Summary:\u00a0 Collecting the Christmas payroll is such an ordinary chore, that the Cartwrights can hardly believe when things go so wrong.<\/p>\n
Rated:\u00a0 T \u00a0 \u00a0(7,660 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
The Christmas Payroll\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Christmas was only a week away, and snow covered the ground. Ben Cartwright looked at the cloud-filled sky and then at his sons, who stood before him. \u201cAre you boys sure you want to risk this trip?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n Adam and Joe exchanged glances. \u201cYou always give the hands their pay before Christmas,\u201d Adam said, patiently. \u201cIts not too cold today, and its not as if we were alone. We have each other.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Pa,\u201d Joe agreed. \u201cIts not as if you\u2019re having to force us to go to town.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben gave his youngest son a dark look, and snorted. \u201cWhen have I ever had to force you to go to town, Joseph?\u201d he asked sarcastically. \u201cAll right, but be careful.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam and Joe assured their father that they would be, and swung onto their mounts. The middle son, Hoss, came out to say his farewells, and the brothers rode away.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Despite the snow, the trip to town went smoothly. They collected one or two things from the store, and then went to the bank to draw the hands\u2019 wages. The Christmas payroll was always higher than usual, as Ben gave his hands a bonus for work well done.\u00a0 It was common knowledge in Virginia City. Joe glanced back out of the door. \u201cHave you seen them?\u201d he asked Adam.<\/p>\n Adam didn\u2019t even glance round. \u201cYes, spotted them straight away. Think they plan on holding us up?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey might offer to escort us home,\u201d Joe responded sarcastically. \u201cShould we divide the money?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam looked at the cashier, who was listening closely to them. \u201cNo, I think one of us should hide the cash, and the other take this bag, just filled with paper. Can you do that?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n The cashier nodded, and did as he was asked. Joe began to act the fool, and knocked Adam\u2019s hat off, and thus gave Adam somewhere to put the money. He then took the bank bag and tucked it securely, and obviously, inside his jacket. Adam looked unhappy, but said nothing. Joe knew that Adam, despite always complaining that Joe was spoiled by Hoss and Ben, was as protective of him as they were.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was just starting to snow as they left town. As they rode on, it became heavier, but they decided to push on, reluctant to risk being stranded in town over Christmas. They kept a sharp eye out for the two men who\u2019d been following them, but there was no sign.<\/p>\n It was too cold to talk. Joe rode Cochise, his paint horse, slightly ahead of Adam on Sport. So it was a moment or two before he realised that Adam had stopped, and was dismounting. He turned Cochise, and rode back. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n \u201cJust a stone in his hoof, I hope,\u201d Adam responded. He picked up his horse\u2019s foot, and sure enough, there was a stone wedged in it. He began to pry it loose. Cochise was restless, and Joe allowed him to turn towards home again. \u201cI\u2019ll catch you up,\u201d Adam said, but Joe didn\u2019t hear him. He reined in Cochise, and watched as Adam freed the stone and prepared to remount.<\/p>\n Adam swung back into the saddle and saw Joe disappear over the small rise in front of him. He urged Sport to follow. Moments later, a shot rang out and Sport shied. \u201cJoe!\u201d Adam breathed. He spurred Sport forward.<\/p>\n He was horrified as he rounded the rise. Cochise was bolting, his saddle empty, Joe dragging from one stirrup. Two men were just rising from the position where they\u2019d fired at Joe.<\/p>\n Adam had his gun in his hand without being aware that he\u2019d drawn it. He fired off a quick shot, and after exchanging a couple of rounds, winged one of the men. The other ran off. Adam wasted no time on them. He urged Sport after Cochise, who was now out of sight. \u201cJoe!\u201d Adam groaned.<\/p>\n Cochise had stopped a short distance away. Adam slowed Sport, so as not to startle the other horse, but his instinct was to gallop to Joe\u2019s side.<\/p>\n Joe lay sprawled unconscious on his back, his right foot still hooked in the stirrup. His face was scraped and bloody, and as Adam brushed his hair back, he found that the bullet had creased Joe\u2019s head. Gently, Adam freed Joe\u2019s foot, and began to revive his brother. It took longer than Adam liked, but he eventually brought Joe round.<\/p>\n Adam was faced with a dilemma. Should he leave Joe and go for help, or should he try and help Joe mount and push on for home? Joe was in a lot of pain, but it was getting colder fast, and neither of them had bedrolls with them. The snow was getting worse, and darkness was falling, but they were closer to home than they were to the city. Adam opted to help Joe home. He told Joe of his plan, and helped his brother stand. Joe swayed against Adam, and then was promptly sick. Nevertheless, Adam persisted, and managed to get Joe back onto Cochise.<\/p>\n It was a slow, cold journey home. By the time they got there, it was full dark, and the snow was turning into a blizzard. Adam was holding Joe onto Cochise, and he himself could barely feel his legs, they were so cold.<\/p>\n When they eventually rode into the yard, the house door was thrown open immediately, and both Ben and Hoss hurtled out. \u201cAdam, Joe, where have you\u2026.\u201d Ben stopped so suddenly, he sounded as though he\u2019d bitten off his tongue. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam tried to tell them, but he was too cold. Ben gently pulled Joe from his horse. Joe was nearly unconscious, but he cried out in pain as his injured foot dragged across the saddle. He was burning with fever. Hoss helped Adam, who was barely able to stand. Once Adam was inside, Hoss went to put away the horses.<\/p>\n Ben laid Joe on the settee, and shouted for Hop Sing to bring them something warm to drink. He swiftly fetched blankets, and stripped off Joe\u2019s wet clothes, and briskly towelled him dry. Joe had passed out when his boots were removed, and it was obvious to both Ben and Adam that his ankle was broken. They exchanged concerned glances. With the weather closing in, there was no telling when the doctor would be able to get to them.<\/p>\n Joe revived as Ben bathed his head injuries. \u201cPa,\u201d he said, weakly. \u201cHow\u2019d you get here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re home, boy,\u201d Ben said gently. \u201cAdam brought you home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood ol\u2019 Adam,\u201d Joe said. He shivered suddenly. \u201cI\u2019m cold.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDrink this,\u201d Ben urged and helped Joe to drink some warm tea. The shivering abated, and Adam, too, was beginning to feel warmer. He pulled the blanket tighter around his shoulders and moved closer to the fire. Ben looked at him. \u201cFeeling better, son?\u201d he asked. \u201cCan you tell me what happened now?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam told the story as simply as he could, and remembered to give his father the hat stuffed with money. \u201cI winged one of them,\u201d he told Ben. \u201cWhen the weather improves, I\u2019ll go tell the sheriff. I think both Joe and I would recognise them.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben glanced at Joe, who was dozing again. He didn\u2019t say what he was thinking, but he didn\u2019t have to. Adam was thinking it too. If the weather didn\u2019t break soon, Joe could end up a cripple.<\/p>\n A swirl of snow followed Hoss back into the house. He paused to brush the worst of it off his clothes. \u201cIts blowin\u2019 a blue norther out there,\u201d he commented, and caught the worried glance between his father and older brother. \u201cWhat?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n Ben shook his head, and gestured slightly towards Joe. Hoss understood at once, and crossed over to look at his baby brother. As if Joe sensed Hoss\u2019 presence, he opened his eyes, and tried a game smile. \u201cHoss,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n \u201cYup, its me, Joe,\u201d Hoss replied, not sure what to say. He frowned as Joe shivered violently. Ben put his hand on Joe\u2019s head. His temperature was rising. Ben rose and crossed to Adam\u2019s side. Adam was still a little shivery, too, but his shivers were starting to subside. When Ben touched his head, it felt reassuringly normal.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s get Joe\u2019s head seen to anyway,\u201d Ben said, as though that was what they\u2019d been talking about. \u201cHoss, can you get me some bandages and clean water?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure thing, Pa,\u201d Hoss answered, and went to get them. He brought them back, and between them, he and Ben bandaged the wound on Joe\u2019s head. They eyed Joe\u2019s swollen, discoloured foot, but decided to leave it alone.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They sat without talking. The house seemed cold and echoey as the wind screamed outside. Hoss went up to make up a fire in Joe\u2019s room, but after he came back, he said \u201cIts gonna take a while to warm up, Pa. Its real cold up there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, we\u2019d better sit here till it is warm then,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cAdam, you\u2019d be better in bed.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shook off his drowsiness. \u201cI\u2019m fine, Pa,\u201d he lied.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, you\u2019re not,\u201d his father insisted. \u201cYou\u2019re all but asleep there. Go on, Hoss and I can manage without you, can\u2019t we boy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure thing, Pa,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n Adam climbed wearily to his feet, and briefly touched Joe\u2019s cheek. The younger man was sleeping again, but his sleep was restless, and his cheek was hot to the touch. \u201cNight,\u201d Adam said, briefly, and went upstairs.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He didn\u2019t know how long he\u2019d slept when he heard the front door bang. The wind was still howling outside, but it seemed quieter than when he\u2019d fallen asleep. Adam listened, trying to make out voices downstairs, but the wind was still too noisy. He was nearly asleep again when a shot fired.<\/p>\n Adam bolted upright, listening hard now. He heard his father\u2019s voice raised in anger, and then another voice, which he didn\u2019t recognise. He reached for his clothes and began to dress. His gun hung over the chair in his room, and Adam silently checked it, before easing open the door.<\/p>\n As silent as a cat, Adam crept to the top of the stairs. From there, although he couldn\u2019t see, he could hear, and he stopped to listen. \u201cWe want food and blankets and money,\u201d a man was saying, his voice rough. He stumbled over the words, and Adam guessed he was very cold. He had felt like that when they\u2019d first arrived home. \u201cIf we don\u2019t get what we want, I\u2019m gonna blow his brains out!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam tensed. He crept further forward and peered round the corner. Ben and Hoss stood together near the dining table. Joe was still on the couch. A stranger stood near him, with a shotgun pointing at his head. Another stranger slumped in Ben\u2019s favourite seat. He looked vaguely familiar, and it took Adam several seconds to recognise the men who\u2019d tried to rob him and Joe earlier that day.<\/p>\n Adam quietly cocked his gun and prepared to take a shot. As he targeted the one with the shotgun, the stranger drew back the hammer on both chambers. Adam drew back. If he fired and hit the man, Joe could die. \u201cGet some food!\u201d the stranger ordered.<\/p>\n Hoss went into the kitchen, and came back shortly after with some bread and ham. The injured stranger ate first, then took over with the shotgun. Adam seethed with impatience. Finally, they appeared to have eaten their fill. \u201cGive us some money,\u201d demanded the first stranger.<\/p>\n \u201cI have no money in the house,\u201d Ben replied, quietly.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t lie to me, I saw him taking the money from the bank. Now where is it?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s head went up, and he looked the stranger in the face. \u201cIt was the wages for my men,\u201d he said, quietly still, but with under tones of anger. \u201cI gave it to them hours ago.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn this weather? I don\u2019t think so. Now, where is it?\u201d The man reached down and dragged Joe up by the hair. When Joe groaned, he forced the shotgun barrel into Joe\u2019s mouth. \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben looked defeated, and went across the room. From his desk, he took some bills \u2013 a much smaller pile than Adam and Joe had brought home, Adam noticed. Ben handed it over to the men. The man let go of Joe\u2019s hair, and he flopped back on the couch with another groan. Blood began to trickle from Joe\u2019s torn, bruised mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cThirty dollars? Is that it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI told you, the men got their wages earlier. That\u2019s just some petty cash I have in the house in case something comes up.\u201d Ben was seething at the way Joe had been treated. He bit his tongue to stop himself saying something he might regret.<\/p>\n The man grunted. \u201cTie \u2018em up,\u201d he ordered his partner, and Ben and Hoss had no choice but to let to submit. When they were securely bound to chairs, Joe\u2019s wrists were bound in front of him, and the men moved away.<\/p>\n Adam took his chance and fired. His first shot missed by inches, and he barely ducked back in time as the shotgun expended both barrels in his direction. He jumped forward again, but too late. The uninjured man had Joe by the neck, and was holding a knife against his throat. \u201cPut it down!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam hesitated, and the knife nicked Joe\u2019s neck. A thin trickle of blood appeared. Adam put down his gun. Before long, he was tied like his father and brother. \u201cSorry, Pa,\u201d he apologised.<\/p>\n \u201cYou tried, Adam,\u201d Ben excused him. \u201cYou had no choice.\u201d<\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The night wore on. Hoss fell asleep, and snored loudly. Adam and Ben dozed uneasily. Each new awakening reminded them of the wretchedness of their situation. Joe seemed to sleep most of the night, although his shouts woke them all shortly before dawn.<\/p>\n The wind had dropped, and when one of the men opened the door to peer out, they could see the new snow piled high around the barn. It was perfectly still. With a shiver, the outlaw closed the door again. The metallic scent of snow hung on the air. While the Cartwrights watched, the man built the fire up again.<\/p>\n Hoss was struggling quietly against his bonds, and Adam and Ben knew that he was the most likely of the three of them to escape. The outlaws had become careless, and were ignoring their captives. The shotgun and Adam\u2019s handgun lay on the table in front of the fire. In their present condition, it was as far away as Cathay.<\/p>\n Joe suddenly let out another shout and sat up. His eyes were wild as he glanced around. He turned, too abruptly it seemed, and fell from the couch, knocking everything from the table as he went down.<\/p>\n The uninjured outlaw went after him, and grabbed Joe\u2019s shoulder to turn him over. Halfway there, he froze, as in his bound hands, Joe had Adam\u2019s revolver! \u201cMake one false move, and it\u2019ll be your last,\u201d Joe warned. \u201cNow, untie my family!\u201d<\/p>\n The man hesitated, and Joe cocked the hammer. \u201cNow!\u201d Joe was shaking with pain and fever, but there was no mistaking his seriousness.<\/p>\n With slow movements, the man did as he was told. Adam swiftly stretched the kinks out of his muscles, and crossed to Joe\u2019s side. He took the gun from him, and Hoss came over to release Joe\u2019s hands. Joe slumped down in relief, and for a few moments, it looked like he might pass out.<\/p>\n \u201cWell done, Joe,\u201d Ben said, putting his arm round his son\u2019s shoulders. He and Hoss helped Joe back on to the couch and gently placed his broken ankle on a cushion. Joe was sheet white when they had finished.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are we going to do with them?\u201d Adam asked, gesturing to their prisoners.<\/p>\n \u201cJust what they did to us,\u201d Ben replied, grimly. \u201cHop Sing went into town last night after you went upstairs, and he was to bring the sheriff and doctor back with him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing went alone?\u201d Adam asked, horrified.<\/p>\n \u201cI tried to stop him, but he was determined,\u201d Ben answered. \u201cI hope he got to Virginia City before the worst of the storm broke.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf these two could get here,\u201d Adam said, \u201cthen I\u2019m sure Hop Sing got through.\u201d<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As the day wore on, the Cartwrights became more and more concerned for the safety of their Chinese cook. Ben wouldn\u2019t allow either Adam or Hoss to go after him. He reasoned, correctly, that all three were needed in case Joe turned sicker, or the men tried to escape.<\/p>\n Joe was obviously concussed, and after using up his energy to free his family, felt terrible. He slept a lot, but when he was awake, the others took turns sitting with him, trying to keep his mind off his woes.<\/p>\n About mid-afternoon, Adam went to the barn to feed the horses. When he came back, they released their prisoners to have something to eat. Ben sat with Joe and Adam and Hoss watched the prisoners. Once they had finished, Adam gestured to them to sit down again, so Hoss could tie them up.<\/p>\n Hank, the injured one, rose to his feet, and staggered slightly. Adam tensed, but Hoss, with his kind nature, reached out a hand to help. Hank didn\u2019t try to take on Hoss; he simply shoved the bigger man away. Taken off guard, Hoss fell backwards.<\/p>\n Adam instinctively made a move towards Hoss, and then checked himself. But it was all Ike, the other outlaw, needed. He launched himself at Adam, and within moments they were wrestling ferociously on the floor.<\/p>\n Hoss lumbered to his feet, and made a grab for Hank, who slithered out of his grasp like an eel. Hank threw himself at Ben, and pushed the older man away. He grabbed Joe and pulled him up to use as a shield. He had a knife in his hand \u2013 the knife from the table. It wasn\u2019t very sharp, but sharp enough. \u201cHold it!\u201d he ordered.<\/p>\n They all froze, and Ike, who was on top of Adam, struck him hard across the face. Adam was already bleeding from their fight, and Ike\u2019s blow opened a gash down his cheekbone. Adam\u2019s eye began to swell slowly.<\/p>\n Ike looked at Hoss. \u201cYou, get outside and saddle up a couple of horses. Any funny business, and your brothers here will get it.\u201d For emphasis, Ike backhanded Adam again. Adam, pinned under Ike\u2019s weight, couldn\u2019t avoid the blow.<\/p>\n Hank, following Ike\u2019s example, backhanded Little Joe.<\/p>\n For a moment, it looked as though Ben and Hoss would sacrifice their lives to get revenge for those blows, but both had too much common sense to allow that thought full rein. Ben nodded, and Hoss went to the door, and went outside.<\/p>\n Ben remained standing by the fire, overwhelmed with helplessness. He was thinking so hard about how they might get out of this situation alive, that it took several seconds for him to realise that the front door was opening very, very slowly. Ben didn\u2019t know what was going on, but he had to distract Hank and Ike. \u201cPlease, if you\u2019re going to take a hostage with you, don\u2019t take one of my sons,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll go.\u201d<\/p>\n Hank turned to look at him. Ike finally took his eyes from Adam\u2019s face, and grinned nastily. \u201cOh, I don\u2019t think so, old man,\u201d he replied. \u201cI think we\u2019ll take young Adam here. He won\u2019t slow us down too much, and his presence will stop you from following too close behind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease, take me,\u201d Ben repeated.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Pa,\u201d Adam protested, thickly.<\/p>\n Ike looked back at his victim, and caught the movement of the door from the corner of his eye. The gun came up, and Ben gave a shout. Roy Coffee, the sheriff, burst in to the room, and fired at Ike. Ben dived at Hank, and wrestled with him for control of the knife. Hank fought madly, not caring if he hurt anyone. Ben was trying to avoid hurting Joe any more. Joe himself helped his father out, by punching Hank in the stomach. Ben got the knife, and knocked Hank to the floor.<\/p>\n Panting, Ben looked up, and saw that Hoss was helping Coffee handcuff Ike. Dr Martin stood on the threshold, unsure who needed his help most. Behind him, grinning like a Cheshire cat, stood Hop Sing.<\/p>\n ************<\/p>\n Later, much later, Ben sank into his bed wearily. Adam had been in bed for hours, his bruises and scrapes dressed and cleaned. Hoss had helped Coffee take the men back to town, and had then returned. Ben had had a bad cut on his hand bandaged, before Doc Martin had given Joe some laudanum, and set and bandaged his broken ankle. After Hoss had returned, they had carried Joe to bed, and Hoss had volunteered to sit with him. Martin had ordered Ben to bed, and had agreed to stay the night, to save himself a long, dark ride home in the snow.<\/p>\n Adam, his face bruised and swollen, was unable to settle in bed. Martin had offered him some laudanum, for the pain, but he had refused. He was uneasy, but wasn\u2019t sure why. Hoss had told them that Hank and Ike were securely in jail. Eventually, he slipped into a light slumber, but he woke frequently.<\/p>\n Dawn came late, and with it, more snow. Paul Martin looked at the weather, and accepted Ben\u2019s hospitality once more. Joe was resting more comfortably, but still in pain from his ankle. Adam\u2019s right eye was swelled completely shut, and Paul bathed it in cool water. Hoss went to the barn to check on the horses, and Ben went to the bunkhouse to give the hands their pay.<\/p>\n All day, the snow fell lazily, huge fat flakes settling on the piles already softening the landscape. Hoss dug a path to the barn, to make feeding the stock easier, and Paul Martin made a joke about being holed up at the Ponderosa for the whole winter.<\/p>\n In truth, he was needed, as both Adam and Joe developed a cough. Joe\u2019s temperature rose steadily throughout the day, and Ben was kept busy sponging Joe with cool water, in an effort to keep him cool. Adam, too, was slightly fevered, but stayed away from his father as much as possible, so as not to give him something more to worry about.<\/p>\n By the time darkness fell, another two feet of snow lay on the ground.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Ben woke from a doze, and by the guttering light of his lamp, saw that it was 2 am. He rose stiffly from the chair he had been dozing in, and looked at Joe. For now, he was sleeping peacefully, and was fairly cool. Ben paced across to the window and looked out. The blizzard was still howling outside, and something was creaking.<\/p>\n Ben stopped still, and listened to the creaking. It seemed closer than the trees outside, but he couldn\u2019t quite place where it was coming from. Joe muttered something, and Ben crossed the room to his side.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was as well he did, for with a groan that roused the whole house, the roof above Joe\u2019s window caved in under the weight of the snow! Ben was knocked off his feet, and the lamp tipped over. There was a\u00a0whoosh<\/em>, as the flames licked up the wall.<\/p>\n Ben could hear shouting coming from the other rooms, but he was more concerned with the fire that had broken out. He grabbed the basin of water that he\u2019d been using to bathe Joe, and threw it on the flames. A handful of snow followed, and mercifully, the worst of that danger was past.<\/p>\n But the rest of the roof was creaking badly, and Ben knew they had to get downstairs, and probably out of the house altogether. Adam was suddenly by Ben\u2019s side, and they lifted Joe carefully. Joe had been startled out of sleep, and the snow whirling in the room, and the acrid smell from the fire, set him to coughing. Adam, as Joe\u2019s weight settled into his arms, also began to cough. He stumbled, and would have fallen if Hoss hadn\u2019t arrived. Swiftly, the middle son took Joe into his arms, leaving Ben to help his older son, who was shaking with fever.<\/p>\n They made their way downstairs, and across to the dining area, where there was only one level of roof to worry about. Paul Martin came at their back, and he examined Adam and Joe while Ben and Hoss wrapped up warmly, and went out to inspect the roof.<\/p>\n It was nearly an hour later when they returned, having cleared as much snow as they could from the roof of the house. Some of the hands had helped them, and they had rigged a tarpaulin over the gaping hole as best they could. By the time they came in, they were wet through.<\/p>\n Paul ordered them to change out of their wet clothes immediately, and Hop Sing soon had hot coffee and broth ready for them. Joe was laid back on the settee. Paul would have preferred the table, which gave better support to his ankle, but the settee provided more comfort. Adam was sitting in a chair by the fire, wrapped in blankets, coughing steadily. He smiled at his father, as Ben sank into a chair opposite him. \u201cYou look exhausted, Pa,\u201d he whispered hoarsely.<\/p>\n \u201cI am,\u201d Ben agreed. \u201cHow are you feeling, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWrung out,\u201d Adam admitted. \u201cGuess we\u2019re lucky that Paul got marooned here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s lucky about that?\u201d Joe asked. \u201cHe\u2019s torturing me!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll torture you, young man, if you don\u2019t stop complaining!\u201d Ben said, sternly, but his eyes were twinkling. If Joe could crack jokes, he must be a little better. He hadn\u2019t had the energy to be cheeky before.<\/p>\n \u201cBen, the day Joe doesn\u2019t complain about my treatment\u201d Paul said wryly, \u201cthe world will stop turning!\u201d<\/p>\n They all laughed, and it felt good to release some of the tension. What was left of the night passed quietly, but Paul had little rest. Adam took a turn for the worse, his fever shooting up, and the cough tormenting him sorely. Paul raided the kitchen, and fed Adam sips of honey, which soothed his throat for a while and allowed him a short respite from the cough.<\/p>\n Come daylight, Paul confirmed to Ben that Adam had pneumonia. They fixed a bed for him downstairs, and took turns laying cold cloths on his hot forehead. Adam struggled for breath between bouts of coughing, and his wheezing could be heard across the large room. At one point, Paul fixed up blankets and brought cauldrons of steaming water from the kitchen, hoping that the steam would relieve the tightness in Adam\u2019s chest. It worked for a while, and Adam sank into a deep sleep.<\/p>\n Ben sat down, exhausted from all the worry. At first, it seemed like Joe was the only victim, but now he was seemingly on the mend, and Adam was desperately ill. Hoss was doing all he could, but Joe still needed attention, and could do very little for himself. Adam was Ben\u2019s rock. He always seemed to be there for Ben to lean on when Joe got himself into yet another scrape. He and Adam were temperamentally alike, and despite the saying that opposites were the best companions, he and Adam were friends, as well as father and son. Adam had grown up early, and Ben missed the adult company. Hoss got on well with everyone, and Joe was his mercurial youngest, but Adam was the person he leaned on when times got too tough. As well as fearing for Adam\u2019s life, Ben missed his support.<\/p>\n Ben woke with a start, not realising that he\u2019d been asleep. The house was quiet. Hoss slumbered in a chair by the fire, Paul was nowhere in sight, and Adam was so still, Ben feared he had died. He checked Adam\u2019s breathing, which had eased, and changed the cloth on his head. Then Joe spoke, and Ben realised that he\u2019d been woken by his son\u2019s voice. Wearily, with stiff muscles, Ben crossed the room.<\/p>\n Joe was still sick, but was finally recovering. His fever was down, but he still suffered a lot of pain from his ankle. \u201cPa, how\u2019s Adam?\u201d he whispered. The cough he had had roughened his voice to a whisper.<\/p>\n Ben ran a hand through his son\u2019s hair. \u201cHe\u2019s sleeping,\u201d he replied. \u201cJust like you should be.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shook his head. \u201cI\u2019ve done enough sleeping,\u201d he protested. \u201cPa, is Adam going to be all right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Ben replied, firmly. \u201cI\u2019m sure he\u2019s going to be just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s green eyes, the image of his mother\u2019s, caught Ben\u2019s gaze. \u201cHe saved my life,\u201d Joe said. \u201cI wish there was something I could do for him. We sometimes don\u2019t see eye to eye, but he\u2019s my brother.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Ben said. \u201cBut right now, you have to concentrate on getting better yourself. Paul is here, and is doing everything he can for Adam. How do you feel?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe sighed. \u201cMy ankle feels pretty bad,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about your head?\u201d Ben asked, turning Joe\u2019s head to the side, and lifting his curls to examine the bullet crease. It appeared to be healing well, and the bruising was finally starting to fade.<\/p>\n \u201cIts okay, I guess,\u201d Joe said, indifferently. \u201cIts not sore, just \u2013 I don\u2019t know \u2013 tight. Like the skin is pulled over it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was,\u201d Ben said, dryly. \u201cYou scraped all your face, and the scabs look a little tight as they\u2019re healing. Paul says they shouldn\u2019t leave any mark at all.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe smiled briefly, but for all his brothers\u2019 jibes about his beauty, Joe wasn\u2019t a vain young man. He liked to be tidy, and he took care of his appearance, but he couldn\u2019t see what was so remarkable about his face. As long as the girls liked him, he didn\u2019t care. Now, he could see the fatigue on his father\u2019s face, and he hesitated before speaking. \u201cPa, my back is real sore lying here. Can\u2019t I sit up?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben frowned, and Joe, not wanting to cause his father more grief, said quickly \u201cIts all right, I\u2019ll stay lying down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf your back hurts, you need to change your position,\u201d Ben said. \u201cHold on, while I move the table, so you can rest your ankle on it.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe watched as Ben moved the furniture around, and placed a cushion on the table. Then, Ben helped Joe to sit up, gently holding his son\u2019s injured ankle as Joe wriggled around to a comfortable sitting position. Ben tucked the covers around his son once more as Joe sighed with relief as the ache in his back disappeared. \u201cGee,\u201d he said, \u201cI\u2019m getting to put my feet on the furniture!\u201d Ben smiled.<\/p>\n Paul came back into the room from the kitchen, and smiled at Ben. He came across and sat beside them. \u201cAdam is doing a little better,\u201d he told them in a hushed voice. \u201cI expect the fever to break by tomorrow, at the latest. How are you doing, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine,\u201d Joe said, but Ben hastened to tell Paul that Joe\u2019s ankle still hurt. Paul took a look at it, and loosened the bandages and splints, slightly. \u201cYour ankle is still pretty swollen and sore, and it will be for a while. I don\u2019t want you trying to walk on it for at least a week, not even with crutches. It won\u2019t take any weight. If you stand on it now, you\u2019ll undo all the good the resting has done.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw, doc,\u201d Joe protested.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m serious, Joe,\u201d Paul said sternly. \u201cIf you try and walk on your ankle too soon, you could end up with a permanent limp.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe subsided. \u201cOkay, I promise to stay off it.\u201d He looked at Ben. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa. It means more work for everyone, especially with Adam still sick.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll manage, son,\u201d Ben assured him. \u201cYou and Adam just need to get well, that\u2019s the most important thing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDagburn it, Pa\u201d Hoss said, \u201cJoe must be sick, if he\u2019s worryin\u2019 about work!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe snorted. \u201cI know you,\u201d he retorted. \u201cYou always save the worst jobs for me when I\u2019m sick!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sat back and listened while his sons continued their verbal sparring. Joe was definitely on the mend, and Ben was thankful. He rose and went back to his vigil at Adam\u2019s side.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s fever broke the next morning, and within a few hours, he was sitting up and eating the broth Hop Sing had made for him. He was thin and weak, but recovering. Paul Martin was relieved. The snow had finally stopped late the previous night, and although it lay nearly 6 feet deep in places, a thaw had already begun. The eaves were dripping steadily. Paul took Ben aside and told him he was preparing to ride back to Virginia City that day.<\/p>\n Ben argued with him, and finally persuaded Paul to stay another night, and leave the next morning. Hoss volunteered to go with him. By morning, the snow had visibly melted, but was still \u2018deep and crisp and even\u2019, as Joe put it very seasonably. Christmas was now only a couple of days away.<\/p>\n Ben sent Paul away with thanks ringing in his ears, and some food to keep him going. It was a slow, tiring ride, with the horses sometimes chest deep in snow. Hoss had seldom been so glad to see anywhere as he was to see the city.<\/p>\n As he tied his horse up outside the general store, a voice hailed him. \u201cHoss!\u201d<\/p>\n It was Roy Coffee. Hoss stared. Coffee\u2019s face was bruised and he limped slightly. \u201cRoy! What happened to you?\u201d<\/p>\n Coffee met Hoss\u2019 worried gaze with the soberest expression Hoss could ever remember seeing. \u201cThere was a jail break last night,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cJail break? What? How?\u201d Hoss couldn\u2019t get his tongue to form the questions his brain was screaming.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone blew my jail last night, and Hank and Ike got away,\u201d Roy reported.<\/p>\n \u201cGot away? Oh, Lord, no!\u201d Hoss turned back to his horse.<\/p>\n Roy put his hand on Hoss\u2019 arm. \u201cThey had outside help, Hoss,\u201d Roy continued. \u201cThey didn\u2019t have dynamite in my jail. I don\u2019t know who helped them, yet, but I\u2019ll find out. I\u2019m gathering a posse now, but I\u2019m glad to see you. You, Ben and Adam need to keep your eyes open.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam\u2019s bin sick, too,\u201d Hoss said, dully. \u201cPa\u2019s lookin\u2019 after him an\u2019 Joe alone. Paul just came back to town with me.\u201d Hoss shook off Roy\u2019s restraining hand. \u201cI\u2019m gonna head back now,\u201d he said. \u201cYou kin follow along when you\u2019re ready.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBe careful,\u201d Roy warned. Hoss nodded, but Roy doubted if he\u2019d heard. For a moment, he watched Hoss riding away, then he shouted to his deputy \u201cHurry them up!\u201d<\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss rode Chubb as fast as he could, but the horse was already tired from the trip in, and Hoss didn\u2019t want him failing. When he rode into the yard, there was no movement from the house. Swiftly, Hoss put his horse up, and thought about his next move. There was no reason his father should have come to see who was moving about outside. After all, he\u00a0was<\/em>\u00a0expecting Hoss home again. But surely not that quickly, Hoss reasoned. It could be that Ben was asleep; he\u2019d had little enough sleep in the last few days. Neither Joe nor Adam could get up and walk about yet. Hoss nodded his head. They were all plausible theories, but he didn\u2019t believe any of them.<\/p>\n Hoss went to the kitchen door, and eased it open. There was no sign of Hop Sing, but the room seemed empty, and Hoss went in. Drawing his gun, Hoss crossed the kitchen with a lightness of step that belied his size. He stood listening at the door to the main room. There were voices, but Hoss couldn\u2019t hear what they were saying. Very slowly, he turned the door handle, and eased the door open a fraction.<\/p>\n The voices became clearer. One was Ben\u2019s; the other seemed familiar, too. Hoss frowned for a moment before recognising it as belonging to John Hopkins, a man who had a neighbouring ranch. Hopkins was a pest \u2013 always complaining, and blaming things on the Cartwrights. He could never see that his own laziness and short-sightedness caused many of his problems.<\/p>\n Hoss began to relax slightly. Hopkins was over to complain again, he thought. Probably thought the snow was the fault of the Ponderosa, too! Then Joe let out a cry, and Hoss tensed again. He had heard his little brother cry in pain before, and he recognised the sound now.<\/p>\n Tossing his tall, white hat onto the floor, Hoss eased round the doorpost to have a look. Hopkins stood with his back to the fireplace, a rifle in his hands. He was watching something, and smiling slightly. It wasn\u2019t a pleasant smile.<\/p>\n Joe cried again, and fell to the floor at Hopkins\u2019 feet. Hopkins put his foot on Joe\u2019s back, and placed the rifle against his head. Hoss tensed, angrily. Ben spoke again, from somewhere outside Hoss\u2019 vision. \u201cLeave him alone!\u201d<\/p>\n Hopkins laughed. \u201cWhy should I, Cartwright? Its giving you anguish to watch and its giving me pleasure. You think you know it all, but you\u2019re wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy are you doing this, John?\u201d Ben asked, his tone reasonable.<\/p>\n \u201cYou Cartwrights got Hank and Ike put in jail. How am I meant to work my ranch when they\u2019re locked up? You never think of anyone but yourself, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey work for you?\u201d Ben repeated, his tone surprised. \u201cWell, it wouldn\u2019t have made any difference even if I had known that. They ambushed Joe and Adam!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a lie!\u201d Hopkins declared. \u201cAdam shot Hank.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI shot him because he shot Joe,\u201d Adam\u2019s voice said, weakly. \u201cThen they held us hostage, and beat us up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh,\u201d Hopkins said, disdainfully. \u201cBeat you up indeed.\u201d He gave Joe a kick. Joe jerked. Hoss saw his brother\u2019s face, which was bleeding from the nose and mouth. Joe, in that moment, saw Hoss, and hastily looked away.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease,\u201d Ben said. \u201cLeave Joe alone.\u201d<\/p>\n Hopkins looked down at his captive and smiled again. Hoss shuddered. Joe was squirming away from the pressure of Hopkins\u2019 boot heel in his back, but Hopkins simply increased the pressure, eliciting a grunt of pain from Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you want?\u201d Ben asked, wearily. \u201cI have no money to give you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think I want your money anymore,\u201d Hopkins said. \u201cI\u2019ll just take your son, and your horses and ride away. That would hurt you more than money.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe isn\u2019t fit to go anywhere,\u201d Ben protested, not denying the truth Hopkins had seen. \u201cNor is Adam. Take me!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Pa,\u201d Joe protested. Hopkins kicked him again. Joe groaned. Hoss\u2019s grip on his gun tightened. He\u2019d heard enough. From the other side of the room, he heard Adam protest, too, and Ike growled something Hoss didn\u2019t catch. He risked another glance round the doorpost. Joe was looking at him, and Hoss nodded.<\/p>\n Joe suddenly reached around and grasped Hopkins\u2019 ankle, and pulled. It was a risky move, given that there was a gun pointing at his head, but Joe didn\u2019t hesitate. Hopkins gave a startled cry as he over balanced. His rifle swung up and discharged into the ceiling, bringing down some plaster. Hoss charged out of the kitchen, and took in the situation. Adam still lay on his makeshift bed, and Ike had a gun pointing at him. Hank was covering Ben. Both men looked at their boss in astonishment. That gave Hoss time to make a move. Ben, too, reacted, punching Hank hard in the stomach. Adam grabbed Ike\u2019s gun and wrestled for control of it.<\/p>\n Hoss wasn\u2019t sure who to help first, but decided on Adam. He charged across the room, like a moose on a rampage, and Ike was startled. He pulled the gun from Adam\u2019s weakened grip and fired wildly at Hoss. Despite having such a large target, he missed by yards. Then, Hoss was on him, swinging his mighty fists, and Ike went down and out.<\/p>\n Hoss turned his attention to Ben, who seemed to have things well under control. So Hoss turned his attention to Little Joe. Joe, hampered by his broken ankle, was curled on the floor, trying to protect his vitals, as Hopkins viciously kicked him and struck him about the shoulders with his gun. \u201cHopkins!\u201d Hoss bellowed, and charged at him. Distracted, Hopkins missed his target, and struck Joe\u2019s ankle. Joe let out a shriek and uncurled. Hopkins, still with one eye on Hoss, kicked Joe in the face. Joe went down, blood spurting from under his clutching fingers.<\/p>\n By then, Hoss was there, and Hopkins threw his gun at Hoss, never once thinking to fire it. Hoss took the blow on his shoulder without even noticing it. Hopkins made an abortive try to run, but Hoss grabbed him, and punched him once in the face. Once was enough; Hopkins fainted in terror.<\/p>\n Looking down on the unconscious man before him, Hoss quelled the rage pounding in his veins, and turned to check on his family\u2019s safety. Ben stood over Hank, breathing hard, but with only a few red marks on his face. Adam was sagging back on his pillows, obviously exhausted, but managing a shaky smile for his younger brother. Hoss turned his gaze on Joe, and knelt by his baby brother. He prised Joe\u2019s hands away from his face.<\/p>\n Blood gushed from the split up Joe\u2019s right cheek, and his face was swelling as Hoss watched. \u201cMy God!\u201d Ben breathed. \u201cHoss, get some water!\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss lumbered to his feet, and they heard horses galloping into the yard. \u201cNow what?\u201d Ben wondered.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the posse,\u201d Hoss remembered, and went to open the door. Ben, meanwhile, yelled for Hop Sing, who, it turned out, had slept through the whole siege! Roy Coffee came in and looked at the three men for a moment, before motioning to his deputies to take them away.<\/p>\n Ben looked up from bathing Joe\u2019s face to see Paul Martin looking down on them. \u201cPaul!\u201d Ben exclaimed, confused. \u201cHow did you get here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI came with the posse,\u201d he said, pushing Ben gently aside. \u201cRoy asked me to come, so I got a fresh horse and here I am. Good thing, too.\u201d<\/p>\n When Joe came round a little later, he discovered that Paul had put a few stitches in his face, and had re-set the injured ankle. Paul had used a little ether to keep Joe out of it while his injuries were attended to, and Joe felt slightly sick. However, he wasn\u2019t in pain, thanks to the dose of laudanum Paul had also given him. He was rather surprised to learn that he was lying on the dining table, and disgusted to be told he was to stay there for another day or so.<\/p>\n *************<\/p>\n Joe crutched his way slowly down stairs, and out to the rocker on the porch. He sat carefully, and eased his ankle onto the stool. Hoss and Adam came from the barn and grinned when they saw him. \u201cWell, dadburn it!\u201d Hoss exclaimed. \u201cIf\u2019n it ain\u2019t Little Joe, up and dressed before noon!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMust be on the mend,\u201d Adam commented, dryly. \u201cI wonder how soon it\u2019ll be before Pa has him back clearing out the water holes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot that soon,\u201d Joe assured him. \u201cBesides, who could sleep with all that hammering going on?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss laughed. The repairs on the roof were going well, and the last of the tiles was being replaced that day. There after, Joe\u2019s room would be habitable again, and he could go back to his own bedroom. He\u2019d been sleeping in the spare room, and complaining about it.<\/p>\n Joe scratched at the healing cut on his face, which showed only a thin red line, and would heal without a mark, Paul had promised. Adam reached out and smacked Joe sharply on the knuckles. \u201cLeave it alone!\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, don\u2019t you have something better to do than torment me?\u201d Joe complained.<\/p>\n Adam sat down on the bench beside Joe. \u201cActually, no,\u201d he replied. \u201cI\u2019m still on light work, remember? And I\u2019m finished for the day. I\u2019ll be able to keep you company, and make sure you keep off that foot, and don\u2019t scratch your face.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe reached for his crutch. \u201cI think I might just go back to bed,\u201d he said. Hoss snatched it away. \u201cHoss!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam reached under the bench and produced an accounts book. \u201cYou can help me with these,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cUh, Adam, I don\u2019t think so,\u201d Joe answered, trying to get his crutch back. \u201cI\u2019m supposed to rest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but you don\u2019t want your brain to rot while you\u2019re restin\u2019\u201d Hoss said. \u201cPa thought you could help.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe sank back with a scowl on his handsome features. \u201cNext time, I\u2019m going to get laid up far from home,\u201d he complained.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat \u2013 away from your own bed? How on earth will you manage that?\u201d Adam asked, and laughed as Hoss went off into gales of helpless laughter.<\/p>\n Joe watched them for a few seconds, scowling, but the corner of his mouth twitched,\u00a0 and then he began to giggle.<\/p>\n *****End*****<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n