{"id":2122,"date":"2009-09-06T18:32:40","date_gmt":"2009-09-06T22:32:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2122"},"modified":"2026-03-11T15:01:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T19:01:51","slug":"bakers-dozen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2122","title":{"rendered":"Baker’s Dozen (by JoanS)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/span>Ten years after he and Joe first met, Baker visits The Ponderosa while on a mission.<\/p>\n

Rated:<\/span> K \u00a0WC 15,400<\/p>\n

Baker’s Brat Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Baker’s Brat<\/a>
\nBaker’s Dozen<\/a>
\nBaker’s Legacy<\/a>
\nBaker’s Destiny<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Baker’s Dozen<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sequel to \u201cBaker\u2019s Brat\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was just as I had suspected \u2026. Virginia City was definitely not a backwoods town by any means and the descriptions I\u2019d heard of it, though they had seemed exaggerated at the time, were by no means far-fetched. It was essentially a mining town, yet the wealth that was a result of the Comstock Lode was very apparent here to an outsider, even at first glance. I wondered how the Cartwright family fitted into all of this, but I supposed that with all I\u2019d heard of their lands holdings they were quite wealthy and wouldn\u2019t be out of place at all amongst all this wealth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When I thought about it, it was actually strange that I\u2019d never made it out this way before. My years in the army had taken me to many varied places in the West, but I\u2019d never made it to Nevada in all that time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I looked around at the small camp and what I saw pleased me. We\u2019d only been here less than an hour, and yet everything was beginning to take shape. The well-ordered tents stood side by side and the horses had been tethered and watered already. I supposed that was one of the advantages of having such an experienced troop of men.\u00a0 The twelve of them had of course been hand-picked, for I couldn\u2019t risk anyone making a mistake on such an important mission and when Colonel Whelan had told me to make my choices about who to take, I had given it a great deal of consideration before finally choosing these dozen men. I knew that with such a delicate mission which involved negations such as were before me, I had to have the very best \u2026 men who wouldn\u2019t fly off the handle at the least provocation and yet men who could be relied upon if the worst happened. Yes, I thought with satisfaction as I looked around the camp, I had chosen well.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMajor Baker?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I turned at the sound of Sergeant Clancy\u2019s voice. \u201cYes sergeant?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDid you want the men to start unloading the supplies now?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I nodded. \u201cYes. Thank you sergeant.\u201d\u00a0 I watched as Clancy walked away and started to give the orders to that effect.\u00a0 I had been fortunate that he had been available for this mission to act as my second-in-command, for it would have been difficult to find a better man. He would make sure that everything ran smoothly and would be a trustworthy stand-in should anything happen to me. Not that I was expecting it to, for the Paiutes had not caused any trouble for a long time. That was the whole point of this mission really and I prayed that the General Wilson was correct and the time was right for a treaty between the Paiutes and the whites. Lord knows I was going to do my best to ensure that it came about. I knew that I would need all my negotiating powers to achieve it, but negotiating was something I prided myself on being good at.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

However, first things first.\u00a0 Before I was ready to approach the Paiutes with the army\u2019s offer of a treaty, there was another most important mission I had to undertake.\u00a0 Albeit a personal one, but most important all the same. I smiled as I drew out yet again from my pocket a piece of paper and thought about the small boy who had written me this letter all those years ago. Joe Cartwright. It amazed me how, after all this time, the boy still had an impact on me and I still felt such an affinity towards him. I had never been really sure why, but that little guy had got into my head all those years ago and refused to leave it. If I was being honest with myself, he\u2019d wormed his way into my heart as well \u2026 and there he\u2019d stayed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe had written to me quite a few times over the years, but no letter had ever meant as much to me as this first one that I\u2019d received a few months after his father had taken him home from the fort. I smiled as I unfolded the worn paper and read it yet again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

deer baka,<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

My pa sed I culd rite to you. My pa sed that my brutha Adam is not ded in Bostun and I got in trubble for tring to find him. Can ya pleese rite and tell my pa I shuldnt be in trubble no more baka? I miss ya baka. When are ya cuming ta viset me baka? Tell the sarj that I am eating lots and growing biga every day. I will soon be big enuff ta join the arme like he done told me I culd. I askt my pa iffen we can cum and viset ya agen but he sed no. He seys I can cum when I get biga. I told my pa I am biga now but he sed I still aint big enuf. So ya have ta cum and viset me insted baka. I live in nevardar on the pondarosa ranch. Jest go to verjinia cite and ask sherif cofe. He is our frend and he will tell ya how to cum hear and see me.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Your frend<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe Cartwright<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He must have just turned eight when he\u2019d written this.\u00a0 The spelling was deplorable, but I assumed it was about right for a just-turned eight year-old. I\u2019d calculated that he\u2019d now be seventeen and not for the first time I wondered just what kind of young man he\u2019d grown into. His letters throughout the years had shown him to be a boy who thought about and questioned things a lot and I suspected that he was probably fairly bright \u2026 but then I\u2019d known that fact ten years ago when our paths had first crossed.\u00a0 Anyone who could have manipulated me in the way that small boy had, would have had to be bright. I laughed aloud as I thought about how he had been then.\u00a0 The determined green eyes that used to glare at me from under all those curls \u2026 the set, stubborn jaw and the small foot that had stamped when he hadn\u2019t got his own way. Yes \u2026 he\u2019d led me a merry dance in the days we\u2019d had together and I suspected that he\u2019d probably done the same to his father in the ensuing years.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was nearly ten years since the child had first written and asked me to visit him \u2026 well, it might have taken me ten years to get here, but at least in my mind it was better late than never. I had no intention of missing this opportunity to see the boy again now that I had finally made it out this way and to tell the truth I was quite excited about seeing the young man that he\u2019d become.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSergeant Clancy?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The sergeant walked over and saluted. \u201cYes sir?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be leaving for a while to visit one of the ranches in the area. Once everything is organised, the men may have a few hours off to explore the town.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The sergeant\u2019s eyes lit up. \u201cMyself included sir?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d I said, trying to keep a straight face at his eagerness. \u201cJust make sure they\u2019re back by sundown if I\u2019m not here by then.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I saluted the sergeant and mounted my horse, headed in the direction that had been pointed out to me earlier that afternoon \u2026. towards The Ponderosa Ranch, the Cartwright family and Baker\u2019s Brat \u2026 sometimes known as Joe Cartwright.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

—————<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I hadn\u2019t realised just how much land Mr Cartwright owned, and I soon revised my opinion of his wealth as I rode towards the ranch house. The man\u2019s land holdings weren\u2019t just considerable, they were truly massive and he must have been worth a fortune. The land itself was some of the most picturesque I\u2019d ever come across and believe me, I\u2019d travelled a great deal in the army in my time. The Ponderosa bordered on Lake Tahoe and indeed seemed to cover about two-thirds of the shoreline.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t sure how far it stretched up into the mountains, but by the description I\u2019d been given by those in town only too willing to tell me, it included a great deal of them as well.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

By the time I arrived at the house I was in awe of the ranch and the man who ran it. The house itself was a sight \u2026. a rustic wooden structure that seemed to grow up from the land itself as if it truly belonged there. It was a two-story affair and had a majestic, yet homely appeal to it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As I dismounted in the front yard, I was approached by a large and genial man in a tall hat. \u201cHowdy,\u201d he said with a gap-toothed grin. \u201cWhat can I do fer ya stranger?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I tipped my hat to him. \u201cI was hoping to see Mr Ben Cartwright?\u201d I replied. \u201cMajor John Baker is the name.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBaker?\u201d said a voice behind me and I turned to see Mr Cartwright himself standing there staring at me, surprise stamped across his face. \u201cMajor John Baker?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe very same sir,\u201d I said with a smile. I would have known the man anywhere.\u00a0 Ten years had certainly traced their mark across his face with a few extra wrinkles than the last time I\u2019d seen him and his hair was definitely whiter than before, but I\u2019d still have been able to pick him out of a crowd.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mr Cartwright grabbed my hand and began to shake it furiously. \u201cWell I\u2019ll be!\u201d he said happily. \u201cJohn Baker \u2026. after all these years!\u00a0 It\u2019s Major now?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir,\u201d I said, returning the handshake. \u201cIt certainly is.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell this is a surprise!\u201d he exclaimed. \u201cHoss \u2026 this is Major John Baker. This is my son Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHowdy Major,\u201d said Hoss, although I could see that he really hadn\u2019t cottoned on to who I was and why his father was making such a fuss over me. \u201cPleased to meet ya,\u201d he added as he shook my hand.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNice to meet you Hoss,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMajor Baker is Joe\u2019s Baker,\u201d explained Ben. \u201cRemember?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The light dawned on his son\u2019s face. \u201cOh!\u201d he said. \u201cJoe\u2019s Baker! Well howdy Major. It\u2019s great to meet ya!\u201d\u00a0 He pumped my hand with a great deal more enthusiasm this time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLook after the Major\u2019s horse please son,\u201d said Mr Cartwright as he pulled me towards the front porch. \u201cPlease \u2026 come and sit down.\u201d\u00a0 He escorted me to the porch and we both sat down. Within seconds a small oriental man brought out cups and a pot of coffee, although how he could have possibly known it was needed right then was beyond me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is wonderful,\u201d enthused Mr Cartwright excitedly. \u201cJoe will be home soon and he\u2019ll be thrilled to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose he\u2019s grown quite a bit since the last time I saw him,\u201d I said as I took the coffee he offered me. \u201cTen years is a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s seventeen now,\u201d said his father, the pride evident in his voice. \u201cQuite the young man.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe was quite the young man even back then,\u201d I said with a chuckle. \u201cHe thought he was pretty grown up even at seven when I knew him.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes that\u2019s true,\u201d chuckled Mr Cartwright. \u201cJoseph always was one to want to grow up before his time. Comes from being the youngest I suppose.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe sure was a caution,\u201d I said. \u201cHe told me in one of his letters that he got into considerable trouble for taking off the way he did.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mr Cartwright\u2019s eyebrows lifted in the quizzical way that I remembered and I had a fleeting glimpse of the firmness that was beneath his geniality. \u201cHe did indeed,\u201d he acknowledged. \u201cI could have lost him you know Baker. He did a very foolish thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe was only seven,\u201d I replied, a touch defensively.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cEven so,\u201d Mr Cartwright shook his head. \u201cHe had to learn. He did a very dangerous thing taking off like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDid you ever find out about his time with the Indians?\u201d I asked curiously.\u00a0 The child had seemed very upset about it all at the time and I\u2019d often wondered exactly what had happened to him during his time with them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u00a0 At first he was very reluctant to discuss it \u2026 even with me \u2026 and then later on I honestly think that he forgot.\u00a0 It was as if it was all blocked from his memory.\u201d\u00a0 He shifted in his seat. \u201cI finally gave up asking about it and he maintains even now that he can\u2019t really remember it. Probably for the best really.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure you\u2019re right,\u201d I said. \u201cI must say that I can hardly wait to see him after all these years.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mr Cartwright leant forward and looked at me intently. \u201cYou must stay the night,\u201d he said. \u201cWe all have a lot to catch up with.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell \u2026.\u201d I began. \u201cI really need to get back to \u2026\u201d\u00a0 I stopped as a rider came around the side of the barn. I stared at the boy \u2026 or rather young man \u2026 on the pinto horse and marvelled straight away at the grace with which he was riding. I might have known he\u2019d end up an expert horseman, and I had a sudden recollection of him at seven sitting on a horse far too large for him and yet managing it without the slightest problem.\u00a0 That was the day he\u2019d earned the cavalry gloves of which he\u2019d been so proud.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He dismounted before the horse had even come to a stop, with an ease that made me envious and then looped his reins over the hitching rail before walking quickly towards us. He wasn\u2019t very tall (hadn\u2019t he said that the kids had called him puny back then?) but the spread of his shoulders showed a promise of a muscular man that was developing and the indication of years of hard physical work. He had been a very striking child when I\u2019d known him and now I could see at once that he had grown into a very handsome young man. He tipped his hat back as he approached and I caught a glimpse of the same unruly curls that I remembered so well. His green eyes flickered over me for an instant without recognition before he turned to his father. \u201cSorry to interrupt Pa,\u201d he said. \u201cBut Adam says that \u2026\u201d He stopped as his father held up his hand.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNever mind about that now Joe. There\u2019s someone here to meet you.\u201d Mr Cartwright indicated me as I stepped forward.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe gave me a quizzical look. \u201cTo meet me?\u201d he said, surprised.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Major John Baker,\u201d said his father with a grin.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was a moment\u2019s silence and then the youngster\u2019s eyes lit up. \u201cMajor Baker?\u201d he said, giving me a hopeful look. \u201cMy Baker?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I laughed as I stepped forward. \u201cWell I didn\u2019t know that I belonged exclusively to you,\u201d I said. \u201cBut as everyone around here seems to refer to me as such I suppose I can be your<\/em> Baker.\u201d I smiled at him. \u201cHello Baker\u2019s Brat.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a moment he looked as if he was going to fling his arms around my neck, but then he drew himself up to his full height and held out his hand. \u201cWell what do you know,\u201d he said, giving me a huge smile. \u201cBaker!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I took his hand and then placed my free hand around the back of his neck and pulled him close to me. He didn\u2019t hesitate then and we both put our arms around each other and hugged briefly, while Mr Cartwright looked on happily. As I drew back from him, I stared into his face. \u201cWell it\u2019s good to see you after all these years,\u201d I said. \u201cI suppose you\u2019d just about given up on me?\u201d Joe laughed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been trying to convince the Major to stay the night to give us time to catch up,\u201d said his father.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe instantly gave me one of the pleading puppy dog looks that I remembered so well. \u201cOh yes \u2026 you have to!\u201d he pleaded. \u201cThere\u2019s so much we have to talk about. Please?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I held my hands up in a mock gesture of surrender. \u201cWell, how could I say no?\u201d I laughed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mr Cartwright slapped me on the back. \u201cGood,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll get Hoss to send one of the hands back to your camp to tell your men. Joe \u2026 you take the Major into the house.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThis way Baker,\u201d said Joe, his grin even wider than before. He hesitated. \u201cOh \u2026 I suppose I should call you Major Baker now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo \u2026 Baker is fine,\u201d I replied, putting my arm around his shoulders as we walked towards the house. \u201cThat\u2019s what you always called me before \u2026. I wouldn\u2019t feel it was really you if you called me anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

—————-<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The inside of the house was as I had expected, very large, very comfortable and very homely. As we waited for supper to be served I had the opportunity to listen and observe Joe in his home surroundings and I sensed a wonderful warm family atmosphere evident there between him, his father and his brother. Just as we were about to be served our meal, the front door opened and a man dressed in black entered the room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAh!\u201d said Mr Cartwright happily. \u201cHere\u2019s Adam. You\u2019re just in time for supper son. Come and meet our guest.\u201d Adam Cartwright was a very good looking man a few years younger than myself … dark of colouring like his father \u2026 and I could tell at once from the way he looked me up and down that he was someone who might be a force to be reckoned with if you got on the wrong side of him. I had been looking forward to meeting him, seeing as how he was the one responsible for me really meeting Joe in the first place. If it hadn\u2019t been for Adam going to college in Boston, Joe would never have gone off looking for him and then we would never have met. \u201cThis is Major Baker,\u201d said his father.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s eyes immediately flickered over me again appraisingly. \u201cJoe\u2019s Baker?\u201d he enquired.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo it would seem,\u201d I laughed as I shook his hand. \u201cSo you\u2019re the famous Adam who died in Boston all those years ago?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, according to some,\u201d replied Adam, his eyes flickering over to Joe who looked slightly embarrassed as everyone laughed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI was only a little kid back then,\u201d Joe said, a touch defensively. \u201cI didn\u2019t know any better.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou were one plucky little kid,\u201d I acknowledged as we all sat down at the table. \u201cAs I remember it, you were determined to walk all the way to Boston, even though you thought it was south at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe sure was,\u201d said Hoss, grinning at his younger brother as he helped himself to a generous serving of meat before passing the platter to me. \u201cYou sure musta had your hands full looking after him.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI did,\u201d I acknowledged. \u201cHe gave me a lot of extra work at the time.\u201d\u00a0 I winked at Joe to show him that I was only joking. \u201cIf I remember rightly, I had to spend a lot of time going to and from the laundry.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLet me guess,\u201d said Adam with a chuckle. \u201cHe peed on you \u2026. right?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cConstantly,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss laughed. \u201cHe used to do that on us all the time too,\u201d Hoss spluttered and Joe went red.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry Joe,\u201d I said, between laughs. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to embarrass you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He shrugged. \u201cThat\u2019s all right,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m used to it around here.\u201d\u00a0 He gave both of his brothers a dark look. \u201cThey like to embarrass me whenever they can.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam slapped his youngest brother on the back. \u201cThat\u2019s what big brothers are for,\u201d he said heartily.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mr Cartwright shot them all a look as if to silence them. \u201cSo \u2026 Major Baker \u2026. What are you doing in Nevada?\u201d he asked, changing the subject with great abruptness as if to compensate for his sons\u2019 supposed bad manners. \u201cOr is your mission not one that you\u2019re able to discuss?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo it\u2019s fine,\u201d I replied. \u201cActually I\u2019m here to see the Paiute chief \u2026. Winnemucca, I believe is his name?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They all stopped eating and looked at me for a full minute without speaking. \u201cWinnemucca?\u201d said Mr Cartwright finally. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI have orders to try and negotiate a peace treaty between the Paiutes and us,\u201d I explained. \u201cMy superiors believe that it might be a the right time to try it.\u00a0 There\u2019s been no trouble with the Paiutes in a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s true,\u201d said Mr Cartwright thoughtfully. \u201cWell I must say I\u2019m mighty pleased to hear it. A treaty would be a wonderful thing if you can pull it off Major. There\u2019s been far too much killing around here for far too long.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t expect that we\u2019ll be able to achieve a treaty just like that,\u201d I said. \u201cThe aim is that we begin to make some headway with the Paiutes and have them understand that the army isn\u2019t against them. If I\u2019m successful in achieving just that much, then hopefully the rest might follow in time.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe can only pray,\u201d said Mr Cartwright with a deep sigh. \u201cPerhaps I can help? I know this country very well and I\u2019d be happy to show you where the Paiute camp is.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat would be fine,\u201d I said. \u201cThank you. We could ride back and pick up my troops in the morning and then head out.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFine,\u201d he said. \u201cNow Joe \u2026 would you get the brandy decanter please? I think we\u2019re ready for a drink to go with this meal.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I settled back to enjoy the wonderful supper and the fine company. I learned all about the Cartwrights and their work on the ranch and filled them in on my years in the army as well, and in no time at all the clock was striking ten.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTime for bed if we\u2019re to be up early,\u201d said Mr Cartwright as he shook my hand. \u201cJoe will show you to your room Major.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for your hospitality Mr Cartwright,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot at all,\u201d the man replied. \u201cAfter what you did for Joseph all those years ago \u2026 it\u2019s the least we can do. Besides, we\u2019ve enjoyed the company.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe sure have,\u201d said Joe, grinning at me. \u201cCome on Baker \u2026 I\u2019ll show you the guest room.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I had barely started to take off my shirt as few minutes later, when there was a knock on my door and I opened it to see Joe standing in the hallway smiling at me. \u201cI guessed you wouldn\u2019t be asleep yet,\u201d he said sheepishly. \u201cCan I come in for a while? I\u2019ve got something to show you.\u201d I nodded and opened the door to let him in. He sat down on the edge of my bed and held up a pair of yellow gloves and a yellow bandanna, grinning at me all the while. \u201cRemember these?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I sat down next to him and fingered them. \u201cI certainly do,\u201d I said. \u201cYou kept them all these years?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOf course!\u201d he snorted. \u201cAs if I\u2019d throw them away.\u00a0 I was real proud of these when I first got em. They fit a bit better now though,\u201d he added unnecessarily. \u201cGee I was a skinny kid, wasn\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d I agreed. \u201cDid you ever seriously consider of joining the army as you\u2019d wanted to back then?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell I thought about it on and off until I was about thirteen,\u201d he said, tucking his feet up under him on the bed. \u201cBut then I realised that I really didn\u2019t want to leave here. Besides,\u201d he added with a huge grin. \u201cI\u2019m not too good at taking orders you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI do know,\u201d I laughed. \u201cI remember it well.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe made a face. \u201cI guess I was a lot of bother to you back then,\u201d he said. \u201cSorry bout that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou weren\u2019t a bother,\u201d I said, patting him on the back of the neck. \u201cNot one I minded anyway \u2026 at least \u2026 not after a while.\u201d We laughed together.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s real good to catch up with you,\u201d he said suddenly. \u201cI \u2026 wanted to thank you for all those letters you sent me over the years Baker.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell you sent me a quite a few as well,\u201d I said. \u201cIn fact, I have one of them here with me.\u201d I pulled it out of my pocket and showed it to him. \u201cRemember this?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe read it quickly. \u201cGee I was a bad speller,\u201d he said when he\u2019d finished.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou got better,\u201d I replied, taking the letter and replacing it in my pocket.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow come you kept it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTo remind me of my promise to myself to visit you,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell I\u2019m glad you did Baker.\u00a0 It\u2019s great to see you again \u2026 and to have you meet my brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I smiled at him, knowing that my dreams that night would be full of a certain curly-haired child as they had so many times before over the years, only this time the child would have grown into a delightful young man.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

—————-<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The next morning, Mr Cartwright rode back with me to pick up my troops before I set out to meet with the Paiutes.\u00a0 Joe, of course, insisted on coming with us and when his father agreed I didn\u2019t object.\u00a0 In fact, I relished the opportunity to keep our conversation going from the night before. Joe spent a great deal of the ride pointing out landmarks along the way that he thought might be of interest to me and by the time we\u2019d got to the high country with the dozen troopers I let him know how suitably impressed I was with their ranch. I could see that my approval meant a lot to him and he was justifiably proud when I said it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure you don\u2019t want me to ride the whole way with you?\u201d asked Mr Cartwright once we\u2019d reached the summit of a hill and he was able to point out the smoke from Winnemucca\u2019s camp to me. \u201cI\u2019ve met Winnemucca a few times before and I might be some help to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I shook my head. \u201cNo thank you,\u201d I replied. \u201cThis is something for the army to do Mr Cartwright. We\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell good luck,\u201d he said. \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have any trouble.\u00a0 The Paiutes have shown themselves to be very co-operative lately.\u201d He turned his horse. \u201cCome on Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d Joe looked at his father pleadingly and Mr Cartwright returned the look with a smile.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh yes,\u201d he said. \u201cWe were wondering if you and your troops could camp near the ranch house tonight?\u201d he said. \u201cYou have to camp somewhere and it may as well be there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat way you can visit for a bit longer,\u201d added Joe. \u201cPlease?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t see why not,\u201d I said. \u201cWe\u2019ll camp down by the lake if that\u2019s all right with you Mr Cartwright. The men might enjoy some fishing once we\u2019ve finished our work.\u201d There was a mutter of approval from the troops behind me at my words.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSee ya there then,\u201d said Joe happily. \u201cYou be careful with them Paiutes Baker!\u201d He waved as he and his father rode off and I waited until they had disappeared before calling Sergeant Clancy forward.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAll men on the alert,\u201d I said as I checked my rifle. \u201cJust in case.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded and gave the order and the men behind us cocked their rifles ready as we headed off.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Paiute camp was larger than I had expected it to be and it was situated in a secluded area next to the Truckee River. I made sure that we made ourselves known long before we got there, as I didn\u2019t want anyone thinking that we were sneaking up on them and coming in unannounced.\u00a0 Even so, it was obvious that our arrival set the camp on edge immediately and all the squaws and children disappeared immediately as we entered. My men were on high alert with their rifles at the ready, but such was their experience that any casual observer would never have known it. The dozen I\u2019d chosen weren\u2019t men to lose their heads lightly, however, and I knew there would be no panicking amongst them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As I dismounted, an older man whom I took to be Winnemucca himself approached me.\u00a0 I had been informed that he spoke quite good English, but even so I had chosen one of my dozen men specifically for the fact that he had some experience with the Paiute language and could be used as an interpreter if needed.\u00a0 As it turned out, he wasn\u2019t needed at all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I can\u2019t complain about the progress we made that morning. We spoke of many things that affected both the Paiutes and whites alike and came to an understanding that peace was what we both wanted. At least, I felt that Winnemucca himself wanted it. Looking around at some of his braves standing behind him while the negotiations were taking place, I wasn\u2019t so sure that they all agreed with him. By the time our talk of land rights and terms had finished though, I felt that I had come some way to persuading some of them, for the atmosphere was decidedly less tense than it had been when we had begun. We smoked a pipe together and I promised to take the outcome of our talk back to my superiors.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As we left the camp I knew that even though we hadn\u2019t come to an agreement by any means, today had been an important first step on the path to peace between the whites and the Paiutes. I sincerely hoped so with all my heart, as I\u2019d seen far too many deaths on both sides in my years in the army and never wanted to see more.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We camped near Lake Tahoe as I\u2019d promised Mr Cartwright, and the men enjoyed a well-earned rest. It was going on for late afternoon when I spied Joe approaching on his pinto, galloping in as if his heels were on fire.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t surprise me at all to see him, as he\u2019d virtually told me that he would come, but what did surprise me was the look on his face as he drew his horse to a halt. \u201cBaker!\u201d he called out as he waved to me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou look as if your coattail is on fire,\u201d I remarked casually as I came up to stand next to his horse. \u201cDo you always ride like that?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He ignored the question and I could see that he looked somewhat agitated. \u201cI was worried about you,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no need to worry,\u201d I assured him. \u201cEverything went fine. As your father said this morning, the Paiutes are peaceful at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He shook his head. \u201cNot any more,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat time did you leave the camp?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAbout midday,\u201d I replied, instantly on the alert. \u201cWhy? What\u2019s happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou musta got out just in time then,\u201d he said breathlessly. \u201cI was in town picking up the mail for Pa and I heard about a Paiute brave being shot over by Tyson Wells.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d I snapped, instantly on the alert. \u201cSergeant Clancy \u2026 over here!\u201d The sergeant immediately came to stand beside me and we both readied ourselves to hear what Joe had to say.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe swallowed to catch his breath before he continued. \u201cCharlie Burton over at Tyson Wells shot a brave,\u201d he said. \u201cFrom the sound of it there was a few of em hanging round there. No one seems ta know why, but I guess maybe Charlie might have panicked. Anyway \u2026. One of em was shot and the others rode off.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I closed my eyes momentarily, cursing the unknown Charlie Burton and his timing. \u201cSergeant,\u201d I instructed the man. \u201cGet the men mounted up and ready. We have to get back to that camp straight away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir,\u201d he said, giving me a snappy salute and running off to get everyone organised.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe leant down and held onto my arm. \u201cBaker, you can\u2019t go back there,\u201d he said urgently. \u201cYou don\u2019t understand \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI do understand Joe,\u201d I said firmly. \u201cI understand that everything we hoped to achieve might all come to nothing now. I have to try and make Winnemucca understand that we weren\u2019t giving him false promises this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut they\u2019ll cut you down before you can even get to him,\u201d persisted Joe anxiously. \u201cThey\u2019re gonna want revenge for this killing. You don\u2019t understand the Paiutes Baker.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI understand Indians Joe,\u201d I replied calmly. \u201cI\u2019ve fought them for many years. I know exactly what will be going on in that camp right now, but it\u2019s my job to try and stop it before this turns into a war.\u201d I patted him on the arm. \u201cWe\u2019ll be fine,\u201d I assured him. \u201cAll my men are seasoned professionals and they\u2019re used to this sort of thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe stared at me for a moment with that intense look in his green eyes that I remembered from all those years ago. \u201cThen I\u2019m coming with you,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re doing nothing of the kind,\u201d I said crossly. \u201cYou\u2019re going to ride home and let your father know what\u2019s going on and then you\u2019re going to stay there and be guided by what he tells you to do. Believe me \u2026 I\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut Baker \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo buts about it,\u201d I snapped. \u201cDo as you\u2019re told!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His jaw jutted out in that stubborn way that I remembered and he looked for a moment as if he was about to argue, but then abruptly nodded before turning his horse and galloping off into the pines again, much to my relief. I ran to my own horse and mounted up, motioning to Sergeant Clancy to bring the men behind. \u201cLet\u2019s ride,\u201d I shouted.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

—————-<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was clear before we\u2019d even got near the camp that things weren\u2019t right and the very air around us was thick with unseen tension. We didn\u2019t need to see the danger to know that it surrounded us. I still hoped to avert it and to get to the camp unharmed in order to have the opportunity to speak to Chief Winnemucca, but it wasn\u2019t to be. The braves who descended upon us as we rounded a bend made it perfectly clear that they weren\u2019t going to welcome us as they had earlier that day and we soon found ourselves caught up in the midst of a fight that was upon us before we hardly realised it. My men fought bravely, but we were vastly outnumbered \u2026. A dozen men standing between the settlers of the area and the hordes of Paiutes were never going to win. One by one I saw them fall \u2026 a dozen good men, bravely fighting until the end.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Finally Sergeant Clancy and I were the last two left, and we wheeled our horses around to make for the cover of an outcrop of rocks behind us. Sergeant Clancy never made it.\u00a0 He fell beside me before we\u2019d got halfway there and I found myself taking cover by myself behind the rocks. As I reloaded my rifle I cursed both myself and the Paiutes for the mess that I was in and the loss of the dozen brave men who\u2019d ridden with me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Suddenly I had no time to curse anything, as bullets began to shower down on me and I was so busy returning the fire, that it was a few minute before I realised that mine wasn\u2019t the only rifle being discharged from behind the rocks. I turned sharply in surprise.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the h \u2026\u201d my eyes widened with surprise at the green eyes which stared back at me fleetingly. \u201cWhat are you doing here!\u201d I snapped.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe shrugged. \u201cI told ya I wasn\u2019t any good at taking orders,\u201d he said. \u201cI followed you to see if I could help.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was no time to say more. Inwardly I cursed the youngster for being there, but secretly I was a little proud of him as well. It had taken guts to do what he had, even though it had been a damned stupid thing to do. Suddenly the Paiutes were on us again and there was no time to do anything except defend ourselves the best way we could.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I was aiming at a brave who was advancing towards me when I heard a movement behind me and turned sharply to see a large Paiute staring down at me.\u00a0 Suddenly the world went black and I slumped to the ground as I felt a hard blow on the back of my head. My last thought was for Joe\u2019s safety and I called out for him \u2026 but I heard no answer as I lost consciousness.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

—————-<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The next sound I heard was a groan and it took me a few minutes to establish that it wasn\u2019t me making the noise. I rolled over on my side to look up at the sky, but to my surprise I saw instead the dirty colour of animal hide that seemed to surround me. Shaking my head, I continued to roll until I was on my back, flexing my hands tentatively. I expected them to be tied, but to my relief there were no bonds at all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was another groan and I looked across to see Joe\u2019s unmistakable curly head lying next to me. \u201cJoe!\u201d I whispered as I sat up and looked around the small tent. \u201cJoe!\u201d\u00a0 I shook him roughly and was pleased to see that he opened his eyes immediately and stared up at me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d He said and then groaned again and put his hand to his head. \u201cOw! My head hurts.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThose Paiutes sure can hit hard,\u201d I said ruefully, rubbing me own head. I pulled him to sitting position. \u201cAre you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI think so,\u201d he said groggily. \u201cWhere are we?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLooks as if we\u2019re back in their camp,\u201d I said, looking around the tepee. \u201cAt least, I think we are.\u201d\u00a0 I scrunched over and picked up the bottom of the hide tentatively and looked out. All around us were sign of Paiutes.\u00a0 No wonder they hadn\u2019t bound us \u2026. There had been no need to \u2026 There was no escape. \u201cLooks as if there\u2019s plenty of them out there,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe scrunched over and lay beside me to look as well. \u201cSure are,\u201d he said ruefully. \u201cI guess we\u2019re in a mess ain\u2019t we?\u201d He looked across at me. \u201cWhat do ya think they\u2019re gonna do to us Baker?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d I said honestly. \u201cBut at the moment we have no choice but to wait and find out.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI could maybe fit under here and edge my way over to \u2026\u201d he began.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll do nothing of the kind,\u201d I snapped. \u201cFor once you\u2019ll do as I say!\u201d He closed his mouth and didn\u2019t reply. \u201cYou listen to me Joe,\u201d I said, gripping him by the shoulders. \u201cThis is no game. There are far too many Paiutes out there to take a chance on escaping and I have no intention of you risking your life. You hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI hear you,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I reckon my life ain\u2019t worth squat at the moment,\u201d he added sadly. \u201cIt don\u2019t make much difference does it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you talk like that,\u201d I said firmly. \u201cNothing is certain. Besides \u2026 your father and brothers might come looking for us.\u201d\u00a0 I looked at him intently. \u201cYou did go home and tell your father what was happening, didn\u2019t you?\u2019<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe avoided looking at me directly. \u201cNot exactly,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoe!\u201d I said, exasperated. \u201cSo no one knows where we are?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he said, giving me one of his best puppy dog looks. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to make things harder.\u201d He bit his lip. \u201cI\u2019m sorry bout \u2026 all your men too Baker. None of em made it, did they?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d I said shortly, trying to block the image of their last moments out of my mind. \u201cNone of them. They were good men.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe thought for a moment. \u201cI\u2019ll bet my brother Hoss will track us when I don\u2019t make it home,\u201d he said finally. \u2018Hoss is a real good tracker.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll need more than a good tracker to get us out of this mess,\u201d I said. \u201cDidn\u2019t you see how many Paiutes were out there?\u00a0 It\u2019s going to take more than your family to save us Joe.\u201d I noticed the youngster swallow at my words and I tried to soften them by adding, \u201cBut I\u2019m sure they\u2019ll get help and we\u2019ll have a good chance of being rescued.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded. \u201cSure,\u201d he said, trying to smile.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Looking at him made me remember just how young he was and I smiled back at him. Really he was no more than a boy trying hard to be a man under very difficult conditions. \u201cWe\u2019ll get out of this Joe,\u201d I said softly, trying to sound confident. \u201cI\u2019m sure of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

—————-<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We must have both fallen asleep at some stage, for the next thing I remembered was being woken up by the sound of Joe yelling beside me. \u201cNo!\u201d he shouted as his arms and legs began flailing around wildly. \u201cNo! Go away!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoe!\u201d I leant over and began to shake him, but he immediately lashed out at me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d he shouted again. \u201cI want my Pa!\u00a0 Let me go!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoe!\u201d I tried again, this time shaking him urgently as I was afraid that his cries might bring us unwanted attention from the Paiutes outside the tent.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He opened his eyes and blinked a couple of times, grabbing onto my arms tightly. \u201cPa?\u201d he said as he blinked again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo \u2026. It\u2019s Baker,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He blinked again and swallowed as he looked around. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou were dreaming,\u201d I said. \u201cAre you all right now?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded and let go of my arms as he sat up. He drew up his knees and hugged them tight towards him as he put his face down on them. \u201cI \u2026. I think so,\u201d he said softly. \u201cI guess it was \u2026\u201d\u00a0 He looked up at me and swallowed. \u201cI was remembering,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cRemembering?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded. \u201cAbout \u2026 about that other time. You know Baker \u2026. before you found me \u2026 with the Indians \u2026 that other time.\u201d\u00a0 He frowned and then added as if to himself. \u201cI \u2026 thought I\u2019d forgotten it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou probably had,\u201d I said, sitting up as well. \u201cOnly \u2026 now that you\u2019re here with Indians again, it\u2019s probably bringing back all the memories that have been at the back of your mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded thoughtfully. \u201cThey weren\u2019t good ones,\u201d he said softly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I put my hand on his shoulder. \u201cI\u2019m sure they weren\u2019t,\u201d I said. \u201cDo you want to talk about it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He shook his head, but began to speak even so. Memories from a time ten years ago when a frightened and very vulnerable seven year-old child had found himself cast adrift from all that he\u2019d known \u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The child didn\u2019t mind being dirty, for as a typical seven year-old he was quite used to it and actually relished the fact that there was no one to remind him to wash for a change. He scratched his head absently as his scalp started to itch yet again and then brushed the long unruly curls out of his eyes as he had lately begun to do so often. He suddenly remembered that he\u2019d meant to ask Bia for a piece of hide like the other boys wore to keep their hair tied back and wondered if he could find one for himself.\u00a0 He wandered around the back of the tepee, searching for something he could use and then stopped as he spied a couple of the braves sitting there. Quickly he ducked back again and observed them from the safety of the other side of the tepee.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t that he was scared of them, for no one in the camp had actually been unkind to him. In fact most of them simply ignored him. It was just that he was wary and preferred, for reasons he couldn\u2019t have even articulated, to go to one of the numerous women who lived in the camp if he needed anything. The braves usually looked at him in a way that he didn\u2019t understand and he kept his distance whenever he could.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0He wandered across the clearing like a small animal wary of its surroundings, his eyes darting to one side and then the other as he searched the area for Bia. Finally he saw the woman sitting by the fire, went over to her and squatted next to her. He watched for several minutes as she stirred something in a pot that hung over the small cooking fire and then grinned as she handed him a bowl with a small amount of warm ground corn in it. He ate it hungrily with his fingers, licking them when he\u2019d finished and looking hopefully at her to see if there was more. Bia took the bowl from him and turned back to her stirring again without a word and he frowned as he realised that he wasn\u2019t going to get any more. It wasn\u2019t that he was starving, but his belly was never quite full here and he was always looking for ways to snatch a piece of extra food whenever he could. Like small foraging dogs, he and the other children were forever on the lookout for something to eat to supplement what the adults gave them.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It had been a very lean winter for the tribe and even though the small boy couldn\u2019t have known it, they were all feeling the effects of the lack of food during the colder months. Now that the earth had once again turned towards spring and the promise of warmer days to come, they could all hopefully expect more meat to fatten them up. Always a skinny child, the boy\u2019s flesh was stretched over his bones and his arms and legs showed the effects of the meagre diet he\u2019d been subjected to for the past weeks. <\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He gestured to his hair, searching his brain for the word which he couldn\u2019t remember. He was quite a bright child and had picked up much of their language since he\u2019d been here, but the one word which he now tried to remember had escaped him for the moment. He could usually make himself know through gestures and mimicking and now was no exception as the woman grasped his meaning and picked up a piece of hide. He reached for it, but she turned his head and tied it around the curly hair herself, effectively keeping it back out of his eyes.\u00a0 He smiled at her and said \u201chaa,\u201d which he knew meant \u201cyes\u201d before getting up and walking away. <\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As he walked away, his small brain grappled around the problem that he always had of how to tell them what he really wanted \u2026 His family. He\u2019d spent a lot of time over the past weeks trying to think of a way to make these Indians understand that he wanted to leave here and go home again, but he just couldn\u2019t do it. He\u2019d considered just walking away and trying to find home by himself, but every time he did he remembered back to those awful few days when he\u2019d been lost out there without food and very little water.\u00a0 When they\u2019d first found him he was literally starving and even the small amount of food and company they\u2019d provided for him had been preferable to the hardships he\u2019d experienced out there. <\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Always a sociable child, he had found the isolation the hardest thing to bear \u2026 although he wouldn\u2019t have known it as such. Something in him longed to be able to do more than communicate on the superficial level that he did. He craved for the touch of comfort and the feeling of security that only a caring adult could bring him and like a small wild animal he cherished every small piece of the attention that a few of the women like Bia gave to him. Even the gesture of her tying the piece of hide around his head would stick in his mind as a comforting thought.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He shivered slightly as he thought about being out there alone again. He felt the loneliness of this place keenly \u2026 yet he knew that being around people \u2026 any people \u2026 was better than being by himself. So he had clung to these Indians for the security that they had offered him in a way that was quite pitiful to see.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Suddenly he heard a noise and turned his head instinctively to see a troop of soldiers riding out from the cover of the trees at the side of the clearing. Instantly, the braves who were sitting in the clearing sprang to their feet and shouted at the women and children who began to run towards the river and the cover of the trees there. The child stood as if rooted to the spot, watching the soldiers and the braves fighting around him, his eyes widening at sights that a child his age should never have been subjected to.\u00a0 At last, when a brave staggered across the compound and fell at his feet with blood oozing from what was left of his face, he turned and ran screaming across the clearing towards the safety of some rocks.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He ran full tilt into a pair of blue-clad legs and he looked up, his terrified eyes widening at the sight of the tall soldier gazing down at him. He froze as the man lifted his rifle and pointed it directly at him, his little heart pounding in his chest and his screams suddenly stilled with the fright of what was happening. For a split second the world seemed to stand still and then the man leant down and grabbed him by the arm, pulling him towards the safety of the cover of the rocks \u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As Joe talked, I could feel his vulnerability and fear coming through every word.\u00a0 No wonder the poor kid had been scared out of his wits when I\u2019d come across him that day. My heart went out to him and I longed to hug him to me as I had once when he\u2019d been small, but I feared that he\u2019d only push me away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI felt so scared all the time,\u201d Joe finished softly, his green eyes shining in the dim light of the small fire in the middle of the tent. \u201cI wanted my Pa so much and no one seemed to understand that.\u201d He looked at me directly for the first time, his eyes glistening with the unshed tears. \u201cWhen you found me I was still scared. That\u2019s why I didn\u2019t talk for so long I reckon.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat was obvious,\u201d I said. \u201cYou looked like a terrified wild rabbit when I first saw you that day and it wouldn\u2019t have helped that I was pointing a rifle directly at you.\u201d I gave up resisting the temptation not to give him the physical comfort he so obviously craved and pulled him towards me. Joe didn\u2019t resist my touch, but leant in towards me as if comforted by it and put his head on my shoulder. The tears began to fall as he sobbed like the little boy I\u2019d known all those years ago and he allowed me to stroke his curly hair gently for a few minutes as he composed himself.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he mumbled as he sat up again abruptly. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s fine,\u201d I said. \u201cNo need to be embarrassed Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He sniffed a couple of times and wiped his nose on his sleeve. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to wake you up neither,\u201d he mumbled, averting his eyes from me as it was obvious that he was still embarrassed about the crying.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAt least you didn\u2019t pee on me this time,\u201d I said, trying to lighten the mood and received a half-hearted smile for my trouble.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBaker?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you think they\u2019re going to do to us?\u201d he asked, fear of the past and the present both reflected in his eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I hesitated. \u201cI\u2019m not sure Joe,\u201d I admitted. \u201cOne thing I do know though. If they were going to kill us I think they would have done it by now. There\u2019d be no sense keeping us alive unless \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He swallowed. \u201cUnless they have other plans, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI wonder what they\u2019re thinking out there?\u201d he said softly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll know in time,\u201d I said. I thought back to when he\u2019d been in my charge on the way back to the fort after I\u2019d first found him.\u00a0 Even though I\u2019d been disgusted with the filthy little body that had been forced onto me, I had begun in those days to feel a protectiveness towards the child that I couldn\u2019t have explained at the time. He\u2019d been totally dependant on me then and I suppose that had made me feel as if I had wanted to shield him from any further danger or discomfort. As I gazed at the young man now I knew that he didn\u2019t need me in the way that small child had, but that he still depended on me to be strong for him. There was no way that I could have let him down at that moment. I had lost a dozen good men and I had no intention of allowing either of us to go the same way if I could help it.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sure it will be fine,\u201d I lied and was pleased to see him nod slightly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d he said simply.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLie down and try to get some more sleep,\u201d I suggested. \u201cWe\u2019re going to need it.\u201d He lay down next to me and I watched him in the dim light, knowing that no more sleep would come to either of us that night.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

—————-<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was just before a very cold dawn that they finally came for us. I felt the presence of the two Indians before I saw them in the dim light and immediately was on the alert. I felt Joe tense up beside me and I whispered to him. \u201cJust take it easy Joe. We don\u2019t know what\u2019s happening yet. It could be nothing.\u201d He nodded slightly and we both got to our feet. One of the Indians gestured for us to move outside and as we came out into the chill morning air a sense of foreboding came upon me swiftly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I tried for Joe\u2019s sake to master my feelings, but I knew that the tension in the air was so think that there was no mistaking it. Joe\u2019s eyes began to swivel from side to side as mine were doing, each of us taking in our surroundings and assessing the situation. There were far less Indians around than there had been before, and I guessed that a lot of them were asleep in the tepees that surrounded us on all sides. \u201cDon\u2019t even think about it,\u201d I whispered to him, knowing what was in his mind as we were led across the main compound towards a small group of braves.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Suddenly Chief Winnemucca appeared from inside one of the tepees and stood looking at us silently with his arms crossed over his chest. It seemed like forever that we stood in this way, but it was probably not more than a few minutes. I could sense Joe becoming agitated as he stood beside me and I guessed that patience wasn\u2019t one of his virtues.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Finally the chief spoke. \u201cYou promised peace,\u201d he said simply.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I licked my lips before replying. \u201cYes,\u201d I said. \u201cAnd I still do.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His eyes narrowed. \u201cYou call what happened yesterday, peace?\u201d he spat. \u201cI do not think so.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYour braves also broke our agreement,\u201d I countered. \u201cMany white men were killed.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe white man killed first.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I nodded. \u201cThat is true, but I did not know that it would happen when I was here yesterday. I promise you that he will answer for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The chief\u2019s eyes narrowed. \u201cThe white man\u2019s justice?\u201d he said mockingly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt is all I can offer,\u201d I said. \u201cIf \u2026\u201d I stopped as a movement beside me caused me to turn. To my surprise, Joe was no longer there and I anxiously scanned the area for a glimpse of him. My heart sank as I saw him running behind one of the tepees and I started after him immediately. \u201cJoe!\u201d I called, for I could see that several of the braves who\u2019d been intent on listening to the Chief and myself had also realised that he had run and were starting after him even as I had turned about to follow him. \u201cJoe! Get back here!\u201d I yelled desperately.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe continued to ignore my calls and ran as if his life depended on it, which indeed it did. \u201cDamn fool kid!\u201d I muttered as I felt my arms being pinned to my sides and I fought against my captor as I struggled to get free. I managed to kick him and he loosened his hold just as another brave let fly an arrow. It struck Joe in the side of the chest and he fell to the ground instantly. \u201cJoe!\u201d I shouted as I began to run towards him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Paiutes let me go to him this time. I suppose there was no point in holding me back, as by now the area was swarming with braves who were very much on the alert and I couldn\u2019t have gone anywhere. I reached Joe in seconds and turned him over, grimacing as I saw the arrow piercing out of the side of his chest. I looked up at the Paiutes who were surrounding us. \u201cHe needs help,\u201d I said, knowing that my pleas would be in vain. No one moved or said anything, so I finally picked him up in my arms and headed back towards the tepee where we\u2019d come from, noticing on the way that Winnemucca had disappeared. No one stopped me, although as soon as I\u2019d reached the tepee and put Joe down on the ground inside, a guard was again placed at the doorway.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDamn fool kid!\u201d I muttered aloud in my frustration. \u201cDidn\u2019t I tell you not to try anything?\u201d\u00a0 I ripped his shirt away from him and used it to stem some of the blood that was flowing freely down his torso. The movement disturbed him and his eyes opened.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m \u2026 sorry,\u201d he whispered faintly. \u201cI \u2026 thought I could \u2026 make it out and \u2026 bring back help.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBe quiet,\u201d I said firmly. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about any of that now. You need to save your strength.\u201d He nodded and closed his mouth. I stared down at him, knowing what I had to do, but dreading the thought of it. I had taken plenty of arrows out of men before, but never had I felt quite like this at the thought of doing it. He stared back up at me, his green eyes reflecting understanding through their fear.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThis has to come out now,\u201d I said. \u201cYou have to stay as still as you can Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded again and his fingers dug into the earthen floor in anticipation of the pain that he was expecting to wash over him at any moment. I swallowed and avoided looking at his eyes as I concentrated on getting the arrow out of his chest. Thankfully it had not gone too deeply and had penetrated at an angle which I hoped meant that it was well away from his heart and lungs, although I had no way of really telling. I gripped hold of the shaft firmly and took a deep breath before using all my strength to pull it out of his body and towards me. I felt it momentarily catch on something inside him and he cried out with the pain which must have been excruciating \u2026 but I kept on going, knowing that if I stopped it would only make it worse for him in the long run. Slowly the arrowhead emerged from the wound and I breathed a sigh of relief as I threw it aside and once more used his shirt to stem the flow of blood.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s it now Joe,\u201d I said as I worked. \u201cIt\u2019s out.\u201d\u00a0 There was no reply and it was with a sense of relief that I looked at his face and saw that he had passed out. I put my hand on his hair. \u201cYou\u2019re going to be alright Joe,\u201d I murmured. \u201cI promise you. You\u2019re going to be alright.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

—————-<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It\u2019s strange how time doesn\u2019t seem to mean much when you\u2019re in a difficult situation. There have been plenty of times I can remember that time seemed to move so quickly, but that day as I sat by Joe\u2019s side time seemed to have stood still. At first I was mostly concerned about stopping the flow of blood from his chest, but later on when it seemed to have slowed down somewhat I began to get very anxious about the fever that he was developing. I had nothing with which to wash the wound and I knew that without proper care his time was very limited. The wound itself became quite red and swollen around the edges and I told myself that it was nothing to worry about, although I knew better.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Not long after I had removed the arrow, Joe woke up to a world of pain. He tried to be strong for my sake, but I could tell from the way he clutched at the ground and then finally at my sleeve that he was feeling the agony of the wound with every breath that he took. He was weak, which wasn\u2019t surprising due to the amount of blood that he\u2019d lost and he seemed to get weaker as the fever that was bound to come began to overtake him. I was worried that I was going to lose him right there on the earthen floor and the thought drove me to distraction.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoe,\u201d I said, leaning close so that I could be sure that he heard me. \u201cJoe?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His eyes fluttered open and he stared up at me. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI told you to stop saying that,\u201d I replied. \u201cNow you listen to me kid. You need to hang on.\u00a0 I know it\u2019s hurting real bad at the moment, but your family will be coming for us soon \u2026 remember? You just have to hang on until they get here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe closed his eyes and then opened them again. I could see beads of sweat beginning to form on his forehead and I wiped them off with a clean part of his blood-soaked shirt. \u201cYou said \u2026 we needed more than \u2026 my family,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I cursed him silently for remembering. \u201cYou know as well as I do that your Pa will move heaven and earth to get us out of here,\u201d I said, for want of something else to say. \u201cOnce he finds us he \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut … he don\u2019t know we\u2019re here,\u201d Joe interrupted, his green eyes searching my face intently. He closed them again with a sigh.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoe!\u201d I shook him slightly, knowing that if he lost consciousness he might never regain it again. \u201cJoe! Stay with me kid.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He opened his eyes again and licked his lips. \u201cThirsty,\u201d he murmured.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I leant close to him. \u201cI\u2019m sorry Joe,\u201d I said. \u201cThere\u2019s no water.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded slightly and closed his eyes again, causing me to shake him gently. Once again, his eyes opened. \u201cYou need to stay awake Joe,\u201d I said. \u201cStay with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He shook his head. \u201cToo \u2026 tired,\u201d he murmured.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I desperately searched my brain to come up with something for him to focus on. \u201cRemember when we were at the fort?\u201d I finally said. \u201cRemember the name of the Sergeant?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe frowned. \u201cSergeant \u2026 Beame?\u201d he said finally.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d I replied. \u201cHe wanted you eat more \u2026. Remember? You were determined to get into the army and he said that you couldn\u2019t unless you ate more and grew.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s lips parted in a grin. \u201cYes,\u201d he said and then closed his eyes again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I shook him once more. \u201cRemember the Colonel?\u201d I said, wondering how I was going to able to face this boy\u2019s father if he died right here in front of me. \u201cThe Colonel, Joe \u2026 remember what his name was?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe shook his head. \u201cNo,\u201d he murmured.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThink!\u201d I said. \u201cOpen your eyes and think!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe opened his eyes and stared up at me. \u201cCan\u2019t \u2026 remember,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cColonel Hudson,\u201d I prompted. \u201cRemember?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He smiled. \u201cHairy,\u201d he said, trying to smile.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes \u2026 that\u2019s right,\u201d I said encouragingly. \u201cYou were scared of him because he had so much hair.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe glared up at me. \u201cI was \u2026. not scared!\u201d he declared. \u201cJust \u2026 didn\u2019t like him \u2026 that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s it,\u201d I said, pleased to see his fighting spirit again. \u201cYou get mad. You get as mad as you like if it keeps you with me Baker\u2019s Brat.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He grinned up at me groggily. \u201cI \u2026 like that,\u201d he said softly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou like what?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you call me Baker\u2019s Brat,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell why wouldn\u2019t I?\u201d I said, caressing his hair gently. \u201cIt\u2019s your name after all, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded. \u201cYes,\u201d he agreed. \u201cI\u2019m Baker\u2019s Brat.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

—————-<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBaker?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I shifted slight so that I was within his line of vision. \u201cI\u2019m here,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe clutched hold of my sleeve. \u201cIf I don\u2019t \u2026 make it \u2026 will you tell my Pa for me that \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou stop that,\u201d I interrupted firmly. \u201cI don\u2019t want to hear you say anything of the kind. You\u2019re one tough kid and you\u2019re going to make it \u2026 do you hear me?\u201d He said nothing as he gazed up at me, still clutching hold of my sleeve tightly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Suddenly the hide slung across the doorway of the tepee was flung open and chief Winnemucca himself appeared inside.\u00a0 He stood looking down at us for several seconds, his eyes giving nothing away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy army come here again today?\u201d he asked finally.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTo try and avoid more bloodshed,\u201d I answered truthfully, feeling Joe still clutching hold of me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His eyes narrowed. \u201cNot to fight?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u00a0 I meant what I said earlier. I don\u2019t want war \u2026. anymore than I think you do,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He stared at me again. \u201cYou tell your chief that?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes I will,\u201d I said, hope beginning to flutter in my heart for the first time. \u201cIf I get the chance I will most definitely tell him.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMy braves killed your men for the one of ours who was killed,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Let that be an end to it now,\u201d I said hopefully.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt will not be,\u201d he said with a sigh. \u201cWhite men will not stop there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I knew he was right.\u00a0 My superiors would be asking some difficult questions when I returned with the news that a dozen good men had been killed and I knew in my heart that it wouldn\u2019t stop there. Looking at Winnemucca at that moment, I was also aware that he knew it. We were both two men fighting for peace, but circumstances were thwarting us at every turn.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI will do my best,\u201d I said simply.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThere will be no treaty now,\u201d he said flatly. \u201cThe time is not yet right.\u201d I said nothing, knowing that he spoke the truth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At that moment Joe stirred as he groaned aloud and Winnemucca\u2019s eyes instantly were upon him. \u201cThis one does not wear the army uniform,\u201d he said. “He is a scout?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d I replied, holding onto Joe as he continued to groan. \u201cHe just got in the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe is young. He is your son?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I shook my head. \u201cNo \u2026 he is Ben Cartwright\u2019s son.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Winnemucca\u2019s eyes momentarily widened and then narrowed again. \u201cI know Ben Cartwright,\u201d he said. \u201cHe is a good man \u2026 Take his son back to him.\u201d\u00a0 He turned abruptly to leave, but I called out to him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIf I put him on a horse he\u2019s likely to die,\u201d I said, thinking that he was likely to die anyway.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Winnemucca continued to walk away, and I knew that I had no choice. It was either leave Joe there \u2026 which I couldn\u2019t do \u2026 or take him with me and risk killing him on the ride. Gently, I propped him up against my body. \u201cLean on me Joe,\u201d I said. \u201cWe\u2019re getting out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe turned his sweat-covered face towards mine, not comprehending for a moment. \u201cWhat?\u201d he said weakly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to go now,\u201d I said. \u201cCome on \u2026 up you get.\u201d\u00a0 I pulled him to his feet as gently as I could and put my arm around his slim waist, walking him towards the doorway. As we reached outside, Joe stirred slightly in my grip.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhere?\u2026.\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going home,\u201d I said again. \u201cJust take it easy now.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m \u2026 not going without my … horse,\u201d he said stubbornly. \u201cCochise.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I bit my lip with the frustration of having to deal with such a hardheaded boy. \u201cFor heaven\u2019s sake!\u201d I muttered. \u201cThis isn\u2019t the time …\u201d\u00a0 I stopped as I noticed a Paiute bringing Joe\u2019s horse forward for us and I could have flung my arms around him right then and there. I had a feeling that Joe meant every word of what he\u2019d said and was likely to cause a fuss about his horse in spite of the state he was in.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I helped him up into the saddle and mounted behind him, saluting to Chief Winnemucca before turning the horse around and slowly walking him out of the Paiute camp. Joe slumped back onto me, his energy depleted. \u201cThis ride is going to be hard on you Baker\u2019s Brat,\u201d I muttered over the top of his curly hair. \u201cBut you\u2019re going to make it kid. I\u2019m going to see to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

—————-<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The slow ride back to The Ponderosa reminded me of taking him on that very first ride on my saddle back to the fort. Only that time he\u2019d been filthy and wriggled constantly in front of me.\u00a0 This time he was very still, his head bent forward and his body a dead weight against my own. I had given up trying to keep him conscious now as it was beyond me to achieve it, and I kept one of my hands placed over his heart as I felt for the faint thudding movement that told me that he was still alive. With every beat that I felt, I thanked God that we\u2019d made it another step towards safety. His wound had started to bleed again and he was getting paler by the minute. I wondered again how I\u2019d have the strength to face Mr Cartwright if Joe didn\u2019t make it and I prayed that I\u2019d never have to find that out.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I was hampered by how fast I could go because I was so worried about the fact that Joe\u2019s wound had begun bleeding again, so we really hadn\u2019t gone very far in the first hour. I was beginning to think that we might never make it, when to my intense relief Adam and Hoss suddenly rode out of a clearing ahead of us. I shouted for them and they both immediately turned and headed over to us. As soon as they saw the state of their younger brother in front of me, neither of them hesitated. As if they had an unspoken agreement with each other, Hoss wheeled his horse away again and shouted over his shoulder that he was going for the doctor. He was gone before I hardly knew he\u2019d been there in the first place.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam drew up alongside me and held out his hands. \u201cI\u2019ll take him on my horse with me,\u201d he said. \u201cYou look done in.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I gratefully shifted Joe from my saddle to Adam\u2019s and such was the depth of Joe\u2019s unconsciousness that he never stirred once while I was doing it. His wound began to bleed profusely again once his brother had settled him in front of him on the saddle and Adam immediately took off his own bandanna and held it against Joe\u2019s chest. He covered Joe with his own coat to keep him extra warm and I was surprised how gentle he was with his younger brother. I shouldn\u2019t have been \u2026 given the closeness that I\u2019d already observed between the members of this family.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoe thinks a lot of you,\u201d I observed as we carefully made our way towards the ranch house and my words made Adam hug his brother even more protectively to his chest as he looked down at him. \u201cHe never would have taken off the way he did when he was younger if he hadn\u2019t been missing you dreadfully,\u201d I added. \u201cHe talked a lot to me about you at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam smiled at me briefly. \u201cThe feeling is mutual,\u201d he said. \u201cOnly don\u2019t tell him I said so, will you? I like to keep him guessing \u2026 that\u2019s what big brothers are for.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I shook my head. \u201cI won\u2019t let on,\u201d I said. \u201cBut I\u2019m sure he knows it anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Our progress was slow, but I felt much more confidant now that there were two of us to watch over Joe on the way. Adam filled me in on what had been happening as we went. \u201cWe\u2019ve been tracking you all day,\u201d he said. \u201cAs soon as we realised that Joe wasn\u2019t coming home last night we checked at your camp first of course. When we discovered that you and your men had left, we figured that Joe had probably gone with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cActually I didn\u2019t know that he had,\u201d I interrupted. \u201cI told him to go home, but he followed us.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam lifted an eyebrow, but didn\u2019t comment. \u201cHoss starting tracking you at first light,\u201d he continued. \u201cPa went back to the house about half an hour ago to see if maybe Joe had turned up there yet and to get some fresh horses. He\u2019s not that far ahead of us \u2026 with any luck he\u2019ll still be there.\u201d He glanced at me then briefly. \u201cWe found the bodies of your men,\u201d he added with compassion in his voice.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I nodded, then started to tell him what had happened and by the time we were entering the front yard I had told him most of it. He had been right \u2026. His father\u2019s horse was still tied to the hitching rail outside. I don\u2019t think that I will ever forget the look on the poor man\u2019s face as he ran outside at the sound of our horses and saw Joe slumped in his brother\u2019s arms, the blood-soaked bandanna against his chest. He reached up without a word and drew his youngest son into his arms, hugging him to his own chest as if he could will him back to health before turning and running into the house with him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou go in with Pa,\u201d said Adam as he dismounted. \u201cI\u2019ll take care of the horses.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t need any more encouragement than this, as I was feeling pretty awful myself by this stage. I followed Mr Cartwright up the stairs and along the hall to Joe\u2019s bedroom and then watched as he expertly took off his son\u2019s boots, stripped his clothing from his unconscious body and then cocooned him under a few blankets, leaving the injured side of chest exposed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hop Sing appeared with both hot water and cloths within minutes, although how on earth he had known that they would be needed was beyond me. \u201cYou should get some rest,\u201d said Mr Cartwright as he began to bathe Joe\u2019s wound gently, but I shook my head and resolutely sat down on the other side of the bed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll rest once I know he\u2019ll be alright,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat could be quite a while,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m staying,\u201d I said firmly as I watched him work.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHoss went for the doctor,\u201d I said and he nodded. I realised that I hadn\u2019t even needed to tell him this, as he would have known that his sons had everything under control and would have thought of the doctor at once.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As we sat there, I told him what had happened and he heard me out without a word. When I had finally finished, he shook his head. \u201cWhat a waste,\u201d he said. \u201cTwelve good men.\u201d He looked at me then intently. \u201cDo you think the army will let it rest there?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I shook my head. \u201cI honestly don\u2019t know,\u201d I said. \u201cI\u2019ll do my best to make sure it stops at this though.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded again and then leant forward as Joe stirred and muttered something in his sleep. \u201cIt\u2019s alright son,\u201d he murmured as he stroked his hair. \u201cYou\u2019re going to be alright now. Pa\u2019s here.\u201d\u00a0 He looked up at me with tears standing in his eyes. \u201cThank you,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019ve given me back my boy twice now.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I shook my head. \u201cYou\u2019ve got nothing to thank me for Mr Cartwright,\u201d I said. \u201cIf it wasn\u2019t for Joe I most likely would never have even made it as far as the Paiute camp in the first place. It took a lot of guts for him to do what he did.\u201d I looked at the unconscious youngster between us fondly. \u201cHe\u2019s a special young man \u2026 even if he can\u2019t follow orders.\u201d I glanced at his father thoughtfully. \u201cDoes he ever do as he\u2019s told?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mr Cartwright shook his head. \u201cNot often,\u201d he admitted and then smiled at me. We each took one of Joe\u2019s hands in ours as we sat together and waited for the doctor to arrive.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

—————-<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We all had a long night ahead of us and I must admit to being exhausted by the time the doctor finally came and pronounced Joe out of immediate danger. I headed off for some sleep then at the Cartwrights\u2019 insistence and by the time I awoke a few hours later Joe\u2019s temperature had gone down to the point where the doctor felt he could safely leave him. He\u2019d lost an awful lot of blood of course, but as the doctor said he was young and fit, so with rest he should recover nicely. He did look very pale, but with the amount of blood he\u2019d lost that was to be expected of course.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We took turns in watching him, and it was while I was sitting with him later the next day that his eyes finally fluttered open and he looked up at me. \u201cWell \u2026. You\u2019ve finally decided to join us have you?\u201d I said dryly, trying to mask my concern for him with a light-hearted attitude. I have a feeling that I didn\u2019t fool him though and he gave me a slight grin.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019s Cochise\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I shook my head. \u201cWould you be quiet about that horse?\u201d I said. \u201cHe\u2019s fine. Luckier than you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He made a face at that remark and looked down at the swathe of bandages that encircled his chest. \u201cI guess I did a stupid thing, running like that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve done several stupid things young man,\u201d I said sternly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His grin became wider. \u201cYou sound like my Pa,\u201d he said teasingly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI suspect your Pa is going to have a thing or two to say to you once you get better,\u201d I warned him. \u201cAnd I don\u2019t blame him one bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe shrugged slightly, wincing with the pain that even that small movement caused him. \u201cI\u2019m used to it,\u201d he said casually.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell he has every right to be angry with you,\u201d I continued.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d he admitted giving me one of his puppy-dog looks. \u201cI\u2019m sorry Baker. Thanks for saving my life the way you did.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I shook my head. What was it about this youngster that got to me the way he did? One look from him and I softened with him every time. But he looked so young and vulnerable lying there \u2026 and I suddenly remembered what it was like to be young and impulsive. \u201cWell just don\u2019t make me have to do it again,\u201d I said gruffly. \u201cTwice is enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He reached out and grasped hold of my hand then and clutched it tightly in his. \u201cI\u2019ll try not to,\u201d he murmured. \u201cBut I can\u2019t promise anything.\u201d I squeezed his hand in mine and we both smiled at each other.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

—————-<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I stayed at The Ponderosa for three days and organised the burial of my men in the small cemetery while I was there. As I put together their few belongings to take with me for eventual shipment to their loved ones, I couldn\u2019t help but feel the futility of all of this. A dozen good men \u2026 gone \u2026 and no hope of even a treaty to show for it. Mr Cartwright must have sensed my despair and frustration with things, for he took extra care to talk to me about it in those days. He was a man who also wanted peace and was probably as bitterly disappointed as I was at the outcome of it all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry it didn\u2019t work out,\u201d I said to him on that last morning before I left. \u201cI had great hopes that it would.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He put his hand on my shoulder. \u201cOne day it will,\u201d he said. \u201cAs long as there are men like you to strive for it Major. I just hope that I will be around to see it when it does.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for the horse,\u201d I said as we walked towards the animal. \u201cI\u2019ll see that it\u2019s returned to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s yours,\u201d he said. \u201cGiving you a horse is nothing compared to what you\u2019ve given me.\u201d He motioned to the house where Joe was walking slowly across the porch towards us. He\u2019d been allowed downstairs briefly to in order to say good bye to me, but I could tell that after I was gone his father was going to have quite a job getting him to agree to go back up to his room. He was trying to prove to both of us that he was doing fine, but his pale face told a different story.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure you don\u2019t want Adam and Hoss to ride part of the way with you?\u201d Mr Cartwright continued. \u201cJust in case?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I shook my head. \u201cNo,\u201d I said. \u201cI\u2019m certain that there\u2019ll be no trouble with the Paiutes for now. I just hope I can persuade my superiors not to pursue things further once I\u2019ve explained to them what happened. I know they\u2019ll have a lot of questions after that wire I sent. A dozen men dead is going to cause quite a bit of an issue.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019d better not blame you,\u201d said Joe defensively as he came to stand beside me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I smiled at the youngster. \u201cI was responsible for their safety Joe,\u201d I said. \u201cI will be answerable for what has happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell you just tell em ta ask me,\u201d he declared. \u201cI\u2019ll tell em it weren\u2019t your fault!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll let you know if I need you to,\u201d I said. I turned to Mr Cartwright and held out my hand. \u201cWell this is goodbye,\u201d I said. \u201cThank you for everything and please say goodbye to Adam and Hoss for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He gripped my hand tightly and shook it. \u201cThey\u2019ll be sorry they couldn\u2019t see you off personally,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll tell them.\u201d\u00a0 His grip tightened on my hand. \u201cAnd thank you again Major.\u201d\u00a0 His eyes flickered over to Joe and no words were needed to convey to me his meaning.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I turned to Joe who was looking rather forlorn standing there next to his father and once again I noted how vulnerable he looked. \u201cWell Baker\u2019s Brat,\u201d I said, trying to keep my tone light-hearted. \u201cThis is goodbye.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded and then took a step forward and hugged me tightly. \u201cJoseph, be careful of your bandages,\u201d warned his father.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I hugged Joe as well and then patted him on the back. \u201cWe\u2019ll try and not wait another ten years before we see each other again this time eh?\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re welcome here at any time Major,\u201d said Mr Cartwright. \u201cYou know that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d I said and then stepped back from Joe\u2019s grasp. \u201cBye Baker\u2019s Brat,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He tried to grin at me and then lifted his right hand and gave me a snappy salute. \u201cBye Baker,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I returned the salute and mounted up. As I rode around the side of the barn I looked over my shoulder to see Mr Cartwright standing with his arm around his son\u2019s shoulder and they were both smiling and waving at me.<\/p>\n

—————-<\/strong>
\nEpilogue<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe came crashing through the front doorway and flung his hat onto the credenza before grinning at his father and brothers. \u201cHow come you\u2019re all inside? Am I the only one who does any work around here?\u201d he said cheekily.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam stood up slowly. \u201cWe\u2019ve got chores to do,\u201d he said. \u201cCome on Hoss.\u201d He gave his father a sad look and then patted Joe on the shoulder as he passed him. Hoss looked at the floor and refused to meet Joe\u2019s eyes as he headed slowly out of the room behind Adam.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d said Joe, when they left and he had turned to face his father.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoe \u2026 come and sit down,\u201d said Ben. \u201cI need to talk to you about something.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe sat down on the edge of the coffee table, facing his father who was seated on the sofa. \u201cI didn\u2019t do nothing,\u201d he said warily.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben put his hand on his youngest son\u2019s shoulder. \u201cI know,\u201d he said. \u201cDon\u2019t worry\u00a0 \u2026 you\u2019re not in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThen what\u2019s happened?\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben took a deep breath before replying. \u201cThere\u2019s no easy way to tell you this son,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m afraid \u2026 I\u2019m afraid that Major Baker is \u2026 dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was silence for a moment as they stared at each other \u2026 a silence so deep that they could both hear the quiet ticking of the grandfather clock. \u201cWhat?\u201d said Joe finally. \u201cHow \u2026 How do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI received a letter from a Colonel Whelan this morning,\u201d said his father, holding it out. \u201cWould you like to read it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe shook his head as he stared at the letter in disbelief.\u00a0 After another moment of silence, Ben began to read it aloud.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dear Mr Cartwright,<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0I\u2019m sorry to have to inform you of the death of Major John Baker in Arizona. He was killed while fighting some Apache Indians last \u2026.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d interrupted Joe. \u201cIt isn\u2019t true! He\u2019s lying!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben put the letter down and leant forward, putting his hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder. \u201cJoseph \u2026\u201d he said gently.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d said Joe, shaking his father\u2019s hand off. \u201cBaker isn\u2019t dead Pa. It\u2019s a mistake! It has to be!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s no mistake Joe,\u201d said his father sadly. \u201cI\u2019m sorry son.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe looked at his father pleadingly. \u201cBut \u2026. I don\u2019t understand,\u201d he said finally. \u201cWhy did that Colonel write to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt appears that Baker left all his things to you,\u201d said Ben, picking up a small brown paper package next to him on the sofa. The Colonel sent it for you and wrote to me explaining about it.\u201d After a moment, Joe took the package and stared at it. \u201cAren\u2019t you going to open it?\u201d asked his father finally. He watched silently as Joe undid the string and then the brown paper wrapping to reveal a few assorted items in a box. There was a razor, a couple of books, a pocket watch and a bundle of letters tied up with a piece of hide that had once tied back the curly hair of a small boy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe fingered through the letters. \u201cThey\u2019re all the letters I sent him over the years,\u201d he said wonderingly. \u201cHe kept them all.\u201d He looked up at his father. \u201cWhy would he keep them all Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cProbably because he thought a lot of you,\u201d said Ben. \u201cThe same reason he left you his things.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe nodded as he replaced the items in the box and closed the lid. \u201cI thought a lot of him too,\u201d he said, his voice breaking on the words.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben reached out and held onto his son\u2019s shoulder, noting this time that Joe didn\u2019t push him away. \u201cI know son,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHis whole life,\u201d murmured Joe as he ran his fingers across the top of the box. \u201cHis whole life and this is all he had.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI guess a man learns to live simply in the army,\u201d said Ben. \u201cBaker\u2019s life wasn\u2019t measured in what he owned Joe. It was measured in how he lived. He was a good man and that\u2019s what we\u2019ll remember about him.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe nodded and bit his lip, trying to keep his composure. \u201cI \u2026 really thought a lot of him Pa,\u201d he said softly. \u201cI \u2026\u201d His voice trailed away and he was silent.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI know son,\u201d said Ben, moving across and sitting next to Joe on the coffee table. He put his arm around the young man\u2019s slim shoulders. \u201cHe knew that too.\u201d\u00a0 They sat together for several minutes like this, Joe drawing comfort from his father\u2019s touch.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d better \u2026. go and put this away,\u201d he said finally as he stood up.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou want company?\u201d asked Ben sympathetically.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe shook his head. \u201cNo. I\u2019d like to be alone for a while if you don\u2019t mind Pa,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben watched his son walk up the stairs slowly, his shoulders hunched and his steps dragging. His heart constricted and he felt a great weariness come over him. Once again a good man had died fighting for the dream of peace and Ben wondered how many good men like Baker it would take to achieve it. He stared into the fireplace as he thought about his boy upstairs and the grief that he would experience in the coming months and probably years for a man that he\u2019d loved and he wished that he could protect him from it. But Ben knew that Joe had to go through his own journey of grieving \u2026. a journey that Ben knew very well himself \u2026 and all he could do was be here for his son as he experienced it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe sighed as he sat down on his bed and looked at the box on his lap. After a moment, he put it on the bed and reached over to his dresser, taking out a pair of yellow gloves, a yellow bandanna and a package of letters. He looked at the letters, which wavered slightly in front of his eyes as tears filled them. Each one was addressed to him in Baker\u2019s own neat handwriting. \u201cI kept your letters too Baker,\u201d he whispered softly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He hugged them to his chest for a moment and then wiped a couple of tears away as they began to fall down his cheek. With another deep sigh he placed the letters, the bandanna and the gloves in the box and slowly closed the lid, leaving his hands on top of it as he whispered softly. \u201cGoodbye Baker.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n

Next Story in the Baker’s Brat Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Baker’s Legacy<\/a>
\nBaker’s Destiny<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary: \u00a0Ten years after he and Joe first met, Baker visits The Ponderosa while on a mission.<\/p>\n

Rated: K \u00a0WC 15,400<\/p>\n

Baker’s Brat Series, links to all the stories within the series included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":40380,"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":[23,1007],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-joe-cartwright","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1007-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1627,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Bonanza-slide.jpg?fit=1086%2C815&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2104,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2104","url_meta":{"origin":2122,"position":0},"title":"Baker’s Legacy (by JoanS)","author":"JoanS","date":"September 7, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Joe feels the loss of his friend Baker. 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