{"id":13942,"date":"2007-12-12T14:15:50","date_gmt":"2007-12-12T19:15:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13942"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:11:14","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:11:14","slug":"the-deadliest-disease-by-susan-g","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13942","title":{"rendered":"The Deadliest Disease (by Susan G)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary<\/strong>:\u00a0 Away from the Pondersoa, Joe becomes sick while staying overnight in Green Meadows; and Cartwrights face the fear of a town without a doctor.<\/p>\n

Word Count: \u00a012,900 \u00a0Rated: \u00a0T<\/p>\n

The Deadliest Disease<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright sighed as he poured himself a cup of coffee from the pot on the campfire. He looked out on the empty land stretching in front of him. Dawn was just beginning to break, and he could see the faint rays of the sun as it rose on the horizon. Sipping his coffee, Ben contemplated the long miles still to travel before he was home.<\/p>\n

“What do you want for breakfast, Pa? Beans or beans?” asked Adam in a dry voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rousing himself, Ben looked at his oldest son. Adam was crouched next to him by the fire. “Beans,” said Ben said with another sigh. “Seems like that\u2019s all we\u2019ve been eating lately.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Ain\u2019t that the truth,” agreed Hoss with disgust as he bent down to pour himself a cup of coffee. “It\u2019s been so long since I\u2019ve had some of Hop Sing\u2019s cooking that I\u2019ve forgotten what it tastes like.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben nodded in agreement. “I think I\u2019m getting too old for cattle drives.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“You? Too old?” Adam said with a smile. “That\u2019ll be the day.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben looked around for his youngest son. He saw Joe was still asleep, laying on the ground with his head on his saddle a few feet from the fire. Joe was lying on his side, his back to the fire, and a blanket pulled over his shoulder. Ben could barely see the thick, dark hair of his son sticking out over the edge of the blanket. He sighed once more. <\/span><\/p>\n

“Better wake Joe,” Ben told Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

Giving a nod of agreement, Hoss walked over to where his brother was sleeping. He nudged Joe with the toe of his boot, yelling, “Wake up, little brother!” as he pushed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe sat up quickly, his eyes still puffy with sleep. “Hey!” he shouted in an angry voice. “What do you think you\u2019re doing?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Just getting you up, sleepy head,” Hoss replied. “You looked like you were planning to sleep until noon.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s shoulders slumped and he put his head in his hands. “I feel like I could sleep at least that long,” he mumbled. “I\u2019m still tired.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam looked over at Joe. “How could you still be tired?” he asked. “You went to sleep last night as soon as we finished eating?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Maybe it\u2019s because I had to ride an extra fifty miles,” Joe answered in a grumpy voice. “While you three were delivering the rest of the herd to the rail yard, I had to take those thirty head all the way over to Mason.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I know it was an extra trip,” Ben said as he continued to sip his coffee by the fire. “But I promised those steers to Jim Benson. Somebody had to deliver them.” <\/span><\/p>\n

“And that\u2019s what little brothers are for,” added Hoss with a grin. “To do all those jobs that we don\u2019t want to do.” Hoss laughed and walked back to the fire.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe made a face at Hoss\u2019 back and reached over to grab his boots which were sitting on the ground next to him. As he reached for the boots, Joe suddenly stopped. He closed his eyes as a wave of dizziness overtook him. Joe took a deep breath and shook his head. The dizzy spell passed. Joe looked over his shoulder toward the fire. Ben, Adam and Hoss were crouched around the fire, not paying any attention to him. Joe shook his head again, and grabbed the boots. He pulled them on and slowly stood up. He still felt tired and his body seemed to ache all over. Joe took another deep breath and strolled over to the fire.<\/span><\/p>\n

“How about some breakfast?” asked Adam as he stirred a pot on the fire. “We have some fine beans almost ready to go.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Crouching by the fire, Joe grabbed a cup off the rocks surrounding the blaze. “I\u2019m not hungry,” he said in a grumpy voice. “Just pour me some coffee.” Joe felt tired and cranky, and the thought of food turned his stomach.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Joe, you ought to eat something,” advised Ben in a fatherly tone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss had just eaten a forkful of beans from the plate in his hand and, as he chewed the beans, he made a face. “I don\u2019t blame you, Joe,” Hoss said as he put down his fork.<\/span><\/p>\n

“If you don\u2019t like the food, you do the cooking,” suggested Adam in a contentious voice. “I\u2019ll be happy to turn this chore over to you.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Well, I couldn\u2019t do any worse than you,” replied Hoss with a snort.<\/span><\/p>\n

“All right, all right,” Ben said patiently, trying to forestall any more arguments. “It\u2019s been a long cattle drive, and we\u2019ve been on the trail for over two weeks. We\u2019re all tired of sleeping on the ground and eating around a campfire. Let\u2019s not start sniping at each other.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking at each other a bit guiltily, Adam and Hoss nodded an unspoken apology to each other. Joe sat silently, still sipping his coffee.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben looked thoughtful for a minute. “You know, we really need a break from the long ride home,” he mused. “There\u2019s a town called Green Meadows not to far from here. It\u2019s a little out of our way, but I think we ought to head over there. A day or so extra won\u2019t make that much difference, and I think we all could use a break from the trail.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Green Meadows?” said Hoss, his face brightening. “Think they have a restaurant in a town like that?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I know they have a hotel,” Ben replied with a wistful look on his face. “A hotel with nice soft beds.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I\u2019ll bet you could get a cold beer there,” added Adam with a big grin.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Joseph, what do you think?” asked Ben.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe shrugged his shoulders and continued to sip his coffee. “It sounds all right to me,” he agreed in a voice that still sounded grumpy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Frowning, Ben looked at Joe. Usually, Joe was the enthusiastic one of the bunch, ready to try anything. The weeks on the trail must really be wearing him down, thought Ben. “Then, Green Meadows it is,” stated Ben firmly. “Let\u2019s break camp and get moving.”<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The Cartwrights rode slowly down the main street of the town of Green Meadows. The place looked empty, with only a few people on the streets. Ben was surprised. It was early afternoon and he thought the town would be bustling with activity at that time of day. He looked around as he rode. Green Meadows was a town of about twenty buildings, all neat but with slightly deserted look to them.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Not exactly a hub of activity,” observed Adam dryly was he rode next to his father.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t understand,” Ben said, clearly puzzled. “It\u2019s been several years since I\u2019ve been here. But last time I was here, this was a thriving town. There\u2019s good land around here, lots of farms and ranches. You\u2019d think the town would be booming.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“All I care about is them having a good place to eat,” declared Hoss, who was riding behind Adam and Ben. “Keep your eyes open for a restaurant,”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben looked at Hoss over his shoulder. “Let\u2019s get settled at the hotel first,” he said with a smile. “Then you can eat everything in town.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The smile still on his face, Ben looked at Joe who was riding silently next to Hoss. “Joe, think you can find something to do?” he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I guess,” answered Joe shortly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben frowned at Joe\u2019s answer. On the trail, Joe had been unusually quiet, and when one of them said something to him, Joe had replied in an irritable or surly manner. Ben wondered if something was bothering Joe. He promised himself to have a talk with his youngest son.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Cartwrights rode a little further down the street, until Adam pointed at a sign proclaiming “Palace Hotel”. The hotel was anything but a palace. The two-story building had been built of wood, and its paint had faded to a dull gray. A few worn chairs sat empty on the wooden porch in front of the building. The railing on the balcony above porch was chipped and splintered.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben stopped his horse at the hitching post in front of the hotel. He shook his head as he looked at the building. “Well, maybe it looks better on the inside,” he said hopefully. Adam, Hoss, and Joe stopped their horses at the hitching post also. “Let\u2019s get a couple of rooms,” Ben told his sons. “Then we\u2019ll see to the horses.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The Cartwright boys dismounted and began untying their saddle bags. Adam pulled his rifle from its scabbard on the saddle as he threw the saddle bags over his shoulder. “I don\u2019t want anything to happen to my new rifle,” he remarked as he walked toward the steps of the hotel. Hoss and Joe followed Ben and Adam up the steps to the door of the hotel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another wave of dizziness came over Joe as he reached the top of the steps. He stopped abruptly and grabbed the balcony support on his right. Closing his eyes, Joe held on to the pole tightly, trying not to lose his balance. He took several deep breaths and the dizziness passed. Joe frowned, wondering what was wrong with him. His head ached and his body felt sore and tired. Must have spent too many days in the saddle, he told himself. The riding and the dust was really getting to him. Looking up, Joe saw that his father and brothers had already entered the hotel. He walked rapidly to catch up with them.<\/span><\/p>\n

The lobby of the hotel was neat, but showed wear. The curtains in the window were yellow with age, and several worn spots were visible on the carpet. A thin layer of dust covered the pictures on the wall. As Ben walked to the desk in the lobby, a middle-aged man standing behind the counter watched him with a look of anticipation. The man was in shirt sleeves, a string tie around his neck. His dark hair was slicked back, and a pencil-thin mustache was visible on his upper lip.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Two rooms, four beds,” Ben said as he reached the desk.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Of course,” replied the man as he slid a registration book in front of Ben. “And how long will you be staying?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Just tonight,” Ben answered as he signed the book.<\/span><\/p>\n

The clerk nodded and reached behind him to pull two keys from the slots in the pigeon-holed box behind him. “Number Four and Number Five,” said the clerk. “Just at the top of the stairs.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Is there someplace a man can get a decent meal in this town?” asked Hoss, who was standing behind Ben.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Yes, indeed,” replied the clerk enthusiastically. “The Copper Kettle is just down the street. Mrs. Brown sets a fine table.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“How about a cold beer?” asked Adam.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Try the Long Horn Saloon,” suggested the clerk. “The beer there is real cold.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Nodding his thanks, Ben picked up the keys. “Come on, boys,” he said and walked to the stairs. His sons followed him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben and Adam took one room, while Joe and Hoss went into the second. Each room had two narrow beds, with a small table between them. A water pitcher and basin sat on the table between the beds. A small dresser and a chair were the only other furniture in the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Not exactly the lap of luxury,” Hoss remarked as he looked around.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Beggars can\u2019t be choosers,” said Joe with a shrug. “At least we\u2019re not going to have to sleep on the ground.”<\/span><\/p>\n

A knock on the door interrupted the conversation. Hoss and Joe turned to see Ben and Adam standing in the doorway.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Adam and I will see about the horses,” said Ben. “Then we\u2019re going to walk around town a bit.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss rubbed his hands together. “Hot diggity, I\u2019m going straight to that restaurant that clerk mentioned.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“What about you, Joe?” Ben asked in a cheerful voice, hoping Joe\u2019s mood had improved.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Think I\u2019ll just take a nap,” replied Joe in a sullen voice. “Doesn\u2019t look like there\u2019s much in this town to see or do.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben nodded. “All right,” he said. “Why don\u2019t we plan to meet at the saloon in about two hours? I\u2019ll buy you boys a beer.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Sounds good,” Adam agreed. He looked at Joe and Hoss. “Don\u2019t be late, or I\u2019ll drink your beer.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Don\u2019t worry, I\u2019ll be there,” said Hoss. “Pa don\u2019t buy beers too often, and I don\u2019t want to miss this.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Everyone laughed as Ben, Adam and Hoss left the room. Joe followed them to the door and shut it behind them. As soon as they were gone, Joe\u2019s shoulders sagged. He couldn\u2019t believe how tired he felt, and how much his head ached. He flopped on the bed, not even bothering to remove his boots. The pillows were soft and the mattress was comfortable. Joe closed his eyes and went to sleep immediately.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Ben and Adam strolled down the wooden sidewalk, heading toward the saloon. “Joe was sure right,” observed Adam as they walked. “There really isn\u2019t much to see or do in this town.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I hope he\u2019s in a better mood after his nap,” said Ben. “He\u2019s been touchy all day. What do you think is bothering him?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam shrugged. “With Joe, it could be almost anything; it doesn\u2019t take much to set him off.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Do you think something happened in Mason?” asked Ben.<\/span><\/p>\n

“No,” said Adam with a shake of his head. “I talked with him when he got back. He was fine. Said he delivered the cattle and visited with the Bensons awhile. He said Mrs. Benson wasn\u2019t feeling well, so he left and came back to the rail yard. If there had been any problems, he would have said so then.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben sighed. “Sometimes, I don\u2019t understand him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

“I\u2019m not sure any of us do,” said Adam with a smile. “But he does keep things exciting, you have to admit that.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben smiled back. “I could do with a little less excitement sometimes,” he replied.<\/span><\/p>\n

Laughing, Adam pushed open the swinging doors of the saloon and followed Ben into the building. The saloon was almost deserted. Two men sat at separate tables in the back of the room. Ben looked at Adam and shrugged, then walked to an empty table in the middle of the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

“What can I get you fellows?” called the bartender from across the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Four beers,” replied Adam, “And make sure they\u2019re cold.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The bartender had just set the beers on the table when Hoss pushed the doors of the saloon open and walked in. He strolled over to the table, a toothpick hanging from his lips. Hoss sat down at the table, removed the toothpick, and picked up a mug of beer. “Thank you, Pa,” he said taking a long drink.<\/span><\/p>\n

“You\u2019re welcome,” replied Ben with a grin. He looked around. “Any sign of Joe?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Haven\u2019t seen him,” Hoss answered as he continued to drink his beer with obvious enjoyment. “I spent the last two hours eating the best meal I\u2019ve had in weeks.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I guess you won\u2019t be hungry again for awhile,” observed Adam.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I guess you\u2019re wrong,” replied Hoss. “I figured that was just a snack. We can all go back to the restaurant in a little while and have a proper meal.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Pushing back his chair, Ben stood. “Joe must have lost track of the time,” he said. “I\u2019m going back over the hotel and get him.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben walked slowly back toward the hotel. He was anxious to have a chance to talk to Joe alone and find out what was bothering him. As he entered the hotel, the clerk looked up at him from behind the desk. “Have you seen my son come down?” Ben asked the man.<\/span><\/p>\n

“No sir,” the clerk replied. “I haven\u2019t seen anyone since you and your other sons left.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Unconcerned, Ben walked up the stairs of the hotel and stopped in front Joe\u2019s room. He knocked on the door, but there was no answer. Ben turned the doorknob and opened the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe was still asleep on the bed, fully clothed. Ben smiled to himself as he looked at his son. Joe looked so young and vulnerable as he slept. It was hard to believe he\u2019s grown, almost 22, Ben thought. Joe still looked like a little boy to his father. Ben walked over the to the bed and gentle shook Joe\u2019s shoulder. “Joe,” he said in a soft voice. “Time to wake up.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe stirred but didn\u2019t wake. Ben shook him a little harder. “C\u2019mon, Joe,” he said a little louder. “Wake up, son.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe stirred again and finally opened his eyes. “Pa?” he mumbled in a sleepy voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

“C\u2019mon, Joe,” Ben repeated. “You\u2019ve been asleep for a couple of hours. Time to get up.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe sat up and immediately slumped forward, putting his hand to his eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Joe, what\u2019s wrong,” asked Ben in alarm.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t know,” Joe replied in a shaky voice. “I guess I sat up too fast or something. I got real dizzy.” Suddenly he shivered.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sitting on the bed next to his son, Ben put his hand on Joe\u2019s forehead. “Joe, you have a fever,” he said, his alarm growing. “Why didn\u2019t you tell me you were sick?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I didn\u2019t think I was,” Joe answered in a weak voice as he shivered again. “I just thought I was tired.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“You lay back down,” Ben ordered in an anxious voice, gently pushing Joe back to the bed. He pulled the sheet and blankets from under Joe\u2019s body and pulled them over his son. “Keep under the covers and stay warm. I\u2019m going to find a doctor.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Hurrying out of the room, Ben raced down the stairs of the hotel and stopped at the desk. “Is there a doctor in this town?” he asked the clerk.<\/span><\/p>\n

“No, sorry,” replied the clerk. “The doctor died last year during the cholera epidemic. Why? Are you sick?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“My son isn\u2019t feeling well,” said Ben in a distracted voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Well, Mrs. Williams, the doc\u2019s widow, she kind of acts as the town nurse,” advised the clerk. “She might be able to help.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Where can I find her?” Ben asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Big house at the edge of town,” answered the clerk. “Has two big trees in the front yard. You can\u2019t miss it.”<\/span><\/p>\n

After thanking the clerk, Ben walked rapidly out of the hotel. He didn\u2019t notice the clerk\u2019s eyes narrow and the look of concern that appeared on the man\u2019s face.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben hurried back to the saloon. Adam and Hoss were just finishing a beer as he rushed to the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Where\u2019s Joe?” Adam asked as he drained his glass.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Joe\u2019s sick,” replied Ben, his voice betraying his worry.<\/span><\/p>\n

“What\u2019s wrong?” asked Hoss, instantly sitting forward in his chair.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t know,” admitted Ben. “He has a fever. There\u2019s no doctor in Green Meadows, but they do have a nurse. I want you two to go back over to the hotel and stay with Joe while I get the nurse.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Immediately, Adam and Hoss jumped to their feet. Adam pulled some coins out of his pocket and threw them down on the table. “Let\u2019s go,” commanded Adam. The three Cartwrights rushed to the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss hurried back to the hotel as Ben walked rapidly down the street in the other direction. They rushed past the clerk in the lobby and hurried up the stairs to Joe\u2019s room. Without bothering to knock, Hoss pushed opened the door and walked in the room, with Adam close behind.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe lay on the bed with his eyes closed. His face was flushed and he was shivering slightly. Hoss walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. “Joe,” he said softly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Opening his eyes, Joe turned his head to look at Hoss. His eyes seemed glazed. “Hoss?” Joe said in a weak voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Yeah, it\u2019s me, little brother,” Hoss replied gently. “Pa said you weren\u2019t feeling too good.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I feel a little rocky,” Joe admitted. “Must have gotten too much dust or sun or something.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss put his hand on Joe\u2019s forehead and frowned. “He\u2019s burning up,” Hoss murmured quietly over his shoulder to Adam. Nodding, Adam walked over to the table between the beds. He poured some water from the pitcher into the basin, and grabbed a towel from the rail on the side of the table. He soaked the towel in the water, then twisted it to drain the excess water. He handed the towel to Hoss, who put it over Joe\u2019s forehead.<\/span><\/p>\n

“You just take it easy, Joe,” Hoss said in a reassuring voice. “Everything\u2019s going to be all right.” Hoss only wished he believed what he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Ben spotted the house as he hurried down the street. It was just as the clerk had described it \u2013 a big house with large trees in the yard. Ben walked faster toward the structure.<\/span><\/p>\n

When he reached the house, Ben noticed a post with a sign hanging from it in the yard. The sign proclaimed “Frederick Williams, MD” in faded letters. He hurried past the sign and into the front yard, walking even faster as he approached the house. Ben bounded up the steps of the house and across the front porch. He knocked rapidly on the front door.<\/span><\/p>\n

After a moment, the door opened. A woman in her early 40\u2019s stood in the doorway. Her brown hair was tied back in a tight bun. She wore a plain white blouse and a dark skirt. The woman was drying her hands with a towel as she stood in the doorway.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Yes, may I help you?” the woman asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Are you Mrs. Williams?” replied Ben anxiously.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Yes, I\u2019m Emma Williams,” confirmed the woman.<\/span><\/p>\n

“My name is Ben Cartwright,” explained Ben. “My son is over at the hotel, and he\u2019s not feeling well. I was hoping you would come and take a look at him.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Mr. Cartwright, I\u2019m not a doctor,” said Emma. “My husband was a doctor, but unfortunately, he\u2019s\u2026” Emma hesitated. “He\u2019s no longer with us,” she finished.<\/span><\/p>\n

“The clerk at the hotel said you were a nurse,” insisted Ben.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Yes, I studied nursing for two years at a hospital in San Francisco,” Emma acknowledged. “That\u2019s where I met my husband. I helped him with his patients for many years.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“My son is sick,” Ben repeated. “Please, could you come take a look at him?”<\/span><\/p>\n

With an air of reluctance, Emma nodded. “All right,” she agreed. “I\u2019ll do what I can. Let me get my husband\u2019s bag.” Emma disappeared back into the house, and reappeared a minute later with a black bag. “Let\u2019s go,” she said briskly.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Emma and Ben walked rapidly back to the hotel, Ben felt a growing sense of urgency with each step. He couldn\u2019t wait to get back to Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

The clerk looked at them curiously as they entered the hotel, but Ben ignored the man and led Emma directly to Joe\u2019s room. Ben opened the door and led the doctor\u2019s widow into the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss was still sitting on the edge of the bed, the wet cloth in his hand. Adam stood near the bed, his arms crossed and a look of anxiety on his face. Joe lay unmoving on the bed. His face was pale and covered in a fine sheen of sweat and his breathing seemed more rapid than before.<\/span><\/p>\n

“How is he?” Ben asked anxiously.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Not so good, Pa,” answered Adam. “His fever is pretty high.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“This is Mrs. Williams,” Ben said, introducing the woman next to him. “She\u2019s a nurse.” Ben turned to Emma. “These are my other sons — Adam, and the one sitting on the bed is Hoss.”<\/span><\/p>\n

As Ben walked toward the bed followed by Emma, Hoss got up and move away. Ben sat on the edge of the bed in his middle son\u2019s place. He gently stroked Joe\u2019s head and said his son\u2019s name.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes flickered open. “Pa?” he said, his voice sounding weak and confused.<\/span><\/p>\n

“How are you feeling?” Ben asked with concern.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Not so good,” admitted Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I brought a nurse to take a look at you,” Ben said, cocking his head a bit in Emma\u2019s direction. Ben stood and motioned Emma toward the bed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nodding an acknowledgment, Emma walked to the bed. She sat on the edge and smiled encouragingly. “Hello, young man,” she said in a pleasant voice. “I just want to check you over.” She put her hand on Joe\u2019s forehead. “His fever is very high,” she murmured. She felt Joe\u2019s pulse and frowned. Emma ran her hands over Joe\u2019s arm and chest. She pulled back the covers and ran her hands lightly over Joe\u2019s legs. “He doesn\u2019t seem to have any unusual swelling,” she observed. “Has he had a bad fall? Anything that might cause a broken bone or a bad bruise?” she asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

“No, nothing like that,” answered Ben.<\/span><\/p>\n

With a practiced air, Emma unbuttoned Joe\u2019s shirt and pulled it open. “No rash,” she muttered. She pressed lightly on Joe\u2019s stomach and abdomen. “Doesn\u2019t seem to be any rigidity or pain,” she added, noting Joe\u2019s lack of reaction to her probing. “Has he had any nausea or vomiting?” she asked. Ben shook his head. “What did he have to eat today? Anything unusual?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“He really didn\u2019t eat anything,” Hoss said as stood by the end of the bed. “He said he wasn\u2019t hungry at breakfast, and he just nibbled on some hardtack while we were on the trail.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Do you know what\u2019s wrong with him?” Adam asked anxiously.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before Emma could answer, there was a knock on the door. Surprised, Ben turned and opened the door. The desk clerk was standing in the hall. “I understand that there\u2019s a sick man in here,” the clerk said.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Yes,” answered Ben. “My son. He has a fever. Mrs. Williams is checking on him.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The clerk looked past Ben to Emma. “Emma, do you know what\u2019s wrong with him?” asked the clerk.<\/span><\/p>\n

Emma shook her heard. “Vince, I\u2019m not sure. He\u2019s a pretty sick boy, though.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“He\u2019ll have to leave,” said Vince in a nervous voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Leave!” Ben exclaimed, his voice filled with astonishment. “You just heard Mrs. Williams say my son is sick. Why would we leave?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t want any sick people in my hotel,” the clerk replied firmly. “He could have something that will spread through the whole town. You\u2019ll have to leave the hotel and the town immediately.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“We are not going to leave,” Ben declared in a voice cold with fury. He slammed the door shut in the clerk\u2019s face.<\/span><\/p>\n

Emma pulled the covers back over Joe, then turned to Ben. “You\u2019ll have to forgive Vince,” she said. “We had an epidemic of cholera here last year. Almost everyone in town lost someone to the disease. Vince\u2019s wife died. It\u2019s only natural that he would be afraid. The whole town is petrified of another epidemic.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben nodded distractedly. “What about Joe?” he asked. “Is there anything you can do?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t know what\u2019s wrong,” she admitted. “But my husband always said if you can\u2019t treat the disease, treat the symptoms. Let\u2019s try and bring his fever down. I\u2019m going to give him some quinine. We can try some cold compresses, too.” Emma opened the bag that she had placed on the end of the bed and took out a small bottle. She looked around the room. “Could you get a glass?” she asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I\u2019ll get one,” offered Hoss and, after leaving the room, he hurried down the stairs. The lobby was deserted; the clerk was not behind his counter. Hoss looked around the lobby and saw a bottle of water with some glasses sitting on the edge of the desk. He grabbed a glass and then rapidly climbed the stairs. Hoss came back into the room and handed the glass to Emma.<\/span><\/p>\n

Emma nodded her thanks and began to pour a dose of the liquid from the small bottle. She looked at Ben. “Could you help me?” she asked. “I want him to sit up and drink this.” Ben walked to the other side of the bed and shook Joe gently, trying to rouse his son.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe opened his eyes slightly. “Pa?” Joe said in a very weak voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Joe, you need to sit up,” Ben told his son. “I\u2019ll help you.” Ben put his arm around Joe\u2019s shoulders and gently raised him to a sitting position. Emma handed Ben the glass. Ben put the glass to Joe\u2019s lips and forced the liquid into his son\u2019s mouth. Joe swallowed the liquid, then coughed and shuddered at the bitter taste. After making sure Joe had swallowed all of the liquid, Ben eased Joe\u2019s head back onto the pillows.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I\u2019m all right, Pa,” Joe murmured in a weak voice. “I just need\u2026need a little rest.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Sure you are,” agreed Ben in a soothing voice. “You just take it easy.”<\/span><\/p>\n

A firm rap on the door startled the people in the room. Adam walked over to the door and opened it. The desk clerk stood in the hall again, but this time, there was another man with him. The man had a tin star pinned to his chest.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Sheriff, I want you to get these people out of my hotel,” the clerk said, pointing at the Cartwrights. “This is my hotel, and I can refuse a room to anyone.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The sheriff looked at the men in the room. “I\u2019m afraid he\u2019s right,” said the lawman with a tinge of regret in his voice. “I\u2019m going to have to ask you to leave.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“My brother is sick,” Adam replied angrily. “We can\u2019t leave.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“If you don\u2019t leave voluntarily, I\u2019m going to have to force you out,” stated the sheriff in a grim voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Walking to the door, Hoss pulled himself up to his full height. “You and what army?” he asked in an irate voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I can have ten men here in a few minutes,” the sheriff threatened. “Don\u2019t make me do that. Someone could get hurt.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“You just bring them on,” Hoss declared.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Wait,” called Emma as she stood and walked to the door. “I don\u2019t want anyone to get hurt. We\u2019ll take the boy to my place.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Do you think we should move him?” Ben asked anxiously from the bed where he still sat.<\/span><\/p>\n

Emma turned back to Ben. “If we wrap him in blankets and keep him warm, I think we can move him. Besides, it\u2019ll be easier to take care of him at my place,” she replied. “And I don\u2019t want anyone to get hurt.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“All right,” Ben agreed reluctantly. “Adam, Hoss, go next door and get our things.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Pa\u2026” Adam started.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Just do it!” ordered Ben. “I don\u2019t want any arguments.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“All right,” Adam said. He turned to Hoss. “You stay here in case Pa needs any help.” As Hoss nodded, Adam pushed past the men in the hall and went next door.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once more, Ben shook Joe gently. “Joe,” he said, “Wake up. We have to move you to someplace where you\u2019ll be more comfortable.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe opened his eyes. “I\u2019m tired,” he answered in a weak voice and started to close his eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Again, Ben shook his son. “Joe, you have to get up,” he said firmly. Ben turned to Hoss. “Hoss, help me with him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss gave the men at the door a menacing look, then walked back to the bed. Emma grabbed her bag from the bed and walked past Hoss. “We\u2019ll get him out of your hotel, Vince, don\u2019t worry,” she said to the clerk with a touch of disgust in her voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

With rapid movements, Ben pulled the covers off Joe, and pulled his son into a sitting position. Hoss helped his father swing Joe\u2019s legs off the bed. As Ben steadied Joe, Hoss pulled the blanket from the bed and wrapped it around his brother\u2019s shoulders. Then Ben and Hoss each took one of Joe\u2019s arms and pulled him to his feet.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Ben and Hoss were helping Joe stand, Adam walked back into the room. Two saddle bags were flung over his shoulder and he was holding his rifle. Without a word, he walked to the other bed and picked up the two saddle bags laying on it. He put both of those saddle bags over his other shoulder. “I\u2019ve got our things,” he announced.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not bothering to reply, Ben and Hoss guided Joe to the door. Joe shuffled his feet and walked slowly, but he was able to walk. Adam walked behind the trio, ready to help if needed. As Ben and Hoss led Joe slowly out of the room, the desk clerk and sheriff stood to the side. The clerk had a handkerchief to his pressed against his mouth and nose.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I presume we can take the blanket,” Ben said in a cold voice as he passed the clerk.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Take it,” replied the clerk, his voice muffled by the cloth. “I\u2019m going to boil or burn everything he touched anyway.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Shaking their heads in disgust, Ben and Hoss led Joe past the two men. Adam and Emma followed them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben and Hoss slowly guided Joe down the stairs and through the lobby. As they left the hotel, Ben was surprised to see a small group of people standing in the street, watching.<\/span><\/p>\n

“They\u2019re leaving,” called a voice from the crowd.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Don\u2019t get too close,” said another voice. “We won\u2019t be safe until they\u2019re out of town.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Stopping, Ben looked at the crowd. “We\u2019re taking my son to Mrs. Williams\u2019 house,” he announced. “We don\u2019t want any trouble.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Get out of town!” an angry voice shouted from the group. “We don\u2019t want you here!”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben heard Adam cock his rifle. “You heard my Pa,” Ben heard Adam say from behind him. “We don\u2019t want any trouble. But don\u2019t try to stop us.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Nodding in grim satisfaction, Ben started to push Joe forward. He could feel Joe\u2019s body slumping against him. Ben grabbed Joe\u2019s arm tightly as he helped his son stand.<\/span><\/p>\n

It seemed to Ben that the walk to Emma\u2019s house was miles instead of yards as he and Hoss pushed and half-carried Joe down the street. Adam and Emma followed them closely. The crowd trailed along, staying a safe distance behind.<\/span><\/p>\n

The procession finally reached the house on the edge of town. Emma walked to the front of the group and opened the front door, ushering the Cartwrights in.<\/span><\/p>\n

They entered a large room sparsely furnished with a couch and some chairs. A tall bookcase, crammed with books, stood against the far wall. “We used this as a waiting room,” Emma explained as she showed the Cartwrights in. She pointed to a hallway. “Take him through there. The first door on the right, that\u2019s a bedroom. We can put the boy in there.” Ben nodded and started to push Joe forward again. He knew Joe was almost out on his feet, exhausted by the walk. Ben felt his anger at the crowd outside growing. <\/span><\/p>\n

Ben and Hoss led Joe to the bedroom and gently eased him down on the bed. Joe\u2019s eyes were closed and his breathing was labored. Beads of sweat had formed on Joe\u2019s face and chest.<\/span><\/p>\n

“You make him comfortable,” said Emma from the doorway. “I\u2019ll get some cold water for the compresses.” She turned and walked down the hall.<\/span><\/p>\n

As she entered the waiting room, she noticed Adam standing by the bookcase, looking at the titles printed on the spines of the books. He had put the saddlebags and rifle on one of the chairs. “These are medical books, aren\u2019t they,” Adam stated.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Yes,” replied Emma. “My husband\u2019s. I\u2019ve looked through them a time or two since he died, trying to figure out how to help someone.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“What do you do when someone is hurt really bad?” asked Adam.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We send for the doctor over in Mason,” Emma answered. “But that\u2019s about three days ride. Most of the time, he wouldn\u2019t get here in time so I do what I can. Sometimes I\u2019ll telegraph him, asking for advice.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Mason,” said Adam thoughtfully. He frowned as if he were trying to remember something, then shook his head. “Mind if I look through these books?” he asked. “Maybe I can figure out something to help Joe.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Be my guest,” Emma replied as she hurried out of the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Evening was turning into night as the older Cartwrights anxiously tended Joe. Ben sat by his son\u2019s bed, replacing the cold compresses on Joe\u2019s forehead, as Adam and Hoss brought fresh pitchers of cool water. Emma kept checking Joe for new symptoms and dosing him with quinine. Everyone was becoming increasing frustrated as their efforts seemed to have little effect.<\/span><\/p>\n

Drifting back to the waiting room, Adam pulled a book from the shelf, then lit a lamp and sat on the sofa. He scanned the book, stopping occasionally to read some pages more slowly. He had been reading for about an hour when Hoss entered the room. “Any change?” asked Adam as Hoss walked to an overstuffed chair and sat down.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss shook his head. “No, his fever is still high. Did you find anything in there that might help?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Slamming the book shut, Adam looked grim. “No,” he said with frustration in his voice. “About half the diseases in here list a high fever as an early symptom. So far, I haven\u2019t been able to find anything specific. Has Joe developed any other symptoms?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Again, Hoss shook his head. “No,” he replied. “He just keeps saying he\u2019s tired and he aches all over.” Hoss hesitated. “Maybe we should try and find a doctor.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“The nearest doctor is in Mason,” Adam told his brother. “That\u2019s over three days ride from here. Besides, I don\u2019t think we should leave.” Adam cocked his head toward the window behind him. “I\u2019ve been listening to the noise outside. It\u2019s getting louder. I have a feeling we might get another visit from the good citizens of Green Meadows.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“You don\u2019t think they\u2019d try something, do you?” Hoss asked with both concern and alarm. “I mean, they wouldn\u2019t send a sick man out of town, would they?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t know,” Adam admitted. “Fear of disease is as old as man. In ancient times, they used to put sick people out in deserted areas, left them to die. Even some Indians will still abandon their sick. People are afraid of things they can\u2019t see and don\u2019t know how to fight. There\u2019s no telling what these people might do.”<\/span><\/p>\n

A rock suddenly came flying through a window near the couch, shattering the glass and spraying shards on the furniture. Adam instinctively ducked while Hoss rushed over and grabbed Adam\u2019s rifle from a chair. Both men crouched down on the floor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Emma and Ben came rushing into the room. “We heard something,” said Ben. “What happened?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Rock through the window,” answered Adam. “Nobody hurt. But you\u2019d better get down. There\u2019s quite a crowd gathered outside.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Emma! Emma Williams! You in there?” a voice from outside shouted. “Emma, we don\u2019t want any trouble. All we want is to get that sick man out of town.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Emma walked toward the door, but stopped as Ben grabbed her arm. “Don\u2019t go out there,” Ben warned.<\/span><\/p>\n

With a jerk, Emma shook her arm free. “I know these people,” she said. “They\u2019re good people. Right now, they\u2019re just frightened. An epidemic wiped out half this town a year ago. You\u2019ve seen the town; you\u2019ve seen how it\u2019s been dying little by little. They\u2019re afraid it\u2019s going to happen again.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Emma, you hear us?” a voice shouted from outside. “You get rid of that sick fellow or we\u2019re going to do it for you!”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Please, Mr. Cartwright, let me talk to them,” Emma pleaded. “I know I can calm them down.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“All right,” Ben agreed. “But I\u2019m going out with you.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Getting to his feet, Adam grabbed his rifle from Hoss. “We\u2019re all going out with you,” he said firmly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Moving slowly and deliberately, Emma opened the front door and walked out onto the porch. Ben, Adam and Hoss followed her. She stopped at the edge of the porch, and the Cartwrights formed a protective wall behind her.<\/span><\/p>\n

About twenty people were standing in the yard, most of them men, but there were a few women in the crowd also. Several of the men carried rifles, and some had large sticks in their hands.<\/span><\/p>\n

The sheriff pushed his way to the front of the crowd. “Emma,” he said. “We had a meeting. We don\u2019t want you taking care of that boy. We just want to get him out of town before infects the rest of us.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Sheriff, you can\u2019t mean that,” Emma replied. “The boy is sick, maybe dying. If we move him now, you\u2019ll kill him for sure.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Do you know what\u2019s wrong with him?” asked the sheriff.<\/span><\/p>\n

“No,” admitted Emma. “But he\u2019s here in the house. He can\u2019t do you any harm.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Can you guarantee what he\u2019s got ain\u2019t catching?” shouted a woman from the crowd. “I already buried my husband and my daughter. I don\u2019t want to bury anyone else.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t know what\u2019s wrong with him,” said Emma in a desperate voice. “All I know is that he\u2019s sick and we have to help him.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Help him?” called another voice from the crowd. “Why should we help him? He\u2019s liable to kill us all. Just get him out of here.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Suddenly, Ben stepped forward. “My son is sick. What would you have us do? Take him out on the road and leave him there to die?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Take him over to Mason,” suggested the sheriff. “There\u2019s a doctor there. He\u2019ll know what to do. They know how to take care of sick people in Mason.”<\/span><\/p>\n

As he listened to the sheriff\u2019s the words, Adam frowned. The thought that had been nagging at the back of his head earlier in the day was back. Something about Mason\u2026if he could only remember what it was.<\/span><\/p>\n

“You can make us leave,” declared Ben. “But what happens next time? What happens if your wife or son gets sick? Are you going to make them leave? What if it\u2019s you? Do you want to be driven out of town?”<\/span><\/p>\n

A murmur rippled through the crowd. Several people looked down at the ground and shuffled their feet.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I know you\u2019re frightened,” Ben continued. “I\u2019m frightened, frightened for my son. But throwing us out of town won\u2019t make disease go away. It\u2019ll come back; it always does. The thing to do is to figure out how to fight it. Figure out what the right thing to do to keep everyone as safe as possible.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“We\u2019ve got the boy in quarantine,” Emma added. “He\u2019s not going to spread the disease. We\u2019ll keep him here, away from the rest of you. He can\u2019t hurt you.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam stepped forward. “What if we send a telegram to the doctor in Mason?” he asked. “We can describe my brother\u2019s symptoms and ask him for help. The doctor might tell us that it\u2019s nothing catching. Would that satisfy you?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Turning his head a bit, Ben gave Adam a puzzled look. He wasn\u2019t sure why Adam was proposing sending a telegram to the doctor in Mason. He didn\u2019t think the doctor would be able to tell them anything. Joe\u2019s symptoms seemed too vague and general for the doctor to be able to help them. Maybe Adam is just trying to buy us some time, Ben thought.<\/span><\/p>\n

The crowd murmured again. The sheriff walked back to the throng and talked quietly to several people. With a nod, he turned back toward the house. “All right, send your telegram,” the sheriff stated. “Write it out and slip in under the door. Let\u2019s see what the doctor over in Mason says. But I\u2019m telling you this. If the doctor thinks what that boy has is catching, or if one other person comes down with something, we\u2019re coming back. We\u2019re going to throw you out of town, and burn this house to the ground!”<\/span><\/p>\n

Emma put her hand to her throat in fear. “You can\u2019t mean that!” she exclaimed. “You can\u2019t burn my home!”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Emma, we would hate to do it,” replied the sheriff. “But if that\u2019s what it takes to stop another epidemic, then that\u2019s what we\u2019ll do.” The sheriff turned and stalked off. A few people followed him, but most of the people stayed in the yard.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We\u2019re going to stay here and watch that nobody leaves the house,” a voice called from the yard. Emma and the Cartwrights exchanged worried looks as they went back into the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I\u2019m sorry,” Ben said, his voice filled with regret. “I never meant to bring you this trouble.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Don\u2019t be sorry, Mr. Cartwright,” Emma replied. “You were right. It was only a question of time until something like this happened. They are going to have to face their fear of sickness. I guess now is as good a time as any.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben turned to Adam. “What was all that business about the telegram?” he asked. “You don\u2019t seriously think the doctor over in Mason is going to be able to tell us anything, do you?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t know, Pa,” admitted Adam. “Something had been rattling around in the back of my head all day, but I couldn\u2019t seem to grab on to it. Out there, on the porch, I suddenly remembered. Joe said he left the Bensons because Mrs. Benson wasn\u2019t feeling well. If that\u2019s where he got infected, there may be several people in Mason with the same sickness as Joe. If there are, the doctor might be able to tell us what\u2019s wrong with Joe and how to treat it.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“But, Adam, what if he can\u2019t?” asked Hoss. “Or worse still, what if he tells us what\u2019s wrong with Joe\u2026.and there\u2019s nothing we can do for him?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I\u2019m not going to think about that,” Adam answered grimly. “I\u2019ve got to believe we can help Joe. I won\u2019t even consider the alternative.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben nodded in agreement. “Send that telegram, Adam,” he said, his voice equally grim. “Send it and pray.”<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Ben spent a long, frustrating night taking care of Joe. His son\u2019s fever continued to be high, despite the medicine and cold compresses Emma used on him. Adam and Hoss came into the room periodically to try to relieve Ben, but he just waved them away. He couldn\u2019t bring himself to leave Joe. It was after midnight when Emma entered the room again. She seemed surprised to see Ben still by Joe\u2019s bed. “I thought Hoss was going to take over,” she said with a frown. “You need to get some rest.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“He tried, but I told him I couldn\u2019t sleep,” Ben replied in a weary voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

A look of concern came over Emma\u2019s face. She walked over to Ben and put her hand on his forehead, then checked his pulse. “How are you feeling?” she asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I\u2019m fine, just tired,” Ben told the woman<\/span><\/p>\n

“No headaches? No achy feeling?” Emma pressed.<\/span><\/p>\n

“No,” Ben stated. “That\u2019s a good sign, isn\u2019t it? I mean, if Joe had something catching, one of us would have come down with it by now, wouldn\u2019t we.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Not necessarily,” answered Emma. “Some diseases take as long as a week before symptoms appear.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Suddenly, Joe shifted on the bed. He began mumbling incoherently, and occasionally groaning. He was bathed in sweat. Two bright red spots stood out on his cheeks, contrasting the paleness of the rest of his skin. His breathing was labored.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Easy, Joe, easy,” Ben said in a soothing voice as he wiped Joe\u2019s face with a damp cloth. Joe didn\u2019t seem to hear him.<\/span><\/p>\n

“If only we could break his fever,” Emma said in a worried voice. “I\u2019ve tried everything I can think of, but his fever seems to continue to climb.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Maybe the doctor in Mason will have some answer,” replied Ben, his voice betraying the helplessness he felt. “When do you think we\u2019ll hear from him?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t know,” admitted Emma. “It could be awhile. He has a lot of territory to cover. There\u2019s a chance he might not even be in town.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe began to move restlessly on the bed. “Pa? Pa? Where are you? Pa, help me. I\u2019m so hot. Pa? Help me.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I\u2019m here, Joe,” Ben said in a quiet voice, laying a restraining hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder. “Just rest. You\u2019re going to be all right. Just rest.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe seemed to collapse back on the bed, his body limp.<\/span><\/p>\n

“He\u2019s so young,” commented Emma.<\/span><\/p>\n

“He\u2019ll be twenty-two next month,” Ben said in a distracted voice as he continued to bathe Joe\u2019s face and chest with a damp cloth.<\/span><\/p>\n

“It\u2019s always so sad when someone so young\u2026” Emma didn\u2019t finish her thought.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe stirred restlessly on the bed. “I\u2019m so hot,” he mumbled. “I can\u2019t breathe. Why is it so hot?” Joe twisted on the bed, the sheets wrapping tightly around him. “It\u2019s too hot,” Joe muttered.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben turned to Emma. “We\u2019ve got to cool him off,” he said, his voice tinged with desperation. “What else can we do?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“If we had some ice, we could wrap him in it,” Emma replied thoughtfully. “But I don\u2019t have any ice.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Is there any ice in this town?” Ben asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Jeff Donner has an ice house behind the saloon,” Emma answered. “But I don\u2019t think the people outside will let you go get any ice.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I\u2019ll get some,” Ben declared grimly. “Stay with Joe.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben stood and walked purposely out of the room. As he entered the waiting room, he saw Adam was sprawled in a chair and Hoss was laying on the sofa. Both were asleep. Ben quietly walked over to Hoss and gently put his hand on his son\u2019s forehead. He was relieved to find it cool. He turned and was surprised to see Adam was awake, staring at him.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We\u2019re fine,” Adam said to his father. “Don\u2019t worry about us. How\u2019s Joe?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“His fever is even higher,” Ben told his oldest son. “We\u2019ve got to cool him down. There\u2019s an icehouse behind the saloon. I\u2019m going to get some ice.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Pa, I don\u2019t think that\u2019s a good idea,” Adam advised. “There\u2019s still a bunch of people outside. I don\u2019t think they\u2019ll going to let you through.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s rifle was propped up against the wall next to the sofa. Ben walked to the wall and picked up the gun. “Joe needs that ice,” Ben stated grimly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss suddenly sat up on the sofa. “Pa,” he said in a gentle voice. “How\u2019s it going to help Joe if you get yourself killed?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s shoulder\u2019s sagged. “We need some ice,” he insisted in a low voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Then let\u2019s ask for it,” suggested Adam. “These people are scared, but they can\u2019t be inhuman.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Standing, Adam walked to the front of the room. He pulled the door open and looked out. A knot of eight or ten people stood in the yard. They turned to the door as it opened.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We need some ice,” Adam yelled as he stood in the doorway.<\/span><\/p>\n

There was a murmur from the crowd.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Either one of us will go get it, or you can bring it here,” Adam continued. “But we need that ice.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“No one leaves that house!” a voice called from the yard.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Fine,” Adam replied. “Bring the ice here.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Why should we help you?” another voice called. “You should have left when you had the chance.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“All we want is some ice,” Adam shouted. “Have you sunk so low that you\u2019re going to let my brother die because you wouldn\u2019t give us some ice?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Another murmur went through the crowd. Finally a voice called out. “Stay inside the house,” the voice ordered. “We\u2019ll bring a block of ice and put in on the porch.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam nodded. “Thank you,” he shouted, then closed the door firmly.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Do you think they\u2019ll really bring the ice?” Hoss asked as Adam turned from the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I hope so,” Adam replied in a grim voice. “Because if they don\u2019t, I\u2019m going with Pa to get it.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben, Adam and Hoss waited anxiously by the door for several minutes. For what seemed an endless time, they heard nothing. Then suddenly, there a loud thunk on the porch. Ben pulled the door open. He could see a square shaped object wrapped in a burlap sack sitting on the porch. Ben grabbed the sack and rushed back into the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

“They brought it,” Ben said in a relieved voice as he rushed through the room with the dripping sack. “They brought the ice.” Hoss and Adam grinned at each other.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Ben left the room, Hoss turned to Adam. “What do we do now?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam shrugged. “I wish I knew,” he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Dawn crept over the town of Green Meadows. As the sky lightened, more people gathered outside Emma\u2019s yard. The mood of the crowd was turning ugly again. As new people joined the crowd, rumors and speculation began to spring up. There was talk of a deadly disease with no known cure. Several people heard that someone else was sick; no one knew who for sure, but it seemed to be common knowledge. One man speculated that everyone in the house might be dead by now. The crowd was again working itself up, although no one seemed to know what exactly they should do.<\/span><\/p>\n

Inside Emma\u2019s house, four exhausted people kept watch. Ben had finally been persuaded to rest for a few hours, but he did so only after making sure that Joe was wrapped in cold, icy sheets. Adam and Hoss sat with their brother, both so worried that neither could speak. Emma continued to dose Joe with quinine and every other fever remedy she could think of. Joe lay shivering on the bed, his fever raging unabated. He was unaware of the concern and trouble his illness was causing. In fact, he was unaware of everything except how miserable he felt as he drifted in and out of consciousness. He wished someone would do something to help him but he was too weak to even ask.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Ben walked into the bedroom, his rumpled clothes and disheveled hair showed he had at least tried to sleep for awhile. He stood at the end of the bed. “Any change?” he asked, his voice indicating he expected no good news.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam shook his head. “No, his fever is still very high,”<\/span><\/p>\n

Staring at his critically ill son, Ben\u2019s body sagged with hopelessness and despair.<\/span><\/p>\n

Emma walked into the room, a pile of wet, dripping sheets in her arms. She marched past Ben, and laid the soggy sheets on the edge of the bed. “I\u2019ve had these soaking in ice water for awhile. Let\u2019s wrap him in these sheets.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Quickly, Adam and Hoss stood and moved to the bed. As Ben watched, Hoss raised Joe\u2019s shoulders off the bed and Adam began unwrapping the sheets from around his brother. In a minute, he had the sheets off, and Joe laid shivering on the bed, clad only in some thin long johns cut off above the knee. Modesty had along ago given way to practicality as the Emma and the Cartwrights worked to save Joe\u2019s life. Nevertheless, Emma turned her head away, looking toward the bottom of the bed as she began to hand the soggy sheets to Adam.<\/span><\/p>\n

Emma\u2019s hand stopped in mid-air. She stared at Joe\u2019s ankles. A bright red rash circled his ankles. She dropped the sheets, and grabbed Joe\u2019s wrist. The rash also had appeared on Joe\u2019s wrist.<\/span><\/p>\n

“A rash!” Emma cried, her voice almost happy. She held Joe\u2019s wrist up. “Look, Mr. Cartwright, a rash!”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben looked at Emma as if she had gone mad. He couldn\u2019t imagine why she was excited about a rash appearing on Joe\u2019s ankles and wrist.<\/span><\/p>\n

Emma turned back to Adam and Hoss. “Do you see it?” she said to them. “It\u2019s a rash!”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Yes, ma\u2019am”, Hoss answered politely, his face frowning in puzzlement.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Don\u2019t you understand?” Emma said. “A rash! It\u2019s another symptom. Maybe now we can figure out what\u2019s causing the fever!”<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s face cleared as he suddenly understood Emma\u2019s excitement. He quickly finished wrapping Joe in the icy sheets, then laid his brother down on the bed. Adam rushed to the waiting room and picked up the medical book he had left on the table. He began turning the pages rapidly, looking for a particular section. Finally, he found the chapter he wanted. He read the pages before him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben walked into the room. “Adam?” he asked. Adam waved his father into silence as he continued to read. Finally he lifted his head.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Tick fever!” Adam declared. “Joe\u2019s got tick fever.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Frowning, Ben walked over to his oldest son. “Are you sure?” he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nodding, Adam handed his father the book. “Look, right here,” he said, pointing at the page. “Tick fever. \u2018The symptoms can come on suddenly. High fever, tender muscles, nausea and severe headache. Two to six days after the onset of symptoms, small pink spots appears on the wrists and ankles.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

With a look of concentration on his face, Ben read the passage that Adam had pointed out. He nodded in agreement, then looked up. “But it doesn\u2019t say anything about treatment,” Ben told his son.<\/span><\/p>\n

Grabbing the book back quickly, Adam read the pages carefully, then frowned. “You\u2019re right,” Adam agreed. “Let\u2019s check with Emma.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben and Adam rushed back to the bedroom. “Joe\u2019s got tick fever,” Adam declared as he walked into the room. “The book describes his symptoms. But it doesn\u2019t say anything about treatment.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Tick fever!” Hoss exclaimed. “Where would he get that? And why don\u2019t we have it?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“He must have picked it up over in Mason,” Adam said. He turned to Emma. “Do you have any idea how to treat tick fever?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Emma had a thoughtful expression on her face but didn\u2019t answer.<\/span><\/p>\n

“How do we treat it?” Ben asked again, insistently.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I\u2019m trying to think,” Emma replied. “We don\u2019t see much tick fever around here.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Suddenly, a loud noise came from the front of the house. It sounded like a rock being thrown against the front door. The sound was followed in rapid succession by three other loud noises, and the breaking of glass. “Hoss, stay with Joe!” Ben shouted as he turned and ran out of the bedroom. Emma and Adam followed him.<\/span><\/p>\n

As he entered the waiting room, Ben could see a rock laying on the floor, surrounded by broken glass. The front window was shattered. He also could hear the loud shouts from the crowd outside. Ben walked rapidly to the door, and pulled it open. He ducked as a rock flew near his head and hit the side of the doorway.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Get out of town!” a voice shouted, and a loud sound of agreement swelled from a multitude of voices. Ben stepped out onto the porch and looked out at the yard. Close to thirty people were standing in Emma\u2019s yard. They were shouting angry threats, and many were carrying rifles and clubs.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Pa, be careful,” Adam warned his father as he stood in the doorway behind Ben. Ben nodded and walked forward. He held up his hands.<\/span><\/p>\n

“My son has tick fever,” Ben shouted to the crowd. “He can\u2019t infect you. The only way you can get it is from ticks.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“You\u2019re lying,” yelled someone from the crowd. The people around him shouted in agreement.<\/span><\/p>\n

“No, it\u2019s true,” Ben insisted in a loud voice. “I swear to you. My son has nothing that can harm any of you.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“We don\u2019t believe you!” another voice from the crowd shouted.<\/span><\/p>\n

Suddenly, Ben was aware of Emma standing next to him. “It\u2019s true,” she called in a shrill voice. “That boy in there has tick fever.” She held up the medical book in her hand. “He has all the symptoms described in the book. Look, see for yourself if you don\u2019t believe me!”<\/span><\/p>\n

The crowd murmured uncertainly.<\/span><\/p>\n

“It\u2019s not contagious,” Emma continued. “No one is going to catch it. No one is going to get sick. I promise you. You all know me. I wouldn\u2019t lie to you.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The people in the crowd began to look at each other uneasily. “Are you sure, Emma?” someone shouted.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I\u2019m sure,” Emma replied. “The only one in danger is that boy in my house.”<\/span><\/p>\n

People began to shuffle their feet, uncertain about what to do. Their attention was drawn to a loud yell from behind them. Everyone turned to look at a man running down the street, waving a piece of paper as he shouted. The man was too far away to be clearly understood. As the man neared, his shouts suddenly became clearer. “Emma,” the man <\/span><\/p>\n

yelled. “It\u2019s from the doc. He thinks that boy has tick fever.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The crowd parted as the man rushed into the yard. He ran to the steps and thrust a piece of paper in Emma\u2019s hands. Emma scanned it rapidly. She looked up at the crowd in the yard below. “This is a telegram from Doctor Dawson in Mason,” she declared. Emma looked down at the paper and read it out loud. ” \u2018Likely your patient has tick fever. Several cases in Mason. Not contagious.\u2019 He goes on to describe the treatment.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“It\u2019s true,” the man who brought the telegram said to the crowd. “I took the message down myself, and confirmed it back.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The people in the yard began to walk away slowly. No one seemed to be able to look at Emma or Ben. Many looked down at the ground, shamefaced, as they left the yard.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Is there anything I can do to help Emma?” asked the telegrapher.<\/span><\/p>\n

Emma shook her head. “Thanks, Harry, but I can take it from here,” she replied. “Thank you for bringing the telegram so quickly.” Harry nodded and walked away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Turning to Ben, Emma let out a sigh. “Let\u2019s see what we can do for Joe,” she said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Emma carefully searched through the bottles in her husband\u2019s cabinet, looking for the medicine Doctor Dawson has prescribed in the telegram. She was pleased that the telegram had suggested quinine and cold wraps to lower the fever. She knew she had done the right things to help her patient until they heard from the doctor. She only prayed that the medicine the doctor had prescribed would work. Emma found the bottle she was seeking, and rushed to Joe\u2019s room. Adam and Hoss propped Joe up on the bed as Emma gave him the first of what was to be many doses of medicine.<\/span><\/p>\n

For the rest of the day, Ben sat by Joe\u2019s bed, watching and waiting as Emma continued to give the medicine to his son every few hours. He could see no improvement. In his opinion, Joe seemed to be getting worse. The early afternoon sun was streaming through the window when Emma came into the bedroom to give Joe another dose of medicine.<\/span><\/p>\n

“The medicine isn\u2019t helping,” Ben said as he watched Emma carefully spoon the mixture into Joe\u2019s mouth.<\/span><\/p>\n

“It takes time, Mr. Cartwright,” replied Emma in a reassuring tone.<\/span><\/p>\n

“He hasn\u2019t even moved for hours,” Ben continued. His voice sounded tired, and had a hint of resignation in it. “He just lays there. I\u2019m afraid it may be too late for the medicine to help him.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“He\u2019s still fighting,” Emma replied quickly. “My husband used to tell me that when a body is marshaling all its defenses, it shuts down everything that\u2019s not needed. Joe\u2019s fighting hard, and the medicine will help him.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I hope you\u2019re right,” said Ben. He looked at Emma, his eyes filled with worry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Picking up Joe\u2019s wrist, Emma measured his pulse. She could see the rash on his wrist was starting to spread. She carefully counted, then placed Joe\u2019s wrist back on the bed. “His pulse is fast, but it\u2019s still strong,” she declared. Ben nodded, but his face betrayed his doubt.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Why don\u2019t you get some rest,” Emma suggested to Ben. “I\u2019ll stay here with him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben shook his head. “No, I want to be here,” he stated. “Whatever happens, I have to be with my son.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“It could be several more hours before we know something for sure,” Emma said gently. “Adam and Hoss are eating in the kitchen. Why don\u2019t you join them?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“No,” Ben replied firmly. “I\u2019ve lost a lot of people in my life. My only consolation has been that at least I was with them when they left me.” Ben looked down at Joe lying still on the bed. “I have to be here.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Emma nodded her understanding. “I\u2019ll get you some coffee,” she said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss came into the bedroom as the sun was beginning to set. They had spent the day going back and forth from the bedroom to the front room, alternately checking on Joe and keeping watch on the now empty yard in front of the house. Both knew there was little they could do to help their brother. But they were determined to see that the people of Green Meadows wouldn\u2019t do anything that would harm him.<\/span><\/p>\n

As his two older sons entered the room, Ben looked up. His face was lined with fatigue and worry. “Any sign of trouble?” he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam shook his head. “No. We haven\u2019t seen as much as a stray dog out there since this morning.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Standing at the bottom of the bed, Hoss stared at the unmoving figure of his brother. “I just wish there was something else we could do for Joe,” he said in a sad voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

“You\u2019ve done everything you could,” Ben answered, trying to comfort Hoss. “There\u2019s nothing else you could have done.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“If I had ridden for the doctor right away\u2026.” Hoss started.<\/span><\/p>\n

“You still wouldn\u2019t be in Mason yet,” Adam finished for his brother. Hoss looked up, startled. Then he nodded his head slowly.<\/span><\/p>\n

A soft moan from the bed pulled everyone\u2019s attention in that direction. Joe turned over from his back to his side.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Joe?” Ben said anxiously. He put his hand on his son\u2019s forehead.<\/span><\/p>\n

“His fever is down!” Ben cried with excitement. “He\u2019s still warm, but his fever is down!” Adam and Hoss grinned at each other.<\/span><\/p>\n

As he shifted his weight slightly on the bed, Joe\u2019s eyes opened — only a bit, but still they opened. He whispered something, then he shifted his weight again. His eyes closed once more.<\/span><\/p>\n

“What did he say?” Hoss asked anxiously.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben looked up at his son, a huge grin on his face. “He said \u2018Go away. I\u2019m trying to sleep,\u2019 ” Ben answered.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Joe\u2019s fever hung on stubbornly, rising and falling as his body fought the disease. But even when his fever went up, Joe\u2019s temperature was not as dangerously high as it had been. The rash spread over his body, turning into large red spots. The disease had sapped Joe\u2019s strength so much that he didn\u2019t even have the energy to scratch the itchy rash. Finally, after four days of his fever going up and down, and the rash making him miserably uncomfortable, Joe\u2019s symptoms started to fade. He spent the next three days sleeping around the clock, waking only when Emma or his father or his brothers propped him up to feed him some broth. Now, at last, Joe felt well enough to sit up on his own, the first time in nearly a week he was able to do so. He was surprised at how much effort it took just to pull himself up. Joe felt as weak as a newborn calf. He wasn\u2019t sure he could have made it if Adam and Hoss hadn\u2019t been there to help him.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Your spots are starting to go away,” Hoss said with a smile as he arranged the pillows behind Joe\u2019s back.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe nodded. “Yeah,” he answered in a weak voice. “Thank goodness for that. I bet I look pretty strange.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Oh, no stranger than usual,” Adam replied with an airy wave of his hand. “But I wouldn\u2019t go sparking any girls right now.”<\/span><\/p>\n

A frown creased Joe\u2019s face. “Does Emma think the spots are going to leave any scars?” he asked in a worried voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Naw,” Hoss told his younger brother. “She said they\u2019ll fade away, and you\u2019ll be just as pretty as ever.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe smiled in relief.<\/span><\/p>\n

The door opened behind Hoss and Ben walked in with a tray holding some toast on a plate, a small bowl of custard and a glass of milk. “Time to get some solid food into you,” Ben declared. “Think you can handle it?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe nodded. “Yeah,” he said as he eyed the tray. “As a matter of fact, I\u2019m pretty hungry.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Let\u2019s start out easy with this,” Ben suggested as he set the tray on Joe\u2019s lap. “Get your stomach used to the idea of having something solid in it again. You can try something more substantial for dinner.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“This won\u2019t keep a bird alive,” Joe grumbled as he began to eat eagerly. “I\u2019d even take some of those beans Adam makes right now.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss laughed. “You\u2019ll do a lot better than Adam\u2019s beans for dinner,” he promised. “You should see Emma\u2019s kitchen. It\u2019s filled with cakes, and pies, and all kinds of food. People all over town have been bringing things by. It\u2019s a real feast.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“And I\u2019ll bet you\u2019ve been sampling every one of them,” Joe said with a small smile as he continued to eat.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Well, you weren\u2019t eating much \u2018til now,” Hoss admitted. “And it was a shame to let all that good food go to waste. I was just kinda of helping out, making sure that all that good cooking weren\u2019t for nothing.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Very noble of you,” Joe said, his voice dripping with irony.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I thought it was,” replied Hoss with a grin.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe turned to Ben. “Pa, I don\u2019t understand it,” he said with a frown. “Adam told me what happened, how the people in this town were ready to burn down the house to get rid of us. And now they act like we some long-lost relatives or something. They\u2019re bringing food and stuff,” Joe shook his head. “I don\u2019t understand it,” he repeated.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Joe, they weren\u2019t really afraid of us. They were afraid of your sickness,” Ben explained. “Fear is the worst disease there is. It spreads faster and does more damage than any sickness that exists.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“But, Pa, now they can\u2019t do enough for us,” Hoss said in a quizzical voice. “Why\u2019s that?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Sometimes, when you look into the face of fear and see how ugly it is, you feel pretty bad,” Ben answered. “The people of Green Meadows have taken a good hard look at themselves, and they didn\u2019t like what they saw. This is just their way of trying to make up for what happened.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Well, I for one can\u2019t wait to get out of this town,” declared Adam with disgust. “I don\u2019t like much about what I\u2019ve seen about the people of Green Meadows either.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“You might change your mind,” Ben said as he picked up the now empty tray from Joe\u2019s lap. He could see his youngest son was already drifting off to sleep. “It\u2019ll be at least a week before Joe\u2019s well enough to ride. That will give you some time to know the people here. You might find they aren\u2019t as bad as you think.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“It\u2019ll take some convincing,” Hoss told his father doubtfully. “I don\u2019t much care for people who were willing to let my little brother die just because they were afraid they might get sick too.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Gee, Hoss, I didn\u2019t know you cared,” Joe murmured as he slid down under the covers. Joe pulled the pillows down under his head.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Let\u2019s get out of here and let Joe rest,” Ben said quietly to Adam and Hoss. Both men nodded.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t see how you can be so forgiving,” Adam stated as he left the bedroom with his father and brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t pretend I\u2019m happy about what happened,” Ben answered. “But anger is a wasted emotion. It doesn\u2019t accomplish anything. It\u2019s better just to forget about it.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“You can say that now,” Adam argued. “I just wonder how you would have felt if they have forced us out of town. What would you have done if Joe had died?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t know,” admitted Ben. “I hope I wouldn\u2019t have let the anger consume me. But it\u2019s hard to say.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t have to guess,” Hoss said as he glanced over his shoulder to the bedroom behind him. “If Joe hadn\u2019t been all right, I would have torn this town apart.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben smiled. “Well, then, if nothing else than for the sake of Green Meadows, I\u2019m glad Joe\u2019s going to be all right.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Ben\u2019 prediction was right. After a week, Joe was more than ready to head home. His rash had faded, and he had regained most of his strength. His face still looked drawn, and he tired easy, but Joe insisted he was well enough to ride home. Ben finally agreed, although reluctantly.<\/span><\/p>\n

The sun was shining brightly over the town of Green Meadows as the Cartwrights prepared to leave. Adam and Hoss sat waiting patiently on their horses in the street outside Emma\u2019s yard. Ben and Joe\u2019s saddled horses stood on either side of them.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Now you remember what I said,” Emma said in a stern voice as she walked out of the house with Joe and Ben. “Take it slow and rest if you get tired.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Yes ma\u2019am,” Joe agreed with a grin on his face. “I\u2019ll make sure Pa and my brothers take real good care of me.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben rolled his eyes and shook his head. “I can see what\u2019s going to happen,” he declared. “Joe will have us waiting on him hand and foot until we get home.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I\u2019ll just be doing what Emma told me,” Joe protested innocently. “She said to take it easy and don\u2019t exert myself too much.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Yes, but I don\u2019t think she means for you to act like we\u2019re your personal slaves,” Ben told his youngest son.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe smiled, and his eyes twinkled. “Why, Pa,” he replied in mock seriousness. “I would never do that.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Oh, no,” Ben said in a disbelieving voice. “You\u2019d never do that.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Emma smiled as she listened to the banter between father and son. It was the surest sign yet that Joe was recovering. Joe turned to Emma. “Thanks again for everything,” he stated in a heartfelt voice. “I owe you my life.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Emma waved away Joe\u2019s thanks. “I didn\u2019t do much,” she said. “All I did was a little nursing.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“You\u2019re the best nurse I ever had,” Joe declared with a grin. He leaned over and kissed Emma lightly on the cheek. “And the prettiest,” he added. Emma blushed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe put his hat firmly on his head and walked off the porch. He walked in a slow but steady gait to his horse. Adam handed him the reins to his horse.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Think you can get on by yourself?” Adam asked with a smile as Joe prepared to mount.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Oh, I think I can struggle into the saddle,” Joe answered as he pulled himself onto his horse. He settled into the saddle and looked back to the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben was still standing on the porch with Emma. He had been watching Joe carefully. Now he quickly turned away. “I can\u2019t thank you enough,” Ben said to Emma, his gratitude as heartfelt as Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

“You\u2019re a lucky man, Mr. Cartwright,” Emma told Ben. “You have three wonderful sons.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I know,” Ben said. “I almost lost one, and that reminded me how lucky I am. Thank you for my son\u2019s life.” Emma nodded.<\/span><\/p>\n

Giving his son\u2019s nurse a smile, Ben walked off the porch toward his sons. Hoss handed him the reins to his horse and Ben mounted. With a last tip of his hat toward Emma, Ben turned his horse and rode slowly down the street. Hoss rode next to his father as Adam and Joe trailed behind.<\/span><\/p>\n

As they rode down the street, several people waved toward the Cartwrights. Adam and Ben nodded in acknowledgment.<\/span><\/p>\n

“What do you think of the people of Green Meadows now?” Ben asked Hoss as they rode.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Well, maybe they ain\u2019t as bad as we thought,” Hoss admitted. “I met some mighty nice folks here.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I noticed you became very friendly with Mrs. Brown over at the restaurant,” Adam said with a grin. “You seemed to spend all your time over there.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I just appreciate fine cooking,” Hoss answered.<\/span><\/p>\n

“You appreciate ANY cooking,” Joe remarked with a laugh.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben smiled to himself as they rode out of town. Their visit to Green Meadows had been marred by two diseases: Joe\u2019s illness and the fear it had caused. But now it looked like both diseases had been cured. Ben wondered which had been the deadliest. He suspected he knew the answer. Fear has probably caused more death and destruction than any disease, Ben thought to himself. He was grateful that it hadn\u2019t claimed one more victim.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

Summary:\u00a0 Away from the Pondersoa, Joe becomes sick while staying overnight in Green Meadows; and Cartwrights face the fear of a town without a doctor.<\/p>\n

Word Count: \u00a012,900 \u00a0Rated: \u00a0T<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10338,"featured_media":0,"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],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13942","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-drama","wpcat-23-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2495,"today_views":1},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":50564,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=50564","url_meta":{"origin":13942,"position":0},"title":"The Ride Home (by LizS)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"February 17, 2001","format":false,"excerpt":"Synopsis:\u00a0Adam is found after being held by Cain. 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