{"id":13945,"date":"2015-03-12T14:23:49","date_gmt":"2015-03-12T18:23:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13945"},"modified":"2025-02-18T19:15:47","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T00:15:47","slug":"lost-son-by-susan-g","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13945","title":{"rendered":"Lost Son (by Susan G)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:<\/strong>\u00a0 It’s never easy being the youngest of the family.<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 T\u00a0\u00a0 (30,750 words)<\/p>\n

Lost Son Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lost Son<\/a>
\nThe Guardian<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lost Son<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHold the rein tighter, Joe!\u201d shouted Adam Cartwright from his perch atop the corral fence. \u201cYou\u2019ll never keep her head up that way!\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe Cartwright ignored his brother\u2019s advice as he eased himself onto the saddle of the horse being held tightly by two other riders. The mare\u2019s eyes were wide with fright, and her body quivered when she felt the unfamiliar weight on the saddle.<\/p>\n

\u201cShorten the rein,\u201d called Adam again as he watched his brother catch the stirrups of the saddle with his feet.<\/p>\n

Joe continued to ignore his brother\u2019s shouts. He settled himself on the saddle and gripped tightly the rope which was serving as a rein.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet her go,\u201d he said the riders with a brief nod.<\/p>\n

The riders on either side of the horse released their hold on the animal\u2019s halter. Immediately, the mare began to buck, trying to throw the weight from her back. Joe gripped the saddle tightly with his legs and knees as his body was jerked forward in the saddle.<\/p>\n

After two bucks in a standing the position, the mare decided to try a new tactic to rid herself of the unwanted burden. She started forward, taking a step, and then began bucking again. The weight on her back stayed firmly attached. The mare began to run, throwing her back legs into the air at every few steps, hoping that one of these bucks would toss the weight from her back.<\/p>\n

Joe quickly found the rhythm of the mare\u2019s bucking and began shifting his weight slightly in anticipation of each move the horse was going to make. He vaguely heard the shouts of encouragement from the other riders and the men sitting on the fence, but his concentration was centered on keeping his seat firmly atop the mare. His arm was jerked as the horse dipped its head, but Joe held on to the rope tightly.<\/p>\n

The mare soon tired of the bucking and gradually realized the weight on her back wasn\u2019t going away. She gave a few more kicks into the air but they were more of a feeble protest than bucks. Soon she simply began to run around the corral. She felt the bit in her mouth pulling her slightly to the right and followed the command reluctantly.<\/p>\n

She ran toward the center of the corral, and slowed when she saw another horse and rider approaching. The rider grabbed the halter and the mare pulled herself to a stop.<\/p>\n

Joe slid off the saddle and onto the ground. He watched for a moment as the mare was led away, then turned to walk toward the fence where Adam was sitting. Joe rotated his left shoulder slightly as he approached the fence.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood ride, Joe,\u201d said Hoss Cartwright. Hoss was leaning against the fence post near the board on which his older brother was sitting. Joe smiled briefly in acknowledgment.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should have kept the rein shorter,\u201d commented Adam from the fence. \u201cThat way she couldn\u2019t have lowered her head. She wouldn\u2019t have jerked your arm as much, and she couldn\u2019t have bucked so hard.<\/p>\n

Joe looked up at his brother. \u201cI know how to break a horse, Adam,\u201d he said tersely.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust giving a little advice,\u201d replied Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, well, thanks for the advice,\u201d said Joe, \u201cbut I don\u2019t need it. I know what I\u2019m doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam shrugged. \u201cIt\u2019s your body. If you want to be stiff and sore, that\u2019s your decision. I was just trying to keep you in one piece.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe glared at Adam. \u201cLook, Adam, I\u2019ve been breaking horses almost since I could walk. I know keeping the rein short keeps a horse\u2019s head up. But I also know if you keep it too tight, you can ruin a horse. That mare had a real soft mouth. I didn\u2019t want to take the chance on ruining it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you think it\u2019s better to take a chance on ruining the horse than getting yourself jerked around and maybe thrown?\u201d suggested Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I don\u2019t,\u201d replied Joe angrily. \u201cI\u2019d rather give a horse a little more rein and try to stay with her.\u201d Joe\u2019s eyes narrowed. \u201cYou know, Adam, sometimes you can keep a rein too tight. Then it doesn\u2019t control a horse. It only makes the horse work harder to get a little freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam looked back at Joe with a steady gaze. \u201cSome animals need a tighter rein than others.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s reply was cut short by a shout from across the corral. Joe turned to look at the cowboy who called his name.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you say?\u201d shouted Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said, do you want to try that black?\u201d yelled the cowboy. He was sitting on top of the fence on the other side of the corral. Behind him, six or seven horses were milling around in a small enclosure. The two riders sat on their horses in the middle of the corral, watching expectantly.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, that\u2019s enough for today,\u201d shouted Adam before Joe had a chance to answer.<\/p>\n

Joe spun back to face his brother. \u201cDon\u2019t you think that\u2019s my decision?\u201d said Joe angrily.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook, Joe,\u201d said Adam in a reasonable voice. \u201cYou\u2019ve ridden six horses already today. There\u2019s no sense in overdoing things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, it\u2019s getting on toward supper time,\u201d added Hoss hastily. \u201cWhy don\u2019t we call it a day?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t answer for a minute, but his mood lightened at the sound of Hoss\u2019 voice. Joe knew he was tired and probably irritable as a result. Adam always seemed to know how to rub Joe the wrong way, Joe thought, just as Hoss always seemed to know how to nudge his brother out his black moods.<\/p>\n

Joe turned to Hoss. \u201cHow come you always know when it\u2019s time to eat?\u201d he asked with a smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust a natural gift, I guess,\u201d replied Hoss with a grin. He glanced up at Adam. \u201cYou\u2019ve a gift at breaking horses, and I have a gift at knowing when it\u2019s time to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam slid off the fence and stood next to his brothers. \u201cDinner sounds like a good idea,\u201d he said. Adam began walking across the corral, shouting to the other men that their work was over for the day.<\/p>\n

Joe watched Adam, then shook his head. \u201cJust once I\u2019d like to do something without him telling me how I\u2019m doing it wrong,\u201d muttered Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, Joe, he don\u2019t mean anything by it,\u201d said Hoss in a conciliatory tone. \u201cYou know Adam. He\u2019s just naturally got to butt into things and tell people what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe gave Hoss a wry grin. \u201cYeah, I know,\u201d he said. \u201cGuess that\u2019s Adam\u2019s gift. Being able to tell everyone else what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss laughed and clapped his brother lightly on the back. \u201cC\u2019mon,\u201d he said. \u201cLet\u2019s go eat.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Conversation around the dinner table at the Ponderosa ranch house covered the usual topics of the day\u2019s activities and ranch chores. Joe had shaken off his earlier irritation at his brother Adam. A good washing and a brief nap had restored his good humor by the time he had come down for supper.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I think I found three good horses for Mr. Ferguson over in Twin Pines,\u201d said Joe when there was a lull in the conversation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich three?\u201d asked Adam curiously.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sorrel, the roan and that mare I broke today,\u201d replied Joe.<\/p>\n

Adam cocked his head. \u201cI don\u2019t know about that mare. She seemed kind of skittish. Ferguson wants some stock he can count on for work around the ranch. I don\u2019t know if that mare would be right for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe felt his irritation at his older brother returning. \u201cI rode the mare, Adam, not you,\u201d he said in an annoyed voice. \u201cShe needs a little work, but she\u2019s a good animal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright could see a dispute starting to broil between his two sons. He decided to intervene before things got out of hand. \u201cWhy don\u2019t I take a look at those horses tomorrow?\u201d he suggested. \u201cSee if they\u2019re what Ferguson is looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine,\u201d said Joe in a flat voice. He looked at Adam. \u201cI\u2019m sure you\u2019ll be surprised to find that I can actually judge horses.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Joe, you want to play some checkers after dinner?\u201d asked Hoss, also trying to diffuse the tension around the table.<\/p>\n

A peculiar look flashed across Joe\u2019s face. He looked down at his plate for a minute as if trying to decide something. Then he looked up at Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I can\u2019t,\u201d said Joe with a shake of his head. \u201cI have to go out for a little while tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGo out?\u201d said Hoss in surprise. \u201cWhat you going to do?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe shrugged. \u201cJust something I have to take care of.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSounds kind of mysterious,\u201d\u2019 said Adam, raising his eyebrows.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Joe, what are you up to?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes flashed with irritation. \u201cThat\u2019s my business,\u201d he said curtly to Hoss. Joe turned to Ben. \u201cIs it all right with you if I go out?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Ben saw the challenging look on Joe\u2019s face. He decided now was not the time to ask his youngest son why he was going out. After all, Joe was twenty-two, no longer a child. He didn\u2019t need to account to his father for his every move, even though Ben\u2019s curiosity was piqued. But Ben knew now was not the time to press the issue with Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d replied Ben with a nod. \u201cJust be sure you\u2019re home at a reasonable hour. We have a full day of work tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe smiled briefly at Ben\u2019s reminder. His father had been giving him the same instructions for as long as he could remember. \u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d Joe assured Ben. \u201cI won\u2019t be gone long.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBe careful,\u201d said Ben, adding another often repeated instruction.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will,\u201d said Joe with a nod, barely hearing the words said to him a hundred times. He wiped his mouth with his napkin and threw the cloth on the table. \u201cSee you later, Pa,\u201d he said, pointedly ignoring his brothers.<\/p>\n

Joe pushed back the chair from the table and walked from the dining room. A minute later, the men around the table heard the front door open and close.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere do you suppose he\u2019s going?\u201d asked Hoss. \u201cThat\u2019s the third night this week he\u2019s been out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCouldn\u2019t be a girl,\u201d commented Adam. \u201cHe didn\u2019t spend his usual hour primping like he generally does when he\u2019s seeing someone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow that\u2019s enough, boys,\u201d said Ben in mild rebuke. \u201cIf Joe doesn\u2019t want to tell us where he\u2019s going, that\u2019s his business.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but Pa, you have to admit he\u2019s acting kind of mysterious,\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Joe doesn\u2019t want to talk about what he\u2019s doing, that usually means he\u2019s up to something,\u201d added Adam. \u201cSomething that\u2019s going to mean trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know that,\u201d said Ben. \u201cHe could be doing something perfectly innocent.\u201d But a concerned look crossed Ben\u2019s face, belying his words.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, like what?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d admitted Ben. The frown of concern on his face deepened.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t Hoss and I ride out after him,\u201d suggested Adam. \u201cJust to see what he\u2019s up to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben hesitated, then shook his head. \u201cNo, I don\u2019t think you should do that. Joe can look after himself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, you know Joe,\u201d pressed Hoss. \u201cHe gets involved in things and sometimes he gets in over his head.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll stay way behind him,\u201d promised Adam. \u201cHe won\u2019t even see us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, Adam,\u201d said Ben, his voice full of doubt. \u201cI don\u2019t like the idea of Joe thinking we\u2019re checking up on him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, we\u2019re just going to make sure Joe ain\u2019t involved in something he can\u2019t handle, that\u2019s all,\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt won\u2019t hurt just to find out what he\u2019s up to,\u201d said Adam. \u201cWe might be able to keep him from doing something he would regret.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d said Ben reluctantly. \u201cBut I want your word that all you are going to do is follow him. I want you to promise you won\u2019t interfere in\u2026in whatever he\u2019s doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe won\u2019t,\u201d said Adam, pushing back from the table. \u201cWe\u2019re just going to make sure Joe doesn\u2019t need protection.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cProtection?\u201d said Ben in surprise. \u201cFrom whom?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom himself,\u201d replied Adam.<\/p>\n

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

Adam and Hoss were buckling on their holsters as they crossed the yard from the house to the barn. Now that they had decided to go after Joe, they both realized that trying to find their youngest brother could be a challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Hank,\u201d Adam called to one of the hands as he and Hoss neared the barn. \u201cDo you know which way Joe went when he left?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, he was heading up to Rim Rock Canyon,\u201d replied the hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you know that?\u201d asked Hoss in surprise.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause he told me,\u201d snorted Hank.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe just told you?\u201d said Adam, his surprise equal to Hoss\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, not exactly,\u201d admitted Hank. \u201cI asked him if he was going near Virginia City \u2018cause I needed some tobacco. He said no, he was going to Rim Rock Canyon.\u201d Hank looked at the two men curiously.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy do you want to know where Joe went?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe, um, we just need to find him,\u201d said Adam vaguely. \u201cDo us a favor and saddle our horses for us?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hank nodded briefly, and walked into the barn.<\/p>\n

\u201cRim Rock Canyon? What do you suppose he\u2019s doing up there?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d said Adam with a shake of his head. \u201cBut whatever our little brother is involved in, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s planning a Sunday social.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Adam and Hoss had no trouble picking up Joe\u2019s trail as they approached Rim Rock Canyon. Daylight lingered until almost nine in the early summer, and Adam had guessed it was only a little after seven when they had left the Ponderosa. The sun was bright enough for the two Cartwrights to see the tracks a horse had made through the tall grass.<\/p>\n

As they neared the canyon, Adam put up his hand to halt his brother. \u201cWe\u2019d better go slow from here,\u201d suggested Adam. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to ride right up to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss looked around. \u201cI bet he\u2019s heading for Paiute Rock,\u201d he said. \u201cIf he was meeting somebody, that\u2019s the easiest place to find around here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re probably right,\u201d agreed Adam. \u201cLet\u2019s leave the horses a little way off from Paiute Rock and go the rest of the way on foot. If we keep to the brush, Joe won\u2019t see us.\u201d<\/p>\n

A troubled look crossed Hoss\u2019 face. \u201cAdam, you sure we\u2019re doing the right thing? It don\u2019t feel right sneaking after Joe like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re only making sure he\u2019s not getting himself into some kind of trouble,\u201d Adam replied patiently. \u201cIt\u2019s for his own good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I suppose,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cI just hope Joe feels that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss left their horses about twenty yards from Paiute Rock, and walked as quietly as possible through the trees and bushes toward the landmark. Hoss was beginning to think that Joe was someplace else when Adam suddenly grabbed his arm and pulled him down. Hoss looked at Adam in surprise and started to say something, but Adam quickly put his finger to his lips. Then Adam pointed through the brush.<\/p>\n

Joe was sitting at the base of a tall rock decorated with drawings and figures. His horse was tied to a bush a few feet away. Joe was patiently whittling on a stick as he obviously waited for someone.<\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss crept through the brush toward Paiute Rock. They stopped a few feet away from the tall and crouched down to watch and listen. They didn\u2019t have to wait long. The sound of a horse approaching drew both their attention and Joe\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Joe threw away the stick he was whittling as he saw the rider. He got to his feet and closed his pocket knife as the rider approaching.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou finally got here,\u201d said Joe to the rider as he stuck the knife in the pocket of his jacket. \u201cI thought maybe you weren\u2019t coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s Pete Gordon,\u201d whispered Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cShhhh,\u201d cautioned Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Joe,\u201d said Pete in an apologetic voice as he pulled his horse to a stop. \u201cI got hung up.\u201d He shook his head. \u201cThis whole thing is getting a lot more complicated than I thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked up to the rider from the ground. \u201cYou\u2019re telling me!\u201d said Joe in an exasperated voice. \u201cWhen I agreed to help, I didn\u2019t think I was going to get sucked in this deep.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, Joe, I know,\u201d said Pete. He let out a sigh. \u201cI thought this was going to be simple but it\u2019s not.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow much longer is this going to take?\u201d asked Joe. \u201cMy Pa is starting to ask where I\u2019m going after dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t tell him?\u201d said Pete in alarm.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I didn\u2019t,\u201d Joe assured the man on the horse. \u201cI haven\u2019t said anything to anybody about this.\u201d Joe cocked his head. \u201cSo how much longer?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTonight should be the last night,\u201d promised Pete. \u201cAfter tonight, I can put my plan into action.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe shook his head. \u201cYou know I still think you\u2019re going about this all wrong. There\u2019s a whole lot easier way to get cattle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re still going to help me, aren\u2019t you?\u201d asked Pete in alarm. \u201cI need you, Joe. I can\u2019t tell one cow from another. I need you to tell me which ones to take.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019ll help you, like I said,\u201d replied Joe with a sigh. \u201cJust don\u2019t let anyone know I was in on this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d Pete assured him. \u201cI\u2019m not going to tell anyone.\u201d Pete looked at Joe, his gratitude evident on his face. \u201cJoe, I owe you for this. I really do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe shrugged, then grinned. \u201cJust don\u2019t ask me to help you change those brands.\u201d With a nod, he walked over and untied his horse, then vaulted into the saddle. \u201cCome on,\u201d said Joe. \u201cWe only have an hour or so of daylight left. Let\u2019s go look at some cattle.\u201d Joe gave his horse a light kick and started to ride off. Pete turned his horse and followed Joe down the trail.<\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss stood as two riders rode off. Pushing aside the brush, the two walked toward Paiute Rock.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you think they\u2019re up to, Adam?\u201d asked Hoss in a puzzled voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know for sure,\u201d replied Adam grimly, \u201cbut it sounded an awful lot like Joe was scouting some cattle for Pete to rustle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, Adam, Joe wouldn\u2019t do anything like that,\u201d said Hoss. A flicker of doubt crossed his face. \u201cWould he?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe and Pete have been friends for a long time,\u201d said Adam. \u201cAnd I know Pete is unhappy with working in the office at the Lucky Dollar mine. Rustling some cattle would be a good way for Pete to make some money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Joe wouldn\u2019t help him do anything illegal?\u201d protested Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t have thought so,\u201d said Adam. \u201cBut Pete doesn\u2019t have a ranch. If he isn\u2019t thinking about rustling, why does he want Joe to help him pick out cattle?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d admitted Hoss. He looked at Adam with a troubled face. \u201cWhat do you want to do? Follow them?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d replied Adam with a shake of his head. \u201cBy the time we get our horses and try to find their trail, it\u2019ll be getting dark. Besides, it didn\u2019t sound like anything was going to happen tonight. I think the best thing to do is go back to the ranch and tell Pa what we heard. Maybe he can talk some sense into Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so,\u201d said Hoss. The big man shook his head. \u201cThis is going to break Pa\u2019s heart when we tell him.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Joe was surprised to see three grim-faced men sitting by the fireplace as he walked in the front door of the Ponderosa. He couldn\u2019t imagine what had happened to cause such somber looks on his father and brothers\u2019 faces.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d asked Joe as he shut the door behind him. He quickly pulled his hat off his head and stuck it on the peg next to the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, we need to talk,\u201d said Ben from his red leather chair near the fireplace.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d said Joe, as he untied his holster from his leg and unbuckled the gun belt from around his hips. He threw the gunbelt on the top of the bureau near the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d said Joe again as he crossed the room. A feeling of alarm was growing in him as he studied the grim faces around the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cSit down, Joseph,\u201d said Ben in a serious voice.<\/p>\n

Joe slid down on the sofa across from the fireplace and looked around the room. Adam was sitting in the blue chair near the staircase and Hoss was perched on the ledge in front of the fireplace. Adam\u2019s face was wrinkled into a frown. Hoss simply looked sad.<\/p>\n

Joe turned to his father with an expectant look. \u201cPa, what\u2019s going on?\u201d he asked, his alarm growing.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe,\u201d started Ben. Then he hesitated. He had been anxious to talk to his youngest son, but now that Joe was here, Ben wasn\u2019t sure what to say. When Hoss and Adam had told him about the overheard conversation, Ben had been angry at first. Then his emotions had changed to disappointment and fear. Now, looking at Joe, he didn\u2019t know what he felt. Joe\u2019s eyes were wide with both innocence and concern.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph,\u201d said Ben again. \u201cI know how you feel about helping a friend, but it\u2019s wrong to get involved in rustling.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRustling?\u201d said Joe in a puzzled voice. \u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, Hoss and I followed you up to Rim Rock Canyon,\u201d said Adam in a serious voice. \u201cWe heard what you and Pete Gordon said.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe heard Pete asking you to scout some cattle for him to rustle,\u201d added Hoss. He shook his head. \u201cJoe, that\u2019s plain wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked around the room in astonishment. He was torn between a desire to burst into laughter and a need to give into the anger he felt growing in him. Joe finally gave into the former and began to laugh.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t see anything funny about this situation, young man,\u201d said Ben sternly as Joe began to cackle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do, Pa,\u201d said Joe as he shook with laughter.<\/p>\n

Ben looked at Adam and Hoss. They were as stunned by Joe\u2019s reaction as their father.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa,\u201d said Joe as he took a deep breath and tried to stop laughing. Joe wiped his eyes. \u201cIt\u2019s just so\u2026.\u201d Joe shook his head and took another breath. \u201cWe weren\u2019t talking about rustling those cattle. Pete just wanted me to look at some cattle he\u2019s thinking about buying to make sure he wouldn\u2019t get cheated.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d said Ben in astonishment.<\/p>\n

\u201cPete\u2019s uncle back East died and left him $10,000,\u201d explained Joe. \u201cHe\u2019s going to buy the old Henderson place and stock it with cattle. He asked me to look at some cattle from a couple of the herds he\u2019s thinking about buying to make sure he was getting some good stock.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy all the secrecy?\u201d asked Adam suspiciously.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was Pete\u2019s idea,\u201d answered Joe. \u201cMost people know that the only thing Pete knows about cattle is which end has the horns. He was afraid if people knew he was looking to buy cattle, they\u2019d tried to pass their worst cows onto him. So he got it into his head to keep this a secret until he and I could look at the herds. I thought it was only going to take a day or two, but Pete ended up dragging me to every herd on the Comstock.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy didn\u2019t he just buy some cattle from us?\u201d asked Hoss. \u201cHe should know we wouldn\u2019t cheat him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI tried to tell him that,\u201d said Joe with a shake of his head. \u201cBut he said he didn\u2019t want to trade on our friendship. He was afraid Pa would sell him stock at a low price because we\u2019re friends. He said he didn\u2019t want to start out on his new ranch feeling that he owed somebody something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen it was all a misunderstanding,\u201d said Adam with a shake of his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should have known you wouldn\u2019t have gotten involved in something like rustling,\u201d agreed Hoss.<\/p>\n

As Hoss\u2019 words sunk in, the situation was suddenly no longer funny to Joe. His merriment turned to anger, with a dose of hurt added. Joe found it especially painful that Hoss had doubted him. \u201cYeah, you should have,\u201d Joe said coldly. He gave his brothers a hard look. \u201cAnd what were you doing following me anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were just worried about you,\u201d explained Adam, looking uncomfortable.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were acting so funny, well, we just thought maybe you\u2019d gotten yourself involved in something you couldn\u2019t handle,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cWe told Pa that maybe we just ought to make sure you were all right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe turned to Ben. \u201cYou knew they were going to follow me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben looked away for a moment, then turned to meet Joe\u2019s accusing eyes. \u201cYes, yes I did,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n

Joe stared at Ben, then turned to look at Adam and Hoss. \u201cWell, thank you,\u201d he said in a voice cold with fury. \u201cThank you all for showing me how much you trust me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, Joe, it ain\u2019t that we don\u2019t trust you\u2026\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo?\u201d interrupted Joe. \u201cThen explain why you thought you had to follow me and why you thought I\u2019d do something as stupid as getting involved in rustling.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve been known to go off half-cocked on occasion,\u201d said Adam, shifting uncomfortably in his chair. He looked at Hoss for help. Getting none, Adam tried to explain. \u201cWe were just trying to help,\u201d he finished lamely.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I\u2019m sorry,\u201d added Ben. \u201cWe should have never interfered. We should have known better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe stood and looked at his father in anger. \u201cYou\u2019re right. You should have.\u201d Joe turned on his heel and walked toward the stairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, wait,\u201d Ben called after his son. \u201cJoe!\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe ignored the calls. He climbed the stairs without a backward glance at the three shamefaced men watching him.<\/p>\n

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

Ben, Adam, and Hoss had finished their breakfast by the time Joe slid in to his chair the next morning. No one said a word as Joe filled his cup with coffee and then spooned some eggs onto his plate.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood morning, Joseph,\u201d said Ben quietly, finally ending the awkward silence.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood morning,\u201d replied Joe briefly.<\/p>\n

The silence descended again as Joe began to fork pieces of egg into his mouth. Ben looked at Hoss, who simply stared at Joe, and then at Adam. Adam shrugged.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, about last night,\u201d said Ben in uncomfortable voice. \u201cWe really are sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked up at his father. \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have sent Adam and Hoss to spy on me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t send your brothers to spy on you,\u201d said Ben. \u201cThey were just trying to watch over you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked down at his plate. \u201cYou know, Pa, I think that\u2019s worse,\u201d said Joe in a hurt voice. He looked up again, his eyes full of pain. \u201cit\u2019s worse knowing that you don\u2019t trust my judgment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, that\u2019s not true,\u201d protested Ben. \u201cI do trust your judgment. Look at all the times I\u2019ve asked you to take of business for the ranch. And even the ranch itself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Pa,\u201d replied Joe sadly. \u201cYou trust me to do a job after you\u2019ve told me exactly what to do. That\u2019s not the same thing as letting me make my own decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you are perfectly capable of making your own decisions,\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah?\u201d said Joe skeptically. He looked around the table. \u201cWhen was the last time I did something when one of you didn\u2019t second-guess me or check up on me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just that we have more experience than you do,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cExperience?\u201d scoffed Joe. \u201cDon\u2019t you mean that you\u2019re older than I am so that automatically makes you wiser than me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to admit that you\u2019ve done some crazy things, little brother,\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure I\u2019ve made some mistakes,\u201d answered Joe. \u201cEverybody makes mistakes. Seems to me that Pa always said making mistakes is how you learn.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did say that,\u201d admitted Ben. \u201cBut there\u2019s a difference between making mistakes and making unwise choices. We\u2019re just trying to help you make the right choices.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd there\u2019s a difference between helping me and not trusting me,\u201d snapped Joe, his anger flaring.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrust is a two-way street,\u201d said Adam. \u201cIf you had trusted us enough to tell us what was going on, we would have never followed you last night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI promised Pete I wouldn\u2019t say anything,\u201d said Joe. \u201cI didn\u2019t think I would have to break that promise. I didn\u2019t think I had to explain every single thing I do to my family.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course you don\u2019t,\u201d said Ben in a soothing voice. \u201cBut at the same time, you can\u2019t blame us for being concerned about you. Especially when you act so secretive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t know what was going on, Joe,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cThat\u2019s what had us worried.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe I overdid it a bit. But you still should have trusted me,\u201d insisted Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were only trying to protect you, Joe,\u201d answered Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cProtect me? Like some little kid?\u201d Joe shook his head. \u201cWell, I\u2019m not a kid anymore, Pa. In case you haven\u2019t noticed, I haven\u2019t been a little kid for a long time now.\u201d Joe looked down at his half-eaten breakfast. \u201cI think I\u2019ve lost my appetite,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Joe stood and started to walk from the table. He stopped and turned abruptly. \u201cYou know, Pa, you\u2019ve always said that a tree needs some room if it\u2019s going to grow. Maybe that\u2019s what I need. Some room to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben watched in stunned silence as Joe walked away from the table. As he heard the sound of the front door opening and slamming shut, Ben put his hand to his forehead and slowly rubbed it. \u201cI handled that badly,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, Pa, you know Joe,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cHe gets mad but he cools down after he\u2019s had some time to think things through.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe just needs some time,\u201d agreed Adam. \u201cHe\u2019ll get over it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWill he?\u201d asked Ben. \u201cThis wasn\u2019t some prank, something that he can shrug off. I think Joe is deeply hurt by what happened. He doesn\u2019t think we trust him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam glanced at Hoss, then back to his father. \u201cWhat can we do about it?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, Adam,\u201d replied Ben with a frown. \u201cI just don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Ben walked slowly up to the corral that was being used to break horses. He could see Joe in the middle of the corral, getting ready to mount a horse that was pawing the ground nervously. Ben came closer and leaned against the fence to watch.<\/p>\n

Ben had spent the morning staring into the fireplace, deep in thought. Adam and Hoss had left the house after breakfast, wisely deciding to handle some chores far from any place where Joe might be. They both agreed that the last people Joe wanted to see that morning was his brothers.<\/p>\n

When Ben had finally decided to go looking for Joe, he was surprised when one of the hands told him Joe had been down at the breaking corral all morning, finishing work on the horses. Ben had had the vague idea that Joe would have run off someplace, perhaps to Virginia City or to a friend, to nurse his wounds. Ben hadn\u2019t expected his volatile son would vent his anger by going straight to work.<\/p>\n

Ben watched as Joe rode the bucking horse around the corral. The horse jerked Joe forward in the saddle a couple of times but then Joe found the rhythm of the horse\u2019s movements. No matter how hard the horse bucked and twisted, the animal couldn\u2019t rid itself of its rider. Joe stayed on the horse\u2019s back as if glued to the saddle. After a few minutes, the horse gave in to the inevitable and stopped bucking. Joe began to guide the horse around the corral.<\/p>\n

\u201cNice ride!\u201d a voice called out next to Ben. Ben turned to look and saw Hank, one of the hands, leaning next to him against the fence.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe did a good job,\u201d agreed Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe sure did,\u201d said Hank. Hank shook his head. \u201cYou know, Mr. Cartwright, I\u2019ve seen a lot of bronc riders in my time. Joe\u2019s good at it, real good. Maybe the best I\u2019ve seen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s eye widened as he faced yet another unknown fact about his son. Ben hadn\u2019t watched or thought about Joe breaking horses in quite awhile. He just assumed Joe knew how to do it. He hadn\u2019t thought about how good Joe might have become at taming horses.<\/p>\n

A troubled look crossed Ben\u2019s face as he watched Joe pull the horse to a stop and dismount. When had he lost track of his son, he wondered. When had he stopped thinking of Joe as an individual, a son to be nourished and cherished? When had he begun taking Joe for granted?<\/p>\n

Joe watched the horse being led away, absent-mindedly swiping the dust from the stiff leather chaps that protected his legs. He turned to walk across the corral and stopped when he saw his father leaning against the fence watching him. Joe tugged nervously at the gloves on his hands then started forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood ride, son,\u201d said Ben as Joe came up to the fence.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d said Joe shortly.<\/p>\n

Ben chewed his lip for a moment, then said. \u201cCould we talk?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d answered Joe in a cautious voice.<\/p>\n

Ben glanced at Hank standing next to him, then cocked his head to the right. \u201cWhy don\u2019t we go over here.\u201d Ben walked a few feet away from Hank and waited.<\/p>\n

Joe climbed over the fence and jumped to the ground. He followed Ben, rubbing his hands nervously on his thighs as he walked.<\/p>\n

Ben looked Joe straight in the eyes as his son stopped next to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I\u2019m sorry about what happened last night,\u201d he said slowly. \u201cBut I\u2019m even more sorry about what you said at breakfast this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked away, feeling embarrassed. He felt his complaints had been valid, but he hadn\u2019t meant to be so strident when voicing them.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I didn\u2019t mean to\u2026\u201d started Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me finish,\u201d interrupted Ben. \u201cJoe, being a parent is hard. It\u2019s probably the toughest job in the world. You have to find that middle ground between guiding and protecting your children and giving them the freedom to lead their own lives. It\u2019s not easy. There\u2019s no sign posts to tell a parent when they\u2019ve strayed off that middle ground. Somehow, somewhere, I\u2019ve strayed over the line. And I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked up at his father. \u201cPa, I know you were only trying to do what you thought was best. But sometimes, you have to let me decide what\u2019s best for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that, son,\u201d said Ben. He sighed. \u201cLife can be a long and treacherous road. I just worry that somewhere along the way, one of my sons will get lost along that road.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s a road I have to walk myself,\u201d said Joe in a serious tone, continuing the analogy. \u201cYou can\u2019t do it for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that, too,\u201d agreed Ben. \u201cIt\u2019s just hard for me to remember you and your brothers are grown men. To me, you\u2019ll always be my little boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I\u2019m not ten years old any more,\u201d commented Joe wryly.<\/p>\n

Ben sighed. \u201cSometimes, I wish you were only ten again. Things seemed a lot less complicated when you were younger.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe grinned. \u201cYeah, but then you\u2019d be yelling at me for skipping school or not doing my chores. I\u2019m no angel, Pa. I\u2019ve given you reason to worry over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo worry, yes,\u201d said Ben with a nod. \u201cBut never a reason not to trust you. I do trust Joe. I only hope you\u2019ll believe that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe studied the ground, not sure how to answer. He wanted to believe what his father had said, but the thought of being followed last night still rankled. Joe cleared his throat. \u201cThose three horses for Ferguson,\u201d he said changing the subject, \u201cyou want to take a look at them?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure the three you picked out are fine,\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n

Joe looked up and gave his father a wry grin. \u201cAre you sure you don\u2019t want to take a look at them?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no, I\u2019m sure they\u2019re fine,\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, why don\u2019t I show them to you any way,\u201d said Joe, his grin widening. \u201cI think it would make both of us feel better.\u201d<\/p>\n

A thought struck Ben. \u201cJoe, why don\u2019t you plan to deliver those horses to Ferguson,\u201d suggested Ben. \u201cA little time away from each other might be a good idea \u2013 for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked away for a minute then nodded. \u201cYeah,\u201d he agreed. \u201cRight now, I think I could use a little time away. Especially from Adam and Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour brothers were only trying to help, Joe,\u201d said Ben in a mild tone.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, well, I don\u2019t need their help,\u201d said Joe, his irritation returning.<\/p>\n

Ben put his hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder. \u201cEveryone needs help sometimes, Joe,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just wish you hadn\u2019t felt like you had to send Adam and Hoss after me,\u201d said Joe, his irritation growing.<\/p>\n

Ben looked away, trying to decide what to say. \u201cTo be honest, it was Adam and Hoss\u2019 idea to go after you,\u201d Ben said slowly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat figures,\u201d said Joe, his irritation turning into anger.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I agreed to the idea,\u201d said Ben, trying to mollify Joe. \u201cI\u2019m just as much to blame. I should have known better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I can understand you worrying,\u201d said Joe. \u201cBut Adam and Hoss, well, they just plain like butting their nose into my business.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2026\u201dstarted Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know it\u2019s true, Pa,\u201d said Joe, his voice full of anger. \u201cTo them, I\u2019m just a kid. I don\u2019t know anything. Well, I\u2019m getting tired of them treating me like I don\u2019t have enough sense to come in out of the rain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben could see the stubborn look returning to Joe\u2019s face, and felt the ground he had gained in rebuilding things with Joe was starting to slip away again. \u201cYou take those horses to Ferguson, Joe.\u201d he said quietly. \u201cIt will give us all a little time to cool off and think about things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe took a deep breath and let it out slowly. \u201cYeah, I think you\u2019re right, Pa,\u201d he said. \u201cRemember what I said this morning about needing some room. Well, maybe that\u2019s what I need. A little room.<\/p>\n

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

Ten days later, Joe was riding slowly through the mountains on his way back from Twin Pines. He was in no hurry to get home. His Pa had told him to take as much time as he needed to deliver those horses to Ferguson. Joe knew what he really meant was to take as much time as he needed to think through his relationship with his father and brothers.<\/p>\n

The two days before Joe had left for Twin Pines were uncomfortable around the Ponderosa. Adam and Hoss had been unfailing polite and considerate around Joe. Joe, for his part, had remained cool toward his brothers. Ben had tried his best to restore a sense of normalcy around the house, but hadn\u2019t had much success. It was a situation which they all found to be awkward. But none of them seemed to know what to do to break through the barrier that the argument and Joe\u2019s hurt feelings had built.<\/p>\n

Time and distance from the Ponderosa had dissipated Joe\u2019s anger but his anger had been replaced with frustration. Why was it, Joe wondered, that it was only on the Ponderosa as a child? When he was away from the ranch, people treated him as the rational, competent person that he was. He had delivered the horses to Ferguson and received the payment without any hitches. Ferguson had been pleased with the horses Joe selected. The rancher hadn\u2019t questioned him about his choices. He had paid Joe the money and even bought Joe a beer in the saloon in Twin Pines before Joe left. Not once had Ferguson seemed to think that Joe was too young, too inexperienced to handle the transaction.<\/p>\n

Joe sighed as his sense of frustration mounted. He could understand his Pa fretting over him \u2013 that\u2019s what fathers did. But why couldn\u2019t Adam and Hoss see him as an equal? Why did they always treat him as incompetent child, someone who had to be watched and checked on to make sure he did things right.<\/p>\n

Maybe he should just stay away from the ranch for a while, thought Joe. Maybe a few months on his own would show his brothers that he could manage without their constant supervision. Joe shook his head. The thought of being away from the Ponderosa for that long was a troubling one. Despite his problems with Adam and Hoss, the Ponderosa was home.<\/p>\n

Joe debated the issue with himself as he rode, coming to no conclusion. He chafed at what he felt was unwarranted intrusion into his life by his father and brothers but at the same time, he felt no great desire to leave his home. For one thing, he didn\u2019t know where he would go or what he would do. And Joe knew himself well enough to know that, as much as he complained, he would miss the companionship of his family.<\/p>\n

Joe pushed the thought of his family aside for awhile, and resolved to simply enjoy the trip home. He had decided to travel through the mountains back to the Ponderosa, taking the slower but more scenic route home. He enjoyed riding through the lush growth of trees and flowers. The weather was pleasantly cool and there was a scent of pine and honeysuckle in the air. A few birds twittered in the trees but otherwise, the only sound Joe heard was the noise of his own progress through the woods. Joe rode slowly, enjoying the peace and solitude of his trip.<\/p>\n

This ride would be perfect, Joe thought, if only he hadn\u2019t had to leave his pinto behind. Cochise had a stone bruise, nothing serious but it prevented Joe from riding his usual horse to Twin Pines. Instead, he was on a big roan. The horse was comfortable and did what he told it, but Joe felt no connection with the horse. It was just transportation. Somehow, Joe felt that he would have enjoyed the trip more if he was sharing it with Cochise.<\/p>\n

A small stream trickled along near the trail. Joe decided to stop and fill his canteen. He drank from the cool, fresh water and filled the canteen to the brim. Joe led his horse to the stream and watched as his horse drank its fill.<\/p>\n

Joe looked up abruptly as he heard an odd noise. He looked around, alert and straining to hear the noise again. A first, all he heard was the silence of the woods. But then he heard a branch snap, and the thud of a hoof. His horse snickered, smelling another horse nearby. There was no question another rider was coming up behind him.<\/p>\n

Joe wasn\u2019t particularly alarmed. After all, there was no reason why another rider shouldn\u2019t follow the same route he was taking. But at the same time, he decided to act cautiously. Few people traveled through the mountains; most preferred the easier, more direct trails in the flat lands. It seemed a bit more than a coincidence that another rider would be traveling through the mountains at exactly the same time Joe was there.<\/p>\n

Joe led the roan away from the stream and into the brush, choosing an area where he could see through the trees, but would be difficult to be seen by someone else. Joe eased the loop off the hammer of his pistol in his holster, and pulled the gun up slightly to make sure it would be easy to draw. Then he stood next to his horse and patiently waited.<\/p>\n

A few minutes later, a rider walked his horse slowly through the natural path between the trees. The rider was a big man, perhaps in his thirties, wearing a checked shirt and black vest. He wore a black hat, and the dark shadow of a few day\u2019s growth of beard. Joe had a vague memory of seeing the man around Twin Pines.<\/p>\n

The rider was looking to the ground as he rode, as if he were trying to follow some tracks. He stopped his horse where Joe had pulled the roan to a stop and a puzzled expression crossed his face. He looked around, finally turning toward the brush where Joe was standing the in shadows.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking for something?\u201d asked Joe from the trees.<\/p>\n

The rider looked startled at the voice and peered into the trees, finally spotting Joe in the dim light. An attempt at a smile crossed the man\u2019s face, but the smile looked more like a wolf baring his teeth.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, hi,\u201d said the man. \u201cYou surprised me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy were you following me?\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cI, uh, I wasn\u2019t following you,\u201d replied the rider. \u201cJust cutting over the mountains.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight,\u201d replied Joe in a voice that conveyed his disbelief. \u201cThat\u2019s why you were reading my tracks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I was curious when I saw your trail,\u201d replied the man. \u201cNot many people come up this way. I was just kind of amusing myself trying to following your tracks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you just amuse yourself by riding on,\u201d suggested Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, friend,\u201d replied the man. The man looked around. \u201cYou don\u2019t mind if I water my horse first, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe did mind. Some instinct told him that this wasn\u2019t a man to be trusted. But Joe couldn\u2019t think of an excuse not to let the rider water his horse. \u201cGo ahead,\u201d said Joe. \u201cGet some water and then move on.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rider nodded and slowly dismounted, watching Joe cautiously as he landed on the ground. He led his horse to the stream and watched as the animal drank. The rider cupped some water into his own mouth.<\/p>\n

Joe led his horse a few steps forward, out of the brush. He wanted to be able to keep his eye on the rider, and back near the trees, it was difficult to see the man by the stream. Joe held the reins in his right hand, and kept his left hand near the butt of his pistol.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw you around Twin Peaks, didn\u2019t I?\u201d said the rider as he lead his horse back from the stream. \u201cYou\u2019re the kid who sold those horses to Ferguson, aren\u2019t you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d replied Joe shortly. \u201cWhat\u2019s it to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing,\u201d said the man with a shrug. \u201cJust making conversation. Those were nice horses you sold to Ferguson. Must have got a nice price for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s my business,\u201d replied Joe. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you get on your horse and move on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCranky, aren\u2019t you, friend,\u201d said the rider.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just don\u2019t like people butting into my business,\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n

The rider looked at Joe, eyes narrow and calculating. Then he made his move.<\/p>\n

As Joe saw the rider\u2019s right hand reach for the gun in his holster, his own left hand reached for his own gun as he dove to his right. Both men were fast with their guns. Both pistols fired almost simultaneously.<\/p>\n

Instantly, Joe felt a burning pain in his left side as he hit the ground. He watched as the rider clutched his chest and doubled over. Then the pain in Joe\u2019s side seem to intensify. He winced and grabbed his side with his right hand. He felt the sticky liquid and knew he had been hit.<\/p>\n

Laying on the ground, Joe closed his eyes tightly as the pain seemed to burn into his side. He could hear the sound of horses running, and the soft grunts of his own agony. He was breathing hard and he could hear his breath escaping in rapid bursts through his mouth.<\/p>\n

But Joe was grateful for what he didn\u2019t hear \u2013 the sound of the other man moving and the click of a trigger being pulled for a second shot.<\/p>\n

Joe wasn\u2019t sure how long he laid on the ground with his eyes closed. No more than a few minutes, he was sure. The pain in his side seemed to ease a bit, and Joe rolled on his right side, pulling his knees up a bit and curling his shoulders forward. That seemed to ease the pain even more. Joe laid on his side for another few minutes and then slowly opened his eyes.<\/p>\n

A few feet away, Joe could see the rider on the ground. The man laid on his stomach, face down, his gun a few inches from his hand. Joe couldn\u2019t tell if the man was dead or alive. He knew he should probably check. But he also knew that in his current position, the pain in his side was at least bearable. If he moved, the pain would get worse. So Joe simply laid on the ground and closed his eyes.<\/p>\n

It was the sound of the water splashing over the rocks in the stream that finally got Joe to move. He laid on the ground for a long time in not a comfortable position but one which he felt offered him the least amount of pain. A lassitude seemed to be creeping through him, and Joe\u2019s felt no desire to move. Some part of Joe\u2019s brain was telling him that if he simply laid here, he would die. But the rest of his body seemed to reject this notion. Joe lost track of time, and thought he may have even drifted in and out of consciousness for awhile. He knew he ought to care about that, but he didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

But the longer he laid on the ground, the drier his mouth grew and the bigger his thirst. He suddenly wanted nothing more out of life than a drink of that cold water from the stream. The sound of the water tickling over the rocks seemed to beckon him. Joe could hear the water running slowly and an occasional splash as something like a branch or a stone dropped by a bird hit the water. The desire for a drink overcame his desire to lay unmoving on the ground.<\/p>\n

Slowly uncoiled his body, Joe grunted as each movement seemed to set off a new wave of pain. He pushed himself up on his elbows, and slowly forced the lower half of his body up until he was on his knees. He thought briefly about standing but quickly discarded that notion. He didn\u2019t think he had the strength, and, besides, being on his hands and knees seemed to ease the pain again.<\/p>\n

Turning his head slowly, Joe looked until he could see the stream, and then kept his eyes fixed on his objective. For right now, all that mattered was getting to the water. He slowly began to crawl on his hands and knees, grunting in pain as he moved. He didn\u2019t mark the distance he had to travel. He simply forced himself forward.<\/p>\n

Joe was surprised when he found himself next to the rider sprawled on the ground. He hadn\u2019t really had a sense of making progress over the rough ground. Joe stopped and shook his head to clear it. He remembered he should check to see if the man was dead. Joe put his hand on the man\u2019s back and felt no movement. He reached a little higher until his hand found the man\u2019s neck. The flesh was cool and Joe couldn\u2019t feel a pulse. Joe was fairly sure the man was dead.<\/p>\n

Seeing the rider\u2019s gun laying on the ground in front of him, Joe brushed it away with his hand. Then he turned once more to look for the stream. Now he could see the water as well as hear it. Joe forgot about the dead man and the gun laying nearby. He began to crawl forward once more.<\/p>\n

With a sense of relief, Joe finally reached the water. He collapsed to the ground and plunged his face into the stream. The water flowed into his mouth and he began drinking. The cool water was the best thing Joe had ever tasted.<\/p>\n

Joe finally lifted his head from the water, his thirst at least temporarily satisfied. The cool water on his face seemed to clear his thinking and revive his spirit also. For the first time, he began thinking about taking stock of his situation.<\/p>\n

Rolling to his right, Joe took a look at the wound in his side for the first time. His shirt and jacket were soaked with blood. He pulled the cloth up and winced both from the pain and the sight of the wound.<\/p>\n

The bullet seemed to have taken a chunk of flesh out of Joe\u2019s side. The wound was bleeding freely, but as far as Joe could tell, the bullet hadn\u2019t hit anything but flesh and muscle. Shock, pain and loss of blood seemed to be the worst damage done by the bullet.<\/p>\n

With fumbling fingers, Joe searched the inside of his jacket for the small pocket and then for piece of cloth inside the pocket. He finally found the handkerchief and pulled it out. The handkerchief wasn\u2019t very big, and it had the dull white color of much washed cloth. Joe stuck the handkerchief in the stream and waited a moment until he was sure the cloth was thoroughly soaked. Then he pulled the dripping handkerchief out of the water and pressed it against his side.<\/p>\n

As he pressed the wet cloth against the wound, Joe yelped with pain but he held the handkerchief firmly against his side. He fell onto his back and pressed even harder against the wound. As he stared up at the sky, Joe tried to think about what to do next.<\/p>\n

The horses had run off, that he knew. They had been frightened by the loud shots so close to them. Joe thought briefly about trying to find one of them, but discarded that idea. There was no telling how long and far they would run. He could try to track them for days without success.<\/p>\n

What he needed now, Joe decided, was some help. The nearest town was Twin Pines, and that was almost a day\u2019s ride on horseback. For a wounded man on foot, it would take much longer to reach the town.<\/p>\n

Initially, Joe thought about simply staying where he was. He had plenty of water and was reasonably comfortable. A rider could come up the trail. Maybe it was just wiser to stay here than try to make it back to town.<\/p>\n

Then Joe gave a short, ironic laugh as he thought about what to do. He had told his Pa that he wanted to make his own decisions. Well, now he was faced with one of those decisions. He could try to make it to Twin Pines or take his chances by staying where he was. Joe shook his head. He wished he knew what was the best thing to do. He wished he had someone to tell him what to do.<\/p>\n

Turning his head, Joe looked over to toward the body laying on the ground. Ferguson had paid him a hundred dollars for the three horses. A hundred dollars, Joe thought, wasn\u2019t much money. Maybe the man thought he had more money, or maybe a hundred dollars had been a lot of money to him. Joe shook his head. It didn\u2019t matter. That hundred dollars had been the price of the man\u2019s life \u2013 and maybe his own.<\/p>\n

Staring up at the sky, Joe could see the sun through the trees and knew it was afternoon. Maybe he should simply stay where he was until morning, and then start out for Twin Pines then. He winced as he felt another stab of pain from his side. Walking to Twin Pines would be difficult, painful. Maybe he was better off where he was.<\/p>\n

Joe closed his eyes and forced himself to look at the situation he was in. If he stayed where he was, there was good chance he could die. Infection, starvation, even exposure would probably kill him if he simply laid by the stream. If he wanted to have any chance at all, he had to try for Twin Pines, had to try to find help. And he had to do it now, while he still had the strength.<\/p>\n

Rolling on his side again, Joe once more he plunged his face into the stream to drink. He drank as much water as he could, not knowing when he might find another stream. He raised his face from the stream. The water dripped from his hair and face. One last time, he put his face in the water, and forced himself to drink again. When he was convinced he had filled himself with as much water as he could hold, Joe raised his head from the stream.<\/p>\n

Laying on his side, Joe gathered his strength and telling himself that he could make it to Twin Pines. The closer he got to the town, the more likely he was to find help. He would make it, he told himself over and over again.<\/p>\n

Taking a deep breath, Joe pushed himself up on his elbow. He held the handkerchief against his left side firmly as he pushed himself off the ground with his right hand. Joe winced and grunted as he moved his legs. He wasn\u2019t sure exactly how he managed to do it, but somehow, he got to his feet.<\/p>\n

Joe stood still for a moment, gathering his strength. His legs felt weak and he seemed lightheaded. He closed his eyes and took another breath. He slowly opened his eyes and looked into the trees in front of him. What had once seemed a peaceful forest now seemed like an expanse of frightening empty woods. Joe gritted his teeth. Then he began walking.<\/p>\n

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

The sun had dipped a bit in the late afternoon sky as Joe staggered slowly between the trees. His side burned with pain as he walked, and his head was aching. Rivulets of sweat ran down his face and neck, caused by exertion, pain and a growing fever. Joe felt as if he had been walking for days, although in reality he had left the stream only a little over an hour ago. Joe had lost all sense of time and direction as he wandered through the woods, his gait more a shuffle than a walk. He vaguely remembered he was trying to get someplace, but he had forgotten where. All of his effort was focused on trying to stay on his feet.<\/p>\n

Joe took a few more steps, then rested, leaning against a tree. His right hand still pressed the now bloody cloth against his side, although this was simply another activity which his muddled brain had fixed into place than a conscious act. His knees buckled a bit as Joe\u2019s tired body fought his determination to stay on his feet. Joe blinked as he stared almost uncomprehending at the tall trees and thick brush spreading out in front of him. The woods seemed endless, offering no hint of anyone or anything that might offer help.<\/p>\n

Pushing himself away from the tree, Joe shuffled forward, his determination to keep moving winning, at least temporarily, over his fatigue. He walked another ten feet or so before his tired legs finally buckled and he crumbled to the ground.<\/p>\n

Joe laid on his left side on the ground, his tired body wanting to stay where it was. Joe could feel the hard ground against his cheek and could the smell the dirt on which he laid. He also smelled another scent, this one unrecognizable. The odor was pungent and the image it flashed into Joe\u2019s brain was that of some type of animal.<\/p>\n

It took a few seconds for Joe\u2019s brain to connect the smell with danger, but once it did, Joe felt a new urgency to move. He pushed himself up on his elbow and lifted his head and shoulders. Joe swiveled his head, looking for any sign of the animal and was relieved when he saw nothing. He pulled his left leg forward a bit and his knee brushed against something hard. Joe look back toward his leg and saw an odd-looking pile of leaves and twigs. He looked away, his mind too tired and muddled to consider what the small mound of coverings might be. He decided to roll on to his stomach and try to push himself to his feet. He moved his right leg over his left, dragging it into the collection of leaves.<\/p>\n

Joe heard the trap spring an instant before he felt its teeth bite into his leg.<\/p>\n

As the bear trap snapped closed around his leg, Joe screamed in agony. The sharp teeth dug into his calf and ground into the bone of his leg. Joe instinctively tried to pull his leg away, but that caused only the trap to tear away more skin and muscle. A wave of agonizing pain radiated up his leg.<\/p>\n

Gasping for breath, Joe laid still. The pain was so bad he could barely breathe and he knew any movement would cause the trap to tear at his leg some more. He cursed himself for his stupidity in not realizing the scent had been a lure for the bear and for not seeing the trap in the pile of leaves.<\/p>\n

Joe forgot the pain in his side as it was replaced by a more intense agonizing pain. He could barely think; his brain seemed to be filled with urgent messages to do something, anything to ease the pain from his leg.<\/p>\n

Moving with almost infinite slowness, Joe pulled himself off the ground. He was careful not to move his leg, not wanting to do anything that cause the sharp teeth of the trap to tear away more flesh. Joe propped himself up on his elbow, and through a haze of pain, studied the trap.<\/p>\n

His leg was horizontal in the trap, caught as he had brushed across it rather than stepping into it. Joe assured himself that he had been lucky. If he had stepped directly into the bear trap, it probably would have snapped his leg in two.<\/p>\n

The problem now was how to get the trap open far enough that he could pull his leg free. Joe knew the best way to open a bear trap was to put pressure on the levers at either end of the now closed jaws. Joe twisted slowly, trying to position himself to reach the levers. As he did, the pain in his side returned with renewed force.<\/p>\n

Closing his eyes and gritting his teeth, Joe tried to ease the pain in his side. It was now a question of which hurt most, his leg or his side. There was no way to tell which injury was causing him the worst pain.<\/p>\n

Joe opened his eyes and forced himself to continue to twist his body so his hands would be closer to the trap. He bent his captured leg slightly at the knee, hoping the movement would cause the teeth to dig further into his leg.<\/p>\n

For several minutes, Joe bent and curled his body before he finally admitted he couldn\u2019t maneuver himself into the right position to reach both levers. The angle at which he was caught was wrong and he couldn\u2019t twist himself around far enough to reach the lever near his foot.<\/p>\n

All right, thought Joe grimly, if I can\u2019t use the levers, I\u2019ll just pull the jaws open. Joe bent his body a bit more, trying desperately to ignore the stabs of pain from his side. He gripped the jaws on either side of his leg.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s hands were slick from both sweat and the blood from his side. He couldn\u2019t get a good grip on the metal. Joe wiped his hands on the ground, trying to dry them, then grabbed at the jaws of the trap once more.<\/p>\n

Pulling with every ounce of strength he had, Joe tried to open the trap. Unfortunately, his strength had been sapped by the gunshot wound and his exhausting trek through the woods. Despite his efforts, Joe couldn\u2019t move the jaws. His leg remained firmly caught in the trap.<\/p>\n

Joe fell back to the ground, his small reserve of strength gone. He pounded the ground weakly in frustration and agony. The pain in his leg was an intense throb and his side ached. Joe had heard stories of animals caught in traps gnawing off their leg in order to get free. He had thought those stories incredible. Now he understood why an animal might do that. Joe would do anything to free his leg and end the agonizing pain.<\/p>\n

A look of fierce determination crossed Joe\u2019s face as he pushed himself up off the ground again. He forced the pain back to a small area of his mind, and he concentrated every ounce of strength he had into his arms. Once more he gripped the metal jaws and once more he tried to pull them apart. With an almost superhuman effort, his hands began to separate the metal. The trap opened only a fraction, not enough to free his leg, but enough to keep Joe pulling at the metal.<\/p>\n

Joe had managed to open the trap a fraction more when his sweaty left hand lost it\u2019s grip on the metal. The jaw of the trap slipped from his hand and snapped closed on his leg again. Joe screamed as once more the teeth dug into his flesh. He fell back to the ground as the agonizing pain radiated up his leg with renewed intensity. Joe\u2019s body went limp and dark spots danced before his eyes. He felt himself slipping into unconsciousness and didn\u2019t resist. He no longer had the strength to do anything but accept the end of awareness.<\/p>\n

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

The dog spotted the figure on the ground as it ran ahead of its master. The animal stopped and growled a bit, challenging the unknown human a few feet away. The black hair on its back bristled and its sharp teeth were visible under its curled lips. When the human didn\u2019t move or respond, the dog moved forward, sniffing cautiously. The scent of bear as well as blood frightened the dog. It ran back a few steps, yelping excitedly, then turned back to the figure which still hadn\u2019t moved. The dog began barking, trying both to warn its master and frighten away the unwanted scents.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe quiet, Lucifer,\u201d ordered the dog\u2019s master as he guided his horse toward the excited dog. Lucifer ignored the order, and continued to bark at the figure on the ground.<\/p>\n

The man led his horse over by the dog. The rider wore a light blue shirt and a tan vest. His legs were covered by dark brown trousers, and a light brown hat was perched on his head. Thick white hair was visible beneath the hat, and a neatly trimmed white beard and mustache covered his tanned face. Faint lines were visible on his face and around his blue eyes. The man wasn\u2019t young, but neither was he what people would consider old.<\/p>\n

The rider held the reins loosely but tightened his grip as he rode closer to the dog. His horse shied a bit, catching the whiff of bear scent and blood also, but the rider pulled on the reins to control the horse. When the horse was quiet, the man looked to see what Lucifer had found.<\/p>\n

The man\u2019s eyes widened in surprise as he saw the young man sprawled on the ground with a bear trap gripping his leg. He quickly dismounted and led his horse a step or two away, toward a nearby tree. The rider looped the reins around a low branch and tied them tightly. He had no desire to chase after a frightened horse.<\/p>\n

Lucifer continued to bark and dance around wildly, becoming more excited with each passing minute. The rider stopped and knelt by the dog, grabbing the animal\u2019s head and neck in a light grip. \u201cAll right, all right,\u201d he said to the dog in a soothing tone. \u201cI see him. You just calm down, Lucifer.\u201d The man patted and stroked the dog\u2019s head until Lucifer stopped barking. \u201cGood dog,\u201d added the man as he gave the dog another few pats. \u201cYou stay here and be quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lucifer watched as his master got to his fee and walked over toward the figure on the ground. The dog\u2019s body was tense but he obeyed the order to stay still.<\/p>\n

Joe laid on his side, his back to the approaching man. The man could detect no movement and wondered if the figure on the ground was dead or alive. The man knelt next to Joe to get a better look. He was surprised at how young the man was, little more than a boy. The rider put his hand on the side of the boy\u2019s neck. He could feel a faint pulse, and now that he was near the boy, see the slight rise and fall of the young man\u2019s chest.<\/p>\n

\u201cSon, you sure got yourself into a fix,\u201d muttered the man as he turned to look at leg in the bear trap. Joe\u2019s pants leg was soaked with blood, and a few drops of blood fell from the leg into a pool of the red liquid below it. The man shook his head, wondering how long the poor kid had been trapped.<\/p>\n

The man moved to the trap and gripped the levers on either side of the jaws. He pushed hard on the levers. The trap had been sitting in the woods for some time, and while it wasn\u2019t rusty, the mechanism of the trap was stiff. The man pushed hard, feeling the trap\u2019s resistance. Slowly the jaws began to separate. The man pushed even harder and the jaws opened.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s leg dropped to the ground as it was released. The man waited until he was sure he had the jaws re-set, then quickly lifted Joe\u2019s leg out of the trap. He eased the leg to the side, making sure it was clear of the bear trap, then set the leg down gently. The man looked around and saw a small branch a few feet away. He got to his feet and walked over to pick up the branch then returned to the bear trap. He pushed the branch against the bottom of the trap, pulling out the stick just as the trap snapped shut again.<\/p>\n

The man threw the stick aside and turned his attention to the boy on the ground.<\/p>\n

Joe had laid silent and unmoving throughout the whole process of his release from the bear trap. The man shook his head at that. He wondered if the boy had hit his head or something. He found it curious that the young man had been so still.<\/p>\n

The man turned Joe over gently on to his back, and once more his eyes widened as he saw the wide stain of blood on the left side of Joe\u2019s jacket and shirt. \u201cWhat have you done to yourself?\u201d the man said as he shook his head. He gently pulled up Joe\u2019s shirt. A bloody cloth was pressed again Joe\u2019s side. The man slowly removed the cloth and looked at the wound. He could tell it was a gunshot wound, probably a few hours old. Dried blood crusted the wound, although a trickle of fluid still escaped. The skin around the wound was red and a bit swollen. The man\u2019s conclusion was the same as Joe\u2019s \u2013 the bullet had gone through Joe\u2019s side, putting a deep gash in the young man\u2019s flesh, but missing any organs or bone.<\/p>\n

The man dropped the cloth to the side, and pulled Joe\u2019s shirt down. He looked up to the face of the boy.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s face was pale, almost waxen, but two bright spots of red were visible on his cheeks. The red spots and the beads of sweat on Joe\u2019s face and neck told the man that fever and probably infection had already set in.<\/p>\n

The man turned his attention to Joe\u2019s leg. Blood was still seeping from the leg, telling the man the injury was newer than the gunshot wound. It didn\u2019t take much for the man to figure out that Joe had been wandering around with the wound in his side and stumbled into the bear trap. \u201cYou\u2019re having a really bad day, aren\u2019t you,\u201d said the man, glancing at Joe\u2019s face. \u201cWell, let\u2019s see what we can do about patching you up a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man stood and walked over to his horse. As he passed his dog, still standing and watching patiently, he gave the animal a pat on the head. \u201cGood work, Lucifer,\u201d he said. The dog barked once then sat on its haunches.<\/p>\n

The man walked over to his horse and pulled open the saddlebag slung across the animals back. He studied the contents with a frown.<\/p>\n

There wasn\u2019t much in the bag that would be of help to him. He pulled out a checked napkin, the cloth that had once wrapped his noontime sandwich. The cloth was clean, but he shook it out anyway, just to be sure. He pulled out a knife in a scabbard, and tugged the knife free, dropping the scabbard back in the saddlebag. He looked into the bag again, as if he expected other items to magically appear. Then he closed the bag.<\/p>\n

The man slipped off his vest and put it over the saddle. He began unbuttoning his shirt with a sigh. \u201cI did like this shirt,\u201d he said as he shook his head. When the buttons were undone, he slipped the shirt off, revealing a well-formed chest sparsely covered with a fine layer of gray hair. The man put his vest back on, then used the knife to slice the shirt into strips.<\/p>\n

When the blue cloth had been cut into several long strips, the man returned to Joe. He pulled up Joe\u2019s shirt and pressed the napkin against the gunshot wound, trying one of the strips around Joe\u2019s body to hold the napkin in place. Then he moved down to take a look at the injured leg.<\/p>\n

Using the knife, the man slit Joe\u2019s pants to the knee and pulled the cloth apart. Joe\u2019s leg was covered with blood, so the man used another strip of cloth to clean the leg as best he could. As he wiped away the blood, he could see six puncture wounds, three in the calf and three near the shin. The skin near the wounds was torn and the man figured the boy had foolishly tried to pull his leg free. The punctures were deep, and blood welled up in them almost as soon as the man wiped them clean.<\/p>\n

The man felt the bone below Joe\u2019s knee. He couldn\u2019t detect any displaced bone but that didn\u2019t mean the leg didn\u2019t have some kind of break in it. The man took the remaining strips of cloth and wrapped them tightly around Joe\u2019s leg, both to stop the bleed and the hold the bone in place if there was a fracture.<\/p>\n

When he was finished, the man wiped his hands on the ground, cleaning them a bit of the blood that now covered them. He sat back, and thought about what to do next.<\/p>\n

He knew the boy was in bad shape, and needed some proper attention. The best thing to do, he decided, was to get him to his place as quickly as possible. A travois would take time to build, even if he could manage it with his limited resources. The man shook his head. There was nothing to do but throw the boy on his horse and hope for the best.<\/p>\n

The man stuck his knife through his belt, then reached down to pick up the boy. He put one arm under Joe\u2019s knees and another under his shoulders. With a grunt, he lifted Joe from the ground, and staggered to his feet.<\/p>\n

Joe moaned softly and his head moved slightly as the man lifted him. The man looked into Joe\u2019s face and a small smile flickered across his face. \u201cGot a bit of life in you yet, don\u2019t you?\u201d he said softly.<\/p>\n

It took several minutes of maneuvering before the man got Joe into the saddle. Joe slumped forward over the horn, arms dangling loosely on either side of the animal\u2019s neck. His legs hung against the side of the horse. The man untied the reins and climbed up on the horse behind Joe. He reached forward and pulled the boy back against him. Joe grunted softly but his arms and legs still hung lax. The man pulled the reins and clicked at the horse, turning the animal and starting it at a walk. Without looking, he called to the dog. \u201cCome on, Lucifer,\u201d he said. \u201cLet\u2019s get the boy home.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

The man wiped Joe\u2019s face with a cold, damp cloth, washing the sweat from the young man\u2019s face. It was getting on toward midnight, and, except for a brief respite to put on a shirt and feed the animals, the man had been tending to the boy since late afternoon. As he worked, the man wondered what else he could do to help the boy he had found in the woods. He had managed to get the get injured man home, and after laying him on the bed and striping him of his bloody clothes and makeshift bandages, he had cleaned the wounds as best he could with alcohol. The sting of the alcohol had forced several moans from the boy, but otherwise, Joe had remained silent and unmoving on the bed.<\/p>\n

The man had bandaged Joe\u2019s wounds with thick pads of white cloth, and covered him with several blankets, hoping to sweat the fever out of the boy. He had spooned willow bark tea into Joe, a remedy the man\u2019s mother had sworn by to break a fever. The man wished he had some other medicine to offer.<\/p>\n

The man thought about going for a doctor, but he quickly rejected the idea. There was no doctor in Twin Pines, and he couldn\u2019t leave the boy alone for the four or five days it would take to fetch a doctor from the next town. Besides, the man had a feeling that by morning he would know whether the boy was beyond help. The young man in the bed looked strong and healthy, but he had lost a lot of blood, and the fever indicated the wounds were infected. A battle was being waged within the boy\u2019s body, and the man felt he would know by morning which side was going to be victorious.<\/p>\n

The man looked at the pale, sweaty figure on the bed and wondered who the boy was and what he was doing in the woods. Another thought niggled at the back of the man\u2019s brain: why was he led to the boy? The man pushed the thought aside for now. It was too weighty an idea for him to contemplate as he sat by the boy\u2019s bed.<\/p>\n

The man wiped Joe\u2019s face again, and this time the young man in the bed stirred. Joe felt the cool cloth on his face and was grateful for the brief relief it offered him from the burning heat he felt throughout his body. He turned his head a bit and shifted a bit on the bed, wincing and moaning softly at the pain even this slight movement caused. Joe tried to swallow but his mouth was dry. \u201cWater\u201d croaked Joe in a barely audible voice.<\/p>\n

Joe felt a hand lifting his head from the pillow. A cup was placed against Joe\u2019s lips. Joe began sipping the liquid slowly, almost too weak to swallow. The liquid had a slightly bitter taste but Joe didn\u2019t care. He drank it gratefully.<\/p>\n

After a minute or so, the cup was removed and Joe\u2019s head was laid gently on the pillow. Joe laid still for a moment then forced his tired eyes open. Joe could see a figure next to the bed, but the image was blurry. He blinked twice, trying to clear the haze of fever and pain from his vision. The figure became slightly more distinct, although Joe was still unable to see it clearly. However, he could make out a white shirt and tan vest, and a thatch of thick gray hair.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d said Joe in a whisper. He closed his eyes briefly, then forced his lids open again. \u201cPa?\u201d<\/p>\n

The man sitting by the bed was startled by Joe\u2019s whisper. He stared at the boy for a minute. \u201cNo, I\u2019m not your Pa, son,\u201d he said slowly.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s muddled brain didn\u2019t understand the words but he heard what he thought was a familiar deep voice. \u201cPa,\u201d he said, his voice more urgent. \u201cPa, help me.\u201d Joe winced and grunted as a new wave of pain wracked his body. \u201cPa\u2026.it hurts\u2026please\u2026Pa\u2026help me,\u201d begged Joe.<\/p>\n

Joe turned his face toward the figure by the bed. He moved his hand, reaching out until he felt an arm. He clutched the arm weakly. \u201cPa\u2026 I\u2019m sorry\u2026I\u2019m sorry about\u2026what I said,\u201d said Joe in a breathless whisper. \u201cPlease\u2026help me\u2026I\u2019m sorry\u2026please\u2026it hurts bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man stared at the boy in the bed. He knew the boy was delirious; his eyes were bright with fever and his speech slurred and disjointed. But the man also could see the pleading look on the boy\u2019s face, and he could hear the boy begging for comfort.<\/p>\n

The man put his hand over the boy\u2019s hand. \u201cIt\u2019s all right, son,\u201d he said in a soothing voice. \u201cI forgive you. Everything is going to be all right now.\u201d He patted the boy\u2019s hand lightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d said Joe again as he heard the deep timber of the voice if not the words. \u201cPa\u2026don\u2019t leave me\u2026don\u2019t\u2026\u201d Joe\u2019s voice faded away.<\/p>\n

The man patted the boy\u2019s head, and brushed the damp curls of hair from the boy\u2019s forehead. \u201cI won\u2019t leave, son,\u201d he said softly. \u201cYour Pa\u2019s here. Don\u2019t worry. I\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man felt the boy\u2019s hand slip from his arm, and he saw the boy\u2019s eyes close. The boy\u2019s chest was rising and falling with a steady regularity that indicated the boy had slipped back into the darkness of sleep. The man sat back the in the chair and closed his own eyes. \u201cLord,\u201d he prayed softly. \u201cYou brought this boy to me. Don\u2019t take him away again. Please. Don\u2019t take him from me.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Joe slowly opened his eyes, a task that seemed incredibly difficult. He felt as weak as a newborn kitten, and both his side and leg throbbed with a dull ache. Joe\u2019s eyes scanned the room, searching for some clue which would tell him where was.<\/p>\n

Plaster covered the walls of the rather large room. Joe saw a window with shutters on the far wall, and a small dresser just to the left of the window. A bookcase, half filled with books, stood next to the dresser. Joe turned his head a bit and saw a small fireplace on the side wall. He turned his head toward the other side of the room. He could see a door, partially open, a few feet away. A table stood next to the bed, the top of which was covered with a pan, cloths, cups and a small teapot. A chair sat next to the bed, and that\u2019s what drew Joe\u2019s attention. The chair and the man sleeping quietly in it.<\/p>\n

Joe studied the man, wondering who he was. He reminded Joe a bit of his father \u2013 about the same age, same thick white hair, same tan vest. The man\u2019s chin rested on his chest, and Joe could hear the sound of a faint snore. Joe shifted a bit on the bed and instantly regretted the move. He grunted as the dull throbs in his side and leg suddenly turned into sharp pains.<\/p>\n

The groan must have wakened the man in the chair, because he instantly sat up. He rubbed his eyes and stared at the figure in the bed. For a moment, the man looked puzzled, as if he were surprised to see Joe. Then a warm smile crossed the man\u2019s face. \u201cGood morning,\u201d said the man in the chair. \u201cHow are you feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHi,\u201d replied Joe weakly. He turned his head a bit. \u201cWhere am I?\u201d<\/p>\n

The man ignored Joe\u2019s question as he reached down and felt Joe\u2019s forehead. \u201cYour fever\u2019s down,\u201d he said with a nod of satisfaction. \u201cYou had me pretty worried last night. But I think you\u2019re going to be all right, now.\u201d The man studied Joe for a moment. \u201cYou thirsty?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I am,\u201d responded Joe with a weak nod.<\/p>\n

The man turned to the table next to the bed. \u201cThe tea\u2019s gone cold, but it\u2019s wet and it\u2019s good for you,\u201d he said as he poured a light brown liquid from the teapot into one of the cups. He turned back to the bed and handed the cup to Joe. \u201cYou drink this,\u201d he ordered the boy.<\/p>\n

Joe took the cup and put it to his mouth. He sipped the liquid and instantly made a face as he tasted the bitter brew. \u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

The man laughed at Joe\u2019s expression. \u201cWillow bark tea,\u201d he answered. \u201cI know it doesn\u2019t taste very good but it will help bring your fever down. You drink it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gamely, Joe took another drink from the cup. He wrinkled his nose at the bitter taste but he swallowed the tea. \u201cThanks,\u201d said Joe as he handed the cup back to the man. He watched as the man put the cup back on the table. \u201cWhere am I?\u201d asked Joe when the man turned back to the bed. \u201cTwin Pines?\u201d<\/p>\n

The man gave a short laugh. \u201cNo, son,\u201d he replied. \u201cYou\u2019re about as far up the mountain from Twin Pines as a man can get?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes widened in surprise and he glanced around the room again. The room had given him the impression that he was in a house, not some cabin in the mountains, and his glance confirmed the size and comfortable furnishings in the room.<\/p>\n

The man saw Joe\u2019s expression and smiled. \u201cThis isn\u2019t like any other place in these mountains,\u201d he said. \u201cI built a fine, big house out here in the middle of the wilderness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe nodded slowly. \u201cHow did I get here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI found you yesterday afternoon in the woods,\u201d answered the man. \u201cYou were just laying there on the ground, your leg caught in a bear trap. When I got you out, I saw the bullet wound in your side. You were in pretty bad shape, so I brought you to my place.\u201d The man looked at Joe with curiosity. \u201cDo you want to tell me what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

Closing his eyes for a minute, Joe tried to remember clearly what had happened to him. \u201cSome fellow tried to rob me,\u201d Joe replied slowly He nicked me with a bullet. I was trying to make it to Twin Pines. I fell and got caught in the trap.\u201d Joe was too tired to give more than the bare bones of what happened.<\/p>\n

\u201cI figured it was something like that,\u201d said the man with a nod.<\/p>\n

Joe tried to move his leg and winced at the pain. \u201cMy leg,\u201d he asked, \u201cis it broken?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I don\u2019t know for sure,\u201d admitted the man. \u201cI couldn\u2019t feel any broken bones, but those teeth probably nicked the bone at the very least. Could be a slight fracture. One way or the other, you\u2019re not going to put any weight on that leg for awhile.\u201d<\/p>\n

Too tired to really take in the full meaning of the man\u2019s words, Joe merely nodded<\/p>\n

The man could see the boy was tiring. \u201cWe\u2019ll talk later,\u201d he said. \u201cYou need some rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe nodded his agreement. \u201cBy the way, my name\u2019s Joe Cartwright,\u201d added Joe in a weak voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cName\u2019s Tyler,\u201d replied the man. An odd look flickered across the man\u2019s face. \u201cYou can call me Pa if you\u2019d like.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe frowned, \u201cPa?\u201d he said in a puzzled voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cPaul,\u201d corrected the man quickly.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s face cleared and he nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s nice to meet you, Joe Cartwright,\u201d said Paul with a smile. The odd look flickered across his face again. \u201cI\u2019m very pleased to have you here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo nearly as pleased as I am to be here,\u201d replied Joe with a tired smile. He blinked slowly; his eyelids were feeling heavy and a weariness seemed to be seeping through him. \u201cThank you, Paul,\u201d he said in a low voice as his eyes began to close. \u201cThank you for saving me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul shrugged off Joe\u2019s thanks. \u201cYou get some rest,\u201d he said as he stood and turned to leave the room. Paul stopped by the door and looked back to the bed. Joe\u2019s eyes were closed and his chest was rising and falling in the steady rhythm of sleep. \u201cWelcome, son,\u201d he said softly. Then he turned and left the room.<\/p>\n

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

A hand gently shaking him woke Joe. He twisted a bit on the bed, trying to escape the hand that wanted him to leave the comfortable cocoon of sleep. The hand shook him a bit harder, and Joe reluctantly opened his eyes.<\/p>\n

Paul stood over the bed, his face creased with concern. \u201cJoe, you awake?\u201d he asked worriedly.<\/p>\n

Joe nodded sleepily in response, then winced as his movement sent a pang of pain from his side. Joe caught of whiff of something that smelled appetizing and his stomach rumbled in response. Joe licked his lips as he opened his eyes wider.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve been asleep for a couple of hours,\u201d said Paul with a relieved smile. \u201cI was getting worried.\u201d Paul cocked his head toward the table by the bed where a bowl with steam rising from it sat waiting. \u201cI thought you might be hungry, so I made you some soup.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pushing himself up a bit on the bed, Joe smiled. \u201cI\u2019m starved.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYoung fellows your age generally are always hungry,\u201d said Paul as he reached for the bowl. Paul turned back to the bed with the bowl in his hands, then hesitated. \u201cThink you can manage this by yourself?\u201d he asked Joe.<\/p>\n

Nodding, Joe reached for the bowl. The bowl was made from wood, wide and thick but not very deep. A wooden spoon rested in the bowl, with only its handle visible. \u201cSmells good,\u201d said Joe as he grabbed the spoon.<\/p>\n

\u201cBroth with some bits of chicken and rice in it,\u201d said Paul. \u201cI figured you weren\u2019t ready for solid food, but you need something more than just broth in your stomach.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a tentative lick, Joe tasted the soup. \u201cThis is really good,\u201d he said and began spoon the soup into his mouth quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a pretty fair cook,\u201d said Paul with a shrug. He settled back in the chair, obviously meaning to keep Joe company as he ate. \u201cWhere are you from, Joe?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI live on a ranch near Virginia City with my Pa and two brothers,\u201d answered Joe. His reply was slightly muffled as he tried to eat and talk at the same time.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t talk with your mouth full,\u201d said Paul. He flushed and looked away. \u201cSorry,\u201d he said in an embarrassed tone.<\/p>\n

Joe grinned. \u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d he said. \u201cMy Pa is always telling me the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul gave Joe a speculative look. \u201cYou did some talking last night when you were out of your head with fever,\u201d he said. \u201cKept mentioning your Pa and saying you were sorry. You two have a fight or something?\u201d Paul flushed again. \u201cSorry if it sounds like I\u2019m prying.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s all right,\u201d answered Joe. He took another spoonful of the soup and made sure he swallowed it all before going on. It gave him a minute to think about how to answer Paul\u2019s question. \u201cI had an argument with my Pa and brothers before I left for Twin Pines. I guess it was on my mind. When I left, things were still kind of tense.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I\u2019m not being too nosy,\u201d said Paul, with a small smile, \u201cwhat was it about? I\u2019m just curious. If you don\u2019t want to talk about it, you don\u2019t have to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe thought a minute and then shrugged. \u201cNo reason not to talk about it,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s kind of hard to explain. I\u2019m the youngest in the family. Lately, it just seems like every time I turn around, there\u2019s my Pa or brothers telling me what to do or checking up on me. We argued about it before I left. I just can\u2019t seem to get them to realize that I\u2019m not a kid any more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul smiled a bit a Joe\u2019s words. To Paul, the young man in the bed looked hardly more than a boy. But he understood a young man\u2019s desire to be thought of as an adult, to be able to do things on his own.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy Pa told me to take some time on this trip,\u201d added Joe. \u201cI think he wanted me to try to work things out in my mind. The only problem is, I can\u2019t seem to come up with an answer. Every time I think of Hoss and Adam, I seem to get mad all over again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss and Adam?\u201d said Paul raising an eyebrow. \u201cThose your brothers?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d said Joe. \u201cMy older brothers. And they never let me forget they\u2019re older.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul nodded. \u201cI can understand how people might get under your skin sometimes. That\u2019s why I came up here. To get away from people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I dropped in on you, sort of,\u201d said Joe. He smiled ruefully. \u201cSorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI said people,\u201d replied Paul with a laugh. \u201cI think I can handle one person.\u201d Paul bit his lip and his face grew serious. \u201cJoe, you said you had a run in with somebody who tried to rob you,\u201d said Paul. \u201cWhat happened to that fellow?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked down into the bowl. The soup was virtually gone, which was good because Joe suddenly lost his appetite. \u201cI killed him,\u201d said Joe in a quiet voice. \u201cHe went for his gun and so did I. I guess my aim was better.\u201d<\/p>\n

A sympathetic look crossed Paul’s face; he could see that Joe was bothered by the thought of killing a man. He leaned forward and put a comforting hand on Joe\u2019s arm. \u201cA man has a right to defend himself, son,\u201d he said softly. Joe nodded but his face with filled with regret.<\/p>\n

Sitting back in the chair, Paul said in a very quiet voice, \u201cSo no one knows where you are.,\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe wasn\u2019t sure he heard the words correctly. \u201cI guess I\u2019m going to need to let my family know what happened,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Reaching over, Paul took the empty soup bowl from Joe. \u201cWe\u2019ll talk about that later,\u201d he said. Paul looked at Joe, his expression somewhat grim. \u201cJoe, I\u2019m going to have to change the bandages on your leg and side,\u201d he said. \u201cI also need to clean out those wounds again with alcohol.\u201d Paul looked pained. \u201cIt\u2019s going to hurt, son. I\u2019m sorry. But I don\u2019t know what else to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe swallowed hard and nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll make you some willow bark tea later,\u201d said Paul with a wry smile, trying to lighten the mood. \u201cI\u2019m sure you\u2019ll like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGee, thanks,\u201d said Joe, his voice tinged with sarcasm.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlways happy to oblige,\u201d replied Paul with a grin.<\/p>\n

Putting the bowl on the table, Paul reached for some cloth and a tall clear bottle sitting at the back of the table. He stood and walked around to the other side of the bed. \u201cI\u2019ll be as gentle as I can, Joe,\u201d he promised. \u201cBut it\u2019s going to sting. You go ahead and yell if you want. There\u2019s nobody around to hear you.\u201d Joe\u2019s face grew serious and he nodded.<\/p>\n

Paul sat on the edge of the bed and pulled back the covers a bit. He untied the cloth around Joe\u2019s waist and gently lift the thick bandage from Joe\u2019s side.<\/p>\n

The wound in Joe\u2019s side was beginning to heal, but the edges of the wound were still red and puffy. Paul opened the bottle and poured some the clear liquid onto a small cloth in his hands. He looked up at Joe. \u201cReady?\u201d he asked. Joe closed his eyes, gritted his teeth and nodded.<\/p>\n

To Joe, it felt like Paul was sticking a hot poker into his side. He pressed hard against the bed and clutched at the sides of the pillows with his hands. The burning pain seemed to get worse, and Joe gasped for air, letting out a groan as he did so.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll done,\u201d said Paul in a quiet voice as he began to bandage Joe\u2019s side again. Joe nodded and tried to relax. The burning was beginning to ease a bit but it was still painful.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour side is healing nicely,\u201d said Paul as he pulled up the covers. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019m gong to have to clean it out again.\u201d He turned on the bed and pulled the covers off Joe\u2019s heavily bandaged leg. Paul looked at injured leg then turned back to Joe. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, boy,\u201d he said regretfully. \u201cI wish I didn\u2019t have to do this to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes were closed and beads of sweat were visible on his forehead. \u201cJust get it done,\u201d he said through clenched teeth.<\/p>\n

Nodding, Paul began to unwrap Joe\u2019s leg.<\/p>\n

Dreading the next wave of burning pain, Joe waited with closed eyes. ,He didn\u2019t have to wait long. It seemed like only a few seconds before his leg seemed to be on fire. Joe tensed again and once more grabbed at the pillows. The burning seemed to intensify. Joe knew there were several punctures on his leg and it would take Paul longer to clean them out. But knowing it would take longer and being able to stand the pain for a greater length of time were two different things.<\/p>\n

Joe began to moan and twist on the bed. He felt a hand grip his leg just below the knee to hold it still. Joe tried not to move, but he couldn\u2019t stop himself from thrashing around as he tried to escape the pain.<\/p>\n

After what seemed a lifetime, the burning seemed to ease a bit and Joe felt his leg being gently wrapped. He quieted his body and laid still on the bed, exhausted. He heard Paul moving around the room, but Joe didn\u2019t have the strength to open his eyes. He felt a cloth brush against his forehead and cheek, then felt a hand brushing the hair from his forehead.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Joe, I really am,\u201d said Paul. \u201cYou rest for awhile. You\u2019ll feel better after you\u2019ve had some sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nodding with his eyes still closed, Joe tried to relax his body and was surprised to find he could. He felt peaceful darkness of sleep rapidly overtaking him.<\/p>\n

Joe was almost asleep so he wasn\u2019t sure he heard Paul\u2019s next words correctly.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo to sleep, son,\u201d said Paul. \u201cI\u2019ll watch over you. Paul\u2019s here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Funny, thought Joe as he drifted off to sleep. It almost sound like he said Pa\u2019s here.<\/p>\n

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

Two days of sleep and solid food made Joe feel almost human again. His side felt stiff and his leg still ached a bit, but Joe was able to maintain an almost normal cycle of eating and sleeping. Paul was with Joe much of the time when Joe was awake, talking or playing chess with him. He gave Joe a book from the bookshelf to read, something to entertain Joe when Paul was cooking or looking after the stock.<\/p>\n

As Joe\u2019s body grew stronger, so did his curiosity about Paul. The man was obviously intelligent and well-read. He discussed books with Joe as easily as he talked about politics. His chess matches with Joe were mostly one-sided, easily won by Paul. He admitted to Joe that he had carved or built most of the items in his house.<\/p>\n

Joe wondered why Paul had hidden himself away in the mountains. Paul seemed to enjoy the trappings of civilization \u2013 books, good food and fine furniture \u2013 but he didn\u2019t seem to have much desire to be around people. Joe tried to think of a way to ask Paul about his living in the mountains alone, but he couldn\u2019t come up with a question that didn\u2019t seem like prying.<\/p>\n

Paul was checking the wounds on Joe\u2019s leg. Joe figured he had been in bed about four days. He was beginning to chafe at the inactivity.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeg is looking good,\u201d comment Paul as he wrapped the bandages tightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo more alcohol treatments?\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d said Paul. He looked almost as relieved as Joe at the fact that the uncomfortable treatments could stop. \u201cI think all you need now is some time to heal. I figure about another week in bed and maybe two or three on crutches. I\u2019ll make you a pair,\u201d said Paul as he walked over to settle in the chair by the bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cPaul, I can\u2019t stay here another three or four weeks!\u201d protested Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t see that you have much choice, Joe,\u201d replied Paul in a quiet voice. \u201cYou won\u2019t be able to put any weight on that leg for a while, not without risking doing some more damage to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hate to impose on you for another month,\u201d said Joe. \u201cYou\u2019ve done so much for me already.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t mind at all,\u201d said Paul with a smile. \u201cIt\u2019s nice having someone to talk with.\u201d Paul looked away. \u201cI\u2019ve gotten lonely over the past few months. Nobody to talk to except Lucifer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho\u2019s Lucifer?\u201d asked Joe with a frown.<\/p>\n

\u201cLucifer\u2019s my dog\u2026sort of,\u201d replied Paul with a grin. \u201cI found him in a trap, just like I found you. Must have been, oh, a year or so ago. Lucifer doesn\u2019t like people much either. After I fixed him up, he refused to come back into the house. I leave food for him outside. Sometimes he eats it and sometimes he disappears to do his own hunting. But he seems to know every time I leave for one of my little trips. He shows up and comes along with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you do on your \u2018little trips\u2019?\u201d asked Joe curiously.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, sometimes I hunt, sometimes I fish, and sometimes I just ride,\u201d answered Paul vaguely.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not a trapper?\u201d said Joe with surprise. \u201cI figured maybe that\u2019s why you lived up here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hate those traps, Joe,\u201d said Paul almost fiercely. \u201cI\u2019ve seen what they do to animals.\u201d He looked at Joe with a wry smile. \u201cI\u2019ve seen what they can do to people.\u201d Paul\u2019s face turned serious again. \u201cEvery time I find one, I spring it shut.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat won\u2019t make you popular with the trappers who put them out,\u201d pointed out Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably not,\u201d said Paul with a shrug. \u201cBut I don\u2019t particularly care if they like me or not.\u201d Paul suddenly grinned. \u201cBesides, they don\u2019t know for sure that I\u2019m the one springing them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you do up here, Paul?\u201d asked Joe, his curiosity growing. \u201cI mean, if you aren\u2019t up here to trap, why do you live here?\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul chose to answer only Joe\u2019s first question. \u201cI do whatever I feel like,\u201d said Paul. \u201cWhen I get up in the morning, if I feel like fishing, I go fishing. If I feel like making furniture, I make furniture. If I don\u2019t feel like doing anything, then I go back to bed.\u201d He looked seriously at Joe. \u201cIt\u2019s a good life, Joe. No one to tell you what to do or how to do it. And there\u2019s no one to criticize or look down on you.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a moment, the thought of such a life had an allure for Joe. He thought about doing whatever he wanted, about having no one second guessing everything he did. It did seem like a good life.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s lonely up here for you,\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n

Paul looked down, as if trying to decide how to answer. \u201cI haven\u2019t always been alone,\u201d he said slowly. \u201cMy son lived with me. He was about your age. In fact, you remind me of him \u2013 young, smart, full of life. When David was here, I wasn\u2019t lonely at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s David now?\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n

A pained looked crossed Paul\u2019s face. \u201cI\u2026lost him\u2026about six months ago,\u201d he said in a low voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d said Joe, his voice filled with sympathy.<\/p>\n

Paul nodded, then cleared his throat. \u201cWell, how about a game of chess?\u201d asked Paul with a forced heartiness.<\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t answer. His thoughts were elsewhere. \u201cPaul,\u201d he said, \u201cI\u2019ve got to get word to my family about what happened, where I am. They\u2019re going to worry if I don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

A startled look crossed Paul\u2019s face. \u201cHow do you propose we do that?\u201d he asked. \u201cI don\u2019t exactly have a telegraph up here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought maybe you could travel down to Twin Pines and send a wire,\u201d suggested Joe.<\/p>\n

The startled look now turned to alarm on Paul\u2019s face. \u201cI can\u2019t go down to Twin Pines,\u201d he said. \u201cI can\u2019t leave you here alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow far is it?\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cTakes about a day to get there,\u201d said Paul. \u201cAnd another day to get back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo days,\u201d said Joe thoughtfully. \u201cI bet I could manage on my own for two days.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I don\u2019t want to take a chance,\u201d said Paul in an urgent tone of voice. \u201cWhat if something happens? Banged up like you are, you wouldn\u2019t be able to fend for yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI could manage,\u201d insisted Joe. Now the pained look crossed Joe\u2019s face. \u201cI just hate the thought of my Pa worrying. If I don\u2019t send word soon, he and my brothers are going to come looking for me. They\u2019ll search these mountains until they find me. I just hate the idea of putting them through that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The look of alarm grew on Paul\u2019s face. \u201cNo,\u201d he said. \u201cWe don\u2019t want them to come looking for you. It wouldn\u2019t be right to have them spend all that time looking for you.\u201d Paul took a deep breath and seemed to be trying to control some emotion. \u201cI guess I could go to Twin Pines and send a wire,\u201d he said reluctantly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be fine,\u201d Joe reassured him.<\/p>\n

Paul looked thoughtful. \u201cWhat do you think we should say in the telegram?\u201d he asked. \u201cIf I tell your father what happened, won\u2019t he come looking for you anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I guess he would,\u201d said Joe. \u201cIf I tell him I got shot, he\u2019ll be here in no time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis place isn\u2019t easy to find, Joe,\u201d said Paul with a small smile. \u201cIt\u2019s not like I can tell him to turn left at the second pine tree. He\u2019s liable to wander all over these mountains looking for this place.\u201d Paul\u2019s face grew serious. \u201cAnd that\u2019s not good. These mountains aren\u2019t the safest place, as you found out. Besides the men up here, there\u2019s bears, mountain lions roaming around. The hills are pretty steep. A man could get hurt. We wouldn\u2019t want that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right about that,\u201d admitted Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I\u2019m not going to wait in Twin Pines for him to show up,\u201d said Paul firmly. \u201cI\u2019m going to worry myself sick leaving you here by yourself for two days as it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe blew out a breath in frustration. \u201cWhat\u2019ll we do?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Paul looked thoughtful. \u201cHow about I just send a wire over your name telling your father you got delayed in Twin Pines for awhile. Nothing serious and you\u2019ll explain later. That would satisfy him, wouldn\u2019t it. I mean that should keep him from worrying and coming looking for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked thoughtful. \u201cYeah,\u201d he agreed slowly. \u201cIt would.\u201d He turned to Paul. \u201cWhen can you leave for Twin Pines?\u201d he asked eagerly.<\/p>\n

Holding up his hand, Paul laughed. \u201cSlow down, son,\u201d he said. \u201cWe got to get this organized. I\u2019ve got to cook up enough food to last you two days. I also want to make those crutches for you.\u201d Paul gave Joe an almost threatening look. \u201cThose crutches are just for an emergency,,\u201d he said. \u201cI want your word you won\u2019t use them while I\u2019m not here, not unless you absolutely have to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe raised his right hand. \u201cI promise,\u201d he said solemnly.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d said Paul with a satisfied nod as he rose from the chair. \u201cI\u2019ll start cooking and making crutches. We\u2019ll go over every possible contingency later today. As long as I\u2019m satisfied we\u2019ve thought of everything, I\u2019ll leave for Twin Pines in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Paul,\u201d said Joe gratefully.<\/p>\n

Paul waved his hand as he turned to leave the room. \u201cNo thanks needed,\u201d he said. \u201cWe don\u2019t want your family wandering these mountains looking for you, do we?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Ben sat at his desk as Adam stood nearby going over the supply list. Ben was suppose to be listening to his oldest son, but he wasn\u2019t. He was thinking about his youngest son.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think 30 feet of wire, will be enough?\u201d asked Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d said Ben in a startled voice. \u201cOh, yes, yes, that will be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam put down the supply list. \u201cHe\u2019ll be home soon, Pa,\u201d he said in a quiet voice. \u201cYou know Joe. It just takes him a while to think things through.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not worried,\u201d protested Ben. \u201cI told him to take as much time as he needed. He\u2019s just\u2026taking some time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, Pa,\u201d said Adam. But his voice reflected his disbelief in his father\u2019s protest.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe can take care of himself,\u201d added Ben, trying to convince himself more than Adam. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t need us to be running after him. That\u2019s what started all of this in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2019s fine,\u201d said Adam with a nod. \u201cHe\u2019ll be home any day now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course he will,\u201d said Ben as positively as he could. He looked up at Adam. \u201cNow, how many feet of wire did you say?\u201d<\/p>\n

Before Adam could answer, the front door opened and Hoss walked rapidly into the house. \u201cPa,\u201d he said eagerly. \u201cWe got a wire from Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

A look of relief crossed Ben\u2019s face. He hurriedly stood up and rushed to where Hoss was standing. Hoss handed Ben a piece of paper.<\/p>\n

\u201cGone to Reno for awhile,\u201d read Ben from the paper. \u201cWill explain later. No trouble. Be home when I can. Joe Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReno?\u201d said Adam in a puzzled voice. \u201cWhy would he go to Reno?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe something came up when he was in Twin Pines,\u201d suggested Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d asked Adam in a challenging voice.<\/p>\n

Hoss shrugged. \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n

Adam turned to Ben who was re-reading the telegram. \u201cPa, maybe Hoss and I should go to Reno and find out what this is all about,\u201d suggested Adam.<\/p>\n

Ben didn\u2019t answer for a minute. He looked up at Adam and Hoss, then slowly shook his head. \u201cNo,\u201d he said. \u201cJoe made it perfectly clear that he doesn\u2019t want us chasing after him or interfering.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Pa\u2026\u201d started Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d interrupted Ben in a firm voice. \u201cNow Joseph is old enough to take care of himself. He sent us a wire saying there was no trouble, that he had to go to Reno. There\u2019s no reason to believe he needs our help. We have to trust Joe\u2019s judgment. That\u2019s what he asked of us, and that\u2019s what we are going to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d said Adam in a reluctant voice. \u201cI just hope Joe hasn\u2019t gotten himself into something that he can\u2019t get out of.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Joe was bored.<\/p>\n

Joe laid in bed wondering what he could do to fill the hours until Paul returned from Twin Pines. Paul had left for Twin Pines yesterday morning, and, at first, Joe had enjoyed having the time to himself. He slept when he felt like it and ate whenever he was hungry, helping himself to items from the small feast of cold chicken, cheese, berries and cookies Paul had carefully left on the table by the bed. In between, he had read or played chess with himself, doing whichever activity he had felt was diverting at the time.<\/p>\n

For a day or so, Joe had enjoyed himself, reveling in the freedom to simply do what he pleased. He could understand why Paul found such a life attractive. But Joe\u2019s choices of activities were limited, and now he was becoming bored by those choices. He had slept so much that he couldn\u2019t drop off even if he wanted to. He wasn\u2019t hungry or thirsty, having eaten his fill from the food on the table, and drank what he wanted from the bucket of water Paul had left on the floor by the bed. The book he had bored him, and he was tired of playing chess with himself.<\/p>\n

Looking around the room, Joe tried to think of something to do to fill what seemed like a long stretch of time until Paul returned. He saw the crutches standing against the wall next to the bed. He had promised Paul he would use them only if an emergency occurred and absolutely had to get out of bed. Being bored wasn\u2019t an emergency, but Joe did feel he absolutely had to get out of bed. If he didn\u2019t, he\u2019d go crazy.<\/p>\n

Throwing back the covers, Joe carefully moved his injured leg off the bed. He swiveled on the bed until he was sitting on the edge. A new problem suddenly struck Joe. He had no clothes. All he was wearing was a pair of thin cotton longjohns which had been cut off and neatly hemmed at the thighs. Joe giggled a bit, laughing at his own sense of modesty. There was no one to see him in the house. He could be stark naked and it wouldn\u2019t have made a difference. The fact that he could roam around without getting dressed added to the sense of new found freedom Joe was enjoying.<\/p>\n

Joe pushed himself up off the bed and, balancing his weight on his good leg, hopped a step from the bed to the crutches.<\/p>\n

Placing the crutches under his arms, Joe grabbed the handles jutting out of the sticks about half-way down with either hand. The crutches were exactly right, as Joe knew they would be. Paul had measured and fussed with them the night before he left. The top of the crutches were heavily padded with thick cloth to insure they wouldn\u2019t chafe. Paul had insisted on making the crutches as perfect as he could.<\/p>\n

Joe took a tentative step with his good leg, then balanced his weight on the leg as he pulled the crutches forward. He pushed his weight down on his hands and pulled the rest of his body through. He experimented with using the crutches for a few minutes, keeping near the bed in case he lost his balance and began to fall. After about ten minutes of tentative and slow movement near the bed, Joe felt he had figured out how to use the crutches. At that point, Joe decided to go exploring.<\/p>\n

Having spent hours staring at the walls and furniture around him, Joe knew every inch of the bedroom. He was curious about the rest of the house. Moving slowly and keeping his injured leg off the floor, Joe walked to the door of the bedroom. The door was slightly ajar. He pushed the door open and went out of the bedroom.<\/p>\n

Joe walked into a large room that was amazingly well furnished for a house in the middle of nowhere. A large table of polished wood sat in the middle of the room, with four beautifully carved chairs around it. Books, pieces of wood and bits of leather were scattered around on the top of the table. A large stone fireplace stood against the wall, with a decorated mantle. Some small boxes and a clock sat on the mantle. A rocking chair with a padded seat sat near the fireplace. A covered chair stood against the far wall, next to an end table. A lamp stood in the middle of the table, and small coils of what looked like fishing lines sat next to the lamp.<\/p>\n

To his right, Joe could see a doorway leading into a small kitchen. Joe could see the edge of a table and part of another fireplace, this one with what looked like an oven inserted into it. Joe glanced through the doorway, but decided the kitchen offered nothing of interest.<\/p>\n

Joe turned slightly. Near the front door stood a tall gun rack with a place for three rifles. Only two were in place, and Joe assumed Paul had taken the third rifle with him. Joe could see his own gunbelt resting on a ledge under the rifles and a drawer which Joe assumed held ammunition fitted into the ledge. The gun rack stood between the door and a window.<\/p>\n

On the other side of the door stood a tall book case. Most of the shelves held books, but the two middle shelves were almost empty. One held three finely carved wood statues of birds. The shelf in the very middle of the bookcase was empty except for two pictures in ornately decorated wooden frames.<\/p>\n

Joe walked over to take a closer look at the pictures. One was a formal wedding picture, with a much younger Paul standing next to a dark haired girl seated to his right. She wore a long dress and veil. Joe wouldn\u2019t have called the girl beautiful, but she certainly was attractive. The other picture was Paul at about his current age, standing with his arm affectionately draped over the shoulders of a boy about sixteen. Both were smiling at the camera and from the blurred images behind them, Joe guessed the picture had been taken at some type of carnival or fair. Joe looked closer at the young man. The boy\u2019s head just barely reached Paul\u2019s shoulder. He was thin, with the look of being all arms and legs that teenage boys often had. The boy\u2019s hair was dark, thick and curly, not unlike Joe\u2019s own. He smiled at the camera with an infectious grin. Joe assumed the boy was David, Paul\u2019s son.<\/p>\n

After studying the pictures for a bit, Joe turned to look around the house some more. He saw a closed door to his left, exactly across the room from the door to Joe\u2019s bedroom. He assumed that was Paul\u2019s bedroom. Joe ignored the closed door, feeling that entering the bedroom would violate Paul\u2019s privacy. He already felt a bit guilty about exploring the house as it was.<\/p>\n

Moving to the fireplace, Joe looked at the small boxes on the mantle. One held matches and another, small pieces of flint. It was the third box which drew Joe\u2019s attention. The box was bronze with metal scrolling on the top. He opened the box and looked in side.<\/p>\n

A rather large decorative coin sat on a bedding of dark velvet in the box. Joe read the lettering on the coin: Tyler Williams, with gratitude. Joe frowned. Tyler Williams? Who was Tyler Williams? Paul had said his name was Paul Tyler. Joe picked up the coin and turned it over. The back of the coin simply said St. Louis Children\u2019s Home and a date about eight years earlier.<\/p>\n

Joe replaced the coin and closed the box thoughtfully. It was none of his business, he knew, but he was puzzled by the coin. Why did Paul have a coin belonging to someone else, and why was it displayed so prominently in the room, he wondered.<\/p>\n

Slowly, Joe shook his head. It was Paul\u2019s business why he had the coin. Joe had no right to pry into the man\u2019s affairs. He had saved Joe\u2019s life and treated Joe with nothing but kindness. Snooping around Paul\u2019s house was poor payment for all that Paul had done for him.<\/p>\n

Feeling guilty, Joe decided to return to his bed. His side was beginning to ache a bit also, and his legs felt tired. Joe had had his little adventure. Now it was time to return to the solitude of his room. As Joe maneuvered the crutches and walked toward the bedroom, he thought about what to do next. With a yawn, Joe decided a nap sounded good as the next order of business.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cJoseph!\u201d<\/p>\n

A voice boomed in anger, waking Joe out of a sound sleep. He stirred on the bed, turning drowsily toward the voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph! Wake up!\u201d the voice boomed again.<\/p>\n

Half asleep, Joe wondered what he had done to make his Pa so upset. He must have overslept and missed breakfast again. As the fogginess of sleep receded, Joe remembered where he was.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I\u2019m very angry with you,\u201d said Paul, unnecessarily voicing the anger in his tone.<\/p>\n

Turning, Joe looked up at Paul. He was puzzled by the irate look on the man\u2019s face. \u201cHello, Paul,\u201d said Joe with a yawn. \u201cWhen did you get back?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t \u2018hello Paul\u2019 me,\u201d replied the man standing over the bed. \u201cI thought I told you to stay in bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did,\u201d replied Joe. Then he flushed as he guilty remembered his little trip around the house. \u201cWell, mostly I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, are you trying to hurt yourself worse or do you just not understand English?\u201d asked Paul in a biting tone.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s lips twitched as he tried to hide a smile. Paul\u2019s question sounded almost exactly like something his Pa would say. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d said Joe contritely. \u201cI know I should have stayed in bed. I just got bored.\u201d Joe gave Paul a questioning look. \u201cHow did you know I got out of bed?\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul\u2019s anger seemed to have cooled. \u201cThe bedroom door,\u201d he said. \u201cI knew I left it almost closed. When I got home, I saw it standing wide open.\u201d Paul took a deep breath. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Joe,\u201d he said apologetically. \u201cI shouldn\u2019t have yelled at you like that. It\u2019s just that, well, when I came home and saw the bedroom door open, it scared me to death. I thought you had left\u2026I mean, that something had happened.\u201d Paul added the last phrase in a rush, as if trying to hastily correct himself. Paul took another deep breath. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Joe,\u201d he said again.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it,\u201d said Joe with a smile. \u201cI\u2019m used to it. Happens to me all the time at home.\u201d Joe shook his head regretfully. \u201cI guess I\u2019m just not very good at following orders.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMost boys your age aren\u2019t very good at following orders,\u201d said Paul with a slight frown. He quickly replaced the look with a smile that seemed almost forced. \u201cThe important thing is that you\u2019re all right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d Joe assured him. \u201cBut we do have a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh?\u201d said Paul in surprise. \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have any clothes,\u201d said Joe with a grin. \u201cI realized that this afternoon when I\u2026when I got my exercise. Unless you want me to walk around almost naked, I\u2019m going to need some clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul laughed. \u201cWell, we can\u2019t have you walking around naked,\u201d he agreed. \u201cNot that it would bother me but you\u2019re liable to catch cold.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walking over to the chair by the bed, Paul sat down. \u201cActually, the same thought occurred to me when I was in town,\u201d said Paul as he settled himself comfortably into the chair. \u201cWhen I was buying supplies in the store, it struck me that you were going to need some things. I bought you a pair of pants and some shirts. Had to guess at the sizes, but I think I got them about right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d said Joe. He shook his head. \u201cSeems like all I do is say thanks. Wish there was some way I could repay you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, there might be,\u201d suggested Paul in a serious voice. He saw Joe looking at him curiously. \u201cYou play cribbage?\u201d he asked abruptly. \u201cI bought a board and a deck of cards, too. You can repay me by playing cribbage with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe had a feeling that cribbage wasn\u2019t what Paul originally had in mind as repayment, but he let it go. He knew by now that Paul would tell him only what Paul wanted him to know. \u201cI play cribbage,\u201d said Joe. \u201cI\u2019m pretty good. Much better than I am at chess.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not saying much,\u201d said Paul with a grin.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s face suddenly grew serious. \u201cDid you get the telegram off to my Pa?\u201d he asked. \u201cI don\u2019t want him to be worrying about me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I sent the wire as soon as I got to town yesterday,\u201d Paul confirmed. An odd look flashed across his face. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, Joe,\u201d he said. \u201cYour family won\u2019t be coming to Twin Pines looking for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Ben walked into a silent house. Adam and Hoss had left a few days earlier to deliver some cattle to a rancher near Reno and Ben knew he faced another lonely dinner. He put his hat on the peg by the door and walked over to his favorite chair by the fireplace. Ben decided he needed to do some thinking.<\/p>\n

Initially, Ben had thought about asking Adam and Hoss to check up on Joe in Reno, but had stopped himself. Sending Joe\u2019s brothers to look for him would only add fuel to the fire of Joe\u2019s unhappiness and anger. Ben had promised Joe that he would trust him, and Ben was determined to keep that promise.<\/p>\n

But his determination didn\u2019t keep Ben from worrying. Joe\u2019s telegram arrived over a week ago. Ben couldn\u2019t imagine what was keeping Joe in Reno this long. The sheriff in Reno knew both Joe and Ben, so if anything had happened, Ben would have heard from him. But still, Ben was concerned. Despite Joe\u2019s displeasure with his family, it wasn\u2019t like him to stay away from the Ponderosa for so long.<\/p>\n

Sitting by the fire, Ben wondered how long he should wait before trying to find Joe. It was a fine line between interfering in Joe\u2019s business and making sure his son was all right. Joe had been gone almost three weeks. He couldn\u2019t think it unreasonable for a father to be concerned about his son after such a length of time.<\/p>\n

Ben sighed. He might think it wasn\u2019t unreasonable, but there\u2019s no telling what Joe would think. Ben knew the situation was delicate. If Joe felt that his searching for him in Reno was just another sign of Ben\u2019s not trusting him, it could drive a wedge between father and son that couldn\u2019t be removed. Ben could lose his youngest son. And that was a risk he wasn\u2019t willing to take.<\/p>\n

Slowly, Ben shook his head, wondering what to do. If it were Adam or Hoss, he would have a better idea of what was right. But Joe was young, impetuous, and volatile. Ben just didn\u2019t know how Joe would react to his showing up in Reno.<\/p>\n

When he heard the front door open, Ben turned in surprise, and his surprise grew when he saw Adam and Hoss walking hurriedly into the house. He hadn\u2019t expected his sons back until tomorrow. \u201cYou\u2019re back early, boy,\u201d he said in greeting. \u201cGood trip?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe delivered the cattle fine, Pa,\u201d said Hoss. But his face wore a grim expression. \u201cBut we got a problem. We can\u2019t find Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d said Ben in astonishment. Then his eyes narrowed. \u201cYou didn\u2019t go into Reno looking for him, did you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam looked uncomfortable. \u201cYeah, we did, Pa,\u201d he said. He held up his hand, stopping Ben\u2019s angry comment. \u201cI know what you\u2019re going to say. We shouldn\u2019t have done it. But Hoss and I got to talking on the trail. We felt something strange was going on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStrange?\u201d said Ben, his anger replaced by concern.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Pa,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cWhy would Joe go to Reno like that? And how come he staid away so long without any word?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the telegram,\u201d added Adam. \u201cIt was signed Joe Cartwright. Why would Joe sign his last name? He\u2019s never done that before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is unusual,\u201d said Ben slowly. \u201cBut I\u2019m sure there\u2019s a perfectly logical explanation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, we couldn\u2019t think of one,\u201d said Adam. \u201cSo Hoss and I decided to swing by Reno after we delivered the cattle. We figured a little conversation with Sheriff Brady there couldn\u2019t do any harm.\u201d Adam\u2019s face turned grim. \u201cBrady said he hasn\u2019t seen Joe in months.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe checked the hotel where Joe always stays,\u201d added Hoss. \u201cHe wasn\u2019t registered there. The clerk showed us the registration back almost three months. Joe wasn\u2019t listed anyplace.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss and I talked to a dozen people,\u201d said Adam, \u201cpeople who know Joe by sight. Nobody has seen him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure?\u201d asked Ben, his concern growing. \u201cNo one had seen him? No one at all?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one,\u201d confirmed Adam. He shook his head. \u201cPa, Joe didn\u2019t go to Reno.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut why would he send us that telegram saying he was going to Reno?\u201d said Ben in bewilderment. \u201cAnd if he\u2019s not in Reno, where is he?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know where Joe is,\u201d said Adam, \u201cbut I have a feeling he didn\u2019t send that telegram. That way it\u2019s worded and signed, well, I don\u2019t think Joe sent it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s face grew as grim as his son\u2019s. \u201cIf Joe didn\u2019t send that telegram and he didn\u2019t go to Reno, he could be in some trouble,\u201d said Ben. He looked at Adam and Hoss. \u201cThat telegram came from Twin Pines. First thing in the morning, we\u2019re going to Twin Pines.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Joe sat at the table playing cribbage with Paul. He was wearing the light blue shirt Paul had bought him. It was a bit big on him but not uncomfortable so. The black pants Paul had bought fit loosely also, but that was a good thing. Joe\u2019s leg was still bandaged and the looseness of the pants made it easier to get pants leg over his bandages. Joe\u2019s leg was stretched out, resting on a pillow on top of another chair. The crutches were lying on the floor near the chair.<\/p>\n

\u201cGame!\u201d said Joe triumphantly as he moved his peg to the end of the cribbage board.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we need to go back to playing chess,\u201d grumbled Paul. \u201cAt least I can win at that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI like playing cribbage\u201d said Joe with a wide grin.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean, you like winning,\u201d said Paul, with a matching grin. \u201cWe need to figure out something that we\u2019re both good at, so at least the game is equal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOr maybe something that we\u2019re both bad at,\u201d suggested Joe.<\/p>\n

Paul laughed and shook his head. \u201cYou do keep me hopping, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, that\u2019s what my Pa says,\u201d commented Joe with a smile. \u201cI\u2019m not sure he means it as a compliment.\u201d<\/p>\n

An odd look crossed Paul\u2019s face for a moment then quickly disappeared. Joe had seen the look before, usually when he mentioned his Pa. Joe wondered about the odd look, but the expression came and went so quickly that Joe wasn\u2019t even sure he really saw it.<\/p>\n

Paul began shuffling the decks of cards. \u201cLet\u2019s play another,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Paul had just begun to deal the cards when a voice called from outside the cabin. \u201cYo! You in the cabin!\u201d shouted the voice. \u201cCome out here. We got a bone to pick with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked at Paul in surprise. In the almost three weeks he had been at the house, this was the first time Joe could remember hearing anyone other than Paul. Paul didn\u2019t look frightened or startled. His expression was one of puzzlement. Paul stood up and walked over to the window in the front of the house. He peered outside for a moment, then walked toward the door. \u201cYou stay put,\u201d Paul ordered Joe as he grabbed a rifle from the gun rack and walked outside.<\/p>\n

Paul stood on the porch in front of the house and looked at the two men standing in the yard. The men were dressed as trappers. One wore a coonskin cap with a tail, and his dirty pants and shirt were made from leather. The other man wore a dark vest spotted with stains over a faded red shirt. His black pants were stuck into tall boots and a black had with a wide brim was perched on his head. Both men carried rifles in their hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan I help you?\u201d asked Paul politely.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d said the man in the coonskin cap. \u201cYou can stop messing with our traps.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul raised his eyebrows. \u201cWhat makes you think I\u2019ve been \u2018messing\u2019 with your traps?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, somebody has been springing them,\u201d muttered the man in the black had.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d growled the other man. \u201cWe\u2019ve been finding our traps sprung and no animals for a while now. We figured you must be the one doing it. And we don\u2019t like it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy do you think I\u2019m the one?\u201d asked Paul, tilting his head a bit.<\/p>\n

\u201cCause you\u2019re the only one up here!\u201d said the man in the black hat angrily. \u201cAin\u2019t nobody else up here. And you ain\u2019t a trapper or anything. We seen you just riding around.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGentlemen, what I do is my own business,\u201d said Paul. He shifted his rifle meaningfully. \u201cNow I suggest you leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two men exchanged glances, and both lifted their rifles. \u201cThem traps are important to us,\u201d said the man in the coonskin hat, his eyes narrowing. \u201cWe don\u2019t catch nothing, we don\u2019t eat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, we got a right to protect what\u2019s ours,\u201d added the other man.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll remember that,\u201d said Paul coolly. \u201cNow, once again, I suggest you leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man in the black hat looked at his partner and nodded his head slightly. Both men pointed their rifles toward Paul. Paul quickly pointed his rifle back at the men.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe we\u2019ll give you a little something to help you remember,\u201d sneered the man in the coonskin hat cocking his rifle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t do that,\u201d warned Paul, cocking his own weapon.<\/p>\n

The man in the black hat snorted. \u201cAin\u2019t you forgetting something. There\u2019s two of us and one of you. Think we\u2019ll give you a little reminder and then see what\u2019s in that fancy house of yours.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t do that,\u201d said a voice from behind Paul.<\/p>\n

Paul glanced over his shoulder. Joe stood in the doorway, his weight balanced precariously on the crutch under his left shoulder. His pistol was in his right hand, cocked and pointed at the men in the yard.<\/p>\n

The men in the yard looked at Joe and then looked nervously at each other. One licked his lips.<\/p>\n

For a moment, there was no movement. The four men pointed guns and stared at each other, each daring one of the others to make a move.<\/p>\n

The silence was broken by the sound of a low growl from a small black figure standing at the side of the house. Lucifer stared at the men, teeth bared and body tensed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe the odds are three to two,\u201d said Paul almost formally. \u201cI think you\u2019d better leave before someone gets hurts.\u201d<\/p>\n

The men in the yard looked at the snarling dog, then at the two men on the porch. The one in the black hat lowered his gun. \u201cCome on, Harry, let\u2019s get out of here,\u201d he said in a low voice.<\/p>\n

Harry nodded and lowered his gun. He threw an angry look at the men on the porch, then started to back away from the house. The man in the black hat followed him.<\/p>\n

Paul and Joe stood unmoving on the porch, watching until the two men disappeared into the woods. Paul lowered his gun, and turned toward the side of the house. \u201cGood dog, Lucifer,\u201d he said in a loud voice.<\/p>\n

Lucifer looked at Paul and gave a small yelp. Then the dog disappeared around the side of the house.<\/p>\n

Paul turned to Joe. \u201cI thought I told you to stay inside,\u201d said Paul with a frown. \u201cI don\u2019t want to be patching up any more holes in you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe shrugged and grinned. \u201cI told you I wasn\u2019t very good at following orders.\u201d His face grew serious. \u201cDo you think they\u2019ll be back?\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul looked toward the woods thoughtfully. \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he said. \u201cProbably not. But it might not be a bad idea to make ourselves scarce for a day or so.\u201d He turned to Joe and smiled. \u201cWant to go fishing tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe glanced down. The bandages around his leg peeked out from the bottom of his pants and his foot was bare. \u201cI\u2019m not sure\u2026\u201d he started in a doubtful voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a stream not too far from here that\u2019s just filled with trout,\u201d interrupted Paul. \u201cI can get you on my horse and have you there in no time.\u201d Paul\u2019s smile widened. \u201cSitting by a stream holding a fishing pole never hurt anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe grinned in response. \u201cSounds great!\u201d he replied enthusiastically. \u201cI have to admit I\u2019m starting to get cabin fever. I think I\u2019ve forgotten what the sun feels like.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen it\u2019s agreed,\u201d said Paul in a firm voice but with a smile. \u201cTomorrow we go catch ourselves some trout for dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Ben rode his buckskin horse slowly down the street of Twin Pines, with Adam and Hoss following behind him. Ben\u2019s face had a tired, worried look on it. Adam and Hoss looked grim.<\/p>\n

Stopping his horse by the hitching post in front of building with a large sign saying simply \u201cSaloon\u201d, Ben dismounted. He tied the reins to the hitching post and ducked under the rail to the other side then waited a moment while Adam and Hoss followed suit.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you want to do now, Pa?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d answered Ben. He shook his head. \u201cI was sure Ferguson would have some idea where Joe might have gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he didn\u2019t,\u201d said Adam grimly. \u201cYou heard what he said. Last time he saw Joe was over three weeks ago, riding out of town. He was surprised when you told him Joe never made it home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben looked around the town. \u201cAdam, why don\u2019t you check with the sheriff. Hoss, you check the hotel. I\u2019m going down to the telegraph office.\u201d Ben glanced at the building behind him. \u201cWe\u2019ll meet inside the saloon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss nodded. The three men starting walking, each headed in a different direction.<\/p>\n

Less than an hour later, Adam walked into the saloon. He glanced around the bar and saw Ben and Hoss sitting at a table in the middle of the room. Three beers sat on the table. None of the beers had been touched.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny luck?\u201d said Adam as he slid into a chair at the table.<\/p>\n

Hoss shook his head. \u201cNo. Joe checked out of the hotel almost a month ago. The clerk hasn\u2019t seen him since.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe telegrapher is sure Joe wasn\u2019t the one who sent the wire,\u201d said Ben in a grim tone. \u201cWhen I described Joe to him, he was positive he hadn\u2019t seen him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes he know who did send the telegram?\u201d asked Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe doesn\u2019t remember,\u201d said Ben glumly. \u201cHe said he\u2019d think about it and let me know if anything came to him.\u201d Ben turned to Adam. \u201cDid the sheriff know anything?\u201d he asked hopefully.<\/p>\n

Adam shook his head. \u201cNo. He hasn\u2019t seen Joe and he hasn\u2019t heard anything that might give us a clue. The only unusual thing that\u2019s happened around here in a month is finding a body up in the woods.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seeing the stricken look on Ben and Hoss\u2019 face, Adam added hastily, \u201cIt wasn\u2019t Joe. The sheriff knew the man. Said his name was Weaver.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat else did the sheriff tell you?\u201d Ben asked, his eyes fixed on his oldest son’s face.<\/p>\n

Adam took a deep breath, not surprised that his father could tell he was holding something back. Ben Cartwright could usually read his sons like a book.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis Weaver, he was a pretty nasty piece of work,\u201d said Adam slowly. \u201cEvidently, he had a history of following people who were carrying money. Sheriff thinks he bushwhacked three or four, although he couldn\u2019t prove it. Anyway, the sheriff said he rode up to where the body was found. He said there were some other tracks up there, and some dried blood that didn\u2019t look like it came from Weaver.\u201d Adam shook his head. \u201cThere was not way to tell where the other\u2026tracks came from.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo sign of\u2026anyone else?\u201d asked Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d replied Adam. \u201cThe sheriff said he looked all around the area. There was nothing to tell him who the other man was or where he went.\u201d Adam shrugged. \u201cThe body was almost a week dead when it was found. Sheriff figures whoever else was up there was long gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat now?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n

Ben stared at the untouched beers on the table. \u201cWe\u2019re going to start asking questions,\u201d he said firmly. \u201cWe\u2019ll talk to every person in this town if we have to. Somebody must know something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if they don\u2019t?\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen we\u2019ll start riding, and we\u2019ll keep riding until we find him,\u201d answered Ben in a grim voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, there\u2019s a whole lot of land between here and the Ponderosa,\u201d said Hoss in a tentative voice. \u201cThose mountains alone could take six months to search.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen we\u2019ll spend six months searching,\u201d replied Ben. \u201cWe\u2019re not going home until we find Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Joe watched as the fishing line floated lazily in the water. He was stretched out on the soft grass next to the wide stream, leaning comfortably against a small hill. Occasionally, he moved his fishing pole to give the hook under the water some movement, but mostly Joe was just enjoying the pleasantly warm sun.<\/p>\n

Sitting a few feet away, Paul’s fishing was more purposeful. He was seated upright and he moved his pole regularly. Six trout laid on the grass next to him. Occasionally, Paul would look over to Joe, and an indulgent smile would cross his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the life,\u201d said Joe as he watched his line in the water.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is, isn\u2019t it,\u201d agreed Paul with a smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cI sure am going to hate going home,\u201d added Joe.<\/p>\n

Paul didn\u2019t answer for a minute. He moved his pole twice. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to go home, Joe,\u201d said Paul, not looking at Joe.<\/p>\n

Joe turned his head. \u201cWhat?\u201d he asked in surprise.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said, you don\u2019t have to leave if you don\u2019t want to,\u201d answered Paul. He turned to Joe and smiled. \u201cI like you, boy. I like having you around. You\u2019re welcome to stay permanently if you want.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frowning a bit, Joe thought about the other man\u2019s offer, and the relaxed, almost lazy lifestyle that Paul lived. He was briefly tempted. But after a few minutes thought, Joe shook his head. \u201cThanks, Paul, but no. I have to go home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d asked Paul. \u201cYou told me you were unhappy there. That your Pa and brothers treated you poorly. Why go back? Why not just stay here with me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked at Paul in surprise. He had forgotten he had told the man about his disagreement with his family. In fact, he had forgotten about the disagreement. Looking back on it now, the whole incident seemed petty to him. \u201cI might have exaggerated the situation a bit,\u201d admitted Joe. \u201cI didn\u2019t like what they did, but I know they only did it because they cared. My Pa and brothers, well, we all look out for each other. We\u2019re family, Paul, and you don\u2019t turn your back on family.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSome people do,\u201d said Paul in a bitter voice.<\/p>\n

Joe raised his eyebrows at Paul\u2019s comment, unsure what to say. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you come back with me?\u201d he urged Paul. \u201cYou could stay at the ranch for awhile. I know you\u2019d like my Pa. And my brother Adam has probably got even more books than you do. You two would hit it right off. And Hoss, well, if you think you\u2019re a good fisherman, then you should see my brother fish.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood, eh,\u201d said Paul, not looking at Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best,\u201d said Joe with a smile. \u201cCome back to the Ponderosa with me, Paul.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t do that, Joe,\u201d said Paul, continuing to stare at the water.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy not?\u201d asked Joe. \u201cWhy do you stay up here, Paul? Why have you cut yourself off like this?\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul continued to stare at the water. He obviously was considering his answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was a teacher, Joe, a professor at a college in St. Louis,\u201d said Paul slowly. \u201cI was well respected, active in the community, had a good life. Then one night, I had an argument with my wife. Nothing serious, just some trivial thing that we both let get blown out of proportion. I stormed out of the house, and went to a nearby park to take a walk and cool off. About an hour later, I came home. The front door was open. I walked in and found my wife.\u201d Paul turned to look at Joe. \u201cShe was dead. Somebody had cracked her skull with a poker from the fireplace.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d said Joe with genuine sympathy.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the neighbors saw the open door,\u201d continued Paul. \u201cThey went out and found a policeman. The policeman came to the door and saw me bending over my wife\u2019s body. Next thing I knew I had been arrested for her murder. I kept telling them I was innocent but no one believed me. No one, except my son David.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI sat in that miserable jail for almost three months, waiting for a trial,\u201d Paul said, his voice filled with bitterness. \u201cThe only person who came to see me, besides my lawyer, was David. None of our friends, none of my college associates, no one came to visit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow did you get out?\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cDavid kept searching for someone, anyone, who had seen me in the park that night,\u201d answered Paul. \u201cThe police didn\u2019t believe my story, so they didn\u2019t bother to look. But David did. He finally found a young couple who admitted to seeing me. They had kept quiet because the man was married to someone else. David finally convinced him to tell the truth, and the woman confirmed his story. The police finally let me go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened then?\u201d asked Joe. \u201cHow did you end up here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy arrest made front page news,\u201d explained Paul. \u201cBut my release was a small story on page four. When I returned home, I found most people were surprised to see me. My position at the college had been taken by someone else, because the dean was sure I was guilty. Our so-called friends avoided me. Even people on the street would point and whisper when they recognized me from my picture in the paper.\u201d Paul shook his head. \u201cIt was intolerable, Joe. My life was in ruins. My wife was dead, I had no job, and everywhere I went, people treated me like a pariah. So David and I loaded up a couple of wagons with everything we could carry. We set off for the West, looking for place with no people, no one who would point their finger at me and stare. We finally ended up here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul looked away, as if remembering. \u201cDavid and I spent six months building the house. We slept in the wagons, or under the stars if the weather was nice. We built ourselves a house that was comfortable and had everything we wanted. And we built it where there no other people. I vowed never to go back to the so-called civilized world. And I\u2019ve kept that vow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid they ever find out who killed your wife,\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d said Paul with a shake of his head. \u201cI figure it was a thief, someone who broke into the house thinking it was empty. My wife must have surprised him and he killed her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened to David?\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n

A pained look crossed Paul\u2019s face. \u201cHe\u2019s gone now,\u201d he said. Paul pulled his fishing line out of the water. \u201cWe\u2019d better head back,\u201d he said abruptly.<\/p>\n

\u201cPaul, I\u2019m sorry for what happened to you, but you can\u2019t stay up here forever,\u201d said Joe. \u201cCome back to the Ponderosa with me. It will be different there, I promise. No one will point fingers at you. No one will treat you with anything but respect.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d said Paul firmly.<\/p>\n

\u201cPaul\u2026\u201dstarted Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said no!\u201d shouted Paul. \u201cDon\u2019t you ever listen to me, boy? I said we\u2019re staying here and that\u2019s final!\u201d Paul threw his fishing pole on the ground in an angry gesture. \u201cI\u2019ll go get the horse,\u201d he said, turning and walking swiftly up the hill.<\/p>\n

Joe watched Paul walking over to where the horse was tied. He felt sorry for the man. He also felt sad. Paul was an intelligent, talented man. It was sad that the society had turned its back on him and robbed themselves of such a man.<\/p>\n

Paul led the horse to the hill near where Joe sat. \u201cI\u2019ll help you on,\u201d he said in a curt tone.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I can manage,\u201d said Joe, struggling to his feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t argue with me, boy,\u201d said Paul in an angry voice. He reached out and grabbed Joe\u2019s arm, almost pulling him up the hill. Joe winced as he bumped his leg. Paul didn\u2019t seem to notice. He pulled Joe toward him.<\/p>\n

Joe grunted as his weight shifted onto his injured leg. \u201cWait a second,\u201d he said as his a pain shot up his leg.<\/p>\n

Paul looked startled. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Joe,\u201d he said apologetically. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to hurt you. Are you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe nodded, although his leg continued to hurt. \u201cI\u2019ll be all right,\u201d he answered but his voice was strained.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me help you up on the horse,\u201d suggested Paul. \u201cGet your weight of that leg.\u201d Joe nodded again.<\/p>\n

Paul helped Joe climb up into the saddle and made sure he was comfortable. He handed Joe the reins. \u201cI\u2019ll get the poles and the fish,\u201d Paul said, turning and walking down the hill.<\/p>\n

Joe watched as Paul gathered the poles and picked up the string of fish from the ground. He thought about the flash of anger he had seen in the other man. The sudden mood change confused Joe. It also frightened him a bit.<\/p>\n

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

Ben Cartwright walked into the saloon in Twin Pines, his face grim. He saw his sons waiting for him at the table in the middle of the room. Ben ignored the few other people in the saloon \u2013 two men lazily playing cards at another table and two trappers standing drinking at the bar.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you find out anything?\u201d Ben asked as he sat down.<\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss looked at each other. \u201cNo,\u201d Adam admitted. \u201cI talked with everyone in every building on the south side of town. No one has seen Joe since he left here a few weeks ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I covered everything on the north side,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cSame answer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben slumped in his chair. \u201cI checked every ranch and farm outside of town,\u201d he said. \u201cNothing.\u201d Ben looked at his sons. \u201cWhere could he be?\u201d he asked, knowing Adam and Hoss had no answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben looked up to see a man walking rapidly into the saloon. \u201cMr. Cartwright, I thought I saw you riding into town,\u201d said the man as he walked up to the table.<\/p>\n

For a minute, Ben wasn\u2019t sure who the man was. Then his face cleared. \u201cMr. Barrett,\u201d replied Ben in recognition. Ben turned to Adam and Hoss. \u201cMr. Barrett runs the telegraph office.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been thinking about that telegram you asked about,\u201d said Barrett. \u201cThe one from your son. I finally remembered who sent it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho?\u201d asked Ben eagerly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019m not sure of the fellow\u2019s name,\u201d answered Barrett slowly. \u201cHe\u2019s kind of an odd fellow. Lives up in the mountains. He comes to town from time to time to pick up supplies but he makes his visits to town as short as possible. Never stays a minute longer than he has to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure he\u2019s the one who sent the telegram?\u201d asked Adam with a frown.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure,\u201d replied Barrett positively. \u201cI remember last night. When he gave me the telegram to send, I was surprised at the name. The name on the bottom of the telegram was Joe Cartwright. But I know the fellow\u2019s name isn\u2019t Joe. It\u2019s kind of a different name, like Taylor or Tyler or something like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid he say anything when he sent the telegram?\u201d asked Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cNope,\u201d said Barrett, shaking his head. \u201cJust wrote it out, paid me the money and left.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does he look like?\u201d asked Ben.<\/p>\n

Barrett rubbed his chin. \u201cWell, he\u2019s about your age. White hair, white beard. Has kind of a weathered look, like he spends a lot of time outdoors. Like I said, he lives up in the mountains someplace.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs he a trapper or something?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d answered Barrett slowly. \u201cHe dresses more like a rancher, than a trapper. I\u2019ve never seen him with any pelts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe ain\u2019t no trapper,\u201d said one of the men standing at the bar.<\/p>\n

Ben turned to the man with a look of surprise. \u201cDo you know him?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

The man at the bar was wearing a black hat with a wide brim, and the man next to him sported a coonskin cap. \u201cHarry and me had a run in with him the other day,\u201d said the man in the black hat. \u201cHe\u2019s been springing our traps. We told him to stop.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know where he lives?\u201d said Ben, his hope growing.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe lives in some fancy house up in the mountains,\u201d replied the trapper. \u201cHe and some young fellow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYoung fellow?\u201d repeated Ben. \u201cWhat does the young fellow look like?\u201d<\/p>\n

The trapper shrugged. \u201cAbout twenty, dark hair,\u201d said the man. \u201cDidn\u2019t get a real good look at the boy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would be his son,\u201d said Barrett. \u201cI\u2019ve seen the boy with his father a time or two in town.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s face reflected his disappointment. He had hoped\u2026Ben shook his head. The man or his son must know something about Joe. It was the first glimmer of a lead. \u201cCan you tell us how to find this place?\u201d he asked the men at the bar.<\/p>\n

The two looked at each other. \u201cIt ain\u2019t easy to describe,\u201d admitted the man in the coonskin hat.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow about leading us there?\u201d suggested Hoss.<\/p>\n

The man in the black hat shook his head. \u201cCan\u2019t do it,\u201d he said. \u201cMe and Harry got to be over in Corinth day after tomorrow. Got a job waiting.\u201d The trapper didn\u2019t want to admit that he had no desire to face the two armed men in the mountains again. \u201cWe\u2019ll do our best to tell you how to get there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s face looked thoughtful as the trappers described how to find the house in the mountains. He didn\u2019t say anything as Ben thanked the telegrapher and bought the two men at the bar a beer.<\/p>\n

As Ben settled back in his chair, he looked at Adam. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, son?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething that the telegrapher said,\u201d answered Adam. \u201cAbout the man\u2019s son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about it?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, every place I went, I asked if anything unusual had happened lately, something that seemed out of place,\u201d replied Adam. \u201cI thought maybe I could pick up some clue on Joe that way. You know, something that might mean something to us that no one else thought much about. Anyway, the clerk at the store told me about the man the telegrapher described. Said he was in a few weeks ago buying supplies. He also bought some clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s so odd about that?\u201d asked Hoss<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, the clerk said the clothes were obviously for someone other than this fellow,\u201d answered Adam. \u201cHe told me at first he thought the man was buying some clothes for his son. But then he decided that couldn\u2019t be.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cThe clerk told me the man\u2019s son wasn\u2019t around any more,\u201d said Adam. \u201cHe told me the son took a stage back East about six months ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Joe sat back in his chair and gave a satisfied grunt. \u201cThat fish sure tasted good,\u201d he said, rubbing his stomach. \u201cI ate almost as much as my brother Hoss would.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul didn\u2019t answer. As always when Joe mentioned his family, he grew silent.<\/p>\n

Joe bit his lip, hesitant about what he wanted to say next. \u201cI\u2019ve been thinking, Paul,\u201d he said slowly. \u201cI think it\u2019s time for me to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul\u2019s head jerked up. \u201cYou\u2019re not well enough to leave,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t walk too good,\u201d Joe admitted. \u201cBut I sure can sit a horse. I thought if you lent me a horse, I could travel down to Twin Pines. I can send my Pa a telegram from there, and he can come get me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d said Paul in a flat voice. He stood abruptly and began collecting the plates off the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cPaul, I have to leave,\u201d said Joe in a persuasive voice. \u201cNow is just as good a time as any.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not leaving,\u201d said Paul. He banged the plates back down on the table. \u201cYou\u2019re not leaving me alone again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe frowned. \u201cI\u2019ve got to leave,\u201d he said, his voice rising in anger. \u201cI can\u2019t stay here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re staying,\u201d shouted Paul. \u201cYou were sent here to me and I\u2019m going to keep you here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t \u2018sent here\u2019 to you,\u201d said Joe. \u201cYou found me in the woods, remember.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSame thing,\u201d answered Paul. \u201cI lost one son. I was given another. I\u2019m not going to lose a son again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPaul, listen to me,\u201d urged Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t Pa, me,\u201d said Paul in an angry voice. \u201cYou never listen to your Pa. You always want to do what you want. You want to go live in the city. I told you know but you wouldn\u2019t listen. Well, this time, you\u2019re going to listen to me and obey your Pa.\u201d Paul abruptly turned his back to Joe.<\/p>\n

Joe looked at the man in astonishment. He looked up and saw the box on the mantle, remembering the name on the coin. He frown as he thought about it, and then his face cleared as he suddenly understood.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour name isn\u2019t Paul, is it,\u201d said Joe. \u201cYou had me call you Paul because it sounded like Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul whirled around. \u201cWhat difference does it make,\u201d he said with a frown.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt makes a difference,\u201d replied Joe. He looked at the man, not sure what to call him. \u201cI\u2019m not your son. You\u2019re not my Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am,\u201d insisted the man. \u201cI\u2019m your Pa now. It\u2019s time you accepted that. You\u2019re my son and you\u2019re going to obey me. You\u2019re not leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe pushed back the chair and stood, putting his weight on his hands as he leaned against the table. \u201cWhat happened to your son?\u201d he demanded. \u201cWhat happened to David?\u201d<\/p>\n

The man stared at Joe. \u201cHe wouldn\u2019t listen to me,\u201d he said. \u201cHe said he was tired of living up here all alone. I told him that being up here was best, that he would be hurt if he was around other people. He didn\u2019t listen.\u201d The man looked away. \u201cI came back from hunting one day and he was gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t force someone to stay where they don\u2019t want to be,\u201d said Joe in a quiet voice.<\/p>\n

The man looked back to Joe. \u201cI made a mistake with David,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m not making the same mistake twice. I\u2019m not going to let you leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man suddenly rushed around the table to Joe. Joe put up a hand defensively, not sure what the man would do. The man knocked Joe\u2019s hand aside, and grabbed Joe under the arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to make sure you don\u2019t leave,\u201d said the man as he began dragging Joe across the room.<\/p>\n

Joe struggled to free himself but the man\u2019s grip was strong and Joe\u2019s injured leg still couldn\u2019t support him. As the man dragged Joe toward the bedroom, Joe\u2019s injured leg bounced and buckled against the floor. Pain shot up Joe\u2019s leg and he let out a cry of pain.<\/p>\n

The man ignored Joe\u2019s cry and continued to drag him across the room. When he reached the bedroom, he pushed Joe inside, throwing Joe to the floor. Joe yelled in pain again as his leg hit the hard floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going to stay in your room until you come to your senses,\u201d said the man. He pulled the door shut. Joe heard a lock click closed.<\/p>\n

Joe laid on the floor, rubbing his injured leg. He was confused about the turn of events. He was grateful to the man he thought of as Paul, but his gratitude wasn\u2019t strong enough to devote his life to the man.<\/p>\n

Paul was mad, insane, thought Joe. Not the raving lunatic kind of insane, but still possessing a madness that prevented him from seeing the truth. Paul thought that Joe was somehow sent to replace the son who had left him, and nothing Joe could say or do would convince him otherwise.<\/p>\n

Joe shook his head in sadness. He wondered if living up here all alone had caused the madness or whether it was the ordeal of being jailed for his wife\u2019s murder. Probably a little bit of both, Joe decided.<\/p>\n

Pulling himself up slowly from the floor, Joe limped slowly to the bed. Walking still hurt his leg. Joe eased himself onto the bed. He needed to think, to plan. He had to get away from the man in the other room. He just didn\u2019t know how to do it.<\/p>\n

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

The rattle of dishes and the loud click of the lock woke Joe. He looked around the sunlit room in drowsy confusion. He remembered laying on the bed in the dark, thinking about what to do. He wasn\u2019t sure when he had fallen asleep.<\/p>\n

Joe looked up as the door opened and the man came into a room carrying a tray. \u201cGood morning,\u201d said the man cheerfully. Joe\u2019s eyebrows rose in the surprise.<\/p>\n

\u201cI brought you breakfast,\u201d continued the man, handing the tray to Joe. \u201cYour favorite – blueberry pancakes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked at the plate on the tray. Three fluffy pancakes covered in blueberries and sauce sat on the plate. Black coffee sloshed in a cup on the corner of the tray. The food smelled good, and Joe realized how hungry he was. Joe looked up at the man. \u201cThanks,\u201d he said in a wary tone.<\/p>\n

The man settled himself with familiarity into the chair next to the bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry about last night,\u201d he said in a contrite voice as he watched Joe eat. \u201cI shouldn\u2019t have lost my temper like that. I hope I didn\u2019t hurt you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe moved his leg a big and winced. \u201cI\u2019m a little sore,\u201d he admitted. \u201cBut I\u2019ll be all right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, really I am, \u201c said the man, his voice full of regret. He looked at Joe. \u201cI don\u2019t want us to be enemies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe said nothing and continued to eat.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a good life up here,\u201d mused the man. \u201cIt really is. Plenty of time to fish or hunt, time to read, time to think. A man can do whatever he wants.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExcept leave,\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n

The man frowned. \u201cI was hoping you had come to your senses,\u201d he said. \u201cI can see that you haven\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPaul,\u201d said Joe, not knowing what else to call the man. \u201cI\u2019m not going to stay here. You can\u2019t keep me here. Somehow, some way, I\u2019ll find a way to leave.\u201d Joe ate the last bit of the pancakes. \u201cThank you for breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re welcome,\u201d said the man. He took the tray and stood. \u201cJoe, you\u2019re staying with me. You might as well get used to the idea. It will make things easier on both of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked away and didn\u2019t answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d said the man with a sigh. \u201cI\u2019m going to lock you in your room. I hate to do it, but it\u2019s the only way for now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked at the man and frowned. He didn\u2019t like the sound of \u201cfor now.\u201d \u201cWhat do you plan to do?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d admitted the man. \u201cI need to think about it. When I was in jail, they used leg irons to keep men from trying to escape. The chains are uncomfortable, but they are effective.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s frown disappeared and a look of alarm crossed his face. \u201cYou don\u2019t mean to chain me up,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to you,\u201d the man answered with a shake his head. \u201cBut it may be the only answer. I need to think on it.\u201d The man turned and walked out of the room. Joe heard the lock click on the door.<\/p>\n

Laying back on the bed, Joe thought hard. Last night, he had decided to wait until his leg was stronger before trying to escape. He wasn\u2019t sure how far he could walk in his present condition. But the talk of leg irons changed Joe\u2019s thinking. He couldn\u2019t wait. He had to try to leave now.<\/p>\n

Joe reached under the bed and pulled out the boot for his left foot. He hadn\u2019t tried to wear the boot since he had been caught in the trap. The low half of his leg was still a bit swollen. Now, he slipped on the sock that had been stuck in the boot, and slowly eased on the boot. The top of the boot was tight against his leg. The swelling and bandages pressed his leg tight against the leather.<\/p>\n

Swing his legs off the bed, Joe stood. He winced at the pain that resulted from putting weight on his leg. Joe stood still for a minute, and the pain eased a bit. He took a step forward and limped slowly across the room.<\/p>\n

As he stopped by the window, Joe studied it. The window was small, but big enough for him to climb through. It stood about chest high on the wall. The shutters were half open, and Joe pushed the shutters until they were flush against the wall.<\/p>\n

Grabbing the bottom of the window, Joe pulled himself up. He eased his head and chest through the window, then half fell, and half dove to the ground outside.<\/p>\n

Joe had tried to curl his body as he fell, but the fall still stunned him a bit. He laid still, both to catch his breath and to listen for any sign of detection. After a minute, he pulled himself to his feet and started to limp across the ground toward the woods.<\/p>\n

Joe was about ten feet from the house when he heard the growl. He looked over his shoulder. Lucifer was standing near the house, watching him. Joe took a deep breath and headed toward the woods as fast as his injured leg would allow him.<\/p>\n

Lucifer saw him continue to move and that seemed to anger the dog. He began to bark loudly, and started to run toward Joe. Joe started to run, moving with an awkward gait as he tried to keep as much weight off his leg as possible.<\/p>\n

The barking attracted the man\u2019s attention and he burst out of the front door of the house. He saw Joe disappearing into the woods, with Lucifer in pursuit.<\/p>\n

\u201cLucifer! Come here!\u201d the man shouted, fearful that the dog might injure his new son.<\/p>\n

Lucifer skidded to a stop, and looked back to the house. He turned to look toward the woods, obviously confused about what to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cLucifer! Come!\u201d shouted the man again.<\/p>\n

The dog looked to the woods and saw the figure disappearing through the trees. Satisfied that he had frightened off the intruder, Lucifer turned and trotted back to the house.<\/p>\n

The man walked down to the dog and patted the animal on the head.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood dog,\u201d he said. He looked toward the woods, his expression suddenly sad. \u201cFool boy,\u201d he said to the dog. \u201cHe can\u2019t get far, and he\u2019s liable to hurt himself. I\u2019ll have to go and bring him back.\u201d The man looked back to the house, indecision on his face. He gave a sigh and walked back to the door. He reached inside and pulled a rifle from the rack by the door. Then he turned and headed across the yard. \u201cLucifer, stay!\u201d he shouted at the dog who had begun to follow him. Lucifer stopped, then sat down on his haunches. The man nodded briefly, then headed into the woods.<\/p>\n

Joe walked through the thick brush as quickly as his sore leg would allow him. He had heard the man call the dog back, and was grateful for that. He had a feeling that if he tried to take on Lucifer, the dog would win.<\/p>\n

Joe was breathing hard, and his leg was beginning to ache. He decided to stop and rest.<\/p>\n

Resting his back against a tree, Joe eased himself to the ground. Now that he had a minute to think, he realized he had no idea where he was. He had no idea how to get to Twin Pines.<\/p>\n

Joe cursed himself for his foolishness. He should have waited, should have figured out a way to get the man to tell him how to get to Twin Pines. He had acted rashly.<\/p>\n

Shaking his head, Joe smiled ruefully. Maybe his Pa and his brothers were right after all, he thought. Maybe he really did need someone to watch over him. For sure, he hadn\u2019t done a very good job of watching out for himself lately.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, Joe heard the sound of something moving through the woods. He wasn\u2019t sure if it was the man or an animal, but he wasn\u2019t going to wait for whatever it was to find him. Joe pulled himself up and started walking, moving as quietly as he could. He glanced up at the sun. He knew Twin Pines had been to the east of where he had been caught in the trap. For want of a better direction, Joe headed east.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cPa, we\u2019re lost,\u201d declared Hoss as he pulled his horse to a stop.<\/p>\n

Ben looked around him. The trees and bushes grew in thick bunches and the grass was tall. There was no sign that anyone had been in the area recently. \u201cWe must have taken a wrong turn someplace,\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose directions we got weren\u2019t exactly the clearest,\u201d said Adam with a wry look.<\/p>\n

Nodding absentmindedly, Ben looked around again. \u201cLet\u2019s go back to where the trail forked,\u201d he said. \u201cMaybe we can figure out where we went wrong.\u201d He turned his horse and started back through the trees.<\/p>\n

Adam waited a minute for Hoss to ride up next to him. \u201cDon\u2019t you think we\u2019re going to find this place?\u201d he asked Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, Adam,\u201d replied Hoss. \u201cBut I sure am going to try. Joe needs our help, whether he knows it or not. And he\u2019s going to get it. Whether he wants it or not.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Joe walked with a painful limp through the woods, his shirt damp with sweat. He wasn\u2019t sure how long he had been walking, but each step seemed to make his leg ache more. The muscles torn by the teeth of the bear trap had only partially healed. Now weight and exertion were causing those to must to protest painfully. Joe tried to ignore the pain in his leg and kept moving. Twice he had stopped to rest, but each stop had been brief. Joe had heard the sounds of his pursuer both times, and he had quickly gotten back to his feet and walked on.<\/p>\n

As he moved through the brush, Joe grew thirsty, and he knew he was tiring. The pain in his leg seemed to be sapping his strength. He thought about stopping, about simply letting the man find him but rejected the thought. Somehow, Joe knew if he didn\u2019t escape now, he would never get another chance. He was more willing to face the pain and danger of trying to escape than face the prospect of spending the rest of his life in that house in the mountains.<\/p>\n

His pace slowing, Joe walked on. He was breathing hard, and his mouth was open as his body sought more air. Rivulets of sweat ran into his eyes, and Joe wiped them away with the sleeve of his shirt. He was breathing so hard that he was surprised he could hear anything beyond his own tortured gasps for air. But he did hear something. It was the sound of something moving through the woods.<\/p>\n

Joe tried to walk faster, tried to force himself to cover more ground. He knew he wasn\u2019t moving quietly, that he was making enough noise that his pursuer could easily follow him. Trying to lose the man in the woods was no longer an option. Joe\u2019s only hope was to try to find someplace to hide.<\/p>\n

As he forced himself onward, Joe\u2019s eyes searched the woods, hoping to find something that would offer him cover. Trees and bushes stood all around him but nothing that would offer the type of cover he was seeking.<\/p>\n

Joe was searching for cover and not watching the ground. His foot hit a root, tripping him to the ground. Joe landed with a soft thud, and laid still.<\/p>\n

He should get up, he should keep moving, though Joe. But his body wouldn\u2019t obey. He was too tired, too thirsty, too sore. So Joe simply laid on the ground and waited for the inevitable.<\/p>\n

The sound of someone moving through the woods was coming closer. Joe could hear the brush being moved aside. He laid on the ground, gasping for air, and tried to reconcile himself to being caught. The sound was almost on top of Joe, no more than a few feet away. Joe didn\u2019t turn his head, didn\u2019t look. He no longer cared.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe!\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe lifted his head and turned toward the voice. He thought he was imagining the voice. He looked up and saw his father dismounting from his familiar buckskin horse.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d said Joe in astonishment. He felt tears of joy and relief filling his eyes. \u201cPa,\u201d repeated Joe in an exhausted tone.<\/p>\n

Grabbing the canteen from his saddle, Ben rushed over to the figure on the ground. He uncorked the canteen and handed it to his son. Joe began to drink from it, greedily swallowing the liquid. As Joe drank, Ben lightly touched his head, then his shoulder. He could scarcely believe he had actually found his son.<\/p>\n

When his thirst was at last eased, Joe lowered the canteen. \u201cPa,\u201d said Joe again in a choked voice. \u201cHow did you find me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, we\u2019ve been looking for you for days,\u201d replied Ben, his voice equally choked. \u201cWe heard about this house in the mountains, but we couldn\u2019t find it. Finally, we separated. Adam and Hoss are looking for you, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe slumped in exhaustion and Ben put his arms around his son\u2019s shoulders. He hugged Joe against him. \u201cJoe, what happened to you, son,\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Closing his eyes, Joe wondered where to start. \u201cSome fellow jumped me on the trail,\u201d said Joe. \u201cTried to rob me. There was some shooting. I killed him, but he nicked me in the side with a bullet. The horses ran off, and I started walking toward Twin Pines. Along the way, I managed to get myself caught in a bear trap.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s eyes widen as Joe talked. \u201cWhen did this all happen?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cA couple of weeks ago,\u201d replied Joe in a tired voice. \u201cThis man found me, took me back to his place. He took care of me.\u201d Joe stopped, wondering how to explain the man to his father. \u201cEverything was fine until I figured out he wasn\u2019t going to let me leave. Not ever. I escaped this morning, and I\u2019ve been trying to get to Twin Pines since then.\u201d<\/p>\n

Slowly, Joe laid his head against his father\u2019s shoulder. Joe felt the familiar arm around him, and he smelled the faint aroma that was distinctly Ben. Joe\u2019s eyes began to well with tears again as he realized he was safe at last in his father\u2019s arms. \u201cPa,\u201d said Joe, beginning to cry. \u201cI\u2019m so happy to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m happy to see you, son,\u201d said Ben in a soothing voice. He had a hundred questions, but decided they could wait. He could see Joe was exhausted, his face etched with pain. All he wanted to do was take his son home. Explanations could wait.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake your hands off my son!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s head snapped toward the voice and Joe lifted his head at the sound.<\/p>\n

The man stood a few feet away, his rifle pointed at the pair on the ground. \u201cI said, take your hands off my son,\u201d repeated the man.<\/p>\n

Ben didn\u2019t move. His eyes narrowed and a hard look came onto his face. \u201cThis is MY son,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The man\u2019s eyes widened in surprise. \u201cYour son?\u201d he said in astonishment.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d replied Ben. \u201cI\u2019m Ben Cartwright. I\u2019ve been looking for my son for a long time. Now that I\u2019ve found him, I\u2019m going to take him home.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man hesitated, unsure what to do. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t want to separate a father from a son,\u201d he said slowly. But then a determined look crossed the man\u2019s face. \u201cYou have two others sons,\u201d he said to Ben. \u201cI have none. None but the one you\u2019re holding.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not your son,\u201d said Ben firmly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes he is,\u201d insisted the man. \u201cI found him, I cared for him. He\u2019s mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy son is not some stray dog you can claim,\u201d declared Ben. \u201cHe\u2019s a boy. He has a family. He\u2019s going back to his family.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d shouted the man. \u201cHe\u2019s mine! I need him. I have to have him with me. I\u2019ll make him want to stay with me!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t make anyone want to stay with you,\u201d said Ben in a quiet voice. \u201cEspecially not a son. You have to love your sons enough to give them room to grow. You have to love them enough to let them go if they want to.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man stared at Ben as he thought about Ben\u2019s words. \u201cBut I don\u2019t want to be alone,\u201d said the man in almost a pleading voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to be alone,\u201d said Joe quietly. \u201cIt\u2019s your choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man looked at Joe in anger. \u201cYou don\u2019t know anything about it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you chose to live in those mountains,\u201d replied Joe in a tired voice. He closed his eyes and winced in pain. Then he looked up. \u201cIt\u2019s your choice. It\u2019s not mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

The anger on the man\u2019s face was replaced with a pleading look. \u201cCome home, son,\u201d he urged Joe. \u201cPlease. Come home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s body sagged against Ben\u2019s. \u201cI am home,\u201d said Joe in a barely audible voice.<\/p>\n

The man looked at Joe and realized his pleas were in vain. He turned to stare at Ben. The man slowly lowered his rifle. \u201cI was lucky enough to have your son for a little while,\u201d said the man. \u201cI guess I always knew, deep down, I couldn\u2019t make him stay.\u201d The man looked at Joe, then back to Ben. \u201cYou found your son. I guess now I have to find mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man turned and started to walk back into the woods. He stopped and turned back once more. \u201cGood-bye, son,\u201d he said to Joe. Then he disappeared into the woods.<\/p>\n

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

Ben walked from the kitchen toward the living room. He stopped just before entering the room and smiled to himself. Joe was stretched out on the sofa, reading. Ben watched Joe for a minute, savoring the sight.<\/p>\n

The memory of finding Joe in the woods a week ago was still fresh in Ben\u2019s mind. He could still see himself helping an exhausted Joe onto his horse, and he could almost feel his son resting against him as they rode slowly through the trees to meet Adam and Hoss at the fork in the trail. Joe had slept during most of the ride to Twin Pines, and then spent another day sleeping in the hotel room in town. Joe had seemed unusually quiet during the ride in the rented buckboard back to the ranch, and Ben had worried until he got his son home.<\/p>\n

Doctor Martin had checked Joe, and declared that a week or two of rest was all the medicine Joe needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, take your feet off the furniture,\u201d said Ben as he started into the room.<\/p>\n

Joe looked up and hastily swung his feet off the sofa. \u201cYes sir,\u201d he said quickly. Joe watched as Ben walked to his favorite chair by the fireplace and sat down. \u201cWhere\u2019d you go this morning?\u201d asked Joe curiously. \u201cWhen I came down for breakfast, Hop Sing said you had gone out.\u201d Joe was still sleeping late, taking advantage of the opportunity to stay in bed until mid-morning while he could. Joe knew in another week, his brief vacation from work would be over.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I just rode out to take a look at that dam that Adam and Hoss are building on Willow Creek,\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n

Joe grinned impishly. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to know I\u2019m not the only one you check up on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was not checking up on them,\u201d Ben said firmly. \u201cI just rode out to see if they had everything they needed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh huh,\u201d said Joe, his voice reflecting his disbelief.<\/p>\n

Ben looked at Joe, then smiled. \u201cAll right,\u201d he admitted, \u201cmaybe I was doing a little checking. It\u2019s a father\u2019s right to check on his sons.\u201d As soon as Ben said the words, he regretted them. He looked at Joe a bit fearfully.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Pa,\u201d Joe reassured Ben. \u201cIt took me a while, but I finally figured out that having someone keep an eye on you isn\u2019t all bad. Keeps a fellow from getting himself into a heap of trouble.\u201d Joe\u2019s face suddenly sobered. \u201cDo you think Paul went looking for his son?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d said Ben with a shake of his head. \u201cFrom what you said, I think that the man you called Paul was pretty confused. I\u2019m not sure he knows what he wants.\u201d Ben smiled at Joe. \u201cExcept maybe wanting you as a son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving one father is quite enough, thank you,\u201d said Joe. \u201cI don\u2019t think I could survive having two.\u201d Joe grinned. \u201cThere are days, I bet, when you wish you could give me away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s face grew sober. \u201cNo, Joe,\u201d he said in a serious voice. \u201cI may get angry with you, or exasperated with you, but there\u2019s never a time when I wish you weren\u2019t my son. I\u2019m very proud and happy to have you as my son.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe flushed, a bit embarrassed at Ben\u2019s emotional statement. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t want anyone else as my father,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d said Ben with a smile. \u201cBecause I\u2019m always going to be your father. I might not be the best father, but I\u2019m the only one you\u2019ll ever have.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Next Story in the Lost Son Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Guardian<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tags:\u00a0 Family,\u00a0Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright,\u00a0mistaken identity<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary:\u00a0 It’s never easy being the youngest of the family.<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 T\u00a0\u00a0 (30,750 words)<\/p>\n

Lost Son Series, links to stories within the series are included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10338,"featured_media":13074,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_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":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13945","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","wpcat-23-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":4289,"today_views":2},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Family-3.jpg?fit=272%2C320&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":13911,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13911","url_meta":{"origin":13945,"position":0},"title":"After the Last Viking (by Susan G)","author":"SusanG","date":"December 12, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 A WHN for the episode \"The Last Viking\" Rating:\u00a0 T\u00a0 (13 730 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\/2017\/03\/The-Last-Viking.png?fit=698%2C472&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/The-Last-Viking.png?fit=698%2C472&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/The-Last-Viking.png?fit=698%2C472&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":50532,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=50532","url_meta":{"origin":13945,"position":1},"title":"Did We Win (by AC1830)","author":"AC1830","date":"February 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: The Founders Day horse race was a tradition for Adam and Joe Cartwright, but the question always is - which brother will win? Rating: G, Word Count: 772","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\/2025\/02\/Joe-and-Adam-The-Hayburner.png?fit=496%2C395&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23190,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=23190","url_meta":{"origin":13945,"position":2},"title":"Cartwright Confessions (by AC1830)","author":"AC1830","date":"July 26, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Four vignettes in which the each Cartwright decides to share a hidden truth with the others. Rating - K, WC - 823\u00a0","rel":"","context":"In "Family"","block_context":{"text":"Family","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1008"},"img":{"alt_text":"joe, adam, hoss, ben","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Honor-of-Cochise.png?fit=599%2C449&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Honor-of-Cochise.png?fit=599%2C449&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Honor-of-Cochise.png?fit=599%2C449&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5514,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5514","url_meta":{"origin":13945,"position":3},"title":"Great Minds (by deansgirl)","author":"deansgirl","date":"May 1, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0It's Christmas time on the Ponderosa and the family is ready to exchange gifts. Rated: K+ (2,440 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":45545,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=45545","url_meta":{"origin":13945,"position":4},"title":"Faith, Hope, and Family (by Heidi)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"April 12, 2000","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: What holds a man like Adam Cartwright up when his confidence wavers? Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 \u00a0Words:\u00a0 1,825","rel":"","context":"In "Adam Cartwright"","block_context":{"text":"Adam Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1005"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15004,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=15004","url_meta":{"origin":13945,"position":5},"title":"The First Roundup (by Starlite)","author":"starlite","date":"September 14, 2000","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: A look at a very enthusiastic little boy's first roundup. Rated:\u00a0 G\u00a0 \u00a0(2,400 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Humor"","block_context":{"text":"Humor","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/two.jpg?fit=300%2C257&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13945","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/10338"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13945"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13945\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13074"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13945"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13945"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13945"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}