Summary: When Ben is told that Little Joe is dying, they board a stagecoach and begin the race against time to save his life.<\/p>\n
Rating T, WC 36,200<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Fifteen Minutes<\/strong><\/p>\n I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 (2nd<\/sup> Timothy Chapter 4 Verse 7)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow \u2013 how much longer did you say, Pa?\u00a0 Did you say \u2013fifteen \u2013 fifteen minutes?\u201d Joe asked as he struggled to catch his breath and tried his best to focus on the forced calm to his father\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n \u201cFifteen minutes, Son \u2013 just fifteen now.\u00a0 Let\u2019s do the math, shall we?\u201d Ben sent down a smile to his son, which was also forced.\u00a0 He was fighting his fear as he stared at his youngest son lying on the make-shift bed which stretched from one side of the stagecoach to the other, with the boards resting on both bench seats.<\/p>\n \u201cFifteen \u2013 you said fifteen, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, now let\u2019s pass the time by working the problem,\u201d He coaxed.\u00a0 Ben had pulled the weighted carriage lantern down some and looked once more at his gold pocket watch.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s face winced with increasing pain and tried again to stay focused on what Pa had just repeated.\u00a0 \u201cFifteen \u2013 fifteen minutes \u2013and I\u2019m trying to break it down to seconds \u2013 is that right, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, that\u2019s right \u2013 now break it up so you can figure it out,\u201d Ben\u2019s voice fought the strain of the situation.\u00a0 He just had to come up with some kind of a ploy to keep his son\u2019s mind off of the fact that he couldn\u2019t have any more medicine for a full fifteen minutes, though Pa could tell that Joe was in agony.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Pa — first I\u2019ll do the ten \u2013 ten times six \u2013 that\u2019s \u2013 well \u2013 that\u2019s six?\u00a0 No \u2013wait one times six is six and then I add the zero \u2013 that\u2019s — wait \u2013 I messed up.\u00a0 Six times ten is \u2013 six times one is six \u2013 and then I\u2019ve got to add the two zeros which makes it six hundred.\u00a0\u00a0 Is that right, Pa?\u201d Joe asked, his thoughts muddled and his pain aggravated by the pitching of the stagecoach which was racing against time.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, so now you have the ten minutes of the fifteen.\u00a0 Now what are you going to do with those five minutes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFive \u2013 I\u2019ve only got five minutes left? \u00a0I thought you said I had fifteen, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben patiently tried to get Joe to refocus his attention, \u201cYes, Son, you\u2019ve got fifteen minutes before you can have another injection.\u00a0 Now, we are doing the math, remember?\u00a0 You are trying to figure out how many seconds are in fifteen minutes.\u00a0 You solved ten of those fifteen minutes already, so now you\u2019ve got to deal with the remaining five minutes.\u00a0 So how many seconds are in five minutes?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe closed his eyes and fought his nausea, so sure that he was about to lose the water he had swallowed earlier.\u00a0 Five minutes \u2013 times sixty seconds— I need to take five and six and add those \u2013 no multiply those I mean.\u00a0 Five times six is \u2013 thirty.\u00a0 Now I have to figure out what I\u2019m doing with that \u2013 I\u2019ve got a zero with that sixty and I guess a zero with the five so \u2013is it three hundred, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes \u2013 so five minutes would be three hundred seconds \u2013 but you\u2019ll have to add what you got from the ten minutes now.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe closed his eyes again and bit back the pain once more.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He was trying his best not to alarm his father, though there was more than enough cause for him to be worried now.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got six hundred minutes \u2013 wait \u2013 I mean I have six hundred seconds \u2013and now I add three hundred for those other five.\u00a0 So \u2013 six hundred plus three hundred is —,\u201dJoe trailed off.<\/p>\n \u201cIs what, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs a hell of a lot of seconds, Pa,\u201d Joe tried to smile but it turned into a grimace before he could stop it.<\/p>\n \u201cHow many seconds is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSix hundred and three hundred is \u2013 six plus three is nine \u2013 nine hundred seconds, Pa,\u201d Joe whispered.<\/p>\n Ben smiled and nodded. \u201cThat\u2019s right, good job.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 that seems way too long \u2013 especially right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Turning to the lantern again Pa looked at his watch and replied, \u201cWe\u2019re down to thirteen minutes, Son.\u00a0 You want to try to cipher thirteen now?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stopped short of shaking his head as the movement might make him have to reach for the pail on the floor of the stagecoach.\u00a0 \u201cYou can do that one, Pa.\u00a0 Or you can just give me the injection now?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head and remarked, \u201cNo \u2013 remember what the surgeon said \u2013 we have to do this on schedule.\u00a0 I\u2019m not about to give you an overdose \u2013 we\u2019re well on our way to getting you fixed up.\u201d\u00a0 Pa hoped that his optimism had come out in his tone of voice, though he was more terrified than he had ever been in his entire life.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s okay, Pa \u2013 I wasn\u2019t really asking you to do that,\u201d Joe whispered and his eyes closed briefly.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u201d Ben called out afraid that Joe might have lapsed into a coma.<\/p>\n \u201cStill with you, Pa \u2013 I\u2019m just trying to keep from throwing up right now.\u00a0 Lying down flat on my back inside this stage is the first time I\u2019ve ever realized that I get motion sickness.\u00a0 I sure am a mess, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n Pa smiled and nodded, \u201cYes, Joe, you sure are.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was just thinking about how ironic this whole thing is — you know?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s brow furrowed, wondering if his son was beginning to talk in circles again as he had so many times in the last couple of days.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s ironic, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know \u2013 I\u2019ve been thinking about the fact that I\u2019ve been shot, stabbed, burned, had falls \u2013 well you know.\u00a0 And now \u2013 to have something as stupid as a small scratch being the thing that finally takes me out would be kind of ironic.\u201d<\/p>\n Pa shook his head wearily.\u00a0\u00a0 It hadn\u2019t been the first time that Joseph had mentioned what he perceived to be his impending death.\u00a0 \u201cNo more talk like that \u2013 now I\u2019ve told you that you\u2019ll get through this just like you\u2019ve gotten through everything else.\u00a0 Doc always says that of all of the many patients he\u2019s tended you are the only medical marvel that he\u2019s known.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s face twisted with increasing waves of pain which wracked his body, coming in closer intervals.\u00a0 \u201cToo bad Doc isn\u2019t here now, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben reached down on the floor for the large medical bag which he had been given by Doctor Mercer.\u00a0 He wanted to be ready just as soon as it was time for the next injection.<\/p>\n \u201cOh I don\u2019t think Doc will mind sitting this one out, Joe.\u00a0 And I\u2019m not doing too badly as his fill-in am I?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe struggled to smile.\u00a0 It was a bit feeble but he shot it over to his father to try and ease the mounting tension.\u00a0 \u201cI think you make a fine doctor, Pa.\u00a0 Though you\u2019ve got to get you a better watch \u2013 I think it\u2019s stopped right now.\u00a0 All really great doctors have watches that work.\u00a0 Yours is running about thirteen minutes slow.\u201d<\/p>\n Leaning forward Pa checked the time again and then looked back up at his son.\u00a0 \u201cMy watch is running just fine, Young Man it\u2019s you who\u2019s running a bit fast.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow fast am I?\u201d<\/p>\n Pa patted Joe\u2019s arm and attempted his own smile, still trying to hide his fear.\u00a0 \u201cOh you\u2019re just about three minutes fast now.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to get the needle cleaned and ready.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u00a0 Pa will you please let me do it this time?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI most certainly will not let you do the injection!\u201d Ben called over sternly.\u00a0 \u201cWhy in the world would you even suggest something like that?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe mashed his lips together tightly as he battled both pain and fear.\u00a0 He had grown quite accustomed to the pain, but he couldn\u2019t get a handle on the fear part.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t respond.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u201d Pa asked again.<\/p>\n \u201cI \u2013I just don\u2019t want you to remember this \u2013 I don\u2019t want you to have this as your last memory of me,\u201d Joe whispered.<\/p>\n Ben stopped what he was doing and turned around to see the tears leaving his son\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s this now?\u00a0 Why would you say that?\u201d He asked and tenderly brushed his son\u2019s tears from his cheeks.\u00a0 \u201cYou know that you\u2019re going to be fine \u2013 just fine.\u00a0 We\u2019ve made a whole lot of miles today and it won\u2019t be long before we\u2019ll be in San Francisco and they\u2019ll get you all fixed up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut \u2013 if I don\u2019t –,\u201d Joe trailed off.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll not hear of that again, Joseph.\u00a0 Let\u2019s get you out of some of that pain now.\u00a0 In a few minutes you\u2019ll breathe a lot easier \u2013 and so will I.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe gave a slight nod and replied, \u201cSure \u2013 sure, Pa.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben turned away from his son and readied to get the syringe drawn up with the pain medication.\u00a0 He also used the time to push aside his own tears, well out of the sight of Joseph.\u00a0 Pa knew that he had to give the appearance of confidence and strength even though he was scared to death over the fact that his son might die long before they made it to the hospital.<\/p>\n Kneeling down onto the stagecoach floor, Ben set the carriage lantern on the bench seat and held the glass bottle of morphine in his left hand.\u00a0 Every time his eyes fell on the printed label his stomach churned.\u00a0 It had been that drug which had almost cost Joe his life several years ago and now it was the only medicine available which could keep him out of pain long enough to get to the hospital in order to have the life-saving surgery.\u00a0 Ben drew in a deep breath as he set the bottle down on the seat and grabbed the syringe.\u00a0 He carefully prepped the needle, cleaning it with the antiseptic from the medical kit.\u00a0 No matter how many times he had injected his son it was still hard to do it.\u00a0 Ben couldn\u2019t help wondering if he could once again draw the exact amount into the syringe, knowing full well that too much would kill the boy.\u00a0 Slowly and meticulously Ben drew up the correct dosage and then tapped gently on the end of the needle to remove any trapped air bubbles.\u00a0 He then set the syringe onto the towel next to where Joe lay awaiting the relief it would provide.<\/p>\n \u201cWhich arm would you like this time, Son, left or right \u2013 your choice?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh I don\u2019t know, Pa \u2013 why don\u2019t you surprise me?\u201d Joe tried for some humor, since he knew how much his father dreaded having to give him the injection.<\/p>\n Ben smiled and nodded over at Joe.\u00a0 \u201cOkay, I\u2019ll surprise you.\u00a0 Go ahead and hand me that left arm of yours.\u201d<\/p>\n Lifting his left arm as high as he could manage Joe offered it to his Pa.\u00a0 Ben placed his own left arm underneath his son\u2019s to brace it and to prevent any pitch in the stagecoach from interfering with the needle stick.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you ready?\u201d Pa asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been ready for over nine hundred seconds, Pa.\u00a0 Go ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n Pa bit at his bottom lip as he carefully inserted the needle underneath his son\u2019s pale skin.\u00a0 He gently pushed the plunger until all of the medication was gone from the syringe.\u00a0 Ben eased the needle out of his son\u2019s arm and applied a piece of cotton over the small puncture and stared up at his son.<\/p>\n \u201cGive it about three hundred seconds, Joseph, and you should start to feel a bit better,\u201d Pa said as he slowly eased Joe\u2019s arm back down alongside of his body.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll be right back just as soon as I clean off the syringe and get everything back inside the medical bag.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Doc,\u201d Joe nodded over to his father.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re welcome,\u201d Pa replied and patted his son\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n ***Please dear Lord, ease my boy\u2019s pain and help us get to the hospital in time.\u00a0 I know I\u2019ve asked you to spare Joseph\u2019s life so many times \u2013 but I am asking you once again.\u00a0 Please Lord, save my boy. ***<\/em><\/strong> Ben prayed as he settled all the items back inside the medical bag.\u00a0 He grabbed one of the three canteens and poured a drink for himself and Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, you drink some of this, Joseph.\u00a0 Remember what Doctor Mercer said about you getting dehydrated from that morphine,\u201d Ben lifted his son\u2019s head and placed the cup to his lips.<\/p>\n Joe took a few sips, never telling his father how sick to his stomach he was feeling.\u00a0 He figured that Pa had enough to worry about at the time and there was no reason to put more on his shoulders.<\/p>\n \u201cYou sure you\u2019ve had enough?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded and dropped his head back down onto the pillow.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, Pa, I\u2019m good for now.\u00a0 You go ahead and have a drink and then how about you leaning back and getting some shuteye?\u00a0 It\u2019s going to be four hours until the next shot and I know you\u2019ve got to be exhausted by now.\u00a0 Please try to get some sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n Pa hesitated in his response as he didn\u2019t want his son to know what he was afraid of.\u00a0 Ben worried every single time that Joe shut his eyes that he would stop breathing.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d Pa insisted and drank some water.<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 even doctors need their sleep.\u00a0 Just ease back for me \u2013 I\u2019d rest a whole lot better if I knew you\u2019d gotten some sleep,\u201d Joe tried his best to coax his father.<\/p>\n Ben drew in a deep breath, exhaling slowly.\u00a0 He was, in fact, exhausted but he had been exhausted before.\u00a0 He could read the concern written all over Joe\u2019s face and he wanted to appease him.\u00a0 \u201cOkay, I\u2019ll do it under the stipulation that you wake me if you get to feeling bad or if you need anything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHand me that pocket watch \u2013 I\u2019ll keep the schedule this time so you\u2019ll rest easier and not be checking the darn thing every other minute.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think –,\u201d Ben began but Joe cut him off.<\/p>\n \u201cJust hand me the darn thing, Pa.\u00a0 I need to know that you\u2019re okay or I won\u2019t be able to enjoy the pain relief you just gave me.\u201d<\/p>\n Reluctantly Pa relinquished his watch placing it into his son\u2019s left hand.\u00a0 \u201cWill you be able to see it okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 my body will know when I need more medicine \u2013 I don\u2019t even need to see the watch, but I know you won\u2019t rest easy unless someone\u2019s looking at it.\u00a0 There\u2019s plenty of light from that lantern, I can see it okay,\u201d Joe insisted.<\/p>\n \u201cFine,\u201d Ben surrendered and eased down in the seat just to the right of where his son was lying.\u00a0 He parked his back against the side of the stage so that he could settle his right hand onto his son\u2019s chest and still stretch his legs out enough on the bench seat.<\/p>\n \u201cReally, Pa \u2013 are you going to go to sleep like that?\u00a0 What \u2013 are you worried that I\u2019ll stop breathing or something?\u201d Joe protested.<\/p>\n \u201cA father\u2019s prerogative, Young Man, now be quiet I\u2019m trying to sleep,\u201d Pa replied and closed his eyes.<\/p>\n Feeling the weight of Pa\u2019s hand as it had eased onto his chest, Joe couldn\u2019t say that he was really surprised that the man was going overboard in his gesture because it was a \u201cPa\u201d type of thing which he had done.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re not the least bit overly protective, are you?\u201d Joe grinned up at his father.<\/p>\n \u201cThis coming from the one who spends half of his time in a sick bed healing from being shot, stabbed, burnt –,\u201d Pa quipped until Joe stopped him.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay \u2013 go ahead leave your hand there, I won\u2019t say anything about it.\u00a0 Good night, Pa,\u201d Joe said and closed his eyes as well.\u00a0 His thoughts took him back to how it had all begun and why the two of them were now racing against time to get to San Francisco for the life-saving surgery.<\/p>\n ***What a stupid mistake \u2013 what a stupid thing not to take care of until it was too late! ***<\/em><\/strong> Joe thought to himself and then went back to the day it had all happened.<\/p>\n It had all begun the day that my brother Hoss readied to leave on a horse buying trip to Arizona.\u00a0 I mentioned to him that I\u2019d be happy to exchange jobs with him and he laughed heartily at my suggestion.\u00a0 There was no way that he was going to stay home and pull old fencing wire nor was he about to help in the task of\u00a0 putting up over a mile of new wire, not when he could have a good time choosing and haggling over the cost of new mounts.\u00a0 My brother liked sleeping out on the ground far more than I did and he\u2019d get quite a few nights of that on his trip, but I still would have preferred his job to the one that my Pa had assigned to me.\u00a0 He waved as he and three of the best Ponderosa wranglers rode out from the front corral.\u00a0 I was just about to leave for town when I spotted my father coming out the front door with saddle bags slung over his shoulder.\u00a0 My plan for escape had just been quashed as he moved over to where I stood.\u00a0 Explaining that he had been informed that one of his business partners had changed their time of arrival over at Gold Hill and that he\u2019d be leaving right away to join the man, Pa motioned over to his horse and I followed.\u00a0 Pa was quick to tell me that he expected me to get the old wire taken down, put on some old wooden spools and shoved there in the tack room.\u00a0 I began to protest but was met by two brown eyes which were shooting a less than subtle sign that he wasn\u2019t about to put up with any form of insubordination by me.\u00a0 I decided to bargain with him, casting my most endearing smile his way, what the heck it had worked in the past!\u00a0 I told him that I had hoped to go into Carson City Friday for the horse auction.\u00a0 Pa studied my face, I could tell that right away.\u00a0 He was trying to see if I had the intention of ditching my duties there at the ranch and just partying in Carson City.\u00a0 I changed my expression right away and let him know that I\u2019d only be gone a day or a day and a half tops.\u00a0 I noticed his frown and the stare that he shot my way.\u00a0 Sometimes Pa has the ability to read my thoughts and it can be a bit unnerving.\u00a0 He mounted Buck and finally cast a knowing smile over to me along with a tolerant \u201cyes, Joseph,\u201d to let me know that he understood that staying behind to tackle that old wire wasn\u2019t the best job in the world.\u00a0 Pa then informed me that he would, however, expect me to get the job taken care of before I planted my boots in Carson.\u00a0 I dutifully nodded and assured him that I would.\u00a0 I grinned up at Pa and thanked him for understanding why I needed to go check out the auction since I had hoped to wangle some decent stock and surprise my brother Hoss upon his return from Arizona.\u00a0 With all of that straightened out between the two of us, Pa sent over a very familiar warning look at me and told me to be careful before he kicked at Buck\u2019s sides and headed out of the yard.\u00a0 I\u2019d never fully understood why my father was always worried about my getting hurt unless it was because of the fact that I\u2019d spent a good chunk of my life recovering from numerous illnesses and injuries.\u00a0 Yeah but that was in the past, or so I thought.\u00a0 Finally feeling like I had masterfully handled the whole conversation with my father, and gotten my way about my little trip, I then turned to get the buckboard ready to begin the arduous task of removing and storing that old wire.\u00a0 I wish I had gone to Arizona.<\/p>\n There was a pool of sweat inside my work gloves by the time I got home that first night.\u00a0 I had gotten most of the wire pulled and all that was left for the next day was to wind it up and then stow it in the tack room.\u00a0 Hop Sing had fussed over me since I was the only one he had to tend to.\u00a0 He had given me a portion of food that even Hoss wouldn\u2019t have been able to handle.\u00a0 I did what I could to get through about a third of it before I had to stop and tell him I needed some sleep.\u00a0 I got up the following day just at daybreak intending to finish that dirty wire winding job so I could head into Carson City the next morning.\u00a0 It had been a lot rougher than I thought and by the time the sun was about to set over the mountains I was getting ready to shove that last spool of the old wire next to the other seven there in the tack room.\u00a0 It had happened too fast and I didn\u2019t notice that old wire until I felt it slicing my shirt and my side.\u00a0 Apparently I hadn\u2019t tied the rope around the spool as well as I thought I had.\u00a0 Once the rope gave way, the end of that old dirty wire had sprung out and just like a hot knife through butter had cut my shirt and me along with it.\u00a0 I have to admit that I swore like a sailor and was very thankful that Pa wasn\u2019t around to hear my word usage as I\u2019d probably be tasting soap if he had, even if I am twenty-two years old.\u00a0 Pa doesn\u2019t play and he\u2019s not too keen on swearing either.\u00a0 I pulled my shirt out of my trousers and looked at the scratch that the wire had left.\u00a0 I\u2019d had far worse and it was just barely bleeding and I could hardly feel the sting of it.\u00a0 I decided that I would tend to it once I went inside the house and took a bath before bed.\u00a0 That was my plan at least, but by the time I fixed up that spool of wire and shoved it angrily against the others, I felt a bit played out.\u00a0 Hop Sing fussed at me until there weren\u2019t any other of his native words left to use.\u00a0 I told him that I was too tired to eat and I\u2019d just go up to my room for some shut-eye.\u00a0 I promised him that I\u2019d make up for it at breakfast only to see him waving a carving knife over at me.\u00a0 By the time I made it to my room I didn\u2019t think any more about taking a bath or anything other than crawling into my bed.\u00a0 I did take the time to wash my hands and face, forgetting all about that cut which wasn\u2019t bothering me at the time.\u00a0 I wish I could live that day again, as I would have handled everything far differently.<\/p>\n I couldn\u2019t believe it when I realized that I had slept until almost noon!\u00a0 Now there wasn\u2019t going to be any bath or any breakfast either.\u00a0 I quickly changed my clothes and packed up a bedroll promising myself that I\u2019d take a nice long soak once I checked into the Emporium Hotel in Carson City.\u00a0 The best laid plans as they say!\u00a0 Just as soon as I signed the register and the man behind the desk handed me my room key I felt a hand on my shoulder.\u00a0 I turned to see the Stewart brothers, Dave and Chuck.\u00a0 They insisted that we have a good old time at the Crystal Palace Saloon and catch up with what we had all been up to lately.\u00a0 I tried to bow out of it, but I didn\u2019t try hard enough I guess.\u00a0 The two brothers followed me up to my room as I tossed my saddlebags onto the bed.\u00a0 I\u2019d told them I needed to get in a bath and they both laughed and said I smelled okay to them.\u00a0 The next thing I knew the three of us were heading to the saloon.\u00a0\u00a0 We laughed, we lied, and we told such tall tales that none of us believed any of it after a while.\u00a0 But, we had a grand time and a lot of beer plus a couple of shots of good old rot gut whiskey.\u00a0 And it was because of all of that partying that I didn\u2019t make it back to the hotel until almost midnight.\u00a0 I felt light-headed but I thought that was because I\u2019d only eaten a little bit of jerky on the way into town and had missed a regular meal.\u00a0 The desire for a bath was now out of the question, at least until morning as the hotel staff had all gone home other than the front desk clerk.\u00a0 I made it into my room and was far too tired to take off anything other than my belt and my boots.\u00a0 I collapsed into that bed and just passed out cold.<\/p>\n The day of the big auction made its arrival without me to see it, until almost ten a.m.\u00a0 I turned in the bed and wondered why there was a very unfamiliar pain in my gut.\u00a0 As I lifted my head in order to view the mantle clock across the room I felt dizzy.\u00a0 It was only then that I thought back to that darn scratch from the other night.\u00a0 Carefully I pulled myself to standing and unbuttoned my shirt.\u00a0 I examined the wound which was now beet-red and festered.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t stand to touch it because it was so tender.\u00a0 I looked at my shirt and noticed the stain which spread out a fair piece from where the cut had been resting up against it all night.\u00a0 I supposed that old cut had seeped a bit and would need a doctor\u2019s care.\u00a0 How I wished I was in Virginia City!\u00a0 I know that Doc Martin would\u2019ve given me hell over the fact that I\u2019d left that scratch go unattended for so long, but it would\u2019ve been worth hearing him fuss if he\u2019d fix me up.\u00a0 Now I was in another town and didn\u2019t know the local saw-bones.\u00a0 There was still the cattle auction to think of, and I figured I\u2019d just put on some clean clothes and wash my face and head out.\u00a0 After it was over I\u2019d march myself down to the doctor\u2019s office and get tended.\u00a0 Sometimes I think I have no common sense at all!<\/p>\n The water from the basin cooled my face and I rinsed it several times.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t know that I was running a fever and just thought that it might be a bit stuffy there in the hotel room as it had been unseasonably warm the past couple of days.\u00a0 I got dressed but it seemed to take a lot longer than usual and when I had to pull my boots on I should have realized that I was in bad shape as the motion had sent hot streams of pain throughout my stomach.\u00a0 The wound was only a little deeper than a scratch so I figured that it probably just had a bit of infection in it.\u00a0 I\u2019d had so many serious injuries in my life that I knew I could handle a bit of a cut.\u00a0 I had no idea that rusty wire had sent bacteria coursing throughout my abdomen.\u00a0 When I finally made it down to the lobby I settled for just some coffee in the little dining room there.\u00a0 I had no appetite and didn\u2019t finish my coffee as I couldn\u2019t stomach the heat of it.\u00a0 Once I was outside I helped myself to some water and took in my fill.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t long before the Stewart brothers were greeting me and the three of us got to the town square by the start of the auction.\u00a0 We talked about each horse that was brought out but all that I saw that interested me was a black stallion which would make an awesome very late or extremely early birthday present for my Pa.\u00a0 Right before the bidding began I found myself looking up from the ground.\u00a0 Chuck and Dave were saying something to me but I swear I couldn\u2019t hear their voices.\u00a0 I just felt like I was floating away.\u00a0 Next thing I can remember is feeling my body lag as I was lifted up and then having each of my arms slung around the two men as they hurried to get me seen by a doctor.<\/p>\n I guess I was completely unconscious by the time they laid me down in the examining room of Doctor Matthew Lawrence.\u00a0 From what Dave told me later I was a real mess.\u00a0 I can still hear what had been said.<\/p>\n \u201cDarn it, Joe you scared us to death!\u201d Chuck said and motioned for Dave to move away from the examination table.\u00a0 \u201cGo tell the doctor that he\u2019s awake now.\u201d<\/p>\n When Dave left the room Joe looked around very confused at his surroundings.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere am I?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou fell out there at the auction, Joe.\u00a0 Dave and I carried you here to the doctor\u2019s office.\u00a0 We caught a sight of that wound of yours.\u00a0 Why didn\u2019t you tell us last night at the bar how bad you got hurt?\u201d Chuck asked partly upset and partly scared for his friend.<\/p>\n \u201cI \u2013 I didn\u2019t know how bad it was until this morning.\u00a0 I planned on going to the doc\u2019s after I checked out those horses.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHorses aren\u2019t as important as your life!\u201d Chuck exclaimed.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry \u2013 I guess I made you two miss the rest of the auction,\u201d Joe mumbled.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe \u2013 didn\u2019t you hear me?\u00a0 You\u2019re bad off \u2013 and horses we can get any time \u2013 but we don\u2019t want to lose a friend.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI understand you are Joe Cartwright?\u201d The doctor asked as he came back into the room.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir,\u201d Joe nodded, though the movement made him feel a bit woozy.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m Doctor Lawrence.\u00a0 Your friends here brought you in and I\u2019ve seen that wound of yours.\u00a0 How long have you had it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess about three days, Doc,\u201d Joe answered.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would appear that you didn\u2019t tend to it at all, now did you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was planning to — I didn\u2019t think it was very bad \u2013 until I woke up today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow did you do it, Young Man?\u201d The doctor inquired as he checked Joe\u2019s forehead for fever and again felt his pulse.<\/p>\n \u201cI was putting up some old fencing wire and I got scratched a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOld wire \u2013 you mean used wire, is that right?\u201d The doctor continued.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah \u2013 it was kind of dirty and a bit rusty,\u201d Joe replied.<\/p>\n Doctor Lawrence shook his head and sighed.\u00a0 \u201cWell, Joe, you\u2019ve got an extremely bad infection and it\u2019s not something that I can tend to.\u00a0 You need to be seen by someone with far more knowledge of these things than I have.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to send you over to the new Washoe Hospital.\u00a0 Infections like these can be life threatening.\u00a0 You should have tended to it right away.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHospital \u2013 Doc is it that serious?\u201d Chuck asked as he shot Dave a look of dread.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, this young man is going to need some extra help.\u00a0 Now if you both would go to the livery stable and ask them to get my surrey over here I will carry my patient there now.\u00a0 We\u2019ve no time to waste,\u201d Doctor Lawrence addressed Joe\u2019s friends.<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Doc \u2013 we\u2019ll go get it right away!\u201d Dave said and briefly set his hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll get you all fixed up, Joe \u2013 don\u2019t you worry!\u201d<\/p>\n Why would I worry?\u00a0 I\u2019m Joe Cartwright, the kid who survives anything that is thrown at him!\u00a0 No stupid little scratch or cut is going to hurt me!\u00a0 Yeah, that\u2019s what I thought at the time.\u00a0 I was back out cold long before I was placed inside Doctor Lawrence\u2019s surrey and didn\u2019t come around until much later that day.\u00a0 That\u2019s when I met the surgeon, or at least the first one, who was going to try and save my life.\u00a0 His name, I was told once I woke again, was Philip Mercer and he advised me that I was in very bad shape.\u00a0 I figured that part out when I realized I was now laying inside of a hospital bed.\u00a0 He told me that my cut had caused a severe infection and it was spreading throughout my entire stomach.\u00a0 The doctor said something about bacteria and called out some words that I\u2019d never heard before and can\u2019t remember even now.\u00a0 I told him that I was in a lot of pain and he told me that he expected it to get a whole lot worse after the surgery.\u00a0 I spotted a nurse heading in with a tray and the doctor told me he was going to give me an injection to help my pain.\u00a0 I told him that I could not take morphine, since I had battled through morphine addiction in the past.\u00a0 It was then that he grew firm with me and advised me to listen as I was in grave danger of dying if they couldn\u2019t perform immediate surgery.\u00a0 That got my attention!\u00a0 He said that only morphine would be able to control the pain both prior to surgery as well as after it was done.\u00a0 I hated to think of what my Pa would say once he\u2019d known I had taken that drug again!\u00a0 I had gone through a real time with that damned stuff.\u00a0 Doctor Martin had started me on it years ago to keep me alive due to a very bad burn to my back.\u00a0 The treatment had gone on so long that I became addicted and had also helped myself to some of the medication from his bag when they tried to wean me off of it later.\u00a0 I was a real mess back then!\u00a0 But the doctor told me they had to use it, and because I really didn\u2019t want to die, I nodded towards him and soon felt that all too familiar stick in my arm and the wooziness to my head.\u00a0 At least I was out of pain for the time being.\u00a0 Next thing I knew two orderlies were putting me on a stretcher and hauling me into surgery.<\/p>\n I heard strange sounds and wasn\u2019t sure if I was in a dream or whether I was waking up.\u00a0 I could hear whispers and the sounds of a chair scraping across the wood floor.\u00a0 But when I felt fingers softly combing through my hair I knew who I\u2019d see if I could get my eyes open.\u00a0 It was Pa.\u00a0 He whispered my name and then reached for my arm slowly stroking it to get me to come around.\u00a0 I called up a very weak sounding hello and struggled to figure out why he looked so worried.\u00a0 Pa had told me that he had been there at the hospital for a few hours and that good old Chuck had found him there in Gold Hill the night before.\u00a0 It must\u2019ve taken my father some hard riding to get there to the newly built Washoe County Hospital as fast as he had.\u00a0 But, then, that was Pa \u2013 he was never one to miss one of my injuries!\u00a0 I didn\u2019t know how to tell him about the morphine it bothered me so much that I guess he could read it in my eyes.\u00a0 He muttered a soft \u201cI know, Son,\u201d over at me and nodded his head that all was well.\u00a0 That, too was Pa, always one to try to down-play a life and death situation, but then again, he\u2019d had plenty of practice with me over the years.\u00a0 The doctor came in and his face told me the real story.\u00a0 I noticed Pa turning towards the man, trying his best to get him to sugar coat his prognosis.\u00a0 Doctor Mercer understood, by the looks of him, as he told me that he\u2019d done his best but I would need to be seen by a specialist.\u00a0 Pa kidded me that we knew who to turn to and then he said that he\u2019d already contacted my uncle there in San Francisco.\u00a0 Pa tried to make it sound like we\u2019d have a good old time there!\u00a0 He was doing his best, God love him, as he fought back the brimming tears I noticed there in his eyes.\u00a0 Pa was afraid but he didn\u2019t want me to know.\u00a0 The nurse came in with the morphine and I couldn\u2019t bear to look at my father, there were far too many bad memories regarding my use of the stuff.\u00a0 Pa noticed the way I had looked away from him, and he softly stroked my hair once more.\u00a0 It was what he did to show me that he understood without having to say it out loud.\u00a0 The nurse found the spot and soon I felt the needle sticking me.\u00a0 I wondered how long I\u2019d be on the morphine this time, or if that was a stupid thing to think about.\u00a0 By the look on Doctor Mercer\u2019s face I wasn\u2019t long for the world I guess but Pa would try to fight all odds to get me tended there at good old Saint Francis Hospital where my uncle was the chief of staff.\u00a0 Pa asked the doctor about the two drainage tubes that were there just to the side of my naval and how he\u2019d care for them on the trip west.\u00a0 Painstakingly the man showed Pa how to clean them and make sure that they were working.\u00a0 He informed both of us to be careful that I didn\u2019t roll on my left side or do anything which might cause the drains to pull out.\u00a0 I hadn\u2019t planned on it.\u00a0 Next the doctor told Pa that he\u2019d show him how to give me the injections of morphine.\u00a0 The look on Pa\u2019s face was priceless and I swear I almost burst out laughing!\u00a0 Pa and Doc were the two who had given me injection after injection of that stuff to keep me alive and I just had to tell Doctor Mercer that my Pa was an expert at it!\u00a0 Pa looked at me like he wanted to smack me good for what I had said.\u00a0 It was worth it as it was the first time Pa seemed himself since I had awakened.\u00a0 Doctor Mercer told Pa that he\u2019d go over all of my care for the long trip by stage before we left in the morning.\u00a0 I wondered just how in the heck Pa could have set everything up that fast!\u00a0 I had tried to ask him but was met by a furrowed brow and two penetrating brown eyes which warned me to settle back and allow him to go over more instructions with my first surgeon.\u00a0 I eased back some, being careful of the two drains which were now poking out of me.\u00a0 I hated that I had caused the whole darn thing by not taking care of myself.\u00a0 When Doctor Mercer stepped out of the room for a bit along with that pretty blonde nurse, it was hard to focus on all that was going to happen.\u00a0 I reached for my father\u2019s hand and told him just how sorry I was to make him leave his meeting over at Gold Hill to come and see me laid out in the hospital.\u00a0 I also apologized for the stupid mistake of not caring for my wound, and I have to admit that I couldn\u2019t stop crying at the time.\u00a0 I hated the worry I was causing my father, he\u2019d had more than enough due to me and my antics.\u00a0 The morphine sometimes dulls your head, but I remember what happened next very vividly.\u00a0 Pa made it known in no uncertain terms that he\u2019d much rather be sitting there with me than to deal with yet another long business meeting.\u00a0 He did however scold me a bit about the whole \u201cnot taking care of that old scratch\u201d thing.\u00a0 But, he smiled over at me and told me that he figured that I was due to have something happen to me as it had almost been an entire year since my last injury.\u00a0 He tried to make me laugh and it had worked.\u00a0 God I hate to hurt him if I don\u2019t make it this time!<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s left hand drifted down to his side as he carefully touched at his incision.\u00a0 He had awakened to the feeling of dampness and wondered if the drainage tubes were doing their job a bit faster than they had before he had fallen to sleep. Bringing his fingers up to his face he stared at the sticky fluid.\u00a0 Joe carefully moved into a slight sitting position, not totally upright on the bed but just high enough to view his wound.\u00a0 He knew that there was a real problem now, or rather, the newest problem since he felt that he had caused nothing but problems for his father ever since Pa had learned about his wound and had arranged for the stagecoach which raced to get them to San Francisco.\u00a0 Joe craned his neck to look up at his father and could tell that he was still slumbering.\u00a0 Pa hadn\u2019t noticed that his hand had come off of his son\u2019s chest, which was a good thing due to the current situation.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t about to wake the man yet as he knew that Pa had gotten very little rest for at least two days.\u00a0 Joe opened the cover of Pa\u2019s pocket watch and noted the time.\u00a0 There was just a little more than an hour left before he\u2019d need another injection.\u00a0 Joe eased back on the bed and his hands felt both sides of the bed in a desperate effort to determine if there was another towel somewhere.\u00a0 All he had was the original towel lying just down a bit from his injury, but it was soaked and wouldn\u2019t be any help to cover the wound and keep it dry.\u00a0 Joe could see the medical bag there on the floor of the stage but he knew that there was no way possible that he could get over to it without Pa\u2019s assistance.\u00a0 He had to resign himself to the fact that there would be no fresh towel until his father woke up. \u00a0He tried to just wait out the hour as it would afford Pa a bit more rest.\u00a0 Joe knew that both drains would have to be reinserted into his wound and he dreaded both having that done to him and the knowledge that his father would have to be the one to handle the procedure.<\/p>\n Right before the hour was up Joe heard the sound of his father stirring there on the seat of the stagecoach apparently starting to awaken.\u00a0 Carefully he reached for Pa\u2019s right hand and repositioned it over his chest so that he\u2019d never know that it had moved in his sleep.\u00a0 Joe knew that his father was worried and he didn\u2019t want him to realize that he hadn\u2019t monitored him for several hours.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u201d Ben whispered as he pressed his right hand down onto his son\u2019s chest, still so petrified that something might have happened to him once he had fallen to sleep.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, Pa \u2013 I\u2019m still breathing,\u201d Joe called up to his father.<\/p>\n \u201cI could tell that by the sound of your voice,\u201d Ben quipped, trying to pretend that he hadn\u2019t been worried.\u00a0 He drew his legs down and sat up.\u00a0 \u201cWhat time is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just about that time again,\u201d Joe alluded to the fact that another injection was due very soon.\u00a0 \u201cPa \u2013 I couldn\u2019t reach that medical kit, could you hand me a towel?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d Ben was too quick in his reply.<\/p>\n \u201cJust hand me a towel will you?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stood and opened the medical bag and drew out one of the towels that Doctor Mercer had given him for the trip.\u00a0 He apprehensively approached his son and handed it over to him.<\/p>\n Joe placed the towel over his wound and then pulled the blanket up again.\u00a0 He knew what was coming next and dreaded it.\u00a0 Joe couldn\u2019t hide what was underneath the towel, no matter how much he wanted to, as his father stood there hovering over him at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me have a look, Joseph,\u201d Pa whispered, and tried his best to fight his mounting fear.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t panic, Pa.\u00a0 I know what\u2019s happened \u2013 It will be okay.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben pulled both the blanket and towel down carefully. It was very evident what Joseph had been trying to keep him from seeing.<\/p>\n \u201cHow long ago did this happen?\u201d Pa\u2019s tone was both fearful and urgent in his question.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess it was about an hour ago.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, you should have awakened me just as soon as you noticed this!\u201d Ben\u2019s reprimand came off laced with both anger and dread.<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 I knew that you\u2019d have to somehow get these drains back in \u2013 and I also knew that I\u2019d need some morphine before you could try to do it.\u00a0 I figured as soon as it was time for the medicine we\u2019d get to it,\u201d Joe explained trying his best to show calm in his voice to ease his father\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n Ben drew in a deep breath as he studied his son\u2019s wound and tried to determine just how far the drains had pulled out.\u00a0 \u201cDid you try to move?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cC\u2019mon, Pa \u2013 if I had moved that hand of yours on my chest would have felt me doing it!\u00a0 I just laid here and slept part of the time and part of the time I just listened to you snore,\u201d Joe attempted to lighten the situation as he knew that his father was beside himself with worry.<\/p>\n Pa brushed his hand through the boy\u2019s hair and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry\u2014I guess that I kind of went off on you there, Son.\u00a0 Let me see my watch.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe placed the pocket watch into his father\u2019s hand.\u00a0 \u201cI told you that my body can tell time even better than that old thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stared down at the time and said, \u201cYou\u2019re right.\u00a0 Now, how do you want to do this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI DON\u2019T <\/strong>want to do this!\u201d Joe exclaimed. \u201cBut, since we have to keep these darn things inside of me \u2013 well I guess go ahead and give me the injection and wait about five minutes.\u00a0 By then I should have some relief \u2013 and hopefully won\u2019t come off this make-shift bed when you shove those tubes back inside of me.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben peered out the window and wished that it wasn\u2019t so dark.\u00a0 \u201cI could have the driver pull over?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe frowned and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cPa \u2013 I don\u2019t think that\u2019s such a good idea,\u201d Joe countered, he didn\u2019t want to tell his father that he was feeling worse and wasn\u2019t at all sure that he would survive the rest of the journey. He had been hoping to last for the three day trip if for no other reason than for his father\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n Pa could read his son well enough to know that Joe was worried.\u00a0 \u201cWell, we have enough light in here, and the road doesn\u2019t seem too bumpy right now.\u00a0 But, it\u2019s going to hurt, Son \u2013 even with that medication.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo I have a choice?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben drew in another deep breath and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll go draw up the medicine now,\u201d He said in reply.\u00a0 Turning around Pa had to pull from all of the inner strength he had left.\u00a0 He also took the time to send off a prayer for help so he could do the procedure and not cause his son more harm.\u00a0\u00a0 Pa had been shown how to care for the drains but he hadn\u2019t been advised over what to do if they should pull out.\u00a0 Ben carefully drew up the morphine inside the syringe and moved back to his son.<\/p>\n \u201cRight arm this time, Pa,\u201d Joe pointed.\u00a0 He knew that his father was about as worked up as he\u2019d ever seen him before and wanted to do whatever he could to help.<\/p>\n Ben nodded and held onto his son\u2019s right arm and injected the medicine.\u00a0 He settled Joe\u2019s arm back down alongside of him and then turned and cleaned the needle and placed the medicine back inside the bag.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Pa \u2013 I\u2019ve got to tell you something,\u201d Joe called over to his father.<\/p>\n Turning around Ben looked over at his son.\u00a0 \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you put those drains back in \u2013 well — I\u2019ve got a confession to make.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s face took on a confused expression, unsure if Joe was thinking that he was about to die and was going to confess something just in case he was right in his assumption.\u00a0 \u201cConfess what, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you shove those drains in me I\u2019m probably going to cuss,\u201d Joe forced a smile in order to ease his father\u2019s burden.<\/p>\n Pa returned his son\u2019s smile and laughed.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t you worry about that \u2013 because I\u2019ll probably say a few choice words myself, Joseph!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Pa, I guess all we can do is to tackle these one at a time.\u00a0 They have already pulled about all the way out, so maybe clean them off with the stuff you use to clean the syringe and then just go back through the holes where they were.\u00a0 I\u2019ll try my best not to move.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben turned around again and searched the medical supplies and came out with the alcohol that he used on the syringe before and after each of the injections he had given Joe.\u00a0 Reaching for one of the two lanterns he made sure that the candle hadn\u2019t gotten too low.\u00a0 He brought it along with the antiseptic and another towel and set everything next to his son.<\/p>\n \u201cHey will those two drivers panic if they hear me scream a bit?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 I chose men with nerves of steel,\u201d Pa answered trying to ease his son\u2019s mind.\u00a0 \u201cThey both know what\u2019s happened to you and they also know that I\u2019d never do anything to hurt you \u2013 intentionally that is.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s hands clamped down on both sides of the blanket which covered him up to his waist.\u00a0 He felt like he\u2019d better hold on to something before the procedure began and it was better than nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Pa \u2013 I\u2019m ready.\u00a0 Don\u2019t worry I can handle anything \u2013 well anything except fencing wire that is,\u201d Joe attempted to show his father that he was okay with what he had to do.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright, Joseph \u2013 here\u2019s the first one, hang on,\u201d Pa announced, and the very first thing he did was to douse his hands with the rubbing alcohol, trying to keep the area as germ free as he could.\u00a0\u00a0 Bending down a bit, he carefully pulled out the first drain.\u00a0 It was so loose that it came right out into his fingers.\u00a0 He looked up to make sure that Joe was doing okay.\u00a0 He witnessed the boy closing his eyes and saw how he was balling up the blanket in his fists.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m just cleaning it a bit, Son.\u00a0 Here we go now.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got to push it in just until I can tell that it\u2019s starting to drain.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe had to fight not to scream but a gasp escaped his lips.\u00a0 \u201cDamn \u2013 Pa — that alcohol burns!\u201d He yelled.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Joe, holler as loudly as you need to \u2013 it\u2019s okay.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs it in yet, Pa?\u201d Joe asked through clenched teeth, still fighting the pain but beginning to lose the battle.<\/p>\n \u201cJust about \u2013 just a little more,\u201d Pa tried not to show the apprehension in his voice. Come on drain, dammit<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong> Ben thought to himself as he looked down at the first one he had cleaned and replaced.\u00a0 Finally a pale yellow liquid began to seep out of the drainage tube.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s doing just fine \u2013 and so are you, Son.\u00a0 Just one more and then we\u2019ll be done.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne more,\u201d Joe repeated, mainly to himself.<\/p>\n \u201cHere we go \u2013 last one,\u201d Ben called down to Joe and gently eased the final drain out.\u00a0\u00a0 It had been lying just barely underneath the opening of the incision but was stuck on a piece of suture.\u00a0 Pa was quick to clean it and then tried to get it repositioned inside of Joe\u2019s wound.\u00a0 Unfortunately the last one was harder to get back inside the incision than the first one had been.<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 I\u2019ve got to catch my breath \u2013 hold on a minute!\u201d Joe shouted and tried not to come up off of the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay \u2013 just try to relax.\u00a0 Take a couple of slow breaths, Son.\u00a0 Do you want some water?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 maybe some whiskey \u2013 you got any?\u201d Joe tried not to show how badly he was hurting, however it was a dead giveaway since tears were inadvertently streaming down his cheeks and pooling inside the hollow of his neck.<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 sorry didn\u2019t think to bring any,\u201d Ben returned, knowing what his son was trying to do by putting on another brave front.\u00a0 \u201cAre you ready for me to try again?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you just let me out at the next stop and I\u2019ll go get us some rotgut?\u00a0 Wouldn\u2019t that be a better idea?\u201d\u00a0 Joe tried his best to sound in control but he was sure that he\u2019d pass out once his father went back to shoving the drainage tube inside of his wound.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to, Joe \u2013 but we\u2019re in a bit of a bind for time right now.\u00a0 Now \u2013 can you stand me trying to do this last drain?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNope \u2013 but go ahead, Pa,\u201d Joe nodded.<\/p>\n Ben held the lantern closer to try and see what the problem was.\u00a0 It appeared as though a stitch had either come loose or had shifted its position and was closing the hole where the drain had been.\u00a0 He tried his best to maneuver the drain so that it went in at a slight angle but it wasn\u2019t working no matter how hard he tried.\u00a0 Witnessing Joe\u2019s face scrunching up, and hearing how loud his horrendous cries were growing, Pa was forced to stop for a minute.\u00a0 He had to wait for the pain to subside for fear of killing Joseph.\u00a0 Ben felt awful for the suffering that he was causing his boy.\u00a0 He wished that they could just leave the one drain in and be done with it, but Doctor Mercer had warned him that Joe needed both drains in order to try to remove some of the infection.<\/p>\n \u201cYell as loudly as you need to Joseph don\u2019t try to hold it in!\u00a0 I know this has to be smarting to say the least.\u00a0 It will be okay \u2013 I\u2019ll get this darn thing in \u2013 I\u2019ll even let you cuss if you want to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 just get it in \u2013 I can\u2019t take too much more,\u201d Joe whimpered as he was beginning to lose what little strength he had left in his body.<\/p>\n With a tremendous effort Ben finally managed to push the last drainage tube inside of the incision and waited breathlessly to see if it was, in fact, working.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s got it, Joe \u2013 it\u2019s working just fine now.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe let out a gasp and then pulled his hands up to his eyes attempting to push aside his tears.\u00a0 Even with the full dose of morphine in him the procedure had hurt far worse than he had ever expected it to.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Pa whispered and brushed his hand through his son\u2019s hair to try to comfort him and ease his pain.<\/p>\n \u201cDoctor Cartwright,\u201d Joe muttered and slowly dropped his hands back down.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll never complain about Doctor Martin again now will you?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cYou did as good a job as he could have.\u00a0 \u00a0I guess there\u2019s no easy way to get those darn things back in once they pull out.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry you had to do it, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sighed and said, \u201cI\u2019m sorry too.\u00a0 I never wanted to hurt you like that.\u00a0 Now let\u2019s both get some water, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded, \u201cI guess \u2013 since we don\u2019t have any whiskey it\u2019ll have to do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, after going through what we both just had to do, I\u2019d like some whiskey instead of water just as much as you would!\u201d Pa exclaimed and stood to retrieve the canteen.\u00a0 When he turned back to his son he found him very still and with his eyes closed.\u00a0 Ben felt for a pulse which was still there though a bit weak.\u00a0 He kneeled down next to Joe and combed his fingers through the boy\u2019s hair again, worried over his son\u2019s condition and just how much more he could take.\u00a0 Ben imagined that his son was exhausted after going through the horrendous procedure.\u00a0 He double checked both drains and was relieved to find them working.\u00a0 Covering Joe\u2019s incision with a clean towel and then with the blanket Ben let out a weary sigh.\u00a0 His son looked so pitiful lying there and he appeared so very pale that Pa wondered how he would ever survive the rest of the long trip.\u00a0 All he could do was to pray and hope that Joe had enough strength left inside of him to last until they got to the hospital.<\/p>\n \u201cRest Son,\u201d Ben whispered and settled down onto the floor of the stagecoach so that he could be right next to Joe.\u00a0 Leaning back against the bench seat Pa thought back to all that had happened.\u00a0 It had been a long two days.\u00a0 Ben tried to gather himself a bit, feeling well spent after fixing the two drainage tubes.\u00a0 He thought back to everything that had happened and how he came to find out that Joe was in the hospital.<\/p>\n I had just gotten out of my suit and donned my nightshirt and robe and looked forward to having one brandy and then going to bed after a long day and half of the night in business meetings when the loud banging began.\u00a0 I wondered just who would be bothering me at such a late hour it was after all, eleven o\u2019clock.\u00a0 Opening the door to my hotel room I caught sight of the panic-stricken face of Chuck Stewart.\u00a0 The young man, who was just a few years older than my youngest son, looked as though he was ready to fall out so I bid him inside.\u00a0 I handed him my untouched brandy in order to get him to calm down enough to get out his words.\u00a0 Finally he explained why he was there in Gold Hill and what had happened to Joseph.\u00a0 I tried to take it all in, but I admit to making Chuck repeat himself a few times for it to register inside my mind.\u00a0 Joseph was in the hospital over by Carson City?\u00a0 It didn\u2019t make any sense, no matter how many times the man had tried to explain all that he knew about the situation.\u00a0 He told me about Joe\u2019s wound and that it had gone unattended and was now in very bad condition, enough to force my son to be admitted to a hospital.\u00a0 The father in me kicked in just as soon as I got over the shock of the news.\u00a0 I had to go into emergency procedures Lord knows I\u2019ve had experience with that!\u00a0 But, no matter how many crises I\u2019ve had to deal with over the years, it didn\u2019t make them any easier, especially when one of my sons was involved.\u00a0 I made Chuck sit and take in a deep breath or two while I determined what needed to be done first.\u00a0 I\u2019d never been to the Washoe County Hospital, as it was so new and fortunately neither myself nor any one of my sons had been injured anywhere near Carson City, until now.\u00a0 Finally drawing from a strength which I must have gotten from my own father, I took command.\u00a0 I asked Chuck to go and pay my livery bill, handing him some money which would pay for Buck along with Chuck\u2019s mount.\u00a0 I told him to bring the horse to the hotel and then I wanted him to take my room for the night as the boy seemed well spent and wouldn\u2019t be able to make the return trip until perhaps the following day.\u00a0 I let him out of my room and quickly got dressed and packed up my saddlebags.\u00a0 I then hurried to the lobby and paid my bill along with any additional days that Chuck might need.\u00a0 After only an hour\u2019s time I was mounted on Buck and headed in the direction of Carson City.\u00a0 Even though it was dark, I would get in as many miles as I could, even if it was only a couple.\u00a0 Even if I only made it a few miles before daybreak, that would be a few miles closer to getting to my boy.<\/p>\n That night had been a bit of a blur, my only thoughts were of Joseph and how bad off I\u2019d find him once I got to the hospital.\u00a0 I thought about the fact that my other two sons seemed so far away, especially now.\u00a0 Adam was at a class reunion all the way in Boston and there would be no possible way to get him home inside of a month.\u00a0 Hoss, though he was closer in miles, he wasn\u2019t far enough along on his trip to be anywhere near a telegraph office and wouldn\u2019t be for at least two or three days.\u00a0 That left only Hop Sing there representing our family back at the Ponderosa.\u00a0 I made a mental note to make sure to send someone to put our oldest and most reliable hired hand, Fletcher, in the role of foreman until further arrangements could be made.\u00a0 Once I could get a hold of Hoss I knew that I could count on him to hightail it back home and handle anything which might arise.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t sure how long Joe might be in the hospital or if — no, I couldn\u2019t think the worst \u2013 it was too overwhelming and I still had too many miles to go before I\u2019d learn how he was doing.\u00a0 I remember praying about every other minute that my youngest would be alright.\u00a0 But, then, it WAS<\/strong> Joseph!\u00a0 The kid always seemed to have bad luck when it came to both injuries and illnesses and I didn\u2019t want to try and count how many times that I had almost lost him, including the night of his birth.\u00a0 I tried to push those thoughts away and just focus my attention on laying eyes on Joe and how I\u2019d somehow get him through whatever the situation was this time.\u00a0 At that moment I felt a rush of adrenalin which even my horse felt as Buck picked up the pace. \u00a0\u00a0I kept repeating in my head ***Hang on, Joseph, I\u2019m coming! ***<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n I had only stopped long enough to water my horse and to take a few sips from my canteen and my heart leapt in my chest when I came to a sign which said \u201cCarson City two miles\u201d.\u00a0 I knew where the hospital was located simply because my son, Adam, had helped to design it along with two local architects.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t as fancy as the Saint Francis Hospital in San Francisco, but it was badly needed in the area and though it appeared small in comparison, would serve its purpose.\u00a0 I found an attendant who was willing to stable my horse and point the admission\u2019s office out to me.\u00a0 I jogged up the stairs and tried not to run inside the building.\u00a0 I also fought my urge to simply shout out \u201cJoseph!\u201d as I crossed the threshold.\u00a0 I hurried to the front desk and the middle aged woman nodded that my son was listed as a patient.\u00a0 She told me to have a seat but I just stood, not because I had been in the saddle for just under ten hours, but because I wanted to get to Joe as soon as his room was pointed out to me.\u00a0 It seemed like an hour, but was only a few minutes later that the woman was back along with a man, who I assumed was a doctor by what he was wearing.\u00a0 He walked over to me, shook my hand and introduced himself.\u00a0 It was Joseph\u2019s surgeon.\u00a0 Doctor Philip Mercer advised me to come into his office before I went off to my son\u2019s hospital room and I took that to mean bad news was forthcoming.\u00a0 Everyone wanted me to sit down that day!\u00a0 I had to force myself down into the chair and listened intently to what the doctor had to say.\u00a0 I was told about the massive infection which had set up underneath Joe\u2019s wound and how Doctor Mercer had tried his very best to get most of it removed.\u00a0 Then he gave me the news that no parent ever wants to hear.\u00a0 He used the word GRIM.<\/strong>\u00a0 I didn\u2019t need to hear that and I was already considering a second opinion as I would never accept losing a son, any one of them!\u00a0 And this was Joseph!\u00a0 My boy had fought back from the worst ailments and injuries in his short life and there was just no way possible that he couldn\u2019t make it through any type of infection.\u00a0 Or so I prayed.\u00a0 Doctor Mercer had to go over everything he had just told me as he could see that I wasn\u2019t taking the news well.\u00a0 I was told that, though he had removed a lot of the infection, it still appeared to be spreading throughout the entire area underneath the incision.\u00a0 I brought up the surgeons there at Saint Francis Hospital and asked if I could get Joseph there if they could save him.\u00a0 Doctor Mercer said that there was always a chance however, he wasn\u2019t sure that Joe could survive that type of a trip especially in his weakened condition after surgery.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want to sound like there was no hope, or so he told me, but he just didn\u2019t want me to be unprepared in the event of Joseph\u2019s death.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t want to hear those words together in any sentence ever!\u00a0 I had made the decision on the spot that I\u2019d take the chance and get my son to the hospital where his uncle was chief of staff and pray that he would hold up for the three days it would take to get there.\u00a0 Then Doctor Mercer told me the news that they had to give my son morphine due to the pain.\u00a0 I felt like I was going to faint.\u00a0 Too much bad news all at once and still I hadn\u2019t laid eyes on my son.\u00a0 Joseph, I was told, had protested being put back on that drug, but the doctor had to advise him that it was the only way to ease his pain which would only increase now.\u00a0 I knew the boy, and I knew he\u2019d feel bad to have to take the morphine no matter why it had been prescribed.\u00a0 I\u2019d be sure to let my son know that it was okay and he hadn\u2019t done anything wrong by making that decision, as I would have made the same one if I\u2019d had been with him at the time.\u00a0 But, now there was something much more important than anything and that was Joseph himself.\u00a0 I needed to see him, to touch him and to make sure that he knew that his Pa was alongside of him!\u00a0 Only then would I be able to pretend or hope or whatever else was needed from me, that he would survive this.\u00a0 The doctor softened a bit when he saw what was in my eyes and all over my face, I suppose he could tell how much I loved my son.\u00a0 He offered to help me in any possible way and I told him that I\u2019d take him up on that as I had so many wires to get off and would have to start making arrangements right away.\u00a0 Doctor Mercer told me that he\u2019d get me everything I needed to write those up and he would personally make sure that they were sent out immediately.\u00a0 I told him I would begin just as soon as I saw my boy.\u00a0 He had nodded, knowing that I couldn\u2019t even begin my mission without seeing that Joseph was still alive and to be able to let him know that his Pa was there with him.<\/p>\n How many times had I looked down at my youngest laying in a sick bed fighting for his life?\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t sure anymore.\u00a0 I only knew that if I was there next to him that he\u2019d somehow know and try to come back.\u00a0 I moved closer to him and bent down and kissed his forehead.\u00a0 It seemed hot to me and I fought the dread that I\u2019d felt ever since listening to Doctor Mercer\u2019s prognosis.\u00a0 I ran my hand through my son\u2019s curls and closed my eyes to pray yet again.\u00a0 I witnessed Joe trying to move a bit and then he settled down.\u00a0\u00a0 It was as if he knew that his Pa had him now.\u00a0 Maybe he did?\u00a0 I then moved to the table and chair and reached for the pen and paper that the doctor had brought in for me.\u00a0 I needed to begin with the regional manager for the Overland Stage Company, who fortunately, I had come to know several years ago.\u00a0 I title the telegram as I would all of the others URGENT!<\/em><\/strong>.<\/strong>\u00a0 I put in my rather bold but sincere request for a private stagecoach and two drivers to spell each other during the three day trip.\u00a0 I let Jim Griffin, the regional manager, know that this would be a life-saving mission and it would require the stage to be fitted for a make-shift bed, several carriage lanterns and the best teams of horses that they had in their possession.\u00a0 I wrote that I needed them by the earliest possible time the following day or my son might not live.\u00a0 I prayed that Jim wouldn\u2019t fail me and he\u2019d know that I wouldn\u2019t ask for this type of a favor unless it was a life or death situation.\u00a0 After that one was written and sent, I composed wires to my other sons.\u00a0 The first was to Hoss, who wouldn\u2019t get it for another couple of days, but once he had made it to his first hotel in Arizona he\u2019d find my note to get home, leave the wranglers with the stock and take charge of the Ponderosa.\u00a0 I told him I\u2019d send word once Joe and I made it to San Francisco.\u00a0 I hated to have to tell Hoss how dire the situation was with his little brother, but he needed to know.\u00a0 I ended it with four words Love, Pa, please pray!<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>Next I wrote a quick wire to Adam, though I knew that he couldn\u2019t get home in time, however it was his little brother, and he needed to know.\u00a0 I ended his telegram with those same four words.\u00a0 Lastly I wrote the wire out to Doctor Harold Peele, Joe\u2019s uncle and chief of staff at the hospital there in San Francisco.\u00a0 I told him what Doctor Mercer had said and what my plans were for getting Joe there.\u00a0 I knew I\u2019d have a response from Harold by the following morning long before Joseph and I would leave.\u00a0 I could count on him.<\/p>\n The nurse came inside the room and I watched her give Joseph an injection.\u00a0 I tried not to think of the fact that it was now morphine coursing through Joe\u2019s veins again.\u00a0 Instead, I decided to think about the fact that it would help keep my son out of pain for the time being and left it at that.\u00a0 I tried to nap in the chair as I waited for Joseph to awaken, but I couldn\u2019t as my thoughts were racing.\u00a0 I had paid a local young man to take a message to the Ponderosa which would advise Fletcher about the whole situation and put him in charge until Hoss made it home.\u00a0 I also asked that he tell Hop Sing to pack two bags, one for Joe and one for me as we\u2019d need some things for our trip.\u00a0 I knew Hop Sing would choose well.\u00a0 The rider promised to get back to Carson by early the next morning. \u00a0After that I simply sat part of the time and stood over Joe\u2019s bed the other half.<\/p>\n I heard the soft \u201chello Pa\u201d coming from my boy as I ran my fingers through his hair and then stroked his arm trying to coax him back to me.\u00a0 Joe looked so weak and sickly that I was wondering if I could pretend that I wasn\u2019t terrified over the chance that I might lose him.\u00a0 I did the best I could as he slowly looked around the room and then focused in on me with those hazel eyes; his mother\u2019s eyes. \u00a0I had lost his mother, Marie, but I was not going to lose our son!\u00a0\u00a0 I had to assure Joseph that I knew all about the morphine, and let him know that it was just fine and for him not to worry about it.\u00a0 He apologized over and over again about not getting his wound tended.\u00a0 Then he began to cry and for about a minute I darn well cried along with the kid.\u00a0 But, I had to be the strong one, he needed that from me.\u00a0 I tried to joke with him that I expected something like that as he hadn\u2019t been sick or hurt all year.\u00a0 That had made him laugh which was the brightest part of the whole miserable day.\u00a0 I let him know we were going to see his uncle and that everything would be just fine.\u00a0 It has to be!\u00a0 He did ramble on a few times, like he was talking out of his head.\u00a0 I\u2019d just listen and smile until he re-focused and grew alert again.\u00a0 I supposed it was the medicine or what they had used to knock him out during surgery.\u00a0 My poor boy, why has his life been this hard?\u00a0 I drew from my faith, I held onto that like a weapon against the oncoming attack of that darn infection.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t know how Joseph could beat it, but if anyone could it would be my youngest.\u00a0 I had to turn my attention back on the situation at hand as a nurse brought in the first of the responses to my wires.\u00a0 Jim had come through!\u00a0 There was a stage heading into Carson City with the two most seasoned drivers the Overland Stage had.\u00a0 They were even bringing the materials needed to fashion the bed for Joseph.\u00a0 Jim said they\u2019d have teams of horses at the ready at every way station from Carson to San Francisco to speed up the exchanges and every single person along the way would be wired with the urgency of this stage getting through as fast as possible.\u00a0 I turned out of Joe\u2019s room for just a minute.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t need to see his Pa crying.\u00a0 Thank God for friends!<\/p>\n I had taken the time to go over Joseph\u2019s care with Doctor Mercer.\u00a0 He had come into Joe\u2019s room late that evening and had told Joe that he had done his best.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t too sure whether the boy realized how bad off he was, but if he did know then he tried to pretend that he was just fine for my sake.\u00a0 After a quick course on how to tend Joe\u2019s wound, including the two drains that they had to put inside of him, I felt that there was hope.\u00a0 There had to be.\u00a0 Doctor Peele had wired just as soon as he had gotten my message and said that a team of surgeons would be placed on standby for Joseph\u2019s arrival.\u00a0 God love him, Harold had come through every single time no matter what!\u00a0 I had to coax Joe to drink and to try to eat just a bit to gather a little strength for the trip ahead.\u00a0 I know he didn\u2019t feel well but he tried his best.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t be prouder of him.\u00a0\u00a0 I hope that I\u2019ve told him that enough?\u00a0 If not, I\u2019ll be sure to tell him that in the days ahead.\u00a0 No, I\u2019ll tell him in the years<\/strong> ahead.\u00a0 He\u2019s going to pull through somehow.\u00a0 It is Joseph after all.<\/p>\n Ben felt the warmth of sun on his face as he started to come around again.\u00a0 He had dozed off and on and was glad to see that the first day and night of the trip was over.\u00a0 ***Two more to go, thank God the boy has made it this far ***<\/em><\/strong> He thought to himself and then stared over at Joe only to see the hazel eyes looking over at him.<\/p>\n \u201cHow are you feeling, Joseph?\u201d Pa asked as he got to his knees and stared down at his son.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m hanging in there, Pa,\u201d He said giving a slight smile to try to reassure his father.<\/p>\n \u201cGuess I dozed off again, I should have been giving you some water as you went out on me before I could give you any.\u00a0 Hold on a second and let me get you some,\u201d<\/p>\n Ben turned for the cup and canteen and hurriedly poured the water and brought it over to Joe.\u00a0 He gently lifted his son\u2019s head and watched as the boy took a couple of sips.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m good,\u201d Joe nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cNo you need to drink more, Son.\u00a0 Now please try to get down a bit more for me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m still a bit motion sick, Pa.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think I can drink too much more.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust a bit more, Joe,\u201d Ben coaxed and his son obliged, getting down at least a few more sips before waving the cup away.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you know where we are, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben moved to one of the windows and peered out.\u00a0 The landscape looked much as it had right before dark the previous day.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not exactly sure, Son.\u00a0 I\u2019m going up to ask the drivers.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be right back.<\/p>\n Joe watched as his father climbed out through the window opposite from where the bed blocked the exit.\u00a0 He had to grin to see Pa doing something like that.\u00a0 When he wanted to, Ben Cartwright could be very agile.<\/p>\n A few minutes later Pa was back inside and he was smiling.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re making very good time and we\u2019re just about ready for another way station and they\u2019ll be changing out this team for a fresh one.\u00a0 Both of those drivers took turns getting some rest so they said they\u2019re doing fine.<\/p>\n \u201cGood,\u201d Joe nodded over to his father.\u00a0 \u201cI need to get up for a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben cast a very concerned look down towards his son.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t think that\u2019s a very good idea, Joseph.\u00a0 I\u2019m worried that those drains will pull out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 I\u2019ve taken in a lot of water over the last ten or so hours, even more than you think since I was able to get that canteen you left next to this bed while you were sleeping.\u00a0 I\u2019m gonna hit the privy just as soon as we get to the station.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell you don\u2019t exactly have to get up for that.\u00a0 I told you that Doctor Mercer gave me something you can use.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shook his head adamantly and replied firmly.\u00a0 \u201cNothing doing, Pa, I want to get upright for a bit, it might help with the motion sickness and also help me get some circulation to my body after lying down on my back for so long.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head and wondered if his son was telling him the entire truth at the time.\u00a0 Joe was as weak as a newborn kitten and Pa didn\u2019t think he had the strength to stand let alone walk.<\/p>\n \u201cNow Joseph –,\u201d Ben began but was cut off.<\/p>\n \u201cNow Pa \u2013 come on I\u2019ve got to do this,\u201d Joe insisted and stared up into his father\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n Letting out a deep sigh Pa countered his son, \u201cYou\u2019ll have to postpone your injection a bit if we do that as the men said we will be pulling up in a few minutes and your shot is due right about now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can handle that,\u201d Joe nodded.\u00a0 \u201cPa \u2013 listen I\u2019ve got to do some of this on my own and that includes going to the water closet all by myself.\u201d<\/p>\n Pa smiled and patted his son\u2019s arm and returned, \u201cJoseph, have I ever told you that you have always been a stubborn child?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe couldn\u2019t laugh as it hurt his gut too much but he did place his hand on top of his father\u2019s and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cYes, Sir \u2013 and no matter what I\u2019m sure that\u2019s how you\u2019ll always remember me.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben had heard the words, \u201cthat\u2019s how you\u2019ll always remember me\u201d<\/em><\/strong> and it got to him a bit.\u00a0 Joe seemed to be putting himself in the past tense a lot and it hit him hard to even think of his son not surviving. \u00a0He fought to make a correction to what Joe had said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou will be a stubborn child even when you are ninety,\u201d Pa smiled over at Joe to let him know that he would survive.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, yeah I know \u2013 I\u2019ll be ninety and you\u2019ll be there to tell me I\u2019m stubborn I\u2019m quite sure,\u201d Joe attempted to ease his father\u2019s mind.\u00a0 If Pa wanted to pretend that he was going to survive the trip along with all that would happen at the hospital in San Francisco Joe would play along.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t believe that was going to be the case, but Joe was fighting with everything he had left inside of him to, at the very least, make it to the hospital where Pa would have Doctor Peele there to comfort him.\u00a0 He was terrified to think of Pa having to go on the rest of the way with his son\u2019s body lying dead inside of the stagecoach.<\/p>\n Both Cartwrights heard the shouts of the two drivers as they announced that they were getting ready to pull into the way station to grab some food and have the team of horses changed out.<\/p>\n \u201cLooks like that\u2019s our stop, Pa, hope we can grab that bottle of whiskey while we\u2019re there!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just bet you do, Joseph!\u00a0 But the chance I\u2019m going to let you get to it on top of that morphine is very slim,\u201d Pa smiled and patted his son\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n There were two men who greeted the stage once it pulled into the way station.\u00a0 They hurried to set the wooden step down in order for the passengers to disembark.\u00a0 Both drivers hopped down from their perch and also made their way to assist Ben Cartwright in whatever he needed.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d Ben called as he stepped down and looked over to the four men.\u00a0 \u201cMy son wants to try to get out briefly.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to need some help \u2013 the boy is very weak but he wants to give it a try.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve heard all about it.\u00a0 You must be Ben Cartwright,\u201d One of the two men who had come out of the way station said and reached to shake Pa\u2019s hand.\u00a0 \u201cEveryone all the way down the line knows how important it is to get you both back on the road as quickly as possible.\u00a0 We\u2019ve got food for all of you all ready and we\u2019ll go hook up the new team just as soon as you\u2019re both out of there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very appreciative,\u201d Pa nodded and then turned to the two drivers.\u00a0 \u201cYou both go and grab some grub.\u00a0 I think the three of us here can get Joe out.\u201d<\/p>\n Both drivers nodded and walked over towards the station in order to freshen up and get some badly needed food.<\/p>\n \u201cThe name\u2019s Pete and this is Cleve,\u201d The first man who had greeted Ben made the introductions and they all shook hands.<\/p>\n \u201cGlad to meet you \u2013 and I thank you for all the help.\u00a0 If one of you will just assist me with the boy \u2013 we\u2019ve got to be careful with him as he has two drainage tubes there in his stomach.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can do it,\u201d Joe\u2019s defiant voice sang out from inside the stage.<\/p>\n Ben shook his head and grinned.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019d never know how sick my son was to hear his protests!\u201d\u00a0 Pa turned back inside the stage.<\/p>\n Ben stared down at his son.\u00a0 Frowning, he shook his head in defeat.\u00a0 There wasn\u2019t much point in trying to talk sense into Joe, as he could already read it on his face that he was going to sit up and get out of the stage no matter what.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, I swear if you pull out those drains \u2013 hurt or not \u2013 twenty-two years old or not \u2013 when you get well I\u2019ll give you a tanning!\u201d<\/p>\n His father\u2019s statement had made Joe smile as he knew that it was a threat with no teeth to it.\u00a0 \u201cYes, Pa,\u201d Joe called up to him dutifully.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll be careful.\u00a0 Just kind of help me up just a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben gently helped his son to standing and buttoned Joe\u2019s shirt to cover his wound.\u00a0 Being cognizant as to the placement of his hands around Joe\u2019s waist they walked the couple of steps over to the stagecoach door.\u00a0 \u201cNow I want you to take this slow, Son.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got two men out there to help you so let them!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Pa,\u201d Joe once again tried to sound like he was obediently going along with everything that his father was telling him to do.\u00a0 And though it hurt like absolute Hell, Joe wasn\u2019t going to let his father see the pain on his face if he could help it.<\/p>\n \u201cWatch that wound!\u201d Ben called down to the men as Joe appeared there at the stage door.<\/p>\n Joe was carefully eased down into the two men\u2019s outstretched arms.\u00a0 They helped get the sickly young man safely down to the ground and Pa was soon standing right next to him.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d Joe nodded to both men and then asked, \u201cI\u2019d sure like to use the water closet if one of you will point the way?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got one just inside,\u201d The one who had introduced himself by the name of Pete replied.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s inside?\u201d Joe questioned, very surprised.<\/p>\n Pete laughed over the funny expression that the injured young man wore on his face.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ve got several way stations here in California that have gone through some upgrades.\u00a0 What we\u2019ve got in there is basically a fancy outhouse which is on the inside.\u00a0 It does have a nice basin, clean water and towels.\u00a0 Here follow me while Cleve takes this team and gets the new horses in their harnesses and leads.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis I have to see,\u201d Pa smiled and carefully helped his son move over to the building.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t long before both Cartwrights were inside the way station and were pointed over to the water closet.\u00a0 Ben opened the door and for a moment acted as though he was going to follow his son inside.<\/p>\n \u201cPa,\u201d Joe paused and shot up his left hand in protest.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not going to fall in.\u00a0 Why don\u2019t you go over there and get some coffee.\u00a0 I won\u2019t be long.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph —,\u201d Ben began but was cut off.<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 I\u2019m not five years old.\u00a0 Now give me a few minutes to get cleaned up.\u00a0 I\u2019ll sing out if I have any problems.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded but threw in, \u201cIf those drains pull out –,\u201d<\/p>\n Joe cut his father off once more, \u201cI know I know, you\u2019ll give me a tanning \u2013 got it.\u00a0 Now go get some coffee!\u201d Grinning up at his father he turned for the door.<\/p>\n Joe walked inside the small room and Pa fought the urge to just stand outside of the water closet.\u00a0 But he figured that his son was going to try to clean up a bit and the boy could use some time where he wasn\u2019t lying flat on his back.\u00a0 He presumed it might help with Joe\u2019s spirits as well.\u00a0 Pa headed towards the smell of fresh coffee.\u00a0 He knew that he could sure use it!<\/p>\n After he had used the facilities, Joe washed his face and hands and then stared up at the mirror which hung just above the water basin.<\/p>\n Dear Lord I look like a dead man already! ***<\/em><\/strong> Joe thought to himself staring at his reflection.\u00a0 He then pulled his shirt up and looked down at his incision.\u00a0 He was glad to see that the drains were still in the proper position and hadn\u2019t budged.\u00a0 Not that he thought his father would make good with his threats, but Joe worried that Pa wouldn\u2019t be able to handle putting the drains back in. \u00a0\u00a0He settled his shirt back down and again thought to himself <\/em><\/strong>How the heck am I ever going to make it two more days?\u00a0 I feel like my body is done for already.\u00a0 Please God \u2013 please help me.\u00a0 I can\u2019t die \u2013 not until I get to San Francisco.\u00a0 Please \u2013 for my father\u2019s sake help me to last that long.\u00a0 It would hurt Pa more than he could bear it — if I died and he had to go the rest of the way by himself ***<\/em><\/strong> Joe fought back tears and re-washed his face.\u00a0 He just had to force the appearance that all was well once he stepped outside.\u00a0 There was no way that he wanted to worry Pa more now.<\/p>\n When he was able to walk out of the water closet he looked across the room and Joe could see his father downing some badly needed coffee there at the small counter.\u00a0 He forced a smile and started walking gingerly towards him.\u00a0 Pa was quick to set down his cup and hurry over to the boy.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine, Pa.\u00a0 Why don\u2019t you go in there,\u201d Joe paused and pointed to the room he had just left.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ve got a long trip ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWould you like some coffee?\u201d Pa asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m good for now.\u00a0 I\u2019ll just go sit there by that counter.\u00a0 Go ahead while you can, I\u2019m sure the stage will be leaving soon.\u201d<\/p>\n Pa nodded, \u201cI\u2019ll go in there for a minute.\u00a0 Now just be careful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know I know \u2013 go on,\u201d Joe smiled and walked over to the counter and eased down into a chair.<\/p>\n Ben was quick to use the facilities and wash off a bit and then came back into the main room.\u00a0 He joined Joe at the counter and a woman there, who had introduced herself by the name of Kate earlier, handed Pa two brown paper sacks with food for them.<\/p>\n \u201cAll set!\u201d Cleve called to Ben as he walked inside the station.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll help you get your son into the stage so you can be on your way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t thank you all enough!\u201d Ben called to the two men and the woman at the counter.\u00a0 \u201cPlease wire Jim with my thanks.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be in his debt \u2013 and to all of you \u2013 for the rest of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJim said to tell you he\u2019ll be waiting to hear how your boy does, Mister Cartwright,\u201d Pete said and then led the two men out of the station.<\/p>\n In just under five minutes the Cartwrights and the two drivers were back on the stage and it hurriedly left the way station.\u00a0 Pa eased Joe back down onto the bed and unbuttoned his shirt to inspect the incision and the two drains.\u00a0 He once again laid a fresh towel on his son\u2019s stomach just below the wound in order to catch any of the fluid which might leak out of the tubes.<\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u201d Joe asked looking up at his father.<\/p>\n Pa fought back a grin and finally said, \u201cOkay, I guess you don\u2019t have a tanning in your future after all.\u00a0 Those drains stayed in place, thank goodness.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood, I wasn\u2019t looking forward to a tanning as I think my body has had enough pain to last a lifetime,\u201d Joe nodded and eased back on the pillow.<\/p>\n \u201cSpeaking of pain, it\u2019s time for your medicine,\u201d Pa responded and readied the morphine.<\/p>\n Joe watched as his father drew up the injection and was soon over to him.\u00a0 He handed over his left arm and it didn\u2019t take long before the pain was easing up a bit.<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 why don\u2019t we both try to get a little rest, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot until you eat a bit.\u00a0 They made us some sandwiches.\u00a0 You\u2019ve got to get your strength up,\u201d Pa insisted and opened one of the brown paper sacks.\u00a0 He pulled out a sandwich and handed it over to Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 I\u2019m not exactly hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s because of the medicine and you know it.\u00a0 Now, Young Man, you go on and force yourself to eat some of that,\u201d Pa replied adamantly.<\/p>\n Joe reluctantly obeyed and ate what he could, finally choking down about half of the sandwich before handing the rest of it back to his father.\u00a0 He knew that Pa was right about the morphine as he had remembered how it used to prevent him from wanting food.\u00a0 That was just one of the bad side effects of the drug.\u00a0 But Joe was also not feeling well and that, too, quelled his appetite.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s all I can manage right now, Pa.\u00a0 Sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben rewrapped the other half and placed it back inside the bag.\u00a0 \u201cWell, maybe after you get some sleep you\u2019ll be hungry?\u00a0 You go ahead and close those eyes.\u00a0 You pushed yourself a bit harder than you should have and you\u2019ve got to rest, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe closed his eyes and fell to sleep after only a few minutes.\u00a0 Ben covered his son\u2019s wound with the towel and then pulled the blanket up to the boy\u2019s shoulders.\u00a0 He opened his pocket watch and stared down at the time.<\/p>\n *** One and a half days done \u2013 just a little over one and a half days left to get you to the hospital ***<\/em><\/strong> Pa thought to himself.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t help noticing how Joe looked a bit worse than he had before they had gone inside the way station.\u00a0 *** Don\u2019t borrow trouble, Ben.\u00a0 We\u2019ll get there \u2013 he\u2019s going to make it ***<\/em><\/strong> His thoughts continued to haunt him.\u00a0 Pa wondered if they would make it there in time to save Joe\u2019s life.\u00a0 He had to keep praying and he would, even if that meant mile by mile, he\u2019d pray until his son was inside St. Francis Hospital and in the care of Doctor Peele.\u00a0 Ben eased down onto the bench seat and opened his brown paper bag.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t very hungry either, but he knew that he had to stay strong for his son, and so he would eat.\u00a0 \u201cHang in there, Son,\u201d Ben whispered and watched as Joe slumbered on.<\/p>\n The hopefulness which Ben had felt when he had watched his son walking to and from the way station had left him as he realized that the boy wasn\u2019t waking up.\u00a0 Joe had always come around close to the time when his injection was due.\u00a0 But, that hadn\u2019t happened.\u00a0 Ben knew that he had to keep his son\u2019s medicine going around the clock but he would\u2019ve felt a lot better if the boy had been awake and alert.\u00a0 When he had called Joe\u2019s name and had gotten no response he tried his best to comb his fingers through the damp curls and also rub his arm a bit in order to try and rouse him.\u00a0 Neither had worked.\u00a0 Fighting through his worry, Ben drew up the morphine and injected his son\u2019s arm.\u00a0 Then he tried once more and still hadn\u2019t gotten a response of any kind.\u00a0 Pa worried that Joe might have lapsed into a coma and he felt his stomach knot up.\u00a0 *** Please, Lord, please don\u2019t let me lose him.\u00a0 He\u2019s been asleep the whole time since he ate and that was over twelve hours ago ***<\/em><\/strong> Ben said another prayer and tried again to bring Joe around.\u00a0 He had even lifted the cup of water to the boy\u2019s lips and there still was no response.\u00a0 Ben lightly slapped Joe\u2019s left cheek and that hadn\u2019t had any effect either.<\/p>\n Ben sat back on the seat and wondered if Joe had simply played out and that his son had lost all of his remaining strength.\u00a0 Pa thought that it was his fault by allowing Joe to go into the way station.\u00a0 He felt like he should have been firm with his son and put his foot down about him getting up and taxing his weakened body.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d Joe called barely audible.<\/p>\n Ben was quick to move over to the boy and dropped his hand down onto the side of his face.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s about time you came around, Young Man,\u201d Pa said and attempted a smile.<\/p>\n \u201cHow long \u2013 how long have I been out?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust long enough to give me a good scare, Joseph.\u00a0 It\u2019s after ten at night and we got back on here around nine a.m.\u00a0 I\u2019ve already given you two injections and you never stirred.\u00a0 Here have some water,\u201d Ben pulled the canteen up and poured a cup of water and raised it to the boy\u2019s lips.<\/p>\n Joe drank what he could as his eyes scanned the interior of the stagecoach.\u00a0 He could see the two carriage lamps and then looked up into his father\u2019s careworn face.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben set the cup down and knelt next to Joe.\u00a0 \u201cYou just did too much today, Joseph.\u00a0 Next way station you\u2019re not going in and if you need to use the privy well you\u2019re going to use what Doctor Mercer sent along so you won\u2019t have to get up to do it.\u00a0 He never wanted you to move around.\u00a0 From now on you\u2019re not going to take any more chances.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe scrunched up his face and drew in a deep breath.\u00a0 \u201cPa?\u00a0 I need to sit up.\u00a0 I think I\u2019ll be sick if I don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe –,\u201d<\/p>\n Joe cut his father off and said, \u201cPa, it\u2019s better that you let me sit up because if I end up throwing up I might dislodge these drains.\u00a0 I just want to sit up with you for just a bit.\u00a0 I need to.\u201d<\/p>\n Pa didn\u2019t know what to do about the situation.\u00a0 Joe did have a point because if he were to get sick to his stomach it might tense up his stomach muscles and that might very well push on those drains.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright, Son \u2013 but just for a little while,\u201d Pa nodded.\u00a0 \u201cNow let\u2019s take this slowly.\u00a0 I\u2019ll help ease you up to a seated position first.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe allowed his father to pull him up and assist him to swing his legs over to the side of the bed.\u00a0 He then put one arm around Pa\u2019s shoulder and he pulled him up and then eased him over to the bench seat.\u00a0 Joe leaned against the back rest and tried to catch his breath.<\/p>\n Neither of the two Cartwrights spoke for several minutes.\u00a0 Joe was trying to get his bearings and Pa was caught up in his worry.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u00a0 Do you see any stars out there?\u201d Joe whispered.<\/p>\n Ben looked at his son and wondered if he was talking out of his head. When he didn\u2019t reply Joe continued.<\/p>\n \u201cOut there!\u201d Joe pointed to the window closest to his father.\u00a0 \u201cDo you see any?\u2019<\/p>\n Pa moved down the seat and stared out of the window to appease his son.<\/p>\n \u201cOh \u2013 I can see a few of them up there, Joe.\u00a0 Why?\u201d Ben asked and then moved back over to sit next to his son.<\/p>\n \u201cI heard a long time ago that there is a star in heaven for every single person who has died.\u00a0 I wonder if that\u2019s true, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben wasn\u2019t pleased over the way that the conversation was heading.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t particularly think that\u2019s true, Son.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stared over at his father and could read the fear in his eyes.\u00a0 He decided to change the subject a bit.\u00a0 \u201cHey, Pa \u2013 when you were a clipper captain and you were way out at sea \u2013 what did the stars look like?\u00a0 I mean did they look closer than they do on land?\u201d<\/p>\n Pa decided that there must be a reason why Joe was asking about his sailing days so he tried to appease him.\u00a0 \u201cOh yes, they seemed, at times, like you could just reach up and touch them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMust\u2019ve been pretty peaceful out in the middle of the ocean, huh Pa?\u00a0 I bet you liked that, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell \u2013 yes and no.\u00a0 There were times when it was very peaceful and I enjoyed the quiet of it, but sometimes I found it to be a bit lonely out there in the middle of the ocean so far away from land.\u00a0 It always reminded me of an old fisherman’s prayer that I used to quote.\u00a0 One line in it is “O God, thy sea is so great and my boat is so small”.\u00a0 No matter how big a clipper ship is, the sea is so much larger.\u00a0 I’ve felt like that during this trip of ours, Son.\u00a0 We’re in this small stagecoach compared to the length of miles that we’ve traveled trying to get to the hospital.\u00a0 But, whether on the sea or here on dry land, putting your trust in the Almighty is the best thing you can do.”\u00a0 Ben paused as he watched his son ponder on all that he had just told him.\u00a0 He worried that he had gotten a bit deep in his reply, so Pa went back to the original topic.\u00a0 “Now — what were you getting at about the stars, Joseph?”<\/p>\n \u201cYou used the stars to find where you were, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, that\u2019s right,\u201d Ben nodded.\u00a0 \u201cBut when a storm came up we lost the stars and it was a bit rough.\u00a0 Why are you asking all of these questions about the sea, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe leaned over so that he could rest his head on his father\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 He needed the closeness at the time.\u00a0 Joe couldn\u2019t help feeling as though he didn\u2019t have long to live and he had a life time of things that he wanted to ask his Pa.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know \u2013 I mean you\u2019ve told us all about your days at sea but I just kind of wanted to hear it again.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben draped his arm over Joe\u2019s shoulder and sighed, he knew what his son was doing.\u00a0 \u201cYou know I\u2019ve been through quite a few storms, Son, both out at sea and here on dry land.\u00a0 But, with God\u2019s help I got through them all \u2013 even the worst ones.\u00a0 Sometimes life is like that too.\u00a0 You hit a storm along the way and you don\u2019t think you\u2019re going to make it, but somehow you do.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stared over at his father and replied, \u201cI\u2019ve had a lot of storms, Pa.\u00a0 But \u2013 well \u2013 maybe this time I\u2019ve pressed my luck too far and now it\u2019s time to face facts — I may not get through this gale.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph I will NOT<\/strong> hear that.\u00a0 And I don\u2019t want you to think it either!\u201d Pa insisted.<\/p>\n Joe looked down at the floor of the stage and tried his best to change the subject.\u00a0 He knew that he had upset his father again, and didn\u2019t want to do that.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Pa \u2013 remember that time I got in trouble at school?\u201d<\/p>\n Pa realized that Joe had decided not to dwell on his condition and he was very pleased that he had gone onto something else.\u00a0 \u201cNow, Joseph, you are going to have to get much more specific.\u00a0 We both know you got into trouble ALL<\/strong> of the time!\u201d Pa grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah \u2013 yeah guess I did,\u201d Joe nodded and fought to smile.\u00a0 \u201cI was talking about that time I got in a big fight with some other boys.\u00a0 I had told them that my Pa was a clipper captain and they all said I was fibbing.\u00a0 They said a rancher couldn\u2019t be a clipper captain.\u00a0 I laid into them good and got into a big fracas.\u00a0 The teacher got mad and she sent a letter home for you.\u00a0 You got on me good too!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben laughed and patted his son\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cOh yes, I remember that one!\u00a0 Though you were in the right, in that you hadn\u2019t lied but you had been told not to fight in school.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah \u2013 I remember you made me write an apology after giving me a lecture.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were lucky that\u2019s all you got,\u201d Ben laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know what I remember best about that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I was mad when I went back to school and I was angry that I had to apologize and those boys got off with what they had said.\u00a0 I was feeling pretty awful at the time.\u00a0 Then a couple of days later, right before school got out you surprised me when you came to pick me up,\u201d Joe paused and stared into his father\u2019s eyes and grinned.\u00a0 \u201cI looked up from my seat there next to those guys and in you walked and you were wearing your ship\u2019s captain uniform, cap and all!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben laughed and nodded, he had remembered the whole event.<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 the teacher had you come to the front of the class and she asked you to tell all of the students what it was like in your sailing days.\u00a0 By the time school was dismissed those boys slunk out of there lower than a snail.\u00a0 You never told me you were coming and had played it off all week how mad you were at me.\u00a0 But there you were dressed up in that uniform and I waited until everyone left.\u00a0 Then you looked at me like you were still mad.\u00a0 You really had me going \u2013 and then you broke out smiling and came over and gave me a big hug.\u00a0 We walked out of there and I never felt so happy.\u00a0 You were a great Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWere?\u201d Ben asked, raising his eyebrows in gesture.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know what I mean — to a little kid \u2013 well there just was no greater Pa in the world.\u00a0 And no matter what happens — I just want you to know that I\u2019ve been the luckiest son in the world to have had a father like you,\u201d Joe confessed, wanting his father to know how much he was loved.<\/p>\n Ben felt a mix of emotions at the time.\u00a0 Though he was happy to know how his son felt about him, Joe\u2019s statement about \u201cno matter what happens\u201d had sounded like some sort of goodbye as well.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, I intend on being your Pa for a very long time,\u201d Ben countered.<\/p>\n \u201cBut if –,\u201d<\/p>\n Ben cut Joe off once again.\u00a0 \u201cNo, no if\u2019s, Joseph,\u201d Ben stopped and turned Joe\u2019s face so that he could stare straight into his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re going to be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe closed his eyes and rested his head again on Pa\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t have the words to tell his father at the time.\u00a0 Joe had wanted to ease his mind by letting him know that if things went wrong that he had been lucky to have him for a father and that he had no regrets.<\/p>\n Pa gently stroked the curls on his son\u2019s head and closed his eyes.\u00a0 The two of them sat that way without any further words spoken between them for a long while.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s get you back into bed, Joseph,\u201d Pa finally said when he could feel the heat from his son\u2019s forehead increasing.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Pa,\u201d Joe nodded and allowed his father to get him back down into the bed.\u00a0 Joe passed out cold within a few minutes.<\/p>\n Ben stared down at his youngest, a deep knot forming in his throat.\u00a0 How many times had Joseph tried to tell him goodbye on this trip?\u00a0 Pa was so frightened and even though the stage was progressing very fast, he was beside himself with worry that they wouldn\u2019t get to the hospital in time to save the boy.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t imagine a life without Joseph.\u00a0 Pa reached down and felt Joe\u2019s forehead and it was hot.\u00a0 He turned and placed some water from the canteen onto a towel and placed it on his son\u2019s forehead.\u00a0 Then Ben went down to his knees.\u00a0 He had done all he could so it was time to once again turn all of his worries over to God.<\/p>\n The last full day and night of the trip began.\u00a0 Joe had hardly moved all night and all of his injections had been done while he was asleep.\u00a0 Ben was able to get a little water down his son\u2019s throat but even that had been a struggle.\u00a0 There were three way stations and all had come and gone without Joe waking up.\u00a0 Ben had one of the drivers watch Joe so that he could run in and out of each of the stations to use the privy and gather some food.\u00a0 He was also able to send a couple of wires, one being to Jim Griffin, with the Overland Stage Line, thanking him for all of the help and letting him know how well he had been treated along the way to San Francisco. He informed him that he\u2019d be sure to let him know how the boy did once surgery was done.\u00a0 He then wired Doctor Paul Martin to tell him the current situation and to ask that he inform Hop Sing and also Hoss when he had gotten home.\u00a0 He knew that Paul would do those things and that he would also want to know how his favorite patient was doing.\u00a0 Ben had gotten right back into the stage and the drivers sent it quickly into motion.\u00a0 Even those two men, who had been strangers before the trip started, had now become friends with Ben and were up in the driver\u2019s seat, both of them praying for the boy inside the stage.<\/p>\n Joseph wasn\u2019t doing well and his father was terrified that he wouldn\u2019t make it the rest of the way.\u00a0 He had slept pretty much the whole previous night and during the day had only come around long enough to simply call out an extremely weak sounding \u201cPa\u201d and then went right back under.\u00a0 Ben had taken the rubbing alcohol and swabbed Joe\u2019s body down with it, hoping that it would help with the boy\u2019s rising fever.\u00a0 He had checked the drains and though they were still securely in place, they weren\u2019t draining much infection out of the wound anymore.\u00a0 Ben hoped that meant that it was all about gone, but he knew better.\u00a0 When he caught sight of Joe\u2019s mottled skin Pa was about ready to panic.\u00a0 He knew that it meant that the boy\u2019s circulation wasn\u2019t doing well at all.\u00a0 Pa wondered if they could make the last leg of the trip.\u00a0 He stared down at his pocket watch and counted the hours that were left.\u00a0 There were about ten hours of night driving left and perhaps another ten or twelve hours of daylight until they would be in San Francisco.<\/p>\n *** Joseph \u2013 we\u2019re so close now \u2013 come on son \u2013 you can make it.\u00a0 Twenty hours <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u2013 that\u2019s not all that much \u2013it\u2019s less than a day.\u00a0 Please wake up ***<\/em><\/strong> Ben thought as he continued to bathe his son\u2019s fevered brow.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m here,\u201d Joe muttered and his eyelids lifted briefly before going back down again.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u00a0 Try and focus in on me.\u00a0 I need you to try and stay awake a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre we there yet, Pa?\u201d Joe called weakly, his eyes still closed.<\/p>\n Ben combed his fingers through his son\u2019s curls which were now damp and matted due to the perspiration caused by his fever. \u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re so close, Son \u2013 all you have to do is hang in there just a little longer.\u00a0 By this time tomorrow you\u2019ll be there in a hospital bed and you\u2019ll have both me and your uncle fussing over you.\u00a0 Just hang in there for me!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t feel so good, Pa,\u201d Joe admitted, his voice weak and barely above a whisper.<\/p>\n Pa drew in a deep breath and sighed.\u00a0 He grabbed his son\u2019s hand and held onto it.<\/p>\n \u201cI know, Joseph, but you\u2019ve always been a fighter \u2013 just keep fighting!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan\u2019t Pa — my strength is gone.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben squeezed his son\u2019s left hand and returned, \u201cYour strength is right here next to you.\u00a0 I\u2019ll not let you go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Pa.\u00a0 I — I need to sleep just a bit.\u00a0 I\u2019ll try to hold on, Pa \u2013 I\u2019ll try my best,\u201d Joe nodded ever so slightly and then fell back to sleep.<\/p>\n Ben looked at his watch again.\u00a0 It was seven p.m.\u00a0 It felt as though time had slowed all day long.\u00a0 He said another prayer and settled on the floor next to the bed still holding onto his son\u2019s left hand.\u00a0 He wouldn\u2019t let go, not ever.<\/p>\n A Little after midnight as the stage continued to race against time to save Joe Cartwright\u2019s life, Ben\u2019s body had finally given in to the stress of both trying to tend to Joe and willing him to live.\u00a0 He had passed out right there alongside of his son his hand still clasped onto Joe\u2019s left hand.\u00a0\u00a0 Pa had no idea how long he had been asleep.\u00a0 He had given the boy an injection a little after eight p.m. and then settled down on the floor of the stage.<\/p>\n Joe began to call out in his sleep.\u00a0 At first it was so quiet that his father hadn\u2019t even heard his son\u2019s call.\u00a0 Finally Joe began to thrash about and his voice rang out loudly waking Pa up.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u201d Ben whispered and reached for his son\u2019s shoulders attempting to stop him from moving.<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u00a0 No!\u201d Joe shouted, and his father was stunned by the sudden strength of his voice as he thrashed about.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s alright, Son \u2013 settle down now,\u201d Ben cooed soothingly.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes shot open and he stared up at his father.\u00a0 \u201cPa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust a dream, Son, it\u2019s going to be alright.\u00a0 You\u2019ve been out a long time.\u00a0 Let\u2019s get you some water,\u201d Ben tried to calm Joe and offered him some water to help to bring his fever down.<\/p>\n Joe accepted the water and took a few sips before waving the cup away.<\/p>\n \u201cI dreamed I was in a casket,\u201d Joe muttered.\u00a0 \u201cThey were nailing it shut.\u00a0 Help me up, Pa.\u00a0 I can\u2019t lie down like this anymore \u2013 I\u2019m not going like this,\u201d Joe insisted.<\/p>\n \u201cGoing where?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not going to die lying down,\u201d Joe returned and fought to pull himself up on the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not going to die!\u00a0 But you\u2019re a bit weak right now and I don\u2019t want you to move.\u00a0 It won\u2019t be long before we\u2019ll be at the hospital and they\u2019ll fix you all up.\u00a0 All we have to do is just get through the night and by tomorrow afternoon we\u2019ll be there at St. Francis.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not lying down, Pa — that\u2019s what I was doing in that casket!\u00a0 Now help me up or I\u2019ll do it myself!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben didn\u2019t know what to do.\u00a0 He could read the intensity in his son\u2019s eyes and had heard the insistence in his voice.\u00a0 Pa figured that the nightmare had scared his son but he didn\u2019t want to do anything that would make him weaker than he was already.<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 I mean it,\u201d Joe called up to his father.\u00a0 \u201cHelp me \u2013 please!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben wondered if this would be the very last time that he would cave into one of Joseph\u2019s requests.\u00a0 If his son should die due to the move Pa knew he\u2019d never forgive himself.\u00a0 The boy was feverish and his wound had stopped draining.\u00a0 On top of that Joe\u2019s skin had taken on that mottled appearance.\u00a0 All that into consideration, it was his son, his youngest, and he was making what might turn out to be his final plea for help.\u00a0 He had to do it.<\/p>\n \u201cSlowly, Joseph, let me help you out of that bed \u2013 put your arm around my neck,\u201d Pa instructed.<\/p>\n Joe eased out of the bed, his left arm slung around his father\u2019s neck.\u00a0 With all of his remaining strength he was able to make it onto the bench seat.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Pa,\u201d Joe whispered and fought to catch his breath.\u00a0 \u201cLook \u2013 it\u2019s like this \u2013 Pa if I\u2019m supposed to die it ain\u2019t gonna matter if I\u2019m down on that bed or sitting here.\u00a0 When you die you lay down for all eternity \u2013 well I guess unless you make heaven and then there\u2019s no worry about it.\u00a0 But, I\u2019d just as soon let death get me when I was sitting than lying down.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head wearily.\u00a0\u00a0 He was spent both emotionally and physically.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, I just can\u2019t take you talking about dying.\u00a0 Please don\u2019t do it anymore!\u201d Pa pleaded, fighting back tears.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Pa,\u201d Joe agreed, at least for the present to keep those words from his mouth.\u00a0 \u201cIs it time for my medication?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben opened his pocket watch and stared down at the time.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t believe the irony that was staring up at him.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re not going to believe this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou have exactly fifteen minutes, Joseph,\u201d Pa said and forced a smile onto his lips.<\/p>\n In spite of feeling terrible, Joe grinned, as it was just as their journey had begun now almost three days ago.\u00a0 \u201cOkay, Pa.\u00a0 Ten minutes \u2013 that\u2019s ten times sixty, that\u2019s six times one is six, then I\u2019ve got to do something with those two zeros. I bring them down so ten minutes is six hundred seconds.\u00a0 Then I take those five minutes.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got to add those \u2013 wait \u2013 I multiply those, five times six is thirty, thirty so I take that and add that other zero so three hundred.\u00a0 I take the six hundred and the three hundred and it\u2019s nine hundred seconds.\u00a0 How\u2019s that, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sighed and shook his head.\u00a0 No matter what was going on in the life and death race to save Joe, the boy had managed to throw in just a bit of levity.\u00a0\u00a0 That was Joseph.\u00a0 \u201cWell, I hate to tell you this, as I don\u2019t want to hurt your feelings, but all you had to do originally was to halve that ten to begin with and you wouldn\u2019t have had to cypher that five minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow you know why I don\u2019t try to do those ledger books of yours, Pa.\u00a0 I never paid much attention in school, as you well know,\u201d Joe replied and then his face formed into a grimace.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know if I\u2019ve got nine hundred seconds left anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n Pa put his arm around his son and pulled him close.\u00a0 \u201cYou have many, many years <\/strong>left, Joe. \u00a0I told you to keep fighting because this race to get you to St. Francis is almost over.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that verse, Pa \u2013 I keep hearing it in my head \u2013 the one about the race?\u00a0\u00a0 You know \u2013 from the Bible?\u201d Joe asked and his face once again scrunched up in extreme pain.<\/p>\n Ben had witnessed his son\u2019s distress and fought to figure out something to do or say in order to help.\u00a0 He finally answered his son\u2019s question.\u00a0 \u201cOh \u2013 I think I know what you\u2019re talking about.\u00a0 Is it \u201cI fought a good fight, I\u2019ve finished the race, I have kept the faith?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded his head, \u201cYeah, Pa \u2013 that\u2019s it.\u00a0 I have fought a good fight \u2013 you know that I have.\u00a0 I know you can read me better than even I can \u2013 so I don\u2019t have to tell you how bad I\u2019ve been hurting.\u00a0 I have tried to keep the faith too, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 Joe paused and stared into his father\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 He was trying to be strong like his father but he couldn\u2019t hold the tears in anymore.\u00a0 They streamed down his face as he continued. \u00a0\u201cPa \u2013 I don\u2019t think I can finish this race.\u00a0 I\u2019m not going to make it, I\u2019m so sorry.\u00a0 I wanted to make it \u2013 just so you wouldn\u2019t have to see me die.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t anyone\u2019s fault but mine.\u00a0 Just a cut — a stupid little cut that I should have taken care of but I didn\u2019t.\u00a0 I put you through all of this \u2013 all of this — \u00a0\u00a0and just because I wanted to hurry through my work and get to an auction.\u00a0 I\u2019m so sorry, Pa,\u2019 Joe confessed full of remorse.\u00a0\u00a0 He held his hands up to his eyes and wept bitter tears.<\/p>\n Ben gingerly wrapped his arms around his son.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t pull him to his chest because of the wound but he held him anyway.\u00a0 \u201cYou ARE<\/strong> going to finish this race whether you think so or not.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe attempted to wipe his tears off on his shirtsleeves.\u00a0 \u201cIs it time now, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n Pa looked at his watch once more and nodded.\u00a0 \u201cBy the time that I get the medicine pulled up into the syringe it will be.\u00a0 Once we get you out of some of this pain you\u2019ll feel a bit better.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Pa,\u201d Joe tried to sound more optimistic than he was feeling at that moment.<\/p>\n Ben moved away from the bench and readied the medicine.\u00a0 He prepared the injection and brought it over to where his son sat. \u00a0\u201cWhich arm would you like this time?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSurprise me,\u201d Joe nodded to his father.<\/p>\n \u201cHand me that left arm of yours,\u201d Ben, just as Joe had, repeated the whole scene that they had acted out in the very beginning of their trip west.<\/p>\n Joe held his arm out and Pa braced it with his own left arm as he placed the needle once more under the pale skin.\u00a0 Soon the syringe was empty and Ben placed a piece of cotton over the injection site.\u00a0 He gathered all of the materials and set them back inside the medical kit.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know by this time tomorrow I\u2019ll be resigning as your doctor,\u201d Pa announced and sat back down next to his son.<\/p>\n \u201cNobody could have done better, I want you to remember that, Pa,\u201d Joe replied earnestly.\u00a0 He was worried that in hindsight his father might think that he had done something wrong.<\/p>\n \u201cWell then I can\u2019t wait for you to tell that to Doc when we get home,\u201d Pa returned, countering what Joe had said.\u00a0 Pa could sense his son\u2019s dread over not being able to finish the last leg of the trip so he continued to counter any of those thoughts.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d Joe whispered as he let his head fall onto his father\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 The medicine was starting to work already due to his weakened condition.<\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell me a story \u2013 you know one from your sailing days?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve sure been talking a lot about me and my ship\u2019s captain days.\u00a0 Alright what story would you like to hear?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWill you tell me about the one where your ship was taken over by pirates?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n Ben chuckled in spite of the feeling of impending doom which had lingered there inside the stage for almost three days.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t fight his amusement over what his son had said.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, now you know as well as I do that pirates never boarded any ship that I commanded!\u00a0\u00a0 What you\u2019re referring to is that tall tale you told at school once those boys had seen me in my uniform.\u00a0 After I did that it leant way to you coming up with all types of outlandish adventures which never happened to me.\u00a0 And that includes pirates storming my ship!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt could have happened,\u201d Joe returned, and he tried his best to bring up a smile for his father\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n \u201cNo pirates, any other requests?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, tell me that tale about how you had to raise the anchor or your ship would have turned over.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s call capsized, Joseph \u2013 and yes that really happened.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell me \u2013 I want to hear it one more time,\u201d Joe insisted.<\/p>\n Pa bit at his bottom lip when he heard the \u201cone more time\u201d that his son had just said.\u00a0 He was finding it harder and harder to handle hearing Joe talking like that.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, I was commanding a full-rigged clipper out of Boston and we were heading to Bermuda.\u00a0 Half way there we had dropped anchor for the night.\u00a0 Suddenly there came up a very strong storm so we knew we needed to get the anchor up.\u00a0 Well the heaviest and most important anchor on the bow needed to be raised right away, we had only dropped the one for the night as the sea had been as smooth as glass until that south wind came on us fast along with the fierce storm.\u00a0 So I called for it to be raised and nothing happened.\u00a0\u00a0 The capstan had a problem and without that we couldn\u2019t raise the anchor chain along with the anchor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s a capstan — I don\u2019t remember, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is what\u2019s used to bring up the anchor chain, which is extremely heavy, and then it pulls the anchor up to the cathead.\u00a0 The cathead is made of very strong timber that can hold the weight of the anchor.\u00a0 Do you understand so far, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah \u2013 so the thing you use to bring up the anchor got stuck?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe capstan, you landlubber,\u201d Pa corrected with a grin and then went on with the explanation.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, we weren\u2019t exactly sure what was wrong with it and the winds were growing stronger almost to gale force by the time I went down to see what had happened.\u00a0 I had two-thirds of the crew working on it, as they all knew how dire the situation was getting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow did you fix it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell your Pa \u2013 the captain \u2013 figured out that something had to be jamming it somehow but I wasn\u2019t the one who figured out what was wrong with it.\u00a0 We had this one sailor on board, an old timer who had been demoted so many times he had given up on asking for promotions.\u00a0 The man was a decent enough boatswain but he was fond of Barbados Water.\u00a0 He was too fond of it in fact.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 I\u2019m kind of fading in and out a bit so you\u2019ve got to talk to me like the landlubber that I am, so terms like boatswain and Barbados Water need some explanation,\u201d Joe interjected.<\/p>\n Ben chuckled and said, \u201cSorry, Joe, I keep forgetting that though you are a captain\u2019s son you\u2019ve never been to sea.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWith my motion sickness it\u2019s a sure bet I won\u2019t be going on any boats either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShips, Joseph, not boats,\u201d Ben corrected once again.\u00a0 He found it to be odd that they were having such a long conversation about his past career when things seemed so dire at the time.\u00a0 However, he figured that he\u2019d much rather be talking about the sea than the former conversation Joe had begun about impending death.\u00a0 \u201cOkay let\u2019s see, Barbados Water is rum, and boatswain is someone responsible for maintaining equipment.\u00a0 Now back to the story.\u00a0 The man\u2019s name was Porter but most called him \u201cRummy\u201d for obvious reasons.\u00a0 Well he had heard someone coming the night before just as we had set anchor.\u00a0 He had a bottle of the finest rum on him at the time, and drinking on board could send you to the brig for weeks.\u00a0 So he had dropped the bottle of rum down into the capstan figuring he\u2019d recover it once no-one was around.\u00a0 That bottle somehow got stuck in with the anchor chain and hung up the capstan good.\u00a0 Just one bottle of rum could have cost us the ship.\u00a0 When he was finally brought forward and confessed about his bottle we were able to get it dislodged and raised the anchor which saved the ship.\u00a0\u00a0 And because of all of that I am here and so are you!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGreat story, Pa,\u201d Joe nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI use to love hearing your tales.\u00a0 You\u2019ve had a really adventurous life.\u00a0 More than I can say for mine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour life has just begun, Joseph,\u201d Ben corrected, \u201cAnd though you\u2019ve never been to sea I surely wouldn\u2019t say your life hasn\u2019t been adventurous!\u00a0 Just look at what we\u2019re doing right now.\u00a0 Not every twenty-two year old boy gets his own personal stagecoach to go to San Francisco you know?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stared away from his father, trying to figure out how to tell him that there was no way possible that he could make it to San Francisco.\u00a0 He was still suffering through extreme pain even after a full dose of morphine.\u00a0 Joe also knew he had a raging fever and had looked at his drainage tubes.\u00a0 He noticed that nothing was coming out of them anymore.\u00a0 Joe wondered if Pa knew all of that.\u00a0\u00a0 And if his father did realize it, was he just pretending that his son would make it to the hospital alive?<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 is there anything that you didn\u2019t get that you wanted \u2013 I mean in life \u2013 you know \u2013 so far.\u00a0 I mean — not counting the fact that you lost our mas \u2013 I know you wish that that never happened and all \u2013 but is there anything that you don\u2019t have that you always wanted?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded and replied with a good bit of irony in his voice, \u201cYes \u2013 I wanted you to go a whole year without getting hurt or sick.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell \u2013 I wanted that too, Pa,\u201d Joe agreed.\u00a0 \u201cYou should\u2019ve let me go to Arizona.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo I shouldn\u2019t have let you handle that job of pulling that old wire!\u00a0 In fact I never should\u2019ve bothered with that wire to begin with, it should\u2019ve been tossed away somewhere.\u00a0 But, we all learn from our mistakes.\u00a0 And, as for wanting things that we\u2019ve not gotten yet, well, there\u2019s plenty of life ahead for us both, Son,\u201d Pa said, trying to reinforce his belief that Joe would make it to the hospital in time.<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 how about when we get to San Francisco we go to the beach instead of the hospital?\u00a0 I\u2019d like that \u2013 you know sitting there on the beach \u2013 just before sunset and you could point out the boats \u2013 I mean ships — and we\u2019d just sit there together until the sun went down.\u00a0 I\u2019d rather spend time there with you than at some hospital getting cut on,\u201d Joe\u2019s voice held a wistfulness to it.\u00a0 He could envision it so clearly now, just sitting next to the ocean and listening to his father talking about all of the ships he had commandeered as they watched the sun going down.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, we can do that someday, Son, but not on this trip.\u00a0 We\u2019ve got to get your sea legs back first,\u201d Ben nodded over to Joe.<\/p>\n Joe eased back some as his strength was beginning to wane.\u00a0 He closed his eyes for a minute feeling like he was fading fast.\u00a0 Joe drew from what little amount of energy he had left and decided that he needed to offer his father some hope for the future; a future that wouldn\u2019t include him.<\/p>\n \u201cPa — I bet you that both Hoss and Adam will find them wives real soon and in a few years you\u2019ll be a grandpa.\u00a0 You\u2019ll just have your hands full of kids to share all of your tales with and to love on.\u00a0 I bet you\u2019ll be the best grandpa ever!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben knew exactly why Joe had said what he had and he drew in a deep breath.\u00a0 He released it slowly and reached for his son\u2019s face, turning him gently so that he could make full eye contact with him.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, I am counting on at least one grandson from you.\u00a0 I want a little grandson with curly hair and a bright smile and your mother\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll be just as much of a hellion as his father is!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe had to look away from Pa, as his eyes filled with tears.\u00a0 \u201cPa \u2013 I\u2019m sorry \u2013 I won\u2019t be there to give you a grandchild.\u00a0 Pa \u2013 I can feel myself fading fast and there\u2019s nothing that either of us can do about it.\u00a0 Please don\u2019t blame yourself.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t have gotten this far without you.\u00a0 The infection was just too much for my body,\u201d Joe said, his voice breaking because he had spoken the God\u2019s honest truth.<\/p>\n Ben shook his head filling with more sorrow than his heart could contain.\u00a0 He wished that he could simply will his son back to good health.\u00a0 He wished he could force some strength into his boy.\u00a0 Pa fought to find the words but they wouldn\u2019t come.<\/p>\n A long uneasy silence fell over the interior of the stagecoach as the sound of rushing horse\u2019s hooves filled the air.\u00a0 They could hear the calls of the driver pushing the team hard trying to beat the dawn.\u00a0 Ben closed his eyes and asked for God\u2019s intervention in order to help his son.<\/p>\n Finally, Pa began to cry softly as he bent forward placing his hands over his face.\u00a0 Joe turned towards his father and noticed how he was now weeping and the sound of it shook him to the marrow.\u00a0 He hurt for Pa, who evidently had finally gotten to the point where he had to face the reality of the fact that he couldn\u2019t save his son.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d Joe whispered.\u00a0 \u201cPa?\u201d Joe called again but got no response either time.<\/p>\n Ben didn\u2019t look up, he didn\u2019t remove his hands from his face, but he finally spoke out as sobs shook his chest.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph \u2013 I have to confess \u2013 I\u2019ve tried \u2013 I\u2019ve tried so hard to be strong for you.\u00a0 For twenty-two years I\u2019ve fought \u2013 fought to be the strong father that you needed.\u00a0 I tried, Son, I tried to always be the shoulder that you needed when you were hurt.\u00a0 I tried \u2013 tried to bring you back time after time with every injury \u2013 with every illness that you\u2019ve had.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry \u2013 so sorry \u2013 but I just can\u2019t \u2013 I just can\u2019t, Joseph.\u00a0 I just can\u2019t be strong any longer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan\u2019t what, Pa?\u201d Joe asked, wondering if he had really heard his father\u2019s statement correctly or if he had misunderstood what he had said.\u00a0 Pa never ever quit so Joe presumed that he must be imagining things due to his fever.<\/p>\n \u201cI just can\u2019t be strong for you \u2013 any longer, Joseph, I wish I could.\u00a0 I\u2019ve failed you \u2013 I\u2019m your father and I\u2019m supposed to hold you up when you\u2019re hurt \u2013 when you need me \u2013 but I just can\u2019t — I just can\u2019t.\u00a0 It just hurts too much seeing you like this and not being able to do anything to help you.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stared at his father.\u00a0 He had never seen him in this light before.\u00a0 Pa was always the unbreakable pillar of strength.\u00a0 Ben Cartwright had more courage than any hundred men put together.\u00a0 Pa had never quit, not in his whole life, not even after the loss of three wives whom he loved so dearly.\u00a0 And now Pa sat before him looking as though he had been totally broken in spirit and was unable to pretend anymore that things would be alright.\u00a0 Joe prayed for the strength that he would need in order to help his father, even if it was the last thing he did on earth.<\/p>\n \u201cPa—,\u201d Joe whispered and set his hand on his father\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cPa you\u2019re just tired.\u00a0 C\u2019mon you need to lie down for a little while.\u00a0 All of this — this race to get me fixed up \u2013 it\u2019s just been so much on you.\u00a0 Pa \u2013 lie down for me \u2013 please just lean back and lie down for me,\u201d Joe begged.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t \u2013 I can\u2019t — not with the worry over what\u2019s going to happen to you if I close my eyes,\u201d Ben cried.<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 listen to me \u2013 c\u2019mon \u2013 listen,\u201d Joe began again and gave his father\u2019s shoulder a slight reassuring squeeze.\u00a0 \u201cI promise you \u2013 and I mean it \u2013 if you\u2019ll lie down for just a couple of hours \u2013 I promise you I won\u2019t die on you. \u00a0As God is my witness I will be lying right over there in that bed.\u00a0 I won\u2019t budge I won\u2019t even move an inch.\u00a0 Now come on, Pa \u2013 lean back against the side of the stage like you did the other night so\u2019s you can stretch your legs out,\u201d Joe insisted and stood from the bench seat, fighting to display the same kind of inner strength which his father had always shown him over the years.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure, Joseph \u2013 are you absolutely SURE<\/strong> that you\u2019ll still be here if I close my eyes for just a bit?\u201d Ben asked, his voice still breaking with emotion.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir I promise you.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got your watch too so you don\u2019t have nothing to worry about.\u00a0 I\u2019ll even bring that darn medical bag right next to the bed \u2013 and the canteen too.\u00a0 I\u2019ll tend to myself you don\u2019t have to worry none.\u00a0\u00a0 Pa I\u2019ll take care of everything if you\u2019ll just lie back and get some sleep.\u00a0 Please do it for me, Pa.\u00a0 \u00a0I won\u2019t let you down, I promise you I\u2019ll be alive when you wake up and we\u2019ll get to that darned old hospital in time.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben slowly eased back against the side of the stagecoach and stretched out his legs.\u00a0 Joe leaned over a bit, still taking care not to jostle his drains, and placed one of the extra blankets over his father.\u00a0 He pulled it up over Pa\u2019s shoulders.<\/p>\n \u201cRest for me, Pa,\u201d Joe whispered as he watched his father close his eyes.\u00a0 Joe leaned forward and decided he\u2019d use Pa\u2019s method of providing comfort, having been on the other end of the situation so many times. \u00a0Joe bent down and softly pressed his lips to Pa\u2019s forehead and combed his fingers through his father\u2019s white hair and whispered, \u201cIt\u2019s going to be alright, Pa.\u00a0 Go to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n When he was sure that he\u2019d gotten his father calmed down, Joe moved the medical bag close to his bed along with a canteen.\u00a0 He gingerly eased himself down onto the bed and leaned back on the pillow.\u00a0 Joe wasn\u2019t sure how he\u2019d pull off the promise that he\u2019d just made but he knew that he would try to honor it with every last ounce of willpower that he had left.\u00a0 Closing his eyes Joe sent up a prayer for his father and one for himself.\u00a0 He had done all that he could do so he turned it over to God now.<\/p>\n Surreptitiously Pa looked down at his youngest son who was resting peacefully only a few minutes after he had tended to him.\u00a0 Fortunately Joseph couldn\u2019t see the look on his father\u2019s face at the time.\u00a0 Pa wore a big smile. *** Thank God it worked!\u00a0 The kid bought the whole thing hook, line and sinker.\u00a0 Now he will fight \u2013 because he\u2019s fighting for his Pa! Thank you Lord! ***<\/em><\/strong> Ben thought to himself and then rested his right hand on Joseph\u2019s chest.<\/p>\n Ben had dozed off and on for four hours.\u00a0 Each time his eyes opened he\u2019d cast a look down at his son and each time Joe appeared to be slumbering peacefully.\u00a0 He quietly moved off of the bench seat a little after four a.m. and prepared the next injection.\u00a0 Joseph had only muttered a few words during the procedure and fell back off to sleep.\u00a0 There had been a quick exchange of the team of horses right before dawn and the two drivers ran inside the way station and then checked to see if Ben wanted to also go inside for a bit.\u00a0 Pa had taken them up on the offer and also ran inside quickly and soon they were all on their way once again. The drivers had a chance to grab some badly needed coffee during the change out and were once again ready to pick up the speed in the race against the clock.\u00a0 Ben remembered that one of the drivers had mentioned that there should only be two more stops and that they would hopefully make San Francisco by around two or three p.m. if all went well.\u00a0 Pa prayed that would be the case as he knew that his son was just barely holding on.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d Joe whispered as he came back around.<\/p>\n Ben was quick to get over to his son and smiled down at him.\u00a0 \u201cYou missed one of our stops by about an hour, Joseph.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure you wanted to get off and find that bottle of whiskey that you talked about the other night, right?\u201d Pa hoped to keep the conversation light after all that had been said around midnight.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u00a0 You okay?\u201d Joe asked as he tried to scan his father\u2019s face to see if he appeared to be doing better than he had the prior night.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine \u2013 sorry that I worried you, Son.\u00a0 How about you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell \u2013 I\u2019ve felt better \u2013 but I guess I\u2019m going to make it \u2013 though last night I really thought I wouldn\u2019t see another day.\u00a0 If it hadn\u2019t been for what happened to you I mean — well \u2013,\u201d Joe trailed off as he didn\u2019t want to embarrass his father by bringing up the way he had fallen apart earlier.<\/p>\n Ben knelt down next to his son\u2019s bed and replied, \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Joe \u2013 I guess I needed to get it all out.\u00a0 I\u2019m glad that you were able to take over for a little while \u2013 it sure helped me to get some rest.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe searched his father\u2019s face again, there was just something a little different in Pa\u2019s eyes as he had made his confession.\u00a0 The truth of what had happened earlier was written all over the man\u2019s face, no matter how hard he was trying to disguise the facts about his sudden emotional breakdown.\u00a0 Pa was just too honest to lie and hadn\u2019t had much experience in trying to conceal the truth, unlike his youngest son who was very proficient in fibbing.<\/p>\n Joe slowly shook his head and smiled over at him.\u00a0 \u201cPa \u2013 you didn\u2019t really fall apart last night \u2013 now did you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet me have a look at your drains,\u201d Ben changed the subject and carefully pulled his son\u2019s blanket down.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s left hand reached up and patted his father\u2019s shoulder to get his attention.\u00a0 \u201cPa \u2013 fess up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour drains are still in okay \u2013 and later today you\u2019ll have some real doctors to tend to you,\u201d Ben said and eased the blanket back up around his son\u2019s shoulders.\u00a0 He was very obvious in his attempt to avoid Joe\u2019s questions.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were trying to give me something to fight for, weren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sighed wearily due to his son\u2019s persistence.\u00a0 He reached for the canteen and poured Joe some water and brought the cup up to the boy\u2019s lips.\u00a0 \u201cYou get some water into you, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe drank what he could and then waved the cup away.\u00a0 \u201cThat was it, wasn\u2019t it, Pa?\u00a0 You were trying to get me to hold on \u2013 and you figured if I saw you breaking down that I would try to keep going for your sake, right?\u201d\u00a0 Joe wasn\u2019t going to give up on the questioning.<\/p>\n Pa sighed and then grinned over at his son and asked, \u201cWell \u2013 did it work \u2013 I mean if I really DID<\/strong> do what you\u2019ve accused me of doing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir, it worked,\u201d Joe nodded and took his father\u2019s hand into his own.\u00a0 \u201cI can take just about anything \u2013 anything but seeing my Pa hurting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell \u2013 then \u2013 no matter what happened last night — it got you through until today.\u00a0 And, after all, that\u2019s the most important thing, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Pa,\u201d Joe whispered and began to grow tired once more.<\/p>\n \u201cYou go ahead and get some sleep, Son.\u00a0 I\u2019ll let you know when it\u2019s time for your next injection.\u00a0 Until then just conserve your strength.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got my strength,\u201d Joe nodded as he held onto his Pa\u2019s hand.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ve always given me strength, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben eased back against the seat and watched as his son\u2019s eyelids started to droop.<\/p>\n Just before Joe fell back off to sleep he whispered, \u201cBut you are new to this lying stuff \u2013 I\u2019ll have to show you how it\u2019s done right.\u201d<\/p>\n Pa chuckled and patted his son\u2019s arm as he watched him nod off.\u00a0 Ben opened his pocket watch and said yet another prayer that they\u2019d be arriving at the hospital in time to save Joe\u2019s life.\u00a0 ***Two more stops and then we\u2019ll be there.\u00a0 Lord just please take care of my boy *** <\/em><\/strong>Pa thought to himself as he sat there still holding onto Joseph\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n Ben had fallen to sleep about an hour after his son had gone back under.\u00a0 He was jolted awake by the rough stop of the stagecoach.\u00a0 Pulling himself off of the floor, Ben moved to the window opposite from where Joe lay sleeping.\u00a0 He thought that it had to be too early for another way station, but hadn\u2019t had the time to check his watch when he heard the call of the drivers.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn!\u201d Jed Simmons sang out and hopped down from his perch atop the driver\u2019s seat soon followed by his co-driver Thomas Ackers.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me have a look,\u201d Thomas shouted and moved towards the team of six horses.<\/p>\n Casting a quick glance over at Joseph and determining that he was still out of it, Ben opened the stage door and carefully stepped down to the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d Ben asked nearing the two men.<\/p>\n Thomas studied the torn lead line and shot a glance back to his passenger.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m afraid we\u2019ve just hit our first bit of bad luck, Ben.\u00a0 We lost the main lead line. Those men back at the last station must\u2019ve forgotten to check the rigging before we changed up.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben drew closer and frowned.\u00a0 \u201cAny way to knot the two ends in order to make due until we get to the next station?\u201d<\/p>\n Jed inspected the line and shook his head while trying to hold back on his cursing.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s about seven miles to the next one, Ben.\u00a0 I\u2019d sure hate to chance it, knotting up that rawhide isn\u2019t going to hold that team and even if we set loose the two front horses there\u2019s still not enough lead line to pull through those rings.\u00a0 Only thing I can come up with is for one of us to ride to the next station on one of these horses and bring back the rigging we need.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben drew in a deep breath and held it in.\u00a0 He knew that it would take hours to go to and from the next way station and time was not on their side as Joe\u2019s condition was worsening by the minute.<\/p>\n \u201cYou got a six horse whip?\u201d The voice from inside the stage called out.<\/p>\n Ben turned to see Joe sitting there next to the window.\u00a0 He had no earthly idea how his son had made it across the interior of the stage on his own power as weak as he\u2019d been.<\/p>\n Jed and Thomas shared a stunned glance back and forth.\u00a0 Not only were they surprised to see the young man awake and alert but he had also just spouted some driver style lingo.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you know about that, Boy?\u201d Jed asked as he moved to the door and peered up.<\/p>\n \u201cI had a notion when I was younger that I wanted to be a driver and I got to go on a few runs with a friend I\u2019d made.\u00a0 He told me how lots of you men keep those types of whips mainly for show.\u00a0 Either of you got one with you?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben walked over to Jed and stared up at his son.\u00a0 \u201cYou should be lying down!\u201d He called up to Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah well \u2013 I felt the jolt and thought this was my stop, Pa.\u00a0 Now \u2013 how about it, you got one?\u201d Joe turned his attention back to Jed who was soon joined by Thomas.<\/p>\n \u201cI brung mine,\u201d Thomas nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI got mine too \u2013 I carry it for luck but rarely use the darned thing,\u201d Jed added.<\/p>\n Joe forced a smile, hiding the fact that his gut was killing him at the time, and replied, \u201cIf you both wouldn\u2019t mind giving them up for a good cause I believe I can help you with that lead line.\u00a0 My father will make good on getting you two new ones, right, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben had begun to think that his son was obviously out of his head due to his fever, but one look into his eyes told him that he was in error.\u00a0 Joseph looked adamant that he could help with the situation.<\/p>\n \u201cYes — I\u2019ll gladly get you both new whips,\u201d Pa nodded.\u00a0 \u201cWhat do you have in mind, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGet me that broken lead rein and the six team whips and I\u2019ll show you, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Thomas and Jed made quick work at unlatching and unthreading the broken lead and then retrieving their stowed whips.\u00a0 They handed all of the materials to Ben who brought them up into the stagecoach.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you men take a little break, this shouldn\u2019t take too long,\u201d Joe sang out again and moved with his father over to the bench seat.<\/p>\n Both drivers shrugged their shoulders having no idea what the sickly young man was up to, but they figured they\u2019d be finding out very soon.<\/p>\n Ben moved to sit next to Joe and he stared over at him.\u00a0 The boy still looked so weak but somehow he was wide awake.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe?\u00a0 Do you think you should be sitting instead of lying down?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa,\u201d Joe began and smiled up at his father to show he was doing okay before he continued, \u201cI decided I\u2019m not going to die today \u2013 not when we\u2019re this close to finishing the race.\u00a0 I heard you three talking out there and suddenly realized that it\u2019s about time that I contributed to this little adventure.\u00a0 Now strip down the handles on both of those whips and hand me what\u2019s left of that main lead line and I\u2019ll show you what I can do.\u201d<\/p>\n Pa, whose heart had fallen in his chest upon hearing the news about the lead line a few minutes earlier, suddenly felt like there was hope yet.\u00a0 And on top of that he could read the fierce determination in his son\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 Ben shucked back the stocks of both whips and handed the rawhide which was inside to his son.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, what are you going to do now, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe grabbed the ends of what had been the two six team whips which consisted of rawhide bands, each around twenty two feet long.\u00a0 He had tied a knot where the main lead line had severed so he would have a guide as to how long the replacement would need to be.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know who it was — but somebody taught me to braid rawhide when I was just a little kid,\u201d Joe grinned over at his father.\u00a0 \u201cAnd, I\u2019m about the fastest braider this side of the Rockies.\u00a0 Just go sit on that other bench seat opposite me and hold onto those ends for me, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head feeling both amused and suddenly optimistic.\u00a0 He had taught Joseph how to braid when he was only about five years old and it was true that he was fast.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got them \u2013 go ahead, Son let\u2019s see if you\u2019ve still got the fastest hands in the West!\u201d Ben called over to Joe as he took a seat across from him and held on to the rawhide ends.<\/p>\n Both of the whips were a tad over twenty two feet long and, once braided together with the tightened piece of lead line, soon served as a perfect replacement.\u00a0 It had only taken Joe Cartwright twenty minutes to do what others would have spent hours doing.<\/p>\n \u201cTake it to them, Pa.\u00a0 It\u2019s going to be a tad snug fit but I guarantee it will hold long enough to get us to that next station,\u201d Joe nodded as he handed the rawhide braid over to his father.<\/p>\n Ben patted his son\u2019s shoulder proudly and Joe heard him calling to the two drivers.<\/p>\n \u201cMy boy has got it all done!\u00a0 How about we get the line strung and get back on the road!\u201d Ben announced triumphantly as he jumped out of the stage.<\/p>\n Both drivers took turns pulling on the new lead line and they broke into big smiles.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll just be darned!\u201d Thomas called over to Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s being polite, Ben –,\u201d Jed grinned over at his partner.\u00a0 \u201cIf you wasn\u2019t standing right here next to the two of us we\u2019d be spouting some very choice words about now.\u00a0 You tell that boy of yours we\u2019ll be back on the road in just a minute and the both of you\u2019d better hold on because we\u2019re gonna make up for lost time!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben laughed and replied, \u201cI\u2019ll tell him.\u00a0 One thing for sure \u2013 that line won\u2019t come out for a good long while \u2013 not with the way my son braids.\u201d<\/p>\n Within ten minutes the new reinforced main line was threaded across the backs of the horses tying all of the harnesses together and the end rested in Jed\u2019s gloved hand as he shouted that they were back on their way.<\/p>\n \u201cWell done, Joseph,\u201d Pa smiled proudly as he helped his son back down onto his bed, covering him with the blanket once more.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Pa — it\u2019s the first time I\u2019ve felt needed for days,\u201d Joe replied glad to know that he was a help for a change.\u00a0 For almost three days he had heard both drivers refer to him as \u201cthe injured young man in the stage\u201d and Joe was happy that he\u2019d now be known as \u201cthe young man who had braided the lead line.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t say that,\u201d Ben corrected and patted his son\u2019s arm.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve needed you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Pa \u2013 you needed me alright.\u00a0 You needed me to save you from having to pretend that you had lost all of your strength,\u201d Joe smiled knowingly over at his father.<\/p>\n \u201cYou get some rest now that you\u2019ve saved the day.\u00a0 Go on close those eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded as he felt sudden exhaustion taking over his body.\u00a0 He fell right off to sleep without another word.<\/p>\n Ben thought on all that Joe had done and a smile pulled at his lips, \u201cThat\u2019s my boy,\u201d He whispered and settled back down against the bench seat.\u00a0 *** Two more stops, Lord \u2013 just two more stops *** <\/em><\/strong>He sighed to himself.<\/p>\n With renewed fervor the two drivers made up some of the lost time from changing out the damaged lead line.\u00a0 Just under an hour and a half later they pulled up into the second to last way station of the long trip.\u00a0 Both Jed and Thomas walked over to the coach to see how their passengers were doing.\u00a0 Ben signaled that his son was fast asleep and that Joe wouldn\u2019t be getting out of the stage.\u00a0 There were two Overland employees who came over and introduced themselves and offered to watch out for Joe while Ben and the two drivers went inside the station.\u00a0 They promised not to disturb the injured young man as they went about the task of swapping the old team of horses for a new one.\u00a0 Both drivers cautioned the men that they had to rig the main lead line and that it would need to be removed before sending another team out using the rigging.\u00a0 Jed and Thomas also told them to triple check the new rigs to make sure they wouldn\u2019t have any further problems.\u00a0 Once that was taken care of the two drivers along with a very tired Ben Cartwright went inside the building to get some coffee and sandwiches for the last leg of the trip.<\/p>\n While Ben used the privy and then rinsed his face with some cool water, Jed and Thomas were talking to the stage manager who seemed to be upset about something.\u00a0 Upon noticing that there was some kind of problem, Ben joined around the three men.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d Ben asked, hoping there wasn\u2019t another snag to the very end of the long race to get Joe to the hospital.<\/p>\n \u201cBen \u2013 this is Jeff Saunders, the stage line representative,\u201d Jed introduced the two men.<\/p>\n \u201cPleasure to meet you, Mister Cartwright,\u201d Jeff nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI just wanted all of you to be aware of the trouble we\u2019ve been having in route from this station on into San Francisco the last two weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat kind of trouble?\u201d Ben asked, after shaking the man\u2019s outstretched hand.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo of our stages have been hit by a roving band of outlaws.\u00a0 They\u2019ve been described as bandits by the garb they were wearing.\u00a0 Nobody\u2019s been killed yet but they\u2019ve taken some hits.\u00a0 I had a driver winged along with two passengers.\u00a0 The local authorities are doing their best \u2013 but I just wanted you men to be prepared.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to hold you up any longer \u2013 as I know how dire your situation is \u2013 but you all need to take measures to be prepared just in case.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou got a gun with you, Ben?\u201d Jed asked.<\/p>\n Pa nodded and replied, \u201cI had to pack up pretty quick there at the hospital in Carson but both my son\u2019s and my outfits are in that small brown carpet bag on top of the stage.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBest get it down, Thomas,\u201d Jed called over to his partner and soon the three of them were back outside getting ready to hit the road again.<\/p>\n Pa climbed up into the stage with the bag carrying the two six-guns along with a paper bag with some food inside.\u00a0 Ben stared across the interior of the stage and could see that Joseph hadn\u2019t moved a muscle since he had left him some fifteen minutes earlier.\u00a0 He decided it might be a good idea to strap on his holster to be prepared, as Jeff Saunders had cautioned, just in case.\u00a0 Ben tied the leather strings, settling the Colt inside his holster now strapped down to his thigh.\u00a0\u00a0 Kneeling down next to the bag he made sure that he had enough ammunition in case it was needed and he hoped that it wouldn\u2019t be an issue.\u00a0 Ben was glad that he had thought to empty the shells from inside of his saddlebags into the small carrying case so that there would be plenty of rounds if they were to be necessary. He placed the bag under the bench seat opposite from where his son lay fast asleep.\u00a0 Pa checked the chamber of his Colt and made sure that it was fully loaded; it was.\u00a0 Staring again at Joe, he prayed that the rest of the trip would go by uneventfully.\u00a0\u00a0 Ben just wanted to get his son to the hospital as soon as possible as the boy had suffered for far too long already.\u00a0 Sending up another prayer he then moved to sit on the floor next to Joe.<\/p>\n Joe slowly became aware of his surroundings and looked over to where his father sat dozing alongside his make-shift bed.\u00a0 He blinked his eyes a few times to make sure he was seeing right.\u00a0 Pa was wearing his holster.\u00a0 Joe wondered why he had strapped it on as he hadn\u2019t needed it for the entire trip thus far.<\/p>\n Ben became suddenly aware of the two eyes staring down at him.\u00a0 \u201cJoe?\u00a0 You back with me again?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded and watched as his father stood to retrieve the canteen.\u00a0 Pa poured a cup of water and soon held it up to his lips.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s about all I can take for right now, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust a little more, Joseph — I\u2019ve been worried about that fever of yours,\u201d Ben coaxed his son.<\/p>\n Joe drew in a deep breath and fought the nausea once more.\u00a0 He tried to get down a few more sips to satisfy his father\u2019s concern.<\/p>\n \u201cGood, Son,\u201d Ben said and patted the boy\u2019s arm.\u00a0 \u201cShould I ask you how you\u2019re feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 not right now, Pa.\u00a0 Hey \u2013 what\u2019s with the holster?\u00a0 Did I miss something?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben frowned, as he had hoped not to have to mention the seriousness of the current situation.\u00a0 \u201cJust as a precaution \u2013 apparently they\u2019ve had some trouble in this area and the stage manager wanted us to know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGuess I missed my stop again, huh?\u201d Joe tried to pretend he wasn\u2019t alarmed by his father\u2019s news.<\/p>\n Pa grinned, \u201cYes, that you did — but there\u2019s only one more to go and we will then be getting into San Francisco.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 I know I\u2019m probably due for another shot \u2013 but maybe we\u2019d best wait on it.\u00a0 If anything\u2019s going to happen maybe you\u2019d better bring me my gun.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Ben replied emphatically.\u00a0 \u201cYou need the pain medicine \u2013 probably more so now than before.\u00a0 I\u2019ve checked those drains of yours \u2013 and it\u2019s got me worried.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded his head slightly and returned, \u201cYeah, Pa \u2013 I\u2019ve known about that for a while now.\u00a0 Either all of the infection is gone or the drains stopped working.\u00a0 But if we\u2019re going to run into any trouble I don\u2019t want to just lay down here and listen to shooting.\u00a0 My head would be a bit clearer without that morphine.\u00a0 I think I can tough it out for a little while.\u201d<\/p>\n Before Ben could respond he heard the shouts of both Thomas and Jed.\u00a0 They warned that riders were approaching fast.\u00a0 Leaning out of the window just above his son\u2019s bed, Ben took a look.\u00a0 He saw about six men riding in hard.\u00a0 Ben sprinted to the window on the other side of the stagecoach and spied another five riders rushing towards them.<\/p>\n \u201cJust stay down low, Joseph!\u201d Ben yelled and drew his Colt into his hand.<\/p>\n Joe watched as his father began to fire his weapon and he also heard rifle fire coming from one of the two stagecoach drivers.\u00a0 He noticed the brown satchel on the floor opposite from where he was lying.\u00a0 Joe figured that Pa must have packed his gun and holster in there as he had it on him when he had been brought to the hospital days earlier.\u00a0 With Pa very preoccupied, Joe stealthily dropped down off of his bed and pulled himself over to the bench seat.\u00a0 Reaching inside the bag, the injured young man was able to find his Colt and checked to see if it was loaded.\u00a0 It was.\u00a0 Returning to his bed, Joe pulled himself into a semi-reclining position with his left hand holding his six-gun.<\/p>\n Ben turned when he heard the gun go off across the interior of the stagecoach.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t believe that his son was sitting there defending the window from the attacking bandits.\u00a0 Pa shook his head feeling half annoyed at and half proud of his son.\u00a0 *** I might have known \u2013 that boy will never give up — not even in his weakened condition! *** <\/em><\/strong>Ben thought to himself.<\/p>\n A bullet streaked through the inside of the stage narrowly missing Pa\u2019s head.\u00a0 Joe watched it as it sailed past him.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn that was close!\u201d Joe shouted.<\/p>\n \u201cStay down, Joseph!\u201d Ben yelled at the top of his lungs.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing doing, not when they\u2019re shooting at my father — I\u2019m not staying down!\u201d He called out and then aimed well enough to shoot one man off of his horse.\u00a0 \u201cPa \u2013 can you hand me a box of shells please?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben groaned.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want his son to be shooting anyway.\u00a0 But, he knew that Joe would just go down to the floor again and retrieve the extra shells if he didn\u2019t hand them to him.<\/p>\n \u201cHere,\u201d Pa said quickly as he handed Joe the extra cartridges.<\/p>\n Joe reloaded fast and then aimed again and took another man off of his horse with his bullet.\u00a0 He heard his father sending off several rounds and then one of the drivers shouted that he had gotten one of the bandits with his shotgun.<\/p>\n \u201cLooks like we\u2019re making headway, Pa, I count five of their men down so far!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s that left hand shooting that\u2019s doing the most damage,\u201d Ben sang out and reloaded his weapon and then resumed shooting at the bandits on his side of the stage.<\/p>\n Joe heard another bullet as it came whizzing through the stage.\u00a0 \u201cDuck Pa!\u201d He shouted.<\/p>\n Ben had just enough time to drop down to his knees as the bullet went in one side of the stage and out the other.\u00a0 \u201cThat was a bit close,\u201d He called over to his son.<\/p>\n \u201cI only see two on this side, Pa \u2013 how many you got there?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTwo,\u201d Ben sang out and took aim.\u00a0 \u201cCorrection, make that one, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n In spite of the fact that his gut was absolutely on fire at the time, Joe had to grin over what his father had just said.\u00a0 \u201cGood shooting, Pa!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe took aim again and he caught one of the bandits in the shoulder making him fall off of his horse.\u00a0 \u201cNow there\u2019s one left on this side.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne on this one too, Joe \u2013 but he\u2019s falling back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think they know they\u2019ve had it now, Pa,\u201d Joe announced and eased back down onto the bed.<\/p>\n Thomas called down to Ben from the luggage rack on top of the stage, \u201cYou men aright in there?\u00a0 Anyone hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re alright \u2013 how about you and Jed?\u201d Ben sang out through the window.<\/p>\n \u201cHad a couple near misses but we\u2019re both okay.\u00a0 That was mighty good shooting, Ben!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t just me it was also my boy, Thomas.\u00a0 He handled that other window just fine!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKid\u2019s got guts, I\u2019ll give him that.\u00a0 We\u2019re going to be okay now \u2013 you two rest up,\u201d Thomas said and made his way back onto the driver\u2019s bench.<\/p>\n Pa settled his gun back into his holster and made his way over to his son.\u00a0 He could see that Joe was pretty much spent over all of the exertion he had been put through during the siege.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph \u2013 ease back \u2013everything is okay now,\u201d Pa said and helped to settle his son down onto the bed.<\/p>\n Joe grimaced as he drew in a deep breath before speaking.\u00a0 \u201cHey, Pa \u2013 remember when I said that I didn\u2019t have an adventurous life?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh yes \u2013 when we were talking about my seafaring days, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded and tried his best to bring up a smile, though his injury was killing him at the time, \u201cWell, I take it back \u2013 I\u2019ve had my share of moments where I\u2019ve had more adventure than I wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben patted Joe\u2019s shoulder and laughed.\u00a0 \u201cYou sure have!\u00a0 And you have lots more ahead of you too!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stopped before he said the words he was going to \u201cI hope so\u201d<\/em><\/strong>, and instead just nodded up at his father.\u00a0 \u201cI think I\u2019ll take that pain medicine now that the excitement is over with.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood decision,\u201d Pa quipped and turned to ready the injection.<\/p>\n Ben was worried.\u00a0 In fact he was more worried than he had been for the whole four plus days since learning that his son was hurt.\u00a0 He had given Joe the injection right after their run-in with the bandits and the boy hadn\u2019t made a sound or even moved on the bed for hours.\u00a0 On top of that Joe\u2019s fever had mounted and there wasn\u2019t much that his father could do to bring it down.\u00a0 Pa went back to what he had attempted to do all throughout the trip using wet towels for Joe\u2019s forehead along with the alcohol rubs but neither had worked.\u00a0 He had tried to bring his son back around in order to get him to take in some water but it had proven to be a fruitless act.\u00a0 Joseph hadn\u2019t responded to his name being called nor did the slight taps to his cheeks produce any results.\u00a0 Checking his son\u2019s pulse had caused Ben even greater concern as it was almost imperceptible.\u00a0 He just couldn\u2019t lose the boy now, not after so many hours and so many miles spent rushing to get him to the hospital.<\/p>\n Ben moved over to the door and decided to go back through its window in order to talk to the two drivers.<\/p>\n \u201cHow much further till the next stop?\u201d He called over the loud sound of the pounding of the horse\u2019s hooves.<\/p>\n Thomas was now holding the reins and Jed turned to cast a glance over his shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cAbout four or five miles, Ben, how\u2019s your boy doing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot good \u2013 not good at all I\u2019m afraid.\u00a0 He hasn\u2019t made a sound since we all took care of those bandits.\u00a0 I\u2019m worried that all of that shooting he did taxed his already weakened body.\u201d<\/p>\n In response, Thomas yelled at the team of horses and slapped the reins trying to pick up the pace.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll try to get us there as fast as these horses can go!\u201d Thomas shouted back towards his passenger.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d appreciate it,\u201d Ben replied and then moved back inside of the stage.<\/p>\n Soaking another towel with more water from his canteen, Ben placed it onto his son\u2019s forehead.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph \u2013 Joseph \u2013 hang on boy \u2013 it won\u2019t be much longer,\u201d He called down to him.\u00a0 There was no response.\u00a0 Gently easing down the blanket which was covering Joe\u2019s wound his father took a look at the incision and the two drains.\u00a0 He wondered if he should attempt to reposition the drains in an effort to get them to draw the infection out.\u00a0 Ben felt so helpless and he second guessed everything he had done thus far.<\/p>\n *** Please Dear Lord — please help me \u2013 help me to do whatever I need to do in order to keep my son alive ***<\/em><\/strong> Ben prayed as he bit his bottom lip and shook his head at the sight of Joe\u2019s wound and the redness which was very apparent around it.\u00a0 He could see the pink lines of infection that were spreading out like a spider web all over the boy\u2019s abdomen.<\/p>\n Without warning Joe\u2019s mouth opened and he made a sudden gasp and his chest came up a few inches.\u00a0 For an instant Pa was absolutely sure that he had just witnessed his son\u2019s last breath and he felt as though his own heart had stopped upon hearing the sound.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph \u2013 stay with me!\u201d Ben pleaded with his son and grabbed the boy\u2019s arm holding it tightly.\u00a0 There wasn\u2019t a response and Joe\u2019s face suddenly appeared to go as white as a ghost.\u00a0 Unable to hear his son breathing, Pa shakily placed the middle and index finger of his right hand directly over Joe\u2019s jugular vein to the left side of his neck.\u00a0 Ben didn\u2019t feel a pulse and panic surged throughout his mind seizing control of his thoughts.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph — Joseph \u2013 breathe boy!\u00a0 Do you hear me?\u00a0 Breathe!\u201d Pa shouted and placed his left ear down onto his son\u2019s chest to try and detect a heartbeat that way.\u00a0 He heard nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d Ben shouted and took the wet towel which had been laid on top of Joe\u2019s forehead and soaked it in water from the canteen, spilling the water all over the floor by his hurried opening of it.\u00a0 He placed the drenched towel onto Joe\u2019s face hoping that it might do something \u2013 anything to bring his son back.\u00a0 Pa knew that he was running out of options and time, as he wasn\u2019t sure that he could get Joseph to breathe again.<\/p>\n Finally Joe took in a breath but it had a strange wheezing to it when Pa heard it.\u00a0 Pa continued to soak his son\u2019s face.\u00a0 It was an act done out of pure desperation and instinct and it was all that Ben could think to do at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, Joseph!\u00a0 Come on stay here \u2013 I need you \u2013 you can\u2019t leave me now!\u00a0 We\u2019ll be there real soon.\u00a0 Breathe, Joe!\u201d Ben again pleaded with the unconscious boy.<\/p>\n \u201cPah — Pah —,\u201d Joe\u2019s words came out almost inaudible.\u00a0 But they had come nonetheless and it quickened Pa\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n \u201cThank God \u2013 thank God!\u201d Ben cried and set his right palm against Joe\u2019s left cheek.\u00a0 \u201cSon, you\u2019re going to be alright\u2014do you hear me?\u00a0 All we have is just a couple of hours and we\u2019ll be in San Francisco and your uncle will be waiting on us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPah\u00a0 — Pah \u2013 beach — want to –,\u201d Joe began but was too weak to continue.<\/p>\n Ben bent down to retrieve the canteen and noticed that in his haste to try to soak the towel earlier that he hadn\u2019t capped it.\u00a0 He turned and reached for another canteen over on the bench seat and opened it.\u00a0 Pa poured the water into a cup and brought it up to his son\u2019s lips.\u00a0 \u201cDrink some of this, Joe, we\u2019ve got to try and get that fever down.<\/p>\n Joe managed to take in a little of the water before he let his head drop down onto the pillow.\u00a0 \u201cBeach — Pa \u2013 beach,\u201d He attempted to get his message out again.<\/p>\n Pa closed the canteen and tossed it back onto the seat and then turned back to his son and asked, \u201cBeach?\u00a0 Is that what you said?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBeach — -beach Pa \u2013 not hospital.\u00a0 Want to \u2013 want to go there \u2013 watch sun go down \u2013 there with you.\u00a0 We \u2013 we will watch the ships.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben was unsure if his son was delirious or if he was fully aware of where he was. The boy was insisting on not going to the hospital and instead Joe wanted to sit on the beach and watch the sunset one final time.\u00a0 \u201cWell, hold on there, Young Man, we\u2019ve got to get you patched up before we can do that.\u00a0 But, if you\u2019ll get yourself well then I promise you that I\u2019ll get you to the beach and then the two of us will watch those ships and the sun going down together.\u00a0 You\u2019ve got to get your sea legs first.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPah— Pah \u2013 hurting \u2013 hurting pretty bad,\u201d Joe admitted as his expression turned into a grimace.<\/p>\n \u201cI know, Joseph.\u00a0 Let me see how much longer we have until your next injection,\u201d Ben returned and pulled his pocket watch out of his vest.\u00a0 \u201cJoe \u2013 guess we should have known \u2013 guess when your next one is due?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe tried his best to focus in on his father\u2019s face and replied, \u201cI \u2013 I\u2019d say now, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot quite \u2013 it\u2019s due in fifteen minutes \u2013 or nine hundred seconds to you, Joseph,\u201d Pa smiled and patted his son\u2019s arm.\u00a0 \u201cWe ought to be at the last way station in just a few minutes so your pa won\u2019t have to give you that shot while this stage is rocking back and forth.\u00a0 And after this injection the very next one you\u2019ll get will be done by a real doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe squeezed his eyes shut and fought back the intensity of the pain he felt shooting up from his wound.\u00a0 \u201cAfter — after all of this, Pa, I\u2019ll — I\u2019ll fight anyone — anyone — who says that my father isn\u2019t \u2013 isn\u2019t a real doctor,\u201d Joe whispered, his words coming out broken and choppy due to the agony which racked his body.\u00a0 He was having a harder time now and felt waves of nausea caused by each and every movement of the stagecoach.<\/p>\n Ben sighed and shook his head in wonderment.\u00a0 In less than ten minute\u2019s time he had gone from thinking that his son was dead to hearing the boy trying to give him a compliment.\u00a0 Feeling just a tad bit more at ease, Pa ran his fingers through Joe\u2019s hair and replied, \u201cDon\u2019t go telling anyone I\u2019m a doctor \u2013 I told you that I\u2019m retiring just as soon as I get you to the hospital \u2013 which should be within a few hours.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBeach,\u201d Joe muttered and gave a slight nod to his head.<\/p>\n Pa laughed and said, \u201cBeach \u2013 yes \u2013 after you are well.\u00a0 Now settle down we\u2019ll be pulling up in just a second.\u00a0\u00a0 I can see the station now.\u00a0 Hang on we\u2019re getting ready to take a hard stop as they pull the team back.\u201d<\/p>\n Thomas pulled into the final way station of the trip and both he and Jed jumped down from their perch.\u00a0 The two men hurriedly ran over to the door and pulled it open to check on their passengers.<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s he doing, Ben?\u201d Jed asked.<\/p>\n Ben didn\u2019t want to say too much in front of his son, worried that if he had told the driver how he thought that Joe was close to death\u2019s door that he\u2019d give up.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s hanging in there \u2013 how much longer?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to do a quick change up and then push on into San Francisco.\u00a0 Gonna try to get you two there in under two hours if we can,\u201d Jed answered.<\/p>\n \u201cGood,\u201d Ben nodded over to the man, feeling very grateful that both drivers understood the urgency of getting Joe to the hospital as soon as humanly possible.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re bringing over the new team now, Ben.\u00a0 You want to come in and freshen up a bit?\u201d Thomas asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 I\u2019m going to give my son an injection.\u00a0 I\u2019m fine until we get into San Francisco.\u00a0 You two go on ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay \u2013 we\u2019ll be right back!\u201d Thomas exclaimed and the two men hurried inside the station in order to grab a quick cup of coffee before finishing the mission to save their injured passenger.<\/p>\n \u201cPa? Pa go ahead \u2013 get something to drink besides canteen water,\u201d Joe whispered, worried about his father.<\/p>\n Ben patted Joe\u2019s shoulder and then turned for the medical kit.\u00a0 \u201cThe next cup of coffee I have will be at the Saint Francis Hospital with your uncle.\u00a0 Now let\u2019s get you the last shot that your father will be handling,\u201d Pa insisted.<\/p>\n The team of horses was changed out with great haste and in less than twenty minutes the drivers were on board and the stagecoach was back on the road and racing towards the final destination in San Francisco.<\/p>\n \u201cWon\u2019t be long now, Son,\u201d Ben began and stared over at Joe.\u00a0 \u201cIs that shot helping any yet?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe wasn\u2019t sure what to say at the time.\u00a0 He felt so awful that the morphine had barely touched the pain he was experiencing.\u00a0 But he knew that his father was already worried so he decided to hold back from telling the truth.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m okay, Pa \u2013 I\u2019m trying my best to finish this race.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m proud of you \u2013 I know you\u2019ve been hurting this whole time and this particular race has been a tough one.\u00a0 We had problems with drains \u2013 broken leads and bandits but you\u2019ve hung in there, Joseph.\u00a0 Just a little while longer and you\u2019ll be getting all fixed up at the hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe couldn\u2019t help but to smile over at his father who was giving his usual pep talk to try and lift his spirits.\u00a0 \u201cBeach \u2013 beach, Pa \u2013 they can let me off there.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben chuckled as he reached over and set a new wet cloth down onto his son\u2019s forehead.\u00a0 \u201cHospital, Joseph \u2013 hospital and then we will eventually get you to your preferred destination.\u201d<\/p>\n Closing his eyes, Joe finally surrendered to his exhaustion and was soon fast asleep again.\u00a0 Pa felt for Joe\u2019s pulse, and though he found it to be a bit faint, he was just thankful that he could feel it, unlike earlier.\u00a0 *** Please get us there — Lord — please \u2013 it\u2019s been such a long trip \u2013 help us get to the hospital so they can save Joseph\u2019s life *** <\/em><\/strong>Ben prayed as he had so many times on the journey.<\/p>\n Ben watched anxiously for the sign of the Overland Stage Depot there in San Francisco.\u00a0 He knew the building very well after having traveled to that town on many occasions.\u00a0 Ben knew it would be about a three mile ride by whatever other form of transportation from there to the hospital but he hoped that he might find Harold Peele\u2019s manservant, Robert, waiting for the two of them.\u00a0 He heard the loud shouts of both Thomas and Jed as they made their way to the depot but never stopped.\u00a0 Ben wondered why they had shot past the building.\u00a0 It was only then that he began to get the inkling as to what was going on with the two drivers.<\/p>\n A few miles later, Pa gently shook his son\u2019s arm and called down to him.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph \u2013 Joseph \u2013 open your eyes \u2013 come on.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyelids fluttered a few times and then stayed open.\u00a0 \u201cW-w-what\u2019s going on \u2013 Pa \u2013 what\u2014what is it?\u201d He asked, confusion painting his face.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me help you sit up just a tad \u2013 you\u2019ve got to see this, Son,\u201d He replied and eased Joe up very carefully so that he could take a quick look out of the window.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, it looks like they\u2019re trying to pull this stage right up to the door for you!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe could see the front of the hospital coming into view and had also noticed a frenzied group of nurses hurrying into the building.<\/p>\n Thomas pulled back on the reins and shouted out to his passengers.\u00a0 \u201cHere\u2019s your stop \u2013 decided that you two didn\u2019t need to have to get another ride to get over here!\u201d<\/p>\n Jed jumped down from his perch and quickly moved to the stage door and yanked it open.\u00a0 \u201cBen, we\u2019re going to find that doctor friend of yours \u2013 you both sit still!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t thank you both enough,\u201d Ben replied, his eyes misting up from the assistance that the two men had given him throughout the trip.<\/p>\n \u201cBe right back!\u201d Jed exclaimed and headed for the entrance of the hospital.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you think about all this, Joseph?\u00a0 Awfully nice to get this type of help \u2013 isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes\u2014but — I was hoping \u2013 hoping to get let off at the beach,\u201d Joe nodded over to his father.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll get you there \u2013 once you\u2019re better.\u00a0 Look \u2013 there\u2019s Harold!\u201d Pa called down excitedly as the doctor came into view from the window above his son\u2019s bed.<\/p>\n Doctor Harold Peele had been pacing for hours there in the foyer of the hospital as he waited for the arrival of both Ben and Joe Cartwright.\u00a0 He had sent his manservant, Robert Weems to bring them immediately from the stage depot upon their arrival.\u00a0 So it came as a complete surprise to him when he had heard the shouts outside and watched as the stagecoach made an unexpected stop.\u00a0 It was unheard of to have any kind of traffic other than carriages or sometimes horseback riders there at the hospital.\u00a0 However, Harold knew of the dire circumstances which involved his nephew\u2019s condition and was thrilled to see his arrival.\u00a0 It would save precious minutes in order to hasten the young man getting into the surgical suite.<\/p>\n Harold ordered the stretcher and the four attendants who were now heading their way over to the stage as Ben Cartwright made his way out.<\/p>\n \u201cBen!\u201d Harold exclaimed and reached out to shake his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cHarold \u2013 so glad to see you,\u201d Ben smiled and shook the outstretched hand.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me see my nephew,\u201d Harold said moving just past Ben.\u00a0\u00a0 He reached up to grab the stagecoach door.\u00a0 Climbing quickly inside he was soon staring down at his nephew.<\/p>\n \u201cHi uncle,\u201d Joe said and tried his best to form a smile.\u00a0 He was almost done in from the trip but wanted the man to know how glad he was to have made it there.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph— I\u2019ve got a stretcher waiting for you.\u00a0 Let me just get a quick glance at that injury,\u201d He said and Joe moved aside the towel which was covering his wound.<\/p>\n Harold tried his best not to show the alarm on his face or in his eyes.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t hard to diagnose the severe infection just in one quick glance.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry I rarely get to see you when I\u2019m not in some kind of trouble\u201d Joe apologized as he watched his uncle\u2019s movements.<\/p>\n \u201cWell \u2013 we will get you all fixed up.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want you to try to move, let my orderlies handle this \u2013 that\u2019s their specialty, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded obediently as he watched his uncle move off of the stage.\u00a0 Soon there were two men in white coats next to him.\u00a0 They grabbed the make-shift bed up in their hands and maneuvered it sideways.\u00a0 Then slowly they brought it to the door of the stage.\u00a0 Both men eased it down into the hands of two other orderlies and they hurried to place Joe onto a stretcher. \u00a0Soon they were rushing him through the hospital doors.<\/p>\n Ben took a moment to shake the hands of both drivers.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI just don\u2019t have the words \u2013 the words to thank you both.\u201d<\/p>\n Jed and Thomas seemed a bit choked up after seeing their injured passenger being rushed inside the hospital.\u00a0 \u201cBen \u2013 it\u2019s been our pleasure— and we both want you to know we\u2019ll be praying for your boy,\u201d Jed replied and turned over the luggage to another orderly who had come back out in order to see to any other needs that the Cartwrights might have.\u00a0 The man grabbed up the luggage and headed back inside of the hospital.<\/p>\n \u201cHeck we\u2019ve been praying for the kid the last three days \u2013 figure we\u2019ll keep on until you let our boss know how he made out!\u201d\u00a0 Thomas exclaimed and shook Ben\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n \u201cI will do that just as soon as I know,\u201d Ben nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI hope this unplanned drop off here at the hospital doesn\u2019t get the two of you in any trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n Jed laughed as he and Thomas got ready to climb back on board.\u00a0 \u201cNaw —\u00a0 I expect we\u2019ll probably hear some choice words here in this town \u2013 but our boss will be happy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be sending two new whips for you,\u201d Ben called up to the men.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve got to head inside now \u2013 my deepest thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood luck,\u201d Both drivers called down to Ben and then sent their team forward.<\/p>\n Ben turned his attention to Harold as they both hurried inside the hospital.<\/p>\n \u201cYou look exhausted,\u201d Harold said to Ben.<\/p>\n To that remark Ben shook his head and glanced over at Harold and replied, \u201cHarold — I\u2019ve almost lost the boy three times on this trip \u2013 I\u2019ve been petrified we wouldn\u2019t get here in time to save him.\u201d<\/p>\n Harold draped his arm around Ben\u2019s shoulder to comfort him and returned, \u201cMy best surgeons are scrubbed up and waiting for the boy.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go and see him before they put him under.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben and Doctor Peele raced down one of the long corridors of the hospital making their way to the operating room in order to see Joe before he would be anesthetized.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen did he have his last injection, Ben?\u00a0 The surgeon will need to know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been roughly two hours,\u201d Ben said and paused to reach inside his vest.\u00a0 He retrieved his pocket watch and stared down at the time.\u00a0 \u201cTo be precise it\u2019s been two hours and fifteen minutes.\u201d\u00a0 He closed his eyes and could hear Joe trying to cypher how many seconds there were in fifteen minutes.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s fine—wait out here just a bit \u2013 I\u2019ll find out when you can see him before they start.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be right back,\u201d Harold replied and pointed for Ben to take a seat there just outside of the operating room.<\/p>\n Suddenly Ben felt spent.\u00a0 He had relied on pure adrenaline and fear to keep him awake and alert for days and now suddenly he was drained.\u00a0 Ben had also grown accustomed to Joseph always being there next to him where he could see the boy.\u00a0 But now his son had been abruptly removed from his presence.\u00a0 There were no longer the sounds coming from the team of horses and the shouts of the drivers who had raced around the clock trying to get to San Francisco in time to save Joe\u2019s life.\u00a0 It was far too quiet now and Ben felt so totally alone.\u00a0 He had turned Joseph over to men who he had never met before.\u00a0 Now he wouldn\u2019t be seeing to the boy\u2019s every need like he had done for three straight days.\u00a0 Ben decided that he\u2019d better do something or he wouldn\u2019t be able to handle the feeling that he had lost all control over the situation.\u00a0 Closing his eyes, he bowed his head and prayed.\u00a0 *** Thank you Lord for getting us here \u2013 please stay with my son— please help the surgeon as he attempts to save my son\u2019s life — amen ***<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Harold had witnessed the worried father praying and waited until he saw Ben\u2019s head lifting before saying anything.\u00a0 He figured the man needed to get his prayer sent off first.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can come in, Ben, but it won\u2019t be for long \u2013 they\u2019re about ready to put Joseph under now.\u201d<\/p>\n Pa jumped from his seat and nervously followed Harold into the operating room.\u00a0 He forced a confident smile onto his face as he neared the operating table where Joe was now lying.\u00a0 He reached for his son\u2019s hand and squeezed it, attempting to force strength in to the boy once again.<\/p>\n \u201cWell now, Joseph \u2013 looks like they\u2019re ready to fix you up,\u201d Ben smiled down at his son.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u00a0 Pa we made it, huh?\u201d Joe whispered, his eyes fighting to focus up at his father.<\/p>\n \u201cWe sure did.\u00a0 Now all we need to do is get you better,\u201d Ben announced and then saw a man wearing a surgical mask approaching the table.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m Doctor Vincent, Mister Cartwright.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to be tending to your son.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben noticed that the surgeon was wearing some kind of gloves so he didn\u2019t attempt to shake the man\u2019s hand at the time.\u00a0 \u201cJust take care of my son \u2013 he\u2019s my pride and joy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will \u2013 and I\u2019ve got another surgeon who will be helping me with the operation.\u00a0 We\u2019re ready to begin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Joseph \u2013 now they\u2019ll give you something so that you won\u2019t feel any pain.\u00a0 I\u2019ll see you in\u2014.\u201d\u00a0 Ben paused, as he suddenly felt choked up with fear over how his son would make it through surgery as he looked so weak.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll see you in fifteen minutes, Pa,\u201d Joe tried his best to smile up at his father to let him know that he was content to have gotten to the hospital and was leaving the outcome of the surgery to God now.<\/p>\n Pa bent forward and lightly kissed his son\u2019s brow and whispered, \u201cI love you \u2013 I\u2019ll see you as soon as they\u2019ve patched you up.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded and his voice, barely audible, responded, \u201cI love you too, Pa \u2013it\u2019s going to be okay.\u201d\u00a0 He then watched as the doctor settled an ether mask over his nose and mouth.\u00a0 The anesthesia was ready to be administered.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, Ben, Joseph is in the hands of our best surgeons,\u201d Harold announced and then led the anxious father back outside of the operating room.\u00a0 Pa cast one final glance at Joseph before the door was closed.\u00a0 Just as before, Ben had tried his best and now it was time to once again turn his son\u2019s fate over to God.<\/p>\n Harold Peele did his best to keep Ben calm during the long hours while Joe was being operated on.\u00a0 He attempted to get the man to rest but there was no way that Ben Cartwright was going to try and lie down, not while Joseph\u2019s life was on the line and he was in surgery.\u00a0 Harold handed Ben his third cup of coffee as the two men waited just outside of the operating room.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been in there such a long time,\u201d Ben addressed Harold.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph has an awful lot of infection going on in his body, Ben.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure both surgeons are trying their best,\u201d Harold explained.<\/p>\n \u201cYou saw his injury, Harold — what do you think of his chances?\u201d<\/p>\n Harold gave a tired smile and reached over and patted Ben\u2019s arm, trying to offer what reassurance that he could.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m too partial to answer that \u2013 you know how I feel about the boy. \u201c<\/p>\n \u201cBut \u2013 as a doctor — what do you think?\u201d Ben persisted.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a doctor I\u2019d say that Joe is in the best place possible to get help.\u00a0 He has the two top surgeons in this part of the country.\u00a0 They have a lot of experience.\u00a0 With that going for the boy \u2013 along with a lot of prayers \u2013 there\u2019s a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n Drawing out his pocket watch Ben stared down at it.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s been in there almost three hours now.\u201d<\/p>\n Before Harold could respond Doctor Vincent stepped out of surgery and approached both men.<\/p>\n \u201cHow did it go, Mark?\u201d Harold asked as both he and Ben moved to stand next to the surgeon.<\/p>\n Doctor Vincent gave a tired sigh and then stared over at the boy\u2019s father and said, \u201cYour son is a pretty sick young man, Mister Cartwright.\u00a0 We were able to remove a great deal of the infection and placed new drains in to hopefully take care of what remains.\u00a0 After we opened up the wound we treated it with bromine \u2013 something that we\u2019ve recently had a lot of success with in the fight to rid infection.\u00a0 I am concerned due to how weak your son is, Mister Cartwright, but I\u2019d say he has a fighting chance \u2013 which he didn\u2019t have before now.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded and shook the surgeon\u2019s hand.\u00a0 \u201cThank you for everything you\u2019ve done for my son, Doctor.\u00a0 Can I see him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re monitoring him right now \u2013 and will be doing that for another hour or so.\u00a0 Harold, we\u2019ll let you know when he\u2019s ready to be moved into a room.\u00a0\u00a0 I best get back in there now, excuse me,\u201d The surgeon explained and turned to go back into the operating room.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Mark,\u201d Harold said and patted the man on the shoulder as he headed back inside.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you think now?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Joseph comes from good stock,\u201d Harold answered with a smile and continued to offer his friend hope.\u00a0 \u201cOnce Joe is in his room I\u2019ll check that incision \u2013 I\u2019ll know more then.\u00a0 But it sounds like those surgeons did their very best to save the boy.\u00a0 He made it through the surgery \u2013 and that was a major hurdle, Ben.\u00a0 You got him here as fast as you could and he got right in for surgery.\u00a0 Now it\u2019s up to Joe, and of course God.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben drew in a deep breath and stared toward the operating room.\u00a0 He just wanted to lay his eyes on his son again.\u00a0 If he could just see Joseph he knew he\u2019d feel a whole lot better.<\/p>\n Harold could tell what Ben was thinking.\u00a0 \u201cIt won\u2019t be long \u2013 they\u2019ll bring him out just as soon as he\u2019s stable.\u00a0 At least the surgery is over now.\u00a0 Let me get you some more coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSounds good, I guess I\u2019ll walk with you this time,\u201d Ben returned and the two men headed to the dispensary to get some badly needed coffee in order to stay awake.<\/p>\n Ben stared down at his youngest son lying in the hospital bed.\u00a0 He looked so weak and Joe\u2019s normally tanned face was pale and drawn.\u00a0\u00a0 The sight of it nearly took his father\u2019s breath away.\u00a0 Harold had checked Joe\u2019s incision and they both could tell that the surgery had been extensive.\u00a0 The original wound had been about four inches long but was now, due to the second attempt to rid Joe of the infection, almost seven inches in length.\u00a0 Ben noticed the three new drains that were in the wound.\u00a0 He was thankful that he wouldn\u2019t have to tend those, especially after what he had done on the stagecoach three nights before.<\/p>\n A nurse entered the room and checked on her patient.\u00a0 She had offered Ben a smile and a few reassuring words before she turned and walked back out into the corridor.\u00a0 Harold had come and gone several times during the first four hours since Joe was placed in the room.\u00a0 Always trying to sound upbeat, he had said that he thought Joe had done very well thus far.<\/p>\n The chair next to his son\u2019s bed wasn\u2019t as comfortable as the one where he usually sat there in Joseph\u2019s bedroom back at the ranch.\u00a0 Harold had offered him a couch in his office but Ben had refused.\u00a0 He knew where he was needed and that was alongside his son.\u00a0 Doctor Vincent had come into the room a little after midnight and checked on his patient.\u00a0 Ben had hovered there over the man\u2019s left shoulder as he inspected the wound and the drainage tubes.\u00a0 He had told the anxious father that \u201cso far so good\u201d and that the drains seemed to be helping.\u00a0 The doctor had reassured Ben that he\u2019d be back to check on Joe\u2019s progress first thing in the morning.\u00a0 He had left instructions with all of the nurses on duty and told Ben that all he could do for his son right now was to offer him some water if he awoke during the night.\u00a0 With all that said, Doctor Vincent had left and Ben resettled back down in the hard wooden chair.<\/p>\n A little past two a.m., right after Joe had received another injection for pain, Ben heard the faint sound coming from the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u201d Ben whispered when his son began to moan a bit.\u00a0 \u201cJoe, can you hear me?\u00a0 Open those eyes, Son.\u201d<\/p>\n Fighting to return to consciousness, Joe\u2019s eyelids fluttered a few times before he finally honed in on the man who sat just to the left side of his hospital bed.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u00a0 Pa \u2013 did I have the surgery?\u201d Joe asked, feeling a mite woozy and a bit disoriented.<\/p>\n Ben stood and placed the palm of his hand on his son\u2019s head and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cYes \u2013 yes and you did very well, Joseph.\u00a0 You\u2019ve got an extra drain in you and a bit bigger wound now \u2013 but you\u2019re going to be okay.\u00a0 Just settle back you need to lie still.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s left hand sought out his incision but his father stopped its progress.<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 you have to leave that alone for now.\u00a0 You\u2019ve got a lot of healing to do.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s face winced from the increased pain following the surgery.\u00a0 He stared up at his father.\u00a0 \u201cI told you I\u2019d rather be at the beach than to be here at the hospital being carved on, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head and laughed.\u00a0 \u201cWell \u2013 I don\u2019t blame you for that!\u00a0 The main thing is that we got you here in time and if you\u2019ll take it easy the doctors think that you\u2019re going to be fine \u2013 just fine, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was some race, huh, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n Pa nodded thinking back on the last three days in the stage as they had raced to get to the hospital.\u00a0 \u201cThat it was, Joe!\u00a0 But, you finished it \u2013 and that\u2019s what counts.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe took his father\u2019s hand and corrected, \u201cNo, Pa \u2013 WE<\/strong> finished it!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201dYou\u2019re right, Son,\u201d Ben smiled and ran his fingers through his son\u2019s curly hair.\u00a0 \u201cWe finished it.\u00a0 Now you need to get some rest so close those eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Pa,\u201d Joe whispered.\u00a0 \u201cI really thought I wasn\u2019t going to make it this time.\u00a0 I was so afraid of dying on you \u2013 so worried that I wouldn\u2019t finish the race.\u00a0 If it hadn\u2019t been for you I\u2019d never have made it here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI might have helped a bit \u2013 but it was your own willpower and a whole lot of help from God that pulled you through this time,\u201d Pa insisted.<\/p>\n Joe nodded and replied, \u201cI guess heaven wasn\u2019t ready for me \u2013 or hell didn\u2019t want me yet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo to sleep,\u201d Pa returned grinning.\u00a0 He could tell that his son had to be feeling at least a little better by his use of humor.<\/p>\n Settling back against the pillows Joe closed his eyes and fell off into a deep sleep.\u00a0 His father watched and shook his head in wonderment.\u00a0 There had been so many days spent worried over whether his son would live long enough to get to the hospital and the dreaded fear over the infection which had ravaged his boy\u2019s body.\u00a0 There were also many times that Ben was sure he would lose his youngest that he couldn\u2019t count them all, nor did he want to.\u00a0 He had cleaned and replaced drains, given numerous injections and fought to keep his son from falling into despair.\u00a0 Now, staring down at Joseph all he could do was to shake his head and smile at him.\u00a0 \u00a0He should have known the kid was going to pull through no matter that the odds had been against him surviving the long trip.\u00a0\u00a0 It was, of course, Joseph after all!<\/p>\n Epilogue<\/p>\n Joe Cartwright\u2019s recovery was a lot longer than anyone had expected and he had spent weeks inside of his hospital room.\u00a0 Doctor Vincent had warned both Joe and his father that it would be a slow go of it due to how badly the infection had ravaged the boy\u2019s body.\u00a0 The doctors and nurses provided all of the badly needed medical care while both his father and Harold Peele provided all of the reassurance and tender loving care that Joe needed during the very long recuperative period.<\/p>\n Ben had wired everyone who had assisted him in getting his son to the hospital, including Jim Griffin with the Overland Stage Company, to thank them and tell them all of his son\u2019s progress.\u00a0 He had even taken a little shopping trip one afternoon, once he knew Joe was in the capable hands of his uncle, and bought two new coach whips to send to both Jed and Thomas, the two drivers who had gotten them delivered right to the front door of the hospital, now four weeks prior.<\/p>\n Ben had heard back from Hoss, and his middle son sent his love to his little brother in the wire and had assured Pa that all was well back at the Ponderosa.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s wire had come right after Hoss\u2019 and he also had wished his youngest brother a speedy recovery and informed his father that he\u2019d be coming back home very soon.\u00a0 Doctor Paul Martin had wired, of course, and had teased Ben telling him that he was cutting in on his business by performing all of the patient care on the long stagecoach trip.\u00a0 Paul had passed along his well wishes and told Ben to reprimand Joe good for him for not having taken care of his wound in the first place.\u00a0 Pa had handed each wire to Joe and the boy had gotten a good laugh at what Doc Martin had written.<\/p>\n Doctor Harold Peele had been the one, who several years prior, had assisted Joe Cartwright out of his morphine habit and addiction.\u00a0 Now it was a matter of going through somewhat the same process as the young man healed from his injury.\u00a0 By the time Joe\u2019s wound was healed well enough that the drains had been removed, Harold had begun the gradual decrease in the administering of the morphine which had been used to control his pain.\u00a0 Joe was well aware of the side effects which would happen with the withdrawal, but he was able to handle it all once again.\u00a0 He was thankful that he had his father there by his side to help in all of that this go-round.\u00a0 Pa knew and Pa understood and that would make all of the difference.<\/p>\n Six weeks to the day that Joe had been brought to the hospital he was finally released to the care of Doctor Harold Peele.\u00a0 Both Harold and Ben had assisted Joe into the carriage which took the three men, along with his manservant Robert, back to the doctor\u2019s house there in San Francisco.\u00a0 Harold and Ben slowly and with great care brought Joe inside and settled him onto a couch in the main living room.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve gotten those drains and the sutures out, Joseph, but remember what we\u2019ve all cautioned you regarding that wound,\u201d Harold said as he placed a blanket over his nephew.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m being good \u2013 right Pa?\u201d Joe smiled over at his father, who still looked worried.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019ll be the day!\u201d Ben quipped and sat down in a chair opposite his son.<\/p>\n \u201cHey I\u2019ve been a good patient for months!\u201d Joe argued and watched his father rolling his eyes at him.<\/p>\n \u201cIt hasn\u2019t been months it\u2019s been six weeks and you didn\u2019t have much of a choice this time, Joseph!\u00a0 \u00a0You had drains poking out of you.\u00a0 But \u2013 ever since Harold told you that you\u2019d get to go home tomorrow I\u2019ve had a time keeping you down,\u201d Ben returned.\u00a0 He looked over as Harold handed him a glass of brandy for his nerves.<\/p>\n \u201cWell — I guess I am kinda anxious to get on home,\u201d Joe nodded.\u00a0 \u201cHey \u2013 you got any of that for me Uncle Harold?\u201d Joe referred to the brandy.<\/p>\n Harold laughed as he poured his own drink and settled down next to Ben.\u00a0 \u201cYou are cut off from any liquor \u2013 you remember what your surgeon said, Joseph.\u00a0 If you\u2019ll just take things slow you shouldn\u2019t need any more pain killer either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d Joe nodded and grinned over at his father and uncle.\u00a0 \u201cI know I\u2019ve put you both through a lot, I won\u2019t protest for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen, let\u2019s go check on dinner and your son needs to close his eyes for a bit,\u201d Harold announced as he set his emptied glass on the table.<\/p>\n Ben stood next to the doctor and cast a wary look down at his son.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not saying a word, I told you I\u2019m not going to cause any more problems,\u201d Joe remarked after seeing the way his father was staring at him.<\/p>\n \u201cGood, now close those eyes and we\u2019ll wake you when dinner is ready,\u201d Pa smiled as he watched Joe lay his head back on the arm of the sofa.\u00a0 He could tell that his son\u2019s compliance was no doubt due to the fact that he was feeling very well spent at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go have a talk about your trip, Ben,\u201d Harold whispered when he noticed Joe had fallen right off to sleep.<\/p>\n \u201cYes \u2013 the trip home \u2013 and then we can figure out our plans for tonight\u2019s events,\u201d Ben replied and walked into the next room along with the doctor.<\/p>\n Joe was extremely happy that his uncle had apparently talked his father into allowing him to go on a carriage ride with him that evening just before dusk.\u00a0 He figured that Harold wanted to have a little time alone with him before he\u2019d be saying goodbye to him the next day.\u00a0 The two Cartwrights would be heading back to Virginia City on the noon stage and they were unsure when they\u2019d next get to see the man who they had come to know as both a friend and a relative over the years.\u00a0 Joe figured that his father was busy making last minute plans for the trip back home and packing which was the reason he hadn\u2019t objected to being left behind there at Harold\u2019s house right after they had eaten an early dinner.<\/p>\n \u201cRight about here, Robert,\u201d Harold called to his manservant who had driven the carriage.\u00a0 Robert pulled over on a small road overlooking the ocean.\u00a0 He tied the reins down to the carriage\u2019s foot board and waited for instructions.<\/p>\n \u201cPa must\u2019ve said something to you about me wanting to get let off at the ocean instead of there at your hospital, huh?\u201d Joe grinned over at his uncle when he noticed where they had stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cOh?\u00a0 Did you want to come here, Joseph?\u201d Harold asked, feigning ignorance over his nephew\u2019s earlier request.<\/p>\n Joe laughed and replied, \u201cUncle Harold, you don\u2019t have a good poker face.\u00a0 Okay what did Pa say?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI said that you wanted to sit on the beach and watch the sunset,\u201d Came the voice from the man who had approached the carriage.<\/p>\n Joe turned to see his father standing there alongside of them.\u00a0 \u201cPa?\u00a0 How did you get here?\u201d He asked surprised by the sudden appearance.<\/p>\n \u201cI have my ways,\u201d Ben replied cryptically and reached his hand into the carriage.\u00a0 \u201cCome down from there carefully, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked at Harold and heard him laugh at the surprised expression that his nephew wore.<\/p>\n \u201cYour father said that you deserved to watch the sunset after all that you\u2019ve gone through.\u00a0 Robert and I\u2019ll be back in about two hours.\u00a0 That should give you both enough time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you want to come with us?\u201d Joe asked, as he didn\u2019t want his uncle to feel left out.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got to stop by the hospital, Joseph.\u00a0 It\u2019s fine.\u00a0 You and your father go and enjoy yourselves.\u00a0 We\u2019ll do it on your next visit.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded over to Harold as he carefully stepped down out of the carriage.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll be back around eight, Ben,\u201d Harold smiled over at both of the men and called for Robert to continue over to the hospital.<\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u00a0 Are you ready, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been ready for about six weeks, Pa!\u00a0 Let\u2019s go!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSlowly,\u201d Pa returned sternly.<\/p>\n \u201cSlowly,\u201d Joe nodded obediently and made his way down to the seashore.<\/p>\n Ben spread out a blanket which Harold had given him before he had Robert drop him off earlier.\u00a0 He helped ease his son down into a sitting position being careful of his injury which was still healing.<\/p>\n Both father and son sat there on the beach and watched the brilliant sunset.\u00a0 They could hear the calls of seagulls and the sounds of the waves as they crashed onto the shore.<\/p>\n \u201cI told you this would be better than getting carved on, Pa,\u201d Joe smiled over at his father.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, you told me, Joseph \u2013 only a couple hundred times,\u201d Ben nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s peaceful isn\u2019t it — after all that we went through?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes \u2013 and much better than being in a hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll get to see some stars before Harold comes for us too, huh, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, we\u2019ll see stars,\u201d Pa nodded, amused to hear the excitement in his son\u2019s voice.\u00a0 He felt like Joe deserved to enjoy himself a bit after having endured so much due to his injury.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you\u2019ve got to tell me more stories of your seafaring days too, Pa.\u00a0 Remember?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Joseph, I remember.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow about telling me all about that time when your ship was taken over by pirates?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head and placed his arm over Joe\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cNow we went through that already.\u00a0 That was one of your tall tales, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s laughter filled the air and he replied, \u201cI know \u2013 I was just kidding.\u00a0 Now how about more stories about some of the boats you commanded?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShips,\u201d Ben corrected with a sigh.<\/p>\n \u201cI know \u2013 I know, Pa,\u201d Joe grinned.\u00a0 \u201cSo tell me some stories about the ships you commanded.<\/p>\n “Look there!” Ben pointed out towards the sunset.\u00a0 “That’s a two masted schooner.\u00a0 Can you see it right there on the line where the sea meets the sky?”<\/p>\n Joe’s eyes followed his father’s finger and he saw the ship that was just about to disappear from sight.\u00a0 “Yeah, Pa, I see it.\u00a0 How can you tell what kind of ship it is from this far away?”<\/p>\n Ben grinned and stared over at his son.\u00a0 “I’m a captain, remember?” He laughed.<\/p>\n “Oh –yeah, I guess that was a stupid question.\u00a0 Hey there’s a sailboat not far behind that schooner!” Joe pointed.<\/p>\n Ben squinted and replied, “Good eyes, Joseph, I almost missed that one.”<\/p>\n “Okay — now the stories, Pa,” Joe insisted, smiling as he eased back onto the blanket.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, there was this one time I was put in command of a three-masted clipper out of Portsmouth,\u201d Ben began to tell the story of one of his many adventures.\u00a0 Joe listened in rapt attention and amusement as his father told several tales about his career as a clipper captain.\u00a0 He could hear the wistfulness in his Pa\u2019s voice and it made him happy that his father had the chance to relive his experiences sitting there next to him.<\/p>\n Joe and Ben sat there on the beach as the sun went down and the stars came up.\u00a0 Pa pointed out different constellations to Joe and explained how he had navigated using them during his days at sea.\u00a0 The young man did more listening and less talking, enjoying the one on one time there with his Pa.\u00a0 During their rushed trip into San Francisco Joe hadn\u2019t thought he\u2019d ever get another chance to hear his father\u2019s tales nor spend time with him.\u00a0 It had caused him to realize how precious time was and Joe wanted to savor each and every minute of it now with his Pa sitting there next to him.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u201d Ben asked for the second time, not having gotten any response from the boy.<\/p>\n \u201cOh \u2013 sorry, Pa \u2013 what were you saying?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was asking you if you were doing okay sitting there like that.\u00a0 You know \u2013 that wound of yours — is it holding up okay?\u00a0 Do you want to get up and move around a bit?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 no, Pa \u2013 I\u2019m fine.\u201d Joe nodded, quite contented at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve been pretty quiet \u2013 I guess I\u2019ve been doing most of the talking.\u00a0 You shouldn\u2019t have gotten me started on my stories about being a clipper captain!\u00a0 Harold will be here in just a bit, and I guess you\u2019re tired of hearing about my seafaring days by now, huh?\u201d Ben asked as he patted his son\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cI like your stories.\u00a0 How about just one more, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know \u2013 I know exactly which one,\u201d Ben nodded and smiled over at his son.<\/p>\n Joe leaned against his father\u2019s shoulder and waited to hear the last story of the evening and the final one he\u2019d be hearing there at the ocean for a long while.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright, Joseph, I was in command of a three-masted clipper out of Boston and we were headed down to Bermuda when we were boarded by pirates,\u201d he began.<\/p>\n Joe laughed, \u201cI knew it really happened \u2013 go on, Pa!\u201d<\/p>\n Amused, Ben shook his head and then went on to fabricate a story about pirates to appease his youngest.\u00a0\u00a0 He figured Joe had earned it by surviving yet another life and death situation.<\/p>\n \u201cThe end,\u201d Ben finally finished his story about the pirates which had never really boarded any of the ships he had sailed.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Pa,\u201d Joe whispered gratefully.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about that time, Harold should be here soon, let me help you up,\u201d Ben insisted as he reached for Joe\u2019s elbow and pulled him to standing.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been an interesting trip to San Francisco, huh Pa?\u201d Joe said as he helped him shake out the blanket and then watched as Pa folded it.<\/p>\n \u201cInteresting would be an understatement,\u201d Pa nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cWell I\u2019ve learned a lot,\u201d Joe commented as they slowly walked up toward where their ride would soon meet them.<\/p>\n \u201cOh \u2013 what have you learned, Son?\u00a0 Other than you shouldn\u2019t ever neglect a cut of course.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI learned that you can fib pretty good when you want to, Pa,\u201d Joe laughed.\u00a0 \u201cFirst, with your little performance in the stage when you insisted you\u2019d lost all of your strength and tonight with your pirate story!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cComing from you I\u2019ll take that as a compliment,\u201d Ben chuckled..<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 but seriously I learned that you can fight the good fight and all, but without people to help you \u2013 like those drivers who got us here \u2013and of course my Pa \u2013 I would never have finished the race.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t forget keeping the faith, Joseph,\u201d Ben paused and stared directly at his son.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir \u2013 that\u2019s what got us here, I know,\u201d Joe nodded.<\/p>\n Ben draped his arm across his son\u2019s shoulder and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cYou learned a great deal this trip, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I learned a lot, Pa, including the fact that next year I should go to Arizona while Hoss stays home and handles the fencing wire!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben laughed and ruffled his son\u2019s hair.\u00a0 \u201cGood plan,\u201d He nodded and the two of them headed towards Harold\u2019s carriage.<\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n Written by: Wrangler 7-5-2025<\/p>\n *** This story was originally set to post on July 1, 2025, to honor Michael Landon’s courage during his brave battle with pancreatic cancer, but I delayed it in order to post the comedy “Morpheus” since he wanted to be remembered with laughter. ***<\/p>\n (Dedicated to Rob the story consultant, an expert on bandits, and Krishna Michael, my grandson, the expert on ships and pirates. And Rosalyn for her input & Carm for her love of “Uncle Dr. Harold.)<\/p>\n “Whatever It Takes” contains the original storyline about Joe’s morphine addiction.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Summary: When Ben is told that Little Joe is dying, they board a stagecoach and begin the race against time to save his life.\u00a0
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\nRating T, WC 36,200\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":140,"featured_media":57393,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[1015,23,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-joe-pa","category-drama","category-hurtcomfort","wpcat-1015-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-41-id"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot_20250613_223722_YouTube.jpg?fit=774%2C720&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/140"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=57169"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57169\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/57393"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=57169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=57169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=57169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}