{"id":13957,"date":"2007-07-01T15:58:44","date_gmt":"2007-07-01T19:58:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13957"},"modified":"2026-07-29T13:44:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T17:44:57","slug":"the-good-samaritan-by-susan-g","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13957","title":{"rendered":"The Good Samaritan (by Susan G)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary<\/strong>:\u00a0 Helping and not expecting anything in return.\u00a0 It’s a matter of paying it forward.<\/p>\n

Word Count: \u00a020,000 \u00a0Rated: \u00a0T<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Good Samaritan<\/strong><\/p>\n

Muttering a curse under his breath, Joe Cartwright swung the ax into a\u00a0log, splintering the wood with a loud crack. A rivulet of sweat ran down the side of Joe\u2019s face, and he paused in his work for a moment to wipe his face with the back of his arm. He shook his head and wished for the hundredth time that he was anywhere but chopping wood in the yard of the Ponderosa ranch house.<\/p>\n

The fact that it was his own fault \u2013 well, perhaps his bad luck \u2013 that he was stuck with this chore on the hottest day of the summer didn\u2019t improve Joe\u2019s mood. Normally, today would have been his brother Hoss\u2019 turn to chop wood. Joe had persuaded Hoss to trade with him, however, getting his big brother to do the chore on his day earlier that week. Joe had wanted time to look at a string of horses that were being offered for sale in Virginia City last Monday\u00a0and figured taking his turn at this onerous chore later in the week was the best way to get the time he needed to go to town.<\/span><\/p>\n

But things hadn\u2019t worked out quite the way Joe planned. The horses had turned out to be a string of nags \u2013 old animals doctored with every trick in the book to appear younger and fitter than they really were. The pleasantly cool weather in the early part of the week had disappeared, replaced with uncomfortably hot, sticky air. And now he was stuck sweating in the heat, chopping wood while Hoss was taking a comfortable ride to the south pasture to check the herd. Joe wished he was riding with Hoss, or in town helping his father pick up supplies, or riding through the cool hills with his brother Adam, marking trees for cutting. He wished he was almost anywhere except chopping wood in the sweltering heat.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sighing, Joe picked up the ax and swung it again. Although he knew it was no one\u2019s fault, at the age of 22, Joe was still young enough to feel resentment when things didn\u2019t go the way he wanted. So he took out his frustration on the wood, slamming the ax into the logs with an unusual force while cursing his fate in a low breath.<\/span><\/p>\n

The noise of the ax and his own grumbling deafened Joe to the sound of the rider coming into the yard. He didn\u2019t realize the man was there until he heard a shout. Joe turned and his eyes widened.<\/span><\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t the grizzled old man wearing a battered hat and a shirt streaked with sweat and dirt that surprised Joe. Nor was it that the man was sitting a horse almost as old and tired as the ones Joe had seen in Virginia City. What shocked Joe was the stranger was leading a big chestnut, and that a man dressed in black was slumped in the saddle on the chestnut.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdam!\u201d cried Joe, as he dropped the ax and rushed across the yard.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFound him a couple miles back,\u201d the old man explained as Joe hurried past him. He swung his leg over the horse and eased himself to the ground. \u201cSaid he belonged to the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s my brother,\u201d Joe replied with a distracted air. Reaching up, he took Adam\u2019s arm and gently eased him upright. His eyes searched for signs of blood, a wound, or any other indication of injury.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think he\u2019s hurt too bad,\u201d commented the old man as he watched Joe. \u201cGot a knot on his head and his thinking is kind of fuzzy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As if to give proof to the old man\u2019s statement, Adam turned his head toward Joe. He blinked twice, and said in a thick voice, \u201cJoe? Where am I?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re home, Adam,\u201d answered Joe in a soothing voice. \u201cWe\u2019ll get you all fixed up.\u201d Joe turned to the man standing behind him. \u201cHelp me get him down and into the house, will you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d replied the stranger. He reached up and helped Joe ease Adam off the big chestnut.<\/span><\/p>\n

As he slipped Adam\u2019s arm over his shoulder, Joe asked, \u201cWhat happened to him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t rightly say,\u201d answered the old man who was imitating Joe by slipping Adam\u2019s left arm over his shoulder. \u201cFound him sprawled in the grass a ways back. I brought him around enough to get him to tell me he lived at the Ponderosa. But he was kind of fading in and out so I figured I\u2019d better getting here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m all right,\u201d Adam mumbled, his words slurred a bit.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure you are,\u201d agreed Joe. He started walking slowly, gently urging Adam forward by pressing a hand against his brother\u2019s back. Adam took a few steps with rubbery legs, swaying a bit as he walked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking past Adam at the stranger, Joe said softly, \u201cLet\u2019s get him into the house.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The old man nodded, and hitched Adam\u2019s arm a bit tighter over his shoulder.<\/span><\/p>\n

Walking slowly, Joe and the stranger helped Adam shuffle across the yard and to the house. Pausing only to open the door, Joe urged his brother forward.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing! Hop Sing!\u201d Joe shouted in a loud voice as the trio entered the house. \u201cAdam\u2019s hurt. Come help!\u201d Without waiting to see if the cook responded, Joe turned to the old man. \u201cUpstairs,\u201d he said quickly. \u201cFirst bedroom on the right.\u201d The stranger nodded and pushed Adam toward the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

The three men were still slowly and awkwardly climbing the stairs when Hop Sing, the Cartwright\u2019s Chinese cook hurried into the room. \u201cWhat happen?\u201d he demanded in broken English. \u201cHow Mr. Adam hurt?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe got knocked in the head,\u201d answered Joe over his shoulder, continuing to work his way up the stairs \u201cGet some water.\u201d As Hop Sing scurried back toward the kitchen, Joe helped Adam to the top of the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was only a few feet to the bedroom, but Joe felt as if the trio had to walk a mile. Adam was sagging against his supporters and mumbling incoherent phrases. The two men carrying him were no longer helping Adam walk but rather were dragging him across the floor. A knot of worry was beginning to form in Joe\u2019s stomach.<\/span><\/p>\n

As he eased his oldest brother onto the bed, Joe looked closely at Adam. His brother\u2019s breathing seemed fine, and his face did not appear to be pale or flushed. Joe lightly ran his hands over Adam\u2019s arms and chest, and was relieved to find no evidence of broken bones. The only injury Joe could see was a large bump on the side of Adam\u2019s head, toward the back of his skull. A small cut split the top of the lump, but only a trace of blood was visible.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Joe began unbuckling Adam\u2019s gunbelt, he could see the old man from the corner of his eye. The stranger was standing at the end of the bed, seemingly unsure about what to do next.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure you don\u2019t know what happened?\u201d Joe asked without looking up. \u201cYou didn\u2019t see anyone around? Any sign of trouble?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNothing,\u201d the old man replied. \u201cI just came down out of the trees to the flats and there he was, laying on the ground.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe turned at the sound of footsteps, and saw Hop Sing bustling into the room. The cook was carrying a large basin of water and a towel was thrown over his arm. Hop Sing brushed past Joe and carefully set the basin on the table next to Adam\u2019s bed. With a gentle nudge, he pushed Joe back from the bed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rolling Adam\u2019s holster in his hands, Joe took a few steps back and watched as Hop Sing imitated his own examination of his older brother, running hands over arms and chest. Then the cook turned to the table. After dipping the towel in the water, Hop Sing held the cloth against the wound on Adam\u2019s head.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou and the Chinese the only ones here?\u201d asked the old man as he watched Hop Sing\u2019s ministrations.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d answered Joe in a distracted voice, his attention also fixed on the bed. Suddenly, Joe looked up at the stranger. The grizzled man didn\u2019t seem like the type who might be scouting the house for a gang of thieves or want to cause some kind of trouble himself, but Joe knew appearances could be deceiving. \u201cMy father and brother should be home any time now,\u201d Joe added as his eyes narrowed. \u201cAnd the hands are due back shortly.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The old man must have seen the suspicion on Joe\u2019s face. He held up his hands as he spoke. \u201cHey, boy, I didn\u2019t mean nothing. I was just asking in case there was something I could do to help, like maybe ride for a doctor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Turning his attention back to the bed, Joe\u2019s brow furrowed. He had been knocked silly enough times himself to know that often a few hours rest was the best cure. On the other hand, Adam\u2019s injury could be more serious, and a delay in sending for the doctor could be harmful to his brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was Hop Sing that made the decision for Joe. \u201cNo need doctor,\u201d the Chinese cook stated firmly. \u201cNo fever. Skin not white. Mr. Adam\u2019s eyes look right. All he need is sleep and some of Hop Sing\u2019s tea.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure, Hop Sing?\u201d Joe asked doubtfully.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing sure,\u201d replied the cook confidently. \u201cLittle Joe come and keep cold cloth on cut while Hop Sing make tea.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d agreed Joe. He walked to the bed and took the cool, damp cloth from Hop Sing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKeep cold and keep on Mr. Adam\u2019s head,\u201d Hop Sing instructed Joe. \u201cHop Sing be back soon.\u201d With a quick nod, the cook walked out of the bedroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure there\u2019s nothing else I can do?\u201d asked the old man almost plaintively from his spot at the bottom of the bed. \u201cMaybe I could put up his horse or something.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With a sudden flash of insight, Joe realized the man was looking for some sort of reward. Judging from the stranger\u2019s rough clothes and battered hat, the old man could use a few dollars. And Adam\u2019s life was certainly worth more than that, in Joe\u2019s opinion.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, we\u2019re fine,\u201d Joe told the man. \u201cBut we do owe you something for bringing my brother in. Why don\u2019t you go downstairs and make yourself comfortable. It\u2019ll take Hop Sing a little while to make the tea and I need to stay with my brother right now. I\u2019ll be down soon to talk to you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, son,\u201d the old man said gratefully. He put his hand to the brim of his cap in a sign of respect, then quickly left the bedroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe wasn\u2019t sure how long he sat by his brother\u2019s bed before Adam began to stir. It seemed like a long time as the minutes ticked by while the man on the bed laid still and silent. Joe kept the cloth against the lump on Adam\u2019s head, periodically dipping the towel in the basin of water to keep it cool and wet, and tried to keep the knot in his stomach from growing.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Adam finally stirred \u2013 grunting a bit and moving his head from side to side \u2013 Joe breathed a sigh of relief. He sat back in the chair and waited for Adam to fully regain consciousness. His patience was rewarded when his older brother turned his head to Joe and blinked his eyes several times.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHi,\u201d said Adam slowly. He blinked once more, then added, \u201cAren\u2019t you suppose to be chopping wood or something?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d have time to do my chores if I didn\u2019t have to keep looking after you, older brother,\u201d Joe retorted, trying to keep the relief out of his voice. \u201cWe can\u2019t leave you alone for a minute, can we?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you can get back to work now,\u201d said Adam. He started to push himself up from the bed, then suddenly stopped. Putting a hand to the bridge of his nose, Adam groaned softly and fell back to the bed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLay still,\u201d Joe ordered his brother. \u201cHop Sing is brewing one of his teas to help your headache.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI hope it\u2019s strong,\u201d muttered Adam, \u201c \u2018cause I could use it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen has Hop Sing not made his tea strong enough to walk on its own?\u201d asked Joe with a smile. Then his face sobered. \u201cWhat happened, Adam?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking off to the side a bit, Adam frowned. \u201cI\u2019m not sure exactly,\u201d he admitted slowly. \u201cI remember riding down from marking those trees. Then there was a noise \u2013 the growl of an animal, I think \u2013 and my horse shied.\u201d He shook his head slowly. \u201cI\u2019m not sure what happened after that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour horse shied and you fell off?\u201d said Joe in surprise. \u201cYou\u2019re a better rider than that, Adam. Something else must have happened.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A wry grin crossed Adam\u2019s face as he turned back to his brother. \u201cWell, the fact that I was reading a book of poetry while I was riding might have contributed to it,\u201d he confessed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat explains it,\u201d agreed Joe with a smile. \u201cI always said those books of yours were dangerous.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAh, Mr. Adam awake. That good,\u201d said a voice behind Joe. Joe turned to see Hop Sing walking into the bedroom carrying a tray with a teapot and a cup with no handle.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe woke up a few minutes ago, ornery as ever,\u201d Joe told the cook.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that I have a splitting headache just might have something to do with my bad disposition,\u201d Adam observed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou drink tea,\u201d Hop Sing ordered Adam. Setting the tray on the bed, Hop Sing reached down and poured some amber liquid from the teapot to the cup. Handing the cup to Adam, Hop Sing added, \u201cTea good for you. Cure headache. Drink tea then sleep. You be fine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing, is that old man still downstairs?\u201d asked Joe as he watched Adam sip the steaming brew from the cup.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo see man,\u201d Hop Sing replied. He turned to Adam. \u201cYou drink.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat old man?\u201d asked Adam curiously.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSome old fellow found you and brought you in,\u201d explained Joe. \u201cHe was hinting around at a reward; he looked like he could use the money. I told him to wait downstairs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI hope you\u2019re going to give him an appropriate reward,\u201d said Adam. \u201cIf he hadn\u2019t found me and brought me in, there\u2019s no telling what might have happened to me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Putting his hand to his chin and rubbing it a bit as though he were considering the idea, Joe answered, \u201cWell, it might be worth $20. I know that seems a mite high but he did bring the horse in too. We can\u2019t afford to lose a good horse.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s nice to know I\u2019m valued at least as much as a horse,\u201d Adam stated sourly. Joe grinned at his brother\u2019s complaint.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing no have time for foolishment,\u201d the cook scolded at the brothers. \u201cYou drink tea. You go see man. No waste Hop Sing\u2019s time when dinner still to be made.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, all right, I\u2019ll go,\u201d said Joe in a soothing voice. He noted that Adam was meekly sipping the tea again.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Joe descended the stairs to the main part of the house, he wasn\u2019t entirely surprised that the area near the fireplace was empty. He was sure Hop Sing would have noticed a stranger sitting on the settee or in one of the chairs. But Joe frowned a bit as he reached the bottom of the stairs and looked around. No one was in the den or the dining room either. Thinking that the old man must have gone outside, Joe walked to the front door and pulled it open.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s frown deepened as he walked into the yard in front of the house. Adam\u2019s horse was tied to the hitching post near the house. But the old animal that the stranger had been riding was gone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Walking quickly across the yard, Joe went to the barn and looked in. Except for the horses in their stalls, the barn appeared empty. Nevertheless, Joe called out, \u201cHello! Anyone here?\u201d The only answer was the soft nicker from his pinto in the second stall.<\/span><\/p>\n

Puzzled, Joe walked back to the house. He was sure the old man had been hinting for a reward, and would have stayed around to receive it. As he entered the house, Joe looked around again, then walked over toward his father\u2019s desk in the den. Thinking the old man might have left a note, Joe checked the papers on the desk. The papers were the usual accumulation of bills and notes on ranch business. Not expecting to find anything, Joe picked them up anyway and looked on the back for any scrawled message. As he anticipated, the back of the sheets were blank.<\/span><\/p>\n

Just as he was about to turn away from the desk, Joe noticed the top drawer was ajar. Moving around the desk quickly, he pulled the drawer open fully and looked inside. Joe saw bits of string, an ink bottle and a few other odds and ends. What Joe didn\u2019t see was the small stack of money that his father usually kept there.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pushing the drawer close, Joe looked around the den. Nothing else seemed to have been disturbed. The pictures of Ben Cartwright\u2019s wives with their gold frames sat on the far corner of the desk. The bookcase was still firmly closed and all the books appeared to still be there. The small statue still stood on the bureau behind the desk.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Joe walked into the main room, his eyes searched the area carefully. Again, everything seemed to be in order and nothing was missing. He scanned the rifle rack and that\u2019s where he saw it. The last slot of the rack was empty.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe knew a rifle had been in that slot earlier in the day; he had seen it himself when he had brought in some wood for the box by the fireplace. He also noted that where there had been three boxes of bullets for the rifles, only two boxes now sat. If Joe hadn\u2019t been looking around, he might not have noticed the missing rifle and box of ammunition. Whoever had taken them did his best to make their theft less than obvious.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shaking his head angrily, Joe turned and climbed the stairs at a rapid pace. He strode into Adam\u2019s bedroom, and stopped in surprise to see his older brother was the only one in the room. \u201cWhere\u2019s Hop Sing?\u201d he asked his brother, who was sitting up in the bed and sipping from the teacup.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe went downstairs a few minutes after you did,\u201d Adam answered. \u201cSaid something about needing to have dinner ready when Hoss got home in order to avoid an angry bear.\u201d Adam cocked his head a bit. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with you? You look like you could chew nails.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ignoring his brother\u2019s question, Joe asked, \u201cAre you sure that knock on your head was caused by an accident? I mean, you weren\u2019t bushwhacked or something?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere wasn\u2019t anyone else around,\u201d replied Adam calmly. \u201cAnd I distinctly remember that growl and my horse moving suddenly. Why the questions? Is there some reason to think it was more than that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shrugging, Joe explained, \u201cWell, it\u2019s possible that old man who brought you in caused the accident somehow. Maybe he wanted to you knocked out so you wouldn\u2019t know who he was.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then brought me back here?\u201d Adam said a bit incredulously. \u201cI hardly think that\u2019s likely. If he wanted to harm me, he could have left me out there or even killed me. I was out cold. He could have taken my horse and anything else I had, and no one would have ever known.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe he was after something more,\u201d insisted Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would you think that?\u201d asked Adam<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause that kindly old man who rescued you is gone,\u201d explained Joe. \u201cAnd he took the money from Pa\u2019s desk along with a rifle and some shells when he left.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs anything else missing?\u201d Adam asked, a tone of alarm in his voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot that I can tell,\u201d admitted Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, he probably just got tired of waiting,\u201d replied Adam in a calmer voice. A small smile appeared on his face. \u201cHe probably didn\u2019t think you looked like the generous type and took his own reward.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to go after him and bring him back,\u201d stated Joe angrily, turning toward the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWait, Joe!\u201d Adam shouted. He saw his brother pause, and continued quickly. \u201cYou don\u2019t even know which way he went. And he\u2019s probably riding fast. You\u2019d be wasting your time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe stole from us, Adam, and no one gets away with that,\u201d Joe declared, the anger still evident in his voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe took, what, about $50 and a rifle and some shells,\u201d argued Adam. \u201cEven if you caught him, the most he would get is maybe thirty days in jail. Besides, you would have given him that if he asked, wouldn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure I would have,\u201d said Joe. \u201cBut that\u2019s just the point, Adam. He didn\u2019t ask. He just helped himself. That\u2019s not right.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s not right,\u201d Adam agreed. \u201cBut it\u2019s also not worth calling out the cavalry for. The old man did me a good turn. Let\u2019s do the same for him and just forget it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Blowing out a puff of air and running his fingers through his hair, Joe tried to make up his mind. As angry as he was at the old man, Joe also knew Adam\u2019s assessment of the situation was right. \u201cI\u2019ll let it go,\u201d Joe said finally, \u201cbut I\u2019m not going to forget it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cYou should be resting in bed,\u201d Ben Cartwright told his oldest son. \u201cHop Sing could have brought you a tray.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Sighing softly, Adam tried to keep his irritation in check. \u201cI\u2019m fine, Pa,\u201d he said for the third time since he had sat down at dinner table. \u201cI\u2019ve got a bit of a headache, that\u2019s all. I promise I\u2019ll go right to bed as soon as I finish my dinner.\u201d He forked one of the last pieces of meat from his plate to his mouth to avoid adding a comment he might regret.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d agreed Ben, somewhat mollified. \u201cBut if you start feeling dizzy, you let me know right away.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir,\u201d said Adam, his eyes rolling toward the ceiling.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I don\u2019t know what your so all-fired worried about,\u201d commented Hoss with a grin. \u201cYou know Adam has a hard head. A little tap like that ain\u2019t going to bother him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is no joking matter,\u201d Ben replied in a stern voice. \u201cHead injuries can be tricky, and it\u2019s important that we keep an eye on Adam to make sure he hasn\u2019t any side effects.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir,\u201d Hoss agreed solemnly, but he turned his head to give Adam a wink.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, Joseph, you did the right thing by staying here and looking after your brother,\u201d Ben continued. \u201cChasing after that old man would have served no purpose. It was more important that Adam was being cared for than retrieving some money and an old rifle.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI still would like to get my hands on that old goat,\u201d grumbled Joe. \u201cI thought he was bringing Adam in as a favor. All he really wanted to do was rob us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLooks like what he took were just some things he needed,\u201d suggested Hoss. \u201cWhat he took might keep him from starving or maybe doing something worse to somebody else.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe could have asked,\u201d Joe argued. \u201cAll he had to do was come upstairs and ask. But instead he robbed us. I\u2019m still not convinced he didn\u2019t have something to do with Adam\u2019s so called accident.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBoy, you\u2019re getting downright mistrustful,\u201d Hoss remarked, shaking his head.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s pretty easy to do,\u201d said Joe defensively. \u201cYou can\u2019t trust anybody these days. Those horses I went to look at, for example. That horse trader had doctored them up, trying to make them look better than they were. He probably ended up selling them to some greenhorn who didn\u2019t know any better, and laughed all the way to the bank. And Pa had to send that contract back to the railroad because they had made a \u2018mistake\u2019 and tried to underpay us for the lumber. If Adam hadn\u2019t checked those figures, we would have been out a lot of money.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, that could have been an honest mistake,\u201d Ben countered. \u201cIt happens, you know. People do make mistakes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, maybe it was,\u201d acknowledged Joe. \u201cBut it still proves you can\u2019t just take somebody\u2019s word. You have to check everything. And you have to watch out for everybody.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a pretty cynical view, Joe,\u201d commented Adam.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou trust us, don\u2019t you, little brother?\u201d asked Hoss, a trace of hurt evident in his voice. \u201cMe and Adam and Pa, we wouldn\u2019t let you down.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Seeing the look on his brother\u2019s face, Joe tried to soothe his brother\u2019s feeling. \u201cI wasn\u2019t talking about you, Hoss,\u201d Joe said apologetically. \u201cI know I can rely on you and Pa and Adam. You\u2019re family, though, and that makes a difference. Family sticks together. What I\u2019m saying is you can\u2019t depend on anyone else. Everyone is out for themselves. Nobody is on nobody\u2019s side except their own.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I don\u2019t buy that,\u201d argued Adam. \u201cSure, there are some people who take advantage and some you can\u2019t trust. But the majority of people are good and honest, and they\u2019d give you the shirt off their backs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve had a run of bad luck lately, Joe,\u201d Ben added. \u201cYou just happen to have met a string of people who were, well, less than trustworthy. Those people are the exception, not the rule.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLook, all I\u2019m saying is that people have a reason for doing things,\u201d argued Joe. \u201cNo one does anything unless it\u2019s going to get them something in return.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou really are turning into a cynic,\u201d Adam said, shaking his head.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI prefer to think of it as being a realist,\u201d Joe shot back.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI still think people are basically good, Joe,\u201d stated Hoss. \u201cPeople do things all the time without wanting something in return.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou think the best of everyone, Hoss,\u201d said Joe. \u201cJust because you think someone is a good guy doesn\u2019t necessarily make it true.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t sit here debating this subject all night,\u201d Ben interrupted. \u201cAdam needs to get some rest. And so do you, Joe. I want you to up at the sawmill early tomorrow to start loading that lumber for the railroad. You need to make sure that lumber gets to where they are laying tracks by the end of the week.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThink you can trust Joe to do that, Pa?\u201d asked Hoss, feigning a look of innocence.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure he can, Hoss,\u201d Adam answered in a dry voice. \u201cAfter all, Joe\u2019s family, and the only ones you can trust these days are family.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBet he counts every board to make sure the men at the mill don\u2019t shortchange him,\u201d said Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe Joe had better load all the boards by himself,\u201d suggested Adam. \u201cThat way he can be sure no one makes a mistake.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNaw, he don\u2019t want to do that,\u201d Hoss replied, shaking his head. \u201cSomebody is liable to steal the horses while he\u2019s working on the back of the wagon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll have to stand on the wagon seat so he can watch both the horses and the lumber at the same time,\u201d Adam advised. He started laughing at the image he had conjured up in his mind, and Hoss joined in.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGo ahead and laugh,\u201d said Joe with a scowl on his face. \u201cYou\u2019ll be sorry when you find out for yourself that you can\u2019t rely on other people.\u201d He turned to his father. \u201cI\u2019m going to bed, Pa. I\u2019ll see you in the morning.\u201d Giving his laughing brothers a look of disgust, Joe pushed back from the table and walked toward the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou boys were a little hard on Joe,\u201d commented Ben as he watched his youngest son climb the stairs to his room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAw, Pa, we was just funning,\u201d answered Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, he\u2019s just such an easy target when he gets all puffed up and self-righteous like that,” Adam added.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI just wish he would look for the good in people, instead of being so suspicious,\u201d sighed Ben shaking his head. \u201cJoe will find life more pleasant if he does.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Bouncing in the seat of the wagon, Joe guided the horses along the dirt path that served as the road. He glanced up at the summer sky, trying to decide how much daylight he had left. Joe knew he had two choices \u2013 spend the night in Benson\u2019s Crossing or keep going until dusk and find a place to camp on the trail. He calculated that this time of year, he would have sun until early evening, probably three or four more hours. Benson’s Crossing was less than an hour away.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Benson\u2019s Crossing held little appeal for Joe, other than offering relief from the jostling of the wagon as it traveled along the uneven road. It could hardly be called a town. The settlement was just a collection of a few buildings \u2013 general store, saloon, livery, feed store and so on. The businesses were important to the ranchers in the area but few people from outside the area bothered to visit the small community.<\/span><\/p>\n

Glancing back, Joe eyed the empty wagon behind him. The bed of the wagon would probably be as comfortable as anything he could find in Benson\u2019s Crossing, and the meal he would fix on the trail wouldn\u2019t be much worse than the food in the saloon. By skipping the somewhat doubtful comforts of the settlement, Joe could travel a good number of miles before dark, miles that would bring him closer to the soft bed and good meals of home. So, like numerous other travelers, Joe dismissed the idea of stopping at Benson\u2019s Crossing from his mind.<\/span><\/p>\n

The thought of home caused a wry smile to appear on Joe\u2019s face. He was sure his brothers would ask him about the load of lumber. Hoss might not bring up the subject, but Joe was sure Adam would. His oldest brother could be like a terrier sometimes, holding onto an idea until he had shaken everything he could get out of it. Joe would be forced to admit that he had counted the boards as they were loaded at the mill, making sure the number was right. But he would also point out that the supervisor of the railroad crew laying track had done the same thing, making sure Joe hadn\u2019t shortchanged him on the boards needed for the track bed. The rather harried supervisor had been reluctant to take the time to give Joe a receipt for the wood but Joe had insisted. And he had carefully read the scrawled receipt from the supervisor before leaving. Shaking his head a bit, the wry smile on Joe\u2019s face grew. There had been a lack of trust all around.<\/span><\/p>\n

With his thoughts miles away, Joe didn\u2019t see the man ahead of him until the fellow emerged from the brush, frantically waving his arms. Quickly, Joe pulled the wagon to a stop.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMister! Mister!\u201d called the man as he ran toward the wagon. \u201cI need help. My friend\u2019s hurt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cWe was cutting through the woods and he tripped and fell,\u201d answered the man quickly. \u201cI think he broke his leg or something. I don\u2019t know what to do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Sitting on the wagon, Joe studied the stranger standing on the side of the road. He was about Joe\u2019s size, wearing old brown pants streaked with dirt. The man\u2019s plaid shirt was faded and his dark hat was dotted with holes and marks of sweat. Joe could see a bit of sandy hair jutting out from under that hat, and that hair seemed strike a chord in Joe\u2019s mind.<\/span><\/p>\n

Frowning a bit, Joe said, \u201cHaven\u2019t I seen you before? Maybe up where they\u2019re laying the track?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The man\u2019s eyes widened a bit and an expression \u2013 surprise or maybe fear \u2013 flickered across his face. Joe couldn\u2019t be sure because the look was gone as quickly as it had appeared.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe,\u201d admitted the man, shrugging a bit. \u201cMe and my friend was up there looking for work but they didn\u2019t have none.\u201d He suddenly seemed to remember why he had stopped the wagon. \u201cLook, my friend needs help, mister,\u201d the man insisted in a more frantic tone of voice. \u201cCan you just take a look? Please?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDrop the gunbelt and I\u2019ll help you out,\u201d answered Joe, cocking his head a bit.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUm…sure,\u201d agreed the stranger, looking a bit surprised. He reached down and unbuckled a worn belt from his hips. The leather strap fell to the ground, along the old gun inside the holster.<\/span><\/p>\n

Giving a nod of satisfaction, Joe reached behind the wagon seat and grabbed a canteen. He took a quick look around, then jumped down from the wagon. \u201cAll right, show me where your friend is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis way,\u201d replied the man. He started walking through the brush.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Joe followed the stranger through the woods, he kept his left hand on his pistol and his eyes searching the bushes. While the man had done nothing to arouse suspicion, Joe still felt uneasy about walking away from the trail with someone he didn\u2019t know. At the same time, in his head, Joe could almost hear his brother Adam laughing at him for being overly cautious as well as his father chiding him for being so unwilling to help someone in need.<\/span><\/p>\n

The stranger led Joe toward a strand of trees, looking over his shoulder from time to time to make sure Joe was still behind him. He seemed anxious to insure Joe was following him. Joe wondered if the man was worried about getting help for his friend or if the man had some other purpose in wanting Joe to follow him. When the pair passed a large elm tree, Joe got his answer.<\/span><\/p>\n

A few feet past the elm, Joe heard a noise behind him. He started to turn but froze when he felt the barrel of a gun in his back.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGet your hands up,\u201d a voice growled. \u201cBilly, get his gun.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cursing himself silently for not trusting his instincts, Joe slowly raised his hands. The man walking in front of Joe hurried back to him, and pulled Joe\u2019s gun from his holster. As Joe watched from the corner of his eye, the man behind him moved slowly to his front.<\/span><\/p>\n

The rifle in the second outlaw\u2019s hand looked shiny and new, not unlike the rifles Joe had seen at the railroad work site. Joe guessed the big man in the faded red shirt had stolen it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll I have is about $30,\u201d stated Joe in a resigned voice. \u201cIt\u2019s in my wallet in my coat pocket.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t want just your $30,\u201d declared the big man. \u201cWe want what the railroad paid you for that lumber.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou fellows sure don\u2019t know much about the lumber business,\u201d said Joe with a touch of sarcasm in his voice. \u201cThe railroad buys the lumber with a contract for the whole lot. They don\u2019t pay off every time a load is delivered.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t try to trick me,\u201d snarled the man with the rifle. \u201cI heard the guy there call you Cartwright. Cartwright\u2019s a big name in these parts. You wouldn\u2019t be delivering the lumber if you weren\u2019t getting paid. A Cartwright don\u2019t just haul things.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just doing a chore, just like any other hand,\u201d explained Joe. \u201cMy Pa and older brother handle all the finance stuff. I\u2019m just a working stiff on this job.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think he\u2019s telling the truth, Lou?\u201d asked Billy anxiously.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShut up!\u201d snapped Lou. He frowned at Joe and lifted his rifle menacingly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLook, just check my wallet,\u201d offered Joe quickly. \u201cAll you\u2019ll find in there is the $30 and a receipt for the boards. There isn\u2019t any other money.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With a quick jerk of his head, Lou ordered Billy to get the wallet. Joe stood unmoving as Billy cautiously approached him and patted Joe\u2019s chest. Feeling the wallet, Billy reached inside Joe\u2019s jacket and pulled out the leather billfold. Then he hurriedly took a few steps back.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s telling the truth, Lou,\u201d said Billy as he opened Joe\u2019s wallet. \u201cNothing in here but a couple of bills and a piece of paper with some writing on it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Seeing the frown deepen on Lou\u2019s face, Joe decided he needed to convince the robbers to leave before they took their disappointment out on him. \u201cYou\u2019ve got my money and my gun. That\u2019s all there is. Take them and let me go.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat ain\u2019t all there is,\u201d stated Lou, giving Joe a hard look. \u201cThem horses and that wagon, they\u2019ll fetch a pretty good price.\u201d He looked Joe up and down. \u201cWhat do your think, Billy? He\u2019s about your size. You fancy a new jacket and some boots?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes narrowed as he sized up the two outlaws in front of him. He didn\u2019t want to be shot, but at the same time, walking barefoot to Benson\u2019s Crossing was a less than appealing idea. \u201cYou can have the jacket. Here take it,\u201d said Joe as he began to slowly peel the green coat off his back. \u201cI\u2019d prefer to keep my boots, though.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care what you want\u2026\u201d started Lou. The big man never got to finish his sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n

With a sudden move, Joe whipped the jacket across Lou\u2019s face. The big man\u2019s head jerked to the side, his face stung by the rough cloth. Joe rushed forward and threw a punch into Lou\u2019s midsection, causing the man to double over and drop the rifle. Without a pause, Joe swung around and threw a punch at the astonished Billy\u2019s jaw. Billy\u2019s head snapped back and Joe landed another blow to the man\u2019s stomach. As Billy fell to the ground, Joe pivoted back to Lou. He threw another punch at the big man, this time hitting him on the side of the face. Joe started to take a step forward so he could land another punch. But a pair of hands grabbed Joe\u2019s ankle and pulled. Losing his balance, Joe fell forward and landed on the dirt with a soft thud.<\/span><\/p>\n

Without looking, Joe kicked his leg backward. He heard a small shriek of pain and felt the hands release his ankle.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe started to scramble to his feet, but his advantage had been lost. Lou was standing over Joe, waiting. Before Joe was fully erect, Lou smashed a fist into Joe\u2019s face. Joe staggered back a step and felt his arms being grabbed from behind. As he struggled to free himself, Joe could see Lou approaching. He tried to duck, but the big man\u2019s punch found its mark on the side of Joe\u2019s face. A second punch followed quickly, this one smashing under Joe\u2019s chin.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once more, Joe kicked out his leg, this time forward toward Lou. But the kick was too slow and weak to be effective. Lou grabbed Joe\u2019s leg and twisted it hard, causing a shooting pain in Joe\u2019s knee. Then Lou pulled on Joe\u2019s leg, jerking him free from Billy. Joe fell on his back, landing on the earth with a bone-jarring crash.<\/span><\/p>\n

Almost in a frenzy, Billy rushed up to Joe and started kicking him, yelling, \u201cKill him! Kill him!\u201d each time his foot landed on Joe\u2019s body. Lou pushed Billy aside, then reached down and grabbed the front of Joe\u2019s shirt with his fist. He pulled Joe up a bit, then punched Joe hard in the face. Joe\u2019s head jerked to the side, then jerked again as another blow landed. Finally, Lou threw Joe\u2019s limp body back to the ground.<\/span><\/p>\n

Barely conscious, Joe felt hands grabbing at him. His boots were yanked off his feet by one set of fingers while another set unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it from around him. Hands roughly unbuckled his gunbelt and the belt around his waist, and both were slipped away from his body. Through a fog of pain, Joe could hear voices.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou get the hat, shirt, jacket, boots and socks,\u201d Lou announced. \u201cI\u2019ll take the belts. We\u2019ll sell the horses and wagon, and split that and the money he had on him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShouldn\u2019t we finish him off?\u201d Billy asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy waste the bullet?\u201d answered Lou. \u201cIf some animal don\u2019t get him, he\u2019ll freeze or something anyway.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe heard the sound of footsteps approaching him. \u201cSo long, sucker,\u201d muttered Billy. He kicked Joe hard in the side, sending the helpless man spiraling downward into darkness.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The first sound Joe heard was the cawing of a crow nearby. He wondered what the crow was doing in his room, as well as why his bed was so hard and cold. His muddled brain was insisting that, if he was laying flat on his back, he must be in his bed. It wasn\u2019t until the pain of what seemed like a hundred hurts reached his brain that Joe realized he wasn\u2019t in the safety and comfort of home.<\/span><\/p>\n

Groaning as the pain started radiating through him, Joe tried to open his eyes. Only one eye worked; the left one was so swollen that it opened only a bit. Joe could make out some branches and leaves above him, as well as the annoying crow sitting in a tree.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe tried to lift his head, but the world started spinning as soon as he raised it. He lowered his head back to the ground and closed his eyes. As he felt the throbbing of his sore face, body and leg, Joe tried to remember where he was and why he hurt. For a moment, nothing came to him; then, in an instant, the memory of the two thieves and the brutal beating came flooding back.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shivering, Joe wrapped his arms around his naked chest. His feet felt like cubes of ice. Joe knew he had been beaten and robbed of everything except his pants. What he didn\u2019t know was what to do next.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lying on the dirt, shivering and wracked with pain, Joe tried to think. The first thought that came to him was that he would never offer to help a stranger again. His second thought was that, if he didn\u2019t do something, his vow to never offer aid again would come true very soon. If he simply laid on the ground, he would die.<\/span><\/p>\n

Moaning from the agony of merely moving, Joe turned himself over. He didn\u2019t try to stand; the effort would have been a useless gesture. Joe doubted whether he had the strength to get to his feet, and even if he somehow managed that task, he doubted if his throbbing leg would support his weight. Joe knew he had only two options \u2013 to crawl toward the road and pray for help, or lay down where he was and die. He let out a grunt at the irony of the situation. A little while ago, he had been trying to decide where he could most comfortably spend the night. Now he was trying to decide whether to live or die.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reaching out his arms, Joe pulled himself across the ground. He could feel the sticks, gravel and small rocks scratching his unprotected chest but he ignored the scrapes. In his current situation, those nicks could be barely felt. The pain of the scratches was minor compared to the aches and throbs emanating from the other parts of his body.<\/span><\/p>\n

What had been no more than a five minute walk from the trail now turned into an hour-long ordeal. Joe pulled his body slowly across the ground, using his uninjured leg to push himself forward from time to time. Joe could feel the rough ground scraping his bare feet, another set of minor hurts among a host of major ones. He stopped often to rest, exhausted by both the pain and his efforts. He could tell the light was fading and knew that night was fast approaching. Joe knew that there was little hope that a traveler would come down the seldom used trail, but if he was to have any chance at all, he needed to reach the road before dark.<\/span><\/p>\n

After an hour of pulling and pushing, Joe fell to the ground and simply laid there. He was too tired and in too much pain to care any longer. He knew he was near the road but that no longer mattered to him. All Joe wanted to do was close his eyes and sink into the darkness which offered him a refuge from his agony. Joe gave a small sigh and let himself escape to the darkness.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cCan you hear me, boy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe heard the words spoken softly as a wet cloth gently dabbed the side of his face. He suddenly was aware of a rough but warm blanket wrapped around him, and a hand that seemed to be supporting his head.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCan you hear me? Open your eyes, boy. Let me know you can hear me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The voice was more insistent this time, and Joe felt compelled to obey. He slowly opened his right eye and lifted his swollen left eyelid as much as he could. It took a moment for his eyes to focus on the face looking down at him. Once more, Joe was looking into the face of a stranger.<\/span><\/p>\n

This stranger was a man in his fifties. His chubby face was outlined by a neatly trimmed white beard and shocks of thick but unruly white hair. Joe could make out the sleeves of a faded white shirt under a black vest. But it was the man\u2019s eyes that drew Joe\u2019s attention. The deep blue eyes that were watching him seemed to be filled with compassion. They were the kindest eyes Joe had ever seen.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you\u2019re still with us,\u201d said the man, relief evident in his voice. \u201cMy name\u2019s Sam. Can you tell me your name?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe moved his lips but found talking a difficult task. His side hurt so bad that it was difficult to breathe, much less speak. His swollen lips also were having a hard time forming words. Joe swallowed hard, and made an effort. \u201cJoe,\u201d he managed to croak out. He tried to swallow again, but his mouth felt dry. \u201cWater,\u201d Joe managed to whisper.<\/span><\/p>\n

Muttering under his breath, Sam reached behind him and grabbed a canteen. He lifted Joe\u2019s head a bit higher and started trickling water into Joe\u2019s mouth. \u201cSorry, son,\u201d Sam apologized as he watched Joe carefully swallowing the liquid. \u201cI should have given you a drink right away. I just didn\u2019t think.\u201d Sam shook his head as if berating his own stupidity.<\/span><\/p>\n

After drinking about half the canteen\u2019s contents, Joe turned his head a bit to indicate he had had enough. Sam pulled the canteen away and set it on the ground next to him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCan you tell me what happened?\u201d asked Sam as he turned back to Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTwo men\u2026robbed me,\u201d answered Joe slowly. He was still finding talking to be difficult.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSomebody robbed you, beat you and left you like this?\u201d Sam said in a voice that showed that the idea shocked him. \u201cWho would do such a terrible thing?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t bother to answer. He couldn\u2019t tell Sam much about the men even if he had felt like talking, which he didn\u2019t. His ribs hurt and his mouth was sore, and Joe was feeling an almost overwhelming need to sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

Seeing Joe\u2019s eyelids begin to droop, Sam asked quickly, \u201cDo you live around here, Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Forcing his eyes open, Joe looked up at Sam. Talking would take more strength than Joe could muster, so he merely shook his head a bit.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCan you tell me where you live?\u201d pressed Sam.<\/span><\/p>\n

Deciding that sleep was the most important thing in the world to him, Joe let his eyelids droop. He couldn\u2019t answer Sam; he was too tired. Joe shook his head briefly once more, then allowed himself to drift off to sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

A sudden movement shook Joe into consciousness. He woke with a start, confused as to where he was and what was happening to him. A pair of hands seemed to be slowly dragging him over something flat. Joe forced his eyes open and looked up. In the dim light of early evening, Joe could barely see the figure bending over him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, Joe,\u201d Sam apologized. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to wake you, but I thought it was better that I got you some help than spend the night along side the road. I moved you to my wagon.\u201d Pausing, Sam pulled the blanket up to Joe\u2019s chin, and adjusted Joe\u2019s head a bit on some other blankets he had arranged as a pillow. \u201cI saw a sign a ways back for someplace called Benson\u2019s Crossing,\u201d he continued after making sure Joe was as comfortable as possible. \u201cMight be able to find a doctor there. If not, we should be able to at least find you a bed so you can get some decent rest.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Once more, Sam stopped talking. He peered into Joe\u2019s face, evidently looking for some sign that Joe understood him. Apparently satisfied with what he saw, Sam went on. \u201cIt can\u2019t be too far. I\u2019m sure I can find it even in the dark.\u201d He hesitated, then added, \u201cI\u2019ll drive as slow as I can, Joe, but it\u2019s gone to be a little rough. If it gets too bad for you, you just yell out and I\u2019ll stop. Understand?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking up at the dim figure, Joe wondered why the stranger was going to all this trouble for him. He couldn\u2019t understand what Sam hoped to get in return. Joe obviously didn\u2019t have any money, and Sam couldn\u2019t know his family was well-off. Kidnapping him seemed pointless, and it would be days before his father and brothers realized he was overdue and perhaps posted a reward.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, for some reason, Joe knew that the man was only trying to help. He instinctively trusted Sam. Nodding a bit, Joe indicated he understood.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d said Sam, patting Joe lightly on the shoulder. \u201cNow try to rest if you can. We\u2019ll get you some help soon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

As he drove the wagon into the settlement, Sam was filled with a sense of dismay. Even in the dark, he could tell Benson\u2019s Crossing consisted of only a few buildings, and almost all of them appeared empty or closed for the night. The only light was a dim glow through a window of a building in the middle. Sam guided the wagon toward a weather-beaten structure over which hung a sign proclaiming it as a saloon.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stopping the wagon, Sam twisted in the seat to look into the back of the wagon. Joe seemed to be sleeping. He had heard some soft grunts and moans from the young man as the wagon had traveled over the rough road, but Joe hadn\u2019t asked him to stop. The last mile or so, the road had been fairly smooth and that\u2019s probably when Joe drifted into sleep. He\u2019s a tough one, thought Sam as he climbed down from the wagon. He looked around again at the darken buildings, then headed for the door of the saloon.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sam walked into a well-lit room that held three small tables with a couple of chairs around each, and a small bar in the back on which four brown bottles stood clustered together. The only person in the room was a thin man about 40 wearing an apron. The man had thick black hair and a matching mustache. Sitting at one of the tables, he held a cloth in his hand and was polishing a whiskey glass. When he saw Sam, the man put the glass and cloth on the table next to four other glasses.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou the bartender?\u201d asked Sam as he walked further into the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBartender, glass polisher and owner,\u201d answered the man, getting to his feet. \u201cTom Matthews. What can I get you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI found a young fellow along the road a ways back. He was robbed and beaten up pretty bad. I\u2019m looking for a doctor,\u201d explained Sam.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA doctor?\u201d said Matthews, giving a bit of a derisive laugh. \u201cThis town ain\u2019t big enough to have a doctor. Hell, this place ain\u2019t big enough to be called a town. You\u2019d have to go to Virginia City to find a doctor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow far is that?\u201d asked Sam, a sinking feeling growing in his stomach.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA day, maybe a day and a half, depending on how fast your horse is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs there someplace I can find a room?\u201d asked Sam anxiously. \u201cThe boy is hurt pretty bad. He\u2019s in no shape to travel to Virginia City.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got a couple rooms in the back I rent out,\u201d answered Mathews, jerking his head to a door. \u201cThey\u2019re small, but they\u2019re clean, and the mattresses are softer than sleeping on the hard ground. Cost a dollar a day and food is extra.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Rubbing his chin, Sam tried to decide what to do. Joe needed some care and a decent bed, but Sam wasn\u2019t sure he would get either in this run-down excuse for a tavern. In his heart, though, Sam knew he had no other choice. There was no place else to take the injured man.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sighing a bit, Sam nodded. \u201cI\u2019ll take a room. Could you help me get the boy into a bed? He\u2019s hurt too bad to walk.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGuess so,\u201d agreed Matthews with a shrug. \u201cLet me light the lamps in the back, and then I\u2019ll come out to help you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Out on the deserted street, Sam looked into the back of the wagon again, this time from the side. Joe appeared to be still sleeping. Sam felt rather than heard someone coming up behind him. He turned to see Matthews standing a few feet from the wagon, waiting impatiently.<\/span><\/p>\n

Climbing into the wagon, Sam called over his shoulder to Matthews, \u201cYou take his legs. Be real gentle with him.\u201d Sam moved to the front of the wagon and knelt. He tucked the blanket around Joe, then slowly lifted Joe\u2019s head and shoulders.<\/span><\/p>\n

The two men carried Joe into the saloon, with Sam being much more gentle than Matthews. As he braced Joe\u2019s head and shoulders, Sam glanced down at the young man. This time, the movement hadn\u2019t wakened Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Leading the way, Matthews guided them through a door into the back of the saloon. Sam could see the area had once been a storage space that was now partitioned into two rooms. The construction of the rooms had been cheap \u2013 thin slats of wood acted as a dividing wall, and the doors were merely slabs of wood with latches. The rooms were barely large enough to hold the narrow bed, chair and table with a wash basin and lamp that had been positioned in each of them. Matthews led the men into the first room and unceremoniously dropped Joe\u2019s feet on the bed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sam was much more careful about positioning Joe, taking care to lay the young man\u2019s head on the thin pillow and moving his body to the center of the even thinner mattress. The oil lamp in the room didn\u2019t give out much light, but the room was so small that the light seemed to fill it. Sam peeled the blanket off Joe\u2019s body so that he could examine the young man closer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBoy, someone really worked him over, didn\u2019t they,\u201d exclaimed Matthews, seeing Joe clearly for the first time. He was a bit shocked by the extent of the swelling on Joe\u2019s face as well as by the bruises and scratches that seemed to cover the young man\u2019s body.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey sure did,\u201d acknowledged Sam as he poked and prodded the sleeping figure. \u201cDon\u2019t seem to be anything broken, but I think some of his ribs are cracked. His knee is all swelled up; must have wrenched it or something.\u201d He turned to Matthews. \u201cCan you get me some water?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d agreed the saloonkeeper, grabbing a pitcher from the table. \u201cI\u2019ve got some bandages and medicines I keep around for when the cowboys take it in mind to beat on each other. I\u2019ll bring those, too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

By the time Joe started to wake up, Sam had completed bandaging Joe\u2019s ribs and knee and had cleaned the cuts and scratches. He also had daubed some medicine on the deepest cuts, and was using a cold cloth to try to ease the swelling on Joe\u2019s face. Joe tried to open his eyes but the left one was swollen shut and a cold cloth covered the right one. Deciding that moving and talking would take more energy than he possessed, Joe simply laid still \u2013 and listened.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHere\u2019s some more cold water,\u201d declared a voice that seemed to be entering the room. Joe didn\u2019t recognize the voice, and he almost groaned in despair. Yet another stranger with which he would have to contend.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d said a second voice, which Joe recognized as belonging to his rescuer, the man named Sam.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI appreciate all your help, Tom,\u201d Sam continued.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I didn\u2019t have anything else to do,\u201d answered Matthews in a self-depreciating voice. \u201cYou sure you don\u2019t know who he is?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll he managed to tell me was that his name was Joe, and that he had been robbed,\u201d Sam told the saloonkeeper.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou sure went out of your way for someone you don\u2019t know,\u201d commented Matthews. \u201cI\u2019m not sure I would have done all this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou would have,\u201d Sam asserted. \u201cNo decent man could have just left him on the road like that, and you\u2019re a decent man.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI thank you for the compliment,\u201d said Matthews, \u201cbut I\u2019m still not sure I would have done the same as you. Why\u2019d you do it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe listened hard now, curious to hear how Sam would answer. He also wanted to know why Sam had taken such an interest in him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d have done it for any of God\u2019s creatures,\u201d replied Sam. \u201cYou see an animal that\u2019s hurt or in need, and you just naturally want to help. That goes double for a man.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnyone?\u201d asked Matthews in a skeptical voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, maybe not a skunk,\u201d Sam admitted, giving a small laugh. \u201cI never could quite develop a fondness for them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know some men I would classify as skunks,\u201d observed Matthews.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI meant the animal,\u201d stated Sam firmly. There was a pause, then Sam continued. \u201cSpeaking of animals, I need to take care of my team. Is there somewhere I can put them up for the night?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it,\u201d said Matthews. \u201cI already took care of it. They\u2019re down at the livery. Jake wasn\u2019t too happy about me waking him up, but he agreed to make sure they\u2019re fed, watered and bedded down for the night.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to cost you two bits,\u201d Matthews added. He laughed a bit. \u201cJake ain\u2019t quite the charitable fellow that you are.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s worth it to me to make sure those horses are well cared for,\u201d replied Sam. \u201cI\u2019m going to need them for\u2026for something important.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you bed down next door for a while,\u201d suggested Matthews. \u201cI\u2019ll sit with the fellow and wake you in a couple of hours.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Evidently, Sam had agreed because Joe could hear some feet shuffling. Once more, a great weariness seemed to descend on Joe, and he began to drift off into sleep. As he began to lose touch with consciousness, though, Joe wondered why Sam was going to need his horses. He also wondered what he had done to deserve such kindness from two strangers.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

When Joe opened his eyes, he wasn\u2019t very surprised to see a shaft of sunlight coming through the door. He felt weak but rested and figured he had slept through the night. What did surprise him, however, was that he was able to open both eyes. The swelling around his left eye had seemed to gone down. Putting his fingers to his face, Joe gently touched his cheek and eye. Both were tender but not nearly as sore and swollen as he had expected they would be.<\/span><\/p>\n

Moving a bit on the bed, Joe felt a dull ache in his side rather than the sharp pain he expected. He ran his hand slowly down his chest and was amazed to feel scabs had formed over the scratches. His leg felt stiff but wasn\u2019t near as sore as he had anticipated.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFinally awake, are you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking up, Joe saw a tall, thin man with black hair and a black mustache standing in the doorway. \u201cWho are you?\u2019 he asked with a frown. Joe scanned the room with his eyes. \u201cWhere am I?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNames Tom Matthews,\u201d replied the man in the doorway. \u201cYou\u2019re in a room in the back of my saloon in Benson\u2019s Crossing. You\u2019ve been here almost three days.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThree days!\u201d exclaimed Joe, astonished.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYep,” asserted Matthews nodding. \u201cI\u2019m not surprised you don\u2019t remember. You had a pretty high fever until this morning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s\u2026Sam?\u201d Joe said the name in a hesitant voice, not sure if he had it right.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo you remember Sam,\u201d noted Matthews. \u201cI\u2019m not surprised. He would be a hard man to forget. He took off a couple of hours ago. He stuck around until your fever broke and then left. Said he was already overdue someplace.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry to hear that,\u201d Joe stated with true regret. \u201cI wanted to thank him. Do you know his last name or where he went?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, Matthews answered, \u201cYou know, I never did get his last name. The whole time he was here, we either talked about you, or me or some other thing. We never did talk about him. Kind of funny, ain\u2019t it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, it is,\u201d agreed Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe said your name was Joe,\u201d said Matthews, looking at Joe with a curious expression. \u201cThat right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nodding, Joe answered, \u201cYeah. My name\u2019s Joe Cartwright. My family has a ranch over Virginia City way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCartwright?\u201d repeated Matthews in surprise. \u201cLike in the Ponderosa Cartwrights?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy Pa owns the Ponderosa,\u201d Joe acknowledged.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhew!\u201d exclaimed Matthews. \u201cI didn\u2019t know who you were.\u201d He grinned. \u201cWelcome to Benson\u2019s Crossing, Mr. Cartwright.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d said Joe. \u201cI\u2019m glad to be here. You don\u2019t know how glad I am to be here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSam said you were beat up and robbed, and they left you on the road,\u201d Matthews continued. \u201cIs that what happened?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSomething like that. This fellow lured me into the woods by saying his friend needed help. They got mad when they found out I only had a little money on me,” explained Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo they beat you up,\u201d observed Matthews. \u201cTook your clothes and whatever else you had and just left you. Sounds like nice fellows.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nodding, Joe agreed. \u201cThey left me in the woods. I managed to crawl back to the road and that\u2019s where Sam found me.\u201d He shook his head. \u201cI don\u2019t remember much after that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know who the fellows were who beat you up?\u201d asked Matthews.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI never saw them before,\u201d answered Joe. \u201cOne was my size; his name was Billy. The other fellow was a big guy called Lou.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBilly Hawkins and Lou Dobbins,\u201d offered Matthews. \u201cI\u2019d stake a month\u2019s profits on that\u2019s who it was.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou know them?\u201d asked Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen them around,\u201d replied Matthews with a shrug. \u201cThey worked on a couple of ranches around here. The word got around, though; they only worked at a place long enough to figure out what they could steal. They pulled that stunt at two or three places. After that, no one would hire them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey weren\u2019t arrested?\u201d Joe asked, surprised.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t have a sheriff around here,\u201d explained Matthews with a shrug. \u201cAnd they never took enough to make it worthwhile to ride all the way to Carson City for the Territorial Marshall.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it sounds like them,\u201d said Joe, a bit bitterly. \u201cThey had a rifle that I\u2019m pretty sure they stole from the railroad. Too bad nobody ever had them arrested. Might have saved me some bruises.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBased on what I hear about your Pa, I don\u2019t think you\u2019ll have to worry about them getting away with this,\u201d Matthews commented with a grin. \u201cThey must not have known who you were.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey knew all right,\u201d answered Joe. \u201cThat\u2019s why they thought I had a lot of money on me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThose two are dumber than dirt,\u201d noted Matthews, shaking his head. \u201cEveryone in Nevada knows that you\u2019re going to pay for it if you go after a Cartwright.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d said Joe, a bit surprised.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cReally,\u201d stated Matthews. He smiled at Joe. \u201cYour Pa has a reputation. He\u2019s one of the most honest and decent men around, but if you do something to make Ben Cartwright mad, you\u2019d better head for the hills.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d say that\u2019s about right,\u201d agreed Joe, returning Matthews smile. \u201cI have some personal experiences that show you don\u2019t want to make my Pa mad.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll bet you do,\u201d observed Matthews with a laugh. He looked at Joe closely. \u201cI\u2019d better get you something to eat. You haven\u2019t been able to get much down except for some broth Sam forced into you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Rubbing his jaw, Joe said, \u201cI\u2019m not sure how much chewing I can do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got some soup with some bits of chicken and greens in it on the stove. It should give your belly something to hang on to but it won\u2019t take much chewing to get it down.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cDon\u2019t thank me; thank Sam,\u201d replied Matthews. \u201cHe made it. Among other things, Sam\u2019s a pretty good cook. I tasted it, and that soup is purely a delight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry he\u2019s not around for me to thank,\u201d Joe told the saloonkeeper a bit wistfully. \u201cHe\u2019s a remarkable man.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRemarkable?\u201d said Matthews. \u201cSon, I don\u2019t think that even half describes him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

A day of sleep and several meals made Joe feel almost human again. He was anxious to get out of bed and on his way home, but was at a loss on how to accomplish that. He was stuck in Benson\u2019s Crossing with no horse, no money, and no clothes except a pair of pants. Tom Matthews had done so much for Joe already that he was reluctant to ask the man for more help. But after thinking about alternatives for a long time, Joe was forced to admit he had no choice but to ask for another favor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe was steeling himself to ask Matthews for help when the saloonkeeper walked in with a pile of clothes in his hand. \u201cI got you a shirt and boots and such,\u201d said Matthews in an off-handed manner as dropped the clothes on the end of the bed. He put a pair of black boots on the floor near the bed.<\/span><\/p>\n

A surprised look came over Joe\u2019s face. \u201cI don\u2019t have any money. I can\u2019t pay you for those things.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know you don\u2019t have any money on you,\u201d acknowledged Matthews with a shrug. \u201cSam left some money to cover the cost of the room and whatever else you might need. It came up a little short, but I figure you\u2019re good for it.\u201d He grinned suddenly. \u201cBesides, we can\u2019t have you walking around town half-naked. You might scare the horses.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Reaching forward for the dark blue shirt on the bed, Joe felt a stab of pain in his side. He grabbed his ribs with his left hand but continued to reach forward with his right. He hoped Matthews hadn\u2019t seen the wince on his face.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI appreciate this,\u201d Joe said as he pulled the shirt toward him. \u201cI hate to ask you for more, but do you think you can advance me the price of renting a horse. I\u2019ll make sure you get paid.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA horse? Are you crazy, boy?\u201d exclaimed Matthews. \u201cYou\u2019re in no shape to ride.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got to get home somehow,\u201d argued Joe. \u201cI\u2019m two days late already. Another day or so and my family is really going to worry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou try to sit a horse and you\u2019ll never make it home,\u201d stated Mathews firmly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll ride slow,\u201d Joe promised. \u201cMy ribs won\u2019t get bounced that much.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah? And how to plan to stay in the saddle with that sore leg of yours?\u201d asked Matthews. \u201cYou can\u2019t even bend that knee yet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Biting his lip a bit, Joe pictured himself trying to ride with sore ribs and a stiff leg. He had to admit that Matthews was right. \u201cHow about a rig or a wagon? Can I rent one of those?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere ain\u2019t nothing down in Jake\u2019s livery except three or four horses,\u201d explained Matthews, shaking his head. \u201cThis isn\u2019t Virginia City. The only time someone needs a ride around here is when his horse throws a shoe or goes lame.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Frustrated, Joe pursed his lips and looked to the side. \u201cThere must be some way for me to get home,\u201d he muttered. He thought for a minute, then looked at Matthews. \u201cHow about I send a message?\u201d suggested Joe. \u201cIs there someone who would ride to the Ponderosa with a message for me? My Pa could come here with a rig to pick me up. I\u2019ll make sure I tell him to pay whoever the delivers the message as well as brings money to reimburse you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Rubbing his chin a bit, Matthews looked at Joe. \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he said thoughtfully. \u201cFinding somebody who was willing to spend two or three days on that little chore might be tough. People around here got their own places to take care of.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d make sure he got paid well,\u201d Joe insisted. \u201cThere must be someone who could use the money.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt ain\u2019t the money, Joe,\u201d explained Matthews. \u201cIt\u2019s the time. People around Benson\u2019s Crossing don\u2019t have a lot of time to spare.\u201d He rubbed his chin again as if thinking. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you get dressed and come out front,\u201d he suggested. \u201cYou\u2019re probably tired of sitting in that bed. In the meantime, I\u2019ll think on what you suggested. Maybe I can come up with an idea.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d said Joe gratefully. \u201cFor everything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Matthews waved away Joe\u2019s thanks. \u201cI ain\u2019t done nothing except give you a bed, some clothes and a little food. No need to be thanking me for that little bit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a lot to me,\u201d Joe stated. \u201cI appreciate it, especially since you don\u2019t know me. Not many people would do all this for a stranger.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I know at least one other who would,\u201d answered Matthews with a smile. \u201cA fellow named Sam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It was almost an hour before Joe limped into the main area of the saloon dressed in the blue shirt, his own pants, and a pair of black boots. Getting dressed had been harder and more painful than Joe had anticipated. He walked gingerly, holding his ribs as he moved. Standing behind the small bar, Matthews watched without comment as Joe eased himself down into a chair by one of the tables.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBoots fit?\u201d asked Matthews. \u201cI had to guess the size.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEverything fits fine,\u201d answered Joe. He gave Matthews a rueful smile. \u201cYou were right about sitting a horse, though. I\u2019m still pretty sore.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFigured as much,\u201d agreed Matthews with a shrug. He cocked his head a bit. \u201cYou want a beer?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Sighing a bit, Joe nodded. \u201cMight as well. I owe you so much already that adding the price of beer to the bill won\u2019t hurt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is all probably going to come to the princely sum of about twenty dollars,\u201d remarked Matthews as turned to draw a beer. \u201cI think your Pa can afford it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, if I can ever figure out how to let him know where I am,\u201d grumbled Joe in reply.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI been thinking on that,\u201d declared Matthews as he came around from behind the bar with a full beer glass in his hand. He walked over to the table and set the glass in front of Joe, then pulled up a chair for himself. \u201cYou ever run a saloon, Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The beer glass in Joe\u2019s hand stopped in mid-air. \u201cRun a saloon?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d said Matthews. \u201cPour drinks, collect money, that sort of thing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never done it,\u201d admitted Joe. He took a sip of the beer. \u201cBut I think I could probably handle it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I thought,\u201d Matthews stated. \u201cHere\u2019s what we\u2019ll do. I\u2019ll take your message to your Pa over at the Ponderosa. In the meantime, you stay here and run my place for me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d trust me to do that?\u201d said Joe in surprise.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it ain\u2019t like I\u2019m giving you the keys to a bank vault,\u201d Matthews remarked with a laugh. \u201cA barrel beer, couple bottles of whiskey and a few dollars is all you\u2019d get if you wanted to rob me. Besides, I figure you couldn\u2019t get very far.\u201d He grinned at Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d be lucky to make it to the end of the street right now,\u201d agreed Joe. \u201cWhich brings up another problem. I\u2019ll admit I\u2019m still pretty sore. I\u2019m not sure I could handle a crowd.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the middle of the week, Joe,\u201d explained Matthews. \u201cYou\u2019ll be lucky if you have six customers. I\u2019ll be back before the hands from the ranches come in on Friday night.\u201d He looked at Joe. \u201cWhat do you say? You willing to try it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMore than willing,\u201d agreed Joe, sticking out his hand. \u201cYou just got yourself a bartender.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Sitting at a table playing solitaire with an old deck of cards, Joe wondered what Tom Matthews did to keep from going crazy. It turned out that his estimate of six customers had been optimistic. Matthews had been gone a little over two days, and in that time, exactly four people had wandered into the saloon. The thirstiest of the lot had had two beers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blowing out a breath of air, Joe moved a red ten onto a black Jack. As he played with the cards, Joe kept listening for the sound of horses. He figured Matthews should be back with his father sometime today. It couldn\u2019t be soon enough, as far as Joe was concerned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe had lost track of how many games of solitaire he had played before he finally heard the sound of hooves and the jingle of a wagon harness from the street. He gave a silent cheer as he began to collect the cards on the table. Joe had just finished stacking the cards when he heard the heavy trod of several boots on the wooden floor of the saloon and the sound of a familiar voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe! Are you are all right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking up, Joe smiled at his father. \u201cA little bruised and sore, but I\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ignoring his son\u2019s assurance, Ben crossed the room and put his fingers on Joe\u2019s chin and lifted it a bit. Although the bruises had begun to fade, Ben could see the extent of the dark marks and scabs on Joe\u2019s face. Based on what Tom Matthews had told him, Ben could only assume the rest of Joe\u2019s body looked the same or worse.<\/span><\/p>\n

After enduring his father\u2019s inspection for a minute or so, Joe shook his face free. \u201cHonest, Pa,\u201d he said. \u201cIt looks worse than it feels.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it couldn\u2019t look much worse, little brother,\u201d observed a booming voice from behind Ben. Joe craned his neck to look around his father and saw his brothers standing in the doorway next to a thickset man wearing a badge on his vest. \u201cYou look like you ran into an angry bear,\u201d finished Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

Turning back to his father, Joe said, \u201cI just asked for a ride home. I didn\u2019t expect you to bring the cavalry with you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Mr. Matthews told us what happened, Adam and Hoss insisted on coming with me,\u201d explained Ben. \u201cMarshall Cody there happened to be in Virginia City at the time so we thought it would be a good idea to include him in our little party.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The man wearing the badge took a step forward. \u201cFrom what Matthews said, those two boys have been causing a lot of mischief around here before they went after you. It\u2019s been awhile since I\u2019ve been over in this area, so I figure I\u2019d come along to see what\u2019s going on here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure I can give you any idea where to look for them, Marshall,\u201d admitted Joe, shaking his head.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll find them,\u201d replied the Marshal in a confident voice. \u201cI just need some information from you so I can write up a formal complaint.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou sure do manage to get yourself into a pack of trouble, Joe,\u201d noted Adam in a dry voice. \u201cAll you had to do was deliver some boards.\u201d He gave his brother a wicked grin. \u201cDid you count them?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI did,\u201d Joe acknowledged almost proudly. \u201cAnd so did the supervisor at the railroad work site.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat figures,\u201d said Adam, shaking his head.<\/span><\/p>\n

Matthews pushed his way into the room and walked over to the bar. \u201cBefore we start the festivities, why don\u2019t we all have a beer?\u201d he suggested. \u201cI don\u2019t know about you boys, but I\u2019m dry as a bone.\u201d He looked over to Joe. \u201cThat is, if there\u2019s any beer left.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTom, I didn\u2019t sell enough beer to drown a cat,\u201d answered Joe. \u201cHow you keep from going stir crazy in this place is beyond me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt livens up a bit on Friday and Saturday,\u201d Matthews assured him. \u201cWell, how about those beers?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSounds good to me,\u201d answered Joe, pushing back his chair and walking toward the bar. Ben, Adam, and Marshall Cody followed him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou fellows go ahead,\u201d said Hoss, turning back toward the street. \u201cI want to move that buckboard out of the middle of the road.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, you wouldn\u2019t want it to block the crowds,\u201d commented Joe in an ironic voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Leaning on the bar with their backs to the door, Joe and the others waited while Matthews filled the beer glasses and set them down in front of them. The men had just begun to sip their beers when the sound of footsteps on the wood floor echoed across the room. None of the men turned around, thinking Hoss was returning. However, all of them were surprised when a voice snarled, \u201cNobody move. Just keep your hands where they are, fellows, and no one will get hurt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As the men leaning against the bar froze, Matthews looked up to the men across the room. A look of surprise crossed his face, and then a smile seemed to twitch on his lips.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBilly, Lou,\u201d called Matthews. \u201cYou don\u2019t want to do this. Trust me. You really don\u2019t want to do this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShut up,\u201d shouted Lou. \u201cBilly, you gather up their guns. Then we\u2019ll find out what kind of money these fellows who ride such nice horses carry around with them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Billy took a step forward, then stopped when the four men at the bar turned almost in unison. His face blanched when he recognized Joe then saw the marshal’s badge on the man standing next to him. He saw Ben and Adam put their hands on their guns, and heard Ben say in a tone that sounded like the voice of doom, \u201cYou\u2019d better take Tom\u2019s advice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLou\u2026Lou,\u201d stammered Billy. \u201cLet\u2019s get out of here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As he studied the two men across the room, Joe noted that Billy was wearing his green jacket and hat, while Lou was holding his pistol. Billy held the rifle that Joe had assumed was stolen, but the barrel was moving as the man\u2019s hands began to shake.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lou\u2019s face showed the same shock as Billy\u2019s for a moment, but it was quickly replaced by a look of bravado. \u201cI\u2019ve got them covered,\u201d Lou stated confidently. \u201cAnd a marshall bleeds just like any other man. Anybody tries anything funny, I\u2019ll put a bullet in them. Now you fellows get your hands in the air.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Suddenly, a massive hand snaked out from behind Lou\u2019s head and covered his face. The hand jerked Lou\u2019s head backwards while a second large hand pulled the gun out of Lou\u2019s fist. \u201cI don\u2019t think you ought to be playing with guns,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cYou might get hurt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Seeing the big man grab Lou, Billy threw the rifle to the ground. \u201cI didn\u2019t do nothing,\u201d he shrieked. \u201cI didn\u2019t do nothing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Walking with long strides, Adam quickly crossed the room and picked up the rifle from the floor. Pointing it at Billy, Adam asked over his shoulder, \u201cYou recognized these fellows, Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Joe said, \u201cthey\u2019re the ones who robbed me and beat me up.\u201d He walked over to Billy. \u201cI\u2019ll take my hat, jacket and boots back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Quickly shrugging off the green jacket, Billy handed it to Joe. He whipped the hat from his head and shoved it at Joe, also. \u201cHere, take them,\u201d he offered in a shaky voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd my boots,\u201d Joe insisted, looking at Billy\u2019s feet.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI need them boots,\u201d argued Billy. \u201cYou don\u2019t expect me to go barefoot, do you? I could step on something and hurt my foot.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t mind me going barefoot when you left me in the woods,\u201d countered Joe, his anger starting to build.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s because we didn\u2019t think it would matter,\u201d Billy answered. He turned even paler when he realized what he had said. \u201cI mean, we figured you\u2019d, um, er, someone would find you or something. You know, that someone would help you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone did help me, but no thanks to you,\u201d Joe stated angrily. \u201cIf I hadn\u2019t crawled on my belly to the road, I\u2019d have died in those woods.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think you\u2019d better give my brother his boots,\u201d stated Adam in a cold voice. \u201cOtherwise, I\u2019ll take them from you. And you wouldn\u2019t like the way I would do it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Swallowing hard, Billy started to kick off the boots. \u201cAll right,\u201d he muttered. \u201cBut I ain\u2019t walking far.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to worry,\u201d Marshall Cody assured Billy. \u201cAll the walking you\u2019ll have to do is into a prison cell.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPrison?\u201d Billy gulped. \u201cWe didn\u2019t do anything. This was\u2026just a joke.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s see,\u201d said the Marshall, ticking off on his fingers, \u201cwe have assault, probably attempted murder, robbery, and attempted robbery. That\u2019s good for about five years.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t prove anything,\u201d growled Lou from across the room. He glanced over his shoulder at Hoss, who was holding a gun on him. \u201cLike Billy said, we was just joking. We never actually took anything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have six witnesses to the attempted robbery, an eyewitness to your assault and robbery, and you had the victim\u2019s clothes,\u201d replied the Marshall. \u201cI think you\u2019ll be lucky if the judge only gives you five years.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

From behind the bar, Matthews shook his head. \u201cI told you they were dumber than dirt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

After a week of rest in his own bed and Hop Sing\u2019s good cooking, Joe declared himself fit to go back to work. Ben, the ever cautious father, reluctantly agreed that Joe could handle a few light chores \u2013 but nothing that involved hard riding or heavy lifting. Those restrictions were fine with Joe. While he was bored sitting in the house, he also had no great desire to take on some of the more onerous chores around the ranch.<\/span><\/p>\n

Having spent an almost leisurely afternoon in the south pasture checking on salt licks and water holes, Joe rode slowly back to the house. It was a pleasant summer\u2019s day and the path was a familiar one, so Joe let his mind wander. As they had done frequently over the past week, Joe\u2019s thoughts turned to events that had occurred around Benson\u2019s Crossing.<\/span><\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t spend much time thinking about Lou and Billy or how the marshall had dealt with them. It had taken very little time for the two outlaws to be hustled out of the saloon by the marshall and his two brothers, and even less time for them to be thrown in the back of the buckboard and handcuffed to the side of the wagon.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe did think about Tom Matthews, though. After his father had paid the saloonkeeper what he was owed and then some, Joe and Matthews had said goodbye. Both had been a bit uncomfortable, and neither seemed to want an emotional scene. Joe had offered his hand and what he hoped was heartfelt thanks for all Matthews had done. Matthews had shaken his hand and wished him good luck. To someone watching, the gesture and words had seemed simple. Only Joe and Matthews understood what was meant by the long look they had given each other while clasping hands.<\/span><\/p>\n

As he rode through the late summer sun, Joe thought again about Matthews and hoped the man had fully understood the depth of Joe\u2019s gratitude. He had been paid for his efforts, Joe thought, a bit cynically \u2013 first by Sam and then by his father. But Joe also acknowledged the saloonkeeper had done more than just what he had been paid to do. He had offered Joe, a stranger, his friendship and his trust. Shaking his head a bit, Joe wondered if he would have done the same thing.<\/span><\/p>\n

While Joe thought a bit about Matthews, the figure who dominated his musings was the mysterious Sam.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over and over, Joe tried to remember what he knew about the man. He could picture the face, especially the kind look in the man\u2019s eyes. Joe could hear Sam\u2019s voice in his head, offering him comfort and a sense a safety. He knew Sam had gone out of his way to help him, delaying his journey and paying Tom Matthews for his care. But that\u2019s all Joe knew. He didn\u2019t know where Sam lived, where he was going, or what he did for a living. Joe didn\u2019t even know his last name.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe tried to piece together what had motivated Sam to do so much for him. Sam didn\u2019t know who he was. For all Sam knew, Joe could have been an outlaw or a man so poor that he couldn\u2019t afford to pay him back. But Sam hadn\u2019t seemed to care whether he was going to be repaid. He hadn\u2019t even cared who Joe was, beyond being someone who needed help. Money, gratitude, recognition \u2013 all the inducements that Joe might have guessed would prompt someone to help \u2013 seemed of no interest to Sam.<\/span><\/p>\n

As hard as he tried to come up with a reason for Sam\u2019s actions, Joe knew in his heart that there wasn\u2019t one. The man had done what he had done simply as an act of kindness. And that\u2019s why Joe thought about him so much. Joe had convinced himself that people did nothing without expecting something in return, that strangers were not to be trusted. Now he owed his life to someone who had shown that thinking could be wrong. The idea was unsettling to Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

With a start, Joe realized he had ridden into the yard in front of the house. He had been so lost in his thinking that he hadn\u2019t realized he was home. He quickly guided his horse to the barn, and spent the next ten minutes unsaddling his pinto as well as filling the animal\u2019s feed and water bins. Once he was satisfied his horse was comfortable, Joe headed for the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe was barely in the door before a deep voice called out to him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you\u2019re finally home,\u201d said Ben, trying to hide the anxiety he had been feeling. \u201cI thought maybe you had decided to spend the night in the south pasture.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, Pa,\u201d replied Joe as he hung his hat and jacket on the peg near the door. \u201cI was daydreaming on the ride home and lost track of the time.\u201d He turned and walked toward the fireplace and the red leather chair on which his father was perched. \u201cEverything is fine,\u201d continued Joe. \u201cSalt licks are still plenty big and all the water holes are filled.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTook you all afternoon to find that out, little brother?\u201d asked Hoss from the blue chair near the foot of the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Grinning, Joe answered, \u201cPa told me to take it easy. I was just following orders.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFirst time in your life you ever did that,\u201d snorted Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s enough,\u201d said Ben, trying to forestall the round of insults that Hoss and Joe were about to trade. Even though the jibes weren\u2019t meant or taken seriously, he didn\u2019t feel in the mood to listen to his sons tonight. \u201cGo get cleaned up, Joe. We\u2019ll eat as soon as Adam gets back from town.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRight,\u201d answered Joe, heading for the stairs. He stopped near the blue chair and turned to Hoss. \u201cI did notice the fence was down near Rock Creek Canyon, Hoss,\u201d added Joe with a twinkle in his eye. \u201cMaybe you\u2019d better go out and fix it tomorrow. I\u2019d do it but you know how Pa doesn\u2019t want me to do any heavy work for awhile.\u201d He laughed at the scowl that appeared on his brother\u2019s face, and headed up the stairs. From across the room, Ben shook his head and sighed.<\/span><\/p>\n

By the time Joe descended the stairs again, Adam had joined Ben and Hoss around the fireplace. Rubbing his hands together, Joe said, \u201cGood, Adam\u2019s home. Let\u2019s eat.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you can figure out how to get Hop Sing to serve chicken that\u2019s not quite fully cooked, go ahead,\u201d replied Ben. \u201cOtherwise, dinner will be ready when Hop Sing says it is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGo into the kitchen while Hop Sing is cooking?\u201d remarked Joe. \u201cNot me. I\u2019d rather face a band of wild Indians.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Easing himself down on the sofa next to Adam, Joe asked, \u201cWhat\u2019s happening in town?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI went to see Judge Andrews today,\u201d Adam said, watching Joe carefully. \u201cHe had seen me go into the bank and sent his clerk over to get me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did the judge want?\u201d Joe asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe wanted to tell me that he had just gotten back from Carson City,\u201d Adam explained. \u201cThat\u2019s where Billy and Lou were scheduled to stand trial. There\u2019s not going to be a trial, Joe. They both decided to plead guilty and take their chances with the judge.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For a minute, Joe said nothing. Then he turned to Adam. \u201cWhat did the judge give them?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThree years,\u201d answered Adam. \u201cSix months for each of the robbery charges and two years for assault. The judge didn\u2019t think what they took from you was worth all that much, and they didn\u2019t actually go through with the robbery in Benson\u2019s Crossing. And he felt that there wasn\u2019t enough evidence to warrant attempted murder. I\u2019m sorry, Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Again, Joe sat silently for a moment. \u201cI guess it was too much to expect he would throw the book at them,\u201d he said slowly. \u201cAt least they\u2019ll be out of circulation for awhile.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, if you\u2019d like, I could talk to the judge,\u201d offered Ben. \u201cI could try to make him understand how seriously you were hurt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, don\u2019t bother,\u201d answered Joe with a sigh. \u201cHe probably wouldn\u2019t change his mind. Just shows that people usually don\u2019t do what you expect them to do, even when they\u2019re a judge.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The room was quiet as Ben exchanged a look with Adam. Both of them wanted to tell Joe he was wrong, but neither knew quite how to do it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI did hear something else of interest,\u201d Adam said, trying to dispel the somber mood of the room. \u201cYou know that parcel of land that belonged to Henry Mason? The one at the foot of Whiteside Mountain? One of his relatives showed up to claim it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWasn\u2019t there something odd about Mr. Mason\u2019s will?\u201d asked Hoss with a frown.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if you\u2019d call it odd,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cUnusual, maybe. The terms of the will left the land to any of Henry\u2019s relatives who wanted to claim the land and turn it into a working ranch. The catch was that the ranch had to be up and running by two years after Henry\u2019s death.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, now I remember,\u201d said Hoss, nodding. He turned to Ben. \u201cWhy do you think he did that? I mean, why didn\u2019t he just leave the land to one of his kin?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHenry was a self-made man,\u201d explained Ben. \u201cHe always told me that he didn\u2019t believe in simply giving something away, that people should earn what they got. I guess this was Henry\u2019s way of making one of his family earn the land.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, the fellow who claimed the land is going to have to work pretty hard to earn it,\u201d stated Adam. \u201cThe deadline for having a working ranch on that property is less than two weeks away.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow come the guy left it so late?\u201d asked Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe judge said something about the notice not getting to him right away, and then the man was delayed getting here,\u201d Adam replied. \u201cFrankly, Judge Andrews doesn\u2019t think the man has much of a chance of meeting the terms of the will, but he\u2019s going to go out to the property at the end of next week and take a look.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAny idea who the fellow is?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe judge didn\u2019t tell me his name,” answered Adam, \u201cbut the clerk at the hardware store said he saw him. He said the man was about fifty with white hair and a white beard.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhite hair and beard?\u201d exclaimed Joe, turning abruptly to Adam. \u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what the clerk told me,\u201d replied Adam with a shrug.<\/span><\/p>\n

Seeing the look on Joe\u2019s face, Ben said, \u201cJoe, you can\u2019t be thinking that\u2019s the same man who helped you on the road, can you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy not?\u201d Joe asked. \u201cIt could be. The description fits him. I also heard him tell Matthews that he had something important to do and he was already late getting to it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know how many men in this territory fit that description?\u201d Adam declared in a voice full of skepticism. \u201cThere must be at least fifty. The odds are pretty high that it\u2019s the same man.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBesides, he\u2019d have come by the ranch to tell us what happened to you, wouldn\u2019t he?\u201d added Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI told you, he didn\u2019t know who I was,\u201d Joe explained. \u201cBy the time I came around enough to make sense, he was gone.\u201d Joe turned to his father. \u201cPa, I\u2019m going to ride over to Whiteside Mountain tomorrow. If it\u2019s Sam, I want to see if there\u2019s something I can do to help him. I owe him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think you\u2019re going to be disappointed,\u201d said Ben, shaking his head. \u201cBut I\u2019ll ride over with you. If this is the same man who helped you, I\u2019d like to meet him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Riding his pinto at a leisurely pace through a grassy meadow, Joe shifted his weight his saddle a bit. He was anxious to get to the base of Whiteside Mountain as well as frustrated by the slow gait his father was insisting they use. Ben had explained that he wanted to save wear on the horses, but Joe suspected his father wanted to make sure he didn\u2019t ride too hard. Joe also was beginning to suspect that this was one of the reasons his father had offered to accompany him. His Pa knew him well, thought Joe; if he had been alone, he would have galloped his pinto the whole way.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe should be coming up on the property soon,\u201d commented Ben as he kept his horse to barely more than a walk. He seemed oblivious to Joe\u2019s anxiety and frustration, but, in truth, Ben had seen Joe fidgeting in his saddle and chosen to ignore it. Joe\u2019s assessment had been right. Ben wanted to see if the man working the land near the mountain was this Sam whom Joe had described. However, he also was making sure his son didn\u2019t overdo things in getting there.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sighing a bit, Joe decided that his father wasn\u2019t going any faster. He looked around, eyeing the land around him. \u201cThe grass looks good here,\u201d Joe noted. \u201cHe should be able to graze quite a few head.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s good water, too,\u201d agreed Ben. \u201cThe creek runs right through the property.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSam ought to be able to get a working ranch going here pretty quickly,\u201d Joe said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf it is Sam,\u201d cautioned Ben. \u201cA lot will depend on what the judge considers necessary for the place to be deemed a working ranch. I suspect there\u2019s more to it than just grazing a few head of cattle.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The two men guided their horses toward the base of the mountain, then curved around it. Another large meadow came into view. This patch of ground, however, wasn\u2019t simply covered in grass. A corral holding two horses was visible about a hundred yards away, and a wagon was parked next to the corral. A half-built house stood a short distance from the corral, a log structure with three sides and no roof. Trimmed logs littered the ground around the building. A lone worker was slathering plaster between the cracks of the logs on the left side of the half-finished house.<\/span><\/p>\n

With a sudden movement, Joe pulled his horse to a stop. He leaned forward in his saddle, peering ahead at the solitary man working on the building.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs it him?\u201d Ben asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt looks like him,\u201d answered Joe in a voice filled with uncertainty. \u201cWe too far away to be sure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, then, I suggest we ride over and find out,\u201d Ben told his son.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d agreed Joe. But he continued to hold his horse still.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSomething wrong?\u201d asked Ben, watching his son.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe took a deep breath, then turned to his father. \u201cIf it is Sam, what do I say to him?\u201d Joe blurted out. \u201cI mean, it sounds kind of funny to just ride up there and say something like \u2018Hi, I\u2019m Joe Cartwright. Thanks for saving my life\u2019.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a start,\u201d counseled Ben.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Joe continued to hesitate, rubbing his hand nervously over his saddle horn as he stared at the man in the distance. \u201cMaybe there was some reason why he didn\u2019t wait around. Maybe he didn\u2019t want me to know who he was.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Reaching out to put his hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder, Ben tried to encourage his son. \u201cJoe, if this Sam is the kind of man you said he was, he\u2019ll be happy to see you. From what you told us, he didn\u2019t sound like a man who was trying to hide or on the run. He sounded more like a man who did what needed to be done, and then went on his way. I don\u2019t think it was a matter of not wanting you to know who he was, but rather that he thought it wasn\u2019t important.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d acknowledged Joe, nodding. He took another deep breath then kicked his horse forward into a slow lope.<\/span><\/p>\n

The man plastering the log house was so engrossed in his work that he didn\u2019t hear the approaching horse. Joe pulled his mount to a stop a few feet from the partially built structured and watched the man for a minute. Then he said in a quiet voice, \u201cHello, Sam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Turning to the sound of the voice, Sam\u2019s mouth dropped open a bit. The trowel with which he had been working fell from his hand. \u201cJoe!\u201d he exclaimed. \u201cBy golly, boy, it\u2019s sure good to see you. You\u2019re looking a whole lot better than the last time I saw you.\u201d A large grin spread across Sam\u2019s face.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quickly dismounting, Joe walked over to Sam, his grin matching the one on the older man\u2019s face. \u201cI heard you were working out here. I wanted to come out and thank you for all you did for me. You saved my life, and I\u2019m very grateful.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAh, shucks, Joe, I didn\u2019t do much,\u201d replied Sam, waving away Joe\u2019s thanks.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou picked me up on the side of the road, took care of me, and paid Tom Matthews to give me all I needed,\u201d Joe stated. \u201cI would say that\u2019s quite a lot.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA small side trip and a little money,\u201d Sam said dismissively. \u201cIt\u2019s not worth mentioning.\u201d He looked past Joe as a man rode up on a buckskin horse. \u201cWho\u2019s this?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m Ben Cartwright, Joe\u2019s father,\u201d answered Ben. \u201cI wanted to ride over and express my gratitude for what you did for my son.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2019s father, eh?\u201d Sam said. \u201cGood to meet you.\u201d He cocked his head a bit. \u201cCartwright. You the Cartwright that owns that big spread east of here?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I own the Ponderosa,\u201d Ben acknowledged. \u201cI can\u2019t thank you enough for helping Joe. He might have died on that road if you hadn\u2019t taken care of him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLike I was just telling Joe, I didn\u2019t do all that much. Anyone else would have done the same. I was just the one who happened along,\u201d Sam insisted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure just anyone would have done with you did,\u201d Joe said. \u201cThere aren’t many people who would go to all that trouble for a total stranger.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking a bit embarrassed, Sam glanced down and shuffled his feet a bit. \u201cWell, it\u2019s done with. Let\u2019s not bother with it anymore.\u201d He looked up and smiled at Joe. \u201cI\u2019d invite you into the house for a cup of coffee but, as you can see, I\u2019m not quite ready for company yet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis place is going to be a good ranch,\u201d commented Ben, looking around. \u201cGood grass, water, and lots of room.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s got potential,\u201d Sam agreed. \u201cI\u2019d sure like to make it into something. I\u2019m not sure if I can get everything done in time, though.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEverything done?\u201d said Joe, puzzled. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had a little talk with the judge before I came out here,\u201d Sam explained. \u201cHe told me that to be considered a working ranch, I\u2019d need a house, corral, barn or storage shed, and at least twenty head of cattle. And I have to have it all done by the end of next week in order to inherit the land. If not, the land will revert back to the state.\u201d Sam shook his head a bit. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a pretty big chore to get everything done by the deadline.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy\u2019d you leave it so late to get started on this?\u201d asked Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a long story, boy,\u201d replied Sam with a shrug. \u201cI wasn\u2019t interested in this place originally, but then\u2026well, circumstances changed.\u201d He looked off to the side as if thinking of something else, then abruptly turned back to Joe. \u201cJoe, I\u2019m really glad to see you and know that you\u2019re all right,\u201d he said sincerely. \u201cIt does my heart good to know things worked out. But now, if you don\u2019t mind, I\u2019ve got to get back to work. I\u2019ve got a little over ten days to finish the house and furnish it, build a shed, and buy me some cattle.\u201d Sam squared his shoulders in a determined gesture. \u201cI aim to meet that deadline.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Turning a bit, Joe gave his father a questioning look. Ben understood what Joe was asking, and nodded his agreement.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSam, we\u2019d like to help you meet that deadline,\u201d Joe stated. \u201cI\u2019d like to stay here and work with you. My Pa would like to send over some hands to help you, too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI appreciate the offer, Joe; really, I do,\u201d replied Sam. \u201cBut it\u2019s not necessary. I\u2019ll manage.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSam, I want to do this,\u201d Ben said firmly. \u201cYou helped my son. Now I want to help you. I\u2019ve got half a dozen hands doing nothing but busy work. They might as well do it here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Scratching the back of his head, Sam gave Ben a doubtful look. \u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure,\u201d advised Ben with a smile. \u201cI\u2019m going to ride back to the ranch right now and round up some men. They\u2019ll be here by the end of the day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to stay here, Pa,\u201d Joe told his father. \u201cI\u2019ll give Sam a hand until the rest of the men arrive. And send Adam and Hoss with them. I\u2019d like Sam to meet my brothers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe whole family getting involved?\u201d asked Sam, a bit surprised.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re around here for awhile, you\u2019ll find out the Cartwrights tend to do things as a family,\u201d explained Joe with a grin. \u201cBesides, I\u2019m not sure they believed me when I told them about you. I want to prove to them that someone like you really exists.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone like me?\u201d said Sam. \u201cI\u2019m nothing special, Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re wrong, Sam,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cYou are special. Very special.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Patting his stomach, Sam sat back in his chair. \u201cHop Sing,\u201d he commented, \u201cthat was the best meal I\u2019ve ever had.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Mr. Sam,\u201d replied the cook with pleasure. \u201cYou eat good. You eat almost as good as Mr. Hoss.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo one eats that good,\u201d comment Joe in a dry voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hop Sing smiled as the other men around the table in the Ponderosa dining room laughed. He bowed a bit to Sam in acknowledgment of the compliment to his cooking, then cleared the rest of the dishes from the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad you were able to join us for dinner, Sam,\u201d said Ben, as he relaxed in his chair at the head of the table. \u201cHow does it feel to own a ranch?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFeels pretty good, Ben,\u201d Sam admitted. \u201cFor a little while there, though, I wasn\u2019t sure the judge was going to give me the place. He went over everything with a fine-tooth comb. But when he gave me the deed, the judge said it was a fine working ranch. I owe it all to you and your boys, Ben.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was pure selfishness on our part,\u201d stated Joe. \u201cWe wanted to make sure we had you for a neighbor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking down, Sam stirred his spoon in his coffee cup. He seemed to be trying to decide what to say. Finally, he turned to Joe. \u201cI\u2019m sorry to disappoint you, Joe, but I\u2019m not going to be staying on at the ranch.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot staying?\u201d exclaimed Adam in astonishment. \u201cAfter all the work you did to build up that land by the deadline, you\u2019re not going to stay?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a roaming sort of fellow, Adam,\u201d Sam explained. \u201cAlways have been. I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve spent more than six months in any one place in my life. I\u2019m always convinced that there\u2019s something interesting over the next hill, and I\u2019ve got an itch to see it. I don\u2019t think I could stand being tied down to one place.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen what are you going to do with the place?\u201d asked Joe with a puzzled frown. \u201cSell it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m going to give it to somebody,\u201d answered Sam.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGive it away?\u201d Ben\u2019s astonishment was almost as great as Adam\u2019s had been.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nodding, Sam said, \u201cYes. It didn\u2019t cost me all that much, just the price of some building materials, furniture, and cattle. I don\u2019t think I put more than $100 into that place, and that\u2019s little enough to get a fine ranch in return.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWho are you planning to give it to, Sam?\u201d asked Hoss curiously.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFellow in Texas named Luke Watson,\u201d replied Sam, smiling. \u201cHe don\u2019t know it yet, but he\u2019s getting a fine ranch and some pretty good neighbors to boot.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you\u2019re just going to give it to him?\u201d said Joe, still sounding confused. \u201cJust like that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLuke did me a good turn, probably saved my life,\u201d explained Sam. He saw the curiosity on the faces of the men around the table. With a shrug, Sam continued. \u201cAbout three years ago, I was in this little town in Texas called San Marcos. A rancher down there got killed and everyone figured I did it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey must have been crazy to think you killed someone,\u201d stated Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it was circumstantial evidence,\u201d admitted Sam. \u201cI had been in a poker game where the rancher was a big winner, and someone saw me on the street shortly before the man was robbed and killed. But mostly, it was because I was a stranger in town. Sometimes, people can be mighty distrustful of strangers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, that\u2019s true,\u201d said Ben, looking pointedly at Joe. \u201cSome people just don\u2019t trust anyone they don\u2019t know.\u201d Joe looked down at his coffee cup, suddenly finding it of great interest.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnyway, I was arrested,\u201d continued Sam. \u201cThe town was pretty divided on the matter. Half of them wanted to be on the jury to be sure I was convicted and hanged, and the other half just wanted to lynch me. The only fellow who spoke up for me was Luke Watson.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLuke must have been a good friend,\u201d Adam commented.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s just it,\u201d Sam replied, shaking his head. \u201cLuke didn\u2019t really know me. We had had a beer together, just passing time for an hour or so in the saloon. But for Luke, it wasn\u2019t about me. He has a powerful sense of right and wrong. Luke argued for me because he didn\u2019t think the evidence really pointed toward me as the killer. He thought it was wrong for people to want to hang me just because I was a stranger. He didn\u2019t know me, but that didn\u2019t stop Luke from arguing with his friends and neighbors that they were jumping to conclusions. He spent two or three days keeping those people from storming the jail. That was long enough for some cowboy to get drunk and brag to a saloon girl that he had gotten even with his boss for firing him. The girl told the sheriff, and the sheriff searched the cowboy\u2019s things. They found the rancher\u2019s watch and wallet in the cowboy\u2019s saddlebag.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can see why you feel you owe this Luke fellow something,\u201d said Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe thing is, I never really thanked him,\u201d Sam explained. \u201cSoon as they let me out of that jail, I took off. I didn\u2019t want to stay around in case those townspeople changed their minds. But it kept bothering me that I didn\u2019t thank Luke properly for what he had done. So about six months ago, I went back to San Marcos.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWas Luke surprised to see you?\u201d Joe asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe barely remembered me,\u201d admitted Sam. \u201cWhen I told him who I was, it took him a couple of minutes to place me. I thanked him and asked him if there was anything I could do to repay him. But Luke said no and I was ready to go on my way. I stopped at the saloon to have a beer and that\u2019s when I found out Luke was about to lose his ranch.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLose his ranch? How come?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe had borrowed from the bank to buy some new breed of cattle,\u201d explained Sam. \u201cBut the cattle died, and then there was a hard winter followed by a dry summer. The bills piled up, and the bank wanted their money, but Luke had no way to pay them. His herd was down to a few head, and even they looked kind of scrawny.\u201d Sam turned to the head of the table. \u201cI\u2019m sure you know how these can happen, Ben.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh yes,\u201d agreed Ben. \u201cI remember quite a few times when I was building the Ponderosa when I wondered if I was going to lose it all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to help Luke,\u201d Sam continued, \u201cbut I didn\u2019t know what to do. All I had was a couple of hundred dollars, and that wasn\u2019t enough to pay off all the bills. Then I remembered this letter I got from a lawyer a while back about the land up here in Nevada. The lawyer said all I had to do to claim it was making it into a working ranch. At the time I got the letter, I wasn\u2019t interested in owning a ranch. But down in San Marcos, I got to thinking that if I could claim the land, I could give it to Luke.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo you hustled up here,\u201d said Adam. \u201cYou cut it pretty close, Sam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of time had passed since I had gotten the letter,\u201d Sam admitted. \u201cAnd I got delayed along the way. But I made it, and now I can give the ranch to Luke.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou almost didn\u2019t make it because of me,\u201d Joe said in a quiet voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sam looked at Joe in surprise. \u201cNo, Joe, I made because of you. You think those two days I spent in Benson\u2019s Crossing would have made any difference if I was working on my own? If you and your family hadn\u2019t helped me, I would have never finished in time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s kind of like a circle, ain\u2019t it,\u201d Hoss observed. \u201cLuke helped you and you helped Joe. Then Joe helped you back, and now you\u2019re going to help Luke.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s exactly what it is, Hoss,” agreed Sam. \u201cI always figure you get back what you give.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut the odd thing is that you, Luke, and Joe really didn\u2019t know each other,\u201d Adam mused. \u201cYou were all pretty much strangers to one another, and yet each of you came to the aid of another.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA stranger is just someone you don\u2019t know yet,\u201d remarked Sam with a shrug. \u201cIf you only help people you know, you\u2019re pretty limited. And you might miss out on making a new friend.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d said Joe doubtfully. \u201cIt didn\u2019t do me much good when I tried to help Billy and Lou. All that did was practically get me killed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not saying there aren\u2019t some bad apples in the barrel,\u201d Sam agreed. \u201cBut a lot times, the way you treat people is the way they treat you. It\u2019s kind of like looking in a mirror. If you\u2019re honest and open with people, more times than not, they\u2019ll be the same with you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cExcept if it\u2019s Billy and Lou,\u201d Joe argued back.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rubbing his chin, Sam considered Joe for a minute. \u201cLet me ask you something. When Billy stopped you on the road, did you just jump out of the wagon to help him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d admitted Joe. \u201cI studied him for a minute and told him to drop his gun. Then I made him walk ahead of me in the woods. I was kind of leery of him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo Billy and Lou knew you were suspicious, and you probably gave them a hard time. Am I right?\u201d asked Sam. Joe slowly nodded his head, wondering what Sam was trying to prove.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow what do you think would have happened if you had jumped out of that wagon as soon as Billy stopped you, and walked with him through the woods?\u201d asked Sam. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to know for sure, but my guess is those two wouldn\u2019t have been nearly as hard on you. They probably would have thought you were a good guy for trying to help. They might have still robbed you, but I don\u2019t think they would have beaten you up. It\u2019s hard to hurt a good guy; most people find they can\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re saying that if you\u2019re suspicious of people, they\u2019re going to act badly around you,\u201d said Joe slowly. \u201cBut if you\u2019re nice to people, they\u2019ll be nice to you.\u201d Joe shook his head. \u201cI don\u2019t know. That sounds too simple.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been a lot of places, Joe, and met a lot of people,\u201d Sam declared. \u201cIt\u2019s always worked for me. You get disappointed sometimes, but most of the time, you\u2019re pleasantly surprised. It\u2019s worth a try. If it don\u2019t work, you can always go back to being suspicious.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d agreed Joe thoughtfully. \u201cIt might be worth a try.\u201d Ben and Adam looked across the table at each other, both of them trying to hide the smile on their faces.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Sam, when you going to send that deed down to Texas?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFirst thing tomorrow,\u201d Sam stated.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think he\u2019ll take it?\u201d asked Adam. \u201cSome people are pretty tied to their land, no matter how bad it is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right there, Adam,\u201d Sam admitted. \u201cI never did understand that myself, but I know how some people just don\u2019t want to leave. So I\u2019ll tell Luke if he doesn\u2019t want to move up here, he can just sell the place and use the money to pay off his debts. Either way, I\u2019ll have given him a fresh start. I owe him that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you write to Luke, tell him to let us know what he decides,\u201d Ben said. \u201cIf he wants to come up, we\u2019ll be happy to help him. If he wants to sell the place, I wouldn\u2019t mind having first crack at buying it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Ben, I\u2019ll do that,\u201d said Sam.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat if he won\u2019t accept it?\u201d asked Joe. \u201cI mean, what if he decides he doesn\u2019t want your help and sends the deed back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe won\u2019t have any choice but to keep it,\u201d answered Sam. \u201cBut the time Luke gets that deed, I\u2019ll be gone. I won\u2019t be here for him to return it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re leaving so soon?\u201d said Joe in dismay.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYep, leaving in the next day or so. I\u2019ve got an urge to see what\u2019s in California. Heard it\u2019s an interesting place.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll miss you, Sam,\u201d Joe admitted, his voice full of emotion.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll miss you, too, Joe,\u201d replied Sam in a soft voice. He cleared his throat. \u201cBut you never know. I might come back this way some day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll be welcome anytime,\u201d Joe stated.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTell Luke we\u2019ll keep an eye on the ranch until he decides what to do,\u201d added Ben.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d said Sam. He looked around the table as if trying to memorize the faces of the men around him. Then he pushed back his chair. \u201cI\u2019d better be going. I\u2019ve got a lot to do, and I want to send off that deed in the morning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

All of the Cartwrights got to their feet. Ben, Adam, and Hoss each offered their hand to Sam and said goodbye. When Sam turned to Joe, however, the youngest Cartwright offered quickly, \u201cI\u2019ll walk you out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As they left the house and walked into the yard, Joe pulled on Sam\u2019s arm to stop him. \u201cSam, I just want to say thanks again \u2013 for everything,\u201d Joe said. \u201cI owe you a lot.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, you\u2019ve thanked me a hundred times already,\u201d replied Sam. \u201cAnd anything you think you owe me, well, that debt has been paid in full.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBefore you leave, I do have one question,\u201d Joe declared a smile. \u201cJust what is your last name? No one seems to know it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A wry grin broke out on Sam\u2019s face and he laughed a bit. \u201cI\u2019m not too fond of my last name, Joe. It\u2019s kind of embarrassing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it?\u201d pressed Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sam looked down for a minute then back up at Joe. \u201cIt\u2019s Goodfellow. My name is Sam Goodfellow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat figures,\u201d said Joe with a laugh. He held out his hand. \u201cThank you, Sam Goodfellow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re welcome, Joe Cartwright.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe stood watching as Sam climbed up on his wagon. He waved goodbye as Sam clicked the reins and turned his team. As he watched the wagon disappear down the road, Joe said softly, \u201cThank you, Sam, for teaching me that there are good fellows like you in the world.\u201d Laughing a bit at his own pun, Joe turned and walked back into the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

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

Summary:\u00a0 Helping and not expecting anything in return.\u00a0 It’s a matter of paying it forward.<\/p>\n

Word Count: \u00a020,000 \u00a0Rated: \u00a0T<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10338,"featured_media":57707,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","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_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[23,1007],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13957","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-joe-cartwright","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1007-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot_20250722_085103_YouTube.jpg?fit=801%2C720&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13957","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=13957"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13957\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/57707"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13957"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13957"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13957"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}