{"id":16264,"date":"2004-03-09T05:37:56","date_gmt":"2004-03-09T10:37:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=16264"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:08:30","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:08:30","slug":"becoming-a-man-by-christy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=16264","title":{"rendered":"Becoming A Man (by Christy)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>When the Cartwright brothers have to face their worst nightmare, Little Joe decides to take matters in to his own hands. Will he survive to show his family he really is the man his father raised?<\/p>\n

Rating\u00a0 G\u00a0 (10,520 words)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Becoming a Man<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam Cartwright stared at the telegram. His chocolate colored eyes, the exact same shade as his father\u2019s read the words over and over but couldn\u2019t quite digest them. Sitting down in his father\u2019s favorite chair near the fireplace in the great room of the house he had helped build, the young man felt his world crumble around him. The telegram fell to the floor, his mind unable to function when the door to the house opened letting in Little Joe Cartwright and the middle beloved brother Hoss. Joe\u2019s distinctive giggle rang out along with Hoss\u2019 protest over Joe\u2019s teasing remarks when the boys stopped short at the sight of their brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d Hoss asked. \u201cAdam, what\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s face was as white as a sheet. On automatic pilot, the dark haired man in his black clothes stood up. His body blocked the telegram on the floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, yer scaring us,\u201d Joe pleaded. \u201cTell us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Pa,\u201d Adam finally admitted.<\/p>\n

The two younger Cartwrights exchanged glances, their own faces reflecting their fear.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa\u2019s in Placerville,\u201d Joe said. \u201cIsn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was, Joe,\u201d Adam told him. \u201cHe\u2019s gone. Pa\u2019s gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Silence fell over the room. A swirling tunnel seemed to pull all three of the boys in. Joe and Hoss sank on to the sofa. Neither of them seemed to be able to speak. Adam leaned against the fireplace.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t believe it,\u201d Joe proclaimed first. \u201cIt\u2019s not true.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is true!\u201d The telegram laid on the floor. Adam bent down and picked it up. He handed it to Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s from Sheriff Fordwick in Placerville,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n

Joe waved it away. He drew his legs up on the sofa pulling them close as if he were a little boy who could deny the bad news if he just didn\u2019t see it or hear it.<\/p>\n

Adam read the words out loud,\u00a0\u201cRegret to inform. Ben Cartwright killed in explosion. Remains to be sent home. Deepest sympathy, Peter Fordwick.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPeter was a friend of Pa\u2019s, Joe. You know that. He wouldn\u2019t say Pa\u2026well if it wasn\u2019t true.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not!\u201d Joe cried. \u201cI won\u2019t believe it till I see him. He\u2019s not dead.\u201d In a flash, Joe raced up the stairs to his room, loudly slamming the door behind him.<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019 tears fell down his plain face as he watched his brother disappear, his body startling a bit at the loud noise.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are we going to do, Adam?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, Hoss. I guess we\u2019ll have to wait for Pa\u2026for Peter to send him home.\u201d<\/p>\n

The brothers sat quietly, neither of them able to get out the intense emotions they felt. There was no sense to be made out of the loss of Ben Cartwright. Ben was larger than life to his three sons, but most of all to his youngest son.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is going to destroy, Joe,\u201d Hoss finally said. \u201cHe\u2019s only sixteen, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know how old he is, Hoss.\u201d Adam snapped. Hoss buried his face in his hands. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Little Brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss didn\u2019t reply.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss?\u201d Hoss shook his head. It was as if the big man were speechless for the first time in his young life. Adam sat down putting his hand around his brother. \u201cWe\u2019ll get through this, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sitting up, Hoss shook his head again.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI dunno bout that. Pa is what makes us a family. Without him, what is there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s us, Hoss, you, me, and Joe. You think Pa would want us to stop living just because he\u2019s gone?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t say it either, Big Brother, can\u2019t say he\u2019s dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I can\u2019t. I can\u2019t believe it. He was just going to Placerville to talk about a lumber contract. It doesn\u2019t make sense he isn\u2019t coming home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAn explosion? Where was it?\u201d Hoss asked. \u201cHow could he have been anywhere that unsafe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Adam conceded.<\/p>\n

There wasn\u2019t much either of them could say, nothing, nothing at all. They could just be there for each other.<\/p>\n

The next morning the three brothers all sat down at the breakfast table. Hop Sing put the usual breakfast on the table, scrambled eggs, flapjacks, bacon, oatmeal, toast, biscuits and coffee. The food sat untouched even by Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to go to Placerville,\u201d Joe announced.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Adam protested. \u201cJoe, we can\u2019t go anywhere, not with Pa being shipped home.\u201d As soon as the words were out, Adam knew he was in for a storm.<\/p>\n

\u201cShipped home? Pa is being shipped home? How can you say that, Adam? It\u2019s like he\u2019s nothing, like he never existed. I don\u2019t believe you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I didn\u2019t mean it that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe hell you didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201dWatch your mouth, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou aren\u2019t Pa!\u201d Joe clenched his fists at his side, his anger and rage evident. Tears fell down his cheeks.<\/p>\n

Hoss looked from one brother to the other. Wisely he kept silent.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo I\u2019m not Pa, but I know what he would want. He expected you to have manners in this house and that is not going to change. Now I understand why you want to go to Placerville, but I also know none of us is in any frame of mind to do anything but take care of\u2026\u201d Adam\u2019s voice quivered even as tried hard to control himself. \u201cBurying our father. Joe I need your help on this. Please.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not dead!\u201d Joe yelled back. \u201cI told you he\u2019s not. I want to go to Placerville and prove it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou aren\u2019t going anywhere,\u201d Adam replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t stop me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cActually I can, Joe. You\u2019re underage, Joe and with Pa gone, I\u2019m your legal guardian.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked from Hoss back to Adam. Joe knew it was true. How many times had Pa explained to him that if anything ever happened to him that Adam and Hoss would be there to take care of him, but not this way, not this, not now. He couldn\u2019t accept it. He felt completely helpless and grief stricken.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want Pa, Adam. I want him. And I\u2019m gonna find him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, you have to calm down,\u201d Adam told him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe hell I do.\u201d Joe\u2019s anger reverberated off the walls of the house his father loved, not only that but in the hearts of his two brothers who were just as angry at the senseless loss of their father. Joe was trembling.<\/p>\n

Hoss got up. In a second he had enfolded his brother in his arms. Joe burst into tears sobbing out his heart in loud wails. Gently Hoss picked his brother up. He looked over his shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cBetter get Dr. Martin out here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t object. Adam hurried to get one of the men to go into town. Upstairs Hoss laid Joe down and put a blanket over him. The big-hearted giant didn\u2019t know if it was a good thing that his baby brother was crying or a bad thing. Joe was such a sensitive kid.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe I know how ya feel,\u201d the older brother reminded. \u201cYa know Pa won\u2019t ever really leave us. He loved us too much for that, just like our mas. He\u2019s with them now and he\u2019s gonna do his best to take care of us from heaven.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not in heaven,\u201d Joe sobbed. \u201cHe\u2019s not dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Hoss. He\u2019s not gone. He wouldn\u2019t leave us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNah, he wouldn\u2019t leave us willingly,\u201d Hoss concurred.<\/p>\n

Joe just continued to cry. He was still crying when Dr. Martin arrived a few hours later. It took an injected sedative to calm the boy down and allow him to sleep. Dr. Martin shook his head in worry as he talked to the brothers outside Joe\u2019s room.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are we gonna do, Doc?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf he\u2019s that bad now, what\u2019s going to happen when Pa\u2026when we have to bury Pa?\u201d Adam added.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Dr. Martin answered. \u201cMaybe in the morning, Joe will listen to reason.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoc, this is Little Joe,\u201d Hoss reminded the man. \u201cHe\u2019s not thinking straight period.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s right, Doctor,\u201d Adam agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s going to have to come to terms with Ben\u2019s death the best way he can. All you can do is be here for him. I know that you\u2019re dealing with your own grief, but Joe is the one who\u2019s going to need the most help. You two have always been more sensible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is one time I don\u2019t wanna be sensible,\u201d Hoss muttered. \u201cWhat I want is ta see our Pa come walking through that front door.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Paul Martin, the same man who had delivered Little Joe and known these boys since they were children nodded. Putting his hand on Hoss\u2019 shoulder, he felt his own sorrow for his friend release itself a bit.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo would I, Hoss. Believe me, so would I.\u201d After the doctor left the two brothers turned to each other. There was nothing to say.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpose I got work ta do,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. I\u2019ll stay with Joe. Hoss, I know how hard\u2026\u201d Hoss\u2019 big hand on Adam\u2019s shoulder silenced the older man.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t need to say nothing, Big Brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Hoss.\u201d Adam watched the younger man walk out of the house. What were they going to do, he wondered. Sitting down at his father\u2019s desk, he thought he could hear Ben\u2019s voice talking about the books or the latest contract or even seeking some advice about Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa,\u201d the oldest son whispered. \u201cWhere are you, Pa? Why did you leave us? I can\u2019t do this, Pa. I can\u2019t\u2026I can\u2019t.\u201d Agony ripped through Adam\u2019s heart. Lying his head on the table, he sobbed his grief for the father he loved and now had lost forever.<\/p>\n

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

Joe woke before dawn. By his side, Adam was sleeping in a chair, sleeping in a place his father usually would be sitting when he was ill or in trouble. Still feeling a little hung over from the drug he had been given, the boy stealthily got out of bed. He dressed very quietly, pulling his boots on with a slight tug. Looking to see if his brother had heard him, he breathed a silent sigh of relief. In no time, the boy was downstairs. He knew exactly where he was going and what he was doing. Slipping into the kitchen he took some biscuits and jerky and some of the chocolate cake Hop Sing had made and put it into burlap bag. In the barn, he saddled one of the horses, leaving Cochise behind, not knowing what would happen on the trail. He couldn\u2019t carry a gun yet. Pa wouldn\u2019t let him. Pa\u2026Joe shook his head free of the ghost of his father\u2019s voice telling him he was being a fool and to go back to bed. He had to find Pa, one way or another. He wasn\u2019t Ben Cartwright\u2019s son for nothing and he didn\u2019t care what a telegram, a sheriff or Adam said. Ben Cartwright was not dead.<\/p>\n

Joe found the going easy at first. He was all fired up and had a great deal of energy as well as the need to find his father, but he had to cut across country. There was no road directly to Placerville which was southwest of the ranch. Still Joe had been there several times with his father. He was certain he could find Placerville. Five hours away from the ranch with the sun rising overhead, Joe knew he might be lost. After two more hours, he knew he should turn back.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, what shall I do?\u201d he asked out loud. He knew his father\u2019s answer. He knew what he should do. Getting lost wasn\u2019t going to help find Pa, nor was it going to help Hoss or Adam. Still Joe pressed on despite his better judgment. If he just followed the sun west, he was certain he\u2019d find a farm or someone who could tell him the way to Placerville.<\/p>\n

The sun was lowing in the sky. Joe was dog tired. Still pushing on, as the world got darker around him, Joe suddenly felt his horse stumble. He\u2019d stopped several times along the way to water the horse, but he knew the animal was tired. Before he realized it, the horse lost it\u2019s footing. For a split second, the boy knew he was going to fall, but he couldn\u2019t stop himself as the horse fell to the ground throwing Joe over the ledge of the hill. The boy rolled over and over, his scream rising from his throat as he hit rocks and branches on the way down. His fall was stopped when he hit a tree with such force that the breath was knocked out of him. Just before he lost consciousness, Joe\u2019s last thought was that he was going to die because no one knew he was there\u2026and he was glad because now he could be with his father and mother.<\/p>\n

II<\/strong><\/p>\n

A knock on the bedroom door woke Adam that morning. Hoss stepped into the room, looking from the empty bed to his brother who stretched as he woke.<\/p>\n

\u201cKid up all ready Adam?\u201d the middle brother asked. Hoss was dressed, ready to face the day as he grinned. \u201cThe kid must be feeling better this morning. Glad to see he\u2019s up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam blinked several times, his eyes taking in the bed before going to Hoss. Joe\u2019s boots were missing from the end of the bed, along with the clothes the boy had worn the day before.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t hear a thing,\u201d Adam confessed.<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019 eyes widened.<\/p>\n

\u201cYa mean the kid got up and left without making a sound?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe he had to go to the outhouse,\u201d Adam suggested.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell I\u2019ll go look for em. You might wanta freshen up.\u201d Adam looked down at his crumpled clothes. Nodding, he followed his brother out of the bedroom. The morning had started, but neither brother realized how long it would before they slept again.<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t take long before the men knew Joe was gone. One of the horses was missing from the stable while fresh tracks led away from the yard. Adam kicked the barn wall in frustration.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf all time for that boy to run away,\u201d he yelled. \u201cWhen I get my hands on him, he won\u2019t sit for a week.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, ya caint hit him. He\u2019s too old.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWatch me,\u201d Adam growled. \u201cHe knows how upset we all are about Pa. It\u2019s about time he started thinking about someone besides himself for a change.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d reckon he wasn\u2019t thinking about nuthin else, cept Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s anger evaporated at his brother\u2019s reminder. How could he be mad at Joe when he might have done the same thing when he was the boy\u2019s age. Joe doted on Ben and vice versa. On top of that was Joe\u2019s irrational fear that Ben would leave him as suddenly as his mother had when she was killed in a riding accident. Adam still shuddered at the nightmares five-year old Joe had suffered after Marie\u2019s tragically sudden death. Now it turned out that Joe\u2019s fear wasn\u2019t irrational. Pa was gone, killed as senselessly as Marie.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go, Hoss,\u201d Adam said. Hoss didn\u2019t have to ask what Adam meant. The men returned to the house to pack their saddle bags. Hoss stopped in the kitchen to have Hop Sing pack some food and first aid supplies. They filled several canteens with water and made sure they had bandages. After giving instructions to the men, they were ready to ride.<\/p>\n

It was spring, and the cooler air was gradually giving way to warm fragrant air from the pines. Hoss and Adam said little as they followed Joe\u2019s trail from the barn.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s headed west, right towards Placerville,\u201d Hoss informed Adam. Adam agreed with a nod of his head. They rode silently, stopping for lunch and to rest the horses when the sun was overhead. The tracks turned further south after lunch. Adam and Hoss exchanged glances.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not going the right way,\u201d Hoss finally commented. \u201cHe\u2019s too far south for Placerville.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe doesn\u2019t know that,\u201d Adam said. \u201cHe\u2019ll keep on going, stubborn kid.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t rightly know if I can blame him. He\u2019s gotta do what he thinks is right, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, he\u2019s just a kid. He doesn\u2019t know what\u2019s out there. He doesn\u2019t even have a gun.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. He\u2019s pretty smart though. He kin git his self out of trouble a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he gets him self in trouble plenty too. I made a promise to Pa and to Marie I\u2019d always watch out for Joe,\u201d Adam went on with anguish. \u201cIf something happens to him now because he\u2019s not thinking straight, I don\u2019t know how I\u2019ll live with myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, since when has anything Joe ever done been your fault? Ya caint take ta heart what he does. Iffn ya want ta take the blame, ya might as well blame me too. I know he\u2019s hot headed and like to take off. I figured he\u2019d sleep till morning at least, maybe we could talk some sense into him then. Didn\u2019t ever expect he\u2019d git up afore us and run off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam didn\u2019t answer at first. Riding through the rough countryside required attention, but after a few minutes, Adam threw his brother a sideways glance.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Hoss. I needed to hear that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe kin worry about him together,\u201d Hoss offered. \u201cAnd when we git him home, I\u2019m gonna dunk him good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll help you. Just pray to God he\u2019s safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAmen,\u201d Hoss added. \u201cSeems like we\u2019re always pulling Joe outta one scrape or tother. Iffn Pa was here\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf Pa was here, we wouldn\u2019t be in this mess,\u201d Adam snapped.<\/p>\n

Hoss felt the sinking in his heart at Adam\u2019s words. Adam felt the same loss. Each brother was left to their own thoughts as they continued to ride. Adam prayed his brother wasn\u2019t hurt or lost somewhere. Hoss prayed the same and at the same time prayed to his father to help them. Joe meant everything to Hoss. He was his best friend. Surely God wouldn\u2019t be so cruel as to take both his father and brother away at once. This nightmare could not be happening. It couldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

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

Joe woke to agony, his back screaming at him with red hot pokers stabbing him from his neck to his waist and he hadn\u2019t even moved. His back rested against a tree and it was clear to him he had hit it with enough velocity to injure something major. Tentatively he tried to move his legs. To his horror he couldn\u2019t move at all. Terror engulfed the young man from a distance as he fought the fog that threatened to overcome him.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa,\u201d he whispered. \u201cOh, Pa, where are you?\u201d There was no answer for the boy. For every minute he laid there Joe longed to hear Ben\u2019s voice, to have him hold him and tell him he was going to be all right. In his soul Joe knew he had made a huge mistake, a mistake that might cost him his life.<\/p>\n

Thinking about his father, Joe realized that Ben, Adam and Hoss had protected him ever since his mother died. All his life Joe had lived in fear of Ben\u2019s death. As a small child his mother seemed to have been a vibrant presence one minute and dead the next. In his little boy mind if his mama could leave him like that, then so could his pa. Now the unthinkable had happened. The boy railed at the fates and his own stupidity, knowing how disappointed Ben would be in him for getting into this predicament. His sense of humor told him that if he died, there might be hell to pay, even in heaven.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa. I guess I did it this time. Adam and Hoss are going to be so mad at me.\u201d He tried not to think of how hurt his brothers would be if he couldn\u2019t hold on until they found him. Overhead the sky was dark, a black closeness that felt stifling as well as cold. He wished he had his bedroll, a blanket, anything to stop the icy air swirling around him. There was just a light breeze, but it was freezing or so it felt to Joe. He couldn\u2019t remember ever being so cold. Was this how it felt to die? Dead people were cold weren\u2019t they?<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, could ya, iffn I\u2019m gonna die, could ya ask God to take the pain away? It hurts so.\u201d Joe knew Pa wasn\u2019t there. He knew he wasn\u2019t, but if he willed the thought, he knew Ben would hold him and keep him safe even if he had to travel down that road towards heaven, toward his parents at his tender age.<\/p>\n

\u201cThink Joe, think of something good,\u201d Joe tried to tell himself. In the dark, he looked up at the sky, at the stars shining bright. There were millions of them, lights that would keep him company through the long night. Some of the white lights were brighter than others. Could he see his family in those stars, his pa, strong, courageous and kind, Adam, logical, and temperamental but always there for his little brothers, and Hoss, the brother who gave him confidence in himself with unconditional acceptance, encouragement and humor.<\/p>\n

\u201cOle Hoss,\u201d Joe whispered. \u201cI never thought how lucky I was to have ya for a brother. Didn\u2019t think about it much. Oh God, it hurts so bad to die.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not going to die Mon Petite.\u201d Joe started at the soft musical sound which rallied him. Straining against the constant hot piercing stabs of pain that went from his back to his brain, he tried to see her.<\/p>\n

\u201cMon petite, Joseph, Mama is here,\u201d Marie crooned. Was he really feeling her arms cradling his weary body just as he had when he was a little boy? Or was it all his imagination? Joe didn\u2019t care. Closing his eyes, he could see her\u2026could see his mother again, hear her voice singing to him, holding him close. He felt safe, warm, protected.<\/p>\n

\u201cMama, please help me,\u201d Joe begged, his words not spoken; only thought in side his beleaguered mind. \u201cMama, where\u2019s Pa? Isn\u2019t Pa with you? I want to be with you. It hurts so much. I can\u2019t stand it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSh, Sweet Boy,\u201d she soothed as if Joe were still the small boy he had been when they were last together. \u201cSh now. Sleep and the pain will go away. Mama will stay with you till you are safe again. You will not be alone, Mon Petit.\u201d Joe instinctively relaxed, letting his mother take him away from his suffering. The stars above disappeared from view as the darkness enfolded him in an unconscious state where there was no pain\u2026and no fear that he would never see his father or brothers again.<\/p>\n

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

Riding at a canter down the road towards home, the man was only thinking of one thing, his sons. Three young men, well two young men and a boy would be waiting for him at the Ponderosa, at the ranch they had built together. He thought of each of his sons. Adam he had to admit he depended on perhaps too much. His oldest son had helped him raise both of the two youngest boys, Hoss from the time he was an infant and Joe after his mother died. Without Adam, Ben knew the Ponderosa and his dreams would never have been realized. He knew that someday Adam would want to go and realize his own dreams, but he hoped it would be a long time before that happened. Hoss was just as he appeared, friendly, uncomplicated and content with his life, the easiest of his sons to love and yet the one who sometimes worried him with his temper. Hoss was no angel. Fortunately Hoss wasn\u2019t easy to set off, unlike his little brother, Joe, the most complicated and energetic of the boys. Joe\u2026a mystery if ever there was one. Joe surprised Ben at what he dared to do, the trouble he could get into and the sensitivity he had for other people. Ben sometimes felt guilty, but he knew Joe tugged at his heart, and had a special place there.<\/p>\n

\u201cHome,\u201d Ben breathed riding in to the yard in front of the house. Drawing his horse to a halt, Ben knew something was amiss, not necessarily wrong but definitely odd. The house was completely dark. There were no lights anywhere. Ben took his horse into the barn. Lighting a lantern, he immediately noted that Sport and Chub were missing, Adam and Hoss\u2019 horses. Joe\u2019s horse, Cochise was in her stall. So where was Joe, sleeping inside, Ben theorized. He took care of the horse then used the lantern to go to the house. Inside, he found everything neat, but still, too quiet, not even a fire in the fireplace. Where was Hop Sing? Ben\u2019s stomach did flip flops. After lighting some lamps on the first floor, he raced up the stairs. Throwing the doors to his sons\u2019 rooms open, he found each bed neatly made, obviously unslept in. Where was his family?<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe! Adam! Hoss!\u201d he couldn\u2019t help crying out. He knew it was foolish even before he called out. Walking back downstairs, Ben searched for clues as to what might have happened. On the desk which he always left fairly immaculate, he found one piece of paper, a telegram. After reading the letters that formed indescribably painful words, the older man felt physically sick.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d Ben exclaimed. \u201cOh God.\u201d Feeling his legs weaken from shock and the long ride he had just completed, Ben sank into his chair. His sons thought he was dead. Adam, Hoss and Joe, Joseph who he knew would have supreme difficulty accepting Ben\u2019s death. Ben actually swore to himself, words he seldom thought of, but couldn\u2019t help thinking. Where were his sons? Where in hell were they and what had happened to them? In the dark, Ben knew he wouldn\u2019t be able to pick up a trail, but he intended to try in the morning. Exhausted as he was and needing a shave, the older man went into the kitchen and made coffee. Ben Cartwright had no plans to sleep. He would worry through a very long night and pray for the safety of his boys\u2026for without them he had no reason to live.<\/p>\n

III<\/strong><\/p>\n

With sunrise, Adam and Hoss broke camp without eating more than some dried beef jerky. Neither man was very hungry. Far more concerned about his brother\u2019s safety than anything else and having a nagging feeling that something was wrong with the boy, Hoss didn\u2019t even care for the jerky he gnawed on as he rode ahead of Adam trailing his little brother. Birds sang their early morning song taking away some of the chill in the light wind. The two hadn\u2019t ridden more than an hour when they were met on the road by Joe\u2019s horse\u2026riderless.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam!\u201d Hoss cried. \u201cLooky thair.\u201d Hoss dismounted and ran to the horse grazing by the trail. The land to the north was heavily wooded and hilly. To the south, the hill dropped dangerously. Hoss checked the horse over.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s lame,\u201d he announced. \u201cPicked up a stone. Otherwise he\u2019s not hurt. No blood or anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s Joe?\u201d Hoss looked around. His heart hammered in fear. Had his little brother met up with a wild animal, or worse yet, Indians? Joe was quick but he was also small and it was just too easy for him to git into trouble the big man thought. He shook his head in confusion. Adam rode further up the trail and then came back.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe couldn\u2019t have gone far. I didn\u2019t see any foot prints,\u201d he announced. Adam glanced over towards the hill. Hoss caught the implication even before his brother spoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, ya don\u2019t spose?\u201d he started.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, Hoss!\u201d Adam ground out, the dark haired man clearly as worried as his younger brother. As one the men moved walking along the hill for several minutes, their eyes glued to the slope, trees, rocks and any place Joe might have fallen.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere!\u201d Hoss cried, his eyes sharp, his need to find Joe paramount. \u201cAdam, he\u2019s down there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before Adam could object, Hoss was making his way down the hill. Adam hurried back to the horses, grabbing a canteen and all three bedrolls. He\u2019d seen what Hoss might not have, that Joe was lying motionless against a tree, his back arched, possibly broken. Was the boy alive, he asked himself? Was his neck broken? Could he have died the same way as his mother, a fall from a horse snuffing out the life of his baby brother? Adam Cartwright threw those thoughts to the wind as he followed Hoss down the hill reaching his brothers only several seconds after Hoss who was kneeling in front of Joe, his finger gently touching the boy\u2019s neck. Adam swallowed hard before he spoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss? Is he alive?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t move him, Hoss,\u201d Adam ordered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that,\u201d Hoss hissed back. Adam ignored the comment understanding the gentle giant\u2019s fear. Joe\u2019s lips were slightly blue and he was shivering. Adam touched a limp hand and knew his brother was far too cold. Hoss was checking Joe over while Adam piled the blankets on the boy, trying to get him warm. He thought out loud, speaking words that would handle the situation and let them each do something instead of being terrified for Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s sleeping, but he\u2019s very cold. Maybe we should let him sleep. We can keep him warm with the blankets. Hoss, you\u2019re going to have to go back to the ranch and get a wagon. We don\u2019t dare transport him on horse back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we wake him, we can find out how bad he\u2019s hurt,\u201d Hoss suggested. \u201cMaybe he can ride.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, if he wasn\u2019t hurt, don\u2019t you think he would have gotten up and gotten out of here? Please, Hoss, just go. I\u2019ll keep him warm as I can. If you hurry you can be back by morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about a travois?\u201d Hoss went on. \u201cA wagon aint gonna be easy to get through here. Might break down. If we use a blanket ta cradle him in with some branches for support it might work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam hadn\u2019t thought of the fact that the trail was rough and there were places a wagon might not fit through. A travois though\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of us can make sure the trail is clear of rocks. It\u2019ll be slow going but at least we\u2019ll know we\u2019ll get through,\u201d Hoss went on. Adam nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cBig Man you have some big ideas. Joe is going to be as impressed as I am. Let\u2019s get moving.\u201d It killed the men to leave Joe alone where he was, but there was little choice. They hurried back up the hill, careful not to slip, grateful there was no mud or shale to slip on. All they needed was rain. Within a half hour, they had gotten together the wood and rope they would need to make a travois. Having completed this task several times on the trail in the past, it only took another half hour to make the contraption. They hurried back to Joe who was half awake when they arrived back at his side.<\/p>\n

\u201cMama,\u201d Joe was sobbing, tears falling from his eyes. \u201cMama don\u2019t leave me. It hurts.\u201d Joe shivered still cold. Hoss and Adam knelt by their brother again. Hoss took a canteen and opened it as Adam called to the boy.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe? Hey Little Buddy, can you hear me? Joe, answer me.\u201d<\/p>\n

At first it didn\u2019t seem as if the youngest Cartwright would waken enough to Adam\u2019s satisfaction. Adam slapped the adolescent face lightly. Joe\u2019s eyes shot open.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, what\u2026Adam? Adam!\u201d Relief poured out in that one word.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re here, Joe, Hoss and I. We\u2019re going to get you home.\u201d Joe looked around wildly, the hazel gaze searching for something.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa? Where is he, Adam? I couldn\u2019t find him. I tried. Pa!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss and Adam felt physically sick at Joe\u2019s plight. Their father\u2019s innate ability to ease his sons\u2019 pain was something each of them craved when they were ill or injured. This time Ben wasn\u2019t going to be able to soothe Joe, even though his son wanted him terribly. If truth be told, so did his older boys.<\/p>\n

\u201cShortshanks, we\u2019re gonna take as good care of ya as Pa. We\u2019ll make em proud how\u2019s that?\u201d Hoss tried.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want Pa,\u201d Joe answered stubbornly, then evaporated into tears again. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Hoss. I know Pa won\u2019t come. He can\u2019t. Mama came but he won\u2019t. He\u2019s mad at me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow Joe, you know better than that. Pa\u2019s not mad at you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes he is,\u201d the boy insisted. \u201cI tried to find Placerville and I couldn\u2019t and then I hurt myself. Adam\u2026I can\u2019t\u2026I can\u2019t feel my legs. I think\u2026\u201d Joe shivered again despite the blankets around him. Hoss had taken one and attached it to the travois. So far Joe hadn\u2019t moved. Now his brothers knew why. Each worked to keep the horror of Joe\u2019s admission from their faces.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, that don\u2019t mean nothing and ya know it,\u201d Hoss told him. \u201cNow we\u2019re gonna git ya on this here travois and take ya on home. The doc will come and fix ya right up. Ole Hoss and Adam\u2019ll take good care a ya. Got that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe, weary from talking and in no less pain than before closed his eyes, nodding the least bit. Hoss was about to get up when he felt his brother take his hand. Looking down he saw Joe looking at him. He simply squeezed Joe\u2019s hand back. Adam didn\u2019t miss the exchange. Thank God for Hoss he thought. If anyone could calm Joe down now it was that big galoot as Joe sometimes called the big man. He bent over his brother again.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, we\u2019re going to slip a blanket under you to lift you up and on to the travois. There\u2019s another blanket there to support your back. Does your back hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe nodded, letting the tears come again.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. We\u2019ll be as gentle as we can but it\u2019s going hurt, Little Buddy, no matter what. You want to yell you go right ahead. Hoss and I would do the same thing. You don\u2019t need to be ashamed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Adam,\u201d Joe mumbled. \u201cI can\u2019t take it much more. It\u2019s so bad. Mama was holding me. But now it\u2019s back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure Mama did a good job,\u201d Adam conceded not wanting to upset Joe further no matter what his delusions told him. \u201cShe\u2019d let Hoss and me take over so you just rest and we\u2019ll get you home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa,\u201d Joe mumbled again.<\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss ignored the last word, both wishing more than anything that Ben was with them. Treating their baby brother as if he would shatter into a million pieces if they moved him wrong, they slipped the blanket under his back. Joe bit his lip as his body was moved. Thousands of knives stabbed him over and over, like red hot pokers invading his brain.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Joe, we\u2019re going to pick you up and put you on the travois,\u201d Adam informed him. Joe braced himself. At first the pain didn\u2019t seem any worse as the blanket cradled him, but then his back exploded with more agony than he had ever felt in his life. He screamed and mercifully lost consciousness, his body lying limply in the blanket.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank God,\u201d Hoss exclaimed. \u201cLet\u2019s move him quick like and then off this hill afore he wakes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m with you Big Man,\u201d Adam concurred.<\/p>\n

Together they strapped Joe into the travois with ropes and drew the blankets over him. Since he wasn\u2019t that big, the blankets were more than large enough to provide a soft cushion for his back and cover him with the last blanket tucked securely around him. It was the best the brothers could do. By now the sun was higher in the sky and it was mid morning. They took their time getting Joe up the hill, Adam leading the way and Hoss lifting the travois so that it was at as small of an incline as possible. Neither of them lost their footing and before long they were at the top. They lost no time in attaching the travois to Sport. Hoss would bring along Joe\u2019s horse. With little small talk the men set off towards home, hoping they would cover some distance before Joe regained consciousness.<\/p>\n

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

Unfortunately for Joe, he woke a short time later. Finding himself cocooned in blankets, he at least felt warmer. Still his back screamed at him. Sneezing, he cried out despite his best intentions. Adam looked back while Hoss got down to check on the boy.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u201d Joe blinked at his brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, Hoss. Hurts,\u201d he explained. \u201cI\u2019ll try to be stronger and braver for Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYa do that, Shortshanks. Here drink some water.\u201d Hoss used the opportunity to get Joe to drink some water from his canteen. Joe grimaced with the movement but vowed he was not going to cry. When Adam urged Sport on, the travois hit the ground like rocks. Still Joe bit his lip. He was not going to give his brothers cause for more worry than they already had.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, we\u2019re going ta be home before ya know it,\u201d Hoss told him.<\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t believe it, but he had no answer. He dozed off and on, dreaming of his soft bed and moving his legs. He tried to feel his legs, but he couldn\u2019t even tell the blankets were there. He knew he wouldn\u2019t die just because he was paralyzed, but to never ride or run or walk again purely terrified him. Pa, he silently screamed. Don\u2019t be mad at me. Why did you leave me?<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam do ya think Little Joe, do ya think he\u2019s hurt bad,\u201d Hoss hazarded as they rode towards home.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know how bad, but it\u2019s not good, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIffn he caint walk, I dunno how he\u2019s gonna git on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t even think it, Hoss,\u201d Adam chided.<\/p>\n

There was little else to say. Hoss couldn\u2019t remember a time when Joe could sit still for long. Even in school he had difficulty because he always wanted to be outside doing something. Winters were harder on Joe than anyone else in the family. Being cooped inside about killed the boy sometimes. Being stuck in a chair forever would certainly diminish the person Joe wanted to be. There was no doubt it. Joe was like Marie that way, an imp who lived for adventure, the unusual and the fun. Hoss prayed that somehow, from where Pa and Ma were that they could help Joe walk again or if nothing else adjust to a life that was as unlike Joe as eating was unlike him. Lost in the depths of despair for his brother, Hoss was barely aware of hoof beats on the road coming towards the two men. Adam seemed to be as distracted for the rider was almost upon them before they realized they were about to be faced with the realization of a miracle.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam! Hoss!\u201d Ben Cartwright yelled. Adam looked up first wondering if he were hearing a ghost.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, did ya hear\u2026\u201d Hoss started, his voice silenced as his eyes fell on the one man who could give Joe hope at a time when he needed him most.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa!\u201d Adam breathed. \u201cPa!\u201d This time his cry was louder. The boys were off their horses, hugging their father as Ben joined them. Ben\u2019s arms were tight around both his sons.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa!\u201d Hoss cried. \u201cPa yer the best sight I ever done seen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou too, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa we got a telegram,\u201d Adam tried to explain.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, Son. I saw it. Where\u2019s Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s hurt, Pa. He\u2019s hurt bad,\u201d Hoss informed the older man. Ben\u2019s face blanched white even through a few days growth of stubble. Rushing over to his son, he found Joe mumbling to himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cGotta be brave for Pa,\u201d Joe was saying. \u201cPa\u2026I\u2019m sorry. I\u2019m sorry.\u201d Joe was tossing his head to and fro, his own pale cheeks drawn, his teeth biting down on his lip, drawing a bit of blood. Ben could have cried at the boy\u2019s suffering.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe hurt his back, Pa,\u201d Hoss told him. \u201cHe, he said he couldn\u2019t feel his legs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d Ben cried. \u201cNo, he\u2019ll be all right. Let\u2019s get him home. It looks like you boys did a good job with this travois. Joe, Joe can you hear me?\u201d Ben put his hand to Joe\u2019s forehead. The boy was hot to the touch. Joe didn\u2019t answer, not recognizing that his pa was finally there. If possible Ben felt more afraid than he had seconds before. He spoke quickly pulling the blankets around his boy, his hand brushing through the matted curls.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s got a raging fever. Hoss, go into town and get Paul Martin. We\u2019ll go on to the house. Tell him what you know and hurry! Go.\u201d Hoss didn\u2019t need to be told twice. Still as Ben stood, Hoss grabbed his father into a hug.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa\u2026\u201d he couldn\u2019t go on.<\/p>\n

Ben patted his son on the back.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love you too, Son.\u201d Hoss nodded, then turned and hurried to mount Chub. Ben and Adam each remounted their own horses. Ben strove to keep his own tears at bay. Adam put his hand on his father\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe found you, Pa. That\u2019s what he was doing, looking for you and he found you. He\u2019ll be all right now. You wait and see.\u201d They started off down the road again.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe was looking for me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2026well he wouldn\u2019t accept that you were dead. Pa, what happened? Why did the sheriff send us that telegram? It tore us up pretty bad, specially Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Adam. I really am. Peter and I had lunch. I told him I was going to be meeting some men at the hotel. There was an explosion and a fire. I left town almost right away. I wanted to get home in case you boys heard about the explosion. I never thought Peter would take it into his head to send a telegram.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe was devastated,\u201d Adam confided. \u201cHe left yesterday morning for Placerville. Obviously he got lost. We found him just this morning at the bottom of a hill. He hadn\u2019t moved at all I don\u2019t think. Pa, his back\u2026\u201d Adam stumbled over his words, his emotions getting the better of him. \u201cHis back was broke I think. I think he\u2019s paralyzed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not,\u201d Ben denied. \u201cI won\u2019t believe it, not until I have to. Thank God you and Hoss went after him. You know that little scamp too well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGuess so. Pa, I can\u2019t tell you how glad I am\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSon, it\u2019s over with now. We\u2019ll talk about it later. I\u2019m only sorry you had to go through what you did and your brothers too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded. They continued the ride home, stopping often to try and get Joe to drink water. It was difficult as he didn\u2019t recognize them and pulled away constantly. Still they tried. Dark settled over them, but they were on Ponderosa land and pushed forward, finally arriving in the yard a few hours later. Hoss came running out with Hop Sing and some of the men came from the bunkhouse.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s Paul,\u201d Ben demanded throwing himself off his horse.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s in the downstairs guest bedroom, waiting,\u201d Hoss answered. \u201cHe said to use the travois to bring Joe inside. Don\u2019t move him at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go, Boys,\u201d Ben returned. Together the three of them took the travois inside. Paul met them at the door of the bedroom.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, put him on the bed, carefully.\u201d After Joe was in the bed, they untied the ropes holding him to the travois.<\/p>\n

\u201cBelieve it or not fellas, using a travois was probably the safest way to transport Joe. This way he couldn\u2019t move much and his back was stabilized,\u201d Dr. Martin told them. Joe was still mumbling. \u201cAdam, get my bag. Ben, Hoss, take off his boots.\u201d Adam was quick to comply. Dr. Martin took out a syringe and some morphine. He put it on the table. Taking another needle, he ran it along the bottom of Joe\u2019s foot from sole to toes. When the foot didn\u2019t move, he groaned.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat should make his toes curl at least,\u201d the doctor said. \u201cMaybe he\u2019s too out of it. Joe! Joe, listen to me. You gotta wake up, Son. Come on, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph,\u201d Ben cried. \u201cJoe it\u2019s Pa. Come on, Son, wake up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still Joe didn\u2019t respond. Dr. Martin repeated the exercise.<\/p>\n

Everyone held their breaths. This time, Joe\u2019s foot responded. The men yelled in delight. Dr. Martin breathed a sigh of relief.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Fellas, his back isn\u2019t broke, but let me be sure, before you take him off this travois. Adam, you and Hoss can get back to whatever needs doing or get some rest which I would recommend. You both look exhausted. Ben you need a shave. Hop Sing can help me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not leaving,\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen he doesn\u2019t recognize you. The fever\u2019s too high,\u201d the old friend told him. \u201cYou need to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe thinks I\u2019m dead,\u201d Ben retorted. \u201cI\u2019m not leaving him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa,\u201d Adam tried.<\/p>\n

Ben shot his oldest son a dark look. Adam and Hoss left the room. Ben stayed. Together the three men worked with Joe until Dr. Martin was satisfied Joe could probably move both his legs and feet, and the paralysis he had felt was resolved, although in the end only Joe could tell them that. For now his reflexes were good. Still he was obviously in pain and he seemed to have difficulty breathing. After a complete examination, Dr. Martin gave the boy some morphine.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s wait for the morphine to take effect. Then he can sleep while we take care of him.\u201d Ben nodded at Paul\u2019s wise words. His relief that Joe wasn\u2019t paralyzed overwhelmed him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing, get some hot water and let the boys know that Joe can feel his legs. Tell them he\u2019s going to be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, I don\u2019t know about that,\u201d Paul warned him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll be fine,\u201d Ben insisted. Paul shrugged. Hop Sing hurried off. When the China man came back he nodded to Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cSons very glad Little Joe okay. They take baths and have dinner. They fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben nodded in agreement. Thankfully Joe had fallen asleep. In no time they had gotten the boy off the travois and into bed. After stripping him clean, they washed him up and put a night shirt on him. He was a wealth of bruises and abrasions, but amazingly nothing else was broken. For Joe that was a minor miracle, Ben thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat fever is pretty high,\u201d Paul commented. \u201cLet\u2019s see what we can do to get it down. Ben, the boy will sleep probably through the night. Go get something to eat and rest.\u201d Unable to argue, Ben took one last look at his youngest son. The boy\u2019s face was still stressed with his ordeal, but at last he was sleeping. Ben bent over to kiss his son\u2019s forehead.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa\u2019s home, Joseph. I promise I\u2019m not going to leave you for a long time. Do you hear me Joseph? I love you, Son, and I\u2019m here.\u201d Paul, having heard of the telegram and the whole scenario from Hoss while they waited for Ben and Adam and Joe made himself busy as Ben spoke. Ben left the room after thanking his old friend for his hard work.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, you know I care a lot for your boys, but Joe\u2026he\u2019s special. Can you have Hop Sing bring me some cold water. I\u2019ll sit with the boy through the night and keep him cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s the fever from, Paul?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know for sure. He\u2019s got a little fluid on his lungs. Considering his exposure to the cold that\u2019s not surprising. Or it could be from shock. He\u2019s been through a lot. We\u2019ll see by morning. Now go!\u201d Ben left. He checked on Hoss and Adam\u2019s room. Hoss was snoring away. Adam\u2019s bed was empty. Going to his own room, Ben stripped off his clothes and changed into a night shirt. He fell into bed, unable to face Adam. After forty-eight hours of almost no sleep, Ben\u2019s eyes were barely closed before he gave in to the land of nod and was relieved if temporarily of his nightmares.<\/p>\n

IV<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam Cartwright sat by his brother\u2019s bed. When his father hadn\u2019t joined him the night before, he had come upstairs, pleased to find Ben sleeping. Going to the guest room, he stayed at Joe\u2019s side, finally sending Dr. Martin to bed, telling him that it was important to him to be with Joe. Paul gave up. He told Adam to keep changing the cold water and keep Joe as cold as he could. Adam understood. He\u2019d done this type of care for his brothers before. Paul went to bed in Joe\u2019s room upstairs. Adam nursed his brother tenderly. Joe slept unaware of the gentle ministrations and his brother\u2019s care.<\/p>\n

In the darkness just before dawn, Joe stirred. Adam was dozing but was alerted immediately as Joe cried out.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa! Adam! Pa!\u201d Adam sat on the bed, taking off the cool cloth and feeling his brother\u2019s forehead. If he wasn\u2019t mistaken, Joe\u2019s fever was going down. Joe was wet with sweat, but his eyes as he searched around the room were more clear. Most important of all Joe recognized his brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, where am I?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re home, Little Buddy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t my room.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t want to take you upstairs. We didn\u2019t know how bad you were hurt.\u201d Joe grimaced as he tried to get comfortable in bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes it still hurt as much?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d Joe answered, still drowsy. \u201cI feel funny.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoc gave you some morphine for the pain. Do you think you need some more?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, Adam! I just\u2026it hurts but it\u2019s not as bad. Adam am I going to die?\u201d Adam\u2019s smile was real and came from his heart. In the lamp light, he touched Joe\u2019s face in a brotherly reassurance.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe doctor thinks you\u2019re going to be just fine,\u201d Adam replied. \u201cJoe, move your legs.\u201d Joe refused.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t, Adam. I told ya. I can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes you can, Joe. Dr. Martin is sure you can.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe stared at his oldest brother as if he were crazy.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I told ya, I can\u2019t feel my legs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam didn\u2019t press the issue.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Adam. I know you\u2019re hurting too. I shouldn\u2019t have run off. I could have died out there and then you and Hoss would\u2019ve found me. I\u2026I didn\u2019t want ya to feel about me the way\u2026\u201d Tears came so easily to Joe Cartwright. Angrily he brushed away the wetness that soaked his cheeks and pillow. \u201cThe way we feel about Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam jerked his attention back to his brother as he was musing how to get Joe to move his legs. Surely Joe knew that his father was alive. But he didn\u2019t. Adam could see the dismal emotions that shook his baby brother. Dear God. Well that was something he could fix.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, listen to me. About Pa\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to talk about it, Adam. I don\u2019t want to talk about him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, Joe, you have to know\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Adam!\u201d Joe turned his head away.<\/p>\n

Adam was about to make Joe listen when the door to the bedroom opened. Joe had closed his eyes as if he were going to go to sleep again. Adam stood up. He put his finger to his lips and drew his father back into the hallway. Ben was slightly irritated as Adam shut the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa! Wait. Listen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben gave an exasperated sigh. The older man did look better this morning. He had shaved and bathed apparently. Adam hoped his father had even eaten. He gave Ben a smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s awake, Pa and his fever is down. He says he\u2019s not in too much pain, so maybe the morphine took the edge off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s good news. What\u2019s the problem, Son?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, he doesn\u2019t know you\u2019re alive. He still thinks\u2026\u201d Adam didn\u2019t finish the sentence. Ben rolled his eyes in frustration. \u201cAnd he says he can\u2019t feel his legs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Paul said\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know what Dr. Martin said, but Joe says otherwise. Pa, he moved them when he woke up. He can move them if he wants to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s forehead wrinkled in confusion.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw him.\u201d Adam\u2019s voice was convincing.<\/p>\n

Ben nodded. Still he could see the vulnerability in his oldest, probably the same emotion that was in Hoss and Joe too. His boys were old enough to care for themselves but it was obvious his exaggerated death had frightened them considerably. Hugging Adam close, he patted him on the back.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud of you, Son. Go and eat and then get some sleep. I\u2019ll stay with your brother and if I get tired, Hoss can help.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s still snoring away upstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know. I heard,\u201d Ben laughed. \u201cGo on now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam didn\u2019t need to be told twice. Ben opened the door. Stepping into the room Ben saw that Joe appeared to be sleeping. Adam had said he was awake. Well if the boy was sleeping, Ben planned to be there when he woke up. Sitting down in the chair Adam had been using, Ben took Joe\u2019s hand in his, holding it gently. With all his heart, the father wished his boys had been spared this ordeal. That Joe had tried to go to Placerville didn\u2019t surprise Ben. He would have done the same thing if he had received the telegram the boys had.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa\u2026I\u2019m sorry. I\u2019m sorry,\u201d Joe mumbled. \u201cPlease Pa, don\u2019t leave me. Mama, Mama.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben leaned forward, his hand brushing Joe\u2019s dark curly hair, those soft tresses that were now matted with sweat. He had to get Hop Sing so they could change Joe\u2019s sheets.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe! Joseph, open your eyes, Sweetheart. Pa\u2019s here. Joseph, please.\u201d Ben\u2019s throat thickened in sorrow for his boy. \u201cJoseph, please, wake up. Pa\u2019s here. I wouldn\u2019t leave you, Son.\u201d Ben wanted to hold Joseph, to let him know he was safe, but he didn\u2019t dare, fearful of causing him more pain.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes opened, his vision clearing to see yet another hallucination from his fever. Pa had come to him, was telling him he wouldn\u2019t leave him, but he had. Pa was dead. Pushing the caring hand away, Joe closed his eyes unable to bear looking at a ghost.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph!\u201d Ben\u2019s voice spoke in a tone that only Ben had, a tone that his sons never refused. \u201cJoseph, open your eyes and look at me right now! I mean it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trembling, not sure if he was afraid of the pain that was growing in his back or facing a nightmare, Joe forced his eyelids open.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow look at me, Sweetheart. I\u2019m not dead, and I\u2019m not a ghost. The telegram was wrong. I\u2019m right here, Son.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe shook his head afraid to believe. Slowly his hand went out and touched Ben\u2019s face. Ben moved to the bed. Joe\u2019s eyes crinkled, his brows drawn together, again unable to stop the tears, tears that were now filled with his joy.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa!\u201d he exclaimed. \u201cOh, Pa!\u201d Despite his pain, Joe threw himself into his father\u2019s arms. Both men wept without shame at their reunion. Ben rubbed Joe\u2019s back unconsciously. \u201cI knew it. I knew you weren\u2019t gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were right, Joseph,\u201d Ben confirmed. \u201cI love you, Joseph. I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI love you too, Pa.\u201d Joe laid back down with Ben\u2019s help. Ben watched as the boy moved himself in bed, including his legs until he was resting with less of a strain on his body.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you in pain, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA little. It hurt so bad, Pa,\u201d Joe told him. \u201cIt still hurts but not nearly as much. It\u2026it helped when you rubbed my back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd your legs?\u201d Ben squeezed one of Joe\u2019s limbs. Joe\u2019s eyes widened when he realized he could feel Ben\u2019s touch. With his heart in his mouth he concentrated and moved both legs, then let his hazel eyes rest on his father.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell what do ya know? Adam was right for a change.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben laughed out loud at his son\u2019s admission. Joe\u2019s giggle joined him. Ruffling the boy\u2019s hair, Ben shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou gave us quite a scare ya know,\u201d he teased the boy.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s giggles stopped. He hung his head as he often did when caught in a mischievous act.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa,\u201d he apologized for the hundredth time or so he felt. \u201cI know it was wrong\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben lifted Joe\u2019s head so that Joe had to look at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, you didn\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t have done. Now I would have suggested you took your brothers with you since you didn\u2019t know where Placerville was, but I can\u2019t argue with what you did, although if you ever do it again, we might have to resort to good old fashioned discipline again. I don\u2019t want you to ever go off like that again without one of your brothers or me at least until you are a few years older. Do you understand me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood. Now, I\u2019m going to get some broth for you to eat, and Dr. Martin to look you over.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Pa! I don\u2019t wanta,\u201d Joe answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve still got pain and I think it\u2019s going to be a while before you can get up again.\u201d Joe seemed to think about that for a few minutes. He moved his feet again.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt does hurt,\u201d He admitted. \u201cPa? Do you think I\u2019ll walk again?\u201d Ben smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou bet I do, Son. We\u2019re going to be here to help you all the way. You know that don\u2019t you?\u201d Joe nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d he asked again.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Joseph,\u201d Ben answered with a fond sigh.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan I have another hug?\u201d Ben didn\u2019t need to be asked twice. Instead of just hugging Joe, his impish son with his innocence and open heart, Ben took off the covers over Joe. Picking Joe up, he sat him up on the bed. Joe grit his teeth against the pain. Ben sat down on the bed with Joe and let his head rest against his chest. Despite the bed still being damp from his broken fever, and the pain in his back, Joe never felt as comfortable as he did when he fell asleep, his father\u2019s heart beat lulling him as sure as any lullaby. As far as Ben was concerned, he had never been so happy.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cPa, how long is Joe going ta have ta put up with this?\u201d Hoss asked a few weeks later at breakfast. The big man was actually picking at his meal. Adam and Ben exchanged glances. If the past few weeks had been tough on Joe, they had also been rough on all of them. Watching Joe deal with the pain in his back and more recently trying to walk was like having their hearts ripped out. The boy was trying so hard despite his slow progress. Amazingly he complained little and that made the situation worse.<\/p>\n

Ben sipped at his coffee putting the cup down after a minute of thinking.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, none of us knows how long it will before Joe\u2019s back heals. We just have to do the best we can until he\u2019s back to his old self.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI caint stand it, Pa. I caint stand watching him suffer like that. He\u2019s like a deer, so little and fragile.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe? Fragile? There\u2019s a word I\u2019ve never heard associated with him. If I was you I wouldn\u2019t let him hear you call him that, Big Brother,\u201d Adam put in.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam!\u201d Ben chided.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShut up, Adam,\u201d Hoss retorted. \u201cYa just don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t understand? Hoss how can you say that? Joe\u2019s my brother too. You think it doesn\u2019t hurt me to see him like that? You think I don\u2019t want him to get better?\u201d Adam\u2019s indignation made his voice raise several notches.<\/p>\n

Joe, wheeling a chair into the room from the guest room caught the last few lines. Silence filled the room until Hoss spoke up.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow ya done it,\u201d Hoss muttered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re just talking, Son,\u201d Ben said trying to placate his boys and provide some peace.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not what I heard,\u201d Joe accused seeming to be angry.<\/p>\n

\u201cShortshanks, we were just worried about ya,\u201d Hoss put in.<\/p>\n

In answer, Joe pushed himself forward on the chair. He was only about five feet from the table. Pushing the pedals up, he pulled himself to his feet. Stepping forward, he walked without hesitation, without stumbling, without falling until he was holding onto the back of the dining room chair. His grin split his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can walk, Adam. When you and Hoss found me I didn\u2019t think I\u2019d ever be able to do that again, and I still thought we\u2019d lost Pa. I never felt so miserable in my life. Now I know I\u2019m gonna ride and I\u2019m gonna go on cattle drives and I\u2019m going to bust horses. And I\u2019m going to do all those things with you all and Pa. It don\u2019t matter if it hurts. It just matters that we\u2019re all together. I can do anything if I have my family by my side.\u201d Ben got up from the table. Walking over to Joe, he put his arm around the young man.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the mouths of babes,\u201d Adam grinned. Joe\u2019s face turned crimson.<\/p>\n

\u201cI aint no babe,\u201d he shouted.<\/p>\n

Adam burst out laughing. Hoss joined him. Ben put his arm around Little Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, I think your brother was kidding.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe better be or when I\u2019m back ta running, he\u2019s going to be sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, really?\u201d Adam challenged. \u201cThat\u2019ll be the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe just grinned back.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can count on it, Big Brother. You wait and see.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben glared at Adam. Adam nodded. He let his brown eyes melt as he gave Joe his approval.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, Little Buddy,\u201d he finished for the family. \u201cI bet I can count on it.\u201d Joe sat down at the table, leaving the wheelchair behind. He never used the chair again and after that day, it was true. His brothers thought twice about calling Joseph Cartwright a babe because in those weeks between his father\u2019s supposed loss and his own recovery, Joe seemed to have grown up. The boy showed them all that he was becoming a man, a man who appreciated his family and a man who knew that when you wanted something bad enough\u2026you just had to do what you had to do to make your dreams come true.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

~The End<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary:\u00a0\u00a0When the Cartwright brothers have to face their worst nightmare, Little Joe decides to take matters in to his own hands. Will he survive to show his family he really is the man his father raised?<\/p>\n

Rating\u00a0 G\u00a0 (10,520 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10662,"featured_media":377,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","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":[23,41,30],"tags":[14,15,17,16],"class_list":["post-16264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-hurtcomfort","category-prequels","tag-adam-cartwright","tag-ben","tag-hoss","tag-joe","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-41-id","wpcat-30-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":3043,"today_views":1},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/ben3.jpg?fit=320%2C240&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12132,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12132","url_meta":{"origin":16264,"position":0},"title":"Chinese Molasses (by DebbieB)","author":"DebbieB","date":"January 1, 2002","format":false,"excerpt":"DebbieB passed away Christmas 2021. Any reader wishing to read this series should e:mail the Brandsters:\u00a0 Brandsters2020@gmail.com","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Joe-copy-7.jpg?fit=594%2C592&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Joe-copy-7.jpg?fit=594%2C592&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Joe-copy-7.jpg?fit=594%2C592&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12136,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12136","url_meta":{"origin":16264,"position":1},"title":"The Rebirth of Joe Cartwright (by DebbieB)","author":"DebbieB","date":"August 1, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"DebbieB passed away Christmas 2021. Any reader wishing to read this story should e:mail the Brandsters:\u00a0 Brandsters2020@gmail.com","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/feature-2.jpg?fit=338%2C338&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12133,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12133","url_meta":{"origin":16264,"position":2},"title":"Frightened Beyond Reason (by DebbieB)","author":"DebbieB","date":"June 1, 2002","format":false,"excerpt":"DebbieB passed away Christmas 2021. Any reader wishing to read this series should e:mail the Brandsters:\u00a0 Brandsters2020@gmail.com","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/2-joe.jpg?fit=237%2C221&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12134,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12134","url_meta":{"origin":16264,"position":3},"title":"In My Father’s House (by DebbieB)","author":"DebbieB","date":"May 1, 2002","format":false,"excerpt":"DebbieB passed away Christmas 2021. Any reader wishing to read this series should e:mail the Brandsters:\u00a0 Brandsters2020@gmail.com","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Pondarosa-House-3.jpg?fit=564%2C401&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Pondarosa-House-3.jpg?fit=564%2C401&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Pondarosa-House-3.jpg?fit=564%2C401&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1718,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1718","url_meta":{"origin":16264,"position":4},"title":"The Telegram (by BluewindFarm)","author":"BluewindFarm","date":"October 11, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Ben Cartwright receives an incomplete telegram.\u00a0 What is the message and who is it about?\u00a0 Rating:\u00a0 K \u00a0\u00a0(2,695 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Ben Cartwright"","block_context":{"text":"Ben Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1004"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/bonanza2.jpg?fit=720%2C475&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/bonanza2.jpg?fit=720%2C475&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/bonanza2.jpg?fit=720%2C475&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/bonanza2.jpg?fit=720%2C475&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12135,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12135","url_meta":{"origin":16264,"position":5},"title":"Prelude to Rebirth (by DebbieB)","author":"DebbieB","date":"August 1, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"DebbieB passed away Christmas 2021. Any reader wishing to read this story should e:mail the Brandsters:\u00a0 Brandsters2020@gmail.com","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/4Cs.jpg?fit=400%2C401&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16264","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/10662"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16264"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16264\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/377"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}