{"id":3570,"date":"2003-07-09T00:51:23","date_gmt":"2003-07-09T04:51:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3570"},"modified":"2026-07-30T15:34:38","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T19:34:38","slug":"interlude-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3570","title":{"rendered":"Interlude (by Rona)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 <\/strong>A short story that is set between scenes at the end of \u201cA Far, Far Better Thing\u201d<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 T \u00a0 (2,220 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

Interlude\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Walking away from Indian\u2019s Grief, Joe couldn\u2019t help looking back. The place was more than just a symbol of a Paiute legend now; it was a tangible reminder of the life and death battle had had just fought there. His childhood friend lay dead back there and Joe had killed him.<\/p>\n

Panting, Joe stumbled on. He was exhausted and faced with the long walk back to the ranch; he deliberately kept his mind on putting one foot in front of the other. His feet hurt. Joe\u2019s boots weren\u2019t made for running and although he hadn\u2019t noticed the blisters at the time, now, they were hurting. He raised his hand to wipe sweat and blood from his face.<\/p>\n

Crossing a clearing, Joe hesitated as he heard horses. He was too tired to run, and he was too tired to fight any more. So it was with overwhelming relief that he saw it was his father, with Martin Meldine, Lucy and Tuck.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe!\u201d Ben exclaimed and urged his horse towards Joe. Jumping down, he put his arms out to his son, who all but fell into his embrace. \u201cAre you all right, son?\u201d Ben asked, anxiously, seeing the blood on Joe\u2019s face. \u201cAre you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine, Pa,\u201d Joe panted, as Ben lifted his hand to caress his cheek. Suddenly mindful of their audience, he halted the gesture and patted Joe\u2019s shoulder instead. \u201cI had to\u2026had to kill Sharp Tongue,\u201d Joe told him. \u201cThe rest of his braves rode off towards the reservation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, with Sharp Tongue dead, they have no leader, no purpose,\u201d Ben reminded him. He patted Joe again. \u201cWell, let\u2019s get you home,\u201d he said, briskly, trying to hide his relief, and failing.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe,\u201d Martin Meldine said. \u201cI just wanted to thank you, son.\u201d His eyes cut towards his daughter Lucy significantly. \u201cThank you very much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe, too,\u201d Tuck added. It didn\u2019t seem nearly enough to Tuck, but he didn\u2019t know what else to say. Joe had offered his life in Tuck\u2019s place and saying thanks didn\u2019t seem adequate.<\/p>\n

Nodding, Joe stepped towards his horse, which he saw Tuck was leading. Last Joe had seen of his pinto, the Indians had claimed him, and Joe had thought he would never see his favorite mount again.<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe,\u201d Lucy said. He face was still tear-stained. \u201cI\u2019m sorry my foolish, romantic curiosity almost got you killed. But,\u201d and here she added her highest praise, \u201cyou were as noble as Sidney Carlton.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking at her soberly, Joe replied, \u201cI just hope you know the difference between real life and story books.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do,\u201d she told him earnestly, but Joe wasn\u2019t convinced.<\/p>\n

Ben watched Joe closely as his son mounted his horse, and gauged his exhaustion by the fact he mounted conventionally, not by the swing mount he usually used. Joe nodded to his father once he was mounted and waited for Ben to mount too before he swung his horse round and headed for home.<\/p>\n

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

By the time they got back to the ranch, Joe\u2019s day had caught up with him big time. He\u2019d spent the morning delivering supplies to his brothers, who were branding. He\u2019d returned from there to find Lucy gone, and he and Tuck had gone off looking for her, galloping to Indian\u2019s Grief. Then there had been the short fight with the Indians, and then \u2018the game\u2019, where the Indians chased him until he either escaped or died, in which he had taken Tuck\u2019s place. Then the final fight with Sharp Tongue, and the ride home. Joe was reeling in the saddle when they arrived back.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe.\u201d At the sound of his name, Joe glanced up and saw Ben standing beside his horse. \u201cLet me help you, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Pa,\u201d Joe replied, wearily, for he wasn\u2019t at all sure that his legs would support him. Joe was fit and an excellent runner, but he rode more than he ran. His legs ached and his blistered feet throbbed. He slid carefully from the saddle, and saw that Lucy was trying not to watch.<\/p>\n

With Ben supporting him, Joe limped across the yard and into the house. Hop Sing met them and took in Joe\u2019s condition at once. \u201cI heat water for bath,\u201d he told them, and disappeared back into the kitchen. Ben eased Joe down onto the couch and took a close look at him for the first time.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s lower lip was swollen, and there were several small bloody marks round his mouth. One eye was turning black and his body was obviously sore in a few places. Gently, Ben put his hand to Joe\u2019s face. \u201cWhat else hurts, son?\u201d he asked, tenderly.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust my feet,\u201d Joe replied. He winced as Ben eased his boots and socks off. As he had suspected, several of the blisters on his feet had burst and there were one or two raw places were the skin hadn\u2019t blistered, just rubbed away.<\/p>\n

\u201cTuck told me what you did,\u201d Ben reported. \u201cJoe, I\u2019m so proud of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t let Tuck do it, Pa,\u201d Joe explained. \u201cWith his sore leg, he couldn\u2019t run. Sharp Tongue knew that. That was why he let me swap places; so no one could accuse him of being a woman.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry about Sharp Tongue,\u201d Ben murmured. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

Slowly, Joe told him about the fight within the confines of Indian\u2019s Grief, where the spirit of the Great Manitou had conquered Sharp Tongue, despite the spirit shirt he wore. Joe\u2019s pain at having had to kill anyone, especially someone he once considered a friend, was evident for Ben to see.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry you had to do that,\u201d Ben told him, when Joe finished his account. \u201cAnd I\u2019m sorry Sharp Tongue is dead. But you know that there were moves afoot to do something about the renegade Paiutes.\u201d Joe nodded, his eyes on Ben\u2019s face. \u201cPerhaps, Joe, the other Paiutes have learned a lesson, and won\u2019t have to regret more than Sharp Tongue\u2019s death and whatever is on their consciences. But you did what you had to do, son; don\u2019t dwell on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, sir,\u201d Joe agreed, and Ben could see that his words had hit home and Joe was more at peace.<\/p>\n

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

The next day, Joe was stiff and sore. He shuffled downstairs and spent the day with his feet up on the settee. His eye had darkened to spectacular colors, and he was grateful that his shirt hid the worst of the bruises on his body.<\/p>\n

In the middle of the morning, Martin Meldine, his father\u2019s friend and Lucy\u2019s father, sought him out. They were alone in the great room. \u201cJoe,\u201d Meldine said, sitting down next to him. \u201cI wanted to thank you again for what you did for Lucy yesterday. I can\u2019t tell you how much it means to me that you saved Lucy\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t leave her there,\u201d Joe protested. \u201cI had to do something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a long talk with Lucy last night,\u201d Meldine went on. \u201cThis experience has taught her some necessary lessons about life; lessons she wouldn\u2019t be alive to appreciate if it hadn\u2019t been for you, Joe.\u201d Emotion overcame him, and he put his hand on Joe\u2019s wrist and squeezed. \u201cThank you!\u201d<\/p>\n

Blinking back the corresponding moisture from his own eyes, Joe whispered, \u201cI\u2019m just glad I was able to help her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wordlessly, Meldine rose, nodding to Joe once more.<\/p>\n

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

After lunch, which was slightly strained, Joe drifted off to sleep on the settee. His blistered feet had been carefully daubed with Hop Sing\u2019s salve the night before and tightly bandaged up. They still stung, but the diminutive Chinese cook assured Joe that they would heal much more quickly with the salve than without, but the constant pain was tiring.<\/p>\n

When he roused, he found Lucy sitting in Adam\u2019s blue chair watching him. Pushing himself up slightly and blushing, Joe glanced around. Once more the room was empty apart from Lucy and himself. Vaguely, Joe wondered if this had been fixed, for Ben was seldom far from his sons\u2019 sides when they weren\u2019t well and this was twice today Joe had been alone for someone to talk to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe,\u201d Lucy began in her breathless voice, \u201cI just wanted to thank you again for what you did yesterday for Tuck and me. It was very brave of you to stand up to Sharp Tongue like that. I felt sure he would kill you.\u201d Lucy remembered her terror when she was caught, sure she was going to face a hideous death at their hands. \u201cI especially thank you for saving Tuck.\u201d She met his eyes, her gaze very earnest as she sought to convince him that she spoke the truth. \u201cJoe, I do love Tuck, even though we have nothing in common. I love him more than life itself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure, Lucy?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure,\u201d she asserted. \u201cJoe, I can\u2019t imagine what my life would be without him. When you told me what they meant to do in the game, I was sure he was going to die! And it was all my fault!\u201d Distraught at the thought, Lucy burst into tears. \u201cYou\u2019re right, Joe,\u201d she sobbed. \u201cLife isn\u2019t a story book. People get hurt and killed. I\u2019m sorry, Joe!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLucy, it\u2019s over,\u201d Joe told her gently. He was exhausted by her emotions. \u201cJust don\u2019t hurt Tuck, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t,\u201d she assured him. \u201cI won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

The next person to turn up was Tuck. By this time, Joe was no longer surprised that everyone in the house suddenly had to go outside for a breath of fresh air after supper and Tuck just happened to arrive at that point. Even Adam and Hoss, who had just arrived back from the branding, having heard about the incident at Indian\u2019s Grief, seemed to be in on the plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just wanted to thank you again, Joe,\u201d Tuck said, awkwardly. \u201cWhat I said yesterday wasn\u2019t near enough. It weren\u2019t just my life you saved; it was Lucy\u2019s, too.\u201d He glanced all round, then leant in close, as though they would be overheard. \u201cJoe, I love her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Joe told him. \u201cAnyone can see that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat am I gonna do?\u201d Tuck blurted, as though this was a huge problem to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAsk her to marry you?\u201d Joe suggested, smiling.<\/p>\n

Gazing at his friend as though he\u2019d just suggested that he cut off his own foot, Tuck said, doubtfully, \u201cD\u2019you think she\u2019d accept?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, there\u2019s only one way to find out,\u201d Joe informed him. \u201cAsk her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beaming at Joe, Tuck nodded. \u201cI will! I\u2019ll go and do it right now!\u201d He rose and grabbed Joe\u2019s shoulder awkwardly. \u201cThanks, for everything, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood luck!\u201d Joe called after him, as Tuck exited the house, narrowly missing tripping over his own feet.<\/p>\n

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

It was late before Joe descended the stairs the next morning. The breakfast table seemed unusually crowded, for there was Meldine and Lucy, Adam, Hoss, Ben and Tuck. \u201cMorning,\u201d Joe greeted everyone as he shuffled over to his usual seat. He was a lot less stiff that day, and his feet didn\u2019t ache so much.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood morning,\u201d Ben replied, eyeing Joe carefully. \u201cWe were waiting for you, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever happened, it wasn\u2019t me,\u201d Joe denied, and there was a small ripple of laughter. \u201cWe don\u2019t often see you here for breakfast, Tuck,\u201d he teased. \u201cMama\u2019s Boy taken over the whole ranch now?\u201d This was the horse Tuck had been trying to break for several days.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to give you the news,\u201d Tuck said, and reached out to take Lucy\u2019s hand. \u201cLucy has consented to be ma wife.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTuck, that\u2019s wonderful!\u201d Joe exclaimed. \u201cCongratulations, Lucy!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all thanks to you, Joe,\u201d Lucy told him, but he put his hands up.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh no!\u201d he cried. \u201cLeave me out of this!\u201d He grinned at them both. \u201cWhen is the wedding?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs soon as you\u2019re fit,\u201d Tuck told him. \u201cWe want you to be best man.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d Joe said, moved. \u201cI accept.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

As the stagecoach disappeared in a cloud of dust, Ben put his hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder. \u201cJoe? What\u2019s wrong?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, nuthin\u2019, I guess,\u201d Joe replied, still looking perplexed. \u201cYou know, he\u2019s started thinking like her and she\u2019s started thinking like him!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCompromise is the secret of a happy marriage,\u201d Ben told him.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut they\u2019ve only just got married!\u201d Joe protested. \u201cIn a year, she\u2019ll be out busting broncs and he\u2019ll be reading romantic books!\u201d<\/p>\n

Having no idea what Joe was talking about, Ben simply laughed and a moment later, Joe joined in. Ben turned and led Joe back up the street to where Lucy\u2019s father was waiting. Further up, Adam and Hoss stood beside the buggy.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow many lives ya reckon Joe lost this time, Adam?\u201d Hoss wanted to know.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Adam replied. He nodded at the younger man, who was grinning broadly. \u201cBut don\u2019t mention it to him, Hoss; he doesn\u2019t know he lost any!\u201d<\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

Summary:\u00a0 A short story that is set between scenes at the end of \u201cA Far, Far Better Thing\u201d<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 T \u00a0 (2,220 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":13256,"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_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23,1007],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3570","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-joe-cartwright","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1007-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/four.jpg?fit=298%2C300&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3570","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/45"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3570"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3570\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13256"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3570"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3570"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3570"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}