Disclaimer: I don’t own the Cartwrights or Bonanza. No copyright infringement is intended. Original plot and characters are property of the author. This story is for entertainment and no money was made from it.<\/span><\/p>\n Reviews from the Old Library are on the last page.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A Sure-Fire Plan<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the one we want,\u201d Bert said as he pointed at the man strolling along the sidewalk.<\/p>\n \u201cYou sure?\u201d asked Melvin.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course I am.\u201d\u00a0 Bert fixed his companion with a look and then asked, \u201cHave I ever steered you wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n Melvin scratched at his cheek as he thought it over.\u00a0 \u201cI suppose not.\u201d\u00a0 He swatted at a fly buzzing around too close to his mouth and asked, \u201cHow did Shorty describe him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll he said was the one he wanted has dark hair and wears a jacket.\u00a0 It\u2019s obvious he meant that one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy\u2019s it obvious?\u201d<\/p>\n Bert rolled his eyes before taking a patient breath.\u00a0 \u201cBecause he\u2019s got dark hair and has a jacket on.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid Shorty say what color his jacket is?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho gives a dadblamed hoot about what color jacket he\u2019s got on?\u00a0 If I say that\u2019s the one we want, then that\u2019s the one we want.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat if he ain\u2019t the right one?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow many times have I got to tell you?\u00a0 That there\u2019s the right one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just wanna be sure is all.\u00a0 It\u2019d sure be a shame to grab the wrong one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShorty says Old Man Cartwright\u2019ll pay the ransom sure as the sun is gonna rise in the east, so we gotta take his word on it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOld Man Cartwright payin\u2019 or the sun risin\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n Bert took a deep breath and counted to ten before removing his hat and smacking his partner with it.\u00a0 After another calming breath, he jammed his hat back onto his head.<\/p>\n The man reached his horse, jammed something into the saddlebag, looked around, shrugged his shoulders, and then mounted up.\u00a0 His horse kicked up puffs of dust while leaving town at a gallop.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll wait \u2018til he\u2019s a ways out of town before we make our move.\u00a0 Wouldn\u2019t do us any good to attract everyone\u2019s attention.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re sure he\u2019s\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n This time Bert rolled his eyes and said a quick prayer to whichever saint might be listening and willing to grant him the ability to keep from dunking Melvin in the water trough for the rest of the afternoon.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Adam was headed for home, absorbed in his new book.\u00a0 He\u2019d ordered it three months back and it\u2019d finally arrived at the mercantile.\u00a0 Between the heady smell of the leather cover and the stirring prose, he wasn\u2019t paying much attention to his surroundings.\u00a0 Besides, Sport knew the way home and if any danger arose the horse would alert him.\u00a0 Sport\u2019s sudden snort followed by a gruff, \u201cReach for the sky, Cartwright,\u201d meant that Adam wasn\u2019t going to reach Chapter Three before getting back to the ranch.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t have a large sum of money on my person, despite what you may have heard,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cWe ain\u2019t interested in money,\u201d said Melvin. \u00a0At a sharp jab to the upper arm, he clarified with, \u201cWe\u2019re interested in money but this ain\u2019t a robbery.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it then?\u201d<\/p>\n Bert tried to take a deep breath through the bandana that covered the lower portion of his face but ended up sucking in more fabric than air.\u00a0 He pulled the cloth down and asked, \u201cYou\u2019re Joe Cartwright, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam raised an eyebrow in response.\u00a0 He\u2019d never run into bandits that were interested in which Cartwright he was.\u00a0 Chances were pretty good that if these two wanted Joe, they\u2019d intended to kidnap his youngest brother and hold him for ransom.\u00a0 Considering he\u2019d wanted a short vacation for over six months, getting kidnapped was the next best thing.\u00a0 Maybe they\u2019d hold him long enough to miss out on the branding scheduled for the north pasture.<\/p>\n \u201cI asked you a question, Mister.\u201d<\/p>\n Closing his book, Adam replied, \u201cYeah, I\u2019m Joe Cartwright.\u00a0 That\u2019s me alright.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSee?\u201d Bert said smugly to Melvin.\u00a0 \u201cI told you he was the right one.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam looked from one man to the other and asked, \u201cHow\u2019s this work?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou come with us, we send a note to your Pa, and once we get the money we\u2019ll let you go home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow long do you think this\u2019ll take?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n \u201cAt least a few days.\u00a0 Maybe more, depending on how long it takes your old man to scrape up the money,\u201d answered Bert.<\/p>\n \u201cHow much am I worth?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe figure at least five thousand dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s all?\u201d Adam asked.\u00a0 Some kidnappers had demanded ten thousand or more for Joe\u2019s return; perhaps these kidnappers were part of a union that capped the ransom amount to keep down costs.<\/p>\n \u201cThat might not sound like a lot of money to someone as rich as you, Cartwright, but it\u2019s a lot to us,\u201d protested Melvin.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s get him to the shack and tied up just in case someone should happen along the road,\u201d advised Bert.\u00a0 \u201cFollow Melvin, Cartwright, and I\u2019ll be following you with my gun on your back.\u00a0 Don\u2019t try anything funny or I\u2019ll shoot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWon\u2019t I be worth a lot less money dead?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI figure you\u2019d still be worth something,\u201d answered Bert.\u00a0 Then he hollered, \u201cPick up the pace, Melvin!\u201d<\/p>\n The only sounds after that were the horses\u2019 hooves, the squeaks of rodents running out of the way, the warnings of rattlesnakes, and the cries of hawks.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n The trio finally arrived at a shack that had seen better days\u2014shingles were peeling from the roof and the porch sagged like an old woman\u2019s bosom.\u00a0 Fortunately, there was a hitching rail that still seemed sturdy so the men tied their horses snugly.<\/p>\n \u201cGimme your hands,\u201d ordered Bert as he pulled some rope from his saddlebag.<\/p>\n Adam obediently stretched his arms forward with his hands together to make it easier for his captor to secure the rope around his wrists.\u00a0 After tying him securely, Bert grabbed him by the elbow and steered him towards the shack.\u00a0 So much dust was stirred up by their entrance that Adam let forth a sneeze that must have loosened a few shingles.\u00a0 There were only two chairs at a flimsy looking table, so Adam sat on the floor with his back against the wall.<\/p>\n Melvin entered the shack with a frying pan and a coffee pot.\u00a0 After setting the items down, he checked the canisters that held the cooking supplies.\u00a0 There was no coffee or flour and hardly enough beans to feed a chipmunk (supposing a chipmunk ate beans).<\/p>\n While Melvin grumbled about their lack of supplies, Bert started poking around the place, which only stirred up dust.\u00a0 All three men began sneezing and Adam was sure he heard a board come loose.\u00a0 With a loud, \u201cAha!\u201d Bert found what it was he\u2019d been looking for\u2014a scrap of paper.<\/p>\n Realizing what it was, Adam said, \u201cLet me see that ransom note.\u201d\u00a0 Bert handed it over, sure that Adam would be impressed; instead, he was appalled at the atrocious spelling, complete lack of grammar, and underuse of commas.<\/p>\n \u201cTell you what, get me a clean piece of paper and I\u2019ll fix you up a real good ransom note.\u00a0 One that\u2019s sure to get my father\u2019s attention and make him understand the consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019d do that for us?\u201d asked Melvin in surprise.<\/p>\n Adam winked and said, \u201cWhy sure.\u00a0 You fellahs have to make a living, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Bert blew his nose after another sneeze and said, \u201cThat sure is neighborly of you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll be my pleasure,\u201d Adam replied with a cat-that-ate-the-canary smile on his face.<\/p>\n Melvin helped their prisoner to a chair and Adam wrote a note that wasn\u2019t too long or too short.\u00a0 Both Bert and Melvin were pleased to see that he\u2019d written the number 5 so large that Old Man Cartwright would have to see it.\u00a0 Finishing up with a flourish, Adam folded the note in half and held it up.<\/p>\n Bert took it and said, \u201cI\u2019ll deliver this and be back in time for supper.\u00a0 You keep an eye on him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI got to go to town for supplies.\u00a0 We don\u2019t have enough to last until we get the money.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2019s gonna watch him?\u201d asked Bert with a jerk of his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t go anywhere,\u201d said Adam.\u00a0 His captives looked at him with doubt in their eyes so he added, \u201cI promise.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re sure?\u201d asked Bert.<\/p>\n Adam straightened in his chair and said, \u201cCross my heart and hope to die.\u201d\u00a0 He used both index fingers to cross his heart since his hands were tied together.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s real neighborly of you,\u201d said Bert.<\/p>\n \u201cMy word is my bond,\u201d answered Adam.<\/p>\n As the sound of hoof beats faded, Adam rested his head on his arms and closed his eyes to get a nap.\u00a0 He never got the chance to completely relax during the day, so he intended to make the most of his vacation.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Bert slowed his horse as he neared the Ponderosa\u2019s barn.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want to get shot while delivering the note that would make him a rich man.\u00a0 Shorty, a Ponderosa ranch hand who\u2019d suggested that kidnapping his boss\u2019 beloved youngest son was a quick way to make some money, had warned him that the Cartwrights were sometimes trigger happy so it\u2019d be best to make a slow entrance.\u00a0 As his horse came around the corner of the barn, he saw a large man working at a forge.<\/p>\n \u201cPardon me, friend,\u201d said Bert.\u00a0 \u201cWhere can I find Mr. Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m Mr. Cartwright,\u201d the large man answered.<\/p>\n \u201cI got a note for you.\u201d\u00a0 Bert was afraid to dismount for fear that the man would pound him into a greasy spot in the yard upon realizing who he was holding for ransom.<\/p>\n After the man took it, Bert backed his horse a few steps and then kicked it into a gallop; he pulled it up after rounding the barn so he could peek at Cartwright\u2019s reaction to the note.\u00a0 As he watched, the big man shrugged and then headed for the front door yelling, \u201cPa!\u00a0 A message came for you.\u201d\u00a0 The door opened and Bert saw a white-haired man take the note, read it, and go back inside without a word; the big man returned to the forge.\u00a0 That seemed a strange reaction but Bert supposed that Old Man Cartwright was getting the money together.\u00a0 Since he had to get back in time for supper, he got his horse in gear and headed for the place where he was supposed to meet Shorty.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n A lone man sat on horseback in the north pasture.\u00a0 He pulled his watch from his pocket to check the time and clenched his jaw at the sound of the heifer\u2019s bellow.\u00a0 \u201cI told you to keep quiet,\u201d he snarled.\u00a0 The only response was a moo.<\/p>\n The man was Shorty, one of the tallest of the Ponderosa\u2019s ranch hands.\u00a0 He\u2019d been given his nickname as a gangly twelve year old by boys who thought it funny that he had to stoop to go through doorways.\u00a0 He\u2019d show them once he was a rich man!\u00a0 He was going to use his share of the ransom to finally realize his dream of opening a haberdashery shop in San Francisco to tailor to the needs of that city\u2019s wealthy.<\/p>\n When Bert pulled up his horse in a cloud of dust, the heifer let loose another loud moo.\u00a0 \u201cShut your trap!\u201d ordered Shorty.\u00a0 The cow twitched an ear to ward off a pesky fly and decided to try grazing on the scrubby vegetation.<\/p>\n Turning his attention to Bert, Shorty asked, \u201cYou got that note to Old Man Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure did.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t seem too awful bothered, though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDidn\u2019t you bring anything to prove that the Cartwright kid\u2019s been kidnapped?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou never said we had to that.\u201d<\/p>\n Shorty muttered to himself about doing something yourself if you wanted it done right and restrained himself from knocking some sense into the other man; it wouldn\u2019t do for Bert to be able to think on his own.\u00a0 \u201cYou best get on back to the hideout to help Melvin keep an eye on Cartwright.\u00a0 We wouldn\u2019t want anything to happen to him that might cause Old Man Cartwright to deduct some of his money from our hides.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMelvin went to town to get some supplies, just in case it takes awhile for the old man to scrape the money together.\u201d<\/p>\n Shorty\u2019s bushy eyebrows drew together, forming one long caterpillar above his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cWho\u2019s watching Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe promised to stay put.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you believed him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy wouldn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGet on back to the shack and keep an eye on our money maker!\u201d\u00a0 Bert kicked his horse into a gallop and headed off in a cloud of dust.\u00a0 The cow mooed her complaint as she shook her head.<\/p>\n Shorty waited until Bert was well out of sight before jerking on the rope around the heifer\u2019s neck.\u00a0 He\u2019d hidden a few of the cattle in strategic locations so he\u2019d have an excuse to be away from the herd and not make his fellow hands suspicious.\u00a0\u00a0 Being a ranch hand had its advantages sometimes\u2014especially when an excuse was needed to meet up with a conspirator to make a few extra dollars.\u00a0 \u201cCome on you lousy ton of stubborn,\u201d he griped as he led the cow back to the herd.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Melvin patiently waited his turn to approach the counter in the mercantile.\u00a0 He\u2019d tried whistling but after several glares from customers, he\u2019d stopped.\u00a0 Then he\u2019d started rocking back and forth on his heels until he came close to falling over.\u00a0 Now he tried to ease his boredom by twirling his hat on a finger.<\/p>\n Two feminine voices drifted over a table piled high with bolts of fabric.\u00a0 Melvin wished he\u2019d taken the time to splash some water on his face from the trough after tying his horse to the rail outside so he\u2019d look a bit more presentable.\u00a0 The voices giggled and Melvin stuck a finger in his ear to clear it out so he could hear them better.\u00a0 He sure hoped they were talking about a dance coming up soon.\u00a0 When he removed his finger he heard, \u201c\u2026green jacket matches those devilish green eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n Melvin knew they weren\u2019t discussing him as his eyes were blue.\u00a0 At least they looked blue most times even though sometimes they seemed sort of gray.\u00a0 Oftentimes his eye color depended on how dirty his shirt was, though.\u00a0 He was brought out of his day-dreaming by a deep voice saying, \u201cYou ladies would do better to pick fabric colors instead of discussing Joe Cartwright\u2019s clothing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Reverend,\u201d said one of the voices.<\/p>\n The reverend strode past Melvin on his way to the door and took in the man\u2019s appearance with a scowl.\u00a0 If his face always looked that sour, Melvin thought, there probably weren\u2019t many people in the pews on Sunday.\u00a0 As the door closed, feminine giggling drifted over the bolts of fabric.<\/p>\n Two separate thoughts collided within Melvin\u2019s head, causing a mighty ache.\u00a0 That Cartwright they had was wearing a jacket all right but it wasn\u2019t green.\u00a0 If he remembered right, his eyes weren\u2019t green either.\u00a0 When he got back to the shack, he was going to have to have a long talk with Bert.<\/p>\n \u201cCan I help you, sir?\u00a0 Sir?\u00a0 Did you need something or not?\u201d<\/p>\n A loud, \u201cHey!\u201d got Melvin\u2019s attention.\u00a0 He turned a splotchy scarlet when he saw the man behind the counter tapping his fingers on it in an indication that time was wasting.\u00a0 The unkempt cowboy stepped up and said, \u201cI need me some bacon, some flour, some coffee, and 6 of them licorice sticks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow much?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAin\u2019t I s\u2019posed to ask you that?\u201d asked Melvin.<\/p>\n The clerk\u2019s eyes narrowed as he asked, \u201cHow many pounds of bacon?\u00a0 How many pounds of flour?\u00a0 How many pounds of coffee?\u00a0 \u2018Some\u2019 isn\u2019t an exact measurement.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u00a0 How much you reckon three men could use?\u201d<\/p>\n Taking a deep breath, the clerk asked, \u201cYou got two dollars?\u201d<\/p>\n Melvin pulled his coin purse from his pocket and then, once opened, he turned sideways to inspect its contents without the clerk seeing how much he had.\u00a0 In addition to several pesos, he had a variety of U.S. coins and a wadded up dollar bill.\u00a0 He hated to part with his money, but he was soon going to be a rich man; at least that was what Bert said.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you have two dollars or not?\u201d\u00a0 The clerk was reaching the limits of his patience.<\/p>\n \u201cI got it.\u201d\u00a0 Melvin snapped his coin purse shut after he plucked what he needed from its shallow depths.\u00a0 He laid the coins on the counter and the clerk confirmed that it was the correct amount.\u00a0 As his order was collected, he strode over to the licorice jar and pulled out six dark black sticks, putting them in a paper sack.<\/p>\n \u201cHere you go, Mister.\u00a0 Two pounds of coffee, two pounds of bacon, and two pounds of flour.\u00a0 If you have any money left, you might consider a trip to the bath house.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt ain\u2019t Saturday,\u201d protested Melvin.\u00a0 The sound of feminine giggling turned his scarlet face a shade brighter.\u00a0 He swept up his purchase and headed quickly for the door.\u00a0 Once the sacks were safely tucked in his saddlebag, he took a bite from one of the licorice sticks and gave the rest of it to his horse.<\/p>\n Speeding back to the shack, he tried to remember what was so important about the jacket that Cartwright fellah had on.\u00a0 Seemed as if there was something he needed to tell Bert where that jacket was concerned.\u00a0 He chewed on a licorice stick as he gave it some thought.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Adam rubbed his back against the wall in hopes of scratching a persistent itch just below his right shoulder blade.\u00a0 Except for the rope chafing his wrists, this kidnapping business wasn\u2019t too bad, he thought.\u00a0 Joe made it sound like it was something terrible when it was actually pretty relaxing.<\/p>\n Hoofbeats alerted Bert that someone was approaching and he looked out the window to see who their visitor might be.\u00a0 Turned out the rider was Melvin returning from town.\u00a0 Bert thought it a shame that his partner hadn\u2019t been tossed from his horse and had his neck broken as that would be one less man to split the money with.<\/p>\n The door was flung open and Melvin strode across the room without a \u201chowdy\u201d.\u00a0 Reaching Adam, he squatted down, placed a hand under the prisoner\u2019s chin, and tilted his head back to get a good look at his eyes.\u00a0 Adam winced when the back of his head hit the wall with a thud.<\/p>\n \u201cOpen your eyes up wide,\u201d ordered Melvin.<\/p>\n Instead of complying, Adam squinted and asked, \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n Melvin drew his gun and placed the barrel against Adam\u2019s temple.\u00a0 \u201cBecause I said to.\u00a0 That\u2019s why.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s this about?\u201d asked Bert.<\/p>\n \u201cI heard some ladies in town say that Joe Cartwright has green eyes.\u00a0 If\u2019n this Cartwright don\u2019t have green eyes, he ain\u2019t Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHis eyes look green to me,\u201d offered Bert.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m Joe,\u201d said Adam.\u00a0 \u201cWhy would I lie to you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t got that figured out yet,\u201d said Melvin.<\/p>\n \u201cBring the lamp over and I\u2019ll prove to you my eyes are green.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGet it,\u201d growled Melvin to his compatriot.<\/p>\n Bert lit the lamp and carefully replaced the chimney before bringing it over to test the color of their prisoner\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 He squatted down and held it in front of Adam\u2019s face.\u00a0 Instead of looking quite so dark, his eyes looked more on the green side.\u00a0 Fascinated, Bert pulled the lamp away and Adam\u2019s eyes appeared browner; he moved the lamp closer and they again looked greenish.<\/p>\n After about a minute of moving the lamp back and forth, Bert took it back over to the table.\u00a0 \u201cSee?\u00a0 They\u2019re green after all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThose gals said Joe\u2019s eyes are green.\u00a0 Why are his eyes brown sometimes but green in the light?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause they\u2019re hazel,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that mean?\u201d asked Bert.<\/p>\n \u201cMeans sometimes they look brown and other times they look green.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, there you go,\u201d said Bert.<\/p>\n \u201cSomething just doesn\u2019t seem right,\u201d said Melvin.<\/p>\n \u201cBefore I forget, Shorty said we should send something of Cartwright\u2019s to his Pa as proof we\u2019ve got him.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam gulped nervously\u2014if one of his captors showed up at the ranch with something of his, then Pa\u2019s suspicion would be alerted.\u00a0 He finally decided on the one thing that would send his father off on a wild goose chase.\u00a0 \u201cTake my horse.\u00a0 That\u2019ll be proof enough for my pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Bert looked out the window and saw that the sun was beginning to set.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019ll have to wait til the morning.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to get accused of horse stealing.\u201d<\/p>\n Melvin, busy getting some supper together, said, \u201cI\u2019ll take his horse.\u00a0 That way I can talk to Shorty to make sure we got the right Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow many times have I got to tell you we\u2019ve got the right one?\u201d asked Bert.<\/p>\n \u201cI just want to be sure is all.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam tried to get comfortable in his place against the wall as the aroma of baking biscuits wafted in the cabin.\u00a0 He could get used to this kidnapping business.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Melvin was leading Cartwright\u2019s horse to the Ponderosa when he was suddenly startled by a steer running into his path.\u00a0 He pulled his horse up as Shorty appeared, tugging on the rope around the steer\u2019s neck, yelling, \u201cStop you crazy critter!\u201d<\/p>\n Noticing Melvin, the ranch hand said, \u201cYou\u2019re a half hour early.\u00a0 Besides, I thought I was supposed to meet Bert.\u201d\u00a0 Getting a look at the animal his co-conspirator was leading, he said, \u201cThat looks like Adam Cartwright\u2019s horse.\u201d<\/p>\n Melvin\u2019s eyebrows drew together as his mouth turned down in a frown.\u00a0 \u201cSo this don\u2019t belong to Joe Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe rides a black and white pinto.\u201d<\/p>\n Melvin\u2019s eyes narrowed and his face scrunched in thought.\u00a0 Shorty didn\u2019t like the idea of his henchmen suddenly developing the ability to think on their own.<\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t so sure we got the right Cartwright.\u00a0 That Joe\u2019s supposed to wear a green jacket and ours don\u2019t.\u00a0 I told Bert my gut didn\u2019t agree that the Cartwright we were watchin\u2019 was the right one, but he just said my gut was growling from indigestion. \u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe doesn\u2019t always wear that jacket, so I wouldn\u2019t be too worried.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou said this is some other Cartwright\u2019s horse.\u00a0 Why would Joe be riding someone else\u2019s horse?\u201d<\/p>\n Shorty scratched at the stubble on his chin.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe he borrowed Adam\u2019s horse if his brother was going to be driving a wagon back to the Ponderosa.\u00a0 I\u2019ll come out to the shack and take a look at our Cartwright.\u00a0 It wouldn\u2019t do for us to have one that isn\u2019t worth much money.\u201d<\/p>\n Before both men could head off together, they heard a shout of, \u201cShorty!\u00a0 You find that steer yet?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoggone it!\u201d growled the ranch hand.\u00a0 \u201cYou head on back and I\u2019ll try to sneak off later.\u201d\u00a0 After Melvin was out of sight, Shorty tugged on the rope he\u2019d lassoed the steer with and said, \u201cC\u2019mon you lazy, beeve.\u00a0 Time to get back to the rest of \u2018em.\u201d<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Melvin arrived back at the shack with Sport in tow, determined to prove to Bert that they had the wrong Cartwright.\u00a0 He burst into the shack, gun drawn, saying, \u201cIf you\u2019re Joe, that ain\u2019t your horse.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam was glad that he\u2019d had three cups of strong coffee; his mind worked a whole lot faster when properly awake.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s right\u2014the horse I was riding belongs to my brother, Adam.\u00a0 I borrowed it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d asked Melvin.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause my pinto\u2019s at the blacksmith\u2019s.\u00a0 He got a stone in his hoof.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou couldn\u2019t take care of the horse yourself, at your ranch?\u201d asked Melvin.<\/p>\n Adam knew his vacation would be coming to an end if he couldn\u2019t convince these two that he was Joe.\u00a0 \u201cI was closer to town when it happened.\u00a0 Everyone knows you don\u2019t wait until you get home to remove a stone from a horse\u2019s hoof.\u00a0 That could ruin an animal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s got a point,\u201d offered Bert.<\/p>\n \u201cBesides, I love that horse.\u00a0 He\u2019s my trademark.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour what?\u201d asked Melvin.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, my calling card.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat horse helps you get girls?\u201d asked Bert, blushing.<\/p>\n Adam winked, lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, and said, \u201cYou bet it does.\u00a0 Girls like nothing better than a guy with a fast, fancy horse.\u201d<\/p>\n Melvin thought there was something fishy about this story.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t sure what but something wasn\u2019t adding up, which made him wish he\u2019d paid more attention to the math lessons when he\u2019d been a schoolboy.<\/p>\n \u201cIf my horse was ruined because I didn\u2019t see he received proper care, I\u2019d never have a full dance card again.\u201d\u00a0 Adam added a dramatic sigh for effect.<\/p>\n Bert rubbed his eyes with the heel of his hand.\u00a0 Next time he was in a town with a good store, he was going to be sure to buy his horse some molasses drops to show the animal how much he cared.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with you?\u201d Melvin asked his compatriot.<\/p>\n \u201cYou ever see a man who loves his horse so much?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat don\u2019t prove he\u2019s Joe Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou said some gals were talking about Joe when you were in town.\u00a0 He said his pinto gets girls\u2019 attention.\u00a0 The fact that his real horse is being cared for the by the blacksmith proves that he\u2019s the same Joe Cartwright those girls were talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n Melvin tapped the barrel of his pistol against his chest as he grumbled, \u201cAnd Shorty calls me the stupid one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf a fellah takes good care of his horse, it\u2019ll take care of him.\u00a0 If it just happens to get him lots of girls, then it\u2019s a special horse that deserves plenty of good care.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam tried to keep the smirk from spreading across his face into a full-blown smile.\u00a0 It wouldn\u2019t do to suddenly end his vacation by getting shot.\u00a0 He finally settled for what passed as a cough, which drew Melvin\u2019s attention back to him.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a sure way to settle this,\u201d said Melvin.<\/p>\n \u201cHow?\u201d asked Bert, rubbing his nose to stimulate the thought process.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll just pay us a visit to the blacksmith.\u00a0 If he\u2019s got a pinto with a hurt hoof, that\u2019ll prove that this here Cartwright is Joe.\u00a0 If he doesn\u2019t have a pinto, that\u2019ll prove that we\u2019ve got some other Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWon\u2019t the blacksmith want to know why we want to know about his horse?\u201d asked Bert with a jerk of his head in Adam\u2019s direction.\u00a0 \u201cAfter all, if he thinks that we might steal it, he might just alert the sheriff.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want my neck to get stretched before I can enjoy a single penny of that ransom money.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou got a point,\u201d agreed Melvin.\u00a0 Horse stealing was a crime and there wasn\u2019t any point in risking jail or hanging for taking another man\u2019s mount.<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s smirk was fading fast.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t ready for his brief respite from ranching to end.\u00a0 Their mistake had been his gain and he was beginning to enjoy this kidnapping business.\u00a0\u00a0 He was roughly pulled up from the floor and a gun was again pointed at his head.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re coming with us, Cartwright,\u201d said Melvin.<\/p>\n “Where?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe blacksmith\u2019s to check on your horse.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re taking me into town?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right.\u00a0 If that isn\u2019t your horse\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll do what?\u201d Adam asked, eyebrow raised.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll\u2026um\u2026we\u2019ll\u2026what\u2019ll we do, Bert?\u201d<\/p>\n While Adam waited for an answer, he jerked away from Melvin and slid down the wall until he was again sitting on the floor.\u00a0 His captors could continue to debate the issue or ride into town to check on the horse.\u00a0 Either way, he intended to stay put and remain on vacation.<\/p>\n Before Bert could come up with a plan, all three men heard a bawling bovine outside and a man yelling, \u201cShut your danged noise before I turn your ornery hide into a set of chaps.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s Shorty,\u201d said Bert.<\/p>\n A lump formed in Adam\u2019s throat because Shorty, as a Ponderosa ranch hand, would reveal his true identity.\u00a0 Once Bert and Melvin realized they didn\u2019t have Joe after all, they\u2019d probably kill him.\u00a0 He drew his legs up and placed the soles of his boots firmly on the floor in case he might have to launch himself at someone to avoid getting shot.<\/p>\n Shorty walked in grumbling about stubborn cattle and slapping at the dust on his chaps with his hat.\u00a0 As he put his hat back on his head, he saw a man in a yellow jacket sitting against the wall.\u00a0 His eyes widened in surprise\u2014those morons he\u2019d hired had kidnapped the wrong Cartwright.\u00a0 Now he\u2019d probably never see a penny of that ransom since Old Man Cartwright was always grumbling about his oldest son and that fancy education of his interfering with his ability to think.<\/p>\n Realizing he\u2019d been recognized, Adam leapt to his feet and barreled for the door, shoving Shorty aside and leaving a confused Melvin and Bert in his wake.\u00a0 He was thankful that his captors had tied his hands in front as it\u2019d be easier to climb aboard Sport and ride off.\u00a0 Before he got more than a few feet from the shack, he ran smack into something sturdy and fell to the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing up here?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n Squinting in the bright sunlight, Adam said, \u201cI could ask you the same question.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHoss saw Shorty leading off one of the steers so we decided to follow him in case he was involved with that bunch that\u2019s been rebranding cattle,\u201d said Ben.\u00a0 \u201cYour note said you were at the Miller ranch building a windmill.\u00a0 Care to explain what exactly it is you\u2019re doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked at his eldest brother with envy.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t fair that Adam was the one who was kidnapped.\u00a0 The kidnappers must not have been very good at their job, he thought, because there wasn\u2019t a mark on his brother.\u00a0 Every time he\u2019d been held hostage, he\u2019d at least had a split lip or a black eye.<\/p>\n Adam got to his feet with some help from Hoss who then worked at the knots on the ropes.\u00a0 \u201cThey kidnapped me and said they\u2019d kill me if I didn\u2019t cooperate.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not what your note said,\u201d reminded Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not Joe Cartwright after all,\u201d said an irritated Melvin, walking through the doorway.\u00a0 His hunches had proven correct, despite Bert insisting he was wrong.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s smile practically stretched from ear to ear as he realized that he\u2019d been the intended target after all.\u00a0 It wouldn\u2019t do for word to get around that he\u2019d lost his value as a bargaining chip for men who wanted to make some easy money.<\/p>\n \u201cYou said you were writing a humdinger of a ransom note,\u201d snarled Melvin as he realized he\u2019d never see a penny now.<\/p>\n \u201cLook, all I wanted was a short break from the cattle.\u00a0 Besides, you and your partner didn\u2019t even know what Joe looked like so I took advantage of you.\u00a0 No harm was done.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBy the way, I\u2019m Joe,\u201d said the youngest Cartwright as he removed his hat so Melvin could get a good look just in case he\u2019d still be in the kidnapping business after this.<\/p>\n \u201cHey!\u00a0 You got a green jacket,\u201d said Melvin finally looking at the men on horseback.\u00a0 He looked at Adam\u2019s yellow jacket and felt his anger begin to boil.\u00a0 \u201cI bet you got green eyes, too,\u201d he said to Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cThey match my jacket,\u201d replied Joe with a wink.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you ride a pinto.\u201d\u00a0 Melvin grabbed Adam by the sleeve and jammed his index finger against the other man\u2019s chest as he growled, \u201cYou said the horse was at the blacksmith\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLooks like I lied.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy you\u2026,\u201d was all Melvin got out before he was swallowed up by darkness.<\/p>\n \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have hit him so hard,\u201d groused Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, Pa,\u201d answered Hoss.<\/p>\n Looking at his ranch hand, Ben said, \u201cYou\u2019re fired, Shorty.\u201d\u00a0 As the man opened his mouth to protest, Ben added, \u201cI\u2019ll make sure cattle rustling is added to the charge if you say a word.\u201d\u00a0 Shorty quickly closed his mouth and pressed his lips together.<\/p>\n \u201cSo we ain\u2019t getting rich?\u201d asked Bert in disappointment.<\/p>\n \u201cAll you\u2019re getting is a visit with the sheriff,\u201d said Ben.\u00a0 \u201cYou boys,\u201d he gestured at Hoss and Joe, \u201cget these men to town.\u00a0 You,\u201d he pointed to Adam, \u201ccome with me.\u00a0 You\u2019ve got some branding to do.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam mounted up and watched in disappointment as his brothers led his captors and Shorty away.\u00a0 \u201cBye, fellahs,\u201d he yelled at their backs as he waved.\u00a0 Bert just turned his head and glared at him.<\/p>\n Melvin held a hand over his eyes to block out the sun\u2019s glare as he had a powerful headache from that smack upside the head.\u00a0 Peeking through his fingers, he said to Bert for the fifth time, \u201cI told you that was the wrong one back in town but you just wouldn\u2019t listen.\u201d<\/p>\n Bert shrugged his shoulders and said, \u201cHe matched the description.\u201d<\/p>\n Shorty scowled as he realized he\u2019d probably never get to open that haberdashery now.\u00a0 Next time\u2014if there was a next time\u2014he\u2019d hire smarter henchmen who\u2019d get proof of their victim\u2019s identity before they went through with the kidnapping.\u00a0 He shook his head, thinking good help was hard to find, as he listened to Melvin and Bert bickering about who was responsible for everything going wrong and Joe complaining that it wasn\u2019t fair that it was Adam who\u2019d gotten kidnapped.\u00a0 If there was a next time, he\u2019d just do everything himself to make sure it all went according to plan.<\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n August 2010<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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