Summary: The lives of the Cartwrights are turned upside down when Joe falls into an old well setting the stage for more mystery and danger.<\/p>\n
Rating T\u00a0 \u00a0WC 38,900<\/p>\n
The Third Son Series<\/strong>:<\/p>\n The Third Son<\/a> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Devil\u2019s Hold<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWhen he had spoken, all the twilight country shook so violently, the terror of it bathes me with sweat even in memory; the tear-soaked ground gave out a sigh of wind that spewed itself in flame on a red sky, and all my shuttered senses left me.\u00a0 Blind, like one whom sleep comes over in a swoon, I stumbled in darkness and went down. —Dante Alighieri- The Divine Comedy: Inferno<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben Cartwright would, in retrospect, have chosen a different path to have turned down that crisp autumn day.\u00a0 If he had done as he had earlier planned, the fates might have dealt him a better hand.\u00a0 But, all that would remain in hindsight, now that the horrible event had taken place.\u00a0 The decision to head with his three sons to check on the new property he had purchased might have been made in haste, but had been made nonetheless.<\/p>\n Standing in front of the dilapidated building which had served as a shelter for the previous occupants, Ben surveyed the difficulty that he would encounter in having it torn down.\u00a0 In the meantime, his youngest son, Joseph, walked around the front yard of the shack his mind on many things.\u00a0 He hoped his father wouldn\u2019t tarry in his examination and that they would all be heading back home soon.\u00a0 Joe had his eyes on a night spent in Virginia City, but he knew he couldn\u2019t even broach that subject until his father was satisfied that this inspection was completed.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s other two sons, Adam and Hoss ventured a little farther out to check on the possibility of using the eastern range land to move the large Ponderosa herd onto as a temporary grazing area.\u00a0 They both were only a couple of miles from the homestead where their brother and father continued to check over the new acquisition.<\/p>\n Ben stepped into the doorway of the run down cabin, pushing aside mammoth cobwebs.\u00a0 He noticed the floor boards were full of dry rot, and made it a point to be cautious as he continued over to the one and only window.\u00a0 By the time he made it across the room he could see his youngest son through the broken window pane.\u00a0 The boy turned and waved over to his father and, as Ben watched in muted horror, suddenly disappeared from view.\u00a0 The shock of his son\u2019s disappearance momentarily stunned Ben.\u00a0 He hoped that the kid was pulling one of his usual stunts as a joke.\u00a0 Something inside the worried father\u2019s soul told Ben differently and he made his way out of the cabin taking long strides.<\/p>\n Ben moved to the side of the cabin, where he had last seen Joe.\u00a0 It was only then that he spied the broken boards which had been covering what appeared to be an old well.\u00a0 He fell to his knees and peered down into the darkened hole.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph!\u00a0 Joseph—can you hear me?\u201d\u00a0 He hollered down to his son.\u00a0 There was no response.<\/p>\n Still kneeling, Ben drew a trembling hand to his side and untethered the rawhide band to the hammer of his six-gun. \u00a0He pulled the weapon out of its leather sheath and fired three rapid shots into the air.\u00a0 Ben knew that all his sons were aware of what the signal meant, and that Adam and Hoss would come quickly.<\/p>\n Ben cupped his hands around his mouth and called down into the well again, \u201cJoseph?\u00a0 Can you hear me, Boy?\u00a0 Joseph!\u201d<\/p>\n The response failed to come just as before and Ben\u2019s heart felt the pangs of terror.\u00a0\u00a0 He looked around to size up the situation. \u00a0Jumping to his feet, Ben ran over to his horse and pulled the coiled rope from the saddle.\u00a0 He ran back over and tossed one end down into the well.\u00a0 The weight of the rope plummeted towards the fallen boy.\u00a0 There was twenty foot of hemp dangling far above Joe\u2019s head.\u00a0 He was just starting to get his breath back after the tumble he had taken.\u00a0 Looking up towards the small circle of light, Joe could barely make out the form of his father\u2019s head.\u00a0 Everything was becoming blurred, his eyes packed with dirt and grime.\u00a0 Joe attempted to clear his vision with his hand and it was then that he realized he had suffered a bad break to his left arm.\u00a0 He groaned and spit out some of the dirt which he had swallowed on the way down.\u00a0 Joe could see nothing but blackness all around him, and the light from above was not enough to let him get a good look at his arm wound.\u00a0 The only thing he was fully aware of was the trickling of blood coming down his sleeve and pouring out onto his hand.\u00a0 Joe tried his best to maneuver his body to ease the throbbing of his arm but was afraid to move too much in case it would further unleash the dirt from around him and send him into another fall.\u00a0 He could tell that he had been wedged between two large rocks, and was sure that he had not made it to the very bottom of the well.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u201d\u00a0 The anguished voice called for the third time.\u00a0 \u201cCan you hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa!\u201d\u00a0 Joe yelled, and coughed from the strain.<\/p>\n Ben heard the faint voice and tried to judge the distance the boy had fallen.\u00a0 He turned from his position when he heard the sound of horses.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss dropped the reins from their mounts and ran over to join their father.<\/p>\n \u201cPa!\u00a0 What\u2019s wrong?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss called over to him.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe—he\u2019s fallen into this old well,\u201d Ben replied, and his face showed his two sons the gravity of the situation.<\/p>\n \u201cIs he okay?\u201d\u00a0 Adam asked kneeling next to his father on the cold ground.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s answered me.\u00a0 Let me try again,\u201d Ben paused and cupped his mouth again to offer more volume.\u00a0 \u201cAre you okay, Joe?\u00a0 Can you see the rope?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked up and just barely made out the sight of another shadow at the well\u2019s opening which he presumed to be a brother.\u00a0 \u201cRope\u2019s too high!\u00a0 Can\u2019t reach.\u00a0 Arm\u2019s busted, Pa!\u201d\u00a0 Joe shouted as loud as he could manage.<\/p>\n Hoss ran to his horse and removed his rope and brought it back over to his family.\u00a0 \u201cTie this on to the other one—this ought to work!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben scrambled to pull the rope up as fast as he could and then tied two square knots to secure the ends together.\u00a0 Fashioning a taut slip knot at one end, Ben pulled on it to be sure it would hold the weight of his son.\u00a0\u00a0 He tossed down the line and called down to his boy, \u201cJoseph— catch this and wrap it around you.\u00a0 Tug on the rope when you\u2019re ready and we\u2019ll bring you up!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe saw the end of the rope come towards him, and, as he reached with his right hand to grasp it, he jarred loose the rocks which had him secure around the waist.\u00a0 Unable to hold the life-line firmly, he fell further down the well.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u00a0 Do you have it?\u00a0 Joseph!\u201d\u00a0 Ben called after he heard a loud rumble come up from out of the depths of the well.<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss felt petrified as they watched the look of horror overtake their father\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u00a0 Joseph!\u201d\u00a0 Ben screamed down the well until his voice went hoarse.<\/p>\n Adam threw his arm around his father and said, \u201cHe\u2019s fallen down too far now, Pa—-I don\u2019t think a rope\u2019s the answer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d\u00a0 Ben shouted and ran towards Adam\u2019s horse.\u00a0 He pulled the rope from the saddle and hurried back over to the site of the accident.\u00a0 Ben, in a frenzied motion, added the extra length of Adam\u2019s lariat to the other two.\u00a0 He then lowered the rope back down into the well with another shout.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph!\u00a0 Grab the line!\u00a0 Try to find it—it should be there somewhere!\u00a0 Grab the rope!\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss looked over at his brother and tears spilled from his eyes.\u00a0 Watching their father\u2019s futile attempts to save their younger brother was breaking his heart.\u00a0 \u201cAdam\u2019s right, Pa—we gotta think on something else now—Joe\u2019s too far out of reach.\u00a0 No telling how deep that well is! \u00a0It\u2019s too narrow for any of us to try to go down there either!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben finally looked up at his two sons and covered his eyes with his hands.\u00a0 He wept over the thought that his youngest son might now be dead.\u00a0 It took only a couple of minutes for the grief and uncertainty over his son and what might have happened to him, to lend it\u2019s way to the internal fortitude that Ben Cartwright was known to possess.\u00a0 He pulled himself to his feet and stared over at Hoss and Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss—head into town, get as many men as you can.\u00a0 Try the mines—get Roy Coffee—I want anyone we can get out here with picks and shovels.\u00a0 Stop by Jeff Bridges\u2019 office too he knows this area pretty well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou thinking on digging another hole?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYes–now get going—we have to start on this before it gets dark!\u201d\u00a0 Ben replied and Hoss jumped on his horse and spurred it away quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam—I want you to head back to the house—tell Hop Sing what\u2019s happened.\u00a0 Bring back a buckboard with you.\u00a0 When we get Joe out of there he\u2019s gonna need blankets and medical supplies.\u00a0\u00a0 Be sure to bring those and as much other rescue materials as you can grab fast.\u00a0 We need to get some bonfires built too, so bring coal oil and all the lanterns we have!\u201d\u00a0 Ben had now recovered his wits about him and was back to being the strong and commanding father he had always been.\u00a0 He now refused to think of his youngest son as being lost to them forever.\u00a0 Ben needed to believe that the boy was still alive so that he wouldn\u2019t cave in to hopelessness and defeat.\u00a0 He would not stop trying to reach Joseph no matter how bad the odds seemed.<\/p>\n \u201cBe back soon, Pa!\u201d\u00a0 Adam answered and hurried to his horse and turned it back towards the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n Ben fell back onto his knees and stared into the pitch black abyss which had, for all intents and purposes, swallowed his son.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m here, Joseph!\u00a0 Hang on–help\u2019s on the way!\u201d\u00a0 He called down into nothingness over and over again.\u00a0 He prayed that Joe would be able to hear his voice and hang on to the hope that he would be rescued soon.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n Adam beat his brother Hoss back to the site of the tragedy by almost an hour.\u00a0 With Hop Sing driving a buckboard loaded with supplies, Adam rode up in front of the old cabin and dismounted.\u00a0 The Oriental jumped down from the wagon and hurried over to where his old friend and employer still sat on the ground staring down into the well.<\/p>\n \u201cYou hear Little Joe still?\u201d\u00a0 Hop Sing asked breathlessly as he dropped down to his knees next to Ben.<\/p>\n Ben turned his face and looked at the other man and shook his head but could not speak.\u00a0 He had been shouting down the well at short intervals and his voice was just about gone now.\u00a0 Hop Sing read the distraught father\u2019s face and the pain that shot from his sad brown eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe strong—he be fine—you no worry, Mister Ben,\u201d Hop Sing offered encouragement as he stared down into the blackened pit.<\/p>\n \u201cHere, Pa,\u201d Adam called and handed the man a canteen.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks,\u201d Ben whispered and drank a mouthful of water.\u00a0 He coughed to clear his throat and then went back to what he was doing before the two men had appeared.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph!\u00a0 Joe—we are gonna get you out of there—you hold on!\u201d\u00a0 Ben shouted down to his son, though he had no idea if the boy had survived his fall.<\/p>\n Hoss arrived and with him, more than a dozen men on horseback and in wagons.\u00a0 The crowd formed around the well and Ben stood to address his friends and neighbors.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks for coming—I know Hoss has filled you all in.\u00a0 We don\u2019t know how far down Joseph has fallen—and we haven\u2019t heard anything from him.\u201d\u00a0 Ben paused to take a deep breath to try once again to pull from his inner strength.\u00a0 \u201cI thought we\u2019d make a parallel tunnel and then dig across to get him out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait a second, Ben,\u201d a man called out and stepped closer to the worried father, \u201cwe need to check around for the best site before starting to dig.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stared over at Jeff Bridges; the man was not only a surveyor but also had assisted in numerous rescue missions with mine disasters in the silver rich Comstock area.\u00a0 He was a man whom Ben had come to know and trust over the years.\u00a0 \u201cWhatever you think, Jeff, but let\u2019s get right to it as soon as possible,\u201d Ben replied and nodded towards the man.<\/p>\n \u201cBiggest problem is this drought—it\u2019s left the ground very unstable.\u00a0 We brought plenty of shoring to help brace the dig.\u00a0 But, we have to make sure that we start this hole a good distance from the other so we don\u2019t cause the well to collapse from the impact of our shovels.\u00a0 Let me take a quick look,\u201d Jeff said and started his inspection of the area.<\/p>\n Ben and his two sons waited as patiently as possible while the surveyor combed the area around the well.\u00a0 Roy Coffee, sheriff of Virginia City and long-time friend of the Cartwrights stepped forward and put his hand on Ben\u2019s sagging shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cDoc said he\u2019d be out in a little while–he\u2019s patching up someone who got shot earlier today.\u00a0 I brung me every available man I had—including a couple of prisoners.\u00a0 Not the hard types mind you, just some folks who like to fight.\u00a0 I figured we\u2019d put them to use with shovels to get out some of their hostility in a useful way,\u201d Roy tried to lighten his friend\u2019s mental anguish but could tell it hadn\u2019t worked.\u00a0 Ben looked about as frightened as Roy had ever seen him before.\u00a0 As Roy peered down into the seemingly infinite well, he understood why his friend looked the way he did.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Roy,\u201d Ben answered and then fell back to his knees and called into the well again.<\/p>\n Jeff paced off the area a good twenty feet from the well and waved the crew over with their equipment.\u00a0 \u201cThis is the spot, I want you all to be careful and with each ten feet dug we are gonna be shoring up the sides.\u00a0 No need for anyone else to get killed,\u201d Jeff said bluntly and then it occurred to him what words he had used.\u00a0 He cursed his stupidity when he saw the look change on Ben\u2019s face from fear to grief.\u00a0 Jeff hadn\u2019t intended to say the word \u201ckilled\u201d, but in his own mind he was sure that most likely Joe had perished in the fall.\u00a0 Though he fully surmised that the only thing the crew would recover would be Joe Cartwright\u2019s body, he did not want to take away the little bit of hope the family still carried.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s get to it!\u201d\u00a0 He hollered, trying to recoup from his stupid statement by getting right to the job at hand.<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n And so it began, the long afternoon that bled over into the dark of night.\u00a0 Torches lit the entire area and several campfires warmed the split shifts of workers.\u00a0 Hop Sing kept the coffee going and served food to the men that he had brought along from the ranch house.\u00a0 He tried his best to get Ben to rest, but the man had refused the offer of laying down in the buckboard for a nap.\u00a0 Instead, Ben kept vigil over the well, constantly calling to his youngest son.<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss took turns along with the other workers, turning over shovel after shovel of crumbling soil into the buckets that hauled away the debris.\u00a0 The cool night air sent a chill throughout their bodies as it hit the sweat covering their shirts as they continued to toil.\u00a0 There wasn\u2019t much conversation going on between the three Cartwrights nor the team of rescuers.\u00a0 Everyone knew that the more time that had elapsed the more chance was that Joe had perished.\u00a0 If the fall hadn\u2019t killed him, the frigid ground, loss of blood, and lack of water might have caused his demise.<\/p>\n Hoss pulled himself up the ladder, which now had numerous lengths hammered to it.\u00a0 As each new section was dug, rungs were placed on other poles and they were secured to the already existing lengths.\u00a0 Jeff worked on the shoring along with four seasoned miners.\u00a0 When they felt that the ladders had become unstable, they began to hammer horizontal slats onto the bracing and used them to get down farther into the newly dug hole.\u00a0 Hoss walked over to one of the campfires and Hop Sing handed him a cup of coffee.<\/p>\n \u201cGive me another one to take to Pa, will you?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss whispered to Hop Sing as he stared over at his father.\u00a0 There by the glow of one of the lanterns, Ben sat all alone and inclined his head to stare down the well.\u00a0 Hoss knew there wasn\u2019t anything his father could see now, but that he was hoping still for any sign of a miracle.\u00a0 The cook handed Hoss the additional coffee cup and the big man walked over and sat down next to his father.\u00a0 \u201cHere,\u201d Hoss said and put the cup in his father\u2019s hand so it couldn\u2019t be refused this time.<\/p>\n Ben stared over at his middle boy and nodded his thanks.\u00a0 He sipped at the steaming brew and it did help to warm up his insides some.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the rest of his body was cold and numb, not so much from the cold breeze but from the thought of what had happened that day.<\/p>\n \u201cI never should have bought this place, Hoss,\u201d Ben started and pushed away a stray tear, \u201cthree families have owned this homestead and all of them fell upon hard times.\u00a0 Now, look—look what has happened just because I agreed to buy this land!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow, Pa–you just can\u2019t think like that.\u00a0 And, I know if you weren\u2019t so worried about Little Joe you wouldn\u2019t be talking like this.\u00a0 This land is no more a curse than any other land it was just a bad accident–plain and simple.\u00a0 Don\u2019t give up, Pa—give us a chance to get to Joe—I know he\u2019s not dead—-I can still feel him in here,\u201d Hoss stopped and patted his chest, right over his heart.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Son,\u201d Ben nodded and draped his arm around his son\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 That enormous middle son of his would never cease to amaze his father with his warmth and encouragement.\u00a0 Ben knew that Hoss loved his baby brother and was hurting himself at the time, but made sure that he tried to cheer his father up instead of asking for that from him.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m gonna get back to it, Pa—we\u2019re making good progress.\u00a0 You finish that coffee you hear?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss smiled and stood to get back to digging.\u00a0 Ben watched him walk away and then turned his attention back to the well.\u00a0 Cupping his hands in front of his mouth, as he had done all afternoon and all evening, Ben shouted down into the well again.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph—we\u2019re almost to you now– don\u2019t give up, Son!\u00a0 We\u2019ll be to you soon!\u201d<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n Long hours passed at a snail\u2019s pace for the worried Cartwright family.\u00a0 Finally, it was decided that the tunnel was both secure and deep enough that a horizontal shaft could be dug across the twenty feet of ground that separated the two holes.\u00a0 Jeff Bridges figured that even if they were still a good bit above where Joe had landed that at least they might be close enough to pull him up to them and get him into the newly excavated hole and bring him back to solid ground.\u00a0 They formed the shell of the tunnel from ready-made open-ended wooden crates approximately four feet square to brace the horizontal crawl-space that was now being dug.\u00a0 It was slower going now as the dirt had to be passed bucket by bucket down the line and then each new crate was added to the others and pushed down through the new opening before they could dig out another section.\u00a0 It was very fortunate that Jeff Bridges had assisted in the same kinds of rescues in the past, or the project would be going much slower. This particular system, using crates had been developed to assist in the silver mines, helped prevent the ever-rising loss of life of miners as they dug farther down into the Comstock stores of ore.\u00a0 The surveyor hoped that this mission would prove to be one of rescue and not just a body recovery event.\u00a0 Jeff kept his miners working at a fast pace, knowing all too well how a few hours could make the difference between life and death.<\/p>\n \u201cHow far are you now?\u201d\u00a0 Adam called down into the new shaft in the ground.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Bout half way there I reckon!\u201d\u00a0 One of the miners called up from the bottom of the hole.<\/p>\n \u201cHear that, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 Adam said as he neared his father.\u00a0 \u201cOnly another ten feet or so and they should be right above Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben finally stood and stretched and tried to get the kinks out of his back.\u00a0 For the first time all evening he had decided to walk over to the new tunnel and leave the opening of the well.\u00a0 Staring down into the new shaft Ben closed his eyes and whispered to his eldest son, \u201cHow long—how long has Joseph been down there now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout fifteen hours, Pa,\u201d Adam sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cGoing that long—and with a broken arm—and no telling what other injuries–\u201d Ben trailed off.<\/p>\n \u201cHey—Doc\u2019s here—he\u2019ll patch the kid up, don\u2019t worry!\u00a0 Let\u2019s get him out first–and that\u2019s gonna happen real soon,\u201d Adam tried his best to sound optimistic, but he, too, was having some serious doubts at the time.\u00a0 He had tried his best all night to focus on retrieving his brother, but he knew all the things that might have happened to him.\u00a0 For all they knew the kid could have broken his neck in the last plummet to the bottom of the well.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s stomach churned at the thought.\u00a0 He hated to think about the good chance that they could be pulling out a dead body soon.<\/p>\n An hour later, the sound came up out of the tunnel that froze everyone in their tracks.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ve broken through!\u201d\u00a0 A miner\u2019s shout rang out.<\/p>\n Jeff Bridges eased to the end of the final crate frame and was handed a lantern.\u00a0 He held it carefully out of the newly built passageway and stared down towards the bottom of the well.\u00a0 Jeff could see the very bottom, it being little more than eight feet lower than his position in the tunnel.\u00a0 He swallowed hard, feeling his heart fall in his chest.\u00a0 There would be no rescue.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you see him?\u201d\u00a0 Ben shouted down the tunnel.<\/p>\n Before Jeff answered he held the lantern above his head and peered up to make sure that the Cartwright boy was not lodged somewhere above his head in the well.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s nobody down here!\u201d\u00a0 Jeff finally spoke to the man who was right behind him in the shaft.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t understand it!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe there\u2019s some rubble covering him up?\u201d the miner asked in disbelief.<\/p>\n \u201cNo–I can see the bottom—clear as a bell—nothing\u2019s there!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat the hell?\u201d\u00a0 The miner retorted.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it?\u201d\u00a0 Ben demanded.\u00a0 He had climbed down into the tunnel and now stood at the end of the horizontal shaft.<\/p>\n \u201cNobody\u2019s down this well, Mr. Cartwright,\u201d the miner called down the shaft.<\/p>\n \u201cI saw him fall!\u00a0 I talked to him!\u00a0 He\u2019s got to be there!\u201d\u00a0 Ben snapped back.<\/p>\n Jeff signaled the other men to let him back out of the shaft and slowly made it to the tunnel and faced Ben.\u00a0 \u201cBen, go on—you go see for yourself–Joe\u2019s nowhere to be seen.\u00a0 I looked down–I looked up—he isn\u2019t in there!\u00a0 The bottom is solid, no debris—can\u2019t be buried—I haven\u2019t got a clue!\u201d\u00a0 He exclaimed shaking his head, confounded by what he had witnessed.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go, Pa,\u201d Adam stated, but his father grabbed his arm to stop him.<\/p>\n \u201cNo—I\u2019ll go!\u201d\u00a0 Ben insisted and slowly crawled into the shaft.\u00a0 Adam climbed in behind his father carrying a lantern.<\/p>\n Both Ben and Adam crawled down the makeshift horizontal shaft, passing crate barrier after crate barrier, their hearts in their throats.\u00a0 Ben did the same inspection that Jeff Bridges had done and with the same end results.\u00a0 He rolled onto his side allowing Adam to pass him to see for himself.\u00a0 Adam decided he needed more than a lantern\u2019s view and he called down the shaft for someone to hand them in a rope.\u00a0 It was finally passed hand over hand to the two Cartwrights and Ben secured one end to the crate form and also kept a good hold of it just in case.\u00a0 Slowly Adam lowered himself down the eight foot drop.\u00a0 The sides of the well were narrow, but flared out by the time the bottom could be felt.\u00a0\u00a0 When he finally stood on solid ground, Ben sent him down a lantern.\u00a0 Adam made his inspection of the floor of the well and also the side walls.\u00a0 He then held the lantern above his head and looked above.<\/p>\n \u201cGet a couple of lights at the well opening, I want to be sure!\u201d\u00a0 Adam hollered to his father and he called down the shaft.\u00a0 Hoss got his brother\u2019s message and gathered up six lanterns and carried them to the well opening.\u00a0 He attached the lantern\u2019s handles through a rope so he could hang them all the way across the top.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you see, Adam?\u201d\u00a0 Ben called down.<\/p>\n \u201cSame thing you can, Pa–look up!\u00a0 There\u2019s nothing above us—no way Joe could\u2019ve gotten stuck between the top of the well and the bottom.\u00a0 And there\u2019s no sign of the kid down here!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s impossible!\u201d\u00a0 Ben called out exasperated.<\/p>\n Adam had just enough room to bend to his knees.\u00a0 He stooped down when he spotted something glimmering against the lantern\u2019s glow.\u00a0 His hand clasped an oval object.\u00a0 Pulling it closer into view, Adam caught his breath.\u00a0 It was one of Joe\u2019s prized possessions; his mother\u2019s locket.\u00a0 Shaking his head in pure wonderment, Adam tried to reason it all out, but had drawn a complete blank.\u00a0 How could the kid fall into the well and disappear?<\/p>\n \u201cPull the lantern up, Pa–then I\u2019ll start back!\u201d\u00a0 Adam shouted.<\/p>\n Ben retrieved the lantern and set it next to him and then helped to pull Adam up into the crate support.\u00a0 It was just at the same moment when Adam cleared the well that a rumbling was heard and both Cartwrights could feel the shaft they were in start to shake.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s coming down on us, Pa!\u00a0 Hurry!\u201d\u00a0 Adam shouted and backed out of the shaft pulling his father along with him.<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u00a0 Not until I find Joe!\u201d\u00a0 Ben yelled fighting his son\u2019s hold.<\/p>\n \u201cNow!\u201d\u00a0 Adam yelled and pulled his father, against his will, out of the shaft and back to the original tunnel.<\/p>\n \u201cGet out!\u00a0 It\u2019s all coming down!\u201d\u00a0 Jeff screamed and tried to push the men to the steps on the wall bracing.\u00a0 Reluctantly Ben climbed up along with his son Adam.\u00a0 By the time they made it back to the ground level they could see the thick dust pouring up from both the well and the newly formed tunnel.<\/p>\n \u201cGround was too unstable—we were lucky to get out!\u201d\u00a0 Jeff called over to the men as he watched the two holes in the ground cave in on themselves.<\/p>\n \u201cLucky?\u201d\u00a0 Ben said exasperated.\u00a0 \u201cMy son is down there–buried under all of that!\u201d<\/p>\n Jeff neared Ben and grabbed his arm.\u00a0 \u201cYes, lucky!\u00a0 You could have two other sons buried under there now–not to mention yourself!\u00a0 As for Joe—he\u2019s not down there!\u00a0 You saw for yourself!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI saw him fall into that hole!\u201d\u00a0 Ben shouted.\u00a0 \u201cHoss and Adam heard him call out from down there!\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t have just disappeared!\u201d<\/p>\n Doctor Martin neared Ben he could tell the strain on his face and knew that the man was close to collapsing due to exhaustion and worry.\u00a0 Paul Martin knew the family very well and it didn\u2019t take him long to make the call.\u00a0 He waved Hoss over and nodded to the young man.\u00a0 Hoss knew what he was saying without waiting for the words.\u00a0 The big man grabbed his father from behind by his shoulders and held him so that the doctor could place his injection into the fold of his elbow.\u00a0 Ben struggled against the sedation.\u00a0 He had no intention of going to sleep.\u00a0 Furthermore, he had no intention of leaving the site until he had his youngest son in his arms; either dead or alive.<\/p>\n Ben fell into Hoss\u2019 embrace once the medication had taken over.\u00a0 Paul walked with both sons to the buckboard where Hoss set his father down out of his massive arms.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s for the best, Boys.\u00a0 Your father wouldn\u2019t have made it much longer if I hadn\u2019t done this.\u00a0 Get him home, get him warm.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be by in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Doc,\u201d Adam patted the doctor\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss—Adam—I\u2019m so sorry about Little Joe—well—you know how I felt about the boy.\u00a0 I don\u2019t have to tell you.\u00a0 You boys get some rest.\u00a0 Your pa\u2019s gonna need you more than ever now.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss nodded and stepped up into the buckboard with Hop Sing sitting at his side now.<\/p>\n Adam tied the reins of the three horses to the back of the wagon and then walked over to Roy Coffee.\u00a0 \u201cThank all the men for us, will you, Roy?\u00a0 I know Pa would do it himself—but he\u2019s gonna need some time–you know?\u201d<\/p>\n Roy nodded, \u201cDon\u2019t you worry none—you all\u2019s got enough to handle.\u00a0 I will tell the men–but they already know.\u00a0 Most of these fellows—including myself by the way—have turned to your family more than a couple of times in the past to help us out.\u00a0 You\u2019ve never let us down.\u00a0 We all just wish that—\u201d Roy stopped and turned away.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t continue his statement.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t often that he had to watch his best friend deal with this kind of a loss.\u00a0 In fact, the last time he had seen Ben in a situation like he was in now, was when Joe\u2019s mother had died.\u00a0 Roy sighed as he walked over to the other men.\u00a0 Marie had died so young, and now her son had followed her to the grave only fourteen years later.\u00a0 Roy said a silent prayer that God would watch over his dear friends during the awful days ahead of them.<\/p>\n ******************************<\/p>\n While the rescue workers made their way back to Virginia City, Hoss was carrying his father up the long staircase at the Ponderosa ranch house.\u00a0 He settled the sedated man into his bed and then walked back down the stairs to talk with his brother.<\/p>\n \u201cNo understand—\u201d Hop Sing was standing next to Adam in the living room waving his hands over his head, \u201cwhere Little Joe go?\u00a0 If fall in well—should be in well—where could he go?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shook his head and sighed as he fell down into his father\u2019s red leather chair next to the fireplace.\u00a0 \u201cI haven\u2019t a clue, Hop Sing!\u00a0 Why don\u2019t you get some rest—you are worn out and you won\u2019t be any good in the morning if you don\u2019t get some sleep now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam\u2019s right, Hop Sing—you go on to bed,\u201d Hoss nodded and patted the cook\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cThere ain\u2019t nothing we can do right now, but get some rest and maybe figure this out in the morning when we are all thinking clearer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay–Hop Sing go—but you boys go sleep too!\u201d\u00a0 Hop Sing stated and turned towards his quarters off the kitchen.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will,\u201d Hoss called after the cook and then sat down on the settee and stared over at Adam.\u00a0 He could almost see the wheels of thought turning in his older brother\u2019s mind, trying to figure out what had happened to their little brother.\u00a0 \u201cSo?\u00a0 What do you think, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve mulled this over so much since I stood at the bottom of that well that my head is hurting.\u00a0 Joe fell in that well, we all heard him—Pa saw him fall!\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t at the bottom and he wasn\u2019t above anywhere either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are we gonna do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s get some sleep—or try to at least.\u00a0 Then in the morning we\u2019ll go back out there.\u00a0 If we have to reopen that damn well we will.\u00a0 I mean–if the kid\u2019s dead—well–we at least need to bury him right–not leave him out there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t even think that, Adam!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss argued and stood from the settee.\u00a0 \u201cHe ain\u2019t dead, I know everyone out there tonight thinks so, but I don\u2019t!\u00a0 I know he\u2019s alive—somewhere!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam stood and put his hand on Hoss\u2019 shoulder and read the pain in the big man\u2019s pale blue eyes.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t want to believe he\u2019s dead either, Hoss.\u00a0 But, we do know he was hurt—broke his arm—and no telling what that last fall did to him.\u00a0 I just don\u2019t want you getting your hopes up.\u00a0 But, I\u2019m not giving up either.\u00a0 One way or another we will find out what happened to Little Joe, I promise you.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss nodded and walked toward the front door.<\/p>\n \u201cHey?\u00a0 Where you going?\u201d\u00a0 Adam called across to Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to check on the horses—you go on to bed—I\u2019ll be up in a while,\u201d Hoss replied sullenly and pulled the door open and stepped outside.<\/p>\n Adam knew why his brother had left, in spite of the feigned concern for the animals, Hoss just needed to get out of the house.\u00a0 He knew his brother well, and knew all the while, the big man just wanted to be alone to pray.<\/p>\n ******************************<\/p>\n There was only one reason that Ben Cartwright had slept soundly that night and that was due to whatever had been in Doctor Martin\u2019s sedative.\u00a0 When the rays of sunlight pierced through his bedroom drapes Ben sat up in the bed, still feeling the effects of the drug.\u00a0 He tried to gather his wits about him and it was then that grief and fear became evident and even stronger than it had been the night previous.\u00a0 Aching with the movement, due to a long day and night spent crouched down screaming into the well, Ben walked to his water basin and washed off.\u00a0 He then hurriedly changed his clothes and headed out of his room and down to the living room.\u00a0 Surrounding the desk in his study stood both Adam and Hoss along with Jeff Bridges.\u00a0 They all turned when they heard Ben call over towards them.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked and made it to the bottom of the staircase.<\/p>\n \u201cJeff\u2019s got some ideas, Pa.\u00a0 He just got here, we were going to wake you in a minute,\u201d Hoss replied.<\/p>\n Ben made it over to the study and stared down at the maps that were laid out on the top of his desk.\u00a0 He looked up at the surveyor, confusion in his glare. \u201cWhat are these maps about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnce I got back home last night, all I could think of was what happened to Joe.\u00a0 Don\u2019t think I got any more sleep than your two sons here, Ben.\u00a0 But, it did get me to wondering if perhaps we missed something,\u201d Jeff explained.<\/p>\n \u201cWe missed something—we missed finding my son,\u201d Ben said gruffly but then tried to ease up on his anger.\u00a0 It was no-one\u2019s fault that Joseph disappeared, and everyone who aided in the rescue tried their hardest to get to the boy.\u00a0 Ben cleared his throat and put his hand on Jeff\u2019s shoulder and said, \u201cSorry, I know we\u2019re all worked up about this.\u00a0 Now—what do you have in mind?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI got the survey maps—I was the one who, ten years ago, set the boundary posts at that homestead.\u00a0 I was trying to figure out if there was something we hadn\u2019t thought about yesterday.\u00a0 If Joe didn\u2019t come up out of the well—\u201d Jeff was cut off before he could finish his statement.<\/p>\n \u201cI sat there—right there–all day and all night–Joseph did not come up–that\u2019s for sure!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know, Ben–let me finish,\u201d Jeff retorted.\u00a0 Ben nodded for him to continue.\u00a0 \u201cHe didn\u2019t come up out of there, and he did not leave from the bottom—but looks like he might have made it down there,\u201d Jeff pointed over to Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t show you this last night, Pa—it was hard enough,\u201d Adam explained and handed his father the locket that he had found at the bottom of the well.\u00a0 Ben held it in his palm, knowing full well that it was the picture of Marie inside and that Joe never went anywhere without it, \u201cIt could have fallen out of Joe\u2019s pocket–or he could have dropped it once he made it to the bottom.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI still don\u2019t know where you all are going with this,\u201d Ben complained as he tucked the locket inside his vest.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he did make it to the bottom of that well, then maybe he tried to pull himself out–maybe there is something we didn\u2019t see down there,\u201d Jeff answered.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah–you know, Pa–like some kind of crevice he could\u2019ve crawled onto?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss jumped in on the conversation, trying to sound hopeful.<\/p>\n \u201cEven if that were the case—the cave in—there\u2019s not much hope in getting to him now–is there?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked and stared directly into Jeff\u2019s eyes, hoping for an honest answer.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, Ben, but we can go back there—bring the crews back—and start digging to find out.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben walked around the desk and sank down into his leather chair.\u00a0 He pulled up one of the maps in front of him and stared at it.\u00a0 \u201cNormally there are all kinds of underground streams feeding the area, but what with the drought all that has dried up.\u00a0 Maybe there are some natural underground tunnels in the area—you don\u2019t think that maybe–\u201d Ben trailed off starting to count on even the remotest scenarios of how his son might have survived.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t have a clue, Ben, but until we excavate that well we will never know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go saddle the horses!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss exclaimed, renewed in spirit.<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n The three Cartwrights, accompanied by Jeff Bridges, rode out towards the well.\u00a0 They had just passed over the border to the old homestead when Hoss shouted and stood in his stirrups and pointed to the east.<\/p>\n \u201cPa!\u00a0 Look!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss hollered.<\/p>\n Ben pulled back on his reins, stopping Buck in mid-stride.\u00a0 He peered over to where his son had motioned.\u00a0 Through the dense brush, that surrounded the opening of a cave, he saw a form appear and then fall to the ground.\u00a0 \u201cJoe!\u201d\u00a0 Ben shouted and all four men turned their mounts and raced to the entrance of the cave.<\/p>\n His legs shaking and his heart racing in his chest, Ben dismounted and ran over to the boy who lay spread out on the ground.\u00a0 Kneeling down the anxious father carefully rolled Joe onto his back and took a good look at him.\u00a0 Joe was covered from his head to his feet with dirt and grime.\u00a0 His clothes were tattered and torn and he looked as though he had been ripped to shreds by something.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s left arm formed a strange angle, showing the break that he had mentioned the day before.\u00a0 Ben surmised at the time, that the boy had sustained all the injuries due to the fall down the well.\u00a0 He could not comprehend how his son had fallen into the hole almost a mile away and had come out at the entrance to the cave.<\/p>\n Hoss hurried to retrieve his canteen from his saddle and ran it back over to his father.\u00a0 Lifting the boy\u2019s head gently Ben attempted to get Joe to take a drink.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, Son–take some of this—Joe? Can you hear me?\u201d\u00a0 Ben whispered to the boy.\u00a0 He watched as Joe slowly blinked his eyes open.\u00a0 He did not reply to his father\u2019s words, but a slow moan passed from his lips.<\/p>\n \u201cThat fall must\u2019ve torn him up, he\u2019s bleeding all over!\u201d\u00a0 Adam said staring down at his little brother.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u00a0 Can you hear me?\u201d\u00a0 Ben continued, giving up now on trying to give his son some of the water.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes did not appear to focus up on the man who held him tightly in his embrace.\u00a0 The gaze he wore seemed blurred, but fear was prominent in his pupils.\u00a0 \u201cDevil\u2019s hold—devil\u2019s hold,\u201d Joe muttered and then passed out, sinking down farther in his father\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n Ben could feel the tears leaving his eyes as he looked up at the three men surrounding him.\u00a0 He was so filled with joy to have found his son to be alive, but worried nonetheless by the condition they had found the boy to be in.\u00a0 \u201cDevil\u2019s hold?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked, confused.<\/p>\n \u201cHere, Pa–let me get him,\u201d Hoss whispered and stooped down.\u00a0 Ben reluctantly relinquished Joe from his arms.<\/p>\n \u201cCareful—careful of that arm—it looks like it\u2019s a bad break,\u201d Ben warned as Joe was lifted into the strong arms of his brother Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cI got him,\u201d Hoss replied and started over towards his horse.<\/p>\n Adam and Jeff shared a relieved glance and followed Hoss and Ben over to the horses.\u00a0 Ben quickly mounted his horse and called down to Hoss, \u201cHand him up to me—I\u2019ll take him in.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss handed his little brother up to his father.\u00a0 He knew that it might be a bit easier if either he or Adam held Joe on the way back to the Ponderosa, but he understood that their father needed to hold the boy to reassure himself that Joe was truly alive after the long ordeal of believing him to be dead.\u00a0 Ben settled his youngest son onto the saddle and positioned himself behind the boy holding him upright with one of his hands and turning Buck\u2019s reins with the other one.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, you go on into town and bring Doc out.\u00a0 Jeff, please tell Roy that we found Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will, Ben, I still don\u2019t know how the kid got over here–but guess he\u2019ll tell us when he comes around!\u201d\u00a0 Jeff replied and turned his horse along with Adam towards town.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re taking you home, Joseph, you hang on,\u201d Ben whispered and sent Buck into motion.<\/p>\n *******************************<\/p>\n Hop Sing\u2019s mouth fell open as he pulled the door forward and saw Ben carrying in the seemingly lifeless body of Little Joe.\u00a0 He followed the man up the stairs calling out words in rapid fashion; and all in his native tongue.\u00a0 Hop Sing wanted to know how they found the boy and what all was wrong with him.\u00a0 Ben carefully settled Joe onto his bed and finally turned to address the cook.<\/p>\n \u201cFound him just outside of a cave a ways from that well.\u00a0 Don\u2019t have any idea how he got there and right now none of that really matters.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s hurt bad,\u201d Ben paused and slowly unbuttoned what little bit remained of the boy\u2019s shirt.\u00a0 His face winced when he spotted the deep red scratches that covered his son\u2019s chest.\u00a0 Hop Sing stood to the side of his employer and gasped when he got a good look at the boy himself.<\/p>\n \u201cVely bad–vely bad cuts, boy need clean—wounds infect,\u201d Hop Sing insisted.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom what I\u2019ve seen his whole body is like this, Hop Sing.\u00a0 Go get Hoss–he\u2019s putting the horses up—tell him to bring the tub up here, will you?\u00a0 Best way to get all this dirt and grime off of Joe is to bathe his whole body. \u00a0We won\u2019t know how bad off he is until we can see what\u2019s under all this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing get Mister Hoss and heat water.\u00a0 Be right back!\u201d\u00a0 Hop Sing replied and turned out of the room.<\/p>\n Ben bent down and began removing what remained of the rest of his son\u2019s clothes and his boots.\u00a0 Once the boy\u2019s long-johns were freed from his body, Ben was surprised and confounded to see the same types of deep scratches to be on his legs as well as his arms, his face and his chest.\u00a0 \u201cWhat in the devil did this to you, Joseph?\u201d\u00a0 Ben whispered, though he knew the boy was too far under to answer his question.\u00a0 The worried father covered his son with the blanket from the bottom of the bed, not wanting to put him under the sheets until he was cleansed.\u00a0 Sinking down into the chair next to Joe\u2019s bed Ben stared at the boy and his mind raced. ****I can imagine you would be bruised from that fall—I can see how you broke your arm, Joe.\u00a0 But, why are you so cut up?\u00a0 How did you get from that well all the way into the cave?\u00a0 My God!\u00a0 You look like you were in a fight with a bear or worse! *****<\/em><\/strong>Ben reached over and stroked the side of his boy\u2019s face.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s hair was matted with sweat and grime, but at least he was there in front of his eyes.****you will be okay, I know you will.\u00a0 We\u2019ll get you all fixed up, Son.\u00a0 Thank you, Lord, for giving me back my boy.****<\/em><\/strong>Ben dropped his head and allowed himself to let out his pent up emotion.<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t take the team of Hop Sing and Hoss long to get the bath ready.\u00a0 Ben was concerned about infection, just as Hop Sing had suggested early.\u00a0 He knew that the boy had to be cleaned before he could be doctored.\u00a0 With all of that in mind, both Hoss and Ben set the boy into the tub and went about the task of scrubbing him down.\u00a0 It took a whole lot of soap and buckets of additional water, but twenty minutes later they pulled a much better looking young man from the tub.\u00a0 Gone was the dirt the grime and some of the clotted blood from Joe\u2019s body.\u00a0 Hop Sing waited over by the bed where he had placed several towels down onto the comforter in preparation to dry the boy off.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me take a look at him before you put that nightshirt on him!\u201d\u00a0 Came a voice from the doorway.\u00a0 Hop Sing, Hoss, and Ben were surprised to see Doctor Martin having arrived so soon.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul!\u201d\u00a0 Ben sang out, \u201cHow\u2019d you make it out here this fast?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRan into Adam on the way in, he\u2019s out putting up the horses.\u00a0 I was heading out your way to check on you actually, Ben.\u00a0 It was a wonderful surprise to hear that you found the boy.\u00a0 Now, let me get a good look and then you can get him all settled under the covers.\u201d\u00a0 Paul neared the bed and set his black bag on the night stand.\u00a0 Ben and the others backed away from Joe to give the doctor some room.<\/p>\n Paul checked Joe\u2019s pupils and the scratches on his face.\u00a0 He moved down to the boy\u2019s chest and then his arms.\u00a0 He noted the compound fracture of Joe\u2019s arm and then moved down to palpate his abdomen.\u00a0 Paul never said a word, but instead grunted an \u201cuh huh\u201d here and there.\u00a0 He made his way down the boy\u2019s legs and feet and then turned to Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cHelp me roll him over so I can get a look at the kid\u2019s back, Hoss.\u00a0 Just kinda turn him onto his side for a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss helped steady his little brother so that the doctor could inspect Joe\u2019s back.\u00a0 Running the whole course of the boy\u2019s back, from the nape of his neck all the way to his legs, were deep festered scratches.\u00a0 In some areas the wounds were so deep that they were still bleeding, even after the bath.<\/p>\n \u201cWhatcha think, Doc?\u00a0 You think Joe done that going down the well?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss asked worriedly.\u00a0 Ben stepped to the other side of the bed so he could also see what Hoss and Paul had observed.<\/p>\n Paul shook his head concerned and a bit bewildered.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sure some of these might have happened in his fall, but I don\u2019t know—\u201d Paul responded, not at all sure what had caused all the markings.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s face winced up again after getting a good look at his son\u2019s back.\u00a0 He was upset to see it just as badly damaged as the front of Joe\u2019s body.\u00a0 \u201cLooks like an animal got to him—you think?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen, I can\u2019t say–really–haven\u2019t a clue.\u00a0 Maybe once the boy comes around we will find out.\u00a0 Has he said anything yet?\u201d\u00a0 Paul stopped and signaled Hoss to ease Joe into his former position.<\/p>\n \u201cMuttered something when we first got to him, didn\u2019t make any sense though,\u201d Ben answered.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did he say?\u201d\u00a0 Paul asked, as he drew up the boy\u2019s right wrist to check his pulse.<\/p>\n \u201cDevil\u2019s hold I think–must\u2019ve been delirious,\u201d Ben replied shaking his head.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe gonna be okay, Doc?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss jumped back into the conversation as he saw the man reach into his medical bag.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a sick boy guess you both know that already.\u00a0 It\u2019s gonna take some patching up.\u00a0 Guess we\u2019d better start on this arm.\u00a0 Hoss, I am gonna need you to assist me with this one.\u00a0 We gotta snap his arm, and it\u2019s going to require the two of us to do it,\u201d Paul said and looked across the bed.\u00a0 He could see Ben\u2019s face, the man was very pale.\u00a0 Paul knew that witnessing Joe\u2019s devastating injuries had turned the man\u2019s stomach already.\u00a0 He knew how close Ben was to his youngest son and how much it was hurting him to see Joe in such ill repair.\u00a0 \u201cBen, why don\u2019t you go downstairs for a bit?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Ben insisted and moved up to the head of the bed.\u00a0 \u201cI need to be here—I\u2019m all right.\u00a0 You and Hoss do what you need to but I am staying with Joseph.\u201d\u00a0 Ben let his hand fall down to the boy\u2019s curly head of hair and pushed away a wet curl from his forehead.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, well, let\u2019s get to it.\u00a0 Hoss, you hold Joe\u2019s upper arm, as rigid and straight as you can.\u00a0 I have to snap this bone back into place.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI got it,\u201d Hoss nodded and held onto his brother.\u00a0 Though Hoss preferred to assist with the doctoring of animals, he knew his strength was needed to help with his little brother.\u00a0 It still pained him to watch as Paul made his move.\u00a0\u00a0 The cracking and popping sounds of bone meeting bone was heard by everyone in the room and the set was accomplished.\u00a0 Doctor Martin drew out his suture kit and threaded the long needle.\u00a0 The bone had now been placed into its normal position but the exit it had made when Joe had fallen had punctured the skin.\u00a0 Ten stitches later the wound had been properly closed, and the doctor set aside his instruments.<\/p>\n Paul carefully wrapped Joe\u2019s left arm tightly.\u00a0 He knew that he would be casting the arm with plaster later on that night in order to keep it fully immobile.\u00a0 For now, though, he turned his attention to the rest of the boy\u2019s injuries.\u00a0 Opening a bottle of antiseptic, Doctor Martin poured the liquid onto two cloths.\u00a0 He then passed one over to Ben, figuring the father now needed to feel like he was helping his boy.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is gonna be a bit tedious, Ben, but we have to clean these wounds out good.\u00a0 You start on that side—up at his face–and I\u2019ll do this side.\u00a0 When we\u2019ve coated him good, then we\u2019ll turn him over and get his back wounds.\u00a0 Ben nodded and began the slow process of tending the long scratches his son now wore all over his body.\u00a0 There were a couple of places where both the doctor and the boy\u2019s father found some serious bruising.\u00a0 They were sure that those were from Joe\u2019s plummet to the bottom of the well.\u00a0 Both men, however, drew no conclusions about how Joe managed to get so badly scratched.\u00a0 As Ben dabbed the antiseptic on his son\u2019s chest he was almost positive that the marks had been made by some kind of an animal\u2019s claws.\u00a0 There were other places, as he worked his way farther down the boy\u2019s body that Ben thought the scratches had been caused by a human\u2019s fingernails, noting sets of five markings instead of only four.\u00a0 Ben shook his head it just didn\u2019t make any sense.\u00a0 But, he reasoned, as they turned Joe onto his stomach and started on his back, nothing had made any sense since the boy disappeared the night before.\u00a0 They still didn\u2019t know how Joe had reappeared so far away from the well.\u00a0 Ben hoped that Joe would soon come around and offer an explanation that would solve the mystery of his disappearance and how he had gotten so badly mauled.<\/p>\n Once the doctor had bandaged the areas which held the deepest gouges, he stood upright and sighed.\u00a0 It was yet another miracle, one of many that he had witnessed over the nineteen years that Joe Cartwright had lived.\u00a0 Though the boy before him was in pretty bad shape, Doc believed whole-heartedly that he would survive his injuries with the proper care.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s about all we can do right now, Ben.\u00a0 I am going to go back to my office for a while and come back out here later tonight to cast that arm.\u00a0 Keep him warm and try to get some liquids down him once he regains consciousness,\u201d Paul remarked as he closed his medical bag and turned towards the door.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe\u2019s gonna be all right, ain\u2019t he, Doc?\u201d Hoss asked the man, worry framing his words.<\/p>\n \u201cI think so, Hoss.\u00a0 Your little brother has been through the mill, that\u2019s for sure.\u00a0 But, barring any infection, I would say he should do nicely.\u00a0 That arm has me a bit worried, but we will just have to wait and see.\u00a0 He went an awfully long time before having it set I hope he regains full use of it–especially since it\u2019s his dominant arm.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul walked over to the door and noticed that somewhere during all the doctoring that Adam had quietly entered the room.\u00a0 The doctor was a bit surprised by the eldest son\u2019s quizzical stare directed towards the patient.\u00a0 \u201cAdam?\u00a0 You okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shook himself from his daze and looked into the doctor\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cYeah–just standing here wondering what the heck happened to Joe.\u00a0 Those markings–rather peculiar aren\u2019t they?\u00a0 I mean–they are all over the kid\u2019s body!\u201d<\/p>\n Paul patted the worried brother\u2019s shoulder and tried for reassurance in his reply, \u201cI guess we will know how it all happened just as soon as the boy wakes up.\u00a0 For right now I think we should all just thank the good Lord that Joe is still with us.\u00a0 After what we all thought last night—well—it\u2019s a miracle!\u00a0 I\u2019ll see you all later.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Paul,\u201d Ben called over to his friend as he reached down and pulled the sheet and comforter up around Joe\u2019s shoulders.\u00a0 Paul waved and turned from the room.<\/p>\n Adam walked closer to stand next to his brother Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s something awfully strange about this,\u201d Adam began and then noticed his father\u2019s glare directed his way.<\/p>\n \u201cDoc is right, all we should be doing right now is giving thanks that your little brother lived through his ordeal.\u00a0 There\u2019s nothing to be gained from worrying about how he got hurt,\u201d Ben insisted and settled once again into the chair next to the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou think a bear could\u2019ve done this, Hoss?\u201d\u00a0 Adam persisted as he touched Joe\u2019s cheek and noted the length of the scratches.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, there could\u2019ve been something in that there cave–\u201d Hoss began his reply only to have his father break in.<\/p>\n \u201cEnough!\u00a0 You two go on and get some rest.\u00a0 I know neither of you slept last night. Since I am the only one who got some sleep—though it was forced on me—I will stay with Joe until Doc comes back later to cast his arm,\u201d Ben was adamant with his orders.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t really want to hear all of the hypothesis over what might have gotten a hold of Joe.\u00a0 He was also worried that if his youngest should wake up and hear what they were saying it might cause him more harm or fear.\u00a0 Ben couldn\u2019t shake the memory of the way Joe had stared blankly into his eyes and muttered the strange words before passing out.\u00a0 He knew that whatever had harmed his boy, whether it was the fall, or perhaps something even more terrifying, was still holding on in Joe\u2019s mind keeping him from coming back to his family.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay—we\u2019ll go, Pa,\u201d Adam replied softly.\u00a0 He knew why his father had insisted on quelling the conversation.\u00a0 Looking over into the anguished brown eyes, Adam saw how upset Ben had become due to the speculation.\u00a0 The last thing he wanted to do was to make his father any more stressed than he already was.\u00a0 \u201cCall us if you need us,\u201d Adam said as he signaled Hoss to follow him out of the room.\u00a0 Hoss put his hand on Adam\u2019s arm preventing his move down the hallway.\u00a0 They had closed the door to Little Joe\u2019s bedroom to give both their brother and father some privacy, but, now Hoss had some things he wanted to say.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat were you getting at in there, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing—just wanted your opinion—you know about these things more than I do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat things?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know—animals—what kinds of wild animals might be around that area–you hunted there lots of times.\u00a0 Both you and Joe for that matter!\u00a0 You ever seen those kinds of marks before?\u201d\u00a0 Adam asked and stared into his brother\u2019s eyes hoping to see a sign of recognition in them.<\/p>\n Hoss shook his head bewildered and leaned against the door to his own bedroom.\u00a0 \u201cNaw—don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever seen marks like those.\u00a0 I mean, not exactly like a grizzly you know?\u00a0 Don\u2019t know anything else that would make those kinds of scratches—not without at least some teeth marks somewhere along with them.\u00a0 I mean—any wild animal that would claw at a prey like that would try to rip it apart with its teeth too.\u00a0 There\u2019s no bite marks on the kid, I know —I helped Pa scrub him down.\u00a0 He\u2019s got some bad bruises—but I would think they were from the fall–just like that busted arm.\u00a0 But, it\u2019s got me bumfuzzled for real, Brother!\u00a0 If there\u2019s something out there in that cave or in the woods that did that to Little Joe–then it\u2019s something I ain\u2019t never run up against!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam felt a chill run down his spine just thinking on what his brother had said.\u00a0 If Hoss didn\u2019t have a clue, then it really was a mystery.\u00a0 Adam hoped that their little brother would come back around soon, to tell them all what happened and dismiss all the horrible thoughts going around in their minds.<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n Ben noticed just a short while after Hoss and Adam had left the room that Joe began to stir in the bed. \u00a0The boy was lying on his stomach with his left arm propped up with a pillow to try and keep it immobilized.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s face was the first actual movement it winced up as though the boy was stuck in some kind of horrible dream.\u00a0 Next, both of his legs began to move, as though he was trying to pull himself to a crawling position, and then Joe\u2019s arms began to thrash about.\u00a0 Ben jumped to his feet quickly to prevent his son from causing any further harm to his battered left arm.<\/p>\n \u201cHold on there, Joseph!\u00a0 Settle down–it\u2019s okay,\u201d Ben tried to bring the boy around as he locked both of his hands onto Joe\u2019s shoulders to prevent further movement.\u00a0 Joe continued to thrash about and attempted to pull up from the bed.\u00a0 \u201cStay down, Son, you\u2019re hurt!\u201d\u00a0 Ben protested a bit louder, hoping that Joe would finally come around and realize what he was doing.<\/p>\n Joe battled his father, unaware that he was home and safe in his own bed.\u00a0 In his mind he was still writhing in the tortuous crevice trying to free himself.\u00a0 The sights and sounds and agony would not let go and he was left with only the will to live and escape the horrors that had pulled him into the cavern.\u00a0 Joe could feel his skin tearing from the demonic claws and fought to break away from them.<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u00a0 Joseph!\u00a0 No!\u201d\u00a0 Ben shouted still trying to keep his son on the bed, but the boy was fighting his efforts.\u00a0 Wrapping his arms around his son\u2019s waist, the terrified father struggled with all his might to hold the boy down.\u00a0 Ben was confounded by his youngest son\u2019s strength.\u00a0 It was as though he was trying to hold down the two hundred and eighty pound Hoss, and not the much lighter Joe.\u00a0 \u201cHoss!\u00a0 Adam!\u00a0 Come up here!\u201d\u00a0 Ben bellowed, knowing he needed reinforcements.<\/p>\n Joe continued to fight his father, unknowingly.\u00a0 He had succeeded in knocking Ben to the floor with one frenzied motion.\u00a0 It was then that both of the brothers burst into the room.\u00a0 Ben pulled himself up from where he had landed next to the chair and his eyes showed his oldest sons the fear they contained.\u00a0 Hoss was the first one over to Joe and he grabbed the boy before he could take the lunge off the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cHold on there, Short Shanks—you just calm down, Boy, you need to rest,\u201d Hoss tried his best to coax his little brother into settling down, but Joe was not cooperating.<\/p>\n \u201cCareful with that arm, Hoss,\u201d Ben warned as he witnessed the battle between his sons.<\/p>\n \u201cDad gum it, simmer down,\u201d Hoss raised his voice a tad higher when Joe managed to sock him with his right fist, catching the big man under his chin.\u00a0 \u201cThis is like trying to wrestle a wild cat, Pa—how\u2019d he get this strong all of a sudden?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss called out and Ben moved in closer.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go get Doc back out here—Joe needs to be sedated before he hurts himself,\u201d Adam said and hurried out of the room.<\/p>\n Ben moved towards the hold that Hoss had on his little brother.\u00a0 It was only then that the boy opened his eyes and stared at them both.<\/p>\n \u201cDevil\u2019s hold—devil\u2019s hold!\u201d\u00a0 Joe shouted and then started to lose strength.\u00a0 Ben caught the boy as he fell back towards the head of the bed.\u00a0 Ben pulled Joe\u2019s head up to rest on his shoulder and held the boy tightly, waiting for his breathing to slow down.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did this to you, Joseph?\u00a0 What are you trying to tell us?\u201d Ben whispered and watched as Joe gave in to the embrace and his head fell to the side against his father\u2019s chest.\u00a0 Slowly the terror filled gaze lifted from the hazel eyes and Joe passed out once more.<\/p>\n Hoss sank down into the side chair as he watched his father trying to console his little brother.\u00a0 Ben held Joe in his arms and rocked him back and forth, all the while distraught over what they had just witnessed.<\/p>\n \u201cI barely got him down that time, Pa—the kid had the strength of ten men.\u00a0 What in the world is going on?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss whispered.<\/p>\n Ben stroked the hair back off of Joe\u2019s forehead, hoping to lull him into a more peaceful sleep.\u00a0 \u201cI have no idea, Hoss.\u00a0 Whatever it was, it scared the hell out of him, that\u2019s for sure.\u00a0 I know that fall had to be traumatic for the boy, but there\u2019s something else—something else that\u2019s scaring him like this.\u00a0 And this thing he keeps saying—devil\u2019s hold—now what could that be about?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss turned pensive for a few moments and then suddenly remembered where he had heard those two particular words before.\u00a0 \u201cPa—devil\u2019s hold—that does ring a bell—I just realized where I heard that before!\u00a0 It was a few years back—on a hunting trip Joe and me took–way up into the north woods.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s attention had now been peaked, he looked over at Hoss for a badly needed answer, \u201cWhat\u2019s that got to do with devil\u2019s hold?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe and me–we met this trapper feller–can\u2019t rightly remember his name—have to think on it a minute.\u00a0 But, he told us a couple stories–me and Joe around the campfire you know?\u00a0 One of them stories was about something called the devil\u2019s hold.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was it about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa–it\u2019s all a bit hazy–you know it\u2019s been several years–but I do know he said something about a devil\u2019s hold—I think it was a pit or something.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben looked down at the slumbering boy and then back over to Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cYou think Joe\u2019s got something stuck in his head about that story?\u00a0 Why now?\u00a0 Why after all these years?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know, Pa—it might not even have nothing to do with what\u2019s wrong with the kid.\u00a0 But, maybe –maybe if Joe don\u2019t come around soon we might ought to find out about the story.\u00a0 You reckon?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sighed he had no clue as to what to do for his son at that point.\u00a0 He only knew that the boy had been scared to death about something and needed to get it out in order to deal with it better.\u00a0 It did make him wonder, though, how Joe could suddenly have the strength to throw him off the bed, and almost out wrestle his brother Hoss.\u00a0 Something was bad wrong, that was for sure.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s talk to Doc when he gets here.\u00a0 He needs to cast this arm before Joe does more damage the next time he comes around.\u00a0 Hopefully, Joe will come back to us and be able to tell us what he meant–but–if he doesn\u2019t we might just have to go find that trapper.\u201d<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n Doctor Martin made his reappearance at the Ponderosa a short time after Joe had fallen back off to sleep.\u00a0 Adam had filled the physician in on how wild his brother had acted earlier and Paul was getting more concerned than he had been originally.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss, I want you to brace Joe\u2019s shoulders just in case he comes around while we are applying the plaster.\u00a0 Hold on to him good now, okay?\u201d\u00a0 Paul asked as he laid all the instruments and materials on the left side of the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cI got him,\u201d Hoss answered and locked his little brother in his massive grip.\u00a0 Joe was propped up against a stack of pillows, but was still unconscious.<\/p>\n Paul set about the task of casting his patient\u2019s arm, all the while trying to think of something he could do to pull the boy out from under the depths of confusion.\u00a0 He could see by the expressions on the Cartwright family\u2019s faces that they were all worried about something worse than Joe\u2019s arm at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cThere—that ought to do it—let\u2019s just give it a little time to dry and you can move, Hoss,\u201d Paul stated and began to remove the extra towels from the bed which had been used to aid with the set.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul—he still hasn\u2019t come around—you know—well other than the time at the cave when we first found him–and earlier when he was so combative.\u00a0 What are we going to do?\u201d\u00a0 Ben tried to get his point across, but was freezing on the words due to his fear of what the answer might entail.<\/p>\n \u201cAs soon as that cast is dry I\u2019m gonna try something, Ben.\u00a0 So, you and Adam might just as well go downstairs until I call you.\u00a0 Hoss and I have it fine for right now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, Pa—let\u2019s go and get some coffee for everyone,\u201d Adam whispered.\u00a0 He was hoping that his father would leave the room for a little while to regroup his emotional state.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t hard to see that Ben was at his wit\u2019s end worrying about the youngest son.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay—be back in a few minutes,\u201d Ben replied and shot one last glance towards Joe and turned out of the bedroom with Adam.<\/p>\n When Doctor Martin was fully confident that Joe\u2019s cast was thoroughly dry, he turned towards the family to address what he wanted to do.\u00a0 \u201cBen, I\u2019m gonna bring Joe back around.\u00a0 I\u2019ll try to do this slowly.\u00a0 We have got to get some fluids in him or risk dehydration.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know if the boy will battle us like you said he did earlier, so we\u2019d all best be prepared.\u201d\u00a0 Paul stopped and looked back over at Hoss, who was still up by the head of the bed.\u00a0 \u201cLet go of his shoulders, but stay close–just in case,\u201d Paul instructed and reached inside his medical bag.\u00a0 He pulled out his bottle of smelling salts and readied to waft the cork under Joe\u2019s nose.\u00a0 \u201cHere we go,\u201d the doctor said and made one quick pass underneath his patient\u2019s nostrils.<\/p>\n Joe coughed and his head shifted from side to side, attempting to rid himself of the acrid smelling medicine.\u00a0 Paul began to lightly slap Joe\u2019s face and call out to him.\u00a0 \u201cJoe–come on –time to wake up!\u00a0 Open those eyes, Joe, come on—you can do it,\u201d Paul coaxed the young man further.<\/p>\n Ben stepped closer to the bed, as did Adam.\u00a0 They had no idea what to expect now from Joe, but did notice that his eyelids had started to quiver.\u00a0 Paul spoke again, the same words as before and continued to urge Joe toward consciousness.<\/p>\n All of a sudden, and with such an abrupt motion that it made everyone else in the room jump, Joe sat up straight and screamed at the top of his lungs.\u00a0 \u201cDevil\u2019s hold!\u00a0 Devil\u2019s hold!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGet a grip on him, Hoss!\u201d\u00a0 Ben sang out knowing Joe was about to bolt from the bed, just as he had tried to earlier.<\/p>\n Hoss grabbed his little brother\u2019s shoulders and held on tightly.\u00a0 \u201cI got him,\u201d Hoss stated firmly.<\/p>\n Paul still sat on the bed next to Joe and attempted to check the boy\u2019s pupils.\u00a0 The hazel eyes all at once focused in on the lamp that the doctor pulled up closer to his face.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s right hand shot towards the lamp, trying to knock it out of Paul\u2019s hand as he continued to shriek,\u201d Devil\u2019s hold!\u201d<\/p>\n The doctor was just barely able to keep the kerosene lantern from dumping onto the floor.\u00a0 He moved to replace it on the night stand, wondering why the flame from the light had scared the boy even more than he already was.\u00a0 \u201cI put it down, Joe, it\u2019s okay now—relax—settle back–\u201d Paul attempted to quiet Joe again.<\/p>\n Ben moved around to the head of the bed and insisted on switching positions with Hoss.\u00a0 He hoped that if Joe knew that his pa was there with him, that maybe he would know he was really safe from whatever held his mind in its grip.\u00a0 Hoss reluctantly moved and allowed Ben to reach for the slender shoulders that were shaking now.<\/p>\n \u201cBest hold on good, Pa, he\u2019s really strong!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss exclaimed as he moved to stand next to Adam at the bottom of the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u00a0 Joseph–can you hear me?\u00a0 It\u2019s Pa—you are safe—can you hear me, Boy?\u201d\u00a0 Ben calmly spoke to his son, hoping to see some form of recognition in his eyes when he turned the boy\u2019s face towards him.\u00a0 Ben wasn\u2019t sure if it was his own imagination or whether it was just wishful thinking, but for one brief second he thought that Joe\u2019s eyes softened like he knew he was looking at his father now.\u00a0 Then the fear was back as strong as before, and Joe reached up, locking his right hand onto Ben\u2019s collar and screamed, \u201cDevil\u2019s hold!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben looked pathetically over at the doctor and shook his head at a loss over what to do or say now.\u00a0 Paul reached over and poured a glass of water from the pitcher on the night stand and handed it over to Ben.\u00a0 \u201cSee if you can get him to drink, at least it seems like he knows who you are–unlike the rest of us!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben lifted the rim of the glass up to Joe\u2019s trembling lips.\u00a0 \u201cDrink this, Son, you have to get some fluids in you.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked down into the glass as his father lifted it to make him swallow.\u00a0 The water simply dribbled down the boy\u2019s chin as if Joe had no clue as to what the man expected him to do with the liquid.\u00a0 Paul saw Ben\u2019s difficulty and handed him a towel to clean up the wasted water.<\/p>\n \u201cKeep trying, Ben.\u00a0 We have to get him to drink,\u201d the doctor insisted.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, Joseph—let\u2019s get this done now—open your mouth—that\u2019s it–now swallow.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe filled his mouth with the liquid and finally nature took its course and the water slowly trickled down his throat.\u00a0 Ben sighed relieved to see it had worked that time.\u00a0 Joe still clutched his father\u2019s shirt in his right fist and would not let go.\u00a0 \u201cDevil\u2019s hold,\u201d Joe said, but this time in a whisper, to the man who wiped the excess water off from around the boy\u2019s mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t understand, Son—what do you mean?\u00a0 What are you trying to say?\u00a0 What is this devil\u2019s hold?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked, internally exasperated, but trying to control his outward appearance.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s grasp on his father\u2019s collar slowly loosened and his arm fell to the side of his body.\u00a0 Closing his eyes wearily Joe whispered the two words one more time before falling back underneath the curtain of sleep, \u201cDevil\u2019s hold.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShock,\u201d Paul stated and stood from the bed, \u201cand a rather bad case of it, I am afraid.\u00a0 Guess there\u2019s nothing much we can do for the boy right now.\u00a0 Just keep him as calm as possible and hope that it gradually eases up on him.\u00a0 Keep someone with him round the clock, Ben. \u00a0I will check back tomorrow.\u00a0 Do your best to keep getting some fluids into him.\u00a0 When I come back tomorrow we will see to those scratches to make sure they haven\u2019t infected.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben looked over to where Paul was now closing his medical bag, readying to leave.\u00a0 \u201cDo you think, perhaps, that the boy injured his head in the fall?\u201d<\/p>\n Paul sighed wearily and shook his head before responding.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t see any evidence of that, Ben.\u00a0 I checked him over pretty good.\u00a0 Until we can talk to the boy–so that he understands and can respond, we won\u2019t know what has caused this trauma.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks for coming out, Paul,\u201d Ben said and tried to muster a smile to send the doctor on his way.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t get discouraged, see you all tomorrow,\u201d the doctor replied and left the bedroom.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n Hop Sing forcibly insisted that Ben and the two oldest sons leave Joe\u2019s room a little while after the doctor\u2019s departure.\u00a0 He could tell that they all were emotionally spent and decided that he alone would watch Joe for a while.\u00a0 After taking the time to set out a hearty dinner, Hop Sing changed places with Ben and shooed the others out of Joe\u2019s bedroom so that they could eat and relax some.<\/p>\n Ben and his two sons settled down into the living room after eating their meal.\u00a0 There was a long silence that hung over the room, each man trying to think of what the next move should be.\u00a0 It was Hoss who finally spoke up first.<\/p>\n \u201cThat trapper—the one I told you about, Pa?\u00a0 Maybe Adam and me could go out and find him.\u00a0 This late in the season he\u2019s probably up in the north woods.\u00a0 What do you think?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss asked.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat trapper? What are you talking about?\u201d\u00a0 Adam jumped into the conversation.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry—we were so busy with Joe—Hoss remembered that he and Joe ran into this trapper a few years back.\u00a0 Hoss said that the man told them both a story about something called the devil\u2019s hold.\u00a0 He thinks maybe that\u2019s what is haunting your little brother\u2019s mind for some reason.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was the story?\u201d\u00a0 Adam asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t remember exactly–that\u2019s why I thought–well you and me could go and find him.\u00a0 Think his name was Flint—traps around these parts and over by Truckee meadow too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot Flint Buckley?\u201d\u00a0 Adam replied and stared over at Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah—that was him.\u00a0 You know him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but I always thought he was a couple bricks shy of a load myself,\u201d Adam remarked and then saw the frown set in on his father\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cI mean—I could be wrong mind you–but I remember hearing some of his tales over at the Bucket of Blood years ago.\u00a0 He would fall in there about three times a year and have stranger stories each time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou think you can find him?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked his eldest son, knowing that the trapper might hold their only clue as to what was wrong with Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cThat won\u2019t be a problem–looks like luck is on our side for a change!\u201d\u00a0 Adam smiled over at his father and stood and headed towards the credenza.\u00a0 Hoss stood and approached his brother as he began to strap on his holster.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u00a0 Where you going?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just saw old Flint in town today—when I went to fetch the doctor back here.\u00a0 Now, he might need a bit of sobering up by the time we get to him–but I bet you we can persuade him to come out here.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss did not respond in words, instead he reached for his holster and his hat.\u00a0 \u201cBe back soon, Pa!\u201d he called over to his father as he reached for the door.\u00a0 Both Adam and Hoss left for Virginia City.<\/p>\n ******************************<\/p>\n The grandfather clock in the living room chimed eleven times and Ben stood from his chair and stretched.\u00a0 He had unknowingly fallen asleep due to the long exhausting day and the worry over what was going on with Joe.\u00a0 Hearing the sound of boot steps coming towards the front door, Ben headed across the room to find out if it was his sons returning from town at last.<\/p>\n Pulling the door forward Ben smiled to see that his sons had not come back empty handed.\u00a0 Walking towards their father with Flint sandwiched between them were Hoss and Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry it took us a bit longer than we thought,\u201d Adam spoke out and directed the trapper towards the settee.<\/p>\n Ben stared over at Hoss concerned with the appearance of the man they had brought with them.\u00a0 Hoss shrugged his shoulders helplessly.\u00a0 The trapper looked to be pretty intoxicated, and his clothes were crumpled from excessive wear.\u00a0 Ben tried to dismiss the man\u2019s appearance, knowing that he had lived out in the wilderness his whole life and was not all that concerned with cleanliness.<\/p>\n \u201cNice of you all to invite me!\u201d\u00a0 Flint called over to Ben, as the patriarch resumed his former position by the fireside.\u00a0 \u201cI \u2018member your kids—good boys—all of \u2018em,\u201d Flint continued.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go bring in some coffee, we had some in town—but it looks like we could all use some more,\u201d Adam winked over to his father.\u00a0 Ben nodded, knowing his eldest boy was trying to sober the man up more so they could get the information out of him better.<\/p>\n \u201cNice to meet you, Mr. Buckley, I\u2019m Ben Cartwright,\u201d Ben addressed their guest and shook his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cCall me Flint—everyone else does,\u201d the man insisted.\u00a0 \u201cI always heard of this place and you of course—you have a fine spread, Ben!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben watched with a pained expression as the trapper stretched out his dirty boots onto the coffee table in front of him.\u00a0 If it had been Joseph, Ben would have had a pure fit, but the man there before his eyes was obviously not use to indoor living so he let the boots stay where they were for the time being.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, we are glad you came to visit.\u00a0 Hoss told me you hunt up in the north woods—and over around the Truckee—you live up there?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked to be polite, though all he really wanted to hear about was what in the heck a devil\u2019s hold was.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, got me a lean-to right by Snake Crick, not much to speak of–but I like it fine.\u00a0 Don\u2019t get much company up that way–kinda nice to sit and talk to city folk once in a while.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben held back his mirth at being called \u201ccity folk\u201d but he guessed that having a regular roof over their heads and clean clothes on their backs qualified the Cartwrights as such, in Flint\u2019s backwoods mind.<\/p>\n Adam set the tray down on the coffee table a short time later, being careful to avoid the man\u2019s boots still planted there.\u00a0 He poured their guest a cup and handed it over to him and then did the same for his father, his brother, and himself.<\/p>\n \u201cGuess I need this all right–been partying a bit too much these last two days—and the older I get the more that snake bite remedy bothers me in the morning,\u201d Flint laughed and slurped his coffee.\u00a0 The sound of the man consuming his coffee caused the three Cartwrights to wince up their faces, but they quickly recovered so they could start in on their questions.<\/p>\n \u201cSo?\u00a0 Why\u2019s exactly did you folks want to see me?\u00a0 Your boys just said you wanted to invite me over and talk.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben cleared his throat he wanted to gather his thoughts to approach the subject as delicately as he could.\u00a0 \u201cMy two youngest sons ran into you a few years back,\u201d Ben began and set down his coffee, \u201cthey were very fond of the stories you tell.\u00a0 Adam here, says he\u2019s heard some of your tales as well, and found them most interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure—I gots a million of \u2018em!\u201d\u00a0 Flint called out and handed Adam his cup for a refill.\u00a0 \u201cI been around a long time, seen many things—been up to the Oregon territory and all the way down to Mexico!\u00a0 I\u2019ve run into a lot of folks, all different and all with a story to tell me.\u00a0 You all want to hear one?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, we sure would,\u201d Hoss replied and shared a quick glance over to his father to get the go-ahead.\u00a0 Ben nodded and Hoss continued.\u00a0 \u201cHow about telling my Pa and my brother the story you told Joe and me the last time we seen you?\u00a0 You know—something about a devil\u2019s hold?\u201d<\/p>\n Flint dropped his cup from his shaking hand and the coffee spilled onto the coffee table and down onto the carpet underneath it.\u00a0 The three Cartwrights were surprised that the man seemed so rattled by just the mention of the story.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry—didn\u2019t mean to make a mess–\u201d Flint apologized as Adam made his way back into the room after grabbing a kitchen towel to mop up the spill.<\/p>\n \u201cNo problem–no problem at all,\u201d Ben said and helped his son.\u00a0 \u201cGo bring Flint in another cup, Son,\u201d Ben called to Adam as he headed back into the kitchen.<\/p>\n Filling the new coffee cup, Adam passed it over to Flint and waited for the man to explain.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, sorry—this sure is some fine coffee,\u201d Flint was doing his best to stall and the other men in the room knew it.<\/p>\n \u201cYou do remember that story, don\u2019t you, Flint?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss asked once more.<\/p>\n Flint sighed and shifted uncomfortably on the settee.\u00a0 \u201cI got plenty of stories—how about I tell you all about the Paiute ghost?\u00a0 Now that was a story!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben looked directly at the trapper and replied, \u201cIf it\u2019s all the same to you—we\u2019d really like to hear about the devil\u2019s hold.\u00a0 Hoss couldn\u2019t really remember the story—we were hoping you could tell it to us.\u201d<\/p>\n Flint stared intently into Ben\u2019s questioning eyes and frowned.\u00a0 \u201cJust \u2018cause I\u2019m from the woods don\u2019t mean I ain\u2019t got no smarts.\u00a0 You all ask me out here, in the middle of the night, and then want me to tell you that story.\u00a0 You\u2019d all better tell me why or I\u2019m leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Flint?\u00a0 Some reason you don\u2019t want to tell it to us?\u201d\u00a0 Adam asked innocently.\u00a0 He could read the fear on the trapper\u2019s face that had not been there before the mention by Hoss of the devil\u2019s hold.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah I got me some reasons—a whole pack of \u2018em—now you want to spill the beans or do I leave?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded towards the man, \u201cWe weren\u2019t trying to rile you, Flint, and yes–you are right–we specifically asked you to come out here to tell us that story.\u00a0 We meant no harm, and I am sorry that we didn\u2019t come right out with our intentions.\u00a0 Something has happened to my youngest son, Joseph.\u00a0 You remember the boy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, remember him real well, a skinny kid—got a bright smile and a strange laughter!\u201d\u00a0 Flint recalled his meeting with Joe years earlier.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong—what\u2019s happened to him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe fell into an old well the other day Joe was down there for a long while.\u00a0 We dug another hole and tunneled across to get to him–but he was gone.\u00a0 It was as if he vanished completely.\u00a0 We had just about given him up for dead—but he showed up the next day–coming out of a cave a mile away.\u00a0 We have no idea how he got there—and the boy can\u2019t tell us.\u00a0 All he keeps saying—over and over again–is two words; devil\u2019s hold,\u201d Ben finished his recital and noticed the look of recognition on the trapper\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cYou got anything a little stronger than this here coffee in the house?\u201d\u00a0 Flint asked, his voice strained with fear.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll tell you what I know–but only if I have something to settle my nerves!\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss walked over to his father\u2019s study and opened the liquor cabinet.\u00a0 He brought a decanter of brandy with him over to the trapper.\u00a0 Flint held out his coffee cup and Hoss poured the expensive liquor, filling it up to the rim.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks,\u201d Flint nodded and took a few long sips and then looked back over to Ben, who was waiting as patiently as he could.\u00a0 \u201cYour boy—did he have any scratches on him?\u201d<\/p>\n The three Cartwrights exchanged surprised glances.\u00a0 \u201cYes, Joseph was covered with deep scratches—all over him—deep gouges!\u201d\u00a0 Ben replied, now starting to believe the man might truly know something about what had happened.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about the sign—does he have the sign too?\u201d\u00a0 Flint continued.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat sign?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know—that star thing—don\u2019t remember what it was called—had five points.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA pentacle?\u201d Adam jumped into the conversation again.<\/p>\n \u201cGuess so, think that\u2019s the word.\u00a0 Does he have it?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shrugged his shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cNo, just bruises and scratches, and is in shock.\u00a0 You better tell us what you know so we can figure out what has happened,\u201d Ben said getting a bit upset now.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay–okay I\u2019ll tell you folks.\u00a0 I\u2019ll tell you what I heard then I\u2019ll tell you what I saw myself,\u201d Flint stood now and started pacing in front of the fireplace.\u00a0 All eyes fell to him, eagerly waiting for the tale that was about to be finally revealed to them.<\/p>\n \u201cI first heard about the devil\u2019s hold back when I was trapping up in Oregon. There\u2019s a couple different stories about this thing, and they all vary just a tad. But, basically what we are talking about is a hole—a hole in the ground–that when someone falls into it they end up being pulled into the devil\u2019s hold.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what is the devil\u2019s hold–what does it mean?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss fired back at the man.\u00a0 He could just barely remember what the trapper had told him years ago about the story.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, it means a couple of things—one of course—that the devil himself gets a hold of you.\u00a0 You know–devil\u2019s hold?\u00a0 Well, then some folks take it as a place, like an opening to Hades itself!\u00a0 There\u2019s demons, fire, you know—the whole Bible thing!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s preposterous!\u201d\u00a0 Ben stood and shook his head.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want to even think about such a possibility.<\/p>\n \u201cYou believe in God don\u2019t you?\u201d\u00a0 Flint argued, turning to face Ben head on.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course I do!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell–then—you gotta believe in the devil too!\u00a0 And this is a fact, not just a legend, Ben.\u00a0 I ought to know—I\u2019ve seen what happens to a man when he falls into the devil\u2019s hold,\u201d the trapper announced, and Ben could now read in his eyes that he was being totally honest.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me,\u201d Ben whispered and sank down into his chair.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you know–told you that I heard about this—many years before I actually witnessed it for myself.\u00a0 Heard all kinds of stories about folks falling into holes—all over—supposedly these kinds of holes are all over the earth.\u00a0 They are supposed to be entryways into Hell.\u00a0 Once a feller falls in he never comes out the same as he was.\u00a0 Devil grabs him, tortures him and tries to grab his soul,\u201d Flint explained as he helped himself to more of the brandy.<\/p>\n \u201cYou said you knew someone—who had fallen into this devil\u2019s hold thing?\u00a0 Who?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n \u201cReckon I left that part out when I told you and your little brother the story a few years back.\u00a0 I just told you boys about the devil\u2019s hold but I never told you about Hutch.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHutch?\u201d Ben questioned the man further.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was my cousin, was also my best friend.\u00a0 Like a brother he was!\u00a0 We grew up together and from the time we wuz kids we trapped varmints together all over this country.\u00a0 One day, it\u2019s been like un to ten years now—he fell in a hole.\u00a0 It was over not far from Lake Tahoe–over on the California side \u2018bout two miles from the shore we wuz that day.\u00a0 I heard him shout and then he was gone!\u00a0 I found the hole all right–even sent down a rope.\u00a0 But, nothing—and no way to get him out either.\u00a0 I got me some fellers from the closest logging camp to help me rescue Hutch.\u00a0 Never found him.\u00a0 I went down a rope all the way to the bottom–no Hutch no where!\u00a0 So, I give him up for dead.\u00a0 Then, \u2018bout two nights later there he come–wandering into my camp.\u00a0 He was all scratched up–looked like he had been in a fight with a mountain lion or something!\u00a0 I helped doctor him up—bad gashes on him I tell you!\u00a0 But, they didn\u2019t rightly look like any regular claw marks I\u2019d ever seen.\u00a0 And believe me—being a trapper I know my varmints!\u00a0 Worst of all though, he never talked—not for the first couple of days at least.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened when he finally started to talk–did he tell you what happened?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked hopefully.<\/p>\n Flint shook his head sadly, \u201cNo sir—he could only say two words—devil\u2019s hold.\u00a0 He said it once–he said it a million times.\u00a0 Now I was so worried about him—I had to force him to eat to drink–you name it!\u00a0 It was like he was an empty shell, you know?\u00a0 I even packed up and took him into Carson City–to that doctor there.\u00a0 He just said he couldn\u2019t see nothing really wrong with him.\u00a0 But, when he done his examination—well that\u2019s when he saw the sign.\u00a0 That pentacle thing you just called it, Adam.\u00a0 Doc there was plumb spooked by it too, I tell you!\u00a0 Said he thought it was the sign of the devil.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened—I mean to Hutch?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss asked, horrified by all he had been told.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I decided I\u2019d just take care of him–you know—he was my partner and my kin.\u00a0 So, I watched him all the time.\u00a0 He weren\u2019t much good to help trap no more–but I brought him along with me—afraid to leave him alone you know?\u00a0 He never spoke anything else—not till he died.\u00a0 Just kept saying \u201cdevil\u2019s hold\u201d.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe died?\u201d\u00a0 Ben choked out.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah—walked out of camp one night–real late like—I was sound asleep.\u00a0 Found him the next morning,\u201d Flint paused again and hoisted down another swallow of the brandy.\u00a0 Everyone could tell that he was still very hurt over the loss of his friend, even ten years later.<\/p>\n \u201cFound him?\u00a0 What happened to him?\u201d\u00a0 Ben urged the man on.<\/p>\n \u201cDone a Judas—went out and took off his belt and hung himself on a tree.\u00a0 Sad–sad thing.\u00a0 Never get over it—wish I had never closed my eyes that night.\u00a0 Blame myself for it.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben reached over and poured some brandy into his own coffee cup.\u00a0 His nerves were now as shot as the trapper.\u00a0 He looked over at his two sons and saw how their faces went pale after hearing the story Flint had just told.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry to shake you all like I done—but if your boy fell into the devil\u2019s hold–ain\u2019t nothing that nobody can do for him now, sorry to say,\u201d Flint remarked.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat were you saying about that sign?\u00a0 Your cousin Hutch—where\u2019d he have it?\u201d\u00a0 Adam spoke up, not knowing if the man before them all was out of his head or not.<\/p>\n \u201cDidn\u2019t see it right away—he wuz cut up so bad–guess it kinda blended in between the bruises and scratches.\u00a0 Doc spotted it.\u00a0 \u00a0It was under the hair on the back of his neck.\u00a0 Wouldn\u2019t come off neither—I tried to scrub it off you know?\u00a0 I thought that if I could make that sign disappear that Hutch would come back to his right mind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph doesn\u2019t have that mark—we doctored him and didn\u2019t see it,\u201d Ben replied adamantly.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he\u2019s been in the devil\u2019s hold—he\u2019ll have it–trust me!\u201d\u00a0 Flint argued and then stood and headed for the door.\u00a0 \u201cSorry—all this talk has got me kinda shaken—think I\u2019ll just head on back to town.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben strode over towards the door briskly before the man could leave.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry that we upset you, Flint.\u00a0 I\u2019m also sorry about your cousin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s okay—just sorry I can\u2019t help you folks.\u00a0 There ain\u2019t nothing to do–once Satan grabs you–you\u2019re finished,\u201d the man said and then felt bad that he had been so blunt.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll say a prayer for your boy.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben opened the door and let the man move out onto the porch.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks for coming,\u201d Ben called as he watched the trapper hurry to his horse.\u00a0 Turning back into the living room the worried father noticed the looks on his son\u2019s faces.\u00a0 \u201cSo?\u00a0 You believe anything that man said?\u201d\u00a0 He asked as he moved over towards the two of them.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t know, Pa—sure sounded a whole lot like what happened to Little Joe—I mean the scratches—the disappearance—then Joe muttering the same words and all,\u201d Hoss answered shaking his head.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you, Adam?\u201d\u00a0 Ben shot a look at his eldest and most logical son.<\/p>\n Adam shrugged his shoulders and replied, \u201cLegends are all based on some truths–but not everything matches.\u00a0 Joe doesn\u2019t have that mark on him–for one thing.\u00a0 Maybe the story just got stuck in the kid\u2019s head—and falling down that well—it might have made Joe think about it again.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sighed and looked up towards the top of the staircase.\u00a0 He had mixed emotions over what the trapper had said.\u00a0 Ben was a logical person however he had seen his share of strange things in the past.\u00a0 In fact, a whole lot of things that were a bit odd, and a great deal of them had concerned his youngest child.\u00a0 \u201cI am gonna go spell Hop Sing.\u00a0 You both go to bed.\u00a0 We\u2019ll discuss this in the morning.\u00a0 For all we know your brother might come around by then,\u201d Ben called over to his sons and tried to sound as hopeful as he could muster at the present time.\u00a0 He slowly ascended the stairs wanting to be with Joe.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n Hop Sing had spent a great deal of time with Joe that evening.\u00a0 He was concerned for the boy\u2019s well being.\u00a0 Always just as over-protective as Joe\u2019s father, Hop Sing prayed for the boy to come around and be as he had been before his fall.\u00a0 The cook turned in his chair when he spotted the weary father entering the room.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got it now, Hop Sing.\u00a0 You need to go to bed,\u201d Ben smiled and patted the Oriental\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n Hop Sing relinquished his chair to Ben and said, \u201cLittle Joe no come to yet–Hop Sing vely worried.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe will—just have to give it a little time.\u00a0 Now go on–you\u2019ve had a long day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome and get Hop Sing if you need to,\u201d Hop Sing insisted and left the room closing the door behind him.<\/p>\n Ben sank down in the chair and reached for Joe\u2019s right hand.\u00a0 He found himself to be dwelling on everything Flint had said downstairs.\u00a0 Ben turned the boy\u2019s arm over and pulled up his night shirt sleeve to take a good look.\u00a0 Feeling a bit awkward, Ben decided he had to see for himself, just to be sure there wasn\u2019t any kind of sign anywhere he hadn\u2019t looked.\u00a0 Pulling down the comforter and sheet Ben checked the front of the boy\u2019s legs.\u00a0 Everything looked normal.\u00a0 He then checked Joe\u2019s stomach and his chest, and still there was no sign.\u00a0 All Ben could see was pale skin and the long scratches that marked his boy.\u00a0 Then came the inspection of the neck and shoulders.\u00a0 Staring pensively Ben wondered if he should turn his son over or not.\u00a0 He was very concerned with waking the boy and perhaps him trying to bolt from the bed.\u00a0 Slowly and carefully, trying his best to not jostle the cast on Joe\u2019s left arm, Ben rolled his son onto his right side.\u00a0 Propping Joe with pillows in front of him, Ben continued his search for the sign the trapper had mentioned.\u00a0 He pulled back the curly hair which hung down past the nape of the boy\u2019s neck and was relieved that there was no mark on his son found there.\u00a0 Ben took a good look at Joe\u2019s back and moved down to his legs and feet.\u00a0 The worried father shook his head, feeling rather idiotic for even thinking that his son had in some way been marked with a demonic sign.\u00a0 There were no markings anywhere other than the bruises and deep gouges.<\/p>\n Ben decided to leave Joe in his current position on his side, for fear of waking him if he moved the boy again.\u00a0 Pulling up the sheet and comforter, Ben brushed his hand through the boy\u2019s hair and whispered, \u201cSorry, Son—I had to be sure.\u00a0 You rest easy.\u201d<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n It had been a long week since Joe had been brought back from the cave and his family had no luck in finding anything more about what had happened to him when he had fallen into the well.\u00a0 Doctor Martin was very confused about the scratches which the boy still wore, none of which appeared to be healing in any way.\u00a0 They weren\u2019t infecting either, the wounds looked just as fresh as they had that first day Joe had been found.\u00a0 The doctor had never seen anything like it before, not in his thirty- plus years as a medical man.\u00a0 Paul had spoken in length with the other Cartwrights and had even heard their rendition of the story that the trapper had told.\u00a0 He did not believe a word of it.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t as if Paul had not seen strange things in the past, most especially dealing with his most often patient; Joe Cartwright.\u00a0 And, it wasn\u2019t that Paul did not believe in the existence of the devil either.\u00a0 It was the fact that he thought that Joe\u2019s condition was more of a medical one, and not one based on the supernatural.<\/p>\n Standing in the living room of the ranch house, Paul addressed Ben after he had once again examined Joe.\u00a0 He could read in the man\u2019s eyes the concern and exhaustive worry that had taken over.\u00a0 \u201cNow, Ben, don\u2019t go getting frustrated again!\u00a0 Joe could snap out of this at any time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what about his wounds?\u00a0 Why aren\u2019t they healing?\u00a0 And–he still isn\u2019t talking!\u201d\u00a0 Ben protested shaking his head and pacing back and forth.<\/p>\n \u201cThese things take time,\u201d Paul responded and put his hand on the man\u2019s shoulder for comfort.<\/p>\n \u201cThese things?\u00a0 What are we dealing with here?\u00a0 You admit that you have no idea what happened to Joseph—and I have no idea!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen—you are just worried about that story that Flint told you.\u00a0 Now, you have to put that out of your mind for your own good!\u00a0 Nothing\u2019s to be gained from believing that crazy story.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWas it crazy, Paul?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked the man, his face showing great strain now to be asking such a question.<\/p>\n \u201cBen—Joseph fell down a well—somehow he found his way–perhaps a crevice—a tunnel–something—into a cave.\u00a0 He broke his arm from the fall—most likely he also got scratched from the fall and the climb out too.\u00a0 There\u2019s nothing supernatural about that,\u201d Paul tried to offer his best explanation.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy aren\u2019t his wounds healing?\u00a0 And why can\u2019t he speak–other than those two blasted words!\u201d\u00a0 Ben reiterated.<\/p>\n Paul shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cI wish I knew.\u00a0 But, you did say that Flint\u2019s story mentioned a sign–a pentacle right?\u00a0 I\u2019ve been cleaning those wounds for a week now–checked him over thoroughly—he has no sign anywhere.\u00a0 That should make you relax now, shouldn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben frowned, he knew Paul was trying his best to ease his mind, but it wasn\u2019t working.\u00a0 He tried to accept the man\u2019s opinions, as he had for many years when concerning his sons; especially Joe.\u00a0 Paul noticed the long silence and decided he had to offer the man some hope.<\/p>\n \u201cNow—I think it would be a good thing to start getting Joe up and around.\u00a0 Just downstairs–not outside–mind you!\u00a0 Maybe it will help his circulation some—which might just help those wounds.\u00a0 Who knows?\u00a0 It might help him mentally a bit too.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sank down into his chair and folded his hands together in thought.\u00a0 \u201cWe have to tell him everything you know?\u00a0 Like–swallow the water, Joe, chew your food, Joe—it\u2019s like his mind is gone or something!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHis mind is still there, Ben.\u00a0 He has no sign of brain damage that I can detect, and his pupils check out fine.\u00a0 It\u2019s just as I told you before—a very bad case of shock.\u00a0 Now how about it?\u00a0 Why don\u2019t you get him up and about tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded and sighed, \u201cIf you think we should—we\u2019ll try whatever you suggest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood,\u201d Paul smiled and headed for the front door, \u201cI\u2019ll come out tomorrow afternoon to see how it goes.\u00a0 Now–do me a favor will you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0 Ben called across the room.<\/p>\n \u201cYou sleep in your OWN<\/strong> bed tonight, okay?\u00a0 I know that you\u2019ve been holding vigil in that boy\u2019s bedroom for days now.\u00a0 He needs you healthy, Ben, not sick from exhaustion!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will, Paul, thanks again—see you tomorrow,\u201d Ben agreed and watched as the doctor walked out of the house.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n That night Ben did as instructed and for the first time in a week, accepted Hop Sing\u2019s offer to keep watch over Little Joe so the tired father could sleep in his own room.\u00a0 He settled down under the extra blankets to ward off the chill of fall.\u00a0 Ben hoped he would be able to sleep.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t stop thinking about Joe and why he had yet to speak to him about what had happened.\u00a0 Ben so wanted to learn of his son\u2019s ordeal so he could perhaps help him over it.\u00a0 Just knowing the facts would be a great help and would also stop the awful ideas that were floating around in the family member\u2019s heads.<\/p>\n Hop Sing nodded off in his seat next to Joe\u2019s bed.\u00a0 The room was hushed and only the faint clicking of the small clock on the boy\u2019s night stand could be heard.\u00a0 Ben, across the hall, had also begun to slumber, though it had taken better than an hour to doze off.\u00a0 The door to Joe\u2019s room had been left wide open, just in case the boy awakened and was combative.\u00a0 Ben had left the door to his own room ajar as well, just in case Hop Sing needed any help tending Joe.<\/p>\n Somehow, Ben could sense the dim light from the hall\u2019s lamp pushing into his room, even though he was sound asleep at the time.\u00a0 Rolling from his side onto his back, Ben cast a squinty eyed glance towards his doorway.\u00a0 Thinking he was dreaming, Ben rubbed his eyes with his fists and looked once more.\u00a0 He was not dreaming after all.\u00a0 There in the doorway stood Joseph.\u00a0 Ben couldn\u2019t make out the boy\u2019s shaded facial expression but he could definitely tell it was his youngest son standing there looking in towards his father.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u201d\u00a0 Ben whispered and threw his legs to the side of his bed and grabbed his robe and eased into his slippers.\u00a0 Joe just stood there, offering no response to his father\u2019s call.\u00a0 Ben made his way over to the door and put his hands on Joe\u2019s shoulders and tried to see into his eyes, hopeful that perhaps the boy had come around.\u00a0 He sighed when he noticed that Joe still wore the same blank stare, but there were tears glistening in the boy\u2019s eyes this time.\u00a0 Ben hoped that was some kind of a breakthrough.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u00a0 Are you—all right?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked, still praying for a reply.<\/p>\n \u201cDevil\u2019s hold—devil\u2019s hold,\u201d Joe whispered and seemed desperate in his few words this time.\u00a0 A tear slid down from each of the boy\u2019s eyes, and the sight stabbed at his father\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n Ben pulled his son into an embrace and closed his eyes, feeling at a total loss as to what to do.\u00a0 This was the first time that Joe had made it out of his bed, and Ben was glad that he hadn\u2019t harmed himself in doing so.\u00a0 He had to wonder how the boy ended up there at his door.\u00a0 Ben hoped that meant that Joe still knew where to go to address his fears, just as he had numerous times when he was a small child and had awakened from a nightmare.\u00a0 Maybe it was a good sign?\u00a0 Ben thought to himself as he stroked the back of the boy\u2019s head and could feel the chill to Joe\u2019s skin when his hand drifted to the nape of his neck.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re freezing—let\u2019s get you warm,\u201d Ben whispered and led his son over to his own bed and encouraged him to sit down.\u00a0 Joe obeyed his father\u2019s direction, no longer combative like he had been earlier in the day.\u00a0 The troubled father sat with his back resting against the headboard and slowly eased Joe back so that he was resting on his shoulder.\u00a0 He pulled up the heavy blanket and nestled Joe underneath it.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s better,\u201d Ben said and held Joe there in his arms hoping that the power of his love for his child would somehow unlock the boy\u2019s mind and bring him back.\u00a0 \u201cRemember—remember all the times you\u2019ve come in here late at night, Joseph?\u00a0 When a nightmare woke you and you sought out your father?\u00a0 I know you are still aware of the fact that you can always do that.\u00a0 I just wish you could tell me what scared you this bad,\u201d Be spoke softly to the boy.\u00a0 He reached for a pillow to prop under his son\u2019s left arm to ease the burden of the heavy plaster cast and hoped for a reply again.\u00a0 Joe answered in the only way he could at the time.\u00a0 The frightened boy reached with his right hand and locked it on the soft lapel of Ben\u2019s robe.\u00a0 It was a signal, and his father knew it.\u00a0 In that one simple gesture he was letting his pa know that he needed him to help him, just as he had done so many times when he was a little boy.\u00a0 Ben reached over and stroked his son\u2019s cheek and felt the tears which were still drifting from Joe\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cI want to help you, Son—please show me how,\u201d Ben pleaded.<\/p>\n Joe turned his head and stared directly into the warm umber eyes of his protector.\u00a0 \u201cDevil\u2019s hold—devil\u2019s hold—Pa–\u201d Joe whispered as tears slid down his cheeks.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s heart skipped a beat to hear that one added word to Joe\u2019s normal soliloquy.\u00a0 Hearing him say \u201cPa\u201d meant so many things at the time.\u00a0 Though it had not unlocked the boy\u2019s mind to reveal what hurt haunted it, it did let his father know that Joe was fully aware of whose arms he was now held in.\u00a0 Ben had to believe that it was a start, something tangible that he could think of as progress at last.<\/p>\n Before Ben could respond, Joe sank back down into his embrace and closed his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cYou do know then—you know it\u2019s me at least–that\u2019s a start, Joseph.\u00a0 I wish I knew what you wanted me to do for you—because you know I would do anything I could for you,\u201d Ben whispered and stroked Joe\u2019s head of curls.\u00a0 It was only a few minutes later that Joe was once more fast asleep, the sound of his father\u2019s rhythmic heartbeat lulling the boy back to a place where he was safe from his fear.\u00a0 Ben closed his own eyes and allowed himself to doze off, content in the fact that his son was safe in his protective hold.<\/p>\n Hop Sing awoke hours after Joe had exited the room.\u00a0 Casting a quick look over at the vacant bed, the caretaker was panicked.\u00a0 Jumping to his feet, Hop Sing headed out into the hallway and decided to ask Ben to help him in his search for the boy.\u00a0 Pulling the door open, relief spread over the Oriental\u2019s face.\u00a0 There, slumbering soundly, were both Ben and Joe.\u00a0 Hop Sing sighed and quietly crept out of the room.\u00a0 He knew that Joe was in the best hands he could be in now.<\/p>\n Ben was the first to awaken the next morning and was surprised to find his son sleeping in the exact position he had been in when he had first dozed off the previous night.\u00a0 Not wanting to awaken the boy, nor jar the casted arm, Ben shifted his weight from underneath as carefully as he could.\u00a0 Joe never batted an eye, still snoozing soundly as his father made his way over to his wash basin to prepare for the new day.<\/p>\n Donning a fresh change of clothes, Ben ran a brush through his snowy white hair and approached the door.\u00a0 Pulling it open, he could see Hop Sing out in the hallway coming from the stairs.<\/p>\n \u201cVely sorry, Mister Ben, Hop Sing fall asleep last night.\u00a0 So happy to find Little Joe with you,\u201d Hop Sing apologized.<\/p>\n Ben patted the cook\u2019s shoulder and smiled, \u201cIt was fine—Joseph somehow found his way to my room.\u00a0 He\u2019s still sleeping soundly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI fix breakfast, Mister Adam and Mister Hoss already down at table, you go—Hop Sing watch Little Joe now,\u201d he insisted.<\/p>\n \u201cAll right, as soon as I\u2019m done we\u2019ll get him up and dressed.\u00a0 Doctor Martin wants us to get him up and around today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut—boy still ill—bad cuts still all over,\u201d Hop Sing protested the idea.<\/p>\n \u201cDoc thinks it will help—said something about helping Joe\u2019s circulation.\u00a0 It\u2019s worth a try at least,\u201d Ben sighed, not at all sure about the move either.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe—he talk last night?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell—he did call me \u201cpa\u201d guess that\u2019s a start–maybe today will be the day he tells us what\u2019s happened to him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood–now you go—breakfast get cold,\u201d Hop Sing smiled and headed into Ben\u2019s bedroom to wait for Joe to awaken.<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n Ben ate his breakfast and discussed with his two oldest sons what had gone on the previous night.\u00a0 He also informed them what he was going to try to do with their brother that day.\u00a0 After they had eaten their food, Ben urged Adam and Hoss to try to get back to normal as far as the running of the ranch was concerned.\u00a0 Reluctantly the two men agreed to go about their business and tend to needed fencing repairs along with bringing back some household supplies from Virginia City.<\/p>\n With Hoss and Adam on their way out to get their chores accomplished, Ben headed back upstairs to see what he could do with his youngest son.\u00a0 He walked into the bedroom and noticed that Joe was wide awake and Hop Sing was having a time at trying to keep him in bed.\u00a0 Joe was starting to get combative, just as he had been for days and especially upon awakening.<\/p>\n \u201cHold on there, Joseph!\u00a0 You settle down now,\u201d Ben called out and switched places with Hop Sing, who was having trouble holding Joe back.<\/p>\n Joe looked up into his father\u2019s eyes and cried out, \u201cDevil\u2019s hold!\u201d\u00a0 Then he grabbed Ben\u2019s shoulder and pulled up from the bed trying to escape.<\/p>\n Ben locked his hands tightly around the boy\u2019s shoulders and held him there.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s all right –now you just relax.\u00a0 We\u2019re gonna let you get out of this room in just a minute,\u201d Ben tried to keep a calm tone to his voice.\u00a0 \u201cHop Sing—will you bring in Joe\u2019s clothes?\u00a0 He can get dressed in here and then we\u2019ll all go downstairs for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing stared over at Ben and was not sure if he should leave the man alone with Joe.\u00a0\u00a0 He had noticed ever since Joe\u2019s accident that the boy\u2019s strength had tripled.\u00a0 \u201cNot leave while Little Joe so upset!\u201d\u00a0 Hop Sing argued.<\/p>\n Ben cast a hard glance towards the cook and replied, \u201cI\u2019ve got him—go on and get his clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing hurried into the room across the hall to gather up what they would need.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want to take any more time than he had to in doing the task, still wondering if Ben had the situation in full control.<\/p>\n Ben sat down on the side of the bed and eased Joe next to him, his arm holding the boy\u2019s shoulders tight, but trying his best not to harm his injury.\u00a0 \u201cNow—we\u2019re gonna get you all dressed and downstairs, Joseph.\u00a0 You need to move around some so you can get to feeling better.\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing came back into the room, his arms loaded down with a change of clothes as well as the boy\u2019s boots.\u00a0 \u201cGot what we need—now what we do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m letting you loose, Joseph—now you help us with this, will you?\u201d\u00a0 Ben tried for a smile to ease his son into the idea.\u00a0 He could still read the terror all over his son\u2019s face, and could not understand the reason for it.\u00a0 Ben pulled his arm away from Joe and the boy stayed on the bed.\u00a0 Hop Sing drew closer and helped to pull Joe\u2019s nightshirt off.\u00a0 It took both of them to maneuver the material up over Joe\u2019s head and past the plastered arm, but they accomplished it quickly.\u00a0 Hop Sing held out Joe\u2019s pants towards him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou slip leg in here,\u201d Hop Sing said to Joe and the boy just stared blankly at him.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe—come on–lift your foot up—that\u2019s it–slip it in the leg of your trousers–\u201dBen encouraged his son.\u00a0 It took quite a while to get the process done, but finally Joe had his pants, socks and boots on.\u00a0 Hop Sing held out the shirt to Ben and he sized up the plaster cast.\u00a0 \u201cNo, this won\u2019t work—wait I have an idea,\u201d Ben paused and stared into his son\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cJoe—I\u2019m going to go get you a shirt to fit over that arm–now don\u2019t move for a minute!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stood from the bed, keeping a watchful eye on Joe as he headed towards his bureau.\u00a0 He quickly grabbed one of his shirts and walked back to the bed.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s see if one of mine will work over that cast, Hop Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing held the right sleeve out and said, \u201cPut arm inside, Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stared back over at his father and noticed the man nodding over towards him.\u00a0 Joe slowly pushed his arm through the sleeve and Ben reached around behind him to pull the other side over to the casted arm.\u00a0 The added width of his father\u2019s shirt allowed Joe to push his arm through the left sleeve.\u00a0 Ben sighed glad to have that chore over with.\u00a0 Hop Sing reached over in an attempt to button the shirt and Joe jerked back, scared by the sudden motion.<\/p>\n \u201cDevil\u2019s hold!\u201d\u00a0 Joe screamed and pulled his body to the other side of the bed.<\/p>\n Hop Sing and Ben exchanged frustrated glances over what had just happened.\u00a0 Following Joe\u2019s move to the side of the bed, Ben reached towards his son.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe—-go ahead—you button up the shirt–go on–you can do it,\u201d Ben urged him onward as he lined the two sides up to help assist.\u00a0 Joe reached with his right hand and slowly buttoned the shirt.\u00a0 Though it hung loosely around him, not being as broad shouldered as his father, Joe accomplished the task and was fully dressed now.<\/p>\n \u201cGood—now—let\u2019s go on downstairs, shall we?\u201d\u00a0 Ben said and reached precariously for Joe\u2019s elbow to help pull him to standing.<\/p>\n Joe would not budge.\u00a0 He sat on the bed and continued to stare blankly up into his father\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 Ben frowned he was running out of ideas on how to get Joe to go along with his plans.\u00a0 Not wanting to scare the boy by a show of force, Ben simply sat down next to him and draped his arm around Joe once more.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s okay—we\u2019ll go down there when you are ready,\u201d Ben whispered and turned his head to stare over at Hop Sing.\u00a0 \u201cHow about heating up Joe\u2019s food, Hop Sing?\u00a0 We will be down in just a minute–he\u2019s just getting his second wind.\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing nodded and left both father and son alone for the time being while he headed to prepare Joe\u2019s breakfast.\u00a0 Ben remained next to Joe waiting for some sign from him.\u00a0 When it didn\u2019t happen he decided to try to talk to him again.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe?\u00a0 You remember last night don\u2019t you?\u00a0 Remember you came in here—because you were scared of something?\u00a0 Can you tell me what that is?\u201d\u00a0 Ben coaxed his son.<\/p>\n Still Joe withheld whatever was haunting his mind, and did not respond verbally to his father.\u00a0 Ben reached for the boy\u2019s face and turned his chin to direct his full attention.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is the devil\u2019s hold, Joe?\u00a0 Why can\u2019t you tell me?\u00a0 I can\u2019t help you if you won\u2019t tell me what it is. What happened in that cave?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe showed no sign of understanding what pa had just said to him.\u00a0 His hazel eyes showed terror in them, but nothing else.\u00a0 There was no sign of recognition of what had happened the previous night nor what the fear was all about that had been tormenting him for more than a week.\u00a0 Ben shook his head in defeat and patted Joe\u2019s shoulder, signaling the boy that he was done with his questioning.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d Ben said firmly as he rose from the bed and reached down for Joe\u2019s right arm.\u00a0 He pulled Joe to standing and eased the boy over to the door.<\/p>\n Looking over at his son, who was sitting to his immediate left, Ben wondered why Joe had to be told what to do with the meal set out in front of him.\u00a0 Ben knew that Doctor Martin was of the opinion that the boy had not suffered any brain injury, but that diagnosis did little to explain why he was acting so strangely.\u00a0 Having been around others who had suffered a bout of shock, Ben really thought that Joe\u2019s case seemed very different.\u00a0 He realized that whatever had happened to his son had to have caused some deep trauma, but Ben felt there was something that they all had missed.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe?\u00a0 You need to eat,\u201d Ben restated for what was the third time.\u00a0 When the boy still just sat there looking blankly, Ben reached over and pushed a bit of scrambled eggs onto Joe\u2019s fork and handed it to him.\u00a0 Joe took the fork in his right hand and slowly raised it to his mouth.\u00a0 His motions were slow and almost exaggerated as he chewed the eggs.\u00a0 Ben shook his head, wondering just how long the boy would be like he was now.\u00a0 \u201cHere,\u201d Ben paused and handed Joe a cup of coffee, \u201cwhy don\u2019t you wash those eggs down with some coffee?\u00a0 It\u2019s cooled off now.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe took the cup and brought it up to his lips.\u00a0 He took just a few sips and then as he lowered the cup he stared down into his reflection in the dark brown liquid.\u00a0 The face reflected back at him was not his own.\u00a0 Joe screamed and dropped the coffee cup, the contents splashing across the table.\u00a0 Pushing his chair back with him, Joe fought to get away from the vision he had seen.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u201d\u00a0 Ben yelled perplexed over what his son had just done.\u00a0 Standing, Ben tried to wipe away some of his son\u2019s coffee from off his own arm where it had splashed.\u00a0 Joe had moved back against the wall terrified.\u00a0 \u201cWhat happened?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked and then felt a bit foolish to be asking the question.\u00a0 Joe did not reply, he just stayed where he was, visibly shaken.<\/p>\n Hop Sing had heard the crash of the coffee cup and hurried into the dining room.\u00a0 \u201cWhat wrong!\u201d\u00a0 He shouted over to Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cI have no clue,\u201d Ben replied, shrugging his shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cSomething scared Joe again—he was drinking his coffee and–\u201d Ben stopped in mid- sentence and reached for his son.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph—it\u2019s okay–you are safe.\u00a0 Don\u2019t you understand?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDevil\u2019s hold,\u201d Joe whispered, but this time he pointed towards the table.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t understand—what are you pointing at?\u201d\u00a0 Ben pleaded for an answer.\u00a0 He followed Joe\u2019s gaze and found it to be directly focused on the coffee cup.\u00a0 \u201cYou were just drinking your coffee—and–\u201d Ben stopped again and thought on the situation.\u00a0 \u201cWas it your reflection?\u00a0 Is that what spooked you so much?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe didn\u2019t move or respond this time.\u00a0 Ben thought he needed to test his theory.\u00a0 He walked over to the cook and whispered something to him.\u00a0 Hop Sing walked into the study to retrieve a framed mirror that hung over the chair by Ben\u2019s desk.\u00a0 He handed the mirror over to Ben, who turned back towards his son.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe?\u00a0 Look at this for a minute will you?\u201d\u00a0 Ben whispered and then held the mirror up in front of his son\u2019s face.\u00a0 Ben watched as the most horrifying facial expression took over the boy and Joe pushed the mirror back abruptly and ran into the living room.<\/p>\n Ben turned back towards Hop Sing, who had his mouth now hanging wide open in surprise.<\/p>\n \u201cReflection scare Little Joe—but why?\u201d\u00a0 Hop Sing asked quietly.<\/p>\n Ben shook his head and handed the mirror back to the cook.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know—I guess only Joe can tell us that.\u201d<\/p>\n Walking over towards the fireplace where his son stood, still shaking from what he had seen, Ben put his hand on the boy\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph—I\u2019m sorry–sorry I frightened you–but I have to know what is scaring you.\u00a0 Please talk to me!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe moved away from his father\u2019s touch and sat down on the coffee table and covered his face with his hands.\u00a0 \u201cDevil\u2019s hold,\u201d Joe whispered his tone desperate and feeling so terrified that tears began to leave his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t do that again, Son, I\u2019m sorry,\u201d Ben replied and sat down next to Joe and waited for him to calm down.<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n The exasperating morning led in to an equally exasperating afternoon for Ben.\u00a0 Joe was totally non-responsive and it was grating on the worried father\u2019s nerves.\u00a0 For a long while Joe simply sat on the coffee table entranced by the flames leaping from the logs in the fireplace.\u00a0 Lunch had gone no better than breakfast had, with Ben once again having to tell Joe what to do regarding his food.\u00a0 Ben tried to work on some paperwork over in his den, all the while keeping a trained eye towards Joe.<\/p>\n Doctor Martin came out late in the afternoon and examined Joe up in the boy\u2019s bedroom.\u00a0 Leaving him there in Hop Sing\u2019s care, Paul walked with Ben to the front door.<\/p>\n \u201cSo his reflection scared him that bad?\u201d\u00a0 Paul asked confused by what Ben had related to him as they walked down the stairs.<\/p>\n \u201cYes—I have no idea why–all I ever hear is \u201cdevil\u2019s hold\u201d when I try to get an answer from the boy.\u00a0 Paul—those scratches—they look just as fresh as they did a week ago.\u00a0 They are not healing at all, how can that be?\u00a0 They should\u2019ve scabbed over by now—unless you think Joe has some infection going on under there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI told you yesterday—no infection—but I don\u2019t have any other answers for you, Ben.\u00a0 All I can tell you right now is to continue to watch Joe and hope he comes around.\u00a0 He\u2019s obviously more traumatized then we originally thought,\u201d Paul added and once more looked over at the concerned father before him.\u00a0 \u201cBen—I will keep coming out here every few days.\u00a0 And, I would understand it if you want to try for another doctor\u2019s opinion.\u00a0 I never said I knew everything you know?\u201d\u00a0 Paul remarked and shot a smile towards Ben to show him there were no hard feelings if the man chose to go in that direction.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul, I trust you implicitly, you know that.\u00a0 I guess we just have to wait–like you said.\u00a0 And hope.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSend for me if you need anything.\u00a0 I\u2019ll come back out on Friday,\u201d Paul said and opened the front door.<\/p>\n \u201cI will—thank you, Paul,\u201d Ben replied, trying to sound as cheerful as he could considering that he had no more knowledge of Joe\u2019s condition now than he had when he had been found.<\/p>\n ***************************<\/p>\n Each day that passed from that first day when Joe had been brought downstairs was equally frustrating for the whole family.\u00a0 Joe continued to repeat the same two words and his general health remained the same.\u00a0 Much to Doctor Martin\u2019s chagrin, the deep scratches all over the boy\u2019s body remained exactly as they had appeared on the first day he was found.\u00a0 Five weeks passed at a snail\u2019s pace, and Joe never was left alone for fear of what might happen to him.<\/p>\n There had been quite a few strange outbursts by Joe over the days and weeks since his injuries, and his family was becoming a bit numb to it all.\u00a0 Several nights Joe had made his way to his father\u2019s bedroom trying to get a message across to the man, but failing miserably.\u00a0 All Ben could do at such times was to hold the boy and wait for him to settle down.\u00a0 He was getting very concerned that there had been no further breakthrough in Joe\u2019s mental condition.\u00a0 The boy had only spoken the word \u201cpa\u201d that one night, when he first stole into Ben\u2019s room.\u00a0 From that point on all Joe would say was the typical statement of \u201cdevil\u2019s hold\u2019.<\/p>\n Ben decided that instead of summoning the doctor back to the ranch house for Joe\u2019s cast to be removed that he would drive the boy into Virginia City to have it done.\u00a0 He hoped that a change of scenery would help his son.\u00a0 Hoss and Adam rode their horses alongside the buckboard that afternoon in case their father needed some backup with their brother.<\/p>\n Tying the reins of their horses to the hitching post in front of the doctor\u2019s office, Adam and Hoss neared the buckboard.\u00a0 They watched as Ben tried patiently to explain to Joe what they were going to do.<\/p>\n \u201cHi folks!\u201d A voice came from the sidewalk and the Cartwrights turned to see Flint Buckley heading their way.\u00a0 \u201cThought I seen you all heading in here—how\u2019s the boy doing?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sighed and stared over at Joe, the man\u2019s question seemed unnecessary just looking at the boy.\u00a0 Joe sat on the seat of the wagon and his eyes stared off into blankness.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry—\u201d the trapper stammered when he realized Joe was not all there.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s all right,\u201d Ben sighed and stepped down from the wagon and reached for Joe\u2019s elbow to coax him down alongside of him.<\/p>\n Flint walked over to Hoss and whispered, \u201cEver find that sign?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben heard what the man had said and turned around, his face showing the strain of all the family had gone through.\u00a0 \u201cHe had no sign!\u201d\u00a0 Ben replied harshly and put his arm around Joe\u2019s shoulder and headed into the doctor\u2019s office.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry—I didn\u2019t mean to rile your pa,\u201d Flint apologized.<\/p>\n Hoss patted the man on the shoulder and tried to make up for his father\u2019s outburst.\u00a0 \u201cPa\u2019s just mad at the situation–not you, Flint.\u00a0 It\u2019s been kinda rough you know?\u201d<\/p>\n Flint nodded and his face showed sadness when he responded.\u00a0 \u201cOh yeah—I know all right.\u00a0 But, if the kid really ain\u2019t got that mark–then maybe he\u2019s not lost–you know like Hutch?\u00a0 I mean–maybe that means something?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope so,\u201d Hoss nodded and turned towards Adam.\u00a0 \u201cWe better get in to help Pa—Doc\u2019s cutting off that cast today and Joe might get scared again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah—he sure scares easily anymore,\u201d Adam replied and stepped up on the planked walkway.<\/p>\n \u201cSee you later, Flint–maybe buy you a beer before we leave–how \u2018bout it?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss asked, feeling like the man deserved the courtesy for trying to help them earlier.<\/p>\n \u201cSounds good—be over at the Bucket of Blood yonder!\u201d\u00a0 Flint called and headed across the street.<\/p>\n Doc Martin had everything ready to remove the plaster cast.\u00a0 He was deeply concerned when he removed Joe\u2019s shirt in preparation for the process of cutting the heavy coating and freeing the boy\u2019s arm.\u00a0 He could still see the fresh gouges that Joe wore on his chest and going down his back.\u00a0 In all his years as a medical man, he had never seen a case like that, where a wound would not heal in any way.\u00a0 Paul tried to look not quite so troubled so that the family would not catch on to his confusion; they were worried enough already.<\/p>\n \u201cNow–Young Man\u2014are you ready to get that arm free finally?\u201d Paul asked and smiled up at Joe who was sitting on the examination table.\u00a0 Joe sat quietly and never even blinked when asked the question.\u00a0 Paul gathered his instruments and began to slowly cut parts of the cast away.\u00a0 Ben stood right next to his son, letting his hand fall to Joe\u2019s shoulder to offer his support.\u00a0 After ten minutes of precision cutting, Paul had the whole cast off and prepared to remove the sutures.\u00a0 He had worried about not getting them out sooner, but the break was so bad that he didn\u2019t dare remove the cast any earlier fearing the set to move.\u00a0 Paul soaked the knots of the stitches and with tweezers and a bit of prodding was able to get them all out with no trouble.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s get this washed down good now.\u00a0 You have all of this plaster residue on your arm,\u201d Doc stated casually and brought over a basin.<\/p>\n \u201cHow does it look, Paul?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked, concerned over the outcome of the set.<\/p>\n \u201cLooks good so far,\u201d Paul mumbled and started washing Joe\u2019s arm carefully.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s gonna be stiff for a bit—but looks like–\u201d Paul stopped abruptly.\u00a0 His eyes showed a mixture of fear and disbelief.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked, releasing his hold on Joe\u2019s shoulder and moving to the other side of the examination table.\u00a0 Before Paul could answer verbally, Ben got a look at what the doctor had just noticed.\u00a0 \u201cNo!\u201d\u00a0 Ben gasped and stared down at his son\u2019s forearm.<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam moved quickly over to their father and brother, wondering what the two men had seen.\u00a0 There on the underside of Joe\u2019s left forearm was a very visible five pointed star.<\/p>\n \u201cDevil\u2019s hold,\u201d Joe muttered, as if to answer the question himself.<\/p>\n Doctor Martin headed over to his cabinet and drew out some rubbing alcohol and brought it back to Joe.\u00a0 He began to scrub the whole area where the strange star appeared.\u00a0 No matter how hard he rubbed at it, it stayed just as dark and wouldn\u2019t change in appearance.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss shared a woeful glance and then looked to their father, who stood speechless.\u00a0 Finally, surrendering to the notion that the mark could not be rubbed off, Paul turned and spoke to Ben, forcing calm to his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cBen, maybe it would be a good thing for Joe to go outside with his brothers for a minute so you and I can talk?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded and turned to his eldest son, \u201cAdam, you and Hoss take Joseph out to the buckboard.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be out in a couple of minutes.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, Little Brother,\u201d Hoss urged Joe down from the table and threw his arm around the boy\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 The three brothers left closing the door to the examining room behind them.<\/p>\n After a few minutes of very awkward silence, Paul started the conversation.\u00a0 \u201cBen, I\u2019m afraid I am way out of my league now.\u00a0 My diagnosis may not have been entirely correct this time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll these weeks–\u201d Ben started, trying to stop the rapid beating of his heart by drawing in a deep breath, \u201cwe were sure that the story Flint told us had nothing really to do with what happened to the boy.\u00a0 I just figured that the story Joe had heard was locked inside his mind–causing this.\u00a0 Now—\u201d Ben stopped once more and shook his head sadly.<\/p>\n Paul put his hand on Ben\u2019s arm and said, \u201cI wish I could tell you something that would help right now, Ben, but I have no idea how to fix the problem this time.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen just about everything imaginable over the years—and some pretty strange things concerning Joe for that matter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know—like last year,\u201d Ben paused as his thoughts went back to another strange event in his youngest son\u2019s life.\u00a0 \u201cJoe went through a rough time with that precognition stuff—that was a bit bizarre in itself.\u00a0 But, nothing this bad–nothing that left him like a scared shell of his former self.\u00a0 And now—to have that mark–not to mention those wounds that won\u2019t go away.\u00a0 What do you think we are dealing with, Paul?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not sure if it\u2019s a physician that you need this time—perhaps someone in the clergy is more called for now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou think a minister might be able to help?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked surprised that Paul was really giving up on his favorite patient.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s worth a try.\u00a0 Maybe you should just try talking to Reverend Hastings—just tell him what\u2019s gone on.\u00a0 Perhaps he could offer some suggestions?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben frowned.\u00a0\u00a0 He was beginning to think that Joe was beyond everyone\u2019s help now.\u00a0 The warnings from the trapper haunted his thoughts.\u00a0 He remembered the man saying that once the devil had a hold of a person there was no getting free.<\/p>\n While Ben and Paul continued their conversation and went over what the next plan of action would be, Adam and Hoss stood outside of the office with their little brother.\u00a0 Joe stood next to the buckboard and stared blankly, his gaze traveling to places unseen by the others.\u00a0 A few minutes later, a voice sounded out loudly and Hoss and Adam turned to see one of Joe\u2019s worst enemies heading down the walk towards them.<\/p>\n \u201cHey!\u00a0 Haven\u2019t seen old \u201cspooky\u201d Cartwright in a while!\u00a0 How you been, Boy?\u201d\u00a0 Pete Timmons addressed his call towards Joe.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter, Spooky?\u00a0 Cat got your tongue—or is that devil this time?\u201d\u00a0 Pete laughed.<\/p>\n Hoss grabbed the man by the shoulders and stared down into his eyes, showing his immense displeasure with what the man had said.\u00a0 \u201cYou want to keep those pretty white teeth you\u2019d better shut up, Timmons!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss warned furiously.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, you boys look awfully glum!\u201d\u00a0 Pete continued, totally offering caution to the wind.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s old Spooky done now?\u00a0 Did he get a hold of another magical medallion?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShut up—last warning!\u201d\u00a0 Adam called over to the man and stepped up onto the walkway.<\/p>\n \u201cGeesh—touchy touchy–okay I\u2019m going.\u00a0 Don\u2019t like to stand around Joe long—he might turn me into a toad or something!\u201d\u00a0 Pete laughed and then felt the fist to his right cheek.\u00a0 He was knocked down off the walkway and onto the dusty road.<\/p>\n It was at that moment that Ben came out of the doctor\u2019s office and shouted towards his sons, \u201cWhat\u2019s going on here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPete was hassling Joe, Pa,\u201d Hoss explained and watched as his father stepped down next to the man lying in the road.<\/p>\n \u201cPete—I thought I settled up with you a year ago.\u00a0 You did six months at hard labor the last time you came out after my son.\u00a0 Would you like to go see Sheriff Coffee again?\u201d\u00a0 Ben spoke cold and deadly and his eyes looked piercingly at Pete.<\/p>\n Pete pulled himself off the ground and dusted his pants.\u00a0 He started to walk away, but when he had gotten out of the reach of the Cartwrights he turned and yelled towards them all, \u201cI told you the kid was in league with the devil—now maybe you all know it for a fact!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben had to hold Hoss\u2019s arm to prevent him from charging the man as Pete crossed the street and headed into the saloon.\u00a0 \u201cLeave it be, Son.\u00a0 We\u2019ve got to get your brother home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think I\u2019ll go over and have a little talk with Flint if that\u2019s okay with you, Pa?\u00a0 Hoss and I promised him a beer anyway.\u00a0 Can you manage Joe by yourself?\u201d\u00a0 Adam asked, still watching the slow boil Hoss was doing over all Pete had said.<\/p>\n \u201cOnly if you two promise not to get into it with Timmons.\u00a0 I have more than I can handle already,\u201d Ben sighed, exasperated over all that he had seen that afternoon.<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Pa.\u00a0 C\u2019mon, Hoss,\u201d Adam replied and reached over for Hoss to comfort him a bit.<\/p>\n \u201cSee you both at home soon.\u00a0 Come on, Joseph, let\u2019s get up in the wagon now,\u201d Ben said and reached for the boy\u2019s elbow to assist him up the step.\u00a0 Walking around to the driver\u2019s side Ben climbed up next to Joe and sent the team forward.\u00a0 Before they had gotten out of town completely, Joe suddenly grabbed his arm.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Joe?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked pulling back on the reins.<\/p>\n \u201cDevil\u2019s hold, Pa,\u201d Joe whispered and kept hold of Ben\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n Ben stared into his son\u2019s troubled eyes and his heart went out to him.\u00a0 He knew that Joe was trying his best to convey what was going on in his mind, but could only get out those few words.\u00a0 Tagging the end of his statement with the word \u201cpa\u201d only made it that much more heartbreaking for Ben.\u00a0 He felt awful that he couldn\u2019t get through to Joe any more than Joe could get through to him.\u00a0 It was at that moment that Ben decided to contact the minister the next day in the hope that he might know of something to do for the boy.\u00a0 \u201cI know, Son, I know.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go home now,\u201d Ben whispered.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n The following day Ben walked up the steps to the parish home of Reverend Philip Hastings and knocked on the door.\u00a0 He had thought on what he would say all night long, and was hoping to find some kind of an answer to Joe\u2019s problem.\u00a0 Regardless of the results of his visit, Ben, himself, felt he needed some spiritual guidance just to be able to stay strong enough for his son\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n \u201cGood afternoon, Cecilia, I was wondering if the reverend is around?\u201d Ben asked the middle aged lady who had come to the door.<\/p>\n \u201cNice to see you, Ben,\u201d she smiled up at the man, \u201cSorry to say that Reverend Hastings isn\u2019t in \u2013 won\u2019t be back until Sunday.\u00a0 He left the day before yesterday for Carson City.\u00a0 Is there anything I can do for you?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sighed sometimes he wondered why everything had to be so difficult.\u00a0 \u201cNo \u2013 I just wanted to speak to him.\u00a0 I\u2019ll see him after Sunday service, then.\u00a0 Good to see you again, Cecilia.\u201d\u00a0 Ben returned the woman\u2019s smile and turned and walked down the steps.<\/p>\n Standing on C Street, Ben wondered what he could do in the absence of the local pastor.\u00a0 His eyes followed the street down to the corner, where he spotted the white steeple of the newly built Catholic Church, Saint Teresa\u2019s.\u00a0 He knew the priest, if only casually, and decided it might be worth the effort of the downhill walk.\u00a0 Ben believed a house of God was a house of God regardless of the particular denomination.\u00a0 In fact, the Ponderosa had even donated some of the funds and materials to help build the new church.\u00a0 There was a growing Irish Catholic population, along with more Italian immigrants pouring into the area due to the Comstock wealth.\u00a0 Ben felt the need to help in whatever way he could, and that meant aiding both the funding and charity events for Saint Teresa\u2019s.<\/p>\n \u201cBen!\u201d Monsignor Fregapane grinned and bid the other man to the top steps of the church where he had been busy adding another coat of paint.\u00a0 \u201cHow nice to see you.\u00a0 So what do you think?\u00a0 Have we made an improvement on the exterior?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook the priest\u2019s outstretched hand and stepped up next to him.\u00a0 \u201cWonderful job, Father.\u00a0 How are the pews filling up?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery well thank you.\u00a0 We were pleased to have a full house of worship at the last mass.\u00a0 Now \u2013 what can I do for you?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stared down at the step, feeling a bit nervous over the subject matter he wanted to address.\u00a0 He had just about decided that coming to see the priest was a hasty thought and was going to just make up an alternate excuse for his visit and leave when Monsignor Fregapane reached out for his arm.<\/p>\n \u201cI can sense you have something that\u2019s troubling you, Ben.\u00a0 Why don\u2019t you step inside and we will speak of it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI feel a bit peculiar coming here like this —,\u201d Ben started but the priest cut him off.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy — because you\u2019re not of this faith?\u00a0 Do you think you are going over to \u201cthe other side\u201d or something?\u201d The priest asked smiling.<\/p>\n Ben laughed, and it felt good to do so after all of the stress of the past month.\u00a0 He knew from the way the priest had made his statement and by the twinkle in his eyes that he was trying to cajole the worried father into relaxing.<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 not at all.\u00a0 Yes \u2013 I\u2019d like to come in as a matter of fact, if you have the time?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI would be happy to talk to you \u2013 and stop painting for a while too!\u201d Monsignor replied and opened the doors to the church and bid Ben inside.<\/p>\n Removing his hat quickly and staring down the long aisle to the altar, Ben was awed to see how beautiful the church had been adorned.\u00a0 Monsignor signaled his guest over to one of the pews and they both sat down.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat no confessional?\u201d Ben teased feeling more at ease now.<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 I doubt you have all that much to confess anyway,\u201d The priest replied and watched as Ben\u2019s face took on a saddened appearance.\u00a0 \u201cEnough with the jokes \u2013 let\u2019s hear what is troubling you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I\u2019m about to tell you \u2013 well \u2013 it\u2019s going to sound very strange,\u201d Ben began.<\/p>\n \u201cStrange \u2013 or perhaps supernatural?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben frowned, he was now getting the impression that the priest knew a little bit about the problem already.\u00a0 \u201cWhat have you heard?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh \u2013 you know— bits and pieces \u2013 this town is small but the mouths are quite big.\u00a0 Tell me, Ben \u2013 how is Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot well \u2013 he\u2019s not well at all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI understand he fell down a well then disappeared for a short time and then he reappeared coming out of some cavern.\u00a0 I also heard that the boy can\u2019t speak.\u00a0 What else do I need to know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe speaks \u2013 but only two words, Father, the same two words time and time again, devil\u2019s hold.\u00a0 Whatever happened to him \u2013 in that well or in that cave has frightened him half to death.\u00a0 And he has wounds \u2013 all over his body that will not heal.\u00a0 On top of that \u2013 well –,\u201d Ben stopped, not sure if he should go into the part about the sign they found on Joe\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n \u201cGo on, Ben \u2013 tell me \u2013 it will go no further than my ears I can assure you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe has some sort of an image on his inner arm \u2013 looks like a pentacle.\u00a0 We had no idea it was there \u2013 his arm was in a cast for six weeks.\u00a0 Doc just took the cast off yesterday \u2013 that\u2019s when we saw it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see,\u201d Monsignor nodded and waited for Ben to continue.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just so bizarre \u2013 so totally crazy that this is happening!\u201d Ben said frustrated and angry as well.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t get him to talk I have to remind him how to do even the simplest things \u2013 like eating and dressing. \u00a0Then the wounds he has — I\u2019m just so scared that they will never heal.\u00a0 And now this sign \u2013 I am at my wit\u2019s end.\u00a0 Paul suggested I talk to Reverend Hastings but he\u2019s not in town.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPhilip is a fine man, we\u2019ve had many theological discussions recently,\u201d The priest smiled again.\u00a0 \u201cBut, I am happy that you came here today, especially since you are so troubled.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs there — is there anything you can tell me that might explain this?\u00a0 There\u2019s this trapper and he said the same thing happened to his cousin years ago.\u00a0 He said that the man ended up hanging himself to free himself from whatever this is.\u00a0 I\u2019m scared \u2013 scared for Joseph\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt amazes me \u2013 it really does.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Ben asked bewildered by the priest\u2019s sudden statement.<\/p>\n \u201cBen \u2013 you are a good God fearing man.\u00a0 You have gone out of your way to follow in the path of our Savior by helping folks.\u00a0 You helped me get this church built \u2013 even though you don\u2019t share my exact same religion.\u00a0 Someone like you \u2013 who has such deep faith in God \u2013 such a deep belief \u2013 and yet you can\u2019t force yourself to believe in the existence of Satan.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not that really,\u201d Ben argued.<\/p>\n \u201cIsn\u2019t it?\u00a0 You have turned this over to the practice of medicine and nothing has worked.\u00a0 Now, you finally turn to God for your answer.\u00a0 Do you remember when Jesus himself cast out the demons?\u00a0 There are quite a few passages concerning this very thing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell \u2013 of course \u2013 but that was centuries ago.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho was it who said there\u2019s nothing new under the sun?\u201d Monsignor asked and nodded Ben\u2019s way.\u00a0 \u201cSatan exists \u2013 oh if only that were not the case \u2013 then I wouldn\u2019t be needed near as much as I am.\u00a0 But he does.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan you \u2013 can you help?\u201d Ben was barely able to get the words out of his mouth, so fearful that the answer would be no.<\/p>\n \u201cI can try,\u201d Monsignor replied.\u00a0 \u201cThe church has several rites to help in the release of a tortured soul.\u00a0 Now there\u2019s what\u2019s called exorcism, but I am not all that sure that is necessary here.\u00a0 I am more inclined to try to use the anointing of the sick \u2013 perhaps that will be enough for your son?\u00a0 Has he a strong faith?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes \u2013 yes he does.\u00a0 That\u2019s what so surprises me that this happened to him.\u00a0 Joseph has endured many things over his short life time \u2013 and always has turned to God at such times.\u00a0 Why would Satan come after him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps it\u2019s because the others \u2013 the ones who don\u2019t believe \u2013 are of no prize to him.\u00a0 To pull a loving soul from God\u2019s hands is a challenge I am sure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy \u2013 why would God allow it?\u201d Ben asked his voice dropping to a whisper now.\u00a0 He felt awful to ask the question, but hoped for an answer to what he had wondered all the previous night.<\/p>\n \u201cBen \u2013 God doesn\u2019t promise us there will be no problems in our life \u2013 He just promises us that he will give us the strength to endure them,\u201d Monsignor replied and touched the man\u2019s arm in a show of comfort.<\/p>\n Ben nodded as he had heard his own words repeated by the priest.\u00a0 He wondered how many times he had told his sons the very statement that Monsignor had just made.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re right \u2013 I\u2019m sorry –,\u201d<\/p>\n Monsignor jumped in to alleviate Ben\u2019s feeling of guilt for having voiced the most asked question that the priest had come across in his years in the ministry.\u00a0 \u201cBen, don\u2019t feel bad \u2013even I have asked that question.\u00a0 Now \u2013 when would you like me to visit your son?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs soon as possible \u2013 when you have time of course,\u201d Ben replied, as the two men stood and approached the doors.<\/p>\n \u201cI can come tonight \u2013 that is if someone would come and take me there \u2013 I\u2019m afraid I might get turned around and lost in your wilderness.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat would be wonderful \u2013 thank you so much!\u00a0 I will send one of my sons out for you.\u00a0 Would seven be too early?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat would be fine.\u00a0 Now \u2013 I\u2019m not promising a miracle you know?\u00a0 He\u2019s the miracle worker!\u201d Monsignor pointed up to a large painting of Jesus hanging in the foyer.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll just be thankful to have you come out and visit the boy.\u00a0 Prayers are a mighty powerful cure.\u00a0 Thank you!\u201d Ben said gratefully and stepped out of the church.<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n Later that evening Ben and his sons welcomed the priest to their home.\u00a0 A bit apprehensive, never knowing how Joe would react to the man, Ben walked up the long staircase with Monsignor, Hoss and Adam trailing behind.\u00a0 Upon entering Joe\u2019s room Ben introduced Hop Sing to the priest, and the cook moved away from the bed to give them all more room.\u00a0 He decided to stand over by the doorway, always guarding the young man who he considered his surrogate son.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph this is Monsignor Fregapane,\u201d Ben began as he came alongside of the bed.\u00a0 He could see the same strange faraway look on his son\u2019s face, and there was no response.<\/p>\n The priest opened his Bible and withdrew a piece of paper and handed it to Ben.\u00a0 \u201cYou are not familiar with Latin are you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not but Adam \u2013 he knows a bit — learned it in college,\u201d Ben explained and cast a glance towards his eldest son.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a bit rusty,\u201d Adam nodded towards the priest.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I have written in English some of the passages from the Holy Bible for you all \u2013 I will be speaking in Latin and wanted you to know that all that I\u2019m doing will be Biblically sound.\u00a0 I have brought some holy water and some oil for the anointing \u2013 I hope that does not bother you?\u2019 The priest stated and cast a concerned look over to the family.\u00a0 He was fully aware of the fact that no-one in the room was of the Catholic faith.<\/p>\n Ben smiled and put his hand on the priest\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m a bit acquainted with your religion — Joseph\u2019s mother was raised Catholic actually.\u00a0 You do whatever you think is best, I trust you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen \u2013 let\u2019s begin shall we?\u201d The priest nodded towards Ben and focused on Joe.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph?\u00a0 Would you like to speak with me before I start?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDevil\u2019s hold,\u201d Joe stated bluntly and turned his head away from the onlookers.<\/p>\n Monsignor sighed and drew out his rosary.\u00a0 He made the sign of the cross, touching his forehead, his chest, and the motion from left to right.\u00a0 Next he began to recite the passage from the Bible in Latin.\u00a0 Ben followed along, reading from the paper the priest had handed him.\u00a0 It was from the New Testament, the book of James.\u00a0 Ben read to himself the following pertinent verses, *** Is there anyone sick among you?\u00a0 He should ask for the presbyters of the church.\u00a0 They in turn are to pray over him, anointing him with the oil in the name of the Lord.\u00a0 This prayer, uttered in faith will reclaim the one who is ill, and the Lord will return him to health.\u00a0 If he has committed any sins, forgiveness will be his.\u00a0 Hence, declare your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may find healing. ***<\/strong><\/p>\n And, with the reading of scripture completed, Monsignor opened a small bottle of oil and dabbed it on his fingers and made the sign of the cross on Joe\u2019s forehead.\u00a0 \u201cIn the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, I anoint thee,\u201d The priest said and suddenly Joe screamed out as though he was in great pain.<\/p>\n Shocked, the priest and all of the others looked at the boy\u2019s forehead and noticed the form of the cross which had been made from the oil, had turned bright red and the skin around it began to blister up.\u00a0 Ben started to move towards his son to offer comfort and aid, but Monsignor\u2019s hand stopped him.<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 Ben \u2013 not just yet.\u00a0 It means it might be working.\u00a0 Wait!\u201d The priest begged, and Ben reluctantly stood back to allow the man to try to help Joe.\u00a0 Monsignor brought out a flask that he had filled with Holy Water, and reached for Joe\u2019s left arm.\u00a0 He had been told by Ben where he could find the pentacle which was very visible on the underside of the boy\u2019s arm.\u00a0 Speaking again in Latin, Monsignor added more prayers as he gently dabbed the water over the pentacle.\u00a0 Then, just as the oil had, the Holy Water caused the skin on Joe\u2019s arm to rise and blister and Joe fought to get out of his bed this time screaming out in pain.\u00a0 \u201cIn the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, I command you to leave hence from this boy, so that healing can take place!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe fell back towards the pillows and tears fell down his cheeks.\u00a0 Ben didn\u2019t know what to do, he wasn\u2019t at all sure that what the priest had done had any benefit, and may have actually caused more distress to his son.<\/p>\n \u201cNow I would suggest that we all say the Lord\u2019s Prayer\u2014I will say it in English with you this time,\u201d Monsignor stated, casting a look around the room.\u00a0 He crossed himself again to ready for the prayer.<\/p>\n The room filled with the voices of Ben, Hoss, Adam, Hop Sing and Monsignor as they recited the Lord\u2019s Prayer together.\u00a0 Looking down at Joe afterwards, the priest sighed.\u00a0 He could not tell if his prayers for healing had helped or not.\u00a0 But, at least the boy had settled down and was now in a deep sleep.\u00a0 Ben moved closer to the bed and let his hand fall to Joe\u2019s forehead.\u00a0 The earlier blistering was now totally gone, as were the blisters on the boy\u2019s left arm.\u00a0 Ben shook his head, totally bewildered by all the strange things they had witnessed.<\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u201d Ben asked, turning towards the priest, his eyes full of hope.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know \u2013 we will see \u2013I\u2019m not sure that this is true possession of soul, it seems a bit different from ones that I\u2019ve witnessed in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean you cast out demons before?\u201d Hoss asked in disbelief.\u00a0 The whole idea of exorcism seemed beyond all reason to him.\u00a0 But, he had spoken with his father that day and Ben was very adamant that something like that was indeed possible.\u00a0 Ben had even pulled out the family Bible and had quoted his sons excerpts to prove his belief.<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 not here, Hoss.\u00a0 In my native Italy \u2013 I have seen it a time or two.\u00a0 I have no doubt that there is something supernatural going on with your brother \u2013 but I\u2019m not sure how far it has gone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo\u2014you really don\u2019t know if what you just did helped, right?\u201d Adam questioned.<\/p>\n Monsignor gave a wry smile and stood from the chair.\u00a0 He put his hand on Adam\u2019s shoulder and said, \u201cIt couldn\u2019t hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you \u2013 thank you for coming out here, Monsignor,\u201d Ben called to the man as he walked towards the bedroom door.\u00a0 \u201cAny idea of what else we can do for the boy?\u201d<\/p>\n Monsignor nodded and stared at the four men, \u201cPrayer \u2013 much prayer.\u00a0 Send for me if you need me.\u00a0 I will pray for Joseph at every mass until we have some results.\u00a0 Goodnight all.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam turned and followed the priest out in order to take him back into town.\u00a0 Hoss walked over to his father and stared pensively into his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u00a0 You reckon it helped some?\u201d He asked.<\/p>\n Ben sat down on the bed next to Joe and reached for his left arm.\u00a0 He stared at the pentacle and noticed it was just as evident as it had been earlier.\u00a0 Ben sighed and answered, \u201cWell, like Monsignor said \u2013 it couldn\u2019t have hurt the situation.\u00a0 Guess we\u2019ll wait and see \u2013and pray.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss nodded and reached for his brother\u2019s hand, taking it into his own.\u00a0 He slowly closed his eyes and joined his father in prayer for the boy\u2019s recovery from whatever it was that had him locked in its grasp.<\/p>\n *******************************<\/p>\n Once Adam returned from delivering the priest back safely into Virginia City, he settled in the living room with his brother Hoss.\u00a0 Ben, along with Hop Sing kept a vigil over Little Joe.\u00a0 The boy hadn\u2019t awakened and they were starting to get a bit concerned over what had put him under so deeply.\u00a0 Hoss came in from the kitchen carrying a fresh pot of coffee and cups for whoever wanted the hot brew.\u00a0 Setting it down onto the coffee table, he looked over at Adam, who seemed deep in thought.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d\u00a0 Want some coffee?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shook himself from his daze and nodded over to his brother.\u00a0 Hoss poured two cups of coffee and handed one to Adam and then took his own cup and settled down on the settee.<\/p>\n \u201cYou looked like you wuz thinking pretty hard there, Brother,\u201d Hoss commented and sipped his drink.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah\u2014just trying to put all of the pieces together in my head,\u201d Adam replied with a strange expression on his face.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat pieces?\u00a0 What are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you remember last year?\u00a0 Remember all that Joe went through?\u201d Adam replied, trying to go the long way around the barn with his explanation.<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean that medallion thing that Uncle Josh left for Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah — don\u2019t you think it\u2019s kind of strange \u2013 I mean all that happened \u2013and now this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, it was awfully peculiar and all \u2013 I mean\u00a0 \u2013 Joe getting that locket sent to him right when Uncle Josh died — and all the strange things that happened after he started carrying the danged thing around,\u201d Hoss nodded over at his brother.\u00a0 \u201cBut why do you think that has anything to do with what\u2019s going on with Joe now?\u00a0 He did throw that medallion away you know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know \u2013 but last year \u2013 there were some folks who said that Joe was in league with the devil because all of a sudden he had precognition.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow you sound like Timmons, Adam!\u201d Hoss argued, getting upset over what his brother had just related.\u00a0 Hoss could still remember the awful events that had gone on a year previous.\u00a0 Joe was lucky to have escaped being tormented by some of the town\u2019s folks, including the ring leader Pete Timmons.<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u00a0 Hoss I\u2019m not saying that Joe was in league with the devil— you got me all wrong!\u201d\u00a0 Adam replied trying to get his point across.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m just saying that how do we know that one thing doesn\u2019t have something to do with the other?\u00a0 Maybe whatever it was that gave Joe those strange powers last year kind of did something to him now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t see what that old medallion or anything else that Joe went through a year ago for that matter has anything to do with him falling into a well.\u201d<\/p>\n Both Adam and Hoss stopped their conversation abruptly when they heard their father on the staircase clearing his throat to get the room\u2019s attention.\u00a0 He shot a stern look over at his sons as he moved down into the living room.<\/p>\n \u201cPa we wuz \u2013 just talking —,\u201d Hoss started, trying to apologize in advance for whatever Ben had heard them saying.<\/p>\n \u201cI heard it all, Hoss,\u201d Ben stated and sank down into his chair and then looked piercingly at his eldest son.\u00a0 \u201cSo, you think that Joseph is in league with the devil, Adam?\u201d Ben asked harshly.<\/p>\n \u201cNo Sir!\u00a0 Never meant it to sound that way \u2013 sorry if it did,\u201d Adam was quick to explain, seeing the controlled anger on his father\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cI just was trying to think about how this could be happening now \u2013 and well \u2013 it kind of made me think back to all Joe went through last year.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss handed his father some coffee, hoping to diffuse his anger.\u00a0 Ben accepted it and nodded his thanks.<\/p>\n \u201cI will admit that Joe has had more than his share of strange experiences.\u00a0 I will also admit to being very confused about what happened last year with that medallion.\u00a0 But, I agree with Hoss — that medallion lies at the bottom of Lake Tahoe \u2013 I see no significance in the two events.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was just a thought \u2013 how\u2019s Joe?\u201d Adam opted to change the subject to help his father relax a bit.<\/p>\n \u201cNo change \u2013 Hop Sing is still with him,\u201d Ben sighed.\u00a0 \u201cI think I\u2019ll go out and get some air,\u201d Ben said and set his coffee cup on the table and stood.<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss watched their father exit the house and could read on his face the deeply etched worry over Joe.<\/p>\n ******************************<\/p>\n Yet another long week passed and Joe had not been freed of the terror that had haunted him for almost two months.\u00a0 There had been no change at all in his behavior since the priest had come out to the ranch, and his family was starting to believe that the boy would never be as he had been prior to the fall down the well and whatever had taken control of his mind.\u00a0 The deep lacerations as well as the sign of the pentacle still adorned Joe\u2019s body, just as fresh in appearance as they had been that first day so long ago.<\/p>\n It was mid fall now, and the weather was very unpredictable.\u00a0 One day it would be sunny and almost unseasonably warm, and the next day there would be a light dusting of snow on the tree tops.\u00a0 Ben had risen early and stepped out onto the front porch.\u00a0 He stared up at the foreboding clouds above.\u00a0 It looked as though a severe storm was kicking up, and the wind gusts shot around him from the side of the house, chilling Ben to the bone.\u00a0 He finished his coffee and made his way into the house.<\/p>\n \u201cYou want Hop Sing dress Little Joe?\u201d The cook called over to his employer as he removed the dishes from the table.\u00a0 Everyone, with the exception of Joe, had eaten breakfast earlier.\u00a0 Ben sighed and his gaze floated towards the stairs.\u00a0 He so wished he would see his youngest son bounding down the staircase as he had done so often after sleeping late.\u00a0 It seemed like ages since Ben had seen the bright hazel eyes and heard the laughter of the boy he loved with all of his heart.<\/p>\n \u201cNo — I\u2019ll go get him ready and bring him down.\u00a0 You better go check on those chickens of yours, Hop Sing.\u00a0 There\u2019s gonna be a downpour soon.\u00a0 Make sure you batten down the hatches!\u201d Ben responded and headed for the stairs.<\/p>\n Pulling the door to Joe\u2019s room open, Ben saw the boy was still in his bed, but no longer asleep.\u00a0 He forced a smile and called over to the boy.<\/p>\n \u201cGood morning, Son \u2013 hope you slept well,\u201d Ben said and neared the bed.\u00a0 Joe continued to stare straight ahead, showing no sign of having heard or understood his father\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n Ben walked over to the window, the rain clouds had finally opened up and water was coming in on the sill.\u00a0 He closed the window and looked back over at Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cHow about getting dressed now, Joseph?\u00a0 Hop Sing has made blueberry pancakes — your favorite!\u201d Ben forced a cheery tone to his voice.\u00a0 As was typical, Joe did not respond in any way.\u00a0 Ben didn\u2019t allow Joe\u2019s lack of response to deter him and headed over to the boy\u2019s bureau.\u00a0 He drew out some long-john bottoms, socks and a clean pair of trousers and brought them over to the bed and sat down next to his son.\u00a0 Slowly, coaxing him on as he had done for weeks, Ben got his son dressed.\u00a0 He then headed over to get the boy a shirt.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a cold damp day, better get a thermal shirt on underneath your other one today,\u201d Ben said mostly to himself and pulled open the second drawer of the bureau.\u00a0 It was the first time since the previous winter that the weather was cold enough to require a thermal undershirt.\u00a0 Moving several other shirts over to the side, Ben grabbed the heavy shirt, but his hand hit something underneath the soft material.\u00a0 \u201cWhat the —,\u201d Ben said as he pulled the drawstring bag up from under the shirt and held it in his hand.\u00a0 He pulled the small bag open and confusion painted his face.\u00a0 There, in the palm of his right hand was the medallion which had caused so much trouble a full year prior.\u00a0 Ben walked over to the bed and held the object out in front of Joe\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph?\u00a0 I thought you threw this in the lake?\u00a0 That\u2019s what you told me at least.\u00a0 What in the world is it doing hidden in your drawer?\u201d Ben exclaimed.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s head turned, as if he had fully understood everything that his father had said this time.\u00a0 He held out his left hand and Ben placed the medallion there in Joe\u2019s palm.\u00a0 As soon as it touched the skin of Joe\u2019s hand he jumped to his feet, knocking his father to the floor as he bolted out of the room screaming at the top of his lungs.\u00a0 He ran down the hallway and charged the stairs.\u00a0 Hop Sing, standing over at the breakfast table looked over at the boy shocked to see him running across the room.\u00a0 Joe flung the front door open and ran outside into the storm.<\/p>\n Ben shook himself from the initial shock of his fall and Joe\u2019s escape.\u00a0 He hurried out in search of his son.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe — he run outside Mister Ben!\u201d\u00a0 Hop Sing shouted as Ben made it down to the living room.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll get him!\u201d Ben exclaimed and grabbed his coat in his hands as he ran out the opened door.<\/p>\n Joe had raced blindly out of the front yard and escaped behind the barn.\u00a0 He continued to run like a frightened animal into the dense forest surrounding the Ponderosa homestead.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u00a0 Joseph!\u00a0 Come back!\u201d Ben shouted as he continued to follow his son.\u00a0 The rain pelted him and the lightning flashed, crashing close behind the terrified father as he tried desperately to find his son.<\/p>\n Joe jumped over a fallen tree and hit a deep impression in the ground, causing him to tumble down into the wet grass, mud, and pine needles.\u00a0 That fall assisted his father in catching up with the boy.\u00a0 Ben ran to Joe and knelt down next to him before his son could get back up.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph \u2013 it\u2019s okay \u2013 it\u2019s okay,\u201d Ben called loudly trying to rise above the sounds of thunder.\u00a0 He turned Joe over to face him.\u00a0 The boy\u2019s face was covered in mud but his eyes were what struck Ben more so.\u00a0 The fixed stare was gone at last!\u00a0 Tears filled Joe\u2019s eyes and Ben covered his son with his coat and pulled him into an embrace.<\/p>\n \u201cDevil\u2019s hold,\u201d Joe started.<\/p>\n \u201cI know, Son,\u201d Ben nodded and then felt the tight clamp of his son\u2019s hand on his neck.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s got me, Pa — devil\u2019s hold!\u201d Joe shouted.<\/p>\n Ben pulled Joe back to look into his eyes again.\u00a0 He was totally amazed to hear the boy talking, saying more than just the two words this time.\u00a0 Rain soaked the two Cartwrights, and the downpour worsened.\u00a0 But, the weather was now the last thing that Ben was thinking about as he clung to his son.<\/p>\n \u201cYou talked!\u00a0 Joseph— you talked!\u201d Ben exclaimed.<\/p>\n Joe squeezed the medallion into his palm and closed his eyes.\u00a0 It was as if Joe knew that the strange antique was the only thing that could help him now.\u00a0 \u201cPa \u2013 gotta tell you —oh, Pa!\u201d Joe yelled and clung even tighter to his father now, terror gripping him but he was also so elated that he could finally let his Pa know why.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s get you inside \u2013 you are soaked \u2013 then you can tell me everything, Son,\u201d Ben replied and pulled Joe to standing and wrapped his large coat around his son, covering his bare chest.\u00a0 He pulled him close to shelter him from the deluge of rain.\u00a0 Father and son walked back to the house together.<\/p>\n Ben helped Joe into the living room and sent Hop Sing for some towels.\u00a0 The cook brought them and Ben tried to dry both himself and Joe while Hop Sing hurried upstairs to get new shirts for both Cartwrights.\u00a0 Joe sat shivering on the hearth of the fireplace.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t too long before Hop Sing returned and helped Joe on with his shirt.\u00a0 Ben donned his own dry shirt and then pulled the Indian blanket from its position at the end of the staircase railing and draped it around his son\u2019s shoulders for extra warmth.\u00a0 He then settled next to the boy and pulled him close.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe?\u00a0 Talk to me \u2013 tell me what\u2019s going on,\u201d Ben whispered, knowing by the look of desperation on his son\u2019s face that it was going to be very hard for him to begin his story.<\/p>\n \u201cHow long — how long have I been gone, Pa?\u201d Joe asked watching his father\u2019s face for an answer.<\/p>\n \u201cGone?\u00a0 You mean \u2013 unable to talk?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 I fell into that well \u2013 was it yesterday?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head and brushed the wet curls aside which had fallen down into his son\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph — that was almost two months ago,\u201d He explained.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo months?\u201d Joe asked in total disbelief.\u00a0 \u201cWhere have I been?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve been right here, Son \u2013 but you haven\u2019t been able to talk.\u00a0 The only words you\u2019ve been able to get out were –,\u201d Ben paused he was almost afraid to say the haunting words and risk sending Joe back in his mind again.<\/p>\n \u201cDevil\u2019s hold?\u201d Joe broke in.\u00a0 Ben nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe \u2013 what happened to you?\u00a0 You fell into that well we had a bunch of folks help dig a tunnel next to it to get to you.\u00a0 But, when we finally broke through late that night \u2013 you weren\u2019t down there anymore.\u00a0 Do you remember?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe felt a chill rush over him and his heart skipped a beat.\u00a0 The vision of what had happened was all too clear in his mind.\u00a0 He looked down to the floor and Ben could tell that the boy was terrified.<\/p>\n \u201cHere \u2013 you drink tea— help you \u2013 help relax,\u201d Hop Sing insisted and handed a cup to both Ben and Joe.\u00a0 He could also sense the fear that controlled Joe and it worried him.\u00a0 Hop Sing was afraid of what would happen once the boy started to reveal what he had gone through.<\/p>\n Ben urged Joe to take his time and settle down a bit before continuing.\u00a0 Slowly they sipped their tea.\u00a0 Right before Ben was about to encourage his son to get back to the telling of his story, the door to the ranch house opened and both Adam and Hoss entered the room.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a pure gully washer out there, Pa!\u201d Hoss called over to his father, as both he and Adam removed their slickers.<\/p>\n Ben waved his hand behind Joe\u2019s head in an attempt to signal the two of them about what was happening.\u00a0 Hoss and Adam neared the others and sat down onto the settee.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph was just about to tell us what happened to him,\u201d Ben explained and noted the confusion and surprise on both of his son\u2019s faces.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Brother, you okay?\u201d Hoss asked softly.<\/p>\n Joe nodded, though he didn\u2019t feel okay at all.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u00a0 You can talk, Kid?\u201d Adam was next to pose his question.<\/p>\n \u201cYes \u2013 he can.\u00a0 Now \u2013 if you feel up to it, Joseph \u2013 can you tell us about it?\u201d Ben softly made his request to the boy.\u00a0 He gave his son a slight reassuring pat to his right shoulder and left his hand there for comfort.<\/p>\n \u201cYou won\u2019t believe me \u2013 it\u2019s too crazy –,\u201d Joe muttered and stared over towards the flames shooting around the fire logs.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course we will, Joseph,\u201d Ben argued and waited patiently for him to reveal all that had happened to him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen — when I fell, you know I busted my arm,\u201d Joe stopped in mid-sentence as he looked down at his left arm and was surprised to find it to be no longer broken.\u00a0 He attempted to once again continue with his tale.\u00a0 \u201cWhen you sent down that last rope — I tried for it, but then I fell even further down.\u00a0 I ended up on the bottom of that well.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t even see you anymore — I wasn\u2019t even sure if you were still there,\u201d Joe paused again, and wiped away the drifting tears from his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cPa never left you, Joe \u2013 not for one minute \u2013 all that night,\u201d Adam reassured his brother.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was so dark down there, Pa —,\u201d Joe turned back towards his father, his eyes full of random pictures of the horror he had survived.\u00a0 \u201cI was so scared \u2013 scared that you all would never get to me.\u00a0 I started climbing \u2013 digging my boots in and pulling up as best I could with just my right hand.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know how many times I fell back down — I was starting to give up.\u00a0 Then I saw it \u2013 it was so strange —,\u201d Joe broke off again and then felt his father\u2019s hand on his arm.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was it, Joe?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n \u201cA thin shaft of light \u2013 so strange \u2013 like an orange color \u2013 not far above me \u2013 maybe ten or twelve feet.\u00a0 So, I thought that maybe there was some kind of a tunnel, you know?\u00a0 I thought maybe I could dig my way out of there.\u00a0 I inched up slowly, trying to avoid another fall.\u00a0 My arm was killing me \u2013 but I thought I could make it.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss exchanged confused glances and their hearts raced to finally hear where Joe had disappeared that day.<\/p>\n \u201cI made it up — and I was right.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t much of a crevice \u2013 barely enough to pull my body into. \u00a0I had about decided to just stay there \u2013 and wait for you all to get to me \u2013 that\u2019s when it happened,\u201d Joe whispered and covered his eyes with his hands, dropping his head down.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s heart ached to see what the telling of his story was doing to his son, but he knew it had to be told.\u00a0 He pulled Joe closer and whispered, \u201cJoe \u2013 what happened?\u00a0 Tell me, Boy, I want to help you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa — -something grabbed me \u2013 hands —so many hands!\u00a0 They pulled me down into the crevice.\u00a0 I tried to fight them off— there wasn\u2019t much light \u2013 just that orange glow \u2013 but I could see that they had long fingernails \u2013 almost like claws!\u00a0 They ripped at my arms as I battled to escape by backing out.\u00a0 But, I couldn\u2019t fight them \u2013 Pa \u2013 they were too strong!\u00a0 I screamed — I can still hear the echo of my shouts!\u00a0 I\u2019ve never been so terrified in my whole life!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben looked over at his two older sons and saw the disbelief in their eyes.\u00a0 He warned them with his gaze.\u00a0 The very last thing that Joseph needed was to think that his family didn\u2019t believe what he was conveying to them.\u00a0 \u201cGo on, Son.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know how long it was — how long it took them to pull me down — but I ended up in this cave \u2013 and that\u2019s where –,\u201d Joe stopped as the medallion fell from his sweaty palm and landed on the floor.<\/p>\n \u201cGo on, Joe,\u201d Ben pleaded, but then he became aware of the blank stare now in Joe\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cJoe?\u00a0 You okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDevil\u2019s hold \u2013 devil\u2019s hold,\u201d Joe stammered.<\/p>\n Ben looked down at the medallion, and it dawned on him that without it, Joe was still locked inside of his mind.\u00a0 He bent down and retrieved it placing it firmly into the palm of Joe\u2019s left hand.\u00a0 \u201cJoe?\u00a0 Joe, are you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded and looked at the confused faces around him.\u00a0 He had no idea why they all appeared to be frightened.\u00a0 \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou dropped your medallion\u2014and you started to talk just like before \u2013 you could only say those two words again,\u201d Ben replied softly, trying not to scare the boy any more than he already was.<\/p>\n Joe tightened his grip on his medallion, feeling as though it was his only life-line to reality now.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe \u2013 thought you threw that thing into Lake Tahoe?\u201d Hoss called over to the boy.<\/p>\n \u201cI was going to \u2013 but something stopped me,\u201d Joe replied hesitantly.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat stopped you, Son?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n \u201cUncle Josh \u2013 he said something to me \u2013 like I could hear him, you know?\u00a0 He said not to get rid of it \u2013 that I would need it one day.\u00a0 So I just stashed it away in my dresser \u2013 hoping no-one would find out.\u00a0 I figured as long as I wasn\u2019t holding on to it that nothing strange would happen anymore.\u00a0 I was wrong,\u201d Joe sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened in the cave, Kid?\u201d Adam tried to get back to the story.<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t really a cave, Adam, it was \u2013 it was Hell,\u201d Joe said and could tell by the expressions on all of the faces before him that his family members thought that he was out of his mind.\u00a0 \u201cI told you \u2013 I told you that none of you would believe me!\u201d Joe shouted and stood quickly, planning on escaping the inquisition that was going on in the room.<\/p>\n Ben stood and grabbed Joe\u2019s arm, pulling him back over to him.\u00a0 \u201cNo \u2013 Joseph \u2013 you are wrong!\u00a0 We know that something got a hold of you \u2013 you are covered with scratches \u2013 deep scratches all over your body.\u00a0 They haven\u2019t healed in two months!\u00a0 And then there\u2019s that sign–,\u201d Ben argued and then noticed how his youngest looked back over at him strangely.<\/p>\n \u201cSign?\u00a0 What sign?\u00a0 What are you talking about?\u201d Joe asked somberly.<\/p>\n Ben slowly pulled the left sleeve of Joe\u2019s shirt up and showed the boy the pentacle.\u00a0 \u201cThis \u2013 we\u2019ve tried to remove it \u2013 but it won\u2019t budge.\u00a0 Something did this to you.\u00a0 Now \u2013 how about telling us the rest of the story?\u00a0 Just because the story shocks us \u2013 perhaps scares us \u2013 doesn\u2019t mean we don\u2019t believe you, Son,\u201d Ben whispered and held Joe close again.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d Joe sighed and sat back down.\u00a0 He fixed his gaze on the mark on his arm and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI do remember \u2013 something about this— but \u2013 I didn\u2019t know –,\u201d Joe trailed off and then forced his sleeve back down.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want to see the strange brand he now wore, though he knew what it meant and it scared the daylights out of him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened in that cave?\u201d Ben continued to pry the truth out.<\/p>\n \u201cI was pulled down that long tunnel or crevice \u2013 or whatever it was.\u00a0 Then, all of a sudden I was dropped on the ground, knocking the wind out of me.\u00a0 I tried to figure out what was happening.\u00a0 I kind of thought that I was dreaming, you know?\u00a0 It was like I was stuck in some bizarre nightmare.\u00a0 But, believe me it was real \u2013 all too real!\u201d Joe stopped again and looked piercingly over at his father.\u00a0 \u201cPa?\u00a0 Remember \u2013 remember all the stories from the Bible \u2013 all of the ones that talk about Hell?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben simply nodded, wondering what Joe was about to reveal.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, they are ALL TRUE <\/strong>\u2013 but it\u2019s even worse \u2013 even worse,\u201d Joe repeated and looked around the room for confirmation that his family believed what he was relating to them.\u00a0 \u201cThere was smoke \u2013 thick acrid smoke \u2013 and I gagged on it.\u00a0 I could see the arms of whomever \u2013 or whatever had pulled me down there.\u00a0 Once and awhile I could see a face amidst the thick cloud of smoke.\u00a0 They were hideous \u2013 nothing that I can even describe!\u00a0 Like tortured souls \u2013 screaming \u2013 and wailing and reaching for me.\u00a0 My shirt was torn to shreds and I fought with all the strength that I had left to get away from them.\u00a0 There were flashes of fire and the earth beneath me shook and rumbled.\u00a0 I knew then exactly where I was.\u00a0 It was Hell \u2013 no doubt about it.\u00a0 But, I couldn\u2019t figure out why I was there, you know?\u00a0 I mean \u2013 had I died in the fall down the well?\u00a0 And, if I had \u2013 then why was I down there?\u00a0 I know I haven\u2019t lived the best life — but I sure didn\u2019t figure I had lived the worst kind of life either!\u201d\u00a0 Joe stood and moved away from his father\u2019s hold.\u00a0 He had to pace the floor in order to get the rest of the story out.\u00a0 Joe wondered how his family would ever believe what he was telling them.\u00a0 In deep reflection, Joe wondered how he would be able to believe a story like the one he was telling, if he was being told the same things by someone else.\u00a0 But, he knew it was real nonetheless.<\/p>\n \u201cI heard a voice \u2013 but I couldn\u2019t see the face behind it.\u00a0 All I can tell you is that it was pure evil.\u00a0 It said for me to curse God and relinquish my soul.\u00a0 I refused and could feel the sharp claw-like fingers grabbing at me again, ripping my flesh.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t move, like my body was weighted down by something that was invisible.\u00a0 Then there were coiled snakes \u2013 all around me \u2013waiting to strike.\u00a0 I was asked once more to deny the existence of God, and again I refused,\u201d Joe said, and his voice was strained with the pain he had suffered.\u00a0 Ben moved alongside of him, and wrapped his arms around Joe for solace.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened then?\u201d Ben whispered his question this time.<\/p>\n \u201cAll\u2019s that I can remember from that point, Pa, is weird images.\u00a0 Like separated pictures of what happened to my body \u2013 almost as though I was looking over at it from somewhere else.\u00a0 I knew that I was in the devil\u2019s hold, and there wasn\u2019t anything I could do about it.\u00a0 I tried to pray \u2013 I really did \u2013 but it was like the demon knew what I was doing \u2013and I was struck before I could get the prayer sent to God.\u00a0 I figured I would be killed — if I wasn\u2019t dead already.\u00a0 All the other images in my head are too horrible to get out — there\u2019s no way to tell you — no way to tell you what was done to me down there.\u00a0 The last thing \u2013 the last thing I can really focus on \u2013 was that mark — there was some kind of an iron \u2013 with the sign of the star \u2013 and I was told that Satan had marked me as his.\u00a0 But, since I wouldn\u2019t curse God he had to let me go.\u00a0 The voice said I would come back \u2013 and at that time my soul would finally be his.\u201d<\/p>\n The silence that fell over the living room of the ranch was deafening.\u00a0 The emotions in the room were raw and intense as each man attempted to take into their heads what Joe had just told them.\u00a0 They could tell by the look on the boy\u2019s face that he was sincere in all that he had related, but it was still hard to believe.<\/p>\n Ben cleared his throat, trying to push all rational thought aside, and put his faith in the boy there in front of him.\u00a0 He knew that something beyond reality had happened to Joe, even though it continued to make little sense.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s all you remember, Son?\u201d Ben enquired softly.<\/p>\n Joe nodded and sat down on the coffee table, feeling emotionally spent.\u00a0 \u201cI know this is hard to believe \u2013 but it did happen \u2013 I swear it happened.\u00a0 The next thing I recall is earlier today \u2013 when I ran out into the rain— and you brought me in, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe you, Little Brother,\u201d Hoss said and patted his brother\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cSomething sure happened \u2013 you have the wounds to show that it did,\u201d Adam jumped in.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m kind of tired, I think I\u2019ll go lay down for a bit,\u201d Joe whispered and stood to walk towards the staircase.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe!\u201d Ben called over to him.\u00a0 \u201cJoe \u2013 we want to help you \u2013 you aren\u2019t in this alone anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shot his gaze down to the floor and replied filled with sadness, \u201cOnce you fall into the devil\u2019s hold you can never be set free.\u201d<\/p>\n At the precise moment that Joe had uttered those words the front door flew wide open and a loud crash of lightning hit the house, shaking the foundation.\u00a0 All eyes in the room exchanged fearful glances.\u00a0 Ben hurried over to the door and closed it while fastening the slide bolt to prevent the same thing from happening again.\u00a0 It had spooked everyone, everyone except Joe, who looked as though he knew that it was Satan himself who had flung the door wide open.<\/p>\n Joe turned, distress filling his sad hazel eyes, and slowly walked up to his room.\u00a0 Ben watched helplessly, not knowing what he could do for his son.\u00a0 He turned back towards both Adam and Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u00a0 Anyone have any suggestions?\u201d Ben asked, as he sank back down into his chair wearily.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u00a0 Do you believe what Joe said?\u00a0 I mean it\u2019s so –,\u201d Adam stopped as Hoss jumped in.<\/p>\n \u201cUnbelievable?\u00a0 Yeah \u2013 well \u2013 it might be \u2013 but just look at Joe, Adam!\u00a0 Something\u2019s sure got to him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not saying the kid is lying!\u201d Adam defended himself loudly.\u00a0 The frustration and worry in the room was causing tempers to flare now.\u00a0 \u201cI believe that Joe \u201cthinks\u201d this is what happened.\u00a0 The mind is a powerful weapon, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou think Joe is causing this to happen \u2013 because he believes it to be real?\u201d Ben asked incredulously.<\/p>\n \u201cYou got a better explanation, Pa?\u201d Adam replied, and stared over at his father.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Monsignor said that we all fail to acknowledge the existence of Satan \u2013 though we readily believe in God.\u00a0 I believe everything Joseph said.\u00a0 Though it is almost unfathomable I think that it\u2019s true.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, if it is true, Pa \u2013 then what can we do to help him?\u201d Hoss asked, casting a glance up towards the stairs.\u00a0 If it had been any other kind of a foe, he would have gone and beaten the stuffing out of the enemy, anything that would protect his little brother.\u00a0 Hoss was totally unsure how to combat this type of an assailant.<\/p>\n \u201cI wish I knew \u2013 but we have to do something,\u201d Ben frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about that medallion?\u00a0 Joe said that Uncle Josh \u2013 who has been dead for a long time now\u2014told him to keep it.\u00a0 Funny that it is the only thing that can bring Joe back around now, huh?\u201d Adam said, still trying to pragmatically deal with the bizarre situation.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it is what finally got Joe to talk \u2013 then I\u2019m glad he kept the thing.\u00a0 Last year \u2013 all it did was get Joe into trouble.\u00a0 Whatever supernatural power it might hold, it\u2019s at least helping the problem this time,\u201d Ben sighed and stood once again.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m going up there \u2013 to see if he wants to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you want us to do?\u201d Hoss called over to his Pa.<\/p>\n Pa made his way over to the stairs and turned around.\u00a0 His facial features were a mix of many things at the time.\u00a0 He was afraid, he was upset, he was confused, but foremost he was worried for his youngest son\u2019s life.<\/p>\n \u201cPray,\u201d Ben stated firmly.\u00a0 The sincerity of his one word answer could be felt by his other sons.\u00a0 They knew that their father had an unshakable faith, and was hoping that it would work in combination with the other family members and help pull Joe to safety.<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n Joe sat in his chair by the window staring out at the crashes of lightning in the distance.\u00a0 The rain pelted the window pane and tracked down in strange formations.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t hear the door open or his father\u2019s quiet approach.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe?\u00a0 I was hoping you and I could talk privately.\u00a0 You feel up to it, Son?\u201d Pa asked and sat down on the bottom of the bed opposite from where his son sat at the window still staring out.<\/p>\n Joe turned his head as if in slow motion.\u00a0\u00a0 Pa noticed the streaks of recently spent tears on the boy\u2019s face.\u00a0 He could also see terror in Joe\u2019s eyes, and a look about him which begged for help.<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 I wish you could \u2013 I wish you could help me \u2013 but I don\u2019t think that you can this time.\u00a0 I\u2019m not even sure if I am sane anymore.\u00a0 Maybe I have just lost it, you know?\u00a0 But, the pictures here in my mind — they\u2019re just so real!\u201d\u00a0 Joe tried to explain, worried that his father was only placating him now.\u00a0 He really wouldn\u2019t blame the concerned man before him for assuming that his son had gone off the deep end mentally.<\/p>\n Ben reached out his right hand and placed it under Joe\u2019s chin forcing the boy\u2019s attention towards the eyes of his father.\u00a0 \u201cHey?\u00a0 This is me \u2013 your Pa here — now since when did I ever think you were sane?\u201d Ben asked, smiling.<\/p>\n Joe sighed and forced a smile himself.\u00a0 He knew what Ben was trying to do, and loved him for it.\u00a0 \u201cSo \u2013 you think I\u2019m not any crazier than I always have been, then?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Joe \u2013 none of this is crazy.\u00a0 It\u2019s hard to believe — I\u2019ll give you that!\u00a0 But, we\u2019ve been through so much over the years, haven\u2019t we?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah \u2013 always me, Pa — I don\u2019t know why \u2013 I guess I\u2019m just lucky,\u201d Joe nodded, and dropped his head back down away from his father\u2019s gaze.<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 I don\u2019t think that\u2019s it at all, Joseph.\u00a0 I have my own theory about you,\u201d Ben stated rather cryptically.<\/p>\n Joe looked back up again, wondering just what his father had meant.\u00a0 \u201cOkay, Pa, what\u2019s your theory?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked in a whisper.<\/p>\n \u201cWell some, like your great uncle Josh might attribute all of this to you being the third son of the third son of the third son –,\u201d Ben stopped and chuckled.\u00a0 He regained his composure and continued, \u201cSorry \u2013 that was a lot to say, you know?\u00a0 Then there are others — who might just assume you have some kind of a curse placed on you.\u00a0 Some folks might even attribute it to just plain bad luck.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you, Pa?\u00a0 You don\u2019t?\u201d Joe needed to hear the answer and he needed it to be an earnest one.\u00a0 His sad eyes stared over at his father intent on learning the truth.<\/p>\n \u201cNo I don\u2019t.\u00a0 My theory lies more towards the fact that you are one of the strongest souls that God has ever placed on earth.\u00a0 That, along with your deep faith, Joe is why you are a challenge.\u00a0 What kind of a challenge would it have been for the evil one to go after someone of a lesser faith?\u00a0 No, you would have been a prize — what with the way you love, the way you feel for folks.\u00a0 I know you hide it from the others \u2013 but I know more about you than you know about you at this point, Joseph.\u00a0 And I know you have a very kind heart.\u00a0 Just imagine the triumph Satan would have felt — to know he took away one of God\u2019s favorites!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked back over at his father in disbelief.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t picture himself as one of God\u2019s favorites at all.\u00a0 He felt like he had always been a work in progress.\u00a0 Joe knew how many times he had fought to control his intense anger in the past.\u00a0 How could he be considered a favorite with so many character flaws?<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t be one of the favorites, Pa \u2013 not by any stretch of the imagination.\u00a0 You know my temper \u2013 you know!\u00a0 Yeah — I\u2019ve tried not to hurt people \u2013 to always try my best to get along with folks and all.\u00a0 But, I hardly picture myself as being a prize for Satan.\u00a0 Now surely YOU <\/strong>would be a prize and probably even Hoss \u2013 but not me!\u201d Joe confessed.<\/p>\n \u201cI could sit right here for hours \u2013 and I will if you want me to by the way\u2014and list off countless acts of selflessness \u2013 and all done by you over your nineteen years.\u00a0 I think you are kind of confused about the difference with being a good person and being a perfect person, Joseph.\u00a0 Let me help you.\u00a0 No-one is perfect \u2013 so get that out of your head, okay? \u00a0But, the love that you have in your heart is far stronger, far purer than anyone I know.\u00a0 I believe it is that love \u2013 and your deep faith \u2013 which saved you in that cave.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stood and walked away from his father, feeling very emotional after listening to what the man thought of him.\u00a0 He always knew that Pa loved him, that was a given.\u00a0 But, to hear such high praise from the man was a bit overwhelming for him, considering his own opinion of himself at the time.<\/p>\n Ben watched as his son paced the room, as though he was fighting for inner control and was losing.\u00a0 He stood and approached Joe and stopped his progress.<\/p>\n \u201cThe force of evil is almost as strong as the force of love, Joseph, but just almost<\/em><\/strong> mind you!\u00a0 In the end, I would bet my life on the power of love,\u201d Ben whispered and pulled his son into his arms and held him tightly.\u00a0 He wished that the boy knew how much he was loved by the whole family.\u00a0 Ben wanted to surround Joe in the protective shield of that love and pray that the evil could not break through this time.<\/p>\n Joe closed his eyes, and fought his inner turmoil.\u00a0 He knew that he had to go back to the cave soon.\u00a0 Joe was terrified that if he didn\u2019t go willingly, that Satan would come for him there at the ranch house.\u00a0 He loved them all, his brothers, Hop Sing, and foremost the man in whose arms he now found comfort.\u00a0 Joe clenched his fingers around the medallion, still held in his left hand.\u00a0 He hoped that somehow it would help him in his mission.\u00a0 But first, Joe had to make his father believe that he was all right.\u00a0 He had to pretend at least, in order to later escape the ranch house and head out to do battle for his soul.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s gonna be okay, Pa — I know that now.\u00a0 So don\u2019t worry,\u201d Joe whispered, and hoped the words sounded better than they really felt in coming out.<\/p>\n *******************************<\/p>\n Joe tried for the remainder of the day and night to appear more in control of his emotions and less troubled by all that he had conveyed to his family earlier.\u00a0 It was a very difficult act, but he knew what was at stake.\u00a0 Joe knew that if anyone caught onto the notion of what he was planning on doing and where he was going, they would never permit it.<\/p>\n After supper, Joe bid his family goodnight and once more headed for his bedroom.\u00a0 A short time later, Ben decided to turn in as well.\u00a0 Serious doubt over his son\u2019s behavior pulled the anxious father into Joe\u2019s room for one last peek at him before going to bed.\u00a0 Ben walked over to the boy\u2019s bed, and saw that he appeared to be slumbering soundly.\u00a0 Moving to the night stand to lower the flame of the lamp, Ben noticed how Joe had fallen to sleep on his side.\u00a0 There, between the fingers of his son\u2019s left hand, Pa could see the medallion.\u00a0 He shook his head sadly, knowing that Joe was much too afraid to part with the object even in his sleep.\u00a0 Pausing long enough to pull the fallen covers back up around his son\u2019s shoulders, Pa said a silent prayer for Joe\u2019s safety.\u00a0 \u201cGoodnight, Joseph,\u201d He whispered and turned out of the room.<\/p>\n Joe had dozed off, but only for a few hours.\u00a0 He hurriedly dressed and waited in his chair by the window until almost daybreak.\u00a0 Knowing he would have to steal out of the house, in order to avoid anyone hearing his departure, Joe quietly descended the stairs.\u00a0 He stopped at the credenza wondering if he should strap the holster around his waist.\u00a0 It seemed like a futile thing to do, so Joe simply reached for his jacket and hat and made his way quietly out of the house undetected.<\/p>\n ******************************<\/p>\n Ben tossed and turned all night.\u00a0 The vivid images played inside his dreams of all that Joe had told him that day.\u00a0 Several times he had jumped up in his bed wide awake, only to discover it was still the wee hours of the morning.\u00a0 Ben tried to settle back and force sleep once more.\u00a0 Shortly before dawn, he had a terrible nightmare that shook him to the core.\u00a0 Ben decided that enough was enough and he washed and dressed and prepared for another day.<\/p>\n It might have been father\u2019s intuition, or perhaps typical worry on Ben\u2019s part, but he felt the need to check on his youngest.\u00a0 Pulling the door forward, his eyes fell on the empty bed and his heart stopped.\u00a0 He hurried to the window and stared out into the blackness hoping to spot Joe heading towards the barn.\u00a0 The boy was nowhere to be seen.\u00a0 It was then that he realized where his son had gone.<\/p>\n There was no time to waste, so waking up the other family members was not an option at the time.\u00a0 Ben ran down the staircase and quickly strapped on his holster.\u00a0 It was then that he noticed that Joe\u2019s Colt was still sitting there on the credenza.\u00a0 Ben drew in a deep breath as he stared down at his Colt forty-five.\u00a0 He knew it would be of little use if the story Joe had told him was fact.\u00a0 Grabbing his hat and coat, Ben ran out of the house and hurried to the barn to get his horse saddled.\u00a0 He knew exactly where Joe would be found and a combination of fear and dread stabbed at Pa\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n ******************************<\/p>\n Joe tied his horse\u2019s reins to a small scrub bush just outside of the opening of the cave.\u00a0 His terrified gaze focused in on what he considered the point of no return.\u00a0 Joe fell to his knees and secured the medallion inside of his shirt pocket.\u00a0 Then, closing his eyes, he began to pray.<\/p>\n *** Help me dear Lord, I am so scared but I know what I have to do.\u00a0 I believe you have the power to save me from whatever has pulled me back to this place. \u00a0Please go in there with me \u2013 and help to set me free.\u00a0 Amen. ***<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Joe pulled himself back up and patted his pinto\u2019s neck, for what he thought might be the very last time.\u00a0 He then warily walked inside the cave.\u00a0 A hauntingly familiar feeling made the hair stand up on the back of Joe\u2019s neck as he pushed his way further and further inside.\u00a0 The mouth of the cave was high enough for him to walk upright, but as he went deeper into the cold earth, Joe had to bend a bit through the narrowing passageways.<\/p>\n If it hadn\u2019t been such a terrifying experience, Joe would have been awed by the strange formations of both stalactites and stalagmites which in some places met and formed shining crystal columns.\u00a0 There was a glow of light far in the distance, and it was just radiant enough to throw strange shadows all around the sides of the cavern.\u00a0 Joe could sense an increasing feeling of foreboding coming over him.\u00a0 His right hand fell to one of the sides of the cave and Joe pulled it away quickly.\u00a0 He could feel the thick slimy matter that was now caked between his fingers and tried to wipe it away.\u00a0 All of a sudden there was a strange sound and Joe could feel the fly-by of a bat\u2019s wings against his cheek.\u00a0 Joe fell to his knees, startled by the creature.\u00a0 Lying on the clammy floor of the cave, he heard a rumbling sound and could feel the earth beneath shake violently.\u00a0 Whispering another quick prayer, he pulled himself back to standing and trudged onward.<\/p>\n The first assault to Joe\u2019s senses was the sulfuric smell that permeated his nostrils.\u00a0 The stench grew worse with each precarious step that he took, and Joe felt as though he would give up the contents of his stomach soon.\u00a0 Then, instead of the atmosphere becoming cooler, as was typical at those depths, the air became both stale and hotter.\u00a0 The cavern split into two tunnels, and Joe instinctively knew the one that he needed to follow.\u00a0 He carefully bent his body to allow himself to go underneath the lower hanging ceiling of rock.\u00a0 Soon, sweat poured from Joe\u2019s forehead and he tossed off his hat.\u00a0 A few steps later he pulled his jacket off, tucking it under his arm.<\/p>\n ******************************<\/p>\n Ben dismounted and tied the reins of Buck up to where Cochise was patiently waiting for her master.\u00a0 Then, throwing caution to the wind, Ben hurried inside the cave in search of his son.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t know how far ahead Joe had advanced he only knew that he had to get to the boy to try to help him.\u00a0 Praying each step of the way, Ben descended farther and farther down into the bowels of the cavern.<\/p>\n Smoke encircled Joe\u2019s body and he coughed trying to force air into his lungs.\u00a0 His heart raced, knowing he was almost in the presence of the evil that had beckoned him forward.\u00a0 There was another loud rumble and the quake following the sound dropped Joe down onto his stomach, hitting the sharp rocks beneath him.\u00a0 He moaned and tried to pull himself to his knees.\u00a0 Before he could accomplish the move, Joe saw numerous hands shooting out of the smoke grabbing and tearing at him.\u00a0 He screamed out in agony as he was dragged away.<\/p>\n Ben had just made it to the division in the cave pathway when he heard the languished cry of his son.\u00a0 His blood went cold as stone, and his chest tightened knowing he had to get to Joe fast.\u00a0 It was far too dark to read any tracks, and the floor of the cavern was much too rocky anyway to give away her clues.\u00a0 Ben chose the passageway to the right side and bent down and entered.\u00a0 He had only made four steps down the passageway before seeing Joe\u2019s hat lying against some rubble there on the floor of the cave.\u00a0 Knowing that he was heading in the right direction, Ben hurried as best he could, down the long dark tunnel.<\/p>\n Joe felt the razor sharp claws as they tore at him from all directions.\u00a0 Being pulled down further into the cave blindly, he fought to free himself.\u00a0 The grotesque appearance of the demons that had him in their clutches made Joe squeeze his eyes shut in horror.\u00a0 He could hear voices, though the language sounded foreign to him, almost other-worldly.\u00a0 Trying to kick and thrash his body loose, Joe was only receiving that much more damage from the claws.\u00a0 It had already seemed like an eternity, when his vicious abductors tossed Joe\u2019s body down onto a large rock which gave the appearance of an altar stone.<\/p>\n Joe opened his eyes once more, forcing himself to stare into the evil that surrounded him.\u00a0 He tried to reach for the medallion, which was still secure in the top pocket of his shirt, but his hands were weighted down by the demons holding him.\u00a0 There was a sudden crash, as of thunder, and a brilliant flame danced in the background against one of the cavern walls.\u00a0 Joe focused in on the strange light for a moment and his eyes burnt from the brightness hitting his pupils.\u00a0 Then the claws ripped away his shirt and Joe screamed out.<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u00a0 No!\u201d Joe\u2019s voice echoed against the walls of the cave.\u00a0 His shirt had been flung across the far side of the altar.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve come back, just as I told you that you would!\u201d Another voice sounded out loudly.\u00a0 It was as if it were Satan himself, or so Joe presumed.<\/p>\n It was at that precise moment that Ben stumbled into the chamber where his son lay stretched out on the rock mantle.\u00a0 All that the troubled father could see was Joe.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t see the demons which surrounded the boy, nor the bright glowing flame in front of him.\u00a0 The only voice that Ben could hear was that of his youngest son.\u00a0 It looked so peculiar from his vantage point.\u00a0 It seemed like Joe had ripped his own shirt away and had gone to lie down on the stone himself.\u00a0 Ben tried to move over to aid him.\u00a0 It was only then that he realized what truly held his son.<\/p>\n Ben, advancing towards Joe, was hurled up against one of the walls of the cave by unseen hands.\u00a0 The impact knocked his breath away.\u00a0 He looked all around, wondering exactly what had happened to him.\u00a0 Ben tried again to pull himself from his position against the cave\u2019s wall but could no longer move his legs.\u00a0 It was as though he had been rendered paralyzed by someone or something undetectable.<\/p>\n Joe could just barely make out the image of his father, his vision obscured by all of the demons who still held him down against the altar.<\/p>\n \u201cPa!\u201d Joe screamed.\u00a0 \u201cPa!\u00a0 Go back \u2013 get out of here while you still can!\u201d He pleaded with his father, terrified that Pa might be the next one who would be at the mercy of those who held him down.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes focused in on his son\u2019s shirt which had been thrown off to the side.\u00a0 In the toss, the medallion had fallen halfway out of his pocket.\u00a0 The gold piece looked as though it was pulsating in its own light.<\/p>\n \u201cTake me!\u00a0 Leave my son alone — and take me!\u201d\u00a0 Ben shouted towards the unseen enemies.<\/p>\n Another loud rumble shook the entire cave and Joe cried out in pain as he felt something strike him.\u00a0 He looked up into the horrifying face of one of the demons at his side and saw the bright crimson stain spreading its pattern on the strange knife he had held in his cloven hand.\u00a0 Joe had been stabbed and the demon appeared to be readying to do it once more.<\/p>\n \u201cLeave now, Pa!\u00a0 Go!\u201d\u00a0 Joe tried again to shout with all of his might, though weakened by what had already been done to his body.<\/p>\n \u201cTake me!\u201d\u00a0 Ben screamed once again and hoped that the unseen enemy would hear him.<\/p>\n \u201cYour father \u2013 he will have his turn \u2013 but not now.\u00a0 Curse God and be done with it!\u201d The evil voice boomed out in a way that shook the walls with its intensity.<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 never!\u201d Joe replied and once more felt the dagger\u2019s assault.\u00a0 Joe writhed in pain as the demon ripped open the flesh right above his heart.<\/p>\n Ben, still paralyzed, watched in horror as blood began to flow from his son\u2019s chest and arm for no apparent reason.\u00a0 All he could see was Joe trying to get up off of the stone altar but with each attempt he fell back.\u00a0 He could only imagine what had its hold on his boy.<\/p>\n \u201cPa –,\u201d Joe cried out, weaker still.\u00a0 \u201cPa \u2013 if you\u2019re still there \u2013 get me the medallion.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben let his body fall straight down the side of the cavern.\u00a0 Though he could not advance his legs, he found that he could at least move his arms.\u00a0 Once he hit the floor of the cave Ben reached with all of his might for the medallion a short distance away.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease God \u2013 please help me,\u201d Ben whispered.\u00a0 He tried and tried to grasp the medallion with his fingertips but it was just a couple of inches too far away.<\/p>\n \u201cCurse God and you will have eternal life!\u201d The evil voice called again to Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cNever \u2013 go ahead \u2013 kill me!\u201d Joe responded and once more felt the blade of the dagger entering his body.\u00a0 This time it had caught him in his left side, pinning his body to the altar.\u00a0 ***Please God, save my father *** <\/em><\/strong>Joe prayed knowing he wasn\u2019t going to survive now.<\/p>\n Just then the cavern quaked more fiercely than it had before and the motion that it had caused happened to jolt the medallion closer to Ben\u2019s outstretched hand.\u00a0 He wrapped his fingers around it, and at that very moment his body was freed so he could stand.<\/p>\n \u201cNot my son!\u201d Ben shouted and bolted across the chamber shielding Joe with his own body just as the unseen dagger was lifted up for one final attack.\u00a0 \u201cTake me!\u201d Ben pleaded as he held his son in his trembling arms.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s hand pulled loose from the demonic hold and reached up to his father\u2019s face.\u00a0 He could feel the coolness of the man\u2019s tears against his own fingers.\u00a0 \u201cI love you, Pa,\u201d Joe whispered, intent on those being his final words before dying.<\/p>\n \u201cI love you, Son,\u201d Ben replied, seeing the increasing flow of blood spreading all over Joe\u2019s body.\u00a0 He was sure that the boy was about to give up the ghost.<\/p>\n Those two exchanges, between father and son had been more powerful than anything that Satan had to offer.\u00a0 Upon hearing them, the demons were forced to release Joe from their clutches, and even the Devil himself gave up on trying to pull the boy away from his father or God.\u00a0 The room shook violently, far more violently than ever before.\u00a0 But, Joe\u2019s body was free and his father was able to lift him up into his arms.\u00a0 Hastily moving out of the final chamber and seeking the entranceway, Ben carried his son away from the danger.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t leave me, Joseph \u2013 don\u2019t leave me –,\u201d Ben whispered over and over again, worried that by the time they found themselves out of the cavern that Joe would succumb to his wounds and blood loss.<\/p>\n By the time that the two Cartwrights broke free of the mouth of the cave it had seemed like hours.\u00a0 Ben, his breathing labored due to the strain of the rapid departure and his fear for his son, walked over to the two horses and carefully set Joe down in the shade of one of the close by trees.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t until then that the worried father realized that he still held in his hand the medallion.\u00a0 Biting back fear, Ben placed the object inside of his shirt pocket.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s body was covered in blood, and deep stab wounds could be seen in his chest, his arm and his side.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Joseph,\u201d Ben sighed, as tears drifted down from his eyes.\u00a0 The boy didn\u2019t look as though he had a chance in the world of surviving this go-round with the demons.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes blinked open and he stared up at his father.\u00a0 The fear and love on the man\u2019s face shot straight through to his heart.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Pa,\u201d Joe whispered and reached with his left hand and touched his father\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got to get you home,\u201d Ben paused and looked over at the two horses.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t think he should move the boy, not in his condition but knew that if he was going to try to keep him alive he had no other choice.<\/p>\n \u201cYou go \u2013 go on home \u2013 get the wagon.\u00a0 I\u2019m safe here now,\u201d Joe muttered and closed his eyes again, his exhaustion taking over.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t leave you, Son,\u201d Ben protested.<\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t run off anywhere \u2013 you don\u2019t have to worry about it this time,\u201d Joe insisted.<\/p>\n Ben hurried to his horse and grabbed a canteen along with his bedroll from behind his saddle.\u00a0 Walking back over to his son, Ben tried to make the boy as comfortable as he could.\u00a0 He withdrew his neckerchief and secured it over the worst of the knife wounds.<\/p>\n Ben bent down and kissed Joe\u2019s forehead and squeezed his hand tightly.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll be right back, Joseph.\u201d\u00a0 Reaching back inside of his shirt, he removed the medallion and placed it in his son\u2019s left hand.\u00a0 \u201cYou hang onto this,\u201d He insisted and then stood and ran over to Buck and sent him into a gallop towards the ranch house.<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n Joe, weakened by blood loss, passed out shortly after his father\u2019s departure.\u00a0 He had no way to know how long he had fallen under the blanket of darkness.\u00a0 It might have been an hour or just a few minutes, Joe wasn\u2019t sure.\u00a0 When he opened his eyes he squinted towards the figure hovering over him.\u00a0 Joe forced his eyes shut once more, trying to clear his vision.\u00a0 When he reopened them he clearly saw the form of his late great uncle Josh.<\/p>\n \u201cUncle Josh?\u201d Joe murmured his question, wondering if it was some kind of a peculiar dream he was having.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought I\u2019d come and wait with you awhile, Joseph,\u201d The man smiled and knelt down next to the boy.\u00a0 He pulled back the blanket which Ben had used to cover his son before leaving.\u00a0 \u201cThose are some nasty looking wounds you have there, Boy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI kept the medallion \u2013 just like you told me to, Uncle,\u201d Joe whispered and held the object out towards the man.<\/p>\n The specter of Uncle Josh reached for the medallion, taking it into his hand.\u00a0 \u201cVery good, Joseph, — it helped save you.\u00a0 Just as I thought that it would.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut — but how\u2019d you know?\u201d Joe asked bewildered.\u00a0 It really didn\u2019t bother him, the fact that he was talking to a man who had died over a year previous.\u00a0 Joe had in the past seen several visions of the ghostly figure, so this didn\u2019t surprise him in the least.\u00a0 In fact, after doing battle with the demons in the cave, it was a welcomed vision at that.<\/p>\n \u201cLong ago \u2013 many many years before you were born, I was told of what the future would hold.\u00a0 I always knew there would be a Joseph Cartwright \u2013 and I also knew what plans Satan had for you.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry that I couldn\u2019t tell you before I died, but I was afraid to.\u00a0 Sometimes it\u2019s actually better not to know what\u2019s going to happen to you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah \u2013well \u2013 since you know all that — am I going to live?\u00a0 I don\u2019t feel like it right now, you know?\u201d Joe asked, his face wincing due to the mounting pain from his many wounds.<\/p>\n Uncle Josh reached down and touched each of Joe\u2019s wounds.\u00a0 \u201cOf course you will, Joseph!\u00a0 Look at your arm,\u201d The man said and pointed at the underside of the boy\u2019s left arm.<\/p>\n With great effort, Joe lifted his arm closer to his face and noticed that the sign of the pentacle had totally disappeared.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s gone!\u201d Joe exclaimed.\u00a0 \u201cYou mean I won?\u00a0 It\u2019s over?\u201d<\/p>\n Uncle Josh patted the boy\u2019s shoulder and nodded.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s all over, my boy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe medallion \u2013 it saved me.\u00a0 I owe it all to you,\u201d Joe replied and fought back his pain long enough to smile up at his uncle.<\/p>\n \u201cHold on there, Boy, the medallion helped some \u2013 that\u2019s true \u2013 but it wasn\u2019t what saved you.\u00a0 Two far more important things saved you, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour faith \u2013 and the love you have for your father \u2013 and the love that he has for you.\u00a0 Love is a very powerful weapon against evil.\u00a0 It always wins out.\u00a0 Remember — love never fails,\u201d Josh said and then pulled himself to standing.\u00a0 \u201cI have to be going now \u2013 your pa will be here any minute.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUncle Josh \u2013 how can I ever thank you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve thanked me already \u2013 and who knows?\u00a0 Maybe there will be another Cartwright along the line someday who will have a use for that medallion?\u00a0 You keep it, just in case,\u201d Uncle Josh said and handed it back to the injured boy.<\/p>\n \u201cBut \u2013 will I ever see you again?\u201d Joe asked, saddened at the thought that the man would totally disappear from his life now.<\/p>\n \u201cYou may not \u201csee\u201d me \u2013 but I will always be with you, Joseph.\u00a0 Don\u2019t forget it, either!\u00a0 I have to be going now— goodbye, Joseph,\u201d Uncle Josh said with a smile and dematerialized right before Joe\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n ******************************<\/p>\n By the time Ben and Hoss arrived with the buckboard Joe was once again unconscious.\u00a0 They gingerly loaded him into the wagon and headed back to the ranch house. \u00a0Ben tried to bring Joe around worried that he might have lapsed into a coma.\u00a0 The boy made no sound to show he had heard his father\u2019s words of encouragement.\u00a0 Ben cradled Joe\u2019s head in his lap and instructed Hoss to drive faster.\u00a0 They needed to have Joe seen by Doctor Martin immediately.\u00a0 Adam had been dispatched to bring the doctor to the house.\u00a0 Now it was just a race against time to get the boy back into his own bed and hopefully save his life.<\/p>\n Just as soon as Hoss had carried his brother up to his bedroom, the doctor arrived with Adam.\u00a0 They hurried up the stairs to see how the boy was doing.\u00a0 Pushing the bedroom door open, Paul Martin strode briskly over to the bed.\u00a0 Ben and Hoss stepped aside to give the doctor some room.\u00a0 Hop Sing was the next person in the room, carrying up with him boiling water and fresh bandages.<\/p>\n Paul gave a cursory examination, in order to decide which of the wounds would take priority over the others.\u00a0 He shook his head wondering how the boy had suffered so much damage.\u00a0 The three stab wounds were deep and had begun to fester.\u00a0 Joe had scratches, much like he had sustained almost two months ago on his first trip into the cave.\u00a0 Turning the boy\u2019s left arm, Paul was amazed by the sight he witnessed and cast a glance over at the family.<\/p>\n \u201cWell \u2013 one good thing at least \u2013 that sign has disappeared,\u201d Paul called over to them all.<\/p>\n \u201cThank God,\u201d Ben whispered and moved in for a closer look.\u00a0 \u201cWhat do you think?\u00a0 Will he be okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Paul shrugged his shoulders and shook his head once more.\u00a0 \u201cThese wounds are quite deep, and this one here,\u201d He paused and pointed at the cut right above Joe\u2019s heart, \u201ccould have killed him.\u00a0 I\u2019m rather amazed that it didn\u2019t.\u00a0\u00a0 Of course \u2013 with what we\u2019ve seen here lately nothing surprises me anymore.\u201d\u00a0 Paul opened his black bag and pulled out implements he would need to make the repairs.\u00a0 He then looked over at Ben and read the worry and fear in his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cBen, I want you, Hoss and Adam to go on downstairs while I patch the boy.\u00a0 Hop Sing and I have some serious work ahead of us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut –,\u201d Ben began but was cut off by the doctor.<\/p>\n \u201cBut nothing!\u00a0 Now go on — you all could use a drink I\u2019m sure.\u00a0 I\u2019ll come down just as soon as we\u2019re done and I\u2019ll let you know how he\u2019s doing,\u201d Paul gave his most adamant glare and they all knew that he meant business.<\/p>\n Ben knew better than to argue with his old friend.\u00a0 Reluctantly he gave in.\u00a0 Running a hand through Joe\u2019s hair Ben whispered, \u201cWe\u2019ll be back in a little while, Joseph \u2013 you hang on.\u201d<\/p>\n The three Cartwrights turned out of the bedroom and Hop Sing and the doctor went about the task of trying to repair all of the damage to Joe\u2019s battered body.\u00a0 Paul closed the chest wound first, taking his time and cleaning the cut thoroughly before suturing the gaping hole.\u00a0 He moved down to the boy\u2019s side and did the same.\u00a0 The last wound was less serious than the first two, but still held a problem in closing it.\u00a0 Paul sutured the stab wound which fell right between Joe\u2019s left armpit and his collar bone.\u00a0 Satisfied that the closure would hold, Paul turned his attention to the scratches which seemed to cover both of Joe\u2019s arms and his chest.\u00a0 There were a few of the claw-like marks on the boy\u2019s face, but the doctor deemed them to be superficial and simply dabbed on antiseptic instead of opting for more sutures.\u00a0 The boy had enough of those already.\u00a0 When everything was said and done, it had taken more than twenty sutures to close the wound on Joe\u2019s chest, fourteen for his side wound, and almost that many for his upper arm.<\/p>\n Hop Sing gave Paul a fresh basin of water and a towel so he could clean off his hands.\u00a0 By the time he was finished the water in the bowl was completely tinged with the color of Joe\u2019s blood.\u00a0 Paul dried his hands thoroughly and went about placing clean bandages over his patient\u2019s wounds.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat you think?\u00a0 Little Joe gonna be okay?\u201d Hop Sing asked.\u00a0 He had hoped the doctor would say something during the hour of patching the boy, but he hadn\u2019t.\u00a0 The doctor turned and looked at the Oriental and smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cAnybody else and I would say no.\u00a0 But, this is Joe, right?\u00a0 It\u2019ll take a while but this time I\u2019m willing to bet that his wounds will heal,\u201d Paul replied and patted the man\u2019s shoulder reassuringly.\u00a0 \u201cWhy don\u2019t you sit with him for a minute and I\u2019ll go and tell the others?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing stay \u2013 in case Little Joe wake.\u00a0 You vely good doctor \u2013 but you know that — always save Little Joe!\u201d Hop Sing grinned up at the doctor as he took a seat next to Joe\u2019s bed.<\/p>\n \u201cWell — it\u2019s never been entirely up to me you know?\u00a0 I think this boy is watched over by someone with far better healing abilities than me,\u201d Paul answered and turned for the door.<\/p>\n All three Cartwrights downstairs took turns pacing and wondering what was taking so long upstairs.\u00a0 Though they knew that Joe had some serious injuries and that the repairs would be tedious, they were just about ready to charge the stairs when Paul appeared.\u00a0 He walked down to the living room and Ben met him at the bottom landing.<\/p>\n \u201cStrong boy — must come from good stock!\u201d Paul winked and smiled, giving away his prognosis.<\/p>\n \u201cThen — he\u2019ll be okay?\u201d Ben asked, his voice shaking with worry.<\/p>\n \u201cI think so \u2013 if past history is any example he should be fine.\u00a0 He\u2019s got a good deal of sutures in him, but hopefully we will actually see some healing going on this time,\u201d The doctor reassured the family.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Paul,\u201d Ben sighed feeling very relieved as he shook the other man\u2019s hand.\u00a0 \u201cIs it okay to go up and see him now?\u201d<\/p>\n Paul smiled broadly and nodded, \u201cLike I could keep you away?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou got a point there, Doc!\u201d Hoss laughed and patted his father\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you for coming out so quickly,\u201d Ben stated as he started up the stairs.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Adam had a lot to do with that \u2013 I\u2019ll be happy to take a much slower ride back into town,\u201d Doc grinned as he turned for the door.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll see you all tomorrow.\u00a0 Keep Joe quiet, he\u2019s going to need a lot of rest for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe will,\u201d Ben replied and hurried up the stairs, followed closely behind by his two sons.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n Joe slept peacefully for hours surrounded by the love of his family who stayed at his side.\u00a0 Later that evening Ben urged his two sons to eat their supper while he waited to see if Joe would come around.\u00a0 Sitting in the chair next to the boy\u2019s bed, Ben kept a watchful eye on his injured son hoping that there would be a sign soon.<\/p>\n A low moan escaped Joe\u2019s parched lips and his head moved from side to side.\u00a0 Ben was quick to pour a glass of water and offer it to the boy.\u00a0\u00a0 Gently lifting his son\u2019s head Ben urged him to drink.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s hazel eyes finally showed recognition and he took a couple of sips of the water before waving his hand to show he was done.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Pa,\u201d Joe mumbled and winced his face from the pain that had come back in full force.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Young Man, it\u2019s about time you woke up.\u00a0 How do you feel?\u201d Ben tried to sound upbeat, in spite of the seriousness of his son\u2019s numerous wounds.<\/p>\n \u201cKinda rough,\u201d Joe paused and reached out his right hand and locked it onto his father\u2019s arm.\u00a0 \u201cPa?\u00a0 Did you see it?\u00a0 Did you see them?\u201d He asked, hoping for assurance that what he had gone through was indeed a reality and not some strange figment of his imagination.<\/p>\n Ben stroked Joe\u2019s hair lightly with his left hand while allowing his son to keep his grip on his right arm.\u00a0 He could read the anxiety in his boy\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t exactly see them, Joe, but — I know that they were there.\u00a0 Something had a hold of me \u2013 I couldn\u2019t move.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t until I got a hold of that medallion that I could make my way over to you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut \u2013 you believe me now, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI always believed you, Son,\u201d Ben nodded.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s a good thing you held onto this medallion, huh?\u201d Ben indicated the medallion which sat on the night stand.<\/p>\n \u201cThat wasn\u2019t what saved me, Pa —,\u201d Joe tried to explain.\u00a0 He released his hold on his father\u2019s arm and reached for the medallion and took it into his right hand.\u00a0 \u201cI know \u2013 somehow it helped and all.\u00a0 But, it was love that saved me, Pa — love and faith.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI told you that love was a powerful weapon, didn\u2019t I?\u201d Ben smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah \u2013 so did Uncle Josh,\u201d Joe nodded, thinking back on the ghostly encounter earlier in the day.<\/p>\n \u201cUncle Josh?\u201d Ben asked confused now.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah \u2013 he came to see me \u2013 when you went to get help.\u00a0 He told me the same thing you had told me.\u00a0\u00a0 Love never fails.\u00a0 He also told me to keep a hold of this \u2013 and maybe it will help another Cartwright someday.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh?\u201d Ben responded, his eyebrows raised in surprise.\u00a0 \u201cSo\u2014you are going to save it for the third son of —,\u201d Ben began and Joe broke in, knowing exactly what his father was going to say.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah \u2013 the third son of the third son \u2013and so forth,\u201d Joe smiled and winked.\u00a0 \u201cThat is if I live long enough to have three sons.\u00a0 At the rate that I\u2019m going there\u2019s not much chance of that, huh?\u201d Joe said ironically, subtly referring to his many injuries.<\/p>\n \u201cOh \u2013 don\u2019t know about that, Son.\u00a0 You\u2019ve gone through a whole lot — that\u2019s true — but you always end up on your feet \u2013 stronger than ever!\u201d Ben grinned and patted Joe\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope so, Pa,\u201d Joe said and paused again.\u00a0 A strange expression spread across his face and he looked directly at his father.\u00a0 The brightness was finally once more in his hazel eyes.\u00a0 There was also a gleam in them that showed Ben that Joe was back to his former self.\u00a0 Joe grinned and remarked, \u201cYou know what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Ben asked, knowing from past experience that Joe was about to say something outrageous, just to prove that he was back to normal.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a hell of a day, Pa,\u201d Joe laughed.<\/p>\n Ben shook his head and smiled.\u00a0 The boy had not disappointed him.\u00a0 His strange form of humor was back, and was just as endearing as it had always been.\u00a0 \u201cOh yes, Joseph \u2013 one hell of a day all right!\u201d Ben chuckled and watched as his son closed his eyes again.<\/p>\n Sitting by the bedside, Ben breathed a sigh of relief as he watched his youngest son sleeping so peacefully.\u00a0 He had no doubt that the boy would recover fully from all of his injuries.\u00a0 Joe was resilient, that was a well-known fact.\u00a0 The boy also had some guardian angels apparently watching over him.\u00a0 That would never mean that he wouldn\u2019t have other problems in his life.\u00a0 But, it did mean that he was never really alone in dealing with them.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s faith was as strong as the man who now sat there looking at him.\u00a0 And that, combined with an abiding love, was all that he would ever need to protect him.<\/p>\n Ben closed his eyes, and eased back in the chair.\u00a0 He knew he might just as well get comfortable as it would apparently be another long night.\u00a0 Before he dozed off completely, he opened his eyes one last time and stared over at the medallion.\u00a0 A smile filtered across his lips as he whispered, \u201cthanks, Uncle Joshua.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re welcome, Benjamin,\u201d Came a voice from the bottom of the bed, where the specter stood staring over at the injured boy.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s face took on a puzzled look.\u00a0 He could have sworn that he had heard something.\u00a0 Shrugging his shoulders, he settled back again and closed his eyes.<\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n By:\u00a0 Wrangler<\/p>\n Written 8-23-02\u00a0 \u00a0Reformatted on 7-23-2025<\/p>\n Stories in the trilogy:<\/p>\n The Third Son<\/p>\n The Devil\u2019s Hold<\/p>\n Payback<\/p>\n (Dedicated to Rob the story consultant, who liked this crazy tale.)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Summary: The lives of the Cartwrights are turned upside down when Joe falls into an old well setting the stage for more mystery and danger.
\nThe Devil’s Hold<\/a>
\nPayback<\/a><\/p>\n
\n
\nRating T\u00a0 \u00a0WC 38,900<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":140,"featured_media":57707,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1015,23,1008,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57704","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-joe-pa","category-drama","category-family","category-hurtcomfort","wpcat-1015-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1008-id","wpcat-41-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot_20250722_085103_YouTube.jpg?fit=801%2C720&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57704","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/140"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=57704"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57704\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/57707"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=57704"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=57704"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=57704"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}