{"id":1212,"date":"2005-05-04T00:30:21","date_gmt":"2005-05-04T04:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1212"},"modified":"2026-07-30T14:41:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T18:41:24","slug":"stranger-things","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1212","title":{"rendered":"Stranger Things (by Rona)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: <\/strong>Returning home from Placerville, Joe is attacked and left to die.<\/p>\n

Rated: \u00a0T \u00a0 (6,915 words)<\/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.<\/p>\n

Stranger Things\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was morning again and he knew that he would eat the last of his meager rations that day. Not that he hadn\u2019t tried to spin them out \u2013 he had done everything short of starve himself. But now, it was snowing and his leg still wasn\u2019t healed enough to allow him to walk out of here. He thought that by the time anyone found him, he would be long dead. It wasn\u2019t a comforting thought.<\/p>\n

The effort of moving off the bunk to get himself some water was almost more than he could do, but he knew he needed water. The daily trip to the stream had been just one more torture that he had had to endure to survive. Survival was the name of the game here. The fact that he had caught himself thinking about death showed just how much the cold and his injuries had sapped his strength. But he had to face it; he was never going to get home again. There was no way he could survive the winter in this shack.<\/p>\n

Rising painfully to his feet, the young man hopped carefully across the small shack and peered into the water bucket. There was enough in the bottom to let him have a mouthful. Or there would be if it wasn\u2019t frozen solid. Sighing, the young man poked up the fire in the stove and put in the last of his firewood. That was something else he would have to replenish that day and he really wasn\u2019t equipped for the cold weather.<\/p>\n

There was no point in putting off the chores, he decided. The snow was starting to come down a bit heavier. It wasn\u2019t lying as yet \u2013 it was too wet for that \u2013 but the situation could change by afternoon. Shrugging on the lightweight jacket that was the only outdoor gear he had, Joe Cartwright stepped out into the frigid morning.<\/p>\n

**********<\/p>\n

It had started out as a selling trip. Joe and Rod, one of the hands, had taken six horses across to Placerville to sell to a friend of Ben\u2019s. The journey had gone smoothly, as had the transaction itself. After spending the night in Placerville, Joe and Rod had had a hearty breakfast, stocked up on a few supplies to get them back to the ranch and set off. It was when they reached the edge of the ranch and were preparing to stop for the night that Rod proved that he wasn\u2019t the most reliable of companions.<\/p>\n

One moment, Joe was riding along, planning their stop for the night, the next he was face down on the ground with a splitting headache. Moving slowly, Joe discovered that his right leg was agonizingly painful below his knee and when he moved, he guessed that it was broken. Panting against the pain, Joe lifted his head and saw Rod rifling through his saddlebags. \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d he cried, reaching for his gun. It was missing from his holster.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s the money?\u201d Rod demanded, whirling to glare down on his boss. Joe spotted his missing weapon sticking in the waistband of Rod\u2019s pants. Rod threw the saddlebags at Joe when they failed to yield what he was looking for.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat money?\u201d Joe replied, not having the least idea what Rod was referring to.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be stupid, Cartwright!\u201d Rod snapped. He took a step towards Joe and drew his gun. \u201cWhere\u2019s the money from the sale of the horses?\u201d<\/p>\n

For a moment, Joe didn\u2019t know if he was going to laugh or groan. He did neither. \u201cIn the bank,\u201d he muttered. \u201cI put it in the bank!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Rod roared, the despair clear in his voice. He kicked Joe hard in the ribs. \u201cYou moron! That wasn\u2019t part of the plan!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat plan?\u201d Joe gasped.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat plan!\u201d Rod scoffed. \u201cYou really are stupid!\u201d He shoved his gun back into his holster and leaned over Joe, grabbing the front of his jacket. Joe cried out as the pain flared up his leg, leaving the world grey and monochromed. He vaguely felt hands going through his jacket pockets, then the world went dark as he was dropped to the ground.<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t know how much time had passed when he opened his eyes. Long enough that he was completely alone on the trail apart from his saddlebags, which lay a few feet away. Rod and both the saddle horses were gone. Joe felt horribly sick as he remembered what had happened and checked his pockets. The few dollars that he had had on him were gone.<\/p>\n

As the rain began to fall, Joe realized that he couldn\u2019t lie on the trail all night. He had no bedroll, no slicker and no shelter. Shelter was what he needed most. He forced himself to think through the aching of his head and remembered that he wasn\u2019t that far from the line shack where he had intended to stay the night.<\/p>\n

But \u2018not that far\u2019 was now an objective term. It had been no distance at all on horseback. It wouldn\u2019t be that far on foot. But with a broken leg, it might as well be the moon. Discouraged by the thought, Joe continued to lie on the trail for a while longer. However, his natural tendency towards action reasserted itself and he knew he had to do something! Dragging himself through the dirt, he made it to the saddlebags \u2013 a small but important victory.<\/p>\n

Grasping them firmly in one hand, Joe started to crawl determinedly towards the nearest shelter.<\/p>\n

**************<\/p>\n

Sometime in the early hours of the morning, an exhausted, soaking wet Joe Cartwright managed to drag his weary, pain-filled body over the threshold of the line shack. He had no idea how many hours it had taken him to traverse the few miles, or even how many times he had passed out while doing so. But he counted it a victory to have reached shelter at all.<\/p>\n

Hauling himself onto the low cot, Joe wrapped himself in the threadbare blanket lying there and closed his eyes. He was exhausted, bone weary, but sleep wouldn\u2019t come at once. Slowly, his body cooled and he began to shiver relentlessly. As he clenched his jaw against the pain and to stop his teeth chattering, Joe found himself thinking again about Rod and the callous way he had left. Joe gently fingered the lump on the back of his head. The surge of anger that flooded through his veins warmed Joe considerably and he finally slid into a deep slumber.<\/p>\n

************<\/p>\n

Daylight was long established when Joe finally awoke to the insistent pressure of his bladder. He groaned as he looked around, memory coming back immediately. His head still ached and his leg\u2026 Joe thought it was best not to think about his leg if at all possible.<\/p>\n

Of course, that was a forlorn hope, as his leg immediately became his main concern as he tried to stand. The pain was horrific and his leg refused to hold his weight. Joe\u2019s pants were torn and dirty from his crawl the night before, but there didn\u2019t appear to be much blood on them and none around the area where he thought the break was, so he took what comfort he could from it. Finding an old broom in the corner, Joe utilized it as a crutch. He hopped slowly outside the shack and relieved himself behind the nearest tree, smiling wry as he did so. Who was going to see him away out in the middle of nowhere, after all? But habit prevailed.<\/p>\n

After he was through, Joe got himself back into the shack and rested again. He rummaged through his saddlebags for something to eat and forced down a few mouthfuls of jerky. He had almost no food and when he rose to check the cupboard in the shack, he found that it hadn\u2019t been restocked. There was a small amount of flour and one helping of beans and that was it.<\/p>\n

Fighting the despair, Joe hunted around some more and found an old canteen. It smelt rather fusty inside, but there was still some water in it, so Joe hoped that it was still watertight. He knew where the stream was and reached for his crutch. Water was essential to survival.<\/p>\n

The short afternoon wore quickly away as Joe got himself water and firewood. He was shivering violently by the time he got back to the shack for the night. Putting an icy-cold hand against his head, Joe wondered if he was running a temperature, or if his hand was just very cold. He didn\u2019t allow the thought that both things might be correct.<\/p>\n

With a fire going at last, Joe shirked his jacket and sat down by the stove. He rested his broken leg on a chair, but he quickly found the discomfort behind his knee unbearable. He returned to the cot and lay down again.<\/p>\n

Sleep swiftly claimed him.<\/p>\n

************<\/p>\n

It was colder the next day. Joe stayed inside, conserving his water and firewood as much as possible. He used two straight sticks to form a loose splint, but spent the day resting. When darkness fell, he ate the last of the beans. They lay heavily on his queasy stomach for some time before he was sure he wasn\u2019t going to throw them back up.<\/p>\n

Joe was bored. He seldom spent time doing just nothing. He was either riding or working or reading or playing checkers or chess with his brothers and father. Although he liked his own company, he was gregarious and loved the company of others. Joe was basically immobilized and had no one to talk to and nothing to do. Time hung heavy on his hands.<\/p>\n

***************<\/p>\n

All the next day, Joe looked at his last remaining strip of jerky. He counted himself fortunate that he felt too ill to want to eat it, as it was the only thing he had left. His temperature had climbed that day and he spent most of it asleep, waking often from a restless doze and finding himself thoroughly exhausted by nightfall. He drank the last of his water just after dark.<\/p>\n

Morning brought little improvement. His temperature was down a little bit, but by the time he had got some water and wood, it was climbing again. Once more, he just looked at the jerky. It looked incredibly unappetizing and all that went into Joe\u2019s stomach that day was water.<\/p>\n

That night, he dreamed of being at home.<\/p>\n

************<\/p>\n

It was morning again and he knew that he would eat the last of his meager rations that day. Not that he hadn\u2019t tried to spin them out \u2013 he had done everything short of starve himself. But now, it was snowing and his leg still wasn\u2019t healed enough to allow him to walk out of here. He thought that by the time anyone found him, he would be long dead. It wasn\u2019t a comforting thought.<\/p>\n

The effort of moving off the bunk to get himself some water was almost more than he could do, but he knew he needed water. The daily trip to the stream had been just one more torture that he had had to endure to survive. Survival was the name of the game here. The fact that he had caught himself thinking about death showed just how much the cold and his injuries had sapped his strength. But he had to face it; he was never going to get home again. There was no way he could survive the winter in this shack.<\/p>\n

Rising painfully to his feet, the young man hopped carefully across the small shack and peered into the water bucket. There was enough in the bottom to let him have a mouthful. Or there would be if it wasn\u2019t frozen solid. Sighing, the young man poked up the fire in the stove and put in the last of his firewood. That was something else he would have to replenish that day and he really wasn\u2019t equipped for the cold weather.<\/p>\n

There was no point in putting off the chores, he decided. The snow was starting to come down a bit heavier. It wasn\u2019t lying as yet \u2013 it was too wet for that \u2013 but the situation could change by afternoon. Shrugging on the lightweight jacket that was the only outdoor gear he had, Joe Cartwright stepped out into the frigid morning.<\/p>\n

************<\/p>\n

He did not expect to see the sight that met his eyes as he stepped over the threshold. Joe gaped in amazement. \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d he demanded at last, not sure if he was hallucinating or not.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t get any ideas, Cartwright,\u201d Rod snarled. He was dirty and unshaven, but Joe knew that he looked no better himself. \u201cI\u2019m not a murderer. Here\u2019s your nag.\u201d He jerked on the rein in his hand and Joe saw Cochise take a step forward.<\/p>\n

If anyone had asked what Joe wanted, he would have replied a way to get home. Having his attacker suddenly appear and bring him what he wanted was overwhelming. Taking a grip on his emotions, Joe refused to allow himself to rejoice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t understand,\u201d he murmured. \u201cHow did you find me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA blind man could\u2019ve followed the trail you left,\u201d Rod returned, scornfully. \u201cAnd I told you \u2013 I\u2019m not a murderer. Your nag\u2019s too distinctive to sell around here. I don\u2019t want a price on my head for causing your death, Cartwright. I know your father \u2013 he would hunt for me to the ends of the earth.\u201d Rod stepped down from his horse. He gestured to the broom Joe was using as a crutch. \u201cBusted your leg?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you care?\u201d Joe retorted, clutching the broom tightly and bracing himself to swing it at Rod should the need arise.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t,\u201d Rod agreed. \u201cBut if its busted, you ain\u2019t gonna get on that nag by yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re gonna help me?\u201d Joe scoffed. He swung the broom at Rod, but the other man saw it coming and sidestepped it easily, dodging round it to push Joe. Unbalanced, Joe toppled to the ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am gonna help you,\u201d Rod panted, as he knelt by Joe. \u201cYou\u2019re an ungrateful son-of-a-bitch, but I\u2019m still gonna help you! I\u2019m even gonna give you your gun back, but you aren\u2019t gonna have the chance to shoot me down.\u201d He pulled a length of rawhide from his belt and bound Joe\u2019s hands in front of him. Joe did his best to resist, but he was weak. He lay helplessly on the ground as Rod brought Cochise over to him. \u201cJust remember that I could\u2019ve let you die out here,\u201d Rod grunted, as he hoisted Joe onto Cochise.<\/p>\n

There was nothing Joe could say in reply. His head was whirling madly and he wondered if he was going to be sick. He was vaguely aware of the weight of his gun in his holster once more and of Rod forcing his fingers to close around the reins. The end of the thong was tied to the saddle horn. Then Cochise started to move and pain exploded through Joe\u2019s leg. The world grayed around him and when he next opened his eyes, the line shack was no longer in sight and he was alone on his horse.<\/p>\n

There was no real need for Joe to guide Cochise. The horse was quite capable of taking Joe home. But Joe wanted to get home that day, not after Cochise had meandered his way home, grazing here, sheltering there. Despite the falling snow, Joe kept urging his horse on at a steady pace, fighting his queasy stomach and the agonizing pain.<\/p>\n

By late afternoon, Joe no longer had any idea where they were. Keeping his eyes open was almost beyond him and he rode in a kind of daze. The pain in his leg was constant, sapping his dwindling strength, and the makeshift splint was long gone somewhere back on the trail. The snow had continued falling, softly and quietly covering the landscape in a blanket of pristine white.<\/p>\n

Joe was cold; so cold. He wanted to stop and get off his horse, but his numb fingers had been unable to manipulate the knots that kept him a captive on his saddle. He was slumped down over the horse\u2019s neck, and it was only the warmth of the animal\u2019s flesh that kept him from freezing. He was too dazed to notice Cochise\u2019s pace picking up as the horse caught the scent of home.<\/p>\n

**************<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought Joe would have been home the night before last,\u201d Ben fretted. \u201cOr even the night before that. The wire from Placerville said he would.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe the weather caught him out and he\u2019s sheltering,\u201d Adam offered, trying to comfort, but knowing the effort was useless. If Joe had been caught out by the weather, he was in big trouble and there was probably nothing that they could do.<\/p>\n

Shooting Adam a dark look, Ben rose restlessly to his feet to pace. The snow was early this year. It wasn\u2019t lying deeply around the house and might well melt again in a few days time. But with Joe out there somewhere and to all intents and purposes lost, Ben was more worried by the snow than he would usually have been.<\/p>\n

Rising also, Hoss muttered, \u201cI reckon I\u2019ll go check on Chubb again.\u201d His black gelding had taken a bad step that morning and his fetlock had blown up dramatically. Hoss had slowly walked the animal home and put a poultice on the injury.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll help you,\u201d Adam offered, wanting to get out of the great room for a few minutes.<\/p>\n

Together, the brothers went out into the swirling snow, both of them reminded of how much Joe loved to be out in the first snowfall of the winter. They had never understood the attraction, but it never failed. Joe was thoroughly charmed by the snow and always had to be out.<\/p>\n

The barn was quite warm, the horses raising sleepy eyes to their masters as they entered with the lamp. Hoss hung the lantern on a peg and crossed to Chubb, caressing the mole-soft nose and running his hand down the silky neck. He slipped into the stall and crouched down to look at the injured leg.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019s it look?\u201d Adam asked softly, feeling the tension leach out of his muscles. There was something so soothing about the partially lit barn.<\/p>\n

\u201cSwellin\u2019s down a bit,\u201d Hoss replied. \u201cReckon he\u2019ll be out a work fer a few more days, though.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably,\u201d Adam agreed. He put an extra arm load of hay into Chubb\u2019s manger. He had already done the same for Sport and Buck.<\/p>\n

A cold draft insinuated itself through the almost-closed barn door and Buck suddenly pricked his ears and whinnied low in his chest. Sport and Chubb both looked interestedly towards the door, too. Exchanging a look, both Adam and Hoss moved away from Chubb\u2019s stall so they could see what had drawn their horses\u2019 attention so thoroughly.<\/p>\n

A black and white nose poked through the gap in the door and moments later, Cochise showed off one of his tricks by managing to get the door completely open and walking into the barn. Slumped along his back, unconscious and blue-lipped, was Joe.<\/p>\n

**************<\/p>\n

It only took a couple of slashes with Hoss\u2019 knife and a few moments to free Joe\u2019s hands. Hoss carefully tugged his younger brother from the saddle into Adam\u2019s waiting arms. Without speaking, they hurried to the house, Adam moving quite deliberately under Joe\u2019s dead weight in the uncertain footing. Hoss threw open the house door and ushered his brothers in.<\/p>\n

Ben started up from his chair by the fire, his mouth hanging open in surprise. \u201cJoe?\u201d he stuttered.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s pretty cold,\u201d Adam panted. His brother might be slender, but he was muscular, too and heavier than he looked. \u201cI think we might need the doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll send someone an\u2019 see ta the horse,\u201d Hoss offered, turning and hurrying out of the door again.<\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing!\u201d Ben cried, his eyes fixed on his son\u2019s still, pale face. He dragged his eyes away as he heard Hop Sing come from the kitchen. \u201cWe need hot water bottles, quickly!\u201d he urged. \u201cAnd warm water, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight away,\u201d Hop Sing nodded. He felt his heart contract as he saw the pale, unmoving features of the son that he secretly loved best.<\/p>\n

Upstairs, Adam laid Joe on the bed and started to take off his sodden clothes. \u201cWe\u2019ll need a fire, Pa,\u201d he suggested as Ben came into the room, but he saw at once that his words weren\u2019t needed. Ben carried a flaming branch from the fire downstairs and he put it to the ready-laid kindling in Joe\u2019s fireplace.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s so cold,\u201d Ben worried, as they quickly removed Joe\u2019s boots. Even drawing his pants down over the broken limb didn\u2019t elicit a response. Instinctively, he gathered Joe to him. For the first time, the younger man responded, snuggling in closer to the heat of Ben\u2019s body.<\/p>\n

It took only moments to wrap Joe in a down comforter and several blankets while they waited for Hop Sing to bring up the hot water bottles. Adam, at a loss as to what to do, chafed Joe\u2019s hands, trying to restore the circulation. He was horrified to see that Joe\u2019s nail beds were quite blue, like his lips.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t the first time the Cartwrights had seen hypothermia. It was a fairly regular occurrence, especially amongst Easterners who were experiencing their first Nevada winter. They knew the dangers of being too cold; they knew the dangers of heating someone up again. When the hot water bottles came, they tucked them carefully around Joe.<\/p>\n

During the four hours it took for Doc Martin to arrive, Ben and Adam repeatedly washed Joe down with warm water, one limb at a time, avoiding only the obvious break in his right leg. Joe\u2019s level of awareness improved gradually, until he was moaning regularly, with his eyelids fluttering at sounds. As Paul leant over the bed, he was relieved to see that most of the terrifying blue duskiness reported to him had gone from Joe\u2019s lips and extremities.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve done all the right things,\u201d Paul told Ben, Adam and Hoss. He glanced at the thermometer that he had just taken from under Joe\u2019s tongue and kept his grimace hidden. Joe was still dangerously cold, although he was improving all the time. \u201cJust keep it up while I look at this leg. We\u2019ll try and keep as much of him covered as we can while I\u2019m doing this.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was such a long silence after that that Ben could feel his worry growing. \u201cPaul?\u201d he croaked. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow long ago did this happen?\u201d Paul asked, his face grim.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Ben admitted, as though it was somehow his fault and he had neglected noticing that his son had a broken leg. \u201cJoe should have been home the day before yesterday. He arrived back a few hours ago, tied to his saddle\u2026\u201d Ben\u2019s voice gave out. He swallowed. \u201cPaul?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Joe\u2019s leg was broken several days ago,\u201d Paul replied. He checked for the pulse in Joe\u2019s very swollen right foot, squeezing each toe to check on how fast the blood vessels filled up again. He was pleased to see that the reaction time was quite good.<\/p>\n

He glanced up at Ben. \u201cI\u2019m not going to lie to you, Ben,\u201d he said. \u201cThis will make setting Joe\u2019s leg trickier. The bone has been like this for several days now and there\u2019s bound to be a little bit of healing started. I\u2019m going to have to move the bones back into position and its going to hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAin\u2019t cha gonna give him somethin\u2019?\u201d Hoss asked, plainly puzzled.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Paul replied. \u201cJoe hasn\u2019t regained consciousness since you brought him in, has he? So, I\u2019m not going to risk giving him an anesthetic. You\u2019ll have to hold him, I\u2019m afraid.\u201d As the Cartwrights positioned themselves, he felt round the break once more. Joe moaned, but didn\u2019t rouse.<\/p>\n

The noise of the bones moving back into place was sickening. Joe was brought to screaming awareness, struggling helplessly against the strength of his father and brothers. Paul hated himself for what he had to do, but he knew he had to keep going and get the leg set as well as he could manage. At length, Joe\u2019s strength ran out and he sank back, conscious, but too exhausted to fight any more. By then, Paul had completed his work.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Joe,\u201d Ben crooned, stroking the damp curls off Joe\u2019s forehead. It suddenly occurred to Ben that Joe was sweating and he glanced at Paul. \u201cHe\u2019s sweating.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not alone,\u201d Adam remarked, wryly, making a big deal of wiping his brow.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa,\u201d Joe murmured, clutching weakly at Ben\u2019s sleeve. His hand felt funny \u2013 clumsy, with stiff fingers. \u201cWhat\u2026 happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe found you tied to your horse,\u201d Ben ventured. \u201cDon\u2019t you remember what happened?\u201d He sounded disappointed, despite his attempts not to.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh \u2013 Rod,\u201d Joe replied, cryptically.<\/p>\n

\u201cRod?\u201d Adam asked. \u201cWhat about him?\u201d For the first time, they realized that the hand had not returned with Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2026 did\u2026 this,\u201d Joe whispered. He was cold, exhausted and in pain. He shivered. \u201cHe\u2026wanted the money\u2026 from the sale.\u201d Closing his eyes for a minute to draw more strength, he fought off the drowsiness that threatened to overwhelm him.<\/p>\n

\u201cShh, no more,\u201d Ben urged, looking at Paul.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen did this happen, Joe?\u201d Paul asked, wanting to know in his own mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm\u2026\u201d Joe forced his eyes open, wanting nothing more than to fall into the warm cavern of sleep that was waiting for him. \u201cThis is\u2026 the\u2026 fourth day\u2026 since it happened.\u201d He shivered, winced, and huddled closer to Ben. \u201cI don\u2019t feel too good,\u201d he murmured, almost inaudibly.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust go to sleep,\u201d Paul told him, knowing that his patient would be soon obeying him. He looked at the shell-shocked family and hoped he wouldn\u2019t have to treat any of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt hurts,\u201d Joe muttered fretfully and Paul mixed him the mildest painkiller he could. It was enough to take the worst of the pain away and by the time the splint was in place, Joe was sound asleep.<\/p>\n

***************<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish we\u2019d looked for him sooner,\u201d Ben chastised himself as they drank coffee in front of the roaring fire.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, Joe\u2019s an adult,\u201d Adam reminded him. \u201cIf he\u2019d decided to stop for the night in town for a bit of\u2026 of fun, he wouldn\u2019t have been happy to see us arriving, would he?\u201d Adam knew perfectly well that Joe had a \u2018liaison\u2019 with a saloon girl that Ben definitely wouldn\u2019t approve of.<\/p>\n

That wasn\u2019t an argument that would sway Ben that night. \u201cI\u2019d far rather he was embarrassed than ill!\u201d he snapped.<\/p>\n

It fell to Hoss to be the peacemaker, as he often was. \u201cPa, ya ain\u2019t got second sight,\u201d he reminded his father. \u201cHow was ya ta know that Joe were in trouble? An\u2019 where was ya gonna look?\u201d<\/p>\n

Smiling into his cup, Paul saw that Ben didn\u2019t have an answer for that one! \u201cHoss is right,\u201d he agreed. \u201cAnd so is Adam. The simple facts of the matter are that you can\u2019t be with all your sons for 24 hours every day, Ben. You are one single human being and this is not your fault. You did not send Joe to Placerville with the sole intent of him being robbed by the trusted man who went with him, now did you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not that simple,\u201d Ben growled, cornered.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, it is,\u201d Paul replied. \u201cYou know as well as I do that Joe can look after himself. He was just unlucky this time. We\u2019ll find out what exactly happened tomorrow. Meantime, I think you should all get some rest and I\u2019ll sit with Joe. I\u2019m not going to try and go home through this snow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll relieve you later,\u201d Adam offered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can do it,\u201d Ben objected, but Adam shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, you haven\u2019t slept properly for the last few nights,\u201d he reminded Ben. \u201cHave a good sleep and if Joe needs you, I\u2019ll waken you. If not, you\u2019ll be fresh for him in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat sounds good to me,\u201d Paul agreed, before Ben could say anything else. \u201cIt\u2019s decided then. Good night, all.\u201d He met Ben\u2019s irate stare with a blank look of his own, but he couldn\u2019t quite disguise the twinkle in his eye. \u201cYes?\u201d he enquired sweetly and Ben shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cNever mind,\u201d he sighed wearily. \u201cGood night.\u201d He started to climb the stairs. Paul and Adam exchanged a triumphant smile before Adam, too, headed upstairs. Paul took the last cup of coffee from the pot before he went to start his vigil at Joe\u2019s bedside.<\/p>\n

****************<\/p>\n

By morning, Joe\u2019s temperature had settled back to a normal level. He had wakened a few times through the night, bothered by the pain in his leg and needing something to drink. First Paul and then Adam had dealt with these complaints and Joe had quickly settled to sleep once more.<\/p>\n

After breakfast, Paul examined Joe again, pleased to see that the swelling in his foot was reducing now that the injured leg was elevated and the bones properly aligned. Paul kept to himself the worry that Joe would be left with a limp if he hadn\u2019t managed to get the bones set properly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll come out again tomorrow, Ben,\u201d Paul told his friend, \u201cand I hope to be able to fit a cast on it then.\u201d He slipped on his heavy overcoat and headed out into the snowy morning to his buggy, which Hoss had hitched for him.<\/p>\n

Slowly, Ben went back upstairs. Joe was awake when he went into the room and Ben smiled at him, more relieved than he cared to mention that his son was home, safe if not sound. \u201cHow are you feeling?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cBetter than last night,\u201d Joe replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat exactly happened?\u201d Ben asked. He didn\u2019t want to distress Joe, but he wanted to know how his son had ended up this way.<\/p>\n

Sighing, Joe looked down. \u201cWe\u2019d reached the boundaries of the ranch,\u201d Joe started. \u201cI\u2019d banked the money in Placerville as I\u2019d told you I would and we were riding home. And then Rod hit me on the head from behind. I must have fallen off Cochise \u2018cause the next thing I knew, my leg was killing me and I was on the ground. Rod wanted the money and when he couldn\u2019t find it, he rode off with Cooch and left me behind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith a broken leg?\u201d Ben gasped, utterly aghast.<\/p>\n

\u201cUh-huh.\u201d Joe moved uneasily, hissing through his teeth at the pain in his leg. \u201cI managed to get to a line shack\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow?\u201d Ben demanded. \u201cHow did you manage?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI crawled,\u201d Joe admitted. \u201cWell, kinda anyway.\u201d He gave Ben a twisted smile. \u201cIt was dark by the time I got there and it had been raining. I was cold and wet and dirty. Next morning, I managed to get water and wood and there was a little food in the saddle bag Rod had thrown at me. There was a helping of beans left, but nothing else in the cupboard. Pa, someone forgot to re-supply that shack.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll see to it, son,\u201d Ben promised solemnly. \u201cGo on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s not much more to say,\u201d Joe told him. \u201cI was like that for a couple of days and then yesterday\u2026\u201d Joe frowned trying to work out if he\u2019d lost a day somewhere or not. He shrugged, giving up the battle. \u201cYesterday, Rod appeared with Cochise. He said that he wasn\u2019t a murderer. He tied my hands so I wouldn\u2019t shoot him when he gave me my gun back. He put me onto Cochise and tied me on. I hadn\u2019t trusted him, Pa and tried to knock him over with the broom I was using as a crutch. I sort of remember riding home, but I don\u2019t remember getting here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf he wanted the money so badly, why didn\u2019t he sell your horse?\u201d Ben growled, not really expecting an answer, merely letting out his anger.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said Cooch was too distinctive to sell around here. I guess he\u2019s right.\u201d Joe shifted in the bed again and sighed. He didn\u2019t think he would ever find a comfortable position. \u201cI don\u2019t know why Rod did this, Pa. He\u2019s worked for us for years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, either,\u201d Ben replied. He thought about the hand. He was quite a young man, in his late twenties or early thirties. He had worked for the Cartwrights for about eight years and had proven completely reliable until this trip. Admittedly, he was rather too fond of the cards and frequently gambled away his month\u2019s wages in a single evening, but he had always been honest in his dealings with the family. \u201cI suppose we\u2019ll find out when the law catches up with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it catches up with him,\u201d Joe remarked. \u201cI don\u2019t suppose he\u2019ll hang around town waiting for Roy to pick him up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I don\u2019t suppose so,\u201d Ben smiled. \u201cBut stranger things have happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

***************<\/p>\n

By the following day, the snow had gone. Paul Martin came out and put Joe\u2019s leg into a cast, finally admitting \u2013 after persistent questioning from Joe \u2013 that he couldn\u2019t swear Joe wouldn\u2019t be left with a limp. The limb seemed quite straight, but the final proof would be when it was healed.<\/p>\n

Ben went into town and filed a complaint against Rod, but over the next few days, there was no news at all. To all intents and purposes, the man had simply vanished. Ben was annoyed, but there was nothing they could do about it. He concentrated on making sure the ranch was ready for winter and making sure that Joe was getting better.<\/p>\n

Almost two weeks after Joe had returned home, there was a knock at the ranch house door one afternoon. Sighing wearily, for he was alone in the house at the time, Joe reached for his crutches and hobbled to the door.<\/p>\n

It opened just before he reached it and three strange men burst into the room. All of them were brandishing guns but the most curious thing was that they all wore business suits. \u201cStay right there, boy!\u201d one of them ordered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d Joe asked. He knew there was no point in trying to make a break for his gun which was safely put away in the credenza. \u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust shut up,\u201d ordered the man. He pointed to the sofa. \u201cSit him down over there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before Joe could object any further, his crutches were snatched from his hands and he was half-dragged, half-carried over to the sofa, where he was forced to sit. One of the men produced a pair of handcuffs from his pocket and cuffed Joe\u2019s hands behind his back.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d the first man smiled, coming and standing with his back to the fire. He had carefully shut and bolted the door. \u201cWhere is he?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s who?\u201d Joe shot back, thoroughly shaken and out of sorts. He twisted his wrists fruitlessly against the handcuffs.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t try to get clever with me,\u201d the man retorted. \u201cI know you\u2019re hiding him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHiding who?\u201d Joe cried. \u201cI don\u2019t know who you\u2019re talking about!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRod!\u201d snarled the man and one of the others took Joe by the shoulder and shook him hard.<\/p>\n

Whatever else Joe had expected the man to say, that was not it. He gaped at him, aware that he probably looked like an idiot, but then he felt like an idiot, too. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

Again, his shoulder was shaken and the man by the fire looked less than pleased. \u201cI\u2019m gonna say this only once more, sonny boy,\u201d he threatened. \u201cWhere is Rod?\u201d He separated each word as though speaking to someone exceptionally stupid.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d kind of like to know that myself,\u201d Joe snapped. \u201cIt\u2019s because of him that I\u2019m like this.\u201d He nodded to the cast on his leg.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d demanded a cool voice from the kitchen.<\/p>\n

Wincing, Joe saw Adam approaching out of the corner of his eye. He was pretty sure that Adam\u2019s arrival was going to throw everything into a spin. \u201cAdam\u2026\u201d he began, but the next moment, he was dragged to his feet, an arm around his throat and a gun to his head.<\/p>\n

Adam didn\u2019t appear noticeably fazed by this. \u201cLeroy, what are you doing here?\u201d he asked. \u201cAnd don\u2019t try and tell me my family owes you money, because I know that\u2019s not true.\u201d<\/p>\n

By now, Joe\u2019s eyes were on stalks. He couldn\u2019t believe that his brother was having a conversation with someone who had broken in and was holding his brother hostage. And Adam sounded annoyed, to boot! Had he taken complete leave of his senses?<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam,\u201d acknowledged Leroy. \u201cI\u2019m looking for Rod. He owes me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo why are you picking on Joe?\u201d Adam asked, coldly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s Joe?\u201d Leroy looked surprised and made a quick gesture. Joe was dropped back to a sitting position on the sofa. He almost toppled onto the floor, courtesy of the handcuffs and the sudden movement combined. \u201cI didn\u2019t know. He don\u2019t look like you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI told you he didn\u2019t,\u201d Adam agreed. \u201cAnyway, I\u2019m sure Joe\u2019s told you that Rod has done a runner. He tried to rob Joe, left him to die and rode away. That was a couple of weeks ago. I\u2019m afraid you\u2019ll have to whistle for your money.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scowling, Leroy looked as though he didn\u2019t entirely believe Adam. Joe tried to catch his brother\u2019s eye, but Adam ignored him, keeping his gaze on Leroy. He looked irritated. \u201cLeroy, have I ever lied to you?\u201d Adam demanded.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Leroy admitted. \u201cSorry, Adam. We\u2019ll just be going. No harm done.\u201d He took a step towards the front door, his goons obediently following.<\/p>\n

\u201cHandcuffs,\u201d Adam snapped. Joe\u2019s eyes got even wider. But Leroy took no offence. A moment later, the cold steel released his grip on Joe\u2019s wrists and he drew his hands round in front of him and began to rub them. \u201cNow get out and don\u2019t set foot on the Ponderosa again!\u201d Adam moved over to stand by Joe and watched the men leave.<\/p>\n

As soon as the door closed behind them, Joe slumped down against the back of the sofa and closed his eyes. He could feel a faint trembling in his muscles. A weight sat down beside him and he felt Adam\u2019s hand on his arm. \u201cJoe? Are you all right? They didn\u2019t hurt you, did they?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine, Adam,\u201d Joe replied, opening his eyes. Adam was peering at him worriedly. \u201cWho were those guys? How did you know them?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was Leroy and his crew,\u201d Adam said, which didn\u2019t explain anything. \u201cHe runs a gambling den in town.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGambling?\u201d Joe repeated, wondering how he didn\u2019t know about its existence.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf the worst kind,\u201d Adam nodded. He was examining Joe\u2019s wrists, making sure that the handcuffs hadn\u2019t done any damage. \u201cHe lets you borrow money when you run out and then hits you for a load of interest, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, that kind,\u201d Joe nodded. He knew now which gambling den Adam was referring to and remembered taking his brother\u2019s warning to heart when he was first allowed to go into town alone. He couldn\u2019t remember exactly what Adam had told him, but whatever it was had scared him off and Joe was glad of it now. \u201cHow do you know of him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLeroy came here from the East,\u201d Adam replied, apparently satisfied that Joe was all right. \u201cI knew him when I was at college.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t owe him money,\u201d Joe gasped.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course not, Joe!\u201d Adam sighed, exasperated. \u201cBut one of my friends did and\u2026 Well, I\u2019m not going to get into it with you. Suffice it to say, Leroy knows better than to cross this family.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d came Ben\u2019s voice from the door and Adam winced.<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t take long to explain things to Ben. It would have taken even less time if Joe had left it entirely to Adam, but he was still excited from his strange encounter and couldn\u2019t keep quiet. Ben looked more and more strained as the explanation went on, but finally agreed that Joe was all right and that there was no point in charging Leroy since no harm had been done.<\/p>\n

Later on, as Ben was helping Joe arrange his casted leg on the pillows in bed, Joe spoke up. \u201cPa, remember when you said stranger things had happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

Frowning, Ben wondering when this conversation had happened, but he just nodded, not really wanting to listen to another long and involved explanation that evening. \u201cWhat about it?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Yawning widely, Joe smirked. \u201cI just kind of thought that today was that \u2018stranger thing\u2019,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n

A smile quirked Ben\u2019s face. \u201cYou know, son,\u201d he agreed. \u201cYou could well be right!\u201d<\/p>\n

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

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Summary: Returning home from Placerville, Joe is attacked and left to die.<\/p>\n

Rated: \u00a0T \u00a0 (6,915 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":3868,"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_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[1015,23,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-joe-pa","category-drama","category-hurtcomfort","wpcat-1015-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-41-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/twilighttown.jpg?fit=800%2C535&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/45"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1212"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1212\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3868"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}