{"id":2695,"date":"2005-03-02T10:29:00","date_gmt":"2005-03-02T15:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2695"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:09:06","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:09:06","slug":"how-do-i-love-thee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2695","title":{"rendered":"How Do I Love Thee? (by Rona)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong> Leigh decides to reclaim Joe as her own.<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 T (9,000 words)<\/p>\n

When Love and Hate Collide Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

When Love and Hate Collide<\/a>
\nHow do I Love Thee?<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclaimer:\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.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How Do I Love Thee?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A familiar feeling swept over Joe Cartwright, but he didn\u2019t turn around to confirm it. He just carried on selecting candy for Hoss, pretending that he didn\u2019t know\u00a0she<\/em>\u00a0was in the store, too. He had nothing to say to\u00a0her<\/em>\u00a0and he wanted to hear nothing that\u00a0she<\/em>\u00a0had to say to him. He knew the words would always be the same. \u201cJoe, I love you. We could be married and you could get a job in the bank. We would be happy.\u201d He had heard them too many times and repetition wouldn\u2019t make him change his mind and agree to what\u00a0she\u00a0<\/em>said.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u201d Adam\u2019s voice, cool and slightly concerned, brought his younger brother out of the reverie he had fallen into. Joe continued to choose the candy he knew his middle brother liked best, hoping that his pause had not been of a long enough duration to be noticed by\u00a0her<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d He tried to pretend that Adam wasn\u2019t asking him if he was all right, but that his brother wanted to ask another innocuous question about the shopping they were doing.<\/p>\n

Changing his mind about what he was going to say, Adam simply replied, \u201cAre you nearly finished? I\u2019m about ready to go and start loading.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m ready,\u201d Joe answered and straightened up, trying to pretend that he didn\u2019t see\u00a0her<\/em>\u00a0standing to one side,\u00a0her<\/em>\u00a0eyes fixed on his every move. He put the sweets on the counter. \u201cAdd these to the total?\u201d he asked the storekeeper, who grinned.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got it, Joe. I allus add candy fer Hoss.\u201d The old man wrote something on the list in front of him. \u201cThat\u2019s everythin\u2019, boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d Adam smiled. \u201cWe\u2019ll start loading. Come on, Joe.\u201d Adam cast another worried glance at Joe as they took the first of the bags of flour out to the buckboard. \u201cAre you all right?\u201d he asked in an undertone.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine,\u201d Joe replied, tonelessly. He wore his best poker face, but Adam could see the underlying tautness to his brother\u2019s finely chiseled jaw and knew that Joe was holding onto his temper by only the smallest margin.<\/p>\n

Slowly following Joe\u2019s ramrod straight back into the store, Adam couldn\u2019t help casting a glance in\u00a0her<\/em>\u00a0direction. He wished he knew what to do for the best; speak to\u00a0her<\/em>\u00a0or pretend, like Joe, that he didn\u2019t notice\u00a0her<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The woman in question simply stood and watched, oblivious to the storekeeper\u2019s attempts to get her attention. Her name was Leigh Watson and she and Joe had once been an item. Leigh had wanted to marry Joe, but only because he was the first rich young man she had met and she had been taught that you married money. Independently wealthy and alone in the world, Leigh had built up a picture of the life she and Joe would lead \u2013 with Joe working in an office or the bank, not on the ranch. Joe didn\u2019t want anything like that and had been unable to make Leigh understand that he didn\u2019t want to change. He liked being a ranch hand.<\/p>\n

In the initial period after their break up, Joe had been too ill to go into town and therefore had not seen Leigh for a couple of months. As far as he was concerned, the relationship was over. He wasn\u2019t even sure he liked the woman and he was definite that he wasn\u2019t in love with her.<\/p>\n

But for Leigh, the situation was different. She had been raised to choose a husband who was her social equal. Money and looks were the prime consideration and Joe fitted the criteria in that respect. However, he didn\u2019t have one of the jobs that went alone with the looks and the money and ranch hands had not featured in Leigh\u2019s life back home on the east coast. Disregarding Joe\u2019s declaration of loving his life, Leigh decided that he would be happier working in the bank and set about trying to persuade Joe of this fact.<\/p>\n

Living alone in her home, apart from her servants, Leigh was very lonely. She had not thought how difficult it would be to move to a new place, all alone, but her pride \u2013 and Joe \u2013 prevented her from returning to her old home in the east. Leigh had fixed her hopes on Joe and proceeded to weave the facts to fit her fantasies until she became convinced that all she had to do was get Joe alone and she would be able to make him see the error of his ways.<\/p>\n

To that end, Leigh began to haunt the stores in town. Every day, she could be found, wandering along the sidewalk, peering in windows disinterestedly, waiting for the chance to see Joe. The only place she would not go were the saloons \u2013 she had not sunk that low.<\/p>\n

Joe was not sure when he began to realize that wherever he went, Leigh was sure to follow. She sat behind the Cartwrights in church now, so that she could watch Joe all the time. She followed him into stores; lingered outside the livery as he collected horseshoes; waited on the sidewalk when he went into the saloon and stared after him with longing eyes when he rode towards home.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs there something wrong, son?\u201d Ben Cartwright asked one evening, when he found Joe standing leaning against the corral fence, his chin resting on his folded arms as he gazed pensively into the distance.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d Joe admitted, turning his head slightly to smile wanly at Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cWant to tell me about it?\u201d Ben coaxed. He had noticed Joe picking at his meal that evening and knew that something was up. Joe had a healthy appetite as a general rule \u2013 unless he was ill or upset. Ben wanted the problem nipped in the bud before Joe started to lose weight; his youngest son was slender enough as it was. He had no flesh to spare.<\/p>\n

Rubbing a hand over his head and rumpling his curls as he did so, Joe sighed. \u201cThis is going to sound really dumb,\u201d he began. He hesitated.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust tell me,\u201d Ben encouraged.<\/p>\n

With another sigh that seemed to come from his boots, Joe began his story. \u201cIt\u2019s Leigh,\u201d he announced. \u201cShe\u2019s\u2026 she\u2019s following me, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

If Joe had been expecting his father to laugh, he was mightily relieved when Ben did no such thing. \u201cWhy do you think that, son?\u201d Ben asked, his dark brown eyes expressing his concern.<\/p>\n

Slowly, Joe told Ben all about it. Ben listened closely, his face betraying the dismay he felt. He had known that Leigh was not the girl for Joe when they had first met and her callous disregard for Joe\u2019s safety had left a very bad taste in his mouth. He had hoped, fervently, that Leigh would decide that Virginia City was not for her, and leave. Sadly, it hadn\u2019t happened and now this\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only thing I can suggest is that you ignore her,\u201d Ben offered, wishing he had something more concrete to soothe Joe\u2019s troubled mind. \u201cAvoid being alone with her and talking with her and she\u2019ll soon get tired of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so,\u201d Joe replied, still sounding depressed. \u201cBecause it\u2019s been a month now, Pa and she\u2019s still following me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn that case, why don\u2019t you take one of your brothers with you when you go into town?\u201d Ben suggested. \u201cOr I\u2019ll come.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat won\u2019t solve anything,\u201d Joe sighed, straightening up. \u201cI don\u2019t want her to think I\u2019m afraid of her. I just want her to leave me alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d Ben thrust his hands into his pants\u2019 pockets, something he only did when distressed.<\/p>\n

\u201cBesides,\u201d Joe went on, a hint of a grin showing. \u201cDo you really think I want to take my father or brothers along on a date?\u201d<\/p>\n

Clapping a hand down on Joe\u2019s shoulder, Ben couldn\u2019t hide a grin. \u201cI think I might see your point there,\u201d he agreed as they strolled back to the house.<\/p>\n

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

Now that Joe had pointed it out to Ben, he was surprised that he hadn\u2019t seen Leigh\u2019s behavior for himself. It was certainly pointed enough. Ben wondered if he should try and have a word with her himself, but he refrained, not sure if it would do any good. They could only hope that Leigh would get tired of her vigil and find something else to occupy her life.<\/p>\n

But that was the problem; Leigh didn\u2019t have anything else to occupy herself with. Her home was kept tidy and well run by her servants. Although she rode regularly and drove her buggy out, she didn\u2019t do the physical work of tending to her horses \u2013 the groom did that. Leigh did not belong to any of the women\u2019s groups in the town, nor did she have any friends in town. She wrote occasional letters back east, regaling her friends with the stories of how well her life was going out in the Wild West, and hinting that there were wedding bells in her future. But Leigh had nothing else to do and so her fixation with Joe did not die. It fed on itself to the point where Leigh\u2019s only purpose in the day was to see Joe.<\/p>\n

But after a month, even seeing Joe \u2013 something that did not happen every day, or even every other day \u2013was no longer enough. She wanted Joe with her every day. Now, when she took her solitary walks through the middle of town, Leigh\u2019s mind was set on finding a way to make Joe her own.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cLook at her,\u201d Hoss whispered, as he leant against the polished mahogany bar of the Silver Dollar. He could see over the swing doors with ease, but was trying to pretend he wasn\u2019t looking outside.<\/p>\n

At his side, Adam straightened casually and turned around, glancing out as he did so. He immediately lowered his gaze to his beer mug and lifted it towards his mouth. \u201cI see her,\u201d he muttered, before taking a swig of his drink. He shot a glance over the top of his mug to where Joe was talking to one of his friends at a table. Luckily, Joe could not see Leigh from where he was.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019re we gonna do about her, Adam?\u201d Hoss whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Adam replied, turning around to lean his forearms against the bar once more.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe gotta do somethin\u2019!\u201d Hoss declared, sounding as frustrated as Adam felt. \u201cThat little gal\u2019s makin\u2019 Joe\u2019s life a misery. I hate seein\u2019 him like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

His genuine concerns were slightly muted when Joe chose that moment to let out a great shout of laughter. Both his brothers turned to see what was so funny and saw Joe\u2019s companion, a young man called Dave, starting to sit up. His chair was lying overturned on the floor. Dave looked very chagrined and one of the new saloon girls, Betsy, was stalking away, outrage oozing from every pore of her very curvaceous body.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I might be sorry I missed seeing that,\u201d Adam commented, but his attention didn\u2019t stay on Joe for long. It drifted back to their more immediate problem. He put down his mug and stood up. \u201cI\u2019m going to talk to her,\u201d he declared and set off before Hoss had realized what he was saying. With a startled oath, Hoss dumped his drink and hurried after his brother.<\/p>\n

With her focus solely on Joe, Leigh was rather surprised to find Adam and Hoss almost upon her. She started to turn away, but Adam was too quick for her and caught her by the upper arm. \u201cJust a moment,\u201d he murmured politely. \u201cWe\u2019d like a word with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet go of me!\u201d Leigh demanded, tugging at her captive arm. \u201cYou\u2019re hurting me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNonsense,\u201d Adam responded, his tone still poisonously courteous. \u201cI want to know why you\u2019re following my youngest brother around.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what you mean!\u201d Leigh denied. She tugged again. \u201cIf you don\u2019t let go, I\u2019ll scream.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFeel free,\u201d Adam responded. \u201cI\u2019m sure you\u2019ll love to have more attention drawn to your rather eccentric ways.\u201d<\/p>\n

Giving Adam a furious glare, Leigh stopped struggling. \u201cI\u2019m not following Joe,\u201d she replied, but the denial sounded hollow even to her ears.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course not,\u201d agreed Adam. \u201cThat\u2019s why you\u2019re standing waiting outside a saloon. Just the thing the fashionable young ladies are doing this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know nothing about me!\u201d she hissed. \u201cWhy would I be interest in your brother? All he cares about is the stupid ranch and his stupid horses! I offered him so much more; a genteel life and a good, clean, safe job. He turned me down. Why should I be interested in a man who is so obviously stupid?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d Adam agreed. \u201cI don\u2019t know anything much about you. But I don\u2019t think my brother is the stupid one here; he never pretended to be anything other than what he is. You are the one who couldn\u2019t accept him. Joe works hard and it takes a special talent to be able to train horses as well as Joe does. If you had really loved him, you would have been proud of his accomplishments and encouraged him in them, not sought to change him into something he could never be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know nothing!\u201d Leigh countered. She tugged her arm free. Adam could see that his words had made not one iota of difference to her thinking. \u201cIf I could get Joe away from you, he would be free to say that he wants to work in the bank. I know he would!\u201d Lifting her skirts, Leigh hurried off before either of the stunned Cartwrights could think of the words to refute her claims.<\/p>\n

Closing his open mouth with a snap, Adam looked helplessly at Hoss. \u201cThat went well,\u201d he commented sarcastically.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt did?\u201d Hoss puzzled.<\/p>\n

Adam sighed.<\/p>\n

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

They were on to her! Leigh fumed as she hurried along the sidewalk towards her house. She knew that it was Ben, Adam and Hoss\u2019 fault that Joe wouldn\u2019t admit to loving her and wouldn\u2019t get a job in the bank. She just knew it! Somehow, she had to get rid of them so that Joe would be free. But how to do it\u2026<\/p>\n

Bursting into her house, she threw her hat down on the small table in the hall. It was the servants\u2019 day off \u2013 she was quite alone. Going through to the kitchen, a room she was rarely in, Leigh put the kettle on and made herself some tea. She sat down at the kitchen table and sipped the warm liquid, her mind producing and discarding various possibilities. She had to get Joe away from his family so that he would realize that he really loved her.<\/p>\n

It was dark, and Leigh had been sitting at the table for hours, but she was unaware of the passage of time. But she thought she might have a way to get Joe all to herself and keep his pesky family far away.<\/p>\n

Smiling, Leigh went off to her lonely bed and dreamed of being married to her darling Joe.<\/p>\n

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

The letter addressed to Joe was in a lilac envelope and smelled of an expensive, but subtle, scent. Adam looked at the feminine writing for several long moments, trying to discern if there were any clues to be had. But it seemed not. The writing could have belonged to anyone and it wasn\u2019t entirely unusual for Joe to get letters from girls.<\/p>\n

Tucking the mail into the inside pocket of his vest, Adam went along the street to collect the white sugar that Hop Sing wanted for making a cake. No one knew why Hop Sing had had a sudden desire to bake a special cake for desert the following day, but they weren\u2019t complaining. Hop Sing had a light hand with sponge cakes.<\/p>\n

There was a woman already in the store and Adam looked around at the crowded shelves while she was attended to. She appeared to be having a party, judging by the quantity of fancy goods she was buying. It was only after he had stood there for a few minutes that Adam recognized Leigh.<\/p>\n

He felt suddenly embarrassed, the memory of their last encounter still fresh in his mind. He willed himself not to blush as she turned suddenly and saw him standing there. But the angry, derisive look that he had expected was absent and Leigh actually smiled at him, reminding Adam of what a beautiful young woman she was.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, I had hoped to meet you,\u201d she trilled gaily and put her hand on his arm. \u201cI wanted to apologize for making such a fool of myself. You were quite right and I\u2019d like to thank you for putting me straight.\u201d<\/p>\n

She sounded sincere. Adam was non-plussed. He muttered something non-committal and watched as Leigh gathered her bags and left, almost skipping. It seemed an extraordinary change from the woman he had verbally crossed swords with the previous week and he couldn\u2019t quite bring himself to believe it. And yet\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cQuite a change, ain\u2019t it?\u201d laughed the storekeeper. \u201cThat girl\u2019s come out of her box and no mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHas she?\u201d Adam asked, his gaze still drawn to Leigh\u2019s departing back further down the street. He blinked and forced himself to look at the store keeper. \u201cIn what way?\u201d<\/p>\n

Always delighted for a chance to pass on choice gossip, the storekeeper leaned closer. \u201cAccording to my wife, she\u2019s joined the ladies\u2019 social at the church and the sewing bee and the ladies\u2019 aid society. She\u2019s offered to host one of the Sunday lunches for visiting worshipers and is talking about having a church social in her home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d Adam was dumbfounded. That didn\u2019t sound like the Leigh he knew at all. Admittedly, he didn\u2019t know her well, but then, neither did anyone else in town \u2013 with the possible exception of Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat news, ain\u2019t it?\u201d cackled the man, delighted with the reaction he had got from Adam. \u201c\u2019Bout time she got over that brother of your\u2019n.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t agree more,\u201d Adam responded. He shook his head, feeling faintly uneasy, but not sure why. \u201cI want a pound of white sugar, please\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Joining the ladies\u2019 societies had been one of the hardest things Leigh had done. She had been rather surprised to have found herself generally welcomed with open arms and had even started to enjoy herself. Leigh had never been a solitary person when she lived back east; her life had been a round of parties and teas and society meetings. It felt rather nice to be with the other young women, poring over the latest edition of Godey\u2019s Ladies Book, oohing and aahing at the new fashions and gorgeous dresses. For a while, Leigh almost forgot that this was just a cover for her other activities.<\/p>\n

Entering the house with her purchases, Leigh was glad that she had let her servants have a holiday that week. She abhorred cooking, although she knew how, and loathed cleaning up after herself, but she did it. Emptying out her goods onto the table, Leigh began to plan her menu for the tea she was going to make for Joe.<\/p>\n

She hoped he would get her letter soon. Meeting Adam had been quite fortuitous, as she was sure he would go for the mail while he was in town. She knew that the Cartwrights had not been in town since the previous week, apart from to attend church, where her behavior had been as circumspect as she could make it. Yes, she had timed her invitation to perfection and she knew that within 48 hours, Joe would be all hers.<\/p>\n

Rolling her sleeves up, Leigh began to work. She mixed ingredients with great care, finally adding the most important one of all \u2013 sleeping drops. Humming quietly to herself, Leigh lit the stove, ready for her baking to go in. This would be the best meal she had ever made.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cIf you think I\u2019m gonna open this letter with you two leering over my shoulder,\u201d Joe announced mildly, \u201cyou\u2019ve got another think coming.\u201d He examined the handwriting on the envelope, knowing that it looked vaguely familiar, but unable to place it.<\/p>\n

Looking slightly embarrassed to have been caught lurking, Adam moved from behind the sofa and sat himself down in the blue velvet chair and looked expectantly at Joe. Hoss sat down beside his younger brother and smiled at him. Joe smiled back. He could feel his brothers\u2019 frustration levels climbing. \u201cWas there something else?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cAin\u2019t cha gonna open it?\u201d Hoss demanded. \u201cWho\u2019s it from?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t know who it\u2019s from until I open it,\u201d Joe replied, knowing that he was infuriating Hoss. \u201cBut I\u2019m not going to open it in front of you two.\u201d He beamed at his brothers and rose. \u201cSo if you\u2019ll excuse me\u2026\u201d He strode towards the stairs and walked up them at a very sedate pace, still holding the unopened envelope in his hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cDadburnit!\u201d Hoss swore. \u201cThat boy gets trickier with every day that passes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chuckling, Adam replied, \u201cI suppose it is his letter. He has every right to keep the contents to himself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe,\u201d Hoss allowed. \u201cBut it ain\u2019t as much fun when he does!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d Ben asked, having come in only on the last few words of the conversation. \u201cWhat have I missed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing much,\u201d Adam grinned. \u201cJust Hoss trying to find out what was in Joe\u2019s letter. He was terribly subtle about it, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben frowned at Hoss. \u201cReally, Hoss, its Joe\u2019s letter.\u201d He shook his head then glanced at Adam. \u201cSo who was it from?\u201d<\/p>\n

Quizzically, Adam looked at Hoss, who looked at Adam and then they both looked at Ben before Adam could control his laughter no longer. Ben looked at both of his sons and wondered if they had gone mad. \u201cI only asked,\u201d he muttered, before heading towards the kitchen to find out when supper would be ready.<\/p>\n

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

Alone in his room, Joe slit the envelope and drew out the single sheet of paper inside.<\/p>\n

Dear Joe,<\/p>\n

I wanted to apologize for my behavior towards you over the past while. I have been unimaginably rude to you and your family and I beg you to allow me to apologize to you properly. If it would suit, could you come to my home for light refreshments on Thursday at 4pm? I will, of course, understand if you feel this is inappropriate, but I do not feel that I can convey my remorse adequately on paper. Please, Joe, I would like us to be friends.<\/p>\n

Your humble servant,<\/p>\n

Leigh Watson<\/p>\n

Sliding the paper back into the envelope, Joe bit his lip. He felt rather shell-shocked, for the last person he had expected to be writing to him was Leigh. He dropped the letter onto his bed and rose to pace restlessly around the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t like her,\u201d Joe muttered to himself. \u201cWhy should I go? She\u2019s apologized \u2013 I don\u2019t need more than that.\u201d Joe paced some more. He knew himself too well; he knew that curiosity would take him to Leigh\u2019s house the following afternoon at the appointed time. He could swear up hill and down dale that it would be otherwise, but he knew that, come the right time, he would be riding into town to have \u2018light refreshments\u2019 with Leigh.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe! Supper!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cComing!\u201d Joe called back and sighed. He knew that he would have to tell his family about the contents of the letter and his decision.<\/p>\n

He had the creeping sensation that it was not going to be popular.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cAre you out of your mind?\u201d Adam asked, coldly, all the amusement gone from his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew you\u2019d react like this!\u201d Joe snapped back, his own misgivings fuelling his temper. \u201cWhat I do is my business. I only told you as a courtesy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly told us so we can bail you out of trouble again!\u201d Adam retorted.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cWell, its true, Pa!\u201d Adam claimed. \u201cJoe\u2019s going into a situation that could turn quite awkward and so what does he do? He makes sure he\u2019s got back-up, in the form of you, me and Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, she\u2019s only a girl,\u201d Hoss protested.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that got to do with it?\u201d Adam was on a roll now and he refused to be silenced, despite the dark looks he got from both father and youngest brother. \u201cJoe\u2019s got into plenty of trouble that involved someone who was \u2018just a girl\u2019 before! Look at Lucy\u2026\u201d He broke off and stared at Joe. \u201cWasn\u2019t her last name Watson, too? Perhaps Leigh is related to her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s quite enough!\u201d Ben bellowed, seeing the color draining out of Joe\u2019s face. \u201cThe past has no place in this conversation, Adam. Your brother has told us what he plans to do and there is no more to be said. However, I will be in town tomorrow afternoon anyway, so I will be around, should Joe need anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Pa,\u201d Joe replied, strangely relieved at knowing his father would be around. He had told the family mostly to stop them worrying about his absence, but also, as Adam had acknowledged so sarcastically, in case something went wrong.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, Pa\u2026\u201d Adam began but Ben cut him off.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo more. This is Joe\u2019s decision, Adam, not yours and not mine. Your brother is an adult, who can make up his own mind about things. We might not agree with it, but that\u2019s neither here nor there.\u201d He jabbed his knife towards the food growing cold in the middle of the table. \u201cLet\u2019s eat.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Joe forced lumps of food down his throat, which seemed oddly tight, he could feel the waves of disapproval emanating from his oldest brother. Somehow, Joe knew that it was going to be a long evening and tomorrow was going to have a long morning.<\/p>\n

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

Quite why he was feeling so nervous, Joe didn\u2019t know. After all, he knew Leigh and he didn\u2019t really think that she was going to try anything. But still, some small voice deep inside told him to be careful. He shook his head to rid himself of the troublesome voice and had to grab his hat before it flew off.<\/p>\n

Glancing across at Joe, Ben could see his son\u2019s nervousness and was reassured by it. He hadn\u2019t wanted to say too much to Joe about this decision to see Leigh again, but he wasn\u2019t too happy about it. He had never entirely forgiven Leigh for riding off and leaving Joe alone after he had been savaged by a wild stallion. Leigh\u2019s blithe assumption that Joe would be fine still rankled with Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll meet you at 5.30 in the hotel dining room,\u201d Ben reminded Joe. \u201cAny later than that, and I\u2019ll be breaking down her front door.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smiling, Joe nodded. \u201cAll right,\u201d he agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, Joe?\u201d Ben added, as Joe prepared to turn his horse towards Leigh\u2019s house. Joe drew rein and looked expectantly at Ben.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cDon\u2019t come back and say you\u2019re going to marry this girl,\u201d Ben suggested, his tone wry, but a real warning there none the less. He alone knew how close Joe had come to falling in love with her, which was partly why he had not made any real objection to Joe coming to see her.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo fear!\u201d Joe retorted. \u201cGive me credit for some taste, Pa!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI would,\u201d Ben murmured, fighting the smile that wanted to break free. \u201cBut then I remember Tirza\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Groaning, Joe rolled his eyes. \u201cI\u2019ll never live that down, will I?\u201d he complained, although at the time, he had been convinced that she was the girl for him. Of course, he scolded himself, he had been driven by something other than his mind. He blushed slightly, then looked over at Ben. \u201cSo remind me why you said she was a fine girl?\u201d he jibed back and Ben had to laugh.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were besotted,\u201d Ben defended himself. \u201cIf I\u2019d told you not to see her, you\u2019d have moved heaven and earth to marry the creature. I nearly choked on my coffee when I said that, you know!\u201d He snorted. \u201cI was never so relieved as when she decided a fish and a tree had no life together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA tree,\u201d Joe sniggered, although at the time, he had lapped it all up, even if he didn\u2019t understand what she was talking about. He felt much older now. \u201cSee you later, Pa.\u201d He rode off, feeling much happier, thanks to Ben\u2019s timely intervention.<\/p>\n

His misgivings returned as he hitched Cochise to the fence rail. He wasn\u2019t at all sure that he wanted to do this, but having come this far, it was too late to back out. Squaring his shoulders, Joe walked up the path and knocked on the door.<\/p>\n

Expecting the rude butler to answer, Joe was surprised when Leigh herself answered the door. She beamed when she saw him although her smile faltered when she realized that he hadn\u2019t got dressed up to come and visit her \u2013 not even a string tie with his usual tan shirt and pants. That was his family\u2019s influence, she decided, as she opened the door wider. \u201cCome in, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taking off his hat once he was inside, Joe realized that this was going to be even more awkward than he had anticipated. \u201cWhere\u2019s your butler?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, the servants are all on holiday right now,\u201d Leigh replied, laughing prettily. \u201cLet me take your hat and coat, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

If Joe had known that the servants weren\u2019t going to be around, he wouldn\u2019t have come. Being alone with Leigh had all sorts of possible connotations that Joe wasn\u2019t happy with. \u201cI don\u2019t think I should stay\u2026\u201d he tried, but Leigh was having none of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIts very sweet of you to worry about my reputation, Joe,\u201d she simpered. \u201cBut everyone knows we\u2019re just friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unable to say anything about the other possibility that had crossed his mind \u2013 Leigh could easily accuse him of rape \u2013 Joe surrendered his hat and jacket. With a sinking heart, he followed her into the small sitting room and took a seat.<\/p>\n

Obviously, Leigh had everything prepared for his arrival, for it took her only minutes to arrive with a trolley laden with cakes, scones and a teapot. \u201cI\u2019ll just bring the coffee,\u201d she smiled. \u201cI know you prefer coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t go to any trouble,\u201d Joe protested, but Leigh just smiled again. Her smile was beginning to set Joe\u2019s teeth on edge.<\/p>\n

\u201cIts no trouble,\u201d she assured him. \u201cIt\u2019s all ready.\u201d She whisked out of the room again.<\/p>\n

Once the coffee was poured and Joe had a scone and a piece of cake on his plate, the conversation seemed to lag. Even Leigh didn\u2019t seem to know what to say. To hide his embarrassment, Joe took a bite of the scone. Leigh smiled. He smiled back. \u201cYour scones are lovely,\u201d he praised. \u201cDid you make them?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I\u2019ve always been good at scones. Thank you.\u201d She colored prettily. She watched as he ate the end of it, took a sip of coffee and then began on the cake. \u201cJoe, I just wanted to apologize for being such a fool.\u201d Leigh had rehearsed her apology until she was nearly word perfect, but now that she was saying it, she hesitated and stumbled over some words, reluctant to cast herself in the role of a silly girl. Little did she realize but her very hesitation made her words sound more genuine.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all right,\u201d Joe mumbled. \u201cPlease, don\u2019t worry about it. It\u2019s all forgotten.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s very kind of you to say so,\u201d Leigh responded. \u201cBut I want to make it up to you, Joe. How can I do that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t need to make anything up to me,\u201d Joe objected. He was beginning to feel a bit sleepy and frantically gulped at the coffee, hoping that would wake him up. \u201cI told you, it\u2019s forgotten.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I can\u2019t forget I\u2019ve been an idiot,\u201d Leigh went on and Joe frowned. Waves of sleep were sweeping over him and he was beginning to feel rather unwell, too. He was sweating and the room seemed to be spinning. But even in his incapacitated state, he felt that Leigh was laying it on rather thick.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeigh, drop it,\u201d he warned her. The cup suddenly slipped from his fingers to shatter on the floor, but Leigh didn\u2019t appear to notice.<\/p>\n

Alarmed, Joe pushed himself to his feet. Perhaps if he got some air, he would feel better. He couldn\u2019t think what was wrong. \u201cI gotta go\u2026\u201d he mumbled.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d Leigh told him and something in the change of tone made Joe\u2019s head come up sharply. For a moment, he was able to fight off the lassitude claiming him and what he saw made him shudder. Then, his legs refused to support him and he crashed to the floor, already out cold before he hit the ground.<\/p>\n

Leigh laughed.<\/p>\n

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

Originally, Leigh had intended to keep Joe prisoner in one of her bedrooms, but she had re-thought the idea when she remembered that she would be alone and although Joe was slight, he was taller than she was and would be a dead weight. So she opted for the slightly easier option of taking him down to the basement.<\/p>\n

Unwilling to see her beloved more uncomfortable than was really necessary, Leigh had set up a cot down there, with feather pillows and a warm down comforter. It also came equipped with leg irons, handcuffs and a stout length of chain affixed to a strong iron ring in the wall. Leigh had no idea what the ring had originally been used for; it had been there when she bought the house and seeing it had inspired her to make use of it.<\/p>\n

It was a hard struggle for Leigh to move Joe at all and by the time she reached the door to the basement, she was sweating hard and her hair was falling down. She teetered on the top of the steps for several moments while trying to get into a good position for descending the steps. Stumbling over the edge of her skirt, Leigh lost her grip and Joe tumbled down the steps to land on the dirt floor with a thud.<\/p>\n

For a moment, exhaustion won out over anxiety, but as soon as she had caught her breath, Leigh flew down the steps to kneel by Joe\u2019s side. She tentatively reached out to touch him, not really sure how to tell if he was still alive or not. But his skin was warm under her fingers and she could hear his breathing. It seemed steady enough, although slightly slower than she expected.<\/p>\n

Reassured that he hadn\u2019t suffered any injury from his fall, Leigh girded her loins to drag his limp body the last few feet to the cot, where she struggled for quite some time to get him onto it. Once more, she had to rest and was annoyed with herself for feeling teary. But finally, she was able to snap the handcuffs around his wrists and lock the leg irons in place. She clicked shut the padlock and smiled. Leaning over her slumbering swain, she brushed the dusty curls back off his forehead. \u201cI love you, Joe,\u201d she whispered and kissed his lips. \u201cAnd we\u2019ll be very happy together.\u201d<\/p>\n

She left him alone then, for she had to tidy herself up, ready for their loving reunion. She hadn\u2019t noticed the scrape and bruise forming on Joe\u2019s cheekbone, where his head had struck one of the steps. It didn\u2019t occur to her that Joe wakening to find himself a prisoner might not be the best way to win back his heart. All Leigh could see was the future she had planned out for them both.<\/p>\n

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

Five thirty arrived and departed. Ben sat and fidgeted at the table he had reserved for himself and Joe. At five forty five, Adam and Hoss appeared in the room and the darkening frown on Adam\u2019s face told Ben that his oldest son\u2019s concern was as deep as his own.<\/p>\n

It was Hoss who spoke for them both. \u201cHe ain\u2019t come back, has he?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Ben replied. He rose. \u201cLet\u2019s get Roy Coffee and go to her house. We daren\u2019t delay any longer.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, Ben\u2019s need for immediate action was frustrated, as Roy insisted that he needed a warrant to enter Leigh\u2019s house. Since Virginia City didn\u2019t have a full time judge, this might have been very difficult to procure, but luckily, the circuit judge was in town on his usual rotation. All the same, another hour passed before Roy returned with the desired piece of paper.<\/p>\n

It was growing dark as they neared Leigh\u2019s house. A single light burned in a downstairs room and the blinds were drawn. Cochise stood patiently by the fence where Joe had left him. Hoss immediately went to the horse and put a hand on his muzzle to stop the gelding neighing. They didn\u2019t want to tip Leigh off that they were coming.<\/p>\n

When Roy\u2019s peremptory knock on the door went unanswered, he tried the handle. The door was unlocked \u2013 a not uncommon occurrence \u2013 and they entered, peering around them in the dim lighting.<\/p>\n

There was no movement, no sound to give them a clue as to Leigh\u2019s whereabouts. \u201cLet\u2019s split up and search the place,\u201d Roy suggested, his voice barely audible. At once, Hoss moved to go upstairs, his footsteps muffled in the thick carpeting. Ben headed towards the back of the house, while Roy and Adam took the rooms on either side of the front door.<\/p>\n

The room that Adam was checking out was clearly a formal drawing room. It was slightly dusty and the chairs all lined up in a very regimented way. It was also empty of human life. Adam did, however, spot a spider in one corner, but he was pretty sure that the spider was innocent of any part of Joe\u2019s disappearance. He smiled briefly to himself over this fancy.<\/p>\n

Going back into the hall, Adam hesitated, not sure where else to start searching. It wasn\u2019t a very big house and he was sure that Hoss could cover the bedrooms and any attic by himself. Then he remembered that Leigh had a barn out back and he turned towards the back of the house, thinking that he would search the barn. Better to be safe than sorry, after all. As he walked past the side of the staircase, he noticed a door under the stairs. He reached for the handle.<\/p>\n

A pool of light illuminated the scene in the basement. Leigh sat on the edge of the cot where Joe lay, stroking his hair, kissing him and talking to him. Adam didn\u2019t wait to hear what she was saying. All that mattered to Adam was that he had found his brother and it was immediately obvious to Adam that there was something seriously wrong with Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa! He\u2019s here!\u201d he shouted and bounded down the steps as Leigh leapt to her feet and gave out a piercing scream. Joe didn\u2019t move a muscle.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet out of here!\u201d Leigh yelled, throwing herself at Adam and beating on his chest with her fists. \u201cYou have no right to come into my house! Get out, or I\u2019ll get the law on you!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe law is already here,\u201d Adam snapped back, trying to put the girl aside without hurting her. It was proving rather more difficult than he cared for and he was glad to hear the others hurrying into the basement. He thrust Leigh at the first set of hands that he saw and covered the last few feet to Joe\u2019s side.<\/p>\n

What he saw appalled him. Joe was wearing chains, which was bad enough. But the healthy golden glow that Joe had had when he left the ranch that afternoon was gone. Joe was grey, his cheeks sunken, dark circles were under his eyes and he gasped for breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are the keys?\u201d Adam demanded, whirling on the crying Leigh, who stood within Roy Coffee\u2019s clutches. \u201cQuickly, where are the keys?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t take him away!\u201d Leigh sobbed. \u201cIt\u2019s because of you that he doesn\u2019t love me!\u201d<\/p>\n

Alarmed at Adam\u2019s words, Ben pushed past his oldest son and stopped short, color draining from his face as he beheld Joe\u2019s condition. Roy craned his neck to see, and then shook Leigh. \u201cThe keys, girl!\u201d he rasped. \u201cGive me the keys!\u201d<\/p>\n

Leigh didn\u2019t answer, but the shaking Roy had given her told them the answer and Adam extracted the keys from the pocket of her skirt. He fumbled with them for a moment before finding the correct ones to fit each lock. The heavy chains fell away and still Joe didn\u2019t move.<\/p>\n

At once, Hoss bent and hoisted Joe into his arms. He hurried across to the steps, Adam and Ben following on his heels, Joe\u2019s head bobbing on the end of his neck lifelessly. Roy grabbed Leigh\u2019s arm and dragged her in their wake. Whatever had happened to Joe, the only person who could tell them was Leigh.<\/p>\n

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

There were lights on at Doc Martin\u2019s surgery. Hoss burst in through the door, and eased Joe down onto the examination table, with Ben guiding his youngest son\u2019s head, so that it didn\u2019t get bumped. Paul Martin, who was bandaging a patient\u2019s sprained ankle, looked astonished. \u201cWhat\u2026?\u201d he gasped and then his medical training cut in and he dropped the end of the bandage roll to hurry to Joe\u2019s side. \u201cHow long has he been like this?\u201d he demanded.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know,\u201d Ben replied, worry putting an edge on his voice that wasn\u2019t normally there.<\/p>\n

While Paul took Joe\u2019s pulse and listened to his heart and chest, Adam efficiently finished bandaging the injured ankle and ushered the bemused patient \u2013 one of the town drunks \u2013 out of the door. He turned back to the main action, waiting anxiously for Paul\u2019s diagnosis.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need to know what happened,\u201d Paul insisted as he straightened. \u201cJoe\u2019s in a bad way, but if I don\u2019t know what happened, I can\u2019t treat him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAsk Leigh,\u201d Ben snarled, gesturing to the trembling girl that Roy still had in a tight grip.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you give him?\u201d Paul asked.<\/p>\n

The five men crowded around her, Hoss especially using his height and weight to intimidate her. It wasn\u2019t hard. Leigh was already shaken to the core by the way the Cartwrights had broken into her home \u2013 she had been shown the warrant, but hadn\u2019t absorbed the information \u2013 she was more than ready to tell them what they wanted to know if it meant they would leave her alone. \u201cI put a sleeping draught in his food,\u201d she shouted. \u201cAnd some in his coffee, too. I just wanted Joe to stay!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere did you get it?\u201d Paul asked, grabbing her arm. He shook her too. Leigh had never been man-handled, however mildly, in her whole life.<\/p>\n

\u201cI bought it from Aunt Bethia Potter,\u201d she sobbed.<\/p>\n

Paul made a face and turned away. He strode across his office and yanked open a glass-fronted cabinet as Roy sobbed the distraught girl into a chair. Aunt Bethia Potter was notorious for selling evil nostrums to silly young girls and had poisoned a few people. Roy had warned her about it, but it wasn\u2019t against the law and he couldn\u2019t stop her. Hesitating, Paul put his hand out to a wooden case, bit his lip and then drew it out.<\/p>\n

Peering down at the tangle of tubes and delicately carved ivory and ebony shapes, Ben asked, \u201cWhat are you going to do?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sighing heavily, Paul replied, \u201cI\u2019m going to pump his stomach.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

There was a shocked silence. \u201cI know, I know,\u201d Paul sighed. \u201cBut there\u2019s nothing else I can do now. I don\u2019t know if this will work, but I don\u2019t know what else to do. We\u2019ll never find out what was in that potion and every minute means that Joe\u2019s system is absorbing more of whatever it was. You can see how he is \u2013 it might still kill him. This might be his only chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen do it,\u201d Ben agreed, his voice so low that Paul barely caught it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou might want to leave,\u201d Paul suggested. \u201cThis isn\u2019t pretty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m staying,\u201d Ben insisted, his chin jutting in a manner eerily reminiscent of Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll take her to the jail,\u201d Roy decided. He didn\u2019t have the strongest of stomachs for this sort of thing and he didn\u2019t want the young lady fainting on him. He dragged her out of the room with a guilty sense of relief.<\/p>\n

Working quickly, Paul prepared the things he would need. He strapped Joe down to the table, although he doubted that the young man would rouse during the unpleasant experience. \u201cAdam, be ready to unfasten those buckles and turn Joe onto his left side when I say so,\u201d he ordered, assuming, rightly, that all the Cartwrights would stay.<\/p>\n

He positioned Joe\u2019s head just so and then fitted the ebony mouth gag. He avoided Ben\u2019s eyes, for he knew what a heart breaking sight this was. Picking up the tubing, he slid it into position and then worked to get it down Joe\u2019s throat. Inserting a stomach tube was always a tricky proposition. It was only too easy to miss the esophageal tube and hit the lungs instead. Usually by the time this mistake was discovered, the lungs were damaged, or the victim had aspirated. Paul didn\u2019t want that to happen to Joe and so it was with great relief that he heard stomach sounds coming from the tube.<\/p>\n

Taking a large pitcher of salted water from the table, he held the tube up and started to pour the water in. A pail stood ready on the floor for the after effects. Paul kept switching his gaze from the water to Joe until he saw the first signs. \u201cNow, Adam!\u201d he cried and pulled the tube from Joe\u2019s mouth. Adam freed the straps and rolled Joe over, with Hoss\u2019 help.<\/p>\n

Everything that Joe had eaten at Leigh\u2019s came back up on one horrid rush. Joe heaved again and again until there was nothing left but bile. When Paul was convinced he was through vomiting \u2013 the danger of aspirating was almost greater at that moment than any other \u2013 Paul wiped Joe\u2019s pale, sweaty face and rolled him onto his back again. Joe was still unconscious.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow what?\u201d Ben asked, shakily.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow we wait,\u201d Paul replied. He removed the gag from Joe\u2019s mouth, noticing that despite his care, there was a little bleeding from the gums. He hated using this equipment; it was so invasive and so unkind to the sufferer, but sometimes there was no other option.<\/p>\n

This had been one of those times.<\/p>\n

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

The vigil wore on. Joe\u2019s color was slightly better, but he showed no signs of waking up. Ben coaxed him into taking sips of water regularly, for Joe was showing signs of dehydration. Adam and Hoss dozed uncomfortably on the hard chairs in Paul\u2019s office. Ben watched over Joe as his eyes grew grainy and yawns stretched his jaw. And still his youngest son did not wake up.<\/p>\n

In the morning, Paul made all of the Cartwrights go to have something to eat. He didn\u2019t know if Joe would waken up again or not, but it would do the others no good to be on the verge of collapse when Joe did waken. Paul took the opportunity to have a wash and shave himself and then sat down to a hastily prepared breakfast.<\/p>\n

The morning wore on into afternoon. The afternoon slipped away into evening. Once again, Paul chased the Cartwrights out, insisting that they have a good meal. He intended suggesting that they get a hotel room for the night, for the dark circles under Ben\u2019s eyes worried him, but he knew it would be an uphill struggle. Not that Paul blamed Ben for wanting to be at Joe\u2019s side until there was some sort of conclusion \u2013 if his son hovered on the brink of life or death, he would want to be there, too.<\/p>\n

Sighing, something he had unconsciously been doing all day, Paul went over to take Joe\u2019s pulse once more. As his cold hand touched Joe\u2019s warm skin, Joe flinched. It was the first movement Joe had made since coming into the office the pervious evening. \u201cJoe?\u201d Paul called, but there was no further reaction. Still, Paul hoped that this might be a good sign \u2013 that Joe was merely sleeping off the remnants of the potion, but decided to watch for more signs before he said anything to Ben. He didn\u2019t want to raise Ben\u2019s hopes and then for Joe to take a turn for the worse and perhaps die.<\/p>\n

When Ben came back in, Paul just smiled and watched his old friend resume his seat by Joe\u2019s side. It was raining and a drip of water landed on the young man\u2019s face from the edge of Ben\u2019s hat. Joe flinched again and turned his face away.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe moved!\u201d Ben\u2019s voice was awed. \u201cPaul, he moved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, Paul didn\u2019t hold back his news. \u201cHe moved while you were out, too,\u201d he agreed. \u201cBen, don\u2019t get your hopes up too high, but I think he might be waking up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s good news, surely?\u201d Adam questioned.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Paul admitted, and the \u2018but\u2019 was clear in his voice. \u201cHowever, until Joe is fully awake, we can\u2019t be sure if this stuff has caused any damage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat kind of damage?\u201d Hoss demanded.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrain damage,\u201d Adam told him, his voice bleak.<\/p>\n

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

During the night, Joe drew perceptibly nearer to the surface, mumbling occasionally and rolling his head. Near dawn, he turned over onto his right side, snuggling into the warmth of the blankets that covered him. By now, Ben and Adam were sleeping and it was Hoss\u2019 turn to sit by his brother\u2019s bed and whisper the odd word of encouragement to him.<\/p>\n

It was frustrating that Joe didn\u2019t just waken up, Hoss thought. Frustrating and worrying. Adam and Ben had almost come to blows over their evening meal the previous night when Ben had said he didn\u2019t know what to do about Leigh. Adam had vented his frustrations on Ben, demanding to know if Ben was going to let her off scot-free, when Joe could be dying. Ben had snapped back and it had taken Hoss all his time to cool them both down.<\/p>\n

\u201cYa gotta wake up, Joe,\u201d Hoss whispered. \u201cThings jist ain\u2019t right without ya.\u201d He didn\u2019t know how many times he had said something along those lines when the hand he was holding twitched. \u201cJoe?<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss,\u201d Joe muttered.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe!\u201d Hoss cried, delighted, as one bleary green eye squinted at him. \u201cPa! Adam! Doc! Joe\u2019s awake!\u201d<\/p>\n

At once, the sleeping men roused and jumped to their feet. Paul had a slight problem getting in beside Joe, but he quickly examined him. Joe was frowning at the sudden influx of people. \u201cJoe, how do you feel?\u201d Paul asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoc, could ya tell Hoss ta shut up?\u201d Joe begged. \u201cI\u2019ve got a terrible headache.\u201d<\/p>\n

He was rather perturbed when his audience laughed. Closing his eyes, Joe went back to sleep.<\/p>\n

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

It was several days before Joe was back to anything like normal. He was still rather shaky, but his sleep patterns had sorted themselves out at last and the \u2018hangover\u2019 headache that he had awakened with had eventually gone. Paul had run a number of tests designed to check out Joe\u2019s brain activity, and he had been delighted to conclude that no brain damage had occurred. On the third day after wakening, Joe was allowed to go home.<\/p>\n

There was still the thorny question of what to do with Leigh. She could be tried for kidnapping and attempted murder, but there was the chance that she could hang for those offences and Ben did not want to be even partially responsible for that outcome. Yet the alternatives \u2013 having her locked up in an insane asylum or letting her go \u2013 were equally reprehensible. What she had done was wrong and Leigh had to face the consequences. Finally, Ben was persuaded to have her charged to face trial. It was unlikely that she would face hanging and although the women\u2019s jail was a squalid place, it was better than the asylum.<\/p>\n

The trial was over with quickly, since the judge was still in town and as there were four impeccable witnesses, Joe was not required to testify, which was fortunate, as he had no real memory of what had happened to him. Leigh was sentenced to five years imprisonment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know that we done her any favors,\u201d Roy commented to Ben and Adam later on. \u201cAll the time she were here, she read jist one thing from that books of poems she asked fer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat book?\u201d Ben asked, apprehension growing in his breast.<\/p>\n

\u201cPoems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning,\u201d Roy replied. He wrinkled his brow as he sought to get the title right. \u201c\u2019The Sonnets from the Portuguese\u2019,\u201d he quoted.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh no,\u201d Ben whispered. Marie had had a fancy for Elizabeth Barrett Browning after seeing one of her poems in a magazine about the time Joe was born. He met Roy\u2019s eyes. Adam solemnly began to quote,<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do I love thee?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

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

Summary:\u00a0\u00a0 Leigh decides to reclaim Joe as her own.<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 T (9,000 words)<\/p>\n

When Love and Hate Collide Series, links to all the stories within the series included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":9628,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2695","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","wpcat-23-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1646,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Summer-Camp-Picture.jpg?fit=400%2C477&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3167,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3167","url_meta":{"origin":2695,"position":0},"title":"When Love and Hate Collide (by Rona)","author":"Rona","date":"March 13, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 A woman looking to buy horses sees the start of a new romance for Joe. 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