{"id":12139,"date":"2002-05-01T14:40:46","date_gmt":"2002-05-01T18:40:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12139"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:05:53","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:05:53","slug":"darkness-within-by-debbieb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12139","title":{"rendered":"Darkness Within (by DebbieB)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0<\/strong> When Little Joe’s best friend, Mitch Devlin, betrays Joe’s most private secrets to their older friends, Joe becomes the victim of the malicious joke.\u00a0 Joe suffers from both the physical and emotional turmoil of the boy’s so called fun. But what really eats away at Joe is why Mitch turned his back on him.\u00a0 Will he ever be able to forgive his very best friend for his betrayal?<\/p>\n

Rated:<\/strong> G\u00a0 (21, 730 words)<\/p>\n

Darkness Within<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was pitch black, the darkest of all darks and Joe could not even see his hand as he held it up to his face.\u00a0 The space was cramped, he had just barely enough room to stretch out his legs, but lying down was out of the question, so he sat with his back propped against the wall and willed himself not to cry.\u00a0 He was scared, he was alone and he hated the dark more than anything else.\u00a0 Joe listened for any sounds that might tell him that his father and brothers had come looking for him but heard nothing, only the night sounds that told him that it was dark outside as well as inside.<\/p>\n

Joe shivered slightly from both the coolness within the closet and from the fear he felt growing in his heart.\u00a0 How had this happened he questioned himself trying to keep his mind busy?\u00a0 He could not believe that his best friend Mitch had ratted on him, telling the others that he was afraid of the dark and when the older boys had laughed, Mitch had added the fact that he slept with his stuffed dog, Scruffy.\u00a0 That had been the last straw, the others had hooted and laughed at him until they had tears in their eyes from laughing so hard.\u00a0 Even Mitch had laughed, adding salt to an open wound, that\u2019s what it felt like, thought Little Joe.<\/p>\n

Joe felt the tears that burned his eyes and quickly wiped them away with the backs of his hands.\u00a0 Where was his Pa?\u00a0 Joe briefly wondered what was taking his father so long to find him but then reasoned that his family had no idea that he was even missing, for he was supposed to be spending the night with Mitch.\u00a0 Somehow things had gotten out of hand and now he found himself locked in a closest miles from his home in an old worn down farmhouse that everyone had told him was haunted.<\/p>\n

Joe shivered again and rubbed his arms with his hands in an effort to warm them.\u00a0 Pulling his knees up to his chest Joe folded his arms across the top then rested his forehead on his arms thinking back to the days before and how all this true life nightmare had it\u2019s beginning.<\/p>\n

It began the evening that he and Mitch, along with three of their older friends had been caught trespassing on the property where he was now being held captive.\u00a0 He and his friends were only trying to find out for sure whether or not the old run down house was truly haunted.\u00a0 He and Mitch had managed to make it to the porch and nearly had the old door pulled free of it\u2019s hinges when his pa had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, putting an end to their adventure. He and Mitch had been caught red handed with the door in their hands while the other three boys had scattered in all directions leaving them to face the consequences alone, just the two of them.<\/p>\n

Joe remembered that his father had been furious with him and had sent Mitch home to his own father, ranting loudly at both of them as they scurried to mount their horses.\u00a0 Mitch had taken off at lightening speed for home and when Joe had turned to face his father, he trembled slightly at the enraged look his father had worn on his face.\u00a0 Ben said nothing but pointed toward home and Joe knew by his father\u2019s silence that his Pa was fighting for control of his anger and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he would not be sitting comfortably for several days by the time his father had finished with him.<\/p>\n

Hoss met the pair as father and son rode into the yard and knew by the look on his brother\u2019s face that Joe was in deep trouble again.\u00a0 Eyeing his father\u2019s expression only served to confirm what he suspected so rather than saying anything, Hoss stood silent until both his brother and his father dismounted.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, will you take care of our horses for us?\u00a0 Your brother and I have some things to discuss,\u201d Ben stated.\u00a0 The question was more of a command rather than a request and Hoss nodded his head as Ben handed the reins to his middle son.\u00a0 Joe looked sheepishly at his brother and placed Cochise\u2019s reins in Hoss\u2019 other hand.\u00a0 Joe glanced up at his father and saw that his father\u2019s dark eyes were boring into his own hazel eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo to your room now,\u201d Ben pointed towards the house, \u201cI will be up shortly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe gave Hoss one more quick glance as he darted for the door.\u00a0 Adam was just coming outside to greet his father and was forced to step aside as Joe ran passed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was that all about, he acts as if the devil his self was after him,\u201d laughed Adam but stopped suddenly when he saw the look on his father\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe may well wish it were the devil by the time I get finished with him,\u201d Ben stated as he watched Joe run into the house and grimaced when the boy slammed the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat has the scamp gotten into this time?\u201d asked Adam following Ben\u2019s gaze at his brother\u2019s retreating back.<\/p>\n

Ben turned to face Adam, \u201cOh nothing, just breaking the law,\u201d he said flatly.<\/p>\n

Hoss halted his steps and looked back toward Ben.\u00a0 \u201cBreakin\u2019 the law.\u00a0 Lordy Pa, what\u2019s he dun?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss was suddenly worried about his little brother.\u00a0 Did his father mean that Joe might go to jail for whatever it was that Pa had caught him doing?<\/p>\n

\u201cHe and Mitch were over at the Shamlin place.\u00a0 I caught them red handed tearing the door off the hinges.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought ole man Shamblin put up \u2018no trespassing\u2019 signs around that place,\u201d Adam spoke up.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe did, Joe and Mitch were trespassing.\u00a0 There were some other boys with them, but they ran off before I could see their faces.\u00a0 But Joe knows who they were, and when I get finished with him, I will know who they were also.\u201d\u00a0 Ben started towards the house, dreading what he knew he had to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you two find something out here to keep you busy for a little while, until I finish with you brother?\u201d\u00a0 Ben did not wait for a reply but headed inside and slowly climbed the steps to his youngest and most trying son\u2019s room.<\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss exchanged knowing glances as they entered the barn and pulled the door closed behind them.<\/p>\n

Joe was sprawled out on his bed, his arms curled over his head as he stared at the ceiling.\u00a0 When Ben knocked lightly on the door, Joe was on his feet by the time that his father had entered the room.\u00a0 The look on Ben\u2019s face told the boy that his father\u2019s anger had only lessened to a degree and what he had known was coming, was just about to be confirmed.<\/p>\n

Ben moved to the over stuffed chair and lowered his body slowly onto the cushion, never taking his eyes from his son\u2019s face.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s head was hung low, nearly resting on his chest but that did not stop Ben from seeing the way that his son\u2019s chin had begun to quiver, nor did it stop him from seeing the tiny beads of water that had pooled in the hazel eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, come here please,\u201d Ben ordered and watched as Joe slowly moved to stand in front of his parent.\u00a0 Ben noted the way that Joe\u2019s body language changed, the boy had become rigid and his arms hung down by his sides as if weighted, but Joe refused to look him in the eye.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook at me when I speak to you,\u201d stated Ben in a controlled voice, for the boy\u2019s defiance was beginning to try his patience.\u00a0 When Joe refused to raise his head, Ben stood and cupped the boy\u2019s chin with his hand and raised his son\u2019s head upward forcing Joe to look him in the eye.<\/p>\n

Ben could not help but notice the slight fear he read in the misty eyes that were now watching him and it troubled him to a degree that his son might actually fear him.\u00a0 Releasing the pressure in which he had on Joe\u2019s chin, he took a deep breath to steady his breathing before continuing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to know why you have chosen to defy me?\u00a0 Did I not tell you just the day before yesterday that you were forbidden to set foot on the Shamblin property?\u201d asked Ben.<\/p>\n

Joe wanted to divert his eyes but thought better of it.\u00a0 How had his father found out that he would be at the old house tonight?\u00a0 It amazed him how often his father caught on to his shenanigans, which always resulted in his being in trouble.<\/p>\n

\u201cI asked you a question young man, I\u2019m waiting for an answer,\u201d Ben said, his voice taking on a deeper tone, one that Joe knew meant business.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2026no\u2026I mean\u2026yes sir,\u201d stammered Joe, having been lost in his own thoughts; he was not sure what the question had been and only hoped that he had given the correct answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you know that much, then tell me why you were there against my wishes?\u201d Ben demanded watching Joe\u2019s face as it began to pale in color.<\/p>\n

\u201cI dunno,\u201d Joe said softly, averting his eyes from his father\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cI dunno? What kind of an answer is that, young man?\u201d Ben\u2019s anger was beginning to rise as he realized that Joe was pushing his luck.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, we weren\u2019t doin\u2019 nothin\u2019 wrong, we was\u2026\u201d began Joe but stopped as Ben interrupted.<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s brows were starting to meet in the middle as his face took on a scowl.\u00a0 \u201cNot doing nothing wrong, you say.\u00a0 So since when did trespassing and breaking in to someone else\u2019s property become, not wrong?\u201d Ben all but shouted.<\/p>\n

Joe was at a loss for words, he and Mitch were only going to the house because their friends had called them chicken and dared them that they wouldn\u2019t, that\u2019s all. But he couldn\u2019t tell his father that because Joe knew that what they had been caught doing was wrong, and if his father knew he had only done what he did because of a dare, he was still in trouble.\u00a0 It seemed to Joe that no matter what he said, he was still going to be in for it so for the lack of anything to say, Joe said nothing. choosing instead to shrug his shoulders.<\/p>\n

Ben was furious, it appeared that Joe was openly defying him and it took all of his determination not to pull the boy across his knee and wear him out.\u00a0 Ben felt himself shudder and turned away from his son.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet ready for bed Joseph, I\u2019ll be back in a little while.\u201d\u00a0 Ben walked out the door, never once looking back to see if Joe had begun to do as he was instructed.<\/p>\n

Joe pressed his back against the wall and stretched his legs as best he could.\u00a0 Using his hands to feel along the wall for the knob on the closet door, Joe pulled up to his knees and pushed once more on the little door.\u00a0 It would not budge.\u00a0 Tears pooled again in his eyes, this time he made no move to wipe them away; instead he leaned his forehead against the wall and cried.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease Pa, help me.\u00a0 I wanna go home\u2026Pa, I need ya,\u201d sobbed twelve year old Joe.\u00a0 Joe tried pushing again on the door this time standing in the cramped space and using his shoulder.\u00a0 Still the door refused to open.\u00a0 Joe shivered and felt the tiny little goose bumps that popped up on his arm.\u00a0 He was scared, he knew that Jed, Max and Willie and even Mitch had tricked him into spending the night at the Devlin\u2019s just for the purpose of getting him back to the old house and locking him in the dark closet.\u00a0 The older three, Jed, Max and Willie had waited until he and Mitch had turned in for the night before sneaking into the bedroom where they slept using the window that Mitch had conveniently left opened for them.\u00a0 They had then jumped him while he slept, one forcing him face down while the others had tied his hands behind him and gagged him so that he could not cry out for help.\u00a0 When they had pulled him to his feet and spun him around to the window, Mitch\u2019s face had loomed before him and Joe had felt as if he had suddenly been pierced through the heart as he realized that his best friend had set him up.<\/p>\n

The boys forced Joe out the window and into the shadows of the trees where they had the horses saddled and waiting.\u00a0 Jed and Willie had roughly helped him into his saddle.\u00a0 When Joe turned and saw Mitch mount his own horse, Scruffy tucked under his arm, Joe felt the sudden rush of tears at his betrayal.\u00a0 The tears were angry tears and had it not been for the tight ropes that bound his wrists and the gag that prevented him from speaking, Joe would have pulled the smug Mitch Devlin from his horse and whipped his butt good or got beaten himself from trying.<\/p>\n

The foursome plus their captive rode for more than an hour before Joe realized that they were taking him to the old haunted Shamblin house on the other side of town.\u00a0 Fear and uncertainty began to fill Joe\u2019s heart at what the others had planned for him.\u00a0 Surely he prayed to himself, they would not leave him, not there, not in the house that even adults dared not venture.\u00a0 But his fears were soon realized when they stopped at the back of the house and he was none too gently pulled from his horse and pushed forward.<\/p>\n

Joe tried to balk but Max, the largest of the boys only shoved harder causing Joe to fall face down in the dirt.\u00a0 As he struggled to his feet their evil laughter reached his ears as hands grabbed him tightly by his upper arms and hoisted him to his feet.\u00a0 He raised his head and looked into the blue eyes of Mitch whom he had thought had been a friend.\u00a0 Mitch said nothing as he brushed the dirt loose from Joe\u2019s face and stepped aside giving Max the room to escort Joe inside.<\/p>\n

The house was dark and musty smelling; tiny night creatures could be heard scurrying across the wooden floor when the boys stepped inside and disturbed their solitude.\u00a0 Mitch and Willie lit candles and handed one each to Jed and Max.\u00a0 Jed led the way up the rickety old stairs, Max pushing Joe every so often forcing him to follow.\u00a0 Mitch and Willie followed behind; each casting wary glances around at the shadowy figures that danced along the wall as they silently made their way to the top.<\/p>\n

Joe felt his stomach lurch and feared that he might vomit if he did not soon get air into his lungs.\u00a0 The gag was drying out his mouth and he desperately needed a drink.\u00a0 After climbing the second set of steps, these more narrow than the first, Max jerked back on Joe\u2019s arm causing him to stumble backwards.\u00a0 Suddenly flapping wings could be heard and all five boys ducked as a bat swept passed their heads.<\/p>\n

\u201cDarn it, can\u2019t you stand up?\u201d Max whispered, pulling up on Joe\u2019s arm to break his fall.\u00a0 Joe faced his captor, a look of fear mixed with anger clearly etched into the lines creasing his forehead.<\/p>\n

Just as they reached the third set of stairs, the ones leading to the attic, the procession of boys stopped.\u00a0 Willie and Jed moved ahead several paces before halting their steps. From what Joe could see from the glow of the candlelight, they had stopped in front of a door and when it was pushed opened, he was shoved in side of the room.\u00a0 The room was vacant of any windows and the only other door besides the one they had just entered through was a tiny door that Willie and Jed were now pulling open.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s fear was mounting, as the realization came to him that here, behind this tiny door was to be his prison.\u00a0 Joe swallowed several times in an attempt to keep his rising panic at bay.\u00a0 He cast his eyes around the room, searching the faces of each boy in hopes that this was all a joke and that soon they would untie his hands and permit him to go home.\u00a0 His hope was dashed as their laughter rang in his ears when they saw the terror in his eyes and on his face and he felt the dampness of his own tears as he was pushed into the confines of the tiny closet.\u00a0 Once inside he was ordered to turn around and having done so, the gag and the ropes were removed from his hands and about his mouth.\u00a0 Joe made an attempt to break free but was prevented from doing so by Jed, Willie and Max who shoved him backwards causing him to strike his head on the sloping ceiling of the closet.\u00a0 Scruffy was tossed into the closet along with a pillowcase, which he was told, held enough food and water for a week.<\/p>\n

Joe slightly dazed from hitting his head, screamed out at them as they pushed the door closed.\u00a0 His pleas fell on deaf ears as the sound of hammering drowned out his cries.\u00a0 Joe panicked when he become conscious that the boys were nailing the door closed.\u00a0 He began beating on the opposite side of the door, yelling at Mitch to help him but the only sounds other than the hammering that he could hear was the sickening sound of their laughter.<\/p>\n

\u201cMitch, how could you do this to me?\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Please Mitch, this isn\u2019t funny anymore, let me out,\u201d shouted Joe trying to be heard above the noise of the hammering.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe ain\u2019t lettin\u2019 ya out Cartwright, not for a week.\u00a0 Let\u2019s see just how brave ya are by then.\u00a0 Don\u2019t forget, go easy on the water and food, and remember, this place is haunted,\u201d taunted Max, who detested the youngest Cartwright and who beamed with joy at having finally devised a plan to pay the little monster back for all of the times the smaller boy had beaten him in a fight.<\/p>\n

Joe leaned his head against the door and listened, it had grown chillingly quiet.\u00a0 Then he heard the sound of something being dragged across the floor and heard the way that the others were talking.<\/p>\n

\u201cHelp me push this wardrobe in front of the door.\u00a0 That way no one will know this door is here, just in case someone comes lookin\u2019 for Cartwright,\u201d laughed Max, Jed and Willie joining in.\u00a0 Mitch stood to the side, a sudden battle with his conscience beginning to take place combating his head against his heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cDevlin, ya better get over here and help or you\u2019ll be next,\u201d demanded Max seeing that Mitch was having second thoughts.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s another closet just like this one in the other room.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mitch, seeing that Max meant business, began pushing on the other side of the heavy wardrobe until they at last had the large piece of furniture firmly placed against the closet where Little Joe\u2019s soft whimpers could still be heard.<\/p>\n

\u201cSee ya, cry baby,\u201d laughed Max as he and the others exited the room, shutting the door loudly enough to be sure that the frightened boy would know they had gone and left him alone in his dark prison closet.<\/p>\n

When the four had finished with locking Joe in the closet and was once again outside, Max turned his fury on Mitch.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou tell a soul about this, Devlin, I will hide you away some place where even God can\u2019t find ya.\u00a0 Do you understand?\u201d\u00a0 Max had grabbed the smaller boy by the front of his shirt and yanked him to his toes.\u00a0 Mitch stood facing the taller malicious boy, his body trembled in fright as he gazed into the fiery eyes of the young man who threatened him and knew instantly that if he betrayed the angry boy, he could very easily lose his life for the look of death was in the dark eyes that glowed with hatred.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about me, I ain\u2019t gonna tell anyone,\u201d promised Mitch softly as he trembled slightly at the thought of what Max might do to him if he squealed on the others.<\/p>\n

Joe had no way of knowing whether or not it was morning or night, the darkness within the closet remained the same, it terrorized the young boy and Joe found that his terror was making it hard for him to breathe.\u00a0 It was stuffy in the confines, not to mention how hot the small space had become, that along with the darkness had begun to weaken Joe\u2019s determination not to cry and not to panic.<\/p>\n

Joe felt around on the floor with his hands until he found the sack of food and the canteens of water that the gang had tossed in to him before nailing the door shut.\u00a0 Taking the canteen and removing the cork from the opening, Joe drank deeply of its contents.\u00a0 Before replacing the cork, he poured a small amount into his cupped hand and splashed his face with it.\u00a0 The wetness helped to cool his sweating brow and even helped to clear his thoughts somewhat.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, please,\u201d Joe begged aloud, aware that there was no one to hear his pleas.\u00a0 Frustration got the better of the young boy and as Joe\u2019s spirit crumbled, he pounded on the wooden door, the walls and even the floors with his fists until they ached from the abuse.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa!\u00a0 Adam!\u00a0 Hoss, help me\u2026come and get me!\u201d wept Joe loudly.\u00a0 \u201cSome one help me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe slumped to the floor and rolled his weary body into a tight ball, shutting his eyes in hopes that he would wake up and find that this nightmare had been just that, a nightmare.\u00a0 Instead, his thoughts turned to home and the night when his father had punished him for his disobedience.<\/p>\n

Joe paced the floor nervously waiting for his father to return to the room.\u00a0 Joe thought that surely Pa knew that the waiting was worse than the actual punishment, for he always made them wait.\u00a0 It was something that parents were known to do it seemed, a form of punishment in its self.\u00a0 Pa had always said that the waiting should be used to consider the error of his ways.\u00a0 Pa was usually right in that, Joe had always considered what he had done, after he had done the deed.\u00a0 He really never gave much thought as to the act while in the process of doing it.\u00a0 Afterwards, he was always sorry for what he had done, though Pa rarely believed him, or so it seemed to Joe.<\/p>\n

Joe was standing at the window when he heard the door softly open and he turned and watched as his father walked across the room toward him.\u00a0 Joe noted that the deep furrow that had been on his father\u2019s face earlier had smoothed out some, telling the boy that Pa\u2019s temper had cooled considerably.\u00a0 Joe met his father\u2019s eyes, quickly feeling bad for pushing his parent to his limit, and knowing that he was the major cause of most of his father\u2019s worries, Joe dropped his head, unable to meet the dark probing eyes of his parent.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, have you had time to think about your actions?\u201d Ben asked sitting in the chair.<\/p>\n

Joe glanced upward until his eyes met Ben\u2019s at last.\u00a0 \u201cYes sir.\u00a0 I know I was wrong for going there after you told me not too, and I\u2019m sorry Pa.\u00a0 But we wasn\u2019t goin\u2019 to do anything except walk through that old house and then leave.\u201d\u00a0 It was the truth he told himself; he had just wanted to prove to the others that he wasn\u2019t chicken.<\/p>\n

Ben studied his son\u2019s face; the expression of open honesty plainly told him that the boy was telling the truth.\u00a0 Ben knew that his young son was not one who normally went around breaking in to abandoned buildings and destroying other people\u2019s property, that was why he was having such a hard time believing that he had actually caught the boy red handed doing just that.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen why did you go there, son?\u00a0 If you knew you were not suppose to be there, if you knew that you were breaking the law, then please explain to me what were you thinking of by going there?\u00a0 Don\u2019t you know that you could get in to serious trouble for trespassing, not to mention breaking into the house?\u201d questioned Ben.<\/p>\n

Joe dug his toe into the carpet and hung his head, not sure what to say.\u00a0 \u201cI guess I wasn\u2019t thinking,\u201d he mumbled, not wanting to admit the truth to his father, that he had been afraid but didn\u2019t want the others to know so he had taken their dare and gone anyway, against his father\u2019s wishes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess you are right Joseph, how many times have I told you to think before you act?\u00a0 Answer me son, how many times?\u201d Ben watched as Joe mentally calculated his answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cA bunch, I guess.\u201d\u00a0 Joe looked at his father, checking his reaction to the answer and wondering if he had pushed another button.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes son, a bunch.\u00a0 In fact I have to remind you of that every time we have one of these little discussions, don\u2019t I?\u00a0 And for some reason unknown by either of us, you can\u2019t seem to remember that little bit of advice can you?\u201d Ben watched as Joe\u2019s eyes slowly began filling with tears and felt his heart begin to soften with the sight.\u00a0 How he hated having to discipline his son in this manner and worse, he hated seeing the tears that were ever present during these particular times.\u00a0 Ben, wise to his youngest son\u2019s antics, had already put two and two together figuring that once again the boy was trying to prove himself to his friends.<\/p>\n

Reluctantly, Ben cupped Joe\u2019s quivering chin in his hand and forced his son to look him in the face briefly before he pulled Joe across his lap speaking in a gentle but stern voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hate to do this Joseph, but I have tried every thing else that I know to do to enable you to remember to think first and act last.\u00a0 Perhaps this little reminder will stay with you longer than the other methods.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben raised Joe\u2019s nightshirt and applied several wallops to Joe\u2019s bare skin.\u00a0 Joe wiggled and squirmed as each lick of his father\u2019s open hand met with the bare skin of his backside.\u00a0 Joe held back his tears until the stinging sensation became unbearable for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry Pa\u2026ouch\u2026ouch\u2026\u201d Joe clinched his jaw as the last wallop ended and Ben raised Joe to his feet.\u00a0 Joe could not help but rub the tender flesh as he stood before his father chastised for disobeying.\u00a0 His tears ran freely down his face, his cheeks slightly red from embarrassment at both having to bare his backside to his father and for having been caught at breaking his father\u2019s rule.<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t ask you who your friends were.\u00a0 I already have a pretty good idea and I know that Mitch was among the group.\u00a0 Joseph, I don\u2019t think you will be seeing your friends for the next couple of weeks.\u00a0 But when you do see them again, I think you should warn them of the consequences of getting caught on private property.\u00a0 I don\u2019t have a clue as to what all of you were up too, but I do strongly suggest to you that you never set foot on that particular piece of land again.\u00a0 Do I make myself clear?\u201d Ben stood from the chair as Joe looked into his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir, I understand,\u201d replied Joe humbly, still rubbing his behind.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood, then we shouldn\u2019t have to have this conversation again, should we?\u201d\u00a0 Ben smiled to himself at the repenting look on the young face of his offspring.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo sir.\u201d\u00a0 Joe saw his father watching him and dropped his head, unable to look into the dark eyes that seemed to be boring into his very soul.<\/p>\n

Ben placed his hand on Joe\u2019s trembling shoulders.\u00a0 The touch of his father\u2019s hand was all that it took for Joe to wrap his arms about his father\u2019s waist and cling to him crying.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry Pa, honest\u2026I won\u2019t do it again, I promise,\u201d cried Joe truthfully between his sobs.<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s arms automatically embraced his son, \u201cI know you won\u2019t son.\u00a0 And I accept your apology.\u00a0 But for the next couple of weeks, you are restricted to the house and yard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir,\u201d Joe glanced up, saw his father\u2019s smile and knew that he was forgiven.\u00a0 Joe returned the smile and pressed his face against his father enjoying the secure feeling of his father\u2019s arms wrapped around him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou get to bed now son, I\u2019ll be back to say good night after you have time to compose yourself.\u201d\u00a0 Ben kissed the top of Joe\u2019s head; mussing his dark curls as he turned to leave.<\/p>\n

Joe waited until his father had shut the door before he released the floodgates that held his tears in check.\u00a0 Once Ben had the door tightly closed, Joe flung himself across his bed and allowed the tears to flow.\u00a0 His pride was hurt, his backside stung and he was mad at himself for having let his friends talk him into doing something that he knew his father would not approve of.\u00a0 And his heart was broken by the fact that he knew his father was disappointed in him once again.<\/p>\n

Sometime later Ben entered the room to tell his son good night but instead found the boy sleeping soundly, face down, blankets kicked to the floor and Scruffy tucked safely under one arm.\u00a0 Smiling at the innocent picture that his son rendered, Ben picked the covers up from the floor and gently laid them across his son\u2019s sleeping form.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood night sweetheart,\u201d Ben muttered softly, \u201cGod bless.\u201d\u00a0 Ben lowered the wick on the lamp and closed the door quietly.<\/p>\n

Joe woke from his dream with a start.\u00a0 Pulling himself into a sitting position, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and pressed his ear against the door of his hideaway prison and listened.\u00a0 He was sure he had heard something, but what had it been?\u00a0 He had been dreaming of home and his family when the strange sound had lured him from his deep slumber.\u00a0 Joe felt his heart beating loudly in his chest as he strained to hear the peculiar noise and hoped that whoever or whatever was moving about on the opposite side of the wall would not be able to hear the wild thumping of his racing heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d Joe softly called finding a measure of courage he was not aware that he still maintained and hoping against hope that his father had found him.\u00a0 Joe jumped when he heard the rattling of chains and instantly felt the fine hairs on the back of his neck rise as his newfound courage quickly dwindled.\u00a0 Joe felt his stomach do a flip-flop and he had to take several deep breaths to stop the queasiness from becoming a reality and spilling out onto the floor.<\/p>\n

Trembling, Joe remained silent as the sound grew louder and seemed to be coming nearer.\u00a0 Joe closed his eyes but opened them suddenly as the thumping of footsteps reached his ears.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u00a0 Is that you?\u201d Little Joe called out hopefully, his eyes wide with fear.<\/p>\n

The room grew deathly silent; Joe froze, suddenly unable to find his voice.\u00a0 After several long minutes, Joe could barely make out the sounds of something scurrying around in the other room.\u00a0 In a raspy voice that quivered with fear, Joe forced himself to speak.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho\u2019s there?\u00a0 Mitch?\u00a0 Anybody?\u201d\u00a0 Joe\u2019s voice shuddered as he spoke and he felt the tears slip from his eyes and roll down his cheeks.<\/p>\n

As he pressed his face into the wall of the door, his forehead resting against the hard wood, Joe banged the seasoned wood with his open hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cPLEASE!\u00a0 LET ME OUT!\u201d screeched Joe desperately.\u00a0 The frightened boy continued to beat and bang on the wall, his cries for help a futile attempt to gain freedom.<\/p>\n

The second that Joe stopped shouting, the chains began to rattle, this time much louder and once more the resounding thumping of footsteps could be heard.\u00a0 Terrified, Joe sank as far back into the closet as was physically possible and covered his ears with his hands muting the ruckus that was sending cold shivers up and down his spine.\u00a0 Tremors caused the frightened boy\u2019s body to shake uncontrollably as the noise within the room grew in volume.\u00a0 When the clamor became so loud that Joe could no longer stand the racket, he screamed and screamed until his voice gave out and he slipped to the floor allowing his own inner darkness to claim him.<\/p>\n

Much later, Joe woke.\u00a0 His head was pounding and his hands throbbed from beating on the walls.\u00a0 Joe felt the sticky substance on his hands and unable to see in the dark what it was, wiped them on his pants.\u00a0 Minutes later the sticky substance had reappeared; it was then that Joe realized that his hands were seeping blood.\u00a0 Pulling his shirt from his pants, Joe ripped the tail into strips and wrapped them around both hands in an attempt to bring an end to the bleeding.<\/p>\n

Once he had his hands bandaged, Joe sat alone in silence and listened for any sounds that might be coming from the opposite side of the wall.\u00a0 All was silent and Joe breathed a sigh of relief.\u00a0 When his stomach growled, telling him that it was passed time to eat, Joe felt around the floor until he found the pillowcase and untied the short piece of rope that had been used to hold the contents inside.\u00a0 Joe reached in and felt around at the items until his hand touched a round object.\u00a0 Pulling it from the sack and unable to see what it was he held in his hand, Joe sniffed the object; it was an apple and instantly Joe took a big bite, sinking his teeth deeply into the luscious fruit.<\/p>\n

Lonely and frightened, Joe sought for Scruffy and once he had found his stuffed friend, Joe clung to the toy as if the little dog had been his lifeline to reality.\u00a0 When Joe had finished with his apple he propped his back against the furthermost corner of the closet, pulled Scruffy to his breast, folded both arms about his chest and leaned his head against the wall.\u00a0 Minutes later the exhausted boy once again fell into a turbulent sleep.<\/p>\n

Several times throughout the long night, Joe was awakened by strange unidentifiable noises.\u00a0 Though he listened intently each time, the noises he heard seemed less threatening than the earlier ones when he had been so very frightened.\u00a0 Joe opened his eyes only briefly each time he awoke, falling back to sleep almost instantly the minute he closed them again, the noises less important than his body\u2019s need for rest.<\/p>\n

Joe had lost all track of time.\u00a0 He had no idea if it were morning or evening outside.\u00a0 He only wished for his father or one of his brothers to come to his rescue.\u00a0 Joe wondered if they even knew he was missing and if they did, where they worried about him, did they miss him?\u00a0 These things Joe knew he felt in his heart for his family.\u00a0 He wanted to go home in the worst way, he wanted his father and his brothers.\u00a0 Joe remembered the night his father had held him, after their \u2018little discussion\u2019 and longed to feel his father\u2019s strong arms holding him now.\u00a0 Joe wiped the tears from his face for the hundredth time and forced himself to think of something besides home.<\/p>\n

His thoughts turned to his best friend.\u00a0 Joe wondered why Mitch had betrayed him, always before the two boys had been the very best of friends.\u00a0 They had met their first day of school and from that day until recently, their friendship had grown beyond the limits of most young boys.\u00a0 They had stood together against all odds, taking on every bully and ruffian in school when one or the other had been threatened.\u00a0 Nothing or anyone had ever succeeded in breaking their bond of friendship, until now.\u00a0 Joe felt saddened by the fact that Mitch and only Mitch, with the exception of his own family, had ever known or suspected that Joe had always been afraid of the dark, forcing him to want the lamp burning low, that he had nightmares that often left him in tears, and that he had since the age of seven slept with his little stuffed dog, Scruffy.\u00a0 Scruffy had been a Christmas present from his brother Adam when Joe was seven and since opening the neatly wrapped package that Christmas morning nearly five years ago, Scruffy had always been his bed partner.\u00a0 The knowledge that Mitch had taken it upon himself to share his secrets with their older friends ate away at Joe.\u00a0 If that had not been bad enough, when the others had laughed and made fun of him, Mitch had joined in as if he had thought it funny also, and that had hurt Joe more than the telling of his secrets.\u00a0 He hated it when one of his family or someone else laughed at him and made fun of him or even referred to him as \u2018boy\u2019 or worse, \u2018baby\u2019, and Mitch had done all three.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy Mitch, why?\u201d cried Joe.\u00a0 Joe buried his face in Scruffy\u2019s soft fur and wept, his heart broken, lonely and scared.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t understand, Hoss.\u00a0 What did Charlie mean, Joe left night before last in the middle of the night to come home?\u00a0 He isn\u2019t here, I\u2019ve just come from the house,\u201d Ben ranted, his temper already reaching the boiling point.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just atellin\u2019 ya what Mr. Devlin said, Joe got upset with Mitch about somethin\u2019 and left around eight o\u2019clock night before last headin\u2019 fer home,\u201d Hoss explained for the second time. \u201cHe said he was worried about the boy riding off like that so late and just wanted to know if Joe got home all right.\u00a0 I explained to him that we ain\u2019t seen Joe since he left fer school on Friday.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss was beginning to get worried.\u00a0 He stopped and grabbed Ben by the shoulder, halting the older man\u2019s steps as they made their way to the barn.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was supposed to spent the week-end at the Devlin\u2019s tweren\u2019t he, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 The worry was evident in Hoss\u2019 voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, and I thought that was where he was.\u201d\u00a0 Fear suddenly gripped at Ben\u2019s heart.\u00a0 \u201cIf Joe was supposed to have left night before last that means he hasn\u2019t been seen since Friday afternoon.\u00a0 Hoss,\u201d Ben met his son\u2019s eyes and saw his own worry reflected back at him in Hoss\u2019 blue eyes, \u201cYou\u2019re sure Joseph did make it to the Devlin\u2019s after school on Friday didn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAccording to Mr. Devlin he did.\u00a0 Seemed fine too when the boys got home.\u00a0 But later that evening, after they went to bed, Joe got mad and just up and left for home.\u00a0 Pa, I\u2019m worried, it ain\u2019t like Little Joe ta wonder off like that.\u00a0 If\u2019n he were mad and came home, he should have been here by Saturday mornin\u2019.\u00a0 He wouldn\u2019t have gone no place else, not in the dark and all.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss scratched his head in thought.\u00a0 \u201cPa, where could he have gone?\u00a0 I mean, it\u2019s Sunday, we was suppose to pick him up at church this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know son, but we better saddle our horses and start looking.\u00a0 Tell Adam to hurry; I want him to go with you.\u00a0 The two of you head back toward the Devlin place, just in case,\u201d Ben ordered.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust in case what, Pa?\u201d Hoss looked puzzled not fully understanding what it was that his father had in mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know Hoss, just in case.\u00a0 Look for him; maybe he got thrown off his horse or something.\u00a0 Just look, will you?\u201d\u00a0 Ben turned and headed back to the house, his anger at having to miss church swiftly turning to worry.\u00a0 \u2018That boy better have a good explanation for this little bit of impudence,\u2019 mumbled Ben to himself.<\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss had the horses saddled and were just about ready to leave when Ben joined them.\u00a0 As he checked the cinch on his saddle, Ben told Adam and Hoss his plans.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am going to check with those other boys that Joe and Mitch have started hanging around with.\u00a0 I\u2019ll see if they have seen him.\u00a0 If I can\u2019t find out anything from them, I have one place in mind I want to check.\u201d\u00a0 Ben mounted his horse and turned the big buckskin in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Shamblin place, Pa?\u201d inquired Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, and if I find him there after the little talk we had a couple of weeks ago, he may never sit down again.\u201d\u00a0 Ben nudged his horse and left in the direction of town.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss exchanged looks and Adam shook his head slowly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat kid better not be caught at the Shamblin house again.\u00a0 Not with the mood that Pa\u2019s in right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw Adam, Joe ain\u2019t gonna go back there.\u00a0 Not alone anyway, everyone knows that place is hainted, Joe ain\u2019t that brave, why he\u2019d be scared to death to be there by his self,\u201d laughed Hoss as he tried to visualize his baby brother entering that ole scary place all alone.\u00a0 Hoss laughed louder, why he wasn\u2019t so sure that he\u2019d be brave enough to do it.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on Adam, maybe Joe is just hidin\u2019 out someplace cause he doesn\u2019t want us to know that he and Mitch got into a tussle.\u00a0 Bet he\u2019s sittin\u2019 in church right now wonderin\u2019 where in tarnation we\u2019s at,\u201d called out Hoss who followed behind Adam.<\/p>\n

Hoss had no way of knowing how true his words were.\u00a0 Hours later, Joe lay in a crumpled ball; his feet bruised from kicking the wall in hopes of tearing free the nails that held the door securely.\u00a0 The boys had made him forfeit his boots that first night, leaving them behind at the Devlin\u2019s.\u00a0 He had ridden with only his socks on and now even those offered no protection for his battered feet.\u00a0 Joe was sure that he had broken a toe, it throbbed and when he tried to move it, the pain shot from the toe through the foot and upward.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease\u2026please\u2026someone,\u201d screamed out Joe, his voice barely audible.<\/p>\n

His throat hurt and when he had tried to eat, it burned so he had stopped eating until the hunger pangs had become so bad that he had been forced to swallow just a bite or two.\u00a0 His water was quickly running out for the temperature within his dark cell had risen to new heights and he had carelessly used more than he should of the precious liquid.\u00a0 Joe had finally determined that when the closet was the hottest, the sun was high, and with the slight cooling, evening had ascended.\u00a0 With those thoughts in mind, Joe had counted his nights as two and his days also were two.\u00a0 Night was quickly approaching for the third time and Joe shuddered at the thoughts of having to spend yet another night alone in his prison.<\/p>\n

Joe shut his eyes and dozed.\u00a0 He was awakened by the loud booming thunder that rolled across the heavens.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh God no, not a storm.\u00a0 Not now,\u201d cried Joe.\u00a0 \u201cI hate storms, why are you doing this to me?\u00a0 I haven\u2019t been that bad, have I Lord?\u201d continued Joe.\u00a0 \u201cPlease God, I\u2019ll be good, honest.\u00a0 I won\u2019t make Pa worry anymore\u2026please, just don\u2019t let it storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa\u2026I\u2019m sorry.\u00a0 Please help me\u2026I wanna go home, PLEASE!\u201d ranted Joe, losing control.\u00a0 \u201cHELP! HELP!\u201d shouted Joe, grabbing his burning throat with his bandaged hands and sinking to the floor.\u00a0 \u201cPa, I need you\u2026\u201d his mumbled cry lost in the ominous roll of the thunder.<\/p>\n

Ben glanced up at the sky and watched as the lightening danced across the wide-open spaces.\u00a0 The bright blasts of light lit the yard around the old Shamblin homestead and Ben could not help but shiver at the eerie feelings he got from just riding around the deserted house.\u00a0 Ben pulled Buck to a stop and listened.\u00a0 With the wind picking up it had sounded as if someone were calling out to him, then with the thunder came silence.\u00a0 As the lightening flashed Buck danced around, anxious to be back in his stall and out of the fast approaching storm.<\/p>\n

\u201cEasy big boy,\u201d Ben leaned forward and patted his horse\u2019s neck.\u00a0 After the second time around the house, Ben was satisfied that the old house was tightly secured, as he found no boards missing from the doors or windows.\u00a0 As he nudged Buck toward home, Ben was relieved to be leaving the premises, even if he did not believe that the old Shamblin place was haunted, he still did not like the creepy feelings he got when he had ridden around the house.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on Buck, let\u2019s get home and see if those boys of mine have had any better luck in finding their brother than I have.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben gave one more glance over his shoulder and shivered at the way the old house was silhouetted against the darkness when the lightening lit up the night sky.\u00a0 The sight left him with uncomfortable feeling as his thoughts turn to his youngest son and his worry about where the boy might have gone after leaving his friend\u2019s house.\u00a0 He was nearly home when he felt the first drops of rain hit his face and silently prayed that Joe had made it home before the storm hit in full force.<\/p>\n

Ben was surprised and pleased to find Joe\u2019s pinto stabled in his stall.\u00a0 Relief washed over him with the knowledge that Joe was safely home, but that hope was quickly dashed when he suddenly turned and found both Adam and Hoss standing in the doorway their faces tired and haggard in appearance.<\/p>\n

Ben looked questioningly at his sons, apprehension beginning to grow in his heart once more.\u00a0 He already knew the answer but asked anyway,\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s not home?\u201d<\/p>\n

Both Adam and Hoss shook their heads.\u00a0 \u201cThe horse wandered in here right after we got home.\u00a0 We checked him good, there was no sign of blood, nothing to indicate that the boy was hurt or had been thrown,\u201d Adam explained to his father.<\/p>\n

Ben stepped over to inspect Joe\u2019s horse for himself.\u00a0 \u201cNothing?\u201d he questioned.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo sir.\u00a0 Ya reckon he\u2019s all right Pa?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss\u2019 worry about his baby brother showed on his face and he made no attempt at hiding it.\u00a0 \u201cYa think we otta go back out and look fer him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, it\u2019s already started to rain, and we can\u2019t see anything in the dark.\u00a0 As bad as I hate too, we\u2019ll just have to wait until daylight and hope this storm passes by then.\u00a0 Come on boys, let\u2019s get a good night\u2019s sleep and be ready to leave at sunup.\u201d\u00a0 Ben slipped his arms around each of his son\u2019s shoulders and marched with them to the house.\u00a0 Ben knew he wasn\u2019t fooling anyone, lest of all him self, for he knew that none of them would be getting any sleep this night.<\/p>\n

Ben stopped halfway to the house and turned to his sons, \u201cBoys, get the horses ready, make sure we have some lanterns and our slickers.\u00a0 I can\u2019t stand the thoughts of that boy out in this mess, I\u2019m sure he\u2019s scared and it\u2019s possible that he could be hurt.\u00a0 Hurry, I\u2019m going to speak with Hop Sing and I\u2019ll be right out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss and Adam exchanged pleased smiles that their father had decided to continue with the search in spite of the fact that it was storming.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t think Pa would quit that easily, not when it comes to his baby,\u201d grinned Adam, as he and Hoss set about getting the horses saddled and their gear together.<\/p>\n

The three older Cartwrights weren\u2019t the only ones not sleeping.\u00a0 As the storm grew in magnitude, the fear that had taken up residence in Joe\u2019s heart also grew.\u00a0 It seemed to Joe that the old house rattled each and every time that the thunder rolled.\u00a0 The wind howled and at times it appeared to be calling out to him, sending him deeper into the back of the dark closet.<\/p>\n

\u201cJooooeeee, Jooooeeee,\u201d the wind would howl.\u00a0 Joe grabbed Scruffy and held tightly to his security link as he trembled in fear.\u00a0 Again the wind called his name but this time Joe could hear footsteps on the stairs just outside the room where the closet was hidden behind the wardrobe.\u00a0 Suddenly Joe froze, it sounded as if a door was being opened, and he heard the screech of the wood as it was dragged slowly across the floor.\u00a0 Joe remained in his frozen state, unable to move.\u00a0 Even his breath was coming in short puffs as he willed himself not to cry out, for in truth he was terrified.\u00a0 All of a sudden something was pounding and beating on the walls of his hidden closet.\u00a0 It appeared that the sounds were coming from all four walls and the noise was deafening to his ears.\u00a0 Joe huddled in the middle of the floor, his head covered with his arms, tears flowing from his hazel eyes as his determination crumbled and he screamed out for his father and brothers to help him.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoooeee, we\u2019re commminngg to geeettt yooouuu!\u00a0 Weee wannnttt yooouurr soouull.\u201d<\/p>\n

The words could be heard over the pounding on the walls, the howl of the wind and the booming thunder.\u00a0 Joe shuddered, felt his body grow weak and then passed out.<\/p>\n

Four boys ran from the house, three holding their sides from having laughed so hard.\u00a0 The fourth boy had tears building in his blue eyes and in the darkness that surrounded them he tried to hide them from the others.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh crap, that was so funny,\u201d laughed Max, wiping the tears from his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cI can just see Cartwright, screaming like a banshee for his papa.\u00a0 The kid must have been out of his mind with fear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I bet he pissed his pants when we started beating on those walls,\u201d smirked Jed.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d love to have seen his face.\u201d<\/p>\n

He never knew just how true his words were, for Joe\u2019s terror had caused his weakened body to react violently to his fright and when he passed out, his bladder had emptied automatically.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are we going to do to scare him tomorrow night?\u201d Willie asked as he mounted his horse.<\/p>\n

\u201cI dunno yet.\u00a0 It\u2019ll have to be something good.\u00a0 Hey, Devlin, what\u2019s wrong with you?\u00a0 Didn\u2019t you think that was funny, the way the kid was screaming and all?\u201d Max called out at Mitch who had mounted his horse but had yet to speak.<\/p>\n

Mitch saw the dark look in the eyes of the others as they watched him and knew that he had to play along with them, though the thoughts of his friend locked behind the wall ate away at his conscience.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, funny, real funny,\u201d Mitch told them, his voice somewhat sarcastic.\u00a0 The others laughed again, Mitch\u2019s tone unnoticed by the preoccupied older boys.<\/p>\n

By morning the rain had stopped.\u00a0 Joe woke from his troubled sleep and reached for a canteen.\u00a0 As he lifted it to his lips, only a drop fell into his mouth.\u00a0 Joe shook the container then tossed it to the other side of the closet when nothing poured from the spout.\u00a0 Grabbing a second canteen, Joe first shook it before turning it upside down; not even a drop dripped from this second canteen and in frustration, Joe tossed it on top of the first.<\/p>\n

Joe was in tears by the time his hands found the third and last canteen.\u00a0 Shaking it gently, Joe sighed in relief as the sounds of sloshing water reached his ears.\u00a0 Joe pulled the cork from the opening and turned the water up drinking slowly.\u00a0 He had no idea for sure how long he had been held captive but he was positive it was no where near the seven days that the others had told him he would have to stay.\u00a0 Joe feared that his water supply would be gone before his time was up and prayed silently that the boys would return and leave more water for him.\u00a0 But then they had promised to return the first night but had failed to show up.\u00a0 Joe worried now if they had even meant to come back, would they just leave him there to die in the stuffy little closet?\u00a0 Joe wondered, could even Mitch be that low, to leave his best friend to die alone, to be a participant in the cause of his death?<\/p>\n

\u201cMitch, I hate you,\u201d Joe said aloud, \u201cdo you hear me?\u00a0 I HATE YOU!\u201d\u00a0 Joe screamed over and over until he finally wore himself out and collapsed onto the floor exhausted.\u00a0 Joe lay where he fell, tears streaming from his red and swollen eyes.<\/p>\n

Ben and his sons had spent the long rainy night searching everywhere for the youngest family member but had found no trace of the missing boy.\u00a0 Wet, tired and discouraged, they had continued on their mission until late afternoon when Ben raised his hand in the air, signaling for them to stop.\u00a0 He then suggested that they return home, get some food in their stomachs and grab a couple hours of much needed sleep before starting out once more.\u00a0 Reluctantly his son\u2019s agreed and headed for home.\u00a0 The weary threesome rode in silence, Joe foremost in their thoughts as they played over in their minds the reasons that Joe might have had for being angry enough with his best friend to up and leave in the middle of the night like he had.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, Joe ain\u2019t never got mad at Mitch before.\u00a0 Wonder what caused the riff between \u2018em?\u201d questioned Hoss as he rode along side of his father.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d have no way of knowing that son, seems like Joe would have to be the one to answer that question,\u201d Ben replied to his son.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not the only one who would know,\u201d intervened Adam after thinking about his father\u2019s words.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do ya mean, Adam?\u201d Hoss had turned to face Adam who had moved between his father and brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cHas anyone thought to ask Mitch?\u00a0 After all, even Little Joe, as good as he is at it, can\u2019t argue alone.\u201d\u00a0 Adam tossed them a smile showing the dimple in his cheek.<\/p>\n

Ben pulled his horse to a stop his sons doing the same.\u00a0 Looking up at the darkening sky Ben removed his hat and wiped the sweat beads from his forehead.\u00a0 When he replaced his hat on his head, he turned to face his sons.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know why I didn\u2019t think of that.\u00a0 Of course Mitch would know.\u00a0 It\u2019s getting late, but let\u2019s ride over to the Devlin\u2019s and see what the boy has to say about it,\u201d smiled Ben as he urged his horse into a gallop.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss glanced quickly at each other and just as quickly followed.<\/p>\n

It was well after the nine o\u2019clock hour by the time that the Cartwrights arrived at the Devlin ranch.\u00a0 Charlie having heard the sound of horses in his yard had stepped outside onto his porch to see who his company might be.\u00a0 He was surprised to see three of his Cartwright neighbors dismounting from their horses and moved to greet the late night visitors.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, what brings you out so late?\u201d greeted Charlie, offering Ben his hand.\u00a0 Ben shook hands with his friend and began telling Charlie about Joe\u2019s disappearance.<\/p>\n

\u201cCharlie, when you mentioned to Hoss the other day about Joe getting upset with Mitch and coming home in the middle of the night, did Mitch happen to mention what the riff was about?\u201d<\/p>\n

Charlie invited his friends inside and offered them a seat.\u00a0 \u201cNo, Ben, not that I remember.\u00a0 And to be honest with you, I\u2019ve been so busy around here lately; I never thought to ask the boy.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Is something wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe didn\u2019t come home, Mr. Devlin,\u201d Hoss spoke up before his father had a chance to reply to the question.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ve been searchin\u2019 fer him since Saturday night since I talked to you in town and we cain\u2019t found \u2018em.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh Ben, why didn\u2019t you come and get me?\u00a0 My boys and I would have been more \u2018n glad to help you.\u201d\u00a0 Charlie stood and turned to face Ben.\u00a0 \u201cWhat do you want me to do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d like to talk to Mitch, if you wouldn\u2019t mind.\u00a0 I know it\u2019s late, but we thought maybe the boy might have some idea where Little Joe could have gone.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s horse came home alone; we don\u2019t know if the boy is hurt, lost somewhere or hiding out.\u00a0 If we knew that he intended to come home or maybe even hide out, it might help us know where to look,\u201d Ben explained nervously as he sat and twisted the brim of his hat around in his hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe boy\u2019s in the bed, but I\u2019ll wake him.\u201d\u00a0 Charlie turned to his wife who had just entered from the kitchen and asked her to fetch the boy and have him come into the living room.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, I\u2019m terribly sorry about all of this.\u00a0 I had no idea Joe hadn\u2019t made it home.\u00a0 I should have ridden out after him and rode home with him just to be sure he got there all right.\u00a0 I feel terrible about this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not your fault Charlie.\u00a0 Little Joe knew better than to pull a stunt like this.\u00a0 But that\u2019s beside the point, right now I am more concerned about his well being, than his whys and why nots,\u201d Ben told his friend.<\/p>\n

\u201cCharlie,\u201d Mrs. Devlin said in a calm controlled voice as she re-entered the room twisting the end of her apron with her fingers, \u201cMitch isn\u2019t in his bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Charlie jerked his head around to face his wife shocked at the news that Mitch was not in bed; Ben and the boys jumped to their feet with anxious looks on their faces.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean, not in his room?\u00a0 Where is he?\u201d Charlie said as he dashed from the room to see for himself.<\/p>\n

Charlie was back in a matter of minutes carrying a pair of boots in his hands and laughing.\u00a0 \u201cMother, he couldn\u2019t have gone far, probably slipped outside to use the outhouse.\u00a0 Here are his boots.\u201d\u00a0 Charlie held the pair of boots up for his wife\u2019s inspection.<\/p>\n

Hoss saw the boots that Mr. Devlin was holding and took one boot from the older man and examined it.\u00a0 \u201cMr. Devlin, these ain\u2019t Mitch\u2019s boots, these belong to my little brother,\u201d Hoss said as he gave his father a worried look.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me see those,\u201d Ben took the boot from Hoss and the other from Charlie and held them up.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re right son, these are Little Joe\u2019s.\u201d\u00a0 Turning to Charlie he questioned the surprised man.<\/p>\n

\u201cCharlie, why would Joe leave for home without his boots?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd where is our son?\u201d Mrs. Devlin asked her husband.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll have one of the boys check the barn, see if Mitch\u2019s horse is there.\u00a0 If not, I suggest we start looking for both of them,\u201d Charlie moved to the stairs and called for his other son.\u00a0 When the boy appeared, Charlie sent him to the barn to see whether or not his younger brother\u2019s horse was in the stable.<\/p>\n

In a matter of minutes Pete was back with the news that the horse was also missing.\u00a0 \u201cSomething strange is going on here Ben.\u00a0 First your son, now mine.\u00a0 I wonder if they are mixed up in this together?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, but it has me worried.\u00a0 You and your son saddle up, my boys here and I are heading out again.\u00a0 I\u2019ll meet up with you later.\u00a0 Please, if you find anything send word to Hop Sing, he will know where to find us.\u00a0 And good luck, Charlie.\u2019\u00a0 Ben led the way out the door and as soon as everyone was mounted, they rode out again, this time searching for two missing boys rather than one.<\/p>\n

Joe heard the noise again, louder this time.\u00a0 It almost sounded like music, the eerie and scary kind of music, like you heard sometimes when the organ played at someone\u2019s funeral.\u00a0 The sound was faint, but Joe was sure he had not imagined it, but how he asked himself.\u00a0 And where was it coming from?\u00a0 The far distant sound continued and Joe shivered slightly.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t like the sound; it reminded him of all the dead people he had seen and the images that his mind conjured up caused him to want to scream out, but he held the urge to do so within himself.<\/p>\n

Joe pulled his knees up to his chest and lowered his head, \u201cPlease come and get me Pa, please hurry.\u00a0 I\u2019m so scared, and I wanna go home Pa, please,\u201d cried Joe.<\/p>\n

Suddenly Joe jerked his head up, the loud crash sounded as if it had come from above his head.\u00a0 Joe listened intently and when whatever moved above him began thumping, Joe\u2019s heart kept rhythm with the beat.\u00a0 The thumping continued overhead for several minutes, Joe barely took a breath, so frightened was the boy.\u00a0 The young boy stood as if paralyzed unable to move until the loud shrill scream broke the silence of the night.\u00a0 Joe himself began screaming at the top of his lungs, the music growing louder matching him scream for scream, the thumping mixing together with the others as the trio of earsplitting sounds sent the night birds from their roosts into flight just outside of the old house.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s hands were now bleeding, he had let his panic get the better of him and he had begun to beat and claw at the door and walls of his dark prison.\u00a0 Small splinters of wood embedded themselves into his tender flesh and under his nails.\u00a0 His shoulder now bruised from throwing himself against the passageway in his attempt to be free, throbbed from the pain.\u00a0 Even Joe\u2019s knees were bruised from trying to kick his way out; Joe was passed holding on to reality as his battered body slumped slowly to the floor where he lay in darkness and fear, his cries drowned out by the frightening noises made by, and unknown to Joe, his so-called friends who laughed amongst themselves.\u00a0 Pleased that they had found the old pump organ in the attic, they banged the keys causing the sinister music to stay in pitch with Joe\u2019s screams.<\/p>\n

Ben, Adam and Hoss after more fruitless searching, had returned to the house to get fresh mounts and to refuel their lanterns from the previous night.\u00a0 They were surprised to find Charlie Devlin and Mitch waiting for them in the great room.<\/p>\n

Adam led the way inside and was the first to notice the red swollen eyes that told him Mitch had been crying.\u00a0 Moving quickly into the room, Adam stood before the weeping boy and his father, dreading the worst.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u00a0 Have you found Little Joe?\u201d Adam\u2019s voice was demanding in tone.<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t found him, but Mitch says he knows where Little Joe is.\u00a0 Ben, I thought it best to come here first.\u00a0 Mitch has something he wants to tell you.\u201d\u00a0 Charlie placed his hand on his son\u2019s shoulder and forced him to face the father of his friend.<\/p>\n

\u201cMake it quick, young man.\u00a0 Tell them where Little Joe is,\u201d demanded Charlie.<\/p>\n

Mitch hung his head and Ben could see the tears that dripped off the end of his chin.\u00a0 Gently Ben cupped the boy\u2019s quivering chin and tilted his head upward so that he could see into the boy\u2019s blue eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s okay son.\u00a0 Just tell me about Joseph.\u201d\u00a0 Ben\u2019s deep voice was calm and steady to the untrained ears of the little boy but under his calm exterior, his insides quivered in fear for his own son\u2019s safety.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s locked in a closet up at the old Shamblin house.\u201d\u00a0 Mitch swirled around to his father and buried his face in the front of the man\u2019s shirt.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry, I\u2019m sorry, I never meant for Joe to get hurt\u2026honest Mr. Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben knelt down on one knee, his heart racing and placed his hand on the boy\u2019s trembling shoulder so that he could turn Mitch around to face him.\u00a0 \u201cMitch, was Joe hurt when he was locked in the closet?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mitch shook his head no, \u201cScared, he was scared to death.\u00a0 It was real dark with no lights, and it was even darker in that closet.\u00a0 He begged us not to leave him but the others wouldn\u2019t let him out and they told me if I said anything to anyone, they\u2019d lock me in the other closet.\u00a0 I was scared too Mr. Cartwright, but not as scared as Joe\u2026he cried.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben looked up at his sons and saw fear in their eyes and knew that they could see the same fear reflected back at them in his own eyes.\u00a0 \u201cMitch, when did you and the others put Joe in the closet?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben squeezed the small shoulders that trembled beneath his hands, as Mitch seemed to be mentally counting the days.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was Friday night.\u00a0 The night he came home with me from school.\u00a0 The others snuck into our room after he went to sleep then they jumped him and tied him up and took him there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFriday!\u201d Hoss nearly shouted.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was four nights ago, Pa,\u201d Adam added.<\/p>\n

Ben rose to his feet, \u201cCome on, let\u2019s go get him.\u00a0 Thanks Mitch for being honest with us.\u00a0 We\u2019ll talk again after we get Joe home.\u201d\u00a0 Ben patted the boy\u2019s head on his way out and followed his sons from the house and into the yard.<\/p>\n

Hop Sing ran after them and handed Ben some blankets.\u00a0 \u201cJust in case number three son get cold.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks Hop Sing.\u00a0 We\u2019ll be back as soon as we can.\u201d\u00a0 Ben could see the tears that had welled in the Chinaman\u2019s eyes and suddenly felt his own eyes mist over with unshed tears that momentarily blurred his vision.<\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing have everything ready for lit\u2019le one when you get home,\u201d smiled Hop Sing trying to keep his tears from escaping.<\/p>\n

Ben nodded his head in agreement and hurried to catch up with Adam and Hoss who had left without him.<\/p>\n

It did not take the trio long to cover the distance to the Shamblin house for they rode at break-neck speed.\u00a0 The driving force that pushed them to hurry was fueled by their need to find the boy whom they all loved more than life.\u00a0 Ben\u2019s thoughts kept recalling his son\u2019s fear of the dark and the nightmares that he so often had and he shuddered at the thoughts of what his young son was being forced to endure.<\/p>\n

Hoss jumped from his horse and ran to the porch where he immediately began pulling at the loose boards that kept the door from opening.\u00a0 Adam joined him and together they managed to free enough of the barricade to permit them to enter the house.\u00a0 Hoss squeezed through followed by Adam with Ben bringing up the rear.\u00a0 Hoss stood silently listening for any sounds.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure is spooky in here,\u201d he whispered to his brother.<\/p>\n

Adam glanced over his shoulders and then up at Hoss, \u201cYou can say that again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben lit the lanterns that Adam had thought to bring and together father and sons began to climb the stairs in their quest to find the hidden closet.\u00a0 The light from the lanterns cast eerie shadows on the walls and even Ben shivered at their ghostly images that followed along behind them on the opposite wall.<\/p>\n

The old stairs squeaked with the weight of the men and Joe, not knowing what was lurking around in the house, crept into the corner of his dark closet and shuddered in fright at the sounds of the approaching footsteps.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u201d Hoss called out in a voice not much louder than a whisper.\u00a0 The vacant old house gave him the woolies and he felt the fine hairs on the back of his neck rise at the way his voice seemed to calling back to him.<\/p>\n

Joe trembled at the sound of his name echoing through the outer hallway and he sunk deeper into his hiding place in fear of what might lie in wait.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, can you hear me boy?\u201d Ben called as they continued on their upward course.<\/p>\n

Joe felt his heart begin to pound in his chest.\u00a0 He told himself he was imagining things for the sound of the voice calling his name sounded much like his father\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Hoss stumbled as the toe of his boot hooked on the edge of the step and he tumbled backwards.\u00a0 The racket had awaken new dread in the boy who trembled in fright and when Hoss shouted out his frustration, the sound vibrated the vacant halls within the house and sent Joe\u2019s courage over the edge as he too began screaming hysterically.<\/p>\n

The screams stopped the men in their tracks as they exchanged startled looks.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph,\u201d Ben mumbled to the others and took off up the stairs taking them two at a time.\u00a0 The lantern swung to and fro in his hands as he ran in the directions of the piteous screeches.\u00a0 Adam followed closely on his father\u2019s heel.\u00a0 Once they reached the top, Ben went in one direction darting from room to room in his search while Adam took the opposite side of the wide hallway.<\/p>\n

Hoss ran straight ahead, seeing a second stairway, he ran up the narrow steps, stopping in front of the next set of steps that he could only surmise would lead him to the attic.\u00a0 The wretched wails ceased momentarily as the three men stood silent, listening for further sounds that would tell them where Joe was being held.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, son, tell Papa where you are.\u201d Ben called through the darkness that surrounded him.<\/p>\n

Immediately the screams began again.\u00a0 Ben tossed his head from side to side trying to determine from which directions the sounds were coming.\u00a0 Fear gripped at his heart, for he knew that Joe was beyond reason, the howls bringing to mind an injured animal caught in a deadly trap.<\/p>\n

Hoss bolted through the only door in the upper hall and stopped.\u00a0 The sounds were echoing loudest in the room and when Adam joined him, Hoss grabbed the lantern from his hands and held it high enough in the air that the entire room glowed in soft light.\u00a0 Adam felt along the walls with his hands, frantically searching for a closet door.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere Adam, behind this wardrobe.\u00a0 Pa in here,\u201d shouted Hoss as he and Adam struggled to move the large heavy furniture.\u00a0 Ben rushed in and he too began pushing the wardrobe away from the wall.\u00a0 The screams grew louder as the men struggled with the closet door.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, it\u2019s Pa.\u00a0 Son, calm down, we\u2019ll have you out in a minute.\u00a0 Joseph, listen to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben repeatedly called Joe\u2019s name but the message either never reached through the boy\u2019s terror or never registered in his mind.\u00a0 The screams penetrated the walls and sent shivers up and down the spines of the three men who worked frantically at freeing the boy from his dark cell.<\/p>\n

Once the nails had been loosened, it took both Hoss and Adam to jerk the door opened.\u00a0 They pulled with all the pent up frustrations that had built within each of them over the last couple of days until finally the small door was pulled from its hinges and tossed aside.<\/p>\n

The stench that suddenly assaulted his nostrils caused each man to gag.\u00a0 Ben sat the lanterns down behind him and ignoring the offending odor stuck his head through the door.\u00a0 He could barely see his son crouched in the deepest corner, his eyes wide with fright, Scruffy held tightly in one hand and the other hand fraying about in the air.<\/p>\n

Slowly Ben crawled into the closet enough to grab Joe\u2019s hand that swung about and speaking in soft tones, urged his son to follow him out of the enclosure.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s eyes unaccustomed to the light could only make out shadowy figures and pulled back against the hand that held his arm, his crying and begging bringing tears to his father\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, it\u2019s okay now.\u00a0 Papa\u2019s here, Hoss and Adam are here with me.\u00a0 Look son, here\u2019s your brothers,\u201d Ben cooed softly as he gently tugged at Joe\u2019s arm.\u00a0 It was obvious to all three men that Joe was unaware that his family had finally succeeded in finding him and was attempting to free him from his four day old prison.<\/p>\n

As Ben pulled Joe closer to the door, Adam and Hoss each grabbed an ankle and helped to pull Joe from the closet.\u00a0 When he was completely out, Ben made an effort to gather the hysterical boy into his arms hoping to still his frantic howling.<\/p>\n

Joe fought against his father\u2019s efforts to restrain him.\u00a0 With his arms and legs he kicked and jerked from side to side, the nightmares he\u2019d had suddenly coming to life in his confusion.\u00a0 It took both his brothers to help Ben hold the boy still.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s voice grew weaker and weaker until at last his cries turned to sobs and then soft whimpers.\u00a0 Ben continued speaking to the boy in soft soothing tones until at last, Joe exhausted from his battles, slipped from his tormented world into unconsciousness.<\/p>\n

Ben gathered Joe into his arms, his offensive clothing no longer noticed as he rocked his baby back and forth.\u00a0 His tears slipped silently from his eyes as he cradled his son.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss sat along side their brother.\u00a0 Adam gently examined Joe\u2019s bleeding and splintered hands.\u00a0 He could easily see the signs of infection that had started up from the wounds made the first days.\u00a0 Adam also noted the sores about Joe\u2019s feet and pointed at the broken toe on Joe\u2019s right foot.\u00a0 Hoss felt his temper begin to rise and the urge to retaliate against the ones who had treated his baby brother in such a cruel joke began to grow within his heart.<\/p>\n

Ben watched as Hoss\u2019 expression began to change and knew from years of experience that the look that now adorned his middle son\u2019s face was one of pure hatred.\u00a0 Ben knew he had to move to squelch the undesired emotion before Hoss acted on his feelings.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, will you help me get these clothes off your brother?\u00a0 We can wrap him in one of the blankets we brought,\u201d suggested Ben in an endeavor to divert Hoss\u2019 attention from his mounting wrath.<\/p>\n

Adam had also seen the look and was quick to come to his father\u2019s aid.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll get the blankets,\u201d he said as he stood to his feet.<\/p>\n

Hoss and Ben quickly had Joe striped of his nasty clothing and was ready to wrap the warm blankets around Joe by the time that Adam returned.\u00a0 Ben allowed Hoss the satisfaction of carrying his brother down stairs, hoping to redirect the over powering urge to strike back that he knew Hoss harbored within himself.<\/p>\n

As Hoss slowly and carefully made his way down the dark stairway, Joe momentarily opened his eyes.\u00a0 Thinking he was once again dreaming, Joe softly called out to his brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss?\u201d mumbled Joe weakly.<\/p>\n

Hoss was surprised to hear his name spoken and quickly offered an encouraging smile to the boy in his arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey Punkin, just hang on baby.\u00a0 Ole Hoss is gonna take ya home now,\u201d whispered Hoss lovingly to his precious bundle.<\/p>\n

\u201cHome?\u00a0 I wanna go home.\u201d\u00a0 Joe closed his eyes again; his silent tears sliding down the sides of his dirty face.<\/p>\n

Ben turned his head toward the bedroom door as the chiming of the grandfather clock downstairs in the family room reached his ears.\u00a0 He glanced at the sleeping boy buried beneath the pile of warm blankets sighing in relief.\u00a0 It was one a.m. and they had just minutes ago finished bathing and preparing the young boy for bed.\u00a0 Joe had remained docile and unresponsive to their tender ministrations during the procedures, allowing their task to be completed quickly.\u00a0 Now Ben\u2019s youngest son lay in a deep exhausted sleep for which all members of his family were grateful.<\/p>\n

Ben had noted the dark circles under Joe\u2019s eyes, the pallor of his skin tone and when they had lowered his body into the warm water that Hop Sing had waiting in the tub, Ben had been able to count the boy\u2019s protruding ribs.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s hands and feet they had treated as best they could and even at this early morning hour, the three older Cartwrights were found to be all anxiously awaiting the arrive of their family physician, Doctor Paul Martin, whom they knew would treat Joe\u2019s superficial wounds in a more sound professional manner.<\/p>\n

The doctor arrived just before the sun crested the mountains and was greeted at the door by Hop Sing.\u00a0 Quickly the man servant ushered the doctor in and taking his hat and coat, placing them on the credenza, Hop Sing escorted the family physician to Joe\u2019s bedroom where now the boy\u2019s father and brothers were attempting to calm the boy as he screamed and wailed, tossing himself wildly about on the bed.<\/p>\n

Paul hurried to Joe\u2019s bedside and with trained eyes, quickly surveyed the situation as the family stepped aside to allow him more room to conduct his examination.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, hand me my bag, please,\u201d instructed the doctor.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m going to give him something to calm him down.\u00a0 How long has he been like this?\u201d Paul asked as he reached into his black bag and withdrew the powdered medicine.<\/p>\n

Hop Sing who had slipped quietly into the room of his favorite number three son, took the proffered envelope of medicine and quickly mixed it into a glass of cool water.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was doing this same thing when we found him last night,\u201d Ben offered as he moved to the other side of the bed and sat on the edge to help the physician to restrain the fraying arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe calmed down sometime after we got him home and cleaned up, but when he woke about half an hour ago, he started all over again.\u00a0 I\u2019ve tried talking to him, we all have, but he seems to be locked in a world all his own.\u00a0 I can\u2019t reach him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHere, help me hold him up and let\u2019s see if we can get him to drink this,\u201d Paul instructed.<\/p>\n

Ben raised Joe\u2019s head upward and slipped his arm behind the boy\u2019s shoulders and held his arms still while the doctor placed the glass against Joe\u2019s lips.\u00a0 At first Joe tried to toss his head from side to side but quickly submitted to having his mouth forced opened by the doctor\u2019s gentle hands and slowly began drinking the glass of water with the medication mixed in.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s sub-conscious mind must have sensed his father\u2019s presence for when Joe allowed his fearful eyes to lock with the deep chocolate eyes of his father\u2019s, he held his stance for several moments.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d whispered Joe, as his eyes remained glued to his father\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes sweetheart, Pa\u2019s right here.\u00a0 Everything is going to all right now son.\u00a0 You\u2019re safe at home,\u201d Ben whispered to his son, his soothing voice at last seemingly to have a calming affect on the boy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was so scared,\u201d cried Joe, his hazel eyes clouding with tears.<\/p>\n

Ben glanced quickly about the room at his family and friends who stood around the bed watching and listening.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you were precious, but that\u2019s all over now.\u00a0 You\u2019re home and your brothers and I are here with you.\u00a0 We won\u2019t let anything happen to you.\u00a0 You close your eyes and try to rest.\u201d\u00a0 Ben planted a kiss on top of Joe\u2019s head, refusing to relinquish his hold on his troubled son.<\/p>\n

Joe closed his eyes briefly but just as quickly opened them again, once more searching for his father\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa,\u201d Joe called.<\/p>\n

\u201cShh\u2026Joseph, close your eyes son,\u201d Ben encouraged.<\/p>\n

\u201cMitch\u2026\u201d Joe sobbed, \u201che was one of them\u2026why Pa, why?\u201d cried Joe, the tiny tears rolling down the sides of his face.\u00a0 \u201cHe was my best friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s eyes misted as he held his head upward trying to keep the tears intact and took a deep breath before attempting to answer his son\u2019s question.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know Joseph, I just don\u2019t know.\u00a0 You rest now please, and we will talk about it later.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben gently returned Joe\u2019s head to his pillow and kissed the boy\u2019s brow.\u00a0 Caressing Joe\u2019s cheek with the back of his hand as Joe closed his eyes, Ben stepped away from the bedside and stood with his back to the others as he gazed out the bedroom window.\u00a0 He had asked himself the same question all through the long night.\u00a0 Why had his son\u2019s best friend turned on him and betrayed him by exposing his most private secrets?\u00a0 Ben determined then and there that by the time Joe was able to ask the question of him again, he would know the answer.<\/p>\n

Turning without speaking to the others, Ben left the room, the others filing out behind him while Doc Martin tended to Joe\u2019s wounds.<\/p>\n

It did not take the doctor long to treat Joe\u2019s injuries and in a relatively short time he had joined the family downstairs in the great room, to explain to them what he had done for his patient.\u00a0 Ever faithful Hop Sing remained with Joe who by now was deep into a sound but medicated sleep.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, I\u2019ve removed the splinters and cleaned the wounds.\u00a0 Luckily enough for Joe, he had not broken any bones in his hands, though he did somehow manage to break a toe.\u00a0 There\u2019s not much we can do for a broken toe other than to bind it to another, which is what I did.\u00a0 He has managed to bruise himself up pretty badly, but those will fade in a few days.\u00a0 Needless to say, he will be sore, but what worries me the most is his state of mind, we need to watch him closely so I want each of you, Hop Sing included, to stay with him at all times.\u00a0 When he has had enough rest, we can see how he fares then.\u00a0 Right now I want him to sleep, so I have left some sleeping powders with Hop Sing.\u00a0 When he wakes, try to get him to eat something and then give him the powders.\u00a0 Plenty of good sleep will not only help the body mend himself, but also will help clear his mind and hopefully put his fears to rest.\u201d\u00a0 Paul accepted the cup of hot coffee that Adam handed to him and lowered himself into the blue chair.<\/p>\n

Ben sat down in his chair being careful not to spill his coffee that was offered to him.\u00a0 \u201cI was shocked at the amount of blood splatters that was on the inside of the door.\u00a0 Joseph must have been terribly frightened to have used such an amount of force that it busted up his hands and feet that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss both nodded their heads in agreement.\u00a0 Hoss had nearly cried when he had pulled the door away from its hinges and seen the blood splatters.\u00a0 His heart had broken when he saw the way Joe\u2019s hands were split and bruised from his constant beating against the hard seasoned wooden boards.\u00a0 The thoughts refreshed his determination to seek out the ones who had caused his brother such misery.\u00a0 When his anger became too overwhelming for him, he had to leave the room to keep from voicing his thoughts about the group of young boys who had not only betrayed but also tortured his youngest sibling.<\/p>\n

Ben kissed his son good night as Joe buried himself beneath the blankets.\u00a0 \u201cGod Bless, Joseph,\u201d smiled Ben as he moved to extinguish the light.<\/p>\n

\u201cNight Pa,\u201d called out Joe, his back turned to his father.\u00a0 As the light began to grow dimmer, Joe turned quickly onto his back and called out to Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa,\u201d his voice sounded loud and frantic even to his own ears.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it son?\u201d Ben stopped what he was doing and gave his son a worried look.<\/p>\n

Joe gulped, he hated to ask his father to leave the lamp burning low, but this was the first night that he had asked to be alone.\u00a0 For days now either his father or one of his brothers had remained by his bedside throughout the long nights.\u00a0 Every night since coming home he had awakened from his nightmares and had cried out to be held in the arms of whomever it was that was sitting with him.\u00a0 Joe hated himself for being scared and had reached the conclusion only today that this night he would start sleeping alone in his room.\u00a0 But the thoughts of being in total darkness caused the old fears to jump ahead of his other fears so now as he looked into the face of his father, Joe could feel the small tremors that caused his body to shiver beneath the covers.<\/p>\n

\u201cCould ya leave it on just a little?\u201d Joe asked in a soft voice.\u00a0 He was relieved when his father gave him a small smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I can, how\u2019s this?\u201d smiled Ben, ready to grant the boy anything that would restore his courage and give him reason to once again feel safe and secure in his own home.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks Pa, that\u2019s fine.\u00a0 Oh, and Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes son?\u201d answered Ben, his hand already on the doorknob.<\/p>\n

\u201cWill ya leave the door opened?\u00a0 I mean\u2026well I\u2026\u201d stammered Joe, suddenly embarrassed by his lack of courage.<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand son,\u201d answered Ben before allowing the boy time to have to explain his need and further his embarrassment.<\/p>\n

Joe gave his father a weak smile and turned over on his side silently thanking God for his father\u2019s understanding and before long was sleeping soundly.\u00a0 It was in the wee hours of the morning that the high shrill screams brought each of the three older Cartwrights running from their rooms and into the hallway where they all but collided with one another.\u00a0 Hurrying into Joe\u2019s room, they found that the boy had moved from his bed into the darkest corner of his bedroom where he huddled against the wall, his screams piercing their ears, his arms swinging about in the air as if he were fighting off some unseen assailant.<\/p>\n

Quickly Ben moved to his son\u2019s side and with Adam\u2019s help was able to subdue Joe\u2019s movements but as he was pulled to his feet, Joe jerked his arms free from both his father and brother\u2019s hold and ran toward the door.\u00a0 Hoss seeing the direction in which Joe was traveling, quickly moved to shut the door causing Joe to slam himself against the back of the door.\u00a0 This sudden action sent off a new round of heartbreaking wails as Joe began banging against and throwing himself into the closed door.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me out!\u00a0 Let me out!\u201d screamed the frightened boy.\u00a0 Hoss grabbed Joe around the waist and lifted him off his feet and carried him to the bed where he forcibly handed him over to his father who in turn, wrapped his arms tightly around the squirming boy pinning his arms to his sides.\u00a0 Once his movements were restricted, Ben spoke in soft tones calling Joe\u2019s name over and over and assuring his son that he was safe.<\/p>\n

Joe calmed enough after several minutes that Ben was able to loosen his restraint.\u00a0 Joe, his eyes dulled from sleep and unseeing from his nightmare, realized he was being held in his father\u2019s protective arms and he buried his face into the front of Ben\u2019s robe and wept.\u00a0 Ben held his son for the remainder of the night while Joe slept cradled in his arms.\u00a0 By the time the sun had risen, Ben was able to place the sleeping boy in his bed and slip quietly from the room where he joined the others at the breakfast table.<\/p>\n

Once Ben was seated in his place, Hoss could no longer keep silent.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow much longer is he gonna suffer like that?\u00a0 It\u2019s been three weeks now and there ain\u2019t been a night yet that that young\u2019n ain\u2019t had no nightmare.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss was angry, not with his brother, but at the situation.\u00a0 He had wanted to go after the ones who had forced his little brother to become so despairing and withdrawn, but his father had talked him out of it stating that it was the sheriff\u2019s place to handle the problem.\u00a0 Ben had reminded Hoss that he was needed here, to be close to Joe and to help his brother recover from the trauma he had been forced to endure.<\/p>\n

It had been the right thing to say to his middle son, for Ben knew that Hoss would do whatever it took to help his younger brother\u2019s health and state of mind return to what it had been before the incident.\u00a0 Hoss was never very far from his brother\u2019s side and neither Ben nor Adam had said anything when Hoss or Joe had apparently forgotten his own chores.\u00a0 Adam and his father had quietly done whatever Hoss and Joe had failed to do, both knowing that Hoss\u2019 protective nature and Joe\u2019s need for security bound with the needed closeness of one another\u2019s company and the time they spent together would be a time of healing for the younger sibling.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam,\u201d said Ben looking up from his plate.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m going to ride over to the Devlin\u2019s this afternoon.\u00a0 Would you mind staying with Joe?\u00a0 I think I will ask Hoss to come along.\u00a0 I want to talk to Mitch and I think perhaps it would help Hoss to have to hear what the boy has to say about his part in all of this.\u00a0 I should have done it by now, but with Little Joe being as he is; I didn\u2019t have the heart to leave him so soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure Pa, no problem.\u00a0 \u201cI think I\u2019ll take Joe and go up to the lake.\u00a0 Maybe he\u2019d like to do some fishing,\u201d smiled Adam stuffing another half biscuit into his mouth.<\/p>\n

Ben and Hoss rode out just after the noon meal leaving Joe and Adam standing in the yard waving.\u00a0 \u201cWell squirt, I bet I catch more fish than you do,\u201d laughed Adam heading for the barn to get their fishing gear.<\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t answer but followed silently behind his older brother.\u00a0 As they entered the barn, Joe stopped to pet Cochise\u2019s nose.\u00a0 \u201cAdam?\u00a0 Why are Pa and Hoss going over to the Devlin\u2019s?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam turned to face his younger brother and saw the angry look on his face.\u00a0 Thinking to choose his words carefully, for Joe had made it plain to all of them that he hated Mitch and would never forgive him for what had been done to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Joe, I think Pa wants to talk to Mitch, to hear his side of the story.\u00a0 Why?\u201d asked Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis side of the story?\u00a0 Why does he have to hear Mitch\u2019s side?\u00a0 Don\u2019t he believe what I told him?\u201d yelled Joe turning his back to his brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe calm down boy.\u00a0 Pa just wants to know what Mitch\u2019s part in this whole mess was,\u201d stated Adam hoping to calm his brother down.<\/p>\n

Joe moved over closer to Adam, his anger showing on his face.\u00a0 Adam noted the quivering chin and the tears that had begun to fill his brother\u2019s sad eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrader, that\u2019s what he is.\u00a0 Why does Pa have to hear it from him?\u00a0 He\u2019ll probably try to lie his way out of it anyway.\u00a0 Besides Adam, I dun told Pa everything, my best friend betrayed me, that\u2019s what he did,\u201d Joe added softly and turned his head away to keep his brother from seeing his tears.<\/p>\n

It hurt, knowing that your best friend had betrayed you, especially with such private secrets as to his being afraid of the dark and sleeping with Scruffy.\u00a0 And then that so- called best friend had joined the others and laughed at him, yeah, it hurt and it hurt badly.<\/p>\n

Before Adam had a chance to say anything else on the subject, Joe mounted his horse and headed out of the barn.\u00a0 \u201cYou goin\u2019 fishin\u2019 or not?\u201d he asked as he kick Cochise\u2019s sides and took off.<\/p>\n

Adam grabbed the gear and led Sport out of the barn mounting quickly. Joe had a head start on him but it didn\u2019t take long for Adam to catch up.\u00a0 The rest of the afternoon, the two brothers spent in companionable silence.\u00a0 Though Adam tried to draw Joe into a conversation, Joe seemed lost in his own thoughts refusing to speak even when spoken to.\u00a0 Finally Adam gave up trying and concentrated on catching enough fish for their supper.<\/p>\n

It was late by the time that Hoss and Ben returned from the Devlin\u2019s.\u00a0 Adam could tell by the look on his brother\u2019s face that Hoss was upset about something.\u00a0 Hoss barely greeted his older brother as he entered the house, stopping only long enough to remove his gun belt and hat then to inquire as to Joe\u2019s whereabouts.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe just went upstairs,\u201d Adam informed Hoss, when he asked.\u00a0 Adam glanced at his father but was unable to read the expression on his father\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

Hoss shoved his hands into his pockets and with his head lowered he excused himself.\u00a0 \u201cI think I\u2019ll go up and say good night to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood night son,\u201d called Ben as he watched Hoss slowly move up the stairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cNight Pa, night Adam,\u201d Hoss called over his shoulder.<\/p>\n

Ben waited until Hoss had gone into Joe\u2019s room before he even sat down.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss seems upset, Pa.\u00a0 What happened?\u201d Adam asked, setting his book to the side.<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head, \u201cIt was as Joe said, Mitch did betray him,\u201d started Ben. \u201cHe owned up to that much and also told me who the other boys were and why they wanted to do harm to your brother.\u00a0 Pretty sorry excuse for doing as they have, terrorizing the boy that way.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know what gets into these kids some times; you\u2019d think the parents would teach them better.\u00a0 I pray to God that I have taught the three of you better than to take your spite or resentment out on another human being in such cruelty.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell Pa, Joe said Mitch betrayed him and he\u2019s really hurt by it too, Pa; more than any of us thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam recounted the conversation to his father he had had earlier with his younger brother in the barn.\u00a0 \u201cI think that bothers him more than what the others did to him.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know Pa, he just seems so troubled by it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMitch is dropping by tomorrow.\u00a0 He wants to talk to Little Joe.\u00a0 He said he wants to tell him why he did what he did,\u201d Ben informed his son.<\/p>\n

Adam moved to the edge of his seat and stared at his father.\u00a0 \u201cPa, I don\u2019t think that\u2019s such a good idea.\u00a0 I mean, Joe already said he hated Mitch and he\u2019s never going to forgive him for betraying him to the others. He wants nothing to do with Mitch, he said as much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I think he should hear what Mitch has to say.\u00a0 But I won\u2019t force him.\u00a0 This is something that he and Mitch will have to try to work out between them selves.\u00a0 I think if your brother understood his friend\u2019s reasons, he wouldn\u2019t feel the way he does now,\u201d Ben informed Adam and then poured himself and his son a brandy.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou going to tell me what happened?\u00a0 Or do I have to wait to hear it from someone else?\u201d Adam asked his father, a slow smile beginning to show on his handsome face.<\/p>\n

Ben cut his dark eyes in his son\u2019s direction.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll tell you.\u00a0 You might be surprised to learn that your friend Pete Devlin played a major roll in it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPete?\u00a0 You have my full attention, on with it Pa,\u201d Adam leaned back to get comfortable and waited while his father finished his brandy.<\/p>\n

Ben spent the next hour retelling the story as Mitch had told it to him and Hoss.\u00a0 When his father had finished, Adam was silent for several minutes before he spoke.\u00a0 \u201cPoor kid, looks to me as if he and Joe were victims of Max Jenkins\u2019 evil joke.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have to agree Adam, it was a cruel and vicious thing for those other boys to do to Joe and Mitch.\u201d\u00a0 Ben placed his hand around Adam\u2019s shoulder and walked up the stairs with him as they made their way to their rooms.<\/p>\n

\u201cNight Pa.\u00a0 Sleep well,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood night son, God bless.\u201d\u00a0 Ben bid his oldest good night and quietly slipped into Joe\u2019s room to say good night to his youngest.\u00a0 Joe was already asleep, his body curled into a tight ball.\u00a0 Ben pulled the covers up to his shoulders and tucked them in then placed a kiss on the boy\u2019s brow.\u00a0 He took another blanket from the foot of the bed and covered Hoss who had fallen asleep in the overstuffed chair in the corner of the room.<\/p>\n

Silently Ben blessed his sons a good night\u2019s rest as he pulled the door half way closed and slipped into his own room.<\/p>\n

Joe was busy in the barn when he heard the sound of horses coming into the yard.\u00a0 As he walked to the door and peeked out wondering who their visitor might be, Joe gasped loudly as he watched Mitch Devlin and his father dismount their horses.\u00a0 Joe lurked just inside the door while Ben spoke briefly with Mitch and when his used\u2013to-be friend turned toward the barn in his direction, Joe turned to run.\u00a0 He did not get very far before strong arms reached out and grabbed him, halting his escape.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me go Hoss,\u201d said Joe trying to wrench himself free from his brother\u2019s tight hold before his enemy reached the barn.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow ya just hold on a minute Short Shanks, maybe ya need to hear what he has ta say,\u201d Hoss told his brother as he kept his grip held tight around the squirming boy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t wanna hear what he\u2019s got to say, I hate him!\u00a0 Now let me go!\u201d screamed Joe still struggling against Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, just listen a minute\u2026\u201d started Hoss.<\/p>\n

Joe stomped on Hoss\u2019 toe with the heel of his boot.\u00a0 Instantly Hoss released his arms from around Joe as he hopped up and down holding his foot.<\/p>\n

\u201cAw\u2026why\u2019d cha\u2019 havta go and do that fer?\u201d whined Hoss.<\/p>\n

Joe who had backed up into the corner of the barn was furious at his brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cI told ya, I hate Mitch for what he did.\u00a0 Why can\u2019t you and Pa and Adam get that through your heads?\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to hear anything he has to say, now leave me alone,\u201d shouted Joe as he started up the ladder to the loft but stopped when he saw Mitch standing in the doorway.<\/p>\n

Mitch looked miserable.\u00a0 \u201cI heard what ya said Little Joe and I don\u2019t blame ya one bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d shouted Joe, \u201cThen ya know I don\u2019t wanna talk to ya.\u00a0 Not now, not ever, now go away and leave me alone.\u201d\u00a0 Joe turned his head; he wanted to cry but forced himself not too.\u00a0 Here was his best friend, his Judas, the one he hated most, yet something deep inside of Joe troubled him and he couldn\u2019t understand why or what it was that gnawed at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry Joe, I just wanted ya to know,\u201d said Mitch as he turned to leave.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s pent up anger shattered the wall that it had been hiding behind.\u00a0 \u201cYou think just saying sorry is gonna fix things?\u201d he ranted at Mitch.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou laughed at me Mitch, you told my darkest secrets and then you helped them make a fool of me and all ya gotta say is \u2018I\u2019m sorry\u2019?\u201d screamed Little Joe as he followed Mitch from the barn.<\/p>\n

Ben and Charlie were sitting on the side porch and had heard the exchange between the two boys.\u00a0 Ben started to rise, but Charlie placed his hand on Ben\u2019s arm to stop him.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease Ben, Mitch needs to know how Little Joe really feels; he needs to see with his own eyes what he has done to his friend,\u201d said Charlie as Ben sat back down.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell I got somethin\u2019 to say to you,\u201d Joe grabbed Mitch by the shoulder and spun him around to make Mitch face him, unaware of the tears that pooled in the blue eyes that stared back at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cOk, say it,\u201d Mitch said glaring at Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hate you Mitch Devlin and I never wanna see ya again and as far as I\u2019m concerned\u2026you can go straight to hell!\u201d\u00a0 With that Joe balled up his fist and swung at Mitch clipping him on the chin and causing him to fall backwards into the dirt.<\/p>\n

\u201cJOSEPH!\u201d shouted Ben as he and Charlie ran to break up the boys who were now locked together rolling around in the dirt each trying to punch the other.<\/p>\n

Hoss reached the boys first and grabbed Joe by the arms hauling him to his feet.\u00a0 Charlie grabbed Mitch and spun him around ordering him to his horse.<\/p>\n

Joe had buried his face in his brother\u2019s shirt and refused to turn around when Ben ordered him too.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, look at me when I speak to you,\u201d Ben instructed.<\/p>\n

Joe kept his face pressed against Hoss\u2019 mid section and shook his head no.\u00a0 Ben was at a loss; short of physically forcing his son to turn around, Ben wasn\u2019t sure how to handle the situation without making it worse for he could see that Joe was crying and did not want to embarrass him anymore in front of his friend than he already had been.\u00a0 Charlie solved part of the problem for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, we\u2019ll talk again soon.\u00a0 Don\u2019t be too hard on the boy, he\u2019s still hurtin\u2019.\u201d\u00a0 Charlie gave his friend a smile of encouragement and with his son in tow, mounted their horses and left.<\/p>\n

Hoss had closed his arms around Joe and could feel the tremors that ran through the slim body.\u00a0 Hoss met his father\u2019s gaze and sadly shook his head.\u00a0 Ben placed his hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder and gently squeezed.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, it\u2019s all right son.\u00a0 Why don\u2019t we go into the house where we can talk about this?\u201d Ben said softly.<\/p>\n

Joe, who still had his arms wrapped around Hoss\u2019 middle looked over his shoulder at his father.\u00a0 Instead of the anger he thought he would find in his father\u2019s eyes, Joe saw love and compassion and seeing what he had hoped to find, threw his arms about his father\u2019s neck and cried.\u00a0 Ben instantly gathered the distraught boy into his arms and carried him into the house.<\/p>\n

\u201cShh\u2026Joseph, it\u2019s all right now son.\u201d Ben rubbed Joe\u2019s back in a soothing fashion hoping to calm the weeping boy as he made his way across the yard.<\/p>\n

Two nights later Adam slowly made his way upstairs.\u00a0 He had sat up later than usual, reading a new book that had just arrived that afternoon from San Francisco.\u00a0 As much as he would have liked to finish the book, when the old clock had chimed and announced that it was one o\u2019clock, Adam had begrudgingly closed the cover of the new volume.\u00a0 Making his way slowly down the hall, Adam stopped at Joe\u2019s opened door.\u00a0 His brother even now would not allow any of them to close his bedroom door at night, the fear of being locked inside still a heavy reminder for his troubled mind and heart.<\/p>\n

Adam paused at the doorway as the sound of soft whimpering reached his ears.\u00a0 As he gazed into the room, he could make out Joe\u2019s silhouette in the dim glow of the light that Joe refused to put completely out.\u00a0 Joe was standing in front of the window clad only in his nightshirt, Scruffy held by one ear and dangling at the end of his brother\u2019s arm.\u00a0 Adam could plainly make out the soft muted cries as he neared the boy who was as yet unaware of his presence.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey buddy, are you all right?\u201d asked Adam startling Joe from his thoughts.<\/p>\n

Quickly Joe wiped the tears from his eyes before he spun around to face his older brother.\u00a0 Scruffy was quickly hidden behind his back, Joe afraid that Adam might tease him or worse, laugh at him for holding on to the stuffed toy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d he lied.<\/p>\n

Adam moved further into the room until he stood in front of Joe.\u00a0 Without conscious thought, Adam reached out his hand and brushed back a stray lock of dark hair that dangled down on Joe\u2019s forehead.\u00a0 As he did so, Adam could feel the tenseness in Joe\u2019s body and wondered whether the boy had had another nightmare.<\/p>\n

\u201cCouldn\u2019t sleep?\u201d he asked as he made himself comfortable in the chair next to the window.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, guess not,\u201d replied Joe making himself comfortable by sitting on the edge of the bed, facing Adam.\u00a0 When Adam glanced out of the window, Joe quickly tossed Scruffy under his pillow in an effort to hide him from his brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you have another bad dream?\u201d questioned Adam pretending not to have noticed the disappearance of the ragged little dog he had bought as a gift for Joe.<\/p>\n

Joe was silent for a minute, his head hung low.\u00a0 Finally he looked into Adam\u2019s dark eyes, Adam noting the tears that had pooled in Joe\u2019s hazel ones.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s eating at you little buddy?\u201d Adam asked softly.<\/p>\n

Joe dropped his head for the second time and Adam watched as the lone tear rolled from his brother\u2019s eye and down his cheek, stopping briefly at the chin before dropping onto Joe\u2019s nightshirt.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s heart ached for his brother, it seemed as if Joe had been unhappy for weeks now.\u00a0 He and his father had hoped after the courts had determined that Max, Jed, Willie and even Mitch be restricted to their own farms for six months unless in the company of their fathers, that Joe would have begun to act like his self again.\u00a0 But Joe seemed more withdrawn and troubled than when he had first gotten back home.<\/p>\n

At last Joe stood and walked to the window where he pulled back the drapes and gazed outside at the dark.\u00a0 With the lamp burning low behind him, Adam knew Joe could see nothing other than himself staring back at him from the window.\u00a0 Slowly, Joe turned to face Adam, tears now falling from his eyes, chin quivering and Joe struggling to compose himself.<\/p>\n

Adam rose from his chair and stepped closer to his brother and tenderly pulled the weeping boy to him.\u00a0 Joe made no resistance to his brother\u2019s gesture, the need to be comforted and held greater than his self-consciousness at being caught by his older sibling crying.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you tell me about, Joe?\u00a0 Maybe I can help?\u201d Adam encouraged.<\/p>\n

Joe had promised himself to keep his troubles to himself but with his brother\u2019s tender touch and soft words, Joe\u2019s resolve shattered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy Adam?\u201d sobbed Joe, \u201cwhy\u2019d he do this to me?\u00a0 I just don\u2019t understand how my best\u2026friend could turn against me like that.\u201d\u00a0 Joe sniffed his nose and continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt hurts\u2026Adam\u2026in here,\u201d Joe tapped his heart.\u00a0 \u201cI hate him\u2026and even that hurts, cause I really don\u2019t wanna hate him,\u201d Joe buried his head deeper into the front of Adam\u2019s shirt.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I don\u2019t understand\u2026why?\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Tell me why Adam,\u201d sobbed Joe.<\/p>\n

Adam gently cupped Joe\u2019s face in his hands and raised his head so that Joe would have to look at him.\u00a0 With his thumbs, he brushed away his brother\u2019s tears and smiled down at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know its confusing little buddy.\u00a0 But let\u2019s talk about this; here sit down.\u201d\u00a0 Adam turned where Joe could sit down in the chair that he had just vacated.\u00a0 Once Joe had sat, Adam kneeled down in front of him and tried to explain.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, first thing, and don\u2019t go getting riled at me, just let me finish before you say anything.\u00a0 The other day when Mitch came over to talk to you, you should have listened to what he had to say.\u00a0 Perhaps if you had, you wouldn\u2019t be feeling as you are now.\u00a0 Mitch told Pa everything about what happened and why it happened.\u00a0 I\u2019m not saying that what Mitch did was right, we both know it wasn\u2019t and just because he was your best friend doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t have the right to be upset with him for doing you like he did.\u00a0 You do have the right, I would have been plenty mad if Pete had done to me what Mitch did to you.\u201d\u00a0 Adam paused to catch his breath, glad that Joe was silently listening and had stopped crying.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe thing I want you to understand little buddy is that if Mitch had been older, he would have known how to handle things differently.\u00a0 Do you want me to tell you why Mitch betrayed you?\u00a0 It won\u2019t make you feel any better about what happened to you, but it might make you feel differently about Mitch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam watched as Joe struggled with his decision. Finally Joe wiped his eyes and looked up at Adam.\u00a0 When Adam\u2019s eyes met his brother\u2019s, Joe nodded his head yes.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeveral weeks ago, Pete, Mitch\u2019s older brother, was over in Carson City.\u00a0 He just happened to be in the bank when the bank was robbed and a teller was shot and killed.\u00a0 When the robbers ran out of the bank, Pete somehow got pulled along with them.\u00a0 The sheriff and several others were lucky enough to stop three of the men, one of which was Pete.\u00a0 The sheriff thought at first that Pete was one of the robbers and it took several days to get everything straightened out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring that time, Max Jenkins and Jed Davidson claimed to have been in Carson City and knew all about what happened.\u00a0 They devised a plan to get back at both you and Mitch for taking them in the last fight the four of you had.\u00a0 They were especially determined to pay you back, Joe.\u00a0 But they needed Mitch\u2019s help to get at you.\u00a0 So what they did was to tell Mitch that they had seen everything that happened in the bank, even said that they had seen Pete shoot the teller.\u201d\u00a0 Adam stopped momentarily as Joe began squirming in his seat.<\/p>\n

\u201cPete wouldn\u2019t do nuthin\u2019 like that, would he Adam?\u201d Joe wanted to know.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course not, but they convinced Mitch that he had and they told him that unless he helped them get to you, they would tell in court that Pete actually pulled the trigger.\u00a0 To make things worse, they also told the boy that should the court find Pete guilty, he would hang.\u00a0 Well Joe, needless to say, Mitch was terrified that Pete would hang.\u00a0 He also believed that the only way to keep his brother from hanging was to help them.\u00a0 Mitch had to choose, it was either Pete\u2019s life or betray his best friend.\u00a0 He sure didn\u2019t want to see his own brother hang, but he also didn\u2019t want to betray you, let alone hurt you.\u00a0 But they forced him to make a choice.\u00a0 Think about it Joe, if it had been you, who would you have chosen?\u201d\u00a0 Adam sat down in front of the chair and waited for his brother\u2019s answer, hoping that Joe would understand his friend\u2019s dilemma.<\/p>\n

Joe thought about what Adam had told him for several minutes before he spoke.\u00a0 \u201cI wouldn\u2019t have let you hang, or Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam smiled, \u201cThen you understand why Mitch had to pick betraying you instead of letting his brother hang, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I reckon, but Adam\u2026he seemed to enjoy seeing me locked in that closet, and he didn\u2019t do nuthin\u2019 to help me get out\u2026why?\u201d Joe puzzled with the thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cMax threatened to lock Mitch up in a closet too Joe.\u00a0 He said if he didn\u2019t go along with everything that they did to you, they would still testify against Pete.\u00a0 Mitch didn\u2019t want to laugh at you, he even begged them not to keep you in the closet, but they roughed him up some and he finally just kept his mouth shut\u2026until that last night, then he couldn\u2019t stand it any longer and his conscience got the better of him.\u00a0 Joe\u2026look at me,\u201d Adam rested his hands on Joe\u2019s knees.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s misty eyes riveted back to Adam\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cMitch feels terrible about what happened.\u00a0 He\u2019s sorry he hurt you and he felt like a trader, especially when his father and brother told him that everything had already been cleared up.\u00a0 When Mitch found out that Max and Jed had not even been in Carson City, but had only over heard their Pas talking about it, Mitch got so mad that he went over to Max\u2019s and had a fight with him\u2026and he whipped him right there in his own yard,\u201d Adam smiled at the thought that the smaller boy was so full of fury that he had for the first time ever taken the larger boy alone in a fist fight.<\/p>\n

Joe couldn\u2019t keep the smile off his own face, his mind drawing up the picture of his best friend actually taking on the taller and stronger Max Jenkins and within minutes his tears had dried and his sobs turned to laugher.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like to have seen that one,\u201d laughed Joe and then just as quickly, he turned serious.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess I can understand why Mitch had to do it\u2026I guess I really don\u2019t hate him after all.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think I ever did hate him Adam, but I tried too, but for some reason, I just couldn\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0 Joe scrunched up his face in a frown.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019ll I do now?\u00a0 I dun told \u2018em I hated him and never wanted to talk to him again,\u201d said Little Joe sadly.<\/p>\n

Adam smiled at his brother, he couldn\u2019t help it, the boy was like hot coals one minute and ice the next.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell buddy, I\u2019m glad to know that you don\u2019t hate Mitch; I knew if you were honest with yourself, you\u2019d find out that you were incapable of hating your friend.\u00a0 As for what you should do now, you could pay him a visit tomorrow\u2026maybe have a little talk,\u201d Adam suggested.<\/p>\n

Joe raised his head, his face brightening at the idea.\u00a0 \u201cYa reckon he\u2019d talk to me?\u00a0 I mean\u2026I was kinda nasty to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam rose from his seat in the floor and stretched his long lean body to work out the stiffness from sitting so long on the hard flooring.<\/p>\n

\u201cWouldn\u2019t hurt to try.\u00a0 That is, if you still want him for your friend, besides, I have an idea that he is just about as miserable as you are.\u201d\u00a0 Adam tussled Joe\u2019s curls as Joe rose out of the chair and smiled up at his big brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cWill ya ride over with me?\u00a0 You could spend some time with Pete while\u2019s I talk to Mitch,\u201d Joe asked hopefully, for he wasn\u2019t completely sure whether or not he wanted to go alone.<\/p>\n

Adam smiled, glad that his little brother wanted to try to set things right between him self and his best friend for it was obvious to all of them that the boy was miserable without his companion.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, I\u2019ll ride with you.\u00a0 How about right after breakfast?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Joe slept the remainder of the night peacefully.\u00a0 By morning he was up and ready for this trek over to his friend\u2019s house.\u00a0 Ben noted the change of persona when Joe finally joined them for breakfast.\u00a0 He briefly gave Adam a questioning look but averted his head when he realized that his youngest son was speaking to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it okay Pa?\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry son, my mind was some place else.\u00a0 What did you say?\u201d smiled Ben guiltily.<\/p>\n

\u201cI asked if it were okay if I took the morning off.\u00a0 I want to ride over to Mitch\u2019s and have a talk with him,\u201d Joe dropped his head for a moment.\u00a0 \u201cPa?\u00a0 Adam told me about everything\u2026I thought if you didn\u2019t care\u2026I\u2019d go see him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben smiled brightly and quickly glanced at his other two sons, seeing that they were just as pleased with the idea as he was.\u00a0 Ben had been hoping that the two boys would find some way to patch up their problems and return to being friends.\u00a0 Some of the boys that Joe tended to want to hang out with were not the types of friends that he would normally want Joe to be with.\u00a0 But Mitch and his family had been friends, good friends, for as many years as Ben cared to remember and he was now glad to hear that Joseph wanted to try to work things out with Mitch.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d think that would be a great idea.\u00a0 You take as long as you need.\u00a0 And Joseph\u2026while you\u2019re there\u2026I think you should have a little talk with Mr. Devlin as well\u2026if you get my meaning,\u201d advised Ben with a wink of the eye.<\/p>\n

Joe smiled at his father, \u201cI will Pa, I promise and thanks Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI sorta told him I would ride over with him\u2026hope you can spare me for a little while,\u201d commented Adam as he sipped his coffee.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think these two here are just tryin\u2019 ta get outta work Pa.\u00a0 Maybe we should go with \u2018em,\u201d scowled Hoss jokingly.<\/p>\n

Ben burst out laughing, \u201cYou may be right son, but I think you and I will just stay here today.\u00a0 Besides, I think Hop Sing is making your favorite for supper, chicken and dumplings.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh yeah, I forgot about that.\u00a0 Chicken and dumplings, yum yum, my favorite,\u201d said Hoss rubbing his stomach and smacking his lips.<\/p>\n

Little Joe laughed, \u201cyou say that with everything that Hop Sing fixes.\u00a0 It might take less time to just say what ya don\u2019t like.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI agree little brother,\u201d added Adam.<\/p>\n

Two hours later Joe and Adam rode into the Devlin yard.\u00a0 Charlie greeted his company with a smile on his weathered face and a hardy handshake.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowdy Adam, Little Joe, what brings you boys out this way?\u201d Charlie asked taking hold of Cochise\u2019s bridle as Joe dismounted.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowdy Mr. Devlin, I was wonderin\u2019 if Mitch was around\u2026I\u2026hmm\u2026got somethin\u2019 I wanna say to \u2018em\u2026that is if ya don\u2019t mind,\u201d Joe looked up at his friend\u2019s father and was relieved to see that the older man\u2019s friendly smile was still brightening his weather worn face.\u00a0 Joe knew that the smile was genuine for the man\u2019s eyes twinkled and Pa had always told him that the eyes were the window of a man\u2019s soul and if a man were truly content it would show in his eyes, and pa was almost always right reasoned Joe.<\/p>\n

Charlie casually glanced up at Adam and Adam nodded his head slightly.\u00a0 Charlie understood his silent message and returned his attention to his young guest.<\/p>\n

\u201cMitch just took his fishin\u2019 pole down to the pond.\u00a0 You\u2019re welcomed to join him if ya like,\u201d offer Mr. Devlin kindly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, I think I\u2019ll stroll on down there for a while,\u201d smiled Joe as he turned to leave and glanced in Adam\u2019s direction but stopped, suddenly remembering his promise to his father.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm\u2026Mr. Devlin, sir?\u201d stammered Joe, suddenly shy at having to apologize to a grown-up<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Little Joe?\u201d Charlie answered trying to hide his amusement from the little boy.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout the other day\u2026I\u2019m sorry for what I said\u2026I\u2026I really didn\u2019t mean it,\u201d confessed Joe, happy to have that burden removed from his heart, for he had ended up feeling really bad about telling his friend he could go to\u2026well, thought Joe, I\u2019d better not use that word again.\u00a0 I was just lucky Pa let it slide this one time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you didn\u2019t son.\u00a0 It\u2019s okay,\u201d Charlie rumpled Joe\u2019s hair, causing the boy to laugh.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm\u2026Joe\u2026\u201d began Adam when Joe stopped laughing enough to hear him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHeh?\u201d said Joe looking at his older brother thoughtfully and wondering if he had forgotten something else.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you think you should also apologize for punching Mitch?\u201d Adam asked his brother.<\/p>\n

Joe looked down at the ground and kicked at a clump of dirt before finally meeting Adam\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 Quickly he glanced up at Mr. Devlin.<\/p>\n

\u201cNaw, I don\u2019t think I should cause if\u2019n I say I\u2019m sorry, I\u2019d be lying and then Pa would wallop me.\u00a0 Besides, I really did mean to punch him, \u2018member?\u00a0 I was mad at him.\u201d\u00a0 Joe looked innocently at both men.\u00a0 The expression on his young face was one of innocence and gave cause for both men to burst out laughing.<\/p>\n

Joe shrugged his shoulders, not understanding what he had said to make his brother and Mr. Devlin laugh.\u00a0 Turning to leave, Joe was stopped once again by Charlie.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, do me a favor, will ya?\u201d asked Charlie as he reached for an old tin can that had been left sitting on the banister on the front porch.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure Mr. Devlin, anything,\u201d offered Joe feeling comfortable now in the man\u2019s presence after having cleared the slate with his father\u2019s good friend.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeems that Mitch forgot his can of worms.\u00a0 Would you mind seein\u2019 that he gets \u2018em for me?\u201d\u00a0 Charlie handed the can to Joe and Joe looked inside.\u00a0 Mitch had filled the can with dirt and worms and Joe could see them wiggling around in the soft soil.\u00a0 He pulled one long worm from the ground covering and whistled.<\/p>\n

\u201cWow, lookit this one Adam, I bet ya could catch a real big fish with this whopper.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam and Charlie laughed as Joe turned toward the Devlin\u2019s pond in search of his friend.\u00a0 Joe had his hopes up that before this day was over, Mitch would once again be his best friend.\u00a0 He had decided after hearing what Adam had to say about why Mitch had done what he had, that he could no longer hate his friend.\u00a0 Joe only hoped that now Mitch would not hate him and would instead forgive him for the mean things he had shouted at him the day before.\u00a0 He was still carrying some anger in his heart, not so much directed at Mitch now, but at everything that had happened, but he no longer blamed Mitch, instead he resented the three other boys who had set out to destroy his friendship with Mitch, just because they wanted to get back at him.\u00a0 Well, thought Joe, hopefully it didn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n

Joe found Mitch sitting on the edge of the bank, his feet dangling precariously just over the water.\u00a0 Mitch had his fishing pole sitting on the ground beside of him and seemed to be lost in thoughts.\u00a0 He was bent over with his elbows resting on his knees and his chin in the palm of his hands.<\/p>\n

Mitch looked up at Joe as Joe came to stand beside of him but quickly cut his eyes back toward the water as if he were watching something in the distance.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are ya doin\u2019 here?\u201d he asked after several moments.\u00a0 \u201cI thought ya said ya never wanted to see me again?\u201d snapped Mitch.<\/p>\n

Joe suddenly felt awkward, for some reason he had not expected his friend to react as if he were angry.\u00a0 Joe thought that Mitch would be pleased to see him, he guessed wrong.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t catch any fish if ya don\u2019t put a worm on your hook,\u201d said Joe extending his hand that held the can of worms out to Mitch.<\/p>\n

Mitch stared up a Joe, shading his eyes from the sun\u2019s glare.\u00a0 After what seemed like a long time to the young boy, Mitch grabbed the can from Joe\u2019s out stretched hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d was all that Mitch said as he once again fixed his eyes on an imaginary object in the middle of the pond.<\/p>\n

Joe stood in the same spot, desperately searching his mind for something to say.\u00a0 At last he just sat down next to Mitch who watched him from the corner of his eye.<\/p>\n

\u201cHavin\u2019 any luck?\u201d Joe asked and then laughed out loud.<\/p>\n

Mitch jerked his head around to face Joe, a suspicious look on his face.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s so funny?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s laughter was stopped instantly.\u00a0 \u201cYa ain\u2019t got no worms, so ya couldn\u2019t of had any luck, besides,\u201d he said picking up Mitch\u2019s pole, \u201cya don\u2019t even have it in the water, so\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo?\u201d grunted Mitch.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, what?\u201d replied Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, I don\u2019t know, you said it first.\u201d\u00a0 Mitch turned to face Joe, his face beginning to show the tiniest bit of a smile playing at the corner of his lips.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo\u2026\u201d Joe paused and took a deep breath, \u201cso\u2026I\u2019m sorry about the other day and I didn\u2019t mean what I said and I\u2019m sorry I hit you and I hope you aren\u2019t still mad at me cause I understand now about what happened and I hope we can be friends again and I ain\u2019t mad at you any more and so\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Mitch started to laugh, Joe wrinkled up his nose at his friend not understanding why Mitch was laughing.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook, you let all the worms get away,\u201d laughed Mitch pointing to the can that had been tipped over.\u00a0 The worms had taken advantage of the spilled dirt and were quickly worming their way into the soft earth where the boys sat.<\/p>\n

Joe started laughing and before long both boys were caught up in the moment and rolling on the ground holding their sides.\u00a0 After several minutes Joe sat up and grew quiet.\u00a0 Mitch joined him as the two sat and stared out at the water.<\/p>\n

\u201cMitch,\u201d said Joe softly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah Joe,\u201d replied Mitch.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve missed seein\u2019 ya.\u00a0 Do wanna be friends again?\u00a0 Please, I will if you will,\u201d Joe faced his friend.<\/p>\n

Mitch nodded his head, \u201cI\u2019ve missed ya too Little Joe.\u00a0 Ain\u2019t had no fun since\u2026well, since we put that frog in Miss Jones\u2019 desk drawer last month and she screamed so loud Sheriff Coffee came runnin\u2019 over to see what all the fuss was about,\u201d giggled Mitch.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, that was somethin\u2019.\u00a0 Boy, did I ever get in trouble when she came out that night to see my pa.\u00a0 If Adam hadn\u2019t of convinced him and Miss Jones that it was all in fun, I might still be standin\u2019 up.\u00a0 But Adam thought it was funny too, he told me later after Pa sent me to my room.\u00a0 Adam and I laughed so hard, he told me he would have loved to seen Miss Jones\u2019 face when that slimy old frog jumped into her lap,\u201d snickered Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cPete thought it was funny too.\u00a0 He told me you deserved a metal for being brave enough to do somethin\u2019 like that.\u00a0 He said he had always wanted to pull some kind of joke like that on her too when he was in school, but he was to chicken to try.\u00a0 I can\u2019t see my brother being afraid of a silly old girl teacher, can you?\u201d asked Mitch.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam\u2019s afraid of Miss Jones, he runs every time he sees her coming.\u00a0 I always have to be the one to tell her he ain\u2019t around or he can\u2019t come to school\u2026you know Mitch\u2026I\u2019d do anything for my brothers,\u201d said Joe thoughtfully.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven betray ya best friend, Joe?\u201d dared Mitch, solemnly.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s smile disappeared for several moments as he thought of his answer.\u00a0 Smiling, he turned to his best friend, \u201cYeah Mitch, even betray my best friend, but only if I had to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks Joe.\u00a0 That means a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam and Mr. Devlin had strolled down near the pond, just in case they might be needed to break up another fistfight.\u00a0 Both smiled in relief when they saw the two young boys hugging each other and knew that they would have to be on their toes now that everything looked as if things were getting back to normal.<\/p>\n

THE END
\nMay 2002<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018Scruffy\u2019 is the brainchild of two over zealous women who have too much time on their hands and tend to spend that time creating problems for a certain Cartwright family.\u00a0 \u2018Scruffy\u2019 is a hand crafted, mail order creation designed to give joy and comfort as required to Joe Cartwright. Adam gave the stuffed toy to Joe, then seven, in a previous Christmas story written by Jennie A and myself.\u00a0 Debbie B and Jennie A are the sole users and others may not induct the toy into their own stories without first seeking permission from the creators.<\/em><\/p>\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tags: Adam Cartwright, Ben Cartwright, Hoss Cartwright, Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright, Mitch Devlin, torture, trapped<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary:\u00a0 When Little Joe’s best friend, Mitch Devlin, betrays Joe’s most private secrets to their older friends, Joe becomes the victim of the malicious joke.\u00a0 Joe suffers from both the physical and emotional turmoil of the boy’s so called fun. But what really eats away at Joe is why Mitch turned his back on him.\u00a0 Will he ever be able to forgive his very best friend for his betrayal?<\/p>\n

Rated: G\u00a0 (21, 730 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9052,"featured_media":10105,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-prequels","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-30-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2285,"today_views":1},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/2-joe.jpg?fit=237%2C221&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12285,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12285","url_meta":{"origin":12139,"position":0},"title":"Price of Friendship (by DebbieB)","author":"DebbieB","date":"September 1, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 My version of what happened next after Joe destroyed his lifelong friendship with Mitch Devlin in, Between Heaven and Earth. Rated:\u00a0 G\u00a0\u00a0 (3,450 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\/04\/The-day.jpg?fit=400%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10825,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=10825","url_meta":{"origin":12139,"position":1},"title":"The Luck of the Draw (by Rona)","author":"Rona","date":"October 14, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 A careless remark leave Joe's life hanging on the turn of a card. 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Rated:\u00a0 T (9,590 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\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12358,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12358","url_meta":{"origin":12139,"position":3},"title":"Cupid’s Messenger (by DebbieB & JennieA)","author":"DebbieB","date":"January 2, 2002","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Cupid delivers a Valentine's message. Let's see if Adam can worm his way out of this one! Rated: G\u00a0 (11,540 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\/07\/Heart-01.jpg?fit=370%2C584&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12359,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12359","url_meta":{"origin":12139,"position":4},"title":"Cupid’s Messenger (by JennieA & DebbieB)","author":"JennieA","date":"January 31, 2002","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Cupid delivers a Valentine's message. Let's see if Adam can worm his way out of this one! 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Rated G \u00a0WC 8200","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\/02\/coming-soon-6.jpg?fit=303%2C240&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12139","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\/9052"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12139"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12139\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10105"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}