Summary:\u00a0 Joe and Baker meet again, but this time under difficult circumstances.<\/p>\n
Rated: K (17,680 words)<\/p>\n
Baker’s Brat Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n Baker’s Brat<\/a> <\/p>\n Baker’s Destiny<\/strong><\/p>\n Sequel to \u201cBaker\u2019s Legacy\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The dim light from the campfire outlined the shadows in the clearing and made them dance eerily around the men.\u00a0 One of them took a swig from a bottle of whiskey before handing on to the man next to him, wiped his mouth on his sleeve and then looked around at the others. \u201cSo it\u2019s agreed then?\u201d he said. \u201cFrom what I saw of the size of that operation up there in the hills there has to be a big payroll coming soon.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd all we gotta do is wait fer it,\u201d chuckled the man next to him. He frowned as the whiskey bottle was suddenly yanked from his hand. \u201cHey! I ain\u2019t finished with that yet!\u201d he snarled and tried to grab it back again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The man who had grabbed it gave him an evil look that was heightened by the long scar that ran down one side of his face. \u201cKeep your hands to yourself,\u201d he said, swigging a generous mouthful from the bottle. \u201cWhy here?\u201d he asked when he\u2019d finished. \u201cWhy this place \u2026 of all places?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat do ya mean \u2026. of all places?\u201d asked the first man.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t mean anything by it,\u201d said the man with the scar quickly. \u201cIt just seems to me that any team that big is going to be paid an awful lot of money \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhich is gonna be ours,\u201d interrupted the second man, successfully grabbing the bottle this time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201c \u2026. which is going to be heavily guarded,\u201d snarled the man with the scar. \u201cAny fool can see that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell I ain\u2019t any fool,\u201d snapped the first man. He looked around the campfire again. \u201cWell? Are we in or out? I say we go for it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Several others voiced their assent and the man with the scar shrugged his shoulders in a nonchalant fashion. \u201cAll right,\u201d he said. \u201cWhatever brings the money in is fine by me.\u201d He sat silently staring into the fire oblivious to those around him who continued to laugh and joke together.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben Cartwright sat back in his chair and studied his eldest son\u2019s face for a moment. \u201cI know you\u2019re quite capable of managing it Adam, all I\u2019m saying is that it doesn\u2019t hurt to have extra protection with such a large amount, that\u2019s all. We can\u2019t be too careful and that\u2019s no reflection of your capabilities to do the job.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded. \u201cAll right Pa,\u201d he said with a smile. \u201cIf it makes you feel better, then I\u2019ll take a few men with me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded and returned the smile. \u201cThank you,\u201d he replied. \u201cAnd yes \u2026 it will make me feel much better.\u201d He stared at the papers in front of him for a moment. \u201cYou know son, this latest shipment of lumber has really made a difference. It has freed up our reserves to put some extra money into the mine this year.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded in agreement. \u201cAnd the replanting up on that slope should take care of any land slippage,\u201d he reminded his father. \u201cOnce we\u2019ve paid the men we should be able to concentrate on bringing the cattle in for branding.\u201d He stretched his arms over his head as he sat on the end of his father\u2019s desk. \u201cI might get Hoss to organise that,\u201d he said. \u201cJoe will be busy with that string of horses for another week or two \u2026. not that his mind has been on that too much,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben gave his son a studied look for a moment. \u201cHe\u2019s doing all right with them,\u201d he said shortly. \u201cHe\u2019ll have them ready in time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, I know he\u2019ll do a good job with them,\u201d replied Adam. \u201cIt\u2019s not the finished product I\u2019m talking about Pa. Everyone knows he\u2019s a great horseman. I\u2019m talking about the way he goes about it though.\u201d He returned Ben\u2019s look with a frustrated one of his own. \u201cI just think that if he concentrated on the job in hand, he\u2019d get things done a lot quicker. He can\u2019t concentrate on one thing for any given length of time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSon, I think you\u2019re being a bit hard on your brother,\u201d interrupted Ben, putting up his hand to silence Adam. \u201cHis way of doing things may not be your way, but he gets the job done and that\u2019s all that counts.\u201d He smiled at his son. \u201cHe\u2019s not a boy any longer,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have to give him the chance to do things his way.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s just my point,\u201d protested Adam. \u201cHe\u2019s not a boy \u2026 he\u2019s a man grown \u2026 yet he still acts like a kid most of the time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s got a lot of mischief in him still, I\u2019ll grant you that,\u201d said Ben with a nod of his head. \u201cBut I have a feeling that Joe will always be a bit of a character, no matter how old he gets.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe needs to grow up,\u201d said Adam tersely. \u201cLearn to act responsibly.\u201d He pointed a finger at his father. \u201cI\u2019ll wager that he offers to help me with getting the payroll just to get out of a day\u2019s work,\u201d he added. \u201cJoe is \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid I hear my name?\u201d asked the young man in question as he opened the front door with a loud crash. \u201cI hope you\u2019re saying something nice, older brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u201d said Ben angrily. \u201cCould you please watch the way you swing that door? One of these days it\u2019s going to come off it\u2019s hinges!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSorry Pa,\u201d said Joe automatically. It seemed to him that no matter how old he got, his father would always find something to say that made him feel like a kid again. He reached backwards to close the door, but at that moment Hoss tried to step through the open doorway and the door swung straight back onto his face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOw!\u201d Hoss yelped, stepping backwards and rubbing his nose. \u201cThanks a lot Joe!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe grinned at his brother. \u201cJust doing what Pa told me too,\u201d he said cheekily. \u201cCan\u2019t help it if you\u2019re in the way.\u201d He sauntered over to his father\u2019s desk. \u201cSo, what were you saying about me?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe weren\u2019t talking about you kid,\u201d said Adam shortly. \u201cWe were actually discussing the payroll for the men on the lumber job.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t call me kid,\u201d said Joe automatically, as he always did when Adam used the term. It seemed to Ben that is was always a running battle between them as Joe tried to prove himself to his older brother and Adam tried to remember that his youngest brother was now a man. Joe sat down on the other edge of Ben\u2019s desk and gave his brother a dark look, while Hoss came to stand behind him, still rubbing his face. \u201cYou want me to get the payroll from the bank Pa?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m getting it from the bank tomorrow,\u201d interrupted Adam quickly, giving his father a knowing look which Ben chose to ignore. \u201cIt\u2019s not your concern.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSor\u2026ry,\u201d said Joe, making a face at his brother. \u201cI was just trying to help.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou were just trying to get out of work for a day,\u201d said Adam accusingly. \u201cAnd get into town while you\u2019re at it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou want me to help?\u201d volunteered Hoss before his younger bother could reply. \u201cI don\u2019t think that one person should carry all that money Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam stood up. \u201cWhat is it with this family?\u201d he asked. \u201cI can handle a simple payroll, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s a very large one son and as I\u2019ve already said, it\u2019s better to \u2026\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam held up a hand to silence everyone. \u201cI know, I know,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I\u2019ve already agreed to take a couple of men with me Pa. I understand that you think that I should.\u201d He looked across at Hoss. \u201cThanks for the offer, but I\u2019ll take Bert and Will. That should be enough.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTake Harry as well,\u201d said his father. \u201cI can spare him and I\u2019d rather there were four of you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded. \u201cOK,\u201d he said. \u201cWill do Pa.\u201d He stood up and gave both of his brothers a meaningful look. \u201cWell, I\u2019m going to the lumber mill,\u201d he said. \u201cSome of us have work to do.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss looked slightly shamefaced as Adam left the room and after a moment\u2019s hesitation, he also turned and left without a word. Joe, however, continued to sit on his father\u2019s desk and grin at him. Ben sat back in his chair and stared back at his youngest son. \u201cWell?\u201d he said finally.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI was just thinking that older brother Adam needs to lighten up a bit,\u201d said Joe. \u201cHe takes things too serious you know Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s his nature,\u201d replied Ben, thinking yet again about how different his eldest and youngest sons were. \u201cAre you going to sit there all day Joe, or do you have work to do as well?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shrugged. \u201cYeah,\u201d he admitted. \u201cThose horses are coming along real nice Pa.\u201d Ben waited. \u201cOK,\u201d Joe said finally. \u201cI\u2019ll get back to it then, I guess.\u201d He reluctantly stood up and headed for the front door as Ben grinned and then got back to his own paperwork.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker sat by the large rock and stared down at the trail below him in silence. On the other side of the pine trees he could see the outline of blue water that he knew to be Lake Tahoe and his mind wandered back some years to the very first time he\u2019d seen it with Joe. The kid had been so proud to show him around that day and he remembered the way his green eyes had shone with the delight of showing his friend his home. Baker had to admit, even now, that The Ponderosa was a mighty fine place and one that he would be proud to own if it had been his.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He frowned and shook his head fiercely to ward off the memories. Who was he kidding after all? It wasn\u2019t for the likes of him to own anything like The Ponderosa, for it was only people like the Cartwrights who ended up having the good things in life. His own life was one of hardship and pain and he had learnt not to expect anything good to come from it any more. He felt a bitter and hard core inside him that had been there for so long that he wouldn\u2019t have known how to shift it, even if he had wanted to.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s up with you?\u201d snarled a voice beside him as Tom shifted his position to look across at him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNuthin,\u201d Baker snarled back. \u201cJust wish that Cartwright would hurry back with that payroll so we can get this over with.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tom chuckled. \u201cHe took three men,\u201d he said, spitting on the ground beside him. \u201cDo you believe that he took just three men for that amount of money? This is gonna be easy pickings.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCartwrights got more money than sense,\u201d said George behind them. \u201cThey don\u2019t deserve ta keep it.\u201d He scanned the horizon for a sight of the men they were waiting for. \u201cIn fact \u2026.\u201d He leant over and whispered something to Tom who chuckled again and then nodded.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d said Baker in an irritated tone.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNuthin,\u201d said George, stealing a glance at Tom and shaking his head slightly. \u201cPrivate joke.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker glared at him and then turned to stare at the lake again. It was always like this, he reasoned. He might have ridden with these men for the best part of two years, but he always felt like an outsider. His eyes narrowed as he stared across in the direction of the Cartwright ranch house and he fingered the long scar on his face thoughtfully. Why was it that some folks seemed to have everything and he had nothing? He remembered the last time he\u2019d come here to try and find the missing pieces of his past and put together the puzzle that was his life. He\u2019d been struck at the time how close the Cartwrights were and observing them as a family had hardened his heart to such things, for no matter how hard he tried to pretend, such things weren\u2019t for him. He had been a loner then and he was a loner now. Family and friends weren\u2019t for him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n That fool kid had insisted on trying to make him remember things, even when it had become clear to everyone that he wasn\u2019t ever going to. In the end, Joe, who wanted him to be as he used to be, had begun to irritate him. However, Baker knew that the man he\u2019d been back when Joe knew him, whoever that man was, had disappeared forever. He didn\u2019t remember the Baker that Joe had tried to remind him of and he knew now that he never would. He was a different man and the kid\u2019s attempts to force him into what he had been before had only made it clearer to him that he was changed forever.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He fingered the scar again and a part of him cringed inside as he recalled the hundreds of looks that he\u2019d seen during the past few years as people glimpsed him for the first time. There was no way he could have expected to live a normal life and to have what people like the Cartwrights had, looking like this. People just naturally cringed away from him and he didn\u2019t blame them. He\u2019d gradually found himself immune to others\u2019 opinions over the years and felt himself a better man for it. After all, why open yourself up to people only to eventually be hurt by them?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Years of drifting from one town to another had hardened him until he really didn\u2019t know who he was anymore. Getting jobs had been hard looking as he did, for no one wanted to hire someone who looked as if he couldn\u2019t be trusted. The army had left him with nothing but a small pension which had soon run out, so it wasn\u2019t until he\u2019d met up with George, Tom and the others that he\u2019d made anything like a decent living. He\u2019d drifted into a life of crime without a backward glance, for he knew in his heart that he was owed something in this life and he sure as anything wasn\u2019t going to get it in any other way.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He knew he had nothing and had come to feel that those that had, like the Cartwrights, were put on this earth to provide him with what he needed. Somewhere in the back of his mind he still remembered that they\u2019d tried to help him once, but the way he was now, Baker needed no man\u2019s help. He would rather take for himself than rely on the pity and charity of anyone and the fact that he had a history with this family meant nothing to him now. The Cartwrights had money and he needed money. It was as simple as that.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Still, in spite of all that, he hoped that he wouldn\u2019t have to kill any of them to get it. He\u2019d breathed a sigh of relief when they\u2019d all watched Adam and the others ride away from the ranch earlier that day, for he had been dreading the decision he\u2019d have had to make if it had been Joe. The kid irritated him, but he wouldn\u2019t have wanted to see him dead. Much easier to kill his brother if he had to, for Adam was a man he had only met briefly once. Any meetings between them prior to that were in the dark recesses of his mind and not remembering them meant that they just didn\u2019t exist to him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He saw Joe as an irritating youth who wanted him to be something he wasn\u2019t. When the kid had gone on about their past together it had simply been a reminder of what Baker had lost and he found himself anxious to leave the Cartwrights behind in his life. Dumb luck had brought him here to Nevada and fate had dealt him a hand which he now had to play through to the end. If someone was hurt in the process, then Baker reasoned that it was meant to be. He gripped his gun tightly as he continued to stare at the trail below him, oblivious to the whisperings of the men behind him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n George Bristol, the bank manager, tucked the last of the bills into the saddlebag and then handed it to Adam. \u201cHere you are Adam,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m sure glad to see that you\u2019ve got a few men with you. That\u2019s an awful lot of money.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam took the bag. \u201cYou sound like my father,\u201d he said with a grin.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell your father is right,\u201d said George. \u201cYou can\u2019t be too careful with that amount of money.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam raised his eyebrows in response. \u201cI suppose you\u2019re right,\u201d he admitted. \u201cOnly I happen to think that four armed men only calls attention to it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n George shrugged. \u201cYou can\u2019t have it both ways, I suppose,\u201d he said. \u201cJust be careful son, that\u2019s all I\u2019m trying to say.\u201d He walked to the front door of the bank with Adam. \u201cOne of these days we might to able to pay crews with bank drafts or some other method,\u201d he said wistfully. \u201cIt would sure save a lot of anxiety having to give people so much cash at one time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell unfortunately, I can\u2019t really see that lumber crew settling for anything but cash,\u201d replied Adam, patting the saddlebag. \u201cMost men don\u2019t trust anything but cold hard cash, I\u2019m afraid. Don\u2019t worry though, as soon as I get back to the lumber camp this is going to be divided up between that crew and everyone will be happy. One short ride to the camp and it will be done.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood luck,\u201d said George as Adam walked out into the sunshine. \u201cTell your father I said hello.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded as he mounted up onto his horse. He slung the saddlebag on the horn of his saddle and motioned to the three men waiting there for him. \u201cLet\u2019s go fellars,\u201d he said. \u201cThe sooner we get to that camp the better.\u201d He led the way down the main street of town as George Bristol watched from the bank doorway.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In spite of his words, Adam knew that his father and George Bristol were right in some respects. As they rode, he thought about the bank manager\u2019s words and wondered if there would ever come a time when cash became less important to a man than an equivalent amount written on a piece of paper. He hoped so, for the business world would be a lot better off and the job of ranchers who had to pay itinerant workers would be a lot easier. As he rode, he was so busy ruminating about such things, that when Harry Black rode up beside him and began to speak, he jumped slightly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSorry,\u201d he said to the hand. \u201cBit jumpy I suppose.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Harry made a face. \u201cI think we all are,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll be glad when we reach the lumber mill and can hand all that money over.\u201d He grinned at Adam. \u201cI think that things will be hopping in town tonight once all the men get their hands on those wages.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam chuckled. \u201cI\u2019m sure you\u2019re right,\u201d he said. \u201cThe saloons will be \u2026.\u201d He never got to finish the sentence, for at that moment two shots rang out and Harry slumped forward in his saddle, blood dripping down the front of his shirt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s initial instinct was to reach out to stop the man falling from the saddle, but in the split second that he looked at his face he knew that he was already dead. Hard as it was to turn away from him, Adam knew that he could do nothing for the other man and so he swung his horse around immediately, his mouth open to shout instructions to the two remaining men behind him. His eyes widened as he noticed that Will Cummings was also lying on the trail, a large pool of blood already spreading on the back of his shirt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cRide for cover!\u201d shouted Adam and followed Bert towards a clump of trees in the distance. Suddenly, two men rode out in front of them and Adam cursed under his breath as he brought his horse to a halt. The four men sat for a moment eyeing each other off.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHand it over,\u201d snarled one of the men, holding out his hand. \u201cSlow and easy.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam reached for the saddlebag and handed it to the man who grabbed it eagerly. As the second man covered them with his rifle he opened the bag, looked inside and then nodded. \u201cIt\u2019s the money,\u201d he said and then turned to Adam and Bert again. \u201cDrop your guns,\u201d he said shortly. \u201cSlow and easy.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam slowly reached for his gun and dropped it onto the trail below. \u201cYou\u2019ve got the money,\u201d he said, staring at the man with the saddlebag. \u201cNo need to \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A shot rang out and startled his horse. Unprepared as he was for the movement, Adam felt himself sliding off the saddle and made a grab to steady himself, but it was too late. He hit the ground with a thud as his horse took off and as he opened his eyes he looked up to see Bert, his smoking gun still in his hand, hit the ground beside him. Adam rolled over and reached for his own gun that was lying on the trail a few feet away, but even as his hand closed over it he felt a sharp pain in his stomach and everything went black. The sound of another shot rang in his ears and he groaned softly as consciousness left him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss scanned the horizon quickly, his jaw set tight as he took in all that was before him on the plain leading out to the distant mountains. He motioned with his hand slightly before speaking. \u201cThat way,\u201d he said shortly, pointing to the left. \u201cAlan \u2026. with me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The three men nodded, knowing exactly what was in the big man\u2019s mind. Alan Prendergast followed Hoss to the right as the other two hands swept around to the left and began the painstaking task of covering every inch of the flat terrain in front of them. No words were needed to be spoken as each of the four men rode slowly ahead, as each of them knew how important their task was and how much depended on its success. None of them wanted to find the bodies of any of the four men, especially since the brother of one of them was amongst them, but each of them knew from the moment that Adam\u2019s horse had run into the Ponderosa front yard without him that the chances of finding four dead bodies was a real possibility.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Alan glanced quickly at Hoss who was riding a few yards to the right of him, noting his tense facial features and the white knuckles as his large hands gripped the reins of his horse. He wondered for a moment how he would feel if it was his own brother that they were searching for and pushed the thought aside quickly, as one which was too painful to contemplate.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss didn\u2019t glance up as he urged his horse ahead, his eyes intent on scanning the ground for any sort of clue, no matter how small, that might give him an indication what had happened to Adam. He was usually a man of gentle thoughts and kind deeds, but right now his heart was steely and his thoughts murderous as he considered just what he might do if he came across what he dreaded finding.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He sure hoped that Pa had been able to contain Joe when he told him, for his younger brother\u2019s temper was legendary and he hated to think of Joe going off half-cocked if given the chance. When Adam\u2019s horse had ridden in, Hoss\u2019 heart at sunk at his first sighting of it, for he knew without a doubt that anyone who rode as horse as well as his older brother would never have lost his seat in the saddle without real good cause. Even now, Hoss flinched inwardly as he considered what that cause might be.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He had found himself in his own saddle without realising that he\u2019d even mounted up and the sight of his father\u2019s distraught face as he looked up at him haunted him still. Joe had been out with his beloved horses at the time and Hoss had faintly heard his father\u2019s words about riding out to get him before wheeling his horse around and galloping off. His mind was so focused on finding Adam that everything else had seemed to happen as if from a distance, and it wasn\u2019t until he ridden a few miles that he\u2019d realised that there were three men following him. Whether his father had sent them or whether they\u2019d heard the shouts from the yard as Adam\u2019s horse had ridden in, Hoss didn\u2019t know. All he knew was that they were there to help him find his brother and soon Pa and Joe would join them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The thought that his brother could be seriously hurt or worse kept running through his mind as he forced himself to ride forward slowly and Hoss could only pray that Adam was alive. His senses were so completely focussed on finding his brother that Alan had to actually ride over to him and touch him on the arm before he looked up and saw the other two men gesturing and shouting at them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve found something Hoss,\u201d said Alan, already turning his horse towards the other men.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss followed suit and within seconds the four of them were looking down at the bodies of Harry and Will on the trail in front of them. Alan pointed towards a clump of trees in the distance where three horses were standing quietly chewing on the grass. \u201cThe others must be here somewhere,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s Bert\u2019s horse with the other two. He and \u2026.\u201d His voice trailed off as he looked at Hoss\u2019 face and he swallowed as he thought about how the man might react when they tracked down the other two bodies. \u201cWe\u2019d better keep looking,\u201d he said finally, for want of something more to say.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Three of the men urged their horses forward, but Hoss stayed in the same position for a full minute looking down at the bodies, his mind refusing to grasp the implication of what they meant. \u201cHoss!\u201d He looked up at the sound of his name and urged his horse forward slowly, this time willing himself not to look at what might be on the ground in front of him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n As he reached the three men a few yards away, he forced himself to look down and then let out his breath in a sigh as he realised that the third body on the ground wasn\u2019t that of his brother, but Bert.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s alive,\u201d said Alan, dismounting from his horse.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss was out of the saddle in an instant and rolled the man over so that he could see his face. \u201cIt\u2019s OK now Bert,\u201d he said, holding the man\u2019s head in his arms. \u201cWe\u2019re gonna look after you now. Everything\u2019s OK.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bert looked up at him, his eyes narrowed against the fierce sun. \u201cWhat?\u201d he said finally.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss took off his hat and fanned the man\u2019s face with it. \u201cIt\u2019s OK now,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat happened? Who did this?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bert shook his head slightly. \u201cDon\u2019t know,\u201d he said. \u201cAdam \u2026\u201d He closed his eyes momentarily and then opened them again. \u201cAdam \u2026. gave them \u2026. the money.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss nodded, for the money was the least of his concerns at the moment. \u201cAdam?\u201d he said. \u201cWhere is he Bert? Where\u2019s Adam?\u201d He looked up again and noticed that Alan and the other two men had ridden off and were still searching for the body of his brother. His heart lurched and he turned to Bert again. \u201cBert?\u201d he said. \u201cWas Adam shot?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d said Bert, closing his eyes again. \u201cWe all were. He \u2026. gave em the money.\u201d He reached out and gripped Hoss tightly on the sleeve with one hand. \u201cHoss \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss fanned the man\u2019s face again. \u201cShh,\u201d he said. \u201cJust settle down Bert. It\u2019s gonna be OK.\u201d\u00a0 His words sounded hollow even to himself, as he tried to visualise telling his father and brother that Adam had been killed. He steeled himself to hear the dreaded shout at any moment that the men had found his brother\u2019s body.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThey took \u2026 him,\u201d said Bert, gripping Hoss\u2019 sleeve even tighter than before.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTook him?\u201d Hoss gave Bert a startled look. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThey took Adam,\u201d said Bert, gasping now to breathe. \u201cThey \u2026\u201d He pointed to the far-distant mountains before speaking again. \u201cThat way.\u201d He shoved a piece of paper into Hoss\u2019 hand and sighed deeply before closing his eyes. Hoss felt the life go out of him as he held him in his arms and he lay the man\u2019s head down on the dusty trail and covered his face with his hat. He stood up and looked down at him for several seconds before turning to where the men were searching and motioning to them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n As he waited for them to reach him, Hoss unfolded the piece of paper in his hand and read the simple note. Alan drew his horse to a halt beside him, looked down and noted that Bert was dead and then turned to Hoss again. \u201cWhat?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss handed him the note to read, his eyes never straying from the mountains in the distance. His jaw was set and his eyes were narrowed as he continued to stare at it for several seconds before he spoke. \u201cI\u2019ve got to ride back to Pa and Joe,\u201d he said simply. \u201cYou three take care of the bodies.\u201d He took the piece of paper from Alan and put it in his pocket before mounting up and riding back the way they\u2019d come.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben turned and put up his hand as sheriff Roy Coffee entered the building. \u201cI know what you\u2019re going to say Roy,\u201d he said, before the other man could speak. \u201cBut I\u2019m doing this and that\u2019s all there is to it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBen,\u201d began Roy. \u201cI knew \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n George Bristol stepped forward. \u201cGentlemen, don\u2019t you think it would be better to have this conversation in private?\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019re welcome to use my office,\u201d he added, pointing to the door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded. \u201cThank you,\u201d he said shortly. \u201cBut while we\u2019re in there just get that money together George. I want to ride out of here as soon as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n George nodded as Ben, Roy, Hoss and Joe headed into his office. As soon as the door was closed, Roy turned to face Ben. \u201cI knew you\u2019d go off half-cocked,\u201d he said. \u201cAs soon as Hoss told me what was happening I \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben held up his hand again. \u201cI\u2019m not going off half-cocked,\u201d he said abruptly. \u201cI am simply doing what I have to do to ensure my son\u2019s safety Roy. There is no way that I\u2019m going to risk Adam\u2019s life for the sake of money.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roy looked frustrated. \u201cBut that\u2019s exactly what I\u2019m talking about Ben,\u201d he said. \u201cYou know as well as I do that handing over that money isn\u2019t going to guarantee that they\u2019ll let Adam go. You\u2019ve been through enough of these situations to know that men like this aren\u2019t exactly honest and trustworthy. Why, that ransom note might be a hoax and you know it. Adam might already be \u2026\u201d He stopped, not wanting to voice what they both were thinking. Adam might already be dead and they both knew it. Hoss had said that his brother had been shot, so who would know if he\u2019d even survived that or not?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben sighed. \u201cI know,\u201d he admitted. \u201cBut when it\u2019s your own flesh and blood Roy \u2026.\u201d he said. He glanced at Hoss and Joe before continuing. \u201cI have to do this,\u201d he said. \u201cIf there\u2019s any hope that giving them the money will mean that Adam is released, then I have to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roy nodded. \u201cI know,\u201d he said. \u201cOnly I have a job to do Ben. It\u2019s my responsibility to make sure that these men don\u2019t get away and I aim to do my job.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d Ben glared at his friend. \u201cOn no account Roy! I\u2019m not going to risk Adam\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBen \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThey said to come alone and that\u2019s what I intend to do,\u201d continued Ben as if he hadn\u2019t even heard the interruption. \u201cNone of you \u2026.\u201d He looked around, \u201c\u2026. and that includes you two boys,\u201d he said firmly, \u201c \u2026. are coming with me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut Pa,\u201d protested Joe, stepping forward. \u201cYou can\u2019t go alone. One of us should come with you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m quite capable of looking after myself,\u201d said Ben. \u201cNow I need to get that money.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBen!\u201d said Roy, standing in front of the doorway and effectively barring it. \u201cListen to me. I\u2019m not suggesting that I come with you, just saying that I should take a few men and be ready for after they release Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben hesitated. \u201cIf they see you \u2026.\u201d he said and then stopped and shook his head. \u201cI can\u2019t risk Adam\u2019s life,\u201d he said firmly. \u201cI go alone.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roy shook his head, just as firmly. \u201cI\u2019m afraid that you don\u2019t have a choice, my friend,\u201d he said. \u201cYou can\u2019t stop me. It\u2019s my job to catch these men and I aim to do it.\u201d He stared at Ben for a moment and then put his hand on the other man\u2019s shoulder. \u201cDo you really think that I\u2019d do anything to risk Adam\u2019s life?\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve know him since he was a boy Ben and there\u2019s no way I\u2019d go against what you\u2019re about to do.\u201d He smiled. \u201cBesides, I\u2019ve been at this game long enough to know what I\u2019m doing. I assure you that they won\u2019t have a clue that I\u2019m there in the background.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded. \u201cAll right,\u201d he said finally. \u201cI trust you Roy, but only a few men.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roy nodded. \u201cFive,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd me,\u201d said Hoss, stepping forward.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd me,\u201d echoed Joe. \u201cWe\u2019re not letting you go without us sheriff.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roy looked at both of them and then nodded. \u201cAll right,\u201d he said. \u201cMeet me at the back of the livery stable in ten minutes. I\u2019ll get a few other men rounded up.\u201d He looked at Ben again. \u201cYou be careful,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd don\u2019t ride out until we\u2019re ready. Understand?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded. \u201cUnderstand,\u201d he agreed. \u201cNow I\u2019m getting that money.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben stopped as Joe spoke. \u201cYes?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe swallowed. \u201cI never really meant what I said about Adam,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben looked confused. \u201cWhat?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe swallowed again. \u201cYou know \u2026 how I\u2019m always saying stuff about how he\u2019s too serious and all that? I was only funning.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben put his hand on his son\u2019s shoulder and looked deeply into his eyes for a moment. \u201cI know son,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd he knows it too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI hope so,\u201d said Joe. \u201cBecause I\u2019d hate anything to \u2026 well \u2026 I just would want him to know that I \u2026.\u201d His voice trailed away as he found himself unable to finish the sentence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben looked at Joe and then Hoss and then finally back to Joe again. \u201cNothing is going to happen to your brother,\u201d he said firmly. \u201cNow let\u2019s get that money boys.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam rolled onto his side gingerly, sending a shot of pain through his stomach and side as he did so. An involuntary low groan escaped him and made the men sitting by the fireplace look sharply in his direction. \u201cHe\u2019s alive,\u201d one of them muttered without much interest.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam tried to sit up, but the pain was too bad and he couldn\u2019t manage it. He closed his eyes until the pain had subsided a little and then opened them again, blinking against the light of the fire a few yards away. Everything seemed to be swimming in front of his eyes and he didn\u2019t know for sure what was real and what was in his imagination.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He tried to move his arms and legs slowly and found to his surprise that he wasn\u2019t tied at all, figuring that his captors thought that he was too weak to run anyway. Ruefully he considered that they were right, for if someone had given him a gun and pointed him in the direction of a horse he doubted very much if he could have even made a move to leave here.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He put his hand on his stomach where the pain was emanating from and felt that his shirt was sticky with what he thought was probably his own blood. He tried to focus for a moment and remember what had happened, but all he could think of was the pain that seemed to be taking over his whole body.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWater,\u201d he croaked softly as he held out his hand towards the fire. \u201cWater \u2026 please \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The men looked across at him, but no one moved. \u201cHe\u2019s gonna die,\u201d George said in a matter of fact tone, after a moment or two.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tom shrugged. \u201cNo great loss,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n George stood up and picked up a canteen. \u201cNope,\u201d he said, walking over to Adam and bending over him. \u201cBetter if he\u2019s alive until we get that money. You never know with old man Cartwright. I\u2019ve heard tell that he\u2019s full of tricks.\u201d He pulled the stopper off the canteen and put it to Adam\u2019s lips, allowing the injured man to drink a few sips.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019d better not be,\u201d said another man and Adam turned his head to look at the face with the long scar running down the side of it. For a moment he felt as if he had seen him before, but the pain suddenly came back with a vengeance and the thought was quickly dispelled from his mind. \u201cAny tricks from him and this one dies,\u201d the scar-faced man said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tom chuckled as he spooned some of the stew they had been cooking into his mouth greedily. \u201cHe dies anyway,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker jerked as he turned to face him. \u201cWhat?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n George came back to sit near the fire again. \u201cHe\u2019s right,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been talking about it Baker. No point in keeping him alive once we\u2019ve got the money and are clear away from here.\u201d Baker said nothing. \u201cIt makes sense,\u201d insisted George as he glanced at Adam again. \u201cThat\u2019s if he stays alive long enough.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tom shrugged again. \u201cNo matter,\u201d he said. \u201cOld man Cartwright won\u2019t know if he\u2019s alive or dead nohow, so it don\u2019t make much difference.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker glanced over at Adam and at that moment Adam\u2019s eyes opened and a spark of recognition was evident within them. He lifted his head slightly and stared at the man. \u201cBaker?\u201d he said softly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker flinched in spite of himself and turned away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou know him?\u201d George snarled. \u201cHow come you ain\u2019t said so before?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo need.\u201d Baker spat into the fire. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t make any difference.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam held out a hand towards the man as he blinked his eyes several times to try and focus on Baker\u2019s face. \u201cYou\u2019re \u2026. Baker,\u201d he said softly. \u201cJoe\u2019s \u2026. Baker.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker stood up and faced him. \u201cI ain\u2019t no one\u2019s Baker!\u201d he spat at the man lying near him. \u201cJust shut up!\u201d He stormed off towards the horses, leaving a puzzled George and Tom looking at each other.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat was that all about?\u201d asked Tom finally.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n George looked at him thoughtfully. \u201cAin\u2019t sure,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I think we\u2019d best watch our friend Baker real close.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben sat on his horse and waited. Every movement of a bush or tree in the wind sent his heart beating a little faster as he waited for someone \u2026. anyone\u00a0 \u2026. to make an appearance. In his heart he prayed for his son, himself and his other two sons who were waiting some distance behind him, hoping that they would all come out of this unhurt \u2026 but in his head he concentrated on remaining composed and in control, at least outwardly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n To the casual observer, he would have looked like a man who didn\u2019t have a care in the world, sitting on his horse as he stared into the distance. Only his dark eyes and constantly darted back and forth across the clearing and the whites of his knuckles as they gripped the reins told a different story.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben thought through all the things that could go wrong before he had Adam safely out of this mess. He knew that someone would eventually come, for the lure of this much money would be too hard for men like that to resist. He hoped that they would have Adam with them, for if not the dilemma of knowing that his son\u2019s life was in grave danger would be heightened if he handed over the money without first glimpsing the boy. Yet to refuse to hand it over first was also an opportunity for the kidnappers to risk Adam\u2019s life even further.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n For a moment, an image of his eldest son at a young age flittered through his mind and a sharp stab of pain pierced his heart. When his sons were small he had found it so much easier to protect them from the travails of life, their small worries easily soothed by a father\u2019s comforting word or touch. But now that they were grown men he found impossible to shield them from the hurts that life out here in the west constantly threw at them all. He would have given anything at that moment to have held his small Adam in his arms again and be able to comfort him, yet all he could do was sit here and wait and hope and pray that his son was in fact still alive.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n For he knew that, although he had been mortally afraid to voice it, his son could already be dead. There was no guarantee that these men would have bothered to keep him alive until they had possession of the money and all Ben could do was sit here and hope that they had. For a man of action it was the hardest thing in the world to ask, and yet he did it for Adam\u2019s sake. One wrong move now and they might both pay the price.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben would be completely at their mercy when they appeared, and try as he might to bargain with them, he knew that he had no option but to follow their lead. Even so, it galled him to have to sit here and wait like this. Ben Cartwright was a man who was used to taking control of situations and he hated having no power over his own safety, or that of his son\u2019s.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He thanked the Lord that Hoss and Joe weren\u2019t here with him, for one son in danger was enough for any man to cope with at any given time. Knowing Joe\u2019s volatile nature, Ben could only hope that Hoss was able to keep him under control while they waited. Hoss was a man to be relied upon, always calm and controlled in a crisis, whereas Joe \u2026 even though now he was a man grown \u2026 had a hot temper. Ben supposed that he got that from him, for his own temper had often got the best of him throughout the years. Time and experience had taught him to control it, just as he was doing now. He hoped for Joe\u2019s sake that his son would also learn to do the same thing but in the meantime, he always relied upon Adam and Hoss to keep their impetuous younger brother under control when needed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The movement of a small bird caught his attention for a second and his eyes darted around the surrounding undergrowth yet again, but he saw nothing else move. Ben clenched his jaw in a determined fashion as he continued to wait.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam continued to stare at the man seated on the other side of the fire until Baker could stand it no longer. \u201cWhat?\u201d he snarled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFine man you turned out to be,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShut up!\u201d said Baker.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his head slightly. \u201cWe would have helped you if you needed it,\u201d he said. \u201cThere was no need for any of this.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou know nothing about it!\u201d Baker spat on the ground near the fire as he glared at Adam. \u201cYou and your blasted family! I\u2019m sick of hearing about how you Cartwrights have some sort of bond with me or something. That kid brother of yours \u2026.\u201d He spat on the ground again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat kid brother of mine always looked up to you,\u201d Adam reminded the man.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker shook his head. \u201cI never asked him to,\u201d he declared. \u201cHe needs to get over it.\u201d He pointed his finger at Adam. \u201cAnd you need to shut up if you know what\u2019s good for you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shut his eyes as a wave of nausea overcame him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe scratched his face thoughtfully as he shifted his position behind the rock. \u201cI don\u2019t care what Sheriff Coffee says,\u201d he whispered to Hoss who was beside him. \u201cI still think that we should get a bit closer.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cRoy knows what he\u2019s doing,\u201d whispered back Hoss. \u201cHe\u2019s done this lotsa times before, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but how many times has someone got hurt while he\u2019s doing it?\u201d whispered back Joe. \u201cI don\u2019t want Pa or Adam being one of those people Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNone of us do Joe,\u201d replied Hoss, his face showing clearly how anxious he was. \u201cBut we just gotta trust that Roy and Pa know what they\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd what if Pa gets shot while we\u2019re just sitting here?\u201d persisted Joe. \u201cOr if Adam gets hurt \u2026 or worse?\u201d H looked over his shoulder. \u201cI think you and me should go around the other side of this clearing and get a better look at what\u2019s happening.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou just stay put,\u201d said Hoss firmly. \u201cPa said to stay in the background and that\u2019s exactly what we\u2019re gonna do.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe glared at his brother for a moment and then looked around the side of the rock. \u201cIt\u2019s real quiet out there,\u201d he said after a moment. \u201cDo you think that Pa\u2019s given them the money yet?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI dunno,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cI guess we\u2019ll find out soon enough.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe glared at him again. \u201cWhen?\u201d he said. \u201cWhen we hear the shot that says that they\u2019ve killed him?\u201d He shuffled away from his brother. \u201cI don\u2019t care what you think, Hoss,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m gonna get a better look.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe!\u201d said Hoss, reaching for his brother, but only grabbing onto the space where Joe had been seconds before. \u201cGet back here!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe scrabbled over to the bushes alongside them. \u201cI\u2019ll be real careful Hoss,\u201d he assured his brother over his shoulder. \u201cI won\u2019t do anything stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019ll be the day,\u201d muttered Hoss angrily as his brother disappeared into the undergrowth. He considered following him for a moment and then shook his head. His family would need him here if something happened in that clearing, for one thing his father had instilled in him was to always have a backup in situations like this. Hoss considered himself that backup and just prayed that wherever he was now, Joe would have the sense to stay hidden.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Still he waited.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n It seemed like an eternity since he\u2019d arrived here and Ben wondered if he\u2019d been on view to the kidnappers ever since he\u2019d appeared. It was quite likely that they\u2019d been watching him, waiting to make sure that no one else was around before exposing themselves. The thought that they might be at this moment watching him made Ben\u2019s skin crawl, yet he continued to sit still as if he had not a care in the world.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Suddenly, a quick movement caught his eye and he turned his head to see two men on horseback ride out of the brush. \u201cHand it over,\u201d said one abruptly, holding his gun on Ben. His companion didn\u2019t even glance in Ben\u2019s direction, but turned his horse to scan a complete circle around the clearing. He continued to watch the bushes, intent on firing at anything that might come out of there in an instant. \u201cHand it over Cartwright,\u201d said the first man again, reaching out for the bag that was draped over Ben\u2019s saddle-horn.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben held up the bag. \u201cI want to see that my son is all right,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHand over the money first,\u201d said the man and made a grab for it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben let the bag go. \u201cI want to see my son,\u201d he repeated as the man opened the bag and checked its contents.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI reckon it\u2019s all here,\u201d he snarled to his companion, ignoring Ben\u2019s comment. Both men turned their horses, anxious to leave the spot as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWait!\u201d shouted Ben. \u201cYou\u2019ve got your money, now where\u2019s my son?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n One of the men hesitated. \u201cYou\u2019ll get him back when we\u2019re outta here,\u201d he snarled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s blood ran cold, knowing full well that the moment the men had disappeared, Adam\u2019s chances of survival were greatly diminished. \u201cWait!\u201d he shouted again and spurred his horse forward.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The second man reached out with his rifle and clubbed Ben on the head, startling his horse and sending him spinning to the ground. At that instant Joe flung himself from the bushes nearby and made a run for the man, grabbing his rifle and attempting to pull him from his horse. They struggled for a moment or two while the first man looked on in amazement, for it seemed as if the young man had appeared from nowhere. Suddenly he regained his thinking and pointed his pistol at Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGet back!\u201d he cried. The sound made Joe hesitate for a moment which was all his opponent needed to get the better of him. He hit him with the butt of his rifle in the stomach and Joe doubled up in pain, falling to his knees with the impact. The man turned his rifle again and pointed the firing end at Joe, but stopped as his partner shouted out to him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d the man cried. \u201cLet me have him!\u201d He hit Joe on the side of the head with his rifle butt this time and Joe slumped to the ground next to his father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLeave them,\u201d said the first man, his eyes swivelling around the bushes in case of further attack. \u201cCome on!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The man on the ground hesitated, slung Joe up over his shoulder and draped him over the front of his saddle before mounting up again. \u201cThe old man will pay twice this time,\u201d he snarled. \u201cWe got us double insurance now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not worth it,\u201d said the first man. \u201cLeave them!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The second man shook his head, turned his horse and rode off with Joe bouncing over his saddle. After a moment\u2019s hesitation, the first man did the same.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou fool!\u201d shouted George angrily as Tom dumped Joe\u2019s unconscious body onto the ground. \u201cWhat did you go and do that for?\u201d He kicked Joe in his frustration as he glared at the man. \u201cNever could follow orders, could you?\u201d he snarled. \u201cAll you had to do was get the money and get out of there!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis one came at me,\u201d said Tom defensively. \u201cAnyway, I figure that we\u2019ve got two of em to bargain with now,\u201d he added. He indicated the saddlebag. \u201cIf old man Cartwright can get that kind of money in such a quick time, then how much do ya think he\u2019s gonna pay up for two of his precious boys instead of one?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n George shook his head. \u201cYou always was too greedy fer your own good,\u201d he said, kicking Joe\u2019s unconscious body again in his frustration.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all here,\u201d said Tom, fingering the money happily. \u201cLook Baker!\u201d But Baker\u2019s eyes were not on the money. Instead, he stood staring down at Joe\u2019s body in front of him. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with you?\u201d snarled Tom.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNothing,\u201d shot back Baker. \u201cI agree with George. You should have just got the money and got outta there.\u201d He grabbed the saddlebag and looked inside. \u201cI say we get out of here now before we\u2019ve got every man in this district looking for us,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHold on there,\u201d said George. \u201cWhat\u2019s done is done and old man Cartwright ain\u2019t gonna send no one gunning for us with two of his boys here. Besides,\u201d he glanced over at Adam who was lying motionless near the horses. I reckon maybe it\u2019s a good thing, now that I come to think on it. That one sure don\u2019t look like he\u2019s gonna last much longer so we might need this one for insurance.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t get it,\u201d said one of the other men. \u201cWhat insurance?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n George spat on the ground. \u201cYou really think that Ben Cartwright is gonna let us just ride outta here?\u201d he said. \u201cHe knows this country like the back of his hand and we\u2019re gonna need some insurance to get us back to Arizona country. I was counting on taking that one,\u201d he jerked his thumb over to Adam. \u201cBut seems a better idea to take this one instead,\u201d he said. \u201cMuch easier to take a living body than a dead one. Once we\u2019re clear of here we\u2019ll get rid of him then. Tie him up near the other one Baker. We\u2019ll wait until dawn and then we\u2019ll ride.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker hesitated for a split second and then glanced at the money in his hand. He handed it back to Bert and then bent down and pulled Joe by the arms over to where an unconscious Adam lay. Deftly, he tied his hands behind his back, looping the rope then so that he could tie the other end of it around his feet. When Joe was securely bound, he stepped back and stared down at the two Cartwright brothers before turning his back on them and striding off.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam groaned softly as he came back to consciousness once again. Even though he longed to slip back into that pain-free comatose state, something inside him willed him to open his eyes and take a hazy look around. It was as though he was seeing everything from a long distance away and the sounds and smells around him were part of a dream.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He turned his head to the left and saw the fire still flickering nearby in the dark night. There were several men still clustered around it, but they were deep in conversation and didn\u2019t even glance his way as he moved. He turned to the other side and saw a figure lying beside him. For a moment or two he tried to focus on it, for something about the clothing seemed familiar to him, but for the life of him he couldn\u2019t seem to remember why.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Suddenly it came to him in a rush and he reached out a hand feebly to touch the green jacket of his younger brother. \u201cJoe?\u201d he whispered. \u201cJoe?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe didn\u2019t move. Adam tried to turn further to the right, but the pain from his stomach prevented him from moving too far. He tried to grab hold of his brother\u2019s jacket, but found that he didn\u2019t have the strength to even do that much. He closed his eyes and tried to focus on the situation, wondering why Joe would be here and when he opened them again he found himself looking into a pair of brown eyes that stared at him unblinkingly. \u201cJoe?\u201d he said again and then realised that the eyes didn\u2019t in fact belong to his brother at all.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker continued to stare at Adam for a moment without speaking, so that finally it was Adam who was forced to break the silence that was between them. \u201cMy \u2026 brother,\u201d he whispered. \u201cHe needs help.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker\u2019s eyes narrowed as he glanced over at the unconscious Joe and then back to Adam. \u201cWell he ain\u2019t getting any from me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam looked up at the man. \u201cWhy?\u201d he said in a low voice. \u201cWhy \u2026 are you \u2026 doing this?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMoney,\u201d replied Baker. \u201cSimple as that. You Cartwrights got money and I\u2019ve got none. That\u2019s all there is to it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut \u2026 you\u2019re Joe\u2019s Baker,\u201d said Adam, trying to fight of the feeling of nausea that had suddenly came over him. \u201cDon\u2019t you \u2026 care?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker snorted. \u201cNope,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t.\u201d He gave Adam a contemptuous look. \u201cAnd I ain\u2019t no one\u2019s Baker cept my own,\u201d he declared. \u201cSpecially not his!\u201d He gave Joe a slight kick and then stood up to leave.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWait!\u201d said Adam in a louder voice, but Baker simply continued to walk away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam reached out to touch Joe again. \u201cJoe,\u201d he said. \u201cJoe! Wake up!\u201d But Joe didn\u2019t move.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss looked at the doctor anxiously as Paul Martin bent over Ben lying on the bed. \u201cIs he hurt bad Doc?\u201d he asked, when he could bear the suspense no longer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Paul stood up and took his stethoscope out of his ears. \u201cHe has a severe concussion Hoss,\u201d he said. \u201cWhich is why he\u2019s still unconscious.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss bit his lip. \u201cThat ain\u2019t good, huh?\u201d he said, looking down at his father. It was so strange to see Ben Cartwright so still and quiet, for he was a man who was always in control and lying here on the bed so still made Hoss\u2019 blood run cold at the sight of what it could mean.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Paul shook his head. \u201cNo, it isn\u2019t,\u201d he said. \u201cI won\u2019t lie to you Hoss. The longer he\u2019s unconscious the more serious it is, I\u2019m afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss ran his fingers through his hair and looked out of the window in frustration, then turned to stare at his father again. He felt as if he were being torn in two with his brothers out there somewhere in trouble and his father lying here.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Paul noticed the look on his face. \u201cAny word?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss shook his head. \u201cNo,\u201d he muttered. \u201cRoy and the rest of em are still out there. He promised to send word if they \u2026\u201d He swallowed as he considered exactly what it was that they might find. \u201c \u2026. If they find Adam or Joe,\u201d he finished. He slammed his fist on the dresser next to him. \u201cDamn fool kid!\u201d he said suddenly. \u201cIt weren\u2019t enough that Adam was in the hands of them devils and now Joe has to go and \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Paul put his hand on the big man\u2019s shoulder, sensing his frustration and pain. \u201cWhat\u2019s done is done Hoss,\u201d he said. \u201cYou can\u2019t change things now, so there\u2019s no point in trying. The important thing is getting your two brothers back safe and sound and \u2026\u201d he indicated the unconscious man on the bed next to them. \u201c \u2026 and your father,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss nodded, the pain he was feeling reflected in his eyes as he looked at the doctor. \u201cI just don\u2019t know what to do,\u201d he admitted. \u201cPa needs me, but so do Adam and Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll stay here with your father,\u201d Paul assured him. \u201cHop Sing and I will look after him Hoss. Your place is out there with Roy and the others at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss shot him a grateful glance. \u201cAre you sure?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Paul nodded. \u201cYes,\u201d he said firmly. \u201cIt\u2019s what your father would want and you know it. Besides \u2026.\u201d He glanced down at Ben again. \u201cUntil he wakes up, then there\u2019s absolutely nothing you can do for him here. You go.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss nodded and bent down over his father\u2019s body. \u201cI\u2019m gonna go now Pa,\u201d he whispered into the unconscious man\u2019s ear. \u201cThe Doc and Hop Sing are gonna look after you fer a while. I\u2019m gonna go and get Adam and Joe back.\u201d He hesitated for a brief moment. \u201cI promise I\u2019m gonna bring em back safe Pa,\u201d he said, his voice cracking slightly with the emotion of what he was feeling. \u201cI promise Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He put his hand on Ben\u2019s cheek for a moment, nodded to Paul and then turned to leave the room without another word.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The moon was high above the small camp by the time that Joe finally opened his eyes. He immediately tried to move his arms and legs, but realised instantly that he was tied securely and it was impossible. He groaned slightly, more out of despair than discomfort for although he couldn\u2019t move, the ropes that bound him weren\u2019t tight enough to be causing him too much discomfort. Whoever had tied him up had known just how tight to make them so that he couldn\u2019t loosen them, but without attempting to be cruel about it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n His throat felt parched and his head ached where he\u2019d been struck by the gun barrel, but as he lay there considering his position he figured that these things were minor compared to the danger that he felt himself in. He remembered seeing his father fall to the ground just before he\u2019d come to his aid and even though he knew that he was in danger himself, his foremost concern was for his Pa. He rolled over to face the other way and rolled into someone lying beside him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n At first he thought that it was his father, but a second glance told him that it was \u2026 \u201cAdam!\u201d he said anxiously. \u201cAdam! Are you OK?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam opened his eyes and gave his brother a slight grin. \u201cSo you decided to join us again?\u201d he said. \u201cAbout time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe tried to return the grin, but failed. \u201cAre you OK?\u201d he repeated. \u201cWhere are we?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam closed his eyes momentarily and then opened them again. \u201cI\u2019m hurting some,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eye flickered down to the front of his brother\u2019s shirt and he noticed with horror the large dark stain that was spread over the entire front of it. \u201cYou\u2019ve been shot!\u201d he exclaimed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo kidding?\u201d said Adam. \u201cI was wondering where all this pain was coming from.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe was silent for a moment as he tried to turn his head to observe his brother\u2019s injury. \u201cAny idea where we are?\u201d he said, ignoring the pain that shot through his head as he moved it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his own head slightly. \u201cNo,\u201d he answered. \u201cAll I know is that they \u2026\u201d he indicated the small group of men near the fire. \u201c .. they\u2019ve been talking about the best \u2026 way out of here.\u201d He didn\u2019t add that he heard several of them arguing that he should be left here and Joe, as the healthier of the two brothers, be taken as hostage when they did leave. He looked at his brother. \u201cExplain to me how you ended up here with me?\u201d he asked, a touch sarcastically.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell you know me,\u201d Joe admitted. \u201cI can never take orders. I was trying to look out for Pa, but I reckon I only made things worse.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d Adam asked sharply. \u201cIs he OK?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe hesitated a moment before nodding. \u201cI think so,\u201d he said. \u201cActually \u2026. I don\u2019t know to be honest. There was a fight and the last time I saw him, he was on the ground. He wasn\u2019t shot though \u2026. at least I don\u2019t think so. I don\u2019t remember that much.\u201d He gave Adam a mournful look. \u201cSeems like we\u2019re all in a bit of a mess, don\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded. \u201cSeems so,\u201d he said and then looked across at the men again. \u201cJoe, there\u2019s something I have to tell you,\u201d he said. \u201cOne of those men is \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou two shut up!\u201d snarled one of the men by the fire. \u201cQuit yer yapping!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy brother is hurt,\u201d Joe shouted back at him. \u201cUntie me so that I can tend to him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The man snorted. \u201cYeah right,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd have you jump us when we ain\u2019t looking? No chance!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked from one face to another pleadingly, but not one on the men gave him anything more than a disinterested stare until his eyes reached the last man\u2019s. He noticed how the brown eyes flinched away from his and for a moment he wondered why until recognition registered in his brain and he gasped. \u201cBaker!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker drew back until he was in the shadows. George turned to him swiftly. \u201cHow come he\u2019s calling you by name?\u201d he snarled. \u201cYou seem ta know these Cartwrights Baker?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker shrugged, still avoiding looking at Joe. \u201cLong time ago,\u201d he admitted. \u201cNo matter now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, it better not be,\u201d said George, pointing his finger accusingly at him. \u201cYou ain\u2019t got a history with these folks I hope?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI gotta a history,\u201d admitted Baker. \u201cBut none that matters much.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut Baker \u2026.\u201d protested Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker stood up and walked towards Joe, looking down at him. \u201cYou shut up!\u201d he snarled. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing between us that matters any more. I told you that the last time I met you and I meant it!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s jaw dropped. \u201cBut \u2026\u201d he began, incredulously.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut nothing,\u201d interrupted Baker. \u201cGet it into your head once and for all that I don\u2019t remember you from those days you kept telling me about. I don\u2019t care about you and I don\u2019t care about your family, so quit going on about it.\u201d He kicked Joe on the thigh and turned away, snatching a whiskey bottle from Tom as he walked past him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe lay staring after him for a moment in silence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a changed man Joe,\u201d said Adam quietly. \u201cHe\u2019s not the same man you used to know.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded. \u201cObviously,\u201d he said in a bitter tone, still staring after Baker. After a moment he turned his head to look at his brother. \u201cI\u2019m sorry Adam,\u201d he muttered. \u201cI guess I made everything worse.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSave your speeches for Pa when we get out of this mess,\u201d replied Adam. \u201cYou\u2019re going to need them then.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf<\/em> we get out of this,\u201d replied Joe morosely.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll get out of it,\u201d said Adam in a determined voice. \u201cWe have to.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss rode out from the clump of trees and pulled his horse to a halt. \u201cAnything?\u201d he said to Roy Coffee, not bothering to waste any time on a greeting.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roy scratched his face. \u201cWe hadta stop when it got dark,\u201d he said. \u201cBut soon as it\u2019s light we\u2019ll be on our way again.\u201d He gave Hoss a sympathetic look as the man dismounted, wondering how he must be feeling with his two brothers in danger and his father hurt. \u201cHow\u2019s ya Pa?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot sure,\u201d Hoss replied. \u201cDoc Martin\u2019s with him now.\u201d He looked across the clearing, his jaw set and his eyes narrow. \u201cWhen I catch up with them varmints I\u2019m gonna kill em with my bare hands,\u201d he snarled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou just simmer down now Hoss,\u201d said Roy, flinching from the look in the other man\u2019s eyes. \u201cThere\u2019s a right way to do this and a wrong way. You know that if your Pa were here, he\u2019d be telling you to do this the right way.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss nodded. \u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d he snapped. \u201cOnly I can\u2019t help but think of Adam and Joe out there \u2026\u201d His voice trailed away and he gave the sheriff a hard look. \u201cIf either of my brothers are hurt then I\u2019m gonna finish this my way Roy. That\u2019s all there is to it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roy placed a hand on Hoss\u2019 shoulder. \u201cThey\u2019ll be fine Hoss,\u201d he said. \u201cI just know they will. You go and get yourself a cup of coffee now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019d better pray that they are OK,\u201d said a low voice beside the sheriff as Hoss moved away. \u201cOtherwise there\u2019s no telling what he\u2019s likely to do.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cKeep an eye on him,\u201d replied Roy. \u201cI don\u2019t want no mistakes with this, or someone\u2019s likely to get themselves killed when we catch up with them men.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDo you really believe that the Cartwrights are still alive Roy?\u201d asked the man.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roy shrugged and chewed on his moustache. \u201cI dunno,\u201d he said. \u201cI sure hope so though. One thing\u2019s fer sure though \u2026 they\u2019re gonna need at least one of em fer their insurance outta here. Let\u2019s just hope that they decide to keep both of em alive if they ain\u2019t dead already.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell I\u2019d hate to be one of em if they have killed Adam or Joe,\u201d said the man. \u201cFrom the look in Hoss\u2019 eyes he\u2019s out fer blood.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWatch him,\u201d repeated Roy. \u201cPass the word along to the other men too.\u201d He stared at Hoss for a while as the man walked away from him. It had always seemed to Roy that Hoss was the most mild-mannered of Ben Cartwright\u2019s sons, yet the sheriff knew that when he was riled he was capable of a toughness that few people ever saw. And nothing riled Hoss Cartwright more than someone threatening his family. Roy nodded slightly as he made up his mind to watch out for Hoss as well as the rest of the Cartwrights that were in danger in all of this.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe watched Adam sleeping, his mind a whirl of emotions as he tried to come to terms with what Baker had said to him earlier. For the life of him, he couldn\u2019t understand what would have possessed the man to say such things and all he could think of was that he was trying not to let onto his companions that he was a friend to the Cartwrights. Joe hoped with every passing minute that Baker would come over to himself and Adam and do something \u2026 anything \u2026 to help them get out of this mess.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n But his hopes were in vain as the hours slipped away and it became obvious that Baker wasn\u2019t merely putting on an act. Joe figured that the group of men were waiting for first light to make a move, for this country could be unforgiving to anyone who didn\u2019t know it well and in the dead of night a man would have taken his life in his own hands merely by attempting to ride through it without knowing where he was going.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n If Joe had been given the chance he could have easily made it to safety, for he knew the area well with all its crevasses and mountain trails. All he needed was for Baker to untie him and he knew that he possibly could have slipped away with Adam and made it out of here, but Baker never came near him. Instead the man sat on the other side of the fire drinking from the whiskey bottle, as one by one his companions fell asleep.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe lay and glared at him, his anger mounting with each passing hour. Adam didn\u2019t seem to be moving at all, and was either in a deep sleep or worse and the very thought that he could nothing to help his brother nagged at Joe more than his own safety.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Finally, he could keep silent no longer and he rolled over to face Baker. \u201cWell?\u201d he spat out. \u201cAre you going to just sit there and watch my brother die?\u201d Baker shrugged and took another swig of the whiskey. \u201cDon\u2019t you care?\u201d snapped Joe. \u201cAfter all my family has done for you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker spat on the ground. \u201cAnd what exactly is it that they\u2019ve done?\u201d he snarled. \u201cNot much that I can remember.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut that\u2019s just it,\u201d said Joe. \u201cIf you could remember back then \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cQuit that!\u201d interrupted Baker. \u201cI told you before that I\u2019ve had enough of all that. I\u2019m not the man you knew back then and I never will be, so stop going on about it!\u201d He gave Joe a frustrated look. \u201cYou\u2019re the most ornery fellar I\u2019ve ever come across Cartwright with all that kinda of talk! You\u2019d just better shut up if you know what\u2019s good for you, because I\u2019m getting mighty sick of it!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe lifted his head and stared at the man. \u201cSo you\u2019re just going to let Adam die?\u201d he asked. \u201cWhat kind of man have you become?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker shrugged again. \u201cYou just don\u2019t get it, do you? This is me now Joe. I\u2019m not the kind of man you want to know, so don\u2019t bother worrying about it. As for your brother there \u2026.\u201d He indicated Adam with his thumb. \u201cI never knew him much, so it doesn\u2019t matter much to me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut you knew me!\u201d insisted Joe. \u201cWe were friends Baker! Doesn\u2019t that count for anything?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker threw the bottle of whiskey onto the ground and stood up. \u201cI might have known you once, but I don\u2019t now!\u201d he said angrily. \u201cJust shut up or I\u2019ll shut you up permanent!\u201d He strode away from the fire and headed into the shadows, leaving a shocked Joe staring after him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was a long night for the two Cartwright brothers as they struggled to keep each other positive in light of their troubles. Joe, in particular, was very anxious about Adam and it frustrated the life out of him to have to lie next to his brother and listen to his groans without being able to help him in any way.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam, for his part, tried unsuccessfully to hide his pain from his brother as he drifted in and out of consciousness, but it was beyond him. By the time dawn was approaching he was covered in a light sweat and his breathing had become ragged.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d said Joe as the men in the camp around them began to wake and stir. \u201cCan you hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s eyes flitted half open. \u201cYes,\u201d he said, with difficulty.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been thinking,\u201d continued Joe. \u201cI reckon they\u2019ll be moving off soon. When they come over here they\u2019ll have to untie my feet if they want me on a horse and that\u2019s when I can \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s eyes opened fully. \u201cNo,\u201d he said weakly. \u201cDon\u2019t take any chances Joe. There\u2019s too many of them.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe snorted. \u201cI can handle it,\u201d he said confidently and Adam grimaced.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be a fool kid,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t call me kid,\u201d said Joe, automatically. His eyes flitted around the camp as he watched the men organising themselves and their horses. Now that it was light enough to see, they obviously meant to get going and he hoped that one of them would approach him soon. He mentally calculated how far it was to the nearest rifle that was sitting on a saddle on the other side of the fire and wondered just how long it would take him to lunge towards it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf they just untie my legs, then I can reach that rifle,\u201d whispered Joe. \u201cEven with my hands tied I\u2019ll be able to \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe \u2026 no!\u201d said Adam, trying desperately to remain conscious. \u201cIt won\u2019t work!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTrust me,\u201d said Joe, eyeing off the rifle. \u201cI can \u2026\u201d He stopped as George walked around the fire and approached them. \u201cMy brother is worse,\u201d said Joe, looking up at him. \u201cUntie me so that I can tend to him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n George shook his head and then looked down at Adam. \u201cNo point,\u201d he snarled. \u201cBaker!\u201d Get over here and shoot this one! We\u2019re taking the young one with us.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cNo!\u201d he shouted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou shut up,\u201d snarled George as he bent down and began to untie Joe\u2019s legs. \u201cHe ain\u2019t no use to us like that. Now shut up or you\u2019ll get a bullet in you too. I can take you injured or healthy \u2026 it\u2019s all the same to me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He ripped the ropes off Joe\u2019s feet and pulled him to a standing position. \u201cMove,\u201d he said, pushing him towards the horses.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLeave him,\u201d Joe pleaded with the man. \u201cMy brother can\u2019t hurt you now, so just take me and leave him here.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo he can talk when your old man finds him?\u201d said George, with a slight chuckle. \u201cI don\u2019t think so. We\u2019re gonna leave him all right, but we\u2019re gonna leave him dead.\u201d He looked over his shoulder again. \u201cBaker! Hurry up and shoot him!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked pleadingly at Baker. \u201cYou can\u2019t!\u201d he shouted. \u201cBaker \u2026 please \u2026 no!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker gave Joe a contemptuous look and picked up a rifle. \u201cShut up!\u201d he said and turned towards Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe lunged forward towards the man, but George reached out and punched him, sending him sprawling at Baker\u2019s feet, in front of Adam. \u201cGet out of the way,\u201d snarled Baker, aiming his rifle directly at Joe. \u201cThat brother of yours would only slow us down and I don\u2019t aim to leave him here to rat on us. Move!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n George bent down to pull Joe out of the way, but Joe kicked out at him and sent him sprawling in the dirt as well. He reached out with both hands that were still tied together and pulled on Baker\u2019s trouser leg. \u201cWhy are you doing this?\u201d he screamed at him. \u201cLeave my brother alone!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam feebly tried to lift his head and the movement cause Baker to turn sharply. In that instant, Joe gave a mighty tug on the man\u2019s leg and pulled him off his feet. For a few moments they rolled around in the dirt together.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Behind him, Joe heard a shot ring out through the air and out of the corner of his eye saw George lunge towards him and then fall heavily to the ground. More shots rang out, but the two men fighting became oblivious to all that was going on around them as they fought for control of the gun. Joe, hampered as he was by the fact that his hands were still tied together, was getting the worst of it, and it wasn\u2019t long before Baker had seized the gun again and was rising to his feet. He kicked Joe savagely in the stomach, sending him rolling over and over in the dirt until he came to rest next to George\u2019s body.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker gave him one last glance before turning the barrel of the rifle towards Adam, still lying motionless on the ground. Joe reached out and grabbed George\u2019s gun from his holster. \u201cNo!\u201d he shouted as Baker aimed. He fired one shot and Baker slumped to the ground, blood pouring from his chest.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe lay motionless for a few seconds, his mind trying to register what had just happened, then he dropped the gun and crawled over to Adam. \u201cAdam?\u201d he said anxiously, cradling his brother\u2019s head in his arms. \u201cAre you OK?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Suddenly the gunfire around him ceased and he looked up from Adam\u2019s face in surprise to see Roy Coffee and several other men coming out from behind some rocks at the side of the clearing. They picked their way through the tangled mass of dead bodies that were between themselves and Joe. \u201cAre you all right Joe?\u201d shouted Roy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded, but was silent as he looked down at Adam\u2019s face and then across to Baker who was lying next to him. Roy bent down and put a hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder. \u201cHow\u2019s Adam?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked back down at his brother\u2019s pale face again. \u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Suddenly there was a shout and Joe looked up again to see his brother Hoss barrelling towards them. \u201cJoe!\u201d Hoss yelled, sinking to his knees beside his two brothers. \u201cAre ya OK Joe? Tell me that you\u2019re OK.\u201d He held his brother\u2019s face in between his two hands and looked at it intently.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d replied Joe, shaking his head out of his brother\u2019s grasp. \u201cBut Adam \u2026. Hoss, he\u2019s hurt bad.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss nodded and without a word picked his older brother up in his arms and stood up while Joe watched him. \u201cI\u2019ll take him on my horse,\u201d said Hoss and turned away, carrying Adam with as much ease as if he\u2019d been a child.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked across at Baker and then reached out to touch the man, his eyes widening as a small groan escaped from him. \u201cBaker?\u201d he said and turned the man\u2019s body over so that he was facing the sky. \u201cBaker? Can you hear me?\u201d he asked, wincing as he saw the large bloodstain that covered the entire front of Baker\u2019s shirt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There was no response from the man on the ground, but it was obvious that he was still breathing. Joe sat and stared down at him for a moment, his mind still trying to come to grips with what had just taken place.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roy Coffee jerked his thumb at one of the men. \u201cGet into town and get some horses out here,\u201d he said, looking around the area. \u201cWe\u2019re gonna need em to get these bodies back to town. He bent down and put his hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder. \u201cYou stay here Joe,\u201d he said kindly. \u201cI\u2019m nearby if you need me son.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded without looking up. He knew without anyone saying it that by the time the man got back with the horses, that Baker would be one of the bodies they would be needed for. The man was bleeding too badly and it was only a matter of time before the inevitable happened, for nothing could save him now. He looked up as Hoss came to stand beside him. \u201cIt\u2019s Baker, Hoss,\u201d he said, indicating the man lying beside him. \u201cHe was one of em. He was going to shoot Adam.\u201d His eyes misted over and he looked up at his brother pleadingly as if he could do something to change that fact.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll look after Adam,\u201d said Hoss, giving Joe a compassionate look. \u201cYou\u2019ve done all you can fer now Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded, considering for a moment how everything around him seemed to be happening in slow motion. \u201cWhat about a doctor?\u201d he said. \u201cHe needs tending real quick Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDoc Martin\u2019s already at the house with Pa,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cI\u2019ll get Adam there as quick as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes widened suddenly. \u201cPa?\u201d he said, urgently clutching at his brother\u2019s sleeve.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss patted the hand. \u201cDoc seems to think he\u2019ll be OK,\u201d he lied. \u201cJust took a nasty hit on the head is all. \u201cDon\u2019t you worry Joe, I\u2019ll get Adam back there real quick and he\u2019ll be looked after.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe ran his fingers through his hair as he glanced across at Hoss\u2019 horse on which their brother was half-sitting, slumped over the saddle. \u201cI need to come too,\u201d he said in a low voice. \u201cAdam \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201c \u2026 has me to look after him now,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cYou come when you can Joe.\u201d He glanced down at Baker on the ground in front of them. \u201cWhen it\u2019s finished,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded. \u201cIt don\u2019t matter what he\u2019s done Hoss,\u201d he said miserably. \u201cA man deserves to have someone with him when he dies,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss nodded and patted Joe\u2019s shoulder before turning towards his horse. Joe dimly heard the voices of the men around him as they began to gather up the bodies, his eyes all the while trained on Baker. He lifted the man\u2019s head and placed his hat under it, not knowing what else he could do for him. The gesture seemed so futile, yet comforting in some way.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker\u2019s eyes flitted open and he stared up at Joe for a moment. \u201cWhat \u2026\u201d he looked around. \u201cJoe?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cKeep still,\u201d said Joe. \u201cYou\u2019re bleeding.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker looked down at his torso, which by now was fully drenched with his blood. \u201cI\u2019ve been hit,\u201d he said in wonderment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d said Joe simply, for there was nothing else to say.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker looked up at him. \u201cJoe?\u201d he said. \u201cTell me the truth kid. Is this it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d said Joe again, for any man deserved to know the truth at a time like this.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker closed his eyes again with a sigh. \u201cI\u2019m glad,\u201d he said softly. \u201cGlad that it happened like this.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGlad?\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The eyes opened again and the man on the ground stared up at him. \u201cJoe,\u201d he said. \u201cYou don\u2019t understand, do you?\u201d He smiled suddenly, a gesture that took Joe totally by surprise. \u201cJoe,\u201d he said, clutching at the other man\u2019s sleeve. \u201cRemember what I told you once when you were captured by those Paiutes? That you had to hang in and not die on me? Seems like I need to say that to myself right about now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah but that was \u2026.\u201d Joe\u2019s eyes widened and he gave Baker an incredulous look. \u201cWhat?\u201d he said, after a moment. \u201cWhen we were captured by the Paiutes? You remember that?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSeems like it,\u201d said Baker, closing his eyes again. \u201cKind of ironic isn\u2019t it, that I\u2019d remember that now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe bent down so that his face was close to Baker\u2019s. \u201cWhat else do you remember?\u201d he said anxiously. \u201cAnything else?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker opened his eyes again. \u201cI remember you peeing on me when I first found you,\u201d he said, trying to smile. \u201cYou were a right pain.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe felt the tears pricking at his eyes with the bittersweet joy of Baker finally remembering after all this time. For so long he\u2019d wanted him to be the Baker that he knew back then and for so long he knew that the man wasn\u2019t the friend he\u2019d remembered him to be. And now that he was dying \u2026. and he was the one who had shot him \u2026. he was beginning to remember. Joe shook his head with the injustice of it all. \u201cI\u2019m glad you\u2019re remembering,\u201d he said, for want of anything else to say.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker nodded slightly and grimaced at the pain that shot through his body at even that slight movement. \u201cYeah,\u201d he said. \u201cAt least I can die a friend now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe brushed the tears away that were threatening to spill over onto his cheeks now and clutched Baker\u2019s hand tightly. \u201cI\u2019ve always been your friend,\u201d he said. \u201cI never stopped.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut I did,\u201d replied Baker. \u201cI\u2019m sorry Joe. I didn\u2019t mean \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOf course you didn\u2019t,\u201d interrupted Joe quickly. \u201cI know that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d said Baker, trying to turn his head and look around.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss has taken him,\u201d said Joe. \u201cHe\u2019s getting him to a doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI hope he\u2019s OK,\u201d said Baker. \u201cHe tried to tell me \u2026.\u201d His voice trailed away and he gasped with the pain that was washing over him. \u201cYou\u2019re a lucky man Joe,\u201d he said after a moment. \u201cYou\u2019ve got family that love you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d said Joe, squeezing Baker\u2019s hand even tighter. \u201cBaker \u2026 I\u2019m sorry. About shooting you I mean. I didn\u2019t \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker held up his hand. \u201cI was asking for it kid,\u201d he said feebly. \u201cIt was me or your brother and you chose right Joe. You had to do what you did and I don\u2019t hold any anger towards you for it. If anyone here needs forgiveness \u2026 it\u2019s me.\u201d He coughed suddenly and a trickle of blood oozed out of the side of his mouth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his face clean and a small object fluttered to the ground as he did so. He picked it up, looked at it and then gave Baker a slight smile. \u201cYou remember this?\u201d he asked, holding it out.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker looked at the small piece of rawhide. \u201cNo,\u201d he said. \u201cShould I?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI gave it to you once,\u201d explained Joe. \u201cAnd you gave it back to me years later. I got it from the Indians when I was a little kid \u2026 I was wearing it the first time you ever found me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker\u2019s eyes lit up momentarily. \u201cI do remember,\u201d he said. \u201cYou wore it around that mess of curly hair you had. I used it later on to tie up your letters for all those years.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe turned it over in his hand and looked at it. \u201cI carry it in my jacket pocket all the time,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s silly really, but it always helped me remember you.\u201d He smiled. \u201cIt\u2019s been through Hop Sing\u2019s wash more times than I can recall. He was always going on about it, but he always made sure I got it back each time.\u201d He held it out for Baker to see. \u201cYou take it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker shook his head and another coughing fit overcame him. \u201cNo,\u201d he said, when he was able to talk again. \u201cYou keep it Joe. It isn\u2019t any use to me now. Nothing is.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t talk like that,\u201d snapped Joe. \u201cNow that you can remember \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNothing has changed,\u201d interrupted Baker. \u201cIt\u2019s my time Joe and that\u2019s all there is to it. I just wish \u2026\u201d He coughed again, blood running freely down his chin now. \u201cYou\u2019ve grown into a fine man Joe and I wish \u2026 that I could be around to see you in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n This time Joe didn\u2019t bother to wipe away the tears that were falling and a few of them splashed onto Baker\u2019s shirt and mingled with the blood there. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m sorry that it had to end this way.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo am I kid,\u201d said Baker. \u201cSo am I.\u201d He closed his eyes again with a sigh and Joe shook him slightly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cStay with me Baker,\u201d he pleaded with the man. \u201cDon\u2019t go yet!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baker\u2019s eyes fluttered half open again and he opened his mouth, but no words came out. For a couple of moments the two men stared at each other and then Joe spoke again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThanks Baker,\u201d he said. \u201cThanks for everything. I always loved you Baker \u2026 and I guess it\u2019s OK to say that now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah \u2026. It\u2019s OK,\u201d said Baker. His eyes fluttered closed again. \u201cGoodbye Baker\u2019s Brat,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe felt the man\u2019s body go limp under his touch and he bent his head and sobbed quietly for a minute or two. \u201cGoodbye Baker,\u201d he said when he was able to speak again. \u201cSafe journey.\u201d He lay the man\u2019s body down on the ground again and swallowed as he stared down at it. After a moment he reached out and ran a finger down the long scar on the side of his face and then straightened up again and looked towards the sky which was lightening now with the rosy glow of a new dawn.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s heart was empty as he stood up and turned towards Roy Coffee and the other men. Without a word he walked towards them and stood there, not quite knowing what to do next.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou follow Hoss home son,\u201d said Roy, coming to stand beside him. \u201cYou\u2019re needed there right about now. Me and the others will finish up here.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked at him without seeing him and nodded without knowing what he was doing. Without a word he walked over to the horses, his eyes swimming with tears with each step that he took.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam should be fine in a few days,\u201d Paul Martin said as he reached the bottom step. \u201cThe bullet wasn\u2019t in too deep and I think the infection is under control now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben breathed a sigh of relief. \u201cThank you,\u201d he said fervently.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Paul reached over and fingered the bandage on Ben\u2019s head. \u201cHow are you feeling? Any more dizziness?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head and brushed the doctor\u2019s hand away impatiently. \u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s Adam I was so worried about.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Paul nodded and then walked over to Joe who was seated on the sofa with Hoss. \u201cHow about you, young man?\u201d he asked. \u201cI think I should take a look at that head of yours as well.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d Joe echoed his father as he gave Paul a frustrated look.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou Cartwrights!\u201d laughed the doctor. \u201cIts just as well you\u2019ve all got hard heads, is all I can say.\u201d He stretched in a tired fashion. \u201cI\u2019ll take you up on that offer of a bed for the night if it\u2019s still available Ben,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t relish driving back to town at this time of night and it will give me a chance to check on Adam first thing in the morning before leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d said Ben, dragging his eyes away from the staircase where he\u2019d been staring up to the top floor and Adam\u2019s bedroom. \u201cHoss? Would you show Paul the guest room please?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Paul held up his hand. \u201cI know where it is Hoss,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve been in there a time or two, remember? I would appreciate some coffee though, if that\u2019s all right?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll get some from the kitchen,\u201d said Hoss and followed Paul out of the room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben put his foot on the bottom step and held onto the banister as he continued to look up the stairs. \u201cI\u2019ll just go on up and see how your brother is doing,\u201d he said over his shoulder to Joe and then hesitated as he noticed his youngest son staring intently into the fire. \u201cJoe?\u201d he said, turning around to face his son. \u201cAre you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe dragged his eyes away from the mesmerising fire. \u201cI\u2019m OK Pa,\u201d he said. \u201cYou go on up to Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben walked over to him. \u201cYou don\u2019t look OK,\u201d he said, with a concerned look on his face. \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shook his head. \u201cNothing,\u201d he said in a low voice. \u201cAdam needs you Pa. You go on up to him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben sat down. \u201cYour brother will need me when he wakes up,\u201d he said. \u201cUntil then I have a feeling that you need me more. What is it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gave his father a slight smile. \u201cYou always know, don\u2019t you?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben smiled back. \u201cThat\u2019s what fathers are for,\u201d he said. \u201cTalk to me boy.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe stared into the fire again. \u201cHe knew me,\u201d he said softly. \u201cAt the end, just before he went, he knew me Pa. He called me Baker\u2019s Brat just like he used to.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben put his arm around his son\u2019s shoulder and gave it a slight squeeze. \u201cI\u2019m glad,\u201d he said simply.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There was silence for a full minute as they both stared into the fire. \u201cWhy Pa?\u201d said Joe finally. \u201cWhy was he like that? What could make a man change so much? I mean, I know that he didn\u2019t remember who he really was until right before he died, but last time he was here \u2026\u201d he looked at his father. \u201cLast time he was here, he wasn\u2019t like that. He didn\u2019t know who he was, but he wasn\u2019t all bitter and twisted inside like he was this time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head. \u201cIt was beyond his control son,\u201d he said. \u201cLife does that to people sometimes and Baker was \u2026 well, he\u2019d had it hard these past few years, I suspect.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe would have helped him if he\u2019d asked,\u201d Joe protested. \u201cThere was no need for him to have it hard! You told him that he had a place here whenever he wanted it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded. \u201cYes,\u201d he said. \u201cBut he didn\u2019t want that. He needed to make his own way in the world and even though he made some bad choices, in his mind he was his own man.\u201d He squeezed Joe\u2019s shoulder again before continuing. \u201cI think that it was God\u2019s plan for him Joe. Every man has his destiny and this was Baker\u2019s. None of us know what our lives are going to be or where they are going to lead us. All we can do is to take what comes and work our way towards our destiny \u2026 whatever that may be.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou make it sound as if it doesn\u2019t matter what we do with our lives,\u201d said Joe bitterly. \u201cLike we can\u2019t make our own choices.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head. \u201cI don\u2019t mean it to sound like that,\u201d he continued. \u201cWe need to be aware of life\u2019s obstacles and work through them of course, but \u2026\u201d He sighed. \u201cWell, let\u2019s just say that sometimes God has a plan in mind for us.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shook his head. \u201cNo,\u201d he said firmly. \u201cLook what Baker had become Pa. He wasn\u2019t the Baker I knew.\u201d He stared into the fire again. \u201cWhen I think back to the man that I knew all those years ago when I was a little kid,\u201d he said softly. \u201cHe was so wonderful to me then and I admired him so much.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHold onto those memories son,\u201d said Ben gently. \u201cRemember him as he was then, not as he\u2019d become now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded thoughtfully and was silent for a moment. \u201cI just \u2026 I just think I should have tried harder Pa,\u201d he said. \u201cYou know?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere was nothing you could have done Joe,\u201d his father assured him. \u201cHe was bound and determined to shoot Adam from what you\u2019ve told me. You saved your brother\u2019s life son and you should be proud of yourself for that. I know that I am.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe sighed again. \u201cI had to do it Pa,\u201d he said. \u201cI know that. It was him or Adam and \u2026\u201d He swallowed. \u201cI couldn\u2019t let him do it Pa,\u201d he said. \u201cNot to Adam. Not to my brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d said Ben. \u201cYou have nothing to be sorry for son.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen how come I feel so guilty?\u201d asked Joe bitterly. \u201cI feel as if I should have been able to stop this.\u201d He hung his head and stared at the floor. \u201cI don\u2019t believe that God would have planned for this happen,\u201d he said bitterly. \u201cI don\u2019t believe that Baker was meant to die like that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben searched his heart for the right words to say to his son. \u201cJoe, we don\u2019t always understand why things happen,\u201d he said finally. \u201cSometimes we just don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded. \u201cYes,\u201d he agreed. \u201cPa?\u201d he looked up at his father. \u201cCan we bury Baker on The Ponderosa?\u201d he asked. \u201cI think that he\u2019d like to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI think that he would too,\u201d said Ben, smiling at his son. \u201cOf course we can.\u201d He stood up. \u201cI\u2019ll go to Adam now,\u201d he said. He bent down and squeezed Joe\u2019s shoulder one more time before adding. \u201cJoe?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked up. \u201cYeah Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t let this hold you back from life son,\u201d he said. \u201cYou have your own destiny to fulfil and no matter what has happened to Baker, he would want you to go on with your life.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe smiled. \u201cI know,\u201d he said. \u201cDon\u2019t worry Pa. I\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben turned and walked to the staircase while Joe stared into the fire again, its mesmerising flames drawing his eyes closer as his tired mind allowed itself to finally relax.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe entered the room cautiously. \u201cYou awake?\u201d he said in a soft voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam opened his eyes and tried to focus on who was speaking to him. \u201cYes,\u201d he said as Joe\u2019s face came into focus. \u201cJust resting.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll leave if you want me to,\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his head. \u201cNo,\u201d he replied. \u201cI\u2019m getting bored up here.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell Doc Martin says that you can get up in a day or two,\u201d said Joe, sitting down on a chair beside the bed. \u201cHop Sing said to bring this broth up for you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam motioned with his hand. \u201cPut it on the dresser,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll have it later.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe put it where his brother had indicated. \u201cHow are you feeling?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBetter,\u201d admitted Adam. He tried to move in the bed, but flinched as a shot of pain went through his stomach. \u201cSome,\u201d he added ruefully. He glanced up at his brother who was giving him an anxious look. \u201cI\u2019ll be fine,\u201d he said in typical Cartwright fashion and was rewarded by an easing of the tension on Joe\u2019s face. \u201cI never got the chance to thank you for saving my life,\u201d Adam said after a moment. \u201cThat was a gutsy thing you did back there kid.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shrugged as if it didn\u2019t matter. \u201cThat\u2019s OK,\u201d he said casually.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, I mean it Joe,\u201d persisted Adam. \u201cI know what it cost you to do what you did. I mean \u2026. it being Baker and all.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded. \u201cYeah,\u201d he said simply. \u201cYou know what Adam? I\u2019ve been thinking. You were the reason why I met Baker all those years ago \u2026 you know, when you went to Boston and I thought I could go and find you.\u201d Both brothers chuckled at the memory of the small, determined boy who had taken off in that way. \u201cAnd,\u201d continued Joe after a moment. \u201cYou were the reason why I \u2026 why I killed him in the end.\u201d He stared into space for a moment. \u201cJust seems kinda strange in a way,\u201d he said, shrugging his shoulders. \u201cLike you were all tied up in \u2026 well \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHis destiny?\u201d prompted Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe jerked. \u201cThat\u2019s the word that Pa used too,\u201d he said. \u201cHe said that what happened was Baker\u2019s destiny.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI agree,\u201d said Adam. He patted Joe\u2019s hand in a rare show of affection. \u201cNo matter what happened Joe, you did well kid,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t call me kid,\u201d said Joe automatically.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam grinned at him. \u201cYou know that I don\u2019t mean anything by that,\u201d he said. \u201cI really think you\u2019ve grown into a fine man Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shrugged, trying to appear casual about his brother\u2019s words, but Adam noticed that his eyes lit up regardless. \u201cI know you don\u2019t,\u201d he said. \u201cJust like I don\u2019t mean anything by it when I call you old,\u201d he said with a grin. \u201cOr when I talk about how you\u2019re losing your hair.\u201d His grin became quite cheeky and he stood up before Adam could swat him one. \u201cWell, you\u2019d better get some rest,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd don\u2019t forget that broth or Hop Sing will have your hide.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou sound like Pa,\u201d observed Adam. He smiled as his brother left the room and then the smile faded and he reached up to finger his dark hair thoughtfully.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell who woulda thought it?\u201d said Joe, staring down the steep hillside as he spoke. \u201cWho would have thought that it would come to this in the end Baker?\u201d He turned to face the wooden cross beside him and flinched at sight of the freshly dug grave that still smelt of the earth that had been dug to accommodate the wooden box that they had lowered into it that very day.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe was silent for a moment as he thought back over all the years and the times that he and Baker had shared together since they\u2019d met. He remembered the young corporal who had looked after him as a small child and how kind he\u2019d been to the little boy. He remembered the young officer and how much he had admired him. He remembered the sad and lonely man who had searched for his past with no success. And finally he remembered the bitter man who had threatened the very core of Joe\u2019s life \u2026. his family.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe closed his eyes as he tried to make all the images of the Baker that he\u2019d know merge into one, but opened them again as he realised the futility of such a thing. It was as if Baker had been several people and nothing would bring everything he had known about the man together into one memory that he could hold onto.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMaybe Pa is right?\u201d he said softly as he laid his hand on the freshly dug grave. \u201cI\u2019d rather remember you like when I first met you anyway.\u201d He grinned as he thought of the young soldier who had tried to look after the frightened little boy all those years ago and his eyes misted over as he heard once again in his mind the words that Baker had said to him in those early days when they\u2019d first met. Stuck with you, <\/em>he\u2019d said and Joe remembered how he\u2019d felt the same at the time. \u201cI guess we\u2019re stuck with each other now for ever,\u201d he said ruefully.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m glad that you\u2019ll be staying here on The Ponderosa though,\u201d he continued. \u201cI\u2019ll come and talk to you lots Baker and tell you all the goings on in my life. I promise. We\u2019ll always be friends.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was funny how life turned out, he mused. Some people come into your life and then go away again, but they change you forever just by having been a part of you in that time that you have with them. He felt that way about Baker. The man might be dead, but there would always be a little bit of Baker inside Joe for as long as he was alive.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He stood up and looked down at the grave for several minutes before reaching into his jacket pocket and pulling out a small piece of rawhide. He looped it around the wooden cross at the top of the grave and tied it securely. \u201cThere,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s yours again Baker.\u201d He thought of the yellow army gloves and bandanna that a small boy had been given all those years ago and which he still had in his dresser drawer at home in his bedroom, knowing that each time he looked at them he\u2019d be reminded of the man who\u2019d given them to him and of the good times they\u2019d shared together.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was like his Pa had said. \u201cRemember the good times,\u201d Joe said out loud. \u201cHold onto those memories and Baker will always be with you. That\u2019s what Pa told me and he\u2019s right. I\u2019ll remember how we were together in the good times.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He smiled down at the grave. \u201cGoodbye Baker,\u201d he said before turning towards his horse. \u201cI\u2019ll be back to visit.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n As he mounted up and turned his horse towards the house, he looked over his shoulder for a moment before riding off down the trail. As the sound of his horse\u2019s hoof beats receded into the distance and the stillness descended once more onto the tranquil spot, a slight breeze stirred the tops of the trees and a soft voice mingled with the sound of the pines whispering in the breeze. If Joe had still been there, he might have caught the words \u2026\u2026.\u00a0 Goodbye Baker\u2019s Brat.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The End<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Summary:\u00a0 Joe and Baker meet again, but this time under difficult circumstances.<\/p>\n Rated: K (17,680 words)<\/p>\n Baker’s Brat Series, links to all the stories within the series included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":21331,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[23,1007],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-joe-cartwright","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1007-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/joec.jpg?fit=505%2C572&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2139"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2139\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/21331"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nBaker’s Dozen<\/a>
\nBaker’s Legacy<\/a>
\nBaker’s Destiny<\/a><\/p>\n