Summary: Ben is late getting back from a business trip to Carson City.<\/p>\n
Rated\u00a0 K+\u00a0 Word count 4,159<\/p>\n
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\u00a0<\/strong>The Bond<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The front door opened with a resounding crash, startling the two occupants of the room.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think he\u2019ll ever learn to open a door like a normal person?\u201d grumbled Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cHe hasn\u2019t learned it yet, what makes you think he\u2019s capable of ever learnin\u2019?\u201d replied Hoss with a backwards glance at his younger brother, who stood next to the credenza removing his gunbelt.<\/p>\n \u201cOne can hope.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNever\u2019ll happen. If Pa can\u2019t do it, no one can.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, I\u2019m standin\u2019 right here!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re also late. Pa will be home anytime now,\u201d chastised Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cI know. I wanted to finish up with the horses today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you telling me you have that whole string broke for the army?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m tellin\u2019 you older brother.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGreen broke?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNope, they\u2019re completely ready. Now if you two don\u2019t mind I\u2019m gonna grab some clean clothes and take a quick bath before Pa gets here.\u201d Joe dashed up the stairs and seconds later a door slammed closed.<\/p>\n \u201cYep, he\u2019ll never learn.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shook his head, a sigh escaping past his lips.<\/p>\n ****<\/p>\n \u201cYou come eat before dinner go bad and Hop Sing throw out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe will once Pa gets here.\u201d Joe answered from his spot on the table where the checkerboard sat between him and Hoss. He shot another glance at the clock before his eyes slid over to the door, willing it to open.<\/p>\n \u201cFatha eat when come home. Sons eat now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe may as well eat.\u201d Adam pushed himself up from his blue chair. \u201cAfter all we wouldn\u2019t want Hoss fainting from hunger,\u201d he remarked thumping Hoss on the back.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re dadburn right, I\u2019m plumb famished.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe hesitated, wanting to wait for his father.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not hungry, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam paused, looking back at his youngest brother. He could see concern reflected in the green eyes. \u201cLook, Pa\u2019s fine. He\u2019ll be home soon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah , and he\u2019ll be none too happy iffen you ain\u2019t eatin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n With a sigh, Joe removed himself from the table and made his way to the dining room where he only put a small amount on his plate.<\/p>\n Adam watched while Joe did nothing but push his food from one side of his plate to the other. \u201cHe probably decided to stay an extra night.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe briefly looked up at his brother then back down to his plate. \u201cHe would have sent a telegram.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBuck might of thrown a shoe and he had to stop over somewhere.\u201d Hoss tried to help relieve the anxiety Joe was feeling.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019d have sent a telegram.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe could have.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019d have telegraphed!\u201d shouted Joe. \u201cSomethin\u2019s happened or he\u2019d be here. I know it, you know it Adam, and so does Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n It was quiet while both brothers contemplated what Joe said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll tell you what, Joe. If Pa isn\u2019t home by morning we\u2019ll start looking for him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re gonna look pretty silly when we run into him on the road.\u201d Hoss pointed out.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d rather look silly than have Pa lyin\u2019 on the trail somewhere hurt.\u201d Joe pushed his plate away and stood from the table. \u201cGoodnight Adam, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n ~~~~<\/p>\n Ben woke to a relentless pounding in his head. When he tried to reach up to rub his temples he quickly discovered his hands were tied behind his back. He opened his eyes then promptly slammed them shut against the bright light radiating from the lantern on the table next to him. It felt like a miner, no more like a dozen of miners, had awoken and were using pick axes against the inside of his skull. Trying again, but more cautious this time, Ben opened his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cDear Lord, I feel like Joe on a Sunday morning after a Saturday night of carousing in town.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about time you woke up.\u201d<\/p>\n Slowly raising his head, Ben tried to focus on the distorted figure in front of him. \u201cYOU!\u201d Shock and indignation coursed through Ben\u2019s mind. Anger and rage were only a short step behind. \u201cWhat\u2019s the meaning of this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh come on, Ben, you\u2019re a smart man, you should be able to figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t think you were stupid enough to resort to kidnapping to get what you want.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho said anything about kidnapping? You, Ben Cartwright, are going to meet with an unfortunate accident.<\/p>\n \u201cYou think killing me will get you the contract?\u201d Ben snorted with disdain. \u201cIf that\u2019s what you think you\u2019re not just an idiot, you\u2019ve also lost your mind. The contract was given to the Ponderosa, not exclusively to Ben Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you think I took that into consideration? Why do you think you\u2019re sitting in this nice, cozy cottage instead of lying dead on the road?\u201d At Ben\u2019s continued silence the man chuckled. \u201cYour boys are going to start looking for you, and knowing those three, they\u2019ll have every hand on the Ponderosa looking too. They\u2019ll scour the road between your ranch and Carson City, along with every nook and cranny. They won\u2019t stop until they find you. Once they start to give up they\u2019ll find a lead directing them to.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0Hmm, where should I send them? San Francisco? Maybe New Orleans? How about Boston? Once they do find you, those boys will be so devastated the contract will be the last thought in their heads. By then they\u2019ll have defaulted on the deadlines and it will then go to someone else, namely yours truly. So to answer your question; no Ben, I\u2019m not an idiot or crazy. It\u2019s a brilliant plan if I do say so myself.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stared at the man in front of him for a minute before shaking his head and a confident smile, which reeked of pride, graced his lips. \u201cThere\u2019s a fatal flaw in this brilliant plan of yours.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what might that be?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re underestimating my sons.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou think so?\u201d The air of confidence slipped just a little.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I don\u2019t think so, I know so. Oh don\u2019t get me wrong. I know those boys of mine will look; they\u2019ll turn over every stone trying to find me. I know that with certainty. I know how ruthless they are, particularly Joseph. He won\u2019t stop looking until he finds me, and Hoss will be right by his side. But they\u2019ll all agree that Adam, much to his displeasure, will stay at the Ponderosa, waiting for me and running the ranch. He\u2019ll make sure every deadline is met. He\u2019ll do it to honor me. Besides, what makes you think those boys won\u2019t be able to find me?\u201d<\/p>\n The confident smile was all but gone until Ben asked the last question. \u201cWhat makes me think that? Because I have you in the one place they\u2019ll never think to look. The one place that\u2019s too painful to come to.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s brows furrowed in consternation. He didn\u2019t have the slightest idea what this man could be alluding to.<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean to tell me you don\u2019t know where you are? Come on Ben, look around.\u201d<\/p>\n The wick of the lamp was turned up, bathing the room in a soft golden glow, and giving Ben his first opportunity to take in his surroundings. The small living room, the bedroom off to the side with a quilt on the bed, were all too familiar, and the little kitchen with the white lace curtains. He knew if he could see the table behind him there would be a lamp and red crystal dish. He was as certain of it as he was of the cradle in the corner next to the fireplace.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe\u2019s cabin.\u201d<\/p>\n ~~~~<\/p>\n Sunrise found three horses already saddled and waiting patiently while the youngest Cartwright, completely ready to go, paced the floor in the great room waiting for his brothers to make an appearance.<\/p>\n \u201cLooky who\u2019s already up, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see. It\u2019s one for the history books for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa didn\u2019t come home last night,\u201d Joe said through clenched teeth, trying to control his patience, and not in the mood for his brothers\u2019 jibes.<\/p>\n Shaking his head, Adam followed Hoss over to the table. \u201cI still think you\u2019re over reacting. He\u2019ll be home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou said if he wasn\u2019t home by mornin\u2019 we\u2019d go lookin\u2019 for him. Its mornin\u2019 and he ain\u2019t home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIsn\u2019t,\u201d corrected Adam.<\/p>\n Joe took a deep breath and slowly released it. \u201cWell?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll right, we\u2019ll go after breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAfter breakfast! No, we need to go now.\u201d The urgency and panic that Joe felt were clearly revealed in his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter breakfast, Joseph.\u201d Hoss reached over and stabbed a slice of ham and dropped it on his plate.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s patience had come to an end. \u201cWhen you two are done you can catch up to me if you feel the need.\u201d He grabbed his hat and slammed the door in his wake so hard the windows shook. Seconds later the sounds of hoof beats leaving the yard at a fast gallop could be heard.<\/p>\n Silence reigned in Joe\u2019s wake as Adam sipped his coffee and Hoss sliced the ham on his place.<\/p>\n \u201cYou think he\u2019s right, Adam? You know how he and Pa are. They always seem to know when somethin\u2019s wrong with the other.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam pondered Hoss\u2019 question. He has a point. There has always been some kind of link between them. <\/em>A link Adam envied at times.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. We better go after him.\u201d<\/p>\n Both men pushed away from the table. After strapping on their guns and grabbing their hats, they headed out the door. Neither were surprised to find their horses saddled and waiting. The urgency Joe felt now permeated their bones as they mounted their horses and rushed to catch up with their brother.<\/p>\n ~~~~<\/p>\n Joe took the road he knew his father would be on and watched for signs he had been there.\u00a0 \u201cI hope Adam\u2019s right, Cooch, and we meet up with Pa, but I have this feelin\u2019 in my gut I just can\u2019t shake. He\u2019s in trouble, big trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n He was on and off the road following multiple leads which led nowhere. Just before he reached the boundary of the Ponderosa he spotted signs of a scuffle on the road. Dismounting, he squatted down to study the ground. There were not only boot prints, but also signs of a horse prancing around.<\/p>\n \u201cHas to be Buck.\u201d<\/p>\n Standing Joe followed the tracks to the side of the road where the story played out. \u201cPa, you sure put up one Hell of a fight.<\/p>\n Joe was positive what he saw were signs a fight between his father and some unknown adversary. The brush all around had trampled, and led to a larger patch which was completely flattened where someone went down. Long trenches led off of it showing where someone had been drug away. Joe followed them until they ended and hoof prints took over leading away from the road.<\/p>\n Turning back to the road to retrieve Cochise Joe spotted a light colored object off to the side. Moving closer, his breath caught in his throat; partially concealed by the brush, laid Ben\u2019s hat. Picking it up Joe immediately noticed blood on the brim.<\/p>\n \u201cPa.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u201d Closing his eyes, Joe took a deep breath, then another, to steady himself. If he had any hope of finding his father, he could not afford to have his mind clouded by fear that might not have any substance.<\/p>\n Racing back to the road, Joe swung into the saddle and spurred his horse into the trees. \u201cPa\u2019s alive, Cochise. He has to be, he just has to be.\u201d<\/p>\n ~~~~<\/p>\n Ben watched the men headed out the door. He didn\u2019t need to look around to get the lay out of the room where he was being held captive. He knew every inch of it, after all this was supposed to be Joe\u2019s home; Joe\u2019s and Laura\u2019s.<\/p>\n The fireplace was exactly what he needed. Scooting across the floor, Ben leaned against the rocks and started sawing the bindings on his wrists against them. It took a while, but finally they gave way and Ben\u2019s hands were free. Making quick work of the rope at his ankles, Ben stood and took a minute to stretch the kinks out of his back. He could hear the indistinct voices of his captors out front and he knew he only had moments to make his escape.<\/p>\n Cautiously, he made his way to the back of the house. Opening the door he looked around making sure the coast was clear. Ben had just stepped across the threshold when the front door swung open.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s getting away!\u201d<\/p>\n The alarm sounded and Ben could hear the pounding of feet. Without hesitating and knowing time was of the essence, Ben headed for the trees as fast as he could.\u00a0 Unfortunately, his abductors were younger and faster. Ben put up the fight of his life, but he was outnumbered. With him bloody and bruised, they drug back to the front of the cabin.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat ya want us to do with him, Boss?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFirst off, make sure he pays for wasting your time. Once you\u2019re done I want him strapped to the wagon wheel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir. Gladly.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben looked from one man to the other and noted the vicious gleam in each eye, and doubted if he would survive what was coming.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Boys,\u201d Ben whispered.<\/p>\n ~~~~<\/p>\n \u201cWhere the devil did he go? We shoulda caught up to him by now,\u201d complained Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cYou would have thought. Hoss, can\u2019t you track him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m tryin\u2019 Adam, but with all them detours he took.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u201d Without warning Hoss pulled Chubb to a stop. \u201cWould you look at that. I guess Little Joe knew we\u2019d be along.\u201d At Adam\u2019s questioning look, Hoss pointed to a tree at the side of the road. Hanging from a broken branch was, of all things, Ben\u2019s hat.<\/p>\n Adam dismounted and within seconds had the hat in his hands. \u201cAnd he was right too. Pa\u2019s in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n ~~~~<\/p>\n Frustrated by being led astray several times, but armed with sheer determination, Joe at last found a clear trail. He pulled Cochise to a standstill, the color draining from his face when he realized where the trail led. There had been so much heartbreak at a place that had held a promise of love and happiness not too long ago. Now there was the possibility he would find even more. Pulling himself together, he urged his horse forward.<\/p>\n When he was close to the cabin, he dismounted and made his way on foot. Careful of each step he took, Joe kept to the coverage of the trees and rocks knowing a single misstep could ruin everything.<\/p>\n Joe paused when he heard a rustling ahead of him. He knelt down behind a rock cluster and waited.<\/p>\n A few hundred feet ahead of him, just inside the edge of the clearing a man, who appeared to be a ranch hand, Joe didn\u2019t recognize walked by with a rifle slung across his arm. He watched while he stopped and signaled to his counterpart on the other side of the clearing.\u00a0 Joe waited until the other disappeared from sight before making his move. The guard never knew what hit him when the butt of Joe\u2019s revolver came down on the back of his head. Joe caught him as he started to fall and lowered him silently to the ground.<\/p>\n From his new vantage point, Joe took in his surroundings, his breath catching when he spotted his father tied to the wheel of a wagon. Even from a distance he could tell Ben had been badly beaten, but he couldn\u2019t tell if he was still breathing.<\/p>\n With the stealth of the Paiutes he grew up with and learned from, Joe circled the clearing using the stone wall next to the house for coverage. While he watched he realized the man never let Ben out of his sight. This one Joe did recognize. It was Art Reeves, a miner from the Lucky Strike; someone Joe had had many runs-ins with.<\/p>\n Picking up a stone, Joe pitched it into the trees behind Reeves. When he went to investigate, Joe made his move; moments later Reeves joined his cohort in the land of oblivion.<\/p>\n Starting for his father, Joe froze when the cabin door opened and Pete Dotson, the owner of a neighboring ranch walked out; a man all the Cartwrights knew and one each of them had the displeasure of dealing with, one way or another. He watched Dotson walked up to his father and kicked him in the side, making Joe\u2019s blood boil. Closing his eyes Joe worked to push back the rage, he couldn\u2019t afford to go off half-cocked, and his father\u2019s life depended on him and what he did next. He waited and watched; when he was positive there weren\u2019t any other guards, Joe walked into the clearing.<\/p>\n \u201cHold it right there, Dotson.\u201d<\/p>\n The rancher spun around, shocked to be staring into the angry, green eyes of Joe Cartwright. \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow? You weren\u2019t as smart as you thought you were. The trail was easy to follow.\u201d Joe wasn\u2019t bound to give him any type of credit for how tough the tracking actually had been.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere are your brothers, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ll be along. Now, I suggest you untie my father.\u201d<\/p>\n Dotson just stood there smiling like a cat that got the canary. \u201cI don\u2019t think so. In fact I would suggest you put your gun down.\u201d<\/p>\n It was Joe\u2019s turn to smile. \u201cIf you\u2019re referrin\u2019 to Reeves and his buddy, I\u2019m afraid they\u2019re a bit occupied at the moment.\u201d He watched the smile slipped from Dotson\u2019s face. \u201cI won\u2019t say it again; Untie my father.\u201d<\/p>\n Consciousness returning, Ben groaned, waves of pain flowed over his battered body.<\/p>\n \u201cPa.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe made the mistake of taking his eyes off of Dotson, who took advantage of the young man\u2019s distraction and went for his gun.<\/p>\n Unfortunately for Dotson, Joe saw the move from the corner of his eye and before the other man\u2019s weapon even cleared leather, Joe drew and fired. The rancher fell to his knees, his gun falling from now useless fingers.<\/p>\n Keeping his revolver trained on Dotson, he picked up the other man\u2019s gun and backed away towards his father. Holstering his gun, Joe laid the other on the ground and knelt by his father.<\/p>\n \u201cPa, it\u2019s Joe, everything is gonna to be fine now.\u201d He pulled the knife from his boot and made quick work of the ropes holding his father hostage.<\/p>\n Once free, Ben slumped into Joe\u2019s arms. \u201cJoe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m here, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow did you know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just did. I just knew.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben reached up and laid the palm of his hand against Joe\u2019s cheek. \u201cThis sure.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0is a.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0reversal of roles.\u201d<\/p>\n Chuckling, Joe smiled at his father. \u201cIt sure is, Pa. Now don\u2019t try to talk. You need to save your strength.\u201d<\/p>\n At the sound of running feet, Joe pulled his gun, but breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his brothers rush into the clearing. \u201cIt\u2019s about time you two caught up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs he alright?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but get me some water.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe heard a shot, then we found this here yahoo you left over yonder,\u201d Hoss said kneeling down beside his father and younger brother.<\/p>\n \u201cI had to shoot Dotson.\u201d Joe motioned to the man over by the pool of water. \u201cOh, you\u2019ll find Reeves over there.\u201d Joe explained motioning to the trees behind them.<\/p>\n With a nod, Hoss stood and made his way in the direction where Joe had pointed.<\/p>\n \u201cHow is he?\u201d asked Adam handing Joe the glass of water he had retrieved from the cabin.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019ll be okay, but we need to get him home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m lying right here,\u201d Ben grumbled, pushing the glass away.<\/p>\n Joe and Adam looked at each other and started laughing, leaving Ben to look on in confusion.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess it\u2019s true; the apple doesn\u2019t fall far from the tree,\u201d chuckled Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cHere ya go, Little Brother, Reeves all wrapped up nice and pretty for ya.\u201d Hoss shoved the miner to the ground next to Dotson.<\/p>\n Adam turned and noticed the rancher for the first time. \u201cWell I\u2019ll be. Hoss take a look at his shoulder, would you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, we need to get Pa home and Doc Martin out to see him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine Boys. There\u2019s no need to bother Paul.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know all about being fine, Pa. If it\u2019s all the same with you, I\u2019d like the Doc to be the judge of that.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben saw the determined look in Joe\u2019s eyes and the matching one in his oldest son, and knew he didn\u2019t have a choice in the matter.<\/p>\n Buck\u2019s saddle was placed in the bed of the wagon and Hoss helped in and made him comfortable. Joe came out of the cabin carrying the quilt. He climbed into the wagon and covered his father. Their eyes locked and Ben silently acknowledged how hard it had been for Joe to have removed it from what should have been his home.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded his head, unable to speak due to the emotions which had taken hold of him. He looked up when he heard Hoss returned with not only their horses, but also with the first casualty of Joe\u2019s rescue plan.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe, you take Pa home, I\u2019ll ride for the doctor, and Hoss can get these three to the sheriff.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa, I\u2019ll be as careful as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben placed his hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder and squeezed. \u201cI know you will, Son.\u201d<\/p>\n ~~~~<\/p>\n Paul Martin rolled down his sleeves while he made his way down the stairs. Three sets of eyes looked up at him as the Cartwright sons rose to their feet.<\/p>\n \u201cHow is he?\u201d Hoss asked first.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s going to be fine, Boys. He has a few cracked ribs, not to mention bruises upon bruises, and a few deep lacerations. I\u2019ve cleaned him up, put in some stitches and bound his ribs. He\u2019s going to be sore for a while, but with time and rest he\u2019ll recover.\u201d He looked at Joe and shook his head. \u201cApparently your father is as impulsive as you are. Most of his injuries occurred when he tried to escape.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEscape?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom what he told me they left him alone in the cabin and he was able to break free, but he didn\u2019t get very far.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan we see him?\u201d Joe asked, smiling at the doctor\u2019s remark.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019d be able to stop you if I said no. Besides, he\u2019s asking to for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Before he could say another word the brothers thundered up the stairs with Joe in the lead.<\/p>\n They found Ben propped up with pillows when they entered the bedroom.<\/p>\n \u201cBoys.\u201d Ben smiled when he saw his sons enter the room. \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFer what?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cFor finding me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t thank us, Pa. It were all Little Joe\u2019s doin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe was bound and determined something was wrong,\u201d Adam paused and looked at his youngest brother. \u201cand he was right. You did good Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe smiled in acknowledgement of Adam\u2019s praise.<\/p>\n \u201cHow can I ever thank you, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBy getting better, Pa, so you can get back to riding herd over me. After all, who knows what kind of trouble I\u2019ll get in to. You can\u2019t trust these two to keep me in line,\u201d replied Joe with a cheeky smile.<\/p>\n All four men started laughing until Ben grabbed his ribs and groaned.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s enough. Your father needs to rest. You can visit him later,\u201d chastised Dr. Martin.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s right, you need to rest,\u201d agreed Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, we\u2019ll be back later,\u201d said Hoss patting Ben\u2019s leg when he turned to leave.<\/p>\n Joe didn\u2019t say a word. Instead he sat down in the chair next to his father\u2019s bed and made himself comfortable.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe, I said-\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cI heard you, Doc. I\u2019m staying.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe-\u201c<\/p>\n Adam placed a hand on Dr. Martin\u2019s shoulder. \u201cDo you really think you\u2019re going to win this one?\u201d<\/p>\n Paul saw the mutinous look on Joe\u2019s face and knew, like in times past with his father, he wouldn\u2019t be able to budge the young man from the chair. With a sigh of defeat he glared at Joe and issued his final order. \u201cDon\u2019t you go wearing yourself out. I don\u2019t I need two patients, especially you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry, Doc that\u2019s the last thing I wanna.\u201d<\/p>\n Shaking his head, Paul ushered Adam and Hoss from the room.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, you need-\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cYou heard the doctor Pa, you need to rest. Now go to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben smiled at his youngest son and closed his eyes. \u201cYes, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s nice to be on this side of the bed for once,<\/em> Joe thought. He looked up towards the ceiling and mouthed, \u201cThank you.\u201d He was extremely grateful to have his father alive and the bond between them was just as strong as ever.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Written for the Ponderosa Paddlewheel Poker Tournament<\/p>\n My cards were: \u00a0cottage, doctor, kidnapping, miner, wagon wheel<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tags:\u00a0 Ben Cartwright<\/p>\n