{"id":13995,"date":"2007-12-12T18:49:24","date_gmt":"2007-12-12T23:49:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13995"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:11:08","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:11:08","slug":"someone-to-watch-over-me-by-susan-g","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13995","title":{"rendered":"Someone to Watch Over Me (by Susan G)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:<\/strong>\u00a0 Joe has a close call with his guardian angel.<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 T\u00a0\u00a0 (4,615 words)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Someone to Watch Over Me<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I want you to ride to Elk\u2019s Point today and fix the fence up there,\u201d Ben Cartwright said casually as he cut the breakfast ham on his plate. \u201cOne of the hands told me it was down.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sitting to Ben\u2019s right, Joe, Ben\u2019s youngest son, froze; the coffee cup he was raising to his lips seemed suspended in mid-air. \u201cElks Point?\u201d Joe repeated in an unhappy tone. A picture of the desolate land on the edge of the Ponderosa flashed through his mind. \u201cWhy do I have to go? Why can\u2019t one of the hands do it? Or Adam? Or Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBecause the hands will be busy all day rounding up the herd near the north slope so we can move the cattle to new grass,\u201d replied Ben patiently. \u201cBecause Adam is going to be working on the books with me all day, and Hoss is going into town to pick up supplies and the mail. And because I asked you to go to Elk\u2019s Point.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Hoss,\u201d Joe called across the table with a bright smile on his face. \u201cHow about we trade? You fix the fence up at Elk\u2019s Point, and I\u2019ll pick up the supplies.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo deal, little brother,\u201d answered Hoss, the middle Cartwright brother, without even pausing to consider Joe\u2019s suggestion. \u201cYou finagled your way into making the trip to town the last three times. This time, I\u2019m going!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll trade with you, Joe,\u201d offered Adam, the oldest of Ben\u2019s three sons, from the end of the table. \u201cI\u2019d rather be up at Elk\u2019s Point than spending the day going over the accounts, paying the bills, and calculating how much grain we need for the next three months.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a moment, Joe thought about Adam\u2019s offer, but then reluctantly shook his head. As much as he hated the ride to Elk\u2019s Point, that trip was infinitely preferable to Joe than spending a day working on the ledgers with his father. \u201cThanks anyway, Adam, but if I had to spend a whole day working on those figures, I\u2019d probably tear out my hair,\u201d admitted Joe. \u201cNo offense, Pa,\u201d he added quickly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNone taken,\u201d replied Ben nonchalantly as he took a sip of coffee from his cup.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I don\u2019t see why we have to have a fence up there anyway,\u201d complained Joe. \u201cElk\u2019s Point is a good two miles from the nearest water. The ground is so hard that nothing will grow except a few weeds. No steer is his right mind would go near the place.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThen we must have a bunch of crazy steers,\u201d Hoss remarked. \u201cCharlie told me he shooed two or three of them away from the slope up there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that\u2019s why we need the fence up,\u201d Ben explained. \u201cWithout that fence, some steer will decide to go exploring and end up at the bottom of the slope with a broken leg or worse. Now it\u2019s decided, Joseph. You will ride to Elk\u2019s Point and you will fix that fence.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, all right,\u201d grumbled Joe. He sighed and shook his head. \u201cI wish someone would worry about me as much as they do those silly cows,\u201d he muttered under his breath.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

Banging a hammer against a large nail, Joe secured the middle slat of the fence to the post sticking out of the ground. He paused for a moment to wipe the sweat off his forehead with his shirtsleeve, then gave the nail one last whack for good measure. He tugged a bit on the wooden slat, satisfying himself that it would stay in place. Then he took a step back and looked around.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The area was as barren as Joe had told his father at breakfast that morning. A thin layer of dirt covered the hard ground that was interspersed with a few small rocks. Here and there, a hardy weed or tuff of a bush poked through the dirt, but for the most part, this far corner of the Ponderosa looked desolate. Joe felt a small flush of pride as he gazed at the sturdy fence that stretched from an outcropping of boulders to his left to the foot of the pebbly hill on his right. He had spent the last three hours working under a hot sun, righting a tilted fence post and re-attaching planks.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOne more to go and then we can call it a day, Cooch,\u201d Joe called in a loud voice to his horse, which was tied to a post several feet away. The pinto didn\u2019t react to Joe\u2019s voice. The animal\u2019s eyes were almost closed as it dozed in the heat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI think you have the right idea,\u201d observed Joe with a smile. \u201cWhen it\u2019s this hot, it\u2019s better to be sleeping than fixing fences.\u201d\u00a0 After taking a deep breath and letting it out with a loud huff, Joe bent down to pick up the last slat from the ground.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The sound of horses startled Joe, who thought he was the only person within miles of Elk\u2019s Point. Dropping the plank, he turned to his left and watched with curiosity as two riders approached in almost single-file order. The man in front appeared to be in his mid-30\u2019s, while a younger man \u2013 he looked to be in his early 20\u2019s, about the same age as Joe \u2013 trailed slightly behind. Both the men and their horses were covered with sweat and dust.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHey, mister, can you tell us where we are?\u201d asked the older man as he halted his horse in front of Joe. \u201cWe got turned around someplace, and now we\u2019re lost.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re on The Ponderosa,\u201d Joe answered in a neutral voice. Something about the two men made him uneasy, but he wasn\u2019t sure what.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Ponderosa,\u201d repeated the older man. \u201cThat\u2019s near Virginia City, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Virginia City is the closest town, but it\u2019s a good 30 miles from here,\u201d explained Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAny water around here?\u201d the younger man asked. \u201cWe could sure use some.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a stream about two miles west of here,\u201d replied Joe, pointing in the right direction. \u201cIf you keep going west past the stream for an hour or so, you come to a road. Turn right on the road, and you\u2019ll be heading toward Virginia City.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think we could spend a night in Virginia City, Vince?\u201d asked the younger man plaintively. \u201cI sure could use the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYour horses look like they could use some rest, too,\u201d observed Joe before the older man could answer. He could see that both animals\u2019 heads were drooping, and their coats and mane were matted with sweat and dirt.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, we\u2019ve been riding them hard all night,\u201d replied the younger man.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShut up, Jimmy!\u201d Vince snapped to his companion.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe slowly moved his hand toward the gun that was strapped to his hip. Only two kinds of men rode hard all night \u2013 those who were trying to get to someplace in a hurry, and those who were on the run from the law. He didn\u2019t think these men were in a hurry to get someplace.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Seeing the movement of Joe\u2019s hand, Vince whipped his own gun out of his holster and pointed it at the youngest Cartwright. \u201cHold it right there, mister,\u201d ordered Vince. \u201cPut your hands in the air unless you want a belly full of lead.\u201d Joe hesitated for a moment, then slowly raised his hands.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Swinging his leg over his saddle, Vince slid down from his horse, keeping his pistol aimed at Joe as he dismounted. He walked cautiously toward the younger man, and then stopped in front of Joe. Vince reached forward and pulled Joe\u2019s gun from his holster, tossing the weapon a few feet away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t got anything you would want,\u201d Joe told the man in front of him in an even voice. \u201cI don\u2019t have money on me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got a nice looking horse,\u201d replied Vince, nodding in the direction of Joe\u2019s pinto.\u00a0 \u201cAnd even from here I can tell that\u2019s a real good saddle. I always wanted a quality horse and gear.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Appalled by the thought of losing his beloved pinto, Joe\u2019s face grew hard. \u201cThat\u2019s a one-man horse, mister. You try to ride him and he\u2019ll toss you on your head.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat so?\u201d said Vince, sounding unconvinced. \u201cWell, if nothing else, they\u2019ll fetch a good price. There\u2019s plenty of people who would pay a lot for a horse and gear like that, no questions asked.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Anger flashed through Joe and he acted without thinking. Dropping his hands, he threw a punch at Vince\u2019s jaw. The man evaded Joe\u2019s swing, then quickly raised his gun and crashed it down on the younger man\u2019s head. Joe crumpled to the ground and laid still.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFool kid,\u201d muttered Vince. \u201cAin\u2019t a horse in the world worth dying over.\u201d He raised his gun and aimed it at the figure sprawled in the dirt.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not going to kill him, are you, Vince?\u201d cried Jimmy in alarm. \u201cYou promised me no killing. I went along with you in robbing that Wells Fargo office \u2018cause you promised no one would be hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Whirling around, Vince scowled at the young man who still sat atop his horse. \u201cI swear, Jimmy, if you weren\u2019t my kid brother, I\u2019d have shot you a long time ago. All you\u2019ve done is whine and complain since we started this thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLook, Vince, there\u2019s no need to kill him,\u201d argued Jimmy. \u201cWe\u2019ll just take the horse. By the time somebody finds him or he gets home, we\u2019ll be long gone.\u201d He shuddered a bit and then added, \u201cI don\u2019t want to spend the rest of my life worrying about facing a murder charge. Hanging is a bad way to die.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Vince continued to scowl at Jimmy, but then suddenly, his face cleared. \u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d he said in an agreeable voice. \u201cThere\u2019s no need to shoot him. Look, you get down here and take his shirt and his boots while I go get the horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTake his shirt and boots? Why?\u201d Jimmy asked, clearly confused.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJust to slow him down a bit,\u201d Vince explained. \u201cThe longer it takes him to get home, the further away we\u2019ll be when he tells someone about us.\u201d He didn\u2019t add that a man walking in the hot sun without a shirt or boots had only a slim chance of making it to the stream that was two miles away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d agreed Jimmy reluctantly as he got down from his horse. He walked over to where Joe was laying and with obvious distaste, began pulling one of the boots off the youngest Cartwright\u2019s foot.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After giving a nod of satisfaction, Vince walked over to where Cochise, Joe\u2019s horse, was tied to a post. The pinto, now fully awake, eyed the approaching stranger with distrust. The horse pulled back a bit as Vince untied the reins from the fence, then shied away from the man when Vince tried to mount him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHold still!\u201d Vince shouted but his loud voice only served to upset the pinto even more. When Vince tried for a second time to climb into the saddle, Cochise bucked a bit and moved away again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t got time for this,\u201d Vince said angrily, clearly frustrated. He yanked on the reins to pull the horse forward. At first, Cochise dug in his heels and refused to move, but when Vince continued to jerk the reins, the pinto finally gave in and took a few steps.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With a look of triumph on his face, Vince led Joe\u2019s horse to where Jimmy was standing. Vince looked down and nodded with satisfaction as he saw Joe \u2013 now shirtless and barefooted \u2013 lying on his back in the dirt.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou hit him pretty hard, Vince,\u201d Jimmy told his brother in a tentative voice. \u201cHe\u2019s got a knot on the back of his head.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what he gets for giving me grief,\u201d Vince replied with a shrug.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Holding up Joe\u2019s shirt and boots, Jimmy asked, \u201cWhat do you want me to do with this stuff?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I sure don\u2019t want you to leave it here!\u201d barked Vince. \u201cJust throw them in the saddlebags on the pinto. We\u2019ll get rid of them later.\u201d Jimmy skirted nervously around his brother and hurriedly jammed the shirt and boots into the saddlebags strapped to Joe\u2019s horse. The top of the boots stuck out of the leather sack, and the sleeve the shirt hung down its side. Jimmy didn\u2019t bother to try to stuff the boots and shirt further into the saddlebag.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t forget this,\u201d Vince called to his brother as he bent down and picked up Joe\u2019s hat off the ground. Vince tossed the hat to Jimmy, who crumpled it as tightly as possible before sticking it into the saddlebag. A corner of the hat peeked out of the satchel, and, as before, Jimmy made no attempt to hide it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s get out of here,\u201d Vince ordered. He pulled on the reins and led Cochise to where his own horse was standing. Still holding the pinto\u2019s reins in his hands, Vince mounted and watched as Jimmy climbed on to the saddle of his horse. Without a word, Vince kicked his horse and started forward, and Jimmy followed his brother. Neither one looked back at the young man laying unconscious on the ground.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

The first thing Joe felt as he emerged from the blackness was the heat of the sun blazing down on his face and chest. But it took only a few seconds more for the pain from the back of his head to be felt. Joe winced as the throbbing in his head seemed to grow stronger.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After taking a deep breath, Joe started to open his eyes. But his eyelids had lifted only a bit before he squeezed them shut again. Only the smallest bit of light had reached his eyes, but that was enough to send a stabbing pain through Joe\u2019s head.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lying still, Joe gulped in air as he tried to ease the throbbing in his head. When the pain was finally reduced to a dull ache, he pushed himself up slowly from the ground until he was sitting upright. This time, he lowered his head before opening his eyes. He felt another stab of pain, but it wasn\u2019t quite as strong as before and passed quickly. After waiting a moment, Joe lifted his head and looked around.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The area around Joe was empty \u2013 no strangers on horseback and, more importantly, no pinto waiting to be ridden home. Joe wasn\u2019t surprised his horse was gone, but he was taken aback when he realized his shirt and boots had been stolen also. His first thought was the two men must have been pretty desperate to rob him of his clothes. Then he realized that his shirt and boots hadn\u2019t been stolen to be used or sold; they had been taken to ensure Joe Cartwright never made it home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As he sat on the ground holding his head in his hands, Joe could feel the sun warming his back. Although tanned from time spent swimming and fishing, he knew it wouldn\u2019t take very long for the sun to turn the color of his skin from tan to red. He was hot and sweaty, his head ached, and most of all, he was thirsty. No, Joe decided, thirsty didn\u2019t even begin to describe the parched feeling in his mouth and throat. He was desperate for a sip of any liquid \u2013 cool, tepid or even warm \u2013 which would ease the dry, gritty sensation in his mouth. And the nearest water was in a stream almost two miles away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Well, things aren\u2019t going to get any better if you just sit here, Joe told himself. Using strength he wasn\u2019t sure he had, Joe managed to get to his feet. As soon as he was standing, he felt a dizziness washing over him. Whether it was the heat or the blow to the head \u2013 or both \u2013 which caused his head to spin, Joe wasn\u2019t sure and knew it really didn\u2019t matter. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply several times, hoping that would stop the swirling in his head. It took several minutes, but finally, Joe opened his eyes and saw the ground ahead of him wasn\u2019t moving or swaying. He took one more deep breath and then began walking.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Keeping his eyes on the dirt in front of him, Joe tried to avoid the rocks, sticks and other debris which would bruise and cut at his feet. But he couldn\u2019t avoid the grains of sand and tiny pebbles embedded in the ground. As he staggered forward, Joe felt them pricking the soles of his feet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As the unrelenting sun continued to shine down on him, Joe could feel the sweat running down his face and shoulders. Rivulets of perspiration trickled down the taut skin of his well-muscled chest and over the torso sculpted by hard, physical work. A light sheen of moisture covered his body as Joe continued with dogged determination toward the stream so far away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With feet that were becoming increasingly sore, a head that throbbed with pain, and a body that was both dripping with sweat and desperate for water, Joe forced himself to continue walking. He knew from the position of the merciless sun that he was heading west, but the direction in which he was going was becoming less and less important to Joe. He kept moving because that\u2019s what his dulled brain told his body to do.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe wasn\u2019t sure how long he had walked \u2013 it seemed like hours \u2013 or how much distance he had covered \u2013 it felt like miles \u2013 before his strength finally ebbed away. His legs trembled a bit and then simply folded, sending Joe tumbling to the ground.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lying on the hard dirt, Joe knew he could go no further. He didn\u2019t have the strength to push himself up from the ground, and even if he did, he didn\u2019t have the energy to continue walking.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Oh God, Joe prayed silently, please help me! I don\u2019t want to die. I don\u2019t want to die out here alone and in the middle of nowhere. Please, please, please help me!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Closing his eyes, Joe waited for the inevitable feeling of darkness to wash over him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph,\u201d said a voice gently. \u201cJoseph, can you hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Snapping open his eyes, Joe looked up in astonishment. Someone was standing over him, looking down at him. Joe blinked his eyes, trying to clear the sweat and grit from them in order to bring the figure into focus. But as hard as he tried, he could see nothing but a blurry form.\u00a0 Whoever had called his name was standing with his back to the sun, and all Joe could make out was a dark form. An aura of light seemed to surround the person, but Joe wasn\u2019t sure if the brightness came from the sun or some other source.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAm I dead?\u201d asked Joe in a surprisingly strong voice. \u201cAre you God?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, you\u2019re not dead and I\u2019m not God,\u201d answered the figure in a deep voice tinged with a hint of amusement.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWho are you? Where did you come from?\u201d Joe pressed. \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo many questions!\u201d replied the blurry image. The amusement was more apparent in his voice now.\u00a0 \u201cYou can call me Samuel. That\u2019s as good a name as any.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHelp me!\u201d Joe pleaded. \u201cPlease, help me!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do what I can,\u201d agreed Samuel. \u201cMy job is to help as best I can.\u201d He raised his arm and slowly waved it over Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Suddenly, a cool breeze swept over Joe\u2019s body. Up in the previously cloudless sky, a mass began to form, blocking the rays of the sun. The cloud darkened, and thunder rumbled from it. A light spray of rain began to fall.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The breeze and the absence of the sun brought a welcome relief from the heat to Joe. He felt the rain rinsing the dirt and sweat from his body, refreshing his skin a bit. He opened his mouth and droplets of water began falling down his dry throat. The rain lasted for less than ten minutes, but that was long enough to provide Joe with the life-giving moisture he needed. Even when the rain stopped, the sky remained dark and the cool wind continued to blow.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSamuel\u2026\u201d started Joe as he raised his head. But he stopped when he realized the blurred figure was no longer standing over him. Turning his head, Joe looked around but saw nothing but the empty, barren ground. I\u2019m all alone, Joe thought, then stopped himself. No, he amended his thought, I\u2019m not alone; there\u2019s just no one around that I can see.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lowering his head, Joe closed his eyes and the blackness finally descended. But this was the blackness of sleep \u2013 deep and restful sleep.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s waking up,\u201d a familiar voice said as Joe fluttered his eyes in an attempt to open them. With an effort, Joe finally forced his eyelids up and wasn\u2019t surprised to see the anxious face of his father peering down at him. What did surprise him was the realization that he was laying in the bed in his room at the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow are you feeling, son?\u201d Ben asked Joe in a concerned voice. He leaned forward a bit in his chair as he peered intently at his youngest son.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTired,\u201d Joe answered honestly. His face felt a bit odd, and when he reached up to touch it, Joe was amazed to feel a coating of ointment on his cheek. \u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing\u2019s secret mixture,\u201d replied Adam, who was standing at the end of Joe\u2019s bed. \u201cHe says it\u2019s guaranteed to take the sting out of sunburn. He slavered at least a jar of the stuff all over you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A look of confusion came over Joe. \u201cHow did I get here?\u201d he asked. \u201cThe last thing I remember was laying on the ground up by Elk\u2019s Point.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe found you up there and brought you home,\u201d Ben explained. \u201cWe tried to wake you, but you were too exhausted to stir even when we were forcing you to drink. Doctor Martin looked you over. He bandaged your feet and looked at the knot on your head. He said what you needed most was a lot of sleep, and I guess he was right. You\u2019ve been asleep since yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut\u2026but how did you know to come looking for me?\u201d Joe asked in a bewildered voice.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat was my doing, little brother,\u201d answered Hoss as he walked into Joe\u2019s bedroom. \u201cI was driving that wagonload of supplies back from Virginia City and I ran into these two fellows on the road. One of them was leading your horse, and I could see your boots and shirt sticking out of the saddlebag. It didn\u2019t take no genius to figure out you had managed to get yourself in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHoss persuaded them to tell him what happened,\u201d added Adam, \u201cand after that, it was just a matter of finding you up at Elk\u2019s Point.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPersuaded?\u201d remarked Joe with raised eyebrows.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, there may have been a gun and a few punches involved,\u201d Hoss admitted. \u201cBut they got downright talkative after awhile.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re sitting in the Virginia City jail while Roy Coffee makes up a list of charges,\u201d said Adam. A small smile crossed his face. \u201cApparently, the list is getting longer by the minute as Roy checks out his wanted posters.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThank God that Hoss ran into those men on the road,\u201d Ben told Joe in an earnest voice. \u201cOtherwise, we would have never known to go looking for you, and we wouldn\u2019t have found you until it was too late.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a good thing that storm blew up, too,\u201d Adam noted. \u201cOtherwise, the sun and heat might have done some real damage to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, it\u2019s pure luck you ain\u2019t still laying up at Elk\u2019s Point, burned to a crisp,\u201d Hoss asserted.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLuck,\u201d Joe repeated in a weak voice.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNow that\u2019s enough of that,\u201d Ben declared in a firm voice. \u201cLet\u2019s not dwell on what might have happened. Let\u2019s just be grateful that Joe\u2019s home and going to be all right.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right, Pa,\u201d agreed Hoss. He turned to look at Joe. \u201cWe\u2019re mighty glad to have you back, little brother,\u201d he said in a quiet voice. \u201cYou sure had us worried for awhile there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe really are relieved that you\u2019re back safe if not entirely sound,\u201d Adam declared, smiling. \u201cAnd, by the way, you can count on me never again to volunteer to take your place fixing the fence up at Elk\u2019s Point.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad to be home, too,\u201d Joe acknowledged with a small smile. Looking down, his forehead knitted a bit as he began thinking about what happened at Elk\u2019s Point.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Seeing the expression on Joe\u2019s face, Ben stood abruptly. \u201cI think we\u2019ve done enough visiting for now. Joe needs his rest. You two can come see him later.\u201d Adam and Hoss both nodded and left the room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI expect you\u2019re hungry,\u201d Ben told his youngest son. \u201cI\u2019m sure Hop Sing has a tray ready for you. I\u2019ll go down and get it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d agreed Joe in a distracted voice. He looked up as his father started to leave. \u201cPa?\u201d he called.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Stopping by the door, Ben turned back to face Joe. \u201cYes? What is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa, do you believe in\u2026\u201d Joe struggled to find the right words. \u201cPa, do you think there\u2019s somebody who watches over us?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In a slow walk, Ben returned to stand by Joe\u2019s bed. \u201cIf you mean, do I believe in God, the answer is yes. You know that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t thinking of God as much as\u2026well, I don\u2019t know\u2026like a guardian angel or something like that,\u201d explained Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose if you believe in God, you can believe in guardian angels,\u201d Ben conceded. Tilting his head a bit, he gave Joe a curious look. \u201cWhy do you ask?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I was at the end of my rope, ready to give up, and then something strange happened,\u201d Joe answered. \u201cSomebody\u2026something\u2026appeared and told me it was his job to help. Right after that, the storm blew up. The rain, the cool air, the clouds…that\u2019s what made the difference. That\u2019s what kept me alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you think this someone or something was a guardian angel?\u201d asked Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Joe admitted. \u201cI mean, it could have been a dream, I guess. I got knocked on the head and I was in the sun for a long time. Maybe I just imagined it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s possible,\u201d agreed Ben. \u201cOn the other hand, a series of fortuitous events occurred which led to your rescue. It\u2019s entirely possible that there was more than just good luck involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut there\u2019s no way to tell, is there,\u201d Joe said. \u201cThere\u2019s no way to know for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, there\u2019s not,\u201d acknowledged Ben. \u201cBut don\u2019t you find it a comforting thought that there\u2019s someone watching out for you?\u201d He smiled and added, \u201cConsidering all the scrapes you\u2019ve been in, I\u2019d say your guardian angel has a full time job.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just thankful that you\u2019re home,\u201d said Ben sincerely, \u201cregardless of how it happened.\u201d He patted Joe on the shoulder. \u201cYou get some rest while I get that food.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe watched as Ben walked out of the bedroom, and then sunk a bit lower into the bed. His father was right, Joe decided. It was a comforting feeling to think that there was somebody watching over him, looking out for him. And, he vowed, in the future, he\u2019d give his guardian angel a little time off.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary:\u00a0 Joe has a close call with his guardian angel.<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 T\u00a0\u00a0 (4,615 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10338,"featured_media":13998,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23,41],"tags":[16],"class_list":["post-13995","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-hurtcomfort","tag-joe","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-41-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1525,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Guardian-Angel.png?fit=296%2C278&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7623,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7623","url_meta":{"origin":13995,"position":0},"title":"Seeing An Angel (by DJK)","author":"DJK","date":"May 9, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0A girl from Marie\u2019s past has something for Little Joe. 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Father and son spend what may be their last hours fighting not only their injuries, but self-imposed doses of regret and guilt. 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