{"id":50494,"date":"2025-02-12T17:18:27","date_gmt":"2025-02-12T22:18:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=50494"},"modified":"2025-09-27T05:40:05","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T09:40:05","slug":"ever-with-you-by-wrangler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=50494","title":{"rendered":"Ever With You (by Wrangler)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: Little Joe couldn’t believe it when Pa turned his back and walked away. Adam had been injured and it was Joe’s fault and Ben refused to get him out of the charges or even post bail. Now after six weeks in the Virginia City jail Joe must face Pa for the first time and make a tough decision about his future. A lesson about love, the tough kind.
\nRating T\u00a0 (word count 21,290)<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

Ever With You<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And he said, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.\u00a0 <\/span><\/em>Luke 15:31<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss Cartwright sat on the settee in the living room of the Ponderosa ranch house and studied the checkerboard spread out on the coffee table in front of him.\u00a0 His eyes peered up at his little brother suspiciously.\u00a0 Hoss knew that the black checkers, those belonging to him that game, had suddenly taken different positions on the board.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d Hoss called over to his other brother, who had been reading a new novel.\u00a0 \u201cDid you watch this board while I was in the kitchen a minute ago like I asked you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYep,\u201d Adam returned and fought off a grin.\u00a0 \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou know WHY!\u201d Hoss sang out, and stared back and forth between both of his brothers.\u00a0 \u201cJoe, I\u2019m telling you right now, you\u2019re gonna get it!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Hoss,\u201d Joe called over and tried to feign hurt, \u201cI know you\u2019re not accusing me of cheating, are you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I am and this time you\u2019ve gotten our brother to go along with it!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, Hoss,\u201d Adam intervened.\u00a0 He had to diffuse what he believed to be a fight coming on.\u00a0 \u201cYou know that Joe cheats, so maybe you should either stop going to get food during a game or take the board with you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t cheat!\u201d Joe argued.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, then I don\u2019t know what to call it,\u201d Adam laughed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, Hoss, I haven\u2019t got all night, you going to play or not?\u201d\u00a0 Joe motioned towards the checkerboard.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss grabbed the board and turned it around to take control of the red checkers.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, go ahead, Joe!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey!\u00a0 That\u2019s not fair!\u201d\u00a0 Joe protested.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAin\u2019t that the black checkers calling the black squares black,\u201d Adam laughed over towards both brothers.\u00a0 \u201cGo and take him, Hoss!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss made the last two jumps and ended the checker match gleefully. \u00a0 \u201cThere you go, Little Brother! \u00a0 Now, how\u2019s it feel to lose?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Before Joe could respond they turned when they heard the front door open and saw their father walk inside.\u00a0 He shrugged out of his coat and called hello to his sons.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow did your meeting in town go, Pa?\u201d Adam asked, as he stood and stretched.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFine, I got a lot taken care of.\u00a0 How did it go with the branding?\u00a0 Did the three of you boys get it all done?\u201d Ben asked as he made his way over to the fireplace and eased down into his favorite chair.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I did most of the work, as usual!\u201d\u00a0 Joe sang out, grinning.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss shook his head and tossed some checkers at his little brother.\u00a0 \u201cSure, he did, Pa!\u00a0 Little Joe worked real hard, almost made it two whole hours before running off.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben waited for each of his sons to address what had happened that day before he would respond.\u00a0 He was well aware of which of his sons would be the most apt to work diligently.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, well, maybe I worked faster than these two <\/span>older<\/b> brothers of mine, but, I did work,\u201d Joe attempted to partially fess up.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben cast a knowing glance over at his youngest and replied, \u201cJoseph, I doubt you can brand fast without hurting the cattle.\u00a0 You can just begin repairing fences to make up for the time you evidently didn\u2019t put in today.\u00a0 Oh, and before you go to do that assignment, you can get to the firewood.\u00a0 You were supposed to get that done three days ago.\u00a0 Remember?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Sir,\u201d Joe replied, and then cast an angry sneer over to Hoss and Adam for ratting him out.\u00a0 It was a typical thing that they had done, but then again, it was also typical for Joe to have shirked his duties.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t mind working, but he did mind being told what to do by both Adam and Hoss.\u00a0 Joe finally calmed down a bit, relieved over the fact that his father didn\u2019t appear to be too upset over his failure to put in a full day\u2019s work.\u00a0 He was happy to have a fence repair assignment where he would be on his own, instead of under the watchful eyes of both brothers.\u00a0 Joe also knew that he had been reminded every day about needing to get the firewood cut and brought into the house.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t relish that task, and had hoped that his father would have relented and given the job to one of the ranch hands.\u00a0 Now he knew that he\u2019d have to eventually get it done.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs anything new going on in town, Pa?\u201d Adam asked, changing the subject.\u00a0 He had noticed the tired appearance on his father\u2019s face.\u00a0 He wondered if there was some kind of trouble going on in Virginia City.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben reached towards the coffee pot on the table and poured a cup before responding to his son\u2019s question right away. \u00a0 Easing back into his chair he finally answered, \u201cI saw Roy for a bit.\u00a0 Joseph — he had some news that you might want to hear.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked as he gathered the checkers and placed them back in the basket on the hearth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne of your old cell mates is dead.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe drew in a deep breath and took a minute to ask, \u201cWho was it, Pa?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was Brock Davis, Joseph.\u00a0 He was shot trying to rob a bank in Tucson.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Both Adam and Hoss looked over at Joe and saw his face take on a peculiar appearance.\u00a0 They were unsure if he showed shock or sorrow in his expression.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wish I could say I\u2019m surprised, Pa.\u00a0 But, now out of the five of us, it only leaves two now still alive, including me,\u201d Joe responded sullenly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben stared over at his youngest and he could tell that the news had affected him.\u00a0 Joe had grown very quiet right after making his statement.\u00a0 Ben wondered what was going on in his mind at the time.\u00a0 Hoss and Adam noticed the change in their brother\u2019s countenance too.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph?\u201d Pa finally tried to get the boy\u2019s attention.\u00a0 It had been several minutes since he had spoken.\u00a0 Ben exchanged concerned glances with his other two sons.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Joe — you still here with us?\u201d Adam asked, as his hand reached out to his brother\u2019s shoulder to shake him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?\u201d Joe said, breaking from his thoughts.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou okay?\u201d Hoss called to Joe as he watched the boy stand from the coffee table.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah — sure I am!\u201d Joe sounded off, trying for a false bravado in his voice.\u00a0 He wondered if they had spotted the glimmer of tears in his eyes.\u00a0 Joe turned for a minute and put his hand up to his face, erasing any moisture.\u00a0 He turned back and hurriedly called a good night to his family and quickly moved over to the staircase.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s worried gaze followed his youngest son up the stairs.\u00a0 \u201cI think it\u2019s something that Joseph wants to forget, Boys.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know, Pa.\u00a0 It was a tough time for him,\u201d Hoss agreed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam reached for his father\u2019s arm and patted it gently.\u00a0 \u201cThe kid\u2019s going to be okay, Pa.\u00a0 He\u2019ll probably be back to his normal ornery self in the morning.\u201d\u00a0 Adam remarked, hoping to ease his father\u2019s mind, though he knew that they were all now thinking of a troubled time from the past.\u00a0 Sometimes memories were hard to erase, especially bad ones.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe had fought to fall asleep, but all efforts had failed.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t help the uneasiness he felt.\u00a0 Joe could still see the look on Brock\u2019s face the last time that he had seen the boy.\u00a0 He was two years older than Joe, but he had led a hard life which made him appear much older.\u00a0 Joe had seen him there in Virginia City and he had been swilling whiskey at the Silver Dollar Saloon.\u00a0 Their conversation had been a short one, with the other young man telling Joe that he was leaving for bigger and better things.\u00a0 Joe had noticed the new six-gun Brock had sported and knew that he had the intention of using it for things other than for protection.\u00a0 He had watched Brock tip his hat, swing open the doors of the saloon, and then vaulted up onto his horse.\u00a0 Joe somehow knew that day that it would be the last time he would ever see him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe moved over to his bureau and dug into the top drawer seeking a little piece of cloth he had hidden there some two years prior.\u00a0 No-one had known that he had saved the ripped piece of clothing, and Joe had preferred it that way.\u00a0 His hands finally fell on it and Joe held it up and gazed at it.\u00a0 It was just a faded light blue piece of twill, but the raised number which had been embroidered into the material was still there.\u00a0 It was the number five, and it was an awful reminder of how Brock and Joe came to be prisoners there in the Virginia City Jail.\u00a0 Joe sighed as he walked back to his bed and sat down.\u00a0 He closed his eyes and it all came back to him, though he had tried for two years to forget everything that had happened.\u00a0 Brock\u2019s death had re-opened that old wound, and now Joe\u2019s mind reflected back to the beginning.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe kid\u2019s hanging with the wrong type of friends!\u201d Adam insisted, as he took a seat opposite his father in Ben\u2019s study.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t trust any of those boys.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben nodded towards his eldest son and sighed.\u00a0 He was having trouble reeling Joe in lately.\u00a0 The boy was at the awkward age, not quite a man, but not a little kid either.\u00a0 \u201cI know, Adam.\u00a0 Ever since he got out of school last year, Joe\u2019s been trying to find himself.\u00a0 I\u2019m afraid that just because he\u2019ll soon be seventeen, he thinks he\u2019s all grown up and can choose his own friends, without our opinions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe has friends, like Mitch, good kids that we all know,\u201d Adam replied, and shook his head, showing his worry.\u00a0 \u201cBut, now he\u2019s out with new companions and they\u2019re all rowdy little cusses!\u00a0 None of them put in a day\u2019s work, and now that includes Little Joe too.\u00a0 The kid was supposed to help Hoss today but never showed.\u00a0 And, didn\u2019t you tell Joe he was supposed to get to work on the firewood pile?\u00a0 It hasn\u2019t been touched in more than a week.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben stood from his desk and placed his hand on Adam\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 Pa could tell that he was upset over his little brother\u2019s behavior and was also worried about Joseph.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll have a talk with him tonight after supper.\u00a0 Just let me figure out how to try to get through to him this time, Son.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Pa, it\u2019s not that I like coming in here all worked up about that ornery cuss. But, if you don\u2019t get a handle on all of this I just don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to happen!\u00a0 Hoss and I will try to disappear after dinner so you and Joe can have a talk.\u00a0 Good luck,\u201d Adam tried to cool off. \u00a0 He reached over and patted his father\u2019s arm in a show of support for all that his father would have to deal with in order to try to get through to his brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe looked suspiciously over at his brothers later that night as they ate their dinner.\u00a0 Neither of them had made any mention of the fact that he hadn\u2019t done any of his chores.\u00a0 That was unlike both of them, but especially Adam.\u00a0 It was always his oldest brother who was the most apt to chastise him in front of their father over his less than perfect record of doing as he had been told.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s eyes followed them as they both finished eating and headed right outside.\u00a0 Joe knew he was being left alone at the table next to Pa on purpose.\u00a0 There was surely a lecture forthcoming, and that was confirmed when Ben stood and told him to follow him into the study.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSit down, Joseph,\u201d Ben pointed to a chair next to his desk.\u00a0 He watched as the boy showed his displeasure with a frown and a sigh.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Pa, what did I do <\/span>this <\/b>time?\u201d Joe asked, folding his arms across his chest.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think you know.\u00a0 Now, why have you been leaving every day and not even attempting to do your chores?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa, it\u2019s funny to me that the times that I really put in a full day of work I never hear anything about that.\u00a0 But, just let me take off one day and everyone jumps on me about it,\u201d Joe sang out angered.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben stood and walked around the desk and hovered there opposite his son.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s not exactly true, Joseph.\u00a0 I\u2019ve always tried to let you know when I\u2019ve thought you\u2019ve done a good job.\u00a0 But, lately, those times are few and far between.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe shook his head and looked down at the floor.\u00a0 \u201cWell, I guess Adam\u2019s been reporting in to you again, Pa.\u00a0 Maybe <\/span>HE <\/b>should concentrate on <\/span>his<\/b> work and not spend his time following me and taking note of everything I do and don\u2019t do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you go shifting the blame, this is about you not your brother.\u00a0 Now, why didn\u2019t you help Hoss today like you were supposed to do?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss didn\u2019t need me to help him,\u201d Joe retorted, upset over being put on the spot.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben folded his arms across his chest and stared down at his youngest.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, I told you to go and help him.\u00a0 That should\u2019ve been enough for you to have done what you were supposed to do today.\u00a0 But, instead I guess you were out hanging around those new friends of yours, right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHere we go again,\u201d Joe muttered under his breath.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben shot his son a warning look and the boy\u2019s eyes once again tracked down to the floor and away from his father\u2019s piercing stare.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay — yeah I was out with my friends.\u00a0 Now, I guess you\u2019re gonna tell me that I\u2019m hanging around the wrong kinds of companions again!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe that\u2019s because you are!\u00a0 From what I know of those boys they aren\u2019t exactly the kinds of friends who you need to spend time with.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe stood and began to walk away, but his father\u2019s right hand reached out and caught his elbow redirecting him back to the desk.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cC\u2019mon, Pa!\u00a0 You don\u2019t choose the friends that Adam and Hoss hang around with.\u00a0 So, why are you trying to choose mine?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause you haven\u2019t taken the time to think about what hanging around those types of boys will lead to, that\u2019s why!\u00a0 And, again, I\u2019m talking about you, not your brothers, so stop shifting this conversation to them.\u201d\u00a0 Ben replied, growing exasperated by the way his son was behaving.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey aren\u2019t bad Pa.\u00a0 You just don\u2019t know them, other than Chris.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben nodded and answered, \u201cChris seems to be a good kid, I know his mother.\u00a0 However, now that he\u2019s been hanging around those other three boys she\u2019s also worried about him.\u00a0 I spoke to her in town the other day, and she\u2019s as concerned about Chris as I am about you.\u00a0 That Brock Davis is a bad influence and he\u2019s been in trouble many times in the past.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe sat back down into the chair next to the desk and tried to choose his words more carefully.\u00a0 He could feel his temper starting to peak and Joe knew he\u2019d have to try and control it.\u00a0 \u201cPa, he\u2019s not a bad kid.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been in trouble before — does that make me bad too?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben frowned as he stared down at his son.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, when you\u2019ve gotten into trouble before you\u2019ve always had me to turn to in order to try to fix your problems.\u00a0 Brock only has an uncle, one who\u2019s very fond of the bottle.\u00a0 He doesn\u2019t have someone in his life to set him straight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo it\u2019s Brock\u2019s fault that his uncle drinks?\u201d Joe sounded out loudly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben reached down and planted his hand down onto Joe\u2019s shoulder and forced his gaze.\u00a0 \u201cYou are shouting, Joseph, I\u2019d advise you to settle down.\u00a0 I\u2019m simply stating the facts as I know them.\u00a0 Now, what happened to Mitch?\u00a0 I thought he was your best friend.\u00a0 Why have you suddenly stopped hanging around with him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I was waiting for you to bring up Mitch,\u201d Joe frowned.\u00a0 \u201cYou like Mitch because you know his parents and he rarely gets into any trouble.\u00a0 I guess you think he\u2019d be a better influence on me, right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben walked back around the desk and sank down into his chair.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t seem to be making much head-way in getting to the issue at hand.\u00a0 Ben could tell that his son only wanted to argue about everything. \u00a0 That was Joe.\u00a0 Especially now that he was being put on the spot, Joe would be more apt to redirect the cause of a problem onto someone else.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s get back to those new friends of yours.\u00a0 Now, do you want to tell me why you\u2019re spending so much time hanging around with them and less time doing your work?\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll get to my chores, Pa,\u201d Joe replied sullenly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd when do you plan to do that, Joseph?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe shrugged his shoulders and looked back up to his father.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll get to them tomorrow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what about all that I\u2019ve said about this friend situation?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe stood back up and replied, \u201cI\u2019m going to choose my own friends, Pa.\u00a0 It\u2019s not fair that you want to pick them for me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t like this, not in the least.\u00a0 You\u2019re going to get into trouble, I just know it.\u00a0 And it\u2019s not just Brock either.\u00a0 Those Horne twins, they\u2019ve had problems in town too, you know?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Pa!\u201d\u00a0 Joe exclaimed, having lost the battle to control his temper.\u00a0 He raised his arms in gesture and kept sounding off.\u00a0 \u201cYou just let me know who I\u2019m allowed to see and who I\u2019m not allowed to see.\u00a0 Oh, and if I stray from those friends you can just have Adam report in to you and tell you all about it!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben neared his son and grabbed his arm roughly.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s enough!\u00a0 I\u2019m trying to keep you out of trouble because that\u2019s my job as your father.\u00a0 Judging from the track record of at least three of the boys you\u2019ve chosen for companions, all of you are heading down the wrong path.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m almost seventeen, Pa.\u00a0 How long are you going to make my decisions for me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph,\u201d Ben began, struggling to get through to his son, \u201cI am not making all of your decisions for you. \u00a0 You have to realize that you are one of the fortunate ones.\u00a0 Most of those boys don\u2019t have fathers who can voice their concerns in order to try to prevent their sons from getting into trouble.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa, not having a father wasn\u2019t in their control.\u00a0 But, just because someone doesn\u2019t have a father doesn\u2019t mean that they\u2019re bad!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t say that was the case.\u00a0 But, as <\/span>your <\/b>father, I\u2019m telling you that I don\u2019t want you to be caught up in a bad situation due to hanging around those types of boys.\u00a0 Why don\u2019t you try to bring Chris with you next time and go hang out with Mitch?\u00a0 You just might be able to keep him from getting into trouble?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cChris is smart enough to choose his own friends.\u00a0 He likes Brock and the Horne brothers.\u00a0 I\u2019m not about to tell him what to do, and neither should you.\u00a0 It\u2019s bad enough that I\u2019m being told what to do!\u00a0 You\u2019re treating me like a little kid.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, right now, Young Man, you are acting like one,\u201d Ben retorted, provoked by the way his son was now raising his voice again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe weighed the repercussions before addressing what his pa had just said.\u00a0 \u201cPa, what\u2019s it going to take for you to stop thinking of me like that?\u00a0 I mean no matter how old I get, all of you treat me just like that — like I\u2019m a little kid who needs to be told what to do, who to see, and how to act.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou happen to have a family that cares.\u00a0 As I\u2019ve said before, you are fortunate.\u00a0 A lot of boys your age don\u2019t have that.\u00a0 Your brothers and I want the best for you.\u00a0 And, no, we don\u2019t see you as being a little kid — that is — unless you don\u2019t listen and you go off and don\u2019t heed the warnings you\u2019ve been given.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo, then you are telling me not to see Brock or the Horne brothers again.\u00a0 Is that a demand?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a warning, a very strong warning,\u201d Ben nodded, as he released his grip on the boy.\u00a0 \u201cI hope you\u2019ll take heed to it, Joseph.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCan I go now?\u201d Joe asked, his facial expression showing his displeasure over all that his father had addressed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRemember what I\u2019ve said, Joseph.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to go over this again.\u00a0 And, also remember about those chores of yours.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah I\u2019ll get to those chores, since I don\u2019t have anything else to do with my life.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a family, Son, and we all have our own work to do around here.\u00a0 As a part of the family you are expected to do your share.\u00a0 I don\u2019t give you all that many chores, but those that I do give you, I expect you to get done.\u00a0 There\u2019s plenty of time left over to do whatever else you want to do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs long as I do exactly as I\u2019ve been told to do in regards to having friends,\u201d Joe answered, still very upset.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben lifted his son\u2019s chin and stared directly into his eyes and responded sternly, \u201cI think we\u2019ve been through this now, Joseph.\u00a0 Don\u2019t make me repeat myself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe broke away from his father and walked towards the staircase.\u00a0 He felt like he had when he was much younger.\u00a0 Joe felt as though he was being treated differently from his brothers and it ate at his insides.\u00a0 He also didn\u2019t know what he\u2019d do about seeing his friends now.\u00a0 Defeated in spirit, Joe climbed the stairs heading up to his bedroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss pulled the last of the fence posts out of the wagon and walked over to where his little brother waited.\u00a0 They had been working since sunup and had gotten a lot accomplished.\u00a0 Joe helped his brother ease the post down into the hole they both had dug earlier.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the last one, Little Brother,\u201d Hoss smiled and patted his brother\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ve sure been a big help today.\u00a0 I missed you yesterday.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe shoveled in the loose dirt and didn\u2019t reply.\u00a0 He had been in deep thought.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u00a0 You hear me, Boy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally looking over at his brother Joe replied, \u201coh sure, Hoss.\u00a0 I\u2019m glad to be out here helping you.\u00a0 It beats herding the strays with Adam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou ain\u2019t still mad at him, are you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe shouldn\u2019t have gotten involved,\u201d Joe addressed the topic of his eldest brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss helped move the remaining soil into the hole, securing the post and looked down at Joe.\u00a0 \u201cHe wasn\u2019t trying to get you into hot water with Pa. \u00a0 He was just worried about those rough necks you\u2019ve been hanging around with.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe shook his head and groaned.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t tell me you\u2019re gonna give me a lecture like Pa did last night?\u00a0 I was hoping you would be on my side.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Brother, it has nothing to do with being on your side!\u00a0 That Brock kid is bad news.\u00a0 He\u2019s got a bad temper and a quick trigger finger.\u00a0 We just don\u2019t want you getting in trouble.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, so you think I\u2019m not smart enough to stay out of trouble just like Pa and Adam, huh?\u201d\u00a0 Joe answered indignantly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, sometimes it don\u2019t have nothing to do with being smart enough.\u00a0 It comes down to being in the wrong place with the wrong people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s just get this done, Hoss.\u00a0 I have other things I need to get to.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss finished packing the soil around the post and tested the set.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s got it now.\u00a0 Next week that wire will come in and we can finish this fence line.\u00a0 What do you need to do now?\u00a0 You gonna get to that firewood at home?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe walked to the wagon with Hoss and climbed up, handing the reins to the team over to his brother.\u00a0 \u201cNo I\u2019ve got other things to do.\u00a0 Just get us back home so I can get Cochise.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss sent the team forward and cast a look over at his brother.\u00a0 He asked warily, \u201cYou aren\u2019t planning on going to see those friends of yours are you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo what if I am?\u201d Joe fired back indignantly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa ain\u2019t gonna like it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWho\u2019s gonna tell him?\u201d Joe asked, shooting a look over at Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not going to run and tell him.\u00a0 But, I don\u2019t want to get in the middle neither.\u00a0 If he comes out and asks me I\u2019m going to have to tell him, Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe didn\u2019t say I couldn\u2019t see them, he just said he strongly suggested I didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss shook his head and replied, \u201cYou know what he meant.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t go asking for trouble if I was you.\u00a0 If Pa used those words he meant you stay away from them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s just get home,\u201d Joe insisted, not heeding his brother\u2019s warning any more than he had his father\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam had just put away his horse and was walking out of the barn when his two brothers appeared pulling up into the front yard.\u00a0 He walked over to them and called out a greeting.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHello there, Brothers!\u00a0 You two get all those posts set?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss hopped out of the wagon and tied the reins down at the footboard.\u00a0 \u201cYep, Joe and I got them all done!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t make eye contact with Adam.\u00a0 He was still very upset that his brother had been talking about him to their father.\u00a0 Joe jumped down from the bench seat and walked away from them both and headed to the barn.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKid\u2019s still mad at me, huh?\u201d\u00a0 Adam asked Hoss frowning.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss nodded and looked towards the parting figure of his little brother.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, Joe\u2019s not too happy with you.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think he\u2019s happy with Pa either.\u00a0 He feels like both of you have been too hard on him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, at least he still likes you, Hoss!\u201d\u00a0 Adam quipped and patted his brother\u2019s shoulder.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss shook his head and replied, \u201cNaw, I told him what I thought about those friends too, and now I don\u2019t think he\u2019s very happy with me either.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat boy just has to learn things the hard way, doesn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Soon Joe was up onto his horse and galloped out of the yard at a fast clip.\u00a0 Before his brothers had a chance to say anything more their father came up alongside them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust where is Joseph off to in such a hurry?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss stared down at the ground, not offering a reply.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want to be the one who had to tell their father.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss?\u201d Ben asked again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not exactly sure, Pa,\u201d he replied, not looking into his father\u2019s eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam stared at his brother and could tell he was keeping Joe\u2019s secrets again.\u00a0 Hoss never had a good poker face.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid he tell you or not?\u201d\u00a0 Ben continued as he neared his middle boy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot in so many words, Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, then in whatever words he said, Hoss,\u201d Ben persisted and forced his son\u2019s gaze.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss sighed, hating to be put on the spot and having to tell their father where the boy had gone off to.\u00a0 \u201cHe might be going to see those friends, Pa.\u00a0 Joe didn\u2019t say for sure that he was.\u00a0 But, well, he kind of gave me the idea that\u2019s where he was heading.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat boy!\u201d Ben exclaimed, exasperated at his youngest.\u00a0 \u201cI just told him last night that I don\u2019t want him to see those boys anymore and he\u2019s right back at it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa — I don\u2019t know for sure that\u2019s where he went.\u00a0 Maybe he\u2019s just out riding to cool off some?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, Hoss, we all know better,\u201d Adam insisted.\u00a0 \u201cYou want me to go on out after him, Pa?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben shrugged his shoulders, unsure of what to do at that point.\u00a0 He knew that there were bad feelings now between his oldest and youngest sons.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t fuss at him, Pa.\u00a0 I promise.\u00a0 I\u2019ll just remind him he needs to get that firewood chopped like he promised you last night.\u00a0 I won\u2019t say anything to those other boys to make him look bad,\u201d Adam assured his father.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben frowned and thought on the situation.\u00a0 Finally looking over towards Adam he said, \u201cYou and Hoss come inside and have some coffee.\u00a0 If he\u2019s not back in an hour you can go out and get him to come home.\u00a0 I\u2019m hoping he\u2019ll come in of his own volition.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss walked with their father into the ranch house.\u00a0 All of them knew in their hearts that Joe never did anything the easy way, and most likely was out with those new friends of his in spite of what his father had warned.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe dismounted behind Brock Davis\u2019 barn and looked over at the other four boys who were sitting cross-legged around a make-shift campfire.\u00a0 He tied Cochise\u2019s reins to a spindly pine tree branch and sauntered over to his friends.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou just missed it, Cartwright!\u201d\u00a0 Brock called over to the other boy.\u00a0 \u201cI had just a few ounces left of my uncle\u2019s whiskey but we just polished it off.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe nodded towards Chris and his other three friends.\u00a0 \u201cI got a bunch of chores heaped onto me so I couldn\u2019t get here any sooner.\u00a0 Did I miss anything besides a little rot-gut?\u201d Joe smiled and took a seat next to the others.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGot in a little target shooting, Joe,\u201d Chris smiled, and reached over and patted his friends arm.\u00a0 \u201cYou should\u2019ve seen Brock, I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever seen any better shooting then he did today.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, where\u2019s your uncle, Brock?\u00a0 I thought he didn\u2019t want us to hang out here anymore?\u201d Joe asked, peering around looking for the man.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s in town, probably at the Silver Dollar wasting his money.\u00a0 We\u2019re planning on going into Virginia City in a little while. \u00a0 We didn\u2019t think you\u2019d make it today, Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI bet his pa rode him about hanging out with the likes of us,\u201d Pete Horne replied laughing over at Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI choose my own friends,\u201d Joe insisted, as he cast a sharp look at Pete.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going into town with us then?\u201d Pete shot back, daring Joe to turn down the invitation with his glare.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe nodded and replied, \u201cI\u2019ll go there for a little while.\u00a0 What\u2019s so important in town anyway, Brock?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Bucket of Blood,\u201d Dev Horne piped up before Brock could answer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe stared over at Dev and then back at Brock.\u00a0 \u201cWhat about it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBruno is an old friend of mine,\u201d Brock began and stood up.\u00a0 \u201cIf I\u2019m there the rest of you can come in without a problem.\u00a0 Heck, I\u2019ll even buy tonight!\u201d\u00a0 He held up a couple silver dollars to show the other boys.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe drew in a deep breath, the idea of going into the bar and drinking out in the open was against his better judgement.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t mind sneaking a few sips of liquor here and there but he knew better than to hang around a saloon. \u00a0 Joe hoped that maybe by the time he was seventeen he could get away with it, but most folks in town knew his age.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou ARE coming, right, Joe?\u201d Chris asked, looking over at his friend.\u00a0 He thought that if Joe was okay with the idea that he\u2019d be more apt to go along with it too.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe shrugged his shoulders and stood up, staring at Chris.\u00a0 He remembered what his father had said the night before about taking Chris over to hang out with Mitch to prevent the boy from getting into trouble.\u00a0 Joe didn\u2019t want the kid to do anything just because he was going to do it.\u00a0 \u201cChris, maybe you should sit this one out?\u00a0 The Bucket of Blood is a rough place from what I\u2019ve heard.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not chickening out, are you, Cartwright?\u201d Pete asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m going!\u201d Joe responded angrily.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen I am too, Joe,\u201d Chris insisted and walked over to get his horse.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay then, Men, let\u2019s go!\u201d Brock sang out and they all gathered their mounts to ready for the ride into Virginia City.\u00a0 It would be one trip into town that they would all come to regret later.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Darkness had fallen over the mining town of Virginia City by the time the five young men had made it to the hitching posts in front of the rowdy Bucket of Blood Saloon.\u00a0 The more elegant Silver Dollar Saloon stood across the street and down a half of a block away.\u00a0 The clientele were more polished there than at the Bucket of Blood, but the drinks cost a lot more.\u00a0 Then there was the owner and bartender, Bruno Gilley, who was much more apt to look the other way if the money was right even if the patron was far too young to be drinking there.\u00a0 So, taking that into consideration, Brock had most often frequented the saloon and had drummed up a friendship with the man.\u00a0 Bruno looked up when Brock walked inside the saloon, followed closely behind by the other four boys.\u00a0 Quickly setting three silver dollars onto the bar, Brock smiled and nodded over to the bartender.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGive me a bottle and five shot glasses, will you, Bruno?\u201d Brock smiled.<\/span><\/p>\n

Without hesitating, Bruno reached for a bottle of the house special, which was rot-gut whiskey.\u00a0 He cast a suspicious eye towards the four young men standing behind Brock.\u00a0 \u201cTake your party there towards the back, Brock.\u00a0 I\u2019d just as soon nobody got nosey,\u201d He whispered, and retrieved the money, placing it inside his apron.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cC\u2019mon, Boys!\u201d Brock sang out and pointed for his friends to follow him.\u00a0 The five of them walked to the back of the bar and settled down at a table.\u00a0 He could tell that both Chris and Joe looked nervous.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s okay, nobody will spot you back here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was just looking,\u201d Chris tried to pretend he wasn\u2019t worried about being seen at the saloon by anyone who might tell his mother about it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDrink hardy!\u201d Brock insisted as he poured the five shots of whiskey, handing each of his friends a glass.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe was first to shoot his down, trying not to choke on the potent whiskey.\u00a0 Chris did the same and handed his shot glass back to be refilled.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTake it easy, Chris,\u201d Joe whispered to his friend.\u00a0 \u201cThis stuff creeps up on you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m good,\u201d Chris replied, wanting to fit in with the others as he saw they had already downed their liquor.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot too bad, is it, Cartwright?\u201d Dev remarked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNope,\u201d Joe nodded and grabbed another shot.\u00a0 This time he sipped it slowly.\u00a0 The last thing he needed was to go home drunk.<\/span><\/p>\n

The five young men made small talk and watched with great interest a few of the barmaids in their scantily clad dresses.\u00a0 They decided they\u2019d take their time swilling the rot-gut in order to enjoy the better part of the evening before the money would run out.\u00a0 None of the five friends were drunk after an hour, but they weren\u2019t feeling any pain either.\u00a0 It was then that a couple of cowhands made it over to their table and started to confront them about their ages.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t look old enough to shave yet, Sonny!\u201d One of the cowboys laughed towards Brock.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you go before I have to plug you?\u201d Brock returned, and let his hand fall down to his holster.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLook at these kids, will you, Bill!\u00a0 They belong in a school house and not a bar.\u00a0 And this one is aiming to get into a shoot out!\u201d the cowhand turned to his friend and motioned towards all the boys at the table, especially Brock.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think we need to give them all a good thrashing!\u201d the other cowhand called and pulled up his sleeves.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was then that a melee broke out, and all five of the boys were drawn into the fracas.\u00a0 Before long the fight spread from the back room of the Bucket of Blood and out to the main room.\u00a0 Tables were broken, the huge mirror behind the bar was smashed and chairs were tossed around.\u00a0 Bruno came out from behind the bar and tried to get to the five boys, to end the fight and prevent his saloon from turning to rubble.\u00a0 That was when all Hell broke out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam Cartwright had followed his brother\u2019s trail from the Ponderosa, to the Davis ranch and from there into Virginia City.\u00a0 He spied Joe\u2019s horse tied up in front of the Bucket of Blood, and as soon as he dismounted, he heard the loud skirmish coming from inside.\u00a0 As soon as he cleared the swinging doors a broken whiskey bottle sailed his way and it crashed onto his right arm, cutting it wide open.\u00a0 Adam winced as he realized he had been cut and saw the blood pouring out.\u00a0 His brother, who had just come out from under a table where he had been thrown in the fight, witnessed what had happened.\u00a0 He side-stepped his way to where Adam stood holding his arm trying to stop the flow of blood with his shirt sleeve.\u00a0 The fight still waged on, and Joe turned to see Bruno get hit over the head.\u00a0 Brock had accidently thrown a chair towards one of the cowhands but had missed and hit the bartender.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdam!\u201d Joe shouted, as he got a good look at the blood still pouring out of his brother\u2019s forearm.\u00a0 He reached for a rag from the bar and attempted to tie if off over his brother\u2019s wound.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s get you over to Doc\u2019s!\u201d\u00a0 Joe sang out loudly over the noise from the brawl.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat in the Hell have you gotten yourself into this time, Joe?\u201d Adam fumed, turning out of the saloon with the boy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s just go,\u201d Joe answered, more concerned with his brother\u2019s injury than how he would explain what he had been doing at the bar.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben peered outside when he heard the approach of the two horses.\u00a0 He had been waiting for hours for both of his sons and had been worried that they had gotten into a fight over bringing Joe home.\u00a0 He moved to the front porch and watched as Joe assisted Adam down off of his horse.\u00a0 It was only when they had gotten right under the porch lamp that Ben had noticed the sling around Adam\u2019s neck holding his right arm.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdam!\u201d Ben exclaimed, and reached out to him.\u00a0 \u201cWhat happened to you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam frowned and moved inside, side-stepping his father.\u00a0 Joe walked behind the two of them not saying a word.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m okay, I just need to get cleaned up and lay down,\u201d Adam called over to Pa.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben cast a questioning look at his youngest and noticed the boy dropped his head down in response.\u00a0 \u201cHow did you get hurt?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll go put away the horses,\u201d Joe whispered and turned out of the house abruptly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet me get cleaned up, Pa,\u201d Adam insisted and headed to the staircase.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss!\u201d Ben bellowed towards the kitchen and the big man appeared.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Pa?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, your brother Adam has been hurt,\u201d He replied and they both walked towards the stairs to find out what had happened.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben helped his son get out of his sling and made sure he had everything he needed in order to change into a nightshirt.\u00a0 Both he and Hoss stepped into the hallway so Adam could clean up a bit and get settled into bed.\u00a0 After a few minutes they both walked inside the room to learn what had happened, and how he had come to be hurt.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam told his father and brother all that there was to tell.\u00a0 He informed them on everything that Joe had confessed to him on their long ride back home that night.\u00a0 Ben was the picture of worry over his son\u2019s injury, even though Adam had told him that Doctor Martin had thoroughly cleansed and sutured his cut.\u00a0 Ben gave his son the pain powders that Doc had sent home with Adam and watched as he eased back against the pillows on his bed after taking the medicine.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, now you know everything that I do, Pa,\u201d Adam sighed and began to settle down.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWas Roy told about this?\u201d Ben questioned, worried about the possible charges.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think he came right after Joe and I left the saloon.\u00a0 Oh and Doc checked Bruno over right as I was getting ready to leave.\u00a0 Fortunately he has a hard head, and is going to be alright.\u00a0 Those boys could\u2019ve had some major charges if he had been hurt bad — or worse!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you too, Brother!\u00a0 That\u2019s some nasty wound you got there.\u00a0 You said you got twelve stitches in you.\u00a0 You\u2019re lucky it didn\u2019t open up an artery or something,\u201d Hoss exclaimed staring at the large bandage on Adam\u2019s right arm.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Adam nodded.\u00a0 He looked over at his father and saw worry mixed with anger in his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cPa — maybe wait until tomorrow to go into this with Joe.\u00a0 I know the kid\u2019s got to be punished but why don\u2019t you hold off?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben stood and sighed, he had to figure out exactly how to handle the situation.\u00a0 It scared him.\u00a0 Just the thought of what could have happened to Adam due to Joe\u2019s disobedience shook him to the very core.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d Hoss sang out.\u00a0 \u201cI think Adam is right.\u00a0 Maybe you should just send the kid to his room until tomorrow?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben turned and looked from one son and then to the other.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re both worried that I\u2019m going to give your brother a tanning, is that it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Sir,\u201d Hoss replied, and Adam nodded.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben shook his head and answered sternly, \u201cThat wouldn\u2019t do any good, that boy needs a longer lasting lesson than a mere tanning would provide.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got an idea.\u00a0 Let me think on it tonight.\u00a0 But, in the meantime I don\u2019t want either of you to give your little brother any quarter!\u00a0 Just ignore him, no matter what he says to you both.\u00a0 Now are we in agreement on this?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam looked over at Hoss bewildered by what their father had said.\u00a0 Finally, growing tired from the medicine, he nodded his acceptance of Pa\u2019s plan thus far.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMe too, Pa.\u00a0 I won\u2019t say nothing to the kid, no matter what he tries to say to me,\u201d Hoss agreed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Boys, now Adam you get some sleep.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be in to check on you in a little while.\u00a0 Hoss go on downstairs but don\u2019t speak to Joseph.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss walked down the stairs while his father lingered for a few minutes in Adam\u2019s room making sure he was going to sleep.\u00a0 Hoss watched as his little brother made it inside the house after tending to the two horses.\u00a0 As soon as he saw Joe he walked away from the kid and headed into the kitchen, never saying a word to the boy<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe stood next to the fireplace and watched in silence as his father slowly walked down the stairs.\u00a0 He cast a worried glance over at Pa, noting the set to the man\u2019s shoulders.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s eyes tracked down to the floor before speaking.\u00a0 He swallowed hard trying to dislodge the lump in his throat before addressing the awful details of what he had done and how he had disobeyed his father.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d\u00a0 Joe began, \u201cIs Adam okay?\u00a0 The Doc said he\u2019s got a lot of stitches, but he should be alright in a few weeks.\u00a0 Did he take those pain powders Doc gave him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben breezed past Joe and headed to his study.\u00a0 He stopped at the table standing just to the left of his desk and poured a quick shot of brandy.\u00a0 Ignoring his youngest son\u2019s questions, Pa stood and slowly sipped the liquor.\u00a0 Joe hesitantly approached his father.\u00a0 He knew he was in big trouble but Joe figured it would be best to just get it over with.\u00a0 By now he was sure that Adam had informed Pa of everything that had happened in town.\u00a0 Joe stood and waited for the shouting to begin. He figured he was also in for one hell of a tanning, so he braced himself for the worst. \u00a0 Silent minutes passed by, and it seemed to the boy that time itself had stopped. \u00a0 Pa continued to stand there speechless, refusing to even look at his son.\u00a0 Joe could imagine what was going through his father\u2019s mind at the time.\u00a0 He figured Pa was debating which to do first, hit his son or shout at him.\u00a0 Joe continued to stare over his way, but there was no sign that his father was going to make the move towards him.\u00a0 Finally, unable to take the silence any longer, Joe nervously called out to his pa.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u00a0 Listen, I know I never should\u2019ve been there at the bar.\u00a0 And, I know I shouldn\u2019t have been out with my friends — not after what you said last night,\u201d Joe tried his best to elicit a response from his father but was having no luck.\u00a0 Pa still stood by his desk, his gaze directed away from the boy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa please say something!\u00a0 Yell at me — tell me how disappointed you are in me — give me a tanning — anything — but don\u2019t just stand there and ignore me!\u201d Joe pleaded.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben set down his glass abruptly on the wooden table top, causing a reverberation that broke the deafening silence in the room.\u00a0 Taking a deep breath and setting his shoulders, Pa slowly advanced to the living room.\u00a0 Joe ran briskly after him, desperately grabbing his right arm.\u00a0 \u201cPa, please!\u00a0 Don\u2019t\u2019 just walk away from me!\u201d he begged his father to look at him or say something.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben finally turned and harshly broke his son\u2019s hold on his arm.\u00a0 He stared down at the boy, his gaze totally devoid of feeling.\u00a0 \u201cI have nothing to say to you,\u201d He responded to his son, his voice cold and hollow in tone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa \u2013 please just tell me what you want me to do!\u201d Joe pleaded with one hundred per cent pain bleeding out in his words.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben turned his back on his son again and answered, \u201cI don\u2019t care what you do, Joseph.\u201d\u00a0 Pa walked away from Joe and headed to meet up with Hoss in the kitchen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe stood all by himself in the living room fighting back tears.\u00a0 He had never felt more regret in his life, nor had he ever felt so all alone.\u00a0 Taking in a deep and painful breath, Joe turned for the stairs to seek the solace of his bedroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben sat in his red leather chair in front of the dying embers of the large fireplace.\u00a0 He had already checked on Adam and found him to be resting peacefully.\u00a0 Hoss had lingered there in the living room, trying to help his pa by his presence.\u00a0 But, after midnight Ben had told his middle son to go to bed and they would address the issue of Joseph the following day.\u00a0 Now, sitting alone into the wee hours of the morning Ben had made up his mind.\u00a0 Though he hated what had to be done concerning his youngest, Pa knew there was no other way to get through to the boy.\u00a0 His stomach churned as his eyes trekked up the stairs.\u00a0 He wished he could have compromised and simply given Joseph a good tanning and maybe restricted him to the ranch but he knew that wouldn\u2019t be the wisest thing to do in the long run.\u00a0 Joe was heading down a dangerous path and Ben knew it was up to him to set the kid straight.\u00a0 He knew what had to be done, and felt it was the only way it could be handled now.\u00a0 Pa wondered if he had been too soft on his youngest and that because he had mellowed a bit over the years, he had let the boy get away with far more than his brothers had at his age.\u00a0 It was time to rein the kid in, Ben was sure that it was for the best, and it would hopefully prevent Joe from becoming a hellion.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want to see the boy ruin his life and Pa knew if he continued rebelling like he had, Joe might end up in some trouble that his father would not be able to bail him out of.\u00a0 With those his final thoughts on the matter at hand, Ben stood wearily and made his way up the staircase.\u00a0 He paused just outside of Little Joe\u2019s room and leaned heavily on the door.\u00a0 Pa wished a million times over that he didn\u2019t have to go through with his plan, but there was no other way.\u00a0 He knew Joseph would survive the punishment, but the harshness of it worried his father.\u00a0 Closing his eyes before continuing to his own bedroom, Ben said a prayer that he wouldn\u2019t lose his son in the process.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe woke too early.\u00a0 He had tossed and turned and he remembered crying out a few times.\u00a0 The few hours he had slept were filled with nightmares.\u00a0 Joe saw his father standing mutely next to his desk, his eyes dark and foreboding.\u00a0 He would awake to the harsh reality that the nightmare had been real.\u00a0 Pulling on his clothes Joe moved towards his bedroom window and peered out.\u00a0 The sun was just breaking over the mountains in the distance.\u00a0 He washed his face in the basin next to his bureau and stared up into his mirror.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s face still showed redness around his eyes from all the tears he had shed the night before.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t know what would be waiting for him downstairs.\u00a0 Joe hoped that maybe, after a good night\u2019s sleep, that Pa might relent and speak to him.\u00a0 At that point, Joe would gladly settle for a tanning without complaint.\u00a0 He reasoned even the pain of a tanning would show that his father still cared about him.\u00a0 Joe drew in a deep breath and headed out of his room.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben sat at the dining table with Hoss as Joe made his way down the stairs and moved quietly over to them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMorning,\u201d Joe called to his father and brother somberly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou want me to check with those men up at the herd today, Pa?\u201d Hoss asked, sipping his coffee, totally ignoring his brother\u2019s greeting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben nodded and set down his coffee cup.\u00a0 \u201cYes, Son, see if they need more help moving those new steers that they cut into the herd yesterday.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hop Sing padded into the dining room and brought out another platter of eggs.\u00a0 Joe looked over at the Oriental member of the family and said, \u201cBreakfast looks good today.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hop Sing removed the empty platter which had held the flapjacks and walked back into the kitchen without a word to the boy.\u00a0 Joe hung his head.\u00a0 It was becoming very apparent that he was going to receive the silent treatment from everyone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d Joe called meekly and tried to force his gaze on his father.\u00a0 \u201cIs it okay if I go and see if Adam wants anything?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben cleared his throat and looked back over at Hoss and said, \u201cI\u2019ll be back before noon.\u00a0 You can check on Adam for me, Son.\u201d\u00a0 And with that, Pa moved over to the credenza to grab his holster and hat.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe ran after his pa and stood at the front door.\u00a0 He watched as the man buckled his gun-belt and tied the rawhide strings.\u00a0 Ben reached for his hat and moved to the door.\u00a0 He could see Joseph was blocking his departure.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa!\u201d Joe yelled and held fast at the door, trying to prevent his father from leaving.\u00a0 \u201cPlease, I can\u2019t take this.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry — I\u2019m sorry for everything.\u00a0 I\u2019ll do anything you want me to do —- just talk to me!\u201d the boy cried, his voice rife with pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben reached for his son\u2019s arm, brusquely pulling the boy away from the front door.\u00a0 Joe tried his best to stop his father from leaving, but Pa had prevailed.\u00a0 He watched from the open door as his father headed to the barn to get his horse.\u00a0 Fighting back his tears again, Joe moved back into the dining room and stood at the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss — please — I need someone to talk to.\u00a0 Don\u2019t you turn your back on me too!\u00a0 Talk to me, will you?\u201d Joe\u2019s plaintive voice sang out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss tried not to look into his little brother\u2019s tear-filled eyes.\u00a0 He knew he would cave in to the boy\u2019s request if he were to do that.\u00a0 Instead, he stood and moved into the kitchen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe dropped down into his chair at the dining table and covered his eyes.\u00a0 He wondered how long he would be getting the silent treatment.\u00a0 Joe figured there was no use going up to Adam\u2019s room.\u00a0 He was sure everyone had been told by Pa to just let him suffer in silence for a while.\u00a0 Finally, pulling from what little internal fortitude he had left in his body, Joe took a sip of coffee and then turned for the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

Making a valiant attempt at redemption, Joe began cutting the wood outside in the pile that had gone unattended for more than a week.\u00a0 Little by little the new pile of split wood began to grow in height.\u00a0 All Joe could think about was trying to find a way to get his father and the rest of the family to forgive him.\u00a0 He realized that not only had he gone against his father\u2019s strong warning to stay away from his new friends but he had also been caught at a bar and in the midst of a brawl.\u00a0 Worse yet was that Adam had been injured because of it all.\u00a0 Joe mopped the sweat away from his eyes with his sleeve and tossed another piece of wood aside.\u00a0 He worked for close to four hours straight and had only taken a break once or twice to grab some water from the bucket next to the front porch.\u00a0 By noon the boy felt he was making decent progress but his strength was diminishing.\u00a0 It was at that moment, when he had finally set down the axe, that Joe spied his father riding up into the front yard.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll take your horse for you, Pa,\u201d Joe offered as he made yet another attempt at breaking the ice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben dismounted and tied Buck\u2019s reins to the hitching post.\u00a0 He never looked over at his son, but instead simply walked past the boy and headed into the ranch house.\u00a0 Joe stood in muted sorrow as he watched his pa walking away from him again.\u00a0 He reasoned that there was no use in following him into the house.\u00a0 It was very apparent that Pa had no intention of talking to him, let alone forgiving him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once back at the job at hand, Joe readied his axe and swung once more.\u00a0 At that moment Sheriff Roy Coffee rode up into the yard, dismounted quickly and walked briskly towards the front door. \u00a0 Joe stopped what he was doing as he wondered why the sheriff headed into the house without speaking to him.\u00a0 That was not like Roy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBen, I seen Joe outside, you want to go get the kid for me?\u201d Roy asked, as he stood just inside the opened front door.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben frowned and walked past the sheriff and made his way out to the front porch.\u00a0 He called out sternly, \u201cJoseph!\u00a0 Inside now!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe heard his name for the first time since the previous night, but it wasn\u2019t being said in a kindly manner.\u00a0 Apprehensively making his way onto the porch, Joe side stepped his way around his father and headed into the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I guess you know why I\u2019m here,\u201d Roy announced.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe looked down at the wood planking and felt his stomach seize into a knot.\u00a0 \u201cNo, Sir.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI got me four boys waiting on a judge come tomorrow.\u00a0 And, you, Little Joe, are number five,\u201d Roy exclaimed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause of the fight in the bar?\u201d Joe asked, his voice sounding strained.\u00a0 He noticed that Pa had come inside and now flanked the lawman.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYep,\u201d Roy nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYou boys really tore up the place.\u00a0 And that\u2019s not even mentioning people who got hurt in that melee.\u00a0 Gotta take you in, Boy.\u00a0 Go get your things.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe breathed in deeply and held the breath.\u00a0 He shot a glance towards Pa and hoped he would finally break his silence.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBen, I hear tell that Adam got hurt in the brawl too.\u00a0 How\u2019s the boy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe has a mess of stitches, but he should heal in time,\u201d Ben replied.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you want to come into town and post bail and maybe pay Joe\u2019s share of the damages, Ben, I can probably release the kid by later tonight,\u201d Roy offered, staring over at his old friend.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe caught his father\u2019s penetrating gaze and held his breath again, hoping for some divine intervention.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph is all yours, Roy.\u00a0 I\u2019m <\/span>quite<\/b> done with him,\u201d Ben announced and turned away from both his son and the sheriff.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe grabbed his hat and his jacket while Roy held on to the boy\u2019s gun and holster.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t know when you\u2019ll have a need for these, Boy.\u00a0 But, I can always keep \u2018em in my safe.\u00a0 Go get your horse we need to head out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust a minute, Roy,\u201d Joe started but was cut off.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s Sheriff now, Little Joe, no more Roy.\u00a0 You\u2019re my prisoner now looks like, so can\u2019t be on a first name basis with you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSheriff — just give me a minute — I\u2019ll be right back!\u201d Joe pleaded with the officer as he dashed away from the credenza and rounded the corner heading off to where his father had gone.\u00a0 \u201cPa!\u00a0 C\u2019mon, Pa!\u00a0 I\u2019ve learned my lesson — I don\u2019t want to go to the jail!\u201d Joe finally came up upon his father standing in the kitchen next to the stove.\u00a0 He ran over to him and put his hand on Pa\u2019s arm.\u00a0 \u201cPa, I know you\u2019re mad but this is serious.\u00a0 Will you please go into town with me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben stood firm, his hands planted on his hips and his feet spread apart.\u00a0 He towered over the boy in that stance, and he wanted that to show now.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, you wanted to make your own choices, well, now they\u2019re yours to deal with.\u201d Pa remarked severely and then called out to the sheriff.\u00a0 \u201cRoy!\u00a0 The kid is in here.\u00a0 Come and take him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Roy appeared around the corner and witnessed the scene between both father and son.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cC\u2019mon, Little Joe, time we headed on into town,\u201d Roy said, taking the boy by the elbow.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe turned his eyes on his father one last time.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t believe that Pa would be this cruel to him.\u00a0 Dropping his head down in remorse and sadness, Joe slowly eased out of the kitchen.\u00a0 Following the sheriff to the door, Joe cast a parting look at the living room.\u00a0 He had no idea how long he\u2019d be gone. Still in his heart he prayed that Pa might relent after a few hours and come and get him out of the jail.\u00a0 Saddling Cochise quickly, Joe mounted the horse and followed Roy into Virginia City.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once Roy and Joe had left the yard, Pa stood out on the front porch holding his hands up to his face.\u00a0 He had done his best to appear aloof and uncaring while the boy was there in front of him.\u00a0 But, now he was finding it harder to stick to his plan then he thought it would be.\u00a0 It had been worse than even he could imagine, and it was just the beginning.\u00a0 ***<\/span>I\u2019m doing this for you, Joseph*** <\/span><\/i>Ben thought to himself.\u00a0 He drew in a deep breath and headed back inside the house.\u00a0 He had an injured son to tend to.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There were four cells in the Virginia City jail and there were five new prisoners for them.\u00a0 Roy had decided that, at least for now, he\u2019d keep them all separated other than the Horne twins.\u00a0 He put the brothers together and Joe, Chris and Brock had their own cells.\u00a0 The sheriff had addressed the new jailbirds in a calm but firm manner.\u00a0 He told them that it wasn\u2019t a school and he wasn\u2019t a nurse maid either.\u00a0 He told them if they were lucky enough and didn\u2019t get charged with a major crime any one of them could probably have their folks post bail and pay for damages.\u00a0 Roy told them they would get food twice a day but it would be seconds from the kitchen down at the hotel.\u00a0 That would mean, if they were all lucky, two day old stew and burnt biscuits.\u00a0 They could have all the water they could drink but it was lukewarm at best.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe sat in silence all that afternoon and evening.\u00a0 He had watched as Chris\u2019 mother had come by and though she was upset with the boy she had told him she loved him.\u00a0 Next was Mrs. Horne and she was a bit more abrupt in manner and had scolded her boys but had taken the time to make them some cookies which she gave them before leaving.\u00a0 Brock\u2019s uncle dropped in, though he was a bit tipsy at the time.\u00a0 He had told the boy that if he won at poker that night that he\u2019d post bail.\u00a0 Brock knew it was a pipe dream but at least the man had come by and hadn\u2019t gotten up in his face about the bar brawl.\u00a0 That just left Little Joe.\u00a0 No-one came to visit him.\u00a0 He had hoped that Hoss, who was known to be the most soft hearted of the family, would have stopped by even briefly.\u00a0 But, that hadn\u2019t happened.\u00a0 Joe felt all the worse knowing his family was sticking to their guns as far as staying angry at him. \u00a0 Still, Joe just couldn\u2019t figure Pa.\u00a0 He shook his head as he wrapped the blanket around his shoulders and listened to the two Horne brothers snoring in the next cell.\u00a0 Joe had never doubted his father\u2019s love before, no matter what he had ever done it was always still there.\u00a0 Yes, he had in times past made the man angry, but never to this degree.\u00a0 Joe wondered if it could be possible that Pa really was, as he had said to Roy, <\/span>quite <\/span><\/i>done with his youngest son. He doubted he could continue to exist without his pa, he meant that much to him.\u00a0 Joe wished he had appreciated what he had and not risked it all by failing to heed his father\u2019s warnings about choosing one\u2019s friends wisely. \u00a0 Joe hoped that exhaustion would take over, as he had done an awful lot of wood chopping before being dragged into town.\u00a0 But, that hadn\u2019t happened either.\u00a0 Every time he closed his eyes he saw the look on his father\u2019s face as he had stood there in the kitchen.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Joe?\u201d the whispered voice from the next cell called out.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Chris?\u00a0 What is it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry I ever got mixed up in all of this.\u00a0 I bet you are too, huh?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe sighed and leaned back against the cold stone wall of his cell.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, I am too.\u00a0 Try and get some sleep, we\u2019ve got a long day waiting on us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry about your pa not coming to see you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe fought back tears and drew the blanket up to his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cThanks — I am too.\u00a0 Get some shut-eye, Chris.\u00a0 I\u2019ll talk to you when they get us up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, goodnight, Joe.\u00a0 If I got to serve any time I\u2019m glad I\u2019m in a cell next to you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, likewise, Kid.\u00a0 Goodnight,\u201d Joe replied and settled back.\u00a0 He wished now that he had taken Chris by to meet Mitch like Pa had suggested.\u00a0 Instead, he had him for a cellmate.\u00a0 Closing his eyes Joe realized what his father had meant about him making his own choices.\u00a0 He had made some very bad ones lately and he knew it.<\/span><\/p>\n

The next day all five boys had been taken down to the Virginia City Courthouse.\u00a0 They sat out in the hallway just outside the main courtroom and waited their turns.\u00a0 First Brock was taken in, then the Horne twins together, and then Chris.\u00a0 Lastly it was Joe\u2019s turn.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe tried not to appear nervous and stood there at the railing next to Sheriff Coffee as the judge entered the room.\u00a0 He had told them all to be seated and Joe used that time to cast a quick look behind him to see if Pa was somewhere inside the courtroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph Cartwright,\u201d the judge called out the name and Joe was signaled by Roy to stand and face the man.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHere, Sir,\u201d Joe addressed the judge.\u00a0 He had seen the man before and knew him to be a decent judge.\u00a0 His name was George Wheeler and Joe remembered the man coming for dinner several years earlier when he was only an attorney.<\/span><\/p>\n

Judge Wheeler looked over the paper in front of him and then looked at Joe.\u00a0 \u201cBen Cartwright, are you present?\u201d He asked, casting a look around the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI am, Your Honor,\u201d Ben\u2019s deep baritone voice sang out from somewhere in the back of the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s heart dropped in his chest.\u00a0 He thought that Pa should be standing up in front somewhere either next to him or maybe behind him.\u00a0 Joe shot a glance around the courtroom trying to see where he was.\u00a0 He finally spotted the man, standing at the very back of the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo you wish to pay for the damages incurred due to the fight over at the Bucket of Blood Saloon?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI do not, Your Honor,\u201d Ben announced stringently.<\/span><\/p>\n

Judge Wheeler looked down at his paper again and then back at Joe.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, there\u2019s several charges here besides the damages.\u00a0 Now, according to my notes you\u2019ve not had any trouble with the law in the past, but this is serious.\u00a0 That fight could have gotten people killed.\u00a0 As it is I see that your own brother was hurt in that fight.\u00a0 What do you have to say for yourself, Son?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe drew in a breath. \u00a0 He was having trouble getting his bearings especially after hearing what his father had said.\u00a0 He knew he\u2019d have to try to say something.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, your Honor.\u00a0 I shouldn\u2019t have been in that bar and I feel bad that anyone got hurt, especially my brother Adam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Judge looked down the aisle and over to Ben Cartwright.\u00a0 He could read the seriousness on his face.\u00a0 The judge had also caught the slight nod of the man\u2019s head as he motioned towards him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBeing sorry isn\u2019t enough, Joseph.\u00a0 If someone had gotten killed you and those other boys would be in a prison wagon heading to Territorial Prison right about now.\u00a0 Now, I have read the report about who threw the bottle that hit your brother and who threw the chair that hit Bruno Gilley.\u00a0 You didn\u2019t do those two things but you were there with those who did do them.\u00a0 I\u2019ve looked at the damages and we figured up who did what and how much.\u00a0 We decided to divide it straight down the middle and all five of you boys will pay equal parts.\u00a0 I take it you don\u2019t have any money on your person, am I right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Your Honor, I don\u2019t have any,\u201d Joe nodded.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe town council has started a new work program.\u00a0 Unfortunately they had to do it due to a bunch of young men around your age who have been acting up around this town.\u00a0 This work program starts tomorrow and I\u2019ve already put the other four boys on the list.\u00a0 I\u2019m adding you to it now as well.\u00a0 Working on that detail will earn the money to pay for the damages that you have caused. \u00a0 Joseph Cartwright, I hereby sentence you to six weeks in the Virginia City Jail doing labor on that work program.\u00a0 The town council will be providing all five of you with uniforms and various jobs.\u00a0 Now, once you\u2019ve served your time you will have a record with Storey County.\u00a0 If you stay out of trouble, once you\u2019ve served your six weeks, I\u2019m going to put you on probation for one year.\u00a0 You\u2019re very lucky that I\u2019m letting you off with a warning about your behavior, and only because neither Mr. Gilley nor your brother Adam are pressing charges on this matter.\u00a0 \u00a0 Now, in that one year\u2019s time, if you haven\u2019t broken any laws then I will have your record expunged,\u201d the judge paused as he caught the question in the boy\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cThat means the record will be removed, Joseph. \u00a0 Do you have any questions before I turn you over to Sheriff Coffee?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Sir, Your Honor,\u201d Joe replied despondently, now having lost all hope of getting out of jail.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSheriff Coffee,\u201d the judge pointed for Roy to put handcuffs on the boy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe watched as Sheriff Coffee locked the steel cuffs down into place over his wrists.\u00a0 Fighting the sinking feeling in his heart, Joe strained his neck to catch a glimpse of his father.\u00a0 He caught Pa\u2019s gaze and saw his frown.\u00a0 Then Joe watched in total despair as Ben simply walked away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe thought he couldn\u2019t possibly feel any worse than he had when he saw his pa walk away.\u00a0 But he was wrong.\u00a0 From the courtroom he was led back out to the original hallway where they all had been seated prior to the hearing.\u00a0 There in front of him sat the same four boys but next to them stood two mothers comforting three boys and one uncle talking it up with his nephew.\u00a0 Joe closed his eyes and hoped they\u2019d be taken back to jail soon, as he didn\u2019t think he could take much more.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was pale blue.\u00a0 It was pale indistinguishable blue.\u00a0 Not robin\u2019s egg blue, not sky blue, simply ugly pale blue.\u00a0 Joe fingered the twill material and looked down at the new monogram he wore.\u00a0 It was just the number five.\u00a0 He was no longer Joseph Francis Cartwright.\u00a0 He was no longer Little Joe Cartwright either.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t even Short Shanks, a name his brother Hoss had given him years ago.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t even say the word <\/span>kid<\/span><\/i>, the title Adam gave him.\u00a0 He was just plain number five now.\u00a0 Joe had watched as the two mothers, Mrs. Hawkins and Mrs. Horne had taken away their boy\u2019s clothing from the jail while their sons changed into their new jailbird garb.\u00a0 Joe even saw that drunken uncle of Brock\u2019s come and take his clothes back home.\u00a0 But he hadn\u2019t had anyone come to take away the gray pants the tan shirt nor the bright green corduroy jacket.\u00a0 Joe had asked Roy if there was somewhere he could stash his clothes for six weeks and the sheriff was non-committal.\u00a0 Six weeks was a life time anyway, Joe thought.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t need to worry about clothes right now.\u00a0 Roy had informed all the family members, at least the ones who had shown up that is, that visiting hour was on Saturdays from eight p.m. to nine.\u00a0 Joe thought on the fact that Saturday was going to be in about four days.\u00a0 He wondered if there was any way possible that his pa could miss him enough by then to maybe stop by.\u00a0 Joe would settle for seeing Hop Sing at this point, but he doubted it.\u00a0 Pa was a stubborn person, but then he had a right to be, Joe guessed.\u00a0 He had made his own way, paid his dues and raised three boys largely all by himself.\u00a0 Joe corrected the number in his head.\u00a0 Pa had raised two boys on his own with little help, the third boy was now a prisoner; one that his father was <\/span>quite<\/span><\/i> done with.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCartwright, if you\u2019re not going to eat your biscuits can I have them?\u201d Dev called out.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShut up!\u00a0 I was going to ask him!\u201d Pete insisted and shot his brother an angry stare.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHere!\u00a0 Take them both, just leave me alone,\u201d Joe replied and tossed both of his biscuits through the bars of his cell and over to the twins.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Cartwright, how come you ain\u2019t eating?\u201d Brock laughed over at Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m full,\u201d Joe spat back.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe misses his daddy, Boys!\u201d Brock laughed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe stood and looked over towards the big mouthed oldest cellmate.\u00a0 \u201cThat ain\u2019t funny, Brock.\u00a0 Cut it out!\u201d Joe fumed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHis pa could\u2019ve bailed all of us out and not even had to open his wallet, but heck he won\u2019t even bail his own son out!\u201d Pete picked up where Brock stopped.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGo choke on a biscuit,\u201d Joe sneered over at Pete.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLeave Joe alone!\u201d Chris came to his friend\u2019s defense.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCut it out all of you!\u201d Roy Coffee shouted as he entered the back of the jailhouse.\u00a0 \u201cThis is not a playground and you are all serving time now.\u00a0 I hear any more yelling I\u2019m going to lock whoever is making the most noise up in the outhouse.\u00a0 Now it\u2019s lights out time so you boys get to sleep.\u00a0 You\u2019re all gonna need it for tomorrow!\u00a0 The work detail starts right after I feed you heathens and it ain\u2019t gonna be no picnic I can promise you that! \u00a0 I\u2019m dousing the light now so no more noise.\u00a0 My deputy is now going on duty and he\u2019s got a headache so cut it out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGoodnight, Chris, and thanks,\u201d Joe whispered and watched as the boy nodded over to him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNight, Joe.\u201d Chris answered and pulled his blanket over his head.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe folded his arms behind his head and stared out into the darkness.\u00a0 He wondered what was going on at home.\u00a0 The word home sounded funny to him, even when just saying it in his head.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t too sure he still had a home.\u00a0 Joe still held out hope that by Saturday someone would come to visit him and hopefully it would be his pa.\u00a0 He closed his eyes and thought on how false hope was better than no hope at all.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The work detail was a grueling one.\u00a0 The town council had decided to employ some new guards who would only have to work during the hours of the detail, but long enough to free up Sheriff Coffee in order for him to get to his own work. \u00a0 Joe took an instant dislike to both of the men.\u00a0 They had to call them Deputy Trailer and Deputy Green.\u00a0 The five boys were told when they were allowed to speak and when they weren\u2019t.\u00a0 They were also told when they could use the outhouse and when they couldn\u2019t, along with when they could get a drink of water or not.\u00a0 The specific job was different each day, some being harder than others. \u00a0 They had been assigned everything from picking up trash to cleaning chimneys to sweeping the sidewalks.\u00a0 There were harder tasks too, and they began after the first few days. \u00a0 Joe hadn\u2019t minded the hard days, as it made the time pass quickly.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t been all that surprised when he was put on a wood cutting detail.\u00a0 It seemed ironic that he had balked about doing the wood chopping there at home and now he would\u2019ve jumped at the chance to be at the Ponderosa doing that chore instead of on a detail doing it for the International House Hotel.\u00a0 But, if they said to cut wood, then Joe did it.\u00a0 He just wanted to make it through to Saturday.\u00a0 The other boys lagged behind him on most days and with most assignments.\u00a0 Brock fussed at Joe saying that he was making everyone look bad by working so hard.\u00a0 But, then Brock also talked about breaking from the detail and running off.\u00a0 Joe had reminded him that he wasn\u2019t Brock anymore he was number one and would be easily spotted in the ugly twill uniform.<\/span><\/p>\n

Saturday finally came and with it was the chance to have a real bath over at a room set up for the five of them at the hotel.\u00a0 The two guards were paid extra money to watch the prisoners as they got settled into the hotel room and were each provided their bathwater.\u00a0 The jailbirds were shown how and when they would get to other chores for the day. They were told to keep a towel around them once they had gotten out of the tub because they would have to wash their own uniforms and wait for them to dry.\u00a0 Joe sat in the small room and watched as his ugly blue shirt waved at him through the window.\u00a0 He hoped it would dry before Roy made it back over to the hotel.\u00a0 By six that night all of the jailbirds, a name they liked over the term prisoners, were rounded up and taken back to the jail where they were fed and waited for visiting hours.\u00a0 Joe ran his fingers through his curly hair, and wished he had a real hair brush.\u00a0 He was afraid to ask Roy for any favors so parting his locks with his fingers would just have to do.\u00a0 The time went by quickly and Joe heard the noise outside of the jail cells.\u00a0 It was eight o\u2019clock and in walked Chris\u2019 mother.\u00a0 She went right over to his cell and pulled him as close as she could and kissed him on the forehead.\u00a0 Joe moved away from the scene as far as he could in the cramped cell next to the other boy.\u00a0 Next came Mrs. Horne and she brought the boy\u2019s older sister with her.\u00a0 They handed out cookies to all of the five boys, but Joe had politely declined.\u00a0 If it wasn\u2019t from Hop Sing then Joe didn\u2019t want it.\u00a0 Not too much later Brock\u2019s uncle showed up and Roy had allowed the man to sit down on a three legged stool and jaw with his nephew.\u00a0 Joe pulled himself up on his cot and was just able to look out of the heavily barred window.\u00a0 He strained to see if there was perhaps a buckskin horse tied up at the hitching post next door.\u00a0 There wasn\u2019t nor did he spot either of his brother\u2019s horses.\u00a0 Joe slunk back down on his cot and pulled his knees up to his chin.\u00a0 He should have known better.\u00a0 Pa had said it, so it stood.\u00a0 He was <\/span>quite<\/span><\/i> done with Joe.\u00a0 It was bad enough that everyone else had someone and he didn\u2019t but now Joe knew that three of his cellmates would be taunting him again about no-one showing up for him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u00a0 My Ma brought me some cake, you want a piece?\u00a0 It\u2019s okay \u2018cause she brought two pieces,\u201d Chris whispered, not wanting the greedier of the boys to hear his offer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe tried to fake a smile and replied, \u201cThanks, Chris — thank you, Mrs. Hawkins.\u00a0 I\u2019m just not all that hungry.\u00a0 I appreciate it though.\u00a0 You two have a good visit, don\u2019t mind me I\u2019m going to grab some shut-eye.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Chris and his mom exchanged glances, knowing the boy in the next cell was having a hard time of it.\u00a0 Deciding to leave Joe alone, Chris moved closer to his mother and told her about his week.<\/span><\/p>\n

The jobs got tougher and so did the long wait for six weeks to be over.\u00a0 Some days it was so unseasonably hot that Joe had wanted to take his shirt off, but he had been reprimanded by Deputy Green that he\u2019d better stay dressed or he could get some corporal punishment.\u00a0 Joe frowned when he had said that, knowing good and well that Roy Coffee would tear into anyone who hurt any of the five boys who he was ultimately responsible for.\u00a0 But, Joe had done as he was told.\u00a0 He took it seriously what Judge Wheeler had told him.\u00a0 Joe knew it wasn\u2019t just the six weeks he had to think about now.\u00a0 There was a year on probation after he served his time and Joe wanted his darn record to be expunged.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

By the fourth Saturday Joe considered himself to be a lifer there at the jail, or at least that was what he felt like.\u00a0 Four times he had watched the other jailbirds get visits from their families and four times no-one came by to see him.\u00a0 This Saturday did bring news, however.\u00a0 Chris\u2019 mother had raised enough to finish paying off his debt and she was bringing it in the next day and he had already been told he\u2019d be getting out.\u00a0 Joe was happy for him, though he was sad to see his friend leave.\u00a0 That night Chris called out to Joe after he thought he heard him crying.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe? Joe, you okay?\u201d Chris whispered, pulling himself as close to Joe as he could get.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe moved over to the bars that separated him and his friend.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, I\u2019m fine.\u00a0 I think I\u2019m getting a cold or something,\u201d Joe remarked and wiped at his eyes.\u00a0 He had let the fourth Saturday finally get to him.\u00a0 Joe never remembered feeling so low.\u00a0 He missed his life and he missed his family.\u00a0 And now, on top of that, his friend was going to leave.\u00a0 Joe knew his father could have easily paid his damages for him, and he could be going home too.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, come see me when you get out, okay?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t promise you anything, Chris.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know where I\u2019m going when my time is up in two weeks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going to go home, right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think I have a home any more.\u00a0 For that matter I don\u2019t think I have a family there waiting for me anyway.\u00a0 But, if I stay anywhere close by I will come see you.\u00a0 But, Chris, you have to do me a favor, okay?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure, Joe.\u00a0 What?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy friend Mitch Devlin lives at a ranch just about five miles from your place.\u00a0 Once you\u2019re all settled go look for him, you can tell him I sent you.\u00a0 He\u2019s a good guy, and one that won\u2019t get you into the trouble like we got into.\u00a0 He likes to hunt and fish and all kinds of stuff you two can do together.\u00a0 So, do that, do that for me.\u00a0 It\u2019s my fault that I didn\u2019t try to get you two together before now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNothing was your fault, Joe.\u00a0 Things just happen.\u00a0 I\u2019ll look up your friend.\u00a0 You take care of yourself, don\u2019t give up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe brushed some spent tears from his eyes, being glad it was dark in the room.\u00a0 He reached through the cell bars and shook Chris\u2019 hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once Chris\u2019 cell was empty the other boys took it upon themselves to really harass Joe.\u00a0 He tried to ignore them and he even had punched Pete Horne while out on work detail.\u00a0 Pete didn\u2019t rat as they were all too close to the six week mark.\u00a0 But he swore he\u2019d get Joe at some other time after they were out of the jail.\u00a0 Joe smiled when he had said that.\u00a0 Lots of luck, Joe thought.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t planning on sticking around after getting free.\u00a0 There wasn\u2019t much of a point to staying around where no-one would even visit you in a jail once a week.<\/span><\/p>\n

The four jailbirds had the roughest last week imaginable.\u00a0 The Golden Curry Mine had been replacing miles of timber which meant the old lumber had to be hauled out of the tunnels and into the street to the waiting wagons.\u00a0 All four boys were completely played out by the time they were taken back to their cells.\u00a0 Only Brock had eaten the first night.\u00a0 Joe had passed out cold the minute he had sat down on his bunk.\u00a0 The Horne twins fought a few minutes before they passed out but they, too, slept through that first rough night.\u00a0 Joe strained his neck looking towards what he thought was his brother Hoss\u2019 horse just down the street from where he worked at the mine.\u00a0 Joe climbed up onto one of the wagons and hoped he could get a better look.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou get down from there, number five!\u201d yelled Deputy Green, spotting what Joe was doing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust a minute!\u201d Joe called down, trying for a better vantage point on top of the rotten lumber.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before Joe could discern if it had been his brother he felt the crack of a piece of wood at his back.\u00a0 Deputy Green was on top of the wagon right next to him and he had flailed a thick hickory stick right at Joe\u2019s backside.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey!\u201d\u00a0 Joe yelled.\u00a0 \u201cI said I\u2019d be right down!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI said now!\u201d The deputy screamed at his charge.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe looked indignantly at the man and had to draw from all he had left inside of him.\u00a0 He was almost at the six week mark of getting out of jail. \u00a0 It was too close to blow it now.\u00a0 Joe eased down off of the wagon and stood rubbing his pants and looking at the deputy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI warned you what could happen, number five!\u201d\u00a0 The other man smiled.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe sucked in air and turned to go remove more wood.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t worth getting more time added to his term just to go after the deputy.\u00a0 But, if he ever saw him when he was free, Joe decided he\u2019d find his own hickory stick and plant it somewhere good.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brock was the first one dressed in his street clothes which his uncle had brought back to the jail.\u00a0 The old drunk had even remembered to bring a comb and Brock tried his best to spruce up before Roy turned the key and let him out.\u00a0 Brock waved to Joe and the Horne twins then he beat a hasty exit out of the jail.<\/span><\/p>\n

The next two jailbirds to be released were the Horne twins.\u00a0 Joe figured that Roy must be letting everyone out using the numeric system as number one and numbers two and three were getting out before he was.\u00a0 He watched as Pete sneered his way towards him and ducked out flanked by Dev who did glance and nod over at Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSheriff Coffee?\u00a0 You\u2019re getting me out now, right?\u201d Joe sang out after all the other cells stood empty.<\/span><\/p>\n

Roy walked back to Joe\u2019s cell and he was wearing a deeply etched frown.\u00a0 From past experience Joe knew the look well.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Sheriff?\u00a0 It\u2019s been six weeks and everyone else has gone.\u00a0 You\u2019re going to let me go today, right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Roy sighed and tried not to reach out to the boy.\u00a0 He had to stay professional though his heart ached for Little Joe.\u00a0 The boy had endured weeks of nobody showing up, taunts by other cellmates and even the crack of a hickory stick which had caught him on the backside.\u00a0 Now he had to tell the kid more bad news.\u00a0 \u201cLittle Joe, here\u2019s the thing.\u00a0 You got those six weeks for the damages but even though that\u2019s now paid in full you still owe for the livery stable.\u00a0 That\u2019s gonna cost you three more days.\u00a0 Now that ain\u2019t all that long, Boy, especially after all you\u2019ve been through.\u00a0 So, just get you some rest without none of those loudmouths to bother you tonight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t understand, what do I owe at the livery?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour horse, Joe, she\u2019s been there since I brung you into town that first day.\u00a0 Well, I can\u2019t let you leave owing anyone since you don\u2019t have no money to your name.\u00a0 So, I spoke to the judge and he said if you\u2019ll finish out the week that your livery bill will be paid and you\u2019ll have that pinto of yours back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe sank down onto his bunk feeling winded.\u00a0 It had never even dawned on him that his pa or at least one of his brothers wouldn\u2019t have come and taken Cochise home.\u00a0 The poor horse had sat around for six weeks like the prisoner that number five was now.\u00a0 Joe drew his hand up to his eyes and tried to push back the tears.\u00a0 He finally spoke up a few minutes later.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSheriff, I \u2013 I\u2019ll work out the week for my horse.\u00a0 I\u2019m kinda tired right now, think I\u2019ll just sleep.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure, Joe, sure you go on to sleep,\u201d Roy replied, feeling bad for the boy.\u00a0 He closed the door to the main room of the jail knowing that Joe just needed a good long cry.\u00a0 Roy figured the kid had earned one.<\/span><\/p>\n

Roy had been correct in his assumption.\u00a0 Just as soon as Joe heard the door being closed he finally let loose with six weeks of tears.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t do that with those loud mouths he had been rooming with, and with his heart hurting the way it was he just needed to get it all out.\u00a0 Joe hoped that the tears spent would be his last and that he would be a hardened jailbird, or number five, when he finally got released in a few days.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll get you out of that darned livery, Cochise,\u201d Joe muttered to himself and then mercifully fell to sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSheriff Coffee?\u201d Joe called out to the man in the next room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Little Joe, what do you need?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I was just wondering — it\u2019s getting kinda late, I am getting released tonight, right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Roy nodded and brought in the keys to the jail cell door.\u00a0 \u201cI was just getting to it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t happen to still have my clothes, do you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Roy sighed and pulled the cell door open and replied, \u201cSorry there, Joe. I looked for them earlier, must\u2019ve gotten thrown out weeks ago while I wasn\u2019t looking.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe frowned but shrugged his shoulders trying to push the memory of his personal clothes away.\u00a0 But, as he stared down at his number his anger was kindled.\u00a0 He hoped his pocket knife was still inside his saddle bags on his horse.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome on here and I\u2019ll set you up with your gun and holster,\u201d Roy directed the boy to the front room.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe breathed deeply, though it still smelled like a jail at least he wasn\u2019t behind any bars.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had them bring you your horse, she\u2019s right outside here.\u00a0 Oh and one of the owners of the Golden Curry said you done such a good job for him these last three days you got yourself a little bonus!\u201d Roy smiled and handed the boy two dollars.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThanks so much, Sheriff!\u201d Joe smiled proudly.\u00a0 \u201cNow I can get some food on my way out of town.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Roy reached over and shook the boy\u2019s hand and grinned over at him.\u00a0 \u201cYou just behave yourself and the next time I see you maybe I\u2019ll let you call me Roy again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe nodded and replied, \u201cI\u2019d like that, Sheriff.\u00a0 I\u2019m awful sorry to have caused you problems and I\u2019m reformed as they say.\u00a0 I\u2019m never going to spend a night in a jail cell ever again.\u00a0 Thanks again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Roy watched as Little Joe walked through the front door in his blue uniform.\u00a0 He had to fight back a smile at the kid.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe rode his horse down to the mercantile and picked up just enough to get him through the night.\u00a0 He settled for a slightly used coffee pot, coffee, some sugar and a couple of cans of beans with an opener.\u00a0 He still had his field gear in his saddle bags so he knew he\u2019d have a fork and a cup which would come in handy to make his first meal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cochise had been fed and given water before Joe had fixed his campfire. Joe had spoken to his friend and apologized thoroughly to the horse for having to stay at the livery stable for so long. \u00a0 He settled the coffee pot just above the flame and anxiously waited on the brew to be ready.\u00a0 Before eating there was something he had been yearning to do for weeks.\u00a0 Joe found his old pocketknife in his saddlebags where he had left it and sat down cross legged in front of the fire.\u00a0 Reaching down he carved a patch of his shirt off.\u00a0 It was just the embroidered number five.\u00a0 He held it in his hands and fought back the memories of the last six weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t allow any open burns around here,\u201d the voice from just outside of the clearing rang out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe sprang to his feet totally caught off guard.\u00a0 He tried to reach for his pistol but he had forgotten that he had slung the holster over his saddle there on the ground.\u00a0 Before he could go for it, a man appeared heading towards him pulling behind a buckskin horse.\u00a0 Joe stared over at his father, his heart pounding in his chest.\u00a0 For some strange reason his first thought was to call the man Mr. Cartwright.\u00a0 The word Pa was stuck securely inside his throat.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a fire five years ago and this is all newly seeded forest.\u00a0 You go put out that campfire,\u201d Ben insisted.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe had wondered for weeks what he would say to his father if they ever were to meet again. \u00a0 Now was his chance, and yet he couldn\u2019t find any words to say.\u00a0 It sounded like Pa was telling him to douse the fire that he had worked so hard to get started.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was just going to have some coffee and be out of here by daylight,\u201d Joe finally responded cautiously.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest.\u00a0 \u201cAfraid not, Boy, you need to put out that fire and pack up that gear too.\u00a0 We don\u2019t allow vagrants either, they usually cause trouble.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe would have cried over what Pa had just said, but he was too shocked to do it.\u00a0 He walked over to his campfire and poured the not yet hot coffee out onto the coals.\u00a0 Joe kicked dirt towards the remaining embers and then headed to pack up his saddle bags, bedroll and the rest of his things.\u00a0 Looking down at his blanket he noticed he had left the carved piece of twill there.\u00a0 Mindlessly he stuffed the material inside his pants pocket.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben watched as Joe cleared the camp, settling his possessions onto Cochise.\u00a0 He swung up onto Buck and watched as his son brought the reins up into his hands.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFollow me back,\u201d Pa called over to the kid and turned his mount towards the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe couldn\u2019t believe his ears, he was absolutely incredulous.\u00a0 One minute he was being ordered out of the thinnest little strip of land that the Ponderosa had, and the next minute he had been commanded to follow the man back to the ranch house.\u00a0 Joe had no idea what was going on, and was half tempted to spur his horse the other way.\u00a0 He knew he couldn\u2019t.\u00a0 Joe had to at least say the words, even if they were the last ones that were ever exchanged between his pa and him.\u00a0 He lightly kicked at Cochise\u2019s sides and came up behind the buckskin horse.\u00a0 Staying behind just far enough, Joe followed his father on home.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben dismounted at the front hitching post and watched as Joe did likewise.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTake these horses into the barn,\u201d Pa called over to the perplexed young man and walked to the front door.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe shrugged his shoulders, still not knowing what to say or do.\u00a0 He figured he was apparently going to stay for a while, but as to how long he was unsure.\u00a0 Pa hadn\u2019t said anything much more than to bark a few orders his way.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t read gladness or any emotion at all on his father\u2019s face.\u00a0 But, then it would\u2019ve surprised Joe far more if Pa had greeted him with a hug.\u00a0 Not asking any questions for the time being, Joe pulled both Buck and Cochise into the barn and got them all settled.\u00a0 He noticed both Adam and Hoss\u2019 horses were not in their stalls so Joe figured that left him alone with his father.\u00a0 Well, of course Hop Sing should also be home, Joe figured, but the Chinaman was none too pleased with him on their last day together.<\/span><\/p>\n

Carefully, as though he was walking on broken glass, Joe entered the ranch house.\u00a0 His eyes fell on the living room.\u00a0 He closed his eyes when he thought back to the day he had tried to etch everything inside the room into his memory, knowing he was leaving for jail.\u00a0 Joe was already starting to worry.\u00a0 Just the thought of facing his father there inside the house again twisted his stomach into knots.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t help remembering how Pa had torn his hand off of his arm the night Joe had tried to stop him from walking away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben walked from the kitchen into the living room where he noticed the boy standing so still.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGo back there,\u201d Ben began, and pointed towards the room he had just vacated.\u00a0 \u201cHop Sing\u2019s got your bath water ready.\u00a0 Go get cleaned up and meet me back in here when you\u2019re done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe still had no idea what was going on and why his father was so concerned about him taking a bath.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t really been welcomed home as far as Joe could tell.\u00a0 There had been no clap of a hand to his back, no arm slung across his shoulder and definitely no sign of a hug incoming either.\u00a0 The fact of the matter was that Pa had offered very few words at all.\u00a0 Joe was still not sure just how long he would be staying anyway.\u00a0 His father had told Roy over a month ago that he was <\/span>quite<\/span><\/i> done with his youngest son, and Joe had yet to find out if that was still the case.\u00a0 When he noticed that Pa was still standing in the exact same spot where he had called out to him a few minutes earlier, Joe shook himself from his musings and headed past the man turning into the kitchen.<\/span><\/p>\n

The bath felt like heaven.\u00a0 The water was just the right temperature not like the freezing bathwater at the International House.\u00a0 Joe allowed himself to momentarily forget about who was waiting for him out there in the living room and what the outcome of any discussion might be.\u00a0 He had dreamed of being home, at least in those first few weeks.\u00a0 After that he wouldn\u2019t allow himself to think he\u2019d ever get to come home.\u00a0 After no-one had shown up on visiting day Joe had tried to trick himself into believing he didn\u2019t care for the Ponderosa anyway.\u00a0 But, once he had watched Chris\u2019 mother lean in through those cold steel bars and press her lips against his friend\u2019s forehead, Joe knew just how badly he missed his pa.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe sat in the tub for a long while trying to get up the nerve to get dressed and face what was waiting for him in the next room.\u00a0 He dreaded putting on that old ugly blue uniform, even though it was now missing the number five from the shirt. \u00a0 Finally getting up the nerve, Joe wrapped one of the towels that Hop Sing had left for him around his waist and took the other one and tried to dry off his curls.\u00a0 He turned towards the chair where he had left the jailbird clothes and dropped his mouth open.\u00a0 His clothes were there, but they were the ones he had left with Sheriff Coffee a month and a half ago.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t a duplicate set as the bright green corduroy jacket was lying there too.\u00a0 Joe shook his head, unable to figure out how they had suddenly appeared.\u00a0 He lifted his shirt up off the chair and saw that it was freshly washed and pressed.\u00a0 Joe pulled on his underclothes and then his pants.\u00a0 He wasted no time doing up the buttons on his shirt, and couldn\u2019t help smiling to know he wasn\u2019t in that ugly blue twill any longer.\u00a0 Pulling on his boots Joe\u2019s glee was gone.\u00a0 There was the matter of talking to his father, the same man who had refused to talk to him six weeks prior.\u00a0 He was the same man who had pushed him away and walked off so coldly.\u00a0 It was the same Pa who had said he was <\/span>quite<\/span><\/i> done with him.\u00a0 Joe closed his eyes and thought on the fact that the last time he had seen Pa, before that night, was there in the courtroom as he was being handcuffed by the lawman.\u00a0 He had just frowned over at him and walked away.\u00a0 Pa had walked away for six straight weeks, never looking back.\u00a0 Now he had to go and face his father. \u00a0 Hesitantly, Joe tried one last time to catch his breath and then he moved out of the bathhouse, through the kitchen and into the living room. \u00a0 Pa was still standing in the same spot.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have some things we need to get out into the open,\u201d Ben began as he watched the boy move across from him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe bowed his head, waiting for whatever was to come.\u00a0 He had positioned himself a good ten or twelve feet from his father at opposing ends of the living room, but still there in front of the fireplace.\u00a0 \u201cYes, Sir,\u201d Joe answered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell?\u00a0 What have you got to say for yourself?\u201d Pa asked his son.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe bit at his bottom lip and tried to stop his heart from beating so hard in his chest.\u00a0 He felt a bit weak at the moment, unsure what was expected of him.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know what to say, Sir.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGo on. Say whatever you think I should hear.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI thought I knew six weeks ago, but I don\u2019t know what I should say now,\u201d Joe whispered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got nothing to say to me now?\u201d Ben asked again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally the dam let loose and Joe\u2019s emotions came pouring out of him.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t have stopped the flow if his life had depended on it.\u00a0 \u201cHow could you walk away from me?\u00a0 How could you say you were <\/span>quite<\/i><\/b> done with me?\u00a0 How could you let me go six weeks without hearing from you or seeing you?\u201d\u00a0 Joe called over to his father, his voice riveting yet having a tremble to it as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFirst of all, let\u2019s address why you were gone for six weeks,\u201d Ben stated firmly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I messed up that\u2019s why. \u00a0 Because I didn\u2019t listen to you either, I know.\u00a0 I let you down, I know that.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got a record now — I know that too!\u00a0 I\u2019ve disappointed you and I\u2019ve shamed my whole family because of all that I did,\u201d Joe answered, fighting for control but losing the battle with keeping his tears from showing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSome of that\u2019s true.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe looked up finally and tried to register what Pa had just said.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s<\/span> ALL <\/b>true,\u201d Joe insisted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, not all of it is true.\u00a0 You don\u2019t have a record.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Staring over at Pa the boy looked so utterly confused.\u00a0 \u201cWhat?\u00a0 The judge said that I do.\u00a0 I know you were there —even though you weren\u2019t up front — that\u2019s what he said, it\u2019s recorded in the county books.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got a record now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben shook his head and replied, \u201cNo you don\u2019t.\u00a0 You got off with a warning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI got off?\u201d Joe asked, his tone showing disbelief.\u00a0 \u201cI got six weeks in jail.\u00a0 I got a record of that.\u00a0 I\u2019m also on probation for the next year.\u00a0 I had to pay for all of those damages to the Bucket of Blood.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou got a warning from the judge.\u00a0 You didn\u2019t pay for the damages I paid for them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe now thought his father was trying his best to confuse him, maybe as some bizarre form of punishment.\u00a0 \u201cMy six weeks on that work program doing just about every kind of hard work paid for the damages.\u00a0 Why are you saying that you paid for them?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked, and this time he had a good amount of hurt in the tremble of his voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou paid <\/span>me<\/b> by working on that program.\u00a0 I settled up with the damages before Roy even took you in to the jail.\u00a0 I also had a meeting that morning with Bruno to make sure there weren\u2019t more serious charges leveled at you.\u00a0 Fortunately your brother Adam decided not to press those charges either.\u00a0 I spoke with the judge, the town council and Sheriff Coffee before I got home that day.\u00a0 I was well aware that Roy was coming here to take you away.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI just don\u2019t understand,\u201d Joe muttered trying his best to piece it all together.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re saying I worked those jobs, I sat in that jail and all not because I owed a debt to society — but that it was to pay a debt I owed to you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben nodded and responded, \u201cThat\u2019s right. Your labor paid me back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean you let me sit in that danged jail for six straight weeks when I didn\u2019t have to?\u201d Joe fought to control his temper, but he couldn\u2019t help that he was getting angry over the charade.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben finally walked closer to his son and said, \u201cYes, I let you stay in that jail.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy!\u00a0 Why would you do that to me?!\u201d\u00a0 Joe sounded out his anger climbing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI did that to teach you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTeach me what?\u201d \u00a0 Joe snapped, hurt and anger now mixing together and coming out in his tone of voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben grabbed his son up by his shoulders and looked piercingly into the boy\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cI wanted to teach you how your life can be ruined by making the wrong decisions!\u00a0 Do you realize what would have happened if anyone in that saloon had been killed?\u00a0 Your own brother could have opened up an artery and bled out before you could\u2019ve gotten him to the doctor\u2019s office!\u00a0 Then there\u2019s Bruno — he took a chair to the head— that could\u2019ve killed him!\u00a0 Then, instead of six weeks in a jail you would\u2019ve been in Territorial Prison!\u00a0 You would\u2019ve been somewhere far beyond my reach.\u00a0 The best I would\u2019ve been able to do then is to get off a letter to you once a month, and most likely you wouldn\u2019t even get that.\u00a0 You think jail is rough?\u00a0 Jail is a Sunday social compared to prison life.\u00a0 Most men don\u2019t last in there a month let alone a year!\u00a0 If you or those friends of yours had killed someone, inadvertently or not, you\u2019d suffer every single day for the rest of your life, and so would I.\u00a0 Your choices have consequences, Joseph!\u00a0 If it took six weeks of sitting in a jail to teach you to listen and make better choices then I\u2019d say you got off easy.\u00a0 It\u2019s better than you living out your days in a prison.\u00a0 It\u2019s better than me going to my grave grieving you!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe couldn\u2019t talk.\u00a0 He tried to focus in on what all Pa had said to him.\u00a0 Joe could feel the intensity in his father\u2019s grip on his arms, and it frightened him.\u00a0 \u201cOkay,\u201d Joe apprehensively began, \u201cI know now why you went along with getting me put in jail.\u00a0 But, what about all those weeks when you never came to see me?\u00a0 No-one came to see me.\u00a0 I was the only one in that whole jail who didn\u2019t have anyone.\u00a0 Do you <\/span>know<\/b> what that did to me?\u00a0 Do you <\/span>care<\/b> what that did to me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSix weeks of being alone, huh?\u201d Ben addressed what the kid had said.\u00a0 \u201cNo-one visiting you on all those Saturdays, right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d Joe nodded, his bitterness bleeding out in his words.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was there every Saturday,\u201d Ben announced.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe shook his head, \u201cNo, you <\/span>NEVER<\/b> came!\u00a0 Everyone else had a parent or some relative.\u00a0 Everyone but me!\u201d Joe insisted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was there, Joseph.\u00a0 I was right there in Roy\u2019s office from eight o\u2019clock until nine every single Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen why didn\u2019t I see you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t there so <\/span>you<\/b> could see <\/span>me<\/b>, I was there so <\/span>I<\/b> could see <\/span>you<\/b>.\u00a0 I would sit in Roy\u2019s office.\u00a0 I could see you from my vantage point, but you couldn\u2019t see me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI still don\u2019t understand — why even bother to come to the jail if you didn\u2019t let me know?\u00a0 It\u2019s worse now that I know you were there and didn\u2019t even come and tell me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben drew in a deep breath and his face took on a severe look once again, \u201c<\/span>You<\/b> were the one who needed to learn a lesson, Joseph.\u00a0 <\/span>I<\/b> didn\u2019t need to be punished or taught.\u00a0 But, <\/span>you<\/b> did.\u00a0 <\/span>I <\/b>went there to see <\/span>you.<\/b> \u00a0 I went there to make sure you were okay.\u00a0 I also went into your cell at least once a week.\u00a0 Roy would let me in after lights out and when we knew you were good and asleep I\u2019d sit there on your bunk right next to you.\u00a0 I\u2019d just sit there and look at you and thank the good Lord that you hadn\u2019t ended up in prison for what you had done. \u00a0 I did that every week, for six weeks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll just to teach me a lesson,\u201d Joe shook his head, still not understanding it at all.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do I have to say to get you to understand?\u00a0 I told you before all of this that you were one of the fortunate ones!\u00a0 Do you understand that there are a lot of boys your age who don\u2019t have anyone who cares enough to do what I did?\u00a0 Do you think it was easy on me, or easy on your brothers for that matter?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI just wish you had hit me, yelled at me, or sent me to my room.\u00a0 Anything would\u2019ve been better than six weeks of thinking you didn\u2019t care about me,\u201d Joe continued to go back to the way it had all begun.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know that\u2019s what you would\u2019ve preferred, Joseph!\u00a0 That\u2019s why I didn\u2019t do any of those things.\u00a0 You have taken your whole family for granted, when there are plenty of boys your age who would give anything to have what you do!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>What do I have?<\/b>\u201d Joe replied bitterly, his tears coming back from the reminder of all of the weeks he sat alone in his jail cell while the other boys had family around.\u00a0 All that time Joe truly felt like he had nothing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben shook Joe\u2019s shoulders roughly trying to get through to him, \u201c<\/span>What do you have?!<\/b>\u201d he shouted to the rafters.\u00a0 \u201cWhat do you have?\u00a0 You have two brothers who would give their lives for you! \u00a0 That\u2019s what you have!\u00a0 You have a home and you have people to care for you! \u00a0 That\u2019s what you have!\u00a0 You have a father who has loved you every single minute of your life!\u00a0 That\u2019s what you have!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry — I\u2019m sorry — I shouldn\u2019t have said it,\u201d Joe cried remorsefully, as he saw the pain very evident all over his father\u2019s face.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben slowly eased up on the grip he had on his son\u2019s shoulders, finally releasing him altogether. \u00a0 He turned his back away from the boy momentarily as he readied to make his final statement.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo, now, Joseph, we\u2019ve come to the hardest part of this whole ordeal.\u00a0 I told you that you had to deal with those bad choices that you made and you served your six weeks, perhaps learning about choosing more wisely in the future.\u00a0 But, you have one last big choice to make.\u00a0 I won\u2019t make this choice for you, it\u2019s something that\u2019s only yours.\u00a0 The two choices are these, if you choose to stay here and be a member of this family then you can choose to go on up to your room.\u00a0 I will expect you to be an active member of this family and that means you have responsibilities.\u00a0 You may not like some of those, but that\u2019s what it takes to be part of this family.\u00a0 You also have to listen more to what you are warned about.\u00a0 I don\u2019t expect you to be perfect, because none of us are.\u00a0 But, you are expected to do your best.\u00a0 Now that\u2019s one choice.\u00a0 The other choice is that you can take the clean clothes on your back, which I did steal from Roy\u2019s office by the way. And you can go out the same door you came in a little while ago.\u00a0 You can leave, take your horse and go anywhere you want to.\u00a0 That\u2019s your choice.\u00a0 As much as it would hurt me, I\u2019m telling you that if you choose to do that, then you\u2019re on your own and that\u2019s when I will be <\/span>quite<\/b> done with you.\u00a0 So, you decide, Joseph.\u00a0 You can go to your room and stay and be a part of this family.\u00a0 Or you can go and I will wish you well.\u00a0 Make your choice, Joseph, and you\u2019ll get no resistance from me either way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe looked over at the front door and then his eyes sought the staircase that led to his bedroom. He stared up at his father.\u00a0 Joe hadn\u2019t been able to call him \u201cPa\u201d since he had left home six weeks ago.\u00a0 Even now, he was finding the word still lodged in his throat.\u00a0 Pa hadn\u2019t shown him any kind of outward affection ever since he\u2019d come through the front door, and he wasn\u2019t sure if it would ever be offered to him again.\u00a0 The six weeks apart had hurt their relationship there was no doubt about that.\u00a0 But, there also was no doubt as to which choice Joseph Cartwright would be taking that night.\u00a0 He looked up into his father\u2019s eyes and asked, \u201cIf it\u2019s okay with you, Sir, I\u2019d like to go on up to my room.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben drew in a deep breath and then nodded over to his son.\u00a0 \u201cThat would be fine.\u00a0 And tomorrow when both of your brothers get home I\u2019ll be expecting you to give them both an apology.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Sir,\u201d Joe nodded.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, they left the rest of that wood that you need to cut and stack,\u201d Ben made the mention of the chores that his son had left behind.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Sir,\u201d Joe responded quietly.\u00a0 \u201cIs it okay for me to go up to my room now?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes it is,\u201d Pa answered and watched his son take his first couple of steps up to his bedroom.\u00a0 Once he had heard Joe\u2019s bedroom door close there was one last thing he needed to do.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe entered his bedroom noticing that the lamp was already lit.\u00a0 He presumed that Hop Sing had taken care of it while getting the room ready earlier.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s eyes surveyed all of the things that he had missed for so many weeks.\u00a0 His hand fell to the footboard of his bed and then touched on the soft quilt on top of the feather mattress.\u00a0 Joe was still missing something.\u00a0 He missed his father, the way he had been with him prior to the whole bar incident.\u00a0 Joe could only hope that their relationship would grow tighter in the weeks ahead.\u00a0 He was tired, and decided that he had enough of worries for one day.\u00a0 Walking to the head of the bed to pull down the blankets so he could simply crawl under them, Joe noticed something lying up by his pillow.\u00a0 He pulled the book up and looked at it.\u00a0 Joe knew it was his father\u2019s Bible and stuck between the pages was a white sheet of paper.\u00a0 Puzzled over why Pa would have left his Bible there like that, Joe pulled the paper out and stared down at it.\u00a0 It said simply Luke chapter fifteen verse thirty-one.\u00a0 Joe thumbed through the New Testament and found the correct spot.\u00a0 He held the book down just underneath his lamp to get a good look at the careworn page.\u00a0 The verse said, <\/span>\u201dAnd he said, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Joe set the Bible down and convulsed in tears full of sorrow and joy.\u00a0 He knew why Pa had left the verse out.\u00a0 Joe knew that it had been the story of the prodigal son.\u00a0 He figured Pa had left the statement there to show how he really felt, even if he couldn\u2019t yet show his son due to all that had happened.\u00a0 Joe knelt down alongside of the bed, just as he had back when he was a child in prayer.\u00a0 Closing his eyes Joe prayed for the first time in many months.\u00a0 He hoped that God had heard his request.\u00a0 It was then, just when Joe had begun to get off of his knees, that he heard the sound of the door opening.\u00a0 He turned to see his father standing there in the doorway and watched as he took a few steps inside of the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d Joe called out quietly, in total disbelief.\u00a0 He thought he had forgotten how to say the word \u201cpa\u201d as it had been so long in coming.\u00a0 But, it had come out second nature to him now just seeing the look on his father\u2019s face.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben walked slowly to the end of the bed, stopped and cast a loving smile at his youngest kneeling there on the floor.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome here,\u201d Pa called softly, holding out his arms to the boy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t hesitate or even take another breath.\u00a0 He hurried into the waiting arms of his pa.\u00a0 He felt those arms pulling him to his chest and Joe couldn\u2019t help but sob out his relief towards the man who now held him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWelcome home, Son.\u00a0 I\u2019ve missed you. \u00a0 I love you,\u201d Ben whispered and bent down and softly kissed his son\u2019s forehead.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI love you too, Pa,\u201d Joe whispered against his father\u2019s vest, so happy that his prayer had been answered so quickly.\u00a0 For the rest of his life he would never forget that moment.\u00a0 It was the moment he had come home for good.\u00a0 It was the moment Joseph Cartwright had finally realized how much love it had taken for his father to have let him go in order to help him find his way back home.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Epilogue:<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe wiped at his eyes and placed the small piece of material over on his night stand.\u00a0 The remembrance of his days spent at the Virginia City jail had gotten to him and now he had to put it all behind him again.\u00a0 Joe tried to think of happier times and he did have to fight back a smile when he remembered some of those things that Pa had let slip over the years.\u00a0 He had told Joe about taking his clothes from Roy and bringing them home to be ready for his son\u2019s triumphant return.\u00a0 Ben had also let Joe in on the fact that Roy Coffee had aided and abetted him on a lot of things, including the two dollars he had given Joe.\u00a0 The owner of the Golden Curry hadn\u2019t given the boy the money. \u00a0 His father had given it to Roy to give to his son.\u00a0 Pa had also brought Cochise back from the Ponderosa, where she had been well cared for during the whole six weeks of her master\u2019s incarceration.\u00a0 Roy and Ben didn\u2019t think it would hurt Joe to spend a few days on his own there at the jail to think on all that he\u2019d gone through before going home.\u00a0 That had also assisted Pa so he could be ready there in town to watch Joe heading out and see where he would choose to camp that night.\u00a0 Ben had found it amusing that his son had chosen to bed down for the night right there on the ranch that he had insisted was no longer his home.\u00a0 Joe had taken all of the little dribs and drabs of information to be rather amusing in hindsight.\u00a0 He felt relieved to know his father had never been far away during his imprisonment, though unbeknownst to Joe at the time.\u00a0 Ben had even mused to Joe that instead of a fine robe being brought out for his prodigal son, like in the parable, he had chosen the green corduroy jacket.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe walked over to his desk, having a sudden urge to write to his friend and former cell mate. \u00a0 Chris, the only other surviving jailbird, had straightened his life out very well after his time served.\u00a0 His mother had scraped up the money to send the boy off to college back east and he was excelling.\u00a0 Joe pulled a piece of paper out of the cubby hole in his desk and grabbed the pen and inkwell.\u00a0 He began to compose the letter.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dear Chris, or number four,\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know if you\u2019ve heard yet, but we lost another one of our cellmates.\u00a0 My Pa told me that Brock was killed trying to hold up a bank in Tucson.\u00a0 That just leaves you and me now.\u00a0 I ran into your Ma the other day and she told me you\u2019re doing great!\u00a0 I\u2019m really proud of you.\u00a0 Not much new here, Pa keeps me busy, and so do my brothers.\u00a0 I saw Mitch the other day too, and he said if I wrote to let you know he misses you.\u00a0 I do too.\u00a0 Your Ma said you might be able to come during Christmas break.\u00a0 That would be great.\u00a0 Maybe you and I could go and check out the Bucket of Blood? (Just kidding of course!)\u00a0 Write me back when you can get away from all that learning stuff.\u00a0 Hope to see you at Christmas.\u00a0 Keep up those grades!\u00a0 Your friend — Joe\u00a0 —\u00a0 or number five! P.S.\u00a0 I think my Pa was right, you and me are two of the fortunate ones!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Joe secured the letter in an envelope and sealed it up.\u00a0 Then exhaustion had finally taken over.\u00a0 He moved to his bed and crawled under the covers.\u00a0 Right before he closed his eyes a thought came to him.\u00a0 He knew what he needed to do first thing in the morning.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben heard the sound coming from outside and he was puzzled.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss had left a few hours ago and he had presumed that Joseph was still fast asleep in his bed.\u00a0 He decided to venture up to his youngest son\u2019s room, to see if that was the case before checking on the noise from outside somewhere.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe tossed another piece of chopped firewood on the ever-growing pile.\u00a0 He drew up another block of wood and slammed the heavy sledge hammer down onto the wedge.\u00a0 Joe pulled back the splintered wood and fought with the wedge again.\u00a0 It had been slow going but he was making progress in finishing the chore he had put off for several days.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben walked across the front porch and stared down at his son.\u00a0 He watched quietly for a few minutes, not wanting Joe to see him.\u00a0 Finally, fighting a smile, Ben spoke out.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe mopped his forehead with his shirtsleeve and turned towards the sound.\u00a0 \u201cOh, hi, Pa!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben stepped down into the yard and was astounded to see over a cord of wood cut and stacked over on one side and another half of a cord sitting over to the left of where his son stood.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat brought on this diligence to get your chores done, Joseph?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe shrugged his shoulders and fought for an answer.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know, Pa.\u00a0 I guess — well — I\u2019ve been putting it off and it needed to get done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben shot his son a knowing smile and reached over and patted the boy\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cThis wouldn\u2019t by any chance have to do with me telling you about Brock last night?\u00a0 Did it bring back old memories of chores not done in the past?\u00a0 Or was it memories of your time behind bars that did it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u00a0 I never gave that another thought,\u201d Joe insisted, though his eyes gave away the truth.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben nodded and then drew out the envelope which he had put in his pocket.\u00a0 \u201cI saw this on my desk a little while ago.\u00a0 It was with the mail I\u2019m sending off.\u00a0 Did you happen to write Chris last night?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh — no — I wrote that a while ago, never got around to handing it over to you to get mailed, Pa.\u00a0 I got it off of my desk this morning and figured since you\u2019re going into town today it might just as well go out too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben grinned over at the boy, amused by his terrible acting abilities.\u00a0 He tucked the letter back into his vest.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll mail it for you, Son.\u00a0 Well, don\u2019t let me stop you, looks like you\u2019re almost done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019m almost there,\u201d Joe sighed, and pulled up another piece of wood to split.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben climbed up the steps to the porch and stared over at his son again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Joseph?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe turned his attention back to his father and replied, \u201cYes, Sir?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben held out a small ugly blue piece of cloth which bore an embroidered number five on it.\u00a0 \u201cI thought you were still in your room so I went up to wake you.\u00a0 I found this on the floor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe sent a wry smile over at his father.\u00a0 He had been caught now.\u00a0 Joe knew his father was well aware of what had been on his mind the previous night.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, that old thing?\u00a0 Wonder where it came from?\u201d Joe feigned ignorance about his former jailbird number and why it had been stashed in his room as a keepsake.\u00a0 He walked over and reached for it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure, Joseph, maybe you should ask Roy about it?\u201d Pa teased.\u00a0 He knew it was okay now.\u00a0 The two years since Joe\u2019s time in lock-up had been spent clearing up any differences between both father and son.\u00a0 Those old wounds had long since healed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe shook his head, amused by the way the two of them could now joke about what had been such a traumatic experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLeave me alone, I\u2019ve got to get back to my chores or Sheriff Cartwright here will get onto me,\u201d Joe insisted, as he tucked the piece of cloth into his pants pocket.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHop to it number five!\u201d Ben called out sternly.\u00a0 He gave his son a quick wink, and then turned back for the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The End<\/span><\/p>\n

2-12-2025 \u00a0 (Happy Birthday, Lorne\/Pa)<\/span><\/p>\n

Dedicated to Pat, for all your support<\/span><\/p>\n

(And to my story consultant Rob)<\/span><\/p>\n

**I hope this story will replace that awful story \u201cRaising the Stakes<\/a>\u201d which I wrote over twenty years ago.\u00a0 Now I\u2019m <\/span>quite<\/i><\/b> done with hearing about that one! ***<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Summary: Little Joe couldn’t believe it when Pa turned his back and walked away. Adam had been injured and it was Joe’s fault and Ben refused to get him out of the charges or even post bail. Now after six weeks in the Virginia City jail Joe must face Pa for the first time and make a tough decision about his future. A lesson about love, the tough kind.
\nRating T\u00a0 (word count 21,290)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":140,"featured_media":50495,"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":[1015,23,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-50494","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"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1569,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Joe-behind-bars.png?fit=522%2C411&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":18622,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=18622","url_meta":{"origin":50494,"position":0},"title":"The Dead of Night (by PSW)","author":"PSW","date":"October 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Little Joe has an unsettling night.\u00a0 Written for the October 15 Pinecone challenge, and expanded a bit for the Halloween Challenge. Rating: G\u00a0 Word Count: 633","rel":"","context":"In "Short Stories"","block_context":{"text":"Short Stories","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=8"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Moon-Blind.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Moon-Blind.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Moon-Blind.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6506,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6506","url_meta":{"origin":50494,"position":1},"title":"One Shot (by rh2006fan \/ HeatherF)","author":"heather","date":"May 4, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0\u00a0 A normal trip to the saloon turns tragic. I wrote this back in the summer, you may need some tissues with this too... Warning: Character death Rated:\u00a0 T (1,450 words)","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\/2014\/02\/coming-soon-9.jpg?fit=320%2C240&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":22994,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=22994","url_meta":{"origin":50494,"position":2},"title":"Jeremiah (by Hart4Ben)","author":"Hart4Ben","date":"June 26, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Hoss has an unusual gift for Little Joe. A prequel challenge piece. 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Rated:\u00a0K\u00a0 Word count:\u00a0658","rel":"","context":"In "Alternate Universe"","block_context":{"text":"Alternate Universe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/ponderosa-lj.jpg?fit=640%2C475&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/ponderosa-lj.jpg?fit=640%2C475&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/ponderosa-lj.jpg?fit=640%2C475&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46055,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=46055","url_meta":{"origin":50494,"position":4},"title":"Some Never Learn (by BettyHT)","author":"BettyHT","date":"October 9, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: A prequel story in which Joe finds there are consequences for telling lies and getting even, and how you pay the price for those sooner or later, but will it change his way of thinking?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rating: PG\u00a0 Word count: 1,316","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\/06\/Lake-Tahoe.jpg?fit=600%2C563&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Lake-Tahoe.jpg?fit=600%2C563&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Lake-Tahoe.jpg?fit=600%2C563&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14401,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14401","url_meta":{"origin":50494,"position":5},"title":"Surprise! 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