{"id":5855,"date":"2005-03-16T00:55:40","date_gmt":"2005-03-16T05:55:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5855"},"modified":"2026-07-29T13:49:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T17:49:14","slug":"gideon-the-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5855","title":{"rendered":"Gideon the Good (by Rona)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 <\/strong>A WHN for the episode, including a reference to “Emily.”<\/p>\n

Rate<\/strong>d:\u00a0 T<\/strong>\u00a0(4,935 words)<\/p>\n

Gideon the Good<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Landing on the floor, Gideon Bates, sheriff of Black River, felt his hand close around his fallen weapon. He swung around, aiming at Joe Cartwright and pulled the trigger without hesitation. His victim stood frozen, unable to get away, waiting for death. The hammer clicked on an empty chamber. Gideon lowered the gun, gazing at it in disbelief.<\/p>\n

On the other side of the shattered room, his wife, Lydia, moaned softly and crossed to crouch beside her husband. She was relieved \u2013 more than relieved \u2013 that Gideon hadn\u2019t been able to kill Joe. Joe was innocent of any wrong doing. His only crime had been as the sole witness to her murdering her first husband, from whom she had not been divorced.<\/p>\n

The door to the small house burst open and Sam, the deputy, came in, closely followed by Ben, Hoss and Luis. They froze, looking in astonishment and disgust at the signs of a struggle. Sheriff Bates sat on the floor; Joe Cartwright leaned against a shelf, sweat beading his face. After a moment, Joe spoke. \u201cThe sheriff just tried to kill me,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo protect me,\u201d Lydia inserted.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s the one who killed Harry Loomis,\u201d Joe added.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s telling the truth,\u201d Bates stated.<\/p>\n

The deputy looked slightly stunned. He handed Bates a sheet of paper that he took from his vest pocket. \u201cThis just came from the Denver police,\u201d he said. \u201cLoomis was wanted \u2013 dead or alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Slowly, Gideon took the paper and looked at it. For a moment, it looked like he might burst into hysterical laughter, or break down into tears. Lydia bit her lip. If only this news had come to them the previous day. None of this would have happened. Gideon wouldn\u2019t be facing the ruination of his career and neither of them would be facing prison. But it hadn\u2019t happened that way. They would have to face the future with whatever grace and courage they could muster.<\/p>\n

Joe pushed away from the shelf where he was leaning and limped heavily towards his father and brother. The back of his left thigh was stained with blood. Joe knew that he would have to get help and soon. But now, all he wanted to do was get out of the house and put some distance between himself and Bates. He felt Ben put an arm around his waist and Luis grabbed his right arm and looped it over his shoulders. Hoss followed closely behind. It was just as well. Joe barely made six steps away from the house before the adrenalin that had allowed him to fight for his life wore off and his knees gave way. Hoss caught his brother on the way down, hefting him easily into his arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s git him ta a doc,\u201d he suggested.<\/p>\n

***********************************************<\/p>\n

Coming into the hotel room, Dr Myles stopped for a moment upon seeing his patient\u2019s face. He looked at Luis, the Mexican youth who had summoned him for the second time that day. \u201cI hope he\u2019s going to be more cooperative this time,\u201d he commented gruffly as he laid down his Gladstone bag and removed his jacket. \u201cI didn\u2019t really appreciate being run out of your house at gunpoint.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Senor,\u201d Luis apologised. \u201cSenor Cartwright was not feeling well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smiling, for he was a kindly man at heart, Myles patted the youth on the arm. \u201cIt\u2019s all right, Luis.\u201d Turning to Ben and Hoss he introduced himself. \u201cI\u2019m Dr Myles. Luis brought me to his home earlier today to treat Mr Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI gather my son was less than welcoming,\u201d Ben remarked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d Myles shook his head. \u201cI quite understand his concern, Mr Cartwright. There he was, badly injured and being hunted by the sheriff for something he didn\u2019t do. I\u2019m not surprised that he didn\u2019t want to trust me. However, that bullet needs to come out of his leg before it causes blood poisoning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m\u2026 sorry\u2026 doc,\u201d breathed a frail voice from the bed. Joe was conscious again, feeling utterly wretched, but knowing that he was safe now. His father and Hoss were there to protect him. He could afford the luxury of an anaesthetic now, whereas the risk was too great earlier in the day.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it,\u201d Myles replied. \u201cLet\u2019s have a look and see how you\u2019re doing.\u201d He lifted the covers and began to examine Joe\u2019s leg. He wasn\u2019t happy with the swollen, shiny appearance of the skin and the limb was hot to the touch. The bullet had been in there a lot longer than it should have. If he\u2019d had his way, Joe would have had it removed the previous evening. Of course, there was the slight problem that he hadn\u2019t known about Joe\u2019s injury the previous evening, but that was by the by!<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not good, is it, doc?\u201d Joe asked. He propped himself on his elbows to look down at his leg.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s not good,\u201d Myles agreed. \u201cBut it could be worse. I\u2019ve got to get that bullet out now, Joe.\u201d He dropped the covers down and rose. \u201cI\u2019ll just get my things ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Myles went about getting hot water and laying out his instruments, Ben sat down on the edge of the bed. Joe\u2019s face was beaded with sweat and Ben brushed the tangled curls back off his son\u2019s face. \u201cI wish I\u2019d been here,\u201d he told his son.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish you had, too, Pa,\u201d Joe admitted. He forced a smile. \u201cBut you\u2019re here now. That\u2019s all that matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we\u2019ll be right here when you wake up again, too,\u201d Ben promised.<\/p>\n

Nodding Hoss added, \u201cWe sure will, lil brother.\u201d He smiled, but couldn\u2019t hide his worry. \u201cAn\u2019 I thought ya was havin\u2019 a break here ta avoid drivin\u2019 them horses home!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am,\u201d Joe joked, although the humour was as forced as his smile. \u201cI\u2019m taking a rest cure.\u201d He winced as he moved slightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not funny,\u201d Ben admonished Joe. He still hadn\u2019t got over his horror at hearing the story Luis had told them. The thought of Joe being hunted down made his blood run cold and he wasn\u2019t yet prepared to make a joke out of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Joe apologised. He glanced apprehensively at Dr Myles, betraying where his thoughts were really lying. Ben patted his arm. He wanted Joe to get better quickly and that involved an operation, which made Ben understandably uneasy. No wonder it made Joe even more apprehensive.<\/p>\n

\u201cRest,\u201d Ben soothed. \u201cJust rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

****************************<\/p>\n

The operation seemed to take forever to Ben, but it was over remarkably quickly. Myles had retrieved the bullet comparatively easily and stitched up the damage. He thought that Joe would eventually have full use of his leg, although he would limp to begin with. Luckily for the young man, his trials and tribulations of the previous day and the fight that morning had not done any further damage to the leg. The least amount of jarring could have sent the bullet deeper into the thigh, or even punctured the femoral artery. Had that happened, Joe would have bled to death in a short time.<\/p>\n

But at last, Myles called Ben back into the hotel room. Joe was dozing in a twilight state between unconsciousness and full wakefulness. He was still pale, but looking indefinably better than he had before the operation. The doctor\u2019s relaxed attitude made Ben think that all had gone well and he was right.<\/p>\n

\u201dQuite straight forward,\u201d Myles reported as he put away the last of his instruments. He leant over the bed and held Joe\u2019s wrist, taking his pulse. \u201cHe should wake up fully within the next hour or so. Let him rest and I\u2019ll be back later to check on him.\u201d He smiled down at the young man in the bed when Joe\u2019s eyes opened slightly, but there was no sign of recognition in the emerald depths and after a moment, Joe\u2019s eyes slid closed again. \u201cMiraculously, there were no major signs of infection. I cut out some bad flesh, but I think he ought to be all right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, doctor,\u201d Ben said, warmly. He sat down in the chair by Joe\u2019s bed.<\/p>\n

**********************************<\/p>\n

Later that day, Joe began to run a temperature. Ben bathed his head in cool water, hoping that would help, but Joe continued to get warmer. Outside, the sun beat down brightly on the street, adding to the already sweltering heat. Hoss opened the window. He didn\u2019t believe that fresh air was harmful to an individual. If air was that bad, then people would get sick all the time. The small breeze that crept its way into the room brought smells of hot dust and a busy town. The everyday noises were somehow more comforting that the silence had been.<\/p>\n

But Joe grew hotter. Finally, at dusk, Ben sent for the doctor again. Myles came, frowning and proceeded to examine Joe carefully, looking for something that he might have missed. But there were no other injuries, however minor and nothing else seemed wrong. He sat back and sighed. \u201cI\u2019m going to have to open up that leg again,\u201d he announced. \u201cI must have missed something and it\u2019s causing infection now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wincing, Ben agreed. He hated the thought of Joe going under anaesthetic again, for everyone knew how dangerous it was, but if that was going to save Joe\u2019s life, then he would not hesitate. Joe was weakened by his ordeal and in no fit state to fight off a raging infection. Gun shot wounds killed healthy men all the time.<\/p>\n

While Myles operated, Hoss insisted that Ben eat something and the two men sat in the hotel dining room, picking at their food. Hoss was aware that they were the centre of all eyes, but Ben seemed oblivious. His whole being was with Joe in the hotel room.<\/p>\n

A tall man came over and stood by the table. Ben belatedly realised that he was there and looked up. \u201cMr Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d Ben had no idea who this imposing stranger was.<\/p>\n

\u201cUS Marshal Peter Malloy.\u201d He shook hands with Ben before taking a seat \u2013 unasked. \u201cI\u2019ve come to look into the reported attempted murder of your son, Joseph Cartwright, by the sheriff of this town, Gideon Bates.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I see.\u201d Ben had known there was a marshal at War Bonnet, the town where he and Hoss had been going to meet Joe. \u201cCan I help you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so,\u201d Malloy replied. \u201cI was wondering when I could speak to your son?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d Ben responded. \u201cJoe\u2019s\u2026 quite ill. In fact, the doctor is operating again as we speak.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see.\u201d Malloy looked grim. \u201cThat is unfortunate. Would you mind if I came back in the morning to see how he is? A lot of my case rests on his testimony.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy all means,\u201d Ben agreed. \u201cBut if the doctor says he isn\u2019t fit to talk to you, then I\u2019m afraid I\u2019ll have to agree with him. Joe\u2019s been through a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHave ya talked to Luis?\u201d Hoss asked. \u201cHe seen it all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLuis?\u201d Malloy raised his eyebrows, successfully conveying his confusion. \u201cWho is Luis?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s the youth who runs the livery stable,\u201d Ben explained. \u201cHe saw Joe get shot and he helped to get Joe to his mother\u2019s house on the edge of town.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, I\u2019ll go looking for him at once,\u201d Malloy replied. \u201cI wonder why Sam, the deputy, didn\u2019t tell me about him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMebbe \u2018cos he\u2019s Mexican,\u201d Hoss offered.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat might have a bearing if we come to court and your son can\u2019t testify,\u201d Malloy admitted. \u201cBut I still need to hear what he has to say. Thank you for your time, gentlemen, and I hope Joseph recovers quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d Ben replied. He glanced at Hoss after the marshal left. \u201cLet\u2019s get back to Joe,\u201d he suggested.<\/p>\n

**********************************<\/p>\n

\u201cThe tip of the bullet had come off,\u201d Myles explained. He showed the small, squashed piece of metal. \u201cIt was at the other side of Joe\u2019s leg. He was lucky the bullet didn\u2019t shatter his femur.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIndeed he was,\u201d Ben murmured.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis femur?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThigh bone,\u201d Myles explained. \u201cBut the leg looks good and his temperature is already on the way down. I\u2019d keep bathing him with cool water until it settles. I\u2019ll look back in the morning.\u201d He gave Ben a searching look. \u201cMr Cartwright, I hesitate to add to your woes, but there is something I feel you ought to know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it?\u201d Ben asked, his eyes going automatically to the sleeping man on the bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr Cartwright, there is some bad feeling in the town towards your son,\u201d Myles explained. \u201cThey seem to think that it is Joe\u2019s fault that Gideon Bates turned to murder to solve his problems.\u201d He shrugged. \u201cBates was a strong sheriff and many of them find it impossible to believe that someone like him, a good man, if you will, could resort to murder.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph isn\u2019t lying,\u201d Ben thundered, his dark brows drawn down in a ferocious scowl.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that,\u201d Myles responded. \u201cI just thought I ought to tell you what the mood of the town is like. If I were you, I wouldn\u2019t stay here a moment longer than necessary. Take your son home as soon as he can travel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, I will,\u201d Ben promised.<\/p>\n

He saw the doctor out and then glanced out of the window before going to sit by Joe once more. There was a group of men on the boardwalk opposite the hotel, looking up at their window. Ben felt a shudder go down his back.<\/p>\n

*************************************<\/p>\n

The knock on the door after dark had fallen had both Ben and Hoss on their feet without conscious volition. Joe gaped at them both in astonishment, especially when Hoss then put his hand on his gun before Ben crossed to stand cautiously by the door. \u201cWho is it?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cLuis,\u201d came the reply and both men relaxed. Ben unlocked and opened the hotel room door and the young Mexican youth came in. He looked rather startled to see the wary look on Hoss\u2019 face and the way the big man\u2019s hand rested on his holster. \u201cWhat is wrong?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing,\u201d Ben replied, not wanting to get into it with Joe right then. \u201cIt\u2019s good to see you, Luis. Sit down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI came to see Joe,\u201d Luis explained. \u201cI had the marshal come to see me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened?\u201d Joe asked. He was propped up on several pillows, as he had found it impossible to sit up unaided.<\/p>\n

Sitting self-consciously by the bed, Luis snatched off his straw hat and twisted it in his hands. He trusted Joe \u2013 had trusted Joe since the first moment he met the other man. Joe had seen at once that he was not some ignorant peasant, insisting that Luis stand up straight, wipe the silly grin off his face and put his hat back on. Joe had treated Luis like an equal, for the first time in the youth\u2019s life and he liked the feeling. But it seemed incredibly strange to be in such intimate surroundings with men who were basically strangers to him. A lot of strange things had happened lately, he mused.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe asked me what happened,\u201d Luis responded. He looked into Joe\u2019s pale face. \u201cHe sounded like he believed me, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure he did believe you,\u201d Ben assured Luis. \u201cI spoke to him, too. He\u2019s coming to speak to Joe in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat will happen now?\u201d Luis asked. \u201cThe people in the town are not happy that El Jefe is in jail. They say it is not right.\u201d And suddenly, Luis understood why Ben and Hoss had seemed so wary. They knew of the unrest.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what happens next,\u201d Ben admitted, hoping to keep Joe from guessing the truth. \u201cBut this is bound to have come as a shock for the people of the town.\u201d He smiled and his eyes pleaded with Luis to say no more.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d Luis nodded. He smiled at Joe. \u201cHow are you feeling? You are looking better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m feeling better,\u201d Joe responded. \u201cJust a bit tired.\u201d<\/p>\n

Breathing a sigh of relief, Ben kept the conversation light during the rest of Luis\u2019 short visit. Ben didn\u2019t want Joe to know that there might be a problem \u2013 not until he had to know. If he had to know.<\/p>\n

**********************************<\/p>\n

The conversation Joe had with the marshal the next morning turned out to be more of a formality than anything else. Gideon Bates had admitted to his crime and the judge had agreed that a sworn statement by Joe would be enough to satisfy the court. To that end, the statement was taken and Joe signed it. Dr Myles witnessed it.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe I should make this my new career,\u201d Myles joked. \u201cThis is the second statement I\u2019ve witnessed today!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLuis?\u201d Joe guessed and the doctor nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cLuis.\u201d Myles rubbed his hands together. \u201cNow then, let\u2019s have a look at this leg.\u201d He spent some time examining the leg, touching it gently here and there to check Joe\u2019s responses, but at length he straightened up and nodded. \u201cIt\u2019s looking good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen can I go home?\u201d Joe asked. It was always the same when he was ill \u2013 he just wanted to get home to the Ponderosa. He felt safe there but it was more than that. It was familiar \u2013 it was home. He wanted to sleep in his own bed and have Hop Sing fuss over him, scolding him, and coaxing his appetite and urging him towards recovery.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow does tomorrow sound?\u201d Myles asked, shooting a sideways glance at Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo soon?\u201d Ben asked. He wanted to ask more \u2013 to ask if they were in that much danger. Were the townsfolk really that upset?<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t have suggested it if he wasn\u2019t up to the trip,\u201d Myles assured him. \u201cJoe has made a good recovery from the surgeries. His leg looks good and frankly, I\u2019m sure he\u2019d rather be at home than stuck here.\u201d He grinned at Joe, who nodded. \u201cThere\u2019 no medical reason Joe can\u2019t travel. He\u2019s weak, but that\u2019s to be expected.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease, Pa?\u201d Joe begged and used his \u2018puppy-dog\u2019 eyes on Ben.<\/p>\n

It worked. Ben could seldom resist Joe when he looked like that. Besides, he wanted to go home, too. They had been away for a while buying horses and he missed the ranch. And if there was to be some sort of trouble, Ben wanted Joe to be far away from it. \u201cAll right,\u201d he agreed. \u201cTomorrow it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

*************************************<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll need to go and make some arrangements,\u201d Ben told Joe and Hoss when the doctor was gone. \u201cHoss, you stay here with Joe and I\u2019ll be back soon.\u201d He could see by the look on Hoss\u2019 face that his older son wanted to say something to him, but was constrained by Joe\u2019s presence. \u201cI won\u2019t be too long.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the door shut behind Ben, Joe looked at Hoss. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI dunno what ya mean,\u201d Hoss admitted, thinking furiously for an excuse to divert Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes you do,\u201d Joe accused. \u201cYou and Pa are both as jumpy as a hen on a hot girdle. What\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n

For a long moment, Hoss said nothing. He knew how difficult it would be to mislead Joe and he decided in the end that it would be easier and safer to tell his younger sibling the truth. \u201cSeems the townsfolks ain\u2019t too pleased that Bates has been jailed fer tryin\u2019 ta kill ya,\u201d he admitted. \u201cPa\u2019s jist a mite anxious, is all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBates had the town in the palm of his hand,\u201d Joe said, quietly. \u201cI can understand why. He seemed like a good sheriff. I suppose it must be hard for them to understand how someone like that could try to murder a man.\u201d Joe shrugged. His understanding fa\u00e7ade was costing him in control. \u201cI am a stranger, after all. I could have murdered that man Loomis and just have been accusing Mrs Bates.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBates has confessed,\u201d Hoss reminded Joe. \u201cNone o\u2019 this were yer fault, Joe. Yer innocent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, do you know how I feel?\u201d Joe cried, gesticulating wildly. \u201cI was being hunted down like a common criminal for something I didn\u2019t do! I had no way to get help; no way to prove my innocence. If they\u2019d caught me, I think they\u2019d have lynched me!\u201d The remembered fear left Joe\u2019s voice and hands shaking. \u201cI\u2019m sorry for the man, Hoss,\u201d Joe went on, slightly calmer now. \u201cDon\u2019t get me wrong, I\u2019m sorry for him. But I hate him, too. I hate him for what he tried to do to me and what he did do to me. Is that wrong?\u201d he pleaded.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo! No, Shortshanks, it ain\u2019t wrong!\u201d Hoss insisted. He hated to see his brother so distressed.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe did it for the love of a woman,\u201d Joe whispered. \u201cHe knew it was wrong and still did it. I couldn\u2019t. I couldn\u2019t do the wrong thing for love of a woman.\u201d Hoss knew that Joe was referring to Emily McPhail, nee Anderson, who Joe had loved and lost. Emily had come to Virginia City with her husband years later and tried to persuade Joe to run away with her. Joe had refused. Hoss was neither surprised nor sorry. He had known that Joe would not have run away with a married woman and he thought Emily was a scheming minx.<\/p>\n

\u201cI reckon we was lucky, Joe,\u201d Hoss told him. Joe looked slightly surprised at that seeming non sequitur, but he was at least listening. \u201cWe was taught right from wrong \u2013 not jist from a book but by example. Our Pa allus showed us that we had ta do what was right, even though it was real hard. Its one thing to know right from wrong, but its another to live that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, you\u2019re right,\u201d Joe agreed. \u201cI hadn\u2019t thought of that.\u201d He slid down his pillows slightly and started to think about what Hoss had said. Presently, imperceptibly, he drifted into sleep.<\/p>\n

*****************************************<\/p>\n

It was horribly disconcerting for Ben to return from his errands and find Marshall Malloy parked in the hotel lobby with a rifle in his hands. Feeling his face pale, Ben forced his leaden legs to walk steadily over to the marshal\u2019s side. \u201cIs there something wrong?\u201d he asked, striving to sound nonchalant and failing dismally.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, not at the moment,\u201d Malloy replied pleasantly. \u201cBut just to be sure.\u201d He patted the gun, but didn\u2019t specify what he wanted to be sure of. All the same, Ben could guess.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think there\u2019s going to be trouble tonight?\u201d he enquired.<\/p>\n

\u201cCould be,\u201d Malloy responded, his tone still pleasant. \u201cI had to arrest a couple of jackasses who thought they ought to break Bates out of jail. Something about it not being right that the sheriff was locked up in his own jail over some made up story by an outsider that no one knew.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sighing wearily, Ben closed his eyes. \u201cI had hoped things would settle down,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I expect they will at some point,\u201d Malloy agreed. He still sounded unaccountably cheerful.<\/p>\n

\u201cAren\u2019t you worried?\u201d Ben demanded. \u201cYou\u2019re alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot for long,\u201d Malloy grinned. He glanced around and saw that they were the centre of attention. He raised his voice to play to the \u2018gallery\u2019. \u201cThere are three more marshals coming in on this afternoon\u2019s stage. They should be here within the next hour.\u201d<\/p>\n

An uncomfortable murmur went around the crowd. Ben, following the movement of people within just the hotel lobby, knew that this news would be all around the town within minutes. Quite possibly, the number of marshals expected would go up drastically, too. Well, no matter. If it meant that Joe would be undisturbed, so much the better. Ben felt a smile creep onto his lips. \u201cI\u2019m very glad to hear that, Marshal,\u201d he said. \u201cVery glad.\u201d<\/p>\n

*************************************<\/p>\n

Hoss was standing at the window when Ben went in. Joe was still sleeping. Ben looked him over, but Joe\u2019s colour was good and the aura of illness that he had had the previous day was gone. Ben indulged himself and ran a gentle hand over Joe\u2019s shaggy curls. Joe unconsciously nestled into that familiar touch and sank deeper into slumber.<\/p>\n

\u201cThings seem quieter down there,\u201d Hoss mentioned, gesturing to the street.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are.\u201d Ben quickly related his conversation with the marshal. Hoss was as relieved as Ben. \u201cI spoke to Luis, too,\u201d Ben went on. \u201cI asked him to come and help us get those horses back to the ranch. I don\u2019t think he was sorry to be leaving here and I think he might well be looking for somewhere else to live after this. If he doesn\u2019t want to settle at the ranch, I\u2019m sure we could find him somewhere and he could bring his mother to live with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSounds good to me, Pa,\u201d Hoss agreed. \u201cIf it hadn\u2019 bin fer Luis, we\u2019d a never have found Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Ben sighed. \u201cA job doesn\u2019t seem enough to thank him, somehow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure we\u2019ll figger somethin\u2019 out,\u201d Hoss insisted. \u201cAfter all, we got time while we\u2019re headin\u2019 fer home.\u201d<\/p>\n

*****************************************<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re sure everything is going to be all right?\u201d Joe persisted. He had awakened, demanding that Ben bring his gun over to the bed so that he could defend himself if necessary. Ben had explained the situation and Joe had slowly relaxed. The thing that had convinced him that everything was all right was the sight of Hoss tucking into a large meal delivered to the room by hotel staff. Joe had been quite pleased to discover that he had regained his own appetite and ate enough to reassure Ben that his youngest son was well on the mend.<\/p>\n

Next morning, Hoss helped Joe downstairs and onto the back of a flat-bed wagon. Joe was propped against his saddle and a blanket was tucked around him, although Joe quickly pushed it off. It was far too hot to need a blanket and he wasn\u2019t an invalid for crying out loud!<\/p>\n

Hoss mounted Chubb and Ben appeared on Buck. Moments later, Luis appeared leading Cochise, whom he hitched to the back of the wagon. It was then that he told Joe he was going along to help wrangle the horses. Joe was delighted. He had wanted to do something to help Luis, but had been at a loss to know what to offer.<\/p>\n

Next on the scene was Dr Myles and Joe apologised once again for refusing treatment the first time around. Myles smiled and waved away the apology. \u201cJust get that leg checked by your own doctor when you get home,\u201d he advised. \u201cSafe journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, doc,\u201d Joe replied, as Luis climbed onto the wagon seat and started the team in motion.<\/p>\n

As they left the Black River, Joe glanced around. None of the townspeople met his eyes. Joe looked past Ben and Hoss to see the jail. He wondered what would happen now. He was sure Gideon Bates would go to prison. What about Lydia Bates? What would happen to her? Joe was relieved that his sworn statement would be enough to convict Bates, because he wasn\u2019t sure he would be able to return here. The memories were too painful.<\/p>\n

A woman stood by the side of the road. Luis drew rein and jumped down from the wagon, hugging the woman. Joe guessed that this was Luis\u2019 mother. Joe knew he had met the woman, but he could find no memory of it. Nevertheless, she came forward and smiled tremulously at Joe. \u201cI am glad to see you better, Senor Cartwright. I feared for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cAnd thank you for your help.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did not do enough,\u201d she responded. \u201cBut it is I who must thank you for helping Luis. God bless you all.\u201d She quickly turned away before her composure broke, hugged Luis again and hurried away. Slowly, Luis climbed back onto the wagon and drove on.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you all right, Joe?\u201d Ben asked, riding closer.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I\u2019m fine,\u201d Joe answered, shaking off the momentary melancholy he had felt. He smiled at Ben. \u201cLet\u2019s go home.\u201d<\/p>\n

*****************************<\/p>\n

As they went down the road, Joe saw Luis\u2019 mother come back to stand on the side of the road. Her eyes followed the men as they grew smaller and smaller. She didn\u2019t know how she was going to survive without Luis, but she trusted in God that something good would come out of all this bad.<\/p>\n

Watching, Joe knew there was nothing he could do for her. He moved his bad leg, wincing. Suddenly, doing the right thing didn\u2019t seem so wonderful after all. So many lives had been torn apart \u2013 like his leg. The scar would be a visible reminder of all that had happened but Joe knew that one thing would haunt his memory, making sure he never forgot what had happened here: the look in a mother\u2019s eyes as she watched her son ride off into a new life and left her behind.<\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n

Disclaimer:\u00a0All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 A WHN for the episode, including a reference to “Emily.” \u00a0<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 T\u00a0(4,935 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":13411,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[23,1008,41,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5855","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-family","category-hurtcomfort","category-whn","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1008-id","wpcat-41-id","wpcat-13-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\/2016\/10\/Emily.jpg?fit=391%2C455&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5855","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\/45"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5855"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5855\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13411"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5855"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5855"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5855"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}