{"id":5035,"date":"2002-11-27T22:26:24","date_gmt":"2002-11-28T03:26:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5035"},"modified":"2026-01-20T15:52:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T20:52:13","slug":"gold-rush","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5035","title":{"rendered":"Gold Rush (by Rona)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 <\/strong>Rumours of a new gold strike on the Ponderosa bring problems for the Cartwrights. But who started the rumours, and why? Can Ben find out before Joe pays with his life?<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 T \u00a0 \u00a0(10,800 words)<\/p>\n

Disclaimer:\u00a0All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Gold Rush<\/strong><\/p>\n

Riding disconsolately back home through the bakingly hot summer afternoon, Joe Cartwright thought of all the work he would have to catch up on the next day. He had been fencing with Adam and Hoss down by the South Forty. Hoss\u2019 hand had slipped on the wire, and the sudden release of tension had caused the part Joe was trying to fix to slip through his hands at high speed.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, none of the barbs had become lodged in Joe\u2019s palms, but the cuts he suffered were deep and painful. Adam and Hoss had tied them as best they could with neckerchiefs and the like, but the cuts bled stubbornly, and Adam decreed that it would be better for Joe to go home, and have his hands properly seen to. Dumping his ruined gloves, Joe did as he was bid.<\/p>\n

Movement where there shouldn\u2019t be any, further up the stream, attracted Joe\u2019s attention. Frowning, Joe reined Cochise to a stop, and looked at the man bending over the stream. He urged Cochise in that direction, his left hand straying to his gun, and hoping that he wouldn\u2019t have to use it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is private property, mister,\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n

The man, dressed in dirty clothes that had seen better days, looked up. Joe saw that he had been panning the stream. \u201cI ain\u2019t goin\u2019,\u201d he stated. \u201cI aim to get my share o\u2019 the gold outa this stream!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMister, I\u2019m not going to tell you again,\u201d Joe declared. \u201cThis is private property. Get off the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Glaring at Joe, the man slowly straightened. \u201cAll right, I\u2019m goin\u2019. But you ain\u2019t gonna run me off again, sonny. I\u2019ll be back, and I\u2019ll get my share!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we catch you here again, we\u2019ll get the sheriff,\u201d Joe warned. \u201cNow, pack your gear and leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll leave, you don\u2019t haveta watch me,\u201d the man declared. \u201cI was about ready to head home fer the night anyhow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m in no rush,\u201d Joe responded. \u201cI\u2019d rather make sure you\u2019re gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou cheeky young pup!\u201d the man spluttered, and heaved his gold pan at Cochise\u2019s nose.<\/p>\n

The horse startled, and reared. Joe suddenly had his hands full trying to calm his horse, and he didn\u2019t see the man make a grab for him. Joe was pulled from Cochise\u2019s back, and a large, dirty fist crashed down on him from above. Joe fought back, but the gold hunter had the advantage, and swung his pan at Joe\u2019s head. The clang it made as he crashed it down echoed off the hills, but it was effective. Joe was knocked out.<\/p>\n

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

There was no telling how long he had lain unconscious. Joe stirred, rolled over, and groaned. His head throbbed, and his hands were on fire. Looking round, still on the ground, Joe saw that he was alone. The gold hunter had gone. Cochise was standing a few yards away, peacefully cropping the grass.<\/p>\n

His hat lay nearby, and Joe retrieved it as he clambered to his feet. His head throbbed, and not, Joe suspected, just from the thump he\u2019d received. He\u2019d been lying in the full glare of the hot sun for quite some time, and he could feel his forehead tight with sunburn. Wincing as he jammed his hat back on, Joe made his way over to catch Cochise. It took a lot of effort to pull himself into the saddle, but he got there eventually, and rode slowly home.<\/p>\n

Hitching Cochise to the rail, Joe staggered over to the door. His canteen had been gone from his saddle, and he was desperately thirsty. The few mouthfuls of water he drank from the stream seemed a long time ago. He winced as he opened the door, and the coolness of the great room rushed over him like a balm. Despite himself, he groaned in relief.<\/p>\n

There were footsteps, and Joe turned his head to see Ben coming from the office area. \u201cJoe? Good Lord, what happened to you?\u201d Ben hurried across to his accident-prone youngest, and touched his shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cA couple of things,\u201d Joe answered. He was feel a little light-headed, and swayed slightly. \u201cGot my hands cut up when Hoss let go the wire, and met a guy who hit me on the head.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sliding an arm round Joe\u2019s waist, Ben took Joe\u2019s hat off with the other hand, and saw for himself the sunburn and gash on Joe\u2019s head. There wasn\u2019t much blood, but Joe was obviously concussed. \u201cCome on,\u201d he urged, and walked Joe over to the couch, where he laid his son down. \u201cJoe, who was the man, and why did he hit you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was panning for gold,\u201d Joe explained, and told Ben the story. When he finished, Ben called for Hop Sing to bring him water and bandages. He gently bathed Joe\u2019s injuries, while Joe drifted in and out of sleep. Ben talked to him, to try and keep him awake, but Joe only grunted in answer. It wasn\u2019t until Ben dunked Joe\u2019s hands into a medicinal salt solution that Joe roused. The stinging from the cuts was agonizing, and even as the healing properties of the salts kicked in, the pain was still biting hard.<\/p>\n

Fighting Ben, Joe tried to draw his hands away from the basin, but Ben held his wrists firmly, and Joe could see the dirt and dried blood being drawn out. Although the wire that the boys had been using was new, Ben was terrified of the threat of lockjaw, and he was taking no chances. After several minutes, Ben asked Hop Sing to bring fresh water, and he soaked Joe\u2019s hands in this, then gently dried and bandaged them.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not going to be doing much manual work for the next while,\u201d Ben commented, as he wrapped the gauze round Joe\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, that hurt worse than when it happened,\u201d Joe complained. His head was throbbing, but Hop Sing had smoothed a cool paste onto Joe\u2019s head, and he could feel the tight skin easing.<\/p>\n

Smiling, Ben gave Joe a small dose of laudanum, and urged him to lie down. It didn\u2019t take long for the painkiller to kick in, and Joe slid into sleep. Ben rumpled the youth\u2019s curls, and went to clear away the things he\u2019d been using. He was frowning; thinking about the man Joe had caught panning for gold. They would have to go into town and find out what was going on. They didn\u2019t have enough men to prevent a full-scale gold rush on the Ponderosa. If there were one, the land would be ruined. Glancing at the clock, Ben wondered if he ought to go into town straight away, but he finally decided against it. He needed to talk to Adam and Hoss, and perhaps one of them should go into town with him. Gold made people lose their wits, and Ben didn\u2019t want to take any unnecessary risks.<\/p>\n

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

When Adam and Hoss returned a few hours later, Joe was still sleeping. He wakened as Hoss loudly called a greeting to Ben, who was hurrying downstairs to try and prevent just such an outburst. Sitting upright abruptly, Joe\u2019s head reeled as he looked round, startled. He caught the back of the settee for support, and lay down again very gingerly. His headache was pretty much gone, but his hands still throbbed quietly.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, Joe,\u201d Hoss said, still not realizing that there was more wrong with his brother than there had been earlier. \u201cDidn\u2019t think you\u2019d be sleeping.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBoys, we need to talk,\u201d Ben said, motioning to them to sit down. He sat on the table and looked closely at Joe. Now that his head was down again, Joe looked a bit better. Ben touched his cheek, and felt a slight warmth there. It wasn\u2019t surprising. Joe had had too much sun that afternoon, but Ben was fairly confident that his son wouldn\u2019t get worse. If he was suffering from serious sunstroke, Joe would have shown signs before this.<\/p>\n

Quickly, Ben told Adam and Hoss what had happened to Joe. They looked startled, as Hoss hastily apologized for wakening Joe. Smiling wanly, Joe waved the apology away. \u201cYou didn\u2019t know,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t see anyone as we rode home,\u201d Adam said. \u201cWhat are we going to do, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst thing tomorrow,\u201d Ben said, \u201cwe\u2019re going to ride into town and tell Roy about this. We need to quash any rumors of a gold find here on the ranch. You know what gold hunters will do. This is our busiest season, and we can ill afford to spare hands for anything other than normal chores, but we\u2019ll have to keep watch, to make sure that no one comes back onto our property.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d better tell the men,\u201d Adam said, rising. \u201cI\u2019ll do it.\u201d He crossed over to look down at Joe. \u201cHow are your hands?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll swap them for yours,\u201d Joe joked.<\/p>\n

Laughing, Adam went outside. Hoss stood by the empty fireplace, his genial face frowning. \u201cWonder what began rumors of a new gold strike this time?\u201d he mused. \u201cThere ain\u2019t been any new strikes in a coon\u2019s age.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Ben said. He glanced at Joe, and saw that his son\u2019s eyes were closed again. Joe clearly wasn\u2019t asleep, as he was biting his lip. \u201cJoe, are you all right?\u201d he asked, quietly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Joe replied, unconvincingly. \u201cMy hands are a bit sore, that\u2019s all.\u201d He gave Ben a smile, but his father saw through it. He knew that the salts he\u2019d used \u2013 Hop Sing called them \u2018Epsom\u2019 salts \u2013 would make Joe\u2019s hands sting for quite a while, but they were very effective in treating cuts, scrapes and sore muscles. \u201cI was thinking about that man,\u201d Joe went on, not giving Ben the chance to speak. \u201cHe wasn\u2019t from round here, I\u2019m sure.\u201d Joe looked thoughtfully into the distance. \u201cI don\u2019t remember seeing him before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can tell Roy about it in the morning,\u201d Ben said. \u201cLet\u2019s get you something to eat, and up to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Waking Joe the next morning wasn\u2019t as hard as everyone had feared. Joe struggled into his clothes, but appeared at the table with his shirt untucked and unbuttoned. It had taken him all his time to fasten his pants. Reluctantly, Joe realized that he would need help to get properly dressed. Adam began buttoning Joe\u2019s shirt, unasked, while Joe blushed, feeling useless.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow are your hands?\u201d Ben asked, watching as Joe struggled with his fork.<\/p>\n

\u201cBetter than yesterday,\u201d Joe said, finally laying down the utensil and using his fingers. \u201cPa, that stuff you used on my hands was dreadful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut hopefully effective,\u201d Ben responded. \u201cAfter breakfast, we\u2019ll hitch up the buckboard and ride into town.\u201d He looked at Joe. \u201cYou can see Doctor Martin while we\u2019re in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir,\u201d Joe capitulated, heaving a martyred sigh. Even using his fingers, the tips of which peeked out of the bandages, Joe was finding it difficult to grasp things. He shoved the last of his bacon into his mouth and looked at the eggs with disgust. He wasn\u2019t going to eat them with his fingers, that was for sure.<\/p>\n

Intercepting a glance from Ben, Adam and Hoss rose and went to hitch the buckboard. Ben forked up the eggs, and offered them to Joe, who ate them. He found it embarrassing to be helpless. After he had finished eating, Ben tucked Joe\u2019s shirt in for him, and helped him on with his boots and jacket. The angry red sunburn on Joe\u2019s head had died down, and the temperature he\u2019d been running the night before had gone. \u201cHow\u2019s your head?\u201d Ben asked, plonking Joe\u2019s hat on at a rakish angle.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s still attached,\u201d Joe said, and grinned. Ben smiled back, and kept Joe\u2019s gaze. Sighing again, Joe added, \u201cIts still a bit sore, but nothing like yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d Ben said. \u201cYou\u2019ll ride with me on the buckboard. I don\u2019t want you using those hands too much until Paul has checked them out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, Pa,\u201d Joe agreed, as if he\u2019d had a choice in the matter, Ben reflected, amused. They went out together. Joe found it very odd not to have his holster on. He looked down at his bandaged hands ruefully. Bandages and gun butts didn\u2019t go together very well, he supposed.<\/p>\n

It was another scorching day. Ben parked the buckboard in the shade, and he and Joe got down. Adam and Hoss hitched their horses to the rail, and they all went into Roy\u2019s office. As expected, the sheriff of Virginia City was there, reading some new reports and wanted posters that had come in from other towns. \u201cHowdy, Ben, boys,\u201d he greeted them. His eyes fell on Joe\u2019s hands. \u201cWhat happened to you this time, Little Joe?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what we\u2019ve come to see you about,\u201d Ben said. They all took seats, and Ben and Joe told him about the incident the previous afternoon.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the first I\u2019ve heard about a gold strike on the Ponderosa,\u201d Roy said, slowly. \u201cWhat did this man look like, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was dirty, and bearded,\u201d Joe said, thinking back. \u201cHis clothes were quite ragged, and he was very thin.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow tall?\u201d Roy asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d Joe responded. \u201cI was on Cochise, and he was on the ground, and when he pulled me off, he seemed to loom over me.\u201d Joe frowned, trying to gauge the man\u2019s height. \u201cHe had quite big hands,\u201d Joe remembered. \u201cPerhaps he was about Adam\u2019s height. But I\u2019m just not sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pursing his mouth Roy frowned at the description. \u201cIts not much to go on,\u201d he said. \u201cI certainly don\u2019t remember anyone around who fits that description, but I\u2019ll keep my eyes open. Meantime, it might be an idea to spread the news that there isn\u2019t a gold strike on your ranch.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was planning on doing just that,\u201d Ben said. He rose, and the boys followed him. \u201cI just thought we should keep you apprised.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI appreciate it, Ben,\u201d Roy said, rising also. \u201cTake care of yourself, Little Joe,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Roy,\u201d Joe said, smiling. He followed his family outside. He was surprised at how tired he felt, but his persistent headache took its toll, as did the throbbing from his hands, even if they weren\u2019t as bad as the day before.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll go with Joe to the doctor\u2019s office,\u201d Ben was saying. \u201cAdam, you go to the\u00a0Territorial Enterprise<\/em>, and see if we can get them to print something. Hoss, you go and start with the supplies, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was no one waiting at Paul\u2019s office, and Ben was pleased that he was in. Paul smiled at them, and immediately began to undo Ben\u2019s handiwork. He examined Joe\u2019s hands, smoothed on some cream and re-bandaged. \u201cThey\u2019ll be fine in a few days,\u201d he said. \u201cJust keep them covered meantime, and use them as little as possible. Once the cuts are scabbed over and healing, you can leave the bandages off. You\u2019ll be back at work in a couple of weeks, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, doc,\u201d Joe said. \u201cJust in time for haying, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know it\u2019s your favorite time of year,\u201d Paul said, grinning. \u201cJust be careful, though. Hay stalks can be very sharp, as I\u2019m sure you know, and if the scar tissue is the least bit soft, then keep well away. You don\u2019t want deep scars on your hands. Lucky you had gloves on, Joe. Otherwise, it could have been a whole lot worse!\u201d<\/p>\n

Outside, Ben and Joe walked over to the store to meet Hoss. Joe was feeling like a sit down by then, but he didn\u2019t say anything. Ben went into the store, and Joe leaned on the buckboard. He wouldn\u2019t be allowed to carry anything, even if he\u2019d wanted to, which he didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

The street was quite busy, as usual. Joe touched his hat to a number of the ladies, and said hello to the men. No one who stopped for a brief chat mentioned gold. Joe began to wonder if he had been imagining things. With Ben still deep in conversation with the storekeeper, and Hoss loading the supplies, Joe thought about strolling across to the saloon. However, the thought of Ben\u2019s caustic comments when he was found there was enough to deter Joe. So he climbed up onto the seat and leaned back.<\/p>\n

Tipping his hat over his nose, Joe watched the world go by. He saw Adam emerge from the offices of the newspaper, and walk back towards the store. Joe wondered what Adam had asked the editor to say about the gold rumor. With a smile, he remembered when Mark Twain had been writing for the\u00a0Enterprise<\/em>, and all the wild stories he had made up. He thought briefly about Rosemary, the girl they had found living on the ranch, and who had gone to stay with relatives back east.<\/p>\n

Something about the way Adam was walking made Joe think he was angry. Sitting up, Joe slid his hat back to its normal position to watch Adam more closely. Adam saw someone he knew, and friendly smile creased his face, even though he looked as angry as ever to Joe. \u201cWhat is it, Adam?\u201d Joe asked, as his brother came within earshot.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot here,\u201d Adam said, glancing round. \u201cWhere\u2019s Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

Slinging a thumb over his shoulder, Joe looked round in time to see Ben emerge from the store. He looked annoyed, too. \u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d he said, and climbed onto the seat. He snapped the reins without waiting for Adam and Hoss to mount.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d Joe questioned.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot here,\u201d Ben said, shortly, and with that, Joe had to be content for a few miles.<\/p>\n

When they reached Ponderosa land, Ben pulled the team to a halt, and allowed them to drink. Adam and Hoss dismounted, and also watered their horses. Hoss looked as confused as Joe, and the youngest Cartwright felt a sudden flash of anger. Pa and Adam were at it again. They knew something, but they were keeping Joe and Hoss out of it. He opened his mouth to say something, but Ben spoke first. \u201cAdam, what did you find?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnited Mines have placed an advert for workers at the new Ponderosa gold mine,\u201d Adam said, tightly. \u201cThe ad was placed yesterday, and will appear in tomorrow\u2019s paper. It clearly states that gold has been found near the South Forty of the ranch, and although a few nuggets have been found in the stream, the company will be digging a mine, and requires experienced miners at once.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWilson at the store asked me why I hadn\u2019t warned him to get in more prospecting equipment,\u201d Ben said, angrily. He slammed his hand down on the wagon seat, and the team startled slightly. \u201cAdam, you and Hoss go back to town, and check out United Mines. Find out if there\u2019s anyone staying at the hotel connected to them, or where their office is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, Pa,\u201d Adam said. He picked up Sport\u2019s rein. \u201cI took out a front page ad, stating that there was no gold strike on the ranch, and that we had never heard of, or dealt with, United Mines.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody will believe it,\u201d Joe said, bitterly.<\/p>\n

\u201cA few will,\u201d Adam said. \u201cWe\u2019ll see what we can find out, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBe careful,\u201d Ben said. \u201cI don\u2019t know who\u2019s at the back of this, but I don\u2019t want anything to happen to any of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will, Pa,\u201d Adam said, and he and Hoss rode off back the way they had just come. Ben remained standing by the buckboard, gazing into space. Joe wondered what he was thinking about.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d he said, softly, reluctant to break into his father\u2019s thoughts.<\/p>\n

However, Ben hadn\u2019t been that far away, and he refocused his eyes on his youngest son. \u201cWhat is it, Joe?\u201d Ben asked. \u201cAre you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d Joe said, although he was tired. \u201cPa, we\u2019re going to have to fight, aren\u2019t we?\u201d<\/p>\n

For a moment, Ben was silent. \u201cYes,\u201d he said, straightening up and heaving a deep sigh. \u201cI think we are.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Although he didn\u2019t like to unload supplies, Joe felt downright guilty that he couldn\u2019t do even this small thing to ease his father\u2019s burden. Joe was urged to go and sit down, as Ben and Hop Sing dealt with the supplies. Joe was glad to do so. The house was cool after the heat of the day, and Joe was tired. As he stretched out wearily on the settee, he knew that part of his tiredness was the disturbed night he had had the night before, and part of it was the persistent headache, and throb of his hands. However, Joe decided there must be another reason he always became so tired when he was hurt, and finally came to the conclusion that it was because his body healed itself when he was sleeping. Joe made a wry face. It wasn\u2019t exactly an earth-shattering conclusion, but Joe tended to ignore his injuries as much as possible, and so wasn\u2019t given to introspection about them.<\/p>\n

He looked up as Ben came into the house, and slowly took off his hat and gun belt. Joe felt an intense pang of hatred for the person whose maliciousness had given his father this new trouble to bear. Joe knew there were a lot of day-to-day stresses involved with running a ranch the size of the Ponderosa. Ben didn\u2019t need any additional stresses.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you need anything, Joe?\u201d Ben asked, smiling down at his youngest. He wondered who Joe was aiming that ferocious frown at, and just hoped it wasn\u2019t him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine, Pa,\u201d Joe said, smiling back. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about me. I can manage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, remember what Paul said,\u201d Ben warned. \u201cDon\u2019t try and manage too much alone. We don\u2019t mind lending a helping hand when and where required.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that, Pa,\u201d Joe said, slightly embarrassed. \u201cBut I\u2019ll be fine here if you need to go talk to the men. Hop Sing is here, and if I can\u2019t do something vital, I\u2019m sure he\u2019d help.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know he would, Joe,\u201d Ben said. \u201cI\u2019m sorry you had to get hurt for us to find out about this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got a hard head,\u201d Joe quipped. \u201cAnd its better that we found out, than that we didn\u2019t, until it was too late.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s true, I suppose,\u201d Ben said, doubtfully. He stroked Joe\u2019s hair. \u201cYou rest easy, son, and I\u2019ll be back as soon as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo what you have to,\u201d Joe said. \u201cI\u2019ll be here when you get back.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

It was evening before Adam and Hoss returned to the ranch. They both looked tired and out of sorts. They didn\u2019t have to say that their errand had been fruitless. \u201cThere\u2019s no one at the hotel who\u2019s connected to the company that we can see,\u201d Adam began, as they sat down to supper. \u201cThey haven\u2019t taken an office in Virginia City as yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoy suggested we wire San Francisco,\u201d Hoss took up the story. \u201cHe\u2019d heard talk that the company is based there. I went an\u2019 done that, but we ain\u2019t had any reply.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sighing, Ben rubbed a hand through his hair.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve organized a rota for the men to stand watch, but we\u2019re going to need every hand we have in a couple of weeks\u2019 time. The haying must be done, and the herd has to be rounded up prior to getting them to market.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not going to be hiring anyone new, either,\u201d Adam commented. \u201cAnyone we signed now would be coming to hunt for gold, not push cows.\u201d<\/p>\n

Silence fell. Ben, looking up from his plate, realized that Joe wasn\u2019t eating. \u201cJoe? Are you all right, son?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Pa, but I could use a little help cutting my meat,\u201d Joe said, plaintively.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, son,\u201d Ben said, contritely. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to neglect you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIts all right, Pa,\u201d Joe said. He hadn\u2019t meant to make Ben feel bad, he had just been waiting for them to finish the discussion before saying anything. He had been thinking about Adam\u2019s comment about being unable to hire anyone new. This was something he hadn\u2019t realized, and he was feeling guilty for being laid up at a time when every hand was needed. That was why he hadn\u2019t spoken up sooner.<\/p>\n

As the meal continued, with Adam and Ben discussing the rota that had been organized, Joe and Hoss became progressively more silent. It soon impinged on Ben\u2019s consciousness that neither had said more than \u201cpass the potatoes\u201d for most of the meal.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with you two?\u201d Ben asked, glancing between them. \u201cYou\u2019ve hardly said a word.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked at Hoss, and Hoss looked at Joe, and neither of them appeared to be keen to start. Joe ducked his head, and color rose in his cheeks. \u201cI fell pretty bad for being hurt right now,\u201d he admitted, wretchedly. \u201cThe timing was rotten. Sorry, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blinking in surprise, Ben opened his mouth to speak, but Hoss forestalled him. \u201c Dadgum, Little Joe, its all my fault,\u201d Hoss said. \u201cI was the one holdin\u2019 that wire, and its my fault your hands was all cut up.\u201d He pointed his fork at Joe for emphasis. \u201cYou ain\u2019t done nothin\u2019 wrong, so don\u2019t go round feelin\u2019 guilty. It ain\u2019t none o\u2019 your blame.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blinking again, Ben looked at Adam, who hid a smile in his napkin. \u201cI wasn\u2019t aware anyone was blaming anyone for anything,\u201d Ben said, dryly. \u201cAccidents happen; we all know that. And in a sense, Joe\u2019s accident was fortuitous. If it hadn\u2019t happened, he wouldn\u2019t have been riding home just then, or seen the prospector.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt weren\u2019t very fortuitous for Joe,\u201d Hoss mumbled, determined to take the blame himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy hands don\u2019t feel nearly so sore,\u201d Joe assured him truthfully. Paul Martin\u2019s salve had soothed the pain. \u201cBesides, as Pa said, we wouldn\u2019t know otherwise, and what are sore hands compared to the Ponderosa being over-run with miners and prospectors?\u201d Hoss was looking at Joe now, trying to read the veracity of his younger brother\u2019s statement, having learned the hard way that Joe could pull the wool over his eyes every time.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou ain\u2019t joshin\u2019 me, are ya, Joe?\u201d Hoss asked, suspiciously.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m not,\u201d Joe responded, quietly. \u201cI mean every word. I just hope that I can do my bit to help out, whatever needs done in the next few weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moved by his son\u2019s declaration of love for his home, Ben reached over and put a hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder, squeezing gently. Those wonderful eyes turned his way, a little questioning, and as Ben smiled slightly, Joe\u2019s marvelous smile lit his face. \u201cThank you,\u201d Ben whispered.<\/p>\n

Conversation broke out as normal across the table, but Ben didn\u2019t join in. He was shaken anew by his sons\u2019 love for each other, and this land they lived on. His thanks had been aimed at Joe, for saying, unasked, exactly what Hoss needed to hear, but they had also been aimed at the Almighty, for giving him such special gifts as his three sons, and for reminding him of how lucky he was.<\/p>\n

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

The influx of miners began the next day. Despite there not being any signs of anyone from United Mines, the prospectors and get-rich-quick merchants were quick off the mark. Only Ben\u2019s vigilance had prevented them getting onto the land and starting digging and panning. This didn\u2019t mean that things went off smoothly. There were a few exchanges of fire, but the cowhands were determined, and they eventually won. The first wave of gold hunters was deterred.<\/p>\n

Riding into town, Adam and Hoss were jeered and booed by the crowd of drunken miners later that morning. Ignoring them, the Cartwrights went first to Roy Coffee\u2019s office, to report the trespass, and what they had done to prevent it. Roy, it was clear, already knew, and he went off to have words with one or two people.<\/p>\n

From the sheriff\u2019s office, they went to the telegraph office, and there were rewarded with their first bit of good news. United Mines was a legitimate company in San Francisco, but it had no plans to mine in Nevada, and had not placed the ad in the paper. They confirmed that they were contacting the paper direct to confirm this, and apologized to the Cartwrights for any inconvenience this might have caused.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a start,\u201d Adam said to Hoss, \u201cbut it still doesn\u2019t tell us who is at the back of this story.\u201d He pocketed the telegram, and they went down to the newspaper office.<\/p>\n

The editor was looking stressed when they arrived. \u201cI know,\u201d he said, before Adam had even drawn breath to speak. \u201cI\u2019m setting this wire as the front page of tomorrow\u2019s paper. But nobody\u2019s going to believe it, any more than they did your ad. I\u2019ll get the blame!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody thinks this mess is your fault,\u201d Adam said. \u201cAfter all, you can only print what you\u2019re asked to.\u201d He wasn\u2019t sure he entirely believed that, but Ben had told him to go easy.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom now on, I\u2019ll double and triple check everything!\u201d the editor vowed, and went back to his typesetting.<\/p>\n

The crowd of miners had broken up into clumps of two or three, but the mood was still unhappy, as the Cartwrights mounted up and rode out. A stone thumped painfully off Adam\u2019s back as they passed one crowd, but Adam, beyond giving a grunt of surprise, didn\u2019t slow his horse any. Hoss shot a glare into the group, and a few looked away.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou all right, Adam?\u201d Hoss asked, as they left the city.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I\u2019m fine, thanks,\u201d Adam responded, rubbing his back slowly. \u201cWe\u2019d better warn Pa that going into town alone is a bad idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI sure hate to see Virginia City all riled up against us,\u201d Hoss agreed, gloomily.<\/p>\n

\u201cGold makes fools out of men,\u201d Adam commented.<\/p>\n

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

And so it continued over the next few days. The story in the\u00a0Enterprise<\/em>\u00a0didn\u2019t deter prospectors; it just made them all the more determined that there was gold on the Ponderosa, as anyone who would go to such lengths to deny a story obviously had something to hide.<\/p>\n

Ordinary ranch work had to carry on, despite the prospectors, and there were often one or two caught on other parts of the ranch. As Ben said, when you were working that much land, it was almost impossible to keep everyone off. In the main, the invaders kept away from the herd, which was a relief. There was enough going on without worrying about rustling, too.<\/p>\n

The Cartwrights no longer went into town alone, and since Adam and Hoss were needed out on the range, the chore of fetching supplies fell to Joe and Ben.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s hands were healing well, and Paul Martin had taken the bandages off. The scar tissue was still delicate, but Joe was now able to cut his own food, albeit carefully, and had started carrying a gun again. The weather was holding, and Ben estimated that they could begin haying the following week.<\/p>\n

When haying began, there was still an armed watch in place. The miners weren\u2019t deterred for long, and every day, a handful or so would appear, hoping that Ben had given up, and was no longer vigilant. There had been no sign of anyone pretending to be from United Mines, and the Cartwrights were none to wiser as to who had set the story going. The original wire had been traced to Sacramento, but there were no details as to who had sent it.<\/p>\n

Sitting on the wagon seat, Joe watched as the men sweated with the scythes, cutting the hay. His hands were greatly improved, but not up to handling a scythe all day. So he had been relegated to driving the wagon. Once the wagon was full, he would drive it back to the ranch, and some hands would unload it. Then, he would drive back to the hay fields, and the whole process would begin again. It was hot, hard and tedious work, but necessary. Come winter, they would need almost a ton of hay for each horse, and a similar amount for the cattle.<\/p>\n

Haying took much longer that year, because of having hands on watch for gold hunters. The man Joe had tangled with had never been found, and Roy guessed that he had just drifted onwards without ever reaching Virginia City. How he came to be the first to hear the rumor of a gold strike, they were never to know.<\/p>\n

By the end of the fourth week of haying, Joe was taking his turn with a scythe along with everyone else. It felt good to be back in the swing of things, although he wasn\u2019t as fit as usual, and had to take more rests than he cared for. Adam and Hoss, relieved that Joe was feeling more like himself, were teasing him mercilessly about being feeble, but Joe took it all in his stride. For all that he took any excuse offered to him not to work, Joe felt guilty when he couldn\u2019t help out.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cI\u2019m glad that\u2019s over!\u201d Adam said, emphatically, straightening a kink out of his back. \u201cNo more haying for another year, but it\u2019s a good crop.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYup,\u201d Hoss answered, absently. He was counting the scythes, making sure they were all there, before they were carefully wrapped in oilcloth, and stored safely away for next year. Recognizing his brother\u2019s preoccupation, Adam didn\u2019t say anything else. He continued to massage his back.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re one short,\u201d Hoss said, standing up.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re kidding,\u201d Joe groaned. He, too, began counting, as did Adam. They looked at each other, and nodded grimly. They were one scythe short. Both Hoss and Adam looked at Joe. Joe gazed back, until the meaning of the look became clear. \u201cYou want me to get it?\u201d he asked, pointing at himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cUh-huh,\u201d Adam confirmed. \u201cYou\u2019re the youngest. All the dirty jobs fall to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right, Shortshanks,\u201d Hoss agreed. \u201c\u2019Sides, you had it light this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou two always gang up on me,\u201d Joe grumbled as he swung himself lightly onto his horse. \u201cOkay, I\u2019ll go and get it, and you tell Pa I\u2019ll be back for supper as soon as I can.\u201d Still grumbling under his breath, Joe rode out of the yard.<\/p>\n

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

The hot weather had yet to break, and the air was heavy and still. Joe cantered Cochise gently towards the hay field where they had been working last. He was in no hurry. The hot weather had taken the edge off all their appetites, even Hoss\u2019. Joe wasn\u2019t perturbed about missing supper.<\/p>\n

He tethered Cochise loosely in the shade, and started quartering the field. The stubble was long enough to hide the scythe, so he had to cover each inch of the field on foot. The evening sun was casting long shadows over the mountains when he finally found it, over in the furthest corner of the field, of course.<\/p>\n

Picking a few strands of hay carefully off the blade, Joe walked back across to his horse, and leant the scythe against the tree. He unhooked his canteen from the saddle, and drank deeply of the warm, slightly stale water. He took his hat off, and offered the horse some, too. \u201cIt ain\u2019t coffee, Cooch,\u201d Joe commented, but the gelding didn\u2019t mind.<\/p>\n

Sticking the damp hat back on his head, Joe carefully took the scythe in his hand and prepared to mount. He froze, his foot not yet in the stirrup, as the unmistakable sound of a gun hammer cocking sounded from behind him. \u201cDon\u2019t move!\u201d a voice warned him.<\/p>\n

Heeding the warning, Joe stood still, and felt his gun being lifted from his holster, and the scythe was removed from his hand. He still had his rein in his right hand, and the pinto sensed the tension, and began to sidle away. Joe\u2019s hand moved, automatically, to soothe his horse, and the next moment, something crashed down on his head.<\/p>\n

As Joe\u2019s legs gave way underneath him, his vision blurred, and the last thing he felt was the rein being jerked from his hand. Joe was unconscious before he hit the ground.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cWell, I\u2019m for bed, even if Joe isn\u2019t home!\u201d Ben Cartwright declared, getting stiffly to his feet, and trying to hide a yawn. The light was dimming outside, although it would linger long into the night. The heat had diminished slightly, and a gentle breeze was stirring the curtains.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019m going to be long either,\u201d commented Adam, who had been reading. \u201cJoe\u2019s certainly made the most of his little jaunt, hasn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cD\u2019ya suppose he found the scythe?\u201d Hoss asked. \u201cWe didn\u2019t all miscount, did we? That scythe isn\u2019t out there now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know its not,\u201d Adam answered impatiently. \u201cThere was an empty oilskin. You saw it. The scythe is there somewhere. Joe\u2019s just likely enjoying his evening ride home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has been a long time,\u201d Ben said, looking at the clock. \u201cIts past 9.30.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t realize it was that late,\u201d Adam said, glancing at Ben. He saw the worry growing in his parent\u2019s eyes. \u201cPa, I\u2019m sure he\u2019s all right. Maybe Cochise cast a shoe or something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe, \u201c Ben agreed, but he didn\u2019t sound convinced. He paused at the bottom of the stairs, obviously thinking about going out to look for Joe, and wondering if he was panicking over nothing.<\/p>\n

There was a flurry of hooves in the yard, and Ben hurried over to the door. Charlie, the foreman, all but fell into the house. \u201cMr. Cartwright, the miners are back, and they\u2019ve managed to set up a camp.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll get the guns, Pa,\u201d Ben heard Adam say. He nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cSir, there\u2019s more,\u201d Charlie said, and Ben felt a pang of fear in his belly. He knew, instinctively, what his foreman was going to say.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve got Joe,\u201d he breathed, and Charlie nodded, his face as pinched and drawn as Ben\u2019s now was.<\/p>\n

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

Stirring back to consciousness, Joe felt an uncomfortable jolting through his whole body. He cranked open his eyes, and almost vomited as he saw the ground rushing past him where the sky should be. He slammed his eyes shut, and allowed the sensations and noises to penetrate his brain. He was slung belly down over a horse, and his hands and feet were tightly tied. All that, Joe could feel. What he didn\u2019t know was who had knocked him out, or where he was going right now.<\/p>\n

His head was throbbing from the blow, and he groaned once or twice against his will. No one came near him. Gradually, Joe realized that he was actually tied to the saddle, to prevent him falling off. After a time, Joe came to think this was a pity, for at least if he had fallen off, the world would have been still. He was finding it harder and harder to control his nausea.<\/p>\n

However, the journey soon ended, and Joe could hear a lot of loud voices. He risked cranking open an eye. The horse he was on was still at last. A body appeared in his field of vision, and Joe was untied from the saddle and pushed to the ground. He tried to catch himself as best he could, but he still landed with a bruising impact. There was a chorus of drunken laughter.<\/p>\n

Looking round, Joe saw a lot of men around a large fire. The night sky was growing dark, but there was still enough light to let Joe see that he was on the ranch, near the disputed South Forty area. With a sudden sinking feeling, Joe realized that these men must be miners, who had managed to breach the ranch\u2019s defenses.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got one then?\u201d said a voice, and Joe looked at the man before him. He seemed vaguely familiar, but Joe couldn\u2019t place him. The man\u2019s hat was drawn low over his face, hiding his features. \u201cOh good, that\u2019s Joe, the youngest. We\u2019ve got real leverage over Cartwright now!\u201d<\/p>\n

With a sinking feeling in his stomach, Joe realized he had just become a hostage for the non-existent gold!<\/p>\n

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

\u201cI think we should have waited for Roy,\u201d Adam said, peering across the range at the huge fire burning by the stream. They could hear the men singing and shouting at each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne man more isn\u2019t going to make that much difference,\u201d Ben said, his eyes also glued to the fire. \u201cAll right, Roy wears the sheriff\u2019s badge, but how much good is that going to do out here? This is our land, Adam, and we have to protect it. Besides, they\u2019ve got Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

They\u2019ve got Joe. It always came back to that, and Adam couldn\u2019t argue with his father over that one. Beside Adam, Hoss heaved a deep, melancholy sigh. \u201cI sure \u2018nuff hoped Charlie had it wrong about Joe,\u201d Hoss muttered. \u201cBut findin\u2019 his pony, and then the scythe, an\u2019 his hat, there ain\u2019t no doubt.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCharlie saw them with Joe in the camp,\u201d Adam reminded Hoss. \u201cHe couldn\u2019t take them on himself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI sure hope Joe\u2019s all right,\u201d Hoss went on. \u201cYou don\u2019t think they\u2019d hurt him, Adam, do ya?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think they\u2019ve hurt him,\u201d Adam soothed, but Ben could clearly hear the \u2018yet\u2019 in Adam\u2019s voice, even if Hoss was unaware of it. Adam glanced at Ben, and saw that he had heard that unspoken word. \u201cWhat are we going to do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll have to talk to them. Convince them that there isn\u2019t any gold.\u201d Ben knew that this strategy had little chance of success, but he had no clear idea of what else he could do that wouldn\u2019t place Joe in any further jeopardy. \u201cYou and Hoss stay here. Charlie can come with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa,\u201d Adam protested, but the look on Ben\u2019s face stopped him before he went any further. He knew that Ben feared something happening to either him or Hoss, and he couldn\u2019t say any more. \u201cBe careful,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Nodding, Ben gestured to Charlie, and they rode across the range towards the light.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t come any closer!\u201d a voice called, and Ben and Charlie pulled up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m Ben Cartwright,\u201d Ben said, unnecessarily.\u00a0 \u201cWho\u2019s in charge here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnited Mines,\u201d said a voice, and a tall man stepped forward. His hat was pulled down low, obscuring his face. \u201cI\u2019m their representative. What can I do for you, Mr. Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n

Swallowing, Ben said, \u201cI want you to leave my land. We know that United Mines isn\u2019t interested in mining here. I don\u2019t know who you are, but I\u2019m asking you to please leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know there\u2019s gold here,\u201d the man replied. \u201cI assayed the land myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s impossible,\u201d Ben said, blankly. \u201cThe land was assayed years ago, and no traces of gold were found\u2026\u201d His voice trailed off as he peered more closely at the man by the fire. \u201cJim?\u201d he asked, doubtfully. \u201cIs that you, Jim?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you\u2019re brighter than your boy, Ben. He didn\u2019t recognize me.\u201d The man laughed. \u201cAll those years ago he called me Uncle Jim, and he didn\u2019t recognize me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs Joe all right?\u201d Ben asked, apprehensively.<\/p>\n

Jim gestured, and one of the men bent down and dragged someone into the light. Joe was thrown to his knees, where he looked up at Ben. He was bound hand and foot, and gagged, but he didn\u2019t look as though he\u2019d been hurt. Ben started to dismount, but froze as Jim placed a gun against Joe\u2019s head. \u201cStay there, Ben,\u201d he advised. \u201cNow, the boys and me are going to do a little digging, and you\u2019re going to stay away. If you don\u2019t, I\u2019m going to blow your boy\u2019s brains out. We\u2019ll take the gold from the land, and then you get the boy back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere isn\u2019t going to be any where big enough for you to hide if you hurt Joe,\u201d Ben warned. \u201cAnd when you do ride away, I\u2019ll be coming after every single one of you!\u201d<\/p>\n

Callously, Jim cocked his gun. Ben saw Joe swallowed convulsively. \u201cIf you want your boy to carry on breathing, I\u2019d leave,\u201d he suggested.<\/p>\n

Unable to face the alternative, Ben did as he was told.<\/p>\n

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

Watching Ben ride away, Joe\u2019s heart ached for his father. He wished he had been able to call out, tell Ben to do what he must to protect the Ponderosa, and not worry about him, and the frustration of being unable to do that made him grind his teeth. He shot a glare at Jim, and wondered how it was Ben came to know him.<\/p>\n

Seeing the look, Jim laughed. \u201cStill don\u2019t remember me, huh, Joey?\u201d he asked. He gestured to the men, and Joe was dragged back to the tree where he had been lying, and a rope was tied round his waist and attached to the tree. Jim crouched by his captive\u2019s side, studying him. \u201cYou\u2019ve grown, Joey,\u201d he went on, and Joe growled. If there was one thing he hated, it was being called \u2018Joey\u2019. \u201cI don\u2019t think you were more than 8 when I last saw you. Perhaps that why you don\u2019t remember me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Repelled by the stranger, Joe turned his head away. Jim reached out and grasped Joe\u2019s chin, forcing his head back round. \u201cLook at me when I speak to you, boy,\u201d he warned. \u201cYou used to call me Uncle Jim, and followed me around everywhere. I spent the summer out here, assaying any metals found on the ranch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Silently, Joe struggled to free himself from Jim\u2019s grip, but failed. He did vaguely remember them assaying on the ranch, but it was very vague. He had a blurred memory of a tall man, with fair hair, but he couldn\u2019t see the man\u2019s face. He glared at his captor.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou had spirit then, too, boy,\u201d Jim laughed, and let go of Joe\u2019s chin. He pushed back his hat, and Joe saw the face he remembered. His eyes opened wide for a second, before he swiftly looked down, masking his thoughts.<\/p>\n

He was too late. Jim had seen his reaction. \u201cSo you do remember me, Joey. Good. Well, just remember this one thing now. I\u2019m not your uncle, and I will do anything I have to do get the gold out of this land!\u201d He stood up, and kicked Joe hard on the hip. \u201cAnything, Joey! Anything!\u201d<\/p>\n

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

The digging began the next day. Joe lay under the tree and watched as the men began to dig on the little knoll there. Some of the men panned in the stream. Joe had tried to refuse the food he was offered that morning, but Jim had been there, and he forced Joe to eat. The meal had ended with Joe receiving another kick on his hip. He knew they were warnings for him to behave himself.<\/p>\n

It was a long slow day for Joe. He dozed on and off as the heat rose. For part of the day, he was in the shade, for another part, he was in the sun. No one came near him. As evening came, the men stopped work, and began to drink again. Someone cooked some unappetizing beans, and Joe was once more forced to eat them.\u00a0 He could feel Jim watching him, so choked down what he could.<\/p>\n

Shortly after that, Ben appeared again. Joe stiffened, terrified of what would happen to his father. The miners were incredibly drunk, and Joe didn\u2019t think Jim would prevent Ben being injured if trouble started. He squirmed in his bonds, trying, as he had done periodically all day, to get free. The ropes still resisted him. However, tonight he wasn\u2019t gagged, and he intended to make the most of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you want, Ben?\u201d Jim called. \u201cWe\u2019re not going to leave, and you\u2019re not going to get your boy back, you know that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSheriff Coffee has a warrant out for your arrest,\u201d Ben said. \u201cThere are soldiers coming in from Fort McCabe to arrest you all. You have 2 days.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSoldiers?\u201d Jim snarled. He made a gesture, and Joe was swiftly untied from the tree, and dragged forward. \u201cI\u2019d re-think that decision if I were you, Ben. Your boy will suffer if them soldiers come here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe decision has nothing to do with me,\u201d Ben said, steadily, his eyes on Joe. \u201cSheriff Coffee made that decision, not me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Turning, Jim grabbed Joe by the shoulder, and hauled him to his feet. \u201cI just told you, Ben!\u201d he warned. He ploughed his fist into Joe\u2019s stomach, and let go. The youth tumbled to the ground, gasping for breath. \u201cSee, Ben?\u201d Jim taunted. \u201cSee what I can do?\u201d<\/p>\n

Catching his breath, Joe lifted his head. Ben was staring at him appalled. \u201cPa, do what you have to!\u201d he shouted. \u201cDon\u2019t let them win!\u201d He rolled over, frantically, to avoid another kick. \u201cGet away, Pa!\u201d he screamed. \u201cDo what you have to. I\u2019m all right!\u201d<\/p>\n

Still rolling, Joe crashed into a boot, and then Jim was on him. Dimly, he heard hoof beats, and hoped that Ben hadn\u2019t seen the miners fall on him, like a pack of mangy dogs. When Jim finally stood up, Joe was unconscious, and bleeding from innumerable cuts and bruises.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Pa?\u201d Adam asked, alarmed by the expression of Ben\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet the men together. We\u2019re going in just before dawn. I can\u2019t leave Joe there any longer. We\u2019ve got to get him out.\u201d Ben rubbed his face roughly. \u201cI should\u2019ve gone in for him yesterday, but I was afraid that they would hurt him.\u201d Ben looked at Adam and Hoss. Adam had one hand on his father\u2019s arm. Hoss looked grim. \u201cWell, they\u2019re going to hurt him whatever we do. We\u2019ve got to get Joe out of there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll be ready,\u201d Adam said. His hand tightened on Ben\u2019s arm, giving comfort and reassurance. He nodded, and turned away, calling the men to him, to outline their plan.<\/p>\n

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

Consciousness came slowly back to Joe, and he lay for a long time with his eyes closed, trying to deal with the pain. It was relentless, and throbbed through every part of his body. Once in a while, a groan would escape against his will. He tried hard to keep silent, but it was too much for him. The slightest twitch sent up a chorus of agony, and after a time, Joe sank into a sort of daze.<\/p>\n

It was voices that roused him. \u201cDo you think we hit him too much?\u201d asked a rough voice. He felt someone turn his head, and a moan slipped out.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care,\u201d said another voice, which Joe recognized as Jim\u2019s. \u201cI was gonna kill the kid anyway. I always hated him. Spoiled, snotty little brat! Ben Cartwright really though he was something in those days. Still does, I guess.\u201d Jim snorted. \u201cI almost wish there had been gold under this pasture! Then we\u2019d have seen his sanctimonious attitude change, I bet! He\u2019d have had this place dug up faster than you can spit! His principles would\u2019ve been worthless!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep your voice down!\u201d the other urged. \u201cWe don\u2019t want them to know there\u2019s nothing here!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d better get out of here,\u201d Jim urged. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to be around when the soldiers come. Pity we can\u2019t take the boy along. He\u2019d be worth a pretty penny!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNaw, the way he\u2019s hurt, he\u2019d slow us down, and he might die on us.\u201d The man holding Joe\u2019s head let it go, and Joe moaned louder. He wanted to open his eyes, and scream out what he\u2019d just over heard, but his body wouldn\u2019t cooperate.\u00a0 He heard the men walking away, and sank back into dim nothingness.<\/p>\n

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

Time had passed. Quite a lot of time it seemed, although Joe had no way of knowing.\u00a0 There was noise all around, shouting and firing, people running past. Joe groaned at the sudden assault of sound. He still hurt all over. He wished they would all go away and let him die in peace.<\/p>\n

But his innate will to live forced him to open one eye, and look at what was going on around him. For several seconds, it made no sense, then Joe realized that the miners were being attacked, and when one familiar person ran past, screaming like a banshee, Joe realized the Ponderosa cowboys were coming to his rescue. He felt weak with relief, and his muscles released a tension he didn\u2019t know was in them. The release set up shivers down his abused muscles, and Joe cried out, for the pain, the worst he had ever known, got worse. He couldn\u2019t seem to catch his breath, and pain stabbed along his ribs.<\/p>\n

Then, just as he thought he might ride out this storm, someone touched him, and this was the last straw. Joe let out one scream, and fell into deep welcoming blackness.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cMy God!\u201d Ben said, appalled. \u201cJoe! My God!\u201d He looked at the battered body of his son, and wondered if they had come too late.<\/p>\n

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

Time had become irrelevant. None of them knew how long it had been since Joe had been brought home, and Paul Martin had started working on him. None of them know, or cared, what had become of the miners who had been on their land. None of them knew what they would do if Joe died. None of them knew how they could go on without him.<\/p>\n

Slumped in his chair by the fire, Ben\u2019s mind wasn\u2019t on the scene before him. It was in the bedroom upstairs, where his youngest son fought for his life, breath by bitter, painful breath. It cut Ben to the quick that he couldn\u2019t be there, but Paul had been adamant that none of them should be there while he stitched Joe back together. They had all seen how badly injured Joe was. There was no need for them to see him being repaired as best as Paul could.<\/p>\n

Sunk in their own misery, Adam and Hoss sat quietly. Adam had a book open, but he wasn\u2019t reading. Hoss gazed off out of the dining room window.<\/p>\n

There was a knock on the door that none of them heard. It was repeated, then the door opened, and Roy came in. He took in the atmosphere at a glance, and wondered if he should leave. However, the movement had attracted Adam\u2019s attention, and he looked up. \u201cRoy,\u201d he said, with difficulty. \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n

Taking off his hat, Roy looked unusually nervous. \u201cI thought I ought to tell ya,\u201d he said, and hesitated, as Ben swung a tortured gaze onto him. \u201cBen, that fella Jim was shot trying to escape. He died a short while ago. I caught another fella along with him, and he\u2019s locked up tight in the jail.\u201d Roy cleared his throat. \u201cI arrested some of them miners, but there ain\u2019t room in the jail for all o\u2019 them. Some of them got clean away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Roy,\u201d Ben said, distractedly. He went back to staring into the fire.<\/p>\n

There were footsteps on the stairs, and the Cartwrights were on their feet as one. Paul looked exhausted, and he sat down wearily on the settee. Roy moved closer.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, I won\u2019t lie to you,\u201d Paul said. \u201cIt was touch and go there for a while. Joe\u2019s lost a tremendous amount of blood. He\u2019s going to be a long time before he\u2019s over this. He\u2019s broken 4 ribs, his left hand, and his left thigh. He has a bad head injury, but I\u2019m fairly sure there isn\u2019t a skull fracture. But he\u2019s severely concussed and that will add problems if he gets nauseous. He\u2019s black and blue all over, and I\u2019ve had to stitch over a dozen deep cuts. He\u2019s suffering from exposure, too, and is dehydrated. All in all, he\u2019s a very sick boy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWill he be all right?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n

Biting his lip, Paul sighed. \u201cI hope so,\u201d he said. \u201cBut he\u2019s starting to run a temperature already, and I don\u2019t know if his body has the resources to fight an infection. He\u2019s young, Ben. That\u2019s on his side.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Paul,\u201d Ben said. \u201cI\u2019ll go and sit with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGet some rest,\u201d Paul advised Adam and Hoss. \u201cYou\u2019re going to need it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

Over the next 24 hours, none of them slept. Joe was delirious, crying out in pain, even though he was unconscious. Sometimes, after Paul had given him morphine, he seemed to sleep, but he never opened his eyes. He talked a lot, but his ramblings were incoherent; sounds rather than actual words. Ben bathed his head constantly, fighting the fever the only way he knew how.<\/p>\n

They had never seen anyone as badly beaten as Joe. That first night, as Ben went to be with Joe. Roy explained that the miner with Jim \u2013 a Virginia City man they knew slightly called Stan Pearson \u2013 had told him that most of the miners had had a kick or a punch at Joe. The ones who were being held were charged with a variety of offences. Riot, trespass and attempted murder, to name but three.<\/p>\n

It was Adam who filled Roy in on Jim\u2019s background. \u201cHe came here with a mining company about the time I went to college,\u201d Adam said. \u201cI can\u2019t remember the name of the company, but they wanted to know if there was gold on the Ponderosa. Pa said they could look, but he wasn\u2019t having a mine on the ranch. After the assay was done, it came out that there might be traces washing down from the mountains, but we\u2019d never make our fortune from it. Jim stayed here while the work was done. Joe was a little kid, and he began calling him uncle Jim. I think it was a joke at first, but it stuck. After the assay was done, Jim left. I always had the feeling there was more to it than just a finished job.\u00a0 When I got back from college, Pa told me Jim had said that he thought there was a lot of gold on the ranch, and if Pa cut him in on the deal, he wouldn\u2019t tell his company. Pa said no, of course. Jim was furious, and threatened to get Pa, so Pa wired the mining company, and told them what Jim had said. He was fired, and we never heard of him again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUntil this came up,\u201d Hoss added.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019m glad to know that, boys. Thanks. I hope Joe\u2019ll be all right.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Joe\u2019s fever crept higher, it seemed more and more unlikely that he would be all right. Adam and Hoss constantly brought fresh cool water and cloths, and took their turn bathing Joe\u2019s bruised body, being as gentle as they knew how.<\/p>\n

All through the next morning, the fever crept higher and higher, until, shortly after noon, it broke in a drenching sweat. Working together, all three Cartwrights lifted Joe carefully as Hop Sing changed the bedding as quickly as he could, then Joe was carefully resettled. He seemed to be sleeping now, and Ben sent Adam and Hoss to get some rest.<\/p>\n

About 4 pm, Joe opened his eyes. He gazed blearily around the room, until his gaze settled on Ben. His father had fallen asleep in the chair by the bed. Joe just looked at him for a long time, drinking in a sight he thought he\u2019d never see again. Finally, his insistent thirst forced him to whisper, \u201cPa?\u201d<\/p>\n

For a moment, Joe thought Ben hadn\u2019t heard him, and was just gathering his resources to speak again when his father stirred. He blinked, then looked at once to the bed. The sight of Joe with his eyes open brought a smile to his tired face, and tears sprang into being in his eyes. \u201cJoe!\u201d There was a world of thankfulness in that one word. \u201cHow do you feel?\u201d<\/p>\n

Only a croak emerged from Joe\u2019s parched throat, but Ben understood immediately. He gently lifted Joe\u2019s head and let him drink. Joe winced at the movement, but he was less sore than the last time he could remember. It didn\u2019t occur to him that he\u2019d had something to kill the pain.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow long?\u201d he whispered, unable to summon the energy to talk any louder.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe brought you home yesterday morning,\u201d Ben answered. \u201cIts afternoon now. You\u2019ve been very unwell, but you\u2019re on the mend. Its so good to see you awake, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

He must have drifted back to sleep, because the next time he was aware, Joe realized that Adam and Hoss had come in, and he had missed it. \u201cHey, fella,\u201d Adam said. \u201cAbout time you woke up!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m right glad to see them green eyes o\u2019 your open agin, Shortshanks,\u201d Hoss said, beaming broadly.<\/p>\n

A smiled creased Joe\u2019s battered face, and it gave the whole family joy to know that he could smile so soon after what had happened. Joe tried to ease his position on the bed, and winced as stabs of pain hit from all over. \u201cEasy Joe,\u201d Ben said, stroking his head. It was then that Joe became aware that his head was bandaged. His look of puzzlement was almost comical.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got a few injuries,\u201d Ben said, and quickly catalogued them for Joe, so he knew what to expect.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me see?\u201d Joe asked, and gestured for the cover to be thrown back. Reluctantly, Ben did it.<\/p>\n

Looking down the length of his nude body, Joe was astounded by the stitches, and the bruises and the bandages. His left leg was in a cast, and so was his left hand. \u201cNo wonder it hurts,\u201d he whispered, and the others laughed. They had been unsure what Joe\u2019s reaction would be. His joke gave them a huge sense of relief!<\/p>\n

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

His recovery wasn\u2019t as quick as that, of course. His temperature rose again a few times, although never to dangerous heights. He battled constant pain for the first few days, until the abused muscles and tissues started to knit. There after, he was plagued by itches as well, and could barely resist scratching. His short-term memory was a little patchy, and forgetting things made him testy. Joe was never a good patient anyway, but all these irritations made him worse than normal.<\/p>\n

It was six weeks before Joe was back on his feet. During that time, the miners came to trial and all were sent away for long stretches. Adam and Hoss handled the cattle round-up and drive to market, allowing Ben to stay and nurse Joe. By the time they came back, he was being carried down stairs for an hour or two every day, and was bothering Paul to get the plaster off his leg.<\/p>\n

The great day finally came, and then Joe had to work to build up the weakened muscles in his left leg. He was by nature very determined, and so did the exercises Paul prescribed for him relentlessly, pushing himself constantly to get over his injuries. By the end of three months, apart from a slight limp, which Paul assured them would go soon enough, Joe was almost as fit as ever.<\/p>\n

Watching Joe swing himself into his saddle, Ben gave thanks to God once more that Joe had survived his ordeal. They had talked late into the night more than once, as Joe told Ben of the things he\u2019d seen and heard in the miners\u2019 camp. He even unburdened himself about the beating, very late one night, after he\u2019d awakened, screaming, from a nightmare. The words had poured out of him, as he had forced the images away.\u00a0 After that, the nightmares had lessened, although Ben had had a few sleepless nights in consequence.<\/p>\n

But those dark days were far in the past now, and Joe\u2019s nights had been peaceful for many weeks. The smiling, handsome young man sharing a laugh with his brothers as they left for work was thankfully whole once more. Ben knew he had a lot to be thankful for.<\/p>\n

Laughter floated back to Ben on the morning air. It was high-pitched, unique. He smiled as he heard it. It could only have come from Joe. \u201cThank you, God,\u201d he said, simply.<\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

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

Summary:\u00a0 Rumours of a new gold strike on the Ponderosa bring problems for the Cartwrights. But who started the rumours, and why? Can Ben find out before Joe pays with his life?<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 T \u00a0 \u00a0(10,800 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":14942,"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_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[1015,23,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5035","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-joe-pa","category-drama","category-hurtcomfort","wpcat-1015-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-41-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Gold.jpg?fit=580%2C387&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5035","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/45"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5035"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5035\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14942"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5035"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5035"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5035"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}