Summary: A stranger arrives in town with the intent of ripping the family apart by claiming he’s Little Joe’s real father.\u00a0 Rating T, WC 55,000<\/p>\n
Always My Son Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n Always My Son<\/a><\/p>\n The Color of Love<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Always My Son Series<\/strong><\/p>\n Joe Cartwright flung himself into the saddle<\/strong> and the bronc took off before his feet were securely in the stirrups. He struggled to gain his balance as the horse reared to try and knock its rider off. Then it was like being caught in a hurricane; horse and a determined rider battled it out trying to get the best of each other.<\/p>\n Ben Cartwright perched upon the railing of the corral and watched in cautious awe of his youngest son\u2019s ability to tame such wild animals. He saw the set on Joe\u2019s young face and knew that the boy had an iron will and would never admit to defeat. A smile creased Ben\u2019s face as he witnessed the control that Joe was rapidly gaining on the horse. He thought in his mind how much at that moment Joe resembled his late wife Marie. She too loved horses and had the control of them that few people \u2014 man or woman \u2014 had. Joe was at times a sad reminder of the love of Ben\u2019s life. He was impulsive, full of life and laughter. Joe also shared his mother\u2019s trait of risk-taking. That troubled Ben as he had watched his youngest son grow from infant to boy to now young man.<\/p>\n At seventeen, Joe was vastly losing that awkward teenage appearance and was turning into a devilishly handsome young adult. Ben worried always about Joe\u2019s impulsive nature and the danger there could be from having it. Ben shook himself from his thoughts as he spotted Joe reining the horse over to the stall and dismounting. Joe sauntered proudly towards his father with a classic grin displayed on his face. \u201cGood ride, son!\u201d Ben exclaimed, patting Joe\u2019s shoulder affectionately. Joe returned the smile and dusted his chaps off waiting for his chance. His father seemed pleased with his progress on the new string of horses, so it was a good time to make his request. \u201cYeah\u2014that\u2019s the last of them for today, Pa. I was kinda hoping I earned the rest of the afternoon off?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head, amused at how Joe could be so seemingly adult one moment and the next show signs of still being a kid. The hazel eyes that now stared hopefully at his father made Ben cave into the request. \u201cI guess\u2014since you have been working awfully hard lately. Where you running off to, as if I don\u2019t already know!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe swung himself up onto Cochise and replied, \u201cVirginia City\u2014you know\u2014see what\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBe careful, Joe. And make it home for dinner on time, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Pa!\u201d Joe winked and turned his horse toward town.<\/p>\n By the time Joe had found his way into Virginia City, it was a little past four o\u2019clock in the afternoon. It was still too early for the night crowd and Joe found himself to be the only one in the Silver Dollar Saloon, other than the bartender. \u201cWhere is everyone, Bruno?\u201d Joe asked accepting his mug of beer and placing a silver dollar on the bar.<\/p>\n “Been this quiet all day, Joe. It\u2019ll pick up soon though. The miners usually get here around six and then it will be nonstop for me!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe took his beer over to a table and sat down. It wasn\u2019t the wild afternoon of fun he had in mind, but he was content to sit and relax for a while.<\/p>\n Almost an hour after Joe Cartwright had first entered the saloon, another man walked in and made his way over to the bartender. The man was very apparently a stranger to Virginia City and dressed in a fine tailored-made suit. He was just a little less than six feet tall and had an abundance of dark wavy hair with hints of white at the temples. \u201cI would like some brandy, please,\u201d he said; Bruno was quick with his delivery, hoping for perhaps a tip from such a wealthy looking gentleman. The man did not disappoint, and handed the bartender double what the drink was worth.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks! You new around here?\u201d Bruno addressed the stranger.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, and I was hoping to find someone who could show me around a little.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou could ask Joe over there!\u201d Bruno pointed and Joe nodded toward the man.<\/p>\n As the stranger made his way over to Joe, he smiled at the boy as if he knew him. Joe also felt that somewhere they must have met before, his appearance registering in Joe\u2019s brain. The man had a brilliant smile and hazel eyes which twinkled as he introduced himself. \u201cRene Marchant,\u201d he said and held his hand out to shake Joe\u2019s.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe Cartwright\u2014nice to meet you! C\u2019mon have a seat,\u201d Joe replied and Marchant sat down.<\/p>\n Yes<\/em>\u201d Marchant thought to himself. Yes, it looks like fate has brought Joe to me.<\/em> \u201cSo\u2014Joe\u2014do you mind if I call you that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNaw, we ain\u2019t formal around here. That\u2019s fine. Where you from Mr. Marchant?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNew Orleans. Actually I am just on a little pleasure trip; I don\u2019t get away often due to my business.\u201d Marchant marvelled over how similar to himself Joe was. He had seen pictures of the boy, but seeing him in person confirmed all of his prior suspicions.<\/p>\n \u201cMy mother was from New Orleans.\u201d Joe commented, still wondering why the man seemed so familiar to him.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you? Were you born there?\u201d Marchant asked, even though he knew the answer to his question.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I was born on the Ponderosa\u2014that\u2019s my father\u2019s ranch\u2014him and my mother were married in New Orleans and came here to live.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to meet your parents,\u201d Marchant remarked sipping more of his brandy.<\/p>\n Joe turned more sullen and said, \u201cWell…you can meet my father, but my Ma died when I was a baby.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, perhaps I will have the chance to meet your father then. Would you be so kind as to show this Easterner some of the sights of your great town?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe finished his beer and gazed over at the clock. He knew he needed to head home in order to arrive in time for supper like he had promised his father. \u201cUm…can\u2019t today, but I\u2019ll be glad to tomorrow. It\u2019s Sunday tomorrow and I have no plans.\u201d Joe stood and reached to shake the man\u2019s hand to bid him farewell.<\/p>\n \u201cThat would be just fine. I am over at the International House\u2014room eight. How about noon tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019ll be fine. See you then.\u201d Joe found himself staring into the man\u2019s eyes again. The eyes that were so familiar! He turned and left the bar.<\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n Ben watched as Joe hurried in from the front door and took his place at the dinner table. He was late, not as late as he usually was, but late nonetheless. Adam and Hoss looked on amused as Joe did his best to avoid his father\u2019s eyes. Ben was a stickler for rules, and one of them was to be on time for dinner. Ben simply shook his head this time, deciding against a lecture on being prompt. Joe looked tired and Ben took pity on him.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, little brother, get in any trouble today in town?\u201d Hoss asked jokingly.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, he\u2019s home; that should tell you he didn\u2019t! Usually we have to go drag him out of that bar\u2014or out of Roy\u2019s jail!\u201d Adam joined in on the nightly ribbing Joe was use to getting from his brothers.<\/p>\n \u201cNo\u2014actually nothing was going on in town. Me and Bruno…\u201d Joe started.<\/p>\n Ben cut him off, correcting, \u201cBruno and I!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah\u2014that\u2019s what I meant\u2014Bruno and I were the only ones at the saloon most of the time. Oh, but then this fellow came in\u2014says he\u2019s from New Orleans!\u201d Joe said and wolfed down his food hungrily.<\/p>\n \u201cOh? What was the man\u2019s name?\u201d Adam asked and Joe looked back over at him.<\/p>\n \u201cMarchant\u2014Rene Marchant\u2014and he wants me to show him around town tomorrow. I told him I would. That okay with you, Pa?\u201d Joe now looked at his father who had a very far away look on his face. \u201cPa?\u201d Joe asked again.<\/p>\n Ben dabbed at his mouth with his napkin and avoided his son\u2019s questioning eyes. \u201cWe\u2019ll see…\u201d Ben paused and looked directly at his oldest son. He gave him a look which Adam knew meant there was trouble. \u201cOh, Adam, you know those plans finally got here for the new sawmill design. I haven\u2019t had time to show them to you.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam dropped his napkin on the table to announce he was done with his supper and replied, \u201cPa, let\u2019s go into your den so we can see how they came out.\u201d<\/p>\n With that, the two oldest Cartwrights left the two younger Cartwrights and walked into Ben\u2019s den and closed the doors. Hoss looked at Joe, confused. \u201cWhat was that all about? Seems kinda odd, don\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shrugged his shoulders, bewildered himself at the rapid change in his father\u2019s demeanor. \u201cDon\u2019t know, Hoss,\u201d he said shaking his head.<\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n Adam sat down in the overstuffed chair in the den and watched as his father\u2019s pacing became more vigorous. Finally, he asked, \u201cOkay, Pa, let\u2019s hear it. The moment Joe said the name Marchant, your face went white. Who is he?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sighed and he felt a twinge of sadness at the sudden reminder of Joe\u2019s mother. \u201cMarie was in love with him before she met me. She even had thought about marrying him, but she didn\u2019t want to leave New Orleans. He wanted to start a new business in Europe. Her heart wasn\u2019t in it, so they broke up and then we met.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo? What\u2019s the problem? Why does him coming here upset you so much?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shot Adam a grave look and replied, \u201cI don\u2019t think it was any accident he running into Little Joe. I don\u2019t know why he\u2019s here\u2014not after so many years\u2014but I have a feeling that it isn\u2019t good news!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou think he holds a grudge that you ended up marrying Marie?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shrugged his shoulders helplessly. He truly had no idea what the man was up to. \u201cThe only way I\u2019m going find out is to go and see him. Don\u2019t let onto Joe where I\u2019ve gone. As far as I\u2019m concerned, he doesn\u2019t need to know about his mother\u2019s past.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam nodded; he too felt that some things were best kept from his little brother. \u201cYou want me to go with you?\u201d he asked as his father turned toward the door.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, you just make sure that your brothers don\u2019t catch wind to all of this,\u201d Ben cautioned and walked out of the den.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere you going, Pa?\u201d Joe called from the settee, seeing his father strap on his gun belt and grab his hat.<\/p>\n \u201cI promised Roy I stop by tonight. We missed our cribbage game last week and he\u2019s been dying to beat me again!\u201d Ben tried to give a sedate smile toward his three sons as he left. His heart pounded at what he was about to find out concerning Mr. Marchant and his reason for coming to Virginia City.<\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n Dave Bennett, the night desk clerk at the International House, had finished tallying the day\u2019s receipts as Ben Cartwright walked into the hotel. He hurried over to greet him, hoping that he was there to request a room for the night. Dave remembered how well Ben was at tipping him and that made Ben one of his favorite customers.<\/p>\n \u201cRoom for the night, Mr. Cartwright?\u201d Dave smiled as he approached.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Dave, actually I\u2019d like to talk with one of the other guests\u2014a Mr. Marchant.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, he\u2019s in room eight. He may have retired for the night, though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,” Ben stated, paying no attention to whether he would or would not be disturbing Mr. Marchant.<\/p>\n Ben stood outside of room eight and gathered his thoughts. He couldn\u2019t help the feeling of dread that hung in his mind. He would have been happy to never see Mr. Marchant in life! Here was a man whom Marie had loved and one who had come to town and may have some form of revenge in his mind. No, Mr. Marchant just needed to go away and leave the Cartwrights, Ben thought to himself as he knocked briskly on the door.<\/p>\n When the door to the hotel room opened, the two men stared at each other for a few moments without speaking. They each were thinking how Marie could even think of choosing one of them over the other. It was strange how the memory of the beautiful woman haunted both men so many years after her death.<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Cartwright\u2014I cannot say I am surprised to see you. Won\u2019t you come in?\u201d Marchant said coolly and stepped aside so Ben could enter the room. Ben looked around the large suite, knowing it well. He had spent nights in that very room, usually after a late business meeting. He preferred a smaller, less elegant place to rest, but, Marchant obviously enjoyed the splendor of the best room in the hotel.<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Marchant, I\u2019ve come to ask you what you are doing here. My son Joseph told me he had run into you today,\u201d Ben said hastily wanting to get right to the point.<\/p>\n Marchant grabbed a snifter of brandy and sat down on the sofa. He pointed for Ben to join him, but Ben stood firm, not wanting to give the appearance of letting down his guard. \u201cWould you like some brandy\u2014or perhaps something harder?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust an answer to my question would be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve come because of Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t even know my son! And I\u2019d prefer to keep it that way, if you don\u2019t mind. The only connection you ever had to this family was Marie\u2014and she died years ago!\u201d Ben retorted angrily.<\/p>\n \u201cYou do know about Marie and me then?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, she never hid anything from me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid she tell you we were lovers? That we were going to be married?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben folded his arms across his chest to stay the pain he was feeling deep in his soul. \u201cYes, but she didn\u2019t marry you\u2014she married me! Now I\u2019ll ask one more time\u2014what are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have been in Europe for many years,\u201d Marchant started and reached over to a leather briefcase on the coffee table. \u201cI have done very well for myself; in fact. I am very wealthy. I have checked you out and found you have some wealth of your own, Cartwright, but of course it doesn\u2019t come close to equaling my own!\u201d He announced smiling conceitedly.<\/p>\n \u201cGet to the point!\u201d Ben commanded.<\/p>\n \u201cIn this folder I have some very interesting facts about your family and all the details on your life before and after Marie. I found it very interesting, and my people worked very hard to get it all together for me. Now, since you want to get to the point, I will tell you that I\u2019ve come for Joseph. At my age, the chance of me having any more children is impossible, so I\u2019ve come to take my one heir back to New Orleans with me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour heir!\u201d Ben was now yelling. \u201cYou must be insane! Joseph is my son, mine and Marie\u2019s. You must be out of your mind!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHere…\u201d Marchant handed Ben some papers. \u201cYou can even have this one. I have several copies. It is your marriage certificate signed by Judge Wharton. And underneath that page you will see Joseph\u2019s birth record.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben studied the papers and looked back over at the man who still sat smugly on the couch. \u201cThis means nothing!\u201d Ben answered and tossed the papers back on the table.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph was born seven months after you and Marie were married.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe was premature! That\u2019s common knowledge around here!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOr was he full term?\u201d Marchant walked over to stand toe to toe with Ben, each man looking seethingly at the other. \u201cMarie and I were lovers for many months before I left. And it seems that right after I boarded that ship for Europe \u2014 within weeks \u2014 you met and married her. Joseph is my son! Just look at the boy! Can you not see the resemblance?\u201d<\/p>\n Unable to control himself any longer, Ben reached for Marchant\u2019s neck and wrapped his hand around his throat. \u201cI should kill you here and now! But I\u2019ll give you a chance to get out of town! You leave and never return and you will stay healthy!\u201d Ben\u2019s threats were real. He had never felt so much hatred for someone he hardly even knew. But the threat of this information leaking out and crushing his youngest son was something that Ben knew was now a possibility unless Marchant was forced to leave. And at the moment, no matter what Ben had preached to his sons in the past about the use of violence, Ben wanted to kill.<\/p>\n Marchant pushed down Ben\u2019s hand from his neck and called out for his two bodyguards who stood in readiness in the alcove of the room. \u201cMr. Stern and Mr. Price will see you out, Mr. Cartwright. I will be seeing you very soon as I have already filed papers for custody of Joseph. You will find all the information at the courthouse if you would like to try to fight me on this. But it will be totally useless; I have prepared very well, and time has been on my side getting ready to bring my son home.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben wanted to reach for his six-gun and take all three of the men out. But he knew that he would go to jail and that would hurt his family as much as Marchant\u2019s threats. He looked deadly at Marchant just before he turned from the two bodyguards at the door. \u201cYou are gonna have one hell of a fight, Marchant! Just because Marie married me instead of you, you have to come and try to steal my son! Well, let me tell you something. You will have to kill me in order to accomplish that!\u201d Ben warned and stormed out of the hotel room.<\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n Adam had fallen to sleep in his father\u2019s chair by the fireplace, a book resting on his chest. He struggled to open his eyes as he heard his father enter in from the front door. Ben seemed slow in his motions and he had a very strong look of sorrow displayed on his weary face. Ben crossed the room and sunk down on the settee, both mentally and physically exhausted.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened, Pa?\u201d Adam asked quietly, concerned with his father\u2019s appearance.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, go wake up Hoss, please. I might as well talk to both of you at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd Joe?\u201d Adam questioned standing.<\/p>\n Ben shook his head adamantly, \u201cNo. Make sure he doesn\u2019t hear you get Hoss. This is for you and Hoss only.\u201d<\/p>\n A few minutes later, Ben turned to see his two eldest sons descending the staircase. Hoss was still in his nightshirt and rubbed at his head, trying his best to escape his tired state. Adam and Hoss sat on the settee as Ben took his stance in front of the fireplace. \u201cHoss, I need to tell you where I really went tonight. That man that Joe met today\u2014Mr. Marchant\u2014was someone that Marie knew in the past,\u201d Ben started and Hoss looked over at him bewildered. \u201cI went to see him and to find out what he was doing in Virginia City.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s he want, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben took a deep breath, trying to think of how best to tell his sons what had happened and why he was so upset. \u201cMarie and Marchant had a love affair\u2014which ended a couple of weeks before I met her. Marchant had left for Europe after Marie told him she didn\u2019t want to live the kind of life that he wanted to live. She didn\u2019t want to leave and go so far away. She also told me that they were too different and it would never have worked.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut what does he want?\u201d Adam repeated his brother\u2019s prior question and saw his father\u2019s face take on the strangest look. Adam wasn\u2019t sure if his father was ready to cry or to yell. His demeanor was a cross between both of those emotions. Ben\u2019s fists tensed and he looked away momentarily. Finally, he answered his sons, \u201cHe claims that Marie was carrying his child when I married her\u2014and that child is Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n The look that passed between both of the Cartwright brothers was that of total disbelief and bewilderment. \u201cThat\u2019s crazy! How the hell could he even think that!\u201d Adam responded incensed with the whole idea.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has gotten copies of both Marie and my marriage certificate and also Joseph\u2019s birth record. And just because Joe came early\u2014almost two full months early \u2014 he claims the boy is his. He even said that Joe looks like him,\u201d Ben stated. Then the weight of the situation fell on him and he sat down hard in the chair. He dropped his head in his hands and fought back tears. The tears were from many things. The reminder of a man that Marie had loved before she married him, the terrible ordeal that this fight would cost the family, and by far the worse, was what this would do to Joseph. Ben knew how Joe was; he had always been so extremely sensitive that even the shadow of a doubt that this accusation might cause would be enough to destroy the boy emotionally.<\/p>\n Both Adam and Hoss rallied around their father for support, one standing on each side of the chair. \u201cPa\u2014we\u2019ll get through this…\u201d Hoss tried to reassure, but his heart was still pounding after taking all his father had said into his mind. He knew in his heart that Little Joe was his brother. Nothing else would ever be needed! But he also knew that this scandal would cause terrible damage to the entire family.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you have a plan?\u201d Adam asked, thinking also of his youngest brother and the strong bond that pulled the two of them together always. Adam knew Joe was different, not having the same ideals or temperament that he himself possessed, but his brother nonetheless.<\/p>\n Ben cleared his throat to gain his composure and responded, \u201cWe have to get Joe out of town quickly\u2014before Marchant talks to him. I already had Dave Bennett promise to deliver a message to our lawyer to meet with me here tomorrow afternoon. Hoss, I would like you to get your gear together and leave with Joe first thing in the morning. You can catch the noon stage out and go to San Francisco. I will have to make something up\u2014like a business deal that needs the both of your attention\u2014something\u2014to get him out of here until we can get it under control!\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss nodded. \u201cDon\u2019t you worry about a thing, Pa. I\u2019ll get him out of here. Maybe we can hole up with Hop Sings cousin; that way Marchant won\u2019t be able to find us!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes\u2014good idea! And if I need to pass word onto you, I can send it directly to our lawyer there. You think you can make this sound real, so that Joseph won\u2019t know why I am sending him off?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Pa, now don\u2019t worry about that; I\u2019ll handle it.\u201d Hoss patted his father\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cPa…\u201d Adam started but then stopped himself, unsure if he should ask a very important question.<\/p>\n Ben studied the intensity that reflected in Adam\u2019s eyes and answered the unspoken question. \u201cJoseph is mine\u2014and I don\u2019t ever want to hear anyone in this house question it.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss both sighed relieved that they hadn\u2019t actually spoken the words but that their father picked up on the smallest of doubt that was starting to bother their minds.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know it, Pa…\u201d Hoss said without pause.<\/p>\n \u201cPa, you know those railroad contracts were supposed to be revised? You can tell Joe that you are sending him and Hoss to look them over and sign in your place.\u201d Adam was now totally in to getting Joe thrown off from what they were trying to protect him from.<\/p>\n \u201cGood idea! Now if he says anything about Marchant, I\u2019ll tell him that Adam is going to show the man around,\u201d Ben continued.<\/p>\n A dark, vicious grin creased Adam\u2019s mouth as he spoke, \u201cI\u2019ll show that bastard around all right! There\u2019s places around here where they will never find his lying carcass!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stared at Adam; he knew it was his place, as the young man\u2019s father, to correct that kind of violent threat. But Ben couldn\u2019t help but think the same thing that his eldest had spoken. He would have enjoyed nothing better than to dump Marchant\u2019s dead body into the depths of Lake Tahoe. However, he knew they had to try their best to handle this awful situation legally. Legally, first, Ben thought to himself, but if that didn\u2019t work, then Lake Tahoe might just be a fitting place.<\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n It was almost noon the following day when Joe Cartwright stood in front of the Overland Stage Line ticket office and waited for his brother Hoss to come out with their tickets to board the stage which would take them to San Francisco. He felt a combination of emotions; he was excited to be going on this trip as San Francisco had always been one of his favorite places. It had so much to offer with the fast-paced world on the Barbary Coast and there had always been beautiful women to see and flirt with. Yes, Joe thought to himself, he enjoyed going there. But, he also felt a bit bad that he wouldn\u2019t be able to show Mr. Marchant around town the way he had promised he would. Ben had reassured Joe that morning that older brother Adam would take his place and show Mr. Marchant what he desired to see. Joe couldn\u2019t help feeling a little intrigued by the stranger; perhaps it was because the man was from New Orleans.<\/p>\n Rene Marchant spotted Joe from across the street and quickly made his way over to him. He saw the travel bags that lay at Joe\u2019s feet and had already put two and two together, reasoning that the boy was about to leave.<\/p>\n Joe turned as Marchant approached him. \u201cMr. Marchant, I\u2019m sorry but I am going away for a few weeks, but my brother Adam will be in town later to show you around,\u201d Joe explained.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph\u2014please\u2014I need to talk to you before you go. It\u2019s vitally important!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh? What is it about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome with me.\u201d Marchant led Joe into the alleyway between the stage office and the mercantile. Joe followed along, very curious as to the urgency of the man\u2019s request.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t want to tell you this way, but I have no choice,\u201d Marchant started.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen Cartwright is sending you on this sudden trip due to the conversation him and I had last night.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa saw you in town? \u201c Joe asked, surprised that his father would have visited Marchant instead of seeing Roy Coffee as he had told his sons. \u201cWhat did you talk about? Why do you think he\u2019s sending me away because of it?\u201d<\/p>\n Rene Marchant reached into his coat and drew out a locket the size of a pocket watch. He opened it and handed it to Joe.<\/p>\n Joe stared at the pictures. On one side was a picture of Joe\u2019s mother and on the other there seemed to be a picture of Mr. Marchant. \u201cThis is you\u2014and my mother! I don\u2019t understand. What\u2019s going on? Did you know my mother? Is that what you and my father were talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour mother and I were going to be married. We were very much in love. But we parted ways because she chose not to go with me to Europe to start my business there. Weeks later, she met and married Ben Cartwright.\u201d Marchant explained and watched as Joe took all of the information in.<\/p>\n \u201cSo what has all this got to do with me?\u201d<\/p>\n Rene reached out and put his hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder and hoped he wouldn\u2019t pull away from the gesture. \u201cJoseph, your mother was already carrying you when she met Ben Cartwright. You are my son.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stepped back in the alleyway and leaned heavily against the brick wall. He felt as though he had been punched in the stomach, and fought hard to catch his breath. So many thoughts swirled in his mind. Surely Marchant is lying! But if he was lying, then why would Pa send me away so suddenly? And why the lie about going to see Roy? And why did this stranger seem so familiar? Was it the hair, the hazel eyes\u2014or the fact that perhaps he was his father? <\/em>Joe could feel tears well up in his eyes as this all fell on his heart. The possibility that he might not truly be a Cartwright was tearing at his very soul.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were born seven months after Ben and Marie were married. Ben claims you were premature, but I believe you were right on time,\u201d Marchant continued.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy! Why do you come here after all these years? Why did you have to tell me this?! Don\u2019t you know that Ben Cartwright raised me, loved me, took care of me?! He is my father!\u201d Joe yelled.<\/p>\n Marchant shook his head and spoke softly to the lad. \u201cI didn\u2019t even find out about you until I returned to New Orleans last year. Once I had all the facts, I knew I had to find you. You are my son\u2014my only heir! I want you with me!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have to leave…\u201d Joe fought to control his voice and it wasn\u2019t working. \u201cI have to think this whole thing out…\u201d Joe turned and hurried down the alley. He all but ran to the livery stable, where Hoss had left both Cochise and Chub. Joe quickly mounted his horse and galloped down the street just as Hoss stepped out of the ticket office.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe!\u201d Hoss yelled as the horse passed him, but to no avail as Joe was determined to escape from all he had seen and heard.<\/p>\n Hoss spotted the elegantly dressed Marchant as he stepped out of the alley and onto the sidewalk. Hoss didn\u2019t need an introduction to know who the man was as he hurried over to speak to him. \u201cMarchant! What did you say to my brother?\u201d Hoss\u2019 face was red with anger and his fists had automatically readied for a punch to be thrown.<\/p>\n Rene Marchant studied the huge Cartwright he had already been informed about. \u201cI simply told him the truth\u2014which was more than your father did!\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss reared back to throw a right punch at the man just as the two body guards made their presence known by flanking Hoss on both sides. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t even think about it,\u201d Marchant said smiling at the angry man in front of him.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll deal with you later\u2014all of you!\u201d Hoss shouted and turned toward the livery stable. Finding Joe was much more important at the present than mopping the road with Mr. Marchant. But Hoss vowed to himself he would put that on his list of things to do later.<\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n While Ben and Adam Cartwright were meeting with the family\u2019s lawyer at the ranch house that afternoon, Hoss was frantically searching the ranch and surrounding countryside for his little brother. He went to all the places that Joe was bound to seek refuge, including Marie\u2019s grave site overlooking Lake Tahoe. The search proved pointless, and after several hours, a very disheartened Hoss made his way back home.<\/p>\n It was dusk when Hoss opened the door leading into the house, and his appearance there shocked both Adam and Ben. \u201cHoss!\u201d Ben exclaimed as he stood from his chair. \u201cWhat are you doing here? You should be halfway to San Francisco by now!\u201d Ben walked toward the door and noticed the pure regret controlling the large mans face. \u201cWhat\u2019s happened? Where\u2019s Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMarchant got to him while I was in the stage office getting our tickets. I\u2019m so sorry, Pa.\u201d Hoss sounded like he would break down into tears at any moment, feeling awful for having failed his father.<\/p>\n Ben reached over and grabbed his shoulder and squeezed it affectionately. \u201cIt\u2019s okay, son; just tell me what happened,\u201d Ben consoled his middle son and Adam walked over to join them both.<\/p>\n \u201cHe somehow spotted Joe\u2014took him off somewhere and told him that he was Joe\u2019s father. I saw Joe riding away just as I came out of the stage office. Joe was riding so fast to get away I don\u2019t even know if he saw me or heard me yell to him. I\u2019ve been out all afternoon looking for him. I even when up to the Marie\u2019s grave\u2014but he wasn\u2019t there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go get the horses,\u201d Adam said and didn\u2019t wait around for a reply; he headed directly out to the barn.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn Marchant!\u201d Ben cursed and strapped on his gun belt. \u201cI should have killed him when I had the chance.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t think that I didn\u2019t want to do that myself, Pa! But Joe\u2019s the only thing that matters right now. He\u2019s probably all tore up inside now that he\u2019s heard what Marchant is saying.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you check up at that line-shack\u2014you know the one where you and he stayed last spring?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, there and just about every other place he usually goes when he\u2019s troubled.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot everywhere,\u201d came Adam\u2019s remark as he entered the house again.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u201d Hoss said bewildered as he turned toward his brother.<\/p>\n \u201cThe hayloft,\u201d Adam answered and looked at both Hoss and his father. There was somewhat of a relieved smile on Adam\u2019s face and the other Cartwrights finally understood.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe\u2019s in the hayloft; must have gotten in right after Hoss did while we were here talking about him. I tried to go up there and talk to him but he yelled for me to stay away. He says he doesn\u2019t want to talk to any of us. Oh and Pa, sounds like he\u2019s been drinking.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo he went back to his former place of refuge, did he?\u201d Ben spoke as he once more removed his holster and set it back on the credenza. He remembered Joe having spent a great deal of his childhood hiding up in the hayloft. Ben had often found him hiding there after getting a bad grade in school or getting into a fight with another boy. At least he was home, and the thought of that was relief in itself. But then Ben worried how he would be able to ease Joe\u2019s mind from all he had heard in town. \u201cI\u2019ll go talk to him,\u201d Ben sighed and left the house.<\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n The barn was already dark when Ben opened the planked door and walked inside. Joe was obviously sitting up in the loft in total darkness, trying to avoid everyone. Ben reached for a lantern and lit it, and approached the ladder that led up to the hayloft. By the time he had reached the top rung of the ladder, he could hear the faint sound of Joe crying. Ben pulled himself upright and walked over toward the sound.<\/p>\n Joe sat slouched against several large bags of grain, a bottle of whiskey clutched tightly in his left hand. Ben set the lantern off to the side and knelt down next to his son. He reached out and touched Joe\u2019s arm But Joe pulled away from him and yelled, \u201cLeave me alone! I don\u2019t want to talk to you!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph…\u201d Ben whispered and sat down alongside of Joe. \u201cI know you are angry\u2014and hurt\u2014but we have to talk this out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTalk?\u201d Joe laughed sarcastically and drank more whiskey, still not looking at his father. \u201cYou didn\u2019t want to talk to me, remember? No, you just wanted to send me off to San Francisco! When was I supposed to find out about all of this anyway? When it was printed in the Territorial Enterprise?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was trying to avoid you getting hurt…\u201d Ben again started.<\/p>\n Joe cut him off in mid sentence. \u201cHow? By letting everyone else know but me? It sure was great to hear it from a perfect stranger! Oh wait, no, he\u2019s not a stranger. He\u2019s my father, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben grabbed Joe\u2019s shoulders and forced him to look into his eyes. \u201cI am your father! You are my son. You will always be my son! Don\u2019t believe Marchant\u2019s lies!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd my mother? What about my mother? You gonna tell me that she never slept with him?\u201d Joe forced his piercing gaze on Ben waiting to hear the truth at last.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat she did or didn\u2019t do has nothing to do with this!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh yes it does! It has everything to do with it! If she slept with him, then it is possible that I\u2019m Marchant\u2019s son! \u201c<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, you are MY son!\u201d Ben protested loudly, trying to get it to register in Joe\u2019s brain.<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t answer my question! Did she have an affair with Marchant or not? You want to talk so badly\u2014but you won\u2019t even tell me what I need to know!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben released his grip on Joe\u2019s shoulders and sunk back down against the sacks of grain. His heart ached at the question that Joe had been persistent in asking. But Ben knew he had to answer it. He knew that it would all come out in court eventually.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Joseph, your mother had an affair with Mr. Marchant. And it is true that she broke off their engagement a couple of weeks before I met her. But that proves nothing. I met her and I married her, and we loved each other. And it was from that love that you were conceived. You were born premature\u2014I\u2019ve told you that before.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe turned back away from Ben, his heart also breaking to have the news of his mother\u2019s affair being confirmed. It made what Marchant had told him seem that much more valid.<\/p>\n Ben reached over again, hearing Joe\u2019s sobs become more strained. \u201cI know this is an awful thing to have come out of nowhere for you. I know what you are thinking, but you are wrong. I have no doubt that you are my son. You need to stop doubting it.\u201d Ben was more gentle in his words now, seeing Joe so utterly devastated.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t look like you!\u201d Joe said between sobs.<\/p>\n \u201cNeither do any of my other sons. All three of you favor your mothers,\u201d Ben was insistent now.<\/p>\n \u201cI look like Marchant,\u201d Joe whispered, remembering the man\u2019s hair and eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cYou look like your mother,\u201d Ben repeated.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you are not my father, then Adam and Hoss aren\u2019t my brothers\u2014and this ranch is not a part of me either…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour brothers feel the exact same way I do. We would all die for you if we had to! And every time you have ever been hurt, you have bled Cartwright blood!\u201d<\/p>\n There was a long silence between Ben and Joe. Joe was exhausted from the emotions of the day and the large quantity of whiskey that he had consumed. Ben finally reached over and pulled Joe toward him, this time feeling little resistance from his son. \u201cI\u2019m so scared\u2014scared about what all this means,\u201d Joe cried and Ben reached over to push the tears from Joe\u2019s eyes. \u201cI just want it all back the way it was\u2014but it never is gonna be that way again. Not with all this coming out\u2014and never knowing for sure who really is my father.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLook at me!\u201d Ben forced Joe\u2019s face to stare into his dark eyes. \u201cYou are looking at your father. You are a part of me and you will always be my son\u2014whether you like it or not.\u201d Ben tried to draw a smile out of his son, but found himself to be failing miserably. He worried about the fact that during their whole conversation Joe had never once called him \u201cpa.\u201d Could it be possible that he was already losing his youngest? The thought of that was worse than any other fear that Ben Cartwright had known. He pulled Joe into his arms and hugged him. \u201cJoseph, you are my son, but to tell you the truth, even if someone had dropped you off on my doorstep seventeen years ago, I would feel this same way about you. I love you so much.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben felt Joe\u2019s arms finally go around his shoulders and Joe whispered, \u201cI love you too, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n Ben watched his youngest son as he fell off to sleep with his head still on his father\u2019s strong shoulder. Whether Joe had passed out due to exhaustion or from the alcohol, Ben wasn\u2019t sure nor did he care. Joe was home and safe, and for the moment, the whole terrible ordeal with Marchant was pushed aside. Ben closed his own eyes and said a silent prayer that somehow there would be a resolution to the paternity issue. He did not care what the man from New Orleans had said or even how much difficulty there would be in proving that Joe was indeed a Cartwright. Ben Cartwright knew he was Joe\u2019s father and that was all that mattered at the present. He watched as Joe slumbered on and remembered holding him as an infant and then a small boy. In the rebellious teenage years, he had too few opportunities to feel this close to Joe.<\/p>\n It tortured Ben\u2019s heart and soul to see where Joe\u2019s tears had stained his cheeks and knew the total grief that the boy was feeling. Ben thought on what Joe had said about the fact that he resembled Mr. Marchant in hair and eye color. He pushed all those things aside as he stared down at what he considered to be a reflection of his wife, Marie. Somehow he vowed to get through to Joseph that there was no doubt as to his parentage. He just needed some time to figure out some way to accomplish that feat. Ben pushed the abundance of curls out of Joe\u2019s eyes and brushed them back as he had so many times in the boy\u2019s life. He remembered Marie to have that same texture of hair, and the thickness of Joe\u2019s surpassed even hers. From the first moment Joe had drawn breath, he was known for the curls which graced his head.<\/p>\n Ben was shaken from his remembrance as Adam appeared at the top of the ladder, staring over concerned at his father and brother. \u201cYou okay?\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n Ben smiled for the first time in two days. At least for the time being, the ranch was at peace with Joe slumbering on in his father\u2019s arms. \u201cYes, I\u2019m fine. Guess we need to get this young man into bed. Why don\u2019t you go get Hoss to help us; Joe is out cold.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam nodded and descended the ladder leaving his father a few more precious moments alone with Joe.<\/p>\n ************<\/p>\n At breakfast the next morning, Ben filled Adam and Hoss in on what had taken place the previous night with his conversation with their brother. Both brothers were saddened by Joe\u2019s obvious lack of faith in being a Cartwright, but they understood where all the doubt was coming from.<\/p>\n \u201cSo when he comes down here, it\u2019s probably best if we don\u2019t mention it unless he does,\u201d Ben finished.<\/p>\n \u201cDoes he know about Benton coming over here yesterday, Pa?\u201d Hoss asked and Ben shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t talk about the lawyer. I know Benton wants to talk with Joseph, but I don\u2019t think today would be a good day for it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHoss, Benton told Pa and me yesterday that we have a good chance in dragging the case on for a while. Maybe Marchant will give up the cause if he\u2019s forced to stay in Virginia City for a long time.\u201d Adam tried to ease the worry he saw so vividly displayed on Hoss\u2019 face.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, he can\u2019t just take Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Hoss…\u201d Ben started and could see the expressions on both of his son\u2019s faces become less strained. \u201cBenton is going to make sure of that. If he even tries to do that, Marchant will have more trouble on his hands then he knows what to do with. You know I\u2019d never let Joe go!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNeither would we,\u201d Adam spoke for both himself and Hoss who nodded affirming his intent.<\/p>\n Joe slowly descended the stairs. He was feeling awful and it showed. Even after having cleaned up and changed clothes, he still looked much as he did the prior night in the hayloft. There were dark circles under his eyes which were dull from the night of intense emotion. That, coupled with far too much whiskey, made Joe seem so much older than his seventeen years. He took his place at the table and his family sat wondering how to best break the ice with him. Before the Cartwrights could think of anything, Hop Sing appeared out of nowhere and stood behind Joe\u2019s chair. He placed both of his hands on Joe\u2019s shoulders and spoke, \u201cLittle Joe! You look vely bad. Hop Sing get you something to make you all better!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded to the cook but did not speak. He looked around the table at each of his family members and found words impossible to come by.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph…\u201d Ben started and sat his coffee cup down and tried for a cheery look. \u201cHow about some coffee?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded again and Ben passed him a cup. Joe sipped at it but still avoided the other\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Little Joe! That mare finally had her foal yesterday. After breakfast, let\u2019s go look at it. It looks a little scrawny right now\u2014but I think it\u2019s gonna turn into a real beaut.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d Joe answered quietly.<\/p>\n Adam felt it was his turn to try to cheer his little brother and he spoke. \u201cMitch came by yesterday and wanted you to come over and visit him. I\u2019ve been wanting to talk to his pa about the new mill. How \u2018bout you and I going over there after lunch?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe put down his coffee cup as Hop Sing came in with his breakfast. The cook had gone out of his way to make Joe all of his favorites. \u201cThanks, Hop Sing.\u201d Joe tried his best to smile at the man but he couldn\u2019t even fake it. Joe turned to look at Ben and asked, \u201cI know what all of you are trying to do, but let\u2019s all stop playing games here. I need to know what\u2019s gonna happen now.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben watched as the piercing hazel eyes turned on him, pleading to know what would happen with Marchant. He fought to choose the right words that wouldn\u2019t set Joe off again. \u201cWe have to go and talk with Benton Hill today. We\u2019ll know more after that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to go!\u201d Joe protested.<\/p>\n Ben grabbed his arm, trying to calm the storm he saw brewing inside of Joe. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to go, Joseph. Adam and I will go. Why don\u2019t you go with Hoss and see the new colt? Try to take your mind off things for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy mind off things?\u201d Joe\u2019s question came off acridly. \u201cI don\u2019t even know who I am anymore\u2014but I\u2019m sure going to see a new colt will make everything all better!\u201d Joe stood and threw his napkin down and rushed outside.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew that would happen,\u201d Adam said after Joe had slammed the front door. \u201cPa, Joe is going to really lose it if we don\u2019t somehow resolve this fast. Dragging it out in court may not be the best solution.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you want me to do, Adam? From what Benton said, Marchant is not the type to give up easily. He has money, so he can\u2019t be bought off. We can\u2019t kill him\u2014though we are all in agreement here that we\u2019d like to.\u201d Ben was getting angrier at the whole situation, and even Hoss started to close his fists trying to control his urge to go after the man who had caused the whole problem.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me talk to Joe, see if I can get through to him,\u201d Adam replied quietly.<\/p>\n Ben settled back in his chair. He folded his hands and rested his forehead on his knuckles. \u201cWhat Joseph needs is some kind of positive proof that I am his father. I\u2019m afraid there is no medical way to get that. Benton said that even Doc Martin\u2019s testimony would not prove positively that Joe was premature.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll come up with something, Pa. But right now Joe just needs family.\u201d Adam stood from his chair and saw Ben nod for him to go ahead and try to talk with his brother.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Joe sat out on the porch step, deep in thought, as Adam approached coming from the front door. He sat down alongside of Joe and noticed how the boy seemed to tense up.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to talk to you, Joe,\u201d Adam started and Joe turned his face away from his brother.<\/p>\n \u201cNot now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019ll tell you what; I\u2019ll talk and you listen. Hey, that will be a first, won\u2019t it?\u201d Adam tried to kid around and Joe was not having anything to do with it. He still sat stone-faced, looking in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe, you and I are about as different as two people can be really. Have you ever thought of that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Adam,\u201d Joe replied sarcastically. \u201cI really needed to hear something like that right now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet me finish before you punch me in the nose\u2014okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFinish,\u201d Joe retorted still upset.<\/p>\n \u201cNo matter how different we are, we do still share some things.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLike what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLike loving this ranch, brother Hoss\u2014and our father.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe dropped his head down fighting off tears. He didn\u2019t want to break down in front of Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe, you forget that I was around your Ma for quite awhile. And Pa is right\u2014every time we look at you, we see her! I know you are not too happy with her right now, but I wasn\u2019t happy at first when she came into our lives either. That all changed when I saw how she breathed life back into Pa and when she gave me this pesky baby brother to chase after.\u201d Adam put his arm on Joe\u2019s shoulder, something he rarely did as theirs wasn\u2019t much of a physical relationship. Adam and Joe each respected each others space but that never stopped the love they felt in their hearts for each other. \u201cJoe, before I\u2019d let that bastard Marchant take you from us, I\u2019d kill him with these two hands. And you know I don\u2019t make idle threats.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t understand. We may not even be brothers, don\u2019t you see? Yesterday you were my half-brother, and today, I may not even be a Cartwright,\u201d Joe whispered as a stray tear escaped his eye. He briskly brushed it aside before Adam could notice.<\/p>\n \u201cI never considered you my half-brother\u2014no more than I consider Hoss my half-brother. Both you and Hoss are one hundred per cent Cartwright. You are the same kid you were when you woke up yesterday morning. Remember? Driving me crazy with all your talk of the women in San Francisco and all the trouble you planned to get in to. Nothing has changed\u2014except that you let yourself believe some lame story that some idiot told you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe idiot who might be my father,\u201d Joe stated bitterly.<\/p>\n Adam grabbed Joe\u2019s arm roughly, his frustration unleashed and his fear of losing Joe to Marchant increasing. He pointed his finger toward the front door and forced Joe to look at him. \u201cThe only father you will ever have is in that house! And he\u2019s worried sick about you! Now stop the whining and temper tantrums and go in there and prove that you are a Cartwright! Go in there and tell him you are ready to fight Marchant!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam let go of Joe\u2019s arm and stood and looked down at him. \u201cIf you are a Cartwright, that\u2019s exactly what you would do!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stood slowly and met Adam\u2019s dark glowing eyes. There was no longer any anger in those eyes, only love for his brother and the hope that he had gotten Joe to the point where he would start trying to fight. Joe broke the gaze, looked over at the front door and then back at Adam who was now smiling. He knew what Joe\u2019s next move would be. Joe walked directly into the ranch house and yelled over to where Ben and Hoss still sat in the dining room.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to the lawyers with you! I\u2019ll go hitch up the team.\u201d Joe turned and once more left the house, leaving his family totally amazed at the boy\u2019s sudden furor. Adam patted Joe on the back as he walked past him at the front door.<\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n Ben and Joe rode to Virginia City that afternoon in the buckboard. Ben tried his best to steer the conversation away from talk of Marchant. Joe fought the anxiety he was feeling as he thought of talking with the family lawyer. He dreaded what would come out concerning his mother\u2019s reputation. Joe felt a surge of betrayal toward her and his heart was numbed by it.<\/p>\n Entering the law firm, Ben and Joe were immediately welcomed by the junior partner who just happened to be Benton Hill\u2019s son Randolf. \u201cMr. Cartwright\u2014Joe\u2014come on in! My father has been expecting you.\u201d Randolf led the way into his father\u2019s office and the two Cartwrights took their seats as Randolf excused himself and withdrew from the room. Benton Hill smiled at his two clients, trying to make them feel less tense. He could almost feel Joe\u2019s awkwardness at the situation and hoped he could ease the thick cloud of worry hanging over both Cartwrights.<\/p>\n \u201cBen, the court has set a preliminary hearing for the day after tomorrow. Joe, you won\u2019t even have to be present for this one. It\u2019s really just a formality. No testimony will be taken. The original complaint for custody will be submitted, as will our response and counter complaint.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen what happens?\u201d Joe replied without showing direct eye contact with the lawyer.<\/p>\n \u201cI told your father yesterday, we intend to make this case as long as drawn out as we can. We hope to wait Marchant out and maybe he\u2019ll give up. In your favor, you have lived with Ben your whole life and he has taken such good care of you that he would never be deemed unfit in any way. Marchant, on the other hand, doesn\u2019t even know you at this point. And, even though we have no hard medical evidence to back us up, neither does he. That will also be greatly in our favor,\u201d Benton reassured as much as he could.<\/p>\n \u201cBut, when this comes to trial\u2014then what? Will all this come out about him and my mother?\u201d<\/p>\n Benton sighed, frustrated at the truth of the matter, and replied, \u201cI\u2019m afraid so, Joe. There\u2019s no way around that.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stared over at his father who had a very pained look on his face. Joe knew the revelation of his mother\u2019s past would hurt a lot of people but his father the most. Joe knew that Ben still loved Marie, no matter what. Joe was unsure of how he now felt toward the woman who had given him life and now it seemed was ruining it. \u201cPa…\u201d Joe started and even the sound of that one word felt uneasy for the first time in Joe\u2019s life. \u201cI know you don\u2019t want this to come out\u2014not here, not in front of the whole town. Maybe it\u2019s just not worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shot Joe an exasperated look and returned, \u201cNot worth it? How can you even think that? Your mother would want me to fight for you with everything I have inside of me. She would be the last person to consider her own reputation over your welfare. Not worth it? Marchant can say anything he wants about Marie or me\u2014as long as he doesn\u2019t end up taking away my son!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked down at the floor, breaking his father\u2019s strong gaze. He knew that Ben had meant every word he had said, but it still made him feel guilty for being the reason that the past would be displayed in court.<\/p>\n Benton cleared his throat to relieve the awkward silence that had fallen over the room. \u201cLet\u2019s get the preliminary hearing over. Then we can put our heads together on what we want to say in court. Until then, just rest easy. Joe, we have no intention of letting you go off with Mr. Marchant, so don\u2019t worry, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n There was a knock at the door and Benton opened it and saw Randolf standing there. \u201cDidn\u2019t want to interrupt, but this message just came over here. It\u2019s for Joe\u2014and it\u2019s from Mr. Marchant.\u201d Randolf handed the envelope to his father who gave it to Joe.<\/p>\n Joe nervously opened it and read the contents. He then looked over at Ben. \u201cHe\u2019s asked that I come over to see him at the hotel. He says it\u2019s very important that I meet with him before the hearing. And he wants me to come alone.\u201d Joe handed the letter to his father, who also read it and passed it over to Benton.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat now?\u201d Ben asked nervously, he knew the man was up to no good.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Joe, what do you want to do about it?\u201d Benton asked.<\/p>\n Joe shrugged his shoulders helplessly. \u201cGuess I\u2019ll go see what he wants.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot without me you won\u2019t!\u201d Ben retorted angrily.<\/p>\n \u201cHe said to come alone. I\u2019ll fill you in after I talk with him.\u201d Joe looked up at his father and fought to remain calm, even though he felt like running away again.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go over with you…\u201d Ben paused and put his hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder for support. \u201cBut, I\u2019ll wait down in the lobby,\u201d Ben conceded and Joe nodded his approval.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s get this over with,\u201d Joe stated flatly and turned to walk out of the office.<\/p>\n \u201cBen, come back into town tomorrow and we\u2019ll discuss whatever Joe finds out from Marchant today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll do that, Benton,\u201d Ben agreed and shook his hand and followed Joe out of the building.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Ben and Joe made their way over to the International House and Joe stopped before ascending the long staircase. He looked briefly at his father and Ben\u2019s worried look did not help the uneasiness Joe was feeling. \u201cI\u2019ll be right over there.\u201d Ben pointed at the sofa in the lobby.<\/p>\n Joe nodded and started up the stairs. He paused as he reached room number eight and took a deep breath to ward off the sickness he felt in the pit of his stomach. Finally, gaining his composure, Joe knocked on the door. Marchant was quick to answer and opened the door and motioned for Joe to come inside. \u201cSo glad you came right over.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow did you know where I was?\u201d Joe asked as he entered the large living area.<\/p>\n A smile creased the man\u2019s face and he replied, \u201cI have a lot of eyes working for me. Come on in and sit. I have so much to speak with you about.\u201d Marchant led Joe over to the sofa and Joe sat at a distance from the man.<\/p>\n \u201cI was so sorry that I had to reveal myself to you in the way I did yesterday, Joseph. But Ben Cartwright left me no other recourse when he tried to send you away.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you want from me?\u201d Joe burst out not being able to stand the thought of the man thinking that he was his son.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to get to know you\u2014to spend some time with you. Is that asking too much?\u201d Marchant\u2019s voice came out with his own kind of compassion.<\/p>\n Joe stared into the hazel eyes in front of him; he ached at the thought that they looked so much like his own eyes. \u201cMr. Marchant, Ben Cartwright is the only father I need or want. Even if what you have told me is true\u2014that I am your son by blood \u2014 it doesn\u2019t change what that man has done for me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, it doesn\u2019t, nor do I hold any contempt for him. But, you have to understand, Joseph, you are my son, not his. Isn\u2019t it only fair that I have a chance to get to know my only son?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked away from the man. He yearned for Ben Cartwright to burst into the room and break up what was going on.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, Joseph,\u201d Marchant continued on, \u201cI know you don\u2019t want everyone in this town to hear all the facts of all our lives being displayed in the courtroom. You don\u2019t want your mother\u2019s reputation sullied any more than I do. I loved her\u2014and to this day I would give anything to have her back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s dead. No one has her now\u2014not you, not Pa, not me,\u201d Joe corrected.<\/p>\n \u201cBut do you want the rumor mill to circulate the story of her past?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, if only for Pa\u2019s sake.\u201d<\/p>\n Marchant frowned at the mention of Ben Cartwright, especially the term \u201cpa\u201d used in reference to him. He knew he could change that in the future so did not correct Joe at this time.<\/p>\n \u201cI have a proposition for you, something that all of us\u2014you, Ben and myself\u2014 will benefit from.” Marchant reached over to a folder on the table and handed it to Joe.<\/p>\n Joe opened it to find a written contract of sorts. He studied it to find it required his signature to be official. \u201cGo away to New Orleans with you? For six months? Until my eighteenth birthday? Why would I agree to do that?\u201d Joe asked bewildered and saw Marchant open another folder. This one held many papers, which the man spread out on the coffee table.<\/p>\n \u201cHere is all the information on all of Ben Cartwright\u2019s holdings. Every contract, every land deed, every stock option. Cattle\u2014timber\u2014it\u2019s all here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo, what\u2019s this all about?\u201d Joe asked his voice starting to tremble with dread.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, wealth has its privileges. You will find that out soon. I can, in just a few days, totally bankrupt the Ponderosa. Ben\u2019s wealth is not as vast as my own. This is what I will do if you do not agree to come to New Orleans with me.\u201d Marchant spoke with complete confidence and Joe looked at him in disbelief.<\/p>\n \u201cYou would do all this? What\u2014just to get even with my father?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am your father! But, I can\u2019t even start to get to know you until you get away from here. Now, I can see the great affection you have for the man\u2014and for his sons. But, I promise you that I have no intention of sitting through a long involved custody battle. I need to get back to New Orleans.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s in this for me if I sign?\u201d Joe stared again at the contract and his heart broke at the idea that he would probably end up signing it to save the Ponderosa and his father\u2019s dream.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you agree to stay for six months, with no contact with Ben Cartwright or his sons, then after that time\u2014if you decide not to stay with me\u2014I will not protest you leaving, and I will not go after the Ponderosa or Ben Cartwright.\u201d Marchant stared over at the boy, and knew by his facial expression that he had succeeded in swaying his mind.<\/p>\n \u201cHow do I know you\u2019ll do as you promised if I leave after six months?\u201d Joe did not trust the man in any way and it came out in his question.<\/p>\n \u201cI will also sign this. And a copy will be sent to Ben\u2019s lawyer. That way we are all in perfect agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do I tell Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou tell Ben Cartwright nothing! He will see the contract after we leave. And I want to leave tomorrow!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe was sure that his heart had stopped beating altogether now. Leaving the ranch, going away for six months and not even being able to explain his actions to his father was agony. But he knew that Marchant meant business and Joe couldn\u2019t stomach the idea that Ben fighting for custody of Joe would cost him the Ponderosa. Joe knew how much of Ben\u2019s own blood was in that ranch and he felt it would kill Pa to lose it. Knowing all this, Joe reached for Marchant\u2019s pen and signed the paper.<\/p>\n \u201cI will meet you just outside of Virginia City, on the road that forks toward Carson. Be there by six tomorrow morning. Don\u2019t pack anything; I\u2019ll see to all your needs,\u201d Marchant said and followed the distraught Joe to the door.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be there,\u201d Joe barely whispered and left the room.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Rene Marchant pulled aside the velvet lined drapes to the front window of his hotel suite and peered down toward the street. He watched as both Ben and Joe left the hotel and walked toward their buckboard. Rene smiled contented and said aloud, \u201cEnjoy the afternoon with Joe, Ben Cartwright. It is the last one you will ever have!\u201d<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Ben had noticed the strained appearance on his son\u2019s face as he had descended the staircase at the International House. Ben decided to wait until they were alone and on their way home before he addressed what had taken place with Marchant. Joe seemed to watch the scenery more than usual, his father not knowing that the boy was trying to etch it all in his head for the long six months when he would be gone. They spoke only a few words until Ben finally pulled the wagon to a halt just above a clearing over looking Lake Tahoe.<\/p>\n Joe shook himself from his thoughts and noticed where they now were. He frowned when he realized they were at his mother\u2019s grave. He looked down the well-worn path that led to her tombstone and fought off any thought of going there.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s get out and stretch our legs,\u201d Ben said, tying the reins of the team to the front of the buckboard. Joe watched as his father stepped down out of the wagon and walked around to his side. \u201cC\u2019mon, Joe,\u201d he called. The boy just sat there and crossed his arms at his chest.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t right now. I\u2019m not ready,\u201d Joe answered defiantly.<\/p>\n Ben came closer to his son. \u201cJoseph, you have to make peace with all of this. You can\u2019t blame your mother for what has happened,\u201d Ben returned quietly but Joe just responded by shaking his head. \u201cMarie is not the cause of this. If you want to be mad at anyone, it should be Marchant!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t think that I\u2019m not mad with him too!\u201d Joe spoke out with great anger.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Joe, what happened? I\u2019ve been waiting for you to tell me, but you have barely spoken since we left town.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked into his father\u2019s eyes. So many thoughts permeated his mind. He wanted to confess all. He wanted Ben to go into town and tell that man to leave. Joe wished he could confess what Marchant\u2019s plans were, but knew he couldn\u2019t. The Ponderosa was at stake, and that meant his family was at stake as well. Joe dropped his head down in order to avoid the dark eyes of his father that always knew him far too well. \u201cHe just wants me to spend some time with him. Get to know him and all. It wasn\u2019t much of a conversation actually. He said he wanted to apologize for breaking the news to me the way he did.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben lifted Joe\u2019s chin to make eye contact. \u201cWas that all?\u201d he asked suspiciously.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d Joe tried hard to lie to the man he loved so much.<\/p>\n Ben frowned and shook his head irritated at the thought of Marchant\u2019s request. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to spend any time with him! We\u2019re going to win in court and then that…\u201d Ben paused to choose his words; he wanted to use some foul language at this point, but he was talking to his youngest and rethought his statement. \u201cThat misguided fool\u2014he has no right to even see you. Don\u2019t worry, Joseph, it\u2019s going to be okay. I promise you.\u201d Ben put his hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder and noticed how his son had suddenly turned his face away again.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019<\/em>s not going to be okay, Pa,<\/em>\u201d Joe thought to himself. \u201cI have to leave you; I have to leave my brothers\u2014and the Ponderosa! Six months, in a strange place with a strange person who thinks I\u2019<\/em>m his son! No it<\/em>\u2019<\/em>s not going to be okay. But I have to do it to protect all of you, and what you have fought so hard to build.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cJoe? Are you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d Joe shook the thoughts away once more. \u201cI\u2019m just tired. Let\u2019s go home, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben looked down the path toward Marie\u2019s grave. \u201cI\u2019ll be back in a minute,\u201d he replied and walked down to the grave site. Ben pushed aside the dead leaves which lay on top of the tombstone baring the name of his late wife. He knelt alongside of the grave and whispered as if he was talking to the woman in life, not death. \u201cMarie, we\u2019ve got to get through to our boy that he is ours. Help him and help me to get through to him how much we both have always loved him. Help me rid him of these terrible doubts.\u201d Ben pushed back the tears of sorrow that he still felt for the woman he loved so dearly. \u201cI love you, darling,\u201d he whispered and stood and walked away.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n After dinner that night, Joe and Hoss sat in the living room playing checkers while Adam and Ben sat in the study going over final details for the new sawmill construction. They had all tried to pretend that it was a normal evening at home.<\/p>\n \u201cDadbernit, Little Joe!\u201d Hoss exclaimed after capturing Joe\u2019s final checker. \u201cYou must be letting me win! I ain\u2019t never beaten you three games in a row!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe sighed and shrugged his shoulders, the defeat of the game meant nothing to him at this point. \u201cSorry, Hoss\u2014guess I haven\u2019t been paying attention.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWanna try one more?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo\u2014think I\u2019ll just turn in,\u201d Joe said standing and headed for the stairs.<\/p>\n Upon hearing of Joe\u2019s plans, Ben walked over to him. \u201cGoing to bed so early? Are you feeling okay?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n Joe looked around the room and studied the faces of the only family he had ever known. His mind told him that it would be the last time he would see them in quite awhile and he wanted to remember the love and concern he saw displayed on their faces at the moment.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine\u2014just a little tired is all. Goodnight Adam, Hoss.\u201d Joe paused and stared into his father\u2019s questioning eyes. \u201cGoodnight, Pa.\u201d Joe couldn\u2019t help but give his father a quick hug. He hoped the urgency of it did not reveal his motive. He needed one more ounce of strength in order to proceed with what he knew he had to do.<\/p>\n Ben watched Joe as he ascended the staircase. He felt puzzled by the way Joe had clung to him, if only briefly. Ben wondered if it was simply due to the insecurity that the boy was feeling. Or was there something else, something that Joe wasn\u2019t letting on to? Ben shook his head still confused, but decided to address the issue with his son in the morning.<\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n Joe tightened the cinch on Cochise and readied the horse to take him onto his rendezvous with Mr. Marchant. He had barely slept an hour the previous night with all the dread he was experiencing. He hated the thought of leaving his home and his family, and to do it without an explanation seemed cruel. Before he grabbed the reins to lead his horse out of the barn, he heard his name called and, startled by it, whirled around to see his brother Hoss standing there.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe, where are you going? It\u2019s only five in the morning?\u201d Hoss asked still fighting off sleep.<\/p>\n \u201cI have to go away for a while…\u201d Joe paused as Hoss drew closer to him.<\/p>\n \u201cAway? What for?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHoss, you know I\u2019ve always thought of you as more than just my brother; you\u2019ve always been my best friend. I need you to keep a secret. It\u2019s really important that you do it!\u201d Joe spoke adamantly.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle brother, I have always kept your secrets\u2014even from Pa\u2014unless it meant you were going to get hurt or something.\u201d Hoss put his arm around Joe\u2019s shoulder and felt the unsteadiness in his brother.<\/p>\n \u201cThis secret is to prevent Pa from being hurt\u2014and you and Adam too!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMarchant made me a deal. He said if I go away with him for six months that after that time, he will not go through with the fight for custody\u2014and he won\u2019t go after the Ponderosa or Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat! Joe, he can\u2019t do nothing to the Ponderosa or Pa. You can\u2019t do this!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, he can, Hoss! I\u2019ve seen what he can do! He has all the information about Pa\u2019s business transactions\u2014timber, stock, everything. He will bankrupt the Ponderosa. I can\u2019t let that happen. Ben Cartwright has done too much for me to turn around and be the cause of him losing all of this!\u201d Joe eyes pleaded with his brother to understand what was at stake.<\/p>\n \u201cBen Cartwright? Don\u2019t call him that. He\u2019s your Pa! This Marchant is trying to confuse you with all of this talk of him being your father. I tell you, Joe, it\u2019s just not true. And as for the Ponderosa, there\u2019s not anyone here who wouldn\u2019t put it at risk in order to keep you here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t let that happen, Hoss. You have to trust me on this. I can handle Marchant for a few months; he signed the contract just like I did. Six months from now, I\u2019ll be heading back here. No matter if I\u2019m a Cartwright or not, this is where I want to be. I love all of you.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss hugged his brother; he felt like his own heart was breaking at the thought of not having Joe around. Hoss worried as to how he could ever keep such a terrible secret from his father. But Hoss didn\u2019t want to betray Joe either. Joe had told him the truth of the matter and was relying on the close bond they had, with the hope that Hoss would understand and keep all he had said in confidence.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me what Marchant has planned for you,\u201d Hoss asked his voice starting to break.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s just going to take me to New Orleans\u2014get to know me\u2014and let me come home if I choose to do it. I can handle him, Hoss. Honest I can! After being with me a few weeks, he\u2019ll probably beg Pa to come and take me back.\u201d Joe fought to make light of the intense situation.<\/p>\n Hoss pulled Joe away from him and looked directly into the boy\u2019s eyes. \u201cI ain\u2019t for this; you know that. But, if you feel so strongly that you have to do it, then at least I promise not to run in there and tell Pa now. I\u2019ll give you time to get started. But after that, I ain\u2019t promising nothing!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Hoss.\u201d Joe hugged his brother, who did not want to let go.<\/p>\n \u201cYou be careful, Short Shanks, I don\u2019t trust that Marchant fellow!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will\u2014and if I run into any problems I\u2019ll send you a telegraph. Remember the code word we used when we were kids?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss smiled at the long-forgotten pledge they had made to each other as small boys. \u201cYeah, I remember. You use that word and I\u2019ll come running. And I\u2019ll bring a whole army with me too!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe let loose of his brother and swung up into his saddle. \u201cWho needs an army when I have you?\u201d Joe gave his brother a pat on the shoulder before turning Cochise out toward the yard. \u201cI\u2019m gonna leave Cochise tied to that Carson City marker right outside of town; you be sure to bring him back!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will. Be careful, you hear!\u201d Hoss called as Joe rode out to meet up with Marchant.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn!\u201d Hoss swore to himself as he slowly walked back to the house. \u201cPa sure is gonna be mad. And here I just had to get in the middle of it.\u201d<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n A dark carriage sat off to the side of the road which led to Carson City. Behind the driver sat Rene Marchant, eager for the arrival of his son. Joe was right on time, Marchant confirmed as he stared at the boy as he dismounted and approached the carriage.<\/p>\n \u201cClimb in the back with me,\u201d Marchant instructed. Joe took one last look at Cochise and stepped into the carriage, taking his place next to the man who was determined to take Ben Cartwright\u2019s place as Joe\u2019s father.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a long journey ahead of us, Joseph. But, it will give us time to talk and learn more about each other. \u201c<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Mr. Marchant,\u201d Joe returned with no enthusiasm.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom this point on, I expect to be addressed as ‘father’,\u201d he corrected.<\/p>\n Joe swallowed hard, sickened at the thought of calling anyone father other than Ben Cartwright. He reasoned it out in his mind that this was Marchant\u2019s game now, and for the time being, must follow by his rules. \u201cYes, father,\u201d Joe answered, holding back his rage.<\/p>\n \u201cDriver, you may proceed!\u201d Marchant called, content in what he had already succeeded on doing by taking Joe away from Ben Cartwright. Marchant felt assured that six months would be ample time to make Joe forget about ever being called a Cartwright<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Ben Cartwright would always regret the fact that he slept late the day Joe had left with Marchant. It was almost eight o\u2019clock by the time Ben made it downstairs. Hoss had already eaten his breakfast and was outside starting his chores; Adam stood out on the porch, savoring his second cup of coffee. Ben noticed only two place settings being taken away by Hop Sing as he sat down in his chair at the head of the table. \u201cHas Little Joe eaten already?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot see Little Joe\u2014only Mr. Hoss and Mr. Adam,\u201d Hop Sing replied and returned to the kitchen.<\/p>\n Ben prepared his coffee as Adam walked back into the house. \u201cAdam, why don\u2019t you wake Joe up? Hop Sing has waited long enough on us late sleepers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go get him.\u201d Adam put his cup down on the coffee table and climbed the stairs. It was a short time later that he returned, and instead of going over to where his father sat, he hurried outside.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss!\u201d Adam called over to his brother who stood by the front corral. \u201cHave you seen Joe? He isn\u2019t up in his room\u2014and his bed looks like it wasn\u2019t slept in!\u201d<\/p>\n Before Hoss could answer, Ben joined his sons. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on? Where\u2019s Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss looked down at the ground and ached at what he had to do. Joe had a couple hours head start now, Hoss figured, so it was time to tell the truth.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go inside,\u201d Hoss quietly answered and did not wait for a response.<\/p>\n By the time all three Cartwrights stood in the living room that morning, everyone already felt Joe\u2019s absence and the unhappiness it brought with it. Ben stood, hands on hips, waiting for Hoss to reveal all that he knew about Joe\u2019s disappearance.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve waited as long as I\u2019m going to, Hoss. Now out with it!\u201d Ben commanded.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t have no choice, Pa. Joe made me promise to keep it a secret…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKeep what a secret?\u201d Adam chimed in, irritated with his middle brother.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe\u2019s gone off with Marchant,\u201d Hoss stated flatly and then winced knowing what was next.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat!\u201d Ben boomed. \u201cHow could you let him do that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa, let me tell you what Joe said before you get all mad with me,\u201d Hoss begged for understanding.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not mad with YOU. I am mad with Marchant\u2014and your brother Joseph for that matter!\u201d Ben corrected.<\/p>\n \u201cIt ain\u2019t Joe\u2019s fault, Pa. He did it to protect you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe? Protect me from what? Marchant?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYesterday when Joe talked with him, he wrote up some kind of contract. In it he said that if Joe would come with him for six months…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSix months!\u201d Ben again stopped Hoss in mid-sentence. This whole story was starting to get even worse than Ben had expected.<\/p>\n \u201cSix months,\u201d Hoss continued, \u201cIf he did that and stayed there, then Marchant agreed to not go after custody anymore. And he would not threaten the Ponderosa or you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe threatened the Ponderosa?\u201d Adam broke in.<\/p>\n \u201cPa, Adam\u2014seems Marchant had all these papers; they had everything anyone could possibly know about this ranch\u2014about all of our business deals\u2014the whole works. He told Joe he would bankrupt the Ponderosa. Joe believed him. He thinks that by going away for the six months, it will solve a lot of things. There won\u2019t be no custody hearing, his Ma won\u2019t have her reputation soiled, and the ranch will be saved from what Marchant can do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t believe this! Why didn\u2019t he tell me?\u201d Ben asked thinking back on the previous night now. He wished he had spoken to Joe, especially after the sudden embrace he had given his father. It was surely a sign that he was somehow saying goodbye.<\/p>\n \u201cNone of us were supposed to know. I only found out because I heard him leave around five o\u2019clock. He made me promise not to tell you. I only told him I wouldn\u2019t tell you right off, Pa. Please understand. He came to me like he has all his life\u2014always when he\u2019s in bad trouble\u2014I couldn\u2019t let him down,” Hoss continued, pleading for his father\u2019s forgiveness.<\/p>\n Ben walked over to his middle son and threw his arm around his neck. \u201cI know, I know, Hoss. He put you in an awful spot, just like he use to do when he was little. You never had the heart to betray him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt least there\u2019s one person here he can confide in.\u201d Adam\u2019s remark came off with hurt in it that Joe did not trust him in that same regard.<\/p>\n \u201cHe didn\u2019t confide in me either,\u201d Ben returned trying hard to make Adam feel better.<\/p>\n \u201cPa, he said that he and Marchant both signed some kind of contract. You reckon that he left it in town?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, we\u2019re going to find out right now! Then we are going to go find your brother and end this nonsense once and for all. Why in the world Joseph would do this is beyond me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe did it \u2018cause he loves us, and he said he didn\u2019t want what you had worked your whole life for to be taken away.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben fought back the tears he had felt coming on for a long time. To think that Joseph would sacrifice his own happiness to protect all the other Cartwrights touched him deeply. \u201cWell…\u201d Ben sniffed, trying to again return to his anger.\u201dI\u2019m going to show that boy who his father is. And lesson one will be that you don\u2019t break up this team\u2014no matter what!\u201d Ben announced and headed over to the door to grab his holster and hat. They had some serious business to tackle in Virginia City.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n \u201cBenton!\u201d Ben\u2019s baritone voice reverberated through the law office, sounding similar to a cannon blast. Both Randolf and Benton Hill came down the hallway and beckoned the three Cartwrights to follow them into the private room to talk. Ben, Adam and Hoss strode briskly toward the room and entered, their faces ominous in appearance.<\/p>\n \u201cHave a seat.\u201d Benton pointed and reluctantly the Cartwrights all sat. \u201cI already know why you\u2019ve come here.\u201d Benton handed a piece of paper over to Ben, who quickly scanned its contents. \u201cI received this contract here when I opened the office this morning. Marchant had a courier deliver it. By the time I read it, he had already packed up and left town.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis is ludicrous! This contract is not valid. You know Joseph is underage. He can\u2019t sign something like this. It\u2019s not even legally binding,\u201d Ben fumed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are right, of course…\u201d Benton started and watched as anger passed back and forth between each Cartwright as they all read the document. \u201cYou know that, I know that, Mr. Marchant knows that; unfortunately, Joseph did not know that. Marchant must have used some very awful persuasion on the boy to coerce him into doing this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe told Joe he\u2019d bankrupt the Ponderosa,\u201d Hoss replied.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, that brings me to another point…\u201d Benton started but Ben cut him off.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re wasting time. We have to go get Joseph before they get too far!\u201d Ben yelled standing.<\/p>\n \u201cAs your attorney\u2014and as your friend\u2014Ben, you have to listen to me! Now sit down and let me finish!\u201d Benton was angered by the whole turn of events and was equally worried that his clients would run off half-cocked and get involved in some kind of full scale war.<\/p>\n Ben scowled, but returned to his seat. \u201cGo on,\u201d he stated flatly.<\/p>\n \u201cI did some checking myself on Mr. Marchant. Yesterday I sent a wire to Judge Wharton. He wired back a little while ago. Seems Mr. Marchant is one of the wealthiest men in New Orleans. He built himself up quite a large import business with stores all over Europe. If he told Joe that he could bankrupt the Ponderosa, well, it\u2019s just possible that he could.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPonderosa be damned!\u201d Ben lost control again.<\/p>\n \u201cBen, we need to think about what we are doing. I know what you are feeling, all of you; Joe leaving is a terrible shock. But, as your attorney, it\u2019s my responsibility to point some very important things out to all of you before you go running off to New Orleans.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat things?\u201d Adam asked, watching as his father\u2019s posture became more rigid.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, it\u2019s true that Joe was coerced into signing this contract. And even the part which states that he is signing it of his own free will would be easily challenged. Nevertheless, he signed it and he left with the man. I do not think you can catch up with them before they make it back into New Orleans, and there you will be on his turf. If we could have fought for custody here, things would probably have been in our favor. But there, especially in light of Marchant\u2019s money and power, well, we might not win!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo, what are you saying, Benton? You want us to let Joe stay with that man? For six months?\u201d Hoss was incredulous.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I\u2019m saying is this. We don\u2019t need to go into this haphazardly. We need to line things up. I have already started getting some things together which should help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLike what?\u201d Ben was back into the conversation, trying his best not to let his emotions rule his head, but that was a difficult feat when he thought of Joseph being with Marchant.<\/p>\n \u201cI have hired a private investigator. Judge Wharton highly recommended him. He will be in place once Joe arrives. He will be watching both Marchant and Joseph. He will make sure that Joe is okay, and at the first sign of trouble, will get him out of there.\u201d<\/p>\n Benton watched as the three Cartwrights, almost in unison, showed the appearance of having already suffered a defeat against Marchant. The attorney stood and walked around his desk and took on a more casual demeanor. \u201cNow, back to this contract. I think it just may prove to be a weapon to use against Marchant in the long run.\u201d He smiled wryly.<\/p>\n \u201cHow so?\u201d Ben hoped for some kind of reassurance at last.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Joe\u2019s signature was invalid, but Marchant signed this as well. He is not under age, and it can be used against him in court, whether it be court here or in New Orleans. You have a valuable friend in Judge Wharton, and it may just come down to all of us going there. My advice for the moment is to sit back and wait. Let\u2019s get some more information on Mr. Marchant. The man we have hired, Avery Bastille, is a thorough man. Let\u2019s see what kind of thing he can dig up on the man first. And, be assured, he will keep an eye on Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d feel a whole lot better if we all left right now and went to keep an eye on Joe ourselves,\u201d\u00a0 Adam interjected and Hoss nodded his agreement.<\/p>\n \u201cI am your attorney. What I have just given you all is my professional advice. Personally, if the situation was different\u2014and we were talking about my son\u2014I would feel the same way and for the same reasons. But, if we enter into this as strategically as Marchant was able to, I know we can get Joe back\u2014and keep him!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben thought over all that Benton had said. So many thoughts circulated in his mind; his heart, however, was in shambles. All he wanted was to have his youngest son back. That, and to kill Rene Marchant. He knew that bringing Joe back and keeping him there would be a battle, but a battle that he was determined to win.<\/p>\n Ben finally stood and his sons followed suit. \u201cYou let me know as soon as you hear from Mr. Bastille. I want to know everything I can about Marchant. Then, I intend to go after my son\u2014and bring him back for good!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll do that, Ben. I know this is hard on all of you. Please just give me some time so we can do this by the book. I am staking my reputation on the fact that we can get you custody of Joe\u2014and hopefully, long before the six months are up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,” Ben said, offering Benton his hand. Benton shook it and watched as each man filed out of the room. The mood was still glum. But the stage had been set for one hell of a fight with Marchant, and the Cartwrights were determined to win this one.<\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n Joe Cartwright stared out the window of his personal sleeping car on the train that was now taking him onto the second leg of his journey to New Orleans. By this time, it came as no great surprise to Joe that Rene Marchant had secured private berths for his whole entourage. He was a man of great wealth and persuasion, and seemed to expect and receive special privileges wherever he went. The eastbound train was no exception. Marchant\u2019s men included the two bodyguards who had made their presence known to both Ben and Hoss Cartwright in Virginia City, along with a manservant. Marchant had obtained two private cars for his employees and two separate ones for himself and his new-found son.<\/p>\n Joe was glad that at least this part of the trip afforded him some kind of privacy. He had spent a great deal of time with Marchant in first the carriage and then the stagecoach which had taken them to the nearest train station for travel east. Joe mainly just listened as the man talked about his business and plans for introducing his son to other persons of high society once they reached their destination. Joe had tried to stay focused on the one thing that kept him going: the thought of another day passing and getting the six months of forced visitation over with.<\/p>\n The night before they had boarded the train, Marchant had insisted on Joe changing into more suitable clothes. Despite a brief protest, Joe conceded and donned his new attire. The clothes, in many ways identical to Marchant\u2019s, made Joe feel even worse. He felt as though he was being made into a replica of the man he was rapidly growing to hate. Joe felt his identity was being stripped from him, along with all ties to the Cartwrights. Marchant was quick to offer Joe anything he needed in the way of material things and had taken him to several stores before they caught the train. Joe hated to accept anything from the man, wanting only to fulfill his part of the contract and forget he had ever seen Rene Marchant when the six months ended.<\/p>\n Joe fumbled through the luggage that Marchant had purchased for him and searched until he found what he was looking for. It was something that Joe had purchased on his own at the last store they had stopped in. It was also purchased with the last of his own money that he had cleverly hidden in his boot. Joe knew Marchant wanted complete control of him, and that meant money as well as everything else, so that Joe would have to ask for it and be grateful. Joe didn\u2019t want to feel beholding to Marchant for anything and was glad when he found he had just enough money on him to buy the leather-bound journal and several pencils. He figured it would be his only way to vent his feelings and frustrations without eliciting the ire of the man who seemed to have a great distaste for disobedience.<\/p>\n Day Eight: I<\/em>\u2019<\/em>ve been watching as the scenery changes from the window of the train in which I am currently a prisoner. Each mile that passes is yet another mile farther from home and the ones I left behind. I am writing this in order to try not to go completely insane\u2014though I may have already crossed over by now. I want to scream! I want to curse at the total injustice of what is happening to me! But, I can<\/em>\u2019<\/em>t. I have to watch my tongue around Marchant\u2014the man who insists on me calling him my father! God\u2014how that makes me sick to my stomach! I am so mad\u2014mad at Marchant\u2014mad at my mother\u2014mad at just about everything in my life right now. I am trying to do the right thing, but it gets harder as each day goes by. This crazy man makes me dress like he does and has some stupid notion that I am being groomed to take over Marchant Enterprises some day! And all I want to do is go home. But, if I don<\/em>\u2019<\/em>t stay and stick this out then there might not be a home to go to. And, I couldn<\/em>\u2019<\/em>t bear what that would do to those that I love so much. I think of them all the time, and wonder if they are thinking of me. I wonder if Hoss got in trouble for covering for me? I wonder what Adam said about what I did? And most of all I wonder how mad Pa is at me for leaving without a goodbye. Pa<\/em>\u2014<\/em> that one word means so much to me, and yet it seems so strange to even say it anymore. What if the last seventeen years, while I was growing up on the ranch, was all just a lie? What if what this man is telling the truth and I am his son? I think I<\/em>\u2019<\/em>d rather be dead. No, I know I<\/em>\u2019<\/em>d rather be dead. If there is really a God, then somehow it will be proved that I am Joe Cartwright\u2014Ben Cartwright<\/em>\u2019<\/em>s son. I have to think about that in order to keep going. I know Pa, Adam, and Hoss wouldn<\/em>\u2019<\/em>t just forget about me, maybe somehow they will find another way out of all of this. But until that happens, I will be Marchant<\/em>\u2019<\/em>s dutiful son, hating every minute of it! Right now, saving the Ponderosa is more important than my own feelings. At least the first week is over. That leaves five months and three weeks to go. I<\/em>\u2019<\/em>ll make it, too much is riding on all of this to give in to my desire to run in the opposite direction\u2014and head back home<\/em>.<\/p>\n Joe stopped writing in his journal when the knock sounded on the door to his room. He secured the journal back into his suitcase and walked over and opened the door. Standing in front of him he saw Marchant\u2019s manservant, Jacques. Joe frowned knowing he was obviously going to be summoned to do something that he would rather not do.<\/p>\n \u201cMaster Joseph, Mr. Marchant requests you join him in the dining coach.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not hungry,\u201d Joe returned bluntly and walked back over to his previous position staring out the window.<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Marchant does not appreciate being kept waiting. I suggest you get dressed and join him promptly,\u201d Jacques answered and started to lay out another suit for Joe to wear.<\/p>\n \u201cI am dressed already!\u201d Joe protested watching the man.<\/p>\n \u201cYou need to dress properly for dinner. Here, I have everything laid out. He will be expecting you in fifteen minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell me something, Jack…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s Jacques,\u201d the manservant corrected Joe\u2019s English pronunciation.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, whatever. Why is Marchant so formal anyway? And you\u2014why are you at his every beck and call?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe is my employer. And this is the way he lives. If you are going to make any progress with your relationship, you need to do as he instructs.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho said I wanted to make progress?\u201d Joe replied sarcastically.<\/p>\n \u201cFifteen minutes, Master Joseph,\u201d Jacques reminded the young man and turned out of the room.<\/p>\n Joe stood looking at the new suit which had been laid out for him. He cringed at the idea of obeying Marchant\u2019s rigid orders. Finally, cursing under his breath, he started to change his clothes. Joe thought back on the many times he had broken horses back on the Ponderosa. He wondered if this was how they felt, taken out of the wild and caged and taught to act in a different way than how they were before being captured. At that moment, Joe felt sorry for ever trying to tame any animal, for now he was feeling caged himself.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Rene Marchant stared at his gold pocket watch and shot an angry look at Jacques. \u201cYou did tell him when to be here, did you not?\u201d he asked his servant.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, just as you instructed.\u201d Jacques nodded and then saw Joe suddenly appear, coming down the aisle toward Marchant\u2019s table.<\/p>\n Joe stopped at the table and Marchant glowered at him. \u201cYou are late, Joseph,\u201d he chided the young man.<\/p>\n Joe fought back his anger and simply nodded. Rene pointed for Joe to sit down next to him and Joe reluctantly took his seat.<\/p>\n \u201cYou need to be more prompt,\u201d Marchant continued to correct his son.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, well, if I didn\u2019t have to keep changing my clothes all the time…\u201d Joe started.<\/p>\n Marchant cut him off in mid-sentence. \u201cYou are not back in the west any longer, Joseph! You are entering civilization now. You must dress appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe unfolded his napkin and kept saying to himself in his mind, come on\u2014five months and three weeks\u2014I can handle this\u2014just tell him yes, father and it will die down.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYes, father. I will do better,\u201d Joe spoke and could feel his stomach knot up. He was sure if he ate at that moment, it would come right back up.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s better. Now I have ordered for us and it will be here shortly. I have something to show you.\u201d Rene handed Joe his pocket watch. It was solid gold and had intricate designs on it. Joe could tell it was very old, but wondered why it was being shown to him.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s nice,\u201d Joe said trying to sound as enthusiastic as he could.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is sixteenth century workmanship, Joseph. This is a very expensive piece. I bought it in France. You need to learn some things about jewelry and art and other crafts to be able to some day take over my business.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe gazed at the watch and couldn\u2019t for the life of him figure out why it was so special. To Joe, it was just a watch. He remembered his father\u2019s pocket watch; it seemed more special, even though it was plain. Joe reasoned it was special because it was Ben\u2019s watch and had been handed down to him by Ben\u2019s father.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know much about things like this.\u201d Joe handed the watch back to Marchant.<\/p>\n \u201cOh? What do you know about? What is it you like to do?\u201d Rene asked and gave off the appearance that maybe he was genuinely trying to learn more about the boy.<\/p>\n \u201cI like to ride, I like to hunt and fish and all kinds of things.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo you like horses do you?\u201d Rene nodded thinking back to his former love, Marie.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I always have had a way with them,\u201d Joe stated proud of his ability.<\/p>\n \u201cYour mother loved to ride. Unfortunately, as I have been told, that is what killed her.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked down at the table. The sudden reminder of both his mother and her death stunned him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou won\u2019t meet the same fate, Joseph. I will see to that. You have so much to look forward to. When we get to New Orleans in a few days, I will open your eyes to a whole other world. A world in which you will become a master of many things and many people.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe closed his eyes and thought about what the man was saying; his heart ached more now knowing that they were so many miles away from the Ponderosa already and would be even farther by week\u2019s end. He tried to remember the faces of his family, how they had been the night before his sudden departure. Joe drew his strength from the memory. And only that helped him make it through dinner.<\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n Adam dismounted his horse in front of the ranch house and saw Hoss approaching from the front porch. Hoss noticed the urgent way Adam strode toward the house and he joined him at the door.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n Adam just shook his head disgustedly and turned the doorknob entering the house. He tossed his hat on the credenza and turned to face his brother whose face was full of concern. \u201cWhere\u2019s Pa?\u201d Adam asked looking around the front room.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere does he go every afternoon?\u201d Hoss said as a statement and not really a question.<\/p>\n Adam looked toward the stairs. \u201cIn Joe\u2019s room?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss nodded. \u201cHe just sits there and worries about him. It\u2019s been more than two weeks and he seems more depressed each day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, aren\u2019t we all? I just got back from the attorney\u2019s office. Benton is starting to get on my nerves with his infernal ‘wait and see’ attitude. I am all for thinking things out and planning strategy, but seems like all this is just dragging on.\u201d Adam\u2019s remarks were cold and laced with bitterness. He sat down on the settee.<\/p>\n Hoss stood in front of the fireplace, thinking on what his brother had said. \u201cYou got something in mind? What did Benton say exactly?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe heard from Mr. Bastille. Joe made it there all right. He has been watching Marchant\u2019s house. Seems anytime Joe goes out, he has those two bodyguards with him. The kid is really a total prisoner. Bastille hasn\u2019t been able to get close enough to him to let him know that he\u2019s not really alone in New Orleans, that he has a friend on his side. Even when Marchant takes him to his business, he makes sure that Joe is well guarded.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can just imagine how our little brother feels! He\u2019s probably plumb stir crazy by now!\u201d Hoss exclaimed, remembering his brother\u2019s desire for independence.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Benton did say that some of Marchant\u2019s business dealings aren\u2019t on the up-and-up. He hasn\u2019t gotten the goods on him, but he is checking with suppliers and such. Maybe he can get somewhere on that end of it at least.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut what will proving any of that do to help us get Little Joe back?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shrugged his shoulders, not exactly sure himself. Before he could answer, he noticed Ben standing on the bottom landing of the stairs. He had listened to the conversation and decided not to interrupt. He wanted to gauge his sons’ feelings with that of his own.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know if we can wait any longer,\u201d Ben finally spoke and moved to stand near Hoss.<\/p>\n Both Adam and Hoss read their father\u2019s face and could see the worry lines had deepened. They were both concerned with something other than their brother\u2019s well-being; Ben\u2019s health was lately becoming an issue. He didn\u2019t eat as well as he had prior to Joe\u2019s departure, nor did he sleep much. He could not concentrate and Adam had to step in on some of the business dealings to keep the Ponderosa running smoothly. This was not at all like the father they had been raised by, and both men worried about what a long-term absence by Joe would do to Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you want us to do, Pa?\u201d Hoss asked softly as Ben sunk down in his chair.<\/p>\n \u201cAt this point, despite what Benton has instructed, I am ready to go and get Joseph. Kidnap him if I have to! Then, if we can get him back here, we can have that custody hearing and we will have a greater chance of winning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut, what about Marie? I know Joe acted like he was mad at her, but he sure wouldn\u2019t want her name tarnished by going to court,\u201d Adam responded, knowing full well that his father wouldn\u2019t want that to happen either.<\/p>\n Ben turned and looked directly at Adam, his eyes burning with intensity as he spoke, \u201cMarie would be the first person to sacrifice her name for the boy. She would want it done \u2014no\u2014she would demand it be done if it meant getting Joseph back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa\u2019s right, Adam. No matter what comes out in court, we\u2019ve got to get him back.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam thought for a moment and replied, \u201cOkay, so we go to New Orleans. How do you plan to get Joe away from that man? You heard me telling Hoss about the bodyguards, didn\u2019t you? It\u2019s gonna be awful hard to fight him there on his own turf, just like Benton said.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMarchant took us by surprise. We\u2019ll return the favor. I\u2019ll have Benton send the papers to Judge Wharton, requesting a formal hearing on paternity to be heard here in Virginia City.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u201d Both Adam and Hoss asked at the same time.<\/p>\n Ben smiled, the kind of smile that comes from the total thought of revenge. \u201cMarchant will think that we intend to sit here and wait on Joe being brought back, but by the time he gets the summons, we will be in New Orleans. If we time this right, it will work. And we\u2019ll already have our travel plans worked out. We will choose the least likely way out of the city in case he plans to catch up with us. I\u2019ve been thinking about this for days. It will work.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss looked over at his older brother and saw a grin appear on his face; Hoss felt the same emotion at that very moment. It was their father! He was back in rare form! He was not the beaten, hurt man they had been watching for weeks. No, it was the old Ben Cartwright. Full of fire and fury and determined to get Joe back at any cost.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think Benton will go along with this?\u201d Hoss asked bluntly.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think he has a choice?\u201d Ben laughed.<\/p>\n Suddenly, filling the room, there was the unmistakable Cartwright determination. It hung in the air, filling each man with a new strength that came from the love that they had for each other and for the absent member of the family. Finally there was a plan developing, some kind of abstract idea on how to bring Joe back home. The three men talked for hours that night, formulating the plan and putting together even the minutest detail. Hop Sing had stood off in the distance and watched the three men he held so dearly in his heart. He felt a burst of joy to see them together in this way and with such renewed vigor. His thoughts were never far from the boy he had raised from infancy\u2014who he referred to many times as \u201chis\u201d Little Joe. Yes, it seemed to the Chinese member of the family, that now he would be seeing the boy before long<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Stretched out on the four-poster bed, lying on his stomach, Joe Cartwright penned another few pages in his journal. It had been another long day, full of internal frustration and what Joe deemed as total humiliation at the hands of Rene Marchant. He knew if he didn\u2019t get it out of his system by writing, he would no doubt go downstairs and curse at the man and head for the nearest exit. Having given that idea great thought, he had reconsidered and instead excused himself from the dinner table and sought the solitude of his bedroom.<\/p>\n Second month of captivity: It<\/em>\u2019<\/em>s been too long since I have written in here! I feel close to bursting with the anger I have eating at my insides. I truly and sincerely hate Rene Marchant! He is in essence, the exact opposite of Ben Cartwright! He is cold and indifferent. He buys and sells people like the merchandise in his store! Not only is he one of the wealthiest merchants in this part of the country, he also owns the most slaves. I can<\/em>\u2019<\/em>t believe anyone could claim to own a live human being! It seems against the laws of nature and of God.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n When I first got here, I was introduced to a very nice woman who works as a cook here. She seems the motherly type, and despite her long hours working, always has a smile for me. Her name is Hattie and her daughter Rachel works here too. I was told right away by this so called \u201cfather\u201d of mine that they are his personal slaves; he also told me I was to not sit with them and eat in the kitchen due to my high position! What a bunch of malarkey! I am not sure if he judges them on skin color or by their status of being simple workers. Probably both! But, when I learned that he \u201cowned\u201d them, I challenged him on it! That is when I was told that he has more than thirty slaves here on his estate and more than twice that working in the fields that surround it. He was very angered by my remarks and for a minute I thought he would actually hit me! He looked like he was using all the restraint he had to pull away and simply tell me to go to my room.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Marchant thinks he is some kind of God or something. He has let his power go to his head. It seems as though I am not to have any views that are not in total agreement with his own views. Then there is the problem with the bodyguards that he has following me everywhere I go! Mr. Price and Mr. Stern (I don<\/em>\u2019<\/em>t think these two men have first names\u2014Marchant only calls them by their last names\u2014another way to keep from any personal chit chat). Anyway,-I have tried to ditch them when I<\/em>\u2019<\/em>ve gone into town, but they are good\u2014really good. They even follow me better than Adam and Hoss do! <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0I did get past them one time, though. Rachel and I snuck out of this dungeon the night before last. The guards thought I was asleep but I came down the back stairs and met Rachel outside. We walked to this grove where she said she goes to think. The trees looked strange\u2014moss hung down from them like dead bodies and there was a full moon that made it even spookier! She told me about all kinds of legends and about spells and such. She is so nice and my heart aches for her that she will never really be free. I told her how Marchant makes me feel like a slave too and she said that she would put a root on him. It seems like that happens a lot around here\u2014people putting roots on each other. I never heard of it before, but she said it was like casting an evil spell or a spell to protect you from someone hurting you. She and I dug up some different plants and she spoke in a language that I have never heard. She told me she put a root on me to protect me\u2014and then I put a root on her to protect her. She laughed at the way I said the words, but she hugged my neck and said she would always be glad we met. I wish things were different for her and her ma. I wish things were different for the other slaves too. Heck, right now I wish things were different for me! Maybe the root will work. I hope so! <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0Marchant seems to grow more impatient with me every day. I have not learned the business as he wanted me to. I guess it<\/em>\u2019<\/em>s because I don<\/em>\u2019<\/em>t want to and because I am not planning on taking over like he thinks. He has spent hours talking about antiques and old art stuff and it bores me so. You<\/em>\u2019<\/em>d think he<\/em>\u2019<\/em>d just give up! He<\/em>\u2019<\/em>s made me take books up to my room and when he found out I didn<\/em>\u2019<\/em>t read them, is now making me copy text down on paper and turn it into him each morning. That is why I haven<\/em>\u2019<\/em>t been writing in this journal\u2014my hand hurts from all of this copying stuff. <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Back to what I was thinking\u2014let<\/em>\u2019<\/em>s see\u2014oh yeah\u2014after we got off the train, we got in his private carriage which brought us here to the prison\u2014I mean his mansion. It is big and old and gloomy and gives me goose bumps. It<\/em>\u2019<\/em>s one of the biggest houses I<\/em>\u2019<\/em>ve ever seen, but feels so cold and empty and without any love inside of its walls. No one laughs here. Well, Hattie and Rachel and I laugh\u2014when I can steal down to the kitchen and no one catches me. But I never have seen Marchant smile\u2014not since we got here anyway. He has business meetings late into the night and always behind closed doors. I tried to listen in on one, but he almost caught me. He<\/em>\u2019<\/em>s having another one tonight and I<\/em>\u2019<\/em>m gonna see what that<\/em>\u2019<\/em>s about. I have a feeling that this great wealth he has accumulated may not have been acquired honestly. Maybe I am imagining this but there<\/em>\u2019<\/em>s something about him that seems really shady. Maybe I just hate him for taking me away from all those I love. I wonder if they miss me yet? I bet it<\/em>\u2019<\/em>s awfully quiet on the Ponderosa without me stirring up trouble. Maybe they are better off without me \u2014maybe that<\/em>\u2019<\/em>s why I haven<\/em>\u2019<\/em>t heard anything from them. I just really thought I<\/em>\u2019<\/em>d somehow get a letter or something. Maybe pa thinks I wanted to go away. I hope someday he will understand why I had to do this. Well\u2014gotta finish this, I want to go and see what<\/em>\u2019<\/em>s going on behind those closed doors downstairs.<\/em><\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Joe pressed his ear up to the solid oak door to Marchant\u2019s study. He strained to listen to what was happening inside of the room. He recognized the voice of Marchant and then another man whom he had recently met \u2014 Stephan Lenoir, one of Marchant\u2019s attorneys. Joe heard the mention of a contract and wondered if it was another mysterious business deal Marchant was hatching. Then, Joe heard his own name being mentioned, and he squeezed himself tighter against the door to find out what they were saying about him.<\/p>\n \u201c….and after the six months are up, what then? How are you going to keep the boy here? He still thinks this contract is genuine. He has no idea that his signature was invalid. When he finds out that you never intended on letting him go, what happens?\u201d Lenoir was insistent on an answer.<\/p>\n \u201cYou let me worry about Joseph. I can handle him. By the time the six months are gone, he will be ready to stay here with me,\u201d Rene countered.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom what I\u2019ve seen, the boy is arrogant and ill-mannered and does not want to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat will change,\u201d Marchant assured.<\/p>\n Joe pulled back from the door his heart now racing. The contract was not real. <\/em>Joe let the thought sink into his head. That monster lied to me! He never intended on sticking to the agreement! What am I gonna do now? How am I gonna get out of here?<\/em><\/p>\n Before Joe had the chance to formulate a plan, he felt the rough hand of Mr. Price grab him from behind. He tried to break free from the bodyguard but could not. Mr. Price pounded on the door and Rene opened it to see a very scared Joe facing him. \u201cWhat is this?\u201d Rene asked.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been here at your door listening,\u201d Price countered.<\/p>\n Rene grabbed Joe by the arm and dragged him out of the hall and up the stairs. Joe struggled to free himself from Marchant\u2019s grip, but to no avail. Once inside Joe\u2019s bedroom, the man finally released Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are a liar!\u201d Joe yelled and then felt the backhanded slap to his face. Joe stood stunned but did not back away. \u201cYou never were going to let me go! You made me sign that contract knowing it was invalid,\u201d Joe persisted, unconcerned with any physical violence which might erupt.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the only way to bring you here. I told you I had no intention of going to court.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m leaving!\u201d Joe shouted again, and again felt Marchant\u2019s hand to his face.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are my son\u2014you are underage\u2014and I can make sure that you stay.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy would you want someone who hates you?\u201d Joe asked vehemently.<\/p>\n \u201cYou hate me now. But, someday you will thank me. Once I rid your mind of all that Ben Cartwright taught you. Once I make you into the man that he never could have.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou are not my father. There\u2019s no way I could be related to someone as evil as you!\u201d<\/p>\n Marchant thought a moment and then walked over to Joe\u2019s desk. He sat down, thinking of a new strategy to use on the boy. He reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. \u201cCome over here,\u201d he instructed but Joe didn\u2019t budge.<\/p>\n Rene tried again, this time holding the paper up and saying, \u201cIt concerns Ben Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n That statement worried Joe and he walked over to the desk and looked at the paper. It was a purchase agreement. Joe read on to find out it was for the Zephyr mine in Virginia City.<\/p>\n \u201cI purchased this mine last week. Interestingly enough, Ben Cartwright has been counting on winning the bid to provide all the timber for the large shafts which are being readied to be dug. Seems old Ben has been counting on the profits from this in order to fund other projects on his ranch. Guess I don\u2019t have to tell you what I can do to prevent that, do I? Now, as new owner I can prevent Ben\u2019s involvement not only in this venture but in others as well. One by one, his assets will fall and soon the Ponderosa is gone. Do you want that?\u201d Marchant stared seethingly at Joe.<\/p>\n Joe dropped his head in despair. He knew this was but another form of blackmail, and yet he knew Marchant would do it in order to destroy Ben Cartwright. \u201cOur deal was for me to stay here six months and you wouldn\u2019t hurt Ben Cartwright or the Ponderosa.\u201d Joe\u2019s voice was more tame now, as he worried about what his actions would cause this time.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, that was our deal. And it can still be our deal. But, now I need something more from you. I need you to act as I have instructed you. Stop fighting me in my training.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if I do? If I do as you ask?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen I will uphold my end of our bargain; you can leave in six months as originally agreed and no harm comes to the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat guarantee do I have?\u201d Joe asked suspiciously.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have my word,\u201d Rene answered and stared into Joe\u2019s green eyes. He noticed the redness that appeared on the boy\u2019s face from having been hit. Instead of guilt from causing the marks, Rene felt it was his responsibility to teach Joe how to be obedient.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll do as you say,\u201d Joe agreed, still not trusting Marchant\u2019s honesty.<\/p>\n Rene stood and retrieved one of the art books sitting on the desk. \u201cYou can start by copying the next forty pages in here. I want to see it tomorrow at breakfast; then I will quiz you on all you have learned.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe reached for the book and pulled it to his chest. He dropped his head down, feeling totally defeated in mind, heart, and spirit.<\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u201d Marchant asked.<\/p>\n Joe fought back bitter tears and replied, \u201cYes, father.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood.\u201d Marchant turned and walked out of the bedroom.<\/p>\n Joe threw the book down on his desk and crawled into bed, burying his head in his pillow. It was then that the tears came, and accompanying them was the feeling of total despair.<\/p>\n \u201cGod\u2014if you are out there\u2014please bring Pa here. I can\u2019t do this anymore by myself,\u201d Joe prayed as his tears dampened the pillow case. He was afraid to let sleep take over; he knew he had work to do. Joe brushed away the few remaining tears running down his cheeks and walked over to retrieve the book. He had to get forty pages written by daybreak.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Breakfast the next morning was a quiet one. Joe had been informed when he awakened that morning that he would be joining Marchant at his store for the day. Jacques had laid out another elaborate suit for him to wear to Marchant Enterprises. Joe had chosen to do as he had been instructed, not wanting to cause further turmoil between him and Marchant.<\/p>\n \u201cI trust you slept well?\u201d Rene asked looking at Joe, who sat sullen in expression.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, father,\u201d was all he could choke out. He had barely slept at all. He hadn\u2019t completed his writing assignment until the wee hours of the morning. When Joe had finally fallen off to sleep, his dreams were full of rage and he had tossed and turned until daybreak.<\/p>\n \u201cToday you will learn about being a salesman. Even though you will someday be the owner of the store, you must learn the business from the ground floor up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, father,\u201d Joe repeated.<\/p>\n \u201cHave you studied these pages?\u201d Marchant asked looking over Joe\u2019s night\u2019s work of writing.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, father.\u201d Joe responded monotonously.<\/p>\n \u201cGood! I will quiz you as we ride into the city. I need to gather some papers and will meet you on the front steps.\u201d Marchant left the table and Joe tossed his napkin down angrily.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, father!\u201d Joe muttered sarcastically after the man had left the room. Rachel came around to take away the plates and stared into Joe\u2019s eyes. She could detect the pain he was feeling and she noticed the discoloration on his left cheek where Marchant had struck him the night before.<\/p>\n \u201cMaster Joseph…\u201d she started.<\/p>\n Joe cut her off. \u201cStop the Master stuff\u2014please! You and I are friends, remember?\u201d Joe broke into a smile.<\/p>\n \u201cMy root did not protect you it seems,\u201d she sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe we need to put one of those evil roots on Marchant.\u201d Joe laughed at the thought. He really didn\u2019t buy into the whole casting of a spell thing, but was intrigued by it nonetheless.<\/p>\n \u201cI will take care of that today.\u201d Rachel smiled and hurried away to the kitchen.<\/p>\n Joe frowned to be once more alone in the huge room. He stood pushing back his chair. \u201cTime to go to work,\u201d he muttered and walked out to join Marchant.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n All morning long Joe learned the ropes of being a good salesman from one of the other employees. The man was in his early thirties, formally dressed, but didn\u2019t appear quite as stuffy as Marchant. The salesclerk\u2019s name was Henry Lebray, and Joe learned he had worked at the store for several years. Joe wasn\u2019t sure if Henry really liked him or was just being nice to the boss\u2019 \u201cson.\u201d He also did not want to say too much in the way of his feelings, never being totally sure of who was a Marchant spy and who wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n After lunch, Joe said he would try some sales techniques himself. Henry had shown him many items already and the prices were readily marked. Joe felt this would be easy and may help to take his mind off of his current woes. He spotted a customer walking into the store and watched as he examined an alabaster figurine.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me try this one,\u201d Joe whispered to Henry, who nodded his agreement. Joe walked across the room and over to the well-dressed man. \u201cGood afternoon,\u201d Joe greeted the man and the man looked over at the boy. \u201cMay I help you with something?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n \u201cThis figurine\u2014it seems most unusual. Where is it from?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe lifted the item and looked all around for a marking, but found none. \u201cI\u2019d like to tell you\u2014but to tell you the truth I haven\u2019t got a clue!\u201d Joe laughed and felt a bit embarrassed.<\/p>\n \u201cI have seem something similar to this before,\u201d the man stated and then pointed over to the front window. \u201cLet\u2019s take it closer to the sunlight; I believe we can find the marking.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded; it seemed as though the man knew a lot more about fine art than he himself cared to. He strode over to the window and the two of them stood staring at the item.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t look directly at me.\u201d the man whispered and Joe\u2019s expression changed.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u201d Joe asked bewildered.<\/p>\n \u201cI work for your father\u2014Ben Cartwright,\u201d the man whispered.<\/p>\n Joe felt his knees go weak; he wondered how this could be true.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t want to raise any suspicion. I just want to know if I can pass anything onto your father for you. I have been hired to watch you\u2014and to try and find some things out about Marchant.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe noticed Henry starting over to them and changed his tone. \u201cI think fifty dollars is more than a fair price for this, but we will see what Henry says about forty.\u201d Joe turned as Henry made it over to them both at the window.<\/p>\n \u201cHenry, can we sell this for forty dollars?\u201d Joe asked, trying to seem nonchalant.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I suppose; we are getting more in a few days which are larger and more intricate.”<\/p>\n \u201cThen it\u2019s sold. I will purchase it,\u201d the man said and Joe looked relieved. \u201cLet this lad write up my bill of sale. He really is an excellent salesman.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course! Joseph, do you need any help?\u201d Henry asked.<\/p>\n Joe shook his head. \u201cNo\u2014I can do it. If you will walk over here, sir.\u201d Joe spoke and Avery Bastille followed Joe to the service counter. Avery handed Joe the money and whispered once more, \u201cIf you have anything to tell your family, write it down quickly on the sales receipt.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe had only enough time to write one word before Rene Marchant appeared. Joe handed the receipt to Avery and said, \u201cThank you for your patronage. Please be sure to come back soon. As Henry said, we have a new shipment coming in next week and I\u2019m sure there will be other items that you would like.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will do that. Good day!\u201d Avery said and turned and walked out of the store.<\/p>\n Rene approached his son. He had watched as the sale was made and seemed to be delighted that Joe had made it himself. \u201cWell, Joseph, maybe sales is your forte. I watched you from back there…\u201d Rene pointed toward the back of the store. \u201cYou were very courteous and quick in making the sale.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, father.\u201d Joe nodded, finding it hard to concentrate on what the man had said to him. Joe\u2019s thoughts were only of the stranger he had met, and the idea that Ben Cartwright had chosen someone to watch over him after all. That meant that Ben still cared, and might be able to get the one word message he had sent along with the private investigator.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u201d Rene tried to get more from his son. \u201cWhere is your mind?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shook himself from the daze and broke out in a smile. \u201cSorry…father…I was just thinking about how proud I just made you.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cThat you did. Now let\u2019s look at some of the other items in the store so that you can sell them as masterfully as you sold the piece of alabaster.\u201d Rene felt relaxed now, especially after having witnessed his son\u2019s bright smile. Maybe, he reasoned, just maybe Joseph would grow to appreciate Marchant Enterprises after all.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Ben, Adam and Hoss Cartwright handed the luggage up to the stagecoach driver. They were more than ready to start on their long journey to New Orleans. Ben had briefed Benton Hill on their plans, and despite a lengthy protest, the lawyer had agreed to go along with it all. He would wait ten days before sending the telegraph to Marchant concerning the paternity summons. That would give them the time they needed to make it to New Orleans. Ben hoped that the timing would be perfect and they would catch Marchant totally off guard upon their arrival.<\/p>\n Just before the stage was about to leave Virginia City, Ben heard his name being called. He stepped down from the stage and saw a messenger from the telegraph office hurrying to catch him. \u201cWhat is it, Sam?\u201d Ben asked as he turned toward the man.<\/p>\n \u201cPete told me to catch you before you left. He said you needed to read this!\u201d The messenger handed Ben a telegraph. Hoss and Adam joined their father wondering what was going on.<\/p>\n Ben studied the telegraph and looked over at his sons confused. \u201cThis doesn\u2019t make sense.\u201d Ben handed the piece of paper to Adam who read it and passed it onto Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cAvery said he spoke with Joseph briefly and Joe had a message for us, but all he wrote was the word Eric,\u201d Ben stated wondering what it meant.<\/p>\n Hoss put his hand on his father\u2019s shoulder and stared at him, his deep blue eyes clouded with extreme distress. \u201cPa, it does make sense. Joe and me, we had this code since we were kids; if either of us were in big trouble, we agreed to use my real name\u2014Eric\u2014and that would send the other one running to help!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam and Ben looked at each other; both men feeling the same rush of adrenalin. \u201cLet\u2019s get going!\u201d Ben called to his sons and they hurriedly boarded the stage. They knew they had more than a week\u2019s worth of travel ahead of them, and now wondered if they would find Joe unharmed upon their arrival. Ben clutched the telegraph to his chest and said a silent prayer that God would keep his son safe until they got to him.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Joe pulled off all of the trappings of his formal evening attire. He was exhausted. After spending yet another day at the store with Marchant and then having to go to a formal dinner party, he felt spent. Joe collapsed on his bed and brought his left arm over his eyes. This whole endurance test was taking its toll on Joe\u2019s body and spirit as well. It had been more than a week since Joe had last seen the private investigator and Joe worried that he had been found out in some way. He wouldn\u2019t put it past Marchant to kill the man if he knew what he had been up to. Joe wondered if Ben had gotten his urgent message. And, even if he had, would he come all the way across the country to rescue him? Joe wasn\u2019t sure how much longer he could take being a prisoner subject to the evil whims of Rene Marchant. Just calling him \u201cfather\u201d was wearing thin and took more effort now to choke out that very word.<\/p>\n Joe decided it was time for another journal entry. Maybe that would make him feel better and give him some more badly needed stamina to continue with the masquerade he was enduring daily. He shuffled through his clothes drawer and his heart sank in his chest as he could not find the book. Joe, always careful to hide the journal, now worried if it had fallen into the wrong hands. Joe bent down to his knees and started pulling out clothes frantically, just as his bedroom door opened.<\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps you are looking for this?\u201d Rene Marchant\u2019s voice came from the doorway. Joe stood up as Marchant entered the room, closing the door loudly behind him. Joe froze in his tracks. His mind dizzy with worry. He had written so many things in that journal about how he hated the man before him now. Joe knew in his heart that what happened next would be ugly.<\/p>\n Rene stepped over to the desk and sat down in the chair. He pointed for Joe to sit opposite him on the bed. \u201cShall I read to you, Joseph?\u201d Marchant asked cynically.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s mine\u2014give it to me!\u201d Joe pleaded with the man, knowing full well that he had no chance of getting it back now.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s see\u2014oh yes\u2014here\u2019s something. I truly and sincerely hate Rene Marchant. He is in essence, the exact opposite of Ben Cartwright. He is cold and indifferent…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStop it!\u201d Joe shouted. \u201cI know what I wrote\u2014you don\u2019t have to quote it to me. I wrote it\u2014and I meant it!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou are right in some respects, Joseph. I am surely nothing like Ben Cartwright. He is weak and I am strong. He obviously made you into the loud, aggressive, disobedient boy that you are.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd proud of it!\u201d Joe laughed vindictively.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s insolence only angered Marchant more. He stood and walked over to Joe. Joe stood to face him, not cowering in the least. \u201cBy the time I am through with you, you will be well trained and well broken of all of these terrible habits of yours! Tonight will be your first lesson in obedience.\u201d Rene Marchant drew off his belt. At this, Joe stepped away and tried for the door but was stopped. Marchant overpowered Joe and dragged him over to the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will see how this changes your writing habits!\u201d Rene laughed as he struck Joe.<\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n Joe cursed himself for being so careless with his journal. He worried about what he had written concerning Rachel and prayed it wouldn\u2019t cause her any of the pain that he had had to endure at the hands of Marchant. Joe was in extreme physical pain but his emotional state was much worse at the moment. He felt humiliated to have been whipped as he was by Marchant. Joe wished now that he could cast one of those evil spells on the man, but knew it was hopeless to fight evil in that way. Joe wished he had a gun; that would be the only way to stop Rene Marchant for good.<\/p>\n Joe pulled himself slowly up from the bed and walked over to the bureau. He saw how his face had bruises from Marchant\u2019s series of slaps. He could just imagine what his back looked like now. He ached with every movement as he tried to wash his face in the cool water from the basin. The water stung but cooled the burning somewhat. Joe worried that he had only been through round one with Marchant that evening. He knew there was much more to come. He wondered just how long it would take for Marchant to break his spirit. Joe never thought that could be accomplished, knowing he was known to be headstrong. But, Joe felt that strength of character diminish as each day wore on. His only hope now was that somehow his family would come to his rescue. But even that thought was fading fast as he had not seen the investigator and was not even sure if the man was still alive.<\/p>\n Joe crawled back into bed, hoping that sleep would take him away fast so he could escape at least in thought from the locked bedroom. He knew the peace would be short lived and he also knew Marchant would have more to say to him in the morning. Joe closed his eyes; he wanted to pray, but in his heart he had totally given up on everything.<\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n The dark carriage pulled behind the alley way behind the long stretch of stores which lined Vieux Carre. As the three men departed from the carriage, a man approached them and quickly introduced himself. \u201cI am Avery Bastille. So glad you arrived on schedule!\u201d<\/p>\n The Cartwrights shook his hand and Ben said, \u201cWhat now? Do you have a place for us to change?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, we are going to my office. It is in an obscure building just behind the bakery over there. I have everything you need. Let\u2019s go before we are spotted.\u2019<\/p>\n The Cartwrights sat in Mr. Bastille\u2019s office and were grateful for the brandy which the man had waiting for them. It had been a long and emotional journey east. Now they were so close to Joe that they wanted to rush right over to get him, but knew they had to keep with the plan.<\/p>\n \u201cI have proper attire for each of you. Mr. Hill sent on sizes so that I could have the clothes ready for you to change into. You need not be conspicuous in your appearance if we are to pull this off. And please, gentlemen, wear your guns under your cloaks at all times!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you know if Marchant has received the telegraph from Benton yet?\u201d Ben asked, drinking heavily of his brandy.<\/p>\n \u201cI saw a messenger on his way from the telegraph office, heading over to Marchant\u2019s attorney\u2019s office a little while ago. I imagine it was the one from Virginia City he was taking over there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, let\u2019s get the kid!\u201d Adam stood up; he had enough of the chit chat and felt they needed to go into action.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst you all must change your clothes. By that time, I will see if Mr. Lenoir has sent someone for Marchant. Shortly after that, when Marchant leaves to go to the attorney\u2019s office, we will go to his house. I have secured rooms for you at a hotel just down the street from here. I will take you there once we have Joseph in our hands.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHave you gotten the request for temporary custody filed with Judge Wharton?\u201d Ben asked. Avery nodded and smiled. \u201cHe has already issued an order. You will have the papers waiting at the hotel. I can see that you have your own line of defense built up already.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFortunately the judge and I go way back. He is a great ally,\u201d Ben announced and stood as Avery led the way to the changing room.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Sunlight streamed in from the window and pierced Joe\u2019s eyes. He slowly arose and looked at the clock on his dresser. He wondered why Marchant had let him sleep so long. It was almost ten o\u2019clock now. Joe wasn\u2019t sure of what the plans were for him that day based on the events of the previous evening. He did know that Marchant had locked him in his room so there was little he could do but wait and see what was to happen next.<\/p>\n Joe had just taken off his shirt and started to wash off at the basin when the door opened and Rene walked into the room. Joe put the hand towel down and stared over at the man. Marchant held a book in his hand along with several papers. He approached Joe and noticed the deep bruising and cuts on the boy\u2019s back.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat now?\u201d Joe asked quietly, uneasy at the man\u2019s gaze.<\/p>\n \u201cI have something for you,\u201d he said and handed Joe a book. Joe looked at it and saw it was a new journal. \u201cSince you enjoy writing so much, I decided to start you on a new diary. This one will be filled with much kinder expressions of your father.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo thanks,\u201d Joe said and put the book on the dresser. \u201cI am no good at writing fiction.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can see you are ready for my second lesson on manners, Joseph!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can hardly wait,\u201d Joe replied, turning around to face Marchant.<\/p>\n \u201cI have something else for you as well. I saw my attorney last night. He drew this up.\u201d Marchant handed Joe a legal document. It was a request for legal name change from Cartwright to Marchant.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, yeah, another thing that needs my invalid signature, right?\u201d Joe remarked laughing at the idea of how he had been tricked before.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, this one will be considered by the court. You sign it and we will present it to Judge Costas today. It will set everything into motion. Despite your age, it states your desire to be my son. It is indeed legal this time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not signing this. Kill me if you want, but make sure the tombstone reads Cartwright!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t have to kill you, nor do I want to do that. But I do want you to be more respectful than what you have shown me. Do I have to use force on you this time\u2014or will you sign this willingly?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you think?\u201d Joe sneered viciously at Marchant.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s your choice, Joseph,\u201d Marchant said and again removed his belt. Joe held his breath; he hoped to somehow over power the man this time. When Marchant grabbed for his arm, Joe threw a punch that met its target on the man\u2019s face. Unfortunately, that was the only successful one Joe made. Marchant was bigger and stronger and quickly got total control.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Marchant looked down at the signed request for name change; he blew across the ink to dry it and then stared over at Joe who lay unmoving on the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cI told you the choice was yours, Joseph. You need to remember this so you don\u2019t keep making the same mistakes. I am your father, and the sooner you learn to respect me the better off you will be,\u201d Rene taunted the young man and then turned as a knock came on the bedroom door. He walked over and opened the door to see Jacques standing there.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry to interrupt, but Mr. Lenoir sent a message for you to see him right away. He said it was extremely urgent.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s fine. I think Joseph and I are done here.\u201d Marchant left the room, locking the door behind him.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Four men watched in hiding the carriage as it left from Rene Marchant\u2019s estate. Along with him rode both Mr. Price and Mr. Stern. Rene had obviously thought that Joe was not a threat to leave the house after being locked securely in his room.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, you and I will deal with the butler and anyone else who is around. Let Hoss and Ben get Joe out and bring him to us. Then we will get out of here,\u2019 instructed Avery.<\/p>\n Adam nodded his understanding as he and Avery walked up the steps to the house. They knocked on the front door and Jacques was soon there to answer. He saw Avery Bastille but not Adam nor the other two Cartwrights who stood hidden, pressed closely to the front walls of the estate. \u201cMay I help you?\u201d Jacques asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, you can…\u201d Avery smiled and then Adam came around with his Colt revolver pulled out.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have something of ours!\u201d Adam shouted and Jacques backed into the foyer. They were soon joined by Ben and Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019s my son?\u201d Ben asked threatening violence in his manner.<\/p>\n \u201cYour son?\u201d Jacques asked confused.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph Cartwright!\u201d Hoss yelled and moved nearer to the frightened manservant.<\/p>\n \u201cUpstairs\u2014second room on the right…\u201d His voice trembled in its reply.<\/p>\n Hoss and his father wasted no time charging the stairs. When they reached the second floor, they hurried to the room only to find it locked. \u201cGo get the key!\u201d Ben instructed Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t need no key.” Hoss smiled and, with one thunderous move, he crashed through the door shattering the door jam. Both men rushed in only to be stopped by the horrendous sight of Joe lying still on the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u201d Ben called as he hurried to his side.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s mind fought its way back to reality, or what he hoped was reality anyway. Never did he think that his family would come as they had\u2014charging into the room to save him. He pulled himself up and climbed down off the bed. He took a few shaky steps toward Hoss and Ben and then collapsed on the floor. Ben was quickly at his son\u2019s side and helped him to stand. Joe\u2019s shirtless back was bleeding and his face was a picture of the abuse he had suffered. That sight gave way to deep regret in the minds of both Hoss and Ben at having taken so long to come to rescue Joe.<\/p>\n Ben cupped Joe\u2019s face in his hands gingerly and gazed at the boy who was a large part of his heart. He wondered how anyone could do that kind of savage beating to someone they professed to care for. Joe\u2019s eyes met Ben\u2019s and he yearned to be taken away from New Orleans, away from the man who had dared to make him call him father. Tears filled his eyes as he looked wantingly at the man he so desperately wished was truly his father. The shared moment between the two was broken as Hoss called out, not being able to stand the sight of his brother\u2019s battered body any longer.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy did Marchant do this to you, Little Joe? Why would he give you a beating?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe closed his eyes and confessed, \u201cHe said I needed to learn some manners. He whipped me\u2014then he told me I had to sign some papers. I held out as long as I could.\u201d Joe\u2019s voice broke and he fell into Ben\u2019s waiting arms. \u201cOh, Pa!\u201d Joe sobbed.<\/p>\n Ben held onto the trembling boy. Hearing Joe call him \u201cpa\u201d for the first time in so long eased his heart a bit, but the rest of it was in a fragile state after seeing what had happened to his youngest. Ben held Joe and stroked the back of his head soothingly, at the moment not being able to tell for sure if the sobs he was hearing were Joseph\u2019s or his own. He finally pulled Joe back to once again stare into his eyes, and caught sight of the hand-print on Joe\u2019s left cheek.<\/p>\n Ben, never releasing Joe completely, turned to Hoss and said, \u201cYou take your brother over to the hotel and don\u2019t let anyone near him. I\u2019m going to show Mr. Marchant some manners myself!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll take care of him, Pa. The only way to get to Little Joe is to kill me,\u201d Hoss returned deadly serious in his tone.<\/p>\n \u201cNo! Don\u2019t you see?\u201d Joe forced his gaze on Ben suddenly. \u201cIt\u2019s no use. I signed the papers; I\u2019m no longer a Cartwright. He\u2019s changed my name to Marchant.\u201d Joe wept bitterly at the thought of the final connection being broken forever, knowing the Cartwright name had been stripped from him.<\/p>\n Ben gathered Joe up into his arms and whispered, \u201cThat is just a piece of paper, Joseph\u2014nothing more. You will always be a Cartwright. You will always be my son. Somehow I will prove this to you\u2014so that you can truly understand. But, right now you just have to have faith in me and your brothers. There\u2019s no doubt in our minds\u2014or in our hearts\u2014that you are part of us.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss walked over to the bureau and pulled out a shirt and took it over to his brother. \u201cC\u2019mon, Short Shanks, let\u2019s get you the hell outa here!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe winced as Ben helped him on with the shirt and he turned once more to stare into Ben\u2019s compassionate eyes. \u201cYou don\u2019t know Marchant like I do, Pa. He’ll kill you!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben smiled and winked at Joe, totally unconcerned with any danger there might be. \u201cYou just leave it to your father. I\u2019ll handle it.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam and Avery held their positions in the foyer, still keeping Jacques at bay. They looked up as they saw the three Cartwrights descending the long staircase. Sandwiched between the protective arms of Ben and Hoss, Joe slowly made his way to the last step and over to where his oldest brother now stood. Adam was shocked to see Joe in the condition that he was in. He reached over to him and carefully lifted Joe\u2019s chin so that he could inspect the damage Marchant had caused. \u201cYou okay, little brother?\u201d he asked softly.<\/p>\n Joe could see the tenseness displayed on Adam\u2019s face. He appeared to be struggling with an intense rage that was building fast. \u201cI am now.\u201d Joe tried to smile but his facial bruising stopped him and he grimaced instead.<\/p>\n \u201cMarchant do this?\u201d Adam questioned but deep inside he knew the answer.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d Joe nodded and dropped his head down.<\/p>\n Ben noticed that Joe appeared to be tiring with the simple act of standing there by the door. He worried about Joe\u2019s health, both physical and emotional. Ben decided there was no longer time for talking, Joe needed to be taken directly over to the hotel and away from the awful memories Marchant\u2019s house held.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss, get going now. Then have the driver come back for us,\u201d Ben announced.<\/p>\n \u201cYou and Adam staying around here?\u201d Hoss\u2019 worry mounted at the thought.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are going to have a little talk with Mr. Marchant. We\u2019ll come join you shortly.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss read both Ben and Adam\u2019s faces and knew that there was going to be a free-for-all very soon. He wished he could stay and join in, but knew he was needed to get his brother to safety. \u201cWe\u2019ll see you in a little while. Be careful.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe turned to look at his father one last time; he paused at the door but didn\u2019t speak.<\/p>\n Ben reached over and touched Joe\u2019s arm and urged Joe to leave. \u201cYou go on now, Joseph. You are safe as long as you are with Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben watched as his two youngest sons left and then turned around to face his oldest. \u201cIt won\u2019t be long now, Adam. Now I want you and Avery to hold off Marchant\u2019s bodyguards. But I want Marchant for myself!\u201d Ben was adamant and Adam knew the hatred for the man was growing rapidly in his father\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n Adam felt the same way and for the same reasons. \u201cYou have to give me a chance too. He beat the hell out of my little brother. I want to teach him a lesson.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI said he is mine,\u201d Ben repeated. To this Adam frowned, even though he understood exactly why his father wanted to fight the man himself.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Pa, go ahead; get it out of your system,\u201d Adam finally conceded and grinned at Ben.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t a long wait for Marchant\u2019s return. He had gone over the telegraph with his attorney and then headed straight back to his home to think out his next move. Mr. Price and Mr. Stern led the way into the mansion. By the time Marchant entered the house, he could see both men standing to either side of the foyer. Their guns had been removed by Avery Bastille and Adam Cartwright. And standing to meet Marchant head-on was a very furious Ben Cartwright.<\/p>\n \u201cHow dare you burst into my house like total barbarians?\u201d Rene yelled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are the only barbarian here,” Ben countered and shrugged out of his coat. He dropped his hidden gun belt to the floor in preparation to fight the man before him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou get out of my house!\u201d Marchant screamed as he backed away from the approaching Cartwright.<\/p>\n \u201cNot until I settle up with you. Joseph tells me you taught him some manners last night. I think it\u2019s only fair that I return the favor,\u201d Ben said venomously and charged Marchant. The two men crashed to the floor and Ben\u2019s fists were rapid in their delivery. Marchant reached for anything he could get his hands on and several books that were on a table by the entrance hall went sailing past Ben\u2019s head. Adam and Avery watched the bodyguards; they continued to have their guns drawn just in case the two Marchant employees had any thought of helping the man. Marchant got one good punch thrown that hit Ben\u2019s right eye, but Ben countered with a series of his own punches that sent the man flying across the room and landing on the floor next to an umbrella stand.<\/p>\n Marchant wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and spat out a number of curses which came off in his native French tongue. Ben stood and readied himself for the next charge just as Adam handed Avery his Colt. He glanced at his father and called across the room, \u201cSorry, Pa, it\u2019s my turn now!\u201d With that he rushed to Marchant and threw a right cross at his face. Ben moved over to Avery and took Adam\u2019s gun from him. He guessed that his oldest needed to get this out of his system now, and he watched as Adam\u2019s fury was unleashed on Marchant.<\/p>\n \u201cBeating a boy\u2014is that how you get your thrills?\u201d Adam asked vindictively as he threw another punch. Marchant blocked this one and tried to run across the room. Adam was faster, perhaps because of his age, or perhaps because of the need for revenge. He grabbed Marchant by the collar of his coat and spun him around and punched him in the mid-section. Marchant went down again, this time not getting back up.<\/p>\n Ben walked over to where both Marchant and Adam were and looked down at the battered man. \u201cIt\u2019s not over by a long shot, Marchant. But, we will let you live for now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll get Joseph back; you know I will,\u201d Marchant warned angrily and tried to catch his breath again.<\/p>\n \u201cI have a court order granting me temporary custody. Try to take him and you will answer to the court\u2014and to me,\u201d Ben cautioned the man and he gathered up his coat and gun belt.<\/p>\n Avery and Adam walked to the door and Ben joined them. \u201cPa, I see why he needs bodyguards,\u201d Adam laughed and the three men made their exit to the waiting carriage.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Hoss settled his little brother in one of the three bedrooms in the master suite at the hotel. He had help from one of Avery\u2019s associates in getting Joe safely to their room and the man stood guard outside of the room. Hoss watched sympathetically as Joe struggled to sit back against the pillows and rest his head against the huge oaken headboard. He could see the pain spread across the boy\u2019s face. Hoss ached at the thought that someone had done this much damage to Joe. He wished he could have gotten to New Orleans earlier. In his heart, Hoss regretted that he had kept Joe\u2019s secret in the first place. He wondered if he had gone directly to his father whether it would have changed the whole course of events.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s gonna be okay, Joe. I promise you,\u201d Hoss reassured as best he could.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss, how are we gonna get Marchant to let me go? He has so much power here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe got it all worked out, trust me. When Pa gets back, he\u2019ll fill you in on the plan. But right now you are going to get some sleep.\u201d Hoss pulled up the covers on Joe and could see that his little brother wasn\u2019t planning on arguing this time. The kid was down right exhausted and was soon asleep. Hoss sat by his bedside and kept a faithful vigil.<\/p>\n An hour later, Hoss heard noises from the main room and quietly left Joe in order to check it out. It was the return of his family and Hoss was extremely glad to see that they were in good shape. He did notice that Ben had the beginnings of a black eye, but other than that, looked well.<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019d it go?\u201d Hoss asked walking over to where both Adam and Ben now sat on the couch.<\/p>\n \u201cGreat, Hoss! You should have seen Pa\u2014he mopped the floor with Marchant.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you really?\u201d Hoss grinned and saw a big grin take over his father\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I guess you could say I showed him a manner or two. How\u2019s your brother?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s sound asleep. Poor kid is about wore out. Marchant beat the hell out of him, looks like.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll fix him up when he wakes up.\u201d Ben nodded and poured brandy for his sons and leaned back to enjoy his own. It was one brief moment of calm in the long storm of a calamity that the family had endured.<\/p>\n Adam brought in a tray of food just as Joe awoke from his nap. He sat down next to his brother on the bed. \u201cBrought you some grub,\u201d he announced.<\/p>\n Joe took the tray. \u201cI ain\u2019t exactly hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you have to get your strength back, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened with Marchant?\u201d Joe asked. He took the fork and toyed with his food.<\/p>\n \u201cYou would have loved it. Pa was great. He beat the hell out of him. And you know he did it for all of us! I got in a couple licks myself.\u201d Adam smiled.<\/p>\n Joe stared into his brother\u2019s dark eyes. The thought of how much they all loved him, made Joe feel good inside. But, in his heart, he still felt the twinge of uncertainty over who was really his father.<\/p>\n Adam could tell what was going on in the boy\u2019s mind as the conversation had suddenly stopped. He reached over and put his hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder. \u201cJoe, I know what you are thinking. Stop doubting yourself, okay? Hey, if I wasn\u2019t really your brother, do you think I\u2019d come halfway across the world to bring your ornery hide home?\u201d<\/p>\n The statement made Joe grin and he nodded at his brother. \u201cWell, no matter who I am, I couldn\u2019t be happier to see any other three people in the world! Thanks for coming, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWouldn\u2019t have missed a good fight?!\u201d Adam exclaimed and ruffled Joe\u2019s hair playfully.<\/p>\n Later that evening, after Joe had eaten his meal and the other Cartwrights had gone over their next steps of the plan to get Joe home, Ben entered Joe\u2019s room. Joe sat stiffly with his back against the headboard and he looked deep in thought.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought Adam told me you had gone back to sleep?\u201d Ben asked as he sat down in the chair next to the bed and reached for Joe\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n \u201cCouldn\u2019t sleep, Pa,\u201d Joe confessed. His left hand moved toward his father and touched his face. \u201cYou are gonna have a real shiner in the morning.\u201d Joe sighed, upset that his father had fought because of him.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, looks like you will finally notice the resemblance that you and I share,\u201d Ben chuckled.<\/p>\n Joe knew he was referring to his own face and Joe\u2019s face and the bruising they both had.<\/p>\n \u201cI wish we had more,\u201d Joe whispered remembering his resemblance to Marchant.<\/p>\n Ben moved to sit next to Joe on the bed. He put his arm around the boy\u2019s shoulder. It was time to straighten some things out. Ben knew that Joe was struggling with many things, but always in the forefront was his insecurity over whether he was truly a Cartwright. \u201cYou know, Joseph, you have mentioned about the fact that Marchant has the same color eyes as you\u2014that he has the same kind of hair as well. But you and I are alike in more ways than that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u201d Joe asked not seeing where this was going.<\/p>\n \u201cNow just where do you suppose you get your stubborn streak? And just where do you think you get that explosive temper of yours?\u201d Ben raised his eyebrows waiting for an answer.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right \u2014from me. Though I have mellowed a bit in my old age.” Ben paused and laughed at the thought. \u201cBut when I was young, I was a real hellion\u2014such as you!\u201d Ben was now teasing to relieve some of the burden which had fallen on his son\u2019s young shoulders.<\/p>\n \u201cI never knew you were that bad, Pa.\u201d Joe shook his head and flashed a smile and then winced at the bruises again.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, maybe not QUITE as bad as you, but pretty darn close. Now, tell me why you left the way you did.\u201d Ben was back to the point of his questioning now, knowing he had much more to accomplish with Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cI had to. I couldn\u2019t stay and let you lose the Ponderosa. It\u2019s always been your dream.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Ponderosa was the dream I had when I was coming west with two small sons. But it became a reality when I had my third son.\u201d Ben was gentle now in tone and he could see Joe\u2019s eyes go glassy. \u201cWithout you, there is no dream. And without you, the Ponderosa is just a big piece of land.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe turned his face into his father\u2019s strong shoulder and put his arms around him. He had waited to feel the immense strength which only came from the source that was Ben Cartwright. \u201cI\u2019m so glad you got my message, Pa. If you hadn\u2019t come, I don\u2019t know what I\u2019d have done,\u201d Joe confessed.<\/p>\n Ben brushed the curls out of the boy\u2019s eyes and looked down at him. \u201cJoseph we were boarding the stage when we got that telegraph. That is not what brought us here. We couldn\u2019t stand the idea of you being here and were determined to bring you back.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked up at his father, surprised at what he had revealed to him. \u201cHow are you going to bring me back?\u201d he asked, his voice trembling with fear of what Marchant would do.<\/p>\n Ben grinned and gave Joe a very strange look. \u201cWell, Joseph, how would you feel about being kidnapped?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Marchant now thinks that we are in for this long court battle. He doesn\u2019t know that we have already planned our route of escape. We are leaving at first light. And so, dear son, we will be heading back before that man even wakes up tomorrow.\u201d Ben delighted at the thought.<\/p>\n \u201cPa, I would love to be kidnapped, but only by you and Adam and Hoss, of course.\u201d Joe let his head fall back on Ben\u2019s shoulder content with the idea that he would be heading home.<\/p>\n Ben talked more with Joe until sleep over took the boy and he was lying peacefully on the bed. Ben had wanted to tend to his son\u2019s back before he fell asleep but decided he would take care of that in the morning instead. He gave one last long look at the boy and then turned out of the room to talk with his other sons and Avery. There were plans that still needed going over.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n The strange voices, though somewhat muffled, were enough to rouse Joe from his troubled sleep. He sat up on the bed and knew he had heard his father\u2019s deep voice protesting and other voices unfamiliar to him. Joe made his way over to the bedroom door and opened it a crack to see what was going on. He saw two men in uniform, Rene Marchant, and his father surrounded by Adam, Hoss and Avery.<\/p>\n \u201cThis court order supersedes your court order. Judge Costas signed it an hour ago,\u201d Marchant announced angrily.<\/p>\n \u201cMy order was granted by Judge Wharton. Until he says otherwise, it stands!\u201d Ben protested.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t listen to that fool. Go and get my son!\u201d Marchant insisted, turning to face the officers that flanked him on both sides.<\/p>\n \u201cDid Marchant tell you men how he beat Joseph half to death last night?\u201d Ben asked staring directly at the chief of police. The officer scowled at Marchant and waited for a reply.<\/p>\n \u201cI did no such thing. This man is lying. Now do I have to get Joseph or are you two officers going to do your job?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss drew their guns, totally disregarding the fact that they were going up against the law. \u201cTry to take Joe and there\u2019s gonna be shooting!\u201d Adam warned loudly.<\/p>\n \u201cNo call for guns, gentlemen. We can work this out. I will take Joseph over to the police station and we will wait until morning to get this straightened out,\u201d the policeman insisted, worrying about needless bloodshed on his watch.<\/p>\n Joe closed the door quietly and could feel the instinct inside him telling him to flee or die. He pulled on his boots quickly and made his way over to the outer door that let out onto a private balcony. The rain was coming down hard and Joe peered over to the next balcony. He thought that he could make the jump over there and then to one more balcony on the corner of the hotel where he spied some outer stairs that led down to the street below. Joe pulled himself up onto the railing and took a deep breath to muster all the strength he had. Then he lunged for the railing of the next balcony. His hands found their target and he pulled himself up again. The distant thunder mounted and the rain pounded Joe\u2019s frightened face. One more balcony to freedom. He stood again on the railing. Taking one giant leap, he sailed over to the final balcony but only his left hand caught hold of it\u2019s railing this time. Joe struggled to pull himself up but the rain-slicked iron railing caused the one hand to slip and Joe plummeted two stories down onto the cobblestone walkway below.<\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n The chief of police burst into Joe\u2019s bedroom at the hotel, having had enough of dealing with both of the men who were claiming to be the boy\u2019s father. He decided to take Joe into protective custody at least for the night to settle the heated debate. He saw the door was open that went out onto the balcony and had almost made it outside when he heard the bloodcurdling scream from the street below. He looked down and saw an un-moving figure laying crumpled on the street and saw a woman standing over the injured person. It was then that the officer knew the still figure was the boy he was trying to take into custody. Before the chief could turn completely around, he was joined by all of the men from the other room and they stared down at the sight of Joe. Gathering up their senses, all seven men hurried out of the hotel room and down onto the street.<\/p>\n Ben pushed aside the bystanders who had gathered around his son. He knelt down and examined Joe. Blood seeped from his ears and Ben reasoned that Joe had sustained a terrible head injury. The boy lay totally still, almost as if dead. Ben felt of Joe\u2019s wrist and detected the weak pulse. It was then that Rene Marchant made his way over and also went to Joe\u2019s side. He looked over at Ben and saw the devastation on the man\u2019s face. \u201cUse my carriage. We will get him over to the hospital,\u201d Rene insisted. Ben wanted to vent out his anger at the man who he felt had caused the whole tragedy, but instead, agreed that Joe needed immediate help. Despite how he felt about Marchant, he accepted the offer of the carriage and both men lifted the unconscious Joe into the back and sent the team of horses hurriedly onward.<\/p>\n The Cartwright and the Marchant entourage took over the waiting room at the Sisters of Charity hospital. Both factions stood on opposite sides of the corridor waiting for the admitting doctor to return with his findings. Hoss and Adam tried to keep their father\u2019s spirits up, even though they had grave doubts as to Joe\u2019s chance of survival. They had seen his condition as he was brought in and had witnessed the appearance on the doctor\u2019s face when he had first looked at their brother. It seemed like hours before a doctor, Charles Charneal, made his way out of the examining room and stood to address both Rene Marchant and Ben Cartwright.<\/p>\n \u201cWho is this boy\u2019s legal guardian?\u201d the doctor asked and saw the two men glare at each other.<\/p>\n \u201cI am Joseph\u2019s father,\u201d Ben said and shot Marchant a warning look.<\/p>\n \u201cThat has not been proved\u2014I believe I am!\u201d Rene countered loudly.<\/p>\n Frustrated and angered at what he was witnessing, the doctor remarked, \u201cI don\u2019t have time to solve any paternity issue right now! I am trying to keep the boy alive. To do that, I have to have permission to start surgery on him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you going to do? How bad is my son?\u201d Ben was quick to ask.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has a very bad skull fracture, Mr. Cartwright. And currently there is pressure building up against his brain due to internal bleeding. If we don\u2019t do the surgery, he will die.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat will you do to relieve the bleeding?\u201d Ben returned, feeling weak from the thought of brain surgery being done on his son.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to cut into his occipital bone to relieve the pressure. It won\u2019t be too drastic an incision, just enough to drain off the blood. I assure you that I have performed this kind of surgery many times.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHand me the consent form,\u201d Ben stated flatly, knowing it would be his signature, and his alone, that would decide Joe\u2019s fate. He glanced over at Marchant who, although seething, nodded for Ben to do it. Ben signed the form and continued with his questions. \u201cHow long\u2014before we know?\u201d<\/p>\n The doctor touched Ben\u2019s arm, sympathizing with the man who he could sense loved the injured boy more than anyone in the room. \u201cWe have to get him prepared for surgery first. We will need to shave his head. He should be in surgery within the hour. Hopefully, if all goes well, we will know very soon if it has worked.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you. Please do whatever you can.\u201d Ben fought the tears that were building up in his eyes. The doctor hurried off to get ready for the surgery.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Ben sat in the surgical waiting room praying constantly for Joe\u2019s survival and recovery. Adam and Hoss brought him some coffee and began nervously pacing. Every now and then they would stop to shoot Marchant an evil glance. The brothers hated Marchant even more now. They blamed him for Joe\u2019s frantic attempt of escape. The plan that they had so tediously worked out to have Joe out of New Orleans at daybreak was now useless. Now their only thought was to have the boy survive his serious head wound.<\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n If anyone had told Ben Cartwright that the pale boy lying in the hospital bed was his son, he probably would have laughed and called them a liar. The motionless body looked nothing like Joseph Cartwright. So thin, so battered and with his head swathed in bandages, he did not look like the lively boy Ben had raised. Ben had been seated in a chair next to the bed ever since the attendants had brought Joe up from surgery. Adam and Hoss made their way in and out of the room every couple of minutes, waiting for a progress report. Unfortunately for the worried family, little progress had been made. Joe lay in a coma, totally unresponsive to their pleading voices as they begged him to reawaken.<\/p>\n Rene Marchant had also visited the injured boy and Ben did his best to hold his tongue. It was no place for an argument and the doctor had warned both men that they would be removed physically from the hospital at the first sound of trouble. Marchant simply stared at Joe and walked back out. Feeling that he could do nothing at the hospital, the man had left in search of his attorney. Even though no one knew for sure if Joe would indeed survive, Marchant persisted in his efforts to gain custody of him.<\/p>\n Ben reached out to touch Joe\u2019s forehead to detect any sign of fever. The total absence of a stray curl riveted the bereaved father. For seventeen years Ben had fought and lost the battle to control the unruly curls which drifted downward from Joe\u2019s forehead. Now the curls were gone. Ben felt tears fall from his eyes and down to his cheeks. He felt he had somehow let the boy down. He had failed to protect him as he had always promised Joe that he would. When Ben thought on the desperation Joe must have felt to have tried fleeing as he had, it ripped at his soul. Ben wanted vengeance even more now than before. But that feeling was surpassed by his desire to be at Joe\u2019s side when he came around.<\/p>\n \u201cAny change?\u201d Hoss asked as he and Adam both made their way back into the room and took seats on both sides of the bed. Ben simply shook his head, not being able to control his voice at that moment. Adam and Hoss saw how Ben\u2019s hand drifted away from Joe\u2019s forehead and they both knew what their father was thinking.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Pa, Joe is gonna have a real fit when he sees all of his hair gone.\u201d Hoss tried to sound encouraging, that his brother would survive.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Adam stepped in now. \u201cBut I bet the both of you that it\u2019s almost fully grown in by the time we get back to the ranch!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben looked from one son\u2019s face to the other. He appreciated them more at this moment than at any other time. He needed the pep talk in order to try to think positively about Joe\u2019s recovery.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s had that head full of hair since he first drew breath. He looks so different without it now.\u201d Ben remarked.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce he comes around and starts hollering about getting out of bed, well, then you will see it\u2019s the same Joe, hair or no hair,\u201d Adam teased and saw a slight grin appear at the corners of Ben\u2019s mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d gladly listen to his complaints right now,\u201d Ben remarked, turning suddenly grim again.<\/p>\n \u201cPa, Joe\u2019s got the Cartwright determination; he can come out of this,\u201d Adam reassured softly.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, the Cartwright determination.\u201d Ben nodded at the idea. No matter what had happened in the last two months, he had been steadfast in the knowledge that Joe was indeed a Cartwright.<\/p>\n Two long days and nights passed and Joe still remained in a deep coma. The uncertainty of the situation was taking its toll on all the other Cartwrights as they kept their silent vigil. Doctor Charneal had come into the room many times checking on his patient and always saw Ben Cartwright there. He slept in the chair for only a few hours at a time, but mostly continued to talk to his son, coaxing him to come back to them.<\/p>\n The doctor also witnessed the apparent lack of concern that Rene Marchant had for the boy. Though he had visited several times, he never stayed long and made no physical contact with Joe at all. Whereas Ben constantly held Joe\u2019s hand or stroked his arm trying to rouse him, Marchant stood back and just stared. Doctor Charneal was drawing his own conclusions as to who should be the boy\u2019s father from what he had observed. He decided to finally address the issue with Ben late in the evening of the third day after Joe\u2019s surgery.<\/p>\n \u201cI am worried that one of the reasons that Joe has not come around as he should is because of what he is subconsciously avoiding,\u201d came the doctor\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n Ben turned in the chair and stared over at the man perplexed at what he had said. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, from what you and your sons have told me, Joe might be thinking that he is going to be taken back to live with Rene Marchant. That was the conversation he overheard the night he tried to escape, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded angrily. \u201cHe heard our loud discussion when Marchant came to present papers to try and get custody of Joe back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd Joe may still have that in his mind. Maybe in a way he is not fighting as hard to come around because of this fear.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stood and paced the room deep in thought. He turned back to the doctor and asked. \u201cWhat can I do, Doctor? It all comes down to this paternity issue. I know this boy is my son. I have no doubt about it. But, unfortunately, the court would insist on more proof than I have. He was premature, but even the doctor who delivered him would not be considered to be an expert by the court.\u201d<\/p>\n Doctor Charles Charneal thought for a few moments and then walked over to stare directly into Ben Cartwright\u2019s troubled eyes. The question he was about to ask would change the whole paternity issue and end the months of uncertainty about Joe\u2019s parentage.<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Cartwright, I was going to wait until Joe came around to ask you this, but since we are not sure when that will be, I will ask you now. We found something when we shaved Joseph\u2019s head for surgery.\u201d He stopped.<\/p>\n Ben looked over at Joe and then back to the doctor who was in the middle of some deep revelation. \u201cWhat?\u201d Ben cautiously asked.<\/p>\n \u201cA birthmark. A very unusual birthmark. Have you ever noticed it?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben was more than confused now and more than a bit curious. \u201cNo, Joe has always had a head full of hair. I never knew he had a birthmark at all. Why do you mention it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause it is what we call in laymen\u2019s terms a strawberry birthmark. It\u2019s appearance being of the color of a strawberry. Unlike a mole, it is very distinctive and also can be a link to a direct family line. In other words, it is passed down from one generation to the next. \u201c<\/p>\n Ben Cartwright knew what it was like to have peace, but not the total inner peace that he had just experienced upon hearing what the doctor had revealed. He looked over at Joe still unconscious and wished he could tell him now what he was about to tell the doctor.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you have any scissors?\u201d came the only words that Ben could speak at that moment.<\/p>\n The doctor was puzzled by the question. \u201cYes\u2014but why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBring them to me and I will show you why,\u201d Ben answered as a broad smile spread across his face. The doctor turned out into the hall to find the scissors.<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss watched the doctor as he strode briskly down the hallway and was back in a few moments time carrying a pair of scissors. They exchanged confused glances and followed the man back into the hospital room, convinced that Joe had taken a turn for the worse.<\/p>\n \u201cHere they are. Now what do you want them for?\u201d Doctor Charneal asked as he approached Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on, Pa?\u201d Adam asked as he and Hoss joined the two men.<\/p>\n \u201cThe doctor said that Joe has an unusual birthmark on the back of his head. He said that it is hereditary.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo? What are the scissors for?\u201d Hoss replied.<\/p>\n Ben smiled, about to reveal his secret. \u201cWhen I was just a little boy, my mother gave me a haircut. It was purely awful! She cut it way too close in the back. When I went to school the boys who sat behind me teased me dreadfully. They laughed because they could see this bright red birthmark on my head.\u201d Ben turned his head around and pointed to the spot. \u201cCut away!\u201d He called to the doctor.<\/p>\n Doctor Charneal cut a swath of hair from the right side of Ben Cartwright\u2019s head, just behind his right ear. He then turned around to face the man, the doctor’s eyes giving away their total contentment with what he had witnessed.<\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u201d Ben asked impatiently.<\/p>\n \u201cNot only is it the exact same kind of birthmark, but it is the exact same place where your son has his. And I do mean your son! I\u2019d gladly testify in any court that this is conclusive proof that Joseph is one hundred per cent your son!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben looked into the glazed eyes of both Hoss and Adam. The tears they were shedding were tears of joy. There was no longer any bit of doubt concerning the unconscious boy who still lay in the hospital bed unaware of the magnitude of this current revelation.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t wait to tell Joseph,\u201d Ben announced proudly. He was happy at the thought that the birthmark would end the question of paternity, even though he never needed that type of medical fact to know that the boy was his. Ben walked over to Joe and took his hand in his own and stared at him. He knew that Joseph needed this assurance even more than the courts did. Ben prayed that he would have the chance to tell him.<\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n The following day came, and the chance Ben had been praying for. Joe started slowly to stir in the bed. Adam had been by his side and hurried out to the outside corridor to track down his father who had left in search of coffee. Ben saw his eldest son as he rounded the last hallway, and he was quick to rush to the hospital room.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe is coming around, Pa,\u201d Adam said with great fervor.<\/p>\n Ben sat down next to his youngest son and held his hand and began coaxing him back to reality. \u201cOpen your eyes, Joe.\u201d He spoke gently.<\/p>\n Slowly Joe\u2019s eyelids began to open and though the vision before him was somewhat blurred, he could make out the distinctive face of his father. \u201cPa?\u201d Joe said faintly.<\/p>\n \u201cWelcome back.\u201d Ben smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere am I?\u201d Joe asked, confused by his surroundings.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re in the hospital. How do you feel?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy head hurts,\u201d Joe replied wincing from the pain that shot from his eyes and straight back to the back of his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI imagine it would! You took some fall, Joseph! Do you remember?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah\u2014kinda. Marchant was gonna take me back. I had to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI swear you have more lives than a cat!\u201d Adam teased, approaching the bed from the other side just as Hoss walked back in the room to join the rest of the family.<\/p>\n \u201cYou trying out for the circus, little brother?\u201d Hoss laughed, so very relieved to see his brother awake again.<\/p>\n Joe reached with his hand to feel of his head and felt only bandages. \u201cWhere\u2019s my hair?\u201d\u00a0 he asked weakly.<\/p>\n \u201cI told you, Pa!\u201d Hoss laughed remembering his prior conversation with his father about what Joe\u2019s reaction would be to the baldness of his head.<\/p>\n \u201cSon, they had to shave your head. They had to do surgery on you. You are very lucky to have survived. But if it will make you feel any better, I can tell you that your hair fell to a good cause. In more ways than one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh? What are you talking about?\u201d Joe didn\u2019t understand his father\u2019s apparent joy over the loss of his son\u2019s abundance of hair.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you had the surgery and it saved your life. But something else came of this as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you remember that story I use to read you from the Bible? The one about Doubting Thomas?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe thought for a minute, his mind still clouded by his head injury, he fought to remember. He finally answered, \u201cYeah, he was the one who made Jesus prove to him that he was really Jesus. He put his hands into Jesus\u2019 palms to feel where he had been nailed to the cross. But, what does that have to do with me?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben gently took Joe\u2019s hand and said, \u201cFeel this.\u201d He led Joe\u2019s hand to the back of his head. Joe\u2019s fingers found the mark that Ben was trying for. The strawberry birthmark which fell right behind the boy\u2019s right ear was easily felt now that there was no hair to block it.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is that?\u201d Joe wondered out loud.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is a birthmark\u2014a very unusual birthmark, it seems. Your surgeon found it when he operated on you. He said it\u2019s rare and it\u2019s passed directly from one family member to another.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s brow furrowed as he fought for understanding. He really could not comprehend what his father was now talking about.<\/p>\n Ben smiled at Joe and continued, \u201cNow, to prove this point with you, Doubting Thomas, feel this.\u201d Ben pulled Joe\u2019s hand to touch the back of his own father\u2019s head. His fingers once again finding their mark over a birthmark. Ben moved closer so Joe could see it better.<\/p>\n Joe stared at the missing patch of hair from behind Ben\u2019s right ear. Sudden and supreme understanding encompassed Joe\u2019s mind. Ben was showing him the link, the tie that bound him to his father. It did not come from having the same hair color or eye color, but instead was a hidden reminder by their maker that identified them as father and son.<\/p>\n Ben turned back around to see the tears fall from his youngest son\u2019s eyes. They were tears of happiness and not sadness. He reached down and gingerly hugged the boy. Ben knew that now that Joe finally believed he was a Cartwright, that it was a sure sign that the boy would do the impossible and recover fully.<\/p>\n \u201cDoctor Charneal said he would gladly testify, whether it is here or in Virginia City, that you and I are father and son,\u201d\u00a0 Ben whispered and gently pushed the tears from off Joe\u2019s cheeks.<\/p>\n \u201cThen it\u2019s over? I don\u2019t have to go back to Marchant\u2019s\u2014not ever?\u201d Joe\u2019s voice broke with the emotion.<\/p>\n \u201cNot ever. You will be going back where you belong\u2014to the Ponderosa, along with your brothers…and your father.\u201d Ben laughed at the smile that suddenly broke out on Joe\u2019s face. The boy did look rather funny, Ben thought to himself. A head totally absent of hair and only the whiteness of several bandages to cover the hairless head. But the smile was purely Joseph Cartwright’s, and that could not be challenged no matter whether he had hair or not.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen do I get out of here?\u201d Joe finally asked and he heard Adam laugh in the background.<\/p>\n \u201cI told you, Pa. I told you he\u2019d start complaining and you\u2019d know it was Joe under all of those bandages,\u201d Adam declared with a grin.<\/p>\n Ben looked at each of his sons, so proud at what he had already accomplished in their rearing. \u201cWell, young man, first you get some rest and build yourself back up. Then we will make the travel plans.\u201d Ben tried for his best stern voice but they all read through it and saw the joy their father had at the moment.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, guess I am tired,\u201d Joe whispered and closed his eyes only to open them right back up again. \u201cPa?\u201d he called weakly.<\/p>\n Ben bent down closer to hear his request. \u201cYes, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShow me again?\u201d Joe referred to Ben\u2019s birthmark. He obliged his son and bent even closer so Joe\u2019s eyes and hands could see and feel the telltale sign. Joe felt of it again and then his eyes closed and he drifted off into a content sleep.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n The next day, while Joe was recuperating from his head trauma, Rene Marchant was in the midst of a heated discussion with his attorney. Both men stood in Marchant\u2019s closed den and went over all of the details of the discovery of Joe\u2019s rare birthmark.<\/p>\n \u201cThis won\u2019t stop me. It is some farce the Cartwright\u2019s have cooked up!\u201d Marchant yelled.<\/p>\n \u201cRene, I\u2019m telling you that it is not. I spoke with the doctor; he is willing to testify that it is valid proof that Joe is Ben Cartwright\u2019s son.\u201d Mr. Lenoir went over the facts for the third time. He couldn\u2019t get his client to listen to reason and was afraid of what Marchant\u2019s next move would be.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you think that I am giving up on this, you are wrong. That boy is my son. And before I\u2019d stand still and let Cartwright take him out of New Orleans, I\u2019d kill that man. If I can\u2019t be Joseph\u2019s father, then no one will be his father!\u201d Rene shouted again and drank more whiskey.<\/p>\n \u201cRene, you must calm down and think this all through. As your attorney, I must caution you about making those kinds of threats.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you want to continue to be my attorney, then you better understand I am not giving up on this. And I am very serious about getting rid of Ben Cartwright!\u201d<\/p>\n Outside of the den, a young girl listened, frightened about what she had just heard her master say. She knew she couldn\u2019t idly stand by and see Joe hurt again. Joe had confided to her of his love for Ben Cartwright and his brothers. Rachel had hoped that once they had stolen the boy back the other day that Joe would finally be safe and in the hands of all those who loved him. Deciding to do something about the threat she had over heard, she crept silently out of the house.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Joe sat up in his hospital bed and ate the dinner that had been brought in for him. He had been thoroughly fussed over by all of his family and was actually enjoying the attention he had received. His thoughts took him back to the day when he had left the Ponderosa, so unsure of what would happen to him in New Orleans. Joe sighed as he reflected on the whole matter of paternity. He was so joyous in the fact that without a doubt he was a Cartwright.<\/p>\n \u201cYou keep eating like that and you\u2019ll be better in no time.\u201d Hoss grinned as he took away the tray of food. Joe had finished almost everything he had been given.<\/p>\n \u201cGood. The sooner I\u2019m out of here the better,\u201d Joe replied and looked over at Adam and Ben. \u201cJust when am I getting out anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn a week or so\u2014that is, if you continue to get your rest,\u201d Ben reminded.<\/p>\n There was a sudden knock on the door and Adam walked over and opened it. He saw a nurse standing there and stepped back to let her in.<\/p>\n \u201cTime to check on my brother again?\u201d Adam asked smiling.<\/p>\n \u201cActually no, not this time. There is a young servant girl outside of the hospital. She told an orderly that it was important that she spoke with the Cartwright family.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, send her in here!\u201d Joe answered quickly, knowing it must be his friend Rachel.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry…\u201d The nurse paused and looked somewhat embarrassed. \u201cShe can\u2019t come in here. We have our rules. No servants are allowed in this hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shook his bandaged head angrily and responded looking directly at his father. \u2018See, Pa. This is how they are out here. These servants are good enough to do all the hard work, but not good enough to be treated as anything other than slaves!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben walked over to the bed and put his hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder trying to calm him. \u201cNow, Joseph, you have to quiet down. I know how you feel; I feel the same way. But there\u2019s nothing we can do about this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s my friend, Pa,\u201d Joe protested.<\/p>\n \u201cI know that, but you getting all worked up is only going to aggravate your condition. You have to settle down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go see her,\u201d Adam interjected, seeing the despair as it fell upon his brother\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, go on, Adam. See what she wants,\u201d Ben agreed and saw Joe start to settle back against the pillows once more.<\/p>\n \u201cTell her I miss her,\u201d Joe called over to Adam as he started to turn and leave the room.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll do that, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa…\u201d Joe closed his eyes to quell the headache which came on him from all the emotion. \u201cPa, do you think they\u2019ll ever do away with slavery?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben looked over at Hoss and tried to come up with an answer to that tough question. He sat down on the bed next to his son. \u201cJoseph, I\u2019m not sure. I do know that there\u2019s some stirrings going on about it. There has even been talk about abolishing it completely. But there\u2019s a whole lot of people who still favor it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThose people are idiots!\u201d Hoss insisted, his anger coming out at the total unfairness of the situation he had both seen and heard about.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I think you\u2019re right, son.\u201d Ben laughed at how eloquently Hoss had summed up the situation.<\/p>\n \u201cSo then you think it will happen?\u201d Joe asked again, his hazel eyes earnestly questioning his father for an answer.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe you will see it in your lifetime, son. And I hope to see it in mine!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe closed his eyes, thinking over all he had witnessed in New Orleans. There seemed to be two classes of people and they were only divided by the color of their skin. Then Joe thought about Rachel. He wondered why she had risked coming to see him. Joe hoped she was okay.<\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n Adam spotted the servant girl standing just outside of the hospital\u2019s entrance door. He moved over to her. \u201cWell, you must be Rachel!\u201d He smiled warmly. \u201cI am Joe\u2019s oldest brother Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI saw you when you came to the house to get Joe. I stayed away because I thought there was going to be shooting,\u201d Rachel explained.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019m sorry if we frightened you. Let\u2019s go over to that bench over there and you can tell me what\u2019s going on.\u201d Adam pointed to a wooden bench sitting over to the side of the entrance-way.<\/p>\n They sat down and she turned her deep brown eyes on Adam. \u201cI overheard Master Marchant talking to his lawyer, Mr. Lenoir. He said that if he couldn\u2019t be Joe\u2019s father, then nobody would be his father. He sounded like he was going to come after your father.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen was this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout an hour ago. That lawyer was begging him to let all this rest but Master Marchant wouldn\u2019t listen. I had to warn you all.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam reached out and touched the young girl\u2019s arm. \u201cYou are very brave to come all the way out here. I know Marchant would be very angry to know you have warned us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe is my friend. I had to come. But, I do need to go now\u2014before he finds me gone.\u201d Rachel stood now, readying to leave.<\/p>\n \u201cRachel, we will somehow get Joe over to see you before we leave New Orleans. I know he\u2019d want to say goodbye to you. He\u2019s told us all about you and your ma.\u201d<\/p>\n Rachel grinned up at Adam. \u201cYou tell Joe that I have put an extra special root on Master Marchant,\u201d she announced proudly.<\/p>\n \u201cRoot?\u201d Adam replied not knowing what the girl was talking about.<\/p>\n \u201cHe will know\u2014just tell him. I have to go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Rachel. You be careful, you hear?\u201d Adam\u2019s statement coming out with great concern for the girl\u2019s well-being.<\/p>\n \u201cI will,\u201d she called and left hurriedly, finding her way back home in the dark of night.<\/p>\n Adam made his way back to Joe\u2019s hospital room and looked grimly at his father and Hoss. When Joe opened his eyes, Adam attempted to change his rueful countenance.<\/p>\n \u201cIs she okay?\u201d Joe asked waking upon hearing his brother\u2019s entrance.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, she just wanted to know if you were feeling better. Oh, she did tell me to tell you that she had put a special root on Marchant.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe laughed out loud and saw his family questioning him with their eyes. \u201cIt\u2019s a spell\u2014you know? Like putting a hex on somebody? Rachel and I got very good at doing that. She put a root on me to protect me too.\u201d Joe smiled, remembering the time they had stolen out of the house and went off to make their own kinds of potions.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, guess it didn\u2019t work too well, huh?\u201d Adam asked pointing toward Joe\u2019s head and the reminder of the terrible fall he had taken.<\/p>\n \u201cWho said it didn\u2019t work? I lived through it, didn\u2019t I? And we never would have known about the birthmark if I didn\u2019t get my head shaved, right?\u201d Joe was serious in his response.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you got to admit it\u2014Joe\u2019s got a point!\u201d Hoss laughed, shaking his head, amused by it all.<\/p>\n Ben stared over at Adam and read the concern on his face. He knew that Rachel\u2019s appearing the way that she had was more than a casual visit to check into Joe\u2019s condition.<\/p>\n \u201cI need some coffee\u2014and you need to get back to sleep,\u201d Ben stated emphatically and Joe sank back down onto the pillows. \u201cAdam, come on, we\u2019ll go rustle up some coffee and bring it back for Hoss,\u201d Ben said and shot Hoss a brief glance that the big man knew meant there was some kind of trouble brewing. Hoss knew Ben needed him to stay in the room and protect his little brother.<\/p>\n Adam handed his father the coffee that they had obtained from the kitchen in the hospital. They had gotten to be very friendly with the hospital staff, and were now given pretty much a free rein to wherever they needed to go. \u201cRachel said she over heard Marchant threaten to kill you, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben frowned; he knew the man hated him even more now since it had been proved he was indeed Joe\u2019s father. He hadn\u2019t worried much about any form of retaliation, having been far more concerned about Joe\u2019s physical condition at the time. \u201cI don\u2019t plan on leaving the hospital any time soon. So, if he wants me, he knows where to find me. I doubt he\u2019d try a frontal assault here\u2014not around so many witnesses.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe has a lot of people around here. Joe says there were Marchant spies all over town. If you give him the chance, he will try something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen let\u2019s do just that. Let\u2019s flush him out into the open.\u201d Ben nodded as he started to plan his next move. He needed the Marchant business over with. He longed for Joe\u2019s release from the hospital so they could make their way safely back to the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n \u201cYou got a plan?\u201d Adam was now grinning at the thought of one more chance to get even with the man who had caused his family so much pain. Adam was ready for revenge now, ready for his family\u2014but especially for Joe. Adam never forgot the way Joe had looked after being beaten so badly by Marchant. He swore to himself that day that he would get even if it was the last thing he did.<\/p>\n \u201cYes…\u201d Ben said and the two of them stood and mapped out what they would do next.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Joe had been in the hospital for more than a week. He was rapidly recovering and just as rapidly, getting bored with staying in bed. The doctor was amazed by the boy\u2019s extremely fast recovery. But then he had been told of Joe\u2019s many run-ins with near death accidents, and it made more sense to the doctor now. He was starting to believe what Adam had originally assumed\u2014that Joe had more lives than a cat.<\/p>\n Ben and Adam stood just outside Joe\u2019s hospital room and readied themselves for what was going to happen next. Ben knew that Joe would be released from the hospital in two days and he figured this was the day to end Marchant\u2019s game. He had seen the bodyguards many times in front of the hospital waiting to spot Ben Cartwright to report it back to Marchant. He never gave them the chance. But this day was the day they would have some news to pass on to their boss. Adam and Ben would walk casually across the street to eat their lunch inside a cafe. They would be spotted and it would be only a matter of time before Rene Marchant would make his presence known.<\/p>\n Both Cartwrights checked their guns to make sure they would be ready. Then they secured them underneath their long over coats. Finally, Ben and Adam walked across the street and entered Le Chateau, a cafe which faced the hospital. They took their seats and could see the sidewalk out front clearly. Ben and Adam sipped some wine as they waited for news to be spread that they had left the hospital.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t long before the two Cartwrights spotted Rene Marchant\u2019s carriage as it pulled up in front of the cafe. They still sat, patiently waiting for Marchant to be the first one to make a move. After several minutes, just as they thought, Rene entered the cafe and walked right over to the Cartwright\u2019s table.<\/p>\n \u201cGo away, Marchant,\u201d Ben said coldly.<\/p>\n \u201cYou think I am through with you? I am going to ruin you, Cartwright! I will destroy the Ponderosa,\u2019 he threatened loudly.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019ll just build another one then,\u201d Ben laughed vindictively.<\/p>\n Adam saw the move first. Rene\u2019s hand reached into his pocket and Adam could see the bulge of a gun. Adam pushed the table forward just as a shot aimed at Ben rang out. It was echoed by a second shot which came from Ben Cartwright\u2019s own gun. Rene Marchant fell to the floor. Ben\u2019s bullet had found its target whereas Marchant\u2019s had missed and entered the wall right behind where Ben had been sitting.<\/p>\n Ben knelt down to see the extent of Marchant\u2019s injury. He had a mortal wound and Ben felt a lot of things\u2014none being regret. Adam saw the man\u2019s wound and knew that getting a doctor over to tend him would be useless.<\/p>\n Rene Marchant reached up and grabbed the collar to Ben\u2019s coat and tried to catch his breath. He was bleeding profusely but before he took his last breath he looked at Ben, venom pouring from his eyes and said, \u201cJoseph…Joseph is…always my son…\u201d<\/p>\n With that final evil statement, Rene Marchant died. Ben stared over at his oldest son and shook his head in disbelief. The man to his dying breath insisted that Joe was his son. Ben was glad that Joe was not there to hear those words. And both Ben and Adam made an agreement never to tell the boy what Marchant had said the day of his death.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Ben helped Joe on with his new clothes. They had been purchased earlier that day and were more to the boy\u2019s liking. A simple brown shirt and black pants. His days of wearing formal suits were now over. Ben was satisfied that he had chosen the right sizes for his son, and other than the still bandaged head, Joe was starting to look like his former self.<\/p>\n Doctor Charneal had agreed to the release from the hospital with the stipulation that the boy get as much rest as possible on the long journey back home. He also had instructed Ben to have Joe seen by the family doctor upon their return. Joe had begrudgingly nodded at the doctor\u2019s advice and gave his word that he would not even consider getting on a horse for a couple of months. Joe still had bouts with headaches, but the doctor assured the family that they would eventually go away and Joe would completely recover.<\/p>\n Ben stared at Joe as the boy pulled on his boots. Joe had been unusually quiet ever since he had been informed of Rene Marchant\u2019s death. Ben worried that the whole incident with Marchant would haunt his son for a long time to come.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m ready,\u201d Joe announced as he saw his brothers enter the room.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go then.\u201d Ben assisted Joe toward the door, just holding his arm enough to help with his struggle for balance.<\/p>\n The carriage pulled up in front of the law office of Judge Zachary Wharton. Hoss and Adam assisted their brother out of the carriage and Ben came around from the other side to also lend a hand if needed.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t understand why I\u2019ve got to go talk to the judge. Marchant is dead. What\u2019s the point?\u201d Joe asked nervously as they started up the steps.<\/p>\n \u201cHe said he needed to see all of us, Joseph. He has been a tremendous help to this family. We won\u2019t keep him waiting,\u201d Ben answered and they all entered the office.<\/p>\n Judge Wharton came around from his desk and was quickly over to Ben shaking his hand happy to see his old friend. \u201cBen, so glad things are back to normal now!\u201d he exclaimed and then caught sight of Joe. \u201cHe looks just like Marie,” he announced and Joe gave a sheepish grin in response.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I\u2019ve been telling him that for quite some time. Unfortunately, he has a very hard head!\u201d Ben laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cGood thing he does or he wouldn\u2019t still be with us.\u201d Judge Wharton implicated Joe\u2019s bandaged head and the fall he had taken.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, what\u2019s this about?\u2019 Ben asked as all five men sat down. Judge Wharton shifted through some papers and then looked directly at Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, it seems that Rene Marchant changed his will when he came back to New Orleans with you. He made you his soul heir and beneficiary to all his holdings. The business, the mansion, the farm\u2014all of it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut I\u2019m not his son!\u201d Joe protested loudly. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean anything now. I don\u2019t want it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, it is legally binding. Of course, since you are underage, you will need an executor to over see all of this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI said I don\u2019t want it. I don\u2019t want anything that he ever touched.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben reached over and grabbed Joe\u2019s arm. \u201cYou settle down, young man, or we go back to the hospital,\u201d He warned.<\/p>\n Joe frowned again; he wanted to be on his way back to the Ponderosa, not dealing with the memories of Rene Marchant.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, what are you suggesting, Judge Wharton?\u201d Joe asked settling back into the chair.<\/p>\n \u201cYour father has told me so much about all you went through here. You have had a very rough go of it, but I suggest you put the experience \u2014 as well as the estate \u2014 to good use!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suggest you appoint someone to take over Marchant Enterprises until you turn twenty-one. Then, at that time, you can liquidate those assets as you see fit.”<\/p>\n Joe thought hard for a few moments and then he had a great idea. An idea that dealt directly with his friends Rachel and Hattie.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, why can\u2019t I just give it all to Rachel?\u201d Joe asked getting excited at the thought.<\/p>\n \u201cWho is Rachel?\u201d The judge asked.<\/p>\n \u201cShe is a servant who worked for Marchant,\u201d Ben explained.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid they don\u2019t let slaves own property. You can make their lives a little easier perhaps. You can instruct whomever you appoint to take good care of them.\u201d The judge tried to sell the idea to the boy.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they abolish slavery, then can I give it to them? I mean Rachel and Hattie. They work really hard. So do the other slaves who work the farms; they deserve something for all that Marchant made them do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf that day comes, then, yes you can. Have any idea who you want to appoint to watch over them?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow about Avery? He sure helped us out\u2014and he has a heart. I think he\u2019d do whatever you wanted him to do,\u201d Adam suggested.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Think he\u2019d do it?\u201d Joe asked, starting to like the whole idea now. At least he could help Rachel and her mother out; that would make sense out of all that he had gone through in New Orleans.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he will be happy to. I will speak to him today.\u201d Judge Wharton stood from his desk. \u201cWell, your father tells me you need more rest if you are going to travel back home tomorrow. So, you all better go get some sleep at the hotel now.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stood and shook his friend\u2019s hand again. \u201cI don\u2019t know what I would have done without your help, Zachary,\u201d Ben stated gratefully.<\/p>\n \u201cWait till you see my bill!\u201d The judge laughed and shook hands with the remaining Cartwrights as they turned to leave his office and move onto the hotel.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n The following day the four Cartwrights left the hotel. Before they made their way out of town by carriage, they had stopped to visit Rachel and Hattie at what was now Joe Cartwright\u2019s mansion. The two women greeted the men warmly and Rachel stood next to Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cYou sure look funny without hair, Joe,\u201d she teased mercilessly. Joe blushed and pulled her toward him. He kissed her cheek and said, \u201cI am really gonna miss you, Rachel. But, I will keep in touch. Avery Bastille will look after the both of you. If there\u2019s anything you need, just ask him. You write me…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will, you know I will.\u201d Rachel felt somewhat heartsick at the thought of Joe being so far away. She would always keep him in her heart and knew he would keep her there in his as well. \u201cGot something for you!\u201d she said excitedly and rushed into the den. A few minutes later she was back and handed Joe a book. Joe looked at it, only to discover it was his original journal.<\/p>\n \u201cHow did you get this?\u201d he asked amazed. He figured that Marchant had destroyed it.<\/p>\n \u201cIt went out to the trash. When I found out what it was, I hid it\u2014hoping to give it to you some day.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe hugged the girl and then turned and hugged Hattie. \u201cTake care of Rachel for me. Don\u2019t let her put any roots on me again!\u201d Joe laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll take care of her. You be safe\u2014and thank you for everything.\u201d Hattie hugged Joe and turned and smiled at the other Cartwrights. Joe took one final look at Rachel before he walked out of the house. He would always remember the smile she had on her face that day. It wasn\u2019t the smile of being totally free, but it was a start on the way to finding that freedom.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Ben and Joe shared the same sleeping car on the train that was heading west. Adam and Hoss had the adjoining car and were already asleep for the night. Ben stared over at his youngest as he lay sleeping on the bunk. Joe looked more peaceful than he had ever seen the boy. Ben reached for Joe\u2019s journal again. He had almost finished reading all the entries in it. With each page Ben could feel the hurt, the loneliness, that his son had endured. Ben was touched by Joe\u2019s question of whether the other members of his family had been thinking of him. Ben wondered how Joe could ever write such nonsense. For there had not been a day, nor even an hour, during Joe\u2019s absence that he hadn\u2019t been in all of the other\u2019s minds. When Ben read the entry about Joe meeting Avery for the first time, he noticed the mention that \u201cmaybe Ben Cartwright still cares\u201d. Ben looked over at his son. How could the boy have ever thought differently, he wondered? Ben walked over to Joe and pulled up the blanket which had fallen down.<\/p>\n Joe opened his eyes. \u201cPa?\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n \u201cGo back to sleep,\u201d Ben replied quietly.<\/p>\n Joe sat up in the bunk and he was suddenly wide awake. \u201cPa, I just thought about something,\u201d Joe announced seemingly very excited.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, Joseph, we can talk in the morning…\u201d Ben started but Joe cut him back off.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Pa, I was thinking about that bid on the shoring for the Zephyr mine. You know, you said you put the bid in but haven\u2019t heard anything yet.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben was confused; he couldn\u2019t understand what would bring the mining contract up in his son\u2019s head all of a sudden. \u201cWe\u2019ll check on it when we get home. We\u2019ll know a few days after we get back. Now, stop worrying about business and go back to sleep,\u201d Ben retorted sternly.<\/p>\n \u201cPa, you\u2019ve got the contract; I can assure you that you have.\u201d Joe grinned mischievously.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd just how do you know that?\u201d Ben asked staring strangely at the boy.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, let\u2019s just say I know the owner really well,\u201d Joe laughed.<\/p>\n Ben shook his head bewildered. \u201cOh, you do, do you? Who is he?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe same person that you are trying hard to make go back to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Ben asked and then thought on it a minute. \u201cDid Marchant buy the Zephyr mine?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYep, and now I own it. So, if you promise to be really nice to me…\u201d Joe started.<\/p>\n Ben cut in on his teasing. \u201cI\u2019ll show you nice…if you don\u2019t close your eyes and go back to sleep!\u201d Ben feigned being mad at the boy.<\/p>\n Joe laughed. \u201cWell, maybe we\u2019ll have to make some kind of deal when we get home,\u201d Joe continued.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, that\u2019s what we will do. And you will be running the Zephyr from your locked bedroom, young man!\u201d Ben\u2019s warning could not be done with a straight face and he burst out laughing as well.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, okay, you got the contract. A little threatening goes a long way with me,\u201d Joe conceded happily.<\/p>\n \u201cNow will you please go to sleep?\u201d Ben asked tiredly.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay.\u201d Joe nodded.<\/p>\n Ben stopped short. Usually he would have ruffled Joe\u2019s head of curls but had to settle for a gentle touch of the boy\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n \u201cGoodnight, Master Joseph,\u201d Ben teased and walked back over to his own bunk.<\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n