{"id":1203,"date":"2004-04-07T23:29:56","date_gmt":"2004-04-08T03:29:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1203"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:08:29","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:08:29","slug":"to-steal-a-son","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1203","title":{"rendered":"To Steal a Son (by Rona)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: <\/strong>A chance meeting with someone Ben once knew brings problems to the Ponderosa. <\/span><\/p>\n

Rated: \u00a0T \u00a0(8,955 words)
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Disclaimer:<\/strong>\u00a0All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/span><\/p>\n

To Steal a Son<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJust the sacks left,\u201d Ben commented to Joe as they put the last of the small packages into the wagon. \u201cCome and give me a hand.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Tipping his hat back on his head, Joe smiled at his father. \u201cThen let\u2019s get something cool to drink,\u201d he suggested. \u201cIt\u2019s broiling out here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think we can manage that,\u201d Ben agreed. Joe was right; it was indeed very hot that day. Ben could feel the sun baking into the bare skin of his forearms. \u201cWe\u2019ll pull the wagon into the shade first, though.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got a deal!\u201d Joe laughed. Together, he and Ben carried the sacks of flour to the wagon, and dusted their hands off when the last one was in.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Joe moved to the wagon seat and picked up the reins, ready to move the team into the shade, Ben called to him. \u201cJoe, wait! Here\u2019s the stage coming in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

They both watched the stage draw to a stop and several people got out. Joe shook up the team and moved them into the shade and went back to join Ben. To his surprise, Ben wasn\u2019t where he\u2019d left him and Joe glanced around quickly to try and spot him. It wasn\u2019t difficult, despite the people thronging the street on such a lovely day. Ben was outside the stage office, talking to a couple who were standing there, surrounded by bags.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d Joe said, as he approached. He smiled tentatively. He didn\u2019t recognize either of the people Ben was talking to.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAh, this is my son, Joseph,\u201d Ben replied expansively. \u201cJoe, come and meet John and Nancy Davidson.\u201d As Joe politely shook hands with them both, Ben explained, \u201cI knew John very briefly on my way west with Adam. John, it must be nearly 30 years!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh don\u2019t say that!\u201d Davidson scolded. \u201cIt makes me feel positively ancient!\u201d He laughed. \u201cYou say you have another son, too, Ben? So you re-married?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cActually, I re-married for the first time not long after we met you, John. Inger was a wonderful woman.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor the first time?\u201d John echoed. He glanced at Joe. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Ben, I didn\u2019t mean to pry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not,\u201d Ben assured him. \u201cInger was killed in an Indian raid on our wagon train. Then, after I came here, I met Joe\u2019s mother, Marie, in New Orleans.\u201d He smiled reminiscently. \u201cShe died when Joe was very young.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow sad,\u201d John murmured.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut at least you have your sons,\u201d Nancy said, with a slight emphasis on \u2018sons\u2019. It was the first time she had spoken since Joe arrived. John gave Joe another look \u2013 an uneasy one this time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I do,\u201d Ben agreed, obliviously. \u201cAnd I\u2019m very lucky.\u201d He smiled. \u201cJohn, what are you doing in town? How long are you here for?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re just passing through,\u201d the other replied. \u201cWe\u2019re going to California. I can\u2019t take the cold winters back east. So I sold up and Nancy and I came west.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are you staying?\u201d Ben wanted to know. Joe began to fidget, wanting to go to the saloon for a cold beer. The heat was quite something as they stood in the full glare of the sun. Nancy was watching him intently, and Joe was feeling very uncomfortable under her unwavering gaze.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll get a room in the hotel,\u201d John answered. \u201cWe\u2019ll stop here for a day or so to let Nancy rest. It\u2019s a tiring trip.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen you come and stay with us,\u201d Ben proposed. \u201cAnd I won\u2019t take no for an answer!\u201d As John began to protest, Ben swept his objections aside until the man laughingly agreed. \u201cThat\u2019s settled then. Joe, go and hire a buggy, please. Bring it back here, then you can take the wagon home. I\u2019ll see you there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For an instant, Joe wanted to object. He cherished the time he spent alone with his father and he wasn\u2019t pleased that he was being robbed of that. But the protest died on his lips, because he knew that he was just being selfish. \u201cSure thing,\u201d he agreed, as cheerfully as possible. At 20, Joe was still trying to prove that he was an adult. He headed off to the livery stable, still feeling Mrs. Davidson\u2019s eyes on him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

While Ben settled the Davidsons into their room, Joe unloaded the supplies and then saddled his horse, hitched it to the back of the hired buggy and headed back to town. For all that the afternoon was waning, the sun wasn\u2019t getting any cooler and this time Joe did stop for a beer in the saloon before he went home again. As he put up Cochise, he saw that his brothers were home and hurried to go inside and wash up before supper.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, he was already late. Hop Sing was putting the meal on the table and Joe made quick apologies before dashing upstairs to change his clothes, as Ben was dressed for supper. \u201cI\u2019m sorry I\u2019m late,\u201d he said, as he slipped into his seat at the table. He was sitting next to Nancy Davidson. She patted his hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it,\u201d she told him. \u201cYou were doing something for us.\u201d She gave Joe a decidedly maternal smile and patted his hand again. Joe was sorely tempted to move it, but he resisted, instead helping himself from the dishes his father passed to him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conversation through the meal was mostly between Ben, John and Adam. Adam could vaguely remember John and he was keen to test his memories on the other man. When he had finally run out of \u2018do you remembers\u2019, the oldest Cartwright son turned to Nancy. \u201cI don\u2019t remember meeting you, Mrs. Davidson,\u201d he said, politely. \u201cI\u2019m sure I would\u2019ve remembered a beautiful woman like you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t married to John at the time,\u201d Nancy replied in an icy tone. \u201cWe didn\u2019t meet for several years after you were there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAh well, that would explain it,\u201d Adam replied, slightly taken aback by her reaction. Most women enjoyed getting a compliment, even one as heavy-handed as that.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere in California are you headed for?\u201d Joe asked, his initial hunger slaked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beaming at Joe, as though he had just asked a wonderfully important question, Nancy replied, \u201cWe\u2019re going to San Francisco, Joe.\u201d She patted his hand again. \u201cHave you ever been there?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, ma\u2019am,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cI\u2019ve been there a few times.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou must tell me all about it,\u201d Nancy enthused, drawing Joe over to sit beside her on the sofa as Hop Sing brought through coffee.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the evening wore on, Joe realized that Nancy was monopolizing him, and ignoring both Adam and Hoss. Neither one seemed to mind, but it did seem rather unfair to Joe that no one rescued him. However, a yawn that he couldn\u2019t control betrayed his tiredness and Nancy was immediately apologetic. \u201cOh, Joe, I\u2019m so sorry. You must be exhausted after such a long day, and with another trip to town, too. It must be past your bedtime.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Catching site of his father\u2019s face, Joe bit back a comment about being rather old to have a set bedtime, and simply nodded. \u201cI am tired, ma\u2019am. If you\u2019ll excuse me?\u201d He rose, and bid the rest of his family and John goodnight and climbed the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

He had his shirt and boots off when there was a knock on the door and Adam came in. \u201cShe sure took a fancy to you, didn\u2019t she, buddy?\u201d Adam commented.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTell me about it!\u201d Joe agreed. \u201cAnd none of you tried to help me out, either!\u201d He sighed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s something odd going on between Nancy and John, don\u2019t you think?\u201d Adam asked. He knew that Joe was particularly sensitive to moods.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI noticed that too,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cShe\u2019s sort of\u2026 I don\u2019t know. Mothering me?\u201d He glanced at Adam for confirmation of his feelings. \u201cAnd John keeps looking at me as though I make him uneasy. But I haven\u2019t done anything to make him uneasy. I don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on, Adam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMe either,\u201d Adam agreed. Joe had just confirmed his own thinking. \u201cBut perhaps you should try and give Nancy a wide berth while she\u2019s here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMakes sense to me,\u201d Joe replied and yawned once more. \u201cNight, Adam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can take a hint!\u201d Adam laughed. He ruffled Joe\u2019s hair. \u201cNight, Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Avoiding Nancy proved easier said than done. She came down to breakfast as Joe was finishing his the next morning and before Joe could make good his escape for the day, she had suggested to Ben that perhaps Joe could take her out in the buggy and show her the ranch while Ben and John reminisced about old times. \u201cAfter all, I wasn\u2019t there when you knew each other, and it\u2019s not fair to expect you to stop and explain who every person was, and not fair for me to expect you to.\u201d She pouted prettily and Ben thought again how pretty she was.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, if that\u2019s what you\u2019d like,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cJoe, go and hitch the buggy and wait for Mrs. Davidson.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir,\u201d Joe murmured and saw Ben\u2019s eyes shoot towards him as he rose from the table. \u201cCome out whenever you\u2019re ready, Ma\u2019am,\u201d he told their guest.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s such a lovely boy, Ben,\u201d Nancy gushed, as Joe left the house. \u201cSo handsome and kind. You must be very proud of him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud of all my boys,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cOh, I know none of them are boys now; they\u2019re all men grown, but a father still thinks of his sons as boys.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Joe\u2019s still a boy, surely,\u201d Nancy insisted. \u201cHe\u2019s no more than about 17, is he?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2019s 20,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cHe\u2019s grown up so fast, Nancy. It hardly seems any time since he was a small boy on Marie\u2019s lap.\u201d He sighed, thinking back to those last days with Marie, and so missed the scowl that crossed his guest\u2019s face at the mention of Marie\u2019s name.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt must have been so hard for Joe to grow up without a mother,\u201d Nancy muttered. \u201cDid you never think of marrying again to give him a mother?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI never found anyone else to love,\u201d Ben muttered, suddenly uncomfortable with the situation. \u201cAnd the boys and I have got by, as we always did.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt wouldn\u2019t matter with Adam and Hoss,\u201d Nancy replied. \u201cBut Joe needs a mother yet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Rather taken aback by this implied criticism, Ben wasn\u2019t sure what to say. But he was saved from replying by John\u2019s arrival downstairs. John kissed his wife\u2019s cheek and she smiled at him. \u201cI\u2019m just going for a buggy ride round the ranch, John, darling. You and Ben can talk till the cows come home.\u201d She put her hand to her mouth and giggled girlishly. \u201cI didn\u2019t really mean that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOff you go, my dear,\u201d John laughed. \u201cEnjoy your ride.\u201d He watched fondly as she left the house. \u201cIt was nice of you to get one of your men to take Nancy out today, Ben,\u201d he remarked as he sat down.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe is taking her, actually,\u201d Ben replied. He noticed John\u2019s face fall. \u201cJohn? Is this a problem?\u201d He quickly thought around the situation and wondered if he thought Joe was the type of man to chase another man\u2019s wife. He dismissed the thought at once. \u201cShe\u2019ll be quite safe,\u201d he went on, trying to reassure his friend.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure she will be,\u201d John replied and smiled. But as he began to eat, he wondered if Joe would be quite safe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

As he took Nancy around the Ponderosa, Joe became more and more uncomfortable. It wasn\u2019t that Nancy was sitting inappropriately close, or constantly touching him or making other overtly flirtatious moves; in fact, Joe didn\u2019t know why he was so uncomfortable with her. At first, he thought it was because she was talking down to him, but he\u2019d been patronized before by other people and although he didn\u2019t like it, he could tolerate it politely.<\/span><\/p>\n

As ever when he was troubled, Joe found himself heading towards the lake. It was a glorious day, although there was more air than there had been the previous day. A cool, refreshing breeze sprang up from the lake and Nancy sighed as Joe drew rein.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is perfect, Joe dear,\u201d Nancy smiled and patted his arm. Joe resisted the urge to pull his arm away.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s my favorite spot,\u201d he told her, glancing towards the glade of trees. \u201cI often come here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh how lovely of you to share it with me!\u201d Nancy exclaimed. \u201cIt is beautiful. What draws you here?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was my mother\u2019s favorite place,\u201d Joe explained. \u201cI think I remember her most clearly here.\u201d He studied his companion\u2019s scowling face and wondered why she had gone from happy to mad in a few short seconds. Desperately, he ploughed on. \u201cMy mother is buried just over there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour mother?\u201d Nancy echoed and there was something in her voice that made Joe almost \u2013 afraid. He shook off the feeling. Surely he was mistaken. \u201cWell, I\u2019ve seen enough,\u201d Nancy continued brusquely. \u201cTake me back, please.\u201d And although she phrased it in the form of a request, it was definitely an order.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, if that\u2019s what you want,\u201d Joe replied, and shook up the buggy horse. He was puzzled. What had made Nancy so angry? He couldn\u2019t think of a single thing he had said that was rude or out of place.<\/span><\/p>\n

There was no conversation on the way back and when they arrived in the yard, Nancy spurned Joe\u2019s offer of a hand down. Joe watched as she disappeared into the house. What had made her so mad?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

For the rest of the day, Joe kept himself busy and out of the way. He was dreading supper, sure that Nancy would have complained to Ben about him, although he still couldn\u2019t figure out why she had become suddenly angry. However, when he appeared, he found Nancy smiling and fawning over him again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Completely perplexed by her erratic behavior, Joe decided that he\u2019d misunderstood Nancy earlier that day and she had simply been tired, not angry. But now, John appeared to be angry with him and Joe didn\u2019t know why. He withdrew into himself and only spoke if directly addressed and after supper was over, he went straight to his room.<\/span><\/p>\n

This time, it was Hoss who knocked on his door and went in. \u201cYa all right, Shortshanks?\u201d Hoss asked kindly.\u00a0 \u201cYa left right suddenly. Ya ain\u2019t feelin\u2019 ill are ya?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m all right, thanks, Hoss,\u201d Joe replied, with a wan smile.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf yer sure,\u201d Hoss agreed doubtfully. Something about Joe\u2019s demeanor bothered him. He suddenly thought of something that would cheer Joe up. \u201cAin\u2019t it good news that Pa\u2019s persuaded John an\u2019 Nancy ta stay fer a few more days?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A feeling of dread swept over Joe and he could barely force out a smile. \u201cYes, good news,\u201d he agreed, although he thought he couldn\u2019t have sounded less convincing if he\u2019d tried.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nodding, Hoss left again. Joe sat on his bed and gazed blankly into the future. They were staying for a few more days. Joe didn\u2019t know why this news should upset him so much, but he wasn\u2019t sure how to bear it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Luckily for Joe, the next morning brought a wire from the Army, telling the Cartwrights that they would be passing through the neighborhood of the Ponderosa several days earlier than originally expected and they would like to look at the horses the Cartwrights had for sale. Joe had been working on a string for possible sale to the Army, but with other work cropping up, he had left the horses for later. Now, he set to work to get them all broken in time. Clearly, the horses wouldn\u2019t be as well schooled as the Army was accustomed to from the Cartwrights, but since they themselves were bringing forward the date for viewing the horses, they wouldn\u2019t expect the same amount of polish. It was a tailor-made legitimate excuse for Joe to avoid John and Nancy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Working with the horses did Joe the world of good. He was exercising his body and skills and relished the challenge. By the time he arrived home for supper that night, dusty, dirty and sweating, he was in a much better mood.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nancy pounced on him almost the moment he walked through the door. \u201cJoe! Where have you been all day? I missed my boy to keep me company.\u201d Then she took in the state he was in and her face grew grim. \u201cJoseph, what have you been doing? You\u2019re filthy and your shirt is ripped!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Rather taken aback by the pre-emptive tone, Joe stuttered, \u201cI-I\u2019ve been working!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWorking?\u201d Nancy echoed, disapproval in her tone. \u201cWhat kind of working involves getting so dirty?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHorse breaking!\u201d Joe snapped back. \u201cA lot of ranch work involves getting dirty, you know!\u201d He pushed past her, not caring if he was rude and almost ran to his room.<\/span><\/p>\n

Downstairs, Ben gaped at Joe\u2019s departing figure with an open mouth. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry!\u201d he exclaimed. \u201cNancy, I do apologize. I don\u2019t know what got into Joe. He isn\u2019t usually rude like that. I\u2019ll have a word with him!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe seems quite over-wrought,\u201d Nancy remarked. \u201cPerhaps he\u2019s working too hard, Ben?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps,\u201d Ben muttered, not liking the implied criticism in Nancy\u2019s tone. \u201cExcuse me.\u201d He went up stairs in Joe\u2019s wake.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa,\u201d Joe said, the instant the door opened. \u201cI know I shouldn\u2019t have been so rude to her, but did you hear the way she was going on at me? Who does she think she is \u2013 my mother?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

And as suddenly as that, the world seemed to stop and everything seemed to fall into place for Joe. For that was how Nancy was behaving \u2013 as though she was Joe\u2019s mother. As soon as he realized that, Joe understood why Nancy had become angry at the lake; Joe had mentioned his real mother.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blinking, Joe suddenly realized that Ben was talking to him and his tone was not pleasant. Joe bit his lip to stop himself interrupting, but he wasn\u2019t really listening to what Ben was saying \u2013 a fact of which his father was only too aware. Finally, he stopped talking and just glared at his youngest son.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I am sorry I\u2019m rude, but listen to me, please,\u201d Joe begged. Talking quickly, and keeping his eyes on his father\u2019s face throughout, Joe related the last day or so with Nancy and explained what he thought. Ben listened impatiently at first, but with more attention as Joe\u2019s hypothesis began to make sense to him, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can see what you\u2019re saying, Joe, and I think you might be right,\u201d Ben agreed, when Joe was quiet. \u201cNancy did say something to me about you needing a mother when she got here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut why?\u201d Joe burst out, not able to understand. \u201cWhat difference does it make to her?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Ben admitted. \u201cBut John told me they haven\u2019t been able to have children.\u201d He frowned thoughtfully as he wondered why Joe had triggered Nancy\u2019s maternal instincts. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Joe, but you\u2019ll just have to make the best of it while they are here. The next stage for San Francisco isn\u2019t for a few days. However, you\u2019ll be busy with the horses, so you won\u2019t see too much of Nancy. And in the meantime, you\u2019ll get changed and come downstairs and apologize.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut\u2026\u201d Joe began, but he recognized the look in his father\u2019s eye at once and wisely decided to say no more. \u201cYes, sir,\u201d he agreed, meekly. He began to strip off his torn, dirty shirt as his father left. Only when the door was safely shut and Joe thought Ben was out of hearing range did he add, \u201cIt\u2019s not fair!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Dismounting stiffly from the latest mustang he had broken, Joe became aware of movement beyond the corral rails and winced as he saw Nancy there. He had got through supper the previous evening without volunteering anything, and Nancy hadn\u2019t been up when he had breakfast that morning. He had hoped that he wouldn\u2019t see her at all that day until supper. As he handed the horse over to one of the hands, Nancy beckoned to him and called imperiously. \u201cJoe! Come here!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Stifling a sigh, Joe found a smile as he trekked across the corral. \u201cMorning, Nancy,\u201d he replied. \u201cDid you sleep well?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

His attempts to deflect her were for naught. \u201cYou didn\u2019t say goodbye to me this morning,\u201d Nancy chided him.\u00a0 \u201cI wanted to talk to you as well. It\u2019s important, Joe. John and I want you to come to San Francisco with us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d Joe blurted, without thinking. He realized a moment later, and hastily tried to make amends. \u201cI mean, thank you, that\u2019s very kind, but I can\u2019t leave the ranch right now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t mean for a trip,\u201d Nancy went on. One hand reached out and even though Joe was on the other side of the corral rails, she managed to briefly caress his cheek before Joe stepped back. \u201cI mean to live with us, so we can pay for your education and introduce you to society. You need a mother, Joe and you shouldn\u2019t be stuck here in this backwater. You\u2019d be my son, Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t do that,\u201d Joe replied, retreating another step. \u201cI thank you for the offer, but this is my home. I\u2019ve had all the formal education I want, thank you. And you\u2019re not my mother, Nancy. My mother died many years ago, and Pa has done everything for me since then. I can\u2019t leave.\u201d Joe could feel color burning in his face; he didn\u2019t think he had ever had to go through such an embarrassing interview with anyone. \u201cIf you\u2019ll excuse me?\u201d He didn\u2019t wait for an answer, but turned away across the corral, shouting, \u201cGet the next one ready.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Standing by the fence, Nancy was stunned. She was sure Joe would jump at the chance to escape his dull life on the ranch. She walked away as Joe climbed onto the next mustang. For a moment, she paused to watch as the animal bucked its way across the corral and finally dumped Joe. Nancy\u2019s breath caught, but Joe scrambled to his feet and waved to the hands to get the horse back in the chute for another attempt.<\/span><\/p>\n

By the time she had reached the ranch house again, Nancy had convinced herself that Joe would change his mind about her offer. It had simply taken him by surprise and he would allow himself to be talked around. After all, the boy needed a mother and there was no chance, as far as she could see, of Ben ever finding a suitable wife in Virginia City. No, she knew Joe would want to go with her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

As Joe dismounted from Cochise in the yard that evening, he could hear the murmur of voices coming from the open door of the house. It was incredibly warm that evening and Joe wanted nothing more than a good wash, some food and his bed. Breaking mustangs was hot, hard work, and doing it in hot weather made it even more punishing for man and beast.<\/span><\/p>\n

The barn was dim and musty, with dust motes dancing in the hot air. Joe saw Buck slumbering in his stall, but neither Chubb nor Sport was yet there, so Joe knew his brothers were not back. He led Cochise into his stall and a voice spoke from behind Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to speak to you again, Joe,\u201d Nancy said, coming towards him from behind the door. \u201cI\u2019m sure you\u2019ve had time to re-think our earlier conversation and your hasty response.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Biting back a groan, for Nancy couldn\u2019t have timed her ambush any better, Joe fought to remain polite. \u201cI\u2019m sorry if I was rude earlier,\u201d he replied. He saw the start of a smile on Nancy\u2019s face and hurried on. \u201cBut I haven\u2019t changed my mind and I\u2019m not going to change it. I don\u2019t want to go and live in San Francisco with you and John, although it is a very kind offer. My home is here on the ranch. This is where I want to be; this is what I want to do. I\u2019m sorry if it disappoints you, but the answer is no.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t need to pretend with me, Joe,\u201d Nancy told him earnestly, leaning closer to put her hand on his arm. Joe took a step back, no longer caring if that was rude. \u201cI know you really want to be my son. Your father won\u2019t mind, I know. In fact, I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll be glad to get you off his hands.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Up until that moment, Joe had been automatically taking care of his horse, stripping off the saddle and bridle and brushing the glossy black and white coat, completely unaware of his actions. But now, all movement ceased as Joe gazed in disbelief at Nancy. \u201cThat\u2019s not true!\u201d he protested. \u201cMy Pa has never thought I was a burden! He\u2019s never thought that of any of us!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure he wouldn\u2019t say it in so many words,\u201d Nancy agreed, \u201cbut he must find it very difficult to have three sons at home, reducing his chances of finding another wife. And you need a mother, Joe. I could be your mother.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t need a mother!\u201d Joe cried. \u201cI had a wonderful mother! I have Pa now and that\u2019s all I need. You\u2019ll never be my mother, and I\u2019ll never leave the ranch to live with you!\u201d Joe started towards Nancy, intending to leave the barn, but she was between him and the entrance to the stall. He hesitated. The last thing he wanted to do was touch her, but he steeled himself to do it and push past her. But then he heard hooves in the yard and knew that Adam and Hoss were home.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou think on it some more,\u201d Nancy told Joe, not noticeably perturbed by his hysterical refusal. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to decide today. But think, you could be quite a gentleman of society under my tutelage.\u201d She turned and left, calling out a greeting to Adam and Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

For a long instant, Joe stood frozen, feeling tears burning at the back of his eyes. Then Cochise nudged his master and Joe automatically fondled the mole-soft nose and began to brush his horse again. For a moment, his feelings overwhelmed him and he buried his face in Cochise\u2019s coarse mane.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Joe!\u201d Hoss called as he came into the barn. \u201cSure is hot, ain\u2019t it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Joe agreed, his voice thin. He lifted his face from the comfort of his horse and began brushing again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you all right?\u201d Adam asked. \u201cYou don\u2019t sound too good.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI guess I\u2019m just tired,\u201d Joe replied, still sounding strained. \u201cI think I\u2019ll just go to bed.\u201d He patted Cochise, checked that his horse had food and water (when had he done that, he wondered) and went into the house. Luckily, there was no one in the great room and he was able to go straight upstairs without encountering anyone. He threw himself down on the bed and contemplated the ceiling with burning eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cJoe?\u201d Ben opened the bedroom door and went in. There was no light on in the room and for an instant, Ben thought Joe was asleep. However, his son stirred and sat up, showing no signs of having been asleep. \u201cAre you all right?\u201d he asked. \u201cI was worried when your brothers said you didn\u2019t want any supper.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine, Pa,\u201d Joe replied, expressionlessly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t sound fine,\u201d Ben remarked, sitting down beside Joe. The room was close, despite the open window, and Joe was shirtless and his bare feet stuck out from beneath his pants. Ben put his hand on Joe\u2019s forehead, but there was no fever present.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just tired,\u201d Joe answered, but his stomach gave him away by giving a loud growl.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s more wrong than just that,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cCome on, Joe, out with it!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere isn\u2019t,\u201d Joe insisted. \u201cI am a bit hungry now, but I wasn\u2019t before.\u201d It was the truth. Joe had been so miserable, he hadn\u2019t felt any hunger.<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking at Joe closely, Ben knew that this wasn\u2019t the truth. Ben could read Joe like a book and his lies were always apparent to his parent at once. Ben thought back to other things that had been troubling Joe and said, \u201cIts Nancy, isn\u2019t, son?\u201d At the look of surprise on Joe\u2019s face, he smiled. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t hard to work out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Slowly, Joe repeated the two conversations he had had with the woman that day. \u201cI don\u2019t understand why she won\u2019t take no for an answer, Pa,\u201d he concluded.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t either,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cBut rest assured, Joe, you\u2019ve never been a burden to me! And you and your brothers have never hindered me in finding a new wife! I haven\u2019t looked particularly, as you know. Oh, yes, there have been women, but no one special. That has nothing to do with you boys. I don\u2019t want you to go unless that\u2019s what you want to do, Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI want to stay here!\u201d Joe cried. \u201cI don\u2019t want to be a society gent!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen stay,\u201d Ben told him, lovingly. \u201cThat\u2019s what I always hoped; that my sons would want to carry on my dream and stay here on the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I want, Pa,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cThat\u2019s all I\u2019ve ever wanted.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben drew Joe to him in a rough hug. \u201cThen stay,\u201d he smiled. \u201cAnd come downstairs and get the supper Hop Sing has made for you. Working those horses all day usually gives you quite an appetite, young man.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Pa,\u201d Joe replied and the animation in his face and voice told Ben that the crisis had passed for now.<\/span><\/p>\n

But as he followed Joe downstairs, Ben realized that it wasn\u2019t over for him. He would have to talk to John tomorrow and tell him that his wife was trying to steal a son.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Ben,\u201d John said wretchedly. \u201cWe\u2019ll leave in the morning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no need for that,\u201d Ben protested. \u201cBut I just thought you ought to know. Nancy has Joe very worried.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Raising his head, John met Ben\u2019s eyes for the first time. \u201cThis isn\u2019t the first time it\u2019s happened,\u201d he admitted. \u201cAbout a year after we were married, Nancy gave birth to a son. He lived for only a few hours, Ben, and Nancy has never got over his death. Quite often, about the time his birthday would have been, Nancy finds a boy of the right age, and tries to persuade him to come and live with us. She hasn\u2019t done it for a few years, but we\u2019ve never been able to have more family. The baby messed up Nancy\u2019s insides and she\u2019s grieved for him, and the babies she couldn\u2019t have, ever since. I\u2019m sorry she picked on Joe. I\u2019ll talk to her, I promise.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so sorry,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cBut thank you for speaking to her. And I insist you stay here.\u201d He patted John on the shoulder, not sorry the difficult interview was past.<\/span><\/p>\n

Outside, he caught Joe as the young man was about to leave for the breaking corrals. \u201cI\u2019ve spoken to John,\u201d he muttered, not wanting the others to overhear. \u201cHe\u2019s going to talk to Nancy. Joe, if she does say anything, be gentle with her. She\u2019s had a difficult time after losing a baby, all right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure thing, Pa,\u201d Joe replied, his face expressing his relief. \u201cSee you later.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBe careful,\u201d Ben warned.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI always am!\u201d Joe called back as he rode away.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cYou told him!\u201d Nancy screamed. \u201cJohn how could you! That had nothing to do with him!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNancy, you were doing it again,\u201d John replied, impatiently. \u201cYou were trying to steal Joe away from him. Can\u2019t you see the boy is happy here? Joe isn\u2019t our son, Nancy, and wishing won\u2019t make him so!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t trying to steal him away!\u201d Nancy shouted. \u201cI just wanted to be nice to him, that\u2019s all!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNancy, I\u2019ve made excuses for you all these years,\u201d John told her. \u201cI\u2019m as devastated as you are that we can\u2019t have children, but you can\u2019t go on grieving for the rest of your life! It\u2019s been 20 years! When are you going to accept that we aren\u2019t going to have children? I love you, Nancy, but I can\u2019t keep apologizing to parents who have been offended by the overtures you\u2019ve made to their sons. This has got to stop now, and I expect you to apologize to Joe and Ben before we leave here.\u201d Turning on his heel, John stalked out of the room and slammed the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thwarted in her desire to justify herself, Nancy threw herself down on the bed and began to cry.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

In mid-afternoon, Joe took the fall that finished him for the day. Joe was thrown over the mustang\u2019s head and to add injury to insult, the horse stepped on him on the way past. Joe let out a strangled scream as the hoof crashed down on his arm and lay there, feeling pulped, as the wranglers rode the horse down and cornered it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou all right, Joe?\u201d Jeb asked, leaning over his young boss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Joe agreed, shakily, not sounding convinced. He allowed Jeb to help him to his feet and knew at once that his arm was likely broken.\u00a0 He cradled it against him protectively. \u201cI guess I\u2019d better go home,\u201d he admitted through white lips and a pinched face.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll come with ya,\u201d Jeb insisted. \u201cHey, Pete, best ride inta town fer the doctor!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJeb, I\u2019m fine,\u201d Joe protested, but the older man just gave him a skeptical look and nodded to the hand, who mounted his horse and rode off towards town.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome on,\u201d Jeb said, with rough sympathy. \u201cI\u2019ll git ya home, then git yer pa.\u201d He helped Joe onto Cochise and, as they headed for home, rode close by. Joe was grateful; he felt dreadful and his arm throbbed mercilessly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCan you manage?\u201d Jeb asked as he helped Joe dismount. \u201cI\u2019ll put Cochise away an\u2019 git yer pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be fine,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cThanks, Jeb. Hop Sing should be in the house.\u201d He walked carefully across the yard and discovered when he got into the house that Hop Sing wasn\u2019t there. The house seemed to be deserted. Joe got himself some water from the kitchen pump and took a drink; his mouth seemed to be as dry as a desert.<\/span><\/p>\n

Walking across the great room, Joe decided against lying on the sofa. It wasn\u2019t really that comfortable for long periods and he was fairly sure that Doc Martin would want him in his bed, should his arm be broken and needing set. He mounted the stairs slowly wondering, not for the first time, why an injury to one part of the body seemed to drain the strength from the rest of it.<\/span><\/p>\n

His room was close, despite the open window. Joe felt sweat break out on his upper lip. He looked at his bed, but decided against lying down at once. He\u2019d slip his shirt and boots off and sit down in the chair by the window and make the most of the breeze while he waited for Ben to come. Joe hoped his Pa wouldn\u2019t be long, as he was beginning to wonder if he was going to be sick. The pain in his arm was intensifying.<\/span><\/p>\n

His arm looked horrific, Joe noted as he managed to get his shirt off. He fought with his queasy stomach as he looked at the swollen, blackened limb. He bit his lip as another wave of pain swept over him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Behind Joe, the door to his room opened and Joe looked around, a wan smile coming to his lips as he turned to greet his father. But it wasn\u2019t Ben. \u201cNancy,\u201d Joe muttered, surprised. He hadn\u2019t realized that she was in the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat have you done?\u201d Nancy demanded and hurried over to Joe. She took hold of his arm and gasped as she saw the injury. Joe winced and tried to pull his injured limb away, but Nancy held on, oblivious to the hurt she was causing. \u201cThis is not good enough!\u201d she scolded him. \u201cI\u2019ve made up my mind; you\u2019re coming with us, Joe and that is the end of it. Your so-called father can\u2019t take care of you and we can! We\u2019re leaving in the morning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally pulling free, Joe cradled his arm. \u201cMy father does take care of me!\u201d Joe denied. \u201cHow can you say he doesn\u2019t? I\u2019m a man, and I do a man\u2019s job. Sometimes that involves getting hurt. I\u2019m not going anywhere with you and that\u2019s final!\u201d He backed away. \u201cI\u2019m not your son, and I never will be! Now, please, leave me alone!\u201d He turned away, fighting to control the tears he could feel pricking his eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Enraged, and not sure she could believe her ears, Nancy gasped. How could her wonderful son claim that she wasn\u2019t his mother? What had living here done to his mind? \u201cJoe, you will come with me!\u201d she ordered and Joe didn\u2019t even bother to turn around.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I won\u2019t,\u201d he replied, firmly.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was the last straw. Nancy grabbed Joe\u2019s shoulder and swung him around to face her. \u201cYou\u2019re my son!\u201d she cried and slapped him hard.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s hand shot up to his face. \u201cNo I\u2019m not!\u201d he cried, no longer caring about her feelings. \u201cI\u2019m Joe Cartwright, and that\u2019s who I\u2019ll always be!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re mine!\u201d Nancy cried as she tried to embrace Joe. All she succeeded in doing was driving him further away. \u201cIf you can\u2019t be mine, you can\u2019t be anyone\u2019s!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLeave me alone!\u201d Joe cried. He was beginning to feel genuinely afraid of this wild-eyed, hysterical woman. Joe could feel his knees shaking and the pain from his arm was getting worse. He started to turn away, hoping Nancy would just leave. But she didn\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0She snatched up the first thing that came to hand \u2013 the lamp on Joe\u2019s bedside table. She crashed it down on his curly head and Joe groaned as he tumbled to the floor, out cold.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you aren\u2019t going to be my son, then you aren\u2019t going to be anyone\u2019s son!\u201d she vowed as she took a pillow from the bed and began to press it down on Joe\u2019s face.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Riding in to the yard, Ben left Jeb to tend to his horse and he hurried in to see Joe. His heart had skipped a beat when Jeb had told him that Joe had had a nasty fall from a horse and had probably broken his arm. However, he regained his usual poise after a moment and asked if the doctor had been sent for. He was reassured to learn that Pete had gone to town and he just hoped Paul Martin would be easily found.<\/span><\/p>\n

The great room was empty. \u201cJoe?\u201d Ben called, but got no answer. He went across to the stairs and hurried up. \u201cJoe?\u201d he called again when he reached the top, but again there was no answer.<\/span><\/p>\n

By now, Ben was deeply worried. It was entirely possible that Joe had not heard him when he had called downstairs. But it was impossible for Joe not to hear him from the top of the stairs and Ben was suddenly frightened that Joe had been more badly injured than Jeb had realized and had perhaps passed out.<\/span><\/p>\n

All but running along the hallway, Ben threw open Joe\u2019s door and gaped in horrified disbelief at the scene before him. Joe was stretched out on the floor, clearly unconscious, and Nancy was kneeling beside him, pressing a pillow firmly against his face. The shattered remains of the lamp lay on the floor and oil was pooling on the rug by Joe\u2019s head.<\/span><\/p>\n

Racing across the room, Ben grabbed Nancy by the arm and tried to drag her away. She resisted, screaming in primeval passion at Ben, who was astounded by her strength. But he had to succeed. Ben hauled on her arm and she clawed at his face for a moment, before resuming pressing down on the pillow with all her might.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben had no choice. He bunched his fist and punched her right on the chin. Nancy let out a scream as she toppled backwards, and Ben took a precious second to snatch the pillow from Joe\u2019s face. But he had no chance to tend to his son, for Nancy was coming back at him again. \u201cHe\u2019s mine!\u201d she screamed. \u201cMine! You\u2019re not getting him!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ducking another wild swipe at his face from her nails, Ben grabbed Nancy\u2019s wrists and held her at arms\u2019 length. \u201cJeb!\u201d he shouted, hoping the hand had come into the house, or would hear him through the open window. \u201cJeb!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Miraculously, fortunately, Jeb had indeed followed his employer inside. He wanted to see how Joe was doing and he ran up the stairs, following the sound of Ben\u2019s voice. He took in the scene at a glance and raced over to pinion Nancy\u2019s arms to her side. Nancy fought him, the sounds coming from her mouth no longer having a meaning. \u201cGet her out of here!\u201d Ben ordered and knelt hastily by Joe\u2019s side.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s face was waxen. Ben laid his head on his son\u2019s chest. Joe\u2019s heart was beating, although the rhythm seemed a bit slow to Ben. He sat up, relieved that his son was still breathing, although Joe\u2019s lips looked slightly blue. Ben didn\u2019t want to move him; he had no idea how badly Nancy had hurt Joe so he contented himself to sit and wait for his son to rouse.<\/span><\/p>\n

It took a few minutes before Joe began to stir. Ben had checked Joe over and had seen the cut along the side of Joe\u2019s head, just above his ear. It bled profusely and Ben, even though he knew a little blood goes a long way, was worried that Joe was bleeding to death. He quickly took Joe\u2019s wash cloth to staunch the flow of blood and the pressure on the wound brought Joe back to consciousness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, can you hear me? It\u2019s Pa.\u201d Ben bent over Joe, seeking reassurance that his son was all right.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d Joe muttered. His eyes flickered open. \u201cWhat\u2026? Where\u2026?\u201d He groaned. \u201cMy face hurts,\u201d he whispered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t try to move,\u201d Ben warned him. \u201cJust stay still. The doctor should be here soon. Do you remember what happened?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe horse\u2026stood on me,\u201d Joe replied, slowly. Then his eyes opened wide. \u201cNancy!\u201d he exclaimed. \u201cPa\u2026 Nancy\u2026\u201d Joe was unable to articulate what had happened.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all right,\u201d Ben soothed. \u201cYou\u2019ve got a nasty cut on your head, Joe, but I think you\u2019ll be all right. Just stay still till the doctor comes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy nose\u2026is really sore,\u201d Joe complained. He started to lift his hand to feel it, but Ben stopped him. Judging from the way Joe\u2019s eyes were beginning to bruise, and the swelling around his nose, Ben thought Joe\u2019s nose was broken. He shuddered as he thought of what would have happened to Joe if he had been just a minute longer in coming home. Joe would have died.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben wished he had never invited Nancy into his home.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Both Ben and Joe were thoroughly fed up of being on the floor when Paul Martin finally arrived. Joe was sore from his fall and lying on the floor had allowed everything to stiffen up. His litany of complaints had become longer and louder as the hours passed and Ben had tried to keep his son soothed, not pointing out that his own legs were cramping from kneeling by Joe\u2019s side.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat have we here?\u201d Paul cried cheerfully as he came into the room. \u201cI was told you\u2019d fallen off a horse, Joe, not fallen out of bed!\u201d He came over and saw at once from Ben\u2019s face that his joke had mis-fired. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Slowly, Ben explained, keeping a tight grip on Joe\u2019s hand as he told of Nancy trying to smother Joe.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s eyes widened as far as they could, allowing for the swelling and bruising. Ben had managed to keep that from him while they waited for Paul to arrive.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI see,\u201d Paul nodded grimly. He felt all round Joe\u2019s head and neck, before finally saying, \u201cAll right, let\u2019s get him onto the bed. Joe, you just lie there and let us do the work, all right?\u201d Joe nodded. Between them, Ben and Paul lifted Joe and he sighed with relief as the soft mattress cradled his aching body.<\/span><\/p>\n

With Joe off the floor, Paul\u2019s examination went more quickly. Ben hovered anxiously. \u201cAll right,\u201d Paul finally said, straightening. \u201cJoe, as you know, your right forearm is broken and I\u2019m going to set it and plaster it in a minute. Your nose is broken too, I\u2019m afraid, so I\u2019ll have to set it as well. I\u2019m going to put a stitch in the gash by your ear, and I expect you\u2019ll have a headache for a day or two. But apart from that, you seem to be perfectly fine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank goodness,\u201d Ben breathed and smiled at Joe, blinking back tears of relief.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid\u2026she\u2026break my nose when she tried to\u2026kill\u2026me?\u201d Joe asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Paul replied, calmly, as he took out the things he would need. He smoothly shot a dose of morphine into Joe\u2019s thigh. \u201cYou were lucky, Joe. From the sounds of things, if your Pa had been another minute longer getting here, you\u2019d have died.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Blinking as the painkiller began to sweep through his system, Joe reached for his father. \u201cPa\u2026\u201d he muttered, sleepily.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHush, Joe,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cYou don\u2019t need to say anything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI love you,\u201d Joe breathed and he slipped into a drugged sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Setting the bones was an unpleasant business, but Paul did it as quickly as he could. Soon, Joe\u2019s right arm rested in a cast and sling. His nose was packed with cotton, and Paul had made a small cast for it, too. Joe was such a handsome boy; he didn\u2019t want anything to mar his looks even slightly.<\/span><\/p>\n

After his work on Joe was finished, Paul looked at Ben and the two men silently acknowledged that they now had to deal with Nancy. Ben bent over the still-sleeping Joe and caressed his head briefly before following Paul out of Joe\u2019s room.<\/span><\/p>\n

They found Nancy and John in the downstairs bedroom. Hoss and Adam were sitting in front of the fire. Both leapt to their feet when Ben came down, but apart from telling them that their brother would be all right, he said nothing more. \u201cGo and sit with Joe, both of you,\u201d Ben asked, but it sounded like an order. Reluctantly, they obeyed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nancy was stretched out on the bed, her eyes open and fixed on the ceiling. John was holding her hand, but it seemed plain to Ben that Nancy wasn\u2019t even aware of her husband\u2019s presence. \u201cJohn, this is Doctor Martin,\u201d Ben explained. He stepped aside to let Paul go closer. Ben felt that he couldn\u2019t even look at Nancy.<\/span><\/p>\n

The examination didn\u2019t take long. \u201cShe seems to be cataleptic right now,\u201d Paul stated. He saw the confused looks on his listeners\u2019 faces and explained. \u201cThat means she\u2019s in a trance-like state. Right now, I can\u2019t say more than that. Unless Nancy talks to me, there\u2019s no way to assess if she\u2019s had a complete mental breakdown or not. But I would suspect, from what Ben and Joe have told me, that is what has happened.\u201d He patted John\u2019s shoulder sympathetically. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, but I think you\u2019ll have to put her into an asylum.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d John cried. Tears stood in his eyes. \u201cThose places are horrible!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I know,\u201d Paul agreed quietly. \u201cBut it\u2019s the best place for her. Ben says that she has done something like this before?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Slowly, the whole tale came out once more. \u201cBut she didn\u2019t really want to steal those boys, doctor,\u201d John told him, his eyes pleading for understanding. \u201cShe just wanted to offer them a good life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure she did,\u201d Paul replied. \u201cBut now, Nancy has gone too far. She tried to kill Joe. Mr. Davidson, I\u2019m sorry, but if you don\u2019t have Nancy committed to an asylum, she\u2019ll have to stand trial for attempted murder.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For a long moment, John Davidson just stared at Paul, then tears began to trickle down his face. \u201cWhatever you think best,\u201d he whispered, finally admitting that his wife was not sane. He glanced briefly at Ben. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry,\u201d he added.<\/span><\/p>\n

Compassion gripped Ben and put his hand on John\u2019s shoulder. He couldn\u2019t imagine how hard it must be for his friend. \u201cIt\u2019s not your fault, John,\u201d he replied, his own voice breaking as he remembered how close he had come to losing Joe. He squeezed John\u2019s shoulder for a moment before he left the room, unable to stay a moment longer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cSo what\u2019s going to happen now?\u201d Joe asked. He was ostensibly eating his breakfast, but since he was unable to breathe through his nose, he had decided to give up on it for the moment.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPaul has found a place for Nancy,\u201d Ben replied, tapping Joe\u2019s plate as an indication that he wanted his son to eat some more. Reluctantly, Joe forked some eggs into his mouth, taking a deep breath before he did so.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s John going to do?\u201d Adam asked, regarding Joe with an amused smile on his face.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Ben admitted, trying to signal to Adam that Joe was self-conscious enough about gasping his way through this meal without his oldest brother showing his amusement. \u201cHe isn\u2019t sure if he ought to stay here and hope that Nancy recovers, or move on and leave her behind.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs there a chance Nancy can recover?\u201d Adam asked, forgetting all about Joe. \u201cIf she does recover, she\u2019ll stand trial, surely?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI would think so,\u201d Ben agreed, noticing that Joe was trying a little bit of bacon, now that he wasn\u2019t under scrutiny. \u201cPaul thinks it\u2019s unlikely she will recover. He thinks that, perhaps, she has been going downhill for several years. She was obsessed by the death of her baby and never got over it. Grief began to take over her mind until she completely lost her grip on reality.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very sad,\u201d Hoss commented. \u201cJoe, ya want a hand ta cut up that bacon?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, please, Hoss,\u201d Joe nodded, and passed his plate across. \u201cJust don\u2019t eat any of it!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYa was makin\u2019 such a meal o\u2019 it, I thought ya weren\u2019t gonna eat it,\u201d Hoss joked and Joe stuck his tongue out at his brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll break your nose, and you see how you like it, you big galoot!\u201d Joe retorted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t reach that far!\u201d Adam teased.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sitting back and watching as his sons verbally sparred over the end of the meal, Ben thought about John and Nancy. Even if John decided to stay in Virginia City, Ben knew that their friendship was over. John had been so embarrassed that he had moved out of the Ponderosa immediately, accompanying Paul Martin to the asylum, and then moving into a boarding house. Ben had done his best to persuade him to come back to the ranch, but John refused. The next day, Ben had tried again, but this time John flat refused to see him. Ben took the hint, although his heart was heavy. He did not blame John for any of this. It was no one\u2019s fault, yet he could see why his friend felt so bad. Perhaps in time, John would come round, if he stayed. Privately, Ben thought that John would move elsewhere.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIts time we were getting to work,\u201d he announced, breaking into the teasing. Adam and Hoss both took the hint at once, rising and leaving the table. Ben looked at Joe. \u201cHow are you, son?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine, Pa,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cExcept\u2026\u201d His voice trailed off and Ben\u2019s heart sank. What on earth was Joe going to say? He thought that Joe was doing well accepting that Nancy hadn\u2019t known what she was doing. Had he been wrong? Was Joe really not coping?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Ben asked, apprehensively.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen does this packing come out of my nose?\u201d Joe complained. \u201cIt\u2019s been two days, Pa, and I\u2019m really fed up of not being able to breathe!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Smiling, Ben patted his son\u2019s arm. \u201cPatience, Joe,\u201d he counseled. \u201cPatience!\u201d He rose and left the table. Joe sat there with his mouth open. \u201cClose your mouth, Joe,\u201d he added and was delighted to see his son splutter indignantly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa!\u201d he cried, as Ben made a hasty exit. \u201cThat\u2019s not fair!\u201d Joe exclaimed, as he watched the door shut. \u201cWhen I can\u2019t help chewing with my mouth open, I get into trouble for it!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLife not fair,\u201d Hop Sing advised the youth as he cleared the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s still not fair!\u201d Joe muttered as he went over to pick up his book. Then he frowned, remembering that he hadn\u2019t quite finished eating. He turned to the table and saw that his plate was gone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe slumped onto the sofa. \u201cIt\u2019s not fair!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

*****End*****<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: A chance meeting with someone Ben once knew brings problems to the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n

Rated: \u00a0T \u00a0(8,955 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":1242,"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_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23],"tags":[14,15,17,16],"class_list":["post-1203","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","tag-adam-cartwright","tag-ben","tag-hoss","tag-joe","wpcat-23-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2160,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza31.jpg?fit=573%2C389&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6768,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6768","url_meta":{"origin":1203,"position":0},"title":"A Deadly Day (by rosecartwright)","author":"rosecartwright","date":"November 4, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Joe is home sick, but things go downhill for this young Cartwright. \u00a0 Rated:\u00a0K+ (635 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","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\/11\/2-joe.jpg?fit=237%2C221&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5392,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5392","url_meta":{"origin":1203,"position":1},"title":"The Ballad of Ben Cartwright (by ansinico)","author":"ansinico","date":"May 1, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0l have put my own words to the\u00a0air of an Irish drinking song, \u00a0'The Wild Rover' also called 'No Nay Never' \u00a0l hope you like it. 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Rating:\u00a0 R\u00a0 (65,725 words) Due to subject matter contained in this series, the stories are only available via e:mail from the author -- ryjennie@comcast.net","rel":"","context":"In "Action\/Adventure"","block_context":{"text":"Action\/Adventure","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=2"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/4Cs.jpg?fit=400%2C401&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7623,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7623","url_meta":{"origin":1203,"position":3},"title":"Seeing An Angel (by DJK)","author":"DJK","date":"May 9, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0A girl from Marie\u2019s past has something for Little Joe. Rated:\u00a0T\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Word count:\u00a0 1351","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","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\/2016\/10\/guardian-angel.jpg?fit=250%2C233&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2951,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2951","url_meta":{"origin":1203,"position":4},"title":"The End (by faust)","author":"faust","date":"June 8, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"It's the end. The end of everything--or is it? No KAOS in this story. 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