Summary:<\/b>\u00a0 Hoss and Joe rarely argue but this time, the family is torn apart by the riff that has come between sixteen-year-old Joe and twenty-two-year-old Hoss.\u00a0 Hoss is heartbroken and when Joe begs to go away to college, Ben is afraid that the brothers will never find their way back to each other!<\/p>\n
Rated G \u00a0WC 16,000<\/p>\n
Two Hearts, Seventeen Hands<\/strong><\/p>\n At the sound of approaching horses,<\/strong> both Ben and his youngest son glanced up from their places at the table.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI bet that\u2019s Hoss now!\u201d squealed the sixteen-year old as he hurried to push back his chair.\u00a0 The chair nearly toppled over in his haste to get outside and meet his brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben had to smile to himself, his youngest son\u2019s voice had yet to change completely and when the boy was excited, as he was now, the voice would become high pitched and shrill.\u00a0 Ben shook his head slightly, wiped his mouth and pushed back his own chair.\u00a0 Joe had already reached the door and having flung it wide in his excitement, ran to greet his middle brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHi ya, Hoss,\u201d squeaked Joe, taking Chubb\u2019s reins as Hoss dismounted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam emerged from the barn, the sounds of Joe\u2019s laughter and greeting alerting him to the fact that Hoss had returned home.\u00a0 \u201cSay Hoss, glad to have you home,\u201d smiled Adam as he joined his father and brothers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWOW! Will ya lookit at this horse?\u201d Joe proclaimed while running his hands down the neck and sides of the new stallion that Hoss had brought back with him.\u00a0 \u201cHe sure is something, Hoss.\u00a0 How much did he cost you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat, little brother, is none of your business,\u201d muttered Hoss, hoping that his father would not ask him the same question.\u00a0 \u201cWhatever I paid, it was worth it, just look at him,\u201d beamed Hoss, following along with his hands, the same action of his younger brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe is a mighty good looking animal, son,\u201d noted Ben.\u00a0 \u201cI hope you didn\u2019t over extend yourself,\u201d he stated softly as he watched his son swell with pride.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss paused and turned to face his father, a slight twitching action of his lips told the senior Cartwright that his middle son was trying to find a way around his statement.\u00a0 Ben noted the glow of happiness in his son\u2019s crystal blue eyes, and laughed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter son, if you figured the horse was worth whatever you paid, and the price was right for you, then so be it.\u00a0 He is a beauty, though I\u2019m not sure why you wanted to buy an Arabian stallion.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAw Pa, he\u2019s a jumpin\u2019 horse, and\u2026well\u2026just lookit him!\u201d beamed Hoss proudly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCan I ride him?\u00a0 Heh Hoss, can I?\u201d begged Little Joe excitedly as his eyes began to shine in anticipation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhoa\u2026young man,\u201d Ben quickly said, placing a strong hand on his youngest son\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cThis here stallion is way too much horse for you!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa\u2019s right, short shanks\u2026ya best stay clear of\u2019em,\u201d advised Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut\u2026who\u2019s gonna exercise him, and if he\u2019s a jumper, who\u2019s gonna jump him?\u00a0 Ya can\u2019t do it Hoss, not with the size of your\u2026\u201d Joe stopped, suddenly hearing his own words.\u00a0 He cast wary eyes up at his father and then his two older brothers half expecting his father to reprimand him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben started to laugh and gently slipped his arm across Joe\u2019s shoulder, pulling the young boy closer to him and giving him a hug.\u00a0\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t fault the boy for his excitement, but there was no way he was going to allow his rambunctious son to ride the big stallion that Hoss had just brought home, let alone jump the animal.\u00a0 Even now, the big stallion pranced nervously about, his eyes wide with fright as though given half a chance he would bolt and run. Ben did however consider his son\u2019s question.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFor once, your little brother is right, who is going to be riding that animal, Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI will,\u201d volunteered Adam.\u00a0 \u201cHe sure is a fine animal, Hoss.\u00a0 I\u2019d be more than happy to have a go at him.\u00a0 How good is he?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOne of the best, ya should see\u2019em Adam, Mr. Gilmore had his boy put ole Gilley through his paces and I ain\u2019t never seen a more spectacular sight in all my born days.\u00a0 It sure \u2018nough was somethin\u2019,\u201d Hoss beamed as he led the new horse to the barn, with Adam trailing along behind.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe started to follow, but was stopped by his father\u2019s hand pressing down on his shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cWhere do you think you are going, young man?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked up, surprised, \u201cI was gonna go with them, why?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, if I recall, you said something about having to finish some homework, am I correct?\u201d smiled Ben, gently guiding Joe back towards the house.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, yeah, I forgot, sorry,\u201d he muttered, giving his father a half smile.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou forgot, why you little scamp, get going!\u00a0 And remember, if you plan on this being your last year in school, you better make sure that you finish up with good grades, or else!\u201d laughed Ben as he watched Joe scurry off to the house.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI will Pa, I promise\u2026anything to finally get away from that place, and that old Miss Abigail Jones.\u201d\u00a0 Joe uttered the last part of his statement to himself, knowing that his father would not approve of his thoughts, should he voice them aloud.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe lay awake long after he had retired for the night.\u00a0 When his father had slipped silently into his room earlier, Joe had faked at being asleep.\u00a0 His thoughts about the new horse that Hoss had bought had kept him from sleeping.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t wait until everyone had fallen to sleep so that he might slip out to the barn and inspect the stallion better, without having to constantly be under the watchful eyes of his father or one or the other of his brothers. As he waited for sleep to claim the others, his thoughts drifted back to earlier in the day.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe sighed, when he had at last finished his homework and gone back outside to join his brothers at the corral, he had marveled at the way in which Adam had put the new horse through its paces.\u00a0 It had been just as Hoss had claimed it to be, spectacular.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWatch him go, Pa!\u201d Joe exclaimed, proudly watching how Adam moved his body together with the rhythm of the horse\u2019s movements.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam sure looks good up there, doesn\u2019t he son?\u201d commented Ben, pride in his son gleaming in his dark eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe glanced sideways at his father and then followed Ben\u2019s gaze back to the horse and rider.\u00a0 Briefly the smile disappeared from his face.\u00a0 \u201cI meant the horse Pa, not Adam.\u00a0 Adam looks just like he always does, uppity and swollen with pride,\u201d Joe sneered, wishing that he could have a chance to show his father how he could handle the animal himself.\u00a0 Joe glanced again at his father, surprised to see Ben\u2019s angry eyes glaring at him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat was uncalled for, young man,\u201d Ben reprimanded sharply.\u00a0 \u201cYour brother happens to be one of the finest horsemen around.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe pinched his lips together and dropped his head. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa, I know he is and I didn\u2019t mean to sound so nasty about it.\u00a0 It\u2019s just that\u2026well\u2026golly, he ain\u2019t the only man who can handle horses you know.\u00a0 I ain\u2019t no novice.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, you are not, but you are not an expert either.\u00a0 Adam has been riding all of his life\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, so have I and Pa, it was Adam who taught me\u2026so\u2026I\u2019ve learned from the best\u2026so\u2026why can\u2019t I just ride him?\u00a0 Please, Pa\u2026I promise I won\u2019t make him jump anything\u2026please?\u201d begged Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head.\u00a0 He knew in his heart just how much the boy was aching to ride the big stallion, but Ben\u2019s inner fear, a long ago accident, a death and the sudden vision of his child\u2019s body laying broken on the ground, kept the reluctant father from granting the boy his wish.\u00a0 \u201cNo, absolutely not.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe jumped down from the fence, fighting to control his sudden urge to cry, and marched back to the house.\u00a0 \u201cFine, just fine, treat me like I was still a baby.\u201d\u00a0 Joe turned back to his father, his eyes showing his disappointment, \u201cDon\u2019t think I don\u2019t know why you won\u2019t let me ride that horse.\u00a0 As always, you\u2019re afraid that the same thing will happen to me that happened to my ma.\u00a0 Well, it won\u2019t!\u201d\u00a0 Joe turned and fled from his father, not seeing the stunned looked on the astonished father\u2019s face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat was that all about?\u201d questioned Hoss who had caught just the last part of the conversation between his father and little brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head, \u201cThat boy.\u00a0 Always thinking he is old enough and big enough to handle everything that the two of you can do.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know, son, I think maybe I am too hard on the boy.\u00a0 He tries so hard to be a man, but somehow, I just can\u2019t allow myself to let go and see him as a man.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben turned and smiled at Hoss and Adam who had dismounted and joined them at the fence.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s my baby, he always will be and I can\u2019t help it if I have certain fears for him that I never had with the two of you.\u00a0He\u2019s so much like his mother, that it scares me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know Pa.\u00a0 I see a lot of Marie in him myself, especially in that temperament of his. \u00a0He\u2019s like fire one minute and ice the next.\u00a0 He can be kind and gentle one second and in a flash, his temper is akin to hot coals\u2026I swear Pa, I don\u2019t see how you\u2019ve managed as well as you have,\u201d laughed Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He watched his father\u2019s face brighten, and he smiled to himself.\u00a0 Yes, Joe could be temperamental at times, but there was no doubt that the youngest of the Cartwright sons was very much loved by the three men who stood in silent retrospect of the boy with the fiery temper.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe pushed back the covers and eased himself out of bed.\u00a0 He quickly slipped his trousers on beneath his nightshirt and then grabbing his boots from the foot of the bed, tiptoed into the hallway.\u00a0 Joe paused briefly before closing the door completely and once he was sure that the rest of his family was sleeping soundly, the over zealous boy continued on his way.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Quietly, Joe opened the heavy oak door at the front of the house and stepped out into the cool night air.\u00a0 He forced his feet into his boots and glancing over his shoulder, made a dash for the barn.\u00a0 The fact that the door stood slightly ajar, or the fact that a soft glowing lamp burned inside the barn, never occurred to the enthusiastic boy.\u00a0 Easily, Joe slid between the partially opened doors and over to the stall where Gilley was stabled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The horse nickered softly and tossed his massive head up and down.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s smile broadened itself across his face as he spoke softly to the stallion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEasy big boy,\u201d whispered Joe, gently rubbing his hand up and down the front of the horse\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cYou sure are a beauty,\u201d he cooed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Gilley lowered his head and nudged his nose against Joe\u2019s chest, causing the boy to laugh softly.\u00a0 \u201cI like you too, Gilley.\u00a0 Man, I sure would like to ride you.\u00a0 I bet you not only jump well, but I bet you can run pretty darn fast as well.\u00a0 Maybe someday, that ole brother of mine will let me try you on for size.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot any time soon, little brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Gilley tossed his head upward causing Joe to jump back and almost into the arms of his middle brother.\u00a0 Joe spun around on his heels, glaring at his brother.\u00a0 \u201cWhat do ya mean, scaring the life outta me like that?\u201d Joe all but shouted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss couldn\u2019t help but grin, the look on his little brother\u2019s face was worth a hundred dollars.\u00a0 \u201cSorry Joe,\u201d snickered Hoss, \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to scare ya like that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gave Hoss a frown and turned his attention back to the horse.\u00a0 \u201cYou didn\u2019t scare me,\u201d he mumbled, \u201cya only caught me by surprise, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure Joe, whatever ya say,\u201d Hoss laughed again and then stepped up beside the younger boy.\u00a0 He raised his hand and petted the long silky neck of the chestnut stallion.\u00a0 \u201cYa like\u2019em Joe?\u201d he asked, giving his brother a tiny smile.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure, but I\u2019d like\u2019em better if ya was to let me ride him, just once?\u00a0 Please Hoss?\u00a0 Ya don\u2019t even have to tell Pa that ya let me. I wouldn\u2019t tell either, will ya Hoss, just once, that\u2019s all and I promise, I won\u2019t ask again.\u201d\u00a0 Joe put on his most angelic expression, lowered his head just slightly and then turned his eyes upward to glaze longingly into his brother\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss seemed to be pondering the idea, he could tell by the look on Joe\u2019s face that the boy was just about to burst at the seams to ride the new horse.\u00a0 Hoss scrunched up his face and scratched his head, trying to avoid meeting the probing hazel eyes of his younger brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPlease?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He heard the tiny voice implore of him. Hoss glanced down, saw the questioning look in those probing eyes and was just about to give in, when a deep rich voice stopped him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t do it if I were you,\u201d stated Adam from the doorway where he had been standing, watching his youngest brother browbeat the other brother into submission.\u00a0 \u201cYou know what Pa said about that stallion being too much horse for the kid.\u201d\u00a0 His words were directed at Hoss, who stood gazing at him with an opened mouth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAw Adam, why don\u2019t ya mind your own dadburn business?\u201d glared Joe, giving his oldest brother an angry look.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam\u2019s right, Joe.\u00a0 Pa would have my hide if\u2019n I let ya ride this animal, especially if\u2019n ya was to fall off and get yourself hurt,\u201d Hoss said, thinking it best to agree with Adam\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFall off?\u00a0 Oh Hoss, come on, what do ya take me for?\u00a0 Ya know as well as Mr. Noisybody over here, that I can ride as well as either one of you, better in fact!\u201d argued Joe, determined to have his way.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, you heard what Pa said, he said you were to stay away from this animal\u2026are you going to defy him?\u201d\u00a0 Adam had stepped up to face his brothers and he glared down at Joe.\u00a0 \u201cCause if you do, you know full well what Pa will do to you.\u00a0 Sixteen or not, he won\u2019t hesitate to give you a good thrashing\u2026he\u2019s adamant about this and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut Adam, just look at this horse,\u201d Joe turned to the horse, his hands gently rubbing the end of the velvety nose and then turned back to Adam.\u00a0 \u201cIt would be worth getting a good thrashing for, just for the chance to ride him one time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s angry glare softened and he glanced in Hoss\u2019 direction and together they smiled at one another.\u00a0 Both boys understood Joe\u2019s desire, and, admitted Adam to himself, he couldn’t blame his younger brother, Gilley had been everything to him that Joe knew he would be to himself if he just had the chance to find out.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLook buddy, I\u2019ll talk to Pa in the morning\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cReally Adam?\u00a0 Honest, ya ain\u2019t just saying that are ya?\u201d Joe asked, the excitement showing in his happy expression.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHonest, but you have to understand, if Pa says no, then there\u2019s nothing more that I can do for you, understood?\u00a0 And\u2026Hoss has to agree with whatever Pa says.\u201d\u00a0 Adam glanced again at Hoss to confirm the agreement.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe turned around to face Hoss, giving his brother a winning smile.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ll let me ride him, right, if Pa agrees?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss laughed softly and ruffled the thick array of curls that adorned his little brother\u2019s head.\u00a0 It was hard to refuse the boy anything, and Hoss nodded his agreement but added for good measure, \u201conly if Pa agrees.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAw gee, thanks Hoss, thanks Adam, you guys are the best!\u201d\u00a0 Joe gave each brother a quick hug and headed for the door.\u00a0 \u201cNight Adam, night Hoss\u2026and\u2026thanks!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam slowly shook his head and grinned at Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cWhy do I suddenly feel as if we\u2019ve been had?\u201d he asked softly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cProbably cause we have,\u201d laughed Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cCome on big brother, let\u2019s go to bed, I\u2019m bushed.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo am I.\u00a0 Debating with that rapscallion is enough to wear a man down to nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam waited until Hoss had extinguished the lantern and secured the barn door before tossing his long arm across his brother\u2019s broad shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cLife is never dull for a moment with that kid around, wouldn\u2019t you agree?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNever.\u00a0 If\u2019n I live to be a hundred and six, and that boy a hundred, he\u2019d still find a way to sweet talk me.\u00a0 No matter what he does, I jist cain\u2019t find it in my heart to say no to that boy,\u201d laughed Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s because you\u2019re a push-over.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, and I suppose you\u2019re not?\u201d laughed Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe was at the breakfast table earlier than usual the next morning.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss came down the stairs together and both were a little more than surprised to find that Joe had beaten them to breakfast.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMorning Hoss, morning Adam,\u201d Joe gleefully smiled at them both.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAren\u2019t you the early bird this morning?\u201d Adam said jokingly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat worm are ya plannin\u2019 on catchin\u2019?\u201d laughed Hoss giving Adam a quick wink.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWho me?\u201d Little Joe tried to sound surprised.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWho else would they be talking to?\u201d Ben spoke up to ask.\u00a0 He had seen the silent exchange between his sons and knew enough to know that something was in the making.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n No one uttered a word, each of Ben\u2019s sons was well aware of the dark eyes that watched their faces.\u00a0 Joe glanced at his plate and poked at his eggs with the end of his fork.\u00a0 Adam busied himself with pouring his cup of coffee into his saucer to cool.\u00a0 Hoss stuffed his mouth with an overly large bite of ham and chewed very slowly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOkay boys, out with it, what\u2019s up?\u201d laughed Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Two pairs of hazel eyes, one slightly darker than the other, and one pair of crystal blue eyes glanced up and as if on cue, turned to face the lone pair of deep brown, chocolate eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss started to mumble something, but Ben held his hand up to stop the boy.\u00a0 \u201cPlease Hoss, not with your mouth full.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHm\u2026sorry,\u201d he tried to say.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben glanced at Joe, but Joe had lowered his head and Ben could plainly see that Joe was watching his oldest brother.\u00a0 Ben stifled a giggle, so, he reasoned, his oldest son had been selected as spokesman.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell Adam, why don\u2019t you just spit it out?\u201d Ben couldn\u2019t help but laugh out loud.\u00a0 \u201cI hope this isn\u2019t going to be serious, because the three of you look as if you\u2019ve all been caught with your hands in the cookie jar.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa\u2026Hoss and I were talking last night, and Joe\u2026he was there as well\u2026and well\u2026Hoss and I was wondering if you might change your mind about Joe taking a short ride on Gilley?\u201d stammered Adam.\u00a0 \u201cOf course I\u2019d ride along with him, just in case\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust in case\u2026\u201d repeated Ben, eyeing all three of his sons in one sweep of his eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes sir, we just feel that Joe should have a chance to\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou feel?\u00a0 That Joe should have a chance to\u2026what?\u00a0 Get himself thrown off, maybe break an arm, leg, or maybe both.\u00a0 What about if he should get himself killed, then what?\u201d\u00a0 Ben had stopped laughing, he had thought he had made himself perfectly clear last night that Joseph would not be riding the new stallion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNaw\u2026tweren\u2019t that Pa\u2026we jist think\u2026\u201d Hoss stopped talking and took a deep breath, pressing his lips tightly together, he knew it had been foolish to even attempt to change his father\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, did you put your brothers up to this?\u201d demanded Ben, turning dark, angry eyes on his son.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe dropped his head without uttering a word.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa, it was my idea, not the boy\u2019s.\u00a0 All he did was ask Hoss if he could ride the horse if you agreed.\u00a0 I promised Joe I would ask you and that we would abide by whatever decision you made,\u201d explained Adam.\u00a0 He wanted his father to know that though Joe had asked them both if he could ride, it had been his idea alone, to ask Ben for permission.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes swept around the table a second time.\u00a0 \u201cI thought I had made myself perfectly clear on the matter, yesterday.\u00a0 Joseph is not to be allowed on that stallion, do I make myself clear on the matter, now?\u00a0 My answer is the same as yesterday, NO!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam and Hoss both nodded their heads in submission, knowing not to push any harder for Ben to change his mind.\u00a0 \u201cGood!\u201d\u00a0 Ben glanced at Joe who had said nothing at all.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u201d Ben said in a clear deep voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe raised his head slightly, but enough that Ben could see the defiant look in the eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, I don\u2019t understand.\u00a0 What harm can it do, especially if Adam rides with me?\u00a0 I think\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNO!\u00a0 You do not think, I said no and I meant no.\u201d\u00a0 Ben saw the chin begin to quiver ever so slightly and he softened his voice.\u00a0 \u201cJoe, I know you want to ride that animal in the worst way.\u00a0 But not now, please son.\u00a0 Give the animal time to get adjusted to being around us, to get acquainted with its surroundings and then in a month or two\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cA month or two?\u00a0 Pa, that ain\u2019t fair!\u00a0 Why do you always have to treat me like I was still a little boy?\u201d\u00a0 Joe had pushed back his chair and stood to his feet, glaring at his father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben gritted his teeth to keep from losing what little patience he had remaining.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, sit down, please,\u201d he ordered gently.\u00a0 Ben cast his glance upward and waited with bated breath.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe studied his father\u2019s face, noted how Ben struggled to maintain his composure and decided it would be in his best interest to do as instructed.\u00a0 Meekly he sat back down and taking a deep breath to still his own inner turmoil, looked over at his father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry Pa, I shouldn\u2019t have raised my voice.\u00a0 But I still don\u2019t think it\u2019s fair.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know you think I am being too hard on you son.\u00a0 I just think that for right now, it\u2019s better to wait.\u00a0 I\u2019ve given you a direct order, and I expect each one of you to obey it.\u201d\u00a0 Ben looked up at Adam and waited until his oldest son nodded his head.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYessir,\u201d Hoss muttered.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry short shanks, I didn\u2019t think my buyin\u2019 that stallion would lead to all of this.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss\u2019 expression was one of worry and regret and one that reached out to his youngest brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all right Hoss.\u00a0 I\u2019m glad you bought him, even if I can\u2019t ride him,\u201d he added for his father\u2019s benefit.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll just be happy watching you and Adam ride him.\u201d\u00a0 Joe flashed his brother a smile.\u00a0 There was no use taking away Hoss\u2019 pleasure on his account reasoned Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThanks Joe.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss winked at his brother and the tension around the table eased, the conversation turned to other things.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou mean your Pa won\u2019t even let you ride him?\u201d\u00a0 Mitch seemed amazed that Joe had not been allowed to even ride Hoss\u2019 new stallion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNope, he won\u2019t even let me sit on him, guess he\u2019s afraid I\u2019ll get hurt or something.\u00a0 You know how he is Mitch, always scared that the same thing that happened to my ma will happen to me,\u201d Little Joe sighed deeply, his voice ringing with disgust.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mitch shrugged his shoulders, \u201cYa can\u2019t really blame him, Joe\u2026I mean after all\u2026\u201d Mitch didn\u2019t finish his sentence, but instead turned to check his friend\u2019s reaction.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah I know, Mitch.\u00a0 But I sure do get tired of being treated like a baby all the time.\u00a0 All I want is just one short ride on the horse.\u201d\u00a0 Joe turned to face Mitch.\u00a0 \u201cYou should see him Mitch, he\u2019s beautiful.\u00a0 He\u2019s chestnut color and he\u2019s got a white blaze all the way down the front of his face and he has three white socks; he\u2019s really something!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe sounds super, how old is he?\u201d Mitch questioned.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI think Hoss said he\u2019s about two years old.\u00a0 His name is Gilley\u2026guess Mr. Gillmore named him after himself,\u201d laughed Joe.\u00a0 \u201cAin\u2019t much of a name for a horse like that.\u00a0 Hey, did I tell you that Gilley\u2019s just over seventeen hands tall?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWow!\u00a0 I can\u2019t wait to see him.\u00a0 Mind if I come over tomorrow after I finish my chores and take a look at him?\u201d Mitch asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure, Pa\u2019s going into town, and Adam\u2019s gone up to the lumber camp and won\u2019t be home until Sunday night,\u201d Joe explained.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mitch stopped suddenly and grabbed Joe\u2019s arm.\u00a0 \u201cHey, Little Joe\u2026where\u2019s Hoss gonna be?\u201d\u00a0 Mitch\u2019s eyes had grown large and dark and he wore a mischievous grin on his face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe stopped along side his friend and studied Mitch\u2019s expression, noting the sly look.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know why?\u00a0 What have you got up your sleeve, Mitch Devlin?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mitch rubbed his hands together and smiled broadly at Joe.\u00a0 \u201cI was just thinking Joe, if your Pa\u2019s gonna be gone for a while, and Adam\u2019s not there, well if Hoss takes off, what\u2019s to keep ya from taking a little ride on the stallion?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was Joe\u2019s turn for his eyes to grow wide.\u00a0 He was silent for several moments, lost in thought.\u00a0 Suddenly his face broke into a smile.\u00a0 \u201cNothing I don\u2019t reckon, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut what?\u00a0 Nothing, just like ya said.\u00a0 Listen, Little Joe, it would be the perfect time.\u00a0 Who\u2019s to know?\u00a0 No one, just you and me and what they don\u2019t know won\u2019t hurt them.\u00a0 What\u2019ll ya say?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe continued on his way toward the schoolhouse with Mitch following slowly behind.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t Mitch, if I did and Pa found out\u2026there would be hell to pay.\u00a0 He gave me strict orders that I better stay off that horse.\u201d\u00a0 Joe shook his head as he walked along.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOkay, but I think you\u2019re missing a golden opportunity.\u00a0 I\u2019d do it in a heartbeat.\u00a0 Golly, Joe, you\u2019re one of the best riders around, I don\u2019t see why your old man won\u2019t let ya, but since he won\u2019t,\u201d Mitch giggled softly, \u201cI\u2019d do it when he wasn\u2019t around to find out.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They were almost to the doorway, when Joe stopped and turned around to face Mitch.\u00a0 \u201cYou probably would, wouldn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou better believe I would, and any other time, you would too.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know what\u2019s gotten wrong with you Little Joe, use to be, you\u2019d take a dare and not think twice about it,\u201d grumbled Mitch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe started giggling; \u201cBut you didn\u2019t dare me!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mitch sobered and studied Joe\u2019s expression.\u00a0 Did his friend want him to make a dare?\u00a0 It sounded like it.\u00a0 \u201cOkay Cartwright, I dare\u2026no, I double dare ya to ride that big stallion the very next time that your Pa and brothers are not around!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gulped, why had he all but begged his friend to dare him?\u00a0 Was it because he knew that if Mitch did, he would be forced into taking the dare?\u00a0 Joe pushed opened the door and together with Mitch, the two friends stepped into the classroom.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll take that dare,\u201d Joe whispered to Mitch as they parted ways and began moving toward their assigned seats.\u00a0 Behind him, Joe heard his friend snickering softly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n That night as Joe lay in his bed, his thoughts continued to rehash the conversation that he had had with his best friend, Mitch.\u00a0 Joe knew that what he was contemplating was wrong, but a driving force from deep within himself begged to prove to his family that he could ride the tall chestnut stallion.\u00a0 Joe didn\u2019t take into consideration the fact that his father had no desire for his youngest son to have a need to prove anything.\u00a0The wrong thought, in Joe\u2019s mind was his own desire to ride the forbidden horse, and that thought would lead to trouble, for which Joe had given no thought to whatsoever, or the consequences of his actions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Morning came the same time, as always but to Joe, the night seemed to have past far quicker than usual.\u00a0 With a groan, Joe pulled himself from his warm bed and dressed quickly.\u00a0 By the time he had arrived at the breakfast table, Ben was wiping the last crumbs from his mouth, Hoss had just snatched the last pancake from the serving platter and Hop Sing had just set down another plate of hot pancakes for the late comer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMorning son,\u201d greeted Ben with a bright smile for his youngest son.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMorning Pa,\u201d Joe returned.\u00a0 \u201cI sure hope you left something for me to eat,\u201d he growled at Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss looked up and saw the tiny frown on his brother\u2019s face and pointed to the cakes that Hop Sing had just set down.\u00a0 \u201cBetter grab\u2019em for I do,\u201d he mumbled, as he pointed with the end of his fork to the fresh stack.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe laughed and quickly filled his plate before Hoss could make good his threat.\u00a0 \u201cYou leaving already, Pa?\u201d Joe said as he turned to his father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, I have to meet with Roy this morning before getting the supplies.\u00a0 Then I have to ride up to the lumber camp and help Adam get things back on track.\u00a0 I probably won\u2019t be back until after dark,\u201d Ben explained as he strapped on his sidearm and grabbed his hat from the peg above the credenza.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben went back to the table where he placed a hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 Joe turned his head upward, waiting for his father to speak as he chewed the food he had just crammed into his mouth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou can go fishing son, when you finish with your chores.\u00a0 I know you and Mitch were planning to go today, just be sure you get everything done before you do,\u201d smiled Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded his head and gave his father a smile.\u00a0 \u201cI will Pa, don\u2019t worry.\u201d\u00a0 Joe returned the smile, feeling somewhat guilty about what he and Mitch were really planning on doing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat are your plans, Hoss?\u201d inquired Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss took a swallow of coffee, wiped his mouth and pushed back his chair, standing to his feet.\u00a0 \u201cI gotta go over to Genoa this morning, Pa.\u00a0 Mr. Gillmore told me about a man over that way, what\u2019s got a mare he was wantin\u2019 to breed with an Arabian stallion and I thought I might have a talk with\u2019em about using Gilley as stud.\u00a0 I should be back before supper time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, good luck.\u00a0 Are you taking the stallion with you?\u201d Ben asked, unaware that his youngest son had suddenly become very interested in the conversation between his brother and his father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, I thought if the man was interested, he could bring the mare here.\u00a0 Mr. Gillmore advised me not to take the stallion to the mare, but vice-versa.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss had walked to the door with his father and neither Hoss nor Ben had heard the wind expel from the youngest Cartwright\u2019s lungs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, you behave yourself.\u00a0 Hop Sing will be here if you should need anything,\u201d called Ben as he followed Hoss out the door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI will Pa,\u201d Joe called in return.\u00a0 The door closed with a slight bang and Joe smiled to himself, unaware of the dark almond eyes that watched his face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBoy seem pleased with self,\u201d muttered Hop Sing, startling Joe from his thoughts.\u00a0 Joe glanced up and saw the piercing look of the little Chinaman.\u00a0 \u201cBoy best heed father\u2019s words\u2026number three son, mind what papa say and be good boy!\u201d\u00a0 Hop Sing pitter-pattered back to his kitchen mumbling under his breath with each step he took.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe had just finished with his breakfast when the front door flew opened and a loud voice resounded in his ears.\u00a0 \u201cJOE, YOU UP YET?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe rounded the corner and surprised Mitch who was still standing in the doorway.\u00a0 \u201cDo you have to rattle the walls like that?\u201d he laughed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mitch giggled, \u201cWell, it\u2019s Saturday and you\u2019re rarely up this early, I just wanted you to know I was here, that\u2019s all,\u201d he laughed.\u00a0 Mitch glanced around the room to be sure that they were alone.\u00a0 \u201cYou ready?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gulped, not sure if what he was planning to do was the right thing or not.\u00a0 \u201cI suppose,\u201d he grunted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYa ain\u2019t backin\u2019 out are ya?\u201d Mitch whispered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe grabbed his hat and jacket from the peg and glared at his friend.\u00a0 \u201cNo, I\u2019m not backing out, I\u2019m just not sure it I should do it or not, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYa ain\u2019t chicken are ya?\u201d Mitch taunted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe grabbed his friend by the shoulder and spun him around, glaring angrily.\u00a0 \u201cYou know better than that, I ain\u2019t chicken, and I ain\u2019t backin\u2019 out!\u00a0 Now come on!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe allowed his hand to drop away from his friend\u2019s shoulder and stomped off toward the barn.\u00a0 Quickly he saddled the tall stallion and led Gilley from the barn.\u00a0 His eyes briskly scanned the yard to be sure that he was not being watched.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe had to jump to make his foot reach the stirrup and then pulled his body up and into the saddle.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t help but smile, he felt like a king sitting on the back of the magnificent animal.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, come on,\u201d he ordered Mitch, grinning.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nudged the stallion gently with his knees, urging the horse into a gentle cantor.\u00a0 Joe glanced back over his shoulder and smiled at Mitch who was trying to catch up with him.\u00a0 Together the boys rode in companionable silence as they made their way from the house.\u00a0 For more than half an hour the pair rode until Joe finally reined Gilley to a stop.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis is about far enough, by the time we get back, it\u2019ll be near lunch and then I\u2019ll have to rub Gilley down and get started on my chores.\u00a0 I promised Pa I\u2019d have\u2019em finished before he got home,\u201d said Joe, leaning up from the saddle and petting the long silky neck of his stead.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAw, all right,\u201d groaned Mitch.\u00a0 \u201cBut I was hopin\u2019 to see ya jump him, just once,\u201d Mitch said, knowing he was tempting his friend.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s that fence over yonder, why don\u2019t ya try one time before we head back?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe glanced in the direction that Mitch had pointed.\u00a0 The fence wasn\u2019t too high and Joe felt sure, after seeing how high that Adam had forced the animal to jump that Gilley could clear the fence easily.\u00a0 For several moments he pondered the idea, knowing in his heart that he should not tempt his luck.\u00a0 He suddenly turned to his friend, throwing all caution to the wind and giving in to his desires, Joe smiled down at Mitch.\u00a0\u201cWatch this!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe turned Gilley toward the fence and kicked hard at the stallion\u2019s flanks.\u00a0 Gilley bolted into action and raced toward his target.\u00a0 Joe felt the wind whipping at his face; his hat flew from his head as Gilley gained in momentum.\u00a0 As rider and horse neared the fence, Joe leaned low over the stallion\u2019s neck as he had seen his older brother do.\u00a0 He heard himself laugh out loud with glee as Gilley\u2019s hooves left the ground.\u00a0 Joe heehawed as he and Gilley sailed across the fence.\u00a0 He was jubilant, he was flying and then suddenly he felt the pain pierce his shoulder as he landed with a thud onto the hard packed earth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe groaned as he pulled himself into a sitting position and quickly looked around him.\u00a0 Gilley was standing just yards from where he had landed, Mitch was no where to be found but when he looked up behind him, he found something he had not expected to find.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss stood over him, his massive shadow blocking the sun from his little brother\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 His eyes were dark with anger, his lips pressed into a thin straight line as he glowered down into the startled face of his kid brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust what in thunder do ya think ya was adoin\u2019?\u201d shouted Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gulped, temporarily forgetting the pain in his shoulder as he staggered to his feet.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2026I\u2026I\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I seen what ya did, ya dang fool kid!\u00a0 Dadburnit Little Joe, don\u2019t ya know Pa will have a fit when he finds out?\u201d shouted Hoss, turning Joe around and dusting the back of his trousers off.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOuch!\u201d moaned Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss froze as he stood gazing into the hazel eyes that had suddenly filled with tears.\u00a0 \u201cYa hurt short shanks?\u201d Hoss asked with concern.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026I\u2026it\u2019s just my shoulder, I must have sprained it.\u00a0 Hoss\u2026ya ain\u2019t gonna tell Pa what I\u2019ve done, are ya?\u00a0 Please Hoss\u2026I\u2019m begging ya\u2026please don\u2019t tell him,\u201d pleaded Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The boy was more frightened than hurt, but he wanted to be sure that Hoss would keep his secret.\u00a0 He had thought that a good thrashing would be worth getting a chance at riding the Arabian stallion, but now, with the throbbing pain in his shoulder, Joe wasn\u2019t too sure anymore.\u00a0 And he had suddenly begun to regret his decision.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss had pulled Joe\u2019s shirt up and examined the shoulder that Joe said was hurting and sighed in relief that he found nothing more than an ugly bruise forming.\u00a0 \u201cDoesn\u2019t seemed to be broken, but ya sure gonna have an ugly bruise,\u201d the middle brother commented.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss pulled Joe\u2019s shirt back down and turned the boy around to face him, holding both of his hands on each of Joe\u2019s shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cI saw what ya was fixin\u2019 to do and I almost shouted at ya to stop, but I was scare to, I didn\u2019t wanna spook Gilley.\u00a0 Then, when I saw ya fall off, I was scared ya might have kilt your dang self.\u00a0 Short Shanks, I swear, I oughta tan your hide right this minute.\u00a0 But I think I\u2019ll let Pa do it instead.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe could do nothing to stop his eyes from filling with tears and when he dropped his head, they ran down his cheeks.\u00a0 Hoss heard his brother sniff his nose and with his big hand holding Joe\u2019s chin cupped firmly between his fingers, he tipped the boy\u2019s head upward.\u00a0 He could see the fear in the hazel eyes, and knew that Joe was aware of what would come later.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI oughta know better than to do this Short Shanks, but if\u2019n ya promise me that you\u2019ll never do a dang fool thing like this again, I won\u2019t tell Pa.\u00a0 I\u2019ll probably live to regret it, but\u2026well\u2026dadburnit\u2026I know how much ya wanted to try riding ole Gilley and I can\u2019t say that I blame ya none.\u00a0 But ya gotta swear on your mama\u2019s grave that ya won\u2019t never do it again,\u201d demanded Hoss, already having doubts as to why he was trying to save the boy from a much deserved thrashing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe buried his head into Hoss\u2019 vest and flung his arms around his brother\u2019s middle.\u00a0 \u201cI promise, Hoss, I promise.\u00a0 I won\u2019t let ya down, honest\u2026I cross my heart.\u201d\u00a0 And Joe did just that, the tears now stopped and his face broke open with a wide smile.\u00a0 \u201cThanks Hoss, you\u2019re the best!\u201d beamed Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss pressed his lips together and gently bobbed his head.\u00a0 \u201cJust don\u2019t make me regret it.\u00a0 And don\u2019t let me down, Little Joe, you understand?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t Hoss, you can trust me,\u201d smiled Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss ruffled his brother\u2019s thick mane of dark curls.\u00a0 \u201cSure I can\u2026I see how trustworthy you are,\u201d Hoss muttered, shaking his head harder.\u00a0 \u201cCome on, you might as well ride him home.\u00a0 Go fetch\u2019em, we\u2019d better get him back to the barn afor Pa finds out what ya dun.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe didn\u2019t have to be told a second time.\u00a0 He rushed to gather Gilley\u2019s reins and slowly pulled himself up into the saddle.\u00a0 He pinched his lips tightly to keep from crying out from the pain in his shoulder.\u00a0 Joe twisted his shoulder just enough to try to work the soreness out, but even that caused the pain to shoot across to his other shoulder and down his back.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss had watched with growing concern as Joe had mounted up and then saw his brother twisting around to try to stabilize the pain.\u00a0 Hoss eased Chubb along side Gilley.\u00a0 Gilley danced around, not liking the other horse coming so close.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHold him, Joe, don\u2019t let\u2019em get away from you,\u201d ordered Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhoa boy,\u201d Joe said softly, gaining control of his mount.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYa sure ya gonna be all right, little brother?\u00a0 I mean, ya shoulder, does it hurt badly, cause if it does, we might need to go see the doc.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNO!\u00a0 I mean, it\u2019s fine, just sore, honest, Hoss,\u201d Joe was quick to put his brother\u2019s mind at ease.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOkay, but when we get home, you\u2019re gonna take a good hot bath, it\u2019ll help with the soreness and then I\u2019ll rub some liniment on your back.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss turned then and urged Chubb toward home.\u00a0 \u201cCome on, let\u2019s ride,\u201d he called over his shoulder.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n For the rest of the weekend, Joe was forced to ignore the constant pain in his right shoulder and to carry on as if nothing were wrong.\u00a0 Hoss had been true to his word and had not tattled on his brother.\u00a0 He had even helped Joe with his chores in order that Joe might give his shoulder time to heal properly.\u00a0 By Monday morning, most of the soreness had faded away and when Joe left for school, none had been the wiser about what had taken place early on Saturday morning.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll see ya tonight, Pa,\u201d Joe called as he rode out.\u00a0 \u201cBye Hoss,\u201d he smiled at his middle brother as Hoss came out of the barn, \u201cthanks again,\u201d he whispered in passing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben had stepped beside of Hoss, thus Hoss had no chance to respond other than to smile and nod his head.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe seems in an awfully good mood,\u201d commented Ben, smiling at Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe should be,\u201d muttered Hoss softly as he turned and walked back into the barn.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben stood silently, wondering at his son\u2019s words and then shrugging off the statement, returned to the house, where Adam waited, his head bent over the ledgers and trying to make sense out of his father\u2019s entries.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy\u2019d ya run off?\u201d shouted Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry Little Joe, but when I saw Hoss riding up, I guess I just panicked,\u201d offered Mitch, his head bowed low.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd ya asked me if I was chicken?\u00a0 Well, old friend, I guess we know who\u2019s chicken now, don\u2019t we!\u201d continued Joe.\u00a0 \u201cI dang near break my neck, just to satisfy my best friend and then that so-called friend, turns tail and runs, leaving me to face the music all alone.\u00a0 Some best friend you are!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe turned from the other boy and headed for the schoolhouse, kicking stones with the toe of his boot as he ambled along.\u00a0 Mitch stood alone, watching as his friend walked away.\u00a0 When he could stand it no longer, he ran to catch up with his best friend.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo, did ya get a thrashin\u2019 or not?\u201d he asked, never looking at Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe glanced over at Mitch and smiled in spite of himself.\u00a0 \u201cNo, Hoss didn\u2019t tell on me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Mitch all but shouted as he grabbed Joe\u2019s arm, halting their steps.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re jokin\u2019, right?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWrong, he promised not to tell if I promised not to do it again,\u201d smiled Joe as he continued on toward the building.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou lucky son-of-a-gun,\u201d laughed Mitch, hurrying to catch up to Joe.\u00a0 \u201cHey Joe,\u201d said Mitch in a voice so soft that Joe stopped and turned to face him.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry about what I did\u2026runnin\u2019 off I mean.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe slung his arm across his friend\u2019s shoulders and laughed, \u201cAw\u2026that\u2019s okay, I\u2019d probably would\u2019ve run too, if I had been you.\u00a0 Forget it,\u201d smiled Joe, never one to stay mad at his best friend for very long.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Later that afternoon, Joe and Mitch sat with a group of their classmates.\u00a0 Joe couldn\u2019t help but smile as he listened to Mitch singing the praises of the Arabian stallion\u2019s jumping ability.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt was only a fence railing, Mitch, you make it sound as if we jumped Pike\u2019s Peak or something,\u201d laughed Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI bet he could have,\u201d Mitch snickered loudly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo Cartwright, when ya gonna give the rest of us a chance to see this fine Arabian jumpin\u2019 horse that you\u2019re so proud of?\u201d asked Lucas Tatum, a fellow classmate of Joe\u2019s and not one of his favorite people.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou can come out to the Ponderosa anytime ya wanna and see him\u2026\u201d started Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, I mean, when are ya gonna show us how ya can ride and jump him?\u201d snapped Lucas in a cocky voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe glanced at Mitch, who was smiling at him and nodding his head.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019ll show ya, just name the day and time,\u201d spouted off Mitch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMitch!\u201d shouted Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong Cartwright, ya ain\u2019t been lyin\u2019 to us now have ya?\u00a0 Ya really do have one of them Arabian jumpin\u2019 horses don\u2019t ya?\u201d taunted Lucas.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, Little Joe, you ain\u2019t just funnin\u2019 with us, are you?\u201d asked another of Joe\u2019s friends.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, he really does have a bonafied Arabian stallion, a pure-bred jumpin\u2019 horse,\u201d Mitch was quick to defend his best friend, \u201cI seen him jump with my own eyes!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMitch, the horse isn\u2019t exactly mine\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen ya lyin\u201d!\u201d sneered Lucas as his face spread into an evil looking smirk and glanced around at the group of boys, knowingly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not lying.\u00a0 We do have the horse, he ain\u2019t mine though, he belongs to Hoss, my brother.\u00a0 Hoss bought him a couple of weeks ago from a man somewhere around Genoa, honest,\u201d Joe explained in his own defense.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOkay, prove it, show us how he jumps!\u201d Lucas Tatum dared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe cast anxious eyes at Mitch, wishing that his friend had not brought the subject of Hoss\u2019 big stallion up in conversation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI wish I could, but\u2026I\u2019m not allowed to ride him,\u201d Joe muttered in a low voice, keeping his head lowered and not wishing to look into the blue eyes of his tormentor, Lucas Tatum, who had taunted him since they had started school together, years ago.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI thought you said you had already ridden him and jumped him,\u201d stated one of the boys in an accusing tone of voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe glanced at the boy, \u201cI did, but I wasn\u2019t suppose too,\u201d he confessed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lucas snickered loudly as he looked from boy to boy and then back to Joe.\u00a0 \u201cWonder what you\u2019re pappy would say if\u2019n he were to find out that ya snuck behind his back and rode the ole nag?\u201d laughed Lucas.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes darkened in anger and he glared at the other boy.\u00a0 The look went unobserved by Lucas as he continued to taunt the worried, youngest Cartwright.\u00a0 \u201cEither ya show us how the nag jumps or I tell your pa.\u201d\u00a0Lucas turned his eyes to check Joe\u2019s reaction to his threat and couldn\u2019t help but laugh to himself.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t often that he had the upper hand on Joe Cartwright, but this time, things were going his way.\u00a0 He could tell by the anxious look in the hazel eyes, that Joe was taking the threat seriously.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s it gonna be, Little Joe?\u201d Lucas added emphasis to Joe\u2019s nickname.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s gonna happen when that big oaf of a brother of yours finds out that ya been riding and jumpin\u2019 his stallion behind his back?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYa don\u2019t gotta worry about Hoss, he already knows!\u201d snapped Mitch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe groaned, furious at his best friend for not knowing when to keep his mouth shut.\u00a0 Mitch had just given Lucas more information to use against him.\u00a0 When he heard Lucas burst into boisterous laughter, Joe spun around and faced him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you shut up?\u201d snarled Joe to Lucas.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo, Hoss knows too and covered your butt by not ratting on you?\u00a0 That\u2019s not bad Little Joe, not bad at all.\u00a0 Now, either you jump the horse for us, or I tell your old man your secret, plus your brother\u2019s,\u201d smiled Lucas.\u00a0 \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t wanna get your brother in trouble too, now would you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lucas\u2019 eyes seem to glow with pleasure and it took all the will power Joe could muster to keep from wiping the smirk off the other boy\u2019s face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve a good mind to pound you into the ground right now,\u201d snapped Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut ya won\u2019t, will ya?\u00a0 Cause if\u2019n ya do, you\u2019ll hav\u2019ta explain to your old man why ya was fightin\u2019.\u00a0 I happen to know, Cartwright, that your father don\u2019t take kindly to his boys takin\u2019 part in a brawl.\u00a0 So\u2019s, what\u2019s it gonna be?\u00a0 Ya gonna ride or not?\u201d laughed Lucas.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe took a deep breath and let it out slowly.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t sure how it had happened, but Lucas Tatum had managed to get the best of him this time and as far as Joe could see, there was no other way out but to ride the stallion one more time.\u00a0 Hoss\u2019 words echoed in his ear along with the promise he had made to his brother.\u00a0 But Joe shook his head free of the disturbing thoughts, he would take his chances and protect his brother from the lie that they had concocted about his injured shoulder and told to their father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAll right, Tatum, you win.\u00a0 But when this is over, just watch your back, cause I aim to beat the crap outta you!\u201d snorted Joe, turning on his heels and stomping back to the classroom.\u00a0 Lucas\u2019 wicked laughed reached his ears as he flung open the door and turned for one last look at the group of boys, which were quickly following, trying to catch up with him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The group of boys hounded Joe the entire week to set a date and time that they could watch him put Hoss\u2019 jumper through his paces.\u00a0 Joe had tried to stall for as long as he could, but when Lucas threatened to go to his father the very next afternoon, Joe set the date.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSaturday after noon.\u00a0 Pa and Hoss will be in town; Adam had to go back to the lumber camp so I reckon I\u2019ll meet you over at the old Wilson place.\u00a0 There\u2019s a good fencing there that we can set up to make the jumps with.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be there about twelve-thirty,\u201d Joe informed the group on Thursday during the lunch break.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI been thinkin\u2019 Cartwright,\u201d leered Lucas.\u00a0 \u201cMy old man has a pretty good jumper too.\u00a0 Oh he ain\u2019t no purebred Arabian jumpin\u2019 horse, but he ain\u2019t bad.\u00a0 I\u2019ve had a notion of tryin\u2019 him out myself.\u00a0 I think I\u2019ll ride him over to Wilson\u2019s on Saturday and we can have ourselves a little contest, what\u2019cha say?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe glanced around at his friends who were all nodding their heads. \u00a0\u201cFine by me,\u201d Joe said at last, turning and walking away.\u00a0 He was totally disgusted with the group of boys, with his best friend, Mitch, and with himself for allowing this so-called contest to take place to start with.\u00a0 Joe suddenly wished that he had a way to back out, for he knew that he was headed for trouble of his own making.\u00a0 But the Cartwright pride ran wide and deep within the boy’s heart and soul, and Joe realized that there was no turning back.\u00a0 Saying no, or the fact that he could, had not entered his mind\u2026until much, much later.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The railings were set in place as Joe sat mounted on the big stallion\u2019s back and tried to hold the nervous animal under control.\u00a0 Lucas was mounted on his father\u2019s big black gelding and appeared to be having as much, if not more, trouble controlling his horse, as was Joe.\u00a0 Each time that the gelding inched closer to Gilley, the stallion would snort and toss his massive head, unnerving Joe more each time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It had not been easy to slip away from the house in time enough to meet with the group of spectators that had been gathering to watch the jumping contest.\u00a0 Ben and Hoss had been delayed nearly an hour, Adam had shown up unexpectedly and further delayed his departure.\u00a0 Joe rushed around the barn, pretending to be busy with his chores until finally Ben and Hoss bid him good-bye.\u00a0 Joe tossed his hand in the air at his departing family members and gave a sigh of relief.\u00a0 Minutes later, Adam came from the house and mounted Sport.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSee you in a couple of days little buddy.\u00a0 Stay out of trouble,\u201d he warned in good spirits as he kicked at his horse\u2019s sides and waved bye.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe swallowed the lump that had suddenly risen in his throat and wished that he could stay out of trouble, for in the back of his mind, he was very aware of the dark cloud that hung over his head.\u00a0 Joe waited another half-hour before leading Gilley from the corral and saddling him.\u00a0 Joe wanted to be sure that Adam had ridden far enough so as not to witness his riding away from the house on Hoss\u2019 horse.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about time,\u201d mouthed Lucas.\u00a0 \u201cWe was beginnin\u2019 to think you weren\u2019t gonna show up, what kept ya?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI had things to do,\u201d snapped Joe, hating himself already for allowing this person to con him into doing what he was about to do.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s get this over with then,\u201d someone called out.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m ready when Cartwright is,\u201d Lucas called out.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked around him at the small crowd that had gathered.\u00a0 He was surprised to see some of his father\u2019s friends there with their sons.\u00a0 Joe groaned, there was no way that he could pull this jumping contest off now and his father not find out about it.\u00a0 Suddenly, Joe\u2019s vision was blinded as tears rushed to fill the depths of his eyes.\u00a0 He brushed them away, willing himself not to cry, but his stomach began to churn, and Joe could taste the bitter hot acid that slowly made its way up his throat and into his mouth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, you go first,\u201d called Mudd Taylor.\u00a0 Mudd was an older classmate of Joe\u2019s who had gotten the nickname, Mudd, years ago after he had stumbled and fell into a grimy, thick puddle and came out covered with the dark wet earth.\u00a0 Joe couldn\u2019t help but smile at the sudden memory, but just as quickly as it materialized, it vanished.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou ready Little Joe?\u00a0 You gotta clear both hurdles and then come back here and wait until Lucas makes his jumps.\u00a0 Then we\u2019ll raise the bars and you go again.\u00a0 You gotta keep jumping until one of the horses touches or knocks down\u00a0 a bar.\u00a0 The one who jumps the highest without knocking down no bars, wins the contest,\u201d explained Mudd.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded his head in understanding and waited until Mudd gave the signal.\u00a0 Mudd\u2019s arm raised over his head and dropped quickly.\u00a0 Joe kicked Gilley in the sides and the big stallion leapt forward at a run.\u00a0 Easily, the stallion cleared both hurdles and returned to the starting point.\u00a0 Joe glanced over at Lucas and smile.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat was easy,\u201d sneered Lucas.\u00a0 \u201cHell, my old pony could have done that!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mudd\u2019s hand came down a second time and Lucas was off.\u00a0 When he returned he glared at Joe.\u00a0 \u201cSee, ya ain\u2019t got nothin\u2019 special.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust you wait, I\u2019ll show you,\u201d snapped Joe and turned to give the go-ahead to Mudd.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The bars had been raised higher, again Gilley cleared the bars with no problem, followed by Lucas and his father\u2019s big gelding.\u00a0 The crowd had begun to cheer the boys on and for a while Joe forgot that he was here, when he should have been elsewhere.\u00a0 The fact that he had disobeyed his father, broken a promise to his brother and was on the verge of disgracing himself, never entered his mind.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Twice more the bars had been raised.\u00a0 Joe was having to encourage Gilley into a faster pace and lean low over the horse\u2019s neck, but still Gilley jumped each hurdle effortlessly, as if the bars had been laying on the ground.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When the bars had been placed at the highest level, Joe glanced at Lucas.\u00a0 The other boy had begun to sweat, tiny beads of water had broken out on his forehead and Joe saw Lucas gulp.\u00a0 Joe knew that Lucas was worried, it showed in his eyes and on his face.\u00a0 The gelding had nearly faltered on the last jump and Joe, confident that Gilley could clear the bars, smiled at Lucas.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow we\u2019ll see whose horse is a true champion.\u201d\u00a0 Joe could not help from gloating, as he nodded his head at Mudd to give the signal, something his father had said to him years ago, suddenly entered his head.\u00a0\u2018Pride, cometh before a fall.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Mudd gave the signal, Gilley sprang forth, and from somewhere behind him, Joe heard his name shouted out.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJOSEPH!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lucas, who was not paying attention, pressed his knees into his gelding\u2019s flanks, and the big horse shot forth behind Gilley. The race was on, Lucas tried to pull the fleeing animal under control but the horse had a mind of its own and had set its course of the horse in front of him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Within seconds, the gelding was running side by side with Gilley.\u00a0 Together they cleared the first hurdle.\u00a0 From the corner of his eye, Joe caught of glimpse of Lucas as he struggled to reset himself in his saddle from where he had nearly fallen when he and his mount jumped the first set of bars.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe urged Gilley on, the gelding was running neck and neck with Joe and his horse as they approached the next hurdles.\u00a0 Joe could feel Lucas\u2019 leg brushing against his own, and cut his eyes to the side to glare at the his opponent.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPull him over!\u201d shouted Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lucas ignored Joe\u2019s warning and again Joe felt his leg being crushed against the side of the gelding.\u00a0 The bars loomed out in front of them.\u00a0 Lucas\u2019 horse was crushing into his leg as Joe tried to move the big stallion aside but it was too late.\u00a0 Joe felt Gilley\u2019s body leave the ground and suddenly, it seemed as if the big horse stopped in mid-air.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s body was flung through the air and crashed to the ground.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe groaned, the pain shot through his leg and shoulder, sending trillions of pain filled projectiles throughout his entire body.\u00a0 Joe barely had time to glance up, his eyes widened in horror, he opened his mouth to scream, and then his world went black.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, can you hear me son?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe moaned, his pain riddled body arched in agony.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, open your eyes, son, please.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe tried to obey the words, but some one must have glued his eyes shut, for he could not open them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d\u00a0 It was his voice.\u00a0 He felt the tears sting his eyes and wished more than anything else that he could open them and see the face of the man who held him so tenderly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m\u2026so\u2026sorry.\u201d\u00a0 Joe heard himself muttering.\u00a0 Could his father understand his words, did Pa know what he had done?\u00a0 Joe could not stop the tears now, he was too weak, he hurt entirely too much to control them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShh\u2026don\u2019t cry son.\u00a0 We\u2019ll get you home soon.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe felt his body being lifted from the cold, hard ground.\u00a0 \u201cOH\u2026DON\u2019T\u2026IT HURTS!\u201d he screamed.\u00a0 Suddenly his eyes popped opened and he tried to focus on the faces that loomed in front of him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPlease\u2026it hurts,\u201d he sobbed, groping the air for a handhold.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSet him down,\u201d ordered Ben as he knelt next to his son.\u00a0 \u201cJoe, you\u2019re going to be okay, son, but we have to get you home so that the doctor can take a look at your shoulder and your leg.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa\u2026\u201d cried Joe, clinging to the front of his father\u2019s vest.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t mean\u2026I\u2019m sorry\u2026Pa\u2026I\u2019m sorry,\u201d wept Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben pressed his lips together to keep from showing his pent-up emotions.\u00a0 \u201cJoe, we\u2019ll talk about it later, right now, we need to get you back to the house.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A sob caught in Joe\u2019s throat as he continued to cling to his father.\u00a0 \u201cPa\u2026Gilley\u2026is he okay?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben raised his head and glanced at Adam who knelt with him.\u00a0 \u201cPa\u2026please\u2026\u201d Joe tugged on Ben\u2019s vest, drawing his father\u2019s attention back to himself.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe\u2026\u201d hesitated Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh God\u2026Pa no\u2026please tell\u2026me he\u2019s\u2026not hurt\u2026please PA\u2026PLEASE!\u201d sobbed Joe hysterically.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, calm down, please son, you\u2019re only making matters worse,\u201d whispered Ben as he held his son tenderly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTell\u2026me the\u2026truth,\u201d Joe continued to beg.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe tried to free himself from his father\u2019s arms and raise up, but the pain quickly sent his body into spasms and he cried out in agony.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s get him in one of those wagons, Adam,\u201d instructed Ben as he helped his older son lift Joe\u2019s body for a second time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe fought the urge to scream again.\u00a0 When he could, he raised his head, biting his lower lip to help from crying out, and quickly glanced around him.\u00a0 \u201cWAIT!\u201d he shouted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben glanced down at his son, saw the frightened look that had entered the tear filled eyes and followed with his eyes to where Joe had pointed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh please\u2026Pa\u2026tell me\u2026that\u2019s not\u2026Hoss\u2019 stallion?\u201d cried Joe as he was lowered into the back of the wagon.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben quickly jumped into the back with his son and leaned down close to Joe.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry Joe, but we had to\u2026destroy the stallion.\u00a0 His leg was broken in two places.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOH GOD NO!\u201d wailed Joe.\u00a0 \u201cWHAT HAVE I DONE!\u201d\u00a0 Joe cried uncontrollably and nothing that his father could say or do could bring a measure of comfort to the distraught boy.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s crying ended just before they arrived back at the ranch and then only because the pain had become so intense that Joe had passed out.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The night had proved to be a long one.\u00a0 Doc Martin set the bone that had broken in Joe\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 The leg, though badly bruised had not been broken, much to everyone\u2019s relief.\u00a0 On Joe\u2019s back, both the doctor and Ben had been surprised to see the faded remains of the bruise from the first accident. \u00a0Neither could explain the bruise and since Joe was under heavy medication, it was pointless to ask him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe moaned and cried out for first his father, then Hoss and then Adam.\u00a0 He wept bitter tears of sorrow and pain, he begged for forgiveness and though Ben whispered words of comfort throughout the hours, Joe\u2019s mind refused to allow his body to relax and let him get the rest that his body needed to begin the healing process.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By morning, Ben was drained, Adam wasn\u2019t faring much better, so when Hoss entered the room, neither noticed until the big man had approached the bed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa,\u201d whispered Hoss softly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s head snapped up and he quickly stood to his feet, meeting Hoss halfway across the room.\u00a0 \u201cShh\u2026he\u2019s finally resting,\u201d muttered Ben as he backed Hoss away from the bed so that they could talk without waking the sleeping boy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam watched, his eyes focused on his middle brother\u2019s face.\u00a0 He could read the quiet fear and worry that was evident in his brother\u2019s expression.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened?\u00a0 Is he all right?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss had not returned home after finishing in town the afternoon before when he had gone with his father to purchase supplies.\u00a0 He had instead gone to the lumber camp to give his older brother a much-needed break, therefore he had not known about the accident, nor what had caused his little brother to be in bed with a broken shoulder.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go into the hallway,\u201d urged Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss\u2026Hoss!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss stopped and turned back to the bed.\u00a0 Joe had awakened and had seen his brother as he was stepping from the room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m\u2026sorry\u2026Hoss\u2026I\u2026I\u2026didn\u2019t mean\u2026for it to\u2026happen\u2026please\u2026I\u2019m sorry.\u201d\u00a0 Joe\u2019s eyes had filled with tears and he wept softly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss glanced quickly at his father and then at Adam.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s he talkin\u2019 about?\u201d Hoss questioned.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go\u2026\u201d began Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo Pa, tell me now\u2026what\u2019s happened?\u201d snapped Hoss, sensing that something bad had taken place in his absence and that his father was hesitant to tell him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere was an accident, Hoss,\u201d said Adam, standing to his feet and crossing the room.\u00a0 \u201cJoe had\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m\u2026sorry\u2026I didn\u2019t\u2026mean\u2026for him\u2026to get\u2026hurt,\u201d Joe muttered from the bed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss stepped around his brother and made his way to Joe\u2019s bedside where he sat down on the side of the bed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, what have you done?\u201d Hoss demanded, fear beginning to creep into this heart.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGilley\u2026\u201d Joe\u2019s voice cracked and he began weeping.\u00a0 \u201cOh\u2026Hoss\u2026please\u2026say you\u2026forgive me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGilley?\u00a0 Dadburnit\u2026someone tell me what\u2019s goin\u2019 on!\u201d Hoss all but shouted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss calm down, it was as your brother said, an accident\u2026I admit, Joe shouldn\u2019t have taken the horse\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u00a0 What do ya mean take the horse, not MY horse?\u201d Hoss jumped to his feet and spun around, facing his father and Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTake it easy son, not in front of the boy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBoy!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss turned around, his heart pounding in his chest.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t tell me, you\u2019ve been riding my horse again, Joseph!\u201d growled Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026I\u2019m sorry Hoss\u2026please\u2026don\u2019t be mad\u2026at me!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe had to destroy the horse son, I\u2019m sorry,\u201d muttered Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss froze, his blue eyes wide with unspoken anger as they slowly filled with tears.\u00a0 He gazed down at his brother, whose own eyes were still overflowing with tears of his own.\u00a0 As if in slow motion, Hoss raised his head and glared at his family.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened?\u201d he said in a voice that belied the smoldering fire burning deep within.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not sure exactly how or why things happened like they did, but it seems that Joe took the stallion out, after all of us left yesterday.\u00a0 He met up with some friends over at the old Wilson place and had a little jumping contest.\u00a0 Somehow Joe and Gilley got themselves tangled up with the other horse and rider and all four of them went down.\u00a0 The other boy and his horse weren\u2019t hurt, unfortunately Joe suffered a broken shoulder, and Gilley\u2026well\u2026I\u2019m sorry Hoss, but his leg was broken in two places, and we had to put him down.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss stood as if he were a statue, the tears rolled freely down his cheeks and he said not a word for several moments.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss\u2026\u201d whimpered Joe, frightened by his brother\u2019s silence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss jerked his body around and before anyone knew what was happening or could stop the big man, Hoss grabbed Joe by the front of his nightshirt and all but pulled the boy from the bed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe screamed as the pain in his broken shoulder seared his body.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow could ya!\u00a0 Ya lied to me, Joe.\u00a0 Ya broke ya promise and lookit what ya dun!\u201d screamed Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLet him go Hoss, now!\u201d shouted Ben as he and Adam pried the big man\u2019s fingers loose from Joe\u2019s nightshirt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, I\u2019m sorry\u2026Hoss\u2026I\u2019m sorry,\u201d sniffled Joe repeatedly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss released his fingers and Ben helped to ease Joe back into the soft pillows.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s eyes never left his brother\u2019s face as he watched Hoss\u2019 expression of anger deepen and settle across the fine lines of his brow.\u00a0He watched, terrified as Hoss\u2019 tears made a steady stream down his rotund face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss pointed his finger at Joe, practically waving it under his nose.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll never trust ya again, Joseph.\u00a0 Never, ya hear me good, boy, from now on, just stay away from me!\u201d\u00a0 With that, Hoss spun around and stomped out of the room, never looking back at the boy who screamed his name repeatedly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben had gathered his hysterical son into the folds of his arms and tried to comfort him.\u00a0 \u201cShh\u2026please sweetheart, it will be okay\u2026just give him time\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo\u2026no\u2026oh God, Pa\u2026I didn\u2019t\u2026mean for this\u2026to happen!\u00a0 He hates\u2026me!\u201d\u00a0 Joe freed himself from the arms that held him and in spite of the pain that gnawed at his body, Joe turned his head and buried his face in the pillows and wept, until exhausted, he feel into a troubled sleep.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The days passed slowly for all of the Cartwrights.\u00a0 Hoss had made himself scarce, Adam busied himself with doing everyone\u2019s chores, Ben remained by his youngest son\u2019s bedside, and Joe had wrapped himself in his sorrow and pain.\u00a0 He was sullen and quiet, crying out often in his sleep for the brother, whom had walked out on him, the one that Joe was now convinced hated him.\u00a0 His brother\u2019s hate embedded itself in the younger boy\u2019s heart and soon Joe began to hate even himself.\u00a0 He blamed himself, though he realized that he had been totally at fault and admitted as much to his father, his pleadings that Hoss come to him, failed to materialize the middle brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss, please, just let me explain\u2026\u201d began Joe late one afternoon when he had ventured downstairs and found Hoss standing alone in front of the fireplace, carelessly poking at the dying embers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s there to explain?\u201d Hoss growled.\u00a0 \u201cJust leave me alone.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss placed the poker back on its stand and started for the door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe, his arm in a sling, worked his way around the furniture in an effort to catch up with his brother.\u00a0 \u201cPlease, Hoss\u2026I\u2019m sorry, honestly I am\u2026for everything,\u201d Joe cried, fighting to keep his tears from spilling over the rims of his eyes.\u00a0 Joe was frantic, it had been two weeks now since the accident and though he had tried numerous times, Hoss still would barely speak to him and oft as not, ignored him completely.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy can\u2019t you forgive me?\u00a0 Hoss\u2026I was wrong for taking your horse, God, don\u2019t you think I\u2019ve regretted it a million times?\u00a0 HOSS, STOP!\u00a0 PLEASE\u2026JUST TALK TO ME!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The door slammed loudly and Joe was left standing alone, his heart in his throat as he began to weep.\u00a0 Almost immediately, the door opened causing Joe to quickly raise his head, hoping that Hoss had somehow found it in his heart to return and to hear him out.\u00a0 His hopes were dashed for instead of his brother Ben stood in front of him, confused by the tears that he saw rolling from the end of his youngest son\u2019s chin.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat in the world?\u00a0 Joseph?\u201d Ben said as he placed his hands on either side of Joe\u2019s trembling shoulders.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was all that Joe needed, he fell into his father\u2019s arms, weeping and sobbing uncontrollably.\u00a0 \u201cOh Pa\u2026he hates me\u2026he hates me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben wrapped his arms around his son and held him tightly.\u00a0 \u201cNo, no, Hoss doesn\u2019t hate you son, he\u2019s only\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe pushed back from the comforting embrace and raised his tear soaked face upward to look into his father\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s only what?\u00a0 Hurting?\u00a0 Mad?\u00a0 What?\u00a0 I know you\u2019re only trying to make me feel better, but it won\u2019t work, Pa.\u00a0 Hoss hates me for what I did,\u201d sobbed Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe swiped the sleeve of his shirt across his eyes and turned from his father.\u00a0 \u201cI know what I did was wrong.\u201d\u00a0 Joe had moved to the table in front of the fireplace and sat down.\u00a0 Sadly his eyes met his father\u2019s.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI should never have taken his horse, not the first time or the last time.\u00a0 It was stupid.\u00a0 I know that now\u2026I knew it then\u2026but I\u2026\u201d Joe glanced at his father and then quickly dropped his head.\u00a0 \u201cI couldn\u2019t make myself stop\u2026I was scared\u2026\u201d Joe\u2019s chin had begun to tremble again and he couldn\u2019t go on.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben sat on the edge of the table, slightly behind his son and placed his hand on Joe\u2019s good shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cScared, of what Joe?\u00a0 I don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe turned slightly toward his father and with eyes that begged for understanding he tried to explain to his father what had prompted his behavior.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMitch dared me to ride Gilley, that\u2019s when I took him out the first time.\u00a0 It was wrong, I know\u2026\u201d Joe cut his eyes up to check his father\u2019s reaction.\u00a0 Ben was watching his son\u2019s face but said nothing, just nodded his head.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI only rode him a short distance and then I was going to start back but Mitch wanted to see me jump a fence first.\u00a0 I did\u2026and that\u2019s when I fell off.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs that how you came to have that bruise on your shoulder?\u201d asked Ben quietly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded, \u201cYes sir.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGo on, please.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, when I was getting up, I couldn\u2019t find Mitch, he had run off.\u00a0 But I did find Hoss, and boy was he mad at me, he started yelling and shouting at me.\u00a0 I thought for sure he was going to thrash me right then and there.\u201d\u00a0 Joe paused and sniffed his nose.\u00a0 \u201cI wish now he had of, maybe I wouldn\u2019t have been such a fool the second time,\u201d muttered Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnyway, I beg him not to tell you and he said he wouldn\u2019t if I would promise never to do it again, take Gilley out, I mean.\u00a0 And I did promise, I gave him my word and Pa, honest, I never intended to break my promise, honest I didn\u2019t.\u00a0 It just happened,\u201d Joe sighed, brushing away the accumulation of tears that had started to gather again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen why did you break your promise?\u201d questioned Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shook his head slightly from side to side.\u00a0 \u201cIt was stupid, just plain stupid.\u00a0 Mitch and I was eating lunch at school on the Monday after that and Mitch started bragging about what a great jumper Gilley was, you know how Mitch is,\u201d said Joe, giving his father a knowing look.\u00a0 Ben smiled and urged Joe to continue.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat darn Lucas Tatum started hounding me then, in front of all my friends, to prove to them what a good jumper the stallion was.\u00a0 I tried to put him off, but then Mitch let it slip that I had taken Gilley out against your wishes.\u00a0 Lucas started threatening to tell Hoss but then Mitch opened his mouth again and said that Hoss already knew and hadn\u2019t told on me.\u00a0 That\u2019s all it took, Lucas said either I showed them how Gilley could jump or he\u2019d tell you that Hoss and I both\u2026\u201d Joe gulped and glanced at his father\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cLied to you about how I really hurt my shoulder and about the fact that I had sneaked Gilley out while you were away.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI see,\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe positioned himself in front of his father, his head bent low.\u00a0 Ben gently cupped his son’s chin and tilted the curly head upward.\u00a0 His eyes were soft with understanding, he knew by rights he should be angry with the boy and should enforce some type of punishment.\u00a0 Ben studied the sad eyes that fought against meeting his; the boy had suffered enough over the last several days.\u00a0 No punishment that he could render to the boy could be worse than what his son had inflicted on himself.\u00a0 With his other hand, Ben brushed back the wild locks of curls that seemed to always be falling onto the boy\u2019s brow.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, you know what you did was wrong, don\u2019t you?\u201d Ben asked softly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYessir,\u201d Joe replied, finally meeting the dark probing eyes.\u00a0 He was surprised to find the depths void of the anger that he believed to be present.\u00a0 Slowly, Joe began to relax.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really sorry,\u201d Joe whispered, his eyes beginning to swell with tears once more.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know you are son, but that doesn\u2019t change the fact that you lied, not only to me, but to your brother as well and that\u2019s not to mention the fact that Hoss lied to me too.\u00a0 Joe, I wish that you had come to me, especially after the first accident.\u00a0 Sure, I would have been angry with you, I might have even seen fit to give you a good thrashing, but\u2026\u201d Ben had to pause and smile at the sudden change of expression on the boy\u2019s face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI wish you had of,\u201d muttered Joe.\u00a0 \u201cIt couldn\u2019t have hurt any worse than this.\u201d\u00a0 The tears released themselves, silently rolling over the rims of Joe\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben moved his hand from Joe\u2019s quivering chin and slipped his arm about the trembling shoulders.\u00a0 Joe laid his head against his father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa\u2026what am I going to do?\u00a0 Hoss won\u2019t give me the time of day\u2026every time I try to talk to him, he walks away.\u00a0 Doesn\u2019t he know how that makes me feel?\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He voice had begun to crack and when he looked up, he was surprised to see the brother in question, standing behind his father and himself.\u00a0 Instantly, Joe was on his feet.\u00a0 Ben turned to see what had prompted Joe\u2019s sudden movement and was as shocked to see Hoss as Joe obviously was.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss\u2019 face was beet red, and Joe could see the anger in his blue eyes.\u00a0 When the bigger boy took a step forward, Joe backed up.\u00a0 Ben stood to his feet, placing his body between his two sons.\u00a0 He too could see the wrath building in his normally soft spoken, gentle natured son.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss\u2026\u201d Ben said his son\u2019s name in more of a warning, for Ben was not sure what Hoss might do.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss ignored his father and stepped around him.\u00a0 \u201cYou think just saying that you\u2019re sorry, excuses ya for what ya did, Joseph?\u00a0 Well, ya wrong, it\u2019s only words, there\u2019s no truth to\u2019em,\u201d growled Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut I meant it, honest Hoss, I am sorry!\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAre ya?\u00a0 Or are ya just sorry cause ya got caught?\u201d Hoss shouted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe was shaking his head no.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTell me something, Little Joe, what would ya have dun, if\u2019n ya hadn\u2019t fallen and got ya self hurt?\u00a0 Would ya have owned up to what ya did?\u00a0 No, ya would\u2019ve acted like nothin\u2019 happened, that\u2019s what ya would\u2019ve dun,\u201d Hoss roared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe was still shaking his head.\u00a0 Ben had stepped back, allowing his sons time to vent their anger at one another, but kept a watchful eye, just in case one might try taking a swing at the other.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, please Hoss, honest, I didn\u2019t mean for Gilley to get hurt, honest\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss took another advancing step, causing Joe to back up into the blue chair and fall into the cushion.\u00a0 Hoss towered over his brother, placing a hand on each side of the arms of the chair and giving Joe no means by which to escape.\u00a0 Joe pushed his head back against the headrest; Hoss\u2019 face was inches from his brother\u2019s.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYa still don\u2019t get it, do ya boy?\u00a0 It ain\u2019t about the horse.\u00a0 I could buy ten Arabian stallions, all seventeen hands high, if\u2019n I\u2019ve amind too.\u00a0 But it ain\u2019t about the stallion, Joe, it\u2019s about us, you and me.\u00a0 Ya lied to me Joe, ya out and out told me a lie, and then ya used me, to cover ya own hide.\u00a0 Ya promised me, short shanks, ya promised on ya mama\u2019s grave that ya would not do it again, and then ya turned right around and betrayed me!\u00a0 I trusted ya, Joe, plain and simple and ya used that trust to get what ya wanted in the first place.\u00a0 How do ya think that makes ME feel?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss had begun to shout and Ben could see Joe scrunching up his face as Hoss spat his words into his brother\u2019s face.\u00a0 He started toward Hoss, but Hoss swung an arm out to halt his father\u2019s approach.\u00a0 Hoss turned his head and looked up at Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLet me have my say, Pa.\u00a0 He wanted to know why I can\u2019t forgive\u2019em, I\u2019m gonna tell\u2019em,\u201d snapped Hoss and then directed his attention back to his brother who still cowered in the chair.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYa hurt me Joe, like no one ever hurt me before.\u00a0 Right here, in my heart, ya done broke my heart, Joe!\u00a0 Saying I\u2019m sorry don\u2019t cut it, not anymore, not with me it don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe had fought against the tears for as long as he could.\u00a0 His heart was shattered, he could not believe what he was hearing, his brother, his best friend, his confidant, was refusing to forgive him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss\u2026please, tell me what I can do?\u00a0 I\u2026I\u2019m sorry\u2026I wasn\u2019t thinking\u2026I didn\u2019t mean to break my\u2026promise\u2026it\u2026it\u2026just happened cause\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCAUSE?\u201d ranted Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cYa always got a CAUSE, don\u2019t ya kid?\u00a0 Well, not this time!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss pushed himself upright and glared at Joe.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t bother tryin\u2019 to explain, ya ain\u2019t got nothin\u2019 I wanna hear.\u00a0 Just stay away from me, Joe.\u00a0 I\u2019ve washed my hands of ya.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss spun around on his heels and marched out the door.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s chin dropped to his chest, he was beyond crying and he had resigned himself to his fate.\u00a0 Hoss hated him, he had said as much when he had told Joe that he had washed his hands of his kid brother.\u00a0 Ben moved closer to Joe and sat on the edge of the table while gently raising Joe\u2019s chin with his hand.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben was startled at the hollow, empty look in the eyes of his youngest son.\u00a0 Joe met his father\u2019s gaze.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI told ya he hated me, now maybe you\u2019ll believe me,\u201d whispered Joe, his tone void of any emotion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben looked up from his desk where he had been working on the ledgers, surprised to see his youngest son standing on the landing, mid way of the staircase.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, I thought you were asleep. Come on down and join me,\u201d smiled Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It had been nearly another week since the incident between his two younger sons and Ben had grown more worried with each passing day.\u00a0 He had tried talking to Hoss, but Hoss had turned a deaf ear to his pleadings and seemed bound and determined that he would not allow himself to forgive his younger brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben had watched as the perplexing emotions ran their course over Hoss\u2019 face.\u00a0 Ben had seen the longing in the blue eyes that told his father that Hoss was aching to have peace of mind and silently Ben prayed that somehow his sons would find their way back to each other.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCouldn\u2019t you sleep?\u201d Ben asked, motioning for Joe to have a seat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shook his head no and lowered himself into the chair in front of the desk. \u00a0He could barely bring himself to meet his father\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSomething on your mind, son?\u201d questioned Ben.\u00a0 He saw Joe gulp and nod his head slightly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou know how you and Adam are\u2026always telling me that\u2026I should stay in school\u2026get a good education?\u201d\u00a0 Joe glanced sideways at his father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben studied his son closely, wondering where this conversation was headed.\u00a0 It was no secret that Joe hated school and had begged for the last year to be allowed to drop out.\u00a0 Ben had finally conceded and promised Joe that if he finished this year with high marks, he would allow his son to drop out and begin working full time on the ranch with his brothers and himself.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, I vaguely remember Adam and I both telling you that, why?\u201d\u00a0 Suddenly Ben felt his heart jump into his throat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, I was thinking\u2026that maybe you and Adam were right\u2026and that I\u2026should\u2026stay in school I mean.\u00a0 So I was wondering\u2026perhaps I might do like Adam\u2026and go away\u2026to college.\u00a0 I could study engineering or may architecture, like Adam\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben stood to his feet and moved around his desk so that he stood in front of his son.\u00a0 Ben knelt down, but it was still hard to see his son\u2019s face, for Joe had lowered his head.\u00a0 Gently, Ben cupped the quivering chin and raised Joe\u2019s head so that he might see into his son\u2019s face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph\u2026I never thought you would be the one to want to go away\u2026especially to school.\u00a0 If I believed for one minute that you were serious, I would be thrilled with the idea of you wanting to further your education, but son\u2026are you positive that this is what you want to do\u2026or are you running away?\u201d Ben questioned in a soft voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Instantly, Joe\u2019s eyes filled with water.\u00a0 \u201cPlease\u2026Pa\u2026let me go\u2026I wanna do this\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u201d Ben muttered, \u201cyou can\u2019t mean that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa\u2026I can\u2019t stand it here\u2026not like this\u2026\u201d Joe began to weep; his voice shattered and became broken.\u00a0 \u201cOh Pa\u2026I wish I\u2019d broken my neck in that fall, at least that way, I could have died quickly.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t have to die so slowly\u2026and painfully\u2026cause that\u2019s what\u2019s happening to me\u2026this is killing me\u2026I can\u2019t stand it anymore\u2026please Pa\u2026I gotta go\u2026I can\u2019t face\u2026him another day\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben, with growing fear in his heart for his youngest son, gathered the boy into his arms.\u00a0 Joe wrapped his around his father and buried his face into the fold of Ben\u2019s neck.\u00a0 Neither was aware of the big man standing at the top of the stairs with tears rolling gently down his face.\u00a0 Hoss turned and retraced his steps to his room, his little brother\u2019s words still ringing in his ears and searing into his heart, as he closed the door softly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The next morning, Ben sat alone at the table.\u00a0 Adam had remained at the longing camp and Hoss had eaten an early breakfast and disappeared to the barn.\u00a0 Joe slipped quietly into his seat, glanced swiftly at his father and began to serve himself.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMorning Pa,\u201d he half muttered when he saw Ben watching him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood morning, son,\u201d smiled Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe poked at his food with his fork and scooted it around his plate.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t really hungry and just the thoughts of having to eat made him nauseous.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa, can I be excused?\u00a0 I have chores to do,\u201d asked Joe, placing his fork on the plate in front of him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve hardly eaten a bite\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t hungry\u2026please\u2026can I be excused?\u201d Joe asked again in a soft voice, not looking up to see the worried look in his father\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAll right, son.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe scooted back his chair and stood up.\u00a0 \u201cPa\u2026\u201d he began meekly.\u00a0 \u201cAbout last night\u2026what I said about wishing I was dead\u2026well\u2026I don\u2019t want ya to worry about me\u2026I mean\u2026I wouldn\u2019t do\u2026\u201d Joe stopped, glancing at his father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben forced his lips into a smile.\u00a0 \u201cI know you wouldn\u2019t son,\u201d he said in a low voice.\u00a0 God, he prayed, he hoped his young son would not even consider doing something so foolish.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI just wanted ya to know, that\u2019s all\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe rushed from the house.\u00a0 He wondered what his father would think of him if he had known that his son, had, before last night, had those very ideas in his head.\u00a0 His father had no inkling of how very much his heart ached with the sorrow of knowing how badly he had hurt his middle brother and how that middle brother\u2019s hatred of him, had destroyed his world.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe brushed the sleeve of his shirt across the front of his face and ran to the barn, totally unaware of the barn\u2019s occupant.\u00a0 He shoved back the door and slipped inside the dimly lit enclosure.\u00a0 Cochise nickered lightly at his master and Joe stopped to scratch the velvety tip of the pinto\u2019s nose.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHey old friend,\u201d whispered Joe softly, unaware of the troubled blue eyes that watched him from the dark corner of the barn.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re just about the last friend I have left in the whole world,\u201d he muttered.\u00a0 \u201cDid ya that ole Hoss hates me, hmm\u2026did ya know that?\u00a0 Well, it\u2019s true, he does.\u00a0 I can\u2019t say that I blame him, hell, he can\u2019t hate me any more than I hate myself and ya wanna know why?\u00a0 Cause I was stupid, that\u2019s why Cooch, just plain stupid.\u00a0 I let myself get suckered into something I didn\u2019t know how to get myself out of\u2026and all on account of a stupid dare.\u00a0 Wanna know something else?\u00a0 I didn\u2019t even win the dare, I lost\u2026I lost a lot too,\u201d Joe began to sniffle.\u00a0 \u201cI lost my brother Cooch, I lost Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe leaned his head against his horse\u2019s head and fighting to control his emotions, whispered, \u201cit hurts Cooch\u2026you\u2019ll never know how much that dare cost me\u2026it\u2019s almost worse than when my mama died.\u201d\u00a0 Joe lost the battle with his emotions and began to cry softly.\u00a0 \u201cGod, Cooch, I wish I could just go away somewhere, some place where they couldn\u2019t find me, and just die\u2026I wanna die Cooch, but\u2026I\u2019m afraid of what it might do to\u2026Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss dabbed at his own tears.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t really known, until the night before, just how much he had hurt his brother.\u00a0 The knowledge that the boy wished he were dead had haunted his dreams.\u00a0\u00a0 Last night he had spent the entire night tossing and turning, unable to will away the terrifying scenes that his mind conjured up of his brother lying dead in some remote place where no one but God knew where he was.\u00a0 Hoss slipped silently from his hiding place and in behind his younger brother.\u00a0 Joe had no idea that Hoss stood behind him, had he known, he might have run.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss placed both of his massive hands down on Joe\u2019s shoulders and forced the boy to turn and face him.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s eyes widened in shock at seeing Hoss.\u00a0 He tried to wrench his body free from Hoss\u2019 grip, but Hoss held firmly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cStop it Joe,\u201d Hoss ordered, his voice thick with emotion.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t fight against me.\u00a0 It\u2019s over Short Shanks.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe stopped struggling and immediately felt Hoss\u2019 fingers ease their hold, but he made no move to pull away from his older brother.\u00a0 He was watching Hoss\u2019 face and the tears that had filled the depths of his brother\u2019s blue eyes.\u00a0 Hoss was crying, Joe had never really witnessed his brother crying before and the sight held him spellbound.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry Joe\u2026I never meant to make ya wish ya was dead, never,\u201d whispered Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cI was hurt\u2026real hurt by what ya dun, and I reckon I wanted ya to hurt like I was adoin\u2019, but I swear, I didn\u2019t mean for it to go this far.\u00a0 And then last night, I heard ya tellin\u2019 Pa that ya wanted to go away, cause of me\u2026well, it hit me right then, what I\u2019d dun to ya.\u00a0 I was wrong short shanks, I don\u2019t ya to go away, and I sure don\u2019t want ya wishin\u2019 ya could die, can ya ever forgive me?\u201d pleaded Hoss at last looking down into Joe\u2019s face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s throat had grown thick with emotion as well and he found it impossible to speak.\u00a0 He nodded his head and when Hoss pulled him into a bear hug, Joe automatically wrapped his arms around his brother\u2019s thick middle and began to cry.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry too, Hoss\u2026I\u2019m sorry,\u201d he wept.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, it was all my fault, Joe, I should have never brung that stallion home,\u201d Hoss declared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, it was my fault, Hoss, really.\u00a0 I should have known better than to take the horse anyway, Pa already warned me to stay off him,\u201d countered Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss raised Joe\u2019s chin and then shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cNo, Short Shanks, it was my fault, I should\u2019ve told Pa the truth to start with\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI shouldn\u2019t have asked you to lie for me in the first place, it was my fault\u2026\u201dstammered Joe<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNone of it would have happened if Mr. Gillmore hadn\u2019t of sold me that horse.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss\u2026\u201d Joe suddenly smiled, his eyes began to twinkle and he looked up into his brother\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cThen it was Mr. Gillmore\u2019s fault!\u201d he said wiping the tears dry that had lingered on his face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss started laughing loudly and gently slapping Joe on the back.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re right, Short Shanks, it wasn\u2019t your fault, or mine, it was Arty Gillmore\u2019s fault!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss and Joe both began laughing so hard that the tears of regret were quickly replaced with tears of joy.\u00a0 Neither brother realized that they now had an audience.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow that the two of you have stopped arguing about whose fault this entire mess was, do you think that you could possibly find time to get some work done around here?\u00a0 This is a working ranch, or have the two of you forgotten that?\u201d smiled Ben from the doorway where he had been watching the debate between his middle and youngest son.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSorry Pa,\u201d the brothers said in unison and then began laughing again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, what\u2019s the use, I can see right now, I\u2019ll not get a nickel\u2019s worth of work between the two of you.\u00a0 Why don\u2019t you boys take the day off and just go fishing?\u201d\u00a0 Ben tossed his arms up in mock frustration and walked out of the barn.\u00a0 The look of complete relief that he wore on his face would never be seen by the pair of happy brothers who were already tearing apart the barn in search of their fishing poles.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben cast one last glance over his shoulder toward the barn, as he reached the front door and sighed happily.\u00a0 Hoss and Joe were just coming from the barn, the looks of misery that had been on their young faces for far too many days, was gone now.\u00a0 In misery\u2019s place were joy and happiness and the gift of brotherly love.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThank you Lord, for letting my sons find their back to each other, and for restoring harmony to our lives,\u201d whispered Ben as he shut the door to his home.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n March 2003<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nTHE END<\/h3>\n