{"id":3566,"date":"2003-01-01T00:10:06","date_gmt":"2003-01-01T05:10:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3566"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:07:03","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:07:03","slug":"witches-coven","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3566","title":{"rendered":"Witches Coven (by Rona)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 <\/strong>Joe is invited to a birthday party on Hallowe’en. Spooky goings-on culminate in near tragedy.<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 T (10,465 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

Witches Coven Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Witches Coven<\/a>
\nWitch Hunt<\/a>
\nJock<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Witches Coven\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat in tarnation are you all gussied up for?\u201d asked Hoss Cartwright in amazement, as his younger brother Joe came down the stairs in the Ponderosa ranch house, wearing a crisp white shirt, pressed tan pants, and a neatly tied string tie. \u201cThis ain\u2019t a Sunday morning. There ain\u2019t no dances on tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that\u2019s where you\u2019re wrong, big brother,\u201d Joe answered, good-naturedly. \u201cThere is a dance of sorts on. It\u2019s Patty Smith\u2019s birthday, and I\u2019ve been invited to the party!\u201d Crossing to the credenza by the front door, Joe began to strap on his gun. It was a long, lonely ride to the Smiths\u2019 place.<\/p>\n

Following Joe, Hoss said, \u201cHow come Adam and me weren\u2019t asked?\u201d<\/p>\n

Patting Hoss consolingly on the shoulder, Joe fought to keep a straight face. \u201cI guess you\u2019re both just too old and staid, brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a second, Hoss took Joe\u2019s tone at face value, then he realised what Joe had said, and swiped at the younger man with a massive paw. Joe, laughing, danced back out of reach. \u201cJist you come back here, you little varmint!\u201d Hoss threatened, as Joe nimbly dodged another swipe.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s going on here?\u201d Ben Cartwright, the boy\u2019s father, asked, coming from the kitchen. He took in the situation with a single glance. \u201cI see you\u2019re ready to go,\u201d he said to Joe, who placed himself strategically by his father\u2019s side. It proved to be a sound move, as Hoss stopped trying to knock his block off. \u201cWell, remember, don\u2019t be too late. Patty\u2019s father doesn\u2019t want a hoard of young people milling about his place till all hours of the morning. I don\u2019t want you going into town afterwards, either. Tomorrow\u2019s a working day, and you have an early start!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure thing, Pa,\u201d Joe agreed, his laughing green eyes still locked on Hoss, who was taking up position near the door. \u201cI won\u2019t be too late.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEnjoy yourself,\u201d Ben said, and turned to sit by the fire. When Joe didn\u2019t move, Ben turned to eye him. \u201cAren\u2019t you going?\u201d he asked, wondering what mischief his irrepressible youngest son was cooking up now. Life was never dull with Joe around.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d love to, Pa, but Hoss is blocking the door,\u201d Joe complained. \u201cCome on, big brother, I\u2019ll be late if I don\u2019t go soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor goodness\u2019 sake, let him go,\u201d Ben said. \u201cI\u2019ve got some fresh coffee here, Hoss, and Hop Sing is bringing a plate of cookies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Giving Joe a look that told him all was not forgotten, Hoss let his brother pass, giving him a swat on the rear, on account. Grinning, Joe picked up his hat, shrugged on his favourite blue jacket and left.<\/p>\n

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

The music had already begun when Joe arrived at the Smiths\u2019. He sought Patty out, and gave her his gift. There were quite a number of Virginia City\u2019s young people there, and several couples were already dancing. It was a lively atmosphere, and Joe soon found himself in demand as a dance partner. He was light on his feet, an excellent dancer, and very good company. For a while, he danced every dance, but after a few successive fast ones, he pleaded for a rest, and made his way over to the punch bowl.<\/p>\n

The punch bowl was proving very popular, he had noticed. Usually, punch at parties like this was thirst quenching, but not particularly flavourful. However, when Joe tasted it, he discovered why everyone was clustered there \u2013 the punch had been doctored. Joe could taste the rum in it. With a grin at one or two others who had also realised, Joe said nothing.<\/p>\n

As the evening wore on, Joe found himself singled out by Patty. They danced several times, then when a waltz was played, Patty made a beeline for Joe and dragged him out on the floor again. \u201cDo you know what night it is?\u201d Patty asked, smiling seductively. Joe realised she was a bit drunk.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure I do,\u201d Joe replied, smiling back. \u201cIts your 19th birthday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cApart from that, silly,\u201d she chided.<\/p>\n

\u201cHallowe\u2019en?\u201d he ventured, knowing perfectly well that it was. He was rewarded with a groan and a rolling of eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know why I like you, Joe Cartwright,\u201d Patty scolded. \u201cAfter this dance, why don\u2019t you come with me? I\u2019ve something to show you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d Joe replied, intrigued. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll see,\u201d Patty replied, and gave him another seductive smile. Joe\u2019s smile grew in response. He could hardly wait for the dance to be over.<\/p>\n

As they slipped outside, Joe noticed it was growing pretty late. Patty\u2019s father had said the party must stop at 11:30. It was 11:20 now. The crowd were growing rowdy, as the younger guests, not accustomed to drink, were succumbing to the rum in the punch. Joe wondered when the first fight would begin. He was determined to keep clear.<\/p>\n

Clutching Joe\u2019s hand, Patty led him across the yard, behind the barn. Joe was even more intrigued. Patty was not the type of girl to risk her reputation for a quick tumble in the barn, no matter how handsome the cowboy. Through the trees, Joe caught the flicker of a bonfire. Sure enough, Patty led the way there.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you like it?\u201d she asked, gesturing to the fire.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs this it?\u201d Joe questioned. He\u2019d seen fires before. He wondered how much Patty had had to drink. She\u2019d seemed reasonably sober, but now he wondered if the night air had allowed the drink to catch up with her.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot all of it,\u201d Patty said, and she slurred her words. Joe knew she was drunk. \u201cCome on, girls!\u201d<\/p>\n

About half a dozen girls dashed from behind the trees, and ran at Joe. He just stood, trying to figure out what was goin on. He shrugged off the first couple who tried to grab his arms, but it wasn\u2019t in his nature to hit a woman, and he soon went down under their combined weight. With many hands making light work, he soon found his shirt ripped from his back, and he was tied down, spread-eagle.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d he gasped. \u201cLet me up! Patty, this has gone far enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIts Hallowe\u2019en, Joe, and we are the witches of the coven of Virginia City,\u201d Patty intoned. \u201cYou are our sacrifice to the goddess. You are the chosen one!\u201d<\/p>\n

The other girls all began chanting, \u201cThe Chosen One. The Chosen One,\u201d over and over again. All summer, the girls had been playing at being witches. It had been Patty\u2019s idea. She had come across a book of witchcraft in the attic of her home. Neither parent had known it was there, but Patty had read it from cover to cover, fascinated by the new things she\u2019d learned. Soon, she was showing the book to all her girlfriends, and they had begun to practice some of the spells in secret.<\/p>\n

Nothing much had happened, until one of the girls, Ruth, had slipped a love potion into her date\u2019s cup at a dance. Her date had become unwell, then collapsed. Fortunately, Doc Martin had been nearby, and had managed to save the youth, although it had been close. No-one could figure out where the poison he had taken had come from, as nobody else was affected.<\/p>\n

Not in the least discouraged by their failures, Patty and her friends decided that perhaps they weren\u2019t real witches yet, and would need to make more effort. So they had taken to meeting once a week and dancing round the bonfire. They chanted words they\u2019d found in the book, that they believed would summon the goddess. Finally, Patty had announced that her birthday would be the perfect day to complete their initiation into the witch-hood. They would offer a human sacrifice.<\/p>\n

One or two of the girls tried to back out at that point, but Patty dominated the group completely, and they were beginning to be afraid of her. So, unwillingly, they agreed. Joe was selected as the sacrifice, because he was older than them, and good looking. The sacrifice had to be someone they would miss once dead. Patty rather liked Joe, and knew she would regret his death. That seemed to her to be the meaning of sacrifice.<\/p>\n

To ensure her followers\u2019 obedience, Patty had spiked the punch at the party herself, and made the girls drink several cups of it. During the waltz, her followers had slipped out unnoticed, and she had brought Joe, like a lamb, to the slaughter.<\/p>\n

Alarmed, Joe fought against his bonds. They might only have been girls, and drunk at that, but the knots that bound him were tight. \u201cPatty, enough!\u201d he cried. \u201cA game\u2019s a game, but this has gone far enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot far enough yet,\u201d Patty said, and laughed. One of the other girls handed her a dagger. The firelight flickered off the polished steel, and Joe felt his stomach muscles contract.<\/p>\n

Yet, he still thought it must be some sort of sick joke. Witchcraft was against the law, and although he didn\u2019t know the punishment for being a witch, Joe was sure it was a price these girls wouldn\u2019t be willing to pay. He thought they were playing with him, waiting for him to beg for mercy, or some other humiliating thing. So he didn\u2019t shout for help, reluctant to be seen in such a position, and even more reluctant to expose these girls to unwanted attention.<\/p>\n

Joining hands, the girls began to circle round Joe and Patty, chanting now under their breath. Patty held the dagger up and chanted, \u201cGreat goddess! Come to us, your daughters, and show us the way. Take this sacrifice as your just due.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a flair for the dramatic, Patty moved closer to Joe and raised the dagger above her head. For a moment, her eyes locked with Joe\u2019s. \u201cDon\u2019t!\u201d he said, softly. She was too drunk, he reasoned, to know what she was doing, and he didn\u2019t want her to ruin her life with a drunken prank gone wrong. \u201cPatty, think! This is wrong!\u201d<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t seem as though Patty had heard him. The dagger began its downward plunge, and Joe closed his eyes. He didn\u2019t want to see her ruin her life, even as she ended his.\u00a0I love you,<\/em>\u00a0Pa<\/em>, he thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop!\u201d A deep male voice cried out, and Patty, distracted, looked up. The dagger didn\u2019t plunge into Joe\u2019s stomach as she\u2019d intended, but sliced along one of his ribs, opening up a large, deep, gash down his left side. Joe felt the searing pain and cried out, his eyes opening wide.<\/p>\n

Two men rode into the circle, scattering the girls, who reverted from being witches to being ordinary teenagers. One man jumped from his horse and knelt by Joe. \u201cAre you all right?\u201d he asked, and Joe recognised Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d he asked, and then groaned.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the other rider, Hoss Joe surmised from the light of the fire, had rounded up the girls, and was now heading towards the house where he would get help. Joe closed his eyes again, the better to bear the pain. He felt Adam slice through the ropes that held him captive.<\/p>\n

People came with lights and shouting as Adam helped Joe to sit up. The girls were all milling around, most of them crying. Patty was crumpled in a heap, her eyes fixed on Joe. Mr Smith was first on the scene, and gazed with horrified disbelief at the gash in Joe\u2019s side, which Adam was staunching with the remains of Joe\u2019s best dress shirt. \u201cWhat is going on?\u201d he gasped.<\/p>\n

Quickly, Adam filled him in on what he and Hoss had seen and heard. Mr Smith knelt by Joe. \u201cJoe? Are you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need a doctor,\u201d Adam said, and he sounded angry.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think they meant it really,\u201d Joe said, weakly. \u201cThe punch was spiked, and they are all drunk. I think they were just pretending to be witches, but got caught up in the idea. It is Hallowe\u2019en, after all. It was just a game, which went wrong. Patty didn\u2019t mean to hurt me. She was startled when Adam shouted.\u201d He shot a pleading glance at his older brother, who knelt by his side holding him. Adam read the glance, and understood it. He knew what Joe was asking of him, and he realised that Joe was probably right. The drink was partly to blame for this. Swallowing, he knew he couldn\u2019t condemn these girls to whatever fate awaited convicted witches.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Joe\u2019s right,\u201d he agreed. \u201cI think I startled Patty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gratitude flowed from the depths of those green eyes, as Joe sagged against Adam. The girls were safe; although Joe thought it unlikely he would want to be alone with any of them for a long time. He looked across at Patty, and she was frowning at him. Joe was too sore to wonder what was bothering her. He was feeling extremely light headed, and cold. He shivered, and Adam immediately stripped off his coat and wrapped it round Joe. \u201cLet\u2019s get you inside,\u201d Adam said, and helped Joe to his feet.<\/p>\n

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

As the girls\u2019 parents arrived to collect them, they were told the story. There were many recriminations for allowing the punch to be spiked, and not supervising them enough, but Joe thought that the punishment each girl would receive would be enough. He waited with his brothers in the Smiths\u2019 front room, where Doc Martin came to patch him up,<\/p>\n

It was late as they rode gently home. Joe had been lucky. It was a flesh wound, and had required only a few stitches. \u201cI hope you did the right thing,\u201d Adam commented, softly.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo do I,\u201d Joe agreed, soberly. \u201cBut I remember bits of what it was like the first time I got really drunk. I had no idea what I was doing. Everything seemed like a good idea at the time. Luckily, I had you two there to keep me out of trouble. Those girls had no one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI reckon you\u2019re right there, Little Joe,\u201d Hoss said. He looked uneasily over his shoulder. A wind had sprung up, and the trees round about were creaking eerily in the growing breeze. \u201cLet\u2019s get you home and hope we don\u2019t meet no ghosts on the way!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are no such things as ghosts!\u201d Adam said, firmly.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd even if there were,\u201d Joe added, \u201cits past midnight, so its All Saints Day. All the ghosts have to go home to bed!\u201d<\/p>\n

They jogged on for a moment more. Hoss still looked uneasy. \u201cAdam,\u201d he said, finally, \u201cis there a real good reason that you stopped that little girl from stabbing him?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

The next morning, Joe was allowed to sleep late. When he woke, he was stiff and sore, and he eased himself from the bed cautiously, being careful of his stitches. Dressed, he went downstairs, and wasn\u2019t surprised to find only Ben in the room. \u201cMorning, Pa,\u201d he said, hoarsely.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood morning, Little Joe,\u201d Ben said, rising from his desk. \u201cHow do you feel this morning?\u201d He crossed to his son, and put a hand on his shoulder. He had been concerned by Joe\u2019s paleness last night, but even to his worried eye, Joe looked better this morning.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a little stiff, but that\u2019s all,\u201d Joe admitted. \u201cWhere is everyone?\u201d<\/p>\n

Smiling, Ben guided Joe to the table, where his place was laid. \u201cOut, working,\u201d he answered. \u201cWe decided to let you sleep, as you won\u2019t be doing much until your side is healed.\u201d Ben went to the kitchen and returned moments later with coffee. Hop Sing was at his back with a plate of bacon and eggs.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were lucky last night,\u201d Ben said, watching as Joe tucked in. \u201cThank goodness Adam and Hoss were there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reminded, Joe swallowed and said, \u201cYeah, what\u00a0were<\/em>\u00a0they doing there anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs to that, you\u2019d need to ask your brothers,\u201d Ben responded. \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d He smiled. \u201cBut, as I said, I\u2019m grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe, too,\u201d Joe agreed, round a mouthful of bacon. He ate a good meal, much to Ben\u2019s well-hidden relief. But after that, came the difficult task of keeping him quiet, and Ben ended up devoting quite a bit of the day to keeping Joe occupied.<\/p>\n

When Adam and Hoss came back just before supper, Joe was beginning to finally tire slightly. Ben had left him to his own devices for the last few hours, since he had to do the paperwork that was the only, slight, down side to the Ponderosa. Joe immediately began to bombard his brothers with questions, but he got very few responses until they were at the supper table, and had eaten most of the meal.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have to thank you for last night,\u201d Joe said, as he played with his mashed potatoes. \u201cIt was real handy you being there. Which reminds me. What\u00a0were<\/em>\u00a0you two doing at the Smiths\u2019 place anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n

At once, Hoss became very interested in the scant remnants of his meal. He ducked his head, and avoided looking at Joe. Frowning, Joe turned his head to look down the table at Adam, who also seemed to be finding his plate fascinating. \u201cWell?\u201d Joe demanded. \u201cIt can\u2019t be that hard a question.\u201d He shot a glance at his father, who was frowning, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d Ben said, when no answer was forthcoming. \u201cWe\u2019re waiting. I\u2019d like to know, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two oldest Cartwright sons exchanged glances, and Hoss ducked his head again. Adam cleared his throat and allowed his gaze to wander the room. \u201cWell, its like this,\u201d he said, and paused. Joe let out an exaggerated sigh. \u201cWe weren\u2019t sure that you\u2019d come straight home, so we decided to go and wait for you, and make sure you came here, and didn\u2019t go to the saloon.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a moment, Joe just gazed at Adam, his face expressionless. Then came the moment they had dreaded, and Joe grew angry in an instant. \u201cWell, thank you so much for that!\u201d he exploded. \u201cI promised Pa I would come straight home, but you two! No, you don\u2019t believe I\u2019d keep my word, and so you came to collect me, like I\u2019m still a child! Well let me tell you something,\u00a0brothers<\/em>! I\u2019m not a child, and I resent you treating me like one!\u201d Joe pushed back his chair and rose from the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, we was jist thinkin\u2019 of you,\u201d Hoss protested.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a good thing for you that we did come,\u201d Adam pointed out, avoiding Ben\u2019s eye. \u201cWe did save your life, after all!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou hardly knew that in advance,\u201d Joe shouted. \u201cNot unless you can see into the future all of a sudden!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCalm down, Joseph,\u201d Ben instructed. He sounded angry, too. \u201cJoe is right, though, boys. I didn\u2019t ask you to make sure he came home, did I? Surely Joe can be trusted to keep his word? I\u2019m thankful that you did go there last night, but I\u2019m not happy about your reason for going.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was silence. Adam looked at his plate. Hoss\u2019 face was the colour of beetroot. \u201cI\u2019m real sorry I didn\u2019t trust ya, Little Joe,\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure you are,\u201d Joe snarled. \u201cNow you\u2019ve been found out!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh come on, Joe!\u201d Adam protested. \u201cIts not as though you\u2019ve never sneaked off into town, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not the point!\u201d Joe yelled. \u201cI gave Pa my word, and you decided it was worthless! Well, thanks a lot,\u00a0brother<\/em>!\u201d He drew a ragged breath. \u201cI\u2019m going to bed.\u201d He turned sharply away from the table, and caught his balance on the wall. Ben was beside him in an instant, but Joe was too angry to accept help from anyone, even Ben. \u201cPa, I\u2019m all right,\u201d he said, and shrugged off the helping hand.<\/p>\n

Watching, the others saw he was unsteady on his feet, and none of them moved to help him. In this kind of mood, Joe would as soon die as accept the help he needed. Without a backward glance, Joe went upstairs, and they heard his bedroom door bang resoundingly.<\/p>\n

Wearily, Ben sat down again. He pushed his plate away in sudden disgust. He glared at his two sons. \u201cI can hardly believe you did that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, Pa, we didn\u2019t mean no harm,\u201d Hoss said, uncomfortably. \u201cIf\u2019n Joe had started straight home, we\u2019d have ridden back, and he wouldn\u2019t have know nothin\u2019 about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs Joe said, that\u2019s not the point. You just showed Joe that you didn\u2019t trust him. What did he do to deserve that? Nothing. I don\u2019t know how you\u2019re going to make it up to him, but I don\u2019t envy you the task.\u201d Ben rose from the table. \u201cGood night, boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Ben walked up stairs, Hop Sing came from the kitchen and cleared away the meal. He didn\u2019t offer either desert or coffee, and said not a word to the two men at the table. They sat silently, each absorbed in their own uncomfortable thoughts.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cWe didn\u2019t ought to\u2019ve done it!\u201d Hoss said. \u201cI guess he\u2019s got every right to be mad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI already said I agreed with you,\u201d Adam responded, irritably. \u201cDo you have to keep going on about it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow we gonna make it up to Little Joe?\u201d Hoss asked. He stopped grooming Chubb and leant against the horse\u2019s back.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no idea,\u201d was the short reply as Adam hefted his saddle onto Sport\u2019s back. \u201cI\u2019d have thought saving his life would have been enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, Adam, that was jist luck,\u201d protested Hoss. \u201cIf\u2019n you hadn\u2019t been watchin\u2019 them gals, we might not have seen what they was doin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I don\u2019t know, Hoss. Why don\u2019t you think of something for a change?\u201d Adam demanded. He led Sport out of the barn and mounted. Without waiting, he rode away.<\/p>\n

With a sigh, and feeling really bad for Joe, Hoss saddled Chubb and led him out of the barn. He glanced at the house before he mounted, but he didn\u2019t see Joe standing at the bedroom window. Joe took care that he wasn\u2019t seen. His heart was cold with a mixture of anger and sorrow.\u00a0 When Hoss rode out of sight, Joe crossed back to the bed and flung himself down on it. His side twinged, but Joe paid no heed. His heart was sorer than any injury he had suffered. After a while, he cried, burying his head in the pillow to muffle his sobs.<\/p>\n

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

The story of the party was all over Virginia City in a matter of days. Ben heard about 4 different versions when he went in to collect supplies and the mail. Almost the only thing the stories agreed upon was the bonfire and Joe being injured. Even there, Ben heard any number of different injuries. Someone even offered condolences for Joe\u2019s death. That was one rumour Ben was happy to quash.<\/p>\n

None of the girls involved in the scandal had been seen since the party, and Ben met one or two parents who stammered their way through an embarrassed apology. Another one or two crossed the street, to avoid having to do the same thing. It had been impossible to keep the story from Roy Coffee, the sheriff, and he cornered Ben and asked if Joe was pressing charges.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood lord, no!\u201d Ben exclaimed. \u201cWhat good would that do? Joe is sure those girls didn\u2019t realise what they were doing. They had been drinking spiked punch, and a game just got out of hand, that was all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure, Ben?\u201d Roy persisted. \u201cMaybe I should ride out to the ranch and ask Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf my word isn\u2019t good enough, feel free,\u201d Ben said, slightly stiffly. \u201cBut you won\u2019t get a good reception, I\u2019m afraid. Joe has barely spoken to any of us for days.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes he feel that bad about it?\u201d Roy asked raising his eyebrows.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Ben answered. \u201cIt\u2019s just that Adam and Hoss had gone out there to check up on him, and Joe was furious that they were treating him like a child.\u201d Ben sighed, for the atmosphere at the ranch was beginning to get him down. Joe was perfectly pleasant and friendly to Ben and Hop Sing, and coldly indifferent to his brothers. He generally acted as though they weren\u2019t there. He wasn\u2019t even grousing about being laid up, which worried Ben immensely.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I can\u2019t blame the boy, Ben,\u201d Roy said, after hearing the story. \u201cI would\u2019ve been angry, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was angry,\u201d agreed Ben. \u201cBut Joe won\u2019t accept their apologies. I\u2019m at my wits\u2019 end with the boy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t bother him, if you\u2019re sure he doesn\u2019t want to press charges,\u201d Roy said. \u201cYou know him best. See you around, Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thoughtfully, Ben walked back to the buckboard, and loaded the supplies. Joe had had some major tantrums before, but this one was really taking the biscuit. Ben was at a loss to know what to do. \u201cBen!\u201d hailed a voice, and Ben turned. Paul Martin crossed the main street and smiled at Ben. \u201cBeen catching up with the gossip?\u201d he enquired, facetiously. \u201cTell Joe to come into town and get his stitches out in a couple of days. He should be about healed by now. Since you haven\u2019t sent for me, I take it there were no complications.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cApart from his mood, no, none,\u201d Ben answered.<\/p>\n

Rolling his eyes, Paul said, \u201cLike that, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, that\u2019s part of the problem.\u201d And Ben told the story again.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a tough one, Ben,\u201d he said. \u201cSend Joe in tomorrow, and I\u2019ll have a look at the wound. If it\u2019s healed as well as I expect, you can put him back to work the day after, and maybe that will help. Less time to brood.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Paul,\u201d Ben said, and bid his friend goodbye as he shook up the team and headed for home.<\/p>\n

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

The next day, as good as his word, Paul removed Joe\u2019s stitches. The wound had healed well, but Paul advised Joe to be careful for another week or so. Thanking the doctor, Joe left the office, and unhitched Cochise from the rail. Ever since he rode into town, Joe had known that he was the subject of intense speculation. He could feel eyes on him all the time. Joe didn\u2019t usually lack for confidence, and generally didn\u2019t mind being the centre of attention.<\/p>\n

But it was different this time. This time, he could sense the whispers, the rumours. He wondered if everyone knew what had happened to him. Tugging his hat down a little further over his face, Joe swung easily into the saddle and turned Cochise for home. He kept his eyes firmly fixed between Cochise\u2019s black and white ears, and ignored everyone who tried to talk to him.<\/p>\n

Once out of the town, Joe lifted his head again, and urged Cochise to a lope. He wasn\u2019t looking forward to going home, either. He was finding it hard to hold the grudge against his brothers, for two reasons. One was that he had no practice at holding grudges. Joe\u2019s nature was too quicksilver for that. The other was that he knew that Adam and Hoss had saved his life. It seemed churlish to him that he couldn\u2019t forgive them. Yet their lack of trust rankled. He didn\u2019t know what to do.<\/p>\n

As always, when troubled, Joe found himself at his mother\u2019s grave.\u00a0 Kneeling there, he poured his heart out to the spirit of the woman he could barely remember, not sparing himself in the telling, either. He shed more than a few tears. After a while, Joe felt calmer, and got to his feet, dusting off his knees. \u201cThank you, Mama,\u201d he said. \u201cI know what I\u2019ve got to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was with a lighter heart that Joe rode home.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cHi, Pa,\u201d Joe said, coming into the house, and throwing his hat down on the credenza. He stooped to untie his holster. It followed his hat to the credenza. He crossed to the office, where Ben was sitting reading a letter, and hitched his butt onto the edge of the desk, leaning his arm along his upraised knee. It was a pose totally typical of Joe. \u201cAnything happen while I was gone?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot that you\u2019d notice,\u201d Ben replied, putting his letter down. \u201cYou\u2019re back sooner than I expected. Did Paul take the stitches out? Didn\u2019t you meet anyone you knew in the saloon?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t go to the saloon,\u201d Joe replied, getting up and wandering away a little. \u201cThe only person I saw was Paul. Yes, he did take the stitches out.\u201d Unasked, Joe pulled up his shirt to show Ben the healing wound. He avoided Ben\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that\u2019s good, son,\u201d Ben said, at a loss. It was a feeling he was becoming all too familiar with in the past week. It was a feeling he didn\u2019t like. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t too sore?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it was fine,\u201d Joe replied, carelessly. It had been rather painful at the time, but Joe was still wrestling with heartache, which tended to block out physical pain. Ben had wanted to go in with Joe, but had realised that Joe might take that as another example of being treated like a child. So the offer had been made casually, and the rejection given just as casually. \u201cI\u2019m okay, Pa,\u201d Joe assured him, briefly making eye contact, and smiling.<\/p>\n

As Joe wandered over to the settee, Ben picked up his letter and fastened his eyes on it again. But his mind was on Joe. He had no idea what to say to him to try and make things right between he and his brothers. But something had to be done soon. Ben didn\u2019t think he could stand another week like the one that had just gone by.<\/p>\n

Before he could make up his mind to say anything, he heard Adam and Hoss ride into the yard. He tensed unconsciously, waiting for Joe to get up and go to his room, as he\u2019d done so often lately. But Joe remained where he was, leafing through the\u00a0Territorial Enterprise<\/em>. He didn\u2019t seem to have heard them. Ben bit back a sigh. He\u2019d found himself sighing a lot lately!<\/p>\n

The door opened, and Hoss was first in. He didn\u2019t say anything, his greeting dying in his throat as he caught sight of Joe. \u201cPa,\u201d he muttered, and spent a long time unbuckling his gun belt. Adam wasn\u2019t far behind. He, too, saw Joe before he spoke, and stood frozen for a moment.<\/p>\n

Rising slowly, and carefully placing the paper on the table, Joe turned round. Ben thought he would then go upstairs, but he didn\u2019t. \u201cI want to talk to you,\u201d he said, quietly. \u201cCome and sit down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Exchanging glances, they did as they were asked. Joe was silent for a long moment. \u201cI don\u2019t quite know how to say this,\u201d he began, and Ben was gripped by a great fear. He was convinced that Joe would tell them he was leaving, never to return. He didn\u2019t think he could stand it.<\/p>\n

Restlessly, Joe paced, as though that might help him find the words. It seemed to work. \u201cI was really angry at you two for not trusting me,\u201d he went on, looking anywhere but at his brothers. \u201cI still am, I guess. But you did save my life, whatever your reasons for being there. And I\u2019m grateful to you.\u201d He paused again, and looked up at them.\u00a0 \u201cI guess what I\u2019m trying to say is I\u2019m sorry for treating you so badly this last week. I hope you\u2019ll forgive me, like I\u2019ve forgiven you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Relief overwhelmed Ben, and he had to blink back tears. For a moment, he thought his other sons would reject their brother\u2019s words, but Hoss lumbered to his feet, and went over to give Joe a loving slap on the back. It totally escaped his notice that Joe was almost floored by his affection! \u201cJoe, I\u2019m real sorry, too, and o\u2019 course I forgive you. I\u2019ve missed you this week, Shortshanks. I ain\u2019t never gonna do somethin\u2019 like that again!\u201d<\/p>\n

As always, Adam\u2019s response was cooler. \u201cJoe, I was in the wrong, and I apologise. I had no right to treat you like a child, and I won\u2019t do it again.\u201d He offered his hand. Joe looked at it for a moment, then threw his arms round Adam\u2019s neck and gave his oldest brother a quick hug.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou boys better get cleaned up for supper,\u201d Ben said, and went to stand by Joe as the others went to wash up. \u201cSon, I\u2019m so proud of you,\u201d he said to Joe, putting his arm round the young man\u2019s shoulder. \u201cWhen did you decide to do this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOn my way back from town,\u201d Joe admitted. \u201cI stopped by Mama\u2019s grave. When I was in town, everyone was talking about me. I could see them whispering behind their hands, and it was awful. It was only when I was riding back that I realised that I was lonely. I\u2019ve never really been lonely before. Sure, I had you and Hop Sing, but I missed Adam and Hoss. I missed the fun and the fights. And besides, they saved my life. It was pretty low of me not to take that into account.\u201d<\/p>\n

Swallowing over the lump in his throat, Ben gave Joe another squeeze. \u201cThank you, son,\u201d he whispered, and walked over to the table. \u201cAnd thank you too, Marie, my love,\u201d he added silently.<\/p>\n

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

Life on the ranch returned to normal. Hoss and Joe teased one another mercilessly, and Joe and Adam bickered over who did the most work. It was like music to Ben\u2019s ears, and several weeks passed before he began to tell them to lay off one another.<\/p>\n

In the city, too, things were returning to normal. The girls, chastened and subdued, began to be seen around again. Joe met most of them regularly on a Sunday morning at church, but he seldom spoke to them. Each girl had approached him separately and apologised. Joe found it as embarrassing as they did. He knew that the parson was taking classes with them, hoping to drive out any further ideas of dabbling in the dark arts.<\/p>\n

The only one who was not shaken out of the world of make-believe was Patty. She had done some more research into her family, and discovered that her maternal great-grandmother had been burned as a witch in England 50 years before. With each fact she uncovered, she became more and more convinced that she was destined to follow in her great-grandmother\u2019s footsteps. They shared a birth date. For Patty, that was the deciding factor.<\/p>\n

Outwardly, Patty put on a show of being repentant. She attended the classes held by the reverend, answered questions when they were put to her, and kept a decorous silence when they weren\u2019t. The rest of the girls shunned her completely, but that only made her more determined to become a proper witch.<\/p>\n

On Sunday mornings, she watched Joe covertly across the church. She thought he was the handsomest man she had ever seen, and was still determined to use him as her sacrifice. Patty saw how Joe avoided the girls who\u2019d been at her party, and knew she would have to work hard to charm him back to her side. Late at night, on the next full moon, Patty slipped out of the house, and cast a spell designed to make Joe trust her again.<\/p>\n

By Christmas, the Hallowe\u2019en doings were all but forgotten. Virginia City was cocooned in a deep fall of snow, which softened the outlines of the buildings. The Christmas dance was the highlight of the winter calendar, and the Cartwrights made every effort to go. Rather than ride in, Ben hitched up the sleigh, and they bundled themselves in blankets and furs in the back, and rode into town that way.<\/p>\n

The hall was full of warmth and light, and Christmas decorations glittered gaily. The rich scent of the Christmas tree added to the joyful atmosphere. It wasn\u2019t long before all the Cartwrights were on the floor, dancing the night away. Joe tentatively accepted dances from one or two of the girls from the Hallowe\u2019en party, and soon it seemed like old times. Adam, keeping a wary eye on Joe, was relieved to see that he didn\u2019t dance more than once with any of the girls who\u2019d come so close to murdering him.<\/p>\n

However, when Patty crossed to Joe\u2019s side, Adam practically leapt out of the arms of the girl he was dancing with. Only a dark look, intercepted from Ben prevented him charging across to Joe\u2019s rescue. Still, he kept glancing at Joe until the girl he was dancing with chided him for his lack of attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe,\u201d Patty said, looking and sounding subdued. \u201cHow are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d Joe responded. He was as taut as a wire, unsure what to say to this girl. \u201cHow about you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m all right,\u201d she replied, her eyes downcast. \u201cJoe, I wanted to apologise again about the party. It was so wrong of me. I don\u2019t know what got into me. We\u2019d been playing all summer, and then it all got out of hand. How can you ever forgive me?\u201d She wiped a tear from her eye. Patty had been an accomplished actress from the time she was a small child.<\/p>\n

\u201cIts all over,\u201d Joe said, uncomfortably. He hated to see girls cry. \u201cForget about it, Patty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow can I?\u201d she cried. \u201cJoe, if Adam hadn\u2019t stopped me\u2026 \u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cPatty, drop it,\u201d Joe said, sharply, and walked away. The memories brought back by thinking of that night were extremely vivid and unpleasant. Joe still had the occasional nightmare about it. He didn\u2019t need Patty raking it all up again.<\/p>\n

As the evening wore on, the festive atmosphere worked its magic on Joe, and he remembered the Christmas message of \u2018Peace on earth and goodwill to all men\u2019. So when Patty approached him again later, asking to dance, just for old times sake, Joe agreed. He\u2019d drunk enough to feel mellow, and the dance passed pleasantly enough. By the end of it, Joe was thinking that perhaps he would be able to trust these young women again some day.<\/p>\n

It was a thought that kept him silent on the long, cold ride home. He leant sleepily against Ben\u2019s broad shoulder, and thought about trust. It seemed foolish to hold a grudge against those girls forever. After all, they had all had a very bad fright and learned a salutary lesson. Maybe it was about time he began to treat them like he had always done, and let bygones be bygones.<\/p>\n

And so Christmas passed in peace and joy for the residents of the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n

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

As winter wore on, Joe often found himself chatting to Patty when they met in the street. It had been a comparatively mild winter, and the Ponderosa hadn\u2019t been cut off too often. It had even been possible for the Cartwrights to attend a few of the winter dances, a treat they normally had to forego. Joe regularly found himself paired with Patty for dances.<\/p>\n

It was after a trip into town for supplies with Adam that the trouble began. \u201cWhat were you talking to the Smith girl about for so long?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n

Unerringly picking up on the disapproval in Adam\u2019s voice, Joe said, defensively, \u201cWhat does it have to do with you? We were only talking!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t get on your high horse!\u201d Adam retorted. \u201cBut you seemed mighty friendly with a girl who tried to kill you last year!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe agreed that she didn\u2019t mean it,\u201d Joe shot back. \u201cWhen are you going to let her forget it? Or me, for that matter? If I choose to talk to Patty all day and all night, that\u2019s my business, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t say it wasn\u2019t,\u201d the older man said, irritably. \u201cI was just reminding you of a fact you seem to have forgotten.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, thanks for that,\u201d Joe growled, and tucked his head deeper inside his collar. The silence on the rest of the trip home was as frozen as the landscape around them.<\/p>\n

It was obvious to everyone that Joe was in a bad mood again. He unloaded the supplies with unnecessary vigour and in total silence, then stormed up to his room to slam the door. He and Adam had always had a prickly relationship. They were opposites, and tended to rub on each other\u2019s nerves after a while. Adam seemed unable to remember that Joe was no longer a child, and unfortunately, that often provoked Joe into acting like a child. With a sigh, Joe threw himself down on his bed.<\/p>\n

Downstairs, Ben looked at Adam. \u201cWell?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

With an exasperated sigh, Adam said, \u201cPa, I asked him what he was talking to Patty Smith about for so long, and he bit my head off. Said it was nothing to do with me. I just pointed out that she tried to kill him last year, and he got all defensive. Yelled at me for reminding him, and said to mind my own business.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s right, son,\u201d Ben said, gently. \u201cIt\u00a0is<\/em>\u00a0his business, and not trusting him to do the right thing caused that breach between you last year. I must admit, I\u2019m not happy that he seems able to trust her again, but Joe is an adult. He must do what he thinks is best.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chastened, Adam said,\u201d If it was any of the other girls I\u2019d be happier. But Patty\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about her?\u201d Ben asked, knowing that he found it impossible to like the girl, and always had. He was curious what Adam thought of her.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you remember Jock, the old Scot who worked for us for a while? He had a word he used. Sleekit. It meant sly in an evil way. Whenever I see Patty, that\u2019s the word that springs to mind.\u201d Adam shook his head. \u201cI\u2019m sorry I got Joe all riled up again, Pa. I\u2019ll go and say sorry now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, son,\u201d Ben said, and watched Adam crossing the room. Sleekit \u2013 the word stuck in Ben\u2019s mind. Yes, Adam was right. It did indeed fit Patty Smith.<\/p>\n

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

Unfortunately, Adam\u2019s interference had exactly the opposite effect to the one he\u2019d intended. If there was one way to make sure Joe did anything, it was to tell him he couldn\u2019t. Adam had basically told Joe to stay away from Patty Smith, and Joe found himself drawn to her like a bee to honey. As the weather thawed to a raw February, Joe seemed to bump into Patty everywhere he went. They were soon the gossip of the town.<\/p>\n

Not that Joe was foolish enough to believe he was in love. He simply thought he was helping her get over the nasty experience they had both had the previous fall. He kept his remarks deliberately light when he was with her, and avoided making suggestions that she might misconstrue.<\/p>\n

There was no danger of that. Patty had convinced herself that her spell had worked, and that she had charmed Joe back to liking her. More and more often, Patty was slipping out of her room at night, and she had begun sacrificing small animals that she caught in traps. With each step she took, Patty became more and more convinced she was on the right track, and would one day soon be a proper witch.<\/p>\n

On St. Valentine\u2019s Day, Joe met Patty in town again. He had ridden in to collect the mail, and was on his way back to Cochise, after drinking a cup of coffee to warm himself up, when he bumped into her coming out of the dress shop. \u201cHello, Patty,\u201d he said, cheerfully enough, given the raw, blustery wind, which had pushed him all the way from the Ponderosa. He faced riding back into the teeth of it on the way home.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello, Joe,\u201d Patty responded. \u201cMy goodness, you look frozen!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIts pretty cold,\u201d agreed Joe. \u201cYou look nice and warm, though.\u201d Patty was wrapped in a fur coat. \u201cWhere are you headed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBack to the buggy and home,\u201d she replied. \u201cI was collecting some dress material for Mama. The wind has picked up a lot since I left. Oh dear! I\u2019m driving Meg, and she hates the wind.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was very windy. Looking at the sky, Joe decided he wouldn\u2019t be surprised if it snowed again. \u201cTell you what,\u201d he suggested. \u201cWhy don\u2019t I come with you, and make sure you get home safely?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t ask you to do that,\u201d Patty protested, although secretly, she was exulting. \u201cIts out of your way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNever mind that,\u201d Joe said. \u201cI\u2019ll come out and make sure you\u2019re okay. No argument. Come on.\u201d<\/p>\n

They rode out to the Smiths\u2019 place together. Joe stayed on Cochise, the better to deal with any moves the buggy mare might make, but although there was a lot of tail swishing and flattened ears, Meg made no trouble on the journey. Once there, Joe was invited in to thaw out again before he made his way home. Patty made mulled wine, which Joe had only had occasionally before, but he had to agree that it certainly warmed him through. Patty\u2019s mother barely spoke to him before vanishing off to another room with the dress material.<\/p>\n

Finally, Joe rose. \u201cI must go,\u201d he said. \u201cIf I don\u2019t it\u2019ll be dark long before I get back. Thanks for the mulled wine, Patty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re welcome,\u201d she said, and watched as he put on his outer coat. She pretended not to notice as Joe stifled a yawn. She stood on the porch, wrapped in a shawl, as Joe tightened his cinch, and mounted Cochise. She noticed that he hadn\u2019t attempted to do his usual swing mount. She could no longer hold back her smile, as the cold amplified the effects of the drug she had put into his cup.<\/p>\n

Whirling back inside, Patty put on her coat, and slipped outside. Joe was riding slowly down the drive, and Patty went to the barn, where she soon had her pony saddled. It didn\u2019t take long for her to catch up with Joe. He was slumped in the saddle, in dire danger of falling off, when she caught up to him. With one hand, she took Cochise\u2019s reins, and then she propped Joe up as she led him off the drive, into the woods.<\/p>\n

This time, Patty took him deeper into the woods surrounding their property. She slid from her pony, and tethered it, and did the same for Cochise. Joe slid easily from Cochise\u2019s back. Quickly, Patty removed his coat and shirt, then tied him tightly spread-eagle on the ground. That done, she turned her attention to the bonfire she had made previously, and lit it.<\/p>\n

It took a while, but the bonfire gradually caught hold, and began to burn brightly. Once it was established, Patty dragged over some bigger logs, and positioned them on the fire. She tended it anxiously, afraid it would go out. By the time the logs were burning well, Joe was coming round.<\/p>\n

It took him several moments to realise what was happening, but as soon as his mind cleared, Joe began to yell his head off, hoping that he would be heard at the house. He fought against the ropes, but they bit into his flesh even tighter. His hands were going numb, but Joe wasn\u2019t sure if it was only the ropes, or if it was the cold, too. For darkness had fallen, and the temperature, never high, had plummeted. A bitter, raw, wind raised goosebumps on Joe\u2019s bare chest, and he was shivering hopelessly.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo,\u201d Patty purred, stepping into Joe\u2019s line of vision. \u201cHere we are again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPatty, don\u2019t do this,\u201d Joe pleaded. \u201cRemember Hallowe\u2019en! This is wrong! You know it is! Please, Patty, for your own sake, don\u2019t do this!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh!\u201d she said, scornfully. \u201cFor my own sake? For your own sake, you mean! Don\u2019t kid me you have any kind of concern for me, Little Joe Cartwright! You only want to save your miserable skin. But it\u2019s too late for that. You are destined to be my sacrifice, and I shall become a real witch. My spells brought you to me, and now I shall enter a new world.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a flourish, Patty threw off her coat, and stripped off all her clothes till she was clad only in her chemise and petticoats. She threw something onto the fire, which flared up with a whoosh. Joe was forcibly reminded of Tirza, and the exorcism he had watched the gypsies perform. Then, the intention had not been to kill Tirza. But kill was the only thing Patty intended to do. He swallowed hard as Patty began to dance around the bonfire, chanting under her breath.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cAre you sure about that?\u201d Ben asked, and Pete, the young livery stable hand nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure am, Mr. Cartwright,\u201d he said, eagerly. \u201cMr. Joe came in with Miss Patty, and they left together. Mr. Joe told her she would be all right with him to see her safely home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Pete,\u201d Ben said, and gave him a coin. Pete stammered his thanks, but Ben never heard him, his mind fixed on finding his youngest son.<\/p>\n

Leaving the stable, he saw Adam and Hoss coming towards him, both wearing remarkably grim expressions. \u201cHe hasn\u2019t been seen in hours,\u201d Adam reported, tersely.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe went home with Patty Smith,\u201d Ben said, his tone as grim as the boys\u2019 faces. \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was an anxious ride to the Smiths\u2019 place. Ben dismounted and knocked on the door. After a moment, Mr Smith opened it. \u201cBen!\u201d he said. \u201cThis is a surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWill, I don\u2019t have time to explain, but is Patty here? And Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u201d Smith repeated. \u201cNo, Joe\u2019s not here. Patty is in her room. Hold on.\u201d He disappeared inside, shouting Patty\u2019s name. It wasn\u2019t long before he came back, and he looked troubled. \u201cPatty is gone,\u201d he said. \u201cMy wife tells me Joe escorted her home. He had a drink, then left. Lisa thought Patty was in her room, but she\u2019s nowhere to be found. I\u2019ll get my coat, and come with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was more bad news as Smith returned with his horse. \u201cPatty\u2019s pony is missing,\u201d he said, and held up a lantern. Hoss took it, and examined the tracks on the damp ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis way,\u201d he said at last, and the others followed him as he headed into the woods.<\/p>\n

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

The knife glittered in the firelight. Joe watched with horror as Patty thrust the blade into the flames, then laid the steel against her forearm. The smell of scorching flesh came to him quite clearly. \u201cPlease, Patty,\u201d he pleaded. He had said the words so often, he was barely aware of them any more. The cold seeped into his body, and he couldn\u2019t feel his hands. His shivering had all but stopped.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow I am ready,\u201d Patty said, and turned to face her prisoner. She knelt by him, and caressed his smooth chest. Briefly, her hand moved lower, brushing his groin. But somewhere deep within her was the gently bred girl who wouldn\u2019t dare do such things, and her hand moved upwards of its own volition. \u201cI draw your blood as a sacrifice to the goddess,\u201d she whispered, and drew the blade lightly down Joe\u2019s breastbone.<\/p>\n

At first, there was no pain, but as the knife moved, drawing intricate patterns on his flesh, Patty began to dig deeper into his skin. Joe bit his lip to contain his cries, but it was no good. After a few moments, he was crying out his pain.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood, good,\u201d Patty said, and made a deep slice down one bicep, then the other. Joe was bleeding from any number of places.<\/p>\n

\u201cNO!\u201d he shrieked, and made another galvanic effort to break free. He only succeeded in leaving more rope burns on his wrists.<\/p>\n

\u201cPatty!\u201d came a voice, and Joe thought he had imagined it. \u201cPatty, don\u2019t!\u201d<\/p>\n

Then Joe felt as much as heard hoof beats on the ground, and he looked round to see Hoss throwing himself at Patty. The girl screamed, and brought the knife up, but Hoss was too quick for her, and knocked it out of her hand. He wrapped his huge arms around the struggling girl, and held her immobile.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe!\u201d Ben exclaimed, and jumped form Buck to kneel by his son. \u201cJoe! Son, oh, son!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa,\u201d Joe said. He blinked back tears of relief. Adam knelt by Ben and began to hack at the ropes binding Joe. The moment he was free, Adam disappeared. Seconds later, he was back, and as Ben helped Joe sit up, he put Joe\u2019s coat around his shoulders. Weary, Joe leant against Ben, and revelled in the heat coming from him. \u201cI don\u2019t think I feel too good,\u201d he muttered, and slid into a dead faint.<\/p>\n

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

It was difficult to decide what to do. Joe needed medical attention at once, but Ben was loath to go to the Smiths\u2019 house. Patty couldn\u2019t escape the law this time. So Ben and Hoss bundled Joe onto Buck, and they took him home, secure in the warmth of his father\u2019s arms. Mr Smith got Patty dressed again, and Adam escorted them to the sheriff\u2019s office, and saw that the doctor went to the ranch.<\/p>\n

By the time they got home, Joe was dangerously cold, and Ben had Hop Sing make up a tepid bath to help warm him up. It also got rid of all the earth stuck to his back. Then, he was taken up to bed, and shortly thereafter, Paul Martin arrived.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow is he, Paul?\u201d Ben asked, as Paul came out of Joe\u2019s room.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019ve stitched him up, and given him something for the pain. With luck, there won\u2019t be too much infection. Joe told me Patty sterilised the knife in the flames. But he was out there in the cold a long time. I just hope it hasn\u2019t gone to his chest. But he\u2019s very depressed, Ben. I\u2019m afraid there\u2019s nothing I can do for that.\u201d Paul sighed. \u201cI thought Joe was doing the right thing in helping those girls get back to normality, but it seems we were both wrong. I have to go, Ben. I have to examine Patty Smith.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d Ben said, and let himself into Joe\u2019s room.<\/p>\n

Turning his head, Joe gave Ben a sleepy smile, but it didn\u2019t have its usual brilliance. \u201cPa, how did you find me?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe heard your cries,\u201d Ben said. The sound of Joe\u2019s voice echoing eerily though the woods had given them all a shock. \u201cThey led us to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was trying to keep quiet,\u201d Joe said, and there was a breathy quality to his voice that Ben recognised. \u201cGood thing I failed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA very good thing, son,\u201d Ben said, and stroked Joe\u2019s hair. \u201cYou get some sleep. I\u2019ll be here.\u201d Joe clutched Ben\u2019s hand tightly, and fell asleep.<\/p>\n

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

For the first part of the night, Joe slept soundly, but later, as his temperature rose, he began to thrash around, crying out repeatedly. Ben did his best to keep Joe quiet, but it soon became obvious that Joe was very ill. About dawn, he began to cough, and that cough was to haunt the Ponderosa for many days to come. Paul practically lived at the ranch, as he helped the Cartwrights tend to Joe. They tired all sorts of things to bring his temperature down, but it was good old-fashioned ice packs that finally did the trick, and Joe\u2019s fever broke in a drenching sweat after three long days of fighting.<\/p>\n

Throughout, Ben had been at Joe\u2019s bedside, constantly keeping watch over his son. He had dozed in the chair by Joe\u2019s bed, letting Adam or Hoss take over the tedious job of keeping a cool cloth on Joe\u2019s head, but whenever Joe stirred, Ben was there, soothing him, loving him, supporting him. When the fever finally broke, and Adam and Hoss were changing the sweat-soaked sheets, Ben took Joe into his arms, rejoicing that after so many days, Joe\u2019s eyes were focused on his face again. \u201cPa,\u201d Joe whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m right here, son,\u201d Ben responded. \u201cYou rest, and you\u2019ll soon be well again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPromise?\u201d Joe asked, and the ghost of a smile flickered over his face and was gone.<\/p>\n

Smiling back, Ben said, \u201cI promise.\u201d As a child, Joe had always asked Ben to promise he would get well. It seemed he hadn\u2019t forgotten. \u201cYou sleep, Joe,\u201d he soothed, and Joe\u2019s eyes closed obediently.<\/p>\n

The cough didn\u2019t disappear at once. In fact, it lingered for almost a month. The least exertion started it off, and Joe would be breathless for several minutes afterwards. It wasn\u2019t helped by the weather taking a turn for the worse, with snow falling and lying again. No matter how careful everyone was, snow was tracked into the house, and melted in little puddles here and there. The dampness seemed to pervade the very air.<\/p>\n

Struggling for breath after a coughing fit, Joe would often look at Ben, and mouth \u2018promise?\u2019 Each time, Ben would repeat his promise. But it was a sure sign that Joe was depressed. Usually, he was reassuring everyone that he was fine. They all tried to get him to open up to them, but to no avail. Joe kept his thoughts to himself.<\/p>\n

Until one night, he wakened screaming from a nightmare. Ben was asleep, worn out from too many nights spent dozing in a chair. Adam had taken over sitting with Joe, and rushed to hold him. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to tell us about this,\u201d Adam said. \u201cIt\u2019s never going to go away if you don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Huddled against Adam\u2019s shoulder, Joe told his story in a low voice. He told about the meeting in town, and escorting her home. Then he told of the drugged wine, and how he had barely been able to mount Cochise, and then wakening up to find himself helpless. The cold; the knife; Patty. It all poured out of him in a torrent, and tears washed down his face. By the end of the telling, he was exhausted.<\/p>\n

A warm, familiar hand caressed his head, and Joe turned his face from Adam\u2019s shoulder to see Ben, clad in his robe, standing there with tears in his eyes. \u201cOh, Joe,\u201d he said. \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell us before? We were here for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just couldn\u2019t,\u201d Joe said, but he felt much lighter, as though a thousand pound weight had been lifted from his shoulders. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa, but I couldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Ben sat down on the edge of the bed, Joe untangled himself from Adam and leant on Ben\u2019s shoulder. \u201cI wish I\u2019d told you before,\u201d he admitted. \u201cBut I felt like such a fool.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIts over,\u201d Ben said. \u201cYou weren\u2019t a fool, Joe. You did what you did for the right reasons. But for some reason, Patty wasn\u2019t able to accept your help. That\u2019s not your blame. None of this is your fault.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a sigh, Joe snuggled in to the warm embrace, which was his earliest memory. It wasn\u2019t long before he was sound asleep. Ben eased him gently back to the pillow, and went to where Adam stood by the window. He put his hand on Adam\u2019s shoulder. \u201cAll right?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess,\u201d Adam said. \u201cBut when I think of her, it makes me so angry. I wish they would decide what to do with her, so this would all be over. Joe couldn\u2019t testify at a trial, Pa. I\u2019d hate if he had to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll just have to wait and see,\u201d Ben responded. \u201cI know how hard the waiting is. Joe isn\u2019t well enough yet to testify, so don\u2019t worry about it yet. Paul said he\u2019d let us know as soon as anything happens.\u201d Ben paused. \u201cI\u2019m glad Joe was able to open up to you about this. I think it\u2019ll help him a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smiling, Adam said, \u201cThanks, Pa.\u201d The tautness of the muscular shoulder under Ben\u2019s hand eased.<\/p>\n

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

Finally, Joe was allowed downstairs, and managed to get there without nearly coughing himself to death. It so happened, that that was the day Paul Martin arrived to tell them that Patty Smith had been committed to a sanatorium for the mentally insane.<\/p>\n

As Paul finished speaking, Ben glanced at Joe. The young man had his head down, looking aimlessly into the fire. Ben could see the troubled frown on his face. \u201cJoe?\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWas that the only way?\u201d Joe asked, raising tear-filled eyes to the two older men sitting opposite him. \u201cThose places are\u2026 \u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cHorrible,\u201d Paul said, matter-of-factly. \u201cWhich would you prefer, Joe? An asylum, or a hanging?\u201d<\/p>\n

Shocked, Joe\u2019s green eyes widened. His mouth hung open for a second. When he realised that he closed it with a snap. Adam rested a loving, brotherly hand on his shoulder. Hoss moved a little closer on the settee. \u201cShe tried to kill you, twice,\u201d Adam said, gently. \u201cThis is the kindest way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose it is,\u201d Joe said, eventually, having finally thought it through. \u201cPoor Patty.\u201d He looked up at the faces around him. \u201cPerhaps she is mad, after all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps,\u201d Adam said, but his tone suggested he didn\u2019t agree. Neither did Ben, or for that matter, Hoss or Paul. They said nothing.<\/p>\n

Shaking his head, Joe said, \u201cI think I\u2019ll go back to bed. I\u2019m a little tired.\u201d<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t until Joe had gone that Paul spoke up. \u201cBen, there is one thing. Patty keeps disappearing from the asylum. She is secured in a room with bars on the windows, but there are times when she just\u2026vanishes. Her room mate is convinced that she turns herself into a bat and flies away.\u201d He held up a hand as Ben tried to speak. \u201cI know, I know, but when I went there last week to see her, she had gone. A short time later, she was back. It\u2019s a mystery.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a shudder they couldn\u2019t quite repress, the Cartwrights all glanced at the ceiling. Patty Smith couldn\u2019t escape from an asylum.<\/p>\n

Could she?<\/p>\n

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

Next Story in the Witches Coven Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Witch Hunt<\/a>
\nJock<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary:\u00a0 Joe is invited to a birthday party on Hallowe’en. Spooky goings-on culminate in near tragedy.<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 T (10,465 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

Witches Coven Series, links to all stories within the series are included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":14947,"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":[23,41,29],"tags":[16],"class_list":["post-3566","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-hurtcomfort","category-halloween","tag-joe","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-41-id","wpcat-29-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1713,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Coven.png?fit=600%2C585&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3568,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3568","url_meta":{"origin":3566,"position":0},"title":"Jock (by Rona)","author":"Rona","date":"June 18, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 This is the story of the mysterious Jock, the ranch hand mentioned in The Witches Coven and Witch Hunt. Rated: T \u00a0 (7,405 words) Witches Coven Series, links to all the stories within the series are included.","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Coven.png?fit=600%2C585&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Coven.png?fit=600%2C585&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Coven.png?fit=600%2C585&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3564,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3564","url_meta":{"origin":3566,"position":1},"title":"Witch Hunt (by Rona)","author":"Rona","date":"May 28, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Ben returns home with bad news for the family, but Joe in particular. 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