Summary: Ben disowns Little Joe; Adam fights him in town and Hoss ignores him. Now everyone wants to know why. The reason lies in October.<\/p>\n
Rating T, WC 41,844<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
When October Goes<\/strong><\/p>\n And when October goes, the same old dream appears, and you are in my arms to share the happy years.\u00a0 I turn my head away to hide the helpless tears.\u00a0 Oh, how I hate to see October go.\u00a0 I should be over it, now I know.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t matter much how old I grow.\u00a0 I hate to see October go.\u00a0 (Song: When October Goes, written by Johnny Mercer)<\/p>\n A not so typical night in Virginia City.<\/strong><\/p>\n Virginia City was usually a pretty peaceful town, and citizens there could mill about at their leisure without worrying about being accosted almost every day of the week.\u00a0 However, on both Friday and Saturday nights the atmosphere changed, and the place was filled with partying cowboys with money in their pockets and a thirst for alcohol on their tongues.\u00a0 There were two main saloons, one on either side of C Street, the calmer and more elegant Silver Dollar, and across the street the Bucket of Blood.\u00a0 Either establishment could offer entertainment, that being music of some kind and plenty of poker tables where a ranch hand could lose their monthly wages rather quickly.\u00a0 There were also quite a variety of saloon girls to entice the same cowboys into buying drinks for them or to offer other forms of enjoyment upstairs, especially at the much rowdier Bucket of Blood Saloon.\u00a0 Sam McBride, the owner and main bartender at the Silver Dollar tried to run a bit more respectable place, and that meant that, though he had hired his share of saloon girls, they weren\u2019t the kind who brought drunken cowboys up the stairs to their quarters.\u00a0 The same couldn\u2019t be said over at the competing saloon.\u00a0 Bruno Gilley ran the Bucket of Blood, and he didn\u2019t mind the small percentage he got from the working girls there at his place.\u00a0 Unlike Sam McBride, he allowed his saloon gals to welcome men up to their rooms if there was money involved with the entertainment that they offered.\u00a0 So along with that money-making enterprise, Bruno also cut his whiskey with some water which helped to spike up his profits.\u00a0 The rowdier cowboys didn\u2019t mind as they were usually drunk before they noticed that it took three or more shots of rotgut to get them a bit tipsy instead of only two.\u00a0 But, with pretty saloon girls and a lot of poker tables to keep them occupied, their minds weren\u2019t on whether Bruno was watering the whiskey or not.<\/p>\n Sheriff Roy Coffee meandered around the town, keeping an eye out for trouble, especially on the weekends when he expected a fight or two to break out.\u00a0 More times than not, Fridays and Saturdays the jailcells would fill up and he\u2019d be busier than the rest of the week.\u00a0 As he made his way down the wooden walkway, he spotted the pinto tied up to the hitching post outside of the Bucket of Blood Saloon.\u00a0 Roy shook his head and sighed to himself.\u00a0 *** Little Joe, don\u2019t you never go home anymore? ***<\/em><\/strong> He\u2019d spotted the youngest of the Cartwright family there at that saloon almost every night for the past two weeks.\u00a0 It just wasn\u2019t normal, or so Roy thought.\u00a0 Joe was the youngest son of his best friend, Ben Cartwright, and it just didn\u2019t look respectable for a nineteen-year-old kid to be hanging around that dive so many nights in a row.\u00a0 Roy had heard his share of rumors in the past two weeks about some trouble going on over at the Ponderosa and it all concerned Little Joe.\u00a0 It had surprised the sheriff, as in the past, Joe might have been on the hot-tempered side but other than that he was much like his father; courteous and respectable.\u00a0 Roy had hoped to run into Little Joe and maybe have a chat about his comings and goings and what folks were saying about him.\u00a0\u00a0 But the opportunity had yet to arise, and it looked as though the kid was getting to be a permanent fixture there in town and especially at the two saloons.<\/p>\n Hearing the thundering approach of horse\u2019s hooves, Roy shook himself from his internal musing and looked to the east side of C Street where the mounts were coming in fast.\u00a0 It hadn\u2019t taken more than two seconds to notice the identities of the three riders.<\/p>\n \u201cBen \u2013 Hoss \u2013 Adam!\u201d Roy called up to the three Cartwrights as they prepared to dismount next to where the pinto bearing the Ponderosa brand stood.<\/p>\n \u201cRoy,\u201d Ben nodded, and then swung down from his saddle.\u00a0 His two sons did likewise, and they all approached the sheriff.<\/p>\n \u201cAlmost dark, Ben \u2013 you three gonna do some celebrating, or is there some other reason that you\u2019re here this late?\u201d Roy asked, though he knew the answer to his question.<\/p>\n Both Adam and Hoss wore glum faces as they neared the lawman.\u00a0 \u201cWe see the kid is at his little home away from home,\u201d Adam grumbled and shook Roy\u2019s outstretched hand.<\/p>\n \u201cYep \u2013 Little Joe\u2019s been having him quite a high old time the last few weeks,\u201d Roy answered.<\/p>\n Hoss cast a look over at his father and read the intensity on his face.\u00a0 \u201cCan\u2019t say you didn\u2019t warn him, Pa.\u00a0 He\u2019s just got to the point where he won\u2019t listen to any of us now.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben drew in a deep breath and set his shoulders, readying to confront his son for one final time.\u00a0 \u201cThis is it, Boys.\u00a0 Joseph either comes home with us now or he just stays here permanently.\u00a0 Roy, hate to run off on you, but we\u2019ve got to deal with my errant son right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Roy squinted up at his friend\u2019s face and read a lot of things there on it.\u00a0 He could see exasperation and anger in the dark brown eyes and on Ben\u2019s careworn face.\u00a0 \u201cYou three go on \u2013 hope you boys have some luck with the kid.\u00a0 I\u2019ll see you next time you\u2019re in town, Ben,\u201d He patted his friend\u2019s shoulder in a show of moral support and then watched as the three Cartwrights headed into the saloon.<\/p>\n The slap heard round the world.<\/strong><\/p>\n The three men walked in through the swinging doors and looked around the crowded room.\u00a0 The place was both packed and noisy.\u00a0 There was the sound of music coming from a tinny piano somewhere in the back and the loud conversations of cowhands sitting at numerous poker tables.\u00a0 Ben\u2019s face formed a scowl when he finally spotted his youngest son sitting at a table in the middle of the room.\u00a0 There was a saloon girl perched on his son\u2019s lap and she was whispering in Joe\u2019s ear.\u00a0 Hoss and Adam neared their father and noticed the fact that the man was clenching his fists.\u00a0 They shook their heads over the sight of their brother and the fact that he had yet to notice any of his family as they made their way to his table.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph,\u201d Ben growled down at his son.\u00a0 \u201cI want to talk with you.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe settled the saloon girl over to the other side of his lap as he stared up at the white-haired man.\u00a0 \u201cSorry, I\u2019m busy,\u201d Joe smirked and then kissed the girl on the cheek, ignoring the three men who were now circling his table.<\/p>\n \u201cWho are these good-looking men, Joe?\u201d The girl asked smiling up at the three men drawing closer to where the two of them sat in the chair.<\/p>\n \u201cJust some people that I use to know,\u201d Joe muttered and reached for his shot of whiskey.<\/p>\n \u201cYou boys want a drink?\u201d The saloon girl asked.<\/p>\n Ben fought back his ire and stared down at the woman and said, \u201cMa\u2019am, if you wouldn\u2019t mind — we need to talk to your friend there.\u00a0 Would you kindly get up off his lap?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s okay, Crystal honey \u2013 you go get us another bottle \u2013 I\u2019ll be done here in just a minute,\u201d Joe sighed and handed the girl a silver dollar.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Joe \u2013 I\u2019ll be back soon,\u201d she said and swiped a hand through the curly brown hair as she hopped down from his lap and turned towards the bar.<\/p>\n Ben placed his hands on his hips to control the rage he was feeling inside.\u00a0 He stared hard at the young man he had raised.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, I\u2019ve told you enough times what\u2019s expected of you.\u00a0\u00a0 Now are you going to straighten out and fly right or are you going to spend your time drinking and carousing?<\/p>\n Joe stood and squared off with his father.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t going to be talked to like a little kid.\u00a0 He figured he had proven himself to be a man and it was about time his family accepted that fact.<\/p>\n \u201cYou want another Adam — or another Hoss \u2013 you\u2019ve never accepted that I\u2019m not like either one of these two!\u201d Joe shouted as he pointed to both of his brothers.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t need you to tell me what to do where to go and who to see.\u00a0 Now just leave me alone!\u201d<\/p>\n Both Hoss and Adam were just about to jump in and cuff their little brother for the way he had shouted at their pa but before they had the opportunity, Ben took care of the matter.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s right hand flailed out and backhanded his son across his face.\u00a0 The slap had been so intense that it could be heard at several of the tables next to where Joe stood.\u00a0 People all around him stared over at the commotion.<\/p>\n His hand reaching up to touch his face, Joe fought back his desire to haul off and hit his father for what he had done to him.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s the last one that you get!\u201d Joe sneered up at Ben.\u00a0 \u201cYou ever hit me again and I\u2019ll take you down \u2013 that\u2019s not a threat\u2014it\u2019s a promise!\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss started over to his little brother wanting to choke him over what he had said but Pa\u2019s hand stopped his progression.\u00a0 \u201cNo, Hoss, leave it alone,\u201d Ben insisted.\u00a0 He then turned his attention back to Joe.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve had all that I am going to take from you, Young Man, this is it.\u00a0 Since you don\u2019t need your family \u2013 since you don\u2019t want to act like a Cartwright \u2013 well \u2013 then consider yourself on your own.\u00a0 I\u2019m done with you!\u00a0 Just consider yourself disowned.\u00a0 I\u2019ll have the papers drawn up tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe laughed sarcastically and returned, \u201cFine by me! I don\u2019t need your damn money and I don\u2019t need any of you!\u00a0 I never figured myself to be like you \u2013 no I\u2019m more like my mother\u2014or so I\u2019ve been told.\u00a0 Now \u2013 get away from me \u2013 I\u2019ve got better things to do.\u201d\u00a0 Joe whistled across the room and Crystal came back over to his table.\u00a0 \u201cC\u2019mon, Honey, let\u2019s go on up to your room.\u00a0 I could use some entertainment \u2013 it\u2019s getting dull around here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, Sugar \u2013 I\u2019ll take care of you!\u201d Crystal smiled and took Joe by the hand.\u00a0 Carrying a whiskey bottle with them, they turned to go up the stairs where the private quarters for the saloon girls were located.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go home, Pa,\u201d Adam whispered sadly.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry about all of this, Pa,\u201d Hoss said and draped an arm around his father\u2019 shoulder trying to comfort him.<\/p>\n Ben drew in a deep breath and gathered himself.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m fine— it\u2019s the way he wants it.\u00a0 I did the best that I could with that boy \u2013 it\u2019s over now. We\u2019ll just have to go on without him.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go home.\u201d<\/p>\n The three men walked out of the Bucket of Blood Saloon, as people began to talk about the fight that they had just witnessed.\u00a0 The rumor mill was in full force by the time the three Cartwrights made it to their horses and headed back to the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n All the world\u2019s a stage.<\/strong><\/p>\n Joe and Crystal made their way up the staircase to the second floor where they spotted a cowboy being led into another saloon girl\u2019s room.\u00a0 Joe laughed loudly and placed his arm around Crystal\u2019s waist and kissed her cheek as he nodded toward the other man.<\/p>\n \u201cHave a good night!\u201d Joe called to the cowboy who was being led into the room next door.\u00a0 \u201cI know that I will,\u201d Joe winked as Crystal opened her door.\u00a0 The other man just nodded Joe\u2019s way and hurried inside.<\/p>\n Crystal took the bottle of whiskey out of Joe\u2019s hand and placed it on top of the table next to the sofa.\u00a0 \u201cJoe, you just sit down while I slip into something a little more comfortable,\u201d she said with a grin and patted his face.\u00a0 \u201cThen you can decide what kind of entertainment you want tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded up at Crystal and winked her way.\u00a0 \u201cHow about what we had last night?\u00a0 I don\u2019t know about you \u2013 but I had a good time!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll see what I can do.\u00a0 Be back in just a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n As Crystal disappeared into the next room Joe spread out on the sofa.\u00a0 He eyed the liquor bottle but decided not to indulge at the present.\u00a0 Just ten minutes later the girl walked back into the room.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope you like this \u2013 it\u2019s new,\u201d Crystal said as she displayed what she had changed into for the evening.<\/p>\n Joe whistled between his teeth and laughed.\u00a0 \u201cHoney, that\u2019s even better than last night.\u00a0 Now I hope you\u2019re ready \u2013 because I sure am.\u201d<\/p>\n Crystal sat down on the sofa next to her date and pushed him into a seated position.\u00a0 \u201cHere \u2013 penny a point like last night,\u201d she said and pulled the deck of cards out of her heavy quilted robe.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m into you for better than five dollars now.\u00a0 You do know I\u2019ve been disowned \u2013 so money is kind of tight,\u201d Joe returned, fighting a grin.<\/p>\n \u201cOh yes \u2013 I heard.\u00a0 Boy that was quite a whack your father gave you \u2013 I heard it all the way over at the counter!\u00a0 You\u2019re sure your pa didn\u2019t loosen a tooth?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery funny,\u201d Joe sighed.\u00a0 \u201cBut \u2013 it does smart a bit \u2013 how about a kiss on the cheek to make it all better?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow about I knock you off of this sofa?\u201d Crystal countered.\u00a0 \u201cOr maybe you\u2019d like to say that to my husband?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe drew himself to a seated position and moved a bit farther away from the girl.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry \u2013 I was just kidding around.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe, look, I know none of this has been easy on you.\u00a0 Plus, I know it\u2019s hard for someone like you to act like you\u2019re a bit \u2013 well deviant.\u00a0 But once you and I are up in this room by ourselves we\u2019ve got to act professionally.\u00a0 Now \u2013 let\u2019s play cards.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded and replied, \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am, no need to remind me, Crystal.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got to joke to take the sting away from what all this acting like a blame fool is doing to me and my family.\u201d<\/p>\n Crystal patted Joe\u2019s shoulder and smiled, \u201cI know \u2013 you\u2019re not the usual type we pick for these jobs.\u00a0 But it was necessary due to the circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got to run out around ten to get some things set up for tomorrow.\u00a0 So, let\u2019s play cards to take our minds off all of this, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Crystal nodded and set the deck down in front of Joe.\u00a0 \u201cYou cut the cards, so you\u2019ll know when I win that I haven\u2019t been cheating.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope I start winning or I\u2019ll lose my hotel room,\u201d He sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, you\u2019ll be losing it soon enough, Joe.\u00a0 Now go ahead and deal \u2013 it\u2019s your turn.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe grabbed the cards and shuffled them and then cut them again.\u00a0 One hand at a time the two of them passed the hours away until Joe was due to rendezvous with his next contact.<\/p>\n Not much of a mustache.<\/strong><\/p>\n Joe\u2019s residence at the International House Hotel had been ongoing since he had left the Ponderosa more than two weeks ago.\u00a0 When he wasn\u2019t drinking or spending his time with Crystal in her room at the Bucket of Blood, he was lounging around there at the hotel.\u00a0 It afforded him privacy and allowed him to come and go as he pleased.\u00a0 After leaving Crystal a little after ten thirty that night, he made it back into his hotel room and waited for the scheduled meeting time of eleven o\u2019clock.\u00a0 Joe pulled on his jacket and holster and headed down the back stairs where he wouldn\u2019t be spotted that late at night.<\/p>\n There were two external staircases behind the hotel at either side.\u00a0 There were also two outhouses, and the rest of the area was barren.\u00a0 Joe determined that one of the staircases would prove to be a better meeting spot as it was dark with only a small amount of light which streamed in from the lantern out towards the street.\u00a0 He lit his cigarette and waited.<\/p>\n The whispered voice called his name, \u201cJoseph?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stepped out from underneath the back stairs and approached the white-haired man.<\/p>\n \u201cHi, ya, Pa!\u201d Joe smiled as he drew closer to him.\u00a0 \u201cNobody saw you, did they?\u201d He asked warily.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Son, I had your brothers take Buck on home and traded out for another mount.\u00a0 It\u2019s tied up just behind the mercantile.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood job, Pa,\u201d Joe nodded and patted his arm.<\/p>\n Ben took a good look at his son, inspecting him thoroughly.\u00a0 \u201cJust what is THAT<\/strong>?\u201d Pa asked pointing at what his son held between the index finger and thumb of his left hand.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s part of my new persona \u2013 I rolled it myself too, Pa,\u201d Joe sounded off proudly.<\/p>\n \u201cOh?\u00a0 You did, huh?\u00a0 Here let me get a good look at it,\u201d he called to his son and Joe handed it over.<\/p>\n Dropping the cigarette down on the ground, he crushed it under the toe of his right boot. Ben shook his head and pointed his index finger at his son.\u00a0 \u201cFind another persona, Joseph.\u00a0 Understand?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe groaned and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cShucks, Pa, I\u2019ve got to look as mean and as tough as I can!\u00a0 I\u2019m trying to grow a mustache but it\u2019s taking too long,\u201d He complained.<\/p>\n Ben frowned once more and rolled his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cOh?\u00a0 I just thought you had gotten some dirt on your upper lip.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery funny, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow \u2013 you\u2019ve sure been spending a lot of time over at the Bucket of Blood.\u00a0 And I might add \u2013 up in the saloon girl\u2019s quarters.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cC\u2019mon, Pa, you\u2019ll be happy to know that my honor is still very much intact.\u00a0 Besides, you do know that her husband is a U.S. Marshall, right?\u00a0 You don\u2019t think I would be stupid enough to try anything knowing that do you?\u201d Joe quipped.<\/p>\n Ben drew in a deep breath and his face took on a serious appearance.\u00a0 \u201cI know that I raised you to know right from wrong and you\u2019ve never let me down yet.\u00a0 Now, let\u2019s get serious, Joseph, you do realize how treacherous this situation is, don\u2019t you?\u00a0 I don\u2019t want you to get distracted with this role that you\u2019re playing.\u00a0 I wish that Colonel McMasters hadn\u2019t come to you with this whole scheme.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe reached over and dropped his hand down onto his father\u2019s arm trying to set him at ease.\u00a0\u00a0 He could read both apprehension and concern in the man\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cPa, you know that I have to do it for Jennifer \u2013 and for her husband Steve.\u00a0 Neither of them deserved to die the way that they did.\u00a0 And if one of the ringleaders is who we think it is, well, I\u2019m the best candidate to join up with him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI still think they could\u2019ve found someone else \u2013 Joseph \u2013 you\u2019re just weeks away from turning twenty.\u00a0 I think that you\u2019re far too young to do this, it\u2019s such a dangerous game that you\u2019re playing,\u201d Ben voiced his concerns, his face showing the strain of the charade that they were involved in.<\/p>\n Joe drew closer to his father and stared up into his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cPa?\u00a0 I mean who could they get?\u00a0 Adam?\u00a0 Nobody would believe old Shakespeare has gone bad.\u00a0 And then there\u2019s Hoss \u2013 for goodness sakes no one would ever buy him turning evil!\u00a0 But \u2013 well \u2013 me \u2013 that\u2019s another matter.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got the fiery temper, right?\u00a0 I\u2019m the one who\u2019s always in some sort of trouble all the time.\u00a0 And I\u2019m the one who you most likely would have disowned!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just not funny, Son,\u201d Ben whispered as his hand sought out his son\u2019s right cheek, tenderly touching it.\u00a0 He tried to get a good look at where he had back-handed Joe and was appalled to see that a large red streak had formed. \u201cI hate that I had to hit you like that, Joseph.\u00a0 It looks like you\u2019re going to have a bruise there in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe reached out for his father, placing a hand on his shoulder to try to alleviate his worry.\u00a0 \u201cPa, we all agreed that you had to hit me hard enough to prove that you were mad enough to disown me.\u00a0 Besides, I\u2019m okay, Pa \u2013 really.\u00a0 If I can\u2019t take a slap then I\u2019m sure not going to make it through what\u2019s up ahead for me in all of this, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s exactly what worries me,\u201d Ben admitted and pulled his youngest to his chest, knowing that they wouldn\u2019t be able to see each other very often due to the situation.\u00a0 Closing his eyes he prayed that his son would stay safe and that the whole ordeal would be over soon.<\/p>\n Easing the boy out of his embrace Pa was back to being the stern patriarch. \u201cNow \u2013 Young Man, what about all of that liquor you\u2019ve been swilling at the saloon?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe giggled and addressed the situation.\u00a0 \u201cPa, if anyone else were to get a taste of what\u2019s in those bottles that Crystal and I use they\u2019d understand why I can hold my liquor so well.\u00a0 It\u2019s straight tea, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stared hard at his son, making sure that the boy was telling him the truth of the matter.<\/p>\n Joe thought he heard someone out on the street, and both he and Pa backed underneath the stairs to be cloaked by the darkness that it afforded them.\u00a0 It appeared to be just someone walking home late at night, and they never turned towards either of the men who were hiding in the shadows.<\/p>\n \u201cPa, as much as I\u2019d like to stand here and talk with you \u2013 well I can\u2019t be spotted so we\u2019d better say what\u2019s on our minds and then go our separate ways.\u00a0 Remember if anyone happens to seek you out, unless they use that code word, don\u2019t tell them anything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI understand and I\u2019m surely not going to put you in more jeopardy than you already are, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTomorrow \u2013 I guess after you disown me legally\u2013 then have Adam show up outside the Silver Dollar around one.\u00a0 You tell him not to pull any of his punches \u2013 because I\u2019m not gonna pull mine.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head feeling very uncomfortable with the next part of the charade.\u00a0 \u201cJoe \u2013 I don\u2019t like it \u2013 you two brothers going at it like that!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cC\u2019mon, Pa \u2013 it\u2019s better that it\u2019s the two of us \u2013 after all we\u2019ve been at each other\u2019s throats for years and you\u2019ve never let us get it out of our systems.\u00a0 Besides, if it were Hoss he\u2019d knock me out with one punch!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph \u2013 I sure hope we can get all of this resolved quickly.\u00a0 There are folks who think you are \u2013 well — spending far too much time in the company of saloon girls.\u00a0 You know how I feel about that sort of thing and it\u2019s bad for a young man\u2019s reputation, even though you\u2019re not really doing what they assume that you are.\u00a0 On top of that they all believe that I could just up and disown you like this.\u00a0 It is a bit much.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded adamantly, \u201cThat\u2019s EXACTLY<\/strong> the way we need everyone to believe, Pa.\u00a0 If it doesn\u2019t look like I\u2019ve gone bad this won\u2019t ever work.\u00a0 We can\u2019t catch the ones who caused all those deaths unless I look like I\u2019ve hit rock bottom and have nothing else to lose.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben drew in a deep breath and pulled his youngest into his arms for one final time.\u00a0 \u201cPromise me \u2013 promise me that you won\u2019t get hurt.\u00a0 If things get too out of control, I want you to come home.\u00a0 Just come home, Joseph \u2013 where I can help you \u2013 and we\u2019ll work it out.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe allowed his father to hold onto him for another minute. Secretly he admitted to himself that he did need to feel the protection and love that Pa had always offered him freely.\u00a0 \u201cI promise, and I\u2019ll send word to you when I can.\u00a0 But I\u2019ve got to go now.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be careful don\u2019t worry.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben lifted his son\u2019s chin to stare into his eyes one last time.\u00a0 \u201cYou know that I\u2019m going to worry until you\u2019re back home where you belong.\u00a0 And I\u2019m holding you to that promise, Joseph.\u00a0 Be extra careful,\u201d he cautioned and finally eased his son from his embrace.<\/p>\n Joe turned back into the darkness. He cast one final glance at his father and nodded over at him.\u00a0\u00a0 Then he quietly slipped back up the staircase and walked down the hallway and into his room.<\/p>\n If anyone fights anyone of us, they\u2019ve got to fight with me.<\/strong><\/p>\n *** Right on time, Brother! ***<\/em><\/strong> Joe smiled as he looked out from the swinging doors at the Silver Dollar Saloon.\u00a0 He polished off his beer and laid his money on top of the bar and then slowly walked outside.<\/p>\n Adam was coming down the sidewalk heading towards the Silver Dollar.\u00a0 He carried in his hands a satchel and an envelope.\u00a0 Joe advanced towards his brother finally making eye contact.<\/p>\n \u201cHere you go.\u00a0 The bag has some of your things that we don\u2019t need at the ranch taking up space.\u00a0 And just in case you thought that Pa was kidding about disowning you, this envelope has a copy of an order that the attorney just got notarized.\u00a0 Consider yourself no longer a Cartwright.\u00a0 Go ahead and pick them up,\u201d Adam said and dropped both the satchel and the envelope down onto the walkway at his feet.<\/p>\n \u201cI just bet you\u2019re loving this, huh, Adam? Yep, now instead of a three-way split when Pa dies it\u2019s just going to be a two-way split.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI always told Pa that you were nothing but an ill-tempered spoiled brat at least now he finally believes me.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe drew closer to his brother and his hand went down to his gun.\u00a0 \u201cYou want to finally have a try at me?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam answered by unstrapping his holster.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not going to shoot you, though I\u2019d like to due to all that you\u2019ve put Pa through and how you\u2019ve disgraced our family.\u00a0 But, no, if you want to try your luck, I\u2019ll gladly take you with my fists.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe laughed and nodded over at his brother. \u201cFine by me, I\u2019ve been waiting for this chance for years.\u00a0 I\u2019d just love to wipe that smart mouthed egotistical grin off your face.\u201d\u00a0 Joe dropped his holster down onto the walkway.<\/p>\n Adam neared his brother and watched as Joe lunged at him.\u00a0 He side-stepped the boy and Joe landed on his belly down on the dusty road below.\u00a0 Joe quickly got to his feet but was met by a right hook that split the skin underneath his left eye.\u00a0\u00a0 Blood streamed down his face as he ran toward Adam and head-butted him, causing them both to fall into the street.\u00a0\u00a0 When the two brothers hit the ground, their fists flew, and they began to pummel each other\u2019s faces.<\/p>\n A loud shout came from outside of the Silver Dollar Saloon.\u00a0 \u201cHey!\u00a0 Fight out in the street!\u00a0 It\u2019s Adam and Joe Cartwright!\u201d A cowboy called into the saloon.\u00a0 Within minutes a crowd had gathered to watch the scuffle going on out in the street.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t long before both Cartwrights had numerous facial abrasions as the battle continued.\u00a0 Joe was able to get one glancing blow to Adam\u2019s right eyebrow causing blood to flow freely down his face.\u00a0 Getting back up, Adam struck his brother in the stomach and Joe fell backwards just barely missing the horse trough behind him.\u00a0 Coughing and trying to catch his breath, Joe was finally able to pull himself to standing.\u00a0 He made another run at his brother which sent Adam careening back onto the ground.\u00a0 Just before Joe was about to send the toe of his boot into his eldest brother\u2019s side, the loud blast of a gun was heard and both men turned to see Sheriff Coffee and Ben Cartwright hurrying over to them.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s far too early in the day for this sort of horseplay, Boys.\u00a0 Now the next one of you who tries to land a kick or throw a punch will be spending time in my jail,\u201d Roy warned.<\/p>\n Ben quickly made it over to his eldest son and reached for his arm pulling him up.\u00a0 \u201cSon, you\u2019re hurt,\u201d he said and untied his neckerchief.\u00a0 Reaching into the horse trough, Ben soaked the cloth and brought it up to Adam\u2019s eyebrow.\u00a0 \u201cHere, this should help,\u201d Pa said and dabbed at the wound.<\/p>\n Joe looked over to where his father was helping Adam.\u00a0 He knew that it all was part of the plan and yet it made him feel sick inside.\u00a0 Pa had always been there to tend to his wounds when he was hurt, and Joe could only stand there and bleed and watch his father taking care of his brother instead of him.\u00a0 Joe also felt bad for hitting Adam, even though his brother had gotten in quite a few good licks himself.\u00a0 Ben didn\u2019t even look over at his youngest son, trying his darndest to stick with the plan.\u00a0 Soon Crystal came running across the street from the Bucket of Blood and grabbed Joe\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n \u201cCome over to the saloon and I\u2019ll fix you up, Sugar,\u201d she coaxed.<\/p>\n Joe shakily made his way over to where Adam had dropped both the satchel and the envelope from the attorney.\u00a0 Taking a minute to strap on his holster, Joe then picked them both up.\u00a0 He slowly made his way over to where Ben stood.\u00a0 He looked up at Pa and sneered at him.<\/p>\n \u201cI told you I didn\u2019t want your damn money,\u201d Joe shouted and tore the envelope into pieces and then tossed it into his father\u2019s face.\u00a0 Laughing loudly, he turned and headed over to the Bucket of Blood with Crystal at his side.<\/p>\n Onlookers couldn\u2019t believe what they had just seen.\u00a0 Not only had both Joe and Adam Cartwright had a knockout drag out fight in the street but Joe had insulted his father and simply walked away.\u00a0 Now it would spread far and wide that there was indeed a deep rift in the Cartwright family.<\/p>\n Roy Coffee could\u2019ve been knocked over by a feather after what he had just witnessed.\u00a0 Never in his life would he ever think that he\u2019d see the Cartwright family in shambles.\u00a0 He had seen both Adam and Joe landing punches at each other there in the street and couldn\u2019t help noticing the way that Ben had ignored the fact that his youngest son was standing there bleeding after the melee was over.\u00a0 And on top of all of that was seeing Little Joe tossing those pieces of paper right into his father\u2019s face.\u00a0 He fought to find something to say.<\/p>\n \u201cBen –,\u201d Roy began, wondering just what he could do to help ease the tense situation.\u00a0 \u201cWould it help if I was to go and try and talk to Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben walked over and retrieved Adam\u2019s gun and holster and handed them over to him before replying to the sheriff.\u00a0 In all honesty he was concerned over how much damage his youngest had taken to his body at the time, though he didn\u2019t dare show it on his face.\u00a0 Forcing an angered countenance he stared over at Roy.<\/p>\n \u201cI disowned Joseph two hours ago, Roy.\u00a0 The boy is on his own and God help Virginia City if he stays here.\u00a0 I appreciate your offer, but he\u2019s no longer my problem.\u00a0 We\u2019ll see you later, I\u2019m going to get Adam home and tended,\u201d Ben replied and put his arm over his son\u2019s shoulder as they turned down the street to get their horses.<\/p>\n Not the typical hurt comfort scene.<\/strong><\/p>\n Crystal brought Joe straight up to her quarters avoiding the stares from the patrons as the two of them passed by drunken cowhands.\u00a0 Joe, tossing the satchel onto the floor, made his way over to the sofa and sank down onto the cushions while his friend walked into the other room.<\/p>\n \u201cHere,\u201d Crystal called and handed Joe a towel soaked in water for his face.<\/p>\n Joe nodded his head, \u201cThanks,\u201d He whispered and dabbed at the cut underneath his left eye.<\/p>\n Crystal sat down next to Joe and carefully eyed him.\u00a0 She could tell that he was hurting and not just due to the beating he had taken.\u00a0 Crystal smiled knowingly.\u00a0 She was a good five years older than the nineteen- year- old next to her and knew what he was thinking and feeling.<\/p>\n \u201cYour Pa did a pretty good job of ignoring you, didn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe sighed and shook his head again.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, Pa is a pretty good actor when he wants to be,\u201d He confessed, trying not to show how he was feeling inside.<\/p>\n Crystal placed a hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder and replied, \u201cToo bad this whiskey is only tea, or I\u2019d give you some to ease the pain.\u00a0 Something tells me you\u2019re hurting and not just due to what your brother did to you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 I\u2019m fine,\u201d Joe argued, but his face showed that he wasn\u2019t being totally honest at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cOh?\u00a0 It didn\u2019t bother you that your father just walked away and ignored you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe knew what he had to do \u2013 just like I did,\u201d Joe responded and looked down at the floor.<\/p>\n Crystal tried to get her friend to look into her eyes and he finally relented.\u00a0 \u201cJoe, I\u2019ve had to play this kind of a game a lot of times now, and I know it can hurt when you\u2019ve got to pretend that you don\u2019t care about your family or friends.\u00a0 If you need to get it out of your system you can always talk to me, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe smiled and nodded at the girl.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, I know \u2013 thanks.\u00a0 Maybe I\u2019m just a bit annoyed with myself for not doing better against my brother than I did.\u00a0 He got me pretty good; I wasn\u2019t expecting that outcome!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I noticed he had a pretty good cut there above his eye \u2013 so you did okay.\u00a0 Now, how about going back there and cleaning up a bit?\u201d She pointed to the back room.\u00a0 \u201cThen we\u2019ve got to talk about the next move you\u2019ve got to make.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stood and grabbed the cloth from the table and pressed it underneath his eye.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll be right back,\u201d he said and walked into the next room to both clean up and gain his composure.<\/p>\n Brandy and regret.<\/strong><\/p>\n Hoss watched from the open front door as both his father and brother rode up to the ranch house and tied their mounts to the hitching post.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t missed the looks on both men\u2019s faces.\u00a0 They looked very glum as they approached him.\u00a0 Stepping aside, Hoss allowed both men to enter the house and remove their hats and holsters before asking any questions.<\/p>\n \u201cYou okay, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam frowned as he moved over to the fireplace, turning his back on his brother.\u00a0 \u201cYeah,\u201d He muttered.<\/p>\n Hoss watched his father moving over to his study without addressing anything that had happened in town.\u00a0 Ben lifted the brandy decanter and only then spoke to his middle son.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe the two of us are going to have a drink, how about you, Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Pa,\u201d Hoss nodded and drew closer to assist his father.\u00a0 He handed Pa the brandy glasses and observed how much was poured into each one.\u00a0 It was very evident that Ben needed a drink to settle his nerves and that he thought Adam could use the same tonic to assist his.<\/p>\n Hoss took the two glasses in his hands and brought them over to the settee where Adam was seated.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks,\u201d Adam nodded up to his brother and sipped the drink.<\/p>\n Ben crossed the room and groaned when he lit down into the red leather chair across from his two sons.<\/p>\n \u201cSo?\u00a0 Did it go worse than you two thought that it would or better?\u201d Hoss asked, staring first at his father and then at his brother.\u00a0 It became painfully clear that neither of them wanted to talk about the fight.<\/p>\n Adam touched the bruises on his face and took another sip of his brandy, leaving it up to his father to answer his brother\u2019s questions.<\/p>\n Ben sighed and cast a glance over at both of his sons.\u00a0 \u201cI guess it went as well as something like that could, Hoss.\u00a0 You know I never liked the whole idea of your brothers doing battle there in town, but it drew a crowd.\u00a0 I know that\u2019s the outcome that was needed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t look too bad, Adam \u2013well other than the cut above your eyebrow.\u00a0 How bad is Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n Shaking his head and fighting back the guilt he was feeling at the time Adam answered, \u201cI tried not to hurt him too bad, Hoss.\u00a0 But things got a little out of hand.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s face looks worse than mine right now.\u00a0 I\u2019m pretty sure we\u2019ll both be sore tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss stared back over at his father again and watched the sadness spreading across his careworn face.\u00a0 \u201cPa \u2013 I know it had to be hard on all of you.\u00a0 Don\u2019t worry about Joe \u2013 he\u2019s tough.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI had to ignore the boy, Son, it was a hard thing to do \u2013 no matter the circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam read the worry in his father\u2019s tone of voice and tried to think of something that would calm him.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, the kid threw those disownment papers in your face, Pa.\u00a0 He seemed like he was okay when he did that.\u00a0 It was a \u201cJoe\u201d thing to do, you know?\u00a0 Maybe he\u2019s a better actor than the rest of us?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head and replied, \u201cI know he did, but it was only then that I noticed that gash under his eye.\u00a0 Looks like you came out on top in the fight, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam smiled knowingly at his father.\u00a0 \u201cJoe told you that he didn\u2019t want me to pull any punches, remember?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know \u2013 but I don\u2019t think that Joseph was counting on you listening to his request.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cC\u2019mon, Pa, I could\u2019ve mopped the street with the kid if I\u2019d wanted to.\u00a0 I gave him a few good licks, but the rest of the time I went easy on him,\u201d Adam insisted.<\/p>\n Nodding over at his eldest Ben fought to pull a smile out of is gut.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want to make Adam feel any worse than he did at the time.\u00a0 \u201cI know if you had wanted to the boy would have ended up in far rougher shape.\u00a0 It\u2019s just that \u2013well –,\u201d Pa trailed off.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I know why this has gotten to you, Pa!\u00a0 I bet it\u2019s because you couldn\u2019t run to the kid and fuss over him like you always do,\u201d Adam laughed.\u00a0 He knew how his father always worried about his youngest son.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d Ben paused and took a long sip of his brandy before continuing.\u00a0 \u201cI admit that it was hard to ignore the blood coming down Joe\u2019s face and just stand there tending to you, Adam.\u00a0 But I also know that if I had said or done anything to help him that the whole fight would\u2019ve been done in vain.\u00a0 I just hate this whole charade!\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss had listened to the banter between his father and brother and decided to try to help lighten the gloominess which had fallen over the room.\u00a0 He stood and walked over to a table in the far side of the room just past his father\u2019s study.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Pa \u2013 look here!\u201d Hoss sounded out cheerily as he walked back over towards the fireplace carrying a saddle in his hands.\u00a0 \u201cThis got delivered by Jake Thompson earlier today.\u00a0 Ain\u2019t it grand?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stood from his chair as his son set the saddle down onto the coffee table.\u00a0 He patted Hoss\u2019 shoulder, thankful that his son had chosen to change the current topic of discussion.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Joseph is going to be surprised!\u201d\u00a0 Ben exclaimed as he ran his right hand down the side of the saddle.\u00a0 \u201cJake sure put his heart into this.\u00a0 It\u2019s grander than I asked for.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam smiled as he also touched at the wonderfully crafted saddle.\u00a0 \u201cJoe will be happy when he gets a look at this, Pa.\u00a0 He\u2019s been hinting about a new saddle, but he won\u2019t be expecting a one of a kind like this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, at least we won\u2019t have to worry about him finding it before his birthday this year.\u00a0 I only pray that this whole miserable mess is over by the end of the month,\u201d Ben said, and his thoughts were once more on all that had happened lately.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have better than two weeks to get it all straightened out, Pa \u2013 I\u2019m sure that by Joe\u2019s birthday he\u2019ll be back home where he belongs,\u201d Hoss replied.<\/p>\n Ben leaned down and touched the saddle again, this time lifting the left stirrup.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s initials were there, carved just as Pa had requested when placing the order more than a month ago.\u00a0 \u201cLord willing this family will be back happy and intact again just in time for Joseph to have a very special twentieth birthday,\u201d He whispered and closed his eyes saying a silent prayer that his hopes would be realized.\u00a0 He missed his youngest son, the kid who might be a bit on the rambunctious side, but was so full of life, love, and laughter.<\/p>\n I\u2019m going to Hell for this.<\/strong><\/p>\n Joe had gone over plans with Crystal after he\u2019d gotten cleaned from his fight with Adam.\u00a0 Afterwards, he had gone back down to the bar and had a shot of whiskey which had come out of a real bottle of rotgut.\u00a0 Joe wouldn\u2019t have admitted it to his cohort, but his nerves were a bit frayed after all that he\u2019d gone through in the past two days.\u00a0 He paid for his drink and then headed his way over to the International House Hotel.\u00a0 Unfortunately, Joe ran into the local minister of the church that the Cartwrights all attended.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe \u2013 I\u2019ve been hoping to run into you,\u201d Reverend Philip Hastings called to the young man, stopping him in his tracks.<\/p>\n Joe drew in a deep breath and tried to figure out just how he would be able to get through the conversation.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t thrilled about lying to a preacher.\u00a0 \u201cHi, Reverend.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you have a minute to come over to the church and have a little chat?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked down at the walkway and put on an angry fa\u00e7ade.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t need any Bible thumping if that\u2019s what you\u2019ve got planned.\u201d<\/p>\n Reverend Hastings stared hard at Joe, finding it hard to believe all of what he had been told of late concerning the young man he\u2019d known for several years.<\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t going to thump a Bible \u2013 just wanted to see if I could help you, Joe.\u00a0 I\u2019m very concerned about you.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been hearing some terrible rumors \u2013 and I don\u2019t believe that they can possibly be true \u2013 and all concerning you.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe laughed sarcastically and broke into a smile.\u00a0 \u201cOh, they\u2019re probably all true!\u00a0 I mean \u2013 if it\u2019s concerning the fact that I\u2019ve been drinking and carousing and that I\u2019ve been disowned by my pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe \u2013 you can\u2019t possibly have gone bad the way everyone says that you have.\u00a0 Isn\u2019t there something I can do for you?\u00a0 I could go and have a talk with your father?\u201d<\/p>\n Setting the satchel down onto the walkway, Joe reached inside his green jacket and pulled out one of his hand-rolled cigarettes along with a match.\u00a0 He struck the match against the back of his holster and lit his cigarette.\u00a0 Inhaling deeply, he then sent the smoke out towards the preacher.\u00a0 \u201cDidn\u2019t you hear me, Rev?\u00a0 I said that I don\u2019t have a father.\u00a0 And I ain\u2019t got time for a sermon neither.\u00a0 Why don\u2019t you go find some other lost little lamb?\u00a0 I feel just fine concerning my life right now.\u00a0 I don\u2019t need anyone, and I sure don\u2019t need any preaching.\u201d<\/p>\n Reverend Hastings shook his head totally despondent over the way Joe Cartwright had changed from the thoughtful and kindhearted young man he had known.\u00a0 He fought to find the right words to say that would help the situation.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll pray that you find your way, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe laughed again and replied, \u201cDon\u2019t waste your time or your prayers.\u00a0 See you, Rev, go save somebody\u2019s soul who wants to be saved.\u00a0 I\u2019m enjoying my life!\u201d<\/p>\n As the Reverend walked away stunned, Joe crossed the street feeling terrible inside.\u00a0 ***I think I\u2019m going to Hell for doing that! ***<\/em><\/strong> Joe thought to himself as he walked inside the hotel.<\/p>\n The desk manager spotted Joe as he came in the door and began to head up the staircase.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe \u2013 Joe Cartwright!\u201d The man called across the room.<\/p>\n Turning around Joe cast a glance at the other man and returned, \u201cWhat do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI need to have a word with you please \u2013 over here.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe groaned and set the satchel down and then made his way over to where the day manager of the hotel, Frank Williams, stood flanking the desk clerk.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah?\u00a0 What do you want?\u201d Joe asked frowning.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll handle this, Bill, you go and add up today\u2019s receipts,\u201d Mister Williams said and watched as the desk clerk walked to the end of the counter.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, what do you want?\u201d Joe faced the manager and drew out another one of his cigarettes, lighting it on the top of the counter just inches away from the man\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s come to my attention that we\u2019ll no longer be billing your room to Ben Cartwright\u2019s account.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been told he\u2019s settled everything you owed up to last week, but he\u2019s refused any more responsibility concerning you.\u00a0 That means you owe three days now.\u00a0 Do you want to pay for those days now or at the end of the week?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSounds like something low like he\u2019d do, the old skinflint.\u00a0 I\u2019ll have your money just give me a couple of days,\u201d Joe sounded out angrily.<\/p>\n \u201cSo \u2013 then we\u2019ll be expecting it by Tuesday?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure \u2013 Tuesday.\u00a0 Now I\u2019m tired so leave me alone,\u201d Joe announced curtly and turned abruptly and walked back to the staircase.<\/p>\n Mister Williams stood at the front desk and just shook his head.\u00a0 If he hadn\u2019t seen it for himself, he would never have believed that Joe Cartwright had gone bad, but it was very apparent that he had.<\/p>\n As close to a Pa\/Joe scene as Joe would get.<\/strong><\/p>\n Joe washed his face in the basin in his hotel room and eased over to the bed.\u00a0 His body was beginning to ache from the fight he\u2019d had with his brother, and he decided to go and just lay down.\u00a0 Joe stretched out on top of the comforter and closed his eyes.\u00a0 He wished he was home.\u00a0 He wished that he didn\u2019t have to act like a thoughtless out of control vagabond with absolutely no morals.\u00a0 Joe just wanted to go back to the Ponderosa and forget about the last two weeks and the terrible charade he had been playing.\u00a0 He missed his family and his former life.\u00a0 But the memory of Jennifer began to play in his mind.\u00a0 He would always love her.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t matter that she had married Steve Harding. It didn\u2019t matter that she had broken his heart years ago.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t even matter that she was now dead and buried.\u00a0 Every single move that he had made in the past two weeks was due to her.\u00a0 Joe knew that he couldn\u2019t ever bring her back, no more than he could make her love him years ago when they were both fifteen.\u00a0 But he would prove his love by finding her killers.\u00a0 Yes, in doing so he\u2019d also find the ones who had killed her husband and a lot of other innocent folks too.\u00a0 It had been one of the main reasons why, when Colonel McMasters had come to the Ponderosa and proffered the idea, he had agreed without even asking for his father\u2019s opinion or approval.\u00a0 It hadn\u2019t gone down well with Pa either.\u00a0 He rarely had seen his father that mad, but he knew that the anger had come due to his fears of what might happen to his youngest son.\u00a0 But he had convinced him, along with the Colonel, that it was something that he just had to do to finally lay Jennifer to rest in his mind and heart.\u00a0 The plan had been laid out step by step and some of the participants were named, however, some had to be kept secret to protect their identities.\u00a0 Joe was introduced to Crystal Page, not her real name, but one that she would be using for this setup, and he was told that almost everything he would be doing to find the perpetrators would be fielded through her and her contacts.\u00a0 And so, almost two and a half weeks ago Joe had moved into the International House Hotel and taken up a life of nothing but indulgences that went against everything that the Cartwrights had stood for.<\/p>\n Joe sat up in the bed and looked over at the mantle clock.\u00a0 He was supposed to meet back up with Crystal around ten that night and that meant that he had several hours to kill.\u00a0 Frowning, he stood from the bed and walked across the room over to where he had dropped the satchel that his brother Adam had thrown down at his feet right before the brawl.<\/p>\n *** I wonder what Shakespeare put in here. ***<\/em><\/strong> Joe thought as he knelt and opened the bag.\u00a0\u00a0 Pulling out a couple shirts and a pair of pants Joe frowned.\u00a0 He had thought that there just might be something a bit more interesting like one of his brother\u2019s novels that he was always reading.\u00a0 Joe tossed the clothes across the room and then spied an envelope stuck to the very bottom of the satchel.\u00a0 He brought it up into his hands and took it to the bed and sat down.\u00a0 Joe ripped it open.\u00a0 It was from Pa.\u00a0 Joe cast a knowing smile as he read the contents.<\/p>\n *** Joseph, I know that you\u2019ll have to tear this up or burn it after you read it.\u00a0 Forgive me that I can\u2019t go this long without having my say.\u00a0 You know that I\u2019m not happy that you\u2019ve chosen to go through with this.\u00a0 But I do know how much you loved Jennifer, so in a way, I do understand.\u00a0 Or let\u2019s just say as a man that I understand, but not as your father.\u00a0 I\u2019m scared for you and what might be waiting down the road for you if this goes the way that it\u2019s been arranged.\u00a0 I know that I raised you to think fast on your feet, Son, but it only takes one moment\u2019s hesitation to get hurt.\u00a0 If you feel that you\u2019re in over your head don\u2019t be too proud to admit it.\u00a0 There are others who can do this type of thing that you\u2019re not accustomed to doing.\u00a0 I\u2019m writing this as I sit in your bedroom.\u00a0 It already seems so empty without you here even though it\u2019s only been two weeks.\u00a0 I need you; I need you here with me.\u00a0 Please honor your promise and try your very best to come home to me unharmed.\u00a0 I\u2019d be lying if I said that I wasn\u2019t proud of you, though I wish that you hadn\u2019t felt like you had to do this.\u00a0 Be safe, Joseph.\u00a0 I love you very much, Pa.\u00a0 PS:\u00a0 I never REALLY took you out of my will.\u00a0 But nobody needs to know that! ***<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Joe read the letter several times and sighed.\u00a0 He hated like hell to have to burn it, but he knew that he\u2019d have to in order to prevent the truth from leaking out.\u00a0 Walking to the fireplace Joe struck the match.\u00a0 ***Thanks, Pa, I love you and I miss you too. *** He whispered and then burnt the letter.<\/p>\n The October story and Joe’s bad hair day.<\/strong><\/p>\n Crystal handed Joe a cup of coffee and sat down next to him on the sofa.\u00a0 They had gone over the next few details and what he\u2019d have to do.\u00a0 She could tell that the young man was trying his best to listen to all the information, but he seemed a bit distracted.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe?\u00a0 Is it about the fight?\u201d She asked and patted his shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, I\u2019ve known you now for a good three weeks, and I think I\u2019m a pretty good judge of character by now.\u00a0 I know what type of a person you are and you\u2019re easy to read when something\u2019s on your mind.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe sighed and shook his head, \u201cAm I really that transparent?\u201d<\/p>\n Laughing, Crystal nodded her head and answered, \u201cLike a freshly washed windowpane!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay \u2013 okay.\u00a0 It\u2019s not about the fight — but well \u2013 I\u2019d be lying if I said that I don\u2019t miss my family.\u00a0 But it\u2019s not just that –,\u201d Joe trailed off and his eyes filled with a wistful gaze.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me about Jennifer, Joe.\u00a0 I only know that she\u2019s one of the main reasons you agreed to take this assignment.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly his thoughts going back to his first love.\u00a0 \u201cI was fifteen when she first came into my life,\u201d Joe paused and took a sip of his coffee.\u00a0 He wished that he had some good old rotgut to get his story out, but he had been warned by Crystal that he had to keep his wits about him.\u00a0 \u201cAnyway \u2013 one day she suddenly appeared there at the school.\u00a0 She had just moved to Virginia City with her folks.\u00a0 I took one look at her, and it was love at first sight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe was that pretty, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded, \u201cYes, but it was more than that, you know?\u00a0 There was just something about her \u2013 the way she moved \u2013 the way she talked.\u00a0 I can\u2019t explain it.\u00a0 I know the other boys admired her looks but I just loved everything that was Jennifer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo how did you two start \u2013 I mean did you just begin to date right away?\u201d Crystal continued to pry, hoping that it would help for Joe to talk about it.<\/p>\n \u201cOne day \u2013 about a week after she started school, I finally got up the nerve to ask her if I could walk her home and she let me.\u00a0 I felt so nervous \u2013 I\u2019d never been like that before, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n Crystal laughed and patted Joe\u2019s arm.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s hard for me to picture a shy Joe Cartwright!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded, \u201cYeah \u2013 but I was \u2013 with her.\u00a0 She was just special \u2013 and I didn\u2019t want to scare her off.\u00a0 Finally, I broke the silence which had fallen over the two of us.\u201d<\/p>\n Closing his eyes, Joe could still hear the girl\u2019s words and what he had first said to her that day on their walk to her house.<\/p>\n *** \u201cSo \u2013 you came from back East?\u201d Joe asked getting up his nerve.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cYes, we\u2019re from New Hampshire,\u201d Jennifer replied.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cGuess it feels a whole lot different here, huh?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Jennifer nodded and stared over at Little Joe.\u00a0 \u201cThe climate is a bit different and the scenery, but people are about the same, Joe.\u00a0 Have you always lived here?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cYep — I mean yes \u2013 I was born on the Ponderosa \u2013 that\u2019s our ranch.\u00a0 I live there with my pa and my brothers.\u00a0 Oh \u2013 I guess I already told you that,\u201d Joe sighed when he realized he had repeated what he had told the girl earlier.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s okay,\u201d Jennifer smiled.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cHey\u2014um \u2013 what\u2019s your favorite color?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cGreen.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Joe grinned, \u201cMine too!\u00a0 Hey, we\u2019ve got that in common.\u00a0 When\u2019s your birthday \u2013 mine\u2019s in October.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m October too,\u201d Jennifer said and then touched Joe\u2019s arm.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Joe felt like he was on top of the world the minute that the girl had just touched his arm.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re October, huh?\u201d Joe laughed.\u00a0 \u201cI think that\u2019s what I\u2019m gonna call you \u2013 October!\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Jennifer nodded over to the boy and reached for her books.\u00a0 \u201cYou can call me October, Little Joe.\u00a0 It can be just between us, okay?\u00a0 Don\u2019t tell anyone else.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cOh, I won\u2019t!\u201d Joe replied exuberantly.\u00a0 \u201cListen \u2013 would it be okay if I walked you home tomorrow too?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Jennifer burst out laughing.\u00a0 \u201cSilly, tomorrow is Saturday!\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Joe closed his eyes realizing that he was beginning to show the girl how eager he was to spend more time with her.\u00a0 \u201cSo, I\u2019ll just go and open that old school up and you can teach class and then I\u2019ll walk you home!\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cYou can walk me home on Monday, Little Joe.\u00a0 I\u2019ll see you in school.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be there \u2013 see you!\u201d\u00a0 Joe called over to her as she walked to her front door. ***<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cSo now I finally understand why the Colonel allowed you to choose the code word.\u00a0 It was your pet name for Jennifer, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded, \u201cYeah, I called her that— well up until she met Steve that is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow did that happen\u2014if you don\u2019t mind telling me?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe drew another deep breath and fought with the painful memory.\u00a0 \u201cI had already told Jennifer within a month of us meeting that I was in love with her.\u00a0 I told her that once I was old enough that I was going to ask her to marry me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid she say she loved you too, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shrugged his shoulders and answered, \u201cWell, not in so many words.\u00a0 She just kept on saying that we were too young to think about marriage and that maybe someday we could talk about stuff like that.\u00a0 We went places together \u2013 you know to church socials and dances and all.\u00a0 Right before our birthdays\u2014oh it turned out we were both born on October thirty-first by the way \u2013 anyway we got another new classmate.\u00a0 His name was Steve Harding, and you know the way I fell in love with Jennifer the minute I saw her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, it turned out that the minute Jennifer saw Steve she fell for him just as hard as I had fallen for her.\u00a0 Within a week the two of them were inseparable.\u00a0 I hated him for taking her from me \u2013 I even fought with him there in the school yard.\u00a0 But when Jennifer came running out and saw us going at it she begged me to stop \u2013 and I just couldn\u2019t hurt her \u2013 so I stopped fighting.\u00a0 They were married a few days after they graduated from school.\u201d<\/p>\n Crystal placed her hand onto Joe\u2019s arm and sympathetically smiled over at him.\u00a0 \u201cA person never quite forgets their first love, Joe, do they?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shook his head, \u201cI didn\u2019t, that\u2019s for sure.\u00a0 To tell you the truth I never stopped loving her \u2013 that\u2019s why I\u2019ve got to find whoever is involved in her death.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe \u2013 listen — I can understand how you feel about Jennifer, but I hope you\u2019re also doing this for her husband and all of those innocent settlers who have been killed due to whoever is getting those rifles to the renegades.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded insistently and replied, \u201cI am — though I started this whole thing because of Jennifer \u2013 now I\u2019m in this for everyone who\u2019s been hurt or killed by those rifles, honest.\u201d<\/p>\n Before Crystal could respond a loud knock sounded on the door.\u00a0 They both looked at each other surprised.<\/p>\n \u201cWho is it?\u201d Joe called as he crossed the floor.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s Bruno, I\u2019ve come to collect \u2013 tell Crystal I want to see her!\u201d The saloon owner yelled from outside the door.<\/p>\n \u201cJust a minute!\u201d Joe replied and moved back to the sofa.\u00a0 \u201cWhat do we do now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you\u2019ve been my only \u201cpatron\u201d, Joe, and he\u2019s going to want to get paid.\u00a0 Hold on do you have any money on you?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shook his head, \u201cNo, you\u2019ve about cleaned me out with your poker playing ability.\u201d<\/p>\n Crystal stood and hurried into the back room and retrieved some of her spending money for the assignment.\u00a0 She brought it to Joe and said, \u201cYou have to give this to him, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe started to move back to the door, but Crystal stopped him.<\/p>\n \u201cFor goodness sakes!\u201d She exclaimed.\u00a0 \u201cPull your shirt out of your pants and undo the buttons.\u00a0 And here!\u201d Crystal ran her hands through Joe\u2019s hair, tousling it to make it look wild so it would give the appearance that he\u2019d been in bed prior to the knock on the door.<\/p>\n Joe untucked his shirt and loosened the buttons, finally throwing it open as he slowly pulled the door inward about a foot.\u00a0 He peered out to where Bruno stood.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry to disturb you but Crystal was supposed to pay me yesterday, but she forgot.\u00a0 And since you\u2019ve been her only caller, Joe\u2014well \u2013 I figured I\u2019d better get my cut before you ain\u2019t got any money left.\u00a0 I heard about your pa disowning you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust take this and shut up, will you?\u201d Joe said angrily and shoved the money into Bruno\u2019s hand.\u00a0 \u201cNow stop bothering us!\u201d Joe insisted and then slammed the door.<\/p>\n Crystal waited until they heard Bruno\u2019s boots walking away and then she broke into laughter.\u00a0 \u201cYou look so funny, Joe!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe groaned and then began to button his shirt, he imagined he did look a bit unkept at that.\u00a0 \u201cYou just had to mess my hair up, didn\u2019t you?\u201d He grinned.\u00a0 \u201cI look rough enough without my curls all standing up on my head.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s time you got back to the hotel anyway.\u00a0 Now remember what you have to do at the Silver Dollar tomorrow night, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGreat — I only get about twenty-four hours until I get beat up again!\u201d Joe called over as he approached the door.\u00a0 \u201cHey— Crystal\u2014thanks \u2013 you know \u2013 for listening.\u201d<\/p>\n Crystal smiled over at the young man and nodded, \u201cAnytime you need to talk, Joe.\u00a0 Now go get some sleep you\u2019re going to need it.\u00a0 I\u2019ll try to see you before your event at the saloon tomorrow night.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGoodnight,\u201d Joe said and turned out of the room.\u00a0 He placed his hat over his head to hide his unkept hair.\u00a0 Shaking his head he fought back a smile over the way Bruno had looked at him.\u00a0 It had been priceless.<\/p>\n Pa\u2019s version of the October story.<\/strong><\/p>\n The next afternoon found Ben trying his very best to put all thought of what was going on in town out of his mind, but he found himself to be failing miserably.\u00a0 He had worked on contracts for a lucrative mining venture and then attempted to get his ledger books in order.\u00a0 Realizing that he wasn\u2019t getting anywhere with either of the two tasks, Ben groaned to himself and stuffed the papers inside of his desk.\u00a0 He knew that Hoss would be coming home from tending the herd soon in order to get his instructions for the role he would be playing in Virginia City later that evening.\u00a0 Eying the brandy decanter Ben fought with his desire to indulge in a drink to settle his nerves.\u00a0 The memory of Joe at fifteen years old crept back into the forefront of his mind.\u00a0 He remembered how devastated his son had been once Jennifer had confessed that she only had eyes for Steve Harding.\u00a0 Pa closed his eyes and could still see his youngest sitting there inside of the barn.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u201d Ben called as he entered the barn and looked around for the boy.\u00a0 \u201cWhere are you?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cGo away, Pa \u2013 I don\u2019t feel like talking,\u201d Joe called from the top of the hayloft.\u00a0 His voice seemed both raspy and shaky. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Moving to the ladder Pa slowly made his way up to where his youngest sat against a bag of grain.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t missed the bottle which Joe had attempted to hide behind his back.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Ben shook his head and held out his right hand.\u00a0 \u201cGive it here, Joe, you know what I\u2019ve told you about drinking.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Joe refused to adhere to his father\u2019s demand and replied with defiance in his tone, \u201cI said I don\u2019t want to talk, Pa.\u00a0 And I ain\u2019t turning over the whiskey neither.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Reaching behind his son\u2019s back Pa drew the bottle up into his hands and sighed.\u00a0 \u201cNow, I understand you\u2019re upset, Son, but firing off at me and sitting up here in the loft isn\u2019t going to help anything.\u00a0 And you know if you drink any more of this stuff, you\u2019ll be behind the barn bent over and throwing up soon \u2013 and that\u2019s not going to help either,\u201d he said and leaned back against the sack of grain.\u00a0 Pa settled his arm over Joe\u2019s shoulder and waited for an explanation.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Dropping his head down into his hands, the teenager fought not to cry even though he wanted to do just that.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cJennifer \u2013 she loves that new guy at school Steve.\u00a0 She told me today,\u201d He whispered.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Ben fought a knowing smile as he\u2019d been through dealing with broken hearts from both of his other sons and knew that it would seem like the end of the world to his youngest.\u00a0 He would have to try to let Joe get it all out of his system.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so sorry, Joseph, I know you liked her,\u201d Ben tried to comfort the boy.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cNo, Pa!\u00a0 I don\u2019t like her I love her — I still love her \u2013 even though I wish I hated her right now!\u201d Joe exclaimed angrily.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cSon, I know you\u2019re hurt \u2013 but in time –,\u201d Ben tried to get through to his youngest, but Joe cut him off.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cTime?\u00a0 No, Pa \u2013 it don\u2019t matter how long I live I\u2019ll never get over this.\u00a0 I\u2019ll never love anyone else \u2013 I\u2019ll go to my grave wishing that she loved me.\u00a0 I\u2019d like to get a gun and shoot that guy!\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Ben pulled Joe to him and squeezed his shoulder, \u201cNow, Joseph \u2013 you know that you don\u2019t mean that.\u00a0 First \u2013 believe it or not both of your brothers have had similar situations happen to them.\u00a0 And even your Pa here has had a lost love or two when I was growing up.\u00a0 It will get better.\u00a0 But I don\u2019t want to hear you talking about getting a gun \u2013 I know you\u2019re just saying that because you\u2019re angry \u2013 but I don\u2019t want to hear that out of your mouth.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Joe looked down at the hay covered floor of the loft and muttered, \u201cBut, I feel like if \u2013 if he hadn\u2019t come along maybe she would\u2019ve loved me, Pa?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Ben shook his head and wrapped his arm around the boy\u2019s shoulder and whispered, \u201cJoe, you can\u2019t make someone love you \u2013 they either do or they don\u2019t.\u00a0 I know you don\u2019t want to hear it right now, but you will find love again.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cOh, Pa \u2013 I don\u2019t want to \u2013 I don\u2019t ever want to love anyone again.\u00a0 It just hurts too much,\u201d Joe cried and then turned his face into his father\u2019s shoulder as tears slid down his cheeks.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Ben hugged his son to his chest and sighed.\u00a0 Joe always had played hard, fought hard and now he had fallen in love hard.\u00a0 Pa knew that as a father all he could do was to hold his son and hope he\u2019d get over his heartbreak without going through too much pain.\u00a0 \u201cI know it hurts, Son.\u00a0 Someday it won\u2019t.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u00a0 Hey, Pa \u2013 you okay?\u201d Hoss called down to his father as he stood next to his desk.<\/p>\n Ben shook himself from his memories and stared up at his son.\u00a0 \u201cOh \u2013 sorry, Hoss, I didn\u2019t hear you come in.\u00a0 Is everything running smoothly up with the herd?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss smiled over at his father and sat down alongside him.\u00a0 \u201cYes, Sir \u2013 no problems.\u00a0 I remembered this morning you asked me to get back by five so we could go over what I\u2019m supposed to do tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben opened his pocket watch and noted the time.\u00a0 \u201cI guess I was daydreaming longer than I thought — it\u2019s a quarter till five now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou told me last night I\u2019m supposed to go by the Silver Dollar tonight but didn\u2019t tell me what my role in this masquerade is.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stood and walked over to the brandy decanter figuring that it was time to have that drink he\u2019d wanted earlier.\u00a0 \u201cYou want one?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure,\u201d Hoss nodded, he wasn\u2019t all that thirsty but seeing how upset his father looked, he figured that he wouldn\u2019t make him drink alone.<\/p>\n Pouring two quick shots of the amber colored liquor, Ben handed one of the glasses to his son.\u00a0 \u201cHoss, there\u2019s going to be a fight –,\u201d He began but was cut off in mid-sentence.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe going to get in ANOTHER<\/strong> fight?\u00a0 He just had a good one yesterday!\u201d Hoss exclaimed.<\/p>\n Pa nodded, \u201cI am well aware of that, Young Man, now let me finish,\u201d Ben sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, Pa, go ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI got a message from Crystal that Joseph is going to get into a fracas at the Silver Dollar around seven p.m. and he and another man are going to apparently tear the place up.\u00a0 I imagine that Sam is going to have a pure fit.\u00a0 So, your job is to conveniently pass by the saloon around seven o\u2019clock, and if Sam asks for assistance you have to let him know that you don\u2019t want any part of helping your brother.\u00a0 The people in town have witnessed me turning my back on Joseph and they\u2019ve seen Adam having a brawl with him \u2013 so now it\u2019s your turn to let everyone know that you don\u2019t care about him either.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss took a sip of his brandy and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cPa \u2013 that ain\u2019t easy for me \u2013 I\u2019m not the actor that you and Adam are,\u201d He complained.<\/p>\n \u201cAt least you\u2019re going to be spared hitting the kid.\u00a0 I had to backhand him, and your brother had to fight Joe in the street.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Pa \u2013 I\u2019d better finish this drink and head on out,\u201d Hoss nodded.\u00a0 His heart wasn\u2019t in what he was being asked to do, but he knew that Joe needed his help in keeping up appearances, so he\u2019d go along with it all.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Hoss,\u201d Pa smiled and reached over and patted the big-hearted man\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n Joe versus the giant and enter Hoss.<\/strong><\/p>\n Joe sat at a table inside the Silver Dollar Saloon and nursed his beer.\u00a0 He had only indulged in two drinks so far that evening as he wasn\u2019t sure if he\u2019d need to have his wits about him when the fight started.\u00a0 The only information he had been given by Crystal earlier that day was that around seven o\u2019clock someone would approach him, and a fight would then commence.\u00a0 Staring up at the clock right above the bartender\u2019s head Joe could see that it was just about that time.\u00a0 Glancing around there were only about six other men in the place, it being Sunday night.\u00a0 He wondered which one might be heading his way soon.<\/p>\n In through the swinging doors walked a hulking figure of a man.\u00a0 Joe took a deep breath and hoped that he wasn\u2019t going to be facing Goliath up at the bar.\u00a0 He watched as the man paid for a bottle of whiskey and then turned and looked his way.<\/p>\n ***Oh no ***<\/em><\/strong> Joe thought to himself when the man made eye contact with him and then advanced to his table.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re sitting at my table, Boy,\u201d The man growled down at Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be done with it in a little while \u2013 like in a month or so,\u201d Joe answered sarcastically, still not knowing if the big burly man was his contact or just some loudmouth who wanted to throw his weight around.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019d say that you had the month of September and now that it\u2019s October your time is up, Sonny!\u00a0 Now get out of my chair and get away from my table.,\u201d The man announced.<\/p>\n *** Great, it is the guy!\u00a0 Thanks a lot, Crystal \u2013 couldn\u2019t you have found someone shorter and about two hundred pounds lighter? ***<\/em><\/strong> Joe thought to himself.\u00a0 He had heard the code word and would have to start the fight now.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can have the rest of this place, but this table is mine!\u00a0 Go find another one,\u201d Joe argued the point.<\/p>\n The man shoved the chair next to where Joe was sitting, and it careened into his leg.\u00a0 He sprang to his feet and sent a punch at the giant of a man.\u00a0 Then all hell broke out at the bar.\u00a0 Joe and the other man sent a few punches at each other which were followed by several chairs being tossed across the room.\u00a0 Joe was knocked on the floor but came back swinging and his left fist connected with the other man\u2019s jaw.\u00a0 The giant pushed Joe up against the wall and punched his mid-section.\u00a0 Joe was finally able to break free of the man\u2019s hold and threw a bottle towards him as he ran across the room.\u00a0 The next thing that was witnessed by Sam, the owner and bartender, was a chair being launched towards him.\u00a0 He ducked just at the precise moment that it crashed into the large mirror right behind where he had been standing.\u00a0 Sam hurried out into the street hoping to find the sheriff.\u00a0 Instead, he saw Hoss Cartwright as he was tying the reins of his horse to the hitching post outside.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss!\u201d Sam shouted and moved over to him.\u00a0 \u201cHelp \u2013 your brother and another guy are busting up my place.\u00a0 Go in there and get Little Joe to stop the fight before the whole saloon is destroyed!\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss frowned and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cSorry \u2013 can\u2019t help you there, Sam.\u00a0 I done gave up on helping that kid.\u00a0 I guess you\u2019d better get Roy to stop him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe guy is a foot taller than Joe\u2014ain\u2019t you gonna help the boy?\u201d Sam returned very upset at Hoss\u2019 cavalier attitude.<\/p>\n \u201cNot my problem,\u201d Hoss insisted and simply walked away.<\/p>\n Sam ran down to the jail to summon Roy Coffee.\u00a0 Five minutes later the sheriff walked into the bar with a scatter rifle underneath his arm.<\/p>\n \u201cYou two stop or I swear I\u2019ll fire this!\u201d Roy shouted and raised the rifle.<\/p>\n Both Joe and the man who had attacked him stopped the fight when they spotted the sheriff and the gun he held up.<\/p>\n \u201cNow the two of you come on along there\u2019s damages to pay for and either a fine or a few nights in my jail \u2013 depending on how generous I feel,\u201d Roy announced and pointed with his rifle for the two men to walk out of the swinging doors.<\/p>\n Roy escorted both brawlers down to the jail and then locked them up in different cells to keep them separated.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Roy!\u201d Joe sang out.\u00a0 \u201cHow long do I have to stay in here?\u00a0 That dumb ox in the other cell started it all!\u201d<\/p>\n Roy shook his head and replied, \u201cSam is tallying up the damages, so you just sit there and be quiet.\u00a0 You both was fighting, and you both was busting up the place.\u00a0 I just can\u2019t believe you\u2019d act like this Little Joe!\u00a0 Here it\u2019s the sabbath and everything and you\u2019re drinking and fighting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey \u2013 there ain\u2019t no law that says a person can\u2019t drink on Sunday,\u201d Joe spit back angrily.<\/p>\n Roy moved closer to Joe\u2019s jail cell and wagged his pointer finger at the boy.\u00a0 \u201cLittle Joe, I\u2019ve known you since you was born \u2013 and I just can\u2019t rightly believe that you\u2019d turn out like this.\u00a0 What happened to you, Boy?\u00a0 What would your pa say about you drinking and fighting like you were on a Sunday?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe sneered as he replied, \u201cI don\u2019t have a pa anymore \u2013 didn\u2019t you get the news?\u00a0 And I don\u2019t need a sermon from a preacher or a sheriff.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey\u2014let me out of here, Sheriff, I don\u2019t want to sit in a cell next to this idiot,\u201d The man who had started the fight called out.<\/p>\n \u201cBoth of you will sit in your cells and be quiet.\u00a0 I\u2019ll let you two know when I\u2019ve got the total for the damages and the fine.\u00a0 Until then just cool your heels,\u201d Roy yelled and then closed the door that separated the cells and the front office.\u00a0 He had had quite enough of the whole fight and listening to both men too.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s another fine mess you\u2019ve gotten me into.<\/strong><\/p>\n Joe and the man in the jail cell next to him didn\u2019t speak due to the circumstances but they nodded over at each other.\u00a0 There wasn\u2019t anything to do but sit and wait for Roy to come back to tell them what they\u2019d have to pay for busting up the Silver Dollar.\u00a0 Finally, after almost two hours the sheriff walked back in to address the two brawlers.<\/p>\n \u201cSam\u2019s got it figured up now and between the damages and the fine each of you owe seventy-five dollars.\u00a0 Now you can either pay up or spend the next month being housed here in my jail.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI got that much on me,\u201d The man in the cell next to Joe called over to Roy.<\/p>\n \u201cNever got your name \u2013 tell me so\u2019s I can write it down along with the fine,\u201d The sheriff called in through the steel bars.<\/p>\n \u201cCharlie Kincaid is the name,\u201d He announced.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Mister Kincaid let me see the color of your money.\u201d<\/p>\n The man reached inside of his vest and pulled out his wallet.\u00a0 He counted out seventy-five dollars and handed it to Roy.<\/p>\n The sheriff checked the amount and then pulled the keys off the wall and let the man out.\u00a0 \u201cIf I catch you starting any fights in town, I won\u2019t be this generous Mister Kincaid.\u00a0 I\u2019ll just throw the book at you.\u00a0 And that\u2019s the only warning I\u2019m giving you.\u00a0 Now go on and get out of my jail.\u201d<\/p>\n As the man left the back room the sheriff turned to Joe and said, \u201cWell?\u00a0 You got the money, Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe frowned and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve got about ten dollars to my name.\u00a0 Any chance I can pay you later?\u201d<\/p>\n Roy looked at his best friend\u2019s youngest son and wondered what had happened to the kid and why he would get to the point where he was broke and disowned by his father.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t do that, Joe.\u00a0 How about the bank?\u00a0 You have an account, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe sighed and returned, \u201cI\u2019ve gone through everything I had in the bank and I\u2019m about to lose my hotel room if I don\u2019t give them this ten dollars that I\u2019ve got \u2013 and even that won\u2019t cover all that I owe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you let me send for your pa, Little Joe?\u00a0 I\u2019m sure if you apologize, he\u2019ll end up forgiving you.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe sank back on the cot and anger framed his face.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d sooner rot in here than to talk to that man.\u00a0 I feel towards him like he does towards me \u2013 I hate him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow come on\u2014I know your pa don\u2019t hate you \u2013 and I just can\u2019t believe you could ever hate your father,\u201d Roy protested.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess I\u2019ll see you in the morning,\u201d Joe muttered and laid back on the cot closing his eyes leaving Roy standing there wondering what in the world had happened to the Cartwright family.<\/p>\n As soon as Joe heard the sheriff leave, closing the door behind him, he shook his head and looked around at the jail cell.\u00a0 *** I sure hope this works, Crystal, and I also hope that I don\u2019t have to sit here for a whole month neither.\u00a0 Some plan you put together!\u00a0 First, I get slapped by my pa, then I get disinherited, then I get pounded by Adam and ignored by Hoss and then pounded again by a giant.\u00a0 Now I\u2019m a darn prisoner.\u00a0 There\u2019s just GOT to be an easier way to catch criminals without becoming one! ***<\/em><\/strong> Joe thought to himself and then, wishing he was back at home, fell into an uneasy slumber.<\/p>\n Take your son back — please!<\/strong><\/p>\n Sheriff Roy Coffee had given up on trying to talk some sense into Little Joe Cartwright.\u00a0 He had tried for four days to get the boy to simply apologize to his father and then get Ben to pay his fine, so he\u2019d get out of his jail.\u00a0 But the young man had flat out refused to budge and was still not acknowledging Ben to be his pa anymore.\u00a0 So, by Thursday Roy had left his prisoner in the care of Clem, his deputy and taken it upon himself to ride out to the Ponderosa and try to get his old friend to step in and bring the kid home.<\/p>\n \u201cHi, Roy!\u201d Hoss called over to the sheriff as he tied his horse to the front hitching post.\u00a0 He walked over to the other man and shook his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cHowdy there, Hoss.\u00a0 Hey is your pa around?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, he just got back from the mill come on in the house,\u201d Hoss answered and walked with the sheriff inside the ranch house.<\/p>\n Ben sat at his desk in the study when he heard the front door open and noticed that he had company.\u00a0 He stood and approached his old friend.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re a long way from town, Roy.\u00a0 Come on over to the fireplace and have a seat.\u00a0 Hoss, why don\u2019t you go and ask Hop Sing to bring in some coffee?\u201d Ben said as he shook Roy\u2019s hand and motioned for him to have a seat on the settee.<\/p>\n \u201cI reckon I could use some coffee, thanks, Ben,\u201d Roy nodded over to the man as he sat across from him in the red leather chair.<\/p>\n \u201cSo?\u00a0 What brings you out here?\u201d Pa got right to the point as he stared over at the lawman.\u00a0 He had pretty much figured out that it had to have something to do with the fact that his youngest son was now a resident of the Virginia City Jail.<\/p>\n Hoss walked in from the kitchen and brought with him a tray with three cups and a fresh pot of coffee.\u00a0 He poured Roy and his father a cup and handed each one over to them.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks,\u201d Roy said and took a sip of the brew before answering his friend.\u00a0 \u201cBen, I know this is a touchy subject but \u2013 well \u2013 it\u2019s about Little Joe,\u201d He began.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s face took on a scowl and he drew in a deep breath before responding.\u00a0 \u201cI was hoping this didn\u2019t have anything to do with that boy.\u00a0 If that\u2019s why you\u2019ve come, I\u2019m afraid you\u2019ve wasted a good part of your day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen you know that he\u2019s been in my jail better than four days now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I\u2019ve heard,\u201d Ben grumbled.<\/p>\n Roy shook his head still bewildered over the way the Cartwrights were acting.\u00a0 He never remembered a time when all four of them hadn\u2019t pulled together and helped each other no matter the problem.\u00a0 There was just something odd about the whole situation.\u00a0 \u201cThe kid doesn\u2019t have a dime to his name, Ben.\u00a0 He had ten dollars but that went for some of what he owed at the hotel and now he\u2019s dead broke.\u00a0 You can\u2019t possibly want Joe to sit in my jail for a month!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stood and turned his back on the sheriff after giving Hoss a quick \u201cI\u2019ll handle this\u201d look.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph spent his money on whiskey and women.\u00a0 I warned him and he just refused to listen to me, Roy.\u00a0 I had no other choice than to disinherit him.\u00a0 I tried my best for nineteen years — but as I told you before \u2013 I am done with him.\u00a0 He\u2019s caused enough dishonor to the Cartwright name — hanging around with saloon girls until all hours of the night and swilling liquor like a drunken sailor!\u201d<\/p>\n The sheriff set his cup down onto the coffee table and walked over to Ben.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t you think that if you\u2019d try one last time to talk to Little Joe that just maybe he\u2019d listen to you now?\u00a0 Nobody has come to see him you know.\u00a0 Well \u2013 other than that saloon gal Crystal but she only came looking for money that the kid didn\u2019t have and never came back.\u00a0 He\u2019s still young, Ben \u2013 and I think he needs his pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben finally turned and stared directly into Roy\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 He set his shoulders and with a furrowed brow replied, \u201cI am no longer his pa, Roy.\u00a0 He had his chance \u2013 many in fact but I am done with him.\u00a0 I appreciate the fact that you like playing peace maker but it\u2019s pointless in this case.\u201d<\/p>\n Roy sighed wearily and shook his head very disheartened.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t figure Ben Cartwright anymore.\u00a0 No matter what any of his boys had done in the past, especially his youngest, the man had always stood by their side.\u00a0 He had expected Ben to come to the jail and drag Joe out of there and maybe give him a good walloping to straighten the kid out.\u00a0 But now he was standing his ground just like that ornery boy he had in his jail cell.<\/p>\n \u201cI had to try \u2013 guess I\u2019ll get on back to town.\u00a0 Thanks for the coffee,\u201d Roy announced and turned for the door.<\/p>\n Hoss and his father exchanged woeful glances and walked behind the sheriff.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll see you next time we\u2019re in town,\u201d Ben nodded over to the man as he walked out the front door.<\/p>\n Hoss turned and looked at his pa.\u00a0 \u201cDad burn it, Pa, this is getting to be a real mess!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben groaned and rubbed the back of his neck trying to release the knot that had formed there due to the stress that the whole darned situation was causing.\u00a0 He hated to lie to his dear friend but there wasn\u2019t a thing he could do about it.\u00a0 Colonel McMasters had given specific instructions on who could be told about the operation and who couldn\u2019t.\u00a0 And Roy Coffee wasn\u2019t one of those who had been chosen to be included on the list of who knew what was happening with Joe.\u00a0 \u201cI know \u2013 but right now Joe is the bait that they\u2019re using to catch everyone who\u2019s involved with those pilfered rifles.\u00a0 We\u2019ve got to let it run its course, Son.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just hate to think of Little Joe sitting there day after day in that jail cell,\u201d Hoss said frowning over the thought of his brother being all alone.<\/p>\n Ben raised his eyebrows as he looked into his son\u2019s sad blue eyes and replied, \u201cDo you think I like the fact that Joseph is in there?\u00a0 I don\u2019t!\u00a0 I wish I could just go to the jail and drag him out of there and be done with all of this!\u00a0 But he wanted to do it \u2013 he said he needed to do it because of Jennifer.\u00a0 I could\u2019ve forced him to stay here \u2013 but he would\u2019ve resented it \u2013 and maybe he would\u2019ve ended up resenting me as well.\u00a0 All we can do right now is to wait and pray that everything will work out and that this charade will be coming to an end soon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know, Pa — I know,\u201d Hoss sighed sadly and walked away.\u00a0 He was worried about his brother being in jail and how he would handle everything if he did find the person responsible for selling rifles to the Indians.\u00a0 All Hoss could do was to say yet another silent prayer that Little Joe would be alright.<\/p>\n Enter Pete Timmons.\u00a0 AKA of all of the jail cells in all of the towns in all of the world he’s got to be outside of mine.<\/strong><\/p>\n Joe heard a peculiar sound coming in through the steel bars of his window.\u00a0 He pulled himself up off the bunk and stared out into the alleyway.\u00a0 *** Oh no!\u00a0 Just what I need! ***<\/em><\/strong> He thought to himself as he spied the man standing on the other side of his window.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy Joe Cartwright!\u201d The man called up to him and smiled like a cat eating a canary.\u00a0 \u201cHow long you in for, Boy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you go pester somebody else, Timmons?\u201d Joe frowned.\u00a0 He sure didn\u2019t need the grin that was planted on his evil nemesis\u2019 face.\u00a0 Pete Timmons had been like a burr underneath his saddle for several years and he was the one who usually spent time behind bars but now the rolls were sadly reversed and quite obviously the man was trying to rub that fact in.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you in for, Joe?\u00a0 Did your daddy take away your allowance and you had to rob a bank?\u201d Pete continued laughing.<\/p>\n Joe sneered over at Pete and replied, \u201cI\u2019m in for murder \u2013 why don\u2019t you come closer because they can only hang me once and I\u2019d like to take you with me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, Joe \u2013 can\u2019t do that.\u00a0 I think I\u2019ll go over to the Ponderosa and see if your daddy would like to take me in as a son now that he\u2019s kicked your sorry butt out.\u00a0 You should\u2019ve seen that coming because I did!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou and Ben Cartwright deserve each other \u2013 so go ahead \u2013 get out of here!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy Joe \u2013 you sound a bit touchy \u2013 are you missing that nice cushy lifestyle you had?\u00a0 Or are you missing your pa tucking you in at night?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe grabbed onto the steel bars and fought his urge to break out and go mop the street with old Pete.\u00a0 \u201cCome closer and I\u2019ll tuck you in alright!\u201d<\/p>\n Pete bent down and picked up a clod of dirt and threw it into the cell hitting Joe square in the face.\u00a0 He laughed heartily at the surprised look that the prisoner now wore.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn you, Timmons!\u00a0 When I get out of here, you\u2019d better hide because I\u2019m going to take care of you once and for all!\u201d Joe swore, wiping the dirt from his face.<\/p>\n Pete tipped his hat and called over to Joe, \u201cSorry I heard Sheriff Coffee has got you as a guest for a whole month and I can\u2019t wait that long.\u00a0 No, I got things to do.\u00a0 Yep, I\u2019m going to go over to the Bucket of Blood and go see your girlfriend, Crystal.\u00a0 I figure she needs to see what a real man can do for her.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe grinned thinking of what Crystal would do to Timmons if he even tried to touch her.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, Pete, you go do that.\u00a0 Send her my regards.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Joe \u2013 now don\u2019t you go anywhere,\u201d Pete laughed and walked away.<\/p>\n Joe sank back down onto the bunk and shook his head.\u00a0 He hoped that something would happen soon or else he\u2019d have to figure out a way to break out of Roy Coffee\u2019s jail.<\/p>\n Roy Coffee\u2019s one hundred and first John Smith.<\/strong><\/p>\n Roy Coffee frowned as he tried to get his paperwork done.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t like Fridays as they were usually busy, and this one had been worse than usual.\u00a0 There were old posters to go through to see who was caught, who was shot dead and who was still on the loose.\u00a0 Roy also had a prisoner who had to get three square meals a day and he was getting tired of being the one to feed the kid.\u00a0 On top of all of that, since it was the start of the weekend, he figured that Joe would soon have some company in the back room as there would be drunken cowboys to deal with as was typical on a Friday night.<\/p>\n A man walked through the door and the sheriff stared up at him through his reading glasses.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what can I do for you?\u201d Roy asked fighting a frown.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t need any more business at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m here to pay Joe Cartwright\u2019s damages and his fine.\u201d<\/p>\n Roy shot the man a suspicious glance as he\u2019d never seen him before.\u00a0 \u201cAnd who might you be?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe names John \u2013 John Smith.\u201d<\/p>\n Roy stifled a laugh.\u00a0 The man had to know he wasn\u2019t buying that name as in his thirty years of being a sheriff Roy had booked at least one hundred men by that name.\u00a0 \u201cOh\u2014Mister Smith, huh?\u00a0 And just how do you know Joe Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI used to work for his pa, and I heard he\u2019d fallen on hard times, so I thought I\u2019d help the kid out.\u00a0 Now how much is it to get him out of here?\u201d The man asked.<\/p>\n Roy didn\u2019t buy the man\u2019s name nor his explanation, however there wasn\u2019t anything he could do about someone wanting to pay another person\u2019s fine.\u00a0 He\u2019d have to take the man\u2019s money and let Joe out.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019ll be seventy-five dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n Mister Smith counted out the money and laid it down onto the top of Roy\u2019s desk.<\/p>\n Sighing to himself, the sheriff stood up and grabbed the keys to Joe\u2019s jail cell and walked into the next room.<\/p>\n Joe sat up on his bunk as he saw the sheriff approaching.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s going on, Roy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGonna let you out, Little Joe.\u00a0 Seems you have an old friend who took pity on you and paid for the damages and your fine,\u201d Roy answered as he opened the jail cell door.\u00a0 \u201cCome on into my office and I\u2019ll give you your holster and hat.\u201d<\/p>\n Walking into the next room Joe stood face to face with a perfect stranger.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t have a clue as to what to do next.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know if you remember me, Joe, but I used to work on your ranch a few years back.\u00a0 The name\u2019s Smith,\u201d The man said and nodded over to the young man.<\/p>\n \u201cWell — yeah \u2013 you do look familiar,\u201d Joe returned as he strapped on his holster and pulled his hat off the rack behind Roy\u2019s desk.\u00a0 \u201cI just want to thank you for helping me out,\u201d Joe shook the man\u2019s hand and nodded over to him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re welcome.\u00a0 Well \u2013 I\u2019ve got things to do.\u00a0 Goodbye, Sheriff — goodbye Joe,\u201d Mister Smith simply turned and walked out of the jailhouse.<\/p>\n Roy stood and approached Joe.\u00a0 \u201cLittle Joe \u2013 I don\u2019t exactly know who that man is, but it seems awful strange to me that you said you remembered him \u2013 but your face told a different story.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe donned his hat and avoided Roy\u2019s piercing stare which at times mimicked his pa\u2019s.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve got things to do, Roy.\u00a0 See you around.\u201d<\/p>\n As Joe walked out of the jail Roy called after him \u201cYou stay out of trouble you hear?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe answered with laughter and headed over to the hotel.\u00a0 Just as soon as he crossed the threshold, he spotted the same man who had bailed him out.\u00a0 Mister Smith approached him and, keeping his voice down to a whisper, spoke out.<\/p>\n \u201cYour hotel bill has been paid.\u00a0 They were going to throw away your saddlebags and all your possessions, but they\u2019re back up in the room you\u2019d been staying in.\u00a0 We also took care of your livery bill.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell \u2013 thanks for that \u2013 Mister Smith \u2013 but who is \u201cwe\u201d?\u201d Joe answered suspiciously.<\/p>\n \u201cHere\u2019s your room key, you\u2019ll be hearing from us,\u201d Mister Smith handed it to Joe and then simply walked out of the hotel.<\/p>\n Shrugging his shoulders, as he wondered just what was going on, Joe climbed the stairs.\u00a0 The man hadn\u2019t used the code word, so he figured it wasn\u2019t someone that was on the right side of the law.\u00a0 Turning the key in the doorknob, Joe walked into his hotel room.<\/p>\n An old friend emerges.<\/strong><\/p>\n Hearing the sudden sound of laughter, Joe stared across the room and laying on the bed was someone he hadn\u2019t seen in years.<\/p>\n \u201cGant?\u201d Joe asked, with bewilderment painting his face.\u00a0 \u201cGant \u2013 what are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n The other man stood from his position on the bed and approached Joe.\u00a0 \u201cJoe Cartwright \u2013 I bet you never thought you\u2019d see me again, huh?\u201d Gant grinned and reached out to shake the other man\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n Joe smiled and shook Gant\u2019s outstretched hand.\u00a0 \u201cNo \u2013 didn\u2019t think you were around these parts.\u00a0\u00a0 What\u2019s it been?\u00a0 Five years now?\u201d<\/p>\n Gant nodded and took a seat opposite the bed.\u00a0 \u201cYeah \u2013 I left school a year before you, remember?\u00a0 I got out of this stinking town and didn\u2019t think I\u2019d ever be coming back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere have you been all of this time?\u201d Joe asked as he sat down on the bottom of the bed and stared over at the man.\u00a0 He was two years older than Joe but apparently had lived a hard life and it showed on his face.\u00a0 Instead of twenty-two, Gant looked at least thirty.\u00a0 He was just a few inches taller than Joe, but he had the same kind of curly hair and was of the same build.\u00a0 He wore a gunman\u2019s holster, one that had a slit in the front so the Colt revolver could pull straight through at lightning speed.\u00a0 Joe had always wondered if Gant had turned to crime since he had such a rough childhood.\u00a0 He was an orphan and lived off charity most of the time.\u00a0 He\u2019d had an adoptive father, but they didn\u2019t get along and Gant had been tossed out onto the streets by the time he was fourteen.\u00a0 Joe had felt sorry for the kid and had taken a couple of beatings when he defended him at school.\u00a0 Now as he stared over at his old friend, he could tell that the years of being picked on and pushed around had caused him to turn against society in general.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I\u2019ve been about everywhere, Joe \u2013 and I\u2019ve done a little bit of everything along the way.\u00a0 Now what\u2019s this I heard about you?\u00a0 Is it true that your pa kicked you out?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe reached into his corduroy jacket and pulled out one of his hand-rolled cigarettes and lit it.\u00a0 He leaned back on the bed like he didn\u2019t have a care in the world before he answered his old friend.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, it\u2019s true\u2014which is why I couldn\u2019t pay that fine or for the damages.\u00a0 I guess I kinda owe you for doing all of that and for paying my hotel bill too, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNaw \u2013 forget it.\u00a0 Remember how we were friends in school?\u00a0 Yeah \u2013 you were just about the only one I had too.\u00a0 Let\u2019s just call us even, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I sure appreciate it, Gant \u2013 as you know I\u2019m broke \u2013 which is why I\u2019ve been cooling my heels over at that darn jail all week.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got to try to find some work soon.\u00a0 Thanks for keeping a roof over my head — but I\u2019m gonna pay you back \u2013 just as soon as I can,\u201d Joe insisted.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat kind of work?\u201d Gant asked.<\/p>\n Joe drew in a long drag of his cigarette and tried not to choke from the smoke.\u00a0 \u201cAnything that will pay good.\u00a0 I want to get out of this town and out of Nevada too.\u201d<\/p>\n Gant stared at Joe and read anger in his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s that bad with your pa, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t got a pa anymore, Gant.\u00a0 And that suits me just fine.\u00a0 I\u2019m more like my mother and I want to go to where she was from.\u00a0 I probably have some kin in New Orleans, but even if I don\u2019t it\u2019s where I\u2019d rather live than here.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to run into any of those people that I used to call my family,\u201d Joe returned hotly.<\/p>\n Gant stood and approached his friend. Settling a hand down onto his shoulder he said, \u201cI might just know of something that would suit you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah?\u00a0 Does it pay good?\u00a0 Because I\u2019ll take about anything as long as it\u2019s worth my time.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to need a lot of money in order to get to New Orleans.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think it will be perfect for you.\u00a0 I\u2019ve heard you\u2019re a pretty fast shot, huh, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded and smiled at his old friend.\u00a0 \u201cAbout the fastest around here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou just give me a few hours and I\u2019ll be back, and I just might have a proposition for you too!\u201d Gant declared and patted his friend\u2019s shoulder and turned for the door.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks!\u201d Joe called across the room as the man exited.\u00a0 He laid back onto the bed and grinned.\u00a0 It had been just as Colonel McMasters had suspected; Gant Fenner was involved with something shady.\u00a0 Joe waited and hoped that he would know soon who had been dealing stolen rifles to the renegades.<\/p>\n The terrible alias.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWell, the kid\u2019s out of jail,\u201d Adam called over to his father and brother as he made his way over to the dining table.\u00a0 \u201cI ran into Roy, and he said a man name John Smith got Joe out.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben looked up from his dinner plate and stared over at his eldest.\u00a0 \u201cI take it that Mister Smith isn\u2019t working on the right side of this?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shrugged his shoulders and replied, \u201cI don\u2019t know exactly, Pa.\u00a0 But that\u2019s a terrible alias if he\u2019s working with Crystal.\u00a0 I think Joe might have found one of the men he was looking for \u2013 or at least someone to take him to the ones the Colonel is after.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam could read the apprehension that was now on their father\u2019s face and sought something to say to ease his mind about Joe\u2019s safety.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, Pa, we don\u2019t give Little Joe enough credit.\u00a0 We\u2019ve seen him get himself out of plenty of jams in the past \u2013 I\u2019m sure he\u2019s got good instincts and will be okay,\u201d Hoss remarked.<\/p>\n Pa braided the fingers of both hands and dropped his head down onto them.\u00a0 \u201cThis time\u2019s going to be much harder for the boy, Hoss.\u00a0 He doesn\u2019t know who to trust and how deep that rifle running operation is.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam reached over and patted his father\u2019s shoulder and added, \u201cPa, he\u2019s got that code word \u2013 that\u2019ll help Joe.\u00a0 Try not to worry \u2013 he\u2019s going to be okay.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph is trying to infiltrate a gang that doesn\u2019t even care about human life at all.\u00a0 Them selling those weapons to the Indians is exactly what\u2019s causing settlers to be killed all over Nevada.\u00a0 They don\u2019t respect life \u2013 so what\u2019s to stop them from killing your brother?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, Pa, once Joe has the names and the goods on them, he\u2019ll have the help of the cavalry.\u00a0 He\u2019s not in this alone, they\u2019ll be passing information through a lot of sources,\u201d Adam argued the point to try and get his father to relax.<\/p>\n Ben shot a quick glance between his two sons and responded, \u201cYou two boys are more experienced than your brother, but I wouldn\u2019t like it if either of you were doing this type of covert work. Joseph is much younger, and the boy doesn\u2019t have the best track record for not getting hurt you know?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss smiled and replied, \u201cPa, if Joe is gonna get hurt it don\u2019t matter if he\u2019s here at the ranch or out there somewhere on a secret mission.\u00a0 But you gotta remember that he\u2019s overcome just about everything in the past \u2013 the kid is tough and ornery.\u00a0 He\u2019s got that going for him.\u00a0 Try to relax \u2013 you know Joe wouldn\u2019t like you to get sick over all of this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust keep saying your prayers, the both of you,\u201d Ben returned and stood from the table without finishing his meal.\u00a0 His stomach was tied in knots now that he knew that Joe was getting somewhere with his mission.\u00a0 He had hoped that no-one would show up and the Colonel would call him off and be done with the kid.<\/p>\n So you say you\u2019re a good shot?<\/strong><\/p>\n Joe tried his best not to appear nervous or anxious as he rode next to Gant later that evening.\u00a0 He had been told that his old friend had a lead on someone who might want to hire Joe for his prowess with handling a six-gun.\u00a0 The two men left Virginia City right before dark and had ridden straight east for almost an hour before a small cabin came into sight.<\/p>\n Gant signaled his friend to tie his mount next to his right by the front porch.\u00a0 Joe swung down from Cochise and tried to size up the situation, knowing that any mistake on his part could end up being deadly.\u00a0 He stepped up onto the porch and stood behind Gant as the man knocked three times on the door.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on in!\u201d A voice called out from inside.<\/p>\n The one room cabin was dimly lit, and Joe peered around trying to make sure he had everyone inside well within his sight just in case.<\/p>\n \u201cThis here is Joe Cartwright,\u201d Gant announced and put his hand on his friend\u2019s shoulder as they approached the small oval table where one man sat, and two others flanked him.<\/p>\n \u201cHello, Joe,\u201d The man who remained seated called up to him.\u00a0 \u201cYou can call me Pierce \u2013 and these are my associates R.J. and Vester,\u201d he said indicating the two men standing behind him.<\/p>\n \u201cNice to meet you,\u201d Joe returned for lack of something better to say at the time.\u00a0 \u201cGant told me you might have some work for me?\u201d<\/p>\n Pierce laughed and nodded over to Gant.\u00a0 \u201cHe gets right to business, doesn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah \u2013 Joe\u2019s in a hurry to get a grubstake so he can leave for New Orleans soon.\u00a0 I said you might just have a need for a good hired gun.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI certainly do.\u00a0 You see, Joe \u2013 we lost a couple of men last week and due to the business that we\u2019re in \u2013 well we need to put on some more security.\u00a0 Gant says you\u2019re fast with a gun, is that right?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded over to the man and sent a confident smile across the table.\u00a0 \u201cYep, you\u2019ll not find anyone faster or more accurate than me, Pierce.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA man with a good sense of pride in what he\u2019s accomplished \u2013 I like that,\u201d Pierce grinned.\u00a0 \u201cYou care to prove it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou pick the target \u2013 which one of those men don\u2019t you need?\u201d Joe asked indicating the men flanking Pierce.\u00a0 His gaze grew deadly.<\/p>\n Pierce glanced at the two men and then back over at Joe.\u00a0 \u201cNo \u2013 that\u2019s not necessary \u2013 these men are some of the best I\u2019ve got.\u00a0 I was thinking more of a target practice situation, Joe.\u00a0 There\u2019s not much light left \u2013 but let\u2019s all go outside, shall we?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe and Gant walked out of the cabin ahead of Pierce and his two henchmen.\u00a0 They were told to step down from the porch and head over to the tree line.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019ll be fine right there,\u201d Pierce announced and then pointed back towards the cabin.\u00a0 \u201cYou think you can hit that one loose shingle just above the door from here, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe grinned and nodded.\u00a0 \u201cJust tell me when you want it off of the roof.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow!\u201d Pierce shouted and watched as Joe Cartwright\u2019s Colt came out of his holster in a split second and the kid managed to take off the shingle from a good distance.\u00a0 \u201cJoe \u2013 that\u2019s about as fast and accurate as I\u2019ve ever seen.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe twirled his six-gun and settled it back inside of the holster with a contented smile on his face.\u00a0 \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah — but can he shoot at something that\u2019s shooting back?\u201d R.J. sneered over at Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cWanna see me?\u201d Joe fired back with a steely gaze.\u00a0 \u201cAnytime you\u2019re ready.\u201d<\/p>\n Pierce reached over and steadied Joe\u2019s left hand.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s fine \u2013 we get the picture.\u00a0 Okay if you want a job, you\u2019ve got it.\u00a0 We have several shipments of materials that we have to get moved through some pretty tough territory.\u00a0 You\u2019ll be expected to help us load the materials and protect the shipments.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI take it that these shipments aren\u2019t something that you can just leave up to Wells Fargo to handle?\u201d Joe asked with a wry smile.<\/p>\n \u201cExactly,\u201d Pierce nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cHow much do I get paid to help you with this little project?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor starters \u2013 that is until you prove yourself with me \u2013 how about twenty dollars a week?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe reached inside of his jacket and withdrew one of his cigarettes and lit it.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d say twenty-five sounds a bit better.\u201d<\/p>\n Pierce stared over at Gant and asked, \u201cIs he worth it?\u201d<\/p>\n Gant nodded and remarked, \u201cJoe\u2019s got a natural talent for getting out of trouble, Pierce \u2013 I\u2019d say twenty-five to start him out is about right.\u201d<\/p>\n Pierce reached over and shook Joe\u2019s hand and said, \u201cYou\u2019re hired.\u00a0 How soon can you get your things together and come back out here?\u00a0 We\u2019re hoping to load a shipment in the next day or two and need the help.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s thoughts swirled rapidly in his mind, and he fought not to show it on his face.\u00a0 He knew he\u2019d need to pass the information on to Crystal and give her time to get in touch with Colonel McMasters, so he\u2019d know what to do next.\u00a0 Drawing in a drag from his cigarette Joe replied, \u201cI\u2019d like to maybe go and see a friend of mine first — a special lady friend that is.\u00a0 I need to give her a little money to hold her until I get back.\u00a0 You see if I just up and leave — well — before long she\u2019d be forced to have other suitors and I just don\u2019t like that idea.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan you be back by this time tomorrow?\u201d Pierce asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI can be back earlier— I just need to ask a favor of you though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCould I have a little money in advance?\u00a0 Gant and his other friend that I met in town took care of my debts because I\u2019m a bit broke at the moment.\u00a0 Could you see your way clear to front me maybe twenty dollars?\u201d Joe asked hopefully.<\/p>\n \u201cSure,\u201d Pierce smiled and reached inside of his vest.\u00a0 \u201cHere you go \u2013 to keep the lamplight burning at your girlfriend\u2019s place while she waits to see you again,\u201d he said and handed Joe twenty dollars.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks \u2013 thanks a lot, Pierce,\u201d Joe called over to the man as he tucked the money into his jacket.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll expect you tomorrow, Joe,\u201d Gant said and patted his friend on the back.<\/p>\n \u201cAren\u2019t you coming back into Virginia City?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 I\u2019ll see you tomorrow.\u00a0 You go take care of Crystal and we\u2019ll all see you then.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe walked to his pinto smiling to himself.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t said one word to any of the four men about who his girlfriend was and yet Gant had known her name.\u00a0\u00a0 Joe figured he had been watched quite a while before they had felt comfortable enough to offer him a job.\u00a0 Swinging up into the saddle, Joe waved to the men and headed back into town.<\/p>\n Telling Little Joe Cartwright not to take any unnecessary chances.\u00a0 AKA a paradox.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cHere you go, Crystal, now be sure to stay true to me,\u201d Joe laughed and handed her the twenty dollars.<\/p>\n Crystal looked over at Joe and worried that the young man wasn\u2019t taking the seriousness of the situation to heart.\u00a0 He had given her all the information he had garnered from the men he had met that day and what he was going to be doing as far as the shipments of supplies went.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe \u2013 I don\u2019t want you taking any chances.\u00a0 Your job is to find out who the lead man is in all of this.\u00a0 I\u2019m quite sure that the men who you dealt with today are just working for whoever is getting a hold of the stolen Henry\u2019s.\u00a0 The Colonel has some men watching your moves, so hopefully you\u2019ll be okay.\u00a0 It helped that you were able to flush your old friend Gant Fenner out, but just remember it\u2019s still a very dangerous assignment.\u00a0 Don\u2019t take any unnecessary risks.\u00a0 See what you can find out and then get out of there as quick as you can.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stood from the sofa and looked down at the girl.\u00a0 \u201cYou kinda sounded like my pa for a second,\u201d Joe laughed.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t worry \u2013 I\u2019ll be watching my back at all times.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll get word to your family as soon as I can, so they\u2019ll know why you\u2019ve left Virginia City.\u00a0 Be careful, Joe,\u201d Crystal warned again as she walked him to the door.<\/p>\n Joe pulled the door open and glanced back at Crystal one more time.\u00a0 \u201cHey \u2013 don\u2019t worry about me.\u00a0 You just keep those other men away!\u201d<\/p>\n Crystal laughed and said, \u201cOh I don\u2019t have any problem doing that, Joe.\u00a0 As a matter of fact, that rotten friend of yours Mister Timmons is now walking with a noticeable limp!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood girl,\u201d Joe smiled and turned the doorknob.\u00a0 \u201cI thought he\u2019d meet his match if he tried to pester you.\u00a0 See you, Crystal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGoodbye, Joe,\u201d she said as she watched him stepping out into the hallway.\u00a0 *** I hope you know what you\u2019re doing.\u00a0 Watch yourself, Joe. *** Crystal thought as she closed the door.<\/p>\n Joe Cartwright goes over to the dark side.<\/strong><\/p>\n The first week of Joe\u2019s new career, having put aside bronc busting and herding cattle, was spent getting to know all of those around him.\u00a0 He sized up the man who had only given the name \u201cPierce\u201d to him.\u00a0 Joe wasn\u2019t certain if that was supposed to be his first or last name.\u00a0 In fact, he was pretty sure that it was nothing more than an alias.\u00a0 Joe also kept a watchful eye on the other two men who he had been introduced to that first night.\u00a0 The one known as Vester was quiet and stayed in the background most days, while his counterpart, known as R.J., appeared to be a braggard and a showoff.\u00a0 Joe could see why there were positions to fill in the operation as it appeared that a person could easily get themselves killed if he asked too many questions or tried to get ahead of R.J. Joe remembered Adam quoting Shakespeare\u2019s Julius Ceasar and mentioning that Cassius had a\u201d lean and hungry look\u201d.\u00a0 The same could be said about R.J., along with the fact that he was seeking a showdown with the newest member of the team.<\/p>\n By the beginning of his second week in the employ of Pierce, Joe had successfully convinced his boss that he was both trustworthy and hard working.\u00a0 The man had started to let his guard down a bit and had shared meals with Joe and quite a few drinks.\u00a0 Having to pace himself a little, as Pierce drank from a bottle that contained whiskey and not strong tea, Joe would sit at night listening to the tales that the man told.\u00a0 There wasn\u2019t anything that Pierce liked to talk more about than himself.\u00a0 Joe cajoled the man hoping that he would spill out the information that he needed if he just kept Pierce drinking.<\/p>\n \u201cYou sure have travelled a lot, Pierce,\u201d Joe nodded to the man as he refilled the two shot glasses and passed one across the table.<\/p>\n Pierce smiled over at his new hire and replied, \u201cYes, all over this country, in fact.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEver been to New Orleans?\u00a0 That\u2019s where I\u2019m heading as soon as my job is finished here.\u201d<\/p>\n Pierce nodded and studied the young man\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cYes \u2013 several times.\u00a0 Gant told me you\u2019ve made a lot of changes in your life recently, Joe.\u00a0 So, you\u2019re serious about leaving Nevada?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing\u2019s keeping me here except the fact that I need money.\u00a0 New Orleans is where my mother was born.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere might be a chance for you to make extra money for your travels if you\u2019ll stick it out with us for a few more weeks depending on what you\u2019re willing to do,\u201d Pierce stated cryptically.<\/p>\n Joe leaned back in his chair and pulled a cigarette out of his jacket and lit it.\u00a0 \u201cAll I\u2019ve done thus far is to help load and guard crates \u2013 very heavy crates at that.\u00a0 I still don\u2019t know what you\u2019re shipping.\u201d<\/p>\n Pierce laughed and polished off his whiskey.\u00a0 \u201cI appreciate the fact that you\u2019ve not gotten nosey, Joe.\u00a0 But I guess it would lead you to wonder about what we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCare to fill me in?\u201d Joe asked, trying not to sound too anxious.<\/p>\n \u201cWe distribute certain important goods to buyers who need them.\u00a0 Our next shipment, now that it\u2019s finally ready, will go out in the morning.\u00a0 Your job is to use your gun to protect it and if you prove yourself useful there\u2019s a chance to have more opportunities to use your talents.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the chance you were talking about \u2013 so I can earn more money?\u00a0 I mean I\u2019ve gotten good at loading crates, and I\u2019ll help protect them, but what else do you have in mind?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe all have our own bosses, Joe.\u00a0 I\u2019m not the top man —not yet at least.\u00a0 But I\u2019d kinda like to get there before too long.\u00a0 If you understand what I\u2019m saying?\u201d Pierce\u2019s tone turned sinister, and it gave Joe pause.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah — I think I do.\u00a0 When do you want to move up the ladder?\u00a0 Do you need a boost?\u201d Joe grinned and sipped his whiskey.<\/p>\n Pierce stood and walked over to Joe and patted his shoulder before replying.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll let you know when \u2013 and who.\u00a0 You just keep doing your job until I tell you what else I want you to do.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe simply nodded and watched as Pierce walked over to his bunk and sat down.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t help wondering what was going on and how many people were involved.\u00a0 Joe frowned when he realized he hadn\u2019t gotten very far in over a week of snooping around.\u00a0 So far all he knew was that everyone he was working with seemed to want to get ahead by doing away with their competition.\u00a0 Moving across the room to the fireplace, Joe spread out on his bedroll keeping his hand on his Colt, just in case.<\/p>\n The giant asks Pa for a favor.<\/strong><\/p>\n Ben Cartwright was surprised to have such a late-night visitor.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss had already turned in for the evening and he was just about to follow suit when he heard the knocking at the front door.<\/p>\n \u201cCan I help you?\u201d Ben asked as he looked up at the rather large man standing there on the porch.,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMister Cartwright, I\u2019ve come to talk to you about your son Joe,\u201d The man replied as Ben led him inside.<\/p>\n Staring over at the stranger, Ben\u2019s face filled with concern.\u00a0 He never knew who was on which side of the law lately.<\/p>\n Noticing the apprehension on his host\u2019s face, the man nodded over at him and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cI realize you\u2019re waiting for a certain word — October.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sighed and shook the man\u2019s outstretched hand.\u00a0 \u201cThank you for that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI go by the name Charlie Kincaid; you\u2019ve probably heard that I like to fight in the Silver Dollar Saloon.<\/p>\n \u201cI see,\u201d Ben nodded.\u00a0 \u201cHow is the boy?\u00a0 Have you heard anything?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe hasn\u2019t been harmed — but he might be up against the odds right now \u2013 and he\u2019s going to need some help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat kind of help— anything that I can do?\u201d Ben asked as he led the man over to sit down on the settee.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, it\u2019s not going to be easy, but we could use your help, Mister Cartwright.\u00a0 Let me tell you what we\u2019d like you to do,\u201d Charlie began to explain to Ben what he needed him to do to protect his son\u2019s cover story.<\/p>\n Wait \u2013 you want me to shoot WHO?<\/strong><\/p>\n The following day Joe had been given the task of riding point for the wagon loaded with the stolen rifles.\u00a0 He was aware of what cargo he had been loading and guarding for over a week.\u00a0 Mister Pierce wanted to have scouts placed in front and behind the large, covered wagon as it made its way to the drop-off site just north of Lake Tahoe.\u00a0 Gant had been instructed to follow behind the wagon and Joe was told to ride three miles in front of it just in case someone would get nosey and tried to see what they were hauling.<\/p>\n Standing in his stirrups, Joe looked down at the pond just to the west of the route that they\u2019d be taking.\u00a0 He spied a man leaned towards the water and there was something familiar about him, so Joe grabbed his canteen and dismounted.\u00a0 He eased down to the water\u2019s edge and knelt next to the stranger.\u00a0 It was then that he recognized the man who had fought with him in the Silver Dollar Saloon, Charlie Kincaid.<\/p>\n \u201cNice day,\u201d Charlie whispered to Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, real nice \u2013 unless there\u2019s people behind you who wouldn\u2019t flinch about killing you,\u201d Joe answered and leaned the canteen down into the water to fill it.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve not got long to talk, Joe.\u00a0 Here,\u201d he said and handed Joe a handful of bullets.<\/p>\n Joe held the cartridges in his gloved left hand and stared over at the other man.\u00a0 \u201cThese are blanks \u2013 what\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve heard some rumors about some of your new friends.\u00a0 One of our men overheard two of them talking in the saloon the other night and it sounds as though they\u2019re going to challenge your loyalty.\u00a0 Put those in your gun.\u00a0 You\u2019re going to run into your father at some point today.\u00a0 When you get the chance, use those.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u201d Joe asked very confused.\u00a0 \u201cYou think I\u2019m gonna shoot my pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s aware of the situation.\u00a0 Just point your gun a bit to the left of his right side just under his ribcage,\u201d Charlie instructed and stood hastily.<\/p>\n Joe stood and tried to follow the other man.\u00a0 He grabbed his arm, spinning him around.\u00a0 \u201cI know they\u2019re blanks but they could still hurt him if I have to shoot him up close!\u201d Joe protested.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll be fine, just don\u2019t get too close when you shoot, and like I said, you\u2019re aiming to his right side, just point a bit over to the left so even what little bit of wadding inside the blanks won\u2019t hit him. It will sound and look just like you got him with a real bullet.\u00a0 Fire two of them as we\u2019ve got it all set up that he\u2019s taken two hits.\u00a0 Trust me, I\u2019ve done this sort of thing before.\u00a0 Your father will be fine and he\u2019s already standing by waiting for you to show up.\u00a0 Now what road is the shipment using?\u00a0 We could tell that you\u2019ve been heading towards Tahoe all day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Geiger Road we aren\u2019t using the Mill Road because it\u2019s more travelled,\u201d Joe returned, still concerned by what he had heard Charlie tell him.<\/p>\n \u201cGood, how soon are you going to report back?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was only supposed to go out about three miles, so I was planning on heading back until I spotted you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you best get going.\u00a0 You\u2019ll see your father\u2019s horse and just approach him.\u00a0 Take your shot and if you have to check him make it quick and get out of there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut –,\u201d Joe began but the man hurried away leaving him standing there alone.<\/p>\n Joe stared at the bullets in his hand.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t believe what he had been told to do.\u00a0 But he sure wasn\u2019t going to have live rounds in his gun if it was true that his father was going to show up somewhere that day.\u00a0 Carefully Joe shucked the six bullets out of his Colt and replaced each one with a blank.\u00a0 He hurried up the embankment and mounted Cochise.\u00a0\u00a0 His stomach churned over what was going to lie ahead down the road. Kicking at the sides of his horse Joe continued down the path towards where he\u2019d meet back up with Pierce and his henchmen.<\/p>\n R.J. gets suspicious and Little Joe’s “blank” stare.<\/strong><\/p>\n Pierce rode alongside the wagon carrying the weapons and signaled the driver to pull up.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s wait on Gant and Joe to report in,\u201d He called over to the driver and the other two men riding on either side of the wagon.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll just stay put until they get here.\u201d<\/p>\n R.J. and Vester dismounted and moved over next to their boss.<\/p>\n \u201cI still say that I don\u2019t trust Cartwright!\u201d R.J. said hotly as he looked at Pierce.\u00a0 \u201cHow do we know if he\u2019s legitimate?\u201d<\/p>\n Pierce shook his head and laughed, \u201cYou\u2019ve had it out for him ever since you met the kid.\u00a0 I haven\u2019t noticed anything suspicious about Joe and Gant trusts him.\u00a0 That\u2019s good enough for me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been a rich boy all of his life, I find it hard to believe he\u2019d give up that cushy life for this kind of work,\u201d R.J. continued.\u00a0 \u201cVester doesn\u2019t trust the kid either, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Vester shrugged his shoulders and remarked, \u201cI can\u2019t say, I\u2019ve not seen anything odd in his behavior so far \u2013 but I wouldn\u2019t turn my back on him either.\u00a0 He\u2019s quick with that gun!\u201d<\/p>\n Gant rode up and dismounted, tying his reins to the back of the wagon.\u00a0 \u201cNobody around, at least not within three miles of us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cGood, we\u2019re just waiting on Joe now,\u201d Pierce nodded over to Gant.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, your little buddy is late,\u201d R.J. sneered over at Gant.<\/p>\n Gant spun around to look at the other man.\u00a0 \u201cWill you get off his back?\u00a0 He\u2019s not an enemy he\u2019s a coworker.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou went to school with the kid, but you\u2019ve not seen him for years.\u00a0 How do you know he\u2019s really with us?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you know he\u2019s not?\u201d Gant challenged the other man.<\/p>\n Before R.J. could reply Joe came into view.\u00a0 He rode over to the other men and dismounted.<\/p>\n \u201cSee anyone, Joe?\u201d Pierce asked as he approached him.<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 not a soul.\u00a0 It\u2019s all clear,\u201d he responded and then noticed that it seemed as though he had walked into a tense situation.\u00a0 The men standing around all stared at Joe.\u00a0 \u201cAnything wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 just wondering how you did,\u201d Pierce replied and cast a warning glance at the other men.<\/p>\n \u201cLooks like I interrupted something,\u201d Joe returned as he watched the looks on R.J. and Vester\u2019s faces.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, you did.\u00a0 We were wondering about you and why you gave up that easy life of being a Cartwright,\u201d R.J. said, not paying any attention to what Pierce had said earlier.<\/p>\n Joe stared at each man and then his hand went down to his gun.\u00a0 \u201cYou have a problem with me then let\u2019s go take care of it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not necessary, Joe.\u00a0 We don\u2019t need to fight amongst ourselves,\u201d Pierce interceded and patted Joe\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n *** Thank goodness \u2013 since I\u2019ve got nothing but blanks in my gun! *** <\/em><\/strong>Joe thought to himself.\u00a0 He was glad that he didn\u2019t have to go up against R.J. at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s all get a little grub and then we\u2019ll head on over to the north shore of the lake and meet our contact.\u00a0 Come on over to the back of the wagon,\u201d Pierce directed his men, hoping to get everyone to cool down.<\/p>\n R.J. frowned but followed his boss to get some food into him.\u00a0 He made sure to always keep Joe Cartwright in his sight.\u00a0 The six men walked to the back of the wagon to eat some lunch before heading to the drop off spot.<\/p>\n Still not much of a mustache, Joseph.<\/strong><\/p>\n On the way to meet up with their contact and turn their shipment over to him the six men headed out a short time later.\u00a0 Joe was told to ride side by side with R.J. and to keep ahead of the wagon a good distance to make sure that no-one showed up unexpectedly.\u00a0 It was Pierce\u2019s way of trying to get them to talk and maybe settle down.\u00a0 Vester and Gant brought up the rear while Pierce rode alongside the wagon.\u00a0 They had journeyed close to ten miles and were only a few miles from their arranged meeting place when Joe\u2019s eye caught on his father\u2019s buckskin horse just down a steep embankment.<\/p>\n \u201cHey lookie there!\u201d R.J. exclaimed as he pointed his finger down the hill.\u00a0 \u201cI think your daddy showed up at a strange time.\u00a0 How about I take care of him since you don\u2019t care about your pa anymore?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe pulled out his Colt and sneered over at R.J.\u00a0 \u201cYou think I care about him?\u00a0 Let me show you how much I do \u2013 and settle this once and for all!\u201d Joe stated angrily and sent Cochise off in a gallop.\u00a0 He hurried down the hill trying his best to keep the other man away so his pa wouldn\u2019t be hit by a real bullet.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s heart was in his throat as he took aim at his father.\u00a0 He knew that he had only blanks inside of his gun but just the thought of shooting at the one person who he loved more than his own life sent shivers up his spine.\u00a0 He aimed at Ben who was sitting on Buck and sent off two bullets from his gun.\u00a0 He watched as Pa fell from his saddle and lay lifelessly on the ground.\u00a0 Joe cast a quick glance up at R.J. to see if he was advancing and was relieved that he was still sitting exactly where he had left him up on the trail.\u00a0 Keenly aware that the other man was watching his every move, Joe approached his father and jumped from Cochise.\u00a0 He went down to one knee as he hovered over his pa, blocking the sight of the man\u2019s face with his own body.<\/p>\n There was blood all over the right side of his father\u2019s body and for a minute Joe felt like he was going to faint.\u00a0 There were also two well placed bullet holes in the coat that Pa wore, and Joe wondered if the bullets had been real, and he had somehow been double crossed by Charlie.<\/p>\n \u201cHello, Joseph, nice to see you,\u201d Ben whispered, his eyes still closed and his body unmoving.\u00a0 When his son failed to say anything in response, he peeked his eyes open briefly and could read the fear very evident on Joe\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s only deer blood, Son.\u00a0 Oh, Charlie said for you to take my billfold.\u00a0 It\u2019s in the pocket just above where you shot your poor old pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe sighed, so relieved that his father was really alright.\u00a0 He turned when he thought he heard R.J. approaching.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t move, Pa \u2013 I\u2019m gonna get him away from here.\u00a0 No more taking risks either \u2013 I\u2019ve got this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBe careful, Boy,\u201d Ben whispered again, while glancing up briefly one final time as Joe made the move to get the wallet out of his coat.\u00a0 \u201cThe mustache still needs some work, Joseph,\u201d he quipped and then quickly closed his eyes again.\u00a0 He fought back a smile after he spotted the way Joe had grinned after hearing his pa\u2019s remark.\u00a0 Ben was just happy to see his youngest, if only briefly, because he hadn’t seen him for more than two weeks.<\/p>\n Joe grabbed the billfold which had two bullet holes in it and was covered in blood.\u00a0 He waved it in the air so R.J. could see what he had been after.\u00a0 Joe hurriedly mounted Cochise and turned towards the man coming down the hill.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s get the heck out of here!\u201d Joe shouted as he met the other man halfway up the hill.<\/p>\n \u201cIs the old man dead?\u201d R.J. asked, still shocked that the kid had shot Ben Cartwright.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t check for a pulse I just took his wallet.\u00a0 No sense letting good money go to waste,\u201d Joe called over to him.<\/p>\n \u201cI gotta give it to you, Kid \u2013 I didn\u2019t think you were legit \u2013 but if you could do that to Cartwright well \u2013 I guess you really don\u2019t care about what you gave up!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe laughed and pulled his horse to a halt briefly.\u00a0 He opened the wallet and there was now blood all over his hands which R.J. could plainly see.\u00a0 Joe took the cash out of it and then tossed it down to the ground.\u00a0 \u201cI got my back pay that the old skinflint owed me! Now let\u2019s get going \u2013 we\u2019ve got to tell Pierce about it.\u201d<\/p>\n R.J. nodded to Joe and the two of them rode to get to the wagon and to inform their boss about what had happened.<\/p>\n So, you killed your pa, huh?<\/strong><\/p>\n Pierce took in the information that both R.J. and Joe had given as soon as they met up with the wagon.\u00a0 He looked over at Joe surprised to see that the kid appeared to be much more concerned with counting the money he had stolen from his father than the fact that he had shot the man.\u00a0 Pierce also noticed the good amount of blood that was all over Joe\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n \u201cDid you kill him?\u201d Gant asked as he drew closer to the three men.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t exactly know,\u201d Joe said calmly as he tucked the money back inside of his jacket and then wiped the remaining blood on his pants.\u00a0 \u201cHe was bleeding pretty good after I plugged him twice.\u00a0 Guess we\u2019ll know if they announce a funeral in the paper.\u201d<\/p>\n R.J. looked at Pierce and Gant and just shrugged his shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cI heard two gunshots, and the man was on the ground.\u00a0 Joe just got the money and met up with me.\u00a0 I never saw Ben Cartwright move \u2013 he might\u2019ve been killed or might have died after we left.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSee anyone else?\u201d Pierce asked Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was probably heading to the mill \u2013 nobody was with him.\u00a0 He won\u2019t be missed for a while so we\u2019re good.\u00a0 And we should be in the clear just as long as we\u2019re going by way of the Geiger Road like we planned.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, once we meet at the drop off, we\u2019ll be getting rid of this wagon and leaving by horseback.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think we\u2019ll have any problems,\u201d R.J. added.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Gentlemen, let\u2019s proceed,\u201d Pierce announced, and the men swung back into their saddles.<\/p>\n Joe was the last one to mount up, pretending he was getting a drink from his canteen.\u00a0 He took a minute to rid himself of the remaining blanks and in their place inserted six live rounds.\u00a0 He hurriedly caught up with the wagon, and the entourage continued their trek to the north shore of Lake Tahoe.<\/p>\n Blood money and a proposition for more.<\/strong><\/p>\n The day had been an exhausting one for Joe Cartwright.\u00a0 They had met up with two men, one who was very clearly in charge.\u00a0 Joe was surprised when Pierce had introduced him to a man named Flynn O\u2019 Leary who was obviously at least one of the men responsible for all the gun-running that they\u2019d all been involved with.\u00a0 After the exchange of money all the men had headed out and rode a good twenty miles before coming to a new location to settle for the night.\u00a0 Most of the men ate their meals and then simply drank some whiskey and went to sleep.\u00a0 Joe, however, spent his time sitting in the old, abandoned cabin and talking with Pierce.<\/p>\n \u201cSo that man O\u2019Leary \u2013 does he happen to be one of the men you\u2019d like to replace?\u201d Joe asked as he leaned back in his chair and lit his cigarette.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re quick, Boy,\u201d Pierce said smiling.\u00a0 \u201cIf I can get a promotion then we\u2019d all get a lot more money than we took in today.\u00a0 Did you get a real good look at him?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded, \u201cOh, yeah, I did \u2013 and he seemed a bit slow to me.\u00a0 Not the type I\u2019d have any problem taking care of if there\u2019s money in it for me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I tell you, Joe \u2013 I can pretty much guarantee a one-hundred-dollar bonus for you if the next time we meet up with him you take him out.\u00a0 If you can catch him off guard \u2013 but he\u2019s always got that other man with him.\u00a0 You might have to take out the both of them.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe grinned and nodded over at Pierce.\u00a0 \u201cI won\u2019t have a problem doing that \u2013 if you were to keep them busy talking.\u00a0 But why haven\u2019t you offered this job to R.J.?\u00a0 I thought he was your main hired gun?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cR.J. is fast but he\u2019s not trustworthy.\u00a0 He might get the idea to take my place once I get to be one of the men in charge.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell \u2013 how about it if I get two of them \u2013 that I get a little more than a hundred — say the first man is one hundred and the other is fifty?\u00a0 How about it?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n Pierce laughed and replied, \u201cJoe, you sure are trying to get money fast now, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded and then reached into his jacket and pulled out the money he had gotten out of Ben Cartwright\u2019s billfold.\u00a0 \u201cI had hoped he had more on him — but I only got a measly fifty dollars.\u00a0 I\u2019m gonna need more before I can get myself to New Orleans.\u201d<\/p>\n Pierce reached over and patted Joe\u2019s arm and smiled, \u201cI see it doesn\u2019t bother you that there happens to be Ben Cartwright\u2019s blood on some of that money?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy in the Hell should it?\u201d Joe retorted angrily.\u00a0 \u201cHe disowned me after smacking me in public.\u00a0 He owed me a lot more than this.\u00a0 And nobody asks questions when you hand them money even if it\u2019s a bit red.\u201d<\/p>\n Pierce stood and put his hand down onto Joe\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cTomorrow, we meet up with the other man who oversees acquiring our merchandise.\u00a0 I\u2019ll introduce you to him as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe grinned up at Pierce and said, \u201cIs that somebody you want me to take care of too?\u201d<\/p>\n Pierce shook his head and returned, \u201cNo, he\u2019s vital to our operation \u2013 he\u2019s got what we need to keep this business going.\u00a0 He has all the right contacts.\u00a0 So don\u2019t take him \u2013 we need the crates he\u2019s going to give us.\u00a0 They\u2019ll be in a buckboard this time and then we\u2019ll load it all into a covered wagon just like the first shipment you handled.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSounds good \u2013 well \u2013 I guess I\u2019ll go do what the other men are doing \u2013 and get some shut-eye,\u201d Joe announced as he stood.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe?\u201d Pierce said and he stared pensively into the young man\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cIt really didn\u2019t bother you at all to kill Ben Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNope,\u201d Joe grinned and walked over to the fireplace and settled down onto his bedroll.<\/p>\n Pierce laughed and replied, \u201cRemind me never to get you mad, Kid.\u00a0 See you in the morning.\u201d\u00a0 Pierce walked over to one of the bunks to lay down.<\/p>\n Joe moved onto his side so that he was staring into the flames in the fireplace.\u00a0 He wished he was home and sitting in the living room next to the only fireplace he wanted to see at the time.\u00a0 But his mood was lighter now that he knew that he\u2019d soon have the exact information that Colonel McMasters had asked him to get.\u00a0 That would mean that his job and his charade would be over very soon.\u00a0 He closed his eyes and thought about going home.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t wait.<\/p>\n John Smith reappears bearing news.<\/strong><\/p>\n At daybreak the following day there was a visitor at the cabin where Pierce and his crew were just getting up and readying to meet up with their supplier of weapons.\u00a0 Joe sat up on his bedroll and looked over at the door where Pierce was speaking to the man who had bailed him out of jail, John Smith.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, what\u2019s new in Virginia City?\u201d Pierce asked as he led the man into the cabin and offered him a cup of coffee.<\/p>\n John looked over at the kid getting up next to the fireplace.\u00a0 \u201cJoe, this might just be of interest to you.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe walked over to the small table where the two men now sat and poured himself a cup of coffee.\u00a0 \u201cYeah? What?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was listening in to some of the gossip in town and it seems that your father was shot yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe grinned and replied, \u201cOh?\u00a0 I wonder who would do a mean thing like that?\u00a0 He\u2019s dead, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, but he\u2019s in a coma and the doctor doesn\u2019t think he\u2019s going to make it.\u00a0 I heard that there aren\u2019t any clues to who shot him down.\u00a0 Seems like your father was heading up to that mill you have and when he didn\u2019t show your brother Hoss found him.\u00a0 He\u2019s not come around either \u2013 so I guess whoever shot him is in the clear.\u00a0 The sheriff rode out to where Hoss found him, and they didn\u2019t find any clues.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s good, I told you I got him twice, Pierce,\u201d Joe stated calmly and sat down at the table.<\/p>\n Pierce stared over at Joe and shook his head.\u00a0 He had never seen anyone who could kill their own father and just act as if it had been simply a routine thing that he had done.<\/p>\n \u201cJohn, are you going out with us today to get the new shipment?\u201d Pierce asked, getting back to business.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have enough men, so I guess I\u2019ll stay here and get some rest for a change.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be here to help you men when you come back with the merchandise.\u00a0 You get the money without any problem yesterday?\u201d<\/p>\n Pierce smiled and nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYes, and all in gold this time.\u00a0 I think perhaps we have two more shipments and then we\u2019ll move to another location.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSounds good.\u00a0 When are you moving out?\u201d Smith asked.<\/p>\n \u201cJust as soon as we can get the horses ready.\u00a0 It\u2019s going to take all day to get to the meet up spot we chose.\u00a0 Dixon was a bit jumpy the last time, so he wants to meet about five miles from the fort this time,\u201d He explained.<\/p>\n Joe tried to act casually but inside he had qualms over the information which Pierce had offered.\u00a0 He wondered why a fort was mentioned.\u00a0 There were two that he knew of which would be within a day’s ride from their current location.\u00a0 He had been told by Colonel McMasters that the Henry rifles were stolen before they could get to Fort Churchill.\u00a0 They only knew that somehow the shipments to the fort had never made it but not how or who was doing it.\u00a0 Now Joe had the name of someone named Dixon and he hoped that it wasn\u2019t an alias so he could pass that information onto the colonel and maybe that would be enough to help him go back to his former life.\u00a0\u00a0 But he couldn\u2019t just disappear until he saw the face that went with the name which should help break the case and resolve the issue once and for all.\u00a0 For the sake of Jennifer and all who had been killed by the renegades Joe hoped that would be the result of his deception.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe, will you go and help with the horses?\u00a0 We\u2019d all better get ready to head out,\u201d Pierce asked turning to him.<\/p>\n \u201cSure,\u201d Joe nodded and stood from the table and walked across the cabin and outside to mount up.<\/p>\n \u201cYou really trust that kid?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, why?\u00a0 Don\u2019t you?\u201d Pierce questioned.<\/p>\n Smith shrugged his shoulders and answered, \u201cWell, if he\u2019s cold enough to shoot his own father I\u2019d sure keep my eyes on him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI intend to do just that,\u201d Pierce nodded and finished his coffee.\u00a0 \u201cYou just stay put and we\u2019ll see you sometime tomorrow.\u00a0 Then we\u2019ll go get that covered wagon and make another run.\u201d<\/p>\n John poured himself another cup of coffee and nodded to the other man.<\/p>\n McMasters smells a rat.<\/strong><\/p>\n Colonel McMasters looked at the duty rosters to see who was present at Fort Churchill that day.\u00a0 He had spent time going between Fort Churchill and Fort McDermit.\u00a0 Both were having trouble receiving shipments of the new Henry rifles and he\u2019d done his best to get to the bottom of the dilemma.\u00a0 He had reached out to the Cartwright family, particularly Joe Cartwright, to get some outside help.\u00a0 Colonel McMasters had kept a close eye on how the boy was doing and Charlie Kincaid had done a good job thus far in reporting in on Joe\u2019s comings and goings.\u00a0 There was still a strange feeling in the pit of McMasters stomach, something that just didn\u2019t feel right.\u00a0 He had spoken to the ordnance Sergeant, Earnest Dixon to try and ascertain how many rifles had gone missing both in shipping and what they had received several months ago.\u00a0 The sergeant was upset over what was happening and offered his services every time a shipment had been delivered and was found to contain nothing but rocks inside each crate instead of new Henry rifles.<\/p>\n A young man in his early twenties knocked on the door to Colonel McMasters office.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Private Jennings?\u201d He asked, as he met the private and returned his salute.<\/p>\n \u201cYou asked me to bring Sergeant Dixon to you, but he had to go into town Corporal Winters just told me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid he put in his leave before he left?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir.\u00a0 That\u2019s what Corporal Winters said, he\u2019d put in for it earlier in the week.\u201d<\/p>\n The colonel nodded and walked back to his desk.\u00a0 \u201cPlease tell the sergeant I want to see him as soon as he gets back.\u201d<\/p>\n Private Jennings saluted the colonel and replied, \u201cI will, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019ll be all,\u201d Colonel McMasters nodded to the young man and then returned his salute as he walked out of the door.<\/p>\n He thought for a few seconds and jumped up from his desk and walked across the room and opened his door again.\u00a0 \u201cPrivate Jennings!\u201d He sang out to the departing private.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Colonel?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGet me Corporal Winters right away.\u00a0 And tell him I want to see all the records for any leave that has been granted for anyone at this fort in the last two months!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir!\u201d The private returned and saluted.\u00a0 He hurried down the hall to give the corporal the message.<\/p>\n Time to send for the Cartwrights.<\/strong><\/p>\n Later that afternoon Colonel McMasters and Corporal Winters were starting to get a bad feeling.\u00a0 They had poured over all the leave requests along with the dates on which the shipments of Henry rifles had been delivered.\u00a0\u00a0 They also questioned the men who had viewed the rifles that had been stolen from the fort before they had gone missing and the shipments that had come to the fort containing only rocks.\u00a0 It appears the weapons went missing right after a delivery of foodstuffs arrived at the fort.\u00a0 It seemed too coincidental that two wagons had come and gone and each time rifles were missing or had never been delivered in the first place.\u00a0 They also learned that Sergeant Dixon had been the only one who had uncrated the rifles, always insisting it was his job, and only his to inspect the shipments of rifles as they arrived.<\/p>\n \u201cIf my suspicions are correct, Corporal, this means that our ordnance sergeant has been behind the missing rifles right from the beginning.\u00a0 He\u2019s requested leave almost every single time a shipment has had issues.\u00a0 I never would\u2019ve suspected Dixon!\u00a0 He\u2019s been a faithful soldier for twenty-five years.\u00a0 But if he\u2019s been doing this the whole time, it was planned very well.\u00a0 He opens the shipments then switches the rifles and puts rocks inside the crates to account for their weight.\u00a0 Then when the delivery of our rations comes, he somehow moves the rifles onto the food supply wagon.\u00a0 Then the driver of the supply wagon must meet up with the sergeant at some point and they take it somewhere, later delivering the rifles to whoever is trading with the renegades,\u201d McMasters said.<\/p>\n \u201cColonel, that means that he\u2019s also privy to some of the conversations that have gone on around here.\u00a0 The other day I saw him right outside your door when you were speaking to the man who\u2019s been going by the name Charlie Kincaid.\u00a0 Doesn\u2019t that put Joe Cartwright in danger?\u201d<\/p>\n Colonel McMasters\u2019 face grew pale after hearing what the corporal had said.\u00a0 \u201cI need to send a wire immediately.\u00a0 We\u2019re going to need more help, and we must try to get to Joe Cartwright before he comes face to face with the sergeant.\u00a0 If Dixon\u2019s out there getting ready to drop off more rifles and he sees Joe, then the boy\u2019s cover is blown, and he could get killed!\u00a0 I\u2019ll write the message out and send it to Ben Cartwright in Virginia City.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir,\u201d The corporal said as he watched the colonel composing the wire.<\/p>\n Pa, Little Joe’s in trouble. AKA Big surprise there.<\/strong><\/p>\n Ben Cartwright had hidden from everyone other than his two sons there at the ranch due to the information that was passed on the previous day.\u00a0 He had been given permission to bring Doctor Paul Martin in on what was going on due to the fact he\u2019d need the man\u2019s help.\u00a0 Doc had been told what to say once he\u2019d gotten back into Virginia City.\u00a0 He had made sure to spread the news that Ben was in a coma and not expected to live.\u00a0 Ben had deemed it wise just in case the men who were with Joseph got a bit too inquisitive.\u00a0 He still couldn\u2019t tell Roy Coffee but Hoss had taken care of him by leading him on a wild goose chase so there wouldn\u2019t be any sign of what had gone on with Joe the previous day.<\/p>\n \u201cPa!\u201d Hoss shouted as he burst into the house.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the shouting for?\u201d Ben asked as he stood from his desk and approached his middle boy.<\/p>\n \u201cGot this telegram while I was in town and headed right home.\u00a0 Adam is saddling Buck.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s in trouble and we need to hurry out towards Fort Churchill right now!\u201d Hoss exclaimed and handed his father the piece of paper.<\/p>\n Ben studied it and jogged to the front door to get his holster and hat.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s ride!\u201d He shouted and hurried out of the house with Hoss in tow.<\/p>\n A conversation between friends.\u00a0 AKA Joe tells a big lie for effect.<\/strong><\/p>\n Joe rode side by side with his old friend Gant as they journeyed to their appointed spot to receive the new shipment of pilfered Henry\u2019s.\u00a0 He cast a glance at the other man, and he felt a bit sorry for him.\u00a0 Joe hoped that Gant wouldn\u2019t have to serve too much time in prison for what he had done.\u00a0 Gant just had a rough start in life and Joe knew that if he\u2019d had the kind of family that Joe did then maybe things would\u2019ve been different.\u00a0 Colonel McMasters just happened to see Gant one day leaving Genoa and noticed that the man was carrying a brand-new Henry rifle in his scabbard.\u00a0 That had started the wheels turning in the colonel\u2019s brain and he had done some digging and found out about Gant and his past life.\u00a0 Once he had learned that Joe and Gant went way back, and that Joe had also known Jennifer Harding and her husband Steve he had devised a plan for him to help them in tracking the men involved with the theft.\u00a0 Joe had jumped at the chance to help the colonel and to try and get closure for Jennifer\u2019s death.\u00a0 Now he felt just a tad guilty.\u00a0 Gant hadn\u2019t always been bad, but now he was dealing stolen rifles, and they were being used by the same renegades who had killed the girl he had carried a torch for since he was in school.<\/p>\n \u201cYou look a million miles away, Joe,\u201d Gant remarked, smiling over at his friend.<\/p>\n \u201cOh?\u201d Joe replied and tried to change his expression to a happier one.\u00a0 \u201cI guess you caught me thinking about New Orleans, Gant.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI figured you were thinking about your pa.\u00a0 You looked a bit glum, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe laughed over at the other man.\u00a0 \u201cCome on I told you what he did to me.\u00a0 He deserved what he got!\u00a0 Heck, my former brothers are probably already dividing up their inheritance!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt really doesn\u2019t bother you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGant, if it bothered me, I wouldn\u2019t have done it.\u00a0 I\u2019m fine.\u201d Joe smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou sure aren\u2019t the kid I remembered, Joe.\u00a0 You and your pa were really tight back then, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe frowned and stared over at Gant.\u00a0 \u201cIf the two of us were tight I doubt he would’ve backhanded me in public!\u00a0 \u00a0My whole life he’s continually tried to make me into another Adam or Hoss too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah \u2013 I heard all of that.\u00a0 You know my adoptive father used to smack me around too.\u00a0 That\u2019s why I ended up on the streets.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI remember,\u201d Joe nodded sympathetically.\u00a0 \u201cGuess we\u2019re alike in that respect.\u00a0 My pa was really good at playing the role of a loving father — that is — to the outside world!\u00a0 But what nobody else got to see was the way he used to hit me whenever he just wanted to work off some steam.\u00a0 And he would warn me exactly what would happen to me if I ever told anyone back then, so I didn’t.\u00a0 No, there was never much of a difference between your adoptive pa and mine, other than mine hid what he was doing to me from everyone.\u00a0 I guess that’s why I always liked you — I could relate to how you were feeling, we had the same upbringing.\u00a0 I say good riddance to them both.\u00a0 It’s time to move on and enjoy my life.\u00a0 \u00a0Hey, maybe you\u2019d like New Orleans?\u00a0 You want to go with me once I get my grub stake?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll see \u2013 I\u2019m not sure where I\u2019ll end up,\u201d Gant replied smiling.<\/p>\n ***I know where you\u2019re going to end up.\u00a0 I just hope that you don\u2019t face the noose! ***<\/em><\/strong> Joe thought to himself.\u00a0 \u201cHow much further until we get to the place we\u2019re meeting up with the supplier?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I\u2019d say about another two hours,\u201d Gant nodded over to Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cGood I\u2019m getting tired,\u201d Joe answered trying to fight the uneasiness in the pit of his stomach.\u00a0 He felt like his job would be coming to an end real soon and he hated that it would mean turning on Gant.\u00a0 But the man had to be punished for his part in the deaths of so many people including Jennifer.\u00a0 Joe kicked Cochise\u2019s sides and picked up the pace.<\/p>\n Who\u2019s shooting at us?\u00a0 AKA who isn’t<\/em> shooting at us?<\/strong><\/p>\n As Ben Cartwright and his two older sons were riding hard towards Fort Churchill to meet Colonel McMasters, Joe and his new co-workers were making camp waiting for their shipment to be delivered.\u00a0 Pierce knelt next to the campfire and readied the coffee to stay the early fall\u2019s chill.\u00a0 He expected Sergeant Dixon to arrive soon but knew that his men needed to get coffee into them before one of them did something foolish like take out a bottle of whiskey.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s ready, Men, come and get a cup,\u201d Pierce called across the camp.<\/p>\n Joe and Gant stepped forward and accepted the first two cups.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks,\u201d Joe nodded down to Pierce.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s getting cold out here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you\u2019ll warm up just as soon as that gets inside of you,\u201d Pierce smiled up at Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cAny idea when Dixon will get here with the wagon?\u201d Gant asked as he sipped his coffee and stepped aside for the other men to get their drinks.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s usually pretty prompt \u2013 he said to expect him before midnight and it\u2019s just eleven now,\u201d Pierce said as he cast a glance at his pocket watch.<\/p>\n R.J. and Vester settled down on their bedrolls with their coffee and looked up at Joe and Gant.<\/p>\n \u201cYou seem a bit antsy, Joe,\u201d R.J. commented.<\/p>\n Joe laughed and replied, \u201cAntsy?\u00a0 What would I have to be antsy about?\u00a0 We\u2019re just picking up supplies not a shipment of gold.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt will be gold once we get it traded off with O\u2019Leary,\u201d Vester nodded over at R.J. smiling.<\/p>\n The five men heard a wagon heading in their direction and they all stood, drawing their guns in case it wasn\u2019t Sergeant Dixon.\u00a0 Soon the buckboard came into view pulling behind it a saddle horse.\u00a0 It came to a halt right next to the camp.<\/p>\n \u201cRelax, Joe, it\u2019s our contact,\u201d Gant said as he noticed the tight grip his friend held on his Colt.<\/p>\n Joe nodded and holstered his weapon.\u00a0 \u201cCan\u2019t be too sure, you know?\u201d He smiled.<\/p>\n Sergeant Dixon wasn\u2019t dressed in his uniform, and no one had mentioned that he was a soldier, only giving his last name to Joe.\u00a0 But he spied the McClellan saddle that was mounted on the horse that had been pulled behind the buckboard as well as the Wellington boots that Dixon had on.\u00a0 Joe figured that Dixon had to be a traitor, and he was evidently working out of Fort Churchill right under the nose of Colonel McMasters.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re early for a change,\u201d Pierce said as he shook the man\u2019s outstretched hand.<\/p>\n \u201cHave to be back to the barracks by morning,\u201d Dixon said and then cast a glance around the camp.\u00a0\u00a0 He looked warily at the young man wearing the green jacket.<\/p>\n Pierce had noticed the way the sergeant was staring at Joe, and he called over to him.\u00a0 \u201cJoe, come here there\u2019s someone I want to introduce you to.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe walked closer to the two men and looked directly at the sergeant.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is our new man, Joe Cartwright.\u00a0 Joe this is Ernest Dixon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNice to make your acquaintance, Joe,\u201d Dixon said and reached out his hand to shake with him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou too,\u201d Joe said and tried his best not to show his distrust of the man as he returned the handshake.<\/p>\n \u201cSo\u2014you get all that you said you could for us?\u201d Pierce was right back to business.<\/p>\n \u201cJust about.\u00a0 Come over here I need to show you how these are packed a little differently this time,\u201d Dixon replied and walked to the back of the wagon followed by Pierce.<\/p>\n \u201cPretend that we\u2019re just talking about the rifles,\u201d Sergeant Dixon whispered getting close to the other man.\u00a0 \u201cThat new man of yours, he\u2019s a plant.\u00a0 I heard his name when I was eavesdropping on McMasters the other day.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t hear the whole conversation but enough of it to know that Cartwright over there is working with the colonel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure?\u201d Pierce asked as quietly as he could.<\/p>\n Dixon nodded and moved some wooden boxes around in the bed of the wagon to make it look as though they were studying the shipment.<\/p>\n Pierce began to pull out his Colt, but Dixon\u2019s hand fell on his arm.\u00a0 \u201cNot until the others are out of the way,\u201d He warned.<\/p>\n Joe hadn\u2019t missed the way that Pierce and Dixon\u2019s conversation seemed a bit more muted than it should have been.\u00a0 He casually walked over to his horse after telling Gant he was going to get a bottle of whiskey from his saddlebags.<\/p>\n It was then that all Hell broke loose.\u00a0 R.J. noticed the gun in Pierce\u2019s hand and that he was looking directly at Joe who had his back turned at the time.\u00a0 Vester jumped up and got out of the way before the first bullet rang out.\u00a0 It hadn\u2019t been from Pierce\u2019s gun but from outside the camp somewhere.\u00a0 Every man inside the camp dove for cover, including Joe Cartwright.\u00a0 He found himself under the buckboard along with Gant.<\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2019s shooting at us?\u201d Gant asked Joe.<\/p>\n Joe, pistol in hand, pointed it at Gant and replied.\u00a0 \u201cI think I know.\u00a0 Hand me your gun, I don\u2019t want them to kill you.\u201d<\/p>\n Gant stared at Joe hard and then read something strange in his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cJoe?\u00a0 Joe, don\u2019t tell me you\u2019re a rat?\u00a0 Joe, we were friends!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, but what you and your new friends have been doing has killed a lot of people, Gant.\u00a0 Now hand it over and I\u2019ll make sure you get out of here alive.\u201d<\/p>\n Gant was about to hand his gun over when he somehow flipped it around and sent a bullet from it which barely missed hitting Joe.\u00a0 Gant dove away from the wagon with Joe in hot pursuit as more gunfire erupted around the camp along with the shouts from Colonel McMasters for everyone to surrender.<\/p>\n Pierce waved over to R.J. to take a shot at Joe to save Gant, but he missed.\u00a0 Joe went down to the ground and returned R.J.\u2019s fire, shooting him in the arm.\u00a0 Then he ran after Gant, finally catching up with him.<\/p>\n \u201cDrop it!\u201d Joe yelled over to his former friend.<\/p>\n Gant turned around and stared into Joe\u2019s eyes and said, \u201cTake me if you can, Joe, because I ain\u2019t going to prison.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t make me do this,\u201d Joe returned, hoping he wouldn\u2019t have to gun the man down.<\/p>\n Gant made the move and just as Joe aimed his Colt, a hail of bullets rang out.\u00a0 Instead of Gant being shot, Joe collapsed onto the ground.\u00a0 Gant was hit by a bullet right after his former friend fell.\u00a0 He ended up on the cold hard ground next to Joe.\u00a0 Joe stared into the other man\u2019s eyes right before unconsciousness took him away.\u00a0 Gant was already dead.<\/p>\n The melee that ensued was full of confusion and a steady hail of bullets sent out in all directions.\u00a0 By the time the camp grew deathly quiet, two men lay dead and two were injured. R.J. had a crease to his arm, but Pierce and Gant were dead, and Joe Cartwright was seriously wounded.\u00a0 Colonel McMasters sent his two soldiers to check on the casualties just as Ben, Hoss, and Adam Cartwright arrived on the scene.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u201d Ben shouted as he hurriedly dismounted and headed over to the fallen boy.\u00a0 Hoss and Adam quickly moved over to their father\u2019s side as he checked Joe for injuries.<\/p>\n \u201cHow is he, Pa?\u201d Hoss asked even though he knew Ben hadn\u2019t had time to inspect the wound yet.<\/p>\n Ben lifted his son\u2019s head, bracing it with his left hand while the fingers of his other hand tried to locate where the boy had been hit.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph?\u00a0 Joe \u2013 can you hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n A soft moan escaped Joe\u2019s lips, his eyes trying to home in on his father\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cPa?\u00a0 Pa \u2013 I \u2013 I,\u201d Joe couldn\u2019t finish his statement.\u00a0 His eyes rolled back inside of his head, and he passed out cold.<\/p>\n With his fingers trembling as they touched the warmth of fresh blood which had begun to seep from his son\u2019s jacket, Pa\u2019s face paled.\u00a0 \u201cStay with me, Joseph \u2013 stay with me.\u00a0 Your Pa\u2019s here \u2013 I\u2019m here,\u201d He pleaded, praying that somewhere in the recesses of the boy\u2019s mind he would hear his father\u2019s voice and respond in some way.\u00a0 Ben looked up into the faces of his two older boys.<\/p>\n \u201cBring me a lantern!\u201d Ben shouted and then noticed Colonel McMasters\u2019 approach.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Mister Cartwright, by the time we got here it was already too late.\u00a0 Joe got caught up in it all,\u201d The colonel apologized as a private came forward carrying a lantern.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to get this boy to a doctor right now!\u201d Ben demanded.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll unload the wagon, Pa,\u201d Hoss insisted, and he and Adam began to jettison everything out of the buckboard which contained the stolen rifles.<\/p>\n \u201cMen, help the Cartwrights get this wagon emptied.\u00a0 Two of you stand guard on the prisoners and the rest of you get to this immediately!\u201d McMasters ordered.<\/p>\n Within a few minutes the buckboard was freed of all cargo and Joe Cartwright was carefully spread out in the back.\u00a0 Ben climbed in with his injured son, relinquishing his horse to Hoss\u2019 care.\u00a0 He pulled his son\u2019s head into his lap and continued to talk to Joe, even though he was beyond hearing.\u00a0 Pa couldn’t help noticing how pale the boy was, far too pale.<\/p>\n \u201cHere, Pa,\u201d Adam called to his father and handed him a shirt from his saddlebags.\u00a0 \u201cUse it for the wound, it\u2019s clean,\u201d he said as he handed Hoss his reins and climbed up to drive the wagon.<\/p>\n Ben pushed back both sides of the corduroy jacket and hastily unbuttoned Joe\u2019s shirt.\u00a0 The lantern having been placed alongside of him lent way to the sight of his son\u2019s bullet wound.\u00a0 He pressed the shirt Adam had given him down onto Joe\u2019s stomach where the pattern of blood was spreading out like a bullseye.\u00a0 Pa had to keep pressure on the wound until his son was in a doctor\u2019s care.\u00a0 He knew that Joe was losing too much blood and he needed immediate surgery to remove the bullet or he would succumb to his injury.<\/p>\n \u201cTake him to the fort,\u201d McMasters called over to Adam.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s the closest place to get him medical care right now.\u00a0 My men will handle the prisoners and the deceased.\u00a0 Follow me!\u201d He exclaimed and mounted his horse to lead the way.<\/p>\n Ben bent forward and stared down at his youngest.\u00a0 \u201cThree days \u2013 Joseph \u2013 your birthday is in just three days.\u00a0 You stay with me \u2013 you hear me, Boy?\u00a0 I can’t lose you — you promised me you’d be careful.\u00a0 Joseph, please don’t leave me, I need you!\u00a0 You did everything that you set out to do\u2014well everything except getting yourself shot.\u00a0 But you\u2019re going to be okay, Son, you have to be,\u201d he whispered as tears welled up in his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a very good medic,\u201d McMasters called down from his horse to Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cJust tell me \u2013 tell me \u2013 that this wasn\u2019t all a waste,\u201d Pa returned, so worried that his youngest might die from his injury that his hands shook as he pressed the shirt Adam had given him down onto the wound to ebb the flow of blood.<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t — we\u2019ve already got the main culprit and he\u2019s alive.\u201d McMasters reassured the grieved father.<\/p>\n \u201cMy son better live too,\u201d Ben insisted, his face forming a scowl, so angry that the whole plan had somehow gone drastically awry.<\/p>\n Colonel McMasters couldn\u2019t come up with any assurance that Joe would survive so he simply kicked at his horse\u2019s sides and rode right ahead of Adam and Hoss.\u00a0 It was a long five miles back to Fort Churchill.<\/p>\n Mister Cartwright, has your son ever had surgery? AKA one of the stupidest questions ever.<\/strong><\/p>\n Upon reaching the fort Colonel McMaster\u2019s sprung down from his horse and barked orders at some of the soldiers who stood waiting just outside of the barracks.<\/p>\n \u201cTake this young man out of the wagon and get him inside to the medic.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben heard what the colonel had said but he wasn\u2019t going to listen.\u00a0 He climbed down from the buckboard and pulled Joe into his arms and walked into the courtyard.<\/p>\n \u201cJust lead me to him,\u201d Ben announced sharply.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t about to have any other soldiers touch his son.\u00a0 \u00a0He had allowed the army to watch over his boy, and the result of that decision was very evident in the fact that Joseph was unconscious, and bleeding held there in his arms.<\/p>\n \u201cThis way, Mister Cartwright,\u201d McMasters instructed and walked just ahead of the grieved father, closely followed by Hoss and Adam.<\/p>\n The medical facility was sparsely furnished.\u00a0 There was one examination table, a desk and a chair and only one bunk for patients.\u00a0 Ben walked inside the room as a man jumped up from his chair hurrying over to the table.<\/p>\n \u201cMy son has been shot \u2013 he\u2019s got a bullet in his stomach,\u201d Ben called over to the man as he gently eased Little Joe down onto the examination table.<\/p>\n \u201cMister Cartwright, this is our medic William Hornsby,\u201d McMasters made the introductions.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you a physician?\u201d Ben questioned bluntly.<\/p>\n William looked over at the colonel and then back to the father of his new patient.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m a commissioned medical officer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat doesn\u2019t answer my question,\u201d Ben frowned. \u201cThis boy needs surgery and I need to know if you\u2019re qualified.\u00a0 He\u2019s my son \u2013 and I need the best right now \u2013 to save his life!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve apprenticed with many doctors, Mister Cartwright, and I\u2019ve removed a lot of bullets,\u201d William tried his best to put the man at ease.<\/p>\n Ben stepped back and allowed the man to examine Joe.\u00a0 He moved to the other side of the table and swept his hand over his son\u2019s forehead.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s feverish.\u201d<\/p>\n William inspected the bullet wound and checked Joe\u2019s pulse and lifted his eyelids one by one.\u00a0 \u201cThat means his body is still fighting, Sir.\u00a0 I need to get set up to remove the bullet.\u00a0 Colonel, will you get Stevens here to assist me?\u00a0 I need boiling water from the cookhouse \u2013 if you can have someone fetch it for me, I\u2019d appreciate it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam \u2013 Hoss \u2013 see if you can help, please \u2013 we need to get to this quickly,\u201d Ben said to his sons.<\/p>\n McMasters stepped out of the room and waved the Cartwright boys down the hall to show them the way to the cookhouse.\u00a0 He also flagged over a private and ordered him to go rouse the medic\u2019s assistant and tell him to go help William with the surgery.<\/p>\n \u201cI know you\u2019re worried about your son, Mister Cartwright,\u201d William addressed the man who stood at the head of the examination table never taking his hand off Joe.\u00a0 \u201cBut I can assure you that I can remove a bullet as well as most doctors.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded to the man as he ran his fingers through Joseph\u2019s hair which was already soaked with perspiration due to his mounting fever.\u00a0 \u201cI can appreciate that, but this is my son — my youngest \u2013 and I need to know that he\u2019ll pull through the surgery.\u201d<\/p>\n The medic sighed as he turned back to the basin and finished scrubbing his hands.\u00a0 \u201cNo-one — not even the most well-trained doctor can promise something like that, Sir.\u00a0 But I can promise you that I will do my very best to pull him through.\u201d<\/p>\n The softness of Joe\u2019s voice broke the mounting tension in the room.\u00a0 \u201cPa?\u00a0 Pa, where am I?\u201d Joe asked weakly, his eyes squinting up at his father.<\/p>\n Ben bent closer to the table and reached for his son\u2019s right hand, taking it into his own.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re at the fort, Joseph.\u00a0 You caught a bullet \u2013 but it\u2019s going to be fine \u2013 just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s face scrunched up in pain and his left hand moved from his side and touched his stomach.\u00a0 \u201cGut hurts, Pa,\u201d He moaned.<\/p>\n The medic moved next to his patient and removed the boy\u2019s hand from the wound.\u00a0 \u201cEasy we\u2019re going to get that bullet out in just a minute,\u201d William said.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d Joe whispered as his eyes fell closed again.<\/p>\n Ben placed a callused palm against the boy\u2019s right cheek and watched as Joe turned into the feel of it.\u00a0 \u201cYes, Son?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTired, Pa,\u201d Joe’s voice came out in a soft whisper, his cheek seeking the security he could only find there in his father\u2019s hand.\u00a0 Moments later his body went limp as he fell back off into unconsciousness.<\/p>\n Both Ben and William made the same move at the very same moment.\u00a0 They each took one of Joe\u2019s wrists to check for a pulse; it was still there.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s for the best, Mister Cartwright.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to sedate him unless he begins to come back around.\u00a0 If he does \u2013 well, there\u2019s ether we can use.\u00a0 Has your son ever had surgery?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head over what the young medic had just asked.\u00a0 *** Has Joseph had surgery? How many times now\u2014I don\u2019t know the exact count.\u00a0 Maybe Paul does?\u00a0 All I know is that this boy has had far too many injuries!\u00a0 Oh, how I wish you were here, Doc! ***<\/em><\/strong> He thought to himself.<\/p>\n \u201cMister Cartwright?\u00a0 Has he had surgery \u2013 ever had ether?\u201d William asked once more when he failed to get a reply.<\/p>\n Nodding to the other man Pa said, \u201cJoseph has had quite a few surgeries and yes he\u2019s had ether before.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAny problem with it?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cIt leaves him groggy for a while and he gets a bit sick to his stomach from what I recall.\u00a0 \u00a0But our family physician said that was normal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe was right.\u00a0 Hopefully we won\u2019t need it, but I had to ask just in case he had some adverse reaction to it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell \u2013 thank you for that,\u201d Ben replied, doing his very best to be cordial to the man who would soon be cutting on his boy.\u00a0 He went back to softly combing his fingers through his son\u2019s hair in the hopes that somewhere deep in his mind Joe would know that his pa was right next to him.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re going to be okay, Son — just rest,\u201d He whispered.<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam reappeared in the medical unit and brought with them two kettles filled with boiling water.\u00a0 The medic showed them where to put the pots and then the assistant came into the room along with McMasters.<\/p>\n \u201cScrub up, Stevens,\u201d William insisted and then turned to the Cartwrights.\u00a0 \u201cGentlemen if you\u2019ll all go out into the hall I will begin.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam both walked next to their brother, each man setting a hand down onto Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re going to be fine, Short Shanks,\u201d Hoss whispered fighting back tears looking at his little brother.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, Kid, you\u2019ll be up and pestering us in no time.\u00a0 It\u2019s been too quiet at home without you \u2013 so you get well,\u201d Adam said and patted his brother\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n \u201cThis way,\u201d McMasters waved the men to go out into the hall so the medic could get on with the surgery.<\/p>\n As soon as he watched his two sons walk out of the room Ben looked over at the medic and said, \u201cTake care of my boy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir,\u201d William nodded to the man.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be right outside, Joseph,\u201d Ben whispered, bending down over the boy and placing a soft kiss on his brow.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re going to be just fine, Son.\u201d<\/p>\n Crestfallen and taking one final glance towards Joe, Ben joined his sons out in the hall.\u00a0 The three men watched as the door closed blocking the sight of the boy who had fought so hard to help the army find the people who had caused so many deaths.\u00a0 Heads bowed in prayer, they waited for word that Little Joe was going to pull through.<\/p>\n Goodbye, October.<\/strong><\/p>\n William Hornsby held the scalpel in his hand and made the two-inch incision through the wound in order to better assist him in locating the bullet which had fallen Joe Cartwright.\u00a0 His assistant held a hand full of cotton wadding and blotted the gush of fresh blood caused by the scalpel.\u00a0 It was at that moment that Joe groaned and began to awaken.<\/p>\n \u201cGet the ether,\u201d William told the assistant and held the cotton temporarily over the gunshot wound, still blotting the increase in blood flow.<\/p>\n Corporal Mark Stevens walked over to the table and removed the mask and the bottle of ether and brought it over to the medic.\u00a0 They settled the mask over Joe\u2019s nose and for just a minute he suddenly became combative.\u00a0 His left hand shot up and tried to pull the mask down.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe \u2013 now settle down,\u201d William called calmly and nodded over to the corporal.<\/p>\n \u201cThis ought to help,\u201d Stevens remarked and placed a few drops of the ether on top of the mask which was held over Joe\u2019s nose as he had yet to stop trying to pull it away from him.<\/p>\n \u201cJust breathe, Joe,\u201d William instructed his patient, trying to show calm in his tone of voice.\u00a0 It had worked or Joe Cartwright\u2019s strength had played out, because his left arm fell back down to his side.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s proceed,\u201d William announced and nodded over to Stevens to grab the cotton once again.<\/p>\n Placing the scalpel on the tray at his side, William grabbed the probe and carefully prodded the wound attempting to locate the bullet.\u00a0 The probe hit something just a few inches under his patient\u2019s skin.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not too far in there,\u201d William called over to the assistant.\u00a0 \u201cHand me the retractor.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe heard strange sounds, unsure where he was, he peered around through the mist.\u00a0 He moved as if in slow motion, confusion filling his mind, Joe fought to ascertain where he was at the time.\u00a0 All he could see was a thick blue-gray cloud which enveloped him.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe!\u201d The voice called out, and the words echoed against the ethereal mist.\u00a0 \u201cLittle Joe, over here!\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWho \u2013 who is it?\u201d Joe responded, and even his own voice came out sounding strange at the time.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s me, Silly,\u201d The girl laughed and then slowly materialized right in front of Joe.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cJennifer?\u201d Joe asked, his question coming out with a cross between doubt and amazement in his tone.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWell \u2013 yes \u2013 but you used to call me October, remember?\u201d She smiled and drew a bit closer to her first beau.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cHow \u2013 I mean \u2013how are you here, Jennifer?\u00a0 I \u2013 I mean \u2013 well \u2013 you died,\u201d Joe stammered.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Jennifer touched Joe\u2019s arm and grinned at the perplexed look on his face.\u00a0 \u201cNo-one ever –really dies, Little Joe.\u00a0 I\u2019m just in my new body \u2013 and in a much better place.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Joe\u2019s confusion filled his eyes and spread across his face.\u00a0 \u201cThen \u2013 then does this mean I\u2019m with you \u2013 I mean — well \u2013 I got shot,\u201d He tried to piece it all together.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cNo, Little Joe \u2013 you\u2019re just \u2013well \u2013 let\u2019s just say your visiting right now,\u201d Jennifer replied attempting to quiet her friend and allay his worry.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Joe touched Jennifer\u2019s arm to make sure he wasn\u2019t experiencing some kind of a fevered dream at the time.\u00a0 She felt both warm and very real.\u00a0 \u201cJennifer \u2013 I tried to get them \u2013 you know the ones who killed you and \u2013 well — Steve.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Jennifer nodded and replied, \u201cYes, Steve is here too, Little Joe.\u00a0 And we both thank you for what you did for us — and for all the people who were killed by those rifles.\u00a0 I asked that I could see you one last time \u2013so here we are!\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n