Summary: Written in honor of Lorne Greene’s birthday, 2021.\u00a0 A stand-off at the bank reveals what’s truly important to Ben Cartwright.<\/p>\n
Rated: PG<\/p>\n
Word count: 4088<\/p>\n
Author’s Note:\u00a0 As a note regarding my prequels, I love Roy Coffee and so, in my Bonanza world, Roy was an acting ‘lawman’ from a very early date in the settlement.\u00a0 Nothing official, of course, but acting on the town council’s behalf to uphold the law along with other men.\u00a0 Later, after a stint as deputy, he became sheriff.<\/p>\n
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HIS FATHER’S ARMS<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI am<\/em> going in there and nothing you can say \u2013 or do<\/em> \u2013 is going to stop me!\u201d<\/p>\n Roy Coffee shifted uncomfortably on his feet.\u00a0 His fingers tickled the metal band on the handle of his holstered gun.<\/p>\n The strap was off.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, Ben, don\u2019t you try me,\u201d he warned, his voice pitched low enough the mob milling about them would not hear.\u00a0 \u201cI got me an empty cell back at the jail house just waitin\u2019 on a occupant.\u201d<\/p>\n The rancher\u2019s dark eyes narrowed dangerously as they shifted from the bank door to him.\u00a0 \u201cIt won\u2019t be empty for long.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNope.\u00a0 Not if you push me too far.\u201d\u00a0 Roy wasn\u2019t sheriff, but he was one of the men officially tagged by the council to act as such in matters of the law.\u00a0 He sucked in a breath that drew along with it the fear that had gripped his innards the moment he heard just who<\/em> was bein\u2019 held hostage in the bank. \u00a0\u201cBen you\u2019re not gonna do your boys any good by rushin\u2019 in there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am not<\/em> going to rush in!\u201d his friend snapped.\u00a0 \u201cDo you think I\u2019m an idiot?!\u201d<\/p>\n Roy\u2019s eyes shone with sympathy.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Ben.\u00a0 Just a father.\u201d<\/p>\n There was only about an inch in height between him and Ben Cartwright \u2013 dependin\u2019 on what boots he pulled on in the mornin\u2019 \u2013 but still the other man managed to loom over him.\u00a0 What made Ben so imposin\u2019 wasn\u2019t how tall he was as much as the determined cast of his jaw and the spark like flint strikin\u2019 in his eyes. \u00a0He wasn\u2019t a man to let others stand in his way when he wanted somethin\u2019, and right now what he wanted was to walk into that bank and take his sons\u2019 place.<\/p>\n And that was somethin\u2019 he couldn\u2019t let him do.<\/p>\n \u201cBen, you ain\u2019t thinkin\u2019 straight!\u00a0 Those men in there, they\u2019re desperados.\u201d\u00a0 He held his friend\u2019s gaze, knowin\u2019 every word he spoke only dug the grave deeper.\u00a0 \u201cThere ain\u2019t no way they\u2019re gonna turn over two boys for a grown man like you.\u00a0 You go through that door and they\u2019ll just shoot you down and take Adam and Little Joe with them anyhow.\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019d seen the pair go into the bank about a half-hour before.\u00a0 Little Joe was ridin\u2019 on his big brother\u2019s shoulders.\u00a0 Adam had grown so tall at sixteen that the curly-haired tyke had to duck his head as they entered.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t near closin\u2019 time or nothin\u2019.\u00a0 No one would have suspected that six men would swoop in and try to rob the bank in the middle of the afternoon.\u00a0 A couple of quick-thinkin\u2019 patrons had managed to duck out the back as the gang entered and they\u2019d quickly spread the word.\u00a0 Ben had come runnin\u2019 the minute he heard.\u00a0 He\u2019d listened as one of them lucky devils apprised them of the situation.\u00a0 There was six innocent people inside.\u00a0 Two was the bank clerk and manager.\u00a0\u00a0 Another pair, a couple of older women.\u00a0 And then there was Adam and Little Joe.<\/p>\n They only had the good Lord and a lingerin\u2019 cold to thank that Marie and Hoss wasn\u2019t in there with them!<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t just stand here and do nothing!\u201d Ben declared.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, you can, and you will<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 Roy kept his tone even; his eyes never leavin\u2019 the rancher.\u00a0 \u201cWe ain\u2019t even got us a set of demands yet.\u00a0 Maybe they just want horses and time to ride.\u00a0 You ever think of that?\u00a0 Maybe, just maybe, you go bargin\u2019 in there and you\u2019ll make things worse!\u2019<\/p>\n Ben continued to glare at him.\u00a0 Then he dropped his head and a sigh escaped him.\u00a0 \u201cYou may be right, Roy\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, I\u2019m right!\u201d \u00a0He clapped a hand on the other man\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I\u2019m right glad to hear you think<\/em> I\u2019m right.\u00a0 Now, I need a promise from you.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben Cartwright\u2019s eyes was a wonder.\u00a0 They was so brown they was almost black, and seemed solid at times \u2013 solid as the soul that looked through them.\u00a0 A tiny little muscle twitched at the edge of one; the only sign that the rancher might be entertainin\u2019 the thought that he\u2019d been a bit hasty.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat promise?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI gotta go talk to the witnesses and then, if I ain\u2019t heard anythin\u2019 from the bad men inside by the time I\u2019m done, talk to them too.\u201d\u00a0 Roy pressed a finger into his friend\u2019s vest.\u00a0 \u201cI need to do it without worryin\u2019 about you and what you\u2019re up to.\u201d<\/p>\n That littlest one of Ben\u2019s?\u00a0 Little Joe?\u00a0 He had the face of an angel.\u00a0 Came by it right natural too.\u00a0 The rancher looked innocent as a white cloud rollin\u2019 by on a sunny afternoon.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no need to worry what I\u2019m up to, Roy.\u201d \u00a0Ben spread his hands wide.\u00a0 \u201cYou can see me here, plain as day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I need to keep seein\u2019 you there.\u00a0 Every<\/em> time I look back.\u00a0 You understand me?\u201d<\/p>\n The rancher nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI understand.\u201d<\/p>\n Roy drew a deep breath and let it out slowly, satisfied at last.\u00a0 \u201cBen, I\u2019ll do everythin\u2019 in my power to see that those two boys of yours come out of this all right.\u00a0 You know that, don\u2019t you?\u00a0 Now, I can\u2019t make any promises\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI understand.\u201d<\/p>\n The lawman held his friend\u2019s gaze for a moment before he walked away.\u00a0 It was about five minutes later that he heard a startled cry.<\/p>\n Roy whirled.<\/p>\n Ben was heading for the bank door.<\/p>\n It took a second, but he remembered.<\/p>\n The rancher didn\u2019t make no promise neither.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShh!\u00a0 Joe, hush!\u201d\u00a0 Adam hugged his four-year-old brother closer to his chest.\u00a0 Little Joe was so terrified he\u2019d drenched\u00a0 both of them with his tears and fear.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t cry.\u00a0 I promise, everything will be all right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou shut that kid up or I\u2019ll do it for you!\u201d one of the robbers growled \u2013 and not for the first time.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m trying,\u201d he protested.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s a little boy. \u00a0He doesn\u2019t understand!\u201d<\/p>\n The man drew his gun and pointed it directly at Joe\u2019s blond curls.\u00a0 It was a good thing baby brother had his head buried firmly in his shirt so he couldn\u2019t see, otherwise the wailing would have grown louder.\u00a0 \u201cDo you<\/em> understand?!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLeave it alone!\u201d a harsh voice ordered.\u00a0 \u00a0Adam\u2019s head swiveled toward it.\u00a0 The robber who had been threatening Joe was young \u2013 maybe not much older than him.\u00a0 This man was in his thirties.\u00a0 The robbers had been careful not to use names and were well-concealed, with bandanas tied tightly about their mouths and hats pulled low to shield their faces.\u00a0 If asked to identify any of them, he wasn\u2019t sure he\u2019d be able to.<\/p>\n Which was probably a good thing.<\/p>\n \u201cThe kid\u2019s bugging me!\u201d the young robber growled.<\/p>\n \u201cI can tell you ain\u2019t got any of your own,\u201d the older man said with a snort as he walked to their side and looked down.\u00a0 \u201cLook, kid.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry you got caught up in this.\u201d\u00a0 The leader glanced over his shoulder at the younger man who was walking away, still grumbling.\u00a0 \u201cThat one was supposed to make sure the bank was clear before we entered.\u201d<\/p>\n He and Joe had been in the manager\u2019s office.\u00a0 Mr. Hanson offered to give little brother a sucker.\u00a0 The two women were up front by the window and a quick glance through the door would have missed them.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s gaze shifted to the pair. \u00a0Mrs. Hayes and her daughter were huddled together with their backs against the east wall.\u00a0 Both were terrified.<\/p>\n So was he, but not for himself.<\/p>\n \u201cLet Little Joe go,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cA child is only going to prove a liability for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo-o-o-o-o-o-!\u201d his brother wailed, clinging even more tightly to his shirt with his little fingers.\u00a0 \u201cI won\u2019t go without you, Adam!\u00a0 No!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe,\u201d he said firmly.\u00a0 \u201cYou will do whatever I tell you.\u00a0 Is that understood?\u00a0 As your older brother I have the last say.\u201d<\/p>\n The man\u2019s brows leapt up toward the fringe of brown hair showing between the bandana and hat.\u00a0 \u201cHe ain\u2019t your kid?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam laughed.\u00a0 He must look a lot older than he was!<\/p>\n \u201cNo, he\u2019s my kid brother and I\u2019m asking you \u2013 again \u2013 in the name of all that is decent to please<\/em> let him go.\u201d<\/p>\n The man stared at him for a moment.\u00a0 His eyes were an odd color \u2013 blue with a circle of amber near the center, making them appear almost green.<\/p>\n He shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cToo bad I ain\u2019t a decent man.\u201d<\/p>\n With that, he walked away.<\/p>\n Adam let out a sigh and shifted, trying to find a position that was comfortable.\u00a0 It was nearly impossible between the soaked cloth of his pants and the hard floor.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019s sorry I made you wet,\u201d Joe apologized with a small hiccup.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s okay, buddy.\u201d\u00a0 He knelt in so his lips tickled the little boy\u2019s ear.\u00a0 \u201cIf you want to know the truth, I made myself wet too!\u201d<\/p>\n That got a smile.<\/p>\n It faded quickly as the young robber shouted at the ladies.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s eyes went wide as he peered out from under a curtain of loose blond curls.<\/p>\n \u201cAre the bad men gonna hurt us?\u201d<\/p>\n Already in his short life, Joseph Francis Cartwright had seen too much violence.\u00a0 The settlement was a rough and ready \u2013 and rowdy place.\u00a0 Pa didn\u2019t bring Little Joe or Hoss here very often.\u00a0 Today had been a special day.\u00a0 They\u2019d come to town to get their ailing brother a present at the mercantile.\u00a0 Hoss had been sick with a catarrh and worn both Marie and their father down to a nubbin.\u00a0 A couple of days ago his fever had broken and all the ten-year-old could think of was lemon drops to soothe his still aching throat.\u00a0 Pa was coming in any way to do some business.\u00a0 He\u2019d volunteered to ride along, take Joe to the store, and then keep watch over the rambunctious youngster so their father could do what he had to do.\u00a0 He\u2019d remained at the mercantile for quite some time chatting with the owner\u2019s daughter while Joe played with Mr. Henderson\u2019s boy.\u00a0 When he realized how much time had slipped away, he\u2019d secured the lemon drops, had Joe climb up onto his shoulders, and then headed to the bank to wait for the older man.<\/p>\n Everything was fine when they arrived.\u00a0 He\u2019d even done a sweep of the street to make sure nothing looked suspicious before entering.\u00a0 He and Mr. Hanson had talked about how things were going on the Ponderosa until Little Joe grew bored and started to act up. \u00a0Taking pity on the youngster, the older man ushered them into his office and produced a jar full of suckers that had Joe salivating like a hungry pony over fresh hay.\u00a0 His brother was puzzling over which color to choose when the bank\u2019s door opened and closed \u2013 quickly.<\/p>\n Then, there was a scream.<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t take long.\u00a0 Six men with at least ten guns between them made quick work of any protest and soon the two ladies were trussed up and leaning against the wall, the manager was gagged and tied to his chair, and he and Joe were forced into the opposite corner while the clerk was ordered to make quick work of opening the safe and handing over the money.\u00a0 They\u2019d left him free.\u00a0 He knew why.<\/p>\n All it took was one look at Little Joe.<\/p>\n \u2018Adam?\u201d \u00a0His brother tugged his shirt.\u00a0 \u201cAdam!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, buddy.\u00a0 I was thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMama says you do that too much.\u201d<\/p>\n He looked down at the little boy.\u00a0 \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe says you think too much.\u201d\u00a0 Joe wrinkled his nose.\u00a0 \u201cDoes it hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou two!\u00a0 Quiet!\u201d<\/p>\n It was the same young robber; the one with the itchy finger.<\/p>\n \u201cShush, Joe.\u00a0 Whisper if you have to say something.\u201d<\/p>\n As Joe fell silent, he went back to watching.\u00a0 The clerk had not hesitated to turn over the money, obviously schooled to do as he was told in the event of a robbery.\u00a0 Pa said Matt Hanson was a good bank manager.\u00a0 He would gladly give his life to save his patrons\u2019 wealth, but would not risk others.\u00a0 The robbers were almost done.\u00a0 Two of them were laden with money bags and another was closing the safe.<\/p>\n Suddenly, Adam became aware of the leader standing in front of him.\u00a0 The teen looked up into the barrel of a gun.<\/p>\n \u201cGet up, kid.\u201d<\/p>\n He started to put Joe down.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u00a0 Keep the kid.\u00a0 You, alone, means trouble.\u00a0 You and the kid, well, that\u2019s insurance.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam blinked back tears.\u00a0 \u201cPlease.\u00a0 Please<\/em> let my brother go,\u201d he said, his voice ragged.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll go with you. I promise I won\u2019t try to get away.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA promise don\u2019t mean nothin\u2019,\u201d the man said wearily.<\/p>\n \u201cIt does if you\u2019re a Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n The teen turned toward the door; his lips opening to utter a single word.<\/p>\n \u201cPa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben Cartwright froze, his impressive form framed in the bank\u2019s open doorway.\u00a0 He\u2019d thanked his God as his fingers closed on the latch and it turned, knowing Providence had assured the robbers forgot to lock or bar it.\u00a0 He stood with his hands held high.\u00a0 His hip was bare.\u00a0 He\u2019d shed his gun belt and flung it at Roy Coffee\u2019s feet, tripping the lawman and gaining the few precious seconds he needed to make it inside.\u00a0 Ben quickly took in the scene that greeted him \u2013 Andy, the bank clerk, standing, stunned behind the counter.\u00a0 His employer nowhere in sight.\u00a0 Mary and Lily Hayes, bound and sobbing near his feet and, on the far side of the room, a long, lanky figure with black hair struggling with a small curly-headed boy who was fighting to break free.<\/p>\n As six men with guns turned his way.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u00a0 You will stay where you are!\u201d he boomed.<\/p>\n \u201cPapa!\u201d\u00a0 The little boy twisted to look at him.\u00a0 Tears streamed down his cheeks. \u201cPapa!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben met his elder son\u2019s gaze.\u00a0 He shook his head.<\/p>\n Adam clamped a hand over his brother\u2019s mouth and held him more tightly.<\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2019s in charge here?\u201d the rancher demanded.<\/p>\n \u201cI am,\u201d a young robber replied as his gun rose and leveled at his chest.<\/p>\n Ben sized him up and dismissed him with one look before turning to the others.<\/p>\n \u201cI asked \u2013 who\u2019s in charge?\u201d<\/p>\n An older man broke free from the group.\u00a0 He should have known he was the leader.\u00a0 There was something different about him \u2013 a decided cast to his shoulders; the glint of something in his eyes.<\/p>\n Regret?<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you want, old man?\u201d the man asked, though the difference in their age couldn\u2019t \u00a0have been greater than five years.\u00a0 Perhaps he<\/em> looked older.<\/p>\n He\u2019d certainly lived enough in his thirty-odd years.<\/p>\n \u201cI want you to let my sons go.\u201d<\/p>\n The man shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cSorry.\u00a0 Can\u2019t do that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI insist you take me instead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re a generous bunch, aren\u2019t you?\u201d\u00a0 The leader\u2019s lips curled with something akin to a smile.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve already been through this with your oldest one.\u00a0 That kid,\u201d he pointed at Joseph, \u201cis our ticket out of here.\u00a0 No one\u2019s going to take us on if we have a kid with us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA child,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph is a child.<\/em>\u00a0 Not a \u2018kid\u2019.\u00a0 He\u2019s four years old.\u201d\u00a0 Ben paused.\u00a0 \u201cDo you want the death of a four-year-old on your conscience?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo one said anythin\u2019 about killin\u2019 no kid\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cChild,\u201d he repeated firmly.\u00a0 \u201cYou are about to leave here with every penny this bank has.\u00a0 Do you mean to tell me you actually believe that the citizens of this settlement are going to stand idly by and let you do that without trying to stop you?\u00a0 There will be a posse.\u201d\u00a0 His gaze flicked to Adam, who was doing his best to comfort \u2013 and quiet \u2013 his little brother.\u00a0 \u201cThere will<\/em> be gunfire.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot if you<\/em> tell them to stand down.\u201d\u00a0 The leader hesitated and then added, \u201cI know who you are.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow<\/em> do you know who I am?\u201d<\/p>\n He scoffed.\u00a0 \u201cEverybody around here knows about the Cartwrights.\u00a0 They know you mean what you say.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben didn\u2019t miss a beat.\u00a0 \u201cSo you know I mean what I say when I tell you that I will make no attempt to get away if you take me hostage instead of my sons.\u201d<\/p>\n The robber shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s not the same.\u00a0 A kid\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn other words, what you are telling me that you<\/em> are the kind of a man who is so despicable and so<\/em> debased that he would use a baby as a shield.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not a baby!\u201d a little voice piped up.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, Pa!\u201d\u00a0 Adam winced as he clamped his hand once again over his brother\u2019s mouth.<\/p>\n Ben closed his eyes.\u00a0 \u2018Dear God,\u2019 he breathed.\u00a0 \u2018Give me words.\u00a0 Help me reach this man!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou watch what you\u2019re sayin\u2019, old man,\u201d the leader growled as his finger tightened on the trigger.\u00a0 \u201cYou just might make me mad.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood!\u201d he exclaimed.\u00a0 \u201cGet mad!\u00a0 Feel<\/em> something!\u201d\u00a0 Ben glanced at the ring of desperate men surrounding him.\u00a0 Some of them had <\/em>to be fathers and, if not, brothers<\/em> at least.\u00a0 \u201cThink, man, about what you are doing!\u00a0 These women, they could be your mothers or your sisters.\u201d\u00a0 He pointed to the clerk.\u00a0 \u201cThat man, your brother!\u00a0 And these two\u2026.\u201d\u00a0 He looked at Adam and Joe; Adam so brave, and dear Joseph whose eyes were wide with a knowledge no child should be privy to \u2013 the possibility of death.\u00a0 \u201cThese two could be your children!\u201d\u00a0 He held the leader\u2019s gaze.\u00a0 \u201cDo you have<\/em> children?\u201d<\/p>\n The robber hesitated.\u00a0 Then, he nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cWould you use one of them<\/em> as a shield?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was gettin\u2019 late in the day.\u00a0 The sun was dippin\u2019 behind the mountains and the streets runnin\u2019 red with light like blood.\u00a0 It had been an hour since Ben Cartwright walked into the bank.\u00a0 In that time the mob that had been buzzin\u2019 like an angry hive had quieted into a crowd hushed with expectation.\u00a0 Roy looked at their faces.\u00a0 Some was white as ash, afear\u2019d of what was to come.\u00a0 Others were high in color, angry that someone dared to try to take what they\u2019d earned fair and square.\u00a0 Still others, they was filled with hope.\u00a0 They was the ones knew the owner of the Ponderosa, and knew that Ben had about as direct a line to the Almighty as any man livin\u2019.<\/p>\n That made them think things would come out all right.<\/p>\n Roy lifted his hat and ran a hand through his thinnin\u2019 hair before settlin\u2019 it back on his head.\u00a0 It\u2019d been about a quarter of an hour since they\u2019d heard anythin\u2019.\u00a0 There\u2019d been a shoutin\u2019 match at one point with words flyin\u2019 fast.\u00a0 He\u2019d been right sure bullets was gonna follow, and more than grateful when he was proved wrong.\u00a0 The lawman pulled out his pocket watch and glanced at its white face.\u00a0 It was three \u2018til four.\u00a0 He was gonna give it until the hands struck the hour and then he was gonna follow Ben right up to that door and\u2026.<\/p>\n \u201cRoy!\u00a0 Look!\u00a0 Someone\u2019s comin\u2019 out!\u201d<\/p>\n It was Ben.<\/p>\n The rancher halted at the edge of the boardwalk.\u00a0 He glanced behind.\u00a0 It was two long heartbeats before another feller followed.\u00a0 He looked to be about thirty.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is Joshua Reynolds,\u201d Ben said.\u00a0 \u201cHe meant to rob the bank.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMeant to?\u201d Roy asked as he approached.<\/p>\n The brown-haired man looked at Ben.\u00a0 Then he shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cGuess I changed my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n That made him blink.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2026changed your mind?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I guess I didn\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0 Joshua snorted.\u00a0 \u201cMister Cartwright changed it for me.\u201d<\/p>\n Still not quite sure what to make of things, Roy asked, \u201cWhat about your men?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben glanced at his knuckles, which were bleeding.\u00a0 \u201cWe had a little trouble persuading one of them.\u00a0 You\u2019ll find him tied up inside.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about the others?\u201d<\/p>\n His friend held his gaze.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019re gone, Roy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGone?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI let them go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2026let them go?\u201d\u00a0 He\u2019d had a man watching out back.\u00a0 \u201cThere ain\u2019t no way they could of got past Zeke without him seein\u2019 them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe saw them.\u201d<\/p>\n There was somethin\u2019 about Ben Cartwright; somethin\u2019 bigger than life.\u00a0 He\u2019d been a seaman in his younger days and was anchored as surely as one of them ships he\u2019d sailed.\u00a0 Some might have called him \u2018immovable\u2019, but they\u2019d have been wrong.\u00a0 There was still room for wind in his sails.\u00a0 When the wind was blowin\u2019, there was no one like Ben.\u00a0 He\u2019d set a course and steer that ship safely back to harbor.\u00a0 The men in these parts had come to trust in that.<\/p>\n Roy let out a sigh.<\/p>\n Course, that didn\u2019t mean he wasn\u2019t gonna slap the former sailor\u2019s ornery hide in a jail cell once he got hold of him for takin\u2019 matters into his own hands!<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Coffee?\u201d<\/p>\n It was Joshua Reynolds.\u00a0 He stepped off the boardwalk as he spoke.\u00a0 \u201cThose men were just followin\u2019 me.\u00a0 I got riled up about my ranch failing.\u00a0 I tried every bank between here and Hangtown, but there wasn\u2019t one would lend me money.\u00a0 So, I decided I would take what I needed.\u00a0 I told myself the banks had more money than they knew what to do with and they wouldn\u2019t miss it any.\u201d\u00a0 His smile was almost shy. \u00a0\u201cForgettin\u2019, of course, that the money in them belonged to men like me. \u201c\u00a0 The robber held his arms out, ready to be roped.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m responsible, and I\u2019m the one who should pay.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stepped forward to place a hand on the man\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve promised Joshua a job once he gets out of jail.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, now, Ben, that might be a long stretch seein\u2019 as how he was tryin\u2019 to rob a bank and had hostages and all \u2013 your boys included.\u201d<\/p>\n The rancher paled a bit.\u00a0 \u201cThe money is in the safe.\u00a0 Mrs. Hayes and her daughter have decided not to press charges.\u00a0 As for me\u2026Adam and Little Joe are safe and that\u2019s all that matters.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about the bank?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll take what comes,\u201d Joshua said.\u00a0 \u201cI did wrong and I need to pay for it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u00a0 Is it okay if Little Joe and I come out now?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s gaze took in the crowd.\u00a0 Roy had wondered why the boys were still inside.\u00a0 Now he knew.\u00a0 The rancher hadn\u2019t known how the crowd would react to what he\u2019d done.\u00a0 There\u2019d been a few grumbles when he said he\u2019d let some of the would-be robbers go, but when it seemed the excitement was over \u2013 and Joshua and the one left inside would pay \u2013 the crowd had slowly begun to disperse.\u00a0\u00a0 He watched as Ben turned and nodded.<\/p>\n Seconds later Little Joe was in his arms.<\/p>\n \u201cYou okay, son?\u201d Roy asked Adam.<\/p>\n The older boy was exhausted.\u00a0 The circles under his eyes and the lines beside his full lips told the tale.\u00a0 He nodded even as his gaze went to his brother.<\/p>\n Ben was holdin\u2019 the little squirt and Joe was smilin\u2019.<\/p>\n All was right in the world.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n That night as Ben sat in his Ponderosa, with his beautiful wife at his side, he thanked his Maker that he and his sons had survived the afternoon.\u00a0 It could have turned out so differently.\u00a0 There had been a moment when he\u2019d feared the worst.\u00a0 Joshua told his men to disarm and the youngest among them rebelled.\u00a0 The robber took aim at Little Joe and pulled the trigger.<\/p>\n The gun misfired.\u00a0\u00a0 There was a puff of smoke and\u2026.<\/p>\n Nothing.<\/p>\n Nothing but God\u2019s grace.<\/p>\n Nothing but His favor.<\/p>\n In the end, tragedy had been averted and a man\u2019s soul had been saved.\u00a0 He doubted the other men who traveled with Joshua Reynolds would cause any trouble.\u00a0 Like their leader, they were disgruntled farmers and ranchers who had come from several valleys over where they and their families had weathered a severe drought.\u00a0 Tomorrow he would send some of the men over with supplies \u2013 and water.\u00a0 He would help them get back on their feet.\u00a0 Men without hope grew desperate.<\/p>\n Men with dignity, thrived.<\/p>\n Marie had dozed off and was settled in the crook of his arm.\u00a0 His fingers were entwined in his youngest son\u2019s glorious curls.\u00a0 Hoss had his lemon drops and had fallen asleep to the sound of his older brother\u2019s melodious tones.<\/p>\n Ben smiled broadly.<\/p>\n All was indeed right in the world.<\/p>\n Like his son, he was safe and content in his Father\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tags: hostage, bank, family<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n