Summary:\u00a0 Little Joe is emotionally caught between dark and light when Trenton’s brother Preston devises a plot to capture him by using Pa as bait.\u00a0 Will he break under the trauma of another captivity? Part three of the Stay in the Darkness series, links to stories provided within.
\nRating T, WC 42,240<\/p>\n
Stay in the Darkness Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n Stay in the Darkness<\/a> \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Chiaroscuro<\/strong><\/p>\n ***Out of the night that covers me, black as the pit from pole to pole. I thank whatever gods may be, for my unconquerable soul.\u00a0 In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud.\u00a0 Under the bludgeonings of chance, my head is bloody but unbowed.\u00a0 Beyond this place of wrath and tears, looms but the horror of the shade. <\/strong>\u00a0And yet the menace of the years finds, and shall find me, unafraid.\u00a0 It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll.\u00a0 I am the master of my fate I am the captain of my soul.\u00a0 (Poem, \u201cInvictus\u201d by William Ernest Henley)***<\/p>\n Joe Cartwright sat in the saloon with his right boot leisurely pressed against the edge of the table and his chair tilted back.\u00a0 He sipped at his beer as he watched a heated poker game at the table next to him.\u00a0 He had already partaken in a few hands of five card draw and had lost twenty dollars before deciding it just wasn\u2019t his day.\u00a0 But, then again, it hadn\u2019t been his year either.\u00a0 At twenty-three years old he had lived more than most men of sixty and sometimes it showed on his face.\u00a0 He had needed a break from the Ponderosa ranch and his normal way of living.\u00a0 Though he loved his home and his family, he had asked for and was given a month off.\u00a0 And so, with extra money in his pocket and enough provisions to get him by, Joe had taken off alone.\u00a0 Knowing that his father, who was on the over-protective side, would worry, Joe had sent him word from Stockton which was his current location.<\/p>\n Joe looked different than he had back in Virginia City.\u00a0 There he had been clean cut and well- dressed unlike the way he looked now.\u00a0 Joe gave the appearance of a saddle tramp wearing old well-worn clothes that he had gotten off of the second hand shelf at the local mercantile.\u00a0 When he had registered at the hotel he had given a phony name, one which he had made up long before signing the registry book.\u00a0 It had amused him so much to see the look that the desk clerk had given him when the man had asked if he had any luggage.\u00a0 Joe had simply smiled and pointed to the well-worn saddlebags that were perched on his shoulder.\u00a0 Of course the man had asked Joe for money in advance and he had given it to him.\u00a0 Joe knew he needed a good bath to wash the trail dust off of his rather grimy body and that was the one amenity that he took advantage of that first night in Stockton.\u00a0 However Joe did not shave the stubble of beard nor rid himself of the slight appearance of a mustache which was taking its time to grow there under his nose.<\/p>\n Joe signaled the bartender over with another beer and handed the man a silver dollar which included his tip.\u00a0 He swirled the pale yellow liquid around in the mug and his thoughts took him back to the terrible year that he had gone through.\u00a0 He figured at least five of the last twelve months were akin to falling down a well and trying to grab an elusive rope that was well out of reach.\u00a0 Joe needed to remember just enough of what he had gone through in order to make sure that nothing could ever harm him again.\u00a0 He figured that was why Pa hadn\u2019t protested too much when he had asked him for permission to take the lengthy vacation, though he knew the man would worry about him every single day.\u00a0 Joe remembered telling his father that if harm was to befall him that it would get him anywhere, including right there at the ranch.\u00a0 That had proven to be a fact so many times in the past that Pa couldn\u2019t argue the point.<\/p>\n \u201cLast call for drinks Gents!\u201d The bartender shouted and pointed up at the clock just behind the bar.\u00a0 It was almost closing time so Joe reached across the table to grab his moth-eaten jacket to take with him back to the hotel.\u00a0 He heard someone at the next table cuss about not ever getting the right cards and that made Joe laugh.\u00a0 ***Don\u2019t sit down at poker and think you\u2019re going to win, especially with that dealer.\u00a0 He\u2019s holding aces up his sleeve!<\/em> *** Joe thought to himself and walked out of the bar.<\/p>\n The hotel wasn\u2019t as elegant as the International House back in Virginia City but it was better than sleeping on the ground like Joe knew he\u2019d be doing very soon.\u00a0 The month had gone quickly and he\u2019d need to be back on the trail the following day.\u00a0 Joe pulled the room key out of his pants pocket and opened the door.\u00a0 He caught sight of his face as he passed by the mirror on the bureau sitting there just to the side of the bed.\u00a0 Joe leaned towards his reflection and smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat a sight!\u00a0 Pa will have a pure fit when he sees me,\u201d Joe spoke aloud and laughed when he thought of how everyone would wonder just what in the heck he was thinking going around looking like a bum.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not shaving \u2013 well at least not until I give Pa a good shock.\u00a0 And my hair!\u00a0 It\u2019s probably grown two inches and I can just imagine what I\u2019ll hear about that.\u00a0 Will Pa say his usual line about me looking like a cheap riverboat gambler?\u00a0 It ought to be absolutely priceless when I come home looking like this!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe rinsed his face off at the water basin and decided that he\u2019d better turn in so he could go to the livery first thing in the morning to get the chestnut mare he\u2019d been riding and hit the trail for home.\u00a0 Settling down on the lumpy mattress Joe closed his eyes and thought of the Ponderosa.\u00a0 He missed his brothers and their constant ribbing and he missed his Pa\u2019s over reaction to the things that he did.\u00a0 He just plain missed being home, though it had taken the time away to appreciate what he had waiting there.\u00a0 Joe had taken the time to sort through a lot of the issues he had been dealing with and he had finally decided that twenty three years of various forms of trauma had been more than enough.\u00a0 Joe was resolved that he would soon be planting his two feet firmly back there at the Ponderosa, and from that point on he would be going on the offensive.\u00a0 It was about time.\u00a0 Joe had thought everything out in advance long before he had asked for the time off.\u00a0 He knew his father well and had his rebuttals ready for any objections which Pa might throw his way.\u00a0 His father had hedged a bit, and Joe read the worry in the man\u2019s dark brown eyes as he had fought to find a reason why it wasn\u2019t a good time for the boy to leave for an extended period of time.\u00a0 Pa had a right to feel a bit hesitant, or so Joe had presumed.\u00a0 With all that had gone on that year everyone had been a bit on edge upon learning about Joe\u2019s desire to go away by himself.\u00a0 But, Ben had relented because he had to admit to himself that Joseph needed to get away from all of the hurtful memories which had plagued him for six straight months.\u00a0 The family had wondered why Joe had insisted on heading out on the older and far less sporty chestnut mare and not taking his favorite horse Cochise.\u00a0 There had been something that had nagged at them all, when Joe had also tried to sneak the right handed holster out from inside the credenza there at the front door.\u00a0 He had been caught red handed, and Joe had given some lame excuse about wanting to keep in practice with his right hand.\u00a0 He had gotten quite good at firing a Colt with either hand.\u00a0 Three years earlier, after sustaining an injury to his dominant left arm which had forced him to go right handed for a few months, Joe had mastered shooting straight and accurate with either hand.\u00a0 And so it was a month ago, when he had waved goodbye to his family there at the front hitching post, that Joe sported a right handed holster encircling his waist.\u00a0 The three remaining Cartwrights had exchanged perplexed glances directed over at the departing young man.\u00a0 Joe hadn\u2019t missed the apprehensive looks that they had shot his way as he mounted the chestnut mare and rode away from hearth and home on his journey to leave all that was Joseph Cartwright behind.\u00a0 He had resolved to render his former self a distant memory and become more or less a young man who could simply blend in with all of the other cowboys there in the West.\u00a0 Joe needed to put away the good looking youngest son of Ben Cartwright and take on the benign appearance of a saddle tramp.\u00a0 He decided that being a wandering vagabond would have its advantages.\u00a0 And, not looking like he could possibly be a Cartwright would assist him in things like not being captured just because of someone\u2019s old grudge nor falling victim to ransom schemes to elicit Ben Cartwright\u2019s money.\u00a0 \u00a0Joe had more than enough of both situations and he was through with them.\u00a0 In all of his travels in the month that he had been gone there hadn\u2019t been one person who had recognized him, and that had left him both happy and feeling relaxed.\u00a0 Being anonymous had its perks and Joe Cartwright had enjoyed them all.<\/p>\n ************************************<\/p>\n Ben Cartwright watched from the front porch as his two sons had fought with the wagon loaded down with numerous bales of hay.\u00a0 They had rigged the pulley system to assist in the chore of lifting the heavy bales so that they could more easily get them up and into the hayloft above.\u00a0 Usually it would be Joseph\u2019s job to climb the ladder to the loft and then reach outward and pull each bale over as his brother Hoss used his massive arms to get them up to the boy.\u00a0 Now it was his eldest who stood there inside the barn and shouted down to his brother Hoss to put more elbow grease to the rope so that he could get done with the job.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter, Boys?\u00a0 Are you missing your little brother?\u201d Pa asked smiling as he moved over to his two sons.<\/p>\n Hoss turned towards his father and accidently let the rope go which almost sent Adam flying down to the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cCut it out you nit wit!\u201d Adam yelled.<\/p>\n \u201cOh \u2013 sorry about that, Brother,\u201d Hoss called over to Adam.\u00a0 He grabbed the rope again and sent the last bale over towards the loft.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen is that little varmint coming home, Pa?\u201d Hoss asked as he watched his brother swing the last of the hay inside of the barn.<\/p>\n \u201cWell I gave him a month, so I\u2019d imagine he should be falling in here in a day or two.\u00a0 I got that wire from over in Stockton three days ago and Joseph said he was heading home,\u201d Ben nodded over to his middle boy.<\/p>\n Adam came down from the loft and walked over to his father.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve got some very angry broncs just waiting on the kid,\u201d He said and put his hand on Pa\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I hope he\u2019s well rested because we\u2019ve got all kinds of things to keep him out of trouble,\u201d Hoss joined in and moved over to his father and brother.<\/p>\n \u201cLet him get home and rest up for a day before you boys go piling things up on him,\u201d Ben insisted.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s had plenty of time to rest, Pa.\u00a0 And speaking of rest, how about giving Hoss and me the rest of the day off?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPut that wagon up and then go do whatever you want to,\u201d Pa announced.<\/p>\n Hoss smiled over at his brother and said, \u201cPa sure is more easy going when Joe ain\u2019t around — have you noticed that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah — and he doesn\u2019t seem as stressed as he usually is either,\u201d Adam joined in.<\/p>\n Ben cleared his throat to garner the full attention of both sons and replied with a stern inflection in his tone, \u201cPerhaps if you boys wouldn\u2019t tease Joseph as much as you do he\u2019d help you both more and then I wouldn\u2019t be as stressed as you say I am.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh uh, we made him mad now, Adam,\u201d Hoss cautioned and then grinned over at Pa.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we didn\u2019t tease Joe he\u2019d think we didn\u2019t like him, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell then you two must like him a lot because you sure do rib that boy.\u00a0 Maybe you just like to get a reaction from Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh Pa, that\u2019s what brothers are for.\u00a0 And believe me Little Joe can hold his own in the teasing department.\u00a0 There\u2019s not one day that he doesn\u2019t rib me about my fine figure.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben patted his son\u2019s very rotund stomach and smiled, \u201cI don\u2019t know why he\u2019d do that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cC\u2019mon Hoss, let\u2019s get this wagon put up and I\u2019ll buy you a beer in town,\u201d Adam called over to his brother.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll see you both later I guess since I\u2019m heading into town in just a little while too,\u201d Ben announced and then turned back for the ranch house.<\/p>\n ***********************************<\/p>\n While his two sons enjoyed themselves downing a few beers at the Silver Dollar Saloon later that afternoon, Ben Cartwright sat with the manager of the Virginia City Branch Bank.\u00a0 He had gone over the bid he was going to submit to the Pacific Railroad for hundreds of yards of lumber necessary for the railroad ties they needed to complete the westward tracks.\u00a0 The manager, Carl Andrews had advised Ben that there were several ranches adjacent to the Ponderosa who were also submitting their own bids for the lucrative contract.\u00a0 But Ben Cartwright was a stubborn man who had more than his share of business acumen and was sure that he had proffered the best offer and was confident that when the representative arrived in a few days to speak to the group of ranchers, that he would win out.\u00a0 Ben had the capital needed to secure the loggers and the freight wagons that it would take in order to get the lumber to the railroad line.\u00a0\u00a0 Finally Mister Andrews succumbed to the other man\u2019s insistence that the contract would go to the Ponderosa and had assured Ben that if he was to run short on funds that his bank would be of assistance in providing any additional money that would be needed.\u00a0 So with a handshake the two men had settled the issue and Ben had left to meet up with his two sons.<\/p>\n \u201cThis one\u2019s on Hoss,\u201d Adam smiled and handed his Pa over a mug of beer.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Son,\u201d Ben nodded towards his middle boy.<\/p>\n Hoss frowned and handed another silver dollar to the bartender.\u00a0 \u201cAdam sure likes to decide how I spend my money!\u201d Hoss exclaimed.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, is everything on track there with the bank, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Adam, it\u2019s all settled.\u00a0 Now we just wait for the representative of the Pacific Railroad to get to town and look over the bids.<\/p>\n \u201cWell how many others do you think will be placing their bids, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss asked as he reached for his beer and took another good swig.<\/p>\n Ben shrugged his shoulders and replied, \u201cNot sure, Hoss, but it\u2019s a very lucrative contract for whoever gets it so I\u2019d imagine there\u2019s quite a few ranches around who will be vying for it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut none of them can provide the amount of timber that we\u2019ve got!\u201d Adam insisted and patted his father\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cWell \u2013 you\u2019re right there, Adam.\u00a0 I doubt there\u2019s a ranch around that can beat the price I\u2019m going to quote them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow about the Rocker B Ranch, Pa?\u00a0 I know old Luke Billings thinks he\u2019s got it in the bag, from what I heard from some of his trail hands a few days ago,\u201d Hoss asked as he turned to face his father once more.<\/p>\n Ben smiled and shook his head over the concern being displayed on his middle boy\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cWell, we will just see about that.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got to head on back home.\u00a0 You boys have a good time,\u201d Ben paused and placed the satchel which contained all of the information about the bid for the railroad underneath his arm.\u00a0 Grinning over at his two sons he stated sternly, \u201cYou boys stay out of trouble and remember dinner is at seven sharp!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss laughed over their father\u2019s statement.\u00a0 They knew that they were the least likely to get into any rowdy situation there in town.\u00a0 No, that was usually left to the quick tempered youngest member of the family who had yet to return.\u00a0 Joe was the one who was more apt to reduce the Silver Dollar Saloon into rubble, or at least that had been the way he\u2019d been in the past.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I ain\u2019t about to be late for supper, Pa!\u201d Hoss nodded over to his father and laughed<\/p>\n \u201cAnd we\u2019re not about to get into any trouble either, Pa.\u00a0 See you at home!\u201d Adam sang out as he watched their father head out through the swinging doors of the saloon.<\/p>\n ***********************************<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m about half starved!\u201d Hoss sang out as he and Adam walked inside the ranch house just before seven o\u2019clock that night.<\/p>\n Adam unstrapped his holster and removed his hat at the credenza and called to his brother, \u201cYou are always starving!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a growing boy,\u201d Hoss quipped and patted his stomach.<\/p>\n The two men headed to the dining table and were surprised that their father wasn\u2019t already seated there.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019s Pa?\u201d Hoss asked as Hop Sing walked out from the kitchen.<\/p>\n \u201cMister Cartlight not come home,\u201d The cook announced and there was displeasure all over his face.<\/p>\n Hoss cast a concerned glance over at his brother.\u00a0 \u201cPa should\u2019ve been home hours ago.\u00a0 He never said anything about going anywhere else, did he?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam frowned and shook his head, \u201cNo, as far as I know he was coming right back here.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss turned back out of the dining room and sang out, \u201cHop Sing hold my dinner \u2013 I\u2019ve got to go check on Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSave mine too!\u201d Adam joined his brother at the credenza.\u00a0 There might be as simple reason for his father\u2019s delay in coming home, however they both had to make sure.\u00a0 They would both head back towards town to retrace their father\u2019s tracks in order to ease their minds.<\/p>\n ************************************<\/p>\n Stifling a groan, Ben Cartwright gradually pulled himself to a seated position on the hard wood floor.\u00a0 He attempted to rub at the back of his head where it was now throbbing, but he found that his wrists were bound together there in front of him. \u00a0Dazed but still fighting to assess the situation, Ben fought to remember what had happened right before everything had faded to black.\u00a0 He thought on the fact that he had spent a little while with his two oldest boys at the Silver Dollar and then had mounted Buck and turned down the trail back to the Ponderosa Ranch.\u00a0 Blinking his eyes to try to clear his vision his thoughts raced.\u00a0 Now he remembered that there was a man in the road just off to the right side and he appeared to be struggling to change a wheel on his wagon.\u00a0 Ben had only seen the man from behind and as he dismounted to give the man assistance he\u2019d felt the crack of a gun butt at the back of his head. \u00a0He had fallen down like a sack of bricks and that was when the lights had definitely gone out.<\/p>\n Ben drew himself to his feet after noticing that though his wrists were bound his ankles were not.\u00a0 The room was dark with only a small amount of receding light coming from an interior window.\u00a0 Ben reached up and pounded on it, hoping that someone would pull back the curtain he had spotted on the other side.\u00a0 After a couple of minutes the curtain inched up just a bit and Ben only saw a pair of dark eyes looking back at him.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t make out any facial features, just the cold brown eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cWho are you and what do you want?!\u201d Ben demanded, never stopping the pounding of his fists on the wall that separated him from his captor.<\/p>\n \u201cJust sit down, Cartwright, we\u2019ll tell you what you want to know when it\u2019s time and not before.\u00a0 Now here —- go eat your supper!\u201d The anonymous voice announced loudly.<\/p>\n Ben looked down to the bottom of the one door to the room and watched as a very small opening appeared and soon a metal plate was slid there inside of the room.\u00a0 Ben knelt down and inspected the contents.\u00a0 There were beans and a piece of bread and a small tin cup which held some water.\u00a0 He shook his head angrily and drew up the meal and sat back down.\u00a0 Ben began to eat what he could, with the help of the spoon which had been provided.\u00a0 He wondered how long he had been out of it and if his sons had picked up Buck\u2019s tracks yet.\u00a0 Ben hoped they\u2019d be careful and not fall victim to the same fate.<\/p>\n Staring at the meager meal Ben couldn\u2019t help think about his youngest son.\u00a0 Joseph had been in a similar situation earlier in the year, with several exceptions.\u00a0 Joe hadn\u2019t been gifted a spoon by his captors, and rather, had to eat with only the use of his fingers.\u00a0 Then there was the cup of water.\u00a0 Ben pulled it to his lips and sipped it slowly, willing the nausea from his head wound away.\u00a0 Joe hadn\u2019t been given a cup for his water, but only a bowl which had been plastered to the floor of the cellar.\u00a0 That had forced his son to have to lean over and drink as Joe had described it, like an animal.\u00a0 Ben had to shake himself from the thoughts of the two abductions.\u00a0 He was sure that they were entirely different situations and their motives not at all alike.\u00a0 Joe had been taken by two maniacs with little motive other than for the money they had been paid to hold the kid for three months.\u00a0 Ben had the suspicion that his captivity might have been due somehow to the bid for the railroad contract.\u00a0 He knew that whoever was in the next room now also held his satchel which had all of the facts and figures contained inside of it.\u00a0 Eating only a little of the food that he\u2019d been given, Ben leaned against the wall and waited.\u00a0 He hoped that his sons would be there soon if they could find the place; wherever he was.<\/p>\n ************************************<\/p>\n Making it just as far as the western-most boundary of the Ponderosa, Joe had decided to simply make camp and then continue back to the ranch house the following day.\u00a0 Instead of the usual three day ride home from Stockton it had taken four due to a rather nasty storm which had come down like a gully washer, and it had forced him to seek shelter.\u00a0 Joe knew he\u2019d been expected home early that day, and due to the delay, he hoped that he wasn\u2019t going to cause his father any added worry.\u00a0 Pa had gone through enough strife over the last six months and he knew that the man could use a break from all of the stress which had been caused by Joe\u2019s ordeal earlier that year.<\/p>\n The campfire brightened what had been a very dark night.\u00a0 There was no moon in sight and there was a cloud bank threatening above which might end up causing another downpour.\u00a0 Joe pulled his slicker out from behind his horse\u2019s saddle and then bedded the mare down for the night.\u00a0 He untied his bedroll, spreading it out right next to the warmth of the blazing fire.\u00a0 Joe set the coffee pot just above the flames and was anxious for it to be ready to drink.\u00a0\u00a0 Too tired to open the can of beans, nor desiring to prepare the salted pork from his saddlebags, instead, Joe munched on some hardtack and jerky as he waited for the coffee to simmer.<\/p>\n The sound of the cocking of a rifle sent Joe\u2019s adrenalin into full panic mode and he reached behind him for his Colt revolver.\u00a0 He was too late and looked up to see a man standing right in front of the campfire holding a double barrel shotgun directed at him.<\/p>\n \u201cMister, I don\u2019t know what you\u2019re doing on the Ponderosa but I suggest you douse that fire right now!\u201d The man insisted, never taking his eyes off of the saddle tramp sitting down on the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cOh — this is the Ponderosa is it?\u201d Joe feigned ignorance, and played along for the time being.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right and less than a half of a mile from here we\u2019ve got a herd of cattle we don\u2019t need anyone to spook.\u00a0 So if I was you I\u2019d go put that fire out right now,\u201d The man warned, never taking his eyes off of Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d heard that Ben Cartwright was a kind soul who welcomed folks who are down on their luck,\u201d Joe continued to make conversation.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got my orders, now get moving.\u00a0 I ain\u2019t playing around, Boy!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe grinned and stood up so that he now faced the other man head on.\u00a0 \u201cDamn Fletcher, you about scared me out of a year\u2019s growth!\u201d Joe grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019d you know my name?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe warily eased a bit closer to the flames from the campfire and hoped the other man could get a good look into his face, even though he was dirty and unshaven.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe?\u201d Fletcher whispered and attempted to get a closer look at the boy.\u00a0 \u201cIs that really you?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe laughed and that surely gave away his identity as no-one in all of Nevada had the quirky kind of laughter that was uniquely Little Joe Cartwright\u2019s.<\/p>\n \u201cYep, fooled you, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n Fletcher dropped his rifle down and reached over and shook Joe\u2019s hand.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d hate like heck to have killed my boss\u2019 boy!\u201d He laughed.\u00a0 \u201cHey, what gives, Joe?\u00a0 I\u2019d think you\u2019d be home with your brothers due to what happened to your father.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou do know about your Pa don\u2019t you, Joe?\u201d Fletcher asked and watched the confusion spread out on Joe\u2019s unwashed face.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u00a0 What\u2019s happened to Pa?\u201d Joe asked, fighting to hold back the worry which had already begun to rise up from the pit of his stomach.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo days ago he was leaving town where he\u2019d seen your brothers and next thing anyone knew he was just plain gone.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss have been out for days searching for any sign of him but no luck yet.\u00a0 They found Buck\u2019s tracks about three miles inside of the ranch but then they just disappeared.\u00a0 It was like the horse just vanished and took its tracks with it.\u00a0 They\u2019ve got the sheriff out looking but last I heard when I checked in about three hours ago no-one has had any luck.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry, Little Joe I thought that\u2019s why you came back.\u00a0 I figured maybe your brothers sent you a wire or something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 no I hadn\u2019t heard any of this.\u00a0 If I had known I would have ridden through that storm last night and I sure wouldn\u2019t be here leisurely sitting down to coffee.\u00a0 What are you doing out here anyhow?\u00a0 You don\u2019t usually watch the herd.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone\u2019s been taking a part in the search so I offered to help out.\u00a0 I guess you want to get home now, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe dropped his head down turning suddenly very pensive and didn\u2019t reply right away.\u00a0 Old unresolved wounds felt suddenly very fresh again.\u00a0 Someone had taken his father away just as Joe had been taken away from his family and held in the worst conditions possible some six months ago.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t imagine Pa having to go through any of the God awful pain which he had endured.\u00a0 Joe knew he had to come up with some kind of a plan to free his father or die trying.<\/p>\n After watching the youngest Cartwright son caught up in his internal musings, Fletcher finally reached over and shook the boy\u2019s arm to draw his attention back to the situation at hand.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe?\u00a0 I said are you going to head home now?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe drew in a deep breath and looked over at his long-time friend.\u00a0 He had some important decisions to make and time was definitely an issue now.\u00a0 Struggling with both his desire to get to his father before he would be harmed and wondering exactly how to pull that off, Joe finally addressed the problem.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me the God\u2019s honest truth, Fletcher.\u00a0 Do they have any idea why someone took my Pa?\u00a0 Was there a ransom note?\u201d<\/p>\n The other man shook his head and responded, \u201cNo, Joe, and that\u2019s the strangest thing about all of this.\u00a0 There hasn\u2019t been a note or word one from whoever took your father.\u00a0 Adam thought it might have to do with the bid for that railroad contract.\u00a0 Your Pa had all of the paperwork and his bid inside the satchel that he took with him to show the bank manager, so it\u2019s got to be with him now.\u00a0 Adam was thinking that someone wanted the Cartwrights out of the running from getting that contract since there\u2019s a lot of money for whoever gets it.\u00a0 Sheriff Coffee is questioning everyone who plans to bid on it, just to see if there are any leads.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFletcher,\u201d Joe began and paused briefly in order to get his thoughts together.\u00a0 \u201cYou really didn\u2019t recognize me a little while ago when you came into the camp here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNope, I thought for sure you were just another typical vagrant! And a smelly untidy one at that, Joe!\u201d he laughed.\u00a0 \u201cIf I\u2019d known it was you I sure wouldn\u2019t have pointed \u201cOld Betsy\u201d here on you,\u201d He motioned down to his double barrel shotgun.<\/p>\n Joe nodded and sat back down on his blanket.\u00a0 \u201cCome sit down and have some coffee with me.\u00a0 I won\u2019t keep you long — I just want to run an idea by you.\u201d<\/p>\n Fletcher rolled his eyes at the boy there in front of him.\u00a0 One thing that Little Joe Cartwright excelled in and that was dragging other folks into his schemes.\u00a0 Unfortunately those schemes rarely played out as the boy had planned and they usually caused more problems for everyone involved.<\/p>\n \u201cThis isn\u2019t a game, Joe — your Pa\u2019s life might be in jeopardy!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stared intently into the other man\u2019s eyes and replied, \u201cI know that —but I have an idea that just might help me figure out where they\u2019ve taken him.\u00a0 Now, just listen and I\u2019ll explain my plan to you,\u201d Joe urged the other man to sit and listen to him as he poured two cups of coffee.<\/p>\n ************************************<\/p>\n \u201cWhere in the heck is the kid?\u201d Adam, feeling more frustrated and worried as each hour passed, asked Hoss.<\/p>\n Hoss settled down onto the settee and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cThe day Pa went missing he said that Little Joe should be here in a day or two at the most.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know that, so he\u2019s had plenty of time to get here now — it\u2019s almost been three full days!\u00a0 Instead of taking a nice long relaxing vacation he should be here!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh Adam, ease up will you?\u00a0 Joe doesn\u2019t know that Pa\u2019s missing — don\u2019t blame him,\u201d Hoss insisted.\u00a0 He knew that his older brother was as worried as he was but blaming anything on the youngest wasn\u2019t going to help the matter.<\/p>\n Adam frowned and set down his coffee cup.\u00a0 He nodded over at his brother and admitted, \u201cI\u2019m sorry \u2013 and you\u2019re right.\u00a0 We all knew that Joe needed to get away from all that he\u2019s been dealing with the last couple of months.\u00a0 I guess I\u2019m worried about him too \u2013 you and I both know that the kid\u2019s going to go off when he hears about Pa!\u00a0 I want him to hear it from us, Hoss, and not some random person he meets up with on the way back home.\u201d<\/p>\n Nodding his head in agreement, Hoss then focused his attention on the newest edition of the Territorial Enterprise sitting there on the table.\u00a0\u00a0 He remarked, \u201cThey printed up the information on the reward we\u2019re offering in the paper today.\u00a0 Hopefully someone will come forward.\u00a0 They\u2019re going to send out some posters as soon as they get printed up tomorrow.\u00a0 Did you get anything new out of Roy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, not really, he doesn\u2019t have much more information than we do, Hoss.\u00a0 We\u2019ve all seen those tracks and how it looks like either someone went to great lengths to cover them up or Buck and our Pa just vanished into thin air.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just can\u2019t figure it,\u201d Hoss announced, bewilderment in his tone.\u00a0 He stood and started to pace there in front of the fireplace.\u00a0 \u201cIt was easy enough to see that there was a wagon not far from those last prints from Buck\u2019s horseshoes and then they just stopped.\u00a0 If someone got our Pa and threw him inside that wagon there was still the matter of taking his horse off somewhere to get rid of it.\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s about the most dad gum confusing thing I\u2019ve ever seen!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know what you mean, Hoss.\u00a0 When I spoke to Roy he said he can\u2019t figure this out either.\u00a0 \u00a0He\u2019s already spoken to the four ranch owners who were planning to bid on that railroad contract.\u00a0 He\u2019s asked every one of them about their whereabouts the day that Pa disappeared.\u00a0 They all said they weren\u2019t anywhere near the Ponderosa and don\u2019t have any idea what happened to him.\u00a0 Roy said he\u2019d follow up on their alibis, but who knows how long that will take?\u00a0 Maybe we\u2019re missing something and Pa\u2019s disappearance isn\u2019t tied to the railroad bid?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell that representative is supposed to get to town in just a few days from what Pa said.\u00a0 I still think it\u2019s a big leap not to think it\u2019s all connected somehow,\u201d Hoss insisted, his brow etched with worry.<\/p>\n Hop Sing padded in from the kitchen and walked over to the two Cartwrights and announced \u201cYou come now!\u00a0 You no find father if you no eat!\u00a0 Come for supper.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam exchanged glances and then looked over to Hop Sing.\u00a0 They could read the worry on the Oriental member of the family\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Hop Sing \u2013 we\u2019ll do our best.\u00a0 Come on, Brother,\u201d Adam said and patted his brother\u2019s back trying to coax him to eat.\u00a0 He knew that they would need to keep up their strength.\u00a0 They would go back out at first light to search again for their father.\u00a0 Giving up on their Pa was not an option, not as long as there was still breath in their bodies.<\/p>\n *************************************<\/p>\n Fletcher had sat there next to Joe Cartwright for more than an hour and listened intently to what he considered to be utter insanity being proffered by the kid.\u00a0 Fletcher shook his head wondering what was going on in the boy\u2019s brain to make him come up with the kind of plan that he had just laid out to him.\u00a0 Finally he stood and tossed the remainder of his coffee off to the side of the campfire.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe, I think you just might be a tad off of your rocker!\u201d Fletcher exclaimed.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, that\u2019s beside the point,\u201d Joe remarked and nodded over to the other man, acknowledging the fact that what he had just said was the truest statement he had heard all night.\u00a0 He hurriedly began packing up the camp.\u00a0 \u201cI just need to know that you\u2019ll go along with what I\u2019ve asked you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you just go home, Boy?\u00a0 I know your brothers are waiting on you to show up, they said something about it just this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s hazel eyes felt as though they were burning their gaze directly through to Fletcher\u2019s soul.\u00a0 His desire to find Pa was so great and intense that it could also be felt by the other man as Joe sang out, \u201cI can do this!\u00a0 I know that I can.\u00a0 But, I need to have someone who I can trust on the inside.\u201d<\/p>\n Fletcher frowned and shook his head, \u201cYeah and you want that someone to be me!\u00a0 That\u2019s what\u2019s bothering me, Joe!\u00a0 Your hair-brained schemes rarely work and they usually end up getting all those who partner with you into big trouble.\u00a0 And this time — like I said \u2013 we\u2019re talking about your Pa\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you think I know that?\u201d In Joe\u2019s reply each individual word came out with an intensity which was palpable.<\/p>\n Fletcher had spotted the slight glistening of tears which were in Joe\u2019s eyes and he knew that they were there due to the concern that the young man had for his father.\u00a0 Fletcher, as well as everyone who had ever known Joe Cartwright, was well aware that Joe loved his family, and foremost the kid loved his father and would gladly sacrifice his own life for his Pa\u2019s safe return.<\/p>\n Fletcher sighed and reached over and touched Joe\u2019s shoulder sympathetically, \u201cOkay, I\u2019ll do it — foolish as it might be \u2013 I\u2019ll do it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks,\u201d Joe smiled, relieved to have gotten through to his friend.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m going to need you to tell my brothers that you picked up a telegram from me and it said that I\u2019m going to be delayed a week.\u00a0 Just tell them that the wire said I left Stockton later than I\u2019d planned and that I\u2019ll be taking the long way back home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat if they ask to see it, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen just check your pockets and try to look around for it like you misplaced it or something.\u00a0 What with being so worried about my Pa they\u2019re not going to ask many questions.\u00a0 They\u2019ll probably just get mad at me for a few minutes \u2013 and Adam will fuss the loudest!\u00a0\u00a0 But then both of them will just chalk it up to the fact that I\u2019m not the dependable one in the family and then leave it alone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I can see that alright!\u201d Fletcher grinned.\u00a0 \u201cOkay, what are you planning on doing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to see what I can find out.\u00a0 Being a saddle tramp has its advantages and maybe I\u2019ll hear something in my travels.\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019m going to check every danged line shack, cabin and outhouse from here to Carson.\u00a0 If it works out you\u2019ll know first.\u00a0 And if I don\u2019t find Pa then I\u2019ll go back home and say that I coerced you to help me and that will get you off of the hook, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Fletcher pulled his horse over to mount up and called across the saddle to Joe, \u201cHow will I know if something happens to you?\u00a0 I mean what if you find whoever kidnapped your father and they get you too?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just wish they would!\u201d Joe exclaimed, his voice uncharacteristically sharp and deadly.<\/p>\n Fletcher was taken aback by the defiant look on Joe\u2019s face which had given him the impression that the boy relished the chance to get kidnapped again.\u00a0 It was almost as if Joe was hoping that the outcome of his masquerade would be his abduction.\u00a0 That was the last thing that Fletcher had ever expected to hear coming out of Joe Cartwright\u2019s mouth.\u00a0 Everyone on the ranch, and in the surrounding counties, was well aware that Joe had gone missing for three months earlier in the year and Fletcher figured that the boy surely had had his fill with being held hostage. \u00a0He finally reasoned that Joe had made his statement simply because he was worried about his father.\u00a0 It was either that or Fletcher had to admit that the kid had truly lost his mind due to all of the time he\u2019d spent in captivity.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I don\u2019t hear back from you in seven days, Joe, friend or no friend and job or no job I\u2019m going to have to tell your brothers about all of this!\u201d the man threatened and swung up into his saddle.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s fine,\u201d Joe nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m going to douse this fire like you asked me so politely to do earlier and head on out.\u00a0 I\u2019ll see you — and thanks!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood luck, Boy!\u201d Fletcher said and kicked at the sides of his horse to head back to the cow camp.\u00a0 He had to try and push aside the deep down dread he had inside over having allowed Joe to talk him into the charade.\u00a0 Fletcher hoped that the kid knew what he was getting himself into.\u00a0 Sometimes he wondered how Little Joe Cartwright had ever lived to the ripe old age of twenty- three, as the boy always seemed to be heading into trouble and never away from it.<\/p>\n *************************************<\/p>\n \u201cCartwright — got something for you!\u201d A voice from the next room shouted.<\/p>\n Ben, who had been deep in thought, heard the sound coming from the bottom of the door and watched as something was shoved inside of the room.\u00a0 He walked over and bent down and retrieved the newspaper now lying on the floor.\u00a0 The opening there at the door closed up swiftly, leaving only the faint light from behind the window curtain that separated the two rooms.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t offer much in the way of brightness, but was enough for him to see what the headline read.<\/p>\n ***Ben Cartwright missing, reward of five thousand dollars offered by his sons for information leading to the rancher\u2019s safe return<\/em>***<\/strong> Ben read to himself as he stared down at the headline of the Territorial Enterprise.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, you in there!\u201d Ben shouted as he stood next to the interior window.\u00a0 He waited to see if the eyes would reappear.\u00a0 When several minutes had passed and he had banged his fists against the wall enough times to make both hands throb, Ben tried once more.\u00a0 \u201cWhy don\u2019t we just cut to the chase and either tell me who you are and what you want or just go and collect this reward money and tell my family where I am?\u201d<\/p>\n The window curtain finally rose just a tad and the pair of dark brown eyes appeared again.<\/p>\n \u201cNot going to be that easy, Cartwright.\u00a0 You just sit yourself down and read the paper.\u00a0 You haven\u2019t seen anything yet.\u00a0 We\u2019ve got more to show you, just be patient.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben frowned and moved down onto the floor under the window so he could see a bit better.\u00a0 He pulled the newspaper back up into his hands.\u00a0 There wasn\u2019t anything more that he could do at the time, other than to pray and worry about his sons.\u00a0 He would do both and then he would also read the rest of the newspaper to keep himself occupied.\u00a0 Pa knew that his boys would close ranks and become a mighty force to be reckoned with when it came to finding him.\u00a0 He just hoped that his sons would all stay together and be safe as they searched for clues as to his whereabouts.<\/p>\n *************************************<\/p>\n The loud pounding on the front door late that night caused both Adam and Hoss to run out of their upstairs bedrooms and almost collide there on the stairs.\u00a0 With only their nightshirts covering them, both men hurried down into the living room where only the dying embers of the large fireplace gave any light to assist them on their advance across the room and over to see who was knocking so hard and now shouting out their names.<\/p>\n Adam pulled the door inward and looked down at one of the hired hands who seemed to be very out of breath.\u00a0 \u201cCody?\u00a0 What\u2019s going on?\u00a0 Did you find our father?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 no Adam, it\u2019s a fire \u2013 a fire up on the hogback just above Syler\u2019s Ridge!\u00a0 It\u2019s a big one \u2013and everyone\u2019s doing what they can but it\u2019s burning fast!\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss exchanged an apprehensive glance with his brother and said, \u201cAnyone know how it started?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo idea, Hoss.\u00a0 But it\u2019s wreaking havoc and there\u2019s no way to contain it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s get changed,\u201d Adam addressed his brother and then turned back in the direction of Cody.\u00a0 \u201cGet our horses saddled, will you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure thing — meet you two outside!\u201d Cody answered breathlessly and then turned to run out to the barn.<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam jogged to the staircase, both of them wondering just how so much could be going wrong all at once.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t think someone set it on purpose as just another way to stop us from making that bid on the railroad contract do you?\u201d Hoss asked as he readied to turn into his bedroom to pull on his clothes.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t know, Hoss \u2013 let\u2019s just go see what we can find out.\u00a0 Shake a leg now \u2013 we\u2019ve got to hurry on out there!\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss didn\u2019t say another word, but, instead just continued inside his bedroom to get dressed as quickly as he could.<\/p>\n ************************************<\/p>\n At the exact same time as his brothers were racing out to where the fire was raging, just a mile or so from the northeastern corner of the Ponderosa, Joe was sitting in the back of the Bucket of Blood Saloon in Virginia City.\u00a0 It was very late but there were still quite a few patrons, most of whom were drunk.\u00a0 Sitting alone at the very back of the bar, Joe had his dark dingy brown second hand hat pulled down shading his eyes.\u00a0 He needn\u2019t have worried as due to the way he looked and smelled, plus the fact that he was sporting a right handed holster, no-one would\u2019ve ever guessed that he was Joe Cartwright.\u00a0 His main reason for sitting there was to try to hear any of the local scuttlebutt and hopefully someone just might mention something about his Pa\u2019s abduction.\u00a0 Instead, however, just a few hours later when he was getting ready to call it quits, came the news of the fire there on the Ponderosa.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s heart had dropped in his chest when someone, who wasn\u2019t known to him by name, ran inside the Bucket of Blood and sang out the news of the fire on the ranch.\u00a0 Racing outside, and for just a minute deciding to give up his secret persona, Joe relaxed when Sheriff Coffee passed by and shouted inside the saloon that heavy rain had put out the large blaze and everything there at the Ponderosa was going to be alright.\u00a0 Roy had then walked right past the youngest Cartwright totally oblivious to the fact that his best friend\u2019s son was inches from his elbow for just a few moments.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, God,\u201d Joe whispered as he looked heavenward.\u00a0 The last thing they all needed was for a fire to spread out of control there on the ranch.\u00a0 Joe remembered the menacing wall of clouds which had followed him home from California and they had chosen the most opportune time to let loose heavy rain there on the Ponderosa.\u00a0 Joe had left the chestnut mare over across the street from the saloon as there was very little light on that side of C Street.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want anyone to notice that the horse wore the Ponderosa pine tree brand.\u00a0 In fact, Joe knew that somehow he needed to change out his mount for one with a much less conspicuous brand.\u00a0 He knew of an old friend who just might be able to assist him in his efforts to get another horse, so Joe hurriedly mounted the mare and headed right out to where the man lived.\u00a0 There was no time like the present, he thought, though it was well after midnight.\u00a0 Joe imagined how well he would be received by his old friend, that is, once he realized who he was.\u00a0 Knowing that he looked and smelled equally bad, Joe fought a smile when he thought on how Sandy Phillips would think he had gone plum loco.\u00a0 It wouldn\u2019t bother Joe to be called that, as he had been called far worse by his friend over the many years that they\u2019d known each other.<\/p>\n *************************************<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss walked inside the ranch house after hours of dealing with the small pockets of fire that were still smoldering up at the hogback.\u00a0 They were soaked to the skin, not having the chance to fetch their slickers before they had hurriedly mounted late the previous night.\u00a0 Hop Sing witnessed the faces of the two Cartwright brothers and hurried to get some coffee brought out to them.<\/p>\n Hoss sat down on the coffee table and tried to warm himself from the fire which Hop Sing had stoked when he had gotten up that morning.\u00a0 He wanted to go change his clothes but he was too tired.\u00a0 Adam was much the same, though he just stood there in front of the fireplace, his face creased with worry.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was set on purpose, Adam,\u201d Hoss said sullenly.\u00a0 \u201cSomeone is out to destroy us, and worst of all they\u2019ve got our Pa!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam drew in a deep breath and turned to face his brother.\u00a0 \u201cIt sure seems like it.\u00a0 We had some hired hands not too far from there and they told me that there wasn\u2019t any lightning that could have set that fire off.\u00a0 The questions are who and why.\u00a0 That\u2019s not where we would be logging if we got that contract so why did they choose that area?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBeats me, but I\u2019d sure like to get my hands on the ones who did it!\u00a0 We lost about five or six good acres, not to mention the animals that died because of that arsonist!\u00a0 What do we do now, Brother?\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing came in with his hands loaded down with a tray.\u00a0 He set the coffee and the cups there on the table and looked at the two young men.\u00a0 \u201cI ready breakfast now.\u00a0 You eat then maybe head clear and you think better.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Hop Sing,\u201d Hoss nodded and poured two cups of coffee and handed one over to his brother.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to go into town and talk to Roy again.\u00a0 Like as not he\u2019s already been asking around about the fire so maybe he\u2019ll have some news.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m mad about that fire, but I\u2019m madder about the fact that we\u2019ve not gotten any closer to finding our Pa!\u201d Hoss exclaimed.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe our luck will change.\u00a0 At least God smiled upon us last night!\u00a0 If it hadn\u2019t been for that deluge we would\u2019ve lost hundreds of acres.\u00a0 I guess it\u2019s like Pa always says, to everything there is a season and a time for every purpose unto heaven.\u00a0 That\u2019s about the only thing I can come up with right now, Hoss.\u00a0 I think I\u2019m a little bit punchy from lack of sleep.\u00a0 I\u2019m not even sure if I quoted that right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSounded okay to me, c\u2019mon let\u2019s eat,\u201d Hoss said and headed over to the dining room where Hop Sing was putting out a big spread.<\/p>\n *************************************<\/p>\n \u201cI swear Little Joe if you EVER<\/strong> wake me up in the middle of the night again I\u2019m going to go ahead and shoot you for real!\u201d Sandy Phillips exclaimed as he stood out by his corral.<\/p>\n \u201cYou darn near shot me last night!\u201d Joe replied, and fought a smile.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I thought you were a rustler.\u00a0 I mean just look at you \u2013 you are a mess, Boy!\u00a0 Where\u2019d you get those clothes, out of the trash bin?\u00a0 And you smell like you\u2019ve not had a bath in a month!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey I told you I needed a disguise to try and find my Pa \u2013 now do I get the horse or not?\u00a0 I\u2019ve got to get going.\u00a0 Pa\u2019s gone and there\u2019s someone out there setting fire to the Ponderosa too!\u201d<\/p>\n Sandy pulled the wooden gate open and walked out towards an older horse that was grazing out at the far side of the corral.\u00a0 He gently reached for the horse\u2019s lead and pulled the animal over to where Joe now waited.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the one who does the lame trick, right?\u201d Joe asked hopefully.<\/p>\n Sandy nodded and said, \u201cYeah, this is Dixie and she\u2019s not as fast as Cochise but she\u2019ll get you where you need to go.\u00a0 I never put a hot brand on her as I\u2019m fond of her, Joe, so don\u2019t you dare let anything happen to her or I swear I\u2019ll shoot you with that shotgun I pulled on you last night!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe patted the horse\u2019s neck and replied, \u201cI\u2019ll treat her like my own.\u00a0 Now how do you signal her to pretend to be lame?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust give Dixie a little tap here right on her withers and she\u2019ll start limping with her front right.\u00a0 She\u2019ll keep doing it until you give a good strong pat to the right side of her neck \u2013 not enough to hurt her mind you!\u201d Sandy explained to his friend how to signal the horse if he needed her to appear like she had gone lame.<\/p>\n \u201cGot it,\u201d Joe nodded and walked across the yard to retrieve his saddle.\u00a0 He also took his saddlebags over to Sandy.\u00a0 \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t mind keeping some of my good clothes here, would you?\u00a0 I\u2019ve got to look like I\u2019ve only got the shirt on my back you know!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou look like a real bum Joe it shouldn\u2019t be hard for you to play the part of a saddle tramp.\u00a0 Okay, I\u2019ll keep them here along with that chestnut mare.\u00a0 Who all knows about this by the way?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust you and Fletcher, and I\u2019d like to keep it that way, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay \u2013 no-one would believe it anyhow,\u201d Sandy laughed and then he noticed Joe\u2019s holster.\u00a0 \u201cYou sure you can handle being right handed?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYep \u2013 had lots of practice,\u201d Joe returned as he threaded the bellyband to the saddle and readied to take off on Dixie.\u00a0 \u201cI sure appreciate this, Sandy.\u00a0 Just as soon as I have my Pa home I\u2019ll bring Dixie back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBe careful Joe!\u201d Sandy called after his friend as Joe headed out towards the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n *************************************<\/p>\n Ben Cartwright had enough of being held hostage.\u00a0 He walked around the room testing every single board to see if he could break through somehow.\u00a0 Every now and then he\u2019d see the curtain pull up and the same brown eyes looking over at him.\u00a0 The man inside laughed and told him that there was no escape but that didn\u2019t stop Ben from trying.\u00a0 He finally had to give in to the harsh reality that there wasn\u2019t a weak board in the place.\u00a0 And he had no idea if he was in a cabin, house, or a line shack.\u00a0 All that Ben had seen since waking up was the one room and an interior window with a curtain that separated him from getting his hands on whoever was on the other side staring at him.<\/p>\n \u201cI got you another newspaper, Cartwright.\u00a0 This one is hot off of the presses,\u201d The man in the next room laughed and soon the opening at the bottom of the door was once again visible and a paper was shoved into the room.<\/p>\n Ben drew up the Territorial Enterprise again and his anger mounted after reading the new headline.<\/p>\n *** Fire at Ponderosa Ranch destroys five acres! ***<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cToo bad about that fire huh, Ben?\u201d came the voice from the next room.<\/p>\n \u201cWho are you and why are you doing all of this?!\u201d\u00a0 Ben demanded as he stood next to the window and pounded his fists on the wall again.<\/p>\n \u201cYou got lucky with that downpour, but you never know it just might happen again.\u00a0 Now go read your paper and shut the hell up!\u201d<\/p>\n *** When I get out of here I\u2019ll take care of you! ***<\/strong> Ben thought to himself and then he settled back down onto the hard wood floor and tried to finish reading about what had happened on the ranch.\u00a0 He prayed that his three boys were all safe and also his hired hands and anyone else who had happened to be in the area where the fire had raged the previous night.\u00a0 Ben hoped that help would arrive soon so he could go out after whoever was wreaking havoc on the ranch.<\/p>\n ************************************<\/p>\n Joe had to duck behind an outcropping of boulders when he saw that his brother Adam was coming precariously close to him.\u00a0 He watched as his brother kept riding, Joe presumed into Virginia City.\u00a0 Adam never spotted the boy on the gray mare and even if he had, he\u2019d never have thought the rider was his little brother.\u00a0 Joe patted the horse and began to check all the line shacks that existed on the Ponderosa.\u00a0 He figured that Pa had been snatched just three miles inside the border so he just might be held prisoner somewhere on his own ranch.<\/p>\n Laying out on his bedroll later that night, Joe stared up at the clear star filled sky and thought on all of the places that he had gone that day.\u00a0 He had forgotten just how many line shacks that existed there on the Ponderosa.\u00a0 Joe had hit about half of them and still had more to try to get to the following day.\u00a0 The last of which were very well scattered and a great distance from each other so it would be hard to accomplish in one day, but he\u2019d sure try.\u00a0 He was growing frustrated and his worry had heightened over his father\u2019s safety.\u00a0 Joe couldn\u2019t help wondering if Pa was suffering from any of the forms of torture that he had gone through months ago.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t see that, as his father always seemed indestructible to him.\u00a0 Still, if someone had the drop on you there wasn\u2019t too much that you could do if they had it out for you and wanted to cause you harm.\u00a0 Or at least that\u2019s how it had been for Joe who was held as a prisoner for three months in a cabin far away by two despicable brothers.\u00a0 Joe had to push away the constant memories of how badly they had harmed him because now he had to stay focused on Pa.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t quite understand why those thoughts just kept coming into his mind.\u00a0 All of those who had been involved with his own abduction were now dead, that was a pure fact.\u00a0 Yet, Joe had an odd jittery feeling right in his solar plexus that warned him that somehow both events were tied together.\u00a0 As he tried to shake loose from the dreaded thought of it all, Joe\u2019s eyes suddenly focused down to his arms.\u00a0 He had rolled his shirt sleeves up to his elbows due to the unseasonable heat.\u00a0\u00a0 And now, looking down at both arms, Joe noticed that the hair was standing straight up.\u00a0 And on top of that he also realized that the hairs on the nape of his neck were standing on end as well.<\/p>\n *** It just can\u2019t be! ***<\/strong> Joe thought to himself as he drew in a deep breath to try to ward off the sickness he was feeling in the pit of his stomach.\u00a0 *** They\u2019re all dead, so why do I feel like they\u2019re not?\u00a0 It\u2019s probably just my nerves \u2013 or maybe I\u2019m just crazy like I told Pa I was months ago? ***<\/strong> Joe pushed his shirt sleeves back down and reached for some coffee.\u00a0 Still, his uneasiness persisted and he decided that there might be something to his intuition.\u00a0 He would go in another direction the next day in order to ease his mind and hopefully dispel any notions that both events had anything to do with each other.<\/p>\n *************************************<\/p>\n \u201cDid you hear what Fletcher said, Adam?\u201d Hoss called over to his brother who was seated at their father\u2019s desk in his study.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I heard,\u201d Adam sighed and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cRemind me to hit the kid when he gets back — that is \u2013 if he ever decides to grace us with his presence.\u00a0 Pa told him he could have a month so now he\u2019s taking advantage of our father\u2019s good nature.\u00a0 I\u2019d like to smack him, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss didn\u2019t want to smile, because things there at home were far too intense.\u00a0 But, hearing what his older brother had said did tickle him.\u00a0 The thought had amused him that here they were in the midst of such terrible trouble and still Adam was ranting, as always, about Little Joe.\u00a0 It all seemed oddly comforting to the middle brother as he fought back a grin aimed towards Adam.\u00a0 It was nice to know that at least some things never changed.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Little Joe knew about Pa he\u2019d high tail it home so fast that it would seem like a tornado hit the Ponderosa, Adam!\u00a0 Hopefully we\u2019ll find Pa before our little brother gets back.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam stared up at the eternal optimist standing next to him and replied, \u201cI guess it\u2019s just as well, Hoss.\u00a0 Knowing Joe he\u2019d either end up getting shot or kidnapped himself.\u00a0 But, I do still want to smack him.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss looked over at Adam and read the gleam in his eyes.\u00a0 He knew that his older brother worried about Joe, it was just a matter of not wanting anyone to know it, especially not the kid.<\/p>\n \u201cRoy said he found a couple of cans of coal oil out in the area where the fire started last night.\u00a0 He had to dig around a while before he turned them up, or so he said.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I heard that too, Adam.\u00a0 I just wish he\u2019d dig a bit more to find out where Pa is!\u00a0 Nobody has tried to get that reward money yet and without a ransom note there\u2019s just no telling who\u2019s holding Pa or why.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI still think it\u2019s that timber deal with the railroad!\u201d Adam exclaimed and moved towards the dining room where Hop Sing was setting out their supper.\u00a0 \u201cThe representative from the Pacific Railroad is due to arrive tomorrow — I heard that piece of news from Mister Andrews at the bank today.\u00a0 Maybe if whoever did this wins the contract he\u2019ll just let Pa go?\u00a0 I mean if he\u2019s just trying to cut down the competition it seems likely.\u00a0 I doubt anyone is going to kill our father just to win a contract, even a highly sought after one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI sure hope you\u2019re right,\u201d Hoss nodded solemnly, still feeling uneasy about the whole situation.<\/p>\n \u201cYou eat now \u2013 no talk of worries at table,\u201d Hop Sing insisted as he set down a platter of roast beef.\u00a0 \u201cTroubles easier to take on full belly!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho said that, Confucius?\u201d Hoss asked the cook.<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 I say that — you not hear good Mister Hoss,\u201d Hop Sing sounded out, and there was a little twinkle in his eye and both brothers knew that the man was trying to ease their burdens with his attempt at humor.<\/p>\n Hoss smiled and shook his head, as did Adam and Hop Sing was well pleased as he returned to the kitchen to bring out more food.\u00a0 He felt like it was his job to try to keep spirits up at the ranch house while continuing to pray that Ben would return to them all very soon.<\/p>\n *************************************<\/p>\n Fletcher had his arms loaded down with supplies as he moved inside a line shack which sat ten miles from the Ponderosa ranch house.\u00a0 He jumped back and almost fell when he heard his name whispered from just behind the door.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn it, Little Joe!\u201d Fletcher yelled as he jumped back, dropping the supplies all over the floor.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry,\u201d Joe muttered and bent down to help the man pick up what he had dumped out of his arms.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u00a0 And why\u2019d you have to scare me like that?\u201d The other man fumed, still trying to dislodge the lump of fright from his throat.<\/p>\n \u201cIs there any news about my father yet?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 sorry \u2013 nothing yet though we\u2019re all still out there looking every day.\u00a0 What about your plan \u2013 have you gotten anywhere with that disguise of yours?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo not yet \u2013 I just stopped to see you because I need some field glasses \u2013 and well\u2014I saw you heading back from town with the supplies and followed you out here.\u00a0 You had your back turned to me so I just slipped in here just in case anyone else was hanging around.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, as you can see there ain\u2019t nobody else here.\u00a0 Don\u2019t you never do that to me again, Boy!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe had to get back to the point as he was still on a mission to find his father and bring him home safely.\u00a0 \u201cOkay, I won\u2019t, I just have to be careful right now.\u00a0 Now do you have any?\u201d<\/p>\n Fletcher frowned and shook his head, still upset over the way Joe just popped in and out without warning.\u00a0 He finally answered, \u201cFollow me to the buckboard I\u2019ve got a pair out there.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe and Fletcher moved out of the line shack and over to the wagon and the hired hand reached underneath the bench seat and retrieved the field glasses.<\/p>\n \u201cShould I ask you why you need these?\u201d Fletcher asked Joe warily.<\/p>\n Joe gave a wry smile and answered, \u201cNaw \u2013 you wouldn\u2019t like it.\u00a0 Hey did my brothers get mad about that little telegraph I supposedly sent?\u201d<\/p>\n Fletcher watched as Joe mounted the gray mare.\u00a0 He smiled up at the boy and replied, \u201cI suppose they\u2019ve come to expect it of you.\u00a0 Hoss took it in stride but Adam fussed for a few minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI told you so!\u201d Joe quipped as he readied to leave.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll see you, and thanks!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou ever scare me again like you did a minute ago and I\u2019m probably going to shoot you, Boy!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe laughed and called down to the other man, \u201cYou\u2019re about the third person who\u2019s said that to me in the last couple of days.\u00a0 Good thing you\u2019re old and slow!\u201d Joe kicked at the mare\u2019s sides and sent her into a gallop leaving Fletcher standing there cussing at his boss\u2019 youngest kid.<\/p>\n ************************************<\/p>\n While Ben Cartwright sat on the cold wood floor in the room where he\u2019d been held captive for days and tried to force himself to eat a rather bland breakfast, his two oldest boys were busy checking in town to see if the sheriff had any news.\u00a0 While they sat in Roy Coffee\u2019s office in Virginia City, their brother was laying on his stomach on a hill overlooking the outskirts of a ranch which sat close to the southeastern border of the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n Joe tried to turn the focus wheel of the field glasses slowly in order to get a better view down onto the neighboring ranch and the goings on there.\u00a0 He could see several cowboys milling about.\u00a0 They looked to be just typical hired hands tending to the stock there.\u00a0 Joe shifted his attention to movement he noticed just to the west of the breaking corral.\u00a0 The two men he spotted weren\u2019t dressed as typical ranch hands, being too finely dressed for that.\u00a0 Joe watched as they entered the ranch house, closing the door behind them.<\/p>\n *** I don\u2019t remember anybody talking about that ranch ever getting sold to anyone ***<\/em><\/strong> Joe thought to himself.\u00a0 Though he hadn\u2019t paid much attention to the place for months, still, he figured that someone would\u2019ve mentioned it if anyone had purchased the large ranch.\u00a0 *** I wonder why nobody from that place has even tried to come by and introduce themselves to us \u2013 unless there\u2019s a reason and they already have an issue with having the Cartwrights as neighbors<\/em>*** <\/strong>Joe mused and then he felt the hair on the nape of his neck lift on end once again, just like it had the previous night.\u00a0 *** I think I know the answer to my own question.\u00a0 Now it\u2019s time to try out my theory. ***<\/em><\/strong> Joe stood and eased back over to his borrowed mount.<\/p>\n ************************************<\/p>\n \u201cListen, Boys, I\u2019ve tried everything I can to try to find your father,\u201d Roy said pulling himself up from his desk and shaking his head very discouraged.\u00a0 \u201cIf it\u2019s like you think, Adam, and is somehow linked to that contract for the railroad then like as not we should have some news after the bid gets accepted.\u00a0 Were you two going to try to submit a bid on that contract for your Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam frowned and replied, \u201cPa had all of the facts and figures with him when he was taken.\u00a0 I could try to put something together, but to tell you the truth Roy our hearts aren\u2019t in it — not unless we find Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s whoever set that fire, Roy \u2013 that\u2019s who\u2019s got Pa!\u201d Hoss now stood to face the sheriff.<\/p>\n \u201cI know, Hoss, but I haven\u2019t chased down any leads about that either.\u00a0 You know how I feel about Ben I\u2019m doing the best I can.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam reached over and set his hand down onto Roy\u2019s shoulder sympathetically.\u00a0 \u201cWe know that Roy.\u00a0 It\u2019s just that none of this makes any sense.\u00a0 There hasn\u2019t been any bad blood between our Pa and anyone in a long while, so unless his abduction happened due to that contract then nothing makes any sense at all.\u201d<\/p>\n The sheriff nodded and replied, \u201cYeah, it\u2019s not like when your little brother got snatched up earlier this year — we were able to track that down to Preston Hilliard pretty quickly.\u00a0 I wish we were as lucky this time \u2013 at least we had a name or two in that situation.\u00a0 Hey, where\u2019s Little Joe anyhow?\u00a0 I meant to ask you the other day.\u00a0 Wasn\u2019t the kid due back?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss watched as his brother\u2019s mouth formed into a scowl.\u00a0 It seemed as though the more Adam worried about their father\u2019s abduction, the more impatient he grew over Joe\u2019s delayed return home.<\/p>\n \u201cThe kid\u2019s taking his sweet time coming home, Roy.\u00a0\u00a0 Pa would skin him alive if he was home and not taken off somewhere,\u201d Adam insisted, anger very apparent in his tone of voice.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019ll be back in a few days,\u201d Hoss jumped in to try to quiet the increasing ire he felt rising up inside of his brother.<\/p>\n Roy looked back and forth between his best friend\u2019s two sons.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t help thinking about how proud Ben would\u2019ve been to see them trying to pull together to find him and keep the ranch going too.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s like as not better that Little Joe isn\u2019t here just yet, Boys.\u00a0 He\u2019d go off half-cocked and maybe get himself shot or taken hostage.\u00a0 Hopefully by the time the boy gets home your Pa will be back where he belongs.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll see you tomorrow, Roy,\u201d Adam nodded to the sheriff and walked to the door alongside Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll see you \u2013 and try not to worry,\u201d Roy said and realized it was a danged stupid piece of advice that he\u2019d just given to the Cartwright brothers.\u00a0 *** Not worry!\u00a0 Of course you\u2019re going to worry — I\u2019m worried \u2013 so I\u2019d imagine you both are about half out of your minds over what\u2019s happened to your pa!\u00a0 What a fool thing to say Roy<\/em> *** <\/strong>the sheriff thought to himself.<\/p>\n ************************************<\/p>\n Joe had spent most of the day surveying the area and formulating a plan to get inside the two room cabin he\u2019d spied just inside the northern border of the ranch close to where it butted up to the Ponderosa\u2019s boundary line.\u00a0 Trying his best to stay out of sight, Joe bided his time and waited to make his move right before sunset.\u00a0 He would need there to be some light as he figured he\u2019d be spotted pretty soon after he crossed onto the ranch.\u00a0 Joe closed his eyes and thought on how his stomach had knotted up after seeing two things earlier that day.\u00a0 First it had been the sign which read \u201cHilliard Ranch\u201d and the second and hardest thing he\u2019d noticed, was the buckskin horse which had been grazing inside a very small and secluded corral just behind the two room cabin.\u00a0 It had taken every ounce of willpower that he possessed to hold off and not just rush the place the moment he had spotted Buck.\u00a0 Joe couldn\u2019t chance his Pa getting hurt if he tried to go in haphazardly.\u00a0 He\u2019d never been known to have patience everyone knew that about the youngest Cartwright boy.\u00a0 But knowing that his father was almost close enough to touch and having to wait to get to him was becoming unbearable as he watched the retreat of the sun.<\/p>\n *** If you\u2019ve hurt my Pa I swear I\u2019ll kill every last one of you!\u00a0 Hell \u2013 I\u2019ll probably kill you even if Pa isn\u2019t hurt — just to rid the world of you.\u00a0 I know it can\u2019t be Preston or Franklin back from the dead, but it\u2019s somebody with the last name of Hilliard \u2013 I feel it \u2013 I can smell it.\u00a0 And I\u2019ll pay you back as soon as Pa is safely out of there<\/em><\/strong> ***<\/strong> Joe swore to himself as he readied to make his move.<\/p>\n \u201cSomebody\u2019s coming!\u201d A man standing just a few yards away from the front porch of the two room cabin yelled over to another man standing in the doorway.<\/p>\n The other man, dressed all in black squinted across the field and spotted what looked like some kind of a saddle tramp walking alongside of a gray mare that was walking as though it was lame.\u00a0 \u201cStay out of sight until he comes knocking on the door here and says what he wants!\u00a0 If he acts like he\u2019s going to be a problem or if he asks too many questions then take care of him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLooks like he\u2019s leading a horse that\u2019s gone lame,\u201d the first man announced.<\/p>\n \u201cI can see just as good as you can.\u00a0 Just stay out of sight \u2013 go on now!\u201d The man in black insisted and then walked back inside of the cabin.<\/p>\n Joe Cartwright slowly made his way over to the cabin, being sure to come in diagonally so he\u2019d be able to see the corral.\u00a0 He needed to get his story straight so that when he mentioned Pa\u2019s horse it wouldn\u2019t seem suspicious.\u00a0 Joe figured if he made it by the corral then it wouldn\u2019t sound too obvious when he mentioned the two horses that he spotted back there.\u00a0 After a few minutes he made it close to the cabin, making sure that anyone who had looked outside before he was going to knock on the door would see that his horse was limping badly.<\/p>\n \u201cHey!\u201d Joe sang out as he knocked on the door to the cabin.\u00a0 \u201cHey, anyone in there?\u00a0 I could use some help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d The voice from inside called through the closed door.<\/p>\n \u201cMy horse \u2013 she\u2019s come up lame and I could use some help.\u00a0 I was trying to make it to Virginia City to look for work and there\u2019s no way I can make it without a horse.\u00a0 Any chance that you\u2019ll either loan me a horse or let me make a trade with my horse?\u00a0 She might only have a stone bruise \u2013 I ain\u2019t exactly sure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t have any horses to loan you and I\u2019m not about to make a deal on a horse that\u2019s lame.\u00a0 Now go away I\u2019m eating my dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe drew in a deep breath.\u00a0\u00a0 He had hoped to be let in and if so was planning on shooting first and asking questions later.\u00a0 He had to come up with something or he might put Pa in even more jeopardy.<\/p>\n \u201cI seen a buckskin horse as I walked in a few minutes ago.\u00a0 What about that one?\u00a0 My first horse was a buckskin and I\u2019ve got a few dollars plus this mare.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBuckskin huh, did you get a good look at it?\u201d The man continued to call through the closed door.\u00a0 He had to figure out just how well the saddle tramp had looked at the horse.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah — I did and I seen that pine tree brand.\u00a0 Isn\u2019t that the Ponderosa brand?\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t exactly sure where I was when I turned off the road when my horse took lame \u2013 is this the Ponderosa?\u201d Joe asked, knowing that his question would surely get a response this time.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, this is the Ponderosa.\u00a0 You just stay put a minute and I\u2019ll see what I can do for you,\u201d The man sang out and, just as he figured, he heard the crack of the butt of a gun.\u00a0\u00a0 He walked outside and saw that the saddle tramp was laid out on the porch.<\/p>\n \u201cI heard everything that he said,\u201d The other man said as he bent down and pulled Joe\u2019s gun out of his holster.\u00a0 \u201cHe was asking too many questions and once he mentioned seeing that Ponderosa brand on Cartwright\u2019s horse I figured it was about time for the lights to go out for him.\u201d<\/p>\n The man in black checked Joe\u2019s jacket, shirt and pants to make sure he didn\u2019t have any other guns or knives and then looked over at his partner in crime.\u00a0 \u201cI guess old Ben is going to have a roommate for a while.\u00a0 Help me get him tied up and we\u2019ll toss him in the back room.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe boss isn\u2019t going to like this much,\u201d He replied and retrieved some rope which was inside the cabin.\u00a0 He handed some over to his partner.<\/p>\n \u201cWell we could just shoot this guy but I\u2019m sure our boss doesn\u2019t want us to go killing just anyone.\u00a0 Besides he\u2019s not much more than a kid and can\u2019t pose much of a threat.\u00a0 Now let\u2019s get him inside!\u201d<\/p>\n The two men tied Joe\u2019s hands in front of him and his ankles together.\u00a0 Then they dragged him inside the cabin.\u00a0 Next they pulled up their neckerchiefs to conceal their faces and slid back the wooden plank which reinforced the door to the room where Ben was being held.<\/p>\n Ben watched as two men walked inside of the room lugging the still body of what appeared to be a grungy looking saddle tramp with them.\u00a0 The man in black garb pulled out his Colt revolver and pointed it directly at Ben to make sure he wouldn\u2019t try for the door.<\/p>\n \u201cBetter tie Cartwright\u2019s ankles together too.\u00a0 We don\u2019t need these two huddling together and trying something that might get them killed,\u201d The man in black insisted.<\/p>\n Soon both Ben and an incognito Joe Cartwright were alone in the back room of the cabin.\u00a0 The light inside of the room was still very faint, as it had been the whole time that Pa had been held there.\u00a0 Though it was dim, it did afford Ben just enough illumination to see the young man who was lying on his stomach unconscious. \u00a0Ben waited until he heard the boot steps of the two men walking away from the door and then he stretched his body out far enough to slightly kick at the young man\u2019s boot heels in an attempt to bring him back around.<\/p>\n \u201cMister \u2013 come on wake up!\u00a0 Wake up!\u201d Ben urged as he continued to kick at the heels of the boy across the room.<\/p>\n Almost ten full minutes later the still figure on the floor began to move a bit and moan.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s it — come back \u2013 what\u2019s your name and what are you doing here?\u201d Ben whispered.<\/p>\n Joe fought to remember where he was and what he was doing there.\u00a0 As his vision began to clear he pulled himself from the position on his stomach and inched slowly against the wall just opposite where his father sat.\u00a0 Wincing his face as his head throbbed he stared across the room and wanted to smile when he saw Pa for the first time.\u00a0 But he knew he needed to wait.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t sure if anyone was listening in and he noticed that there was an interior window separating the two rooms and Joe wanted to be sure that no-one was trying to get a look at what was going on.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019ve got the kind of headache that I had when I got tossed inside here then I feel sorry for you,\u201d Ben said.\u00a0 \u201cMy name\u2019s Ben Cartwright.\u00a0 Sorry I can\u2019t give you the customary handshake,\u201d He indicated the ropes which bound his hands there in front of him.<\/p>\n \u201cName\u2019s Jim — Jim Rivers,\u201d Joe tried his best to avoid his father\u2019s eyes for the time being and also attempted to disguise his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cYou remind me of someone,\u201d Ben paused and tried again to get a better view of the very dirty looking young man.<\/p>\n \u201cOh?\u201d Joe whispered, as he dropped his head down a bit more.\u00a0 He was worried that Pa might say too much and someone just might overhear him.<\/p>\n Ben scanned the boy\u2019s face, and though there was a stubble of beard and a pathetic start of a mustache along with a whole lot of dirt it still wasn\u2019t enough.\u00a0 His son could hide under all of the muck at the bottom of the dirtiest pond around and he could grow a beard longer than General Grant, but he couldn\u2019t hide his mother\u2019s eyes or the brown curls which graced his head; even though they were a lot longer than when he\u2019d last seen his boy.\u00a0 Ben fought to control his mirth even though now there happened to be two Cartwrights being held hostage, it still amused Pa that Joseph had thought that his own father couldn\u2019t see through his little disguise.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, you remind me of somebody I use to know.\u00a0 But \u2013well \u2013 that\u2019s quite impossible,\u201d Ben said and shook his head.<\/p>\n Joe tried his best to continue to avoid Pa\u2019s questioning eyes wondering if he was close to figuring out who now sat opposite him.<\/p>\n \u201cNow I know!\u201d Ben called over to the grungy young man.\u00a0 \u201cI think I saw you on a wanted poster in the sheriff\u2019s office \u2013 yes that must\u2019ve been it.\u00a0 You said your name\u2019s Jim?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh yeah \u2013 that\u2019s right,\u201d Joe whispered.<\/p>\n Ben shook his head and replied, \u201cNo \u2013 it wasn\u2019t that name \u2013 unless you\u2019ve taken on an assumed name?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot wanted anywhere,\u201d Joe answered, still trying his best to change the normal pitch of his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cOh yes you are,\u201d Ben nodded showing an insistence in his reply.<\/p>\n Joe sat silently not knowing what he could say in response this time.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are wanted back at the Ponderosa \u2013 because your vacation is now over, Joseph!\u201d Pa called across the room.\u00a0 There was a rather stern inflection in his voice as he kicked at Joe’s boot heels again.<\/p>\n Joe broke into a smile when he realized that Pa must have known his identity all along, or at least ever since he had pulled himself to a seated position and his father had gotten a look at his dirty unshaven face.<\/p>\n \u201cHi, Pa,\u201d Joe whispered and sent over a wry smile.<\/p>\n Ben shook his head in disbelief as he stared over at the unkept and very shabby looking young man before him.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, you are an absolute mess.\u00a0 Just look at you!\u00a0 \u00a0Now I know why those men out there put you in here with me.\u00a0 It was a way to make my captivity even worse to deal with.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow is having me in here with you worse than being by yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph \u2013 I guess you haven\u2019t been downwind of yourself lately!\u00a0 You left home a month ago — and from what I can tell you\u2019ve not only lost your razor but your ability to bathe too.\u00a0 And just look at your hair —-<\/p>\n Joe cut his father off and said, \u201cYeah I\u2019ve missed you too, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA face only a father could love,\u201d Ben muttered as he fought off a smile at the kid.\u00a0 \u201cOkay, tell me why you\u2019re here.\u00a0 Honestly after all you went through earlier this year I\u2019d think you\u2019d be more careful and wouldn\u2019t allow yourself to be taken hostage!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe grinned and replied, \u201cPa, I purposely got kidnapped.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou what?!\u201d Ben had to hold down the volume to his voice, but regardless, his son could tell that Pa was screaming in a whisper somehow.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I had to find you and once I spotted Buck I didn\u2019t have time to go get help so I let them take me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you crazy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI asked you that over and over again a few months ago and you insisted that I was not crazy.\u00a0 You can\u2019t go changing your mind now!\u201d Joe argued the point, all the while grinning.<\/p>\n \u201cWell then that last crack to your head must\u2019ve caused some kind of damage, Joseph.\u00a0 I don\u2019t suppose you told your brothers where you were going?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Sir \u2013 I had to keep my disguise up or my real identity would\u2019ve gotten out.\u00a0 I just had to try and save you and as soon as I came out here and knew it was where you\u2019d been taken — well I had to do something fast.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head in dismay over the fact that his son never seemed to take the time to think things out rationally, especially when he was worried or angered.\u00a0 He let out a deep sigh and then looked over at his new cellmate.\u00a0 \u00a0\u201cJoseph — I don\u2019t want to appear ungrateful to you for having saved me and all — however — if you don\u2019t mind me pointing this out — I\u2019m not saved and you are now also a hostage.\u201d<\/p>\n Before Joe could respond he noticed that there was now a shadow on the window curtain across the room.\u00a0 \u201cPa, don\u2019t call me Joseph and I can\u2019t call you Pa either.\u00a0 Someone\u2019s watching us and we\u2019re going to have to do some arguing or something so that they don\u2019t figure any of this out.\u00a0 So I\u2019m Jim and you can be Ben or Mister Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s Mister Cartwright to you now,\u201d Ben whispered, spreading his body out and once again he kicked at the bottom of his son\u2019s boots.\u00a0 \u201cYou have a better view of that window so let me know when we need to start arguing.\u00a0 It won\u2019t be too hard for me to do that right now as I\u2019ve got some very choice words to say to you after this little stunt that you pulled.\u00a0 At least maybe now hopefully we\u2019ll somehow learn who has us here — wherever \u201chere\u201d is, as I\u2019ve not learned anything thus far.\u00a0 And I\u2019ve only seen eyes and no faces the whole time that I\u2019ve been held in this room.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe lowered his voice as much as possible and leaned forward just a bit as he replied, \u201cThis is the Hilliard ranch, Pa —- I mean Mister Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s face showed how stunned he was to hear the information that his son had proffered.\u00a0 The Hilliard ranch was the last place he\u2019d ever have guessed.\u00a0 Pa couldn\u2019t help staring over at Joseph and wondering how the boy ever pieced that together.<\/p>\n \u201cI just can\u2019t believe it,\u201d Pa answered, and it was evident that in his mind he had been taken back to what had happened six months ago when Joe had been taken away from him by Preston Hilliard.\u00a0 He wondered how his son was handling that fact as he stared intently over at the boy.<\/p>\n Joe knew his father very well and he read on his face exactly what Pa was thinking at the time.\u00a0 \u201cI know, Pa,\u201d Joe nodded over to him.\u00a0 \u201cI only care about getting you out of here.\u00a0 All that other stuff — about what happened to me — I can\u2019t think about it now.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben drew in a deep breath and studied his son\u2019s face.\u00a0 Joseph wasn\u2019t being entirely honest with him but he decided to just let it go for now.\u00a0 \u201cYou might be concerned about getting me out of here \u2013 but I\u2019m concerned about getting US<\/strong> out of here.\u00a0 Oh \u2013and by the way \u2013 it\u2019s not Pa it is Mister Cartwright!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Mister Cartwright,\u201d Joe nodded and then he noticed the shadow was back on the curtain again.\u00a0 \u201cI said stop bothering me Old Man!\u00a0 I don\u2019t know who you are or what you\u2019re problem is and I don\u2019t care neither!\u00a0 Now stop bothering me because I don\u2019t give a damn what happens to you — just what happens to me!\u201d Joe shouted loud enough for the entire cabin to hear his performance.<\/p>\n Pa, who sat with his back up to the wall that didn\u2019t face the window, decided he was now up.\u00a0 \u201cWhy in the world they threw a filthy tramp in here with me I\u2019ve no idea.\u00a0 I guess you\u2019ve never heard of the words water or soap!\u201d Ben fired back.<\/p>\n \u201cI might be dirty but at least I put in a day\u2019s work.\u00a0 You look like a damn pencil pusher to me!\u00a0 What are you a banker or something?\u00a0 You probably sit on your backside all day and order people around!\u201d Joe yelled back at his father.<\/p>\n Ben scrunched his face up over the last few insults.\u00a0 He needed to come up with something to say in response but was evidently having a much tougher time at coming up with rude things to say than his boy was.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are rude, ill- tempered \u2013 and by the way you reek, would you mind moving over a bit so I\u2019m not downwind of you?\u201d Ben fired back and had to stifle a laugh when he saw how Joseph was giving him a pained look due to the insult.<\/p>\n \u201cUm \u2013 Mister Cartwright,\u201d Joe whispered.\u00a0 \u201cThe shadow is gone — but I did hear some laughter out there in the next room.<\/p>\n Pa grinned and replied, \u201cI think we gave them a good show.\u00a0 Now \u2013 I didn\u2019t mind the insults TOO much but you watch that language.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSorry — but Jim has a bad mouth on him,\u201d Joe smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cWell both you and Jim are going to get your mouths washed out with soap when you two get home, so watch it!\u201d Pa warned.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Mister Cartwright, but how about watching those \u201cyou reek\u201d remarks will you?\u00a0 I know you were just trying to come up with something but still \u2013<\/p>\n \u201cNo, actually that was the one true fact in all that I said,\u201d Ben insisted.\u00a0 \u201cNow, listen we\u2019ve got to start thinking about how we\u2019re going to get out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve got an idea — just let me rest my eyes to try to get over this headache a minute and then we\u2019ll talk about it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ll be bringing in food pretty soon, maybe that will help?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey bring you food?\u00a0 Let me guess — cold beans and they don\u2019t give you a spoon or fork, right?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked, as his mind finally went back to his three months in captivity where he wasn\u2019t given any utensils at all.<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 the beans are actually heated and I\u2019ve had a spoon or fork each time,\u201d Pa remarked.<\/p>\n \u201cIt figures — you\u2019d get luxury accommodations — even a nice floor \u2013 warm food and utensils and I got a damp dark cellar with a dirt floor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe they knew I\u2019m not as tough as you are, Jim \u2013 probably because I\u2019m a pencil pushing banker,\u201d Ben teased.<\/p>\n \u201cAt least you don\u2019t reek,\u201d Joe nodded over to his father.\u00a0\u00a0 Just then they heard the opening to the bottom of the door pull aside and two plates were shoved through.<\/p>\n \u201cHey!\u201d Joe shouted out to whoever sent the plates into the room.\u00a0 \u201cHow are we supposed to get the grub — our ankles are tied?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCrawl!\u201d The loud response came through the door and then both Cartwrights heard the boot steps retreating.<\/p>\n Joe held up his bound hands and called over to Pa, \u201cI\u2019ll get it — I\u2019ve got the most experience in these matters.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben watched as his son slowly made his way over to the bottom of the door.\u00a0 He was able to get his hands on the first plate and moved it over in front of his father and then went back for his own food.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Jim,\u201d Pa whispered and drew up the cup of water to his lips.<\/p>\n Joe sighed and lifted his own cup and then called out, \u201cYou even get a real cup here.\u00a0 Nice!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d rather have my own chair there at the ranch house and Hop Sing\u2019s coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll get you home, Mister Cartwright — you can count on it,\u201d Joe responded and this time there wasn\u2019t the least bit of levity in his voice.\u00a0 \u201cNobody\u2019s going to get away with doing this to my father,\u201d Joe vowed.<\/p>\n Pa stared intently over at his son and noticed the furious countenance that he now wore.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t sure what had made Joe suddenly look as though he was ready to murder someone but it surely seemed like the boy was ready to do just that.\u00a0 Ben thought that it might have been the remembrance of the three months that Joe had spent in the worst possible conditions which had caused the rapid change to his disposition.\u00a0 Or he reasoned that it could be that the boy was angered over the fact that his own father had also gone missing causing him to worry.\u00a0 Finally, Ben realized it was a combination of both of those events coupled with the memories of the torture which Joe had endured.\u00a0 Whatever the case at that moment Joseph Cartwright appeared as though he was ready to kill first and ask questions later.<\/p>\n ************************************<\/p>\n Trenton Hilliard leaned back in the chair at his desk.\u00a0 He stared over at the picture of his brother Preston and his nephew Franklin.\u00a0 They were his only living relatives, or they had been.\u00a0 Franklin had been killed five years prior and he had come to his nephew\u2019s funeral and had tried his best to console his brother.\u00a0 Trenton vividly remembered what he had told him had led up to his son\u2019s death.\u00a0 He had been told about the constant fights Franklin had over the years with the youngest son of a very wealthy rancher named Ben Cartwright.\u00a0 The son, Joseph Cartwright had fought with Franklin ever since grade school and most times the boy had lost to the left handed Cartwright boy.\u00a0 Preston had informed his brother that the arguments and fights had culminated when Franklin had decided that Joe needed a good lesson.\u00a0 According to Preston, Franklin was not going to actually back shoot Joe, just scare him good.\u00a0 But, he said that Joe\u2019s brother, Adam had seen Franklin level his gun at Joe and had killed Franklin on the spot with no questions asked.\u00a0 Preston said that the Cartwrights owned not only the local sheriff but also the judge in the town which was why Adam wasn\u2019t even charged for killing his son.\u00a0 And, after the funeral, Trenton made it a point to surreptitiously get a good look at each and every Cartwright before returning to his home in Oregon.\u00a0 Over the years Trenton had kept up with his brother through numerous letters as well as having his brother visit him at his own home several times.\u00a0 Preston spoke often of finding a way to repay the Cartwright family for what they had done.\u00a0 At first Trenton tried to talk his brother out of seeking revenge as he was worried that it would lead to him getting thrown into prison or possibly getting hung.\u00a0 But, after he had learned that Preston had been killed Trenton now was the one who wanted to seek revenge.\u00a0 He had heard all of the rumors as to what Preston had done, and how he had had Adam shot by a gunslinger and also sent Joe Cartwright to another town where he was held in captivity for months before being returned.\u00a0 Trenton had also learned that his brother had been killed by an Indian lance, along with his friend J.T. Bridger, the man who had shot Adam Cartwright.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t give a hoot what his brother may have done to the Cartwright family.\u00a0 Trenton believed whatever he might have done his brother had every right to do it.\u00a0 He figured that the Cartwrights must have asked the local Paiute Indians to do away with Preston, as everyone knew that Ben Cartwright was a good friend to that tribe and had helped them over the years.\u00a0 And so now, several months after his brother\u2019s death, Trenton had moved into the Hilliard ranch and waged his own form of revenge.\u00a0 He felt that he really didn\u2019t have much to lose.\u00a0 He had no wife, no children and now no family at all.\u00a0 But what he did have was a plan and a glorious one, or so he thought.<\/p>\n \u201cBoss, sorry to bother you, but we\u2019ve got a little problem,\u201d The hired hand said as he drew close to his boss\u2019 desk.\u00a0 He wore a frown on his face because he knew from past experience that Trenton Hilliard was not the kind of man who accepted bad news very well.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright, Cliff, what seems to be the trouble?\u201d Trenton asked as he poured two shots of whiskey, handing one to the other man.<\/p>\n \u201cWell \u2013 just a couple of hours ago \u2013 right before dark this saddle tramp came into the ranch and ended up where we\u2019ve got Cartwright.\u00a0 He said his horse was lame and wanted to borrow or trade for another mount.\u00a0 The boy started to get in a little too deep about that buckskin of Ben\u2019s and he even mentioned the Ponderosa brand he saw on it.\u00a0 So I had Bill knock him out and we threw him in with Cartwright for now.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t figure you\u2019d want us to just shoot him.\u201d<\/p>\n Trenton smiled broadly and downed his shot of whiskey.\u00a0 \u201cPerfect!\u00a0 I\u2019ve been waiting for this!\u201d<\/p>\n Cliff stared hard at his boss and wondered why he would be thrilled about there being a kink in their plan to hold Ben hostage.\u00a0 He figured the added pressure of holding a random stranger might mess up Trenton\u2019s arrangements.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA saddle tramp you say, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir, that\u2019s what he is and he\u2019s a mess if you\u2019d seen him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet me guess he\u2019s perhaps in his early twenties \u2013 is that right?\u201d<\/p>\n Cliff again stared oddly at the other man and nodded.\u00a0 \u201cWell, he\u2019s dirty and has just the start of a beard, but by the looks of him I\u2019d say that\u2019s about right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd he\u2019s a southpaw?\u201d<\/p>\n Cliff shook his head, \u201cNo, we took a right handed outfit off of him.\u201d<\/p>\n Trenton laughed and slapped the desk jovially.\u00a0 \u201cOf course he\u2019d do that \u2013 to throw us off.\u00a0 Have you even bothered to listen in to see if he knows Ben?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure we both did, and they were at each other\u2019s throats.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think they know each other and I really don\u2019t think they like each other by what they said!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGreat acting I\u2019d say.\u00a0 That is most likely Joe Cartwright, Cliff.\u00a0 I\u2019d been expecting him.\u00a0 I\u2019ve kept up with his brother\u2019s comings and goings and I\u2019d also been made aware that Joe was off on a little vacation.\u00a0 So evidently he thought he had a disguise that could fool whoever took his dad.\u00a0 I\u2019ll tell you what if you\u2019re still unsure of this I can help prove it to you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019re you gonna do, ask who he is?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBetter than that we\u2019ll see how far they want to take this little charade.\u00a0 Like I said it\u2019s exactly what I was expecting and exactly what I had hoped would happen.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go it ought to be very amusing,\u201d Trenton smiled and headed to the front door of the ranch house.\u00a0 They needed to get back to the cabin to prove Trenton\u2019s theory.<\/p>\n *************************************<\/p>\n Joe had to wait until the shadow disappeared from the curtain there at the window again.\u00a0 It seemed like an hour that it had been there so he couldn\u2019t explain to his father the plan that he had thought up.\u00a0\u00a0 Just when the shadow had finally vanished, Joe got out about three words when all of a sudden they heard the heavy board which had been used across the interior door slide across and two masked men walked inside of the room.\u00a0 The two Cartwrights stopped talking and stared up at the visitors.<\/p>\n \u201cI was told we had a new guest,\u201d The voice of Trenton Hilliard called down to the two men seated on the floor.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s your name, Boy?\u201d He asked Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cJim Rivers — now can I go?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 not just yet I\u2019ve got a little test for you first.\u00a0 If you pass it then I\u2019ll set you free.\u00a0 I\u2019ll even throw in a new mount for you to leave on.\u00a0 But, you can\u2019t tell a soul where you were or who this is across the room from you, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMister I don\u2019t care who this man is!\u00a0 I just want out!\u201d Joe shouted, trying to play his part well.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright, Jim, it\u2019s pretty easy.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to have you untied now but remember we\u2019ve got guns on you and we don\u2019t mind using them.\u201d<\/p>\n Cliff made it over to Joe while Trenton kept his gun pointed directly at him.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s wrists and ankles were untied and he stood up.\u00a0 Looking around he gauged the situation trying to figure out if there was any way to take the two men and still get Pa out safely.<\/p>\n \u201cI can just hear those wheels turning in your head, Jim.\u00a0 No there\u2019s no other means of escape other than me letting you go.\u00a0 Outside this room are two other armed men who have been told to shoot to kill.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shot a quick glance over to his father and then back to the masked man who appeared to be the one in charge of everyone there.<\/p>\n \u201cNow do you want to try at this test or do you want us to tie you back up.\u00a0 I\u2019ve no idea how long I\u2019m going to keep you \u2013 or if you\u2019re expendable.\u00a0 So, you make your choice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGive me the danged test!\u201d Joe shouted.<\/p>\n \u201cWell there are a few parts to it \u2013 but I can assure you it\u2019s nothing too hard.\u00a0 Now here\u2019s the first part.\u00a0 I want you to walk over to that man across the room and punch him square in the face.\u00a0 Give it your best shot!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stared over at his father and dread was all over his face.\u00a0 There was no way on earth that he could hit his father.\u00a0 He\u2019d rather take a bullet than to ever do that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the hold up, Jim?\u00a0 You said you didn\u2019t care who he was.\u00a0 Just go give him a slug in the face and you\u2019re a step closer to getting out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe knew he had to stall for time but he was unsure as to how to do it.\u00a0 \u201cListen Mister, just because I don\u2019t care about that guy doesn\u2019t mean I like to just go around slugging people for no reason.\u00a0 Besides he\u2019s a lot older than me \u2013 it\u2019s not exactly fair to him, don\u2019t you think?\u201d<\/p>\n Trenton drew closer to Joe and said, \u201cWell maybe you\u2019d just like to shoot him then?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?!\u201d Joe asked incredulously.\u00a0 \u201cYou want me to shoot him now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust wing him, I\u2019m not asking you to murder him.\u00a0 I mean if you don\u2019t want to hit him then I\u2019m going to have to ask you to do something a bit more drastic.\u00a0 Make your choice now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNeither,\u201d Joe stated and looked away from everyone in the room.\u00a0 He was starting to have a sick feeling in his stomach.\u00a0 Joe was taken back to a cabin in his mind and to things which he fought not to remember.\u00a0 But, the memories were tugging at him now, memories of having to do things against his will because of the threats of what would happen to him if he didn\u2019t go through with them.<\/p>\n Trenton lifted his gun and pointed it directly at Ben Cartwright.\u00a0 \u201cHere you go, Jim.\u00a0 If you\u2019re not going to slug that man over there I\u2019m going to shoot him and I promise you I won\u2019t be merely winging him!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shot a look over to his son and tried his best to send him a slight nod that he needed to do what the man had said.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright I\u2019ll slug him — put down the damn gun!\u201d Joe shouted.\u00a0 Feeling as though he was going to throw up right there in the middle of the room, he started over to his Pa.\u00a0 As he grew closer he noticed Pa was trying to give him the okay with his eyes but it wasn\u2019t making it any easier on him.\u00a0 Joe felt awful that he hadn\u2019t had the chance to go through with the plan that he had devised, but he hoped that once the two men were done with whatever game they were now playing that he\u2019d be sure to get Pa out and then he would one by one kill them all.\u00a0 He was beyond caring about the law anymore.\u00a0 Joe figured that as long as there was evil that just kept coming at the Cartwrights that they had every right to fight back.\u00a0 And Joe had promised himself that he wouldn\u2019t be a victim anymore.<\/p>\n Joe had to remember that he was supposed to be right handed, so when he threw the punch it had landed just under Pa\u2019s left eye.\u00a0 He had tried to pull it at the last minute, but still Joe\u2019s right fist had made contact.\u00a0 His stomach knotted up when he saw Pa\u2019s head turn sharply to the right after he\u2019d thrown the punch.\u00a0 Joe prayed that he hadn\u2019t split his father\u2019s skin.\u00a0 He tried not to show the awful regret he felt and fought to hide the tears which were beginning to form in his eyes.\u00a0 Joe had to try and will them away to disguise the fact that he was the man\u2019s son.<\/p>\n \u201cNot too bad there, Jim!\u201d Trenton laughed and walked closer to both Cartwrights.\u00a0 He reached down and looked at Ben\u2019s face and saw the red mark which was growing darker.\u00a0 \u201cYou ready for your next part of the test now?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe still fought back the sickness he felt in his stomach.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t believe that he had thrown a punch at his own father.\u00a0 He would rather have taken a bullet to the head.\u00a0 \u201cWhat now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I figured that it wasn\u2019t really fair that you hit this poor defenseless man, Jim.\u00a0\u00a0 So, we\u2019re going to untie him too.\u201d\u00a0 Trenton pointed for Cliff to untie Ben and he signaled one of the men in the next room inside to cover both Cartwrights.\u00a0 Ben pulled himself up and stared over at Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Ben, this time you get the first punch then you both can have at it.\u00a0 Last one standing gets out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n Pa looked over at Joe and there was surrender in his eyes.\u00a0 Though he had urged Joseph to send that punch to him so he wouldn\u2019t have to watch him get shot by the vile man before them both, there was just no way he\u2019d ever hurt his son.<\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u00a0 Ben don\u2019t you want to get even with this kid who just hit you?\u00a0 And don\u2019t the two of you want a chance for freedom?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not striking a boy,\u201d Ben replied.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know this kid but I\u2019ve got a boy about his age and I\u2019m just not doing it.\u00a0\u00a0 Go ahead and threaten to kill me, it doesn\u2019t matter I won\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSomething tells me that you two prisoners must have bonded in some way over supper.\u00a0 You seem awful respectful of each other\u2019s feelings to be perfect strangers,\u201d Trenton said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not fighting this man either,\u201d Joe said and looked away from his father, still feeling awful for having hit him, though at the time it was to save him from being shot.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, then what we\u2019ll do is the same bargain.\u00a0 Ben, if you don\u2019t throw your punch at Jim here we\u2019re going to shoot him.\u00a0 Maybe in the leg maybe in the arm or maybe we\u2019ll just have target practice and get a few limbs at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe turned and finally shared a glance with his Pa.\u00a0 He tried to show him that he was okay with taking a punch.\u00a0 In fact Joe thought it might help him to feel better after what he had just done.<\/p>\n Ben watched as the two men who were apparently hired guns of the man who kept forcing tests on both him and Joe leveled their six-guns towards the boy.\u00a0 He heard the hammers pull back and saw them take aim as Joe stood helplessly against the wall.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll do it,\u201d Ben finally sounded out before a bullet could ring out.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s see your best there, Ben.\u00a0 A simple tap isn\u2019t going to stop those guns,\u201d Trenton continued to manipulate his prisoners.<\/p>\n Ben drew closer to Joe and he stared directly into his son\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 Joe could see the slight glistening of tears as Pa looked at him.\u00a0 Joe gave a discreet nod that he was fine with it.\u00a0 Ben drew in a deep breath and sent a punch which landed very close to the same exact area where Joe had struck him, just under his left eye.\u00a0 Joe turned from the punch and fought a groan.\u00a0 Pa had tried to pull the punch at the last minute but Joe had turned into it so that the fist would make a fuller impact.\u00a0 Ben had to fight his desire to pull his son towards him and tell him how sorry he felt to have done that.\u00a0 Joe nodded again that he was okay, still trying to hide the recognition in his eyes from the men in the room.<\/p>\n \u201cNot too bad, Ben,\u201d Trenton called and walked closer to both of the Cartwrights.<\/p>\n Joe couldn\u2019t stand it anymore.\u00a0 It might have been because he still felt ill from having hit his Pa or it might have been the forced reminder of his past with the men who had held him hostage.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t sure.\u00a0 Joe only knew that he couldn\u2019t take it anymore.\u00a0 He lunged at the man who had made him hit Pa.\u00a0 Surprised by the sudden movement, Trenton took several blows from Joe\u2019s dominant left hand.\u00a0 Joe hit as hard as he possibly could hoping to strike a fatal blow.\u00a0 Cliff came forward to help Trenton and Joe dodged him and then dove towards his knees knocking him down.\u00a0 Just as Joe grabbed for the man\u2019s fallen Colt he felt the sharp piercing glance of a bullet which ripped through his right side.\u00a0 The one name Bill had decided to get the situation under control and had fired his gun.\u00a0 Ben had tried to help Joe but the boy moved too fast and by the time he was about to put Trenton into a choke hold he heard the gun go off and witnessed Joe falling to the floor.<\/p>\n Trenton stood up and looked down at Joe Cartwright and then over to Ben.\u00a0 \u201cYou have a very stupid kid, Ben Cartwright.\u00a0 I\u2019ve known it was your son the whole time.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben knelt down and tried to help the boy.<\/p>\n \u201cTie them back up!\u00a0 And this time I want their hands tied behind them.\u00a0 I\u2019m not taking any chances with these two,\u201d Trenton yelled. He watched as Bill and Cliff separated the two Cartwrights and then tied their hands behind them and then bound their ankles again.<\/p>\n \u201cMy son needs help!\u00a0 You can\u2019t just let him sit there and bleed to death!\u201d Ben exclaimed.\u00a0 \u201cDo whatever you want to me just don\u2019t let him die!\u201d<\/p>\n Trenton walked over to Joe and looked down at his wound.\u00a0 He turned back to Ben and said, \u201cIt\u2019s nothing fatal.\u00a0\u00a0 He\u2019ll just hurt for a while.\u00a0 Oh, and I never wanted you<\/strong>, Ben.\u00a0 I captured you in order to lure Joe here.\u00a0 Imagine that, it worked, though it was fun watching the two of you pretending not to know each other and exchanging those punches.\u00a0 I\u2019ll let you in on the plan I have for you both a bit later.\u00a0 Enjoy the time you have left with your son, Ben, because you don\u2019t have long.\u00a0\u00a0 Now you two have a good night.\u201d\u00a0 Trenton and all of his henchmen left the room securing the door behind them.<\/p>\n Ben waited until he heard the heavy plank of wood falling across the door once more and then he made sure that there weren\u2019t any eyes peering through the window. \u00a0He inched his way over to his son who was trying to ease his way over to the back wall.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph — are you okay?\u201d\u00a0 He asked worriedly.<\/p>\n Joe bit back his pain and replied, \u201cI\u2019m sorry I hit you, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph they were going to shoot me.\u00a0 Now I let you know that I was okay with it, so stop it!\u00a0 And by the way, you know how badly I feel for having to hit you too.\u00a0 I would\u2019ve done anything to prevent doing that if I could have.\u00a0 Now why in the heck did you turn into that punch?\u00a0 I was trying to pull it but you made it worse by doing that!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI deserved it for hitting you, Pa.\u00a0 It never should\u2019ve come to that.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t think I could ever hate anyone more than I do the Dalton brothers, but now I do.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben worried that his son was merging the two events into one in his mind now, and it made the current situation that much harder for Joe to cope with.<\/p>\n Trying to focus on the most urgent need at the time, Pa attempted to inspect the wound to his son\u2019s side as best he could.\u00a0 He had to position his body so that his hands, which were now tied tightly behind him, moved aside the bottom of Joe\u2019s shirt.\u00a0 He then turned back around to look down at the wound.\u00a0\u00a0 Apparently the slug had passed straight through the right side of the boy\u2019s waist.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t appear to be too bad however the wound was still bleeding.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s not much I can do to help you due to my hands being tied up like this, Joseph,\u201d Ben sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m okay,\u201d Joe whispered.\u00a0 \u201cI was hoping that the bullet would get Jim and not me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not funny.\u00a0 What happened?\u00a0 You had to know that we were outnumbered, Joseph — why did you go after both of those men like that?\u00a0 You almost got yourself killed,\u201d Ben inquired as he lowered himself down alongside of Joe.<\/p>\n Joe shook his head and sighed.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know, Pa — I guess it was witnessing all of the games that they were playing with us.\u00a0 I swore that no-one would get the better of me ever again but they did.\u00a0 I can\u2019t believe that they made me hit you!\u00a0 I just couldn\u2019t handle that, Pa.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t know what else they might make me do — and I was scared.\u00a0 I just had to do something!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph — it wasn\u2019t worth the chance that you took.\u00a0 Don\u2019t you think I can handle one punch?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah \u2013 you can \u2013 but I can\u2019t!\u00a0 It all reminded me of — never mind,\u201d Joe trailed off.<\/p>\n Ben stared into Joe\u2019s eyes and knew exactly what he was thinking.\u00a0 The boy\u2019s nerves were still raw due to all he had gone through just a few months ago.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s mind kept going back to that cabin and all of the ways that he had been forced to do things that he would never have done willingly.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will be okay, Joe,\u201d Ben tried to reassure his son.<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 I\u2019m going to get you out of here or die trying.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been trying to tell you all day about the plan I have but I keep getting interrupted by either someone there by that window or those men who just barged in here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, we can\u2019t do much tonight anyway.\u00a0 I\u2019ll let you tell me as long as you don\u2019t try anything until that wound stops bleeding.\u00a0 Okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded and leaned back against the wall next to his Pa.\u00a0 \u201cPa I didn\u2019t come unprepared.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d Ben whispered.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got a knife,\u201d Joe replied and then winced his face due to the pain in his side.\u00a0 He dropped his head down to indicate where the knife was inside of his boot.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you STILL<\/strong> carrying that thing in your boot?\u201d Ben asked incredulously.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir,\u201d Joe replied.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought I told you to get rid of it!\u201d\u00a0 Ben admonished his son.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew I\u2019d need it someday, knowing my track record it was only a matter of time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA knife is better than nothing but those men all have guns, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo do I Pa,\u201d Joe smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked, wondering if the boy was perhaps getting a little woozy from the blood loss.<\/p>\n \u201cNo really I do.\u00a0 It\u2019s just a derringer but it\u2019s one of those new double shot ones.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got it inside my boot too, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you have room for your foot?\u201d Ben quipped.<\/p>\n \u201cI had these boots made special so there\u2019s lots of room.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen did you do that, Joseph?\u201d Ben asked raising his eyebrows wondering if his son was just kidding about all the weapons he was carrying.<\/p>\n \u201cAbout two days after we got back from Buckhorn Meadow,\u201d Joe returned and his face showed how deadly serious he was.\u00a0 It was at Buckhorn Meadow where the Paiute Chief Winnemucca had taken care of the men who had kidnapped and tortured Joe for months.<\/p>\n \u201cI see,\u201d Ben nodded.\u00a0 It was all starting to make sense now.\u00a0 He was well aware of the fact that Joseph had gone through so much that it had affected him in ways that no-one else could possibly understand.\u00a0 That is, no-one except his father.\u00a0 It was Pa who was standing there alongside of Joe when he had walked through that cabin just two months ago and painfully described to his father exactly how his captors had abused him.\u00a0 Now it all made complete sense to Ben that Joseph would have tried to think of every possible scenario that could befall him and try to come up with a way to overcome them so he wouldn\u2019t end up a victim again.<\/p>\n \u201cSo Pa I\u2019ll give you your choice of weapons.\u00a0 You can have my boot knife or the double shot derringer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat derringer in your boot isn\u2019t loaded is it?\u201d Ben asked, with a bit of trepidation in his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course not — I may be a bit rash at times but I\u2019m not stupid.\u00a0 I have the bullets in the heel of my boot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait,\u201d Ben paused and tilted his head so he could see directly into the kid\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cYou are serious that you have a what — eight inch knife in one boot and a derringer in the other along with bullets in your heel?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe scrunched his face as he fought the pain caused by the bullet wound and then replied. \u201cYep,\u201d Joe nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI have a false heel to my left boot.\u00a0 You remember that I had to have my boot fixed when I got out of that leg brace, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Son — I remember,\u201d Ben nodded and thought back to his son\u2019s injury. \u00a0The boy\u2019s leg had been broken by the men who had held him captive and since Joe hadn\u2019t been able to see a doctor right away he had needed surgery to have it fixed.\u00a0 When he got home from the hospital in San Francisco he was in a leg brace that hooked there at the bottom of his left boot.\u00a0 After he was finally able to come out of that brace, the boot had to be fixed.\u00a0 The metal rod which had been secured against the heel in order to keep Joe\u2019s leg straight as it mended had caused damage to the boy\u2019s boot.\u00a0 Ben had no idea that instead of simply having the boot repaired that Joe had bought a whole new pair in order to accommodate the weapons he had chosen.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, when I was there at the shoe maker I asked if he could help me out.\u00a0 He made these new and rigged the left heel so that it\u2019s hollow.\u00a0 It just has a little metal lever so it swings out so I can put the bullets inside.\u00a0 It fit four but I probably could\u2019ve gotten six in there.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stared at his son hard wondering if it was healthy for the boy to have that much anxiety about being put into another awful situation.\u00a0 However, due to the trouble that they now found themselves in, Ben figured maybe Joseph\u2019s instincts had been correct.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019s the derringer then?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh \u2013 he rigged up this little holder inside the same boot.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t want to have the knife and the derringer inside the same boot \u2013 you know it might rub against my leg or ankle,\u201d Joe answered very matter-of-factly.<\/p>\n Ben shook his head gave a weary smile, in spite of all that had gone on that night.\u00a0 \u201cJoe, I was worried about you cutting yourself with that boot knife and now I\u2019ll be even more worried that you\u2019re going to shoot yourself in the foot!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d rather be the one who shoots me, Pa — than one of these maniacs I keep running into.\u00a0 Hey \u2013 that guy kind of sounded like Preston, didn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded, \u201cMust be a relative.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t even know the ranch was up and running.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe neither.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen how did you figure I was out here, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I had to think of the last person in our family who got kidnapped and who did it and that was yours truly and it was a Hilliard who started the whole thing.\u00a0 Then I went and got some field glasses and waited for my chance.\u00a0 I should\u2019ve thought about it sooner but I went to a bunch of line shacks first.\u00a0 By the way everyone is out looking for you.\u00a0 They thought you were abducted due to that bid.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sighed and replied, \u201cHang that bid, I just want to get you out of here before they shoot us or you shoot yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo you want the derringer or what?\u201d Joe got back to business.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t care \u2013 you choose,\u201d Ben sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou take the gun, Pa.\u00a0 I\u2019m a bit quicker than you so I\u2019ll take the knife,\u201d Joe reasoned.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, you sure were quick tonight \u2013 quick to get shot!\u201d Ben retorted.<\/p>\n \u201cI know \u2013 but now I\u2019ve got a lot of anger that\u2019ll help me to react faster.\u00a0 Tomorrow as soon as we get the chance—whenever that door gets opened we\u2019ll try our luck, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben eased back against the wall.\u00a0 He leaned over and nudged his son\u2019s arm using his elbow.\u00a0 He replied, \u201cOkay, Jim.\u201d<\/p>\n Relieved that his father was apparently open to his plan, Joe allowed himself to ease down a bit in order to rest his head against his father\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 He closed his eyes and tried to get comfortable so he could get some sleep.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m still sorry that I hit you, Pa,\u201d He whispered.<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t much of a hit,\u201d Ben teased and closed his eyes.<\/p>\n Joe grinned at what Pa had said because he had heard that line before many years ago during another intense moment in his life.\u00a0 Pa had used it to lighten the mood and it had worked, so evidently his father had saved it to use again.\u00a0 His thoughts quickly turned to the precarious situation that they now found themselves to be in.\u00a0 He was gun shot, and both he and Pa would no doubt be sporting matching black eyes the next day.\u00a0 But, they were alive and together and they had the Cartwright tenacity along with a good amount of faith.\u00a0 Joe prayed that those two things would carry them through and that they would soon be free.\u00a0 He noticed that Pa had fallen off to sleep first.\u00a0 Joe was leaning against his father\u2019s left shoulder so he was able to look up and catch just a glimpse of where he had punched him. \u00a0\u00a0He had to fight back his tears over having done that to Pa.\u00a0 He hated that he couldn\u2019t have found another way out of that test that Hilliard had forced upon him.\u00a0 Pa had said that he was okay with it all and yes it was true that his father had been forced to hit him also.\u00a0 But, that was altogether different.\u00a0 Pa had the right if he wanted to raise a hand to him, but Joe was his son and it was just plain wrong to hit his father.\u00a0 It just wasn\u2019t natural and it just kept on eating at Joe\u2019s insides the more he dwelt on it.\u00a0 Months ago Joe had sworn to himself that no-one would ever force him to do something that he didn\u2019t want to do and now it had happened yet again.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t help thinking about the months he had been held in captivity and all that he had been forced to do back then.\u00a0 And, though he had been hurt very badly, at least he was the only one who had been harmed back then, not his father. *** Someone\u2019s going to pay for making me do that to you Pa!\u00a0 Maybe all of the men who were in here tonight and forced me to hit you \u2013 yeah they\u2019re all going to pay for it!\u00a0 But, I\u2019m gonna get you out of here first.\u00a0 I promised you that I\u2019ll get you home and I will.\u00a0 Rest Pa \u2013 I\u2019ve got this one ***<\/em><\/strong> Joe made yet another vow to himself, and he would do his utmost to keep this one.<\/p>\n ************************************<\/p>\n Joe didn\u2019t know how long he had been sleeping it might have been a few minutes or a few hours.\u00a0 He had somehow moved down off of his father\u2019s shoulder and was lying on his back there on the wood floor.\u00a0 Joe awoke to a very familiar feeling.\u00a0 Though it had been several months, he knew what it was right away.\u00a0 He warily opened his eyes and there it was just looking over at him.\u00a0 Joe thought about the irony of it all, the fact that two times in the same year he had been held hostage and two times something had crawled onto his chest to provide comfort to him.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m okay, I\u2019m not alone this time,\u201d Joe whispered towards the glow of red eyes which stared over at him.<\/p>\n Ben must have been between slumber and wakefulness as he had heard the soft whisper of his son.\u00a0 He opened his eyes as worry fell upon him.\u00a0 Pa thought that Joseph might be trying to call out to him because of the wound to his side.\u00a0 He looked over at his boy and suddenly jerked back involuntarily.<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 Pa \u2013 it\u2019s okay.\u00a0 It\u2019s not hurting me.\u00a0 Somehow these little guys just know when I\u2019m injured,\u201d Joe tried to ease his father\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, will you kindly tell your little friend that he needs to go elsewhere?\u201d Ben whispered and eased a little farther away from his son.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d Joe nodded and then looked down at the rat.\u00a0 \u201cGo on there\u2019s a little food on my plate over there \u2013 go on now,\u201d Joe called down to the rat.\u00a0 The rodent slowly crawled down from his chest and moved over to the metal plate there on the floor about five feet from where the two Cartwrights had been slumbering.<\/p>\n Ben shook his head in dismay and moved a tad farther down the wall.\u00a0 He was concerned over the fact that Joseph had become a bit too comfortable around rodents ever since his three month captivity. \u00a0\u00a0\u201cSon, I need to have a talk with you some time about this rat thing,\u201d Pa whispered.<\/p>\n Joe grinned and pulled himself up against the wall and replied, \u201cThey\u2019re really not as awful as they look, Pa.\u00a0 You should be glad you didn\u2019t have to spend months imprisoned alone or maybe you\u2019d be talking to rats by now too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell then I\u2019m very thankful that I have you for company instead of a rat,\u201d Ben laughed.\u00a0 \u201cNow if it\u2019s safe let\u2019s get some shuteye.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s safe.\u00a0\u00a0 He\u2019s not going to bother you.\u00a0 He\u2019ll just finish eating and then leave.\u00a0 Go back to sleep, Pa,\u201d Joe whispered and noticed how his father shot him an uneasy glance, wondering if the rodent was truly going to simply leave once it had eaten.\u00a0 With a bit of apprehension, Ben moved back to sit next to his son.\u00a0 Joe leaned back against Pa\u2019s shoulder, closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.<\/p>\n ************************************<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss stood at the telegraph office in Virginia City.\u00a0 They had sent numerous inquiries about the reward they were offering for their father\u2019s safe return and needed to find out if they had gotten any word back from the surrounding towns where those wires had been sent earlier in the week.<\/p>\n \u201cNope, sorry, Boys,\u201d Pete said as he shuffled through the stacks of telegraphs there on his desk.\u00a0 Nothing\u2019s come in for the Cartwrights all week.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, nothing except our brother\u2019s wire from Stockton,\u201d Adam muttered.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u00a0 I never received a telegram from Little Joe \u2013 not since he sent one to your Pa before he disappeared saying he\u2019d be home in a few days,\u201d Pete insisted.<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam exchanged confused glances.\u00a0 \u201cAre you sure, Pete?\u00a0 Could someone else have taken the message?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Hoss, the apprentice I have has been out sick for almost five days now.\u00a0 Doc says he\u2019s got a touch of pneumonia, but he\u2019s gonna be okay.\u00a0 So it\u2019s just been me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut Fletcher said he got a wire from you that Little Joe sent from Stockton about three days ago,\u201d Adam persisted.<\/p>\n \u201cWell I don\u2019t know what he\u2019s talking about because like I said the last wire from Joe was to your Pa and I gave it directly to him.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss sighed and said, \u201cThanks, Pete.\u00a0 We\u2019ll check in with you tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam hurried to his horse followed by his brother.\u00a0 \u201cSomething\u2019s up, Hoss and I\u2019m going to shake it out of Fletcher!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou and me both,\u201d Hoss insisted and mounted alongside of his brother and they turned their horses for the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n ***********************************<\/p>\n The bunkhouse was already dark by the time both Adam and Hoss had arrived home that night but that didn\u2019t deter them. \u00a0They walked in and over to Fletcher\u2019s bunk and woke him out of a sound sleep.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? What\u2019s going on?\u201d Fletcher asked, shooting up in his bed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat gives about you telling us that a telegram came in from Little Joe, Fletcher?\u201d Adam asked loudly.<\/p>\n \u201cOh,\u201d He muttered and pulled up his suspenders.\u00a0 \u201cNow don\u2019t you two go off on me it was your danged kid brother who put me up to it.\u00a0 I ran into him up on the western border when I was watching those ornery cows.\u00a0 I seen a campfire and went to run the varmint off until I saw that it was Little Joe.\u00a0 The boy looked a mess too!\u00a0 He didn\u2019t know anything about your Pa going missing and he got a wild idea that he could find him.\u00a0 The boy was filthy and wearing old clothes and sporting a right handed holster to boot!\u00a0 I tried to talk him out of it but — well you know the kid when he\u2019s got his mind set on something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019d he go?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know exactly, Hoss.\u00a0 I saw him again a day ago and he asked me for some field glasses but didn\u2019t tell me anything.\u00a0 He\u2019s trying to look like a dirty saddle tramp to try to get information on your Pa is all\u2019s I know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI should\u2019ve known,\u201d Hoss sighed wearily.\u00a0 \u201cHe promised Pa he\u2019d get back on time and he did.\u00a0 Joe might make you and me wait, Adam, but he ain\u2019t about to get himself in trouble with Pa if he can help it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo now we have two missing,\u201d Adam sighed and leaned against the railing to the bunk.\u00a0 \u201cIs there anything else that you can remember?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell he\u2019s riding a gray mare without a brand.\u00a0 That\u2019s all.\u00a0 And we had a deal that if he didn\u2019t find your Pa in seven days he was going to come in and tell you two that he coerced me to get me off of the hook.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s our little brother,\u201d Hoss said and fought a smile.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Fletcher, but the next time Joe tries to get you involved in any of his schemes hit him!\u201d Adam insisted.<\/p>\n \u201cI already told him that I\u2019m about ready to shoot him,\u201d Fletcher grinned.<\/p>\n Adam nodded and said, \u201cThat\u2019s okay by me.\u00a0 Goodnight.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam walked back into the ranch house and tried to figure out where their brother got a gray mare.\u00a0 They wouldn\u2019t have been surprised if the kid had stolen it.\u00a0 That was Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n *************************************<\/p>\n Joe had once again moved down onto his back on the wood floor during his sleep and Ben had awakened to the sound of his son apparently having a nightmare.\u00a0 He had heard groaning first and then witnessed Joe moving his head from side to side while muttering the word \u201cno\u201d over and over again.\u00a0 Pa slowly eased over to his son and attempted to awaken him with a slight push using his legs against Joe\u2019s.\u00a0 Without warning, Joe vaulted up from the floor and fell straight back down due to the ropes which bound his ankles together.\u00a0 Ben was surprised by Joe\u2019s sudden move and watched helplessly as he landed back down onto the hard wood floor.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t been able to assist the boy due to the way his hands were bound.\u00a0 Ben hadn\u2019t been able to help in any way, though we wanted to try to catch his fall.\u00a0 He cursed the men who had tied his wrists behind him the previous night.<\/p>\n Joe groaned as he came out of the dream upon hitting the hard floor.\u00a0 He struggled to figure out where he was and just why he was tied up.\u00a0 For just a minute he was sure that he was back inside the cellar where he had spent months in a living hell.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re okay, Joseph.\u00a0 I\u2019m here,\u201d Ben whispered as he drew closer to his son.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d Joe muttered, as he finally surveyed his surroundings.\u00a0 \u201cI thought that—<\/p>\n Ben cut the boy off and moved right next to him.\u00a0 He knew exactly what Joe was thinking as he could read it in his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cI know, Son \u2013 but you\u2019re in here with me \u2013 you\u2019re not back there at the cabin.\u00a0 That cabin is all gone \u2013 remember we burnt it down?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe pulled himself back up and scooted against the wall where he had been earlier before the nightmare had launched him up.\u00a0 He seethed inwardly over the fact that there were ropes holding his wrists and ankles.\u00a0 Joe felt as though the restraints were growing tighter by the minute.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s get these off of us!\u201d Joe insisted breathlessly, indicating the ropes.<\/p>\n \u201cTake a breath, Joseph — come on,\u201d Pa urged the boy to try to relax for just a minute before doing anything else. He could tell that his son was on the verge of all out panic taking over.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Pa!\u00a0 I want out of these \u2013 now!\u201d Joe yelled.\u00a0 He had dreamt about the cabin and when he came around and found himself bound up again he couldn\u2019t take it anymore.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m going to move my legs behind you and you reach inside my right boot and get the knife.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot until you take a deep breath and calm down,\u201d Ben stated firmly.<\/p>\n \u201cC\u2019mon, Pa, I\u2019ve got to get free!\u201d Joe fussed.<\/p>\n \u201cDo it now, Joseph,\u201d Ben continued to hold fast to his demand.<\/p>\n Joe drew in a deep breath and held it for a minute and let it out slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cAgain,\u201d Pa persisted.<\/p>\n Joe did the same thing again, though he was growing angrier that his father wasn\u2019t adhering to his request.<\/p>\n \u201cJust one more time, Son,\u201d Ben called over to the boy because he could still read the fearfulness there in Joe\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 He could tell that his son was filled with haunting memories of the cabin and all that had happened to him there.<\/p>\n \u201cPa!\u201d Joe fumed over his father\u2019s persistence.<\/p>\n \u201cYou heard me, Joseph,\u201d Ben\u2019s eyebrows narrowed, showing he meant business.<\/p>\n Joe took in another deep breath and held it again and then let it out slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cGood \u2013 now do you feel a bit calmer?\u201d Pa asked and this time he sent an understanding smile over to his son.<\/p>\n Joe sighed and shook his head.\u00a0 He knew what Pa was attempting to do and why.\u00a0 His father had read the panic which was very evident on his face and Joe knew he couldn\u2019t have hidden it if his life had depended on it.\u00a0 Finally he sighed, \u201cOkay, Pa \u2013 it\u2019s passed for the time being.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo apology necessary, I understand,\u201d Ben nodded towards his son and shot him a knowing smile.\u00a0 \u201cAlright, now go ahead and put your legs behind me, but I\u2019m telling you that if I end up cutting your leg when I pull that knife out I don\u2019t want to hear one complaint,\u201d Ben warned and watched as his son slowly inched behind him.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m doing this blind, Joe, so do what you can to tilt that boot in order for me to figure out just what I\u2019m doing,\u201d Ben whispered.<\/p>\n Joe attempted to position his right boot up against Pa\u2019s back so he could feel where it was.\u00a0 Then slowly and very carefully Ben reached down inside the boot and searched for the weapon.\u00a0 \u00a0His hands fell upon the knife and he took it into his bound wrists.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to lean forward in order to pull the knife out, Joe.\u00a0\u00a0 Now try to angle your boot away from me just a bit to give me some room to do this — but not too much.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe did as instructed and watched his father making the maneuver.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ve got it, Pa \u2013 just a couple more inches and you\u2019ll have it out,\u201d Joe sang out.<\/p>\n Ben finally had a good grip on the knife and he pulled it up into his bound hands.\u00a0 He let out a relieved breath and then said, \u201cOkay, now what, Genius?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust try to hold it out horizontally and I\u2019ll turn around and put my wrists right by the blade.\u00a0 Then all you\u2019ve got to do is saw a bit through the ropes.\u201d<\/p>\n Pa shook his head and sang out adamantly, \u201cNo I want you to move your wrists back and forth so you do the sawing.\u00a0 I\u2019m not going to chance cutting you!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe frowned he hadn\u2019t wanted to tell his father the fact that his side was killing him at the time and he didn\u2019t relish moving around too much.\u00a0 But, he decided to go along with what Pa had said.\u00a0 He moved behind his father and positioned his wrists so the blade would be right where they separated.\u00a0 It was very slow going and he had to tell his father that he needed a break every few minutes in order to stay the pain from his side wound.\u00a0 Approximately fifteen minutes from the time when he had begun trying to cut through the ropes Joe was finally freed from them.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Pa!\u201d Joe exclaimed as he pulled his hands free and then untied his ankles.\u00a0 \u201cNow I\u2019ll get those ropes off of you.\u201d\u00a0 Joe turned around and untied his father\u2019s wrists and his ankles.\u00a0 \u201cNow keep those ropes somewhere close, because we\u2019re going to make it look like we\u2019re still tied up when they come in here.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stood and stretched and watched as his son did the same.\u00a0 \u201cWell, they know we are father and son now so just sit back against the wall with me so we can get a good look at them when they come in here,\u201d Pa insisted.<\/p>\n Joe moved over to his father and leaned back against the wall.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me get a good look at that side while we\u2019re waiting,\u201d Ben insisted.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine, Pa,\u201d Joe sighed, his injury was the last thing he was concerned about at the time.<\/p>\n Ignoring what Joe had said, Ben reached over and pulled his son\u2019s shirt up to get a good look at the gunshot wound.\u00a0 He shook his head and removed his neckerchief and placed it over the injury.\u00a0 \u201cThis needs tending, Joe.\u00a0 But, I guess we\u2019ve got to get out of here first.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stared over at his father\u2019s face and frowned.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa,\u201d He apologized.<\/p>\n Ben looked back over at Joe and asked, \u201cSorry for what?\u201d<\/p>\n Taking a deep breath, Joe pointed over at his father\u2019s left eye and said, \u201cYou\u2019ve got a shiner — and it\u2019s because of me.\u201d<\/p>\n Pa grinned over at his son and laughed.\u00a0 \u201cThat may be the case, Son, but if you could see your own eye you\u2019d know you\u2019ve probably got a worse one than I have.\u00a0 It\u2019s going to be interesting to explain these black eyes to your brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shook his head filled with remorse.\u00a0 He finally replied sullenly, \u201cPa — please don\u2019t tell them that I hit you \u2013 I don\u2019t want them to know.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben patted his son\u2019s arm and nodded over at him.\u00a0 \u201cOkay, I guess there\u2019s no real reason to explain.\u00a0 I\u2019m not too happy about being the cause of your shiner either so we\u2019ll just keep it between the two of us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo, what is your plan for when they come in, Joseph?\u201d Ben got back to the problem at hand.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to lay slumped against the wall with the knife behind me in my hands.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0When they come in you tell them I haven\u2019t moved or said anything.\u00a0 Then tell them that you think my wound is a lot worse than they said it was.\u00a0 When they bend down to check on me you take the derringer —<\/p>\n Joe stopped in mid-sentence and reached into his left boot and removed the gun.\u00a0 Then he pulled his left boot off and turned it upside down.\u00a0 He showed his father the bottom of his boot and the lever that allowed him to retrieve the bullets from the hollowed out heel.\u00a0 He removed all four bullets and handed them to Pa.<\/p>\n \u201cGo ahead and load two of the bullets and put these other two inside your shirt pocket, Pa,\u201d Joe instructed.<\/p>\n Ben grinned, so amazed that Joe had been telling him the truth about what he had been hiding inside of his boot.\u00a0 He had thought that Joe might have been making the whole thing up.\u00a0 Yes, he knew Joseph probably had the boot knife but he really didn\u2019t believe that the kid had both a derringer and a hollowed boot heel that held bullets in it.\u00a0 He loaded the weapon and dropped it inside his shirt pocket for the time being, along with the two extra bullets.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are assuming that only one person comes in here, Joseph.\u00a0 What if two come in here?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe frowned and thought about the scenario which his father had posed.\u00a0 \u201cIf one comes over to check on me and one is over by you — then I\u2019ll get the one with my knife when he reaches down to check on me and hopefully the other one tries to help the man next to me — then you hold that gun to him — or darn it \u2013 just\u00a0 shoot everyone who comes in here!\u00a0 Just reload that thing quickly.\u00a0 They\u2019ve all got it coming!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben was stunned by what Joe had said.\u00a0 He wondered what was going on inside of his mind at the time.\u00a0 The boy was apparently planning on killing everyone.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go over this again, Son — and let\u2019s try to calm down just a bit, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 they\u2019ve got guns and they wouldn\u2019t think twice about killing us.\u00a0 I\u2019m not playing around anymore!\u00a0 I want to kill every last one of them,\u201d Joe insisted.\u00a0 There was an intense appearance of savagery displayed in his eyes and on his face and it worried his father.<\/p>\n \u201cTake another breath, Joseph,\u201d Ben whispered and placed his hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder to try and calm him once again.<\/p>\n \u201cPa, I\u2019ll take as many deep breaths as you want me to, but it\u2019s not going to change the way I feel inside!\u00a0 Now let\u2019s go back over our plan and if we need to change things around we will,\u201d Joe returned as he leaned back against the wall again and closed his eyes.<\/p>\n Ben couldn\u2019t help the dread which had fallen over him after witnessing his son\u2019s behavior.\u00a0 He prayed that he\u2019d be able to get through to Joseph.\u00a0 However he could tell that his son was going back and forth between both of the times he\u2019d been held captive.\u00a0 Pa worried that the present situation was blending in with the past trauma that the boy had been put through and it seemed to be controlling Joe\u2019s actions.\u00a0 He had to figure out a better plan before the two of them would be face to face with their captors.<\/p>\n After a few silent minutes passed between both father and son, Ben called over, \u201cJoseph, we need to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTalk about what, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI realize you\u2019ve gone through a lot, but this need to simply kill everyone \u2013 well \u2013 you do know that it\u2019s not right \u2013 don\u2019t you?\u201d Pa asked quietly.<\/p>\n \u201cThey kidnapped you \u2013 kept you from your family \u2013 and later captured me.\u00a0 And from what that man said they did it on purpose to get me here.\u00a0 On top of all of that they made me punch you \u2013 and made you hit me.\u00a0 Then they just happened to shoot me in the side.\u00a0 Now you tell me why I shouldn\u2019t kill them, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf it\u2019s in self-defense that\u2019s one thing, Son, but you can\u2019t just gun someone down just because they\u2019ve done something wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell me the truth, Pa — if Chief Winnemucca hadn\u2019t gotten involved with killing the Dalton brothers would you have just turned them over to the law or would you have killed them?\u201d Joe asked as he stared intently at his father.<\/p>\n \u201cThese men aren\u2019t the Daltons,\u201d Ben replied softly.<\/p>\n \u201cI want an answer, would you have gunned them down after what they did to me or not?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly as he fought to answer his son.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t shoot them down in cold blood even though you knew how badly that I wanted to, Joseph.\u00a0 But, I\u2019m talking about what\u2019s happening right now.\u00a0 You seem to think it is okay to kill everyone here.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want that — not unless there isn\u2019t any other way around it.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe folded his arms across his chest and frowned.\u00a0 \u201cI say that we kill them so they won\u2019t ever have the chance to do something like this again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph \u2013 that\u2019s wrong and I know that YOU know that it is.\u00a0 If they try to kill either of us we will kill them, but if they don\u2019t then we\u2019re going to turn them into the law.\u00a0 I want that understood right now, Son.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just can\u2019t believe you\u2019re saying this to me!\u00a0 After all that I\u2019ve gone through \u2013 you think I should just leave everything to the law.\u00a0 The same law that turned those Daltons loose after not even finishing their sentence!\u00a0 The law is a joke, Pa!\u201d Joe insisted vehemently.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not perfect by any means,\u201d Ben nodded to his son.\u00a0 \u201cBut, it separates us from being like jungle animals.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to talk about this right now.\u00a0 Let\u2019s just get ready for when we hear someone about to come in here.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben reached over and grabbed his son\u2019s arm and forced his gaze.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m trying to stop you from doing something that will hurt you in the long run, Joseph.\u00a0 Now, I\u2019ll do everything I can to protect you, but I need you to listen to me about this.\u00a0 If we need to shoot to kill then we will, but only if we have to,\u201d Ben made his position known.<\/p>\n Joe frowned and closed his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cWhatever you say,\u201d He muttered half-heartedly.<\/p>\n Ben watched his son and wondered if he had listened or merely had given him lip service.\u00a0 Joe had changed so much since his encounter with the Daltons.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t blame the kid, because anyone who had been abused as much as Joseph had been would naturally be somewhat changed due to it.\u00a0 Still, his son had never been this blood thirsty.\u00a0 Quick tempered, yes, but blood thirsty no.\u00a0 He wished that one of his other sons had found him there at the Hilliard ranch and not his youngest.\u00a0 But, apparently the plan had been to use his father for bait and whoever had planned it had known exactly what Joe would do.\u00a0 They might have even followed Joe as he spent the month away from the Ponderosa.\u00a0 Ben hoped that his son\u2019s upbringing would prevent him from doing anything against the law.\u00a0 Deep down he knew Joseph to be a good hearted person, though if he was pushed too hard his temper sometimes won out over rational behavior.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u201d Ben whispered, after several minutes had passed without the boy saying anything.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan I ask you something?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to talk about the law anymore, Pa,\u201d Joe replied with a forced calm to his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 I was going to ask you about your vacation.\u00a0 How did it go?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe turned and cast a questioning gaze over at his father.\u00a0 \u201cIt went just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou left on that mare instead of Cochise and you were wearing that right handed holster.\u00a0 Would you mind telling me why?\u201d Ben persisted.<\/p>\n Joe sighed and looked away from his father\u2019s questioning eyes.\u00a0 \u201cI guess for the same reason why I\u2019m wearing these old clothes and didn\u2019t shave.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t understand \u2013 why?\u201d Ben continued to get his son to tell him the truth of the matter.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t want to be Joe Cartwright anymore,\u201d Joe confessed, and there was a great deal of sadness in his response.<\/p>\n Ben turned and eased his son\u2019s chin over towards him so he could look into his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you want to be yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I didn\u2019t want anybody to know it was me.\u00a0 I\u2019ve about had it with being kidnapped, held for ransom — or having somebody with a grudge trying to kill me, Pa!\u00a0 It was nice to not be me for a change,\u201d Joe admitted with pain very evident in all that he had described.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Joseph,\u201d Ben sighed filled with sorrow for all that his son had gone through in his short life.\u00a0 \u201cIf that\u2019s how you felt then why in the world did you come here knowing you\u2019d most likely be taken prisoner again?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stared earnestly into his father\u2019s eyes and answered, \u201cBecause my father was in here and it was the only way to get to him.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben reached over and placed his hand onto his son\u2019s arm.\u00a0 \u201cI wish you hadn\u2019t, Joe.\u00a0 You\u2019ve been through enough.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis was different, Pa.\u00a0 I know I did a lousy job trying to save you, but I had to try.\u00a0 I don\u2019t mind being Joe Cartwright if my father needs me,\u201d Joe insisted.<\/p>\n Pa grinned and shook his head, \u201cIt was a good disguise — you almost fooled me.\u00a0 You do look like a real bum.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe had to laugh at his father\u2019s statement.\u00a0 \u201cThat was exactly what I was going for,\u201d He nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI just wish it had worked, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll\u2019s not lost yet.\u00a0 We have a chance \u2013 thanks to that arsenal you had in your boots.\u201d<\/p>\n Before Joe could reply they heard the sound of someone coming close to the door.\u00a0 The two Cartwrights figured it was time to stage their escape plan.<\/p>\n Ben hurriedly moved to the wall across from Joe and closest to the door.\u00a0 He loosely set the ropes around his ankles and placed the other rope to look as though it was still binding his wrists behind his back.\u00a0 Joe took his ropes and did the same.\u00a0 He leaned against his left side with the knife held tightly behind his back.\u00a0 A few minutes later they heard the plank being drawn down from the door and the doorknob turning.\u00a0 Two men walked inside and stared over at both of the Cartwrights.<\/p>\n \u201cTime to get up, the boss has plans for you,\u201d The man who was in black sang out loudly.<\/p>\n \u201cMy son hasn\u2019t moved for hours!\u201d Ben shouted.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s hurt badly and I couldn\u2019t even tend him due to you tying my hands behind my back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo check the kid,\u201d The man in black said and watched as the one named Bill moved to check on Joe.<\/p>\n Ben watched as the man in black stared over towards Joe.\u00a0 He took the chance of pulling his hands up and reaching for the derringer in his pocket.<\/p>\n Bill reached down to Joe and shook his shoulder and didn\u2019t get a response.\u00a0 \u201cThe kid\u2019s either playing possum or he\u2019s hurt more than we thought,\u201d Bill said and the man in black started to move closer.<\/p>\n Ben jumped to his feet and pressed the derringer against the man in black\u2019s neck at the same time that he witnessed Joe turn and grab up his knife.\u00a0 He held it to Bill\u2019s neck and was readying to make a fatal cut.<\/p>\n \u201cNo Joseph!\u201d Ben yelled and watched as Bill\u2019s face went white.<\/p>\n Joe grabbed the man\u2019s Colt and held the knife with his right hand.\u00a0 He wanted to cut the man\u2019s throat but had to acquiesce due to the way Pa was staring over at him at the time.\u00a0 Ben had relieved the man in black of his weapon and shoved him over to the other man.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s tie them up, Son,\u201d Pa called to Joe and he reluctantly gathered up the two sets of rope lying on the floor where both he and his father had been sitting.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll never get out of here alive,\u201d The man in black announced.\u00a0 \u201cTrenton will be here any minute and he\u2019ll take care of both of you!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben watched as his son tied Bill first and then the man in black.\u00a0 He noticed that they both still wore bandannas over their faces and he yanked them off and used them to gag both men.\u00a0 Joe kicked Bill hard and called down to him.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s for the damned hole in my side!\u201d\u00a0 Joe yelled.<\/p>\n Ben made it over to Joe and put his hand on his shoulder to calm him.\u00a0 He could read the hatred on his son\u2019s face and wasn\u2019t sure just what the boy might do next.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go see to those other men, Joseph.\u00a0 These two won\u2019t be able to get out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe bent down and did a more thorough search of both men before agreeing to move outside of the room with his father.\u00a0 He made sure there weren\u2019t any hidden weapons on either man.\u00a0 Joe even pulled off both men\u2019s boots just to be sure.<\/p>\n Ben had to smile to see Joe checking all of the places where he had hid his own weapons.\u00a0 \u201cSatisfied?\u201d He asked his son.<\/p>\n Joe nodded and watched Pa tucking the derringer back inside his shirt pocket.\u00a0 \u201cFor now I am, Pa.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben and Joe carefully walked out of the room where they had been imprisoned and dropped the heavy wood plank back down into place.\u00a0 They looked around the other room to see if there was anyone there perhaps hiding in the shadows but found no-one.<\/p>\n \u201cThat guy in black \u2013 he said that Trenton would be here soon, Pa.\u00a0 You think that\u2019s a Hilliard?\u201d Joe asked as he peered through the window to see if anyone was outside on the porch.<\/p>\n \u201cProbably,\u201d Pa nodded.\u00a0 \u201cGuess we just wait and stay on our guard.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur plan worked pretty good, huh?\u201d Joe smiled over at his father.<\/p>\n Ben nodded and returned his son\u2019s smile.\u00a0 \u201cYes — but we\u2019ve still got to get out of this situation so stay on your guard.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh Oh, I see someone coming — looks like two men, Pa.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to get behind the door \u2013 stay out of sight!\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Joe announced and moved into position.<\/p>\n Ben ducked down out of view behind a chest just to the other side of the door.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is Cliff?\u201d Trenton said to the man standing to his left as he entered the foreman\u2019s cabin.<\/p>\n Joe waited until the two men cleared the threshold and then came out with his gun aimed right at Trenton\u2019s head.<\/p>\n \u201cYou won\u2019t find him here.\u201d Joe sang out menacingly.<\/p>\n Ben stood up brandishing his weapon over at the two men.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cDrop your guns!\u201d<\/p>\n Trenton and his henchman, caught off guard, had to do as the two Cartwrights had said.\u00a0 They dropped their Colt revolvers down onto the floor.\u00a0 Joe was quick to move over to them and he patted them down to make sure there wasn\u2019t any other weapon on either man.\u00a0 He retrieved the two revolvers down at their feet and stood back up.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess you\u2019re Trenton Hilliard,\u201d Joe said and grabbed him up by his vest.\u00a0 He shook the man roughly.<\/p>\n Pa hurried over to his son and pulled his hands down.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s just tie these two men up, Son.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s gaze was deadly as he stared directly into Trenton\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cNot yet!\u00a0 Now you\u2019re going to tell me what you had planned to do to me!\u201d Joe yelled over to Trenton.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re responsible for the deaths of my brother and my nephew, I\u2019m not telling you anything!\u201d Trenton answered and then smiled menacingly over at Joe.<\/p>\n Joe reached over and struck Trenton across the mouth, causing the man\u2019s lip to open up.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph — go get some rope \u2013 now!\u201d Ben insisted.<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 I need to find out what this maniac was planning to do to me!\u201d Joe shouted over to his father.<\/p>\n Ben grabbed his son\u2019s arm and pulled him back away from both men.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s enough, Joseph, now go and get that rope!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe had to fight his desire to know what the evil man had intended to do to him if he had been successful.\u00a0 He reluctantly moved away from the two men and searched around for some rope.<\/p>\n \u201cYou two \u2013 move over there!\u201d Ben indicated the door to the back room.\u00a0 They did as instructed because they could read on the man\u2019s face that he meant business standing there with the hammer of his Colt cocked and ready to shoot if necessary.<\/p>\n \u201cHere,\u201d Joe said to his father and handed Pa the rope.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll keep my gun on them.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben looked warily at his son wondering if he could really trust the boy not to fire his weapon unless it was absolutely necessary.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m okay now, Pa,\u201d Joe nodded over to him, trying to let his father know that he had regrouped his emotions.<\/p>\n Ben tied both of the men\u2019s hands behind their backs tightly and then drew the wood plank back down.\u00a0 Joe and his father herded the two men inside the room.\u00a0 They pushed them down onto the floor and tied their ankles securely together.\u00a0 Ben also placed their neckerchiefs over their mouths to gag them.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, now none of them are going to go anywhere or make any noise,\u201d Pa commented to his son.<\/p>\n Joe stared over at each of the men seething on the inside.\u00a0 He soon felt Pa pulling his arm trying to prevent him from using the Colt held in his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, Joseph,\u201d Ben whispered and eased his son out of the room.\u00a0 He drew the plank back down and then stared over at the boy.<\/p>\n \u201cPa — I\u2019m sorry — I guess it got to me.\u00a0 I\u2019m okay now.\u00a0 Well \u2013 all but my side.\u00a0 It\u2019s hurting big time,\u201d Joe sighed wearily and sank down into a chair.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got to go get Sheriff Coffee, Joe.\u00a0 Are you going to be able to ride?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shook his head and replied, \u201cI\u2019d be lying to you right now if I said that I could, Pa.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be okay — it shouldn\u2019t take you long.\u00a0 Buck\u2019s right behind this cabin and if you just go to Virginia City and back it shouldn\u2019t take more than maybe two hours.\u00a0 I\u2019d just as soon sit here and rest and kind of catch my breath.\u00a0 I have the feeling that I\u2019ll be seeing Doc Martin sometime tonight to tend this wound.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben looked at his son very concerned over the pain that was now very apparent on the boy\u2019s face, \u201cYou sure you\u2019ll be alright?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded and answered, \u201cYeah \u2013 as long as I don\u2019t move around too much.\u00a0 Maybe bring back a buckboard with you?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded and patted his son\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cYou just stay there in that chair until I get back.\u00a0 But stay out of that room, Joseph — understood?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Pa — I will,\u201d Joe nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve got guns and a rifle I found over by that window so I\u2019m good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be back just as quick as I can, Son,\u201d Ben called as he hurried out of the cabin and out to mount his horse for the ride to get help.<\/p>\n ************************************<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam couldn\u2019t believe their eyes when they looked down C Street and saw their father mounted on Buck heading their way.\u00a0 They shouted out to him and their faces lit up to see that their Pa was alright.\u00a0 He dismounted there in front of them and there were brief hugs exchanged before Pa gave them a short synopsis of all that had happened.<\/p>\n \u201cSo Joe found you, Pa?\u201d Adam asked, bewildered over how the kid had done it.\u00a0 He had to admit to himself that he had underestimated his little brother\u2019s ability to figure out what had happened to their father.<\/p>\n \u201cYes — the boy was disheveled and quite dirty but he showed up to try and save me and of course he got captured too,\u201d Ben continued with the explanation of all that had happened.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, we didn\u2019t find out until last night that Joe had decided to go look for you dressed like a saddle tramp.\u00a0 He somehow talked Fletcher into keeping it all a secret.\u00a0 Joe never showed back up at home once you disappeared.\u00a0 So Preston has a brother?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss explained what little they had found out concerning Joe\u2019s ploy.<\/p>\n \u201cYes \u2013 and he was holding me hostage in order to lure your little brother there.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know what plans he had for Joseph — and I don\u2019t want to even think about it.\u00a0 Now — where\u2019s Roy — have you two seen him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir \u2013 he\u2019s over at the International House \u2013 they\u2019re about to turn in those bids on that contract,\u201d Adam replied.<\/p>\n \u201cWell — it\u2019s not been on my mind what with all that\u2019s been going on \u2013 however here you go, Adam,\u201d Ben replied and handed his son the satchel which was still there inside of his saddlebags where he had left them the day he\u2019d gotten kidnapped.\u00a0 \u201cGo on \u2013 you might as well hand these in and tell Roy where we\u2019re going.\u00a0 Hoss \u2013 do you have the buckboard by any chance?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Pa \u2013 I\u2019m riding my horse, why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour little brother got shot.\u00a0\u00a0 Before either of you boys worry \u2013 it\u2019s not too bad but Joe doesn\u2019t think he can ride so we need to go get a wagon from the livery I guess,\u201d Pa explained.<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss exchanged knowing smiles and nodded one to the other.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is that look on your faces for, Boys?\u201d Pa asked.<\/p>\n \u201cWe said that it was a good thing that Little Joe wasn\u2019t home yet or he\u2019d probably either get held hostage or get shot — looks like he did both!\u201d Hoss smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, that was an easy bet,\u201d Ben sighed and then reached for Buck\u2019s reins, taking them back into his hands.\u00a0 \u201cHoss, how about you and I go and rent that buckboard while Adam goes and tells Roy where we\u2019re heading and turns in that bid.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMeet you at the livery in a minute, Pa,\u201d Adam sounded out and turned down the street to go and talk to Roy and submit the Ponderosa\u2019s bid on the timber contract.<\/p>\n *************************************<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s try that again,\u201d Joe said to the man in black.\u00a0 \u201cYour name is Cliff, is that right?\u201d<\/p>\n Cliff looked up at the boy who was holding a knife to his neck.\u00a0 He had been taken from the back room and brought into the front of the cabin.\u00a0 Joe had tied him securely to the straight-back chair.\u00a0 The boy had such a menacing look on his face that it made his skin crawl.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right — the name\u2019s Cliff,\u201d The man nodded warily.<\/p>\n Joe dragged the tip of his boot knife down Cliff\u2019s left cheek and smiled down at him.\u00a0 \u201cThis knife is sharp \u2013 isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah — yeah it is,\u201d Cliff replied, fighting back his fear the best he could.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know someone once dragged a knife down my face just like this — it\u2019s not much fun now is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 no it isn\u2019t — what do you want from me?\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t the one in charge!\u00a0 You want Trenton not me!\u201d Cliff insisted.<\/p>\n \u201cOh I already asked Trenton what I\u2019m going to ask you but he\u2019s not going to tell me what I want to know.\u00a0 But, I imagine you\u2019d know the same information so I\u2019ll just get it from you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAsk those other two men then — leave me out of this!\u201d Cliff protested.<\/p>\n Joe shook his head and pulled another chair over next to where Cliff was seated.\u00a0 He straddled it and smiled over at the man and replied very coldly, \u201cNo \u2013 you were his right hand man \u2013 those others probably don\u2019t know a thing other than how to shoot whoever Trenton tells them to.\u00a0 Nope, Cliff this is all on you now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018I don\u2019t have anything to say to you, Cartwright!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh \u2013 maybe not right now \u2013 but give it a few minutes and I\u2019m sure you\u2019ll change your mind,\u201d Joe said and dragged the tip of the knife down the other side of Cliff\u2019s face and that time drew blood.\u00a0 \u201cDoes that hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re crazy!\u201d Cliff yelled and attempted to shirk away from Joe.<\/p>\n Joe laughed over what the man had said and responded, \u201cWell, I\u2019m glad you figured that out.\u00a0 It makes all of this much easier now that you know all about me.\u201d\u00a0 Joe dropped the knife down and one by one snipped off the buttons to the man\u2019s shirt laying his chest bare.\u00a0 \u201cYou SURE you don\u2019t want to tell me what Trenton was planning to do with me?\u201d Joe called again.<\/p>\n Cliff now felt that even if he told Joe Cartwright everything that he knew, that the kid would probably still hurt him so he held out hope that the boy\u2019s father would return soon and stop him.\u00a0 He hoped that Ben Cartwright would hurry back and that he would be bringing the law with him.\u00a0 At the present time sitting inside a jail cell seemed like a far better outcome than his present situation.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t help thinking that the young man who sat there staring at him now was quite obviously insane.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know I learned a whole lot of diabolical things to do to a person the last time that some other evil men held me captive.\u00a0 Yes sir, I learned a lot!\u00a0 Now \u2013 I\u2019ve not got too much time so this is your last chance — speak up!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know anything \u2013 just go and do this to Trenton if you want to know what he planned,\u201d Cliff pleaded once more.<\/p>\n Joe slowly dragged the tip of the knife down the man\u2019s chest until he got to his naval. \u00a0He hadn\u2019t dug the knife in much but had still drawn blood.\u00a0 \u201cHow far down do you need me to go before you just happen to remember the details?\u201d Joe asked and this time he sneered viciously at Cliff.<\/p>\n Cliff\u2019s eyes grew in size and he held his breath wondering what Joe Cartwright was planning to do with his knife next.\u00a0 His chest erupted in goosebumps as he stared over at the young man who was unrelenting in his insistence to get answers.<\/p>\n ***********************************<\/p>\n Ben pulled back on the reins of the team of horses as the buckboard pulled up to the foreman\u2019s cabin there on the Hilliard ranch.\u00a0 Hoss, Adam and Roy moved their mounts to the hitching post and followed Ben inside.<\/p>\n \u201cCartwright!\u201d Cliff shouted out when he saw Ben open the door.\u00a0 \u201cThat kid of yours is plum crazy!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s mouth fell open as he focused onto the man tied there in the chair.\u00a0 The man had his arms tied behind him and his legs tied to the chair.\u00a0 His shirt was wide open and there was a superficial wound going down the man\u2019s chest and across both sides of his face.\u00a0\u00a0 Adam, Hoss and Roy exchanged confused glances.<\/p>\n Ben hurried to remove the plank that held the door to the other room closed.\u00a0 He walked inside to see only two men there on the floor.\u00a0 Turning back to the front room, Ben called down to the man in the chair, \u201cWhere\u2019s my son!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour kid took Trenton and left here after trying to cut me up!\u201d Cliff sounded out.<\/p>\n \u201cMy brother wouldn\u2019t do that \u2013 mister you\u2019re a liar!\u201d Hoss defended his little brother, as always.<\/p>\n \u201cI tell you he ran his knife all over me trying to get me to talk!\u201d Cliff protested.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did he want to know?\u201d Ben asked warily.<\/p>\n \u201cHe wanted to know what Trenton had planned to do to him — and when I wouldn\u2019t tell him he tried to hurt me.\u00a0 So I finally spilled it — I told him what Trenton was going to do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201dWhat was he planning on doing to my son!\u201d Ben demanded.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was going to take him back to where he\u2019s from — to Oregon.\u00a0 He has a friend who works for a prison there.\u00a0 He made an arrangement with that warden to put your son into prison under another name and he\u2019d be in there for life \u2013 where no-one could ever find him.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s face went pale and he closed his eyes as he imagined how Joseph had taken that information.\u00a0 All he could think of was the three months of absolute Hell that his son had gone through and the thought of Joe being put into a prison and being taken away from his family \u2013and perhaps never being seen again was absolutely terrifying.\u00a0 Pa knew exactly what just the thought of that happening to him had done to Joseph.\u00a0 It would have sent him back into the awful trauma that he had fought so hard to climb out of.<\/p>\n \u201cPa —<\/p>\n \u201cI know, Adam,\u201d Ben sighed, and drew in a hurtful breath.\u00a0 He knew that both of his sons and even Roy Coffee were thinking on the fact that Joe just might have mentally snapped after being held captive this time and after hearing what Trenton had planned for him.\u00a0 It would\u2019ve sent Joseph further down into the depths of despair than anyone could ever pull him back from.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me bring the boy in, Roy — he\u2019s gone through too much — he doesn\u2019t even know what he\u2019s doing anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut — if he\u2019s killed —<\/p>\n Ben cut Roy off and insisted, \u201cI will bring him in if he has, but I doubt it\u2019s come to that.\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019m going to hurry out right now.\u00a0 I\u2019ll do my best to get to him in time and hopefully I can talk him out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo on, Ben,\u201d Roy nodded.\u00a0 He knew that if anyone could get through to Joe Cartwright right now it would be his father.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat can we do, Pa?\u201d Adam asked as his father readied to leave the cabin.<\/p>\n \u201cPray — both of you \u2013 pray for your little brother —and that I find the boy in time!\u201d\u00a0 Ben exclaimed and hurried to retrieve his horse which was tied behind the buckboard.\u00a0 He sprung up into the saddle and turned Buck towards the northwestern border of the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n *************************************<\/p>\n Joe Cartwright hadn\u2019t planned what he was going to do next.\u00a0 Just as soon as Trenton Hilliard\u2019s right hand man, Cliff, had spilled his guts about what his boss had planned to do to Joe, he had felt a sudden surge of rage take over his entire being.\u00a0 Actually it was more like a combination of both rage and fear.\u00a0 The very thought that he had almost fallen victim once again to another plot to destroy him, filled Joe\u2019s mind with a feeling of impending doom.\u00a0 He had hoped that Hilliard had a much less frightening plan up his sleeve, but Joe had learned that the evil man had decided to kill him slowly over many years in prison.\u00a0 Joe was well aware of what usually happened to men in prison, especially young men like he was.\u00a0 He had felt a surge of bile rising in the back of his throat when he thought on getting thrown there and never being heard from again.\u00a0 It was then that Joe had made his move.\u00a0 He had left Cliff tied there in the chair and gone to get Trenton.\u00a0 He had yanked the evil man up off of the floor and then headed into the next room, dropping the plank back down on the door to secure the other two men who were left there in the back room.\u00a0 Joe had readied two horses and thrown Hilliard up onto one with his hands tied behind him.\u00a0 There was only one place that he knew of where nobody would be around to see what he had planned for Trenton.\u00a0 The remote line shack in the dense woods near the northwestern border of the Ponderosa would fit the bill.\u00a0 Joe knew it well, and his brothers had name the place Oblivion.\u00a0 It would be oblivion for Trenton Hilliard now, as Joe wasn\u2019t planning on keeping the man alive for long.<\/p>\n Joe stared down at the spread-eagled figure there on the bunk.\u00a0 Trenton looked close enough to Preston Hilliard to have been his identical twin, however of the two brothers, only Trenton was still alive, at least for the present time.\u00a0 Trenton hadn\u2019t put up much of a fuss when Joe had ordered him at gunpoint to move down onto the bunk there in the line-shack.\u00a0 He stared up at his captor as Joe methodically tied him down with the ropes he had brought from the Hilliard foreman\u2019s cabin.<\/p>\n \u201cComfortable?\u201d Joe asked smiling down at the other man.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone knows you took me from my ranch, Cartwright, you\u2019re not going to get away with this,\u201d Trenton insisted.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve heard that before!\u201d Joe laughed sarcastically.\u00a0 \u201cI used those exact same words to those sadistic men that your brother paid to take me away for months.\u00a0 But you know they got away with it \u2014all of it!\u00a0 They got away with torturing me for months.\u00a0 I wish I had a good three months with you \u2013 but I haven\u2019t got quite that long to give you a taste of your brother\u2019s medicine.\u00a0 I can just imagine how you would have fared if those men got a hold of you like they got a hold of me!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf my brother had been a bit wiser he would\u2019ve paid those men to kill you!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe pulled the chair from the small dining table over and straddled it there next to where Trenton was tied.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, I kind of wish they had killed me too, but it just wasn\u2019t in the cards I guess.\u00a0 But \u2013 it wasn\u2019t a total loss \u2013 those men showed me some very interesting things there up in the cabin where they held me.\u00a0 I think I\u2019ll just show you instead of trying to explain what they did,\u201d Joe remarked casually.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat would your father say about this?\u201d Trenton asked, hoping to guilt the kid into stopping whatever he had planned.<\/p>\n Joe turned his head and glanced around the line shack.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t see my Pa anywhere — do you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019ll find out \u2013 do you want to tarnish the Cartwright name?\u00a0 I\u2019ve heard that people in town put great stock in the righteous Cartwright family.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat makes you think that I haven\u2019t already tarnished the family name?\u00a0 Or don\u2019t you know what I\u2019ve done in my life already?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust let me go and I won\u2019t say a word about any of this,\u201d Trenton tried to bargain his way out of any harm befalling him.<\/p>\n Joe laughed loudly and stood once more.\u00a0 \u201cYou aren\u2019t going to say anything, Trenton.\u00a0 You know \u2013 just like what you were planning on doing with me \u2013 putting me somewhere that I\u2019d never get to talk to my family again or see the light of day outside of a prison!\u00a0 Yeah, your old buddy Cliff spilled his guts to me about all of your plans for my future the minute that I started to carve into him.\u00a0 You aren\u2019t going to be around long enough to talk to anyone ever again, so I\u2019m not worried about your damn threats!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t prove that one in court, Cartwright \u2013 but if you hurt me I can get you sent away for a lot of years,\u201d He warned.<\/p>\n Joe made the sudden move down to the floor and reached inside of his boot and drew out his knife.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t like threats!\u201d Joe yelled and placed the tip of the knife against Trenton\u2019s throat.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter \u2013 not talking so tough now, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n Trenton just stared up at Joe and tried to hold his breath, now afraid that the boy in front of him was crazier than he had thought.<\/p>\n \u201cOh \u2013 now don\u2019t you worry \u2013 I\u2019m not going to end you this fast.\u00a0 No, I\u2019ve got plenty of time to do this slowly — you know this shouldn\u2019t be rushed!\u00a0 Let\u2019s just pretend that the two of us are inside of that prison you were going to put me in and we have nothing but time on our hands.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe walked across the room and made sure that the wood stove had begun to heat up.\u00a0 He had stoked it just before he had tied Trenton to the bunk.\u00a0 Joe reached across to where he had spotted the fire poker.\u00a0 He opened the door of the stove and set the end of it into the flames.<\/p>\n \u201cThat stove sure is hot \u2013 but I\u2019ll tell you what \u2013that fire poker is going to be even hotter \u2013 it\u2019s metal and it tends to glow when it\u2019s really hot!\u00a0 But, you\u2019ll know that first hand very soon.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe walked back over to Trenton and again grabbed the knife with his left hand.\u00a0 He eased down onto the side of the bunk right next to the man and set the edge of the blade down onto the man\u2019s left cheek.\u00a0 \u201cIs this sharp enough?\u00a0 I might have dulled it a bit cutting off my ropes \u2013 you know the ones that your henchmen used to tie me up with?\u201d<\/p>\n Trenton\u2019s face flinched as he felt the tip of the blade moving down his cheek, drawing blood as it moved inch by inch towards his chin.<\/p>\n Joe touched the blood on the knife with the index finger of his right hand and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cI guess this thing isn\u2019t too dull \u2013 it seems to be drawing blood just fine.\u00a0 How\u2019s it feel there, Trenton?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou are insane!\u201d Trenton screamed.<\/p>\n Joe grabbed a handful of the man\u2019s hair and tugged it hard, angered over what the man had said to him.\u00a0 \u201cYOU <\/strong>were going to throw me into a prison and have your warden friend throw away the key and you\u2019re calling ME<\/strong> insane!\u00a0 Now you\u2019ve made me mad!\u201d Joe shouted and stood up again.\u00a0 \u201cI think it\u2019s time we see how you handle heat.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe grabbed up a towel that had been left over at the sink.\u00a0 He walked to the stove and grabbed the fire poker using the folded towel.\u00a0 Holding it up, Joe could see that the metal was glowing red.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u201d\u00a0 Ben Cartwright stood in the doorway and shouted over towards his son.\u00a0 He had spotted what Joe was holding in his hands and his stomach seized up in knots.<\/p>\n Joe spun around and cast a look over at his father.\u00a0 Pa\u2019s mouth was hanging wide open and his face was ashen in appearance.\u00a0 He gave the impression of being both shocked and horrified.<\/p>\n \u201cStay out of this, Pa!\u201d Joe screamed as he made his way over to the bunk.<\/p>\n Ben crossed the room and made it over to the boy and grabbed his left elbow.\u00a0 \u201cStop this right now!\u201d Pa yelled.\u00a0 He had seen Trenton\u2019s face and witnessed the blood that was on it due to his son\u2019s knife.<\/p>\n \u201cNO!\u201d Joe answered and angrily broke from his father\u2019s hold, shoving him back.\u00a0 \u201cGo away, Pa!\u00a0 This is between Trenton and me.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben drew in a deep breath and fought to devise a plan to get his son out of the line shack, even if just temporarily.\u00a0 He had to give the boy a little bit of space in order to garner his compliance.\u00a0 Forcing calm to his voice Pa said, \u201cJoe \u2013 I just want to talk to you.\u00a0 I promise that I won\u2019t do anything to you \u2013 I need you to come outside with me for just a few minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Pa!\u00a0 I know what you\u2019ll tell me to do and I\u2019m not going to do it.\u00a0 I\u2019m not going to stop until Trenton has a taste of what he was planning to do to me.\u00a0 Now just go home!\u201d Joe ordered.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, I won\u2019t stop you — I just need to talk to you,\u201d Ben continued to talk in a soft low tone, trying not to spook the kid.\u00a0 He had read the intensity on his son\u2019s face and could tell that Joe was teetering on the edge of sanity.\u00a0 \u201cJust go put down that poker and come with me out onto the porch please.\u201d<\/p>\n Pa slowly advanced over to the still open door to the cabin and looked back over at the boy.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph?\u00a0 Put it down \u2013 just for a few minutes and come and talk with me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy should I?\u00a0 You didn\u2019t want me to kill any of the men who put us both through all of that back at Hilliard\u2019s place — so I know you don\u2019t feel like I do about any of this!\u201d Joe retorted, still angry due to his father\u2019s interference.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will talk about that, Son.\u00a0 Maybe I\u2019ve changed my mind — I heard about what Trenton had planned to do to you.\u00a0 Now come on outside and let\u2019s talk.\u00a0 There\u2019s plenty of time to do whatever you want to in regards to him after we speak.\u00a0 Trenton is tied down good so he\u2019s not going anywhere,\u201d Ben replied firmly but still in a lowered tone of voice.<\/p>\n Joe dropped his head down and fought with his emotions.\u00a0 He was beside himself with anger but also felt the terror which was always just below the surface and had been for many months due to all of the abuse he had taken from his first imprisonment.\u00a0 Staring at the fire poker, he noticed that it had cooled and was no longer red hot.<\/p>\n \u201cNow I have to heat this up again!\u201d\u00a0 Joe sang out very agitated.\u00a0 He walked back to the stove and opened the door.\u00a0 He then set the poker back down onto the hot coals.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can heat it back up if you\u2019ve a mind to, Joseph — but while it\u2019s getting ready come on out here with me,\u201d Ben called over to the boy once more.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t want to,\u201d Joe muttered, never looking over at his father.<\/p>\n \u201cCartwright, do something with your kid before he does something worse than he\u2019s already done!\u201d Trenton called over towards Ben.<\/p>\n Pa stared at his son and then over to Hilliard.\u00a0 He had to find a way to break Joe\u2019s concentration.<\/p>\n \u201cYou just shut your damned mouth, Hilliard!\u201d Ben screamed and witnessed the surprised appearance on Joseph\u2019s face when he heard what is father had said.\u00a0 He had tried to shock Joe and it had apparently worked.\u00a0 Pa thought if he tried to sound as angered at Trenton as his son was that it would show the boy that he was on his side.<\/p>\n \u201cGo on home, Pa — I\u2019ll take care of him,\u201d Joe whispered as he finally turned to look over at his father.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go — just as soon as you come outside with me for a few minutes.\u00a0 I won\u2019t stay if you don\u2019t want me to, Joseph — but I do have to talk to you.\u00a0 That poker is going to take a while to heat up — so come on out now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou promise you won\u2019t try to haul me out of here if I go outside with you?\u201d Joe asked warily.<\/p>\n Ben drew in a deep breath.\u00a0 He hoped that he had finally gotten Joe to the point where he would agree to go outside with him.\u00a0 \u201cI promise that I won\u2019t even lay a hand on you.\u00a0 Like I said, I just want to talk to you for a couple of minutes, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t try to trick me, Pa — I\u2019ve still got my gun \u2013 and I might use it on Trenton if you try to force me to stay outside.\u00a0 I\u2019ll use it — I swear to you that I will!\u201d Joe threatened.<\/p>\n Pa could see the Colt revolver slung down at his son\u2019s right side.\u00a0 He would have to try his best not to provoke the kid, unsure of what he\u2019d do since Joe wasn\u2019t thinking straight.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not going to trick you, come on outside now.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe cast a quick look over at Hilliard and then back to the wood stove.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t going to stay outside for very long as he knew what he was planning to do to Trenton.\u00a0 Slowly he followed his father out onto the front porch.\u00a0 Keeping himself at a safe distance from Pa, Joe moved opposite him and waited.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph — I know how upset you are right now,\u201d Pa began and leaned against one of the wooden support beams on the porch.\u00a0 \u201cBut, have you considered what\u2019s going to happen if you harm Hilliard?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe laughed bitterly and replied, \u201cOh yeah \u2013 I\u2019ve got to worry about the law punishing me, right?\u00a0 The same law that allows people like him to roam free doing all kinds of things would be the same law that would lock me up for defending myself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I know it\u2019s all unfair,\u201d Ben agreed in an attempt to appease his son.\u00a0 He tried to get a look into the boy\u2019s eyes to gauge how much anger was still there in them however the lantern out on the porch was far too dim to offer any clues.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBut you would be in trouble and you don\u2019t really want to go to jail over the likes of him now do you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2019s going to tell anyone about it?\u00a0 I\u2019ll get rid of his body when I\u2019m done.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen you are planning on killing him?\u201d Ben questioned quietly, trying to hide how shocked he was to hear of Joe\u2019s true intentions.<\/p>\n Joe stared down at the porch and thought for a few minutes before answering.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m going to torture him \u2013 if he dies he dies!\u00a0 \u00a0He was going to throw me in a prison for the rest of my life, Pa!\u00a0 He was going to fix it that I\u2019d never get out.\u00a0 And you\u2019d never even know what had happened to me.\u00a0 Pa — you know what happens to men in prison!\u00a0 I\u2019ve already had a good taste of all of that.\u00a0 I\u2019ve had three full months of that torture and that was more than a lifetime\u2019s worth of that kind of horror!\u00a0\u00a0 He was going to let that happen to me again — just like Preston paid those men to do those things to me!\u00a0 He needs to die \u2013but first he needs to suffer.\u00a0 This all ends with Trenton — he\u2019s got no more kin, I got that much out of Cliff.\u00a0 It started with Preston Hilliard and it will end with Trenton Hilliard!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat will end, Joseph?\u201d Pa asked softly, trying to ease the mounting tension.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything will end, Pa — everything that happened to me — everything I\u2019ve had to go through — it all ends when I kill him!\u201d Joe yelled with urgency in his tone.<\/p>\n Ben shook his head sadly and replied, \u201cJoseph, killing Trenton won\u2019t put an end to what you went through with the Daltons.\u00a0 And killing him won\u2019t make the memories of what they did to you go away.\u00a0 Killing him won\u2019t put an end to anything except your freedom.\u00a0 Roy knows that you took Hilliard off somewhere.\u00a0 If Trenton dies he\u2019ll have to lock you up and it won\u2019t take away any of the pain that you still have due to what was done to you, Son.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust don\u2019t say anything about it and Roy can\u2019t do anything to me!\u00a0 All you have to do is just give me an alibi and then give me a little time to get rid of his body.\u00a0 If you throw a body into Lake Tahoe they say it\u2019s so cold that it never comes back up.\u00a0 Just walk away now, Pa and let me handle this \u2013 and no-one will ever know!\u201d Joe continued his plea for his father to help him.\u00a0 He had already thought about a location and a way to get rid of the man\u2019s body once he was done with him.<\/p>\n \u201cSon, you and I will know,\u201d Ben whispered.<\/p>\n Joe shot a look over at his father and asked angrily, \u201cWhy are you trying to protect Hilliard?\u00a0 Why do you care what happens to him \u2013 when you know what he was planning on doing to me?!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head as he finally raised his voice, \u201cJoseph — I\u2019m not protecting that vile man in there — I\u2019m trying to protect you!\u00a0 I\u2019m trying to keep you from getting taken away from me!\u00a0 If you go ahead with what you\u2019re planning I\u2019m not going to be able to protect YOU<\/strong> anymore!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa!\u201d Joe yelled and began to pace the porch.\u00a0 \u201cHe \u2013 he made me hit you, Pa!\u00a0 I swore nobody was ever going to force me to do anything against my will again —- but he did!\u00a0\u00a0 He forced me to hit my own father!\u00a0 And he was going to get rid of me permanently.\u00a0 What Trenton did and what he was going to do next was no different than what the Dalton brothers did to me!\u201d<\/p>\n Pa sighed and then returned a bit softer in tone, \u201cNo, Son, it\u2019s not the same as what the Daltons did to you. \u00a0\u00a0You\u2019ve got to stop blending those two events in your mind, Joseph.\u00a0 \u00a0Trenton was going to arrange for you to be put in that prison —yes — but he didn\u2019t get the chance to do it.\u00a0 He did hold us both as hostages so he will get time in prison for that.\u00a0 Joseph, if Trenton disappears they\u2019re going to put you in jail for a long time!\u00a0 There\u2019s a chance that you might even get convicted of first degree murder and that could mean you\u2019d get hung.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been hung before, Pa — I don\u2019t care anymore!\u201d Joe yelled over at his father.\u00a0 He had gone back inside his mind to the time when the Daltons had placed a rope around his neck and had almost hung him.\u00a0 \u201cPlease, Pa — please just don\u2019t say you saw me up here!\u00a0 I\u2019ll get rid of him and you can just say I was at home the whole time.\u00a0 They can\u2019t prove anything — they won\u2019t know!\u201d Joe pleaded with his father, his voice becoming more desperate in tone.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Joseph — like I said — you and I would know,\u201d Pa continued to try to get through to his son.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will all just keep happening to me \u2013 unless you let me put an end to it now, Pa!\u201d Joe insisted as he dropped down onto the top porch step and sat down.<\/p>\n Ben moved to the steps and eased down alongside of his son.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He kept his distance and didn\u2019t try to put his arm over the boy\u2019s shoulder because he wasn\u2019t too sure what Joe would\u2019ve done.\u00a0 The boy still had it in his head that his father was going to try and stop him from harming Trenton, so Ben didn\u2019t want him to think he was making some kind of a play to grab him.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph — what are you thinking?\u00a0 This just isn\u2019t like you.\u00a0 You\u2019ve cut that man — you\u2019ve hit him too.\u00a0 And now you\u2019re heating up that fire poker in there!\u00a0 You can\u2019t really hurt anyone like that, can you?\u201d\u00a0 Pa\u2019s worry was very evident in his tone of voice.\u00a0\u00a0 Just thinking on all that his son had already done to both Cliff and Trenton filled Ben with confusion over what had happened to the kind and thoughtful young man who he had raised.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe I\u2019ve had enough with being the one who gets tortured all of the time, Pa!\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s about time I was on the other side of all of it now.\u00a0 It\u2019s time that I do some torturing of my own.\u00a0 He deserves to feel that red hot fire poker!\u201d Joe fired back at his father.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s something that the Daltons threatened to do to you, Joseph.\u201d Ben whispered.<\/p>\n Joe stared up into his father\u2019s eyes and retorted bitterly, \u201cI know that!\u00a0\u00a0 Maybe they\u2019ve made me just like them now?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head and insisted, \u201cNo you are nothing<\/strong> like them!\u201d<\/p>\n Looking down at the porch Joe fought to control the rage which still coursed through his veins.\u00a0 He was still filled with the need for revenge and couldn\u2019t get it to let go of him.\u00a0 \u201cI need it to be over, Pa,\u201d Joe admitted, his voice now turning both plaintive and steeped in desperation.<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Ben whispered, his heart aching over what his son had revealed in the cadence of his voice.\u00a0 Pa thought he\u2019d spotted some tears leaving Joe\u2019s eyes and knew the boy was hurting over all that had happened already and the choices he had made.<\/p>\n Joe dropped his head down into his hands and began to weep.\u00a0 He had finally realized what he had done that day, if fell upon him like a ton of bricks.\u00a0 Joe remembered cutting Cliff and then doing the same thing to Trenton.\u00a0 He thought of the fire poker heating up there in the stove inside the line shack.\u00a0 Joe never thought that he could sink down to the level of the sadistic Dalton brothers but he now realized that he was getting very close to turning into them as each moment passed.\u00a0 It frightened him to think of what might have happened if Pa hadn\u2019t shown up when he had.\u00a0 Joe internally fought himself over the fact that he felt totally out of control of the situation and that he also was unable to stop the intense hatred which had overtaken him.\u00a0 Part of him still wanted to go inside the line shack and torture Trenton and kill him.\u00a0 Yet, the other part of him felt sick to his stomach for all that he had already done.\u00a0 His mind filled with contempt towards Trenton and also with loathing towards himself.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Pa — I\u2019m tired — I\u2019m tired of all of this!\u00a0 I\u2019m tired of always looking behind me \u2013 always being afraid.\u00a0 I\u2019m tired of pretending that everything\u2019s all okay when it\u2019s not.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to live a life where I have to go around with a knife in one boot and a gun in the other.\u00a0 I\u2019m tired of remembering everything —everything that\u2019s happened to me this year,\u201d Joe confessed tearfully as remorse began to filter into his mind.<\/p>\n \u201cI understand,\u201d Ben whispered and allowed Joe to admit to everything that he had been keeping from him for much too long.<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 he made me hit you — he tied me up!\u00a0 It made me feel like I was back there inside of that cabin being forced to do all of those awful things against my will.\u00a0 He made me feel helpless and scared all over again!\u00a0\u00a0 And then — when I found out about his plan to put me into that prison — oh \u2013 Pa\u2014I just couldn\u2019t take it,\u201d Joe continued to describe to his father everything that was going on in his mind and heart.\u00a0 Joe wept and shook his head back and forth hopelessly.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve tried, Pa — you know that I have! \u00a0I\u2019ve tried to be strong \u2013 I\u2019ve tried \u2013- so hard!\u00a0 The only time in the last six months that I haven\u2019t felt frozen with fear was when I was there in Stockton under an assumed name, wearing a right handed holster and looking like a saddle tramp.\u00a0 But, I don\u2019t want to be someone else, Pa — I don\u2019t want to be Jim Rivers or anybody else.\u00a0 I want to be Joe Cartwright again — but I\u2019m too scared to be him right now!\u00a0 When I\u2019m Joe Cartwright I get hurt \u2013 I get taken \u2013 I get abused.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know what to do anymore, Pa.\u00a0 I \u2013 I– \u2013 I can\u2019t live like this anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben could tell that his son was having an emotional breakdown right there before his eyes and he had no earthly idea what he could do to help the boy.\u00a0 It was ripping his heart out just witnessing the raw emotions which were pouring out as Joe listed the many things that he had been trying to deal with for months and how being held as a hostage once again had sent him over the deep end.<\/p>\n \u201cPa — Pa — I need — I need,\u201d Joe\u2019s voice broke as he attempted to get the words out.\u00a0 He was having a very difficult time admitting to what he felt was a total failure on his part of handling all he had fought so hard to overcome.<\/p>\n Ben moved a bit closer to his son, hoping that the boy would finish his request for assistance.\u00a0 \u201cWhat, Joseph?\u00a0 What do you need?\u00a0 Tell me,\u201d He asked softly.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Pa– I need help.\u00a0 Pa — I need help,\u201d Joe tearfully choked out the admission that it was all just too much for him and that he could no longer try to handle his problems and fears on his own.<\/p>\n Ben knew that it was finally time to reach for his son in order to provide the boy some of his own strength.\u00a0 He drew Joseph into his arms and held on to him tightly.\u00a0 He could feel the boy\u2019s body quake as Joe allowed himself to give in and face the fact that he needed help.\u00a0 Joe broke down as sobs shook his chest.\u00a0 He finally had surrendered to the knowledge that he would now have to turn over his care to someone else in order to be healed.<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 will you — will you get me help?\u00a0 I need help,\u201d Joe choked out the words though in his mind he felt as though he was finally admitting to defeat.\u00a0 He had hidden all of the pain that he had been dealing with on a daily basis for months.\u00a0 Joe hadn\u2019t wanted to appear weak to his father or to anyone else.\u00a0 It hadn\u2019t been until the recent events that had played out there at the Hilliard ranch that Joe had finally realized that he hadn\u2019t made any real progress emotionally since he had been abducted six months prior.\u00a0\u00a0 Though he had fought to give the appearance to his family that he was doing just fine, Joe knew he was only acting the part.\u00a0 Now dull reality had hit him squarely between the eyes and there was no hiding the truth that he could no longer mask the pain or continue with his charade.\u00a0 Joe had known for months that he had lost the battle to fight through his trauma, but he had refused to tell anyone.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t even admitted it to the one person he trusted more than anyone; his Pa.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Son \u2013 of course I\u2019ll get you some help,\u201d Pa assured the boy, fighting back his own tears.\u00a0 It was so hard to see his youngest son so tormented by all that he had gone through for so many months.\u00a0 \u201cWe all need help at times.\u00a0 It\u2019s nothing to be embarrassed about or feel ashamed of, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa — I lived in the darkness for so long!\u00a0\u00a0 And then for a while I tried to live in the light. But now I feel like I\u2019m somewhere in between. I feel like I\u2019m living in the shadows.\u00a0 It feels like I\u2019m caught somewhere that there isn\u2019t dark or light.\u00a0 I\u2019m stuck between the two now, Pa,\u201d Joe paused, as his breath hitched in an out showing the sadness he was feeling.\u00a0 It took a few minutes before he could continue to explain to his father what was going on inside his mind and in his heart.\u00a0 \u00a0\u201cI want a life where I don\u2019t have to worry every single minute if something is going to happen to me that I can\u2019t do anything about.\u00a0 I want a life where I won\u2019t feel like someone is always out there trying to take me away in order to hurt me.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to spend every minute of every day being afraid.\u00a0 Pa —Pa I \u2013I just need help,\u201d Joe struggled to express to his father how he had been living for months, though he had hid it pretty well.\u00a0 He hated to admit that he needed help, but after all that he had done that day Joe knew he was totally out of control and that he might harm someone even worse than he already had.\u00a0 Joe could no longer trust himself or his actions and he was terrified that if he didn\u2019t get some help very soon that he might endanger all of those that he loved.<\/p>\n \u201cI understand,\u201d Pa paused and gently brushed his hand through the hair on the back of his son\u2019s head attempting to calm the boy. \u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s going to be alright, Joseph,\u201d Ben tried his best to reassure his son as he continued to hold him in his protective embrace.\u00a0 Pa closed his eyes and prayed that his son would somehow find his way back to his former self and stay there for good.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d Joe whispered and pulled himself back a bit in an attempt to look into his father\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Son \u2013 what is it?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe reached inside of his boot and withdrew his knife and placed it on the step down at his feet.\u00a0 He then pulled his Colt up out of his holster and placed it there next to the knife.\u00a0 \u201cWill you — will you take these for a while?\u00a0\u00a0 I don\u2019t really trust myself right now.\u00a0 Just keep them for me \u2013and maybe someday \u2013<\/p>\n Joe trailed off and dropped his head back down into his hands still swept up in his hopelessness and despair.\u00a0 He was finding it hard to believe that he would ever return to the way he had been so many months ago, before the hurt and the fear had taken over and left him feeling weak and wounded due to all of the abuse he had taken.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeday — someday what, Joseph?\u201d \u00a0Pa tried to encourage Joe to finish his statement in order to make his worries known and help his father understand exactly what he was thinking.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe someday I\u2019ll be like I use to be \u2013 maybe I can be Joe Cartwright again someday?\u00a0 \u00a0But I can\u2019t until I can break loose from all of this.\u00a0 If I can ever break free from all of the fear and the pain from all of these memories, Pa,\u201d Joe answered feeling totally bereft.<\/p>\n \u201cYou will, Joseph, I\u2019m sure of it.\u00a0 You\u2019ll be Joe Cartwright again soon.\u00a0 I\u2019ll get you the help that you need, Son, and then you and I will take it from there, okay?\u201d Pa reassured his son and put his arm across the boy\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cBut \u2013 as for right now — I\u2019ll go make sure that Trenton\u2019s ropes are tied real tight.\u00a0 Then I\u2019m taking you back home and we\u2019ll get you all fixed up. \u00a0I\u2019ll have your brothers come back later and take Trenton into town to the jail.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be right back, Son,\u201d Ben called down as he stood from the porch step after retrieving Joe\u2019s knife and gun and placing them inside of his coat.\u00a0 He cast a worried gaze down at the boy who still held his head in his hands.\u00a0 Ben prayed with all of his heart that somehow his son would get the kind of help that he needed.\u00a0 \u00a0He hoped that Joseph wouldn\u2019t have to live the same kind of life that he had been forced to live for six months.\u00a0 Pa wanted his son back just as much as the boy wanted his life back and his father would move heaven and earth to assist his son towards that end.\u00a0 *** Please dear Lord, help my boy<\/em><\/strong> *** Pa said his silent prayer and then turned inside the line shack.<\/p>\n ************************************<\/p>\n Ben stood in the living room of the Ponderosa ranch house and just stared down into the flames in the fireplace.\u00a0 He was well spent from all of the harrowing events of the day.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss had been dispatched upon the arrival of their father and brother earlier.\u00a0 They headed up to Oblivion to take Trenton into the Virginia City Jail.\u00a0 Ben then sent Fletcher to fetch Doctor Martin to tend to Joe.\u00a0 While they waited for his arrival, Hop Sing had assisted Joe with a badly needed bath and shave.\u00a0 Joe hadn\u2019t argued as he was glad to feel clean again.\u00a0 He also hadn\u2019t argued when his father had suggested that he go up to his room and try to get a little sleep before the doctor got there.<\/p>\n Hop Sing had noticed the sorrow displayed on Ben\u2019s weary face.\u00a0 He brought in some fresh coffee for the man and set it onto the coffee table there in the living room.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d Ben said and nodded over to the cook.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve missed your coffee \u2013 and I\u2019ve missed this chair,\u201d He admitted as he sank down into the red leather chair.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe look better after bath — but he also look sad,\u201d Hop Sing commented.<\/p>\n Ben drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly before replying, \u201cYes, Joseph is having a rough time of it.\u00a0 I\u2019m hoping Doc can help him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou need to eat — I go get something,\u201d Hop Sing insisted and turned back to the kitchen.<\/p>\n Ben turned when the door opened and his two sons appeared.\u00a0 They removed their holsters and hats and walked over to their father.<\/p>\n \u201cHow did it go, Boys?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam sat down in the blue winged back chair and Hoss settled down onto the settee.<\/p>\n \u201cFine, Pa \u2013 we got that skunk delivered to Roy,\u201d Hoss announced.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah \u2013 and Roy said that two of his henchman are talking to save their hides.\u00a0 They told Roy that Trenton planned the whole thing he even set it up to coincide with the bid for the timber so it would throw us all off.\u00a0 The one named Bill said that Trenton told him to set that fire and he admitted to doing it.\u00a0 He also said that Trenton had been keeping tabs on Little Joe and knew that he was due back from his trip.\u00a0 It seems that Cliff struck up a friendship with that apprentice who works with Pete and somehow read some of Joe\u2019s telegrams that he sent from Stockton,\u201d Adam explained.<\/p>\n Ben frowned and replied, \u201cI\u2019m quite sure that man forgot to mention to Roy that he shot Joe in the side last night, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, Pa \u2013 he never said anything about that,\u201d Hoss nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cHow is Joe by the way?\u00a0 He looked pretty rough when you both got in earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, your brother is having a tough time.\u00a0 Being held hostage again brought back all of what he went through six months ago and apparently he\u2019s been keeping a lot from all of us.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to talk to Doc about it \u2013 but the kid needs help.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss frowned and looked over at his father and remarked, \u201cI know Joe cut that Cliff fellow and also Trenton \u2013 but it wasn\u2019t even deep enough to make a scar.\u00a0 Doc looked at Cliff already and he said he\u2019s fine.\u00a0 Besides the kid was shot and had gone through a lot \u2013 nobody can blame him for going off a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho socked you in the eye, Pa?\u201d Adam asked as he stared over at his father.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a long story — let\u2019s not dwell on that right now,\u201d Ben hedged as he didn\u2019t want to bring up what had happened with Joe and how they had to exchange punches due to Trenton.<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 we got a message from Mister Stacey with the Pacific Railroad \u2013 you won that bid,\u201d Adam announced, trying to come up with something positive.<\/p>\n \u201cGood to know, Adam — but right now I can\u2019t think of too much else but your little brother,\u201d Ben sighed.<\/p>\n The knock on the front door stopped the conversation and Ben was quick to answer it.\u00a0 Doctor Paul Martin walked in and shook Ben\u2019s outstretched hand.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got a pretty good shiner there, Ben,\u201d Paul quipped as he walked inside and placed his overcoat on the back of the settee.<\/p>\n \u201cI wish that was the reason that I sent for you, Paul,\u201d Ben replied and moved with the doctor into the living room.\u00a0 Paul sat down on the settee next to Hoss and Hop Sing came out of the kitchen with a fresh pot of coffee and cups for the other three men.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d Paul nodded to the cook as he was handed a cup and took a sip.\u00a0 \u201cIt was a long ride and I can use this.\u00a0 Okay, Ben, what has happened to Joe this time?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben glanced over at his sons and then back to the doctor and answered, \u201cJoseph was shot in the side last night.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think it\u2019s too bad, but something that needs to be looked at.\u00a0 But \u2013 well \u2013 he\u2019s having some problems.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul nodded and jumped right in.\u00a0 \u201cBen, I was told all about Joe being held hostage with you so I can just imagine what that did to the boy.\u00a0 He\u2019s having issues due to what happened last time, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes — it set him off \u2013and he almost seriously hurt the man who had planned on getting Joe sent off to a prison and left there under another man\u2019s identity.\u00a0 When Joe heard about that \u2013 well \u2013 it set him off even worse.\u00a0 It was bad enough that he was tied down \u2013 and that they did things to us which I won\u2019t go into right now \u2013 but it didn\u2019t help with what he\u2019s gone through.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet me go up and tend his side and I\u2019ll talk to him, Ben.\u00a0 You and the boys just wait here.\u00a0 I\u2019ll come and get you after I\u2019ve spoken with Joe,\u201d Paul insisted and grabbed his black medical bag and turned for the stairs.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d Hoss called after Paul had gone to see Joe up in his room.\u00a0 \u201cPa what did they do to you and Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI told Joseph that I wouldn\u2019t say \u2013 but maybe it would be good for you both to know.\u00a0 Trenton toyed with us and pretended that he didn\u2019t know who Joseph was.\u00a0 Joe thought he had a pretty good disguise and he was trying to make it appear as though we didn\u2019t know each other \u2013 but Trenton knew all along.\u00a0 He made Joe hit me and he made me hit Joe.\u00a0 We both have black eyes.\u00a0 It hurt me so bad to hit him \u2013 but I was doing it to protect him the same as he was for me.\u00a0 But your brother took it pretty hard.\u00a0 He was forced to do something against his will just like back in Littleton.\u00a0 I think that began his decline and now he\u2019s finally at the point where he\u2019s asked me to get him some help.\u00a0 He was set on killing Trenton \u2013 thank God I got to him in time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPoor kid,\u201d Adam said, his face reflecting his worry over his brother.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to get my hands on all of them,\u201d Hoss announced clenching his fists.<\/p>\n \u201cLet it be, Hoss,\u201d Ben sighed.\u00a0 \u201cRight now we\u2019ve got enough trouble on our hands.<\/p>\n \u201cAt least they\u2019re all in jail now where they belong,\u201d Adam nodded.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes tracked up the staircase as he wondered what was going on with his son and if he\u2019d be as honest with the doctor as he had been with him.<\/p>\n ************************************<\/p>\n Paul had doctored Joe\u2019s gunshot wound and then had a very long talk with the young man.\u00a0 Afterwards, Paul called down the stairs for Ben to come up.\u00a0 Pa hurried up the stairs and stood outside his son\u2019s bedroom and spoke with the Doc.<\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHis side isn\u2019t too bad, Ben.\u00a0 I cleaned it good and put a bandage on it.\u00a0 I\u2019d say a week or so it should be as good as new.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sighed.\u00a0 He knew that Paul was trying to start with something positive first.\u00a0 \u201cAnd what about \u2013<\/p>\n Doctor Martin cut Ben off and said, \u201cI know, Ben, Joe needs a lot of help.\u00a0 I can see it on his face and hear it in his voice.\u00a0 The boy is going to need professional help this time.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head sadly, \u201cI had hoped that my taking him to that cabin two months ago would\u2019ve been enough, but evidently Joseph had been hiding how he\u2019s been doing emotionally from all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul reached over and touched his friend\u2019s arm sympathetically.\u00a0 \u201cBen, you did a good thing by taking Joe there \u2013 I\u2019ve no doubt about it.\u00a0 But, your son needs more help.\u00a0 Do you remember his leg injury?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course \u2013 but what does that have to do with this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a pretty good country doctor if I do say so myself,\u201d Paul paused and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cBut, Joe\u2019s leg injury needed surgery — and specialized surgery at that.\u00a0 I would have liked to heal Joe myself — but I didn\u2019t have the skill that was needed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI still don\u2019t understand, Paul \u2013 what are you saying?\u201d Ben asked, very confused.<\/p>\n \u201cBen \u2013 you did a great job trying to get Joe to face up to what happened to him there at that cabin — but that was only half of the problem.\u00a0 He needs a professional to help him finish the healing process.\u00a0 It\u2019s just the same as my situation \u2013as much as I would have liked to fix Joe\u2019s leg it was out of my power.\u00a0 Let\u2019s get him the help he needs —let\u2019s get a hold of Doctor Peele and maybe Doctor Wallace can help Joe now.\u00a0 He specializes in trauma \u2013 and that\u2019s what Joe\u2019s gone through.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben finally understood what the doctor was trying to relay to him.\u00a0 He wished it was something he could help his son through but apparently Joe needed more help than a father\u2019s love could provide.<\/p>\n \u201cDoes Joe know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes \u2013 and I think he feels like he has to try.\u00a0 He\u2019s upset with himself for not being able to cope with all that he went through but I told him that it\u2019s perfectly normal.\u00a0 He said that he pretended that he was alright around you and his brothers because he wanted to appear strong.\u00a0 Then when he ended up tied there with you it finally forced him to realize that he was far from healed.\u00a0 He told me what happened with both Cliff and Trenton and he knows that it was wrong, but he said he couldn\u2019t stop himself.\u00a0 It was good that he had you there when he needed you so he could confess the truth about how he felt.\u00a0 \u00a0Admitting that he needs help is the first step to getting healed, Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow soon do you think he should go?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll wire Harold when I get back from town.\u00a0 I think the sooner the better, Ben.\u00a0 I\u2019ve given him a sedative \u2013 so he\u2019ll be going down soon.\u00a0 Why don\u2019t you go in and see him before he falls asleep?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Paul,\u201d Ben nodded towards the doctor.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be back tomorrow \u2013 and I\u2019m sure Harold will have a message for you by then that I\u2019ll bring with me.\u00a0 Joe just needs rest right now — and keep him in bed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will \u2013thanks again,\u201d Ben replied and turned for the door.<\/p>\n \u201cGood night, Ben,\u201d Paul smiled and headed for the staircase.<\/p>\n *************************************<\/p>\n Ben stared over at his son who had his eyes closed at the time.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t sure if Joe was already asleep due to the sedative that the doctor had given him.\u00a0 Pa reached for his son\u2019s hand and took it into his own.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u201d Ben whispered.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyelids fluttered open and he looked over at his Pa.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m still awake, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFirst of all, Young Man, I have to tell you that you sure do clean up well,\u201d Ben began, fighting for words to say to his son that wouldn\u2019t upset him.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess I don\u2019t look like a bum anymore, huh?\u201d Joe also attempted to put his father at ease knowing it had been a terrible day and he\u2019d done things that he felt awful for doing.\u00a0 Joe also hated that he had put his father through so much travail.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, you look like Joe Cartwright again,\u201d Ben smiled and patted the boy\u2019s arm.\u00a0 \u201cDoc says your side is going to be okay, Son.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa,\u201d Joe said, his voice breaking as tears formed in his eyes.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t pretend anymore.\u00a0\u00a0 He knew that he needed help and exchanging quips with his father seemed pointless after what he had done up at the line shack.<\/p>\n Ben moved to sit next to his son on the bed and called down to him, \u201cYou have nothing to be sorry for, Joseph.\u201d Pa thought back to when he had taken Joe to see the tallest tree on the ranch.\u00a0 He remembered telling his son that it had weathered many storms alone and withstood them all.\u00a0 Pa had compared what Joe had gone through with what the tree had endured.\u00a0 It was after that Pa had told his son that he was just as strong as that tree.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Son, you\u2019re very wrong.\u00a0 You know all trees bend in a strong wind.\u00a0 You\u2019ve gone through a raging tempest \u2013 so it\u2019s only natural that you\u2019d bend a bit.\u00a0\u00a0 But you\u2019re not broken.\u00a0 I stand by what I said about you and that tree, Joseph.\u00a0 In my eyes you\u2019re still just as strong as that Ponderosa pine— you just need a little calm for a change.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI feel broken, Pa,\u201d Joe confessed, fighting back his tears.<\/p>\n Pa combed his fingers through his son\u2019s curls and replied, \u201cYou\u2019re going to get help for that.\u00a0 I promise you that you won\u2019t always feel that way, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoc said I should go and see Doctor Wallace, Pa.\u00a0 I think so too.\u00a0 I was hoping I could get through this myself \u2013 but I can\u2019t,\u201d Joe confessed.<\/p>\n \u201cI wish you would have told me that you were still having trouble dealing with all of what you\u2019d been through.\u00a0 \u00a0I might have been able to help you with it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI couldn\u2019t, Pa \u2013 not after all you did to try to help me.\u00a0 You took me to that cabin.\u00a0 You helped me face up to all that was done to me there.\u00a0 You even helped me burn that place down to the ground.\u00a0 How could I tell you — after all of that — that I still couldn\u2019t deal with it?\u00a0 It made me feel weak.\u00a0\u00a0 It made me feel like I let you down.\u00a0 I should be able to get over this — I don\u2019t know why I can\u2019t.\u00a0 I came so close to killing two people today.\u00a0 They were awful people but I was going to torture Trenton \u2013maybe even kill him.\u00a0 It\u2019s like I was trying to kill everyone \u2013 the Daltons, Preston and Trenton all at the same time.\u00a0 If you hadn\u2019t shown up I probably would have.\u00a0 Then I would\u2019ve been just like them.\u00a0 And worst of all I just don\u2019t know why I felt that way. I told you that I’m not in the darkness or the light anymore, I’m stuck — I’m in the shadows between the two and I can’t handle it anymore.\u00a0 \u00a0It\u2019s why I\u2019ve got to leave now,\u201d Joe insisted.<\/p>\n Ben settled his hand onto his son\u2019s shoulder and called down to him.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201dYou understood what you were doing and you stopped in time — that\u2019s the important part.\u00a0 And you now know that it was wrong.\u00a0 Those are two good steps to getting back to being Joe Cartwright.\u00a0 I think Doctor Wallace can take you the rest of the way. \u00a0I wish you didn\u2019t have to go, Son, but if it\u2019s to help you get back to what you were \u2013then it will all be worth it.\u00a0\u00a0 And you didn\u2019t let me down by the way!\u00a0 Going to that cabin and facing up to all of that was still the bravest thing I\u2019ve ever seen.\u00a0 And I don\u2019t want you to ever forget that!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyelids grew heavy and he knew that he was about ready to fall asleep.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry about your eye, Pa.\u00a0 Of all the things that I\u2019ve done wrong lately the worst was hitting you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTomorrow take a look at your own eye and you\u2019ll see that I got off easy,\u201d Pa smiled trying to ease his son\u2019s mind.\u00a0 He could tell that Joe hadn\u2019t fallen for his line as the boy still looked very upset.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, you\u2019ve got to let that go.\u00a0 Remember if you hadn\u2019t thrown that punch they would\u2019ve shot me.\u00a0 I\u2019d much rather get a little black eye than a bullet hole in me.\u00a0 I hit you too and for the same reason.\u00a0 Now no more talk of that again, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Pa,\u201d Joe nodded and tried his best not to dwell on what he had done to his father, though he knew he\u2019d always remember it.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, Young Man, you close those eyes.\u00a0 Everything is going to be okay.\u00a0 It might take a little while, but I bet you that very soon you\u2019ll feel like being Joe Cartwright again.\u00a0 Son, it\u2019s all going to be alright.\u00a0 I\u2019m absolutely sure of it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope so, Pa,\u201d Joe whispered and closed his eyes for the last time.\u00a0 The sedative had finally taken hold and he fell off to sleep.<\/p>\n Ben sat on the bed next to his son for a long while.\u00a0 He just stared over at the boy and prayed that he would be alright.\u00a0 Pa knew that it would be a long road ahead for Joseph, but he had faith that the boy would do alright.\u00a0\u00a0 And he was counting on that same faith to see him through until his son would be back home and well again.\u00a0 Finally standing from the bed, Ben reached over and turned the light on the nightstand down low.\u00a0 Pa bent down and brushed aside the curls which had fallen down onto his son’s forehead and then softly kissed his brow.\u00a0 He sighed deeply knowing that he would soon be saying goodbye to his youngest as he sought help at the hospital there in San Francisco.\u00a0 Ben couldn\u2019t help wondering why his son always had to be tested by fire.\u00a0 He prayed that all of his worry would wash away just as soon as he had Joe back home safe and healthy again.<\/p>\n *************************************<\/p>\n Epilogue<\/p>\n Ben and Joe Cartwright sat outside of the Overland Stage Depot waiting for the noon stage which would take them on their journey back to San Francisco.\u00a0 Joe had requested that there wouldn\u2019t be the fanfare that there had been the last time he had left some three months ago.\u00a0 He had said his goodbyes to both Adam and Hoss back at the ranch house.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s emotions were too raw and his mood swings worried everyone, even though they all knew why he was experiencing them.<\/p>\n \u201cI really don\u2019t understand why you\u2019ve got to go too, Pa.\u00a0 I can make it to San Francisco by myself,\u201d Joe said sullenly as he looked down at the sidewalk.<\/p>\n Ben put his arm over his son\u2019s shoulder and replied, \u201cDon\u2019t you remember me telling you that I have some papers to sign at the hospital, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded and sighed, \u201cYeah, you told me there were papers you need to sign \u2013 what are they, Pa — commitment papers?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben turned his son\u2019s face to stare into the boy\u2019s eyes to address what he had said.\u00a0 \u201cNow, Joseph, they\u2019re no such thing!\u00a0 You aren\u2019t being committed so stop that right now.\u00a0 I\u2019m not forcing you to do this \u2013 remember you asked me to get you help, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Pa — if you say so.\u00a0 Are you just going to sign papers or have some other idea \u2013 like staying to check on me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I\u2019ll make sure you\u2019re settled and then I\u2019ll come back home,\u201d Ben sighed.\u00a0 He wished it wasn\u2019t the case and that he could just stay in San Francisco alongside his son like he had months ago when the boy had surgery on his leg.\u00a0 But this was a different situation altogether.\u00a0 There was no set time that Joe would be discharged from the hospital due to the nature of his problems.\u00a0 He had wired Doctor Wallace and the man wanted Ben to have a talk with him once he arrived with Joe.\u00a0 Pa didn\u2019t want Joe to know everything that had been said in the various telegrams which had gone back and forth between Ben, Harold Peele and Doctor Wallace.\u00a0 There was no need in worrying his son about it.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s for the best, Pa,\u201d Joe paused as he turned and spied the stage coming in from the west.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know how long it\u2019s going to take to fix me —or if they even can.\u201d<\/p>\n Pa tugged on Joe\u2019s arm and replied, \u201cNo talking like that, Joseph!\u00a0 I told you that you\u2019ll be fine and you will be.\u00a0 Now come on, let\u2019s get our bags.\u201d<\/p>\n *************************************<\/p>\n Three days later both Ben and Joe arrived at the Saint Francis Hospital and, as usual, were greeted by Doctor Harold Peele.\u00a0 He escorted Joe to his room and helped get him settled and then brought Ben down into his office where Doctor Cleveland Wallace waited.\u00a0 Harold set out coffee for the three of them and then they asked Ben to go over everything he knew about all that Joe had gone through from the very beginning of his ordeal all the way up to and including all of the events which had taken place up at the line shack where Joe had asked for help.\u00a0 Ben hated to discuss what had been a private conversation between his son and him up at the cabin in Littleton.\u00a0 However for Joe to get the proper care he had to divulge the account of all that had happened there.\u00a0 The two doctors would be caring for his son in his absence, and Ben knew that they had to be informed of everything that Joseph had gone through which had led to his emotional breakdown.<\/p>\n Ben was well spent by the time he had finally divulged every detail to Harold and Doctor Wallace.<\/p>\n \u201cI know that that was very hard on you to go through all of that, Ben.\u00a0 Thank you,\u201d Harold nodded over to the man.<\/p>\n \u201cTo me it sounds as though what has happened to your son has been cumulative, Mister Cartwright,\u201d Doctor Wallace commented as he finished writing down all of the information in his notebook.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s surprising to me that Joe didn\u2019t break down long before now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a very strong young man,\u201d Ben nodded.\u00a0 \u201cBut, none of us knew that he was still suffering these last couple of months.\u00a0 I also didn\u2019t know that he had gone on that vacation in order to rid himself of all that was Joe Cartwright.\u00a0 But, then again, I didn\u2019t know he was so terrified of being captured again that he had loaded his boots with both a knife and a gun either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne thing\u2019s for sure,\u201d Harold smiled over to Ben.\u00a0 \u201cThat son of yours sure loves you — or he never would have tried to get captured \u2013 especially after going through all that for months.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know — I wish he hadn\u2019t \u2013 as it set off all of the rest of the events,\u201d Ben frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Mister Cartwright, what Joe\u2019s gone through was going to hit him at some time or the other.\u00a0 There\u2019s really no telling what might have set this off — though being held hostage made it happen a bit faster \u2013 he eventually would have ended up breaking down.\u00a0 At least you got him to safety and now brought him somewhere he can get the help he needs,\u201d Doctor Wallace tried to ease the anxious father\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n \u201cHow long — any idea \u2013 how long it will take?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n Doctor Wallace shook his head and gave a noncommittal shrug of his shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s all going to depend on your son.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got some ideas on how to treat him \u2013 but something like this can\u2019t be rushed or he will eventually go through all of this again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen I thought you could come and stay tonight at my house to rest up before going back to the Ponderosa,\u201d Harold said.<\/p>\n \u201cSo \u2013 neither of you think that maybe I should stay in San Francisco in case Joe needs me?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked, worry evident in his tone of voice.<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 he needs time here to get use to the therapy he\u2019s going to need.\u00a0 Be assured that I will keep you apprised of how the boy is doing,\u201d Doctor Wallace answered.<\/p>\n Harold stood from his desk and walked over and put his hand down on Ben\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cI know you don\u2019t want to leave him, Ben.\u00a0 But the sooner we get Joe well the sooner he can get home to you.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben drew in a deep breath and nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYes, I hate to leave the boy \u2013 but I do want what\u2019s best for him.\u00a0 Will it hurt to go see him before we go to your house, Harold?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course not, you can see Joe and then we\u2019ll go to dinner and then you can get a good night\u2019s sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stood and shook Doctor Wallace\u2019s hand and said, \u201cTake care of my son — I can\u2019t help worrying about him — but I know you\u2019ll do your best to help him.\u201d<\/p>\n Doctor Wallace smiled and nodded over to the worried father.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll write you every week, Mister Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n ***********************************<\/p>\n Ben left Harold\u2019s office and made his way down the long corridor and over to Joe\u2019s hospital room.\u00a0 He opened the door to see that Joe was now in a hospital gown and lying in bed.<\/p>\n \u201cHi, Pa,\u201d Joe called over to his father.<\/p>\n Ben made his way over to his son and sat down on the side of the bed.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t speak for a long while, feeling quite choked up with emotions at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 I\u2019m going to try my best \u2013 try not to worry.\u00a0 I know you have to go \u2013 so just have a safe trip.\u201d Joe continued, as he witnessed the appearance of tears in his Pa\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cHere,\u201d Pa said and reached inside his coat pocket.\u00a0 \u201cNow, Young Man, I expect a letter every week,\u201d Pa said and handed Joe a big envelope.<\/p>\n Joe opened it and pulled out writing paper, envelopes, a pencil and stamps.\u00a0 He forced a smile in order to put his father\u2019s mind at ease.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll do my best, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben reached over and pulled Joe into his arms and tightly held onto him.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t help feeling as though he was abandoning the boy and it made his heart ache.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t matter that Joseph was twenty-three years old, his son had gone through so much and he had hoped that he could\u2019ve helped him himself.\u00a0 This was his youngest boy and everyone knew that Joseph owned a large part of his Pa\u2019s heart.\u00a0 Now he would be in the care of a doctor who wasn\u2019t all that known to the boy and Ben hoped that the man realized the depth of hurt that his son was carrying inside of him.\u00a0 The hardest part of being a parent was to let go of a child, no matter the age, and hope that they could find their way back home.\u00a0 Joseph surely knew how to find his way home, but at the present time he didn\u2019t know exactly who he was anymore.\u00a0 Ben prayed that his son could find the Joseph Cartwright who had been happy-go-lucky and a joy to his family before he had been abducted and abused six months ago.\u00a0 Pa believed in his heart that the boy who he loved so much was still inside him somewhere, buried deep underneath all of the hurtful memories, sadness, and the pain.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be okay, Pa,\u201d Joe whispered, fighting his own tears now.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve got to do this \u2013 I have to try to get back to being Joe Cartwright \u2013 and this is the only place where I\u2019ve got a chance to do it.\u00a0 I\u2019ll miss you — and I\u2019ll do my best to come back to you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTake care of yourself, Joseph \u2013 and if it ever gets to be too much you just tell Harold and he\u2019ll wire me and I\u2019ll be right back here, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Pa,\u201d Joe whispered.<\/p>\n Ben finally eased his son out from his arms and combed his fingers through the boy\u2019s unruly hair and tried to force a confident smile.\u00a0 \u201cYou get well \u2013 I\u2019ll be waiting for your first report,\u201d Pa said as he stood from the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cGoodbye, Pa,\u201d Joe nodded towards his father.<\/p>\n Ben headed for the door but turned around at the last minute and cast a parting glance towards his youngest.\u00a0 Joe looked so unlike his former self that it gave his father pause.\u00a0 The bright hazel eyes were dull and his endearing smile hadn\u2019t been seen for so long that Ben wondered if he\u2019d ever see it again.\u00a0 Foremost, even behind the fabricated smile, he knew that Joseph was still hurting but had been trying to assure his Pa that he was fine with being left there in the hospital alone.\u00a0 All that Pa could do was to pray that the next time that he saw the boy that he\u2019d see the mischievous smile that was uniquely Joseph Cartwright\u2019s.\u00a0 Fighting his desire to go against all of the doctor\u2019s wishes and stay there, he drew in a deep breath and then somehow managed a reassuring smile.\u00a0 He called across the room to his son.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll see you soon, Joseph — I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI love you, too, Pa,\u201d Joe answered and tried not to show his father how hard it had been to pretend that he was okay with being left there at the hospital alone.\u00a0 He knew that Pa would\u2019ve stayed for months if he asked him to, but, he felt that it wouldn\u2019t be fair to the man.\u00a0 Joe was unsure how long he would be at the hospital and how long it would take for him to be healed.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t all that sure that he would ever be healed.\u00a0 He watched as Pa walked out of the room and he felt lonelier than he ever remembered, other than his three months in captivity.\u00a0 *** Goodbye Pa<\/em><\/strong> *** Joe thought to himself and pulled the covers up over his shoulders and hoped that sleep would overtake him.<\/p>\n *************************************<\/p>\n Ben sat at the desk in his study working on his ledgers.\u00a0 He had to rework the figures numerous times as his mind was on other things.\u00a0 He tried to keep the news that he\u2019d just received from Doctor Wallace from his thoughts but it hadn\u2019t worked.\u00a0 It had been a full month and yet the doctor had notified Ben that Joe\u2019s therapy hadn\u2019t been going very well.\u00a0 He had mentioned trying another approach to Joseph\u2019s condition and assured Ben that he would keep him apprised on how it was coming along.\u00a0 Frowning after he had pressed down too hard on yet another pencil, Ben searched in one of the bottom drawers for a new supply of them.\u00a0 He had forgotten that the bottom right drawer was where he had stashed Joe\u2019s boot knife, derringer and right handed holster.\u00a0 He pulled each object up to the top of his desk and stared down at them.\u00a0 He closed his eyes and could still hear his son\u2019s quips when he had first been thrown inside the foreman\u2019s cabin where he was also held as a prisoner.\u00a0 *** I might be dirty but at least I put in a day\u2019s work.\u00a0 You look like a damn pencil pusher to me!\u00a0 What are you a banker or something?\u00a0 You probably sit on your backside all day and order people around! ***<\/em><\/strong> Ben started to smile and he shook his head.\u00a0 Here he was looking for a pencil in order to finish the monthly statements and Joseph \u2013 who had gone by \u201cJim\u2019 back then, had called it correctly.\u00a0 Ben laughed to think that he might really be a pencil pusher after all.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss called over to his father, who apparently hadn\u2019t heard him come into the study.<\/p>\n \u201cOh \u2013 Hoss \u2013 yes what is it, Son?\u2019\u201d Ben shook himself out of the flashback.<\/p>\n \u201cDid you get some good news about Little Joe?\u00a0 I heard you laughing when I walked in.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben cleared his throat and set Joe\u2019s weapons and holster back inside of his desk.\u00a0 \u201cNo, Hoss, afraid not.\u00a0 I was just thinking of some of your little brother\u2019s antics over at the Hilliard ranch.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did Doctor Wallace write, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss continued, wondering just what was going on.<\/p>\n Ben stood from the desk and walked over to his son and set his hand down onto his shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cI know you miss your brother — we\u2019re all just going to have to have some patience.\u00a0 Doctor Wallace mentioned trying a new approach with Joe since the last method didn\u2019t help.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss frowned and stared over at his Pa.\u00a0 He could read the sadness on his face.\u00a0 \u201cOh, shucks Pa!\u00a0 Joe\u2019s going to be okay — he\u2019s just trying to stay away from working on that railroad order that\u2019s keeping Adam and me busy!\u201d<\/p>\n Pa smiled at his son, knowing why the boy had said what he had.\u00a0 He knew that Hoss was trying to lift his spirits.\u00a0 \u201cYou go and get cleaned up, to reward you and Adam the three of us are going to eat at the International House tonight.\u00a0 I figured we haven\u2019t done that in a long while and you boys deserve it.\u00a0 Go and yell for Adam to get ready and I\u2019ll go get dressed,\u201d Ben announced and turned for the stairs.\u00a0 He knew that he wouldn\u2019t have been able to work on the books anyway, not with thoughts of Joseph playing in his mind.<\/p>\n *************************************<\/p>\n Time passed quickly for all of the hired hands who were busy logging the timber that was needed for the railroad spur line, and that also meant Hoss and Adam Cartwright.\u00a0 Almost two straight months had been spent marking the trees, logging them and then hauling them over to the northern border of the Ponderosa where the Pacific Railroad workers loaded the wagons and took them further north.\u00a0\u00a0 During those same two months Ben Cartwright fought to put his youngest son out of his mind, but it was a monumental task.\u00a0 He had received updates from Doctor Wallace and also Harold Peele.\u00a0 When September turned to late October, Ben finally got the wire he had been praying for.\u00a0 Doctor Wallace had asked him to come to San Francisco for a visit.\u00a0 He was a bit lax in information regarding Joseph\u2019s progress, but reading between the lines, Ben took the request for him to come as a good sign.\u00a0 He hurriedly packed and purchased his ticket and was on the stagecoach by the following day.<\/p>\n \u201cGood to see you, Ben!\u201d\u00a0 Harold smiled and shook the man\u2019s outstretched hand.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s good to see you, Harold.\u00a0 I got a message that Doctor Wallace wanted me to meet with him.\u00a0 Joseph isn\u2019t worse is he?\u201d<\/p>\n Harold smiled and pointed for Ben to follow him down to his office where the other doctor waited.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll let Cleveland tell you about the boy.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben apprehensively entered Harold\u2019s private office where Doctor Wallace sat waiting for his visitor.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s nice to see you Mister Cartwright.\u00a0 Thank you for coming so quickly.\u201d Cleveland said and shook Ben\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been on pins and needles since I got your wire.\u00a0 How\u2019s my son?\u201d Ben asked taking a seat next to Joe\u2019s doctor.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, as I wrote you several times, he wasn\u2019t the easiest patient to work with there for a while.\u00a0 When he decides not to talk or participate there\u2019s not much a person can do about it,\u201d Doctor Wallace explained.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I guess he\u2019s always been like that \u2013 just plain stubborn,\u201d Ben nodded.\u00a0 \u201cBut, you had said you were trying a new approach.\u00a0 I haven\u2019t heard much from Joseph \u2013 just very short notes and they didn\u2019t have much to say.\u00a0 So how is the boy?\u201d<\/p>\n Doctor Wallace stood and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cI finally found what makes your son tick \u2013 so to speak.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d Ben replied.<\/p>\n \u201cI decided to put Joe into a group setting with some of my other patients.\u00a0 Your son is a very empathetic young man.\u00a0\u00a0 It didn\u2019t take long for me to discover that by allowing him to sit and listen to other patients who are going through various problems dealing with trauma, that he finally started to open up about his own troubles.\u00a0 He\u2019s done remarkably well \u2013 especially these last two weeks.\u00a0 There\u2019s a group of four of them — including Joe \u2013 and they have really bonded and have all done so much better than when they were in individual sessions.\u00a0 They all love your son he keeps them laughing most of the time with all of his antics.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t think your boy knew how to laugh until a few days ago.\u00a0 Once the other three heard that strange twilling laughter of his they all forgot their problems for a little while and laughed right along.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben tried to hide his tears of joy.\u00a0 He never thought that he would see Joseph smile or laugh again.\u00a0 It had been so long in coming.\u00a0 \u201cSo \u2013 what happens now, Doctor?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve talked extensively with your son these past two weeks ever since he decided to let me in.\u00a0 I believe he\u2019s well on the way back.\u00a0 Joseph knows that he might always have those memories and he knows that there aren\u2019t any quick fixes for the type of trauma that he went through.\u00a0 However, he now has some tricks to help him deal with those things should they flare up again.\u00a0 He\u2019s been writing a lot down in his journal too and he says that helps.\u00a0 So that same boy who told me he\u2019d never write down his thoughts back four months ago on his first visit here is now suddenly writing up a storm almost nightly.\u00a0 He reads me some of it, and then there\u2019s some that he keeps to himself which is fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow soon can the boy come home?\u201d Ben had waited far too long to ask, it was on his mind ever since he had entered the office.<\/p>\n \u201cHow about I discharge him tomorrow?\u201d Doctor Wallace said smiling broadly.<\/p>\n Ben looked as though he couldn\u2019t believe what the doctor had said.\u00a0 \u201cYou mean it?\u00a0 He\u2019s well enough to come home?\u201d<\/p>\n Cleveland nodded and said, \u201cAs long as you realize that there might be times that he has some difficulties and you just let him work through those on his own then I would say he\u2019s well enough to go back with you.\u00a0 I\u2019ve taught your son exactly what to do if he feels like life is starting to get out of control.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you tell him yet?\u201d Ben asked, now standing.<\/p>\n \u201cWe decided that you should tell him, Ben,\u201d Harold smiled.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s down in the solarium with the three other members of the therapy group now.\u00a0 The session should be over \u2013 come on I\u2019ll show you the way.\u00a0 Joe doesn\u2019t know that you\u2019re here so it should be a nice surprise!\u201d<\/p>\n ************************************<\/p>\n Ben followed both Harold Peele and Doctor Wallace down two of the intersecting corridors until they came to a more open area with large windows which helped the room fill with bright sunshine.\u00a0 Before Ben could look for the curly head of his boy he heard that twilling laughter.<\/p>\n \u201cNo I\u2019m serious — my brother Hoss can eat an entire cow in one sitting!\u201d Joe laughed and the other three patients around the table burst out laughing along with him.<\/p>\n \u201cCut it out, Joe \u2013 nobody can eat that much!\u201d One of the men next to him said.<\/p>\n \u201cHow big is this brother of yours?\u201d The one girl at the table asked.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s about six foot six any way you look at him \u2013vertically or horizontally,\u201d Joe continued.<\/p>\n \u201cYour friend here might just be telling another tall tale,\u201d the deep baritone voice came out from behind where Joe sat at the table.<\/p>\n Joe spun around to see his father.\u00a0 \u201cPa!\u201d He exclaimed and came out of his seat and hugged the man.\u00a0 \u201cHow long have you been here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust long enough to hear you telling fibs again,\u201d Ben laughed and returned his son\u2019s hug.<\/p>\n \u201cHey\u2014let me introduce you to our little club of crazy people,\u201d Joe began and pointed first to the one girl who sat across the table from him.\u00a0 \u201cSally Meyers this is my father Ben Cartwright,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNice to meet you,\u201d Sally grinned over to the man.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Meyers, nice to meet you,\u201d Ben smiled and nodded towards her.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd this rough neck is Peter Goodwin,\u201d Joe pointed to the man to the left of Sally.<\/p>\n \u201cMister Goodwin, nice to meet you too,\u201d Ben nodded once again.<\/p>\n Peter smiled over at Ben and nodded his way.<\/p>\n Joe turned to the last man, one who was a bit rough looking but always wore a warm smile on his face. Ben looked a bit perplexed as he waited to hear what his son was talking about.<\/p>\n The last man stood and reached over to shake Ben\u2019s hand.\u00a0 \u201cThe name\u2019s Jim \u2013– Jim Rivers,\u201d He called out.<\/p>\n Ben looked at the man and then back to his son.<\/p>\n \u201cYep \u2013 Pa \u2013 it\u2019s the real Jim Rivers,\u201d Joe smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, Mister Cartwright, I heard this wild kid of yours stole my name there for a while,\u201d Jim grinned over at Joe.<\/p>\n Ben laughed and patted his son\u2019s shoulder and replied, \u201cYes, Jim, but for a very good reason — he had to save his poor old father — the pencil pusher.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe laughed as did the three people around the table.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, if you all will excuse me \u2013 I\u2019ve got to go talk to my father and tell him what it\u2019s like being stuck with a bunch of crazy folks like you,\u201d\u00a0 Joe laughed again.<\/p>\n \u201cGet out of here you idiot!\u201d\u00a0 Jim called, but his face showed how much he enjoyed Joe\u2019s company.\u00a0 Sally smiled at Joe and waved, as did Peter.\u00a0 Joe and Ben started back down the corridor heading to his quarters.\u00a0 Joe draped his arm across his father\u2019s shoulder all the way until they got into his room.<\/p>\n \u201cSit down, Pa, tell me about everything that I\u2019ve missed,\u201d Joe smiled and took a seat across from his father.<\/p>\n Ben sat down and just stared at his son.\u00a0\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t believe the difference in the boy\u2019s appearance.\u00a0 Joe seemed happy for the first time in eight months.\u00a0 His eyes were bright and his smile was both genuine and endearing.\u00a0 He looked like the Joseph Cartwright that he had been some eight months ago, and that fact totally amazed him.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u00a0 What\u2019s wrong?\u201d Joe asked when he noticed the slight appearance of tears in his father\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n Ben brushed the tears away on his sleeve and replied, \u201cNothing — must be something in the air.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe grinned and replied, \u201cYeah, Pa —I\u2019ve missed you too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt looks like you made some friends, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa — it\u2019s hard to explain — those three people that you just met—well they\u2019ve got really bad problems.\u00a0 I mean mine were nothing to sneeze at of course — and I will still need some work as Doctor Wallace says.\u00a0 But, after hearing what those three have gone through I guess it made me realize that I\u2019m not the only person in the world who\u2019s had a tough time.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know if that makes any sense to you, Pa — but it helped me,\u201d Joe confessed, turning serious.<\/p>\n \u201cIt makes a great deal of sense to me,\u201d Ben nodded and put his hand on the boy\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cHey\u2014I thought you were coming at the end of the month for a visit — what are you doing here two weeks early?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell \u2013 I was just wondering if you\u2019d like to come back home?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u00a0 You mean for a visit?\u201d Joe asked, surprised by what Pa had said.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, a visit \u2013 maybe just for about sixty or seventy years,\u201d Ben smiled.<\/p>\n Joe stared at his father to gauge if he was serious and then he noticed the way he was grinning over at him.\u00a0 \u201cDid the Doc say I could go?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course he did!\u00a0 What — did you think I was going to just break you out of here?\u201d Ben laughed.\u00a0 \u201cSo do you want to come home, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe didn\u2019t answer right away.\u00a0 His thoughts turned to all that had happened to him since he had arrived at the hospital, both good and bad.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u201d Ben called again, trying to break his son\u2019s trance-like state.<\/p>\n Joe finally stared directly into his father\u2019s eyes and then smiled broadly.\u00a0 \u201cJust see how fast I pack, Pa!\u201d Joe jumped from his seat eager to go home.<\/p>\n \u201cWait just a minute — you\u2019re being released tomorrow so you have plenty of time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay that gives me time to say goodbye to my friends.\u00a0 Hey what did you think about the fact that one of them is the real Jim Rivers?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben laughed and patted his son\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, looks like you\u2019re going to have to come up with a new alias!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shook his head and sent his most endearing smile over to his father.\u00a0 \u201cNo, Sir, I don\u2019t need an alias anymore.\u00a0 I am Joseph Cartwright — and I\u2019m okay with that now,\u201d Joe made his intentions known to his Pa that he was ready to go home and return to the life that he once knew. \u00a0He wouldn\u2019t be hiding behind the stubble of a beard, old clothes or even a right handed holster.\u00a0 And Joe was just fine with the name that his father had chosen for him some twenty three years earlier.\u00a0 Through times good or bad he was resolved to be Joseph Cartwright for the rest of his life.<\/p>\n Ben stood and wrapped his arms around his son pulling him close.\u00a0 \u201cWelcome back, Joseph,\u201d He whispered, and this time Pa didn\u2019t push away his tears, as they were joyful ones, because he knew that he finally had his son back for good.<\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n Written by:\u00a0 Wrangler<\/p>\n 5-12-25 (This is the third in the Stay in the Darkness series which concludes with “The Sound of Surviving.”<\/p>\n Stories in this series:<\/p>\n Stay in the Darkness<\/p>\n A New Light<\/p>\n Chiaroscuro<\/p>\n The Sound of Surviving<\/p>\n (Dedicated to my story consultant who got down onto the floor to show me how you can get a boot knife out very easily if your wrists are tied in front of you, thus, I had to retie both Pa and Joe which required a lot of rewriting. \u00a0Thanks, Rob!)\u00a0 And the rat lived in this story and he’s grateful.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nA New Light<\/a>
\nChiaroscuro<\/a>
\nThe Sound of Surviving<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\u201cI\u2019m not the Ponderosa pine that you said I was,\u201d Joe whispered sadly.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cPa — you\u2019re just never going to believe who THIS <\/strong>is!\u201d Joe exclaimed.<\/p>\n