{"id":2513,"date":"2008-10-23T23:04:52","date_gmt":"2008-10-24T03:04:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2513"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:13:41","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:13:41","slug":"sacrificial-lamb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2513","title":{"rendered":"Sacrificial Lamb – Part 1 (by Kenda)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/span>Although Ben Cartwright knew his brother Daniel was not easy to get along with, the passing years had brought with them a nostalgic longing to reconnect with the family he\u2019d left behind in Ohio. When word reaches Ben that Daniel has recently suffered difficult heartaches, he invites the man to spend the summer on the Ponderosa, never imagining the trouble Daniel\u2019s presence would bring. In addition to Daniel\u2019s visit that soon has Ben recalling why he\u2019d never been close to his eldest sibling, is trouble from a neighbor bent on revenge. A summer Ben had been looking forward to, quickly changes to one that contains nothing but challenges, disagreements, and worries for his youngest son\u2019s safety. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rated:<\/span>\u00a0T (57,115 words)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sacrificial Lamb Series:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Part 1<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Part 2<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Sacrificial Lamb<\/strong><\/p>\n

Prologue<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The man entered through the open front gates,<\/strong> the arched ironwork high above his head spelling, Reedsville Cemetery. He walked down the familiar stone-lined path, turning right when he reached the eighth row. He proceeded past headstones bearing names like Barton, and Riggs, and Olmstead, not stopping to pay his respects until he arrived at a large gray stone that declared\u00a0Cartwright<\/strong>\u00a0in deeply engraved letters.<\/p>\n

\n

Two smaller gray stones resided in front of the imposing one that staked out this family plot. The man took off his hat. Despite the canopy the branches of the maple trees created above him, the early spring sunshine warmed his shock of thick, gray hair. He hitched up his left trouser leg, so he could comfortably kneel in front of the first stone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Clara Eustacia Cartwright
\nBeloved Wife and Mother
\nBorn: January 16th, 1795
\nDied: February 12th, 1861<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The man reached out a hand, running his fingers over his wife\u2019s name, and then brushing them across the date of her death. God had taken her from him so recently, that even though he sought comfort from his Bible, the pain was still fresh. He bowed his head, his lips moving in silent prayer.<\/span><\/p>\n

When he couldn\u2019t bear to mourn his wife any longer, he stood, put his hat back on, and shuffled sideways a few steps. This time he didn\u2019t kneel, though anyone who knew the man was now standing in front of his only son\u2019s grave might wonder why the same respect wasn\u2019t given to the deceased child, as had been given to the deceased wife.<\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel Weston Cartwright Jr.
\nBorn: March 23rd, 1841
\nDied: August 27th, 1860<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The man stared at the gravestone and shook his head with reproach, just as he did each time he came here. Just as if his son was standing in front of him and could hear the admonishment in his tone, and see the disappointment in his deep brown eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve forgiven you, Danny. The Bible says the Lord wants us to forgive, because the final Judgment belongs to Him. It pains me to think of where your judgment has left you. I warned you that you\u2019d be cast out of Heaven if you didn\u2019t repent for your sins and change your ways, but you wouldn\u2019t listen. \u2018Children, obey your parents, the Lord sayeth,\u2019 but you didn\u2019t obey me, did you, Danny? You didn\u2019t obey me, and now, for all of eternity, you\u2019ll pay the price for that disobedience.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The man swiped at a sudden tear trickling a crooked path down his face, as he quoted Samuel, Chapter 12, Verse 9.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The man shook his head a final time, then turned away from his son\u2019s grave. He headed for the stone path that would lead him back to the front gates, all the while asking softly of his dead boy, \u201cWhy, Danny? I just wish you could have told me why you despised the word of the Lord. Why, son? Why? After all the guidance and teachings your mother and I gave you, why? How I prayed you could tell me why.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Just like had been the case when his son was alive, Daniel Cartwright received no answers to his questions. He passed through the cemetery\u2019s gates, crossed the street, and walked the six blocks to the heart of town, where he entered Cartwright General Store. He\u2019d established the business forty years ago in this rolling valley hamlet of Reedsville, Ohio, and had prayed God would some day bless him with a son who\u2019d run the store by his side. He\u2019d thought his prayers were answered when Clara gave birth to Danny \u201clate in life\u201d as the expression went, but by the time the boy reached his teen years, it was apparent that Satan was working hard at convincing him to make other plans.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 1<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ben paid scant awareness to the steaming platters of food being set on the table behind him, as Hop Sing trotted between the kitchen and dining room carrying out supper. For the third time since Adam arrived home with the mail, Ben read through the letter from his brother John.<\/span><\/p>\n

The man\u2019s attention was barely drawn to the front door as it opened and closed. He did pay enough attention, however, to notice one son was missing. Without taking his eyes off the paper he held, Ben asked, \u201cWhere\u2019s Little Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t know.\u201d Hoss hung his hat on a peg and then unbuckled his gun belt. \u201cHaven\u2019t seen \u2018im since he set off to mend that section of fence right after breakfast.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam followed Hoss\u2019s lead and hung up his hat; then placed his rolled up gun belt on the sideboard.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I didn\u2019t see him town, so I\u2019ll go out on a limb and say he didn\u2019t sneak off to get in on a card game at the Bucket of Blood.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben shot his oldest a look of reproach.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was that for?\u201d Adam asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor always assuming your youngest brother is up to no good.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam laughed. \u201cPa, nine times out of ten he is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdam. . .\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, all right. Allow me to refigure that. How about, five times out of ten he\u2019s up to no good.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow about if you remember he\u2019s only eighteen years old.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam sat in the blue chair, while Hoss sank to the settee with a grateful sigh.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI remember. You remind me of it often enough.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen let me remind you of another thing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat when\u00a0you<\/em>\u00a0were eighteen, you were attending college in Boston.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that have to do with Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat it has to do with Joseph is this. Whatever mistakes or errors in judgment you made at eighteen, were made far away from the eyes of your family. Little Joe doesn\u2019t have that luxury. Sometimes you need to be a bit more mindful of that before you decide to sentence him without a fair trial, so to speak.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about Hoss?\u201d Adam asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, what about me?\u201d Hoss questioned in a tone that said he didn\u2019t appreciate being drug into this discussion.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou never mentioned his mistakes or errors in judgment when he was eighteen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s eyes twinkle and a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. \u201cThat\u2019s because he didn\u2019t make any.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss grinned with self-satisfied pride. \u201cThat\u2019s right, Adam. See there. I didn\u2019t make none.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam shook his head at the pair, but kept his peace. Joe\u2019s occasional waywardness and penchant for trouble was often a source of dissension between father and eldest son. There was no point in stirring things up before they even knew if Joe\u2019s tardiness was the result of some transgression. Besides, Pa would just tell Adam that someday he\u2019d have children of his own, and when he did, he\u2019d understand that the wise father praised his child\u2019s strengths, rather than constantly reminded him of his weaknesses.<\/span><\/p>\n

Just as Adam decided a change of subject was in order, Hoss made the change for him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdam mentioned ya\u2019 got a letter from Uncle John, Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben held up the letter. \u201cI did.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYa\u2019 gonna read it to us after supper?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Their father reading aloud letters from far-away family members was a tradition that dated so far back neither Adam nor Hoss could remember a time when it wasn\u2019t done. Sometimes letters from Pa\u2019s family had been many months old by the time they caught up to Pa and Adam on their journey west, but regardless, no matter how dated the news was, Pa always welcome those letters like they were treasured friends.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI plan to, unless you boys are past the age where you find it entertaining to listen to your father read letters from people you\u2019ve either never met, or barely remember.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss shrugged. \u201cDon\u2019t reckon I\u2019m past that age. Always felt like I\u2019ve kinda got to know my kinfolk through them there letters.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSame goes for me,\u201d Adam said. \u201cBesides, Hoss and I get a good laugh out of watching the way those letters put Joe to sleep like a newborn baby not five minutes after you start reading.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, that is kinda fun ta\u2019 see now, ain\u2019t it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEspecially when his head drops face-first into his dinner plate.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour brother\u2019s sudden fatigue isn\u2019t a reflection of my reading skills, I hope.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think so, but I suppose you\u2019d have to ask Joe to be certain.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, well, perhaps I\u2019ll do that before he gets a chance to close his eyes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBetter be quick about it, Pa, \u2018cause as soon as Little Joe sees one a\u2019 them letters come outta yer pocket, his eyes set ta\u2019 droopin\u2019.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben smiled and shook his head. \u201cOkay you two, that\u2019s enough teasing at Little Joe\u2019s expense when he\u2019s not even here to defend himself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSpeakin\u2019 of Little Joe bein\u2019 here, I sure wish he\u2019d hurry up. I\u2019m hungry, and that food Hop Sing\u2019s got on the table ain\u2019t gonna stay hot all night.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll wait a few more minutes,\u201d Ben said, \u201cthen start without him if he still hasn\u2019t arrived.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben folded the letter and put it in his shirt pocket, frowning slightly as he did so.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSomething wrong, Pa?\u201d Adam asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWrong?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou seemed. . .distracted when Hoss and I first walked in, and you just frowned when you put that letter away. Uncle John didn\u2019t give you bad news, did he?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot exactly bad news, no. Just. . .unsettling news, I suppose you\u2019d call it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUnsettling news?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJohn\u2019s concerned about Daniel. Says he\u2019s taking Clara\u2019s death very hard.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe just passed on a couple months back, didn\u2019t she?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben nodded as he answered Hoss. \u201cIn February. And it was only a few months before Clara\u2019s passing that he lost Danny.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAm I correct when I say he\u2019s not completely alone. One of his daughters still lives with him, doesn\u2019t she?\u201d Adam questioned. \u201cEsther?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Ruth,\u201d Ben said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right. Ruth. Esther\u2019s the one who lives in Toledo. Her husband owns a textile mill.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNah, that\u2019s Miriam,\u201d Hoss said. \u201cEsther lives some place in Pennsylvania.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Adam negated. \u201cThat\u2019s Anna. Esther lives just outside Reedsville, not far from Uncle Daniel\u2019s store. One of her boys works for Uncle Daniel. I think his name is Joshua.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEvidently you boys have paid pretty good attention to all these letters throughout the years.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGuess so,\u201d Hoss said, \u201cconsidering I never even met Uncle Dan\u2019l or his family.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd considering you, Adam, probably barely remember playing with Daniel\u2019s girls.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBarely is right,\u201d Adam acknowledged. \u201cYou worked in his store for a few weeks when we were passing through Ohio, didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUh\u2026yes. Yes, I did.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot cut out to be a shopkeeper, Pa?\u201d Hoss teased.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo. . .no, not really,\u201d Ben replied in a vague tone, as though there was more he could say about the short period of time he\u2019d spent working for his eldest brother, but decided better of it. \u201cBesides, my dream was to head west, not remain in Ohio.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut we were going to stay there for the winter,\u201d Adam said as long-ago memories began to surface. \u201cIf I recall correctly, you\u2019d enrolled me in the local schoolhouse. I remember being excited about the prospect of attending school with my cousins.\u201d Adam made the kind of a face he might of as a five-year-old boy. \u201cEven if they were girls.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss chuckled as Ben said, \u201cWell. . .yes. . .yes, that was my intention, but my plans. . .my plans changed at the last minute. And it was a good thing they did, too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy\u2019s that, Pa?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben looked at his middle son. \u201cBecause if they hadn\u2019t, you likely wouldn\u2019t be sitting here with us. It was because I decided to travel on to Illinois, that I met your mother.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSounds like a good reason to travel on to me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben smiled. \u201cTo me too, Hoss.\u201d The man sobered again. \u201cNow as to why I was distracted earlier. . .after reading John\u2019s letter, I was mulling over the possibility of extending an invitation to–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Before Ben could finish his sentence, the front door opened. The three men looked in that direction as Joe shuffled in with an arm gingerly wrapped around his ribs, and with his head bent so the brim of his hat hid his face.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe grimaced as he reluctantly lifted his head to meet his father\u2019s gaze through the only eye that wasn\u2019t swollen shut.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben shot out of his chair. \u201cJoe! What happened?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss echoed his father\u2019s words as he got to his feet and hurried around the settee.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe, what happened? Who did this to ya\u2019?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam was the only one who remained seated. It wasn\u2019t as though this was the first time Joe had come home beaten up, and it likely wouldn\u2019t be the last time either.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Pa and Hoss hustled Joe off to the kitchen to clean him up and inspect the damage, Adam sighed and pushed himself out of his chair. He traipsed along behind his family, all the while thinking;\u00a0Leave it to Joe Cartwright to put an end to a perfectly fine discussion.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 2<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Joe winced and jerked away from the white cloth soaked with some kind of liniment that stung like the dickens when his father dabbed it against the gash above his right eye.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, this is the last time I\u2019m going to tell you to hold still.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe was tempted to challenge his father with, \u201cOr you\u2019re gonna do what?\u201d but decided that, even though he was eighteen and a half years old, he wasn\u2019t foolish enough to bait Pa. It was interesting to reach young adulthood and discover that, while you were long past the age of being put over your father\u2019s knee, you had too much respect for him to smart off in a way that would have earned you a trip to the woodshed when you were twelve. . .and too much respect for him to test your theory that you were long past the age of being put over his knee.<\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore, Joe steeled himself as the cloth that smelled like a mixture of alcohol and camphor was aimed for the gash again. While Joe endured his father\u2019s ministrations to his cut and bruised face, Hoss felt along his ribcage. Joe jerked away again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cStop that!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t mean to move, Pa! Hoss tickled me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t tickle ya\u2019 on purpose. I\u2019m just tryin\u2019 to see if any a\u2019 them ribs is broke.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

From where he stood leaning against the kitchen table, Adam quipped dryly, \u201cAn educated guess tells me that if your doctoring \u2018tickled\u2019 him, Hoss, then his ribs are fine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe glanced over his shoulder. \u201cYeah, listen to Adam, will ya\u2019. My ribs are fine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben finally lost his patience with his youngest.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, by the way you\u2019re jumping around in that chair you can\u2019t possibly be seriously injured.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI never said I\u00a0was<\/em>\u00a0seriously injured.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben sighed. \u201cNo, you didn\u2019t, did you.\u201d He handed the cloth to Hop Sing. \u201cRinse this, please. And you can throw this water out, too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hop Sing took the cloth from his employer and picked up the washbowl that held water stained pink with Joe\u2019s blood. After Hop Sing stepped outside, Ben looked down at the son still seated in front of him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, Little Joe, what\u2019s this all about?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTwo against one.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cIt\u2019s about two against one. If it\u2019d been a fair fight, I could have taken either of \u2018em with one hand tied behind my back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam cocked an amused eyebrow. \u201cOh, of that I have no doubt considering all that brawn you sport.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe whipped around, half-standing. \u201cYou wanna go outside and–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben placed a hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder, urging him to the chair while throwing a warning glance at Adam that said, \u201cKeep your comments to yourself, please.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo one\u2019s going anywhere,\u201d Ben declared. \u201cNow would you kindly explain to your father what happened that caused you to arrive home in this condition.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Joe, come on. Start explainin\u2019. Supper\u2019s gettin\u2019 cold.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot much to explain, really. It was the Dunn boys.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPaul and Charlie?\u201d Ben questioned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe nodded. Paul and Charlie were the two oldest amongst the eleven Dunn offspring, or the \u201cDung boys\u201d as Paul and Charlie had often been called \u2013 much to their displeasure \u2013 back when Joe attended school with them.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Joe broke his father\u2019s gaze. \u201cThey showed up while I was fixing fence. . .started shootin\u2019 their mouths off, saying some stuff I didn\u2019t like. . .\u201d Joe shrugged. \u201cThen one thing led to another and. . .uh. . .well. . .um. . .\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think I understand,\u201d Ben said before his son could further avoid his questions by employing stammered words and unfinished sentences. \u201cYou threw the first punch, didn\u2019t you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot if it counts that Charlie shoved me before I hit him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn my book it doesn\u2019t count for a thing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s head shot up, fire burning from his eyes. \u201cThen what was I supposed do?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWalk away.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWalk away! Pa–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I\u2019ve told you time and time again that problems aren\u2019t resolved with your fists.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t trying to resolve a problem, I was trying to make them eat their words.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWords are just words, Joseph. They don\u2019t mean anything unless you let them. You\u2019re old enough to know that by now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot even when they said my father is a lying cheating scoundrel who only owns the Ponderosa \u2018cause he probably stole it from someone?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot even then.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhile I appreciate your quick defense of my good name, I don\u2019t want to see that defense come at the risk of serious injury.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI already told you, I\u2019m not seriously injured. It\u2019s just a few cuts and bruises.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI realize that, but next time you might not be so lucky.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam pushed himself away from the table. With a slight flick of his head, he motioned Hoss toward the side door.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome on. Let\u2019s go have a nice friendly talk with Paul and Charlie. Make them realize that speaking ill of our father \u2013 and beating up our little brother \u2013 doesn\u2019t set well with us. Maybe–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll do no such thing,\u201d Ben said, while Joe just buried his head in his hands and moaned at the prospect of his big brothers fighting his battles for him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa, come on. Let us head over there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Pa, what\u2019s it gonna hurt? Like Adam said, we\u2019ll just have a friendly sorta chat with them boys and–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo. Adam, Hoss, I mean it. You stay away from Paul and Charlie. I\u2019ll ride over to the Dunn ranch tomorrow and talk to Jim. We\u2019ve been neighbors a long time. There\u2019s no reason for these hard feelings over nothing more than timber contracts.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLucrative timber contracts,\u201d Adam reminded his father. \u201cContracts that, until a few weeks ago, have gone to Dunn Timber Operations for the past fifteen years.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLucrative or not, I realize Jim is disappointed that the Ponderosa was awarded the contracts, but the bids were handled fair and square.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe lifted his face from his hands. \u201cNot according to Paul and Charlie.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen all the more reason for me to pay a visit to their father.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa, don\u2019t do that,\u201d Joe begged; the thought of his father fighting his battles as bad as the thought of Adam and Hoss doing so. \u201cIt\u2019ll only make things worse.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not going to make things worse. I\u2019ve known Jim since before you were born. He and I should be able to talk this out. I won\u2019t have those boys of his jumping one of my sons every time the notion strikes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe moaned with despair again, but no one paid him any mind as Hop Sing came in the door and ushered everyone toward the dining room by waving his hands like he was shooing a flock of chickens to the henhouse.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEat, eat, eat \u2018fore food get cold! Hop Sing not cook all afternoon to have father and sons say food no good \u2018cause cold!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t be sayin\u2019 that, Hop Sing,\u201d Hoss assured. \u201cEven if it is cold, I know it\u2019ll still be good.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019d think the food was still good if it got dumped on the barn floor before it was put on his plate,\u201d Adam muttered to Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo kidding,\u201d Joe agreed as he slipped into his chair, while Adam walked around to his place next to Hoss on the opposite side of the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

When the meal had been eaten, the dessert plates cleaned of gingerbread cake, and second cups of coffee poured, Ben pulled his brother\u2019s letter from his shirt pocket.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe wasn\u2019t certain what his father meant when he teased, \u201cNow, Joseph, I\u2019d appreciate it if you could manage to stay awake while I read this.\u201d Nor did Joe know why his brothers laughed so hard when he said, \u201cSure, Pa,\u201d as though they doubted his ability to do what Pa requested.<\/span><\/p>\n

When the laughter died down and his father began to read, Little Joe propped his left elbow up on the table and rested his chin in the palm of his hand. Despite his good intentions, Joe fought to keep his eyes from drooping as news of weather in Ohio, and what cousin was getting married in June, and what babies were born over the winter, and who had passed away in recent months, was relayed by Pa as he read Uncle John\u2019s letter.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 3<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe. . .Joe . . . Joseph!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A hand shaking his arm finally roused Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUh. . .what?\u201d The young man blushed when he realized he\u2019d done just what he\u2019d promised his father he wouldn\u2019t. \u201cSorry, Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe tossed his smirking brothers a dirty look, then quickly returned his attention to his father when the man asked, \u201cSo, is it all right with you, Little Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs what all right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I was just discussing with your brothers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDiscussing?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAbout sending you to boarding school back East.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShould have done it years ago,\u201d Adam bantered to Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I was juz thinkin\u2019. Years ago. Like when he was four.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMight have kept him out of a good deal of trouble.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cProb\u2019ly would have. Not to mention how much easier we\u2019da had it with no pesky little brother ta\u2019 keep track a\u2019.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe glared at his siblings. \u201cOh, you two are\u00a0real<\/em>\u00a0funny.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa chuckled. \u201cPerhaps this will teach you to stay awake the next time I read a letter from one of your uncles or aunts.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t go bettin\u2019 any money on it, Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMe neither.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe looked at his father. \u201cHow much longer are you gonna let those two go on?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot much longer at all, because I\u2019d like an answer from you so I know whether to send a wire to your uncle Daniel.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA wire?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs I said to Adam and Hoss while you were. . .um. . .resting your eyes, I\u2019d like to invite Daniel to spend some time with us. Your brothers think it\u2019s a good idea.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure, why not?\u201d Joe was quick to agree. \u201cWhatever you wanna do, Pa. He\u2019s your brother.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t seen him in many years. Not since Adam was five.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll the more reason to invite him,\u201d Joe said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa seemed to be mulling something over, as though he had more to share about his brother, but then appeared to change his mind.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Joseph, you\u2019re right.\u201d Pa smiled as he passed Uncle John\u2019s letter to Adam. \u201cAll the more reason to invite Daniel.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s mind drifted as his father and brothers started talking about the various bits of news conveyed in John Cartwright\u2019s letter. To Joe, most of the people mentioned were just names recorded in the family Bible. The only sibling of his father\u2019s that he\u2019d met was Aunt Dorcas, the sister born twelve months after Pa. When she and her family were on their way to homestead in Oregon, they\u2019d spent a few weeks on the Ponderosa. Joe was eleven then, and enjoyed every moment of their stay. Aunt Dorcas loved to laugh, and she had a brood of nine kids who loved to laugh too \u2013 and three boys near Joe\u2019s age who\u2019d enjoyed nothing more than getting into mischief with him. When they finally moved on, Joe was sad to see them go, and for a long time afterwards pestered his pa about making a trip to Oregon to see Aunt Dorcas and her family. That trip never happened though, meaning seven years had now passed since Joe had seen the cousins he\u2019d often wished lived within visiting distance of the Ponderosa.<\/span><\/p>\n

As far as the remainder of Pa\u2019s siblings went, Joe knew them only through the letters that sporadically arrived at the Virginia City post office. Uncle Daniel was his father\u2019s oldest brother, born to Joseph Francis and Anna Leigh Weston Cartwright fourteen years before Pa. After Uncle Daniel, Grandma and Grandpa Cartwright buried six children, as Pa had noted in the Bible next to the names of the brothers and sisters he never knew.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas died from the measles at the age of eight months. Next came Samuel, who lived to be three years old, then passed way from lockjaw after suffering a puncture wound from a rusty nail in the sole of his barefoot. Following Samuel was Virginia, who succumbed to diphtheria a week before her second birthday. Dying during that epidemic too, was five-month-old Ivy, who passed away two days after her older sister. A year after that came the twins, Francis Joseph and Fredrick Joseph, babies who arrived far too early and died just hours after they\u2019d been born.<\/span><\/p>\n

After the deaths of the twins, Grandpa and Grandma\u2019s luck changed where their children were concerned. First, Anna Ellen arrived, called \u201cEllen\u201d to distinguish her from her mother. Then in quick succession after Aunt Ellen came Lillian, John, Pa, Dorcas, and Adele. Based on things Pa had said over the years, Joe knew these six siblings were close during their growing up years. Playing together, fussing at one another, teasing, joking, pulling pranks, walking back and forth to school together, and sharing the workload of the daily chores on their parents\u2019 farm in the Ohio Valley. Pa rarely mentioned Uncle Daniel whenever he spoke of his childhood, but Joe supposed that made sense, considering his father was only three years old when Uncle Dan married at age seventeen and left home.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the talk around the supper table about far-away family members continued even after Hop Sing had cleared the dishes, Joe\u2019s mind moved from relatives he didn\u2019t know, to the neighbors he was well acquainted with, and the incident that occurred while he was mending fence.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although Joe wouldn\u2019t call Paul and Charlie Dunn good friends of his \u2013 not friends in the way Mitch and Tuck were friends \u2013 they\u2019d been boys he\u2019d chummed with now and again during his childhood, and boys who\u2019d always joined in the various schoolyard games with him and his buddies. Paul \u2013 actually James Paul Dunn Jr. \u2013 was the oldest, and the same age as Joe. Charlie was a year younger. They\u2019d both stopped attending Virginia City\u2019s schoolhouse at the same time Joe had. When school resumed for the fall session the October Joe turned sixteen, he remained on the ranch as a full-time employee, rather than gathering up his slate and books and heading for town each morning. Likewise, Paul and Charlie began working full-time for their father that year as well. Only a very few boys in this part of the country continued their education past the age of fifteen or sixteen, those with plans of going on to college for the most part. As for the girls, there weren\u2019t many of them still in school beyond their mid-teen years, either. If they didn\u2019t get married, or stay home to help tend house and look after younger siblings, or perhaps go to work at one of the shops in Virginia City, then they got their teaching certificates and took a job at whatever schoolhouse in the area had a vacancy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since leaving school, Joe hadn\u2019t seen Paul and Charlie on a regular basis. But when he had run into them in Virginia City or somewhere in the surrounding countryside, he\u2019d always been friendly to them, and likewise, they\u2019d been friendly to him. As far as Joe was concerned, there was no reason not to be. Or at least not until today. While Joe knew his father had been awarded timber contracts that for many years in the past went to Mr. Dunn, he\u2019d never given it a thought that anyone in the Dunn family would hold a grudge over it. As Pa always said, business was business. You couldn\u2019t let the ups and downs of timber contracts, and cattle prices, and unpredictable weather, and a neighbor\u2019s good fortune versus your streak of bad luck, get in the way of the important things. The things a man should always be thankful for \u2013 mainly family, friends, a warm fire to come home to, food on the table, and good health.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe still wasn\u2019t completely certain what had the Dunns in an uproar. His pa sure didn\u2019t steal those contracts out from under Jim Dunn, as Paul and Charlie accused. His father had simply been able to underbid Mr. Dunn this year, plain and simple. Pa bid against Mr. Dunn plenty of other years and lost. To Joe\u2019s way of thinking, the pendulum had simply swung in the other direction. It wasn\u2019t like Mr. Dunn wouldn\u2019t be able to feed his kids or keep a roof over their heads just because of the loss of these contracts. Like the Ponderosa, the Dunn Ranch was well diversified, with many ways for an income to be made each year. And unlike Pa, Mr. Dunn had eleven children and a wife to help him keep things going, meaning his annual payroll was smaller than Pa\u2019s. Well, maybe the youngest two kids weren\u2019t much help yet, but give it a couple of more years and they\u2019d be old enough to gather eggs, fill the wood box, and help with chores like clearing the table and drying the dishes. Joe figured with eleven kids in the house there was always a pile of dishes needing to be dried. Especially if any of them kids ate as much as Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

The more Joe thought about the dustup with Paul and Charlie this afternoon, the more he wanted to talk his father out of going to see Mr. Dunn. He was sure if Adam or Hoss had come home a little bruised and battered Pa wouldn\u2019t go running over to confront Mr. Dunn about it. Not that Pa wouldn\u2019t have been upset and concerned if either of his older sons arrived home in that condition, but for whatever reason, Pa still treated Joe like he was a little kid sometimes. Personally, Joe was of the opinion that if Pa would just let this incident die a quiet death, then things would blow over, the Dunns would eventually get past being sore losers, and the next time Joe encountered Paul and Charlie he\u2019d likely buy them a beer, or vice versa, in way of saying, \u201cHey, no hard feelings.\u201d Sure, it still got his temper riled to think of what those guys had said about Pa, and it made him angry that Pa didn\u2019t understand why a few punches needed to be exchanged because of those damning words, but if Paul and Charlie were willing to let bygones be bygones, then so was Joe. After all, a man couldn\u2019t have his father running to his defense every time he got in a little scuffle with the neighbors. Joe would be the laughing stock of the territory if Pa kept insisting on treating him like he was five years old.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe tuned back in to his family, waiting for the conversation to wind down. From the sounds of things, Adam and Hoss were looking forward to the proposed visit from Uncle Daniel. But then, Adam had met the man years ago, and Hoss had always been interested in family history. Not that Joe wasn\u2019t interested in family history, but he couldn\u2019t see the point in getting too excited over people who\u2019d either been dead for years, or who he\u2019d never met and probably never would. Joe concerned himself with the \u201chere and now\u201d \u2013 the people whose lives touched his directly. And currently, that meant Paul and Charlie Dunn, not some uncle who was probably a nice old man who\u2019d come to visit with Pa for a few weeks and stay out of everyone\u2019s way while he was here.<\/span><\/p>\n

When there was finally a pause in the conversation, Joe took his opportunity to jump in.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa, about that visit you\u2019re plannin\u2019 to make to Mr. Dunn. . .?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re talking about a visit from your uncle Daniel, Joseph.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know, but I just wanted to say that I don\u2019t think you should go talk to Mr. Dunn. If you\u2019d give it some time, it\u2019ll–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa gave him an indulgent smile. \u201cLittle Joe, don\u2019t worry. As I said, I\u2019ve known Jim for many years now. I\u2019ll take care of things.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut that\u2019s just it! I don\u2019t want you to. It might blow over quicker if–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Before Joe could finish his sentence, Adam looked up from the letter he was reading.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt sounds like the farm turned a good profit for Uncle John last year.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure does,\u201d Hoss agreed. \u201cI picture that apple orchard he talks about to be real pretty. A peaceful sorta place. Might be something I\u2019d like to do. . .if I wasn\u2019t a rancher, that is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa\u2019s smile shifted from Joe to Hoss. \u201cIt\u2019s as pretty as you imagine it to be, son. That part of Ohio is lush and green. The corn. . .why in a good year it\u2019ll grow taller than you are.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo kiddin\u2019, uh?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m not kidding at all. By the time harvest arrives each October the corn. . .\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe gave a quiet sigh and let his mind drift from the conversation once again. After all, there was no point in trying to participate if no one was going to pay attention to what he had to say.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 4<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Although Ben Cartwright never doubted his youngest son\u2019s word regarding what Joe said happened the previous afternoon between himself and the two eldest Dunn boys, if he\u2019d\u00a0had<\/em>\u00a0doubts, they would have been dispelled the moment he arrived on Dunn property.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Buck approached the ranch yard, the younger children, who normally ran to greet Ben as if he were a beloved grandfather, scattered like chickens. As though Ben Cartwright was suddenly someone to be afraid of. The children that fell somewhere in the middle \u2013 between the ages of eleven and fourteen \u2013 threw scowls his way as they silently continued with their chores. None of the children offered to tether Buck, or see that he got a drink of water, or asked Ben if Buck needed some grain, which again, was unheard of when Ben stopped by. As he dismounted the horse, he caught sight of eight-year-old Timothy Dunn peering at him from around the corner of the barn. The boy had long admired Buck, and whenever Ben visited always managed to sweet-talk a ride for himself on the horse\u2019s back, despite his father\u2019s admonishment not to, \u201cbother Mr. Cartwright with that foolishness.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben held the reins toward the tow-headed youngster. \u201cHey there, Timmy. Would you like to see to Buck while I visit with your pa?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Timmy appeared reluctant to seize an opportunity he\u2019d never passed up before. Ben saw the child\u2019s eyes flick to his older siblings, and he saw those siblings shake their heads \u201cno.\u201d The boy\u2019s gaze traveled to Ben again. He gave a shake of his own head, then disappeared behind the barn.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben raised an eyebrow as he tethered Buck to the hitching post. If the children\u2019s behavior was an indication of how he\u2019d be received by their father, then maybe \u201ctalking this out\u201d with Jim would prove more difficult than Ben had assumed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once Buck was secured, the man turned and walked toward the house. The Dunn home was probably the only one in Nevada styled after the flat-front two-story New England colonials Ben vividly recalled from the years he\u2019d lived in Boston. Jim\u2019s wife, Rilla, had been born and raised in Philadelphia. When Ben first met Jim, the man was a young bachelor content to live in not much more than a line shack, while staking claims on all the land he could. Then one day Rilla appeared on the scene, and a Virginia City preacher married the pair within an hour of the woman stepping off the stage. Rumor had it that she and Jim were first cousins once removed, or possibly second cousins twice removed, depending on who you talked to. Ben didn\u2019t know if there was an ounce of truth to those rumors, and either way, the notion had never bothered him any.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben walked up the three steps that led to the wide porch that ran the length of the house. Unlike past visits, Rilla didn\u2019t open the front door before Ben had a chance to knock. But then, maybe his arrival had gone undetected since the children hadn\u2019t announced it, as was normally their habit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben banged three times with the heavy brass knocker before the door was finally opened. It wasn\u2019t a smiling Rilla who greeted him, but instead, the girl Jim hired from town who helped with the cooking and cleaning. Just like the children\u2019s behavior was out of the ordinary, so was Rilla\u2019s, as Ben couldn\u2019t recall a time when she hadn\u2019t been the one to welcome him into the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

The girl nodded. \u201cMr. Cartwright.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben removed his hat. \u201cGood afternoon, Miss Henning. Is Mr. Dunn in?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Sir. He said to tell you he\u2019s in his office.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

So Jim was well aware of his presence, yet had chosen to let his hired girl answer the door. That action alone revealed a lot to Ben.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nan Henning reached for Ben\u2019s hat. \u201cI can take that for you, Sir.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The girl hung Ben\u2019s hat on the rack by the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWould you like me to see you to Mr. Dunn\u2019s office?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben smiled. \u201cThat won\u2019t be necessary. I know the way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen I\u2019ll return to my work, unless there\u2019s something I can get for you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Miss Henning, nothing. You go ahead and do whatever it is you need to.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The girl moved off to Ben\u2019s right, returning to the parlor where, judging by the mahogany-smudged rag sticking out from a pocket of her white apron, she\u2019d been polishing furniture.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Ben walked through the wide foyer that led to Jim\u2019s office at the back of the house, he could hear Rilla\u2019s voice coming from the kitchen. It was the gentle voice a woman uses when talking to small children, and Ben heard her say it was time to roll out the dough. It took him back many years, to when he\u2019d enter the house after a long day of working outside and hear Marie talking to Little Joe in a similar tone as they made sugar cookies. He could picture Rilla doing the same with the youngest Dunn children, a boy and a girl who, by Ben\u2019s best guess, were two and three years old now. He called out, \u201cHello, Rilla!\u201d his voice echoing through the high-ceilinged dining room to his left, but he received no answer.<\/span><\/p>\n

By the sudden silence in the kitchen, Ben knew the woman had heard him, but whether she was angry with him over the timber contracts, too, or had been instructed by her husband not to speak to him, Ben didn\u2019t know. It seemed ridiculous that a grown woman felt she had to hide in the kitchen from him with her little ones as though he were here to pillage and plunder. Ben thought of walking through the dining room and going into the kitchen, but then decided against it. It would be of no benefit to put Rilla in an uncomfortable position, or upset the children with his presence.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben walked past the wide staircase that descended to the foyer from the upper level. He thought he saw a shadow move on the landing above, and was then certain his eyes weren\u2019t playing tricks on him when he heard a door close softly, as though someone had been spying on him and had retreated to a bedroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

The man shook his head at all these cockamamie actions on the part of a family \u2013 of neighbors \u2013 he\u2019d always gotten along well with.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim glanced up from his work as his visitor knocked on the open door. He hesitated a moment, then stood from behind his desk.<\/span><\/p>\n

James Paul Dunn Sr. was shorter than Ben by a couple of inches, but leaner, with a lankiness to his arms and legs that made him appear taller than he really was. Years spent squinting while working under the bright sun had caused fine lines to snake like narrow rivers from his light blue eyes. While Ben\u2019s hair had been gray for years \u2013 thanks to Joseph\u2019s many escapades, he often joked \u2013 Jim\u2019s pale brown hair was just beginning to gray at the temples.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBen,\u201d Jim nodded, while hitching up the trousers that didn\u2019t need any hitching, because they hugged his narrow hips as though a tailor had fashioned them to his exact measurements. \u201cCome in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben held out his hand, bridging the space across the desk and the open ledgers that sat atop it. \u201cHello, Jim.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim hesitated again, then took the hand and shook it. When the handshake ended, he nodded to the chair Ben was standing beside.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHave a seat.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCan I have Nan get you something?\u201d Jim asked, surprising Ben with his hospitality. \u201cCoffee? Refreshments of any kind?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Ben shook his head. \u201cNo, thank you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim glanced toward the corner liquor cabinet nestled against the far wall.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCan I pour you something stronger then?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo. I\u2019m fine. Thanks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim sat down. When he didn\u2019t say anything, Ben took the opportunity to study his neighbor. There was no doubt a degree of coolness radiated from the man, yet the offer of a seat, refreshments, and a drink, were in contrast to the way Ben had been greeted \u2013 or rather hadn\u2019t been greeted \u2013 by the rest of the family. It left Ben confused as to what exactly was going on, and just what Jim had said to his wife and children about the contracts \u2013 if anything at all.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry that I don\u2019t have much time to spare for visitors today, Ben. Did you come to see me for a specific reason?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI did, though I\u2019m beginning to wonder if I made a wrong assumption.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA wrong assumption?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Ben smiled with chagrin. \u201cI thought there might be trouble brewing between you and I, but instead, I suddenly find myself wondering if the only trouble brewing here is between three head-strong young men.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPaul, Charlie, and Little Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben nodded.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy boys told me about their run-in with Little Joe. Seems he said a few things that got them riled.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Although Ben almost replied with, \u201cFrom what Little Joe tells me, it was Paul and Charlie who did most of the talking,\u201d at the last second he thought better of it. He didn\u2019t by any means think Joe was lying to him, but during the heat of battle, facts were often misconstrued, overlooked, or just plain ignored.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s response would have made a diplomat proud.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure things were said on both sides that shouldn\u2019t have been, and that held little to no truth. You know how boys their ages are \u2013 swift to anger sometimes, while also swift to set aside all common sense.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

That got a chuckle out of Jim. \u201cYes, I well know how boys their ages are. And unlike you, I\u2019m only starting down that road. You\u2019re a lucky man, Ben.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow so?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re in the process of raising your last teenage boy, while I\u2019m in the process of raising my first two, with five more boys coming up the pike.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s eyes twinkled. \u201cAnd I sure don\u2019t envy you that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo man in his right mind should,\u201d Jim laughed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cautiously, Ben shifted the subject. \u201cSo, about those timber contracts. . .\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs I explained to Paul and Charlie, business is business. Sometimes a man comes out the winner, and sometimes he doesn\u2019t.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo hard feelings then?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Ben, no hard feelings at all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, now, I\u2019m glad to hear that. I don\u2019t want problems between you and me. . . or between our boys, either,\u201d Ben added, hoping he wouldn\u2019t have to come right out and ask Jim to keep Paul and Charlie reined in a bit. Although Joe was no longer a little boy in need of his father\u2019s protection, as Ben had said the previous evening in the kitchen, he wasn\u2019t going to allow Paul and Charlie to jump him whenever the notion struck.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fortunately, Ben didn\u2019t have to put Joe\u2019s pride at stake by being more specific.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll talk to Paul and Charlie,\u201d Jim promised. \u201cUntil they can calm down some, it might be wise for them to steer clear of Little Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I\u2019ll tell Joseph the same thing,\u201d Ben said, while once again being diplomatic by not reminding Jim that Paul and Charlie were on Cartwright land when they\u2019d had the run-in with Joe. Ben still wasn\u2019t sure if they were just taking a shortcut and encountered Little Joe by chance, or if they\u2019d been on the Ponderosa looking to cause trouble. Overall, it didn\u2019t matter much now that he had Jim\u2019s assurance it wouldn\u2019t happen again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim stood and walked around his desk. He clapped Ben on the arm.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, have a quick drink with me before you head out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you didn\u2019t have the time for visitors.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t, but for an old friend, I should always make time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben smiled as he walked with Jim to the round table that held a tray with glasses and a liquor decanter.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad we were able to clear the air here this afternoon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim turned and smiled in return. \u201cI\u2019m glad, too, Ben.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The lanky man had just handed Ben a glass when a child appeared in the doorway.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Cartwright, can I please have a ride on Buck before you leave?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTimothy. . .\u201d Jim admonished.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben laughed. \u201cThat\u2019s all right, Jim.\u201d He turned his attention to the boy. \u201cYou\u2019re very welcome to have a ride on Buck, Timmy. As a matter of fact, I\u2019m sure Buck would be disappointed if I left here without giving you a ride. Why don\u2019t you go outside and unhitch him for me. I\u2019ll be there in a minute.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d Over his shoulder, the boy called, \u201cThanks, Mr. Cartwright!\u201d as he dashed out of the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben turned to Jim. \u201cGood news sure travels fast around here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs Rilla often says, little pitchers have big ears.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough I haven\u2019t had any \u201clittle pitchers\u201d in a few years now, I well remember how true that is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben downed his drink and put the empty glass back on the tray.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t mean to hurry off, but I\u2019d better go give Timmy that ride. I have to get into Virginia City before the telegraph office closes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim walked with Ben to the front door. \u201cNot expecting bad news, I hope.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no. Nothing like that. I\u2019m sending a wire to my oldest brother back in Ohio. The boys and I are inviting him to spend the summer on the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell now, I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll enjoy that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so. I haven\u2019t seen him in twenty-five years. I\u2019m looking forward to his visit. . .if he\u2019ll come, that is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019d be a fool not to take advantage of a summer on the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe so, but if Daniel\u2019s anything like he was as a young man, he\u2019s pretty set in his ways.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAren\u2019t we all?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben chuckled as he put on his hat. \u201cI guess we are at that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As Jim opened the door, Ben said, \u201cYou don\u2019t need to see me out. I know I interrupted your work. I\u2019ll take Timmy for a short ride around the ranch yard if that\u2019s okay with you, then be on my way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFine by me. Take care of yourself, Ben. And I\u2019ll have that talk with Paul and Charlie before the day\u2019s over.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I\u2019ll do the same with Joseph,\u201d Ben promised.<\/span><\/p>\n

The men bid one another goodbye; then Ben stepped out into a far more cheery atmosphere than the one that had greeted him when he arrived.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 5<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jim watched from the dining room windows until he saw Ben Cartwright ease Timmy from the saddle to the ground. The boy waved goodbye as Ben reined the horse around and headed for Virginia City.<\/span><\/p>\n

The man looked to his left when he heard boot steps coming down the stairs. He headed for the foyer, meeting his oldest sons just as they arrived on the bottom step.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d Charlie questioned. \u201cWe heard you and Cartwright laughing. Has something changed?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim scowled. \u201cNo, nothing\u2019s changed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo that means. . .?\u201d Paul asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt means you continue to do what I told you to.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMake Ben Cartwright sorry that he stole those timber contracts from us?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cExactly, Paul,\u201d Jim nodded. \u201cMake Ben realize his mistake so he\u2019s not foolish enough to repeat it come next year.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim\u2019s head turned briefly when he heard his wife walking from the kitchen.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou boys go on outside now,\u201d he hastily ordered his oldest sons, as though he wanted them busy doing something before Rilla could question why they were in the house in the middle of the afternoon. \u201cThere\u2019s plenty of work that needs doin\u2019.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cYes, Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As the door closed behind Paul and Charlie, Jim turned toward his wife and smiled. She had two-year-old Henry on her right hip, while three-year-old Nora clung to her left hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim chucked Henry under the chin and ran a hand over Nora\u2019s blond head.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo, these two little ones are finally letting Mama out of the kitchen, is that it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s it,\u201d Rilla agreed. \u201cOur cookies are baked, and now it\u2019s time for naps.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The man stepped away from the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t allow me to stop progress, then.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, don\u2019t you worry, progress can\u2019t be stopped where naps are concerned.\u201d The woman paused with a foot on the first stair. \u201cBy the way, did I hear you and Ben laughing?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose you might have.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With a tentative note, Rilla asked, \u201cThen. . . then everything\u2019s okay between the two of you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim leaned forward and kissed his wife on the forehead, playfully brushing a dusting of flour from her nose. \u201cEverything\u2019s fine between us. That skirmish yesterday was just a misunderstanding where the boys were concerned.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPaul, Charlie, and Little Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cOh. Well, misunderstandings aren\u2019t all that uncommon with young men their ages, now are they.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, they\u2019re not.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The woman smiled. \u201cI\u2019m glad you and Ben were able to set things right. He\u2019s been a good neighbor for so many years. I don\u2019t like the thought of animosity existing between us and the Cartwrights over those timber contracts.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNeither do I.\u201d Jim gave his youngest son a gentle tickle around his ribs, and his youngest daughter a kiss on the top of her head. \u201cGo on now, get these two down for their naps, and you rest right along with them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have time to rest. I need to bring the wash in from the line, and then start supper.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNan can do that. That\u2019s what we pay her for. You rest for a while. You look tired.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe mother of eleven children is\u00a0always<\/em>\u00a0tired.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll the more reason for you to take a nap when the chance comes your way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen I suppose all the more reason for me not to refuse the offer, is that it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s exactly it,\u201d Jim agreed.<\/span><\/p>\n

He watched with a fond smile as his wife ascended the stairs with the little ones, then turned toward his office when he could tell her footsteps had reached the nursery.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rilla would never approve of the havoc he\u2019d instructed Paul and Charlie to create, which was why Jim was determined that she never find out about it. Granted, she knew he\u2019d been upset over the lost contracts, and he\u2019d said some harsh things about Ben to Paul and Charlie at the dinner table on several occasions that Rilla and the younger children had heard \u2013 and that Rilla hadn\u2019t approved of, though she hadn\u2019t voiced her displeasure because she knew her place as his wife. Just like she hadn\u2019t invited Ben into the kitchen today because she knew, without being told, that she was expected to support her husband, regardless of whether she agreed with him or not.<\/span><\/p>\n

But all of that aside, it was better this way. Better if Rilla and the younger children thought that he\u2019d patched things up with Ben. There was less of a chance of anyone \u2013 like Sheriff Coffee \u2013 finding out what Paul and Charlie were up to. And besides, Jim had told the boys not to hurt anyone. . .or at least not too badly. . .it was just mischief. The kind of mischief that young men are good at causing, and would leave Ben thinking that he had a cloud of bad luck hanging over his head where those timber deadlines were concerned. Maybe when next year rolled round, old Ben would realize that the contracts were better left to the Dunn Ranch.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim smiled as he glanced out his office window. Paul and Charlie were by the smokehouse with their heads together, no doubt coming up with some devilment directed at the Cartwrights that they didn\u2019t want their siblings to overhear. Though his sons didn\u2019t see him watching them, Jim nodded his approval.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once Paul and Charlie are done having their fun, I have a feeling Ben won\u2019t be so eager to steal those contracts from me again come next year.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

As his sons bent over with laughter they could barely contain while slapping one another on the back, Jim chuckled quietly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nope, I don\u2019t think Ben will want to so much as see another timber contract by the time the boys\u2019 mischief has run its course.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The man sat down behind his desk and returned to working on his ledgers, making himself willfully ignorant to any schemes his sons might have in mind.<\/span><\/p>\n

~ ~ ~<\/span><\/p>\n

Nan Henning made sure the foyer was empty before passing through it. She\u2019d been sitting on the floor in a far corner of the parlor, polishing Mrs. Dunn\u2019s petite secretary\u2019s desk, unable to be seen by anyone who didn\u2019t enter the room \u2013 and especially not able to be seen by those who only lingered outside of it \u2013 including Mr. Dunn, Paul, and Charlie.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although Mr. Dunn and his boys hadn\u2019t exchanged any details, Nan wasn\u2019t stupid. She knew Paul and Charlie had their father\u2019s permission to cause whatever trouble they pleased for the Cartwrights. That was the thing about Mr. Dunn \u2013 he was sneaky. It was funny in a way, because that\u2019s exactly what Nan heard Mr. Dunn accuse Mr. Cartwright of being one night while she was serving the family dinner. While Nan didn\u2019t know if that accusation was true or not where Ben Cartwright was concerned, she did know it was true where James Dunn was concerned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nan had been employed by the man long enough now to have overheard things \u2013 and witnessed a few firsthand \u2013 that caused her to know he wasn\u2019t always the honest, church-going Christian everyone thought him to be. And aside from that, when Mrs. Dunn wasn\u2019t around he liked to pretend he\u2019d accidentally bumped into Nan, and then take advantage of that \u201caccident\u201d to touch her in places he shouldn\u2019t. Fortunately, Mrs. Dunn didn\u2019t leave the ranch very often. If she did, Nan wouldn\u2019t still be working here. But ever since her father was hurt in the mine and could no longer earn an income other than what little he made doing odd jobs around Virginia City, Nan had to help out in whatever way she could. As Ma said, a family of eight doesn\u2019t survive on handouts. Ma worked too, at Mrs. Mason\u2019s dress shop. Just last week, Mrs. Mason had promised Nan a job the next time she needed additional help. Nan hoped that opportunity would come soon so she could leave the employ of the Dunn ranch. Not only was Mr. Dunn inappropriate with Nan, but so was Charlie. She\u2019d learned many ways to disappear when either of them was approaching, but her methods weren\u2019t always foolproof.<\/span><\/p>\n

After she\u2019d put away the furniture polish and rag and started peeling potatoes for supper, Nan contemplated paying a visit to the Cartwright ranch. She didn\u2019t know the Cartwrights very well, but she had attended school with Little Joe. She was two years younger than him, and like a lot of girls in Virginia City, Nan was sweet on him for a time, but had never told anyone of her feelings. Despite the fact that the Hennings were no match for the Cartwrights where social status was concerned, Little Joe had always been nice to her. She\u2019d even liked it when he used to pull her pigtails at recess and call her Nanny Goat. He never pulled them too hard, and besides, you could tell he was just teasing her in a nice way, and not in a way that was cruel or mean.<\/span><\/p>\n

Regardless of what Nan had felt for Joe Cartwright when she was a blushing schoolgirl, Ma always said it was best to stay out of the business of rich men. As Nan went about putting the potatoes on the stove to boil, then setting the table, and then hurrying out to the line to get the wash, she reminded herself that Ma was likely right. It wasn\u2019t her place to get involved in Mr. Dunn\u2019s feud with Mr. Cartwright. And besides, if Nan wanted to keep her job, she\u2019d better go on pretending she hadn\u2019t heard what Mr. Dunn said.<\/span><\/p>\n

The girl wiped sweat off her brow as she faced five rows of clothes that needed to be taken down, put in baskets, hauled into the house, and then folded and put away. Her eyes slid sideways, where Charlie stood leaning against one side of the smokehouse leering at her with his arms crossed over his chest as though he was proud of himself for some reason.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lordy, how she\u2019d rejoice when the day came that Mrs. Mason offered her a job.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 6<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Heavy boot steps trudging up the stairs announced her father\u2019s impending arrival. Ruth Cartwright bustled around the kitchen, hurrying to get supper on the table. Her father had always been a demanding man, and had become even more demanding since her mother\u2019s death in February. Or maybe it was just that with her mother gone now, Ruth\u2019s father had no one else to bark his commands at but his oldest daughter.<\/span><\/p>\n

I shouldn\u2019t be so ungrateful,<\/em>\u00a0Ruth reminded herself as she ladled vegetable soup into the tureen.\u00a0Children, honor thy parents sayeth the Lord.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth had heard that so many times over the years that, like this evening, she often silently recited it without conscious thought. As she\u2019d grown older, she\u2019d come to realize she recited it the most when she was aggravated with her father.<\/span><\/p>\n

It certainly hadn\u2019t been Ruth\u2019s plan to be the spinster daughter of Daniel and Clara Cartwright. She\u2019d set her sights on marriage once \u2013 when she was younger, and thinner, and prettier, and still of childbearing age. But Papa had run her beau off, saying he didn\u2019t approve of Jack Stevens. Exactly what Papa didn\u2019t approve of regarding Jack, Ruth never knew. Papa claimed he didn\u2019t have to explain these things to \u201ca daughter.\u201d Ruth hated it when he said that. It made her sound like. . .like. . .like some milk cow that was too dumb to know who she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.<\/span><\/p>\n

And maybe she was dumb. After all, if she\u2019d had Anna\u2019s wits about her, she\u2019d have moved far away long ago and lived her life out of the range of her father\u2019s ever-watchful eye. And if she\u2019d possessed Esther\u2019s courage, she would have told Papa he had no right to run Jack off, and then gone after Jack and married him without her father\u2019s blessing. Or if she\u2019d at least had Miriam\u2019s common sense, she would have figured out how to get her way with Papa, and make it seem like it was his idea. But she wasn\u2019t one of her sisters. Instead, she was Ruth, the dutiful eldest daughter who\u2019d never married, and now, at forty-eight years old, was destined to work in her father\u2019s store, clean his house, wash his clothes, and cook his meals, until the day he died. It was a dreadful existence, really. As dreadful as the black dresses he insisted she wear because a \u201cpious\u201d woman shouldn\u2019t be seen in bright colors. She wondered sometimes how her mother had lived this same existence for fifty years.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth glanced up as the door opened and her father entered. They lived above the store, and had ever since her father purchased it some four decades ago. Before that, Papa worked in a general store over in Clancy that was owned by Ruth\u2019s maternal grandfather. They\u2019d lived in a tiny two-room house then, a few blocks from Grandfather Tucker\u2019s store. Ruth wasn\u2019t exactly sure what precipitated the move to Reedsville, but she did have strong memories of her father and grandfather arguing in loud voices, so she assumed that Papa\u2019s \u201chonor thy parents\u201d command didn\u2019t, in his opinion, extend to his in-laws.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth\u2019s father rolled his shirtsleeves up to his elbows and washed his hands in the bowl of fresh water on the washstand, and then dried off on the clean muslin towel folded neatly beside the bowl. He never voiced a word of appreciation for these conveniences Ruth, and her mother before her, always had ready for him. As though he thought that while Ruth worked a ten-hour day beside him in the store, elves, or fairies, or leprechauns, or some other magical woodland creatures, kept his household running in the orderly fashion he demanded.<\/span><\/p>\n

As he sat at the table, he didn\u2019t make a comment about the meal in front of him, but then he never did other than to complain about something lacking, like he did this evening.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t see any bread, Daughter.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth took a deep silent breath to keep from screaming. She hated being referred to in that manner. Sometimes she wanted to ask her father if he even knew her name.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t gotten it on the table yet, Papa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t eat my soup without bread.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Papa,\u201d was Ruth\u2019s dutiful reply as she retrieved the breadbasket from the sideboard, all the while stifling the urge to say, \u201cIf you want bread with your soup, then walk to the sideboard and get it for yourself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

While Papa bowed his head and said grace, Ruth bowed her head too, and silently asked God to forgive her for her spitefulness. She shouldn\u2019t think such thoughts about Papa. After all, he provided her with a place to live, as well as with a job and an hourly wage. Of course, if he hadn\u2019t run Jack off all those years ago she wouldn\u2019t be dependant on her father, but there was no use dwelling on possibilities that had long since passed her by. Jack had likely married some other woman, and probably had a dozen children by now. Maybe even a few grandchildren, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Papa said a grave and respectful, \u201cAmen,\u201d Ruth echoed it and raised her head. She waited while her father buttered his bread and filled his soup bowl from the tureen now sitting in the center of the table; then took her turn at filling her own bowl and taking a slice of bread from the basket.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first half of the meal was eaten in silence. When Papa reached the point that his hunger was somewhat sated, he wiped his mouth with his napkin and looked at Ruth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI received a telegram from your uncle Benjamin today.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA telegram? I surely pray nothing\u2019s wrong.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo. Nothing\u2019s wrong. He\u2019s invited me to spend the summer on that place of his. That ranch. What\u2019s he call it? The. . .the. . .\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPonderosa,\u201d Ruth supplied.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s it. The Ponderosa. Well anyway, Benjamin invited me to spend the summer, but of course I\u2019ll have to tell him no. Don\u2019t understand what he was thinking in the first place. He knows I have a business to run.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can run the business, Papa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

There wasn\u2019t even a startled \u201cWhat!\u201d issued from Ruth\u2019s father. Instead, he simply raised an eyebrow and cast a doubtful glance at her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can, Papa. I can run the store while you\u2019re gone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not going anywhere.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, but you should. You really should. You haven\u2019t seen Uncle Ben in so many years now. Adam was what? Just a little boy of five or six when they stayed with us that summer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t remember how old he was.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s three years younger than Miriam if I recall correctly, so that means he must be about thirty now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose,\u201d her father answered with disinterest as he reached for another piece of bread. \u201cCan\u2019t keep track of this one\u2019s age or that one\u2019s age. Just too many of \u2018em.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth didn\u2019t know if her father meant that he had too many nieces and nephews to keep track of, or too many children and grandchildren, or if it was a combination of both. Regardless, despite the years that had passed, she remembered Uncle Ben and Adam quite well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam was a handsome, polite little boy, who seemed excited over the prospect of attending the local schoolhouse. Uncle Ben had enrolled him, and planned to wait out the winter right here, in his brother\u2019s living quarters above the store. Ruth was a young woman at the time, and already employed by her father. Uncle Ben was a hard worker, as well as being friendly and gregarious with the customers. Ruth enjoyed working beside him. He made her laugh, something her father never attempted to do, and always seemed to disapprove of. Through Uncle Ben\u2019s stories about his seafaring journeys, Ruth got a glimpse of the world beyond Reedsville. A world she longed to explore and be a part of. When he spoke of traveling west, a light came to his eyes that made Ruth envious of all the hope and unknown adventures that lay ahead of him. Granted, he was a widower who would be traveling with a young child, and the trip would be difficult and dangerous, but sometimes Ruth even daydreamed about what it would be like to go with him. She could take care of Adam on the journey, and do the cooking and washing, and see things and places she\u2019d only heard of, and. . .and maybe even run across Jack Stevens somewhere between Ohio and wherever it was Uncle Ben decided to call home.<\/span><\/p>\n

But that\u2019s where her dream ended, because one day when Ruth was questioning Uncle Ben about his trip, Papa scolded in a stern voice, \u201cBenjamin, can\u2019t you see that you\u2019re filling the girl\u2019s head with foolish notions when you talk about this trip of yours? Instead of risking your life and your son\u2019s life on some journey that will only bring you more heartache, you should praise the Lord for the opportunities He\u2019s granted you and remain right here in Reedsville.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Uncle Ben hadn\u2019t looked very happy when Papa said that, and for just a moment, Ruth thought he might lose his temper with Papa, but then he gave a small smile and nodded.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t talk about my plans any further, Daniel. I appreciate the job you\u2019ve given me, and the place here you\u2019ve provided for Adam and me to stay.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t long afterwards that Uncle Ben moved on before Adam even got a chance to attend so much as one day of school. They certainly didn\u2019t stay through the winter, as were Uncle Ben\u2019s original plans. But exactly what made him decide to head west so abruptly, Ruth never knew. Maybe he didn\u2019t like working for Papa any better than she did. Or maybe he just didn\u2019t like being a shopkeeper. After all, he\u2019d been a sailor, and was now a rancher. So maybe he liked being outdoors, rather than cooped up in a dimly lit stuffy store that smelled of molasses, tobacco, yard goods, kerosene and penny candy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Hoss and Joseph,\u201d Ruth said now, in an effort to further entice her father into traveling to Nevada. \u201cYou\u2019ve never met them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss,\u201d the man snorted between mouthfuls of soup. \u201cWhat kind of a Christian name is that? I don\u2019t know what Benjamin was thinking when that boy was born.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Papa, you know it\u2019s just a nickname. His real name is Eric.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs if naming the boy for a Viking is any better. The Vikings worshiped false gods, you know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth resisted the urge to shake her head at her father and his sanctimonious ways.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt least Benjamin gave that third boy of his a good Christian name. Not to mention remembering to honor our father.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll the more reason for you to visit Uncle Ben.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would that be?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTo meet Joseph. The young man named for Grandfather Cartwright.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When her father didn\u2019t reply, Ruth kept her peace. She knew if she were too enthusiastic about this potential visit, he\u2019d grow suspicious as to the reasons why she was so eager to see him off.<\/span><\/p>\n

As she stood to gather the dishes for washing, Ruth thought of how wonderful it would be to live alone for several months. To have the entire living quarters to herself. Something she\u2019d never experienced in all her forty-eight years. To cook what and when she wanted to, or not to cook at all, in favor of buying her supper at the caf\u00e9 down the street. Oh, how scandalous Papa would find that! A woman eating alone in a caf\u00e9. And black \u2013 Ruth would wear anything\u00a0but<\/em>\u00a0black during the time Papa was away. And if she didn\u2019t want to fill the washbowl with fresh water, and set a clean towel beside it three times a day, then she wouldn\u2019t. She\u2019d wash with the same water and use the same towel all day long. And if she didn\u2019t take the notion to cook, and didn\u2019t want to walk to the caf\u00e9, she\u2019d just open a can of beans down in the store, and for desert, she\u2019d have some licorice sticks and chocolate drops. She and Danny had done that when Papa and Mama spent a fortnight at Anna\u2019s. They\u2019d laughed and laughed as they sat on the store\u2019s floor after closing, eating beans straight from the can, and then all the sweets their stomachs could hold.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth swiped at her eyes as she thought of her fun-loving brother. She missed him so \u2013 more than she missed Mama, and probably more than she\u2019d miss any of her sisters if they passed on before her. Oh, what a good time she and Danny would have had if Papa and Mama had gone away for an entire summer to visit Uncle Ben. It made Ruth\u2019s heart swell with grief to think of all the good times she and Danny could have had, and it made her feel guilty too, because she hadn\u2019t been brave enough to run off with him to New York City like he\u2019d wanted her to. Maybe if she\u2019d taken him up on his proposal \u2013 gotten him out of their father\u2019s house \u2013 he\u2019d still be alive.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth\u2019s thoughts turned to dark things as she glanced at her father. He was seated in his favorite chair, his feet propped up on the ottoman, while he read the Bible by the light that still spilled in through the window now that it was spring and the days were getting longer.<\/span><\/p>\n

She was evil. She was pure evil for harboring the thoughts she did of a God-fearing man like her father. Satan must dwell within her. That must be the source of the suspicions she\u2019d had ever since her father arrived home that horrible day last August and said Danny was dead.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth turned back to her dishes, promising herself that she\u2019d get down on her knees tonight and ask the Lord to forgive her for not honoring her father in the way the Bible commanded. Nonetheless, Ruth had a feeling that no amount of prayer would ever fully wipe away the doubts she harbored over the cause of Danny\u2019s death.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 7<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Daylight hung on longer now that spring had arrived, as though it, too, was just as happy as Joe Cartwright to see another long cold winter pass in favor of the coming summer months.<\/span><\/p>\n

You might not be so welcoming of summer the first day the temperature hits a hundred degrees and you\u2019re unloading a wagon full of feed sacks, or sweating your life away filling the mow with hay.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Joe chuckled at his thoughts as he rode toward the house in the gently fading light. When he was a kid, he loved summer. Mainly because he didn\u2019t have school, and despite his chores on the ranch, could get some fishing in with Hoss or Mitch, and make trips to his favorite swimming hole with Tuck. Now that he was older and done with school for good, getting a day off to fish or swim was harder to come by. It wasn\u2019t that he didn\u2019t still manage to enjoy all the past times summer brought. It was just that his ability to do so was now limited by his responsibilities to the ranch and his family \u2013 responsibilities that had come when his father allowed him to quit attending school at the end of the spring session three years ago.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe wouldn\u2019t have traded staying in school for unloading a wagon under the sweltering sun on any day, though admittedly, he still snuck off to take a quick dip in the swimming hole every now and again, just like he still got in some fishing with Hoss. Even Adam joined them on occasion, and it didn\u2019t usually take too much persuading to get Pa to accompany his sons fishing on a hot Sunday afternoon that was just made for dangling a cane pole \u2013 and your bare feet \u2013 in a cold creek.<\/span><\/p>\n

The sweet smells of wild lilac and the blooming white flowers of the plant called Mountain Misery because of the way it grew low to the ground in tangled vines of sticky leaves, washed over Joe as Cochise carefully made his way down a rocky slope. They weren\u2019t far from Virginia City Road. Once they arrived there, the remainder of the trip home would pass quickly. Which was good, because Joe\u2019s stomach growled with hunger. It had been hours since he\u2019d eaten the lunch Hop Sing packed for him. Joe had left the house right after breakfast, and spent the day tracking a wolf pack that was raiding the young stock pastured on the banks of Kettle Creek. It was mid-afternoon before he\u2019d finally found the wolves\u2019 den. He hadn\u2019t been foolish enough to enter it, but now that he\u2019d located it, Joe and his brothers could determine the best way to put an end to the animals\u2019 plundering assaults.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dusky pink and gray light was all that was left of the late April sunshine that had warmed Joe\u2019s back to the point he\u2019d removed his blue jacket earlier in the afternoon, put it in one of his saddlebags, and rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt. Because of the fading light, Joe didn\u2019t see the peril that lay ahead of him, nor did Cochise until the animal stumbled over the thin strand of wire strung low to the ground and secured around a couple of immature Bristlecone Pines.<\/span><\/p>\n

The trees, though young, were nonetheless strong enough to keep the wire taunt, which was exactly the intention of those who put it there. Fortunately for Joe, the rough terrain meant Cochise wasn\u2019t traveling beyond the speed of a slow and careful walk. That didn\u2019t prevent Joe from tumbling over the horse\u2019s neck, however. He landed hard on his right side, his hand automatically thrusting out to break his fall.<\/span><\/p>\n

The only sound Joe made was a pain-filled, \u201cUmph!\u201d as he landed hard on the rocky ground. Without paying any heed to his own injuries, the young man immediately jumped to his feet, more concerned for his horse than for himself.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe cradled his wrist as he hurried to the animal. Cuts and scrapes from jagged rocks stung and burned Joe\u2019s right hand and forearm, but he ignored the pain. He rubbed Cochise\u2019s neck with his left hand, calming the startled animal.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re okay, boy. It\u2019s all right.\u201d The young man bent down and inspected his horse\u2019s front legs. \u201cJust let me check you over for a minute.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe bit his lip against the pain of what he suspected was a sprained wrist as he ran both hands up and down Cochise\u2019s front legs, then his hind legs. When Joe was satisfied his mount had suffered no injury, he looked around for the source of the animal\u2019s unsteady footing.<\/span><\/p>\n

It took him a few seconds to see the wire neither he nor Cochise had spotted earlier. Joe took out his pocketknife and sliced the wire in half, then sliced each end from the trees. Wires, unlike Mountain Misery, didn\u2019t just grow randomly on rocky slopes. Someone had put the wire here, though for what purpose, Joe didn\u2019t know. He supposed this could be a man\u2019s idea of a practical joke on some unsuspecting traveler, but from Joe\u2019s experience as a practical joker, it wasn\u2019t much fun to pull a stunt on a person and not be nearby to see the end result. Plus, this was the kind of stunt that could have left Joe or his horse seriously injured, so short of it being a careless schoolboy prank, Joe couldn\u2019t imagine who would do such a thing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Might be a wire someone rigged up for another reason and forgot to take down when he left the area,<\/em>\u00a0was Joe\u2019s next thought.\u00a0Maybe it was part of an animal snare or something. Maybe someone else is tryin\u2019 to catch a few of those wolves.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Before Joe\u2019s mind could travel to any other logical explanations for the wire left in his path, he heard laughter. The sound wasn\u2019t close, or easy to pinpoint or identify, but instead, was distant and came from somewhere high above Joe\u2019s head. The young man listened hard, finally concluding that the laughter was that of two men. Joe squinted, looking up into the rocks, brush, and pine trees that covered the area, but he didn\u2019t see anyone. But then, he didn\u2019t have to.<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul and Charlie! It\u2019s Paul and Charlie Dunn.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

There was no point in Joe giving chase, because just as quickly as he heard the laughter it ended. Given the trap that had already been set for him, Joe wasn\u2019t going to risk tracking Paul and Charlie in the growing darkness. Besides, by the time he caught up with them they\u2019d likely be home sitting at the dining room table with their family, the picture of innocence as they ate supper. Which would only make Joe look like a fool when he pounded on the door and demanded they come out and settle things with him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dang it all anyway. I told Pa not to talk to Mr. Dunn. I told him it would only make things worse.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Joe folded up the wire and shoved it in a saddlebag. He winced as he climbed back on Cochise, the movement sending waves of pain shooting through his swollen wrist.<\/span><\/p>\n

The young man kept an alert lookout for more traps. He didn\u2019t relax his guard until he arrived at Virginia City Road. He then urged Cochise into a gallop, eager to get home to a warm meal for his hungry stomach, and a cold wrap-cloth for his throbbing wrist.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 8<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Joe rode Cochise past his brothers, a scowl darkening his features beneath his black cowboy hat. Adam and Hoss looked up from the wheel they\u2019d just mounted on a wagon, Adam calling into the barn, \u201cYou find those wolves?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When Adam didn\u2019t get an answer, he raised an eyebrow at Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone came home in a bad mood.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAppears ta\u2019 be the case,\u201d Hoss agreed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGuess that means he didn\u2019t locate the den.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhich juz goes to show ya\u2019 that ya\u2019 can\u2019t send a boy ta\u2019 do a man\u2019s job.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe shot out of the barn. Forgetting about his injured wrist, he grabbed a hunk of Hoss\u2019s brown vest and drew his left hand back in balled up fist.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWho\u2019re you callin\u2019 a boy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAw now dadburn it, Joe. I was only funnin\u2019. Don\u2019t go gettin\u2019 yerself all riled up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam watched the pair with carefully concealed amusement. Hoss could snap Little Joe in half with one hand tied behind his back if he took a mind to. Not that he ever\u00a0would<\/em>\u00a0take a mind to doing something like that to their younger brother. The Lord must have known what he was doing when he made Hoss so even-tempered and gentle, because otherwise Joe would have been knocked senseless at least three dozen times over the years.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got every right to be riled when you call me a boy.\u201d Joe turned toward Adam. \u201cAnd when you assume things that aren\u2019t true.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat means you found the den.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe nodded. \u201cThat\u2019s what it means.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He grimaced as he released Hoss. He walked over to the horse trough and dunked his hand in the cold water.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow there\u2019s a new way to cool off your hot head if I ever saw one.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe glared at Adam but didn\u2019t say anything.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss walked toward the trough. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with that hand?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNothin\u2019.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The big man wouldn\u2019t take \u201cNothin\u2019\u201d for an answer. He grabbed Joe\u2019s arm and lifted it from the water, Joe crying out with pain at the sudden movement.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSorry \u2018bout that. It\u2019s pretty swollen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know it\u2019s swollen.\u201d Joe jerked his arm from Hoss\u2019s grasp. \u201cIt\u2019s sprained.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet me check and make sure it\u2019s not broken.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not broken.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet me check,\u201d Hoss insisted, advancing on his brother once more.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI already told you it\u2019s not broken!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph!\u201d came the shout from the front porch. \u201cLet Hoss check that wrist.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe glowered at his brother before complying with his father\u2019s order. Ben crossed the ranch yard, arriving at Joe\u2019s side just as Hoss said, \u201cIt\u2019s only a sprain.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGee, is there an echo around here? Seems to me I told you that not thirty seconds ago.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben took his turn at inspecting his son\u2019s swollen wrist and raw arm. \u201cHow\u2019d this happen, Little Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCochise tripped in a gopher hole.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou must have been riding pretty fast for a gopher hole to send you sailing over his neck,\u201d Adam commented.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t sail,\u201d Joe growled. \u201cAnd I wasn\u2019t riding fast. I lost my balance and fell.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Knowing Joe\u2019s penchant for speed when he was on Cochise, and remembering how Marie died, tempted Ben to warn his youngest son once again about not riding recklessly. But something in Joe\u2019s face made Ben decide words of caution and rebuke could wait until morning. The boy had just arrived home after a long day. He needed to have his arm cleaned, his wrist wrapped, and then he needed to sit down to a hot supper. They all needed to sit down to a hot supper, as a matter of fact.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, son. I\u2019ll help you get this arm cleaned and wrapped while your brothers see to Cochise.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe twisted from his father\u2019s grasp. \u201cI can take care of it myself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe! Joseph, wait! I\u2019ll help–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can take care of it myself, Pa! I don\u2019t need your help.\u201d Under his breath Joe mumbled, \u201cYou\u2019ve already \u2018helped\u2019 enough by not listening to me in the first place when it came to the Dunns.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe stomped across the ranch yard and entered the house. Adam could have predicted the slam of the front door that followed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019d say someone got up on the wrong side of the bed, except he was fine this morning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben turned to face his older sons. \u201cHe\u2019s entitled to have a bad day now and again, just like any of the rest of us are. Evidently, that\u2019s what this was.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEvidently,\u201d Adam agreed dryly, knowing better than to argue with his father where Joe\u2019s often-unpredictable moods were concerned. Pa would just defend the kid, and since it was getting late and they were all hungry, it was best not to get into a debate over Joe\u2019s temper.<\/span><\/p>\n

By the time Adam and Hoss entered the house, Joe\u2019s arm had been cleaned and bandaged. Based on how professional the wrap-cloth looked, along with the smell of an herb poultice emanating from it, Adam suspected Joe accepted help from Hop Sing, but he didn\u2019t ask and Joe didn\u2019t offer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe was quiet through dinner, his family unaware that anything was bothering him beyond a bad day that ended with Cochise stumbling in a gopher hole. He seemed to brighten up a bit after dessert, and in way of apologizing to Hoss for his earlier behavior, offered to play a game of checkers that turned into three games before they called it a night \u2013 Joe even letting his middle brother best him by making some careless moves that were so obvious Adam wondered how Hoss didn\u2019t notice. But then again, maybe he did, and this was Hoss\u2019s way of accepting Joe\u2019s apology.<\/span><\/p>\n

An hour later, the house was bathed in silence. Adam fell asleep while reading, his open book slipping from his hand and onto the mattress beside him. Hoss fell asleep wondering what Hop Sing would cook for breakfast the next morning. Ben fell asleep wondering when he\u2019d get a response to the telegram he\u2019d sent Daniel four days earlier, and Little Joe. . .well, Little Joe was awake until midnight, tossing and turning while wondering if this whole thing between himself, Paul and Charlie would have blown over quietly if only Pa hadn\u2019t paid a visit to Mr. Dunn.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 9<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDaughter, I\u2019ve prayed upon it quite heavily, and though it comes as a surprise to me, the Lord has commanded that I visit Benjamin.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth turned from the stove where she stood frying eggs, side pork, and potatoes for breakfast. She couldn\u2019t have been more shocked had her father announced he was shedding his clothes and running naked down Main Street.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUncle Ben? You\u2019re going to visit Uncle Ben?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel pulled a chair out from the kitchen table and sat down. \u201cI believe that\u2019s what I just said.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth fought to keep the glee from her voice. \u201cWhen, Papa? When will you be leaving?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll send a telegram to Benjamin today. After I receive his reply, I\u2019ll make the travel arrangements.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth knew \u201ctravel arrangements,\u201d meant Esther and her husband Burton would have to take Papa by buggy to the train station in Cincinnati. That would be a four-day journey, with stops at rooming houses along the way. From there, Papa would ride a train west to St. Joseph, Missouri. He\u2019d likely have to change trains several times before reaching St. Joe, and once there he\u2019d board a stagecoach for the last leg of his trip, which would be the lengthiest and most arduous part of his expedition.<\/span><\/p>\n

A good daughter would try and keep him from taking this trip. After all, he was an old man now of sixty-seven. Although he\u2019d always been hardy and hale, rarely catching so much as even a cold, let alone being felled by maladies common to men his age, he shouldn\u2019t be traveling so far alone. Goodness knew what might happen. He could board the wrong train, or a wheel could fall off the stagecoach while it was traveling over the mountains, or Indians could raid, or outlaws could attack, or there were dozens of other tragedies that could befall her father during his travels that would encompass the many miles that separated Reedsville, Ohio from Virginia City, Nevada. But despite reminding herself of all this, Ruth didn\u2019t care. She truly didn\u2019t care, which meant she was either the worst daughter in the world, and the most unchristian-like woman who\u2019d ever been born, or it meant that after all these years of living underneath the heavy oppression of her father\u2019s rules, she was looking forward to breaking a few of those rules, and having the best summer she\u2019d ever known in all of her forty-eight years.<\/span><\/p>\n

If only Danny were here to share it with her.<\/span><\/p>\n

As she\u2019d done five days earlier when her father first mentioned Uncle Ben\u2019s invitation, Ruth kept her excitement hidden as she finished cooking breakfast and then carried the platters of food to the table. After her father had said grace, Ruth didn\u2019t even mind when he looked at her and grumbled, \u201cDon\u2019t see any biscuits, Daughter. I need biscuits with my breakfast.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Papa. I\u2019m sorry. They\u2019re still in the warmer. I\u2019ll get them right away.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

And for a change, it didn\u2019t bother her to jump up and retrieve the biscuits her father could have just as easily gotten for himself.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth\u2019s father shot her a stern look as she placed the plate of sourdough biscuits in front of him and sat back down.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you can\u2019t even remember to put biscuits on the table, I have concerns about your ability to run the store while I\u2019m gone. Perhaps I should reconsider–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gravely, Ruth said, \u201cOh, Papa, I don\u2019t believe you should reconsider if the Lord Himself has commanded you to visit Uncle Ben.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell. . .no. No, I can\u2019t in good faith go against what the Lord has commanded.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, you can\u2019t. And you don\u2019t need to worry about the store. Joshua will be here to assist me. We\u2019ll get along fine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll have to do all the ordering.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know, Papa. I\u2019ve been doing it for years.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you\u2019ll have to negotiate prices for the fruits and vegetables George Taylor brings in each day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know. I\u2019ve negotiated prices with Mr. Taylor many times.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd for the eggs the Widow Johnson sells us. Make certain they\u2019re fresh.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI always do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you\u2019ll have to keep the shelves dusted and stocked, and the floor swept, and the windows washed \u2013 I won\u2019t be accused of having a dirty store, Daughter. And the sugar and flour bins must be kept full, and. . .\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Listening to her father go on and on with instructions between bites of his eggs as though she\u2019d never been in the store before, instead of acknowledging that she\u2019d worked there for thirty-two years, would have normally vexed Ruth. But today he could prattle on all he wanted to, telling her what she should and shouldn\u2019t do, and she\u2019d pretend to listen and take it all very seriously. She\u2019d pretend to listen right up until the day he climbed in Esther\u2019s buggy and she waved goodbye, if pretending to listen meant he\u2019d ultimately be gone until autumn. Of course, thinking of Papa being gone meant also having to realize he\u2019d eventually return, and with that return, all the freedom Ruth planned to enjoy during his absence would disappear as quickly as it had come. The thought of that caused a shroud of gray despair to settle over her like a thick fog she couldn\u2019t fight her way out of. But then she saw Danny\u2019s face in her mind, and he flashed an impish grin.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRuthie, you\u2019re already fretting about Papa\u2019s return? Gosh sakes alive but are you a crazy goose. Don\u2019t worry about when he\u2019s comin\u2019 back. Do a jig because he\u2019s leaving, and keep right on jigging for the both of us all summer long.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth fought not to laugh at the image of her and Danny dancing a jig because Papa was leaving. She could just imagine Danny doing that very thing the moment Papa was out of sight. If he were alive, he\u2019d grab Ruth by the hands and twirl her \u2018round and \u2018round, his feet keeping a skilled rhythm that always made Ruth wonder how he could dance so well, given that Daniel Cartwright\u2019s children had never been allowed to dance. Dancing went against what the Bible taught, according to Papa, and led to imbibing in alcohol, and carousing late at night with the wrong people, and all kinds of other sinful activities that would send a soul straight to the burning fires of hell.<\/span><\/p>\n

About the time Daniel finished his eggs was also about the time that he appeared to run out of things to remind Ruth of when it came to taking charge of the store. He stood and headed for the door, going downstairs thirty minutes before opening like he\u2019d been doing every day except Sunday for over forty years.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth washed and dried the dishes, setting the tub of wash water on the sideboard when she was finished. She\u2019d take it downstairs before the store opened and throw the dirty water out the back door. Danny used to do this job for Ruth or her mother each day, even though Papa would scowl and mumble, \u201cWoman\u2019s work,\u201d as though no man should be so kind as to carry a heavy, awkward tub for his mother and sister.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes Ruth wondered where her father came by his ways. Uncle John was nothing like Papa, and neither was Uncle Ben from what she could recall. She remembered Aunt Dorcas as being full of fun and good-natured mischief, and as far as her father\u2019s other sisters went, Ruth didn\u2019t think any of them were very much like Papa, either. Unfortunately, in more recent years, she had seen her aunts Ellen, Lilly, and Addie only on rare occasions. Uncle John was the sole Cartwright relative that lived nearby who made an effort to have regular contact with Papa. Sometimes Ruth thought this was simply because Papa was some years older than his siblings, and seemed to hold himself apart from them \u2013 almost as though he\u2019d been born into a completely different family, and had never bonded with the younger six who\u2019d been \u201cthick as thieves\u201d during their childhood, as Uncle John was fond of saying. But despite Uncle John\u2019s words about the friendship the younger children had shared that Papa hadn\u2019t been a part of, sometimes Ruth wondered if Papa\u2019s sisters found him just as disagreeable and judgmental as she did, and didn\u2019t come calling for that reason.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth went to her bedroom to remove her apron and tighten the pins that held her hair up. The living quarters above the store included one large room that served as kitchen, dining area, and parlor, and then four other rooms hidden away behind closed doors. A bedroom that her parents shared before Mama\u2019s death, a water closet, a bedroom that Ruth shared with her sisters until one by one, they\u2019d left home and she became the room\u2019s only occupant, and the tiny bedroom \u2013 not much larger than a storage closet, really \u2013 that had belonged to Danny.<\/span><\/p>\n

When she looked at herself in the mirror, all Ruth saw was a middle-aged woman of average height and build, with dull brown hair and a face that wouldn\u2019t make a person passing her on the street take notice. Miriam had always been the pretty one, while Esther was the smart one, and Anna, with her beautiful singing voice and ability to play any song on the piano after hearing it only once, the talented one. Ruth \u2013 well, Ruth had always just been plain old Ruth. Not particularly talented, unless being an astute businesswoman counted, which in Papa\u2019s opinion it didn\u2019t. And she wasn\u2019t pretty, and no one ever said she was smart, though deep down inside she thought she was because she knew she could run the store just as well as Papa did, if not better.<\/span><\/p>\n

As she slipped some stray strands of hair back into their pins, she realized that the last time she\u2019d felt attractive was when Jack Stevens came courting. Sometimes Ruth wondered if Papa had purposefully put an end to that courtship, not because he truly had anything against Jack, but because he was determined to have at least one of his daughters remain at home to take care of him and Mama in their old age. Possibly he saw that of all of his girls, Ruth\u2019s spirit would be the easiest for him to break and then control. It made Ruth burn hot with anger when she thought that might be why Jack was run off, but too many years had passed for her to do anything about it now. When Danny was alive, his presence helped her get through times like this. Times when she wondered what her life would have been like if she\u2019d left Papa\u2019s home with Jack when she was nineteen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Danny\u2019s indomitable spirit couldn\u2019t be broken by Papa, that was for certain, though Papa had tried to squash the boy\u2019s infectious liveliness from the time Danny was a toddler. Sometimes Ruth thought that if Danny hadn\u2019t been born, this house would never have known laughter. Her mother tried to keep Danny\u2019s spirits at bay, too, though Ruth could always tell Mama\u2019s heart wasn\u2019t in her rebukes, and if she\u2019d had her way, Danny would have been free to be the boy he was, instead of the boy Papa wanted him to be.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth walked to her wardrobe, where she opened a drawer, shifted some undergarments aside, and pulled out a piece of folded parchment paper that had been secreted beneath her clothing. She smiled with fond memories as she read the title of the play on the paper\u2019s front. It was the only play she\u2019d ever attended. Like so many things that brought a person entertainment, Papa didn\u2019t approve of plays, or those who acted in them, either.<\/span><\/p>\n

The woman slowly let the paper fall open, seeing her brother\u2019s name listed inside as the actor portraying the lead character. Oh, if Papa had ever found out about this he would have tanned Danny until the young man couldn\u2019t sit down for a week. But despite Ruth\u2019s warning about Papa\u2019s ire, Danny couldn\u2019t be detoured when the opportunity to act in the play came his way. He\u2019d been forced to make up a lot of stories and do a lot of sneaking around in order to be at the rehearsals in Evanston, but an eighteen-year-old boy\u2019s determination and desire can\u2019t be easily thwarted. Or so Ruth learned as she, too, risked her father\u2019s ire by backing up anything Danny said about where he was going and what he was doing.<\/span><\/p>\n

The night of the play, Ruth and Danny said they were attending a revival held by a traveling preacher at a church in Evanston. Ruth held her breath, praying that Papa wouldn\u2019t insist that he and Mama attend also. It was to Danny\u2019s benefit that their mother\u2019s health was failing by then, and a trip outside of Reedsville, even to a nearby town, was difficult for her. Papa elected to remain at home, telling Danny and Ruth he expected to hear what the preacher had to say word-for-word when they returned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth couldn\u2019t remember when she\u2019d had that much fun. She was so proud of Danny as he performed on stage in front of rows and rows of people. And afterwards, he treated her to dinner at a restaurant. That\u2019s when he told Ruth he wanted to go to New York City and be an actor.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd from there, Ruthie, I wanna travel all over! I wanna go to every big city and little town this country has to offer. I\u2019ll tour with whatever troupe will accept me. And Europe and Asia, too. I wanna see them. Maybe even live in England for a few years. And you\u2019ll travel right along with me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDanny. . .Danny, Papa–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cForget about Papa for a change.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut he wants you to run the store. That\u2019s what he\u2019s always wanted.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that\u2019s never, for even one minute, been something I wanted. Maybe it wouldn\u2019t be so bad if Papa was dead–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDanny! Don\u2019t say something like that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell it\u2019s true. And don\u2019t sit there and act like I\u2019ve just committed a bad sin, because you feel the same way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEven if I do, I wouldn\u2019t voice it. Honor thy parents sayeth–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, yeah, I know. I\u2019ve heard it plenty a\u2019 times. Look, Ruth, if Papa wasn\u2019t around, and if it was just you and me, then sure, maybe running the store wouldn\u2019t be so bad. But I can\u2019t work for him. Besides, I want my own life, not the life that Daniel Cartwright\u2019s had planned for me since before I was born.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe was happy when you were born, Danny.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe so, but that must have been the last day he showed it, \u2018cause I don\u2019t ever remember Papa being happy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth couldn\u2019t argue that point with her brother. And that\u2019s when he told her that he wanted her to come with him to New York. And that\u2019s when Ruth was too afraid to defy their father by running off with her baby brother. It was a decision Ruth would never forgive herself for, because she couldn\u2019t help but feel that Danny would still be alive if only he\u2019d left home when he\u2019d wanted to, instead of waiting around for her to find the courage to accompany him.<\/span><\/p>\n

The woman hastily shoved the playbill beneath her undergarments when she heard a shout from the bottom of the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDaughter! Daughter, come along! It\u2019s time to open the store!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Papa!\u201d Ruth shut the top drawer of the wardrobe, and then took off her apron and hastily hung it on a hook mounted to the back of her bedroom door. \u201cI\u2019m coming!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As she held up the hem of her dress and raced down the stairs, Ruth heard her father mutter, \u201cDon\u2019t know how I\u2019m going to leave you in charge of things all summer long if I can\u2019t even trust you to open the store on time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth didn\u2019t bother to assure her father that she\u2019d have the store open exactly at nine a.m. every Monday through Saturday, because it would do her no good. He\u2019d just claim she had some other business sense lacking that he\u2019d need to fret over while he was at Uncle Ben\u2019s. Therefore, Ruth ignored the man\u2019s mutterings, pasted a smile on her face that hid all she felt inside, and welcomed their first customer of the day with a cheery, \u201cGood morning, Mrs. Donaldson. What may I get for you today?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Although Ruth scolded herself for it, she couldn\u2019t help but sing a silent ditty of joy when, early that afternoon, her father walked down the street to the telegraph office and sent the wire to Uncle Ben that said he\u2019d accept the invitation of a summer-long visit to the Ponderosa.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 10<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel\u2019s body swayed side to side in perfect \u2013 and bumpy \u2013 rhythm with the traveling stagecoach. They were crossing the Great Basin Desert, headed northwest toward Virginia City. Daniel was the only passenger on this barren part of the trip. At nightfall, there\u2019d be a layover at a station, and then tomorrow morning Daniel would board a new stage with fresh horses. If all went as planned, he\u2019d arrive in Virginia City at noon on Friday. He\u2019d be able to wire Benjamin of his pending arrival on Thursday evening, when the stage stopped in Carson City and Daniel took a room at a hotel. He wasn\u2019t certain how that telegram would get out to Benjamin\u2019s ranch given that it wouldn\u2019t reach the Virginia City telegraph office until after dark, but the stage driver had told him not to fret. He seemed to know Benjamin, and said, \u201cMr. Cartwright\u2019s got hisself a big operation. Him, or one a\u2019 his boys, or one a\u2019 their hands will likely as not be in town when the telegraph arrives.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAfter dark?\u201d Daniel said, as though he couldn\u2019t imagine what decent men would be doing in town once night fell.<\/span><\/p>\n

The driver chuckled as he stood leaning against the stage while giving the horses a short rest.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s plenty ta\u2019 do in Virginia City after dark. Between the miners and the cowboys, it\u2019s a town that don\u2019t see much sleep.\u201d The driver winked at him. \u201cShe\u2019s got herself lots a\u2019 places that do a mighty good business once the sun goes down, if you git my meanin\u2019.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel did get the driver\u2019s meaning, and didn\u2019t approve of the picture it left in his mind. Reedsville was a small, quiet town that didn\u2019t cotton to nightlife. Or at least not a nightlife that didn\u2019t require deceit and sneaking about like Danny had done in order to engage in it.<\/span><\/p>\n

The man\u2019s thoughts were heavily burdened by his deceased son as the coach traveled across the vast expanse of desert with its low-growing shrubbery that stretched for miles in some places. The names of the foliage were unfamiliar to Daniel \u2013 Big Sagebrush, Blackbrush, Shadscale, and Mormon-tea. For the most part, it all looked the same to him, though he supposed if a person lived in this part of the country as long as Benjamin had, identification of the various types of desert brush was second nature.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo much promise,\u201d Daniel muttered as he gazed out a window, recalling how he felt the day Danny was born. After the births of four daughters, as well as five babies of unknown sex Clara hadn\u2019t been able to carry beyond the early weeks of pregnancy, Daniel had thought the boy was truly a blessing from the Lord, in the same way the Lord blessed Abraham and Sarah with a son in their old age.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a few short years, though, Daniel began to think that Danny wasn\u2019t a blessing after all, but instead a child who\u2019d been sent by God to test his faith. The test of faith went as far back as to when the boy was no more than two or three, and couldn\u2019t seem to sit still or behave himself in church. Clara defended Danny by saying little boys were different from little girls \u2013 filled with liveliness and curiosity they couldn\u2019t contain. Well, as Danny found out, that liveliness and curiosity could be contained at least to some degree with a razor strap.<\/span><\/p>\n

The test of Daniel\u2019s faith continued when Danny was six and seven, and came home from school crying because the other boys teased him for being a \u201csissy.\u201d Well, he was a sissy, and Daniel saw it as plain as the nose on his face. Danny was always daydreaming, reciting prose, and dressing up in castoff clothes he called \u201ccostumes,\u201d while play-acting scenes from the pretend world he seemed to enjoy dwelling in. If he couldn\u2019t get his hands on some piece of fiction to read and memorize, then he made up stories and performed them for Esther\u2019s children until Daniel caught him at it one too many times and put a stop to that activity. No son of his was going to indulge in such foolishness \u2013 dressing up in costumes and prancing around on a stage he\u2019d fashioned from milk crates he\u2019d turned upside down and lined up in a row. If Danny wanted to memorize something, then he\u2019d do well to memorize the Bible. Or so Daniel told him as the razor strap bit the boy\u2019s backside.<\/span><\/p>\n

By the time Danny was eleven, the teasing had stopped, replaced by the other boys laying in wait for him on his way to and from school. Danny would invariably arrive home with a black eye or bloody nose on those days. By the time the boy was twelve, Daniel pulled him out of the local schoolhouse and let Clara finish educating him at home. It was the best solution anyway, because it allowed the boy to work in the store on more than just Saturdays. The business was to be his one day. That had always been Daniel\u2019s plan, despite the fact that Ruth was the child who seemed to have a natural inclination for running the store. Nonetheless, owning a business wasn\u2019t meant for women, unless it was a dress shop or some such thing, and even then, no doubt a man was behind her providing the cash flow and common sense it took to make a store profitable.<\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel\u2019s mind drifted from his own son to his brother\u2019s sons. He\u2019d never met Eric or Joseph, and Adam had been a young boy the last time he\u2019d seen him. Regardless, Adam was the kind of boy Daniel wanted. Quiet, intelligent, well behaved, and looked up to and respected by the other boys he\u2019d made friends with during the short time he and Benjamin stayed in Reedsville. After his troubles with Danny, the man was curious to see how Benjamin\u2019s boys had turned out. Perhaps this was why God commanded him to make this trip \u2013 to see if Benjamin was doing right by the Lord. To see if he was doing good works with the gifts God had granted him, including the greatest gifts of all \u2013 three sons. Gifts Daniel would have envied his brother had envy not been a sin.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the sun began to set, Daniel spotted the layover station as a brown dot in the distance. He bowed his head right there in the stagecoach, thanking the Lord for another day of safety, and asking for the wisdom to guide Benjamin in any way his youngest brother might need him to.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 11<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe Cartwright couldn\u2019t think of anything worse on a Friday morning than waiting around Virginia City for a stage to arrive while dressed in his Sunday best. Not that being dressed in his Sunday best was Joe\u2019s idea, mind you. Pa made that request of his sons during breakfast. If it had been up to Joe, ordinary work trousers, boots, and shirt would have served this occasion just fine.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was the kind of June day just made for breaking horses \u2013 and then made for sneaking off to a fishing hole with Hoss later in the afternoon. But there wouldn\u2019t be an opportunity for fishing today. Or at least the youngest Cartwright didn\u2019t think so, unless Uncle Daniel proved to be more of an outdoorsman than Joe expected.<\/span><\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t know much about his uncle, other than he was sixty-seven and a shopkeeper all of his adult life. Therefore, Joe pictured a wizened old man, pale, bleary eyed, and stooped at the shoulders, who had no business traveling from Ohio to Nevada by himself. It\u2019d be a wonder if he hadn\u2019t climbed off the stage at a stop somewhere along the journey and forgotten to get back on, or if he didn\u2019t drop dead the moment he set foot on Virginia City soil. Back when Uncle Daniel wired he was coming for the summer, Joe tried to tell Pa that he didn\u2019t think an old man should travel so far by himself. But Pa had just laughed, as though he knew something about Uncle Daniel that Joe didn\u2019t. Given Pa hadn\u2019t seen Uncle Daniel in twenty-five years, Joe wasn\u2019t certain how that was possible, but to question his father further would have been considered disrespectful.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo, Joseph,\u201d Pa teased the day of the wire\u2019s arrival when the family was gathered in the great room after supper, \u201chow soon are you planning on keeping your own feeble old pa from traveling alone?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t say\u00a0you<\/em>\u00a0were feeble. Just Uncle Daniel.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what makes you think he\u2019s feeble?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s close to seventy years old for one thing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAge doesn\u2019t necessarily define the man, son.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose not,\u201d Joe reluctantly conceded, \u201cbut he\u2019s been a shopkeeper all his life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that means what?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell. . .you know. That. . .that. . .\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat he\u2019s weak?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, not weak exactly but. . .uh. . .well. . .um–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKinda scrawny and puny, Pa,\u201d Hoss supplied in way of helping his little brother out. \u201cAin\u2019t that what ya\u2019 mean, Little Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. That\u2019s it. That\u2019s what I mean.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa laughed again while winking at Adam. However, he didn\u2019t explain what he found so amusing about Joe\u2019s assessment of the uncle he\u2019d never met, and Joe decided to let the subject drop. He knew more teasing would come his way if he didn\u2019t. Besides, Pa\u2019s perspective regarding old men was likely a little off plumb. Not that Pa was old per se, but in Joe\u2019s opinion, he was headed in that direction.<\/span><\/p>\n

Because waiting wasn\u2019t one of Joe\u2019s strong suits, he hit upon a productive way to spend his time between when they arrived in town, and when Uncle Daniel\u2019s stage was due.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be back in a little while,\u201d Joe said, as he and his brothers stood outside the bank. Pa was inside the building transacting some kind of lengthy business that required him to meet with the bank\u2019s president.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere you goin\u2019?\u201d Hoss asked in a tone that indicated he had no desire to stand around waiting, either.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust gonna help a friend.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam arched an eyebrow. \u201cHelp a friend?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. I promised Reba I\u2019d help her move to a new room the next time I was in town.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, Pa said we\u2019re all supposed to be here when Uncle Daniel arrives,\u201d Adam reminded.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be here. It\u2019ll be another hour before the stage comes in. Maybe two, if Pete\u2019s drivin\u2019 and he goes slow on account of his rheumatism.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut if you\u2019re delayed–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t be delayed. How much stuff can Reba have? The rooms are furnished. It\u2019s just a matter of moving some dresses, and hat boxes, and female notions, and stuff like that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNonetheless, I don\u2019t think today is the day to risk being late.\u00a0Or<\/em>\u00a0to have to explain to your father in front of the brother he hasn\u2019t seen in twenty-five years, that you were held up while helping a saloon girl move to the new residence where she\u2019ll be entertaining gentlemen callers after-hours.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa likes Reba.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa is friendly to Reba when we go in the Silver Dollar, yes. Just like he\u2019s friendly to any man or woman who waits on him in a store, bank, or saloon. But–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, if you\u2019d quit jawin\u2019 at me, I coulda\u2019 been gone and back by now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut,\u201d Adam continued as though his little brother hadn\u2019t interrupted him, \u201call I\u2019m saying is that I don\u2019t think you want to upset Pa today, regardless of how. . .um. . .noble your reasons are.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t upset him. I\u2019ll be back in plenty a\u2019 time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be back, Adam,\u201d Joe promised, then hurried off down the sidewalk toward the Silver Dollar before his oldest brother could make a grab for his arm.<\/span><\/p>\n

~ ~ ~<\/span><\/p>\n

With envy in his eyes, Hoss watched his little brother head toward the saloon. For two bits, he\u2019d have followed Joe. However, Hoss wasn\u2019t one to throw caution to the wind. He had no desire to incur his father\u2019s wrath on this day when they were all expected to make a good first impression on Uncle Daniel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss looked at Adam. \u201cHow come ya\u2019 didn\u2019t stop him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam leaned sideways against a timber supporting the overhead roof. He crossed his arms against his chest and gave a smug grin.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, the kid\u2019s eighteen now, as he keeps reminding us. Old enough to make his own decisions, as we\u2019ve heard him say numerous times since last October. So, if the lamb is willing to go to the slaughter, that\u2019s his choice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but for some reason I gotta feelin\u2019 Pa\u2019s gonna blame us for lettin\u2019 him leave.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Pa\u2019ll blame us all right, but that won\u2019t last long.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Adam assured. \u201cPa\u2019ll be so mad at Joe if he shows up after the stage arrives, that he\u2019ll forget all about being angry with you and me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A slow grin spread over Hoss\u2019s face. \u201cYeah, guess yer right about that, now ain\u2019t ya.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou bet I am.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd it\u2019ll be kinda fun watchin\u2019 the fireworks when Pa explodes, won\u2019t it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s just what I was thinking.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss leaned against the post opposite his brother and pulled the brim of his hat low on his forehead. \u201cAnd here I was just sayin\u2019 to myself that there ain\u2019t much in the way of entertainment in this town on a Friday morning when all a fella\u2019s got to do with his time is wait for a stage.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell now, brother, maybe we can count on Joe to raise the entertainment factor for us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe we can,\u201d Hoss agreed, while not feeling a bit a guilty over the trouble potentially awaiting Little Joe. If it were serious trouble, Hoss would go after him and haul him back. But this was the kind of \u201clearnin\u2019 a lesson\u201d trouble that wouldn\u2019t really do anyone no harm, other than the harm it did to Joe\u2019s eardrums when Pa hollered loud enough to make it rain. Therefore, Hoss figured the kid deserved whatever came his way for defying their father, and then for not listening to Adam when he cautioned against it.<\/span><\/p>\n

The brothers remained where they were, dutifully waiting for their father. Every now and then they\u2019d glance toward the Silver Dollar, while making bets with one another as to just how long it would be after the stage arrived before Little Joe showed up. It wasn\u2019t the most fun Hoss had ever engaged it, but it did provide a portion of that entertainment he was hankering for.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 12<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t take long for Little Joe to discover how foolish his rhetorical question to Adam of, \u201cHow much stuff can Reba have?\u201d had been. Like he\u2019d told his brothers, he didn\u2019t have to move any furniture for the woman, but between her piles of dresses, hats, shoes, jewelry boxes, notions, and the feminine \u201cdelicate items\u201d Joe had far more knowledge of than his father was aware of, it took the young man more time than he\u2019d anticipated. Fortunately, Reba was relocating only two doors down from her old room. Had she been moving to a new saloon altogether, it would have taken Joe the better part of the morning to get the job accomplished.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Joe hung the last of the dresses in the wardrobe, Reba turned from the bureau where she\u2019d been putting away undergarments.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Little Joe. I really appreciate all you\u2019ve done for me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t do that much other than move two tons a\u2019 dresses and three tons a\u2019 hats.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey now, a gal can\u2019t have too many ways to look pretty for a man.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo I\u2019ve just finished learning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The red headed woman sauntered over to Joe with an exaggerated sway of her hips. She looked up at him and winked, while seductively fiddling with the black string tie around his neck.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs there any. . .uh. . .special way, you\u2019d like me to extend my thanks, Mr. Cartwright?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A sly smile touched Joe\u2019s lips. \u201cWell, Ma\u2019am, now that you mention it, I can think of several ways, but unfortunately, I don\u2019t have the time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA pity.\u201d The woman let Joe\u2019s tie drop from her fingers and returned to unpacking her delicates. \u201cAfter all, you\u2019re considered one of the best catches in town.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe knew Reba was just teasing him. He\u2019d never shown an interest in her that went beyond friendship, and vice versa. Besides, among other things he knew that he kept a closely guarded secret, was that Adam bedded Reba every now and again. When it came to his oldest brother, potential blackmail material was hard to come by. Therefore, Joe wasn\u2019t going to jeopardize it by sleeping with the woman himself. If he did, and then Reba ever told Adam. . .well, it would destroy this ace Joe carried around in his back pocket, so to speak. Besides, where saloon girls were concerned, Iris captivated Joe\u2019s fancy. It was safer that way. Adam wasn\u2019t interested in Iris.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m one of the best catches in town, huh?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the rumor.\u201d She turned and winked at Joe again. \u201cOf course, I wouldn\u2019t know, considering you\u2019ve never asked me to entertain–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Before the woman could finish her sentence, a boy of about ten appeared in the open doorway. Mismatched gingham patches were stitched on both knees of the trousers that hung a good three inches above his ankles, holes dotted his shirt, and his face carried a week\u2019s worth of dirt.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou Joe Cartwright?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The disheveled kid\u2019s chest heaved and out, as though he\u2019d been running. He held up a quarter. \u201cYer brothers sent me to find ya. Said ya\u2019 need to hurry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh shit. The stage!\u201d Joe grabbed his hat and suit coat off of Reba\u2019s bed. \u201cPardon my language, Ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Reba laughed. \u201cDon\u2019t you worry about that none, Little Joe. I\u2019ve heard enough salty language in my day to make milk curdle.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe jammed his hat on his head and shrugged into his coat with a quick \u201cBye!\u201d called over his shoulder to Reba.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBye, Joe! And thanks again!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The boy led the way to the back stairs. \u201cFollow me! Yer brothers said to meet \u2018em in the alley.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe raced after the boy, galloping down the steps. If Adam and Hoss were trying to keep him out of hot water with Pa, then it made sense that they\u2019d want him to come out the back door of the Silver Dollar. Pa might see him if he exited from the front of the saloon. But by exiting into the alley, Joe could arrive at the stage drop-off from any direction. Now all he had to do was come up with a plausible story as to why he was late.<\/span><\/p>\n

Something to do with old ladies,<\/em>\u00a0Joe thought as he barged out the door behind his young messenger.\u00a0If I say I had to do an errand for an old woman, there\u2019s no way Pa can be mad at me. The Widow Ferguson! That\u2019s it. I\u2019ll say she asked me to carry her packages home from the general store. I\u2019ll say she asked me in for a piece of pie, and that I didn\u2019t want to be impolite by telling her no. I\u2019ll say–\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Before Joe could perfect the rest of his story, a fist slammed into his face. He flew back against a wall of the Silver Dollar with an \u201cuff!\u201d He caught a brief glimpse of his attackers as they swarmed him like bees to a hive. They were all scruffy and dirty \u2013 a gang of miners\u2019 kids who lived out at the camps and didn\u2019t attend school, and not a one of them over twelve. Nonetheless, Joe didn\u2019t stand a chance against eight boys who\u2019d been paid to beat him up. Nine, if you included the messenger clawing at Joe\u2019s suit jacket in a determined effort to strip him of it and run off with it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps if Joe hadn\u2019t initially been concerned about hurting the boys, he could have fended them off long enough to reach the street. But by the time he realized these hooligans had no reservations about hurting\u00a0him,<\/em>\u00a0Joe had already been driven to his knees and was trying to defend himself against the fists pummeling his back, face, and chest.<\/span><\/p>\n

As his suit jacket gave way to the boy set on owning it, something hard and solid whacked the side of Joe\u2019s head. The young man saw stars for a few seconds, then saw nothing as his body crumpled to the ground amidst hoops and hollers of victory.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 13<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright exited the bank, squinting as the June sun assaulted his eyes. His stomach rumbled and gnawed toward his backbone. It was almost noon. Ben thought of the meal Hop Sing would have waiting for them when they arrived. A beef roast, two roasted chickens, potatoes, peas, carrots, baked beans, apple butter, corn bread, cherry pie, peach pie, strawberry pie, and a half dozen other items Ben requested, much of it grown or raised right on the Ponderosa. Come to think of it, if Hoss had managed to make a few requests of his own, then numerous additional foods would accompany their meal. That was all right, though. It would make supper an easier affair for their Chinese houseman. Platters laden with leftovers that everyone could pick and choose from would be fine for the evening meal. But for today\u2019s lunch, the first meal upon Daniel\u2019s arrival, Ben wanted nothing less than a spread normally reserved for a dozen guests at Sunday dinner.<\/span><\/p>\n

Though he hadn\u2019t voiced it to his sons, and thought he\u2019d done a good job of hiding it as well, Ben was a bit uneasy over the impending visit of his eldest brother. As a boy, Ben hadn\u2019t really known Daniel. He couldn\u2019t remember Daniel living with them in Ma and Pa\u2019s farmhouse. After Daniel married Clara when Ben was just three years old, he lived nearby and worked in his father in-law\u2019s store. Ben was certain his brother must have visited home from time to time, and dimly recalled some Christmas dinners with Daniel and Clara present, and later on, little Ruth, too. But his memories of these gatherings weren\u2019t especially clear. Maybe the lack of memories surrounding Daniel were because Ben was a young boy then; busy, and active, and full of mischief \u2013 off somewhere catching frogs with John, or playing tricks on his sisters, or cutting hay with Pa, and not paying any mind to the brother fourteen years his senior, who\u2019d always seemed like a grown man to Ben. In truth, what few clear childhood memories Ben did possess of Daniel revolved around stern looks and even sterner admonishments. At even the young age of twenty, Daniel seemed to think children should be seen and not heard, and couldn\u2019t cotton to the lively personalities of his younger siblings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa used to tease Ma and say Daniel was all Weston and no Cartwright. Ma would grow offended, but soon Pa had her smiling again. From what Ben had grown up hearing, Ma\u2019s people were pious folks who believed no good came of fun and laughter. Pa always said that if Ma hadn\u2019t married him, she\u2019d have been just like her kin \u2013 all sour and disagreeable, like an apple left too long in the fruit cellar. Ma always protested those words, but never with much vigor, which lead Ben to conclude that Ma\u2019s people were far different from the boisterous, fun-loving Joseph Cartwright she\u2019d fallen in love with.<\/span><\/p>\n

For the brief time Ben had spent with Daniel as an adult living in his brother\u2019s home and working in his store, he found the man a critical taskmaster. Without being asked for his opinions, he freely gave Ben advice on raising Adam, though Ben never thought it sounded much like advice. Instead, it always sounded like orders Ben was supposed to follow without question. Daniel treated him the same way in the store, not giving Ben credit for being an intelligent, twenty-eight year old man who\u2019d already seen and done more in his life than Daniel would ever think of doing. Instead, it was, \u201cDo this,\u201d and \u201cDo that,\u201d and \u201cIs that the best you can do, Benjamin?\u201d as though he were an eight-year-old who wasn\u2019t smart enough to know how to stack canned goods or sweep a floor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben hadn\u2019t much liked the way Daniel treated Ruth, either. And then when the day came that Daniel decided Ben should re-marry, and when he spoke of knowing a young widow in Reedsville with four children who would make Ben a \u201cfine, Christian wife,\u201d Ben knew he had to take Adam and move on. If he\u2019d stayed out the winter as he\u2019d originally planned, he\u2019d have had cross words with his brother, and he was determined not to do so. He felt that a rift between himself and Daniel would be a dishonor to their father\u2019s memory. The man who had adored his children, and was always ready to laugh, or pull a prank, or instigate a little spur-of-the-moment fun, had died three years earlier. Upon Pa\u2019s death, John and his ever-expanding young family moved onto the farm with Ma. John ran the farm, and would continue to do so following Ma\u2019s death, which came a few months after Ben reached Nevada with Adam and little Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the years, Ben had mellowed where thoughts of his oldest brother were concerned, and assumed Daniel might have mellowed with age, too. Granted, Daniel\u2019s letters were still filled with dire warnings of \u201cfire and brimstone\u201d if a good Christian life wasn\u2019t led. But Ben ignored most of his brother\u2019s ranting, often not even reading it to the boys, knowing that Daniel would always be a \u201cWeston,\u201d as Pa would say. And besides, Ben felt he\u2019d lived that good Christian life Daniel often spoke of, and had raised his boys with a combination of moral guidance gleaned from both his mother and the Bible, things he\u2019d learned at his father\u2019s knee, and admittedly too, things he\u2019d learned by the seat of his pants. Especially where Little Joe was concerned. Although Joe was his mother\u2019s child in so many ways, he was also his Grandpa Cartwright\u2019s grandson; there was little doubt about that.<\/span><\/p>\n

As far as his invitation of an extended visit to Daniel went, Ben supposed that had come from sentiment. After all, none of the children of Joseph and Anna Cartwright were getting any younger. Someday in the not-too-distant-future the family circle would further be broken by death. Lately, Ben found himself longing to see Ellen, Lilly, John, Dorcas, and Addie again. Funny how his longings had never extended to Daniel until he\u2019d received that letter from John, in which John expressed his concerns for their eldest brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, Ben found himself both apprehensive, as well as eager, for Daniel\u2019s arrival. He smiled at the sons who were waiting for him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAny sign of the stage yet?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot yet, Pa, but I reckon it\u2019ll be comin\u2019 along soon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShould be,\u201d Adam agreed. He dug out his pocket watch. \u201cIt\u2019s five minutes to twelve.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, then,\u201d Ben smiled, \u201cunless Pete\u2019s driving, the stage should be right on time.\u201d Looking around, he suddenly realized one son wasn\u2019t in the nearby vicinity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s Little Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As he slipped his watch back into a pocket of his black suit coat, Adam said, \u201cFunny you should ask that, Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss pasted a false grin on his face. \u201cYeah, funny you should ask.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s funny. Now where\u2019s your brother?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe said he had to help a friend move,\u201d Adam supplied.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA friend?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cReba.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWho\u2019s Reba?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne a\u2019 the little gals at the Silver Dollar.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou let your brother leave to help a saloon girl move after I specifically told you boys to wait right here!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell now uh. . .ya\u2019 see, Pa, we didn\u2019t exactly let Little Joe leave. He just. . .did,\u201d Hoss finished weakly.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, he just did, did he? And you two couldn\u2019t stop him, is that it?\u201d Ben turned to Adam, thrusting a finger into his chest. \u201cYou, who outweighs him by thirty pounds,\u201d Ben faced Hoss, \u201cand you, who outweighs him by well over one hundred pounds.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t exactly about stopping him, Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben arched an eyebrow at his oldest son. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo. It was about teaching him a lesson.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s lips tightened in a familiar way that made Hoss give a regret-filled grimace.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems to me that if any lessons need to be taught in this family,\u00a0I\u2019m<\/em>\u00a0the one who should be teaching them. As for you two. . .\u201d Ben shook his head in exasperation. There was no time for a lecture. \u201cNever mind. I\u2019ll go find your brother myself. You wait right here, and I do mean right here on this very spot, until I get–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The sidewalk trembled beneath Ben\u2019s boots. He turned as the rumble of horses\u2019 hooves announced the stage coach\u2019s arrival before it could be seen. As the stage rounded a corner and came into view, he mumbled, \u201cWonderful. Just wonderful.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben plastered a smile on his face, gathered the two sons who were present by putting an arm around each of their shoulders, and stepped forward to greet the brother he hadn\u2019t seen in over two decades \u2013 all the while hoping Little Joe would show up before Daniel got off the stage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 14<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe. . .? Little Joe. . .?\u201d The young woman glanced over her shoulder to make certain no one was watching her from the mouth of the alley. When she\u2019d determined she was still alone, she turned back to the man she was crouched beside and shook his arm again. \u201cLittle Joe. Little Joe, wake up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe moaned as his head rolled back and forth in the dirt.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe? Little Joe, wake up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Eyes blinked heavy and reluctantly, as if Joe were being awoken from a deep sleep he didn\u2019t want to leave.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He looked up at her, eyes bleary with confusion, as though he had no idea who she was. And maybe he didn\u2019t. After all, they hadn\u2019t been in school together for a couple of years now, and a vast parade of other girls had caught and held his fancy in the time since they\u2019d sat across the aisle from one another in Miss Jones\u2019 classroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

She glanced over her shoulder again. When she turned back to her old schoolmate, awareness shone from his bruised face.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNan?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t stay long. I left Timmy in the general store picking out candy with Nora and Henry. If I don\u2019t get back there soon, they\u2019ll come looking for me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

By the puzzlement on his face, Nan could tell Joe didn\u2019t understand why she spoke in a rushed, nervous whisper. She glanced over her shoulder again before whispering a confession to Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was Paul and Charlie.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe grimaced as he pushed himself up on his elbows. \u201cPaul and Charlie what?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey were the ones who paid those boys to beat you up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe voiced his muddled thoughts in a one-word question. \u201cBoys. . .?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe boys from the mining camps.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nan\u2019s explanation, though succinct, seemed to be all Joe needed to bring forth memories of the events in the alley.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you know that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI just do. Working for the Dunns I. . .I hear things sometimes that I\u2019m not supposed to. Now come on, let me help you to your feet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nan sat the woven basket she was carrying on the ground, grasped Joe\u2019s arm, and helped him stand. He swayed back and forth a moment, making Nan fear he was going to lose consciousness again. When he finally steadied, she asked, \u201cDo you need me to get Doc Martin?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNaw.\u201d The battered young man gave a terse shake of his head while wiping blood from both corners of his mouth, and then taking his cowboy hat from Nan. \u201cI\u2019ve been hurt worse bustin\u2019 broncs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got to get along then. I can\u2019t let the children find me with you. Or Paul or Charlie, either.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe grasped her arm. \u201cBut–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nan wriggled from his hold. \u201cI can\u2019t tell you any more than I already have. That\u2019s all I know. And. . .and please, Little Joe, don\u2019t tell anyone it was me that tipped you off about Paul and Charlie hiring those boys.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She hated the fear she heard in her voice. If she really wanted to do the right thing, she\u2019d be willing to go to Sheriff Coffee and report what she knew. But she needed her job. And besides, Mr. Dunn was an important man around these parts, and she was just Nan Henning, the daughter of a crippled, unemployed miner. If the sheriff didn\u2019t believe her, Mr. Dunn could make things even more miserable for Nan and her family than they already were.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite his addled brain, Joe must have heard the fear too, or maybe he saw it on her face. Either way, he didn\u2019t hesitate when he promised, \u201cI won\u2019t mention your name to a soul.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you. Thank you so much.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He offered her a grin made lopsided by his puffy lower lip. \u201cHey, it should be me thanking you, not the other way around.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She picked up her shopping basket. \u201cI have to go. Will you be okay?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be fine. Make sure the coast is clear, then be on your way. I\u2019ll wait a couple minutes before leaving after you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nan nodded. She gave Little Joe one last grateful look for his understanding, then hurried to the mouth of the alley where she cautiously peered out and viewed the street. When she didn\u2019t see any signs of Paul or Charlie, she slipped from the alley to the sidewalk in one smooth motion and headed toward the general store.<\/span><\/p>\n

~ ~ ~<\/span><\/p>\n

Currently, Joe Cartwright didn\u2019t have time to dwell on what Nan revealed. He did as he promised, waiting in the alley while she walked to the store. As soon as she had safely entered, Joe would hurry on his way. If he were lucky, Pete would be driving the stage, meaning Joe still had thirty minutes to make good use of. Not to do with what he wanted to, however, which was to track Paul and Charlie down and give them a taste of their own medicine. Instead, Joe would make a stop at Soo Ling\u2019s bathhouse, where he could pay a nickel for some warm water and soap to wash his face with, and then he\u2019d head to Keegan\u2019s Gentlemen\u2019s Shop for a new suit coat and a white shirt that wasn\u2019t bloodstained. The hooligans who jumped him had taken his wallet, but Pa ran an account at Keegan\u2019s, therefore Joe could get what he needed despite his lack of funds. As far as the cuts and bruises on his face went \u2013 and though Joe couldn\u2019t see them, he had no doubt they were there by the way his flesh stung, and by how much it hurt to move his mouth \u2013 he\u2019d tell Pa that the Widow Ferguson asked him to carry some things to the upper story of her house, and that he\u2019d tripped on a rickety step and tumbled down the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, as the old saying went, \u201cThe best laid plans. . .\u201d The incoming stage flew by the alley where Joe remained hidden from view. He waited a few minutes, hoping his uncle had missed the connection to Virginia City. When he finally worked up the nerve to peer out at the town, Joe saw his brothers loading luggage into the buggy, and saw a barrel-chested man with a thick shock of gray hair standing beside Pa. A man who could have been Pa\u2019s identical twin, had it not been for their age difference.<\/span><\/p>\n

For just a moment, Joe thought of fleeing in the opposite direction, but as another old saying went that Pa often used, \u201cWhen all else fails, I always catch the pig at the trough.\u201d So, since Joe would have to show up at home eventually and own up to his tardiness where Uncle Daniel\u2019s arrival was concerned, he figured he might as well face his father\u2019s wrath now and get it over with.<\/span><\/p>\n

The young man straightened, winced at the way that movement bit into his sore ribs, counted to ten in order to brace himself for the tongue lashing that was to come, then stepped onto the sidewalk and headed towards his family.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 15<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The initial moment of greeting was an awkward, stumble-footed dance. Ben let his arms slip from his sons\u2019 shoulders, and stepped forward to hug his brother. Daniel seemed startled by this display of affection, then for a brief second acted like he was going to return it, before changing his mind and thrusting his right hand at Ben.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBenjamin.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben dropped his arms. If Daniel had been John, they\u2019d be locked in an embrace not even Hoss\u2019s strength could break. But this was Daniel, not John, and Ben wasn\u2019t surprised by the man\u2019s rebuff.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben gripped the hand held out to him, pumped it with enthusiasm, and smiled with a warmth that came through in his voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDaniel, it\u2019s good to see you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good to see you too, Benjamin. Thank you for the invitation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo need for thanks. The boys and I are just happy to see you had a safe journey.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was the will of the Lord.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes. . .yes, I\u2019m sure it was.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Remembering quite well how Daniel could carry on for hours about the \u201cwill of the Lord,\u201d made Ben decide to keep the conversation moving. He turned, facing his sons.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDaniel, you remember Adam. Though I imagine he\u2019s changed some since the last time you saw him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel appraised Adam from head to toe. Ben was proud of his eldest son, standing there so straight and dignified in his black Sunday suit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s brother nodded his approval, as though Adam passed his inspection. He offered his hand to his nephew.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdam. You appear to have grown into a fine man.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Sir. You look well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor a man of my years, I am well. The Lord will decide when my time on earth is through.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam cast an amused glance at his father while replying to his uncle, \u201cUh. . .yes. Yes, the Lord has a plan for all of us, doesn\u2019t he.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, he does, Adam.\u201d Daniel turned to Ben. \u201cIt appears that you\u2019ve raised the boys with the Lord close their hearts.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have,\u201d Ben nodded. He veered the conversation off-course once more, directing Daniel\u2019s attention to his middle son. \u201cAnd this strapping young fellow is my son Hoss.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Just like he\u2019d done with Adam, Daniel appraised Hoss from head to toe \u2013 though it took considerably longer for his eyes to travel Hoss\u2019s height and girth. Hoss shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, a sure sign to Ben that the scrutiny made him nervous.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben let out a breath he didn\u2019t even realize he\u2019d been holding when Daniel finally extended his hand to Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll call you Eric, young man. I fear the good Lord doesn\u2019t cotton to nicknames.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUh. . .yes, sir. That\u2019ll be fine, Uncle Dan\u2019el. Eric is just dandy by me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel dropped Hoss\u2019s hand and looked around. \u201cAnd Joseph? Where\u2019s your youngest, Benjamin?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s. . .um. . .helping a friend here in town with. . .with some things.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat kind of things? The Lord\u2019s work, I pray.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben shot Adam and Hoss a glare when one of them stifled a snicker by coughing, and the other one did the same by clearing his throat.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a. . .uh. . .goodwill gesture on Little Joe\u2019s part, yes. He\u2019ll be along soon.\u201d Ben hurried to deflect this subject. \u201cLet\u2019s get your luggage and load it onto the buggy. If Little Joe\u2019s not back by the time we\u2019ve got it secured, I\u2019ll send the boys for him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss and Adam got their uncle\u2019s trunk and travel bag from the top of the stagecoach. Hoss hauled the trunk on one shoulder, while Adam carried the bag. They placed the items in the open space behind the buggy\u2019s seat.<\/span><\/p>\n

If Daniel had been John, Ben could have further stalled for time by taking his brother to one of the saloons for a drink. But then, if Daniel were John, no stalling would be necessary, because John wouldn\u2019t have been bothered by Little Joe\u2019s tardiness, nor held Ben\u2019s parenting skills in judgment because of it.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, since Ben couldn\u2019t take the tea-totaling Daniel for a drink, and since he felt like he was being judged as they stood under the hot sun waiting for his youngest son, he was just about to send Adam and Hoss in search of their brother when he spotted Joe walking toward them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Oh no,<\/em>\u00a0Ben moaned inwardly as his son drew closer and he got a good look at him.\u00a0Joseph, not today. Not today of all days! How am I ever going to explain to Daniel that you got into a brawl over a saloon girl?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Ben took a deep breath, resisting the urge to strangle his youngest when the battered, bruised, and bloodied Joe tried to offer a contrite smile with his split lips while stammering, \u201cUh\u2026hi, Pa. Sorry\u2014Um, sorry I\u2019m late.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 16<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Joe stood with his head bent, risking a wary glance every now and again at the faces around him. Adam\u2019s own head was bent as he hid his smile from Pa. No doubt big brother was garnering a great deal of amusement from Joe\u2019s predicament. At least in Hoss\u2019s gaze Joe found sympathy. No, there was no hint of amusement there, just a look that said, \u201cAw, shucks, Little Joe, why\u2019d ya\u2019 have ta\u2019 go and start things off on the wrong foot with Uncle Dan\u2019el? Ya\u2019 really got Pa riled with this stunt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe knew he had his father riled, because even though he wouldn\u2019t risk meeting Pa\u2019s eyes, he could feel the man\u2019s heavy gaze boring into him, just like he could feel his Uncle Daniel\u2019s gaze of disapproval, as though he\u2019d already decided that Joe didn\u2019t live up to his expectations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Well, Joe didn\u2019t much care if he didn\u2019t gain the approval of a man he\u2019d never met, though he knew better than to voice those thoughts. Besides, he had other things on his mind right now, and none of them had to do with making a good impression on an uncle who, as far as Joe knew, his father had never been very close to anyway.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe had to hand it to Pa. He set his anger aside, didn\u2019t ask any questions of Joe in front of their visitor that might potentially tarnish the Cartwright name, and slipped an arm around Joe\u2019s shoulders. Granted, the hand that rested on his upper arm squeezed with just a little too much force, but nonetheless, Pa managed a smile while introducing with good humor, \u201cIf you haven\u2019t come to the conclusion on your own by now, Daniel, this young scallywag, who evidently left his pocket watch at home today, is my son Joseph. Little Joe, your uncle Daniel.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe extended a hand to the man. \u201cHello, Sir. Nice to meet you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Uncle Daniel gave a curt nod. He ignored the offer of Joe\u2019s hand, to instead aim a directive at Pa.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEvidently this one needs a good strapping to set him on the right path, Benjamin.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe cast a sideways glance at his father when the hand gripping his arm loosened and gave a light pat.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh now, I don\u2019t think that\u2019ll be necessary. Joseph knows what path I expect him to walk.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Benjamin, he may well know what path you expect him to walk, but the question being, is he traveling that path, or only fooling you into\u00a0thinking<\/em>\u00a0he is?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Before Pa could answer, Uncle Daniel turned and headed for the buggy. Joe felt his father\u2019s chest expand as he took a deep breath, and then heard him let it out slowly. For reasons he couldn\u2019t identify, Joe didn\u2019t think that deep breath had anything to do with his transgressions, but instead, had something to do with Uncle Daniel. He was more certain of it when Pa patted his arm one more time before releasing him, and then said in his best host voice, \u201cCome on, boys, let\u2019s get your uncle out to the Ponderosa. He\u2019s probably hungry and looking forward to a good meal.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As Pa climbed into the buggy and took the horse\u2019s reins, Joe and his brothers walked to where their mounts were tied to a hitching post in front of the bank. Adam\u2019s cheerful, \u201cThanks, little brother,\u201d made Joe scowl.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThanks for what?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBefore you showed up looking like you\u2019ve been on the losing side of a saloon brawl, Pa was giving Hoss and me the what for over your absence. It\u2019s always nice to know that we can count on you to get entangled in the kind of trouble that\u2019ll make Pa forget why he was angry with us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss patted Joe\u2019s back. \u201cYep, little brother, I gotta agree with Adam on that one. It sure is handy to have you come along at just the right time and get Pa all in a lather.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGlad I could be of help,\u201d Joe mumbled as his brothers chuckled quietly, while their father called, \u201cBoys, hurry it up there!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cComing, Pa,\u201d Adam responded with a humorous lilt to his voice, only to be echoed by Hoss\u2019s dutiful but equally light, \u201cYes, Sir.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe knew they were still making fun of him, but given he was already on shaky ground with Pa, the young man decided it was best to leave his brothers to their teasing and concentrate on being an obedient son for the rest of the day.<\/span><\/p>\n

He got in his saddle with one smooth leap, then allowed Cochise to follow Sport until they were riding alongside Uncle Daniel, while Hoss rode on the opposite side of the buggy, Chub keeping an easy pace beside Pa.<\/span><\/p>\n

Soon, they were headed toward the Ponderosa on Virginia City Road. Pa, Adam and Hoss eagerly pointed out various sights to Uncle Daniel as they traveled. Joe\u2019s attention, however, was far removed from his family\u2019s conversation with their visitor as he rode in silence, his mind mulling over recent events.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 17<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As Cochise trotted beside the buggy, Joe pondered what Nan had told him. So Paul and Charlie Dunn paid those camp kids to beat him up. Joe probably would have never reached that conclusion on his own. Or at least not for several days. If Nan hadn\u2019t tipped him off, he would have thought he was the victim of nothing other than a robbery. It wasn\u2019t unheard of for gangs of miners\u2019 boys to cause trouble in town. Roy Coffee tried to keep their devilment at bay, but the sheriff and his deputy could only be in so many places at one time. That fact left a good deal of Virginia City and her citizens as fair game for the undisciplined boys with nothing better to do than cause mischief.<\/span><\/p>\n

But from what Nan said, Joe hadn\u2019t been the victim of a robbery. Oh sure, his suit jacket had been stolen along with his wallet, but more than likely those boys wouldn\u2019t have been lying in wait for him if Paul and Charlie hadn\u2019t paid them for their efforts. Joe thought back to other incidents in recent weeks. Odd happenings hadn\u2019t ended the April evening Cochise stumbled over that wire. One day in early May, when Joe was marking a stand of trees for cutting, Cochise disappeared. Joe had left the horse tied up beneath a grove of Ponderosa Pines while he worked. When he took a break at noon and went to get his lunch from his saddlebags, the horse was gone.<\/span><\/p>\n

At first, Joe wondered if he hadn\u2019t tied the horse securely, but just as quickly as that thought came to him the young man negated it. He\u00a0knew<\/em>\u00a0he hadn\u2019t been careless with his horse, and besides, even if Cochise did somehow loosen his reins from the branch Joe had looped them around, the horse wouldn\u2019t wander far. He was too well trained, and too loyal to his master, to go running off like a skittish colt.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe trekked three miles that day before finding his horse. It hadn\u2019t been difficult to track the animal, but then, Joe didn\u2019t suppose Paul and Charlie intended for it to be difficult, as opposed to just being aggravating. Any questions Joe had in his mind regarding how Cochise managed to wander off were answered when he found the animal standing beside a fence, his reins tied around a rail. Unless Cochise had acquired a new talent, a person, or better put, two persons, were involved in his disappearance.<\/span><\/p>\n

But since he hadn\u2019t seen or heard anyone, Joe couldn\u2019t prove that, so he didn\u2019t say anything about the incident to his father or brothers. Then, two weeks after that, Joe was working in the same area mending fences. He didn\u2019t have Cochise with him that day, but rather a wagon loaded with tools. When he\u2019d come back to the wagon bed after taking a short walk at lunchtime to loosen his sore back muscles, a hammer was missing. And not just any hammer, but Adam\u2019s favorite hammer. How someone could have a favorite hammer Joe still didn\u2019t know, but he sure heard about it the next day when Adam went to get that hammer from the barn and couldn\u2019t find it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHave either of you seen my favorite hammer?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe had been in the ranch yard with Hoss, helping his brother replace some warped boards on a horse trough.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNope, Adam, ain\u2019t seen it,\u201d Hoss said from where he knelt beside the trough, his back to the barn. He held up the hammer he was using. \u201cThis\u2019n ain\u2019t the one you like. Joe, didn\u2019t you have that hammer a\u2019 Adam\u2019s in the toolbox yesterday when you headed out to mend fence?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know Adam had a hammer. I thought every hammer around this place was free for the using.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey are free for the using,\u201d Adam said. \u201cBut they\u2019re also free for the returning. So where is it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

What Joe wanted to say that day was, \u201cProbably somewhere on the Dunn ranch.\u201d But to do that would have precipitated a discussion the young man didn\u2019t want to have with his brothers, because ultimately they would have told their father about the trouble Paul and Charlie were still giving Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know where it\u2019s at.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow can you not know where it\u2019s at? You either used it yesterday and brought it home, or you didn\u2019t. Now which is it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI used it, but it never came home with me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd just how did that happen?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI. . .I guess I musta\u2019 lost it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLost it? Joe, you\u2019re eighteen not eight. How do you lose a hammer?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know! I just did, okay! It wasn\u2019t like I meant to. And besides, it\u2019s just a hammer. There\u2019s at least six more like it hanging in the barn. Grab one of those!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to grab one of those. I want the one you lost!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell if I could give it you I would, but I can\u2019t.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, if you paid attention to what you\u2019re doing and were more responsible–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe took a step toward his oldest brother. \u201cI do pay attention to what I\u2019m doing, and I am respons–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, now, fellas,\u201d Hoss placated while standing. \u201cIt\u2019s just a hammer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy favorite hammer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI heard ya\u2019 the first time, Adam. An\u2019 just as soon as Little Joe an\u2019 me are done fixin\u2019 this trough we\u2019ll take a ride out to where he was workin\u2019 yesterday and look around for it. But in the meantime, if ya\u2019 need to use a hammer, then like Joe said, there\u2019s a buncha them right there in the barn.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, never mind,\u201d Adam huffed as he turned for the barn. \u201cSending the two of you to look for a hammer just means that much more work doesn\u2019t get done around this place today. Joe probably planned it that way so you could take a side trip to a fishing hole.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

If Joe hadn\u2019t been in a bad mood to begin with that morning, he would have found Adam\u2019s remark funny, and then would have suggested to Hoss that they do just what big brother said and go fishing. But he didn\u2019t suggest a trip to the fishing hole, because he was growing weary of Paul and Charlie Dunn and their high jinks, and was preoccupied trying to figure out a way to put a stop to their shenanigans without involving his family. Obviously, Joe hadn\u2019t come up with any bright ideas, given that the Dunns had hired those kids to beat him up today.<\/span><\/p>\n

Without realizing it, Joe scowled as he rode beside the buggy thinking of Paul and Charlie. It was interesting, in an ironic sort of way, as to how life worked sometimes. For two months, Joe hadn\u2019t wanted to tell his father of the Dunn boys\u2019 harassment. But now, when he was beginning to think it might be prudent to talk to Pa, the opportunity wasn\u2019t readily at hand due to the presence of their visitor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe gave a quiet sigh of resignation. His mind was so far removed from what was going on around him that he barely noticed when they arrived in the ranch yard, or the smells of roast beef and chicken wafting from the house that made his stomach growl.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 18<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel remained attentive to his brother and two oldest nephews during the trip to the ranch, while still managing to focus a good deal of his attention on Benjamin\u2019s youngest son. This one was trouble, just like Danny had been. Daniel could spot it a mile away, even when it didn\u2019t arrive beaten up and bloodstained. Those were just the outward signs. Daniel was well aware of this, because Danny had come home more than once looking just like Joseph did now.<\/span><\/p>\n

The boy\u2019s silence, which was most certainly an indication of idle daydreaming, was another sign, along with that scowl that came and went from his face. The good Lord only knew what evil was churning in that mind of his, just like the good Lord only knew what evil was churning in Danny\u2019s mind until He saw fit to reveal those thoughts to Daniel.<\/span><\/p>\n

This boy. . .Joseph. . .he reminded Daniel of his son in numerous ways. Although Benjamin had mentioned in his letters over the years that Joseph strongly resembled his mother, Daniel could plainly see the boy possessed Cartwright features, too, just like Danny had possessed various Cartwright features. Joseph was built like Danny \u2013 slight and wiry. That\u2019s how Pa had been built, and John was built that way as well. As for where Daniel and Benjamin got their larger, broader builds \u2013 they took after the Weston side of the family in that regard.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then there was the dark curly hair that Benjamin should hold this boy down and take a razor to \u2013 well, that was Pa\u2019s hair. Pa always wore his hair far too long and unruly. And whenever he did finally allow Ma to cut it, he never let her give him a proper trim, not even when he was an old man and looked downright foolish with that bushy head of curly hair gone stone white with age, and grown to his shoulders.<\/span><\/p>\n

John had Pa\u2019s curly hair, though it had more gray in it now days than the dark brown of his youth. Danny had inherited Pa\u2019s curly hair also, though he\u2019d been blond like his mother, and Daniel barely allowed those curls to spring to life before demanding they be cut off.<\/span><\/p>\n

And then there were the eyes. Joseph and Danny both had their Grandfather Cartwright\u2019s eyes. Maybe Joseph\u2019s mother\u2019s eyes were green as well, that Daniel didn\u2019t know. Regardless, Pa\u2019s eyes had been green, and so were Ellen\u2019s, John\u2019s, and Adele\u2019s, as were Danny\u2019s. Joseph\u2019s eyes reminded him of theirs. And most especially of Danny\u2019s. As though behind the light in those eyes he had a secret he was keeping from Benjamin, just like Danny had kept secrets.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now Daniel knew why the Lord had sent him to visit Benjamin. His brother might not realize it yet, or he might be refusing to realize it, but he needed help with his youngest son. Joseph needed the Lord\u2019s salvation, and Daniel would do everything in his power to gain the boy that salvation before he met the same fate Danny had. The fate of a sinner damned to the fires of hell for all eternity.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Benjamin, Adam and Eric continued to tell him all about the Ponderosa as they rode into the ranch yard, Daniel said a silent prayer, asking the Lord to help him cast out the demon residing within young Joseph.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 19<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAmen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAmen,\u201d Pa, Adam and Hoss echoed respectfully, though Joe swore Adam\u2019s \u201cAmen\u201d sounded more like, \u201cPraise the Lord this prayer\u2019s finally come to an end,\u201d and Hoss\u2019s sounded more like, \u201cPraise the Lord that we can finally eat.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s \u201cAmen,\u201d came on the heels of his family\u2019s, because his uncle\u2019s long-winded thanksgiving had lulled him into a light doze that he hoped no one was aware of. By the piercing gaze Uncle Daniel cast upon him from the end of the table opposite of Pa\u2019s chair, Joe had a feeling his little nap hadn\u2019t gone unnoticed.<\/span><\/p>\n

As platters of food were passed and plates filled, Uncle Daniel seemed pleased with the spread Hop Sing had prepared, because several times he complimented Pa on the skills of his \u201cChinaman.\u201d Joe didn\u2019t let that phrase bother him the first time, especially because his father courteously and smoothly corrected Uncle Daniel by saying, \u201cYes, we\u2019re lucky to have Hop Sing. He\u2019s been with us since before Little Joe was born. I don\u2019t know what we\u2019d do without him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

However, by the fourth time throughout the course of the meal that Uncle Daniel referred to Hop Sing as \u201cthe Chinaman,\u201d and even called Hop Sing that as though it were his proper name, Joe was silently seething. He glanced over at Hoss and Adam, neither of whom seemed bothered by it. But then, Adam was good at hiding his feelings, and Hoss was probably too intent on filling his plate with his fourth helping of food to pay any mind to the way Uncle Daniel was subtly insulting Hop Sing, and the way he stubbornly refused to adhere to Pa\u2019s polite corrections. Not even when Pa\u2019s voice held a hint of exasperation while he emphasized their houseman\u2019s name \u2013 \u201cYes,\u00a0Hop Sing<\/em>\u00a0is quite the cook,\u201d \u2013 in his most recent attempt to get his brother to understand that no one in this household ever referred to Hop Sing as \u201cthe Chinaman,\u201d as though he were a possession and not a person.<\/span><\/p>\n

While they ate, Pa inquired about family members and friends \u201cback home\u201d in Ohio. Uncle Daniel didn\u2019t seem nearly as interested in talking about these old connections he shared with his brother as Pa was. With a good deal of rudeness, Joe thought, considering how much Pa was enjoying the reminiscing, Uncle Daniel changed the subject. How they got from Cousin Ginny and her problems with failing eyesight, and Aunt Lillian\u2019s newest grandbaby, and Pa\u2019s memories of the nice old man who had owned the dry goods store when he was a boy, to the \u201cGood Lord,\u201d Joe didn\u2019t know. Not that Joe had any strong objections to religion as a topic of conversation at the dinner table, but here on the Ponderosa, that tended to be a discussion reserved for a lazy Sunday afternoon, when Adam and Pa debated the preacher\u2019s sermon, with Hoss and Joe only half-listening while playing checkers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s mind drifted as Uncle Daniel rambled on. Adam and Hoss appeared to be daydreaming too, once they determined this topic wasn\u2019t going to die out soon. Uncle Daniel was like a traveling sideshow evangelist. Full of theatrical enthusiasm where God was concerned; yet having no idea when to put an end to his preaching and let his congregation savor his message.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe smiled a little as he glanced at his father. He could tell by Pa\u2019s expression that he was thinking the same thing, though he managed to keep his attention on Daniel and act as though this was the first time in all his fifty-three years that he\u2019d heard the Good Word.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd just what is it that you find so amusing about the Lord, Joseph?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s felt his face grow hot under his uncle\u2019s scrutiny. Just his luck. Adam and Hoss were woolgathering same as him, but he was the one Uncle Daniel chose to call on it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUh. . .nothing, Sir.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it must have been something, with the way you were sitting there smiling as though you harbor some kind of a secret.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps Little Joe was just appreciating your good preaching, Daniel,\u201d Pa said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe threw his father a grateful look. \u201cYeah. . .yeah, that\u2019s what I was doing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Uncle Daniel didn\u2019t respond. His eyes lingered on Joe a moment longer before he finally broke his gaze.<\/span><\/p>\n

Boy, I bet this guy was a barrel of laughs as a pa,<\/em>\u00a0Joe thought, feeling sorry for Danny and his sisters, while at the same time feeling grateful that he\u2019d been born to Ben Cartwright, and not Daniel Cartwright.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know the meaning of your name, Joseph?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe had foolishly thought his uncle\u2019s attention had shifted from him. He let his forkful of mashed potatoes drop back to his plate.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPardon?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI asked if you know the meaning of your name.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe meaning of my name? Well. . .I know I\u2019m named for Pa\u2019s father, if that\u2019s what you\u2019re asking.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, that\u2019s not what I\u2019m asking. I mean the Biblical meaning. He shall add. Joseph means, \u2018He Shall Add.\u2019 \u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh. Oh. . .well, no. I didn\u2019t know that. Thanks. . .uh thanks for tellin\u2019 me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo, Joseph, just what have you added to this family?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss jumped in before Joe got a chance to reply.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, that\u2019s a right easy one ta\u2019 answer, Uncle Dan\u2019el. He\u2019s added a whole passel a\u2019 trouble.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, and a wagon load of annoyances,\u201d Adam contributed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot to mention a big ole list a\u2019 pretty little gals just lined up and waitin\u2019 for him to ask \u2018em for their hands in marriage.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd speaking of pretty little gals, there\u2019s that angry father over in Placerville just hoping to lay eyes on Joe again in order to–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBoys, that\u2019s enough,\u201d Pa admonished. Normally, he\u2019d let Adam and Hoss have their fun, but Joe sensed that Pa knew Uncle Daniel wouldn\u2019t recognize good natured humor if it bit him on the rump of his britches \u2013 or exaggerated brotherly joshing, either.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once Adam and Hoss had quieted down, Uncle Daniel asked again, \u201cJoseph, you didn\u2019t answer me. What have you added to this family?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Thankfully, Pa jumped in before Joe had to formulate a reply, because based on how his temper was rising, Joe was certain that whatever he said, it wouldn\u2019t be considered an appropriate remark for a visiting relative.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph\u2019s added much to this family, Daniel, just by being my son. He\u2019s added more than I ever want to think of living without, just like all my sons have.\u201d Pa stood. \u201cNow, why don\u2019t we choose our dessert from all those pies Hop Sing has on the sideboard, then carry it and our coffee out to the table on the front porch. After we\u2019re done eating, I\u2019ll take you for a walk around the ranch yard \u2013 show you the outbuildings and garden.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s father laid a hand on his shoulder as he passed by. Joe wasn\u2019t certain if that gesture was nothing more than a show of affection, or if it was Pa\u2019s way of telling him not to let Uncle Daniel get under his skin. Either way, Joe didn\u2019t rush to join his family in picking out a piece of pie. He would have been happy to remain in the house and out of his uncle\u2019s line of vision, but knew he had no choice but to head to the porch when he heard his father call, \u201cJoe, get your dessert and come join us, son!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Pa!\u201d Joe answered, because no matter how much Pa might disapprove of Uncle Daniel\u2019s ways, he would also expect Joe to be polite and accommodating for the duration of the old man\u2019s visit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe grabbed a dish that held a large slice of peach pie while mumbling, \u201cBoy, I bet Cousin Ruth is sure glad this old guy\u2019s here, and not at home with her.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He jumped when Hop Sing startled him from behind. \u201cHop Sing think Cousin Ruth happy girl too, Little Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe laughed at the wink Hop Sing shot him before disappearing into the kitchen with an armload of dirty plates.<\/span><\/p>\n

If nothing else, Little Joe arrived on the front porch in a better mood than he\u2019d been in at the dinner table. Thankfully, he was able to remain out of Uncle Daniel\u2019s view by leaning against the house while he ate, and then he and his brothers were excused by Pa to take care of whatever ranch duties needed attending to. Joe was never so happy to fill several hours by chopping wood for Hop Sing, mucking horse stalls, and straightening the tack room, as he was that afternoon.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 20<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The remainder of the day passed uneventfully. So uneventfully, that when Joe was lying in bed late that night unable to sleep, he found himself once again puzzling over the ironies of life.<\/span><\/p>\n

When they\u2019d gotten home with Uncle Daniel that afternoon, Pa pulled Joe aside and told him to change into a clean shirt and have his face tended to by Hop Sing. Joe did as his father requested, arriving at the table clean and looking fairly unscathed, other than the bruises on his face that he couldn\u2019t do anything to hide. But the odd thing about all this \u2013 or rather the puzzling ironic thing \u2013 was that Pa never asked Joe how he\u2019d come by those bruises in the first place. Granted, that wasn\u2019t an inquiry Pa would have made in front of Uncle Daniel, but knowing Pa, if he were determined to get answers, he\u2019d have carved out some private time with Joe. But Pa didn\u2019t do that, nor did he knock on Joe\u2019s door after everyone retired for the night, as Joe expected him to. If private time wasn\u2019t to be had during the day, then surely after the house was quiet and Uncle Daniel was asleep in the guest room on the main floor, as he was now, then Pa would have wanted to talk to Joe about his transgressions in Virginia City.<\/span><\/p>\n

And so, this was just another oddity in the winding path Joe was traveling lately. Or maybe better put, the winding path the Dunns continually seemed to be leading him down. Weeks back, when he\u2019d tangled with Paul and Charlie for the first time and arrived home bruised and battered, Joe hadn\u2019t wanted his father\u2019s ministrations. Now, he\u2019d have welcomed those paternal ministrations he\u2019d shunned, and willingly taken any stern admonishments that came his way, too, for not remaining with his brothers at the stage stop, just for the opportunity to speak with Pa about the pranks that were escalating to a level Joe wasn\u2019t prepared for. But evidently Pa thought Joe had gotten caught up in a saloon brawl that morning, and for whatever reason, maybe due to Uncle Daniel\u2019s presence, had chosen not to pursue the matter further.<\/span><\/p>\n

At any other time, Joe would have thanked his lucky stars that he\u2019d gotten off so easily. But this time. . .well, this time Joe would have paid to be on the receiving end of Ben Cartwright\u2019s anger, just to have the chance to talk to Pa.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 21<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe! Joseph, get a move on! Day\u2019s a wastin\u2019!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cComing, Pa!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe hurried out of his room, tucking his shirttails into his pants as he trotted down the stairs. He\u2019d overslept, but not because he\u2019d snuck out his window and spent the night gambling in Virginia City. He\u2019d overslept because he\u2019d tossed and turned until after two a.m., trying to come up with a solution to Paul and Charlie\u2019s harassment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Everyone was seated at the table when Joe arrived. His own rear end had barely touched his chair before Uncle Daniel said, \u201cThe shiftless man goes hungry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPardon?\u201d Pa questioned.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cProverbs chapter 19, verse 15, Benjamin. \u2018Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless man goes hungry.\u2019 If this one were mine, he\u2019d pay for his tardiness with no breakfast this morning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

By the look on Pa\u2019s face, Joe would have bet a week\u2019s wages he was thinking, \u201cWell, this one\u00a0isn\u2019t<\/em>\u00a0yours, Daniel. He\u2019s mine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But Joe would have also bet a week\u2019s wages that even if Pa\u00a0were<\/em>\u00a0thinking that, he wouldn\u2019t say it considering Uncle Daniel was a guest. And he didn\u2019t. Instead, he informed his brother, \u201cAll of my sons put in a full day\u2019s work on this ranch six days out of seven. Therefore, in this household, no one starts his day on an empty stomach.\u201d Pa\u2019s eyes shifted to Joe in mild rebuke. \u201cNot even those who arrive late to the breakfast table.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa nodded, as if to say all was forgiven, but don\u2019t let it happen again. And especially not while your uncle is here.<\/span><\/p>\n

With the way Joe\u2019s luck was running where Uncle Daniel was concerned, it had to be him who made the next blunder as well. He reached his fork out and stabbed two flapjacks off the platter in front of him. They hung in mid-air, halfway between the platter and Joe\u2019s plate, when Uncle Daniel asked, \u201cYou don\u2019t thank the Lord for the bounty He\u2019s provided before you eat, boy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe wanted to say, \u201cActually, Uncle Daniel, with the exception of before we eat Sunday dinner, or when the preacher is visiting, or on Christmas Day, no, we don\u2019t.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Oh, how he wanted to say it, and by the gleam in Adam\u2019s eyes, Joe had a feeling his older brother wanted to say it too. But both of them kept their mouths shut \u2013 Adam, because he knew when it was prudent to hold his tongue, and Joe because he figured he owed his father a bundle of thanks for the endless number of ways Pa had come to his defense since Uncle Daniel\u2019s arrival. The least Joe could do in return was keep his temper in check and his smart remarks to himself. Though what the heck, it would be fun to share some of them with Hoss later.<\/span><\/p>\n

A mere movement of Pa\u2019s head prompted Joe to shake his flapjacks back onto the platter. Pa never answered Daniel directly about the issue of prayer before every meal. However, he made a request.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDaniel, would you please offer the blessing this morning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe dutifully bowed his head, wondering if the man would finish his lengthy blessing by noon, or if they\u2019d just be able to thank the Lord for lunch as well, and eat both meals at the same time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss must have been wondering the same thing, because as soon as Uncle Daniel said, \u201cAmen,\u201d he tagged on a hasty, \u201cAmen,\u201d of his own and grabbed the bowl of scrambled eggs. He hurried to scoop a pile onto his plate, as though if he started eating Uncle Daniel couldn\u2019t decide he\u2019d forgotten to praise God for something and start praying all over again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe retrieved his flapjacks, then passed the platter to Pa. The young man decided the best way to stay out of trouble with Uncle Daniel was by passing platters of food, filling his plate, eating, and then hightailing it out of the house as soon as Pa indicated it was time to start the working portion of this day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conversation buzzed around Joe that he didn\u2019t pay much attention to. He was too busy concentrating on not saying or doing the wrong thing in front of Uncle Daniel. So far, it seemed likeeverything<\/em>\u00a0he\u2019d done was wrong in the man\u2019s opinion. Not that Joe Cartwright was one to put much stock in the opinions of others \u2013 not even the opinions of visiting uncles. But out of respect for his father, Joe wanted to, at the very least, not draw any more of the man\u2019s ire.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe thought things were going pretty good in that regard, too, until Uncle Daniel held up his cup.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cChinaman, more coffee.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe glared at his uncle, though the man didn\u2019t appear to notice as he watched Hop Sing refill his cup.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Chinaman.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHis name\u2019s Hop Sing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Uncle Daniel cast a dark gaze on Joe. \u201cWhat was that, Joseph?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing. Pa told you three times yesterday that his name is Hop Sing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s tone was sharper than it should have been, especially coming from an eighteen-year-old speaking to an elder, but he didn\u2019t care.<\/span><\/p>\n

From across the table, Hoss winced, and Adam gave a slight shake of his head. With just that small movement, Joe knew his oldest brother was saying, \u201cJust let it be, Joe. Let Pa handle Uncle Daniel.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa\u2019s, \u201cJoseph,\u201d wasn\u2019t loud or angry, just a firm, no nonsense warning that told Joe impertinence toward his uncle wouldn\u2019t be tolerated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, Pa didn\u2019t convey that same message to his brother, who also needed to be told to keep his mouth shut as far as Joe was concerned. Purposefully ignorant of Joe\u2019s feelings for Hop Sing, the place the houseman held within the structure of the Cartwright family, or the fact that Hop Sing was still standing in the dining room, Uncle Daniel asked, \u201cDo you know what the Bible says about the yellow race, Joseph?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe saw Adam\u2019s eyes roll upward, as if he knew Uncle Daniel had just fired a round Joe would be determined to answer. At the same time, Joe felt a nudge against his shin. The large boot belonged to Hoss, who was undoubtedly telling Joe not to rise to the bait.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Joe ignored the eye roll and the foot, as well as the way his father cleared his throat in warning. He laid his utensils down, rested his arms on the table, and met his uncle\u2019s cold stare with one of his own.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Uncle Daniel, I don\u2019t know what the Bible says about the yellow race, but I do know that it says we\u2019re to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. I don\u2019t believe it says anything about sorting our neighbors out by color before we extend that love.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa\u2019s, \u201cJoseph!\u201d came just ahead of Uncle Daniel\u2019s, \u201cAre you going to allow this kind of impertinence, Benjamin?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa gave Joe a heavy scowl. Yet the sigh accompanying that scowl seemed to convey that Pa\u2019s patience was wearing thin with not only his youngest son, but with his oldest brother as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, help Hop Sing clean up the kitchen, then meet your brothers outside.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cOh, and I think you owe your uncle an apology.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t think he owed anyone an apology. If any apologizing was done, he thought it should be Uncle Daniel apologizing to Hop Sing. But the trouble refusing to apologize would cause wasn\u2019t worth the effort. Or at least not right now. As Adam had always told him, you have to pick your battles wisely. If Uncle Daniel stayed until the end of summer as planned, Joe had a feeling he and the man would engage in a few more skirmishes before the stage left for Ohio.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s, \u201cSorry,\u201d was mumbled, and he wouldn\u2019t look at the man when he said it, but Pa let it ride.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow go help Hop Sing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Joe didn\u2019t consider helping Hop Sing in the kitchen to be punishment, and he doubted his father considered it so either. He figured Pa thought this was the best place for him to cool down while staying clear of Uncle Daniel for a while. Besides, he could eat his breakfast in here just as well as he could eat it in the dining room, and the atmosphere was sure a lot more hospitable as he shared the small kitchen table with Hop Sing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe keep big mouth shut,\u201d Hop Sing ordered quietly. \u201cNo get in trouble with Number One Uncle for Hop Sing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care about any trouble I might get into. He\u2019s not gonna spend the next three months calling you Chinaman if I have anything to say about it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing been call worse. Beside, as Honorable Father tell you many time, words just words. Mean nothing unless hotheaded boy let them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe would have kept on arguing with Hop Sing in the whispered voices they were using, but he quieted to listen to the conversation drifting in from the dining room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs sending Joseph off to do woman\u2019s work really an appropriate punishment, Benjamin? I was thinking more along the lines of a good thrashing followed by a day of hard labor. That\u2019s what the boy needs in order to make him into a respectable man.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe strained to hear his father\u2019s reply.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no such thing as woman\u2019s work on the Ponderosa. Just work that needs doing, and sometimes that includes any one of us assisting Hop Sing. And as for a hard day of labor, Little Joe is no stranger to those.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the thrashing?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph is my son, Daniel. I\u2019ll decide on punishment when and if punishment is necessary. He apologized to you and was sent from the table. That\u2019s enough for now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHumph. Hardly, in my opinion.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you\u2019re entitled to that opinion, just like I\u2019m entitled to one of my own. Boys, let\u2019s get the day started. Adam, why don\u2019t you help Uncle Daniel saddle a horse. He\u2019ll be spending the day with me. Joseph! Finish up in the kitchen, then help Hoss load the wagon!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Sir!\u201d Joe called back, hurrying to shovel the remainder of his breakfast into his mouth. He pumped water into the sink for Hop Sing, then turned to the stove to remove pots and pans that needed washing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGo,\u201d Hop Sing instructed, taking a pan from Joe\u2019s hands. \u201cHelp Mr. Hoss like Father say \u2014 and stay far \u2018way from Number One Uncle.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I oughta\u2019 at least clear the dining room table. Pa sent me in here to help you, not to finish my breakfast.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI tell father you help if he ask. Now go.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe playfully pouted. \u201cHop Sing, if I didn\u2019t know better, I\u2019d think you were tryin\u2019 to get rid of me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGet rid you, yes. That what Hop Sing try do. Every time father help Hop Sing, or send boys help Hop Sing, dishes get broke, supper get burnt, and kitchen get dirty. Hop Sing no need that kind help.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe laughed while scampering out of the kitchen when one end of a dishtowel smacked against the hind portion of his britches.<\/span><\/p>\n

His merriment died as he entered the great room to see his father standing in front of the fireplace with his hands spread on the mantel, staring down at the cold logs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe assumed he was in for one heck of a lecture if he let his presence be known. If he were smart, he\u2019d pluck his hat and gun belt from the sideboard and sneak out of the house. But either he didn\u2019t possess a lick of sense, as Adam sometimes said, or his desire to talk to his father about the Dunns outweighed any trouble he was in for being rude to Uncle Daniel.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUh. . .um. . .Pa? Pa, I. . .I need to talk to you about–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, let\u2019s just lay what happened this morning to rest. Your uncle. . .well, his manners aren\u2019t always what they should be.\u201d Pa turned from the fireplace to face Joe and hold up a stern finger. \u201cBut that\u2019s no excuse for you to practice bad manners too, young man.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Sir. I know it\u2019s not, and I\u2019m sorry. But, Pa, what I really wanted to talk to you about is yesterday.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYesterday?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened in town. Why I was late–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBenjamin!\u201d Came the call from the front porch. \u201cI\u2019m ready! The Good Lord doesn\u2019t cotton to shiftlessness in the father anymore than he cottons to it from the son.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShiftless,\u201d Pa grimaced. \u201cI\u2019ll show him shiftless…\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa suddenly seemed to remember Joe was standing there. He gave his son a weak smile.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome along, Little Joe. You\u2019d better help Hoss while I take your uncle with me for the day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. But before we leave, I\u2019d really like to talk to you about yesterday. About why I got beat–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBenjamin! Benjamin, are you coming?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOn my way, Daniel!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa jammed his hat on his head and was still buckling his gun belt as he stepped outside. He glanced over his shoulder at Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Joe. What is it you need to talk to me about?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe glanced at Uncle Daniel, who was waiting a few feet from Pa.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUh. . .um. . .nothing. Nothing, Pa. It\u2019ll. . .it\u2019ll keep for a better time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

If Pa was going to form a reply, it was cut short by Uncle Daniel, who was now marching across the ranch yard toward the horse Adam had saddled for him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome along, Benjamin. We\u2019re already losing daylight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam leaned against a porch support post wearing a sly smile as their father passed by.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d say it\u2019s going to be a long summer, wouldn\u2019t you, Pa?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As Uncle Daniel bellowed again, \u201cBenjamin!\u201d Pa took a deep breath, mumbling, \u201cYes, Adam, a long summer. A\u00a0very<\/em>\u00a0long summer,\u201d before hurrying to catch up with his brother and climb on Buck.<\/span><\/p>\n

After his father and uncle rode away, Joe helped Hoss load the wagon with supplies. As Adam set off to check a stand of timber, Hoss and Joe set off in the opposite direction to spend the day restocking line shacks. By the time they returned home that evening, everyone else was present and supper was ready.<\/span><\/p>\n

To Pa\u2019s credit, he did remember that Joe wanted to talk to him. Unfortunately, he didn\u2019t seem to remember what the subject matter was, or that Joe had tried to speak with him privately.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa reached for a dinner roll as Joe passed the basket to him. \u201cOh, Little Joe, you wanted to speak to me about something this morning,\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUh. . .\u201d Joe\u2019s eyes shifted uncomfortably from person to person. He wouldn\u2019t have necessarily objected to having this conversation in front of Adam and Hoss, but he wasn\u2019t going to have it in front of Uncle Daniel. \u201cUh. . . it\u2019s not important, Pa. It\u2019ll keep.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Once again, Joe felt Uncle Daniel\u2019s piercing gaze boring into him in a way he\u2019d yet to see it bore into Adam or Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOnly thing that \u201ckeeps,\u201d young man, are secrets. Are you keeping secrets from your father? Benjamin, you\u2019d be wise to find out what this boy doesn\u2019t want to tell you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam gracefully saved both his father and brother from having to respond by asking Uncle Daniel about the overhead costs of running a general store. Uncle Daniel quickly warmed to the subject, while Pa cast his oldest son a grateful look.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t give anyone grateful looks. Instead, he returned to eating his supper in silence.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam was right. This was going to be one long summer. One very long summer indeed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 22<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If Joe Cartwright and his cousin Ruth were granted the opportunity to meet, they\u2019d have found themselves kindred spirits where their opinions of Daniel were concerned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although it was surely sinful to entertain such thoughts, Ruth\u00a0was<\/em>\u00a0glad that her father was on the Ponderosa for the summer, and not at home with her. Running the store with the assistance of her nephew Joshua made work enjoyable.<\/span><\/p>\n

Just like Ruth had always known, she was quite capable of managing the business. Even without Papa present to bark orders, the shelves got dusted, the floor got swept, the windows got washed, and the purchasing and ordering got done. Ruth had no problem making certain she bought only fresh eggs from the Widow Johnson, nor did she have any challenges negotiating fruit and vegetable prices with Mr. Taylor. Actually, she\u2019d secured even better prices from Mr. Taylor than Papa did. Ruth didn\u2019t know why, though she assumed it might be because she treated Mr. Taylor with respect, and always greeted him with a smile and warm, \u201cHello, Mr. Taylor,\u201d and ended their transaction with a \u201cThank you, Mr. Taylor,\u201d and \u201cHave a nice day, Sir.\u201d None of which George Taylor had ever heard from her father in all the thirty some years he\u2019d done business with him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joshua wasn\u2019t as much fun as Danny, but then, he wasn\u2019t nearly as unpleasant as Papa, either. He was only fourteen. A shy, quiet boy who, with Papa away, seemed to be opening up more and more each day, like a flower blossoming under the new atmosphere of sunshine Ruth brought to the store. Esther and her husband planned that Joshua would clerk for Papa full-time after the upcoming school year ended. Whether that\u2019s what Joshua wanted, Ruth didn\u2019t know, though an educated guess told her the teenager wasn\u2019t given a choice in the matter. She hated to see him forced into a line of work against his will as Danny had been. She hoped an opportunity to discuss this with him would arise, but for now, Ruth kept her peace. She couldn\u2019t have Joshua saying anything to Esther, for fear Esther would tell Papa that Ruth tried to thwart the plans laid out for the boy\u2019s future. Possibly as the summer wore on, Ruth would grow to feel she could confide in Joshua, and he in her, in the same way she and Danny had confided in one another.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCross my heart and hope to die, stick a fence post in my eye,\u201d as Danny used to say whenever they exchanged secrets.<\/span><\/p>\n

For the time being, Ruth put thoughts of Joshua\u2019s future to the back of her mind. When she wasn\u2019t running the store, she enjoyed her freedom from cooking and ate her supper at the Reedsville Caf\u00e9 four nights out of seven. And on the nights she didn\u2019t eat there, she sometimes did what she and Danny would have \u2013 ate beans from the can, and then had chocolate drops and licorice sticks for dessert. She\u2019d even had two dresses made that weren\u2019t black. One was pale blue and white, and the other was pink. When she wore them to work, several customers complimented Ruth on her new style, something Papa would have found scandalous, but Ruth didn\u2019t care. She didn\u2019t know what she\u2019d do with the dresses when Papa returned \u2013 hide them under her bed perhaps, or in the back of her wardrobe. What she wanted to do was gain the courage to wear them in front of him, and tell him that she didn\u2019t give a hoot what opinions he held about a woman dressed in brightly colored clothing. But without Danny here, she didn\u2019t know if she could find that courage. She kept hoping that by the end of the summer she\u2019d be a different woman from the one Papa said goodbye to in the spring. A stronger woman. A woman able to stand up to her father.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even with her father far away, Ruth still kept the living quarters neat and tidy, as her mother taught her to do from the time she was a little girl. Of course, back then Ruth thought she\u2019d someday employ these skills in her own home, for her husband and children. She never imagined herself a spinster left alone to take care of her disagreeable, widowed father. Nonetheless, dusting and sweeping and straightening up still needed to be done. Or at least those daily chores had to be done in order for Ruth to feel comfortable in her home.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before the store opened one morning, Ruth went from room to room, raising windows to let the summer breeze in. She carried a feather duster in a pocket of her apron, running it over furniture, shelves, and knickknacks as she traveled. In another pocket she carried lilac scented sachets. She\u2019d purchased three-dozen of them from Mrs. McCarthy, and had already sold fourteen. Papa would have never considered buying \u201cfoolish female notions,\u201d but Papa wasn\u2019t here to do the purchasing, Ruth was. Of course, she\u2019d have to remove the sachets from his dresser drawers before he came home, but for now, she opened two of those drawers and slipped a sachet in each one, thinking of how much her mother would have enjoyed the delicate, sweet smelling lace pillows if only Papa had allowed her some small pleasures now and again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth crouched down and pulled open the bottom drawer. She removed her father\u2019s winter sweaters in order to place a sachet in one corner of the drawer, when a bound black book slipped out from the clothing. At first, Ruth thought it was a Bible. But upon closer inspection she didn\u2019t see the words \u2018Holy Bible\u2019 embossed on the book\u2019s cover, and besides, Papa wouldn\u2019t have left his Bible behind when packing for his trip to Uncle Ben\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth absently put the sachet back in her pocket and set the sweaters on the floor. She stood, moving backwards to sit on the edge of her father\u2019s bed. She shouldn\u2019t be nosy, but it was hard to resist the urge to peek at the book when hidden treasures in this home were so rare to run across.<\/span><\/p>\n

She should have shut the book as soon as she realized it was her father\u2019s journal. That voice inside Ruth that often reminded her she was a sinner, was reminding her of that very fact right now, as she willfully violated her father\u2019s privacy. However, forgoing the temptation to discover something about her father \u2013 something personal that might finally give Ruth a glimpse of his inner thoughts and feelings \u2013 was impossible.<\/span><\/p>\n

Initially, Ruth was disappointed with the book\u2019s contents. Based upon the date on the first page, her father started this journal the same year he purchased the store. The majority of recordings were dry and fact-based. Papa wrote of the weather, and what he had to pay for a barrel of flour, and what profit he made on that same barrel over the weeks as he sold it to customers pound by pound. On Sundays, Papa recorded much of the preacher\u2019s sermon, printing Bible chapter and verse numbers he evidently felt tied into the sermon in some fashion or another. Knowing Papa, these were verses he thought the preacher was negligent in making use of on that particular Sunday.<\/span><\/p>\n

It took a few minutes of reading before Ruth finally came to that \u201csomething personal\u201d she\u2019d been searching for. She smiled as she read what her father wrote on the day Danny was born.<\/span><\/p>\n

~ ~ ~<\/span><\/p>\n

Though we are no longer young, the Lord has seen fit to bless Clara and I with a son. At this moment, I know how Abraham felt when God said to him, \u201cAs for Sarah, your wife, I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Abraham, at one hundred years of age, was so grateful to the Lord for this miracle of a baby boy, born to him by ninety-year-old Sarah. Clara and I aren\u2019t as advanced in years as Abraham and Sarah, but we are both well past the age where we thought another child possible. I dared not hope the child would be a boy, but God answered my prayers in this regard, and Daniel Weston Cartwright Jr. was born this morning as the first rays of sun lit the March sky.<\/span><\/p>\n

~ ~ ~<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth might have been envious of the eloquent way her father spoke of Danny, but how could a woman be jealous of a brother who\u2019d brought her so much joy, and who\u2019d lit up an otherwise bleak life?<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth kept on reading. Papa\u2019s happiness over Danny\u2019s birth was written of numerous times during the first year of the boy\u2019s life, but then the tone of the entries regarding Danny began to change, and soon Papa wrote only of the challenges he had with the child.<\/span><\/p>\n

Challenges,<\/em>\u00a0Ruth thought with disgust.\u00a0If you call running, and playing, and shouting, and getting dirty, and giggling over some silly rhyme he\u2019d made up or song he\u2019d overheard, challenges. Personally, I call it allowing a little boy to be just that \u2013 a little boy.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

But for some reason, Danny\u2019s childhood seemed to frighten Papa. Maybe it was because, after raising four girls, he didn\u2019t know how to father an active boy. Or maybe Danny\u2019s personality differed so from Papa\u2019s, that he couldn\u2019t even reflect back on the memories of his own childhood and recall what it was like to be a boy.<\/span><\/p>\n

I bet Uncle Ben knows all about raising boys. It\u2019s a shame we didn\u2019t live nearer to him, or him to us. Maybe things wouldn\u2019t have been so difficult for Danny if he\u2019d grown up playing with Hoss and Little Joe, and if he\u2019d had Uncle Ben and Adam to turn to for guidance, instead of a father who stubbornly refused to guide him down any path other than the one Papa had preordained for him.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth continued reading, paying no attention to the time. The journal contained hurtful things, too. Things that didn\u2019t come as a surprise to Ruth, but yet, things that had never been spoken of aloud.<\/span><\/p>\n

~ ~ ~<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth is a plain, dull girl, not blessed with the fair features of her sister Miriam, nor with the many talents of Anna, nor the intelligence of Esther. She will live her life here at home, taking care of her mother and me as we age, like a dutiful daughter should.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

~ ~ ~<\/span><\/p>\n

And so, as Ruth long suspected might be the case, her life, like Danny\u2019s, had been preordained by her father. She flipped through the pages of the journal, skimming passage after passage. Jack Stevens wasn\u2019t mentioned, but the woman had little doubt that if her father\u00a0had<\/em>\u00a0mentioned him, he would have said he\u2019d run Jack off on purpose so his plans for Ruth\u2019s future couldn\u2019t be derailed.<\/span><\/p>\n

As she progressed through the book, Ruth once again found many notations that didn\u2019t extend beyond the recording of the day\u2019s weather, a Bible passage, or how much it cost Papa to have his hair cut by the barber down the street.<\/span><\/p>\n

And he thinks I\u2019m dull. If I ever kept a journal, I\u2019d surely write about things more interesting than rain, sunshine, and the three-cent increase in the price of a haircut.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth shook her head with disappointment when she came to additional passages about Danny. These were written more recently \u2013 during the last two years of the young man\u2019s life. How little Papa knew about his own child. About his only son. How little he appreciated the gifts and talents Danny was born with.<\/span><\/p>\n

~ ~ ~<\/span><\/p>\n

Concerns for my son\u2019s salvation are never far from my mind, and weigh heavy on my heart. The boy is a daydreamer and keeps secrets. His head is filled with evil thoughts. I see things in Danny that are inspired by the presence of Satan. I get on my knees each night and pray that the Good Lord will cleanse Danny, or instruct me on how I\u2019m to do the cleansing.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

~ ~ ~<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth read further, knowing full well she shouldn\u2019t, but unable to stop herself as page after page, a story was told. A story so unimaginable that she couldn\u2019t shut the journal, put it away, and pretend she\u2019d never seen it like she wanted to.<\/span><\/p>\n

By the time she was done reading, Ruth couldn\u2019t catch her breath. She sat there crying and gasping, her heart pounding in her chest. Papa had been wrong. It wasn\u2019t Danny who harbored secrets. It was Papa himself who harbored them. Terrible, awful secrets that Ruth now knew had taken Danny from them. No, there wasn\u2019t a written confession, but Ruth wasn\u2019t nearly as dumb and dull as her father thought. She could easily read between the lines.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before Ruth could think further, a voice called from the bottom of the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAunt Ruth! Aunt Ruth, it\u2019s time to open the store!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When Ruth didn\u2019t answer her nephew, he started climbing the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAunt Ruth! Aunt Ruth, are you all right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth grabbed the bedpost and pulled herself to her feet with a trembling hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m. . .I\u2019m. . .,\u201d Ruth paused to gather her wits and swallow the tears clogging her throat. \u201cI\u2019m fine, Joshua! I. . .I\u2019ve been cleaning and lost track of time. Please open the store. I\u2019ll be down in a few minutes!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When she heard boot steps descending the stairs to the store, the woman shut the journal, shoved it in-between her father\u2019s sweaters, and returned them to the drawer. She had no idea what to do with the information she\u2019d obtained. All she had to go on were the suspicions she\u2019d harbored for months, and now an old man\u2019s recordings in a journal. Who would believe her? Certainly not her sisters. And even if they did, none of them would want to cause trouble for Papa.<\/span><\/p>\n

Uncle John? Maybe he\u2019d listen to Ruth, but it was doubtful he\u2019d have any suggestions about what she could do without evidence. And as for the town constable. . .well, he wouldn\u2019t believe her either, because Papa was a well-respected member of the community, and a deacon at the First Church of Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n

In comparison, who was she, other than Ruth Cartwright, a homely spinster who relied on her father for employment and a place to live? Maybe they\u2019d all think she was angry with Papa for her lot in life and was trying to seek revenge against him. Or maybe they\u2019d think her accusations were nothing but the ramblings of a middle aged woman made \u201caddled in the head\u201d by the female changes her body was undergoing. Ruth had heard such things whispered about other women. Women who up and left their husbands without so much as a goodbye, and were never seen from again. Or women who committed suicide for reasons no one could fathom. Or women like Mrs. Bolling, who\u2019d sat on her front porch and cried every day from the time she turned fifty, until her husband finally committed her to the state sanitarium. Women had few legal rights, and even fewer ways to execute those rights. Ruth didn\u2019t want to end up in a sanitarium because no one believed the conclusions she\u2019d reached about Danny\u2019s death.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth untied her apron, using a corner of it to swab the tears running down her face. With a fierce determination she didn\u2019t know she possessed, she gazed at the wooden cross hanging on the wall above her parents\u2019 bed and spoke aloud to the empty room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou always told us we\u2019d eventually have to pay for our sins, Papa. But you never mentioned paying for your own sins, as though you were above God\u2019s judgment. But you\u2019re not. You\u2019re not above His judgment, and someday you\u2019ll find that out. Someday you\u2019ll find that out, and when you do, it\u2019ll be far too late for repentance.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The woman picked up the hem of her dress and fled the room. When she arrived in the store ten minutes later, all traces of her tears were gone, and no one could have guessed what she\u2019d learned by the reading the pages of a hidden journal as she greeted George Taylor with a smile.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 23<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAmen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amens echoed around the table. Even Joe had learned not to be tardy with his \u201cAmen,\u201d during the three weeks since his uncle arrived on the Ponderosa. Not that Joe hadn\u2019t thought of purposely delaying his amen until about five minutes after the blessing just to get the old man\u2019s goat, or not saying it at all for that matter. But Joe\u2019s respect for his father kept his devilish side in check. Besides, it had become apparent Uncle Daniel was a harsh judge of character, and that Pa tried hard to please him in order to avoid that judgment.<\/span><\/p>\n

It amused Joe to see his father thrust into the role of \u201clittle brother.\u201d He could tell it rankled Pa to be treated by Uncle Daniel as though he was ten years old. Joe silently laughed each time he witnessed that treatment, knowing someday he\u2019d remind his father of these moments, when Joe had a complaint about Adam being bossy, or Hoss being overprotective, and Pa brushed it off by saying, \u201cJoseph, your brothers are just doing what all good older brothers do. They\u2019re watching out for you.\u201d Joe was just itching for the opportunity to come back with, \u201cJust like Uncle Daniel was watching out for you, huh, Pa?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Unlike Pa, Joe generally encountered Uncle Daniel\u2019s prickly ways only at breakfast and supper. Pa kept the man with him on most days, finding things for Uncle Daniel to do or learn to do. That was the one area in which Joe held admiration for his uncle. Daniel wasn\u2019t afraid of hard work, and for a man of his years, was willing to take on any task asked of him.<\/span><\/p>\n

When business affairs required Pa to take leave of his brother, he put the man in Adam\u2019s care. Neither Adam nor Hoss seemed to find Uncle Daniel as disagreeable as Joe did. But then, Adam was too polite and proper to speak ill of their uncle, and Hoss was too good hearted to say any unkind words about the man.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you think he\u2019s an ornery ol\u2019 cuss?\u201d Joe had asked his middle brother just three days earlier as they rode through brush and scrub trees looking for strays.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAw, Joe, he ain\u2019t so bad. Ya\u2019 just gotta git to know him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve already gotten to know him all I want to. I\u2019m tired of him always starin\u2019 at me, as though he\u2019s waiting for me to make a mistake.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat kinda mistake?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLike not bein\u2019 able to give him the chapter and verse of some Bible passage, or not bein\u2019 able to tell him what the preacher\u2019s message was this past Sunday. He\u2019s sittin\u2019 in church same as me. Why the heck does the old coot need me to repeat the sermon?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSome folks is just like that, I reckon. You know, real outward about their ties to God.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe can be as outward as he wants, but I don\u2019t know why he\u2019s always callin\u2019 on me for answers like I\u2019m a kid in school who didn\u2019t study my lessons. Have you ever noticed that? He doesn\u2019t pick on you or Adam a lick.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c \u2018Cause me and Adam don\u2019t deserve to be picked on. We done\u00a0know<\/em>\u00a0our lessons.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss laughed after he said that, and laughed even harder when Joe didn\u2019t find it nearly as funny as he did. When his merriment abated, he said, \u201cYa\u2019 know what yer problem is, little brother?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cYa\u2019 take Uncle Dan\u2019el too seriously. Don\u2019t let his ways git under yer skin. Come September he\u2019ll be gone, and I\u2019d say it\u2019s a long-shot he\u2019ll ever visit these parts again, given his age and all them miles between here and Ohio.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPraise the Lord for small favors.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBetter not let Pa hear ya\u2019 say that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I think Pa\u2019s said it more than once since Uncle Daniel got here, just not in front of us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell now. . .ya\u2019 might be right about that. He is kinda hard on Pa. But still, you know how Pa feels when it comes to bein\u2019 polite and respectful to houseguests. Even the ones who are a bit on the cantankerous side.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I know how Pa feels. Why do you think I haven\u2019t told the old codger to jump off a cliff yet?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFigured you was learnin\u2019 to practice that restraint Adam\u2019s always tellin\u2019 ya\u2019 would be to yer benefit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen, Brother, you should think again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd so should you, \u2018cause Pa won\u2019t cotton to you tellin\u2019 his brother to jump off a cliff.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose not \u2014 \u2018cause Pa probably wants the first chance to say it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe laughed at the admonishment.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome on. Let\u2019s get back to work and forget about Uncle Daniel for a while. Supper time\u2019ll roll around soon enough, and no doubt he\u2019ll be askin\u2019 me to recite somethin\u2019 from the Bible, or wanna know what I did when I was in town this morning, or accuse me of \u201charboring secrets,\u201d whatever that\u2019s supposed to mean.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMe and Adam always have thought ya\u2019 was a sneaky little bugger.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith two nosy older brothers like you, a guy\u2019s gotta be sneaky in order to have a moment\u2019s peace.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMore like in order to git hisself in the kinda trouble he don\u2019t want his pa to know nothin\u2019 of.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s that too, Hoss.\u201d Joe waggled his eyebrows and shot his brother a mischievous grin. \u201cThere\u2019s that too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, however, Joe wasn\u2019t being sneaky, or getting into trouble. All he\u2019d done so far was his morning chores, and then attended church with his family.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now that the amens were said, platters of food circulated the dining room table. Joe breathed easy when it appeared his uncle was intent on rehashing the Sunday service, as opposed to asking Joe to rehash it.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the man droned on, Joe\u2019s mind drifted to the dance he\u2019d attended the previous evening in Virginia City. He could usually count on his brothers tagging along with him. More than likely Pa put them up to it in an effort to keep Joe out of that trouble Hoss spoke of the other day. But on this particular Saturday night, Adam accepted an invitation to dine at the home of an old friend, and Pa sent Hoss to the Carter ranch. A broken leg had Abe Carter laid up. Hoss spent the day doing a long list of neglected chores, then stayed on for supper at Mrs. Carter\u2019s insistence. Joe figured Mrs. Carter regretted that invitation once she saw how much food Hoss could pack away, but if nothing else, his appetite probably provided the five Carter children with some much needed entertainment.<\/span><\/p>\n

For reasons Joe couldn\u2019t explain, he hadn\u2019t been drawn to the crowd of young women he usually danced with on Saturday nights. He hadn\u2019t asked Grace Thompson to write his name on her dance card. He hadn\u2019t kicked up his heels with Rachel Davis when the fiddler played the Virginia Reel. He hadn\u2019t tried to hold Jenny Parsons so close that her bosoms rose and fell against his chest with each breath she took while they waltzed in a circle around the floor, nor had he tried to dance Amanda Evans right out the door and behind the barn where. . .well, where things went on that neither Amanda\u2019s father, nor Joe\u2019s, would approve of. Instead, Joe\u2019s eyes fell on the girl standing by herself in a far corner. He wondered if Nan Henning always attended these Saturday night dances. If she did, he\u2019d never noticed her before.<\/span><\/p>\n

He approached her, not hindered by any other young man trying to get his name on Nan\u2019s dance card. Nan didn\u2019t even have a dance card tied to her wrist with a ribbon like the other girls did, as though she didn\u2019t expect anyone to ask her. Joe supposed most guys would consider Nan plain, and he guessed she was. Or at least a fella wasn\u2019t immediately drawn to her face or figure. But there was something about her \u2013 something Joe had never noticed before. A demeanor that spoke of quiet confidence and determination. A demeanor that spoke of a girl who was no stranger to hard work, but also didn\u2019t complain about what she had to do in order to put food on her family\u2019s table.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nan seemed startled when he\u2019d first come to stand in front of her. Joe wondered if she still feared her employment with the Dunns would be in jeopardy if she were seen with him. He looked around, not spotting Paul or Charlie anywhere.<\/span><\/p>\n

When he turned back to face Nan, Little Joe\u2019s voice held a tinge of shyness that surprised him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHi.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nan\u2019s response was equally as shy. \u201cHi.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

They both laughed then, as if realizing they\u2019d known one another going all the way back to their early years at Virginia City\u2019s schoolhouse. Therefore, shyness on either of their parts was just plain loco.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cListen, I\u2019m sorry I haven\u2019t had a chance to say a proper thank you for the way you helped me in that alley.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo thanks are necessary.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell now, Miss,\u201d Joe said with a playful, gallant air, \u201cthat\u2019s where I think you\u2019re wrong.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nan smiled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. \u201cAll right, Sir, then thank away.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe laughed again. As the sound of a fiddle, banjo, guitar, and mouth harp swelled around them, Joe sobered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you. Who knows how long I would have laid there if you hadn\u2019t come along. And thanks for telling me–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wariness lit the girl\u2019s eyes. \u201cI didn\u2019t tell you anything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThanks for telling me to watch my step,\u201d Joe finished, giving her a wink. \u201cI appreciate it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI. . .I wish I could have done more. . .helped more, but I couldn\u2019t, Little Joe.\u201d The girl\u2019s eyes flicked around the dance hall, making certain no one was eavesdropping on their conversation. \u201cMy job–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI understand.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd. . .and things are okay?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe smiled. \u201cThings are fine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo more trouble?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNope. No more trouble.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

And Joe was telling Nan the truth. He hadn\u2019t experienced problems of any kind since that day in the alley. Which was also why he hadn\u2019t made further attempts to speak with his father about the Dunns. Hopefully, Paul and Charlie had gotten the anger out of their systems over those lost timber contracts.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the music changed tempo and slowed, Joe asked, \u201cHow about a turn around the dance floor?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe dance floor?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. Come on.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI. . .I\u2019m not a very good dancer. Or at least I don\u2019t think I am.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t think you are?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Her eyes dropped to the floor as she shook her head.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI. . .no one\u2019s ever asked me to dance before.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell all the more reason to say yes, then. You don\u2019t know what you\u2019re missin\u2019.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe slipped a hand into one of hers. \u201cCome on. I\u2019ll teach you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe \u2013 Little Joe, wait.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWait for what? If we wait too long this song\u2019ll be over.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour. . .your pa might not approve.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy pa? What makes you say something like that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just the Dunns\u2019 house girl. I\u2019m not someone \u2013 someone from an important family like Jenny Parsons is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThose kinda things don\u2019t matter to my pa. And besides, he didn\u2019t ask you to dance with him, now did he? It was\u00a0me<\/em>\u00a0who did the askin\u2019.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nan smiled at his joke. \u201cWell, if you\u2019re sure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe only thing I\u2019m sure about, Nan Henning, is that if we don\u2019t get to dancin\u2019 pretty soon you\u2019ll be gettin\u2019 you\u2019re first lesson with no music. Won\u2019t be long and the fellas\u2019ll be takin\u2019 a break.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, all right,\u201d she finally agreed with a laugh, letting Joe take her out to the dance floor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t pay any mind to the girls who stared and whispered that night. Girls who were likely angry with him for dancing with Nan Henning five more times, then walking her home. He didn\u2019t try to kiss her as he stood outside the front door of the small home her parents rented on the south side of Virginia City. They talked for a few minutes about their school days and things going on around town, then Joe said a shy, \u201cGood night, Nan. Thanks for the dances,\u201d as though he wasn\u2019t certain if this was the start of a friendship, or something more serious.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nan didn\u2019t pretend to trip on the hem of her dress and then fall into his chest with the hopes of stealing a kiss as Grace Thompson always did, nor did she stand there looking up at him with big old calf eyes and lips parted invitingly as Rachel Davis did. He actually liked it that all she did was say, \u201cGood night, Little Joe,\u201d in return, and, \u201cThank you for this evening. I had a lot of fun.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After he\u2019d seen Nan safely into her home, Joe caught up with Tuck and Mitch. They teased him a little about dancing with Nan, but they didn\u2019t speak ill of her. Just voiced their surprise at Joe\u2019s choice of partners \u2013 Tuck even said it was the first lick of sense Joe had ever shown where a girl was concerned, and Mitch said he thought Nan was a real nice gal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe stayed in town that night longer than Adam or Hoss would have let him. That was the nice thing about being there without them \u2013 and about hooking up with Tuck and Mitch. No need to go home too early on a Saturday night. Especially not if there was a chance that Uncle Daniel was still awake.<\/span><\/p>\n

The house was quiet when Joe slipped in the front door at one-thirty on Sunday morning. Without making a sound, Joe removed his gun belt and set it on the sideboard. He blew out the lamp that Pa left lit for him. His brothers\u2019 horses were in their stalls, so the lamp didn\u2019t need to continue glowing for any other Cartwright son.<\/span><\/p>\n

He bent and took his boots off, then carried them in his left hand as he silently walked to the stairs. Joe was halfway to the second story when he thought he heard a soft \u201cclick\u201d behind him, as though a door had been closed. He turned, but didn\u2019t see anyone. After a few seconds Joe shrugged, then continued to his room.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s mind was still focused on the previous evening when a voice boomed from the end of the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSpeaking of the devil\u2019s evils. Joseph, what had you out until after one a.m. on a Sunday morning?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe looked at his uncle. Evidently, the recounting of the Sunday sermon had come to an end. As the man glowered at him, Joe was once again tempted to give an answer sure to rile the old man.<\/span><\/p>\n

A girl, a few beers, a shot of whiskey, and a hand of poker, Uncle Daniel. That\u2019s what had me out until after one on a Sunday morning.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUh. . .I went to a dance.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI told your father I don\u2019t approve of dances.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNonetheless,\u201d Pa said from the opposite end of the table, \u201cLittle Joe had my permission to attend, Daniel.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd did you ask him what he did there? Or why he arrived home at such a late hour?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf I thought it was necessary, I would. But I don\u2019t see any reason to.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen evidently I must do your job for you, Benjamin.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDaniel\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe heard the warning tone in his father\u2019s voice. As though he was on the verge of telling his brother he was growing weary of the man\u2019s interference.<\/span><\/p>\n

For as much as Joe wanted to see that happen, at the same time he didn\u2019t want his father and uncle exchanging words because of him. As Hoss had said, come September Uncle Daniel would be gone, and Pa would probably never see him again. Regardless of Daniel\u2019s difficult personality, he was still Pa\u2019s brother, and Joe didn\u2019t want his father to someday have regrets about this visit.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s okay, Pa,\u201d Joe assured. He turned to his uncle. \u201cI danced at the dance. That\u2019s what I did.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd who did you dance with?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust\u2026just a girl.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Joe couldn\u2019t bring himself to say Nan\u2019s name he wasn\u2019t sure. He supposed because he didn\u2019t want to put up with the teasing he\u2019d get from his brothers. Not that it would be mean spirited teasing. They\u2019d say similar things to what Tuck and Mitch had said, and Pa would say something like, \u201cWell, now, Nan Henning. She\u2019s a nice girl, Joseph.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

And she\u00a0was<\/em>\u00a0a nice girl. It was just that this was one of the first times in Joe\u2019s life that he had something private. Something one of his brothers didn\u2019t already know about. And since he was confused about his feelings for Nan \u2013 were they real, or were they steeped in gratitude over the way she\u2019d helped in the alley, or had he felt sorry for her standing all alone in the corner last night, or were they based on old school chum camaraderie \u2013 he didn\u2019t want to try and explain them to his family. It was bad enough that he couldn\u2019t sort them out. He sure didn\u2019t need to get all red in the face and tongue-tied over a girl that, first and foremost, he hoped would be his friend.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd did this girl have a name?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe looked at his plate. \u201cI. . .I suppose she did.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, what is it?\u201d Uncle Daniel demanded.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Joe, come on,\u201d Hoss said, \u201cwhat is it?\u201d He winked at Adam. \u201cBet it was that new little gal Joe\u2019s had his eye on. What\u2019s her name? Lenora?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLeona,\u201d Adam supplied. \u201cLeona Merriweather.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Joseph,\u201d Uncle Daniel questioned, \u201cis it this Leona Merriweather your brothers speak of?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe mumbled, \u201cOnly if I\u2019ve takin\u2019 to squirin\u2019 seventy year old women around town.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Over Adam\u2019s and Hoss\u2019s laughter, Uncle Daniel said, \u201cWhat was that, boy? Speak up. There\u2019s no reason to mumble if you\u2019re walking a righteous path.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe looked to his father for help. Thankfully, Pa remembered what it was like to be a young man who had the right not to tell his family every detail of his life.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdam. Hoss. That\u2019s enough. Same goes for you, Daniel. Little Joe deserves some privacy. If he doesn\u2019t want to tell us who he danced with last night, then he doesn\u2019t have to.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Uncle Daniel shook his head. \u201cYou\u2019re making a mistake where this boy is concerned, Benjamin.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa raised in eyebrow. \u201cThen it\u2019s my mistake to make, not yours. Now please pass that fried chicken around the table again, Adam. I could use another helping.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe thought his father could likely use a stiff drink to go along with his chicken, but Pa didn\u2019t voice it, so Joe refrained from suggesting it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 24<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel\u2019s eyes followed Joseph as the boy walked out the door with his brothers. Soon, he heard horseshoes clanging against metal stakes. He didn\u2019t disapprove of horseshoes per say, as long as no gambling was involved. However, he did disapprove of this game being played on the Sabbath. He\u2019d said as much to Benjamin on several occasions, but there was little use in bringing it up again. Benjamin was a church-going man, but wasn\u2019t committed to the Lord in the manner he should be. This is what Daniel feared would come of life in the West. It made him doubly thankful that he\u2019d put an end to Ruth\u2019s foolish notions of heading west with her Uncle Ben all those years ago.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Benjamin sat in his chair reading the newspaper he\u2019d purchased after church, Daniel sat in the chair opposite him with his open Bible in his lap. He\u2019d tried to read, but found himself unable to concentrate. He wished Benjamin could see all the troubles that lay ahead with Joseph, troubles that would bring with them a shame so deep and painful that Benjamin would never want to speak the boy\u2019s name again. Those evasive answers Joseph gave \u2013 he\u2019d \u201cdanced\u201d at the dance, and with \u201ca girl\u201d who apparently had no name. These were the kinds of answers Danny had given, until the day arrived when Daniel found out there was no girl, and that Danny had gotten quite skilled at lying and dishonoring the Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel pondered how to broach the subject of Joseph with his brother. Thus far, he\u2019d had little success at pointing out the error of Benjamin\u2019s ways when it came to the raising of Joseph. Whenever it seemed as though the Lord laid an opportunity forth, as he\u2019d done today during lunch when Daniel questioned the boy as to why he\u2019d arrived home so late, the devil seemed to work equally as hard at making certain Benjamin remained willfully ignorant to Joseph\u2019s wrong doings. This had happened time and time again since Daniel arrived. From the very first day when the boy came to the stage late and in a deplorable condition, to the way he paid scant attention in church each Sunday, to the nights he came home long after everyone else was in bed, to the answers to questions that weren\u2019t really answers at all, but instead just vague double talk that Benjamin accepted without further inquiry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Benjamin was stubborn. And if the devil was at work blinding him to Joseph\u2019s evils, then that stubbornness would prevail. But all the stubbornness in the world couldn\u2019t stand up against the Lord. So as his brother continued to read the Territorial Enterprise as though he possessed not a care in the world, Daniel silently prayed that the right opportunity would come along to open Benjamin\u2019s eyes before it was too late, and Joseph was condemned to the fires of hell for all eternity, just like Danny had been.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 25<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Joe waded through the fast-flowing stream, water sloshing over his boots and soaking the hems of his trousers. The stream was wide enough and deep enough in places to harbor the dangers of a river each spring when it filled with melting snow from mountain runoffs. During the summer months, this was one of several sources the Cartwrights depended upon to provide water for their cattle. Thanks to some industrious beavers, this particular water source was now dammed. Adam spotted the pesky critters\u2019 handiwork earlier in the week, but didn\u2019t have the time to tear apart their barrier of sticks, leaves, and branches. Or at least that\u2019s what Adam claimed when he assigned Joe this particular task on Thursday morning.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe took the lunch Hop Sing packed for him and headed off toward the high country after breakfast. It was close to ten when he finally reached the dam. He sat on Cochise shaking his head while surveying the mess. Adam hadn\u2019t been fibbing when he said he didn\u2019t have the time to deal with it. It would take the better part of the day to clear the stream.<\/span><\/p>\n

The young man worked for over two hours, stopping only long enough to remove his hat, shirt and gun belt, and to take a few swigs of water from his canteen. Tearing apart the massive barrier was like unlocking pieces of a puzzle. If you pulled on the wrong branch, you got nothing for your efforts but a sore back. Joe found himself forced to start at the top and work down, taking the dam apart in the reverse order the beavers built it. Except as time went on and Joe realized how tight the interlocking branches fit together, he began to wonder if this dam had been built by beavers at all. He straightened and stood back, studying it. Given the amount of time he\u2019d already put in, he hadn\u2019t made much headway. And unlike other dams he\u2019d torn apart, he couldn\u2019t seem to grab onto any branch in the middle, give it a good tug, and have a portion of the structure tumble apart.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThose beavers either had a blueprint,\u201d Joe mumbled as he subtly glanced around, \u201cor a couple of beavers by the last name of Dunn have been hard at work causin\u2019 trouble again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe kept his stance casual and loose, as though he was resting for a few minutes. He listened, but didn\u2019t hear anything other than water trickling across rocks in the creek bed. Cochise was tied off to Joe\u2019s left, out of the sun and minus his saddle. Considering Joe figured he\u2019d be here until late in the afternoon, he\u2019d taken the saddle and blanket off his horse. The saddlebags that held his lunch were sitting on the ground beside the saddle, as was his canteen. His stomach growled; reminding him it was past noon. But for the moment, Joe was more interested in taking a stroll than he was in eating.<\/span><\/p>\n

Neither his eyesight nor hearing revealed anyone in the area. Nonetheless, Joe continued walking, doing his best to act nonchalant while remaining vigilant.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m gonna feel like seven ways a fool if it was just beavers that built this dam.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Despite that thought, Joe continued his surveillance. Which, unbeknownst to him, was exactly what Paul and Charlie Dunn wanted him to do. Joe was so intent on observing the land around him, that he wasn\u2019t paying any attention to the land below him. Without warning, that land gave way, and Joe disappeared from view as though the ground had just swallowed him whole.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 26<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ben sank to the chair behind his desk, the cushioned upholstery hugging his aching back. It had been a long day. He and Daniel spent the morning getting supplies in Virginia City, and the afternoon sorting cattle. Now Ben needed to get caught up on paperwork before the boys arrived home from hither and yon for supper. He pulled out a ledger and pencil, only half listening to his brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI want to thank you for making the time to show me Lake Tahoe today. She\u2019s a fine example of the beauty of God\u2019s work.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, she is,\u201d Ben agreed, his attention already absorbed in his bookwork. \u201cThe boys and I have enjoyed many happy hours on her shores. We\u2019ve eaten a fair number of picnic lunches there, and fished there more times than I can recall. And it was on the shore we visited today where I taught all three of them to swim.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019d be the perfect host for a repentance and baptism ceremony.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Although Ben thought Daniel\u2019s phrasing was rather odd \u2013 he knew what a baptism was, of course, but he\u2019d never heard it called a \u201crepentance and baptism ceremony\u201d before \u2013 he didn\u2019t dwell on it. Preoccupied with adding a column of figures, he simply gave a distracted, \u201cYes, it would be,\u201d and didn\u2019t notice that Daniel walked toward the kitchen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben was left alone long enough to have made some progress with his work, when Daniel\u2019s voice brought his nose from his ledger.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBenjamin, your Chinaman made lemonade.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben glanced up, taking the glass his brother handed him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you. Hop Sing always seems to know what we need before we ask for it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel took a seat in a chair across from Ben\u2019s desk. When he was settled and had taken a sip from his own glass of lemonade, Ben said, \u201cYou know, our \u2018Chinaman,\u2019 as you call him, has a name.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel frowned. \u201cYou\u2019re making a mistake by indulging him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben raised an eyebrow. \u201cHop Sing?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo. Joseph.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does Little Joe have to do with how we refer to Hop Sing?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph appears to have a\u00a0lot<\/em>\u00a0to do with everything that goes on in this house.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben leaned back in his chair with a heavy sigh, massaging his forehead with the fingers of his right hand. If any one of his sons were present, they\u2019d have been able to warn Daniel that this posture was a sign you were getting on Ben Cartwright\u2019s nerves.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Ben had reminded himself ten times over that he didn\u2019t want a falling out with his brother, he stopped rubbing his forehead and calmly addressed the man.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs I mentioned the day you arrived, Hop Sing has been with us since before Joe was born. Joseph was just a little boy when his mother died, and I needed someone to take over the role of mother, if you will, during those times I was working somewhere on the ranch and couldn\u2019t have a five-year-old with me. Therefore, he feels a strong affection for Hop Sing. I realize Little Joe was disrespectful to you, Daniel, but please try and understand that from his point of view, you\u2019re being disrespectful each time you call Hop Sing Chinaman.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel didn\u2019t respond the way Ben expected him to. There was no lecture regarding what the Bible said about the yellow race, and no lecture about a young pup in need of learning to hold his tongue and respect his elders. Instead, Daniel smiled. Something Ben didn\u2019t often see him do.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBenjamin, if I haven\u2019t told you this, I\u2019m proud of you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben was momentarily taken aback by this rare compliment.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell. . .well now, thank you. Thank you, Daniel. Coming from you, that means a lot.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs you know, I had great concerns when you spoke of coming West all those years ago. And although I don\u2019t cotton to many of the ways out here, you\u2019ve handled yourself honorably. You\u2019ve accumulated much wealth, but you\u2019ve remained a humble man. You\u2019ve remembered where you came from.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI always try to. All we were taught on that little farm back in Ohio is an important part of me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd it appears you\u2019ve upheld those teachings. As well, your neighbors and the town\u2019s people speak highly of you. And from what I gather, you give generously to your church and its causes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI believe that if a man is able to, he should give back some of his good fortune to those in need. I\u2019ve done my best to instill that in my sons, as well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel nodded. \u201cAdam and Eric are fine men. Adam is intelligent and capable. A steady young man in both his thinking and his actions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdam\u2019s always been reliable,\u201d Ben smiled. \u201cEven when he was just a boy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Eric. . .he has a righteous soul. He\u2019s a good Christian man and a hard worker.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss is all of those things and many more. I rely on him just as much as I do Adam, only in different ways, as befitting their different personalities.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Lord has blessed you with two sons you can be proud of, Benjamin. Sons who will take care of you in your old age as loving sons should.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben chuckled. \u201cWell, I hope my old age is a few years off yet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps the Lord will see fit to bless you with good health as he has blessed me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps he will. But the Lord hasn\u2019t blessed me with just two sons I can be proud of,\u201d Ben reminded his brother. \u201cHe\u2019s blessed me with three.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd now you come to the heart of my concern.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe heart of your concern?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd why does Little Joe cause you concern?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe causes me concern, Benjamin, because he obviously causes you none.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPardon?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re blind to Joseph\u2019s doings.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHis doings?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe has a lot of Pa in him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d Ben frowned. \u201cWhat does Pa have to do with this discussion?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn letters you\u2019ve written to me over the years, you\u2019ve said Joseph takes after his mother.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe does.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat may be so, but he also takes after our pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if he does, what would be so wrong with that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa was high-spirited. Maybe you don\u2019t remember those spirits as well as I do, because they\u2019d been tamed some by the time you came along. But if it hadn\u2019t been for Ma. . .\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf it hadn\u2019t been for Ma what?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what, other than to say it would have led to no good. He enjoyed his liquor, and he never happened upon a card game that he didn\u2019t sit down and join, and there were times when he didn\u2019t come home and Ma wasn\u2019t sure where he was.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s disbelief was plain to hear. \u201cWasn\u2019t sure where he was, or wasn\u2019t sure when he was due back? There\u2019s a difference, you know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe so. But you know as well I do that he wasn\u2019t a God-fearing man. I remember walking to church with Ma, and her telling me that if we prayed hard enough for Pa, that someday he\u2019d come with us. Only he never did. And not long after that the babies died one by one.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t blame Pa for those deaths, Daniel. Our brothers and sisters died due to illness and misfortune, not because of anything Pa did or didn\u2019t do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHaven\u2019t you ever wondered why the Lord took so much from him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I haven\u2019t. I\u2019ve always thought that after a lot of heartache, the Lord blessed Pa and Ma with six more children who thrived, just like you thrived.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re entitled to your views. But as for me, I believe the Lord was punishing our pa. Unfortunately, Ma was punished right along with him, and she didn\u2019t deserve that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben remained silent a long moment, gathering his thoughts before finally speaking them out loud.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t argue when you say Pa was high-spirited. His liveliness is one of my fondest memories of him. And yes, I suppose you\u2019re right. Pa had a\u2026thirst for things a preacher wouldn\u2019t approve of. But he always provided for us, Daniel. We never went hungry, or wanted for a warm fire, or a roof over our heads, or shoes on our feet when winter came, or sound guidance at his knee.\u201d Ben chuckled. \u201cAnd sometimes across his knee, as well. And when he\u2019d walk in the door at night and swing us over his head one by one, and rub that wild tangle of hair into our bellies while laughing in that funny way he had that made everyone laugh right along with him–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe laugh your Joseph inherited.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs that such a bad thing?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t suppose it would be if that was the only trait of our pa\u2019s your youngest possessed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean by that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI will always honor the memory of our father, Benjamin, as the Bible says I must. But nonetheless, I shall not lie to myself about his faults, nor forget them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe all have our faults.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe do, but we can overcome them by using the Bible as our guide and the Lord as our compass. That\u2019s all Ma ever wanted from Pa, and for as much as he loved her, it was the one thing he could never bring himself to do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben didn\u2019t make a response to his brother. Obviously, their memories of their father differed. But Ben couldn\u2019t in good conscience tell Daniel his memories were wrong. Memories are based on so many things, from perspective, to an individual\u2019s personality, to in this case; the fact that Daniel was fourteen years older than Ben, and remembered their father when Pa wasn\u2019t much older than Little Joe was right now.<\/span><\/p>\n

Did Ben think that if Joe married tomorrow and had a child soon thereafter that his parenting skills might be lacking now and again? Of course they would. There was no getting around the fact that an eighteen-year-old boy has some wild oats to sew. By God\u2019s own hand, Ben believed, a thirty-year-old made a far different father than an eighteen-year-old did. Pa was still several months short of his nineteenth birthday when Daniel was born. He was thirty-three when Ben came along. That was quite a stretch of years to mature and change, and settle into the \u201cWeston Ways\u201d as Pa used to say when teasing Ma about how she\u2019d driven some of \u201cthat ole devil clean on outta me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel interrupted Ben\u2019s thoughts.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is said the son often pays for the sins of the father. It\u2019s my fear that sometimes the Lord makes the grandsons pay for the sins of the grandfather, unless we, as fathers, take matters into our own hands and correct them. As the Bible says, we are given free will to follow the Lord, or to turn from Him. It\u2019s our choice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDaniel, come on now. You\u2019re making Pa sound like. . .well, like someone he wasn\u2019t.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe sinned, Benjamin. That\u2019s why so many children were taken from him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll have sinned and come short of the glory of God,\u201d Ben quoted from the Bible.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s true, but only the sinner who repents earns the Lord\u2019s forgiveness.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben started to stand. He suddenly felt the need to see how Hop Sing was getting along with the supper preparations. He smiled at his brother. The same polite smile he used when any guest annoyed him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs the father of three sons, I well understand that sometimes brothers disagree. So on this subject, we\u2019ll disagree and leave it as such.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBenjamin, please sit for a moment longer. On this one thing hear me out. Please don\u2019t let your stubbornness get in the way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben reluctantly sat back down. \u201cWhat one thing?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t allow Joseph\u2019s charm and easy smile to blind you to the facts.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe facts?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou need to break that boy before it\u2019s too late, just like you\u2019d break an unruly colt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDaniel, I\u2019m confused by just what you think needs breaking where Little Joe is concerned.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have no control over him. You think you do, he\u00a0allows<\/em>\u00a0you to think it, but you don\u2019t. He\u2019s secretive. He comes home at all hours of the night. He arrived at the stage after being involved in a brawl like a common street thug. He daydreams when he should be listening to the preacher, and–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn other words, he\u2019s a normal eighteen-year-old boy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat may be so, but I doubt you had these same challenges with Adam or Eric.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph isn\u2019t a reproduction of his brothers, any more than Adam and Hoss are reproductions of each other. And just like their father, none of them is perfect. Why sometimes I think Adam takes life far too seriously. And sometimes I wish Hoss\u2019s soft-heart didn\u2019t mean that he was vulnerable to every ne\u2019er-do-well with a sad story. And yes, sometimes I wish Little Joe\u2019s high spirits, as you phrase it, didn\u2019t lead him into trouble. But I treasure each of my sons for who they are, and wouldn\u2019t change a one of them even if God gave me that opportunity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSee, Benjamin, this is what I\u2019m so concerned about. That you won\u2019t listen to me with an open mind.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy mind is open, but I think I know Little Joe better than you do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat may be so, but it may also be the reason why you only see the good in him and not the evil.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEvil? Daniel, begging your pardon, but I think that\u2019s a harsh word to attach to my son. Little Joe isn\u2019t evil.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEvil is often hidden. That\u2019s the way Satan works.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure it is, but I have no worries about evil where Joseph is concerned. Foolish pranks, yes. Impulsive decisions, yes. Times when his temper gets the best of him, yes. Those are the things I worry about. But evil \u2013 no. That thought has never crossed my mind.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, perhaps it should before it\u2019s too late.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDaniel–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The man leaned forward with intensity burning in his brown eyes. \u201cBenjamin, I beg of you. Don\u2019t make the same mistakes I did.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s brow furrowed with puzzlement. \u201cMistakes?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t think that just because you\u2019re a good Christian and a God-fearing man, that Satan can\u2019t dwell in your house.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure he can.\u201d Ben chuckled and added, \u201cThough I can\u2019t say I\u2019ve ever seen any signs of him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t make light of this. As your eldest brother, I\u2019m attempting to counsel you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I appreciate that counsel. However, I don\u2019t appreciate you speaking ill of Pa, or implying that Little Joe is up to no good.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel hesitated a long moment, then leaned back and gave a reluctant nod. \u201cAs you wish. This is your home, and I\u2019m just a visitor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re more than a visitor. You\u2019re my brother.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut a visiting brother nonetheless. Therefore, I shall keep my opinions to myself. But you can\u2019t stop me from praying for you and Joseph.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I won\u2019t ask you to.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVery well then.\u201d Daniel stood. \u201cI believe I\u2019ll go to my room and rest before dinner.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re more than welcome to do so. I\u2019ll let you know when the food is on the table.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As his brother started to walk away, Ben got to his feet and stepped around the desk.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDaniel? No hard feelings?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The man turned around, meeting Ben\u2019s eyes while shaking his head.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo hard feelings. You must guide your sons as you see fit. It\u2019s not my place to tell you otherwise. \u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben nodded his thanks. He watched as Daniel headed for the guestroom. Upon hearing the door close, he turned toward the table where the liquor decanter sat. Not for the first time since his brother arrived, Ben longed for something stronger than lemonade. Unlike other days, however, today Ben acted on that longing. He poured brandy into a glass, then returned to his desk and slowly sat back down with the air of a man preoccupied by his thoughts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 27<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The paperwork Ben planned on completing went untouched. He sipped his drink while mulling over the recent conversation with his brother. In more ways than not, Ben supposed it shouldn\u2019t surprise him to discover Daniel blamed their father for things that were out of Pa\u2019s control. Some of Ben\u2019s earliest memories of his eldest brother involved the man claiming that some sin or the other had brought misfortune. It didn\u2019t matter if lack of rain caused it to be a bad year for crops, or if a neighbor fell from a haymow and broke an arm, or if a child drowned while playing in the river. According to Daniel, sin was always to blame for these hardships. As though God kept a tally sheet of even the smallest human transgressions, and made certain you eventually paid for all of your wrongdoings. That was far from how Ben felt things worked. He\u2019d always thought of God as a loving, forgiving father. But there was little use in arguing that point with Daniel, whose position on the subject evidently hadn\u2019t changed in the years since Ben had last been with him.<\/span><\/p>\n

And then there were those mistakes Daniel spoke of.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBenjamin, I beg of you. Don\u2019t make the same mistakes I did.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

What had he meant by that? Daniel never admitted to mistakes of any kind. Since arriving, he\u2019d spoken frequently of God and business \u2013 both store business, and then ranching business as his knowledge of the Ponderosa expanded \u2013 but little else. When Ben had offered his sympathy over Danny\u2019s and Clara\u2019s deaths, Daniel refused to be drawn into a conversation about either of them. He referred to Clara\u2019s passing as \u201cGod\u2019s will,\u201d given her years of frail health, and to Danny\u2019s passing as an \u201cunspeakable tragedy.\u201d Which was exactly how Ben would feel about the deaths of any of his sons, so overall, he hadn\u2019t found it odd that Daniel avoided mentioning the boy.<\/span><\/p>\n

As to the event that caused Danny\u2019s death, Ben didn\u2019t know. In a letter written a few days after their nephew\u2019s funeral, John supplied scant details. Details that hadn\u2019t amounted to more than, \u201cDanny\u2019s death was swift and unexpected. He injured his head in a fall, Ben, and died shortly thereafter. This was likely a blessing, as it\u2019s my understanding nothing could have been done to save him. Daniel seems to be holding up well, but I\u2019m afraid the boy\u2019s passing will cause Clara\u2019s health to decline further. Ruth is also taking his death hard. She and Danny were especially close.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Evidently John\u2019s prediction about the decline of Clara\u2019s health proved true, since she died just a few months after her only son. The son Daniel wanted for so many years, and whose birth he\u2019d rejoiced in far more than Daniel had ever rejoiced in anything before or since. But somewhere as the years passed mistakes were made. Daniel admitted it just a few minutes ago, but what mistakes? Mistakes regarding the raising of Danny? Or mistakes in his relationship with Clara? Or mistakes that had nothing to do with his family? With Daniel, it was difficult to guess. Heaven knew that if he forgot to put money in the collection plate one Sunday twenty years ago, he\u2019d consider that a mistake God was just waiting for the opportunity to punish him for.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben would have spent more time puzzling over those unspoken of mistakes, while trying to tie them into the blame Daniel directed at their pa along with his concerns for Little Joe\u2019s moral character, but then Adam entered the house full of news from the timber camp. On the heels of Adam\u2019s arrival, Hoss came in wondering what was for supper after spending the afternoon inspecting Cartwright grazing land.<\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore, in short order, things unspoken of didn\u2019t seem important any longer. With a fresh glass of lemonade in hand, Ben sat down with his sons in the great room and listened to the accounts of their day while waiting for Little Joe to come home.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 28<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel knelt beside his bed, eyes closed, elbows propped upward resting on the mattress, hands clasped, and head bowed in prayer. The prayer was nothing new. It was the same prayer he\u2019d been taking to God since his arrival on the Ponderosa. The prayer was for both Joseph and Benjamin. A prayer asking God to drive the evil from that boy. A prayer asking God to make Benjamin see that the evil existed before it was too late.<\/span><\/p>\n

After he\u2019d said amen, Daniel struggled to his feet. Despite his good health, it was no longer easy to rise from a hard floor after prayer. He walked stiffly to the rocking chair in the corner, took his Bible off the small round table next to the chair, and sat down. He could hear men\u2019s voices through his closed door and assumed his nephews had returned home. He didn\u2019t bother to join them. When supper was ready they\u2019d let him know. Until then, he\u2019d spend time alone in quiet contemplation.<\/span><\/p>\n

The unopened Bible lay in Daniel\u2019s lap as he gently rocked back and forth, a breeze blowing in through the open windows kept the room comfortable despite the warmth of the day.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Ben had done earlier, Daniel mulled over the conversation he\u2019d shared with his brother. There was an old saying about not being able to catch flies with vinegar, which was why Daniel had done his best to let only honey roll off his tongue. That thought brought a small smile to his lips. It was something Ma had often said to him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDaniel, you have an honest tongue and you speak your mind. While the Lord smiles on those who are truthful, the truth must sometimes be softened to avoid offense. Remember, son, that you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

And so, in heeding that long ago advice, Daniel had tried to soften the truth with Benjamin this afternoon, but to no avail. Perhaps plain old vinegar would be the only thing that would get through to his brother. On the other hand, Daniel had employed blunt honesty on numerous occasions since arriving and it had done him no good. Benjamin\u2019s mind was closed where Joseph was concerned. Therefore, though Daniel had a lot more he could have said to his brother, there was little point in being anything but agreeable. Obviously, Satan not only had a grip on the son, but on the father as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

As he sat rocking, Proverbs 22:6 ran through Daniel\u2019s head.<\/span><\/p>\n

Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was a noteworthy verse. One Benjamin would do well to remember and put into practice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel thought some more, then gave a firm nod. Perhaps this is why God sent him here. If Benjamin was not going to train up his youngest child in the way he should go, then perhaps God was leaving that job to Daniel.<\/span><\/p>\n

A job Daniel was more than willing to take on, just like he\u2019d taken it on with his own son \u2013 consequences not withstanding.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 29<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The only way Joe Cartwright had to judge how long he\u2019d been in the hole was by tracking the path the sun traveled above him. His pocket watch was in one of his saddlebags, as was just about anything else that might have been useful to him. A length of rope, a small pickaxe like miners carry, and his canteen \u2013 the canteen sitting beside his saddlebags somewhere far above him \u2013 that was what Joe wanted most after being in this damn hole all afternoon. His canteen, and the lunch Hop Sing packed for him. He\u2019d give up three months worth of Saturday nights in Virginia City to drain half the canteen in one gulping swallow, and gobble down his sandwich in two ravenous bites. His hunger had grown far beyond the growling and gnawing point, to the point of causing the kind of pounding in his head that Joe normally experienced after a few too many with Tuck and Mitch at the Silver Dollar.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe gingerly moved his head back and forth, trying to loosen the stiff muscles in his neck. He\u2019d been craning his head upward most of the afternoon. And as though he wasn\u2019t suffering from enough maladies, his throat was sore from yelling for help. Not that he\u2019d wanted to yell for help. He had too much pride for that. But after three hours of trying to claw his way out of the deep hole, all he\u2019d gotten for his efforts was dirt in his eyes, dirt in his hair, and a throat that he swore was drier than the Mojave Desert. It was right about then that Joe set his pride aside and decided hollering; \u201cHelp! Hey, somebody, help me! Help, I\u2019m down here!\u201d was the only choice left him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe shivered. His shirt. He\u2019d give up another month of Saturday nights in Virginia City for his shirt too, but like his canteen and lunch sack, his shirt wasn\u2019t at hand. He shouldn\u2019t be cold. It had been a hot day and he\u2019d spent most of the afternoon exerting himself, but now that dusk was falling, the temperature was dropping. Not dangerously so for most men, but dangerous for a young man in a stressful situation who hadn\u2019t eaten in twelve hours, nor had water in over six, and was trapped below ground surrounded by dirt walls that were rapidly cooling with the disappearance of the sun.<\/span><\/p>\n

As twilight began to streak the sky pale pink above Joe\u2019s head, he sank to the dirt floor with exhaustion. His throat was raw, his voice was raspy, his head hurt, and dirt clumped beneath his fingernails. There wasn\u2019t enough room for Joe to sit with his legs spread out in front of him. He was forced to sit with his knees tucked against his chest, which would be okay for a while, but if he was here until morning he\u2019d likely have a hard time getting out of this position and standing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe tried to guess at the time as a chill from the damp dirt beneath him crept in through the seat of his trousers, and then guess exactly when his father would send one of his brothers to look for him. They would have expected him home for supper at six. He\u2019d probably be granted an hour\u2019s leeway, maybe a little longer, considering it was never easy to predict how long a job on the ranch might tie a fellow up. But based on the fading daylight, Joe assumed that it wouldn\u2019t be too long before Pa started wondering where he was. Even so, it would be well past dark before Adam or Hoss got here. In the meantime, there wasn\u2019t much Joe could do but sit and wait. On the off chance that someone was traveling past \u2013 one of the Ponderosa ranch hands perhaps \u2013 Joe decided to yell for help again. If he\u2019d been wearing his gun belt, he could have saved his voice and fired off a shot or two. But he\u2019d removed the belt when its leather grew too hot around his waist, and now, like everything else Joe might have made good use of, his gun was out of reach.<\/span><\/p>\n

His yelling was nothing other than an effort in futility. His voice came out in barely more than a raspy whisper, and even then, it cracked and changed octaves like it hadn\u2019t done since he was thirteen.<\/span><\/p>\n

The laughter came on the heels of Joe\u2019s cry for help.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Joe, you sound like a girl!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Joe, my brother\u2019s right! You sound like a girl. Like a scared little girl who\u2019s afraid of the dark!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe jumped to his feet.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCharlie! Paul! Get me outta here! You\u2019ve had your fun. Now come on, get me out!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

All Joe got for his demands was more laughter that was then followed by more taunts.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSounds like one of our baby sisters, don\u2019t he, Charlie?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHell, Paul, even our sisters wouldn\u2019t yell like that. Reckon that just goes to prove Joe Cartwright ain\u2019t nearly as tough as everyone \u2018round here thinks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cReckon so.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe we\u2019d better head on into the Silver Dollar and spread the word around \u2018bout what a sissy Little Joe is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSounds good to me, brother. Hey, Joe, we\u2019ll have a drink on you, buddy! See ya\u2019 later!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Joe, see ya\u2019 \u2018round, friend!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe wanted to yell for Paul and Charlie not to go. He wanted to yell for them to stay and help him, but he wasn\u2019t going to beg. He\u2019d die down here in this godforsaken hole before he\u2019d sink to begging for any kind of help from anyone \u2013 and most especially not from those two lowdown snakes.<\/span><\/p>\n

The young man sunk back to the cold dirt. He ran his dirty hands through his hair while giving a heavy sigh, and trying not to think of the hot supper waiting for him at home, along with a glass of Hop Sing\u2019s lemonade to wash it down with.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 30<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The dining room table had been cleared and the supper dishes washed \u2013 all but Joe\u2019s that is. His place was still set, and the basket of rolls was covered with a white cloth and resting in front of his empty plate. Well over an hour ago now, Hop Sing had saved portions of the meal for Joe, preventing Hoss from having third helpings.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Hop Sing, don\u2019t take all that away!\u201d Hoss protested after polishing off his second round of food. \u201cIf ya\u2019 want my opinion, the fella\u2019 who don\u2019t show up for supper don\u2019t get fed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing no ask you opinion.\u201d The housekeeper looked at Ben for approval. \u201cI put food in warmer for Little Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Hop Sing, thank you. I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll be along soon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI agree with Eric,\u201d Daniel stated from the end of the table. \u201cIf Joseph is late and misses supper, he should go without.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I don\u2019t agree with Eric.\u201d Ben\u2019s eyes traveled from Hoss to Daniel. \u201cAs I\u2019ve told you previously, my sons work long and hard. None of them goes without a meal.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel gave a disapproving \u201chumph,\u201d but didn\u2019t say any more. Hoss shot his father a sheepish smile.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, Pa. I was just funnin\u2019. I didn\u2019t mean nothin\u2019 by it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben nodded his understanding. \u201cI know you didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, your uncle doesn\u2019t possess a sense of humor, nor would he recognize humor if it bit him in the. . .<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Ben let his thought trail off, doing his best not to be disrespectful to his eldest brother, even when that disrespect wasn\u2019t spoken out loud.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once the meal was over, Ben led his family to the front porch. It wasn\u2019t until the sun began to set that worry for Little Joe surfaced. It wasn\u2019t unusual for Ben or his sons to be late in arriving home for supper. Especially during the summer months when the days were long and so much work needed to be done. But as twilight took over for the sun, Ben stood and walked to the edge of the porch.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam glanced up from the table where he and Hoss sat playing checkers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll be along in a few minutes, Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure he will be.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But when Adam\u2019s prediction of a \u201cfew minutes\u201d turned into twenty more minutes passing without Little Joe\u2019s arrival, Ben\u2019s worry increased. He supposed he was being foolish. After all, if it were Adam or Hoss who still weren\u2019t home he wouldn\u2019t be ready to send someone searching for them. But the missing son was Little Joe, who had only recently begun to enjoy the freedoms adulthood brought a young man, and who had a knack for finding trouble even when he wasn\u2019t looking for it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben turned and faced the checker players. \u201cAdam, Hoss. I want you to saddle your horses and go look for your little brother.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLook for him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Adam, look for him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben didn\u2019t see Adam roll his eyes at Hoss as the two men stood up from their game; nonetheless, he knew that action had taken place. As though Adam was saying, \u201cOnce again we get sent to save the kid\u2019s hide.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Well, maybe that was the case. But then, as far as Ben was concerned, that came with the territory when you were a big brother. He glanced at his own big brother who sat staring at him with a disapproving frown \u2013 judging his parenting skills once again, Ben was certain, and finding them lacking in some way. Not for the first time in his life, Ben wished he had the kind of relationship with Daniel that Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe shared.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben gave his oldest a playful slap on the back as Adam passed. \u201cYes, son, once again you get sent to track down Joseph. The woes of being a big brother.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben walked along with his sons to the barn, wanting to be out of Daniel\u2019s hearing range.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, you take the trail to that dam. Maybe Joe\u2019s still up there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe,\u201d Adam agreed dubiously. From the doubt in his voice, Ben knew Adam didn\u2019t think it likely Joe was still working on the dam this late into the night. But perhaps he\u2019d worked until the sun began to set and was just now heading home.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, Hoss,\u201d Ben said quietly, \u201cI want you to go to Virginia City and have a look around the places. . .well, the places you know Little Joe to frequent when his father and brothers aren\u2019t with him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss grinned and nodded. \u201cDon\u2019t you worry none, Pa. I know just where them places is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The big man didn\u2019t elaborate, and Ben thought of how lucky Little Joe was to have such a loyal brother. Ben figured if he knew some of Joe\u2019s secret haunts he\u2019d likely skin that young scallywag alive.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben got a lantern for Adam as his sons saddled their horses. Adam secured the lantern to his saddle horn, then climbed on Sport. The boys left the ranch yard, promising their father that one of them would return with Little Joe in tow safe and sound.<\/span><\/p>\n

He might not be so sound if I find out he headed off to Virginia City after he cleared that dam and got involved in a poker game.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Normally, Ben would have said that out loud to his two older sons, which would have caused them to laugh as they rode away, but by now Daniel was standing at his right shoulder so he refrained from saying anything other than, \u201cThanks, boys,\u201d as Adam and Hoss headed their horses in opposite directions and rode away.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlways worrying about Joseph, is that it, Benjamin?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben shook himself from his thoughts. \u201cPardon?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph. You always appear to be worrying about him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t say I always worry about him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut more so than you do your older boys.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben shrugged. \u201cHe\u2019s quite a bit younger than Adam and Hoss. Not as mature.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot having good judgment, or the ability to make righteous choices?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe possesses both of those attributes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen why do you worry so about him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s as I told you, he\u2019s young. He has some growing up to do yet, as we all did when we were just eighteen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBenjamin, don\u2019t ignore this any longer, please.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIgnore what?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour worry over Joseph. The fact that you\u2019ve had to send his brothers to look for him \u2013 and not for the first time I gather. Take it as the sign it is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSign?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSign from God. He wants you to open your eyes to what\u2019s right in front of you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben turned around and walked toward the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll that\u2019s in front of me, Daniel, is an empty house. When my sons return, it will be full again like it should be. In the meantime, let\u2019s go inside. We never did eat any of that carrot cake Hop Sing made. If we don\u2019t have some now, we might not get any. I\u2019m sure the boys will be hungry when they get back. If I know Hoss, he\u2019ll polish off half that cake before he goes to bed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As Ben led the way into the house, he tried not to let his worry over Little Joe\u2019s whereabouts show. After all, he wanted to enjoy his cake, rather than have his dessert sour in his stomach while his brother lectured him about signs from God.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 31<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Both rider and horse were mindful of their limited visibility as they traveled the route to the dam Adam discovered days earlier.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShould have just taken care of it myself,\u201d the man grumbled with a yawn. \u201cIf I had, I\u2019d be home in bed right now instead of being sent after an errant little brother. If Hoss finds that kid at a poker table, or in some saloon girl\u2019s room, I swear the kick I give him in the seat of his britches will land him all the way in Carson City.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s annoyance with Little Joe changed to concern when he heard a familiar whinny break the nighttime quiet. Cochise must have heard him approaching and recognized Sport\u2019s scent.<\/span><\/p>\n

The man tethered Sport next to Cochise. He grabbed the lantern from his saddle horn, took a match from the book in his shirt pocket, and struck it. He lit the lantern, raised his arm, and shined the light around.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam used the light to look over Cochise. The horse seemed fine, albeit restless as he tossed his head and moved from foot to foot. As the lantern traveled with Adam\u2019s movements, it landed on a pile of paraphernalia. Adam bent down, eyeing Joe\u2019s saddlebags, canteen, hat, shirt, gun belt, and the lunch sack still filled with a sandwich, beef jerky, two cornbread muffins, an apple, and three cookies. He picked the shirt up and studied it. He didn\u2019t see any tears in it, or any blood on it, which brought him some relief.<\/span><\/p>\n

He stood, using the lantern to cast as much light as possible on the area.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe? Little Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He started toward the stream. Joe was a good swimmer and the water wasn\u2019t very deep here, but if he\u2019d slipped on a rock, fallen and hit his head, or if he\u2019d become overheated and passed out. . .<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u201d Adam\u2019s voice grew louder with each questioning call. \u201cJoe?\u201d The lantern\u2019s light revealed Joe had been working on the dam at some point during the day. The top quarter of it was dismantled, with the branches Joe tore out of it piled on the shoreline. Adam looked around.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe! Little Joe, where are you? Joe!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam didn\u2019t hear the first two responses he received, and almost didn\u2019t hear the third.<\/span><\/p>\n

He squinted into the night, not certain if he\u2019d heard a person, or if the raspy sound was nothing more than a small animal scurrying into the underbrush.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOver here,\u201d came the return yell, if one could refer to it as such. It sounded more like the way a man spoke when he was laid up with the croup.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOver where?\u201d Adam peered into the darkness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHere! Down here, Adam!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDown. . .?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBe careful! Don\u2019t fall in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFall in?\u201d Adam mumbled, while making his way toward the sound of his brother\u2019s voice. \u201cWhat the. . .\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe squinted as the light shined down, assaulting his eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam knew it was a dumb question, but it was the only one that came to mind.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you doing down there?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDigging for worms, what the hell do you think I\u2019m doin\u2019 down here? I fell in this godforsaken pit sometime around noon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam didn\u2019t chide Joe for his choice of language that Pa wouldn\u2019t approve of. After all, Adam imagined he\u2019d engage in some choice language of his own if he\u2019d spent most of the day in a hole.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you all right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m okay.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re sure?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust hungry, thirsty, cold, and my head feels like I had a heck of a good time in Virginia City that I don\u2019t have the pleasure of remembering.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam chuckled. \u201cI bet it does.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The man set the lantern down, then got on his belly, extending a hand into Joe\u2019s tomb.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHere. Grab my hand and I\u2019ll pull you up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It took Joe a few seconds to get to his feet. It was too dark for Adam to tell if he was in pain from some injury he wasn\u2019t revealing, or if he was just stiff from sitting for too long.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam felt a hand clasp his.<\/span><\/p>\n

He wasn\u2019t kidding when he said he was cold.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Joe, on three. One. . .two. . .three.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam pulled, but he barely made progress before Joe\u2019s hand slipped from his grasp.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSorry. I couldn\u2019t hold on.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it. Let\u2019s try again. Once more, on three.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam counted to three, but just like their previous attempt, Little Joe couldn\u2019t hang on. In addition to that, the earth beneath Adam\u2019s chest was crumbling, showering his brother with dirt.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBe careful, Adam. If that gives way you\u2019ll be down here with me, and I can tell ya\u2019 right now, there ain\u2019t room enough for the both of us in this hole.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll take your word on that. Besides, I don\u2019t fancy being stuck down there until sometime after dawn when Pa comes looking for us. How about you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t fancied bein\u2019 stuck down here for as long as I already have been, so no, I sure don\u2019t fancy bein\u2019 down here until tomorrow morning. By then, I\u2019ll be able to out eat Hoss at his hungriest.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure you will. All right, hang on a few more minutes. I\u2019ll be back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere you goin?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTo get Sport and a rope.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Within five minutes, Adam had a length of sturdy rope secured around his saddle horn. He threw the other end down to Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTie it around your waist, then tell me when you\u2019re ready.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When Joe didn\u2019t protest Adam\u2019s instruction to tie the rope around his waist, Adam knew his brother was as tired and weak as he\u2019d surmised. Under normal circumstances, Little Joe would have grabbed onto the rope and scurried up that dirt wall as though he were a mole.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, I\u2019m ready.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll right. We\u2019re gonna take it slow and easy. If you feel any pain, call out and I\u2019ll stop.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not hurt, Adam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou might be and just don\u2019t know it yet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell I\u2019m not. So come on, get me outta here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe. . .\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, yeah. If I hurt anywhere, I\u2019ll let you know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs that a promise?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a promise.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay then. Are you ready?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMore than you can imagine, big brother.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHere we go.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam slowly walked Sport away from the hole, listening for any cries of pain from Joe. No indications of pain came, however, and within a few seconds Adam was instructing Sport to stop. Joe had made it halfway out of the hole, but didn\u2019t have the strength to get out the rest of the way.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam ran back to the hole, grabbed Joe under the arms, and finished pulling him out. He knelt beside his prone brother, concerned when Joe didn\u2019t immediately get to his feet.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHere, let me get that rope off of you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam gently turned his brother over, using the light from the nearby lantern to study Joe as he did so. Both legs and arms appeared to be at normal angles, and Adam didn\u2019t see blood anywhere. Mostly, all he saw was dirt. Smudges of dirt on Joe\u2019s face and bare chest, and streaks of dirt on his trousers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam patted a cold shoulder as he slipped the rope from Joe\u2019s waist. \u201cAre you all right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe nodded. \u201cJust tired.\u201d The young man\u2019s eyes were blood shot, but Adam wasn\u2019t certain how much of that discoloration was from the weariness Joe just spoke of, versus irritation from dirt.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou stay here and rest a minute while I get your shirt and canteen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe nodded his thanks as his eyes drifted closed.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Adam returned, he helped Little Joe sit up. With Joe\u2019s back resting against his chest, Adam uncapped the canteen and handed it to his brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHere, but take it easy. Don\u2019t drink it all in one gulp.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s all I\u2019ve been dreaming about doing for the past ten hours.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure that\u2019s the case, but nonetheless, go easy. You don\u2019t want to throw it back up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam suspected his brother practiced a good deal of restraint where the water was concerned simply to appease him. When he\u2019d drained the canteen dry, Adam filled it again in the stream. Joe drank it half empty, then grabbed the sandwich Adam held out to him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou should probably wash your hands first.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

That suggestion went unheeded, as did Adam\u2019s command of, \u201cSlow down, Joe,\u201d as his brother gobbled the sandwich in four bites, and then gobbled each one of the cookies Adam handed him in two bites. Adam\u2019s prediction that the sandwich and cookies would be thrown up given the speed with which Joe ate them proved untrue. By the time Adam handed Joe his shirt, the young man seemed a bit stronger. Adam helped Little Joe to his feet, then stuck close as Joe made his way to the stream where he knelt to rinse his hands and face.<\/span><\/p>\n

While Joe did that, Adam filled his brother\u2019s canteen one last time. If it weren\u2019t for the fact Pa would worry if they didn\u2019t arrive home yet that night, Adam would have made camp there. Joe\u2019s pinched features told Adam his brother\u2019s headache was paining him more than the young man acknowledged. In addition to that, he could barely put one foot in front of the other as he walked toward Cochise, and Adam didn\u2019t miss the shivers despite the shirt Joe was now wearing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam grabbed Sport\u2019s reins and walked the horse to where Joe was untying Cochise. He handed Joe his canteen, hat, and gun belt, before bending to pick up the saddlebags. He tossed them over Cochise\u2019s rump; then reached into one of his own saddlebags.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHere.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy jacket.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you need it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf I needed it, I\u2019d have been wearing it, now wouldn\u2019t I?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI dunno. I guess.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou guessed correctly. Now put it on, and then we\u2019ll head home. The sooner we get there, the sooner you can eat supper and go to bed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSupper?\u201d Joe said, as he shouldered into Adam\u2019s jacket. It was too big for him, but he didn\u2019t complain. \u201cBy the time we get home breakfast\u2019ll only be a few hours away.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen I\u2019m sure Hop Sing will be happy to scramble you a plateful of eggs, and flip you a few flapjacks while he\u2019s at it, if that\u2019s what you prefer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I prefer. Along with a hot bath and some of them headache powders he keeps on hand.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure it can all be arranged. And Hoss will thank you, by the way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank me? For what?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe was hankering for your helping of food at the dinner table. While you eat your eggs, he can get your plate out of the warmer and have himself a late night snack.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Considering it would be after midnight before they got home, Joe acknowledged the truth to Adam\u2019s words.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re probably right about that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u00a0know<\/em>\u00a0I\u2019m right about it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSpeaking of Hoss, where is he?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa sent him to Virginia City. You know our father when it comes to your whereabouts. He wanted to cover all possibilities.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe chuckled. \u201cFor as much as I\u2019d love to be sitting at a poker table right about now with a cold beer in front of me, guess I won\u2019t be givin\u2019 Pa anything to get riled over tonight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor which Pa will be grateful, I\u2019m sure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

While Joe climbed in his saddle, Adam blew out the lantern and got on Sport.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Adam headed for home with Joe riding beside him, he glanced back into the blackness. He had a lot of questions he wanted to ask Little Joe about the origins of that hole, and exactly how he ended up falling into it, but by the weary slump to his kid brother\u2019s shoulders, along with the voice that was only half its normal strength, Adam decided questions could wait until Joe had both some hot food and a dose of headache powder in his stomach.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 32<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Footsteps on the porch brought Ben out of his chair. Hoss met his father\u2019s eyes as he entered the house and shut the door behind him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, Pa. No sign of \u2018im.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid you look everywhere?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir.\u201d Hoss removed his gun belt and hat. He hung the hat on a wall hook then rolled up the gun belt, placing it on the sideboard. \u201cEverywhere I know ta\u2019 look, that is. Asked around some too. No one\u2019s seen him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Although the last thing Ben had wanted tonight was for Hoss to find his younger brother seated at a poker table in Virginia City, especially given Daniel\u2019s looming presence at his elbow, Hoss\u2019s announcement prompted renewed worry. There was no reason for Little Joe to be working on that dam so late into the evening. If he hadn\u2019t completed his task as suppertime came and went, he would have headed home before dark with plans to return the following day to finish the job.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben glanced at the Grandfather clock. Twenty minutes past midnight. His lips tightened with concern.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI hope Adam\u2019s run across him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure he has, Pa. They\u2019re probably on their way home as we\u2019re standin\u2019 here. No use in worryin\u2019 \u2018til we got somethin\u2019 to worry about. Ain\u2019t that what you always say?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben gave his middle son a slight smile. \u201cYes, that is what I always say. But sometimes it\u2019s easier to say than to put into practice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEspecially when your worry is centered on Joseph, is that it, Benjamin?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben took a deep breath before facing his brother. \u201cI worry about\u00a0all<\/em>\u00a0of my sons now and again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTell yourself that if it makes you feel better. But deep down you and I \u2013 and our Lord \u2013 know the truth.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss didn\u2019t appear to take notice of his uncle\u2019s remark, which didn\u2019t surprise Ben. Neither Adam nor Hoss seemed bothered by Daniel\u2019s presence, nor bothered by the way he often brought Joe to task. He supposed that was because they still thought of Joe as their baby brother. As a boy still in need of guidance from his elders, as opposed to a young man who had the right not to be asked to repeat the preacher\u2019s sermon word for word, or supply chapter and verse of whatever obscure Bible passages Daniel was intent on quoting at the dinner table. Or more likely, they just enjoyed the humor those moments provided at their younger brother\u2019s expense, as older brothers were often noted to do.<\/span><\/p>\n

Well, some older brothers,<\/em>\u00a0Ben thought ruefully with regard to the older brother standing beside him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thankfully, any debate over the time Ben spent worrying about Little Joe versus time spent worrying about Adam and Hoss ended when more footsteps were heard crossing the porch.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben opened the door before his sons had a chance to enter the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBoys. . .Little Joe, are you all right? What kept you so late? Did you run into some kind of trouble taking apart that–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t until the brothers stepped into the foyer and Joe could be viewed under the glow of the lamps that Ben knew his youngest son had, in fact, run into some kind of trouble. Dirt streaked his face and neck, and his eyes were red and watering as though irritated by foreign matter. When he took his hat off, his hair held a coating of fine gray dust. And when Ben caught sight of Joe\u2019s hands as he set his gun belt on the sideboard, he saw dirt clumped beneath his nails and raw, torn skin on the tips of his fingers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Exhaustion glowed dully from Little Joe\u2019s bloodshot eyes as he gave an involuntary shiver beneath Adam\u2019s jacket. He shot his father a tired smile.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m okay, Pa. Nothin\u2019 a hot bath and some sleep won\u2019t cure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut what happened? How did you get in this condition? What–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Behind Little Joe\u2019s back, Adam subtly shook his head at his father.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa, Joe hasn\u2019t had a decent meal since breakfast and he\u2019s got a pretty fierce headache because of it. Why don\u2019t we let him clean up and eat before we start asking a lot of questions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s eyes met Adam\u2019s. In those few seconds he picked up on the silent message his eldest was sending that indicated Joe\u2019s physical condition needed tending to before further inquiries were made. Ben nodded.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes. . .yes, I can see that\u2019s a good idea, Adam. Hop Sing!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe winced at his father\u2019s yell. Ben placed a gentle hand on Little Joe\u2019s arm.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSorry about that, son.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe mustered up a teasing grin and admonished his father with a line Ben had often used on his sons when they were young and roughhousing in the great room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust keep it down to a dull roar, would ya\u2019, Pa?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel \u201ctsked tsked\u201d at what Ben assumed the man took to be Joe\u2019s impertinence. He ignored his brother, not bothering to explain the family joke.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hop Sing appeared from the kitchen in his nightshirt and robe, thought too alert to have been sleeping. Like Ben, he\u2019d no doubt been worried about Little Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

The houseman took Little Joe\u2019s other arm, and along with Ben, ushered the young man toward the kitchen.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome, Little Joe. Water all ready heating for bath, and Hop Sing keep supper warm.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d kinda like some scrambled eggs if you don\u2019t mind,\u201d came Joe\u2019s tentative request. \u201cAnd maybe a couple of flapjacks to go along with \u2018em?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing no mind. Mr. Hoss can finish Little Joe\u2019s supper while Little Joe eat breakfast.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSounds just dandy to me, Hop Sing. Me an\u2019 Adam\u2019s gonna see ta\u2019 the horses first. Then I\u2019ll be ready for that there midnight snack ya\u2019 mentioned.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure we can all share in a little snack of some sort while Little Joe eats,\u201d Ben said. \u201cYou boys go on and tend to the horses. I\u2019ll help Hop Sing with the bath water. Uh…Daniel\u2026\u201d Ben paused in his march to the kitchen and turned to address his brother. \u201cIt\u2019s been a long day for you. You\u2019re welcome to call it a night if you\u2019d prefer. We\u2019ll keep things down to a \u201cdull roar\u201d as Little Joe said. Besides, after he\u2019s cleaned up and has had a bite to eat we\u2019ll be turning in too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Benjamin, that\u2019s all right. I\u2019m wide-awake. I\u2019ll just wait out here until your family is ready to gather at the table. I can offer a prayer of thanks for Joseph\u2019s safe return before he has his meal.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben heard Joe give a quiet groan of despair at the thought of sitting through one of Daniel\u2019s lengthy prayers. He couldn\u2019t say he blamed his son for that. He wanted to give a groan or two as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll right then,\u201d Ben reluctantly agreed for lack of anything to say other than, \u201cPlease, not tonight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben left his oldest sons to their chores and left his brother in the dining room while resuming his trek to the kitchen with Little Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

By the time Adam and Hoss returned to the house, Joe was in the tub in the summer kitchen washing the dirt off his body and out of his hair. Ben was coming down the stairs with clean clothes for his youngest. Hop Sing was scrambling eggs and flipping flapjacks. And Uncle Daniel. . .well, Uncle Daniel was seated at the dining room table waiting to pray.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 33<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the lateness of the hour and the weariness clinging to him like a heavy fog, Joe had to admit the warm bath and hot meal, along with several grimaced swallows of the bitter headache powders Hop Sing mixed in a glass of water, left him feeling a lot better than when he\u2019d walked in the door. He was no longer shivering as he sat at the table barefoot, wearing a pair of clean trousers and a shirt he hadn\u2019t bothered to button. Uncle Daniel had started to comment on his state of undress, but Pa cut him off.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not important tonight, Daniel. It\u2019s long past any regular dining hours around here. I highly doubt we\u2019ll have visitors coming to the front door at one-thirty in the morning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa had helped Joe rinse out his eyes after he finished bathing and was dressed. He\u2019d leaned backwards over the sink while Pa poured a cup of water in each eye, irrigating them as best he could. The only thing that still hurt somewhat besides Joe\u2019s head, were his fingertips where the skin was scraped raw. But at least the fingers were clean and didn\u2019t look infected. Or so Pa said when he studied them under the glow of a kitchen lamp.<\/span><\/p>\n

No questions were asked of Joe at that time, nor while he ate. Pa must have been taking Adam\u2019s advice with regard to Joe getting a meal into his stomach before he told his family what happened. Of course, it was a wonder Joe was eating at all, considering Uncle Daniel\u2019s prayer of thanks threatened to go on until dawn. Pa didn\u2019t admonish Joe when he silently picked up his fork during the prayer and shoveled in three mouthfuls of eggs. Uncle Daniel\u2019s eyes were closed so he didn\u2019t see this transgression, and while Pa shook his head at Joe, his lips were curved in a smile and there was a twinkle in his eyes, as though he enjoyed watching Joe outsmart the old man at his own game.<\/span><\/p>\n

While Joe ate the breakfast Hop Sing had made for him, Hoss ate Joe\u2019s leftover supper, Adam ate a sandwich, and Pa and Uncle Daniel ate a few of the cookies Hop Sing piled on a plate and placed in the middle of the table. When the meal was finished and Hop Sing had cleared the dishes away, Pa leaned back in his chair.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe, unless you\u2019re too tired to discuss it, I\u2019d like to know what happened out there today.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not too tired, Pa. I. . . .uh. . .I. . .well Pa. . .I. . . \u201d Joe\u2019s eyes flicked from his father to his brothers. He hated the thought of being a tattletale and not working this out for himself. Even more, he hated the thought of once again being perceived as the son and the little brother who always needed to be bailed out of trouble. But the hard truth of the matter was; he had no idea how to put a stop to Paul and Charlie\u2019s pranks without his family\u2019s help.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes returned to his father. He worried his lower lip a moment. \u201cIt\u2019s. . .it\u2019s the Dunns, Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPardon?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Dunns. Paul and Charlie. They\u2019re the ones behind it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBehind what, son?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBehind everything!\u201d Joe knew he shouldn\u2019t lose his temper, but he was tired, and his head still hurt, and he was sick of being kicked around by Paul and Charlie. \u201cBehind me endin\u2019 up in that hole today, and behind me takin\u2019 that tumble off Cochise a while back, and then Cochise disappearing on me, and Adam\u2019s lost hammer, and me gettin\u2019 jumped by those boys in that alley–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat boys?\u201d Pa asked. \u201cWhen?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe day Uncle Daniel arrived. In the alley behind the Silver Dollar. A buncha miners\u2019 kids. Paul and Charlie put \u2018em up to it. Na. . .someone who knows it on good authority told me so.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHold up there a minute, Little Joe. Slow down, son. I don\u2019t know half of what you\u2019re talking about. Adam\u2019s hammer? Cochise disappearing? You ending up in a hole today?\u201d Pa looked at Adam, who nodded confirmation of the last statement.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know how he got down there, Pa, but he was in a hole when I found him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI just told you how I got down there! Paul and Charlie!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid they throw you down there?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, they didn\u2019t throw me! But I know they\u2019re the ones who dug it and then covered it up so I\u2019d fall in. I\u2019m pretty sure they\u2019re the ones who constructed that dam too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Joe,\u201d Adam stated with skepticism, \u201cI don\u2019t think so. How could they have known you\u2019d be the one who was sent to take the dam apart? It could have just as easily been Hoss or me up there today instead of you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell I don\u2019t care what you think. It\u2019s what I know.\u201d Joe looked at his father. \u201cAnd if you hadn\u2019t gone to Mr. Dunn in the first place after I asked you not to, none of this would have happened.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019re saying all these. . .these pranks Paul and Charlie are pulling on you, are my fault?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, that\u2019s what I\u2019m sayin\u2019,\u201d Joe confirmed with more impertinence than he probably should have been using. Nonetheless, everything he said was true, and it made him angry that his father had put him in this position. He felt like the boy who was a constant target of the schoolyard bullies, and not only was it a feeling Joe Cartwright wasn\u2019t accustomed to, it was also a feeling he didn\u2019t enjoy. \u201cIf it hadn\u2019t been for you, I wouldn\u2019t have spent all day in that damn hole and–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph!\u201d Uncle Daniel yelled from the other end of the table. \u201cI\u2019ve heard far more than enough of this, young man. You should have a strap taken to your backside for speaking to your father with such an uncivil tongue. You should have that smart mouth washed out with a bar of lye soap. You should–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It was a good thing Pa stepped in then, because Joe was on the verge of telling the old man to go to hell, consequences be damned.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDaniel, please. Allow me to take care of this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI would if I thought you\u2019d actually punish this young upstart for the disgraceful attitude he brings to his father\u2019s table. But I know you won\u2019t, Benjamin. I know you\u2019ll only coddle him, and spoil him, and–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDaniel, look. I don\u2019t mean to be rude, but this is a private family matter. Something I\u2019d like to discuss\u00a0alone<\/em>\u00a0with my sons.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

There was a long pause while Uncle Daniel studied Pa, and then shifted his eyes to Joe, before finally returning them to Pa again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019re asking me to retire to my room?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa nodded. \u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m asking. I apologize for our heated discussion here this evening, but sometimes discussions in this house progress in that fashion for a short period of time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you allow such insolence on the part of Joseph, is that it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs I said, sometimes discussions get heated around here. We always work things out in the end, however, and none of my boys, including Little Joe, crosses a line he knows I won\u2019t stand for.\u201d Pa\u2019s eyes shifted to Joe. \u201cAnd if a son of mine\u00a0would<\/em>\u00a0cross that line, rest assured I\u2019ll put him in his place by reminding him of just who\u2019s the head wolf in this pack.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe dropped his eyes to the table. \u201cSorry, Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa didn\u2019t say anything to Joe. Instead, he waited silently until his brother finally stood.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll right then, as you wish, Benjamin. I\u2019ll retire for the night.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you. Good night.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel gave a tight nod. \u201cGood night.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss said good night to their uncle, but Joe\u2019s voice was noticeably absent. He didn\u2019t care if the old man thought he was rude for not bidding him good night. And besides, Uncle Daniel didn\u2019t include Joe in the good nights he offered to Adam and Hoss, so Joe figured they were even in that regard.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa waited a full five minutes after Uncle Daniel entered his room before standing and indicating to his sons that they\u2019d continue the discussion in the great room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s try and keep our voices down so your uncle can sleep.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t think his father was so much concerned about Uncle Daniel getting his rest, as he was concerned that the man would overhear their conversation if it grew loud again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe was too uptight to sit, so while his father sat in his favorite chair, and Adam and Hoss sat on the settee, Joe paced back and forth in front of the fireplace.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Little Joe, tell me again \u2013 and calmly this time while using a respectful tone of voice \u2013 exactly what\u2019s going on between you and the Dunns.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNothin\u2019s going on \u2018cause of me, Pa. It\u2019s them making trouble.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll right. Then tell me, please.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe ran a hand through his still damp curls as he once again told about his run-ins with Paul and Charlie. He was more thorough in the telling this time, giving his father and brothers a better idea as to what had been occurring ever since Pa visited Jim Dunn.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Joe finished, Pa sat quietly contemplating all he\u2019d just learned. When he finally spoke, he didn\u2019t inform Joe of what he was going to do, but instead said, \u201cLittle Joe, since my visit to Jim apparently had the opposite affect of what I\u2019d hoped and only antagonized the situation further, what would you like me to do this time?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe was caught by surprise. He wasn\u2019t expecting his father to ask his opinion. This was the kind of thing Pa would ask Adam or Hoss. When a situation involved Joe, Pa usually stated what he was going to do and then did it, with no amount of pleading on Joe\u2019s part changing his mind. Maybe this is what happened when your pa finally started to recognize you were no longer a boy. Maybe this was the start of a change where Joe and his father were concerned. Trouble was though, Joe ended up feeling like a little kid anyway, because he had no solution to offer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI. . .I don\u2019t know, Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell now, ifin\u2019 ya\u2019 ask me, I think me and Adam should go over there and have us a visit with Paul and Charlie like I wanted to do back when they first started causin\u2019 ya\u2019 trouble, little brother.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think it would hurt for us to give it a try,\u201d Adam stated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa shook his head. \u201cNo, boys. This is Joe\u2019s decision to make, not yours.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When Joe still didn\u2019t having any suggestions for his father, Pa said, \u201cYou know, Joe, just because a young man\u2019s father wants to help him through a rough patch, doesn\u2019t mean the father isn\u2019t recognizing his son is growing up and is capable of taking care of himself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd sometimes it takes someone else. . .a friend or a family member, to help a person out of a jam. Sometimes it helps to have a. . .well, a mediator of sorts.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut it didn\u2019t help the last time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it didn\u2019t,\u201d Pa acknowledged. \u201cSo perhaps this time I need to talk to Jim a little more forcefully. Let him know that we Cartwrights don\u2019t stand for being bullied.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe gave a rueful smile. \u201cI think in this situation, Pa,\u00a0I\u2019m<\/em>\u00a0the one who\u2019s supposed to stand up for myself and demand that Paul and Charlie quit bullying me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo is that what you want to do?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe thought a moment. \u201cYeah. . .yeah, I guess it is. Only so far, I haven\u2019t had much luck at it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen how about if you and I ride over to the Dunn ranch together and meet with Jim and his boys. You can have your say, and then I\u2019ll have mine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust you and me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben glanced briefly at Adam and Hoss, then looked back at Joe and smiled. \u201cYes, son, just you and me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think it\u2019ll do any good?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not going to lie to you. I honestly don\u2019t know. But I will tell you this. The pranks Paul and Charlie are pulling on you have reached a dangerous level. I won\u2019t have your wellbeing put at risk over timber contracts. Jim and those boys of his need to understand that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll right.\u201d Anticipation over finally being able to take some kind of action shone from Joe\u2019s eyes. \u201cWhen are we leaving?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben laughed. \u201cWell, not right now. I think we\u2019d better get some sleep first, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As the Grandfather clock chimed indicating it was two-thirty in the morning, Joe blushed at his eagerness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh yeah. Yeah, sure, Pa. I guess we\u2019d better get a few hours of sleep, huh?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think that would be a good idea.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben stood.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, boys, let\u2019s head for bed. I have a feeling daylight will come far too early for all of us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss stretched and yawned as he stood. \u201cI have a feelin\u2019 you\u2019re right about that, Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMe too,\u201d Adam agreed, stifling a yawn of his own.<\/span><\/p>\n

The men trooped upstairs with Little Joe leading the way. Soon, the house was dark and quiet; its residents asleep save for the one in the guest room on the main floor, who was pondering all he\u2019d overheard.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 34<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Adam spent the morning straightening the tack room. It was just the kind of job he needed following a long day, and then an equally long night. As Pa predicted it would, dawn arrived too early. But then, it always did when a man got only a few hours of sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

Surprisingly, Little Joe was the first one out of bed that morning. Not only was that action out of character for Joe on a night when he\u2019d gotten eight hours of sleep, it was especially out of character on a night when he\u2019d gotten just four. Adam assumed his brother\u2019s new \u201cearly to rise\u201d habit wouldn\u2019t last long, and was brought on by a bad case of the jitters over the thought of meeting with Jim Dunn and his boys. However, Little Joe would never admit to that, and neither Adam nor Hoss tried to force an admission from him, meaning the potential for several rounds of teasing went by the wayside during breakfast. In part, because Adam and Hoss knew their father would put a quick end to it. And in part because the three Cartwright siblings generally stuck to their own personal unwritten code of, \u201cyou never kick a brother when he\u2019s down \u2013 or at least not too hard.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa and Joe left shortly after breakfast, headed for the Dunn ranch. How long they\u2019d be gone, Adam couldn\u2019t predict. If things went well they might be asked to stay for lunch. If such an invitation were extended, they wouldn\u2019t return home until mid-afternoon. Adam expected to see them earlier than that, however. Given what Paul and Charlie had been putting Little Joe through, he didn\u2019t foresee this meeting Pa had in mind producing a successful outcome.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam wasn\u2019t a man who usually restored to strong-arming someone into compliance if more diplomatic measures could be employed. But in this situation, he wasn\u2019t so certain Hoss was wrong. Maybe Paul and Charlie\u00a0did<\/em>\u00a0need to be roughed up a bit and reminded that two against one wasn\u2019t playing fair to begin with, and that endangering Joe\u2019s life went beyond a few pranks pulled in retaliation over lost timber contracts. Maybe he and Hoss would yet be paying the Dunn brothers a visit before this was all over, regardless of whether Pa approved or not.<\/span><\/p>\n

For the time being, Adam shook off his concerns about the Dunns and concentrated on the task he\u2019d assigned himself. Hoss was in Virginia City running errands. He\u2019d driven out of the yard on a buckboard ten minutes after Pa and Little Joe left. Adam had no doubt his middle brother would find reason to eat in town. More than one Virginia City caf\u00e9 catered to the big man\u2019s appetite. And the likeable, good-natured Hoss could generally talk a waitress out of an extra piece of pie at no additional cost. That alone was incentive enough for Hoss to skip lunch on the Ponderosa today.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam didn\u2019t turn around when he heard footsteps joining him in this room located at the far end of the barn.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was just thinking about you. Figured you\u2019d eat lunch in town. What happened? No pie to be had today?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cQuite the contrary. I think your Chinaman just put a pie in the oven.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam turned. \u201cOh. . .Uncle Daniel. Hello. I\u2019m sorry. I thought you were Hoss.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI believe Eric\u2019s still in Virginia City.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam nodded. \u201cI assume so. He usually eats lunch there if Pa sends him on errands.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt least he doesn\u2019t spend his time in town getting into trouble.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPardon?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLike young Joseph does.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t say Joe gets into trouble\u00a0every<\/em>\u00a0time he goes to town.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the conclusion I\u2019ve reached.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen perhaps we\u2019ve given you the wrong impression.\u201d Adam returned to his work, feeling his uncle at his right elbow. \u201cYou know, Uncle Daniel, Hoss and I sometimes take our teasing further than we should. You can\u2019t always put stock in the things we josh Little Joe about.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019re saying you and Eric are liars?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo. . .no, I wouldn\u2019t exactly phrase it that way. We tend to. . .exaggerate now and again where Joe is concerned.\u201d Adam shot his uncle a smile. \u201cIt\u2019s what older brothers do, you know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course you don\u2019t,<\/em>\u00a0Adam thought with sarcasm-laced resignation.\u00a0My assumption that you might have possessed a sense of humor at some point in the distant past is apparently a foolish one.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI see. Well, perhaps Hoss and I should think more carefully before we speak.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t apologize, Adam. I understand completely.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou do?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI do. I didn\u2019t get the wrong impression at all. Rest assured, I\u2019ve had the\u00a0right<\/em>\u00a0impression since the moment I arrived here. Joseph is a young man straddling the line.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe line?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe line between good and evil.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam weighed his words carefully before replying.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo disrespect intended, Uncle Daniel, but Little Joe doesn\u2019t engage in activities I define as evil. Activities that are reckless, yes. Activities that sometimes border stupid, yes \u2013 at least in my opinion. But not evil. Joe isn\u2019t evil and never could be. He\u2019s a hot tempered kid who raises a little more hel. . .heck at times than Pa approves of, but he\u2019s got a good head on his shoulders. Given time, I know he\u2019ll grow up to be a man who\u2019s highly regarded.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou sound like your father.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow so?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDefending Joseph as though he\u2019s the prodigal son.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam had to admit this was a reversal of roles for him of sorts. Usually, he was the one complaining to Pa about Joe\u2019s transgressions, as opposed to defending them. Nonetheless, despite Uncle Daniel being Pa\u2019s brother, he was still an outsider as far as Adam was concerned. While Adam might think Joe could use a little more discipline than Pa often imparted upon him, that wasn\u2019t something he\u2019d voice out loud to his uncle. His loyalty to Little Joe ran too deep to do otherwise. What went on within the walls of the ranch house was private, as Pa often said, and best kept that way. It was one thing to share his aggravations about Joe with his father or Hoss, but quite another to take them to anyone else. . .or to tolerate them from anyone else either.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not defending Joe. My father will tell you I\u2019m generally the last one to do that. All I\u2019m saying is that he\u2019s not evil by any meaning of the word.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen perhaps you and I define it differently.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam raised an eyebrow. \u201cPerhaps we do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Silence prevailed for a moment, then; \u201cI apologize if I\u2019ve upset you, Adam. You\u2019ve grown up to be a fine man. An honorable man. I know your father is very proud of you, as any father would be.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you. That\u2019s a generous compliment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd a well deserved one from what I\u2019ve seen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Uncle Daniel let the conversation die for a few moments, seemingly content to watch Adam work. However, Adam had a feeling the man had more on his mind. It didn\u2019t take long to discover he was correct.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t help but overhear some things that were said last night after I retired to my room.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam didn\u2019t accuse his uncle of eavesdropping, but then, he didn\u2019t completely let the man off the hook either.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh really?\u201d Adam questioned while he swept the floor. \u201cWe tried to keep our voices down.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure you did. But my hearing is still quite good for a man of my years.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cApparently so.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, well, that\u2019s the case. Anyway, I\u2019m curious, Adam. Who are these \u201cDunn boys,\u201d I heard so much said about?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPaul and Charlie.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI believe that was their names, yes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTheir father owns a ranch to the west of here that borders a small portion of the Ponderosa. Little Joe went to school with them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re friends of his then?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t exactly call them friends. At least not currently.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot currently?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Joe was a kid in school he used to pal around with them some. As far as I know he always got along with them fine. They weren\u2019t amongst his closest friends \u2013 maybe more of school chums, you might say, but he never had trouble with them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUntil recently.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam nodded. \u201cUntil recently.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere was something said about timber contracts, and a man named Jim?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJim is Jim Dunn. Paul and Charlie\u2019s father.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam briefly explained the situation with the timber contracts that was apparently the catalyst to the problems Little Joe was now experiencing at the hands of Paul and Charlie.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHas Joseph antagonized the situation in some way?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam finished sweeping and hung the broom back on the peg where it belonged. It would remain there until the next time Hoss or Joe used it for something, and then it was anyone\u2019s guess as to where it would be found.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe won\u2019t back down from a fight, if that\u2019s what you\u2019re asking. But on the other hand, he doesn\u2019t go around deliberately starting one either.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDoes he engage in peculiar behavior that might have provoked the Dunn brothers?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeculiar behavior?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, you know. Does he do things you consider odd? Things you might not even recognize as odd if given only cursory scrutiny.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam chuckled. \u201cMy youngest brother is both odd and peculiar at times.\u201d Just as quickly as that statement came from his mouth, Adam rectified it, remembering that Uncle Daniel didn\u2019t exactly have a knack for recognizing humor. \u201cBut then, Little Joe would say the same about me if given the opportunity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnyway, to answer your question, I\u2019m sure Joe hasn\u2019t provoked them. As far as I know, until this timber issue arose, he rarely ran across Paul or Charlie now that they\u2019re all out of school.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut you aren\u2019t with your brother every minute.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, no. Of course I\u2019m not.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo you wouldn\u2019t know that for certain.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re insinuating that Little Joe is somehow to blame for the pranks Paul and Charlie have been pulling on him, then I\u2019m sorry to disagree with you, Uncle Daniel, when I say you\u2019re wrong. If Joe was doing any provoking, he\u2019d have come clean about it to Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOr so you think.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think it, Sir. I\u00a0know<\/em>\u00a0it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A tense silence filled the tack room. As far as Adam was concerned, there was nothing else to say on the subject. When his uncle finally broke the silence, it wasn\u2019t with his normal strength of voice. His tone was soft, and Adam heard a trace of sorrow in it that surprised him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the way it started with my Danny, you know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cStarted?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOther boys making fun of him. Other boys lying in wait to beat him up. Boys delaying him in arriving home by pulling pranks on him, just like happened to Joseph when you found him in that hole.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry to hear that. Bullies \u2013 well, I\u2019ve never had any use for them myself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUnder normal circumstances, I don\u2019t either. However, I\u2019ve come to learn that sometimes there\u2019s a good reason for their actions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t imagine a good reason for lying in wait to terrorize an innocent boy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps not as innocent as you think, Adam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam wasn\u2019t sure if his uncle was talking about Danny or Little Joe, but either way, it didn\u2019t make much difference. He didn\u2019t like hearing the man insinuate that a bully\u2019s actions could sometimes be justified.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRegardless, I\u2019m sorry to hear that Danny was picked on. As far as what\u2019s going on between Little Joe and the Dunns, Pa will get things worked out today.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the sounds of things, Ben thought he had things worked out some time ago.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe did. But perhaps the meeting Pa has planned with all parties present will bring about positive results.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps,\u201d Uncle Daniel acknowledged in a tone that voiced his underlying doubt. \u201cHowever, if Satan isn\u2019t driven out of Joseph, there is little hope for success.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam almost laughed. He\u2019d heard it said on more than one occasion that Little Joe Cartwright was full of the devil. The way Uncle Daniel said it was different, though. He said it with an intensity that left a man feeling it wasn\u2019t just a light-hearted expression pegged on a boy who had a penchant for mischief, and too much charm for his own good.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think we have to be concerned about driving Satan out of Little Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t? Why not?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I don\u2019t think Satan resides within him, that\u2019s why.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was foolish enough to think the same about Danny. Please don\u2019t put blinders on like your father has where Joseph is concerned. Help him turn his life around now, before it\u2019s too late. Help him walk the right path.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUncle Daniel, when it comes to Joe Cartwright, I learned a long time ago that there\u2019s no use in demanding he follow any particular path. He won\u2019t travel it until he\u2019s good and ready. And besides, allow me to assure you that Little Joe isn\u2019t on the wrong path by any means.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had hoped to enlist your help, Adam, but I can see that I\u2019ll make no more progress with you than I made with your father.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHelp in doing exactly what, Sir?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNever mind.\u201d Uncle Daniel shook his head. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter.\u201d In a rare show of affection, Daniel reached out and gave Adam\u2019s arm a fatherly pat. \u201cI will turn to the only course left me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd just what course is that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPrayer, son. Prayer. For you see, when no one else will listen, the Lord is always there to hear the smallest of whispers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve heard it said.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s true.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure it is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll see you at lunch?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Adam confirmed. \u201cI\u2019ll be in at noon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGood. I shall enjoy your company, as I always do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam watched the man turn and exit the tack room. His eyes followed his uncle until Daniel had walked through the barn and out into the ranch yard. He headed toward the house, where Adam assumed he was going to pray, or bark orders at Hop Sing, or read his Bible, or engage in whatever it was Uncle Daniel did when Pa wasn\u2019t keeping him occupied.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam mulled over the recent conversation with his uncle. As Adam had learned was often the case where Daniel Cartwright was concerned, it was laced with religious references that made little sense given the circumstances \u2013 everything from the prodigal son to Satan.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam chuckled a bit when he recalled the old man asking him if Little Joe engaged in peculiar behavior. He knew he shouldn\u2019t harbor such thoughts about his father\u2019s brother, but as he walked out to the corral, Adam couldn\u2019t help but think that if anyone around here was peculiar, it was Uncle Daniel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 35<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ben and Little Joe sat at the Dunn family\u2019s dining room table. Seated across from them were Paul, Jim, and Charlie. Nan Henning was asked to bring coffee and cookies. Out of politeness, Ben accepted the refreshments he\u2019d have preferred to bypass in favor of getting to the heart of this visit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben briefly took note of the shy smile Nan gave Little Joe when she placed a saucer and coffee cup in front of him, and was surprised to see the shy smile Joe gave her in return. A smile that actually caused him to drop his eyes; then subtly watch her exit the room. Not that Joseph wasn\u2019t always charming with the fairer sex. Generally, he was too charming for his own good, as far as Ben was concerned. But this smile was different. It wasn\u2019t his usual \u201cdevil may care\u201d grin, designed to disarm even the most mature and experienced of women. Nor was it simply a friendly, \u201cHow do you do, Miss?\u201d kind of smile that was accompanied by the polite tip of a cowboy hat. The type he\u2019d normally give to a girl he\u2019d gone to school with, but had never expressed any romantic interest in. This smile \u2013 well, it was different. Had time allowed for it, Ben would have pondered further what he\u2019d seen pass between the young couple, and maybe even figured out just who the mystery girl was Joe danced with in Virginia City last Saturday night.<\/span><\/p>\n

But any thought Ben might have wanted to give to what he\u2019d seen transpire was quickly chased from his mind. The atmosphere in the Dunn home was different today from what it had been when Ben visited last month. The younger children greeted Ben and Joe with enthusiasm. Ben had assumed that event boded well. After all, it was a far more positive beginning than last time, when the little ones ran and hid, and the older children shot him dark scowls. However, Ben soon discovered that the Dunn children\u2019s behavior wasn\u2019t a good predictor of what awaited Little Joe and him inside.<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul and Charlie hadn\u2019t been in the house. When Ben told Jim he\u2019d like to meet with him\u00a0and<\/em>\u00a0his two oldest sons, the man acted surprised at the request. \u201cAct\u201d being the optimal word. And bad acting at that. Jim had no future in the theatre.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe boys are busy this morning, Ben. I gave them a long list of chores to complete.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Just by glancing at Joe\u2019s face, Ben knew what his son was thinking.<\/span><\/p>\n

Busy my eye. They\u2019re probably off somewhere plotting the next prank they\u2019re gonna pull on me.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry to derail Paul and Charlie from their tasks, but I think it\u2019s important all of us take part in a. . .father and son discussion, if you will.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim raised an eyebrow. \u201cFather and son discussion?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy last visit doesn\u2019t seem to have put an end to the trouble brewing between your boys and Little Joe. Perhaps if all five of us talk about it, we can get things resolved.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI already spoke to the boys, just like you asked me to. Do you really think this is necessary? I\u2019ve got a lot to get done today, Ben, just as I\u2019m sure you do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI recognize we\u2019re all busy this time of year. Nonetheless, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s to either of our benefits to ignore the situation any longer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh. So now we have a \u201csituation,\u201d do we?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Jim, it appears we do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The man\u2019s eyes narrowed. \u201cOne that you intend to blame my boys for?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not here to blame anyone. I\u2019m here hoping that, with assistance from you and me, our sons can get this worked out before someone gets hurt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The man\u2019s eyes shifted from Ben to Joe, then back again before he finally shook his head with disgust, opened the front door, and called to a brown-headed boy who was filling horse troughs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGlen, get Paul and Charlie! Tell them to come to the house. No dawdling!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The fourteen year old sprinted across the ranch yard and around the corner of the barn. Ben wasn\u2019t sure of his final destination \u2013 smoke house, wood shed, carriage house, a corral, the tool shed \u2013 it could have been any one of those places that was close enough for a lanky teenager to reach quickly on foot.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before the awkward silence could lengthen while they waited in the foyer for Paul and Charlie, Rilla came down the stairs with Henry and Nora clinging to each hand, followed by seven-year-old Daphne and nine-year-old Polly. All of them were dressed in their Sunday best, Rilla wearing a small-brimmed pink hat and dainty white gloves.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Ben. Little Joe. Hello. I didn\u2019t realize we had visitors.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben smiled. \u201cGood morning, Rilla.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMa\u2019am,\u201d Joe nodded politely.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rilla turned to her husband. \u201cDo you need me to stay?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no. You go ahead with your plans. Nan can get us anything we need.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, please,\u201d Ben said. \u201cDon\u2019t alter your day for us. Little Joe and I won\u2019t hear of it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBesides,\u201d Jim smiled indulgently, \u201cit\u2019s just man talk. Nothing that you\u2019d be interested in, dear.\u201d Jim escorted his wife and children to the door. Ben thought he seemed rather hasty about it, as though he was anxious to get Rilla out of the house before any discussion could begin that she might overhear. \u201cEnjoy your visit with Estelle. Tell Frank I said hello.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim bent, kissing Daphne and Polly on their cheeks.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMind your manners at the tea party, girls. Show Mrs. Parker what grown up ladies you are.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In unison, the girls promised, \u201cWe will, Papa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He chucked Henry under the chin, and then lifted Nora\u2019s hat to place a kiss on the top of her blond head. \u201cBehave yourselves for Mama. Have fun playing with Mary and Frankie.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe will, Papa,\u201d Nora assured.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWill, Papa,\u201d Henry nodded gravely. Ben smiled briefly, the solemn brown-eyed two-year-old reminding him of Adam at the same age.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Rilla and the children went out the door, Paul and Charlie came in.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGlen, help your mother get Nora and Henry in the buggy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cThen keep everyone else busy outside. Your brothers and I will be tied up for a little while having a . . .um. . .discussion with Mr.Cartwright and Little Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben silently observed as Paul and Charlie openly taunted Little Joe by elbowing one another and smiling like a couple of jackals, evidently not caring that Ben was witnessing it as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHear that, Paul,\u201d Charlie stage-whispered, \u201cwe\u2019re having a\u00a0discussion.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYep, I heard. Sure wish Mr. Cartwright and Little Joe would pay us a visit more often for one of these here discussions, \u2018cause then we\u2019d get outta doin\u2019 a whole passel of work.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

At the risk of thinking like his oldest brother, Ben couldn\u2019t believe the impertinence Jim was allowing from these two pups. While Ben would never claim that Little Joe didn\u2019t sometimes let his temper and sharp tongue get the best of him, his son would never be openly disrespectful to a visiting neighbor, nor foolish enough to behave in such a mocking manner in front of his father.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Jim seemed intent on pretending he didn\u2019t notice his sons\u2019 behavior as he led the way to the dining room and called for Nan to bring refreshments. His oldest daughter, Marjorie, whom Ben guessed was somewhere between twelve and thirteen now, assisted Nan.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim held off conversation until a plate of cookies, along with another plate holding slices of current cake, was resting in the middle of the table, and everyone had coffee.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBen, Little Joe, help yourselves.\u201d Jim and his boys filled their plates with cookies. He dismissed Nan, telling her if they needed anything else he\u2019d call.<\/span><\/p>\n

The girl nodded. \u201cYes, Mr. Dunn.\u201d She shot Joe one final, quick smile, then returned to the kitchen.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMargie, go outside and keep an eye on the younger boys until I\u2019m done here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

If Marjorie found the prospect of being in charge of Timmy, Matthew and Gerald boring at best, trying at worst, or in any way an inconvenience, she didn\u2019t voice it. She replied, \u201cYes, Papa,\u201d in a dutiful tone, and headed for the foyer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim waited until Nan was in the kitchen, and his daughter out the front door and across the porch, before speaking again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo, Ben,\u201d Jim said as he bit into a cookie, \u201cyou said something about the five of us needing to have a father and son discussion?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Before someone gets seriously injured.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSeriously injured?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems as though Little Joe has had several run-ins with Paul and Charlie. Not the least of which left him beaten up in an alley behind the Silver Dollar, and falling into a hole so deep that he\u2019d still be down there if Adam hadn\u2019t found him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFalling into a hole?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cAnd what exactly did my boys have to do with Little Joe falling into a hole?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Fire shone from Joe\u2019s eyes. \u201cThey dug it, that\u2019s what they had to do with it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph,\u201d Ben warned with just that one word.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim looked at Little Joe. \u201cAnd how do you claim to know my sons dug this hole your father speaks of?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause they showed up after I\u2019d been in it for a good half a day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you were down in a hole, how were you able to see them?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t see them. I heard them. They called to me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben watched as Jim looked from one of his sons to the other. Charlie slumped in his chair with an air of indifference about him and a sly smirk on his face, while he crammed cookies into his mouth like a famished five-year-old, crumbs clinging to his lips and shirtfront. Paul\u2019s eyes shifted to meet his father\u2019s, as though seeking guidance as to what to say or not to say. Ben didn\u2019t miss the slight shake of Jim\u2019s head. That action clearly telling Paul to keep his mouth shut and let his father do all the talking.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim leaned back in his chair and gave Joe a patronizing smile. \u201cJust because my boys called to you, doesn\u2019t mean they dug the hole you had the misfortune of stumbling upon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u00a0know<\/em>\u00a0they dug it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUh huh. Just like you somehow\u00a0know<\/em>\u00a0they instigated the fight you apparently got yourself involved in at the Silver Dollar.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t get myself involved in anything. I was jumped by a buncha\u2019 miners\u2019 kids.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSee there then. Miners\u2019 kids. You said so yourself. I could sit here all day long and still not be able to figure out how you and your father arrived at the outlandish conclusion that my sons had anything to do with that.\u201d Jim looked at Ben. \u201cIf you ask me, it sounds like Little Joe got himself involved in some sort of trouble he doesn\u2019t want to confess to you, Ben, and is using my boys as scapegoats.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe was half way to his feet when Ben clasped a hand on his forearm and ordered quietly, \u201cSit down, Joseph.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa. . .\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph.\u00a0Sit<\/em>\u00a0down.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSee there, Ben. The boy\u2019s got a temper. You\u2019ve told me so on more than one occasion.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, he has a temper, but that doesn\u2019t make him a liar.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI never said he was a liar. I simply said that perhaps these. . .stories Little Joe is telling about Paul and Charlie have no basis in fact. Perhaps he\u2019s trying to cover up some kind of mischief he\u2019s getting into.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This time Joe couldn\u2019t keep his sarcastic comment to himself.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, like I\u2019d throw myself down a hole.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben didn\u2019t chastise Little Joe for his rudeness. The arrogance radiating from Jim and his boys made being anything other than rude difficult. It was as if a challenge was being issued. A challenge that, even given Jim\u2019s sudden silence, Ben could hear clearly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Just what are you gonna do about it, Ben? About any of it.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, Ben was seeing matters for what they really were. His visit here weeks ago hadn\u2019t put a stop to anything. Actually, like Little Joe feared it would, his visit probably made things worse. Jim had simply said all the right things then. Soothed Ben\u2019s ruffled feathers by giving false assurances. Just like today, it had all been an act.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben took a deep breath and let it out slowly before speaking.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJim, I won\u2019t have your boys harassing my son over something that\u2019s strictly between you and me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cThose timber contracts.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI never said a word about those contracts.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to say a word about them. All of a sudden it\u2019s clear to me what game you\u2019re playing. Well, let me tell you something, if you want to play games, you play them with me. You don\u2019t play them using my son as your pawn.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThose are mighty strong words, Ben.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, they are. They\u2019re strong words because if they aren\u2019t giving you the message, then allow me to. Call off your boys, and call them off now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim offered a phony smile. \u201cBen, Ben, Ben. Now come on. You seem to think this mischief my sons are supposedly engaged in with Little Joe is my doing. I can\u2019t keep an eye on these boys all the time. I have a ranch to run. Besides, don\u2019t you think it\u2019s about time Little Joe learns to fight his own battles, instead of you fighting them for him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Once again, Little Joe\u2019s temper got the best of him and he shot from his chair. This time, Ben stood with him, putting a restraining arm across his son\u2019s chest. Before Joe could respond to Jim\u2019s insult, Ben leveled a cold stare at his neighbor.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry those timber contracts have driven a wedge between us. Believe me, I wouldn\u2019t have submitted a bid if I\u2019d known you wouldn\u2019t understand it was nothing more than business. But what\u2019s done is done. In the meantime, you and your boys\u00a0don\u2019t<\/em>\u00a0want to ignite my ornery side. I\u2019m asking you as a friend and a neighbor to put an end to the foolishness your boys are engaging in. If you don\u2019t, and my<\/span>
\n son…any<\/em>\u00a0of my sons, gets hurt, I\u2019ll hold you personally responsible. And what I do after that. . .well what I do after that, might be something we\u2019ll both regret.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben didn\u2019t wait for a response. He nodded toward the foyer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, it\u2019s time for us to go.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe shot a hard glance at Paul and Charlie that didn\u2019t intimidate them nearly as much as he probably hoped it would. The two sat wearing twin smirks, as though they\u2019d enjoyed the show, and were already wondering what their pa would put them up to next.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Ben and Joe grabbed their hats from the hooks by the door, Jim called, \u201cIf you want my advice, Ben, you should quit babying Little Joe! Let him be a man and take care of himself for a change.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben ushered Joe out the door before the young man could race back into the dining room and knock Jim out of his chair. As Ben and Joe walked across the front porch, ridicule-laced laughter drifted out the open front windows, doing nothing to quell Ben\u2019s anger, or his concerns.<\/span><\/p>\n

For the time being, however, he pushed those feelings aside to instead be the image of strong, self-assured father as he and Joe reached their mounts.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, Little Joe, let\u2019s head back the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut, Pa. . .\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, come along. We\u2019ll discuss this further at home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

If Joe had an opinion to the contrary, he didn\u2019t voice it. After a brief moment of hesitation, he followed Ben\u2019s orders, swung onto Cochise\u2019s back, and rode away from the Dunn ranch with his father at his side.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 36<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, absolutely not! I won\u2019t agree to it!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYoung man, I think you\u2019ve forgotten who you\u2019re talking to. You\u00a0will<\/em>\u00a0agree to it, because I\u2019m not giving you a choice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I\u2019m not gonna have Adam or Hoss followin\u2019 me around like I\u2019m five years old. Like I need some kinda babysitter. I can fight my own battles for cryin\u2019 out loud!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, don\u2019t parrot back to me what you heard Jim Dunn say. As a matter of fact, forget what you heard him say. His opinion doesn\u2019t hold an ounce of weight with me right now, and it shouldn\u2019t hold any with you, either.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHis opinion has nothing to do with this. I just don\u2019t want one of my brothers tagging along after me for the rest of the summer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt won\u2019t be for the rest of the summer, Little Joe. Just until all of this blows over.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t predict how soon that\u2019ll be anymore than I can.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo. . .no, I can\u2019t. Nonetheless, if we don\u2019t give Paul and Charlie the opportunity to corner you alone, then perhaps they\u2019ll grow tired of their games.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, while they spend all their free time spreading the word around Virginia City that Joe Cartwright has a couple of nursemaids at his side in the form of his older brothers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBesides, why am I the only one who\u2019s gotta stick close to the house, and then have an escort anytime I go farther than the ranch yard? You told Mr. Dunn you don\u2019t want\u00a0any<\/em>\u00a0of your sons hurt. Paul and Charlie could just as easily start targeting Adam or Hoss.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose they could, but I don\u2019t think they will.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI just don\u2019t think they will, son.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes narrowed. \u201cBecause I\u2019m the youngest and smallest, is that it? Because you think I can\u2019t take care of myself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When Ben didn\u2019t immediately respond, his son spun away from him to pace the open area behind the settee, his boot heels making sharp angry clacks against the wood floor.<\/span><\/p>\n

They were alone in the house. Lunch was still on the table, waiting for Ben and Little Joe to eat, but as of yet, neither one of them had shown an interest in the food. Before Hop Sing had stepped outside to work in his herb garden, he said Hoss wasn\u2019t back from town yet, and that Adam left after lunch to check on the crew falling a stand of timber on the north ridge. Ben didn\u2019t know where Daniel was. Perhaps Hop Sing neglected to mention he\u2019d gone with Adam.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben thought a moment longer before replying to his son. He knew Joe was sensitive about his small stature when compared to the larger physiques his brothers possessed. And as for being the youngest. . .well, Ben had yet to meet a baby of the family who didn\u2019t chafe over his position now and again. Joe didn\u2019t realize it yet, but he\u2019d grow out of all that given time. There would come a day a few years down the road when he\u2019d thicken through the shoulders and chest as a boy\u2019s body gave way to a man\u2019s. As for being the baby of the family \u2013 Joe would never be able to change his birth order, but someday it wouldn\u2019t seem so important. Someday he\u2019d achieve successes and accomplishments in his own right that made him feel equal to his older brothers. That no longer left him feeling like the kid who was forever playing catch-up to the siblings born six and twelve years before him.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, for now, Ben silently acknowledged that Joe\u00a0was<\/em>\u00a0the youngest and the smallest, and just like those factors played a role with animals out in the wild, those factors made him far more vulnerable to bullies like Paul and Charlie Dunn than either Adam or Hoss were. When Ben finally spoke, he weighed his words carefully.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not that I don\u2019t think you can take care of yourself, Joe. However, Paul and Charlie seem intent on causing trouble for only you. After our meeting today, I suspect that\u2019s Jim\u2019s doing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause he thinks Adam\u2019s too smart for them and Hoss is too big. So we\u2019re right back to me bein\u2019 the stupid, weak Cartwright who can\u2019t fight his own battles.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re neither of those things, young man. And I\u2019ve never thought you can\u2019t fight your own battles. But sometimes the battles grow too large for one man to handle. He has to call in reinforcements. That\u2019s all this is, Little Joe. Reinforcements. Just for a while, son. Just until things calm down.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe stopped his pacing. He looked at his father, questioning in the type of incredulous tone only a teenager can muster.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo I can\u2019t go\u00a0anywhere<\/em>\u00a0alone?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d prefer that you don\u2019t.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot to Tuck\u2019s?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot to Mitch\u2019s?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo. Not unless Hoss, or Adam, or I ride along with you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot to Virginia City, either?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat. . .what if I have a date?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen Adam or Hoss can escort you to the young lady\u2019s home, wait until the date ends, and escort you back here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, come on, Pa. No! There\u2019s no way I\u2019m havin\u2019 my brothers tag along when I go courtin\u2019.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe, I\u2019m sorry, but that\u2019s the way it\u2019ll have to be for now. Besides, I wasn\u2019t aware that you\u2019re currently seeing someone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI. . .I. . .I\u2019m not.\u201d Joe ran a flustered hand through his hair. \u201cI mean. . .I might be. . .I could. . . oh never mind. I\u2019m not.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhich is it?\u201d Ben questioned with humor. Humor his youngest didn\u2019t share in, given his sharp denial.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen the question of your brothers providing an escort is neither here nor there, is it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe scowled. \u201cI hate it when you do that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo what?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPlay your \u201cfather\u201d trump card like that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I hate it when you\u2019re stubborn and unreasonable. Both of which you\u2019re being at this moment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d be stubborn and reasonable, too, if you were placed under house arrest.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t say anything about you being under house arrest, and you know it. For all of our sakes, don\u2019t make this out to be worse than it is, Joseph.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou wouldn\u2019t do this to Adam or Hoss.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe. . .\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe ignored the warning in his father\u2019s voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell you wouldn\u2019t. And you\u2019d\u00a0never<\/em>\u00a0let us do it to you. You\u2019d never let us insist you be escorted everywhere you go.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI might, if I felt my life was in danger.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo you wouldn\u2019t, and you know it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe. . .\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, Pa. Admit it. You wouldn\u2019t–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, I\u2019m warning you right now, it\u2019s not a good idea to keep poking a bear with a stick just for the sake of seeing if he\u2019ll wake up from hibernation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you wouldn\u2019t and–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, enough! I don\u2019t want to hear any more about it!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFine! You don\u2019t wanna hear any more about it! That can be arranged.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are you going?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOutside!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere outside?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTo the barn, Pa! I\u2019m goin\u2019 to the barn!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As Joe jammed his hat on his head he promised, \u201cI\u2019m just goin\u2019 to the barn. Nowhere else. Just to the godda. . .just to the barn.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWatch your mouth, Joseph.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe hesitated, then mumbled with eyes focused on the floor, \u201cYes, Pa. Sorry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd before you go, let\u2019s eat lunch.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want any.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLook, Pa, I\u2019m already doin\u2019 what you ask by sticking close to the house and letting Adam or Hoss go with me if I leave the ranch yard. Can\u2019t I at least choose if I wanna eat or not?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben sighed. \u201cYes, I suppose you can. All right then. Go on. If you get hungry, come into the kitchen and make yourself a sandwich.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI will.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As Joe reached out to touch the doorknob Ben said, \u201cLittle Joe. . .\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe slowly turned around.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt won\u2019t be as bad as it seems right now, son. Given time, things will work out all right.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe responded with all the glumness a young man his age could possess at the thought of the freedom he\u2019d just lost. \u201cYeah. . .yeah, sure they will.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben followed his youngest outside, stopping on the porch and watching as Joe crossed the dusty yard and entered the barn. He startled when a voice spoke from a chair situated in the shadows of a far corner of the porch.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are more reasons than I can count as to why that boy needs a good old-fashioned thrashing, Benjamin.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDaniel, not now please. It\u2019s been a long enough day as it is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen you don\u2019t want my opinion on what needs to be done to drive the devil out of Joseph?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I don\u2019t. I appreciate your concern, but I\u2019ll handle this the way I see fit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe way you see fit doesn\u2019t appear to be doing much good. Those Dunn boys are picking on Joseph for a reason.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, they are. Unfortunately, the reason has nothing to do with Little Joe, and everything to do with me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t take on blame that isn\u2019t yours to bear. Place the blame squarely where it belongs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd just where is that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOn Joseph\u2019s shoulders.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOn Little Joe\u2019s shoulders? Daniel, forgive me for saying so, but ever since you arrived you\u2019ve had something against Joe. You passed judgment on him before you even gave yourself the chance to get to know him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel stood and walked toward his brother. \u201cIf I passed judgment, it\u2019s because I see things in him you refuse to.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I know,\u201d Ben acknowledged in a tone that said he was growing weary of his brother, and would like to put him on the next stage bound for Ohio. \u201cYou see Pa in him, and evil in him, and numerous other things I\u2019m supposedly turning a blind eye to. Well right now, I can\u2019t see much of anything because I\u2019m hungry.\u00a0Very<\/em>\u00a0hungry. It\u2019s past two o\u2019clock. Perhaps after I\u2019ve had some lunch my vision will clear.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben went into the house, not inviting his brother to join him. It was the first time he\u2019d been openly rude to Daniel. In some ways, that made him feel guilty, because he thought of how his actions would have hurt his mother. In other ways, he didn\u2019t care, because he thought of how his father would laugh at his remorse while saying, \u201cBen, I can\u2019t say as I blame you. That oldest brother of yours could manage to get under the hide of the Lord Himself and cause a rash the size of the ocean as he festered away telling God how to do His job.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Thinking of his pa brought a smile to Ben\u2019s face. As he began to make a sandwich with the fixings Hop Sing had left out, Ben decided he\u2019d better enjoy the lighthearted moment while he could. He had a feeling that until this thing with the Dunns blew over for good, lighthearted moments would be few and far between.<\/span><\/p>\n

~ ~ ~<\/span><\/p>\n

Next Story in the Sacrificial Lamb Series:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Part 2<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
Disclaimer:<\/span>\u00a0All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary: \u00a0Although Ben Cartwright knew his brother Daniel was not easy to get along with, the passing years had brought with them a nostalgic longing to reconnect with the family he\u2019d left behind in Ohio. When word reaches Ben that Daniel has recently suffered difficult heartaches, he invites the man to spend the summer on the Ponderosa, never imagining the trouble Daniel\u2019s presence would bring. In addition to Daniel\u2019s visit that soon has Ben recalling why he\u2019d never been close to his eldest sibling, is trouble from a neighbor bent on revenge. A summer Ben had been looking forward to, quickly changes to one that contains nothing but challenges, disagreements, and worries for his youngest son\u2019s safety. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0T (57,115 words)<\/p>\n

Sacrificial Lamb Series, links to all the stories within the series included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":0,"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_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[7,23],"tags":[16],"class_list":["post-2513","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-a-u","category-drama","tag-joe","wpcat-7-id","wpcat-23-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":3502,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2524,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2524","url_meta":{"origin":2513,"position":0},"title":"Sacrificial Lamb – Part 2 (by Kenda)","author":"Kenda","date":"October 23, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Although Ben Cartwright knew his brother Daniel was not easy to get along with, the passing years had brought with them a nostalgic longing to reconnect with the family he\u2019d left behind in Ohio. When word reaches Ben that Daniel has recently suffered difficult heartaches, he invites the man\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Alternate Universe"","block_context":{"text":"Alternate Universe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":9732,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=9732","url_meta":{"origin":2513,"position":1},"title":"Lessons (by Belle & Mumu)","author":"Belle and Mumu","date":"September 17, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 When Ben finds himself in a dire situation, he finds he has to draw upon unexpected resources.\u00a0 A\u00a0Camp Pines 2014 collaboration by Belle and Mumu74. Rating: K+\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (1,420 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Didnt-pay-to-be-Ben.jpg?fit=467%2C341&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":62283,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=62283","url_meta":{"origin":2513,"position":2},"title":"Double Trouble (by JC)","author":"JC","date":"June 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 A glimpse into the future with grandchildren on the Ponderosa. Ben gets more than he bargained for when he offers to keep Joe's twins while their parents are away.\u00a0 (Part of the Jacob's Ladder series, links below.) Rating: G\u00a0 WC: 520","rel":"","context":"In "Alternate Universe"","block_context":{"text":"Alternate Universe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ben-leaning-on-fence-The-Lonely-Runner.png?fit=659%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ben-leaning-on-fence-The-Lonely-Runner.png?fit=659%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ben-leaning-on-fence-The-Lonely-Runner.png?fit=659%2C431&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5392,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5392","url_meta":{"origin":2513,"position":3},"title":"The Ballad of Ben Cartwright (by ansinico)","author":"ansinico","date":"May 1, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0l have put my own words to the\u00a0air of an Irish drinking song, \u00a0'The Wild Rover' also called 'No Nay Never' \u00a0l hope you like it. Rated: K \u00a0(500)","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Ben-1.jpg?fit=234%2C234&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":13441,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13441","url_meta":{"origin":2513,"position":4},"title":"The Cherry Tree Saga (by Robin)","author":"profrobinw","date":"September 30, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Like the ever changing seasons, life blooms and dies on the Ponderosa. Rating T\u00a0 (140,000 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Action\/Adventure"","block_context":{"text":"Action\/Adventure","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=2"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Cherry-Tree.jpg?fit=500%2C375&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":18767,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=18767","url_meta":{"origin":2513,"position":5},"title":"Ole Daniel (by DJK)","author":"DJK","date":"October 31, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Each of Ben Cartwright's sons had a meeting with Old Daniel. Only Hoss realized the danger they faced when they did. This is my submission for the October Halloween Challenge. rating T word count 3126","rel":"","context":"In "Alternate Universe"","block_context":{"text":"Alternate Universe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2513","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\/73"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2513"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2513\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2513"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}