{"id":5559,"date":"2014-05-01T21:54:59","date_gmt":"2014-05-02T01:54:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5559"},"modified":"2026-01-20T15:55:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T20:55:45","slug":"all-ye-are-brothers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5559","title":{"rendered":"All Ye Are Brothers (by Hogan)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/span>WHN for All Ye Are Saints.\u00a0 Joe must fight to save the life of ‘Lijah, an Indian man\u00a0who is on trial for the murder of Tom Caine, a white man.<\/p>\n

Rated:<\/span>\u00a0K+ \u00a0WC 4700<\/span><\/p>\n

All Ye are Brothers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hoss and Joe Cartwright kept their horses at a slow walk<\/strong> as they made their way carefully down the mountainside.\u00a0 Two men, the sheriff\u2019s deputies, followed closely behind.\u00a0 One of them had a large shapeless bundle strapped just behind his saddle.\u00a0 On closer examination one could see the tips of fingers hanging just below the cloth.\u00a0 Trailing at the rear was \u2018Lijah, a native man who worked for Evan Thorpe, \u00a0a local rancher.\u00a0\u00a0 Joe had Michael, Evan\u2019s young son, sitting in front of him.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s head hung in exhaustion.\u00a0 His head hurt and he was fighting a nauseous feeling in his stomach.\u00a0 He was physically and emotionally spent by all the events of the past 24 hours.\u00a0 All he wanted now was to get home and crawl into bed.\u00a0 Someone else could worry for a while\u2026 worry about Michael and his dad, if Evan was still alive, and someone else could worry about what would happen to \u2018Lijah.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s troubles were forgotten briefly when they arrived at the Jones\u2019 ranch to find that Evan was alive and expected to make a full recovery.\u00a0 However, after Joe\u2019s Pa, Ben Cartwright, took Michael into the small ranch house, Joe felt the responsibility of caring for the young boy lift.\u00a0 He could feel his energy drain out of him like water out of a leaky bucket.\u00a0 He sat on the steps and placed his head gently in his hands, struggling against the nauseating sickness in his gut.\u00a0 Hoss was talking to the two deputies, his voice climbing steadily in volume.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s headache was so bad he couldn\u2019t concentrate on what Hoss was saying.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe! Joe! Didja hear what I said?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss put his large hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0 Joe squinted up at his brother, wishing the sun wasn\u2019t shining so brightly.\u00a0 \u201cWadja say\u201d he slurred.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, ya don\u2019t sound too good.\u00a0 Better git the doc ta look ya over.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss looked at his brother with concern.\u00a0 \u201cI hafta ride inta Virginia City with the deputies.\u00a0 I gotta make sure nothing happens to \u2018Lijah.\u00a0 Tell Pa, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss was very distracted thinking about what might happen to \u2018Lijah in town when the deputies told how the Indian man had stabbed to death a white man, albeit a wanted white man.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t overly worried about Joe.\u00a0 Joe had managed alright all afternoon, scrambling up mountains, carrying Michael and riding all the way back to the ranch holding the kid.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t have done all that if he hadn\u2019t been alright.\u00a0 Of course it was understandable that he\u2019d have a headache after being hit hard with a rifle butt.\u00a0 Hoss turned and left with the three men.<\/p>\n

Joe watched Hoss leave.\u00a0\u00a0Hoss wanted me to tell Pa something,<\/em>\u00a0he thought to himself.\u00a0\u00a0What was it<\/em>?\u00a0 He began to feel frustrated. \u00a0Why can\u2019t I remember<\/em>?\u00a0 The door of the house opened behind him, and then banged shut.\u00a0 Joe nearly jumped out of his skin.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, sorry I startled you\u201d said Pa.\u00a0 \u201cAre you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYa, Pa, I\u2019m fine.\u201d\u00a0 Pa doesn\u2019t even know yet what happened up on the mountain, thought Joe. When he tried to think about the day\u2019s events all he could dredge up was a disjointed jumble of blurry images.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, where\u2019s Hoss?\u201d\u00a0 Ben looked around the small ranch yard and didn\u2019t see Hoss\u2019 horse, Chubb.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe went to Virginia City.\u00a0 He asked me to tell you.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0But why<\/em>, thought Joe.\u00a0\u00a0I wish I could remember<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh.\u00a0 Well, I\u2019m going to stay here overnight with Michael and Evan.\u00a0 Joe, you go back to the Ponderosa.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure Hoss will be there later.\u00a0 I\u2019ll see you tomorrow.\u201d\u00a0 Ben gave Joe\u2019s shoulder a squeeze before turning back to the house.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay Pa\u201d muttered Joe, but Ben had already shut the door.\u00a0 Joe groaned as he slowly rose from the steps and walked carefully over to the corral where Cochise was tied to the fence.\u00a0 His head was pounding and his stomach roiling as he crawled up into the saddle and pointed his steed towards home, at a walk.<\/p>\n

Halfway home Joe had to dismount abruptly and scramble into the bushes to empty his stomach.\u00a0 Once at home he lay down on the settee and closed his eyes.<\/p>\n

It was dark when Joe regained awareness.\u00a0 Something was shaking his shoulder.\u00a0 He opened his eyes a crack.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeeme \u2018lone.\u201d\u00a0 he slurred petulantly.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, wake up.\u00a0 Ya gotta go inta Virginia City.\u00a0 They\u2019re gonna string up \u2018Lijah fer killing Caine.\u00a0 Yer th\u2019 only witness.\u00a0 Ya gotta stop \u2018em.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss was frantic.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019kay. Stop shaking me.\u00a0 I\u2019ll go.\u201d\u00a0 Joe began to rise from the settee as Hoss strode quickly out the door to get the horses ready.\u00a0 The floor lurched alarmingly and Joe had to sit down again, his stomach threatening to spill its contents once more.\u00a0 After a minute he tried a second time with more success and carefully tottered out the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on Joe, what\u2019s keepin\u2019 ya? Can\u2019t you hurry it up?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss urged.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m coming\u201d snapped Joe.\u00a0 He missed the quizzical look on his brother\u2019s face as he carefully mounted Cochise.\u00a0 Once in the saddle he gripped the horn tightly as the world momentarily seemed to swirl around him.\u00a0 Hoss was already trotting out of the yard and Joe had no choice but to follow as Cochise automatically trailed his stable mate.\u00a0 All Joe had to do was hold on, but this was becoming increasingly difficult to do.\u00a0 The pain in his head was building and his stomach, although empty, was complaining persistently.\u00a0 Hoss pushed on unrelentingly, lost in his worries, oblivious to his brother\u2019s discomfort.<\/p>\n

At long last they arrived in Virginia City.\u00a0 A raucous crowd was gathered in front of the sheriff\u2019s office. \u201cHang the injun.\u00a0 Hang \u2018im now!\u201d screamed one man, a miner, from the look of his grimy clothes.\u00a0 Other voices joined in as the crowd worked themselves into a frenzy.\u00a0 Hoss pushed his way through the mob with Joe stumbling along in his wake.<\/p>\n

\u201cInjun lovers!\u00a0 You cain\u2019t stop us from hangin\u2019 the injun\u201d shouted someone in the crowd.\u00a0 Others took up the chant \u2018Ye cain\u2019t stop us!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss and Joe ignored the taunts as the deputy, Clem, let them through the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowdy, Hoss, Little Joe\u201d Sheriff Coffee greeted the Cartwrights.\u00a0 \u201cCome have a seat and I\u2019ll bring ya up to speed.\u00a0 Little Joe, you alright? You look a mite peaked.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYa, I\u2019m fine, Roy.\u00a0 What\u2019s going on?\u201d\u00a0 Joe wearily tried to pull himself together and listen to Roy.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, as ya heard the crowd yell, they want to hang \u2018Lijah simply because he\u2019s an injun and has kilt a white man.\u00a0 They don\u2019t care that Tom Caine was a wanted man.\u00a0 Now, Little Joe, I need ta get a statement from you on what exactly happened up there on the mountain.\u201d\u00a0 More than half of Roy\u2019s mind was worrying about the noisy mob outside his office, but he motioned for Joe and Hoss to sit down while he settled himself at his desk and pulled out a sheet of paper and a fountain pen.<\/p>\n

Joe took a deep breath and began.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs you probably know, Evan Thorpe was accidentally shot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen was that, Little Joe?\u201d interrupted Roy.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh\u2026Two days ago, around noon I think.\u201dJoe looked at Hoss for confirmation.\u00a0 Hoss nodded his head in encouragement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe next morning, that would be yesterday, when we woke up we found that Michael had disappeared.\u00a0 I tracked him into the mountains and caught up to him in the evening.\u00a0 That\u2019s when Tom Caine found us and took us to his camp.\u00a0 He kept us in his hut\u2026 um\u2026then\u2026 uhh\u2026I\u2019m not sure what happened next.\u201d\u00a0 Joe\u2019s brow was wrinkled as he struggled to remember the events of that morning.\u00a0 His head was pounding as if a herd of tiny crazed cattle was stampeding inside his skull.\u00a0 Hoss cleared his throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe deputies and I found Joe unconscious near Caine\u2019s hut.\u00a0 Caine had wacked Joe with his rifle and then had taken off with Michael.\u00a0 I set Joe on the bed and the deputies and I took off after Caine.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember running up the mountain towards Michael and Caine. \u201c\u00a0 Joe\u2019s face twisted in pain and frustration.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2026 um\u2026 I can\u2019t remember what happened next.\u00a0 Why I can\u2019t remember, Hoss?\u201d\u00a0 In his confusion Joe looked to his big brother for help.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, I can\u2019t… can\u2019t remember\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Joe\u2019s voice trailed off.\u00a0 His eyes rolled back into his head, his body grew weak and Joe slid to the ground.\u00a0 Hoss grabbed his shoulders before his head hit the floor.\u00a0 The big man hoisted his smaller brother into his arms, looking at Roy in a mixture of shock and fear.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoy, I\u2019m takin\u2019 Joe to Doc Martin\u2019s.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss hurried out the door and pushed his way into the mob.\u00a0 Hands reached out to clutch at his arms, trying to stop him, but the angry faces fell away at the look on Hoss\u2019 face, the glare that dared anyone to get in his path.\u00a0 He gathered Joe in closer and rushed across the street to the Doctor\u2019s office.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

Joe awoke slowly.\u00a0 He wearily tried to figure out where he was.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t feel like home but the smells were somehow familiar.\u00a0 He cracked his eyes open slightly, and then closed them quickly against the bright light that sent shooting pains into his throbbing head.\u00a0 A moan escaped his lips.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe? You awake?\u201d\u00a0 came the anxious voice of his brother from somewhere near Joe\u2019s right shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cYah.\u00a0 Would ya turn out the light?\u00a0 It\u2019s killing me.\u201d Joe groaned.\u00a0 His eyes hurt and his head hurt and his stomach was doing flips.\u00a0 His breathing became shallow as he tried to control the agony.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d move mountains for ya brother but I can\u2019t turn off the sun.\u00a0 It\u2019s morning.\u00a0 Ya slept right through the night.\u00a0 We were worried about ya.\u00a0 I\u2019m gonna call the Doc.\u00a0 You stay put.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe could hear Hoss leave the room and a short time later return.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I\u2019ve gotta go help \u2018Lijah get ready for the trial.\u00a0 The circuit judge will be arriving on the stage soon.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want ya to worry about nothin\u2019.\u00a0 Just do what Doc Martin says.\u00a0 D\u2019ya hear?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYah, Hoss.\u00a0 I hear.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0But that doesn\u2019t mean I\u2019ll heed you.\u00a0<\/em>Joe was thinking about \u2018Lijah.\u00a0 He was really the Indian man\u2019s only hope, if only he could remember what happened.\u00a0 Doctor Paul Martin bustled into the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, well, young man.\u00a0 I see you\u2019re finally awake.\u00a0 You slept more than 12 hours!\u00a0 Now, I need to have a good look at you.\u00a0 Hoss, you can leave, Joe will be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Doc.\u00a0 Joe, I sent a message to Pa last night.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll be here soon.\u00a0 I\u2019ll come back as soon as I can.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss strode purposefully out of the room.<\/p>\n

Joe resigned himself to the doctor\u2019s examination, biting back small grunts of pain as the older man poked and pried.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, you have a serious concussion.\u00a0 You haven\u2019t helped matters by gallivanting all over the country either.\u00a0 You must rest for several days and I mean rest.\u00a0 You need to stay as quiet as possible!\u00a0 Hoss told me you had some memory loss as well.\u00a0 Amnesia is common after a concussion.\u00a0 The memories might return when the swelling subsides, or you might always have a gap.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoc, can I have a drink of water?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked, hoping that water would help his headache.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, son.\u00a0 I\u2019ll get Mrs Martin to make you some eggs for breakfast.\u201d The kindly doctor helped Joe take a sip of water but at the mention of eggs Joe began to turn green.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps we\u2019ll wait on the eggs, \u201cconcluded Dr. Martin.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

It was several hours before Ben arrived.\u00a0 He had had to wait for Mrs Gibbens, the kindly neighbor of Evan and Michael, to arrive as Evan was not well enough to leave with only Michael.\u00a0 He blustered into the doctor\u2019s clinic, full of anxiety for Joe.\u00a0 He still did not have the full story of the last few days\u2019 events.<\/p>\n

\u201cPaul, how\u2019s Joe?\u201d Ben bellowed.\u00a0 The doctor put his finger to his lips.<\/p>\n

\u201cSsh! He\u2019s trying to sleep, and that\u2019s exactly what I want him to keep doing, as much as possible.\u00a0 You can sit quietly beside him if you wish but don\u2019t disturb him.\u00a0 He has a serious concussion.\u201d\u00a0 The doctor watched as the anxious father tiptoed into the examination room.<\/p>\n

Ben stood for a moment just inside the door, taking in the sight of his youngest son.\u00a0 In the fading afternoon light Joe looked more like a child than a 24 year old man.\u00a0 His tousled hair and his thick eyelashes made stark contrast to his pale complexion.\u00a0 Remembering other times he had sat at his son\u2019s bedside Ben sat down and placed his hand gently on his son\u2019s forehead.\u00a0He\u2019s a little warm,<\/em>\u00a0Ben thought to himself.\u00a0\u00a0Probably just a reaction to the concussion, but I\u2019ll have to keep an eye on that.\u00a0 I wonder where Hoss is.<\/em><\/p>\n

As if bidden by Ben\u2019s thoughts, Hoss quietly entered the room, his eyes on Joe.\u00a0 Ben looked up and nodded, acknowledging his older son.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I need ya to come to the courthouse,\u201d Hoss whispered.\u00a0 Judge Simkins is presiding an\u2019 ya know he\u2019s a \u2018hangin\u2019 judge\u2019.\u00a0 I\u2019m afraid he\u2019s gonna have \u2018Lijah hung.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s the only witness an\u2019 he can\u2019t remember what happened.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss was desperate to save the life of the Indian man he had known for years.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I don\u2019t know what I can do, but we need to try everything possible within the law,\u201d Ben agreed.\u00a0 He too would be sorry to see \u2018Lijah hang for protecting a little boy\u2019s life.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll let Paul know we\u2019re leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss followed Ben out of the room, looking back over his shoulder at Joe who still seemed to be deep in sleep.\u00a0 The door shut with a quiet click.<\/p>\n

Joe was not sleeping.\u00a0 He had drifted back to consciousness as his father and brother talked and now he lay there, eyes shut while he pondered the situation.\u00a0\u00a0I can\u2019t lie here while \u2018Lijah may be sentenced to death.\u00a0 Even if I can\u2019t remember maybe I can be a character witness.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>Joe\u2019s thinking wasn\u2019t quite straight but he knew he had to do something.\u00a0 He struggled to a sitting position, grasping the edge of the bed as his head swam alarmingly.\u00a0 He closed his eyes until the dizziness abated, then carefully reached over to pull on his boots.\u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s lucky I still have my clothes on, I don\u2019t know if I could have managed to get dressed,\u00a0<\/em>he thought.\u00a0 Once the boots were on, he tiptoed over to the door to peek through.\u00a0 As he surreptitiously watched he heard Mrs Martin calling her husband from the kitchen behind the office.\u00a0 The doctor got up from his desk and went down the hall.\u00a0\u00a0 Joe took the opportunity to exit through the front door.<\/p>\n

Once outside, Joe had to grab a post to steady himself.\u00a0 He peered up and down the street and was surprised to see that the streets were empty even though many horses were standing at the hitching posts.\u00a0\u00a0Everyone must be at the courthouse,<\/em>\u00a0Joe surmised.\u00a0 He drew in a deep breath and began to stagger down the hot, dusty street.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s head was spinning.\u00a0\u00a0I must look like a drunk,\u00a0<\/em>he mused.\u00a0 Luckily there was no one to see him and the courthouse was just a few buildings away from the doctor\u2019s office.\u00a0 By the time he got to his destination his chest was heaving with the effort to draw in enough air, and the sticky wetness of sweat soaked his shirt.\u00a0 Grabbing the doorway for support, Joe stepped into the cooler court room.<\/p>\n

The room was crowded.\u00a0 It seemed that every citizen of Virginia City was there.\u00a0 More than half of the spectators were standing at the back so Joe could not see the front where the Judge sat.\u00a0 He noticed Clem standing off to one side, scanning the room for signs of trouble.\u00a0 But when trouble came, Clem was facing the wrong way.<\/p>\n

Joe became aware of a murmuring.\u00a0 The dissonance of angry voices rose in a crescendo culminating in a woman\u2019s unearthly scream.\u00a0 She was staring, horror stricken at a man standing just in front of Joe.\u00a0 The man was waving a gun around erratically.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t let him get away with it, Judge.\u00a0 The injun\u2019s a murderer, just like the ones that killed ma wife.\u201d\u00a0 The gun discharged into the air as Joe leapt upon the man, tackling him to the ground as he shook the weapon from his grasp.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, it\u2019s one of them injun lovin\u2019 Cartwrights,\u201d shouted a bystander.\u00a0 Like a pack of wolves going in for the kill the crowd pounced upon Joe.\u00a0 He had no way to fight back against the fists and boots that pummeled his body, but as the blackness closed in he heard a familiar deep voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop, that\u2019s my son.\u00a0 Leave him be!\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe felt the crowd move back and familiar hands were upon him, gently cradling his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u00a0 Can you hear me?\u00a0 Talk to me.\u201d\u00a0 Joe could hear the anxiety in his father\u2019s voice and he wanted nothing more than to relieve him of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine, Pa.\u00a0 Just\u2026 help me up.\u201d\u00a0 Joe attempted a smile but it was difficult to do while gasping for breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think so, young man.\u00a0 First the doctor is going to check you over.\u00a0 Hoss has gone to fetch him.\u201d\u00a0 Ben was relieved that Joe didn\u2019t appear to be too badly hurt and his concussion seemed no worse.\u00a0 At that moment Dr. Martin bustled in, Hoss trailing closely.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, I don\u2019t know how he left without me knowing.\u00a0 I thought he was in bed until Hoss came running in a minute ago.\u00a0 What hurts, Joe?\u201d\u00a0 The doctor was already peering into Joe\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine, doc.\u00a0 I need to\u2026 testify for \u2018Lijah.\u00a0 I hafta\u2026 make sure he\u2026 doesn\u2019t hang.\u201d\u00a0 Joe\u2019s pleading eyes began to work on Paul Martin\u2019s resolve that the boy should be in bed not on the stand.\u00a0 He continued to check Joe\u2019s ribs.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoc, it\u2019s a man\u2019s\u2026 life.\u00a0 I can\u2026 rest\u2026 after.\u201d\u00a0 Joe needed the doctor\u2019s approval or Ben would never allow him to testify.\u00a0 He looked at Paul questioningly.\u00a0 The doctor could see how important it was to Joe.\u00a0 He knew that Joe would suffer from guilt if \u201cLijah hung and Joe did nothing.\u00a0 He looked at Ben and saw that he understood too.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell Joe, I don\u2019t think your ribs are broken, although they may be cracked.\u00a0 And since you are already here I don\u2019t think it will hurt you to sit on the stand for a few minutes.\u00a0 But then straight back to bed.\u00a0 And no more sneaking out!\u201d\u00a0 The doctor gave Joe what he hoped was a stern look, but he was feeling admiration for the young man who was willing to ignore his pain to help a friend.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Joe!\u201d spluttered Hoss \u201cDo ya remember?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYa, brother, I\u2019ll remember everything.\u00a0 Help me up, will ya?\u201d\u00a0 Joe wasn\u2019t sure he could remember but he knew he had to try.<\/p>\n

The room was hushed.\u00a0 Clem had removed the ringleaders of the disturbance off to the jail, and Judge Simkins pounded his gavel to signal that the court was again in session.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe court calls Joseph Cartwright to the stand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe refused the help of his father and made his way carefully to the witness stand beside the judge\u2019s bench.\u00a0 He closed his eyes for a moment, steadying his nerves.\u00a0 There was still a relentless pounding inside his head and sharp pains emanated from his ribcage.\u00a0\u00a0I hope I can do this,\u00a0<\/em>Joe thought in trepidation.<\/p>\n

The judge looked at the young man beside him in concern.\u00a0 However he also saw the intense determination on his face and in the set of his shoulders and decided not to say anything.<\/p>\n

As Joe spoke, answering Judge Simkin\u2019s questions, he kept his eyes on his father.\u00a0 Ben was his anchor as he recounted the story of that day.\u00a0\u00a0 His head was pounding and his nerves made his hands shake and his heart beat wildly.\u00a0 But his hands clutched the wooden banister and his heart clutched his father\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n

Ben sat listening to the whole story for the first time.\u00a0 He heard how Joe and Michael were held at gunpoint by the outlaw Tom Caine, and he watched Joe\u2019s anger as he recounted how Caine had become drunk and tormented the young boy.\u00a0 Then Joe told the judge how Caine had struck him with his rifle after hearing gunshots and Ben\u2019s gut clenched in horror.<\/p>\n

Joe was getting more and more anxious as he got closer to the part he couldn\u2019t remember.\u00a0 He spoke about staggering out of the hut to wave to Hoss and the deputies before passing out, and he told the judge that he had woken up in the hut.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss told me to wait in the hut while he and the deputies went after Caine and Michael, but I couldn\u2019t just lay there.\u00a0 I started trailing Michael.\u201d\u00a0 Joe omitted the number of times he fell, sometimes blacking out.<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard shots and I could see Caine and Michael at the top of the mountain.\u00a0 I started running \u2018cause I was afraid Caine would hurt the boy.\u00a0 He was shooting at me but missed.\u00a0 And then…\u201d\u00a0 Joe looked at his father for support.\u00a0 He could see the worry in his eyes but he could see something else.\u00a0 There was an aura of empathy, but also approval in his father\u2019s face.\u00a0 His father was proud of him!\u00a0 Joe sought deep within himself for the memories hiding in the dense fog of his addled brain.<\/p>\n

\u201cMichael\u2026 he ran out of the hiding place and Caine ran after him and grabbed his arm.\u00a0 I thought Caine was gonna hurt him but I wasn\u2019t close enough to stop him.\u00a0 Then\u2026 um\u2026 \u2018Lijah appeared and he\u2026he threw a knife at Caine and got him in the back.\u00a0 Caine died within a few minutes.\u201d\u00a0 Joe was almost amazed at the memories returning, as if a breeze had blown away the mists in his head, leaving his mind clear and focused.\u00a0 Judge Simkins looked carefully at the young man and could see his clarity of thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou may return to your seat, Mr Cartwright.\u201d Simkins was a fair man and he had the reputation of being a hanging judge only because of his quick decisions.\u00a0 If the man was guilty then he wanted to get the punishment over with quickly.\u00a0 This territory was rough and there were few judges to cover it.\u00a0 He had to decide quickly and then get onto the next case.<\/p>\n

\u201cI find the defendant Elijah Numa to be not guilty of first degree murder.\u00a0 Elijah\u2019s actions saved the lives of at least two people that day, Michael Thorpe and Joseph Cartwright.\u00a0 I have no doubt that Tom Caine would have killed Mr Cartwright once he had a clear shot.\u201d\u00a0 As the gavel fell the courtroom erupted into pandemonium as the rabble rousers in the crowd expressed their disapproval.\u00a0 But this was ignored by the elated men at the front of the room.\u00a0 Joe jumped up from his seat to grasp \u2018Lijah\u2019s hand.\u00a0 \u2018Lijah shook it gratefully, relief written all over his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you so much, Mr Joe.\u00a0 You saved my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I just told the truth.\u00a0 And I should be thanking you.\u00a0 I never thought about it until now, but Caine would have killed me if you hadn\u2019t thrown that knife.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I thank you for saving my son.\u201d Ben clasped Joe around the shoulders as he shook \u2018Lijah\u2019s hand vigorously.\u00a0 \u201cIf there is anything I can do for you just let me know.\u00a0 I am eternally grateful to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Lijah\u2019s face was beaming.\u00a0 \u201c<\/p>\n

Ben could feel the energy draining out of Joe and immediately began to support him.\u00a0 \u201cYou, young man, need to get back to the doctor\u2019s office.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss supported Joe on the other side and the three Cartwrights walked out of the courthouse, one strong unit.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

A couple of weeks later Joe was well enough to visit the Thorpe ranch with Hoss\u2019 and Ben\u2019s anxious supervision.\u00a0 Hoss in particular was hovering around Joe as if he might collapse at any moment.\u00a0 Joe was hard pressed not to let his frustration with Hoss show for he knew his older brother was feeling guilty about not seeing how poorly Joe had been feeling that day.\u00a0 Joe on the other hand knew that it was at least partly his fault for not saying anything and told Hoss so on several occasions.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt last I have a chance to properly thank \u2018Lijah for saving my life,\u201d said Joe as they rode up to the Thorpe\u2019s barn to tie up their horses.\u00a0 Hoss tried to take Cochise\u2019s reins from Joe but he quietly resisted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine, Hoss.\u00a0 I can take care of my horse.\u201d\u00a0 Joe spoke gently, trying to hold Hoss\u2019 gaze.<\/p>\n

\u201cI jus\u2019 thought ya might be tired after the long ride\u201d Hoss replied sheepishly.\u00a0 He looked down at his feet before looking up at Joe.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s smile brought out a relieved grin on Hoss\u2019 face.\u00a0 \u201cAh know, ah\u2019m bein\u2019 a mother hen agin, ain\u2019t ah?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben smiled at the antics of his sons and reminded himself not to appear too worried about Joe.\u00a0 Dr. Martin said Joe was fully recovered and could return to regular work so Ben didn\u2019t have any reason to fret.\u00a0 \u201cEasier said than done\u201d he muttered under his breath.<\/p>\n

A similar scene greeted them when they entered the Thorpe\u2019s cabin.\u00a0 \u2018Lijah was dancing around Evan Thorpe like a bee around honey while young Michael went to the well to draw water.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019Lijah, you\u2019ve got to start letting me do something for myself.\u201d\u00a0 Evan pleaded.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot \u2018til doctor say so\u201d admonished \u2018Lijah as he hurried to put on a pot of tea.<\/p>\n

Hoss, Ben and Joe chuckled.\u00a0 Hoss pressed Joe down into an empty chair as Joe rolled his eyes skyward.\u00a0 It was Evan\u2019s turn to chuckle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see that you and I have similar problems, Joe\u201d smiled Evan.\u00a0 \u201cBut seriously Joe, I want to thank you and Hoss for bringing back Michael that day.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know what I would have done if you hadn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what neighbours are for, Evan\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn gratitude to \u2018Lijah I\u2019ve made him my partner in the ranch. \u201c\u00a0 Evan smiled at the native man.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re going to start a horse breeding operation as soon as I\u2019m well again.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Cartwrights looked at each other and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cThen you have to see what\u2019s tied up to the hitching post.\u00a0 \u2018Lijah helped Evan shuffle carefully over to the door.\u00a0 Tied up next to the Cartwright\u2019s horses was a handsome black stallion.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s for you, \u2018Lijah\u201d said Joe.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s our token of gratitude for saving my life that day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Lijah\u2019s eyes were shining with unshed tears as his incredulous gaze shifted from the beautiful horse to the faces of his friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what to say.\u00a0 He is magnificent.\u201d\u00a0 \u2018Lijah shook each of the Cartwrights\u2019 hands before helping Evan back to his chair.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan we call him \u2018Good Samaritan\u2019 \u2018Lijah?\u00a0 Can we?\u201d piped up Michael.\u00a0 The adults laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure we can, if \u2018Lijah wants to.\u00a0 It\u2019s certainly appropriate,\u201d Evan replied, regarding his son and his friends solemnly.\u00a0 \u201cBut let\u2019s call him Sam for short, okay?\u201d\u00a0 \u2018Lijah nodded his head emphatically.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Dad.\u201d\u00a0 Michael reached over and took his father\u2019s hand and then clasped \u2018Lijah\u2019s hand on the other side.\u00a0 His little face beamed at his father and friends.\u00a0 All was right in his world.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary: \u00a0WHN for All Ye Are Saints.\u00a0 Joe must fight to save the life of ‘Lijah, an Indian man\u00a0who is on trial for the murder of Tom Caine, a white man. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0K+ \u00a0WC 4700<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":184,"featured_media":5109,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23,1007,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-joe-cartwright","category-whn","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1007-id","wpcat-13-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2311,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Joe2.jpg?fit=717%2C573&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":40437,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=40437","url_meta":{"origin":5559,"position":0},"title":"Ping\u2019an Ye or Peaceful Night (by BluewindFarm)","author":"BluewindFarm","date":"December 25, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Little Joe isn't the only Cartwright who can confound Dr. Martin. 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A 2015 Camp in the Pines story and a WHN for Quality of Mercy.\u00a0 Rating:\u00a0 K+\u00a0 (1,255 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/joe-pa.jpg?fit=640%2C514&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/joe-pa.jpg?fit=640%2C514&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/joe-pa.jpg?fit=640%2C514&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13844,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13844","url_meta":{"origin":5559,"position":4},"title":"Revenge of the Stranger (by HelenB)","author":"HelenB","date":"February 27, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 \u00a0A\u00a0 WHN for the episode, The Stranger Rating:\u00a0 T\u00a0\u00a0 (9,775 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Didnt-pay-to-be-Ben.jpg?fit=467%2C341&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":49897,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=49897","url_meta":{"origin":5559,"position":5},"title":"Hoss’ Meditation (by Katie)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"July 25, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 I think we underestimated Hoss Cartwright Rating: G\u00a0 (690 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Hoss Cartwright"","block_context":{"text":"Hoss Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1006"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5559","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/184"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5559"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5559\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5109"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}