had just turned toward the door when a shot rang out leaving Joe holding only the mug\u2019s handle in his right hand. \u00a0Chaos ensued.<\/p>\n Cochise screamed, reared and took off.<\/p>\n I managed to push the women through the open front door and to the floor where they landed in a heap.<\/p>\n \u201cStay down,\u201d I yelled, running into Joe\u2019s room to retrieve my side arm from the dresser. \u00a0In rapid succession I heard yelling, three more shots, thundering hooves, and snarling dogs.\u00a0 Good God!<\/em><\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n When I reached the porch, the first thing I saw was Hoss, sitting down and clutching his right arm. \u00a0Blood ran through his fingers turning his sleeve into an absurd rendition of a barbershop pole.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m all right, Pa. \u00a0It\u2019s just a crease. \u00a0Check Joe,\u201d he said pointing his chin towards the yard.<\/p>\n The dogs, growling and howling, hovered over a figure lying prone in the dirt. \u00a0I gasped. \u00a0Lightheaded and feeling my knees give way, I grabbed for a post and rested my forehead against the wood. \u00a0I couldn\u2019t . . . wouldn\u2019t look.<\/p>\n A familiar groan penetrated the fog and I opened my eyes to see Joe, at the bottom of the stairs, trying to sit up.<\/p>\n \u201cHold still, Joe. \u00a0Let me check you over.\u201d<\/p>\n At last, the blood began to return to my head and I regained my faculties. \u00a0\u201cSheriff!\u201d I yelled. \u00a0\u201cGet those dogs under control!\u201d<\/p>\n Mrs. Griswold and Julia brushed past me carrying basins of water and bandages. \u00a0Julia went straight to Hoss and began tending his arm. \u00a0Mrs. Griswold rushed to the poor creature in the yard.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s Jim Fenton!\u201d she shouted.<\/p>\n I staggered down the steps and knelt by Joe running my hands up and down his limbs and behind his back. \u00a0Although my son\u2019s leg did not appear to have been affected by the tumble, the incision in his back had opened and oozed blood. \u00a0Thankfully, I could find no new wounds. \u00a0Although I felt stronger, I didn\u2019t trust myself to lift my son alone, and looked around wildly for help.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m ok.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou are not okay!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNeither are you,\u201d Joe said, a cheeky grin on his face.<\/p>\n \u201cImpudent. \u00a0No respect for your elders.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe allowed Ern and I to help him up the stairs, but insisted he could walk from the porch to the bedroom by himself. \u00a0He managed about three steps before he began to wobble. \u00a0We each grabbed an elbow and together we maneuvered him into the bedroom. Hoss joined him soon thereafter, along with Ern, and they talked about ranching and barn raisings, cattle drives and church socials, anything but the events of the last few weeks. \u00a0I sat in the front room at the table with my forehead on my arms.<\/p>\n Mrs. Griswold came to see me an hour later. \u00a0The first thing she did was thrust a glass of brandy into my hands. \u00a0\u201cYou look like you need this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid I\u2019m not as young as I used to be.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOr as resilient.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow you sound like my sons,\u201d I chuckled. \u00a0\u201cHow\u2019s Fenton?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere wasn\u2019t much I could do for him except staunch the bleeding from the bullet wounds and cleanse the bites. \u00a0The rest will have to wait for a doctor. \u00a0The Sheriff volunteered to fetch Dr. Scully.\u201d<\/p>\n When I heard that, I fumed. \u00a0\u201cErn,\u201d I called, and he popped out of the bedroom. \u00a0\u201cI need you to ride to Fort Independence. \u00a0Find the Commandant and explain what\u2019s happened here. \u00a0If he gives you any trouble, tell him Major Benjamin Cartwright of the Virginia City 116th<\/sup>\u00a0Militia is requesting help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd, Ern.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t take \u2018no\u2019 for an answer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir!\u201d<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n Dr. Scully operated on Fenton in the bunkhouse later that afternoon. \u00a0He said the patient would survive long enough stand trial. \u00a0Beyond that, he offered no opinion.<\/p>\n Julia had done a fine job on Hoss\u2019s wound and the doctor told her so. \u00a0As for Joe, Scully cleaned and re-stitched the surgical incision in his back and warned against further acrobatics. \u00a0When Joe pressed the issue of going home, and the doctor reluctantly agreed. \u00a0The answer did not please me.<\/p>\n \u201cHow could you agree to that? \u00a0He\u2019s not fit to travel yet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Cartwright, your son has made it eminently clear he wants to go home. \u00a0He\u2019s of age, he has a right to determine his own care. \u00a0In my opinion, remaining here will be far more detrimental to his overall health and well-being than traveling, no matter how uncomfortable that may prove to be. \u00a0Now, if you\u2019ll excuse me, I have another patient.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot for long,\u201d I said, pointing to the Army detail riding into the yard. \u00a0With them was a field ambulance.<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n A different mood prevailed in the household that evening. \u00a0For the first time in two weeks, no one was under guard and everyone had a bed to sleep in. \u00a0At my insistence, Joe had already turned in, but the rest of us were enjoying a last meal together.<\/p>\n \u201cI tell you, Mr. Cartwright, it was the most amazing thing I\u2019ve ever witnessed,\u201d Ern said, his voice trembling with excitement. \u00a0\u201cWhen Cochise bolted, I could see Fenton clear as day. \u00a0He looked like a lunatic, all wild-eyed and weaving right and left, waving his gun around. \u00a0He ran straight towards Joe, cursing him for ruining his life, but before he could take aim again, Joe pulled the pistol out of Hoss\u2019s holster, shoved him aside, fired at Fenton, then dove down the steps doing a real nice tuck and roll and fired again. \u00a0Hit his target both times, too! \u00a0I never seen shooting like that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, well . . .\u00a0Joe\u2019s skill with a gun is something I have often been grateful for, but something I\u2019m still not comfortable with.\u201d I said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then it was the dogs\u2019 turn,\u201d Ern continued. \u201cThey went crazy and the Sheriff couldn\u2019t hold \u2018em back. \u00a0Said they\u2019d gone as far south as Olancha when the dogs stopped and turned home. \u00a0He just thought they\u2019d lost the scent.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss snorted, barely containing his contempt for the latest evidence of the Sheriff\u2019s ineptitude. \u00a0\u201cThought or hoped so he wouldn\u2019t have to put forth any more effort in finding him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s enough, Hoss,\u201d I said, quietly.<\/p>\n Mrs. Griswold set a platter of beef, mashed potatoes, and roasted root vegetables on the table. \u00a0\u201cI suspect Fenton figured he\u2019d get caught eventually. \u00a0No witness, no charges, so he headed back here to finish off your son.\u201d<\/p>\n Julia held one hand up to her neck. \u00a0\u201cIt must have been terrifying for him to have those dogs at his throat.\u201d \u00a0She shuddered and leaned in closer to Ern, who put a protective arm around her shoulders.<\/p>\n \u201cMore like divine retribution, if you ask me,\u201d said Hoss. \u00a0\u201cAfter all he put Joe through, having those dogs on him was a little extra payback. \u00a0Jail is too good for him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI doubt he\u2019ll spend much time in Jail, Mr. Cartwright,\u201d said Ern. \u00a0\u201cI heard an Army Sergeant say Petis turned on his partner; said Fenton done murdered another fella a while back. \u00a0Looks like it\u2019s the gallows for him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat a fact?\u201d Hoss said. \u00a0\u201cWell, then, he won\u2019t be no stranger to the hounds of hell. \u00a0Looks mighty good, Missus Griswold. \u00a0I could eat a horse.\u201d<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n I still had reservations about leaving, but despite the new stitches, Joe didn\u2019t appear to have suffered any ill consequences from his actions.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe, you asleep?\u201d I asked from the bedroom door.<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n It was an old joke.<\/p>\n \u201cYou need anything?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I\u2019m fine. \u00a0\u00a0Mrs. Griswold brought me a plate earlier. \u00a0\u00a0She\u2019s a good cook.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour brother seems to think so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019d better not tell Hop Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n Another old joke.<\/p>\n \u201cYou feel up to a chat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, come on in.\u201d<\/p>\n I sat on the edge of the bed careful not to jostle him. \u00a0\u201cIs this okay?\u201d \u00a0He nodded, turning more toward me. \u00a0I placed a pillow under his left shoulder and felt him ease back into it. \u201cBetter?\u201d \u00a0Again a nod. \u00a0\u201cDo you want something to drink?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMay I talk to you about something that\u2019s been troubling me?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe raised his eyebrows, but he smiled and said, \u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat were you thinking when you dove off the porch?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI walked into that one, didn\u2019t I?\u201d he chuckled.<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t meant as a criticism. \u00a0I really want to know what was on your mind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat I was tired.\u201d<\/p>\n Before I could say \u201cnot that again,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n \u201cTired of running. \u00a0Tired of being hunted. \u00a0Tired of being a victim.\u201d<\/p>\n I was stunned. \u00a0I had never attached any other meaning to \u201ctired\u201d except physical exhaustion.<\/p>\n \u201cI was a sitting duck on that porch. \u00a0If Hoss hadn\u2019t turned and deflected the bullet . . . well, I guess my guardian angel was watching.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d I replied in a whisper. \u00a0The lump in my throat made it hard to speak, and when we locked eyes, tears ran down both our faces.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, that deflection nearly killed Cochise, and that made me\u00a0really<\/em>\u00a0mad. \u00a0So I grabbed Hoss\u2019s gun and did the only thing I could do. \u00a0Kill the bastard.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFenton\u2019s not dead yet, if that\u2019s what you mean, but he will be after he\u2019s tried, convicted, and hung. \u00a0I have no doubt about that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell . . . I\u2019ll let you get some rest.\u201d \u00a0I started to rise when Joe spoke again. \u00a0Softly, almost a whisper.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were there, you know. \u00a0In my dream. \u00a0You were standing in the porch light at home, and I was in the yard at the light’s edge. \u00a0You kept asking if I\u2019d figured it out yet. \u00a0I said \u2018no.\u2019 \u00a0I asked you if you\u2019d miss me, and you said \u2018yes\u2019 but you didn\u2019t try to stop me. \u00a0Eventually, I walked into the darkness alone.\u201d<\/p>\n I didn\u2019t know what to say. \u00a0I took his hand in mine and held it tightly. \u00a0The lamplight from the front room illuminated his face. \u00a0He looked so young and yet already gray streaked his hair. \u00a0Where had the years gone? \u00a0There was a time I could make everything all right with a hug and a kiss . . . or a new horse. \u00a0I suppose, in the end, we all walk into the void alone.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes a rock is just a rock; isn\u2019t that what you used to tell Adam? \u00a0You knew you couldn\u2019t watch over me every moment, so you taught me to figure things out for myself. \u00a0And I do . . . most of the time.\u201d \u00a0He smiled. \u00a0\u201cIn the end, there are some things we have to do alone.\u201d<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n I watched from the porch while Hoss settled his brother in the back of the wagon against the upturned saddles. \u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s gonna be a rough ride, Joe, but we\u2019ll make it as comfortable for you as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll just be glad to get home.\u201d \u00a0Joe worked hard not to show how much the climb into the wagon hurt. \u00a0I\u2019m sure he thought if I saw even a shadow of a grimace, we\u2019d be staying another week. \u00a0The thing I\u2019d lost sight of was that home was the best medicine.<\/p>\n I walked down the steps with Mrs. Griswold and Julia. \u00a0\u201cWe\u2019ll get that rig back to you just as soon as we can.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo hurry Mr. Cartwright. \u00a0Me and Julia aren\u2019t going anywhere until Tom gets back from the drive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure you don\u2019t want to take the reins, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine, Hoss. \u00a0We can change off later.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to thank you for this geegaw you made me, Joe,\u201d said Julia.<\/p>\n \u201cJust remember to look for a man of substance and not a geegaw,\u201d Joe replied. \u00a0He jerked his head toward Ern and Julia blushed. \u201cBesides, it\u2019s the least I could do after that good nursing you gave me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMrs. Griswold, I really don\u2019t know how to say thank you enough for all you\u2019ve done for us, especially Joe,\u201d I said.\u00a0\u201cI wish your husband were here for so I could express my gratitude in person.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOrv and Fenton could have bled us dry if your son hadn\u2019t caught them switching our brands, not to mention all the work Hoss did around here rebuilding that shed and fixing the window, or Joe giving Ern advice about the horses and other things. \u00a0So let\u2019s just say one hand washes the other and be done with it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. \u00a0Fair enough,\u201d I replied and tipped my hat. \u00a0\u201cLadies, be seeing you.\u201d<\/p>\n It was a lie, of course. \u00a0Kind as they were, I didn\u2019t imagine we\u2019d ever see these people again. \u00a0I wondered what my sons thought.<\/p>\n Hoss twisted around in his seat. \u00a0\u201cSee you, ladies.\u201d \u00a0You ready, Pa?<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, all set.\u201d<\/p>\n When we pulled away from the house, Joe waved, and said only two words.<\/p>\n \u201cSo long.\u201d<\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n July 2015<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Written for the 2015 Ponderosa Paddlewheel Poker Tournament. \u00a0My words were: <\/p>\n
\nwagon wheel, bait, rope, mission, and retribution.<\/p>\n