{"id":5050,"date":"2003-05-07T23:24:06","date_gmt":"2003-05-08T03:24:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5050"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:07:59","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:07:59","slug":"too-much-love-can-kill-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5050","title":{"rendered":"Too Much Love Can Kill You (by Rona)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 <\/strong>An unknown marksman targets Joe’s family and friends. Who is behind all these attacks? And will Joe survive finding out the killer’s identity?<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 T \u00a0 \u00a0(10,890 words)<\/p>\n

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

Too Much Love Can Kill You<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019d you manage that?\u201d Hoss asked, admiringly. \u201cThey ain\u2019t bin in town but a couple a weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNatural charm, big brother,\u201d Joe Cartwright responded, with false modesty. \u201cJust my natural charm and good looks.\u201d He stuffed a forkful of food into his mouth and chewed innocently, avoiding his brother\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean you were the first one to ask,\u201d Adam, the oldest son responded, dryly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat too, perhaps,\u201d Joe agreed, after swallowing. \u201cBut Lucy\u2019s the prettiest girl, ain\u2019t she?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho are we talking about here?\u201d Ben asked, perplexed. \u201cI don\u2019t believe I know this family.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Watsons, Pa,\u201d Adam said, snaffling the last chop from under Hoss\u2019 fork. He gave his brother a smile. \u201cThey moved into Peterson\u2019s old place a few weeks ago. He\u2019s got something to do with one of the mines, I forget which one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow did you meet them, Joe?\u201d Ben asked. He did recall hearing about their arrival.<\/p>\n

\u201cLucy and her mother were in the store when I went in last week,\u201d Joe said. \u201cMr. Cameron, the storekeeper, introduced us. I met Lucy again when I was in yesterday and asked if she\u2019d like to go to the dance tomorrow night. She said yes, and when her mother came in, her mother agreed, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust goes to show that your reputation hadn\u2019t preceded you for a change,\u201d Adam remarked, hiding a smile as his younger brother spluttered into indignant denials. \u201cMrs. Watson would never have let you near Lucy otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam,\u201d Ben said, in gentle reproof, but he couldn\u2019t help smiling. \u201cSo, are there more children?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot that I\u2019ve seen,\u201d Joe said, shooting Adam a dark glance that promised vengeance at some future date. \u201cBut I\u2019ve only met her twice, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re slipping, younger brother,\u201d Adam said, rising to his feet. \u201cI bet you don\u2019t know how old the young lady is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s where you\u2019re wrong, older brother,\u201d Joe rejoined. \u201cShe\u2019s 19, as it happens.\u201d He grinned. \u201cI always get the pertinent facts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, get these pertinent facts,\u201d Ben said. \u201cTime and chores wait for no man.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taking the hint, they all went back to work.<\/p>\n

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

Next evening, Joe carefully dressed in his best and bore his brothers\u2019 teasing with equanimity. The buggy was already hitched and he set off in plenty of time, wanting to impress his date\u2019s parents. He knew the house they lived in well, as it had previously belonged to the family of one of Joe\u2019s schoolmates.<\/p>\n

He knocked on the door and was delighted when Lucy opened it herself. Joe allowed himself a moment to savor her beauty before he said, \u201cLucy, you look wonderful!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Joe,\u201d she responded. \u201cWon\u2019t you come in while I get my wrap.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following her inside, Joe cast a quick look round, noticing the changes in the house since he had last been there. It also allowed him the chance to drink in Lucy\u2019s beauty again. She was small, her head barely clearing his shoulder, and slender, with long red hair and green eyes. Her skin was fair and she projected an air of extreme fragility that Joe found enchanting.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, you must be young Cartwright,\u201d said a voice from behind Joe, and he turned to see an older man standing there. \u201cHow d\u2019you do, young man.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine, thank you, sir,\u201d Joe replied, shaking hands. He could see at once that Lucy bore a strong resemblance to her father, and from him she got her green eyes and red hair. Mr. Watson\u2019s coloring was fading, but his hair still had a reddish tinge to it. \u201cThank you for allowing me to take Lucy to the dance. I promise to get her back at a decent hour.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy 11.30,\u201d Watson said, genially. \u201cLucy isn\u2019t so delicate that she\u2019ll wilt if she stays out late.\u201d He smiled and so did Joe, instinctively liking this man. \u201cHave a good time, young man. I\u2019ve heard a lot about you and your family, and I\u2019m told Lucy is in safe hands.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d Joe said. He crooked his arm towards Lucy, who had reappeared with a dark purple wrap over her lilac dress. \u201c11.30,\u201d he said. \u201cGood night, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHave a good time, Lucy,\u201d Watson said, kissing his daughter\u2019s cheek. He watched them go, and then turned to his wife. \u201cI like that young man,\u201d he said. \u201cI hope it all works out.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

After a few moments initial shyness, Lucy soon thawed to Joe\u2019s charm and by the time they reached the hotel, they were fast friends. By then, Joe had discovered that she was an only child, although an older brother had died in infancy. Her father was part owner of many mines around the country, not just in Virginia City, but he had decided they would move there to help her mother\u2019s chronic bronchitis.<\/p>\n

Once inside the hotel, Lucy\u2019s shyness returned for a few minutes, until Joe began to introduce her around. The young men Joe\u2019s age were smitten with her at once, and many of them tried to persuade her to abandon Joe for a dance, but she resolutely refused them all. Joe was flattered.<\/p>\n

Finally, he spied his family arriving, and took Lucy over to meet them. \u201cPa, Adam, Hoss, this is Lucy Watson. Lucy, my father and brothers.\u201d Joe beamed with pride as he saw Ben\u2019s eyes open a bit wider.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow d you do?\u201d Ben said, taking her hand and smiling gently at her. As the boys had said, Lucy was a beauty. \u201cI\u2019m so pleased to meet you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLikewise,\u201d Lucy said, eyeing Adam and Hoss askance as Joe joked with them about their late arrival. \u201cJoe has mentioned you to me.\u201d Lucy smiled at Adam as he took his turn bowing over her hand, and Hoss blushed as he muttered something that she didn\u2019t catch.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, yeah, all right, family, this is my date, hands off,\u201d Joe said, jokingly, and Lucy gave him her best smile. \u201cWe\u2019re going to dance. See you folks later.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour family seems nice,\u201d Lucy said, as they headed back to the dance floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, they are I guess,\u201d Joe agreed. \u201cPa is the best, and so is Hoss. Adam and I don\u2019t always see eye to eye, but he\u2019s always there for me. Guess we\u2019re pretty lucky that we get on so well, working together an\u2019 everything.\u201d Joe smiled at her. \u201cBut I don\u2019t want to talk about my family tonight. Tonight, I want to talk about you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smiling, Lucy instantly felt more secure. She had had a moment of panic when his family appeared, but she was reassured by his interest in her. \u201cFlattery will get you everywhere,\u201d she said, coyly, and was delighted when Joe laughed.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cNot Lucy again,\u201d Adam said, as Joe came downstairs after supper in clean clothes. \u201cHave you run out of other girlfriends, or is this serious?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re jealous, big brother,\u201d Joe said, cheerfully, as he buckled on his gun belt.\u00a0 \u201cYou weren\u2019t quick enough off the mark, and you hate to admit it!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I don\u2019t know about that,\u201d Adam responded, rising and joining his brother by the credenza. \u201cI would say that it\u2019s you who wasn\u2019t quick enough off the mark this time. I think the young lady has set her hat at you, and you\u2019ll be the next Mr. Lucy Watson in no time at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHa-ha, very funny,\u201d Joe responded. \u201cShe\u2019s a nice girl, and I like being with her, but it\u2019s not love for either of us. We\u2019re just having fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tapping Joe on the shoulder with the book he was holding Adam warned, \u201cJust be sure Lucy knows that, all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, trust me,\u201d Joe said, grinning. \u201cJust because you have problems handling women doesn\u2019t mean that I do. Lucy and I are just friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust remember to invite me to the wedding,\u201d Adam said, as Joe sailed out of the door. Little did he know that his words would come back to haunt him.<\/p>\n

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

The summer evening was scented by the many fragrant flowers growing in the Watson\u2019s garden. Joe didn\u2019t know the names of most of them, but he didn\u2019t care. He gave his attention to Lucy, not the blooms that surrounded them as they sat by a little table and sipped lemonade. Joe was a little surprised that Lucy didn\u2019t have more friends, as they had been living in Virginia City for more than a month now. But she never mentioned any of the town girls her own age, and when Joe brought the subject up, she answered curtly and started talking about something else.<\/p>\n

The one thing that seemed to endlessly fascinate her was Joe\u2019s life at the ranch. She wanted to know all the details of his days, and asked questions so she could understand more clearly what it was he did. Joe was flattered. Now, Lucy said, \u201cWhat are you doing tomorrow, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s my day off,\u201d Joe answered, grinning. \u201cMitch and I are going fishing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMitch?\u201d Lucy said, sharply. \u201cWho\u2019s Mitch?\u201d<\/p>\n

Somewhat surprised at her tone Joe said, \u201cHe\u2019s my best friend. We were at school together. He works on another ranch, and we made arrangements to go fishing on his next day off. That\u2019s tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see,\u201d Lucy said, coolly. Joe looked at her. This was something he had seen periodically over the last couple of weeks, and he had put it down to the fact she didn\u2019t know many people and found it difficult to picture the people he mentioned. Now, he wasn\u2019t so sure. She gave Joe a smile, which he returned. \u201cSo what\u2019s he like, this Mitch?\u201d<\/p>\n

As he described his friend, Joe wondered about Lucy\u2019s change of attitude. To begin with, she had wanted to know everything about the people he knew, but as she realized how wide Joe\u2019s circle of friends was, she had stopped asking. Joe wondered if she was jealous, but it wasn\u2019t something he felt he could ask her yet. \u201cWe\u2019re meeting near my mother\u2019s grave,\u201d Joe said, having already shown Lucy the grave.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope you have a nice day,\u201d she said, but her tone wasn\u2019t convincing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cVisiting with the minister\u2019s wife, I believe,\u201d Lucy answered. She laughed. \u201cI\u2019d rather go fishing with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy next day off, I might just take you up on that offer,\u201d Joe said, teasingly. \u201cOr we could go on Sunday after church?\u201d<\/p>\n

Before Lucy could say anything, Mrs. Watson appeared. Joe recognized this for the signal that it was time he went home. He rose politely as Mrs. Watson joined them. \u201cIt\u2019s growing late, Joseph,\u201d she said, reprovingly, as she had developed the habit of doing. \u201cYou won\u2019t be able to get up for work tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, ma\u2019am,\u201d Joe said. \u201cThank you for your hospitality. Good night, Lucy. I\u2019ll see you soon, I hope.\u201d<\/p>\n

As he wove through the garden to where he had left Cochise, Joe could feel the women\u2019s eyes on him all the way. He wondered if they talked about him after he had gone. Mounting, he grinned into the growing darkness. Adam would chide him for having a big head, and Joe wondered if in this case, his older brother might not just be right. Joe patted the black and white neck in front of him. \u201cWell, let\u2019s not tell him, huh, Cooch?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The pinto snorted in agreement.<\/p>\n

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

There wasn\u2019t much fishing going on the next day. Joe and Mitch were more in the mood for just relaxing. They each had their poles with them, and they were dangling in the water, but very little attention was paid to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard about the new girl you\u2019re seein\u2019,\u201d Mitch said. \u201cI hear she\u2019s a beauty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou got that,\u201d Joe said. \u201cShe sure is. Little bit of a girl, slim as a wand, and gorgeous. Her folks are nice, too.\u201d Joe then amended that. \u201cWell, her Pa is. He likes me real well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHasn\u2019t he heard about you, Joe?\u201d Mitch teased. \u201cYou belong to the girl of the week club!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not that bad,\u201d Joe returned, lazily, then shot Mitch a sideways look. They both burst out laughing. \u201cYou\u2019re just jealous, Mitch. The girls all prefer a good-looker, like me!\u201d<\/p>\n

Making an outraged noise, Mitch jumped on Joe and they wrestled for a few minutes before both breaking off and laughing again. Joe thumped Mitch affectionately on the back. \u201cCome in to the next dance and I\u2019ll introduce you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI might take you up on that,\u201d Mitch replied. He rose to tuck his shirt back in, and there was a sudden singing in the air. Before either of them could react, an arrow struck Mitch in the back, knocking him off his feet.<\/p>\n

In an instant, Joe was covering his helpless friend, his gun drawn, peering warily around. There was no movement, and no one to be seen. For several minutes, Joe crouched there, waiting for the next arrow to come his way, but when nothing happened, he gradually relaxed and turned his attention to getting help for Mitch.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cThere was no way I could leave Mitch to try and find who shot him,\u201d Joe concluded. He looked tired and worried. Paul Martin said Mitch would be all right, that the wound wasn\u2019t too serious, but Joe had had a worrying few hours as he got his injured friend to help.<\/p>\n

Sheriff Roy Coffee nodded. \u201cCourse not, Joe,\u201d he agreed. \u201cYou couldn\u2019t leave Mitch. We all understand that. You go an\u2019 get some rest. We\u2019ll have a look around, but I don\u2019t think we\u2019ll find anythin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wearily, Joe rose and headed back out to his horse. Ben, who had come into town to be with Joe, followed closely behind, his hand resting on his son\u2019s shoulder, giving him support. Outside in the street, Joe paused and looked at Ben. \u201cI don\u2019t understand this, Pa,\u201d he said. \u201cWho would want to shoot Mitch? Why?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Ben answered, troubled. His unspoken fear was that the arrow was actually intended for Joe, not Mitch. But he couldn\u2019t add to his son\u2019s burden. He pulled Joe towards him and cradled that curly head on his shoulder for a moment. He could feel Joe lean into his warmth and start to relax. After a moment, Joe straightened up and smiled at Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Pa,\u201d he said, and Ben nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go home,\u201d he said. Together, they mounted up and headed back towards the ranch.<\/p>\n

From the shadows, Lucy watched, her mouth tight with anger.<\/p>\n

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

Over the next few days, Joe was very subdued. He performed all his chores, but his mind clearly wasn\u2019t on them. Every night, he rode over to visit Mitch, who was at home and on the long road to recovery. Both young men spent hours puzzling over who had shot at Mitch and came up with no answers. But it was Mitch who finally voiced Ben\u2019s fears. \u201cWhat if they weren\u2019t shooting at me?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t think of anyone who\u2019d be shooting at me,\u201d Joe returned. The thought had crossed his mind a few days earlier, although he hadn\u2019t said anything to anyone. \u201cI haven\u2019t fallen out with anyone recently.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt can\u2019t even be a jealous lover,\u201d Mitch said, trying to lighten the atmosphere. \u201cBecause the only person Lucy has gone out with is you!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGuess I\u2019d better be getting back,\u201d Joe said, glancing out of the window and seeing that it was getting dark. \u201cTake care.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou, too, Joe,\u201d Mitch said, and his voice was deadly serious. For the first time, Joe realized how vulnerable he was, riding home alone in the growing darkness.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be fine,\u201d he said, more to convince Mitch than himself. \u201cI\u2019ll see you soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

He stood for a moment on the porch, gathering his courage to ride home. Joe much preferred to face danger head on. He hated this kind of insidious threat. Joe\u2019s way was to have a confrontation, deal with the problem and accept the consequences. Taking a deep breath and squaring his shoulders Joe walked to his horse, mounted and rode home with his head held high, defying the mysterious shooter to do their worst.<\/p>\n

He arrived home unmolested.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cHow\u2019s your friend, Joe?\u201d Mr. Watson enquired, when Joe came to collect Lucy for the dance on Saturday night. Although Joe had seen Lucy mid-week, Mr. Watson hadn\u2019t been at home.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s getting better, thank you,\u201d Joe replied. Mitch was now allowed out of bed, and seemed to be recovering quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a terrible thing,\u201d Watson said, shaking his head. \u201cHas the sheriff any idea who is behind this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, sir,\u201d Joe admitted. \u201cAll we know is that it wasn\u2019t an Indian.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you know that?\u201d Watson asked, interestedly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe arrow was made by a firm who specialize in archery equipment,\u201d Joe said. Beside him, Lucy caught her breath. \u201cThey are quite common, I\u2019m told. Manufactured by the hundreds.\u201d He sighed. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t help us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I can see that,\u201d Watson said. The tall case clock began to chime and he started. \u201cWell, I mustn\u2019t keep you young people from your fun. See you later.\u201d He gave Lucy his customary kiss on the cheek and they left.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was nice of your Pa to ask after Mitch,\u201d Joe said, as he handed Lucy into the buggy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose,\u201d Lucy said, ungraciously and Joe frowned.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll I seem to hear about these days is Mitch!\u201d Lucy burst out petulantly. \u201cEveryone is talking about it!\u201d<\/p>\n

Taken aback, Joe struggled to find words. \u201cWell, it\u2019s worrying,\u201d he said, finally, thinking that perhaps she was reacting like this because she was scared. \u201cBut it seems to be a one off incident. Please don\u2019t worry, Lucy, I won\u2019t let anyone harm you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you wouldn\u2019t, Joe,\u201d Lucy said, and smiled softly at him.<\/p>\n

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

Their evening passed pleasantly, although Mitch\u2019s name was mentioned more often than either Lucy or Joe liked. However, the young couple did their best to forget and enjoy themselves, and they mostly succeeded.<\/p>\n

When the time came for Joe to take Lucy home, she was rather taken aback to find Ben, Adam and Hoss waiting for them by the buggy. She slowed suspiciously, and shot a questioning glance at Joe. Before he could say anything, Ben spoke up. \u201cGood evening again, Lucy. I hope you don\u2019t mind us joining you, but I\u2019m sure you understand that we\u2019re a little concerned for Joe\u2019s safety right now, and we thought we\u2019d accompany him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI would think Joe\u2019s perfectly safe in the town,\u201d Lucy said, haughtily, and Ben made a deprecating face.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a chance I\u2019m willing to take,\u201d he said. \u201cBut don\u2019t worry; we won\u2019t cramp your style.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve heard that one before, Pa,\u201d Joe said, and Ben laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut aren\u2019t you safe in town?\u201d Lucy demanded as they drove home. True to his word, Ben and the others kept a discreet distance behind.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Joe answered. \u201cBut you can\u2019t blame Pa for being worried, I guess. It would be worse if he wasn\u2019t worried about me.\u201d He made a face. \u201cYou gotta remember that he does all the worrying alone. My Mama died when I was small, and we\u2019re real close.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can take care of yourself, Joe,\u201d Lucy said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I can, when I can see the trouble coming,\u201d Joe agreed. \u201cBut something like this \u2013 well, all I can hope is that one of them sees the arrow coming and sings out in time for me to duck.\u201d He laughed. \u201cI\u2019d rather they weren\u2019t playing gooseberry, too, but I\u2019d sooner that than an arrow between my shoulders!\u201d<\/p>\n

Stopping the buggy at her door, Joe assisted her down. She tilted her face up to him. \u201cYou may kiss me if you\u2019d like,\u201d she said, softly.<\/p>\n

Smiling at the innocence of the remark, Joe bent his head and gave her a chaste kiss on the lips; a kiss of friendship. He liked Lucy, but he wasn\u2019t in love with her, nor did he think he would ever be. They were friends, nothing more and he thought Lucy felt the same way. She had never led him to believe otherwise.<\/p>\n

That kiss told Lucy many things too, and she glared back at the shadowy figure of Ben and his other two sons. It was their presence that was inhibiting Joe. She knew it was. Somehow, she had to make sure that she and Joe were alone in future. \u201cGood night,\u201d she whispered, and slipped in the door.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cCome on, Pa, I\u2019m a big boy,\u201d Joe said, impatiently. \u201cYou can\u2019t keep following me around. There hasn\u2019t been anyone else shot, and we can\u2019t still assume that whoever it was is still around. I need to get back to normal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that, son,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cI just find it hard not to worry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I know that. But what are you going to do? Follow me around for the rest of my life?\u201d Joe smiled at Ben. \u201cI know you\u2019re worried, but we can\u2019t go on like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, Joe, you win,\u201d Ben capitulated and watched as Joe went out to mount his horse and ride into town alone. He was still uneasy about Joe\u2019s safety. Just because there hadn\u2019t been another attempt simply meant, to Ben, that his surveillance was working. But it wasn\u2019t fair to Joe, and he knew it wasn\u2019t fair to the girl Joe was seeing. Lucy had made it quite plain that she didn\u2019t approve of one or another of Joe\u2019s family following him about all the time.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you let Joe go on his own?\u201d Hoss said, as Ben came back into the house.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Ben said, dryly. \u201cHe has a point. I can\u2019t follow him about for the rest of his life. Joe\u2019s an adult; he can take care of himself.\u201d He went over to his desk and drew out a letter he had to answer, but his mind wasn\u2019t on the closely written pages in front of him. He was thinking of Joe, riding off alone. He abruptly came to a decision. \u201cHoss, I\u2019ve got to go into town. I\u2019ll be back in time for supper.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, Pa\u2026\u201d Hoss protested. He was too late, Ben was already out of the door and gone.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cNow this is more like it,\u201d Lucy teased, as she walked arm in arm with Joe along the main street.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d Joe asked, looking down at her. After almost a month of seeing her, Joe was seriously thinking of breaking off the relationship. He felt that he knew Lucy no better than he had that first date, and he didn\u2019t want to lead her on.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo chaperone,\u201d she said, gesturing behind them. \u201cWhat happened? How did you persuade them to leave you alone?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa isn\u2019t unreasonable,\u201d Joe said, \u201cand he knew he couldn\u2019t follow me around for the rest of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought he was going to though,\u201d Lucy said, tartly, and Joe frowned.<\/p>\n

\u201cLucy, he\u2019s my father. He\u2019s worried about me, and I can\u2019t blame him. We never have found out who shot at Mitch.\u201d Joe couldn\u2019t understand Lucy\u2019s unreasonable attitude towards his family. He supposed it was a natural reaction to having them close by all the time. He decided a change of subject was in order. \u201cWhat have you been doing with yourself since I saw you last?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, not much,\u201d she replied evasively. Joe was frustrated. She never told him what she liked to do, or who her friends were. As though sensing this, she said, \u201cI have been practicing my pianoforte more recently. Mama thinks I might be good enough to play for some of the Sunday services in time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know you played,\u201d Joe said, delighted that she\u2019d finally opened up and told him something about herself.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you play?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Joe replied, laughing. \u201cAdam\u2019s the musical one in our family. He plays the guitar.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam,\u201d she repeated, wishing that Joe didn\u2019t keep mentioning his family. \u201cJoe, I promised Mama that I wouldn\u2019t stay out very long, as I have to practice some more. Mama wants me to play for some ladies who are coming round tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d Joe agreed, and Lucy wished he hadn\u2019t agreed so quickly.<\/p>\n

However, she did want to practice, but it wasn\u2019t the pianoforte. Lucy was an expert marksman with rifle, pistol and arrows. She had been honing her skills for many years, as her father taught her all the things he would have taught a son. For a long time, she couldn\u2019t see any use for her skills, but when she fell in love with Joe, they were suddenly the most useful things she had. True, her shot at Mitch hadn\u2019t killed him as she had intended, but he was still off work, and Joe hadn\u2019t been seeing as much of him as before.<\/p>\n

As they neared Lucy\u2019s home, they were both surprised by a voice hailing, \u201cJoe!\u201d<\/p>\n

Turning, Joe said, \u201cWhat are you doing here, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, something came up I needed to deal with. I just thought I\u2019d see if you were about ready to head for home, that\u2019s all.\u201d Ben smiled to cover his true feelings. \u201cHello, Lucy. How are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine, thank you,\u201d Lucy answered, shortly. \u201cGoodbye, Joe.\u201d She left him without a backward glance, and when Joe called her name, she didn\u2019t look back.<\/p>\n

Retrieving Cochise, Joe wondered what to say to Ben. He had seen through his father\u2019s lie at once, and clearly so had Lucy. \u201cWere you just worried about me, or do you want me to stop seeing Lucy?\u201d he asked, sourly as they cleared the city limits.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2026\u201d Ben began.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all right, Pa, I know the answer,\u201d Joe said. \u201cBut I thought we\u2019d agreed that I\u2019m old enough to take care of myself?\u201d He spurred Cochise to a gallop, leaving Ben behind ruing his impulsive decision to follow Joe.<\/p>\n

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

All that evening, Joe was sulky, despite Ben\u2019s apology. However, Joe knew that his father meant well, and came out of the sulks as he went to bed. By morning, Joe had decided that if his father\u2019s interference had brought his relationship with Lucy to a close, he wouldn\u2019t complain too much. Joe hated to end relationships, and he sensed that Lucy would be very upset. However, when he went in for supplies a couple of days later, Lucy was at the store and she greeted him just the same as always.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo escort?\u201d she asked, and Joe overlooked the snide tone of voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m all alone,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoin\u2019 to the dance, Saturday, Little Joe?\u201d asked the storekeeper. \u201cTakin\u2019 this little lady, if I\u2019m not mistaken.\u201d<\/p>\n

Turning her green eyes up to him, Lucy was smiling slightly in anticipation. Joe cursed Cameron\u2019s interference, for he hadn\u2019t planned to ask anyone to the dance, preferring to let it be seen that he was finished with Lucy, and ready to start a new relationship. Now, he had little choice but to ask Lucy. She accepted with alacrity.<\/p>\n

As Joe packed the last of the supplies onto the wagon, Cameron said, \u201cWill I be seein\u2019 your father at the Cattleman\u2019s Association Meetin\u2019 tonight, Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir,\u201d Joe responded. \u201cPa said he\u2019d be there. Starts at 7, don\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell him not to be late,\u201d Cameron said, jokingly. \u201cI want an early night tonight!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll tell him,\u201d Joe assured him with a grin.<\/p>\n

\u201cSee you on Saturday, Joe,\u201d Lucy said, before walking away. Joe watched her go, and sighed. Well, he would finish it with her on Saturday. She was obviously expecting it too, even though she didn\u2019t want it to happen. Joe wondered if Cameron had been primed to ask him about the dance. Sighing again, he shook up the team and headed for home.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cIsn\u2019t it time you were thinking of going to bed, Joe?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa isn\u2019t home yet,\u201d Joe responded, not taking his eyes from the checkers board in front of him. \u201cIt can\u2019t be that late. Besides, Adam, I\u2019m a big boy now, I can please myself what time I go to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIts nigh on midnight,\u201d Adam commented, and the three sons suddenly looked at each other, concern writ large on their faces. \u201cPa shouldn\u2019t be this late,\u201d Adam said, tightly.<\/p>\n

An inexplicable fear rose in Joe\u2019s throat and choked off his breath. He swallowed frantically, and with relief was able to gasp in a lungful of air. \u201cOh no,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt might be nothing, Joe,\u201d Adam said, crossing to crouch beside Joe. \u201cDon\u2019t go borrowing trouble.\u201d He shot a glance at Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam\u2019s right, Shortshanks,\u201d Hoss said, but his voice was less than convincing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got to look for him,\u201d Joe whispered. His breath was still coming in short, panicky gasps. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Troubled, Adam rose to his feet, and they all heard the hooves galloping into the yard. As one, they went to the door, and opened it to find Clem Foster, the deputy, there. Joe sagged the moment he saw Clem\u2019s face and Adam caught him before he fell. \u201cWhat\u2019s happened?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour Pa was shot by a mystery gunman as he left town tonight,\u201d Clem said, his face grave. \u201cHe\u2019s with the doc right now, but he\u2019s been hurt bad. Hurry.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

The ride into town was agonizing for the brothers. Joe was so pale that Adam feared he wouldn\u2019t be able to keep his seat, but they arrived in Virginia City without Joe fainting. They dismounted in front of the doctor\u2019s office, and Joe hesitated. Adam noticed at once. He\u2019d been keeping an eye on his younger brother. \u201cJoe? What is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow can I face Pa?\u201d Joe whispered. \u201cThis is all my fault. What if he\u2019s\u2026?\u201d Joe couldn\u2019t bring himself to say the word \u2018dead\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t your fault,\u201d Adam said, roughly. \u201cHow can it be, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

The face that turned to look into Adam\u2019s was strained and white. \u201cMitch got shot, and now Pa. The only connection they have is me. Adam, don\u2019t you see? This is my fault. This person is trying to get at me through them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know that at all,\u201d Adam chided, but he secretly thought Joe\u2019s reasoning was spot on.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t imagine why anyone would want his baby brother dead, but that was what it seemed like at the moment. \u201cCome on, we\u2019ve got to see how Pa is.\u201d He put his arm round Joe\u2019s shoulders and compelled the younger man inside.<\/p>\n

The waiting room was dimly lit, but the lights blazed in the inner room. Adam and Joe went through to join Hoss, their hearts in their mouths.<\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright lay on the bed, his face pale. Paul Martin, the town doctor was listening to his heart as the boys went in. He nodded, seemingly satisfied, and took the earpieces out of his ears. \u201cAdam, Joe, Hoss. Well, he\u2019s stable, which is more than I hoped for when he was brought in here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cClem said he was shot,\u201d Adam said. He sounded totally calm, but Joe could feel his brother\u2019s arm trembling.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was hit in the back,\u201d Paul said. \u201cYour Pa was lucky. The bullet missed all his vital organs and his spinal cord. But I won\u2019t lie to you. He\u2019s lost a lot of blood, and I can\u2019t guarantee that I didn\u2019t do any damage when I was digging the bullet out. He\u2019ll be here for the next week, at least, till I see how he\u2019s doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Paul,\u201d Adam responded, although he was horrified. \u201cHas Roy been here?\u201d Joe slipped away from the support offered by Adam and went to sit by Ben\u2019s bed. He took hold of his father\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoy has been and gone,\u201d Paul nodded. \u201cHe went to see what he could find.\u201d Paul\u2019s eyes fell on Joe and he inclined his head slightly. Adam shrugged and made a face. He thought Joe was coping all right so far. But he had no idea how Joe would cope if Ben died. For that matter, he had no idea how he would cope.\u00a0 He joined his brothers by the bed.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cYou want me to go to the dance?\u201d Joe said, disbelievingly. He stared at Adam as though his brother had lost his mind. \u201cPa\u2019s lying in a bed at the doctor\u2019s and you want me to go out dancing? How shallow do you think I am?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think you\u2019re shallow at all, Joe,\u201d Adam answered, impatiently. \u201cBut it\u2019ll do you good to have a break. Pa told you to go, too, so what\u2019s the problem?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just don\u2019t want to,\u201d Joe muttered. He felt a curious reluctance to spend time with Lucy right now. He could appreciate that he needed a break from sitting by Ben\u2019s bedside, but he didn\u2019t think taking a girl dancing was the answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI already told her you were coming,\u201d Adam said. \u201cIt\u2019ll do you good, Joe. Trust me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d Joe said, but the rebellious set to his mouth told Adam that Joe was heading for a temper flare-up of mammoth proportions.\u00a0 \u201cBut next time, let me set up my own date, all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, I\u2019m sorry,\u201d Adam said, hoping that if he backed down Joe would calm down. \u201cI won\u2019t interfere in your love life again.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

It seemed incredibly unreal to Joe that he was standing in the hotel, dressed in his best, while his father lay seriously ill a few streets away. Ben was doing better than anyone could have hoped for, but he was still not quite out of the woods yet. He was very weak, and the three boys spent hours each day by his bedside, encouraging him to get better. Ben had urged Joe to go to the dance, but Joe felt completely detached from his surroundings and wished he were at home.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s the matter, Joe?\u201d Lucy asked, as he stumbled once more as they danced.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Joe apologized. \u201cI just don\u2019t feel like I should be here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Joe, why not?\u201d Lucy asked, sounding hurt.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt just seems wrong, with Pa so ill, that\u2019s all,\u201d he said. Lucy\u2019s attentions seemed very cloying tonight, and Joe knew he couldn\u2019t go on seeing her much longer.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that all?\u201d Lucy scoffed, and Joe could feel the heat rising in his face. He took a desperate hold of his temper.<\/p>\n

At that moment, the music stopped, and Joe led Lucy outside and along the balcony a bit. \u201cDon\u2019t you understand?\u201d he said. \u201cMy Pa was shot! My best friend was shot! It could be me next!\u201d<\/p>\n

Shaking her head Lucy said, \u201cI know, Joe. But don\u2019t you realize? I love you, and I know you love me. My love will keep you safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taking a step back, Joe knew this had to end here. \u201cLucy, I\u2019m sorry, but I don\u2019t love you. I think it\u2019s best if we don\u2019t see each other again. Shall I see you home?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t make this kind of decision now,\u201d Lucy said, aghast. \u201cYour emotions are in a turmoil; you don\u2019t know what you feel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do, and I\u2019m sorry if you are hurt, but I don\u2019t love you. Shall I see you home?\u201d Joe wanted nothing more than to get out of there.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, don\u2019t bother!\u201d she snarled. \u201cBut you\u2019ll see, Joe Cartwright, that you belong with me! You\u2019ll see!\u201d She stormed off along the balcony and Joe let her go. He was drained and shaken by her venom. A promising friendship had been ruined because he hadn\u2019t had the sense to end the relationship before Lucy got hurt.<\/p>\n

Later, Joe wasn\u2019t sure how long he sat perched on the balcony rail. Finally, he stood up and made his way to where his horse was, and rode home. More than ever, he wished he hadn\u2019t gone.<\/p>\n

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

Answering the knock on the door, Lucy was surprised to find Adam Cartwright standing there. He had his hat in his hand and he smiled. \u201cLucy. I wondered if I might have a word with you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d Lucy asked, coldly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to apologies,\u201d Adam said. \u201cI persuaded Joe to go to the dance last night, and I really should have left him alone. I understand that things didn\u2019t go too well, and I feel responsible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you should!\u201d Lucy said, venomously. \u201cJoe can make up his own mind, and he was in love with me! You pushed him into coming when he wasn\u2019t feeling like it, and now he thinks that he doesn\u2019t love me! Well, it\u2019s not true, I know its not! When he\u2019s feeling less wound up, he\u2019ll realize that it\u2019s me he wants, not you!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope Joe does feel as you think, for your sake,\u201d Adam replied, quietly. \u201cBut Joe will always need his family, just as we\u2019ll always need him. Just as you need your family.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe is my family now,\u201d Lucy said, and shut the door in Adam\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

Wishing that he\u2019d never come, and let well enough alone, Adam walked away.<\/p>\n

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

That afternoon, as the boys all rode home together, several shots were fired at them from the trees by the road. They scattered, taking cover where they could and shooting back, but the marksman proved elusive, and escaped. They were all shaken, but Joe especially. Until now, he had more or less kept the worry for his brothers\u2019 safety at bay. Now, it seemed his brothers were at risk and he knew that somehow it was all his fault.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t understand,\u201d Joe said. \u201cWho is trying to kill me? Is everyone I talk to at risk?\u201d He looked at Adam, unshed tears in his eyes. \u201cHow are we going to be able to bring Pa home with this hanging over us?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll figure something out, kid,\u201d Adam said, giving him a rough hug.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, but what?\u201d Joe demanded. \u201cAnd don\u2019t tell me Roy will find whoever\u2019s behind this, because we both know he won\u2019t! For some reason everyone I know is in danger.\u201d Joe\u2019s eyes suddenly widened and he lost color.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it?\u201d Adam asked, suddenly afraid that Joe had been injured in the shooting and was just feeling the effects of the wound now. Hoss joined Adam at Joe\u2019s side, and they both gazed at their younger brother with undisguised worry.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about Lucy?\u201d Joe breathed. \u201cI know I\u2019ve broken off with her, but she\u2019s the other person I\u2019ve been seen with most often.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLucy is probably the most protected of us all,\u201d Adam said, soothingly. \u201cShe\u2019s hardly likely to be wandering the streets after dark, or to go out riding alone. You can\u2019t go back into town, now, Joe and you certainly wouldn\u2019t going alone. Lucy will be all right, I\u2019m sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam\u2019s right, Punkin,\u201d Hoss agreed. \u201cYou\u2019re plumb tuckered out, an\u2019 need a good night\u2019s sleep. Lucy\u2019s folks will keep her safe, you can be sure o\u2019 that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Realizing that they were right, Joe subsided. He was exhausted, and went off to bed shortly after supper. But his sleep was anything but restful, for his dreams were peopled with dark shadows and a profound sense of unease. When morning came, Joe felt like he had barely slept at all.<\/p>\n

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

It was with a certain amount of trepidation that the brothers set off to ride into town that day. By unspoken agreement, Adam and Hoss kept Joe between them, but they arrived in town unscathed. First stop was Roy Coffee\u2019s office, where they reported the shooting. As Joe had said, there really wasn\u2019t anything that Roy could do. Even when he\u2019d been able to be at the scene of the crime almost immediately, he had found nothing. There was little chance he would find anything 12 hours on.<\/p>\n

After that, they went to visit Ben, and found him looking much better. Paul was pleased with his progress, too. \u201cYou can take him home tomorrow, boys,\u201d Paul announced.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout time, too,\u201d Ben growled, but he was smiling. At last, he felt as though he would survive Paul\u2019s\u2019 treatment, as much as the bullet wound. He looked at his sons. \u201cNow, why doesn\u2019t this news fill you boys with joy? What have you done to the ranch that you don\u2019t want me coming home?\u201d Ben frowned. \u201cTell me,\u201d he ordered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were shot at on the way home last night,\u201d Adam replied, reluctantly. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, we\u2019re all okay, but we\u2019re just a little concerned about your safety on the journey home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is somehow my fault,\u201d Joe said, miserably. He sat down beside his father\u2019s bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cSon, it\u2019s not your fault that some maniac is gunning for you,\u201d Ben assured him, grasping Joe\u2019s shoulder. \u201cBut I\u2019m sure Adam can come up with an idea to keep me safe on the way home, can\u2019t you, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure I can, Pa,\u201d Adam answered. He had given the problem a lot of thought, and had a glimmer of an idea, but he wasn\u2019t going to mention it until he had it all worked out. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, Pa, we\u2019ll get you home safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rising, Joe said, \u201cI\u2019d better go and warn Lucy, assuming she\u2019ll talk to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBe careful,\u201d the others chorused, and Joe cracked a grim smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be back soon,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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

For a moment, Joe thought that there was no one at home, but just as he was about to turn away, the door cracked open and Lucy looked out. \u201cJoe,\u201d she said, flatly. \u201cWhat do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI need to talk to you, Lucy,\u201d he said. \u201cCan I come in?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d Lucy said, ungraciously and opened the door wider. She led him into the sitting room, and gestured to him to take a seat. Joe resisted, and stood, playing nervously with the brim of his hat. \u201cWhat do you want to talk about?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI came to warn you,\u201d Joe said. \u201cSomeone is after me, and my friends and family. I came to tell you to be careful, in case whoever it is comes after you, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you do care for me after all,” Lucy said, brightening. \u201cI knew you did. Oh, Joe, I love you!\u201d She threw herself into his arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re my friend, Lucy,\u201d Joe said, dismayed. \u201cBut I\u2019m sorry; I don\u2019t care for you in that way. I came to warn you, because I\u2019d hate to see anything happen to you.\u201d Joe glanced round. \u201cAre your parents in? I\u2019d better tell them, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m here alone,” Lucy said, stepping back. \u201cAnd don\u2019t worry, Joe, I\u2019m quite capable of taking care of myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d better go,\u201d Joe said, realizing the implications for her reputation if he didn\u2019t leave. He turned to let himself out and was completely unprepared for her next move. Lucy snatched up the vase that stood by the door and smashed it down on Joe\u2019s unprotected head.<\/p>\n

Caught by surprise, Joe crumpled, dazed. He felt a hand on his gun and made a grab for it, but he was too slow. Clutching his head, which seemed to be bleeding, Joe turned and glanced up. Lucy had his gun in her hand, and there was no doubt that she knew exactly how to use it. \u201cGet up, Joe, and do exactly as I say,\u201d she told him. She clicked the safety catch off.<\/p>\n

Warily, Joe did as he was told.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, walk slowly upstairs and don\u2019t try anything. I won\u2019t hesitate to use this and I\u2019m a good shot.\u201d She laughed. \u201cYou should know that by now, darling. I shot Mitch and I shot your father. Yesterday, I tried to kill your brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou?\u201d Joe gasped.<\/p>\n

\u201cUpstairs,\u201d Lucy repeated and Joe did as he was urged.<\/p>\n

Once into the attic, Lucy smiled at Joe. He stood looking at her in disbelief. \u201cI can\u2019t believe it, Lucy,\u201d he said. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause you\u2019ve got to be mine, Joe. I love you. You can\u2019t give your love to anyone but me.\u201d She smiled and Joe could suddenly see the madness in her eyes. \u201cNow, carefully, put down your hat and take off your jacket. Don\u2019t try anything, because I wouldn\u2019t like to shoot you by accident.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trying to repress a shudder, Joe did as he was told, although his every instinct told him to fight. Lucy smiled at him throughout. She moved round, still keeping him covered, until she was beside a small table with a box on it. Without looking away, she opened the box and withdrew a pair of handcuffs. They were open and ready for use. \u201cTurn round and put your hands behind you,\u201d she instructed.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t do this,\u201d Joe pleaded. \u201cPlease, Lucy, for your sake, don\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI told you you loved me, Joe,\u201d she whispered, and this time he couldn\u2019t repress the shudder. Wordlessly, he did as he was told.<\/p>\n

The cold steel bit into his wrists as she closed the handcuffs. Then she clicked the safety back on his gun and laid it aside. Joe looked round, trying to figure out how he would get out of there. Lucy was between him and the door, and Joe wasn\u2019t sure he could hit a woman, even to save his own life. He had once struck a woman, and he had felt very bad, although she had been trying to kill him at the time.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlone at last,\u201d Lucy purred and began to unbutton Joe\u2019s shirt. Repulsed, Joe pulled away. Lucy punched him.<\/p>\n

Shaking his head, for the punch had been a good one, Joe tried to back off and put some space between them. Lucy simply smiled. As well as marksmanship, Lucy\u2019s father had taught her to fight when she was a little girl. It wasn\u2019t something she\u2019d ever had to use, but she still remembered her lessons. She pursued Joe relentlessly.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t resist, darling,\u201d she said. \u201cYou love me, and me alone, and we\u2019ll have such a wonderful life, just the two of us. You\u2019ll be so happy with just me to love.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t love you, Lucy,\u201d Joe said, ducking aside. He dodged towards the door, but Lucy was there again.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t deny it, Joe. You don\u2019t need to lie to me,\u201d she said. She grabbed his shirtfront again, and tried to kiss him.<\/p>\n

Jerking his head back, Joe threw his weight against her, and made a run for the door. He fumbled with the handle as she regained her balance and came for him again. She snatched up his gun, and Joe abandoned his attempt to open the door and ran towards the small window. He had no idea what he hoped to accomplish, but he never reached there. Screaming her fury, Lucy crashed the gun down on Joe\u2019s head and he toppled to the floor, out cold.<\/p>\n

Panting, Lucy stood looking at him for a minute. \u201cOh, Joe, you foolish boy,\u201d she whispered. \u201cBut if this is how you want to play the game, I can do that.\u201d She went back across to the box on the table and took from it some rope and a gag. It didn\u2019t take her long to tie Joe\u2019s feet and gag him. Then she left and locked the door behind her.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cWhy, Adam, I don\u2019t know what to tell you,\u201d Lucy said, looking up at him, wide-eyed. \u201cJoe was here earlier, but he left some time ago. Oh dear, I do hope nothing has happened to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure he\u2019s all right,\u201d Adam said, but his eyes were worried. \u201cI just need to talk to him, that\u2019s all. Sorry to trouble you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo trouble,\u201d Lucy assured him and closed the door. Snatching up her skirts she raced upstairs and burst into the attic. Joe flinched at the sudden movement and winced as his head began to throb anew. \u201cYour brother is looking for you,\u201d Lucy hissed as she snatched up her bow from the corner of the room. \u201cThe only person you can love is me, Joe.\u201d She opened the window and leaned out. She aimed and fired in one smooth movement. There was a cry from outside and Lucy swung the window shut, and turned to Joe with a triumphant smile. \u201cGot him!\u201d<\/p>\n

Horrified, Joe frantically fought his bonds. Lucy watched him closely, and laughed. She crossed over to his side and stood looking down on him. \u201cJoe, darling, don\u2019t you understand yet? This is what you wanted. You want to have only me to love.\u201d She knelt by his side and Joe\u2019s struggles subsided as he watched her warily. She ran her hand down his cheek, then tugged the gag from his mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou shot Adam!\u201d he gasped. \u201cHow can you think I\u2019d love you when you\u2019ve shot and maybe killed my brother?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDarling, you don\u2019t have to pretend with me,\u201d Lucy assured him, and reached down to capture his mouth with hers. The kiss was deep and showed an experience that Joe hadn\u2019t expected from her. But he didn\u2019t accept it passively, or enjoy it. He fought as best he could, until Lucy abruptly tired of his struggles. She let him go and swung an angry punch at his face. Joe was knocked back a bit by it.<\/p>\n

Rising, Lucy fought the urge to hurt him some more, but she lost. She kicked him viciously in the stomach four or five times before jamming the gag back in his mouth. \u201cYou love me,\u201d she said, and it sounded like a warning.<\/p>\n

She left, and locked the door behind her again.<\/p>\n

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

The pain made it difficult to think, but all he had to do was concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other. Not far now, and he\u2019d reach help, he told himself. Not far now. He put his hand on the door and as it opened, he fell into the room, unable to stay upright any more.<\/p>\n

Coming from the inner room, Paul Martin gaped in disbelief at Adam\u2019s still form lying on the floor and at the arrow that protruded out of his back. \u201cAdam?\u201d Paul rushed over to kneel by his side and was relieved to find a steady pulse.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it, doc?\u201d Hoss asked, coming out. He hurried over to Adam, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cHelp me,\u201d Paul ordered, and they carried Adam into the other room. Ben started up in horror, only to be told, “Stay there!\u201d<\/p>\n

Quickly examining Adam, Paul breathed a sigh of relief. \u201cIt\u2019s not too serious,\u201d he said. \u201cThe arrow isn\u2019t in too deeply. I\u2019ll get it out before he comes around.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul was as good as his word, and when Adam opened his eyes a short time later, the arrow had been removed and he was firmly bandaged up. \u201cAdam?\u201d Hoss leaned in close. \u201cWho did this to ya, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

Licking his dry lips, Adam said, \u201cDon\u2019t know. Someone shot me as I left Lucy\u2019s. She said Joe was gone, but…\u201d he stopped and swallowed. Hoss gave him some water. \u201cI think Joe is in there, and they are both in trouble.\u201d Adam grasped Hoss\u2019 arm weakly. \u201cDon\u2019t go alone, Hoss. Get help.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will,\u201d Hoss assured him his face grim. He clasped his hand over Adam\u2019s for a moment before turning to leave. Ben put out a hand to stop him.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe careful, son,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will, Pa,\u201d Hoss said. \u201cAn\u2019 I\u2019ll bring Joe home.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

It seemed to Joe that Lucy couldn\u2019t keep away from him. He had barely recovered from the kicking she\u2019d given him when she was back, gloating about having shot Adam. Misery permeated Joe\u2019s being as he thought about his brother. They often didn\u2019t see eye to eye, but Joe certainly never wanted him dead!<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are a sweet boy, Joe,\u201d she said, stroking his cheek gently. \u201cSo handsome. No wonder I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jerking his head away, Joe could hear his own ragged breathing. He was helpless, and had no idea what to do next. \u201cJoe, stop playing the game,\u201d Lucy chided. \u201cI know you want me, just me. And I promise I will get rid of the last of your family for you. We\u2019ll be happy living here, I promise.\u201d Once more her hand caressed his cheek. Again, Joe jerked his head away.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m beginning to believe that you enjoy teasing me too much,\u201d she said, sounding angry, and raked her nails down his cheek, digging her fingers in. Joe felt fire running down his cheek and Lucy\u2019s nails were red with blood. \u201cYou mustn\u2019t tease me, Joe. I don\u2019t like it.\u201d She planted a kiss on his brow. \u201cI don\u2019t want to have to punish you again, but I will.\u201d She tapped her bloodstained finger against her lip, leaving a mark there. Joe shuddered. \u201cShould I blindfold you as well? Would that be punishment enough?\u201d<\/p>\n

Unsure if she was just being sadistic, Joe stayed absolutely still. He swallowed against the dryness of his mouth. Lucy smiled. \u201cOh, you don\u2019t like that idea? Oh, my love, you should behave yourself then. Promise you you\u2019ll behave and I\u2019ll take the nasty gag away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Warily, Joe nodded, and Lucy removed the gag. Joe licked his lips, trying to get some moisture back into his parched mouth. \u201cWhy are you doing this?\u201d he said, his voice scratchy.<\/p>\n

\u201cDarling, I love you, but you were distracted by all those other people who wanted your attention. You can only love one person at a time, you know.\u201d Lucy smiled at him. \u201cOnce you agree to love only me, I\u2019ll let you go. But you have to learn, darling. You love only me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t love only you,\u201d Joe said, rashly. \u201cI need my family, too. I can\u2019t choose between you!\u201d\u201d A pang shot through his gut as he thought of Adam. \u201cYou shot them!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, darling, don\u2019t let that worry you,\u201d Lucy said, with a light laugh. \u201cI shot my parents, too, so we could be alone. There\u2019s no one here but us, and we\u2019ll be together forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a moment, Joe thought he was going to throw up all over her. Horror and shock raced through his brain. Instinctively, he tried to back away. The movement wasn\u2019t lost on Lucy.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re never going to love just me, are you?\u201d she cried. \u201cI can\u2019t share you with anyone, don\u2019t you understand? You love only me. And if you can\u2019t love only me, you have to die!\u201d She jumped to her feet, and snatched up Joe\u2019s gun, aiming at him, and cocking it. \u201cLove just me, or die!\u201d<\/p>\n

Frozen in place, Joe could make no move. He just stared at her in horror. \u201cDon\u2019t,\u201d he whispered as fear thumped through his gut. \u201cLucy, no!\u201d he shouted.<\/p>\n

It made no difference. Lucy pulled the trigger.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cHurry, Roy,\u201d Hoss urged, as they headed over to the Watson\u2019s place. He was terrified for Joe\u2019s safety, and worried that Lucy was in danger, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, you can\u2019t go chargin\u2019 in there like a bull in a china shop,\u201d Roy chided. He glanced at Clem. \u201cWe gotta make sure we ain\u2019t seen!\u201d<\/p>\n

They approached the Watson\u2019s place quietly. It was dusk and the growing gloom helped to hide them in the shadows. Roy signaled to Hoss to try the front door. He went round to the back, and Clem went to try his luck with the cellar. The front door was open and Hoss eased inside quietly. The house was still and quiet, but there was an expectant air about it.<\/p>\n

Drawing his gun, Hoss glanced into each of the downstairs rooms. There was no one to be seen. A shadow came from the back of the house, and Hoss raised his gun. To his relief, it was Roy and Clem, but they both looked sick. Hoss raised an enquiring eyebrow and Roy leant in close to whisper, \u201cClem found the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Watson in the basement. They\u2019ve been dead a few days. Shot at close range.\u201d Hoss swallowed the bile he felt rising in his throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing down here,\u201d Hoss whispered, and Roy gestured to the stairs. They slowly began to climb, each fearing what they would find.<\/p>\n

The shout startled them, but Hoss recognized Joe\u2019s voice instantly and raced upwards, casting caution aside. He was almost at the attic when the shot fired. Heedless of his own safety, Hoss barreled through the door. He dodged as the slim figure standing there swung around to fire at him. The bullet sang over his shoulder and out into the hall, where it narrowly missed Roy Coffee.<\/p>\n

By then, Hoss had thrown himself on Lucy, and wrestled the gun from her hand. Lucy was screaming at Hoss. \u201cHe\u2019s mine, and I have to kill him! He\u2019ll only be faithful to me if he\u2019s dead!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hurrying into the attic, Clem and Roy took charge, subduing Lucy. Hoss spared her no more than a glance. Joe lay on the floor, bound and bleeding, his eyes closed. \u201cJoe!\u201d Hoss exclaimed in anguish, throwing himself down beside him.<\/p>\n

After a second, Joe\u2019s eyes opened. He said nothing, but the look of relief that passed over his face did much to reassure Hoss that his brother would live.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s mine!\u201d Lucy sobbed, as Roy and Clem hustled her away.<\/p>\n

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

The Cartwrights went home to the Ponderosa from Paul Martin\u2019s office in penny numbers. Ben was first to leave, much against his will, as he wanted nothing more than to stay with Joe. Adam was next, and Joe went last, two days after he\u2019d been shot.<\/p>\n

Not that Paul was keen to let the youngest Cartwright travel that soon, but Joe missed his family, and Paul knew he\u2019d get better quicker at home. Joe had been remarkably lucky. The bullet wound he\u2019d sustained in his left side had been comparatively minor, and they could only speculate that Lucy had intended to shoot him more than once. However, Joe also had a couple of broken ribs, plus a concussion and several nasty scratches on his cheek.<\/p>\n

Both Ben and Adam were up to a little light exercise and both were waiting for Joe when he came home. Joe was delighted to see them, but he was exhausted and depressed. His sleep over the last few nights had been badly disturbed by nightmares and he was reluctant to use the sleeping powders that Paul forced on him. They always left him feeling hungover the next morning.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe!\u201d Ben said, coming slowly out to greet him. \u201cHow are you, son?\u201d<\/p>\n

Blinking back the tears that welled in his eyes, Joe said, \u201cFine, Pa. How are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the mend, almost as good as new.\u201d Ben smiled, not seeing how uncomfortable Joe was. \u201cLet\u2019s go inside. Adam\u2019s waiting for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The meeting with Adam was as difficult as the one with Ben. Joe didn\u2019t know what to say to them. His guilt over the shootings inhibited their normal warm communication. Finally, Joe said, \u201cI\u2019m tired, Pa. I think I\u2019ll go up to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, Joe,\u201d Ben said. \u201cDo you need any help?\u201d For it was apparent that Joe was in some discomfort.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can manage, thanks,\u201d Joe said, although he wasn\u2019t sure if that was quite true. However, he had no intention of asking for help. He felt his family had enough to deal with without his adding to their burdens. He mounted the stairs slowly and carefully and shut his room door with relief.<\/p>\n

When Ben looked in later, Joe was sound asleep.<\/p>\n

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

The nightmares returned that night. Joe was lying helplessly on the floor as Lucy shot his family in front of him, one by one. Joe pleaded, screamed and begged her not to, but each time she ignored him. Finally she turned the gun on him, as he crawled over to his dead family.\u00a0 Adam opened his dead eyes and said, \u201cToo much love will kill you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo<\/strong>!\u201d Joe was sitting bolt upright in bed, his body throbbing with pain, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He shook his head, trying to dispel the images from his mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u201d Ben came in the door, belting his robe around him. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing. It was just a bad dream,\u201d Joe said, avoiding Ben\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n

Frowning, Ben lit the lamp on Joe\u2019s dresser. \u201cPaul said you\u2019d been having nightmares, Joe. Do you want a powder to help you sleep?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Joe said, disgust in his voice. \u201cThey don\u2019t help. I\u2019m all right, Pa.\u201d To his horror, Joe found he was on the verge of tears. He had shed many bitter tears over the last few days. He blinked furiously but he was too late, Ben had noticed and put a warm hand on the back of Joe\u2019s neck. It was too much for Joe, that his father should still be as loving and concerned as he\u2019d always been although it was Joe\u2019s fault that he\u2019d nearly been killed. The tears broke free and he began to sob in earnest.<\/p>\n

Not sure what was wrong, Ben just cradled the curly head on his shoulder and let the tears come. \u201cIt\u2019s all right, Joe,\u201d he crooned. \u201cIt\u2019s all right, son. Whatever it is, we\u2019ll deal with it together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow can it be all right, Pa?\u201d Joe cried, lifting his head. His eyes were luminous in the lamplight. \u201cBecause of me, you and Adam nearly died! How can that be all right? How can we face it together? I\u2019ve got to face this alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Joe,\u201d Ben denied, preventing his son breaking free of his loving hold. \u201cYou\u2019ve been facing this alone for far too long. It\u2019s not your fault that Lucy tried to kill us.\u201d Joe shook his head, denying Ben\u2019s words. \u201cJoe!\u201d Ben shook the curly head gently. \u201cDid you want us to die?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Pa!\u201d The anguished denial cut through the silent house like a knife. \u201cNo!\u201d The tears overflowed again.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen how is it your fault?\u201d Ben demanded. \u201cYou weren\u2019t responsible for Lucy\u2019s mania. You are as much her victim as we are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s easy to say,\u201d Joe muttered.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s easy to say because it\u2019s true,\u201d Ben said, and Joe looked him in the eye for the first time. \u201cTell me about the dream, son,\u201d he coaxed.<\/p>\n

Slowly, Joe told him the details, shuddering, for they were still vivid. Ben sat silently, never taking his hand away from Joe, squeezing his neck gently as he told the last horrid bit about Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cToo much love will kill you,\u201d he repeated, thoughtfully. \u201cMaybe, Joe. But I think you should qualify it. Too much of the wrong kind of love will kill you. But there\u2019s no such thing as too much of the right kind of love.\u201d<\/p>\n

That seemed to be absolution come too cheaply for Joe. \u201cI should have read the signs better,\u201d he said, bitterly. \u201cThen I would\u2019ve seen this coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, hindsight is always 20-20 vision,\u201d Ben chided him gently. \u201cNone of us saw this coming. Even when Adam was shot, he thought both you and Lucy were victims of a crazy man who had you held as hostages. How could we know that a slip of a girl like that was a crazy killer? She even murdered her own parents. Let\u2019s get one thing straight, young man.\u201d Ben\u2019s tone was stern. \u201cYou aren\u2019t to blame for this. The only person to blame is Lucy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Feeling the warmth of his father\u2019s hand on his head, Joe finally began to let go of his guilt. \u201cOh, Pa,\u201d he said, and that was all Ben needed to know that Joe was on the road to recovery at last.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all love you, Joe,\u201d Ben said. \u201cDo you know that the first thing Adam did when he wakened at Paul\u2019s? He insisted Hoss get help and rescue you. Does that seem to you like he\u2019s blaming you? And wasn\u2019t he pleased to see you this afternoon when you got home?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess,\u201d Joe responded, thinking back. At the time, he\u2019d been too preoccupied to notice, but as he reflected, he saw that Ben was right. Adam had been smiling and pleased to see him, teasing him gently about being a crock, as Joe had eased himself into a seat. A yawn suddenly shook Joe, and he looked surprised.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet some sleep, son,\u201d Ben said, and settled Joe once more. \u201cYou\u2019re home, and we\u2019re all safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Safe. The word resonated in Joe\u2019s brain as the right kind of love permeated itself into every fiber of his being. He slid into the first dreamless sleep he\u2019d had since the whole thing began.<\/p>\n

Next morning, Joe took his first steps to full recovery, surrounded by the love of his family.<\/p>\n

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

The inspiration for this story came from the\u00a0Queen<\/strong>\u00a0song of the same name. Many thanks to\u00a0Brian May<\/strong>,\u00a0Frank Musker<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Elizabeth Lamers<\/strong>\u00a0for writing it, and to\u00a0Freddie and the boys<\/strong>\u00a0for making it such a memorable and inspirational song.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

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

Summary:\u00a0 An unknown marksman targets Joe’s family and friends. Who is behind all these attacks? And will Joe survive finding out the killer’s identity?<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 T \u00a0 \u00a0(10,890 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":379,"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":[23,41],"tags":[16],"class_list":["post-5050","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-hurtcomfort","tag-joe","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-41-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1927,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/bonanza.jpg?fit=295%2C295&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6768,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6768","url_meta":{"origin":5050,"position":0},"title":"A Deadly Day (by rosecartwright)","author":"rosecartwright","date":"November 4, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Joe is home sick, but things go downhill for this young Cartwright. \u00a0 Rated:\u00a0K+ (635 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\/11\/2-joe.jpg?fit=237%2C221&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6628,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6628","url_meta":{"origin":5050,"position":1},"title":"Forever – The Love of My Life – #3 (by Rider)","author":"Rider","date":"May 4, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Joe and Alice think about their relationship on the eve of their wedding. Rated:\u00a0K+ (990 words) Forever Series, links to all the stories within the series included.","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-4.jpg?fit=320%2C240&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23474,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=23474","url_meta":{"origin":5050,"position":2},"title":"Like Father Like Son (by Annie K Cowgirl)","author":"Annie K Cowgirl","date":"August 27, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0Post show story. While on a trip to Abilene, Texas, Joe's son goes missing. Words:\u00a0693 Rating:\u00a0K","rel":"","context":"In "Alternate Universe"","block_context":{"text":"Alternate Universe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"joe","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Forever-part-2-00011.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Forever-part-2-00011.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Forever-part-2-00011.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Forever-part-2-00011.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5650,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5650","url_meta":{"origin":5050,"position":3},"title":"Eyes of an Angel (by DanceDiva)","author":"DanceDiva","date":"May 2, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Twelve year old Joe is bitten by a rattlesnake, but things get uglier faster than expected. \u00a0 Rated:\u00a0K \u00a0(500 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\/04\/bonanza7.jpg?fit=720%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza7.jpg?fit=720%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza7.jpg?fit=720%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza7.jpg?fit=720%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3482,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3482","url_meta":{"origin":5050,"position":4},"title":"Killing Cartwrights (by freyakendra)","author":"freyakendra","date":"October 25, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Total, inane, silliness, prompted by Inca challenging writers to do what no one--or mostly no one, anyway--wants to do: actually kill a Cartwright! Subsequent discussion bordered on the macabre, with congratulations bestowed upon writers meeting the challenge. These 2 parodies resulted.... 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