{"id":12369,"date":"2001-08-02T19:10:33","date_gmt":"2001-08-02T23:10:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12369"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:05:17","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:05:17","slug":"home-at-last-by-jenniea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12369","title":{"rendered":"Home at Last (by JennieA)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:<\/strong> Wanting to go home after missing, a little boy suddenly has a change of heart.<\/p>\n

Rated:<\/strong> PG\u00a0 (5,475 words)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Home at Last<\/strong><\/p>\n


\n<\/strong>It had been three hours since the rain storm had left Virginia City.\u00a0 The roads were virtually un-passable.\u00a0 Wagons were left alone waiting for the sun to free them from the grips of abandonment.\u00a0 Streets were deserted and businesses were slow.\u00a0 Roy was standing just outside of his office holding a cup of hot coffee.\u00a0 Watching the sun set, he noticed a figure slowly stumbling down Main Street.\u00a0 The child’s clothes were layered in mud and were stuck to the small frame as though they were a second skin.\u00a0 The child wore no hat and his mud streaked hair hung down passed his shoulders.\u00a0 As he neared the office, Roy slowly walked over to meet the child. Holding out his hand he introduced himself.\u00a0 Getting no response, Roy asked the frightened child to follow him into his office were he could be warmed up.\u00a0 Still holding eye contact with the ground, the boy nodded his head in acceptance and followed the sheriff into the building.<\/p>\n

Roy lead the child over to a chair nearest the wood burning stove and retrieved a blanket from one of the bunks from his jail cell.\u00a0 He draped it gently across the child’s shoulders.\u00a0 Pouring another cup of coffee, Roy offered it to the child.\u00a0 The boy looked up for the first time and reached for the cup.\u00a0 With trembling hands he inched it towards his mouth.\u00a0 As the coffee warmed the child up on the inside, he began to shiver uncontrollably.\u00a0 Wrapping another blanket around the child, Roy explained to him that he wanted to take him over to the Doctor’s office for him to be looked over.\u00a0 Staggering to his feet, the boy grabbed his hand and allowed himself to be lead across the street.<\/p>\n

Paul was getting ready to lock up for the evening when he spotted Roy walking his way with a child in tow.\u00a0 Stepping aside Paul allowed Roy to enter the office. The child was still shaking as Roy lead him over to the settee to sit down.\u00a0 Explaining to Paul how he had found the child walking the streets of Virginia City, Paul was anxious to exam the child and to find out something about him.\u00a0 “Son, my name is Dr. Martin. Could you tell me your name?”<\/p>\n

The child gave no response and continued to stare at the floor boards.\u00a0 Kneeling down in front of the child, Paul placed his hands on the child’s knees, in an effort to calm him.\u00a0 “It’s okay, you don’t have to answer me just yet, but I would like to at least get you into a warm bath and some dry clothes.\u00a0 Will you allow me to do that much for now?”<\/p>\n

Keeping his gaze on the floor, the child just nodded yes.\u00a0 “Good! Roy will sit with you as I ready the bath.\u00a0 It won’t take me long at all”, explained the doctor as he stood and walked out of the front room.<\/p>\n

Roy continued to talk to the boy in hopes of finding out who he was and where he had come from and more importantly, what had happened to him.\u00a0 The child was apparently in shock as he only stared at the floor.\u00a0 Hearing Paul call out that the bath was ready, Roy again offered his hand to the boy.\u00a0 He willingly accepted it and followed him to the back room where his bath awaited him.\u00a0 Standing next to the tub, the child made no movement to undress himself.\u00a0 With help from Roy, Paul was able to undress the child and get him into the tub.\u00a0 A brief exam of the boy’s body indicated that he had been hit by someone or something in the last few days. The bruises that marked his body were starting to fade into colors of yellow and green.<\/p>\n

As Dr. Martin washed away the dirt and grim from the boy’s face, both men gasped out loud as a familiar face stared back at them.\u00a0 Both men found themselves fighting with their own emotions to remain calm.\u00a0 Letting the initial shock of recognition wear off, Roy and Paul quickly resumed the task of cleaning up the boy.\u00a0 Paul got him dried off and into a clean nightshirt that was retrieved from his own dresser.\u00a0 Settling him down in front of the stove, Paul offered the child a bowl of chicken broth and a cup of hot chocolate.\u00a0 Both waited patiently for the boy to finish eating before be began the difficult task of questioning him.<\/p>\n

As he slurped the last of the broth, the boy looked up at Roy and asked him, “where’s my Pa? I wanna see my Pa.”<\/p>\n

Relieved to hear him talk, Paul answered him, “Little Joe, Roy has sent someone out to fetch your family.\u00a0 Because of the conditions of the roads, it will take some time before they arrive here in town.”\u00a0 Hesitating slightly, Paul pressed on, “can you tell us where you have been?”<\/p>\n

Joe was becoming nervous as he started fidgeting with his buttons on his nightshirt.\u00a0 Lowering his head to look once again at the floor boards, he whispered, “how long has it been?”<\/p>\n

Sitting down next to the boy, Roy wrapped a comforting arm around the Joe’s shoulders and pulled him close.\u00a0 “Son, it has been almost three months since you disappeared from the school yard.”<\/p>\n

Shaking slightly, the boy searched his friend’s face as he asked, “three months? I’ve been gone for three months?”<\/p>\n

“Well almost three months, at first your Pa thought you might have decided to goof off after school instead of coming home.\u00a0 It wasn’t until dark that he felt something had happened and sent your brothers into town to gather a search party” replied Roy as he pulled the child tighter into a comforting hug.<\/p>\n

“I…..I guess I missed the dance, huh?” the boy’s voice trembled as he looked into his friend’s face in disbelief.<\/p>\n

Roy nodded as he went on to explain, “we have been searching for you up until the heavy rains started.\u00a0 Can you tell me where you have been?”<\/p>\n

Closing his eyes and relaxing against his friend, Little Joe sighed and began to tell his nightmare.<\/p>\n

“There were four boys from school, you know, the older boys.\u00a0 They were getting mad because the girls that they were asking to the spring dance were telling them that they were waiting to see if I was gonna ask them to accompany me.\u00a0 All during recess they were huddled together in a group and were always looking my way and laughing.\u00a0 I really didn’t think much of it, other than they were upset that they weren’t getting anywhere with the girls.\u00a0 After the class was dismissed for the day, I went out to the stable to get my horse and next thing I know I am waking up in some kinda of a cave.\u00a0 My hands were tied with a rope and so were my feet. Can I have a drink of water?”<\/p>\n

Paul retrieved the water and handed it to Joe.\u00a0 Gulping it down, he stared once again into Roy’s face and asked, “when’s my Pa gonna get here? I want to see my Pa.”<\/p>\n

Hugging him, Roy responded, “he will be here soon, remember what I told you about the roads?\u00a0 Give it some time, he will come to you.”<\/p>\n

Little Joe swiped his hand across his moist eyes and continued.\u00a0 “It was dark, they blindfolded me and I had a gag in my mouth. I couldn’t see or talk.\u00a0 Could do nothing but listen.\u00a0 The only sounds I heard where crickets and a cat growling in the distance.\u00a0 I think it was a puma, but I could be wrong.\u00a0 I remember hearing them a few times when hunting with my brothers.\u00a0 Do you know if my horse made it home okay?\u00a0 I have been worried about what they might have done with him.”\u00a0 The look in the boy’s eyes pleaded for knowledge of a safe return of his horse to his family.<\/p>\n

With a slight smile on his face, Roy told him that his horse had been found in the stable at the school yard and returned safely to the ranch.\u00a0 Pressing on, he asked the boy, “Can you tell me who the boys were that did this to you?”<\/p>\n

Joseph’s answer was whispered so low that Roy had to lean into him just to hear the reply.\u00a0 “I can’t, they told me if I ever told anyone that they would kill me.” Tears were starting to fill up in his eyes as he looked around the room for the comfort of his Pa.\u00a0 His gaze once again returned to Roy as he started to talk again.<\/p>\n

“Where was I? Oh, the puma, right?”\u00a0 Not waiting for an answer, Little Joe continued.\u00a0 “I called out to them but no one answered.\u00a0 At first I didn’t know if they were there and not answering me or if they had upped and left me.\u00a0 I remember laying there for a long time fighting off sleep.\u00a0 I wanted to stay awake in case I heard my Pa calling for me.\u00a0 I musta fallen asleep cause I remember waking up to the sound of them walking around me.\u00a0 Is it okay if I use the outhouse, I need to go real bad?”<\/p>\n

Paul lead him out the back of his office and waited for the boy.\u00a0 Minutes went by before he knocked on the door, “Son, are you alright?”<\/p>\n

Hearing nothing but muffled sobs, Paul opened the door to find the boy sitting on the bench trying to bring himself under control.\u00a0 He held out his arms and gathered the boy into an embrace and allowed him to calm down before leading him back into the office.\u00a0 Once inside, Joe looked into Roy’s face again and asked, “when’s my Pa gonna get here, I wanna see him?”<\/p>\n

Roy gently took the boy’s hand into his own and lead him back to the settee.\u00a0 “Look son, please give it time, the roads were washed out due to the rain storm.\u00a0 I promise you, your Pa will be here.”<\/p>\n

Little Joe sighed and sat down.\u00a0 Drawing his knees up onto the settee he wrapped his arms around them and buried his head on his arms, closing his eyes.\u00a0 “I don’t know if I can tell you anymore right now.\u00a0 I wanna see my Pa. I’m…….I’m scared……I don’t want them to hurt me anymore.\u00a0 I wanna go home now.\u00a0 Will you take me home?\u00a0 I can’t wait for Pa to get here.\u00a0 I wanna go now……..please take me home.”<\/p>\n

The string of questions and requests hit both Paul and Roy like a hard blow to their stomachs.\u00a0 Paul recognized the signs of emotional exhaustion taking its toll on their young patient and left the boy’s side to retrieve a sedative.\u00a0 Seeing the doctor approaching with the glass of powder and a pitcher of water in hand, Joe jumped up from the settee and tried to run to the door.\u00a0 The look of sheer terror was etched deeply on the young boy’s face. “No……no….no…..I’ll be good, please…….no……not that…….I didn’t mean to get you mad.”\u00a0 As the words spilled out of his mouth so did the tears from his eyes.<\/p>\n

Roy had gotten ahold of Little Joe and was holding him around the waist trying to calm him down.\u00a0 “Son, you didn’t get no one mad.\u00a0 Paul thought things might have gotten to hard to handle and was just going to help you calm down alittle.\u00a0 Nothing more, I promise you that.”<\/p>\n

Paul was quick to re-affirm that promise.\u00a0 “It’s okay son, honest, this is just to help you calm down alittle.\u00a0 Allowing Roy the time to pull the child into a closer embrace, Paul held the sedative mixture up for Joe to drink.\u00a0 Roy lead him to the back of the office to a bed and helped him settle down.\u00a0 Pulling the covers up to his chin, Roy gave him a smile and reassured him that things would be okay and that he just needed sometime to rest.\u00a0 Allowing the medicine to work its miracle, Little Joe closed his eyes and felt himself drifting off to sleep.<\/p>\n

Paul had hoped to give the boy a few hours of rest, but within forty minutes after administering the sedative, his screams for help drew them back into the room.\u00a0 He was pressed up against the headboard, reaching out with his left hand, crying out for help.\u00a0 “P….P….Please, don’t leave me here.\u00a0 I wanna go home.\u00a0 Where’s Pa?\u00a0 I need to see my Pa.\u00a0 I wanna go home now, please let me go home, please!”<\/p>\n

“Son, it’s me, Doc Martin.\u00a0 Let me help you.\u00a0 Everything is going to be alright.\u00a0 Reach out and take my hand, come on, it’s okay.”\u00a0 Paul relayed this message a couple of times before Joe slowly can out of his trance.\u00a0 He allowed the doctor to hold his hands and gently pull him away from the headboard to sit next to him.\u00a0 Feeling the tremors in the boy’s body, Paul gathered him\u00a0 into a hug.\u00a0 Paul could feel the tremors starting to fade as his breathing slowed.\u00a0 A tear stained face looked up at him and ask, “did you get my Pa yet?\u00a0 Why ain’t he here to take me home?\u00a0 I wanna see my Pa.”<\/p>\n

“I know how badly you want your Pa, please trust me in knowing that he will be here.\u00a0 I promise you, he will be here” explained the doctor.<\/p>\n

Roy had heard the conversation that transpired between the doctor and the patient.\u00a0 He really didn’t want to upset the boy any more than he already was, but knew that the longer he remained silent, the more likely the older boys would remain a mystery. Sitting down on the chair that was next to the bed, he asked Little Joe if he thought he might be able to continue with his story.<\/p>\n

Joseph rubbed his eyes with the back of his hands and wiped his nose with the sleeve of the nightshirt as he nodded his response.\u00a0 Taking a deep breathe, Joe began.<\/p>\n

“I think that it was morning when they came back to the hide out.\u00a0 One of them untied my hands and removed my gag.\u00a0 I was given a cup of water and a piece of stale bread.\u00a0 I was hungry but couldn’t eat. It made my stomach hurt.\u00a0 So, I just drank the water.\u00a0 After I was done, I was retied and re-gagged and pushed down on the ground on my face.\u00a0 Do I have to tell you what they did to me?\u00a0 I……I don’t wanna go there.\u00a0 They hurt me, sometimes real bad.\u00a0 Everyday after they gave me something to eat and drink, they would hurt me.\u00a0 Sometimes”, the boy’s voice dropped to a whisper, ” I didn’t get to eat or drink because they couldn’t wait to hurt me.\u00a0 Please don’t make me say those things, it hurts to remember” pleaded Little Joe.<\/p>\n

“It’s okay son, we can always go back to that when you feel you can handle it.\u00a0 Did they ever tell you why they were keeping you hostage” inquired Roy.<\/p>\n

“No, but I heard them talking about letting me go the next morning.\u00a0 I couldn’t always hear what they were saying.\u00a0 I did hear one of them say that they wanted to scare me some.\u00a0 Then one of the fellows sounded nervous and wanted to back out of the deal.\u00a0 He sounded scared, just like me.\u00a0 Another boy spoke up and said that if they let me go, that I would tell Pa or you about what they did.”\u00a0 Hesitating for a brief moment, the child sighed and continued, “So, then they decided that I would be kept there in hiding until you have up on the search.\u00a0 The other fellow said something about or until I was dead.\u00a0 I couldn’t hear everything that was said. Can you take a look outside and see if you see my Pa yet?\u00a0 I wanna just go home.\u00a0 I need to see my Pa” Joe asked while trying to maintain control of his emotions.<\/p>\n

Roy stood up and walked out of the room to take a look.\u00a0 Returning he shook his head to indicate that there was still no sign of the boy’s father.\u00a0 Sitting back down, he asked Little Joe, “is there anything else that you can tell?”<\/p>\n

Sniffling back a sob, he nodded yes and continued.\u00a0 “This went on for days, or so I thought.\u00a0 Was I really gone for three months?”\u00a0 Not waiting for a reply, he pushed on.\u00a0 “After what seemed like forever, no one bothered to show up.\u00a0 I was getting hungry and thirsty.\u00a0 I managed to maneuver myself against the wall of the cave and worked on getting the rope loose that held my arms.\u00a0 That took awhile.\u00a0 They used a new rope and it was really hard to break away.”<\/p>\n

Silence once again entered the room.\u00a0 Both men were well aware of what this was doing Joe.\u00a0 He fought to hold back his tears as he continued.\u00a0 “After releasing my feet, it took me awhile to get out of the cave.\u00a0 But, I saw that it wasn’t really a cave.\u00a0 It was one of the mine shacks.\u00a0 I had to crawl most of the way.\u00a0 My legs were shaky and I was getting dizzy trying to walk.\u00a0 Once outside, I had to rest for awhile.\u00a0 I was so tired.\u00a0 I remember falling asleep and when I woke up I was able to stand and walk.\u00a0 Well, not really walk, my legs were still sore from sitting or laying all the time.\u00a0 They hurt some.”\u00a0 Joe seem to freeze in time as the thoughts of his capture rolled through his mind.\u00a0 Shaking his head, he continued.\u00a0 “The moving was slow… real slow. I was hurting in more places than I first felt now that I was up and moving.\u00a0 I am guessing about one hour had passed before I knew where I was.”\u00a0 Again silence entered the room.\u00a0 For awhile no one said nothing.\u00a0 Then Little Joe stood up and walked over to far side of the room.\u00a0 As he turned back around to face Roy and Paul, the emotional turmoil that he fought so hard to contain let loose.\u00a0 Sobbing uncontrollably, he sank to his knees and cried out, I was right here in Virginia City.\u00a0 The whole time I was here.”\u00a0 Both men were at his side to try their best to comfort him.\u00a0 This time the sedative that Paul prepared was alittle bit stronger.\u00a0 They managed to get Joe back into the bed and as they did, he buried his face into the pillow, calling out for his Pa to hurry up and get there.\u00a0 Ten minutes later he had fallen into a restless sleep.<\/p>\n

Glancing at his pocketwatch, Roy was starting to worry about the boy’s family making it into town safely.\u00a0 He had heard how bad the roads had been washed out. Knowing how the father felt about his sons, he felt in his heart that he would get to the boy even if it meant walking to town.\u00a0 As he stepped outside, he was delighted to see a full moon shining high in the sky.<\/p>\n

Roy and Paul were both woken to the screams of Little Joe.\u00a0 It was morning and still the child’s father had not arrived.\u00a0 Sighing, Paul entered the room and crossed over to sit down next to him.\u00a0 He was covered in a thin sheen of sweat and his eyes were unfocused.\u00a0 Paul talked calmly to Joe and eventually he was able to calm the boy down.\u00a0 Rubbing his eyes dry with his fists, Little Joe once more asked, “has my Pa got here yet?\u00a0 I really need to get home.\u00a0 I have alot of chores to do and……oh, no……I…I never got to do my book report.\u00a0 Ms. Jones, she’ll….she’ll send a note home to Pa.\u00a0 I will be in trouble.\u00a0 Can you give me back my clothes?\u00a0 I can walk myself home.\u00a0 Do you think Pa will be real mad at me.\u00a0 I have alot of wood to chop, I bet.\u00a0 Can I have my clothes back now, I need to go home.\u00a0 Pa isn’t coming for me, is he?\u00a0 He must of gotten the note from Ms. Jones already.\u00a0\u00a0 He must be mad at me.\u00a0 That’s why…….that’s why he hasn’t come for me.”\u00a0\u00a0 Joe continued to ramble on as tears once again fell from his eyes.<\/p>\n

Motioning with his head for Roy to follow him, Paul walked out into the hallway.<\/p>\n

“Roy, I hate to keep having to giving him a sedative.\u00a0 Any idea where his father is and what’s taking so long for him to get here?” inquired Paul.<\/p>\n

“The messenger I sent to the ranch still has not returned.\u00a0 I am assuming that it is because of the roads.\u00a0 All that flooding has made things very difficult for man or beast to pass through.\u00a0 Let’s give it a few more hours and see if they get back” replied Roy.\u00a0 “If they aren’t here by noon, I myself will ride out to look for them.”<\/p>\n

Joe\u00a0 had overheard the beginnings of the conversation that took place between the Doc and Roy.\u00a0 Choking backs the sobs that threaten to escape his body, the boy firmly believed that the reason why his Pa had not come for him was because of the note that Ms. Jones had sent home concerning his lack of participation with his book report.\u00a0 Knowing how disappointed his Pa would be in him, Joe felt that he should maybe leave, thus releasing his Pa from any further disappointments in life. A quick search of the room revealed only his boots.\u00a0 Slipping them on over the pair of socks that Doc had lent to him, he quickly slide out the window and into the alley way.\u00a0 Clad only is his boots and a borrowed nightshirt, Joe made his way silently out of town.<\/p>\n

“Roy, see if you can settle Little Joe, while I make him some breakfast” directed Paul.<\/p>\n

Entering the room, Roy was quick to note that the boy was not there.\u00a0 A fast search of the outhouse further confirmed his fear that Little Joe had disappeared.\u00a0 Roy ran back inside to notify Paul.\u00a0 “Joseph gave us the slip, probably heading out to look for his Pa.\u00a0 I am going to the livery stables and see if I can’t get a horse to catch up to that child.\u00a0 He couldn’t have gotten far, we were only in the hallway for a few minutes.\u00a0 Boy, must be crazy to think he will get very far without a horse,” explained Roy has he buckled on his gunbelt.\u00a0 “You stay here in case he returns.”<\/p>\n

Doc’s concerns for Joe were more towards the medical aspect.\u00a0 Knowing the boy was dressed only in a thin cotton nightshirt, he was exposed to the elements of the weather.\u00a0 Adding to worry was also the fact that he had not eaten anything since last night.\u00a0 The child’s strength had not been restored and this weighed heavy on Paul’s mind.<\/p>\n

Luck was on Roy’s side as he headed slowly out of town in search of Little Joe. The roads were starting to dry up allowing the horse to stay on the selected path. As he neared the outskirts of town, he saw the youngster making his way down the chosen path that would eventually lead away from his home.\u00a0 Nudging his horse into a canter, Roy soon caught up to the child.<\/p>\n

Hearing the sound of the approaching horse, Little Joe sprung into a run.\u00a0 He was determined to get away.\u00a0 His tears were blinding him as he ran to escape the man that would turn him over to his Pa.\u00a0 Tripping over a rock, he fell hard to his knees. Mental and physical exhaustion over took the boy as he cried out “No!”
\nRoy practically flew down from his mount as he reached for Joe.\u00a0 He hesitated when he saw the look of panic on the child’s face.\u00a0 “It’s okay son, come on back to town with me.\u00a0 I, myself, will go in search of your Pa and bring him to you.\u00a0 I promise.”<\/p>\n

“Noooooo! I…..I can’t face my Pa right now” moaned the boy.<\/p>\n

Roy was taken back.\u00a0 “I don’t understand.\u00a0 I thought you wanted to see your Pa?”\u00a0 As he spoke to Joe, he noticed that he was becoming more and more agitated. Hoping to keep things under control, Roy reached down and pulled the boy up and swung him into the saddle.\u00a0 Before Roy could pull himself up, Joe kicked the horse into a gallop and took off.<\/p>\n

Cursing himself, Roy turned to walk back into town.\u00a0 Again lady luck was on his side.\u00a0 A rider was approaching rather quickly. As the rider neared, Roy was relieved to discover that it was Adam Cartwright.\u00a0 Reining his horse to a stop, Adam look confused as he asked, “Roy where’s your horse?\u00a0 Did you find Little Joe’s trail?\u00a0 How much…”<\/p>\n

Signaling Adam to slow down, Roy explained, “I put your brother on my horse and before I could mount myself, he kicked the horse into a gallop and headed off down the road towards Carson City.”\u00a0 Seeing that Adam intended to follow his younger brother, Roy reached up and grabbed the bridle.\u00a0 “Now, just hold and listen to me for a minute” he ordered.\u00a0 “Your brother is very incoherent at the moment.\u00a0 All last night and this morning he wanted his Pa and then out here he tells me that he doesn’t want to see him right now.\u00a0 I don’t know what happened but the boy is hurting emotionally right now.\u00a0 We have to move in on him slowly.\u00a0 Can’t frighten him anymore than he already is.\u00a0 Now what about your Pa, did he make it into town?”<\/p>\n

Nodding his head to confirm that his Pa was in town, Adam explained, “your messenger didn’t arrive until this morning.\u00a0 His horse throw a shoe and ended up lame. He had to walk to the Ponderosa.\u00a0 He arrived this morning around 7:00 am and we headed out just as soon as we got the horses saddled.\u00a0 We went straight to Paul’s office and that’s when we found out that Joe had run away.\u00a0 Pa stayed back in town in case Little Joe showed back up there.\u00a0 But, enough of this discussion, hop up and let’s get back and get you another horse.\u00a0 We need to get that boy home.”<\/p>\n

Grabbing onto Adam’s arm, Roy pulled himself up into the saddle.\u00a0 Adam dropped Roy off at the livery stable and rode back to Paul’s office to fill his father in on Joe.\u00a0 Paul and Adam convinced Ben that due to his emotional state, that it was in his best interest to wait for Joe there.\u00a0 It had been a long three months for all involved and Ben was end of his emotional rope. Reluctantly Ben finally agreed to wait with Paul. Meeting up with Roy again, they headed back to the road that would lead them to Carson City.\u00a0 Both men were lost in silent prayer as they rode hard hoping to find Little Joe before he collapsed from fatigue.<\/p>\n

“Whoa! Hold on a minute Roy.\u00a0 These tracks are doubling back” yelled Adam.\u00a0 Spurring their horses around they headed back towards the direction that they already came from.\u00a0 Adam’s rising concern for his brother’s welfare was etched heavily on his face.<\/p>\n

“Adam, we will find him.\u00a0 I promised that boy that I would get his Pa to him and I aim to keep that promise if it takes the rest of the day to do so,” expressed Roy. “He’s got to be getting hungry by now.\u00a0 He left out of Paul’s office this morning without any breakfast.\u00a0 Not to mention the fact that he is mentally as well as physically exhausted.\u00a0 Sooner or later Little Joe has got to stop to rest, if not for himself for the sake of the horse.”<\/p>\n

Glancing at the sun, Adam realized that it was close to noon.\u00a0 Panic was starting to set in again.\u00a0 “Why, why this?\u00a0 Hasn’t the boy been through enough.\u00a0 God, please help me find him and fast,” Adam silently prayed.<\/p>\n

The double tracks came to end and it was there that Roy found them leading down the road to the Ponderosa.\u00a0 “Hey, Adam” Roy called out with a strong feeling of hope.\u00a0 “Looks like Joseph decided to go home after all.\u00a0 Let’s ride.”<\/p>\n

Adam was starting to feel a bit relieved of the heavy tension that was weighing on his mind, as well as his heart.\u00a0 Giving Sport his head, he took off in the lead.\u00a0 The tracks, Adam soon realized, were headed straight for the ranch house.\u00a0 “I should have known” he whispered to himself.\u00a0 “I should have known.”<\/p>\n

As they entered the yard, the horses were slowed to a trot, coming to a halt in front of the hitching post.\u00a0 As they dismounted, Hoss came running out of the house. “Where’s Little Joe?\u00a0 Is he okay?”\u00a0 The words sputtered out as his excitement was displayed.<\/p>\n

“Roy and I followed his tracks and they lead right here to the house.\u00a0 You mean to tell me that he isn’t in the house with you?” questioned Adam, as the look of concern returned to his face.<\/p>\n

“Adam, I have been waiting downstairs in the great room all morning waiting for you all to return.\u00a0 No one has entered the house.”\u00a0 As Hoss answered his brother, his eyes wandered around the yard.\u00a0 Coming to rest at the corral, he noticed a strange horse still saddled drinking deeply from the bucket.\u00a0 “Ummm, Adam” whispered Hoss.<\/p>\n

Without answering Hoss, Adam and Roy turned their heads to follow Hoss’ gaze to see the horse in the corral.\u00a0 “Boys, that was the horse that Little Joe took from me” explained Roy.<\/p>\n

Hoss squatted down to get a closer look at the boot prints in the moist dirt.\u00a0 Pointing towards the barn, the two of them nodded in agreement and sprinted towards the boy.\u00a0 Upon entering the barn, Adam motioned for the other two to remain where they were and he proceeded to climb up the ladder.\u00a0 As he neared the top, Adam could hear the sniffling of his younger brother.<\/p>\n

Crawling towards Joe, to keep from startling him, Adam made his way across the loft to Joe.<\/p>\n

Little Joe was sitting with his knees drawn tight against his body.\u00a0 His arms were hugging his legs and his head was buried between his arms . Adam recognized this position, as Little Joe used it mostly when he was scared.\u00a0 Coming to rest on his own knees, Adam leaned down so he was at Joe’s level.\u00a0 “Hey, buddy” he whispered.<\/p>\n

“Go away, Adam. I didn’t want to be found. I can’t face anyone right now” sobbed the child.<\/p>\n

Fighting the urge to hold his brother, Adam asked him, “Why, Little Joe, why don’t you want to see any of us?\u00a0 It has been so long.”<\/p>\n

Forcing himself to look up, Joe’s eyes searched his older brother’s face frantically looking for some sign of forgiveness.\u00a0 Rubbing the palm of his left hand across his eyes and then his nose, Joe muttered in between sobs, “I……I didn’t get my book report to Ms. Jones and I know Pa is disappointed in me.”\u00a0 Pausing momentarily, the boy gasped for air as he continued.\u00a0 “I just done figured that if I was gone that Papa wouldn’t see me as a disappointment anymore.”\u00a0 Spitting out those words caused the boy to cry hysterically.<\/p>\n

Adam pulled him up as he himself stood.\u00a0 Little Joe responded by throwing his arms around his brother’s neck and wrapping his legs tightly around Adam’s waist. Burying his face into Adam’s shoulders Joe continued to cry.\u00a0 “Little Joe, listen to me” whispered Adam as he hugged his younger brother tighter.\u00a0 “No one is disappointed in you.\u00a0 You had no control over not turning in your assignment.\u00a0 All we have cared about was finding you and bringing you home to us.\u00a0 That’s all, nothing more.”<\/p>\n

“Nooo, Adam. Pa doesn’t like me very much when I don\u2019t do my schoolwork.\u00a0 That’s why I haven’t seen my Pa yet.\u00a0 Isn’t it?” sobbed the boy.
\n“No, Joe.\u00a0 That is not why you haven’t seen Pa yet.\u00a0 You took off from Paul’s office just before we got to town.\u00a0 Pa is back waiting there for you to return.\u00a0 I went after Roy to help bring you to him.\u00a0 The last three months, Buddy, has been just as hard on the three of us as it has been for you.\u00a0 I promise you that” explained Adam as he rubbed Joe’s back.<\/p>\n

Drawing his head up away from Adam’s shoulder, he placed his small hands on either side of Adam’s face and turn his brother’s face to make eye contact with him. “Adam” he whispered, “does Pa still love me?”<\/p>\n

Feeling his brother’s pain and confusion, Adam’s eyes filled.\u00a0 Not trusting his own voice, he simply nodded yes.\u00a0 Adam felt the tension and anxiety drain from Joe’s body and once again the boy laid his head on his shoulders.\u00a0 Adam was quick to hug him closer and leaned his own head onto Joe’s shoulder.\u00a0 This time the release of tears from both parties were tears of comfort and love.<\/p>\n

As Adam and Joe made their way down from the loft, Adam found a note tacked to the barn door.<\/p>\n

“Welcome home, little brother!\u00a0 Roy and I went to town to fetch Pa.\u00a0 This time no one is to leave this ranch.\u00a0 You wait for us back in the house \u2013 you hear??? <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Signed
\nHOSS and Roy <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam shifted Joe to his right hip and handed him the letter to hold.\u00a0 “We better listen to them.\u00a0 Let’s get inside the house and get you cleaned up for your reunion with Pa and Hoss.”<\/p>\n

Placing his hand under Adam’s chin, Joe again turned Adam’s face to his.\u00a0 “Can I have a bath?\u00a0 I feel icky.”<\/p>\n

Laughing, Adam answered, “only if you let me cut that hair of yours.\u00a0 Pa will be calling you a riverboat gambler if I don’t.”<\/p>\n

Little Joe joined in laughing with his older brother.\u00a0 Burying his head against Adam’s shoulders once more, Joe whispered in his ear, “I love you Adam Cartwright. Thanks for finding me.\u00a0 I really do miss Pa and Hoss and you too.”<\/p>\n

By the time Hoss and Ben arrived back at the ranch, it was dusk.\u00a0 The full moon had made it easier to travel the distance without much a concern for the horses. Arriving in the yard, Ben was quick to dismount and ran towards the house.\u00a0 Fear was once again present as he noticed that the house was dark.<\/p>\n

Both men entered the house with guns drawn not sure what they were facing.\u00a0 Ben made his way across the great room to his desk.\u00a0 Striking a match across his desk, he lit the lamp.\u00a0 With the glow of the lamp to lighten up the room, both men preceded to search the house for clues.\u00a0 Ben was the first one to notice the dishes still laying on the dining room table.\u00a0 He could see that the boys had eaten but couldn’t figure out why the table had not been cleared off.\u00a0 Swallowing hard against the bile that was rising in his throat, he glanced over to Hoss when he heard him call out.\u00a0 “Hey, Pa. Will you take a look at this?\u00a0 Ain’t this the purriest sight you’ve seen in a long time” he whispered.<\/p>\n

Putting his gun back into its holster, Ben joined Hoss who was standing in front of the fireplace.\u00a0 His eyes filled with tears as he looked upon his eldest son stretched out on the settee with Little Joe scrunched between the back of the settee and Adam’s left side.\u00a0 The younger boy’s head was laying on Adam’s chest and both had the look of peace on their faces.<\/p>\n

“I’m sorry little one but I need to hold you” whispered Ben as he gently reached over to gather his son.<\/p>\n

“Papa” was all that was said as Little Joe laid his head on his Pa’s shoulders.\u00a0 He wrapped his arms around his father’s neck and pulled tight his legs around Ben’s waist.\u00a0 Ben walked over to his chair and sat down with the boy still attached to him and rubbed his back as he whispered “God only knows how much I have missed you.\u00a0 Welcome home, my son.”<\/p>\n

Adam had awoken when Ben had removed Joe from his side. Wanting to give them the time they needed to be alone together, Adam and Hoss quietly slipped upstairs for a peaceful nights rest.\u00a0 One that was long over due for everyone in the Cartwright house.<\/p>\n

Epilog<\/p>\n

Paul had informed Roy and Hoss that Ben was over at the jail with four prisoners. It turned out that while Roy was back at the ranch, four boys had tried their hands at robbing the bank. They had seen Roy riding out of town and figured that they had enough time to carry out their mission and escape to freedom. Paul and Ben had just sat down outside of Paul’s office with a cup of coffee in hand, when they heard the commotion across the street. The bully of the group was laughing as they made their way into the alley, commenting on the abduction of Little Joe. When Ben and Paul made their surprise attack, two of the younger boys spilled their involvement of the abduction. They were blaming the jist of it on the older boy. The other three thought it was funny to scare Little Joe, but it was suppose to end after one night. It was the older boy who wanted to keep Joe hidden, afraid of someone finding out who they were. That fear turned to anger when he realized the search party was looking for the boy and was not about to give up the search without a body. With two witness to testify to their confession, all four men were locked up in the jail cell awaiting for the circuit judge to come to town.<\/p>\n

Roy felt comfortable with the fact that Little Joe would not have to etch out his story in fear of these four boys. With Ben at his side, Little Joe would be able to have his father present to complete the charges necessary to hold them in jail. Considering Joe’s age of twelve, the judge would reply on the written statement and Ben and Paul’s word to prosecute. Little Joe would not have to take the stand.
\n
\nThe End
\nAug. 2001<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tags:<\/strong> Family<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary: Wanting to go home after missing, a little boy suddenly has a change of heart.<\/p>\n

Rated: PG\u00a0 (5,475 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9079,"featured_media":9860,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12369","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-prequels","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-30-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2436,"today_views":1},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/feature-4.jpg?fit=387%2C387&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":61203,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=61203","url_meta":{"origin":12369,"position":0},"title":"You Can’t Keep an Old Lawman Down (by Patina)","author":"patina","date":"December 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Is it too much to ask for the law to experience a Silent Night at Christmastime? 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