Summary:<\/b> An angry gunslinger, a pretty lying girl, an irate father…what more does Little Joe need to keep himself in trouble?<\/p>\n
Rated PG \u00a0WC 8300<\/p>\n
Son, Don’t Take Your Gun to Town<\/strong><\/p>\n Ben let his weary body<\/strong> slide down into the hot, sudsy water. He was tired, worn completely out. The ride into town and back twice in one day had taken its toll on his entire being. It seemed as if every muscle in his body ached. \u201cI\u2019m getting too old for this,\u201d he grumbled softly to himself.<\/p>\n Leaning his head back, Ben closed his eyes. His thoughts immediately were consumed with images of his youngest most daring and high-spirited adolescent son. Even now he shuttered to think what might have happened if Little Joe hadn\u2019t heeded his warning. The end result was bad enough; his son though battered and bruised, was alive. For that, Ben was grateful and ever so thankful that the dispute that had gone on for weeks was now settled. Gun play had been avoided, at least in the beginning; however fists seemed to have rained their own fury down on both parties. Little Joe being less experienced and much smaller than the other man, had taken the worst of the beating. He\u2019d be sore for days and it would most likely take weeks for all the dark bruises to fade away.<\/p>\n Ben opened his eyes. The water was beginning to cool down and he decided he\u2019d best get on with his bathing before he got chilled. As he lathered up and began to wash himself, his musings occupied his mind. The argument was senseless in his thinking. His son however believed he had a right to defend himself, to clear his name, as Little Joe had informed him. And in truth, Ben agreed, but had chosen not to share those thoughts with his son. He feared that if he had, Little Joe might have been the one to go looking for trouble. As it were, trouble seemed to have found the boy instead. Keeping the boy on restriction had been his last resort. He\u2019d forbid the boy to go into town unless one of his brothers or himself went with him. That hadn\u2019t gone over well at all with the defiant young man. And defiant he had been. Little Joe had argued until both he and his father had been blue in the face. And then just as suddenly as it began it appeared that Little Joe had given in to his father\u2019s demands and for the next couple of days a sort of tranquil peace descended upon his household. However, it proved to be the calm before the storm. Ben stood up and stepped out of the tub to begin drying off. His thoughts could not be re-directed from his son. The storm broke the morning he\u2019d been told that Little Joe was not in his room when Hoss had gone upstairs to awaken the boy for breakfast. Ben had sent Adam to the barn to see if perhaps Little Joe might have gotten an early start on his chores. He should have known better, the lad was not one to take the initiative when it came to work. And the look on Adam\u2019s face when he returned, told Ben what he had feared he would have to hear. Little Joe\u2019s pinto was gone. The imprudent young man had sneaked out of the house. And his father knew exactly where the foolish kid had gone, Virginia City!<\/p>\n The only thing that had kept him from losing his temper completely had been the fact that Joe\u2019s gun and holster had been found sitting on the credenza where the four of them always put their weapons when they entered the house. At least his son had not taken his gun to town when he had willingly disobeyed his orders. Still, Ben was furious, madder at the boy than he had ever been during Little Joe\u2019s short eighteen years.<\/p>\n Ben was dressing when the soft knock changed the course of his ponderings. \u201cI\u2019m dressed,\u201d Ben called to whoever was on the other side of the door. When he opened it, Adam stood leaning against the doorframe. \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSorry to bother you, Pa, but Little Joe\u2019s asking for you,\u201d Adam told his father.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t say,\u201d commented the weary man.<\/p>\n \u201cPa,\u201d Adam\u2019s tone was soft. \u201cSheriff Coffee\u2019s just arrived and wants to speak to you as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head back and forth. \u201cThen, I suppose I\u2019d better go see what he has to say.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam stepped aside to let his father pass. \u201cWho\u2026Little Joe or the sheriff?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stopped and turned around, facing his eldest son. With a weary frown, Ben shrugged. \u201cDo I have a choice?\u201d He demanded. \u201cI have an idea what your brother is going to say. I have no clue about why the sheriff is here.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam smiled at his father. \u201cPa\u2026you aren\u2019t really mad at Little Joe are?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stopped again. When he looked at Adam, his son noted how dark his father\u2019s eyes had suddenly become. Ben almost shook his finger under Adam\u2019s nose. \u201cLet me make this clear to you. No, I am not mad at your younger brother, I am FURIOUS! And I plan on letting the boy know just how furious I am at him\u2026he deliberately defied me; he lied to me and dang near got his self killed. He should be ashamed of himself\u2026I cannot say how disappointed I am in your brother right now\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut Pa\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Ben held up his hand. \u201cDon\u2019t try to defend him, Adam. He\u2019s always making a racket about being a man\u2026therefore I plan to treat him as a man.\u201d He turned around and made his way to the great room to greet the sheriff. Adam stood still. He had known his father was angry with his youngest brother, but just hadn\u2019t realized how angry Ben really was. He almost felt sorry for the kid.<\/p>\n Adam decided to let his father talk with the sheriff; he wanted to speak with Little Joe. If his father felt as if they should know whatever it was that Roy was here for, Ben would let them know.<\/p>\n Using the back stairs Adam made his way to Little Joe\u2019s room. He paused at the door before entering. Hoss was with Joe now. He knocked softly on the door and without waiting for an invitation, he entered the room.<\/p>\n \u201cHey Adam,\u201d Hoss said as he got up from where he had been sitting on the edge of the bed next to Little Joe. \u201cHey yourself, big guy,\u201d he greeted his brother with a grin. He looked down at the boy. \u201cHow are you feeling, kid?\u201d he asked Joe.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s voice was scratchy when he talked. \u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d he lied.<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s brows rose slightly. \u201cSure you are sport,\u201d he said. \u201cYou look like hell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh,\u201d groaned Joe. \u201cDon\u2019t make me laugh,\u201d muttered Little Joe. \u201cAlright, I feel about as badly as I look. There\u2019s not a spot on my body that doesn\u2019t hurt,\u201d he said with a grim expression. \u201cHey, Adam, did you tell Pa that I wanted to see him?\u201d He had a worried look on his face.<\/p>\n Adam glanced quickly at Hoss and then turned to look at his younger brother. He sat down on the bed next to Little Joe where minutes before, Hoss had been sitting. \u201cLook, Little Joe, you might as well know ahead of time. Pa\u2019s not real happy with you right now. In fact\u2026he\u2019s furious with you.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe pressed his lips tightly together and turned his head to the other side. \u201cI figured he would be,\u201d he said sadly. \u201cBut if he\u2019d only give me time to explain\u2026I tried when they brought me home last night, but he kept telling me to be quiet. I knew he was mad\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe\u2026you disobeyed him, not to mention the fact that you lied to him\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know Adam, but I didn\u2019t mean to\u2026I mean, I didn\u2019t do it on purpose,\u201d Joe explained. He arched his back slightly trying to ward off the soreness there.<\/p>\n \u201cListen buddy, are you going to tell me next that you didn\u2019t sneak out of the house on purpose? Because if you are, that won\u2019t work with Pa\u2026in fact, it doesn\u2019t work with me. No one made you sneak out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I wasn\u2019t going to say that,\u201d Joe said softly. \u201cI did sneak out alright? But I didn\u2019t lie to Pa and I didn\u2019t disobey him either.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam swapped worried looks. \u201cWhat\u2019ca call it then Shortshanks?\u201d Hoss asked his brother. His rotund face bore a deep worried frown. His blue eyes were dark with concern.<\/p>\n Little Joe closed his eyes. He wanted to forget everything that had happened to him over the last couple of weeks. What he wanted, was his father. He felt as if his father had been avoiding him and it worried the boy. He knew that Ben was angry with him, but Joe thought he could still Ben\u2019s anger if only his father would give him a chance. He could explain it all in just a few minutes\u2026if only.<\/p>\n The bedroom door opened quietly as Hop Sing slipped into the room. All three boys turned, thinking that Ben had finally come to talk with Joe. Joe\u2019s heart sank when saw that again, his father had refused to see him.<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Adam\u2026Mr. Hoss, father wish to speak with you downstairs. He say come now,\u201d Hop Sing explained to the eldest and middle brothers.<\/p>\n Adam glanced at Hoss. Hoss caused his brows to rise and then turned to Little Joe. He noted that his brother\u2019s eyes had misted. \u201cI\u2019ll be back to sit with you in a bit punkin,\u201d he told his brother. Joe simply nodded his head and then shrugged his shoulders and turned to Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d he said in a whispered voice.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll tell him, Joe.\u201d Adam knew what his kid brother wanted, or more so, who his brother wanted; perhaps even needed. \u201cJoe, Pa\u2019s just giving himself time to cool off. He\u2019ll come up soon, just give him time,\u201d Adam suggested.<\/p>\n Little Joe turned angry, hurt eyes up to look at Adam. \u201cGive him time, Adam? He won\u2019t give me time to explain things to him\u2026dadburnit\u2026he won\u2019t even give me the time of day. He just\u2026he just\u2026doesn\u2019t care anymore!\u201d Groaning, Little Joe turned on to his side, away from his brothers. Tears filled his eyes but he held them in check until he heard the door close. Only then did he give in to both the pain in his body and the longing in his heart. \u201cGuess Pa doesn\u2019t love me anymore,\u201d he whimpered. He knew he was acting like a kid, but his body hurt so badly, his heart was broken and his father had turned his back on him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What Little Joe Cartwright didn\u2019t believe was that his father really did love him. Sure, Ben was very angry at his son. But he had never stopped loving him, nor would he. Ben had sat by the boy\u2019s side for hours. Joe had been medicated and had slept through those hours, but his father had never left his side, until Joe had started waking up. Ben had wanted to stay but decided that until he was sure that he could talk to his son without totally losing his temper, it was better to keep away. They, both the father and the son, would work things out eventually; they always had and they would this as well. The one thing that Ben had not counted on was the fact that his youngest son took the absence of his father as rejection. Later, much later, would the angry father realize his mistake and learn of the heartache he had unintentionally caused his son.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam, Hoss,\u201d Ben greeted his sons as they came down the steps. \u201cHow\u2019s Joe?\u201d he asked, looking to Adam for the answer.<\/p>\n \u201cUnhappy, Pa. He thinks you don\u2019t care about him anymore,\u201d Adam explained, looking to Hoss for conformation.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right, Pa. He\u2019s up there right this minute wonderin\u2019 why his Pa\u2019s turned his back on him.\u201d Hoss wasn\u2019t happy with the situation, he didn\u2019t like seeing his youngest brother looking and feeling so down and out.<\/p>\n \u201cPoppycock!\u201d growled Ben. \u201cI haven\u2019t turned my back on the boy. He should know better than that!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe should, I agree,\u201d Adam told his father. \u201cBut right now, he\u2019s hurting, he needs his father and all he knows is that his father is purposely staying away from him.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben turned away from his sons. He knew in his heart what they were telling him was the truth. It was not his intent to hurt his youngest son\u2019s feelings. The real problem was not so much what Little Joe had done, more so the problem was within himself. He had been truly frightened and afraid for the boy of what might happen to him if Joe had been made to face those three thugs. No way could his son have managed to outdraw the other man let alone three. Ben\u2019s heart had been in his throat for several days. Now, it seemed as if his stomach hurt constantly from the worry. Joe had been beaten, his ribs were broken, and bruises covered almost every spot on his young body and now to add to the boy\u2019s misery, it seemed as if he were the one responsible for his son\u2019s broken heart. That, in turn, made his own heart ache for the boy. Swallowing, Ben turned back to face Adam and Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry. That wasn\u2019t my intent,\u201d he began.<\/p>\n Hoss scrunched up his lips and lowered his head slightly. \u201cShouldn\u2019t ya be talkin\u2019 to Little Joe instead of us?\u201d His tone was tender. Hoss glanced at his father. He hated to see his family hurting, not just his brother, but his father as well.<\/p>\n Ben nodded his head. \u201cI will, but first I need to speak with the two of you,\u201d Ben said. \u201cLet\u2019s sit down.\u201d<\/p>\n Both Adam and Hoss wore worried looks on their handsome faces. \u201cIs something wrong, Pa?\u201d Adam inquired. Ben sighed deeply. Some of his anger he\u2019d been feeling toward Little Joe, abated somewhat.<\/p>\n Ben stood in front of the fireplace and faced both younger men. \u201cI\u2019m afraid that your little brother might find himself in some trouble,\u201d Ben explained.<\/p>\n \u201cTrouble? What kind of trouble, Pa?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n \u201cAs you know, Roy was here. It seems as if Cole Douglas plans on filing assault charges against your brother\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d growled Hoss. \u201cLittle Joe\u2019s the one laid up\u2026how can this Douglas fella claim Joe assaulted him when he was the one goin\u2019 \u2018round town makin\u2019 threats about gettin\u2019 Little Joe?\u201d Hoss wanted to know.<\/p>\n Ben sat down and immediately got up to continue his pacing. \u201cI don\u2019t know Hoss; I\u2019m about at my wits end with this whole matter. I\u2019ve worried myself sick with the fear that something might happen to the boy\u2026\u201d he paused briefly. \u201cI suppose that was why I was so angry with him. That\u2019s why I forbid him from going into town.\u00a0 And then when he went anyway \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t go into town.\u201d<\/p>\n All heads turned toward the stairs. Little Joe leaned heavily against the railing. His arm stretched across his mid-section and the look of pure agony spread over his bruised features. Ben rushed up the steps to his son\u2019s side.<\/p>\n \u201cSon, you shouldn\u2019t be out of bed!\u201d Ben scolded. Hoss and Adam joined their father to gather around the youngest Cartwright.<\/p>\n \u201cYou look about ready to drop Shortshanks,\u201d Hoss cautioned. \u201cLet\u2019s get you back to your room.\u201d Hoss placed his hands on his brother\u2019s shoulders in an effort to turn Joe around and head back upstairs, but Joe bulked at his brother\u2019s efforts.<\/p>\n \u201cNo! Not until Pa hears me out,\u201d he snapped at Hoss and then turned to face his father. His heart was in his eyes when he looked up at Ben. \u201cPlease, Pa\u2026ya have to let me explain\u2026please,\u201d he pleaded as his eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n All the anger and disappointment Ben thought he felt towards his younger son evaporated in that second, melting his heart. He smiled at the boy. \u201cAlright Joseph, but let\u2019s get you back to bed first and then you can tell me everything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPromise? Promise you will sit down and listen\u2026and\u2026not walk out again?\u201d Joe said in a weakened voice.<\/p>\n \u201cI promise, son,\u201d Ben said tenderly as he placed his arm about his son\u2019s mid-section and aided the boy back up the stairs, down the hall and into his own bed. After Ben covered Joe with the blankets, he sat down on the edge of the bed and took Joe\u2019s hand into his larger one. With his thumb he caressed the bruised knuckles. \u201cFirst Joseph, let me say I\u2019m sorry. I never meant for you to feel as if I\u2019d stopped loving you.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe cast his eyes in Adam\u2019s direction and back to what his father was saying.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry too Joe that I didn\u2019t listen to you in the beginning, but I was so\u2026\u201d Ben swallowed, \u201cafraid for you. My fear caused anger\u2026not so much at you but at Cole Douglas and what he was trying to force you into. I know you thought I was mad\u2026and as I explained to your brothers, I was mad, furious and I directed it unjustly towards you.\u201d Ben reached out his hand and caressed Joe\u2019s battered face. \u201cI promise that it will not happen again son\u2026I\u2019m sorry\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Joe, his features strained, smiled slightly. \u201cIt\u2019s alright, Pa. I\u2019m sorry too, for all the worry I caused you. I should have known better\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRemember this\u2026always\u2026never have I, since the day you were born, ever not loved you. No matter what you might do, say, or even go\u2026you are my son, I am your father. Those facts will never change; neither will my love for you. Do you understand, son?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe, his throat thick with emotion could only nod his head in response.<\/p>\n \u201cGood, now why don\u2019t you explain to me how this entire mess got started?\u201d Ben encouraged the boy.<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss stood at the foot of the bed, listening.<\/p>\n \u201cYou sent me into town to pick up some supplies for the miners. Remember?\u201d Joe began.<\/p>\n \u201cYes\u2026then you were to take them up to the mine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhich I did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut not right away, I assume?\u201d Ben said. His expression showed his doubt. He smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cNo sir. I went to the saloon to get a beer while I was waiting for Cas to fill the supply order\u2026not afterwards,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n \u201cI was standing at the bar talking to Cosmo and drinking my beer when this fellow comes in and elbows his way through the crowd, pushing me aside and causing me to spill beer all over my shirt. That\u2019s why you thought I was drunk that night. But I wasn\u2019t, honest Pa,\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cI realize that now son, go on please.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I told the fellow to watch what he was doing. He laughed and then shoved me aside.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you lost your temper,\u201d commented Adam with a sly grin.<\/p>\n \u201cYou got it big brother. I slugged him.\u201d Little Joe looked up at his father. \u201cI know, Pa, I should have just walked away but I didn\u2019t. He hit me a few times and I hit him. In the end, I bested him. I left him lying in the floor when I started to leave. When he jumped up and yelled at me, I stopped and turned around. He had his hand out ready to draw down on me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope you had the good sense to walk away then,\u201d Hoss injected.<\/p>\n Joe snickered softly. \u201cI did. But it made him furious\u2026he started yelling at me to turn around but I kept walking. I was praying the whole time that he wouldn\u2019t just up and shoot me in the back. Last thing I heard him say was that he\u2019d get even with me one way or the other,\u201d Joe told his family.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t think anything else about it, until the next time I went into town. He was there in the saloon and when he saw me, he attempted to call me out. I tried to ignore him. But he grabbed me by the shoulders and spun me around. He hit me before I had a chance to even think about trying to fight back. I tried to defend myself but he got the best of me. I managed to get to my feet but the sheriff came in by then and broke up the fight. Unfortunately, Cole got arrested because some of the men, who witnessed the fight, told Sheriff Coffee that Cole started it. I was told to go home, which I did.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe took a deep breath to fill his lungs as he laid his head back onto the pillow. His eyes closed. Ben glanced at Adam and Hoss and with a nod of his head he motioned them toward the door.\u00a0 Quietly, Ben rose from the bed. Joe\u2019s eyes opened slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cNo Pa, don\u2019t go. I need to tell you the rest,\u201d Joe said in a low, tired voice.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can finish this conversation later, son. You need to rest\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Joe shook his head. \u201cI need to talk, I need to tell you all of it\u2026please, stay.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet him finish Pa. He needs to get it off his chest,\u201d Hoss said as he moved back into the room and pulled a chair close to the bed where he sat down. Adam moved to stand behind Hoss and Ben sat back down on the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright Joe, but if you get too tired, just say so and we can talk later,\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n \u201cI will, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened next, son?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI went to the bank for you; to get the money for the payroll. When I came out, Cole and a couple of his goonies were waiting for me. They didn\u2019t try to take the money, and they didn\u2019t really threaten me, not in so many words. They blocked the sidewalk, so I just stepped off into the street but they moved in front of me again. Cole grinned\u2026it was more like a sneer but he said to me, \u2018Cartwright, if I were you, I\u2019d watch my back. Never know when some scumbag might stop you on the road home and take those saddlebags away from you,\u2019 then they stepped aside and let me pass.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe next time I went into town was when you went with me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes\u2026and that was when we ran into those three on the road,\u201d stated Ben.<\/p>\n Joe nodded, \u201cYes sir.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey were a rough crew for sure. I didn\u2019t like the looks of them and for sure they left no doubt what they were capable of doing to you if they ever caught you out alone again. Joe, I guess knowing that was what prompted me to keep you on<\/p>\n restriction. I wasn\u2019t meaning to punish you. I was trying to keep you safe. And then when you sneaked out and went into town\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s just it Pa\u2026I didn\u2019t go into town.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease explain that then, Little Joe. Because I was sure you had. When Carl Hickman brought you home that night, he said he found you out on the road home from Virginia City. I guess I jumped to conclusions and just assumed you had gone to town. Where did you go son, if you didn\u2019t go into town?\u201d Ben searched the boy\u2019s eyes but Joe lowered his head. Ben noted that Joe\u2019s lips were pressed tightly together. After several moments, he looked up at his father. Moisture had filled his hazel eyes.<\/p>\n Ben leaned over close to his son. The sadness was apparent. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong Little Joe? What are you having trouble telling me?\u201d he said in a fatherly manner. \u201cYou know you can tell me anything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Joe said glancing at his brothers.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you want Hoss and I find something to do so you can talk to Pa without us listening in? Adam asked his brother.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, you might as well hear this now. I figure Pa would tell you later anyway,\u201d Joe said as he smiled slightly.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I haven\u2019t told you,\u201d he said shyly. \u201cIt sort of embarrassing\u2026but I\u2019ve been\u2026seeing someone,\u201d he said with some hesitation. \u00a0Everyone\u2019s eyes bulged as they stared in wonder at the youngest member of their family.<\/p>\n Hoss laughed loudly, drowning out his father and older brother. \u201cFigures there would be a skirt involved!\u201d<\/p>\n Even Little Joe giggled.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell us, Little Joe? Were you afraid we\u2019d tease you?\u201d grinned Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cNot really\u2026\u201dLittle Joe said without looking up.<\/p>\n Ben studied the worried look that came into Joe\u2019s eyes. \u201cAre you ashamed of her?\u201d his father snickered.<\/p>\n The smile suddenly left Little Joe\u2019s face. He glanced up at his family. \u201cNo not exactly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho is this young woman and what does she have to do with you going or not going into town?\u201d Ben questioned. He was beginning to get worried all over again.<\/p>\n \u201cI met her that first trip into town that you sent me on Pa; while I was in the mercantile giving Cas our order. And after that first fight with Cole. Her name is Sally Jamison. I thought she was nice\u2026and she was pretty, so the next couple of times I went into town, I spent some time with her. I really did like her,\u201d he told his family.<\/p>\n \u201cGo on son, please get to the point,\u201d Ben demanded. His patience was beginning to wear thin.<\/p>\n \u201cThe night I slipped out of the house. Oh, by the way Pa. I\u2019m sorry for doing that; more sorry than you know\u2026but anyway, she had sent me a note asking me to meet her at the forks of the road. I hadn\u2019t seen her in several days because of the restriction you had me on and I really wanted to spend some time with her. So after all of you went to sleep, I slipped out of the house and went to meet her.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s brows rose slightly. \u201cI see,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, she didn\u2019t come alone,\u201d Joe said with a worried frown.<\/p>\n \u201cWho came with her Joe?\u201d Adam, who had remained quiet most of evening, had asked.<\/p>\n \u201cWait a dang minute,\u201d Hoss blurted out. \u201cLet me guess\u2026Cole Douglas and his thugs?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s lips were pinched tightly together. He nodded his head. \u201cWhen I got there, Sally was waiting for me. I got down off my horse and gave her a hug. Cole and his two friends came out of the bushes and grabbed me.\u201d He looked sadly over at his father. \u201cI didn\u2019t stand a chance against three of them,\u201d he muttered as he lowered his head. After taking a deep breath, he looked at his family. He saw pity in Hoss\u2019 eyes, compassion in his father\u2019s and a touch of anger in Adam\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was Cole\u2019s wife,\u201d he said in a near whisper. Joe\u2019s cheeks grew rosy in embarrassment.<\/p>\n \u201cWHAT!\u201d Ben thundered. Little Joe heard Adam groan softly. Hoss shook his massive head from side to side.<\/p>\n \u201cThey bushwhacked you, that\u2019s what they\u2019ve done,\u201d growled Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess so, Pa. All three of them jumped me, beat me and then left me for a goner. Cole kicked me a few times after I went down saying that was for making him look bad at the saloon, for getting him arrested and for trying to steal his woman.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked with sad eyes at his father. \u201cI didn\u2019t know, Pa\u2026honest. I\u2019m sorry I didn\u2019t do as you asked\u2026I feel like a dang fool.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh son,\u201d cooed Ben as he gathered the boy into his arms. \u201cYou had no way of knowing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI never intended on going into town, honest Pa.\u201d Joe snuggled deeper into his father\u2019s embrace. He had needed his father\u2019s strength, his aching body, the bruises, the broken ribs and the betrayal of the young woman had taken its toll on the young man. \u201cPlease don\u2019t be mad at me anymore. I don\u2019t think I can bear anymore,\u201d he whispered so that his father was the only one to hear him. Ben caressed the back of Joe\u2019s head in a loving way. All his anger and frustration at the boy was gone. \u201cI\u2019m not mad son,\u201d Ben murmured into Joe\u2019s ear. He felt his son\u2019s body relax and after several moments of holding his son, Joe\u2019s body became slack. Gently Ben laid Joe back down. The weary boy had fallen to sleep. With tender care he covered the lad and then motioned for Adam and Hoss to leave. Ben turned down the kerosene lamp, pulled the door closed and joined the others in the hall.<\/p>\n Adam was leaning against the wall. Hoss shook his head slightly. \u201cPoor little thing,\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat now Pa? I mean, Roy did say that Cole was thinking about pressing assault charges against Little Joe,\u201d Adam stated.<\/p>\n \u201cThree against one,\u201d Adam said in a disgusted voice. \u201cNot very good odds.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut surely there are men in town that heard Douglas swear to get even with Little Joe for showing him up in the saloon and for walking away when he called Little Joe out,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n \u201cI suggest right now we try to get some sleep and in the morning Adam and I will ride into town and talk to the sheriff,\u201d suggested Ben. \u201cLet\u2019s turn in; it\u2019s been a long couple of days.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWant me to sit with Little Joe for a while, Pa?\u201d offered Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks Hoss but I think I should sit with him tonight. You two go on to bed and get some rest. We have things to get settled in the morning.\u201d Ben turned the knob on Joe\u2019s bedroom door. \u201cGood night Adam, good night Hoss, sleep well and God bless,\u201d he told them as he slipped quietly into Joe\u2019s room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was in the wee hours of the morning while Ben dozed in the chair next to Little Joe\u2019s bed when the racket downstairs woke him up. For several moments, he sat in silence trying to decide what the noise was and what had caused it. A second noise brought the sleepy man to his feet. Cautiously, Ben made his way to the door and eased it open slightly. Making sure that the hallway was clear, he slipped from his son\u2019s room and quietly made his way to the small table in the hall where he kept a loaded pistol. When he turned around, he almost shouted out loud.<\/p>\n \u201cShh\u2026\u201d whispered Adam, much to his father\u2019s relief. \u201cI take it you heard the noise too?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Ben said in a low voice. \u201cYou take the back stairs and come in through the kitchen; I\u2019ll go down the main stairs. Be careful, son,\u201d warned Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cI will. Don\u2019t mistake me for an intruder and shoot me,\u201d Adam said with a touch of humor. Ben rolled his eyes and turned toward the main staircase. Adam crept down the hall that led to the back stairs. He entered the kitchen quietly in the dark. Thankfully Hop Sing was a neat housekeeper and Adam knowing where each piece of furniture was placed, managed to find the entrance to the dining room without running into a table or chair. He paused, waiting to see his father descend the stairs. What he didn\u2019t see were the two men, one standing just inside the main door and the other man in Ben\u2019s office. The man in the office area saw Ben at the top of the stairs. He watched as the senior Cartwright cautiously made his way down the steps. Adam inched quietly into the dining room. The man at the front door crept silently towards the end of the credenza, unaware that behind him stood Adam Cartwright. Adam paused, his pistol pointed at the man\u2019s back. At that second Ben spotted the man standing in front of his desk. He yelled at Ben to drop his gun just as the second man moved forward. Ben\u2019s eyes darted back and forth between the two intruders.<\/p>\n \u201cDrop the gun Cartwright or I\u2019ll shoot you where you stand,\u201d the intruder by the desk demanded as he stepped forward, his gun pointing up to Ben who stood on the landing. Ben made as if to drop his gun. Both trespassers were now in full sight of the second Cartwright who had yet to announce his presence. As Ben lowered his gun toward the floor, Adam stepped into view.<\/p>\n \u201cDrop you guns!\u201d he demanded. The intruder closest to Adam spun around, aimed his gun and fired. Adam returned the gun fire, his bullet hitting the other man in the chest. Ben dropped to the floor, lessening his chances of being hit. He fired at the stranger in the office area as the man fired his gun. Ben heard the bullet whiz by over his head as a loud groan reached his ears. The stranger fell to the floor in a heap as Ben jerked his head around just in time to see Hoss fall to the floor behind him.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss!\u201d Ben shouted as he jumped to his feet and raced up the stairs. Hoss was struggling into a sitting position and leaned against the wall. \u201cI\u2019m alright, Pa,\u201d he told his worried father. \u201cThat ole bullet just grazed me,\u201d he said with a strained smile.<\/p>\n Adam had checked the two intruders. One man was dead, the other was badly injured. Hop Sing appeared as soon as the gun fire had stopped and now stood guard over the injured man. Quickly Adam joined his father at the top of the stairs. \u201cHow\u2019s Hoss?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s arm is hurt but it\u2019s just a graze, he\u2019ll be alright in a day or two, once we get him cleaned up. What about those two? Do you know who they are?\u201d he asked Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cThe wounded man is none other than Cole Douglas. I don\u2019t know the dead man, but he\u2019s one of the fellows that beat Joe,\u201d Adam explained to his father.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on out here?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam and Ben looked up to see Little Joe standing in the hallway in only his nightshirt and a gun pointed at the two of them. \u201cPut that thing away before you shoot one of us,\u201d Adam warned his brother. Immediately, Joe lowered his pistol as he made his way over to Hoss. \u201cWhat happened, is he alright? Who shot him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne question at a time, son,\u201d Ben chided gently. \u201cEverything\u2019s alright, Hoss was hit by a stray bullet but his arm was just grazed\u2026as for who shot him\u2026well, look downstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe walked slowly to the top of the stairs and looked down. His eyes rested on Cole Douglas. Anger filled his heart as he began making his way slowly down the steps. When he stood in front of Douglas, he stopped and eyed the man. Blood dripped from Cole\u2019s shoulder, staining his shirt. His own eyes were dark with both pain and fury.<\/p>\n \u201cLooks like you\u2019ll live to see another day,\u201d Joe said calmly.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah\u2026but you\u2019ll live to regret it, Cartwright,\u201d Cole growled.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think so\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Suddenly and without warning the front door was swung opened, slamming against the credenza. Two men entered shouting and shooting wildly.<\/p>\n \u201cCole\u2026Bert\u2026what\u2019s going on in here?\u201d shouted one of the men.<\/p>\n Ben and Adam had both dropped to the floor and began to return the gun fire. Joe had twisted around at the sound of the door being flung opened. Cole took advantage of Little Joe\u2019s diverted attention and with his good arm he punched Joe in the mid-section, causing the already injured man to double over in pain. Joe gasped for air as Cole managed to grab the gun which Little Joe still held in hand. He shoved Joe away from him and as Little Joe stumbled backwards, Cole fired the gun. Joe screamed in pain as the bullet buried it\u2019s self deeply into his left shoulder.<\/p>\n A second shot rang through the air, but this time it was Cole who screamed out in pain as he dropped to the floor. The two other men had stopped firing as soon as they saw their boss had been shot. \u201cDon\u2019t shoot, don\u2019t shoot,\u201d they yelled out.<\/p>\n \u201cHold your fire, Adam,\u201d Ben said as both he and his son rushed down the steps. Hoss had managed to get to his feet and followed his father and brother. \u201cI\u2019ll watch these two varmints,\u201d he told them, \u201csee about Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n While Adam and Hop Sing checked Cole, Ben bent over Little Joe\u2019s still form. His stomach had leapt into his heart the second he had seen Little Joe fall. The boy\u2019s scream of agony still rang in his ears.<\/p>\n Ben scooped the limp body into his arms, cradling his son to his chest. \u201cLittle Joe, Little Joe\u2026\u201d he wept. Adam turned from Cole\u2019s body to that of his brother\u2019s. After checking for a pulse, he looked up at his father and with a grin of relief he told his father, \u201che\u2019s alive, Pa.\u201d Adam ripped opened the top of Joe\u2019s nightshirt to inspect the wound. \u201cThat bullet is in deep, he\u2019ll need the doctor,\u201d he told Ben. Ben glanced behind him at the prone body of Cole Douglas. \u201cHe\u2019s dead,\u201d Adam said even before Ben asked.<\/p>\n \u201cGet these men out of here. Take them all into town. Hop Sing will go with you. Send the doctor out right away and then see Roy Coffee to let him know what\u2019s been going on out here\u2026hurry Adam, please.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m on my way,\u201d Adam told his father. \u201cCome on Hop Sing; let\u2019s get these varmints to town.\u201d Hop Sing stuck the point of his pistol into one man\u2019s back. The stranger knew what to do. He turned, with hands still raised high and marched out the door.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss, let\u2019s get you and Joe to bed.\u201d Ben scooped Joe\u2019s body up into his arms and carried the boy back up to his room where he carefully placed Joe on his bed. \u201cHow are you feeling son?\u201d he asked Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine Pa, you go ahead and get what you need; I\u2019ll stay here with Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben patted the big man on his shoulder and hurried from the room to retrieve the medical supplies. Minutes later, he was back to tend to both of his sons. \u201cLet me look at Joe first, he\u2019s still bleeding and then I\u2019ll have a look at your arm.\u201d<\/p>\n Hours had passed since the doctor had come, removed the bullet from Joe\u2019s shoulder and tended to Hoss\u2019 arm. Both young men were sleeping, one from an induced sleep and the other simply because he was worn out. Ben sat with Little Joe, fretted over his lack of ability to keep his youngest son safe and simply because he did not want to leave the boy, lest Little Joe wake and call for him.<\/p>\n Joe stirred slightly moaning softly. \u201cPa?\u201d his voice was weak and low and his father who had shut his eyes to rest barely heard the plea.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m right here, son,\u201d he said as he leaned down over the boy. Tenderly he caressed Joe\u2019s curls. \u201cWelcome back,\u201d he smiled while he sat down on the edge of the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cWater\u2026please\u2026\u201d Quickly Ben poured water into a glass from the nightstand and helped Little Joe take a drink.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened?\u201d Joe whispered after getting his fill of the cool water.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you remember?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo\u2026I\u2026heard noise\u2026got up\u2026nothing else?\u201d Joe\u2019s voice was raspy and his throat burned.<\/p>\n \u201cYou got shot son\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2026who\u2026shot\u2026me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was Cole Douglas. He and his cronies broke into the house. That was the noise you probably heard. I\u2019m not sure what they wanted, but Adam, Hop Sing and I managed to stop them. Cole\u2019s\u2026dead son. He won\u2019t be bothering you anymore,\u201d Ben explained. \u201cSo is one of his men. Adam and Hop Sing took their bodies and the other two men into town to the sheriff early this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked tired and worried. \u201cWas\u2026Cole\u2019s wife\u2026with them?\u201d he wanted to know.<\/p>\n \u201cNo\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood,\u201d whispered Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom what Roy told Adam, she had left on the stage the day before. So she wasn\u2019t even in town,\u201d explained his father. \u201cRoy sent out a wanted poster on her\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWanted\u2026poster\u2026why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe set you up son; she led you to believe she cared about you and then had you meet her so that her husband and his thugs could kill you. She has to answer for that,\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n Joe scrunched up his face as he tried to get comfortable. \u201cShoulder\u2026 sure does hurt,\u201d he told his father.<\/p>\n \u201cDoc Martin left something for pain; do you want me to get it for you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo\u2026not yet, please. You know Pa\u2026I just can\u2019t\u2026figure it\u2026out,\u201d Little Joe said in broken words. His pain was worse than he wanted to let on, but he wanted to talk with his father before taking anything for it.<\/p>\n Ben looked puzzled. \u201cWhat is that you can\u2019t figure out, son?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSally\u2026Douglas, how someone like her could get involved with someone like Cole. She\u2019s beautiful Pa\u2026and she was\u2026so sweet. I just don\u2019t\u2026get\u2026it,\u201d Joe explained.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s lips formed a smile, sort of. \u201cI guess some women might be drawn to men like Cole Douglas, son.\u201d He laughed lightly. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to figure out why and harder yet to understand women.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe chuckled. \u201cBut you understood my mother, didn\u2019t you?\u201d Joe asked. For the first time in days, he actually smiled at his father. Ben laughed. \u201cNot all of the time,\u201d he confessed.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, I see ya finally woke up,\u201d Hoss grinned as he entered his brother\u2019s room. \u201cHow ya feelin\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s hurting, but trying not to let on,\u201d Ben told Hoss. He rose from the bed and went to the table to fix a pain powder for his son. He turned around and held the<\/p>\n <\/p>\n glass out to Joe. \u201cDrink this and then get some rest, son. I\u2019ll have Hop Sing bring you something to eat shortly.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Two days later found Little Joe sitting downstairs on the settee. He was reading the book that Adam had loaned him to wile away the hours until he could be up and about. Suddenly the door burst opened, causing Little Joe to look over the top of the settee to see who was making such a commotion. It was none other than his big brother Hoss. Hoss was grinning from ear to ear.<\/p>\n \u201cHey Little Joe, look who\u2019s come to see you!\u201d Hoss said with a wide grin on his rotund face.<\/p>\n Joe, slightly annoyed at the interruption, frowned at his brother until the big man stepped aside. Much to the surprise of the younger Cartwright, Sally Douglas stood in the doorway with an uncertain look on her pretty face.<\/p>\n \u201cSally,\u201d Joe muttered as he carefully got up. \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n Sally entered the room slowly and approached Little Joe. Hoss, still grinning, nodded his head at his brother and then politely went out, closing the door behind him, thus giving the pair some private time.<\/p>\n \u201cHello Joe,\u201d the young woman said softly. Her head was low.<\/p>\n Joe approached her. His insides were churning and he hoped that the beautiful lady could not hear the rumbling. Gently he lifted her chin. \u201cHello Sally. Please, won\u2019t you have a seat,\u201d he invited. He pointed to the settee where minutes ago he had been resting. The opened book lay face down on the cushion.<\/p>\n Sally took a deep breath and shook her head. \u201cThank you Little Joe, but I can only stay a minute. I\u2019ve come to\u2026to\u2026\u201d she stammered as her eyes began to fill with tears. She withdrew a hankie from her purse and dabbed at her eyes. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d she smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so ashamed of myself,\u201d she said. \u201cNo, let me say what I have come here to say, please,\u201d she said as she held her hand up to stop whatever it was that Little Joe had been about to say to her. \u201cI want you to know how sorry I am\u2026for my part in getting you hurt.\u201d She looked Little Joe in the eye. \u201cI was forced into it. You see, Cole and I are not really husband and wife\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat!\u201d Joe all but shouted. \u201cI thought\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know what you thought\u2026\u201d she interrupted. \u201cCole wanted to make sure you thought that, but in truth, we are brother and sister\u2026half-brother and sister I should say. We share the same father.\u201d Sally took a deep breath. \u201cCole told me if I didn\u2019t help him\u2026he would kill\u2026my\u2026son.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSon, you have a son?\u201d Joe was surprised at this information.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, he\u2019s five years old and is back east staying with my father and step-mother. Joe, my married name is Jamison. My husband was killed a year ago in a stage robbery. He came out here to work at a bank in Carson City and had sent for me. I had left my son with my parents until I could help Peter, that\u2019s was my husband, get settled and then my parents were bringing our son to us. They were going to stay with us for a while. As it turned out, I had no idea that the man who held up the stagecoach was my own brother,\u201d she explained as tears once again began to fill her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cOh God, Sally, I\u2019m so sorry,\u201d Joe said as he put his arm around the young mother and drew her close.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I found out,\u201d she said, gently moving out of Joe\u2019s embrace, \u201cI was so furious I wanted to kill Cole myself. He swore he had no way of knowing that Peter and I were married, which I knew to be true because he had never met my husband. He promised to make it all up to me if I would help him do one thing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLure me to my death,\u201d Joe said with a touch of disgust in his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Sally said meekly. \u201cThat and make you like me enough to be able to lure you to the crossroads. Oh Joe\u2026I\u2019m sorry, honest. But I was totally broke. I had no money, no way to get back to my son. At first I refused, but Cole said he knew people back east and that it wouldn\u2019t take but his word to see that my son was destroyed. Joe, I was afraid of Cole. I knew he had already killed\u2026so\u2026I believed him and\u2026I\u2026I love my son. Please understand Joe, he\u2019s all I\u2019ve got in this whole world that\u2019s all mine\u2026\u201d Sally could no longer contain her tears. She sank down onto the settee and wept bitter tears. Joe moved to sit on the table in front of her. Her story seemed incredible to him, but he believed her. Her half-brother Cole, was a cold blooded killer; Joe had no doubt that the man would have done exactly as he had threatened.<\/p>\n Joe cupped the woman\u2019s chin and lifted her face so that he might look into her eyes. He saw the fear and the sorrow deep within her blue eyes. He smiled at her.<\/p>\n \u201cI do understand, Sally, honestly. So forget it,\u201d he grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cOh Joe,\u201d she sobbed as she reached out to hug him. She smiled. \u201cThe sheriff is outside waiting for me. I told him the same story Joe and he said that if you were willing to drop the charges, he\u2019d release me so that I could go home to my son.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stood up, brining Sally up with him. \u201cThen let\u2019s go talk to the sheriff. I just know your boy is waiting for you to get home.\u201d He slipped his arm around Sally\u2019s shoulders and led her outside. Roy was talking with Ben, Hoss and Adam. All four men turned to look at him.<\/p>\n \u201cRoy, I have no reason to want charges brought against this lady,\u201d he explained. \u201cCan you\u2026let her go? She needs to get back with to her son.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, now Little Joe, I reckon if you\u2019re sure\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure,\u201d Joe said, smiling at all of them. \u201cA boy needs his\u2026\u201d for a moment Little Joe\u2019s smile died until he looked up at his father. \u201cA boy needs his parents,\u201d he said, still looking at Ben. \u201cI know\u2026I do,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Ben swallowed the knot that had formed in his throat. \u201cAnd I need my son,\u201d he said in a loving but low whisper that only Little Joe was able to hear.<\/p>\n \u201cWell then little lady, let\u2019s get you back to town. You might be able to catch the afternoon stage,\u201d Roy said in a light tone.<\/p>\n Sally turned back to Little Joe and flung her arms around his neck. \u201cOh thank you Joe\u2026I\u2019ll never forget you for this!\u201d When she finally released Little Joe, she smiled at his father and brothers. \u201cThank you\u2026all of you\u2026and please,\u201d she pleaded, \u201ctake care of Joe\u2026he\u2019s a special kind of man.\u201d<\/p>\n The Cartwrights watched Sally and Roy as they drove away in the buggy. Adam turned towards Hoss. His dark eyes twinkled with merriment.<\/p>\n \u201cSpecial?\u201d he said, trying hard not to laugh.<\/p>\n Hoss puckered up his lips. \u201cMan?\u201d he teased.<\/p>\n \u201cHey!\u201d Little Joe screeched.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright you two, leave your brother alone,\u201d he scolded as he put his arm around Little Joe\u2019s shoulders. \u201cI happen to agree with the lady. I think\u2026no\u2026I know, your brother is a special kind of man!\u201d<\/p>\n He laughed as he gently led Joe back into the house, leaving Adam and Hoss standing together in the yard. They looked at each other, smiled and nodded their heads in agreement. \u201cBut let\u2019s not tell him we think so too,\u201d Adam stated.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, wouldn\u2019t want the kid to get the big head,\u201d snickered Hoss as together they went to join their father and their \u2018special\u2019 youngest brother.<\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n Nov. 2014<\/p>\n <\/p>\n