Summary: Jennifer Burns was one of Little Joe’s best friends until the lie she told her husband almost got him killed.\u00a0 Beaten almost unrecognizable, Joe must now defend his honor in court. Rating T, WC 39,420<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What a Fool Believes<\/strong><\/p>\n ***He came from somewhere back in her long ago.\u00a0 The sentimental fool don\u2019t see. Tryin\u2019 hard to recreate what had yet to be created once in her life.\u00a0 She musters a smile for his nostalgic tale.\u00a0 Never coming near what he wanted to say.\u00a0 Only to realize it never really was.\u00a0 She had a place in his life.\u00a0 He never made her think twice.\u00a0 As he rises to her apology anybody else would surely know.\u00a0 He\u2019s watching her go.\u00a0 But what a fool believes, he sees.\u00a0 No wise man has the power to reason away what seems to be.\u00a0 Is always better than nothing.\u00a0 Than nothing at all. *** (Song: \u201cWhat a Fool Believes.\u201d\u00a0 Lyrics by Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins.)<\/p>\n Doctor Paul Martin spied the advancing cowboy as he made his way down the wooden sidewalk.\u00a0 He would\u2019ve known the young man anywhere, but it was easier to spot him with his bright green jacket and the left-handed holster he wore.\u00a0 Little Joe Cartwright was his best friend\u2019s youngest son and Doc\u2019s most frequent patient.\u00a0 Now, at the ripe old age of eighteen, Joe was doing just a little bit better in the injury department.\u00a0 Though he still required a stitch or a cast now and then, he wasn\u2019t as accident-prone as he had been in the past. Paul took pride in Joe, as he was the first baby that he had delivered the same year he had set up his practice in Virginia City.\u00a0 Little Joe\u2019s quick smile and readiness to help also ingratiated himself with the doctor. Paul stepped out in front of the young man and Joe, who was preoccupied with looking at the mail he had just picked up, almost ran right into him.<\/p>\n \u201cDoc!\u00a0 How you been?\u201d\u00a0 Joe grinned and patted the man\u2019s shoulder fondly.<\/p>\n \u201cFine, Little Joe–just fine.\u00a0 Haven\u2019t seen you in a while.\u00a0 How\u2019s the family?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, everyone is as mean and as ornery as ever, Doc!\u201d\u00a0 Joe laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cGot a minute to talk?\u201d\u00a0 Paul asked, and this time Joe could tell there was something troubling the man.\u00a0 One look at his face gave it away.<\/p>\n \u201cSure.\u00a0 What\u2019s up?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go into my office,\u201d Paul instructed and moved to the door.<\/p>\n Joe followed the man and cast a wary eye around the room before speaking.<\/p>\n \u201cHey–this isn\u2019t some trick of Pa\u2019s to make me get a check-up, is it?\u201d he asked suspiciously.<\/p>\n Paul chuckled and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cNot a bad idea—but–not this time, Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n Both men sat down inside the doctor\u2019s office and then Paul got right down to business.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe, I don\u2019t often mention confidential matters regarding my patients.\u00a0 But this time I need help and there\u2019s no other way to do it.\u00a0 It\u2019s about Jennifer Burns,\u201d Doc addressed the problem in hushed tones, showing the seriousness of the situation.<\/p>\n \u201cJennifer?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked, shocked, over the fact that there was a problem with his close friend.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with her?\u00a0 I saw her not more than two weeks ago and she was thrilled that she had made the three-month mark in her pregnancy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe—-she lost the baby earlier this week.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Joe whispered and tried to fight back his tears for his friend.\u00a0 \u201cDoc—I don\u2019t understand—she was doing so good—-she was so relieved she had gotten this far.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know—she lost the first two before the second month was over.\u00a0 This is quite a setback for her and Steve.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stood and began pacing the room showing his frustration and concern.\u00a0 \u201cEver since we were little kids all Jennifer ever talked about was having babies!\u00a0 Steve and her have been trying ever since they got married —it\u2019s just not fair!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Paul returned sadly.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s something you\u2019re not telling me, Doc.\u00a0 I can see it in your eyes.\u00a0 What is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSit down and I\u2019ll tell you why I asked you in here,\u201d Paul pointed for Joe to return to his chair.<\/p>\n Reluctantly Joe sat, though he was filled with so much anxiety that it was hard for him to keep still.\u00a0 \u201cOkay—tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe, I know how close you and Jennifer are.\u00a0 There was a time when both your father and I thought the two of you might end up getting married someday.\u00a0 I know that even though she ended up marrying Steve, you two have remained very close.\u00a0 What I\u2019m going to tell you isn\u2019t going to sit well with you.\u00a0 But I need help with Jennifer and since Steve isn\u2019t here–\u201d<\/p>\n Joe cut off the doctor\u2019s words as soon as he learned Steve was gone.\u00a0 \u201cWhat!\u00a0 She lost the baby this week and he\u2019s gone?\u00a0 Where the hell did he go—and why!\u201d\u00a0 He demanded the answers.<\/p>\n \u201cSimmer down—-remember I\u2019ve got sedation medicine in this drawer, and I know you don\u2019t take too well to getting shots!\u201d\u00a0 Paul warned and watched as Little Joe breathed in deeply and waited for more information.\u00a0 \u201cSteve left on business.\u00a0 The fact of the matter is he blamed himself for Jennifer losing the baby and he went off to San Francisco for a couple of weeks.\u00a0 That\u2019s why I am worried about Jennifer.\u00a0 I told Steve that she shouldn\u2019t be out there all alone, but he wouldn\u2019t listen.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know if the man is dense or just too caught up in himself to tell you the truth.\u00a0 I think he figures that since she\u2019s already lost two babies that it gets easier!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy does he feel responsible?\u00a0 What did he do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI warned them both not to have relations until she was a good four months along or longer if they could hold out.\u00a0 Steve, from what Jennifer said, came home drunk—-she couldn\u2019t stop him–\u201d<\/p>\n Once again Little Joe sprang to his feet and this time his fists were clenched in anger.\u00a0 \u201cThat son of a bitch!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou getting angry won\u2019t help Jennifer!\u201d\u00a0 Paul yelled and tugged at Little Joe\u2019s arm.\u00a0 \u201cNow will you let me finish?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe should blame himself!\u00a0 He caused the miscarriage.\u00a0 I can just imagine how Jennifer feels now!\u00a0 I bet she never wants to see that bastard again!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOn the contrary, Little Joe—Jennifer still loves him.\u00a0 As much as that may sound crazy to you and me—it\u2019s the way of things.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t tell you this so you would try to persuade her to leave him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHell, he left her!\u201d\u00a0 Joe yelled.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s coming back.\u00a0 But right now, she\u2019s out there alone.\u00a0 I tried to bring her here into town so she could stay at the hotel until Steve returned, but she would have nothing to do with it.\u00a0 I thought—if you\u2019d talk with her–well—perhaps you could get her to come here?\u00a0 You\u2019ve always been able to talk sense into that girl—and from what I recall she\u2019s done the same thing for you at times!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe remembered how Jennifer had helped him out of several serious situations in the past.\u00a0 She had always been there with a patient ear when Little Joe went off in a blind rage about something.\u00a0 All it took was her arm around him or one look into her brilliant emerald eyes to settle Joe\u2019s soul.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll bring her out to the Ponderosa!\u201d\u00a0 Joe insisted.<\/p>\n \u201cNo—that\u2019s not what she needs.\u00a0 And that\u2019s not what YOU<\/strong> need either!\u00a0 I\u2019m not asking you to come between a man and his wife, Little Joe.\u00a0 I\u2019m just asking you to go out there and talk her into coming to town to get some rest for a few weeks.\u00a0 Now–can you do that?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe stared down at the floor and tried to regroup his emotions.\u00a0 They were so fragile at the time that he didn\u2019t think he would be able to.\u00a0 He loved Jennifer, always had.\u00a0 Though they had both decided that it wasn\u2019t the marrying kind of love, it was just as deep as far as Little Joe was concerned.\u00a0 He ached for the pain Jennifer was going through, and it made him hate Steve for forcing the girl into something that never should have happened.\u00a0 Now she was grieving yet another loss and it cut through Joe\u2019s heart the same way it had cut through Jennifer\u2019s.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to take care of her, Doc,\u201d Joe whispered and pushed away a stray tear.<\/p>\n \u201cThe best way to do that, Little Joe, is to bring her here into town.\u00a0 I\u2019ll have some of the ladies from the church take her food and see to her needs.\u00a0 She doesn\u2019t need to be at that house, not now.\u00a0 I\u2019ve also told her that she needs to stay off her feet as much as she can.\u00a0 This last miscarriage might have ruined her chance to carry a child ever again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t say that, Doc!\u00a0 \u00a0She\u2019s just got to have a baby—it\u2019s all she\u2019s ever wanted!\u201d\u00a0 Joe replied harshly.<\/p>\n \u201cThen do what you can to get her off her feet and to some place where I can check to see that she\u2019s okay.\u00a0 I\u2019m counting on you, Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll head over there now,\u201d Joe nodded and turned for the door.\u00a0 He felt Paul\u2019s hand on his arm as it spun him around.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe—-don\u2019t make things any harder on her by berating Steve,\u201d Paul cautioned.<\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t, Doc—thanks for letting me know,\u201d Joe promised and headed out to the street.<\/p>\n After tucking the mail away in his saddlebags, Joe grabbed Cochise\u2019s reins and turned the horse towards the north.\u00a0 The Burnses\u2019 ranch was just a mile from Virginia City and Joe wanted to get there as quick as possible.\u00a0 The whole time in the saddle he thought about all that he and Jennifer had shared over the years, both good and bad.\u00a0 He cursed himself for not marrying the girl.\u00a0 Jennifer had insisted that they were much better as friends and didn\u2019t want anything to come between that.\u00a0 Joe wished now he hadn\u2019t listened to her.\u00a0 A marriage based on mutual friendship was just as valid, or so Joe thought now.\u00a0 Anything had to be better than what she ended up with!\u00a0 Steve Burns came to town and swept the seventeen-year-old Jennifer off her feet.\u00a0 Her father wasn\u2019t too thrilled with the young man but had finally given his blessing.\u00a0 Unfortunately, her father passed away just a few weeks after they were married.\u00a0 Jennifer was now without any family in the area and turned to friends when there was trouble.\u00a0 Joe wondered why she hadn\u2019t sent him word when she lost the baby.\u00a0 He knew in his heart, it just had to move up to his brain.\u00a0 Jennifer knew Little Joe\u2019s first instincts would have been to beat the daylights out of Steve.\u00a0 Joe admitted to himself on the ride out to their ranch how badly he still wanted to hurt the man who had done such a terrible thing to his best friend.<\/p>\n As Cochise and her master entered the front yard at the Burnses\u2019 ranch Joe could see the chickens running freely in the yard.\u00a0 The place seemed even more unkept than it had been on his last visit.\u00a0 Though Little Joe had offered Steve his friendship along with any help, the man had insisted he could take care of his family on his own.\u00a0 ***You sure took care of things all right, Steve!\u00a0 You\u2019ve hurt Jennifer in the worst way! ***<\/em><\/strong> Little Joe thought as he tied his reins to the front hitching post.\u00a0 Walking up the stairs to the front porch he tried his best to put his emotions in check.\u00a0 He was losing the battle but trying nonetheless for Jennifer\u2019s sake.\u00a0 She didn\u2019t need to see the anger behind his hazel eyes.\u00a0 Not right now anyway.<\/p>\n Joe knocked on the front door and then turned the doorknob and pushed inside.\u00a0 He was afraid that the young woman might be sleeping and didn\u2019t want her to hurry to the door.\u00a0 Jennifer was over by the sink, washing dishes.\u00a0 Joe couldn\u2019t believe it was the same girl he had known for so long.\u00a0 Her usually well-kept hair hung loosely around her shoulders and when she turned towards the sound of him entering the room her face looked as pale as a ghost.<\/p>\n \u201cJennifer—\u201d Little Joe began and had to choke back the emotion in his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe—-I wish I\u2019d known you were coming—I\u2019m a pure mess!\u201d\u00a0 Jennifer fought for a smile, but it lost its way to her lips.<\/p>\n \u201cOh Jennifer!\u201d\u00a0 Joe whispered and moved over to her and threw his arms around her.\u00a0 He held her tightly trying to absorb her pain into his chest.\u00a0 All Joe wanted to do was to take it all away and bring back the sunshine in her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m okay–really I am,\u201d Jennifer insisted bravely.\u00a0 But no matter how hard she tried she couldn\u2019t release Joe from her arms.\u00a0 She hadn\u2019t felt so protected in such a long while that now it was as though she was a schoolgirl again.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are going to get off those feet right now!\u201d\u00a0 Joe demanded and without hesitation drew the woman up into his arms and carried her over to the couch.<\/p>\n \u201cI can walk, Joe—-I\u2019ve just lost a baby—I\u2019m not crippled,\u201d Jennifer said, but as soon as the word \u201cbaby\u201d came out of her mouth the room was filled with sobs.\u00a0 Little Joe clung to the girl again and let her get it out.\u00a0 The grief rolled out in waves that seemed to crash against the barriers of her heart.\u00a0 She was empty, as devoid of hope as her womb was devoid of a child.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m here—-let it out—I\u2019m here,\u201d Little Joe whispered over and over again.<\/p>\n Jennifer responded by crying harder and wishing that her husband had been as kind as the boy she had grown up with.\u00a0 She yearned for Steve\u2019s arms to be around her and to tell her that everything would be all right again.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all my fault—Steve thinks it\u2019s his–but it\u2019s not.\u00a0 I guess I just am no good as a mother–can\u2019t even keep a baby,\u201d Jennifer choked out.<\/p>\n Little Joe forced eye contact with the woman and looked at her like she had just said the worst lie he had ever heard.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cDamn it, Jennifer!\u00a0 You know it wasn\u2019t your fault!\u00a0 That husband of yours–he couldn\u2019t even restrain himself for a couple of months.\u00a0 If I had my way about it, I would beat the hell out of him!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo—no Joe—don\u2019t say that!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u00a0 Because it\u2019s the truth?\u00a0 Jennifer—Doc told me—he told me everything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe shouldn\u2019t have,\u201d Jennifer whispered embarrassed.<\/p>\n Joe lifted the girl\u2019s chin again and stared into her eyes.\u00a0 \u201cWouldn\u2019t you want me to know?\u00a0 Jennifer—I\u2019ve told you the darkest secrets I have—-over the years.\u00a0 Don\u2019t you trust me with yours?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI trust you—you know that.\u00a0 I just don\u2019t want you going after Steve,\u201d she sobbed.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I can\u2019t exactly do that now anyhow can I?\u00a0 So, you stop worrying and let me help you.\u00a0 I\u2019ll help you pack up your stuff, and you come out to the Ponderosa with me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo—Joe—I can\u2019t.\u00a0 This is my home—this is where I\u2019m gonna stay.\u00a0 I buried my baby in the back yard—and I want to be close to her,\u201d Jennifer replied and then broke down in tears again.<\/p>\n Joe could stand no more.\u00a0 He had fought a good fight, but his own tears fell as he held Jennifer to his chest and stroked her hair to comfort her.\u00a0 \u201cIf you need to be here-well—I understand.\u00a0 But I\u2019m gonna stay with you.\u00a0 You\u2019ve got to take care of yourself, and Doc wants you off your feet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe—I can\u2019t ask you to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t—I told you I was going to do it, and I am.\u00a0 Now—I\u2019m going to get you settled in your bed and then I\u2019m going home to get a few things.\u00a0 I better not find you\u2019ve gotten out of bed neither, Young Lady!\u201d\u00a0 Joe warned as he pushed aside his tears and lifted Jennifer back into his arms.\u00a0 He carried her into the bedroom and gently placed her on top of the covers.\u00a0 \u201cIt won\u2019t take me longer than two hours to fetch what I need, explain to Pa and get back.\u00a0 I\u2019ll bring dinner with me, and some supplies so don\u2019t you dare get up and fix nothing.\u00a0 You hear?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did I ever do to deserve a friend like you, Little Joe?\u201d\u00a0 Jennifer finally found a smile that she had saved in her soul for just the right moment.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat you did?\u00a0 Well–maybe it was those bug sandwiches you used to make me when we were in school?\u201d\u00a0 Joe joked and bent down and kissed the girl\u2019s forehead.<\/p>\n \u201cYou ate them too!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust shows you–there\u2019s no accounting for taste,\u201d Joe winked and pulled the covers up around Jennifer\u2019s shoulders. \u201cStay put or I might just have to return the favor at dinner!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Joe,\u201d Jennifer whispered as another tear drifted down her cheek.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be right back,\u201d Joe smiled and closed the bedroom door.<\/p>\n Joe stood in the living room of the Ponderosa ranch house and finished putting his gear into his satchel.\u00a0 He had already loaded a buckboard full of supplies and was just waiting for his father to arrive home before leaving for Jennifer\u2019s.\u00a0 The front door opened and Ben Cartwright walked inside and hung up his hat and removed his gun belt.\u00a0 He had failed to notice his son\u2019s presence until he spun around and saw him with his back to the door.\u00a0 He also noticed the satchel sitting just to the side of the settee.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me guess.\u00a0 You\u2019re running away from home!\u201d\u00a0 Ben called across the room and grinned when his son turned around towards him.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess that\u2019s wishful thinking on your part, Pa,\u201d Joe remarked grinning over at his father.\u00a0 \u201cActually, I\u2019m going to use that two weeks\u2019 vacation you said I had coming to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s face took on a puzzled appearance, as he moved in closer to the young man.\u00a0 \u201cWait a second there, Joseph. You have two weeks coming to you all right—but I wasn\u2019t prepared for you to leave just yet.\u00a0 Your brothers are both up at the railhead waiting for you.\u00a0 I sent you to town for the mail and then you were supposed to meet up with them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI sent Brent.\u00a0 Heck, Pa–he wasn\u2019t doing anything, just sitting in the bunk house playing cards.\u00a0 I figured he could help with those ties as well as I could.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, did you?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked as he raised his eyebrows in gesture.\u00a0 He planted his right hand firmly on his son\u2019s left arm.\u00a0 \u201cI thought you and Hoss planned on going hunting during the two weeks of vacation time you\u2019ve got coming after<\/strong> those ties get delivered?\u201d<\/p>\n Shaking his head Joe responded, \u201cChange of plans, Pa.\u00a0 We\u2019ll have to do that next time I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSit down, Joseph.\u00a0 I want to know what\u2019s going on and why you are planning to leave so abruptly.\u00a0 I only sent you into town for the mail.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe frowned, knowing his father wasn\u2019t about to let him out of his sight or out of his duties for that matter, until he knew exactly what was going on.\u00a0 He sat down on top of the coffee table and stared over at his father who was seated on the settee.\u00a0 \u201cPa—when I went to get the mail I ran into Doc.\u00a0 He told me that Jennifer lost the baby.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head sadly and replied, \u201cI hate that—that poor kid has had so much sadness already.\u00a0 But–what does that have to do with you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell—I\u2019m gonna go stay at her place for a couple weeks–you know–help out?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh?\u00a0 And what does Steve have to say about that?\u201d\u00a0 Ben inquired, his eyebrows narrowing to get the full truth from his son.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s not there—he left.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHis wife lost the baby and he left?\u00a0 That doesn\u2019t make sense!\u201d\u00a0 Ben exclaimed.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me about it.\u201d\u00a0 Joe muttered, still so full of anger he could hardly contain it.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u00a0 Come on—fill in the blanks.\u00a0 Talking to you here lately is like pulling teeth.\u00a0 I want to hear everything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa—-Steve left for San Francisco—Doc was worried about Jennifer staying out there alone. So–\u201d<\/p>\n Ben cut his son off in midsentence and said, \u201cSo he asked YOU<\/strong>, of all people, to go stay with her?\u00a0 That makes no sense either!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cActually, he wanted her to stay at the hotel—but she won\u2019t go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen fine–she can come out here—end of problem!\u201d\u00a0 Ben insisted.\u00a0 The last thing he wanted was for his son to get caught up in the affairs of a man and his wife; even if the wife had been a childhood friend of the boy\u2019s.<\/p>\n \u201cI already tried that, Pa.\u00a0 She won\u2019t leave the place.\u00a0 She says the baby\u2019s buried there and she won\u2019t leave it.\u00a0 Pa, she looks awful—-and Doc says if she doesn\u2019t get some rest that she might not be able to carry another baby!\u201d He exclaimed, springing up from his perch on the coffee table.<\/p>\n \u201cThen her husband should be there, Joseph—not YOU<\/strong>!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah–well he\u2019s a son of a \u2013\u201d Joe was cut off in midsentence.<\/p>\n \u201cWatch it, Young Man!\u201d Ben warned and stared at the boy hard.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry,\u201d Little Joe muttered, dropping his head contritely.<\/p>\n Ben cleared his throat and continued, \u201cNow there\u2019ll be no leaving until we\u2019ve talked. Sit down, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Pa,\u201d Joe sighed and dropped back down on the coffee table.\u00a0 He knew better than to go up against his father.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m just going out there to take care of her.\u00a0 She\u2019s just lost a baby, and she needs someone to take care of things.\u00a0 I know you trust me, so what\u2019s the problem?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe problem is how Steve will take the news when he gets back.\u00a0 I imagine he will have a pure fit!\u00a0 I don\u2019t want you to get involved.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cInvolved?\u00a0 Pa—I AM<\/strong> involved!\u00a0 Jennifer is one of my best friends.\u00a0 Isn\u2019t that when a friend\u2019s supposed to help—when there\u2019s trouble?\u201d\u00a0 Joe questioned, his eyes burning directly through to his father\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, Steve has always been jealous of your relationship with Jennifer–\u201d Ben began quietly but Little Joe jumped in.<\/p>\n \u201cThen he should have stayed home!\u00a0 No–I take that back–he should have left his wife alone so she wouldn\u2019t have lost the baby!\u00a0 No—he just couldn\u2019t hold back a couple of months!\u00a0 That\u2019s why she lost the baby!\u201d Joe fired back enraged over the man\u2019s behavior.<\/p>\n Ben shook his head when he realized what his son had just said.\u00a0 It was becoming abundantly clear why the news of Jennifer\u2019s miscarriage had angered his son so much.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph—as much as I know you care–that\u2019s between Jennifer and Steve.\u00a0 You\u2019ve got to stay out of it.\u00a0 It\u2019s their marriage—good or bad—it\u2019s theirs.\u00a0 She made her choice and it was to marry Steve.\u00a0 Jennifer is a nineteen-year-old married woman now not the schoolgirl you used to play with,\u201d Ben responded quietly and watched as Joe dropped his head into his hands and his shoulders sank from his father\u2019s message.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay \u2013 so she\u2019s a year older than me \u2013 but I\u2019m eighteen now, Pa \u2013 not a little kid.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, you\u2019ve only been eighteen for a month \u2013 I\u2019d hardly say you were full grown just yet.\u00a0 I\u2019m just worried about you.\u00a0 That temper of yours might not help the matter either.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe stood and paced in front of the fireplace, considering what his father had said before turning around to face him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve always taught all of us to help when we can.\u00a0 That\u2019s all I\u2019m trying to do.\u00a0 I know she\u2019s married \u2013 and no matter how much I dislike Steve I understand that he is her husband.\u00a0 I\u2019m not going to say or do anything that will interfere in their marriage.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben moved next to his son and placed his hand on the boy\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph \u2013I know you are well meaning \u2013 and you\u2019ve got a good heart.\u00a0 I\u2019m proud of you for that.\u00a0 But I would be lying to you if I told you that I thought that this was a good idea.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa—she needs me,\u201d Little Joe whispered and stared intently into his father\u2019s eyes seeking understanding.<\/p>\n \u201cSon, I think it would be best if you found a woman in town \u2013 perhaps someone older who would go and take care of her.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe shook his head, \u201cYou don\u2019t think that I\u2019m old enough or smart enough, Pa, which is it?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben clamped a hand down to his son\u2019s arm and forced his gaze.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s neither<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 I just don\u2019t want you to walk into something that might cause more harm than good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t cause any trouble.\u00a0 If he comes back–fine!\u00a0 I will go and let them work it out.\u00a0 Honest, Pa.\u00a0 \u00a0But she doesn\u2019t have any family—-I\u2019m all she has right now,\u201d Joe pleaded with his father.<\/p>\n Ben knew his son\u2019s heart and how breakable it was.\u00a0 Hearing how Jennifer had apparently lost the baby had also angered the eldest Cartwright.\u00a0 He waited until he had thought out all sides before speaking again.<\/p>\n \u201cI doubt locking you up in your room would work this time, huh?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked wryly and squeezed Joe\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s hazel eyes thanked his father and he replied, \u201cMaybe for a few minutes, Pa.\u00a0 But—you know I\u2019ve gone out my window every time that you’ve tried to use that method of confinement.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019ve got your mind set on doing this \u2013 just remember what I\u2019ve said, Joseph.\u00a0 I wish I could do something for Jennifer—-but I guess this time you\u2019ve got it all on your shoulders.\u00a0 Just remember I\u2019m here if you need me.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe smiled gratefully and hugged his father.\u00a0 \u201cThanks for trusting me, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the last time I ever send YOU<\/strong> in for the mail!\u201d\u00a0 Ben grinned as his son turned and grabbed the bag sitting next to the settee.\u00a0 He walked his son to the door.<\/p>\n \u201cI set it on your desk by the way—and Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust bills,\u201d Little Joe winked and grabbed his hat off the rack by the door.<\/p>\n \u201cGet out of here!\u201d\u00a0 Ben pretended he was about to smack the boy\u2019s backside as Joe hurried through the door.\u00a0 ***Only you could go to town for the mail, Joseph, and come back with a peck of trouble! ***<\/em><\/strong> Ben thought to himself as he walked over to his desk.<\/p>\n The sun was just beginning to set behind the mountain range when Little Joe made his way back to Jennifer\u2019s place.\u00a0 He took the time to tend to the stock, including the team of horses that pulled the buckboard and his own mount, Cochise.\u00a0 Carrying a full load of supplies into the house, Joe set the packages on the dining room table.\u00a0 He walked quietly into Jennifer\u2019s bedroom and was glad to see that the young woman had listened to his orders and was asleep.\u00a0 Little Joe closed the door so as not to disturb his friend while he began preparing supper.\u00a0 He gradually acquainted himself with where the pots and pans were hidden and soon had the meal started.\u00a0 Though he was not known for his great cooking prowess, Joe was, however, not half bad at making some basic meals.\u00a0 Of course, it had helped that the Cartwright cook and housekeeper, Hop Sing, had donated a small roast that he had set aside for the family\u2019s dinner.\u00a0 Little Joe peeled potatoes and carrots and soon had a pot roast going on top of the stove.<\/p>\n Jennifer awoke to the aroma of a full course meal.\u00a0 She felt disoriented at first, wondering if Steve had come home while she slumbered.\u00a0 Then her conversation with Joe came back to her and she knew it had to be him.\u00a0 Steve rarely cooked.\u00a0 He left almost all the household chores to his wife, and that had been part of the problem during her other pregnancies.\u00a0 Doc had warned them both after losing the first baby that she needed to stay off her feet as much as possible in the early months to better give the baby a chance to implant firmly in her womb.\u00a0 Steve had grown up believing women to be not much more than breeding stock and didn\u2019t do much to help his wife keep off her feet.\u00a0 Jennifer had tried her best and when she had learned she was pregnant again she insisted she needed some help.\u00a0 Steve had paid one of the women in town to come out every other week to help with some things, but it wasn\u2019t nearly enough.\u00a0 Her chores may have been lightened just a tad, but the fact that Steve had taken advantage of her and in such a way that was far too forceful had determined the fate of their last child.\u00a0 Jennifer knew the next morning that she was in trouble.\u00a0 Steve had ridden to town but by the time he and Doc had returned Jennifer had already miscarried.\u00a0 The event that made it all that much sadder was that Steve didn\u2019t even stay and hold his wife in his arms when he learned the baby was gone.\u00a0 He simply walked out of the house leaving his wife with Doc.\u00a0 That evening he had informed Jennifer that he was heading to San Francisco the next day and didn\u2019t even bother to tell her exactly why he was going there.\u00a0 Her heart now thoroughly broken, Jennifer had stood on the porch and watched as her husband left for Virginia City to catch the next stage west.\u00a0 Doc had insisted she come to town and stay in the hotel where she could be looked after but she refused.\u00a0 All she had now was the ranch and the memories of what would never be.\u00a0 She wanted solitude.\u00a0 Or so she thought then.\u00a0 Now, with Joe in the next room, she realized that she needed human contact more than ever.\u00a0 And Joe was just the right person to cheer her.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, sleepyhead, you ready to try some of the finest Joe Cartwright cuisine?\u201d\u00a0 Little Joe asked as he moved back into the bedroom.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not bug sandwiches is it, Joe?\u201d\u00a0 Jennifer countered, forcing yet another smile.<\/p>\n \u201cOh no—I don\u2019t give away my cooking secrets!\u00a0 You\u2019ll just have to come see for yourself.\u00a0 Here–let me help you with your robe,\u201d Joe said as he moved closer to the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe—I\u2019m not an invalid,\u201d she sighed and pulled the robe over her shoulders.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know you\u2019ve done more than you should\u2019ve already so now as far as I am concerned, YOU ARE<\/strong> an invalid.\u00a0 Now—you can either let me help you into the other room or I can carry you!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust grab my arm then,\u201d Jennifer sighed, knowing how stubborn Litle Joe could be.<\/p>\n The two friends made their way into the next room and Joe steered Jennifer over to the couch.\u00a0 She looked up at him with a question on her face.<\/p>\n \u201cNo sitting up at the table for now.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got it all ready and you can stretch your legs out right there and relax,\u201d Joe commented, knowing that the girl was wondering why they weren\u2019t seated in the dining room.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re gonna spoil me, Little Joe!\u201d\u00a0 Jennifer called as she watched him move towards the kitchen.<\/p>\n \u201cGood!\u00a0\u00a0 Looks to me that you could use some spoiling,\u201d Little Joe chuckled as he began to fill both plates with the food.<\/p>\n The first night had been the start of making Jennifer\u2019s life easier and by the time the two friends had said goodnight, Little Joe was tired but felt good about what he had done.\u00a0 He settled down in the spare room and fell right off to sleep.\u00a0 But Jennifer hadn\u2019t gone down as easily.\u00a0 All she could do was think of her husband and how much she missed him.\u00a0 It hadn\u2019t mattered that he had left her so abruptly after she had lost their baby.\u00a0 Jennifer loved Steve flaws and all.\u00a0 She closed her eyes and prayed that he would return soon.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019ve fed the chickens and watered the stock.\u00a0 I noticed that a couple of those fences need some repair.\u00a0 So, if you\u2019ll be a good girl now that you\u2019ve had your breakfast I\u2019ll go fix them,\u201d Little Joe smiled as he placed a throw blanket over Jennifer who was lying on the sofa.<\/p>\n \u201cSince you\u2019re so handy, Little Joe \u2013 Bessie needs milking and she gets plum ornery if you don\u2019t do it first thing in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe groaned but then smiled at the young woman.\u00a0 \u201cOkay, I\u2019ve had some practice at that.\u00a0 I\u2019ll bring you a full pail back with me before tending to those fences.\u00a0 Why don\u2019t you knit or something?\u201d<\/p>\n Jennifer\u2019s demeanor changed the minute Joe had mentioned knitting.<\/p>\n \u201cHey\u2014what\u2019s wrong?\u201d Little Joe asked seeing the sad countenance she wore.<\/p>\n \u201cMy sewing basket over there,\u201d Jennifer pointed across the room.\u00a0 \u201cI was working on a blanket for the baby.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe bit at his bottom lip wondering what he could say.\u00a0 He walked across the room and grabbed the basket and brought it over to her.\u00a0 \u201cYou just go ahead and get back to that blanket.\u00a0 I just bet you this time next year you\u2019ll have a baby that will need it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou really think so, Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe bent down and kissed Jennifer\u2019s forehead.\u00a0 \u201cSure, I do,\u201d He nodded.\u00a0 \u201cNow you get to that while I go see to Bessie.\u201d<\/p>\n Jennifer watched as Little Joe walked to the door.\u00a0 \u201cHey, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe spun around.\u00a0 \u201cYeah?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded his head and walked outside.\u00a0 He prayed that he hadn\u2019t just given his friend false hope.<\/p>\n Little Joe and Jennifer settled into a regular routine. Tending to all the chores around the ranch, Joe still took the time to make sure that Jennifer ate three meals a day.\u00a0 Hop Sing had come out a couple of times with some prepared meals which had helped lighten Joe\u2019s load.\u00a0 By the beginning of the second week Jennifer had a bit more energy so Little Joe allowed her to come out into the yard to get some sun while he kept a watchful eye to make sure that she didn\u2019t overdo it.<\/p>\n They played cards each night just like they used to do when they were kids and talked about all their wild exploits back when they were in school.\u00a0 Slowly Jennifer grew stronger though she still had to rest most of the day.\u00a0 Doctor Martin checked on the young woman and though he was surprised that Little Joe had been the one who was taking care of her he was pleased with how well she was doing.<\/p>\n Ben Cartwright had kept up with the situation through regular reports from Hop Sing.\u00a0 But he waited to stop by for a visit until the middle of the second week.\u00a0 Little Joe was happy to see his father and the three of them sat and talked for a while before Pa announced that he had to get back to the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n \u201cJennifer\u2014be right back,\u201d Little Joe said as he walked with his father to the door.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you for coming, Mister Cartwright.\u00a0 And thank you for loaning me your son.\u00a0 Little Joe has been such a help to me!\u00a0 He\u2019s been doing all the cooking and cleaning along with all the outside chores,\u201d She called over to Ben.<\/p>\n His eyebrows raised in astonishment; Ben stared over at his youngest.\u00a0 \u201cWhy Joseph \u2013 I didn\u2019t have any idea that you were so handy!\u00a0 You know Hop Sing has been wanting to take a month off to visit relatives, but he\u2019s been worried that we wouldn\u2019t be able to find anyone to take care of the house and do all the cooking.\u00a0 I guess when you get home, Son, I\u2019ll tell him that he can go ahead and pack since you are so well qualified.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Pa \u2013 she\u2019s just kidding.\u00a0 I\u2019m not THAT<\/strong> helpful!\u201d Joe insisted, smiling wryly.<\/p>\n Ben laughed and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI might have known that he\u2019d try to get out of doing a full day\u2019s work once he gets home,\u201d Ben reached for his hat, and nodded over to the young woman.\u00a0 \u201cGlad to see you doing so well, Jennifer\u2014now you take care of yourself,\u201d Ben smiled as he turned out of the house with his son at his side.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you for coming, Mister Cartwright,\u201d She called over to Ben.<\/p>\n Standing out on the porch Little Joe looked up at his father.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything okay, Pa?\u201d He asked when he noticed that his father had grown very quiet there on the porch as though he was worried about something.<\/p>\n Ben cleared his throat and dropped his hand down onto his son\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cYes \u2013 everything at the ranch is fine.\u00a0 I was just thinking that maybe it\u2019s time for you to come home, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe shrugged his shoulders and replied, \u201cI\u2019m going to be home soon \u2013 I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust how soon?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know exactly, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 He hedged on giving an exact day that he\u2019d be returning.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, Joseph — Jennifer looks like she can handle things on her own.\u00a0 I ran into Doc and he said he thought she\u2019s about all healed.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe dropped his head and grew quiet.\u00a0 Ben read the look on the boy\u2019s face and knew that he was holding something back from him.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me what\u2019s on your mind, Son,\u201d he urged softly.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, Pa \u2013 I just hate to leave her all alone.\u00a0 I thought her stupid husband would\u2019ve been back by now, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019ll be back.\u00a0 And it\u2019s time you came home too, Young Man.\u00a0 Now \u2013 I\u2019ve tried to stay away \u2013 but Joseph you need to let Jennifer handle things until Steve gets home.\u201d<\/p>\n Nodding, Joe returned, \u201cI promise, Pa \u2013 I\u2019ll be home at the end of the week, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head and sighed, \u201cYou\u2019ve always been so hardheaded \u2013 I just don\u2019t know where you get that stubborn streak, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe laughed and patted his father\u2019s arm.\u00a0 \u201cI get it from my pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Groaning Ben squeezed his son\u2019s shoulder and forced his gaze.\u00a0 \u201cNo, you got it from your mother, it was her only flaw.\u00a0 Now \u2013 you best be home by Friday \u2013 understood?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir, I will.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour chores have piled up so I hope you enjoyed your little \u201cvacation\u201d, Young Man.\u201d<\/p>\n Laughing, Joe nodded.\u00a0 \u201cSure \u2013 I\u2019ve just been lying around \u2013 milking cows, feeding chickens, mending fences and keeping the house running.\u00a0 I\u2019ve had lots of rest, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben untied his neckerchief and wiped the sweat off his forehead.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m going home and get into a cold bath.\u00a0 This is the longest hot spell we\u2019ve had in years.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo on home and get cooled off, Pa.\u00a0 I\u2019ll see you in two days.\u201d<\/p>\n With a quick pat to his son\u2019s back, Ben walked down the porch steps and over to the hitching post.\u00a0 Little Joe watched as his father swung up into his saddle.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo days, Joseph\u2014no more!\u201d He called down sternly.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir,\u201d Joe smiled and waved as his father kicked at Buck\u2019s sides and rode out of the yard.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry,\u201d Little Joe apologized as he walked back inside and over to the sofa where Jennifer sat.\u00a0 \u201cMy Pa just wanted to remind me that my chores have stacked up on me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll hate to see you leave, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe sat next to his friend and held her hand.\u00a0 \u201cHey\u2014I\u2019ll still be around you know?\u00a0 And if you need me \u2013 well, just send word and I\u2019ll be right back.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got two more days before I have to go \u2013 so no sad faces, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Jennifer nodded.\u00a0 \u201cDo you think Steve will be back soon, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf he\u2019s smart, he will,\u201d Little Joe replied, still biting back his anger towards the man.<\/p>\n \u201cI love him — you know that don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to get us some lemonade \u2013 be right back,\u201d she said and began to get up from the sofa.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing doing!\u201d Joe insisted and made her sit back down.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m still your willing servant and I\u2019m going to get us the lemonade.\u00a0 I think there\u2019s still some ice left \u2013 and I\u2019ll bring you some more from the blockhouse in town tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Little Joe.\u00a0 It sure is hot.\u201d<\/p>\n Laughing Joe nodded, \u201cYou sound like my pa now.\u00a0 He says he\u2019s gonna go home and get in a tub full of cold water!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSounds good to me,\u201d Jennifer smiled as she watched her friend heading into the kitchen.<\/p>\n That night after Little Joe had said goodnight to Jennifer, she sat in her bedroom and worried.\u00a0 She was starting to believe that Steve might not come back to her.\u00a0 After being with Joe for two weeks she realized what it was like to be cared for properly.\u00a0 Now she was beginning to believe that her husband had taken her for granted.\u00a0 Jennifer had begun to resent Steve even though she still loved him and wanted him home.\u00a0 She wished that she could come up with a way to make him appreciate her and never leave her like he had done.<\/p>\n Just after midnight Jennifer looked out of her bedroom window which faced the front yard and the barn.\u00a0 She saw Steve ride in and dismount.\u00a0 It was then that she came up with a plan that would help convince her husband to take notice of her.<\/p>\n Little Joe heard the scream from the next room.\u00a0 He heard Jennifer crying out and didn\u2019t know if she was sick or having a terrible nightmare.\u00a0 Quickly pulling on his pants, Joe ran into Jennifer\u2019s room both bare-chested and barefooted.<\/p>\n \u201cJennifer?\u00a0 Jennifer\u2014what\u2019s wrong?\u201d He asked sitting on the bed next to her.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Little Joe \u2013 hold me!\u00a0 I had a terrible nightmare,\u201d She cried and fell into his arms.<\/p>\n Little Joe held her close and stroked the young woman\u2019s hair attempting to calm her.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s okay, Jennifer, it\u2019s going to be okay.\u00a0 It was just an old dream.\u201d<\/p>\n It was at that moment that Steve burst into the house.\u00a0 He had seen the pinto inside the barn and knew that it was Little Joe Cartwright\u2019s horse.\u00a0 Walking to his bedroom, Steve saw Joe holding his wife in his arms and the young man wasn\u2019t wearing a shirt or shoes.\u00a0 He turned back into the living room and grabbed a rifle and returned to his wife and who he presumed was her lover.<\/p>\n \u201cCartwright!\u201d He yelled, his eyes wild with rage at the sight of Joe holding his wife in his arms.<\/p>\n Little Joe raised a hand trying to explain, but the butt of the rifle came down hard on his face.\u00a0 In that one blinding moment all Joe heard was the loud crack of wood as he was knocked off the bed.\u00a0 He made a feeble attempt to pull himself up off the floor, only to be met by another blow that caught his jaw, splintering the bone.\u00a0 Joe made another failed attempt to pull himself up, which was met with more brutal cracks from the angered man\u2019s rifle.\u00a0 He shook his head trying to gather his wits about him but there wasn\u2019t enough time between blows to his face which rendered him incapable of rational thought.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Steve, don\u2019t!\u201d Jennifer cried and attempted to grab his arm to pull him away.<\/p>\n \u201cGet back!\u201d Steve shouted and again flailed the stock of the rifle onto the incapacitated Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re going to kill him!\u00a0 Steve stop!\u201d Jennifer pleaded.<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 I ain\u2019t gonna kill him \u2013 but you ain\u2019t gonna want him once I\u2019m done with him!\u201d Steve screamed and struck Joe again, finally knocking him unconscious.<\/p>\n Still incensed over finding Little Joe in the bedroom with his wife, Steve pummeled the boy\u2019s face into a bloodied pulp and then beat his entire upper body and left arm with the butt of the rifle. Steve only stopped when his arms grew tired and he then grabbed Joe by the shoulders, tossing him out of his house and down into the dirt.<\/p>\n \u201cThere!\u201d Steve pointed at Little Joe.\u00a0 \u201cYou want him \u2013 then go tend him!\u201d He yelled at Jennifer.<\/p>\n \u201cI only want you, Steve!\u201d Jennifer cried seeing what the man had done to her friend but being too afraid to tell him why Little Joe had been in the bedroom.<\/p>\n Little Joe lay unconscious on the ground for hours unaware of what had happened.\u00a0 It was after two in the morning before he began to come around.\u00a0 He lifted his face off the ground and spit out both dirt and blood.\u00a0 Joe eased onto his back moaning from the pain which had taken possession over his body.\u00a0 The gray foggy memory of Steve\u2019s rifle hitting his face numerous times came back to him.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s right hand came up from his side and touched his face trying to determine why he was hurting so badly.\u00a0 His right eye was swollen shut and his left was blurry.\u00a0 Every tiny movement of his mouth shot sharp, hot pain up from his jaw, and a thick, copper taste filled his throat from his broken nose. In the dim moonlight Joe tried to pull himself up.\u00a0 His left arm gave out completely, a sickening grinding sensation of splintered bone confirmed that it was broken too.\u00a0 Sucking in air, Little Joe painfully made it to his knees, and he pulled himself to standing.\u00a0 He looked towards the house, and all the lights had been put out.\u00a0 Little Joe didn\u2019t dare try to make it to the door not knowing what Steve might do to him next.\u00a0 There wasn\u2019t anything he could do but try to make it into the barn and get to Cochise.\u00a0 With nothing left but sheer willpower Little Joe was able to climb up onto his pinto.\u00a0 Though he had managed to get the bridle over the pinto\u2019s head he had to settle for riding bareback because he knew that there was no way that he could get a saddle on his horse.\u00a0 Clinging to his reins with his one good hand, Joe fought back a suffering tide of pain as Cochise picked up her pace trying to get her master into Virginia City before he passed out cold.\u00a0 Shirtless, bootless, and battered, Little Joe headed for town and for the help he hoped he\u2019d find there.<\/p>\n Doctor Martin was startled by a loud, heavy thud against his office door, followed by the sound of something sliding against the wood.\u00a0 He had been up late bringing a baby into the world and had just walked inside to put up his medical bag.\u00a0 Wondering who would be up so early in the morning, he turned to the door and pulled it open.\u00a0 He was shocked to see Little Joe lying unconscious on the top step to his office.\u00a0 Going down to one knee he did a cursory examination noting the blood all over Little Joe\u2019s face and the odd angle to the boy\u2019s left arm.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t understand why the boy was bare-chested and barefooted.\u00a0 Doctor Martin grabbed the young man underneath his arms and carefully dragged him into his front parlor.\u00a0 He was able to get Joe up onto the mahogany lounge in the inner office and hurried to get some towels to staunch the flow of blood from the boy\u2019s battered face.\u00a0 Knowing that Little Joe was in terribly bad shape, Doctor Martin had no choice but to leave him for a few minutes to go and fetch the sheriff.<\/p>\n Sheriff Roy Coffee was sound asleep in the back room of the jail when Doctor Martin made his entrance.<\/p>\n \u201cRoy \u2013 Roy get up I need you,\u201d he called out urgently and shook the man\u2019s shoulders to rouse him.<\/p>\n Staring up at the doctor\u2019s face he read the look of alarm on it.\u00a0 Coughing to clear his throat, the sheriff struggled to open his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s going on, Doc?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe Cartwright\u2014I just found him outside my door.\u00a0 He\u2019s been beaten half to death.\u00a0 I think you\u2019d better find someone to go and get Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n Roy groaned as he pulled himself up on his bunk.\u00a0 Sliding his arms through his vest he asked, \u201cThat bad?\u201d<\/p>\n Paul nodded and his face showed the severity of the boy\u2019s condition.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, that bad.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got to get back to him.\u00a0 Now just get Ben over to my place.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReckon who done it?\u201d Roy muttered standing and walked out into the front office alongside Paul.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been staying with Jennifer Burns while her husband was away.\u201d<\/p>\n Roy frowned and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll go talk to the young lady just as soon as I send Clem to fetch Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Roy,\u201d Paul nodded gratefully and hurried back to his office.<\/p>\n Ben heard the loud pounding on the front door.\u00a0 Being five in the morning, he groggily donned his robe and headed down the stairs.\u00a0 Hop Sing beat him to the front door and hastily pulled it open.<\/p>\n \u201cClem?\u00a0 What\u2019s the trouble?\u201d Ben asked, noticing the grim look that the deputy wore.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s Little Joe, Ben.\u00a0 He\u2019s at Doc\u2019s.\u00a0 You\u2019d better come with me,\u201d Clem returned and watched as Ben\u2019s face paled from the news.<\/p>\n \u201cHow bad is the boy— what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know too much.\u00a0 But I was told to come fetch you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be right with you \u2013 let me get dressed,\u201d Ben replied breathlessly turning away from the door.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go saddle your horse and wait for you outside,\u201d Clem announced and walked away.<\/p>\n Hop Sing worriedly followed closely behind all the way to the staircase.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat you need Hop Sing do, Mister Ben?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSend one of the hands up to the railhead to fetch Hoss and Adam.\u00a0 Let them know Joe\u2019s hurt and is in town at Doc\u2019s place,\u201d Ben answered and quickly hurried up the stairs.<\/p>\n \u201cAlight,\u201d Hop Sing replied, though his boss never heard him.<\/p>\n Doctor Martin washed his hands and grabbed a towel to dry them while he looked down at his unconscious patient.\u00a0 He was beginning to think that it was all his fault that Little Joe had been hurt.\u00a0 It had been his idea to tell the boy about Jennifer losing the baby and needing help.\u00a0 Now someone had almost killed him, and Paul was pretty sure he knew who had done it.\u00a0 He turned when he heard the bell over his door ringing.\u00a0 He knew who it was.<\/p>\n \u201cBen,\u201d Paul called as he walked into the parlor.\u00a0 \u201cLittle Joe\u2019s back here.\u201d<\/p>\n With his heart planted firmly in his throat, Ben briskly walked into the next room.\u00a0 He came to a dead halt when he made it to the lounge where his son was spread out.\u00a0 Ben\u2019s breath escaped him the instant that he looked down at Joseph\u2019s battered face.\u00a0 Yes, unfortunately he had seen his son beaten up before, but the boy had never sustained the kinds of bruises and cuts that he wore now.<\/p>\n \u201cHow \u2013 how could this happen, Paul?\u201d Ben\u2019s question cracked with a combination of sorrow and fear.\u00a0 He dropped to his knees and placed a hand on top of Little Joe\u2019s head.\u00a0 \u00a0Dividing his attention between the doctor and his wounded son, Ben mindlessly combed his fingers through Joseph\u2019s thick brown curls.<\/p>\n \u201cI wish I could tell you.\u00a0 The boy\u2019s been beaten half to death,\u201d Paul sighed and lifted the blanket he had spread on top of Joe.\u00a0 \u201cHe didn\u2019t have a shirt or shoes on when I found him outside, Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n His gaze fell to his son\u2019s left arm when he noticed that it was in a plaster cast and that it was bent there at the elbow.\u00a0 Memories flooded his mind and for just a few fleeting minutes the young man lying there in front of him was his rambunctious nine-year-old boy who had fallen out of the hayloft and onto his arm.\u00a0 Little Joe had screamed so loudly that his father had heard him all the way inside the house.\u00a0 Pa had raced to get to him, sweeping the boy up into his arms.\u00a0 That had been Litttle Joe’s first broken bone, and it had scared them both.\u00a0 While Adam had jumped on his horse and raced to get the doctor, Ben had carried his child into the house.\u00a0 Joseph had always been brave, even as a small boy.\u00a0 But the break had been a bad one and the pain from his injury had made Little Joe cling to his father’s vest fighting back tears.\u00a0 Ben held Little Joe in his arms on the settee and tried his best to ease his pain as he attempted to keep the boy\u2019s eyes off the frightful appearance of the bone that had punctured the skin.\u00a0 Closing his eyes he recalled the traumatic event.<\/p>\n ***<\/strong> \u201cNow, Joseph, that was some fall that you took.\u00a0 Were you trying to learn how to fly?\u201d He asked wryly, trying his best to sound lowkey about the injury so the boy wouldn’t know how bad it was.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Pa \u2013 I stepped back to look at a nest that\u2019s up there,\u201d Little Joe whimpered.<\/p>\n Ben, trying to keep his composure, even though the appearance of his son\u2019s arm was scaring him half to death, had simply replied, \u201cA nest, huh?\u00a0 What kind of bird do you think made it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 my arm\u2019s hurting.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben pulled the boy close and kissed his forehead and replied, \u201cI just bet it is, Son.\u00a0 But, getting back to that bird \u2013 what do you think \u2013 maybe a robin?\u00a0 It is spring you know.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe nodded, \u201cYeah \u2013 I think I saw blue eggs before I fell.\u201d<\/p>\n Waving Hop Sing over with the small shot of brandy he\u2019d poured, Ben took it into his hand and smiled at his youngest.\u00a0 \u201cYou remember that I told you that you can\u2019t have any of my brandy until you\u2019re at least eighteen?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe just nodded as he winced his face.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019d say that any boy who could take a fall like you did has earned just a little sip.\u00a0 Here you are, Son,\u201d He nodded to the boy as he handed him the small glass.<\/p>\n His eyes growing wide as he took the drink into his right hand, Little Joe cautiously brought it to his lips and took one precarious sip.\u00a0 It tasted hot to him, and it burned his throat going down.\u00a0 But he didn\u2019t want to say anything about it because he wanted to prove he was as grownup as his brother Adam who he\u2019d seen drink a glass or two of his father\u2019s brandy.<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s that taste to you, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot bad,\u201d Little Joe nodded and for the first time since he\u2019d fallen cracked a slight smile.<\/p>\n Ben stared over at Hop Sing and watched him grin.\u00a0 Patting the boy\u2019s back Pa said, \u201cJoseph, brandy sometimes helps with pain \u2013 which is why I just gave that to you.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe stared down at the glass and then back up at his father.\u00a0 \u201cI think I\u2019d better drink more then, Pa \u2013 because it hasn\u2019t worked yet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGive it time, Son \u2013 give it time,\u201d Ben nodded to the boy and eased him off of his lap.<\/p>\n Moving the boy into position next to the far arm of the settee, Ben looked over at Hop Sing who stood there with a wad of bandages and an eight-inch wooden splint at the ready.\u00a0 He stood and faced his son.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph \u2013 now I\u2019m just going to snap that bone right back into place \u2013 it won\u2019t take more than a few seconds.\u00a0 I want you to close your eyes and when I tell you to do it count to three, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe I need more brandy first, Pa?\u201d Little Joe asked weakly.<\/p>\n With a knowing grin on his lips, Ben shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cAfter we do this \u2013 if you want another sip, I\u2019ll give you one.\u00a0 Now close those eyes, Boy.\u201d<\/p>\n Squeezing his eyes shut tightly, Little Joe nodded that he was ready.\u00a0 Pa drew a deep breath as he got into position, placing one hand on the boy\u2019s left shoulder to brace him and his other down on Joe\u2019s left wrist.\u00a0 He said a silent prayer that he would have the strength and the skill to make the set.\u00a0 \u201cNow, Joseph \u2013 start counting!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne \u2013 two\u2014”<\/p>\n Ben pulled his son\u2019s arm straight and fast and watched as the protruding bone disappeared underneath the boy\u2019s skin.<\/p>\n \u201cThree,\u201d Pa smiled and hugged his son.<\/p>\n Pushing back painful tears, Little Joe stared at his pa.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m okay, Pa,\u201d He whispered.<\/p>\n Removing the bandage and the splint from Hop Sing\u2019s waiting hands, Ben wrapped and braced the arm tightly and then smiled proudly at his boy.\u00a0 \u201cYou might only be nine years old, but you handled that better than a full-grown man would have,\u201d he nodded to Joe and reached for the small glass on the coffee table.\u00a0 \u201cYou may have one more sip because you were so brave.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNaw\u2014I don\u2019t exactly like it, Pa.\u00a0 Maybe Doc will give me something else for pain when he gets here,\u201d Little Joe answered, trying to wipe away the tears which had escaped his eyes after hearing his father\u2019s praise.<\/p>\n Tying off the strips of cloth, Ben thanked Hop Sing and then sat back on the settee.\u00a0 Pulling his boy onto his lap, he hugged him carefully.\u00a0 \u201cI think it\u2019s what they call and acquired taste, Joseph.\u00a0 I guess I\u2019ll just have to finish this for you,\u201d He downed the small amount that Hop Sing had poured earlier.\u00a0 \u201cNow \u2013 I want you to settle back and close your eyes and before you know it Doc Martin will be here and make you comfortable.\u00a0 I bet he\u2019ll put your arm in one of those fancy plaster casts too and before you know it, you’ll be good as new.”<\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s my left arm, Pa \u2013 don\u2019t know how I\u2019ll get by until it heals,\u201d Little Joe said, worry spreading across his face which his father took note of.<\/p>\n Trying to ease his child\u2019s mind, Pa hugged him close to his chest and replied, \u201cNothing stops Joseph Cartwright \u2013 remember \u2013 the boy who can fly like a robin?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, Pa, I flew like a robin and then I dropped like a rock,\u201d Little Joe added and then turned his face into his father\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 Exhausted due to all he had gone through the boy closed his eyes and fell right off to sleep.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s my boy<\/em><\/strong>,\u201d Ben grinned and slowly stroked his son’s curly hair. ***<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cBen?\u00a0 Ben, are you still with me?\u201d Doc asked after witnessing the man\u2019s faraway gaze.<\/p>\n Startled by the doctor, Ben shook himself from his remembrance and refocused his attention on the battered boy there in front of him.<\/p>\n \u201cI was just thinking back to the time Joseph fell and broke his arm.\u201d<\/p>\n Doc nodded, \u201cOh yes, I remember \u2013 he launched himself down from the hayloft.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, but that was an accident,\u201d Ben\u2019s anger was back to the forefront of his mind as he stared at his son.\u00a0 \u201cBut this was no accident!\u00a0 Someone deliberately broke Joseph\u2019s arm!\u00a0 How could anyone beat my boy like this?\u00a0 And his left arm\u2014they must\u2019ve done it knowing that he was left-handed!\u201d<\/p>\n Paul sighed wearily knowing that there would be hell to pay now.\u00a0 He knew that anyone who dared to hurt one of Ben\u2019s sons would stand a better chance poking a wounded mountain lion with a broom straw than to tangle with him.\u00a0 \u201cUnfortunately, that\u2019s not all they broke, Ben.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s nose is broken \u2013 and unfortunately so is his jaw.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to have to put a chin strap on him after I get it set.\u00a0 I had to tend to his arm first.\u00a0 It had a very bad break to it.\u201d<\/p>\n Though he had tried to keep them at bay, Ben couldn\u2019t stop the tears which were rapidly filling his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cWho \u2013 who did this to my boy?\u201d He asked, swiping a hand across his face so he could appear to be the pillar of strength that his son would need.<\/p>\n \u201cRoy\u2019s trying to find that out right now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid Steve Burns get back into town, Paul?\u201d Ben queried, an accusatory tone to his voice.<\/p>\n Paul shrugged his shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not sure \u2013 but if he just showed up unexpectedly it would explain Little Joe falling in here the way he did without a shirt or boots.\u00a0 I doubt he\u2019d leave Jennifer\u2019s half-dressed on purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI swear I\u2019ll kill him for this!\u201d Ben threatened, his face turning beet red with anger.<\/p>\n Doctor Martin placed a firm hand on his friend\u2019s arm. \u201cNow, Ben \u2013 don\u2019t go making trouble for yourself.\u00a0 Let Roy handle this and -,\u201d He paused when they heard Joe stirring.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u201d Ben called softly, purposely fighting back his increasing rage.\u00a0 At that moment revenge had to be pushed aside for the sake of his child.\u00a0 He went back down onto one knee.\u00a0 \u201cSon, can you hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n Mouthing the word \u201cPa\u201d nothing came out.\u00a0 Little Joe\u2019s face scrunched up in pain.<\/p>\n \u201cBest not try to talk, Little Joe.\u00a0 Your jaw is busted.\u00a0 Just settle back.\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019m going to get you something for pain.\u201d Doc attempted to calm his patient.<\/p>\n Little Joe looked up at his father with his one good eye.\u00a0 A few stray tears dotted his cheeks after witnessing the anguish on Pa\u2019s face which he knew that the man was trying his best to hide.\u00a0 All he could do was shake his head slowly.\u00a0 He wanted so badly to explain to his father that he hadn\u2019t done anything wrong, but he couldn\u2019t get the words out due to the pain from his broken jaw.<\/p>\n Ben lovingly inspected the damage to his son\u2019s face; his fingertips trembling as they traced the boy\u2019s wounds. He could see that his son\u2019s right eye was swollen shut as he gently touched every bruise and cut that marred both of Joseph\u2019s cheeks.\u00a0 His stomach formed into a knot seeing what had happened to his beloved son. This was his youngest, the child who had been born with such striking good looks.\u00a0 Now the once handsome face was reduced to a mass of cuts and bruises. On top of that the boy sported a broken nose and jaw.\u00a0 His son’s appearance positively took Ben\u2019s breath away.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s going to be alright, Joseph \u2013 don\u2019t try to say anything.\u201d<\/p>\n Again, Joe rocked his head back and forth trying to let Pa know he hadn\u2019t done anything wrong.<\/p>\n Ben read the worry on his son\u2019s face.\u00a0 He knew that Joseph wanted to talk to him but couldn\u2019t.\u00a0 \u201cSon \u2013 was it Steve?\u00a0 Did he do this?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe nodded his head and his face winced from the pain caused by his movement.<\/p>\n \u201cMove back for just a minute, Ben,\u201d Paul urged.\u00a0 He had chosen to use an eyedropper so he could get the laudanum through the boy\u2019s lips. \u00a0\u201cNow you take this, Little Joe \u2013 it\u2019ll help with that pain.\u201d<\/p>\n Trying to part his lips, Joe groaned as his jaw seized up due to the movement.\u00a0 It felt like it was out of joint and hurt so badly that he could barely stand it.\u00a0 Paul patiently administered the medicine drop by drop through the boy\u2019s parted lips and onto his tongue until the dropper was finally empty.<\/p>\n \u201cThere \u2013 good job, Little Joe.\u00a0 Now that\u2019s going to help with the pain and settle you down some.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes fell on the bruises all over his son\u2019s chest and upper arms.\u00a0 But worst of all was his son\u2019s handsome face which had been reduced to a bloodied mess.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s nose was doubled in size and his cheeks and eyebrows held deep gashes in them.<\/p>\n \u201cSteve beat you with something \u2013 didn\u2019t he?\u201d Ben had to know.\u00a0 He realized that mere fists couldn\u2019t have caused all the damage to his son\u2019s body that he had witnessed.<\/p>\n Little Joe nodded again and then formed his right hand into the image of a gun.<\/p>\n \u201cHe did all this with his pistol?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked incredulously, growing more infuriated.<\/p>\n Little Joe shook his head and pulled his right arm out from his body trying to signal the word \u201cbigger\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cLarger?\u00a0 Larger than a gun?\u201d<\/p>\n Nodding again, Little Joe stared into his father\u2019s eyes, hoping he\u2019d come up with what he was trying to tell him.<\/p>\n \u201cA rifle?\u00a0 Joseph, did he beat you like this with the stock of a rifle?\u201d\u00a0 Ben continued, hating to ask his son so many questions due to the condition that he was in.\u00a0 But he needed some facts so he could go after Steve Burns for all the damage he had done to his child.<\/p>\n Blinking back tears Little Joe nodded once more.\u00a0 He watched as his father became enraged at the thought of his son being beaten with a rifle.\u00a0 Joe signaled with his right hand for his father to draw closer so he could tell him something.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph \u2013 Paul said you shouldn\u2019t try to talk.\u00a0 Your jaw needs to be set, Boy,\u201d Ben tried to prevent his son from speaking.<\/p>\n Becoming more insistent, Joe waved his right hand all the more, urging his father to move down closer so he could have his say.<\/p>\n Reluctantly Ben bent down until he was just a few inches from his son\u2019s mouth.\u00a0 He listened carefully to what Joe wanted to tell him.\u00a0 Though they were a bit muffled due to the condition of his broken jaw, Ben understood each painful word.\u00a0 Their meaning stung the worried father\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n \u201cI \u2013 swear \u2013 Pa \u2013 I \u2013 didn\u2019t \u2013 do \u2013 anything \u2013 wrong.\u00a0 I \u2013 swear,\u201d Was all that Little Joe could choke out before he fell into the black void where nothing could hurt him anymore.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s right hand swept back the boy\u2019s bangs.\u00a0 Closing his eyes, in a valiant attempt to hold back his tears, he bent down and pressed his lips against his son\u2019s forehead.\u00a0 \u201cOh, Joseph — I know you didn\u2019t.\u00a0 I\u2019d bet my life on it,\u201d Ben whispered and then pulled himself to standing.<\/p>\n Turning his attention back to the doctor, Ben drew in a deep breath to stay his desire to head right out to kill Steve Burns.\u00a0 \u201cDo what you can for him, Paul.\u201d<\/p>\n Nodding and with a gentle pat to his friend\u2019s back, he answered, \u201cLet\u2019s get that jaw set now.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sat next to his son and watched as Paul went about the arduous task of realigning and setting the boy\u2019s broken jaw.\u00a0 His face flinched when he heard the loud popping sound when the doctor snapped the bones into the proper position.\u00a0\u00a0 Doc then applied the thick leather chin strap which went from Joe\u2019s chin to the top of his head to restrict movement so the fracture could heal.\u00a0 The whole while Paul worked on his son the worried father seethed with anger over what Steve Burns had done.\u00a0 He had no idea what had gone on at the Burnes\u2019 ranch, but he knew that Joseph wouldn\u2019t have done anything to dishonor his family.\u00a0 Ben knew it might take some finagling for Joe to be able to tell him exactly what had happened due to his broken jaw and his inability to write due to the fractured arm.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the best I can do for this boy right now, Ben,\u201d Paul sighed and handed the man a cup of coffee he had just made.\u00a0 \u201cDrink that \u2013 looks like you could use it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Paul \u2013 but I think I could use something a whole lot stronger after watching you trying to put my boy back together,\u201d He groaned and then took a sip of the strong brew.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t believe the nerve of Steve Burns!\u00a0 He leaves a wife who has just lost their baby \u2013 runs off and then comes home to half kill the only person who cared enough to help her!\u201d<\/p>\n Before Doc could respond to what his friend had said they turned to see Roy Coffee entering the examination room.\u00a0 He neared the other two men and the boy who was sound asleep on the lounge.<\/p>\n Roy shook his head after seeing the damage that had been done to his best friend\u2019s youngest son.\u00a0 \u201cIs Little Joe gonna pull through, Doc?\u201d<\/p>\n Clearing his throat, Paul returned, \u201cYes \u2013 no thanks to the person who beat him with the stock of a rifle.\u00a0 He\u2019s in pretty bad shape, Roy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah \u2013 I can see that,\u201d Roy paused and set a hand down onto Ben\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m mighty sorry to see Little Joe hurt like this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am too,\u201d Ben fumed and stood from his chair.\u00a0 \u201cWe know who did it.\u00a0 Joseph was awake earlier and though he has a broken jaw\u2014among other things \u2013 he let us know that Steve Burns did it.\u201d<\/p>\n Roy frowned, not happy with what he had to tell the worried father.\u00a0 But it was his job and he never beat around the bush when it came to that.\u00a0 \u201cBen\u2014I know it was Steve.\u00a0 He admitted it to me when I got to his place.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHas he hurt Jennifer?\u201d Doc piped up while watching the slow burn building up all over Ben\u2019s face.<\/p>\n Roy shook his head, \u201cNo, she\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo, you\u2019ve got him locked up now?\u201d Ben asked, hoping that was the case so he wouldn\u2019t have to go and throttle the man for what he had done.\u00a0 He knew that he would probably kill Steve with his bare hands if the opportunity presented itself.<\/p>\n \u201cNeed to talk to you about that \u2013 Ben \u2013 how about we step out into the parlor?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u00a0 Doc knows just about everything there is to know.\u00a0 He\u2019s the one who told that boy over there that Jennifer needed help!\u201d Ben protested, pointing to the lifeless figure of his son.<\/p>\n Roy shrugged his shoulders and replied, \u201cSuit yourself, Ben, but you ain\u2019t gonna like what I\u2019ve got to tell you.\u00a0 I\u2019m worried that you might fuss so much that you\u2019ll wake Little Joe.\u00a0 It\u2019s easy to see that the boy needs his rest.\u201d<\/p>\n Placing his hands on his hips in preparation for whatever the lawman was going to say, Ben stared at him hard.\u00a0 \u201cJust tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSteve told me that he found Little Joe sitting on his bed holding Jennifer in his arms.\u00a0 Your boy didn\u2019t have his shirt nor his boots on either.\u00a0 I brung his clothes and all Joe\u2019s gear back with me.\u00a0 I\u2019ll hold all of it for you in my office.\u00a0 Steve was ready to throw everything out in the yard when I got there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI told you that he didn\u2019t have a shirt nor his boots, Roy.\u00a0 That\u2019s how I found the boy,\u201d Doc chimed in as his eyes darted back and forth between the sheriff and the angered father.<\/p>\n Looking down at his son and then back over to Roy, Ben fought not to yell simply because he didn\u2019t want to wake the boy.\u00a0 \u201cIf Joseph was holding Jennifer, then it\u2019s a sure bet that he was just comforting her about something!\u00a0 He\u2019s an honorable young man \u2013 and you should know that!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen,\u201d Roy paused again and tried to tap down the man\u2019s anger.\u00a0 \u201cI ain\u2019t saying that Little Joe ain\u2019t honorable.\u00a0 I\u2019ve known him his whole life.\u00a0 But he was sitting on that man\u2019s bed and holding that man\u2019s wife in his arms.\u00a0\u00a0 And the fact of the matter is that Little Joe was half dressed.\u00a0 Now I sure as heck ain\u2019t saying what Steve done was right \u2013 you should know that too!\u00a0 But, well \u2013 do you really want all that coming out if you go and press charges?\u00a0 It\u2019d all come out in court you know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWant WHAT<\/strong> coming out?\u201d He yelled.\u00a0 It was easy to see that Joseph Cartwright had inherited some of his hot temper from his father especially when the man was defending one of his sons.<\/p>\n Dropping his voice to just above a whisper, Roy answered.\u00a0 \u201cBen, Steve said that Little Joe and Jennifer were romantically involved ever since he left town.\u00a0 He said he had every right to protect what\u2019s his \u2013 and that includes his wife.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben had to draw in a deep breath so he wouldn\u2019t positively explode from within. He stared at the doctor and could see that Paul was sending him a cautionary gaze.\u00a0 \u201cThat poor excuse for a husband is out of his head!\u00a0 Now \u2013 what did Jennifer say about all of this?\u00a0 Surely, she defended my boy!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe didn\u2019t confirm that they were intimate \u2013 but she didn\u2019t deny it neither.\u00a0 Ben, this is going to be a real mess if it gets aired out in court.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRoy, are you telling me that you won\u2019t arrest that man for aggravated assault?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t saying no such thing!\u201d Roy fired back.\u00a0 He was tired and he had already had a long day, and it was just beginning.\u00a0 \u201cIf you want to press charges on Little Joe\u2019s behalf as his pa then I\u2019ll go cuff him and haul him into my jail.\u00a0 I just wanted to let you know what the man said about all this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTake him to your jail!\u00a0 Nobody\u2019s going to get away with almost killing a son of mine!\u00a0 And I don\u2019t give one hoot about the gossips in this town!\u201d Ben returned, incensed by what he had already heard from the sheriff.<\/p>\n \u201cHow about Little Joe?\u00a0 Do you think he\u2019d want that, Ben?\u00a0 You are his pa \u2013 and he\u2019s still underage \u2013 so you can do whatever you want.\u00a0 But don\u2019t you think you\u2019d better ask the boy first?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stared down at the still figure lying there looking so vulnerable.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want to put him through a court trial, but he knew that Joe would want to clear his name.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph would want Steve arrested.\u00a0 I think I know my own son.\u201d<\/p>\n Roy sighed and nodded his head.\u00a0 \u201cAlright, Ben, if that\u2019s how you want to play this hand \u2013 I\u2019ll go bring Steve in.\u00a0 Let me know how Little Joe\u2019s doing, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Finally cooling off a bit, Ben reached over and patted Roy\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Roy.\u00a0 I\u2019m just so worried about Joseph.\u00a0 He was beaten half dead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo apology needed,\u201d the sheriff nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d best go and do my job.\u00a0 Doc, how soon will the boy be able to go back to the Ponderosa \u2013 any idea?\u201d<\/p>\n Paul shrugged his shoulders and replied, \u201cWe\u2019ll see how much pain Little Joe is in later this afternoon.\u00a0 I\u2019d prefer he stayed here until he can handle that long ride home in a buckboard. I\u2019ll let you know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d Roy nodded and turned out of the room.\u00a0 He had known exactly how his old friend Ben Cartwright was going to react to his news, and the man hadn\u2019t let him down.<\/p>\n Ben eased back down next to Joe and tenderly placed the palm of his right hand up to his face.\u00a0 He hated to tell Joseph what Steve had said, but he reasoned that the boy must\u2019ve already figured some of it out due to what he had said to him before he had passed out from the medication.<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss Cartwright had ridden nonstop from the northernmost boundary of the Ponderosa all the way into Virginia City.\u00a0 They had been told by the ranch foreman, Fletcher, that Little Joe had been hurt and was over at Doctor Martin\u2019s office and dropped what they had been doing immediately and headed into town.\u00a0 The sun had already set behind the vast mountain range to the west when they tied their reins up in front of the doctor\u2019s office.\u00a0 They noticed their father\u2019s horse was there along with Cochise.\u00a0 Surprised to find their little brother\u2019s horse standing there without a saddle they hurried inside.<\/p>\n \u201cHow is he?\u201d Adam whispered as he walked into the examination room followed by Hoss.<\/p>\n Ben stood from the chair and stretched his tired back.\u00a0 Too many hours of sitting in the hardbacked chair hadn\u2019t done his sacroiliac any favors.\u00a0 Nearing his sons he dropped a hand onto both their shoulders and tried to pull up a smile.\u00a0 It hadn\u2019t been much of one and both men took note of their father\u2019s appearance.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s only come around once since I got here this morning.\u00a0 I expect he should wake up soon.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss neared his little brother and bit his bottom lip upon seeing the boy\u2019s battered face.<\/p>\n \u201cMy Lord\u2014what did they do to him?\u201d Hoss gasped.<\/p>\n Placing his hand down on Hoss\u2019 shoulder, Ben whispered, \u201cHe was beaten with the stock of a rifle, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s face took on an angered countenance as he stared over at his father.\u00a0 \u201cWho did it, Pa?\u00a0 Anyone know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSteve Burns,\u201d Ben replied angrily.\u00a0 \u201cRoy was going to lock him up \u2013 but I\u2019ve not had time to find out if he\u2019s done it yet.\u201d<\/p>\n Before either brother could ask any more questions, they noticed Little Joe\u2019s head moving on the pillow that Paul had tucked underneath his head.\u00a0 Ben went back down to one knee and placed a hand on the boy\u2019s shoulder hoping to bring him around slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u00a0 Son, can you hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n Slowly Joe\u2019s left eye opened though his right eye was shut due to the damage to it.\u00a0 He peered up and saw his brothers standing right behind his father.<\/p>\n Ben could tell that Little Joe was trying to move his lips and wanted to stop him.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph — now just don\u2019t even try.\u00a0 Doc has your jaw in a chin strap so the break will heal up.\u00a0 You just rest easy,\u201d Ben crooned to the boy as he lightly stroked his cheek.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Brother \u2013 I sure hate to see you all banged up like this,\u201d Hoss whispered and gently patted his brother\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cKid \u2013 it\u2019s going to be alright,\u201d Adam joined in and smiled down at the boy.<\/p>\n Just back from seeing another patient, Doctor Martin walked in from the parlor and put his black medical bag on the table just inside the examination room.<\/p>\n \u201cI see that my favorite patient is awake,\u201d Paul tried to sound upbeat knowing full well that the Cartwrights were all in a tither over what had happened to the boy.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s just now come back to us,\u201d Ben nodded over to the doctor.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, let\u2019s get some water into that young man,\u201d Paul announced and reached inside a drawer to get a glass straw.\u00a0 He poured water from a pitcher next to the sink and dropped the straw inside.\u00a0 Walking over to Little Joe he handed the glass to Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, here you are, Joseph.\u00a0 Let\u2019s see how well you do with that chin held down like it is,\u201d Ben smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cJust use your lips, Little Joe, and try not to move that jaw of yours,\u201d Doc advised as he stood and watched.<\/p>\n Little Joe slowly sipped the water knowing that all eyes were on him at the time.\u00a0 Though everyone was trying to sound nonchalant he knew that they all had questions for him.\u00a0 He waved the glass away after a few minutes and Pa handed it back to Doc.<\/p>\n \u201cCan we take him home, Doc?\u201d Hoss asked when the room grew too quiet for him.<\/p>\n Paul pulled a chair over next to where Little Joe was lying and replied, \u201cI want the three of you to go over to the hotel and eat some supper.\u00a0 Then I know your Pa will insist on staying here while this boy spends the night on that sofa of mine.\u00a0 Tomorrow one of you fetch your buckboard and, if you\u2019ll take it easy on the way back to the ranch house, you can bring this boy home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSounds good \u2013 we ain\u2019t had nothing to eat since breakfast,\u201d Hoss returned.<\/p>\n \u201cYou sure he\u2019ll be okay until I get back, Paul?\u201d Ben asked, concern for his youngest written across his face.<\/p>\n Paul chuckled, \u201cBen \u2013 how many nights have I watched over this boy?\u00a0 He\u2019ll be fine until you get back.\u00a0 Now go on \u2013 all of you!\u00a0 Get some grub.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll see you before we head home, Kid,\u201d Adam nodded to his brother and he and Hoss moved to allow their father to stand back up.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be back soon, Joseph.\u00a0 Now don\u2019t give Doc any trouble,\u201d Ben smiled and ruffled the boy\u2019s hair as he stood.<\/p>\n All Joe could do was to nod his head and then watch as the three men turned and walked away.\u00a0 He knew that Pa was about to give his brothers an earful. Joe dreaded what was going on regarding what Steve had done to him.\u00a0 Little Joe wished that he could talk because he wanted to ask if Jennifer was alright<\/p>\n Paul stared down at his patient and smiled.\u00a0 He knew the boy well and could read what was written all over his face, even under all the contusions and cuts.<\/p>\n \u201cJennifer is just fine, Little Joe, now close that eye of yours and try to relax.\u00a0 I\u2019ll give you some more pain medicine in just a little while.\u201d<\/p>\n Nodding his head to thank the man, Little Joe closed his one good eye and tried to go back to sleep.\u00a0 He was relieved to hear that Jennifer was okay.\u00a0 After what Steve had done to him, he had been worried that he\u2019d take his anger out on her next.<\/p>\n Ben had chosen a table in the far corner of the International House Hotel\u2019s dining room.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want anyone else to hear what he was going to tell his sons.\u00a0 They ordered their meals and then sipped the wine that Ben had ordered.\u00a0 The anxious father would have preferred something stronger after such a long and horrendous day.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright, now I guess is as good as time as any to fill the two of you in on what\u2019s happened,\u201d Ben began and set his wineglass on the table.<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss looked pensively over at their father and waited for the explanation.<\/p>\n \u201cYour brother has been taking care of Jennifer Burns for the last two weeks.\u00a0 After she lost the baby, Doc told Joseph that she needed to get off her feet -,\u201d Ben was cut off by Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cWait \u2013 she lost the baby?\u00a0 Then why wasn\u2019t Steve around to tend to her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was just getting at that,\u201d Ben returned gruffly.\u00a0 His mood was glum and he was growing impatient with everyone and everything at that point.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, Pa \u2013 go ahead,\u201d Adam apologized.<\/p>\n \u201cSteve left for San Francisco \u2013 Doc said it was some kind of business.\u00a0 But no matter the reason, he shouldn\u2019t have left.\u00a0 Doc was concerned that if Jennifer didn\u2019t get some real rest that she might never be able to carry a baby to term.\u00a0 So, your brother took it upon himself to go and care for her.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss wanted to say something but wasn\u2019t sure if his father would appreciate the interruption.<\/p>\n Ben read the look on his middle boy\u2019s face and nodded.\u00a0 \u201cGo ahead, Hoss.\u00a0 What is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy didn\u2019t Little Joe just bring her out to the Ponderosa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause Jennifer refused to leave her place \u2013 something about having buried the baby there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Pa \u2013 go ahead,\u201d Hoss nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, Joseph was going to come home on Friday \u2013 but that didn\u2019t work out.\u00a0 I saw him last night there at Jennifer\u2019s place and we spoke about him needing to come home and he agreed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut Steve came home first, right?\u201d Adam asked, having put the pieces together in his mind already.<\/p>\n Ben, not wanting to air their private matters, waited to answer until their meals were placed in front of them by the waitress.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Dorothy,\u201d Ben smiled up at the woman and waited until she walked away.\u00a0 \u201cFrom what Steve told Roy, he walked in and your brother was sitting on the bed holding Jennifer in his arms.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss exchanged apprehensive glances and then stared over at their father.\u00a0 Neither man wanted to ask why their brother was in the bedroom with the married woman late at night.<\/p>\n Ben read the confused looks that had gone back and forth between his sons.\u00a0 He knew exactly why they weren\u2019t asking any further questions.\u00a0 \u201cListen \u2013 I trust Joseph implicitly.\u00a0 I\u2019m simply telling you what Steve said to Roy.\u00a0 Joseph showed up at Doc\u2019s around two in the morning.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t wearing his shirt nor his boots.\u00a0 And I suppose you both noticed that Cochise wasn\u2019t saddled.\u00a0 The boy rode into town bareback. That tells me that whatever went on concerning Steve coming home \u2013 well — it came unexpectedly.\u00a0 Joe hasn\u2019t been able to talk due to that broken jaw.\u00a0 He was in terrible shape when Doc found him there on his front step.\u00a0 He\u2019s got cuts, bruises and broken bones.\u00a0 You two probably didn\u2019t see it but his left arm is in a cast.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did Jennifer say about all this?\u201d Adam asked trying to figure out how they could get to the truth.<\/p>\n Ben shrugged his shoulders and replied, \u201cI don\u2019t know, Son.\u00a0 Roy told me that she wouldn\u2019t say whether she and Joe were involved or not.\u00a0 That doesn\u2019t help the matter any.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProbably because she\u2019s worried that Steve will beat her like he beat Little Joe,\u201d Adam insisted.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cPa \u2013 we both know that Joe hasn\u2019t done anything tawdry.\u00a0 But Jennifer needs to tell the truth since Joe can\u2019t right now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know \u2013 it may come to my going over there to speak to her.\u00a0 But I\u2019m afraid to see Steve.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAfraid?\u201d Adam questioned, surprised by what his father had said.\u00a0 He\u2019d never known his pa to be afraid of anyone before.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyebrows narrowed as his anger was back in the forefront of his mind.\u00a0 \u201cYes, afraid that I\u2019m going to kill that man for what he\u2019s done to my son!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou said that Steve beat Joe with the stock of his rifle, Pa?\u00a0 I ain\u2019t never seen anyone beaten like he was!\u201d Hoss exclaimed and pushed his plate away.\u00a0 He was too upset to eat.<\/p>\n \u201cYes \u2013 and Steve admitted to doing it.\u00a0 He told Roy that he had every right to beat your brother.\u00a0 He told Roy that Jennifer and Joseph had been carrying on ever since he left.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell \u2013 I know Little Joe has always liked Jennifer \u2013 but there\u2019s just no way he\u2019d lay a hand on her since she\u2019s a married woman,\u201d Adam nodded over to his father so he would know that he believed in his brother.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you for saying that, Son,\u201d Ben returned.\u00a0 \u201cI know Joseph wants to talk to me \u2013 but we\u2019ve got to figure out a way for him to do it.\u00a0 He can\u2019t very well write with his right hand.\u00a0 And Doc said that his jaw is going to take at least a month to six weeks to heal.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss shared another glance with Adam and then said, \u201cShucks, Pa \u2013 we\u2019ll figure out a way for the boy to talk to us.\u00a0 Let\u2019s just get him home first.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded.\u00a0 \u201cNow \u2013 I want the two of you to go ahead and eat your supper.\u00a0 I know you\u2019re worried \u2013 the same as me \u2013 but it\u2019s not going to help anything for you to go hungry.\u00a0 Then I want you to go home and get some rest.\u00a0 You can take Cochise with you.\u00a0 Tomorrow you boys bring the buckboard into town, and we\u2019ll take your brother back to the ranch.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you let the two of us watch over Little Joe so you can rest, Pa?\u00a0 You can spend the night here at the hotel?\u201d Adam suggested.<\/p>\n Ben broke into a genuine smile for the very first time all day.\u00a0 He shook his head as he stared over at his sons and replied, \u201cExcuse me — have we met<\/strong>?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss chuckled and patted his father\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cYeah — I guess that\u2019s one question that we never should ask you, Pa.\u00a0 You\u2019ve got to be there next to that boy all night fussing over him \u2013 as usual!\u201d<\/p>\n Nodding, Ben picked up his fork.\u00a0 \u201cNow let\u2019s eat then you boys head home and I\u2019ll go see to your little brother.\u201d<\/p>\n The three men had finished their meal and were drinking the last of their coffee when Ben spotted Roy entering the dining room.\u00a0 He waved the lawman over to the table.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve just finished eating but if you haven\u2019t had your dinner yet I\u2019ll buy, Roy.\u00a0 I know you\u2019ve had a long day like the three of us,\u201d he said as he watched the sheriff drop down in a chair next to Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Ben, but I ate at the jail already.\u00a0 I spotted the three of you heading in here a little while ago and thought I\u2019d come by. Howdy Adam \u2013 Hoss,\u201d He nodded to the Cartwright brothers.<\/p>\n \u201cRoy,\u201d Both men nodded and returned the greeting.<\/p>\n \u201cDorothy!\u201d Ben sang out when he spotted the waitress.\u00a0 She turned and made her way to the table.<\/p>\n \u201cBen?\u00a0 You and your boys done?\u201d She asked smiling.<\/p>\n \u201cYes \u2013 we are.\u00a0 But could you bring a cup of coffee for this poor tired sheriff?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure \u2013 be right back,\u201d The woman nodded and walked to the kitchen.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Ben.\u00a0 How\u2019s Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n Frowning, Ben shrugged his shoulders wearily.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph had his arm and jaw set.\u00a0 Steve Burns really worked my boy over.\u00a0 I\u2019m staying at Doc\u2019s tonight, but these boys of mine are going home.\u00a0 They\u2019ll help me get Joe home tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you kindly, Dorothy,\u201d Roy smiled up at the woman as she set his cup in front of him.\u00a0 He took a couple of sips of the strong brew and peered up at Ben.\u00a0 He had more news for the man but was hesitant to drop it on him after such an exhausting day.<\/p>\n Ben hadn\u2019t missed the way his old friend kept glancing up at him every so often and he knew that there was more trouble without having to ask.<\/p>\n \u201cGo ahead and tell me, Roy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019d you know I got something to tell you?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head and groaned.\u00a0 \u201cBecause I\u2019ve been playing poker with you more years than I care to say.\u00a0 You\u2019ve never been good at keeping your cards close to your vest.\u00a0 So, what is it now?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss exchanged amused glances at the way their father could read his close friend.<\/p>\n \u201cYou ain\u2019t gonna like it none,\u201d he sighed as he set his coffee cup on the table.<\/p>\n \u201cThat isn\u2019t anything new \u2013 I \u201cain\u2019t\u201d<\/em><\/strong> liked one thing that\u2019s happened since early this morning.\u00a0 Go ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Steve\u2019s story has changed over the last six hours since I locked him up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s he saying now?\u201d Adam chimed in.<\/p>\n \u201cSeems that he got to talking to Jennifer when she stopped by the jail. She told him that he misunderstood what happened between her and Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stared at Roy confused, \u201cThen that means that Steve knows the truth of the matter now.\u00a0 So why would that upset me?\u00a0 If Jennifer told her idiot husband that nothing was going on between her and my son that clears it all up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen –,\u201d Roy paused and cleared his throat.\u00a0 He felt like he couldn\u2019t swallow due to what he had to tell his best friend.\u00a0 \u201cJennifer said that Little Joe stole into her bedroom last night while she was sleeping.\u00a0 She said that she thought it was Steve until Joe went to kissing her.\u00a0 Then the minute she realized it Steve came in there with his rifle.\u201d<\/p>\n Roy Coffee never remembered Ben Cartwright\u2019s face turning that shade of red before and he had known him for more than twenty years.\u00a0 He watched the slow burn turn into a raging fire before his very eyes.<\/p>\n In a low controlled voice Ben finally responded to what Roy had just told them.\u00a0 \u201cThose two are made for each other.\u00a0 One is a no-account killer and the other is a flat-out liar!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow, Ben \u2013 calm down.\u00a0 It ain\u2019t like I believe none of this \u2013\u201d Roy was cut off by his friend.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s painting my boy as some kind of a rapist!\u00a0 For God\u2019s sake the boy just turned eighteen a month ago!\u00a0 He\u2019s no more a rapist than I am!\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s bad enough that her insane husband half killed Joseph \u2013 now they\u2019re both trying to ruin his reputation!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 Pa calm down,\u201d Hoss whispered as he looked around the dining hall and people were staring over at their table.<\/p>\n \u201cI am<\/strong> calm,\u201d Ben fired back harshly.<\/p>\n \u201cBen, she\u2019s not accusing him of rape \u2013\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, it\u2019s a damned good thing that she isn\u2019t!\u201d Ben fumed. \u201cBut she\u2019s making it look like that\u2019s what he was going to do if Steve hadn\u2019t shown up!\u00a0 I want you to add slander to that assault charge, Roy!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen \u2013 slander is a civil matter \u2013 wouldn\u2019t be able to do that,\u201d He tried to explain.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t give a hoot what kind of court will hear it!\u00a0 I\u2019ll drag the two of them into every kind of court in the whole territory of Nevada!\u00a0 By the time I\u2019m done with them I\u2019ll take everything they own and give it all to charity!\u00a0 I want them both in jail!\u201d<\/p>\n Half of the dining hall was now focused purely on Ben Cartwright\u2019s tirade.<\/p>\n \u201cBen \u2013 come on — let\u2019s wait and hear what Little Joe has to say and \u2013\u201d Roy was cut off once more.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat Joseph has to \u201csay<\/strong>!\u201d\u00a0 Ben thundered.\u00a0 \u201cThat boy can\u2019t \u201csay\u201d<\/strong> anything because Steve Burns half killed him and broke his jaw!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow I see where Joe gets it from,\u201d Hoss whispered to Adam and watched him grin over the comparison of Pa and Little Joe\u2019s tempers.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just saying that there were two people in that bedroom before Steve broke in there with that rifle of his.\u00a0 We need to somehow get Joe\u2019s statement,\u201d Roy remarked quietly, also noticing all the patrons looking their way.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I figured out a way for Little Joe to tell us, Pa.\u00a0 Once he gets home, I\u2019ll show you.\u00a0 Hoss and I will work on it first thing in the morning,\u201d Adam chimed in again.<\/p>\n \u201cFine,\u201d Ben answered cooly as he stood from the table.\u00a0 He removed the wallet from his vest and drew out a wad of bills.\u00a0 Leaning over Roy\u2019s right shoulder he whispered, \u201cThis is for dinner and that coffee.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to see my rapist son.\u201d<\/p>\n Roy stood and placed a hand on Ben\u2019s arm.\u00a0 \u201cBen \u2013 now don\u2019t worry about this until you get Little Joe back home.\u00a0 I\u2019m keeping Steve locked up until that trial.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe you ought to lock his wife up with him,\u201d Ben replied tersely.<\/p>\n \u201cBoys \u2013 take Cochise back with you.\u00a0 I\u2019ll see you tomorrow.\u201d\u00a0 And with that statement, Ben dropped the money on top of the table and hurriedly turned out of the dining hall.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s taking it well,\u201d Roy sighed and sat back down next to Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cHave another cup of coffee, Roy,\u201d Hoss nodded to the man knowing that he had been placed between a rock and a hard place when it came to telling his pa what Jennifer had said.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright\u2014but if I wasn\u2019t on duty, I\u2019d lace it with rotgut,\u201d Roy sighed as Adam waved the waitress back to the table.<\/p>\n Trying not to show the intense anger that he felt, Ben walked into the examination room and watched as Doc Martin stood from his chair.<\/p>\n \u201cHow is he, Paul?\u201d Ben whispered as the other man neared him.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been hurting so I gave him another dose of pain killer.\u00a0 I expect that he\u2019ll fall back to sleep before long.\u00a0 How about if I bring that cot inside here so you can get some decent sleep?\u00a0 From the look on your face, I think you could use some.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo thanks.\u00a0 As tired as I am I\u2019ll fall asleep in that chair without any problem,\u201d Ben nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYou go on and get some rest, Paul.\u00a0 I know you\u2019ve had a hard day,\u201d He patted the doctor\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n \u201cI put another pot of coffee on in the parlor.\u00a0 Help yourself to it, Ben.\u00a0 Miss Millie stopped by from the diner and brought Little Joe some chicken broth.\u00a0 I got some down him after it cooled a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat was awfully nice of her,\u201d Ben returned.\u00a0 ***At least there are some good people in this town. *** <\/em><\/strong>He thought.\u00a0 The weary father yearned to be back inside the great room at the ranch house where things made sense.<\/p>\n Doc grinned and replied, \u201cYou know she\u2019s always had a fondness for that boy of yours.\u00a0 I think she feels downright motherly towards Little Joe.\u00a0 And you know, Ben, I think she\u2019d gladly take on the role of that boy\u2019s mother by becoming your wife,\u201d Doc laughed at his friend\u2019s expense.\u00a0 For years he had watched Ben dodging the woman\u2019s not so subtle advances.<\/p>\n Groaning, Ben shook his head unamused.\u00a0 \u201cVery funny, Paul.\u00a0 As if I don\u2019t have enough worries.\u00a0 \u00a0I don\u2019t need a wife, thank you!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know \u2013 Little Joe might calm down a bit if he had a mother?\u201d<\/p>\n Putting his hands on his hips, Ben stared hard at the doctor and replied, \u201cJoseph does NOT<\/strong> need a mother! \u00a0He needs to learn how to duck!\u201d<\/p>\n Paul chuckled and patted his friend\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cAlright, point taken.\u00a0 Anyway, Millie told me to tell you to drop by in the morning and she\u2019d fix you a decent breakfast.\u00a0 She says her grub is better than what they serve at that hotel!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHer breakfasts don\u2019t come cheap \u2013 she wants an engagement ring for a tip,\u201d Ben insisted wryly.\u00a0 \u201cNow go get some sleep, will you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust come fetch me if anything changes with Joe\u2019s condition,\u201d Paul said with a pat to his friend\u2019s arm and then turned out of the examination room.\u00a0 He walked up the stairs to his personal quarters.<\/p>\n Drawing in a deep breath, so he could force the appearance that all was well, Ben turned and walked over to his son.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, now \u2013 how\u2019s my boy?\u201d He called cheerily and sat down in the chair opposite Little Joe.<\/p>\n The corners to his lips upturning just a bit, Joe thought to himself. ***Pa\u2019s probably still going to be calling me \u201chis boy\u201d when I\u2019m sixty!\u00a0 I don\u2019t think he realizes that I\u2019m eighteen and a month now.\u00a0 At least he doesn\u2019t embarrass me by saying that around my brothers \u2013 so I guess I don\u2019t mind. ***<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Shaking his head back and forth, Joe showed that he was growing restless.\u00a0 He pointed at his mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cYou want something to drink?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe shook his head again and then touched his right index finger to his lips.<\/p>\n \u201cOh \u2013 you want to talk?\u201d<\/p>\n Nodding his head, Little Joe stared into his father\u2019s eyes trying to signal him.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph \u2013 wait until tomorrow.\u00a0 Your brothers have an idea how we can help you communicate with us.\u201d<\/p>\n Lifting his right hand, he waved insistently towards his pa.<\/p>\n \u201cNow what?\u201d Ben sighed.\u00a0 He was getting tired and grouchy especially after hearing what the sheriff had to say.<\/p>\n Finally, Joe made a furious motion with his right hand as though he had a pencil in it and was writing.<\/p>\n \u201cOh \u2013 don\u2019t tell me that you want to try to write something?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe tried to smile but all he could manage was just a slight grin due to the thick chin strap holding his jaw so taunt.\u00a0 He nodded his head.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph,\u201d Ben groaned.\u00a0 \u201cI love you with all my heart\u2013 so I don\u2019t want to hurt your feelings.\u00a0 However, you just happen to have the worst handwriting of anyone I know.\u00a0 And that\u2019s with your left hand!\u00a0 There\u2019s just no way possible I would be able to decipher what you\u2019d try to write with your other one.\u201d<\/p>\n Undeterred, Joe shook his head and lifted his right hand once more.<\/p>\n \u201cHurt or not you are the most stubborn child the good Lord ever created!\u201d<\/p>\n *** Oh, just great!\u00a0 I went from being \u201chis boy\u201d to \u201chis child\u201d in under two minutes!\u00a0 If this night goes on much longer, I will be \u201chis infant\u201d soon! ***<\/em><\/strong> He mused and tried once more to get his father to cooperate.<\/p>\n Again, the boy\u2019s right hand made the same frantic motion with his right hand.<\/p>\n \u201cFine,\u201d Ben surrendered.\u00a0 He did feel sorry for the boy but for both of their sakes he hoped that the laudanum would take effect soon.\u00a0 Standing, he walked into Paul\u2019s office and found a piece of paper and a pencil.\u00a0\u00a0 He grabbed one of Doc\u2019s medical books for Joe to use to press down on and brought it over to him.<\/p>\n \u201cNow listen,\u201d Ben began sternly as he took his all too familiar paternal stance in front of the boy which showed that he was serious.\u00a0 \u201cIf I can\u2019t read it then I don\u2019t want any complaints.\u00a0 Do you understand?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe nodded as his father placed the book with the paper on top of it on his right hip.\u00a0 He handed the boy the pencil and waited.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are going to sleep very soon, Young Man, so keep it short.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe attempted to print each letter as best he could.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t having much luck, but he gave it his best shot before handing the piece of paper back to his father.<\/p>\n Ben sighed showing his exhaustion as he sat down in the chair once more and held the paper in his hand.\u00a0 He spun it around in every direction and then looked at the boy with a grin on his face.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, the best I can figure is that this is a recipe written out in Chinese,\u201d He groaned.<\/p>\n Little Joe shook his head and pointed at the paper.\u00a0 He tried to motion for his father to spin it around the other way.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay \u2013 this way is up?\u201d Ben asked, only partially teasing his son.\u00a0 The fact of the matter was that it looked like total gibberish to him.<\/p>\n Nodding once more, Little Joe hoped that his father could make heads or tails of it.<\/p>\n Ben sighed and leaned back in the chair.\u00a0 He studied the awkward looking letters and then stared over at the boy.\u00a0 \u201cIs that the letter J?\u00a0 Because if it is it\u2019s backwards,\u201d Ben pointed as he held it up in front of Joe\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 Little Joe nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, then is that referring to you?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shook his head.<\/p>\n Ben sighed and tried again, \u201cIs that referring to Jennifer?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s see \u2013 are these next three letters supposed to spell out the word \u201csay\u201d?\u201d<\/p>\n Once again, Joe nodded his head.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, I take it that you\u2019re asking something about Jennifer, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Pleased, Little Joe nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, you are going to make that chin strap break if you keep nodding so much.\u00a0 From now on if I\u2019m right hold out one finger, okay?\u00a0 If I\u2019m not \u2013 or if the answer is no hold up two fingers.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe responded by holding up one finger.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, at the very least we\u2019ve got that down pat.\u00a0 Okay \u2013 so you want to know what Jennifer—,\u201d Ben paused because he realized that now he would be forced to tell the boy who was broken and battered what the girl who he had called friend had said about him.\u00a0 He just couldn\u2019t bring himself to do that.\u00a0 Joseph was in too bad a shape at the time.\u00a0 Coughing to clear his voice, Ben answered, \u201cOh \u2013 you want to know what Jennifer said?\u201d<\/p>\n Again, Joe pointed with his index finger only.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Son \u2013 I haven\u2019t spoken to Jennifer, so I really don\u2019t know.\u00a0 Last thing I heard was that she really hadn\u2019t said anything about what happened last night.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe motioned for his father to give him back the piece of paper.\u00a0 Very reluctantly Ben handed it over to the boy.\u00a0 \u201cNow \u2013 this is it, Joseph \u2013 I mean it.\u00a0 I\u2019m very tired and Doc wants you to rest!\u201d<\/p>\n Fighting to control the pencil in his right hand, Little Joe was able to write three letters and then handed it to his father.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s see here,\u201d Ben leaned back in the chair again.\u00a0 \u201cThis \u2013 well \u2013 it\u2019s facing the right way \u2013 so good job, Son,\u201d he smiled.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s an L \u2013 and this looks like an I.\u00a0 I guess that one was easy enough for you, huh?\u201d he chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cBut this last letter is backwards, but I take it that it\u2019s an E.\u00a0 Is that right?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe both nodded and held out his right index finger for emphasis.<\/p>\n Ben stared at the paper, perplexed by the word that Joseph had somehow managed to print out.\u00a0 \u201cLie?\u00a0 Are you trying to tell me that someone lied to you?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe nodded and stared at his father through his only good eye.\u00a0 He then held out his index finger again.<\/p>\n \u201cWho \u2013 who do you think lied to you?\u201d Ben questioned, unsure as to who the boy was referring to.<\/p>\n Little Joe pointed directly over at his father.<\/p>\n Ben cleared his throat again, trying to dislodge his guilt, as he stood from the chair.\u00a0 He removed the book, the paper, and the pencil.\u00a0 \u201cOkay \u2013 well — that\u2019s enough for tonight, Joseph,\u201d he announced sternly and took all the items back into the doctor\u2019s office.\u00a0 ***Just how in the heck did that boy know I was lying to him? *** <\/em><\/strong>Ben wondered before turning back into the next room.<\/p>\n Pouring a glass of water and placing the straw back inside of it, Ben held it down to his son.<\/p>\n Joe grabbed it with his right hand still staring accusingly up at his father.<\/p>\n \u201cJust drink,\u201d Ben insisted, knowing exactly what his son was thinking at the time.\u00a0 *** Sorry, Joseph \u2013 but there\u2019s no way that I\u2019m telling you what I know.\u00a0 Not until you\u2019re better! ***<\/em><\/strong> Ben thought to himself as he withdrew the glass.<\/p>\n \u201cNow \u2013 how about closing those eyes?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe pointed to his right eye, which was already closed due to the strikes sent to his face by the stock of Steve\u2019s rifle.<\/p>\n \u201cOh –sorry, Son \u2013 close your eye<\/em><\/strong>,\u201d Ben grinned sheepishly.\u00a0 He sat down on the sofa next to Little Joe and softly combed his fingers through the boy\u2019s hair trying to lull him to sleep.\u00a0 It had worked in the past so he hoped that he still had the touch needed to make his son relax enough to go back under.<\/p>\n \u201cThings will look better in the morning, Joseph \u2013 even through only one<\/strong> eye.\u00a0 You rest easy now,\u201d He whispered as the boy finally gave in to exhaustion and fell asleep.\u00a0 Ben remained there next to his son for a long while before retaking his seat in the chair.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t get over the way that Joe looked and prayed that none of the cuts would leave a scar.\u00a0 Every time he thought about the stock of that rifle coming down on his son\u2019s face over and over again Ben\u2019s stomach seized up.\u00a0 The horrible memory of that kind of a beating would surely cause his son some long-lasting trauma.\u00a0 Ben couldn\u2019t imagine what it would have been like to lie there on the floor so helpless and to have been beaten to the extent that it had caused that many injuries.\u00a0 He wondered if Jennifer had done anything to stop Steve or if she had simply watched and had done nothing to help her friend.<\/p>\n \u201cGoodnight, Son,\u201d Ben whispered.\u00a0 His eyes scanned the boy\u2019s face, carefully seeking an unbruised spot on either of his son\u2019s cheeks.\u00a0 Finding just one unblemished area, Ben leaned forward and left a soft kiss there.\u00a0 Moving over to the chair he settled in for a long night of worrying over all that had transpired.\u00a0 Exhaustion taking over his body, Ben nodded off within minutes.<\/p>\n Ben walked into the parlor shortly after ten the next morning.\u00a0 His two older boys had just arrived, and he wanted to speak to them before they went into the next room to greet their little brother.<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s Joe?\u201d Hoss asked and tried to gauge the look on his father\u2019s face to see if there had been any additional problems since the previous night.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s hurting a bit more today.\u00a0 Doc said he expected that \u2013 what with as many bruises and cuts that boy has \u2013 not to mention the broken bones,\u201d Ben sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cWe got all of Joe\u2019s things from Roy.\u00a0 I already put Cochise\u2019s saddle inside the buckboard because I figured the kid could use it to lean back against.\u00a0 Hop Sing sent a mattress from one of the beds out in the bunkhouse.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Adam \u2013 that\u2019ll help.\u00a0 Did you bring the boy his boots and a shirt like I asked?\u00a0 There\u2019s no way that cast of his is going to accommodate going through one of Joseph\u2019s shirtsleeves.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss grinned and patted his father\u2019s back.\u00a0 He held up a brown paper sack and nodded.\u00a0 \u201cWe brung three shirts \u2013 Adam\u2019s and mine \u2013 and one of yours, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood thinking.\u00a0 Now remember \u2013 neither of you mention one word about what Roy told us last night regarding Jennifer.\u00a0 I\u2019ve told Paul everything and he thinks it\u2019s best Joseph doesn\u2019t find out about it until he\u2019s doing a bit better physically.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry, Pa,\u201d Adam assured his father and the three men walked inside the examination room.<\/p>\n \u201cBrung you some clothes and your boots, Youngin,\u201d Hoss smiled over at Little Joe and approached the mahogany lounge where the boy had stayed for an entire day.<\/p>\n Little Joe nodded gratefully over to his brothers and then eased into a seated position aided by Doc Martin.<\/p>\n \u201cNow I want you to take this slow, Joe,\u201d Paul cautioned.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re banged up quite a bit, and your body has taken an awful lot of abuse.\u00a0 I told your pa that I\u2019ll be coming out to the ranch tomorrow to give you the once over.\u00a0 I want you to just stay in bed, you hear?\u201d<\/p>\n Nodding, Little Joe gave Doc a quick pat to his back with his only working hand at the time to thank him.<\/p>\n Adam opened the brown paper sack and withdrew his brother\u2019s boots, setting them on the floor.\u00a0 He then laid out the three shirts on top of the chair.\u00a0 \u201cWell now, Kid \u2013 you get your pick.\u00a0 Here\u2019s a shirt from each of us \u2013 see which one that cast of yours likes best.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s get those boots on first, Young Man,\u201d Ben announced and helped his son pull them on.\u00a0 \u201cAlright, now the shirt situation.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe carefully reached for Hoss\u2019 shirt and one-handedly held it out in front of him.\u00a0 It looked as though he would positively swim in it.\u00a0 He shook his head from side to side.<\/p>\n \u201cWell,\u201d Ben paused and smiled over at his two older boys.\u00a0 \u201cThat one\u2019s too big<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe then gave Adam\u2019s shirt a gander and again shook his head.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t appear as though his cast would go through the shirtsleeve.<\/p>\n \u201cThat one\u2019s too small<\/strong>,\u201d Ben nodded to Doc, who was enjoying his friend\u2019s impromptu performance.<\/p>\n Reading the concern on his son\u2019s battered face Pa handed the boy one from his own collection.<\/p>\n Little Joe winked his one working eye and nodded his head.<\/p>\n \u201cThat one\u2019s just right<\/strong>!\u201d both Hoss and Adam announced and then burst out laughing.<\/p>\n \u201cYou two stole my line,\u201d Ben complained frowning.\u00a0 \u201cOkay, now that we\u2019re done with the story of the three bears it\u2019s time to get you into that shirt, Joseph.<\/p>\n Little Joe slowly pulled himself to standing but he wabbled a bit from the motion.<\/p>\n \u201cHey now \u2013 I said to take it slow!\u201d Doc protested, worried that the young man was about to fall back down.\u00a0 \u201cThe last thing you need, Joe, is to break something else.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben was quick assisting his youngest in getting his plaster cast through the shirtsleeve and then helped him with his good arm.\u00a0 He buttoned it up for his son.\u00a0 \u201cWell, it\u2019s too hot to worry about a jacket thank goodness,\u201d Ben forced a smile even though the faces in the room had suddenly turned very glum in appearance.\u00a0 He supposed that it was due to the way that Joseph appeared.\u00a0 No one wanted to see the boy as battered as he looked at that moment.\u00a0 On top of all of that was the chaos that Jennifer and Steve Burns were causing, though most of it had been kept from Little Joe for his own sake.<\/p>\n Ben turned and shook the doctor\u2019s hand, \u201cThank you \u2013 don\u2019t know what this family would do without you, Paul.\u201d<\/p>\n Doc forced a smile, though he was having trouble pretending that aside from Joe\u2019s injuries nothing else was wrong.\u00a0 \u201cYou three just ride herd over this wild boy, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe will, Doc \u2013 thanks,\u201d Hoss nodded to the man and helped hold onto his brother\u2019s good arm to steady him.<\/p>\n Adam patted the man\u2019s back and turned to walk alongside Joe just in case he had any difficulty getting into the buckboard which was waiting just outside.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul \u2013 guess we\u2019ll see you tomorrow,\u201d Ben sighed and exchanged a cautious glance with the doctor.<\/p>\n Doc nodded as he followed the family to the door and waved as he turned back inside to gather up his medical bag so he could check on a few patients there in town.<\/p>\n \u201cJust ease back, Joseph.\u00a0 You can rest that head of yours on your saddle.\u00a0 Hop Sing sent along this mattress so it\u2019d help you with the bumpy ride home,\u201d Ben held onto the boy\u2019s right elbow as he climbed up into the wagon.<\/p>\n Adam had just untied Sport\u2019s reins when Hoss reached over and took a hold of his shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s up?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLook yonder!\u201d Hoss motioned to a cowboy who was heading in their direction.<\/p>\n Adam exchanged frowns with his brother as they watched their father getting ready to climb up onto the bench seat of the buckboard.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s the last person we need right now!\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss stopped his father\u2019s progression and whispered in his ear.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s Timmons, Pa \u2013 we got to get rid of him before he starts something.\u201d<\/p>\n While Little Joe was lying in the bed of the wagon oblivious to the cowhand\u2019s approach, Ben turned and shook his head over at his eldest.\u00a0 They were all prepared for that one particularly evil nemesis of Joe\u2019s and would dust the ground with him if he started anything.\u00a0 However, Ben wanted to avoid any trouble because they had more than enough on their hands already.\u00a0 The very last thing that the Cartwrights needed was to make a spectacle out of themselves what with the rumor mill no doubt starting to circulate over why Steve Burns was being housed at the jailhouse.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t do anything, Boys,\u201d He whispered as Pete Timmons crossed the street and picked up his pace.\u00a0 \u201cIgnore him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy if it ain\u2019t my old friends the Cartwrights!\u201d Timmons sang out loudly and with a big grin on his face.\u00a0 There was nothing in the whole world that Pete Timmons loved more than to rile Little Joe Cartwright and thus his entire family.\u00a0 The man was a cowhand at one of the local ranches and had been a thorn in Joe\u2019s side ever since the day they had met a few years back.<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam consecutively drew in a deep breath, and the sound of Pete\u2019s voice caused Little Joe to pull himself up off the mattress.<\/p>\n \u201cMount up,\u201d Ben called over to his two sons.<\/p>\n \u201cHey where you all hurrying off to?\u201d Pete continued, feigning his surprise over the fact that the family wasn\u2019t staying to chat.\u00a0 He looked inside the buckboard and sneered, \u201cLittle Joe \u2013 boy you got yourself some nasty looking bruises on your face!\u00a0 In fact — your whole face is a total mess!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCut it out, Timmons!\u201d Hoss hissed, drawing closer to the man despite what his father had told him.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss,\u201d Ben sang out and narrowed his eyebrows to rein his son in to prevent an all-out brawl there in the street.<\/p>\n Hoss\u2019 face formed into a scowl; however, he walked back to his horse trying not to raise his father\u2019s ire.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right, Hoss, you do what your daddy tells you,\u201d Pete laughed after watching the big man\u2019s retreat.<\/p>\n \u201cCut it out or else!\u201d Adam jumped in though his father shot him a warning glance too.<\/p>\n \u201cGee you boys are mighty touchy today.\u00a0 I just come by to give Little Joe some good news before he heads home.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben glowered at the cowhand and then addressed his sons.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s go, Boys.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey \u2013 can\u2019t leave just yet!\u201d Timmons protested with a laugh.\u00a0 \u201cLittle Joe\u2019s got other married women in this town he hasn\u2019t gone after yet!\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss climbed down from his horse and Adam did likewise.\u00a0 But Ben corralled them holding up his hand to stop their progression.\u00a0 \u201cI said no,\u201d He insisted which angered his sons.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right, Ben \u2013 you tell those boys of yours not to make a fuss!\u201d Timmons mocked the silver-haired patriarch, laughing heartily over the way both Adam and Hoss had been called off.<\/p>\n Ben spun back around to face Pete and cooly replied, \u201cThat\u2019s right \u2013 I called them off for a good reason.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah?\u00a0 What\u2019s that, Old Man?\u201d Pete returned full of his usual sarcasm.<\/p>\n \u201cThis!\u201d Ben answered and threw a right cross that took Timmons by surprise, sending him sprawling down into the street.\u00a0 He had endured enough over the last day and a half and his patience was gone.\u00a0 Pete wasn\u2019t Steve Burns, but regardless, it had felt good to hit somebody despite what he had said to his sons about showing restraint.<\/p>\n Little Joe had been upset overhearing the man\u2019s taunts; however, he was thrilled to see his pa knocking Pete down with just one punch.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay — like I said, let\u2019s go,\u201d Ben announced so calmly that it made both of his older boys break into laughter.<\/p>\n Joe had enjoyed his father\u2019s performance; however, he couldn\u2019t laugh due to the tight chin strap.\u00a0 He sank back down onto the mattress.\u00a0 It was only then that he began to think about what Pete had said.\u00a0 Joe wondered if the whole town now knew the story about Steve beating him.\u00a0 Closing his eyes, he prayed that Jennifer had cleared up the situation so the rumor mill wouldn\u2019t have a field day over the events that had gone on two nights ago.<\/p>\n Ben turned on the bench seat and cast a quick look down at his youngest.\u00a0 It was too hard to detect if Joseph was upset about what Timmons had said or not due to his face being so swollen.\u00a0 Part of it was also obscured due to the thick leather chin strap, so he decided to wait to say anything about it to the boy until they were back home.\u00a0 With a quick snap of the reins Ben sent the buckboard forward leaving Pete still lying in the street.<\/p>\n Pulling up in front of the ranch house, Ben stepped down from the buckboard as his two older boys dismounted.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s asleep,\u201d Pa whispered and stared over at his sons.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll carry him,\u201d Hoss nodded to his father and quickly pulled his little brother up in his arms.<\/p>\n \u201cMind that cast, Son,\u201d Ben cautioned as they made their way into the house.<\/p>\n Hop Sing was waiting for his family and pulled the door open for them.<\/p>\n \u201cHave Little Joe bed all ready,\u201d he announced.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Hop Sing.\u00a0 It sure is good to be home,\u201d Ben smiled and then turned to follow his boys up the stairs.<\/p>\n Hoss waited until Adam had thrown the quilt and sheet back and then he eased Little Joe onto the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s get these off,\u201d Ben pointed to the boy\u2019s boots.\u00a0 He grabbed one and Adam the other and soon they were off and set down on the floor.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll get the boy into a nightshirt after he comes back around.<\/p>\n \u201cHe sure is played out,\u201d Hoss whispered as he gingerly settled his brother\u2019s cast on a pillow.<\/p>\n Drawing in a deep breath, Ben stared over at Adam and Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cYour little brother is in bad shape.\u00a0 Doc told me this morning that he\u2019d rather the boy stay at his place for a couple of days.\u00a0 But after we talked about what Jennifer had told her husband he decided that Joseph didn\u2019t need to be close to any of that right now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you gonna tell him about what she said, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n Shrugging his shoulders, he replied, \u201cI don\u2019t know, Hoss.\u00a0 He tried to write out a question last night but fortunately he couldn\u2019t manage it very well.\u00a0 But I know that Joseph wants to know what\u2019s gone on.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe made something that will help in that department, Pa,\u201d Adam announced as he set a hand onto his father\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cFine \u2013 but let\u2019s wait until later.\u00a0 The boy needs as much rest as he can get.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHave bath water ready, Mister Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n Turning around the three men noticed Hop Sing standing in the doorway.<\/p>\n \u201cBath water?\u00a0 Joseph can\u2019t take a bath right now, Hop Sing,\u201d Ben announced.<\/p>\n \u201cFor you \u2013 to get kink out.\u00a0 Sleep in chair \u2013 no good,\u201d He stated firmly.\u00a0 \u201cYou come to bath house now \u2013 have clothes all there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to leave the boy just now, Hop Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe got him, Pa \u2013 go ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, Pa,\u201d Hoss grinned.\u00a0 \u201cWe all know what sleeping in that hard chair over at Doc\u2019s does to you.\u00a0 You\u2019ll be grouchy for days if you let that back knot up on you.\u201d<\/p>\n Sighing to himself, Ben had to admit that his sons were right.\u00a0 He had awakened stiff and sore after his sojourn at Doc\u2019s.\u00a0 He turned for the door.\u00a0 \u201cAlright \u2013 I can\u2019t fight the three of you!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou took care of Timmons pretty good \u2013 maybe you can<\/em><\/strong> take all three of us!\u201d\u00a0 Adam remarked with a grin.<\/p>\n \u201cJust remember that,\u201d Ben returned with a wink and then followed Hop Sing out into the hallway.<\/p>\n That afternoon had been a blessedly uneventful one and all four Cartwrights were glad for it.\u00a0 Hop Sing had protested enough that Ben finally relented and took a three-hour nap to recover from hours spent in the chair in Doctor Martin\u2019s office.\u00a0 Little Joe had been too played out after the long ride home and had slept straight through until Hop Sing set dinner out for the other three Cartwrights.\u00a0 He forced the family to go to the dinner table while he kept a watchful eye on Joe.<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss made their way into their brother\u2019s bedroom after eating and gathered around his bed.<\/p>\n \u201cHe wake soon — Little Joe blink,\u201d Hop Sing pointed to the boy\u2019s left eye.<\/p>\n Slowly moving on the bed, a slight groan, though muffled by the chin strap, was heard by both brothers.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks for watching the kid,\u201d Adam nodded to the cook.<\/p>\n \u201cI go heat broth \u2013 bring up little while,\u201d he replied and hurried out of the room.<\/p>\n Little Joe opened his one good eye and stared back and forth at his brothers who stood on either side of his bed.<\/p>\n \u201cAbout time you woke up, Little Brother. It\u2019s darn near my bedtime!\u201d Hoss teased and patted his brother\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n Little Joe looked confused after realizing he was back at the ranch. The last thing he remembered was his father sending Pete Timmons down into the dirt on the main street in Virginia City.\u00a0 He pulled himself up against the headboard as Adam handed him a glass of water which already had a straw placed inside it.<\/p>\n Nodding his head to thank his brother, Joe took a couple of good pulls on the straw and handed the glass back to Adam.<\/p>\n Ben appeared coming in through the door with a smile on his face upon seeing his youngest awake.<\/p>\n \u201cWell \u2013 how’s my boy?\u201d He asked cheerily and walked over to his son\u2019s bed.<\/p>\n Little Joe closed his eye and thought to himself.\u00a0 ***I guess he IS going to embarrass me by saying that in front of these two! ***<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Making the same motion with his right hand as he had done the previous night, Joe tried to get his father to understand.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, not tonight, Young Man,\u201d Ben shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cAdam \u2013 go ahead and fetch it please.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe raised his hand palm side up trying to ask what was going on and his father understood the gesture.<\/p>\n \u201cYour brothers came up with a method that will help you talk to us,\u201d Ben paused as his eldest reappeared coming inside the room.<\/p>\n \u201cHere it is, Kid,\u201d Adam handed the boy a board with carvings on it about eighteen inches square.\u00a0 \u201cIt has all the letters,\u201d he paused and pointed them out to Joe.\u00a0 \u201cAnd down here at the bottom is a dash \u2013 so we can tell when a new word starts.\u00a0 That dot there is a period, so we\u2019ll know when you\u2019re done with a sentence.\u00a0 Understand?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe acquainted himself with where the letters were and nodded his head.<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 do you want to do the writing or do you want one of us to do it?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben moved to sit on the bed to Joe\u2019s right, so he\u2019d be able to see better.\u00a0 Adam handed his father some paper, a pencil, and a book to lean on so he could take down Joe\u2019s messages.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m all ready,\u201d Pa announced as he leaned back against the headboard and placed his left arm around his son\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cGo ahead, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n Closing his only good eye, Joe thought for a minute contemplating what he should begin with.\u00a0 He had so many questions.\u00a0 Finally, he began pointing one letter at a time while his father wrote each one down.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that ended your first sentence, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe held out one finger.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright \u2013 this one just says thank you all for helping me and I\u2019m sorry I got hurt again<\/em><\/strong>,\u201d Ben announced.<\/p>\n \u201cShucks, Short Shanks \u2013 you got us out of hauling those blasted railroad ties so neither of us are complaining!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right, Kid,\u201d Adam nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd as for you getting hurt\u2014well that wasn\u2019t your fault,\u201d Ben assured his son.<\/p>\n Joe went right back to pointing at letters, now wanting to get to the crux of the matter.\u00a0 This time he dictated a lot more than he had the first time.\u00a0 When he finally finished, he watched carefully as his father read the message to himself.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t missed the way Pa sat there looking very uneasy over what he had just read.<\/p>\n Ben handed the piece of paper over for his older boys to read and then stared at the battered boy sitting there next to him.\u00a0 All he could see when he looked at Joseph was the swollen eye, the broken nose and the chin strap.\u00a0 The last thing that he wanted to do was to hurt him more than he already was.<\/p>\n Joe watched as each of his brothers read the message.\u00a0 He was keenly aware that he was the only person in the room who didn\u2019t know the answer to the question he had asked.<\/p>\n Ben coughed into his fist and stalled for time.\u00a0 He wished that Hop Sing would interrupt them by bringing in the broth he had been cooking all day.<\/p>\n Little Joe grabbed the board and frantically began to point letters out which ended up spelling out, \u201cI want to know now, and I want the truth, Pa.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Ben sighed wearily and nodded his head.\u00a0 He knew that Joe would eventually have to learn what Jennifer had done, he just wished that it could have waited until his son was stronger.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright, Joseph, though it\u2019s against my better judgment.\u00a0 Doc knows what\u2019s happened, and he advised me not to go into this yet.\u00a0 But I suppose you\u2019ll need to know before the trial begins.\u00a0 Steve originally told Roy that he believed that you and Jennifer were romantically involved while he was away,\u201d Ben paused as he watched Joe\u2019s right hand balling up into a fist.\u00a0 He reached over and pried each of Joe\u2019s fingers back to their former position.\u00a0 \u201cIf you\u2019re going to get upset, Young Man, I\u2019m not going to tell you anything further.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe nodded solemnly and looked at his father.<\/p>\n \u201cLast night Roy met your brothers and me at the International House where we were eating our supper and filled us in on a few things.\u00a0 And this morning before you woke up Roy stopped by Doc\u2019s and gave me a bit more information that he wanted to relay.\u00a0 He said that Steve changed his story.\u00a0 Steve had said that he had every right to hurt you because he was protecting what was his \u2013 meaning Jennifer.\u00a0 But at the time of his arrest, he believed that she had been unfaithful.\u00a0 Later, upon her visit to the jail, he told Roy that Jennifer admitted that she hadn\u2019t been involved with you.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe frantically began pointing out letters again and Ben was having a hard time keeping up with the boy.<\/p>\n \u201cSlow down, Joseph.\u00a0 I can\u2019t write that fast,\u201d Ben complained and the boy slowed his progression down some.\u00a0 After a couple of minutes, Joe stopped pointing and stared over at his father to see if he had taken it all down.<\/p>\n Finishing writing the message, he read it out loud.\u00a0 \u201cIf she told him that we weren\u2019t involved then that clears it all up, right?\u201d <\/em><\/strong>Ben read to Adam and Hoss, who in turn shook their heads sadly.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph,\u201d Ben began, struggling to find the right words to say that wouldn\u2019t cause the boy more pain, but coming up short.\u00a0 He knew that no matter how he tried to sugar-coat what had happened Joe would be hurt.\u00a0 He pulled the boy closer to offer him comfort due to what he had to tell him next.\u00a0 \u201cJennifer told Steve something else.\u00a0 She said that you came into her bedroom that night while she was sleeping.\u00a0 Jennifer said that she thought it was Steve and not you who pulled her close and held her on the side of the bed.\u00a0 She told him that it wasn\u2019t until you kissed her that she knew it wasn\u2019t Steve and before she could push you away, he came through the door and attacked you.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe felt the exact same way he had felt with each strike from the stock of Steve\u2019s rifle upon hearing what Jennifer had said.\u00a0 He slid down in the bed and placed his right hand over his face.\u00a0 Overwhelmed with the feeling of sadness and betrayal, tears coursed down his cheeks, and he had to choke back his sobs due to the chin strap.<\/p>\n Ben motioned for Adam and Hoss to give them some privacy.\u00a0 Fully cognizant of the fact that Little Joe was emotionally spent and needed the kind of comfort he could only find in the arms of their father, they both turned out of the room, closing the door behind them.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph,\u201d Ben whispered and attempted to pull his son over to him.\u00a0 He felt the boy\u2019s body growing rigid as Joe resisted his father\u2019s attempt to comfort him. Ben knew that Joseph was using the same defense mechanism that he had done in the past, especially when he was feeling overwhelmed.\u00a0 He knew that he\u2019d just have to keep trying.\u00a0 \u201cSon \u2013 I know how much this is hurting you.\u00a0 I wish that I didn\u2019t have to tell you any of it.\u00a0 You\u2019ve gone through too much already.\u201d<\/p>\n It had taken several minutes, but finally the boy dropped his hand down from his face.\u00a0\u00a0 Wiping his tears away on the sleeve of his father\u2019s shirt that he was still wearing, Joe reached for the board.\u00a0 Then he once again began to point to the different letters to get his message out so his father would understand.<\/p>\n It spelled out the words: Pa, Jennifer screamed.\u00a0 It woke me up from a sound sleep.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t know if she was sick or if she just had a nightmare.\u00a0 It had been a hot night, so I was only wearing the bottoms to my long johns.\u00a0 So, I hurriedly pulled on my pants and ran into her room.\u00a0\u00a0 She asked me to hold her.\u00a0 She said that she had a bad dream and was scared.\u00a0 I did hold her in my arms on the side of the bed to comfort her, but I didn\u2019t do anything else.\u00a0 Steve came in after I\u2019d only been in the room for a couple of minutes.\u00a0 I never saw or heard him until he hit me in the face with the butt of his rifle.\u00a0 I fell to the floor.\u00a0 I tried to recover in time to get the gun out of his hands, but I couldn\u2019t.\u00a0 He just kept hitting me one blow after the other until I guess I was knocked unconscious.\u00a0 I woke up out in the yard.\u00a0 I knew that I was hurt bad.\u00a0 My left arm was broken so I couldn\u2019t saddle Cochise.\u00a0 It was all that I could do just to get the bridle on her.\u00a0 Then I rode her bareback to Doc\u2019s place where I passed out cold<\/em><\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben took in the information and then studied his son\u2019s face.\u00a0 Even under the cuts, bruises and broken bones he read the immense hurt that was there.<\/p>\n Joe began to point out letters again and Ben fought to keep up with him.\u00a0 When he signaled that he was through, Ben studied the message.<\/p>\n It read: \u201cPa, I would never do anything like that.\u00a0 \u00a0I was only there at her place to help her and for no other reason.\u00a0 You believe me, don\u2019t you?<\/em>\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cOh, Joseph.\u201d\u00a0 Ben let out an exasperated sigh that was filled with the kind of sorrow that only a parent could know; especially the kind of parent who has a strong bond with their child and knows them well. He wondered why his youngest would ever feel the need to ask him something like that.\u00a0\u00a0 Reaching over he pulled his son into his arms very carefully, being mindful of the boy\u2019s broken arm as well as all his other injuries.\u00a0 From many years of experience, he knew exactly what Joseph needed at the time.\u00a0 Ben held him close to his chest and softly stroked the curls on his head.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou never have to ask me something like that.\u00a0 The thought that you\u2019d behaved dishonorably never even entered my mind, Son.\u00a0 I know the type of person you are.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe allowed himself to be held for a few minutes trying to draw both strength and consolation from his pa.\u00a0 Ben continued to comb his fingers through his son\u2019s hair trying to ease the tension that he could feel on Joe\u2019s shoulders.\u00a0 After a few minutes, Little Joe pulled himself back and grabbed the board with his right hand.\u00a0 Ben began to write once again.<\/p>\n It read: Jennifer\u2019s been my friend for most of my life.\u00a0 I only wanted to help her.\u00a0 I don\u2019t understand.\u00a0 How could she say that about me?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Ben removed the board from his son\u2019s hand and set it down alongside the bed.\u00a0 He determined that the boy had gone through enough for one day and he had to put an end to it.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, Joseph.\u00a0 It might simply be because she loves Steve.\u00a0 He thought the worst of her and now in his mind it\u2019s just you who\u2019s the one to blame.\u00a0 It was wrong, very wrong.\u00a0 But sometimes women in love can do very strange things.\u00a0 I wish that she hadn\u2019t done that.\u00a0 I\u2019m so angry with her right now that I can hardly think straight.\u00a0 A true friend would never do that to another.\u00a0 \u00a0And as for Steve Burns, well \u2013 I\u2019m just glad that I don\u2019t have him in my sights right now, or it would be your Pa who\u2019d be in jail, and he\u2019d be up on boot hill.\u201d\u00a0 Ben attempted to get a look at the expression his son was wearing.\u00a0 It was too hard to determine anything from Joe\u2019s appearance due to all the damage that had been done by that rifle.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, I\u2019m sure somewhere underneath the kind of hurt you\u2019re feeling, that you\u2019re angry with Jennifer too.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe stared into his father\u2019s eyes as tears rolled down his cheeks.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t matter that he couldn\u2019t talk nor that the board was out of his hand.\u00a0 Pa knew exactly what he was thinking and feeling.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s enough for today, Son.\u00a0 You need to heal up, and you need your rest.\u00a0 Everything else will keep.\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing opened the door and brought in a cup filled with chicken broth and placed it on the nightstand.<\/p>\n \u201cVely good soup for you, Little Joe,\u201d he smiled fondly at the boy.\u00a0 It was only then that he noticed the tears rolling down Joe\u2019s cheeks.\u00a0 Hop Sing looked at Ben and watched him sending him a cautionary glance which told him that it was best that he was left alone with the boy.\u00a0 \u201cHop Sing come back later, Little Joe,\u201d He announced and turned to leave.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, you drink some of this.\u00a0 It\u2019d do you good \u2013 you haven\u2019t had much for two straight days,” Ben urged as he attempted to hand his son the cup.<\/p>\n Little Joe shook his head and rolled onto his left side, his arm still propped up on a pillow.<\/p>\n Ben sighed dishearteningly as he stood from the bed.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t blame his son for not wanting anything to drink at the time.\u00a0 It was weighing on the boy to learn that such a close friend had lied about him and was apparently sticking to her story.<\/p>\n Setting a hand down onto the boy\u2019s right shoulder and giving it a gentle pat, Ben whispered, \u201cSon, I know that none of this has been easy on you \u2013 and you\u2019ve gone through a lot.\u00a0 I wish that I could do something to ease your pain.\u201d\u00a0 He knew that the boy was feeling completely overwhelmed and there wasn\u2019t much that he could do about it.\u00a0 Joe was mourning the loss of a friend and there wasn\u2019t any quick fix that he could offer to him.\u00a0 Ben struggled to find the right thing to say or do.\u00a0 He wished that there was some way to carry that agony himself including the broken bones and scars that marred the once-handsome face. Ben leaned down and smoothed the blanket with a hand calloused by years of hard work, desperate to speak some words that would comfort the boy\u2019s soul and soothe his broken heart.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, you\u2019re home and you\u2019re safe and you\u2019re with the ones who love you,\u201d He offered quietly and ran his hand through the boy\u2019s curls.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll get through all of this \u2013 you\u2019ll see,\u201d When there wasn\u2019t a response, he stood erect and shook his head sadly.\u00a0 Defeated due to the lack of any kind of response, not even a nod of Joe\u2019s head, Ben whispered, \u201cI\u2019ll give you a little while to yourself, Joseph.\u00a0 Be back up to check on you in a little while.\u00a0 Rest, Son.\u201d<\/p>\n Standing in the doorway Ben cast a quick glance over at his youngest before walking out into the hallway.\u00a0 Joseph was hurt, hurt in so many ways.\u00a0 He wished that he had the right words to help but Ben knew that his son would need some time for himself to process what he had just learned about Jennifer and her betrayal.\u00a0 But Ben vowed that he would be back up to his son\u2019s room soon to try to help pick up the pieces of the boy\u2019s broken heart.<\/p>\n Ben stood from his chair as Hoss walked down the stairs later that night.\u00a0 Joe had always been able to confide in his big brother even when it was hard for him to talk it all out with others.\u00a0 And because of that, Pa had asked him to go check on him.<\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u00a0 How is he?\u00a0 Did Joseph write anything?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss frowned as he moved to stand in front of the fireplace.\u00a0 \u201cOh, Pa \u2013 I think it\u2019s just been too much on my little brother for one day.\u00a0 Hop Sing got some of that broth down him and helped him clean up a bit.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s in a nightshirt now, and I think he\u2019s hurting some.\u00a0 I asked if he wanted me to help him spell out anything on that board so we could talk but he just shook his head.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben patted the big man on the back to commiserate with him.\u00a0 \u201cWell, you tried, Boy.\u00a0 You want some coffee?\u00a0 Adam was going to bring some in.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGuess so,\u201d Hoss sighed defeated in spirit.\u00a0 He prided himself on being able to heal critters that were hurt, both the four and the two-legged kind.\u00a0 But he\u2019d gotten nowhere with his baby brother that night.\u00a0 He hated to see the boy suffering so badly but he figured it just naturally had to hurt to have a friend tell such a terrible lie.<\/p>\n Adam walked in and set the tray with a coffeepot and cups on the table and sat down next to his brother.<\/p>\n \u201cYou both look pretty glum,\u201d Adam announced as he handed each man a cup.<\/p>\n Hoss simply nodded, not having anything more to offer.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe\u2019s not using that talking board?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNope,\u201d Hoss sighed and sipped his coffee.<\/p>\n Hop Sing was the next person to come down from Little Joe\u2019s room and he looked equally dejected as he walked over to the three men.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you for getting the boy cleaned up,\u201d Ben nodded to the cook and caretaker.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe \u2013 he vely sad, Mister Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe know,\u201d Hoss returned glumly.<\/p>\n Ben took two more sips of his coffee and set it back on top of the table as he stood.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t just leave the situation the way that it was.\u00a0 At least he decided to go to see if Joe would need some pain medication before going to sleep.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be back down in a little while,\u201d he announced and made the move over to the stairs.<\/p>\n \u201cJust what in the world are you doing out of bed?\u201d Ben\u2019s voice came out filled with exasperation.\u00a0 \u201cYou know Doc said you\u2019ve got to get your rest, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n Looking up at his father Joe was almost surprised that the man hadn\u2019t begun his visit with the usual \u201chow\u2019s my boy<\/em><\/strong>?\u201d like he had done most nights of late.<\/p>\n Joe simply shrugged his shoulders.\u00a0 Even if his jaw wasn\u2019t held down by a chin strap he wouldn\u2019t have known what to say anyhow.<\/p>\n Walking over to the chair by the window, Ben reached down for the boy\u2019s good arm.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s enough time out of that bed, Young Man.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n Wishing that he could just yell, Joe simply allowed his father to herd him back over to the bed where he sat down again.<\/p>\n \u201cSwing those legs over \u2013 come on you\u2019re going down,\u201d Ben insisted and stood over his son to make sure he did as instructed.<\/p>\n Little Joe shook his head but abided by his father\u2019s wishes, sitting back against his headboard and stretching his legs out in front of him.<\/p>\n Ben reached down and grabbed the board Adam had made for his brother.\u00a0 \u201cScoot over, you and I are going to talk \u2013 so to speak.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe tried to form a frown, but it failed once again due to the tight chin strap.\u00a0 He eased his left arm back on top of the pillow at his side and moved over enough to afford his father some room on his right side.<\/p>\n \u201cThere, that\u2019s better,\u201d Ben\u2019s smile also lost some of its emphasis knowing that there wasn\u2019t much to be happy about.\u00a0 \u201cNow, here,\u201d He handed Joe the board.\u00a0 \u201cTalk to me, Son.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe didn\u2019t want anything to do with the board or anything else, but he knew that his father was a force to be reckoned with once he had his mind set on something.\u00a0 And it was very clear he wanted to know what his son was thinking.<\/p>\n Joe simply wrote, \u201cjust don\u2019t feel good, Pa.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Ben read the first message and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, I know that you don\u2019t feel good.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to give you something for pain.\u00a0 Now how about you tell me what I can do for you?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe pointed out the letters very slowly, not having much energy left due to his low spirits and broken heart.<\/p>\n Again, Pa read what he had jotted down.\u00a0 It almost took his breath away.\u00a0 The letters spelled out four words.\u00a0 It said: make it stop hurting<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n *** If only I could, Joseph.\u00a0 If I had the power to stop a heart from breaking, I wouldn\u2019t need to run a ranch, herd cattle or cut timber.\u00a0 And I wouldn\u2019t have to try to make sense out of those blasted ledger books either. ***<\/em><\/strong> Ben thought to himself.<\/p>\n Patting Joe\u2019s shoulder he sighed.\u00a0 \u201cSon, the hurt\u2019s going to take a while to go away \u2013 just like those broken bones and bruises you have.\u00a0 But the heart heals, I\u2019m proof of that, don\u2019t you think?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe stared into his father\u2019s eyes and read the compassion in them along with the reminder of his past losses.\u00a0 Pa had to be tough, he thought.\u00a0 Only a man of his strength could have lived through the loss of three wives he loved so dearly.\u00a0 He picked up the board and began again.<\/p>\n Ben watched every letter the boy pointed out and carefully wrote them down.\u00a0 This time Joe had more to say, and he took that as a small victory for the night.<\/p>\n The message this time read: Pa, you said that Jennifer lied about me because she loves Steve.\u00a0 If that\u2019s what love\u2019s all about then I don\u2019t want any part of it.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Shaking his head over what his boy had said, he tried to figure out how to answer him.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, not all love is like that.\u00a0 And not all women would do what Jennifer did.\u00a0 Your mother wasn\u2019t like that.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe wasn\u2019t about to challenge what his father said even though he\u2019d already been told about a certain blackmailer by the name of Simon LaRoche in New Orleans and the fact that his mother had kept it from his father for several months.\u00a0 But he guessed that had been a different kind of a lie.\u00a0 His mother had done it to protect Pa, so he reasoned that it wasn\u2019t the same thing.\u00a0 Jennifer\u2019s lie had been done maliciously and only to protect herself.<\/p>\n Ben watched his son trying to process what he had just told him.\u00a0 He hoped that the boy had believed him so he wouldn\u2019t grow to be so cynical at such a young age.<\/p>\n \u201cSon, sometimes you\u2019ve just got to work through the pain of someone hurting you.\u00a0 It\u2019s not easy, but you can get through it.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe went about writing what would be his final message for the night.<\/p>\n Ben sat there patiently, writing each letter down in order until the boy\u2019s hand ceased moving.<\/p>\n The message read:\u00a0 I can\u2019t think about her anymore, Pa.\u00a0 I\u2019d like to sleep now.\u00a0 I know you\u2019re trying to help.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Sighing, Ben nodded over to his son and pulled him close for a minute to offer him some kind of encouragement in his embrace.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s get some medicine in you so you\u2019ll be able to get a good night\u2019s sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n Standing from the bed, Ben lifted the bottle of laudanum off the nightstand and poured it on the tablespoon Hop Sing had provided.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope I don\u2019t dribble this on your nightshirt,\u201d Ben smiled and slowly dropped it little by little through the slightly parted lips.\u00a0 \u201cNot too bad,\u201d He announced and set the spoon back where it would rest for the night.<\/p>\n Little Joe pulled the covers over his shoulders and simply nodded up at his father.<\/p>\n With the palm of his left hand, Pa swept the boy\u2019s bangs out of his eyes.\u00a0 It was an old habit done out of both necessity and love.\u00a0 Then, leaning forward he pressed his lips onto his son\u2019s forehead and whispered, \u201cRest now, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe didn\u2019t respond in any way, but he did close his left eye.\u00a0 Then the weary father lowered the wick to his son\u2019s lamp and quietly walked across the room.\u00a0 He paused in the doorway and cast one final glance at the boy in the bed.\u00a0 Joe had rolled over onto his left side again.\u00a0 Pa shook his head despondently, unable to discern if Joseph was crying or if he just wanted to get away from prying eyes.\u00a0 As the bedroom door clicked shut, a bitter helplessness washed over Ben.\u00a0 His youngest had been bearing both the physical pain and the emotional torment for two long days. He knew that Joseph was still reeling over what Jennifer had said about him and he was still trying to make some kind of sense out of it.\u00a0 Turning into the hall, his heart heavy with worry, Ben finally concluded that there wasn\u2019t much else he could do that night other than to pray for his son and ask that the boy get through the many trials he was enduring. He did just that.<\/p>\n \u201cRoy?\u201d Ben\u2019s voice was filled with both surprise and a bit of concern when he had opened the front door the next day only to find the sheriff standing there.\u00a0 \u201cCome on in.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Ben.\u00a0 I hate to bother you \u2013 but I\u2019m gonna need to try and talk with Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n His face filled with dread upon hearing what his friend had announced.\u00a0 He hoped that he could dissuade the sheriff from drilling his boy.\u00a0 Joseph was in a fragile state both physically and emotionally.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul was just here checking on the boy.\u00a0 He\u2019s not doing very well, Roy.\u201d<\/p>\n Roy frowned and replied, \u201cI ran into Doc on my way here.\u00a0 I asked him about Joe, and he told me you and your other boys rigged up some kind of talking board for the kid.\u00a0 Ben, listen.\u00a0 The circuit court judge is going to be in town in about three days.\u00a0 The prosecutor asked when he could speak to Little Joe and I asked if it would be okay if I fielded some questions with him first.\u00a0 Randolf Bell is a good prosecutor, but he can be a bit rough around the edges.\u00a0 Joe knows I\u2019m different and will give him plenty of time to explain himself.\u00a0 So \u2013 can I see the boy?\u201d<\/p>\n Giving in on trying to postpone the sheriff\u2019s questions due to the circumstances, Ben nodded.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s go on up to see him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss had been seated in the chair next to his brother\u2019s bed reading a book.\u00a0 Little Joe hadn\u2019t wanted to try to talk after his visit with the doctor, so he had just stayed in the boy\u2019s bedroom in case he needed anything.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss — I\u2019ve got it now.\u00a0 Why don\u2019t you go and see if you can help Adam out in the barn?\u201d Ben called as he walked inside the room with Roy in tow.<\/p>\n \u201cSee you later, Little Brother,\u201d Hoss forced a smile onto his lips and patted Joe\u2019s right arm.\u00a0 He gave the sheriff a nod as he closed the bedroom door.<\/p>\n \u201cHow you feeling, Little Joe?\u201d Roy asked, not knowing what else to say at the time.\u00a0 He knew that the kid couldn\u2019t respond verbally unless he used whatever his brothers had rigged up for him.<\/p>\n Joe just nodded and then cast a wary glance over at his father.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph,\u201d Ben began as he drew closer to the bed.\u00a0 \u201cRoy has some questions he needs to ask you.\u00a0 The trial is going to begin sooner than we thought due to the circuit court judge arriving in a couple of days.\u00a0 The prosecutor was going to come out and ask you some questions, but Roy thought that maybe you\u2019d rather try to talk to him instead.\u201d<\/p>\n Closing his one good eye Joe fought to get his emotions in check.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the board that Hoss and Adam made,\u201d Ben showed it to the sheriff.<\/p>\n Examining it, Roy offered the boy a smile and replied, \u201cThis is quite a gadget you\u2019ve got, Little Joe.\u00a0 I bet you can take this into court with you.\u201d<\/p>\n The boy on the bed simply nodded hoping that the man would just get his questions over with.<\/p>\n Ben walked over to his son\u2019s desk and retrieved one of the pieces of paper from the previous night.\u00a0 \u201cRoy, Joseph told us yesterday what happened that night with Jennifer.\u00a0\u00a0 Here is what I wrote down.\u00a0 Could you just use this?\u201d<\/p>\n The sheriff read what Ben had obviously written down for his son.\u00a0 Frowning he shook his head and returned, \u201cSorry, Ben, I\u2019ve got to witness Joe\u2019s answers.\u00a0 Now if you\u2019d kindly show me how it\u2019s done?\u201d<\/p>\n *** Nothing is EVER easy anymore! ***<\/em><\/strong> Ben thought to himself and tried to gauge the look on his son\u2019s face.\u00a0 He tried for a middle ground with the lawman.<\/p>\n \u201cHow about this \u2013 I\u2019ll copy the letters that Joe points to in order to tell his story and you can watch that I do it right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019d be just fine.\u00a0 Let me fetch my spectacles,\u201d The sheriff reached inside his vest pocket, drew out his glasses and put them on.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph \u2013 we\u2019ll do this like we did last night.\u00a0 Just scoot over a tad for me, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe did as he had been instructed and soon his father was leaning back against the headboard right next to him.\u00a0 Roy stood just over Ben\u2019s shoulder after having moved the chair out of the way.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright, Little Joe.\u00a0 First question.\u00a0 Why were you staying over at the ranch with Jennifer?\u201d<\/p>\n Not being able to draw in much of a deep breath, Joe did the best he could and then began to point out the letters for his father to write down on a new piece of paper.\u00a0 He finished and Ben handed the reply to Roy.<\/p>\n \u201cDoc told you she\u2019d been sick after losing the baby.\u00a0 So, you took it upon yourself to stay there for those two weeks?\u201d Roy asked after studying what the boy had offered.<\/p>\n Little Joe nodded over to the man.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, Joe, I talked with Doc, and he said that he asked you to bring Jennifer into town so she could be taken care of at the hotel.\u00a0 Why didn\u2019t you do that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo ahead, Joseph, I\u2019m ready,\u201d Ben patted his son\u2019s shoulder, attempting to encourage him to continue.\u00a0 Soon Joe was spelling out his answer, and his father handed it over to Roy once more.<\/p>\n \u201cYou say here that Jennifer wouldn\u2019t go because she said her baby was buried out in her yard and she didn\u2019t want to leave it.\u00a0 That right, Boy?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded again.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, now about that night, Little Joe, I want the whole thing from before you walked into Jennifer\u2019s bedroom to showing up at Doc\u2019s place.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe spelled three words.\u00a0 They read: I\u2019m tired Pa.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Ben exchanged concerned glances with the sheriff after showing him what the boy had indicated.<\/p>\n \u201cRoy \u2013 how many more questions?\u00a0 Doc didn\u2019t want Joe to overdo it; he told us that just an hour ago.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis will be about all, Ben.\u00a0 Little Joe, just try your best.\u00a0 I\u2019m giving these answers to Randolf Bell, the prosecutor, so he won\u2019t have to come here and do it.\u00a0 Believe me he would wear those fingers of yours off,\u201d Roy tried his best to put both father and son at ease.<\/p>\n With his one good eye Joe looked at his father and watched him nod his way.\u00a0 He began to point to the letters slower, showing his fatigue and sorrow.<\/p>\n It had taken better than ten minutes before both father and son were done with that one question.\u00a0 Ben turned the piece of paper over to Roy who studied it thoroughly.<\/p>\n \u201cJennifer screamed out — and that\u2019s why you went in there?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded over to the man; his sincerity could be seen between the cuts and bruises on his face.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you didn\u2019t do anything other than hold her for a couple of minutes?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shook his head adamantly.<\/p>\n Roy sighed wearily.\u00a0 Well, it\u2019s for dang sure someone\u2019s lying.\u00a0 Little Joe, I\u2019ve known you since you were just a gleam in your father\u2019s eye when he married your mother.\u00a0 I\u2019ve never known you to lie to me.\u00a0 But Jennifer insists that she\u2019s telling me the truth too.\u00a0 I hate that it\u2019s come to this \u2013 I know the two of you have been friends since you were in school together.\u00a0 I guess the only way we can solve this dilemma is at that trial.\u00a0 I\u2019ll speak to Randolf and make sure you can use that board when you testify and hopefully the judge will allow your pa to help you with it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs that all, Roy?\u201d Ben asked hopefully.<\/p>\n The sheriff stuffed all the responses inside his coat and nodded.\u00a0 \u201cSorry to disturb you, Little Joe.\u00a0 Now you do like Doc said and rest up as much as you can, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded as he watched his father stand from the bed and walk to the door with Roy.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, I\u2019ll be up to see you as soon as I walk Roy out.\u00a0 Rest awhile, Boy.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe simply rolled onto his left side, which was beginning to be his only escape from onlookers.<\/p>\n The following two days had passed by uneventfully with no visitors to the ranch house other than Doc Martin.\u00a0 He had dropped by not only to see how his patient was doing physically but also emotionally.\u00a0 There had been a lot of gossip circulating in Virginia City and though he knew that the boy hadn\u2019t been there to hear it he worried about what was going to happen once the trial began.\u00a0 Ben had spoken with the doctor and after filling him in on the local scuttlebutt had insisted that Joe needed to start on some soft foods.\u00a0 The boy didn\u2019t appear to be healing very well and that wasn\u2019t like the Joseph Cartwright he knew.\u00a0 Both Doc and Ben realized that the boy\u2019s heart was hurting over the lie that Jennifer had told and that was affecting his recovery.<\/p>\n It had taken some strong coaxing from both Hop Sing and Ben, but Little Joe had finally acquiesced and had eaten some watered-down porridge for breakfast and a soft-boiled egg for his supper that night.\u00a0 Ben tried to get his son to use the board Adam had made so they could converse, but the boy hadn\u2019t wanted to.\u00a0 He spent most of his afternoon sleeping or at least pretending that he was.\u00a0 Ben hadn\u2019t wanted to push the issue of trying to talk to him because it was easy to tell that his youngest was injured in so many ways. It was natural that he\u2019d need some time before feeling a bit more talkative, even though he\u2019d been reduced to pointing with his fingers to speak.<\/p>\n Ben sat in front of the fireplace that evening after supper while his two older boys were doing some late-night chores out in the barn.\u00a0 He had just taken some medicine up to Little Joe and planned on checking to see if the boy had fallen to sleep or not in an hour or so.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d\u00a0 Adam called as he walked through the front door.<\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u00a0 Are you and your brother done already?\u201d Ben smiled as he looked across to his eldest.<\/p>\n Shaking his head, Adam frowned.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t thrilled about what he had to tell his father.<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 it\u2019s Jennifer Burns \u2013 she\u2019s outside in her surrey.\u00a0 She says she wants to talk to you.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stood and squared his shoulders, not sure as to how to receive the woman who had told such a terrible lie about Little Joe.\u00a0 \u201cTell her to come inside.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe said she wants to talk to you outside, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Casting a quick glance to the top of the stairs all Ben could think of was the boy lying in his bedroom with a broken jaw, arm and heart.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want to see Jennifer, but he decided that he would need to find out if she had come to recant her story or not.<\/p>\n Ben walked outside along with his son.\u00a0 Jennifer was sitting there in her surrey as he neared her.<\/p>\n \u201cMister Cartwright?\u00a0 Could I speak to you in private?\u201d she asked, casting a look over at Adam who stood next to his father.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u00a0 Don\u2019t you want a witness?\u201d Adam returned angrily.\u00a0 He knew that the woman had lied about his little brother and it hadn\u2019t sat well with him.<\/p>\n Ben patted his son\u2019s arm and nodded to him, \u201cIt\u2019s alright, Son.\u00a0 You go and help Hoss finish up with the chores.\u201d<\/p>\n Frowning, Adam nodded and walked away leaving Ben and Jennifer alone.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you want to talk about, Jennifer?\u201d Ben asked, trying to control his anger.<\/p>\n Nervously ringing her hands, it took a while before Jennifer could reply.\u00a0 Finally, she quietly responded.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve come to ask you to drop the charges against Steve.\u201d<\/p>\n Feeling as though he\u2019d also been hit in the face by the butt of a rifle due to what the young woman had said, Ben had to fight the desire to yell at her.\u00a0 He was worried that Joseph might just hear the commotion and try to get out of his sickbed.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd just why would I do that?\u201d He retorted, filled with exasperation.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s for the best.\u00a0 That way Little Joe wouldn\u2019t have to go through a trial, and neither would Steve.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben pursed his lips and stuffed his hands inside his pants pockets attempting to control his temper.\u00a0 \u201cI see — you\u2019re worried about my son, is that right?\u00a0 Just like the other night when you were so worried about him that you just sat there as he was beaten half to death!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSteve didn\u2019t mean to hurt him like that.\u00a0 I know he\u2019s sorry.\u00a0 Why can\u2019t we just forget all about it?\u201d She pleaded.<\/p>\n \u201cI just don\u2019t believe this,\u201d Ben fumed.\u00a0 \u201cYou want me to forget all about it?\u00a0 You want me to forget that my son can\u2019t talk \u2013 can\u2019t eat \u2013 can\u2019t tell me where he\u2019s hurting or how he\u2019s feeling?\u00a0 Do you know why?\u00a0 I\u2019ll tell you \u2013 because his jaw is broken!\u00a0 And Joseph can\u2019t write down any of that either because his left arm is broken too.\u00a0 I have to stand there next to his bed day after day and look at my boy \u2013 wanting to help him but not being able to ask him what he needs me to do for him.\u00a0 And now \u2013 I\u2019ve got to listen to you sitting there telling me to forget all about it!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut if it goes to trial it\u2019s going to hurt him too, Mister Cartwright!\u00a0 You don\u2019t want him to go through that do you?\u201d She continued to plead her case to the angered father before her.<\/p>\n \u201cYes \u2013 a trial,\u201d Ben nodded.\u00a0 \u201cAnd during that trial you\u2019ll have to tell the truth about what happened, Jennifer!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI AM<\/strong> telling the truth!\u201d She insisted.<\/p>\n Ben groaned in disbelief over what she just said.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019d have me believe \u2013 after my son took care of you for two straight weeks \u2013 waiting on you hand and foot \u2013 because of your friendship \u2013 that he suddenly burst into your bedroom half-dressed and barefooted just to take advantage of you?\u201d He asked incredulously.<\/p>\n Staring down at the footboard to her surrey she responded, \u201cPlease drop the charges and we can all go back to the way it was before.\u201d<\/p>\n Gripping the side of the surrey, Ben fought for control.\u00a0 He finally stared up at Jennifer and answered in a cold controlled voice, \u201cIt will NEVER<\/strong> be the way that it was before, Young Lady.\u00a0 Your husband broke Joseph\u2019s nose, his jaw and his arm.\u00a0 My son has bruises and cuts over half of his body.\u00a0 And as for you \u2013 if you stick to the lie you said about him you will break his heart as well.\u00a0 He loves you \u2013 yes as a friend \u2013 and nothing more.\u00a0 Do you plan to do that to your \u201cfriend\u201d and destroy what the two of you\u2019ve had since you were little kids?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m NOT<\/strong> lying, Mister Cartwright!\u201d Jennifer protested.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you honestly believe that I don\u2019t know my son?\u00a0 I know Joseph better than he knows himself!\u00a0 He would NEVER<\/strong> and I mean NEVER<\/strong> disgrace himself or his family.\u00a0 I would bet my life and all that I own on it!\u201d<\/p>\n Jennifer stared back down at the floor of her surrey, embarrassed over the lie that she just couldn\u2019t let go of.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you going to sit in that court and look over at my son \u2013 your friend \u2013 and say those vile things about him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m telling you the truth.\u00a0 Little Joe came into my bedroom.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know \u2013 maybe he\u2019d been drinking?\u00a0 Maybe he didn\u2019t realize what he was doing?\u00a0 He pulled me into his arms and kissed me \u2013 and then Steve walked in –,\u201d She was cut off by the furious father.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are no \u201cmaybes\u201d about this \u2013 you are an outright liar,\u201d Ben shot back.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s happened to you?\u00a0 You and my son have been close friends ever since you were eight and Joseph was seven.\u00a0 Are you going to throw that away because of a lie?\u201d<\/p>\n Jennifer grabbed her handkerchief out of her bag and blotted her tear-filled eyes.\u00a0 Her heart ached over the decision she had made days earlier and how it was going to hurt Little Joe.\u00a0 But she felt that she had to keep telling her story until Steve was set free.\u00a0 \u201cI love my husband, Mister Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded and replied with sarcasm in his tone of voice, \u201cSure you love your husband!\u00a0 That\u2019s why you screamed to bring Joseph into your room at just the right time!\u00a0 What were you planning on?\u00a0 Did you think it would make him appreciate you more \u2013 because you were being comforted by my son?\u00a0 And did you just sit there as he beat Joseph with his rifle until he was almost unrecognizable?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI screamed when I realized it was Joe and not Steve!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben mashed his lips together and eased back away from the surrey.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t take much more, or he\u2019d probably have done something he\u2019d regret.\u00a0 \u201cYou almost got my son killed.\u00a0 That boy spent two weeks caring for you out of friendship.\u00a0 He was worried about you because your husband just left you after you lost the baby.\u00a0 Is this how you repay Joseph?\u00a0 You saw your husband when he got back from town and you lured my son into your bedroom with that scream.\u00a0 And you knew that Steve would come inside and find the two of you together.\u00a0 You knew that he\u2019d kill Joseph, didn’t you, Jennifer?”<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 I didn\u2019t!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo tell your lies elsewhere,\u201d Ben returned hotly.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease \u2013 oh please, Mister Cartwright!\u201d\u00a0 Jennifer begged the man.\u00a0 \u201cPlease reconsider \u2013 let Steve go free and there won\u2019t be any trial.\u00a0 It\u2019s best for everyone!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t have time to listen to you or your lies anymore \u2013 my boy needs me.\u00a0 He\u2019s inside here \u2013 would you like to see him?\u00a0 Would you like to see the damage to his face?\u00a0 Would you like to stand there in front of him \u2013 as awful as he looks now and as much pain that he\u2019s in \u2013 and tell him the lies that you\u2019ve just told me?\u201d<\/p>\n Jennifer didn\u2019t respond but simply looked down at the floor of her surrey.<\/p>\n \u201cNo -I didn\u2019t think so,\u201d Ben remarked sharply and then turned and walked away.<\/p>\n Jennifer took the reins in her hands and sent the team of horses out of the yard.<\/p>\n An hour after Jennifer Burns had driven out of the yard, Adam and Hoss made their way back inside the house.\u00a0 They watched as their father slowly walked down the staircase.\u00a0 The man didn\u2019t say a word as he passed by both of his sons and headed directly to the small table which sat just to the left of his desk.<\/p>\n \u201cWant one?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked as he began to pour a healthy dose of brandy into a glass.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah \u2013 wouldn\u2019t mind one, Pa,\u201d Hoss nodded, feeling like his father was asking for company with whatever was playing on his mind.<\/p>\n \u201cI will too,\u201d Adam added as they both drew closer to their father.<\/p>\n Ben handed a glass of brandy to each of his sons and then stared down at his drink.<\/p>\n \u201cI wish I could offer a toast, but presently there\u2019s not a cause for one,\u201d Ben frowned and took a sip of the amber colored liquor.<\/p>\n Hoss stared over at his brother, hoping that he\u2019d be the one to ask their father about Jennifer\u2019s visit.\u00a0 When that didn\u2019t happen, he piped up.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019d she want, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n Groaning loudly, Ben shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cThat woman tried to get me to drop the charges and to let Steve go free after half killing your little brother!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam frowned and replied, \u201cYeah, I figured that\u2019s why she came by.\u00a0 The trial is set for the day after tomorrow, so I\u2019d expected her to try something like that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy would she think we\u2019d drop the charges, Pa?\u201d Hoss asked, totally bewildered.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, Hoss.\u00a0 She\u2019s probably just as insane as her husband.\u00a0 But she sat there and said that Joseph had come into her bedroom and kissed her.\u00a0 Honestly it was all that I could do not to strike her for lying about him that way.\u00a0 It\u2019s a good thing that I taught you boys never to hit a woman, or I might\u2019ve done it tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 one thing I\u2019m worried about,\u201d Adam said hesitantly.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou know that a wife can\u2019t be forced to testify against her husband.\u00a0 Is the prosecutor going to be able to call her to the witness stand?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sighed and sat down behind his desk and motioned to his sons to sit in the two side chairs next to his.\u00a0 \u201cI talked to Randolf Bell earlier today when I was in town.\u00a0 He said if the defense calls her then he can redirect. If they don\u2019t then \u2013 well \u2013 no she doesn\u2019t have to testify.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGosh, Pa,\u201d Hoss paused and took another sip of his brandy.\u00a0 \u201cI hate this for Little Joe\u2019s sake.\u00a0 It\u2019s bad enough that he\u2019s hurting \u2013 but to have to sit there at the trial and look at Jennifer \u2013 knowing that she\u2019s set on lying about him is gonna hurt the boy.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sighed and set his empty glass on his desk.\u00a0 \u201cI know, Son.\u00a0 But we don\u2019t have any other recourse.\u00a0 If I could spare him all of this, I would.\u00a0 The last two days that boy has been so depressed.\u00a0 I know part of it is that he\u2019s hurting \u2013 his body has gone through so much trauma.\u00a0 But most of it is due to what Jennifer said about him already.\u00a0 Going to that trial is going to be hard on him.\u00a0 All we can do is to try and help him the best we can.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt comes down to Joe\u2019s word against Steve, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam turned and looked at his brother and replied, \u201cNot exactly, Hoss.\u00a0 If they put Jennifer up there and she lies about Joe, then it\u2019s two against one.\u00a0 Steve is claiming that he was trying to get Little Joe to leave Jennifer alone and she\u2019s saying Joe forced himself on her.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stood from the desk and looked down at his sons.\u00a0 He wished that he could impart some sage wisdom but he couldn\u2019t think of anything that would help the situation.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I\u2019ll turn in, Boys.\u00a0 It\u2019s been a long day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou want me to go check on Little Joe?\u201d Hoss asked, also standing.<\/p>\n \u201cI just did right before the two of you came inside.\u00a0 He\u2019s asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTry not to worry, Pa,\u201d Hoss reached over and patted his father on the back.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss is right,\u201d Adam nodded, worried about the strain that the whole ordeal was putting on his father.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve gotten through other problems in the past \u2013 we\u2019ll get through this.\u00a0 But it sure wouldn\u2019t hurt any to say a few extra prayers, Boys.\u00a0 Goodnight,\u201d Ben gave a half-hearted smile and then turned for the staircase.<\/p>\n The first few hours that night Ben had a fitful sleep but later he was able to finally get a few hours in where he no longer tossed and turned in his bed.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t sure what had awakened him at four in the morning.\u00a0 Ben sat up in his bed and listened.\u00a0 The house was quiet and no one was stirring out in the hallway.\u00a0 Still, he felt a nagging uneasiness which he decided had to be at least partly due to fatherly intuition.\u00a0 Donning his robe and slippers he quietly walked out of his bedroom and looked across the hall.\u00a0 Ben decided that he wouldn\u2019t be able to go back to sleep until he peeked in on his youngest just to rid his mind of the uncertainty over whether the boy was alright.\u00a0 When he eased inside Little Joe\u2019s bedroom, he knew why he had awakened.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u201d Ben whispered as he neared his son.<\/p>\n Little Joe was sitting straight up in his bed with such a panicked look on his face that it gave his father pause.\u00a0 Ben sat alongside the boy and gently placed a hand on Joe\u2019s right cheek just to the side of where the chin strap fell.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it, Boy?\u201d He asked without thinking.\u00a0 ***Lord, Joseph can\u2019t answer that, what am I saying? ***<\/em><\/strong> Ben sighed as he shook his head over his slip of the tongue.<\/p>\n Strained sobs rattled in Little Joe\u2019s throat though nothing came out of his lips.\u00a0 It just hurt too much to open his mouth to any degree.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph\u2014did you have a nightmare?\u201d Ben knew he had to ask \u201cyes\u201d or \u201cno\u201d questions or his son couldn\u2019t respond.<\/p>\n A couple of tears escaped from Joe\u2019s left eye; his right still closed due to the blow it had taken from Steve\u2019s rifle.\u00a0 He solemnly nodded his head.<\/p>\n Ben moved over to his son\u2019s headboard and sat there against it.\u00a0 Easing Joe back some, he wrapped his arm around the boy\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 It was then that he felt his son\u2019s body shaking and knew that it had to have been a very frightening nightmare to elicit that kind of response.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you want to tell me about it, Son?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe shook his head and tried to take in a few slow breaths but even they were restricted due to the tight chin strap that held his jaw so rigidly.<\/p>\n Ben leaned over to the nightstand and turned the wick knob of the lamp to raise the flame higher.\u00a0 Then he reached down on the side of the bed and pulled the board up into his lap.<\/p>\n \u201cC\u2019mon, let\u2019s try and talk this out.\u00a0 It\u2019d help, Joseph,\u201d He whispered and handed the board over to his son.<\/p>\n Reluctantly Joe began to point out letters slowly enough that his father could call out the words instead of needing to write them down.<\/p>\n Patiently Ben watched as his son pointed and paused with each word he formed.\u00a0 He finally had the message inside his head.\u00a0 Ben drew in a deep breath and replied, \u201cYou just kept seeing that rifle hitting you – – is that right, Joseph?\u00a0 That\u2019s what the dream was all about?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe nodded and dropped his head down a bit.<\/p>\n \u201cI can imagine that had to be terrifying to have experienced something like that both when it happened and now in your dream.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure anyone would have that kind of a nightmare if they\u2019d gone through what you did, Son,\u201d He tried to ease the boy\u2019s mind in the only way he knew how.<\/p>\n His fingers going back to the board, Little Joe continued.\u00a0 Ben watched once again and then the boy stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cDue to your jaw and that chin strap, you couldn\u2019t cry out \u2013 is that it?\u201d<\/p>\n Again, Little Joe nodded.<\/p>\n Shaking his head over what his son had just told him, Ben fought to come up with something to say to him.\u00a0 He was just thankful that his fatherly intuition had caused him to venture across the hall and into his son\u2019s room.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t imagine how restrictive the thick leather chin strap would feel if he\u2019d had to wear it.\u00a0 But Joseph had always been prone to nightmares, and it was usually his screams which brought his father across the hall in the past.\u00a0 Joe couldn\u2019t do that anymore, what with his jaw locked into place like it was.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Joseph \u2013 sorry that you couldn\u2019t call out to me.\u00a0 I\u2019m just glad that I woke up when I did.\u00a0 Do you want to write some more?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe shook his head and handed his father the board.\u00a0 Ben placed it back alongside the bed and then turned and stared at his son.\u00a0 It was bad enough to see all the cuts and bruises that he wore but to see the broken nose along with the thick leather chin strap was devastating.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s try to get you back to sleep, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Pointing to his chest and shaking his head, Ben took his son\u2019s gestures to mean that he couldn\u2019t go back down.<\/p>\n \u201cJust lean back and I\u2019ll sit here with you until you nod off, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe shook his head again and began to get out of bed altogether.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Joseph \u2013 you need to stay down \u2013 just like Doc said.\u00a0 You\u2019ve got to go into town tomorrow \u2013 so today you\u2019re going to rest.\u201d<\/p>\n Staring down at his covers, Joe gave a defeated sigh, which was one of the few things he could manage to get out despite the encumbering chin strap.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, ease back,\u201d Ben whispered and was finally successful in getting his son to cooperate.\u00a0 He wrapped his right arm around the boy\u2019s shoulder and soon Little Joe\u2019s head rested on his father\u2019s chest.<\/p>\n Little Joe temporarily closed his one functional eye, memorizing the rough familiar texture of his father\u2019s hand as it swept softly against his cheek being mindful of the placement of the chin strap.\u00a0 He leaned into the warmth of the touch and for just a fleeting moment pretended that all was well with the world.\u00a0 ***If only Pa could make this hurt go away \u2013 but nobody can. ***<\/em><\/strong> Joe thought when the memories came flooding back.\u00a0 He had seen to all of Jennifer\u2019s needs for two straight weeks only to have her turn on him and play him for a fool.\u00a0 Joe now knew that he had been used.\u00a0 Jennifer\u2019s scream had been a deliberate act to draw Steve into the room at just the right moment to cause him harm.\u00a0 The girl who he had loved for so long had caused every broken bone and bruise on his body just as much as her husband\u2019s rifle had.\u00a0 Joe drew in a quick breath and tried to speak but nothing came out.\u00a0 His jaw felt as though it was on fire every time he attempted to move his mouth. \u00a0Finally, surrendering to the fact that even if he could talk it wouldn\u2019t have made any difference, Joe gave up on the idea.\u00a0\u00a0 It didn\u2019t matter anyway; Pa knew exactly what he would\u2019ve said.\u00a0 Instead, he listened to his father\u2019s strong steady heartbeat, hoping that it would be enough to calm his troubled soul.\u00a0 Joe wasn\u2019t sure if he would ever trust anyone ever again, at least not any friend.\u00a0 But he still had his brothers and Hop Sing, and he knew that he could count on them not to hurt him.\u00a0 Most of all, he had his father, in whose arms he now sought comfort.<\/p>\n \u201cJust close that one good eye of yours, Joseph.\u00a0 Don\u2019t think about anything but falling to sleep right now.\u00a0 It\u2019s all going to be alright,\u201d He whispered.\u00a0 For a quiet minute Ben leaned down letting his forehead rest against the crown of his son\u2019s head.\u00a0 He wished that he could say something far better than just the usual \u201cit\u2019s all going to be alright\u201d, but he was at a loss.\u00a0 Ben knew that his son had a lot on his mind and that was the reason that he\u2019d had that nightmare.\u00a0 He was sure that the impending trial was weighing on his son.\u00a0 Joe knew that he\u2019d have to testify sitting there with both Jennifer and Steve Burns looking at him.\u00a0 One had broken his bones, and one had broken his heart.<\/p>\n \u201cYou won\u2019t have to worry about not being able to let me know that you\u2019ve had another nightmare tonight because I\u2019m not going to leave you,\u201d Pa whispered as Joseph\u2019s head grew heavy against his chest, sinking deeper into the warmth of his body.\u00a0 He rhythmically combed his fingers through his son\u2019s unruly curls, trying his best to lull the boy back to sleep and away from the turmoil caused by Jennifer.\u00a0 His ministrations paid off after a few minutes.\u00a0 The gentle rhythm of his father\u2019s breathing finally pulled Joseph under, as he let his one good eye drift shut, surrendering to the safety he\u2019d always found in Pa\u2019s arms.\u00a0 Relieved his son was finally at peace, his father reached down and pulled the comforter up around the two of them and then closed his eyes.\u00a0 He prayed that God would grant the boy uninterrupted sleep so his body could begin to heal.\u00a0 Before long both father and son were sound asleep.<\/p>\n The next day was a rough one for the entire Cartwright family.\u00a0 While Ben fumed over what Jennifer had said the previous night and paced back and forth in front of the fireplace, Hoss and Adam tried to reassure him that the truth would come out in the trial.\u00a0 On top of all of that, Little Joe had refused to use the talking board that they had fashioned for him.\u00a0 No matter how many times he had been approached to try and write down his feelings, the boy just shook his head and motioned with his hand that he was tired.\u00a0 They all knew Joe was both worried and angered, along with being hurt physically and emotionally.\u00a0 Ben weaned back the medicine Doctor Martin had given him so his son\u2019s mind would be sharp for the trial.\u00a0 He knew that Joseph\u2019s pain was exacerbated due to losing a friend because of the terrible lie that she had told.<\/p>\n It was easy to see that Joe didn\u2019t want to go to the trial the following day, but his father and brothers knew that he would eventually acquiesce because his reputation was at stake.\u00a0 Joe sat in his bedroom all day mulling over what his former friend had done.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t get past the fact that Jennifer had screamed the night that Steve had attacked him just to get him to come into her room.\u00a0 He wondered why Jennifer would do that unless she had seen Steve returning from his trip and perhaps wanted to hurt him by trying to make him jealous.\u00a0 That didn\u2019t make sense to Little Joe either.\u00a0 He wondered if Jennifer knew what her husband would do to him or not.\u00a0 Regardless of the reason, the girl was still lying about the whole situation, and Joe knew that he\u2019d have to testify so he could clear his name.\u00a0 Little Joe knew that there were a lot of gossips in Virginia City and he figured that the rumor mill was going strong due to the whole miserable mess.\u00a0 He wanted to clear his name, yes, but most of all he didn\u2019t want the Cartwright name to be sullied by Steve or Jennifer Burns.\u00a0 Ben Cartwright was one of the most upstanding citizens in all of Storey County and Little Joe didn\u2019t want his father\u2019s reputation marred by having a son who was being accused of forcing himself on a married woman.\u00a0 He knew that his testimony would be hard to do since he couldn\u2019t verbally tell the truth about what had happened that night.\u00a0 All that Little Joe could do was simply point out letters on a board and have someone else transcribe what he wanted to say.\u00a0 He wished that he could talk to Jennifer directly if only to tell her how much her lie had cost him already.\u00a0 But he figured that the girl just didn\u2019t care.\u00a0 Jennifer had sat there on the bed while Steve beat him senseless, so it was obvious that she wouldn\u2019t retract her story.\u00a0 Though her husband was the one who had caused all his injuries it never would have happened if she hadn\u2019t screamed to get Little Joe into her room.\u00a0 Joe hoped that the truth would be enough to clear his name, but nothing would ever take away the pain that both Steve and Jennifer had caused.<\/p>\n Ben paused outside of his son\u2019s bedroom and drew in a deep breath.\u00a0 Everyone was ready to head into Virginia City and only Little Joe was still getting dressed.\u00a0 He opened the door and walked in.\u00a0 Hop Sing had helped the boy get cleaned up and into his clothes and was busy brushing his hair at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cWell,\u201d Ben paused and forced a smile.\u00a0 \u201cHow\u2019s my boy today?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe directed his gaze over to his father.\u00a0 He wished he could\u2019ve answered the question that Pa had just posed.\u00a0 *** \u201cYour boy\u201d isn\u2019t doing too good, Pa.\u00a0 I had to stand here and let Hop Sing pull my pants up like I was a darn two-year-old.\u00a0 Then he had to tuck YOUR shirt in and it\u2019s baggy on me.\u00a0 If that idiot hadn\u2019t broken my good arm at least, I could\u2019ve written down how mad I am right now.\u00a0 But, no I can\u2019t do that either!\u00a0 I hate this, all of it!\u00a0 My jaw is killing me, but I can\u2019t have pain medicine until I get home because you\u2019re worried that I won\u2019t be clear-headed enough to explain myself.\u00a0 Like I can do much explaining by pointing out letters one at a time anyway.\u00a0 This darn cast is making my whole arm itch, and this chin strap is killing my head.\u00a0 On top of all of that I\u2019ve got to go and look across the courtroom at a man who beat me senseless and a woman who I\u2019d always thought was one of my closest friends.\u00a0 They\u2019ll both be there.\u00a0 The man who almost killed me and the girl who lied and made a sucker out of me.\u00a0 So, Pa, to answer your question \u2013 \u201cyour boy\u201d isn\u2019t doing so hot.\u00a0 But thanks for asking! ***<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Ben could almost hear his son\u2019s thoughts as he stared at the battered face before him.\u00a0 He wished that he could sound more upbeat, but he was having a hard time dealing with all that had been said about his son.\u00a0 Ben hoped that the trial would be a fast one and that Steve Burns would soon be heading for the Territorial Prison.<\/p>\n \u201cThat shirt of mine doesn\u2019t look half bad on you, Joseph,\u201d He announced as he moved closer to his son.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s the smallest one I own \u2013 and I\u2019ve not been able to fit into it for several years.\u00a0 I think part of the reason is that Hop Sing here spoils me with his cooking skills.\u201d\u00a0 He knew what he had just said was lame and that Joseph would know that he was trying too hard.<\/p>\n Little Joe, realizing that there wasn\u2019t much that either he or his Pa could do about the current situation, just nodded his way and held still so the cook could finish getting him ready.\u00a0 Hop Sing settled the sling around Joe\u2019s neck and eased his left arm inside of it.<\/p>\n Ben walked over to the bed and pulled up the board lying on the floor next to it.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s not forget this,\u201d He announced and then watched as Hop Sing set down the brush.<\/p>\n \u201cAll ready now, Mister Ben,\u201d the cook smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you \u2013 you did a good job.\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing stared at his former charge and said, \u201cLittle Joe \u2013 all be okay \u2013 you not worry.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe tried his best to smile at the man, but his lips barely turned up at the corners due to the chin strap.<\/p>\n \u201cYou ready, Son?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe shook his head as he stared, one-eyed at his father.\u00a0 Ben took that to mean that his son was very apprehensive, but he figured that would be the case.<\/p>\n \u201cLike Hop Sing just said \u2013 it will be okay, Joseph.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go,\u201d Ben nodded to his son and turned for the door with him at his side.<\/p>\n The four Cartwrights filtered into the very packed courthouse.\u00a0 It almost looked as though every single resident in Virginia City had come to watch the proceedings.\u00a0 The prosecutor, Randolf Bell, waved the four men over to sit right behind him.<\/p>\n \u201cRandolf,\u201d Ben nodded to the man.\u00a0 \u201cLooks like a full house,\u201d He frowned and then took a seat with Little Joe to his right.\u00a0 He had placed him there because the boy would have to be closest to the aisle due to having to testify soon.<\/p>\n \u201cYes \u2013 I guess these folks don\u2019t have anything better to do.\u00a0 We didn\u2019t have any trouble sitting a jury either,\u201d Randolf said and stared over at Hoss and Adam.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m glad that you\u2019re all here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you know if Jennifer Burns is going to testify?\u201d Adam questioned quietly.<\/p>\n Randolf shook his head, \u201cNo \u2013 not yet.\u00a0 But if they call her then she\u2019ll be required to take questions on redirect from me.\u00a0 I hope so because it\u2019ll help the situation.\u201d<\/p>\n The five men stopped talking when the judge walked into the room.<\/p>\n \u201cAll rise for the honorable Judge George Wheeler,\u201d The bailiff called to the courtroom, and everyone stood.<\/p>\n \u201cYou may be seated,\u201d the judge announced after he sat down.\u00a0 He stared at the case notes in front of him and glanced over at both attorneys.\u00a0 \u201cYou may begin your opening statements.\u00a0 Mister Bell, we\u2019ll hear from you first.\u201d<\/p>\n Randolf cleared his throat and then walked in front of the prosecution table.\u00a0 \u201cThis case is a simple one,\u201d He began and stared at the jurors.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph Cartwright sits here after almost being beaten to death by Steve Burns.\u00a0 We will prove that there was no cause for him to have done it and that all allegations towards Joseph Cartwright are baseless.\u00a0 The charge is aggravated assault.\u00a0 Mister Burns broke this young man\u2019s arm, his nose and his jaw by pummeling him numerous times with the butt of his rifle.\u00a0 Once proven guilty it is the prosecution\u2019s intent to ask that he receives a sentence of five years at hard labor at the Territorial Prison.\u201d<\/p>\n The judge looked over to the defense table and said, \u201cYou may present your opening statement, Mister Moxley.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Your Honor,\u201d the defense attorney nodded and moved over to the jury.\u00a0 \u201cMy client, Steve Burns, admits to having beaten Joseph Cartwright.\u00a0 However, he was protecting his wife \u2013 which any man here who is married \u2013 or has any loved one who is married \u2013 will agree was within his rights.\u00a0 There was no cruel malicious intent involved.\u00a0 It was done in the heat of the moment upon seeing Joseph Cartwright, half-dressed and holding his wife in his own bedroom.\u00a0 We will prove that he did what any man would have done to protect their wife from such an awful violation of trust.\u00a0 His wife trusted Joseph Cartwright and he betrayed that trust.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe stared over at his father and angrily shook his head.\u00a0 He wished that he could speak so he could yell the word \u201cliar\u201d as loudly as he could.\u00a0 Ben knew what his son was thinking because he felt the exact same way.\u00a0 He patted his son\u2019s shoulder hoping to instill calm in him and nodded his way.<\/p>\n \u201cPresent your cases.\u00a0 Mister Bell \u2013 call your first witness,\u201d The judge said staring over at the prosecutor.<\/p>\n \u201cI call Doctor Paul Martin,\u201d Randolf announced and watched as the doctor walked to the stand.\u00a0 He was sworn in by the bailiff and took a seat.<\/p>\n \u201cDoctor Martin,\u201d Randolf began as he walked over in front of the man.\u00a0 \u201cDid you ask Joseph Cartwright to try and help Jennifer Burns?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI did,\u201d Doctor Martin nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd just why did you do that?\u201d \u201cAnd did he help?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe did,\u201d Doc Martin nodded once more.<\/p>\n \u201cDid you see the two of them during the two weeks that Joseph was there at her ranch taking care of her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I went over there to check on her progress.\u00a0\u00a0 Little Joe had been waiting on her hand and foot.\u00a0 I was very pleased with her recovery and credit Little Joe for it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhile you were with her did she ever say that she was uncomfortable with having Joseph there?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOn the contrary,\u201d Doc began and stared across the room at Little Joe.\u00a0 \u201cShe told me that she didn\u2019t know what she would\u2019ve done had he not come out there to stay with her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you witness anything inappropriate from Joseph while you were there?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI did not.\u00a0 The boy was busy from sunrise to sunset taking care of Jennifer and the ranch.\u00a0 I\u2019m proud of him for all that he did to get Jennifer back on her feet,\u201d Paul nodded over towards Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cNow \u2013 getting to the night of the assault.\u00a0 Did Joseph show up at your office and if he did what was his condition?\u201d<\/p>\n Frowning, Paul shook his head in total disgust.\u00a0 \u201cI found Little Joe unconscious at my door in the middle of the night.\u00a0 He was in terrible shape.\u00a0 I brought him inside and began to patch him up.\u00a0 He had a very badly broken arm along with a broken nose and jaw.\u00a0 There were cuts and contusions all over his face and upper body.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo, you\u2019d say it was a severe assault?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI would,\u201d Paul strongly affirmed.<\/p>\n \u201cAn assault which could have killed the boy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I\u2019d say that it could have.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo further questions.\u00a0 Thank you, Doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou may question the witness, Mister Moxley.\u201d The judge directed.<\/p>\n \u201cDoctor Martin,\u201d The defense attorney approached the witness stand.\u00a0 \u201cYou said that you were the one who told Joseph to help Jennifer.\u00a0 Is that right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you tell him to move into her place?\u201d<\/p>\n Doctor Martin frowned and slightly shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen you didn\u2019t ask him to go and take care of Jennifer \u2013 is that right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just answered that,\u201d Paul replied tersely.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want to say anything which would paint Little Joe in a bad light.<\/p>\n \u201cYour Honor, please instruct the witness to answer my question.\u201d<\/p>\n Judge Wheeler sighed and shook his head.\u00a0 He expected the usual theatrics from Gerald Moxley since he\u2019d sat through quite a few trials where he was the defense attorney.<\/p>\n \u201cGo ahead, Doc, answer,\u201d The judge said wearily.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t ask Joseph to go over to stay with Jennifer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you ask him to do, Doctor Martin?\u201d Mister Moxley asked, raising his eyebrows.<\/p>\n \u201cI asked him to bring her into town to stay at the hotel.\u00a0 I thought he could talk her into it, but she didn\u2019t want to leave her ranch.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you think it was a good idea for that young man to be there alone with a married woman?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour Honor, I object,\u201d Randolf said and moved to the front of the room next to the witness stand.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just a simple question,\u201d Moxley argued.<\/p>\n \u201cGo ahead and answer, Doc,\u201d the judge directed the witness.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew Joe Cartwright well enough that I had no qualms about him helping Jennifer Burns.\u00a0 The two of them have been very close friends for years,\u201d Doc insisted.<\/p>\n Little Joe stared across to the defense table where Jennifer was seated right behind her husband.\u00a0 He wanted to go over there and grab her arm and shake it.\u00a0 Joe wanted to force her to tell the truth, but he couldn\u2019t.\u00a0 He was overwhelmed with both anger and an acute feeling of loss.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re quite close with the Cartwright family, aren\u2019t you, Doctor Martin?\u201d Moxley continued.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I am,\u201d Paul nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThen I\u2019d say your testimony is quite prejudiced.\u201d<\/p>\n Randolf stood again filled with exasperation.\u00a0 \u201cYour Honor, I object!\u201d<\/p>\n Judge Wheeler looked down at the defense attorney and announced, \u201cMister Moxley, it is not your place to try and defame this witness.\u00a0 He was sworn in and said that he would tell the truth.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Your Honor,\u201d Moxley replied.\u00a0 \u201cAllow me to rephrase.\u00a0 Doctor Martin, is Ben Cartwright your best friend?\u201d<\/p>\n Paul drew in a deep breath and stared over at Ben.\u00a0 \u201cYes, he is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s all the questions that I have for this witness, Your Honor,\u201d Moxley smiled triumphantly and walked back to the defense table.<\/p>\n \u201cYou may step down, Doc,\u201d Judge Wheeler announced.<\/p>\n Paul walked across the room and paused when he got to where Little Joe was seated.\u00a0 He placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder and nodded to the boy.\u00a0 Doc knew that Joe was having a tough time, both physically and emotionally, and he wanted to show his support.\u00a0 Ben thanked Paul with his eyes, and the doctor took a seat in the next row.<\/p>\n \u201cCall your next witness, Mister Bell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI call Joseph Cartwright, Your Honor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph Cartwright, take the stand,\u201d Judge Wheeler ordered and watched both Ben and Joe rise from their seats and walk towards him along with Randolf Bell.<\/p>\n \u201cYour Honor,\u201d Randolf began.\u00a0 \u201cThis is a special circumstance.\u00a0 Joseph can\u2019t speak due to the injuries he incurred.\u00a0 His father here is holding a board that his other sons made to help Joseph communicate with us.\u00a0 He points at the letters, and his father writes them down.\u00a0 I realize that this is highly unusual, however, it\u2019s the only way that we can provide his testimony.\u00a0 If you will allow this, both Joseph and Ben Cartwright can be sworn in together. \u00a0He will need his father to stand next to him so he can write down his statements.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerald Moxley listened to what Randolf had said and approached the judge.\u00a0 \u201cI understand that this is a special situation, Your Honor.\u00a0 However, if my questions are posed to this young man in a yes or no fashion, he won\u2019t have a need for that board or his father.\u201d<\/p>\n Judge Wheeler stared down at the battered young man before him.\u00a0 \u201cHe can\u2019t write, is that true?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Your Honor, he\u2019s left-handed and that\u2019s the arm that got broken that night,\u201d Randolf explained.<\/p>\n Judge Wheeler cleared his throat and thought about what both attorneys had said. \u201cI will allow this young man to use that board and let his father assist him.\u00a0 And I\u2019ll also stipulate that if the question can be answered with a simple yes or no then Joseph can signal that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, he can.\u00a0 His father has told me he holds one finger up for yes and two for no,\u201d Randolf replied.<\/p>\n \u201cThen if it\u2019s called for, Joseph, I want you to do that.\u00a0 Understand?\u201d Judge Wheeler asked.<\/p>\n Little Joe held his pointer finger up as his response.<\/p>\n \u201cVery well, bailiff please swear in both Ben and Joseph Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe stood next to the bailiff and tried to figure out how he could manage to put an arm up.\u00a0 He could put his right hand on the Bible, but his other hand was inside of a sling.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s fine, Son,\u201d Judge Wheeler quickly realized the boy\u2019s dilemma and called down to him.\u00a0 \u201cJust put your right hand on that Bible and don\u2019t worry about raising your other one.<\/p>\n Little Joe nodded and did as he\u2019d been instructed.\u00a0 Both he and Pa were sworn in and walked over to the witness stand.\u00a0 Ben handed the board to his son and stood directly behind him.<\/p>\n \u201cYour Honor, this notepad is for Ben Cartwright to write his son\u2019s statements.\u00a0 I\u2019d like to show it to you and the defense attorney.\u201d<\/p>\n Mister Moxley approached the bench and looked through the pad to make sure that it was blank and the judge did likewise.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s fine,\u201d Judge Wheeler nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cNo objections,\u201d Moxley agreed and retook his seat.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, how long have you known Jennifer Burns?\u201d Randolf asked.<\/p>\n Little Joe pointed out his reply and turned to his father.<\/p>\n \u201cMy son has written the following: I\u2019ve known Jennifer since I was seven years old and she was eight.\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Ben addressed the court and showed the piece of paper to the judge who nodded that he was satisfied.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, you\u2019ve been good friends for many years then?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe lifted his right index finger.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy did you go to stay with Jennifer Burns for two weeks, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe began to point at the letters and Ben once again wrote down his answer.<\/p>\n \u201cMy son has written: \u00a0I went there because Doc told me she wasn\u2019t well after losing her baby.\u00a0 He said that her husband left unexpectedly right after that happened and that she needed help.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cDid you try to get her to come into town to stay at the hotel?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe raised his pointer finger again.<\/p>\n \u201cBut she wouldn\u2019t go, isn\u2019t that right?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe lifted one finger.<\/p>\n \u201cWere you ever romantically involved with Jennifer Burns?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe began to point out letters for his father to write down.<\/p>\n \u201cMy son has written:\u00a0 Never.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAlright, Joseph, now please tell this court exactly what happened on the night in question.\u201d<\/p>\n Drawing in a deep breath and casting one fleeting glance over at Jennifer, Joe began to point at the letters once more.\u00a0 It had taken more than ten minutes for him to dictate such a long response, but he was finally done.<\/p>\n \u201cMy son\u2019s response is this:\u00a0 We ate dinner and I did up the dishes.\u00a0\u00a0 We said goodnight and I went into their spare room where I\u2019d been staying and she went into hers.\u00a0 I went right to sleep because I was tired.\u00a0 I awoke to her screaming.\u00a0 I ran into Jennifer\u2019s room and saw her on the bed with a panicked look on her face.\u00a0 I sat down next to her, and she asked me to hold her.\u00a0 I did.\u00a0 She said she\u2019d had a horrible dream.\u00a0 I tried to calm her.\u00a0 I did hold her to comfort her, and for no other reason.\u00a0 Only about a minute later, I was struck in the face by the butt of a rifle.\u00a0 I fell down to the floor and before I could get my wits about me Steve Burns struck me again with that rifle.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know how many times he hit me because I passed out cold.\u00a0 When I woke up, I was outside in the dirt.\u00a0 My arm was broken so I couldn\u2019t saddle my horse.\u00a0 I rode bareback into Virginia City and stumbled up Doc Martin\u2019s steps.\u00a0 That\u2019s all I remember until I woke up inside the office and my arm was in this cast.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n There was a commotion in the courthouse as spectators began to whisper to each other.\u00a0 Judge Wheeler pounded his gavel angrily.<\/p>\n \u201cAny further disturbances and I will clear this court!\u201d He insisted, upset over the interruption.\u00a0 \u201cYou may continue, Mister Bell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got some very severe injuries don\u2019t you, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe merely nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d say it\u2019s a miracle that you weren\u2019t killed.\u00a0 Right?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe nodded once more.<\/p>\n \u201cNo further questions at this time but I\u2019d like to reserve the right to call this witness back, if necessary, Your Honor.\u201d<\/p>\n Judge Wheeler nodded and then looked over at Mister Moxley.\u00a0 \u201cYou may cross examine this witness now.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerald Moxley smiled as he made his way over to Joe.\u00a0 He leaned in on the witness stand until he was only inches from Little Joe\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cMister Cartwright, I\u2019d like to ask you a question.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe stared at the man hard.\u00a0 He knew that he was trying to trip him up and he wasn\u2019t going to fall for it.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you were a married man and you came home late at night only to find another man in your bed holding your wife \u2013 what would you do?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam exchanged concerned glances back and forth.\u00a0 They knew that it was a hard question for their brother to have to answer without incriminating himself.\u00a0 They held their breaths and waited to hear what the boy was going to write next.<\/p>\n Little Joe pointed at the board again.\u00a0 He finished and looked up at his father, a great deal of worry painting his face.<\/p>\n Ben cleared his throat after reading what his son had pointed out.\u00a0 \u201cMy son has written:\u00a0 No one knows how they would react until something like that happens.\u00a0 But I\u2019d never leave my wife \u2013 especially if she\u2019d just lost our baby.\u00a0 So, no other man would ever have to come and help my wife like I tried to do for Jennifer.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Gerald Moxley wasn\u2019t happy with Joe\u2019s answer.\u00a0 It painted his client in a bad light.\u00a0 He decided to do something about it.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll help you out, so you won\u2019t have to use that board quite so much, Joseph.\u00a0 These are simple yes or no questions so your father can just stand down.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben frowned and stayed right where he was.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t about to move unless directed by the judge.<\/p>\n \u201cDid you do any ranch work while you were with Jennifer?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe held up one finger.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd did you do housework when you were with Jennifer?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe again held up his index finger.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you love Jennifer Burns?\u201d \u00a0Moxley queried, hoping to catch the boy off guard.<\/p>\n Little Joe refrained from lifting his finger.\u00a0 He looked behind him and motioned to his father that he needed his help.<\/p>\n \u201cI object, Your Honor!\u00a0 I have just asked this witness a very simple question, and he doesn\u2019t need his father nor that board!\u201d Gerald insisted, growing louder.<\/p>\n Randolf approached the judge and responded, \u201cThis witness deserves to be heard especially under these circumstances.\u00a0 If he needs to qualify his answer, I\u2019d say it\u2019s only fair to allow him to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n The judge stared down at Little Joe and asked, \u201cYoung Man, do you need to add more in your response to this question than merely a yes or a no?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe both nodded and held up one finger.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll allow it, Mister Bell.\u00a0 Go ahead and ask your question once more, Mister Moxley.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you love Jennifer Burns, Mister Cartwright?\u201d Gerald restated sharply.<\/p>\n Little Joe began to point each letter out to form his response.\u00a0 When he was through, Ben read the reply to himself and then cast a worried glance over at his son.\u00a0 Leaning down he whispered in the boy\u2019s ear, \u201cJoseph, are you sure that this is what you want me to say?\u201d He pointed to what he had written on the piece of paper.\u00a0 Little Joe read what Pa had written and then stared into his eyes.\u00a0 He easily detected the concern all over his father\u2019s face.\u00a0 Joe simply nodded his head.<\/p>\n It broke Ben\u2019s heart to have to announce to the court what Joseph had dictated to him.\u00a0 He examined his son\u2019s face again, placing a hand onto the boy\u2019s shoulder to garner his attention.\u00a0 Little Joe nodded insistently up to his father, directing him to go ahead and read exactly what he had pointed out to him.<\/p>\n Drawing in a deep breath trying to gather himself a bit, Ben stated, \u201cMy son has answered that question thusly:\u00a0 I have loved Jennifer since I was seven years old.\u00a0 And no matter what has happened I still do.\u00a0 I love her as a friend, and I always will.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The instant that Ben Cartwright read his son\u2019s statement, Jennifer jumped out of her seat and rushed to the witness stand.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe!\u00a0 Joe \u2013 please!\u00a0 Stop all of this while you still can!\u00a0 If you ever really loved me \u2013 you\u2019ll stop it!\u201d she pleaded standing right in front of her friend.<\/p>\n Judge Wheeler struck his gavel loudly and pointed to the bailiff.\u00a0 \u201cEscort Mrs. Burns back to her seat!\u00a0 I won\u2019t have any more outbursts in my court!\u201d<\/p>\n Randolf watched as the jurors began to talk amongst themselves.\u00a0 He hurried to the bench and said, \u201cYour Honor, may I request a short recess?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see no reason for a recess!\u201d Moxley chimed in as he approached the bench.\u00a0 He hoped that Joe\u2019s last response had made a huge difference in the case against his client and that it might cause there to be an acquittal.<\/p>\n Randolf whispered to the judge, \u201cYour Honor, that outburst may have prejudiced the jurors.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll allow there to be a brief postponement due to the outburst by Mrs. Burns,\u201d the judge agreed.\u00a0 \u201cThis court will be in recess for one hour,\u201d he announced and struck his gavel.\u00a0 Judge Wheeler stood and walked into the next room.<\/p>\n \u201cC\u2019mon, Son,\u201d Ben whispered to the boy, dropping a hand down onto his shoulder.\u00a0 He hated that he had been forced to read Joe\u2019s declaration.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t know if it would mean that Steve Burns would be acquitted but he understood why Joe had made his statement.\u00a0 Unable to speak or not, his youngest boy always wore his heart on his shirtsleeve.\u00a0 It was just his nature.<\/p>\n The four Cartwrights congregated outside on the walkway and waited.\u00a0 Quite a few of the residents of the town cast suspicious glances towards Little Joe as they meandered around waiting for court to be reconvened.\u00a0 Ben eyed his youngest and could tell that seeing Jennifer and listening to her plea to drop the charges had affected him.\u00a0 He moved next to Joe and dropped a hand down onto his right shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cYou did just fine, Boy,\u201d He whispered and tried to get a look into his son\u2019s left eye.<\/p>\n Joe just shrugged his shoulders and attempted to frown but once again, the chin strap prevented his ability to express himself.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Little Brother — I seen Nate Gentry earlier and he was riding that new palomino that he brung all the way up from Mexico.\u00a0 Maybe we could go down to the livery after this is over and he might still be in town so you can get a look at it?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe realized that all his family members were trying their best to pretend that things had gone well during his testimony, but he knew that they hadn\u2019t.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t sure what he would do if Steve got off and there were no repercussions for him half beating him to death.\u00a0 Adam looked over at his father and shook his head.\u00a0 They were all worried about Little Joe and how he\u2019d handle it if Steve was acquitted.<\/p>\n Turning around when he felt a hand on his shoulder, Little Joe looked at the defense attorney who had come up from behind them all.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, may I speak to you for just a moment?\u201d He asked quietly.<\/p>\n Ben and his other two sons moved in closer, unamused that the man was trying to speak to Little Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not exactly proper procedure, Mister Moxley, now, is it?\u00a0 You\u2019re handling the defense and shouldn\u2019t be pestering my brother,\u201d Adam said with aggravation in his tone of voice.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph,\u201d Ben added as he moved in closer to his youngest, trying to protect him.\u00a0 \u201cYou don\u2019t have to do anything that you don\u2019t want to do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI assure you that I\u2019m not going to try to persuade your son to do anything that he feels uncomfortable about doing, Mister Cartwright.\u00a0 How about it, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n Shrugging his shoulders helplessly, Joe reached his hand out for his father to give him the board in case he needed to say something to the man.<\/p>\n \u201cSon \u2013 do you want me to come with you?\u00a0 I could write down whatever you might want to say?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe shook his head as he tucked the board underneath his right arm.\u00a0 He walked over to the courthouse\u2019s double doors and waited while the attorney pulled them open.<\/p>\n Inside stood Jennifer Burns and she stared over at her friend.\u00a0 \u201cLittle Joe — could you and I talk before court starts back up?\u201d<\/p>\n Feeling trapped and looking back and forth between Jennifer and Mister Moxley, Joe just stood there shaking his head.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s okay, Joseph, you and Jennifer can go and talk in the anteroom.\u00a0 You won\u2019t be bothered in there,\u201d Moxley offered.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease, Little Joe \u2013 this is the only chance you and I are going to have,\u201d Jennifer continued to beg her friend to listen to her.<\/p>\n Joe finally nodded and walked over to the door to the private room as the attorney held it open for him.\u00a0 Soon he was sitting in a chair next to the girl he had formerly called his friend.\u00a0 He shifted nervously, worried that she might do something stupid like scream for help again.<\/p>\n Jennifer stared at the floor for a few minutes trying to gather her thoughts before beginning.\u00a0 \u201cLittle Joe, I\u2019ve got a lot to tell you \u2013 so could you please just hear me out before you get up and walk away?\u00a0 I know I\u2019ve hurt you \u2013 and I\u2019ll never be able to make amends for what I did.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe frowned but then nodded for her to speak her peace.\u00a0 He figured that she was still just trying to get him to drop the charges before any judgement was made.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe \u2013 I\u2019ve told Steve the truth.\u00a0 He now knows that I screamed just to get you to come into our room.\u00a0 That night I saw him going into the barn.\u00a0 He was putting his horse away when I spotted him.\u00a0 Steve left it at the livery before getting on that stage for San Francisco,\u201d She began to explain while Little Joe just looked on and waited.\u00a0 \u201cI was so mad at him.\u00a0 When he just up and left after I lost the baby it hurt me so much.\u00a0 Then you came along and took care of me \u2013 the way that he should have.\u00a0 I guess I just wanted to hurt him because I felt abandoned by him.\u00a0 But I didn\u2019t think about what he might do to you, Little Joe.\u00a0 I tried to stop him, but I couldn\u2019t.\u00a0 Steve and I talked about all this last night.\u00a0 I confessed and so did he.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t really abandoned me like I thought.\u00a0 He had gone to San Francisco to try for a new job and he got it.\u00a0 Steve wants to start all over again.\u00a0 He has already got us a new place to live and is hiring help for me so maybe I\u2019ll be able to carry the next baby to full term.\u00a0 I had no way of knowing Little Joe.\u00a0 If I had I never would have done what I did.<\/p>\n Little Joe stood up abruptly because he didn\u2019t want to hear anymore.\u00a0 But Jennifer tugged on his arm and pleaded with him again.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, please, Little Joe!\u00a0 Please listen to me \u2013 it\u2019s our only chance.\u201d<\/p>\n Shaking his head over his gullibility, Joe finally took a seat once again.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe \u2013 Steve feels awful for what he did to you.\u00a0 He said he just went crazy after seeing your horse in our barn and then to come into our bedroom and seeing you there half dressed \u2013 well he just lost his mind for a few minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n Pointing to his face and his left arm, Joe shot the woman the angriest gaze he could muster with only the use of his left eye.<\/p>\n \u201cI know, Joe \u2013 I know.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t take away the pain from what he did \u2013 no more than it takes away the pain from what I did to you.\u00a0 But \u2013 Little Joe \u2013 if you really meant what your father read there inside the courtroom then please just drop the charges.\u00a0 Steve and I will leave town, and you\u2019ll never have to see either of us again.\u201d<\/p>\n Grabbing the board sitting there off to his right side, Joe set it on his lap and motioned for the girl to read along with what he was writing.<\/p>\n Joe wrote out: How in the heck can you expect me to let bygones be bygones?\u00a0 I don\u2019t know which of you hurt me the most.\u00a0 Jennifer, I never expected this from you.\u00a0 I thought you loved me the way I\u2019ve always loved you.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Jennifer began to cry and had to reach inside her purse to get a handkerchief.\u00a0 She blotted her eyes and stared up at Joe.\u00a0 \u201cI know \u2013 I did the worst possible thing that I could do \u2013 and after you showed me such kindness.\u00a0 I wish with all my heart that I could take this all back, Little Joe.\u00a0 Steve feels the same way.\u00a0 But we can\u2019t.\u00a0 If you can find it inside your heart to drop the charges, you\u2019d be giving us that new start that we need.\u00a0 It\u2019s a lot to ask, I know that.\u00a0 And \u2013 Little Joe \u2013 I do love you.\u00a0 I always have and I always will.\u00a0 But Steve is my husband and I need him.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe stood for the last time and shook his head sadly, unsure as to what to do about the whole horrible mess.\u00a0 Jennifer grabbed Joe\u2019s right hand and looked into the hazel eyes of the boy she had called friend for over ten years.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease?\u201d She whispered.<\/p>\n Joe spelled out:\u00a0 I need some time.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAlright, Little Joe \u2013 but we\u2019ve not got much \u2013 the court is going to come back into session in thirty minutes.\u2019<\/p>\n Nodding his head, Joe walked to the door and pulled it open.\u00a0 He never looked back at the girl.<\/p>\n When twenty minutes had passed and Joe had yet to reappear, Ben walked inside the courthouse and over to Mister Moxley.\u00a0 \u201cWhere\u2019s my son?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe went out the back door.\u00a0 Your son has a big decision on his shoulders right now, Mister Cartwright,\u201d The attorney said as he pointed towards the back of the courtroom.\u00a0 \u201cI guess Joe didn\u2019t want to be spotted outside.\u00a0 You\u2019ll probably find him somewhere behind the courthouse.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben didn\u2019t reply verbally but simply nodded over to the man and hurried to find his son.<\/p>\n Behind the Virginia City Courthouse there was a grove of oaks and over at the far-right corner, just underneath one of those trees, Ben spotted the boy sitting alone on a bench.\u00a0 He walked through the tall grass and wildflowers until he came upon his son.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u201d he questioned softly and sat down to the boy\u2019s right.\u00a0 \u201cWhat happened?\u00a0 We all got worried when you didn\u2019t come back around front.\u201d<\/p>\n Holding the board on his lap, Joe began to slowly point to the letters, fearful due to what his father might say once he was done.<\/p>\n Ben watched and carefully read each word that his son spelled out.\u00a0 He had an inkling as to who the boy had spoken to and now, he was beginning to understand why Joe had been summoned inside the courthouse.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s message read: Pa, Jennifer asked me to drop the charges.\u00a0 She said that she told Steve the truth about what happened.\u00a0 She also said that Steve had gone to San Francisco to get a better job and to get them a new place so they could start all over.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Pulling his left hand up to his mouth Ben couldn\u2019t hide the shock he felt over what his son had written.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Joseph,\u201d Ben groaned and shook his head.\u00a0 He was filled with disbelief along with righteous indignation over what the girl had asked his son to do.\u00a0 Ben looked at Joseph sitting there with tears rolling down his face.\u00a0 He appeared to be utterly devastated after listening to Jennifer\u2019s request.\u00a0 Ben draped his arm across the boy\u2019s shoulder and gave it a gentle pat while still trying to find the right words to say to him.\u00a0 It was then that Joe began to write again.<\/p>\n It read: I have to do this.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWhy, Son?\u201d He whispered, trying to understand.<\/p>\n Joe wrote: For what we had, Pa.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n His eyes sought out his father\u2019s understanding and approval, but all he saw was pain spreading across Pa\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, Steve almost killed you,\u201d He replied almost choking on his words.\u00a0 The fingers of Ben\u2019s right hand tenderly inspected each cut and bruise on his son\u2019s battered face and then dropped down to the boy\u2019s broken arm held securely by the plaster cast.\u00a0 Joseph was eighteen years old, almost grown, but he was also his youngest child.\u00a0 He was frightfully aware that he had almost lost him the night of the attack.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s hand fell back down to the board, his fingers hesitating before he began pointing at the letters again.<\/p>\n He wrote: Please, Pa?\u00a0 Will you drop the charges for me?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Ben shook his head consumed with so many different emotions that they all pulsated in his troubled mind.\u00a0 He was filled with rage over what Steve Burns had done to his boy.\u00a0 And he was equally angered with Jennifer for being the one responsible for putting his son in danger of being killed by her lies.\u00a0 She had screamed out purposely, knowing that her husband was heading into the house and that he\u2019d see Joseph sitting there next to her like he was.\u00a0 And she had sat there and watched as her husband almost killed the boy.\u00a0 Now it was that same so-called \u201cfriend\u201d who had put his son\u2019s life in jeopardy who was asking both Ben and Joe to simply drop all the charges and walk away as though nothing had happened.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph \u2013 you know I\u2019d do anything in this world for you \u2013 but please don\u2019t ask me to do that,\u201d Ben whispered, still fighting the mounting outrage which he couldn\u2019t let go of.<\/p>\n Little Joe\u2019s right hand reached out and touched Pa\u2019s arm.\u00a0 He tried his best to get his message across to his father, but without being able to talk or in any other way express his feelings he found it far too difficult.\u00a0 He needed his father\u2019s understanding and his compliance.\u00a0 Joe wanted it all to go away, both the memory of Jennifer\u2019s betrayal and Steve\u2019s brutal assault, just so he could somehow move on with his life.<\/p>\n Ben drew in a deep breath, and without saying another word, as if he was as mute as the boy sitting next to him, he slowly stood from the bench.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t say anything right away and the atmosphere between both father and son grew thick with opposing opinions over what should be done.\u00a0 He knew that Joseph needed some kind of closure.\u00a0 But as the boy\u2019s father, he wanted the kind of closure that would only come by watching Steve Burns being hauled off to Territorial Prison.\u00a0 However, his son didn\u2019t want that after all.\u00a0 Ben knew that Joseph wanted some peace in his life and an ending to his friendship with the girl he had loved for so long.<\/p>\n Ben reached down for Joe\u2019s good arm and gently pulled him to standing.\u00a0 He tucked the board underneath his arm as the boy looked up into his eyes.\u00a0 It was only then that Joe noticed the slight glistening of tears in Pa’s eyes.<\/p>\n Sighing to himself, Ben frowned and the worry lines on his face appeared to deepen.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want to agree with what Joseph wanted to do.\u00a0 However, looking at him and reading the kind of pain that was on his face which hadn\u2019t been caused by the stock of a rifle, he knew what his son was thinking.\u00a0 Pa was aware that the pain that he saw on Joseph\u2019s face was due to the loss of a lifelong friend.<\/p>\n Coughing to clear the raw emotion that was stuck inside of his throat, Ben asked, \u201cYou\u2019re very sure, Son?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe nodded solemnly, hoping that his father was beginning to warm up to the terrible concession that they\u2019d be making by dropping all charges against Steve.<\/p>\n Ben studied his son\u2019s face once more, still wishing that he could see beyond all the cuts and bruises, so he\u2019d know that Joseph was telling him the truth.\u00a0 Wrapping his arms around his son, he pulled him close to his chest.\u00a0 Then, knowing that it was what the boy had in his heart to do, he replied, \u201cAlright, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe urgently reached for the board that his father now held in his hand, but Ben pulled it away from his son\u2019s grasp.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t need it, Joseph,\u201d Pa whispered, a knowing smile filtering down onto his lips.\u00a0 He knew why the boy had reached for the board and exactly what he would\u2019ve written with it.\u00a0 \u201cI love you too, Son.\u201d He nodded.\u00a0 \u201cNow let\u2019s go on inside.\u201d<\/p>\n There was one large conference hall behind the courtroom and assembled inside it a few minutes later were the two attorneys, those who they were representing, and Ben Cartwright.<\/p>\n Little Joe sat next to Pa and began to write.\u00a0 He finished his thought and then nodded to his father to read it out loud to Jennifer.<\/p>\n Ben looked down at the sheet of paper where he had written what Joe wanted to say. \u201cThis is what my son has written: Jennifer, before we drop the charges there\u2019s one thing that you need to do.\u00a0 Get up in that courtroom and clear my name \u2013 not for my sake \u2013 but for my Pa\u2019s.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Ben grinned wryly as he stared at his boy and shook his head over what he had written.\u00a0 Though that statement had been formed letter by letter by the boy, he could almost hear his son\u2019s voice in what he had written.<\/p>\n Jennifer nodded and returned, \u201cI will, Little Joe.\u00a0 I owe you much more \u2013 but it\u2019s a start.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe,\u201d Steve felt as though he would choke on the words he had to say.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t tell you how awful I feel for what I did to you.\u00a0 It was you taking care of my wife, that\u2019s the reason that she\u2019s doing so well now.\u00a0 I was just so insanely jealous the second that I saw you with Jennifer.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben had to hold his tongue, or he would\u2019ve completely unloaded on the man for what he had done to his boy.\u00a0 He watched the way that Joe dropped his gaze down to the floor, avoiding the whole confrontation and the apology too.<\/p>\n Randolf Bell stood and so did Gerald Moxley.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to go and explain all this to Judge Wheeler and then we\u2019ll call all of you back inside the courtroom,\u201d Randolf stated and then turned out of the room with the defense attorney.<\/p>\n There was an awkward silence that hung in the air making the whole room seem too small.\u00a0 Ben and Joe couldn\u2019t look at Jennifer or Steve.\u00a0 They just wanted to get the whole miserable affair over and head back to the Ponderosa where things made some sense.\u00a0 It was only a few minutes later that they were all instructed to return to the courtroom and Jennifer was sworn in.<\/p>\n \u201cMy client\u2019s wife would like to make a statement,\u201d Gerald announced to the courtroom and then nodded to Jennifer to say her peace.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m the one to blame for all that happened,\u201d she began and blotted her eyes with her handkerchief.\u00a0 Her eyes then caught on Little Joe and she couldn\u2019t take seeing the damage that he had sustained due to her lies.\u00a0 \u201cAfter Little Joe went to bed I sat in my room and couldn\u2019t get Steve out of my head.\u00a0 It was then that I wondered if he was just taking me for granted.\u00a0 A short time later I saw him putting his horse inside the barn.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know why I did it \u2013 but I screamed on purpose knowing that it would send Joe running inside my room.\u00a0 I swear to all of you \u2013 and especially you \u2013 Little Joe \u2013 I didn\u2019t know that Steve would get that angry with you.\u00a0 I thought he\u2019d just send you packing.\u00a0 But that\u2019s not what happened.\u00a0 After I saw you getting hurt like that, I didn\u2019t know what to do.\u00a0 I guess my lies had grown too big to admit to.\u00a0 Steve had gone to San Francisco to try to build a new life for us \u2013 and hopefully our children.\u00a0 He was planning on surprising me with the news once he\u2019d gotten home.\u00a0 But he never got the chance.\u00a0 Joe \u2013 Mister Cartwright \u2013 I know that neither of you can ever forgive me \u2013 not after all that I caused.\u00a0 But I\u2019ll never forget your many acts of kindness.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Jennifer, you may step down now,\u201d Moxley said and he watched her move over to sit behind Steve once more. Judge Wheeler nodded and then addressed the entire courtroom.\u00a0 \u201cI hope all of you have learned a valuable lesson today.\u00a0 Jumping to the wrong conclusion can get someone killed.\u00a0 And lies end up hurting those you care about.\u00a0 I hereby order that Steve Burns be released and all charges be withdrawn from consideration.\u00a0 This court stands adjourned.<\/p>\n All those in the courtroom stood as Judge Wheeler walked out of the room and the jurors and spectators filed outside.\u00a0 Little Joe didn\u2019t want to look at Jennifer or Steve.\u00a0 He stood sandwiched between his two brothers and with his father following closely behind, they all walked out of the courtroom together.<\/p>\n Epilogue<\/p>\n The ranch house was remarkably quiet and calmer than it had been in quite a while.\u00a0 After Hop Sing had helped Little Joe out of his regular clothes and back into a nightshirt, he had served what he had hoped to be a celebratory dinner for the other three Cartwrights.\u00a0 Ben had given him a short rendition of what had happened in town and Hop Sing had stated that \u201call work out for best\u201d which he hoped would be the case.\u00a0 Little Joe had an awful lot of healing to do, but his father hoped that now that Jennifer and Steve would soon be leaving the area that it would help his son to move on and try to forget all that had happened.<\/p>\n Hop Sing had prepared Little Joe some soft-boiled eggs and the boy had managed to get them down though it hadn\u2019t been an easy thing to do.\u00a0 Afterwards Joe had played out and was asleep by nine when his father had gone up to his room to check on him.\u00a0 He eased out of his son\u2019s bedroom, quietly closing the door.\u00a0 Ben figured that rest was the best medicine for the present time and hoped that Joe wouldn\u2019t be plagued with any further nightmares about what Steve Burns had done to him.<\/p>\n Two weeks later, at Little Joe\u2019s insistence, his father drove him into Virginia City.\u00a0 He had heard through the grapevine that Steve had sold the ranch and that he and Jennifer would be leaving that afternoon on the noon stage.\u00a0 Ben was deeply concerned about how his son would react to seeing the woman again.\u00a0 Though Joe no longer wrote a single word about the whole incident, his father knew that it would take quite a while to get over the loss of his friend.\u00a0 Even though Jennifer had recanted her lies, it still hurt to know that she had done it to begin with, especially after all Joe had done to help her.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u00a0 Do you want me to stop in front of the mercantile and then walk from there over to the Overland Depot?\u201d He asked as they rounded the corner of C Street.<\/p>\n His hand pointing down to the board at his feet, Joe signaled for his father to pull up right where they were.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, now what?\u201d Ben asked, watching his son getting ready to point out what he wanted to say.<\/p>\n Joe spelled out: I\u2019m not going to let her know that I\u2019m here, Pa.\u00a0 I just wanted to watch her leave from across the street somewhere.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Though he had no earthly idea why his son would\u2019ve wanted to ride into town only to watch his former friend leaving from a distance, Ben wasn\u2019t going to question it.\u00a0 He pulled the buckboard over some and then tied the reins down at the footboard.<\/p>\n Joe stepped down from the wagon and waited for his father to walk around to join him on the walkway.\u00a0 Ben dropped his hand down onto his son\u2019s shoulder and stared pensively into his eyes.\u00a0 He was glad that he could finally see into both of them now.\u00a0 Though the boy still had to wear the chin strap and he would also be sporting the cast on his arm for another month, at least his right eye had healed.<\/p>\n The stagecoach was preparing to board and Joe first caught sight of Steve Burns and then Jennifer as she began to climb up and take a seat.<\/p>\n Ben stared down at his son to make sure he was alright.\u00a0 He had spotted the misting of tears in Joe\u2019s eyes but didn\u2019t say a word about it.\u00a0 Ben just draped his arm around his son\u2019s shoulder and stood there alongside him offering what moral support that he could.\u00a0 Next came the loud shout from the stagecoach driver and the team of horses were sent down the street at a very fast clip.\u00a0 Joe had caught a fleeting glance at Jennifer who had been sitting next to one of the windows.<\/p>\n Joe dropped his head down for a minute and tried to forget the girl he had grown up with.\u00a0 He would never see her again and he knew it.<\/p>\n After a few more minutes passed by and Ben worried about the fact that his son hadn\u2019t moved or made a sound, he patted Joe\u2019s back and said, \u201cHow\u2019s my boy?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe looked up at his father, and if he could have grinned, he would have.\u00a0 Pa was calling him \u201chis boy<\/em><\/strong>\u201d again.\u00a0 In a world where everything seemed to be moving far too fast, it was nice to know that some things never changed.<\/p>\n When he witnessed Joe\u2019s right hand motioning for him to come closer, Ben wondered what his son was up to.\u00a0 His face reflected his curiosity as he bent down.<\/p>\n Though he could only part his lips about a quarter of an inch due to the tight chin strap, Little Joe was able to get out six clearly discernable words.<\/p>\n \u201cYour boy<\/em><\/strong> is doing fine, Pa,\u201d Joe nodded over at his father.<\/p>\n Ben grinned as he wrapped an arm around his son\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s get on home, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe glanced down to the end of C Street where he had last spotted the stage carrying Jennifer.<\/p>\n *** As he rises to her apology anybody else would surely know \u2013 he\u2019s watching her go.\u00a0 But what a fool believes, he sees. ***<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n He turned his attention back to his father and nodded again. Content on leaving his friendship with Jennifer in the past, Little Joe was eager to go back to the Ponderosa where things made sense to him. He walked with Pa to the buckboard.\u00a0 It was time to go home.<\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n Written by Wrangler\u00a0 ***Feedback or “likes” are not required but are always appreciated.\u00a0 Thank you for reading! ***<\/p>\n 8\/2\/26<\/p>\n (Dedicated to my story consultant Rob for his encouragement and patience who, in turn, dedicates this story to Carm for her title suggestion.)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Summary: Jennifer Burns was one of Little Joe’s best friends until the lie she told her husband almost got him killed.\u00a0 Beaten almost unrecognizable, Joe must now defend his honor in court. Rating T, WC 39,420<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":140,"featured_media":68820,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[1015,23,1008,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-68818","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-joe-pa","category-drama","category-family","category-hurtcomfort","wpcat-1015-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1008-id","wpcat-41-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot_20260724_183838_YouTube-1.jpg?fit=1232%2C1013&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68818","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/140"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=68818"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68818\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":70130,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68818\/revisions\/70130"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/68820"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=68818"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=68818"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=68818"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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\n\u201cShe had just lost a baby and since her husband had left town, she was all alone at her ranch.\u00a0 Little Joe and she were long-time friends, and I thought that he might be able to help.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\n\u201cYour Honor,\u201d Randolf addressed the judge and both he and Gerald walked up to the bench together.\u00a0 \u201cThe prosecution has been advised that Ben Cartwright on behalf of his son Joseph, has decided to withdraw his complaint.\u00a0\u00a0 And so, due to the circumstances, we\u2019d like to drop he assault charge and release Mister Burns.\u201d<\/p>\n
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