Summary: Two opposites collide, a serial killer targeting young men and 17 year old Little Joe whose cavalier attitude puts him in harm’s way.
\nRating: T
\nWord Count: 31,000<\/p>\n
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Harm\u2019s Way<\/strong><\/p>\n “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.” (Proverbs 4:1)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben Cartwright slapped the newspaper down onto the sheriff\u2019s desk angrily. The news was grim, just as it had been for weeks.\u00a0 Settling into the chair next to Roy Coffee\u2019s desk Ben sighed worriedly.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s three murders in three weeks now.\u00a0 Something\u2019s got to be done about it!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know, Ben, I\u2019m doing all I can do right now,\u201d Roy replied defensively.<\/p>\n Ben put his hand on top of his old friend\u2019s arm and forced a smile of reassurance.\u00a0 \u201cOf course you are, Roy!\u00a0 Nobody\u2019s saying anything different.\u00a0 Besides it\u2019s not just on you–the sheriff in Carson City is just as stumped over these crimes as you are.\u00a0 This makes three young men dead, one in Carson, one in Genoa, and one here in Virginia City.\u00a0 No clues and nobody has seen anything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt just don\u2019t make no sense!\u201d\u00a0 Roy called out angrily as he stood from his chair. \u201cWhy in tarnation would someone go around killing these boys?\u00a0 No sign of robbery\u2014nothing.\u00a0 And the way this killer goes about doing it–\u201d Roy stopped his statement as a flurry of gruesome pictures formed in his mind.\u00a0 He still remembered finding Josh Crane\u2019s body.\u00a0 The eighteen year old bank teller had his throat sliced and other signs of frenzied mutilation done to his body when Roy had come upon him behind the blacksmith\u2019s shop.\u00a0 \u201cNever in my forty years as a lawman have I come across this type of bloody maniac.\u00a0 The folks in this town, and even over in Carson and Genoa are scared out of their wits.\u00a0 Lately the town looks deserted at night–other than the party goers over in the saloons.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan\u2019t blame them all, Roy,\u201d Ben said and also stood as his son Hoss came through the door and approached the two men.\u00a0 \u201cYou get the supplies loaded already, Son?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, all set, Pa. How you doing, Roy?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss smiled and shook the man\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve Been better—you all heading out?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, we got to get back, Hop Sing is waiting on some of these supplies to fix dinner so don\u2019t want to waste any time,\u201d Hoss grinned thinking about the feast the cook had promised him that night in return for some ingredients from the mercantile.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019s Little Joe and Adam?\u201d\u00a0 Roy asked as he walked the two men to the door.<\/p>\n Ben tucked the newspaper back under his arm and replied, \u201cThey are up at the flume but I expect them to be home by the time we return.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re keeping an eye on Little Joe I take it–what with all that\u2019s happened?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, you know he is!\u00a0 Heck, Pa worries about the kid when there isn\u2019t something like this going on–you can just imagine now,\u201d Hoss answered and noticed his father\u2019s scowl shot his way.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing\u2019s funny about this, Hoss.\u00a0 We\u2019ve got three dead youngsters—all around the same age as your little brother.\u00a0 He\u2019s been warned already to hang around you and Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe got us a detective coming over from Carson tomorrow, Ben.\u00a0 How about coming back into town and meeting with me and him and a couple of other men over at the courthouse around noon?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be there.\u00a0 We\u2019ll get the killer, Roy–don\u2019t worry,\u201d Ben nodded and patted the sheriff\u2019s shoulder as he pulled the door open to leave.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n Joe Cartwright dismounted from his pinto and reached for the horse\u2019s front right hoof.\u00a0 Just as he had suspected, the shoe had been thrown off. ****Pa is gonna have my hide***<\/em><\/strong>Joe thought to himself and sighed.\u00a0 He had argued with his brother Adam some two hours earlier and won the right to head back to the ranch house without a bodyguard.\u00a0 Joe had promised his oldest brother he would go straight home, but now it looked like it would be one hell of a walk.\u00a0 He did not want to chance making his beloved horse Cochise lame by trying to ride her any farther.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, Chise, we got some walking to do,\u201d Joe muttered and pulled the reins out in front of the horse and started his trek back towards the ranch house.\u00a0 He knew Adam would be taking a different path home so he couldn\u2019t count on any help coming anytime soon.\u00a0 Joe wished now he hadn\u2019t disobeyed Adam\u2019s strict instructions.\u00a0 Instead of the most traveled road back from the flume to the house, Joe had veered a long way from the normal route.\u00a0 He lately had felt stifled by the forced companionship of his two brothers and decided to take the long way home to enjoy a little freedom.\u00a0 Now as he walked down the dirt road he cursed his stupidity and knew he was in for big trouble when he did make it home.\u00a0 Not only had he not obeyed his father\u2019s strict orders to stay with his brothers at all times, but he also had forgotten to get his horse re-shod which was another thing Ben had told him to do days ago.<\/p>\n It had been almost two miles of leading Cochise and toughing out the rocky trail before Joe spied a wagon coming his way in the distance.\u00a0 His heart leapt thinking he would find some badly needed help which might just get him home sooner and perhaps put him in less trouble with his father.\u00a0 He waved and the driver made his way over in front of the young man, pulling his team to a halt.\u00a0 Joe noticed the sign on the canvas wagon that said \u201c Samuel\u2019s Dry Goods\u201d and then smiled up at the stranger.<\/p>\n \u201cHi, you heading into Virginia City by any chance?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I am.\u00a0 Looks like you\u2019ve had some trouble, huh?\u201d\u00a0 The man nodded towards the pinto.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir–I have—threw a shoe.\u00a0 You mind if I ride with you?\u00a0 I was gonna try to walk all the way home, but getting into town would be better.\u00a0 I would be able to get that shoe fixed and make it home a whole lot faster that way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy name is Samuel Lincolns, and you would be?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSorry—forgot to introduce myself.\u00a0 My name\u2019s Joe–Joe Cartwright.\u00a0 Please to meet you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLikewise, I am sure.\u00a0 Come on tie your horse behind the wagon and hop up here.\u00a0 We will be in town soon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks–thanks a whole lot!\u201d\u00a0 Joe called over to the man and hurriedly tied Cochise\u2019s reins to the back of the wagon.<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n Adam Cartwright rode his horse into the front yard of the Ponderosa ranch house and dismounted.\u00a0 He was tired and was looking forward to a short nap on the settee before eating supper.\u00a0 Hoping to catch his youngest brother coming out of the barn and coercing him into stabling Sport, Adam pulled open the barn door.\u00a0 He stopped in his tracks when he noticed the empty stall.\u00a0 Turning back out of the barn, reins still in his hands, Adam heard the approach of horses and it was then that both his father and brother Hoss appeared.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, looks like we all fell in here at the same time, Adam!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss called down to the man and dismounted.<\/p>\n \u201cNot all of us I am afraid,\u201d Adam replied and noticed the statement made his father stop his dismount.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is he?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked angrily.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019ll be here soon, Pa–don\u2019t worry.\u00a0 Just took the long way back most likely,\u201d Adam explained.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he knows what\u2019s good for him he will,\u201d Ben said and finally dismounted and handed his reins to Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll put away the horses, Pa.\u00a0 You go and sit down and relax.\u00a0 Oh, and take these packages in for Hop Sing so he can finish dinner, okay?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss tried to lighten the mood.\u00a0 He could almost see the wheels turning in his father\u2019s mind and knew his only thought was his wayward youngest son at the moment.<\/p>\n Ben took the packages as Hoss removed them from the backs of the two mounts and turned and walked into the house.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss could see in the set of their father\u2019s shoulders that he was very worried and very mad.<\/p>\n \u201cThat kid better come home soon or Pa will be doing some tanning tonight,\u201d Adam said to Hoss as they led the horses into the barn.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes I just don\u2019t know how to figure that youngster out!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss exclaimed shaking his head.\u00a0 \u201cHe knows there\u2019s been three murders and he knows that they were all young men.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know Little Joe–the kid thinks he is indestructible!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, well he has proved that a time or two but his luck won\u2019t last forever,\u201d Hoss returned as he removed the saddle from Buck and tossed it onto the stall railing.<\/p>\n \u201cHis luck may not hold out for one more night if he makes Pa worry much longer,\u201d Adam quipped and helped his brother tend to the animals.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n The journey into Virginia City had been very pleasant, and far easier on Joe than the walk home would have been.\u00a0 Mr. Lincolns seemed like a nice man and Joe had been told all about his adventures peddling his wares from town to town.\u00a0 When they parted in front of the blacksmith\u2019s shop Joe had offered to pay the man but he refused the money.\u00a0 Telling Joe that he should pass the favor to someone else in the future, the man headed on down the road.<\/p>\n Joe was in luck to find the blacksmith over at the Silver Dollar Saloon and the man had agreed to do fast work of the horseshoe repairs in exchange for two bottles of whiskey.\u00a0 So, in less than an hour Joe was heading back towards the Ponderosa at a good clip trying to make it home before dark.<\/p>\n Dinner had been held up due to the absence of the youngest member of the family.\u00a0 They had held off as long as any of them could stand to but finally it was decided that it was time to head out to see what had happened to the errant young man.\u00a0 Hoss did not envy his little brother each time he looked across at their father and saw the mounting anger etched on his face.\u00a0 The three men stood by the entranceway and secured their gun belts readying for the search for Joe.\u00a0 Just as Adam had reached for the door it opened by itself and in walked Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cHey—sorry I\u2019m late but–\u201d Joe started but was cut off very quickly before he could continue with his explanation. Ben grabbed Joe by the arm and started right in on him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou get yourself upstairs this minute, Joseph!\u201d\u00a0 Ben yelled and turned his son around.<\/p>\n \u201cBut–\u201d Joe protested.<\/p>\n \u201cNow!\u201d Ben boomed and Joe stopped his protests.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss stood back and watched the scene unfold.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s temper mounted, but he knew better than to challenge his father after witnessing the look on the man\u2019s face.\u00a0 He headed towards the staircase fuming inside.<\/p>\n Ben unbuckled his holster and dropped it angrily on top of the credenza.\u00a0 Hoss followed his father as he headed towards the stairs.\u00a0 He worried about his little brother now and hoped he could intervene.\u00a0 \u201cPa–he\u2019s home, he\u2019s all right—why don\u2019t we sit down and eat and you can talk to him after you settle down a little?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss pleaded.<\/p>\n Ben never turned around to answer his middle son, he ascended the stairs to address his disobedient youngest.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll talk to Joseph now<\/strong>,\u201d Ben muttered harshly.<\/p>\n Joe had made it into his room and moved over to his bedroom window before his father entered the room.\u00a0 He knew he was in trouble, but he thought that Pa would at least let him explain before he started yelling at him.\u00a0 Joe was mad now, but not nearly as mad as his father was as he approached the window and reached for his son\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n \u201cYou just refuse to follow directions, Joseph, and that\u2019s going to stop right now!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know what you\u2019re so mad about!\u201d\u00a0 Joe fired back loudly and then wished he had lowered his voice and not screamed at his father.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t help it, once his temper was at its peak Joe couldn\u2019t control it.<\/p>\n Ben grabbed Joe\u2019s other arm and locked him there in front of him with both of his hands.\u00a0 \u201cYou had better watch that tone, you\u2019re in bad enough trouble at this moment.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy? What did I do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t play me for a fool, Joseph.\u00a0 Adam told me you promised to come right home.\u00a0 He\u2019s been home for hours.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah well his horse didn\u2019t throw a shoe and mine did!\u201d\u00a0 Joe snapped back and watched his father\u2019s face become even harsher in appearance.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are this close,\u201d Ben stopped and released one of his hands from Joe\u2019s arms and held up his fingers to signify an inch.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGo ahead, make it worse–keep on firing back at me!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey—you jumped ME<\/strong> remember?\u00a0 You wouldn\u2019t even let me explain before you sent me up to my room like a two year old.\u00a0 How do you think that made me feel in front of my brothers?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you think it made ME<\/strong> feel when you didn\u2019t arrive home on time?\u00a0 How do you think it made your brothers–and even Hop Sing feel for that matter?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI couldn\u2019t help it—I told you Cochise threw a shoe,\u201d Joe tried to get his point across but wasn\u2019t having much luck.<\/p>\n \u201cOh so she threw a shoe—just like I told you she would a week ago when I reminded you to get them fixed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay–you told me, I didn\u2019t do it, but it\u2019s still not my fault,\u201d Joe reasoned to deaf ears.<\/p>\n \u201cSo that\u2019s not your fault–you coming home late isn\u2019t your fault–nothing is YOUR <\/strong>fault right, Joseph?\u201d\u00a0 Ben replied full of sarcasm.<\/p>\n \u201cGo ahead and hit me if you want–I don\u2019t care!\u201d\u00a0 Joe yelled and moved over to his bed and dropped down on his stomach.\u00a0 \u201cYou don\u2019t want to listen to my explanations, you just want to yell.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben made the move over towards his son and sat down on the bed and forced him to roll over and face him.\u00a0 \u201cNo, it\u2019s not going to be that easy.\u00a0 And I will hit you whenever I decide to, but that\u2019s not the main issue at this particular moment.\u00a0 You said you walked home?\u00a0 All the way?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell–no—I started to walk home,\u201d Joe dropped his eyes down away from Ben\u2019s gaze.\u00a0 The more he thought on his upcoming explanation the more he realized that a whole lot of his problems he actually did bring on himself.\u00a0 But, he was still angry with his father anyway.\u00a0 \u201cI was kinda far from the ranch house when I started out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you tell Adam you would come right home?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes–but I took the long way home,\u201d Joe stopped again and saw Ben shaking his head upset over the facts that were starting to come forward.\u00a0 \u201cPa–I\u2019ve been watched over for weeks now and I just wanted a few minutes alone–is that a crime?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you told your brother you were coming right home then it\u2019s not a crime– however it is a lie.\u00a0 So, you have that one against you let\u2019s see how many more you can come up with.\u00a0 Now, I thought I heard someone riding up right before you walked inside—was that your horse?\u00a0 Did you ride Cochise with a missing shoe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Sir–you know I\u2019m not that stupid!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am beginning to wonder—go ahead–tell me the rest of it,\u201d Ben sighed he was starting to run out of steam.\u00a0 It was never easy to stay mad at Joseph, but he was trying his best.<\/p>\n \u201cI met up with a peddler—he drove me in his wagon into Virginia City and I had the shoe put on and hurried home,\u201d Joe replied and then saw what looked like stark terror in his father\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cYou did what?<\/strong>!\u201d\u00a0 Ben exploded and grabbed Joe up, pulling him from his somewhat reclining position.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong now?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked, surprised by the abruptness of his father\u2019s movements.\u00a0 Ben was holding his son\u2019s arm so tight that Joe was not sure what was going to happen next.<\/p>\n \u201cYou actually rode into town with a stranger?\u00a0 Are you crazy?\u00a0 You haven\u2019t listened to one thing I have said for weeks!\u00a0 There\u2019s someone running around killing boys, boys YOUR age!\u00a0 And you got in that wagon with a stranger!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSeemed okay to me,\u201d Joe argued and watched as Ben stood from the bed and looked down at him.<\/p>\n \u201cI am going downstairs now, Joseph,\u201d Ben whispered trying to fight back both his fear and anguish over what his son had revealed to him.\u00a0 He knew he was so close to unleashing his anger and frustrations on the boy that it scared him.\u00a0 Ben didn\u2019t want to take any drastic measures until he had thought them through.\u00a0 If he were to get his hands on his youngest son at that moment he was worried that he might do serious harm.\u00a0 \u201cIf I do what my gut tells me to do at this moment we are both going to be sorry–especially you!\u00a0 So, you sit up here and think about it, Joseph.\u00a0 Think about all the ways you have disobeyed me and all of the worry you have caused this family.\u00a0 Then I want you to say the same prayer I am going to say when I leave this room.\u00a0 You thank God that you weren\u2019t killed today!\u201d\u00a0 Ben pulled the door open and left the room, shutting it loudly as he walked into the hallway.<\/p>\n Joe rolled over onto his stomach and cussed under his breath, ***that was totally ridiculous–what\u2019s he so mad for? I came home!\u00a0 You\u2019d think I robbed a bank or something.\u00a0 Just because a couple of people got killed he wants to keep me under lock and key.\u00a0 Yeah like I am too stupid to stay away from trouble or something! ***<\/em><\/strong> Joe closed his eyes and pressed his face into the pillow.\u00a0 He knew he still had round number two with his father coming up later and tried to figure out what he would tell the man.\u00a0 He hoped Ben would calm down before returning to his room, but from past experiences with his father, Joe didn\u2019t really think that was going to happen.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss ate their dinner with little conversation exchanged between them both.\u00a0 They kept a watchful eye towards their father and waited for him to tell them what had gone on with his talk with their brother.\u00a0 Ben seemed to be in deep thought and totally ignored Hop Sing\u2019s offer for second helpings.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u00a0 You okay?\u201d\u00a0 Adam finally opened the subject for discussion.<\/p>\n \u201cNo I\u2019m not actually,\u201d Ben sighed and sipped on his coffee.\u00a0 He had hardly tasted the meal but had evidently polished off the food on his plate nonetheless.\u00a0 \u201cYour brother took the long way home, just like you suspected, Adam.\u00a0 Then his horse threw a shoe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI been after Joe to get those horseshoes fixed,\u201d Hoss commented shaking his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI told him to change them last week, but no, he didn\u2019t bother to follow those directions either,\u201d Ben grumbled.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, then what happened?\u201d\u00a0 Adam continued his questioning.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, here is the best part—this shows just how much Joseph has been listening to all of us!\u00a0 He caught a ride with a passing peddler who took him into town.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat!\u201d\u00a0 Adam and Hoss exclaimed and now knew why there had been loud voices earlier coming from their brother\u2019s room.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right—he rides into town with a perfect stranger.\u00a0 You know what he said when I blew up about it?\u201d\u00a0 Ben focused in on his sons and they shrugged their shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cHe said he thought the man looked okay<\/strong>!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope you smacked him good!\u201d\u00a0 Adam announced disgusted over what Joe had put them all through that day.<\/p>\n \u201cNo I didn\u2019t — at least not yet.\u00a0 I am going up there after I cool down.\u00a0 I am gonna give him one more chance to redeem himself.\u00a0 But, if he doesn\u2019t–\u201d Ben stopped himself.\u00a0 He was not at all sure of how he was really going to handle the young man who never learned anything the easy way.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, usually I would argue to Joe\u2019s defense,\u201d Hoss said and looked into his father\u2019s distraught eyes \u201cbut, this time the stakes are too high–he could have been killed, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust think—if that peddler happened to be the killer.\u00a0 I mean, that almost fits the profile, doesn\u2019t it?\u00a0 I mean he travels town to town–and the murders have jumped from town to town,\u201d Adam offered his feelings on the subject.<\/p>\n Ben shook his head sadly, just the thought of Joe taking such terrible risks made his chest tighten up.\u00a0 \u201cHe just better be ready to apologize when I go up there.\u00a0 I will remind him just what kind of a maniac this killer is.\u00a0 Three boys dead, and the way they died–\u201d Ben trailed off once more.\u00a0 The graphic details of the murders might just make the difference in his conversation later with his youngest son.\u00a0 He made a mental note to use them.\u00a0 \u201cI think I\u2019ll go out for some air–excuse me,\u201d Ben announced and stood from the table.<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam watched their father as he walked away and they both knew that he had a very heavy heart at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not fair that the kid put Pa through all this unnecessary worry,\u201d Adam fumed.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I\u2019ll try to get through to him tomorrow, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t think you are gonna have to—I am laying my odds on our father.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen that look on his face before.\u00a0 I think Joe is gonna be paying the price for this stunt soon enough.\u201d<\/p>\n ************************<\/p>\n Ben stood outside on the porch for a long time just mulling over the situation at hand.\u00a0 He argued the pros and cons of punishing Joe and just how he would do it.\u00a0 Joe was always the biggest challenge of his three sons and the one who never seemed to learn the error of his ways the first time they were addressed.\u00a0 The boy had just turned seventeen two weeks prior and he thought that he was all grown up and no longer had to follow any rules.\u00a0 Joseph didn\u2019t even seem to be bothered by the fact that there was a killer on the loose, one who was killing boys his exact age.\u00a0 Ben shook his head wearily.\u00a0 This particular time it was just as Hoss had earlier stated, the stakes were far too high to do nothing in response to Joe\u2019s disobedience.\u00a0 Ben drew in a breath and let it out slowly, trying to arrange his thoughts on what he would do next.\u00a0 Finally he walked solemnly back inside the house and headed once again to the staircase.\u00a0 He noticed both of his other sons looking over at him and Ben just shook his head and shrugged his shoulders in response to their questioning gaze.<\/p>\n Joe had also been thinking, or rather, calculating his next move.\u00a0 He may have lacked somewhat in common sense at the age of seventeen, but he knew from past history what his chances were with his father now.\u00a0 Part of him, his wiser self, wanted to simply apologize and hope that would be enough to get his father to ease up on him a little. But, unfortunately Joe\u2019s larger self was one that never turned from a fight, especially if he felt he was truly in the right.\u00a0 And Joe felt he was in the right this time and that his father had gone overboard with his anger earlier.<\/p>\n When the door to his room opened again, Joe stood from his bed and tried to gauge his father\u2019s mood accordingly.\u00a0 The man still wore the previous frown on his face and the tight set of his shoulders as he neared his son.<\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked and stared into the bright hazel eyes and also tried to read what he saw in them.<\/p>\n \u201cWell what?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked innocently.<\/p>\n \u201cHave you thought on all I told you to, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah—and if it\u2019s an apology you want then fine—I\u2019m sorry my horse threw a shoe,\u201d Joe stated with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.\u00a0 He crossed his arms over his chest and squared off with his father, not willing to apologize more than he had.<\/p>\n \u201cOh then that\u2019s it?\u00a0 You are sorry your horse threw a shoe–but you are not sorry that you lied to Adam and disobeyed me?\u00a0 You are not sorry that you hitched a ride with a perfect stranger all the while knowing the danger in doing so?\u201d Ben replied, raising his eyebrows to show his increasing ire.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019d of done the same thing—wouldn\u2019t you?\u00a0 Would you have walked all the way home if you could\u2019ve gotten a ride into town? No!\u00a0 And the only reason you are mad at me is because you are worried about some killer on the loose!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, first of all I would NOT have hitched a ride with a stranger–unlike you I would have more sense–\u201d Ben started but Joe unthinkingly cut his father off.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you want me to do?\u00a0 You want me to go around thinking everyone\u2019s a killer out there, Pa?!\u201d\u00a0 He shouted and Ben grabbed his arms tightly, stopping Joe from his disrespectful tirade.<\/p>\n \u201cI want you to stop taking chances with your life—that\u2019s what I want you to stop doing!\u201d\u00a0 Ben yelled back at his son.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I want you to stop lying and I want you to stop disobeying me–are you getting my drift yet?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf I had walked all the way home it would\u2019ve still been late and you would\u2019ve still been mad at me–so it was a no win situation,\u201d Joe replied bitterly.<\/p>\n Ben forced Joe to look into his eyes to make sure that his son could see the pain that was still in them.\u00a0 \u201cI might have been mad—no–I take that back– I would have been mad–but not nearly as mad as I am to know you caught that ride with a stranger, Joseph!\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen the body of Josh Crane—but you haven\u2019t.\u00a0 He was sliced ear to ear and gutted like some kind of animal.\u00a0 That\u2019s all I thought about when I learned that you never made it home–that you had run up on that maniac!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell I didn\u2019t so what\u2019s the problem?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked and saw his father\u2019s expression turn into a scowl.<\/p>\n \u201cThe problem is your attitude, Young Man–and we are going to address it right now!\u00a0 You may not care about how badly you worried your family, but it\u2019s not going to happen again,\u201d Ben stepped back and loosened his belt.<\/p>\n Joe watched the move his father had made and knew what was going to happen next.\u00a0 It only angered him more.\u00a0 He felt like he was being punished for no real reason other than his horse throwing a shoe and making him come home late.\u00a0 Joe felt he had proven that his ride into town with the peddler was a harmless venture and he had returned home safe and sound.\u00a0 Now he was about to be on the receiving end of a tanning and Joe was none too happy about it.\u00a0 He defiantly decided to not even utter a sound during his punishment so that his father would not know how badly he was hurting.<\/p>\n Ben pushed Joe over to the end of the bed, his heart in his throat as he readied for the punishment that his son more than had coming to him.\u00a0 He hoped that when he finished that his son would hurt as badly as it was hurting him in doing it to the boy.\u00a0 Joe closed his eyes as his hands held onto the bedpost.\u00a0 He braced himself for the punishment to begin.\u00a0 Ben measuredly sent out his belt hitting his son across his backside just hard enough to get his point across without causing any serious injury to his son.\u00a0 After only a few passes with the belt Ben felt he had gotten his message conveyed sufficiently, causing more damage to the boy\u2019s pride than to his backside.\u00a0\u00a0 He pulled Joe back around to face him once more.\u00a0 Joe stood there rigid in stature and refused to look directly at his father.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are restricted to the ranch house and front yard indefinitely.\u00a0 There\u2019s more than enough work for you to do outside cleaning the stables and cutting firewood.\u00a0 Until you can prove to me that you are taking this threat of danger seriously, no-one is going to take their eyes off of you.\u00a0 Do I make myself clear, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe still held his breath and fought the welling of tears in his eyes.\u00a0 He was doing his best to keep from breaking down due to the tanning and the humiliation that he felt.<\/p>\n \u201cDo I make myself clear, Joseph?\u201d\u00a0 Ben repeated louder.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir,\u201d Joe finally answered, looking away from his father\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cGood.\u00a0 Now you go to bed–I\u2019ve got plans for you tomorrow that will more than keep you occupied,\u201d Ben stated firmly and walked over to the door.\u00a0 He paused and shot a look back at his youngest son.\u00a0 Ben knew Joe was trying his hardest to keep the tears from spilling from his eyes.\u00a0 He had also noticed the somewhat quivering chin before his son had turned away from him.\u00a0 \u201cYou will recover from a tanning, Joseph–but you won\u2019t recover from being killed.\u00a0 Think about it.\u00a0 I\u2019ll see you in the morning,\u201d Ben stated firmly and walked out of the room.<\/p>\n Joe walked back to the side of his bed and slowly lowered himself down onto the mattress.\u00a0 He buried his face in his pillow and finally the tears came pouring out.\u00a0 Joe still had no real clue as to why his father had been so upset with him.\u00a0 He still felt like he had been punished unjustly.\u00a0 The boy fell off into a troubled sleep thinking about all that had happened that day.<\/p>\n ************************<\/p>\n Ben came down the stairs very slowly and Hoss and Adam noticed that he was buckling his belt as he moved down to the last step.\u00a0 It was very apparent what had happened upstairs and they knew that there were two very sad people in the house now.\u00a0 Joe, because he was on the receiving end, was hurt, but their father was hurting just as badly.\u00a0 Ben walked over to his study and poured himself a shot of brandy and sighed.\u00a0 It was at times like these that he didn\u2019t care too much for having to be the disciplinarian in the family.\u00a0 He noticed both Adam and Hoss had moved in closer and witnessed the looks they had on their faces.<\/p>\n \u201cI just dusted his pants a bit \u2013 the boy deserved far more than I just gave him.\u00a0 I only hope it will help to end his reckless behavior,\u201d Pa sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cI think you were too soft on the kid,\u201d Adam threw in.<\/p>\n \u201cProbably,\u201d Pa nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI wasn\u2019t trying to hurt him \u2013 I think my belt is hurt far more than Joseph\u2019s backside is!\u00a0 I tried to talk sense into him and he just wouldn\u2019t listen.\u00a0 I don\u2019t like to use physical force \u2013 but the boy won\u2019t take that chip off of his shoulder.\u00a0 Going off with that peddler — it just really got to me.\u00a0 But Joseph still thinks that it was a perfectly harmless thing to do.\u00a0 If he had only apologized and meant it,\u201d Ben shook his head and didn\u2019t know why he felt guilty for what he had done because his son had all but asked for it in all that he had said to him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we wuz younger we didn\u2019t even pull half of the stunts that Little Joe has in seventeen years but you were never easy on us!\u201d Hoss exclaimed. \u201cIf it had been either of us and we\u2019d done what Joe did today you would still be upstairs wearing us out!\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cWell, if that boy does anything like that again he\u2019ll get far worse \u2013 I just hope it doesn\u2019t come to that.\u00a0 I never liked to use my belt on any of you boys.\u00a0 Fortunately you and Adam learned right away.\u00a0 Joseph \u2013 well \u2013 is Joseph,\u201d Ben frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph\u201d may be \u201cJoseph,\u201d Adam smiled and patted his father\u2019s arm.\u00a0 \u201cBut \u201cJoseph\u201d got off easy tonight.\u00a0 He\u2019d better be glad that you\u2019ve mellowed over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n Pa smiled over what his eldest had said.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve mellowed \u2013 I just think Joseph knows how to play me better than you two did.\u00a0 But that stops right now.\u00a0 There\u2019s too much on the line with that killer on the loose.\u00a0 I\u2019ll keep a close rein on that boy from now on.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss exchanged glances.\u00a0 They could read their father\u2019s face and knew that this time he meant exactly what he had said.\u00a0 Pa wasn\u2019t playing around anymore and they hoped that Joe would straighten up before he had to find out just how tough their father could be when he wanted to.<\/p>\n *******************************<\/p>\n The next morning Joe slowly came down the stairs and shot a look over towards the dining room where his family was already seated for breakfast.\u00a0 He walked past the settee and moved over to the credenza to grab his jacket.\u00a0 Ben saw the move and called out to him.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, come in for breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not hungry,\u201d Joe faintly muttered and reached for his hat.\u00a0 Ben came around the corner and stood next to his son.\u00a0 He had told Adam and Hoss that he would keep a tight rein on the youngest and Pa figured that he had to start on that plan right away for his son\u2019s own good.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, then you can sit and watch us eat.\u00a0 Come over to the table now,\u201d Ben replied sternly.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s face winced and he closed his eyes, fighting back his anger at the situation.\u00a0 He did not want to sit with the others in fact he didn\u2019t want to sit at all.\u00a0 But, he could tell by his father\u2019s tone of voice that he was not asking, he was telling him to come to the table.\u00a0 Joe followed Ben back to the dining room and slowly lowered himself into his chair.\u00a0 Ben sat down as well, and poured a cup of coffee and passed it over to Hoss to set in front of his little brother.<\/p>\n \u201cI have a meeting in town at noon with Roy, so don\u2019t expect me back until later this afternoon, Boys,\u201d Ben started and shot a glance down towards Joe.\u00a0 He frowned when he saw the defiance still written all over his youngest son\u2019s face.\u00a0 Joe was having no part of the breakfast and no part of the conversation either.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll be done up at the flume by three, Pa, then we\u2019ll come right home,\u201d Adam jumped in sensing the mounting tension going on between Ben and Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, might have to start in on that branding tomorrow, looks like,\u201d Hoss took his turn at trying to take everyone\u2019s mind off of the hostility.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s fine if I get the chance I will come out and help you both tomorrow,\u201d Ben replied and looked once again towards Joe.\u00a0 He felt a bit guilty, but then he always felt that way after he had to physically punish any of his sons.\u00a0 Fortunately over the years, Adam and Hoss had learned their lessons early and had not needed many tannings.\u00a0 But Joe more than made up for the ones Ben had been spared doing to the two oldest sons.<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam stared again at their father and could tell that they needed to finish breakfast to allow him to handle Joe privately.\u00a0 They hurried through their meal, and after excusing themselves, the two men left the house and headed out to get to work.\u00a0 Joe sat silent and unmoving waiting to be dismissed.\u00a0 He refused to ask his father for permission to leave.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s now two meals that you have missed, Joseph.\u00a0 You\u2019re gonna be mighty hungry later on.\u00a0 This is your last chance to eat before a solid day of chores.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe said nothing in response, still trying to show his displeasure with his father\u2019s form of punishment.\u00a0 Hop Sing came into the room and began to remove the plates.\u00a0 He stared over at Joe and his heart went out to him.\u00a0 Hop Sing knew what had happened the night before, as the telltale signs were written all over Joe\u2019s face, not to mention the rigid way he sat in the chair.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe?\u00a0 You no eat!\u201d\u00a0 Hop Sing protested.\u00a0 Joe just shook his head in response.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019ll eat when he gets hungry enough–right, Joseph?\u201d\u00a0 Ben called down to his son and shot him a very displeased look.\u00a0 Joe did not reply.\u00a0 Ben stood and approached Joe\u2019s chair.\u00a0 \u201cI said–isn\u2019t that right, Joseph?\u201d\u00a0 He repeated and this time Joe knew he had better say something.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, that\u2019s right,\u201d Joe muttered and felt his father\u2019s hand pulling him to standing.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry–didn\u2019t hear that quite right—what did you say?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir, you are right–I will eat when I am hungry,\u201d Joe answered this time, knowing he had better or possibly face another thrashing.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, that\u2019s what I thought you said,\u201d Ben nodded and then forced his gaze on the boy.\u00a0 \u201cNow that barn needs a thorough cleaning–all the stalls–new straw–the works.\u00a0 Then when that\u2019s done you can start cutting wood.\u00a0 Hop Sing here is going to do me the great favor of keeping an eye on you.\u00a0 So, I am sure you\u2019ll manage to stay out of trouble–am I right again?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir–you are always right,\u201d Joe replied, fighting back his sarcasm but failing dreadfully.<\/p>\n \u201cRemember that and you and I won\u2019t have to have the kinds of discussions like we had last night.\u00a0 And, I\u2019d advise you to come back in here for supper tonight with two things,\u201d Ben paused and lifted Joe\u2019s chin to bring home his final point \u201c a good appetite, and a better attitude!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir,\u201d Joe answered right away, knowing he had pushed his father farther than he should have that morning.\u00a0 \u201cMay I go now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, you may,\u201d Ben nodded and watched as Joe slowly walked towards the front door.\u00a0 He knew exactly what was going on in Joe\u2019s mind and also knew he had to somehow rid the boy of his careless ways before something serious happened to him.<\/p>\n *************************<\/p>\n Ben made his way into Virginia City, his mind on many things, but most of all Joseph.\u00a0 He was not at all surprised that his son had continued to work raking straw in the stall next to Buck\u2019s and never even looked over at his father as he saddled the horse.\u00a0 Joe was being Joe, defiant and always hard headed enough to stand his ground, even when all the evidence proved he had been in the wrong.\u00a0 Ben sighed and kicked his horse\u2019s sides to pick up the pace.\u00a0 He wanted to get into town early enough to have a good talk with the sheriff before heading over to the meeting.\u00a0 Ben wanted to mention the peddler to Roy and have the man thoroughly checked out.<\/p>\n Later that afternoon the assembly room in the courthouse was filled with the town\u2019s council members and other very worried citizens of the community.\u00a0 Ben and Roy headed through the double doors and pulled them shut to signify it was time for the meeting to begin.\u00a0 Ben had already met the detective who had been brought in on the case.\u00a0 He and Roy had filled the man in on all they knew about the murdered boy and other information concerning the town\u2019s folks.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to introduce Mr. Dex Farwell, formerly with the Pinkerton Detective Agency,\u201d Roy made the introduction and the man stepped up to the podium set up in the front of the room.\u00a0 He was a tall man of medium build and appeared to be in his late forties.\u00a0 His dark wavy hair was dusted with a bit of gray and his facial features were striking.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Roy,\u201d the man nodded over to the sheriff, who had taken a seat next to Ben.\u00a0 \u201cI have been asked by both your sheriff and Mayor Jacobs to come in on the case of Josh Crane.\u00a0 I am also working in conjunction with Sheriff Bill Clayton over in Carson City.\u00a0 There have been three murders already, as you all probably know.\u00a0 One in Carson City, one in Genoa, and one right here.\u00a0 I\u2019m gonna give you the run down on what facts we have put together and then I will be glad to take your questions along with any helpful suggestions.\u201d<\/p>\n The room fell totally silent as they waited to hear the details of the investigation.\u00a0 There wasn\u2019t anyone present who wasn\u2019t worried about someone in their family or a friend.\u00a0 Most had already heard about the brutal way that Josh Crane had been killed and they all had questions and concerns about what was going to happen next.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first boy, Vinton Majors, was seventeen years old.\u00a0 He lived on a ranch just outside of Carson City.\u00a0 He was last seen heading out to tend his father\u2019s cattle.\u00a0 The next time anyone saw him was behind the Golden Nugget Saloon in Carson City.\u00a0 No-one saw anything, no-one heard anything.\u00a0 And as far as we have observed there were no clues left as to the identity of the killer.\u00a0 No money was stolen, and the young man, according to his family, had no known enemies.\u00a0 The second case was a boy, seventeen years old as well, named Ben Hardin.\u00a0 He lived on the Circle W Ranch in Genoa.\u00a0 That boy disappeared on a Saturday and his body was found two days later behind the mercantile in Genoa.\u00a0 Nothing missing, no witnesses just as before.\u00a0 The ranch hands on the Circle W were questioned and they could come up with no apparent enemies for that boy either.\u00a0 Lastly,\u201d Dex stopped and took a sip of water and set his glass back down on the table and turned toward the crowd.\u00a0 \u201cYour bank teller, Josh Crane.\u00a0 Apparently he was new to this town.\u00a0 Both Roy and I questioned Mrs. Wilson over at the boarding house.\u00a0 She said he was from Texas, had no family, and had moved west three months ago.\u00a0 Mrs. Wilson said he was a quiet, well- mannered boy, and he was eighteen years old.\u00a0 The bank manager told the same story, and also corroborated Mrs. Wilson\u2019s story, and agreed he knew of no enemies that Josh had made.\u00a0 Josh Crane was heading back to the boarding house after eating dinner at the hotel that night.\u00a0 His body was found very early the next morning in the alley behind the blacksmith\u2019s shop.\u201d<\/p>\n Dex walked from behind the podium and approached the men sitting in the audience.\u00a0 His eyes fell to the one woman member he spotted.\u00a0 \u201cExcuse me, ma\u2019am, but if you don\u2019t mind–I have to relate some very gruesome details at this time—and I think it would be wise if you waited until I was through–perhaps out in the lobby?\u201d<\/p>\n The woman stood from her chair and forced her gaze on the detective.\u00a0 \u201cMy name\u2019s Sarah Jean Milford, and I can handle anything these men can.\u00a0 I run my own ranch, I brand my own cattle and I can out shoot half the men in this territory.\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019m staying–not because I want to hear the gory details, but because I have a seventeen year old boy.\u201d<\/p>\n Dex nodded the woman\u2019s way and said, \u201cpardon me, Mrs. Milford, I spoke out of turn then.\u201d\u00a0 The detective walked back to his podium and faced the crowd once more.\u00a0 \u201cThree random teenagers—no connection whatsoever —no robbery–no apparent motive for their deaths.\u00a0 This is a rare madman we are dealing with.\u00a0 He is calculating, cunning, and obviously likes to shock folks.\u00a0 In the cases of the first two boys they were apparently murdered elsewhere but brought into their respective towns—to grand stand the murders so to speak!\u00a0 This killer wants the public to be scared–to be terrified–\u201d Dex was cut off by a rancher in the audience.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, that\u2019s the case now all right!\u00a0 We are all terrified!\u201d\u00a0 The man shouted out.<\/p>\n All the audience agreed verbally and called out in unison, \u201cwhat are we going to do about it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what I am here for,\u201d Dex nodded and Roy stood and signaled the town\u2019s folks to quiet down and listen.\u00a0 Once the noise died down again, Dex continued, \u201cas I was saying—this maniac is purposely killing these boys and bringing their bodies back to announce what he has done.\u00a0 I\u2019ve dealt with these types before—case in point–the Barbary Coast Killer, he went around strangling ten young women before he was caught.\u00a0 He always planted their bodies in full view, never trying to hide the corpses.\u00a0 It took the combined efforts of the town\u2019s folks to nab that madman.\u00a0 That\u2019s what we need from you folks —as well as from those in the surrounding areas.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019s them details you was so worried about me hearing?\u201d\u00a0 Mrs. Milford called from the crowd.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am, I was just going to get to that.\u00a0 To find a killer you have to try and figure them out.\u00a0 This man has a great deal of anger in him–that\u2019s obvious–\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t figure out a crazy person!\u201d\u00a0 another rancher protested Dex\u2019s logic.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are right–but even the craziest killers have a motive—and now–if I may be allowed to finish?\u201d he shot a look around the room and everyone stopped talking again.\u00a0 \u201cEach victim has been slashed–ear to ear—across the throat–almost to the point of decapitation.\u00a0 Each victim has had a massive stab wound to his abdomen.\u00a0 And each victim–\u201d Dex turned and shot a look towards the one lady in the crowd and dropped his voice just a tad \u201chas been castrated.\u201d<\/p>\n A wave of gasps filled the courtroom as the town\u2019s people took in the information which they had not earlier been aware of.\u00a0 That particular detail had been kept away from the newspapers.\u00a0 All eyes turned toward Dex, and they were all filled with terror.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a person, maniac if you will, who has a great hatred toward men–particularly young men–and it\u2019s gonna take all of you to help us catch him!\u00a0 To start with, Roy Coffee, with the approval of the town council will institute a curfew.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to see any young man under the age of twenty-one out on these streets after nine at night.\u00a0 You parents out there need to do your jobs now–more so than before.\u00a0 Keep a watch on your youngsters!\u00a0 Kids, especially in this age group–late teens that is, seem to think they are well capable of defending themselves.\u00a0 Unfortunately we have three victims who tell the sad tale that isn\u2019t the case.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben closed his eyes and the picture of his youngest son came into full view.\u00a0 It almost sounded like the detective had met his errant son.\u00a0 It also proved to Ben that it wasn\u2019t just the fact that he alone had a wayward defiant youngster, it sounded from Dex\u2019s opinion that it was the norm for young men that age.\u00a0 Ben said a silent prayer that he could break through to his son and sufficiently explain to him the seriousness of the situation at hand.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll turn this back over to Sheriff Coffee now for any questions,\u201d Dex said and took a seat next to Ben.\u00a0 Roy moved to the podium.<\/p>\n \u201cQuestions folks?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah—what are YOU going to do to protect us!\u201d one man hollered out.<\/p>\n \u201cSame things I been doing all along, George–watching the streets, checking with all of you, asking for information and warning everyone of the danger.\u00a0 I also am adding four new deputies until we get this killer.\u00a0 They are gonna be patrolling the town day and night.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRoy?\u00a0 You still in touch with Bill Clayton?\u00a0 Has he found out anything new?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, like Dex here said–we are all working together on this–we are keeping the lines of communication open and sharing whatever information we have.\u00a0 Unfortunately he has no more information right now then we do.\u00a0 I just ask you all to be patient and kinda watch after each other for right now.\u00a0 Anything else?\u201d\u00a0 Roy stared down the aisles and there were no more hands in the air nor anyone shouting out questions.\u00a0 \u201cThen let me let you all go back to your jobs and I will go back to mine.\u00a0 My door\u2019s always open whenever you folks need me.\u00a0 Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n The town\u2019s folks filtered out of the meeting room and it just left Roy, Ben and Dex standing in the front of the room.<\/p>\n \u201cOh–Ben–didn\u2019t get a chance to tell you yet–but after you and me talked earlier I went and checked out that peddler fellow Lincolns.\u00a0 He\u2019s okay.\u00a0 Got proof he was staying with the Billings family the weekend of the second murder.\u00a0 Already contacted the family and they assured me he was there the whole time.\u00a0 Seems like a likable fellow and he agreed to help us by keeping an eye out in his travels from town to town,\u201d Roy said, patting Ben\u2019s arm to reassure the man.\u00a0 He knew how petrified his friend had been about Joe\u2019s ride the previous day and wanted to put him at ease.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Roy–I appreciate you telling me.\u00a0 Dex, if my boys or I can assist you in any way you just holler, okay?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked, shaking the detective\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n \u201cI will, Ben.\u00a0 Heading back to Carson tomorrow and then into Genoa.\u00a0 I\u2019ll make it back around here by the end of the week and let you and Roy know anything I\u2019ve come up with.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded and patted Roy on the shoulder and turned to leave.\u00a0 As he stepped out of the courthouse he looked down towards the Silver Dollar Saloon.\u00a0 His throat was parched and had been ever since he had learned of the whole details of the murders.\u00a0 He had seen the body of Josh Crane, but it had been from the chest up, the rest of his body had already been covered.\u00a0 Ben had no idea that the poor young man had been castrated.\u00a0 It made his stomach churn just to think of the horrendous way Josh had died.\u00a0 Ben walked down the sidewalk towards the saloon for a much needed drink.<\/p>\n **************************<\/p>\n After the usual pleasantries were exchanged between Ben and Sam the bartender, he stood at the bar and slowly sipped his beer deep in thought.\u00a0 A few moments later he heard a voice addressing him and Ben turned to look at the man standing to his right side.\u00a0 He was a short man, Ben assessed him to be in his late sixties.\u00a0 He wore a black suit and a hat that seemed a bit large for his head.\u00a0 Nevertheless the stranger offered Ben a bright smile as he reached for his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Cartwright–I would like to introduce myself, my name is Samuel Lincolns.\u00a0 I believe I met your boy yesterday. I just saw the sheriff again and he said you were over here. I wanted to speak with you.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook Mr. Lincolns\u2019 hand and set down his beer mug on the bar.\u00a0 \u201cYes, you helped my son Joseph–he told me you gave him a ride into town.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am afraid I may have hurt more than I helped that time,\u201d the man paused and shook his head upset to have caused Ben any grief \u201cthe sheriff said you were very concerned about your son riding with a stranger.\u00a0 So, I wanted to try and reassure you if I could.\u00a0 I am a harmless peddler, who did not mean to cause that lad\u2019s father any anxiety.\u00a0 I had no idea what was going on in Virginia City.\u00a0 I knew of the problem over in Carson City–but had no idea that a killer was around these parts too.\u00a0 I hope you will forgive me, and your son as well.\u00a0 It was my fault I offered the boy a ride.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben smiled graciously at the man.\u00a0 He now could see in the man\u2019s face and eyes the same thing Joe apparently had seen the previous day.\u00a0 Joe had said the man looked \u201cokay\u201d and that was a correct assumption apparently.\u00a0 It still did not alleviate the problem of Joe\u2019s haphazard behavior but it did explain it a tad.\u00a0 \u201cNo harm done, Mr. Lincolns, I am very grateful that you brought the boy into town safely–especially since no-one knows where the killer is.\u00a0 You may just have helped the boy more than you know–the killer could have easily have done the same thing and offered him a ride.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen–I am forgiven?\u201d the man asked smiling his relief over what Ben had said.<\/p>\n \u201cCertainly you are. \u00a0Let me buy you a beer please–to repay your kindness.\u201d Ben signaled Sam over to them both.<\/p>\n \u201cI am afraid I need to be going, Mr. Cartwright, but I would gladly take a rain check on that offer,\u201d Samuel replied and reached out to shake Ben\u2019s hand again.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course–any time.\u00a0 As a matter of fact why don\u2019t you stop by our ranch the next time you are around these parts?\u00a0 I am sure my cook would love to see what all you have in your wagon.\u00a0 Perhaps there would be a sale or two in the visit?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI would be most happy to I should be back around later this month.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine–then you come by the Ponderosa and visit us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, tell your son I said hello,\u201d the man said and turned to leave.<\/p>\n \u201cI will,\u201d Ben answered and watched as the peddler left the bar.\u00a0 He felt much better now about Joe having ridden into town with the man and it showed on his face as he smiled over at Sam and ordered one more beer before heading back home.<\/p>\n *******************************<\/p>\n Hoss entered the barn and noticed that his little brother was still hard at work.\u00a0 Joe threw a saddle over the stall railing and reached for the next one as his brother approached.<\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t seen such a good cleaning job on this barn in a long spell, Little Brother.\u00a0 You done good!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss called out and stood next to the boy.<\/p>\n \u201cLike I had a choice,\u201d Joe spat back and turned to hang up the lead ropes lying on the floor.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Pa should be happy with your work today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be nice to have him happy about something<\/em><\/strong>!\u201d\u00a0 Joe returned sarcastically.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe—Pa did what he had to–you got to stop being so mad about it.\u00a0 We wuz all scared to death yesterday thinking something had happened to you–what with that killer on the prowl,\u201d\u00a0 Hoss tried again to get through to his stubborn brother.\u00a0 Joe spun around and anger painted his face.<\/p>\n \u201cYou would think that I committed some great big crime!\u00a0 My horse threw a damn shoe–and none of you will ease up on me.\u00a0 And Pa–yeah that\u2019s a funny story–Pa was worried about me getting \u201churt\u201d.\u00a0 The only hurt I got yesterday was what he did to me!\u201d\u00a0 Joe flailed his arms full of emotion and anger.<\/p>\n Hoss caught his brother\u2019s left arm and held it in his massive hand.\u00a0 \u201cJust a second there, Joe, you aren\u2019t completely innocent like you\u2019re painting this picture!\u00a0 You told Adam you would come straight home and you didn\u2019t, now did you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo I took the long way home!\u201d\u00a0 Joe shouted trying to break from his brother\u2019s hold.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, you worried a whole lot of people because you couldn\u2019t follow directions.\u00a0 Not to mention not fixing Cochise\u2019s horse shoes, I told you about \u2018em just the day before didn\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, if I want a lecture I will go and see Pa, okay?\u00a0 Now let me go!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat temper of yours is gonna cost you big time if you don\u2019t simmer down.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t giving you no lecture neither!\u00a0 I was just trying to explain to you why Pa was so upset.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI got to finish in here–so leave me alone.\u201d\u00a0 Joe replied and finally got his arm loose from his brother\u2019s tight hold.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want any part of hearing how fair his pa was, because Joe did not believe it to be true at the time.\u00a0 Joe had been wallowing in his self- pity all day, and had grown accustomed to the idea that no-one on the ranch understood him at all.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Joe,\u201d Hoss sighed, giving up on trying to help \u201cyou better get moving though, Pa sent me out here to bring you in for supper.\u00a0 And one last suggestion—don\u2019t pull the kinds of stunts you did at breakfast or he might just go off on you again.\u00a0 You got off easy last night whether you realize it or not.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe watched as his brother left the barn.\u00a0 Deep down he knew that Hoss was trying to talk to him because he cared but Joe wasn\u2019t ready to hear it.\u00a0 Joe threw down the pile of tangled harness guides and headed into the house.\u00a0 He may have been mad, but he wasn\u2019t stupid.\u00a0 If Pa expected him at the dinner table then that\u2019s where he would be.<\/p>\n ***************************<\/p>\n Ben had watched the meager amount of food that Joe had placed onto his plate.\u00a0 He could see how the boy was trying to show him that he would eat, but only to a certain point.\u00a0 Joe did not speak unless a direct question had been addressed to him, showing his continued resentment over all that had happened the previous day.\u00a0 When everyone was finished with their meal Ben stood and spoke to all three of his sons.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to tell you boys what happened at the meeting.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t want to talk about it at supper but I guess now\u2019s as good a time as any.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go sit down in the living room,\u201d Ben said and walked into the next room.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss followed their father but Joe lagged behind.\u00a0 When he finally started to approach them, he shot past the settee and headed to the stairs.<\/p>\n \u201cThis concerns you as well, Joseph–come over here!\u201d\u00a0 Ben called to the boy.<\/p>\n \u201cNow why would it concern me?\u00a0 Unless you think that the killer will come right into this house or our barn, looks like I am safe!\u201d\u00a0 Joe retorted sarcastically.<\/p>\n \u201cRight here!\u201d\u00a0 Ben replied and pointed to his left in front of the fireplace.<\/p>\n Joe drew in a deep breath, he was angry and it showed on his face.\u00a0 But, he had enough sense to notice the tone of his father\u2019s command and decided he had better do as instructed.\u00a0 He moved to stand next to the fireplace and leaned against the cold stone face of the hearth.<\/p>\n Ben continued but kept his eye on his youngest, reminding the boy with his gaze how close he was to being in trouble once again.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s three young men dead, all either seventeen or eighteen years old.\u00a0 Just like this wayward youngster who is trying his best to rile me,\u201d Ben motioned his hand towards Joe and the boy dropped his head to avoid his father\u2019s piercing stare.<\/p>\n \u201cAny clues at all, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 Adam asked as he stretched out a bit on the settee.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, they hired a Pinkerton detective named Dex Farwell, he\u2019s leading the investigation and coordinating it with the sheriff in Carson City and the authorities in Genoa.\u00a0 Roy has put on four new deputies to help patrol the town.\u00a0 Oh, they have also instituted a curfew.\u00a0 No-one under the age of twenty-one can be on the streets of Virginia City after nine at night.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat doesn\u2019t affect me either,\u201d Joe muttered and felt his father\u2019s hand on his arm.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were saying, Joseph?\u00a0 Come on if you have something to say speak up now so everyone can hear your comments!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked at his father and knew the man was challenging him once again.\u00a0 It was only his awful temper which forced him to take the bait this time. \u201cOkay, I said that it doesn\u2019t affect me and it\u2019s true!\u00a0 Why are you even telling me this stuff?\u00a0 I am confined indefinitely remember?\u00a0 So, since Virginia City and everywhere besides the front yard is off limits I really don\u2019t know why I have to stand around and listen to this,\u201d Joe argued against his father\u2019s logic.<\/p>\n Ben stood and put his hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder forcing his gaze.\u00a0 \u201cWe are talking about this, Young Man, because it affects everyone!\u00a0 There is a maniac running around killing people!\u00a0 I thought I got this fact through to you last night but evidently you need a constant reminder of the situation!\u201d\u00a0 Ben shouted.\u00a0 Joe dropped his head down and his face flushed with embarrassment over being verbally corrected in front of his two brothers.\u00a0 Ben continued, \u201cthese three boys were murdered, their throats slashed and their insides ripped open.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to even think about that happening to someone we know—let alone my own hardheaded ornery son!\u00a0 Do I have your attention yet, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir,\u201d Joe whispered, his voice beginning to betray him.\u00a0 He knew he had made his father mad once more and he wasn\u2019t very happy to be dressed down by Ben in front of Hoss or Adam.\u00a0 Joe decided to try and do his very best from that point forward to keep his mouth shut.\u00a0 He wanted to go to his room and get away from everyone at the moment, but he knew that wouldn\u2019t happen until his father was through.<\/p>\n Ben shook his head a bit bewildered to see Joe being so belligerent.\u00a0 The boy usually had sense enough not to rile his father right after he had been punished for something he had done, but this time it almost seemed like Joe was trying to egg him into another go-round.\u00a0 \u201cPlease try and remember why you are standing instead of sitting tonight, will you, Joseph?\u201d\u00a0 Ben said to his son and sank back down into his chair to further discuss what he had learned in town.<\/p>\n \u201cMay I be excused?\u201d\u00a0 Joe whispered.\u00a0 The last statement his father had made had cut him deeply and he knew he had to remove himself from the room so he would not let loose a few tears over the humiliation his words had just caused.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t need the reminder of the tanning he had gotten nor did he need it to be mentioned in front of his brothers.<\/p>\n \u201cFine–go on–go to bed–there\u2019s no getting through to you anyway!\u00a0 At least this way I can inform your brothers and not be interrupted,\u201d Ben replied harshly.\u00a0 He had actually had quite enough of his youngest son for the moment.\u00a0 Joe hurried to the stairs and took them two at a time as he headed to his room.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t believe the way Joe is acting—what\u2019s gotten into him?\u201d\u00a0 Adam asked, exasperated by his brother\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n \u201cHe thinks Pa wasn\u2019t very fair with him–least ways that\u2019s what he told me in the barn,\u201d Hoss returned, shaking his head.\u00a0 He felt both anger and a little sadness as well towards the boy who he usually defended.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe just doesn\u2019t have a clue–don\u2019t worry about it, Pa–he\u2019ll cool down eventually,\u201d Adam tried to lift his father\u2019s spirits.\u00a0 He could see the tenseness in the man\u2019s jaw and knew how hard Joe had pushed him with his attitude.<\/p>\n \u201cI am not worried about him cooling down, Son.\u00a0 I am worried about him doing something foolish.\u00a0 There was one thing I left out on purpose–didn\u2019t want Joseph to hear this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d both Adam and Hoss asked at the same time.<\/p>\n \u201cThe three boys were also castrated,\u201d Ben announced and watched the look of total horror spreading across both of their faces.<\/p>\n \u201cOh—Pa–\u201d Adam began and then had to swallow to get the words out, \u201cthis is a whole different kind of killer—this is a sick and twisted maniac—anyone who can do that–\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know, Adam, I know,\u201d Ben sighed wearily.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe you ought to tell Little Joe, Pa–scare the hell out of him!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss stated angrily.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Son–I\u2019d just as soon spare the boy that grief right now.\u00a0 What I told Joseph is bad enough already.\u00a0 No sense explaining any further–not now.\u00a0 We just have to keep a good eye on him, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe will, don\u2019t worry, Pa,\u201d Adam replied and Hoss reached over and patted his father\u2019s arm to try to reassure him.<\/p>\n \u201cBesides—-like the kid said earlier—he ain\u2019t going nowhere!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss stated and headed over towards the brandy.\u00a0 He figured they could all use a drink after what had just been revealed.<\/p>\n *******************************<\/p>\n Five full days later the news of yet another murder spread like wild fire.\u00a0 A body had been dumped behind a grain storage shed in Carson City.\u00a0 Just as with the three previous victims, the body was that of a boy who had just turned seventeen that month.\u00a0 Citizens of all the townships involved began to protest the investigator\u2019s inability to catch the madman.\u00a0 Dex Farwell was both angry and frustrated when he and Roy Coffee gathered at the Ponderosa for a discussion with Ben and his sons.\u00a0 Standing around the desk in Ben\u2019s study, sipping coffee to keep alert and awake after many sleepless nights the two men addressed their worries to the Cartwrights.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing left at the crime scene again?\u201d\u00a0 Adam asked sinking down into one of the hard straight back chairs to the side of his father.<\/p>\n \u201cFound a couple of boot prints is all,\u201d Dex shook his head disgustedly \u201cbut, nothing that would account for anything peculiar.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere was the boy from, Roy?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked setting down his cup and looking past Hoss\u2019 shoulder to see Joe as he entered the room and began filling the wood box on the hearth.<\/p>\n \u201cMiller\u2019s Ridge—a little four acre spread just east of Carson,\u201d Roy explained.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u201d\u00a0 Ben called and watched as his son turned his attention towards his father finally.\u00a0 Ben had been trying to wave the boy over to them but he had been either ignoring the gesture or had been too deep in thought.\u00a0 \u201cCome over here please–there\u2019s someone I want you to meet.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe tossed the last stick of firewood into the wood box and slowly approached the five men gathered in the study.\u00a0 He never came within an arm\u2019s length of his father, still showing his displeasure with him.\u00a0 Though Joe had watched what had come out of his mouth the last five days, he still showed his stubborn side by refusing to enter into any lengthy conversations with his Pa.<\/p>\n Ben was fully aware of his youngest son\u2019s overall less than courteous attitude of late, but chose not to let his behavior get the better of him at the time.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, this is detective Dex Farwell.\u00a0 Dex this is my youngest son, Joseph,\u201d Ben called over the introductions and threw in a warning glance with it directed at Joe.\u00a0 Joe saw the look and obediently reached out his hand to the detective.<\/p>\n \u201cNice to meet you,\u201d Joe nodded and tried his best to bite back his underlying ire.<\/p>\n \u201cPleasure to meet you, Son,\u201d Dex returned and then paid very close attention to the young man\u2019s appearance.\u00a0 \u201cHow old are you, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just turned seventeen,\u201d Joe answered as politely as he could, still wondering what the heck he was needed for anyway.\u00a0 His father had all but determined he was a mere child earlier in the week and Joe knew his opinions or ideas would go nowhere with the other five men there in the room.<\/p>\n \u201cI sure hope you are doing your best to stay out of harm\u2019s way, Joe–you are aware of all that\u2019s gone on, aren\u2019t you?\u201d\u00a0 Dex continued.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I am aware,\u201d Joe began and then shot his father a quick glance before going any further with his answer \u201cbut, you don\u2019t have to worry about me—I never leave the front yard.\u00a0 Excuse me–I have some chores to get to,\u201d Joe sounded off and then turned on his heels and left the house.<\/p>\n Ben shook his head and let out a groan in response to his son\u2019s behavior.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry I must apologize for my son.\u00a0 He hasn\u2019t exactly been very happy with me lately.\u00a0 I restricted him to the house and front yard and he still hasn\u2019t quite forgiven me, I am afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think that was probably a very wise move, Ben,\u201d Roy nodded \u201cthat hard-headed kid would only get himself in trouble and this kind of trouble is deadly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe also looks a whole lot like the last couple of victims, Ben.\u00a0 All of them were under six feet tall, slender built and with dark wavy or curly hair.\u00a0 I\u2019m not too sure what to make of that, be it coincidence or perhaps this lunatic is purposely choosing boys who meet that description.\u00a0\u00a0 I haven\u2019t quite figured it out yet.\u00a0 If he were my son, and if what Roy here tells me is true about your boy, I would keep him very close until this business is over with,\u201d Dex said and set down his coffee cup readying to leave.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, don\u2019t worry I plan to keep Joe well within reach.\u00a0 Now, how can we help you?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked and stood and moved in between Roy and the detective as they started to move into the living room towards the door.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I was telling Dex here all about Hoss–and how he\u2019s about the best tracker around.\u00a0 He thinks he could use Hoss\u2019 skill to check things out in Carson with him.\u00a0 What do you say, Hoss?\u201d\u00a0 Roy looked over at Hoss who had followed the three men to the door.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you can do without me, Pa–I sure would like to try to help.\u00a0 Sure beats waiting around for something else to happen!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss exclaimed.<\/p>\n Ben was full of the normal worry about one of his sons at the time, this time his middle boy.\u00a0 But, he trusted Hoss\u2019 instincts and knew he wouldn\u2019t take any unnecessary chances, unlike his little brother.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s fine, Son.\u00a0 But, you be real careful, you hear?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Pa,\u201d Hoss smiled and reached for his hat.<\/p>\n \u201cYou sure you can spare him?\u201d\u00a0 Dex asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYes–I have Adam here to help with Joe –between the two of us–make that three of us if you count Hop Sing–we can watch the boy just fine,\u201d Ben smiled as he saw Hop Sing standing over by the living room retrieving the coffee cups.\u00a0 The Oriental was very happy to hear his name brought into the conversation.\u00a0 It made him feel like he was indeed a valuable member of the Cartwright family.\u00a0 He was.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay—we\u2019ll make it back here tomorrow probably late, Ben.\u00a0 Maybe we will actually have some good luck for a change!\u201d\u00a0 Dex smiled and patted Ben\u2019s arm and walked out with both Hoss and Roy.<\/p>\n \u201cYou all be careful!\u201d\u00a0 Ben remarked as he stepped out onto the porch and watched the three men head to their horses.\u00a0 He had an apprehensive feeling in the pit of his stomach as he saw Hoss ride out of view, but he always had that same feeling whenever any of his sons left the house anymore.\u00a0 Turning back towards the door, Ben\u2019s eyes fell on Joe standing at the end of the porch throwing the cord wood into piles just at the bottom of the steps.\u00a0 Ben walked back over to where Joe stood and put his hands on his hips as he watched the boy at work.\u00a0 He hated being on the outs with his youngest, but this time he had to keep up the discipline because it might very well mean the difference between life and death.\u00a0 \u201cSupper\u2019s almost ready, Joseph–time to come in!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe never looked back around towards the voice.\u00a0 He freed his arms of the firewood and rolled down his shirt sleeves.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll be in shortly,\u201d Joe answered and tried his very best to sound pleasant for a change.\u00a0 Ben turned again and walked into the house wondering just what all was going on in his son\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n *******************************<\/p>\n The following week passed by quickly with Hoss trying to assist the detective in trying to come up with any clue that might shed some light on who was committing the murders.\u00a0 Dex was starting to formulate his own ideas on how the maniac was procuring his victims but still had nothing tangible to prove his theories.\u00a0 He had spoken to the authorities and tried to assure them and the citizens of all three towns that the killer could be caught if everyone helped.\u00a0 One such meeting was with Roy Coffee and Ben Cartwright at the jail house in Virginia City.<\/p>\n \u201cIt still makes no sense–\u201d Ben started and walked back over to Roy\u2019s desk.\u00a0 He had been pacing back and forth trying to take in all that Dex had related to him and Roy.\u00a0 \u201cHow could this maniac grab the boys, kill them and dump their bodies in such a short period of time and all out of the sight of witnesses?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI still think that he is not taking them to any particular location, Ben.\u00a0 Not like he has some kind of a hide out that he has to drag them back to.\u00a0 He\u2019s just randomly going around, kidnaping the boys, taking them somewhere close and killing them and then dumping them in full view of the town they are from,\u201d Dex replied, shaking his head still upset over his inability to locate the killer.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s slick all right–slick and crazy!\u201d\u00a0 Roy said exasperated.\u00a0 \u201cAnd all you and Hoss came up with was a set of boot prints that led nowhere?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, that\u2019s kinda strange in itself–like he must have gone down behind the alley and then climbed the closest building–only thing that would account for the footprints disappearing. \u00a0We saw no sign of him covering his tracks–nothing brushed away–they just stop,\u201d Dex answered frustration mounting in his tone.\u00a0 \u201cIn all the years I\u2019ve been doing this kind of work I\u2019ve never run upon anything like this.\u00a0 You would think—with four boys dead now–that someone would have seen or heard something!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, we\u2019ll get them, Dex, just have to out think him is all,\u201d Roy stood from his desk and patted the detective\u2019s arm.\u00a0 He knew that the man was as emotionally stretched out as a person could get.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve gotta get on home,\u201d Ben said and moved toward the door \u201clet me know what the next move is and if you need me and my boys to help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks–we\u2019ll do that.\u00a0 Tell Hoss I really appreciated his help, Ben,\u201d Dex nodded towards the man.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll do that—you both get some rest–you both look played out,\u201d Ben called and then walked outside.\u00a0 He wanted to get home and see how things were going there.<\/p>\n ********************************<\/p>\n Joe had just walked out of the barn as his father rode up into the yard.\u00a0 He turned toward the sound of the approaching horse.\u00a0 Ben dismounted and led his horse over to where Joe was standing.\u00a0 He had noticed in the last several days that his youngest seemed to be trying harder to get along with everyone and the chip on his shoulder had shrunk down a bit.\u00a0 Ben hoped it meant that the boy had finally understood why he had been punished and that he now assumed some responsibility for having caused his family to be worried about him.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll stable him, Pa,\u201d Joe said reaching for Buck\u2019s reins.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Joseph.\u00a0 How are things going today?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked and smiled over at him.<\/p>\n \u201cGood, Pa—I\u2019ve got the tack room all fixed up–took most of the day.\u00a0 Then I helped Hop Sing put up some chicken wire in the back.\u00a0 All\u2019s I got left is the saddles–I was gonna polish them all.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stared hard at his son.\u00a0 He wondered what had caused all the compliancy.\u00a0 Joe seemed over eager at that point and Ben knew what that usually meant.\u00a0 He was sure his son wanted something in return for his obedience.<\/p>\n \u201cSounds like you\u2019ve done a full day\u2019s work already, Son.\u00a0 So?\u201d\u00a0 Ben lifted his eyebrows and stared into the reflective hazel eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cSo?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked innocently.<\/p>\n \u201cSo–what is it that you want to ask from me, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell—there was one thing–\u201d Joe paused and looked toward the ground, a bit upset that he was so transparent and that his father was so good at reading him.<\/p>\n \u201cGo ahead and ask–that doesn\u2019t mean I will go along with it–but it doesn\u2019t mean I won\u2019t discuss it with you,\u201d Ben offered and put his hand on the boy\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 It was the first physical contact between the two of them in weeks which was very rare.<\/p>\n \u201cWell–Mitch stopped over—his folks asked me over for dinner—and I was hoping you\u2019d let me go.\u00a0 Can I?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben frowned and shook his head.\u00a0 He might have known that Joe always had an ulterior motive for working so hard and being so pleasant as well.\u00a0 But, the boy had behaved and he also knew how hard it had been on Joe to hang out around the house while his two brothers rode out every day.\u00a0 It almost seemed unfair to Ben now, but he had stuck to it since Joe hadn\u2019t proven that he could follow orders.\u00a0 And the stakes had still been high, especially since the murderer remained on the loose.<\/p>\n Joe noticed the long pause as well as the frown on his father\u2019s face and jumped back in before Ben could respond.\u00a0 \u201cPlease, Pa?\u00a0 I\u2019ve done what you\u2019ve wanted me to do for two whole weeks!\u00a0 I\u2019m gonna go stir crazy if I hang around here much longer.\u00a0 All I\u2019m asking is just for a couple of hours of freedom!\u00a0 \u2018Sides Mitch\u2019s father let him ride over here by himself–he\u2019s the same age as me–he\u2019s even been going into town and everything!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHold on–hold on–simmer down,\u201d Ben called out and squeezed his son\u2019s shoulder to stop his protests \u201cI didn\u2019t say I wouldn\u2019t let you go—I am just thinking on the best way to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u00a0 Best way?\u00a0 What do you mean?\u00a0 Just let me ride over there, have some time to hang out with Mitch, eat dinner and I\u2019ll ride back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo–it\u2019s not going to go like that, Joseph!\u00a0 Now if you want this time away it\u2019s going to be with some conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat conditions?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked frowning.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll have Adam ride with you over there—and I will come and ride back with you later tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh Pa!\u00a0 That\u2019s gonna make me look like a little kid!\u201d\u00a0 Joe protested loudly.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u00a0 You want to go or not?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked down at the ground and mulled over the stipulations his father had put into the night\u2019s plan.\u00a0 He gave up.\u00a0 Joe hated that he would have escorts but knew by the look in his father\u2019s eyes that the man was not going to budge.\u00a0 If he was going to have a night away from the ranch Joe knew he had better agree to his father\u2019s conditions.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir—how soon can I go?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou go and get those saddles done real quickly and I will tell your brother to get ready to take you in an hour.\u00a0 How\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay–Pa–thanks,\u201d Joe smiled at his father and nodded.\u00a0 He turned to leave, pulling Buck into the barn with him.<\/p>\n ******************************<\/p>\n Adam and Joe rode up to the Devlin ranch which was on the eastern border of the Ponderosa.\u00a0 When the ranch house appeared in sight Adam turned to his little brother and looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, Joe, don\u2019t blow this chance!\u00a0 Pa\u2019s counting on you to act right, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u00a0 Of course I\u2019ll act right!\u201d\u00a0 Joe sang out indignantly.\u00a0 \u201cI mean what with having my own escorts, what kind of trouble can I get into anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I don\u2019t know–but you always find something to get in trouble for–don\u2019t let it happen tonight.\u00a0 And remember—Pa\u2019s going to be here around eight to come and get you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know–well–let me at least ride up into the yard by myself will you, Adam?\u00a0 This is kinda embarrassing you know?\u201d\u00a0 Joe pleaded with his brother.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want to look like a child in his friend Mitch\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay–go on, Kid—have a good time!\u201d\u00a0 Adam called as he turned his mount back towards the ranch.\u00a0 He had taken pity on the boy, knowing how hard the lengthy restrictions had been on Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Adam.\u201d\u00a0 Joe replied and kicked at Cochise\u2019s sides and headed towards the Devlin house.\u00a0 Adam watched to be sure that Joe did as he promised this time and didn\u2019t leave the area until he saw his brother dismount in front of the ranch house.\u00a0 Content that Joe had been delivered safely, Adam rode on home.<\/p>\n Mitch and Joe entered the house and both Mr. and Mrs. Devlin greeted the dear friend of their only son.\u00a0 After all the pleasantries were done, Joe and Mitch walked back outside and decided to go for a walk just a short distance from the house so they could talk privately.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t believe you got your pa to let you come over.\u00a0 Bet it feels good to get out after two weeks stuck there.\u201d\u00a0 Mitch said as the two young men sat down in the meadow and leaned back in the tall grass.<\/p>\n \u201cI tell you, Mitch, if they don\u2019t catch that killer soon I am gonna die all right–but of sheer boredom!\u00a0 You don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to be watched over day after day–it\u2019s driving me nuts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh–well–I get watched too, you know.\u00a0 I mean my folks aren\u2019t all that concerned about my sister Mattie, but that\u2019s because this guy is killing young men, not girls.\u00a0 Still, they haven\u2019t let her anywhere near town in a month.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah–but your pa lets you go into town, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, yeah—during the daylight hours—but not too often.\u00a0 Just to get the mail or bring in supplies, you know?\u00a0 I haven\u2019t gone to the bar in ages.\u201d\u00a0 Mitch shook his head frustrated over what was going on.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I ain\u2019t been in town in two weeks–and that was just to get my horse shod–haven\u2019t had a beer in two months.\u00a0 Hey–what\u2019s the chance of your pa letting you go into town for a little while now?\u201d\u00a0 Joe sat back up his mind racing with ideas that might work.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u00a0 You mean now before dinner?\u00a0 Ma\u2019s got it about ready–we wuz gonna eat early.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, then afterwards?\u00a0 You think he\u2019d let you go–for say an hour?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe—I thought you told me today you are restricted?\u00a0 Now how are you going to pull this one off?\u201d\u00a0 Mitch stared into Joe\u2019s eyes trying to see if he was telling the truth.<\/p>\n \u201cWell–I don\u2019t see the problem–I mean not if I am with you—why wouldn\u2019t that be okay?\u201d\u00a0 Joe fired back.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, it\u2019s fine with me–but I ain\u2019t your pa—and how do you think he would take the news of you doing that?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe frowned again.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t even want to think about the repercussions.\u00a0 He only wanted to have some freedom and was more than willing to take his chances.\u00a0 Besides, he had it all planned out in his head now.<\/p>\n \u201cLook—we eat dinner–then tell your pa that my pa said it was okay as long as we stayed together.\u00a0 My pa isn\u2019t due back here to ride back home with me until eight o\u2019clock–we\u2019d have plenty of time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe–you are gonna get me in big trouble–just as always!\u201d\u00a0 Mitch stood and stared down at his friend.\u00a0 Joe and he always had great plans, and over the years they had successfully pulled off quite a few stunts.\u00a0 But, there were a whole lot of times that their schemes had back-fired and Mitch ended up getting in serious trouble due to his friend\u2019s ideas.<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d\u00a0 Joe yelled springing to his feet.\u00a0 \u201cI will do all the talking–that way–well–if things go wrong you won\u2019t be lying so you won\u2019t get into trouble with your pa.\u00a0 Besides, it\u2019s me who\u2019s taking the risks here, Mitch–not you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs it really worth it, Joe?\u00a0 I mean–just to go into town?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah—I am tired of being treated like a two year old! \u00a0I have the right to go to town my brothers go there most every day.\u00a0 Pa just doesn\u2019t think I have the smarts to stay away from a killer.\u00a0 He\u2019s selling me short!\u00a0 I can out-shoot most men twice my age!\u201d\u00a0 Joe pulled out his Colt 45 and aimed and shot a pinecone off a tree a good distance away.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, yeah–you can out shoot almost everyone I know.\u00a0 But, Joe—sounds like this guy doesn\u2019t give the victims much time to get to their guns,\u201d Mitch tried to reason with his friend to no avail.<\/p>\n \u201cLook–that killer\u2019s probably long gone–no-one\u2019s been killed in a week.\u00a0 Let\u2019s just go into town–have one beer then I will come back here and wait for my father.\u00a0 When he gets here I will be all ready to leave–he won\u2019t even have time to talk to your pa so he will never know I was in town today.\u00a0 Please Mitch?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDamn, Joe—you know I always go along with your stupid ideas.\u201d\u00a0 Mitch laughed and threw his arm around his friend\u2019s shoulder and they walked back towards the house.\u00a0 Neither of the two young men had any idea what kind of danger lurked in Virginia City that day.<\/p>\n After supper the two young men mounted their horses in front of the Devlin home.\u00a0 Mr. Devlin stood looking up at his son and Joe as they prepared to leave for town.<\/p>\n \u201cYou sure this is okay with your pa, Joe?\u201d\u00a0 Mr. Devlin asked for the third time, trying to be sure the boy was telling him the truth.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir–he said as long as Mitch and I stayed together it would be all right.\u00a0 We won\u2019t be long,\u201d Joe lied.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, if Ben thinks it\u2019s okay–then it\u2019s okay with me.\u00a0 Now don\u2019t stay in town more than an hour–like you promised, Mitch!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Pa—we won\u2019t be long,\u201d Mitch replied and waved goodbye as he turned his horse in the opposite direction.\u00a0 Casting a brief glance Joe\u2019s way he saw his friend wink at him.\u00a0 Once again, it looked as though his friend\u2019s plan would work.<\/p>\n *******************************<\/p>\n Hoss walked out to the barn and saw his father saddling his horse.\u00a0 He approached Ben and called over to him, \u201cHey–Pa–thought you didn\u2019t have to get Joe until eight–ain\u2019t you leaving kinda early?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell,\u201d Ben paused and tightened the saddle cinch and reached for the bridle \u201cI haven\u2019t talked to Mac Devlin in awhile–thought we could catch up a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Pa!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss exclaimed and laughed.\u00a0 \u201cYou are just worried about Little Joe–might as well tell the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo—I know he is safe out there–but–\u201d Ben stopped again as he looked into the blue eyes of his middle son.\u00a0 He knew he was caught and finally admitted to the truth.\u00a0 \u201cYeah–you \u2018re right, Hoss.\u00a0 I just have an uneasy feeling–call it father\u2019s intuition–or unnecessary worry–but whatever it is–I just want to make sure Joe is okay.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t have to apologize, Pa,\u201d Hoss said and patted his father\u2019s shoulder and helped him pull the bridle over Buck\u2019s ears.\u00a0 \u201cWhat with Joe\u2019s track record I\u2019d be worried about him too.\u00a0 But, I am sure he\u2019s fine—he\u2019s got the hardest head of any person I know–but he isn\u2019t stupid either.\u00a0 I don\u2019t see no harm in going on over there if it will put your mind at ease.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben smiled and nodded and led his horse out of the stall.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t sure what he was feeling inside, but knew it was building each minute.\u00a0 Perhaps Joe was safe and sound, but nevertheless Ben knew he had to see the boy to be sure.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n By the time Ben had reached the Devlin ranch the sun had just started to set over the great mountain range in the distance.\u00a0 He was only a little less than an hour early and felt Joe shouldn\u2019t complain too much about his arrival.\u00a0 Just as Ben slid from his saddle and started to tie Buck\u2019s reins to the hitching post in front of the house, Mac Devlin stepped out into the yard.<\/p>\n \u201cBen!\u00a0 Haven\u2019t seen you in a while, how you been?\u201d\u00a0 Mac called as he approached the other man.<\/p>\n \u201cFine, Mac, just fine,\u201d Ben replied and shook the outstretched hand.\u00a0 \u201cHow are you and Carol?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re doing okay, got us that new stove she\u2019s been hounding me for years about.\u00a0 Tried it out tonight and I will say she fixed a fine meal on it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks for inviting Joseph–where is he?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked looking around for his son\u2019s pinto.<\/p>\n \u201cMitch and Joe are in town–should be back shortly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat!\u201d\u00a0 Ben shouted and neared Mac.\u00a0 \u201cWhat are they doing in town?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHold it, Ben, simmer down–it\u2019s okay–they are together.\u00a0 Joe said you told him it was all right as long as he rode in there with Mitch.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI said no such thing—that boy!\u201d\u00a0 Ben replied anger taking over his facial appearance.\u00a0 \u201cWait till I get my hands on him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, Ben—I didn\u2019t know—\u201d Mac stopped as a rider started to appear in the distance, and from the cloud of dust that was being formed he could tell that the horse was coming in at a fast clip.<\/p>\n \u201cMac!\u201d\u00a0 The rider called as he came into full view.<\/p>\n Mr. Devlin saw that it was the foreman of his ranch, Jim Sellers.\u00a0 He waved the man over.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s the trouble?\u201d\u00a0 Mac asked as he and Ben watched the man come to a dead stop in the front yard.<\/p>\n \u201cBeen another murder in Virginia City–don\u2019t know who–just ran into Cleve as I was coming in from the herd. He said they just found the kid\u2019s body.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben and Mac looked at each other and their hearts fell in their chests.\u00a0 Both of their sons were there in town.\u00a0 The only thought at the moment was to get there as fast as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cJim–can I take your horse–don\u2019t want to waste time saddling mine!\u201d\u00a0 Mac sang out and the man dismounted and handed his boss the reins.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go!\u201d\u00a0 Ben shouted as he mounted his horse and turned out of the yard.<\/p>\n **************************<\/p>\n Ben never remembered it taking so long to reach Virginia City.\u00a0 Though it was only three miles from the Devlin ranch it seemed much longer with the worry of who had been killed in town.\u00a0 Neither father spoke as they rode side by side, the anxiousness showed in their faces and in the way they urged their horses faster.<\/p>\n Dismounting in front of the livery stable both Mac and Ben could see the crowd which had formed half way down the street.\u00a0 They ran down to see what was going on.\u00a0 The first person they ran into was Roy Coffee.<\/p>\n \u201cRoy–who was it?\u201d\u00a0 Ben called out to the man as Roy looked up from the crime scene.\u00a0 The body had already been removed and taken down to the coroner\u2019s office.<\/p>\n \u201cBrady Milford—Sarah\u2019s boy,\u201d Roy replied fighting back tears.\u00a0 He had known the youngster the boy\u2019s whole life.\u00a0 It tore the sheriff in two to see the horrible way the boy had been senselessly murdered and he dreaded having to tell Brady\u2019s mother.<\/p>\n Both Mac and Ben were saddened to hear of the boy\u2019s death, but were so relieved to learn it wasn\u2019t either of their sons.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t long before joy turned to anger and they turned towards the saloon where they had spotted both Joe and Mitch walking outside to get to their horses.\u00a0 The two fathers rushed down the planked sidewalk.<\/p>\n \u201cMitch!\u201d\u00a0 Mac shouted and grabbed his son\u2019s arm spinning him around.\u00a0 \u201cYou get your horse–you\u2019re coming home this minute!\u00a0 And you and me are gonna have a good long talk!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut, Pa–\u201d Mitch started but when he read the look on his father\u2019s face he reconsidered his protests and grabbed the reins of his horse.\u00a0 Mac led the boy down to the livery to get his own horse.<\/p>\n *********************************<\/p>\n Joe knew he was in big trouble.\u00a0 He had already heard about the Milford boy\u2019s death and unfortunately had stayed longer than he should have to learn about the details.\u00a0 He wished now he had done as Mitch suggested and left as soon as the word hit the saloon about the boy\u2019s body being found.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes were a bit harder to read at the moment due to the increasing darkness falling over the town.\u00a0 If Joe had been able to get a good look into them he would have seen the terror that had changed over to tears of relief.\u00a0 Just as quickly the relief had changed to the most intense anger Ben had ever felt towards his son.\u00a0 Joe didn\u2019t speak because he knew there wasn\u2019t anything he could say that would get him off the hook this time.\u00a0 He bowed his head and waited for what would come next.<\/p>\n Roy spotted Ben and Joe and made his way over to them.\u00a0 He could tell that there was an impendent fracas about to begin between the two Cartwrights.\u00a0 \u201cBen–sorry to interrupt, but I got to ask Joe something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo ahead,\u201d Ben answered sharply never taking his eyes off the boy in front of him.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe–I already asked Sam and he said Brady was in the saloon about two hours ago–did you see him in there?\u00a0 And if you did, do you know which way he left–did he say anything?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked down to the ground, his stomach tightening as each second ticked by.\u00a0 He felt awful about Brady\u2019s death. They had been school mates and the boy was a likable kid.\u00a0 To think of him as being gone, especially murdered was still hard to comprehend.<\/p>\n \u201cI saw him—me and Mitch had just gotten our beers when Brady was leaving.\u00a0 All I did was say hi and bye to him.\u00a0 He just walked out–didn\u2019t say nothing about where he was going.\u201d<\/p>\n Roy sighed and kicked at the ground with his boot.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBroad daylight!\u00a0 The boy was taken shortly after he left the Silver Dollar that\u2019s for sure.\u00a0 And the killer couldn\u2019t have gone far to kill the kid.\u00a0 He either killed him right there in the alleyway or he killed him just outside of town and dumped him back here. You and Mitch are lucky that it wasn\u2019t you!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded and then felt his father\u2019s grip on his arm and knew that he was about to reap the rewards for his disobedience.<\/p>\n \u201cRoy—need to borrow your office for a minute,\u201d Ben said pushing Joe down the street.\u00a0 Roy walked along with both of the Cartwrights until they came to the jail house.\u00a0 The three walked inside and Roy stopped at his desk.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can use my room down there, Ben,\u201d Roy pointed to his personal quarters.\u00a0 He knew what the angry father had in mind and what with all he had seen that day, Roy didn\u2019t fault the man at all for what he was about to do.<\/p>\n Ben shoved Joe inside the room and slammed the door shut.\u00a0 Joe was trying his best not to look at his father and that was only adding fuel to the man\u2019s anger.\u00a0 Filling Ben\u2019s mind were thoughts of how narrowly Joe had missed becoming the next victim to the killer at large.\u00a0 It made him sick to his stomach and Ben felt a rage that had been increasing with each moment since seeing Joe standing in front of the saloon.\u00a0 His son\u2019s total arrogance was no longer going to be tolerated nor was his disobedience.\u00a0 Ben was far too mad to take the time to contemplate what he should or should not do to the boy, as he had in the past.\u00a0\u00a0 He had reached all limits of endurance with his son and decided that enough was enough.<\/p>\n \u201cHand me your holster,\u201d Ben commanded.\u00a0\u00a0 Joe was quick to unstrap his weapon and give it to his father.\u00a0 Ben tossed it down on the chair next to the sheriff\u2019s bunk.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you know what you did to me?\u00a0 Do you know how terrified I was a few minutes ago thinking that you were dead?\u201d Pa asked staring piercingly over at his son.<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013I \u2013I wasn\u2019t thinking –,\u201d Joe tried to alibi himself out of what he had purposely done in lying to Mitch\u2019s father and going into town.<\/p>\n Ben grabbed Joe\u2019s shoulders and forced his gaze.\u00a0 \u201cNo more, Joseph!\u00a0 No more \u2013I\u2019ve had it with all of this now.\u00a0 This is not a game — it could have been you out in that alley!\u00a0 You could\u2019ve been killed \u2013 I could\u2019ve lost you forever!\u00a0 No more of this \u2013 it ends now.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben pulled off his belt and folded it in his hand as Joe stepped back.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa–I didn\u2019t know–\u201d Joe began but was cut off from his statement when his father turned him by the arm and struck his backside with the belt.\u00a0 Ben unleashed his anger, frustration and worry on his son.\u00a0 He did not measure nor count the lashes this time as he had two weeks earlier.\u00a0 Ben wanted Joe to hurt and hurt bad.\u00a0 He wanted the boy to feel as awful as he had felt when he had ridden into Virginia City expecting to be retrieving his youngest son\u2019s body.\u00a0 Joseph had been warned over and over again about the danger and had gone toward it and had almost been killed because of it.\u00a0 Ben knew he had to get tough and that\u2019s exactly what he did.<\/p>\n Roy heard the commotion from the next room and sighed.\u00a0 Ben was usually a patient man and a loving father.\u00a0 But, the man had been pushed by his youngest far too hard of late and Roy knew that Joe was finally going to know that his father meant business.\u00a0 He did hate for Joe\u2019s sake that the kid was getting what was obviously one hell of a tanning, but, Roy decided he would much rather see that happen to the boy than to find him like he had Brady Milford lying dead somewhere.<\/p>\n Ben pulled Joe out of the back room and the two of them made their way into the main room of the jail house.\u00a0 Leaving Joe, his face turned toward the wall to hide his tears and the shame that he felt due to his arrogant behavior, Ben neared Roy and pulled him aside.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019s Brady\u2019s body now, Roy?\u201d\u00a0 Ben whispered as he tightened his belt around his waist.<\/p>\n \u201cDown at the coroner\u2019s still–why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI need your help, Roy–I know this is gonna sound awful–but it\u2019s the only way.\u00a0 I want Joseph to see the boy—see what happened to him,\u201d Ben explained, his face showing the strain of having hurt the son he loved so much.<\/p>\n \u201cBen–that\u2019s gonna be awful rough on him—it\u2019s bad–you know–like the others?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRoy–I have to get through to him—and I don\u2019t think just a tanning is the answer–the kid still thinks he is indestructible-I have to get it across to him that he\u2019s not,\u201d Ben\u2019s voice now was pleading with the sheriff.<\/p>\n Roy nodded and opened the door to step outside.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go, Joseph!\u201d\u00a0 Ben announced sharply and grabbed his son\u2019s elbow and led him out of the jail.<\/p>\n Joe had no idea where the two men were taking him.\u00a0 He was distraught over what had happened in Roy\u2019s back room at the time and wasn\u2019t even paying attention when they stopped in front of the coroner\u2019s office.<\/p>\n \u201cBe right back, Ben,\u201d Roy whispered and went inside the building.\u00a0 He wanted to tell Patrick Moody, the coroner, what was going on and why they were going to bring Joe in to view the badly mutilated body of the latest victim.\u00a0 After a few minutes Roy opened the door and waved the two Cartwrights inside.<\/p>\n It was about at that point that Joe became very aware of what was going on.\u00a0 He had never been in the back room of the coroner\u2019s office and it scared him to even think about going any farther.\u00a0 Ben noticed Joe had stopped in his tracks.\u00a0 He walked back behind his son and pushed him forward into the coroner\u2019s examination room.<\/p>\n Joe moved in towards the table where the body of Brady Milford lay covered with a sheet.<\/p>\n \u201cDo it, Patrick,\u201d Roy nodded to the man.<\/p>\n The coroner pulled down the sheet so that Joe could see the whole body.\u00a0 The young man\u2019s neck had been severed, just as the previous victims.\u00a0 Brady\u2019s stomach was sliced straight through laying his abdomen wide open for full view.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s heart stopped as he stared down at the boy he had known for years and who he had just a few hours ago spoken to.\u00a0 His eyes focused on the whole gruesome scene, including the blood soaked towel which lay over the boy\u2019s private parts.\u00a0 Joe now knew all that had happened to the kid.\u00a0 He pulled his hand up to his mouth and almost knocked his father over as he bolted from the room.\u00a0 He knew he was going to throw up and hoped he could make it outside to do so.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d Ben whispered to the coroner and turned to go to his son.<\/p>\n By the time Ben stepped off the sidewalk and moved into the alleyway next to the coroner\u2019s office Joe was already giving up the contents of his stomach.\u00a0 He had fallen down to his knees as he suffered through the nausea that racked his body.\u00a0 Ben\u2019s heart went out to his son, but he had to try and maintain his strict demeanor in order to thoroughly get his message across.\u00a0 Still, it was difficult to just stand there and watch Joe\u2019s agony and do nothing.<\/p>\n After ten minutes had passed Joe was having dry heaves and there was nothing further left in his system to come up.\u00a0 He rocked back onto his heels and sobbed.\u00a0 He hurt inside and out.\u00a0 Seeing Brady\u2019s body had devastated Joe and now he finally understood what his father had been trying his damnedest to protect him from.\u00a0 He was now swept away with guilt and sorrow over all he had done and all the grief he had put his father and the rest of his family through.<\/p>\n Ben could take no more.\u00a0 He walked briskly over to the horse trough in front of the alleyway and removed his neckerchief.\u00a0 Holding it down into the cool water Ben soaked the cloth and then wrung it out and carried it back over to his son.\u00a0 Ben knelt down next to Joe and placed the cooled cloth on the back of the boy\u2019s neck.\u00a0 Once his stomach finally let up on him and the cramping had subsided Joe covered his eyes with his hands and continued to weep.\u00a0 He could not even find the words to tell his father how sorry he felt.\u00a0 His father\u2019s small gesture of placing the neckerchief on him made Joe feel even worse.\u00a0 He thought Ben should leave him there to suffer through his ordeal since he had brought the whole thing on himself.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s heart and soul were filled to capacity with a kind of self- loathing he thought he\u2019d carry forever.\u00a0 He knew he had played around with deceit like a little kid instead of the young adult he had tried to prove that he had become.\u00a0 While a killer stalked the town all he had thought about was tricking his father into a visit with Mitch, all the while knowing he would be urging the other boy into his plan to go towards danger.\u00a0 The results could have meant that either he or Mitch might now be lying in the coroner\u2019s office instead of Brady Milford.\u00a0 Joe now detested himself for what he had put both fathers through just because he had wanted a little freedom.\u00a0 The cost for that freedom was far too high and Joe knew he would never forget what had happened to him that night.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be right back,\u201d Ben whispered and turned back towards the walkway where he spied Roy standing.\u00a0 \u201cWill you keep an eye on the boy for me, Roy?\u00a0 He\u2019s in no shape to ride back home–I need to go and rent a buckboard.\u201d<\/p>\n Roy nodded, \u201cI won\u2019t move till you come back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks,\u201d Ben replied, patting the sheriff\u2019s shoulder and casting one final glance back towards his son who still knelt there in the alley unmoving.<\/p>\n **************************<\/p>\n The whole ride back to the Ponderosa was done in silence.\u00a0 Pulling both Cochise and Buck behind the buckboard Ben kept a moderate speed heading home.\u00a0 Joe sat stiffly next to his father and tried to fight off the pain which controlled his body.\u00a0 With each bump and rut in the road Joe groaned as quietly as possible.\u00a0 He was not about to complain to his father.\u00a0 Joe knew he had more than earned every lash of his father\u2019s belt and then some.\u00a0 He wondered what his father was now thinking.\u00a0 Joe was sure the man was full of contempt for all the grief his son had caused him.\u00a0 He knew that Ben\u2019s total lack of conversation was due to the disappointment and anger he still carried.<\/p>\n When the buckboard finally reached the ranch house, Ben turned over the team as well as Cochise and Buck to one of the hired hands.\u00a0 He walked towards the house with Joe following close behind.\u00a0 Ben pulled the door open and watched as Joe walked past him and stopped to hang up his hat.\u00a0 Ben carried Joe\u2019s holster and gun, something he had removed from the boy back at the sheriff\u2019s office, and set it with his own on the credenza.\u00a0 Joe hung his head and waited for whatever his father planned next.\u00a0 He was sure that Ben wasn\u2019t done with him just yet, and wouldn\u2019t have blamed him if his father purposely berated him in front of his two brothers who stood from their seats in the living room.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes scanned Joe\u2019s appearance, giving way to the notion that the boy had suffered enough for one night.\u00a0 The kid looked awful.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s shirt was untucked and his pants were dirty from where he had knelt in the alleyway.\u00a0 The usually bright hazel eyes were clouded and tear stains marked Joe\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cGo on to your room and wash up, Joseph.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be up in a little while to talk to you,\u201d Ben said calmly but firmly.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir,\u201d Joe whispered fighting back his tears.\u00a0 He walked slowly towards the staircase visibly hurting with the movement.<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam\u2019s faces filled with confusion.\u00a0 As far as they knew, Ben had gone to the Devlin ranch to escort Joe back home.\u00a0 They both wondered why Pa and Joe were back so late and why Joe had apparently been crying.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss was the first to ask as he and Adam moved over to their father.<\/p>\n Ben sighed and turned and walked towards the kitchen calling over his shoulder, \u201cfollow me in here and I will tell you both.\u201d<\/p>\n Assembled in the kitchen were the three Cartwrights and Hop Sing.\u00a0 Ben hadn\u2019t said anything yet, other than to ask Hop Sing to put the tea kettle on.\u00a0 He sagged down into one of the kitchen chairs and began his story.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph coerced Mitch into going into town–told Mac Devlin I said it would be okay–\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat!\u201d\u00a0 Adam shouted.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me finish, okay?\u00a0 It\u2019s been a long night,\u201d Ben replied wearily.<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Pa–go on,\u201d Adam answered and sat down next to the man.\u00a0 He could read the tension on his father\u2019s face and worried about what Joe had put him through that night.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, they went into town.\u00a0 Went to the bar—and then another body was found.\u00a0 Brady Milford.\u00a0 The kid had just been in the bar right before Joe and Mitch got there.\u00a0 In two hours\u2019 time he was abducted in broad daylight, taken somewhere and murdered.\u00a0 Then his body was dumped in an alley.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, no–\u201d Hoss muttered and shook his head.\u00a0 Now he knew why both his father and his brother looked so bad off.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, Mac and I got there in time to see the crowd gathered–they had already moved the body.\u00a0 We found Roy and then Joe and Mitch.\u00a0 So, I took your brother over to the jail and whipped the tar out of him,\u201d Ben paused and sipped at the coffee Hop Sing had sympathetically placed in front of him.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why Joe looks so bad, huh?\u201d\u00a0 Adam asked remembering how hurt Joe appeared to be when he had slowly made his way upstairs.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s part of the reason at least.\u00a0 I also made him view the body.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Pa!\u201d \u00a0Hoss exclaimed.\u00a0 \u201cWhy\u2019d you do that?\u00a0 It must have been awful for Joe–he knew Brady pretty well.\u00a0 And, if the kid had done to him what the others had done to them–\u201d<\/p>\n Ben cut Hoss off with his reply.\u00a0 \u201cYes, Brady was killed the same way!\u00a0 But, your little brother just refused to take this seriously–I didn\u2019t know of any other way to get through to him.\u00a0 I had to do it,\u201d Ben tried to defend his actions, though he still wasn\u2019t too sure he had really done the right thing.\u00a0 In hindsight, Ben wondered if he had harmed the boy far more than he had intended.<\/p>\n \u201cPa\u2019s right, Hoss, if it teaches our brother that you don\u2019t come back from death then so be it!\u00a0 Bet he\u2019s gonna remember what he saw tonight for a long time,\u201d Adam replied.<\/p>\n \u201cWater ready–what you want?\u201d\u00a0 Hop Sing jumped in when he heard the tea kettle sounding off loudly.<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever kind of tea you think will settle the boy\u2019s stomach, Hop Sing.\u00a0 He lost his dinner after he went in to see the body.\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing shook his head a bit upset with his employer.\u00a0 He was just as worried about the stubborn youngest Cartwright as the others, but Hop Sing always had a soft spot when it came to Little Joe.\u00a0 He hated to think of all the poor boy had gone through.\u00a0 \u201cHave herb tea that will help Little Joe,\u201d Hop Sing replied and reached for a canister and placed it on the counter.\u00a0 He spooned some of the concoction into the tea ball and poured the boiling water over it in the tea cup.<\/p>\n \u201cSo?\u00a0 What are you gonna do now, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss asked worriedly.<\/p>\n \u201cTake some tea up to him and tell him to go to sleep.\u00a0 Anything else I will address in the morning.\u00a0 I think Joseph has had enough for one day,\u201d Ben said and stood when Hop Sing handed him the cup of tea to take upstairs.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll see you boys in a little while.\u00a0 Thanks, Hop Sing,\u201d Ben said and turned to head towards his son\u2019s room.<\/p>\n ***********************<\/p>\n Joe could never remember a time when he felt so completely awful.\u00a0 He had pulled off his clothes and tried as best he could to wash off all of the dirt and grime from his body.\u00a0 It had taken quite a while to accomplish the task as he was hurting with the movement.\u00a0 He pulled a nightshirt over his head and then walked to the wash basin to rinse his face once more.\u00a0 The cool water felt good on his face but his eyes stung from all the tears he had shed that night.\u00a0 Just as he began to dry his hands off on a towel his father entered the room.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s heart ached as badly as his body did at that moment.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t think of any words, any excuse or apology that would adequately explain away his actions that day.<\/p>\n Ben stared over at the boy and then walked to the night stand and set the tea cup down.\u00a0 An uneasy silence hung over the room as the two pair of eyes met one another.\u00a0 Ben couldn\u2019t stand to see his son hurting so badly and decided at that particular moment that he had over done the boy\u2019s punishment.\u00a0 No matter what Joe had done, no matter how many rules he had broken, no matter how much anguish he had caused, Ben felt he had over reacted and had been far too rough on his boy.\u00a0 He could see how Joe stayed at a distance, as if he was afraid of his father now.\u00a0 Ben never wanted that, and it almost brought tears to his own eyes to see the pain that was very evident on his son\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph–\u201d Ben began, his voice lowered almost to a whisper as he fought to find the right words to use.\u00a0 Taking two steps closer to his son Ben wondered how he would ever break through with an explanation that might bring Joe to a clearer understanding of why he had done what he had in town.\u00a0 Before he could even say his next word Joe looked directly at his father and started to speak in a broken whisper.<\/p>\n \u201cPa—-I–I don\u2019t blame you—blame you for what you did to me,\u201d Joe stuttered, his heart feeling as though it was lodged tight in his throat.\u00a0 \u201cI–I brought it all on myself—everything–because I just wouldn\u2019t listen—to what you were saying.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben was surprised and a bit amazed to hear his son putting all the blame on himself.\u00a0 It was not at all the same young man who had defiantly disobeyed his father earlier that day.\u00a0 Ben could read the total remorse on Joe\u2019s face and knew the tears which were tracking down his face were sincere ones.\u00a0 \u201cI was a bit hard on you,\u201d Ben nodded towards Joe but the boy jumped right back in.<\/p>\n \u201cNo–no, Pa—I deserved that tanning—for risking my life–for risking Mitch\u2019s life too!\u00a0 You\u2019ve been trying to protect me—–and I fought everything—never listened–\u201d Joe trailed off consumed with regret.\u00a0 He covered his eyes with his hands and shook his head so heartbroken over all his stubborn and reckless behavior of late.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, while you did earn that tanning, I didn\u2019t want to have to show you what the killer had done.\u00a0 Son, I just couldn\u2019t get you to understand that death is forever.\u00a0 It so very easily could have been you instead of Brady.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI–I know that—now— and I\u2019m so sorry—I just hope—\u201d Joe stopped, choking up again on his words.<\/p>\n \u201cHope what, Joseph?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked quietly.<\/p>\n Joe drew in a deep breath and pulled down his hands to stare at his father.\u00a0 \u201cI–I hope you will forgive me—for all that I did—all the worry I caused you,\u201d Joe whispered, his chin quivering due to the thought that he might never have his father\u2019s trust back again.\u00a0 He knew he had pushed his pa to the brink and back and in Joe\u2019s heart he really wouldn\u2019t have blamed the man if he wasn\u2019t ready to accept his apology.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s heart filled with the love he had for the young man who now stood in front of him begging for forgiveness.\u00a0 He knew that Joseph was truly sorry for all he had done and saw no point in prolonging the boy\u2019s heartbreak.\u00a0 Ben did not respond verbally to Joe\u2019s plea.\u00a0 Instead of words, he reached his arms out towards his son.\u00a0 At that moment Joe knew that his father was ready to forgive him.\u00a0 Two precarious steps later Joe was in his father\u2019s protective and loving embrace.\u00a0 He pressed his face against Ben\u2019s strong chest and sobbed tears of relief.<\/p>\n \u201cOh—Pa—I\u2019m so sorry–so sorry—I–I didn\u2019t know—when I saw Brady laying there—oh God!\u00a0 I–I can\u2019t believe what happened to him—it was awful–so awful, Pa!\u201d\u00a0 Joe relived the torment of seeing the young man\u2019s mutilated body.<\/p>\n \u201cI know, Son.\u00a0 I know,\u201d Ben whispered feeling the boy\u2019s body quake as he unleashed the vivid pictures in his mind.\u00a0 He allowed Joe a few minutes to just feel protected and safe held there in his father\u2019s arms.\u00a0 Gently stroking the back of the boy\u2019s head, Ben waited for the sign that he was calming a bit.\u00a0 Ben closed his eyes and thought about the images which infiltrated his own mind at the time.\u00a0 The gruesome sight had bothered him, so he knew it had devastated the young man in his embrace much more.\u00a0 Ben wished there had been another way to have gotten through to his son other than to show him the body of Brady Milford, but unfortunately there wasn\u2019t.\u00a0 Apparently it had the expected effect on Joe, though Ben hated that it had come to that.\u00a0 At seventeen years old, Joe had formed the opinion somewhere that he was indestructible and it had been up to his father to show him otherwise.\u00a0 Now dull reality had finally struck and the boy knew all too well that he had narrowly missed a run-in with the killer.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u00a0 Why, Pa?\u00a0 Why would anyone–anybody—why?\u201d\u00a0 Joe continued to cry in his father\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s an evil that lurks in some men, Joseph–an evil which cannot even be explained nor comprehended by the rest of us.\u00a0 All we can do is try to stop them—and try to protect the ones we love,\u201d Ben replied in a whisper.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never been so scared in my life—to think—he was there–in town–the same time as me and Mitch!\u00a0 If anything happened to us—it would\u2019ve been all my fault—all my fault!\u201d\u00a0 Joe sobbed uncontrollably just thinking about what might have been.<\/p>\n \u201cI just thank God it wasn\u2019t you–or Mitch, Joseph.\u00a0 You are safe—you are home—and you are with someone who loves you very much.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI love you too, Pa,\u201d Joe answered looking up into his father\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cI promise I won\u2019t ever disobey you again.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben smiled knowingly and hugged his son closer.\u00a0 \u201cEver<\/strong> is a long time, Joseph.\u00a0 Maybe you shouldn\u2019t quite make that big a promise.\u00a0 I would be happy if you just promise to obey me until this killer is caught.\u00a0 We\u2019ll worry about ever<\/strong> after that, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded and Ben released him from his hold.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s get that tea in you,\u201d Ben said and walked Joe over to the side of the bed.\u00a0 He handed the cup to his son and Joe obediently drank the contents of the teacup and set it back down on the night stand.\u00a0 \u201cNow–how about turning in?\u00a0 You look awfully tired.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe spread out on his bed gingerly still aching from all he had experienced that night.\u00a0 His backside was hurting pretty bad, but his heart was feeling much better after he had apologized to his father.\u00a0 Ben bent down and pushed the curls from off Joe\u2019s forehead and planted a kiss there to show his son that he was forgiven of his dreadful disobedience. He normally would have blown out the lamp at that point but Ben figured that Joe might just have a little problem with being in the dark that night considering all that had happened.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll just turn this down a bit–in case you have to get up later,\u201d Ben explained.\u00a0 \u201cYou go to sleep now.\u00a0 It\u2019s been a long day and a longer night.\u201d\u00a0 Ben patted Joe\u2019s arm and turned toward the door.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d\u00a0 Joe called out as his father pulled the door open.<\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked turning back around.<\/p>\n \u201cAre they gonna catch him—the killer?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked fear written all over his face.<\/p>\n Ben drew in a deep breath.\u00a0 He tried to be truthful with his son, but at the time he wasn\u2019t at all sure that the madman would ever be found.\u00a0 Deciding to try and ease the boy\u2019s mind so he might be able to sleep, Ben answered, \u201cyes, they\u2019ll catch him, Joseph.\u00a0 Now you go to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe watched as his father closed the door.\u00a0 He reached over to the lamp and turned the wick up higher.\u00a0 With all the awful visions still locked into his mind, Joe wondered how he would ever be able to close his eyes and fall to sleep now.<\/p>\n ***********************<\/p>\n Daylight streamed in through Joe\u2019s bedroom curtains and woke him from yet another nightmare.\u00a0 His sleep had been interrupted several times by awful visions of what he had seen the night before.\u00a0 Joe had dreamt that the killer was chasing him and he ran harder and harder into the dense woods trying to flee his attacker.\u00a0 Just before he felt the knife at his throat Joe had bolted up in the bed gasping for air and feeling like his heart would explode.\u00a0 How he had ever fallen back to sleep Joe did not know, but he had.\u00a0 Though it just meant falling back into another terrifying scenario of trying to run away from the killer, Joe had slept again till dawn.<\/p>\n He pulled himself from his bed and walked to the water basin and rinsed his face to become more alert.\u00a0 Joe knew he needed to go downstairs and start whatever chores his father had planned for him, but, he hated to face his brothers.\u00a0 He assumed that just as always, Ben had filled both Adam and Hoss in on all that had happened in town.\u00a0 Dreading anything being said about his terrible disobedience, Joe slowly dressed and readied to make his appearance at the breakfast table.<\/p>\n Ben looked up from his coffee as soon as he noticed the descent of his youngest son on the staircase.\u00a0 He shot a warning look over at his other two sons.\u00a0 Ben had already told both of them that he didn\u2019t want them riding their little brother about his escapades.\u00a0 He had decided that by now Joe felt about as awful as he could feel and wouldn\u2019t need the reminder.<\/p>\n Joe made it to the dining room table and called out a solemn good morning to his family.\u00a0 They all answered a bit more cheerily.\u00a0 Joe stared at his chair and he sighed not wanting to plant himself down onto the hard seat.\u00a0 He was still hurting from the harsh tanning he had received the night before.\u00a0 Ben was well aware of the look on Joe\u2019s face as the boy contemplated just how he was going to manage to sit down without making a spectacle of himself.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph—before you sit down–I believe Hop Sing wanted to see you first,\u201d Ben called over to his son.\u00a0 Joe stared over at his father and wondered what the cook would want from him.\u00a0 Not minding the brief delay, since he wasn\u2019t all too keen on sitting at the table, Joe headed into the kitchen.<\/p>\n Hop Sing turned from the stove as the boy walked over to him.\u00a0 \u201cPa said you wanted me for something, Hop Sing?\u201d\u00a0 Joe questioned.<\/p>\n \u201cHave breakfast for you—you come over here,\u201d the cook walked over to the counter where he had set a plate and cup out for the boy.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe you eat better here then in other room, Little Joe,\u201d Hop Sing smiled and patted Joe\u2019s shoulder and turned to bring over the platters of food to serve him.<\/p>\n Joe shook his head and grinned sheepishly.\u00a0 He now knew that his father was very aware of his plight and had decided to let Joe handle his condition as tactfully as possible.\u00a0 Joe was relieved that it had to be true now that Pa had forgiven him.\u00a0 Just the thought that the man had not embarrassed him in front of his brothers made Joe feel both grateful and still very sorry for all he had done.\u00a0 Hop Sing handed the boy the food and Joe put a meager amount on his plate and then thanked the cook.\u00a0 His appetite hadn\u2019t returned to normal, but he was trying to do the best he could so no-one would think he was being as disagreeable as he had in the past by refusing to eat.\u00a0\u00a0 Joe stood there at the counter and began eating his breakfast.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t long before he felt like someone was staring at him, and he turned towards the kitchen entranceway.\u00a0 Ben was standing there with his coffee cup in his hand looking over at Joe.\u00a0 Casting a knowing smile over at the boy Pa nodded his head and walked back into the dining room, he knew Joseph had gotten the message that he was forgiven.<\/p>\n *******************************<\/p>\n Both Adam and Hoss left after breakfast to saddle the three horses so their father and them could ride into town and find out the latest news concerning the death of Brady Milford.\u00a0 They prayed that the killer had left some kind of clue as to his whereabouts this time.\u00a0 Ben watched from the living room as Joe helped Hop Sing clear the table of the place settings and took them back into the kitchen.\u00a0 He called Joe in once the table was cleared.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph—come here for a minute, please.\u00a0 I\u2019m about ready to leave,\u201d Ben waved the boy over.\u00a0 Joe obeyed the request and moved to stand next to his father \u201cI know I probably don\u2019t have to tell you this—but you do know you are still restricted to the house and yard, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe swallowed hard, his mind still filled with horrifying images of Brady\u2019s corpse.\u00a0 \u201cYou don\u2019t have to worry, Pa,\u201d Joe paused and his face showed complete fear on it \u201cI never want to leave the yard—never in life!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head and let his right hand fall softly on the boy\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cNo–Joseph—that\u2019s not what I want at all.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want this fear to control you–to stop you from living.\u00a0 You\u2019ll only be restricted until this killer is caught.\u00a0 Do you understand, Son?\u00a0 I don\u2019t want you to stop living just because of one evil man.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not really just one evil man is it, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked, his gaze seeking truth from the man he trusted above all others.\u00a0 \u201cThere are killers out there—and even if you get this guy—who\u2019s to say there won\u2019t be others?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben pulled Joe into his arms and hugged him tight.\u00a0 He hated to see the usual brave and independent youngster turning away from his former self.\u00a0 The last thing Ben had ever intended to do was scare the boy into never venturing out into the world due to fear.\u00a0 He just wanted him to avoid it as much as possible until the current situation was over.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI have tried to teach you how to defend yourself over the years, Joseph.\u00a0 And, from what I\u2019ve seen in the past—you have learned very well.\u00a0 You have good instincts—most of the time that is.\u00a0 I want you to return to that way of life as soon as this maniac is caught.\u00a0 That\u2019s not to say that there isn\u2019t some danger at large elsewhere, just that this particular threat is too close to home.\u00a0 Do you understand?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s killing boys my age–yeah–I know.\u00a0 But, who knows–maybe it isn\u2019t just one man–there could be several,\u201d Joe protested.<\/p>\n Ben pulled Joe\u2019s chin up and stared into the troubled eyes.\u00a0 \u201cWe believe it\u2019s one man, Son.\u00a0 Just give us a little time, we will catch him.\u00a0 Now–what are you going to do with your day?\u201d\u00a0 Ben tried to change the subject as he let loose of his son.<\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing says he has some things he needs help with.\u00a0 I thought I\u2019d stay close to the house today—most of the other chores I took care of earlier this week.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood—I\u2019m sure that Hop Sing will be glad to have some company for a change,\u201d Ben smiled and walked to the credenza to strap on his holster.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d\u00a0 Joe called over to his father as Ben pulled the door open.<\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBe careful, okay?\u201d\u00a0 Joe pleaded.<\/p>\n Ben patted his son\u2019s shoulder and nodded, \u201cI will, don\u2019t you worry.\u00a0 We won\u2019t be long.\u00a0 See you later.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe watched from the front door the departure of his family.\u00a0 He hurried into the kitchen to be with the cook.\u00a0 Joe could not shake the terror he still felt in his soul and hoped his father would safely return and soon.<\/p>\n **********************<\/p>\n The three Cartwrights reined their horses to a fast halt when they spied the sheriff and detective standing by a grove of oak trees a mile from Virginia City.\u00a0 Dismounting, they approached the two men.<\/p>\n *************************<\/p>\n \u201cHi, Roy–Dex—what\u2019s going on?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked.<\/p>\n \u201cFound us some tracks that looked a bit suspicious and followed them out here,\u201d Dex began his explanation and stooped down and pointed to the base of one of the trees.\u00a0 \u201cLooks like the Milford boy was killed here and not in the alleyway.\u00a0 There\u2019s blood here—and a couple of pieces of hemp on the ground.\u00a0 Looks like the killer tied the boy up, butchered him and then dragged him back into town.\u00a0 We knew he had to have taken him somewhere close to be able to dump him off in such a short amount of time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t believe no-one saw him—where were the other deputies?\u201d\u00a0 Adam jumped in with his question.<\/p>\n \u201cDinner time—all\u2019s we could come up with.\u00a0 Two of them decided to go to dinner at the same damn time.\u00a0 It won\u2019t happen again I can guarantee that!\u201d\u00a0 Roy replied disgusted.<\/p>\n \u201cBut, there\u2019s four of them–where were the other two?\u201d\u00a0 Adam continued as Ben and Hoss looked the area over hoping to come up with another clue.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were at both ends of town–this killer has been watching us, that\u2019s for sure!\u201d\u00a0 Dex said and moved over to his horse.\u00a0 \u201cI sure hate it—Roy had to tell that poor woman–it broke her heart to lose her youngest son.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSarah asked us all to be at the cemetery at noon tomorrow, Ben.\u00a0 You all coming aren\u2019t you?\u2019\u00a0 Roy asked as he neared his old friend.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, we will be there,\u201d Ben sighed and looked over at Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cSee anything else, Son?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo–but just thinking—you said that Brady was in the saloon—anybody ask around to see if they saw any stranger in the bar at the same time?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cChecked it out already, Hoss,\u201d Dex answered.\u00a0 \u201cSam didn\u2019t notice any strangers–didn\u2019t sell any drinks to anyone he didn\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen maybe it\u2019s someone we know,\u201d Hoss fired back.<\/p>\n All four men looked at each other and worried that Hoss was right.\u00a0 If that was the case then it made it that much harder to find the killer.\u00a0 It also meant that the person would be able to come and go and show no suspicion as he did.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone sure has a powerful hate for young boys, that\u2019s all I know so far.\u00a0 And, it isn\u2019t any coincidence that they all looked a lot alike either.\u00a0 He is singling out certain boys and butchering them.\u00a0 It\u2019s anybody\u2019s guess at this point why though,\u201d Dex called over to the Cartwrights as he mounted his horse.<\/p>\n \u201cAnything we can do today?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked Roy.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, not unless you want to give me one of your boys to help watch the town this afternoon so I can have me a good long talk with my deputies?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll give you both of them, Roy.\u00a0 Adam—Hoss–how about helping out until dinner time and coming on home?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Pa,\u201d Adam nodded.\u00a0 He mounted his horse and waited for Hoss to do the same.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m gonna go back home.\u00a0 Joseph is a bit skittish right now—and I want to make sure he\u2019s doing okay,\u201d Ben called to his sons.<\/p>\n \u201cI imagine he would be, Ben,\u201d Roy smiled wryly.\u00a0 \u201cYou gave him one helluva dose of reality last night didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded and swung up into his saddle.\u00a0 \u201cI scared him—maybe too much–don\u2019t want him running from his shadow.\u00a0 But, I don\u2019t want him ever to pull another stunt like he did yesterday either!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSee you tomorrow, Ben.\u00a0 Come on, Men!\u201d\u00a0 Roy sang out and turned his horse towards Virginia City.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n The scene was somber and heart rendering the next day at the funeral of Brady Milford.\u00a0 The crowd of mourners stood at the grave site and listened to the preacher\u2019s words.\u00a0 There was only one thing on the minds of the citizens of the town and the surrounding ranchers, and that was how something that awful could have happened to such a young man.\u00a0 Sarah Jean Milford sobbed as they began to shovel the clods of dirt on top of her son\u2019s casket.\u00a0 She was surrounded by her other children as she watched her youngest being buried next to her late husband.<\/p>\n The Devlin family was in attendance that day and Mitch sought out his friend Joe after the last prayer was said.\u00a0 \u201cYou sure got me in a heap of trouble, Joe!\u00a0 My pa went off on me when I got home.\u00a0 Darn near got a tanning \u2018cause of your lies.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stared over at his friend and anger took over his face.\u00a0 \u201cHey—we deserved it!\u00a0 I got a tanning to end all tannings–but I ain\u2019t complaining.\u00a0 Do you realize that could be us?\u201d\u00a0 Joe paused and pointed at the grave in front of them.\u00a0 \u201cYour pa had every reason to be upset that we were in town.\u00a0 And my pa had every reason to punish me too!\u00a0 We were idiots, Mitch.\u00a0 This killer doesn\u2019t play.\u00a0 Be thankful that your pa cares enough to be mad at you, okay?\u201d\u00a0 Joe said angrily and turned and walked away from his friend.<\/p>\n Ben had been standing a few feet away as the discussion had gone on between the two young men.\u00a0 He was very happy to hear his son\u2019s words.\u00a0 It proved to him that Joe was truly sincere about his regrets over all he had done in the past.\u00a0 Mitch couldn\u2019t believe that Joe went off on him about his complaints, but then, he was not aware of the fact that his friend had been forced to view the body of Brady Milford.\u00a0 Ben was somewhat amused to see the look on Mitch\u2019s face as he walked back over to his father.\u00a0 That amusement soon faded as Sarah Milford approached Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cSarah—my deepest sympathy.\u00a0 If there\u2019s anything I can do–\u201d Ben trailed off as he put his arm around the woman\u2019s shoulder trying to offer some comfort.<\/p>\n \u201cBen, you just watch your boy.\u00a0 Don\u2019t let him run off like my boy did.\u00a0 I told Brady time and time again that this wasn\u2019t anything to play around with.\u00a0 I told him not to go into town.\u00a0 But, did he listen?\u00a0 No.\u00a0 He was supposed to be with his brother Cleve up at the breaking corral instead he decided to go get him a beer.\u00a0 And now look—\u201d the woman broke back down and cried, leaning into her old friend.\u00a0 \u201cJust watch your boy—don\u2019t let it happen to anyone else, Ben, It\u2019s such a waste—such a waste–when will they learn? My poor boy—my poor boy—\u201d Sarah whispered and turned and walked back over to her other children.<\/p>\n Joe was standing behind both Ben and Sarah at the time, unbeknownst to his father.\u00a0 When Ben turned around and spotted the boy he could see the tears streaking down Joe\u2019s face.\u00a0 He knew that the kid was thinking about how Brady and he had both tried to deceive their parents and it had cost one of them his life.\u00a0 \u201cCome on, Joseph—let\u2019s go home,\u201d Ben called out and put his arm around Joe\u2019s shoulder and walked him down the hill to their carriage.<\/p>\n There was one man in the crowd of mourners who had taken a special interest in the boy in the green corduroy jacket who was being ushered to his surrey by his father.\u00a0 He watched and observed carefully the height and weight and full appearance of the boy and it was at that moment that he decided who his next victim would be.\u00a0 The man walked away and blended right into the crowd.\u00a0 No-one would have suspected that the man, who was known to all, had come to the funeral to watch the sorrow he had caused the Milford family.\u00a0 No-one would have known that he had not come to pay his respects but to revel in the thrill of his kill and to pinpoint which boy would be next.<\/p>\n ************************<\/p>\n Dex Farwell poured over his notes as he sat in Roy Coffee\u2019s office late at night.\u00a0 He knew that the answer to the murders was somewhere there in front of him but could not for the life of him figure it out.\u00a0 Roy had given in to exhaustion and went to sleep in his quarters there in the jail house, leaving the detective to mull over the information the two men had collected over the past four days since the death of Brady Milford. \u00a0Sipping his warmed over coffee Dex drew a line through fourteen of the names on his list.\u00a0 He had spoken with the bartender over at the Silver Dollar Saloon and had ascertained the names of everyone that Sam could remember stopping by the bar the day that Brady had been abducted.\u00a0 Dex had spoken in length to the sheriff regarding all of the possible suspects.\u00a0 One by one they were crossed off the list after a bit of scrutiny.\u00a0 There were only four other names on the bottom of the list that had not been dismissed for one reason or another.\u00a0 Though the sheriff knew each man that Sam had pointed out to the best of his recollection, Dex refused to accept each dismissal as fact.\u00a0 Roy had traveled with Dex to the house or ranch of each person Sam had remembered to be present at the saloon.\u00a0 All the leads were dead ends.<\/p>\n Dex stood and threw down his pencil, his anger and frustration mounting.\u00a0 Four men left to speak with, that was it.\u00a0 The detective still hadn\u2019t figured out an adequate motive for anyone to have purposely butchered the young men.\u00a0 This crime spree had Dex stumped, but he refused to give up.\u00a0 He sat back down in the chair and read over the last four names on the list. ****Jason Hill, Greg Parley, Hutch Coleson, Marcus Hunter****Dex thought to himself. ****a rancher, a merchant, a bronc buster and a farmer—-could one of you be the killer?****<\/p>\n ******************************<\/p>\n Ben was worried, worried about a lot of things in fact.\u00a0 Whereas his youngest had totally fallen to being a very obedient young man, he also seemed very withdrawn and frightened since the terrible night when he had been forced to view the corpse of Brady Milford.\u00a0 Ben wanted the boy to be wary, he wanted him to follow orders, but he didn\u2019t want his son to be consumed with fear either.\u00a0 He prayed that the killer would be captured soon, worried about the long term effects of what the delay was causing Joe.<\/p>\n Standing at the front door readying to leave, Ben shot a glance Joe\u2019s way.\u00a0 The boy was sitting on the hearth staring into the flames of the fireplace lost in thought.\u00a0 Ben couldn\u2019t help feeling that Joe looked like he was trapped.\u00a0 In some ways the boy was.\u00a0 He was trapped between being a child and a man.\u00a0 Ben knew the progression was bad enough under normal conditions, but now to have to face the advance of puberty and adulthood with such terrible trauma in his life was tearing his son apart.\u00a0\u00a0 Normally Joe would have fought his father tooth and nail to ride with him into town, gun strapped to his hip ready to assist in the capture of the killer.\u00a0 Now, however, Joe wanted no part of anything other than the safety of the house.\u00a0 Ben hoped the lesson he had tried to teach his son had not back-fired and thrust the boy into a life of fear and insecurity.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, I\u2019m about ready to go,\u201d Ben called over to his son and the boy stood and approached him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou gonna be in Virginia City long, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked a hint of a tremble in his tone.<\/p>\n Ben put his hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder and smiled, \u201cno, not long.\u00a0 Your brothers and I are just gonna go talk to Roy, check on a few things and come back.\u00a0 Now, you remember that your friend Mr. Lincolns is going to be here in a little while to show Hop Sing what he has in his wagon?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah—Hop Sing\u2019s making up a list.\u00a0 Thanks—\u201d Joe stopped and forced a smile towards his father.<\/p>\n \u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor giving Mr. Lincolns the business, Pa—I know you usually order everything from the mercantile.\u00a0 It\u2019s nice of you to have him come out here.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben returned the boy\u2019s smile, \u201cwell, he did a good turn for you.\u00a0 Besides, I did feel a bit guilty for thinking the worst of the man in the beginning.\u00a0 It does show me that your instincts were correct—that time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah—but I still shouldn\u2019t have gone off with him.\u00a0 You were right that time, Pa—it was stupid on my part.\u00a0 But, then, I\u2019ve done some pretty stupid things lately.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben hugged Joe to him and chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s all part of growing up, Son.\u00a0 You\u2019re getting there—just don\u2019t rush things, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded and walked his father to the door.\u00a0 \u201cSee you later, Pa,\u201d Joe said and watched as the man walked towards the barn where his two brothers were waiting with the horses.<\/p>\n ******************************<\/p>\n Samuel Lincolns drove his wagon through the lush green countryside eager to get to the Ponderosa.\u00a0 He was glad to be getting some business after a few weeks of slow profits.\u00a0 Samuel was also happy to be visiting Joe Cartwright, the boy he had driven home weeks prior.\u00a0 He found the boy to be pleasant and very easy to speak with.\u00a0 Having met and spoken with Ben Cartwright the previous day, Samuel knew that the young man was not doing very well from what he had heard.\u00a0 Ben told the man why Joe was not leaving the Ponderosa and why a visit would be most welcomed by his son.<\/p>\n As he turned down the main road that led directly to the Ponderosa ranch house, Samuel spotted something lying in the road in front of him.\u00a0 It appeared to be a man laying face down on the rock laden ground.\u00a0 Pulling his team to a stop, Samuel stepped down from his wagon and hurried over to aid the fallen man.\u00a0 Just as he had stooped down to touch the man\u2019s shoulder, the other man turned in an instant and cracked Samuel in the head with his gun.\u00a0 The elderly man fell to the ground, the side of his head split opened.<\/p>\n Slipping the unconscious man\u2019s coat on, the stranger was satisfied that it was a decent fit.\u00a0 He bent down and grabbed the peddler\u2019s top hat off of the ground and secured it on his own head.\u00a0 Next, the killer climbed up into the wagon and maneuvered the team of horses around the body left in the road.\u00a0 He continued the trek towards the ranch house, knowing there was a seventeen year old boy waiting for the peddler\u2019s wagon to arrive.<\/p>\n **********************************<\/p>\n \u201cLooks like he\u2019s here, Hop Sing,\u201d Joe said peeking out from the window in the kitchen.<\/p>\n \u201cI put on tea—we sit and talk then go see to wagon.\u00a0 Be right back–Hop Sing go get list!\u201d the cook replied and walked over to the stove to set the kettle on the flame.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go and welcome him—be right back,\u201d Joe announced and pulled the kitchen door open and sauntered slowly across the front yard.<\/p>\n The wagon had come to a stop right in front of the barn.\u00a0 Joe figured that the man might want to water the horses before going inside and walked toward the team.\u00a0 He could just barely make out the back of Mr. Lincoln who was leaning into the rear of the covered wagon.<\/p>\n Joe put his hand on the man\u2019s shoulder and said to him, \u201cglad you could come, Mr. Lincolns—our cook just put the water on for tea.\u201d<\/p>\n The man in the dark coat turned slowly and it was only then that Joe realized two things, two dreadful things.\u00a0 First, there was now a Colt 45 pointed directly at his chest, the second, it was not Mr. Lincolns behind the weapon.<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Hunter?\u00a0 What\u2019s going on?\u00a0 Where\u2019s Mr. Lincolns—what\u2019s the gun for?\u201d\u00a0 Joe spat out full of confusion which changed abruptly to mortal fear.\u00a0 He tried to step back, but the man swung around with his other hand and knocked the boy in the head with a block of wood from the inside of the wagon.\u00a0 Joe collapsed onto the ground.\u00a0 The killer bent down quickly and tossed Joe like a sack of wheat into the back of the wagon.\u00a0 He then hurried back around to the front seat and climbed up and grabbed the reins.\u00a0 Then, he sent the team into motion and they had disappeared from sight before Hop Sing came out of the kitchen.<\/p>\n ***********************************<\/p>\n Dex had slept for only a few hours.\u00a0 He had awakened with a gut feeling of danger and could not shake it.\u00a0 Images of all the dead boys flashed in his mind in a rapid succession.\u00a0 One after the other he saw their faces displayed.\u00a0 It was then that another picture came into view.\u00a0 He could see the face of Joe Cartwright.\u00a0 Dex had no idea why the young Cartwright came to mind, but he did and it was enough to make him strap on his holster and head out to get his horse.\u00a0 He wanted to get to the Ponderosa.\u00a0 If his instincts were wrong, Dex figured he could head out from there and start to interview the other men on the list of suspects.\u00a0 The Hunter farm wasn\u2019t too far from the Ponderosa, so either way, Dex felt it wouldn\u2019t be a wasted trip.<\/p>\n Roy Coffee had spotted the departure of the detective and hurriedly saddled his own mount to catch up with the man.\u00a0 By the time Dex came to the main road to the ranch house he noticed the still form laying in the road.\u00a0 He had just dismounted and bent down to check for a pulse when Roy rode up next to him.<\/p>\n \u201cWho is it?\u201d\u00a0 Roy asked breathlessly as he jumped down from his saddle.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s that peddler—-the one we checked out weeks ago,\u201d Dex replied and pulled off his neckerchief and placed it against the man\u2019s head to try and stop the bleeding.<\/p>\n \u201cHe alive?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBarely—Roy—if this is the peddler—where\u2019s his wagon?\u201d\u00a0 Dex asked and noticed the sheriff\u2019s face went white.<\/p>\n \u201cI heard Ben say that Lincolns here was gonna stop by the Ponderosa!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou stay with him, Roy— I gotta catch up with that wagon!\u201d\u00a0 Dex shouted and threw himself into his saddle.\u00a0 He kicked at his horse\u2019s sides and sent the steed into a fast gallop.<\/p>\n ************************************<\/p>\n Hop Sing was in the barn trying his best to saddle a horse when he heard another rider approaching.\u00a0 He looked out of the door and saw it was the detective he had met weeks ago.\u00a0 Running out in the yard the cook yelled out in Chinese.<\/p>\n \u201cHold on–hold on—in English please!\u201d\u00a0 Dex called down to the Oriental.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe—he come out to get peddler—Hop Sing turn around Little Joe gone—peddler wagon gone! Got to get to Little Joe!\u201d the cook yelled out distraught over the thought that something had happened to the boy he had raised as his own son.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is Ben?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHead to town–little while ago–before wagon come!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou go on and catch up with him, Hop Sing—I\u2019m gonna go get the boy—head out!\u201d\u00a0 Dex shouted, turned his horse away from the ranch house, and raced off.<\/p>\n *******************************<\/p>\n Ben, Hoss and Adam had been surprised to find both Dex and Roy out of town when they arrived in Virginia City.\u00a0 Having no idea where either of the men had gone, they decided to ride back home and wait for news.\u00a0 Ben had taken the time to jot down a message for Roy and left it in the man\u2019s office asking him to get in touch later in the day.<\/p>\n Roy had pulled Mr. Lincolns over against a tree and was trying to tend his head wound when he noticed the coming riders.\u00a0 As they came closer, Roy was both filled with relief and sadness to see it was the Cartwrights minus Little Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on, Roy?\u201d\u00a0 Ben called over to the sheriff.<\/p>\n \u201cLincolns—he was hit–hit hard–\u201d<\/p>\n Horror filled Ben\u2019s mind and squeezed his heart tight in his chest.\u00a0 \u201cWhere\u2019s his wagon!\u201d\u00a0 Ben shouted, knowing in his gut that it was bad news.<\/p>\n \u201cThe killer must\u2019ve taken it and headed to your house—Dex is right behind him—leave me one of your boys to help with the peddler and go catch up!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam—you go with Roy–Hoss–let\u2019s ride!\u201d\u00a0 Ben shouted and hurriedly rode away from the scene.<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n Ben and Hoss hadn\u2019t gone three miles before they saw Hop Sing riding towards them.\u00a0 The Oriental was just barely staying in the saddle, and bobbed up and down frantically trying to get to the family with his news.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMr. Carlight!\u00a0 Mr. Carlight! \u00a0Man take Little Joe!\u00a0 Detective go to save him now!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe know—which way did they go?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss hollered over to the cook.<\/p>\n \u201cThat way—-follow wagon now!\u201d\u00a0 Hop Sing pointed west.<\/p>\n Hoss and his father left Hop Sing and a cloud of dust in their wake as they raced to catch up with the detective, the killer and Little Joe.<\/p>\n *********************************<\/p>\n Marcus Hunter had always been very meticulous in how he dealt with his victims.\u00a0 It was true, as the law had suspected that he rarely brought his victims to his home and usually just took them far enough away from the boy\u2019s home towns to accomplish the kill and then dump their bodies back where they had been taken.\u00a0 Today was no different.\u00a0 Having driven the team of horses just a few miles from the Ponderosa ranch house, the killer stopped at a small clearing and hoisted the boy from the wagon and carried him into the dense forest in front of him.\u00a0 Joe had been unconscious the whole trip and had not felt the jar to his body as the man dropped him roughly onto the ground at the base of a tree.<\/p>\n Marcus slapped the boy\u2019s face trying to bring him back around.\u00a0 One thing he enjoyed was to see the look of terror on his victim\u2019s faces before they were slain.\u00a0 Joe became aware of the ropes which bound his wrists first.\u00a0 He blinked hard and groaned from the pain of his head wound.\u00a0 It was at that time that Joe fully realized what was going on.\u00a0 He felt as though it was at that moment that his world stood still and his heart stopped beating.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s arms were over his head with the rope binding both wrists and encircling the tree behind him.\u00a0 He was lying flat on his back and could see all too clearly the smile on Marcus Hunter\u2019s face as he stared down at him now.<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Hunter—-why—why you?\u201d\u00a0 Joe stammered.<\/p>\n \u201cNever figured it was me–huh, Cartwright?\u201d\u00a0 Marcus laughed and pulled out a ten inch knife from his boot.\u00a0 The blade glimmered in the early morning sun and as Joe looked up at it he knew that each victim had felt that very knife before he had died.<\/p>\n \u201cBut—why—why—you\u2019ve got a wife—you\u2019ve got a baby on the way—why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo I don\u2019t,\u201d the man shot back and stared into the penetrating hazel eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cYour wife—-she\u2019s with her sister—remember?\u00a0 She\u2019s gonna come home—-before your baby comes—she\u2019s just visiting her sister!\u00a0 I remember you telling my pa that!\u201d\u00a0 Joe tried to stall for time, praying with all his soul that someone would find him before it was too late.<\/p>\n \u201cNO—she\u2019s buried under my house, Joe!\u201d\u00a0 Marcus shouted and then broke into maniacal laughter.\u00a0 \u201cFunny thing about that —funny thing—you know that baby?\u00a0 That baby that we wuz gonna have—that baby that I\u2019ve been waiting for —for twenty years of marriage? It wasn\u2019t gonna be mine!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat—–what are you talking about?\u00a0 Why did you kill her?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked trying to keep the man talking.\u00a0 As long as he was talking he would not be doing anything else, Joe figured.<\/p>\n \u201cCaught her out in the barn—–with my farm hand—you knew him Joe—you know—Zack—-the one I said left to go to Texas?\u00a0 He was the father of that baby—-and now the three of \u2018em are all together—all nice and neat—under the floor of my kitchen!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay—okay—that was bad—that was wrong,\u201d Joe paused and fought to think of something else to come up with to keep the conversation going \u201cbut, why—why kill all the other boys?\u00a0 Why kill them?\u00a0 They didn\u2019t do nothing to you—I didn\u2019t do nothing to you!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGod told me—God told me—kill all the seventeen year olds—all the eighteen year olds—who look like Zack–they are full of bad seed—they have to be stopped!\u00a0\u00a0 They have to be slain to show everyone how evil they are!\u00a0 They are all spawns of Satan—-and you are one of them!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNO—no I\u2019m not—you are insane!\u201d\u00a0 Joe protested and then felt the man\u2019s hand on his shirt.<\/p>\n \u201cGo ahead, Joe—go ahead and beg me–go on ahead and cry and plead with me—go on!\u201d\u00a0 Marcus shouted as he ripped the boy\u2019s shirt open scattering the buttons everywhere.\u00a0 He laid bare Joe\u2019s chest and the boy sucked in air.<\/p>\n Joe tried to listen, tried to comprehend all that the maniac had just told him.\u00a0 The man, Joe figured, wanted him to beg him not to kill him.\u00a0 Joe refused to die that way.\u00a0 He hoped by acting in a different manner than the other victims that he might stand a chance with the killer.<\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t crying—and I ain\u2019t beggin\u2019 either!\u00a0 You might kill me—but you\u2019re not gonna get away with this–not this time!\u201d<\/p>\n Marcus was now enraged by what the boy had said to him.\u00a0 He turned his head when he thought he heard a horse approaching.\u00a0 Lifting the knife Marcus sent it down into the boy\u2019s abdomen and Joe screamed out in anguish.\u00a0 Just as the killer began to move the impaled knife further down the boy\u2019s body, to lay the cavity open as he had done to each victim, the blast of a shotgun rang out.<\/p>\n The weight of the killer\u2019s body fell over Joe\u2019s chest, rending the knife lower into his stomach.\u00a0 Dex Farwell jumped down from his horse.\u00a0 Tossing down his rifle he drew his six-gun.\u00a0 He hurried over to Joe and shoved the killer off of him.\u00a0\u00a0 Dex checked the pulse of Marcus Hunter and found him to be dead.\u00a0 He then turned his attention to the badly injured boy.<\/p>\n \u201cHang on, Joe—hang on,\u201d Dex whispered as he attempted to pull the knife out of the boy as carefully as possible.\u00a0 The crimson stained blade was imbedded in Joe\u2019s stomach a good three inches.\u00a0 The detective grimaced when the tip of the knife finally pulled through the puckered skin and a tide of blood poured out of the wound and spread it\u2019s pattern down the boy\u2019s abdomen and onto his trousers.\u00a0\u00a0 Joe groaned and tears fell from his eyes.\u00a0 The wounded boy\u2019s face paled and the detective was sure the young Cartwright was about to pass out.\u00a0 \u201cGot it out, Kid—hold on let me get your arms loose,\u201d Dex took the knife and slashed the rope that was wrapped around the tree.\u00a0 By the time he began to loosen the hemp from Joe\u2019s wrists he could hear the riders coming closer.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s legs shook as he approached the gruesome scene.\u00a0 He had already spotted the dead Marcus Hunter lying over to one side, and now Ben\u2019s eyes fell on his youngest child.\u00a0 Blood seemed to be everywhere from the gash in the boy\u2019s stomach and the anxious father could hardly believe that the green eyes were still opened and focusing in on him.\u00a0 For one brief moment Ben had presumed his son dead, and now looking at the boy, he wasn\u2019t sure if death was imminent.<\/p>\n \u201cOh–Joseph—\u201dBen paused and knelt down next to the boy.\u00a0 He took Joe\u2019s hand into his own and squeezed it.<\/p>\n \u201cGotta get him a doctor—and quick!\u201d\u00a0 Dex insisted.<\/p>\n \u201cPa—Pa—\u201d Joe fought to get his words out but was feeling very woozy from blood loss.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s okay, Son—your Pa has you now–\u201d Ben whispered as he drew his son up in his arms and stood.<\/p>\n \u201cGotta tell you, Pa—gotta tell you–\u201d Joe continued as Ben set him inside the wagon and climbed in with him.\u00a0 Hoss had already tied both Chubb\u2019s and Buck\u2019s reins to the back of the wagon and had jumped aboard and sent the team forward.\u00a0 They needed to get home as soon as possible.\u00a0 It was determined that Dex would head to town and bring the doctor back with him.\u00a0 He rode towards town, spurring his horse to move faster.<\/p>\n \u201cPa—Pa–\u201d Joe continued to try to get his meaning out.<\/p>\n Ben cradled the boy\u2019s head in his lap and applied pressure to the wound in his son\u2019s stomach<\/p>\n \u201cYou just rest, Joe—you can tell me later,\u201d Ben whispered trying to calm the frightened boy. The terrified father could feel the tears falling from his own eyes as he stared at his precious son who had fallen victim to the killer.\u00a0 He prayed that the maniac would not claim the boy as his last kill.<\/p>\n \u201cNO–tell you now–gotta—\u201d Joe muttered barely lucid, as he reached up and grabbed Ben\u2019s shirt collar.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay–okay–what is it?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked, knowing the boy was not going to give up until he had his say.\u00a0 He knew he had to keep Joe as calm as possible hoping to stop the pulsating flow of blood from advancing.<\/p>\n \u201cI—I was in the yard, Pa—in the yard—-just want you—want you to know–\u201d Joe choked out, tears filling his eyes.\u00a0 Those were his final words before he passed out, his head falling to one side.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s heart skipped a beat listening to his son\u2019s ironic confession.\u00a0 Joe had been doing exactly as he had been told to do, and yet the killer had gotten to him.\u00a0 The boy wanted his father to know that this time the evil had come after him and not the other way around.\u00a0 \u201cI know—Joseph—I know–\u201d Ben whispered and lowered his head and kissed his son.\u00a0 \u201cYou did exactly what I told you to do, Boy, exactly—-don\u2019t leave me—please—don\u2019t leave me,\u201d Ben sobbed as his hand pushed Joe\u2019s hair off his forehead and sent off a silent prayer for his life.<\/p>\n *********************************<\/p>\n The scene at the Ponderosa ranch house later that afternoon was a grim one.\u00a0 Ben paced back and forth in front of the fireplace while Adam and Hoss continually tried to reassure their father that Joe was in good hands.\u00a0 Doctor Martin had arrived shortly after they had brought Joe up to his room, and after assessing the situation, had ordered everyone from the boy\u2019s bedroom except Hop Sing.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want anyone hovering over his shoulder as he worked on Joe, and had read the anguish on the family members faces well.\u00a0 Doctor Martin knew that each man present was wondering if the boy could pull through in spite of the massive gash in his abdomen.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been up there for more than an hour now,\u201d Ben argued and turned to face his two sons.\u00a0 \u201cSomething must have happened—maybe he can\u2019t get the bleeding under control?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCalm down, Pa—no news is good news.\u00a0 He\u2019s just taking his time to make sure the sutures will hold most likely,\u201d Adam replied and reached for the coffee pot sitting on the coffee table.\u00a0 Hoss had prepared the brew and it was good and strong, though a tad bitter.\u00a0 \u201cHere—have some more coffee and sit down a spell–Doc will come get us soon.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben fell into the chair exhausted mentally.\u00a0 He accepted the cup from his eldest son and leaned back trying to come to grips with all that had happened.\u00a0 \u201cHe was in the yard–\u201d Ben muttered.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss asked, unable to hear his father well.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph–he was in the yard–where I made him stay–now look what happened!\u00a0 I should have brought the boy with us—instead he was left as a target for that maniac!\u201d\u00a0 Ben fired back upset with himself mostly.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, Pa, that ain\u2019t right and you know it!\u00a0 How\u2019d we know that the peddler would be ambushed?\u00a0 There was no way any of us could have known that Mr. Hunter plotted this whole thing out just to grab Little Joe,\u201d Hoss tried his best to ease his father\u2019s misplaced guilt.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy in the world would Marcus turn like this—into a killer?\u201d\u00a0 Adam asked his family, though he knew the only one who might know the answer was his kid brother upstairs.<\/p>\n Ben shook his head frustrated, \u201cto think I had that man to our house just a couple of weeks ago!\u00a0 His wife is due to have a baby any time now—he said she was coming back from St. Louis soon.\u00a0 I wonder if she\u2019s dead too?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe Joe will tell us when he comes back around,\u201d Adam said, hoping for the best.<\/p>\n \u201cIf—\u201d Ben started and then decided against what he was about to say.\u00a0 Surely Joseph would pull through all of his injuries as the boy had done time and time again in the past through other crises.\u00a0 Ben closed his eyes and said another quick prayer.<\/p>\n A few minutes later Doctor Martin appeared on the staircase and called over to the family.\u00a0 \u201cI could sure use some coffee,\u201d he said as he made it to the bottom landing.<\/p>\n Ben sprang to his feet and met the man by the staircase.\u00a0 \u201cIs he gonna be okay—how is he–is he awake?\u201d\u00a0 Ben fired his questions as rapidly as his heart was now beating.<\/p>\n \u201cHold on–hold on–Ben.\u00a0 One at a time, okay?\u00a0 First, yes it looks like Little Joe is going to survive his injuries–though it was touch and go for a while I will admit.\u00a0 I would say it was a miracle that the knife barely missed any vital organs, but, then the boy has been lucky like this in the past so it shouldn\u2019t surprise me.\u00a0\u00a0 He\u2019ll be hurting for quite a while I am afraid, but I expect him to recover fully.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank God,\u201d Ben exhaled and patted the doctor\u2019s shoulder \u201cand thank you, Paul.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHere, Doc,\u201d Hoss said and handed the man a fresh cup of coffee.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks–it\u2019s been a long day already.\u00a0 I had just patched up Samuel Lincolns when Dex came in and told me about Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs Mr. Lincolns gonna be okay?\u201d\u00a0 Adam asked.\u00a0 He had ridden the elderly man on his own horse all the way into Virginia City that morning and had worried about the severe head gash the man had received.<\/p>\n \u201cHas one heck of a concussion—I left him in my office with Roy tending to him.\u00a0 I think he will be okay in a week or so.\u00a0 Been a very interesting day—to say the least,\u201d the doctor sighed and moved to one of the chairs and sank down tired.<\/p>\n \u201cCan I go see Joseph now?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked staring down at the doctor waiting for a sign that it was okay.<\/p>\n Doctor Martin laughed and pulled out his pocket watch and winked over at Hoss and Adam.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re getting a bit slower, Ben—I bet Hop Sing it wouldn\u2019t take you a minute before you ran up the stairs to see the boy.\u00a0 It\u2019s been three whole minutes,\u201d the man nodded back towards the worried father.\u00a0 \u201cI imagine you will be up there for quite a spell so don\u2019t over do it. You get some rest so I don\u2019t have to come back tomorrow and find you sick.\u00a0 I left instructions with Hop Sing on Joe\u2019s care and I will examine him again tomorrow morning to see how those sutures are holding.\u00a0 Now–go ahead!\u201d<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n Ben smiled and almost charged the steps anxious to be at his son\u2019s side.\u00a0 He hurried up the staircase and down the hallway, finally reaching the bedroom.\u00a0 Pulling the door open, Ben could see Hop Sing sitting in the chair next to his son\u2019s bed holding the boy\u2019s hand.\u00a0 He walked over to change places with the benevolent caretaker of the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got it now, Hop Sing–why don\u2019t you go and get some coffee and rest awhile?\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing reluctantly gave up his seat to his employer and friend and headed towards the door.\u00a0 \u201cLittle Joe sleep—need rest—you no wake!\u201d the Oriental was firm with his instructions.<\/p>\n Ben smiled and nodded towards Hop Sing, knowing how much the man loved the boy lying wounded in the bed.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not about to wake him.\u00a0 Now go make some decent coffee will you–before Hoss poisons us all!\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing returned Ben\u2019s smile, and left the room leaving the wounded boy to the care of his father.\u00a0 Ben stared over at the still figure on the bed.\u00a0 He pulled down the comforter to inspect the bandages which encircled the boy\u2019s lower torso.\u00a0 Doctor Martin had once again performed his magic.\u00a0 There was no further sign of bleeding, the bandages as pristine as when the skilled physician had secured them on Joe.\u00a0 Ben pulled the covers back up around his son\u2019s shoulders and felt the boy\u2019s forehead for fever.\u00a0 He was relieved to find the feel of the skin to be only slightly warm to his touch.<\/p>\n Ben leaned back in the chair and stared at Joe as though he had never seen him before.\u00a0 He purposely etched into his memory each feature, planting it like a seed for all time. ****how could this be the same tiny baby I held in my arms****<\/em><\/strong>Ben began to reflect on the boy there in front of him****it seems like just yesterday that I was teaching you to walk, Joseph—and now look at you!\u00a0 I miss that little boy, the boy who sat in my lap and learned to read—the little boy who surprised all of us with his ability to make us laugh and cry.\u00a0 Where have the years gone, Son?\u00a0 How can someone who looks so angelic get into so much trouble?****<\/em><\/strong>Ben found a smile pulling at his lips just thinking of all that his third son had put him through over his seventeen years****I never know what to expect from you, Joseph.\u00a0 Sometimes you make my life so rewarding just watching the things you accomplish—and sometimes you lead me to the brink with your antics!\u00a0 You are like two very different people—the best and sometimes the most aggravating human God ever created.\u00a0 One minute you are arrogant to the point I want to smack you, and the next minute you are the most tender and loving person I\u2019ve ever known—and I just want to hold you and protect you from the rest of the world****<\/em><\/strong>Ben found the tears falling faster now, rolling down his cheeks as he thought on how close he had come to losing the boy forever****Sometimes I wish I could lock you away from all the evil—all the pain—but to do that I would also be keeping you from all the good there is as well.\u00a0 Was I wrong for keeping you here—trying to keep you from that killer?\u00a0 If I hadn\u2019t forced you to stay—maybe this would never have happened—and you wouldn\u2019t be lying there now. ****<\/em><\/strong>Ben stopped his internal rendition of doubts when Joe began to stir in bed.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph?\u00a0 Joe can you hear me?\u201d Ben asked as he moved to sit on the side of the bed right next to the boy.<\/p>\n \u201cPa—Pa?\u201d\u00a0 Joe whispered and winced as both reality and pain came back into his head.<\/p>\n \u201cRight here next to you, Son,\u201d Ben responded as he put his hand on Joe\u2019s arm, stroking it softly to help bring the boy back slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cHe got me—\u201d Joe whispered and then focused in on his father\u2019s careworn face.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s dead now—-he can\u2019t hurt you–or anyone else ever again, Son,\u201d Ben replied gently.<\/p>\n Joe coughed from the medication which the doctor had given him earlier.\u00a0 It stung the back of his throat and the taste was still on his tongue.\u00a0 Ben saw the pain written all over the boy\u2019s face and pulled an extra pillow over from the other side of the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cHere—this might help some,\u201d Ben said and placed the pillow in front of his son, \u201cyou have some stitches in your gut, you don\u2019t want to rip them when you cough.\u00a0 Press on the pillow to cushion yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe did as instructed and nodded that the extra padding in front of him did help the situation.\u00a0 He pointed over to the night stand, indicating he wanted a drink.<\/p>\n Ben poured a glass of water and handed it to Joe.\u00a0 \u201cTake it easy to start with.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks,\u201d Joe whispered after taking a few sips.\u00a0 He handed the glass back to his father and eased back against the other pillows at the head of the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so sorry, Joseph—if I hadn\u2019t made you stay here–\u201d Ben trailed off, still consumed with guilt for what had happened.<\/p>\n \u201cNo—Pa—don\u2019t say that.\u00a0 Mr. Hunter was crazy—he was gonna get me one place or another—you know—you know what he told me?\u201d\u00a0 Joe stuttered.\u00a0 Ben could tell that his confrontation with the killer had scared the boy very badly.\u00a0 Joe was starting to shake just thinking about the man.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t have to talk about it right now,\u201d Ben replied, worried about the boy\u2019s emotional state just as much as his physical state now.<\/p>\n \u201cNo–want to tell you—Pa—he killed his wife—and that farm hand—remember?\u00a0 His name was Zack—the one that was supposedly down in Texas?\u00a0 Mr. Hunter said—said they are both buried under his kitchen—under the boards in the kitchen.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes grew big as he listened to what his son was trying his best to explain to him.\u00a0 He had no idea that Joe had actually had a conversation with the killer and that the evil man had confessed some things to him.\u00a0 \u201cWhy—did he say why he killed his wife?\u00a0 She was going to have a baby in a few months—we all thought she was visiting her sister.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe had another brief coughing spell and Ben waited patiently for the boy to gather himself a little more before continuing.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe we should finish this later–really—Joseph—you just had surgery, you don\u2019t need to be going through this now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa—I gotta tell you—tell you it all.\u00a0 I got it all in my head—and it\u2019s getting to me—please?\u201d\u00a0 Joe turned his sad hazel eyes on his father and the man nodded back over to him.<\/p>\n \u201cGo ahead, if it\u2019s something you need to get out,\u201d Ben replied softly and touched the boy\u2019s cheek to show him that he understood how badly he had been affected by what he had heard and seen.<\/p>\n \u201cHe said that his wife and that farm hand—well–you know—and that\u2019s who the father of the baby was—not Mr. Hunter,\u201d Joe began again, but felt just a bit shy to be telling those kinds of things to his father.\u00a0 He hated to even think about a woman cheating on her husband.\u00a0 Joe had been told that those kinds of things were wrong.\u00a0 Joe knew it was, but he didn\u2019t feel that it was enough reason to kill two people either.<\/p>\n Ben nodded once more that he understood what the boy had said.\u00a0 \u201cGo on.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo, he said that he killed them and put them under the floor in his house.\u00a0 Then I asked him why he was killing boys—boys who had done nothing to him.\u00a0 You know what he said?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked, his facial expression lending way to the horror he had survived.\u00a0 It was now just starting to dawn on him that he had been the only survivor of the maniac\u2019s killing spree.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did he say?\u201d\u00a0 Ben responded again, knowing the boy had to get it out of his mind somehow.\u00a0 He hoped that by sharing it with his father that Joe might somehow eventually get over all he had witnessed.<\/p>\n \u201cHe said that God told him to kill all the seventeen and eighteen year olds in the area who looked like Zack.\u00a0\u00a0 Said something about them all having evil seed or something.\u00a0 How crazy is that, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery crazy—he must have just snapped—he was sick, mentally sick, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa–I came so close you know?\u00a0 He stuck me with that knife and I thought–I thought–I was gonna be next—the next one at the coroner\u2019s office.\u00a0 Just like Brady—\u201d Joe stopped as his words struck a nerve deep down in his soul and suddenly his brave facade gave way.\u00a0 He had been so brave, so controlled laying there staring up at the killer, when in fact, he had been petrified at the time.\u00a0 Now all of that was gone.\u00a0 He was safe there in his own bed, his father at his side.\u00a0 It was finally time to give in to the awful ordeal and cry out the emotions which had been kept from the killer on purpose to try to stay alive.<\/p>\n Ben saw the look on his son\u2019s face just as soon as the boy had halted his sentence.\u00a0 He knew what the boy needed now, and there was only one person who could accomplish the task.\u00a0 Ben leaned forward and wrapped his arms as gently as possible around the boy\u2019s trembling shoulders and Joe leaned into the embrace his father had offered.\u00a0 It was at that moment that the wall of tears broke down and Joe sobbed in Ben\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s okay, Joe–go on–get it out–you\u2019ve been through one heck of a terrifying experience.\u00a0 What you are feeling is normal.\u00a0 Anyone who had gone through something like that would do the same thing, feel the same thing,\u201d Ben whispered and stroked the back of the boy\u2019s head trying his best to calm him.<\/p>\n \u201cI—I almost was killed—-Pa—-I was so sure—when he stabbed me—so sure it was all over—that I\u2019d never see you again—never see Adam–Hoss–Hop Sing.\u00a0 I was so scared—but I didn\u2019t cry—I didn\u2019t beg—he wanted me to, Pa–but I didn\u2019t!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were very brave, Joseph– very brave,\u201d Ben replied, trying to reassure his son that he had done everything he could do while held by the killer.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ll ever feel safe again, Pa—ever—not after this—not after what I saw—not after what I heard,\u201d Joe cried.<\/p>\n Ben pulled Joe back a little so he could stare into the boy\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cYes, yes you will, Son.\u00a0 I promise you that you will.\u00a0 Not right away maybe—but that\u2019s okay.\u00a0 You have a while before you will be getting out of your room anyway.\u00a0 But, I am willing to make you a wager that two months from now you will be back to normal.\u00a0 You will be going into town—coming back late as always,\u201d Ben paused and forced a smile as he pulled Joe\u2019s chin up so he could get through to him better \u201cand driving me crazy!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo—Pa—I — don\u2019t think I\u2019ll ever go into town again—don\u2019t think I\u2019ll ever want to leave this house,\u201d Joe insisted on what he believed to be the truth at the time.<\/p>\n Ben grinned and ruffled Joe\u2019s hair.\u00a0 Whereas the boy there in front of him was adamant that he would always be afraid, his father was just as sure that the inner strength of his youngest would come back just as strong, or perhaps, stronger than before.\u00a0 \u201cWant to make a little wager? \u00a0How about twenty dollars?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stared into his father\u2019s sympathetic gaze and shook his head but didn\u2019t speak.\u00a0 He wondered how his father could even joke about such things after all that had happened.<\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u00a0 Is it a wager or not, Joseph?\u00a0 I will bet you twenty dollars that two months from now you will be going into town just as feisty as always!\u00a0 If you are NOT then I will give YOU twenty dollars.\u00a0 If you ARE then you will give ME twenty dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe sighed it seemed like an easy twenty dollars at the time.\u00a0 He pushed his tears aside and reached out his right hand to shake with his pa.\u00a0 \u201cOkay—but you will lose, Pa.\u00a0 I\u2019m telling you I don\u2019t ever want to leave this house–and I mean it!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook Joe\u2019s hand and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cOkay–well, we will see. But, as for now–you need to sleep,\u201d Ben announced and helped to settle Joe back in bed.\u00a0 He leaned over and planted a kiss on his son\u2019s forehead as the boy closed his eyes, visibly exhausted.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m very proud of you, Joseph—in case I haven\u2019t told you lately.\u00a0 You are growing up—too fast for me–but that\u2019s the way of things I guess.\u00a0 You kept your wits about you which is why you are still here now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Pa—but to tell you the truth from what I\u2019ve seen today–I am not all that big on growing up anymore,\u201d Joe replied and drifted off to sleep.<\/p>\n \u201cThat will change,\u201d Ben whispered knowingly as he settled down into the chair and watched his son fall back under.<\/p>\n EPILOGUE:<\/p>\n With all the unanswered questions about the murderer finally addressed to his satisfaction, detective Dex Farwell bid the Cartwrights and Roy goodbye and had left for another town, another crime to solve.\u00a0 Roy\u2019s life went back to normal, and he was very glad to have the somewhat mundane life of a sheriff in a quiet town back again.\u00a0 The curfew was lifted in the town of Virginia City, and only the graves of the two victims Josh and Brady stood now as a reminder of the tragedy which had taken their lives.<\/p>\n The Cartwright\u2019s lives went back to normal as well.\u00a0 Joe healed after almost an entire month in bed and then limited activities for the second month.\u00a0 Ben and his other two sons kept a watchful eye out for the youngest, but, they had done that before the murders had taken place and figured they would be doing it for many years to come.\u00a0 That was the nature of the youngest, and his family eagerly awaited his very first wild escapade to prove to them all that he had at last gotten over the trauma of all he had witnessed.<\/p>\n Joe did seem a bit withdrawn those first few weeks and Ben had tried to help him the best he could.\u00a0 Usually that meant a talk here and there as needed or just sitting and listening to what the boy had to say without offering suggestions.\u00a0 He wanted Joe to be able to work out some of his difficulties on his own, but to assure the boy that his father would always be there if he really needed his help.\u00a0 By the time the second month had passed Ben was not at all sure just where Joe\u2019s mind was at times, and he was worried that perhaps the boy was still dwelling on the awful events and his run-in with Marcus Hunter.<\/p>\n Joe worked on the barn chores and helped to stack hay most of the day.\u00a0 He still had yet to leave the front yard, though the doctor had now lifted all restrictions as had his father.\u00a0 Ben watched the boy from the front porch where he worked on ledger books.\u00a0 Joe seemed to be wearing a very strange expression on his face as he approached the steps of the porch.\u00a0 He stopped abruptly and put his hands on his hips, striking a pose that almost mimicked one his father usually struck when he was about to give a lecture.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d\u00a0 Joe called up to his father.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it, Joseph?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked looking down from his position at the table on the porch.<\/p>\n \u201cYou owe me twenty dollars—-time to pay up,\u201d Joe called out, his facial expression most severe now.<\/p>\n Ben frowned knowing exactly what his son was referring to.\u00a0 It had been two months, in fact almost an entire week beyond the two month deadline, in the wager that they had made.\u00a0 Two months and not once did Joe ask to go into town, though Ben had even nudged him a couple of times to ride into Virginia City with his brothers.\u00a0 \u00a0Joe had made it very clear that he wanted no part of leaving the yard.\u00a0 Ben didn\u2019t want to force the issue but had hoped that the boy would start to show signs of reclaiming his former life.\u00a0 He would actually welcome a slight bit of disobedience at that point.\u00a0 Ben wanted to see a sign of any kind that would prove to him that it was really Joe Cartwright on the ranch. He wasn\u2019t very pleased with the watered down version of his son, one who had no spunk, no light in his eyes, and no zest for living.<\/p>\n \u201cHere you go,\u201d Ben sighed and pulled out twenty dollars in greenbacks from his wallet and handed them down to his son \u201ca bet is a bet–but I sure would\u2019ve liked to win this one, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe broke into the grandest smile that Ben had ever seen.\u00a0 Then the twinkling green eyes let his pa know that the devious youngest son was truly back.\u00a0 To confirm Ben\u2019s assumption, Joe finally spoke up as he tucked the bills inside the pocket of his jacket.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Pa—I needed some money—can\u2019t go into town broke you know!\u201d\u00a0 Joe winked at his father and turned to make his way over to the barn.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u201d\u00a0 Ben hollered at the departing figure.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be back before dinner, Pa—-least I will try to!\u201d\u00a0 Joe sang out and continued his trek to the barn.\u00a0 \u00a0The twittering sound of his laughter followed him all the way across the yard.<\/p>\n Ben stood on the porch and shook his head, grinning. *** The little shyster! ***<\/em><\/strong>He thought to himself and then whispered, \u201cWelcome back, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n Author’s Notes:<\/p>\n 7-26-02 (reformatted 6-20-25 )<\/p>\n Dedicated to Carm, who made me find this old story which, such as it is, was found in an old forgotten vault of Wrangler stories.\u00a0 I hope it does okay, as it’s been over twenty years since it was written.\u00a0 Several readers have asked for it but none more persistent than Carm!<\/p>\n (And to Rob the story consultant who also chose the picture)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Summary: Two opposites collide, a serial killer targeting young men and 17 year old Little Joe whose cavalier attitude puts him in harm’s way.\u00a0
\nRating: T Word Count: 31,000<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":140,"featured_media":57204,"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_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[1015,23,1008,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57186","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-joe-pa","category-drama","category-family","category-hurtcomfort","wpcat-1015-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1008-id","wpcat-41-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Screenshot_20250619_202735_YouTube-1.jpg?fit=810%2C579&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57186","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=57186"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57186\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/57204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=57186"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=57186"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=57186"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}