The Fastest<\/strong><\/p>\nLittle Joe Cartwright, youngest son of Ben Cartwright of the Ponderosa, was going to be late getting home from Virginia City to pick up the mail\u2014-again.\u00a0 It was well past five P.M., and Joe should have been home hours ago.\u00a0 Instead, he was in the Bucket of Blood saloon, playing poker.\u00a0 To make things even worse, he had forgotten to PICK UP the mail and the post office closed at 3:30 p. m.\u00a0 These things might have made Joe a little worried, considering the fact that his father was always on his case about being more responsible.\u00a0 His Father said he seemed to have a knack for getting into trouble.\u00a0 Joe thought that he only got into trouble because his Father was too strict on him and he would get into trouble for things that his older brothers, Adam and Hoss, would be allowed to do.\u00a0 Still, being late again might have made Little Joe a little bit worried, but the honest fact was\u2014he hadn\u2019t even thought of that yet.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t intended to forget the mail or to play poker\u2014he just came into the saloon for a beer to wash down the dust from the trip to Virginia City from the Ponderosa.\u00a0 But when he came into the saloon, a group of his friends was playing poker and one of them asked Joe to take his spot because he had to leave.\u00a0 Although he at first said no, he was soon persuaded by his friends.\u00a0 These friends were all older than Joe, closer to his brother\u2019s age, and being included in their activities made Joe feel good.\u00a0 Of course, they used this to their advantage sometimes.\u00a0 They knew that all they had to do to get him to change his mind was to ask him if he was afraid his Pa would get mad at him for playing poker.\u00a0 Joe was very sensitive about being teased about being the youngest and he would do anything to convince others and himself that he was grown up.\u00a0 He was 17 last month and his family still treated him like a baby, in his opinion.\u00a0\u00a0 So, four hours and several pints of beer later, Joe was still playing poker.\u00a0 He was feeling particularly good because he was winning.\u00a0 Of course, he was spending the money as fast as he won it, buying drinks for all his friends and the barmaids, who were enthusiastically cheering Joe\u2019s success.\u00a0 Little Joe liked to have a good time and he wanted everyone else to have a good time, too.\u00a0 Most people found it hard to resist his infectious sense of humor and playfulness.\u00a0 Women found it harder to resist that smile and those gorgeous hazel eyes.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile back at the ranch, Ben Cartwright was waiting for his three sons to come home from their day\u2019s tasks.\u00a0 Hoss, the middle son was the first to come in, which was not unusual.\u00a0 Hoss, a big man, was seldom late for meals, and he was anxious for dinner that night since Hop Sing had promised to make fried chicken, his favorite food.\u00a0 Adam, the oldest son was next, right on time.\u00a0 Hoss tried to sneak a piece of fried chicken out of the kitchen, setting off a tirade by Hop Sing in Chinese.\u00a0 Unsuccessful in snatching a sample, Hoss joined Adam and Ben as they were talking at Ben\u2019s desk.\u00a0 They were reviewing the ongoing projects of the ranch while they waited for Little Joe to return to have dinner.\u00a0\u00a0 They were all used to waiting for Little Joe at mealtimes\u2014he just never could seem to make it on time.\u00a0 However, as the minutes passed by, Ben became increasingly exasperated with his youngest son\u2019s tardiness.\u00a0 Hop Sing announced dinner was ready, and Ben told him they were waiting for Little Joe.\u00a0 This set Hop Sing off with another round of Chinese, with the only recognizable words being \u201cLittle Joe\u201d.\u00a0 Finally after 4 warnings from Hop Sing, Ben decided they would start without him.<\/p>\n
It was just as well that the other Cartwrights decided to eat\u2014Joe was still playing poker.\u00a0 He was on his last hand and by all indications, it was a good one.\u00a0 He was relaxed, smiling, flirting with two barmaids, at the same time he was arranging his cards in a particular order.\u00a0 There were just two players left now, and the other player, George Hanes, a ranch hand from the Bar\u00a0X<\/u>, had to fold or call.\u00a0 To call Joe\u2019s hand would wipe him out and he was trying to make up his mind about risking it.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, George, make up your mind. What\u2019s it going to be?\u201d<\/p>\n
George looked at his cards, looked at all the money in the pot, and then looked at Little Joe\u2019s face.\u00a0 He folded.\u00a0 Little Joe started to collect his winnings from the center of the table.\u00a0 George, dismayed at losing so much money, asked Little Joe to see his hand.<\/p>\n
Little Joe said, \u201cWell, George, if you insist,\u201d and turned his cards over.\u00a0 He had a pair of queens and the rest of his hand amounted to nothing.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad burn you, Little Joe, I had 2 kings!\u00a0 I thought you must have had a full house. You are either the luckiest man alive or the trickiest!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAw, come on George, I\u2019ll buy you a drink, in fact, I will buy everybody a drink.\u00a0 I recently came into a little money.\u201d\u00a0 That put even George in a better mood and they flocked around Joe for the better part of an hour, until a few at a time, they started leaving.<\/p>\n
Finally, after his friends were gone, Little Joe started thinking about why he came in there in the first place.\u00a0 He paid his tab, stuffed the remainder of his winnings into his pocket, and headed over to the general store, where the post office was located.\u00a0 When he got to the door, he saw the\u00a0CLOSED<\/strong>\u00a0sign; then, and only then he realized the time.\u00a0 Joe considered the consequences of going home\u2014 late, and without the mail.\u00a0 He decided that was too horrible to even consider, so he decided to do what he had done so many times before in the same circumstances\u2014find Mrs. Trumbell and ask her to open the post office to give him the mail.\u00a0 Mrs. Trumbell was the postmistress who lived just a few houses away from the post office.\u00a0 She had a motherly fondness for Little Joe Cartwright.\u00a0 She had saved him from his father\u2019s wrath several times, and as luck would have it, she was home.\u00a0 Although she gave Joe a hard time and made him work to convince her to open the post office, she eventually did, as both of them knew she would.\u00a0 \u201cAll right, Little Joe, but I am warning you, this is the absolute last time that I am going to do this for you. You will just have to learn your lesson the hard way next time.\u201d\u00a0 Joe gallantly kissed her hand and gave her a great big smile to express his appreciation.\u00a0 As he was leaving, Mrs. Trumbell was thinking, \u201cif I were just 20 years younger and he was just 20 years older.\u201d<\/p>\nLittle Joe got home about 9 P.M., which he didn\u2019t consider to really be late.\u00a0 Ben Cartwright had a different interpretation, however.\u00a0 \u201cWhere have you been young man?\u00a0 You should have been home by 2 P.M. at the latest.\u201d\u00a0 Joe started to explain, but Ben wasn\u2019t through talking yet.\u00a0 \u201cThis is the third time this week that you have gone into Virginia City and wound up in that Bucket of Blood saloon.\u00a0 Don\u2019t think I don\u2019t know about it.\u00a0 What do you have to say for yourself?\u201d\u00a0 Joe again started to say something, but Ben still wasn\u2019t through talking yet.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t you realize how inconsiderate it is when you are late?\u00a0 How was I supposed to know that you weren\u2019t hurt or something?\u201d\u00a0 Well?\u201d<\/p>\n
Joe waited to speak, expecting his father to continue.\u00a0 \u201cWell, young man, I am waiting!\u201d Ben said, with his arms crossed.\u00a0 Joe sighed and explained that he just got tied up, careful not to mention what he was doing, and couldn\u2019t get there any sooner.\u00a0 He apologized for being late and handed his father the mail, mentioning that there was mail from the accountants in San Francisco.\u00a0 This was always an effective strategy because the mail was an important event at the Ponderosa and the mail from San Francisco was doubly important.\u00a0 The San Francisco accounting firm handled all the ranch accounts and prepared monthly detailed reports on the Cartwright\u2019s many holdings.\u00a0 As usual, the diversion strategy Joe used worked this time, too.\u00a0 Ben said, \u201cWell, don\u2019t let it happen again, Joseph.\u201d\u00a0 With that said, Ben went over to his desk to read the mail.\u00a0 Joe decided to go see about getting something to eat.<\/p>\n
As he walked by, Hoss, sitting in the living room cleaning a rifle, said \u201cLittle Joe, I don\u2019t see how you do that.\u00a0 Pa has been steaming for three hours over your being late and you get home and within 5 minutes he has forgotten it.\u201d\u00a0 Joe just winked at Hoss and went on into the kitchen.<\/p>\n
Adam, who was reading a book, said to Hoss, \u201cIt is because Pa is not really mad at Little Joe for being late, he was worried about him and when he gets home safely, he is so relieved, he forgets why he was so worried.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I guess you are right, Adam\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know I am right about that\u201d said Adam.\u00a0 \u201cYes, that kid has Pa wrapped around his little finger, and as a matter of fact, you, too,\u201d said Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hoss started to protest, but then with a teasing look on his face, said, \u201cDidn\u2019t I notice you doing Little Joe\u2019s chores tonight, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sheepishly, Adam laughed and said \u201cYes, he has us all wrapped around his little finger, doesn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n
In the kitchen, Hop Sing was letting Joe have it in Chinese for missing dinner and Little Joe was giving it right back to him in mock Chinese.\u00a0 Joe was the only one with nerve enough to do this to Hop Sing.\u00a0 Yet, even during his tirade, Hop Sing was fixing him a plate of food.\u00a0\u00a0 Little Joe returned from the kitchen with a plate of cold fried chicken, freshly sliced homemade bread, and a huge piece of chocolate cake, and joined his brothers in the living room.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss were still laughing and when Joe walked in with his plate of food, Hoss said, \u201cWould you look at that?\u00a0 Hop Sing wouldn\u2019t let me cut that cake, said it was for tomorrow! \u201c\u00a0 Then he said,\u00a0 \u201cHop Sing, too, Adam!\u201d and they laughed again.<\/p>\n
Little Joe said \u201cwhat about Hop Sing?\u201d, but Adam and Hoss just laughed and wouldn\u2019t tell him what they were talking about.\u00a0 Little Joe, not one to worry unnecessarily, made a face, indicating that his brothers had taken leave of their senses, and let it go.<\/p>\n
Soon Ben joined his sons around the fire and updated them on the financial reports from San Francisco and the other items from the mail that they would be interested in.\u00a0 During the middle of this amicable conversation, Ben asked Joe \u201cWell, how much money did you win in that poker game?\u201d\u00a0 Little Joe, surprised, said \u201c About $100.00\u201d before he realized that his father had tricked him into confessing.\u00a0 When he realized he had been tricked, he laughed and the others joined in.\u00a0 This was a typical day for the Cartwrights.<\/p>\n
*****<\/p>\n
The next morning as was their custom; the Cartwrights began their day by sharing breakfast.\u00a0 Of course, also as usual, Hoss had to go in several times to wake Little Joe up.\u00a0 Little Joe, definitely not a morning person, knew that he could get away with ignoring the first three calls, but he knew that the 4th<\/sup>\u00a0one, no matter who delivered it, meant that Ben was behind it and he had better get up.<\/p>\nWhen Joe joined the rest of the family at the breakfast table, Ben smiled, then remembered Joe was late and tried to change the smile into a frown.\u00a0 \u201cWell, I am glad you finally decided to join us, Joseph\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n
Little Joe, however, knew that his father wasn\u2019t really upset, and gave him one of his frequent million dollar smiles.\u00a0 Joe was in a good mood, since when he finally counted his money that morning, he realized that he still had close to $200 left over from that poker game, so he must have won about $250.00 in all.\u00a0\u00a0 The money wasn\u2019t all that important to him, but winning and having his friends respect him, were very important to him.\u00a0 However, he did have his eyes on a fancy new gun in the Virginia City Gun shop and the money would enable him to buy it much sooner than he had expected.\u00a0 In fact, by taking all the money out of his savings account, he could just about swing it.\u00a0 He was in a good mood indeed.<\/p>\n
After his sons left to begin their work for the day, Ben lingered over coffee.\u00a0 He was also in a good mood.\u00a0 The financial reports had all been very favorable, things on the ranch were right on schedule, and there was a sense of harmony in the house.\u00a0 Adam had been home from college for two years and hadn\u2019t given any indication that he was unhappy with being back on the ranch.\u00a0 Ben had really been worried that he would not be satisfied with being a rancher after getting degrees in architecture and engineering.\u00a0 Ben had given Adam more and more responsibility for running the ranch and relied on his advice and suggestions for many decisions.\u00a0 Adam was Ben\u2019s right-hand man.\u00a0 Although Adam kept his emotions under check at all times, Ben knew that he cared about the Ponderosa and his family deeply.\u00a0 He and Ben could discuss most matters and reach a logical solution or compromise, if necessary.\u00a0 Adam was able to put his university skills to work in the mining, timber, and financial management of the Ponderosa.\u00a0 Ben felt that he could probably stop worrying about Adam leaving at this point.<\/p>\n
He turned his thoughts to his other two sons.\u00a0 Ben had never imagined that Hoss would ever want to leave the Ponderosa.\u00a0 Even in his wildest dreams he couldn\u2019t imagine Hoss being satisfied anywhere EXCEPT the Ponderosa.\u00a0 Adam had more education and book smarts than Hoss, but Hoss had a real love of the land and common sense about ranching, mining, timber, and water management that was invaluable to the Ponderosa.\u00a0 Hoss was the self-appointed peacemaker in the family.\u00a0 Whether it was between Ben and Adam or Ben and Joe, or Joe and Adam\u2014Hoss was always the one to try to reason with both sides in an attempt to re-establish peace.\u00a0 Hoss was gentle and not easy to take offense.\u00a0 Because of his size, Hoss had developed an easy-going manner to prevent him from hurting other people.\u00a0 Though if provoked, he was a fierce opponent, at 6\u20194\u201d and 300 pounds.\u00a0 His biggest fault, if it could be called a fault, was that he was sometimes too gullible.\u00a0 This sometimes got Hoss into trouble, and usually it was Joseph behind it.\u00a0 Joseph could talk Hoss into anything; in fact, he could talk most people into anything, Ben realized\u2014even himself at times.<\/p>\n
With Adam\u2019s book sense and Hoss\u2019s common sense the Ponderosa was in good hands.\u00a0 But what about Joseph? Ben wondered.\u00a0 Joseph Frances Cartwright, affectionately known as Little Joe, was a mystery even to himself, Ben realized.\u00a0 If Ben tried to assign a kind of sense to Joseph,\u00a0nonsense<\/strong>\u00a0was the first to come to mind.\u00a0 Joseph was lively, energetic, tireless, enthusiastic, and goal-driven\u2014if he got to pick the goals.\u00a0 He was less than enthusiastic if he weren\u2019t interested in the current project, however.\u00a0 There were deep feelings inside Joseph that Ben knew he didn\u2019t understand or comprehend.\u00a0 He was impulsive, hot-tempered, and obstinate, characteristics that Joe inherited from his mother, Ben realized. Yet, there were deeper feelings inside Joe too, that Ben knew that Joe tried to hide.\u00a0 Joe had also inherited his mother\u2019s physical characteristics, deep brown, curly hair, hazel eyes, dark complexion and small, slender size.\u00a0 It was hard to explain but Ben felt that Joe was far more vulnerable than his older brothers had been\u2014vulnerable to being hurt, both physically and emotionally.\u00a0 This led to a natural instinct that he, (Adam and Hoss, too for that matter) had\u2014to protect Joe from the world and from himself.<\/p>\nThat instinct had been put to good use through Joe\u2019s life.\u00a0 Little Joe had been mischievous all his life.\u00a0 As soon as he learned to walk, he was straining against authority, taking risks, pushing limits, and getting into all kinds of dangerous situations.\u00a0 Since his mother had died when he was just a baby, Adam, and Hoss had shared the responsibility for raising him with Ben.\u00a0 Ben knew that Adam and Hoss felt some of the same kind of paternal feelings for Joe that he did, in addition to fraternal feelings.\u00a0 This had made raising Joe easier for him, because Joe\u2019s inclination to mischief was more than one person could handle, especially one busy running the Ponderosa.\u00a0 Hardly a week went by that Joe didn\u2019t get into some kind of mischief.\u00a0 Ben had had to make frequent visits to discuss Joe\u2019s behavior with his schoolteachers and Adam and Hoss had made similar trips.\u00a0 Mostly the offenses were just pranks, like setting off firecrackers in the schoolroom or not paying attention to the lessons.\u00a0 Every teacher he had ever had always compared Joe unfavorably to Adam, which probably made Joe even more determined not to try.\u00a0 His teachers would say that he was just as capable of excelling as Adam did, but he just wouldn\u2019t try.\u00a0 There had been a few incidents more serious, too, and although they had been instigated by others, Joe had gone along with them.\u00a0 Just when Ben thought Little Joe was finally maturing, he would pull something else.<\/p>\n
Ben knew that it was hard for Joe sometimes, because he essentially had 3 \u201cparents\u201d to be accountable to.\u00a0 This was a fact that Joe openly rebelled against.\u00a0 He wanted to be treated exactly the same as Adam or Hoss had been at his age.\u00a0 Then of course there was Hop Sing who had been with the family since Joe\u2019s birth and felt he, too, was responsible for Joe.\u00a0 Ben believed that some of Joe\u2019s trouble making was in response to the excessive control he felt others had over him.\u00a0 But mostly Ben felt that it was just high spirits and enthusiasm that led Joe to make impulsive decisions that almost always got him into trouble.\u00a0 Yes, thought Ben, it isn\u2019t really willful disobedience on Joe\u2019s part, it is just his nature.\u00a0 And despite his objections, he still needs his brothers and me to protect him until he gets a little older and a lot wiser.\u00a0 Ben made a mental note to re-evaluate this policy as Joe matured.\u00a0 Then he got up and went out to begin his day\u2019s work.<\/p>\n
Later, after finishing up the jobs he had set for himself to do that day, he went out to check on the progress of the new sawmill being built on one of the larger virgin timber stands of the Ponderosa.\u00a0 Adam was in charge of this project, and had actually designed the sawmill and drew up the plans.\u00a0 The sawmill crew was obviously making good progress.\u00a0 Ben stopped and discussed the project with Adam.\u00a0 Adam estimated that they should be finished well in advance of the original projected time. Adam said that he was actually going to start marking timber for cutting within the week.\u00a0 One of Ben\u2019s steadfast rules was that he or Adam or Hoss had to personally mark every timber for cutting, to make sure that the forest was not over-logged.\u00a0 Then after cutting, the Cartwrights always planted one tree for every tree they logged, thus preserving the forests of the Ponderosa.\u00a0 They always made a celebration out of this event, inviting all the Ponderosa hands and their families to a barbecue.\u00a0 Ben was hoping that others would adopt this policy of good stewardship towards the land, so that the forests would survive the march of progress.<\/p>\n
After leaving Adam, Ben headed over to where Joe was breaking horses.\u00a0 Joe was the natural horseman of the family.\u00a0 He had trained his pinto, Cochise, and they made a great team.\u00a0 Cochise was a one-man horse, he wouldn\u2019t let anyone else ride him and Joe had taught him lots of fancy tricks.\u00a0 He could ride and tame horses that others wouldn\u2019t even attempt.\u00a0 Part of it was his small size and his natural agility, but probably more important was his refusal to give up.\u00a0 He was just too darned stubborn to let a horse get the better of him, Ben thought.\u00a0 However, when Ben got to the corral, all he saw were the crew, Joe was nowhere in sight.\u00a0 \u201cJohnson, where is Little Joe?\u201d Ben asked one of the men assigned to help with the horse breaking.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said he had an errand to do in Virginia City and would be back in a couple of hours, Mr. Cartwright\u201d.\u00a0 He could see Ben was getting mad, so he added, \u201cMr. Cartwright, Joe already broke 3 horses today that the boys and I couldn\u2019t even get a saddle on yesterday\u201d, hoping to prevent Ben from getting angry at Joe for leaving early.\u00a0 His attempts to cover for Little Joe wound up really making Ben angry.<\/p>\n
Breaking three stubborn horses was a good day\u2019s work for most men and Joe probably felt justified in leaving. \u00a0However, if he\u00a0HAD<\/strong>\u00a0broken 3 stubborn horses in one day, that meant he did it without taking normal safety precautions.\u00a0 When horses were difficult to break, the normal practice was to take it slow and easy, first just sitting on the horse, then sitting on the horse with his eyes covered, with two other people holding on to the horse and guiding him around the corral.\u00a0 This kind of breaking was slow and time-consuming, and not for the impatient.<\/p>\nJoe\u2019s preferred method was a lot faster and much more dangerous.\u00a0 It was quite simple\u2014get on the horse, let him go, hold on for dear life with one hand, trying to use the other hand for balance, and try to stay on the horse until he was too tired to resist.\u00a0 If the rider got thrown off, he just got back on and did it all over again.\u00a0 The problem with this method was that the rider generally got thrown off several times and there was always a danger that the horse would trample the fallen rider.\u00a0 Joe had suffered many minor injuries and a few serious injuries over the years because of this.\u00a0 Ben repeatedly told Joe not to use that method, but repeatedly, Joe ignored his advice every time he thought he could get away with it.\u00a0 Ben was especially opposed to Little Joe doing this because his mother, Marie, had been thrown from a horse and killed when Joe was just a baby.\u00a0 Every time he saw Joe riding a bucking horse, he remembered Marie and his feelings of love and loss made it impossible for him to be objective about this issue with Joe.\u00a0 \u201cJohnson, when my son gets back here, you tell him I am looking for him\u201d, Ben said and rode off.\u00a0 Johnson and the other crew members passed a look, they knew Little Joe was in trouble again.\u00a0 \u201cPoor kid, he just can\u2019t stay out of trouble, can he?\u201d asked one of the wranglers.\u00a0 Johnson, said, \u201cWell, let\u2019s just get back to work; there is nothing we can do to keep Little Joe Cartwright out of hot water\u2014he is used to it by now, I suspect.\u201d<\/p>\n
On his way back to the Ponderosa, Ben stopped to see Hoss, since he hadn\u2019t seen him at noon.\u00a0 Hoss was supervising repair of the fence on the eastern border of the Ponderosa.\u00a0 When Ben rode up, he noticed that everyone was just standing there, staring at something in the distance.\u00a0 He could see Hoss holding his arm out, pointing to something.\u00a0 He followed Hoss\u2019 pointed arm and saw a doe and fawn, drinking from a mountain stream.\u00a0 Leave it to Hoss to hold up workers so as not to disturb a deer family.\u00a0 Ben smiled to himself, it sure was a pretty sight though.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi, Pa,\u201d said Hoss when he saw his Father.<\/p>\n
\u201cHoss, how is the job coming, when you let the men work, I mean?\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n
Hoss laughed, \u201cwasn\u2019t that a pretty sight, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, son, it sure was.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will be finished here in about another half-hour and this is the last section, Pa\u201d, Hoss said in answer to his father\u2019s question.\u00a0 \u201cI thought I would start on that roundup of the calves in Bear Meadow tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat sounds like a fine plan to me, Son. Speaking of sons, do you have any idea where your brother got off to this afternoon?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss looked a little uncomfortable, which indicated to Ben that he did know where Little Joe was but didn\u2019t want to get him in trouble.\u00a0 It also struck Ben that Hoss naturally assumed he was speaking of Little Joe, since Adam and Hoss were almost always where they were supposed to be.\u00a0 \u201cOut with it, Hoss, where is Little Joe?\u201d prompted Ben.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said he had to go into Virginia City\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor what reason? He was just there for half a day and night yesterday! Ben exclaimed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had to go to pick up something, Pa\u201d, Hoss replied.\u00a0 Ben didn\u2019t know why Hoss always tried to give as little information as possible, making Ben ask him every question directly.\u00a0 \u201cHoss, what did he have to go pick up?\u201d, Ben asked in a no-nonsense, better-tell-me-all voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cDadburn it, Pa, he went and ordered one of those fancy six shooters and holsters and he won enough money to finish paying for it in that poker game yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow fancy, Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n
Hoss looked mighty uncomfortable now, like he would rather be anywhere but there.\u00a0 \u201cPa, he ordered one of those new revolvers with trigger-action that is supposed to be real fast and has a special holster to make it easy to get out\u201d.<\/p>\n
Upon hearing that, Ben felt a cold chill run along his spine.\u00a0 \u201cGuns like that are for gunfighters, not ranchers!\u201d exclaimed Ben.<\/p>\n
\u201cPa, you know how Joe is always practicing his shooting, he just likes to be the fastest. He doesn\u2019t have any intention of being a gunfighter\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Hoss, you know that, and I know that, but will the gunfighters know that? Thanks for the information, I am always the last to know what that boy is up to these days. I will have to handle this tonight.\u00a0 I will see you back at the ranch at dinner.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss followed Ben with his eyes long after he rode away.\u00a0 Hoss was just as worried about Little Joe having that kind of a gun as Pa was.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s hot temper and a hair-triggered gun could only mean trouble, as he and Pa both knew.<\/p>\n
*****<\/p>\n
Little Joe was ecstatic over his new gun\u2014it was a real beauty.\u00a0 It was just the right weight and the grip was perfect for his hand.\u00a0 The holster was just right, too.\u00a0 It sure felt better than that holster Pa had given him when he first let him start wearing a gun just a year ago.\u00a0 Of course Joe had already learned how to shoot, long before Pa let him start wearing a gun.\u00a0 He practiced every chance he got and was always getting Adam or Hoss to let him shoot with theirs.\u00a0 Within a month of getting his own gun, he could outdraw Adam and Hoss without a problem.\u00a0\u00a0 But he had seen a fancy gun show in\u00a0Carson City a few months ago and the tricks that the man could do with the gun fascinated him.\u00a0 He had been attempting to imitate the same tricks with his revolver, but it was too heavy and clumsy to do justice to the fancy moves he wanted to do.\u00a0 That was when he made up his mind to get a new gun of his own choosing and one of those special holsters, too.\u00a0 He had been saving his money for that purpose and the poker game was a blessing. In fact, the way he looked at it, it was a sign that he was meant to have that gun, otherwise, George would have called his bluff and he wouldn\u2019t have won.\u00a0 Now that he had had a little bit of time to try the gun out, he knew he had made a good choice.\u00a0 He had already started practicing the two-handed technique like that fancy gunman had used, this did make it much quicker.\u00a0 The new gun and holster would really improve his speed, and he could also then do some of the tricks like twirling the gun around before putting it back in the holster.\u00a0 He was already doing that some, but the new gun and holster would really make it easier.<\/p>\n
There was one other gun that he had liked more, that was the same model, but had real pearl handles and more intricate detailing.\u00a0 Unfortunately, it also cost $300 more and he didn\u2019t want to wait another 3 months to buy a gun. Pa would have a fit if he knew how much this gun and holster cost, thought Joe.\u00a0 So he bought the plain model this time.\u00a0 If my luck at poker holds out, maybe I can get the pearl one soon, thought Joe.\u00a0 In the meantime, he would be practicing with this gun every chance he got until he had perfected his draw.\u00a0 Ever the optimist, Joe hoped that Ben wouldn\u2019t notice the new gun for a few days, at least.\u00a0 Since he spent so much time practicing and trying out the new gun, he never made it back to the corral, so he didn\u2019t even get the warning that would have let him get prepared for his Pa\u2019s discussion that night.<\/p>\n
Ben had been thinking about how to handle the situation with Little Joe ever since he left Hoss.\u00a0 He knew that he had to handle the situation carefully.\u00a0 He had known of Joe\u2019s interest in that fancy gun, but had hoped if he kept him busy enough he would forget about it.\u00a0 He also never expected him to be able to actually save enough money to pay for it either; it cost over a $1000.\u00a0 Just his luck that Joe had gotten so lucky with poker recently.\u00a0 He considered, briefly, not making an issue of it and letting Joe keep the gun.\u00a0 But he knew that was too dangerous. Just last week Joe had gotten into a fight with men older and three times his size, just because they teased him about being called \u201cLITTLE Joe\u201d.\u00a0 If he had had that fancy gun then, what would have happened?\u00a0 Plus wearing a gun like that makes a statement that gunfighters seem to be attracted to. It was just a walking invitation to challenge someone to a test to see who was the fastest.\u00a0 Joe probably wouldn\u2019t start the conflict, but he is too stubborn and too impetuous to walk away from it, thought Ben.\u00a0 Joe had been involved in too many incidents where all it took to provoke him was some reference to him being a \u201ccoward\u201d or \u201cjust a kid\u201d or someone emphasizing the \u201cLittle\u201d in his name to draw him into the situation.\u00a0 \u201cNo\u201d, thought Ben, \u201cI can\u2019t allow him to wear that gun\u2014it is just too risky.\u201d\u00a0 I\u2019ll just have to take it away from him, then after he has calmed down some; perhaps he will listen to reason, Ben decided.\u00a0 By the time Adam, Hoss, and Joe came home, his mind was made up.\u00a0 Ben decided, however, to put the discussion off until after supper.\u00a0 Since the Cartwrights always took their guns off at the front door, he knew he could let it go until then and that would allow them to have a peaceful and enjoyable meal before the battle.\u00a0 And Ben knew this would be no small battle.<\/p>\n
The mealtime was especially lighthearted and enjoyable. No one mentioned Joe\u2019s new purchase.\u00a0 Hoss had forewarned Adam not to mention the gun and Ben had determined to wait until after dinner to discuss it.\u00a0 This made Joe think he had pulled one off on his Pa, so he was in especially good spirits and he entertained the three of them with tales of some of his recent adventures with the females of Virginia City.\u00a0 Ben participated in the light banter and joking, knowing that the mood was going to change abruptly as soon as he broached the subject of the gun with Little Joe.<\/p>\n
As soon as dinner was over, Adam and Hoss found something they had to do outside.\u00a0 Little Joe teased Hoss about leaving after eating only one piece of apple pie\u2014\u201cwhat\u2019s your rush, Hoss?\u201d\u00a0 Joe was getting up to go outside, too, when Ben asked him to come over to the study for a minute. This caused Joe a small amount of consternation, but he still had no idea that his father knew about the gun.\u00a0 Joe had been careful to hang his green jacket over the gun and holster when he took them off.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked.<\/p>\n
Ben looked at Joe with a serious look on his face and motioned for him to sit down.\u00a0 Joe, always trying to figure out Ben\u2019s thoughts, was trying to decide if Ben looked angry.\u00a0 He was a little confused, because his father didn\u2019t look exactly angry, but he couldn\u2019t figure out exactly what his father looked like.\u00a0 Then Joe had a revelation\u2014\u201cPa, did Hoss tell you about that little fall from that stallion today?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Joseph, but why don\u2019t you tell me about it?\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n
Now Joe was thoroughly confused, and as usual, his mouth had gotten him in more trouble.\u00a0 \u201cOh, it was nothing, Pa, just a little fall from a high-spirited horse, but he settled down soon enough\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, let us leave that topic for another conversation, Joseph, I have something important to discuss with you now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure\u201d said Joe, eager to change the subject.\u00a0 \u201cWhat is on your mind, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n
Ben took a deep breath and plunged ahead, \u201cJoseph, I understand you bought a new gun today.\u201d\u00a0 During the span of a few seconds, as he realized what his Father wanted to talk about, Joe\u2019s facial expression had changed from confusion to anger.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I did Pa, I bought it with my own money\u201d, he replied in a deliberate attempt to control his emotions.<\/p>\n
\u201cMay I see it please?\u201d asked Ben.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay\u201d, Joe said and went and took the shiny new gun out of the holster.<\/p>\n
\u201cWould you bring the holster, too, Joseph?\u201d Ben said, in a loud, this-is-not-a-request voice.\u00a0 Little Joe brought the gun and holster and laid them on his father\u2019s desk, without saying anything.\u00a0 His eyes showed his anger, though.\u00a0 He continued standing, watching his Father.\u00a0 \u201cSit down, Joe\u201d, Ben said, motioning him to sit in a chair nearest the desk.\u00a0 Joe moved to the other chair, a little further away from the desk and sat down, still watching his father.<\/p>\n
Ben stared at the gun and holster without saying anything for several minutes.\u00a0 During that time, Little Joe stared at his Father, trying to figure out what his father would do.\u00a0 Finally, Ben asked, \u201cJoe, do you remember what I have taught you about firearms?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure, Pa, I know how to handle a gun.\u00a0 I am much faster than Hoss or Adam and my aim is better, too, Pa,\u201d Joe replied.<\/p>\n
That was the wrong answer.\u00a0 Ben said, \u201cJoseph, speed and accuracy are not as important as knowing when to use a gun.\u00a0 That is what I was talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPa, I know when to use a gun.\u00a0 I am not going to go around shooting people, if that is what you are worried about\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut what if those people are shooting at you, Joe?\u00a0 Then what will you do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, Pa, I would have to defend myself, wouldn\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Joe, you would have to defend yourself\u201d, said Ben.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I don\u2019t understand what the problem is then, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe problem is that the minute you strap on this gun, every cowboy you meet with a gun is going to want to know who is faster, you or them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, Pa, I would just tell them it wasn\u2019t a contest, I wouldn\u2019t draw on them\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n
Ben thought to himself, he really means that.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, I believe you really mean that.\u00a0 But what if they then asked if you were yellow, or called you LITTLE Joe, or any one of a dozen things you have told me people called you as a justification for getting into a fight?\u201d, Ben asked.<\/p>\n
Joe was not happy with the way this \u201cdiscussion\u201d was going at all.\u00a0 For one thing, his Father didn\u2019t seem to be angry with him.\u00a0 That was not a good sign, as far as Joe could tell.\u00a0 If his father were angry, Joe had a chance of calming him down and stating his case strongly enough to change his mind.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t say anything to his father\u2019s last remark; he just stared at him, with his jaw set.<\/p>\n
Ben, on the other hand, recognized the jaw set as a sign that Joe was not going to be rational.\u00a0 Well, he thought to himself, this is getting us nowhere. I may as well just tell him my decision and get it over with.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, I can not allow you to wear that gun.\u00a0 It would be an open invitation for trouble and I don\u2019t think you are ready for the responsibility that comes with a fancy gunfighter\u2019s gun.\u201d\u00a0 Joe\u2019s eyes had gotten bigger and his face now had a cold, hard set to it that almost broke Ben\u2019s heart.\u00a0 He could see that Joe was close to tears, but too angry to let them come.\u00a0 \u201cI am going to take this gun and holster for safekeeping.\u00a0 You can have them back when you are old enough to handle that kind of responsibility\u201d, Ben said.\u00a0 \u201cI know you are disappointed and I am sorry, but I really think this is the only thing I can do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that is it?\u00a0\u00a0You<\/strong>\u00a0decide and that is it?\u201d Joe asked loudly.<\/p>\n\u201cYes, Joseph, when it comes to your safety,\u00a0I<\/strong>\u00a0decide and that is it\u201d, Ben said.\u00a0 \u201cThen I guess\u00a0we<\/strong>\u00a0don\u2019t have anything else to talk about\u201d, Joe said.\u00a0 He turned around and headed up the stairs without saying anything else.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, come back here\u201d Ben said.\u00a0 Joseph kept going and went to his room and slammed the door.\u00a0 Ben sighed, \u201cThat is what I get for thinking about how well things were going yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\nAdam and Hoss came inside as soon as they heard the door slam to Joe\u2019s room.\u00a0 They had been hanging out on the front porch to see if they could tell how it was going.\u00a0\u00a0 Hoss asked, \u201cPa, how hard did he take it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout as hard as I thought he would take it,\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n
Adam picked up the gun from the desk and looked it over.\u00a0 \u201cYou have to admit, Pa, it has a good feel to it.\u00a0 He picked out a good one,\u201d he said, trying to smooth the situation over.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, but it is not this gun I am worried about, it is the other guns that this one will attract\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are right, Pa, Joe is not old enough or mature enough to walk away from a gunfight and you know that every gunfighter wannabe trying to build a reputation for himself, would be trying to challenge him\u201d Adam remarked.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat doesn\u2019t help your Brother\u2019s feelings any, though\u201d said Ben.\u00a0 Ben took the gun and holster and locked it in the one drawer in his desk that his sons did not have access to.<\/p>\n
Hoss asked, \u201cDo you think it would help if I go and try to talk to him, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 \u201cHoss, I don\u2019t think so, in fact, right now, I would advise against it. He is madder than I have ever seen him and he certainly figured out you told me about the gun, so he would probably say something he didn\u2019t mean.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBetter just to let him calm down some, Son\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Pa is right, better give him some time to think it through first\u201d, said Adam.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth of you try to tread lightly with Joe until he gets over this.\u00a0 We don\u2019t want to do anything to make a volatile situation any worse,\u201d Ben cautioned Adam and Hoss.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will Pa\u201d, Hoss answered and Adam nodded his agreement.<\/p>\n
After Adam and Hoss had gone upstairs, Ben sat in the semi-darkness, considering his decision.\u00a0 Did he make the right decision?\u00a0 Unconsciously, Ben had picked up the silver-framed picture of Marie, Joe\u2019s mother, and was looking as if he expected her to answer him.\u00a0 How would Marie have handled this?\u00a0 \u201cMarie, I need your help with our son. I feel inadequate to deal with his emotional needs at times like this.\u00a0\u00a0 It was a cruel fate that took you from us, when we needed you so much.\u201d\u00a0 Ben\u2019s eyes had filled with tears as he was holding her picture.\u00a0 \u201cYou would have known how to handle that hot temper of his, after all, you gave it to him, didn\u2019t you?\u201d\u00a0 At this thought, Ben smiled.\u00a0 \u201cWell, you will just have to look out for him from Heaven, as you have always done, my Love.\u201d\u00a0 Ben sat there for several more minutes; finally, he sighed and turned off the lamp and climbed the stairs.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t resist peaking in Little Joe\u2019s room as he passed.\u00a0 Joe was lying on the bed, fully clothed.\u00a0 Ben could tell that he had been crying and had fallen asleep with the lamp on. It made his heart ache to see that\u2013he looked so small and so vulnerable. He had to stop himself from brushing his hands through Joe\u2019s thick curly brown hair that was falling across his face, as he had done so many times before.\u00a0 Joe wouldn\u2019t have liked that now, under any circumstances, but tonight, it would have been unconscionable.\u00a0 Ah, adolescence, Ben thought.\u00a0 Ben softly turned off the light and quietly closed the door.<\/p>\n
*****<\/p>\n
The next morning, Ben and Adam and Hoss were sitting at the breakfast table.\u00a0 Joe wasn\u2019t there yet.\u00a0 \u201cHoss, would you go remind Joe to come to breakfast? Ben asked.<\/p>\n
Hop Sing, serving coffee, said, \u201cMister Little Joe no eat breakfast, he been gone for one hour\u201d.\u00a0 Ben and Adam and Hoss shared a look of concern.<\/p>\n
\u201cHop Sing, what kind of mood was Joe in?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe not talk much, say he had to get to work early today.\u201d Said Hop Sing.<\/p>\n
Hoss asked, \u201cDo you want me to go check on him, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Hoss, you finish your breakfast and then get on over to Bear Creek for those calves.\u00a0 I will ride by and check on Joe.\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n
\u201cPa, you don\u2019t think he ran off or anything crazy like that, do you?\u201d asked Adam.<\/p>\n
Ben answered, \u201c I just don\u2019t know, Adam, but I will go find out right now.\u00a0 If so, I will come back to get both of you to help me find him.\u201d\u00a0 Ben hurriedly finished his cup of coffee, and then went to the horsebreaking corral.<\/p>\n
Ben breathed a sigh of relief when he got near the corral, he could see Cochise and he knew that Joseph would not go anywhere without taking Cochise.\u00a0 He rode up to the corral and dismounted and watched the men work.\u00a0 Joe was riding a very wild and strong horse, which was trying his very best to throw Joe off.\u00a0 Ben started to tell the other men to stop the horse, but thought better of it.\u00a0 He continued to watch with his jaws clenched and his heart in his throat, until the horse seemed to settle down and Joe finally rode him around the corral, as gentle as you please.\u00a0 After a few minutes, Joe dismounted and gave the reins to one of the men and walked over to get ready for the next horse.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, come over here a minute, will you?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked.<\/p>\n
Joe came over and one look at his face told Ben that Joe was still very angry.\u00a0 Joe walked over and stood facing Ben without saying anything.\u00a0 Ben said, \u201cJoe, we missed you at breakfast this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t hungry\u201d was all Joe said.<\/p>\n
Ben tried to think of something to say to Joe to smooth things over, but couldn\u2019t think of anything to say to make this situation any less painful for either of them.\u00a0 Finally, he said simply, \u201cJoe, this is not the end of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
In response, Joe said, \u201cIf there is nothing else I need to get back to work.\u201d\u00a0 With that, he walked over to the horse the men had gotten ready for him and mounted the horse and said \u201cAll right, turn her loose.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot the end of the world\u201d thought Joe.\u00a0 Not to him, maybe, but he gets to make all the rules.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss both had their choice of pistols by now.\u00a0 And if Hoss had just kept his mouth shut, Pa might not have even noticed.\u00a0 Either he told Pa or he told Adam who told Pa.\u00a0 Both of them should mind their own business.\u00a0 They all just think I am a baby and they will never change\u2014no matter how old I get, I will always be \u201cLittle\u201d Joe to them.\u00a0 Well something has to change because I can not tolerate this situation any more.\u00a0 There is no reason I shouldn\u2019t have that gun\u2014I paid for it.\u00a0 And I can use it a darned sight better than any of the three of them.\u00a0 But I have to think about it before I decide what to do.\u00a0 If I just run off, I know they would just follow me and drag me home again\u2014saying that proved that I was just a kid.\u00a0 No, running away from home is not the answer.\u00a0 But I will think of something and soon.\u00a0 In the meantime, let \u2018em stew about it for awhile, serve \u2018em right.<\/p>\n
And that is how the next week at the Ponderosa went by.\u00a0 Joe, careful to avoid as much contact with the others as possible.\u00a0 Arising early and leaving the house before they came to breakfast.\u00a0 Eating lunch with the hands, purposefully being late for supper or talking Hop Sing into making him a sandwich before supper, and then going to his room after supper.\u00a0\u00a0 Ben, Hoss, and even Adam tried to talk to Little Joe, tried to make him forget his anger just for a little while, but Joe\u2019s stubbornness came in very handy.\u00a0 He wouldn\u2019t budge.<\/p>\n
This was really eating at Hoss, who couldn\u2019t stand to see his little brother so sullen.\u00a0 \u201cPa, ain\u2019t there nothing we can do to cheer Joe up?\u201d Hoss asked on the third night.<\/p>\n
\u201cHoss, I think your brother is engaged in a battle of wills\u2014trying to see if we will crack\u201d, Ben said.\u00a0 \u201cI think he thinks that if he holds out long enough, I will give in and give him back the gun,\u201d said Ben.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAnd if I do that, what will he have learned? Ben sighed.<\/p>\n
\u201cPa is right, Hoss, he can\u2019t give in,\u201d added Adam.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, Pa, I don\u2019t think Joe is pretending to be mad or just pouting.\u00a0 I think he is still so angry that he can\u2019t even look at us without getting mad\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n
\u201cStill, time is the only remedy for that.\u201d Ben answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell if this goes on too much longer, Hop Sing may take matters into his own hands\u201d said Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cHe was fussing up a blue streak today about having to have two meal times now instead of one\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Son,\u201d I heard that too.\u00a0 At least we know that Joe isn\u2019t going to starve as long as Hop Sing feeds him.\u201d\u00a0 They shared a rare laugh over that.<\/p>\n
Adam was right; Joe wasn\u2019t just pouting or pretending to be mad.\u00a0 Joe couldn\u2019t stop thinking about the gun and he felt that he was being treated unfairly and that went against his deep sense of justice.\u00a0 Further, he was deeply hurt that his father and brothers didn\u2019t trust him.\u00a0 That was such a big blow to his self-esteem.\u00a0 He had always had to convince others that he was not a wimp, because he was the smallest boy his age and had always been.\u00a0 Once the other kids got to know him, he was the leader, but he had had to fight to get their attention many times.\u00a0 He knew that he had gotten into lots of scrapes, but he had always thought that deep down, his family trusted him and respected him. But to him, this proved that they didn\u2019t trust him and that they just thought of him as a little kid, too.\u00a0 This was just more than he could stand.\u00a0 This feeling made him unhappier than he could ever remember.\u00a0 And when Little Joe was unhappy, he tended to spread that feeling, too. He got into more fights in Virginia City than he had ever before.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t set out deliberately to cause trouble.\u00a0 He just had a very short fuse and his anger was always so near the surface that it boiled over with little provocation. \u00a0Ben tried to not make too much of an issue about it, because he was still trying to make peace with Joe over the gun.\u00a0 However when Sheriff Roy Coffee brought Little Joe home one day after breaking up yet another fight, he told Ben to keep Little Joe at home until his temper cooled off because the damages to city property were getting to be ridiculous.<\/p>\n
Ben lost all patience with Joe at that point and forbade him to leave the Ponderosa.\u00a0 Joe divided his spare time in two ways: target shooting with his old pistol and visiting his mother\u2019s grave.\u00a0 He had always found it peaceful there. He knew that his mother would have accepted him as a man and it gave him comfort to be there at her grave, overlooking the beautiful Lake Tahoe shore.\u00a0\u00a0 It was one of the most beautiful sites on the whole Ponderosa and had become Joe\u2019s refuge when he was a little boy.\u00a0 What Joe didn\u2019t know was that Ben spent an equal amount of time there, doing the same thing.\u00a0 Ben, too, found the grave-site to be comforting and peaceful and made him feel closer to Marie, and thus closer to their son.\u00a0 They were so close, yet so far apart.<\/p>\n
*****<\/p>\n
After 10 days, the battle of wills between Ben and Joe was becoming unbearable for Hoss.\u00a0 He decided to try to negotiate a peace settlement between the two warring parties.\u00a0\u00a0 Hoss got up early one morning, so he could catch Joe before he left the house.\u00a0 When Little Joe came downstairs that morning, Hoss stopped him, \u201cLittle Joe, how long do you plan to carry this grudge you got going on?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUntil Pa and you and Adam stop treating me like a baby, Big Brother Hoss\u201d, Joe answered, sarcastically.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, in order for us to do that, you need to stop acting like a spoiled child who didn\u2019t get what he wanted for Christmas, Joe\u201d Hoss replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that what you think, Hoss? Joe asked, surprised.\u00a0 He really didn\u2019t realize that was what Hoss thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Joe, I do, what else can we think?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHoss, all I know is I am not a kid and since that is what you and Pa and Adam think of me, that is how you are going to treat me.\u00a0 I just think it is better for all of us, if I stay away from you as much as possible\u201d That is all I am trying to do,\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, Joe, we miss you, it\u2019s like you aren\u2019t even here anymore\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n
\u201cHoss, I am sorry, but right now I just need to be alone.\u201d\u00a0 With that, Joe went outside and got on Cochise and rode away.<\/p>\n
Hoss was still sitting there when Ben walked downstairs.\u00a0 \u201cI heard you talking to Little Joe, Hoss, I know this is hard on you, too\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDadburn it Pa, I have never seen Little Joe like this before.\u00a0 Seems like his spirit is broke or something.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, and it seems like the heart has gone right out of this family doesn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Pa, it sure does.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan\u2019t we do something about this before it goes any further, Pa?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Said Adam, who had walked in and heard the conversation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, why don\u2019t we talk about it while we have breakfast?\u201d Ben said.\u00a0 While Ben, Adam, and Hoss ate breakfast and tried to arrive at a plan that would be a satisfactory solution to the dilemma, outside events were occurring that would have an impact on the Cartwright family.<\/p>\n
After leaving Hoss, Little Joe was feeling very bad.\u00a0 He wound up at his mother\u2019s gravesite again, without even thinking about where he was going.\u00a0 He realized that Hoss was right.\u00a0 If Pa hadn\u2019t thought he was mature enough to handle a fancy gun before, he sure wasn\u2019t going to change his mind by avoiding the family and sure not by getting into trouble in Virginia City.\u00a0 Joe then thought back to when his Father first taught him how to handle a gun\u2014what was it that Pa had said was the most important thing about firearms?\u00a0 He closed his eyes and thought about it.\u00a0 Since he had been getting up so early in order to avoid having to have breakfast with the family, Joe had not been getting enough sleep.\u00a0 He still didn\u2019t like getting up early, so now in that peaceful place and with some of the anger gone out of him, he drifted off to sleep.<\/p>\n
He dreamed about that first time when Ben had taught him how to shoot a pistol.\u00a0 \u201cSon, the most important thing to remember about a gun is that you can never change your mind after you have shot someone or something. Don\u2019t ever point a gun at a man unless you feel that you are doing it to save your life or the life of someone else. Guns are not toys. Guns are made with one purpose in mind\u2014to kill people. That is a heavy responsibility for a man to take on himself.\u00a0 You should use a gun only if there is no other possible solution to a problem, Son. Because once you pull the trigger, it is too late, you can\u2019t take it back and saying I\u2019m sorry won\u2019t make it better. \u201cDo you understand that Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand, Pa\u201d Joe answered, except he wasn\u2019t dreaming anymore.\u00a0 Joe was fully awake now.\u00a0 And he had just one thing on his mind\u2014he had to get back to the Ponderosa and apologize to his Father and to his brothers.\u00a0 If Pa didn\u2019t think he was ready, then he would just have to work harder to earn his Father\u2019s respect and trust.\u00a0 For the first time since he had bought the gun, Joe was smiling and looking forward to seeing his family again.<\/p>\n
*****<\/p>\n
Ben and Hoss and Adam were finishing up breakfast and their strategy.\u00a0 They decided that Joe had had long enough to think about the decision to not let him have that gun yet.\u00a0 He had had plenty of time to mope and brood about it and it was time for them to confront him as a family and get it all out in the open.\u00a0 They decided that they needed to let him know that it was okay for him to be mad at them and to disagree with Pa\u2019s decision, but that he was still an integral part of the family and this family worked things out together.\u00a0 They planned to confront him that night\u2014all three of them\u2014and not let him leave until peace had been restored.\u00a0\u00a0 Although Ben was still adamant that Joe was not yet ready for that fancy gun, they decided that they would work out a compromise, sort of a plan by which Joe could demonstrate that he was mature enough to wear that gun safely.\u00a0 When he met those expectations, he would be allowed to wear the gun, at first only when he was with his father or brothers, but he could work on showing that he could handle that responsibility.\u00a0 So with this plan in mind, they decided to get to work.\u00a0 Hoss said he would go saddle the horses while Ben and Adam finished up the deposits that they were taking to the bank in\u00a0Virginia City that day.<\/p>\n
When Hoss walked into the barn he noticed that none of the ranch hands were around. He figured that he and Pa and Adam had lingered too long over breakfast and that they had gone to work.\u00a0 He went over to get Chub ready for the day, as he walked into the tack room to get his saddle, someone walked out directly behind him and put a gun to his back.\u00a0 Then Hoss saw another man with a sawed off shotgun aimed at him and still another man with two drawn pistols coming out of the shadows.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s going on here, fellows?\u201d Hoss asked.\u00a0 Hoss wasn\u2019t exactly scared, but he knew that his family was in some danger, since Pa had close to $30,000 in the safe in the house that they were getting ready to take to the bank.<\/p>\n
The man in the shadows came out and said, \u201cIf you make a sound, you and your Pa and brother are dead men.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have the house surrounded and we won\u2019t hesitate to shoot.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you want? Hoss asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do we want, he says, did you hear that Martinson? Asked the man.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWe want the money in that safe behind your Father\u2019s big old desk in there, Mr. Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow did you know about that money, mister? Hoss had to ask.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, don\u2019t you remember me?\u201d asked the man behind him.<\/p>\n
Hoss said, \u201cShould I?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy Mr. Cartwright, I was once in your employ\u2014for 2 weeks, \u2018til your high and mighty brother fired me and my partner there. But not before we figured out the movement of your payrolls, though\u201d he said with a laugh.<\/p>\n
Hoss considered trying to take them, but he was afraid that the man could be telling the truth about having someone else watching the house and he didn\u2019t want to put Pa or Adam in any more danger.\u00a0 Thank goodness Joe isn\u2019t here, he would probably try something foolish and get himself killed in the bargain, Hoss thought. \u201cAll right, mister, you are calling the shots, you can take the money, just get it and get on out of here.\u00a0 But I am telling you that if you hurt either my Pa or my brother, I will kill you with my bare hands\u201d Hoss said emphatically.\u00a0 The men knew that he meant it.\u00a0 Of course they didn\u2019t plan to leave anyone alive to come after them, so they just laughed at the big man\u2019s talk.<\/p>\n
Adam and Ben heard Hoss coming toward the house and started getting ready to go and join him.\u00a0 Before they could get to the door and get their gunbelts on, the door flew open and Hoss stepped in, with three men behind him, with guns pointed at Hoss and at them.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa, they slipped up on me\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s okay, Hoss, what do they want?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe payroll, we want the whole payroll, that is what we want\u201d said the leader.<\/p>\n
Adam spoke out, \u201cYour name is Martinson and I had to run you off from here a month ago\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, that is right, Mr. High and Mighty Adam Cartwright.\u00a0 But luckily for us, we had already found out what we needed to know and we were tired of your rules, anyway\u201d the man said.<\/p>\n
Little Joe used a little-used path to come back to the Ponderosa.\u00a0 In fact he had been using it for the past couple of weeks as a way to avoid his Pa and brothers.\u00a0 They never thought to use it when they were looking for him during the day.\u00a0 He could see them going by the horse corral several times a day\u2014but they couldn\u2019t see him.\u00a0 He would have thought it was funny at the time, if he hadn\u2019t been so mad at them.\u00a0 He knew they were trying to \u201caccidentally on purpose\u201d run into him.\u00a0 Now he wished he hadn\u2019t been so devious to his family.\u00a0 He had to get home before they left to go to work.\u00a0 Just as he was coming into the ranch yard of the Ponderosa, he saw Hoss coming out of the barn.\u00a0 He started to yell at him to wait, but just in time, he saw the glint of a gun, pointed directly at his brother\u2019s back.<\/p>\n
Joe reigned in Cochise and watched what was going on.\u00a0 He saw three men, all armed follow Hoss into the house.\u00a0 The payroll, thought Joe, they are going to rob the timber payroll that was due to the bank today so the men could be paid tomorrow.\u00a0 He had heard Adam telling his Pa many times that they needed a safer method to get the money to the bank, but they had not gotten around to doing anything about it yet.\u00a0 Joe knew that all the men were gone already, because they had been leaving the same time he did.\u00a0 Even Hop Sing had gone into town early this morning. Joe smiled, remembering that Hop Sing had told him he would not fix him any more special meals.\u00a0 \u201cYou eat with family or you no eat, Little Joe.\u00a0 Not good to not eat with family.\u00a0 Family not happy at mealtime anymore.\u00a0 Not even enjoy Hop Sing\u2019s good cooking.\u201d\u00a0 He had said in English, then followed that with a long version in Chinese.\u00a0 Joe was pretty sure he had meant it too.<\/p>\n
Joe dismounted from Cochise and tied him to a hitching post out of sight beside the kitchen.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want him to get hurt or get scared.\u00a0 He knew that he didn\u2019t have time to go for help; whatever was going to be done to help his Pa and brothers, he had to do it.\u00a0 He worked his way all the way around the back of the house and didn\u2019t see any other outlaws.\u00a0 Then he worked his way back to the kitchen entrance and quietly opened that door and sneaked in through the kitchen.\u00a0 What he heard as he walked in was chilling.\u00a0 The robbers already had the money and were saying, \u201cIt\u2019s been real nice doing business with you folks.\u00a0 Sorry we won\u2019t be able to work with you again, but we don\u2019t believe in leaving witnesses.\u201d<\/p>\n
By this time, Joe had worked his way to the dining room and was able to see clearly what the situation was and it wasn\u2019t good.\u00a0\u00a0 The three men had Ben, Hoss, and Adam circled in the middle of the den and they were unarmed.\u00a0 They were surrounded by 3 men, with guns drawn.\u00a0 Joe heard the guns cock and reacted without even thinking.\u00a0 He jumped out of his hiding place in the foyer and hollered at the men.\u00a0 The three gunmen turned to fire at him and Joe fired at them.\u00a0 Joe was able to shoot two of the men before they got a shot off, but the third man fired directly at Little Joe.\u00a0 Hoss and Adam both jumped on the third man and knocked him down, but it was too late.\u00a0 Joe had already been hit.\u00a0 Adam grabbed the man\u2019s gun and held it on him, while Ben and Hoss rushed to see about Joe.\u00a0 Joe was shot in the chest and was bleeding heavily.\u00a0 Ben knelt down and cradled Joe\u2019s head in his arms, while Hoss rushed to get something to stop the bleeding.\u00a0 Ben looked down at Joe with tears in his eyes, saying \u201cJoe, can you hear me?\u00a0 I\u2019m here Joe; you are going to be okay.\u00a0 Just hold on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joe opened his eyes and looked at Ben and smiled, \u201cHi, Pa, I\u2019m sorry, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adam yelled, \u201cI have this one tied up and I will go get the Doctor right now, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHurry, Adam\u201d Ben said, \u201c and get the sheriff, too\u201d.\u00a0 He looked down at Joe again and could see that Joe was trying to say something, so he leaned down close to his face with his ear so he could hear.<\/p>\n
Joe whispered, \u201cPa, I bet I could have gotten the third one too, if I had had that new gun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ben said, \u201cI bet you could have too, Son.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hoss and Ben moved Joe to the sofa, holding a bandage tight across his wound to stop the bleeding.\u00a0 Joe seemed to be going into shock from the loss of blood.\u00a0 Adam came back in and said that one of the hands had come back and he had sent him for the Doc.\u00a0 They covered Joe with blankets and kept him still on the sofa, Ben was still holding the bandages tight to stop the bleeding.\u00a0 Joe was pale and breathing\u00a0 a little fast, but his pulse was still strong, though a little fast.\u00a0 Adam took over holding the bandage so that Ben could sit near Joe and hold his hand.\u00a0 The time passed very slowly as they sat there waiting for the Doctor to come.\u00a0 \u201cPa, what was that Joe said to you right before he passed out? Hoss asked.\u00a0 Ben answered simply,<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said he bet he could have gotten all three of them if he had had that new gun.\u201d\u00a0 Adam and Hoss looked stunned and then smiled.<\/p>\n
Adam said, \u201cThat little scaliwag didn\u2019t miss an opportunity, did he?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, you have to admire that boy for his sheer persistence, if nothing else\u201d Hoss replied.<\/p>\n
Ben added, \u201cDon\u2019t forget his courage.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t hesitate to save our lives, did he?\u201d\u00a0 Ben said with tears in his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Pa, he sure didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPa, he is going to be okay.\u00a0 He is too stubborn not to be\u201d said Adam and Hoss, at the same time.<\/p>\n
When Dr. Martin got there, he looked at Joe quickly on the sofa and then declared him stable enough to move to his bedroom.\u00a0\u00a0 Then he asked Ben and Adam and Hoss to wait downstairs.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss went downstairs, but Ben said he preferred to stay there with Joe.\u00a0 Dr. Martin agreed, but asked him to sit down and stay out of the way so he could tend to Joe properly.\u00a0 Ben did as he was told.<\/p>\n
Hop Sing had gotten home the same time Dr. Martin got there so he was in the kitchen making coffee for them to have while they waited.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss waited impatiently for word from their father or the doctor.\u00a0 About 45 minutes later, Ben came downstairs and announced, \u201cJoseph is going to be okay. Dr. Martin got the bullet out and the bleeding stopped He is going to be okay, boys.\u201d\u00a0 He then called for Hop Sing to bring them all some coffee.<\/p>\n
Hop Sing came in with a tray with a fresh pot of strong black coffee and cups and sugar and cream and some coffeecake.\u00a0 \u201cMr. Cartlight, is Mr. Little Joe going to be okay? He asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Hop Sing, he is going to be just fine,\u201d Ben answered.<\/p>\n
Hop Sing then said, \u201cNo more Mister Little Joe leave early, come home late, eat with ranch hands?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo more of that Hop Sing, I promise you\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n
Sheriff Coffee came and collected the surviving outlaw and collected the bodies of the two Joseph had shot.\u00a0 \u201cBen, all three of these men are wanted \u201cdead or alive\u201d and have a pretty high reward posted on them.\u00a0 I have posters on all three of them hanging in my jail\u201d Roy said.\u00a0 \u201cIt looks like y\u2019all will be collecting the reward money for the lot of \u2018em.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRoy, Little Joe is responsible for catching them, and for saving our lives to boot\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you mean to tell me that Little Joe shot and killed two of them before they got a shot off?\u201d Roy asked in a surprised voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Roy, Adam and Hoss and I were about to get ourselves shot and Joe stepped in and got their attention and shot two of them before the other one shot him.\u201d Ben answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I\u2019ll be\u201d said Roy.\u00a0 \u201cThe little brother saved the two big brothers and their Pa.\u00a0 If that don\u2019t just take the cake.\u201d\u00a0 Roy was clearly enjoying this.\u00a0 He had heard all about the \u201cgun incident\u201d from Ben.\u00a0 He had tried to tell Ben that he thought he was underestimating Little Joe, but Ben would not listen.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, I will be taking the prisoner back to jail now.\u00a0 Let me know how Little Joe does.\u00a0 When the money comes in from Tucson, I will ride out to bring it to Little Joe.\u201d He said as he left.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t resist just one more jibe,\u00a0 \u201cYes sir, the little brother had to save the big brothers and their Pa from the bad men, ain\u2019t that a switch?\u201d\u00a0 Ben, Adam, and Hoss just looked at each other.<\/p>\n
Dr. Martin came downstairs shortly and said that Joe was resting comfortably now.\u00a0 The bullet had narrowly missed his aorta, but it hadn\u2019t done any irreparable harm.\u00a0 He had lost some blood, but they had stopped the bleeding well enough to prevent serious blood loss.\u00a0 \u201cJoe should be in bed for about a week, then confined to light activity for a week or two\u201d he said.\u00a0 Then he laughed, \u201cThough I don\u2019t know how you will manage to keep that boy down, unless you assign Hoss to sit on him!\u201d<\/p>\n
Hoss replied, \u201cDoc, I will sure do it, if I have to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI will be back to check on him tonight and in the morning, Ben.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cWatch out for fever or bleeding, send for me if either happens or if anything else happens that you aren\u2019t sure about.\u00a0 I left some medicine on the chest that you can give him about every 3 or 4 hours for pain.\u00a0 He will have some considerable pain for a couple or three days, after that, it won\u2019t be so bad\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs he awake now, Paul? Ben asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, though he won\u2019t be for long, I gave him a dose of the medicine before I came down. Oh, be sure to give him plenty to drink today and tomorrow, start getting him to eat to build his strength up\u201d Dr. Martin said as he was getting ready to leave.\u00a0 \u201cI will be back later this evening.\u00a0 Good day, Ben, boys.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood by, Doctor Martin, Thanks for coming so quickly\u2019 said Ben.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a mighty brave boy you have there, Ben.\u00a0 Did I tell you that he told me he would have gotten the third one if he had had a new gun?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n*****<\/p>\n
After Dr. Martin left, Ben, Adam, and Hoss went up to check on Little Joe.\u00a0 Joe was awake, but getting drowsy.\u00a0 Joe said, \u201cPa, I am sorry for the way I have been acting, I was coming home to tell you that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJoe, don\u2019t worry about that now.\u00a0 We are all sorry for the way we have acted.\u00a0 The important thing is that you are okay now.\u00a0 You get some rest.\u00a0 Your brothers and I will be right here if you need us\u201d Ben told Joe as he smoothed his hair out of his face and pulled the covers up over him.<\/p>\n
Adam said, \u201cJoe, you rest easy, everything is okay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hoss said \u201cLittle Joe, you go to sleep like the doctor said so I don\u2019t have to get rough with you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joe smiled and closed his eyes.\u00a0 He dreamed he was talking to his mother who was telling him how proud she was of him.<\/p>\n
Dr. Martin was right about everything, especially how hard it was to keep Joe down.\u00a0 Within a few days, he was ignoring the doctor\u2019s advice and his father\u2019s and brothers\u2019 warnings and getting up and walking around.\u00a0 He would have been out riding Cochise, but Ben and Hoss and Adam took turns staying home with him to make sure that he didn\u2019t get too much out of hand.\u00a0 Finally, after 3 weeks of confinement, Dr. Martin saw that he was fighting a losing battle and told them that Joe could do anything he wanted if he would promise to take it a little bit easy.\u00a0 Joe promised and immediately said he was going to go take Cochise for a ride.\u00a0 He rode straight to his mother\u2019s grave site, said a prayer for his mother and for his family, then rode over to see how the horse breaking was coming along.<\/p>\n
When he got home, Ben said he wanted to discuss something with him.\u00a0 Joe, back in good humor said, \u201cOh, no Pa, that is what started that whole mess, are you sure you want to do this again?\u201d<\/p>\n
Ben said, \u201cWell this time, I have Adam and Hoss here for reinforcements.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joe laughed and said, \u201cHey, no fair, three against one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ben said, \u201cJoe,\u00a0 your brothers and I have something we want to give you.\u201d\u00a0 He opened the locked drawer in his desk and handed Joe a box.\u00a0 It was the box that his gun was in.<\/p>\n
Joe, raised his eyebrows and said \u201cIs this what I think it is, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, Son, why don\u2019t you open it and find out.\u201d\u00a0 Joe opened the box, expecting to find the gun he had bought just a few weeks ago, although now it seemed like a lifetime ago.\u00a0 Inside the box lay a pair of the fancy pearl-handled revolvers and the holster that he had wanted.\u00a0 On the body of the gun there was an engraving that said, \u201cJoseph Cartwright\u201d and on the silver box that the gun were in the engraving said, \u201cOur love always, Pa, Adam, and Hoss\u201d.<\/p>\n
***End***<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n