{"id":13941,"date":"2006-12-12T14:00:44","date_gmt":"2006-12-12T19:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13941"},"modified":"2026-02-11T10:59:43","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T15:59:43","slug":"the-price-of-friendship-by-susan-g","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13941","title":{"rendered":"The Price of Friendship (by Susan G)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary<\/strong>:\u00a0 Joe isn’t as accepting as the rest of the family when a man from their past returns.<\/p>\n

Word Count: \u00a014,500 \u00a0Rated: \u00a0T<\/p>\n

The Price of Friendship<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was the smoke curling above the trees that caught the posse\u2019s attention. \u201cLook over there\u201d shouted Adam Cartwright, pointing toward the smoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see it, Adam,\u201d answered Sheriff Roy Coffee.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you reckon he\u2019s hit another place?\u201d Hoss Cartwright asked his brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Adam replied grimly. \u201cI hope not.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf he has, that four places in the last two weeks,\u201d said Joe Cartwright.<\/p>\n

“We\u2019d best go check it out,\u201d the sheriff ordered. \u201cBoys, let\u2019s head toward that smoke,\u201d he shouted to the dozen or so men sitting on their horses around him. The posse turned their horses, and headed in the direction of the smoke. The posse moved slowly through the thick growth of trees and bushes. The men were in the hill country, where the natural growth was dense. They had been resting on the crest of a bluff when Adam spotted the smoke. Now they headed down into the woods below them, carefully guiding their horses around the tall pines. It look the posse almost an hour to reach the source of the smoke. When they arrived, they knew they were too late. A small area of land had been cleared of trees and brush, and what was once a cabin sat on the edge of the clearing. Near the structure, a corral stood empty. The cabin was burning and obviously had been for some time. All that was left was the stone chimney and a few pieces of the frame. The rest of building was now smoking logs and ashes. Flames licked through the wood. Scattered in front of the burning cabin were a few of its owner\u2019s possessions. A bible laid open on the ground, it\u2019s pages flickering in the wind. A wooden keg with its top smashed was a foot or so from the bible. A small iron chest laid open nearby.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Fred Thompson\u2019s place, isn\u2019t it?\u201d asked Sheriff Coffee as the men rode up to the cabin.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d answered Adam, looking around. \u201cI don\u2019t see him any place, though.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf he\u2019s like the others, he\u2019ll be tied up in the woods,\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cA couple of you boys put that fire out,\u201d ordered the sheriff. \u201cThe rest of you spread out and start searching the area. Look for a man tied up. Also look for tracks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Three men dismounted and started throwing dirt on the burning cabin. The rest of the posse scattered back into the woods, moving slowly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhoever is doing this really likes destroying things,\u201d remarked Joe as he headed into the woods with his brothers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s got to be one man,\u201d insisted Adam. \u201cHe\u2019s only hitting the small places. And there\u2019s only been one set of tracks leading away from each place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but those tracks keep petering out,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cWe ain\u2019t never found enough of a trail to follow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, whoever it is, he\u2019s looted and burned four places now,\u201d continued Joe. \u201cI wonder how long he\u2019s going to keep this up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust keep your eyes peeled for Thompson,\u201d said Adam. \u201cHe\u2019s the important thing now. We can wonder about who did it later.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight,\u201d replied Joe in a serious tone.<\/p>\n

The Cartwrights hadn\u2019t ridden very far when Hoss saw the red-shirted arm sticking out of the thick green foliage. \u201cThere he is,\u201d said Hoss, pointing at the splash of red. The Cartwrights quickly guided their horses toward the patch of red Hoss had spotted. They dismounted and pushed aside the bushes. A man about 40 laid on the ground. He was wearing a patched red shirt and brown pants held up by thick suspenders. His hands and feet were tied with rawhide strips, and a blue bandanna was wrapped around his mouth. The man\u2019s eyes were closed, as if he were sleeping. Adam quickly pulled a pocket knife from the front pocket of his pants. He unbent the knife and sliced the strips from the man\u2019s hands and feet. Hoss untied the gag from the man\u2019s head, and slowly turned the face toward him. Hoss could see a small area of blood matting the man\u2019s thick black hair.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs he alive?\u201d asked Joe as he stood watching his brothers.<\/p>\n

Hoss felt the man\u2019s neck. \u201cYeah,\u201d he answered. \u201cGet me some water, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe hurried back to the horses and grabbed a canteen off his saddle. He walked back to his brothers, tossing the canteen to Hoss when he got there. Hoss was cradling the man\u2019s head and shoulders in his left arm. He picked up the canteen that had landed at his feet, and pulled the top off with his teeth. He began trickling water down the man\u2019s face. For a few seconds, the man had no reaction. Then a low groan escaped from his lips. Hoss put the canteen back on the ground as the man began moving slowly and moaning louder.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake it easy, Fred,\u201d said Adam as he crouched near Hoss.<\/p>\n

The man moaned again and then his eyes flickered open. He blinked several times, as if trying to clear his vision. \u201cCartwright?\u201d he said in a weak voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, it\u2019s Adam Cartwright,\u201d answered Adam.<\/p>\n

The man groaned once more and then sat up. He grabbed his head and squinted in pain. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d Thompson asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what we were going to ask you,\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n

Thompson shook his head. \u201cDon\u2019t know,\u201d he replied. \u201cI heard a banging on the door and I went outside to look. That\u2019s the last thing I remember.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam glanced up at Joe. What Thompson had described was exactly the same thing as the other three men who were attacked had said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat brought you boys up here?\u201d asked Thompson. \u201cNot that I ain\u2019t grateful, but this isn\u2019t exactly your normal stomping grounds.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked at Adam, who nodded slightly. \u201cWe were riding with the posse and saw the smoke,\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSmoke? What smoke?\u201d asked Thompson.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom your cabin,\u201d said Hoss as gently as he could.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy cabin!\u201d cried Thompson in alarm. He scrambled to his feet but stopped as his knees began to buckle. Hoss rose and grabbed his arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake it easy, Fred,\u201d Hoss said. \u201cYou got quite a lump on your head.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNever mind that,\u201d Thompson spat out. \u201cI got to get to my cabin.\u201d He brushed off Hoss\u2019 hand and started walking unsteadily through the woods.<\/p>\n

The Cartwrights watched him for a minute. \u201cHe\u2019s not going to like what he\u2019ll find,\u201d said Hoss in a grim tone.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on,\u201d said Adam. \u201cLet\u2019s follow him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam, Hoss and Joe walked back to their horses and grabbed the reins. They walked the animals slowly through the woods, following Thompson\u2019s trail. They emerged from the woods a few minutes later. Thompson was standing in shocked silence in front of what was left of his cabin. The men who had put out the fire was standing nearby, watching in sympathy.<\/p>\n

Adam walked up and put his hand on Thompson\u2019s shoulder. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Fred,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was like this when we got here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho\u2019d want to do this to me?\u201d moaned Thompson.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d said Adam. \u201cWe think the same man hit three other places. The same thing happened. The owners were tied up and dragged into the woods. The cabins were looted and burned to the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut why?\u201d Thompson said. \u201cI don\u2019t have much. Maybe forty dollars and a rifle with some silver scroll my father gave me. The rest, it couldn\u2019t be worth more than twenty, thirty dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Adam repeated. He looked over his shoulder toward his brothers. \u201cYou\u2019d better signal the rest of the posse.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe nodded and pulled his gun from his holster. He fired twice into the air. Hoss walked up to Thompson. \u201cWe\u2019ll help you rebuild it,\u201d Hoss said in a comforting tone. Thompson shook his head. \u201cNo, I ain\u2019t gonna stay here,\u201d the man answered. \u201cI can\u2019t stay here. Everything I owned was in that place.\u201d He looked around. \u201cThat buzzard even took my horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss looked at Adam. Adam shrugged his shoulders. \u201cWhat will you do?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cGuess I\u2019ll go to Virginia City,\u201d said Thompson in a discouraged voice. \u201cFind me a job and make some money. Then I\u2019m getting out of this territory.\u201d<\/p>\n

The sound of horses drew the Cartwrights\u2019 attention. The rest of the posse rode out of the woods from several directions.<\/p>\n

\u201cSee you found him,\u201d said Roy Coffee as he rode up. \u201cYou all right, Fred?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I ain\u2019t all right,\u201d answered Thompson in a low voice.<\/p>\n

Coffee looked at Adam in surprise. Adam quickly told the sheriff everything Fred had said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou find any tracks?\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n

Coffee shook his head. \u201cSame as before,\u201d he answered. \u201cWe found the tracks of one man riding a horse and leading another. We followed them for awhile but they disappeared. Looks like they were brushed out. We headed in the same direction, but the ground got hard and rocky. No way to follow any tracks after that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam glanced at the sky. \u201cIt\u2019s getting late,\u201d he said, looking at the sun. \u201cWe\u2019d better head back to the ranch.\u201d He turned to Thompson. \u201cYou\u2019re welcome to stay with us for a while, if you want.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Cartwright, but I\u2019d rather not,\u201d replied Thompson. \u201cI just want to get as far away from this place as possible.\u201d He turned toward Roy Coffee. \u201cSheriff, can I ride into town with you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure thing,\u201d said Coffee. \u201cYou can climb on behind Andy there. His horse can carry two.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thompson nodded his thanks and started toward a man on a big gray horse. As Thompson mounted, Joe hurried toward the cabin. He picked the bible off the ground and walked toward the gray horse.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere,\u201d said Joe, handing the Bible to Thompson as the man settled on the back of the horse. Thompson took the Bible from Joe. \u201cThanks,\u201d he said. He looked sadly at the book. \u201cThat\u2019s all that\u2019s left from two years work. Two years of clearing the land and building the cabin, and hunting these woods. Not much to show for it, is it ?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe nodded in sympathy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll have a posse out here again tomorrow,\u201d Coffee stated as the men started to ride away. \u201cAdam, will you and Hoss and Joe meet us here?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded grimly. \u201cWe\u2019ll be here,\u201d he declared. \u201cWe\u2019ll meet you here about ten o\u2019clock. We\u2019ve got some chores to take care of at the ranch first.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coffee nodded. \u201cTen o\u2019clock, it is,\u201d he agreed. \u201cThank you for the help.\u201d The sheriff turned his horse and followed the rest of the posse. The Cartwrights stood in silence for a few moments, watching the riders. Finally, Adam sighed. \u201cCome on,\u201d he said. \u201cLet\u2019s head for home.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Ben Cartwright was coming out of the barn when his sons rode into the yard in front of the ranch house. He yelled a greeting and hurried toward them.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you have any luck?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, all bad,\u201d answered Hoss. \u201cWe didn\u2019t find a trace of that yahoo who has been causing all the trouble. And Fred Thompson\u2019s place was robbed and burned.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFred Thompson?\u201d said Ben in alarm. \u201cIs he all right?<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, he\u2019s not hurt,\u201d answered Adam. \u201cBut he lost everything. Like the others, he\u2019s going to pack up and clear out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would he go after Thompson?\u201d said Ben with a frown. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t think he had much worth stealing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe didn\u2019t,\u201d replied Adam. \u201cAbout forty dollars and a rifle with some silver on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head. \u201cI don\u2019t understand,\u201d he said. \u201cWhoever is doing this can\u2019t be getting much. He\u2019s hit two small farms, a mine which was barely producing, and now a hunter without much money. Why would he do it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, Pa,\u201d admitted Adam with a sigh. \u201cI just can\u2019t figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n

The snicker of a horse drew the four men\u2019s attention. They turned to see a rider coming slowly toward the house. The rider was a big man, wearing a buckskin shirt trimmed with fringe and dark pants. The man had a gray beard, and long gray hair which curled over the collar of his shirt. A black hat with a wide brim was perched firmly on his head. Ben looked at the man curiously. \u201cCan I help you?\u201d he asked as the rider neared the house.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen Cartwright, I\u2019m surprised at you,\u201d the man said. \u201cI thought you\u2019d recognize an old friend. I didn\u2019t know you\u2019d gone soft in the head in your old age.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben stared at the man for a moment with a puzzled expression. Suddenly, his face cleared. \u201cJosh!\u201d Ben shouted with glee. \u201cJosh Bodine! Is it really you?\u201d<\/p>\n

The man grinned and dismounted. \u201cYeah, it\u2019s me, Ben,\u201d he replied. \u201cStill alive and kicking.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben rushed forward and grabbed the man\u2019s hand. \u201cJosh,\u201d he said with a huge smile on his face. \u201cI can\u2019t believe it. It\u2019s good to see you again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood to see you, too, Ben,\u201d Josh agreed. He looked around. \u201cYou really did a nice job building up this spread. Last time I saw it, it weren\u2019t more than a few acres with a shack.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s because of you that the Ponderosa even exists,\u201d declared Ben. \u201cIf you hadn\u2019t helped me get started and showed me how to get through the winter, I would have never made it here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks like you learned pretty good,\u201d said Josh.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Ponderosa is the biggest — and best \u2013 ranch in Nevada,\u201d Ben acknowledged proudly. \u201cThanks to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Josh just nodded.<\/p>\n

Ben turned back to his sons who were watching the two old friends in amazement. \u201cBoys, come over here and say hello to Josh Bodine, the best mountain man in the West. When I first got out here, Josh helped me settle this land and showed me how to find good grazing. He also taught me a lot about hunting and fishing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam hurried forward. \u201cI remember, \u201c he said with a smile. \u201cI\u2019m Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Josh squinted at him. \u201cAdam?\u201d he repeated. \u201cLittle Adam? You sure have grown up. Last time I saw you, you were skinny little kid who always had his nose stuck in a book.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I still read a lot,\u201d Adam admitted with a grin. \u201cBut I also hunt and fish like you taught me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben gestured toward Hoss. \u201cAnd this is Hoss. He was hardly more than a toddler when you left,\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n

Josh looked in amazement at the big man who walked toward him. \u201cHoss! This can\u2019t be that chubby kid who was always following me around,\u201d the mountain man declared.<\/p>\n

\u201cYep, it\u2019s me,\u201d replied Hoss with a grin. \u201cI never forgot you, Josh. I played with that toy bear you carved for me for years. I always told Pa I wanted to be big and strong like you when I grew up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Josh looked Hoss up and down. \u201cLooks like you passed me up and then some,\u201d he said with a laugh.<\/p>\n

Joe approached the group almost shyly. He had heard stories about Josh Bodine all his life, but the man was more like a legend than a flesh and blood human being to him. Joe found it hard to believe he really existed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd this is my youngest, Joseph,\u201d Ben announced, putting his arm around Joe\u2019s shoulders. \u201cHe was born after you left.\u201d<\/p>\n

Josh studied Joe carefully. \u201cThe runt of the litter, heh,\u201d Josh said in a dismissing tone. \u201cDidn\u2019t know you\u2019d married again, Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben felt Joe stiffen. He knew how sensitive Joe was about being younger and smaller than his brothers. Josh\u2019s comment was sure to get Joe\u2019s back up.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I married again,\u201d Ben answered abruptly, trying to prevent Joe from saying anything his son would regret later. \u201cJoe\u2019s mother was killed in an accident soon after he was born.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMust have been a puny thing,\u201d Josh commented, turning away from Joe.<\/p>\n

Ben felt Joe\u2019s shoulders tighten. He squeezed Joe\u2019s shoulder as a warning. \u201cJosh, what brings you back here?\u201d Ben asked quickly. Ben could feel the anger building in his youngest son.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust passing through, Ben,\u201d Josh answered, unaware of the dark look on Joe\u2019s face. \u201cBeen in California for the last couple of years, but it\u2019s gotten too crowded there. Why, you can\u2019t ride for more than a day without running into someone. So I decided to look for someplace where a man can live on his own. Since I was passing this way, I thought I\u2019d stop and visit for a spell.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben squeezed Joe\u2019s shoulder again and then released his son. \u201cJosh, why don\u2019t you come into the house,\u201d Ben suggested. \u201cDinner will be ready soon. And maybe we can find some good whiskey for you to sip in the meantime.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, thank you, Ben,\u201d Josh replied with a grin. \u201cI was kinda of hoping you\u2019d ask.\u201d Josh tossed the reins of his horse in Joe\u2019s direction. \u201cHere, boy, why don\u2019t you put up my horse. I don\u2019t expect a young \u2018un like you is much interested in whiskey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe stood glowering Bodine. He let the reins fall to the ground and made no attempt to pick them up.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, Hoss, why don\u2019t you take Josh in the house,\u201d Ben said hastily. \u201cI\u2019ll join you in a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d replied Hoss, aware of the angry look on Joe\u2019s face. He felt bad about Josh\u2019s comments, but was sure the man hadn\u2019t meant to be cruel. \u201cJosh, follow me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mountain man strolled toward the house with Adam and Hoss, ignoring Joe as he passed him. Ben watched in dismay. Ben turned to Joe. \u201cJoe, I\u2019m sorry about what Josh said,\u201d Ben advised softly. \u201cI\u2019m sure he didn\u2019t mean them the way they sounded.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe said nothing for a moment, then looked at Ben. \u201cSo that\u2019s Josh Bodine,\u201d he observed. \u201cHe\u2019s not exactly what I expected. I thought he\u2019d be at least ten feet tall.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess we have been building him up over the years,\u201d admitted Ben. \u201cBut, Joe, he is one of my oldest friends. I owe him a lot. Adam and Hoss and I would have never made it through that first winter here without him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe just nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a rough mountain man,\u201d Ben continued. \u201cSays and does whatever he wants and doesn\u2019t care what people think about him. He doesn\u2019t always realize how he\u2019s hurting people. He gave me many a tongue-lashing when I first came out here.\u201d<\/p>\n

A wry smile appeared on Joe\u2019s face. \u201cI would have loved to have seen that,\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n

Ben grinned. \u201cI\u2019m just glad you weren\u2019t around to see all the mistakes I made when I got here.\u201d Then Ben turned serious. \u201cJoe, I would appreciate your forgetting what Josh said.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked at his father. \u201cAll right,\u201d he agreed grudgingly. \u201cFor your sake, I\u2019ll try.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben patted Joe on the back. \u201cThank you. Would you mind putting up Josh\u2019s horse?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe nodded. \u201cYeah, I\u2019ll take care of the horse.\u201d He grinned suddenly. \u201cMaybe you can find me a sarsaparilla when I\u2019m done.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I think we can do a little better than that,\u201d replied Ben with a smile. \u201cAnd, Joe, thank you again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe walked back to the house slowly after stabling Josh\u2019s horse. He had taken his time caring the for horse, reluctant to join the men inside the house. As Ben asked, he tried to forget the mountain man\u2019s earlier comments, but it rankled Joe to be dismissed as a kid. He had just turned twenty, and considered himself grown. Josh\u2019s comment about his mother bothered him also. Joe tried to make himself like the man who was obviously highly thought of by his father and brothers. But he knew it would be difficult. He had already decided Josh Bodine was someone he didn\u2019t care to be around. Joe entered the house and saw that Josh was sprawled in Ben\u2019s favorite chair by the fire. The mountain man had a glass of whiskey in his hand. Ben was standing near the fireplace, with a glass in his hand also. Adam and Hoss were sitting on the sofa. They looked over their shoulders as Joe walked in.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, how about joining us for a whiskey?\u201d Ben said pointedly as Joe strolled over to the group.<\/p>\n

Josh raised his eyebrows in surprise as Joe walked over to the low table in front of the fireplace. But he said nothing as Joe poured himself a small drink of whiskey from the bottle on the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cJosh was just telling us about California,\u201d Hoss explained as he watched Joe settle himself into the blue chair near the stairs. He hoped Josh wouldn\u2019t say anything more to upset Joe. He wanted his younger brother to like the mountain man as much as he did.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat part of California were you in?\u201d Joe asked politely, sipping his drink.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll over,\u201d Josh replied. \u201cSaw the ocean more times than you can imagine. Also saw some trees that were as wide as this house and over a hundred feet tall.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re making that up,\u201d said Adam with a grin.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I ain\u2019t,\u201d Josh declared. \u201cThey\u2019re big redwood trees, hundreds of years old.\u201d Then Josh shook his head. \u201cCourse, folks have cut some down,\u201d he added in disgust. \u201cIt ain\u2019t right the way some people just come in and spoil what nature took a hundred years to make.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it\u2019s unfortunate that some of the land has to be cleared,\u201d admitted Ben. \u201cBut I guess that\u2019s the price of progress.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cProgress!\u201d Josh spat out. \u201cAin\u2019t progress, Ben. Just laziness. People don\u2019t care what they do to the land.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere you headed?\u201d said Hoss, trying to change the subject.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo place in particular, \u201c Josh answered. \u201cI was thinking about staying around here for a spell, but don\u2019t think I\u2019ll do that now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy not?\u201d asked Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeen what\u2019s happened to this part of the country,\u201d replied Josh. \u201cDon\u2019t like it much. Too many people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going to have a hard time finding someplace without people,\u201d observed Joe wryly. \u201cThere\u2019s new settlers coming all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d admitted Josh wearily. \u201cThem tenderfoots are the worst. They cut down trees and mess up the land. Then, when they decide they don\u2019t like it or they can\u2019t make it work, they move on. And leave the spoiled land behind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you still do much hunting?\u201d asked Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I can,\u201d answered Josh. \u201cNot much game left. Things have been pretty slim for me over the past couple of years. That\u2019s why I\u2019m trying to find someplace where I can hunt like I did before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I hope you\u2019ll plan on spending a little time with us,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n

Josh looked at him and smiled. \u201cI guess I can spare a few days,\u201d he agreed.<\/p>\n

Dinner was a lively affair for most of the Cartwrights. Josh kept them laughing with stories of his adventures over the years. Ben added to the gaiety by telling them stories of his first few years in Nevada, and all the problems he had. Josh added a few stories of his own about the early days. Joe sat quietly during dinner, saying nothing and only occasionally joining in the laughter. He still didn\u2019t feel good about Josh Bodine. Josh, for his part, ignored Joe completely.<\/p>\n

\u201cJosh, I hope you\u2019ll stay with us,\u201d said Ben as dinner ended.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019ll stay tonight since it\u2019s getting late. But I got a little camp set up in the woods,\u201d answered Josh. \u201cGot a few furs and other things up there. Don\u2019t want to leave it alone too long.\u201d Josh turned to Adam and Hoss. \u201cYou boys want to go hunting with me tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2019s a pretty good hunter, too,\u201d interjected Hoss hastily. Josh looked at Joe and just nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t go hunting anyway,\u201d added Adam. \u201cWe have to ride with the posse tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPosse?\u201d Josh said in surprise. \u201cWhat\u2019s that all about.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomebody has been raiding the small places in the hills,\u201d explained Ben grimly. \u201cLooting the places and then burning them. We\u2019re trying to help the sheriff catch whoever is doing this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are?\u201d said Josh. \u201cWouldn\u2019t think that would be any of your concern.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is,\u201d stated Ben. \u201cThese are our neighbors, Josh. And one of the things you taught me was you help each other out around here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Josh nodded thoughtfully.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Josh, why don\u2019t you come with us tomorrow?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a good idea,\u201d added Adam. \u201cWe could use somebody who really knows how to track. We haven\u2019t had much luck finding a trail.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe Josh would prefer to hunt tomorrow,\u201d said Joe quietly. He was dismayed at the thought of having Bodine ride with them.<\/p>\n

\u201cNah, that\u2019s all right,\u201d replied Josh. \u201cAin\u2019t much hunting around here. I already seen that. I\u2019ll go with you boys and see what I can do to help.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat!\u201d said Ben with a grin. \u201cI\u2019ll feel better if you\u2019re along to watch over my sons.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, I\u2019ll watch \u2018em like a hawk,\u201d promised Josh.<\/p>\n

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

Joe was up early the next morning. He wanted to eat breakfast and start work before the others came down. Mostly, he wanted to avoid having to spend more time with Josh Bodine. He knew his dislike of the man was unreasonable, but something about the mountain man rubbed him the wrong way. His father and brothers liked and admired Josh, and Joe wished he felt the same way. But he didn\u2019t. So he decided the best course of action was just to avoid the man as much as possible. He didn\u2019t want to spoil what seemed to be a happy reunion for the others. Joe was finishing repairing a bridle in the tack room when he heard Hoss calling his name. \u201cIn here,\u201d Joe shouted as fixed the last straps of leather on the bridle. Hoss came into the tack room a few minutes later.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere you are, little brother,\u201d Hoss said. \u201cI\u2019ve been looking all over for you. We\u2019re getting ready to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be with you in a minute,\u201d replied Joe. He pulled on the bridle one more time to make sure the repairs would hold and then hung it on a peg.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe missed you at breakfast,\u201d said Hoss as he watched Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a lot to do,\u201d explained Joe with a shrug. \u201cI wanted to get everything done before we rode out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not still upset over what Josh said yesterday, are you?\u201d asked Hoss. When Joe didn\u2019t answer, Hoss continued. \u201cHe didn\u2019t mean anything by it, Joe. That\u2019s just his way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe merely nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cJosh is a good man,\u201d Hoss added. \u201cAnd one of Pa\u2019s oldest friends. I was hoping you\u2019d like him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe brushed his hands on his pants. \u201cWe\u2019d better get going,\u201d he said and walked past Hoss out the door. Hoss sighed and followed his brother. Two hours later, the posse was searching the hills for some sign of the man who had burned the four cabins. Sheriff Coffee had been delighted when Adam introduced Josh to him and explained who he was. He had heard stories about Josh Bodine over the years, and was happy to have his help. The other men in the posse also knew of Josh Bodine. They greeted the mountain man with respect.<\/p>\n

The posse was spread out in the hills, and Joe was riding by himself. He searched the ground carefully, looking for tracks. So far, he had seen nothing suspicious. Joe pulled his horse to a stop when he spotted some broken branches tossed carelessly into the bushes. He dismounted and carefully studied the ground. The ground was swept clean, as if someone had dragged the branches over their tracks. Joe followed the marks of the branches, carefully guiding his horse behind him so the animal wouldn\u2019t walk on the brushing. He followed the marks for several yards and was about to give up when he saw some hoof prints in a patch of mud. The branches hadn\u2019t wiped out the prints. More importantly, he could tell the rider had doubled back and headed off to Joe\u2019s right, into the woods.<\/p>\n

Joe pulled his gun from his holster and fired two shots into the air. If the man they were seeking had made the tracks, Joe knew it wasn\u2019t a good idea to go after him alone. Joe waited patiently and soon the rest of the posse joined him.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you find something?\u201d asked Hoss as he rode up.<\/p>\n

Joe nodded. \u201cFound some tracks,\u201d he said. \u201cLooks like someone tried to brush them out, but he missed the ones in the mud. Not only that, but the man doubled back.\u201d Joe pointed into the woods. \u201cLooks like he rode off in that direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me take a look,\u201d offered Josh, dismounting. Josh walked over to Joe and knelt down, peering closely at the tracks in the mud. After a minute, the mountain man stood. “Them ain\u2019t the tracks you want,\u201d he said, shaking his head. \u201cThose are old tracks, maybe a week or so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey look pretty fresh to me,\u201d remarked Joe doubtfully.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been tracking for more than forty years,\u201d Josh said indignantly. \u201cI think I can tell fresh tracks when I see them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked at the tracks again. They still seem pretty fresh to him. \u201cMaybe we ought to follow them anyway,\u201d he suggested. \u201cJust to be sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWaste of time, boy\u201d Josh declared. \u201cMore than likely just a hunter, maybe the fellow that got burned out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI still think we ought to follow them,\u201d Joe insisted.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, if Josh says those aren\u2019t the tracks we want, then they aren\u2019t,\u201d Adam said. He was sitting on his horse, a few yards away.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow can you be sure?\u201d argued Joe. \u201cYou haven\u2019t even seen them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause Josh here is one of the best trackers I know,\u201d said Adam patiently. \u201cCome on, we\u2019re wasting time. While we\u2019re arguing, that outlaw could be getting away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI agree with Adam,\u201d said Roy Coffee from his horse. \u201cLet\u2019s forget these tracks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Josh walked back to his horse and mounted. \u201cI\u2019ve been thinking. I think we should try the other side of the ridge. There\u2019s some places there where a fellow could hole up. We ought to check those out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood idea,\u201d agreed Coffee. \u201cJosh, why don\u2019t you lead the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

The men in the posse turned their horses and started away, following Josh through the trees. Hoss stopped his horse and looked back at Joe. Joe was still staring off into the woods. \u201cComing, little brother?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Joe hesitated. He was sure he was right and Josh was wrong about the tracks. But no one else agreed with him. But he wasn\u2019t confident enough to follow the tracks on his own. Finally, Joe shrugged his shoulders and mounted his horse. \u201cYeah, I\u2019m coming,\u201d he answered reluctantly. The posse spent the rest of the day searching out caves and clearings that Josh showed them. They found no sign of anyone hiding there. Finally, Roy Coffee called a halt to the search.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re getting nowhere,\u201d said the sheriff. \u201cI think we\u2019ll have to give it up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe could go back and check those tracks I found,\u201d suggested Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, will you quit about those tracks!\u201d said Adam heatedly. \u201cJosh already told you that those were too old.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we haven\u2019t found anything else,\u201d Joe argued. \u201cIt couldn\u2019t hurt to look again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBoy, I done told you those weren\u2019t the tracks we want,\u201d Josh stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cI agree with Josh,\u201d said the sheriff. \u201cJoe, those tracks don\u2019t mean a thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t even see them,\u201d Joe said bitterly.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I didn\u2019t,\u201d replied Coffee, his voice rising in anger. \u201cI didn\u2019t need to. If Josh Bodine says those aren\u2019t the tracks, that\u2019s good enough for me.\u201d The sheriff turned back to the rest of the posse. \u201cThank you for looking,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll let you know if we find anything else. But for now, I\u2019m going to call off the search.\u201d<\/p>\n

The men nodded and started to drift away. Coffee turned back to Bodine. \u201cJosh, I appreciate your help,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnytime,\u201d the mountain man replied.<\/p>\n

Coffee nodded and rode away.<\/p>\n

Adam turned to Josh. \u201cHow about having supper with us?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Josh shook his head. \u201cNo, I\u2019d better go check on my camp.\u201d He looked at Joe, who was still glowering. \u201cBesides, I don\u2019t think I\u2019d be too welcome tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss shifted uncomfortably in his saddle. \u201cJosh, you\u2019re welcome anytime,\u201d he stated. \u201cAin\u2019t that right, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked up at his brother with a startled expression. He knew how much his brothers and father liked Josh. Joe chewed his lip for a minute, then mumbled, \u201cYeah, you\u2019re welcome to come with us.\u201d Joe didn\u2019t wait for the mountain man\u2019s reply. He turned his horse and rode off.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t think that boy likes me much,\u201d Josh remarked as he watched Joe ride away.<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, Joe just gets hot sometimes,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cHe\u2019ll get over it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow about it, Josh?\u201d pressed Adam. \u201cWant to join us?\u201d<\/p>\n

Josh shook his head. \u201cNo, I really do need to check on my camp,\u201d he replied. \u201cAnd I want to do some hunting tomorrow.\u201d He grinned at Adam. \u201cWant to come with me? As I recall, you were a pretty good shot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam sighed. \u201cI wish we could,\u201d he said regretfully. \u201cBut riding with the posse has really put us behind at the ranch. We have a lot to do tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJosh, how about joining us for dinner tomorrow night?\u201d asked Hoss. \u201cI\u2019ll bet I can talk Hop Sing into fixing some chicken and dumplings.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChicken and dumplings, eh?\u201d repeated Josh with a smile. \u201cWhy, Hoss, I think I\u2019ll just take you up on that. I really like chicken and dumplings.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot as much as Hoss does,\u201d said Adam with a wry smile. \u201cHe\u2019ll use any excuse to get Hop Sing to cook that meal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, then, you\u2019d better tell your cook to make a lot,\u201d Josh stated. \u201cBecause between Hoss and me, there ain\u2019t gonna be much left for the rest of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The men laughed. \u201cSee you tomorrow,\u201d Hoss said with a wave. He and Adam turned their horses and rode off. Josh watched them thoughtfully for a minute, then turned his horse and rode in the other direction.<\/p>\n

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

The dinner table seemed quiet that night. It really wasn\u2019t any quieter than usual, but without Josh\u2019s booming voice and amusing stories, the meal seemed awfully tame. Hoss and Adam told Ben about the posse\u2019s fruitless search while Joe ate in silence. Ben shook his head. \u201cIt\u2019s too bad that Josh couldn\u2019t find any sign of that man,\u201d Ben said. \u201cIf Josh couldn\u2019t find anything, my guess is the fellow has pulled out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t check out those tracks I found,\u201d said Joe quietly.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, will you let up about those tracks,\u201d Adam told him in exasperation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat tracks?\u201d asked Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cI found some tracks near Willow Ridge,\u201d explained Joe. \u201cThey showed where someone doubled back and then rode off into the woods.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you follow them?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, Josh said those tracks were too old,\u201d replied Hoss. \u201cHe said they had been there more than a week. Fred Thompson\u2019s place was burned yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI still think we should have followed them,\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, if Josh said the tracks were too old, you would have been wasting your time,\u201d stated Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think those tracks were a week old,\u201d Joe asserted.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, why don\u2019t you just admit you were wrong,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I\u2019m not wrong,\u201d insisted Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve had your back up about Josh ever since he got here,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cYou\u2019re still mad about what he said.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s not that,\u201d replied Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cJosh is one of the best trackers in the country,\u201d said Ben. \u201cI find it hard to believe he could be wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, he could have made a mistake,\u201d Joe stated. \u201cHe\u2019s not a young man any more. Maybe his eyes aren\u2019t as good as they used to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not that much older than me,\u201d said Ben, bristling at the comment.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but your eyes are real good,\u201d declared Joe with a grin. \u201cToo good, sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not just the tracks,\u201d Joe continued, his voice growing serious. \u201cYou heard what he said about people messing up the land.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that got to do with anything?\u201d asked Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe haven\u2019t been able to figure out why someone would be burning out those places,\u201d said Joe. \u201cMaybe it\u2019s someone who has a grudge against those people for spoiling the land.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not saying Josh is doing this?\u201d said Ben in alarm. \u201cJoe, I\u2019ve known him for a long time. Josh isn\u2019t the kind of man who would do something like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle brother, I think you\u2019re letting your hot head get the better of you,\u201d added Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d better not say something like that without proof.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have any proof,\u201d admitted Joe. \u201cJust a feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I think you\u2019d better keep your feelings to yourself,\u201d said Ben in a stern voice. \u201cI won\u2019t have you accusing a guest of mine based on a feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJosh won\u2019t take kindly to your calling him a thief,\u201d added Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not calling him a thief,\u201d replied Joe, his voice rising in anger. \u201cBut I do think he was acting kind of strange today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStrange?\u201d said Adam, his voice also rising. \u201cWhy? Just because you didn\u2019t agree with him about the tracks. Don\u2019t you think that\u2019s a bit of a stretch?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, you don\u2019t know those tracks were fresh,\u201d added Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, now you\u2019re getting in on it,\u201d shouted Joe. \u201cYou didn\u2019t even bother to look. You just took the word of the mighty, can\u2019t-do-anything wrong Josh Bodine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s enough!\u201d Ben boomed. He slammed his hand on the table. \u201cI want you all to be quiet!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam, Hoss and Joe all looked at their father. When he used that tone of voice, they knew he meant business.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, Joe,\u201d Ben said, his a calmer voice. \u201cYou don\u2019t know for sure that Josh was wrong about those tracks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut\u2026.\u201dJoe started<\/p>\n

\u201cI said be quiet,\u201d Ben said sternly. \u201cYou\u2019ve had your say. Now it\u2019s my turn. You say you think Josh had something to do with those raids. But you have no proof. Until you have something more substantial than a \u2018feeling\u2019, you will not say anything to anyone about this. Is that clear?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir,\u201d Joe replied in a low voice. Joe lowered his eyes and stared at his plate.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you are finished eating, you may leave the table,\u201d Ben continued, his voice displaying his displeasure with his youngest son.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir,\u201d Joe repeated. He wiped his mouth with his napkin, and threw the cloth on the table. Then he pushed back his chair and marched out of the room. Ben watched Joe leave the table and climb the stairs to his bedroom. He shook his head. \u201cJoe really has it in for Josh, doesn\u2019t he?\u201d Ben said sadly.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe sure does,\u201d Adam agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, you know Joe,\u201d Hoss said in a conciliatory voice. \u201cHe\u2019ll get over it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe usually likes everyone,\u201d Ben commented. \u201cI really thought he\u2019d like Josh, too. I don\u2019t understand how he can accuse Josh of these raids. Maybe it\u2019s because he doesn\u2019t know Josh as well as we do. If he did, he\u2019d see how outrageous his suggestion is that Josh might be involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Joe can be stubborn sometimes,\u201d Adam advised. \u201cJosh hurt his feelings. Joe isn\u2019t willing to forgive him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI owe Josh a lot for helping us get started here,\u201d said Ben firmly. \u201cI\u2019m not going to let Joe tarnish our friendship with his wild accusations. His friendship is too important to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

The next day, Joe managed to find some work to do away from his father and brothers. He was still fuming over the argument last night, feeling that he had been treated unfairly. He decided that taking his anger out on fixing fences was better\u2026and wiser\u2026than taking it out on his father. He pounded the nails into the fence harder than usual, and with each stroke, felt his anger fading. By the time he returned home in the middle of the afternoon, his temper had cooled considerably. Joe rode back to the house, prepared to apologize to his family for his outburst. However, he was surprised to Sheriff Coffee standing in the yard, talking to Ben, Adam and Hoss when he rode in. Joe pulled his horse to a stop and dismounted, looping the reins around the hitching post in front of the house. Then he walked over to the men.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoy, what are you doing here?\u201d he asked curiously.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello, Joe,\u201d Sheriff Coffee said. \u201cI was just telling your Pa that another place got hit by that outlaw today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother place?\u201d Joe stated in surprise. \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEd Brown\u2019s place,\u201d replied Coffee. Joe frowned, trying to remember who Ed Brown was.<\/p>\n

Coffee saw the frown. \u201cHe\u2019s got a small farm up in the hills,\u201d explained the sheriff. \u201cBeen here only about a month or so. Just started clearing the land.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWas it the same way as before?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cSame way,\u201d declared Coffee. \u201cEd was hit on the head as he came out of his cabin. He woke up in the woods, tied up and gagged. Took him a couple of hours to get loose. When he got back to the cabin, the place was burned to the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam shook his head. \u201cI just don\u2019t understand it,\u201d he said. \u201cWho could be doing this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, Adam,\u201d admitted the sheriff. \u201cEd just got to town a little while ago and told me about it. It\u2019s too late to go looking for tracks now. It\u2019d be dark by the time we got out there. I was hoping you boys would go with me tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll be there,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cJosh Bodine is coming to dinner tonight. I\u2019ll ask him to join us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood, we can use him,\u201d Coffee admitted. He didn\u2019t see the look of distaste that crossed Joe\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019d better be getting back to town,\u201d the sheriff said as he walked toward his horse. \u201cI\u2019ll meet you boys up by Wilson\u2019s Glen tomorrow morning.\u201d Adam and Hoss nodded.<\/p>\n

Ben waved as Roy rode off, then turned to his sons. \u201cYou\u2019d better get cleaned up for dinner,\u201d he suggested. \u201cAnd Joe, I expect you to be civil to Josh.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe nodded and walked into the house.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, you don\u2019t think Josh had anything to do with this, do you?\u201d asked Hoss in a worried voice.<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head. \u201cNo, I don\u2019t,\u201d Ben said firmly.<\/p>\n

Joe kept his promise and said nothing to upset the Cartwright\u2019s guest at dinner. In fact, he said nothing at all during the meal. He listened to Josh boast of his hunting exploits and tell stories of his travel. He ate in silence as Adam and Hoss tried to outdo each other with tales about Josh when they were little. Ben added a few stories of his own. By the time the meal was over, everyone except Joe was smiling. Josh finally noticed that Joe wasn\u2019t joining in the merriment. \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter, boy?\u201d he asked. \u201cCat got your tongue?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe had a hard day,\u201d explained Ben quickly, tossing a meaningful look at his youngest son. Joe just shrugged.<\/p>\n

\u201cJosh, we need you to go out with the posse again tomorrow,\u201d Adam added, changing the subject hastily.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh?\u201d said Josh. He waited for Adam to continue.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother farm in the hills was attacked today,\u201d Adam told him. \u201cWe\u2019re going with the posse tomorrow to look for tracks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe could sure use you,\u201d added Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, I\u2019ll come for awhile,\u201d agreed Josh. \u201cI was planning on leaving tomorrow, but I can spend the morning with you fellas if you want.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s too bad about those places in the hills,\u201d Joe said pointedly. \u201cAll those people are leaving. They got wiped out. And after they all spent time working the land.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cServes \u2018em right,\u201d Josh replied. \u201cSpoiling the land, like that. They deserve to get burned out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJosh, I\u2019m surprised to hear you say that,\u201d Ben said. \u201cI mean, you helped me clear the land for the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re different, Ben,\u201d Josh advised. \u201cYou only cleared the bottom land, not the hills.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we have a timber operation in the hills,\u201d Adam pointed out.<\/p>\n

\u201cYep, I\u2019ve heard about it,\u201d said Josh. \u201cEvery time you cut down a tree, you plant another. These yahoo\u2019s, they just cut down the trees and tear up the hills. They don\u2019t replace nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJosh, you wouldn\u2019t do anything about it, would you?\u201d asked Hoss with a frown.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe?\u201d Josh replied. He seemed startled that Hoss would ask such a question. \u201cNo, I wouldn\u2019t, Hoss,\u201d Josh said quickly.<\/p>\n

Hoss looked at Joe with a I-told-you-so expression. Joe gazed back as his brother with a steady look in his eye.<\/p>\n

\u201cJosh, I\u2019m sorry to hear you\u2019re leaving,\u201d said Ben, his voice tinged with sadness.<\/p>\n

\u201cGot to, Ben,\u201d Josh replied. \u201cI gotta find me a place where I can hunt and trap. Ain\u2019t any place like that around here. Not any more, leastwise.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben nodded. \u201cYou\u2019re right about that,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I was hoping you\u2019d visit with us a bit longer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBeen here for long enough, Ben,\u201d answered Josh. \u201cWe\u2019ll have a nice long chat tonight, and tomorrow, I\u2019ll ride out with your boys. I\u2019ll try and help them, then be on my way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry to see you go,\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe, too,\u201d agreed Josh. \u201cIt\u2019s been a real interesting visit.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Joe stayed in the barn while Ben was saying his farewells to Josh the next morning. He knew how his father felt about the mountain man, and he didn\u2019t want to spoil things. He also knew he was happy to see Josh leaving. Joe brushed his pinto hard, waiting for his brothers and Josh to leave. He had decided not to go with them this morning and told Hoss to leave without him. Joe had other plans. Joe looked up as he heard the barn door open. Ben walked in and looked around.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u201d called Ben. \u201cAre you in here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOver here, Pa,\u201d Joe answered from the stall.<\/p>\n

Ben walked over to the stall, and looked in. He frowned as he saw Joe was brushing his horse. \u201cI thought Hoss said Cochise had a stone bruise,\u201d he commented . \u201cHe said you were staying behind to take care of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I told Hoss,\u201d answered Joe, as he put the brush on the edge of the stall. He picked up a saddle and blanket and threw them over the pinto. Then he started buckling the girth.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t understand,\u201d Ben said. \u201cIf your horse has a stone bruise, why are you saddling him?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe turned to Ben. \u201cI told Hoss a little white lie,\u201d he admitted. \u201cCochise is fine. I just didn\u2019t want to ride with the posse today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause of Josh,\u201d Ben said, not really asking a question.<\/p>\n

Joe nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I wish you would get it out of your head that Josh is somehow mixed up with these attacks,\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I know how you feel about him,\u201d answered Joe. \u201cBut I know how I feel, too. There\u2019s just too many coincidences.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCoincidences?\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe attacks didn\u2019t start until Josh showed up,\u201d Joe pointed out.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not true,\u201d said Ben. \u201cHe arrived at the Ponderosa after the Thompson place was attacked.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know when Josh got here,\u201d replied Joe. \u201cHe said he had some furs from hunting. He could have been here for weeks before he came by the house. He deliberately led the posse away from those tracks I found. And yesterday, when he wasn\u2019t with us, the Brown place was burned.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2026\u201d Ben started.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I know what you\u2019re going to say,\u201d Joe interrupted. \u201cJosh Bodine is a fine man. He helped you get started. He\u2019s your friend, as well as Adam and Hoss\u2019. And I don\u2019t have any proof. Well, I\u2019m going up to Willow Creek and follow those tracks I saw. Maybe that will lead me to some proof.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head. \u201cJoe, I think you\u2019re wrong,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve known Josh Bodine for a long time. He would never do something like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you haven\u2019t seen him for more than twenty years,\u201d replied Joe. \u201cPa, people change. You heard Josh at dinner last night, what he said about those people getting what they deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, and I also heard him say he wouldn\u2019t do anything like this,\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t expect him to admit it, do you?\u201d Joe countered. \u201cHe\u2019s said a couple of times how much he resents people tearing up the land. You heard Adam say he couldn\u2019t figure out why this fellow is raiding the small places. I think it\u2019s because he resents the homesteaders taking away his wilderness. The way Josh resents them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben hesitated. He didn\u2019t know what to say.<\/p>\n

Joe led his horse out of the stall. \u201cI\u2019m going up to Willow Creek and look around,\u201d he advised. \u201cMaybe I\u2019ll find nothing. But maybe I\u2019ll find something to show you that you\u2019re all wrong about Josh Bodine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben watched as Joe led his horse out of the barn, and mounted in the yard. He was thinking about what Joe said as his son rode off. Ben frowned. Joe is wrong, he thought. I\u2019m sure Joe is making a mistake. However, a small seed of doubt had been planted in Ben. But what if he\u2019s not, Ben thought. He quickly dismissed the thought. He was convinced he knew Josh Bodine well enough to know he couldn\u2019t be involved in these raids. Suddenly, another thought struck Ben. What if Josh and Joe ran into each other up on Willow Ridge? Ben knew that Josh would react badly if Joe accused him of attacking those small holdings. The confrontation could get ugly. Ben knew how tough the mountain man was. He had seen Josh Bodine take on five men single handed and beat them all. Joe wouldn\u2019t stand a chance against him alone. Ben hurried to the stall where his buckskin horse was waiting patiently. He pulled a saddle off the wall and began saddling his horse.<\/p>\n

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

Joe rode rapidly to Willow Creek, wanting to get there while Josh was still with the posse. He felt bad about what he had said to his father, but only because it distressed Ben. He was sure he was right about Josh Bodine. He hoped he could find something to tie Josh to the attacks. If so, he wanted to have a posse with him when they arrested Bodine. He had no desire to try and take the man in all by himself. Joe quickly found the muddy patch where he had seen the tracks. He started off into the woods, in the direction the tracks pointed. The tracks disappeared after a few feet, but Joe wasn\u2019t surprised. If Bodine was making the tracks, he would try to hide them. Joe kept riding further into the woods, looking for signs. He was about to admit defeat when he saw some new tracks. It was apparent no one tried to hide these markings. Probably the rider thought no one would follow him this deep into the wilderness. Joe followed the tracks for almost half a mile. He pulled his horse to a stop when he saw the camp ahead of him. A small shelter, open on three sides, was built into the hill. A large piece of canvas, supported by two tall poles, covered the rough lean-to. The remains of a campfire sat a yard or so in front of the shelter. Joe dismounted and tied his horse to a branch. He pulled his gun from his holster and looked around cautiously. The camp seemed deserted. Joe walked slowly toward the shelter, looking around as he walked. No one seemed to be in the camp. Joe could see two bundles of furs, a canvas sack, and a rifle inside the shelter. He crept closer, his senses alert for any sound.<\/p>\n

Ducking inside the shelter, Joe put his gun back in his holster. He picked up the rifle and looked at it carefully. The rifle has some silver scrolls on the stock\u2026just like Fred Thompson had described his rifle. Joe put the rifle down and knelt beside the canvass sack. He pulled it open and started looking through the things inside. It was filled with camping gear \u2013 a plate, cup, coffee pot — and what looked like some bags of coffee and beans. Joe dug further into the sack and pulled out a small leather pouch, the kind with a flap coming over the top to close it. Joe opened the flap. Inside were some papers and some money. Joe pulled the papers out and started looking through them. All were receipts for the sale of a horse to a stable over in Gold Hill. There were five receipts in all. Joe remember that each of the five places that were ransacked had horses stolen. He looked at the names on the bills of sale. Each bill of sale had the named Josh Bodine as the individual who had sold the horse. Joe smiled in satisfaction. He stuffed the papers inside his jacket and put the pouch back into the sack. Then he picked up the rifle. Joe felt he had the proof he needed to have Josh Bodine arrested.<\/p>\n

Getting to his feet, Joe walked out of the lean-to. He was heading back toward his horse when he heard the sound of a rifle being cocked. He was starting to pull his gun out of his holster when the shot rang out. Joe felt a blow to his ribs that spun him around. He felt a searing pain in the left side of his chest as he hit the ground. He pushed his right hand against the dirt, trying desperately to get to his feet, but fell back to the ground as a wave of intense pain radiated through him. Joe wanted to get into the safety of the bushes, knowing his attacker must be near. He tried again to move his body. But the pain was too great. He struggled against the feeling of weakness which was beginning to overwhelm him but the effort was futile. Finally, he gave up the struggle and let himself sink into a pool of blackness.<\/p>\n

Josh Bodine pushed the branches aside and walked out of the woods. He walked slowly toward Joe, looking around for anyone else who might be with Joe. Satisfied that Joe was alone, he walked over to the body on the ground. Joe was sprawled on his back, and his eyes were closed. Blood was oozing out of a wound in the area of Joe\u2019s ribs. Josh nudged Joe with his toe and was surprised to hear a small groan. Must be getting old, he thought. Used to be he could count on only needing one shot to kill his prey. Josh aimed his rifle at Joe\u2019s head and levered a bullet into the chamber. I\u2019ll finish this once and for all, and then head out, he thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cHold it!\u201d a voice cried as Josh aimed his rifle at Joe\u2019s head. Josh looked up in surprise. Ben Cartwright was standing about ten yards away, his pistol cocked and aimed directly at Josh.<\/p>\n

\u201cDrop it, Josh!\u201d Ben shouted. \u201cDrop it right now!\u201d<\/p>\n

Josh continued to stand over Joe, rifle aimed downward.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think so, Ben,\u201d replied Josh evenly.<\/p>\n

\u201cDrop the rifle or I\u2019ll shoot,\u201d Ben declared.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have an interesting situation here, Ben,\u201d Josh said. \u201cThe question is, can you kill me before I pull this trigger. Because if you don\u2019t, I\u2019m going to blow your son\u2019s head off.\u201d Ben hesitated, not sure what to do. He didn\u2019t even know if Joe was still alive. \u201cIf you shoot me, I swear I\u2019ll kill him,\u201d Josh continued. Josh nudged Joe with his foot. Joe groaned softly. \u201cHe\u2019s still alive, Ben, but he won\u2019t be if you shoot,\u201d Josh said in a even tone. \u201cIf you want your son to stay alive, you drop your gun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben continued to hesitate. \u201cIf I drop my gun, you\u2019ll kill Joe anyway,\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I won\u2019t,\u201d Josh replied. \u201cYou drop your gun, and I won\u2019t shoot. But if you fire, I swear I\u2019ll kill the boy.<\/p>\n

Ben looked at Joe, lying on the ground, bleeding and helpless. \u201cHow do I know you won\u2019t kill him anyway?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI give you my word, Ben,\u201d Josh answered. \u201cYou drop your gun, and I promise I won\u2019t shoot him again. I may be a lot of other things, but I ain\u2019t a liar. My word is still good. I ain\u2019t sunk so low as to go back on that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben continued to hesitate, still unsure what to do. He was afraid if he dropped his gun, Josh would kill Joe. But he also knew if he fired and didn\u2019t kill Josh instantly, Josh would also fire his rifle\u2026right into Joe\u2019s head.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we got here is a Mexican standoff,\u201d Josh stated. \u201cNow as far as I\u2019m concerned, we can stand here all day. But your boy is bleeding pretty bad. While we\u2019re standing here talking, he could bleed to death.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben looked closer at Joe; he could see a large patch of dark red spreading over Joe\u2019s shirt. Ben knew he had no choice. He slowly uncocked his gun and laid it on the ground. Josh pulled the rifle up and pointed it at Ben. Ben wondered if Josh were going to kill him. Josh looked as if he was considering the idea for a minute, then he gestured with the rifle.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, Ben, you can come over here to your boy,\u201d Josh agreed.<\/p>\n

Rushing forward, Ben knelt next to Joe. He pulled Joe\u2019s shirt open and winced at the bullet hole high up on Joe\u2019s side. Ben untied the bandana from around his neck and quickly covered the wound. He put pressure on the wound, hoping to stop the bleeding. Joe moaned softly as Ben pressed down. Josh watched Ben for a minute as Ben tended to his son. Then Josh turned and walked rapidly to the lean-to. He grabbed the canvas sack and slung it over his shoulder. He stopped briefly to pick up the rifle Joe had dropped and then walked back to Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, Ben, that\u2019s enough,\u201d said Josh. \u201cYou\u2019re coming with me. I want to make sure that posse don\u2019t give me any trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not going anywhere,\u201d Ben stated, not bothering to turn around. \u201cI\u2019m going to stay and help Joe. You go on and get out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Josh shook his head. \u201cSorry, Ben, but I need you,\u201d he said. With a quick motion, he crashed his rifle into the back of Ben\u2019s head. Ben crumpled to the ground. Josh looked around and spotted Ben\u2019s horse grazing nearby. He walked over to the buckskin and led the horse back to the camp. He stopped the horse a few feet from where Ben laid on the ground. Laying the sack and rifle on the ground, Josh dragged Ben toward the horse. He was surprised at how heavy Ben was. He grabbed the back of Ben\u2019s shirt collar and belt. With a grunt, he lifted Ben off the ground and flung him on the horse.<\/p>\n

Ben lay unconscious in the saddle, his head resting on the buckskin\u2019s neck and his arms on either side of the mane. Josh looked at him for a moment, making sure Ben was still out, then walked back into the woods to get his own horse. He saw Joe\u2019s pinto tied to a tree. He untied the horse and slapped it on the rear, sending the animal running down the trail. Then he walked over to his own horse and led it back to the camp. He picked up the canvas sack and the rifle decorated with silver, and tied both to the back of his saddle. Josh pulled several strips of leather out of his saddle bag. He looped the leather around Ben\u2019s hands and then tied it to the horn on Ben\u2019s saddle. He took another strip and tied Ben\u2019s right foot to the stirrup. Moving around the horse, he took the last strip of leather and tied Ben\u2019s left foot to the stirrup. Then he walked over to his horse and mounted it. Reaching down, he grabbed the reins of Ben\u2019s horse. Without a backward glance, he started down the trail, leading Ben\u2019s horse. Josh never looked back to the camp. He never saw Joe\u2019s eyes watching him, almost pleading with him, as he rode away.<\/p>\n

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

The dark mists swirling around Ben slowly faded away. His head hurt; it hurt more than he could ever remember. Ben squeezed his eyes, trying to get his vision into focus. He felt dizzy, and his stomach felt queasy. Ben took several deep breaths, and gradually, the dizziness began to fade. His eyes began to focus. Ben was aware that his hands were tied and he was sitting astride a moving horse. Ben lifted his head and looked around. For a moment, he was confused about where he was. Then he saw Josh\u2019s big black hat and buckskin shirt on the horse ahead of him. Suddenly, everything came back to Ben in a rush.<\/p>\n

\u201cJosh!\u201d Ben shouted looking around. \u201cWhere\u2019s Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

Josh pulled his horse to a stop and turned the animal to face Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019re finally awake,\u201d Josh observed. \u201cI was afraid I hit you too hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s Joe?\u201d Ben repeated, his voice in a panic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI left him back at the camp,\u201d Josh said.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeft him?\u201d Ben replied incredulously. \u201cYou mean, you just rode away? You left him there to die?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI promised I wouldn\u2019t shoot him again, Ben,\u201d Josh answered. \u201cAnd I kept my word. I never said I wouldn\u2019t leave him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben began to struggle on the saddle. \u201cJosh, we have to go back!\u201d Ben shouted. \u201cWe have to help Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, we can\u2019t go back,\u201d said Josh. \u201cThat posse is getting close. I saw some smoke awhile back, a lot of smoke. The only thing I can figure is the posse is on my trail.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen, let me go back,\u201d Ben pleaded. \u201cI promise I won\u2019t send the posse after you. Please, let me go to my son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, Ben,\u201d Josh replied with a shake of his head. \u201cI can\u2019t do that. I need you in case that posse catches up with me. I need you to make sure that posse don\u2019t take me back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease, Josh,\u201d Ben begged. \u201cPlease let me go to my son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, I can\u2019t,\u201d said Josh. \u201cBesides, there\u2019s no point to it. The boy\u2019s dead by now or will be soon. You\u2019ve been out over two hours. It would take you another two hours to get back. Four hours? The way that boy was bleeding, he\u2019ll be dead in four hours. Less than that if some animal, like a bear or a cougar, smells the blood and gets to him first.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben struggled against the leather ties. \u201cPlease, Josh, please!\u201d he cried. \u201cI let me go back and help my boy! Please.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, I need you more than he does,\u201d Josh stated. \u201cYour son is dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben slumped in the saddle. He knew Josh was probably right. Ben\u2019s shoulders began to shake as his grief took hold. His son was dead. Josh Bodine had killed his son.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, Josh?\u201d Ben asked in a choked voice. \u201cWhy did you have to kill Joe? You didn\u2019t harm any of the others.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNone of the others could identify me,\u201d Josh answered. \u201cIf I didn\u2019t stop that boy of yours, he\u2019d have told the law about me. I\u2019d spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder. I don\u2019t want to live like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head. \u201cJosh, it\u2019s all so pointless,\u201d he stated a low voice. \u201cYou couldn\u2019t have gotten much, and yet you ruined so many lives. It doesn\u2019t make sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t need much,\u201d Josh said. \u201cI just needed enough to get me some supplies and things to tide me over until I can find someplace to hunt and live like I used to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you burned out those people\u2026wiped them out,\u201d Ben protested.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that was just sort of an added benefit,\u201d Josh replied. \u201cThe first one, that was an accident. Knocked over a lamp when I was searching the place. But I heard the fella lit out, and I got to thinking. I could do me some good and get rid of some of those varmints who were tearing up the land at the same time. So I burned the rest of them out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben put his head down again as thoughts of Joe overwhelmed him. \u201cAnd you shot my son, killed him for a few dollars,\u201d Ben said in a voice that could be barely heard.<\/p>\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t kill him because of the money,\u201d Josh insisted. \u201cI had to make sure he wouldn\u2019t talk to the law. Good thing it weren\u2019t Adam or Hoss. Don\u2019t know if I could have it done it if it were one of your other boys. I got a deep feeling for those boys. Didn\u2019t care much for your youngest, though.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s grief grew. Joe had died because Josh didn\u2019t like him, Ben thought. It was all so petty. Ben felt tears forming in his eyes. Josh watched Ben in sympathy for a few minutes. He didn\u2019t feel especially bad about killing Joe, but he hated the grief he had caused his old friend. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Ben,\u201d Josh said softly.<\/p>\n

Ben raised his head. Tears glistened in his eyes. But the look of grief turned quickly to another expression. Josh shuddered at the look of pure hate on Ben\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

Josh turned his horse and started back down the trail, leading Ben\u2019s horse behind him. Ben stared at Josh, his eyes burning with hate as he stared into the mountain man\u2019s back. Then the grief overwhelmed him again. Ben let his head drop and let his tears flow. Josh led Ben\u2019s horse for another hour or so, leading Ben further and further away from his son. He finally stopped the horses and looked back over his shoulder at Ben. \u201cGetting dark,\u201d he announced. \u201cWe\u2019ll stop soon and make camp.\u201d Ben ignored Josh\u2019s comment. He didn\u2019t care anymore what Josh did. All Ben could think about was Joe. Josh finally stopped the horses near a stream. He walked the animals slowly through the brush, finally finding a clear patch of ground. He halted the horses and dismounted. After tying the reins of his horse to a nearby branch, he walked back to Ben\u2019s horse.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, I\u2019ll untie you if you promise not to try to get away,\u201d Josh declared. Ben looked up, the hate burning once again in his eyes. Josh looked away.<\/p>\n

\u201cGuess I\u2019ll have to leave you tied up,\u201d Josh mumbled. He untied Ben\u2019s right foot, being careful to stay far enough away that Ben couldn\u2019t kick him. Then he untied Ben\u2019s left foot. Moving carefully, he untied Ben\u2019s hands, then quickly took three steps back from the horse. He kept his rifle aimed directly at Ben. \u201cAll right, Ben, get off,\u201d said Josh.<\/p>\n

Ben flexed his hands and legs, then slowly dismounted. His stiff knees buckled a bit when his legs hit the ground. Ben hung on to the saddle for a minute, then straightened. He turned slowly to face Josh.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver by that tree,\u201d order Josh, pointing with the rifle. Ben stood still. \u201cBen, getting yourself shot ain\u2019t going to accomplish anything,\u201d said Josh. \u201cI ain\u2019t gonna kill you, but I can put a bullet in your knee if you give any trouble.\u201d Ben stared at the mountain man for a minute, then walked to the tree.<\/p>\n

\u201cSit down,\u201d Josh ordered when Ben neared the tree. Ben obeyed. \u201cPut your hands behind you,\u201d Josh said. \u201cI\u2019m going to tie you to that tree.\u201d Ben put his hands behind him, his eyes never leaving Josh\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

Josh took the leather strips in his left hand, carefully keeping the rifle aimed at Ben. He walked behind the tree, and grabbed Ben\u2019s hands. Working quickly, he pulled Ben\u2019s hands to either side of the tree, and then tied them together. Josh stood and took a step back. \u201cSorry you\u2019re so uncomfortable,\u201d said Josh. \u201cBut it\u2019s your own fault.\u201d Ben said nothing. He continued to stare at Josh, with the hate glowing in his eyes. Josh quickly walked away. Josh tied Ben\u2019s horse near his, and unsaddled both animals. Then he made a fire and began to make dinner. A short time later, coffee was brewing in a pot by the fire, and a large pot of beans was simmering over the flames. Josh poured himself a cup of coffee and dished up a plate of beans. He ate quickly, ignoring Ben as he did. Josh finished his meal, then poured another cup of coffee. He dished up another plate of beans. Carrying the cup and plate, he walked over to Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll feed you,\u201d Josh declared. Ben turned his head away. \u201cNow, Ben, I need you. I can\u2019t have you getting sick from lack of food and drink. Now either you eat, or I\u2019ll force this down you.\u201d Ben turned back to look at Josh. He nodded slowly. Josh smiled. \u201cThat\u2019s it,\u201d he said in satisfaction.<\/p>\n

Josh began to feed Ben, spooning some beans into his mouth and putting the cup of coffee to Ben\u2019s lips periodically. Ben ate reluctantly and drank the coffee forced on him. Finally, he turned his head. Ben couldn\u2019t stomach any more food.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I guess that\u2019ll keep you alive,\u201d observed Josh, putting down the plate which was still almost half filled with beans. Josh sat back on his heels. \u201cI\u2019m sorry things turned out this way, Ben,\u201d he said regretfully.<\/p>\n

Ben looked at him in disbelief. \u201cYou\u2019re sorry!\u201d he shouted. \u201cYou killed my son, and all you can say is you\u2019re sorry!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was him or me,\u201d said Josh. \u201cIf I hadn\u2019t shot him, Joe would have gotten that posse after me. I had no choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo choice!\u201d Ben spat out. \u201cNo choice but to shoot a half-grown boy. No choice but to cut short my son\u2019s life before he had a chance to really live.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone has to die sometime,\u201d advised Josh. \u201cYou boy\u2019s time just came a little sooner than most.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot like that,\u201d Ben said, his voice full of grief. \u201cYou left my son to die, alone and in agony. No one should have to die like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDying is something everyone does for himself,\u201d Josh remarked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d said Ben bitterly. \u201cIt\u2019s not right. I should have been there with him. I should have been able to hold him, to comfort him, to help him. If I\u2019d been there, he might not have died. You took my son away from me, Josh, and did it in the worst possible way. I will never forgive you for that. Never.\u201d<\/p>\n

Josh shifted uncomfortably on the ground. The venom in Ben\u2019s voice frightened him. He knew Ben meant what he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou try and get some rest,\u201d Josh suggested as he stood. \u201cWe have a long ride tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

The gray sky began to lighten as the sun rose. Josh Bodine yawned and sat up, pushing the blankets off his tired body.<\/p>\n

Ben was still tied to the tree, his head resting on his chest. Ben hadn\u2019t thought he would be able to sleep. But fatigue and grief had overwhelmed him and Ben had dozed off and on through the night. The smell of coffee brewing woke Ben. Ben shook his head, trying to shake off the sleep. For a moment, he hoped that Joe\u2019s death had just been a bad dream. Then he realized he was still tied to the tree, and Josh was making some breakfast. He knew Joe\u2019s death was reality. Ben\u2019s heart ached and a cold knot formed in the pit of his stomach.<\/p>\n

Like the night before, Josh ate, then fed Ben. Ben ate again reluctantly. The food tasted like ashes in his mouth and the coffee was a bitter brew. Ben had no desire to eat and drink, but did so only to prevent Josh forcing the food down him. After feeding Ben, Josh settled once more on the ground near his prisoner. \u201cWe ought to be able to get far enough away that we won\u2019t have to worry about the posse after today,\u201d Josh said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen what?\u201d asked Ben in a cold voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I don\u2019t like the idea of having to kill you, Ben,\u201d answered Josh. \u201cIf you give me your word that you\u2019ll head straight home, I\u2019ll let you go sometime tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head. \u201cNo,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019d better kill me Josh. Because, if you don\u2019t, I\u2019m going to kill you. I don\u2019t care how long it takes. I\u2019ll find you, Josh, even if takes the rest of my life. I don\u2019t care what rock you try to hide under, I\u2019ll find you. And then I\u2019m going to kill you with my bare hands.\u201d<\/p>\n

Josh considered Ben for a minute. \u201cI believe you,\u201d he acknowledged. \u201cIf I didn\u2019t need you, I\u2019d probably kill you right now. But I need you alive, at least until I\u2019m out of this territory. We\u2019ll see what happens then.\u201d Josh stood and walked back toward the fire. He was bending down to pour another cup of coffee when he heard a shout.<\/p>\n

\u201cFreeze, Bodine!\u201d the voice shouted from the woods. \u201cYou\u2019re surrounded. You make one wrong move and you\u2019re a dead man.\u201d<\/p>\n

Josh stood and put his hands into the air.<\/p>\n

The bushes around the camp parted and Adam Cartwright walked into the open. He had his rifle aimed directly at Josh. Men started emerging from the woods around the camp. Hoss Cartwright followed his brother out of the brush, and rushed over to Ben. Pulling a pocket knife from his vest, he bent to cut the leather straps from Ben\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, you all right?\u201d Hoss asked anxiously as he cut Ben loose. Ben rubbed his wrists, trying to get the circulation back into his hands. He nodded curtly to Hoss, but his eyes were fixed on Josh Bodine. Suddenly, Ben sprang to his feet and rushed over to Josh. He punched Josh hard on the jaw, knocking him down. Ben jumped on him and put his hands around Josh\u2019s throat. He began squeezing Josh\u2019s neck. Ben was strangling Josh, squeezing the life out of him.<\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss rushed forward. \u201cNo, Pa!\u201d shouted Adam as he grabbed his father\u2019s arms. Ben brushed him off and put his hands back around Josh\u2019s next. Hoss grabbed his father and yanked him off Josh. \u201cPa, don\u2019t!\u201d Hoss shouted.<\/p>\n

Ben struggled in Hoss\u2019 arms. \u201cHe killed Joe!\u201d Ben cried as he struggled. \u201cHe killed your brother!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Pa!\u201d Hoss yelled.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t understand!\u201d Ben insisted. He twisted, trying to loosen Hoss\u2019 iron grip. \u201cHe killed Joe and now I\u2019m going to kill him!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Pa!\u201d Hoss said once more. \u201cJoe\u2019s not dead. Do you hear me? Joe\u2019s alive!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben stopped struggling and looked over his shoulder at Hoss. \u201cWhat?\u201d Ben said in disbelief. \u201cWhat did you say?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2019s alive,\u201d Hoss repeated. \u201cHe\u2019s hurt bad, but the doc said he\u2019s going to make it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure?\u201d Ben asked. He wanted to believe Hoss, but he was afraid to.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure,\u201d replied Hoss confidently. \u201cI rode all night to catch up with the posse after the doc told me he was going to be all right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut\u2026\u201d Ben licked his lips. Suddenly, he found it hard to talk. \u201cHow? I saw him, Hoss. He was shot. Josh rode away and left him to die. I saw him!\u201d Ben declared.<\/p>\n

Adam walked up to his father. \u201cJoe\u2019s a tough kid,\u201d he stated with a small grin. \u201cTakes more than one bullet to kill him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t understand,\u201d Ben said shaking his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe posse found him,\u201d explained Adam. \u201cHe told us Josh had taken you with him. He even told us which way you went. If he hadn\u2019t, we might not have been able to find you in time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut how did you find him?\u201d Ben asked, still not understanding what had happened.<\/p>\n

Hoss grinned. \u201cOur little brother is really something,\u201d he replied. \u201cHe set that whole camp on fire. Made the biggest signal fire you ever saw. We spotted the smoke and came running with the posse. We thought it was another cabin on fire. When we got there, Joe was sitting by a rock, just waiting on us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was in pretty bad shape,\u201d Adam admitted. \u201cBut he was able to tell us what happened. He also showed us the receipts for the horses Josh sold. Then he pointed us in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe and a couple of the boys got Joe home while Adam and the rest of the posse went after you,\u201d Hoss added. \u201cThe doctor worked on him for a long time. But once he said Joe was going to be all right, I lit out after the posse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe left a trail a blind man could follow,\u201d Adam said. \u201cHoss caught up with us a little while ago.\u201d Adam\u2019s face turned grim. \u201cIt\u2019s a good thing he did. I would have probably shot Bodine myself if Hoss hadn\u2019t told me Joe was going to be all right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head in amazement. He had been so sure Joe was dead. He was still finding it hard to believe Joe was really alive. Ben turned to look at Josh. Josh laid on the ground, rubbing his neck. \u201cYou\u2019re a lucky man,\u201d Ben told Josh, his voice filled with disgust. \u201cIf my son had died, you would have been dead by now. I feel like putting a bullet in you anyway, so you\u2019d know how my son felt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Josh froze, his face filled with fear. Sheriff Coffee had been standing to the side, watching the scene before him. Now he stepped forward. \u201cBen, we got to do this legal,\u201d he said firmly. \u201cYou know how I feel about Joe. But going outside the law isn\u2019t going to help Joe, and it will only makes things bad for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben gave Roy a cold look. \u201cYou can take him, Roy,\u201d he agreed. \u201cBut if Joe had died, I would have killed him, and wouldn\u2019t have cared about what the law said.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roy nodded. He knew what Ben was saying was the pure truth. He was glad he hadn\u2019t had to decide what to do if his old friend had killed Josh Bodine. \u201cI\u2019ll see that this, this\u2026\u201d Coffee couldn\u2019t think of a word bad enough to describe what he felt about Bodine. \u201cI\u2019ll see he gets back to Virginia City, Ben. Don\u2019t you worry. Josh Bodine is going to spend the rest of his life in prison.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben nodded. For a mountain man like Josh, spending the rest of his life caged was worse than being dead. Ben felt it was a fitting punishment. He turned to Adam and Hoss. \u201cLet\u2019s go see Joe,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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

Anxious to get home as quickly as possible, Ben urged his horse forward. Adam and Hoss tried to get him to slow down, to get him to rest after his ordeal. But Ben shook off their concerns. Nothing would satisfy him until he saw Joe for himself.<\/p>\n

Ben rode into the yard in front of the house at a full gallop, several yards ahead of Hoss and Adam. He noted the doctor\u2019s buggy in the yard and the men standing around outside the house. He noted these things, but really didn\u2019t think about them. All he could think about was Joe. He pulled his horse to a stop in front of the house, and tossed the reins of the tired, sweaty animal to one of the hands. In the back of his mind, Ben knew he was being unreasonable. If Hoss told him Joe was going to be all right, then it was true. But Ben couldn\u2019t convince himself. He had to see for himself. Ben rushed into the house, yelling for the doctor as he entered. He was relieved to see Doctor Martin walking calmly down the stairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019s Joe?\u201d Ben asked anxiously as the doctor walked toward him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll be a lot better now that you\u2019re here,\u201d replied Doctor Martin. \u201cHe\u2019s been worrying and fretting about you instead of concentrating on getting well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen he\u2019s going to be all right?\u201d Ben stated, his voice filled with relief.<\/p>\n

The doctor nodded. \u201cHe was lucky,\u201d replied the doctor. \u201cThe bullet hit a rib. It broke the rib and tore up some tissue, but the rib prevented the bullet from getting to any vital organs. He\u2019ll be sore for awhile, but he\u2019ll be good as new in a few weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s shoulders sagged in relief. \u201cI was so worried,\u201d he admitted. \u201cI saw the wound. There was so much blood.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe lost a lot of blood, that\u2019s true,\u201d agreed the doctor. \u201cBut not enough to be life threatening. He managed to stop the bleeding. He told me it was your bandanna I found pressed against the wound.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben closed his eyes for a second as the relief flooded over him. Somehow, the thought of his bandanna helping Joe was comforting. Ben knew it was a silly thought. Joe could have stopped the bleeding with almost anything. But he was still comforted by the thought that he played some small part in keeping his son alive.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan I see him?\u201d Ben asked the doctor.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you\u2019d better,\u201d replied Doctor Martin. \u201cHe\u2019s not going to rest easy and take care of himself until he sees that you\u2019re all right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben nodded and walked rapidly across the room. He raced up the stairs, and practically ran to Joe\u2019s room. Ben opened the door to his son\u2019s bedroom, then stopped. Joe was lying in his bed, his eyes closed. Blankets were pulled up to his chest, but Ben could see the edge of a white bandage wrapped around Joe\u2019s body. He walked slowly to the bed, almost afraid to believe what he was seeing. Joe was pale, and his eyes were rimmed with the dark circles of fatigue. But Ben could see his son\u2019s chest rising and falling slightly. Ben sat down in a chair next to Joe\u2019s bed. He stared at his son for a moment, reassuring himself that Joe was breathing. He reached out and hesitantly put his hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder. He was relieved to find the flesh warm, and not icy cold as he had feared.<\/p>\n

Joe stirred as he felt Ben\u2019s hand on his shoulders. He turned his head and slowly opened his eyes. For a moment, he stared at Ben, almost as if he were dreaming. Then Joe realized it wasn\u2019t a dream.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa!\u201d Joe cried. He started to sit up, but abruptly stopped as he felt a stab of pain. Ben pushed him gently back down on the bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake it easy,\u201d Ben ordered. \u201cThe doctor said you have a broken rib. You need to lay still.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe nodded and closed his eyes for a minute until the pain subsided. Then he opened his eyes again. He felt ridiculously happy to see Ben\u2019s face still peering down at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa,\u201d Joe said again. \u201cAre you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d answered Ben in a soothing voice as he gently stroked Joe\u2019s head. \u201cYou\u2019re the one we were worried about.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m all right,\u201d stated Joe, in a voice that tried to dismiss his father\u2019s concern. He stared into Ben\u2019s face. \u201cI was afraid Bodine was going to kill you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe probably would have if you hadn\u2019t sent the posse after us,\u201d Ben admitted. He smiled. \u201cHoss and Adam told me about the signal fire you lit by burning Josh\u2019s camp.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe shrugged. \u201cIt was the only way I could think of to get the posse\u2019s attention,\u201d he explained in a tired voice. He looked earnestly into his father\u2019s face. \u201cPa, I wanted to go after you, to help you, but I just couldn\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, I know,\u201d Ben said in a soothing voice. \u201cYou probably saved my life by sending that posse after us.\u201d Ben shook his head. \u201cJoe, I begged Josh to let me go back for you, but he wouldn\u2019t listen. I thought you were dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t get rid of me that easily,\u201d Joe replied with a weak grin. Then Joe\u2019s face turned somber. \u201cWhat happened to Bodine?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy now, he\u2019s locked up in the Virginia City jail,\u201d Ben stated in a grim voice. \u201cHe\u2019ll never get out of prison, if I have my way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou tell the judge to hold off on the trial until I can testify,\u201d advised Joe. Ben nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s enough,\u201d said a voice from behind Ben. Ben turned to see the doctor standing in the doorway, flanked by Adam and Hoss. \u201cYou both need some rest,\u201d Doctor Martin stated as sternly as he could. \u201cYou can talk later,\u201d the doctor added.<\/p>\n

Ben stood to leave.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I\u2019m sorry,\u201d Joe said as his father turned to the door. \u201cI know Josh Bodine was your friend.”<\/p>\n

Ben looked back at his son. \u201cNo, Joe, I\u2019m the one who\u2019s sorry.\u201d .<\/p>\n

Joe looked puzzled. \u201cSorry? \u201cWhat for?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI put my friendship with Josh above everything else and that wasn\u2019t right,\u201d explained Ben. \u201cYou tried to tell me about Josh, but I wouldn\u2019t listen. I thought I knew Josh better than you, and I ignored what you said. And you\u2019re the one who had to pay the price for what I did.\u201c<\/p>\n

Joe looked uncomfortable. \u201cIt\u2019s all right, Pa. Forget it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I won\u2019t forget it,\u201d Ben declared. \u201cI\u2019ll never forget that when the price of a friendship is almost losing one of my sons, then that price is too high.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe nodded and shifted on the bed. He winced at the pain from his wound.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou get some rest,\u201d Ben suggested.<\/p>\n

Joe nodded. His eyes began to close. \u201cPa, I\u2019m glad you\u2019re all right,\u201d Joe murmured as he began to drift off to sleep.<\/p>\n

Ben stood watching his son for a moment. \u201cI wasn\u2019t all right, Joe,\u201d he said softly. \u201cFor awhile, I thought I\u2019d never be all right again.\u201d Ben sniffed, then cleared his throat. He turned toward the door. \u201cI\u2019m going to take a long nap,\u201d he declared. The doctor nodded approvingly as Ben walked past him. Ben stopped and put his hands on Adam and Hoss\u2019 shoulders. \u201cThank you,\u201d he said. Adam and Hoss just nodded.<\/p>\n

Ben walked down the hall toward his room. He suddenly felt tired, as tired as he had ever been. But he also knew what he had told Joe was true. He would not forget what his friendship with Josh Bodine had almost cost him. He would never forget the high price he had almost paid.<\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary:\u00a0 Joe isn’t as accepting as the rest of the family when a man from their past returns.<\/p>\n

Word Count: \u00a014,500 \u00a0Rated: \u00a0T<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10338,"featured_media":56477,"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":[23,1007],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13941","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-joe-cartwright","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1007-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2106,"today_views":1},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/roseLotta-21.png?fit=720%2C576&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":13959,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13959","url_meta":{"origin":13941,"position":0},"title":"The Cartwright Name (by Susan G)","author":"SusanG","date":"December 12, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Living up to the responsibilities that come with the name, almost costs Ben the life of one of his sons. 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Rated:\u00a0K+ (8,345 words)","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\/2014\/02\/bonanza.jpg?fit=295%2C295&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11761,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=11761","url_meta":{"origin":13941,"position":2},"title":"A Matter of Family (by BluewindFarm)","author":"BluewindFarm","date":"September 17, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0A mistaken identity sends the Cartwrights on a race to rescue one of their own. Rating: K (6,820 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Action\/Adventure"","block_context":{"text":"Action\/Adventure","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=2"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bens-3-sons.jpg?fit=960%2C720&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bens-3-sons.jpg?fit=960%2C720&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bens-3-sons.jpg?fit=960%2C720&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bens-3-sons.jpg?fit=960%2C720&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13970,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13970","url_meta":{"origin":13941,"position":3},"title":"Paying the Price (by Susan G)","author":"SusanG","date":"December 12, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Will it be worth the cost to refuse to sell lumber to a new mine owner? 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