{"id":3131,"date":"2004-11-03T23:26:28","date_gmt":"2004-11-04T04:26:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3131"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:09:20","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:09:20","slug":"vigilantes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3131","title":{"rendered":"Vigilantes (by Rona)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/strong>Taking the law into your own hands is never the answer, as the Cartwrights discover.<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 T \u00a0(10,875 words)<\/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

Vigilantes<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt ain\u2019t good enough, sheriff!\u201d Dan Waites shouted at Roy Coffee, banging his fist on the sheriff\u2019s desk. \u201cMy house burned down last night! What are ya doin\u2019 ta catch these men?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m doin\u2019 everythin\u2019 I can!\u201d Roy objected. \u201cI\u2019ll get them, don\u2019 worry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cToo late,\u201d Waites replied, bleakly. \u201cI ain\u2019t got anythin\u2019 left ta worry about.\u201d He turned and left the office, his anger gone, his shoulders slumped. Roy watched him go.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you need more deputies?\u201d Ben Cartwright asked. He had kept quiet during the confrontation, but now he saw that his old friend needed some comfort and support.<\/p>\n

Washing his hand over his face, Roy nodded. \u201cI sure could, but ain\u2019t none of the men willin\u2019 ta be deputized.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe boys and I\u2026\u201d Ben started.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know ya mean well, Ben, but ya ain\u2019t here in town, an\u2019 that\u2019s where I need the men ta be.\u201d Roy sat down heavily, looking old and tired, Ben thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there\u2019s anything I can do,\u201d Ben offered and Roy nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Ben. You\u2019ll be the first.\u201d Roy essayed a smile as Ben left.<\/p>\n

Walking slowly over to his horse, Ben saw Dan Waites leaning on a building nearby. Dan was just the latest of a string of men who\u2019d lost their homes or businesses to a gang of thieves who torched the place they robbed as they left. Roy had been trying to find them, without any success. But it was the lack of men willing to be deputies that was the problem and most of them wanted to stay home and protect their properties and families. Ben couldn\u2019t blame them. He was lucky to have extra men to stand guard over his property.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs there anything I can do for you, Dan?\u201d he offered, drawing rein beside the grieving man.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, thanks all the same, Ben,\u201d Dan replied. He straightened. \u201cAt least I had no family to lose.\u201d He turned and walked away.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cWhat news?\u201d Ben asked, when Joe returned from town two days later.<\/p>\n

The look on Joe\u2019s face was enough to tell Ben that the news wasn\u2019t good. Joe dropped his hat onto the credenza with unnecessary force and his gun belt clattered down alongside it a moment later. \u201cDan Waites has petitioned the town council to get rid of Roy,\u201d he replied, biting out every word. \u201cThey want to bring in a US Marshal to take control of the town. They say Roy is too old for the job.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho is \u2018they\u2019?\u201d Ben asked. \u201cYou said Dan Waites.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ticking them off on his fingers, Joe enumerated. \u201cDan Waites, Jim Fenton, Pete Daly, Daly\u2019s boys, Arthur Abbott, Ted Henderson, John Radley and Dave Branson.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll the men who had their property destroyed,\u201d Ben murmured. He would have been surprised if Joe had mentioned any other names in connection with this. \u201cWhat did the council say?\u201d<\/p>\n

Flinging himself down onto the sofa, Joe grunted in disgust. \u201cThey are \u2018considering their position\u2019,\u201d he quoted sarcastically. \u201cHow can they do this to Roy, Pa? He\u2019s been a good sheriff for years!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey haven\u2019t done anything to Roy yet, Joe,\u201d Ben corrected him gently. \u201cI hope they\u2019ll have the courage to stand behind him. We\u2019ll just have to wait and see.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt still doesn\u2019t seem fair,\u201d Joe grouched.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt isn\u2019t,\u201d Ben sighed. \u201cBut there\u2019s nothing we can do about it. None of us are on the town council because we don\u2019t live in town.\u201d They exchanged wry glances and a lot of the tension left Joe\u2019s body.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I hope they do the right thing, then,\u201d Joe muttered.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmen,\u201d Ben prayed.<\/p>\n

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

But the town council didn\u2019t move fast enough. There was another break-in and fire that night and this time, the home owner lost his life. There were a number of volunteers for the posse and they followed the trail up into the high country, where it petered out amongst the rocks.<\/p>\n

This small success on Roy\u2019s part was enough to convince the council that he should retain his job meantime and the Cartwrights were relieved. But the men who had demanded Roy be replaced were not happy. They banded together and vowed to hunt down the criminals themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cVigilantes,\u201d Ben growled, when he heard the news. \u201cThey should have more respect for the law!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat can we do?\u201d Joe demanded, frustrated.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing,\u201d Adam replied. He had his arms folded across his chest and was frowning hard. \u201cIf Roy wants our help, he knows where we are. But we can\u2019t go after the vigilantes, Joe. That would make us no better than them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey shoulda agreed ta be deputies when Roy asked \u2018em,\u201d Hoss growled. \u201cThen this might not have happened.\u201d He looked as angry as they all felt and Ben reflected that if the men in question met an angry Hoss, they might well change their ways.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs Adam says, Roy will ask for our help if he wants it, but in the meantime, keep clear of those men!\u201d Ben cocked an eyebrow at Joe, the one most likely to go off half-cocked and saw his youngest son nod obediently.<\/p>\n

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

The attack on the Ponderosa came that night.<\/p>\n

One minute, Adam was standing guard outside the house, smothering yawns at birth and wishing time would move a bit faster so that Joe would come out and relieve him and the next, he was ducking as a gun butt grazed his cheek.<\/p>\n

Stunned, Adam barely avoided another swipe at his unprotected head. He fumbled for his gun and fired, not aiming particularly at the criminal, but giving the pre-arranged signal that there was trouble. He felt a bullet bite into his hand moments later and his gun fell from nerveless fingers to clatter uselessly on the ground beside him. Frantically, Adam scrabbled with his left hand to grab his gun.<\/p>\n

With a banshee yell, Joe erupted from the house, clad only in pants, brandishing a rifle. He spotted Adam at once and fired at the man standing over him. The man fell backwards and his gun discharged harmlessly into the ground.<\/p>\n

Although he was concerned about Adam, Joe knew that he had to protect the house and barn. He raced towards the barn, ignoring the stinging from his bare feet. He yanked open the barn door and saw two men in there, freeing the horses from their stalls. \u201cHold it!\u201d Joe ordered. He advanced a few steps into the barn as the men raised their hands.<\/p>\n

There was a rustle from inside Buck\u2019s stall and Joe sensed, rather than saw, someone stepping towards him. Then something hard cracked him hard across his back and head. Joe collapsed soundlessly to the floor, not quite out. He vaguely saw feet stopping beside him, then the boot drew back and that was the last thing Joe saw.<\/p>\n

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

The firing had roused the whole ranch. Ben and Hoss ran from the house in time to see Adam stagger to his feet by the corral. Men were hurrying from the bunkhouse. Shots were fired.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet out a here!\u201d ordered the leader of the outlaws as he glared down at Joe, lying unconscious at his feet. He thought about kicking Joe again for good measure, but as he saw Ben coming towards him, he regretfully decided against it. He hurried off, firing at Ben, but missing.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe!\u201d Ben knelt by his son, peripherally noticing that the horses were loose in the barn, but all still there. Outside, he could hear hoof beats as the outlaws made their getaway. There was still some shooting, but Ben\u2019s attention was on his son.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs Joe all right?\u201d panted a voice and Ben glanced up at Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think so,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cAdam, you\u2019re bleeding.\u201d He could see the bullet wound in the back of Adam\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just a graze,\u201d Adam replied, dismissively. He avoided Ben\u2019s outstretched hand and peered more closely at Joe. \u201cHe\u2019s taken quite a blow to the head,\u201d he observed.<\/p>\n

Almost as though he had heard, Joe groaned and moved his head.\u00a0 Ben caught the hand that Joe raised to feel his head. \u201cEasy, Joe,\u201d he soothed.<\/p>\n

Groaning again, Joe opened his eyes. His head was throbbing. \u201cPa?\u201d he asked, sounding puzzled. Then, as his focus improved, he saw Adam leaning over Ben\u2019s shoulder, cradling his injured hand, and memory came back with a rush. He bolted upright and wavered dizzily. He would have fallen if Ben hadn\u2019t caught his shoulders. \u201cThe horses!\u201d he cried. \u201cDid\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, they didn\u2019t get them,\u201d Ben soothed. \u201cEasy, Joe, relax. You took quite a knock there.\u201d He gently turned Joe\u2019s head to look at the darkening bruise on his temple. As he did so, he braced his arm along the back of Joe\u2019s shoulders. Joe winced and twisted away. \u201cWhat\u2026?\u201d Ben began, as Hoss came into the barn, carrying another lantern.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey got away, Pa,\u201d he reported. \u201cThere\u2019s one dead one lyin\u2019 beside the corral.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the one Joe shot,\u201d Adam explained. He watched with interest as Ben guided the light Hoss was carrying so that it spilled on Joe\u2019s back.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou get hit here, too?\u201d Ben demanded. He sounded almost angry.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cI dunno what they hit me with. I was knocked over and then I saw a boot\u2026\u201d Joe shuddered.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, help me get your brothers into the house. Do we have any other injuries?\u201d Ben assisted Joe to his feet, keeping a tight grip on his arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d Hoss moved to Adam\u2019s side, but the older Cartwright was steady on his feet.<\/p>\n

Inside, once all the lamps were lit, Ben took a close look at both his sons. Adam was right \u2013 the bullet had just grazed across the back of his hand. It was a painful injury and would prevent him from using a gun for several days, but there didn\u2019t appear to be any broken bones. He submitted quietly to having his hand cleaned and bandaged and then went gratefully off to bed.<\/p>\n

There was very little Ben could do for the bruising on Joe\u2019s back and head except bathe the areas in cool water. Joe\u2019s feet had a smattering of small cuts and grazes on them, but he claimed that he couldn\u2019t feel them. Nonetheless, Ben bathed and bandaged his feet and ordered Joe to bed, too. Joe protested that it was his time to stand guard, but Ben simply hustled him upstairs. Hoss was standing guard and had organized the men so that there were more guards about the place.<\/p>\n

Come morning, Adam and Joe proclaimed themselves quite all right after a late breakfast. Adam was disgruntled to discover that his hand had swelled slightly and he found it awkward to do things with his left hand. Joe had discarded the bandages his father had put on his feet and was walking around without even a limp to show. However, the bruise on his back was stiff and painful and his headache was still hanging on.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe ought to report what happened to Roy,\u201d Adam commented, as he carefully maneuvered the fork towards his mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood thinking,\u201d Ben agreed. He had taken the last shift of the night on guard. \u201cJoe, why don\u2019t you do that and while you\u2019re in town, have Paul check out those bruises of yours.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I\u2019m fine, Pa,\u201d Joe protested. \u201cPerhaps Adam should go, since his hand is hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Giving Joe an exasperated look, Adam opened his mouth to make a sarcastic comment, but Ben beat him to the punch. \u201cGood thinking, son,\u201d he praised. \u201cAdam can go, too and you can each make sure you both go to the doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smiling tightly, Adam shot a glance at Joe that promised retribution at a later date. Joe shot one back, rolling his eyes. Ben pretended not to see either reaction. \u201cSince Adam can\u2019t use his gun hand, it wouldn\u2019t be wise to send him in alone, and you did take quite a knock last night,\u201d Ben reminded Joe. \u201cSo Adam can keep an eye on you, to make sure that you\u2019re feeling all right on the ride in.\u201d He rose from the table. \u201cAnd don\u2019t be all day,\u201d he reminded them.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood going, Joe,\u201d Adam snarled, as the eggs dropped off his fork once more.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh shut up,\u201d Joe sighed in resignation.<\/p>\n

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

The ride to town was accomplished in near silence. Adam kept an eye on Joe and Joe kept an eye on Adam and both were in a thoroughly foul temper when they reached town.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks like Doc Martin\u2019s in,\u201d Adam growled as they rode down the street. He had just seen the doctor ushering a patient out into the street. \u201cLet\u2019s go there first.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever,\u201d Joe mumbled. He had hoped that Adam would decide that neither of them needed to see the doctor.<\/p>\n

They entered an empty waiting room, which was something of a novelty. Paul Martin was a very busy doctor. He looked surprised to see Joe and Adam, but he instantly spotted the bandage on Adam\u2019s hand and grinned. \u201cIt\u2019s usually Joe who needs an escort to force him to come in here,\u201d Paul joked. \u201cHave you taken on Joe\u2019s mantle as the most stubborn Cartwright, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe both need to be seen,\u201d Adam responded, giving Joe another grim look. Joe returned it in kind.<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t take long for Paul to get the full story and he quickly gave Joe the once over. Both bruises were darkly colored and obviously sore, but there was nothing Paul could do for them.\u00a0 Leaving Joe to shrug back on his shirt and jacket, Paul began to unwind the bandage around Adam\u2019s hand, noticing the older Cartwright wincing as he did so.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll go and talk to Roy,\u201d Joe offered, seeing the set look on Adam\u2019s face. \u201cI\u2019ll meet you over there, all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine,\u201d Adam replied. He glanced at Joe as his brother put on his hat. His face softened. \u201cDon\u2019t let anyone bump into you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smiling at the sudden offer of a truce, Joe nodded. \u201cAnd don\u2019t you hit anyone,\u201d he joked, slipping out of the door.<\/p>\n

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

Roy Coffee looked utterly weary and Joe felt guilty about adding to his burden. He kept his narrative short, but Roy looked even wearier at the end of it. \u201cWe\u2019re not expecting you to hurry out,\u201d Joe reiterated. \u201cThe dead man is slung on a horse outside. I don\u2019t recognize him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rising, Roy followed Joe outside and they inspected the dead man once more. \u201cYeah, that\u2019s definitely one of the gang,\u201d Roy sighed. \u201cYou folks had better watch out; they\u2019re gonna be mighty annoyed that ya done killed one o\u2019 \u2018em.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll be careful,\u201d Joe agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey!\u201d<\/p>\n

Turning, Joe saw, with a sinking heart that Dan Waites was coming towards them, followed by the others that had formed the vigilante group. Roy sighed heavily and straightened his shoulders. \u201cWhat do you boys want?\u201d he asked, belligerently.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho\u2019s the dead man?\u201d Waites demanded.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t see where that\u2019s any of your business,\u201d Joe retorted.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it one of the gang?\u201d Waites went on, ignoring Joe. \u201cWho got him?\u201d He lifted the dead man\u2019s head by the hair, looked at it in satisfaction for a moment, then spat in his face.<\/p>\n

Joe was revolted. \u201cI did,\u201d he growled.<\/p>\n

The change in their attitude towards him was nauseating. Instantly, they were \u2018hail-fellow-well-met\u2019, Waites even moving to put his arm across Joe\u2019s shoulders. \u201cGood for you, Cartwright!\u201d Waites cried. \u201cYou show this old fool how it\u2019s done!\u201d<\/p>\n

Biting back a cry of pain, Joe rudely shrugged Waites\u2019 arm off and took a step away to stand beside Roy. \u201cRoy Coffee is still the sheriff here,\u201d he grated. \u201cAnd I came here to tell him something that has nothing to do with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The camaraderie died just like that. Waites\u2019 eyes narrowed. \u201cI don\u2019t think you ought to talk to me that way, boy,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s enough!\u201d Roy bristled indignantly. \u201cThis here\u2019s none o\u2019 yer business an\u2019 I suggest ya git out a here afore I arrest ya fer loitering.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a moment, it looked as though Waites was going to argue and he would certainly have carried the day, given the superior numbers he had. But there was a crowd gathering, watching the confrontation between the legal sheriff and the illegal mob.<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t forget this, Cartwright,\u201d Waites warned him.<\/p>\n

\u201cNeither will I,\u201d Joe rejoined, grimly.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cWhat was all that about?\u201d<\/p>\n

Turning, Joe saw Adam standing behind him. \u201cJust Waites and his friends trying to throw their weight around,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cThey seemed to think I was on their side.\u201d He snorted eloquently. He glanced down at the bandaged hand resting on the gun that Adam had insisted on wearing that day, despite knowing that he couldn\u2019t use it. \u201cWhat did the doc say?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust a graze,\u201d Adam replied. \u201cI\u2019ve not to use it much until it heals.\u201d He shrugged. \u201cGuess we\u2019ve both got a clean bill of health, more or less.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMore or less,\u201d Joe agreed. He stepped down off the boardwalk. \u201cYou go inside and talk to Roy. I\u2019ll be back in a few minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are you going?\u201d Adam asked, suddenly not keen to let Joe out of his sight.<\/p>\n

\u201cRelax, big brother, I\u2019m just going to take the corpse to the undertaker.\u201d Joe gestured to the sky. \u201cIn case you hadn\u2019t noticed, its summer and Roy wants him buried.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Joe turned the horse, Adam went into the jail.<\/p>\n

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

Handling dead bodies was not one of Joe\u2019s favorite occupations. He couldn\u2019t understand how the undertaker could bear to do his job. Exiting the building, Joe leaned against the side of it for a few moments, his eyes shut, as he breathed deeply of the hot, fresh air. As he straightened, something round and hard pressed into the middle of his back.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t do anything stupid,\u201d warned a voice. \u201cJust keep your hands where I can see them and move on down to the back of the building.\u201d A nudge in the back emphasized the words.<\/p>\n

Raising his hands slightly, Joe walked down the alley, wishing that there was someone around to see. The undertaker\u2019s store was on the main street, but Joe had used the side entrance to leave by and had therefore left himself open to this peril. \u201cWhat do you want?\u201d he asked, roughly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t talk!\u201d The gun dug further into Joe\u2019s back. \u201cYou just do as you\u2019re told.\u201d<\/p>\n

The five men waiting for Joe at the back of the undertakers were not the ones Joe had been expecting. He thought that it would be Waites and his gang, but the men were strangers to him. Or were they? Joe narrowed his eyes as he recognized two of them. He had last seen them in the Ponderosa barn, trying to steal his family\u2019s horses.<\/p>\n

A large man, almost as tall and broad as Hoss, grabbed Joe by the throat and slammed him up against the building. Joe choked and grabbed at the arm, but he had no chance of moving it. \u201cOne of my men is dead because of you,\u201d he hissed malevolently. \u201cI\u2019m going to take that out of your hide, boy and then you\u2019re gonna help me complete last night\u2019s robbery.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d Joe gasped. He saw the grin growing on the big man\u2019s face and acted instantly, lifting his leg and kicking violently out. He caught the man exactly where he had wanted and the hand relaxed enough for Joe to follow up with a stinging uppercut.<\/p>\n

But he was still seriously outnumbered and even as he ducked under one grasping hand, he felt his jacket caught by another. Joe lunged forward, feeling his jacket pulled down over his arms, but before he could complete the maneuver and escape, a fist buried itself in his stomach, doubling Joe over. Another fist hammered down on his shoulders and he grunted in the sudden sharp pain, which drove him to his knees. His arms were effectively trapped behind him by his jacket and Joe knew that his chance to escape was past. Only divine intervention could save him now.<\/p>\n

A hand twined into Joe\u2019s hair and his head was yanked painfully backwards. \u201cYou\u2019re gonna pay for that, boy!\u201d the big man warned. He slammed Joe\u2019s head down and only good fortune stopped it from bouncing off the hard ground. \u201cTie him up good, blindfold him and gag him,\u201d the man ordered. \u201cHe ain\u2019t gonna get away from us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe was forced unceremoniously to the ground where his hands were bound tightly behind him and a gag was thrust into his mouth. A blindfold cut off his vision and he felt himself dragged to his feet. He was forced onto a horse and a rope was tied around his middle. As they began to move, Joe could only hope that someone saw them leaving.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cWhere is Joe?\u201d Adam asked, impatiently. He and Roy had talked all around the situation several times, but hadn\u2019t got anywhere. Now, Adam was startled to realize that over an hour had passed since Joe left for the undertakers and he still wasn\u2019t back.<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably met someone he knows,\u201d Roy replied. \u201cYa know Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf he\u2019s gone to the saloon\u2026\u201d Adam didn\u2019t bother completing the threat. He rose. \u201cI\u2019d better go and look for him. Pa did tell us not to be gone all day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following Adam to the door, Roy said, \u201cTell yer pa I\u2019ll do everythin\u2019 I can ta find these men afore they try again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will,\u201d Adam replied. He frowned in the direction of the doctor\u2019s. Sport, his horse, was still waiting patiently at the hitching post, drowsing in the sun. Cochise, Joe\u2019s horse, was gone. \u201cHe can\u2019t have gone home without me,\u201d Adam murmured, feeling a thrill of adrenaline shoot through his gut. He frantically scanned the street, hoping to see Cochise tied up else where.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Adam?\u201d Roy asked. \u201cYer as white as a sheet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2019s horse is gone,\u201d Adam responded numbly.<\/p>\n

Frowning, Roy peered down the street, too. \u201cPerhaps he jist put Cochise somewhere shady,\u201d Roy suggested.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe would\u2019ve moved Sport, too.\u201d Adam began to walk towards Sport, as though he might find some clue to Joe\u2019s whereabouts by his horse. Roy silently followed, Adam\u2019s worry infecting him.<\/p>\n

They searched high and low. Nobody they talked to had seen Joe since he stepped into the undertaker\u2019s office. So that was where they concentrated the search. Adam retraced Joe\u2019s steps out of the side door and saw the footprints in the dusty street. With Roy at his heels, they followed the prints to the back of the store, where there were clear signs of some kind of disturbance. There were a number of hoof prints and Adam followed them until they vanished into the hard rocks at the back of town.<\/p>\n

Retracing his steps, Adam was forced to admit that Joe was missing. But who had him and why was anyone\u2019s guess.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cI need deputies,\u201d Roy insisted. He glared at the saloon crowd. \u201cJoe Cartwright\u2019s missing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re trying to catch this gang that\u2019s plaguing us,\u201d Waites replied. \u201cIs Joe with them?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know,\u201d Adam admitted. \u201cBut Joe killed one of them at our place last night. He was knocked cold by another one and saw at least two of their faces.\u201d Fear began to trickle through Adam\u2019s veins. \u201cThey might have him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should\u2019ve stopped them long ago!\u201d Arthur Abbott shouted at Roy.<\/p>\n

Suddenly angry, Adam whirled on him. \u201cIf you men had done your civic duty and signed on as deputies, perhaps Roy might have caught them by now. As it is, you\u2019ve prevented anyone else from signing on. Don\u2019t you see? You could hunt down these men just as easily with Roy\u2019s help. You\u2019re as much to blame for his failure as anyone! How can he do this job entirely alone?\u201d<\/p>\n

Realizing that everyone in the saloon was watching him now, Adam let go of Abbott\u2019s arm and stepped back. He drew in several deep breaths, but was unable to calm himself. He met many pairs of shocked eyes, but kept his head up and his gaze hard.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right.\u201d The words came from Waites and his friends looked surprised. \u201cI hadn\u2019t thought of it that way, Adam. Your family has always been good to me and I hate to think of Joe in the hands of those men.\u201d He turned to Roy. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Sheriff Coffee. I\u2019d like to serve as a deputy, if that\u2019s all right with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taken aback by the sudden about-face, but knowing that he couldn\u2019t afford to turn down anyone, Roy simply nodded. Within moments, he had all the deputies he could want.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did they get from the Ponderosa last night?\u201d Waites asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing,\u201d Adam replied. He looked at the older man and his eyes widened. \u201cYou think they might come back?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd they\u2019ll bring Joe with them,\u201d Waites guessed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think our next move is to tell Ben what\u2019s happenin\u2019,\u201d Roy suggested. They all went to get their horses.<\/p>\n

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

The ride seemed to go on interminably to Joe. When at last they stopped, he hoped that the gag and blindfold would be removed, but they weren\u2019t. Joe was dragged down off the horse and shoved along, tripping over unseen obstacles until he sensed they were inside a structure of some kind. Judging by the chill in the air, Joe guessed it was a cave. His guess was confirmed when he was pushed onto a dirt floor. He could feel cool, damp rock walls at his back as his feet were tied together.<\/p>\n

How long he sat there was anyone\u2019s guess, but he could hear the men moving about, conversing in low tones. A fire was started and coffee brewed. Joe was desperate for a drink. He moved his arms as much as he could. They were getting very sore and the ache between his shoulder blades was very nearly unbearable.<\/p>\n

Exhaustion was beginning to take its toll on Joe when footsteps finally approached him. He tensed as a hand grabbed his head, but there was no violence. The gag was just untied. Joe waited in vain for the blindfold to be removed.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet him on his feet,\u201d growled a voice. Hands grabbed Joe\u2019s arms and dragged him upright. \u201cYou killed my man last night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Swallowing, Joe replied, \u201cAnd if I hadn\u2019t, he would\u2019ve killed my brother.\u201d He kept his chin up defiantly.<\/p>\n

Grabbing Joe\u2019s chin in his hand, the leader leant in close, breathing heavily into Joe\u2019s face. Joe tried to twist away to avoid the man\u2019s bad breath, but he couldn\u2019t move. \u201cYou\u2019re going to tell me how to get past those guards, aren\u2019t you, boy?\u201d he purred. \u201cAnd if you tell me the right things, I might just leave you behind there after we\u2019ve looted and burned the place.\u201d He sniggered.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly when hell freezes over,\u201d Joe responded softly.<\/p>\n

He couldn\u2019t see the blows coming and there was nothing he could do to fight back. When Joe was finally dropped to the dirt floor of the cave, he was beyond speaking. The leader stood over him, panting and massaging his skinned knuckles. \u201cYou will tell me, boy,\u201d he warned. \u201cIn a while, you\u2019ll tell me everything I want to know.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Sitting, stunned, Ben could barely hear what Adam and Roy were saying to him. His thoughts were struggling to come to terms with the idea that Joe was a hostage \u2013 most probably of the men who had tried to raid the Ponderosa the night before. His mind replayed the scene in the barn from the previous night, and he felt his heart stutter.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d he asked, realizing that Adam had said something that he had missed. \u201cWhat did you say?\u201d<\/p>\n

Knowing the shock that Ben had just received, Adam was patient with him. \u201cWe think they might come back here tonight or tomorrow,\u201d he repeated. \u201cThis is the only place they\u2019ve raided so far that they have gone away empty handed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I think you might be right,\u201d Ben agreed. \u201cThey might think that we aren\u2019t expecting them to come back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe big difference this time is that they\u2019ll have Joe with them,\u201d Dan Waites suggested.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d Ben bristled. \u201cAre you suggesting that Joe would willingly\u00a0help<\/em>\u00a0those men?\u201d<\/p>\n

That was exactly what Waites had meant to suggest, but faced with Ben\u2019s out-raged glare, Adam\u2019s dark glance and Hoss\u2019 fury, he backed down on the suggestion. \u201cNo,\u201d he responded wretchedly. \u201cWhat I meant is that they\u2019ll have Joe with them as a prisoner. They might use him as a shield.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey might,\u201d Adam snapped. \u201cBut Joe is only one man. He couldn\u2019t shield them all at once.\u201d<\/p>\n

Furious at Adam\u2019s arrogant assumption, Waites flared back at him. \u201cIf they rode in here with a gun to Joe\u2019s head, I don\u2019t suppose you\u2019d argue with them, would you?\u201d he sneered. He was quite gratified to see Adam blanch slightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you propose?\u201d Ben asked, coldly. He had taken a sudden dislike to Dan Waites.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was reckoning on secreting the posse around the ranch, Ben,\u201d Roy replied, ignoring Waites. \u201cThey can augment your men. The gang won\u2019t know they\u2019re here, not tonight. If\u2019n the gang don\u2019t hit tonight, we can think on somethin\u2019 else.\u201d He put a reassuring hand on his old friend\u2019s shoulder. \u201cWe\u2019ll git Joe back, Ben, jist ya wait an\u2019 see.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

A boot roused Joe from the shallow sleep he had fallen into. He still lay face down on the dirt floor of the cave, his hands still bound tightly behind him, his ankles tied. The blindfold hadn\u2019t moved an inch. The only thing that had changed was that Joe hurt all over from the beating he had taken. He was yanked to his feet. Hands slid under his arms on each side and he was dragged away, his feet still bound. Joe tried to struggle, but he didn\u2019t have the strength. He suddenly felt himself lifted up and before he could catch his breath, he was dropped belly down over a saddle.<\/p>\n

As the hands that had put him there secured him with leather thongs, Joe could hear sounds of the men moving all around. He guessed it was dark \u2013 or almost dark. They couldn\u2019t risk attacking the Ponderosa in daylight. Joe felt a sudden burst of panic. He hadn\u2019t told them anything, had he?<\/p>\n

The horse he was on side-stepped nervously and Joe felt a hand in his hair, pulling his head up. He was so tired of that gesture, he thought. He gritted his teeth against the pain.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou gonna tell us what we want ta know?\u201d asked an all-too familiar voice.<\/p>\n

There didn\u2019t seem to be an appropriate answer to that, so Joe held his peace. He wasn\u2019t sure he would be able to speak anyway. His throat was so dry and his lips were so swollen. A hand crashed across his face and Joe gasped with the pain. His nose began to bleed heavily.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we gonna do if\u2019n he don\u2019t tell us?\u201d asked a high-pitched, nervous, young sounding voice close by Joe\u2019s ear.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf he doesn\u2019t tell us, I\u2019m gonna start cutting bits off him!\u201d the leader growled. Joe felt something cold pressed against his cheek and knew from the feel that it was a knife. \u201cAn ear, a finger \u2013 who knows? But when I cut off enough bits, he\u2019ll tell us.\u201d He laughed and Joe felt the knife withdrawn and sagged limply.<\/p>\n

Moments later, his horse began walking and Joe realized that the leader was probably cleverer than Joe had given him credit for. After bouncing along on his belly like that for a few miles, Joe\u2019s resistance would be further weakened.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cYes, it does hurt,\u201d Adam agreed through gritted teeth. \u201cBut you need every available hand and I can\u2019t just sit here and do nothing, Pa.\u201d He continued to unwind the bandage from around his injured hand and dropped it in a heap on the table. Flexing his hand, Adam swallowed a wince and closed it around his gun. It did hurt \u2013 it hurt a great deal \u2013 but Adam wanted to be ready if the outlaws arrived that night. Joe was in trouble and that was a good enough reason for Adam to ignore his pain.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam\u2026\u201d Ben looked troubled, but before he could voice any further arguments, Hoss put his massive hand on Ben\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I reckon Adam\u2019s old enough ta know what he\u2019s doin\u2019,\u201d he chided gently. \u201cYa\u2019d do ezzacly the same thing if\u2019n it were yer hand that were hurt.\u201d He kept his level blue gaze on Ben, willing his father to agree. Hoss didn\u2019t like to see any of his family hurting, but he knew exactly where Adam\u2019s thoughts were on this. He would be doing the same thing if the positions were reversed.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d Ben capitulated. He heaved a big sigh and washed his hands over his face. Joe had only been missing for a few hours, but it felt like days to Ben. He could only hope and pray that his son was still alive and unharmed. He placed a hand on Adam\u2019s shoulder and squeezed gently. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be.\u201d Adam briefly put his hand over Ben\u2019s. It was an unusual gesture for so self-contained a man. \u201cJoe\u2019s in trouble. We\u2019ve got to do whatever we can to help him. Joe wouldn\u2019t do any less for any of us.\u201d He eyes grew unfocused for a minute as he thought back. \u201cRemember when he broke his coccyx? Remember how he came and sat in the water with me?\u201d*<\/p>\n

\u201cSure do,\u201d Hoss grunted. \u201cHe was so sore, he couldn\u2019 git up. I had ta carry him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Indeed, Ben could remember that time, as he could remember every time his sons did something selfless for the others. It was something he had encouraged in his children and he was incredibly proud of them all. They were all so different, all so like the mothers who had borne them, and yet they were all so alike in many ways. Ben blinked back the tears that sprang to his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust remember,\u201d he said, huskily, \u201cI don\u2019t want to sacrifice one son for another.\u201d And it wasn\u2019t just Adam he looked at. They both nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to post myself with Waites,\u201d Adam announced, as he holstered his gun. The posse was all outside, acquainting themselves with the hands, so they didn\u2019t accidentally shoot one of the good guys.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d Ben asked, as Hoss shot Adam an approving glance and nodded. He didn\u2019t trust Waites either.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood thinkin\u2019,\u201d he praised.<\/p>\n

Nodding in return to Hoss \u2013 Adam had known that his younger brother would have picked up on the odd vibes coming from Waites \u2013 Adam replied, \u201cI don\u2019t trust him, Pa. He changed his mind awfully suddenly back there in town.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople do have sudden changes of heart,\u201d Ben suggested, but his heart wasn\u2019t in the defense.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d Adam sighed and looked thoughtful. \u201cBut it just didn\u2019t seem right to me. I can\u2019t really explain it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust be careful,\u201d Ben begged and Adam nodded. They headed off to take up their positions.<\/p>\n

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

Hanging painfully over the saddle, Joe wondered if it was possible to be any more miserable. He could barely catch his breath and had there been anything in his stomach, he was sure it would have been long gone. But at last, the horse was no longer moving. The relief of being at a standstill was tempered by the fear that the leader of the gang would start tormenting him again. Joe couldn\u2019t tell the man what he wanted to know, and he feared the pain that he was going to face because of that. Would the man really cut off a finger? Much as Joe wanted to deny it, he couldn\u2019t silence the small voice that said it was more than possible.<\/p>\n

From all around, Joe could hear the sounds of men dismounting from horses. He desperately wanted to see where they were, what was happening, but the blindfold seemed to be on for the duration. He strained his ears, but couldn\u2019t catch more than the low murmur of voices. Once more, he made an effort to free himself, but his arms were completely numb and his body ached violently.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not gonna get away.\u201d The voice caught Joe by surprise and he stopped squirming. \u201cYou\u2019re gonna tell me what I want to know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Swallowing, Joe knew that he didn\u2019t have enough saliva in his mouth to say anything, much less what this man wanted to hear, even supposing he felt inclined to tell him anything. Joe felt a strong urge to urinate as he realized again just how helpless he was. He felt the cold blade of the knife trail lightly round the bottom of his throat. It didn\u2019t appear to have drawn blood, but Joe wasn\u2019t sure that he would realize if he was bleeding.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet him off that horse,\u201d the leader ordered and Joe felt hands fumbling at the ties that kept him on the horse. For the first instant, it was a relief to be down, then the pain hit and Joe found himself curled up on the ground, fighting not to groan aloud.<\/p>\n

Unseen hands wrestled Joe into an upright position and untied his hands. He groaned anew as his arms were drawn from behind his back and the circulation began to revive. He struggled as best he could, but all he succeeded in doing was to make his captors tighten their grips. His right arm was drawn out to the side and his left was pushed out in front of him, the hands holding fast to his wrist.<\/p>\n

Another hand, with hard, calloused skin, took hold of Joe\u2019s left hand and straightened the fingers out.\u00a0 Joe tried to draw back, but he was helpless. He felt something cold and sharp come to rest against the side of his hand and froze in fear. Surely the leader didn\u2019t really mean to cut off his finger? Joe could only imagine how painful it would be and he tried to block out the thought of what the loss of a finger would mean. He was left handed. He could probably adjust in time, but the thought sent tremors down his muscles.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was going to cut off your finger,\u201d the leader began, his voice quiet and somehow mocking. \u201cIt would be sore, wouldn\u2019t it, boy?\u201d The sudden slash of the knife across the base of his pinkie brought a scream to Joe\u2019s lips. He could feel the heat of his blood streaming across the back of his hand. \u201cYes, I thought it would hurt,\u201d the mocking voice went on, a hint of laughter now creeping in. \u201cBut I thought I\u2019d try something else. Perhaps if I threatened to cripple this hand, you\u2019d tell me what I want to know.\u201d<\/p>\n

The thought of losing the use of his dominant hand was a paralyzing one. Joe gasped for breath, trying to calm his terror. \u201cI can\u2019t tell you,\u201d he whispered. His voice was barely audible, so dry was his throat, but the leader heard.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are stupidly stubborn,\u201d he sighed. With a single, swift movement, he broke Joe\u2019s pinkie.<\/p>\n

Joe had had broken bones before, but that didn\u2019t make the pain any less. In fact, it seemed to hurt more than Joe remembered. The world spun around him as he hyperventilated, trying to control the rivers of agony that shot through his abused hand. He came back to some sort of normality just in time for his forefinger to be broken, too.<\/p>\n

By the time Joe had collected his scattered wits, he had no idea how much time had passed. A canteen was put to his lips and he eagerly gulped the water. Sweat was drying on his forehead and a shiver went through his body as a chill wind caught his sweat-soaked clothing.<\/p>\n

\u201cReady to tell me yet?\u201d Joe\u2019s left hand was still extended in front of him, despite his attempts to draw it towards his chest and cradle it protectively.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe guards will have doubled,\u201d Joe croaked. \u201cThere\u2019s no way you can get in.\u201d He swallowed. \u201cSo I can\u2019t tell you what you want to hear.\u201d<\/p>\n

The defiance enraged the leader. He had an extremely short temper and his men had been more than glad that Joe was around to be a punching bag for him. He back-handed Joe violently across the face and while Joe\u2019s head was still reeling from the blow, he broke Joe\u2019s two middle fingers and his thumb. The pain was over whelming and Joe slid into welcome darkness.<\/p>\n

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

When Joe regained consciousness, his hands were once more bound, but in an unlooked for leniency, they were tied in front of him, crossed at the wrists so that his injured hand was supported slightly by his right hand underneath it. Joe drew his hands closer to his body, as though that could ease the pain that enveloped his left hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019re awake at last.\u201d The voice was so close to his ear that Joe flinched. \u201cLet\u2019s get going.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cW-what?\u201d Joe stuttered as he was dragged to his feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you told me what I needed to know after all, boy,\u201d the leader replied, sounding as though he was the last person on earth to lose his temper in an uncontrolled display of violence. \u201cIf we can\u2019t sneak in because of the guards, we\u2019ll just ride right up the main road \u2013 with you as a hostage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d Joe began to struggle, knowing that Ben would do anything to save his life \u2013 including giving the Ponderosa to these men to loot and burn. But his struggles were in vain. He was boosted onto the back of a horse \u2013 sitting up this time \u2013 and someone got on behind him. A gun was placed behind his ear.<\/p>\n

\u201cTry anything, and I\u2019ll blow your head off.\u201d The gun was removed and a moment later, a bandanna was forced into Joe\u2019s mouth and then they began to move. Every step the horse took caused jolts of agony to burst through his hand. Joe was going home, but it was the last place on earth he wanted to take these men.<\/p>\n

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

The movement in the darkness caught them all by surprise. \u201cThey\u2019re coming up the road,\u201d Roy breathed into Ben\u2019s ear. \u201cWhat on earth\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

But Ben had instantly seen what Roy had not. Joe, bound, gagged and blindfolded, was sitting on the front of the lead horse with a gun pointing to his head. \u201cJoe!\u201d he breathed, his emotions warring between relief and fear. As the horse stopped in the yard, Ben rose from his place on the porch, motioning for Roy to stay down, and walked forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d he asked, his voice quite composed. He was slightly relieved when Joe turned his head towards his father\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure you can guess that,\u201d the leader replied. He cocked his gun and put it to Joe\u2019s head.<\/p>\n

Before anyone could say any more, Waites leapt to his feet and fired. One of the outlaws tumbled dead from his saddle. Adam, distracted by the sight of his brother, bound and helpless, tried to stop Waites, but he was too slow. And in that moment, all hell broke loose.<\/p>\n

The horses startled slightly from the sudden shot. Ben, his face blanched of all color, took a step forward and froze as the gun returned to Joe\u2019s head. From all around, there came the sound of shooting, but Ben, Joe and the leader of the outlaws seemed to be in a separate oasis, protected from and oblivious to all that was going on around them. Ben\u2019s eyes were locked to the eyes of the man holding his son a captive.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you hurt Joe, there won\u2019t be anywhere in the world that you can hide,\u201d Ben declared. His voice wasn\u2019t raised, but it cut through the hullabaloo without any trouble. \u201cHell itself will fear to shelter you.\u201d<\/p>\n

A shudder ran down Joe\u2019s spine at those words; they didn\u2019t sound like they came from his father at all. A bullet whined past his ear and Joe flinched. He had no idea what was going on, but it sounded like a war had started. He was exhausted, in a great deal of pain and felt incredibly ill.<\/p>\n

From out of the darkness that had surrounded Joe for the last several hours that counted his captivity came a voice he knew very well. A voice he trusted implicitly. \u201cJoe! Jump!\u201d<\/p>\n

It would cost him in pain, but Joe didn\u2019t hesitate. He launched himself sideways from the saddle, knowing that he had to just fall; there was no opportunity to dismount. He felt the man behind him grab his arm, but all that did was cause Joe to twist around as he fell. As he went down, he felt the air move as a bullet missed him by scant inches. The crash of the shot sounded strangely doubled, but then Joe hit the ground hard, the wind was knocked out of him and pain rocketed through his injured hand. A heavy thud beside him caused him to flinch once more, but Joe couldn\u2019t move to get up and flee, even if he could see where he was going.<\/p>\n

As his breath came back with a jolt, Joe felt hands on his shoulders, gentle hands, familiar, loving hands and he relaxed. He was safe. Those hands fumbled to untie the gag and free it carefully from Joe\u2019s torn mouth and then the blindfold was finally removed from his eyes. Joe blinked furiously to clear his vision, but he didn\u2019t need crystal clear vision to recognize his father. He tried to speak, but his mouth was too dry to allow any sound to emerge.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, are you all right?\u201d Ben asked, anxiously. He helped Joe to sit up, supporting his shoulders.<\/p>\n

Before Joe could nod, Hoss and Adam appeared out of the gloom. They both looked incredibly anxious and Joe tried to smile to ease their worries, but judging by the looks on their faces, he wasn\u2019t too successful. His mouth was too sore to make smiling a pleasure.<\/p>\n

Someone else appeared and Joe blinked in astonishment at Roy Coffee. What was going on? Why was Roy at the ranch? How had he got there so fast? Joe felt completely bewildered. Roy\u2019s gun was in his hand and was still smoking slightly. \u201cHe okay, Ben?\u201d Roy asked, looking down at Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think so,\u201d Ben replied, but he didn\u2019t sound convinced. \u201cCome on, boys, help me get Joe into the house.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stepping forward, Adam holstered his gun and reached for his knife to cut the rope that held Joe\u2019s hands captive. As the rope fell away, Joe brought his injured hand close to his chest, cradling it protectively. The pain was horrendous. And suddenly, the shock hit him and Joe began to tremble. As Ben and Hoss helped him to his feet, Joe found the world started to spin on its axis. He stumbled, feeling Ben\u2019s arms tighten around his waist. \u201cWait,\u201d he breathed, but his voice was too faint to carry. He managed another couple of steps before his knees buckled underneath him and he tumbled to the ground. Joe was vaguely aware of Ben talking to him, but it was easier to just let go. He slid into unconsciousness.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cFive dead, including Dan Waites,\u201d Roy reported. He held his hands out to the warmth of the fire in the great stone hearth and sighed heavily. \u201cThat fellar you shot is still alive, though, Adam. Clem\u2019s takin\u2019 him inta town.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d Adam replied, but his attention was still mostly focused on the stairs, waiting for Ben and Hoss to come back down. Adam had helped Roy with the aftermath of the massacre started by Waites. Adam had been correct in suspecting that Waites\u2019 change of heart was put on. He had simply wanted his chance to kill the men who had destroyed his life. Very few of the men had emerged unscathed from the gun battle and Adam was still unclear how it was that none of his family had been touched. He shrugged to himself. It didn\u2019t matter; all that mattered was that they had Joe back alive. \u201cRoy, I\u2019m just going up to see how Joe is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m goin\u2019 back ta town,\u201d Roy nodded. He was surprised Adam had waited around that long. \u201cI\u2019ll hurry the doc.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks.\u201d With a smile, Adam hurried upstairs while Roy let himself out.<\/p>\n

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

When he regained his senses a short time later, Joe was slightly surprised to find himself being tucked securely into his bed. He swiveled his head and Ben paused for a moment before tucking the blankets around Joe\u2019s bare shoulders and sitting on the edge of the bed. \u201cHow do you feel?\u201d he asked, his eyes gently caressing Joe\u2019s bruised, pale face.<\/p>\n

Opening his mouth, Joe was embarrassed when only a squeak emerged, but Ben seemed to realize what was wrong and a few moments later held a glass of water to Joe\u2019s lips. Joe sipped gratefully. The first swallow was sheer bliss. Joe wanted to grab the glass and gulp the water down as fast as he could, but seeing the way Ben was holding onto the glass, he knew that his father wouldn\u2019t allow him to.<\/p>\n

When Joe finally finished the glass, Ben smiled at him. \u201cNow, how do you feel?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBetter,\u201d Joe replied, his voice still hoarse. He cleared his throat and moved slightly. His body hurt all over, especially his stomach and hand. He looked round. \u201cWhere are Hoss and Adam? Are they all right? What happened out there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d Ben soothed. \u201cYour brothers are both fine. Hoss just went down to get some water. Adam was helping Roy outside.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened?\u201d Joe persisted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not exactly sure,\u201d Ben replied, truthfully. \u201cDan Waites shot one of the outlaws and the next thing I knew, there were bullets flying everywhere.\u201d Ben eyed Joe assessingly. \u201cI was trying to get the leader to let you go. Then Adam shouted to you to jump and you did. The leader shot at you, but missed. Then he fell \u2013 I think Adam might have shot him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut they didn\u2019t\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, they didn\u2019t get anything, and they didn\u2019t set fire to anything, either.\u201d Ben frowned as Joe moved and winced. \u201cWhat happened to you, son?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey grabbed me as I left the undertakers,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cThe big man, he wanted me to tell him where the guards would be posted. He beat me up when I refused. I was kept blindfolded and tied up most of the time and when he asked again and I refused he\u2026 he\u2026\u201d Joe swallowed and closed his eyes for a moment. \u201cHe broke my fingers,\u201d he concluded in a whisper. His eyes opened again to look into Ben\u2019s appalled face. \u201cI told him he\u2019d never get through; that you\u2019d double the guards.\u201d Despair colored Joe\u2019s voice. \u201cAnd he decided to ride right up to the house. He said if I was lucky, he would leave me behind when he\u2019d finished burning things.\u201d Joe blinked away the tears that clung stubbornly to his lashes. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean for that to happen, Pa. I\u2019m so sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have nothing to be sorry for, Joe,\u201d Ben soothed. \u201cNothing. I\u2019m so sorry that you got hurt.\u201d He reached out to brush the curl back from Joe\u2019s forehead. It was a familiar gesture that brought comfort to them both.<\/p>\n

The bedroom door opened and Hoss came in bearing a basin of warm water and Adam came in at his back. Both looked relieved to see Joe awake and hurried over to the bed. \u201cGood to see those green eyes open again,\u201d Adam teased.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood to see you, too,\u201d Joe smiled. He moved again, unable to find a truly comfortable position and winced again.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me wash some of the dirt off your face, son,\u201d Ben suggested.<\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing\u2019s bringing up a couple of hot water bottles,\u201d Hoss volunteered, beaming down at Joe. \u201cHiya, Shortshanks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Hoss.\u201d Joe forced another smile, but in truth, the pain was now crowding in on him and he felt exhausted and ill. He submitted to Ben washing his face and felt better for it afterwards. It was somehow comforting to be treated like a child. But once Ben was done, Joe curled onto his side, hoping to ease the pain in his stomach. His hand was a ball of burning misery.<\/p>\n

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

Opening his eyes, Joe saw that his family were looking down on him worriedly. \u201cYeah, Pa?\u201d It was an effort to speak.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, the doctor\u2019s on his way.\u201d Ben knew that what he had just said was totally inadequate as comfort. \u201cCan I see what hurts so much?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d Joe sighed, not caring. If Ben was going to leave him alone after looking, Joe was quite happy for him to do that.<\/p>\n

Being careful of the damaged, swollen hand, Ben drew back the covers. When he had stripped off Joe\u2019s dirty, damp clothes, he hadn\u2019t paid much attention to the condition his son was in, other than to be careful. But now, his eyes skimmed down over Joe\u2019s muscular chest to the lean, taut belly and saw the dark bruising spreading there. Worried, Ben raised his eyes to glance at Adam, whose eyes were also dark with worry.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me put a bottle there,\u201d Adam suggested smoothly, when Ben\u2019s voice appeared to have failed him. Luckily, Joe had his eyes shut again, and so hadn\u2019t seen the stricken look on Ben\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

The heat was soothing and Joe sighed slightly as the warmth began to penetrate. He felt Ben tuck the covers around him again and snuggled in deeper. He hadn\u2019t seen Ben catalogue all the bruising which dotted his torso. There were even finger-shaped bruises on his throat. But they were superficial. The worrying bruise was the one on Joe\u2019s stomach \u2013 did it denote internal bleeding?<\/p>\n

Glancing at the dark sky outside, Ben prayed that the doctor would hurry.<\/p>\n

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

Joe was in a restless sleep when Paul Martin arrived several hours later. Ben had kept a steady vigil over him and Hop Sing had kept the hot water bottles hot. Adam had told them all about the number of dead and injured from the battle in the yard and it was during this recitation that Joe had dozed off.<\/p>\n

\u201cDan Waites.\u201d Ben shook his head. \u201cI never would have thought of him as the vengeful type.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNor I,\u201d Adam agreed. \u201cBut that was why he and his buddies agreed to join the posse and come out here. They weren\u2019t interested in arresting the outlaws; they wanted to kill them, pure and simple. I would suspect they\u2019ll all go to jail \u2013 the ones who survive, at any rate.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow many of our men were injured?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust two,\u201d Hoss replied. \u201cFred fell off of the edge o\u2019 the roof, but he pretty much bounced an\u2019 his head\u2019s pretty hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben couldn\u2019t help smiling at that. \u201cBut was he hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot so\u2019s ya\u2019d say hurt,\u201d Hoss hedged. \u201cHe jist banged his head, an\u2019 we all know that Fred ain\u2019t got much up there.\u201d This was an old joke. Fred had been a reliable hand for years. He wasn\u2019t blessed with much of an imagination and he knew it. It was a running joke between he and Hoss that Hoss looked thick and wasn\u2019t and Fred didn\u2019t look thick and was!<\/p>\n

\u201cJim took a bullet crease in his arm,\u201d Adam reported. \u201cBut he\u2019s fine. Everyone else is all right. We were lucky, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure were,\u201d Ben agreed. \u201cI\u2019ll go and see Fred and Jim in the morning.\u201d He had risen to pace the room, pausing often to look out of the window or study Joe.<\/p>\n

So when the door opened to admit the physician, there was general relief in the room, although it wasn\u2019t all for the same reasons.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry I\u2019ve taken so long,\u201d Paul apologized. \u201cHow\u2019s Joe?\u201d He bent over the sleeping man and studied his color. \u201cJoe?\u201d<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t take much to wake Joe and Paul questioned him about his experiences. Like Ben, Paul examined the bruise on Joe\u2019s stomach, but he didn\u2019t touch it at all. His face gave nothing away, but Ben was sure that Paul was worried.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to set those fingers of yours, Joe,\u201d Paul told him at last. \u201cYou just have a nice sleep there. When you wake up\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be sick to my stomach from the chloroform,\u201d Joe joked, weakly. \u201cDo you have to use it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou wouldn\u2019t like to be awake while I do this,\u201d Paul replied.<\/p>\n

A sick look crossed Joe\u2019s face and he shuddered. \u201cNo,\u201d he agreed. \u201cI wasn\u2019t too keen on being awake while it was happening, either.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was an uneasy pause and then Paul filled the gap. \u201cThat shows a modicum of sense,\u201d he remarked. \u201cAre you sure you\u2019re not concussed?\u201d He produced the chloroform and Joe was soon slumbering.<\/p>\n

Setting the broken fingers was a tricky job, but Paul accomplished it with Ben\u2019s help. The hand was splinted and wrapped in lots of bandages, until it resembled a giant snowball. The breaks were quite straightforward and Paul didn\u2019t really expect any complications in healing. The gash at the base of Joe\u2019s pinkie was deep but straight and clean and Paul put a couple of stitches in it.<\/p>\n

Then he examined Joe\u2019s stomach. He had feared internal bleeding when he first saw the dark bruise spreading like some sort of malignant cancer across the young man\u2019s golden skin. He had feared that Joe\u2019s spleen might have ruptured, in which case there would be nothing he could do. Surgery really wasn\u2019t an option. But as he carefully felt around, he became more and more certain that this was just what it appeared to be \u2013 a huge bruise. The spleen area did seem to be tender, but it wasn\u2019t enlarged and if Joe had been bleeding from a ruptured spleen, he almost certainly would already be dead.<\/p>\n

None of Joe\u2019s other injuries was serious. Paul waited for Joe to come around before he gave him something for the pain. Joe soon drifted off to sleep again.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll be fine, Ben,\u201d Paul assured his old friend. \u201cA few days rest and he should be feeling much better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d Ben replied. He ruffled Joe\u2019s curls tenderly. \u201cI really feared for him this time, Paul.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou fear for him every time,\u201d Paul chided, gently. \u201cAnd for Adam and Hoss. Come on, let\u2019s go and tell them the good news.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Joe certainly was sore for a few days and he was only just starting to creep around the house when word was sent from town that the circuit judge had arrived and Joe was wanted to give testimony at the trial of the remaining outlaws. Ben wanted to ask for a few more days rest, but Joe vetoed the suggestion.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just want to get it over with, Pa,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

Seeing Joe so pale was worrying for Ben, but he had to admit that he could understand Joe\u2019s thoughts on the matter. So, reluctantly, they set off for town in the buckboard the next day. Joe had required help to get into the buckboard, partly because he was so stiff and partly because his left arm was securely in a sling.<\/p>\n

There was a crowd at the courthouse in town and Joe was embarrassed to be seen being helped down from the buckboard, but there was nothing he could do about it. He received lots of sympathetic and pitying looks and heard open speculation about what had actually happened to him. He knew that after his day in court, everyone in town would know what had happened.<\/p>\n

The trial itself proved less of an ordeal than any of them expected. The leader of the outlaws clearly hadn\u2019t expected to see Joe turning up to testify, but the effect of the pale, injured young man on the jury wasn\u2019t to be underestimated. A couple of the other outlaws had offered state\u2019s evidence in exchange for the promise of a lighter sentence and Joe\u2019s testimony, offered in a clear, slightly shaky voice, was just the icing on the cake. The sentence of death was carried out that afternoon, less than two hours after the jury had returned a verdict of guilty.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cWhat\u2019s going to happen to the others?\u201d Joe asked that night, as he slumped tiredly on the sofa in front of the fire. He was exhausted, but he wanted to know the answer to his question before he went off to bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d Ben admitted. \u201cThere\u2019s going to be a trial, I know that much. Adam is testifying.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat they did was wrong, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d Joe asked. \u201cThere\u2019s a word for it, but I can\u2019t remember what it is.\u201d He smothered a yawn at birth, only for another one to break free. \u201cSorry.\u201d He rubbed his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cVigilante,\u201d Adam supplied. \u201cSomeone who takes the law into their own hands.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019 understand why they done that,\u201d Hoss admitted.<\/p>\n

\u201cNeither do I,\u201d Joe agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, neither do I, entirely,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cAfter all, Roy was looking for a posse and they both wanted the same thing \u2013 to catch the men responsible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Dan and the others didn\u2019t want to hand the men over to a judge,\u201d Adam pointed out. \u201cThey wanted to be judge, jury and executioner all rolled into one and not bother with a trial at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd look where it got them,\u201d Joe remarked sadly. \u201cA trial all their own.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have laws for a reason,\u201d Ben reminded them. \u201cThe law isn\u2019t perfect, but it\u2019s all we have and everyone has to support it. If not, then law and order break down completely and people start doing this kind of thing and it all ends in tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a long silence, but at length, Joe shook off the drowsiness that was threatening to overtake him and got to his feet. \u201cI\u2019m going to bed,\u201d he announced.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll come and help you,\u201d Ben volunteered and the others bade Joe goodnight.<\/p>\n

Upstairs, Joe was thoughtful. \u201cSometimes, its very tempting to take the law into your own hands, isn\u2019t it, Pa?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Ben agreed, warily.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you pay for it in the end, one way or another, don\u2019t you?\u201d Joe went on, as he sat down to allow Ben to pull off his boots. \u201cYou might seem to get away with it at first, but it always catches you up in the end.\u201d He sighed. \u201cEither the law gets you, or you end up getting shot by someone who works for or with the law. But you always pay in the end.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s always a price,\u201d Ben agreed. \u201cEven when you don\u2019t get caught or shot, there\u2019s always a price.\u201d<\/p>\n

Puzzled, for he was desperately sleepy, it took Joe a moment to realize what Ben meant. \u201cYour conscience,\u201d he nodded. \u201cOf course. And you can never get away from your conscience.\u201d He slid beneath the covers. \u201cI\u2019m glad the ranch wasn\u2019t burned, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe, too,\u201d smiled Ben, as Joe\u2019s eyes dipped shut of their own volition. \u201cAnd I\u2019m glad you\u2019re safely home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cG\u2019night,\u201d Joe breathed.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood night, son.\u201d Ben walked quietly to the door where he paused and looked back. Joe\u2019s breathing had evened out already and he was sound asleep.<\/p>\n

Leaving the room, Ben paused again, thinking. He was lucky that his sons, although they may have been tempted as Joe suggested, had never taken the law into their own hands and become vigilantes. He knew of a few occasions when they had actively worked against that and he gave thanks that the things he had tried to teach them had taken root so strongly.<\/p>\n

As he walked downstairs, he heard Adam and Hoss discussing that very thing and saying pretty much what Joe had said. His sons might be as different as chalk and cheese, but they were remarkably similar. Ben smiled as he recalled thinking that before.\u00a0Then it must be true<\/em>, he thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s so funny?\u201d Adam asked him as Ben gave a quiet chuckle.<\/p>\n

Smiling, Ben refused to answer. If he insisted that his sons were all alike, he knew they would start to deny it, not realizing that their denials were simply proving what he had said.<\/p>\n

They were all together and all safe. What more could a man ask for?<\/p>\n

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

* Doing What Had To Be Done<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary: \u00a0Taking the law into your own hands is never the answer, as the Cartwrights discover.<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 T \u00a0(10,875 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":13074,"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":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3131","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","wpcat-23-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2036,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Family-3.jpg?fit=272%2C320&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15599,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=15599","url_meta":{"origin":3131,"position":0},"title":"Conversations (by PSW)","author":"PSW","date":"November 2, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: A series of utterly random, (hopefully) humorous conversations written as responses to Pinecone Challenges this year. 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