{"id":1216,"date":"2004-04-20T00:50:11","date_gmt":"2004-04-20T04:50:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1216"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:08:27","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:08:27","slug":"pitfalls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1216","title":{"rendered":"Pitfalls (by Rona)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: <\/strong>WHN for the episode The Trap. What did Joe and Booth say to each other in that tantalising missing scene. And what happened after that?<\/span><\/p>\n

Rated: T \u00a0 (11,520 words)
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Pitfalls<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Joseph,\u201d Ben whispered and Joe felt an unbearable guilt shoot through his injured body. He tried to speak, but his tongue refused to form the words. There was a jolt of pain as Ben gently turned Joe over to lie on his back and gathered his son into his arms. Joe passed out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rising, Ben looked only once at Booth Shannon before he began to walk steadily down the street towards the doctor\u2019s office. He could see Roy Coffee, the sheriff, running down the street to alert the doctor that there was a gunshot wound on the way. He vaguely remembered hearing Roy say something about that. Joe was a warm, dead weight in his arms, his head thrown back and his jaw slack. Blood soaked the left shoulder of his green jacket. Ben didn\u2019t know how badly Joe was hurt, but the bullet was still in there and he didn\u2019t want to risk jolting Joe around too much. Steadily, he walked, feeling all the eyes of the town on his back.\u00a0Let them look!<\/em>\u00a0he thought.\u00a0Let them see what all the gossip and innuendo has caused!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Gently, he laid Joe down on the table in the doctor\u2019s surgery and prepared to assist as the bullet was removed from his son\u2019s flesh. Joe lay unmoving under the knife, his face pale. At length, the bullet was found and the doctor began to stitch closed the wound. Ben looked at his hands, marveling how steady they were under the circumstances. This was not Paul Martin, the town\u2019s usual doctor, who was away on a well-deserved and much-needed holiday. This was his locum, Dr Carver. Ben had had no choice but to trust him. Now that Joe was through the operation and beginning to come around, he felt grateful for the man\u2019s skill. \u201cThank you,\u201d he said, as he stroked Joe\u2019s hair.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for assisting me,\u201d Carver replied. He was smoothly bandaging Joe\u2019s chest and shoulder. \u201cNot many fathers could have done what you just did.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI would\u2019ve taken the bullet out myself, if that was what was needed to save Joe\u2019s life,\u201d Ben replied and the quiet acceptance in his voice convinced the doctor that this was not idle boasting; it was the truth. Ben bent over Joe as his son\u2019s eyes flickered open. \u201cJoe? How do you feel, son?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Licking his dry lips, Joe focused on Ben\u2019s face. \u201cSore,\u201d he whispered. \u201cDid\u2026?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Ben replied, calmly. \u201cBooth shot you, Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Once more, the reproach in Ben\u2019s voice, though not heard by the doctor, was almost too much for Joe. Tears formed in his eyes. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he whispered wretchedly. \u201cI thought\u2026 if I confronted him\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know what you thought, Joseph,\u201d Ben soothed. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it now, son. You just rest and get better.\u201d He saw Joe\u2019s eyes close again, although he plainly wasn\u2019t asleep.\u00a0Yes, I know what you thought<\/em>, Ben thought sadly.\u00a0You thought that Booth Shannon would kill you. You thought that you had to get this resolved. But did you really want to die, Joseph?\u00a0<\/em>Ben wasn\u2019t sure if he wanted to know the answer to that question or not.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you go and sit down for a while, Mr. Cartwright?\u201d the doctor suggested. \u201cI\u2019ll stay here with your son. I\u2019ll give him something for the pain in a few minutes, when I\u2019m sure the ether isn\u2019t going to make him sick. I\u2019ll call you if he needs you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d Ben agreed and accompanied Roy Coffee into the waiting room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou gettin\u2019 a room in the hotel fer tonight?\u201d Roy asked. Ben hadn\u2019t realized that his friend had been in the surgery with them the whole time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d he replied.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou git yerself somethin\u2019 ta eat, hear?\u201d Roy chided him gently and Ben nodded before sitting down in an over-stuffed leather chair. He rested his cheek against his fist as Roy left.<\/span><\/p>\n

The door had barely closed behind Roy when it opened again and admitted Booth Shannon. The lawman looked decidedly uneasy as he laid Joe\u2019s hat and gun on the table. \u201cHow is he?\u201d he asked Ben.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll be all right,\u201d Ben admitted. He eyed the other man. \u201cYou could\u2019ve killed Joe out there,\u201d he stated. \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I realized he was telling the truth,\u201d Booth replied. \u201cA killer wouldn\u2019t have confronted me like that. But you see, I didn\u2019t want to believe that. I\u2019m sorry.\u201d He sighed and moved towards the door. \u201cTell Joe that for me, will you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you tell him yourself?\u201d Ben suggested. \u201cHe\u2019s awake and I know he\u2019d like to hear it.\u201d He watched with interest as Booth hesitated, then squared his shoulders and went over to the inner door, opened it and disappeared inside.<\/span><\/p>\n

With a sigh, Ben again rested his head on his hand and closed his eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

As the door opened, both Joe and the doctor looked over to see who had come in. Carver began to look uneasy, for he knew that Booth had shot Joe. \u201cCan I have a word with Joe?\u201d Booth asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not\u2026\u201d Carver began.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all right, doc,\u201d Joe replied, knowing that the only person who would have let Booth come in was his father.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d Carver agreed. \u201cI\u2019ll just be over here, Joe.\u201d He stepped over to the other side of the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d Booth said, awkwardly. He hesitated and Joe just waited. He didn\u2019t have much energy to spare and talking was something he only intended to do if he had to. At last, Booth cleared his throat. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Joe,\u201d he said. \u201cI know you didn\u2019t murder Burke.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Burke had been Booth\u2019s identical twin brother, and Joe had shot him, mistakenly thinking that Burke was a rustler. What Joe and Booth didn\u2019t know was that Burke had shot at Joe on purpose, trying to kill him, as he had discovered that his wife Hallie was in love with Joe. Joe had shot back in self-defense, killing Burke instantly. He had suffered agonies of remorse over it. At Burke\u2019s funeral, Hallie had asked Joe if he would take her home. There was no way to refuse and it showed the town that Hallie had forgiven him; believed that Burke\u2019s death had been an unfortunate accident. Joe had been horrified when Hallie had then started chattering on about them getting married. Then Booth had come and Hallie had been found dead by Piaute falls. Once more, Booth had implied that Joe had killed Hallie and had put up posters offering $1000 reward for information leading to the conviction and hanging of Joseph Cartwright for the murders of Burke and Hallie Shannon. For Joe, that was the final straw and he had challenged Booth to a gunfight, knowing that, however good he was with a gun, Booth was better. And because of that action, Joe was lying here.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you know?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA killer wouldn\u2019t have challenged me like that,\u201d Booth replied. \u201cHe\u2019d have shot me in the back when I wasn\u2019t looking; ambushed me somewhere. You took me on, even knowing that I would kill you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy am I not dead then?\u201d Joe wanted to know.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I knew the only thing you wanted was that fight, Joe. And I knew that I couldn\u2019t back out either. I have a reputation to keep. I couldn\u2019t go back to my job if I\u2019d passed up a challenge like that. My town would have become lawless again and I can\u2019t afford that. But I couldn\u2019t kill you, knowing that you were innocent.\u201d He looked Joe straight in the eye. \u201cIf you\u2019d been a bit slower, I might have just winged you as I planned. But you were quicker than I expected.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A slow smile spread over Joe\u2019s pale face. \u201cSo it\u2019s my own fault all around?\u201d he joked. \u201cIt\u2019s my fault because I challenged you and it\u2019s my fault the wound was so bad because I\u2019m faster with the gun than you thought.\u201d He started to laugh, only to have it die away as the pain resurfaced.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI am sorry,\u201d Booth repeated. \u201cJoe, can you forgive me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cJust make sure you tell everyone before you leave town.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat makes you think I\u2019m leaving town?\u201d Booth asked, wondering if this was some kind of threat, although anyone less threatening than Joe Cartwright at that moment he couldn\u2019t imagine.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou said something about your town,\u201d Joe replied, suddenly feeling enormously tired. His eyelids dipped of their own accord. \u201cI assumed that meant you were going back there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou should\u2019ve been a detective,\u201d Booth joked. \u201cI\u2019m leaving now, Joe, but you can be sure I\u2019ll pass the word around.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBye, Booth,\u201d Joe muttered. He was already drifting away. He flinched as a cold needle pierced his thigh and then he knew nothing else for quite some time.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cBut its not going to make any difference, is it, Pa?\u201d Adam asked the next morning as he watched his father eat breakfast in the hotel dining room. \u201cPeople are still going to believe that Joe murdered Burke and Hallie, despite what Booth says.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEventually, it will make a difference,\u201d Ben replied. He didn\u2019t want to admit that he agreed with Adam\u2019s depressing assessment of the situation. He signaled the waitress for more coffee.<\/span><\/p>\n

Impatiently, Adam fiddled with his hat while he waited for Ben to finish. He wanted to shake his father, but a single glance at his face had told Adam that Ben didn\u2019t believe that Booth\u2019s intervention would make any difference. Half the people in the town believed that Joe was a murderer. \u201cI had to get rid of Floyd and Cletus,\u201d he told Ben, referring to two of the cowboys who worked for them and that Joe had befriended. They had both been with Joe that fateful day when Burke tried to kill him, although neither of them had seen anything. The lure of the money had been enough to turn them against Joe, and when Booth had rejected their offer of lying on the witness stand, it had been Floyd\u2019s cold words to his erstwhile friend, Joe, that had finally goaded Joe into the rash action he\u2019d taken.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d Ben asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause of what they were saying about Joe,\u201d Adam replied, trying to keep his tone neutral. \u201cThey were running off at the mouth, implying that they knew Joe was lying.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cI thought Joe was their friend,\u201d Ben responded indignantly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo did I,\u201d Adam replied grimly. \u201cAnd I think so did Joe until yesterday.\u201d He repeated the gossip about Floyd goading Joe into the duel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben listened in silence as he finished his coffee. He had barely slept the previous night, wondering if Joe had really wanted to die to prove himself innocent. Quite what that would have accomplished, Ben didn\u2019t know. What he did know was that doing nothing was the hardest thing for Joe. Always, Joe had to take action and face his problems head on and alone, taking the consequences \u2013 whether good or ill \u2013 but always dealing with it. Was it any wonder, then, that he had decided that a duel was the only way to shut Booth up?<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben knew Joe inside out, but sometimes he couldn\u2019t understand what made his youngest son tick. Joe was handsome, clever, funny, kind, charismatic, moody, high-strung and unpredictable. He was generous with his money and with his love, defending his friends to the death, if need be. He was popular in the town. But Joe could be driven by unseen demons sometimes, and this appeared to be one of those times. He had needed his name to be cleared, so that he wasn\u2019t treated as a pariah in the town and he had taken drastic steps to do so.\u00a0But why didn\u2019t he come to me?<\/em>\u00a0Ben wondered, silently.\u00a0Surely I could have helped?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa.\u201d Ben looked at Adam; for a moment, he had forgotten his son was there. \u201cJoe\u2019s a man,\u201d Adam went on, seeing he had his father\u2019s attention. \u201cSometimes a man has to do what he thinks is right, and make his decisions alone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Ben agreed, but in his mind\u2019s eye, he could still see Joe sprawled on his face in the street, looking so vulnerable. Of all his sons, Joe was the one who was most needy of love, but who was strong \u2013 as strong as they came when need be \u2013 yet could be heart-rendingly vulnerable at other times. It was all part of whatever made Joe the striking individual that he was. \u201cI know,\u201d he repeated, but he didn\u2019t sound convinced.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Joe was awake when they arrived at the doctor\u2019s. He had slightly more color in his face and Ben was quick to smile at Joe. He got a wan smile in response. \u201cHow is he, doctor?\u201d Ben asked. Unbidden, his hand drifted out to stroke the curls back from Joe\u2019s face. His son\u2019s forehead was slightly warm. \u201cGood morning,\u201d he added to Joe directly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHi, Pa,\u201d Joe replied, his eyes searching his father\u2019s face.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s running a slight temperature,\u201d Carver replied,\u201d but that\u2019s not unusual. It\u2019s just the shock. It\u2019s settled a good bit over night.\u201d He smiled at Joe. \u201cYou can take him home, if you want.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, has he been complaining?\u201d Adam asked, grinning at Joe. \u201cI don\u2019t suppose anyone warned you about Joe\u2019s complaints.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPaul Martin did, before he left,\u201d Carver replied. \u201cHe briefed me about Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But the subject of this gentle teasing had heard none of it. His eyes were still glued to his father’s face, and there he found what he sought and wished that he hadn\u2019t. His father was disappointed in him. Ben still loved him, Joe knew, but he was disappointed in the decision that Joe had made. Joe was engulfed in shame. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa,\u201d he whispered.<\/span><\/p>\n

Confused by Joe\u2019s distress, Ben frowned slightly. He didn\u2019t know what Joe thought, and wasn\u2019t aware that his own confusion showed on his face. But he didn\u2019t get a chance to say anything to Joe. Adam touched his arm and drew his attention away. \u201cSorry, did you say something?\u201d he asked Adam, since his oldest son was clearly waiting for an answer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI said, do you want me to get the buggy while you help Joe?\u201d Adam glanced from Joe to Ben. There was definitely something going on there, but he wasn\u2019t quite sure what it was.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Ben replied, snapping back to reality and shelving the question of what Joe was apologizing for. He could find out in private at home, without the doctor standing by and listening. He smiled at Joe. \u201cCome on, son, I\u2019ll help you get dressed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d Joe replied, realizing with a sinking heart that his father was just going to ignore his apology, because he didn\u2019t know if he could forgive Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

He obediently angled arms and legs into sleeves and pants legs and leaned heavily on Ben\u2019s arm as he walked to the buggy. There, he was relieved to lean against Adam and doze away the journey home. But it was a long journey for Joe, and he was exhausted when he got home. Once more, Ben helped him with his clothing \u2013 this time getting undressed \u2013 and he fell asleep almost at once.<\/span><\/p>\n

And the misunderstanding between the two was deepened.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

For several days, Joe was confined to bed. He said almost nothing to anyone, always claiming to be tired and he made no further effort to apologize to Ben. Ben was confused by Joe\u2019s behavior, but put it down to the shock, loss of blood and residual weakness. He was, as ever, loving and tender when nursing Joe, but he was haunted by the question \u2013\u00a0had Joe really wanted to die?<\/em>\u00a0He didn\u2019t know how to ask, and so tried not to think about it at all. But the more he tried not to think about it, the more he couldn\u2019t help thinking about it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Both Adam and Hoss were aware of the slight atmosphere that permeated the sickroom, but were at a loss to explain it. Joe was very quiet, but a lot had happened to him in a very short time and Adam reasoned that he was trying to sort everything out in his mind. Joe would cheer up a lot when he was able to get up and go about a bit again.<\/span><\/p>\n

He was right. When Joe was finally able to get up, his spirits did improve slightly. Before long, Joe was regularly walking to the yard, then to the barn, and finally around the immediate area of the house, trying to get his strength back. Joe still needed help for a lot of things, for the damaged muscles were taking a long time to heal and the weight of his left arm, without the sling, caused him a great deal of pain. But with Joe being left-handed, it meant that he was often frustrated doing ordinary chores. But being Joe, he drove himself to overcome the difficulties wherever possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

One particular sunny afternoon, Joe had been standing in the yard, passing the time with the horses in the corral. It had been almost three weeks since the shooting and Joe was frustrated with his slow recovery. Normally, he healed fast. But today, he felt better than he had in a long time. Suddenly, he decided that he had to talk to Ben. \u201cI gotta find out if he understands, Cooch,\u201d he whispered to his horse. \u201cI can\u2019t go on like this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The decision made, Joe marched purposefully towards the house. Part of his problems had been this unresolved matter between him and his father. Joe usually dealt with things straight out and not confronting the issue had been playing on his sub-conscious.<\/span><\/p>\n

The door was open to allow any breezes into the house. As Joe neared, he heard Adam and Ben talking. He couldn\u2019t catch any words to begin with, but as he came into the house, he could hear the words quite clearly. \u201cOf course I\u2019m disappointed in him,\u201d Ben was saying, testily. \u201cDid you think I wasn\u2019t?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know!\u201d Adam retorted. \u201cYou didn\u2019t say anything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hardly been the time or the place, has it?\u201d Ben returned. \u201cBut don\u2019t worry, Adam, I will talk to him. This can\u2019t go on any longer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Stunned, Joe stepped back. So it wasn\u2019t forgotten and Ben didn\u2019t sound like he was going to forgive Joe any time soon. He walked away from the house without any awareness of what he was doing. Somehow, he managed to saddle his horse and rode away.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cI wonder where Joe went,\u201d Adam frowned as he and Ben went out into the yard. \u201cHe was here when I rode in a few minutes ago.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was almost half an hour ago,\u201d Ben reminded him. \u201cPerhaps he\u2019s in the kitchen. I\u2019m going to have to tell him about letting Pete go. I\u2019m sure Joe will as disappointed as we are in his attitude. He\u2019s been so careless. I\u2019ll catch Pete as soon as I\u2019ve spoken to Joe. You know that he was doing his best to help Pete out.\u201d Pete was a hapless young drifter that Joe had befriended and offered a job to. He had tried very had to learn, but just wasn\u2019t cut out to be a cowboy. That morning, he had left a gate open and the young horses in that corral had all got out. Pete had tried to round them up, but had ended up spooking them so badly Adam thought it would take another couple of days to get the horses caught again.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Joe wasn\u2019t in the kitchen and he wasn\u2019t in the barn. And it was about then that they realized that Cochise wasn\u2019t in the corral anymore. \u201cHe shouldn\u2019t be riding yet!\u201d Ben stormed. \u201cAnd who saddled the horse for him? I gave strict instructions that no one was to saddle Joe\u2019s horse for him, no matter what he said!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll be back, Pa,\u201d Adam said, comfortingly. \u201cYou know how restless the kid is. He\u2019ll come back all smiles again. You know how he is about that horse!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe should have told me!\u201d Ben fumed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you\u2019d have forbidden him to go,\u201d Adam pointed out. \u201cCan you blame him for not mentioning it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes!\u201d Ben declared, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. \u201cNo, I guess not.\u201d He sighed. \u201cBut I\u2019m worried about Joe, Adam. He\u2019s been so quiet lately. He doesn\u2019t really talk. And he watches me as though he\u2019s looking for something from me, but I\u2019m not sure what it is he wants.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

There wasn\u2019t an answer to this, so Ben looked at Adam. \u201cWhat?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t lose your temper,\u201d Adam began, slowly. \u201cBut you haven\u2019t exactly encouraged Joe to talk to you, have you, Pa? I don\u2019t know what Joe is looking for either, but he doesn\u2019t want to talk to either Hoss or myself. Whatever he wants, he wants from you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I haven\u2019t tried to talk to him much, have I?\u201d Ben replied. \u201cI\u2019m afraid to ask him why he challenged Booth. He knew he didn\u2019t stand a chance against him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got to talk to him, Pa,\u201d Adam suggested. He put his foot in the stirrup and mounted Sport, who pranced impatiently, tossing his head, as Adam reined him in for a moment. \u201cAnd don\u2019t worry about the kid; he\u2019ll be back for supper!\u201d He turned the temperamental chestnut gelding and rode out of the yard.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI hope you\u2019re right,\u201d Ben muttered.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Joe was in no hurry; he had no destination in mind. He simply rode where the wind took him, although he was careful to avoid the area by the lake; that was the first place his family would look for him. Ben\u2019s words \u2018of course I\u2019m disappointed in him\u2019<\/em>\u00a0rang through his mind endlessly. Joe was utterly miserable.<\/span><\/p>\n

As evening came on a thin, cold rain began to fall. Joe knew he would have to seek shelter. He was already chilled, since he wasn\u2019t wearing a jacket and exhaustion was beginning to make lethal in-roads on his stamina. Joe glanced around to get his bearings. He was still on the ranch, close to an old cabin that had once housed the prospector who had originally owned this land. He had never found the vein of gold that he was looking for and had willingly sold out to Ben Cartwright and moved on. Ben kept the cabin in good condition, treating it as he would one of his line shacks. Joe knew he would have to be careful riding there in the growing darkness. The ground was riddled with holes, for the prospector hadn\u2019t realized that digging into the hillside was more likely to produce results than digging down. Joe nudged Cochise in that direction.<\/span><\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t occur to Joe that there was smoke coming from the cabin chimney. He simply slid down from his horse in the shelter of the lean-to and leaned against him, totally drained. It was only when Cochise snorted and something prodded him in the back that Joe realized he wasn\u2019t alone with his horse. \u201cWell, this is a nice surprise, Joe,\u201d Floyd said, sarcastically. \u201cWhat cha doin\u2019 here? Come to throw us out?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Turning slowly, Joe eyed the two men. Floyd had his gun drawn. \u201cIf I\u2019d known you were here, that\u2019s exactly what I\u2019d be doin\u2019,\u201d he responded, coldly. \u201cMy Pa told you to leave.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t do nuthin\u2019!\u201d Cletus protested.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOffering to lie on the witness stand is nothing, is it?\u201d Joe asked, cuttingly. \u201cYou were my friends! How could you offer to sell me out like that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFriends with the boss\u2019 son?\u201d Floyd scoffed. \u201cNo, but we had you fooled! We thought it\u2019d be good to be your pals; we would get the easy jobs. But it didn\u2019t work that way, did it? But $1000! It might be nuthin\u2019 to you, Cartwright, but its more money than I ever seen in my life!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPut the gun away,\u201d Joe told him, wearily. He wasn\u2019t armed, since he could barely use that arm. Just the thought of unsaddling his horse was making him tired. \u201cYou can stay till morning,\u201d Joe told them. \u201cThen clear off.\u201d He turned his back on them and began to undo the cinch one-handed.<\/span><\/p>\n

An arm suddenly circled Joe\u2019s throat and his back was bent at a painful angle. \u201cWe ain\u2019t goin\u2019 anywhere,\u201d Floyd growled. Joe struggled, but Floyd was taller than he was. Joe was helpless to resist as he was dragged into the cabin and thrown into a chair.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d he gasped, as he regained his breath. \u201cWhy are you doing this?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCos we\u2019re tired of having Cartwrights shove us around,\u201d Floyd answered. He took a long swig from a bottle on the table and Joe realized that they were both drunk. His heart sank. \u201cWe\u2019re gonna have a little fun with you, Cartwright!\u201d He grinned at the expression on Joe\u2019s face.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

When darkness fell, Ben was forced to admit that Joe was not coming back. He had picked at his supper, drawing concerned mutterings from their Chinese housekeeper, who was just as worried about Joe as Ben was. Restlessly, Ben had paced the floor, going often to the door until the rain, cold and darkness forced him inside.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa.\u201d At the voice, Ben blinked and looked at Adam, who was standing close by him. \u201cI\u2019m sure Joe\u2019s all right,\u201d he offered lamely.<\/span><\/p>\n

It took all of Ben\u2019s not-inconsiderable self-control to not shout at Adam. Adam had assured him Joe would be back for supper. Well, he wasn\u2019t! Why was Adam now so sure that Joe would be all right? He took a deep breath to stop the words spewing out; it wasn\u2019t Adam\u2019s fault and no good would come of Ben taking his worry out on someone else.\u00a0I just wish I had your certainty<\/em>, Ben thought and then realized from the look on his son\u2019s face that Adam was not in the least certain; he was only offering what comfort he could.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy has he gone?\u201d Ben asked, not wanting to say the words \u2018run away\u2019, even though that was what Joe appeared to have done. Could a grown man run away from home? Ben wondered, idly. \u201cWhy now? What triggered it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

There was silence. Hoss stared moodily into the fire; Adam\u2019s gaze lengthened as he thought back to that afternoon. Ben resumed pacing. He wanted to rush outside and start hunting for Joe, but he had no idea where to look. The rain would wash any tracks that there might have been away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Suddenly, Ben realized Adam was staring at him with an odd intensity. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d Ben demanded, alarmed by his son\u2019s utter stillness. \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat were we talking about before we discovered that Joe was gone?\u201d Adam asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Perplexed, Ben replied, \u201cWe were talking about Pete and how disappointed I was in\u2026\u201d His voice trailed off and he met Adam\u2019s gaze. \u201cYou don\u2019t think\u2026?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I do,\u201d Adam replied, grimly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThink what?\u201d Hoss cried, frustrated by the cryptic statements his father and brother were conversing in. \u201cWhat d\u2019ya think?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Sinking into a seat, Ben said, \u201cWe were discussing Pete and how disappointed we were in him. I think Joseph overheard us and thought we were talking about him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Frowning, Hoss asked, \u201cWhy would Little Joe think that, Pa? That don\u2019 make sense.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

There was a long silence. Hoss glanced at Adam, who met his eyes briefly before shaking his head and looking back at Ben. He felt sure that this was the crux of the matter. He waited and Hoss waited, still not sure what was going on. Adam didn\u2019t know for certain either, but he had a feeling\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was disappointed in Joe,\u201d Ben admitted, his voice so low that his sons had to strain to hear it. \u201cWhen he went after Booth Shannon, I was disappointed. I was disappointed that he had chosen that way to solve his problem. I was disappointed that he hadn\u2019t come to me and talked it through. And I wondered if he really wanted to die. But Joe was sick and I couldn\u2019t say anything. But perhaps he sensed how I felt. When he tried to apologize and tell me how he felt and what he thought, I cut him off and told him I knew and that he had to rest.\u201d Ben swallowed. \u201cHe apologized to me the next day, too, but I didn\u2019t know why he was sorry and then you asked me about the buggy, Adam, and I began to help him get dressed. I just let it slide. And after he was home\u2026\u201d Ben looked utterly wretched. \u201cI didn\u2019t want him to explain why he went after Booth. I didn\u2019t know if I could face him telling me he wanted to die.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Sitting down on the table in front of Ben, Adam put his hand on his father\u2019s arm. \u201cI don\u2019t think Joe did want to die,\u201d he assured Ben. \u201cRemember, I told you Floyd and Cletus had goaded Joe into confronting Booth? I think this is another example of Joe\u2019s famous \u2018act before you think\u2019 attitude. He was desperate to do something to sort out the situation and this seemed to him to be the right thing. I don\u2019t think for a minute that Joe actually thought of his own mortality at all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt don\u2019 sound like Joe ta want ta die,\u201d Hoss insisted stoutly. \u201cBut he allus was chiv\u2026chiv\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cChivalrous?\u201d Adam suggested, wondering what that had to do with this situation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah!\u201d Hoss exclaimed, his face clearing. \u201cMaybe he were thinkin\u2019 about them knights what used ta fight ta clear their names. Ya know, Adam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Thus appealed to, Adam did his best to back Hoss\u2019 hypothesis. \u201cTrial by combat,\u201d he nodded. \u201cCould be. It certainly sounds like Joe\u2019s thinking.\u201d His brief try at humor fell flat and he turned back to Ben. \u201cPa, the point is, Joe could have talked to any of us, and didn\u2019t. We all know how he is at blowing things out of proportion, don\u2019t we? Yes, I think he did sense that you were disappointed in him, but because he wasn\u2019t well, he probably convinced himself that we didn\u2019t like him any more.\u201d Adam almost said \u2018didn\u2019t love him\u2019, but changed his mind at the last second. \u201cDon\u2019t go blaming yourself, Pa, any more than we should go blaming Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, you\u2019re right,\u201d Ben agreed, but he didn\u2019t sound convinced. Until he had Joe safely back home and had cleared up this misunderstanding, he wouldn\u2019t be happy.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Despite the dire nature of Floyd\u2019s threat, neither he nor Cletus did anything physical to Joe. They tied his hands together and taunted him about murdering Burke and Hallie, but didn\u2019t lay a finger on him. Joe was relieved. He could endure the taunts, he thought, but he knew he wasn\u2019t up to any kind of beating.<\/span><\/p>\n

But the taunts were enough. Floyd and Cletus had been with Joe on the day that Burke had died, and had later been with Booth when he found Hallie\u2019s body. They had stood in the jailhouse and listened while Booth told Roy what he thought had happened to Hallie \u2013 basically that Joe had murdered her. At the end of his recitation, Booth admitted he had no proof and left. But Floyd and Cletus had been standing there and Joe had been quite right when he said, looking at them, that he\u2019d already been tried, even if it wasn\u2019t in a court of law. Thrilled beyond measure to be caught in the middle of this battle of wills between Booth Shannon and the Cartwrights, they had soon capitalized on their proximity to Burke\u2019s death and passed on gossip quite cheerfully, jettisoning Joe\u2019s friendship without a qualm.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou better be nice ta us, Joe,\u201d Floyd stated, breathing whiskey fumes over Joe. \u201cIf\u2019n we go ta Roy Coffee an\u2019 tell him that we saw ya shoot Burke, you\u2019ll hang!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoy\u2019s not going to believe that now!\u201d Joe declared. \u201cYou were with me when I brought Burke in and you told him what you\u2019d heard and what you\u2019d seen \u2013 nothing! Change your story now and you\u2019ll likely do time for perjury!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a real fancy word,\u201d Floyd drawled. \u201cCletus, ya reckon Cartwright\u2019s tryin\u2019 ta scare us with it?\u201d He laughed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI reckon so,\u201d Cletus responded. He wandered over and loomed threateningly over Joe. \u201cYou tryin\u2019 ta scare me, boy?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Glaring back, Joe refused to be intimidated. \u201cI\u2019m telling it how it is,\u201d he insisted, holding on to the embers of his temper. \u201cYou two wasters had better get out of here come morning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe is tryin\u2019 ta scare us!\u201d Floyd scoffed. He yanked Joe to his feet and shook him. \u201cYa better jist shut up!\u201d he warned. \u201cCos ya\u2019re annoyin\u2019 me now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Angry, Joe shoved the other man, wincing at the pain that lanced through his shoulder. Floyd was no less angry, but he was also drunk. He shoved Joe back much harder than was necessary and watched in surprise as Joe crashed into the cabin wall and slowly slid to the floor, out cold.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, don\u2019 that beat all,\u201d Floyd murmured and returned to his bottle. Cletus copied him a moment later.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

It was debatable if Ben slept at all that night. He was up before dawn and while Adam and Hoss finished up their hasty breakfast, he was out getting the horses saddled. The rain from the previous evening hadn\u2019t quite cleared away and the morning was grey and dismal.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are we gonna look?\u201d Hoss asked Adam as they left the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Adam admitted. \u201cBut I guess Pa will start at the lake and we\u2019ll see from there.\u201d He slid on his custard-colored coat with a shiver that didn\u2019t come entirely from the cool, damp morning.<\/span><\/p>\n

But their luck was in that morning. As they rode towards the lake, Hoss spotted some tracks angling off in a totally different direction. He pulled Chubb to a halt and got down to look more closely. The tracks were under the shelter of a large tree and the rain hadn\u2019t touched them. \u201cPa! Look!\u201d He waited while Ben and Adam came back and looked at the tracks. \u201cThey could be Joe\u2019s,\u201d Hoss suggested. \u201cAnd we ain\u2019t got anythin\u2019 ta lose followin\u2019 them, do we?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hesitating, Ben thought that through. He needed to find Joe quickly to heal the rift between them. His first instinct had been to go to the lake, but if Joe really were trying to avoid them, would he go there? That was the first place they had thought of. Why couldn\u2019t he decide what to do?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, let\u2019s follow these tracks,\u201d he agreed. They all mounted up and followed Hoss, who led the way.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

When Joe roused, he blearily opened his eyes and gazed around. He was lying slumped against the wall on his sore shoulder, which was throbbing fiercely. Raising his bound hands, he gently probed the back of his head and wasn\u2019t surprised when his fingers came away with blood on them, but the head injury didn\u2019t seem serious. Joe looked at his captors and saw that they would soon pass out from the drink. He struggled to sit up and saw Cletus glance his way for a moment.<\/span><\/p>\n

It had been dark outside for hours, and Joe could hear the rain drumming down on the cabin roof. He knew that it would be foolish to try and escape, but he knew that morning would only bring one improvement \u2013 it would be daylight. Floyd and Cletus would be hungover and nastier than ever and he didn\u2019t want to wait to see what they would do to him come morning.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was a while before he was sure they were both asleep \u2013 or passed out would probably be more accurate, Joe thought \u2013 but raucous snores soon told him what he wanted to know. Slowly, Joe got to his feet and looked around for a sharp knife to free his bound hands. But he was to be frustrated. Although there were several knives in the cabin, none of them was sharp enough to make any impression on the rope that bound him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll just have to manage,\u201d Joe muttered and swiftly checked himself. He would have to be careful that he didn\u2019t talk aloud. He thought it unlikely that either Floyd or Cletus would be roused by him talking, but he didn\u2019t want to take any chances. He made his way over to the door as silently as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

This was the tricky part, Joe acknowledged. The cool rush of air might well be enough to rouse the drunks. Joe wanted to try and slip out and get to Cochise without them noticing that he had gone. The latch was difficult to maneuver with his hands tied like that, but Joe persevered, convinced that he would find a knife in the men\u2019s saddlebags.<\/span><\/p>\n

The door opened with an unexpected, horrendous creak and a blast of cold wind and rain rushed in and soaked Joe. Floyd, the nearest to the door, also got doused. Spluttering, he opened his eyes and looked right at Joe, who stood, frozen, in the doorway. At once, Floyd realized what was happening and he lunged for Joe. \u201cGet back here, Cartwright!\u201d he cried.<\/span><\/p>\n

Startled, Cletus woke, too, and gazed around blearily. But as he saw Floyd race out of the door, he saw that Joe was gone and leapt to his feet to hurry outside, too. He could see two figures running and he hastened after them.<\/span><\/p>\n

The rain dashing in his face and his bound hands hampered Joe, as did his exhaustion. He stumbled and nearly went down several times, but each time he kept his feet, knowing that to fall would be the end of his escape. He didn\u2019t dare look back. His breath panted away from him and his injured shoulder burned viciously.<\/span><\/p>\n

And then suddenly, there was nothing under his right foot. Joe tried to check, but he was going too fast, he felt his left ankle twinge as it twisted violently as he fell \u2013 down, down \u2013 until he hit bottom with a thud and knew no more.<\/span><\/p>\n

Startled by the sudden disappearance of his quarry, Floyd barely managed to stop himself falling into the hole on top of Joe. He peered into the darkness in front of him, but beyond the shadowy outline of the hole, he couldn\u2019t see a thing. No sounds came from the hole.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cletus came panting up. \u201cWhere is he?\u201d he demanded. \u201cCartwright didn\u2019t get away, did he?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Floyd answered and a grin began to creep over his face. \u201cHe fell in a hole.\u201d He pointed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we gonna do?\u201d Cletus asked. He had always followed wherever Floyd had led.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re gonna leave him there,\u201d Floyd answered. \u201cLet\u2019s get out of this rain!\u201d Turning, he led the way back to the cabin without a backward glance. Obediently, Cletus followed him.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

For a long time after he regained consciousness, Joe simply lay still. He wasn\u2019t sure he could move, but after a time, the cold rain soothed some of his aches and he made an effort to sit up. His entire body felt wrenched, but the sorest areas settled across his shoulders, down his arms and his ankles. Wincing as he raised his hands to brush the wet curls off his face, Joe knew there was no point calling for help. Floyd hadn\u2019t been that far behind him. He must have seen the fall, yet Joe was still here. Joe was on his own.<\/span><\/p>\n

Squinting up into the pouring rain, Joe estimated that the pit was at least eight feet deep. He had fallen into one of the holes the prospector had dug, looking for gold. Eight feet wasn\u2019t that much of a climb under normal circumstances, but under normal circumstances, Joe\u2019s hands weren\u2019t tied and he didn\u2019t already have a bad shoulder.<\/span><\/p>\n

Doing nothing wasn\u2019t an option. Joe felt about the bottom of the pit, hoping he would come across a broken blade or something sharp that might help him get free. Although he encountered a few sharp pebbles, none of them were sharp enough for his purposes and there was nothing else.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIts only eight feet,\u201d Joe told himself sternly, wondering why that eight feet sounded like eighty feet, or eight hundred feet. He rolled onto his knees and made a try for his feet.<\/span><\/p>\n

Agonizing pain shot up his right leg and the ankle folded beneath him. Joe let out a whimper of distress as he crumpled to the ground. After a few minutes, the pain was bearable once more. Joe wondered if he should try standing once more, but cautiously this time. He would try with the other leg. But this time, he could barely move his foot, never mind put weight on it and Joe knew that he was well and truly stuck. He leaned back against the dirt walls and wondered what on earth he was going to do.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

By great good fortune, the rain hadn\u2019t washed away all the tracks the Cartwrights were following. Sometimes they lost the trail and would have to cast around until they found it again, but a lot of the way, the tracks had been protected by the heavily leafed trees and this gave them a chance. The other thing on their side was time. Joe had left the house in the late afternoon and Ben hoped that they would catch up to his son soon, since they seemed to be moving much faster than Joe had been doing.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cCartwright?\u201d a voice called and Joe surfaced out of an uneasy slumber. He bit back the moan that rose to his lips, for his body was stiff and sore and he was soaked to the skin. \u201cSleep well, did you, Cartwright?\u201d Floyd laughed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d Joe called back, although he hadn\u2019t intended to speak.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNothing,\u201d Floyd replied. He leant over the hole, peering down at Joe. \u201cWhy you\u2019re still all tied up, Joe! Weren\u2019t you able to get free?\u201d He glanced over his shoulder. \u201cLook at this, Cletus. Joe\u2019s all tied up!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo he is,\u201d Cletus agreed, appearing beside Floyd. \u201cAre you comfortable, Cartwright?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Doing his best to ignore them, Joe leaned back into the corner where he\u2019d propped himself and wondered once more how he would get out of this situation. He couldn\u2019t expect help from his family, he reasoned, as they were unlikely to be looking for him, given how Ben felt about him right then. And even if Adam or Hoss had persuaded Ben to go looking for him, the rain that was still falling would have obliterated any tracks he\u2019d made. Joe shivered. He couldn\u2019t see any way out.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHere,\u201d Cletus called, in a hushed tone. Something thudded down beside Joe and he saw it was a canteen. \u201cFloyd an\u2019 me is leavin\u2019 now. I\u2019ll try an\u2019 tell someone where you are before the water runs out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Refusing to let himself hope, Joe reached for the canteen and slaked his thirst. From above, he heard the sound of hoof beats and wondered if they had taken Cochise, or left his horse behind. Not that it made any difference to him; Cochise was about as far away as heaven right then.<\/span><\/p>\n

Feeling that he couldn\u2019t just sit there and do nothing, Joe again started to struggle with the ropes that bound him. He had no more luck than he had had previously and only succeeded in tearing the skin on his wrists still further. He slumped back once more.<\/span><\/p>\n

The rain stopped a little while later. Joe was grateful, but he was already soaked through and the sun, which was now offering to shine, would not reach down far enough to offer him any warmth. The damp was soaking through the butt of Joe\u2019s pants, but there was nowhere else he could move to. Everything was just as wet.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Pa, I wish I\u2019d spoken to you sooner,\u201d Joe whispered, brokenly. He dashed his eyes over his damp sleeve. \u201cThen perhaps I\u2019d know you were coming for me, instead of sitting here wondering when you\u2019ll find my body.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Watching Ben morosely filling his canteen at the stream, Adam muttered, \u201cI\u2019m going to throttle that boy when we find him!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAw, Adam, lighten up a bit,\u201d Hoss pleaded. \u201cGettin\u2019 angry ain\u2019t gonna solve anythin\u2019. Joe must be hurtin\u2019 real bad fer him ta run off like that.\u201d He fixed Adam with a keen stare. \u201cJist think how ya\u2019d feel if\u2019n ya thought Pa were disappointed in ya an\u2019 didn\u2019 want ta talk ta ya.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Avoiding Hoss\u2019 gaze, Adam thought back to the times when he had done something that Ben hadn\u2019t approved of and his father had let him know how disappointed he\u2019d been. Ben\u2019s disappointment had been worse \u2013 much worse! \u2013 than his anger. Remembering how it had felt, Adam also remembered that Ben had never avoided speaking to him. All right, he had never done anything as crack-brained as deliberately challenge a fast gun to a fight, but he could imagine how awful it must be to fear that his father was so disappointed in him that he didn\u2019t want to talk to him. And for someone as sensitive as Joe, it must have been soul destroying.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thoroughly chastened, Adam glanced at Hoss again. \u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d he apologized. \u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss smiled. \u201cAdam, it ain\u2019t jist anger talkin\u2019 there,\u201d he reminded his older brother, gently. \u201cThat\u2019s worry, too.\u201d He patted Adam\u2019s arm and walked over to his horse, leaving his older brother not sure whether to laugh or cry. Hoss had a remarkable talent for focusing others\u2019 minds on the important things. He could administer a slap-down in the nicest possible way.<\/span><\/p>\n

Watching Adam as he mounted his horse again, Hoss knew why his brother had been so angry. It was because he was no longer just worried about Joe, he was frightened for him. But being Adam, he wasn\u2019t prepared to deal with that feeling yet, so he pretended to himself that he was angry. Hoss knew both his brothers. He accepted them just the way they were and loved them both. But ever since he\u2019d been told he was going to be a big brother \u2013 just like Adam \u2013 he had carried a special place in his heart for Joe. He knew that Adam had a special place for both he and Joe. That was what big brothers did.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d Ben ordered curtly, breaking in to Hoss\u2019 thoughts.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll find him, Pa,\u201d Hoss stated with quiet certainty.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

They hadn\u2019t ridden much further when Hoss lost the trail. Confused, he stopped and dismounted, circling round on foot while Adam held Chubb\u2019s rein. Ben tried not to look anxious and failed. They had been lucky to this point; was their luck going to run out now?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe turned off that-a-way,\u201d Hoss told them, remounting.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wonder why he went this way,\u201d Adam mused.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI reckon it was gettin\u2019 dark,\u201d Hoss replied. \u201cAn\u2019 it was rainin\u2019, too. I reckon he went to the old prospector\u2019s cabin fer shelter.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course!\u201d Ben exclaimed and urged his mount to a faster pace. Adam and Hoss copied him.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Chilled to the bone, Joe tried to sleep to pass the time, but although his body was weary and he was exhausted, his mind wouldn\u2019t stop spinning as he sought to find a way out of his predicament. But there was no way out. He rubbed his face. \u201cThis is all because I challenged Booth Shannon,\u201d he said aloud. \u201cIf I hadn\u2019t done that, I wouldn\u2019t have been shot and Pa wouldn\u2019t be so disappointed in me that he won\u2019t talk to me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet, thinking about it more, Joe knew that he couldn\u2019t have done anything different. He knew that challenging Booth would settle things one way or the other. Although Joe knew that there was a chance he could die, he didn\u2019t really believe it. Despite his close brushes with death, Joe had no real sense of his own mortality.<\/span><\/p>\n

But what he would have done differently was confronting Ben. \u201cWhy didn\u2019t I talk to you, Pa?\u201d he cried in anguish. \u201cI know you were disappointed in me, but I should have explained.\u201d Once more, he dashed away tears. \u201cIt\u2019s all my fault!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After a time, he reached for the canteen and took a sip. He didn\u2019t know why he was rationing his water; the longer it lasted, the longer it would take him to die. But even in this predicament, with no obvious chance of survival, Joe could not meekly accept death. He knew it was a possibility, but wouldn\u2019t admit that it was a probability. Leaning his head back, Joe closed his eyes and slipped into an uneasy slumber.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cBetter slow down,\u201d Hoss warned the others. \u201cThe ground\u2019s full of pitfalls here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI thought we had them filled in,\u201d Adam replied, frowning.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure did,\u201d Hoss agreed. \u201cBut I ain\u2019t so sure we found all of \u2018em. The ground was fair riddled with \u2018em.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A ringing neigh drew their attention from the ground to the cabin. A black-and-white head was sticking out of the lean-to. \u201cCochise!\u201d Adam exclaimed, as though the other two needed help in identifying Joe\u2019s horse. Covering the last few yards, Adam flung himself from his horse and threw open the cabin door, expecting to find Joe asleep on the bunk or sitting at the table. But the cabin was empty. \u201cHe\u2019s not in here,\u201d he reported.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAn\u2019 his pony ain\u2019t bin unsaddled, neither,\u201d Hoss added. \u201cThat ain\u2019t like Little Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, standing here won\u2019t find him!\u201d Ben exclaimed impatiently. He got off Buck and tethered him to the hitching rail. Cupping his hands round his mouth he shouted, \u201cJo-seph!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Jerked out of sleep by some noise or other, Joe looked up. What had wakened him? He held his breath, straining to hear, but whatever it had been wasn\u2019t repeated. Bitterly disappointed, Joe slumped down, convinced he had dreamed the noise.<\/span><\/p>\n

But the next moment, he heard the sound he had been longing for, although he had not thought to hear it. \u201cJo-seph!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa!\u201d he screamed. \u201cPa, I\u2019m down here! Pa!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Breathlessly he waited.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m coming, Joe!\u201d he heard Ben call. \u201cKeep shouting!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cThat\u2019s Joe!\u201d Ben exclaimed. \u201cBut where is he?\u201d He drew a deep breath and shouted, \u201cI\u2019m coming, Joe. Keep shouting!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHere!\u201d Joe called. \u201cI\u2019m down here!\u201d In his excitement, Joe tried to draw his legs under him, as though being on his feet would make him any more visible. But the pain in his legs brought him to a gasping halt and for a moment, he couldn\u2019t breathe, never mind shout.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe? Joe! Are you all right, son?\u201d Ben paused, worried when Joe\u2019s voice stopped.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m here!\u201d Joe called again, but his voice sounded thinner.<\/span><\/p>\n

It took only seconds before all three were leaning over the edge of the hole, peering down into the darkness. For a moment, until their eyes adjusted, they could see nothing. Then Joe moved fractionally and a collective gasp escaped his family\u2019s throats. \u201cJoe, are you hurt?\u201d Ben called.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Joe admitted, miserably. First he had to go and do something stupid like run off, he thought, then he had to get hurt, too. No wonder Pa was disappointed in him! \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be down there in a minute, Joe, just hang on,\u201d Ben replied. He didn\u2019t want to have any kind of conversation with Joe when they were separated by an eight-foot drop. \u201cGet some rope,\u201d he ordered, straightening, but he saw that his order had been superfluous. Hoss was already on his way.<\/span><\/p>\n

Together, Adam and Hoss lowered Ben carefully into the hole. Joe blinked back tears. Whatever happened now, he was safe. The relief made him feel weaker than he had felt the whole way through this ordeal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sliding off the rope, Ben crouched by Joe\u2019s side and gathered his youngest son into his arms. \u201cJoe! Thank goodness we found you!\u201d he exclaimed. \u201cI\u2019ve been so worried!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Safe in Ben\u2019s arms, Joe began to relax. His father felt so warm and Joe didn\u2019t want to let him go. \u201cI\u2019m sorry I worried you,\u201d he replied in a low voice. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to be a bother to you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re never a bother to me, son,\u201d Ben told him, sincerely. \u201cLet\u2019s see about getting you out of here.\u201d Ben let go of Joe and reached for his knife, slicing through the bonds that had held his son prisoner for so many hours. \u201cWho did this to you, Joe? And where are you hurt?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Haltingly, Joe told his story from his arrival at the cabin to Cletus and Floyd leaving him there. Ben didn\u2019t try to hide his shock. \u201cOh Joe,\u201d he whispered. \u201cI\u2019m sorry this had to happen to you.\u201d He gently felt down his son\u2019s legs, feeling Joe tense as he neared his sore ankles. The merest touch to the left ankle had Joe screaming out in pain and Ben stopped. It was more than obvious that Joe would not be walking anywhere.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to need a travois to get Joe home,\u201d Ben called. He took the rope he\u2019d used to come down and looped it around Joe\u2019s shoulders. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, son, this is going to hurt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all right,\u201d Joe replied. He wanted, more than anything, to get out of that hole. He braced himself for the inevitable pain, but he was unprepared for the ferocity and was barely conscious as Hoss finished pulling him out of the hole.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gently, the big man laid Joe down on the blanket he had spread out earlier and tenderly tucked it around Joe. His brother was so cold. \u201cThere ya go, punkin,\u201d he soothed, his hand brushing Joe\u2019s damp curls back from his head.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Hoss,\u201d Joe replied, between chattering teeth. The air above ground was palpably warmer than the air in the hole and Joe couldn\u2019t understand why he was shivering like mad. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth to stop them chattering.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGet another blanket,\u201d he heard Ben say, and then his head and shoulders were lifted from the ground and he looked up to see Adam cradling him. Slightly surprised, he looked round for Ben and saw his father at his feet. \u201cJoe, we\u2019ve got to get these boots off before there\u2019s permanent injury to your legs. I\u2019m sorry, son, but its going to hurt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust do it,\u201d Joe replied through gritted teeth. He braced himself once more, but as with his rescue from the hole, he wasn\u2019t really prepared for the amount of pain and this time, he passed out.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank heavens!\u201d Ben exclaimed as he began to work more quickly. \u201cAdam, give Hoss a hand when I\u2019m finished this and get the travois rigged. Then ride into town and bring back Doc Carver.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDoc Martin\u2019s back from holiday,\u201d Adam replied.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEven better,\u201d Ben responded. He grimaced as he saw the blackened, swollen mess that was Joe\u2019s left ankle. He began to saw through the right boot and found that ankle in almost as bad a state.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBoth broken, huh?\u201d Adam asked, softly. \u201cPoor Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think you\u2019d better tell Roy about this too, Adam,\u201d Ben added. He tucked the extra blanket that Hoss had brought over Joe and moved to relieve his older son. \u201cIf I could get my hands on Floyd and Cletus, I\u2019d horse-whip them!\u201d he declared.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWould you, Pa?\u201d asked a weak voice and Ben looked down to discover that Joe had woken. He was desperately pale.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I would,\u201d Ben vowed. \u201cJoe, I\u2019m so sorry you had to go through this.\u201d He had estimated that Joe had been in the hole for more than 12 hours.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s my own fault,\u201d Joe replied.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you work that one out?\u201d Ben asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Joe moved uneasily and Ben automatically began to smooth the curls back from his forehead. \u201cIf I hadn\u2019t challenged Booth and got myself shot, you wouldn\u2019t have been so disappointed in me that you couldn\u2019t bring yourself to speak to me. Then I wouldn\u2019t have left and run into Floyd and Cletus and they wouldn\u2019t have chased me into that hole.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s get a few things straight here,\u201d Ben replied, deciding that now was as good a time as any to have this talk. \u201cYes, I was disappointed that you went ahead and challenged Booth without talking to me about it first. But the person I was referring to yesterday afternoon was not you, Joe. I was talking about Pete, who left open the corral gate and let all those young horses out. We still haven\u2019t got them all rounded up. But with horses milling about everywhere and the place in an uproar, I couldn\u2019t talk to him then.\u201d Joe was watching him intently, Ben saw. \u201cDid you want to die?\u201d he asked, abruptly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d Joe cried. \u201cI didn\u2019t think about dying, Pa. I just wanted everything sorted out. Floyd and Cletus had been speaking to Booth and I just knew I had to do something. I didn\u2019t want to die, though. Please believe me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI do believe you, Joe,\u201d Ben assured him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Relief made Joe start to tremble again. He hadn\u2019t noticed his shivers dying away as the warmth of the blankets, the sun and body heat from his father warmed him through. \u201cThen why didn\u2019t you accept my apology?\u201d Joe asked in a whisper. \u201cI could feel how disappointed you were and when you wouldn\u2019t let me talk, I thought you didn\u2019t want anything to do with me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Joe, is that how I came across?\u201d Ben asked, aghast. \u201cWhen you were sick, did you think I was looking after you out of duty?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know!\u201d Joe cried. \u201cBut you kept watching me, as though you were puzzled and didn\u2019t know what to say and I thought you were so disappointed in me that you were keeping your distance.\u201d Tears broke out. \u201cI didn\u2019t know what to think, Pa. I know I let you down.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t let me down, Joe,\u201d Ben soothed. \u201cListen to me.\u201d He waited until he had Joe\u2019s full attention. \u201cI let you down by not talking to you. I was afraid, you see. I was afraid that you did want to die, and I didn\u2019t want to hear you say that, Joe.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t bear to lose you.\u201d He sniffed raggedly as his son clung to him. \u201cI love you very much, Joe. I always have and I always will. I\u2019m not perfect, Joe and I make mistakes. And I made a big one with you. Can you ever forgive me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He already had his answer in the way Joe was clinging to him. Now, Joe practically crawled into his lap. \u201cOf course I forgive you.\u201d After a moment he asked, \u201cCan you forgive me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI did, a long time ago,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cI just didn\u2019t know it.\u201d He drew Joe further into his arms and dropped his head down to lean on top of Joe\u2019s. They sat like that for some time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d Adam said, at last. Ben glanced up at him. \u201cThe travois\u2019s ready.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, son,\u201d Ben replied. He looked down at his sleeping son cradled in his arms. \u201cCould you go for the doctor now please?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m already on my way,\u201d Adam replied.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The journey home was something of a nightmare for Joe. He was in a great deal of pain and although Hoss took it easy, the travois bumped over the grass, sending daggers of agony through Joe. Ben rode by his side the whole time and his loving presence comforted Joe. After a time, the rain began again and Ben called for a stop while he tucked a slicker over Joe as best he could. Joe was slightly feverish and Ben wished they could break out of the steady walk they were restricted to.<\/span><\/p>\n

Because they could take a direct route home, instead of following tracks, they made much better time than Ben had anticipated. Still, it was the middle of the evening before they drew to a stop in the yard. Joe had been drifting in and out of consciousness for a while, exhausted by the pain and the ordeal he had suffered.<\/span><\/p>\n

The house door opened and Adam popped out like a cork from a bottle. At his heels was Paul Martin, looking tanned and rested after his holiday. \u201cHi, Ben,\u201d he said, as he approached. \u201cFancy my first call out being my favorite patient.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not doing so well,\u201d Ben confided, completely missing Paul\u2019s humor.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s get him inside then,\u201d Paul replied, after a single glance at Joe\u2019s face. He stood back to allow Ben and Adam to pick Joe up between them. Joe let out a cry of pain and whimpered intermittently as he was carried through the house to his room.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first thing Paul did was to give Joe a painkilling injection. He waited until it took effect before he allowed Ben to help him remove Joe\u2019s damp, filthy clothes. Then, while Ben and Hoss had something to eat, Paul and Adam gently bathed the dirt from Joe\u2019s face and Paul examined him thoroughly. By then, Ben was back in the room and Hoss followed soon after.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure you realize that Joe has broken both ankles,\u201d Paul began. He glanced at the bed, where Joe was now sleeping peacefully. \u201cI\u2019m going to have to set them and it\u2019s a good thing I brought plaster of Paris with me. His shoulder is obviously still a bit tender, but I would expect that at this stage. There\u2019s a bit of redness in his wrists, so you\u2019ll need to keep an eye out for infection. I\u2019ve cleaned them up thoroughly, so it should be all right. And the bump on the head is minor. The wound is clean and he\u2019s obviously not concussed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about the fever?\u201d Ben asked, anxiously, once more stroking Joe\u2019s hair. \u201cHe\u2019s still warm.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIts reaction,\u201d Paul explained. \u201cAlmost shock, if you like. And he\u2019s probably got a chill from that soaking he got. And don\u2019t forget, he was in pain all the time as you brought him home. The body often seems to run a fever when there\u2019s a lot of pain.\u201d He patted his old friend on the shoulder. \u201cBen, he\u2019ll be fine, I promise you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d Ben replied, in a low voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

It was morning before Joe stirred again. He squinted against the light and saw that it was Adam who sat by his bed. A horrid pang of dismay shot through Joe\u2019s heart, but before he could get himself into a state, the bedroom door opened, and Ben came in with a cup of coffee. He was haggard and unshaven and Joe knew at once that Ben had been sitting at his bedside right up until the moment Adam persuaded him to go and get some coffee.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, look who\u2019s awake!\u201d Ben exclaimed, seeing the green eyes looking at him. He handed the coffee to Adam before bending over the bed. \u201cHow do you feel, son?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA bit better,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cBut my feet sure feel heavy.\u201d He gave Ben an enquiring look.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPlaster,\u201d Ben replied, succinctly and nodded at the resigned expression on Joe\u2019s face. \u201cBoth feet,\u201d he added, just to be sure Joe understood. \u201cYou\u2019re not going to be walking anywhere very soon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGreat,\u201d Joe muttered. He squirmed uncomfortably. \u201cPa\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Ben sighed. \u201cYou gotta go.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll leave you to it,\u201d Adam declared brightly and made a hasty exit.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne day,\u201d Joe said, \u201cAdam is going to be in this predicament and I\u2019m going to take great pleasure in assisting him to pee, because for once, I\u2019ll be the expert!\u201d He caught the look on Ben\u2019s face and began to laugh.<\/span><\/p>\n

The thought of Joe \u2018assisting\u2019 Adam appealed to Ben immensely and they both laughed until Joe gasped, \u201cQuick, Pa, or I\u2019ll burst!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Later, it occurred to Ben that that was the first time he had helped Joe without embarrassment causing his son to become reticent, and the two of them chortled over the thought of Joe helping Adam for several days.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Later that afternoon, when Ben had had a sleep, he resumed his post by Joe\u2019s bed. The younger man had been sleeping restlessly, his ankles bothering him as he drew near the surface. Ben knew that the doctor was due out shortly with some more painkillers and a rolling chair that he had stashed away.<\/span><\/p>\n

At length, Joe\u2019s eyes flickered open. \u201cHi, Pa,\u201d he smiled, looking a sleepy and vulnerable 16.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHi yourself,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cHow do you feel?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSore,\u201d Joe admitted. He made a wry face. \u201cAnd a bit stupid.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh here we go,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cWe\u2019re not going to have a repeat playing of \u2018it\u2019s all my fault\u2019 are we?\u201d He rolled his eyes dramatically. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019m ready for it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Joe smiled. \u201cBut I was going to try out \u2018sorry\u2019 again. I don\u2019t know why I didn\u2019t come to talk to you sooner.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll probably never know,\u201d Ben replied, seriously. \u201cBut I should\u2019ve spoken to you, and didn\u2019t. I was afraid.\u201d Ben helped Joe to sit up and gave him a drink. \u201cThere are so many pitfalls in a relationship, Joe. And misunderstandings like this can arise so easily. We think we\u2019re doing fine, and then something comes along that knocks us off our complacent feet.\u201d He took Joe\u2019s hand. \u201cPromise me one thing, Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnything,\u201d Joe vowed and meant it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNext time, come to me at once. I promise that I\u2019ll do my best to listen to you fairly, but let\u2019s not ever allow something like this to happen again. I could\u2019ve lost you, and that\u2019s not something I ever want to have to face.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI promise,\u201d Joe whispered, huskily. He found himself in Ben\u2019s arms without any idea how he had got there.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Two days later, Joe was sitting in his rolling chair on the porch when Roy Coffee rode in. He smiled as cheerfully as he could, for Joe found it slightly embarrassing being in the chair, but Roy treated him just the same as ever. A few of the hands had begun talking to Joe like he\u2019d lost his mind, not just broken some bones.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAfternoon, Little Joe,\u201d Roy called, as he dismounted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHi, Roy,\u201d Joe replied, mentally wincing at his nickname. \u201cWhat brings you out here?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI caught Floyd an\u2019 Cletus,\u201d Roy told him. \u201cGot \u2018em locked up tight down my jail house.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did they say?\u201d Joe asked, clenching his fists. He could still see Floyd\u2019s mocking face laughing at him over the edge of the hole.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCletus admitted everythin\u2019,\u201d Roy replied. \u201cAn\u2019 when I tol\u2019 them you was gonna be all right, Floyd admitted it too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d Joe wanted to know.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt means the circuit judge can jist sentence them without a trial, is what it means,\u201d Roy replied. He sounded suspiciously satisfied for an impartial lawman. \u201cYa don\u2019t need ta worry about \u2018em fer a long time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s good news,\u201d Ben responded. He had come onto the porch quietly when he heard the voices. \u201cThanks for coming out, Roy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo trouble at all,\u201d Roy replied, smiling.<\/span><\/p>\n

Just then, Adam and Hoss rode in and were quickly told the news. Roy smiled once more and made to depart. Joe looked wistfully at the sheriff\u2019s horse, although his taste in horses ran to a livelier mount than Roy favored. But he hadn\u2019t really been anywhere and it didn\u2019t look as though he was going anywhere soon.<\/span><\/p>\n

But his brothers had noticed his moment of melancholy and a single look was all they needed to exchange an idea. As Roy rode out of the yard, Adam and Hoss suddenly grabbed the handle of the rolling chair and began pushing Joe at high sped across the yard. Caught by surprise, Joe let out a yell of outrage.<\/span><\/p>\n

But before long, he and Hoss had ganged up on Adam and Hoss was relentlessly chasing Adam down with the chair, while Joe shouted instructions and orders at the top of his voice, hanging on for grim death. Chuckling, Ben went back inside, hoping they didn\u2019t break the chair.<\/span><\/p>\n

He wasn\u2019t quite sure how he would explain that one!<\/span><\/p>\n

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

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary: WHN for the episode The Trap. What did Joe and Booth say to each other in that tantalising missing scene. And what happened after that?<\/p>\n

Rated: T \u00a0 (11,520 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":8774,"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":[23,13],"tags":[15,16],"class_list":["post-1216","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-whn","tag-ben","tag-joe","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-13-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2055,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/The-Trap.jpg?fit=500%2C375&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2461,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2461","url_meta":{"origin":1216,"position":0},"title":"Trapped in Remorse (by Devonshire)","author":"Devonshire","date":"January 2, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0A WHN scene for the episode The Trap. Booth is encouraged by Ben to visit Joe, who is still recovering from the gunfight. Rated K+ (3,065 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\/2016\/05\/capture.png?fit=383%2C444&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":21953,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=21953","url_meta":{"origin":1216,"position":1},"title":"Epilogue: The Quality of Mercy (by Annie K Cowgirl)","author":"Annie K Cowgirl","date":"May 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0A WHN\/alternate ending for the episode The Quality of Mercy.\u00a0Joe goes to see Seth Pruitt in jail. Rating:\u00a0K+ Word Count:\u00a0613","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\/Quality-of-Mercy-14.jpg?fit=649%2C542&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Quality-of-Mercy-14.jpg?fit=649%2C542&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Quality-of-Mercy-14.jpg?fit=649%2C542&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13933,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13933","url_meta":{"origin":1216,"position":2},"title":"Emily – The Missing Scenes (by Susan G)","author":"SusanG","date":"December 12, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 A WHN for the episode, Emily. Rating:\u00a0 T\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (3,140 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\/2017\/03\/Emily.png?fit=631%2C434&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Emily.png?fit=631%2C434&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Emily.png?fit=631%2C434&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8772,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=8772","url_meta":{"origin":1216,"position":3},"title":"The Truth (by BluewindFarm)","author":"BluewindFarm","date":"July 6, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Missing scenes, The Trap.\u00a0 A man's belief that his wife is having an affair sets events into motion that ultimately drive Joe to challenge a lawman to a gunfight; the only way he can see to prove his innocence, of the affair and of two murders. Rating: \u00a0T \u00a0(1,440\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Chaps and Spurs"","block_context":{"text":"Chaps and Spurs","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=39"},"img":{"alt_text":"Capture by Heike","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/The-Trap.jpg?fit=500%2C375&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6768,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6768","url_meta":{"origin":1216,"position":4},"title":"A Deadly Day (by rosecartwright)","author":"rosecartwright","date":"November 4, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Joe is home sick, but things go downhill for this young Cartwright. \u00a0 Rated:\u00a0K+ (635 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/2-joe.jpg?fit=237%2C221&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14039,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14039","url_meta":{"origin":1216,"position":5},"title":"Stranger in the Night (by JC)","author":"JC","date":"March 8, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0A Bonanza Gothic poem written for the 2017 \"Once Upon A Midnight Dreary\" challenge honoring the birthday of Edgar Allen Poe. 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