{"id":13975,"date":"2006-12-12T17:26:16","date_gmt":"2006-12-12T22:26:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13975"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:10:16","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:10:16","slug":"precious-possessions-by-susan-g","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13975","title":{"rendered":"Precious Possessions (by Susan G)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:<\/strong>\u00a0 After spending twenty years in prison, has a man returned to Virginia City to exact revenge?<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 T\u00a0\u00a0 (11,540 words)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Precious Possessions<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHa! Finally beat you, little brother,\u201d Hoss Cartwright exclaimed triumphantly.<\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright, sitting in his favorite chair by the fireplace, looked up from his book. Hoss, Ben\u2019s middle son, was perched on the sofa, pointing to a checker board on the low table in front of him. Joe, the youngest of the Cartwright brothers at twenty-two, was sitting curled on the table, frowning at the board in front of him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow did that happen?\u201d Joe muttered disgustedly. \u201cI always win at checkers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot tonight!\u201d Hoss said. \u201cI finally won a game.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, take your feet off the furniture,\u201d Ben ordered with a sigh.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir,\u201d Joe answered automatically. He quickly uncurled his legs and put his left foot on the floor. He continued to sit on the table with his right leg bent in front of him, but was careful his foot was over the edge of the table. He scowled at the board in front of him.<\/p>\n

Ben nodded approvingly and went back to reading his book.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow about another game?\u201d Hoss asked with a grin.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d replied Joe, picking up the checkers. \u201cThis game was a fluke. I\u2019ll show you how to really<\/u> play checkers.\u201d<\/p>\n

The brothers were lining up the pieces on the board when Adam Cartwright, the oldest of the brothers, walked through the front door and into the living room. The rest of the Cartwrights looked up as he walked in.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s new in town?\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019ve got some news for Pa,\u201d answered Adam as he removed his hat and gunbelt. Ben looked at him curiously. Adam walked over and sat on the arm of the sofa. \u201cAndy Pettigrew is out of prison. He\u2019s back in Virginia City.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure?\u201d Ben asked with a frown.<\/p>\n

Adam nodded. \u201cI didn\u2019t see him but Roy Coffee told me that Pettigrew was in town. Roy said he was released about six weeks ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho\u2019s Andy Pettigrew?\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a man who was convicted of murder,\u201d answered Ben still frowning.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t remember hearing about him,\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou wouldn\u2019t,\u201d Adam told his youngest brother. \u201cYou were just a baby when this happened. I barely remembered him when Roy mentioned his name.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I was just a kid but I remember the trial. Pa was the judge,\u201d commented Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa was the judge?\u201d Joe said in surprise. \u201cHow did that happen?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, this happened over twenty years ago,\u201d explained Ben. \u201cBack then, Virginia City didn\u2019t exist. All we had here was a saloon, a trading post and a couple of other buildings. We didn\u2019t have any judges or lawyers around. We didn\u2019t even have a jail. So when there were any crimes, we either had to wait for the circuit judge, or handle things ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho did Pettigrew kill?\u201d Joe asked, his curiosity growing.<\/p>\n

\u201cA man named Pete Bradshaw,\u201d replied Ben.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cAndy Pettigrew and Pete Bradshaw were both trappers, mountain men,\u201d Ben answered. \u201cOne day, they got into a fight in the saloon. Andy accused Pete of stealing furs from his traps. They went at it pretty good. It took five men to break up the fight. Anyway, the next day, a hunter found Bradshaw\u2019s body in the woods, buried in a snowbank. Two days later, Pettigrew showed up at the trading post with a bundle of furs. More furs than he could have trapped himself. Some men grabbed him, accused him of murdering Bradshaw and locked him in a store room.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Ben shrugged a bit. \u201cIt was the middle of winter, and people felt Pettigrew couldn\u2019t be kept in the storeroom until the judge arrived. It would probably be six months or longer before the judge showed up. They decided to hold a trial. Since I\u2019d been a ship\u2019s captain and had held a couple of trials on my ships, they asked me to act as the judge. I didn\u2019t like the idea, but I agreed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPettigrew was found guilty,\u201d added Hoss. \u201cI remember that part of the trial. Pettigrew roared like a bear when he heard the verdict. He swore he was innocent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWas he?\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, the evidence was certainly against him,\u201d Ben said. \u201cHe had been fighting with Bradshaw the day before, and he almost certainly had some of Bradshaw\u2019s furs, if not all of them. The hunter who found Bradshaw said he had been shot, and he still had his knife in his belt. If Piautes had killed Bradshaw, they wouldn\u2019t have shot him. They didn\u2019t have guns back then. And they surely wouldn\u2019t have left the knife or tried to hide the body. Nobody else had any reason to kill Bradshaw.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf he was guilty, why didn\u2019t Pettigrew hang?\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe evidence against him was mostly circumstantial,\u201d replied Ben. \u201cAnd I didn\u2019t feel comfortable about hanging a man without a real judge and a proper lawyer. So I sentenced him to twenty years in prison. I felt if new evidence came to light, or another judge overturned the sentence, he could be released. If he was hung, we couldn\u2019t undo the damage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTwenty years in prison,\u201d observed Hoss. \u201cYou didn\u2019t do him any favors, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d admitted Ben. \u201cBut no new evidence ever came up, and his case was reviewed several times without any new sentence being handed down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTwenty years in that hellhole they call Nevada Prison,\u201d said Adam with a shake of his head. \u201cFor a mountain man, that must have been sheer torture. I\u2019m surprised he lasted.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am, too, Adam,\u201d Ben agreed. \u201cI asked about him several times. The warden told me that he was too mean and full of hate to give in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think he came back here to make trouble?\u201d asked Hoss with a worried expression.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d answered Adam. \u201cRoy said he\u2019s been over at the Silver Dollar saloon for the last three days. He claims he\u2019s just getting caught up on old times. But he\u2019s been asking a lot of questions about Pa, Charlie Tobler and Matt Benson.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy Tobler and Benson?\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cCharlie Tobler acted as prosecutor,\u201d explained Ben. \u201cBack then, he was running the trading post. Matt Benson was foreman of the jury. That\u2019s when Matt was still prospecting, before he hit it big with his silver mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat sounds like trouble to me,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cYou\u2019d better watch yourself, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoy Coffee thinks the same thing,\u201d added Adam. \u201cHe figures the best thing for you to do is stay on the Ponderosa for awhile, and don\u2019t come to town.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben was silent for a few moments, then shook his head. \u201cNo, that\u2019s not the answer, Adam. I can\u2019t hide out here forever. The best thing for me to do is to go to town tomorrow and confront Pettigrew. Get everything out in the open.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll go with you, Pa,\u201d offered Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d said Ben. \u201cI can handle this by myself. Pettigrew is not going to do anything in broad daylight, right in the middle of Virginia City.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Ben rode into Virginia City the next morning. He stopped his horse in front of the bank, wanting to take care of some business before he confronted Pettigrew. He was coming out of the bank and walking toward the Silver Dollar saloon when he heard his name being called.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, wait a minute!\u201d<\/p>\n

Turning around, Ben saw two well-dressed men hurrying toward him. Charlie Tobler was a short man, with silver hair and a neat mustache. Matt Benson was several inches taller, and built like the miner he used to be. Benson\u2019s broad shoulders and his heavily muscled arms seemed to be straining his suit.<\/p>\n

\u201cCharlie, Matt, good to see you,\u201d Ben greeted the approaching men.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, have you heard that Andy Pettigrew is back in town?\u201d asked Tobler in a worried voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I\u2019ve heard,\u201d replied Ben. \u201cIn fact, I was just heading over to the saloon to see if I could find him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFind him?\u201d Tobler exclaimed. \u201cWhy do you want to do that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo have a talk with him,\u201d explained Ben. \u201cTo find out why he came back to Virginia City.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll tell you why he came back,\u201d Benson said. \u201cHe wants the three of us dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, Matt, you don\u2019t know that,\u201d countered Ben. \u201cHe could have come back because this is the only place he knows. After all, he\u2019s been locked up for twenty years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Matt is right,\u201d said Tobler nervously. \u201cHe\u2019s going to kill us, I know it. He swore revenge twenty years ago, and now he\u2019s going to make it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCharlie, you\u2019re getting yourself all worked up over nothing,\u201d replied Ben soothingly. \u201cLet me talk with Pettigrew and find out why he\u2019s here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose you\u2019re right, Ben,\u201d Benson agreed. \u201cBesides, I\u2019ve got my hands full at the mine. I don\u2019t have time to worry about Pettigrew. If he wants me, he\u2019s going to have to go through fifty miners to get me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen are you going to give up that mine and retire?\u201d Tobler asked with a smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd do what?\u201d snorted Benson. \u201cSit around in a fancy house all day like you do? No thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, at least I have the finer things in life to enjoy,\u201d argued Tobler. \u201cI worked hard, and now I can take it easy. You should try it.\u201d<\/p>\n

As he listened to the two men, Ben smiled. Benson and Tobler had been having this same argument for two years, ever since Charlie had built one of the finest houses in Virginia City and filled it with artwork and books he had purchased from around the world. Matt, on the other hand, seemed to relish working in the mines every day. He thought the idea of retirement was just about the worst idea he had ever heard.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou two head on home,\u201d Ben said. \u201cI\u2019ll let you know what Pettigrew says.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both Benson and Tobler nodded. \u201cI\u2019ll be at the mine if you want me,\u201d added Benson. He and Charlie walked off in opposite directions.<\/p>\n

Ben continued down the street until he reached the Silver Dollar. He pushed opened the doors and looked around. Sitting at the corner table was a grizzled old man wearing a buckskin shirt and dark pants. His face was lined and worn, ringed by a white beard and a head of thick white hair. A bottle of whiskey sat on the table, next to an empty glass. Ben looked around the saloon and saw no one else he didn\u2019t recognize. With a purposeful stride, Ben walked to the corner table.<\/p>\n

\u201cAndy Pettigrew?\u201d Ben asked in a tentative voice.<\/p>\n

The old man looked up. \u201cBen Cartwright,\u201d the man said. \u201cYou ain\u2019t changed much in twenty years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pettigrew certainly had, thought Ben. The once powerful mountain man now looked old and beaten. \u201cMay I sit down?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, pull up a chair, have a drink,\u201d answered Pettigrew. He poured some whiskey into the glass.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d said Ben, sitting down in a chair at the table. \u201cI heard you were back in Virginia City.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYep, it took me twenty years, but I\u2019m back,\u201d Pettigrew replied.<\/p>\n

Ben fiddled with the glass before him. He didn\u2019t know exactly how to broach the subject of why Pettigrew had returned.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you looking for a job?\u201d asked Ben. \u201cWe can always use hands at the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNope,\u201d answered Pettigrew. \u201cMy brother died a few years back and left me some money. Not much, but enough to tide me over for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nodding, Ben continued to play with the glass. He wasn\u2019t sure what to say next.<\/p>\n

Pettigrew watched Ben for a few moments. \u201cYou\u2019re wondering why I\u2019m back, ain\u2019t you?\u201d Pettigrew stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Andy, I am,\u201d admitted Ben. \u201cLike you said, it\u2019s been twenty years. A lot has changed. I\u2019m curious why you came back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pettigrew took a swig of whiskey from the bottle, and wiped his mouth. \u201cAh, that\u2019s good,\u201d he said. Then he looked at Ben. \u201cYou\u2019re right. A lot has changed in twenty years. I hear you\u2019ve got a big ranch now. Also heard Tobler is a rich fellow, and Benson has himself a silver mine. All I got to show for twenty years is some scars.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAndy, I\u2019m sorry about what you went through. I know Nevada Prison is a hard place,\u201d replied Ben. \u201cBut you were found guilty. I had no choice but to send you to prison.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t deserve it,\u201d declared Pettigrew in an angry voice. \u201cThem furs was mine. I just took what was mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you killed to get them,\u201d Ben pointed out. \u201cThat was wrong. You had to pay for what you did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I had a nice fair trial, didn\u2019t I,\u201d said Pettigrew bitterly. \u201cYou and Tobler and Benson, you made sure I had a trial and got sent to jail.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you planning to do now?\u201d asked Ben.<\/p>\n

Pettigrew took another drink of whiskey before answering. \u201cYou\u2019re afraid I come back to kill you. Well, don\u2019t be. I ain\u2019t gonna kill you fellows. I learned a long time ago that there\u2019s a lot worse things than dying. Dying only takes a few seconds. Living without the things you want most is a whole lot harder.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean by that?\u201d asked Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, you should try being locked up for twenty years and never seeing the stars at night. I mean, you should try being caged up when all you want is to roam the hills,\u201d said Pettigrew angrily. \u201cYou should have hung me, Cartwright. It would have been easier on all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head. \u201cI\u2019m sorry you feel that way, Andy. I honestly hoped that some day we\u2019d find something that would set you free. I hated having to send you to prison, but I had no choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I bet you hated it,\u201d Pettigrew replied with a sneer. \u201cI bet you and Tobler and Benson all thought of me every night as you sat in your nice fancy houses, and ate your fine meals. Well, you can just think about me now.\u201d Pettigrew pushed himself away from the table and stood up. He pointed a gnarled finger at Ben. \u201cYou\u2019ll think about me now. \u2019Cos I\u2019m going to be around to remind you.\u201d Pettigrew turned and stalked out of the saloon.<\/p>\n

Ben sat at the table for a few minutes. He wondered what Pettigrew had in mind. Whatever it was, Ben felt he was going to regret that Andy Pettigrew came back to Virginia City.<\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

Ben returned to the ranch to find his three sons waiting anxiously for him. They were pretending to do work in the yard, but Ben could see they were just marking time. The three instantly dropped what they were doing when he rode into the yard. Ben rode over to the hitching post and dismounted.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow did things go in town?\u201d Adam asked as he and his brothers crowded around Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout what I expected,\u201d answered Ben. \u201cPettigrew is a bitter man, but he swears he\u2019s not here to kill anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you believe him?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n

Ben shrugged. \u201cI\u2019ve got no reason not to,\u201d he replied. \u201cBut he\u2019s got Charlie Tobler and Matt Benson plenty worried. I talked with them after I talked with Pettigrew but they didn\u2019t seem reassured.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you going to do?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, first, I\u2019m going to do some work on the books and then I\u2019m going to ride over to the south range to check the herd,\u201d Ben answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll go with you,\u201d Hoss offered quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, I think I can find the south range by myself,\u201d Ben said with a smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, Pa,\u201d Hoss agreed. \u201cIt\u2019s just that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat you boys think the old man can\u2019t take care of himself,\u201d Ben finished for his son. \u201cI don\u2019t need anyone to watch me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, it might not be a bad idea for someone to watch your back for the next few days,\u201d said Adam firmly. \u201cJust in case.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben sighed. \u201cAll right, if it will make you boys feel better,\u201d he reluctantly agreed. \u201cI\u2019ll be ready in about an hour. Hoss, you can go with me. Adam, Joe, I want you two to get back to work.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

For the next few days, Ben was busy with the herd and other jobs which needed to be done on the ranch. Everywhere he went, one or more of his sons followed him like a shadow. Ben appreciated their concern but was becoming irritated that his sons felt they needed to protect him. He had decided he was going to put an end to what he considered a foolish waste of their time. He felt a talk after dinner was in order.<\/p>\n

It was about mid-day when Ben rode back to the house with Adam and Hoss following behind him. He was surprised to see Roy Coffee standing in the yard, waiting for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello, Roy,\u201d Ben greeted the sheriff as he dismounted from his horse. \u201cWhat brings you out here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to talk with you, Ben,\u201d said Coffee.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, come on into the house,\u201d Ben invited with a smile. \u201cNo sense standing out here in the yard.\u201d Ben turned to Adam and Hoss. \u201cYou boys can go join Joe checking those trees. I should be safe enough with Roy around.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss looked at each other. \u201cThink we\u2019ll stick around for a while, Pa,\u201d stated Hoss firmly.<\/p>\n

Ben sighed. \u201cAll right,\u201d he said in a resigned voice. He turned to the sheriff. \u201cCome on in, Roy,\u201d he said, \u201cbefore my sons decide to protect me from you.\u201d Ben walked into the house, with Roy, Adam and Hoss trailing behind him.<\/p>\n

Once inside the house, Ben walked over to his favorite chair and sat down. Coffee settled himself on the sofa, while Adam and Hoss stood nearby.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you want to talk to me about?\u201d asked Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about Andy Pettigrew,\u201d the sheriff said. \u201cI understand you had a talk with him a few days ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I talked with him,\u201d acknowledged Ben. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did he say? Did he tell you why he came back to Virginia City?\u201d asked Coffee.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot exactly,\u201d answered Ben. \u201cHe said he wasn\u2019t here to kill anyone. But he did sound pretty bitter. Why? Has he caused some trouble in town?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the problem, Ben,\u201d admitted Coffee. \u201cI don\u2019t really know. Two nights ago, Charlie Tobler\u2019s house burned down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh no!\u201d cried Ben in alarm. \u201cAre Charlie and his wife all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, they\u2019re fine,\u201d the sheriff assured Ben. \u201cThey weren\u2019t home at the time. But Charlie lost everything. His house, those pictures he collected, everything\u2019s gone. He\u2019s pretty torn up about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know how the fire started?\u201d asked Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d answered Coffee with a shake of his head. \u201cBy the time anyone saw it, the house was pretty much gone. There wasn\u2019t any sign of arson, but that doesn\u2019t mean that Andy Pettigrew couldn\u2019t have set it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid anyone see Pettigrew around?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, but like I said, that doesn\u2019t mean he didn\u2019t do it,\u201d said the sheriff.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, Roy, you know as well as I do that you can\u2019t accuse a man of something without evidence,\u201d Ben advised.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I know,\u201d said Coffee. \u201cBut then last night, there was an explosion at Matt Benson\u2019s mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAn explosion?\u201d exclaimed Ben, his alarm returning. \u201cWas anyone hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d replied the sheriff. \u201cThere wasn\u2019t a crew working, and the night guard was hit over the head and dragged away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you think Pettigrew set the explosion,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have any evidence of that, either,\u201d admitted Coffee. \u201cThe guard didn\u2019t see who hit him. But it\u2019s pretty strange that two of the men that Pettigrew swore to get even with have had these things happen to them right after Pettigrew got back in town.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019s Matt taking it?\u201d asked Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, I\u2019ve never seen a man so low,\u201d Coffee answered. \u201cThe mine\u2019s pretty well closed up for good. The explosion brought down a ton of rock. Benson just sits in his office and stares. He won\u2019t leave. He just keeps saying that he hasn\u2019t any reason to go on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPoor Matt,\u201d said Ben sympathetically. \u201cPoor Charlie, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why I came out to see you, Ben,\u201d Coffee explained. \u201cIf Pettigrew is the one doing these things, I figure you\u2019re next.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Roy,\u201d Adam reassured the sheriff. \u201cWe\u2019ll make sure Pa is protected.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the thing, Adam; Pettigrew doesn\u2019t seem to want to hurt anyone. All he seems to want to do is cause problems.\u201d Coffee clarified.<\/p>\n

Ben sat thinking quietly. \u201cNo, Roy, I think there\u2019s more to it than that,\u201d he said pensively. \u201cWhen I was talking with Pettigrew the other day, he told me that I wouldn\u2019t understand how it felt to have the most important thing in your life taken away. I think that\u2019s what he\u2019s trying to do to us. He\u2019s taken away the house and possessions that Charlie loved. He\u2019s taken away the mine that Matt Benson lived for.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, if that\u2019s the case, you boys better keep an eye on the Ponderosa,\u201d Coffee said grimly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s not much chance of him taking the ranch away,\u201d suggested Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, but he can cause a lot of damage,\u201d stated the sheriff. \u201cA fire in those trees up on the mountain, or a stampede of your cattle could really cause problems.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll alert the men,\u201d Adam agreed. \u201cI\u2019ll tell them to keep an eye out for any strangers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben had been silent during the exchange. Suddenly, he stood up. \u201cAdam, Hoss, I want you to go find Joe,\u201d he said urgently. \u201cStay together, but find Joe!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFind Joe? Why?\u201d asked Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause if Andy Pettigrew wants to take away my most precious possession, he\u2019ll go after one of my sons,\u201d replied Ben in alarm.<\/p>\n

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

Joe was riding in the hills, marking trees for cutting. He had been working since early morning and was tired. Stopping to rest for a bit, he saw the old man riding through the meadow below him. Joe was curious about why someone would be riding through the meadow. There was nothing to see up here and no place to go. He decided he had better ask the old man what he doing up here.<\/p>\n

It took some time for Joe to get down the hill and reach the meadow. He could see the old man riding far ahead of him. He gently kicked his horse into a slow lope so he could catch up with the distant figure.<\/p>\n

The old man had stopped at the ruins of a cabin. When Joe rode up, the man was simply standing, staring at the fallen roof and what remained of the walls.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan I help you?\u201d Joe asked as he halted his horse.<\/p>\n

The old man turned to him. \u201cDon\u2019t need no help,\u201d he answered gruffly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, what are you doing up here?\u201d asked Joe as he dismounted and walked over to the man.<\/p>\n

\u201cAin\u2019t none of your business what I\u2019m doing,\u201d the man replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it is,\u201d declared Joe sternly. \u201cThis is Cartwright land.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCartwright land,\u201d the man said. \u201cThat figures. Who might you be?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m Joe Cartwright,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

The man didn\u2019t answer; he just looked around. \u201cThis used to be the prettiest spot in Nevada,\u201d he mused. \u201cI built this cabin more than twenty years ago. Now, look at it. The cabin\u2019s a wreck, game is all gone, and a lot of the trees been cut down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou built this cabin?\u201d Joe said in amazement. Suddenly, he realized who the man was. \u201cYou must be Andy Pettigrew.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYep,\u201d acknowledged Pettigrew. \u201cAnd you must be one of Ben Cartwright\u2019s boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe heard you were back,\u201d said Joe warily.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you?\u201d Pettigrew narrowed his eyes. \u201cYour Pa tell you what he done to me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe told us about the murder and the trial,\u201d replied Joe. \u201cSeems to me you ought to be grateful to him. You could have been hung.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGrateful,\u201d spat Pettigrew. \u201cFor taking twenty years of my life away. I ain\u2019t grateful. Ben Cartwright owes me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you\u2019d better leave,\u201d said Joe firmly. \u201cAnd let me warn you, you try to do anything to my Pa, I\u2019ll come after you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou?\u201d laughed Pettigrew. \u201cYou ain\u2019t nothing but a half grown kid. I ain\u2019t afraid of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s temper got the better of him. \u201cGet on your horse, and get out of here,\u201d he shouted. He walked over and gave Pettigrew a shove. \u201cYou hear me? Get going.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pettigrew turned suddenly and punched Joe in the jaw, knocking him to the ground. As Joe laid stunned for a moment, Pettigrew laughed again. \u201cDon\u2019t be telling me what to do, you young whelp.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe scrambled to his feet. As he neared Pettigrew, the old man gave him a shove. Joe fell to the ground again. Pettigrew walked over to him and grabbed the back of Joe\u2019s jacket. He jerked Joe to his feet and pushed him forward again. Joe went sprawling face first into the dirt. Pettigrew walked toward him again as Joe scrambled to his feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to hit you,\u201d warned Joe. \u201cYou just ride out\u2026now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laughing, Pettigrew pushed against Joe\u2019s chest causing the youngest Cartwright to stumble backwards. Suddenly, Joe\u2019s left foot had nothing under it. Joe twisted as he felt himself falling. Then he disappeared.<\/p>\n

Pettigrew was startled to see Joe disappear into the ground. He walked over and stopped near the edge of a large hole. He suddenly remembered that this was the old well he had started digging many years ago. The well was dry; he had never found any water in it. Pettigrew looked down into the hole.<\/p>\n

Joe was laying on his right side at the bottom of the well, about twenty feet below Pettigrew. He was not moving.<\/p>\n

Pettigrew stared at the figure below him for a minute, then laughed to himself. Fool kid\u2026if the boy wasn\u2019t dead, he would be soon, Pettigrew thought. He walked over to the ruins of the cabin and picked up some planks of wood from the fallen roof. He dragged the timber over to the well and covered the top. Unless someone stood close, they wouldn\u2019t be able to tell that there was a hole under the planks. The wood looked like just more scattered debris from the ruins.<\/p>\n

This wasn\u2019t exactly what he had in mind for Ben Cartwright, Pettigrew thought as he mounted his horse and grabbed the reins of Joe\u2019s horse. But it would do. It would do.<\/p>\n

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

Ben Cartwright paced anxiously in front of the fireplace as he waited for Hoss and Adam to return with Joe. Roy Coffee watched him pace.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, I think you\u2019re getting yourself all worked up over nothing,\u201d said the sheriff. \u201cIf Pettigrew is the one who started the fire and set the explosion, he hasn\u2019t hurt anyone. There\u2019s no reason to think he would harm one of your boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stopping his pacing, Ben stared at Coffee. \u201cYou don\u2019t understand. Pettigrew wants his revenge. We took away the thing most precious to him, his freedom. Now he wants to take away the things that mean most to Charlie, Matt and me. And there\u2019s nothing more precious to me than my sons.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coffee and Ben looked up as they heard the sound of horses approaching. Both men rushed to the front door.<\/p>\n

Racing out the front door, Ben stopped abruptly when he saw only two riders coming. Coffee stopped right behind him and swallowed hard when he saw the same thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s Joe?\u201d Ben asked anxiously as Adam and Hoss rode up.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, we couldn\u2019t find him,\u201d Hoss replied with a frown.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe found where he was marking trees, but then the markings just stopped,\u201d added Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t find any sign of him? Anything?\u201d asked Ben, his anxiety growing.<\/p>\n

Hoss shook his head. \u201cNothing,\u201d he said. \u201cPa, the floor of those woods are covered with pine needles and leaves. Nothing that would pick up a horse\u2019s tracks. Adam and I looked around for a while, then we figured we\u2019d better head back here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, I want you to round up every hand you can find and get them here quick,\u201d Ben ordered. \u201cWe need to organize a search party.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, aren\u2019t you going a little overboard?\u201d asked Adam. \u201cI mean, Joe might be perfectly all right. He might have decided to take a side trip or head home from a different direction. We\u2019ll look pretty silly if we run into him with a search party.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what if he isn\u2019t all right, Adam?\u201d said Ben. \u201cI\u2019d rather look silly than waste time if he needs help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam suddenly looked grim. \u201cYou\u2019re right, Pa. I\u2019ll get the men.\u201d He turned his horse abruptly and galloped out of the yard.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, I want you to gather up every lantern and torch you can find,\u201d Ben told his middle son. \u201cWe\u2019ll look all night if we have to.\u201d Hoss nodded and turned his horse toward the barn.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, I\u2019ll get to town and round up some men there,\u201d offered Coffee.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d said Ben gratefully. \u201cWe\u2019ll meet up at Cedar Creek. And Roy, please hurry.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Joe woke slowly; he wasn\u2019t quite sure where he was. He could taste dirt in his mouth. He opened his eyes and found his face shoved against a slab of dirt. He began to panic, fearing that he had been buried alive. He tried to sit up quickly, and felt an excruciating pain in his side. The pain was so bad it took his breath away. Joe fell onto his back and panted for air, trying to catch his breath. Gradually, the pain subsided and Joe was able to breathe a bit more easily. He found that taking short breaths prevented the pain from coming back too strongly.<\/p>\n

Opening his eyes again, Joe found he was staring at a ceiling far above him. He could see cracks of light in the ceiling. He began to remember the shoving match with Pettigrew and the fall. Joe figured he must have fallen into a hole of some kind. Pettigrew must have covered it with something because Joe could barely make out the top.<\/p>\n

Joe started to sit up but quickly stopped when he felt another stab of pain in his right side. He gingerly felt the injured area with his left hand. His ribs were sore; he figured he had cracked or broken several of them.<\/p>\n

In the dim light, Joe could see his right arm bent at an awkward angle. His arm felt numb; he couldn\u2019t move his fingers. He gently felt the arm with his left hand and wasn\u2019t surprised to feel a broken bone. Joe\u2019s legs were bent at the knees. He fearfully tried to move them, and was relieved when he was able to straighten them. His legs were stiff and sore, but he was sure nothing was broken.<\/p>\n

Moving as slowly as possible, Joe raised himself to a sitting position and rested against wall of dirt behind him. Well, it could have been worse, he told himself. Some busted ribs and a broken arm. At least, he didn\u2019t break his back — or his neck.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s next thoughts were about how to get out of his dark prison. Pa would probably miss him when he didn\u2019t turn up for supper, and come looking for him. The only problem was, Joe was a long way from where he was suppose to be. There was no telling how long it would be before someone would find him — if ever.<\/p>\n

As Joe sat thinking, he heard a noise. At first, he thought he might have imagined it. He sat quietly and listened. He was sure he heard a horse, and the sound of a rock being kicked or thrown.<\/p>\n

\u201cHelp!\u201d Joe cried as loud as his injured ribs would let him. \u201cI\u2019m down here! Help me. Please!\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe stopped shouting and listened. He wasn\u2019t sure his cries had been heard. The earthen walls would absorb most of the sound.<\/p>\n

\u201cHelp me!\u201d Joe shouted again, more urgently than before. \u201cCan you hear me? I need help!\u201d<\/p>\n

Once again, he stopped and listened. This time, he was sure he heard the sound of a horse being ridden away at a gallop.<\/p>\n

Feeling despair washing over him, Joe slumped against the wall. Whoever had been at the ruined cabin had ridden away, and left him here.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, Joe squared his shoulders and lifted his head. All right, he thought, that\u2019s enough. If you want to get out of here, you\u2019re going to have to do it yourself.<\/p>\n

Joe slowly pulled himself up until he was standing. Each movement sent a stab of pain through him. He stood still for a few minutes, eyes closed and teeth clenched, until the pain subsided. Then he opened his eyes and looked up.<\/p>\n

The top of the pit was ten or more feet above his head. The only way to reach it was to climb. Joe wasn\u2019t sure he could pull himself up with just one arm, but he was determined to try. He felt the wall in front of him. The dirt was loose. He\u2019d have to be careful or he really would bury himself. Joe looked to the floor, and saw a small rock in the dim light. He picked up the rock, wincing at the pain that bending and straightening caused. He lifted his right hand above his head, and with as much force as he could muster, drove the rock into the dirt. He pulled on the end that was jutting out from the wall and was satisfied that the rock was firmly embedded in the dirt.<\/p>\n

Reaching up, Joe took a firm grasp on the rock. Slowly, he began to pull himself up, until he was about six inches off the ground. He began kicking the dirt with the toe of his right boot until he had a small toehold. He stuck the toe of his boot into the small hole, taking some of the strain off his aching arm.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t much a climb, Joe thought, but it was a start. He grasped the rock tighter and began to pull himself a little higher. However, before he could start kicking the dirt again, the earth around the rock began to crumble. The rock flipped forward and Joe fell back to the ground.<\/p>\n

Joe cried out as he felt the intense pain from his injured arm and ribs. Then, mercifully, a curtain of blackness descended around him, and he passed out.<\/p>\n

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

The search parties look throughout the night for Joe. The men could hear each other calling Joe\u2019s name in the dark. Flickers of light from lanterns and torches could be seen through the trees. They were still searching when the faint rays of the sun dawned over the hills.<\/p>\n

Sitting on his horse, Ben\u2019s eyes searched the terrain around him as the sun lit the area. His voice was hoarse from calling Joe\u2019s name for hours. Even worse was the fear he felt in the pit of his stomach. He knew Joe was in trouble, and it was his fault.<\/p>\n

As Adam and Hoss came riding up to him, Ben looked expectantly at them, then let his shoulders sag when he saw the discouragement on their faces.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing,\u201d Ben stated in a dull voice. \u201cYou found nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, we searched every inch of this mountain,\u201d said Hoss in frustration. \u201cThere ain\u2019t no sign of him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it\u2019s all right with you, I want to take the men back to Cedar Creek and have them make another sweep,\u201d Adam suggested. He hesitated, hating to say what he had to. \u201cNow that it\u2019s light, we can see better. This time, I want them to keep an eye out for something that might look like a\u2026\u201d Adam hesitated again. \u201cA grave,\u201d he finished in a choked voice.<\/p>\n

Ben felt the fear claw at his stomach even tighter. He knew Adam was right, but the thought of Joe dead was almost more than he could bear. He nodded silently, unable to trust his voice. Hoss\u2019 face showed the pain he also felt. Adam turned his horse and rode a short distance, then fired his gun twice into the air. Men began pouring out of the trees, riding toward the sound. Ben watched silently as Adam began talking to them. He couldn\u2019t bear to hear Adam\u2019s words again. Ben turned his horse and began to ride slowly toward Cedar Creek.<\/p>\n

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

Joe wasn\u2019t sure how long he had been asleep. He knew it must have been a long time. He vaguely remembered waking for a brief time and being in total darkness. Now, he could seem some rays of light coming through the cracks of whatever was covering the top of the hole. He figured he must have slept through the night.<\/p>\n

The pain in Joe\u2019s side had subsided into a dull ache. However, his broken arm was beginning to throb. He felt feverish and cold at the same time. He also was thirsty, as thirsty as he could ever remember being. His mouth was dry and tasted gritty.<\/p>\n

Moving slowly, Joe inched himself into a sitting position. Each movement caused another wave of pain. He was shivering, but didn\u2019t know whether it was being caused by the cold, the pain, the fever or a combination of the three. He finally managed to sit up but felt exhausted by the effort it took just to move that small bit. He began to feel lightheaded and dizzy.<\/p>\n

Closing his eyes, Joe slumped back against the wall of dirt. He knew he wouldn\u2019t be able to stand up, much less try to climb out again. All he could do now is wait. And hope and pray that someone would find him in time.<\/p>\n

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

Ben wasn\u2019t sure whether he felt relief or increased worry as the men gathered at the top of the hill. No one had found any trace of Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, he\u2019s not here,\u201d declared Hoss. \u201cWe would have found some trace of him if he was.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe Joe just rode off someplace,\u201d suggested Roy Coffee. \u201cMaybe he went to Virginia City or to another ranch.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Roy,\u201d replied Ben in a tired voice. \u201cEveryone knows we\u2019re looking for Joe. If he showed up in Virginia City or any place else, we would have heard by now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat should we do now?\u201d asked Adam.<\/p>\n

Before Ben could answer, his attention was distracted by a rider galloping in their direction from the hill below. As the rider neared, Ben recognized him as one of the men they had left at the ranch house, in case Joe showed up there. Ben felt a surge of hope.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Cartwright, Mr. Cartwright,\u201d yelled the man as he approached.<\/p>\n

\u201cJake, what is it?\u201d asked Ben urgently. \u201cDid Joe show up?\u201d<\/p>\n

The rider reined his horse to a halt. \u201cNo,\u201d said the rider. \u201cJoe didn\u2019t show up, but his horse did. Came wandering in this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAny sign of where the horse came from?\u201d asked Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d admitted Jake. \u201cWe tried to back-track him but lost the trail on the Virginia City road. He could have come down that road from any direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe Joe\u2019s horse threw him,\u201d suggested Coffee.<\/p>\n

Hoss shook his head. \u201cNo, Roy. There\u2019s no way that pinto could have thrown Joe. Joe\u2019s too good of a rider. Besides, he\u2019s had the horse since he was a kid. He knows every move that horse can make.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben sat quietly as he listened to the conversation. He was thinking hard. \u201cAdam, send the men back to the ranch to get some food and some rest,\u201d he said quietly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you going to do?\u201d asked Adam with a frown.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to do what I should have done in the first place,\u201d Ben answered grimly. \u201cI\u2019m going to Virginia City and have a talk with Andy Pettigrew.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Joe drifted in and out of consciousness. He had no idea how long he had been in this hole; he had lost all track of time. All he knew was the pain was getting worse, and his fever was going higher. He took a deep breath and gritted his teeth at the pain this caused.<\/p>\n

Joe was determined not to give up. Where\u2019s there\u2019s life, there\u2019s hope, he thought with a grim smile. He remembered hearing his Pa say that. Joe never really thought about it before. Now, he understood what the saying meant. As long as he stayed alive, there\u2019s was a chance to get out of this mess. He knew that his father, brothers and most of the hands on the Ponderosa would be looking for him by now. Just keep breathing, he told himself. Just keep alive.<\/p>\n

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

Ben rode into Virginia City as fast as his horse would carry him, with Adam, Hoss and Roy Coffee close behind. He stopped his horse in front of the Silver Dollar saloon and jumped from the saddle. Pushing open the doors of the saloon, Ben quickly looked around. Andy Pettigrew was sitting at the same table where Ben had talked with him a few days ago. Ben walked quickly to the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s my son?\u201d Ben demanded in a loud voice.<\/p>\n

Pettigrew looked up with a quizzical expression on his face. \u201cWhat are you talking about, Cartwright?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Leaning over, Ben put his hands on the table. \u201cNo more games, Pettigrew,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to know what you\u2019ve done with Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pettigrew took a drink of whiskey from the bottle in front of him. He was secretly enjoying the look of anguish on Ben\u2019s face. \u201cCartwright, I have no idea where your kid is,\u201d he stated slowly.<\/p>\n

Rushing around the table, Ben grabbed Pettigrew by the front of the shirt. With a jerk, he pulled Pettigrew to his feet. \u201cYou\u2019ve got exactly ten seconds to tell me where my son is,\u201d Ben shouted angrily. \u201cIf you don\u2019t, I\u2019m going to kill you with my bare hands.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know where your son is,\u201d repeated Pettigrew.<\/p>\n

Enraged, Ben put his hands to Pettigrew\u2019s neck and started to choke him. \u201cTell me,\u201d Ben bellowed. \u201cTell me or I\u2019ll squeeze the life out of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roy Coffee rushed up to Ben and began pulling Ben\u2019s arms away from Pettigrew\u2019s neck. \u201cBen, let him go!\u201d shouted the sheriff. \u201cLet him go!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss were standing behind Roy. Adam took a step and grabbed one of Ben\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, stop!\u201d Adam yelled. Ben ignored the two men pulling at his arms. His only thought was that Pettigrew had killed Joe. Now he was going to kill Pettigrew.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you kill him, we\u2019ll never find Joe,\u201d Adam cried out desperately.<\/p>\n

At first, Ben continued to resist the men pulling at his arms. Gradually, as Adam\u2019s words sunk in, Ben released his hold around Pettigrew\u2019s neck. Pettigrew fell to his chair, gasping for air and rubbing his neck.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, all right,\u201d muttered Ben. He twisted out of the grasp of both Adam and Coffee. He looked at Pettigrew, and his expression changed from anger to desperation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Ben apologized. \u201cPlease, you have to tell me where Joe is. I promise I won\u2019t send the law after you. Please, just tell me where Joe is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pettigrew looked up at Ben with an expression of pure hate. \u201cI don\u2019t know where your kid is,\u201d he replied, still rubbing his neck. \u201cBut even if I did, I wouldn\u2019t tell you now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll give you anything you want,\u201d pleaded Ben. \u201cMoney, land, anything. Just tell me where my son is.\u201d<\/p>\n

A wicked smile crossed Pettigrew\u2019s face. \u201cI have what I want,\u201d the man declared. \u201cYou\u2019re gong to spend the rest of your life wondering what happened to your son. You\u2019re going to spend every day thinking of him, and missing him. You\u2019re going to know what it\u2019s like to have something important taken away and you can never get it back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPettigrew, I don\u2019t care what you do to me,\u201d Ben said in a low voice. \u201cKill me, burn me out, I don\u2019t care. But don\u2019t take your revenge out on an innocent boy. Joe had nothing to do with what happened between you and me. Don\u2019t make him pay for whatever you think I did to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pettigrew hesitated. For a moment, it seemed as if his hate was abating. Then it sprang back into his eyes. \u201cCartwright, I don\u2019t know what happened to your kid,\u201d he stated one more time. \u201cAll I know is, whatever happened, I\u2019m happy about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPettigrew, if you know something about Joe Cartwright, you\u2019d better tell us now,\u201d warned Roy Coffee.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know anything,\u201d Pettigrew said firmly. \u201cAnd you can\u2019t prove otherwise. Now, leave me alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s shoulders slumped at Pettigrew\u2019s words. He knew that Pettigrew was not going to tell him anything. He turned and walked slowly out of the saloon, followed by Adam and Hoss.<\/p>\n

Roy Coffee lingered a minute. \u201cPettigrew, I\u2019m telling you straight out,\u201d said the sheriff grimly. \u201cIf I find out you had anything to do with this, I\u2019m going to see that you go back to prison for the rest of your life.\u201d He turned and stalked out of the saloon.<\/p>\n

Pettigrew took a long drink of whiskey. He was more frightened of Ben Cartwright than he cared to admit. He figured it was time to leave Virginia City.<\/p>\n

Coffee saw Ben standing by the hitching post in front of the saloon. Ben was slumped over, his body showing the despair he felt. Adam was standing next to him, with a comforting hand on his father\u2019s shoulder. Hoss was a few feet away, uncertain about what to do next.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, I\u2019m going to see if I can round up some more men,\u201d said Coffee. \u201cWe\u2019ll get a fresh posse and start looking again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben nodded. \u201cAll right, Roy,\u201d he agreed. \u201cI don\u2019t know what good it will do, but we can try.\u201d Coffee looked at Adam, who just shrugged. He looked at Hoss who just stood there with a shocked expression on his face. The sheriff turned and began walking back to his office.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, we can\u2019t give up,\u201d urged Adam. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to keep looking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t even know where to start,\u201d replied Ben in a flat voice. \u201cHe could be anywhere. He\u2019s probably dead, and it\u2019s my fault. It\u2019s all my fault.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam felt at a loss for words. He didn\u2019t know what to say to comfort Ben.<\/p>\n

As the three men stood by the hitching post, two men walked up to them. \u201cBen, we heard what happened. What can we do to help?\u201d Ben looked up in surprise. Charlie Tobler and Matt Benson stood before him.<\/p>\n

\u201cCharlie, Matt,\u201d Ben greeted the men with surprise. \u201cI heard what happened. I thought you two had\u2026\u201d Ben\u2019s voice trailed off. He didn\u2019t know exactly how to say what he was thinking.<\/p>\n

\u201cThought we had given up?\u201d asked Tobler. \u201cYou\u2019re right, Ben. We had. Both Matt and I were devastated by what happened to us. Then we heard about Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCharlie came to see me,\u201d explained Benson. \u201cWe talked and realized that we both had put too much stock in owning a mine or a house. Those are just things, Ben, and things can be replaced.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, what Pettigrew did to us was nothing compared to what he\u2019s done to you,\u201d added Tobler. \u201cI can always build a new house.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I\u2019m going to finally retire and enjoy not having to worry about that mine,\u201d declared Benson.<\/p>\n

Ben nodded. \u201cI\u2019m glad for you,\u201d he said in a sad voice. \u201cI wish I could say Pettigrew took something that I put too much stock in. But I can\u2019t. Joe\u2019s probably dead, and it\u2019s all my fault.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, you can\u2019t give up,\u201d said Tobler. \u201cNot until you know for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can have every miner I have on the payroll to help you look,\u201d offered Benson. \u201cAnd I\u2019ll round up every man in Virginia City. We\u2019ll cover every square inch of this territory.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d said Ben in a discouraged voice. \u201cI appreciate what you\u2019re saying. But Pettigrew won this time. He\u2019s taken away the thing I value most — one of my sons. \u201d<\/p>\n

Standing a few feet away, watching the scene before him, Hoss was surprised to feel a tug on his pants leg. He turned and saw a small boy, about ten years old, standing behind him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, want to go fishing with me?\u201d the boy asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cBilly, I can\u2019t, not today,\u201d Hoss answered in a sad voice. \u201cLittle Joe is missing, and I can\u2019t do nothing until we find him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMissing?\u201d said Billy. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t rightly know,\u201d replied Hoss. \u201cHe was checking the timber up by Cedar Creek and just disappeared.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe the ghost got him,\u201d suggested Billy.<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, Billy, you know there\u2019s no such thing as ghosts,\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, there are,\u201d insisted Billy. \u201cI heard one. I was up at that old house near Cedar Creek yesterday, and I heard them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOld house?\u201d said Hoss. \u201cWhat old house?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it\u2019s really an old cabin, all fallen down and stuff. I was chasing rabbits. I stopped at the old cabin and while I was there, I heard the ghost. There was nobody around, but I could hear a voice. It had to be a ghost. I got scared and rode away real fast.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBilly, what did the voice say?\u201d asked Hoss cautiously.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I couldn\u2019t hear for sure,\u201d admitted the boy. \u201cThe voice sounded kind of funny. Like it was coming from someplace far away. It was real scary, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss grabbed Billy by the shoulders. \u201cBilly, are you sure this was up by Cedar Creek?\u201d he said urgently. \u201cAre you real sure?\u201d Billy nodded.<\/p>\n

Hoss turned to Ben. \u201cPa, I think I know where Joe might be,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Ben looked up at Hoss in surprise. \u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cBilly here was up at Cedar Creek yesterday. He said he stopped by an old cabin and heard a voice but couldn\u2019t see anyone. That old cabin, that used to be the Pettigrew place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you getting at?\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf Pettigrew was going to grab Joe and stick him someplace, he\u2019d put him up by the one place he knew,\u201d explained Hoss. \u201cThat one place would be his old cabin.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Billy said he only heard a voice, he didn\u2019t see anyone,\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPettigrew wouldn\u2019t leave Joe in the open where he could be seen,\u201d argued Hoss. \u201cIf it was Joe that Billy heard, he was probably tied up and hidden up there someplace.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben rushed over and knelt in front of the boy. \u201cBilly, tell me again what happened yesterday,\u201d Ben said. After Billy repeated his story, Ben patted the boy on the head, and stood up. He looked at Adam and Hoss, as well as Benson and Tobler. \u201cWe\u2019ve been looking in the wrong place,\u201d he said excitedly. \u201cGet your horses. We\u2019re going back out to Cedar Creek. And let\u2019s pray we\u2019re not too late.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Joe knew time was running out. Pain, fever, thirst \u2013 all were making him weaker by the minute. He was trying desperately to stay awake. He was afraid if he fell asleep, he\u2019d never wake up. Keep breathing, he told himself. Just concentrate on staying alive. He tried not to pay attention to the thought in the back of his mind \u2013 that he was just prolonging the inevitable. He wasn\u2019t ready to give up, though, not yet. Somebody had come by once; Joe was sure he had heard a horse before he tried to climb out. If somebody had come by once, they could come back. He just had to hang on and wait.<\/p>\n

Despite his best efforts, Joe\u2019s eyes began to close. He just didn\u2019t have the strength to stay awake any longer. He fought against it, but slowly slid into darkness.<\/p>\n

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

Ben raced his horse across the meadow toward Andy Pettigrew\u2019s old cabin. Adam and Hoss were with him, their horses matching his, stride for stride. Tobler and Benson were following far behind in a wagon. Neither Charlie or Matt had said anything, but both felt if Joe was at the cabin, a wagon would be needed \u2013 one way or another, a wagon would be needed.<\/p>\n

Ben started shouting Joe\u2019s name as soon as he approached the cabin. He reined his horse to a stop and dismounted, still shouting Joe\u2019s name. He waited for a response, looking around desperately for any sign of his son. Hoss and Adam sat still on their horses, also looking and waiting. The only sound they heard was the chirping of some birds.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, Hoss, spread out and start looking,\u201d ordered Ben. His sons dismounted and separated. Hoss headed toward the cabin and Adam, toward some trees behind the building.<\/p>\n

Ben started walking toward some boards to the right of the old building. His foot kicked at the boards, and Ben was surprised to see that they covered a hole.<\/p>\n

Bending over, Ben pulled the boards aside. As the sunlight streamed in, Ben could see something in the hole. Frowning, he knelt and looked into the hole.<\/p>\n

Joe was laying in the bottom of the pit. His back was resting against the wall, and his right arm was laying protectively across his chest. Joe\u2019s head was slumped to the side.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, Hoss! Over here!\u201d Ben yelled. \u201cI found him!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss rushed to their father and looked into the hole. All three began shouting Joe\u2019s name, but the figure at the bottom laid motionless.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet a rope,\u201d shouted Ben. Hoss ran to his horse and returned with a rope looped around his shoulder.<\/p>\n

Grabbing the rope, Ben tied it around his waist. \u201cYou two lower me down,\u201d he said to his sons. Hoss and Adam took a firm grip on the rope and slowly lowered Ben into the hole.<\/p>\n

There was barely enough room for Ben to stand when he reached the bottom. Joe\u2019s body covered most of the area. Ben untied the rope and knelt by his unconscious son. He let out a sigh of relief as he saw Joe\u2019s chest rising and falling.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s alive!\u201d Ben shouted over his shoulder to Adam and Hoss who were anxiously peering down at him. \u201cGet me some water.\u201d Ben ran his hands lightly over Joe\u2019s neck, arms, ribs and legs. He could tell his son\u2019s right arm and ribs were broken, but that seemed to be the extent of the injuries. Rivulets of sweat ran down Joe\u2019s dirt-streaked face. Ben frowned as he felt Joe\u2019s forehead. He gently pulled Joe toward him, and hugged his son to his chest. Ben closed his eyes and held Joe tight.<\/p>\n

The thud of the canteen landing at his feet startled Ben. He reached down with one hand and grabbed the canteen. Ben gently raised Joe\u2019s head and uncorked the canteen.<\/p>\n

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

Joe tasted the trickle of water in his mouth and eagerly swallowed. A small but steady stream of water filled his mouth and Joe drank gratefully. The water stopped when Joe coughed and winced in pain. He opened his eyes, looking for the source of the cool liquid. His vision was blurry but he could see a face looking anxiously into his. He heard some words but his fever-racked brain couldn\u2019t make any sense of them. He felt a hand gently stroking his head. Joe knew help had arrived. He felt a small surge of triumph. He had done it, he thought. He had stayed alive.<\/p>\n

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

Hoss stood staring into the fireplace, wondering why the doctor was taking so long with Joe. He knew his little brother was hurt. He had seen the broken arm and felt the broken ribs when they hauled him out of that well. But surely the doctor should have him patched up by now, he thought.<\/p>\n

Even with Tobler and Benson helping Adam and Hoss, it had seemed like it took forever to bring Joe to the surface. They had to be careful of the crumbling walls of that pit, as well as be careful not to make Joe\u2019s injuries worse.<\/p>\n

Thank God Charlie and Matt had brought the wagon and some blankets, Hoss thought. A wave of anger swelled in Hoss every time he thought about carrying his brother\u2019s broken and sick body to that wagon. Joe was hurt too bad to tell them what had happened, but Hoss had a pretty good idea who was responsible. When he got his hands on Andy Pettigrew\u2026.<\/p>\n

Hoss turned as he heard the front door open. Adam, Charlie and Matt walked into the house.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny word yet?\u201d asked Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d said Hoss grimly \u201cThe doctor is still working on him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Benson and Tobler settled themselves on the sofa. \u201cHe\u2019s going to be all right, Hoss,\u201d said Benson is a reassuring voice. \u201cI\u2019ve seen a lot of men hurt in the mines, and they were hurt a lot worse than Joe. They came out of it fine and so will he.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss nodded. He tried to be comforted by Matt\u2019s words but somehow he wasn\u2019t. Hoss turned back to stare at the fire.<\/p>\n

Adam looked at Benson and Tobler, and shook his head. Nothing they said was going to help Hoss right now. Adam knew his brother. Hoss would worry and fret until the doctor told them that Joe was going to be all right. \u201cI\u2019ll go see if Hop Sing\u2019s got some coffee ready,\u201d offered Adam. He started toward the kitchen but stopped when he heard a knock on the door.<\/p>\n

Roy Coffee was standing at the door when Adam opened it. \u201cHow\u2019s Joe?\u201d asked the sheriff as he walked in.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know yet,\u201d answered Adam.<\/p>\n

Hoss turned toward the sheriff. \u201cYou arrest Andy Pettigrew?\u201d he asked angrily.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Coffee replied. \u201cThat\u2019s what I came out to tell you. Pettigrew\u2019s gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGone?\u201d said Tobler. \u201cWhat do you mean, gone?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust what I said,\u201d answered Coffee. \u201cWhen Adam here came to get the doctor, he stopped by my office and told me where you found Joe. I started looking for Pettigrew right away. He wasn\u2019t at the saloon so I went by the boarding house where he was staying. His things were gone. His horse was gone from the stable, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyone know where he went?\u201d asked Benson.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d answered the sheriff. \u201cHe just took off.\u201d<\/p>\n

The sound of footsteps on the stairs drew everyone\u2019s attention. The men turned expectantly as Doctor Martin and Ben walked down the stairs. \u201cHe\u2019s going to be all right,\u201d the doctor declared. Relief was visible on every face in the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s going to need plenty of rest and plenty of Hop Sing\u2019s good cooking,\u201d continued the doctor. \u201cBut he\u2019s young and strong. He\u2019ll be back on his feet soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid he tell you what happened?\u201d asked Roy.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe couldn\u2019t say much,\u201d admitted Ben. \u201cHe\u2019s still a pretty sick boy. But he did say that he and Pettigrew were having an argument, he slipped, and fell into that hole.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen it was an accident,\u201d stated Roy.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt looks that way,\u201d agreed Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Pettigrew rode off and left him,\u201d said Hoss angrily. \u201cHe just left him there to die.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoy, I\u2019ll ride with the posse after Pettigrew,\u201d declared Benson.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe, too,\u201d added Tobler.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, hold on,\u201d Coffee told the men. \u201cI ain\u2019t sending a posse after Pettigrew. He hasn\u2019t done anything I can arrest him for.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHasn\u2019t done anything?\u201d said Adam incredulously. \u201cHe left Joe in that pit. He denied knowing where Joe was. If we hadn\u2019t found him when we did, Joe could be dead by now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, listen to me. Ben just said Joe\u2019s fall was an accident,\u201d the sheriff stated. \u201cThere\u2019s no law that says a man has to help another, or has to tell something he knows. It may not be right what Pettigrew did, but it isn\u2019t against the law.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about my house?\u201d asked Tobler. \u201cHe burned it down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he blew up my mine,\u201d added Benson.<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t got any evidence that says Pettigrew is responsible for those things,\u201d Coffee replied firmly. \u201cI\u2019m not going to send men riding out on a posse after a man I\u2019m just going to have to let go for lack of evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine, Roy,\u201d said Hoss disgustedly. \u201cYou just stay here. Adam and I will find Pettigrew.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou two go after Pettigrew and something happens to him, I\u2019ll have to throw you in jail,\u201d Roy threatened.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll take our chances,\u201d Adam told the sheriff grimly.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Adam,\u201d said Ben firmly. \u201cRoy\u2019s right. We can\u2019t take the law into our own hands. That\u2019s what started all this over twenty years ago. If Andy Pettigrew hadn\u2019t taken the law into his own hands then, none of this would have happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Pa, we can\u2019t just let him go!\u201d Hoss protested. \u201cJoe almost died in that hole. Pettigrew\u2019s got to pay for what he did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, I know how you feel,\u201d acknowledged Ben. \u201cBelieve me, I do. But we can\u2019t go after Pettigrew. It\u2019s over; it\u2019s done.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo Pettigrew gets away with what he did,\u201d said Tobler sadly. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t seem right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt may not seem right, but it\u2019s the law,\u201d Coffee replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cAndy Pettigrew will pay for what he did some day,\u201d said Ben grimly. \u201cAnd he\u2019ll have to answer to a higher court than ours.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walking to the fireplace, Ben put his arm around Hoss\u2019 shoulder. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you go up and sit with Joe for awhile,\u201d he suggested. Hoss stared into space for a minute then nodded. He slowly walked up the stairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never seen Hoss so angry,\u201d said the doctor.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll get over it,\u201d replied Ben as he watched his son climb the stairs. \u201cThe last day or so have been hard on all of us. I think we\u2019ve all said and done some things we\u2019ll regret.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, I meant what I said,\u201d warned Roy. \u201cYou or your boys go after Pettigrew and you\u2019ll answer to the law.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to worry about us going after Pettigrew,\u201d Ben promised. Ben looked Adam straight in the eye. \u201cAm I right, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam looked back at his father for several minutes. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. \u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d Adam said. \u201cWe won\u2019t go after Pettigrew.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Joe healed quickly as the doctor predicted. He complained about having to be in bed, and chafed at being confined to the house after he was allowed to get up. Ben was torn between exasperation and gratification at Joe\u2019s complaints. He knew the more Joe complained, the better he was feeling. But he also found it a chore to keep Joe from doing too much while his injuries healed.<\/p>\n

Ben was in the yard putting horse blankets on the fence to dry when he heard the front door of the house open. He also could hear loud voices arguing. Turning toward the house, Ben saw Joe was walking slowly out of the building. His splintered arm was in a sling, and he walked gingerly to avoid hurting his still-sore ribs. Hop Sing was following Joe, yelling at him in Chinese. Ben walked over to the pair.<\/p>\n

Joe had stopped and was yelling back at Hop Sing. The two voices mingled; Ben couldn\u2019t understand either one.<\/p>\n

\u201cHold on, hold on,\u201d Ben said. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on here?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe and Hop Sing turned to Ben and both began speaking at once. Ben put up his hand. \u201cOne at a time,\u201d he ordered. \u201cNow what\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe need nap,\u201d said Hop Sing firmly. \u201cDoctor say he need plenty rest, plenty of Hop Sing\u2019s good cooking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I don\u2019t need a nap,\u201d interjected Joe disgustedly. \u201cI\u2019m tired of sitting around the house and having Hop Sing stuff me like a turkey. I just want to take a walk and get some fresh air.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou take nap!\u201d Hop Sing insisted. \u201cYou rest, get plenty better with Hop Sing\u2019s food.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t need a nap, I don\u2019t need more food, and I certainly don\u2019t need some Chinese nursemaid looking after me,\u201d replied Joe heatedly.<\/p>\n

Ben smiled to himself. \u201cAll right, all right,\u201d he said, trying to keep a straight face.<\/p>\n

Joe and Hop Sing turned to him, both expecting him to support their side.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow I agree that the doctor said Joe needs plenty of rest and nourishing food,\u201d Ben said soothingly.<\/p>\n

\u201cHmmph,\u201d snorted Hop Sing with satisfaction.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut,\u201d continued Ben before Joe could protest. \u201cI also agree that some fresh air and sunshine would do Joe some good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHmmph,\u201d snorted Joe back at the cook.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, let\u2019s compromise,\u201d Ben suggested. \u201cJoe, you can stay out here for awhile as long as you sit in the rocking chair out front. No walking around.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, Pa\u2026\u201d Joe protested.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo buts,\u201d said Ben firmly. \u201cYou\u2019re a long way from being healed. It\u2019s either the rocking chair or upstairs for a nap. Take your choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked pleadingly at his father but he could see Ben was not about to change his mind. \u201cAll right,\u201d he agreed with a sigh. \u201cI\u2019ll sit in the rocking chair.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hop Sing snorted again in satisfaction and walked back into the house. Joe moved slowly to the rocking chair with Ben walking behind him. Joe winced as he lowered himself slowly into the chair, then adjusted the sling on his arm so he could rest his elbow on the arm of the chair.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure you\u2019re all right?\u201d asked Ben as he watched Joe settle himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine, Pa,\u201d Joe answered. \u201cStop worrying.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWorrying is a father\u2019s prerogative, Joseph,\u201d said Ben with mock sterness.<\/p>\n

The sound of horses distracted the pair. Ben and Joe looked up to see Adam and Hoss riding into the yard.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, look at this,\u201d called Hoss cheerfully as he dismounted. \u201cLooks like our little brother is finally up and around.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout time,\u201d commented Adam with a smile. \u201cYour chores are really piling up, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I guess you two are having a hard time running the ranch without me,\u201d retorted Joe. \u201cI always knew you couldn\u2019t manage by yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben smiled at his sons\u2019 bantering talk. It was the surest sign that things were getting back to normal. \u201cWhat\u2019s new in town,\u201d asked Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe saw Charlie Tobler,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cHe\u2019s going to Europe while they build his new house. Said he\u2019s going to look for some new pictures and things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he talked Matt Benson into going with him,\u201d added Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cMatt\u2019s going to Europe!\u201d exclaimed Ben. \u201cI would have never believed it. He really is going to retire.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, for a while,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cHe\u2019s got a crew working on trying to get his mine re-opened. They figure that it\u2019ll take six months or so to move out all the rocks and dirt. Matt said he\u2019d go crazy sitting around waiting for them to finish. So Charlie talked Matt into going with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat will be quite a pair traveling the capitals of Europe,\u201d observed Adam with a wry grin. \u201cI hope Europe survives.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI never really got a chance to thank them,\u201d said Joe. \u201cI know they helped get me out of that hole.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben put his arm on Joe\u2019s shoulder. \u201cThey know you appreciate it, son. And going to Europe is probably the best thing for them. It\u2019ll distract them from thinking about Andy Pettigrew.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s face immediately grew grave. \u201cPa, some hunters found Andy Pettigrew.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFound him? Where?\u201d asked Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the bottom of Piaute Falls,\u201d answered Hoss. \u201cLooks like he\u2019s been dead about three weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDead!\u201d said Joe with surprise. \u201cDo they know what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody knows for sure,\u201d replied Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoy said he was scared to death of going back to prison,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cHe lit out as soon as he heard we knew where Joe was. I guess he figured you\u2019d have him arrested.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoy figures he was so scared of going back that he tried to cover his trail by cutting over the falls,\u201d Adam added. \u201cHe could have slipped, his horse could have thrown him, he might have even jumped. There\u2019s no way to tell.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head. \u201cPoor Andy,\u201d he said sadly.<\/p>\n

\u201cPoor Andy?\u201d retorted Hoss. \u201cThat skunk got what coming to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe,\u201d said Ben. \u201cBut Andy never really understood what was important. He killed a man for some furs. He wasted twenty years in prison, hating us for something he did. When he finally got out, instead of going back to the life he loved, he threw everything away to get his petty revenge. The only good thing he did is to remind Charlie, Matt and me about what\u2019s really important.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know what you mean, Pa,\u201d Joe told his father. \u201cWhen I was stuck down in that hole, all I could think about was staying alive. Nothing else mattered.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben nodded. \u201cYou learned something that Andy never did,\u201d said Ben. \u201cYou learned that the most precious possession is life.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary:\u00a0 After spending twenty years in prison, has a man returned to Virginia City to exact revenge?<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 T\u00a0\u00a0 (11,540 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10338,"featured_media":9517,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13975","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","wpcat-23-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2481,"today_views":1},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/brothers.jpg?fit=399%2C299&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":10352,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=10352","url_meta":{"origin":13975,"position":0},"title":"Chopped (by bahj)","author":"bahj","date":"October 11, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: It's a race against the clock as the three Cartwright brothers use whatever's on hand to prepare a dinner for twenty! Rated: Family Friendly\u00a0 Word count: 1800","rel":"","context":"In "Humor"","block_context":{"text":"Humor","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/brothers.jpg?fit=399%2C299&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6966,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6966","url_meta":{"origin":13975,"position":1},"title":"Tying One On (by BluewindFarm)","author":"BluewindFarm","date":"May 6, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Three Cartwrights look out the window in disbelief of the scene below. Rating :\u00a0 K+ (840 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Adam Cartwright"","block_context":{"text":"Adam Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1005"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/ac-pic.jpg?fit=335%2C328&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":13965,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13965","url_meta":{"origin":13975,"position":2},"title":"One Night in Bear River (by Susan G)","author":"SusanG","date":"December 12, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Having delivered the herd, the Cartwrights were only planning to spend one night in town before heading home. 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