Summary: After Joe is found alive after months spent in captivity, his family’s joy is short-lived. Now Ben, Adam, and Hoss must decipher why Joe adamantly insists that for the rest of his life he must “Stay in the Darkness ”
\nRating\u00a0 T-13. Word count 40,990<\/p>\n
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Stay in the Darkness Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n Stay in the Darkness<\/a> <\/p>\n Stay In the Darkness<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n (***Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before *** Edgar Allan Poe, excerpt from \u201cThe Raven\u201d)<\/span><\/p>\n The die had been cast and everything was falling perfectly in order just as planned.\u00a0 Preston Hilliard stood there at the desk in his study and looked over the agreement which his attorney had drawn up.\u00a0 He had held on to the water rights which Ben Cartwright had sought after for years. \u00a0 The sale of those rights had been in the works for months, and was finally going to become a reality, or so the other man thought.\u00a0 Preston didn\u2019t need the money which Ben had offered him.\u00a0 He just needed what would be the outcome of the pending purchase.\u00a0 For years Preston had planned and calculated his revenge.\u00a0 Like a cat toying with a rat, he had gone back and forth in agreeing on the sale of the water rights and then withdrawing his offer at the last moment.\u00a0 Now, however, it was the right time.\u00a0 The Cartwrights had increased the size of their large cattle herd by twenty five per cent and they would drastically need the extra water before taking the steers to market.\u00a0 Preston knew that his property, with plenty of water, was situated in a prime location, and so did Ben Cartwright.\u00a0 Now, after signing the preliminary agreement, Ben would be coming to the Hilliard ranch with money and a ready pen.<\/span><\/p>\n Preston reached across his desk and pulled up the picture of his only son, Franklin.\u00a0 The boy had been killed five years ago, though to his father, it was only yesterday in his mind and heart.\u00a0 He closed his eyes and could still remember what he had been told about the shooting.\u00a0 When it happened, Joseph Cartwright was eighteen and the same age as his son.\u00a0 Both teenagers had many run-ins with each other over the years.\u00a0 Franklin detested the good looking curly headed Cartwright.\u00a0 There had been fist fights during the boy\u2019s school days and Preston had doctored many wounds which had been inflicted by Joe Cartwright\u2019s left fist.\u00a0 Though both fathers had agreed to keep their sons away from each other it hadn\u2019t worked.\u00a0 Preston filled his shot glass with brandy and he sank down into his chair.\u00a0 On that last day of his son\u2019s life, Franklin had decided it was time to go up against Joe Cartwright using a gun and not his fists.\u00a0 As soon as he had spotted the youngest Cartwright son coming out of the Silver Dollar Saloon, Franklin had decided to shoot him from behind.\u00a0 Joe wouldn\u2019t have stood a chance if it hadn\u2019t been for the fact that his brother Adam had seen what was coming first.\u00a0 After stopping long enough to pay their bar tab, Adam swung the doors to the saloon open and had caught the sight of young Hilliard drawing down on Little Joe.\u00a0 He shoved his brother out of the way and fired at the same time.\u00a0 Franklin had fallen to the dirt stone cold dead.\u00a0 The judge had ruled that the shooting had been done in self-defense, but to Preston Hilliard it was an out and out murder.<\/span><\/p>\n Preston cussed under his breath and set the picture of Franklin back onto his desk.\u00a0 Five years.\u00a0 Five years of mourning his only son.\u00a0 Now, at last there would be justice.\u00a0 It was the justice of a father\u2019s vengeance, and with it, was his desire to see Adam Cartwright bleed.\u00a0 He also wanted to watch Ben Cartwright mourn for his youngest son.\u00a0 No, he didn\u2019t intend on killing either of the other man\u2019s sons, but he would see that they would both be injured.\u00a0 And, Joseph Cartwright would pay in the worse possible way, thereby also causing pain to his father.\u00a0 The Bible said an eye for an eye, and Preston reasoned that he could come pretty close to that, but without ending up in jail due to his actions.\u00a0 There would be Hell to pay, and this would be the day that the payment was made.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI just seen old man Cartwright and Adam in town,\u201d The voice from the next room rang out, as another man entered the house.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t think it will be too long before they get here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Preston looked up to see J.T. Bridger standing across from his desk staring at him. \u00a0 J.T. was a known gunslinger and one of the fastest shots in all of Nevada.\u00a0 He had been hired by Preston to aid in his vengeance.\u00a0 Mr. Hilliard smiled at the other man and nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYou got the kid ready?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYep, and I betcha he\u2019ll have one heck of a headache when he comes around,\u201d J.T. answered.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cGood.\u00a0 I\u2019ll bring him to the front door for old Ben to see one last time just as soon as you make quick work of Adam.\u00a0 Now, remember, I want him hit good but don\u2019t kill him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n J.T. pulled out his six-shooter and gave it a fanciful spin before holstering it again.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m getting paid for.\u00a0 I\u2019ll just put a good hole in him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Preston smiled as he stood and patted the other man\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s what I asked for. \u00a0 I know you can do it.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s quick, but I know you\u2019re a lot quicker and more accurate too!\u00a0 Now did you get rid of the pinto?\u00a0 I don\u2019t want them to see any sign of how we got the kid here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I got it back to the Ponderosa.\u00a0 The kid was out looking for strays and no-one was around to see me get him here.\u00a0 I tucked his gun, holster and coat inside his saddlebags just to be safe and\u00a0 I\u2019ve made sure all of my tracks were covered too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Preston laughed and replied, \u201cWell, old Ben will be looking for a stray of his own soon but he won\u2019t find him!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe men will be here just as soon as we see Ben pack Adam to Virginia City to get doctored.\u00a0 It might have taken you five years, but I know this will be worth it to you.\u00a0 Ben won\u2019t know what hit him when this is all done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re right.\u00a0 Now, let\u2019s you and me get everything ready,\u201d Preston returned, and the two men walked into the next room.\u00a0 Their guests would be arriving soon and water rights would be the very last thing they would be discussing this visit.<\/span><\/p>\n **************<\/p>\n \u201cPa, wonder why Hilliard suddenly decided to let you purchase the water rights?\u201d Adam asked, as he rode next to his father.<\/span><\/p>\n Ben shrugged his shoulders as he cast a look over at his eldest son.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t exactly know, Son.\u00a0 But, I spoke to him last week and he told me that he no longer wanted to spend his time thinking about old wounds.\u00a0 He said he wanted peace between both of our families and he figured this would make a good start in that direction.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Adam shook his head, unconvinced about the man\u2019s true intentions.\u00a0 He stared over at his pa and replied, \u201cI\u2019m still not all that certain, Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou know you don\u2019t have to go over there with me.\u00a0 I believe I\u2019m old enough to handle myself, you know?\u201d\u00a0 Ben chuckled.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir, I know,\u201d Adam grinned.\u00a0 \u201cBut, with Hoss up at the timber camp, and my baby brother out rounding up strays, it gives me a reason to just take it easy.\u00a0 Besides, you bought me such a grand lunch at the international House it\u2019s the least I can do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell, we are just about there now.\u00a0 And, it shouldn\u2019t take too long, so maybe you could manage to go help Joe after we\u2019re done?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Adam laughed, \u201cSlave driver!\u00a0 Maybe the kid will have all the strays rounded up before we get home and I\u2019ll catch a break for a change?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI rather doubt Joseph will work <\/span>THAT <\/b>diligently!\u201d Ben smiled.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sure he will have saved some strays for you!\u00a0 And, I\u2019ve been meaning to talk to you about calling Joe the \u201ckid\u201d.\u00a0 The boy just turned twenty-three, so maybe you should find a new nickname for him?\u00a0 He\u2019s not quite a little boy you know, and he gets irritated when you call him that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHoss still calls him short shanks, Pa,\u201d Adam argued.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell, compared to Hoss I guess he does have short shanks,\u201d Ben laughed.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cCompared to Hoss we <\/span>all<\/b> have short shanks!\u00a0 But, okay, Pa, I\u2019ll try to think of something a little better than calling Joe the kid.\u00a0 Maybe I\u2019ll just call him lazy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Ben shook his head and sighed, \u201cOkay you can keep calling Joseph kid.\u00a0 It was just a thought.\u00a0 I doubt you changing his nickname to lazy will go over very well.\u00a0 Let\u2019s get moving. \u00a0 We said two o\u2019clock and it\u2019s almost that now!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The two Cartwrights nudged both horses, sending them into a gallop as they grew closer to the Hilliard ranch.<\/span><\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n Adam and Ben dismounted as they passed through the wooden gate that led to the Hilliard homestead.\u00a0 They spied Preston standing next to a wagon, working on setting a wheel back on its axle.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019s those hands of yours, Preston?\u00a0 Shouldn\u2019t they be here doing all of the hard work?\u201d Ben called out, trying to sound congenial. \u00a0 He ambled over to the man while Adam had chosen to stay by the two horses.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBen, I did a danged fool thing and gave them the day off,\u201d Preston fought to smile and reached out to shake the other man\u2019s hand.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHere, let me help you,\u201d Ben offered as he moved closer to the wagon wheel, after shaking Preston\u2019s outstretched hand.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSure appreciate it, Ben.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got those papers in the house all ready for you, but I was hoping to get this wheel set on before getting to that.\u00a0 Just get ready while I pull down on this plank and it won\u2019t take more than a minute.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHey, Cartwright!\u201d came a shout from the covered front porch.<\/span><\/p>\n Adam turned his head in time to see the gunman heading down the porch steps.\u00a0 He recognized him to be J.T. Bridger.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing here, Bridger?\u00a0 I figured you would be in town trying to plant someone up in boot hill?\u201d Adam replied and watched the other man carefully.<\/span><\/p>\n Ben and Preston turned towards the sound of both Adam and J.T.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPreston, what\u2019s that gunslinger doing here?\u201d Ben asked warily, as he stopped readying to push the wagon wheel into place.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve no idea,\u201d Preston responded.\u00a0 He waved over towards J.T. and called out, \u201cI thought I told you not to hang around here anymore?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOh, I ain\u2019t staying long,\u201d J.T. replied, and moved a bit closer to Adam.\u00a0 He held his right hand down at his holster.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBen, I\u2019m going to go get my shotgun.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be right back,\u201d Preston announced and hurried into his house.<\/span><\/p>\n Adam watched as the fingers on J.T.\u2019s right hand spread out.\u00a0 He knew it was a \u201ctell\u201d, and that meant he was getting ready to reach for his weapon.\u00a0 Adam, in turn, reached for his own Colt.<\/span><\/p>\n Ben was frozen in that one moment, caught totally unawares as he watched helplessly as Adam and J.T. drew on each other.\u00a0 Two shots rang out loudly and Adam fell to the ground.\u00a0 Ben had drawn his own Colt but before he could seek revenge on the gunman his name was shouted at by Preston.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHolster that gun, Ben.\u00a0 You go get Adam on into town to the doctor\u2019s.\u00a0 And, you ain\u2019t got any other move than that!\u201d Preston shouted.<\/span><\/p>\n J.T. joined Preston up by the front door and they watched as Ben bent down to check on his son\u2019s wound.\u00a0 Adam had been shot in the side and there was a good deal of blood flowing out from the tear in his black shirt.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis was all planned, Preston!\u201d Ben shouted, enraged by the other man\u2019s betrayal.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll be bringing back the sheriff with me once I get my son fixed up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Preston laughed and responded loudly, \u201cIt was a fair fight, your boy and J.T. both drew on each other, and you seen it!\u00a0 Now, go get out of here!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cCome on, Boy,\u201d Ben muttered as he helped Adam up onto his saddle.\u00a0 Adam slumped forward, trying his best to stay up on Sport as his father grabbed his reins to lead the horse into town.<\/span><\/p>\n Just as Ben Cartwright began to go under the Hilliard Ranch sign, there above the entrance, Preston shouted for him to turn around.<\/span><\/p>\n Ben caught sight of his youngest son laying there in the doorway to the house.\u00a0 The boy was apparently unconscious and J.T. had him lifted up by the front of his shirt.\u00a0 Ben noticed the Colt revolver the gunman had pointed at Joe\u2019s forehead.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIf you don\u2019t get moving I\u2019m going to let J.T. kill your boy.\u00a0 You know, kind of like Adam there killed my boy, Ben?\u00a0 I\u2019d get moving if I were you.\u00a0 I\u2019ll give you exactly thirty seconds!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIf you hurt my son, I will tear you into pieces and then I will kill you!\u201d Ben threatened loudly.\u00a0 His heart was firmly lodged in his throat with fear over what might happen to the boy once he left.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou go and get Adam tended and I swear I won\u2019t kill Joe, and I won\u2019t let J.T. kill him either.\u00a0 I just want you to spend a few hours knowing what it feels like to lose a son, and then you can have the kid back.\u00a0 Now get out of here before I change my mind!\u201d Preston warned.<\/span><\/p>\n Ben reached across to Adam and tried to keep him from falling off his mount.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t do anything at that moment to help Joseph.\u00a0 Ben\u2019s eyes misted up just looking at his incapacitated youngest son.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll go.\u00a0 But, I\u2019ll be back!\u201d\u00a0 Ben shouted and turned his and Adam\u2019s horses towards Virginia City.<\/span><\/p>\n At the precise moment that Ben and Adam Cartwright turned their horses to ride away, Joe became conscious and witnessed their departure.\u00a0 He shook his head and tried to call out to them but they never heard his plea for help.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYour pa made his choice, Boy,\u201d Preston laughed and kicked Joe back down onto the threshold.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHere you go!\u201d J.T. yelled down to Joe as he dropped a cloth filled with ether over his mouth.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s time for you to go to sleep for a very long time!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Joe tried to fight the material that was now firmly placed over his mouth and nose.\u00a0 He tried to figure out exactly what was going on before falling into the black void again.\u00a0 All that Joe Cartwright would ever remember from that moment forward was how he had watched his pa and brother simply ride away leaving him in the hands of pure evil.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n **************<\/p>\n Before Ben Cartwright had made it into Virginia City with his injured and semi-conscious son, two men appeared at the Hilliard ranch.\u00a0 They were bid inside by Preston and J.T. Bridger.\u00a0 Taking a seat at the large dining table the plan was gone over several times.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe kid won\u2019t give you any trouble.\u00a0 We knocked him out good so you both have plenty of time to make it into Littleton.\u00a0 The cabin is secluded and it\u2019s been completely stocked with everything you need to hold up a good long while,\u201d Preston reiterated.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI hope you\u2019ve got us some whiskey,\u201d the older of the two brothers said with a grin.\u00a0 \u201cI mean if we have to stay put for such a long time at least we should have some creature comforts.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI saw to that,\u201d Preston nodded.\u00a0 He stared over at the portly man, the older of the two.\u00a0 He was rough looking, to say the least.\u00a0 Not only was he on the fat side, but he was short and balding.\u00a0 His name was Silas Dalton and his younger brother looked nothing like him.\u00a0 Thorn Dalton was in his early forties, whereas his brother was fifty.\u00a0 Thorn had a full head of hair and was tall and slim.\u00a0 But, they were both two of the lowest forms of scum that could be found in all of Nevada.\u00a0 Preston had helped get the two brothers out of some trouble with the Paiute Indians earlier the previous year.\u00a0 No-one else had suspected that the two men who were now going to tend to Joe Cartwright had been involved in a very heinous act that tied directly to the Chief of the tribe\u2019s immediate family.\u00a0 And, because he held the knowledge of all of that, Preston knew that he could trust both of the weasels who now sat at his table.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou gonna give us our money now?\u201d Thorn asked greedily.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHere\u2019s half,\u201d Preston nodded and handed over an envelope.\u00a0 \u201cYou will get the other half once I know you\u2019ve done your job well.\u00a0 I want that boy to stay alive.\u00a0 Don\u2019t kill him no matter how much you might want to.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Silas stood from the table and walked over to the fireplace where the sofa sat.\u00a0 He stared down at Joe Cartwright passed out there on the cushions.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s a pretty little kid, ain\u2019t he?\u201d Silas laughed.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s the same age that my son would be now,\u201d Preston called over to the man.\u00a0 \u201cI will be in touch about when and if we will let him go.\u00a0 But, I need you both to keep quiet and don\u2019t try to contact me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Thorn walked across the room to join his brother.\u00a0 \u201cI want the kid blindfolded.\u00a0 Just in case you decide we\u2019ve got to let him go eventually I don\u2019t want anyone who can identify me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a nice root cellar for him, he won\u2019t be able to see you unless you want him to,\u201d Preston replied and walked over and joined the two despicable brothers.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI got my own plans for him,\u201d Silas smiled and then grabbed the ropes he had brought inside of the house.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s get the kid\u2019s wrists and ankles tied then we\u2019ll haul him out.\u00a0 We\u2019ll be long gone before old man Cartwright comes back and brings the sheriff with him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cJ.T. — go on and help these two get Joe loaded in the wagon and on their way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Boss, good thing you had them bring their own buckboard so yours won\u2019t be missing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEverything has been thought of in advance.\u00a0 Now, don\u2019t forget you\u2019re going to wipe away the tracks of that wagon as they head out of here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cRight,\u201d J.T. answered, and then helped the two brothers outside and over to their wagon with the incapacitated young man.<\/span><\/p>\n Preston stood in the doorway content with the fact that years of planning had now become a reality.\u00a0 He knew Sheriff Roy Coffee would be paying him a visit soon, perhaps with Ben there at his side.\u00a0 It wouldn\u2019t matter.\u00a0 Adam had been shot in a fair fight, as they had deemed his son\u2019s death to be.\u00a0 And, as for Joe Cartwright, well, he would swear he had never seen the boy and had no idea why Ben would suggest he had.\u00a0 Preston smiled, revenge was indeed sweet.<\/span><\/p>\n *************<\/p>\n Ben Cartwright leaned forward in one of the hard wooden chairs there in the waiting room of Doctor Paul Martin\u2019s office.\u00a0 The fingers of both of his hands were braided together as he fought his worry.\u00a0 With a bowed head resting there over his two clasped hands Ben waited for word from the doctor concerning his eldest son.\u00a0 It had been a grueling trip into Virginia City from the Hilliard ranch.\u00a0 Not only had he fought to keep Adam up in the saddle, but he also fought his desire to turn both horses back and rescue Joseph from the clutches of Preston and Bridger.\u00a0 Ben knew he hadn\u2019t had a choice in the matter.\u00a0 Adam had to be brought into town to have his gunshot doctored.\u00a0 His father had stopped two times on the way in to Virginia City just to try and ebb the flow of the young man\u2019s blood coming from his injury.\u00a0 Ben had added the extra neckerchief from his saddlebags over the one he had worn around his neck to his son\u2019s wound.\u00a0 It hadn\u2019t helped all that much, but he knew it was the best he had with them at the time.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBen?\u201d Paul called as he reached for his friend\u2019s shoulder and set his hand there.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOh — sorry — I guess I didn\u2019t hear you,\u201d Ben apologized and stood up quickly.\u00a0 \u201cHow\u2019s Adam doing, Paul?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The doctor smiled as he tried to ease the other man\u2019s mind.\u00a0 He had been told by the anxious father what had happened, and Paul knew that Ben Cartwright carried a mountainous weight on his shoulders at the time.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s going to be fine.\u00a0 Glad you got him here so soon.\u00a0 He has lost a lot of blood, but it could\u2019ve been a lot worse.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAnd now — is he awake — can I see the boy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve sedated him, so he won\u2019t know you\u2019re here.\u00a0 I know you\u2019re anxious to see if Roy has gotten back from the Hilliard place yet.\u00a0 Why don\u2019t you go and see your son first, and then go down to the sheriff\u2019s office and check in?\u201d Paul offered.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cRoy said he would come here and talk to me, so guess I\u2019m good here for the time being.\u00a0 Oh, and I sent someone to fetch Hoss here,\u201d Ben answered, and then turned into the examination room with Doctor Martin.<\/span><\/p>\n Ben reached down and settled his right hand on Adam\u2019s arm and then looked up at the doctor.\u00a0 \u201cI know the bullet passed right through, but how bad is the injury?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Paul attempted a smile, though it lost its desired effect when he noticed the furrowed brow of the worried father.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s not all that bad considering, especially since he went up against Bridger.\u00a0 I\u2019ve not had many patients survive a gunfight with that ruffian.\u00a0 I\u2019m glad Adam beat the odds.\u00a0 You can take him home in the morning and then have him rest a week or so.\u00a0 He\u2019s got quite a few stitches right now, but I can get them out in about ten days.\u00a0 You know the drill by now, keep him in bed, have Hop Sing get some good food into him and as long as he doesn\u2019t develop a fever he should be just fine real soon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Paul, as always I don\u2019t know what we\u2019d do without you!\u00a0 I also thank God that Adam isn\u2019t hurt worse,\u201d Ben paused and closed his eyes suddenly.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t shake the vision of Joseph and how he had looked laying there inside the doorway with a gun pointed at his head.<\/span><\/p>\n Paul knew why his friend had stopped talking.\u00a0 Ben\u2019s life revolved around his three sons and they were all very dear to him.\u00a0 But, if he had a noticeable soft spot to his heart, it was there due to that youngest boy of his.\u00a0 Paul didn\u2019t blame the man for his weakness concerning Little Joe.\u00a0 He found that boy to be endearing as well, and he was just the boy\u2019s doctor.\u00a0 Joe Cartwright was aggravating, rambunctious, and definitely accident prone.\u00a0 However, once a person got to know the curly headed boy well, they could see through the image he tried his best to project.\u00a0 Joe wanted everyone to think of him as strong, arrogant and uncaring.\u00a0 But, the boy was quite the opposite.\u00a0 He had his share of weak moments, along with having a tender heart, which could be very easily damaged.\u00a0 And, anyone who really knew Joe was very well aware of the fact that the youngest of the Cartwrights drew his strength from his pa.\u00a0 Now, Joe didn\u2019t have his father around him, and Ben didn\u2019t have the boy he most often doted on.\u00a0 Paul prayed that Sheriff Coffee would find the boy safe and sound and return him to Ben and to all of those who loved the kid.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI know you\u2019re worried about Joe, Ben.\u00a0 Let\u2019s just hope for the best, okay?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Ben sighed and sat down alongside of his eldest son.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m trying, Paul — but leaving Joseph like that is tearing me up,\u201d he confessed.<\/span><\/p>\n The two men heard the bell above the office door ringing and they hurriedly left the back room.\u00a0 They saw Roy Coffee and his deputy Clem Foster standing there in the foyer and both men had frowns on their faces.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDid you get Joe?\u00a0 Is he okay?\u201d Ben sang out as he walked over to the two men.<\/span><\/p>\n Roy shook his head and his eyes met those of the worried father\u2019s.\u00a0 \u201cBen, we checked the whole place out and no sign of Little Joe.\u00a0 Preston said he doesn\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about.\u00a0 He swears Joe was never there and that he hasn\u2019t seen him in ages.\u00a0 He admitted that Bridger shot Adam, but he says it was a fair fight.\u00a0 Preston said both J.T. and Adam drew on each other.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt was a set up just like I told you, Roy!\u201d Ben protested loudly.\u00a0 \u201cPreston got me there to sign that agreement for water rights and he obviously planned for that gunslinger to be there when we showed up!\u00a0 I saw Joseph there in the doorway just like I told you.\u00a0 That killer was holding a gun to my son\u2019s head when Preston told me to leave to get Adam looked at.\u00a0 He said that he wouldn\u2019t shoot Joseph and he wouldn\u2019t let J.T. harm him either, just as long as I left right then.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Roy nodded and reached over for Ben\u2019s arm, trying to settle him down.\u00a0 \u201cBen, both Clem and I checked everywhere.\u00a0 We went through that house with a fine toothed comb along with the barn and all the out buildings.\u00a0 We even checked the danged outhouse!\u00a0 There ain\u2019t any sign of Little Joe ever being there.\u00a0 We also checked for tracks and there wasn\u2019t any besides your two horses, Preston\u2019s and that gunslinger\u2019s horse.\u00a0 Don\u2019t look like nobody else had been to the Hilliard ranch.\u00a0 I checked with his hired hands and they\u2019ve all been in town all day since early this morning.\u00a0 Preston said he gave them all the day off.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThen they\u2019ve taken Joseph off somewhere!\u00a0 He had plenty of time to do that between the time I left and the time you and Clem got out there,\u201d Ben continued to protest.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s Adam?\u201d Clem eagerly changed the subject.\u00a0 He could read the mounting hatred written all over Ben Cartwright\u2019s face and couldn\u2019t blame the man.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019ll be okay,\u201d Paul chimed in, trying to diffuse the angry father.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019ll sleep most of the night but he should get to go home tomorrow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell, at least J.T. didn\u2019t add another victim to his mounting list,\u201d Roy nodded.\u00a0 \u201cBen, I\u2019m not going to give up looking for Joe, you know that!\u00a0 Clem and me will go on out to where Joe was rounding up strays once Hoss gets here.\u00a0 That way he can show us the area and you can stay and take care of Adam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Ben felt as though the wind had been knocked out of him after taking in all the information that the lawman had provided.\u00a0 He sank back down into the chair he had vacated earlier and dropped his head down into his hands.\u00a0 \u201cOh, Joseph,\u201d he whispered, fighting his fears about what had happened to his youngest.\u00a0 \u201cWhere are you, Boy?\u201d he asked, this time to himself and not to anyone else in the waiting room.<\/span><\/p>\n ************<\/p>\n Joe Cartwright slept straight through the day and a half journey to the cabin just on the outskirts of the obscure town of Littleton.\u00a0 The strong ether had rendered the boy unconscious for all that time and it was only the fact that his body had been tossed up against a rough stone wall in the root cellar that brought him back around.\u00a0 Coming to with a splitting headache, Joe tried to figure out where he was and what had happened.\u00a0 He could feel the tightness of the ropes which bound his wrists and ankles.\u00a0 Joe struggled against his bonds, but to no avail.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHey!\u201d\u00a0 Joe shouted out into the darkness.\u00a0 \u201cWhat am I doing here?\u00a0 Who\u2019s out there?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The sound of laughter was the only reply to his questions. But, he tried again anyway.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on anyhow?\u00a0 What— are you too yellow to show your face?!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cShut up or we\u2019ll come down there and close that mouth for you!\u00a0 We\u2019ll talk to you when we\u2019re good and ready and not before.\u00a0 Trust me you don\u2019t want to see us right now!\u00a0 We\u2019ve got a lot of ways to keep that mouth of yours quiet and it won\u2019t be pleasant.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Joe continued to struggle with his ropes, deciding to wait on asking any more questions at least at the present time.\u00a0 He closed his eyes and tried to remember where he had been prior to waking in the dark cellar.\u00a0 Then the vision came back to him.\u00a0 Joe remembered seeing his father and brother riding away from him.\u00a0 He shook his head confused by that fact.\u00a0 Pa couldn\u2019t possibly have missed seeing him lying there.\u00a0 And, if he hadn\u2019t missed seeing that, why had Pa left anyway?\u00a0 Joe had a sinking feeling in his chest.\u00a0 The memory of what he had heard Preston Hilliard say reverberated in his troubled mind.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYour pa made his choice, Boy\u201d <\/span><\/i>Joe fought the feeling again. \u201cWhy, Pa?\u201d Joe whispered into the darkness.\u00a0 There was no answer.<\/span><\/p>\n **************<\/p>\n Ben Cartwright had seen to it that Adam was brought home and settled into his bedroom.\u00a0 After making sure that his son was resting peacefully he had turned his care over to the Chinese member of the family, Hop Sing.\u00a0 Hoss reported back in to his father that he had taken the sheriff and deputy to where his little brother had rounded up stray cows the previous day.\u00a0 There had been no sign of Joe anywhere, including out in that area.\u00a0 Ben had his middle boy tell Roy that he wanted to meet him and go out to the Hilliard ranch that afternoon.\u00a0 Hoss had delivered the message and, now, Ben readied his horse to make the trip.<\/span><\/p>\n Around two in the afternoon, exactly twenty-four hours since last being at the Hilliard ranch, Ben showed back up there with Roy Coffee at his side.\u00a0 Preston came out onto the porch when he heard the two horses enter through the front gate.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m surprised to see you again, Roy!\u201d Preston called as he stepped down from the porch.\u00a0 \u201cSo, did your kid finally come home, Ben?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou KNOW he hasn\u2019t!\u201d Ben yelled across the yard.\u00a0 \u201cNow, where have you taken Joseph?\u00a0 And, I want to know right now!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cLike I told Roy here, I haven\u2019t seen the brat and I\u2019ve no idea what you\u2019re talking about.\u00a0 He was never here,\u201d Preston answered.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPreston, if you know anything at all about Joe\u2019s whereabouts I\u2019d advise you to tell us now.\u00a0 It ain\u2019t gonna go down well with the judge if we find out you\u2019ve got him hid out somewhere,\u201d Roy addressed the man.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve said my peace, Roy.\u00a0 Now, if you\u2019ve got nothing else to talk to me about I\u2019ve got work to do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Ben dismounted and headed towards Preston, his fists clenched.\u00a0 Roy Coffee had to hurry over to him to stop what might turn into a real brawl.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBen!\u00a0 Ben, don\u2019t do nothing rash.\u00a0 We\u2019ll find the boy let\u2019s leave this to the law now.\u00a0 Beating Preston bloody isn\u2019t gonna solve anything!\u201d the sheriff urged, as he grabbed the angered father\u2019s arm to try and stop his move over to Preston.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d listen to him, Ben.\u00a0 Now get off of my property the both of you!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Ben bit back his ire and turned back to get Buck.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not through with you by a long shot, Preston.\u00a0 You\u2019d better pray that I find Joseph soon and unharmed or even the vultures won\u2019t want you!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cC\u2019mon, Ben,\u201d Roy called over and he mounted his horse.\u00a0 \u201cPreston, if you\u2019re lying to me I\u2019ll make sure they throw the book at you at your trial.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cGoodbye!\u201d Preston sang out, and turned back inside his house.<\/span><\/p>\n Ben and Roy exchanged woeful glances and headed back to the Ponderosa.\u00a0 A search was underway already and every single Ponderosa hired hand, aside from a few that needed to stay with the herd, were out looking for Joe. Ben prayed that he would be found, but he couldn\u2019t help the feeling of hopelessness creeping up from his gut.<\/span><\/p>\n **************<\/p>\n While Adam convalesced over the next week trying to heal from his gunshot wound, both Ben and Hoss spent every waking moment trying to search for the missing boy.\u00a0 Cochise had been found safely grazing on meadow grass only a mile from the ranch house the same day his master had disappeared.\u00a0 There wasn\u2019t anything missing from Joe\u2019s gear.\u00a0 They had recovered the boy\u2019s gun, holster and jacket from inside his saddlebags.\u00a0 It seemed like yet another dead end in the search.\u00a0 Tired, worried and distracted both men made it back home late and checked to see if there had been any answers to the many telegraphs that had been sent.\u00a0 There wasn\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n Hop Sing had tried his best over that first week to tend to Adam\u2019s injury and keep the house running smoothly.\u00a0 He had prepared meals, cleaned the house, and offered an ear and a shoulder to his employer.\u00a0 The cook could tell how the absence of one of the hearts of the Ponderosa was affecting all three of the others.\u00a0 He wished there was something he could do.\u00a0 Hop Sing had even gone to the members of the local Tong to see if they could arrange to have the mines inspected, just in case Joe had been taken into one and held.\u00a0 The large Chinese shifts of workers had passed the word along, but there had been no sign of Little Joe in the whole Comstock.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis should work,\u201d Adam nodded and walked across the room slowly to his father\u2019s desk where both his pa and Hoss were sitting.\u00a0 He handed Ben a rough drawn sketch of his baby brother.<\/span><\/p>\n Ben sighed and stared hard at the likeness of Joseph on the piece of paper.\u00a0 There was also a detailed description of the boy, along with his height, weight, and age.\u00a0 It listed the date of his disappearance as well as a reward of five thousand dollars for information leading to his safe return.\u00a0 Ben nodded and passed it over to Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nA New Light<\/a>
\nChiaroscuro<\/a>
\nThe Sound of Surviving<\/a><\/p>\n
\n