Summary:<\/b> \u00a0When an old friend of Ben’s visits the Ponderosa, Ben has no idea that the world renowned wild game hunter is there to hunt the most elusive animal of all…man.\u00a0 He has three young men to pick from…what makes him choose the youngest? \u00a0Rated<\/p>\n
PG13 \u00a0WC 13,500<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Hunted<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n His son\u2019s body was as limber as an old rag doll,<\/strong> and Ben had given up hours ago trying to keep the boy awake.\u00a0 Now, as he lowered Joe\u2019s battered body into the chair, he couldn\u2019t help but smile, his son was home and safe at last and he felt as if he could afford himself the luxury of the smile.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s head slumped backwards, his arms dropped lifelessly down to his sides as Ben began to remove the crusted shirt, being careful of the many tiny scrapes and scratches from where the briars had snagged his flesh.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe,\u201d Ben muttered softly, \u201cstay awake son, and help me get these nasty clothes off.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe muttered something that Ben could not understand.\u00a0 As Ben pulled at the shirt, Joe automatically raised one arm and his father quickly pulled the sleeve free and moved to work on the second arm.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, raise your arm son,\u201d Ben instructed while he tugged at the second sleeve.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNeed some help, Pa?\u201d asked Adam who had slipped silently into the family\u2019s washroom with clean towels in his hand.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d appreciate it, he\u2019s out like a light,\u201d Ben said, giving his oldest son a small smile.\u00a0 Ben moved to Joe\u2019s feet where he pulled first one boot and then the other from his son\u2019s feet.\u00a0 To say that he was shocked, by the condition of his son\u2019s feet, was to say the least, he was flabbergasted and it showed on his face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI can see why, what with all he\u2019s been through,\u201d said Adam taking his brother under the arms and pulling Joe into a standing position.\u00a0 \u201cGet his pants off while I hold him up.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben worked his arms between Adam and Joe and quickly unfastened Joe\u2019s belt, then his pants and hurried to pull the soiled trousers down to Joe\u2019s ankles.\u00a0 \u201cStep out of your pants, Joe.\u00a0 Joseph, please, raise up your feet.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHum\u2026okay Pa,\u201d muttered Joe who had rested his head on Adam\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 Adam smothered a soft laugh.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThis is as bad as when he was a boy.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAin\u2019t no boy,\u201d sputtered Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHelp me get him into the tub,\u201d Ben asked as he slipped an arm around Joe to take the boy\u2019s weight partially from Adam\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam helped his father lead Joe the short distance to the tub, which Hop Sing had filled, with steamy hot water.\u00a0 \u201cJoe step into the tub, son,\u201d Ben encouraged.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHum?\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis isn\u2019t working, Pa.\u00a0 Let me do it.\u201d\u00a0 Adam swiftly slipped his arms under Joe\u2019s body and easily picked him up and carefully lowered his brother into the tub.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, better wake up buddy, unless you want Pa and I to do the scrubbing,\u201d smiled Adam, sure that his statement would jar his brother to life.\u00a0 Adam glanced at his father, smiling, \u201cGuess it\u2019s up to us, if we leave him, he\u2019s liable to drown.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam, really, the boy can\u2019t help it\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAin\u2019t no boy!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben got down on his knees beside the tub and began lathering the sponge.\u00a0 Adam moved to the opposite side and picked up the water pitcher.\u00a0 \u201cHey, Joe, I\u2019m going to pour water over your head, so I can wash your hair.\u00a0 Did you hear, little buddy?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah\u2026gotta wash hair\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam filled the container and carefully dumped the water on top of the dark curls.\u00a0 Joe suddenly opened his eyes and began sputtering, spewing water from his mouth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHey, what\u2019s the big idea?\u201d he groaned, but then just as quickly, rested back against the metal tub, his eyes closing once more.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam hurried to soap the dripping locks and in a matter of just a moment, rinsed away the soap.\u00a0 \u201cThis really is as bad as when Joe was a little boy,\u201d whispered Adam, catching his father\u2019s eye as Ben cleaned away the dirt that had covered Joe\u2019s left arm.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t no boy!\u201d\u00a0 Joe opened one eye, briefly and turned to his father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben was surprised to see his son\u2019s chin begin to quiver.\u00a0 \u201cJoe, what\u2019s wrong, son?\u201d Ben asked with compassion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t no boy, am I, Pa.\u00a0 I\u2019m a man, just like the rest of you, ain\u2019t I?\u201d he said softly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s dark eyes found Adam\u2019s over the top of the tub, but quickly returned to the hazel eyes that had suddenly filled with tears.\u00a0 Ben gently brushed his son\u2019s cheek, the large dark bruise a gruesome reminder of what the boy had been made to endure.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo sweetheart, you aren\u2019t a boy, but a man, full grown, just like your brothers.\u201d\u00a0 Ben smiled again as Joe closed his eyes and allowed his weary body to sink back down into the water.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen tell him to stop calling me a boy,\u201d he muttered. \u201cHe knows how I hate that word.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry Joe, really,\u201d Adam said sincerely.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben finished quickly with giving Joe his bath, knowing how exhausted the boy was, his father was anxious to get him in bed.\u00a0 \u201cHelp me stand him up Adam so I can get him dried off.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCome on little buddy, on your feet.\u00a0 Joe, come on, help us out a little,\u201d groaned Adam trying to pull the sleeping boy to his feet.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNeed some help?\u201d asked Hoss, who had returned from town and who now stood in the doorway with Joe\u2019s nightshirt. Seeing the struggle that Adam was having as he tried to lift their younger brother from the tub, he couldn\u2019t help but to laugh loudly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt would be nice, to be so skinny, he feels like he weighs a ton,\u201d snapped Adam.\u00a0 \u201cLook at this shirt, I\u2019m wetter than the boy\u2026ere\u2026Joe is,\u201d Adam quickly corrected.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLet me help ya out some.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss handed the nightshirt to his father, rolled up his shirtsleeves and plunged his long arms into the water, taking Joe under his arms and lifting his brother from the water.\u00a0 \u201cHurry up, dry him off.\u00a0 Golly geeze, what\u2019da he have for supper?\u00a0 I think ya right, Adam, he is heavy.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s because he\u2019s dead weight,\u201d laughed Ben hurrying to towel-dry Joe and then slipped his nightshirt over his head.\u00a0 \u201cLet me get his hair dry first Hoss, can you hold him a mite longer?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure \u2018nough, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss started to laugh. \u201cDoes the kid know what the two of you just put him through?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAin\u2019t no kid!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss scrunched up his face and looked at his father and older brother.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s with him?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNever mind son, just carry your brother upstairs for me, will you?\u201d smiled Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss slipped his arms under Joe and lifted him into his arms.\u00a0 Ben led the way upstairs and hurried to turn back the covers so that Hoss could place his brother into the bed.\u00a0 Joe never knew when Adam and Hoss slipped from the room or when Ben turned the lamp down low, or closed the door silently.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPA!\u00a0 HELP ME!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The plea for help shattered the golden silence of the early morning hours and jarred Ben from his sleep.\u00a0 As he was hurrying to slip into his robe, the second heart-wrenching cry pierced the darkness.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHELP!\u00a0 NO! NO! OH PLEASE NOT AGAIN!\u00a0 I GOTTA RUN\u2026GOTTA KEEP MOVIN\u2019!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben, stumbling through the dark, made his way into his youngest son\u2019s room, just in time to see Joe struggling to free himself from the tangle of blankets that were wrapped about his body.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEasy son, Pa\u2019s here now,\u201d Ben said in a soothing voice as he placed his gentle hands on his son\u2019s shoulders in an effort to ease the boy back into the bed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo\u2026no\u2026gotta get up\u2026help me\u2026Pa\u2026please\u2026I\u2019m scared,\u201d sobbed Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben sat on the side of the bed and with hands still clinging to his son\u2019s shoulders, pulled the weeping boy into his arms.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShh\u2026Joseph, you\u2019re safe now son.\u00a0 You\u2019re home, in your own bed, there\u2019s nothing to be frightened of now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s hand cupped his son\u2019s head against his heart.\u00a0 His fingers tenderly caressed Joe\u2019s cheek where, even in the dim light, the large bruise that marred his son\u2019s face, could still be seen.\u00a0 Ben clenched his teeth, fighting his anger at what his youngest son had been forced to suffer.\u00a0 Ben shut his eyes, recalling the events that had brought him to this point.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI must say Ben, you have a beautiful place here.\u00a0 All this land, this home, and your sons.\u00a0 You certainly have done well for yourself,\u201d smiled Graham Forrester, Ben\u2019s long time friend from years earlier.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded his head in appreciation, \u201cThank you Graham.\u00a0 My sons and I have worked hard to make the Ponderosa what it is today.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t have done it without their help.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, as I said, you have accomplished quite a lot since we last met.\u00a0 Now, tell me Ben, when am I going to get the chance to meet that youngest son I have heard so much about?\u00a0 Is it true, is he as wild and free spirited as Adam and Hoss here have been leading me to believe?\u201d laughed Ben\u2019s friend.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019m not sure what all they have told you about Joseph, but wild\u2026only to a certain degree.\u00a0 As for free spirited, yes, I would have to agree with that.\u00a0 Joseph has a zest for life and adventure like no other young person that I have yet to meet.\u00a0 He is young and strong, braver than I think he should be cause he tends to forget the real dangers in life at times, and,\u201d Ben began to laugh softly, \u201cthat is why my hair is the color it is.\u00a0 Joseph often worries me when he casts caution to the wind.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo, he is fearless is he?\u201d questioned Graham.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Neither Ben nor his sons noted the sudden gleam that entered into their guest\u2019s dark eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe has certain fears, things that stem from his childhood, things that as he matures, will cease to be.\u00a0 But there isn\u2019t much in everyday life that Joseph fears.\u00a0 Like I said, he often times throws caution to the wind and never stops to think before he acts. \u00a0He is rather impetuous and at seventeen, usually ends up finding out the hard way that he should have thought first and acted later,\u201d laughed Ben, mentally recalling several times that Joe had done just has he had said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSounds like a very interesting young man.\u00a0 I am most anxious to meet him,\u201d Graham stated.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The front door banged opened just as Graham completed his sentence and all heads turned to see who had caused the ruckus.\u00a0 Ben grinned from ear to ear at seeing his youngest son standing in the doorway.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGraham, I think you may get your wish,\u201d laughed Ben as he rose to his feet and moved to welcome home his son.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, it\u2019s about time you got back.\u00a0 We have company son, come on over and meet my old friend,\u201d smiled Ben, placing his arm around Joe\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSorry I\u2019m late Pa, but we had a little trouble finding the last of those strays,\u201d explained Joe as he allowed his father to gently guide him over to the settee.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Graham stood to his feet, smiling in a friendly manner.\u00a0 His eyes racked over the young man standing before him, taking in every physical feature of Joe\u2019s work hardened body.\u00a0 \u2018Yes,\u2019 smiled Graham to himself, \u2018he will be perfect\u2019.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, I would like for you to meet, Graham Forrester, an old friend of mine.\u201d\u00a0 Ben\u2019s arm was still resting on Joe\u2019s shoulders as he made his introductions.\u00a0 \u201cGraham, this is my youngest son, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe extended his hand to Ben\u2019s guest.\u00a0 \u201cMr. Forrester, it\u2019s nice to meet you, sir.\u00a0 My father has told us a lot about you,\u201d greeted Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Graham took the outstretched hand into his own and shook it vigorously.\u00a0 He could feel the strength in the fingers and again he smiled.\u00a0 \u2018Strong, hmm\u2026good\u2019, his thoughts registered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s my pleasure young man.\u00a0 Your family was just telling me all about you,\u201d beamed the older man.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe cast wary eyes about the room, taking in the facial expressions of his family.\u00a0 Hoss snickered softly and Adam dropped his head.\u00a0 When Joe glanced at his father, he could see the light shining in the dark chocolate eyes and he smiled at Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI hope it was all good,\u201d laughed Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, it was.\u00a0 Your family is very proud of you, son.\u00a0 They spoke very highly of you,\u201d offered Graham, at last releasing his grip on Joe\u2019s hand and sitting back down.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s nice to know,\u201d laughed Joe, smiling.\u00a0 \u201cIf you will excuse me, I think I need to clean up some before supper.\u201d\u00a0 Joe excused himself and hurried toward the stairs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As he reached the top, he stopped and glanced back at the scene in the great room.\u00a0 His father and brothers were deep into conversation with their company.\u00a0 Graham was talking non-stop and his family seemed to be mesmerized by whatever it was that the man was telling them.\u00a0 Suddenly, Joe felt his body begin to tremble, something about the way that the man had looked at him had caused the fine hairs on the back of his neck to stand up.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Graham caught the movement at the top of the stairs and looking up at Joe, gave the boy a tiny smile and a nod of his head.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s body shuddered again and he turned, hurrying on to his room.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t like his father\u2019s friend, the man made him feel uncomfortable with the way that Graham had smiled at him and looked at him with those dark, probing eyes of his.\u00a0 The man bore watching, of that, Joe was sure.\u00a0 Carelessly, he wiped the palm of his hand down the leg of his pants, removing the other man\u2019s sweat from his own hand that had collected there when they had shook hands.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe was relatively silent during supper.\u00a0 He listened to the stories that Graham Forrester shared with them, all of his big game hunting adventures and of his travels to all parts of the world.\u00a0 They intrigued him, they were fascinating to listen to, but still, Joe was wary of the man.\u00a0 There was just something about the man\u2019s persona that Joe did not like.\u00a0 Graham would cast his dark glowing eyes in his direction more often than Joe thought necessary and when he did, Joe felt as if his skin was crawling.\u00a0 Joe simply did not like the man.\u00a0 The stories, however, Joe did enjoy and had it been any other person but this man telling them, Joe would have sat for hours listening to the adventures that the man was now sharing with them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSounds as if you have led a very intriguing life, Mr. Graham,\u201d commented Adam, who had been hanging on every word that his father\u2019s friend had said.\u00a0 \u201cYou are most fortunate to have been able to travel the world so much.\u00a0 I would like to be able to do that myself, someday,\u201d he added, glancing over at his father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt has been a most adventurous life, I admit to that.\u00a0 But it would also be most welcoming to have a place to call home, such as this marvelous Ponderosa that your father is so proud of,\u201d Graham said and then glanced at Joe, who was busy toying with the food in his plate.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat about you, Joseph?\u201d said Graham, catching the youngest Cartwright by surprise.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe raised his head, glancing at the man sitting across from him and then casting his eyes around the table at the others before returning his attention to their guest.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d he asked softly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2026what do you want to do with your life, travel, like your brother or stay rooted to this beautiful country?\u201d Graham asked, watching the boy intently, a smidgen of a smile playing across his sun bronzed face.\u00a0The boy didn\u2019t like him, Graham sensed.\u00a0 But that was good, he reasoned, it would make the boy more cautious.\u00a0 Graham smothered a laugh; the boy would be the perfect sacrifice.\u00a0 And that\u2019s what he would do,sacrifice himself for his family, Graham sensed the nobility in the boy.\u00a0 The boy had begun speaking and Graham turned his attentions back to the conversation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve traveled some, though not very far.\u00a0 San Francisco is about as far from home as I\u2019ve been.\u00a0 I like it here, on the Ponderosa.\u00a0 I know just about every nook and cranny there is around here and to be perfectly honest with you, Mr. Forrester, I\u2019d just as soon spend the rest of life here.\u00a0 I want to be buried up at the lake, where my mother is buried,\u201d Joe laughed lightly, \u201csomeday, not anytime soon, you understand.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The small gathering of men joined in the boy\u2019s laughter.\u00a0 \u201cNaturally, I understand,\u201d returned Graham, studying the boy intensely.\u00a0 \u2018But sooner than you realize,\u2019 his thoughts whispered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe rose from his chair and nodded at the men, \u201cif you will excuse me, I have chores to do.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes sought his son\u2019s face, puzzled by the expression he saw in the boy\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 Silently he followed his son\u2019s gaze and was surprised to see that Joe and Graham were exchanging strange looks.\u00a0 Something was silently being transmitted from one to the other and Ben was confused by the look of fear that showed on his son\u2019s face.\u00a0 No one else around the table had picked up on Joe\u2019s unease, but Ben knew his son well and was more than accustomed to reading Joe\u2019s expressions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, is something wrong, son?\u201d Ben surprised even himself for speaking aloud, his own unsettled thoughts.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes shot around to his father\u2019s face, realizing that he had failed to mask his expression from his father\u2019s ever-observant eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d he fibbed. \u00a0\u201cI just left some things unfinished in the barn and thought that I would do them before turning in,\u201d he explained, making sure that his expression had turned to one that his father could not read so easily.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAll right son, you go ahead.\u00a0 We\u2019ll visit with you later,\u201d agreed Ben, relaxing some when he saw that Joe\u2019s mood had lightened somewhat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMr. Graham,\u201d Joe said in a near whisper as he nodded his head at their houseguest and rounded the table out of sight.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSuch a nice boy, Ben, you should be very proud of him,\u201d commented Graham, his eyes following Joe until the boy had stepped from his view.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThank you Graham, I am proud of him, we all are.\u00a0 In fact, I am proud of all of my sons.\u201d\u00a0 Ben smiled at Adam and Hoss who still remained with him at the table.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t we retire to the living room and enjoy a brandy?\u201d asked Adam, rising to his feet.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a good idea,\u201d added Ben as he too rose and pushed back his chair.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss stood to his feet and gave Graham and his father a smile.\u00a0 \u201cI think I\u2019ll give Little Joe a hand in the barn.\u00a0 I thought for sure he finished his chores earlier,\u201d he mumbled in a questioning tone of voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben led his guest to the great room where Adam was already pouring them a brandy.\u00a0 Hoss slipped silently out the door and quickly made his way to the barn where he found Joe grooming his horse.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHey Short Shanks,\u201d called Hoss as soon as he pulled the barn door shut.\u00a0 \u201cYa already dun that, why ya doin\u2019 it again?\u201d he questioned as he rested against the side of the stall and watched Joe running the currycomb over Cochise.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe glanced over his shoulder at Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss scratched his head.\u00a0 \u201cYa don\u2019t know?\u00a0 Come on now, punkin, ya can do better\u2019n that.\u00a0 What\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe stopped the combing action and turned to face Hoss.\u00a0 For a moment he seemed lost in thought; finally he looked into his brother\u2019s blue eyes.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t like Pa\u2019s friend.\u00a0 He gives me the creeps.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAw\u2026Joe, there ain\u2019t nothin\u2019 wrong with Mr. Forrester.\u00a0 Besides, Pa\u2019s known him for years and Pa seems to like him.\u00a0 Hey, he has some wonderful stories, all those big huntin\u2019 trips to Asia and Africa and them other faraway places.\u00a0 What\u2019s not to like about him?\u201d Hoss wanted to know.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe turned his back to Hoss and resumed grooming his horse.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t say for sure Hoss.\u00a0 I guess I just don\u2019t like the way he looks at me, it makes me nervous.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss tossed his head back and laughed loudly.\u00a0 \u201cCome on Short Shanks, ya gotta have a better reason than that, that ain\u2019t no excuse for bein\u2019 rude to the man.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s body jerked back around and he glared at his brother.\u00a0 \u201cI wasn\u2019t rude to him!\u00a0 And I can\u2019t help it if I don\u2019t like him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Joe, calm down.\u00a0 But the way ya all but ran out of the house, ya\u2019d athought ya was one of those wild animals he was ahuntin\u2019 or sumthin\u2019,\u201d laughed Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s his eyes, the way they dart around at everyone, then it seems like they always find their way back to me.\u00a0 You watch, Hoss, I\u2019m tellin\u2019 ya, the man can\u2019t be trusted.\u00a0 He\u2019s up to no good!\u201d Joe stated in a solemn tone of voice.\u00a0 \u201cHe just gives me the creeps.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe tossed the currycomb down on the wooden shelf and stomped from the barn, leaving Hoss to ponder his words.\u00a0 When he reached the front door, he changed his mind about going in and turned back to the kitchen door and entered the house that way.\u00a0 Quietly he made his way up the back stairs and down the hall to his room.\u00a0 As his hand touched the knob so that he could push open the door, a hand gripped his shoulder, halting his steps.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The powerful fingers dug deeply into his flesh, taking Joe by surprise.\u00a0 He spun around, his eyes wide, as he stared into the gray eyes of his father\u2019s friend.\u00a0 \u201cI thought you were going to visit with me some more, Joseph,\u201d Graham stated almost menacingly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe was startled by the strength in the man\u2019s fingers and hand and the fact that the man had slipped up on him, unnerved him even more.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026I thought you were still downstairs\u2026talking with my father and brother,\u201d stammered Joe, more than slightly irritated at himself for getting caught unaware by the man\u2019s presence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t like me much, do you\u2026boy?\u201d Graham asked unexpectedly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe was sure that the shock registered on his face, for Graham started laughing.\u00a0 \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter\u2026boy\u2026I\u2019m not overly fond of you either.\u00a0 You see I don\u2019t like over confident people.\u00a0 And I knew the minute that your father started telling me all about you, that you were one of those\u2026shall we say\u2026self-imposed young men who think they are everything to everybody.\u00a0 It sickens me, the ways that your father holds you in such high esteem, you are nothing more than a wild, unruly, disrespectful young bear cub. Though some of the things that Ben has said about you, interest me\u2026if you were a wild animal.\u201d\u00a0 Graham snickered softly, and hung his head for a fraction of a second and then glanced again into the hazel eyes that stared in shock at him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He could see the deep embedded fear behind the mask that the young boy had attempted to put into place.\u00a0 He could smell the same fear seeping from every pore of the boy\u2019s body and in that instant, he wondered if his plan would work.\u00a0 Perhaps the boy would not be a worthy prey for him to hunt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, do not look so frightened\u2026boy\u2026it doesn\u2019t become you.\u00a0 You are right to dislike me; perhaps you are wiser than I give you credit.\u00a0 We should talk in private about that some time.\u201d\u00a0 Graham spun around sharply on his heels and entered the room across the hall from Joe\u2019s room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe stood silently outside the doorway of his bedroom.\u00a0 He felt his body tremble and then scolded himself for allowing the man to unnerve him as he had done.\u00a0 Joe glanced down the hallway toward his father\u2019s room, but Ben had yet to come up from downstairs.\u00a0 He thought about returning to the great room to speak to his father about his company, but decided against it.\u00a0 Convincing himself that he should not bother his father with his silly fears, which is what he believed them to be, he entered his room and shut the door, never guessing what would happen between that exact moment and the early hours of the morning.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe was only vaguely aware of the noise outside of his room in the hallway.\u00a0 He was worn to a frazzle and though he tried to open his eyes, he just could not force them to do as he commanded.\u00a0 Joe was almost sure that he heard voices on more than one occasion.\u00a0 The first time his sleep was disturbed, he could have sworn that his father was talking to someone.\u00a0 Probably Adam, Joe reasoned, seeing as how his older brother often stayed up later than the rest of the family to read one of his books, but Joe could not be sure.\u00a0 He covered his head with his blankets and turned over on the opposite side in hopes of drowning out the racket.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Not sure when the second commotion awakened him, but Joe groaned loudly.\u00a0 \u2018Doesn\u2019t anyone ever sleep around here?\u2019 he muttered to himself as he pulled his pillow over his head to squelch the noise.\u00a0 It seemed to Joe as if he had just fallen back to sleep when the loud pounding on his bedroom door startled him back to life.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHold on, hold on,\u201d he grumbled as he crawled from his warm bed and staggered toward the door.\u00a0 He had forgotten that he had locked the door after his encounter with Graham Forrester the night before.\u00a0Something in the back of his head warned him to do it, though Joe rarely used the lock anymore.\u00a0 His father had not liked for his sons to lock their doors at night, just in case of an emergency he had told them.\u00a0\u2018What if something bad were to happen and I needed to get to you, I wouldn\u2019t be able to with the door locked,\u2019 Pa had hinted.\u00a0 So Joe had stopped locking his door, until last night and that was just because of the strange man across the hall.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The pounding continued, \u201cI\u2019m coming, give me a minute, will ya?\u201d shouted Joe as he forced his leg into his pants that he had grabbed from the floor where he had carelessly tossed them the night before.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe quickly ran his fingers through his thick curls and took a deep breath before unlocking the door.\u00a0 When he pulled it open, he was shocked to see Graham standing in his doorway.\u00a0 The smile that the man wore on his face, seemed to spread from cheek to cheek and when the gentleman took a step to enter Joe\u2019s room, Joe instinctively stepped back a step.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Graham allowed his eyes to roam about the room and finally came to rest on his young host\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cNice, a bit boyish for my liking, but considering it\u2019s your room, I suppose it would do,\u201d he said, his smile fading slightly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you want?\u201d barked Joe, irritated at the intrusion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh\u2026nothing really.\u00a0 Your father asked me to tell you that he would like to see you immediately, down stairs in the living room,\u201d Graham explained.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be right down,\u201d said Joe and started to close the door but stopped when Graham placed his hand on the door and halted Joe\u2019s movements.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow\u2026not in a few minutes, he said right this minute,\u201d snapped Graham, his eyes growing dark with something that Joe could not identify.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe hesitated briefly and then shrugged his shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cDo you mind if I grab my shirt, and my boots?\u201d he said in a not so friendly voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe turned his back on the man and snatched his shirt from the chair and then grabbed his boots.\u00a0 He was unaware that Graham had followed him into the room.\u00a0 When he heard the door close softly, and the lock turn, he spun around on his heels.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat the\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe never finished the sentence for Graham\u2019s massive fist plowed directly into Joe\u2019s face, causing Joe\u2019s body to stagger backwards and when he stumbled, he fell across his bed.\u00a0 Instantly he was on his feet but Graham was too fast and again Joe\u2019s cheeks were pelted with backhanded slaps.\u00a0 Graham was lightening fast, using both hands one right after the other until Joe thought his neck was going to break from the force of the blows.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Graham suddenly stopped and with his opened hand pressed into Joe\u2019s chest, he pushed Joe down on the bed.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s face stung, he could feel the welts rising, his head spun and when Graham straddled his body, pinning him down on the bed, Joe\u2019s temper exploded.\u00a0 He grabbed Graham by the front of the shirt and delivered a powerful punch of his own to the older man\u2019s face.\u00a0 Graham groaned, his head snapped backward but the punch had little affect on the more muscular man.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe heard Graham laugh and then felt the pain in his jaw when Graham began punching him unmercifully.\u00a0 When Joe was nearly unconscious, the man stood to his feet, bringing Joe up with him by the hair of his head.\u00a0 Joe moaned loudly at the pain that yanking on his hair caused him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Once on his feet, Joe\u2019s knees nearly buckled under him, but Graham held the weakened boy upright.\u00a0 He glared angrily into Joe\u2019s bloody face, his eyes dark with hate.\u00a0 Graham laughed at the fear he read in the dazed eyes that refused to look at him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere just might be more to you than what I first thought.\u00a0 You are a fighter, you have a powerful fist, young man.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat the hell do you want?\u00a0 Where\u2019s my father, and my brothers?\u201d demanded Joe.\u00a0 \u201cMy father will kill you for this!\u201d he threatened<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He did wonder where his family was, it wasn\u2019t like his father not to stick his head in each morning and call for him to get up.\u00a0 Joe sighed, remembering the locked door, of course not he reasoned, he had locked the door, no wonder his father had not called for him this morning.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Graham tossed his head back and laughed loudly as he shoved Joe into a sitting position on the bed.\u00a0 \u201cYour father and brothers are\u2026tied up for the moment.\u201d\u00a0 Graham leaned down, his face nearly touching Joe\u2019s.\u00a0Joe fought the urge to back up.\u00a0 His pride refused to allow this man to see his fear, and when he felt the sting of tears to his eyes, he quickly swiped his hand across the front of his face in an effort to keep them from spilling over.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow you listen well\u2026boy\u2026I will explain a few things to you.\u00a0 Your family is downstairs, waiting for you.\u00a0 As I said, they are tied up\u2026literally.\u00a0 And I will kill them, one at a time, should you fail to obey me.\u00a0 Do I make myself clear…boy?\u201d growled the despicable man as he straightened up and watched the boy\u2019s expressions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI understand, but what have you done with them?\u00a0 If you\u2019ve hurt them, I\u2019ll\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll what?\u00a0 You\u2019ll do nothing but what I tell you to do.\u00a0 Put your boots on and get going,\u201d ordered Graham, stepping back to give Joe time to slip his bare feet into his boots.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe hesitated only briefly, but it was long enough to anger the man in front of him.\u00a0 Graham lashed out, striking Joe on the side of the face with the back of his hand.\u00a0 Joe nearly fell backward but caught himself, not wanting the man to climb onto the bed with him a second time.\u00a0 Quickly his hand moved to his face.\u00a0 The heat that penetrated from where he had been struck warmed the palm of his hand.\u00a0 He glanced sideways at his tormentor and then hurried to slip his boots on before the man had a chance to strike him again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When he had finished, Graham grabbed Joe by the arm and hauled him to his feet.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s go, and remember, if you try anything\u2026anything at all, your old man dies.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded his head in agreement and allowed himself to be led to the door.\u00a0 Graham unlocked the bedroom door with one hand, while maintaining a tight hold on the boy\u2019s upper arm.\u00a0 Once in the hall, Joe felt himself being dragged along with Graham.\u00a0 When they reached the steps, Graham released his hold and shoved Joe forward, causing the boy to stumble and nearly fall.\u00a0 Quickly, Joe regained his balance and made his way downward.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe stopped at the landing; his eyes opened wide in disbelief at the sight before him.\u00a0 The room was filled with strange men, five to be exact.\u00a0 One each was standing next to each member of his family, who had been gagged and had their hands tied tightly behind their backs.\u00a0 His father along with his brothers was all sitting in a row on the stone hearth.\u00a0 Ben turned at the sound of footsteps on the stairs.\u00a0 He inhaled deeply through his nose, he could not believe the battered face with the frightened eyes that sought his, actually belonged to his youngest son.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben stood to his feet, glaring at Graham.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSit down, Cartwright,\u201d shouted Graham.\u00a0 When Ben refused to obey him, Graham nodded his head at the man who stood closest to Ben.\u00a0 Suddenly and without warning, the stranger jabbed the butt of his rifle deeply into Ben\u2019s side, causing him to double up with the pain.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow sit down!\u201d Graham ordered a second time.\u00a0 This time, Ben obeyed the command, though he still glared at his one time friend.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe frowned, facing his father\u2019s so-called friend.\u00a0 \u201cYou must be insane!\u201d snapped Joe his pain and fear momentarily forgotten.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Without warning, Graham lashed out at Joe, striking the boy with a brutal opened-handed slap across his already bruised and enflamed face.\u00a0 Joe tasted the blood that instantly filled his mouth from where his teeth had been forced into the inside of his cheek, biting down on the tender flesh and ripping it opened.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n From across the room, Adam could be heard trying to form words from behind his gag.\u00a0 The man next to him clubbed him on the back of the head with his balled up fist.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s dark angry eyes turned to the man standing before him.\u00a0 The hate that shone from those same eyes caused the intruder to take a step backwards.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYa better just shut up and sit still,\u201d the intruder ordered, his voice quivering slightly.\u00a0 He would never let his boss see his face, for the man was positive that his fear of this dark stranger would be showing, and if it was, Graham Forrester would not even think twice about killing him as well as these three men who sat on the hearth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes stayed glued to his father\u2019s face as he struggled to control his anger and his fear.\u00a0 Graham shoved him forward, making him to stand directly in front of the settee facing his three family members who were sitting together in front of the massive stone fireplace.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe cast anxious eyes up at his tormentor wondering just what it was that the man expected him to do.\u00a0 \u201cWhat is it that you want from me?\u201d he asked Graham, whose eyes were fixed on him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The man reached out to touch Joe\u2019s face but the boy took a step back from the extended hand.\u00a0 Graham froze, his hand held in mid air and laughed at the fear that he had seen enter the hazel eyes of his captive.\u00a0Seconds later, his arm fell to his side, his eyes seeking Ben\u2019s face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour boy is afraid of me Ben, as well he should be,\u201d snickered Graham as he moved around the coffee table and sat down, facing Ben and his two older sons.\u00a0 \u201cLet me explain, you see, Ben, I have spent most of my life hunting wild animals all over the world.\u00a0 Most have given me great satisfaction; some have been less than worthy opponents and have been a disappointment.\u00a0 I have hunted nearly every kind of animal that you could ever imagine, except one,\u201d Graham paused and glanced over his shoulder at Joe, who stood silently, surrounded by two of Grahams cohorts. \u201cThat\u2019s why I came here, Ben.\u00a0 The most elusive animal of all roams this beautiful land of yours.\u00a0 He is native to his surroundings, thus that gives him the advantage over me, for I know nothing of this country.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Graham stood and moved around the corner of the table where he now stood next to Joe.\u00a0 He slipped his arm across the back of Joe\u2019s shoulders and suddenly glanced at the boy.\u00a0 He smiled and glanced back at Ben, whose dark eyes had grown even darker when he witnessed Graham embrace his son.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Graham could feel the tremors that caused Joe\u2019s body to begin to tremble and he had to refrain from laughing.\u00a0 \u201cYou see Cartwright, the wildest animal of all, is still not as intelligent as man, therefore, my ultimate goal is to hunt…you guessed it\u2026man.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Graham could no longer hold back his amusement; the looks of shock and total disbelief on the three faces of the Cartwrights were worth a million dollars.\u00a0 Graham laughed out loud.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShocks you, doesn\u2019t it old friend?\u201d Graham sneered as he moved again to stand in front of Ben.\u00a0 \u201cAnd the animal I intend to hunt is none other than your precious son, Joseph.\u00a0 You and these two,\u201d he nodded his head in Adam and Hoss\u2019 direction, \u201cpainted such a colorful picture of the boy over there, that I just could not refuse the idea.\u00a0 He\u2019s young and agile, he knows this country like the back of his hand, he said as much, he\u2019ll make the perfect quarry.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re out of your mind,\u201d shouted Joe.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ll never get away with something so hideous!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Angered, Graham surprised Joe by jumping up and turning to face him.\u00a0 His face was inches from Joe\u2019s but this time, Joe, angry himself, refused to back up from the man.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be so sure of yourself\u2026boy.\u00a0 Like I said, you\u2019ll do as I say, or your family over there dies, and you beloved father will be the first one to go!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked over Graham\u2019s shoulder into his father\u2019s dark eyes, wishing he could read the expression that they held.\u00a0 He glanced back at Graham.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t believe you,\u201d he dared to say.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Graham spun around on his heels, jerked his pistol from his holster and shocked the entire roomful of men by firing at Ben.\u00a0 The bullet grazed the patriarch\u2019s left shoulder, instantly drawing blood.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes widened in terror and he reacted instantly by flinging his body at Graham.\u00a0 He caught the man unaware as Graham stumbled backward and fell across the wide boarded table.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss were instantly on their feet but were restrained by the two men who had been standing watch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe drove his fist into the face of the man beneath him.\u00a0 \u201cGet him off, you idiots!\u201d screamed Graham between blows.\u00a0 His cohorts sprang to life, each one grabbing Joe by the arms and hauling him upright.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Graham rubbed his chin where Joe had repeatedly struck him as he pulled his body from the table.\u00a0 Anger had turned his eyes black and Joe could sense the hate that stemmed from the fiery glow deep within.\u00a0Graham doubled up his fist and as his men held on to Joe\u2019s arms, rendering the boy defenseless as he drove his fist deeply into Joe\u2019s middle.\u00a0 The boy doubled up in pain, groaning as his knees began to give way.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHold him up!\u201d shouted the insane man.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Again and again, Graham welded his fist into Joe\u2019s stomach, until at last the battered boy was allowed to slump to the floor in a heap.\u00a0 Graham glanced over in Ben\u2019s direction, his eyes glaring.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou should have taught that boy some manners, Benjamin.\u201d\u00a0 Graham wiped the spittle from his mouth and smiled at the threesome.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He turned his attention back to Joe who was slowly getting to his feet.\u00a0 \u201cListen well\u2026boy\u2026I could have easily killed your old man.\u00a0 That was just a warning shot, the next one goes straight to his heart.\u00a0 Do you believe me, now?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe, his arm crossed over his mid-section, in an effort to subdue the pain inflicted on his body, nodded.\u00a0 \u201cAll right\u2026I\u2019ll do anything that you say\u2026just don\u2019t hurt him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Graham pushed back the locks of curls that had fallen onto Joe\u2019s brow and smiled.\u00a0 Joe flinched slightly at the man\u2019s touch but never permitted his eyes to stray from the other man\u2019s.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s much better.\u00a0 Now, sit down Joseph, while I explain the game to you,\u201d ordered Graham as he stepped aside and pointed to the settee, waiting for Joe to take a seat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis is the way it\u2019s going to be\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe had run for what seemed hours to his weary body.\u00a0 He stopped, his back pressed against the trunk of an old oak tree as he sucked in large gulps of air into his lungs.\u00a0 His chest hurt from the heavy breathing that he had been doing.\u00a0 His lungs felt as if they were on fire, the beating he had taken earlier had hampered his get away efforts and put him at a disadvantage.\u00a0 Joe allowed his head to slump all the way back, his lips partially opened as he fought to bring his huffing and puffing under control.\u00a0 It was useless, he was winded and his body was in such pain that the exhausted boy felt as if he could not run another yard, let alone escape the deranged man that was intent on hunting him down like an animal.\u00a0 Joe had no doubts that his life was in grave danger, though Graham Forrester had sworn that if he lasted until nightfall, his life and those of his family\u2019s would be spared, Joe did not believe the man\u2019s promise.\u00a0 Graham\u2019s dark eyes had sparkled with an uncommon glow when he stood in the yard and ordered him to run for his life.\u00a0 Joe had hesitated only for a few seconds and when Graham had once again pointed his firearm at his father, Joe had taken off.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be all right Pa,\u201d Joe had called over his shoulder in hopes of reassuring his father that he would indeed last until nightfall.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now, totally exhausted, hungry, thirsty and in pain, Joe wasn\u2019t so sure anymore.\u00a0 He calculated that he had managed to put at least five or six miles between himself and the man who hunted him.\u00a0 Joe glanced up at the sun, it was already nearly noon and he figured that he had at least forty-five minutes left of his two-hour time limit before Graham started tracking him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe had used what experience he had accumulated over his short seventeen years. He tried to recall the lessons that his older brothers and his father had taught him of how to cover his trail, should he ever find himself in a position where he did not want an enemy to find him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His clothes were wet where he had run through the creeks.\u00a0 The water sloshed in his boots, making his feet damp and Joe could already feel the blisters that were developing on the heels of his feet.\u00a0 Joe swiped his hand across his face, wiping away the droplets of sweat that rolled from his brow.\u00a0 The salty drops stung his cheeks where the flesh had been abused by Graham and burned his eyes, causing his vision to momentarily blur.\u00a0 Joe pulled the tail of his shirt from the waist of his pants and leaning over, tried to dry the dampness from his face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A twig snapped and Joe spun around, his eyes searching for any movement that might alert him to danger.\u00a0 A squirrel dashed across his path and scurried for the nearest tree.\u00a0 Joe let out a long sigh and halfway smiled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBetter get a move on,\u201d he said aloud to himself.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gave one last cautious glance over his shoulder and took off once again.\u00a0 His legs ached, the muscles in his calves and upper portion of his legs had seemed to tighten up on him and it was all he could do to force one foot in front of the other.\u00a0 Determined to out think the demon that surely was by now, in hot pursuit, Joe pushed on for another half-hour before being forced to stop once more.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He leaned over, resting his hands on his knees as he attempted to fill his lungs.\u00a0 Suddenly, a shot rang out, nearly nipping him on his left arm.\u00a0 Joe quickly glanced behind him, but saw nothing as he dropped to the ground and rolled to cover.\u00a0 Once hidden safely behind a large boulder, Joe inspected his arm.\u00a0 His bullet had ripped his shirt and tiny drops of blood appeared on his forearm, but other than that, the shot had done little damage.\u00a0 Joe let out a long sigh and was just about to take off when the sound of Graham\u2019s voice stopped him in his tracks.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHey boy\u2026surely you can do better than that!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe heard the man laugh, the sound sickening to his ears.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll count to twenty.\u00a0 You have until then before I shoot again.\u00a0 This time\u2026boy\u2026I promise I won\u2019t miss.\u00a0 One, two\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe sprung to his feet and began making his way through the thick under growth of the forest.\u00a0 He kept as low to the ground as possible, often times having to crawl his way through the thickets in order to keep out of Graham\u2019s sight.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He could feel the briars snagging at his clothes and oft as not, felt the pricks of the thorns as they tore at the flesh of his body.\u00a0 Joe paid no attention to the uncomfortable pain; he was more intent on putting as much distance between himself and his pursuer as possible.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe heard the thrashing of hooves as Graham pushed his horse into the forest, followed by his two companions.\u00a0 He felt the drops of blood seep down his arms, yet never took the time to look.\u00a0 Fear, not only for himself, but fear for the lives of his family forced him to push ahead.\u00a0 His main goal was to, at all cost, survive until nightfall.\u00a0 After that, Graham had promised to call off the hunt and allow his family to go free, unharmed.\u00a0 Joe, young in years, and lacking the experience and wisdom of his older family members, had no clue of the fact that Graham Forrester was anything other than a man of his word.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben watched his guards\u2019 movements as they rummaged about his house.\u00a0 The men had ransacked his desk, tossing his paper work all about the floor.\u00a0 They had pried open the locked drawer at the side of the desk, taking the pistol he kept hidden there and sticking it into the waistband of one man\u2019s pants.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam glanced at his father and silently nodded his head toward the kitchen door.\u00a0 Hop Sing, who had been gone for several days and having just returned, found his home and his family in danger.\u00a0 Ben, whose gag had finally been removed, gave his servant a tiny smile.\u00a0 Hop Sing slipped back into the kitchen, unseen by the three men who were busy digging through the family\u2019s personal items.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHey, how about letting us eat something?\u201d Ben said to the man nearest him, \u201cit\u2019s been hours since we\u2019ve had a bite and there\u2019s plenty of food in the kitchen.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The man, younger than the other two, scratched his head.\u00a0 \u201cHey Homer, how about it?\u00a0 These men are hungry and to be truthful, so am I.\u00a0 What say one of you keep your eyes on these three whilst I fix us something, I ain\u2019t too bad a cook,\u201d he called out.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSuit yourself, but make it quick,\u201d responded Homer as he returned to the hearth and glared down at the three Cartwrights.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chet hurried off to the kitchen to hunt for something to eat.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s eyes sought his father\u2019s and then Hoss\u2019.\u00a0 Hoss had been made to move from the hearth and was now sitting in the blue chair.\u00a0 His and Adam\u2019s gags had been discarded when Ben\u2019s had been removed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cReckon how Joe is farin\u2019?\u201d Hoss whispered to his father who was keeping an eye on the kitchen door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWith any luck, Joe might just lose them, he knows the lay of the land like the back of his hand,\u201d muttered Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben turned his head to face his sons.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s true, but I\u2019m not sure he can out smart Graham, the man\u2019s an expert tracker and hunter,\u201d Ben said with some doubt in his voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAin\u2019t no body any better\u2019n Mr. Forrester at trackin\u2019 wild game.\u00a0 That kid of yours is as good as dead.\u00a0 I\u2019m bettin\u2019 Mr. Forrester has him bagged already,\u201d laughed Homer as he watched the expressions on the Cartwright\u2019s faces.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI thought Forrester said if\u2019n Joe lasted til dark, he\u2019d let us all go,\u201d Hoss said aloud as he reflected back on Graham\u2019s words.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Homer and Petey snickered and swapped glances with one another.\u00a0 \u201cYa really don\u2019t think Mr. Forrester actually intended to let the boy live did ya?\u00a0 He came here to hunt a man just like he does his wild animals, and there ain\u2019t been a one that survived yet.\u00a0 Nope, the boy will be just another animal to him,\u201d Petey declared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Just then a loud clamor rang forth from the kitchen followed by an earsplitting moan.\u00a0 Both Petey and Homer stared at one another in surprise.\u00a0 \u201cHey Chet, what the hell\u2019s goin\u2019 on in there?\u201d shouted Homer, backing up slightly toward the kitchen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He glanced over his shoulder as if he expected Chet to appear.\u00a0 \u201cCHET!\u201d he called out a second time.\u00a0 \u201cDadgumit Petey, go see what that idiot is doin\u2019, I\u2019ll stay here and keep my eyes on these three, but make it fast, I don\u2019t trust them,\u201d ordered Homer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Petey took off around the furniture and seconds later, another loud clang echoed from the kitchen.\u00a0 Hoss waited with bated breath and when Homer, who was becoming nervous, turned to glance toward the kitchen, Hoss sprang to his feet and using his massive body, plowed into the unsuspecting man.\u00a0 Homer hit the floor with a loud thud, stunned by the unexpected attack.\u00a0 Ben and Adam were quickly on their feet; Hoss was sitting on top of Homer as Ben rushed into the kitchen.\u00a0 He was met part way by Hop Sing who was muttering in his native tongue and waving an iron skillet around over his head.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing use skillet to bop strange men on head.\u00a0 They have very bad headache when they wake up,\u201d smiled the faithful servant.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood work Hop Sing, now please, untie my hands,\u201d smiled Ben, turning his back to the cook so that his hands could be freed from the tight restraints.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Once freed, Ben rubbed his wrist where the ropes had chafed his skin and then hurried to release Adam who in turn untied Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s get these varmints tied up and locked in the cellar,\u201d ordered Ben.\u00a0 \u201cWe need to hurry, Joe\u2019s gonna need us.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben was right in his assumption of his youngest son\u2019s need for help.\u00a0 Graham\u2019s horse was gaining quickly on the exhausted boy as Joe forced himself to keep running.\u00a0 The beads of sweat that dripped from his brow ran into his eyes, causing his vision to blur once again.\u00a0 Joe was constantly using the arm of his shirt to wipe away the moisture, but was having little luck in keeping the droplets from running into his eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe pushed on, weaving around trees and in and out of bushes, heading deeper and deeper into the forest.\u00a0 He was near the lake and knew of a small cave where he hoped he could hide and have a short rest.\u00a0 His breathing was labored, his lungs burned and his feet, which bore no socks, were stinging from the blisters made by his boots.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A shot shattered his thoughts as the bullet whizzed past his head.\u00a0 Joe glanced back over his left shoulder, his foot became tangled in the undergrowth and he tripped, falling with a thud to the hard ground.\u00a0 He lay dazed, the wind knocked from his burning lungs as he attempted to collect his senses.\u00a0 He lay for several seconds, sucking in much needed air to fill his deflated lungs.\u00a0 As he started to rise, the pain from his ribcage sent daggers of agony throughout his upper body.\u00a0 Joe heard himself moan and though he tried not to allow his eyes to fill with tears, they did and then slipped unannounced from his eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPlease God, help\u2026me, my family needs me to be able to do this.\u201d\u00a0 Joe prayed softly as he hauled his body up from the ground.\u00a0 He stood to his feet and quickly surveyed his surroundings and off to one side, he spied a small creek. He forced himself toward the creek and once there, began running upstream.\u00a0 The creek was shallow but the water was cold and though Joe wore his boots, the cold seemed to seep right through the leather, making his feet ache more than what they were already hurting.\u00a0 From behind him, he could hear the horses as they entered the water and he quickly changed directions, leaving the water and heading for the creek bank.\u00a0 The thick mud on the water\u2019s edge caused Joe\u2019s feet to slip out from under him and he rolled back down the bank.\u00a0 Tears mixed with the sweat from his brow and the cold water that had splashed onto his face stung his eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In anguish, Joe cried out, and crawled up the bank on his hands and knees, making it into the thick brush and out of sight just as Graham and his two hunting companions passed him by.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe, his body heaving, gasped for air as he watched the men continue on their search downstream.\u00a0 Suddenly he heard Graham\u2019s deep voice shout to his men to stop.\u00a0 Joe peeked from between the thick branches of his hiding place and watched as the three men gathered in a small circle in the middle of the stream and conversed.\u00a0 Graham was pointing back the way they had just come and the two men with him nodded their heads.\u00a0 When Joe saw them turn their horses back in his direction, he pushed himself up on his feet and took off running again, this time, back in the direction of the ranch house.\u00a0 It seemed to the weary boy that he had been running for hours.\u00a0 He had tripped several more times, tearing the knees in his trousers and bloodying the palms of his hands.\u00a0 He was exhausted, drained of all his energies, and on the verge of collapsing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe fell again, this time he was unable to force his body to get up.\u00a0 He lay face down in the dirt; his face blackened by the bruises he had suffered at the mercy of Graham Forrester was now coated with the brown dust of the earth.\u00a0 Behind him, he heard his tormentor\u2019s evil laughter and Joe raised his head slightly.\u00a0 What he saw caused his heart to skip a beat, for he was staring directly up and into the long barrel of Graham\u2019s hunting rifle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI must say, boy, you have given me an excellent hunt.\u00a0 At first, I didn\u2019t believe you would prove to be much of a challenge, but you have surprised me. You have managed to elude me all day; it\u2019s just too bad that you made that wrong turn, back there, at the creek.\u00a0 You made entirely too much noise, it was a dead give-away, and I might add, has proved to be your undoing.\u00a0 Now, I must end the hunt\u2026by killing my prey.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Graham watched the frightened expression that crossed Joe\u2019s face as he raised his rifle and took aim.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe, unable to voice his fear, pushed himself backward in the dirt, trying to escape from the man who mocked him with his repulsive laughter. Graham peeked over the barrel of his rifle with one eye and stared at the boy whose eyes had now filled with tears but refused to give in to them and permit them to run freely down his face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re out of your mind,\u201d Joe managed to say after what had seemed like an eternity.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ll never get away with this, if you kill me, my father and brothers will hunt you down like the animal you are and kill you.\u00a0 There won\u2019t be anyplace where you can hide,\u201d he said as he continued to scoot further away, dragging his body along in the dirt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not the least bit worried about your father, or your brothers for that matter.\u00a0 It is you I am interested in\u2026now stand up, I can\u2019t shoot an animal while it\u2019s down,\u201d growled Graham.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe paused momentarily, \u201cno, if you\u2019re going to kill me, you\u2019ll have to do it like this.\u00a0 I\u2019m not getting up.\u201d\u00a0 Joe realized that he might have found a flaw in the man\u2019s plan and hoped to use it to his advantage.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI said get on your feet\u2026boy\u2026 don\u2019t lay there in the dirt and grovel like a wounded animal. I want you on your feet, how else can I bring down my prey?\u00a0 GET UP!\u201d screamed Graham.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe studied the man\u2019s eyes, they suddenly appeared dazed, and though the man was looking at him, Joe wasn\u2019t sure if his antagonist was actually seeing him.\u00a0 Graham moved quickly to Joe\u2019s side and kicked out his foot at the boy, making the toe of his boot bury itself deeply into Joe\u2019s side.\u00a0 Joe opened his mouth to cry out his discomfort but his cry was muffled when Graham quickly placed the barrel of his rifle between Joe\u2019s parted lips.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe froze, suddenly terrified at the change in events.\u00a0 The tears and the fear that he had fought so hard to keep from surfacing suddenly emerged.\u00a0 His body trembled in horror, Graham cocked the rifle and the scared boy\u2019s tears slipped silently from his eyes and crept slowly down his cheeks.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Graham laughed.\u00a0 \u201cYou aren\u2019t nearly as brave now as you were minutes ago, are you boy?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes sought the man\u2019s face, the haunted look in the gray eyes that mocked him, became seared in Joe\u2019s memory for all time as his unspoken pleas, begged for his father to save him.\u00a0 \u2018I love you Pa, I love you\u2026please, I don\u2019t wanna die,\u2019 his heart screamed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n From the sidelines, Graham\u2019s two associates where staring in shock at what they were witnessing, each man stunned that the ever-pretentious Graham Forrester\u2019s behavior had suddenly become quite inscrutable.\u00a0As Graham\u2019s wicked laughter rose in volume, the pair joined in, not really sure what their leader had found so humorous.\u00a0 Jack glanced at Morgan and shrugged his shoulders.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Graham suddenly ceased laughing, glaring down at Joe, who remained motionless on the ground, the end of the rifle barrel still welded between his trembling lips.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow you die,\u201d muttered Graham.\u00a0 He watched as Joe pinched his eyes tightly together and the last droplets of tears seeped from beneath his long lashes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The last thing that passed through the boy\u2019s mind was a mental picture of the family he loved more than anything in the entire world.\u00a0 The sound of the trigger clicked, Joe\u2019s head slumped backwards and at the same exact moment, Graham jerked the rifle from Joe\u2019s mouth and began roaring loudly.\u00a0 Joe lay unmoving, sucking in large gulps of air, his stomach churned and when he at last opened his eyes and spied his tormentor, Joe\u2019s reserve broke and he turned, burying his face against the hard earth and wept bitter tears.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His actions only served to give Graham more reason to laugh.\u00a0 The two men, who stood off to the side and had been witness to his strange behavior, swapped confused looks with one another.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI think the man has lost his mind,\u201d muttered Morgan.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was the last words that the man ever spoke.\u00a0 Graham pivoted around on his heels, the weeping boy on the ground, all but forgotten and faced both men, anger carved deeply into his weathered features.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He quickly slipped several bullets into the rifle\u2019s chamber and pointed it at Morgan. \u201cWho you calling crazy?\u201d he bellowed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Morgan took several paces back, distancing himself from the crazed man.\u00a0 \u201cNo one\u2026honest\u2026Graham\u2026ere\u2026Mr. Forrester\u2026no one,\u201d he sputtered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLIAR!\u201d screamed Graham and fired his rifle.\u00a0 The bullet struck the other man in the heart, killing him instantly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jack, stunned at the way that Graham had turned on them so quickly, turned and bolted into the woods.\u00a0 Graham took only two steps and raised his rifle and aim.\u00a0 When he fired, the man dropped to the ground, the hole in the middle of his back, spurting blood.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe cringed; he had become paralyzed with fear.\u00a0 He still lay where Graham had left him. His breathing came in struggled gulps and when Graham approached him, Joe knew that this time, there was nothing to prevent the man from doing what he had come there to do.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Graham raised the rifle for the third and final time, \u201cGet ready to die\u2026boy,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDROP THE GUN, GRAHAM!\u201d a deep voice that could only belong to Ben Cartwright, issued his order from somewhere within the dark corners of the forest.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Graham spun around, his eyes hunting for the direction from which the order was given.\u00a0 The butt of his rifle was still pressed against his shoulder, the side of the weapon resting against his cheek.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShow yourself Cartwright, now!\u201d shouted Graham, his eyes blazing red with anger at having been discovered before finishing what he had hoped to accomplish.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n From the far side of the forest, Adam sprinted from bush to bush, quietly making his way closer to his younger brother who had begun to inch along the ground in hopes of making it to the edge of the woods.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Suddenly, Ben appeared from the thick growth that served as the forest walls.\u00a0 He stood, pistol in hand, cocked and ready to aim and kill if need be, the man who had hunted and tormented his youngest son.\u00a0 Ben glanced briefly at Joe, who by now was nearing the edge of the woods.\u00a0 Adam appeared out of no where and quickly wrapped his arms about the frightened boy.\u00a0 Joe, totally unaware that his brother was near, let go with a frightened yelp as he felt his brother\u2019s arm encircle his body and begin to drag him from harm\u2019s way.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Graham, hearing the noise behind him, twirled around and haphazardly fired his rifle at the pair of brothers who crouched on the ground.\u00a0 The bullet whizzed by the brothers\u2019 heads; Adam had thrown his body over Joe\u2019s in a protective manner, and was ready to take the bullet that he knew was meant for his younger brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In that instance, Hoss charged Graham, whose attention was focused on Joe and Adam.\u00a0 With the weight of his own body, Hoss plowed into Graham, knocking the man to the ground and sending his rifle flying into the air.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A short struggle erupted between the two that only lasted for a few minutes.\u00a0 Graham tried to reach out and make a grab for his weapon, but Ben was quick to kick the gun far enough out of Graham\u2019s reach to prevent the man from picking it up.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss stood to his feet, grabbing Graham by the front of the shirt and hauling the man up with him.\u00a0 He drew back his massive fist, ready to break the man\u2019s jaw, but was stopped by his father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss, that\u2019s enough son,\u201d ordered Ben.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll let the law deal with him. Tie him up and get him into town to the sheriff, I\u2019ll look after your brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n From the edge of the woods, Adam had managed to pull his youngest brother into the folds of his arms.\u00a0 Joe, still frightened by all that had transpired, had buried his face deeply into his brother\u2019s chest.\u00a0 Adam could feel the tremors that surged through his brother\u2019s body and when Ben at last knelt beside his son and placed his gentle hands on the boy\u2019s shoulders so that he could turn Joe over, Joe responded by grabbing onto his father\u2019s vest.\u00a0 The tears erupted unexpectedly as the traumatized youth wept.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa\u2026Pa\u2026\u201dcried Joe, his face now buried in his father\u2019s chest.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShh\u2026don\u2019t cry son, it\u2019s over\u2026it\u2019s all over,\u201d Ben tried to soothe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2026he\u2026was going to kill me\u2026\u201d Joe\u2019s words were broken, his voice quivered as he fought to control his hysteria.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2026put the gun\u2026in\u2026my mouth!\u201d\u00a0 Joe squeezed his eyes tightly together in a vain effort to purge the memory from his mind.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben glanced at Adam, his face an array of mixed emotions.\u00a0 \u201cI know son, I saw what he did, but try to put it out of your mind for now,\u201d encouraged the anxious father.\u00a0 \u201cRight now we need to get you home.\u00a0 Can you stand, son?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam was quick to his feet and offered his hand to Joe.\u00a0 \u201cCome on little buddy, let me help you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe took hold of his brother\u2019s hand and let Adam help him to his feet.\u00a0 He staggered slightly and Adam quickly wrapped his arm about the trembling shoulders to give Joe aid in walking.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s body leaned heavily against his brother\u2019s as Adam held Joe upright and waited for their father to bring the horses.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe can ride double with me,\u201d Ben stated and mounted Buck.\u00a0 He helped get Joe into the saddle in front of him and when Adam had mounted up, they turned toward home.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss had tied the two bodies across their horses and once Graham had been tied to his saddle, Hoss had headed into town to deliver the one time friend of his father\u2019s to the sheriff.\u00a0 He was anxious to make his delivery and get home.\u00a0 His thoughts remained with his brother and the more that the gentle spirited man thought of the pain and misery that Graham Forrester had caused, not only to his baby brother, but his entire family as well, the more that Hoss began to wish that he had been able to stamp out the unsavory man\u2019s life.\u00a0 Never before had Hoss hated any man as he now hated the man who trailed behind him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe kept calling me\u2026boy, Pa,\u201d muttered Joe, whose head had slumped backward and was resting against his father\u2019s body.\u00a0 \u201cI hated the way he said it\u2026he made it sound as if it were something\u2026dirty,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben, whose arms were around his son, holding the reins, moved one hand and gently brushed the dark curls out from under his nose where they had begun to tickle him.\u00a0 \u201cI know, Joseph.\u00a0 But don\u2019t let that bother you, I promise you, son, you are anything but a boy.\u00a0 I\u2019m proud of you Joseph, I hope you know that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Pa.\u00a0 Pa, I\u2019m tired\u2026I\u2019m so tired,\u201d the lad muttered as his head slumped forward.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen just lean back against me son, and close your eyes.\u00a0 We\u2019ll be home soon,\u201d whispered Ben, glad to have his son so close to him.\u00a0 He had feared that when he saw Graham force the end of his rifle into Joe\u2019s mouth, that he would lose his son altogether.\u00a0 Now, to feel the boy\u2019s warm body pressing into his own gave Ben the much-needed comfort that his wounded soul had needed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He knew that Joe\u2019s physical wounds would heal quickly, but the boy\u2019s emotional wounds would take far more time and no doubt would leave scars that the boy would have to carry with him for many years.\u00a0 For that reason alone, Ben, who was a just and fair man by nature, allowed himself a small measure of hate for the man responsible for his son\u2019s trauma and for betraying the friendship that the two older men had once shared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was late by the time that he and Adam arrived home with Joe.\u00a0 The boy had fallen to sleep shortly after Ben telling him that they would be home soon.\u00a0 Now, there was no waking the boy, he was exhausted and drained, not only physically but emotionally as well.\u00a0 With Adam\u2019s help, they carried Joe inside.\u00a0 Hop Sing met them at the door wearing a bright smile on his face to welcome home his beloved youngest family member.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBath ready, Hop Sing keep hot for number three son.\u201d\u00a0 Hop Sing picked at the few places on Joe\u2019s clothing where the blood from the briars and thrones had broken the skin and seeped through the tattered clothing. He scrunched up his face in disgust at the accumulated dirt and grime that threatened to infect the various areas that he could see.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou take Lil\u2019 Joe to washroom, Hop Sing bring medicines to bedroom to make well the places that cause the blood to seep.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam tossed his father a knowing smile; they both knew how much the faithful servant loved the youngest Cartwright and how time after time they had witnessed his mothering when Joe was in need of the little Oriental\u2019s doctoring.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBest do as he says,\u201d laughed Ben lightly, leading the way.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben propped Joe upright in a chair while Adam hurried from the room in search of clean towels.\u00a0 Ben smiled down at his sleeping son and with the tenderness of any loving parent, gently caressed his son\u2019s battered face.\u00a0 He felt the sting of tears as he brushed back a stray lock of dirt-laden hair.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI love you Joseph,\u201d he muttered softly.\u00a0 \u201cNo matter how old you live to be, you will always be my baby,\u201d Ben whispered in a voice heavy with unsurpassed devotion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben sighed, his son\u2019s body was as limber as an old rag doll\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Several days later as Joe and his father sat on the side porch, enjoying the warm afternoon sun and each other\u2019s company, Roy Coffee rode into the yard.\u00a0 Joe looked questioningly up at his father as Ben rose to greet his friend.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry son, it\u2019s probably just a friendly visit,\u201d Ben said in hopes of reassuring his son\u2019s unspoken fears.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ever since they had gotten home and Joe had learned that Graham Forrester had been taken to the Virginia City jail, Joe had been afraid that the man might somehow escape and come back to finish what he had started.\u00a0 It had taken a lot of persuasion on his part as well as with Adam and Hoss to convince Joe that what he feared would not happen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHowdy Ben,\u201d greeted the sheriff.\u00a0 \u201cJoe, how ya feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine Roy, thanks,\u201d answered Joe coming to stand beside of his father and the sheriff.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cRoy, what brings you this far from town?\u201d Ben asked, smiling.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell Ben, I got some news fer ya,\u201d started Roy and then he glanced at Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The look did not go unnoticed by Ben nor Joe.\u00a0 Ben cast a glance at his son and noticed how his son\u2019s body had stiffened and Ben moved closer to his son.\u00a0 \u201cI hope it\u2019s not bad news, Roy,\u201d Ben said with a slight hesitation in his voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat depends on how ya look at it,\u201d the sheriff stated matter-of-factly.\u00a0 \u201cJoe, I don\u2019t want ya to get upset about what I\u2019m gonna tell ya.\u00a0 It\u2019s over, I can promise ya that much\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cRoy, what\u2019s happened?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs it Graham Forrester?\u00a0 He escaped, didn\u2019t he?\u201d demanded Joe, the fear that he had fought so hard to keep from his family, rising now to new levels.\u00a0 Joe grabbed his father\u2019s arm, clinging to him tightly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI told you it would happen, Pa.\u00a0 I knew that lunatic would break jail and come looking to finish his so-called hunt\u2026\u201d Joe ranted, unshed tears instantly filling his frightened eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben seized both of his son\u2019s arms and forced Joe to face him.\u00a0 He gave the boy a gentle shake.\u00a0 \u201cStop it Joseph, right now.\u00a0 Get a hold of yourself,\u201d ordered Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut Pa\u2026\u201d Joe\u2019s chin had begun to quiver, \u201cyou don\u2019t understand\u2026I\u2026I\u2019m\u2026\u201d Joe was gasping for air.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, hold on son,\u201d Roy interrupted, \u201cForrester did break jail\u2026two days ago, but we found him Joe\u2026that is\u2026what was left of him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben studied first his son\u2019s face and then the sheriff\u2019s.\u00a0 \u201cWhat do you mean, Roy?\u00a0 Why didn\u2019t you let us know that Graham had escaped, don\u2019t you realize what danger Joe might have been in?\u00a0 Why\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBen, calm down\u2026Graham\u2019s dead,\u201d Roy explained.\u00a0 \u201cHe broke jail, but when he realized we were on his trail, he headed for the high country.\u00a0 That was, no doubt, the biggest mistake the man ever made.\u00a0 Ya see,he didn\u2019t have any weapon with him, other than a knife, so he wasn\u2019t really armed with anything that could offer him any kind of protection.\u00a0 As it were, he kept climbin\u2019 higher and higher into the mountains.\u00a0 We heard the cat, long before we saw him, and then when we did see the cat, it was too late.\u00a0 He\u2019d already gotten Graham.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Ben almost yelled.\u00a0 He felt Joe\u2019s body go slack and quickly turned to watch as the color drained from his son\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cJoe?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe swallowed audibly, \u201cI\u2019m all right, Pa.\u00a0 Roy, ya sure the man\u2019s dead?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPositive Joe, the hunter became the hunted this time.\u00a0 Graham won\u2019t be hangin\u2019 no more trophies on his walls, rest assured,\u201d answered Roy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI just find that so bizarre, that Graham died that way.\u00a0 The man was the most distinguished hunter that I have ever known; his name was known world wide for his expertise.\u00a0 It\u2019s hard to imagine, his dying in the same manner that he lived his life,\u201d pondered Ben aloud.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, I gotta get back to town, I jist wanted to let ya know, it\u2019s over.\u00a0 Those other two men are headed for the territorial prison, ya won\u2019t likely ever hear from them rascals again, so no need to worry yourself any about them.\u201d\u00a0 Roy turned to mount his horse.\u00a0 \u201cJoe, ya take care now.\u00a0 See ya Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThanks Roy, for stopping by, we appreciate what you\u2019ve done for us,\u201d called Ben, glancing back at Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, thanks Roy,\u201d muttered Joe as he turned and retraced his steps to the side porch and took his seat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben waved to Roy and once the sheriff was out of sight, joined his son.\u00a0 He sat for several moments, watching Joe\u2019s reactions.\u00a0 \u201cAre you all right son?\u201d he questioned.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe met his father\u2019s gaze.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m fine, Pa\u2026really.\u00a0 I mean\u2026I\u2019m glad that I never have to worry about that man coming back here, but\u2026I feel bad for you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFeel bad for me?\u00a0 What do you mean son?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe was your friend, you knew him most of his life and I\u2019m sure you must be disappointed that he…well, I\u2019m just sorry that you found out like this, that he wasn\u2019t the man you thought he was, that\u2019s all,\u201d explained Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, Graham wasn\u2019t always the way that he was here.\u00a0 When we were very young, he was the best friend I had.\u00a0 We grew up together; we traveled the world together for several years, working aboard the same ship.\u00a0 Over time, circumstances changed him into what he had become. I\u2019m not sure what caused those changes, but I do know that whatever they were, they must have been serious enough to have a crushing affect on the man.\u00a0 He was sick Joe, his mind was warped and for what he did to you, I can never forgive him.\u00a0 I came very close to losing my son because of his sickness, I trusted him and he betrayed not only my trust in him as my friend, but also our friendship.\u00a0 Joe, I want to forget what he had become and try to remember him the way he used to be.\u00a0 Can you understand that?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded his head, \u201cI suppose, but if it\u2019s all the same to you, I\u2019d just like to forget him altogether,\u201d Joe gave his father a small smile.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben leaned over and placed his hand on his son\u2019s arm.\u00a0 \u201cJoe, to be perfectly honest with you, I think we\u2019d both be better off forgetting him. But I\u2019d like for be able to one day say that I forgive him for what\u2019s happened.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes grew wide and he lowered his head slightly.\u00a0 When he looked up, Ben saw the tears that had filled his son\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong son?\u201d Ben asked softly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe swallowed the knot that had tightened his throat.\u00a0 \u201cI know it\u2019s the right thing to do, Pa\u2026to forgive him, I mean.\u00a0 But I don\u2019t know if I can or not.\u00a0 You have no idea the things that went through my mind when he stuck the end of that rifle barrel into my mouth.\u00a0 And then when he pulled the trigger\u2026I was\u2026scared\u2026Pa.\u00a0 More frightened than I have ever been in my entire life.\u00a0 I was forced into admitting something about myself that I didn\u2019t like, and for that, I\u2019m not sure I can forgive him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWould you like to tell me what that something was?\u201d Ben questioned softly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cNo\u2026at least not now.\u00a0 Maybe someday I will, but I just can\u2019t do it right yet,\u201d he said in a near whispered voice.\u00a0 \u201cDo you mind?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben smiled and patted Joe\u2019s arm.\u00a0 \u201cOf course not son.\u00a0 Whenever you\u2019re ready, I\u2019ll be right here.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThanks Pa, I was hoping that you\u2019d understand.\u00a0 It\u2019s just too fresh in my mind right now, that\u2019s all,\u201d Joe responded.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI think I understand, Joe, and it\u2019s okay.\u201d\u00a0 Ben rose to his feet when Joe stood up and slipped his arm about his son\u2019s shoulders.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSomething else on your mind, son?\u201d he asked after seeing the peculiar look that crossed Joe\u2019s face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust wanted to ask you something, that\u2019s all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u00a0 Ask away,\u201d smiled Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa\u2026I ain\u2019t really a boy anymore\u2026am I?\u00a0 I mean, he was always calling me that, and as scared as I really was, and as much as I cried, I got to thinking, maybe I was still more of a boy than I\u2019d care to admit.\u201d\u00a0 Joe stopped and waited for his father\u2019s response to his question.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben saw the expectancy on his son\u2019s face and knew that whatever he said in answer to his son\u2019s question would remain with the lad for years to come.\u00a0 He paused, giving serious thought to his words before answering the question.\u00a0 He smiled and the light in his dark passionate eyes began shining.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, I have no doubt that you are a man, in every sense of the word.\u00a0 You are a man of honor, truth, faith and compassion; you are a man worthy of the title; but son, to me, your father, you will always be my baby, my Little Joe\u2026my little boy.\u201d Ben smiled and hugged his son.\u00a0 \u201cPlease don\u2019t hold it against me,\u201d he laughed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe laughed and returned the hug by embracing his father.\u00a0 \u201cThanks Pa, I was hoping you would say those very words.\u00a0 Just don\u2019t tell Adam or Hoss, but\u2026I like being your little boy.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben had to swipe his hand across the front of his face to keep the tears from spilling over and from Joe seeing the way that they had collected in his eyes.\u00a0 He sniffed his nose and gave Joe a squeeze.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell come on then, little boy, I think Hop Sing just might have some cookies and milk for us!\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe instantly pulled away from his father, \u201cRace ya,\u201d he shouted as he broke into a run, heading for the kitchen door with Ben racing to catch up.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They had been unaware that Adam and Hoss had chosen that exact moment to ride into the yard.\u00a0 Both pulled their horses to a stop, staring in disbelief at the antics of their father and younger brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss pushed back his tall hat and scratched his head.\u00a0 \u201cWonder what that was all about?\u201d he questioned Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBeats me brother, but all of a sudden I\u2019ve deja vu,\u201d laughed Adam.\u00a0 \u201cSometime or another, I\u2019ve seen our father and brother act just like they were right then, like boys.\u00a0 Pa was younger back then, and Joe was just a boy\u2026hmm\u2026\u201d reflected Adam, \u201cJoe is still\u2026just a boy\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n THE END<\/strong><\/p>\n April 2003<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n *Thanks to Pigpuppie for the story idea<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Summary: \u00a0When an old friend of Ben’s visits the Ponderosa, Ben has no idea that the world renowned wild game hunter is there to hunt the most elusive animal of all…man.\u00a0 He has three young men to pick from…what makes him choose the youngest? \u00a0Rated<\/p>\n PG13 \u00a0WC 13,500<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9052,"featured_media":5109,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[2,23],"tags":[14,15,17,16],"class_list":["post-12237","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-actionadventure","category-drama","tag-adam-cartwright","tag-ben","tag-hoss","tag-joe","wpcat-2-id","wpcat-23-id"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Joe2.jpg?fit=717%2C573&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12237","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/9052"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12237"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12237\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5109"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12237"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12237"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12237"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}