{"id":47046,"date":"2003-12-22T14:54:48","date_gmt":"2003-12-22T19:54:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=47046"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:08:41","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:08:41","slug":"accused-by-eileenk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=47046","title":{"rendered":"Accused (by EileenK)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 Joe is accused and goes on trial for murder.
\nRating: G
\nWords:\u00a0 23,600<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The Brandsters have included this story by this author in our project: Preserving Their Legacy<\/a>. To preserve the legacy of the author, we have decided to give their work a home in the Bonanza Brand Fanfiction Library.\u00a0 The author will always be the owner of this work of fanfiction, and should they wish us to remove their story, we will.<\/p>\n

\n

DISCLAIMER:\u00a0 This story is my own work.\u00a0 The Cartwright characters were created by David Dortort, and as such I claim no rights or privileges to their characterizations.\u00a0 All other characters are my own and any resemblance to any person, whether living or dead, is coincidental.\u00a0 Some places may be fictitious.<\/span><\/p>\n

Accused<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

Shelby Weston had always been a spoiled and strong-willed girl who saw everything she did as fun, regardless of the circumstances, as long as it benefited her.\u00a0 Johanna Weston, on the other hand, was more solemn and responsible, and always weighed the thing being done against all possible ramifications of the outcome, but given the opportunity, there was a light side to her, though she hadn\u2019t had much opportunity for fun in her adult life.\u00a0 Though they were sisters, they were as opposite as night and day, not only in the way they acted, but also in looks.\u00a0 Shelby was blonde, blue-eyed and fair skinned, like their father.\u00a0 Johanna bore the physical traits of their mother, shiny black hair; olive skin and dark eyes.\u00a0 Another difference between the sisters was that Shelby let her beauty rule her head, but Johanna cared little for the fact that she possessed beauty.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna had to assume responsibility for Shelby after their parents died, Shelby was ten and Johanna twenty.\u00a0 They were now nineteen and twenty-nine, and had moved to Virginia City from Pleasantville, Iowa.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wherever she went Shelby was attracted to anything that resembled the male population.\u00a0 Her first ever sighting of Joe Cartwright was when he, his father and brothers walked into church.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWould you look at HIM!\u201d Shelby leaned over and whispered to her sister, who sat very straight backed, head held high as they waited for the church services to begin.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cStop staring, Shelby.\u00a0 It isn\u2019t lady-like.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re always telling me that!\u00a0 I\u2019m not a child any longer, Johanna, so I wish you\u2019d stop treating me like one!\u201d\u00a0 Shelby whispered loudly, as she sat back hard against the pew bench.\u00a0 Her face was screwed up in a frown, and moving only her eyes and not her head, she looked at her sister.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is no place to discuss the matter, Shelby.\u00a0 When you\u2019re in church, you will conduct yourself in such a manner as deemed appropriate for a young lady.\u00a0\u00a0 Is that understood?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby crossed her arms and scowled at her sister, without answering her.\u00a0 Johanna looked in Shelby\u2019s direction and gave her a \u2018you better answer me\u2019 look.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Johanna\u2026whatever you say, Johanna\u2026I understand, Johanna,\u201d Shelby replied in a mocking tone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cReally, Shelby.\u201d\u00a0 Johanna wagged her head slightly at her sister, then turned her attention to the imaginary wrinkle on her wrinkle-free dress and she smoothed it out, and folded her gloved hands in her lap.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby kept her eyes on Little Joe Cartwright and watched every move he made, and when he walked back to the entrance of the church it was all she could do to not turn around and look to see where he was going, but she managed to keep her gaze straight ahead.\u00a0 When he came back to the place he was sitting with his family with a young woman on his arm, she vowed to herself right then and there that she would have him for her own\u2026so what if he and that other girl were interested in each other\u2026she wanted him, and what Shelby Weston wanted, Shelby Weston usually got.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

All during the pastor\u2019s message, Shelby\u2019s attention was focused on Joe Cartwright.\u00a0 Her eyes seemed glued on him, and when the final hymn was announced and the congregation was asked to stand to sing, Shelby had to be nudged by Johanna to be brought out of her trance and to stand to her feet.\u00a0 She did, and even though she held the hymn book in front of her, her eyes were focused on Joe Cartwright, and every time he looked over at the girl beside him and smiled at her, Shelby became even more determined to come between them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She stood on one foot and then the other during the minister\u2019s closing prayer, and just as soon as he said \u201cAmen\u201d, she was out of her row and out the door before anyone else.\u00a0 Her sister reached out to catch her, but Shelby was completely out of her reach.\u00a0 Johanna stepped out of her total lady-like character and stepped into the aisle in a huff, colliding with Adam Cartwright.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, excuse me,\u201d she apologized, while he held her arm to keep her from being knocked backwards.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s my fault.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry.\u00a0 I don\u2019t believe we\u2019ve met.\u00a0 I\u2019m\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse me,\u201d Johanna said to him in a hurried fashion, then left just as hurriedly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Adam Cartwright,\u201d he finished as he watched her disappear out the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLosin\u2019 your charm, older brother?\u201d\u00a0 Joe said to him with a glint of mischief in his hazel eyes and a playful smile on his handsome face.\u00a0 As he leaned close to his eldest brother, he added, \u201cMaybe I can give you a pointer or two some time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVery funny,\u201d said Adam with a quirky smile, and giving his brother a playful shove forward.<\/span><\/p>\n

The girl with Joe, Amy Banks, tugged on his arm and said, \u201cYou guys\u2026when are you ever going to grow up.\u201d\u00a0 They laughed as they walked through the doors and stepped outside, and down the front steps.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna caught up to Shelby and walked along beside her towards their buggy.\u00a0 \u201cWho do you suppose he is, Johanna?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWho?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat handsome man with that girl in the blue dress back there?\u201d\u00a0 Shelby asked, turning around to show her sister who she was talking about while they continued walking.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure I don\u2019t know, Shelby,\u201d Johanna said without missing a step.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d sure like to get to know him.\u201d\u00a0 Shelby looked up with a dreamy-eyed expression on her face.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve told you before, Shelby\u2026you\u2019re too young to be thinking about men.\u00a0 You need to wait a few more years.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWait for what?!\u00a0 Wait until I\u2019m too old, like you, to have men notice me?!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna stopped walking suddenly and turned to face her sister, who was very red faced with embarrassment.\u00a0 \u201cI-I\u2019m sorry, Johanna.\u00a0 I-I didn\u2019t mean that\u2026it just slipped out,\u201d Shelby said in a very sheepish voice.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Though hurt by her sister\u2019s words, Johanna looked at her and in a very quiet voice said, \u201cGet in the buggy, Shelby.\u201d\u00a0 The younger woman obeyed immediately, and Johanna stepped into the buggy, took up the reins and they rode along in silence.<\/span><\/p>\n

On their way, they drove past the Cartwright\u2019s, who had ridden their horses to church, except for Joe, who had the buggy in which he and Amy were riding.\u00a0 As Johanna guided the buggy past them, Adam said, \u201cNice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss looked in the direction his brother was looking and said, \u201cI\u2019ve saw better rigs than thet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s eyebrows raised and out of the corner of his eyes, he gave his brother a look of amusement.\u00a0 \u201cI was talking about who was DRIVING the rig.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2026yeah,\u201d Hoss replied and looked very sheepish.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam chuckled at him, and Ben laughed as the three of them made their way home.\u00a0 As they rode past the Weston sisters, Adam looked over at them and only when Johanna glanced in his direction, did he touch two fingers to his hat brim in greeting, then the three Cartwright\u2019s rode on past.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid you see that, Johanna?!\u00a0 He looked right at me!\u201d\u00a0 Shelby\u2019s eyes were wide and sparkling.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Shelby, I saw.\u201d\u00a0 Johanna flicked the reins across the horse\u2019s back and turned down the street on which the hotel was located.<\/span><\/p>\n

Behind them, Joe and Amy followed, and drove in the same direction, because Amy lived at the edge of town.\u00a0 Shelby looked up before she stepped out of the buggy, and saw them approaching.\u00a0 On a sudden whim, she stepped out of the buggy and into their path.\u00a0 Joe reined back hard on the reins and veered to his left, but not before Shelby screamed out and fell to the ground.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna was half way to the hotel steps when she heard the scream and whirled around.\u00a0 Seeing her sister lying on the ground, she rushed to her and knelt down beside her.\u00a0 Joe was already out of the buggy, crouching down beside her.\u00a0 Amy stood next to the horse, holding the reins.\u00a0 \u201cIs she alright?\u201d Amy asked, being close to tears.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t see her,\u201d Joe said in a concerned tone as he looked on Shelby\u2019s still form.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s alright.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure it was just an accident,\u201d Johanna said in a calm voice as she rubbed Shelby\u2019s hands vigorously, trying to revive her.\u00a0 When she saw that wasn\u2019t working, she stood up.\u00a0 \u201cBring her into the hotel,\u201d she said and turned.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGo get the doctor, Amy,\u201d Joe said, as he put his arms under Shelby\u2019s limp body and picked her up.<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy nodded, then stepped into the buggy, and turned it towards Doctor Martin\u2019s residence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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

With Shelby lying on her bed in her hotel room, Dr. Martin passed an open bottle of ammonia under her nose.\u00a0 Johanna, Joe and Amy watched in anticipation for Shelby to show some sign of revival.\u00a0 When she coughed and sputtered, they breathed a sigh of relief.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWill she be alright, Doc?\u201d Joe asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll know in a minute, Joe, as soon as I can ask her some questions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna seemed to think her sister would come out of her unconsciousness, so she turned to Joe.\u00a0 \u201cThis is a most unusual way in which to meet someone, but I\u2019m Johanna Weston, this is my sister, Shelby.\u201d\u00a0 She extended her hand to Joe then Amy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe Cartwright.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAmy Banks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry about your sister, Miss Weston, but I really didn\u2019t see her.\u00a0 It was like she just appeared out of thin air right in front of me,\u201d Joe apologized.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think you purposely intended to run over my sister, Mr. Cartwright.\u00a0 Please don\u2019t give it another thought, and you can call me Johanna.\u201d\u00a0 The woman smiled pleasantly at him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby coughed some more and her eyelids fluttered several times, then opened.\u00a0 The first face she saw was Joe\u2019s, then her eyes searched for her sister.\u00a0 \u201cJohanna?\u201d\u00a0 she said in a strained voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRight here, Shelby.\u201d\u00a0 Johanna stepped closer to her sister and took her hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened?\u201d Shelby pinched her brows together and rubbed her temples.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t remember?\u201d\u00a0 This question came from Dr. Martin.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI remember stepping out of the buggy and then waking up here.\u00a0 What happened?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m afraid it was MY fault, Miss Weston.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t watching where I was going.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry.\u201d\u00a0 Joe apologized to her.<\/span><\/p>\n

She looked up at him and smiled her most winsome smile.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have any broken bones, Miss Weston, so let\u2019s see if you can walk.\u00a0 Think you can stand?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can try.\u201d\u00a0 She took the doctor\u2019s hand and rose slowly to her feet.\u00a0 She wavered and Dr. Martin steadied her, then helped her to lie back on the bed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI want you to stay in bed the rest of today and at least until noon tomorrow,\u201d the doctor said to her.\u00a0 Handing Johanna several white packets, he said, \u201cIf she complains of a headache, give her one of those in a glass of water.\u00a0 And make sure she stays in bed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI will, doctor, and thank you.\u00a0 What do I owe you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTwo dollars should cover it.\u201d\u00a0 He snapped his medical bag closed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHere, Doc.\u00a0 It was my fault, I\u2019ll pay you.\u201d\u00a0 Joe handed Dr. Martin two one dollar pieces.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat isn\u2019t necessary, Mr. Cartwright,\u201d Johanna said in response.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI feel responsible for what happened.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I told you it wasn\u2019t your fault, you needn\u2019t feel responsible.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne thing you need to know about Joe, Miss Weston,\u201d Amy broke in.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s very generous.\u00a0 All the Cartwright\u2019s are.\u00a0 And they take responsibility very seriously.\u00a0 And they\u2019re very stubborn, so you might as well let him pay the doctor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s right you know,\u201d Joe replied, and grinned that winning smile of his.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna nodded.\u00a0 \u201cVery well.\u00a0 I\u2019ll show you out, doctor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy slipped her arms around one of Joe\u2019s and smiled up at him.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I better be getting home before my parents think we\u2019ve eloped.\u201d\u00a0 She and Joe laughed and he tweaked her nose.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe thought HAD occurred to me,\u201d he teased.\u00a0 They laughed again, then Joe turned to Shelby.\u00a0 \u201cI hope you get better real soon, Miss Weston.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby held out her hand to him.\u00a0 \u201cThank you.\u00a0 And you can call me Shelby, if I can call you Joe,\u201d she said as she looked up at him with her big blue eyes and smiling sweetly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s my name.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby left her hand in Joe\u2019s several more seconds.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShelby, you really need to rest,\u201d Johanna cut in and Shelby looked over at her sister, who stood beside her now, then removed her hand from Joe\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI hope you feel better soon, Miss Weston,\u201d Amy said kindly to her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you.\u201d\u00a0 Shelby\u2019s answer was cool, then she looked away from Amy, and tilted her head.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna walked Joe and Amy to the door and saw them out, then she closed the door behind them and stood facing the door with her back to her sister for several seconds before she turned around to face Shelby.\u00a0 \u201cYou were very rude to that girl.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI could care less.\u201d\u00a0 Shelby pushed herself up to sit against the headboard of her bed.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019s a toad.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna pushed away from the door and went to stand at Shelby\u2019s bedside.\u00a0 \u201cWhat an awful thing for you to say, Shelby!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell she IS.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe is not!\u00a0 She\u2019s very pretty.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut not as pretty as ME,\u201d Shelby boasted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe not.\u00a0 But she has one thing YOU don\u2019t have.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u00a0 Joe Cartwright.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat isn\u2019t what I meant.\u00a0 She has humility and meekness.\u00a0 You don\u2019t even know the meaning of those words.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s stupid and weak, that\u2019s what she is.\u00a0 And I\u2019m going to take Joe Cartwright away from that toad.\u00a0 Just you wait and see.\u201d\u00a0 Shelby was very confident in what she said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShelby\u2026I want to make Virginia City my permanent home\u2026OUR home.\u00a0 Have you forgotten WHY we have to keep moving from place to place?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It seems every place we go, you always manage to make trouble between some young man and his girlfriend.\u00a0 Why must you be so selfish and uncaring?\u00a0 The world doesn\u2019t revolve around you, you know.\u00a0 The last place we\u00a0 were in, Susan Martin tried to murder you for coming between her and David Benson\u2026or have you forgotten?\u00a0 One of these days, I won\u2019t be able to keep you from harm, your luck will run out, Shelby.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Johanna\u2026don\u2019t preach to me!\u00a0 Ever since Papa and Mama died, all you\u2019ve ever done is preach to me!\u00a0 I\u2019m sick and tired of it!\u00a0 I\u2019m old enough to live my own life\u2026I don\u2019t want to end up an old maid like YOU!\u201d\u00a0 Shelby stopped and looked at Johanna.\u00a0 \u201cI-I\u2019m sor\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna held up a palm in front of Shelby.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t tell me you\u2019re sorry again, Shelby, because I don\u2019t think you really mean it, and I know there\u2019ll be other times you\u2019ll have to apologize, so don\u2019t even say it.\u00a0 The only reason I\u2019ve sheltered you like I have is because you\u2019re my sister and Papa and Mama would have wanted us to stay together.\u00a0 I could have let you live with Aunt Rita and Uncle Paul and lived my own life, but I didn\u2019t.\u00a0 I gave up a life of courtship and marriage so you and I could stay together.\u00a0 We\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, my head hurts terribly.\u201d\u00a0 Shelby scrunched herself down to a prone position on her bed and closed her eyes while she held her head between her hands.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf I thought you were faking that headache, just to get out of a lecture\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby moaned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna sighed, and to give Shelby the benefit of doubt as to whether or not her head actually hurt, she opened one of the headache powders and mixed it with a glass of water and handed it to her sister.\u00a0 After Shelby drank it down, Johanna set the glass on the bedside table and picked up the pitcher.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll go down and get some more water, you get into your nightgown while I\u2019m gone.\u00a0 You need to rest like the doctor said.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlright.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna left the room and Shelby stood up and undressed and slipped into her nightgown.\u00a0 She glanced out the window and saw Joe pull up in front of the hotel.\u00a0 She smiled and went over to her dressing table, pulled all the pins out of her hair, letting her light tresses fall in waves over her shoulders.\u00a0 She fluffed her hair, then crawled back into bed, and settled herself just as Johanna entered the room and closed the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

Seeing her sister\u2019s hair was down, Johanna frowned suspiciously at Shelby.\u00a0 \u201cDid you get out of bed?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust long enough to put my gown on is all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna set the pitcher of fresh water in the bowl as a knock sounded on the door.\u00a0 She pulled the door open and Joe Cartwright stood out in the hall with his hat in his hands.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy Joe\u2026did you forget something?\u00a0 Or did Amy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u00a0 I was just wondering if your sister needed anything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I told you it really isn\u2019t necessary for you to concern yourself further.\u00a0 Shelby will make a full recovery, I\u2019m sure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Joe!\u00a0 How nice of you to come back by!\u201d Shelby called out from across the room.\u00a0 \u201cWhere\u2019s your manners, Johanna, invite him in.\u201d\u00a0 Shelby smiled widely at him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure he\u2019s very busy and needs to get home, Shelby.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s okay.\u00a0 My Pa will understand why I was late getting home when I tell him about the accident.\u00a0 He\u2019ll want to make sure I did all I could to make your sister comfortable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I can\u2019t think of anything she needs, but it was very thoughtful of you to stop back by.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere IS something I need!\u201d Shelby called out.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust name it,\u201d Joe replied.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTo hear some good jokes.\u00a0 My sister is always so solemn and serious all the time\u2026And she doesn\u2019t know one single solitary joke.\u00a0 Are you a good joke teller, Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna stepped aside and let Joe enter the room.\u00a0 \u201cMost of the jokes I heard came from a group of fellas.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell if they\u2019re funny, who cares.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe I should just tell you some funny stories about my brothers.\u201d\u00a0 Joe sat down in a chair beside Shelby\u2019s bed, while Johanna sat in a chair across the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have brothers?\u00a0 How many?\u00a0 Older or younger?\u00a0 And their names?\u201d Shelby asked eagerly in rapid fire succession.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTwo brothers.\u00a0 Adam\u2026he\u2019s the oldest, and Hoss\u2026he\u2019s six years older than me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss?\u00a0 That\u2019s a funny name.\u00a0 So you\u2019re the youngest\u2026How old are you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss is just a nickname.\u00a0 His real name is Eric, but he\u2019s always been Hoss to ME.\u00a0 I\u2019m the youngest and I\u2019m twenty.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m nineteen, but I\u2019ll be twenty in two weeks.\u00a0 Johanna\u2019s twenty-nine.\u201d\u00a0 Shelby said the statement about her sister as she gave Johanna a condescending look.\u00a0 Johanna stiffened slightly at her sister\u2019s brashness, but she didn\u2019t say anything, there would be time for that after Joe Cartwright left.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo tell me those funny stories about your brothers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, there was this one time my brother, Hoss, thought he saw some little green men.\u201d\u00a0 Joe laughed just thinking about the situation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLittle green men!\u00a0 You mean Leprechauns?\u00a0 He thought he saw Leprechauns?!\u00a0 Oh, Joe!\u00a0 Tell me every word!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, he came home one day totin\u2019 this box full of gold dust, and\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cOh, Joe, my sides are aching.\u00a0 I\u2019ve never heard so many funny stories in my whole life.\u201d\u00a0 Shelby laughed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got plenty more.\u00a0 There was this one time my brother, Adam, thought he saw a knight named Arthur in armor.\u201d\u00a0 Joe laughed at the memory.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA knight?!\u00a0 Oh, no.\u00a0 I can\u2019t wait to hear it.\u201d\u00a0 Shelby said in anticipation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I don\u2019t want to appear rude, but the doctor DID say Shelby needed her rest.\u00a0 Perhaps the knight in armor story can be for another time,\u201d Johanna spoke up.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh sure.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry if I overstayed my welcome.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it isn\u2019t that, but Shelby must rest.\u201d Johanna walked to the door and stood beside it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll come tomorrow and see how you\u2019re doing,\u201d Joe said to Shelby.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat would be nice,\u201d she answered and flashed a smile at him, and held out her hand.\u00a0 \u201cThank you, Joe, for a very fun afternoon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy pleasure.\u201d\u00a0 He took her hand and she looked into his eyes and held his gaze for several seconds.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll see you tomorrow, Shelby.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be waiting.\u00a0 Bye, Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He smiled at her and stepped across the room and out into the hall.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Johanna for staying so long.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo need to apologize, Joe.\u00a0 It was very kind of you to be concerned.\u00a0 And don\u2019t feel obligated to come tomorrow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI want to.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna conceded with a nod of her head.\u00a0 \u201cGoodbye then.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He nodded once and placed his hat on his head and Johanna closed the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBy this time next week, he\u2019ll be my beau,\u201d Shelby said confidently.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna glared at her sister.\u00a0 \u201cWhat was your purpose in telling Joe Cartwright my age?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby shrugged her shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know\u2026it just came out, that\u2019s all.\u00a0 So what if he knows your age.\u00a0 Maybe he\u2019ll tell his oldest brother about you, then the two of you can get together and you\u2019ll be so busy with him, you\u2019ll get off my back and leave me and Joe alone!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to get together with Joe\u2019s oldest brother or anybody else, don\u2019t you realize that I gave up having a life of my own so you could grow up to be a decent and respectable woman!\u00a0 I\u2019ve forgiven you time after time for your ugly remarks about me\u2026I\u2019ve tried to be a good surrogate parent to you, I\u2019ve given my whole life to you, Shelby!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know that\u2026what do you want me to do\u2026THANK you?!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, but I would think you could show me a little respect, but all you show me is belligerence!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I want you to let me live my OWN life, Johanna!\u00a0 Do things my OWN way, not YOUR way!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDoing things YOUR own way, Shelby, will only cause you destruction.\u00a0 Joe Cartwright seems nice enough, but we know absolutely nothing about his reputation.\u00a0 For all you know, he\u2019s a womanizer!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby smiled almost wickedly.\u00a0 \u201cOh, I hope so.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna straightened her shoulders and looked at her sister sternly.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIf you come between that boy and Amy, I\u2019m putting you out on your own, Shelby.\u00a0 I\u2019ve done everything I know to keep a rein on you, but you\u2019re bound and determined to ruin your life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby lifted her chin at her sister.\u00a0 \u201cThen you better put me out on my own now, Johanna, because I\u2019m going to split up Joe Cartwright and Amy Banks, if it\u2019s the last thing I do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo be it.\u00a0 I\u2019ll go down to the desk and secure another room.\u00a0 As of this moment, Shelby Ann Weston, you are no longer my responsibility.\u00a0 And when Joe Cartwright breaks your heart, or abuses you in some illicit way, don\u2019t come running to ME, because I won\u2019t have any sympathy for you.\u201d\u00a0 Johanna turned on her heels and left the room, closing the door loudly behind her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFine!\u00a0 I don\u2019t need you anymore anyway!\u00a0 I\u2019m old enough to know what I want!\u00a0 I certainly don\u2019t need some old maid sister watching my every move.\u00a0 It\u2019s my life and I\u2019ll live it like I want!\u201d\u00a0 Shelby sat in her bed watching the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Joe walked in the house just as his father and brothers stood up from eating their lunch.\u00a0 \u201cDid you save me anything?\u201d he asked, tossing his hat on the bureau.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Hoss was here and you WEREN\u2019T, so YOU figure it out,\u201d Adam commented dryly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGee thanks, Hoss.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t mention it, little brother.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben chuckled at the banter going on between his sons and decided to get in on the teasing himself.\u00a0 \u201cYou mean Amy didn\u2019t feed you, Joseph?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Amy didn\u2019t feed me Joseph,\u201d he said back.\u00a0 \u201cSeriously, though\u2026there was an accident when I was taking Amy home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAn accident?\u00a0 You and Amy?\u201d Ben wanted to know.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam looked his youngest brother up and down.\u00a0 \u201cYou don\u2019t seem to be ruffled up any.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was taking Amy home, we were talking and laughing, then all of a sudden this girl appeared out of nowhere, right in front of the buggy.\u00a0 She was knocked out, but I think she\u2019ll be okay.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWho was it?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re new in town.\u00a0 The girl\u2019s name is Shelby Weston and she has an older sister, Johanna.\u00a0 They\u2019re really nice.\u00a0 Shelby\u2019s nineteen, blonde with big blue eyes\u2026\u201d Joe raised his eyebrows several times, then continued.\u00a0 \u201c\u2026and Johanna has dark eyes, and the shiniest black hair.\u00a0 She\u2019s the one you bumped into at church, Adam; she\u2019s twenty-nine\u2026just the right age for you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs that a fact,\u201d Adam said, and gave his brother a frosty look.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYa awready forgot \u2018bout Amy?\u201d Hoss asked with a smirk on his face.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCourse not.\u00a0 I was just tellin\u2019 ya what they looked like.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but the WAY ya was tellin\u2019 us made me wunder if\u2019n ya awready tossed her aside fer this blonde, blue eyed gal,\u201d Hoss countered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Hoss, me and Amy are like that.\u201d\u00a0 Joe placed two fingers side by side and held them up in front of Hoss\u2019 face to show him just how close he and Amy were.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo you think this girl will be alright?\u201d Ben\u2019s voice sounded concerned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe nodded.\u00a0 \u201cThe Doc told her to stay in bed for a couple days and didn\u2019t seem too worried.\u00a0 I\u2019m going back tomorrow to see how she\u2019s doing.\u00a0 When I dropped Amy off, she said she might pay her a visit tomorrow too.\u00a0 Since Shelby\u2019s new in town, Amy thought she might make friends with her.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIsn\u2019t that just like Amy.\u00a0 She sure is a sweet girl,\u201d Ben commented.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, you better hold on tuh HER, Joe.\u00a0 Ain\u2019t too many like thet little gal,\u201d Hoss offered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean not too many left that\u2019ll put up with him,\u201d Adam teased.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe sneered at his eldest brother and grabbed his napkin and placed it over Adam\u2019s head and face.\u00a0 They laughed as they dispersed to go about their business.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

On the second knock Shelby pulled the door open to see Joe and Amy standing on the other side.\u00a0 Her eyes sparkled when she looked at Joe, but when she looked at Amy, her eyes were cold and piercing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHi Shelby.\u00a0 I knew Amy wanted to pay you a visit, so I picked her up and brought her with me.\u00a0 Feeling better today?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby smiled sweetly at him.\u00a0 \u201cYes, much.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad you\u2019re up and around, Shelby.\u00a0 I was worried about you yesterday.\u201d\u00a0 Amy smiled warmly at her.\u00a0 \u201cI brought you a little get well present\u2026I hope you like it.\u201d\u00a0 Amy handed her a small package with a blue ribbon tied around it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby took it and thanked her quickly, but didn\u2019t make any effort to open it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, aren\u2019t you going to open it?\u201d Amy asked, still smiling at her.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby looked at her, then peeled the wrapping off the gift.\u00a0 \u201cI hope you like the fragrance,\u201d Amy said of the bottle of perfume.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, the thought was nice, but I can\u2019t wear perfume.\u00a0 I get a rash.\u201d\u00a0 Shelby handed the bottle back to Amy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t know or I would have brought you something else.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby shrugged, then looked at Joe and smiled slightly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI mentioned to my Pa that you and your sister had just moved to town and talked him into giving a party Saturday night,\u201d Joe said to Shelby.\u00a0 \u201cYou know\u2026sort of a get-acquainted party.\u00a0 That is if you feel up to it and your sister thinks it\u2019s okay.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby beamed.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll feel up to it.\u00a0 But I don\u2019t know if Johanna will come or not.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you ask her.\u00a0 It\u2019ll be Saturday night and we\u2019ll pick you up about seven o\u2019clock.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll love the Ponderosa, Shelby.\u00a0 And the party too.\u00a0 The Cartwright\u2019s give great parties.\u201d\u00a0 Amy smiled enthusiastically.\u00a0 \u201cThey gave one for my family when we moved here.\u201d\u00a0 Amy looked over at Joe and they smiled at each other.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we\u2019ve been together ever since,\u201d Joe said, looking at Amy with admiration.\u00a0 \u201cSo\u2026we\u2019ll see you Saturday night?\u201d he asked Shelby.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t miss it for the world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGreat.\u00a0 See you then.\u201d\u00a0 Amy and Joe left and Shelby closed the door and leaned her back against it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot for the world,\u201d she repeated.\u00a0 A few seconds later Shelby pulled her door open and hurried three doors down to her sister\u2019s room and knocked.\u00a0 Shortly, Johanna pulled open her door and Shelby stepped inside.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you want, Shelby?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe Cartwright and his toad of a girl friend just paid me a visit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo?\u00a0 And I wish you wouldn\u2019t refer to Amy as a toad, I happen to like her.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019re giving a party Saturday night and they want us to come.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWho?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Cartwright\u2019s.\u00a0 They want us to come.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u00a0 They don\u2019t even know us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut the party is for US.\u00a0 A get-acquainted party, Joe said.\u00a0 I told him I would be there.\u00a0 Will you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWouldn\u2019t you rather I stay here\u2026out of your life?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a party Johanna!\u00a0 We haven\u2019t been to a party in ever so long!\u00a0 I hope there\u2019ll be a lot of cute men there!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShelby\u2026are men ALL you ever think about?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby stiffened and her happy countenance was replaced with a sour expression.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t want one of your lectures.\u00a0 I came to ask if you would go to the Cartwright\u2019s party.\u00a0 Joe asked me to ask you and I have.\u201d\u00a0 Shelby moved towards the door and she opened it, then looked at her sister.\u00a0 \u201cYou WILL come won\u2019t you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTo watch you make a fool of yourself around the men\u2026especially Joe?\u00a0 It would disgust me, Shelby.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFine!\u00a0 I\u2019ll go by myself!\u00a0 You can make up your OWN excuse why you didn\u2019t come to a party they\u2019re giving for BOTH of us!\u00a0 In case you change your mind, Joe will be here at seven o\u2019clock Saturday night.\u201d\u00a0 With that said, Shelby was out the door and down the hall before Johanna could say anything to her.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna wagged her head back and forth.\u00a0 \u201cIf I don\u2019t go, she WILL make a fool of herself.\u00a0 Oh, Shelby\u2026why do you have to give me so much grief?\u00a0 Why?\u201d\u00a0 Johanna closed her door.<\/span>
\n******<\/span><\/p>\n

The party was in full swing when Joe entered with Amy and the guests of honor.\u00a0 Shelby was dressed in a slightly off the shoulder dress of navy taffeta which was a lovely contrast against her light blonde hair which she wore down her back and over her shoulders.\u00a0 Her face was aglow with excitement of the party.<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy wore a dress of yellow brocade, which made a pretty contrast against her light brown curly hair which she wore down.\u00a0 She pinned the sides of her hair up with a small yellow bow on each side.\u00a0 Her blue eyes were alight with merriment as she stood next to Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna\u2019s dress was a cream color made of fine silk.\u00a0 She wore her hair swept up which made her neck appear long and graceful.\u00a0 She carried an ivory fan in one hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Though Adam had seen her that once in church, tonight he thought she was the most elegant woman he had ever seen and he made his way over to them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBumping into each other at church hardly constitutes a meeting.\u00a0 Joe, aren\u2019t you going to introduce us properly?\u201d he asked his brother.\u00a0 His father and Hoss walked up at that moment and asked the same question.\u00a0 Joe flashed a smile and made the introductions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna offered her hand to Ben and he took it.\u00a0 \u201cThank you, Mr. Cartwright, for giving this party for me and my sister, it\u2019s very gracious of you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re honored to have you here.\u00a0 Well, you young people enjoy yourselves,\u201d Ben said, then moved around the room, greeting his other guests.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMay I offer you some refreshment, Miss Weston?\u201d Adam said, taking Johanna\u2019s elbow.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust Johanna, and yes, thank you, Mr. Cartwright.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust Adam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She looked up at him and he thought her eyes were the blackest he had ever seen.\u00a0 He stood mesmerized.\u00a0 \u201cThe punch?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 He heard her voice, but he couldn\u2019t tell you what it was she had said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe what?\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry\u2026what was it you said?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou were going to get us some punch.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2026yes, I was.\u00a0 It\u2019s right over here.\u201d\u00a0 He held her elbow a little tighter and escorted her across the room to the refreshment table.\u00a0 Joe watched them and grinned.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think he likes her,\u201d he said as he leaned over to Amy.\u00a0 She smiled up at him and nodded her head in agreement.\u00a0 Shelby thought so too, and inwardly she was jumping for joy, because maybe now Johanna would direct her attention to Adam and leave her alone to live her life like she wanted to live it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Del Sanders made his way over and stood in front of Shelby.\u00a0 \u201cMy name\u2019s Del Sanders.\u00a0 May I have this dance, Miss?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby looked at Joe then at Del.\u00a0 \u201cWell, I really should dance with Joe first\u2026being it\u2019s my first dance of the night.\u201d\u00a0 Shelby looked over at Amy.\u00a0 \u201cYou don\u2019t mind dancing with Del, do you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2026no.\u00a0 No, of course not.\u00a0 I\u2019d be pleased to dance with you, Del.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Amy.\u00a0 I\u2019d be pleased too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust don\u2019t you get TOO pleased dancin\u2019 with Amy.\u00a0 She\u2019s MY girl you know,\u201d Joe teased.<\/span><\/p>\n

The couple laughed then took to the dance floor.\u00a0 Satisfied that she had Joe to herself, Shelby held out her hand to him.\u00a0 \u201cShall we?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He smiled and led her out on the dance floor.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo\u2026eh\u2026where are you from?\u201d Adam asked Johanna while they sipped their punch.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean what town did I leave to come here, or where was I born?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy home?\u00a0 Shelby and I haven\u2019t had a REAL home since our parents died.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen was that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlmost ten years ago.\u201d\u00a0 Johanna had a wistful look on her face.\u00a0 \u201cTen years\u2026it sounds like so long ago\u2026but it seems like only yesterday.\u201d\u00a0 She looked up at him and she noticed he was just staring at her.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m boring you, aren\u2019t I,\u201d she said to him.<\/span><\/p>\n

He shook his head slowly and smiled slightly.\u00a0 \u201cNo, not at all.\u00a0 But you still haven\u2019t told me where you come from\u2026or do you have some deep, dark sordid past,\u201d he teased.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna fingered the glass punch cup between her hands.\u00a0 \u201cNo, no sordid past.\u00a0 No excitement in MY past\u2026unless you call the past of a twenty-year old girl trying to be both mother and father to a ten-year old rebellious girl exciting.\u201d\u00a0 She looked up at him again and saw he was staring at her again.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Adam.\u00a0 I shouldn\u2019t be sounding so sullen, this is supposed to be a party.\u00a0 So let\u2019s talk of happier things.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSullen or not, I\u2019d like to know more about you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

At that moment, Hoss walked up to them.\u00a0 \u201cWell, Adam, if you ain\u2019t gonna ask the little gal tuh dance, I AM.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna looked up at the big man and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cJoe told Shelby and me all about you.\u00a0 You\u2019re the brother who sees Leprechauns,\u201d she teased and smiled mischievously at him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDadburn thet Little Joe.\u00a0 He bin runnin\u2019 his mouth off at ya \u2018bout ME?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, he told us about the Leprechauns\u2026and the Easter Bunny\u2026and the Flapjack Contest\u2026and\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss rolled his eyes upward.\u00a0 \u201cDadburn his ornery hide!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam snickered and placed his hand on Hoss\u2019 shoulder and his eyes glinted mischief.\u00a0 \u201cWell Hoss, you know how our little brother likes telling those stories about you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna glanced quickly in Adam\u2019s direction and continued with her teasing.\u00a0 \u201cAnd they were quite amusing, but what intrigued me most though, was the Knight named Arthur in armor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s face tinted a slight pink as Johanna handed her cup to him and took Hoss\u2019 arm and scurried off to the middle of the dance floor with Hoss looking back over his shoulder and snickering at Adam.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam nodded, then huffed.\u00a0 \u201cWait till I gettest mine hands around thy scrawny little neck, Sir Joseph,\u201d he said in an audible voice, then downed his drink\u2026and Johanna\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Johanna came back to the refreshment table fanning herself with her fan.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s been a long time since I\u2019ve danced like that.\u00a0 It makes a person rather warm,\u201d she told Adam while she fanned.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWould you like to go out where it\u2019s cooler?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSome fresh air would be very welcome.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam placed his hand against her back and they made their way across the room and out the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh my\u2026it IS much cooler out here.\u00a0 And would you look at that sky!\u00a0 I\u2019ve never seen so many stars!\u00a0 Back in New Haven, there doesn\u2019t seem to be as many stars.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNew Haven?\u00a0 Connecticut?\u00a0 Is that where you\u2019re from?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna walked further out into the yard, Adam walked beside her.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s where we were born and lived until Papa and Mama died.\u00a0 Then we stayed with one relative after another until Shelby turned fifteen, then we moved from one place to another until we came here.\u201d\u00a0 She stopped walking and turned to face him.\u00a0 \u201cBut enough about ME.\u00a0 Tell me more about this knight named Arthur in armor Joe said you saw.\u201d\u00a0 Her eyes twinkled merrily with amusement.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can just imagine what my brother told you.\u00a0 Whatever it was I\u2019m sure he told it all wrong.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, he\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe probably made it sound like I\u2019m an inept individual.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe probably exaggerated the whole story.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, actually, he\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt didn\u2019t happen anything like he told you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna began to laugh out loud.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI knew it.\u00a0 What did he tell you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna continued to laugh, and wagged her head at the same time.\u00a0 \u201cNo, no.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t tell me the story at all, I just made you think he did.\u201d\u00a0 She continued to laugh.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo you were just teasing me, huh.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d\u00a0 She continued to laugh.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMm hmm.\u00a0 Well, if he didn\u2019t tell you the story, then how did you know there WAS a story about a knight?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA Knight named Arthur with armor,\u201d she corrected in a teasing way.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe just mentioned there was a story, but didn\u2019t get around to telling us.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry I teased you, Adam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, that\u2019s alright.\u00a0 But you have to make it up to me you know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He took her hand in his and tugged on it.\u00a0 \u201cYou have to go to the barn with me.\u201d\u00a0 He raised an expectant eyebrow at her and winked his eye.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna jerked her hand out of his, squared her shoulders and widened her eyes at him.\u00a0 \u201cI beg your pardon?!\u00a0 I\u2019ll do no such thing!\u00a0 How dare\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s where the new born colt is.\u00a0 You WOULD like to see it, wouldn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNewborn colt?\u00a0 But\u2026I thought\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He took her hand in his again.\u00a0 \u201cWhat did you think I meant?\u201d he asked her, his eyes glinting mischief.<\/span><\/p>\n

She cast a sideways glance at him and she was thankful she wasn\u2019t facing him so he could see her flushing with embarrassment.\u00a0 \u201cNever mind what I thought you meant,\u201d she replied and began walking towards the barn.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam laughed inside himself with amusement at her.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Shelby placed her hand on Joe\u2019s arm and looked up at him.\u00a0 \u201cIs there someplace I can freshen up, Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u00a0 Up the stairs, second door on the left.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby found the room and found Amy Banks sitting in front of the mirror.\u00a0 \u201cHi, Shelby.\u00a0 You can have the mirror, I\u2019m finished,\u201d Amy said and stood up to allow Shelby to sit.\u00a0 Amy stood behind Shelby as she opened her bag and took out a brush and began brushing her long blonde hair.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour hair is so pretty, Shelby.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere did you live before you moved here?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIowa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid you like it there?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, but Johanna didn\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0 Shelby put her brush back in her bag and pulled out a small bottle of perfume and dabbed it on her neck and shoulders and behind her ears.<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy furrowed her brow.\u00a0 \u201cI thought you said perfume gave you a rash.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby looked at Amy by way of the mirror.\u00a0 \u201cOh, you must have misunderstood me.\u00a0 What I said was, THAT particular fragrance gives me a rash.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy became suddenly enlightened.\u00a0 \u201cOh, I think I understand now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby held Amy\u2019s gaze for several seconds then fluffed her hair over one shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cHow old are you, Amy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen.\u00a0 Why?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I was just wondering.\u00a0 Those precious little ribbons in your hair makes you look so much younger.\u201d\u00a0 Shelby was sarcastic in the way she said it.\u00a0 \u201cJoe is such a mature young man.\u00a0 We\u2019re about the same age you know\u2026Joe and I.\u201d\u00a0 Shelby stood up and looked at Amy.\u00a0 \u201cYou were right about the party\u2026it\u2019s great.\u201d\u00a0 She turned towards the door but stopped and turned back around.\u00a0 \u201cThose ribbons really ARE precious.\u00a0 Just right for someone your age.\u201d\u00a0 That said, she swished out the door and closed it behind her.<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy looked at herself in the mirror, then reached up and pulled the ribbons out of her hair and stuffed them in her bag.\u00a0 Leaving the room, she made her way back down stairs and placed her bag on the bureau.\u00a0 Seeing Joe talking to Shelby and a group of young men, she walked outside to the edge of the veranda and leaned her head against the wall of the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been looking for you for half an hour.\u201d\u00a0 It was Joe.\u00a0 He walked up behind her and turned her around, and placed a hand against the wall on each side of her.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve found you now, and I\u2019m not letting you get away for awhile.\u201d\u00a0 His face was terribly close to hers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShelby\u2019s very pretty isn\u2019t she,\u201d Amy said before he could kiss her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose.\u201d\u00a0 He leaned to kiss her again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHer hair is so pretty.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI hadn\u2019t noticed.\u201d\u00a0 He leaned to kiss her again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou two are about the same age.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe pulled back from her and looked down at her.\u00a0 \u201cAlright\u2026what\u2019s this about?\u00a0 You think I\u2019m interested in Shelby?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy looked into his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cAre you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow would I be trying my darnedest to kiss one girl if I was interested in another one?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy\u2019s eyes twinkled with mischief.\u00a0 \u201cI HAVE heard stories to that effect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe flushed embarrassment at her reply.\u00a0 \u201cI guess what I should have said was a simple no.\u201d\u00a0 He moved a step closer to her.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t you know by now I\u2019m crazy about you, and only you.\u201d\u00a0 He toyed with one of her curls and looked at her hair.\u00a0 \u201cHey, where are those little bows you had in your hair earlier?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2026they made me look too immature so I took them out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell I kinda liked \u2018em.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

They both looked over as several couples filtered outside.\u00a0 Joe took her hand and tugged on it.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s go to the barn, it\u2019s more private there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Inside the barn, Adam and Johanna crouched in one of the stalls beside the new colt.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s beautiful, Adam.\u00a0 So black and shiny.\u201d\u00a0 Johanna smiled and stroked the colt\u2019s neck.\u00a0 \u201cHave you named him yet?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, but I\u2019m open to suggestions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow about midnight?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s just the name I was thinking of myself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

At that moment, the barn door squeaked open and Adam placed a finger to his lips to quiet Johanna.\u00a0 He stood up and watched as Joe and Amy entered the barn and stop beside the ladder leading up to the hayloft.\u00a0 Joe placed a hand on the ladder and Adam chose then to clear his throat loudly and step out of the stall.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust what do you two think you\u2019re doing in here unchaperoned,\u201d he said to them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUh, well, we just came in to\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTo WHAT?\u201d Adam asked when Joe paused.\u00a0 Adam turned around to see what Joe was looking at past his shoulder.\u00a0 He saw Johanna standing behind him.\u00a0 He looked back at Joe who was looking down at Johanna\u2019s skirt.\u00a0 Adam turned back to look and saw several pieces of straw adhering to her garment and looked at her hair which had a few pieces of hay in it which evidently had floated down from the loft above them.\u00a0 He looked back at Joe who had a smirk on his face.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know what you\u2019re thinking, Joe, but we came in here so I could show Johanna the new colt\u2026And that\u2019s the ONLY reason.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure, whatever you say, Adam.\u201d\u00a0 Joe smirked again.\u00a0 \u201cAnd that\u2019s why WE came in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy rushed over to the stall where Johanna was standing.\u00a0 \u201cYou didn\u2019t tell me you had a new colt, Joe!\u00a0 Isn\u2019t he cute!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe and Adam exchanged glances and Joe shrugged his shoulders.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s his name?\u201d Amy asked, smiling widely.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cActually, Johanna named him.\u00a0 Midnight,\u201d Adam told her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMidnight.\u00a0 It suits him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam held out his hand to Johanna.\u00a0 \u201cHow about some more punch and a dance?\u00a0 You haven\u2019t danced with ME yet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSounds good.\u201d\u00a0 Johanna took his hand and he led her towards the door but stopped and turned around.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome out in five minutes, or I\u2019ll send Pa in after you,\u201d Adam teased.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWill you just get out of here.\u201d\u00a0 Joe waved his brother off.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam and Johanna laughed then exited the barn and walked towards the house.\u00a0 Midway across the yard, Adam stopped and turned Johanna around to face him.\u00a0 \u201cWe better make sure we\u2019re free of straw and hay before we go in, so you won\u2019t have to endure any more teasing about it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam brushed all the particles from his clothes and Johanna did the same, then turned to look at each other.\u00a0 Adam reached out and plucked the pieces of hay from her hair and when he did, he pulled loose a hairpin which loosened a hank of hair causing it to tumble down across her shoulder.\u00a0 She looked up at him and in the glow of the moonlight, her eyes were piercingly black.\u00a0 He was captivated by them and felt himself being drawn into their deepness.\u00a0 He placed a soft kiss on her lips.<\/span><\/p>\n

After they pulled back from each other, Johanna looked up into his eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2026don\u2019t know what came over me.\u00a0 We met only tonight, I shouldn\u2019t have been so bold.\u00a0 I apologize,\u201d he said to her quietly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re the first man who\u2019s ever kissed me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI find that hard to believe.\u00a0 Don\u2019t tell me you never had a man not interested enough in you to not kiss you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t say men were not interested in me, there were plenty.\u00a0 They just never kissed me.\u00a0 You\u2019re the first.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI still find that hard to believe.\u00a0 You\u2019re a very beautiful and desirable woman, Johanna.\u00a0 A man would have to be blind\u2026or dead, to not realize that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHard to believe or not, it\u2019s true.\u00a0 My parents didn\u2019t even allow me to be in a room alone with a young man until I turned twenty, then six months later they died and my first priority then was trying to raise Shelby to be a proper young lady.\u00a0 So to set a good example for her, whenever a young man would call on me, she was always in the room, and I never allowed him to do more than hold my hand.\u00a0 When I felt our relationship was deepening and I thought I might let him kiss me the next time I saw him, he stopped coming around.\u00a0 No explanation\u2026no reason\u2026he just stopped seeing me.\u00a0 Every young man\u2026all the same\u2026they just stopped coming around.\u00a0 To this day, I don\u2019t know why.\u00a0 So you\u2019re the first man who\u2019s ever kissed me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He put his arm around her and led her to the veranda where they sat down. \u201cWhat happened to your parents, Johanna?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey died from the fever, along with my three year old brother.\u00a0 Shelby and I were visiting relatives in Maine, so we were spared.\u00a0 We received a telegram telling us they had taken sick and we were to stay with our aunt and uncle until they got better\u2026only they never got better.\u00a0 They died two weeks after contracting the illness.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u00a0 It must be very hard to lose both parents after having them around for a long time.\u00a0 My mother died when I was born, but I still had my father.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt WAS hard.\u00a0 Very hard\u2026especially for Shelby.\u00a0 She loved Papa so much and when he wasn\u2019t there to hold her on his knee or hug her at night, she took it very hard.\u00a0 I had to be both mother AND father to her and I feel like I\u2019ve failed miserably at both.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou just had a big responsibility put on you at too young an age.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe\u2026but I\u2019m older now, I should know how to handle her..I should know what to say and do to make her obey.\u00a0 She just won\u2019t.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you\u2019re older now, but so is Shelby.\u00a0 Could it be you\u2019re trying to treat her as though she was still a child?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna smiled at that.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019s always accusing me of that.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know\u2026maybe.\u00a0 I just feel she just needs to be protected.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere comes a time when you have to stop trying to protect her and let her make her own mistakes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut that\u2019s what I want to protect her FROM.\u00a0 She says she wants to live her own life, but I feel she\u2019s just too young to be turned over to every jackal who came along, but I know you\u2019re right, Adam.\u00a0 I sheltered her so much from every boy who comes along, that I\u2019ve deprived MYSELF of a life\u2026of finding the right man for ME.\u00a0 I\u2019m twenty-nine\u2026maybe it\u2019s too late for me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He looked over at her and took in her profile.\u00a0 It was just as beautiful as the front view of her face.\u00a0 He reached over and put his hand under her chin and turned her head to look at him.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ll find the right man for you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She looked deep into his eyes and her lips parted slightly.\u00a0 \u201cI hope so.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She closed her eyes as Adam leaned over and kissed her.\u00a0 When they pulled back and gazed into each other\u2019s eyes, Johanna felt a tremor of excitement course through her and she shivered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you cold?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI must be, but oddly enough, I don\u2019t feel cold.\u00a0 I feel quite warm in fact.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He smiled slightly and helped her to stand and led her towards the house.\u00a0 \u201cWe better get you inside, you might be coming down with something,\u201d he said, but knew full well she wasn\u2019t because he felt the same way and he knew HE wasn\u2019t ill.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna attempted to repin her hair as she and Adam were walking in the door, Joe and Amy right behind them.\u00a0 Johanna turned to Adam.\u00a0 \u201cIs there someplace I can freshen up?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll show you where,\u201d Amy spoke up.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd put those ribbons back in your hair,\u201d Joe piped up.\u00a0 Amy smiled up at him and nodded, then she and Johanna left to go upstairs.\u00a0 Adam watched until Johanna turned the corner at the top landing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat is a very intriguing woman,\u201d he said to no one in particular.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo I detect a spark of interest, older brother?\u201d Joe commented.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMore than a spark, more like a blazing fire.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHmm\u2026should I take you out and dunk ya in the trough to cool you off?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, no\u2026I ENJOY feeling like this.\u201d\u00a0 Adam smiled dreamily and walked away from Joe just as Hoss walked up to them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe looks like a calf thet\u2019s jist been poleaxed,\u201d Hoss commented.\u00a0 He and Joe laughed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s in love.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith Miss Johanna?\u00a0 Really?\u00a0 Ya think he fell fer her sure \u2018nough?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLock, stock and barrel.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but he jist met her!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u00a0 But he\u2019s in love.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow kin ya tell?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe just has that look.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhut look?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTHAT look.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhut look is\u2019at, Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe \u2018I\u2019m in love\u2019 look.\u00a0 You know\u2026the same look YOU get when you see a plate of food.\u201d\u00a0 Joe laughed, then walked away from Hoss, leaving him in a wonder.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDadburn you, Joe!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cAre you enjoying yourself, Miss Weston?\u201d Amy asked Johanna when they seated themselves in front of the mirror.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, very much.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdam\u2019s nice, isn\u2019t he.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna smiled slightly and even blushed a bit as the memory of Adam\u2019s kiss washed over her.\u00a0 \u201cVery nice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy watched Johanna as she took her hair down, brushed it out, then pinned it back up on top of her head.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou and Shelby have such beautiful hair.\u00a0 Mine is just\u2026brown,\u201d Amy said as she fingered a lock of her hair.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna turned to look at the young woman.\u00a0 \u201cAmy\u2026it doesn\u2019t matter what we look like or what color hair we have, it\u2019s what we DO with what we have.\u00a0 If you like, I could show you a very becoming way for you to wear your hair.\u00a0 I think Joe would especially like it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCould you?!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course.\u00a0 Now where are those ribbons Joe mentioned.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRight here.\u201d\u00a0 Amy opened her bag and pulled out the ribbons she had taken out of her hair earlier.\u00a0 Johanna set to work on styling Amy\u2019s hair.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Shelby looked around the room and not seeing her sister or Amy, took advantage of their absence and walked up to Joe.\u00a0 \u201cJoe, would you mind taking me home.\u00a0 I don\u2019t feel very well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure, just as soon as Amy and your sister come down.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut would you take me right now?\u00a0 Please?\u00a0 When my sister freshens up, it takes her forever and I don\u2019t think I can wait.\u00a0 Please?\u00a0 You can come right back and probably not even be missed.\u00a0 Pleeeeese, Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlright.\u00a0 You get your things and I\u2019ll tell Adam I\u2019m taking you back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby smiled triumphantly.<\/span><\/p>\n

After informing Adam he was taking Shelby back to the hotel, and though Adam gave him a word of caution against doing so, Joe walked Shelby out to the buggy and they left to go back to the hotel.<\/span><\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t long before Johanna and Amy came back down stairs.\u00a0 Amy\u2019s eyes scanned the room for Joe before she ever reached the bottom.\u00a0 Adam met the two ladies at the bottom of the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHave you seen Joe, Adam?\u201d Amy asked in anticipation of showing him her new hair-do.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEh\u2026he, uh, took Shelby back to the hotel.\u00a0 She was sick or something.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust Joe and Shelby?\u201d Amy inquired.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy looked crestfallen.\u00a0 She turned her gaze down at the floor and spoke quietly.\u00a0 \u201cWill you take me home, Adam?\u00a0 I\u2019m tired.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWill you take us both?\u201d Johanna put in quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure.\u00a0 Give me a few minutes to hitch up the surrey.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna nodded and placed an arm around Amy\u2019s shoulders while Adam left.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll meet up with Joe and he can take you the rest of the way home, and you can still show him your hair.\u00a0 I think he\u2019ll be pleased.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know you\u2019re trying to encourage me, Miss Weston, and I know Shelby\u2019s your sister, but she wants Joe.\u00a0 I might be only seventeen, but I\u2019ve seen the way she looks at him and the way she looks at ME when I\u2019m with him.\u00a0 She\u2019s very pretty and any guy would like her paying attention to him\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow you just stop belittling yourself.\u00a0 If Joe\u2019s heart really belongs to YOU, nothing or no one can come between you, but you shouldn\u2019t just stand by and do nothing.\u00a0 Fight to keep him.\u00a0 Don\u2019t let Shelby come between you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut how do I do that?\u00a0 Shelby is so pretty\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFind a way, Amy.\u00a0 You mustn\u2019t lose Joe to Shelby.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy looked over at Johanna.\u00a0 \u201cBut Shelby\u2019s your sister\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know, but you mustn\u2019t let her take Joe from you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I don\u2019t understand why you\u2019re taking my side against Shelby.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe reason isn\u2019t important.\u00a0 Just fight to keep him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Walking into the house, Adam motioned for them, and Johanna and Amy hurried across the room, gathered up their wraps and Adam escorted them out to the surrey.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Pulling up beside the other buggy in front of the hotel, Amy began to cry.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t want to see Joe right now.\u00a0 Will you take me home, Adam?\u00a0 Please?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGo ahead, take her on home.\u00a0 But before you go, I hope you\u2019ll thank your father for me for the lovely party.\u00a0 And thank YOU.\u00a0 I\u2019ve never enjoyed myself like I did tonight.\u00a0 Thank you, Adam.\u201d\u00a0 Johanna smiled sweetly at him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMay I stop back by after I take Amy home?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you wish.\u00a0 I\u2019m in room number twenty-seven.\u201d\u00a0 Johanna stepped out of the surrey and watched while Adam drove the rig towards Amy\u2019s house.\u00a0 She walked briskly into the hotel and up to the floor where her room was located.\u00a0 When she rounded the corner, she saw Shelby and Joe standing in front of Shelby\u2019s door.\u00a0 Shelby looked over Joe\u2019s shoulder and saw Johanna coming towards them.\u00a0 She knew Johanna was angry.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for a lovely evening, Joe, and for bringing me home,\u201d Shelby said, then placed her arms around his neck and kissed him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Though caught by surprise, Joe\u2019s arms went instinctively around Shelby.\u00a0 Johanna stopped walking immediately and waited.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe then pulled away from Shelby and stepped back.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2026uh\u2026guess I better get back to the ranch.\u00a0 I hope you had a good time, Shelby.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I had a wonderful time, Joe.\u201d\u00a0 Shelby smiled sweetly at him.\u00a0 It was then that Johanna passed him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJohanna.\u00a0 How did you get here?\u201d he asked her.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna\u2019s eyes were glued on Shelby.\u00a0 \u201cAdam brought me.\u00a0 AND Amy.\u00a0 He\u2019s already taken her home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I guess I better get right over there,\u201d he said and placed his hat on his head and left quickly.\u00a0 With a look of triumph on her face, Shelby stood looking at Johanna.\u00a0 The older woman took a step closer to Shelby, drew her hand back and slapped her sister\u2019s cheek.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s for Amy.\u00a0 You deserve worse!\u00a0 Maybe she\u2019ll give it to you!\u201d\u00a0 Johanna left abruptly to go to her own room, leaving Shelby standing with her hand on her cheek, with an astonished look on her face.\u00a0 Shelby burst into tears, flung open her door and flew inside, slamming the door behind her.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once inside her room, Johanna leaned her back against her door, breathing heavily and trembling.\u00a0 She had never succumbed to such a physical outburst against Shelby before and it left her shaken.\u00a0 When she felt the strength returning to her knees, she made her way across the room and dropped down into the chair beside her window.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

On the way to Amy\u2019s house, Joe met Adam coming back from dropping Amy off.\u00a0 Stopping beside each other, Adam said, \u201cI think you better wait until tomorrow to see Amy, Joe.\u00a0 She\u2019s pretty upset about you going off alone with Shelby.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI just took her home, Adam.\u00a0 There\u2019s nothing wrong with that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere is when you\u2019re supposed to be courting someone else.\u00a0 Take my advice and wait until tomorrow to go see Amy.\u00a0 She\u2019ll be settled down by then.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI want to see her now, Adam, and tell her goodnight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSuit yourself\u2026but don\u2019t say I didn\u2019t warn you.\u201d\u00a0 Adam flicked the reins over the horse\u2019s back and pulled away, while\u00a0 Joe made his way to Amy\u2019s house.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the second knock, the door was pulled open by Amy\u2019s mother.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMay I see Amy, Mrs. Banks?\u00a0 I\u2019d like to talk to her.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Joe, she\u2019s pretty upset, but I\u2019ll tell her you\u2019re here.\u00a0 Come on in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shortly, Amy appeared and Joe stepped over to her.\u00a0 Mrs. Banks excused herself from the room to leave the two young people to talk.<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy kept her head lowered while Joe talked.\u00a0 \u201cI want to explain about leaving with Shelby.\u00a0 She wasn\u2019t feeling well and had to leave right away.\u00a0 She couldn\u2019t wait for you and Johanna, so I was going to take her home and come right back to the ranch to get you and Johanna.\u00a0 That\u2019s all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy raised her eyes to look at him.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s all?\u00a0 Nothing else?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He smiled and said, \u201cI promise.\u00a0 When Johanna told me that Adam took you home, I couldn\u2019t go back to the ranch without telling my girl goodnight.\u201d\u00a0 He took a step towards her, leaned down and kissed her.\u00a0 When she didn\u2019t respond back, he pulled away.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs that the same way you said goodnight to Shelby?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid you kiss HER goodnight, too, Joe?\u00a0 There\u2019s lipstick on your collar.\u00a0 Don\u2019t tell me you didn\u2019t kiss her, I know you DID!\u00a0 Now\u2026leave!\u201d\u00a0 Amy placed her hands on his chest and gave him a shove backwards, then she turned and, crying, fled from the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAmy!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She didn\u2019t heed his call to her and stop, Mrs. Banks appeared instead.\u00a0 \u201cIt might be best if you left, Joe.\u00a0 Talk to her tomorrow after church, she\u2019ll be more settled then.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWill you tell her I\u2019ll want to see her home then?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll tell her.\u00a0 Goodnight, Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe nodded, placed his hat on his head and left the house.\u00a0 He drove slowly back home.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Adam knocked on Johanna\u2019s door and waited a few seconds then knocked again.\u00a0 He heard Johanna\u2019s muffled answer and waited for her to open the door.\u00a0 She pulled the door open slightly and taking one look at her face, he knew she had been crying.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs everything alright?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wish I could say yes, but I can\u2019t.\u00a0 Adam, I saw Joe and Shelby kissing.\u00a0 I hope he tells Amy about it and that Shelby instigated it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure that Shelby DID?\u00a0 I know my brother when he\u2019s around a pretty girl.\u00a0 His brain seems to stop functioning long enough to commit the act, then by some miracle he begins thinking rationally again, but by then the damage has been done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna smiled slightly at Adam\u2019s sarcastic wit, but then her expression switched back to sadness.\u00a0 \u201cShe instigated the kiss alright.\u00a0 I saw it from beginning to end.\u00a0 She made sure I saw it.\u00a0 Joe didn\u2019t know I was nearby until I stood beside him.\u00a0 I love my sister, Adam, but she\u2019s a troublemaker.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAmy was pretty upset when she got out of the buggy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can imagine.\u00a0 Well, Adam\u2026I hate to talk about this with you standing in the hall, and I WOULD invite you in, but it wouldn\u2019t be proper.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, we ARE a grown man and woman, but I respect your wishes.\u00a0 If you want to talk about this anymore or if I can help, will you let me know?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course.\u00a0 Will you be in church tomorrow?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMay I come by for you and take you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t see anything improper about that.\u00a0 I should be ready about ten forty-five.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGood.\u00a0 I\u2019ll see you then.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna nodded and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cGoodnight, Adam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He smiled and placed his hat on his head and when he was out of sight, Johanna closed her door.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Meanwhile at the Cartwright ranch, Joe walked slowly into the house his eyes downcast, his heart heavy.<\/span><\/p>\n

The inside of the house had been put back together after the party, and it appeared that his Pa and Hoss had already gone to bed.\u00a0 He knew Adam hadn\u2019t arrived home yet, because the surrey was still gone.<\/span><\/p>\n

He made his way over to the fireplace and picked up the poker and jabbed at the logs,\u00a0 the embers inside sprang to life and became a blazing fire.\u00a0 He replaced the poker in its holder and propped one foot up on the hearth.\u00a0 He was concentrating heavily on his conversation with Amy and the look on her face.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t go like you wanted, did it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe looked up when he heard Adam\u2019s voice.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t hear you come in, Adam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI noticed.\u00a0 I asked you how it went with Amy and when you didn\u2019t answer me, I knew.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe thinks I have feelings for Shelby Weston.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u00a0 But Amy doesn\u2019t believe me.\u201d\u00a0 Joe turned and sat down on the hearth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShould she believe you?\u201d Adam sat down on the corner of the low table in front of his brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course!\u00a0 Why shouldn\u2019t she believe me?!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam reached out and took hold of Joe\u2019s collar and worked it back and forth between his thumb and forefinger.\u00a0 \u201cThis,\u201d he said of the lipstick smear on the inside of his collar.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, that.\u00a0 Yeah\u2026she saw it.\u00a0 But Shelby kissed ME, I didn\u2019t kiss HER.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u00a0 Johanna told me.\u00a0 She saw the whole thing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow can I make Amy believe there\u2019s nothing between me and Shelby?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Joe, all\u00a0 you can do is tell her that, and if it\u2019s true\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf it\u2019s true?!\u00a0 Of course it\u2019s true, Adam!\u00a0 You think I\u2019m lying?!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKeep your voice down\u2026and no I don\u2019t think you\u2019re lying.\u00a0 Now, like I was saying\u2026tell her there\u2019s nothing between you and Shelby and then give her some time to think about whether or not she believes you, but don\u2019t pressure her to believe you.\u00a0 Let HER make that decision.\u00a0 The last thing you want, is for a woman to think you\u2019ve pushed her into something she doesn\u2019t want.\u00a0 Let Amy decide whether or not she wants to keep seeing you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what if she doesn\u2019t?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen you\u2019re free to see someone else or work on winning her back.\u00a0 You\u2019ll see Amy at church tomorrow\u2026tell her how you feel, then give her some time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat if she won\u2019t talk to me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think she will, but don\u2019t pressure her to listen if she doesn\u2019t want to.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all so complicated, isn\u2019t it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWondering if the feelings you have for a certain girl is love or if you just LIKE her only.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cComplicated?\u00a0 Yes.\u00a0 But there\u2019s one thing about it, Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe gave Adam his undivided attention.\u00a0 \u201cWhen the real thing hits you\u2026you\u2019ll know it, and there won\u2019t be any doubt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh really.\u00a0 And how would YOU know?\u00a0 YOU who\u2019ve had only about three women you\u2019ve been interested in your whole life.\u00a0 \u201cFOUR\u2026if you count Johanna Weston.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam quirked a smile at his young brother and stood to his feet, and headed for the staircase.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDoes this mean you\u2019re in love with Johanna?\u00a0 And it\u2019s the real thing with you, Adam?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With a smile on his face, Adam continued to walk towards the stairs and didn\u2019t answer.\u00a0 Joe stood up and went after his brother.\u00a0 \u201cHey, Adam\u2026what\u2019s the real thing feel like when it hits you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The eldest Cartwright son continued to smile and walk as Joe tagged behind him, pressing him for an answer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna went to her sister\u2019s room Sunday morning at ten-thirty to see if she wanted to ride to church with her and Adam, but Shelby didn\u2019t answer her door and when Johanna went in, she saw the room and the adjoining washroom were empty, so she deduced that Shelby had already left for church.\u00a0 She went back to her own room to finish preparing herself for church.<\/span><\/p>\n

At exactly ten forty-five a knock sounded on her door and she pulled it open.\u00a0 Adam stood on the other side.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRight on time,\u201d Johanna remarked and smiled up at him.\u00a0 He smiled back and thought she was the most beautiful woman he ever had the privilege to look upon.\u00a0 She looked like an angel standing there.\u00a0 Not a hair was out of place and the little blue hat encircled her head like a halo.\u00a0 The blue skirt complimented her slim hips beautifully and the long sleeved blue jacket hugged her upper torso nicely and nipped her slender waist perfectly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSomething wrong?\u201d she asked when he continued to stare at her.<\/span><\/p>\n

He blinked back to reality and grinned.\u00a0 \u201cUh, no\u2026you look very nice this morning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, thank you, kind sir.\u00a0 And so do you.\u201d\u00a0 Johanna stepped out into the hall and closed the door.\u00a0 \u201cYou think we\u2019ll be the best looking couple at church?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t be a bit surprised,\u201d Adam replied, taking her elbow and escorting her down the hall.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Shelby walked back and forth in front of the church steps while she waited for Joe to appear.\u00a0 She wanted to see if he would be with or without Amy Banks.\u00a0 She stopped her nervous pacing when she saw three Cartwright\u2019s approaching on their horses.\u00a0 She wondered where Adam was, then when she saw him sitting next to her sister as they drove up in the buggy, she was ecstatic, but a little jealous.\u00a0 Ecstatic because Johanna would now be spending her time with Adam and not lecturing her; jealous because Johanna was being escorted to church by a man, but SHE wasn\u2019t.\u00a0 At least not until Joe was completely hers, and by seeing that he hadn\u2019t brought Amy, she felt her chances were increasing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby scurried inside and went all the way up front and then out the side door.\u00a0 That took her back outside to the side of the church where she could watch, without being seen, when Amy Banks came.\u00a0 She watched as the Cartwright\u2019s and her sister went inside.<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy approached the church with her parents, and seeing Joe\u2019s horse out front, she hesitated a moment and asked her parents to go in ahead of her.\u00a0 If Joe was sitting with Shelby, her mother was to come back out and walk in with her.\u00a0 When her mother didn\u2019t come back out, Amy made her way towards the church doors.\u00a0 Shelby stepped out from her hiding place and walked up behind Amy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAmy?\u00a0 Can I talk to you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy turned around and when she saw it was Shelby Weston, she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, readying herself for Shelby\u2019s taunting.\u00a0 \u201cWhat is it, Shelby?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know we don\u2019t have much time before the service starts, but I wanted to talk to you a minute.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMe and Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have nothing to say to you about Joe Cartwright!\u201d\u00a0 Amy started to turn towards the church, but Shelby grabbed her arm.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe and I are more than just friends.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby shifted her weight onto one hip and turned her head sideways and looked at Amy.\u00a0 \u201cCome now, Amy\u2026we both know what I mean.\u201d\u00a0 She smiled a taunting smile at Amy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you telling me this, Shelby?\u00a0 So I\u2019ll bow out of Joe\u2019s life gracefully so you can have him?!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I hoped you WOULD and not cause a scene or anything.\u00a0 It would be a terrible thing if people found out that Joe and I were\u2026more than just friends.\u00a0 You wouldn\u2019t want to be thought of as the poor little broken hearted girl, now would you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know Joe Cartwright is known to be a bit on the wild side, but he\u2019s honorable and respectable, and wouldn\u2019t do such a thing!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure?\u00a0 Did he tell you he kissed me last night?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA kiss hardly constitutes having a love affair, Shelby.\u201d\u00a0 Amy started to walk away again, but Shelby stepped in front of her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh that was after he brought me home and before he came to your house to tell you to get lost.\u00a0 After seeing YOU, he came back to my hotel room\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to hear about your sordid love life!\u00a0 Especially with Joe Cartwright, because I don\u2019t believe you!\u201d\u00a0 Amy whirled around and ran up the steps and into the church.\u00a0 Seeing Joe, but not ready to talk to him just yet, she sat on the other side of the aisle, two rows back where her parents always sat.<\/span><\/p>\n

After a minute or two, Shelby filed into the church and went straight for the pew where the Cartwright\u2019s were sitting.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSince my sister is sitting here, may I sit with you?\u201d\u00a0 Shelby asked, looking up at Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Because the services had started, Joe allowed her in beside him.\u00a0 He looked back at Amy, she glanced at him, but looked away just as quickly and put every effort she had into the congregational song that was being sung.<\/span><\/p>\n

All during the minister\u2019s sermon, Joe kept glancing back at Amy, but she had her eyes trained on the minister, though she knew he was looking at her.<\/span><\/p>\n

After the minister said Amen, Joe stepped out into the aisle to go to Amy, but she had already left the church, though her parents were still there.\u00a0 He went outside and looked around, but didn\u2019t see her.\u00a0 He made his way to his horse, and after refastening his saddlebag strap, he took hold of the reins.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby ran up to him at that moment and grabbed his arm.\u00a0 \u201cWalk me to the hotel, Joe,\u201d Shelby requested.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like to go see Amy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe hotel\u2019s on your way, isn\u2019t it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlright then.\u00a0 My room first, then you can go see Amy,\u201d she said gleefully, pulling him along.<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy watched from the side of the church as Shelby and Joe made their way down the street, Shelby firmly latched onto Joe\u2019s arm.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never hated anyone before, but I hate YOU, Shelby Weston.\u00a0 I wish you were dead.\u00a0 I wish you were dead!\u201d\u00a0 Amy\u2019s teeth were clenched and her hands balled up into tight fists.\u00a0 She whirled around and went the back path that led behind the hotel and also to the Banks\u2019 residence.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

From the side of the hotel, Amy watched as Shelby pulled Joe along inside the hotel.\u00a0 Putting her hand to her mouth and crying, she ran to her home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy brother, Hoss, and I are leaving for Reno directly.\u00a0 I have a business meeting there first thing in the morning, so I won\u2019t be around for a couple of days,\u201d Adam said to Johanna while still in the buggy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen I\u2019ll look forward to you getting back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo will I.\u00a0 Well\u2026I guess I better go so I CAN get back.\u00a0 Goodbye-Johanna.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGoodbye, Adam, and have a safe trip\u2026there AND back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He smiled and leaned over and kissed her.\u00a0 She stepped out of the buggy, and sent him on with a smile and a wave.<\/span>
\n******<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe walked his horse down the street to Amy\u2019s house and tethered him to the hitching post out in front.\u00a0 Standing at Amy\u2019s door, he knocked.\u00a0 She pulled the door open and looked up at him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAmy, I\u2019d like to talk to you if I could.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, Joe?\u00a0 So you can tell me you don\u2019t want to see me anymore?\u00a0 That you\u2019re interested in Shelby Weston?\u00a0 Consider me told.\u201d\u00a0 Amy stepped back and closed the door on him, but he held out his hand, preventing the door from closing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u00a0 That isn\u2019t why I\u2019m here, Amy.\u00a0 I want to explain about the other night.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe other night?\u00a0 What about all the OTHER night\u2019s?\u00a0 I know you\u2019ve been seeing Shelby behind my back, Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I haven\u2019t.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid you come straight here from church?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The look on his face told her he hadn\u2019t.\u00a0 \u201cYou don\u2019t have to explain further.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I DO.\u00a0 I\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGo home, Joe!\u00a0 Or better yet\u2026go to Shelby Weston!\u201d\u00a0 Amy pushed him away from the door and slammed it in his face.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAmy!\u201d\u00a0 He banged on the door, but to no avail.\u00a0 Angry, he left Amy\u2019s house and vaulted onto Cochise\u2019s back and put him into a full gallop out of town.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Amy found herself in front of Shelby Weston\u2019s door.\u00a0 She knocked.\u00a0 When Shelby opened the door, Amy pushed her way inside.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGet out of here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cClose the door, Shelby.\u00a0 I came here to talk and that\u2019s what we\u2019re going to do.\u00a0 Close the door.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby hesitated closing the door longer than Amy wanted, so she stepped close to Shelby.\u00a0 \u201cI said close the door.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby swallowed hard, then did as Amy wanted.\u00a0 \u201cAlright\u2026talk.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe Cartwright and I were very serious about each other until you started putting your evil little claws into him.\u00a0 I want you to stay away from him.\u00a0 Do you understand?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you threatening me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u00a0 I\u2019m promising.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t stay away from Joe Cartwright, I\u2019ll make you wish you had never come to Virginia City.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby walked past Amy, then turned sharply.\u00a0 \u201cNow get out of here.\u00a0 And if YOU don\u2019t stay away from Joe, I\u2019ll start such a scandal about you and him that no one in Virginia City will give you the time of day.\u00a0 Do YOU understand?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t do that to Joe!\u00a0 I don\u2019t care about me, but you can\u2019t do that to Joe!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone knows how much you care for Joe and that will help to make my story more believable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re horrible, Shelby Weston!\u00a0 You\u2019re horrible!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby\u2019s door opened and Johanna walked into the room.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s going on here?\u00a0 I heard you yelling clear out in the hall, Amy.\u00a0 What\u2019s the problem?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo problem.\u00a0 Amy was just leaving.\u00a0 Weren\u2019t you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Being in tears, Amy ran across the room and down the corridor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna closed Shelby\u2019s door and stood looking at her sister.\u00a0 \u201cAre you going to tell me what happened between you and Amy?\u00a0 Why was she yelling at you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust a misunderstanding about Joe Cartwright.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMisunderstanding.\u00a0 She threatened you didn\u2019t she, Shelby.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby stepped away from Johanna.\u00a0 \u201cWell what if she did\u2026I can handle the likes of HER.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cShelby, I want you to leave Virginia City.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLEAVE?!\u00a0 But where will we go THIS time?!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot WE, Shelby\u2026YOU.\u00a0 I\u2019m staying here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u00a0 Because Adam Cartwright paid a little attention to you?!\u00a0 He\u2019ll be just like all the others when I tell him you have a secret lover!\u00a0 He\u2019ll stop coming around just like\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Shelby stopped suddenly.\u00a0 She swallowed hard, and her eyes betrayed her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat secret lover?\u00a0 What others?\u201d\u00a0 Johanna grabbed Shelby and held her sister by the arms.\u00a0 \u201cShelby\u2026what others?!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll your other beaus.\u00a0 Haven\u2019t you ever wondered why they stopped coming around to court you?\u00a0 I told them you had a secret lover.\u00a0 I knew if you got serious about any of them, he would marry you and take you away from me, and I\u2019d be left alone!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna\u2019s mouth opened and her eyes widened, and she relaxed her hold on Shelby.\u00a0 \u201cYou didn\u2019t.\u00a0 How could you?\u00a0 Shelby, how could you?!\u00a0 I could have had a husband and a home by now\u2026but YOU\u2026you wicked, wicked girl!\u00a0 I could kill you myself!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut, I\u2019m your sister.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, you\u2019re not.\u00a0 My sister would never have done such a wicked deed.\u00a0 Whatever happens to you, Shelby, you deserve.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna moved towards the door, but Shelby grabbed her wrist.\u00a0 \u201cNo, Johanna!\u00a0 You can\u2019t abandon me!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet go of me, Shelby!\u00a0 You\u2019re no one decent!\u00a0 You\u2019re just not decent!\u201d\u00a0 Johanna wrenched free from Shelby and stalked down the hall to her room.\u00a0 She went straight to her water pitcher and poured herself a glass of water, but because her hands were shaking, she dropped it.\u00a0 The glass caught the side of the table and broke, but not before she grabbed it, slicing across the palm of her hand.\u00a0 Though it wasn\u2019t bad enough to see the doctor, she grabbed a white towel and wrapped her hand in it.\u00a0 Once the flow of blood had been stanched, she tossed the towel on the floor and cleaned the wound with clear water.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t even require a bandage, though the towel was bloodsoaked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Needing some fresh air to clear her mind, she left her room to go outside and walk.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the same time Johanna and Shelby were confronting each other, Joe stood on Amy\u2019s porch, Amy stood in front of him.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t be your steady girl anymore, Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut why?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI just CAN\u2019T!\u00a0 Now please\u2026just go.\u00a0 Will you just go?\u201d\u00a0 Amy started to go towards the door, but Joe caught her by the arms.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs this because you think I have feelings for Shelby Weston?\u00a0 I don\u2019t, Amy.\u00a0 I only have feelings for YOU.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy broke out of Joe\u2019s hold and walked away from him.\u00a0 \u201cStop it, Joe!\u00a0 Please just stop it!\u00a0 Now go\u2026go to Shelby.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAmy?\u00a0 Amy, please turn around when I\u2019m talking to you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy turned around slowly to face him.\u00a0 \u201cHas she been telling you things about me and her?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy lowered her eyes and twisted her fingers together.\u00a0 \u201cWhat has she been telling you, Amy?\u00a0 Tell me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy raised her eyes and looked at him.\u00a0 \u201cShe told me you were having an affair!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe did what?!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe told me you were having an affair.\u201d\u00a0 Amy\u2019s voice was quiet and strained.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo you believe her?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u00a0 but she also threatened to spread rumors all over town about you if I didn\u2019t stop seeing you.\u00a0 So I agreed so she wouldn\u2019t muddy your name.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe grabbed his hat and headed towards his horse.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are you going, Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTo see Shelby Weston and give her a piece of my mind.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, don\u2019t go, please.\u00a0 Let her be.\u00a0 I\u2019m afraid of what she might try to do to you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not.\u00a0 Besides, I can\u2019t have her spreading lies about me all over town.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t even have her as a friend now, and I\u2019m going to tell her.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet me come with you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u00a0 This is something I have to do alone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBe careful then.\u00a0 She\u2019s trouble, Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be careful, now don\u2019t worry your pretty little head.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I WILL worry until you come back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to have it out with her, then I\u2019ll be back.\u201d\u00a0 Joe vaulted into the saddle and took off towards the hotel like a shot.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Joe rapped loudly on Shelby\u2019s door and called to her.\u00a0 \u201cOpen the door, Shelby.\u00a0 I have a bone to pick with you!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A hotel customer walked past on his way to the lobby as Shelby opened her door.\u00a0 Joe stepped in and said, \u201cYou ought to be horsewhipped!\u201d\u00a0 He closed the door, and the hotel customer continued on down the hall.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what you mean.\u201d\u00a0 Shelby made her way over to the window and stood in front of it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou know exactly what I mean!\u201d\u00a0 He stepped quickly over to her and turned her around to face him.\u00a0 \u201cTelling Amy we were lovers.\u00a0 Why did you do that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s a toad.\u00a0 You deserve someone pretty\u2026like me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAmy is a beautiful girl, not only in looks, but also on the inside.\u00a0 That\u2019s something you\u2019ll never be.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby looked down into the street and seeing a familiar face looking up at her, she pulled the window shade down, leaving only their silhouettes on the shade.\u00a0 She put her arms around his neck and pulled him away from the window towards the bed.<\/span><\/p>\n

He forcefully pulled her arms away and pushed her away from him.\u00a0 \u201cStop it, Shelby!\u00a0 You\u2019re nothing but trouble!\u201d\u00a0 Joe walked quickly to the door and pulled it open, but Shelby grabbed his arm.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you don\u2019t stop seeing that girl, I\u2019ll cause the biggest scandal this town has ever heard of!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGet away, Shelby, before I have to hit you\u2026or something worse!\u201d\u00a0 He pushed her away again, and walked away, slamming the door behind him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelby screamed his name at him and beat on the door.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll show you, Joe Cartwright!\u00a0 I\u2019ll haunt you every waking minute and even from my grave if I have to!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After Joe left Shelby\u2019s hotel room, he was halfway to Amy\u2019s house when he felt bad about telling Shelby he would hit her.\u00a0 He decided he shouldn\u2019t have said that and knew he would never strike her, so he turned Cochise and headed back to the hotel.<\/span>
\n******<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe Cartwright was standing over the body of Shelby Weston when a crowd gathered inside the hotel room and the doorway, spilling out into the hallway.\u00a0 He held a knife in his hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet me through, folks!\u201d Sheriff Roy Coffee said, pushing his way through the crowd to get inside the room.\u00a0 When he saw Joe clutching a knife, standing over the young woman\u2019s body, he was shocked and stunned to find a Cartwright in such a predicament.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened here, Joe?\u201d Sheriff Coffee asked him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI found her like this, Sheriff.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid ya see anybody else?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo\u2026only Shelby.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Turning to the crowd, the Sheriff asked, \u201cDid anybody see or hear anything?\u201d\u00a0 Heads wagged back and forth indicating they hadn\u2019t, then a hotel patron stepped through the crowd and said, \u201cI did, Sheriff.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell\u2026what\u2019d ya see or hear?\u201d Roy asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI heard them arguing earlier and heard him tell her she should be horsewhipped.\u00a0\u00a0 They were really arguing, Sheriff.\u00a0 I went downstairs for a newspaper, went back up to my room and as I walked past, I could still hear them arguing.\u00a0\u00a0 When I came back out a little later, I saw him standing over her body with that\u2026knife in his hand.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen ya didn\u2019t actual see him stab her?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo sir, but he sure was mad enough to do something to her.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid ya have an argument with her, Joe?\u201d Roy asked him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, we argued and I got mad and left, but then I came back to apologize for all the things I said\u2026that\u2019s how I found her,\u201d Joe replied.\u00a0 \u201cSheriff, surely you don\u2019t think that I\u2026..\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think nothin\u2019, Joe, till I git the facts all sorted out,\u201d Roy responded.\u00a0 He turned to the patron and said, \u201cYa got anythin\u2019 else ya wanna tell me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it\u2019s like I said, Sheriff, they were arguing quite a steady pace, and then I saw him standin\u2019 over her, then somebody else walked by, and\u00a0 when a lady in the hall screamed, that\u2019s when everybody else started comin\u2019 and then you showed up, Sheriff.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Roy took the knife from Little Joe Cartwright\u2019s hand and looked at him.\u00a0 \u201cYa ever seen this here knife \u2018fore, Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have one that looks like it, but mine\u2019s down in my saddlebags.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go take a look,\u201d Roy said and then shooed all the people away.\u00a0 Seeing all the people in the hallway in front of Shelby\u2019s room, Johanna elbowed her way through the crowd until she stood in the open doorway.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s going on here?\u201d\u00a0 When her eyes fell on Shelby\u2019s body lying in a pool of blood, her hand flew to her mouth and she gasped.\u00a0 \u201cShelby!\u00a0 Oh, Shelby!\u201d\u00a0 She attempted to go to her sister, but Joe held her back.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t Johanna.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She looked up at him, then wilted in his arms.\u00a0 He placed her on the bed, and left her in the care of the doctor, who had been called to examine Shelby.<\/span><\/p>\n

Roy led Joe out of the hotel room and down the stairs and outside to his horse where Joe opened his saddlebags and reached in for his knife.\u00a0 He looked quickly at Roy and then searched the other side of his bags.\u00a0 His knife wasn\u2019t there.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m afraid I\u2019m gonna hafta arrest ya, Joe,\u201d Roy told him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou accusing me of killing Shelby?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2026I ain\u2019t the one doin\u2019 the accusin\u2019\u2026the EVIDENCE agin ya IS\u2026I find ya standin\u2019 over the dead body of a young girl with a knife in your hand\u2026a knife that you say isn\u2019t yours, but you can\u2019t find yours\u2026and an eyewitness who says he saw and heard ya with Shelby Weston right \u2018fore she was killed.\u00a0 Now YOU tell ME what I should do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe could only look at Roy.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Joe, I gotta take ya in\u2026ya know I do,\u201d Roy said and removed Joe\u2019s gun from his holster and holding his arm, led him towards the jail.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Inside his cell, Joe Cartwright was leaning forward on his cot with his head in his hands when he heard footsteps walk up to the bars and stop.\u00a0 He heard the key being inserted in the lock and heard the lock turn and the cell door being opened.\u00a0 One set of footsteps entered his cell and then he heard the cell door being closed, heard the lock turn and the key removed from the lock, and the other footsteps walk away.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe,\u201d a familiar voice said quietly.\u00a0 The youngest Cartwright turned his head up to look into the face of that voice and saw his father looking back at him.\u00a0 His pa had that \u2018I\u2019m here now, son\u2019 look on his face and Joe gleaned great comfort from that look.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoy sent word to me as to why you\u2019re in here.\u00a0 You alright, boy?\u201d his father asked him with much emotion in his voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe rose to his feet and looked up into his pa\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t kill Shelby, Pa,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben reached out a hand and squeezed his son\u2019s arm lovingly.\u00a0 \u201cOf course you didn\u2019t,\u201d Ben replied, hoping to give his youngest son some encouragement to let him know that his family believes him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss?\u00a0 Adam?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI sent them a telegram letting them know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe stepped away from his father and went to stand in front of the window and looked out into the street.\u00a0 \u201cIf only I hadn\u2019t lost my temper and argued with her.\u00a0 I said some things to her I knew I shouldn\u2019t have said, and decided to go back and apologize to her, but by the time I got back upstairs to her room\u2026she was dead.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t kill her, Pa, but I feel responsible.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben walked quickly to stand beside his son.\u00a0 \u201cJoe\u2026you mustn\u2019t think like that.\u00a0 Whoever killed Shelby is responsible\u2026not YOU.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe crossed his arms on the sill of the window then placed his chin on his arms and continued to look out the window.\u00a0 \u201cYou know you don\u2019t think much about how this town is laid out until you can\u2019t see everything.\u00a0 Looking out now, I can\u2019t remember if the dressmaker shop is next to the mercantile, or if the HAT SHOP is next to the mercantile.\u00a0 Everything looks so different when you look at it from inside a cell.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry, son.\u00a0 Roy\u2019s doing everything he can to find who REALLY killed Shelby.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what if he CAN\u2019T, Pa?\u00a0 My knife is missing\u2026either someone stole my knife, and used it to kill Shelby, or the knife that was used is one identical to mine.\u00a0 I just don\u2019t know.\u00a0 I can\u2019t prove it isn\u2019t mine, and I can\u2019t prove it IS.\u00a0 Everyone knows I had a knife exactly like that.\u00a0 If Adam was here he could tell me if it\u2019s mine, because he\u2019s the one who bought it for me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure when he and Hoss get my telegram, they\u2019ll head straight home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe turned from the window and moved back over to his cot and sat down.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t prove my knife was stolen, Pa.\u00a0 If that knife is mine\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben sat down next to his son and placed an arm around his shoulders, and for the longest time, the two of them sat like that, father comforting son, like so many times before. The evidence against him seemed insurmountable, and they both knew it.<\/span><\/p>\n

After a time, Joe stood to his feet and stepped back over to the window, and looked out at the view from inside his cell.\u00a0<\/span>
\n******<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s heart was in anguish for his son.\u00a0 The accusation made against Joseph was a complete mistake, but the evidence against him was convincing, and there was no way to refute that evidence.\u00a0 The only possible thing that could be in his favor would be for that knife to not be his.\u00a0 The only one who could identify it was Adam, and he and Hoss were in Reno on business.\u00a0 However, when they received the telegram about their brother, Ben was confident they would make fast tracks back home.<\/span><\/p>\n

He stepped over to his son and placed an arm around him and pulled him away from the window.\u00a0 \u201cCome and sit down, Joe.\u00a0 It\u2019ll be easier on you if you don\u2019t look out that window so much.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t help it, Pa.\u00a0 I\u2019ve only been in this cell a few hours, but already I miss my freedom.\u00a0 You don\u2019t know how much you miss something until you lose it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know, son, I know, but you mustn\u2019t dwell on it.\u00a0 We\u2019ll do everything we can to prove your innocence, you know that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know, Pa, but\u2026where are you going to look?\u00a0 You don\u2019t expect the killer to wear a sign around their neck do you, saying \u2018I killed Shelby Weston\u2019.\u00a0 Where are you going to look?\u00a0 And who, besides me, would be a suspect?\u201d\u00a0 Joe stood up quickly and walked back to the window, placing his arms on the sill while he looked out through the bars.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo me a favor, will you, Pa?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course.\u00a0 What is it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWill you tell Shelby\u2019s sister how sorry I am.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOf cou\u2026.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can tell me yourself, Joe.\u201d\u00a0 A feminine voice cut Ben off.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben and Joe whirled around to see Johanna Weston standing on the other side of the bars.\u00a0 They walked quickly across Joe\u2019s cell to stand in front of her.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry about Shelby.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t kill her, Johanna,\u201d Joe said to her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know you\u2019re sorry, Joe, and if it means anything to you\u2026I believe you\u2019re innocent.\u00a0 I don\u2019t believe you could kill anybody.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s very understanding of you Johanna,\u201d Ben said to her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUnderstanding?\u00a0 Not really, Mr. Cartwright, I just knew my sister.\u00a0 She was spoiled and a troublemaker.\u201d\u00a0 Johanna noticed the look they were giving her about the way she talked about her dead sister.\u00a0 \u201cYou must think that very cold and callous of me, but it\u2019s true.\u00a0 You see, Joe, Shelby told me she was going to come between you and Amy Banks just to see if she could do it.\u00a0 Everything was a game to her, she cared very little about other people\u2019s feelings.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe told Amy that Shelby and I were lovers.\u00a0\u00a0 We argued, and then she tried to get me to do something I didn\u2019t want to do, and told me she would start a scandal, if I didn\u2019t stop seeing Amy.\u00a0 That\u2019s why I was so angry, I knew if I didn\u2019t leave right away, I might hit her or something.\u00a0 After I left and cooled down, I went back to tell her I was sorry for being so angry\u2026 instead I found her dead.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna gripped the cell bars and looked at Joe seriously.\u00a0 \u201cShe threatened to blackmail you?\u00a0 Joe\u2026if that\u2019s made public\u2026it might provide a possible motive for murder\u2026won\u2019t it.\u00a0 I mean\u2026men have been accused and hung for a lot less\u2026haven\u2019t they?\u00a0 And the eyewitness, Joe\u2026he heard you arguing with her.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben and Joe looked at each other and then at Johanna.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTime\u2019s up, Miss Weston,\u201d Roy Coffee said to her when he walked into the cell area.\u00a0 She nodded, then looked at Joe again before she left.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2026now you mustn\u2019t think about what she said.\u00a0 We\u2019ll find the real killer,\u201d Ben assured him.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m ready now, Roy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Sheriff unlocked the cell door and let Ben out, then relocked it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry, son.\u00a0 First thing in the morning, I\u2019m going to telegram Joshua James in Sacramento and ask him if he\u2019ll be your lawyer.\u00a0 I figure you deserve the best, and Joshua\u2019s the best defense attorney I know, besides the Governor himself.\u201d\u00a0 Ben gave Joe a reassuring smile, then he was gone.\u00a0 Roy followed and closed the doors separating the cell area from the office.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe was left alone and he sat down on his cot, then lay back, placing his hands behind his head and closed his eyes, trying to shut out the events of the last few hours.\u00a0 Maybe if he could go to sleep and wake up again, he would find it was just a nightmare.<\/span><\/p>\n

His father was worried enough to hire him an expensive trial lawyer, and Johanna Weston\u2019s words before she left kept echoing in his head\u2026A motive for murder.\u00a0 Then other words joined in\u2026A motive\u2026Was it his knife\u2026An eyewitness\u2026A motive\u2026Was it his knife\u2026an eyewitness\u2026A motive\u2026A motive\u2026Then he thought of other words, if he should go to trial and be convicted\u2026Hanging by the neck until dead.\u00a0 Those were the last words he heard in his head before he drifted off into a very restless sleep.\u00a0 Chilling last words.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Unable to stay asleep, Joe opened his eyes and perused his surroundings.\u00a0 Exactly like he had been dreaming about.\u00a0 He was still in the cell, locked up for a murder he didn\u2019t commit.\u00a0 He swung his legs over the side of his cot and sat up with his back against the wall.\u00a0 He ran splayed fingers through his hair, then ran his hand over his face.\u00a0 He wondered how in the world he had gotten himself into this mess in the first place.<\/span><\/p>\n

He couldn\u2019t go anywhere, and all he could think about was the situation he was in, which made him think of Shelby Weston and the last time he saw her.\u00a0 The last time he saw her alive that is.\u00a0 In his mind, he played that scene over and over again.\u00a0 The arguing, her yelling at him and the slamming door.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hearing the slamming door in his mind brought him back to reality.\u00a0 He shuddered slightly, and put his face in his hands.<\/span><\/p>\n

He sat with his head in his hands, wishing he could go back in time to right before he left Shelby\u2019s room.\u00a0 Maybe if he had stayed and talked it out, he could have been there when her killer showed up.\u00a0 But he couldn\u2019t go back.\u00a0 He had to sit in this six by eight cell with one small barred window and wait for the hearing to determine if he would be bound over for trial for Shelby\u2019s murder.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBound over for trial,\u201d Joe voiced the words out loud.\u00a0 \u201cOf course I\u2019ll be bound over for trial.\u00a0 I\u2019M the only suspect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He stood up from his cot and went to stand in front of the window again.\u00a0 As he looked out into the relatively quiet night, he thought about his Pa, and whether or not his brothers had received the telegram his Pa sent them.\u00a0 He sighed and placed his head against the window sill.\u00a0 He felt completely drained, physically AND mentally.\u00a0 He raised his head and sauntered back over to his cot and sat down, then stood up almost immediately again and walked back to the window.\u00a0 He felt like the room was closing in on him.\u00a0 He left the window again and stepped across to the bars and gripped them so tight his knuckles turned white.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI feel so alone.\u00a0 I know I have Pa, Hoss and Adam\u2026but I feel so alone.\u201d\u00a0 Joe placed his head against the bars, then stepped back over to his cot, sat down and placed his head in his hands and wished for morning so he could get the hearing over with.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cOh, no!\u00a0 It never fails!\u00a0 When I\u2019m running late, I always manage to grab a blouse without a button!\u201d\u00a0 Johanna Weston said out loud while she looked at the cuff with the missing button as she dressed herself before going to Joe Cartwright\u2019s hearing that was to begin in ten minutes.\u00a0 \u201cWell, I can\u2019t change now\u2026I\u2019ll just have to wear it without a button and hope no one notices.\u201d\u00a0 She pinned her hat in place, grabbed her shawl and hurried out the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the courthouse, people gathered trying to find a seat before the room filled up to standing room only.\u00a0 Johanna slipped in and found a seat in the back and looked up when two men walked in, who looked like they had just come in off the trail.\u00a0 They needed shaves, and their clothes were wrinkled and dusty\u2026Hoss and Adam Cartwright.\u00a0 She tried to signal to Adam, but from the looks on their faces, their number one concern was their brother, Joe.\u00a0 She watched as they walked up beside Ben and he turned to them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, boys\u2026I\u2019m glad you\u2019re here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe left Reno as soon as we received your telegram.\u00a0 We rode all night to get here,\u201d Adam responded.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m afraid we don\u2019t look very presentable,\u201d he added, looking at his and Hoss\u2019 appearance.\u00a0 \u201cWe went to the ranch first and Hank told us that Joe\u2019s hearing was today.\u00a0 We didn\u2019t even clean up first.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNever mind that now.\u00a0 Joe will be glad you\u2019re here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019s he doin\u2019, Pa?\u201d Hoss wanted to know.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before Ben had a chance to answer, Sheriff Coffee walked in with Joe and uncuffed him right before the Judge walked in.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll rise.\u00a0 The Honorable Judge Harry Thomas presiding,\u201d the court clerk cried out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe had only a fleeting moment to greet his brothers before he sat down next to his attorney.\u00a0 His brothers gave him their best encouraging look, then sat down behind him when the clerk ordered everyone to be seated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Judge Thomas banged his gavel twice on the little wooden disk on his desk and looked out at the crowd.\u00a0 \u201cThis hearing is to determine whether or not the defendant, Joseph Cartwright, is to be bound over to stand trial for the murder of Miss Shelby Weston.\u00a0 Mr. Prosecutor, are you ready to present the evidence against this defendant?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wiley Hunt stood to his feet and addressed the Judge.\u00a0 \u201cReady, Your Honor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen you may proceed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The courtroom grew quiet as Wiley Hunt stepped confidently out from behind the prosecution\u2019s desk.\u00a0 \u201cThank you, Your Honor.\u00a0 I would like to present this knife belonging to the defendant as evidence.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAny objections, Mr. James?\u201d The Judge asked Joe\u2019s attorney.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Your Honor, has ownership of that knife actually been attributed to my client?\u00a0 Because I understand there may be some doubt as to whether or not that knife actually belongs to Joseph Cartwright.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Prosecutor?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re reasonably sure it belongs to him, Your Honor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Hunt, may I remind you that a man has been accused of murder, it is up to you to MAKE sure.\u00a0 Does the knife in question belong to the defendant, Joseph Cartwright?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Your Honor, the defendant\u2019s own testimony is that he owned a knife like the one in question, and he is unable to produce that knife, so it is safe to assume\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Hunt\u2026there can be no assumptions in an accusation of murder.\u00a0 Is there anyone here who can attest to the fact that this knife does indeed belong to the defendant?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy brother can, Your Honor,\u201d Joe said boldly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joshua James put his hand on Joe\u2019s arm.<\/span><\/p>\n

Judge Thomas looked at Joe.\u00a0 \u201cIs your brother present in this courtroom?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam held up his hand to signify he was the brother in question.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou may approach.\u201d Judge Thomas gestured to the evidence table.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joshua James grabbed Adam\u2019s arm and said, \u201cAdam, if that IS Joe\u2019s knife, he\u2019ll be bound over for sure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam looked at Joe, who nodded his go-ahead.\u00a0 Adam proceeded to the evidence table, and picked up the knife.\u00a0 Turning it around and over he inspected it closely.\u00a0 What he found made his heart sink.\u00a0 He turned and raised his eyes.\u00a0 The look on his face told Joe it was his.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell\u2026have you been able to identify the weapon as that of the defendant?\u201d Judge Thomas asked Adam.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u00a0 It\u2019s my brother\u2019s knife.\u201d\u00a0 Adam placed the knife back on the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re certain?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m certain.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou may return to your seat.\u00a0 Mr. Hunt do you have any more evidence to present?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Your Honor.\u00a0 I would like to question the eyewitness, Corey Jenkins.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs Corey Jenkins present?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A man in the back of the room stood up and identified himself as the witness in question.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou may approach.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Corey moved to the witness stand and was sworn in.\u00a0 \u201cNow, Mr. Jenkins.\u00a0 On the night Miss Shelby Weston died, did you see the deceased and the defendant, Joseph Cartwright, together?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I did.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid you hear them arguing at any time?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI sure did.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you see next?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u00a0 saw him bending over her with a knife in his hand.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBy him, you mean the defendant, Joseph Cartwright?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wiley Hunt smiled.\u00a0 \u201cThank you, you may be excused.\u00a0 Your Honor, the fact that the defendant\u2019s knife and an eyewitness is sufficient evidence, I request that you consider a motion to bind Joseph Cartwright over to stand trial for the death of Miss Shelby Weston.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere has been evidence presented during this hearing that satisfies this court that Joseph Cartwright should stand trial for the death of Shelby Weston.\u00a0 That trial will begin one week from today.\u00a0\u00a0 This hearing is adjourned.\u201d\u00a0 Judge Thomas banged his gavel to signal the end of the hearing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joshua James turned to Joe and looked at him.\u00a0 \u201cWell\u2026we\u2019ve got our work cut out for us, Joseph.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes Sir, I know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoshua, what do you think your chances are of proving his innocence?\u201d Ben asked the attorney.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith or without a miracle, Ben?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYa make it sound sorta hopeless, Mr. James,\u201d Hoss remarked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI guess it didn\u2019t help any that I identified that knife as Joe\u2019s.\u201d\u00a0 This coming from Adam.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow DID you know it was his?\u201d Joshua James asked.\u00a0 \u201cThere must be a hundred knives in Virginia City like that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, when I bought it for his last birthday, I had a carver carve his initials\u2026JFC and his age\u2026among the scrolling work in the handle.\u00a0 That way I would always be able to identify it as his, in case he ever lost it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI never noticed my initials on it before.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u00a0 You have to be looking for them, they\u2019re not noticeable just by looking at it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Roy tugged on Joe\u2019s arm.\u00a0 \u201cI gotta git ya back to the jail now, Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll come over later and go over your case with you.\u00a0 In the meantime, I want you to be thinking of everything you said, every place you went, everything you did that had anything to do with Shelby Weston.\u00a0 And even the things that didn\u2019t have to do with her.\u00a0 We have to go over this with a fine-tooth comb.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll try.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou better do more than try, Joe, your life is at stake now.\u201d\u00a0 Joshua James gave Joe a serious look, then Sheriff Coffee took the young man away.<\/span><\/p>\n

******<\/span>
\n\u201cGentlemen of the Jury, I intend to show that Joseph Cartwright was unduly negligent in the fact as to cause injury and the subsequent death of Miss Shelby Weston.\u00a0 I further intend to show that he committed this act willfully and with malice.\u00a0 And I\u2019m sure after you have heard all the evidence and the eyewitness account against him, you can render no other verdict but guilty as charged.\u00a0 Thank you.\u201d\u00a0 Wiley Hunt looked at the jury, smiled confidently, then looked at the Judge.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. James, your opening remarks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Your Honor.\u00a0 Gentlemen of the Jury, as you all know in a trial\u2026any trial\u2026there is something called reasonable doubt.\u00a0 I intend to prove that reasonable doubt against my client.\u00a0 I will prove that Joseph Cartwright is NOT responsible for the death of Shelby Weston; that she met her death by someone else\u2019s hand.\u00a0 When I have given you that reasonable doubt, it is\u00a0 your duty to render a verdict of innocent.\u00a0 Thank you.\u201d\u00a0 Joshua James nodded at the Jury, then returned to his place beside Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Hunt, you may call your first witness.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Your Honor.\u00a0 I call Corey Jenkins.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Corey Jenkins made his way to the witness chair and was sworn in.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Jenkins, please tell this court what you saw and heard taking place between the deceased and Joseph Cartwright on the night in question.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, like I already told the Sheriff, I was walking down the hall and saw the defendant going into the young lady\u2019s room and I heard him tell her she should be horsewhipped.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid you hear them argue?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI sure did.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was the defendant doing when you saw him next?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe was bending over that girl\u2019s body with a knife in his hand.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Mr. Jenkins.\u00a0 No more questions.\u00a0 Your witness.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joshua James stood confidently to his feet and walked to stand in front of Corey Jenkins.\u00a0 \u201cMr. Jenkins, you stated that you were walking down the hall when you saw the defendant and Shelby Weston, were you going to your room?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I went down to the lobby to get a newspaper.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid you stay in the lobby to read the paper or did you go immediately back up to your room?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wiley Hunt stood up and made an objection.\u00a0 \u201cYour Honor, I don\u2019t see how this line of questioning is relevant to this case.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you will permit me, Your Honor, I will show relevance,\u201d Joshua James spoke up quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI tend to agree with the prosecutor, but I will give you some leeway.\u00a0 Objection overruled.\u00a0 The witness will answer the question.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I stayed down just a minute or two to read the headlines, then I went back up to my room.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou had to pass Miss Weston\u2019s room in order to get to your room, is that correct?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you walked past the deceased\u2019s room, did you see the defendant in the room?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u00a0 The door was closed.\u00a0 But I could hear \u2018em arguing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCould you hear what they were saying?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, the words were muffled because the door was closed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Jenkins, are you one-hundred percent sure that one of the people in that room was in fact the defendant, Joseph Cartwright?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure, I\u2019m sure.\u00a0 I saw him go in there earlier.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou stated that you spent a minute or two in the lobby reading your paper.\u00a0 Now I suggest that perhaps in that two minute time span, Joseph Cartwright could have left the deceased\u2019s room AND the hotel and with people coming and going in and out of the hotel all the time, someone else could have entered the deceased\u2019s room without your knowledge.\u00a0 Now with that in mind, I ask you\u2026are you still one-hundred percent sure it was Joseph Cartwright in that room?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, when you put it that way, I guess I\u2019m not a hundred percent sure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid you, with your own eyes, see the defendant Joseph Cartwright stab the victim?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, but after\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wiley Hunt jumped up from his place at the prosecutor\u2019s desk.\u00a0 \u201cYour Honor, I\u2019d like to ask Mr. Jenkins some questions on redirect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou may.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Jenkins, when you walked past Miss Weston\u2019s room to go back to your room, was the man\u2019s voice you heard inside that room, Joseph Cartwright\u2019s voice?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cObjection, Your Honor.\u00a0 That calls for a conclusion of the witness.\u00a0 Mr. Jenkins is not an expert on voices and he testified that he could not hear what the two individuals were saying because the sound was muffled because of the closed door.\u00a0 And, by his own testimony, he could not testify one-hundred percent that Joseph Cartwright was still in that room, and he did not witness the acutal stabbing, therefore, I ask the court to discount him as being a true eyewitness in this case.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI will sustain your objection, Mr. James. The jury will disregard this witness as a true eyewitness.\u00a0 Mr. Hunt, do you have any more questions for this witness?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Your Honor.\u201d\u00a0 Wiley Hunt gave Joshua James a scowling look.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen the witness may stand down.\u00a0 Call your next witness, Mr. Hunt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI call Sheriff Roy Coffee.\u201d\u00a0 Wiley Hunt began his questioning of the Sheriff.\u00a0 \u201cSheriff Coffee, tell us in your own words what you witnessed on the night in question.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I was called to the hotel cause someone thought there had been a killin\u2019.\u00a0 When I got there, I saw Joe Cartwright bendin\u2019 over the deceased\u2019s body.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid he have this knife in his hand?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Sheriff Coffee examined the knife and handed it back to Wiley Hunt.\u00a0 \u201cYes sir, that\u2019s the knife.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you questioned Joe Cartwright about HIS knife, did he show it to you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo sir.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat reason did he give you as to why?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe said he couldn\u2019t find it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe said he couldn\u2019t find it.\u00a0 At the hearing, the defendant\u2019s own brother identified this knife as belonging to the defendant, is that right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo you actually witnessed the defendant, Joseph Cartwright, bending over Shelby Weston\u2019s body with this knife in his hand\u2026the knife that has been identified as his?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With a smug look on his face, Wiley Hunt turned and faced Joshua James.\u00a0 \u201cYour witness.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joshua stood up, but he didn\u2019t leave his desk.\u00a0 \u201cSheriff, you stated that when you questioned Joseph Cartwright about the whereabouts of his knife, he couldn\u2019t find it\u2026did he show you where he normally kept his knife?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, he did\u2026in his saddlebags.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo it wasn\u2019t under lock and key\u2026then it was accessible to anyone who came along to just reach in and take the knife.\u00a0 Thank you, Sheriff.\u00a0 No more questions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe witness may stand down.\u00a0 Call your next witness, Mr. Hunt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI call Miss Amy Banks to the stand.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

On her way to the witness stand, Amy paused and looked at Joe, he gave her a reassuring smile and she timidly smiled back at him.\u00a0 After being sworn in, Wiley Hunt approached Amy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Banks, tell us what your relationship is to Joseph Cartwright.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI object, Your Honor.\u00a0 That question is irrelevant, immaterial, and incompetent.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wiley Hunt stepped over in front of the Judge.\u00a0 \u201cYour Honor, this witness is a hostile witness, therefore, any and all questions can be allowed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cObjection overruled.\u00a0 Witness will answer the question.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe and I were seeing each other.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWere you sweethearts?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy glanced in Joe\u2019s direction before she answered and he nodded his head.\u00a0 \u201cYes, I guess you could say that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWas there ever a time during the course of your relationship with the defendant that you thought he was interested in someone else, say Shelby Weston?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, but he wasn\u2019t.\u00a0 He\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust answer the question yes or no.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell I have to explain.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Banks, I must remind you that you must hold your answers to a simple yes or no since Counsel has stipulated you are a hostile witness,\u201d Judge Thomas rebuked her lightly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy nodded.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow Miss Banks, did you see the defendant Joseph Cartwright on the night Shelby Weston died?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid you have a conversation with him about Miss Weston?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDuring the course of that conversation with the defendant, did he tell you he was going to the hotel to see Miss Weston?\u00a0 And what did he tell you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy balled up her fists tightly in her lap and lowered her eyes.\u00a0 \u201cHe told me he was going to have it out with her.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did he mean by that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cObjection\u2026calls for a conclusion,\u201d Joshua called out from his desk, but did not stand up.\u00a0 \u201cMr. Hunt is asking the witness to be a mind reader.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSustained.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll rephrase.\u00a0 Were you concerned that he might do something physically to harm Miss Weston?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy swallowed hard and licked her lips, her eyes were wide as she glanced at Joe, then looked down at her hands balled up tightly in her lap.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Banks, will you answer the question, please,\u201d the Judge urged kindly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy raised her eyes and looked at Wiley Hunt.\u00a0 \u201cYes, but\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s all, Miss Hunt.\u00a0 Your witness, counselor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe laid a hand on Joshua\u2019s arm.\u00a0 \u201cGo easy on her, will you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s on our side.\u201d\u00a0 Joshua smiled, then stood up and walked to stand in front of Amy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Banks, I\u2019ll try to not prolong your time in the witness chair, but I\u2019m sure that you want to see Joseph Cartwright proven innocent, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy nodded her head.\u00a0 \u201cOh yes, more than anything!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joshua smiled at her.\u00a0 \u201cMiss Banks, do you personally believe that Joe Cartwright would have hurt Shelby Weston in any way?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh no.\u00a0 He\u2019s good and kind and a real gentleman.\u201d\u00a0 Amy smiled and glanced at Joe who smiled back at her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHas he ever tried to hurt YOU?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, never.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joshua smiled at her again.\u00a0 \u201cThank you, Miss Banks, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have one or two questions on redirect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou may proceed, Mr. Hunt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Banks, would you say that Joe Cartwright angers easily and quickly?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cObject, Your Honor!\u00a0 That question has no bearing on this case.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI differ, Your Honor.\u00a0 Counsel opened the door for this question when he questioned this witness about whether or not the defendant would have hurt Shelby Weston.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cObjection overruled.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Banks, will you answer the question,\u201d Wiley Hunt said to her.<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy looked at him, then at Joe and back to Wiley Hunt.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re trying to get me to say something that will hurt Joe\u2026well, I won\u2019t help you!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Banks, you MUST answer the question,\u201d the Judge ordered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet me ask that question another way, Miss Banks.\u00a0 Have you ever witnessed Joseph Cartwright\u2019s anger towards anyone?\u00a0 May I remind you you\u2019re under oath and a hostile witness so you must answer.\u00a0 Have you ever seen Joe Cartwright angry at someone?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMore than once?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSeveral times?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou want me to say yes\u2026alright!\u00a0 Yes!\u00a0 Yes!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHave you ever witnessed his anger towards his own father or brothers to the point of him inflicting some kind of injury to them, say a bloody nose or a cut or bleeding lip?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy looked over at Joe and began to cry.\u00a0 \u201cYes!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf Joseph Cartwright can become angry with his own flesh and blood, then could he not become angry and inflict injury on someone else?\u00a0 I have no more questions for this witness, Your Honor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe witness may stand down,\u201d Judge Thomas said kindly to Amy.<\/span><\/p>\n

She gathered herself together and rose from the witness stand and went to stand in front of Joe. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Joe.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t want to answer those last questions, but they made me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI understand, Amy.\u00a0 It\u2019s alright.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Hunt, do you have any more witnesses?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Your Honor, the Prosecution rests its case against Joseph Cartwright.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Judge Thomas looked at the clock on the back wall, then said, \u201cSince the hour is late, this court will reconvene at ten o\u2019clock Monday morning.\u00a0 Mr. James, you can begin your defense at that time.\u00a0 This court stands adjourned.\u201d\u00a0 The Judge banged his gavel down on the round disk on top of his desk and stood up.\u00a0 Likewise, everyone else did and Joshua turned to Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Joe, that gives us a couple more days to find some evidence in your favor.\u00a0 I\u2019ll come over later and we\u2019ll go through everything again,\u201d Joshua James said while he placed a handful of papers in his leather case.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve gone through everything I know, Joshua!\u00a0 I don\u2019t know what else I can tell you!\u201d\u00a0 Joe\u2019s tone was crisp and biting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joshua stopped moving his hands and looked at Joe.\u00a0 \u201cThen we\u2019ll go through it again\u2026and again\u2026and again, a thousand times if we have to.\u00a0 Somewhere, there\u2019s something that will clear you, and we have to find it, because if I was one of the jurors, I would vote guilty.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben placed his hand on Joshua James\u2019 shoulder and turned him towards him.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re not saying YOU believe he\u2019s guilty!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Ben, I\u2019m not, but I\u2019m going strictly on evidence and testimony and they say he\u2019s guilty.\u201d\u00a0 Joshua turned back to look at Joe.\u00a0 \u201cBe ready to go through everything again when I come to see you.\u201d\u00a0 He closed his leather case and left the courtroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

Roy tugged on Joe\u2019s arm and led him away from his family.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The Virginia City Courthouse was packed once again with townspeople and out of town reporters and sketch artists.\u00a0 Adam stood in the aisle talking to Johanna.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not scared to go on the witness stand are you?\u201d he asked her with a slight grin on his face.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot right now, but that might change once Mr. James and Mr. Hunt start questioning me.\u00a0 They\u2019re both tough.\u00a0 I felt so sorry for Amy when that prosecutor had her on the stand.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve known both of them for a long time and they\u2019re both dedicated to their profession and determined to win every case.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, only ONE of them will win.\u00a0 Adam\u2026do you think Joe will be found guilty?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI hope he won\u2019t be.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll rise and come to order!\u201d the court clerk announced.\u00a0 \u201cThe Honorable Judge Harry Thomas presiding.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam guided Johanna in the row of chairs and sat down beside her when the clerk gave the order for everyone to be seated.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. James, are you ready to begin your defense?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joshua stood up and addressed the Judge.\u00a0 \u201cYes, Your Honor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen you may call your first witness.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Your Honor.\u00a0 I call Maisy Jackson to the stand.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When Maisy Jackson was sworn in and sat down, Joshua James walked up to stand in front of her.\u00a0 \u201cMiss Jackson, you are employed at the hotel as a maid, is that right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo your duties include gathering up soiled linens from guest rooms and laundering them?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe day after Miss Shelby Weston was murdered were you on duty that day and did you gather up soiled linen from the guest rooms?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I did.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid you launder it as usual?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, all except one piece.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA towel\u2026with blood on it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid you tell the Hotel Manager what you found, and do you remember whose room you removed it from?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir.\u00a0 I told Mr. Avery about it, and he said he was going to turn it over to the Sheriff.\u00a0 I found the towel in Miss Weston\u2019s room\u2026Miss Johanna Weston, that is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam looked over at Johanna, and she looked back at him, her eyes wide.\u00a0 Spectators began murmuring and whispering loudly, so that the Judge had to bang his gavel to restore order to the courtroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Miss Jackson.\u00a0 No more questions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have no questions for this witness, Your Honor,\u201d Wiley Hunt said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour Honor, I\u2019d like to call Johanna Weston to the stand.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou may stand down, Miss Jackson, and will Johanna Weston take the stand please,\u201d the Judge remarked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna cast a quick look at Adam, and he reassured her with a wink.\u00a0 She stood up slowly and took the witness stand.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Weston, I examined my client\u2019s saddlebags, and inside one of the pockets, I found this button, and I noticed at the hearing that you had a button missing on one of your sleeves.\u00a0 Where did you lose that button, Miss Weston?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, buttons can come off anywhere.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cInside saddlebags for instance, when you pulled your hand out?\u00a0\u00a0 I contend that YOU were the one who took Joseph Cartwright\u2019s knife from his saddlebags the night your sister was killed, and you left this button behind.\u00a0 Did you kill your sister?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u00a0 That\u2019s preposterous!\u00a0 You\u2019re saying that I stole Joe\u2019s knife. What possible reason would I have?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid you know about the bloodied towel found in your room by the hotel maid?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I used it to wipe blood from my hand after I cut it on a piece of broken glass.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you mean you used it to wipe blood from your hand after you killed your sister?\u00a0 Your sister\u2019s blood?!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The crowd began to murmur and talk loudly again, and Adam stood up at his place being frustrated, shocked and angry by Joshua\u2019s interrogation of Johanna.\u00a0 Amid the noise in the courtroom, Wiley Hunt protested.\u00a0 \u201cYour Honor!\u00a0 Mr. James is cross-examining his own witness!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. James, what is your reason for this type of questioning?\u201d Judge Thomas wanted to know.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour Honor, if you\u2019ll please bear with me, I\u2019ll bring all of it to a head.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI WILL allow it, but only because I want to see where you\u2019re going with this.\u00a0 Objection overruled.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow Miss Weston, you killed your sister didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u00a0 I certainly did not!\u00a0 I was out walking at the time Shelby was killed!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs there anyone here who can give you an alibi?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u00a0 Mrs. Davis\u2026Mrs. Francine Davis\u2026saw me, and we talked for awhile, then I left to go back to the hotel, Shelby was dead when I got back there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat time did you go for your walk and how long were you gone?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI guess it must have been about six or six-thirty when I left and when I got back to the hotel it was probably seven or so.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour Honor, I would like to interrupt questioning this witness and call another witness to establish the time of the murder.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGranted.\u00a0 Who is the witness you\u2019d like to call?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDr. Paul Martin.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Martin was sworn in and took the witness seat.\u00a0 \u201cDr. Martin, you also serve as the coroner for Virginia City, do you not?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat time do you estimate that the deceased was killed?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, the body was still warm when I examined her, so I would estimate Shelby Weston met her death at or about six-thirty.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, doctor, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When Wiley Hunt had no questions for the doctor, Joshua continued.\u00a0 \u201cI would now like to call Mrs. Francine Davis to the stand, please.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDr. Martin, you may stand down.\u00a0 Mrs. Francine Davis, please take the stand,\u201d Judge Thomas called out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mrs. Davis took the stand and Joshua James stood in front of her.\u00a0 \u201cNow, Mrs. Davis, I want you to think back on the evening Shelby Weston was murdered and think very carefully about the time you saw and talked to Miss Johanna Weston on the street.\u00a0 What time was it when you two were in conversation?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI saw Miss Weston walking down the street, and she looked a bit unhappy, so I asked her to join me for a cup of coffee in the caf\u00e9.\u00a0 We went in and spent about thirty minutes talking.\u00a0 It was about six-twenty when we sat down.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo Johanna Weston couldn\u2019t have killed her sister at six-thirty if she spent thirty minutes with you,\u201d Joshua James said, and a frown appeared across his forehead.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely not.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Mrs. Davis\u2026no more questions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Hunt, do you have any questions for this witness?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Your Honor, but I thought counsel was going to bring all of this to a head.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. James, are you finished with this witness?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Your Honor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou may step down, Mrs. Davis.\u00a0 Call your next witness.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour Honor, would it please the court to grant an adjournment until tomorrow?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI object, Your Honor,\u201d Wiley Hunt spoke up.\u00a0 \u201cI see no point in delaying this trial another day, wasting the taxpayers money.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour Honor, I wouldn\u2019t ask for extra time, but I feel that time would allow me to better prepare for questioning my next witness.\u00a0 I beg the court\u2019s indulgence on this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVery well\u2026this court stands adjourned until ten o\u2019clock tomorrow morning.\u201d\u00a0 Judge Thomas banged his gavel and everyone stood to their feet.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll see you in the morning,\u201d Joshua James said to Joe, then without bothering to put his papers in his leather case, he grabbed them and his case and left the courtroom quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you suppose put a burr under HIM?\u201d\u00a0 Adam asked no one in particular.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, but the very idea of him trying to incriminate ME for my own sister\u2019s murder!\u201d Johanna said in stark surprise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI admit he surprised ME too, by questioning you in that manner.\u00a0 It\u2019ll be interesting to see what he has up his sleeve tomorrow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, whatever it is, I\u2019m sure we\u2019ll all be astounded.\u00a0 Would you like to walk me to my hotel room?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI would count it a privilege, Miss Weston.\u201d\u00a0 Adam looked down at her and smiled, then held her hand as they walked out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, in his hotel room, Joshua James was frantically going over his notes when he stopped suddenly.\u00a0 \u201cOf course!\u00a0 Why didn\u2019t I think of that earlier!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Once again, the Virginia City courthouse was packed with townspeople and out of town reporters and sketch artists.\u00a0 Joshua James sat confidently at his table, writing on his pad of paper.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll rise and come to order, the Honorable Judge Harry Thomas presiding.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As soon as the Judge sat down, he looked at Joshua James.\u00a0 \u201cCall your next witness, Mr. James.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Your Honor.\u00a0 I know this is irregular in a murder trial, but I would like to call the defendant, Joseph Cartwright.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The whole room seemed to erupt in a buzzing of loud voices as everyone began murmuring and talking at once about what they had just heard.\u00a0 The Judge banged his gavel in an attempt to restore order to the crowd.<\/span><\/p>\n

While the Judge was calling for order, Ben reached out and placed a hand on Joshua\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 Joshua turned around and faced the father of his young client.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJosh, I don\u2019t know if this is such a good idea or not.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBen, either you trust me to do what\u2019s best for Joe, or you don\u2019t.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI DO trust you, Joshua, but this is my son\u2019s life you\u2019re gambling with here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd either you trust me with his life or you don\u2019t.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat if you gamble with Joe\u2019s life and lose, Josh?\u00a0 What if you lose?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBen, I wouldn\u2019t do it this way, if I wasn\u2019t sure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Now that the Judge had restored order, he looked sternly at Joshua James.\u00a0 \u201cMr. James, what you said about this being irregular, was mild.\u00a0 It is HIGHLY irregular, are you sure you want to pursue this avenue?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Your Honor.\u00a0 I believe it is in the best interest of my client to have him testify in his defense.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Hunt, do you have any objections to this?\u201d the Judge asked the Prosecutor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wiley Hunt stood up and a smug expression was on his face.\u00a0 \u201cI have no objections whatsoever, Your Honor, however, I would like to make sure that I will be afforded a chance to cross-examine the defendant.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joshua James looked at the Prosecutor and a slight smile crossed his face.\u00a0 \u201cBut of course, Mr. Hunt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wiley Hunt smiled triumphantly and sat down.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen call your witness,\u201d the Judge stated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe moved in a slow, relaxed manner as he made his way to the witness stand.\u00a0 After being sworn in, he sat down, and Joshua James approached him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, how well did you know the deceased, Shelby Weston?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t really know her that well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou were alone with her in her hotel room just minutes before she was murdered weren\u2019t you?\u00a0 That would suggest you knew her QUITE well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wiley Hunt stood up quickly.\u00a0 \u201cYour Honor, as much as I hate to, I must object!\u00a0 Mr. James is cross-examining his own client!\u00a0 If you allow him to do this, he\u2019ll be sending him to the gallows for sure!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Judge banged his gavel for order once again when the crowd erupted in loud voices.\u00a0 Once the room was quiet the Judge looked at Joshua.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCounsel will approach the bench.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joshua and Wiley Hunt both stood before the Judge.\u00a0 \u201cMr. James, I hope you know what you\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Your Honor, I do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo you intend to pursue questioning this witness in this manner?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Your Honor.\u00a0 I\u2019m trying to get to the truth.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBy crucifying your own client!\u00a0 Your Honor, I must protest.\u00a0 Even though I am convinced that Joseph Cartwright is guilty, this is a flagrant miscarriage of justice on the part of the defense counsel to question his own client in this manner!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI tend to agree with the Prosecutor on this, Mr. James.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour Honor, please, I beg the court\u2019s indulgence.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlright\u2026I\u2019ll grant you leeway, but I must advise you that you could be putting your career on the line, and your client\u2019s neck in a noose by pursuing the defense of your client in this manner.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Your Honor\u2026I\u2019m well aware of that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you still insist on going on with questioning this witness?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Your Honor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVery well.\u00a0 You may proceed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wiley Hunt went back to his desk, shaking his head in amazement.\u00a0 Joshua James stepped back over to Joe and stood in front of him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, you know if there was any other way\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWere you angry with the deceased when you went to her hotel room to\u2026have it out with her\u2026as one witness stated?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou quarreled with her?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you were quarreling with her, did you tell her, at any time during that quarrel that you would hurt her physically in some way?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI told her that if she didn\u2019t stay away from me, I would hit her\u2026or something worse.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The crowd erupted in loud talking again, and even the jurors began talking among themselves.\u00a0 The Judge banged for silence.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have no further questions for this witness.\u201d\u00a0 Joshua James held Joe\u2019s gaze for several seconds, then walked slowly to his desk.\u00a0 \u201cYour witness, Mr. Hunt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have no questions for this witness after all, Your Honor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe witness may stand down.\u00a0 Call your next witness, Mr. James.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe defense rests its case, Your Honor.\u201d\u00a0 Joshua James sat down in his chair.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wiley Hunt looked over at his opponent and shook his head.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVery well,\u201d Judge Thomas responded then turned to the Jury.\u00a0 \u201cIt is up to you, Jury, to decide the fate of the young man before you.\u00a0 After weighing all the evidence and testimonies, and you believe he is guilty of murder, then you must render your decision in that respect.\u00a0 Likewise, if you believe he is NOT guilty of murder, then you must render your decision of innocent.\u00a0 The Jury may now retire to deliberate your verdict.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The foreman of the Jury stood up while the other jurors remained seated.\u00a0 \u201cYour Honor, we don\u2019t need to deliberate this verdict.\u00a0 We have discussed it among ourselves a moment ago, and have already reached a verdict.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVery well.\u00a0 The accused will rise and face the Jury.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe stood up slowly to face the men, but turned to face his father and brothers first.\u00a0 When he looked at the jury members, the Judge said, \u201cWill the Jury Foreman please render the verdict.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe, the Jury, find the defendant, Joseph Cartwright, guilty of murder in the first degree.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Judge Thomas looked at Joe, and after a slight hesitation, he said, \u201cJoseph Cartwright, you have been found guilty of murder in the first degree by a verdict of your peers.\u00a0 It is now my duty to render judgment.\u00a0 I hereby sentence you to be hung by the neck\u2026..\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNO!\u00a0 STOP IT!\u00a0 STOP IT!\u00a0 He didn\u2019t kill Shelby\u2026I did!\u00a0 I killed her!\u00a0 I killed her\u2026I killed her\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe fell down in his seat, and Joshua James let out a sigh of pent up relief.\u00a0 People in the courtroom stood up and began talking and pointing to the one who had just confessed.\u00a0 Newspaper reporters\u2019 hands were flying across their notepads and sketch artists\u2019 hands were flying across their sketch pads as they tried to capture the scene unfolding in front of them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSheriff, bring Miss Banks forward, please,\u201d Judge Thomas said, his voice filled with concern for the young, sobbing woman.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Sheriff Coffee and Amy stood before the Judge, she turned her tear-stained face up to look at him.\u00a0 \u201cI had talked to Shelby earlier and when Joe told me he was going back to see Shelby, I tried talking him out of it, but he was so angry with her, but I knew he wouldn\u2019t hurt her, but I didn\u2019t know what she would do or say to him.\u00a0 After he left my house, I took a shortcut through my backyard to the hotel.\u00a0 I thought I could beat him there, but he rode very fast.\u00a0 I saw him go inside the hotel, so I went around to where I could see her window from the street.\u00a0 I saw her looking down at me, smiling that catlike smile of hers, and then she pulled the shade down and I saw their silhouettes.\u00a0 It looked like they were kissing each other and I just got jealous all over again.\u00a0 I knew Joe kept his knife in his saddlebags, so I reached in and took it out.\u00a0 I hid by the corner of the hotel until I saw Joe leave, then I went up to Shelby\u2019s room.\u00a0 I thought I could scare her with the knife, make her think I would use it on her.\u00a0\u00a0 She laughed at me and called me a toad and tried to take it away from me\u2026We struggled, and the next thing I knew, she was lying at my feet bleeding.\u00a0 Then I got scared and just ran away.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t know she was dead.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t mean for it to happen.\u00a0 I only wanted to scare her.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t mean to kill her.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t mean to kill her.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t think he would make Joe testify against himself, I thought Mr. James would get him off.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t let Joe hang for something I did.\u201d\u00a0 Amy turned and looked at Joe.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m so sorry, Joe.\u00a0 I\u2019m so sorry.\u201d\u00a0 She placed her head in her hands and wept bitterly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sheriff Coffee led Amy out of the courthouse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn light of this startling revelation, I declare that Joseph Cartwright is innocent of all charges, and the case against him is dismissed.\u00a0 This court stands adjourned.\u201d\u00a0 The Judge banged his gavel and everyone stood to their feet being in amazement and wonder at the conclusion of this trial.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben came to stand beside Joe and after they hugged each other, Ben turned to Joshua.\u00a0 \u201cYou took an awful chance with my son\u2019s life, you know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know, but I was so sure of who actually caused Shelby\u2019s death, and so sure she wouldn\u2019t let Joe go to the gallows for something she did, I just had to play that poker hand.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat put you on to Amy?\u201d Adam asked the attorney.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, there was only one other person who knew Joe was going to Shelby\u2019s hotel room.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAmy,\u201d Joe said, speaking her name quietly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAmy,\u201d Joshua repeated.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI still say you took an awful gamble with my son\u2019s life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, well Pa, you know I like to live dangerously,\u201d Joe teased.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut in this case you almost CEASED to live\u2026dangerously, or any OTHER way,\u201d Adam responded.<\/span><\/p>\n

Everyone laughed at the comment, then Joe became very sullen and quiet.\u00a0 \u201cWe just never know about people do we.\u00a0 Joshua, what will happen to Amy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019m sure the Sheriff and the prosecuting attorney will do an investigation into it.\u00a0 Since she\u2019s young and a female, she won\u2019t have to hang, but with a good attorney, she might be able to make a deal with the court, plead guilty to a charge of momentary insanity by reason of a jealous rage and maybe spend some time in a sanatorium for evaluation and treatment if needed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWould YOU defend her?\u201d Joe asked sincerely.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe said she needed a GOOD attorney, not one who takes chances with his client\u2019s life,\u201d Adam quipped.\u00a0 The Cartwright\u2019s and Joshua laughed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI really want you to defend her, Josh.\u00a0 Will you?\u201d Joe asked him again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf it means that much to you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt does.\u00a0 And don\u2019t spare the expense.\u00a0 I want her to have the best defense you can give her.\u00a0 When you\u2019re the accused, you want the best.\u00a0 Believe me\u2026I KNOW.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Adam stood by the stagecoach waiting for it to leave, Johanna stood beside him.\u00a0 \u201cSo where will you go?\u201d he asked, looking down at her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I don\u2019t know.\u00a0 Somewhere far from here.\u00a0 Maybe I\u2019ll go back East\u2026I\u2019ve been thinking about putting my fortune to good use and starting a home for wayward girls.\u00a0 Shelby would have been one if she had been left to herself.\u00a0 There are so many young girls in New York without anyone to provide them with proper guidance.\u00a0 I thought about naming the home after Shelby\u2026The Shelby Home For Girls.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSounds like a very difficult venture to undertake.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure it WILL be, but I\u2019m sure it\u2019ll be very rewarding also.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you going to try to run it by yourself?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019ll be the monetary backer of course, but I might need someone with a good head for business.\u00a0 Would you be interested in the undertaking?\u00a0 You\u2019d have to move to New York, of course.\u201d\u00a0 Johanna looked up at him and smiled a teasing smile.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m only teasing, Adam.\u00a0 I know you would never leave the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs sure as I am that Joe and Hoss would never leave.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I suppose you\u2019re right.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I\u2019m right, Adam.\u00a0 I\u2019m ALWAYS right.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLoad up!\u201d the driver called out to the passengers standing nearby.\u00a0 Johanna waited until she was the last passenger to board.<\/span><\/p>\n

She held her hand out to Adam.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll never forget you, Adam.\u00a0 And if I could stay here, I just might fall in love with you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He took her hand, then stepped close to her and kissed her tenderly.\u00a0 \u201cGood-bye, Johanna.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She looked up into his eyes, and felt tears well up in hers, but she stepped into the coach before the tears had a chance to fall.\u00a0 Adam closed the door, and watched as the stage moved down the street and around the last bend of Virginia City.\u00a0 He walked over to the Sheriff\u2019s office and met Joe just coming out.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019s Amy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe still won\u2019t look at, or talk to me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEven though you told her you forgave her?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe nodded sadly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam put an arm around his youngest brother\u2019s shoulders and tugged.\u00a0 \u201cCome on, let\u2019s go home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The brothers took the reins to their horses, mounted, and rode slowly side by side out of town.<\/span><\/p>\n

THE END<\/span><\/center> <\/p>\n
<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary:\u00a0 Joe is accused and goes on trial for murder.
\nRating: G
\nWords:\u00a0 23,600<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12436,"featured_media":41001,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1091,23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47046","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adam-joe","category-drama","wpcat-1091-id","wpcat-23-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":577,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":46841,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=46841","url_meta":{"origin":47046,"position":0},"title":"The First Day of Spring (by Adamfan16)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"December 6, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0This is an expanded Bonanza Bit I did this spring, to the title prompt. Adam deals with homesickness while away at college. Rating:\u00a0 G Words:\u00a0 550","rel":"","context":"In "Adam Cartwright"","block_context":{"text":"Adam Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1005"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45172,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=45172","url_meta":{"origin":47046,"position":1},"title":"You Ain’t My Brother (by VRON)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"March 25, 2000","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Sometimes it's hard being the eldest! Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 \u00a0Words, 1,210","rel":"","context":"In "Brothers"","block_context":{"text":"Brothers","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1009"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49277,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=49277","url_meta":{"origin":47046,"position":2},"title":"The Cartwright Family (by LindaBl)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"May 22, 2002","format":false,"excerpt":"Synopsis:\u00a0A cute new song about the Cartwrights Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 Words:\u00a0 270","rel":"","context":"In "Family"","block_context":{"text":"Family","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1008"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45170,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=45170","url_meta":{"origin":47046,"position":3},"title":"Water (by VRON)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"March 25, 2000","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Just brief musings from Ben. (Written in response to a challenge some time last year.) (actually years ago) Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 \u00a0Words:\u00a0 1,045","rel":"","context":"In "Ben Cartwright"","block_context":{"text":"Ben Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1004"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46851,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=46851","url_meta":{"origin":47046,"position":4},"title":"The Voice (by Imogene)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"November 24, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0A voice visits Joe during the night Rating:\u00a0 G Words:\u00a0 1,520","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45817,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=45817","url_meta":{"origin":47046,"position":5},"title":"Brotherly Love (by JRosemary)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"December 21, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Adam has his hands full with a drunk and disorderly Little Joe in this WHN for 'The Quality of Mercy.' Rating:\u00a0 PG\u00a0 (1,590 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Adam \/ Joe"","block_context":{"text":"Adam \/ Joe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1091"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47046","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/12436"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=47046"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47046\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/41001"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=47046"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=47046"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=47046"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}