Summary: When a man seeking revenge traps Pa in a mine, Little Joe races against time to find him. Adam, Hoss, and Hop Sing must then rescue them both.<\/p>\n
Rating T, WC 23,175<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Zephyr<\/strong><\/p>\n Walking up to the front porch of the Ponderosa ranch house, Joe Cartwright heard the loud protesting voices coming from inside.\u00a0 Pausing to get a grasp on what all the commotion was about, Joe pressed his ear up to the front door.\u00a0 He could make out the familiar voices of two of his father\u2019s business associates as they fought to register their own opinions against Ben Cartwright.\u00a0 Joe frowned as he realized it was yet another attempt by both John Fuller and Gilbert Sands to get his father to reopen the Zephyr silver mine.<\/p>\n Deciding discretion was indeed the better part of valor, Joe settled down into one of the rocking chairs on the porch to wait out the storm.\u00a0 He knew that the two men would have a better chance at draining Lake Tahoe then they would at having his father change his mind about starting silver production at the mine.\u00a0 Ben being the major stock holder, it was his decision and his alone when or if the mine would get back into service.<\/p>\n Joe remembered vividly six months earlier and the tragedy at the Zephyr that had shut it down.\u00a0 After the third and most profitable shaft had been opened, a gas pocket had formed and a fire had raged out of control.\u00a0 The explosion was heard a mile away in Virginia City and people from all over had raced to the aid of the miners who had been working late into the night.\u00a0 It was only by divine intervention that more people had not been killed or injured, but still it had cost two miners their lives and four others had suffered from serious burns.\u00a0 All four of the Cartwrights had been in town that night and had rushed to the Zephyr to help.\u00a0 It had been Ben Cartwright himself who had pulled out most of the victims.\u00a0 Suffering from smoke inhalation and exhaustion, Ben had been over-come and taken along with those victims to be treated by Doctor Paul Martin in Virginia City.<\/p>\n Joe could still remember the intense sorrow on his father\u2019s face as he had stood at the two graves the next day.\u00a0 He could still see the strain on Ben\u2019s face as he had addressed the father of one of the victims.\u00a0 Luther Morrow had not only lost his only son in the mine explosion, but he had also suffered from severe burns himself.\u00a0 Both father and son had worked the mine since it had originally opened two years prior, and both were working that night in the heart of the third shaft when the explosion had happened.\u00a0 Though the man never said anything to Ben or the other Cartwrights when they had offered their condolences, it was the look on his face which let them know what he was thinking.\u00a0 They could tell that the man blamed the owners of the mine, and foremost the head stock owner, Ben Cartwright.<\/p>\n The front door flew open and both Mr. Fuller and Mr. Sands walked out hastily.\u00a0 Joe stood as they shot past him.\u00a0 They made it over to their carriage and then looked over at Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have the most irritatingly stubborn father, Joe.\u201d\u00a0 Mr. Sands spouted out.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone has to talk some sense into him!\u201d\u00a0 Mr. Fuller joined in.<\/p>\n Joe just shrugged his shoulders not knowing how to address either of the statements that had been made about his father.\u00a0 He knew his father was stubborn no-one had to tell him that.\u00a0 But, as for sense, Joe knew that Ben Cartwright had more sense than either of the two men who now sent their team of horses out of the yard.<\/p>\n Hanging his hat on the rack just inside the front door, Joe turned to see Ben pouring a shot of brandy over by his desk.\u00a0 Joe walked over to him and didn\u2019t speak at first.\u00a0 He could tell by the redness of Ben\u2019s face that he was all too angered at the moment.\u00a0 Ben walked over to the fireplace, glass in hand.\u00a0 He saw out of the corner of his eye that his youngest son still stood as if at attention waiting to be addressed.<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose you heard.\u201d\u00a0 Ben stated still trying to control his temper.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir–I heard.\u201d\u00a0 Joe strode over to the settee and sat down tired.<\/p>\n \u201cThose blasted fools –all they care about is dollars and cents–I told them the Zephyr is still not safe enough to start up–but they won\u2019t listen!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWill it ever be?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked and Ben shot him a sharp look.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd just what do you mean by that, Joseph?\u201d\u00a0 He asked nearing Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing,\u201d Joe muttered, regretting his earlier statement.<\/p>\n Ben sat down in his chair and stared the boy down.\u00a0 \u201cIf you have something to say go on and say it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd get you mad at me?\u00a0 No, I\u2019d rather just keep my opinion to myself.\u201d Joe replied folding his arms across his chest in an attempt to hold back his feelings.<\/p>\n \u201cI am not going to get mad.\u00a0 Now have your say.\u201d\u00a0 Ben\u2019s response came off this time with more compassion in its tone.\u00a0 He stared into the hazel eyes of his youngest son and waited.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been six months, Pa.\u00a0 It\u2019s time to get back to work and that means getting the mine back up and ready.\u00a0 And it\u2019s not just a matter of money–I know that this ranch can make it without the funds provided by that mine.\u00a0 But, it\u2019s not just us.\u00a0 There are men who need the jobs and families out there that are struggling because it\u2019s closed down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo–you\u2019d have us open it and risk more lives–is that it, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa, the men who died–it was an accident.\u00a0 You have blamed yourself long enough.\u00a0 It never was your fault.\u00a0 The stockholders all voted to open that third shaft.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t just your decision.\u00a0 I\u2019m just saying that it\u2019s time to move on.\u00a0 I know that you keep thinking about Luther and his son Steve–but it wasn\u2019t your fault.\u00a0 Heck–it wasn\u2019t anyone\u2019s fault.\u00a0 It just happened.\u201d\u00a0 Joe walked over to his father and dropped his hand down on his shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cYou know that if situations were reversed you would be the one telling me what I\u2019ve just said to you.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sighed, it seemed as but another one of his past lectures coming back to haunt him in the words of one of his sons.\u00a0 It had happened before, but usually it was either Adam the oldest, or Hoss the middle boy.\u00a0 Rarely had he heard Joe sound so adult and logical.\u00a0 He stared up into the boy\u2019s careworn face and it was enough to tear down the wall he had built up for self-survival against his two stockholder friends.<\/p>\n \u201cJust when did you start listening to your father?\u201d\u00a0 Ben broke into a smile which was returned by Joe with a laugh that followed his statement.<\/p>\n \u201cOh–every now and then when you think I am ignoring you I am really listening.\u201d\u00a0 Joe teased.\u00a0 Ben grabbed his son\u2019s hand and squeezed it affectionately.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll think on what you said, Joseph.\u00a0 Now–not to change the subject, but aren\u2019t you supposed to be out helping your brothers with the haying?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey sent me on ahead–something about me bothering them or something.\u201d Joe grinned.\u00a0 \u201cNo–they are just about done.\u00a0 Adam headed into town to get some supplies and the mail. I came on ahead so I could get first dibs on a bath—oh and to solve all of your problems!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stood and took back the role of patriarch.\u00a0 \u201cAll my problems, huh?\u00a0 It looks like my first problem is that I have a son who still needs to do some chores around here before his brothers make it in.\u00a0 The wood boxes need to be filled before dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut–the bath–\u201d Joe stammered.<\/p>\n \u201cWood boxes–then bath.\u201d\u00a0 Ben said sternly.\u00a0 \u201cRemember–you are going to solve all my problems, right?\u201d\u00a0 Ben grinned now as he saw the pathetic look Joe gave him.<\/p>\n \u201cMe and my big mouth.\u00a0 Okay–I\u2019ll do the wood boxes—but I get the first bath around here.\u201d\u00a0 Joe agreed and headed for the door.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay–you finish getting dirty and I will have Hop Sing heat up the bath water.\u201d\u00a0 Ben laughed as Joe walked out to do his chores.\u00a0 Ben turned back toward the living room.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t know how the green eyed kid did it, but he always was able to make his father feel better, no matter how awful his problems were.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n Adam frowned over at his youngest brother as he took his seat at the dinner table.\u00a0 He could see how nice, clean and refreshed Joe looked after having washed his day of work off of his ornery hide.\u00a0 Adam still showed the residue of the day\u2019s work with the haying and he was hot and dirty and unlike Joe, not refreshed at all.\u00a0 He stared over next to Hoss.\u00a0 He could see that the middle son was more intent on enjoying Hop Sing\u2019s wonderful meal than on wondering how Joe had yet to pull another light day on him.<\/p>\n \u201cHere\u2019s the mail, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 Adam said and handed two letters to his father.\u00a0 Ben poured Adam a cup of coffee and passed it over to him.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll see to it after dinner.\u00a0 You look mighty tired, Adam.\u00a0 Rough day?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked.<\/p>\n \u201cFor Hoss and me at least,\u201d Adam replied sending a look across the table at Joe.<\/p>\n Joe pretended to ignore the insinuation and kept on eating, waiting for his chance to get even with his oldest brother.<\/p>\n \u201cI ran into Mr. Fuller when I was in town.\u00a0 He said he had been out here today.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben frowned and dropped down his fork.\u00a0 \u201cHe is still after me about the Zephyr.\u00a0 I told him and Gilbert that I am not ready to open it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou reckon when it will be ready to open, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss jumped into the conversation.<\/p>\n Ben shot a look towards Joe and noticed that the boy was purposely not getting involved with the subject this go round.\u00a0 \u201cWhen I feel it is safe and I just don\u2019t right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss frowned as he read his father\u2019s face.\u00a0 He could tell that he was not in the mood for more questions about that delicate subject.\u00a0 \u201cWe got the haying about all done.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss changed the topic of conversation.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah–Hoss and I worked hard today.\u201d\u00a0 Adam remarked and the absence of his brother Joe in his statement finally touched a chord in the boy and he sneered over at his oldest brother.<\/p>\n \u201cYou and Hoss worked hard?\u00a0 Hey–what about me–I was there too you know!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh–that\u2019s right, so sorry.\u00a0 My mistake–you were there.\u00a0 And as I recall you were the foreman who was instructing Hoss on how to lift the hay bales correctly.\u00a0 That is when you weren\u2019t under a tree napping.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI got my share done–you are just mad \u2018cause I am faster than you!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLazier maybe,\u201d Adam returned.<\/p>\n \u201cPa–how \u2018bout you stop this nightly battle–these two are gonna give me indigestion.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss pleaded over toward Ben who had been watching his youngest and oldest sons in their heated debate.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay–Hoss is right.\u00a0 Can we please have our dinner before you two break into a fist fight over this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe started it.\u201d\u00a0 Joe protested, looking over at his father innocently.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph.\u201d\u00a0 Ben warned and Joe frowned and went back to eating.\u00a0 Adam cast a snide smile towards his little brother which Ben caught sight of.\u00a0 \u201cAdam–\u201d Ben turned his attention on his oldest.\u00a0 Adam settled back against his chair and sipped at his coffee trying to act nonchalant over his row with his little brother.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n That evening the ranch was quieter, all the boys settling into their normal routines.\u00a0 Adam sat by the fireplace reading a novel and Joe and Hoss were competing in their nightly checker game.\u00a0 Ben stood from his desk and approached them all.<\/p>\n \u201cCaptain Billings wants twenty more re-mounts delivered over to Fort Stewart.\u00a0 His letter says he wants them as soon as possible.\u00a0 Hoss you and Adam can take them over to the fort.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure thing, Pa, when do you want us to leave?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess tomorrow–since he needs them right now.\u201d\u00a0 Ben answered sitting down in his chair.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss and Adam?\u00a0 Well what about me?\u00a0 I am the one who broke most of those danged horses!\u201d\u00a0 Joe protested as he stood from the settee.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s their turn to take a trip.\u00a0 Are you forgetting that you and I went to San Francisco just a month ago?\u201d\u00a0 Ben answered.<\/p>\n \u201cWell–yeah–but who\u2019s gonna get the rest of the haying done?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked, afraid he already knew the answer to his question.<\/p>\n \u201cYou did say you were faster than Adam didn\u2019t you?\u201d\u00a0 Ben smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right, Little Brother.\u201d\u00a0 Adam jumped into the conversation pleased that Joe\u2019s bragging had at last caught up with him.\u00a0 \u201cWhy you should have it done in no time!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe frowned and tried to think of something to say to change his father\u2019s mind.\u00a0 \u201cI think I should go with them, Pa.\u00a0 I know more about them horses, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThose horses,\u201d Adam corrected and then ducked as Joe threw a sofa pillow in his direction.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Hoss and Adam will handle those <\/em><\/strong>horses just fine, Joseph.\u00a0 And please stop throwing pillows before one ends up in the fireplace!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe sighed and sat back down on the settee just as Hoss jumped his last checker.<\/p>\n \u201cYes!\u00a0 I won–I beat you finally!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss exclaimed triumphantly.<\/p>\n \u201cIt just isn\u2019t my night.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to bed.\u201d\u00a0 Joe said and stomped up the stairs for effect.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s taking this rather well, isn\u2019t he?\u201d Adam laughed watching Joe\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019ll be fine.\u00a0 I was thinking.\u00a0 You two could use a little r and r.\u00a0 Why don\u2019t you circle around to Sacramento before coming back?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam looked at his father bewildered and then read his thoughts.\u00a0 \u201cIsn\u2019t that where the mine inspector\u2019s office is now?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded.\u00a0 \u201cWhy don\u2019t you ask him to come out here when he gets a chance?\u00a0 Let him decide whether the Zephyr is safe.\u00a0 I think folks would take his opinion over mine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I think that\u2019s a good idea.\u00a0 Besides, it\u2019ll give us a couple of extra days away from chores.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll leave first thing in the morning.\u201d\u00a0 Adam said and went back to his book.<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n Ben watched from a distance his youngest son hard at work.\u00a0 It had been three days since his other two sons had left to deliver the horses and Joe was just finishing stacking all of the hay that had been carefully baled.\u00a0 A big grin took over Ben\u2019s face when he watched Joe mopping the sweat from his brow as he threw down the sickle finishing his task.\u00a0 He reasoned that his youngest would now have a true appreciation of team work.\u00a0 Kicking lightly at Buck\u2019s sides, Ben rode over and dismounted next to where Joe was now standing.<\/p>\n \u201cGreat job, Joe!\u201d\u00a0 Ben called out as he approached him.<\/p>\n Joe managed a tired smile and slowly put on his jacket.\u00a0 \u201cI never want to see another hay bale in my life.\u201d He muttered and walked over next to Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know that the hay has to be shipped into Virginia City now, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease don\u2019t remind me. I want to pretend that I don\u2019t have to lift these again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, not today at least. How about coming to town with me?\u00a0 I\u2019ll buy you a beer to take your mind off tomorrow\u2019s chores.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s face lit up at the thought of getting away from the hay and of going into town for a drink.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s go!\u201d\u00a0 Joe said exuberantly and walked over to get Cochise.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n \u201cWhiskey,\u201d Joe called over to Bruno the bartender at the Silver Dollar Saloon.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo beers, Bruno,\u201d Ben corrected as he made his way up to the bar with his son at his side.\u00a0 Bruno drew off two beers and set it in front of the two Cartwrights.<\/p>\n \u201cTo forgetting about hay,\u201d Joe toasted his father and Ben laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cUntil tomorrow at least,\u201d Ben replied and then his eyes fell on a patron at a table behind where they stood.\u00a0 It was Luther Morrow.\u00a0 Ben walked toward the man and looked down at him.\u00a0 His face still carried the scars of the fire at the Zephyr.<\/p>\n \u201cLuther—can I buy you a drink?\u201d\u00a0 Ben offered.\u00a0 The other man looked up at Ben and then took a silver dollar out of his coat pocket and dropped it loudly on the table and stood up.<\/p>\n \u201cI buy my own drinks, Cartwright.\u00a0 You\u2019ll have to clear your conscience some other way.\u201d\u00a0 He said coldly and walked out of the bar.<\/p>\n Joe neared his father and could read the pain on his face.\u00a0 He put his hand on Ben\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cC\u2019mon, Pa—let\u2019s go home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo–finish your beer.\u201d\u00a0 Ben replied and walked back to the bar.\u00a0 He polished off his own beer and tried to forget the look on Luther\u2019s face.<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n \u201cThe hay is all resting peacefully in the livery in Virginia City.\u201d\u00a0 Joe reported in to his father two days later.\u00a0 He wanted to give Ben good news for a change, and had worked much harder than he usually would have.\u00a0 Joe could tell how the encounter at the Silver Dollar had dampened his father\u2019s spirits and was doing everything he could to help.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Joseph–I will be telling your brother Adam about this when he returns.\u00a0 I am sure he will be impressed to hear how fast you got the project done.\u201d\u00a0 Ben stood from his desk and threw his arm around Joe\u2019s shoulder pleased with his performance.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah–tell him I did it better than he could–that ought to get him!\u201d Joe insisted and, finding it amusing, Ben ruffled his hand through his son\u2019s curly hair.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t exactly say all that, Young Man.\u00a0 But, you did do wonderfully.\u00a0 Now I suppose you will be wanting a bath?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah–I am a bit itchy to tell you the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you go on then.\u00a0 I have to go into town for a little while.\u00a0 I won\u2019t be back for dinner but I\u2019ll see you before you turn in.\u201d\u00a0 Ben walked over to the front door and pulled on his coat.<\/p>\n \u201cYou want some company?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked, worried that his father may encounter Luther again.<\/p>\n \u201cNo—I just have to go to a boring stockholder\u2019s meeting.\u00a0 Then I told Roy I would stop and see him–catch up on all the local gossip.\u201d\u00a0 Ben laughed at the thought of the sheriff and how he loved to talk.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay–I\u2019ll see you later.\u201d\u00a0 Joe paused and then he hugged his father goodbye.<\/p>\n Ben was a bit surprised by Joe\u2019s sudden gesture.\u00a0 He was, after all, coming right back. He looked into Joe\u2019s eyes and saw the worry there.<\/p>\n \u201cJust be careful, Pa.\u201d Joe said breaking from his embrace.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m only going into town, Joseph–I\u2019m not enlisting in the army.\u201d\u00a0 Ben teased.<\/p>\n Joe smiled and realized he had let his worry catch up with him.\u00a0 \u201cSee you later.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben grabbed his hat and walked outside.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s eyes followed his father as he rode off towards town.<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n Joe stood and stretched, tossing down Adam\u2019s book as he looked over at the grandfather clock.\u00a0 It was after eleven and still his father had not returned.\u00a0 Hop Sing walked in from the kitchen and stared over at the youngest member of his American family.\u00a0 He could tell that the boy was worried.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe want more coffee?\u201d\u00a0 Hop Sing asked as he approached him.<\/p>\n \u201cNo–you go on to bed, Hop Sing.\u00a0 I think I have drunk enough coffee to float a clipper ship by now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry about father–be home soon.\u00a0 Old enough to take care of himself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know–I\u2019ll stay up just a little bit more.\u201d Joe eased back on the sofa.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe need go to bed.\u201d\u00a0 Hop Sing chastised.\u00a0 Joe smiled over at him.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe go to bed soon.\u201d\u00a0 He replied and the cook shook his head in defeat and walked back towards the kitchen mumbling something in Chinese.<\/p>\n ****something is wrong–I can feel it.\u00a0 Pa wouldn\u2019t have stayed in town no matter how late his meeting was. He knew I was worried about him.\u00a0 I ought to go on into Virginia City right now****<\/em><\/strong>Joe thought to himself. ****but, if he did decide to stay over at the hotel–I would look awfully foolish showing up there.*****<\/em><\/strong>Joe stretched out on the sofa and pulled the Indian blanket on top of him.\u00a0 He snuggled down and thought he would nap right there and wait.<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes tried to focus, but he had an intense pain in his head that prevented them from opening all the way.\u00a0 He shifted his weight on the hard ground and moaned at the movement.\u00a0 Fighting his way back to complete reality, Ben tried to piece together all that had happened.\u00a0 He remembered stepping down off the sidewalk and into the street just outside of the law office where the stockholder\u2019s meeting had been held.\u00a0 He could hear his name being called and as he turned into the alleyway he felt the bluntness of a weapon as it struck the base of his skull.<\/p>\n A dimly lit lantern across from where he now sat, gave Ben the only light around him.\u00a0 It was dark and damp and it took a while before Ben ascertained that he was in a mine somewhere.\u00a0 Trying to pull himself to standing he was knocked back down.\u00a0 It was only then that Ben realized there were iron manacles that held his wrists and ankles.\u00a0 Reaching towards the back of his head Ben\u2019s fingers caked with dried blood.\u00a0 It was a good gash, good enough to have rendered him unconscious long enough to be taken to where he was now held captive.<\/p>\n \u201cNever knew what hit you did you?\u201d the voice from just outside Ben\u2019s view sang out.\u00a0 Approaching slowly, rifle slung under his arm, was Luther Morrow.\u00a0 \u201cIt was easier than I thought to drag you down here.\u201d\u00a0 He remarked casually and kneeled down just out of Ben\u2019s reach.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere am I?\u201d\u00a0 Ben demanded.<\/p>\n \u201cTake a guess.\u201d\u00a0 Luther laughed sadistically.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Zephyr,\u201d Ben muttered under his breath taking in all the sights around him now.<\/p>\n \u201cThird shaft, Ben, the scene of the crime so to speak.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLuther–you let me go now and I will forget all of this.\u201d\u00a0 Ben offered and the man laughed again.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are in no position to make any deals, Ben.\u00a0 I am in charge now.\u00a0 I am judge and jury and I have decided you are guilty.\u00a0 You\u2019re guilty of killing my boy–guilty of getting me scarred for life.\u00a0 Guilty for all of this!\u00a0 I have been planning this for a long time.\u00a0 It\u2019s what\u2019s kept me going all of these months.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlanned to kill me–is that it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah–exactly.\u00a0 But, not without making you suffer first.\u00a0 And by God you will suffer!\u00a0 I can promise you that!\u201d\u00a0 He yelled and stood up staring down at his victim.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are sick, Luther.\u00a0 If you blame me for what happened to your boy\u2014 or for what happened to you that\u2019s one thing.\u00a0 But, to bring me here–where your boy died is very sick.\u00a0 Go on and kill me–if that will take it all away.\u00a0 If that is what will bring Steve back for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll kill you when I am good and ready.\u00a0 Now you just sit back and relax.\u00a0 Time is on my side.\u00a0 No-one saw me and no-one is gonna even think to come here.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stared at the man before him.\u00a0 He knew that the man had been driven insane by his hate and by the memories of what had happened the night his son had been killed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou won\u2019t get away with this, Luther.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI already have!\u00a0 And since you were wise enough not to re-open the Zephyr no-one will come here.\u00a0 This place will be where you die too.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben closed his eyes as the man raised his rifle and struck him alongside of his face.\u00a0 The blow was enough to both split Ben\u2019s cheek open and render him unconscious again.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n Hop Sing sat on the coffee table and looked over at the boy who slept soundly on the settee.\u00a0 He hated to have to wake Joe as the boy had stayed up so late that he was surely tired.\u00a0 But, Hop Sing had not slept well himself.\u00a0 He had been waiting to hear the loud boot steps of his beloved employer all night.\u00a0 When Ben hadn\u2019t made it home it made Hop Sing wonder if the man was really in Virginia City or if something had indeed happened to him. Hop Sing waved the aroma of coffee under Joe\u2019s nostrils and he slowly started to come around.\u00a0 Somewhat disoriented, Joe sat up fast and looked around.<\/p>\n \u201cGuess I fell asleep–\u201d Joe mumbled and then looked over at the clock.\u00a0 It was almost eight in the morning.\u00a0 \u201cThanks, Hop Sing.\u201d\u00a0 Joe nodded as he took the cup of coffee and sipped it.\u00a0 \u201cPa get in?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Carlight not come home.\u00a0 Hop Sing maybe little worried now too.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stared into the dark ebony eyes of his dear friend and could read the fear in them.\u00a0 He stood and put his hand down on Hop Sing\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cYou and I are probably making a mountain out of a molehill–\u201d Joe began but Hop Sing looked confused.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat mole have to do with Mr. Ben?\u201d\u00a0 He asked seriously.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing–just an expression–a stupid one at that.\u00a0 I\u2019m gonna go into town.\u00a0 Pa probably is drinking his morning coffee in the dining room at the International House right now.\u00a0 Don\u2019t worry, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou tell Mr. Ben that Hop Sing quit!\u00a0 No like not sleeping while old man sleep in town!\u201d\u00a0 Hop Sing said indignantly, but underneath his remark there was still worry.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll tell him.\u201d\u00a0 Joe winked and grabbed his jacket and holster and headed out.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n \u201cRoy!\u201d\u00a0 Joe yelled as he burst into the Virginia City jailhouse.\u00a0 Roy hurried in from the back cell and saw a distraught young man before him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it, Little Joe?\u00a0 What in tarnation is all the yelling about?\u201d\u00a0 Roy asked as he settled down into his chair behind his desk.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s pa—he never came home last night and–\u201d Joe started rapidly to explain but Roy caught a hold of his arm to stop him.<\/p>\n \u201cNow you sit yourself down in this chair and catch your breath.\u00a0 Then you can tell me all about it. Come on now–settle down.\u201d\u00a0 Roy spoke out worried about the boy in front of him.\u00a0 He had known Joe Cartwright ever since he was in diapers. He knew how upset he could get, and when that happened it was harder to get to the bottom of his troubles.<\/p>\n Joe reluctantly settled into the chair Roy had offered and tried to gather his thoughts.<\/p>\n \u201cPa came into town yesterday—\u201d Joe began.<\/p>\n \u201cYep, I saw him here myself.\u00a0 We had a talk and then he went over to a meeting.\u201d\u00a0 Roy nodded for Joe to continue.<\/p>\n \u201cHe never made it home.\u00a0 I checked and he made it to that meeting okay.\u00a0 But, nobody has seen him since.\u00a0 I checked the hotel, he wasn\u2019t there.\u00a0 I checked the livery stable and Buck\u2019s not there.\u00a0 I think something has happened to him.\u201d\u00a0 Joe\u2019s voice broke as he gave his rendition of the facts.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, Joe–don\u2019t go getting yourself all riled up.\u00a0 Could be a whole lot of things.\u00a0 Maybe his horse threw a shoe–maybe you just missed him on your way out here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Roy–I have an awful feeling that he\u2019s hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n Roy stood and grabbed his coat.\u00a0 \u201cNow why don\u2019t you go on and head back to the ranch?\u00a0 I\u2019ll do me some checking around.\u00a0 Like as not your pa is back at the ranch now wondering about you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go back the mill road and see if I can pick up anything.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t come up with anything meet me back at the Ponderosa later.\u201d\u00a0 Joe said walking with the sheriff to the door.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll see you later.\u00a0 You try to get a grip on yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will when I see Pa.\u201d\u00a0 Joe countered and headed back out to look for his father.<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n \u201cReckon you\u2019d like a drink?\u201d\u00a0 Luther called over to his victim.\u00a0 He held a canteen in his hand.\u00a0 Ben tried to pull himself up against the wall of the mine to lean back.\u00a0 He had no idea how long he had been out this time.\u00a0 Ben could taste the blood which had dripped down his cheek and found its way to his bottom lip.\u00a0 He fought off the intense nausea he was feeling.<\/p>\n \u201cGo on–have a drink—I want to keep you alive for a while longer.\u201d\u00a0 Luther handed over the canteen and Ben reluctantly took it. He swigged in a mouthful of water and almost choked on it.\u00a0 His throat was parched and his body ached more than he thought was possible.\u00a0 Wondering if there was any possible way to get through to Luther, Ben thought on what to say.<\/p>\n \u201cLuther–I never wanted anyone hurt.\u00a0 I think deep down you know that.\u00a0 There was no way to know that the gas leak would happen.\u00a0 We had every possible precaution–it was just an accident.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo on, Ben.\u00a0 Why don\u2019t you start begging for your life?\u00a0 The all powerful all mighty Ben Cartwright begging Luther Morrow for his life!\u201d\u00a0 Luther sat back and laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll not beg if that\u2019s what you’re after.\u00a0 So, if you’re hoping to hear that, well, you’ll have a long wait.\u201d\u00a0 Ben stated angrily.\u00a0 Luther stood and pointed his revolver at Ben\u2019s chest.<\/p>\n \u201cI have all the time in the world.\u00a0 All you left me was time, Ben.\u00a0 Now–looks like you could use a stretch.\u201d\u00a0 Luther carefully undid one of his prisoner\u2019s wrist manacles.\u00a0 \u201cStand up and put that arm around that beam right over your head.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben weighed the situation.\u00a0 He could try for the gun, but was worried that it would go off.\u00a0 He felt time was on his side as he knew that Joseph would be trying to find him once he hadn\u2019t come home.\u00a0 Ben did as instructed this time.\u00a0 He moved to stand and Luther hurriedly snapped the manacle shut tight and locked it so that Ben was now standing with his arms linked to the timber beam above him.\u00a0 Ben grimaced from the weight of his body against the manacles.\u00a0 His legs were weak and his head still reeled from the blow he had taken.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s see how you like standing for a while.\u201d\u00a0 Luther laughed and walked back off into the darkness.\u00a0 Ben said a silent prayer that he would be found before Luther could seek any further revenge against him.<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n \u201cNo luck?\u201d\u00a0 Joe was quick to ask Roy as he entered the ranch house later that night.\u00a0 Roy walked inside, shoulders slumped in defeat.<\/p>\n \u201cNobody has seen your pa, Joe.\u00a0 I\u2019ve looked all over–talked to half the folks in town.\u00a0 How about you?\u00a0 See any signs on the trails?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shook his head sadly and sank down on the sofa.\u00a0 \u201cNo tracks.\u00a0 I just don\u2019t understand this.\u00a0 If pa had fallen or got hurt he could still make it to one of our camps, or I would\u2019ve seen signs of something on the way back here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019m gonna get some men out looking for Ben first light.\u00a0 I know you are gonna worry, Joe.\u00a0 But, if your pa\u2019s out there anywhere–we\u2019ll find him.\u201d Roy patted Joe on the shoulder and turned to walk back to the door.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Roy.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be in town first light.\u201d\u00a0 Joe said somberly and walked Roy to the door. Roy nodded and left the house.<\/p>\n Hop Sing came in from the dining room.\u00a0 He had heard all that had been said between Joe and the sheriff.\u00a0 Joe turned just as Hop Sing approached.\u00a0 Hop Sing threw his arms out and Joe fell into them for solace.\u00a0 He fought back tears as his long-time friend and surrogate father whispered that everything would be all right.<\/p>\n *******************************<\/p>\n Joe sat the next morning at first light at his father\u2019s desk.\u00a0 He had a troubled sleep the night before and was up long before daybreak.\u00a0 Joe shifted through his father\u2019s papers on his desk trying to think of anything that would be a clue as to what had happened and where he was.\u00a0 Joe rested his head on his arms and it was only then that he let loose the wall of tears he had been holding back.\u00a0 He knew that the longer that his father had been gone, that the worse it meant.\u00a0 Joe felt in his heart that Ben was in serious trouble and he had no idea what it was.\u00a0 He prayed that Adam and Hoss would walk in the door and shoulder the burden he now felt was his alone.\u00a0 Deciding that it was time to wire them in Sacramento, Joe lifted up his head off his arms to get ready to leave.\u00a0 As he stood he gazed down at the papers which had been under his arms the whole time.\u00a0 His tears had fallen down and blurred the ink of one of the words.\u00a0 Joe bent down to see what word it was; Zephyr<\/strong>.\u00a0 Joe felt a chill throughout his body.\u00a0 After sending the telegraph he knew now where he would go.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n \u201cLet me read this back to you.\u201d\u00a0 The telegrapher said to his patron.\u00a0 Urgent.\u00a0 Pa missing.\u00a0 No clue as to what happened.\u00a0 Need you both here immediately. Joe<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 \u201cThat will be six bits.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe reached into his pocket and pulled out the money.\u00a0 \u201cSend it right away, will you, Pete?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight away, Little Joe,\u201d He said and stepped over to send it.<\/p>\n Joe had already spoken to Roy before the sheriff had left with the other men to search the surrounding area.\u00a0 They had given up on the idea of Ben being held for ransom as no letter had been sent.\u00a0 Joe didn\u2019t tell Roy about going to the Zephyr, he felt the sheriff would discourage him because of the danger.\u00a0 Besides, there was no real reason to go there, other than a smudged word and a deep gut feeling.\u00a0 Joe vaulted up onto Cochise. He turned away from Virginia City and headed towards the mine.<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam sat inside the Imperial Saloon in Sacramento sipping on their beers.\u00a0 They had delivered the horses as assigned and had reached Sacramento the previous day.\u00a0 It was now time to rest and relax as their father had instructed.<\/p>\n \u201cWonder if Joe got all that hay in yet?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss smiled and winked at his big brother.<\/p>\n Adam laughed out loud.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s probably still whining about it.\u00a0 I figure it won\u2019t be done till we get home.\u201d\u00a0 Adam signaled the bartender for two more drinks.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, we got to go talk to that mine inspector today.\u00a0 We told Pa we would.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlenty of time for that,\u201d Adam nodded and then handed the bartender a silver dollar.<\/p>\n \u201cYou reckon Pa will go by what the man says?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah–Pa\u2019s stubborn but if they give the go ahead he will agree to it.\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure if it\u2019s all been just a safety matter either, Hoss.\u00a0 Pa just never has gotten over losing those men.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah–\u201d Hoss started but then heard someone holler out the name \u201cCartwright\u201d.<\/p>\n Adam spun around seeing a young boy run into the saloon.<\/p>\n \u201cYou Mr. Cartwright?\u00a0 I\u2019m looking for someone named Adam and someone named Hoss.\u201d The boy said out of breath.<\/p>\n \u201cThat would be us, Young Man.\u201d\u00a0 Adam nodded over to him and the boy drew out the telegram from his pocket.<\/p>\n Adam looked at it and his facial expression went lax.\u00a0 He passed it over to Hoss and they both stood.\u00a0 \u201cHere.\u201d\u00a0 Adam handed the boy a dollar.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you make out of it?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss asked his brother, worry creasing his face.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t know but we better get going.\u00a0 You go and get our gear at the hotel.\u00a0 I\u2019ll stop in real quick to see that inspector and grab our horses.\u00a0 Meet me at the livery as soon as you can.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam hurried out of the bar, both feeling a dread in their stomachs.<\/p>\n ******************************<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s heart leapt in his chest when he saw his father\u2019s horse outside the opening of the Zephyr mine.\u00a0 He quickly dismounted and tied Cochise to the sign at the front of the entrance.\u00a0 He then checked Buck over thoroughly.\u00a0 There were no signs of any injuries to either horse or previous rider.\u00a0 Joe looked toward the mine.\u00a0 It made no sense.\u00a0 He could not understand what had possessed his father into coming there.\u00a0 Not knowing if there was any danger, but not wanting to chance it, Joe drew out his Colt revolver and walked into the mine.\u00a0 He took no more than ten steps inside when he heard someone behind him.\u00a0 Before Joe could turn all the way around he was struck by the butt of Luther\u2019s gun and fell incapacitated to the ground.\u00a0 Luther smiled at his newest prisoner.\u00a0 It had been all so easy.\u00a0 He had both father and son in his grasp.\u00a0 How better to make up for his own loss than by now having Ben\u2019s own son as a victim?\u00a0 He laughed as he tied Joe with his hands behind him.<\/p>\n Ben heard the noise as it came towards the opening of the third shaft.\u00a0 He wondered if it was help coming at last.\u00a0 Opening his eyes he was horrified to see Luther dragging his youngest son through the tunnel.<\/p>\n \u201cGot you some company!\u201d\u00a0 Luther called over towards his first prisoner.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u201d\u00a0 Ben gasped looking at the boy.<\/p>\n \u201cHe can\u2019t hear you just now.\u201d\u00a0 Luther answered sarcastically.\u00a0 He all but threw Joe\u2019s crumpled body up against the wall next to Ben.\u00a0 Then, he got his tools ready to secure an additional set of manacles into the stone wall of the mine shaft.\u00a0 He pounded in the iron chisel and secured the iron bar into the rock far enough so it could not be pulled out.\u00a0 Next, he attached the couplings to both Joe\u2019s wrists and ankles.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve got two Cartwrights—for the price of one!\u201d Luther exclaimed triumphantly.\u00a0 \u201cOf course I wasn\u2019t aiming to catch your kid, Ben.\u00a0 But, since he found you it is appropriate don\u2019t you think?\u00a0 I mean me and my boy were in this very shaft, and now you and your boy are.\u00a0 Of course neither of you will get out of here alive.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben strained against his chains, wanting to reach out for his son, and to also reach out and strangle the one who had hurt him.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, it\u2019s about my dinner time.\u00a0 Hate to leave the two of you right now.\u00a0 But, you understand don\u2019t you?\u00a0 It will be a real fine reunion when the boy wakes up!\u00a0 I\u2019ll be back later and we\u2019ll see what kind of fun we can have then.\u201d\u00a0 Luther said and walked away.\u00a0 Ben could still hear the man\u2019s laughter as it echoed throughout the mine.<\/p>\n ***************************<\/p>\n It was several hours later that Joe began to stir.\u00a0 He groaned as he started to come back around.\u00a0 He thought he was in yet another nightmare and was fighting his way back to reality when he heard his name called.\u00a0 Blinking back tears he realized it was his father\u2019s voice as his sight became clearer.<\/p>\n \u201cPa!\u201d\u00a0 Joe called out horrified to see his father chained up to the beam above them.\u00a0 He could see the gash on Ben\u2019s cheek and the bruises on his face.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you all right, Joseph?\u201d\u00a0 Ben whispered staring down at the boy.<\/p>\n Joe fought against the chains that held him.\u00a0 All he wanted to do was to get to his father and help him.\u00a0 \u201cPa–who did this to you?!\u201d\u00a0 Joe yelled madly.<\/p>\n \u201cLuther–Luther Morrow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat son of a bitch!\u201d\u00a0 Joe replied.\u00a0 He tried never to use foul language in front of his father, but seeing him like he was trussed up and bleeding was more than Joe could bear.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m okay–how\u2019s your head?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked.<\/p>\n Joe rubbed at the crown of his head and grimaced.\u00a0 \u201cGood thing that it\u2019s hard.\u00a0 Why is he doing this, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked trying to move as close as he could to his father.<\/p>\n \u201cHe wants me dead because his son died here.\u00a0 I only wish you hadn\u2019t stumbled upon us.\u00a0 What made you come out here to look for me by the way?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe hesitated before answering Pa.\u00a0 He remembered how he had been sitting at Pa’s desk when he spotted the one tear-stained word, \u201cZephyr\u201d.\u00a0 It seemed like a strange way to find a clue as to his father\u2019s whereabouts and due to the circumstances, he chose not to tell Pa.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u201d Ben called, trying to get his son\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n \u201cOh \u2013 sorry \u2013 I just kinda had a hunch, Pa \u2013 that\u2019s why I came here,\u201d Joe finally replied, deciding to leave out the whole incident at the desk.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa.\u00a0 I should’ve told Roy where I was going.\u00a0 But, there are a whole lot of people out looking for you now.\u00a0 Don\u2019t give up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph–the man is crazy.\u00a0 There\u2019s no telling what he will do next.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to see you hurt.\u201d\u00a0 Ben stated, fighting back his worry over what was to come; especially in regards to what would happen to his son.<\/p>\n \u201cI already am.\u201d\u00a0 Joe answered staring at the sight of his father\u2019s battered body.\u00a0 \u201cWhat he\u2019s done to you hurts me more than anything he can do to me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you send word to your brothers?\u201d\u00a0 Ben purposely changed the subject wanting to remain as strong as he could for his son, and not breaking down as he wanted to.<\/p>\n \u201cI sent them a wire today.\u00a0 We still have a chance, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 Joe tried to sound encouraging, but after having seen what the man had already done to his father he wasn\u2019t at all sure help would arrive in time.<\/p>\n ******************************<\/p>\n Neither Ben nor his son knew how long it had been since Luther had left them.\u00a0 Joe tried his best to pull himself free but his bonds were too tight.\u00a0 Exhausted, he had stopped fighting them and had tried to conserve his energy.\u00a0 It was an eerie silence there in the mine as the two Cartwrights waited for their captor to re-appear.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, how are you two doing?\u201d\u00a0 Luther asked as he dropped down his lantern and sat opposite Joe.\u00a0 \u201cSorry I was gone so long, had to get rid of two horses.\u00a0 Oh, and I ate a large meal at the International House. Yes sir, steak and potatoes.\u00a0 You hungry yet, Ben?\u00a0 Been a couple of days now–you should be about starved.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben refused to answer the man but could see from his son\u2019s face that the anger inside of the boy was ready to explode.\u00a0 Luther caught Joe\u2019s expression and turned his attention toward him.\u00a0 \u201cI think your pa there has been hanging around long enough.\u00a0 Let\u2019s you and he change positions.\u201d\u00a0 Luther neared Joe and he lunged toward the man.\u00a0 Luther slugged him in the face causing Joe to careen back against the wall.\u00a0 \u201cHow about I just shoot your daddy?\u00a0 Will that get you to simmer down?\u201d\u00a0 Luther pointed his gun at Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d\u00a0 Joe screamed.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay then–thought you\u2019d see it my way.\u00a0 Now make another move and Ben\u2019s dead you understand me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d\u00a0 Joe muttered seething inside.\u00a0 He would wait for his next chance at the man, he promised himself that he would make Luther pay for the pain he had inflicted on his father.<\/p>\n \u201cNow—stand up!\u201d\u00a0 Luther instructed and Joe obeyed this go round.\u00a0 Luther untethered Joe\u2019s right hand and then made him move toward the beam which had held Ben for so long.\u00a0 \u201cToss that arm up in the air!\u201d\u00a0 Luther said and Joe was then secured to the beam.\u00a0 It was much higher for him than for his father and Joe had to almost stand on his toes to keep balanced.\u00a0 Luther then undid Ben\u2019s right hand and Ben collapsed onto the ground, his legs having gone weak from standing so long.\u00a0 Luther shoved Ben over to the wall and then secured his hand back to the chains in the mine wall.\u00a0 Ben stared up at Joe, aching in his heart to see him struggling to stand upright.\u00a0 Luther walked over to Joe and taunted him.\u00a0 \u201cNot as tall as your daddy are you boy?\u00a0 You fall and you will dislocate those wrists of yours for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo to hell.\u201d\u00a0 Joe muttered and was answered by a punch to his stomach.\u00a0 Joe lost his balance and his wrists were yanked due to the manacles which had him securely held up against the beam.\u00a0 He cried out from the sudden jolt and the pain it had caused.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were saying, Joe?\u201d\u00a0 Luther laughed at the sight.<\/p>\n \u201cLeave him alone!\u00a0 Your hate is for me not my son!\u201d\u00a0 Ben called out horrified at the treatment of his son by the hands of the maniac.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s your son, so I hate him just the same as you, Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI knew Steve–\u201d Joe began, trying to catch his breath as he fought to regain his balance to take the weight off of his sore wrists. \u201cSteve was a good man–he would never have done what you are doing.\u201d<\/p>\n Luther turned back on Joe, furious that he had mentioned his son.\u00a0 \u201cMy Steven is dead!\u00a0 And your father killed him!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou both knew the dangers of working in this mine–you knew what could happen.\u201d\u00a0 Joe argued.\u00a0 Luther began punching Joe relentlessly in response to what he had said.\u00a0 Joe sagged again from the blows he had taken.\u00a0 Blood dripped from his left eyebrow and he felt he would be violently sick to his stomach from the blows he had taken to it.<\/p>\n \u201cLeave him alone!\u201d\u00a0 Ben shouted and pulled at his chains.<\/p>\n Luther stopped and turned back around.\u00a0 He kneeled down next to Ben and grinned at him.\u00a0 \u201cSomething tells me that hurting your kid hurts you more than hurting you.\u00a0 Now, I told you I could get you to beg me–but you wouldn\u2019t do it.\u00a0 How about begging me for Joe this time?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shook his head and moaned. \u201cDon\u2019t\u00a0do it, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 He whispered, fighting his pain.<\/p>\n \u201cYou want me to start beating him again?\u201d\u00a0 Luther asked as he saw the anguish on Ben\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, please–don\u2019t hurt him anymore.\u201d\u00a0 Ben pleaded.<\/p>\n \u201cBeg me.\u201d\u00a0 Luther countered sadistically.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m begging you now, don\u2019t hurt Joseph.\u00a0 Please he\u2019s taken enough.\u201d\u00a0 Ben answered.<\/p>\n Joe cried seeing his father reduced to begging for his son\u2019s life, he knew Ben would never beg for his own life, but a son was much more precious to him.<\/p>\n \u201cGet on your knees.\u201d\u00a0 Luther demanded.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Pa—\u201d Joe sobbed.<\/p>\n Ben moved to his knees.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m begging you to spare his life.\u201d\u00a0 Ben called out.<\/p>\n Luther laughed and stood up.\u00a0 \u201cI wish I could take me one of those pictures like they got in those new- fangled stores in the East.\u00a0 I\u2019d have me a picture of the rich and powerful Ben Cartwright begging like a dog for a bone!\u201d\u00a0 Luther picked up his lantern and started to walk away.\u00a0\u00a0 He paused and turned back around.\u00a0 \u201cOkay, I spared Joe this time.\u00a0 But, I\u2019m gonna be back in the morning and then it don\u2019t matter how much you beg me.\u00a0 \u00a0Yes sir, me and Joe are gonna have us some real fun.\u201d\u00a0 Luther taunted Ben and then walked back into the darkness, disappearing from sight.<\/p>\n \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have done it. Pa–you shouldn\u2019t have begged that bastard.\u201d\u00a0 Joe cried.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll do whatever it takes<\/strong> to keep you alive.\u201d\u00a0 Ben declared emphatically.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m gonna kill him, Pa–kill him for what he\u2019s done to you.\u00a0 I swear it!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSave your strength, Joseph.\u00a0 Lord willing we will get out of here somehow,\u201d Pa attempted to calm the rage he heard in his son\u2019s tone of voice.<\/p>\n Joe looked up at the beam which held him trapped due to his chains.\u00a0 It hung down from the top of the mine giving a two foot clearance above it.\u00a0 He knew if he tried to haul himself up on top of the beam that he might be able to find a weak spot in it somehow and free himself.\u00a0 Joe also knew he had to try it soon, before his exhaustion took over.\u00a0 He jumped as high as he could in a panicked attempt to grab the top of the beam.\u00a0 Ben watched and held his breath.\u00a0 He knew it would do no good to try and stop his son.\u00a0 Joe would never have listened to him, not as angered as the boy now was.<\/p>\n On the third try, Joe grabbed firmly at the top of the beam.\u00a0 He pulled himself upside down and tried to hug onto it with his legs.\u00a0 He was now completely upside down hanging like a squirrel to a branch.\u00a0 Slowly he pulled himself around so that his body now rested on top of the beam.\u00a0 Joe paused and tried to catch his breath.\u00a0 He looked down at his father and a small smile of triumph filtered down onto his lips.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, at least I can rest now.\u201d\u00a0 Joe whispered as he inspected his surroundings.\u00a0 He had hoped to find a weakness in the beam, but as he inched his way down the wood, he found nothing that would help free his arms.\u00a0 Joe managed to pull himself to a sitting position. \u201cGot any ideas?\u201d\u00a0 Joe called down to his father.<\/p>\n \u201cIdeas?\u00a0 Joseph, I don\u2019t even know how you\u2019re gonna get down from there.\u201d\u00a0 Ben sighed as he stood and attempted to stretch his aching arms and legs.\u00a0 The chains which held him only gave him a couple of feet to move.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe I can sit here and wait for Luther to come back and then jump him?\u201d\u00a0 Joe stated and tried to figure out how to best position his self in order to make the move on their captor.<\/p>\n \u201cIt could be hours, Son.\u201d\u00a0 Ben replied.<\/p>\n Joe straddled the beam again, lying down on his stomach this time.\u00a0 \u201cI ain\u2019t got nothing better to do, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 He stated wryly.<\/p>\n \u201cAt least you look comfortable.\u201d\u00a0 Ben tried to crack a smile even though he knew the severity of the situation and the odds were definitely against the two of them.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s a good thing you are so light, can you imagine Hoss up there?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf Hoss was up here the beam would come down and free him.\u00a0 You got stuck inside here with the wrong son, that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wish you hadn\u2019t come, Joseph.\u201d\u00a0 Ben remarked sadly and sat back down.\u00a0 \u201cThe last thing I wanted was for you to get hurt like this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou think he\u2019s gonna kill us, don\u2019t you, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 Joe turned serious as he read his father\u2019s face.<\/p>\n Ben didn\u2019t want to answer his youngest.\u00a0 He had hoped to watch the boy grow up into a full grown man.\u00a0 He was only eighteen and had so much life in him.\u00a0 Ben feared that the youngster before him would not make it out of the mine alive, nor would he, himself.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked again.<\/p>\n \u201cHe wants to kill us–that\u2019s for certain.\u00a0 But, there\u2019s always hope.\u00a0 It wouldn\u2019t hurt to say a few prayers, Son.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded over to his father.\u00a0 He would pray.\u00a0 He would pray all night if need be.\u00a0 But, when the evil man returned he now prayed that he would be able to over-take him to spare his father\u2019s life as well as his own.<\/p>\n Ben had succumbed to exhaustion and even Joe, balanced on the beam above his father, fell into a deep sleep.\u00a0 There really wasn\u2019t anything else they could do anyway.\u00a0 The man who held them captive had left and the only thing that either Cartwright could do was wait and pray and sleep.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n Roy Coffee was in a bad mood.\u00a0 He rarely flared off at people but he had worn himself thin in trying to find his friend.\u00a0 The men from his posse had covered twenty square miles with no results.\u00a0 Roy sank back in his chair and rubbed at his weary temples.\u00a0 He regretted having yelled at both his deputy and one of his posse members when they had insisted on calling off their search that night.\u00a0 After having calmed down, Roy had apologized and sent the entire party home.\u00a0 He had no idea where to search the next day but he would.\u00a0 Roy wondered why he had not seen hide nor hair of Joe.\u00a0 He reasoned that the boy had decided to search on his own.<\/p>\n Roy poured a cup of badly needed coffee and sank back down against his chair just as the door to his office sprang open.\u00a0 Roy half expected to see Joe Cartwright enter, in his usual excited manner, but instead he saw it was Hop Sing.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe no come home–no one see him!\u201d\u00a0 Hop Sing yelled as he neared Roy.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t seen the kid either. He was supposed to meet up with me this morning.\u00a0 This is great–just great!\u00a0 Now I have two missing Cartwrights!\u00a0 I should have locked the kid up just to keep tabs on him.\u201d\u00a0 Roy yelled frustrated.<\/p>\n \u201cNo Mr. Ben–no Little Joe–where they are?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wish I knew, Hop Sing.\u00a0 But, I can promise you I am gonna find out. It\u2019s mighty late–I\u2019ll get my posse back together first thing in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing ride too!\u201d\u00a0 The cook insisted.<\/p>\n \u201cNo–now Hop Sing, the best place for you is back at the Ponderosa, just in case Joe shows back up.\u00a0 But, it\u2019s a bit late for you to go off now.\u00a0 You want me to put you up here for the night?\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing peered back towards the jail cells.\u00a0 A smile creased his lips at the thought.\u00a0 Though he had seen each member of the family entertained for one reason or another in Roy\u2019s jail, Hop Sing had never committed a crime.\u00a0 He thought it would be a little exciting to sleep in a cell.\u00a0 And, besides that, he didn\u2019t really want to drive back to the Ponderosa in the dark.\u00a0 It had been a bad enough journey getting into town.<\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing stay.\u00a0 You lock cell?\u201d\u00a0 He asked.<\/p>\n Roy chuckled and walked Hop Sing to the back.\u00a0 \u201cNo, Hop Sing–I ain\u2019t locking you up, I\u2019m just extending to you the hospitality of this here jail.\u00a0 You go into the first one–I think that has the best mattress.\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing nodded and settled down onto the bunk.\u00a0 As worried as he was about his two family members, he smiled.\u00a0 This would be a great story to send to his cousins in San Francisco.<\/p>\n ******************************<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph—\u201d Ben whispered and Joe opened his eyes.\u00a0 It took him a few seconds to realize he was still up on the beam and had almost fallen when he had heard his name called.\u00a0 \u201cI think I heard something.\u201d\u00a0 Ben continued.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019ll be coming right under here, Pa.\u00a0 I\u2019m gonna try to get him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBe careful.\u201d\u00a0 Ben warned and then saw a lantern approaching.<\/p>\n Luther had just passed under Joe\u2019s perch when the young man swung his legs down knocking his enemy into the dirt.\u00a0 Joe now hung from the beam with his hands again over his head, but kicked at the rifle that had fallen along with the man.\u00a0 Joe attempted to use his boot to push the rifle over to his father but Luther regained his senses too fast.\u00a0 It was then that he grabbed the rifle and sent off a shot at Ben.\u00a0 Joe immediately stopped his attempt to get Luther and saw how his father now slumped over gripping his left arm.<\/p>\n \u201cCost your father a good grazing there, Boy!\u201d\u00a0 Luther called over as he inspected Ben\u2019s wound.\u00a0 \u201cJust took some hide off.\u00a0 I could\u2019ve killed him, but I am not quite ready to yet.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben regained his composure and bit his bottom lip in pain.\u00a0 \u201cYou want me dead–that\u2019s fine.\u00a0 But, let my son go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet Joe go?\u00a0 Okay–if you bring Steven back I will.\u201d\u00a0 Luther said viciously and turned his attention back on Joe.\u00a0 \u201cNow–let\u2019s see what I\u2019m gonna do to you for your attempt at escape.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo to Hell!\u201d\u00a0 Joe screamed and waited.\u00a0 He could see that it didn\u2019t matter what he said now, Luther was going to hurt him anyway.\u00a0 Luther approached Joe and grabbed his face in his hand and squeezed it hard.<\/p>\n \u201cLook at me!\u201d\u00a0 He demanded and Joe did as instructed this time.\u00a0 \u201cYou see these scars on my face?\u00a0 They were caused by the explosion–and they are on my face because of your father\u2019s negligence.\u00a0 How would you like that pretty face of yours to look like this?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe didn\u2019t answer and he fought back the repulsion from looking at the hideous scars that marred the man\u2019s face.\u00a0 Luther let go and walked over to the lantern.\u00a0 He took off the glass cover and carried the lamp back over to where Joe stood, still trying to balance himself.\u00a0 His wrists ached from the weight of his body as it tried to stretch enough to prevent falling.<\/p>\n \u201cSee this flame, Joe? You reckon how long it would take to burn into your flesh?\u00a0 I can tell you it wouldn\u2019t take long.\u00a0 Oh and the pain!\u00a0 My God there\u2019s nothing like a burn for making a man hurt!\u201d\u00a0 Luther pulled the flame closer.\u00a0 The light from it danced in Joe\u2019s intense hazel eyes as he felt the increasing heat from the lantern.\u00a0 He struggled not to cry out in fear.<\/p>\n \u201cLuther!\u201d\u00a0 Ben screamed standing up.\u00a0 \u201cYou want to hurt someone you hurt me!\u00a0 Leave my boy alone!\u201d<\/p>\n Luther let out a blood curdling laugh and then swept the flame from the lantern across Joe\u2019s right cheek.\u00a0 Joe felt the heat and then the scalding pain as it singed his face.\u00a0 He cried out in pain.\u00a0 \u201cNo! Please!\u201d\u00a0 Joe yelled as it passed over him and then Luther dropped it down.<\/p>\n Ben pulled his chains as far as he could in a vain attempt to get to his son.\u00a0 They stopped a yard short of where Joe sagged down against the chains and passed out.\u00a0 Luther reached up and unlocked the right cuff of the manacle and freed Joe\u2019s arm so that he fell flat on the ground.\u00a0 He then pulled the unconscious young man over by Ben.\u00a0 He secured him back up against the wall of the mine.<\/p>\n \u201cWell–you know that had to hurt.\u201d\u00a0 Luther laughed sadistically.\u00a0 Ben wished he could get his hands on the evil that stared over at him.\u00a0 He knew he could strangle the life out of the man now.\u00a0 Ben had never wished anyone dead the way he now wished it of Luther.<\/p>\n \u201cIt ain\u2019t over, Ben.\u00a0 There\u2019s lots left to do.\u00a0 I see the hate in your eyes.\u00a0 But, you know what?\u00a0 It ain\u2019t half the hate I have for you!\u00a0 You just saw your son hurt–hurt pretty good.\u00a0 But, you haven\u2019t seen him dead.\u00a0 Wait till then, and maybe you\u2019ll finally know how I feel right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Luther walked over to the lantern and put the glass back in place.\u00a0 He then reached for his canteen and tossed it over at Ben.\u00a0 It fell close enough for Ben to reach it and he pulled it to him.<\/p>\n \u201cGo ahead and drink.\u00a0 I want you alive remember?\u00a0 I have to go now, but I\u2019ll be back real soon.\u00a0 Then we\u2019ll see what\u2019s next on the list.\u201d\u00a0 Luther chuckled and walked back out into the tunnel.<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n Ben could make it to within a foot of where Joe now lay. Stretching out as far as he could, he pulled Joe towards him.\u00a0 Ben was able to get his son close enough to check the boy\u2019s wounds.\u00a0 The skin on Joe\u2019s cheek had already blistered and was beet red.\u00a0 Reaching up to his throat, Ben removed his neckerchief and poured some of the water from the canteen onto it.\u00a0 He then lightly dabbed at the burn.\u00a0 It was enough to bring Joe back to reality.\u00a0 He moaned and looked up at his father.\u00a0 Tears welled up in his eyes when he saw the tears which now tracked down his father\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Joseph–this is all my fault.\u00a0 I am so sorry–so very sorry.\u201d \u00a0Ben wept openly.\u00a0 He was exhausted and so worried about his son\u2019s fate that he couldn\u2019t hide it and he couldn\u2019t mask the sadness he felt looking at his son\u2019s face.\u00a0 Ben prayed that Joseph wouldn\u2019t carry a scar if they should survive the whole ordeal.<\/p>\n Joe was able to stretch enough to take his father\u2019s hand and he held on to it tightly.\u00a0 \u201cNo, Pa–don\u2019t say that!\u00a0 It is not your fault–it never was.\u00a0 Not the mine, not Steve\u2019s death, and not this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat he\u2019s done to you–\u201d Ben stopped and tried to gather his wits.\u00a0 He knew his youngest needed him to be the pillar of strength now.\u00a0 He would try his best to be that for him.<\/p>\n \u201cIs it bad, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked and saw his father look down at his cheek.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think it will scar–it\u2019s festered up–but I think it will go away.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was talking about your arm.\u201d\u00a0 Joe winced as he tried for a smile.<\/p>\n Ben shook his head as he reached over to his gunshot wound.\u00a0 It had already started to clot and he had not lost much blood.\u00a0 \u201cThis?\u00a0 No this is fine.\u00a0 Thank goodness he\u2019s a lousy shot!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt least I\u2019m down from that beam.\u201d\u00a0 Joe grinned wryly and tried to move as close to his father as he could.\u00a0 He needed to feel his father\u2019s hand on him, something to give him comfort from the pain and fear.\u00a0 Joe wondered internally what his face looked like after having been burned.\u00a0 He fought to push that aside.\u00a0 He was far more worried about his father and all he had endured.\u00a0 He was also scared as to what Luther would do next.<\/p>\n \u201cHere.\u201d\u00a0 Ben said and handed the boy the canteen.\u00a0 Joe accepted it and took a few long chugs before passing it back.\u00a0 Ben drank heavily.\u00a0 He was thirsty and his hunger had eaten at his insides for more than two days.\u00a0 Joe noticed how weak his father seemed and wished he could do something for him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou must be starved, Pa.\u00a0 You haven\u2019t eaten in days.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine.\u00a0 I\u2019ve gone longer before.\u00a0 Besides, I could do without a few pounds anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow long–how long does it take from Sacramento to here?\u201d\u00a0 Joe whispered, his thoughts going back on the telegraph he had sent his brothers.<\/p>\n \u201cIt can be done in three days, weather permitting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan we hold out, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked turning his penetrating hazel eyes on his father.<\/p>\n Ben squeezed his son\u2019s hand and answered, \u201cWe will hold on as long as we have to.\u00a0 I know it doesn\u2019t look good now–but you said a whole lot of people are looking for me–and now you.\u00a0 I am quite sure when you failed to come home yesterday that Hop Sing went on the warpath.\u00a0 He would tear down all of Virginia City looking for his favorite boy.\u201d\u00a0 Ben smiled and brushed his hand through Joe\u2019s hair.<\/p>\n \u201cOh–he told me to tell you that he quit by the way.\u201d\u00a0 Joe teased, remembering his former conversation with the cook.<\/p>\n \u201cHe did huh?\u00a0 Well, I guess I\u2019ll just have to hire him back for the millionth time!\u201d\u00a0 Ben chuckled.\u00a0 It then turned silent.\u00a0 Each Cartwright caught on the severity of the situation.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d Joe asked after a few moments of pause in the conversation.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Joseph?\u201d\u00a0 Ben replied shifting his weight against the wall, but keeping Joe\u2019s hand firmly in his grip.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I die–if I die and you get out–\u201d Joe started and his eyes glazed up.<\/p>\n \u201cNo–don\u2019t even say that!\u201d Ben insisted, anguished at the thought.<\/p>\n \u201cBut–just in case–I don\u2019t want you to blame yourself.\u00a0 You have always taken care of me, and no matter what happens I want you to go on.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Joseph—my feelings exactly.\u00a0 If I don\u2019t make it, I want the same thing of you.\u00a0 You have to go on–for me.\u201d\u00a0 Ben turned Joe\u2019s face gently and looked deeply into his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are both liars you know?\u201d\u00a0 Joe stared back.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s no way I could go on without you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen let\u2019s stay alive.\u00a0 Because you know I am not leaving here without you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Pa–if you promise to hang on then so will I.\u201d Joe nodded as though they had made some kind of pact and sealed it in their blood.<\/p>\n \u201cI promise.\u201d\u00a0 Ben whispered and put the neckerchief back up to his son\u2019s face.<\/p>\n ******************************<\/p>\n The day was filled with activities by Virginia City\u2019s sheriff.\u00a0 He checked all over town to see if anyone had seen Joe.\u00a0 The most he had come up with was at the telegraph office where he was informed about the hastily written telegram Joe had sent to his brothers in Sacramento. Roy was glad that at least Joe had taken the time to do something smart, and he looked forward to the other Cartwrights to appear.\u00a0 Knowing that would be at least a couple of days, Roy formed another posse and sent Hop Sing back to the Ponderosa to enlist ranch hands in the search.\u00a0 They would start in the areas surrounding Virginia City and pan out towards the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n Luther Morrow had been in Virginia City as well and had listened in to several conversations as to what was going on in the search for the Cartwrights.\u00a0 Feeling pleased that the search was going on far from the Zephyr he knew that no-one had put the pieces together.\u00a0 He had even been so bold as to go and talk to Roy and offer his own help as needed.\u00a0 Roy had thanked him and told him to just keep his eye out for the two missing Cartwrights.\u00a0 He would keep his eye out all right.\u00a0 Luther chuckled to himself as he ate his lunch at the hotel.<\/p>\n ******************************<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss were making good time in their efforts to return home and find out what had happened to their father.\u00a0 They had purchased remounts themselves, leaving Sport and Chub in the care of a friend of theirs a day\u2019s ride from home.\u00a0 Both men fought back the mounting uncertainty of what they would find once they arrived at the Ponderosa.\u00a0 Trying to stay focused, and having done with little sleep, they rode both day and night.\u00a0 No matter what the problem, they would console their younger brother and find their father no matter what the circumstances were.<\/p>\n Adam would help hold Hoss together on their journey back with reassurances of past crises.\u00a0 Hoss would do the same when he saw the glimmer of dread appear in his brother\u2019s dark brown eyes.\u00a0 Together they would handle it, they always had before and this would be no exception.<\/p>\n ******************************<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s the face doing, Joe?\u201d\u00a0 Luther asked as he approached his two prisoners.\u00a0 Joe did not respond.\u00a0 He had gotten past most of the pain now, having turned his attention on the revenge he would seek against the evil man before him.\u00a0 Joe sat back against the wall of the mine and waited to see what was next.\u00a0 Ben had been sleeping most of the day.\u00a0 His exhaustion was coupled with the lack of food and he looked very weak and very old.\u00a0 Joe worried about his father\u2019s health every time he glanced over at him.<\/p>\n \u201cGot you both some grub. Figured it was the least I could do.\u201d\u00a0 Luther said and pushed over two plates of beans towards the two men.<\/p>\n Ben shifted his weight again and briefly stared down at the food.<\/p>\n \u201cAin\u2019t you two gonna thank me?\u201d\u00a0 Luther asked feigning hurt at the thought.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you.\u201d\u00a0 Ben muttered with sarcasm in his response.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I hope you all like it.\u00a0 Just some beans but enough to keep you alive for right now.\u00a0 Only got one problem.\u00a0 One of them plates is good and the other got dusted accidentally with rat poison.\u00a0 My mistake–I hope you will forgive me.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked over at the food and his anger surged.\u00a0 He knew that Ben had to have something soon he could wait as he had eaten more recently.\u00a0 Now, if Luther was telling the truth, it would be a death sentence to whoever ate the wrong plate of beans.<\/p>\n Luther stood back up and smiled sadistically.\u00a0 \u201cI reckon when I come back I\u2019ll find out which of you was the hungriest!\u201d\u00a0 He laughed and walked away.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you think, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked eyeing the two plates again.<\/p>\n \u201cBetter not chance it, Joseph.\u00a0 For all we know both plates have rat poison.\u201d\u00a0 Ben said disgustedly.<\/p>\n Joe thought for a while and then reached for one of the plates and pulled it into his lap. He began to eat.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u201d\u00a0 Ben yelled madly.\u00a0 \u201cStop it–stop it right now!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Pa–I have this all figured out.\u00a0 I\u2019ll eat a little of this plate.\u00a0 Then I\u2019ll stop.\u00a0 It probably would be just a matter of an hour or less to see if I get sick. \u00a0If I don\u2019t then I\u2019ll give it to you.\u00a0 If I do, then you eat from the other plate.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if you get sick–do your realize you can die from that?\u00a0 Make sense and stop eating right this minute!\u201d\u00a0 Ben demanded.<\/p>\n Joe continued to eat.\u00a0 He finished a third of the beans and then put the plate down and drank some of the water they still had left in the canteen.\u00a0 \u201cNow we wait.\u201d\u00a0 Joe said and Ben shot him back an angered look.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, you are the most disobedient child.\u201d\u00a0 Ben muttered and saw Joe return a smile at his father\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n \u201cWould you have me any other way, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked and saw his father shaking his head irritated.<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d\u00a0 Ben stated emphatically.\u00a0 \u201cYou are the cause of every white hair I have on my head.\u00a0 You do know that don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded and threw over a smile.\u00a0 \u201cBut it looks so good on you, Pa.\u00a0 It makes you look so wise.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen I can\u2019t wait until your hair goes white.\u00a0 Then maybe you will get some sense.\u201d\u00a0 Ben answered and then saw a grimace appear on Joe\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph—are you okay?\u201d\u00a0 He asked with dread in his tone.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah–it\u2019s not the beans it\u2019s my face.\u00a0 I\u2019ll let you know if I am poisoned, you won\u2019t have to ask me.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sighed and leaned back against the mine again and waited.\u00a0 He said a silent prayer that Joe had chosen well and would not become sick from the food.\u00a0 It was a long wait.\u00a0 There was no way to tell time down in the depths of the earth, but Ben reasoned it had been over an hour and Joe still had no signs of any ill effects from what he had eaten.<\/p>\n \u201cHere—\u201d Joe said and handed Ben his plate.\u00a0 \u201cGuess you better eat this.\u00a0 It\u2019s kinda cold but not bad.\u00a0 Sure beats rat poison.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben ate the full contents of the plate.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t much but would give him some strength.\u00a0 When he finished he looked back over at his son.\u00a0 \u201cWell, I will thank you for passing your little test, even though you scared the heck out of me!\u00a0 It feels good to have something on my stomach.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s another plate there, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 Joe smiled and pointed over at the other plate on the ground beside them.<\/p>\n \u201cNo thank you.\u201d\u00a0 Ben replied and pushed it out of the way.<\/p>\n ******************************<\/p>\n Luther never made it back to the Zephyr that night.\u00a0 Instead, he was indulging himself with whiskey in his home a good two miles from the mine.\u00a0 He sat at his table in his small cabin and mused on what to do next to his two prisoners.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t been happy when he learned that both Hoss and Adam Cartwright were on their way back, and he didn\u2019t know how soon they would get home.\u00a0 After much thought, and much liquor, Luther decided that he would finish off both Ben and Joe the next day and be done with it.\u00a0 He crawled into bed with that his last thought.<\/p>\n ******************************<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked startled as he heard a loud rumble and the floor to the mine shook.\u00a0 He stood as much as he could and tried to get a glance toward the tunnel.<\/p>\n Ben groaned in pain as he stood as well.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, it\u2019s just the ground shifting above us.\u00a0 It does it all the time down here.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think it\u2019s anything to be worried about.\u201d\u00a0 He tried to sound confident, but had thought on how unsafe it was where they were.\u00a0 The third shaft in the Zephyr was unstable, and had been where the explosion had happened that sparked Luther\u2019s hate for him.<\/p>\n Joe turned around and gave his father a peculiar smile.\u00a0 \u201cWhy would I worry, Pa?\u00a0 I mean we’re safe here, right?\u00a0 We\u2019re just held captive by a maniac who wants to kill the both of us.\u00a0 I see no reason to worry about the fact that the shafts above us could give way at any moment –crushing us to death.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou have always had a strange sense of humor.\u201d\u00a0 Ben sighed and sat back down wearily.<\/p>\n \u201cHey–wonder where old Luther is anyway?\u00a0 It\u2019s been a long time since he left that rat poison for us.\u00a0 You\u2019d think he\u2019d have come back to see whether we were dead from eating it wouldn\u2019t you?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked as he sat back down against the wall next to his father.<\/p>\n \u201cI gave up a long time ago trying to figure out how his mind works.\u00a0 I can\u2019t say I am happy about still being here like this, but, at least he hasn\u2019t done anything else to us.\u00a0 Maybe the law has caught up with him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope so.\u201d\u00a0 Joe said as another rumble was both heard and felt by them both.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n By mid- afternoon the next day, Hoss and Adam rode their mounts hurriedly up to the Virginia City Jail and dismounted.\u00a0 Roy had returned just moments earlier, and when he saw the two of them burst through the door, he eagerly addressed them, \u201cBoy am I glad to see the both of you!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019s Pa?\u00a0 Has anyone found him yet?\u00a0 And Joe–is he in town?\u2019\u00a0 Adam began the rapid series of questions.\u00a0 Roy settled gently down into his chair behind his desk.\u00a0 More than three days on constant horseback had taken its toll on his back.<\/p>\n \u201cOne thing at a time.\u00a0 Now your pa\u2019s still missing.\u00a0 But, we have search parties all over.\u00a0 It\u2019s only a matter of time.\u00a0 As for your little brother–well–I am afraid whatever fate befell your father has happened to him.\u00a0 He disappeared not too long after he sent you both that wire.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss sank down in a chair.\u00a0 He was exhausted, as was Adam.\u00a0 They had ridden so long and had only had a dozen hours of sleep between the both of them in three days.\u00a0 \u201cYou ain\u2019t got no clue yet, Roy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, there was something that turned up this morning. We found their horses–\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere?!\u201d Adam asked loudly, his patience now was completely gone.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone must have taken both horses and turned them loose right back on the Ponderosa.\u00a0 We found them not a mile from the ranch house.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho would have done this?!\u201d\u00a0 Adam shouted again and slammed his fist against the wall.<\/p>\n Roy looked over at the oldest son of his dear friend.\u00a0 He was surprised to see the son who was known for being level-headed acting this way.\u00a0 Roy chalked it up to the fact that both worry and fatigue had taken over.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know, but I can promise you we\u2019re gonna find out!\u201d<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n The light from Luther\u2019s lantern slowly appeared heading towards his two prisoners.\u00a0 They both had dozed off, and it was only the sound of the evil man\u2019s laughter that had brought them back into harsh reality.\u00a0 Luther bent down carefully and lifted up the two plates he had left the previous day.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess one of you wasn\u2019t hungry. \u00a0That\u2019s a pure shame too!\u00a0 I made a mistake–seems like I never did put any rat poison on either plate.\u201d\u00a0 He laughed and the two captives shot venomous glances toward him.\u00a0 \u201cOh–now you ain\u2019t mad are you?\u00a0 What a shame.\u00a0 And here I got some great news for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat news?\u201d\u00a0 Ben muttered, really not wanting to know but merely appeasing the man for the time being.<\/p>\n \u201cToday\u2019s the last day here in the mine for you two, alive at least.\u00a0 I think it\u2019s time to end this.\u00a0 What do you say?\u00a0 You both ready to die?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not too late for you, Luther.\u201d\u00a0 Ben called over to him. \u201cYou let us go and you won\u2019t face a hangman\u2019s rope.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDead men tell no tales.\u00a0 Besides–you are a great believer in the good book ain\u2019t you, Ben?\u00a0 Well, it says an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.\u00a0 Now, I aim to have an eye for an eye right now.\u00a0 Stand up, Joe!\u201d\u00a0 He directed and Joe looked over at his father.\u00a0 \u201cI said stand up or\u00a0I put another bullet through your daddy.\u00a0 And this time I won\u2019t miss!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stood and Luther moved closer to him and unlocked the chains from the mine wall.\u00a0 Joe was still tethered together by his ankles and his wrists as he moved closer to his captor.<\/p>\n \u201cNow me and you are gonna walk right over there.\u201d Luther pointed with his gun to the end of the room of the mine where they were being held.\u00a0 Rocks were all over, as it was where the original explosion had taken place; the explosion which had killed Luther\u2019s son.<\/p>\n Joe turned back to Ben and had the feeling that it would be the last time he would see him in life.\u00a0 \u201cGoodbye, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 Joe said quietly as tears formed in his eyes.\u00a0 He shot him a look that was filled with the love that he had for his pa.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah–go on and tell the kid goodbye, Ben.\u00a0 \u201cCause this is it for him!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLuther–I\u2019m begging you–take me–leave Joseph alone!\u201d\u00a0 Ben pleaded with the man.<\/p>\n Luther laughed sadistically.\u00a0 \u201cYou had your chance to say goodbye.\u00a0 Now move!\u201d\u00a0 He shoved Joe over to the end of the room.<\/p>\n \u201cLuther, no!\u201d\u00a0 Ben shouted as he stood and strained against the chains which bound him.<\/p>\n Luther led Joe over to the end of the room, planning to end the boy\u2019s life with a bullet through his head.\u00a0 He aimed the gun and Joe squeezed his eyes close.\u00a0 He said a silent prayer, and it wasn\u2019t for his own life, it was for that of his father\u2019s.\u00a0 He wanted Ben to live, to live and tell the tale of what had happened in the mine.\u00a0 Live to see his other sons and to seek revenge for what had happened at the hands of Luther Morrow.<\/p>\n It was at that exact moment, either through fate or due to divine intervention that the earth shook, knocking Luther and Joe to the ground.\u00a0 Then, the mine shaft gave way and tons of rock came down from above.\u00a0 Explosions echoed throughout the Zephyr and could be heard all the way into Virginia City.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n Adam turned toward his brother Hoss.\u00a0 They had been standing on the front porch of the jailhouse when the tremendous sound was heard.\u00a0 Roy had heard something very similar to that sound some six months earlier.\u00a0 His mind raced back to the day of the Zephyr mine disaster.<\/p>\n \u201cYou think it\u2019s the Zephyr again?\u201d\u00a0 Roy turned his attention towards the Cartwright brothers.<\/p>\n \u201cNobody is working it– are they?\u2019\u00a0 Hoss asked and noted the strange expression on his brother\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cRight before we left town, Pa had words with Luther Morrow over at the saloon.\u00a0 And Pa\u2019s business partners have been hounding him to reopen that mine.\u00a0 Something just doesn\u2019t feel right.\u00a0 I think we need to go over there.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss didn\u2019t reply.\u00a0 Both he and Roy stepped down off of the porch and mounted their horses and turned in the direction of the Zephyr.<\/p>\n ***************************<\/p>\n Ben shook the dirt off of his hands and face and called out \u201cJoseph!\u201d<\/strong> for the third time.\u00a0 Thick smoke and debris still filled the mine, and Ben coughed again and waited.\u00a0 When there was still no reply he called one last time.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph!\u00a0 Can you hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n Shaking himself after having been knocked out cold, Joe looked at his surroundings.\u00a0 Rock and timber were everywhere.\u00a0 It was then that he saw the dead man next to him.\u00a0 Luther had been crushed by a fallen beam, catching him in the mid-section.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s right leg was pinned under some of the rubble, but, he had escaped with his life.<\/p>\n \u201cPa!\u201d\u00a0 Joe shouted.\u00a0 He knew his father still couldn\u2019t see him due to the clouds of dust which filled the tunnel.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m okay–and Luther is dead!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank God.\u201d\u00a0 Ben whispered and closed his eyes, giving a brief thanks to the man upstairs.\u00a0 \u201cCan you walk over here?\u201d\u00a0 Ben called again.<\/p>\n \u201cMy leg is pinned under.\u00a0 I can\u2019t budge the wood and rocks that are holding it.\u00a0 I can reach Luther I think.\u00a0 Gonna try to find the keys.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBe careful, Son.\u00a0 Try not to jar anything while you are searching.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe could reach far enough to feel Luther\u2019s coat.\u00a0 He let his left hand dig into the man\u2019s right pocket but could feel nothing there.\u00a0 Straining to get to the other side of the coat, Joe finally made contact with something.\u00a0 Slowly and carefully he pulled out the set of keys.\u00a0 He brought them over the dead man\u2019s chest and pulled them closer so that they now rested in his own lap.\u00a0 Freeing himself from his wrist cuffs, he soon realized he could do nothing for his legs until the wood and rocks were removed.<\/p>\n \u201cGot my hands undone—but can\u2019t get my ankles.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got to try and throw the keys to you, Pa.\u00a0 Can you see where I am yet?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stood and pushed himself as far from the wall of the mine as his chains would allow. From that position he clearly spotted where Joe was lying on his back, held to the floor by the weight of the debris.\u00a0 \u201cI see you, Joe.\u00a0 But, it\u2019s gonna be an awfully hard throw for you.\u00a0 A good twenty feet or more and in your position you are going to have to throw it over your head.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah—\u201d Joe muttered to himself.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I only get one try.\u201d\u00a0 Joe twisted his body as much as he could and held the keys tightly in his left hand.\u00a0 \u201cAre you ready?\u201d\u00a0 He shouted.<\/p>\n \u201cReady!\u201d\u00a0 Ben replied and worriedly bit at his bottom lip.\u00a0 Joe tossed the keys straight over his head towards his father\u2019s voice.\u00a0 They sailed through the air and landed three feet from where Ben now stood straining at his chains.<\/p>\n \u201cDid you get them?\u201d\u00a0 Joe called back.<\/p>\n Ben stretched out on the ground but they were still beyond his grasp.\u00a0 \u201cA good throw, Son.\u00a0 But, I can\u2019t exactly get to them.<\/p>\n \u201cHow about your belt, Pa?\u00a0 Can you get them if you use it?\u201d\u00a0 Joe thought fast.<\/p>\n Ben smiled to himself at how clever his youngest son had become in only eighteen years.\u00a0 He had seen the kid get out of other critical situations that few others would have managed to do.\u00a0 Ben drew off his belt and held on to the smooth end and tossed the buckle end towards his target.\u00a0 As if he were fishing for a prized trout, Ben began the process of trying to retrieve the keys.\u00a0 It took a good six tries, but he was finally able to pull them closer and soon held them in his hands.<\/p>\n \u201cGot them!\u00a0 I\u2019ll be free in a minute!\u201d\u00a0 Ben shouted.<\/p>\n Joe closed his eyes and sighed.\u00a0 It was the first stroke of luck they had been given in several days.\u00a0 He, also, gave his thanks to God as Ben worked on freeing himself.<\/p>\n Soon Joe could feel the comforting hand of his father on his forehead as Ben brushed the dusty curls out of his eyes.\u00a0 ***Some things never change!\u00a0 Pa, God love him, was back in his father mode. ***<\/em><\/strong> Joe thought to himself as he grinned up at him.\u00a0 Ben carefully moved one rock at a time until the wood beam that sat on his son\u2019s right ankle could be seen.\u00a0 With all of his might, Ben lifted the end of the beam and Joe quickly pulled his leg out.\u00a0 Ben grabbed Joe by his shoulders and pulled him away from the mountain of rocks which had held both him and Luther prisoner.<\/p>\n Joe sat up and the very first thing he did was hug his father.\u00a0 Father and son enjoyed a moment of both freedom and joy.\u00a0 \u201cI thought he was going to kill you, Joseph.\u00a0 Thank God that the explosion happened when it did!\u00a0 Now let\u2019s get these chains off of you so we can take a look at that ankle.\u201d\u00a0 Ben took the keys out of his pocket and freed his son from his bonds.\u00a0 Next, he carefully pulled his son\u2019s boot off and watched as Joe winced his face and tried to stifle a groan.\u00a0 \u201cLooks like it\u2019s broken, it has already started to balloon up.\u201d\u00a0 Ben stated shaking his head.\u00a0 ***You are always the one who gets injured the most, Joseph! ***<\/em><\/strong> Pa mused internally.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be okay.\u00a0 We\u2019ve got to get out of here.\u00a0 The air is starting to get to me.\u00a0 Just help me up.\u201d\u00a0 Joe insisted and his father pulled him to standing.\u00a0 They both cast a parting look at Luther lying dead under the rubble.\u00a0 There was no grief. \u201cDead men tell no tales.\u201d\u00a0 Joe muttered as they both turned away.<\/p>\n Both father and son walked towards the tunnel, with Joe leaning heavily on Ben for support.\u00a0 Pa had retrieved the lantern, and he held it in front of them as they sought the exit.\u00a0 Reaching the end, they saw that the elevator shaft was completely gone due to the last explosion. It had been a rudimentary lift, but it would have served its purpose and prevented having to figure out another way of escape.<\/p>\n “Great,” Joe sighed. “Now what do we do?”\u00a0 He looked over at his father for an answer.<\/p>\n Ben closed his eyes and thought for a few moments.\u00a0 He knew the mine well and had inspected it himself after the accident that killed Steve.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s an air shaft–right past that last turn.\u00a0 It will be one heck of a climb, but we have to go up if we are going to get out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what—-a thirty foot climb, Pa?\u00a0 And that’s just to get to level two. First, you know what I think about heights.\u00a0 Second, how am I gonna do it with just one working foot?\u00a0 I think you better just leave me here.\u00a0 You get help and I\u2019ll stay put.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben looked at his son and gave a totally exasperated groan.\u00a0 \u201cIf you think I am leaving you down here, well, you don\u2019t know your father very well.\u00a0 We will climb it together, one rung at a time till we reach the next level.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be right with you, I won\u2019t let you fall.\u201d<\/p>\n There was another rumble behind the two Cartwrights and the end of the tunnel, from where they had started collapsed.\u00a0 Joe looked into his father\u2019s eyes and nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t exactly think I\u2019ll be staying here after all.\u00a0 Let\u2019s start climbing!\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI thought you\u2019d see it my way.\u201d Ben chuckled and led Joe over to the air shaft.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n Roy had been followed out of town by half of his search team, who had spotted the Cartwright\u2019s return and figured they had themselves a lead on where Ben and Joe were.\u00a0 By the time the group made it to the Zephyr the damage could be seen.\u00a0 The opening to the mine was now sealed with rock.\u00a0 Over to the side, tied to the sign, was Luther Morrow\u2019s horse.<\/p>\n Hoss dismounted first and made his way quickly to the animal.\u00a0 He calmed the frightened mare and then inspected the contents of Luther\u2019s saddlebags.\u00a0 Withdrawing the ivory handled Colt, he showed it to his brother.\u00a0 He then pulled out his father\u2019s gun.<\/p>\n \u201cPa\u2019s in there–along with Little Joe.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss whispered.\u00a0 His heart pounded heavily against the wall of his chest at the thought of what might have happened inside the mine.\u00a0 For all he knew both his father and little brother might already be dead.<\/p>\n Adam turned toward Roy, a strong set to his jaw and determination in his dark eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cRoy–we\u2019re gonna need men–as many as we can get!\u00a0 Send some of your men out to the ranch.\u00a0 I want every single man that we have out here right now!\u00a0 I mean wranglers–timber crew–everyone!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHank–you heard Adam.\u00a0 You and Josh head on out now.\u201d\u00a0 Roy commanded and the two men spurred their horses away from the mine.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll get them out alive, Adam.\u201d\u00a0 Roy said to soothe the man before him.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he hasn\u2019t already killed them,\u201d Adam said and wished he hadn\u2019t.\u00a0 He could see the tears forming in his brother\u2019s eyes already.<\/p>\n ***************************<\/p>\n Ben inched up the ladder of the air shaft with his son secured right under his own body.\u00a0 It was a snug fit, but was needed to prevent a fall.\u00a0 He could tell the pain that the boy was enduring and all without a complaint or a whimper.\u00a0 Joe was tough<\/em><\/strong>, Ben thought to himself.<\/p>\n \u201cWon\u2019t be much further,\u201d Ben whispered as they again reached for another rung of the ladder which was nailed tightly into the air vent.\u00a0 Again, in unison they moved one leg at a time up and secured it on the next wooden plank.<\/p>\n \u201cHow high are we?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked, really not wanting an answer, at least not a truthful one.<\/p>\n \u201cNever mind–just don\u2019t look down.\u00a0 Just keep your eyes on the shaft above you.\u00a0 Now let\u2019s take another step.\u201d\u00a0 Ben continued to reassure the boy.<\/p>\n The climb from the third shaft to the second shaft took almost thirty minutes, but they made it safely and came out on level two.\u00a0 Ben eased Joe over to safety and they spread out on the ground to catch their breaths.<\/p>\n \u201cOnly one more level to go, Joseph,\u201d Ben announced and Joe looked not at all thrilled that they would have to go back into the air shaft.\u00a0 His ankle was killing him, and he had an awful headache from the initial explosion.\u00a0 But, he knew they couldn\u2019t stay long.\u00a0 The ground still shook every now and then and there was no telling how long any of the tunnels would hold.<\/p>\n \u201cI could never be a miner.\u201d\u00a0 Joe muttered as he tried to sit up again.<\/p>\n \u201cMe neither.\u201d\u00a0 Ben smiled as he helped his son back to standing.\u00a0 \u201cYou ready?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoes it matter?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked ironically.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d\u00a0 Ben answered, and again they walked over to the next air vent that was just a few yards from where the other one had stopped.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d\u00a0 Ben called and they began their ascension once again.<\/p>\n The forty foot-plus air shaft to get to the top level seemed a bit narrower than the previous one had been.\u00a0 It was a tight squeeze for the two Cartwrights but they began scaling the long make-shift ladder that would eventually lead to the first level of the mine and to freedom.\u00a0 Ben could tell after the first ten rungs, that his son\u2019s strength was waning.\u00a0 He knew part of the boy\u2019s problem was the pain from his broken ankle and the other part was his extreme fear of heights.\u00a0 Ben used his left hand to climb with and his right hand he placed firmly under Joe\u2019s right armpit to steady him.<\/p>\n Joe fought both the intense pain and fear, but was losing his battle with the latter of the two.\u00a0 He suddenly froze and would not budge.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not much farther, Joseph.\u201d\u00a0 Ben whispered his encouragement.\u00a0 He watched as Joe cast a look down the shaft.\u00a0 There was just enough light left from one of Luther\u2019s lanterns down on the second level to allow Joe to tell just how high they were now.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t do it.\u201d\u00a0 Joe replied his voice shaking and his palms sweating so badly that he was sure he would lose his grip.<\/p>\n \u201cOh yes you can!\u201d\u00a0 Ben insisted and moved the position of his own hands to cover those of his son\u2019s.\u00a0 \u201cNow let\u2019s get going.\u201d\u00a0 Ben pried Joe\u2019s hands loose and forced the boy to move up another rung.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s it.\u00a0 Just keep moving along with me now.\u00a0 We will be up to the top in no time.\u201d\u00a0 Ben continued and did the whole procedure again and again all the way up the air shaft.<\/p>\n Finally reaching the crest of the ventilation shaft, Ben boosted his son over to the side of its opening.\u00a0 He then crawled out himself and gave in to exhaustion.\u00a0 Lying on the cold ground next to his son, Ben reached over and squeezed the boy\u2019s hand.\u00a0 \u201cI told you that you could do it.\u201d\u00a0 Ben remarked casually, as if the young man had accomplished the brave feat on his own.<\/p>\n \u201cYou practically carried me.\u201d\u00a0 Joe responded, a bit embarrassed by the fear which had overtaken him.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone has fears, Joseph.\u00a0 Yours just happens to be heights.\u201d\u00a0 Ben whispered.<\/p>\n \u201cOh?\u00a0 And what are yours, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 Joe questioned, thinking surely that his father was fearless.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, well–I have lots of them.\u201d\u00a0 Ben thought on the question as he still tried to catch his breath from the long climb.<\/p>\n \u201cName them.\u201d\u00a0 Joe persisted.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s see—I have an aversion to being held hostage.\u00a0 I hate to be tied up.\u00a0 I have a fear of mine explosions and a bigger fear of eating beans covered in rat poison.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe laughed at his father\u2019s rendition of their most recent exploits.\u00a0 \u201cYou aren\u2019t afraid of any of that, you are just kidding.\u00a0 You will always be braver than me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBraver?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked incredulously.\u00a0 \u201cAre you forgetting that you climbed up on that wooden beam and waited for Luther to walk in so you could save us?\u00a0 That was very brave!\u00a0 And risking your life in your little plate of bean test–that was brave as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou think so?\u00a0 But, what about me falling to pieces a little while ago in the air shaft?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know what you are talking about.\u201d\u00a0 Ben replied and reached over and patted Joe\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 It was Pa\u2019s way of letting Joe know that as far as he was concerned the incident had never happened.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 Joe sighed relieved that his secret was safe and was never going to be mentioned to his brothers.\u00a0 He looked around and there wasn\u2019t much light coming from either end of the tunnel.\u00a0 It was almost pitch black. \u201cYou have any idea where we are exactly?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben tried to get his bearings.\u00a0 He had thought that there would\u2019ve been some light at their present location.\u00a0 He figured that perhaps it was night now and that was the reason.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the opening is that way.\u201d\u00a0 Ben stood and pointed to his left.\u00a0 He reached for Joe\u2019s outstretched hand and pulled him to standing.\u00a0 Wrapping his arm around the boy\u2019s shoulder for support, they began walking.\u00a0 After only a few moments, the two Cartwrights were shrouded in total blackness.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe it\u2019s the other way, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 Joe stated, thinking his father had somehow gotten turned around.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I am sure we are heading the right way.\u00a0 Better move against the wall and feel our way from here.\u201d\u00a0 Ben held out his left hand and let the palm of it feel the cold earthen wall.\u00a0 They proceeded slowly now, not wanting to chance running into something since their vision was impaired.<\/p>\n Passing support bracing every twenty yards, the two Cartwrights counted as they went along.\u00a0 Ben had a very uneasy feeling pass over him.\u00a0 They should be nearing the end of the mine at any moment.\u00a0 Suddenly, without advance warning both Ben and his son came to a dead halt.\u00a0 Ben felt what was blocking them.\u00a0 It was then that he realized the entrance to the mine was now gone, and in its place was a solid wall of rock.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re trapped.\u201d\u00a0 Joe muttered to himself, knowing that his father had already figured their predicament out and was trying to stall his assessment of their situation.<\/p>\n \u201cMust\u2019ve been that first explosion that did it,\u201d Ben whispered and then he felt his son\u2019s shoulder sink from under his hand.\u00a0 Joe moved to the ground and leaned against the wall of the mine.\u00a0 Ben moved to be next to him.\u00a0 Neither of them spoke for a long while.\u00a0 Ben was deep in thought as to what he could do to get them out.\u00a0 Without being able to actually see how deep the cave-in was, he could not be sure if human hands would be enough to remove the rubble.<\/p>\n Joe straightened his right leg out in front of him and tried his best to stifle his groan.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t work.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s ankle throbbed and there was a constant flow of intense pain which ran up his leg. \u00a0\u201cYou think they heard the explosion in town, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe all did the last time I believe they did this time too.\u00a0 So, the best I can figure is that we will have some help real soon.\u00a0 Also, no matter what Luther did to our two horses, no doubt his is outside somewhere.\u00a0 Once they see that, they will know someone is here and start trying to dig us out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGuess all we can do is wait.\u201d\u00a0 Joe sighed in defeat of the situation and his own inability to do anything to help.\u00a0 He worried more about his father at the time, knowing that he was in a weakened condition from days spent in captivity.\u00a0 Joe felt terrible that he had inadvertently made Ben expend even more of his strength on helping him out of the air shaft.<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s your ankle?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked easing back against the wall next to his son.<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t hurt.\u201d\u00a0 Joe replied biting his lip.\u00a0 He was glad that his father could not see the anguish on his face or the way he had to flinch every now and then to prevent screaming out in pain.<\/p>\n Ben reached down and put his hand on his son\u2019s right foot and the slight weight it caused made Joe cry out.\u00a0 \u201cDoesn\u2019t hurt at all, does it Joseph?\u201d\u00a0 Ben responded sarcastically.<\/p>\n \u201cNot unless someone touches it.\u201d\u00a0 Joe argued the point.<\/p>\n \u201cIt needs to be set.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn the dark?\u00a0 No thanks–I\u2019d sooner go back into that air shaft!\u00a0 I\u2019m off it now, it\u2019ll feel better soon.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben draped his arm around Joe\u2019s shoulders and pulled him closer.\u00a0 \u201cHow about we try and get some sleep?\u00a0 Maybe the folks from town are already heading out here to free us?\u00a0 We\u2019ll just conserve our energy until then.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe dropped his head down so that it rested on his father\u2019s strong shoulder, his strength finally playing out.\u00a0 He closed his eyes and prayed that the rescue team was on their way.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n Unbeknownst to the two imprisoned Cartwrights, the other two members of the family were in the process of trying to free them.\u00a0 In front of the entrance to the mine stood over thirty men now.\u00a0 Torches were now lit and lining both sides of the Zephyr.\u00a0 It had taken several hours to line up the rescuers and more were filing in every minute.\u00a0 Ponderosa hands were arriving from all parts of the ranch.\u00a0 Town\u2019s folks were there, both men and women.\u00a0 The men brought shovels and picks and wheel barrels, while the women supplied food, hot coffee, and much needed moral support for the teams of men.<\/p>\n Adam stood with his hands on his hips and addressed the crowd.\u00a0 \u201cWe have to do this right.\u00a0 If we go into this haphazardly someone\u2019s gonna get hurt and it will only make matters worse.\u00a0 I want two lines of men on either side we will start a chain to remove what we can with our hands.\u00a0 When it calls for the shovels then everyone stand aside and let the diggers work.\u00a0 Then we will go back at it. Any questions?\u201d He called out and saw Hoss move closer.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah–I got one.\u00a0 What are we waiting for?\u00a0 Let\u2019s get to work!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss answered and began the long chore of removing the rubble.\u00a0 He began passing rock down the line.\u00a0 Hoss would forget every so often that what was no trouble for him to lift by himself often would take three men to carry down the line.<\/p>\n They all worked in shifts of thirty minutes each, not wanting to tire anyone as it looked as though it would be a long task ahead of them all.\u00a0 When it was finally time to change positions, Adam had to almost fight his brother Hoss to relinquish his command on the front of the line.<\/p>\n \u201cC\u2019mon, Brother–you need to take a break.\u00a0 Let\u2019s get some coffee.\u201d\u00a0 Adam insisted.<\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t tired.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss protested vehemently.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are not going to be any help if you fall out.\u00a0 Now let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss frowned and passed another large rock down the line.\u00a0 \u201cOkay–Pete–you take it a little while. I\u2019ll be right back.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss addressed his friend and one of the largest members of the rescue party.<\/p>\n \u201cSure thing, Hoss, don\u2019t worry, we won\u2019t stop a lick till you get back.\u201d\u00a0 Pete nodded.<\/p>\n Both Adam and Hoss sat down at the bottom of one of the buckboards that had been brought over from the ranch.\u00a0 Sipping their coffee, both fought to find something encouraging to say.<\/p>\n \u201cThey will be okay, Hoss.\u00a0 We will get them out soon.\u201d\u00a0 Adam started.<\/p>\n \u201cLuther got a hold of them, Adam.\u00a0 There\u2019s just no other explanation or he wouldn\u2019t have had their guns in his saddlebags.\u00a0 What if he killed them?\u00a0 You know he blamed Pa for Steve\u2019s death.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam reached over and put his hand on his brother\u2019s massive forearm.\u00a0 \u201cYou just can\u2019t think that way.\u00a0 I know they are alive–I can feel it!\u00a0 And, if you weren\u2019t so upset you would feel it too.\u00a0 Pa\u2019s alive–and Little Joe is probably in there right now complaining about what is taking us so long to dig them out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe got trapped in there because he was trying to find Pa–that kid has guts.\u00a0 We kid about him a lot but I know he done everything he could to set him free.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam nodded solemnly and thought on his long running feud with his youngest brother.\u00a0 He never sincerely believed that the kid couldn\u2019t hold his own, even though that was what he had often said to the boy.\u00a0 If he were totally honest with himself, Adam would have to admit that he thought that Joe was a whole lot tougher in spirit than the whole Cartwright family.\u00a0 But, Little Joe was still a kid.\u00a0 Maybe he would always be a kid to his oldest brother, Adam wasn\u2019t quite sure if it would ever change.\u00a0 But, he knew that no-one would fight harder to save their father than the young man who had risked his life to find him.\u00a0 \u201cJoe\u2019s tough—just don\u2019t ever tell him that you heard it come from me, okay?\u00a0 While he always has you and Pa wrapped around his little finger, I have tried my best to refrain from falling into that trap.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss\u2019 question came in earnest.\u00a0 He never had figured out the way his other brothers felt about each other, and why they were most often at each other\u2019s throats.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause once he had me there I\u2019d never get loose.\u00a0 He knows deep down he can\u2019t pull things over on me and that is what keeps our relationship honest.\u00a0 Deep down the kid knows how I feel about him.\u00a0 I\u2019m just not open to it the way the rest of you are.\u00a0 But, that doesn\u2019t mean I don\u2019t love him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou two are kinda alike in a way, Adam.\u00a0 I\u2019ve never heard you tell Joe that you love him, and I have never heard Joe say that to you either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSome things you just don\u2019t have to say.\u201d\u00a0 Adam replied looking directly into Hoss\u2019 questioning eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cMust be that New England blood of yours, huh?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss grinned and patted Adam on the shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cAs for me–I tell the kid all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam stood and set down his coffee and nodded. \u201cYeah–my point exactly–and that is why he has you and Pa wrapped around that crooked little finger of his!\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss laughed and set down his coffee as well.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s get back to digging.\u201d<\/p>\n The two men walked back again to the mine entrance and took their positions at the head of the line.\u00a0 There was still a mountain load of rocks to move and it wasn\u2019t going to move by itself.<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n Joe stretched his arms and moved as gingerly as he could off of his father\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 Ben was breathing harder than usual and it had his son worried.\u00a0 Though he knew that his father was exhausted beyond belief, it still worried him to listen to Ben breathe.\u00a0 The air was stagnant and he hoped that it wasn\u2019t causing his father any difficulty.\u00a0 It was dank there on the ground and the earth was so cold that it permeated the two men\u2019s clothing causing a nasty chill throughout their bodies.\u00a0 Joe hoped his father wouldn\u2019t end up with pneumonia from all of that.<\/p>\n A thought danced in Joe\u2019s weary mind.\u00a0 He had been in the Zephyr many times before and had remembered that there was a storage compartment somewhere towards the entranceway.\u00a0 There might just be a chance that there was something left that might help the two of them during their long wait to be rescued.\u00a0 If memory served him correctly, Joe thought the storage cabinet was on the other side of the tunnel.\u00a0 He knew it was within a short walking distance, but unfortunately he couldn\u2019t walk without assistance due to his ankle.<\/p>\n ****I can\u2019t walk, but I can crawl.****<\/em><\/strong> Joe thought to himself and slowly he inched away from where his father was sleeping.\u00a0 The dampness of the mine floor sank into Joe\u2019s knees as he patiently crawled to the other side of the tunnel.\u00a0 Keeping a hand out to feel of the wall, Joe began the journey back through the passageway.\u00a0 When he finally hit on a support beam, Joe knew it wouldn\u2019t be much farther.\u00a0 The storage compartment should be a few yards away on the same side.<\/p>\n Ben became aware of several things that were different as he eased back to reality.\u00a0 First, the weight of his son\u2019s head was no longer felt against his left shoulder.\u00a0 Also, he couldn\u2019t hear the boy breathing.\u00a0 Ben reached his hand out, still being unable to see anything.\u00a0 He felt around the ground, thinking Joe had turned in his slumber and was laying somewhere close by.\u00a0 It was when Ben could not hit on anything that he became fully awake and aware that Joe was missing.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u201d\u00a0 Ben shouted and the mine echoed the name against its walls.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, where are you?\u201d\u00a0 Ben shouted again.\u00a0 There was still no response. ****Dad Blast that ornery son of mine****<\/em><\/strong>Ben thought to himself. ****Now just where did he go off to?\u00a0 And how did he go anywhere with that busted ankle? ****<\/em><\/strong> Ben now stood and was just about to start feeling his way down the tunnel when he heard Joe call out.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m coming, Pa!\u00a0 It\u2019s just gonna take a minute–stay put!\u201d\u00a0 Joe shouted still farther down in the tunnel.<\/p>\n Ben sat back down and sighed. ****I should have taken those manacles with me.\u00a0 That boy!\u00a0 I should have hog-tied him to keep him down.\u00a0 What in the devil was he thinking? ****<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n It had taken Joe a good half of an hour to crawl back down to where his father waited impatiently against the mine entrance for his return.\u00a0 As he slid his body back next to Ben he felt his father\u2019s strong hand grab onto his arm.\u00a0 He could tell by the intensity of the grip that Ben wasn\u2019t too happy with him for leaving.<\/p>\n \u201cThis had better be good.\u201d \u00a0Ben warned and waited for an explanation.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is.\u00a0 Here.\u201d\u00a0 Joe said and placed a canteen in his father\u2019s hand. It was only then that Ben released his son\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019d you get this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI remembered that there was a small cabinet built into the wall down the tunnel.\u00a0 It was for supplies and stuff.\u00a0 I had a drink–the water is a bit stale but beats not having any at all.\u201d\u00a0 Joe explained himself.<\/p>\n Ben took a long drink.\u00a0 Joe was right the water was a bit stale but eased the tightness in Ben\u2019s throat.\u00a0 \u201cHow did you get down the tunnel?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked handing Joe back the canteen.<\/p>\n \u201cNever mind,\u201d Joe replied not wanting to explain that part of his journey.\u00a0 He had felt a bit foolish crawling like an infant down the passageway.<\/p>\n \u201cYou crawled didn\u2019t you?\u201d\u00a0 Ben wasn\u2019t going to give up.\u00a0 And he could tell by Joe\u2019s lack of response that he had been right.<\/p>\n \u201cLook–I found a candle and some matches wrapped in foil.\u00a0 They should work–let me get it set up and we will try it.\u201d\u00a0 Joe switched the subject matter and secured the candle in the ground carefully.\u00a0 He then struck the match and there was suddenly light before them.\u00a0 \u201cHi, Pa!\u201d\u00a0 Joe said and laughed that he could finally view his father\u2019s face.\u00a0 What he saw was a bit of a scowl on the other man\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cDid you stop and think that I could have found that cabinet myself–and in less time since I can actually walk?\u201d Ben asked his forehead creasing as he chastised his son.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t want to wake you–you were sawing logs.\u201d\u00a0 Joe turned his most eloquent smile on his father and it worked just as it always had in the past.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, at least we have water–so I will stop with the lecture for now.\u00a0 Now that we have some light I could try and set that ankle too.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe sank back against the wall.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want his ankle set, not without some of Doctor Martin\u2019s own brand of medication to take away some of the pain.\u00a0 Ben brought the candle up and moved to inspect his son\u2019s injury.\u00a0 The ankle and foot were both multicolored now and the swelling was far worse than before.<\/p>\n \u201cCan it wait?\u00a0 Please?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked and for a moment he sounded like a toddler in his plea.<\/p>\n Ben frowned again.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t all too keen on setting the ankle either.\u00a0 The candle did not afford the best light and he wasn\u2019t sure if he had the full strength he would need to give the bones a good straight and firm yank.\u00a0 Also, there was nothing around to use in order to bind the ankle and keep it straight once it was set.\u00a0 \u201cI guess it\u2019s going to have to wait, at least for now.\u00a0 But, I promise you if you move around anymore before we\u2019re rescued I will set it no matter how many times it takes to get it just right.\u00a0 And if you think I am kidding, just try me.\u201d\u00a0 Ben\u2019s voice came off with its usual stern paternal tone.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Pa,\u201d Joe nodded obediently.\u00a0 The last thing he wanted to do was to make his father mad and then have him set his ankle.\u00a0 Ben sat back against the wall and grabbed Joe\u2019s hand and squeezed it.\u00a0 It was Pa\u2019s way of now letting his son know that he did appreciate the effort he had made without admitting that the boy was off the hook in any way.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know if you want to try this.\u201d\u00a0 Joe said and passed his father something else that was wrapped in foil.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s jerky–but it looks kinda old.\u201d\u00a0 Joe explained.<\/p>\n Ben held it over to the light of the candle and did his own inspection.\u00a0 The meat was cured and had no signs of mold.\u00a0 Determining it was most likely safe, though very stale, he broke the strip of jerky into two pieces and handed one to his son.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s no more deadly than those beans you ate.\u00a0 Go on and eat it if your teeth are strong enough.\u201d\u00a0 Ben said and began chewing at his piece of jerky.\u00a0 Joe chewed through his portion and it took a long time to totally dissolve the meat enough to swallow it.\u00a0 When he was through, Joe drank more of the stale water and passed it back to his father.\u00a0 Ben finished his own meal and drank from the canteen to wash it down.<\/p>\n The two Cartwrights settled back against the wall again and watched the flame from the candle.\u00a0 The light cast strange shadows on the wall and it was still cold and clammy, but they were as safe as they could be and had at least had some nourishment.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you for fixing breakfast–or dinner\u2014or whatever time it is.\u201d\u00a0 Ben laughed and pulled Joe back over to him.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope it holds us for a while.\u201d\u00a0 Joe smiled and rested his head again on Ben\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 A few seconds later he jumped back to sitting and looked over toward the mine entrance.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked, alarmed by his son\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I heard something. Maybe it\u2019s digging out there!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stood and got as close as he could to the entrance and put his ear up to the pile of rocks.\u00a0 He could hear a faint sound.\u00a0 The sound of shovels he thought.\u00a0 But, they were so faint, that Ben figured it would still be quite a while before they would be able to break through.\u00a0 \u201cYou are right, Joseph!\u00a0 They\u2019re out there trying to get to us.\u00a0 It may be awhile yet–but it\u2019s gonna happen.\u201d\u00a0 Ben smiled and returned to his place next to his son.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first thing I\u2019m gonna do when I get out of here is eat three huge meals.\u00a0 Then, I am gonna take a two hour bath and then—-\u201d Joe was stopped in mid-sentence by his father.<\/p>\n \u201cHate to burst your little bubble but the first thing you are gonna do when you get out of here is get that ankle set.\u201d\u00a0 Ben warned and saw the frown which now took over his son\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cNot too sure I want to get out of here.\u201d\u00a0 Joe teased and Ben ruffled his hair.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you can stay if you like–but I am getting out!\u201d\u00a0 Ben kidded.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay–I\u2019ll come with you–but you have to promise me a half of a bottle of rot gut before the doctor gets to me.\u201d\u00a0 Joe tried to suggest a deal be made.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess you\u2019ve earned it–though I don\u2019t think it will take a half of a bottle at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh yes it will, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 Joe reassured his father as he looked down at his own swollen ankle.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph–just promise me one thing will you?\u201d\u00a0 Ben turned serious.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll give me the other half of the bottle.\u201d\u00a0 Ben teased.\u00a0 \u201cAfter what has happened in the last few days I rather doubt that brandy will be what I want when we get out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou got it, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 Joe patted his father\u2019s arm and then sank back onto his shoulder to wait out the rescue.<\/p>\n ***************************<\/p>\n Daybreak hit the rescue site and the teams of men were making slow progress in removing the debris.\u00a0 Through the bitter cold of night they had all worked steadily moving the rock and dirt which blocked the mouth of the mine.\u00a0 Adam turned as he heard horses coming in fast. He saw the familiar face of Hop Sing leading the way in a buckboard with more than thirty Chinese helpers following in his wake.<\/p>\n Hop Sing bolted out of the wagon and neared the eldest Cartwright son.\u00a0 \u201cBring relatives, they help dig.\u00a0 Got to get Mr. Cartlight and Little Joe out fast!\u201d\u00a0 He said out of breath.<\/p>\n Adam moved closer and placed his hand on his friend and caretaker\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cWe have enough men right now, Hop Sing.\u00a0 Besides–aren\u2019t most of them laundry workers and cooks in town?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn town yes–but most help dig railroad line and work in mines back home in China!\u00a0 Have much experience–must let work!\u201d He insisted and then called out to his personal troops in Chinese.<\/p>\n Adam stepped aside and called to his men.\u00a0 \u201cOkay, Boys–let them through.\u00a0 Most of you could use a break anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut, Adam–\u201d Hoss started and then his brother pulled him aside.<\/p>\n \u201cThey know what they are doing.\u00a0 Besides, it\u2019s important to let Hop Sing feel like he\u2019s doing something to help.\u00a0 You know how he feels about Pa.\u00a0 And Little Joe—well I think he thinks of him as his own son.\u00a0 They have the know-how let them have it for a little while.\u00a0 Let\u2019s you and me get something to eat, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss put down his shovel and walked with his brother over to the tent that had been set up.\u00a0 The women helpers filled two plates and the Cartwright brothers thanked them and took seats over by their wagon once more.\u00a0 Hoss stared over at the strings of Chinese workers.\u00a0 They looked like a precision team of worker ants as they swarmed the front of the mine.<\/p>\n \u201cYou reckon how much longer till we break through?\u201d Hoss asked his brother between mouthfuls of eggs.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s probably about fifteen to twenty feet deep.\u00a0 But, with the way Hop Sing and his boys are going that shouldn\u2019t be too long.\u00a0 If we can just get a big enough hole in there, we can crawl through and find Pa and Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHope they know we are out here trying to get to them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey know, Hoss.\u201d\u00a0 Adam nodded and looked again towards the workers.<\/p>\n **************************<\/p>\n Several hours later Joe started to come out of an exhausted sleep.\u00a0 It was the sound of picks which awoke him.\u00a0 He sat up and looked over at his father.\u00a0 Ben was wide awake.<\/p>\n \u201cOh–sorry, Pa, guess I kinda dozed off.\u201d\u00a0 Joe apologized watching his father rubbing at his shoulder where his son had been laying peacefully.<\/p>\n \u201cI was under too.\u00a0 Sounds like they\u2019re getting closer now.\u201d\u00a0 Ben stood and stretched.\u00a0 Joe tried to do the same but his ankle would not allow it.<\/p>\n \u201cHey–\u201d Joe pointed over to the entrance.\u00a0 \u201cLooks like a shaft of light!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben turned and noticed the same thing that his son had.\u00a0 It was then that several rocks on the inside of the mine rolled forward due to the outside impact.<\/p>\n \u201cBetter move down a bit.\u201d\u00a0 Ben said and helped Joe slide down the mine floor about ten feet away.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t want any of the stones to fall this way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, is anyone in there?\u201d \u00a0A voice from outside the mine rang out.\u00a0 A small but visible hole was now made into the rock laden exterior.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t much larger than a coffee cup, but it signaled that the outside world did exist, as did the rescue team.<\/p>\n \u201cSounds like Hoss!\u201d\u00a0 Ben remarked joyously and moved closer to the opening.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re here–right inside the entrance!\u201d\u00a0 He yelled.<\/p>\n Outside the mine Hoss and Adam shared a moment of thanksgiving and turned toward the crowd.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019re in there!\u00a0 They\u2019re right on the other side!\u201d\u00a0 He yelled and the rescuers all shouted, filled with renewed hope.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you both okay?\u201d\u00a0 Adam called again into the Zephyr.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re fine–a bit weary but fine!\u201d\u00a0 Ben called out once more.<\/p>\n \u201cStand back, Pa!\u00a0 We\u2019re gonna try to make that opening large enough to get the two of you out!\u201d Hoss\u2019 voice rang in through the hole.<\/p>\n \u201cGo ahead–we\u2019re ready!\u201d\u00a0 Ben answered and moved back next to Joe.<\/p>\n The sound of shovels and picks echoed inside the mine as both men waited for freedom at last.\u00a0 Within minutes, the small hole was made large enough to accommodate Adam\u2019s body and he thrust himself inside the mine.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam!\u201d\u00a0 Ben called enthusiastically and neared his eldest.\u00a0 He threw his arms around him and gave him a bear hug.\u00a0 Adam returned the embrace.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were so worried about you!\u201d\u00a0 Adam exclaimed relieved and then cast a look over at his youngest brother.\u00a0 \u201cHow about you, Joe, you okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked up and brushed the tears of joy from his eyes, so happy to be alive to see his brother again.\u00a0 \u201cTook you long enough,\u201d He said, knowing it was expected of him.<\/p>\n Adam laughed at the statement.\u00a0 Joe never let him down his sarcasm had been badly missed by his older brother.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has a broken ankle, Adam.\u00a0 You are going to have to help him out.\u201d\u00a0 Ben explained and he reached for Joe\u2019s hand to pull him up.<\/p>\n \u201cI can do it myself.\u201d\u00a0 Joe remarked defiantly.<\/p>\n \u201cSure.\u201d\u00a0 Adam stated and lifted Joe up in his arms.\u00a0 He walked over to the opening and called out to Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sending Joe through–he has a busted ankle–grab him as he comes out.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss moved closer and soon held his beloved younger brother in his arms.\u00a0 He pulled the boy close to him.\u00a0 \u201c Have I missed you, Short Shanks!\u201d\u00a0 He smiled and kissed the boy\u2019s forehead.\u00a0 Instead of rejection, as was usual from Joe, especially in front of crowds, Joe wrapped his arms around his brother\u2019s neck and hugged him tight.<\/p>\n \u201cI missed you too!\u201d\u00a0 Joe whispered.<\/p>\n \u201cSending Pa through now,\u201d Adam called out.<\/p>\n Hoss carefully handed his baby brother over into the waiting arms of both Hop Sing and his third cousin Lu Chow and they scurried off with the boy over to the buckboard.<\/p>\n Ben winced his eyes closed trying to get use to the bright sunlight which greeted him on the other side of the mine.\u00a0 Adam crawled out right behind his father.\u00a0 A cheer was sent up through the crowd.<\/p>\n Looking around at all of the friends from town and surrounding ranches, Ben\u2019s heart was filled with a warmth beyond compare.\u00a0 He walked over and gave his middle son the same intense hug that his brother had earlier been the recipient of.<\/p>\n \u201cThank God you are okay, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss choked up as Ben broke from their embrace.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to thank all of you—-all I can say is it\u2019s good to be out of there–and it\u2019s good to have friends like you!\u201d Ben addressed the crowd, who clapped in response as he was led over to the buckboard where Joe was waiting for him.<\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing.\u201d Ben said and put his arm around the cook\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cI see you brought all of your family to help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFamily inside mine–family outside mine.\u201d\u00a0 Hop Sing smiled up at his old friend.\u00a0 \u201cNow–must take care of Little Joe—you get to doctor!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben moved into the buckboard along with Joe and they were rushed into Virginia City for needed repairs.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n Drying his face on the plush towel from the International Hotel, Ben felt almost human again.\u00a0 He had taken a badly needed bath and had lingered long enough in the hot water to ease his aching body.\u00a0 Hop Sing had provided fresh clothes which felt good after days spent in the same ones.\u00a0 Ben examined himself in the mirror.\u00a0 He imagined he looked as though he had aged ten years in the past few days.\u00a0 After he had shaved, he felt a little better about his appearance and made his way out to the living area of the three room suite.\u00a0 He sank down on the large stuffed couch and looked over as Hoss made his way out of one of the bedrooms.<\/p>\n \u201cYou feel better now, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss smiled to see his father looking more like the man he was used to seeing.\u00a0 Pa had looked awfully haggard when he had crawled out of the mine.\u00a0 Hoss handed his father a sandwich which had been sent up from the hotel’s dining room.\u00a0 Ben was happy to have the nourishment after going so long without a decent meal.\u00a0 He ate in quickly and smiled up at his middle son.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m much better.\u00a0 Now what about Joseph?\u00a0 I can\u2019t believe he talked me into letting him get a bath before seeing the doctor!\u00a0 Is he done now?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss laughed and sat down next to Ben.\u00a0 \u201cHe yelped like a scalded dog when he got in that tub, Pa!\u00a0 I wish you could\u2019ve seen it!\u00a0 He said he had to get to smelling good before he would let anyone near him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s Joseph all right!\u00a0 I guess his argument was well founded, though.\u00a0 He told me that it would be the last full bath he could have for a while since he\u2019s going to have a cast on that foot.\u00a0 Is he all dressed and ready for the doctor?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Hop Sing\u2019s got him in a night shirt, but he says no doctor until Adam gets back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s Adam got to do with it?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked bewildered.<\/p>\n Before Hoss could answer Adam opened the door to the suite and held in his hand the reason Joe had made his statement.<\/p>\n \u201cHere\u2019s the rot-gut, Joe said you told him he could get good and drunk before Doc gets to him.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben laughed heartily when he remembered back on their little deal from the mine.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t exactly put it in quite those same words–but I did tell him he could have some.\u201d\u00a0 Ben stood and walked with Hoss and Adam into the bedroom where Joe was waiting.<\/p>\n \u201cRoom service,\u201d Ben called out as he approached the bed.\u00a0 He sat down next to his son and Joe pulled himself up higher against the pillows.\u00a0 Noticing the burn on his son\u2019s face was an unhappy reminder to Ben of what had taken place at the hands of Luther Morrow.<\/p>\n Adam brought over four cups and Ben began pouring the whiskey.<\/p>\n \u201cHey—I never said anything about sharing this bottle!\u201d\u00a0 Joe protested as he watched the glasses get filled.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the least you can do after we dug your sorry butt out of that mine!\u201d\u00a0 Adam replied and accepted his drink from Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah—we wuz up all night!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss winked and took his glass.<\/p>\n \u201cA toast—-\u201d Ben said and handed Joe his glass.\u00a0 \u201cTo family–and friends.\u201d<\/p>\n They all touched glasses and Joe shot down the entire contents of his glass.\u00a0 They all looked in amazement at how fast the kid had polished off his drink.<\/p>\n \u201cMore.\u201d\u00a0 Joe stated and held out his glass.\u00a0 Ben frowned and hesitated.\u00a0 \u201cYou promised, Pa.\u201d Joe reminded the man.<\/p>\n \u201cYou think you could slow down just a bit?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked and poured more into his son\u2019s glass.<\/p>\n \u201cHeck no—\u201d Joe said and downed the drink again.\u00a0 \u201cNone of you are about to get your ankle set–I need it for medicinal purposes. More.\u201d\u00a0 Joe shot the glass out again.<\/p>\n \u201cI bet he goes out after one more.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss said to Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cNo bet–I\u2019ve seen this before.\u201d\u00a0 Adam laughed as he saw Ben pour another drink.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess this will be goodnight, Joseph.\u201d\u00a0 Ben grinned as he handed the glass back to Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cOh–no –I can last a lot longer than three drinks.\u201d\u00a0 Joe commented his words were however coming out a bit slower.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s kinda hot in here.\u00a0 Maybe someone could open a window?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked as his eyes started to droop on him.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone call for me?\u201d\u00a0 Doctor Martin asked as he walked into the bedroom and looked over at the Cartwright family.\u00a0 \u201cGlad to see you, Ben.\u201d\u00a0 He smiled and shot out his hand.\u00a0 Ben shook it and then he moved with the doctor over to the head of the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay–first things first.\u00a0 Adam told me you have a gunshot wound.\u00a0 Let\u2019s see it.\u201d\u00a0 He said facing Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cOh–that–it\u2019s nothing–\u201d Ben stammered.\u00a0 The doctor looked at Ben\u2019s cheek and noticed the large gash it had from the butt of Luther\u2019s rifle.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me see your arm, Ben Cartwright.\u00a0 And that wound on your face needs some doctoring too!\u201d\u00a0 Paul insisted and moved Ben closer to the light.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s Joseph that needs doctoring–\u201d Ben protested all the way over to the chair.\u00a0 Hoss and Adam stood amused as he watched the two old friends battle it out.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, there\u2019s plenty of time to handle Joe.\u00a0 Looks like he is sleeping pretty good right now anyway.\u00a0 Adam, bring me over that other light will you?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Paul asked as he made Ben pull his arm out of his sleeve to show off his wound.\u00a0 Adam held the light up as Paul inspected the sizable gash.<\/p>\n \u201cGonna need to be cleaned out real good.\u00a0 Looks like a touch of infection in there.\u00a0 Now hold still while I open it up a little.\u201d\u00a0 Paul reached into his medical bag for a scalpel.<\/p>\n \u201cHand me over that bottle, Hoss!\u201d\u00a0 Ben commanded and held out his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cNow I see where Joe gets this from.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss laughed as he watched his father take a good long pull straight from the whiskey bottle.<\/p>\n Doctor Martin cleaned and dressed the wound on Ben\u2019s arm and also the cut on his face.\u00a0 Ben stood a bit shakily once the man was done.\u00a0 He hated medical treatment nearly as much as his youngest son.\u00a0 \u201cOkay–now Joe.\u201d\u00a0 Paul said and moved over to the bed.\u00a0 He applied some salve to Joe\u2019s facial burn.\u00a0 \u201cIt looks rather nasty–but I don\u2019t believe it\u2019s going to scar.\u00a0 But, now to that ankle–\u201d Paul pulled down the sheet and as soon as he touched Joe\u2019s foot he became suddenly wide awake.<\/p>\n \u201cOW!<\/strong>\u201d\u00a0 Joe screamed and almost bolted from the bed.\u00a0 \u201cThat hurts!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow long since he broke it?\u201d\u00a0 Paul asked Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cMore than a day–of course it was kinda hard to tell time down there.\u201d\u00a0 Ben replied.<\/p>\n \u201cNasty break–very nasty break.\u00a0 Hoss we\u2019re going to need a sheet to put down under Joe\u2019s foot to prevent the plaster from running off onto the bed.\u00a0 Why don\u2019t you go check with the desk clerk?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight,\u201d Hoss said and turned for the door.<\/p>\n \u201cBring me back another bottle!\u201d\u00a0 Joe called after him.<\/p>\n \u201cNo more liquor.\u201d\u00a0 Paul stated flatly.\u00a0 \u201cBut, I could give you a shot.\u201d\u00a0 He smiled knowing how badly Joe detested needles.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d\u00a0 Joe looked up at him pathetically.\u00a0 \u201cOne more bottle?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u00a0 What you had should take the edge off enough.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am stone cold sober–have been ever since Doc touched my foot.\u201d\u00a0 Joe complained to deaf ears.<\/p>\n When Hoss made it back, Joe frowned to see he had only brought with him the requested bed sheet.\u00a0 \u201cErnie said he would just put it on your bill, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss laughed and handed the sheet to Doctor Martin.\u00a0 The doctor readied everything he would need to cast the foot.\u00a0 But, there was the hardest job yet ahead.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, Joe, this isn\u2019t going to be easy–you sure you don\u2019t want that shot?\u00a0 I\u2019ll try to snap it into place, but I am afraid with the amount of time it has been crooked it\u2019s going to hurt pretty badly.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked up at his father and then over to his brothers.\u00a0 He didn’t want to look like a kid at that point.\u00a0 He wanted to show that he was tough.\u00a0 Declining the shot, he set himself for what was next.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss, I want you to hold onto his shoulders good.\u00a0 Last thing I need is for him to come off this bed.\u201d\u00a0 Paul warned as he got ready to set the ankle.<\/p>\n \u201cHold my hand, Joseph, I\u2019ll get you through this,\u201d Ben insisted reaching toward his son.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m okay, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 Joe replied, refusing his father\u2019s grasp.<\/p>\n \u201cReady?\u201d\u00a0 Paul asked and Joe reluctantly nodded.\u00a0 With a hard pull and a loud snap the doctor popped the bones into place.\u00a0 Joe screamed out in pain and reached for the hand which he had earlier rejected.\u00a0 Ben sat down on the bed next to his son and pulled him close.\u00a0 Unable to fight back the tears any longer Joe cried against his father\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n Ben wasn\u2019t sure if the tears that fell from his son\u2019s eyes were simply due to the setting of his ankle.\u00a0 It had been a long and emotionally exhausting couple of days for both of the Cartwrights.\u00a0 There had been days and nights down in the mine, along with the uncertainty as to whether they would escape from the maniac who held them.\u00a0 There was the explosion and then the long climb to safety.\u00a0 And finally there was the wait to be rescued and the joy at having been brought out of the Zephyr and into the loving arms of family and friends.<\/p>\n Ben continued to hold Joe in his arms as Paul formed the plaster cast around the boy\u2019s ankle.\u00a0 Working as gingerly as possible, Paul finally completed the set and the cast and propped Joe\u2019s foot up on several pillows.\u00a0 He then walked to the night stand and poured some water into a glass.\u00a0 Then, he immersed some sleeping powders into the liquid and handed it to Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cThis will help you sleep.\u201d\u00a0 Paul commented as he closed up his medical bag.\u00a0 \u201cI want the two of you to stay here in town for the next two days and then you can go back to the ranch.\u00a0 Ben, I will recheck your arm tomorrow and you make sure that Joe stays off that foot.\u00a0 Once you are home he will need at least six weeks to heal.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe drank the water that Ben offered and his father eased him back down onto the pillows.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Doc.\u201d\u00a0 Ben called over to him as he turned to leave.<\/p>\n \u201cJust glad to have you both back.\u201d\u00a0 Paul gave a quick wink and left the room.<\/p>\n \u201cYou two must be exhausted–go ahead and take that other bedroom.\u00a0 I think I\u2019ll stay in here with Joe tonight.\u201d\u00a0 Ben said as he stood and moved over to his sons.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll stay with the kid, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 Adam argued.<\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t a kid!\u201d\u00a0 Joe called over, angry as usual as to how he had been addressed by his oldest brother.<\/p>\n Adam turned and walked over to his little brother.\u00a0 He dropped his hand down on the boy\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cI know you aren\u2019t really a kid–it\u2019s just a term of affection, okay?\u00a0 Pa told us both about how brave you were down in that mine.\u00a0 You are as tough as they come, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss watched as Adam finally let loose a little of his affection toward the boy he most often held back from.\u00a0 Hoss remembered the conversation he had with Adam about his feelings for Joe, and knew that his older brother was coming very close to that fine line where he would forever be controlled by the green-eyed boy.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are pretty tough too.\u201d\u00a0 Joe smiled up at his brother.\u00a0 That was about as close as the two of them would come at the present time to saying that they loved each other.\u00a0 But, both Joe and Adam knew what the other was saying in their strange round-about way.<\/p>\n \u201cGet some sleep and maybe I will find you some more of that rot-gut tomorrow.\u201d\u00a0 Adam winked and moved back over to his father.\u00a0 \u201cSure you don\u2019t want one of us to stay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, you and Hoss go on to bed.\u00a0 We\u2019ll be fine.\u201d\u00a0 Ben replied and with his statement came a brief hug to them both.<\/p>\n \u201cGoodnight, Little Joe,\u201d Hoss waved as he walked out of the room.<\/p>\n *******************************<\/p>\n Ben had gotten dressed for bed and after checking to make sure that both Adam and Hoss were settled in the other room he walked back to where his youngest son was spread out on the bed, foot still high up on the pillows.<\/p>\n \u201cThought you\u2019d be asleep,\u201d Ben commented as he crawled in the other side of the bed and arranged the pillows behind his head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo–just thinking.\u201d\u00a0 Joe whispered.<\/p>\n Ben draped his arm around his son\u2019s shoulder and pulled him closer.\u00a0 \u201cJust thinking about what?\u201d\u00a0 He asked quietly.\u00a0 He thought he knew, but wanted Joe to come out and say it himself.<\/p>\n \u201cLuther–the mine\u2014everything,\u201d Joe muttered stifling a yawn.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to take a while to get over it, Son.\u00a0 I know I will be thinking about it for some time myself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe came close this time, Pa, real close.\u201d\u00a0 Joe\u2019s voice shook as he thought on the fact that his father was almost killed right before his eyes.\u00a0 He also remembered Ben begging for his son to be spared.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s thoughts flashed to all of the horrors that they had endured.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, yes we did.\u00a0 But, your brother was right–you are tough.\u201d\u00a0 Ben squeezed his son\u2019s shoulder to let him know how proud he was of him.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes–maybe.\u00a0 But, you are tough all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Joseph–no-one is tough all the time just when they need to be.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know you don\u2019t have to stay in here with me—\u201d Joe paused and stared into his father\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cI mean— I think I’ll be able to fall asleep tonight without resting my head on your shoulder like I did there in the mine.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sighed and settled back against the pillows.\u00a0 He moved his son\u2019s curly head so that it lay firmly on his father\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cWell, I won\u2019t be able to sleep if you aren\u2019t right here where I can see you.\u00a0 Just for tonight.\u00a0 So, how about doing it for your pa this time?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGoodnight, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 Joe whispered and closed his eyes.\u00a0 He could hear his father\u2019s heartbeat and feel his rhythmic breath.\u00a0 Joe fell asleep with a smile on his face; glad that his father still needed him as badly as he needed his father.<\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n Written by: Wrangler 10\/31\/2001\u00a0\u00a0 Re-written 7-15-2025<\/p>\n Dedicated to Rob the story consultant.<\/p>\n (This story was originally posted under the title \u201cAn Eye for An Eye\u201d back in 2001, but since there are currently several stories in the library with that title it was changed to \u201cThe Zephyr\u201d)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n