{"id":13911,"date":"2006-12-12T09:51:27","date_gmt":"2006-12-12T14:51:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13911"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:10:18","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:10:18","slug":"after-the-last-viking-by-susan-g","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13911","title":{"rendered":"After the Last Viking (by Susan G)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 <\/strong>A WHN for the episode “The Last Viking”<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 T\u00a0 (13 730 words)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After the Last Viking<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As Gunnar Borgstrom lay dying in his nephew\u2019s arms, his last words to Hoss Cartwright reinforced the paradoxical nature of the man. With his last breaths, Gunnar both declared that he had no regrets for his life and asked for Hoss\u2019 forgiveness. As his uncle\u2019s life ebbed away, Hoss felt that, for a moment at least, he could understand the war between good and evil that Gunnar had waged in his soul for most of his life.<\/p>\n

A short distance away, Joe Cartwright and Carrie McClain lowered their heads in silent prayer as Gunnar Borgstrom died. The two had been captured by Gunnar\u2019s band of outlaws but then given the means of escape by Gunnar. Joe also felt a conflict in his soul as Gunnar died. He felt regret for the death of a man who was his brother\u2019s uncle and who had enabled them to escape from the potential horrors of being captives of the Commancheros. At the same time, Joe felt a sense of almost satisfaction that a man who had caused two people to be shot at the McClain ranch and whose actions ultimately led to Joe being shot had paid the price for his sins.<\/p>\n

Laying the body of his dead uncle on the ground, Hoss gently crossed the man\u2019s hands over his chest in the classic death pose. Hoss lowered his head and briefly said a prayer for his uncle. Then he rose and walked quickly over to Joe and Carrie. Despite his regret over his uncle, Hoss knew the concerns of the living took precedent over mourning the dead.<\/p>\n

Crouching next to Joe, Hoss put his hand gently on his brother\u2019s head. “We\u2019d better get out of here,” urged Hoss. “Those shots are liable to attract them other outlaws.”<\/p>\n

Nodding, Joe winced as a stab of pain from the bullet wound in his shoulder seemed to cascade through him. Joe closed his eyes for a moment, letting the pain take its course. Then he looked up at Hoss. “You can\u2019t just leave him here,” said Joe in a weak voice. “We\u2026we owe him our lives.”<\/p>\n

“He wouldn\u2019t want us to worry about him,” declared Hoss firmly. “He\u2019d tell us to go if he could.”<\/p>\n

“At least move him up to the rocks, where the animals\u2026where he\u2019ll be protected,” insisted Joe. “We owe him that.”<\/p>\n

Unsure, Hoss looked back to the body on the ground. Somehow he knew Gunnar wouldn\u2019t care what happened to him now. But Hoss knew he cared, and Joe cared. “All right,” agreed Hoss reluctantly as he got to his feet. \u201cBut you keep your eyes peeled. You see anything or anybody coming through those woods, you holler.”<\/p>\n

Walking rapidly, Hoss returned to his uncle, and scooped the body off the ground. Gunnar Borgstrom had been a big man, but Hoss\u2019 strength was equal to the task of carrying him. Hoss carried the body a few feet to some tall rocks.<\/p>\n

A fissure in the rocks created a small ledge at about the height of Hoss\u2019 shoulders. Hoss lifted his uncle and placed the body on the ledge. He crossed the hands once more on the now still chest, and gave the hands a pat. Then he hurried back to Joe and Carrie.<\/p>\n

“All right,” said Hoss, crouching next to his brother again. “We\u2019re getting out of here. Can you walk?”<\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t know,” admitted Joe, looking up at Hoss. “I hurt my ankle.” He tried unsuccessfully to hide a wince of pain.<\/p>\n

Biting his lip, Hoss tried to decide what to do. He looked over at Carrie, sitting next to Joe with her arm around the wounded man. She looked pale and shaken, a state that was not surprising given the horrors she had witnessed during the past few hours. But Hoss knew she wasn\u2019t physically injured. Carrying Joe for any great distance would be difficult for Hoss. He was reluctant to admit it, but the fight with his uncle had taken a lot out of him. Hoss decided that, with Carrie\u2019s help, maybe the two of them could get Joe back to where Hoss had left his horse.<\/p>\n

Reaching down, Hoss grabbed Joe under the arms and pulled his brother to his feet. Joe grunted with pain, and swayed drunkenly as he tried to stand.<\/p>\n

Slipping Joe\u2019s left arm over his shoulders, Hoss turned to Carrie. “Give me a hand,” Hoss ordered the girl.<\/p>\n

Nodding, Carrie scrambled to her feet. She wrapped her arm around Joe\u2019s waist and let his shoulder rest against her.<\/p>\n

“We\u2019ll take it slow, Joe,” Hoss promised his brother. “It ain\u2019t that far to where I left my horse. Once we get you there, you can ride.”<\/p>\n

The trio began shuffling slowly through the woods. Joe leaned heavily on Hoss, using his brother\u2019s strong body to support him. He tried to keep his weight off his injured ankle, wanting to avoid the jolt of pain that any pressure on his left leg seemed to cause. But he found he didn\u2019t have the strength to keep his left foot off the ground or to manage the hop-step with his right. As he walked, Joe pressed the toes of his left foot to the ground, the best he could do to lessen the weight on his ankle. As a result, each step caused Joe to wince and give out a small grunt of pain.<\/p>\n

The horse was waiting patiently about 100 yards from where Hoss had met up with his uncle. To the three people moving at a snail\u2019s pace through the woods, the distance seemed more like 100 miles. Hoss gave a short sigh of relief when he finally saw the dark figure of Chubb, his horse, standing near some rocks. He knew each step his brother had taken had hurt Joe. Now, at last, Hoss felt he could do something to help him.<\/p>\n

“Let\u2019s get him over to those rocks,” Hoss declared, jerking his head toward the small boulders near his horse. Carrie nodded her agreement and she pushed Joe gently in the back to steer him in the right direction.<\/p>\n

When they reached the boulders, Hoss slipped Joe\u2019s arm from around his shoulder and eased his brother to the ground, resting Joe\u2019s back against the rocks. Carrie sank to the ground next to Joe.<\/p>\n

The full moon lit the night sky, but the branches of the tall trees created a canopy over the three people on the ground. Only a few shafts of the pale moonlight managed to find its way through the trees to light the area. But even in the dim light, Hoss could see Joe was breathing hard, and that his brother\u2019s face was pale, almost as white as the shirt Joe was wearing. Hoss could see the beads of sweat on Joe\u2019s face, created by both pain and exertion. And he could see the dark red circle of blood on Joe\u2019s shirt was growing.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019ll get some water,” Hoss offered, and without waiting for a reply, he walked rapidly to his horse and grabbed a canteen hanging from the saddle. Hoss gently patted the neck of the horse, murmuring words of approval and thanks to the animal for staying in place. Then he turned back to the rocks. Hoss uncorked the canteen as he hurried back to the two people resting against the rocks.<\/p>\n

“Here,” said Hoss, putting the canteen to Joe\u2019s lips.<\/p>\n

Lifting his head slightly, Joe began to drink. He grabbed the canteen with his left hand and pushed it up, forcing more of the soothing water into his mouth.<\/p>\n

Joe drank eagerly, not caring that some of the water was trickling out of his mouth and down his chin. For a minute, he couldn\u2019t seem to get enough of the tepid liquid from the canteen.<\/p>\n

Finally, though, Joe had drunk his fill. He took a deep breath and shoved the canteen in Carrie\u2019s direction. Carrie took the container from Joe and began to drink greedily. After a moment, she too had had enough and she handed the canteen back to Hoss.<\/p>\n

Setting the container on the ground, Hoss began to unbutton Joe\u2019s shirt. “Let me take a look at that wound,” he stated as he pulled the cloth covering open.<\/p>\n

Hoss winced a bit as he looked at Joe\u2019 shoulder. Even in the dim moonlight, he could tell the bullet had gone deep into his brother\u2019s body. A jagged hole, dark with blood, showed where the bullet had torn Joe\u2019s shoulder near the collar bone. Hoss pulled a white handkerchief out of his back pocket. He left the cloth folded in a thick square as he picked up the canteen and soaked the handkerchief with water. Joe moaned as Hoss pressed the wet cloth against the wound.<\/p>\n

“This will help some,” advised Hoss as began pulling Joe\u2019s shirt together tightly to hold the make-shift bandage in place. “It should do until we can get up on the ridge to meet Pa and Adam. We\u2019ll decide what to do then.”<\/p>\n

As Hoss buttoned his shirt, Joe looked at his brother curiously. He was trying to pay attention to Hoss, while attempting to ignore the sickening pain from both his shoulder and his ankle. “Meet Pa?” repeated Joe in a soft voice. “What\u2019s he doing up here?”<\/p>\n

“He and Adam and me been looking for you,” explained Hoss as he finished buttoning Joe\u2019s shirt. “We figured we could cover more ground if we separated.”<\/p>\n

Shaking his head, Joe tried to think clearly. “How\u2026how did you know to come looking for us?” he asked.<\/p>\n

“Mr. McClain showed up at the ranch,” Hoss answered. “He was shot up pretty bad. While the doc worked on him, Adam and I rode over to the McClain place. We saw how tore up it was, and found the McClain\u2019s hand dead. But we couldn\u2019t find any sign of you and Carrie. So we figured whoever done this had taken you with them. It took awhile for Mr. McClain to come around enough to tell us what happened.” Hoss looked away, the memory of McClain\u2019s description of his uncle as the leader of the raiders still painful. “He told us Uncle Gunnar was with them. So Pa, Adam and I decided to follow the trail to see what we could find. We figured the three of us would be better than a big posse. No telling what could have happened if a posse met up with those Commancheros, and we didn\u2019t want you and Carrie caught in the middle.”<\/p>\n

Suddenly, Carrie reached out and grabbed Hoss\u2019 arm. For the first time, her face showed hope rather than despair. “Hoss?” she said in a trembling voice. “Uncle Abe is still alive?”<\/p>\n

“Yes ma\u2019am,” asserted Hoss with a nod. “He\u2019s hurt pretty bad, but the doc thinks he\u2019s going to make it.”<\/p>\n

“Oh, Joe,” Carrie cried with joy as she turned back to Joe. She gave him a quick hug. “Did you hear? Uncle Abe is alive. He\u2019s alive!”<\/p>\n

“I heard,” replied Joe, giving Carrie a small smile. “I\u2019m glad, real glad for you.”<\/p>\n

“I thought for sure he was dead,” Carrie went on, tears forming in her eyes. “I thought those awful men had killed him.” Suddenly realizing that Hoss\u2019 uncle was one of those \u2018awful men\u2019, Carrie looked down. “I\u2019m sorry, Hoss. I didn\u2019t mean\u2026”<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s all right,” Hoss quickly interrupted. He moved a bit and started feeling Joe\u2019s ankle. “Do you think it\u2019s broken, Joe?”<\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t think so,” answered Joe as he leaned back against the rocks. “It doesn\u2019t feel like it.”<\/p>\n

“Well, it\u2019s best if we just leave your boot on,” advised Hoss. “If I take it off, that ankle is liable to swell up. The boot will help keep the swelling down.”<\/p>\n

Nodding his agreement, Joe closed his eyes. The burning pain from his shoulder seemed to be intensifying, and he was feeling weak. His head was beginning to ache and his stomach seemed to be churning. Joe swallowed hard, trying to keep the bile in his throat from rising. He winced as another wave of pain shook him.<\/p>\n

Seeing Joe\u2019s eye squinting with pain, Hoss decided it was time to get his brother on the horse. He wanted to get Joe up on the ridge, where his Pa could decide what to do next. Hoss felt sure his father would know best how to get Joe home. Besides, Hoss felt they were still uncomfortably close to the outlaws\u2019 camp.<\/p>\n

“Joe, it\u2019s time to go,” stated Hoss. “You\u2019re going to have to sit that horse. I know you\u2019re hurting, but you have to hang on. Once we meet up with Pa and Adam, we\u2019ll figure a way to get you home.”<\/p>\n

Opening his eyes, Joe looked at Hoss. “I don\u2019t know\u2026if I can get on,” admitted Joe in a feeble voice.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019ll get you on,” Hoss said confidently.<\/p>\n

Once more, Hoss reached down and grabbed Joe under the arms, and once more he pulled his brother to his feet. Joe moaned at the movement, but tried to stand. He leaned heavily against Hoss but stayed on his feet.<\/p>\n

This time, Hoss didn\u2019t ask for Carrie\u2019s help. He simply put Joe\u2019s arm around his shoulders and dragged Joe the few feet to his horse.<\/p>\n

“Grab the saddle horn,” Hoss instructed his brother as they stood next to the patiently waiting Chubb. “And bend your left leg a little.”<\/p>\n

Following Hoss\u2019 orders, Joe reached up with his left hand and gripped the saddle horn as tightly as he could. He lifted his leg and bent it at the knee. Almost immediately, he felt two large hands on his shin. Joe felt himself being pushed up to the saddle. By instinct, he threw his right leg over the saddle; he landed on the leather seat with a soft plop.<\/p>\n

Carrie had come up behind Hoss, and now he turned to the girl. “I\u2019ll help you up behind Joe,” Hoss said.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s all right,” replied Carrie. “I can walk, Hoss.”<\/p>\n

“No, I want you up behind Joe,” insisted Hoss. He looked to Joe, who was leaning forward in the saddle and weaving slightly. Joe\u2019s left hand still gripped the saddle horn, but his right arm hung uselessly at his side. Joe\u2019s legs were resting loosely against the sides of the big horse.<\/p>\n

Hoss turned back to Carrie and looked at her, his eyes sending a message. “I want you to get up behind Joe,” he said again. “You hold on to him real tight. You understand, Carrie? Real tight.”<\/p>\n

Nodding, Carrie answered, “I understand, Hoss.”<\/p>\n

Grabbing Carrie around the waist, Hoss lifted her up onto the back of the horse. Carrie sat astride the rump of the animal, just behind the saddle. Her dress was pulled up a bit, showing her ankle and part of her leg. Under other circumstances, such a position would have been considered scandalous. But neither Hoss nor Carrie cared about such trivial matters now. Carrie reached forward and put her arms firmly around Joe\u2019s waist.<\/p>\n

“All set?” asked Hoss. When Carrie nodded her agreement, he started to grab the reins. Suddenly, Hoss remembered the canteen. He dropped the reins and walked back quickly to the rocks. Snatching the canteen from the ground, he hurried back to the horse. “Joe, lift your hand a minute,” Hoss ordered as he returned to the side of the stallion.<\/p>\n

Joe looked at Hoss with dull eyes. The pain in his ankle was getting worse, not helped by the fact that his foot was simply dangling in the air. His shoulder ached and burned. He heard Hoss but he couldn\u2019t seem to do what his brother wanted.<\/p>\n

“Lift your hand,” repeated Hoss as he grabbed Joe\u2019s wrist and pulled at it. Joe released the saddle horn as Hoss pulled his hand away. Hoss looped the strap of the canteen over the horn and then replaced Joe\u2019s hand on the hard mound of leather. “You hold on, Joe,” Hoss told his brother in a firm voice. “I\u2019ll walk Chubb slow.” Joe\u2019s answer was a small nod, a barely visible bob of his head.<\/p>\n

Hoss picked up the reins and pulled gently on them. “C\u2019mon, boy,” he said softly to the horse, “Nice and easy, now”. The animal started forward at a slow walk.<\/p>\n

The moonlight filtered through the trees, lighting the ground just enough for Hoss to see. He walked slowly, leading the horse from one mottled patch of light to another. Hoss resisted the temptation to walk faster. He knew each step brought them closer to the ridge they had to cross in order to reach the Ponderosa, and further away from the outlaw camp. He wanted to hurry for both reasons. But he knew the slow walk over the uneven ground was what he had to do. He couldn\u2019t take a chance that a faster gait would jar Joe on the horse, or even cause the animal to stumble in the dark.<\/p>\n

The three people moved in silence through the woods, each lost in their own thoughts. Hoss\u2019 mind drifted to his uncle and he began to wonder what had brought the man to lead such a rebellious life. He wished Gunnar Borgstrom had never come to the Ponderosa. Then he would still have the idealized picture of his uncle, and he wouldn\u2019t be worrying about his younger brother.<\/p>\n

But even as the wish crossed his mind, Hoss knew that meeting Gunnar had been important to him. Despite its tragic outcome, the meeting had ended a curiosity about the man that Hoss would have always had.<\/p>\n

Carrie\u2019s thoughts were much simpler. She wanted only to feel safe again, to be able to see her uncle and Joe well, and to put her life back in order. She wondered if any of those things would ever happen.<\/p>\n

For Joe, thoughts were hard to come by. The pain and misery he was feeling drove almost everything from his mind. He gritted his teeth and concentrated on staying in the saddle.<\/p>\n

After what seemed a long time, Hoss began to lead the horse out of the woods and on to a trail that sloped upwards. Now that they were away from the trees, the light was brighter and the ground easier to see. Hoss glanced back at the horse, and saw that Joe was slumped even lower in the saddle than before. Carrie was hanging on to him with grim determination. Hoss studied the trail before them and decided he could walk faster. The moonlight lit the trail and the ground was smooth. The sooner he could get to the ridge, the better Hoss would feel.<\/p>\n

Pulling on the reins, Hoss began to walk faster. He followed the ridge trail easily, and reached the top with almost surprising speed. After the slow progress through the woods, the walk up the trail felt almost like a run.<\/p>\n

As the trio reached the top of the ridge, Hoss looked around. He couldn\u2019t see any other riders, which didn\u2019t surprise him. Although the Cartwrights had promised to meet each other in an hour, Hoss knew his Pa and Adam would continue their fruitless search for the outlaw camp for longer than that. Neither one of them would have wanted to give up without making sure the camp wasn\u2019t in their area.<\/p>\n

Seeing a patch of ground brightly lit by the moonlight, Hoss led the horse over toward it. Some scraggly bushes and a few trees surrounded the lighted area. Hoss led the horse through the bushes and stopped it next to a tree.<\/p>\n

“We can rest here for a bit,” announced Hoss, turning back to the riders behind him.<\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t answer. He simply sat slumped on the horse.<\/p>\n

Reaching up, Hoss pulled Joe off the horse. He didn\u2019t bother to try to help his brother to walk. Hoss put his arms under Joe\u2019s shoulders and legs and carried his brother to the tree. He laid Joe gently on the ground, resting his back against the tree. Carrie slid off the horse and walked over to the Cartwright brothers; she softly plopped onto the ground next to Joe, holding the canteen firmly in her hands.<\/p>\n

“Hoss,\u201d said Carrie in a tentative voice. She glanced at the barely conscious man sitting beside her before continuing. “He\u2019s getting worse.”<\/p>\n

“I know, Carrie,” answered Hoss grimly. “Pa and Adam ought to be here soon. We\u2019ll figure out what to do then.” He took the canteen from Carrie, and uncorking it, brought it to Joe\u2019s lips. Joe\u2019s mouth worked slightly, and Hoss slowly poured some water into his brother. This time, Joe drank only a little before he pulled his head away. Hoss offered the canteen to Carrie, who took a small drink. As he corked the canteen, Hoss looked around. The only sounds he heard were the crickets chirping in the night. “Hurry up, Pa,” Hoss pleaded in a soft voice as his eyes searched the empty land.<\/p>\n

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

Hoss didn\u2019t see the two riders coming up the ridge from opposite sides. Neither man could make out the identity of the rider coming at him in the shadows, and both had their hands on their guns as they rode toward each other. Each thought he knew who the other rider was, but kept his hand on his gun \u2013 just in case.<\/p>\n

When Ben and Adam Cartwright got close enough to recognize each other, they both relaxed.<\/p>\n

“Did you find anything?” asked Ben anxiously.<\/p>\n

“No,\u201d answered Adam with a shake of his head. \u201cDid you?\u201d<\/p>\n

“No,\u201d admitted Ben. He looked around. “Maybe Hoss found something. Do you see him?”<\/p>\n

Adam saw a horse standing in the distance; the bushes around the animal hid the people on the ground beside it. “That looks like Chub,” replied Adam, pointing to the horse. He turned his mount and started to ride toward the animal in the distance. Ben kicked his horse lightly and followed his oldest son.<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019 horse smelled the other animals and snorted softly. Hoss had been kneeling next to Joe, but he stood quickly when he heard Chub\u2019s grunt. He pulled his gun and looked into the night. He could see the silhouettes of two riders coming toward him.<\/p>\n

“Stay here with Joe,” Hoss ordered Carrie. He started moving toward the bushes before the girl had a chance to reply. Hoss crouched behind the shrubs, gun ready, waiting for the riders to come closer.<\/p>\n

Neither Ben nor Adam saw Hoss until the big man stood up from behind the bushes. Both reined their horses quickly to a stop as they recognized the familiar figure.<\/p>\n

“Hoss!” cried Ben in both surprise and relief. “Did you find anything?”<\/p>\n

“I found \u2018em, Pa,” answered Hoss as he holstered his gun.<\/p>\n

“Where are they?” asked Adam anxiously.<\/p>\n

“Joe and Carrie are over there,” confirmed Hoss, tilting his head toward the tree.<\/p>\n

“I thought we had agreed that we would wait until we all figured out how to free them,” said Ben with a slight frown.<\/p>\n

“I didn\u2019t do anything,” explained Hoss. “Joe and Carrie got free on their own. Well, actually, with a little help from Uncle Gunnar.” Hoss winced at the thought of his uncle. “Uncle Gunnar is dead,” continued Hoss. “One of his own men shot him.”<\/p>\n

Ben looked down for a moment, his thoughts on his wayward brother-in-law. Then he looked up at Hoss. “Are Joe and Carrie all right?”<\/p>\n

“Carrie is fine, but Joe\u2019s been shot,” answered Hoss. His face grew grim. “He\u2019s hurt pretty bad.”<\/p>\n

Instantly, Adam and Ben slid from their horses. They both rushed through the bushes, with Hoss following slowly behind. A knot of fear formed in Ben\u2019s stomach as he moved through the undergrowth, and that knot seemed to grow when he saw the figure sitting on the ground in front of him.<\/p>\n

Joe was slumped against the tree, eyes closed and breathing hard. The bloodstain on his shirt was rusty brown, and seemed to cover most of the right side of the cloth. The sweat covered his face and neck with a fine sheen.<\/p>\n

Carrie sat next to Joe, stroking his arm with a comforting gesture. She looked up in alarm at the sound of the men coming through the brush, then smiled with relief as she recognized the Cartwrights.<\/p>\n

Moving closer to his son, Ben wasn\u2019t sure which emotion was growing fastest in him \u2013 worry about his youngest son or anger at the men who had tried to kill him. He stopped near Joe, and took a deep breath, trying to bring his emotions under control. Letting the worry and anger erupt wouldn\u2019t help Joe.<\/p>\n

Hearing the footsteps behind him, Ben glanced over his shoulder. “Who did this?” he asked in a voice soft as the night wind but twice as cold. “Gunnar?”<\/p>\n

“No,” replied Hoss, shaking his head. “One of them Commancheros. Uncle Gunnar, he helped Joe and Carrie get away, like I said.” Hoss looked down for a moment, not willing to talk about how he had falsely accused his uncle of the shooting. “Uncle Gunnar got killed saving all of us.”<\/p>\n

Ben nodded his understanding, unwilling to spend any more time thinking about his brother-in-law right now. He had other concerns, and they centered around his youngest son. Ben took another step toward the tree, and knelt next to Joe.<\/p>\n

Putting his hand on his son\u2019s head, Ben stroked it gently. “Joe!” said Ben softly but with a sense of urgency. “Joe, can you hear me?”<\/p>\n

The sound of the familiar voice rallied Joe. He opened his eyes and looked up. “Hi, Pa,” he replied in a barely audible voice.<\/p>\n

“Hi, yourself,” returned Ben, forcing his face to show a smile he didn\u2019t feel. “How are you doing?”<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m all right,” answered Joe. A brief smile also crossed Joe\u2019s face. “I guess\u2026you just can\u2019t\u2026let me go\u2026anywhere on my own.” Joe\u2019s words were slow and his voice was thick. He winced as he finished speaking.<\/p>\n

“Everything is going to be all right, son,” Ben said soothingly. “We\u2019ll get you home and you\u2019ll be just fine.” Ben looked over his shoulder to where Hoss and Adam were standing. “How bad is it?” Ben asked softly.<\/p>\n

“He\u2019s got a bullet in his shoulder,” explained Hoss. “It\u2019s in there real deep. He hurt his ankle, too.”<\/p>\n

Nodding, Ben turned back to Joe. Joe\u2019s eyes were closed again, and his breathing was labored. Ben could see the pain etched on his youngest son\u2019s face. Pulling open Joe\u2019s shirt, Ben could see the now bloody cloth covering the wound. He lifted the cloth a bit and winced at the jagged hole in Joe\u2019s shoulder. The bleeding had slowed to a trickle, but the absence of blood only made the wound look more painful and ugly. Ben knew the bullet was a long way from Joe\u2019s heart and had probably missed the lung, but that didn\u2019t keep the knot in his stomach from tightening. He had seen enough bullet wounds in his life to know that infection, shock and loss of blood were the potentially lethal consequences of any such wound. Ben quickly replaced the cloth and pulled Joe\u2019s shirt closed. His son\u2019s only reaction was a soft grunt.<\/p>\n

Turning back to Adam and Hoss, Ben began giving orders. “Hoss, go get my horse. Adam, you ride back to the ranch. Send one of the men into town for the doctor and have him wait for us at the Ponderosa. Then get a wagon. Load it up with mattresses, blankets, everything we\u2019ll need. By the time you get back, we\u2019ll have worked our way down off the ridge. We\u2019ll meet you in the meadow near Fulton\u2019s Creek.” Adam and Hoss both nodded and hurried off into the night.<\/p>\n

Once more, Ben turned back to Joe and began to stroke his head. “Hang on, Joe,” he said softly. “We\u2019ll have you home soon.” He couldn\u2019t tell if Joe heard him.<\/p>\n

Looking past Joe, Ben gazed at Carrie. “Are you all right?” he asked the girl.<\/p>\n

Carrie felt exhausted. Her arms ached from holding Joe, and the ordeal seemed to have drained her energy. But she gave Ben a brave smile. “I\u2019m all right,” she replied in a weary voice. She stared at Ben for a minute, then added, “Hoss said Uncle Abe was still alive. Is that true?”<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s true,” answered Ben. “He\u2019s hurt pretty bad, but the doctor thinks he\u2019ll be all right. He\u2019ll need a lot of care, though.”<\/p>\n

“I\u2019ll take care of him,” declared Carrie. She looked away. “He\u2019s done so much for me, taking me in after my folks died.” She looked back at Ben, her face determined. “I\u2019ll make sure he gets better.”<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m sure you will,” agreed Ben. He reached over and gave Carrie\u2019s arm a soft squeeze.<\/p>\n

The sound of movement behind him made Ben turn back toward the bushes. Hoss was leading his father\u2019s buckskin horse toward the tree.<\/p>\n

“Help me get Joe on my horse,” Ben said to Hoss. “Carrie can ride with you.”<\/p>\n

Dropping the reins from his hand, Hoss walked over to the tree. Carrie stood and backed away, giving Hoss some room. Putting their arms behind Joe\u2019s shoulders and knees, Ben and Hoss lifted Joe from the ground and carried him the few feet to Ben\u2019s horse. The two men literally dumped Joe onto the saddle. Ben quickly climbed up behind his son and pulled Joe back against him. Hoss handed the reins up to Ben.<\/p>\n

“Carrie, you ride with me,” said Hoss to the girl standing by the tree. Carrie nodded and walked over to Hoss\u2019 horse. She grabbed the saddle horn and began to climb into the saddle. Hoss put his hands around her waist and helped Carrie into the saddle, then climbed up behind her. For a minute, Carrie sat stiffly on the seat in front of Hoss, her back straight. But her fatigue was greater than her sense of propriety. Carrie leaned back and rested against Hoss\u2019 broad chest. For the first time since the raid, Carrie felt safe and protected.<\/p>\n

The two horses began to move through the night, their gait no faster than a walk. Both horses were slowed by darkness in front of them as well as by the fact that each carried two riders. On top of each animal, a rider sat almost rigidly erect behind the saddle while the figure in front slumped against him.<\/p>\n

Leaning against Hoss, Carrie\u2019s eyes were fluttering closed. She quickly was losing her feeble fight to keep the sleep away. Hoss\u2019 massive arms were stretched on either side of her, forming a fleshy railing that would keep her from falling out of the saddle.<\/p>\n

Slumped against his father, Joe\u2019s eyes were already closed. Ben\u2019s right arm was extended a bit, holding the reins. But Ben\u2019s left arm was wrapped tightly around the middle of his son. The grip was only partially intended to hold Joe in the saddle. Ben needed to feel the steady movement of his son\u2019s breathing as a continual assurance that Joe was alive.<\/p>\n

The riders let the horses pick their own way through the night, only guiding the horses to be sure that they were moving in the right direction — down the ridge and toward the meadow. Both Ben and Hoss knew their mounts well enough to be confident the animals would find the safest and easiest trail. They were more concerned about the young people resting against them.<\/p>\n

After what seemed like hours, the ground in front of the riders started to flatten. The bright moon shone on the meadow, bathing it with a dim light.<\/p>\n

Ben frowned as he peered at the grass flatland. As far as he could see, there was no one there. No Adam, no wagon, and no help for his injured son.<\/p>\n

The sound of harness jingling and a distant voice broke the stillness of the night. A dark shape was moving rapidly toward the riders from the far end of the meadow. Ben smiled wryly, telling himself that he shown of known better than to doubt his oldest son. He kicked his horse lightly, urging the animal to a faster pace.<\/p>\n

“I got here as fast as I could, Pa,” called Adam from the driver\u2019s seat when the riders and wagon finally met and stopped in the meadow.<\/p>\n

“I know you did,” answered Ben with a nod.<\/p>\n

“How\u2019s Joe doing?” asked Adam anxiously.<\/p>\n

Ben glanced at his youngest son. Joe was leaning against Ben, his head tilted back a bit as it rested on Ben\u2019s shoulder. Joe\u2019s eyes were still closed, and his breathing, though steady, was labored. The sheen of sweat on Joe\u2019s face and neck seemed to glisten in the moonlight, and Ben could feel the heat of fever from his son\u2019s body. “Not too good,” admitted Ben without looking at Adam. Ben pushed a stray lock of hair from Joe\u2019s forehead.<\/p>\n

“I sent Pete into town to get the doctor,” said Adam. “I told him to find the deputy, too, and tell him what happened.” Adam shook his head briefly. “I wish Roy Coffee were around. But at least the deputy can organize a posse. Pete is supposed to tell them to stop by the house first, so Hoss can tell them where to look.”<\/p>\n

“I\u2019ll show them,” declared Hoss from his horse. He looked down for a minute then back to Adam. “I want to bring Uncle Gunnar back to the Ponderosa.”<\/p>\n

Maybe it was the voices around him, or perhaps it was that the horses had stopped. But for whatever reason, Joe shifted his weight and seemed to be trying to wake. Ben felt the movement and knew even that slight action caused Joe pain. He saw the twitch in Joe\u2019s face and heard the soft moan.<\/p>\n

“Adam, help me get Joe into the wagon,” ordered Ben abruptly.<\/p>\n

Jumping down from the wagon, Adam moved next to Ben\u2019s horse and lifted his arms toward his brother. Ben gently slid Joe to his left and into Adam\u2019s arms. As Adam pulled Joe from the horse, Ben quickly dismounted. Joe\u2019s feet had barely brushed the ground before Ben picked them up.<\/p>\n

Hoss sat watching Adam and Ben carrying Joe to the wagon for a minute. Then he put a hand on Carrie\u2019s shoulder. He shook the girl a bit and said quietly, “Carrie, come on, honey. Time to wake up.”<\/p>\n

Obeying Hoss, Carrie began to sway a bit. She yawned and blinked her eyes, then looked around as if confused about where she was. Carrie\u2019s body suddenly stiffened as the memory of why she was sitting on a horse in the middle of the night came flooding back.<\/p>\n

“Adam\u2019s got the wagon here,” Hoss reassured the girl. “I thought you\u2019d be more comfortable sitting in the seat with him than on my horse.”<\/p>\n

“Thank you, Hoss,” acknowledged Carrie in a small voice. Hoss wasn\u2019t sure if she was thanking him for the ride or for the chance to move to the wagon, but he decided it didn\u2019t matter. He held Carrie\u2019s arm to steady her as she swung her leg over the saddle and slid to the ground.<\/p>\n

Following Carrie\u2019s example, Hoss also dismounted. He saw the girl walk to the wagon, then stop as she came to the side of it. He hurried to stand next to Carrie and looked into the wagon also.<\/p>\n

Inside the wagon, Joe was laying on top of a thin mattress, his head resting on a pillow. Ben had already pulled Joe\u2019s shirt open and he was removing the bloody cloth that had covered Joe\u2019s wound. Ben\u2019s fingers probed the area around the bullet hole as gently as possible but still Joe grunted and moaned.<\/p>\n

“That bullet is in there deep, very deep,” stated Ben with a frown as he looked over his shoulder toward Adam. Adam was standing at the end of the wagon, unfolding a blanket.<\/p>\n

“Joe was jumping at the man when he shot,” explained Carrie from the side of the wagon. “I saw it,” she finished in a trembling voice.<\/p>\n

“If Joe was coming toward the man as he fired, the bullet would bury itself deep in his shoulder,” observed Adam. “Did it break any bones?”<\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t think so,” replied Ben as he continued to feel Joe\u2019s collarbone and shoulder. “I think it hit the fleshy part of his shoulder.” Ben\u2019s probing caused a new trickle of blood to seep from the wound. He quickly reached and grabbed a white cloth from a small pile of bandages near the pillow. Putting the cloth over the wound, Ben pressed down, trying to stop the bleeding. Joe moaned a bit louder.<\/p>\n

“Let\u2019s get him home,” said Ben quickly. He turned and grabbed the blanket that Adam was handing into the wagon. As Ben covered Joe with the blanket, Adam hurried toward the driver\u2019s seat of the wagon. Carrie climbed into the seat next to Adam while Hoss turned back toward the horses.<\/p>\n

Almost two hours passed before Adam guided the wagon into the yard in front of the Ponderosa ranch house. He had driven slowly, not wanting to cause his injured brother any more discomfort by bouncing him round in the wagon. Carrie was sitting in the seat next to Adam, her chin on her chest, dozing again.<\/p>\n

The warmth of the blanket and liberal doses of water from the canteen had revived Joe. During the journey home, Joe had told the story of the raid, their capture, escape and Gunnar\u2019s death. Carrie had added some bits to the story, calling over her shoulder from the wagon seat. Ben\u2019s hands clenched into a fist as he heard Carrie relate the rough treatment the outlaws had given Joe.<\/p>\n

As he drove the wagon, Adam had listened, and then wondered about Gunnar. Hoss\u2019 uncle had been a complex man, Adam decided. He had been warm and friendly at the Ponderosa, then led the raid on the McClain ranch without a second thought. Gunnar had killed without remorse, but given his life to save Hoss, Joe and Carrie. Adam shook his head as he pondered the oddities of human nature.<\/p>\n

Riding in the back with Joe, Ben couldn\u2019t remember when he was so glad to be home. He had listened to Joe\u2019s story, told in starts and stops. As the ride continued, there were more stops than starts. Joe\u2019s comments had become increasing incoherent, and in the last mile, had deteriorated into meaningless mumbles. Ben could tell his son\u2019s fever was going up, and the pain was getting worse. And there was so little Ben could do for his son until they got him home.<\/p>\n

As Hoss trailed the wagon, riding his horse and leading his father\u2019s, his face was grim. He was beginning to feel guilty about what had happened to Joe and the McClains, somehow feeling he had been the cause of all this misery. Hoss wasn\u2019t quite able to work out exactly how it had been his fault. But he knew that his Uncle Gunnar had come to the Ponderosa to see him, and the fact that he had welcomed and encouraged Gunnar somehow made the tragedy of the raid his doing.<\/p>\n

Adam pulled hard on the reins as the wagon neared the front the house, wincing as it bounced to a stop. He hadn\u2019t meant to bring the wagon to a halt quite that abruptly. The jolt wakened Carrie. She looked up and saw the house in front of her. Like a bolt of lightning, she jumped from the wagon and ran to the house.<\/p>\n

Inside the house, a young ranch hand named Jim was sitting in the red leather chair by the fireplace, keeping an eye on the sleeping figure on the sofa. He looked up as the front door was flung open with a crash, and was startled to see the figure of a girl racing across the room. The girl ran to the sofa then stopped. She looked at the sleeping figure almost as if she were seeing a ghost. “How is he?” she asked without looking up.<\/p>\n

“About the same, I guess,” answered Jim. “He\u2019s been sleeping the whole time.”<\/p>\n

Nodding, Carrie eased herself down on the edge of the sofa. “Uncle Abe?” she said softly. The man on the sofa laid still. Carrie couldn\u2019t contain herself any longer. She threw her arms around the man\u2019s neck and cried out, “Uncle Abe!” Then she began weeping.<\/p>\n

The man on the sofa stirred, then moaned softly. Carrie immediately sat back, horrified that she may have caused her uncle harm. Abe McClain grunted, then opened his eyes. He looked at the girl and a small smile crossed his face. “Carrie,” he whispered. He reached out his hand slowly and patted her arm.<\/p>\n

Watching the scene on the sofa, Jim didn\u2019t see the other men coming toward the house until they entered the room. His eyes widened in surprise as he saw the three older Cartwrights carrying Joe into the house. Joe was on a blanket, his shirt stained with blood and his hair matted with sweat. Adam had a firm grip on the bottom of the blanket while Hoss held the top. Ben supported his son in the middle.<\/p>\n

“Where\u2019s the doctor?” demanded Ben as the men moved with Joe across the room.<\/p>\n

“He\u2019s\u2026he\u2019s not here,” answered Jim in a nervous voice. “Pete rode in a little while ago and said the doc was out on a call. He said to tell you he was going to try to find him.”<\/p>\n

“Go put some water on to boil,” ordered Ben as the Cartwrights started up the stairs. “And be quick about it.”<\/p>\n

“Yes sir,” answered Jim. He watched for a minute as the Cartwrights disappeared up the stairs, then turned to the sofa. The girl and the man on the couch were simply sitting there, holding hands and looking at each other. They seemed oblivious to what going on around them. Shaking his head in confusion, Jim walked toward the kitchen. He couldn\u2019t quite figure out what had happened but he knew now wasn\u2019t the time to ask questions.<\/p>\n

Upstairs, Ben flung back the covers from Joe\u2019s bed, then stood aside as Adam and Hoss placed Joe softly on the mattress. Adam pulled the blanket from underneath Joe, then turned to his father expectantly.<\/p>\n

Bending over Joe, Ben put his hand lightly on Joe\u2019s forehead. Frowning, Ben pulled Joe\u2019s shirt open, and lifted the cloth. As he looked at the bullet wound in his youngest son, Ben\u2019s frown deepened. “Adam, go down and get the medical kit. Bring up some hot water, too. And a sharp knife.”<\/p>\n

“What are you going to do?” asked Adam, somewhat alarmed.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m gong to get that bullet out,” answered Ben grimly.<\/p>\n

“Don\u2019t you think you ought to wait for the doc?” suggested Hoss, who stood at the end of Joe\u2019s bed.<\/p>\n

Shaking his head, Ben said, “No. That wound is starting to look bad, and his fever is going up. There\u2019s no telling when the doctor is going to get here. The longer we wait, the worse Joe is going to get. I\u2019m going to try to get that bullet out now.”<\/p>\n

Biting his lip, Adam looked at the figure on the bed. Joe was moving restlessly on the sheets, obviously in pain. His face was pale and the sweat covering his face seemed thicker. Adam took a deep breath. “I\u2019ll get the bag and the water.” He turned and hurried out of the room.<\/p>\n

“Hoss, get his boots off,” ordered Ben as he started to unbutton Joe\u2019s shirt. “Check his ankle and see if you can tell how bad it is.”<\/p>\n

With a quick nod, Hoss reached down and tugged off Joe\u2019s right boot and sock, dropping them to the floor. He grasped the heel of left boot and pulled that one slowly, trying to ease it off rather than yanking it as he had the right one. Despite his efforts to be gentle, Hoss could hear Joe groaning as he removed the leather covering.<\/p>\n

Hoss could see Joe\u2019s ankle was swollen a bit. The boot had restricted how much the tissue in the ankle could swell, but Hoss knew it wouldn\u2019t take long for the ankle to balloon now that the boot was gone. Hoss began to roll down the sock covering Joe\u2019s ankle and foot.<\/p>\n

The skin around the ankle had turned a deep purple streaked with red. Hoss felt the joint, probing his fingers into the swollen tissue and feeling the bones.<\/p>\n

Joe groaned a bit louder.<\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t think his ankle is broken,” declared Hoss as he felt the lower part of his brother\u2019s leg. “I can\u2019t feel no bones out of place. But it looks like he sprained it pretty good. ”<\/p>\n

Near the top of the bed, Ben stood with Joe\u2019s bloody shirt in his hands, having removed the cloth from his son. He dropped the shirt into a heap on the floor, then turned to Hoss. “When Adam gets back up here, wrap the ankle with some bandages from the medical kit. Better go get a pillow to prop it up on, too.”<\/p>\n

Hoss nodded and left the room. Ben turned back to the bed, and slowly began to finish undressing his son.<\/p>\n

As Adam descended the stairs, he stopped for a moment on the landing. He saw Carrie sitting on the edge of the sofa, still holding her uncle\u2019s hand. Shaking his head, Adam realized that they had forgotten about the McClains almost as soon as they had begun carrying Joe toward the house. He walked down the remaining steps and over to the sofa. “Carrie,” he said in a quiet voice. “Why don\u2019t you get some rest. You\u2019ve been through a lot today.”<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m all right,” answered Carrie, not looking at Adam.<\/p>\n

“He\u2019s right,” rasped Abe McClain from the sofa. “You look tired.” McClain\u2019s voice was weak, and the few words seemed to sap his strength.<\/p>\n

“Your uncle needs some rest, too,” added Adam.<\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t want to leave him,” insisted Carrie stubbornly.<\/p>\n

“The doctor is on his way back, and Jim will keep an eye on him,” replied Adam in a practical tone of voice. He put his hand lightly on Carrie\u2019s shoulder. “We\u2019ve got enough on our hands right now without you collapsing on us.”<\/p>\n

Carrie looked over her shoulder at Adam. Her eyes were red from crying, and had deep circles around them from fatigue. The thought of sleep and the escape it would bring from her memories of the day seemed suddenly appealing. “All right,” she agreed. “But you wake me if\u2026when the doctor gets here.”<\/p>\n

“We\u2019ll wake you if we need you,” agreed Adam.<\/p>\n

Getting slowly to her feet, Carrie looked down at her uncle. “What about Uncle Abe? Shouldn\u2019t we put him to bed?”<\/p>\n

“The doctor said it would be best if we didn\u2019t move him until morning,” explained Adam. “He\u2019ll be comfortable enough on the sofa.”<\/p>\n

“You go on, Carrie,” whispered McClain from the sofa.<\/p>\n

Nodding, Carrie looked at Adam. “Where\u2026where should I go?” she asked hesitantly.<\/p>\n

Frowning, Adam thought for a minute. He knew that the scene in Joe\u2019s bedroom could get grim, and he decided Carrie didn\u2019t need to hear what might come out of that room. “We\u2019ve got a spare bedroom over here,” said Adam, guiding Carrie by the arm away from the sofa. He pushed open the door to a room between the living room and dining room.<\/p>\n

The bedroom was furnished with a neatly made bed, table, lamp and other necessities. Adam didn\u2019t think it wise to tell Carrie that Gunnar Borgstrom had been the last person to use this room. Carrie walked across the room and sat on the bed, her shoulders slumped with fatigue.<\/p>\n

“Jim will be right out here,” Adam assured the girl as he stood in the doorway. “Just call if you need anything.” He pulled the door closed behind him as he left the room.<\/p>\n

Taking a deep breath, Adam hurried to the kitchen, his mind already moving to the unpleasant task that was going to happen next.<\/p>\n

Just inside the doorway of the kitchen was a tall cupboard. Adam pulled it open and reached to a high shelf. A small wooden box sat on the shelf, surrounded by several jars filled with dried leaves and grounded herbs. Hop Sing\u2019s apothecary, thought Adam as he pulled the box off the shelf. He wished the cook was back from visiting his cousin in Sacramento. He had a feeling there were some things in those jars which would help Joe. Unfortunately, Hop Sing kept the secrets about the herbs to himself.<\/p>\n

Box in hand, Adam turned toward the main part of the kitchen. He saw Jim, the young hand, standing near the stove watching him. The man had an uncertain look on his face, as if he weren\u2019t sure he should be there.<\/p>\n

“I put the water on,” advised Jim, cocking his head toward the stove. A kettle was sitting on a burner, and a light steam was visible from the spout. “I wasn\u2019t sure how much you needed.”<\/p>\n

“That should do,” replied Adam, as he put the medical kit on the table. He looked around the kitchen and saw a shallow pan hanging on the wall near the fireplace. Adam pulled the pan off the wall and sat it on the table next to the box. Taking a deep breath, Adam walked over to a counter that had several drawers underneath it. Pulling open one of the top drawers, Adam began sorting through the knives lying inside.<\/p>\n

“What are you looking for?” asked Jim.<\/p>\n

“Joe\u2019s got a bullet in him,” answered Adam in a grim voice. “We\u2019ve got to get it out.”<\/p>\n

“Ain\u2019t you going to wait for the doc?” asked Jim, his eyes widening in surprise.<\/p>\n

“Can\u2019t,” replied Adam briefly. He selected two knives, then turned to the cowboy. “Do me a favor and fill that pan with the hot water.” As Jim turned to the stove, Adam pulled open another drawer. This one was filled with clean towels. Adam grabbed a handful.<\/p>\n

Jim was filling the pan with the hot water as Adam turned back toward the table. Steam was rising from the water, indicating the heat of the liquid. Adam dropped the knives into the water.<\/p>\n

“Anything I can do to help?” asked Jim as he put the kettle back on the stove.<\/p>\n

Nodding, Adam said, “Yes. Take the medical box up to Joe\u2019s room. Top of the stairs, at the end of the hall. Tell Pa that I\u2019ll be up in a minute with the water.”<\/p>\n

Without a word, Jim grabbed the box and hurried out of the room.<\/p>\n

Looking around the kitchen, Adam tried to think if there were anything else they might need. He knew he was just delaying going upstairs. Although he knew getting that bullet out of Joe was necessary, it was something that Adam didn\u2019t relish watching. And he knew it was a task that was going to be twice as hard for his father to actually do.<\/p>\n

Sighing, Adam divided the cloths in two stacks and picked them up. Using the cloths to hold the sides of the pan, Adam started slowly from the kitchen.<\/p>\n

Jim was coming down the stairs as Adam neared them.<\/p>\n

“Your Pa says to tell you to hurry with the water,” said Jim. He looked down. “Joe don\u2019t look so good.”<\/p>\n

“Stay with Mr. McClain,” ordered Adam, ignoring Jim\u2019s comment. He walked past the ranch hand and went slowly up the stairs, careful not to spill any of the water as he climbed to the top.<\/p>\n

Outside Joe\u2019s room, Adam stopped for a moment and looked in. Joe was lying on the bed, with covers pulled up to his chest. His left leg protruded from the covers and rested on a large pillow. Hoss was wrapping some white bandages around Joe\u2019s ankle while Ben was sitting on the edge of the bed, wiping Joe\u2019s face and neck with a cloth. Adam couldn\u2019t see Joe\u2019s face clearly.<\/p>\n

Adam watched the activity in the room for a few seconds more, then walked in. “Here\u2019s the water, Pa,” he announced as he approached the bed.<\/p>\n

“Put it on the table,” answered Ben as he continued to blot Joe\u2019s face. Adam did as instructed, then turned to the bed. He could see Joe\u2019s eyes were open, and that his brother\u2019s jaws were clenched as Joe tried to stoically endure the pain.<\/p>\n

“Any sign of the doctor?” asked Ben softly. He knew the answer but needed to be told that what he planned to do was absolutely necessary.<\/p>\n

“Not yet,” replied Adam. “Are you sure you don\u2019t want to wait?”<\/p>\n

“I want to, but I can\u2019t,” admitted Ben. He put the cloth aside and gently placed his hand on Joe\u2019s jaw, turning his son\u2019s head toward him. “Joe, listen to me,” said Ben. “We have to get that bullet out. We can\u2019t wait for the doctor. Do you understand?”<\/p>\n

Two hazel eyes stared back at Ben for a long minute. Then Joe nodded slowly. “Yes,” he whispered.<\/p>\n

Joe closed his eyes, both gathering and praying for strength. When he opened them, he tried to convey the trust he felt to his father. “Let\u2019s get it over with,” he told Ben in a barely audible voice.<\/p>\n

Giving Joe a reassuring smile, Ben stroked his son\u2019s arm. Then he turned to Adam. “There\u2019s some laudanum in the medicine box. I want to give Joe a dose.”<\/p>\n

Adam turned to the open box on the table near the pan of water. He could see two tightly wrapped rolls of bandages and a space where a third must of have been. A large wad of cotton filled in the rest of the box. What looked like a small scissors and the handle of a spoon jutted out from under the cotton and were visible in the empty space. On the inside lid of the box were several small vials, held in place tightly by a leather strap. Almost all the vials were clear, and held various amounts of clear or dark liquid. The last bottle had a familiar blue tint and looked about three quarters full.<\/p>\n

Adam had forgotten what was in the medicine box, if he ever knew. Thankfully, it was not something that he had had to use very often. He realized that he shouldn\u2019t have been surprised that Hop Sing and his father kept the box prepared.<\/p>\n

Pulling the blue vial and spoon out of the box, Adam turned back to his father. “How much should I give him?”<\/p>\n

Ben hesitated before answering. He had to get the dose right. Too little and the laudanum wouldn\u2019t dull the pain enough. Too much and the medicine would stop his son\u2019s heart. Ben looked at the pale figure on the bed and decided to err on the side of caution. “About half a spoonful,” he replied.<\/p>\n

As Adam opened the vial behind him, Ben turned Joe\u2019s face toward him once more. He pushed the hair gently from Joe\u2019s forehead. “Joe, we\u2019re going to give you some laudanum,” said Ben in what he hoped was a normal voice. “It\u2019s going to make you sleepy. Don\u2019t try to fight it. Just go to sleep. When you wake up, the bullet will be out and you\u2019ll feel much better.” Ben hoped the words he spoke with such confidence to his son would actually be true.<\/p>\n

Once more, Joe tried to convey his trust in his father with his eyes. He nodded his head, and obediently opened his mouth as Adam leaned forward with a spoon. Joe took the liquid from the spoon into his mouth, then immediately made a face as he tasted and swallowed the bitter medicine. Adam and Ben laughed a bit at the face Joe made.<\/p>\n

“Let\u2019s give it a minute to work,” Ben advised softly. He stood and walked over to the pan of water. He could see the two knives in the bottom of the water, and shuddered just a bit as he thought about what he had to do with them. Ben put his hands into the water, both to gather the knives and to clean his hands. The water had cooled but was still very warm. Ben sloshed the water over his hands and wrists, then pulled them out. In one hand, he held two knives. He picked up one of the towels sitting next to the pan and began drying the both the knives and his hands.<\/p>\n

As Ben dried his hands, his thoughts strayed to Gunnar Borgstrom, and he could feel his anger and resentment toward the man building again. Because of Gunnar, Ben was going to have to cut into his own son, a prospect that made Ben feel almost physically ill. He thought briefly of Inger, Hoss\u2019 mother and Gunnar\u2019s sister. He knew how Gunnar had worried Inger. As a boy and young man, Gunnar had been irresponsible, caring only for his own needs. He had almost wrecked the growing love that Inger and Ben had felt for each other. Even after Ben had married Inger and taken her West, he knew she continued to worry about her brother. She was anxious that Gunnar would become even more undisciplined and unruly without her steadying hand to guide and control him. Unfortunately, it seemed Inger had been right.<\/p>\n

When Gunnar had showed up at the Ponderosa, Ben had welcomed the man. He had forgotten his concerns about Gunnar, happy only to have a tangible connection to his beloved Inger again. Now Ben fervently wished Gunnar Borgstrom had never come within a thousand miles of the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n

“Pa, he\u2019s drifted off,” said Adam, interrupting Ben\u2019s thoughts.<\/p>\n

Taking a deep breath, Ben picked up one of the knives. He grabbed a handful of cotton from the medicine box, then picked up one of the towels that laid neatly folded on the table. He turned to his older sons. “Adam, you hold the lamp. Get it as close as you can. I want as much light as possible.” Ben turned to where Hoss was standing near the end of the bed. Joe\u2019s ankle was wrapped and covered again with the blankets. “Hoss, I want you to hold him, just in case. I don\u2019t know if that laudanum is going to keep him from feeling\u2026is going to work.”<\/p>\n

Quickly, Adam and Hoss moved to their tasks, almost too quickly for Ben\u2019s state of mind. In a minute, both were ready and Ben knew it was his turn to act. He knew what he was going to do was necessary but never had he faced such a loathsome chore.<\/p>\n

As Adam stood near the bed with the lamp and Hoss sat on the edge of the bed pressing lightly on Joe\u2019s left shoulder and chest, they both turned expectantly to Ben. Ben gave them what he hoped was a confident look, then eased on to the bed next to Joe. He took a deep breath. Then he plunged the knife into his son\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n

Afterwards, Ben tried never to think of those moments. He didn\u2019t want to remember them. But when the memories did force their way to the surface, the images were mostly a blur. Ben remembered Joe twitching and moaning softly on the bed, as if he were having a bad dream. Hoss\u2019 massive hands had held him as still as possible. Ben remembered the blood, lots of blood \u2013 more than he had anticipated. He recalled Adam snatching up some towels from the table and wiping the blood away from his brother\u2019s body. And finally, Ben remembered the intense feeling of relief when he pulled the small piece of lead from Joe\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n

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

An owl hooted from somewhere outside the house as Ben sat in his son\u2019s dimly lit room. The owl and the sound of Joe\u2019s breathing were the only noises which broke the stillness of the night.<\/p>\n

Ben wasn\u2019t exactly sure when he had insisted that Adam and Hoss go get some sleep. He only knew that he had, and that the two had gone reluctantly.<\/p>\n

Hoss seemed to linger in the doorway for several minutes before he left. At first, Ben had attributed that to Hoss\u2019 close bond with his younger brother. But now, sitting by Joe\u2019s bed, his thoughts turned to his own feelings about Gunnar Borgstrom, and he realized Hoss must be feeling as confused and guilty as he did. Ben resolved to have a conversation with his middle son. Maybe Ben couldn\u2019t ease his own feelings of guilt, but he would do his best to erase Hoss\u2019.<\/p>\n

Sometime during the night, Ben decided he no longer wanted to think. He simply sat by Joe\u2019s bed, watching his son sleep, and waited.<\/p>\n

The pale light of early dawn was beginning to brighten the bedroom when Ben heard the first sounds of the commotion below. Maybe it was the pre-dawn stillness that enabled him to hear the noise, or maybe it was simply his ears were straining for it. But for whatever the reason, Ben heard the soft jingle of harness and the plod of horses\u2019 hooves from outside the house; a few moments later, he heard the front door open.<\/p>\n

The next sounds surprised Ben. He heard voices. A first, the voices were just a low rumble, but then they became louder and more strident. Ben couldn\u2019t make out the words, only the tone. And the tone wasn\u2019t a happy one.<\/p>\n

Waiting patiently, Ben sat by Joe\u2019s bed. His son was sleeping easy, the steady rise and fall of his chest visible beneath the covers. He felt Joe\u2019s forehead. It was warmer than it should be but not burning. Joe was in no immediate danger, so Ben could afford to wait.<\/p>\n

About ten minutes passed before Ben heard the footsteps on the stairs. He turned expectantly to the door, and saw the familiar figure of Doctor Martin striding through it.<\/p>\n

“Good morning, Ben,” said the doctor in a slightly exasperated voice. “Sorry it took so long to get here. Mrs. Johnson was having twins, and that second baby took his time about making his appearance.”<\/p>\n

“Good morning, Paul,” Ben greeted the doctor with a tired voice. He watched as Martin put his medical bag on the edge of the bed. “What was going on downstairs?”<\/p>\n

The doctor reddened a bit. “There was a\u2026well, let\u2019s call it a discussion on which of my patients I should see first.” Martin shook his head. “Lord, that Carrie McClain can be stubborn as a mule sometimes.”<\/p>\n

“How is Abe?” asked Ben, remembering the injured man downstairs for the first time in many hours.<\/p>\n

“Doing as well as he should be,” answered the doctor. He slid the covers back from his sleeping patient and began to check Joe\u2019s breathing and pulse. Nodding his satisfaction, the doctor put his hand on Joe\u2019s forehead as Ben had done earlier. “He\u2019s got a fever, but it\u2019s not too high,” announced Martin, confirming Ben\u2019s own thoughts. “He seems to be sleeping all right.”<\/p>\n

“We gave him some laudanum last night,” explained Ben.<\/p>\n

“How much?” asked Martin with a slight frown.<\/p>\n

“About half a spoonful,” replied Ben.<\/p>\n

“That should have been about right,” agreed the doctor with a brief nod of his head. “As much blood as he\u2019s lost, that should have kept Joe asleep all night.”<\/p>\n

“He should be waking soon, right?” asked Ben a bit anxiously.<\/p>\n

“Any time now,” said Martin. “But knowing Joe, he won\u2019t wake up a second before he\u2019s good and ready to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t until the doctor pulled back the bandages and finished checking the wound in his shoulder that Joe began to stir. He moved slightly on the pillows, and his mouth worked a bit. His eyelids began to flutter. Both Ben and the doctor waited, wanting Joe to wake naturally.<\/p>\n

Finally, Joe\u2019s eyes opened, and he looked around the room. He saw the two men standing near the bed. A small smile came over Joe\u2019s face. “Morning,” he said in a thick voice.<\/p>\n

“Good morning, Joseph,” replied Doctor Martin. “And what have you done to yourself this time?”<\/p>\n

The smile on Joe\u2019s face widened a bit. “Guess I zigged when I should have zagged,” he answered.<\/p>\n

“I guess so,” agreed the doctor. “Well, luckily, that bullet missed anything vital, and your Pa got it out soon enough to avoid any infection. You\u2019re going to be sore for a while, but you\u2019ll live.”<\/p>\n

Looking up at his father, Joe\u2019s eyes conveyed his gratitude. “You\u2019d make a pretty good doc, Pa. I didn\u2019t feel a thing.”<\/p>\n

Ben simply nodded, unwilling to trust his voice.<\/p>\n

Moving to the end of the bed, the doctor pulled back the covers over Joe\u2019s leg. “Hoss tells me you sprained your ankle pretty bad,” said Martin as he began to unwrap Joe\u2019s leg.<\/p>\n

“Tripped over a root or something,” admitted Joe. He winced as the doctor started probing the swollen skin.<\/p>\n

“This ankle is going to keep you in bed longer than that gunshot wound,” mused the doctor as began to re-wrap the joint. “It\u2019s going to be a while before you\u2019re going to be able to put any weight on it. I\u2019d say it\u2019s going to be nip and tuck who gets out of bed first – you or Abe McClain.”<\/p>\n

“How is Mr. McClain?” asked Joe with concern. “I thought sure they had killed him.”<\/p>\n

“The bullet missed his heart by inches,” replied the doctor, shaking his head in amazement. “Somehow it found the one place in his chest where it wouldn\u2019t hit any vital organs. He\u2019s a lucky man.”<\/p>\n

“Is Carrie all right?” Joe asked, still concerned.<\/p>\n

The doctor gave a wry smile. “She\u2019s more than all right,” he answered. “She\u2019s downstairs giving orders to everybody – including me.” The doctor pulled a small bottle out of his bag and handed it to Ben. “Give him a spoonful of this every four hours. If the pain gets too bad, give him another dose of laudanum, about half a spoonful as before. Put some cold compresses on the ankle to keep the swelling down, and keep his foot elevated.” The doctor snapped his bag shut. “And now, I\u2019m going home to get some sleep.”<\/p>\n

Following the doctor to the door, Ben stopped Martin. “Thank you for coming, Paul,” he said softly.<\/p>\n

“You\u2019re welcome, Ben,” replied the doctor. “But I really wasn\u2019t needed. You did fine.”<\/p>\n

Ben looked down. “It was the hardest thing I\u2019ve ever had to do,” he admitted. “Cutting into Joe like that. I wasn\u2019t sure I could do it.”<\/p>\n

“I know,” acknowledged the doctor, putting his hand on Ben\u2019s shoulder. “But you did it. Because you knew you had to. If that bullet had stayed in him all night, there\u2019s no telling how bad the infection might be. You and I both know that.” Ben nodded in agreement.<\/p>\n

Looking past Ben, Doctor Martin called to Joe, “Get plenty of rest. I\u2019ll stop back tomorrow to check on you. And Abe McClain.” The doctor rolled his eyes. “I just hope Carrie lets me out of the house.”<\/p>\n

Walking back to the bed, Ben smiled at his youngest son. “Well, young man, you gave us quite a time. Next time you go to fix fences, try to stay out of trouble.”<\/p>\n

Joe smiled briefly, but then his face turned serious. “How is Hoss taking this? I mean, about his uncle and all.”<\/p>\n

Frowning, Ben answered honestly. “I don\u2019t really know. We\u2019re so busy taking care of you that I haven\u2019t had a chance to talk with him. But I will.”<\/p>\n

“Tell Hoss I want to see him,” declared Joe.<\/p>\n

“Later,” replied Ben pulling the covers up to Joe\u2019s chin. “You get some rest now. You can talk with Hoss after you\u2019ve had some sleep.”<\/p>\n

Joe started to protest, but he realized how tired he felt. A few hours sleep sounded like a good idea. He wanted to be clear-headed when he talked with Hoss. “All right,” grumbled Joe as he pushed himself down under the covers. “But don\u2019t forget.”<\/p>\n

“I won\u2019t forget,” Ben promised. “I won\u2019t forget anything,” he added in a soft voice. Ben watched for a minute, making sure Joe was drifting off to sleep. Then he turned and left the bedroom.<\/p>\n

Ben was surprised to see Adam was the only one in the living room when he descended the stairs. “Where is everyone?” he asked his oldest son.<\/p>\n

“Hoss and I carried Mr. McClain upstairs to one of the spare bedrooms,” answered Adam. “Then Hoss rode out to catch up with the posse. Carrie is in the kitchen making breakfast.”<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m going to skip breakfast,” Ben replied. “I need some sleep.”<\/p>\n

“I wouldn\u2019t do that, if I were you,” warned Adam. “Carrie is insisting we all eat something. And she is a very strong-minded young lady, I\u2019ve found.”<\/p>\n

“So I\u2019ve heard,” said Ben with a laugh, remembering the doctor\u2019s words.<\/p>\n

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

Two days passed before Joe got a chance to talk with Hoss. It had taken almost a full day before Ben finally found an opportunity to have a conversation with his middle son. Hoss had ridden out with the posse and pointed them in the direction of the Commenchero\u2019s camp. Then he had left them, riding off in the direction of the rocks where he had found Joe the evening before. Hoss had brought an extra horse with him, a big black stallion. He thought Uncle Gunnar would have liked being brought back to the Ponderosa on such a fine animal.<\/p>\n

Gunnar Borgstrom was buried by a small lake on the Ponderosa, with only Ben, Adam and Hoss in attendance. Somehow, none of them felt Gunnar would have wanted a preacher to say words over him. But in deference to what he knew would have been Inger\u2019s wishes, Ben read a few words from the Bible over the grave. Then he silently prayed that Gunnar and Inger would be together again.<\/p>\n

When Ben and Hoss talked later by the small lake, Ben was surprised at how understanding Hoss was about his uncle. Hoss was sure, as Ben was, that Gunnar wouldn\u2019t have wanted them to grieve over him. Ben\u2019s concerns had been centered on the living. He had done his best to reassure Hoss that he had not been responsible for the misery his uncle had caused in connection with his visit to the Ponderosa. Ben had talked and Hoss had listened. But Ben wasn\u2019t sure Hoss was convinced.<\/p>\n

The conversation between Joe and Hoss the next day was supposedly private. But Ben couldn\u2019t resist standing in the hall and listening. He only caught snatches, but he could hear Joe\u2019s strident voice insisting that “it wasn\u2019t your fault” and “he saved our lives”. Ben smiled as he heard his youngest son insisting that “we can\u2019t be blamed for our relatives. Look at me. I\u2019m stuck with you.” Ben left the hall before the conversation was finished, but the relieved look on Hoss\u2019 face when he came down the stairs told Ben that Joe had been successful in eliminating Hoss\u2019 sense of guilt.<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s own sense of guilt was erased once he talked with Abe McClain. He tried to apologize to the man for Gunnar\u2019s actions, but McClain wouldn\u2019t hear it. Like Joe, McClain insisted Ben couldn\u2019t be blamed for something in which he played no part and which he couldn\u2019t have known would happen.<\/p>\n

Two weeks passed before either Abe McClain or Joe managed to get out of bed. It was two weeks in which Carrie seemed to enjoy playing nursemaid. She went between the two bedrooms, checking on patients, insisting they taking their medicine, and generally fussing over the two men. Both her uncle and Joe grumbled about the fussing, but she suspected that they both enjoyed it, so she ignored their complaints. Carrie would have denied it if asked but secretly she relished giving orders to the two men like a drill sergeant. Joe and Carrie\u2019s uncle endured her taking charge of them because they really had no choice. But despite what Carrie believed, Joe found all her tender care to be a bit tiresome.<\/p>\n

The third week after the raid had almost passed when Abe McClain declared himself fit enough to go home.<\/p>\n

“I thank you for you kindness, Ben,” said McClain as he sat on the sofa in the living room, “but I don\u2019t want to overstay my welcome. Besides, I\u2019ve got a hankering to sleep in my own house. Or what\u2019s left of it.”<\/p>\n

“Abe, don\u2019t you think you should wait a while longer?” asked Ben.<\/p>\n

“Nope,” insisted McClain. “I feel well enough to go home. And Carrie will look after me.” McClain laughed. “Although I think she\u2019s going to be disappointed to have only one fellow to fuss over instead of two.”<\/p>\n

“She does seem to be enjoying herself,” agreed Ben with a grin.<\/p>\n

“Another reason we should leave,” said McClain. “I think she\u2019s starting to get on Joe\u2019s nerves a bit. Yesterday, when he was trying to walk with that cane, she stood in the hallway and ordered him back to his room. It was touch and go there for awhile whether he was going to go back or hit her with the cane!”<\/p>\n

“Well, today\u2019s Thursday,” mused Ben, obviously thinking. “Why don\u2019t we wait until Sunday? You can go home on Sunday.”<\/p>\n

“Sunday it is,” agreed McClain. He grinned. “That is, if Joe and Carrie don\u2019t kill each other first.”<\/p>\n

The news that the McClains were leaving on Sunday seemed to ease any tension that had been building between Joe and Carrie. Joe started making some attempts to tease Carrie and treat her with same tenderness as he done before the raid. For her part, Carrie began acting more like the young girl who had been so pleased when Joe came to stay at her uncle\u2019s ranch. Both were trying very hard to pretend that the raid hadn\u2019t changed them. And neither were willing to admit that their efforts weren\u2019t having much success.<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head as he watched Joe and Carrie. He wondered if they realized what the true impact of what had happened would mean to their relationship. He had seen the expression on Carrie\u2019s face every time someone mentioned the raid, a look of horror and disgust. He had seen the sadness in Joe\u2019s eyes when she didn\u2019t realize he was watching her. Ben knew both were trying hard to re-capture the feelings they had before the raid. And he knew that, deep down, both knew things would never be the same between them.<\/p>\n

As Joe and Carrie sat in front of the house on Sunday morning, their fingers were intertwined. Joe\u2019s right arm was in a sling, and a cane rest against his chair. Carrie sat in a chair to Joe\u2019s left, and she stared up at him with soulful eyes. She deliberately kept her eyes on his face, and tried not to see Joe\u2019s visible reminders of their ordeal.<\/p>\n

Joe brought Carrie\u2019s hand to his lips and kissed it softly. “I\u2019m going to miss you,” he said.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019ll miss you,” replied Carrie almost tearfully. “You\u2019ll come over and visit, won\u2019t you?”<\/p>\n

“Sure,” agreed Joe. “I still have to finish that fence.” Joe looked down for a minute, then back to Carrie. “I never did say how sorry I am for what happened.”<\/p>\n

“It wasn\u2019t your fault, Joe,” insisted Carrie. “It wasn\u2019t anyone\u2019s fault, except for those awful men.” She shuddered slightly at the thought of the Commancheros.<\/p>\n

Joe looked at Carrie sadly. He liked the girl, liked her a lot. But he knew whatever budding romance they might have had was gone. The outlaws had killed it as surely as they had killed the McClains\u2019 hired hand. Carrie would think of the Commancheros every time she saw Joe. There was no way she could avoid it. And such an unpleasant memory was nothing on which to build a relationship.<\/p>\n

“As soon as I\u2019m fit, I\u2019ll come over and finish that fence,” Joe promised.<\/p>\n

“And I\u2019ll make sure I have an apple pie all ready when you get there,” replied Carrie.<\/p>\n

They both sat silently, holding hands. Neither seriously believed that Joe would finish the fence or Carrie would bake him a pie. But both were eager to keep up the pretense that their attitude toward each other hadn\u2019t changed.<\/p>\n

Joe and Carrie were almost relieved when Hoss drove the surrey up to the house. Neither had known what to say, except maybe good-bye. And good-bye was a sentiment too painful for either Joe or Carrie to express.<\/p>\n

“You ready to go, Carrie?” asked Hoss as he jumped down from the surrey.<\/p>\n

“Soon as I get my things,” Carrie answered, getting to her feet quickly. She stopped. “Hoss, did I remember to thank your father for buying Uncle Abe and me all those clothes?”<\/p>\n

“Aw, shucks,” declared Hoss with a grin. “It weren\u2019t much. We was happy to do it.”<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s a lot when you don\u2019t have anything,” insisted Carrie. She stood for a minute, as if unsure what she should say next. With a shrug, she turned to walk into the house. “I\u2019ll get Uncle Abe.”<\/p>\n

Balancing himself carefully, Joe stood up. He grabbed the cane with his left hand and leaned on it heavily for a minute. Then he started slowly toward the surrey.<\/p>\n

“You need a hand getting in, little brother?” asked Hoss as he watched Joe\u2019s slow progress.<\/p>\n

“Yeah, I guess I do,” admitted Joe. He grinned at Hoss. “Everything ready at the McClain\u2019s?”<\/p>\n

Glancing over his shoulder to be sure Carrie hadn\u2019t returned, Hoss answered, “Everything\u2019s ready. Now get in that surrey before you give away the surprise.”<\/p>\n

It took some time to get Joe and Abe McClain into the surrey. Both men were far from fully recovered. Carrie stood anxiously as she watched Hoss ease her uncle onto the seat, then hurried to cover his legs with a blanket. Joe laughed as McClain looked up and rolled his eyes. Hoss tied two small suitcases to the back of the surrey while Carrie stood by, looking thoughtful.<\/p>\n

“You ready to go, Carrie?” asked Hoss once the suitcases were secure.<\/p>\n

Carrie looked around as if she were making sure she hadn\u2019t forgotten something. “I suppose. Where\u2019s Adam and Mr. Cartwright? I wanted to say good-bye.”<\/p>\n

“They, um, er, they\u2019re going to meet us over at your place,” Hoss explained quickly. “They had some chores to take care of.” He suddenly seemed ill at ease, turning his face to look away from the girl. “Come on, Carrie, get in. We\u2019ve got to go,” added Hoss abruptly.<\/p>\n

Hoss hurried to the front of the surrey, pointedly ignoring the look of exasperation Joe was giving him. Carrie climbed into the front of the surrey next to Hoss. “I\u2019m ready, Hoss,” she announced, puzzled by the evasive expression on Hoss\u2019 face.<\/p>\n

“Right,” said Hoss, without looking at Carrie. He snapped the reins. “Let\u2019s go.”<\/p>\n

The horses started forward at a rapid walk.<\/p>\n

As the surrey neared the McClain\u2019s ranch a short time later, Carrie exclaimed, “Look, Uncle Abe! The barn and the house are all cleaned up!” Her head swiveled from side to side as the surrey rolled on. “It looks even better than it did before\u2026it looks like new,” she reported.<\/p>\n

“You do this, Hoss?” asked McClain from the back of the surrey.<\/p>\n

“Well, me and Adam and Pa,” admitted Hoss. “We thought it was the least we could do.”<\/p>\n

“It wasn\u2019t necessary,” replied McClain. “I told your Pa that.” He looked around the neat yard, and freshly painted house and barn. “But thank you, son.”<\/p>\n

After pulling the surrey to a stop in front of the house, Hoss quickly climbed down and went around the carriage to help McClain out. Carrie stood by, anxiously watching. When McClain was finally out of the surrey, she looped her arm through her uncle\u2019s. The two started walking slowly toward the house while Hoss watched with a grin.<\/p>\n

“Help me out of here!” exclaimed Joe as he leaned out of the surrey. “We\u2019re going to miss it.”<\/p>\n

Reaching up, Hoss helped Joe out of the carriage. He put his arm on Joe\u2019s back to steady him, but Joe shrugged the arm away. “Come on,” Joe urged his brother. The two moved followed the McClains to the house.<\/p>\n

Carrie and Abe McClain opened their front door, then stopped. Their faces showed astonishment as a crowd of people inside the house shouted “Surprise!”<\/p>\n

“What\u2019s this?” asked McClain, obviously confused.<\/p>\n

Walking forward, Ben gestured the McClains into the house. “Abe, we know what those outlaws did to your ranch,” he said. “And your friends didn\u2019t think it was right that you would come home to a wrecked house. So we tried to make things right for you. Anything that was broken has been repaired or replaced. We couldn\u2019t be entirely sure what was stolen, but we\u2019ve tried to replace everything that was taken. The ladies have been cooking and baking for days, so you have a kitchen full of food. Abe, Carrie, welcome home!”<\/p>\n

Joe and Hoss stood in the doorway, grinning from ear to ear, as the crowd surged forward to envelope the McClains. Joe was so intent on watching the happy scene that he didn\u2019t notice Doctor Martin standing next to him until the doctor spoke.<\/p>\n

“Joe, remember what I told,” cautioned Martin. “You sit down and take the weight off that ankle as much as possible. And if you\u2019re feeling tired, you head for home.”<\/p>\n

“Don\u2019t worry, doc,” replied Joe. “I\u2019m fine.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019ll keep any eye on him,” promised Hoss. “I\u2019ll make sure he don\u2019t overdo it.”<\/p>\n

“See that you do,” ordered the doctor sternly. Then he smiled at Hoss. “I know you\u2019ll take care of him.”<\/p>\n

Looking down at Joe, Hoss nodded. “I always do,” he said softly.<\/p>\n

Joe smiled back at Hoss. “You know, we might not have the greatest relatives in the world. But I have to admit that there\u2019s at least one that I\u2019m kind of glad to have around.”<\/p>\n

“Me, too, little brother,” agreed Hoss, throwing his arm around Joe. “Me, too.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary:\u00a0 A WHN for the episode “The Last Viking”<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 T\u00a0 (13 730 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10338,"featured_media":13912,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,13],"tags":[14,15,17,16],"class_list":["post-13911","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-whn","tag-adam-cartwright","tag-ben","tag-hoss","tag-joe","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-13-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2900,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/The-Last-Viking.png?fit=698%2C472&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16016,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=16016","url_meta":{"origin":13911,"position":0},"title":"Searching for Life (by AC1830)","author":"AC1830","date":"February 28, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 When Ben and Inger left her brother Gunnar in Illinois (Inger, My Love), he was searching for his purpose in life, heading to the Canadian gold fields.\u00a0 The Last Viking showed he maintained his wild side.\u00a0 But how would his life have turned out if he had listened to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Z-Gunnar.png?fit=491%2C434&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10298,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=10298","url_meta":{"origin":13911,"position":1},"title":"Changes Past (by BluewindFarm)","author":"BluewindFarm","date":"January 15, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: A what happened next for The Last Viking. A story told from Adam\u2019s point of view as he attempts to reconcile what happened to another time in his life. Rating: K (3,665 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Brothers"","block_context":{"text":"Brothers","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1009"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/6.jpg?fit=414%2C416&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3555,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3555","url_meta":{"origin":13911,"position":2},"title":"The Last Viking (by Rona)","author":"Rona","date":"May 21, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 A WHB the ending scene.\u00a0 How did the Cartwrights get Joe home after he had been shot? If you ever wondered, read on. Rated:\u00a0 T \u00a0 (9,075 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":14394,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14394","url_meta":{"origin":13911,"position":3},"title":"The Olympic Inheritance (by Robin)","author":"profrobinw","date":"January 12, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Beyond their wildest dreams? \u00a0Well, it happened. 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