Summary: \u00a0Disobedient sons, worried brothers, irate fathers, twins, rustlers, suffering and repentance all go together to make the following story.<\/p>\n
Rated: K \u00a0WC \u00a025,000<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Where There’s Life There’s Hope<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe couldn\u2019t take his eyes off her;<\/strong> she was beautiful and he found himself mesmerised. Although he had known her more than half his life, it was only in recent months he had become aware of her many obvious attractions. Her eyes seemed to sparkle every time she spoke to him and her skin was as clear and fresh as early morning dew. As for the rest of her, well he found himself getting hot under the collar just thinking about it. Many was the night he lay awake, tossing and turning, unable to get her out of his mind.<\/p>\n “Little Joe\u2026.erm\u2026.Joe, would you like another piece of pie?”<\/p>\n The sweetness of her voice was not lost on Joe and he smiled in her direction dreamily, but he couldn\u2019t get his brain to function or his tongue to move in his mouth to give an answer. He licked his dry lips and tried to recall what this vision of loveliness had asked him, but his mind was a complete blank.An elbow in the ribs from the small child sitting next to him soon brought Joe back to the present and he scowled at the grinning girl beside him as he rubbed the aching spot on his side.<\/p>\n “I\u2019m sorry Mrs Wilkinson did you say something?”<\/p>\n “I was only asking if you would like another piece of pie,” Molly Wilkinson repeated, unable to keep an amused smile from forming on her lips.<\/p>\n “Oh..er\u2026no, no thanks Mrs Wilkinson, I\u2019m full to bursting. If you keep feeding me up like this I\u2019ll end up bigger than my brother Hoss.”<\/p>\n “In that case why don\u2019t you and Bobby head outside and finish the barn chores while I clear the dishes?”<\/p>\n “Come on Joe,” Bobby called, rising from the table. “Once we feed the horses, I\u2019ll show you my new rifle.”<\/p>\n A restraining hand was quickly placed on Bobby\u2019s shoulder. “You just be careful young man. Show Joe the rifle by all means, but that\u2019s as far as it goes. I don\u2019t want you loading it where the girls are playing. We don\u2019t want any accidents.”<\/p>\n Bobby looked at Joe and raised his eyes upwards in frustration at his father\u2019s caution, but his reply was still respectful. “Sure Pa, I just want Joe to have a look at it that\u2019s all.”<\/p>\n As the boys left the house, Matt Wilkinson reached over and tugged gently on his twin daughters\u2019 pigtails. “Go on scamps, I\u2019m sure you would just love to keep watch on those boys and make sure they don\u2019t get into any mischief.”<\/p>\n The identical little girls started to giggle in unison as they slid from their chairs and followed Bobby and his friend out of the door.<\/p>\n Once they were alone Matt Wilkinson turned his attention to his pretty wife. “Speaking of mischief,” he admonished. “You are a vixen! I\u2019m beginning to think you enjoy leading the Cartwright boy on.”<\/p>\n Molly\u2019s mouth fell open in shock. “I don\u2019t know what you mean Matt Wilkinson. Joe Cartwright is nothing more than a child.”<\/p>\n As Molly made to move away from the table, Matt grabbed her by the arm and with a sharp tug he pulled her forward and over his knee. With a raised hand he landed two, none too gentle, swats on his wife\u2019s behind.<\/p>\n “Don\u2019t play the innocent with me young lady,” he reprimanded. “That boy can\u2019t take his eyes off you and you know it. Lord knows what his family must be thinking; he spends more time here than he does at home.”<\/p>\n Molly yelped as another swat landed on her rear end. “I still don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about; Joe Cartwright has been coming here to visit with Bobby since they were small boys.”<\/p>\n Matt laughed as he pulled his wife up into a sitting position on his lap and planted a wet kiss on her gorgeous pouting mouth. “God you are beautiful,” he sighed, before running his hands over her slim but curvaceous body. “A hard life and three kids has done nothing to ruin your looks. You look as lovely now\u2026\u2026\u2026no even lovelier\u2026\u2026.. than you did when I first met you.”<\/p>\n Molly started to chuckle. “I wish! I was seventeen when we met and that was sixteen years ago. And now you have the nerve to accuse me of trying to seduce a fourteen year old boy.”<\/p>\n Wrapping his large muscular arms tightly round her waist, Matt shook his head. “No, I didn\u2019t say you were trying to seduce him, I said you were leading him on. Not that I can blame him, or you, of course, I can understand how you might feel flattered. I think most young fellows at that age lust for the experience of an older woman.”<\/p>\n Molly tried to prise his arms away. “I sincerely hope not,” she cried. “If I thought Bobby\u2019s mind was going in that direction, I would dust his pants for him good and proper.”<\/p>\n “Oh so it\u2019s all right for his friends to lust after older women but not your precious baby,” he teased, before planting another kiss on her lips and allowing his hands to roam freely.<\/p>\n Just at that moment the door opened and Bobby burst into the room followed by Little Joe. Completely ignoring his parent\u2019s apparent intimacy he asked. “Hey Pa, would you mind if Joe and me did some target practice? We\u2019ll be real careful and go out to the clearing away from the twins,” he added before his father could refuse.<\/p>\n Molly pushed her husband\u2019s hands away from her waist before standing and straightened her clothes. Matt smiled at his exuberant young son and with a ruffle of the boy\u2019s blonde locks he conceded. “I\u2019ll come with you; I want to see if you\u2019re as good a shot as you say you are.\u201d Then with a wink in his wife\u2019s direction he added. “But only for a short while, your mother and I have plans.”<\/p>\n The only person in the room that felt in the least bit uncomfortable with the scene was Little Joe. Having been raised in a house full of men he was completely unfamiliar with such shows of affection and the obvious sexual undertones were playing havoc with his already overactive hormones.<\/p>\n “I-I-If you don\u2019t mind Bobby, I think I better be heading home,” Joe blurted out. His face was flushed and he couldn\u2019t look anyone in the eye. “Pa said not to be late as I still haven\u2019t done my homework and it has to be handed in tomorrow.”<\/p>\n “You can copy mine if you like,” Bobby volunteered without thinking. “I\u2019ll meet you in the morning before school.”<\/p>\n Matt Wilkinson grabbed his young son by the back of the neck and twisting him round to face him he scolded. “There will be no copying young man. If Joe has homework to do he better get off home and finish it.”<\/p>\n A relieved Joe said his goodbyes and quickly exited the house. Wiping the sweat from his brow with the sleeve of his jacket he made his way over to where his horse was tethered.<\/p>\n Seconds later two small figures appeared at his side as he was about to swing mount. One little seven year old pushed the other one forward and whispered, “You ask him.” Pushing her sister back the first child sniped, “No, you ask him.”<\/p>\n “Ask me what?” Joe queried, looking from one expectant face to the other.<\/p>\n “Have you got a girlfriend?” they giggled shyly, both speaking at once.<\/p>\n Joe smiled; this he could handle. “Why? Do you have someone in mind?”<\/p>\n “Can we be your girlfriend?” Jenny asked hopefully, grabbing hold of her sister\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n “What both of you?” Joe asked, pretending to be shocked, but secretly amused at the turn of events.<\/p>\n “We share everything,” Josie declared, her big blue eyes full of anticipation.<\/p>\n “Tell you what girls,” Joe informed them, bending down slightly and giving them his full attention. “How about I think about it for a couple of days and then we\u2019ll talk about it again? It\u2019s a pretty serious business for a fella, having a girlfriend, and I don\u2019t want to rush into things.”<\/p>\n Two blonde heads nodded together and then turning as one they headed back to the house, calling out as they went. “Hey Mama, Little Joe\u2019s gonna be our boyfriend.”<\/p>\n Joe smiled to himself as he vaulted on his horse and took off for home. The Wilkinson twins had been following him round since they were not much more than toddlers and he generally paid no heed to their adoration. But this time it left him with heat on his cheeks and a warm satisfying glow.<\/p>\n *********************<\/p>\n It was almost supper time when Joe rode up to his home and dismounted. As he entered the barn, Adam turned to his middle brother and teased. “Hey Hoss, would you believe the prodigal son has returned.”<\/p>\n Hoss feigned amazement and shouted out at the top of his voice, “Hey Hop Sing, start cooking the fatted calf, the youngest son has finally come home.\u201d With a wide grin he winked at Adam before adding, \u201cWe better get it eaten quick before he takes off again.\u201d One look at Joe\u2019s face and he doubled over with laughter at his own joke.<\/p>\n “Very funny guys,” Joe scowled. “I haven\u2019t been gone that long.”<\/p>\n “Seems to me, you are never here these days little brother,” Adam stated. “What is the attraction over at the Wilkinson house anyway? Could it be they have a pretty lady visiting them that we don\u2019t know about?”<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s colouring heightened immediately and Adam knew at once that his comment had hit near the mark, but he was pretty sure the Wilkinson\u2019s didn\u2019t have any visitors. It was several moments before the penny dropped. “Not Mrs Wilkinson!” Adam thought to himself. But then again was that so strange? Adam himself remembered being attracted to several older women at Joe\u2019s age. Not that the said women knew anything about it, or if they did, they had the good grace not to let on.<\/p>\n “Just as well you\u2019re not late for supper again,” Adam admonished as he walked out of the barn and towards the house. “Don\u2019t think Pa would tolerate it two nights in a row.”<\/p>\n As the front door opened Ben Cartwright looked up from the papers he was reading and glanced in the direction of his eldest son. “Was that Joe I heard riding in?”<\/p>\n “Yes Pa,” Adam called back as he took off his gun belt and laid it on the credenza.<\/p>\n “Glad to see he\u2019s early for once,” Ben declared. “Just what is it he finds so interesting about the Wilkinson place all of a sudden?”<\/p>\n “I\u2019m beginning to think it is more of a \u2018who\u2019 than \u2018what\u2019 Pa,” Adam replied with a knowing smirk.<\/p>\n Ben was intrigued and stepped out from behind his desk. “What do you mean by that?”<\/p>\n “Well I could be wrong, but I think Little Joe might have a crush on Mrs Wilkinson.”<\/p>\n “Don\u2019t be ridiculous Adam. Mrs Wilkinson is old enough to be his mother,” Ben retorted, dismissing Adam\u2019s theory immediately.<\/p>\n “You have to admit she\u2019s a fine looking woman Pa, and to Joe the unobtainable is a lot more alluring than facing rejection by girls his own age.”<\/p>\n Ben was going to dismiss Adam\u2019s supposition once more; the whole idea was preposterous, but even before the words could leave his mouth, little tell tale signs came to mind. Joe had been taking an awful lot of time over his appearance lately, which was a relatively new phenomenon considering only a few weeks ago Ben had needed to check behind his ears before he left the house.<\/p>\n “You could be right I suppose,\u201d Ben mused. \u201cI better have a word with him. I wouldn\u2019t want him to do or say anything inappropriate.”<\/p>\n “Aw Pa, surely you\u2019re not that old you\u2019ve forgotten what it feels like to be 14. I\u2019m sure Joe would die if he thought Mrs Wilkinson even suspected what was going on inside his head.” Adam then started to laugh. “Heck Pa, he would die if he thought you even suspected what was going on inside his head.”<\/p>\n Ben looked uncomfortable. “I don\u2019t even want to think about it. Little Joe seems so young still.\u201d Then with a heavy sigh he had to admit, \u201cI guess I forget he\u2019s not a little boy anymore.”<\/p>\n “It\u2019s all part of the growing process Pa. Don\u2019t you remember Mrs Carlton who opened the dress shop in town when I was about twelve? Now she was a good looking woman. I remember trying to find any excuse to visit the shop and, believe me, that was hard since she sold nothing but women\u2019s things. Marie must have wondered why on earth I was always so willing to do her errands.”<\/p>\n Ben laughed at the recollection. “Oh she did wonder at first, but I think the truth began to dawn on her in time. In fact she even played along and often sent you on errands for ribbon and such that she didn\u2019t even need.”<\/p>\n This was news to Adam and he thought, not for the first time, how lucky they had been when Marie entered their lives. Although he had been resentful at first, over the years he had grown to appreciate the beauty and wisdom of his young stepmother.<\/p>\n Supper was a light hearted affair and everyone was in good spirits. Ben and Adam had signed a contract with Malcolm Watson in San Francisco to supply all the beef they could deliver and at top rate. All their hard work was finally paying off and the Ponderosa was becoming one, if not the, most prominent ranch in the Nevada territory. It was hard to believe this was the same land Ben had settled in all those years ago with two small boys in tow and not even the price of a meal in his pocket.<\/p>\n Hoss was looking forward to his twenty-first birthday only two weeks away. Ben had promised him the new saddle he had been eyeing in town for the past few months and Adam had already purchased a new rifle for him. Little Joe said that his present would be a surprise but Hoss already suspected that Joe had been saving his allowance and, with a little help from Pa, had bought him the new bridle he had set his heart on.<\/p>\n “Sure wish I had me that new rifle now,” Hoss said wistfully. “Especially if we are to track that wolf that\u2019s been bothering the herd in the bottom pasture near Sunrise Pass this past week.”<\/p>\n “What wolf? I don\u2019t know anything about any wolf!” Joe chipped in; a bit put out that no one had mentioned a wolf to him.<\/p>\n Ben raised his fork and shook his head. “Well we won\u2019t be doing any hunting anytime soon Hoss. We have plenty to keep us busy getting the cattle ready for the drive to San Francisco. Much as I would like to get the varmint, we don\u2019t have the time, or the manpower, to be running off round the countryside looking for one lone wolf.”<\/p>\n “But Pa\u2026\u2026.”<\/p>\n “No, I\u2019m sorry Hoss; we really just don\u2019t have the time. The wolf will have to wait.”<\/p>\n “We can\u2019t just leave the wolf to roam free Pa, not if it\u2019s killing our cattle,” Joe piped up. “And it would give me a chance to show you how good I am with the Kentucky rifle Adam got me for Christmas; I\u2019m the best shot around.”<\/p>\n “You won\u2019t be hunting anything Little Joe,” Adam replied. “Pa\u2019s right, we have enough to do without taking time off to go hunting. If the wolf gets close we\u2019ll frighten it off, but otherwise it will have to wait.”<\/p>\n “But you know it just won\u2019t go away,” Joe whined, not willing to concede.<\/p>\n “Let\u2019s just drop the subject,” Ben said in a tone that brooked no argument. Then looking over at his youngest son\u2019s gaping mouth, he barked. “Joseph please close your mouth while you\u2019re eating, your table manners leave a lot to be desired young man.”<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s mouth closed instantly and his head bent forward as he focused his eyes on the plate in front of him. Maybe his Pa and brothers wouldn\u2019t have time to hunt the wolf, but he was sure he would find a way; he just had to think how to get his rifle out of the house without his Pa finding out. The opportunity came round even quicker than he could have hoped.<\/p>\n “Isn\u2019t it typical,” Ben was saying. “We have so little time to get ready for the cattle drive and Bill Thomson has finally decided to put the timber contract out for tender.\u201d Then with a resigned shrug he added, \u201cwell we can\u2019t do everything; I guess we\u2019ll just have to miss out on that one.”<\/p>\n “No we shouldn\u2019t, that\u2019s an important contract Pa,” Adam acknowledged, trying hard to think of a solution. “You know if we worked on some figures after supper, you could travel to Reno tomorrow, submit our tender, stay overnight and be back on Wednesday. I could get things moving here.”<\/p>\n Ben pondered Adam\u2019s suggestion for a few minutes. “You really think you can handle things Adam?” As he was speaking Ben indicated his head towards his youngest son. Lately Joe and Adam had been locking horns and he had tried to keep the two of them apart as much as possible. Joe didn\u2019t take kindly to Adam giving him orders and Adam refused to put up with any of what he referred to as, Joe\u2019s nonsense.<\/p>\n Joe hadn\u2019t missed the inclination of the head and under different circumstances he would have been full of righteous indignation, but this time he could see the situation working to his advantage. “I could stay at the Wilkinson\u2019s tomorrow night Pa, Mrs Wilkinson\u2019s always saying I can stay over if you are away on business. Bobby and I have a project to do for school and it would be easier if we did it together.”<\/p>\n Ben and Adam exchanged glances; Joe was never this amenable. Under different circumstances Adam would have been suspicious about Joe\u2019s motives, but thinking of his younger brother\u2019s crush on Mrs Wilkinson he just smiled at Ben and nodded his head in acceptance of Joe\u2019s suggestion.<\/p>\n “Well if you think Mr and Mrs Wilkinson won\u2019t be put out, that would be an ideal solution Joseph. Just you be on your best behaviour and don\u2019t give me any reason to speak to you on my return.”<\/p>\n Joe rolled his eyes and inwardly grinned at the idea that had formulated in his head. After all, what could he possibly get up to?<\/p>\n *********************<\/p>\n The following morning Ben was up bright and early and left the house before the rest of the family had risen.<\/p>\n After being woken by Hoss, a sleepy Little Joe, still dressed in his nightshirt, sauntered into his eldest brother\u2019s room. Adam was in the middle of shaving and stopped for a second to hurry Joe along.<\/p>\n “Don\u2019t you think you should be getting a move on buddy? You don\u2019t want to be late for school.”<\/p>\n Joe was unconcerned and sitting on his brother\u2019s bed, he watched closely as Adam resumed shaving.<\/p>\n “Adam?”<\/p>\n “Yep.”<\/p>\n “When do you suppose I will need to start shaving?” Joe asked, jutting out his chin and rubbing his fingers backwards and forwards over the smooth skin.<\/p>\n Adam tried hard not to laugh. Reaching over he stroked Joe\u2019s cheek and thought how best to answer. “It may be a little while yet Joe, you\u2019re still a bit young to be thinking about shaving.”<\/p>\n Joe scowled and kept on rubbing his chin. “When did you start shaving Adam? Hoss says he was about sixteen.”<\/p>\n Adam tried to think back. Hoss probably was about that age. Even though Hoss was as tall as most men by the age of twelve, his chin had remained hairless for at least another three or four years. Adam attributed it to Hoss\u2019 fair hair and skin.<\/p>\n “I think I was probably about the same age as Hoss,” Adam lied. In fact he was younger than 14 when a thick dark shadow had started to form, indicating the changes taking place in his body. Unlike Joe, Adam had been tall for his age and puberty had come to him much earlier in life. Even now Joe\u2019s voice was not quite broken and often went up a few octaves when he was excited.<\/p>\n Changing the subject Adam asked. “Are you okay staying at the Wilkinson\u2019s Joe? You don\u2019t have to go if you don\u2019t want to. Hoss and I won\u2019t be around much over the next few days, but I\u2019m quite sure you\u2019ll manage well enough without us.”<\/p>\n “Oh I\u2019ll be fine staying with Bobby, Adam,” Joe quickly answered. “Mrs Wilkinson\u2019s really nice.”<\/p>\n Once again Adam suppressed a smile. “Yes she\u2019s a very pretty lady,” he said slowly, waiting and getting the reaction he expected; Joe\u2019s face reddened immediately. Adam looked the other way and continued to dress, pretending not to notice.<\/p>\n “Adam?” Joe asked hesitantly, making his eldest brother hold his breath, wondering what on earth Joe was going to ask him next. “Did you think my mother was very pretty?”<\/p>\n \u201cOh, oh!\u201d Adam thought. \u201cI hope this is not going where I think it\u2019s going.\u201d<\/p>\n “Yes your mother was a very pretty lady,” Adam replied, hoping that would be the end of it and Joe\u2019s frog hopping mind would go off in a different direction.<\/p>\n “But wasn\u2019t it strange when she came to live with you? I mean having a woman in the house after all those years. Did you think of her, well you know, like a mother?”<\/p>\n Now it was Adam\u2019s turn to blush. How could he ever explain the complex relationship he had with Marie to Joe?<\/p>\n When Marie had entered his life he had been eleven years old. At first he had resented her and not wanted her to be part of their family, but as time went on he had grown to love her as his own mother. But\u2026..and there was a but\u2026\u2026there had been an in-between stage when Adam was about twelve or thirteen, when he had all sorts of mixed feelings. His body was changing and it wasn\u2019t easy having a beautiful woman in the house who wasn\u2019t his mother and, more to the point, wasn\u2019t anywhere near old enough to be his mother. Those had been difficult years and he didn\u2019t like to think back to that time. Poor Marie must have wondered why he was so rude and avoided her so much, never suspecting the real reason.<\/p>\n “Adam, did you?” Joe persisted, bringing Adam out of his reverie.<\/p>\n Instead of replying, Adam pulled Joe from the bed and onto his feet. With a swat to Joe\u2019s behind he pushed him from the room. “Get ready for school now, or else you\u2019re going to be late.”<\/p>\n On his own once more Adam leaned back against the closed door and wiped a hand over his brow. “Phew” he thought. “Joe must have it real bad for Mrs Wilkinson.” Then with a knowing smile he relaxed; this would pass, he knew that from personal experience.<\/p>\n And so shortly after breakfast, when Adam and Hoss left for the day, Joe was able to put his well thought out plan into action and take his Kentucky rifle, plus enough provisions for one night, and leave for school without anyone being any the wiser of his intentions. Now all he had to do was get Bobby Wilkinson to convince his parents he was staying at the Ponderosa that evening and they could then hunt the wolf without worrying about being found out.<\/p>\n *********************<\/p>\n That day at school, Bobby Wilkinson and Joe Cartwright hatched their plan. This was going to be so easy. And sure enough, that afternoon Bobby explained to his mother about the project he and Joe had to finish and she readily agreed that he could stay overnight with Joe. The hard part was going to be sneaking his rifle out of the house without anyone noticing. His father was still working and probably wouldn\u2019t be back until supper time, but his mother was no pushover and he didn\u2019t want to raise her suspicions.<\/p>\n Bobby\u2019s mother went to his room to pack an overnight bag and he hovered irritably in the background, insisting he was quite capable of doing it himself. Then just when he thought he was going to have to leave the house without the rifle, one of the twins screamed at the top of her lungs. “Mama! Jenny pulled my hair!” her twin yelling back just as loudly, “you pulled mine first!”<\/p>\n Throwing exasperated hands in the air Molly Wilkinson went to sort out the quarrel with her warring daughters. This was just the opportunity Bobby had been waiting for and picking up his overnight bag, he rushed down the stairs, collected his rifle from the gun rack and ran out into the yard, calling over his shoulder. \u201cBye Ma, see you tomorrow night.”<\/p>\n Bobby\u2019s escape wasn\u2019t quite as smooth as he hoped. As he put his left foot in the stirrup and prepared to mount his horse, a little voice whispered from behind. “You\u2019re gonna be in big trouble with Pa, Bobby Wilkinson.”<\/p>\n “What\u2019s it got to do with you little girl?” Bobby whispered back to his young sister as she stood looking at him in that \u2018I\u2019m gonna tell Ma\u2019 kind of way\u2019.<\/p>\n “You\u2019re not supposed to have your rifle unless Pa says so,” Jenny persisted. “He\u2019ll whip your hide,” she added, trying to sound as much like their Pa as possible.<\/p>\n “Not if you don\u2019t tell him,” Bobby wheedled. “And if you keep our secret, I\u2019ll buy you candy when we go into town on Saturday.”<\/p>\n Jenny pondered his proposition. “Can\u2019t I tell Josie?” She didn\u2019t hold with keeping secrets from her twin.<\/p>\n Bobby shook his head. “No. You tell anyone at all and there won\u2019t be any candy.”<\/p>\n “Okay,” Jenny said finally, happy to divide the candy with her sister and knowing that would make up for not sharing the secret.<\/p>\n *********************<\/p>\n The boys met up at the end of the lane and excitedly talked of their adventure. “Where we going to start looking?” Bobby asked.<\/p>\n “Why don\u2019t we make our way over to Sunrise Pass? That\u2019s not far from the herd and Hoss said he saw the wolf there one time.”<\/p>\n “Aren\u2019t you afraid that Adam and Hoss might see us?” Bobby asked nervously. He was more than a little afraid of Joe\u2019s eldest brother and wouldn\u2019t put it past Adam to tan both their hides if he found out what they were up to.<\/p>\n “Naw, don\u2019t worry about them. They\u2019ll have gone home before we get there. There\u2019s only a few men left to look after the herd at night, we can easily avoid them.”<\/p>\n Two hours later the boys were scouting round the outskirts of the herd at great pains not to be seen by the men left behind on watch.<\/p>\n “Why don\u2019t we have supper and wait until dark?” Joe suggested. “I\u2019ll bet the wolf is more likely to show itself then.”<\/p>\n By now Bobby was anxious to make camp, for the idea of tracking a wolf in the dark was becoming less and less appealing by the minute. “Joe do you really think this is a good idea?”<\/p>\n Joe looked at his friend in disbelief. “Don\u2019t you go backing out on me Bobby Wilkinson! We\u2019ll never get another chance to do this.”<\/p>\n “But what if we get found out?”<\/p>\n “Who\u2019s gonna find out? We\u2019ll go to school in the morning and home in the afternoon. Easy as pie.”<\/p>\n “But what if your Pa speaks to my Pa?” Bobby persisted.<\/p>\n Joe shifted nervously in the saddle. “We\u2019ll just have to keep them apart for a few days, after that my Pa, Adam and Hoss will be away on a cattle drive and there won\u2019t be a problem.”<\/p>\n Bobby visibly relaxed knowing if Mr Cartwright and Joe\u2019s brothers were away for a week or two maybe things would work out after all.<\/p>\n The boys made camp and ate the provisions Joe had brought with him in silence. Now that their adventure was here, both boys were feeling more than a little nervous about the prospect of tracking a wild animal in the dark.<\/p>\n The night proved to be a long one. Hour after hour passed by with no sighting of the wolf whatsoever and it was looking as if all they would get for their trouble was saddle sore behinds and a night without sleep. The boys were wearing warm jackets, but once the sun had gone down the night air took on a chill that seeped through the material and penetrated their bones.<\/p>\n This wasn\u2019t turning out to be the adventure they hopedwhen just as they were about to head back to camp a spine chilling howl screamed out into the night.<\/p>\n Both boys came to an abrupt halt and looked at each other in trepidation. Their horses became skittish and Joe stroked Cochise\u2019s long neck in an effort to calm him.<\/p>\n “What now?” Bobby asked in hushed tones.<\/p>\n “It\u2019s coming from over there,” Joe whispered back, pointing over to his right towards Turner\u2019s Rock. “Why don\u2019t we tie the horses here and track it on foot?”<\/p>\n The boys dismounted and keeping close together they crept through the undergrowth and over towards the hills. The moonlight cast shadows through the trees making the whole experience even eerier than it would have been in black darkness.<\/p>\n Climbing over the rocks, Joe and Bobby made their way to the top of the hill, all the time with eyes popping out of their heads and their senses on full alert. Breathing heavily they reached the summit and looked around.<\/p>\n “Do you see anything?” Bobby asked in a barely audible whisper. Joe shook his head and indicated to Bobby to get his rifle ready.<\/p>\n With shaking hands both boys loaded their rifles and sat down with their backs to each other so that they wouldn\u2019t be taken unawares. With eyes darting in every direction they waited and waited for another sign. Several minutes passed before the howling sound was heard again. With the hairs on the back of their necks standing on end they looked in the direction of the wolf and their hearts almost stopped when they saw it standing less than forty feet from where they were sitting.<\/p>\n Although Joe\u2019s heart was pounding in his chest, he willed his hands to be steady as he lifted his rifle and pointed it towards the wild animal that was still unaware of their presence. Just as he was about to pull the trigger a sharp tug on his arm made him waiver and he turned furious eyes on his friend.<\/p>\n “Why did you do that?” Joe asked through gritted teeth. “I had him in my sights; he was as good as dead.”<\/p>\n Bobby ignored his friend\u2019s temper, instead pointing down the hill and into the pasture beyond.<\/p>\n Straining his eyes in the moonlight Joe was barely able to see what Bobby was pointing at. About half a dozen men on horseback were herding about thirty head of cattle away from the main herd.<\/p>\n “Who do you think they are?” Bobby asked.<\/p>\n “Rustlers!” Joe said with conviction. He knew enough about the operations on the Ponderosa to know this was not a normal procedure.<\/p>\n “Shouldn\u2019t we go and tell your brothers?” Bobby asked. Knowing how serious a crime rustling was, he was willing to risk a tanning in order to capture the men responsible.<\/p>\n Joe thought for a second then shook his head. “No, by the time we get to the house and back they\u2019ll be long gone and we\u2019ll never find out what they\u2019re up to. We need to follow them and see where they go first.”<\/p>\n Bobby wasn\u2019t too sure of his friend\u2019s suggestion but he kept his own counsel. Once Joe got an idea in his head, he very rarely changed his mind.<\/p>\n The wolf now forgotten they scrambled down the hill and back to their horses as quickly as they could. With no time to return to camp they set out in pursuit of the men, with not a thought as to what might happen if they were seen.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t long before the boys had the men and cattle in their line of vision and they trailed behind as far back as possible, hoping the men would be too occupied to be aware of their trackers.<\/p>\n Several miles passed before the men turned the cattle into the entrance of a ravine that Joe had long since forgotten existed. Dismounting, Joe and Bobby secured their horses before following on foot once again. Climbing up the nearest rock, Joe looked down in shock and anger at the scene below. Several hundred of, what he assumed were his family and neighbours cattle, were herded together in the tight space.<\/p>\n “We better get help Joe,” Bobby whispered. “This is far bigger than we first thought.”<\/p>\n “It\u2019s almost light,” Joe observed, ignoring his friend\u2019s plea.<\/p>\n “Joe, what we gonna do?” Bobby implored.<\/p>\n Joe looked at his friend\u2019s anxious face. “You ride back to the ranch and let Adam know what\u2019s going on,” Joe instructed. “I\u2019ll wait here and keep an eye on things. They may decide to move the herd and I need to know where they go.”<\/p>\n Bobby wasn\u2019t sure it was a good idea, but something needed to be done. “I\u2019ll be back as quick as I can,” he promised and scurried off to get his horse.<\/p>\n The only thought in Bobby Wilkinson\u2019s mind was to get to Adam Cartwright and pass on the responsibility of the situation to an adult. Even the knowledge that he and Joe would probably receive a tanning for their efforts was an unfortunate consequence he was prepared to live with. Unfortunately in his hurry he forgot about the reason they were in this predicament in the first place; the wolf!<\/p>\n Bobby was passing close to where they had last seen the wolf when it struck without warning. Leaping into the air the wolf knocked the boy from his horse and sank its teeth into his leg as he lay there helpless on the ground. Bobby didn\u2019t even feel the pain; he hit his head on a rock as he fell and was rendered unconscious immediately. However as luck would have it the boy\u2019s terrified horse probably saved his life. Rearing high into the air, it kicked out franticly and one lucky kick connected with the wolf sending it scurrying off in pain.<\/p>\n The wolf ran in one direction and the horse ran in the other leaving Bobby alone and bleeding from the head and leg, miles from home and help. Only Joe Cartwright was aware he was out there, but Joe was having enough problems of his own without worrying about his friend\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n Bobby had only been gone about forty minutes and Joe was having difficulty keeping awake as he lay on the rock and watched the men and cattle below. His eyes closed for about the tenth time, but this time they didn\u2019t reopen and Joe\u2019s body gave way to his fatigue and as his head slumped forward onto his chest he slept.<\/p>\n It was only the persistent dig in his back that brought him back to the present and he awoke disorientated, completely unaware for a minute where he was.<\/p>\n Once his faculties had been restored, a sense of dread passed over Joe, and he turned his head with trepidation, fearing what he would find.<\/p>\n “On your feet boy,” his awakener spat, kicking his foot into Joe\u2019s spine with cruel accuracy. Joe glanced towards his rifle now lying on the ground next to him. “Don\u2019t get any ideas kid, I can blow your head off in the blink of an eye.”<\/p>\n Joe struggled to his feet and stood with his hands raised in front of him. The man stooped down and picked up the rifle before turning Joe round and pushing him down the hill.<\/p>\n Several men looked on in disbelief as Joe was marched in front of them. “Where the hell did he come from?” one of the men demanded grabbing Joe by the front of his jacket and lifting him bodily from the ground.<\/p>\n A voice piped up from behind. “Put the kid down Dusty, I know who he is.”<\/p>\n Dusty released his grip on Joe and turned to confront the other man. “What do you know about this Bart?”<\/p>\n Bart Meadows walked out from behind Joe and retaliated. “I don\u2019t know what he\u2019s doing here anymore than you do, but what I do know is he\u2019s Cartwright\u2019s kid. The one they call Little Joe.” It was then Joe recognised Meadows as one of his father\u2019s ranch hands.<\/p>\n The surrounding men became agitated; they couldn\u2019t afford for this to go wrong and being recognised by Cartwright\u2019s brat was something they had not envisaged. Dusty reached out and grabbed Joe once more. Striking him hard across the face with the back of his hand he shouted, “Okay kid, who knows you\u2019re here? I want answers and I want them now.”<\/p>\n “No one knows,” Joe cried trying to shield himself as another blow followed the first and another one after that. “I\u2019m on my own.”<\/p>\n Bart Meadows wasn\u2019t convinced. “There\u2019s no way Cartwright would let the kid go running around alone at night. There has to be a good reason why he\u2019s out here.”<\/p>\n Dusty wasn\u2019t the waiting kind, drawing back his fist he punched Joe in the stomach. It wasn\u2019t the hardest of punches but it was still enough to make Joe crumple to the ground gasping for breath. “Now kid you better start talking and quick. I want to know why you\u2019re out here and how come you were sneaking up on us?”<\/p>\n Joe tried hard to clear his thoughts, but the pain in his stomach and face made it impossible. Fighting back unwelcome tears, he blurted out half truths that he desperately hoped would satisfy them. “I wanted to hunt a wolf that\u2019s been bothering the herd. My Pa went away for a few days and I wanted to hunt it on my own. I was looking for it when I saw you take the cattle. I-I-I followed you here, but my brothers don\u2019t know I\u2019m out here or else I\u2019d be in big trouble.”<\/p>\n The men laughed at the last statement. “Don\u2019t you think you\u2019re in big trouble now sonny?” Dusty asked pulling Joe\u2019s hair back so that he could look him in the face.<\/p>\n “Yes s-s-sir,” Joe whispered, closing his eyes so he didn\u2019t have to gaze at the vicious thug in front of him.<\/p>\n “That doesn\u2019t give us much time,” Bart Meadows said with a shake of his head. “When they find out the kidis missing in the morning they\u2019ll have every available man looking for him. I know old man Cartwright and there will be hell to pay if he gets back and finds the boy gone.”<\/p>\n “T-t-they think I\u2019m staying at a friend\u2019s house, they won\u2019t be expecting me home till evening,” Joe butted in, hoping he could stall things a bit longer. He would love to have the satisfaction of telling them help was on the way just to see their faces, but on the other hand he didn\u2019t want to spook them into taking off before Bobby raised the alarm.<\/p>\n Dusty tightened his grip on Little Joe\u2019s hair making the boy wince in pain. “You better be telling me the truth runt or I\u2019ll skin your hide.”<\/p>\n Joe did his best to nod his head in earnest and Dusty finally let go.<\/p>\n “So what do we do with him?” one of the other men wanted to know. They were all beginning to feel jittery about how things were working out. It was one thing to steal Cartwright cattle but to beat up on the Cartwright kid was not something they particularly wanted to be involved with. Ben Cartwright would eventually stop tracking them for taking his cattle but for hurting one of his sons he would track them to the ends of the earth.<\/p>\n Pulling Joe to his feet Bart Meadows pushed him over to the man that had spoken. “Since he worries you so much, why don\u2019t you tie him up so he doesn\u2019t give us any trouble?”<\/p>\n “Then what?” the man asked.<\/p>\n “Then I try and think of a way to get rid of him that won\u2019t implicate us,” Bart replied with a shrug of his shoulders. “He knows my face; I can\u2019t just let him go.”<\/p>\n “I didn\u2019t sign up for no killing and I certainly don\u2019t hold with beating up and murdering some kid hardly big enough to wipe his own nose.”<\/p>\n “You get paid to do as you\u2019re told. Unless of course you want out?” Meadows asked menacingly. The man knew without being told what the \u2018out\u2019 would be and he backed off immediately.<\/p>\n Joe wasn\u2019t prepared to give in quite so easily; after all it was his life they were talking about. “Just tie me up and leave me here,” he pleaded. “I won\u2019t tell anybody who you are, I-I-I promise I won\u2019t.”<\/p>\n “Sorry kid, no deal,” Meadows replied walking back over to the boy. Then running his fingers across Joe\u2019s bloody and dirty face he wiped away a tear mockingly, “Forgive me if I don\u2019t trust you Little Joe, but I know your Pa and he won\u2019t rest until he finds out who messed up his boy\u2019s pretty face.”<\/p>\n Joe didn\u2019t get the chance to say another word before he was gagged, laid face down on the ground and bound hand and foot. Not for the first time in his short life he had time to reflect on his impulsiveness and he prayed to God that Bobby would raise the alarm in time and give him a chance to make it up to his Pa for the trouble he caused.<\/p>\n Little did he know that at that precise moment in time Bobby Wilkinson was in a worse shape than he was.<\/p>\n *********************<\/p>\n Hardly any time had passed before Bart Meadows thought he had come up with the perfect solution. Not caring whether Joe heard him or not, he gave his instructions to Dusty. “Take the kid back to the herd and shoot him with his own rifle.”<\/p>\n Dusty looked perplexed. “How\u2019s that gonna help? I could be riding back into trouble.”<\/p>\n “Don\u2019t you see?” Bart explained. “The Cartwrights will soon realise the kid\u2019s gone. When they come looking for him they\u2019ll find him dead, shot with his own rifle.” Then as if talking to a ten year old he continued. “Kids shouldn\u2019t be out on their own with a loaded weapon. Old man Cartwright will think the kid fell and shot himself, and they\u2019ll have no reason to suspect foul play.”<\/p>\n “What about his face?” Dusty asked. “He\u2019s gonna have a few bruises after that walloping I gave him.”<\/p>\n Bart didn\u2019t have to ponder the problem long. “Simple, just make sure you take him to high ground,” Bart continued. “By the time he reaches the bottom he\u2019ll have that many bruises on him, his own mother won\u2019t recognise him.”<\/p>\n Dusty thought for a few seconds and then began to laugh. “You know Bart I think you\u2019re right. Cartwright is likely to blame himself, or those other sons of his, for not watching over the kid. By the time they finish mourning him we\u2019ll be long gone.”<\/p>\n Joe listened to the exchange in disbelief; they were talking about him as if his life meant nothing. He knew it was pointless to try and appeal to their better nature; they clearly didn\u2019t have one.<\/p>\n As Dusty strode over and pulled him to his feet, Joe looked pleadingly at the other men gathered. Knowing what Joe\u2019s fate was to be, a few of the men had the good grace to look uncomfortable, but none of them intervened on his behalf. Joe prayed once more that his friend had raised the alarm and help was on its way.<\/p>\n For a fleeting moment Joe thought that Bart\u2019s plan wouldn\u2019t work as they didn\u2019t have his horse and without his horse his father would become suspicious, but again his hopes were dashed when one of the men came forward holding Cochise by the reins.<\/p>\n Seeing the look of disappointment on Joe\u2019s face, Dusty began to laugh. “The horse wasn\u2019t hard to find boy, or didn\u2019t you think we would look?”<\/p>\n Taking a knife from his belt, Dusty bent down and cut the binds that tied Joe\u2019s feet. Futile as it was, Joe couldn\u2019t let the chance pass; as soon as his feet were free he kicked out at Dusty with all his strength, knocking the surprised man over onto his back. Joe then took off running as fast as he could with his hands still tied behind him.<\/p>\n The ensuing mayhem caused Bart Meadows to look over to see what was happening. “Grab hold of that kid,” he shouted in exasperation. “Dusty can\u2019t you control that brat?”<\/p>\n Joe darted from one side to another doing his best to avoid capture, but in reality there was no escape. It didn\u2019t take long for one of the men to tackle him to the ground, where he lay panting and gasping for breath.<\/p>\n Dusty by now was back on his feet and wasn\u2019t prepared to put up with any more nonsense. Walking over to where Joe was lying, he looked down on the boy and laughed. “Got to admit it kid, you\u2019ve certainly got some spunk, but it\u2019s not going to do you any good.” Reaching down he pulled Joe to his feet and slung him over his shoulder before carrying him back to his horse, landing a few heavy swats on Joe\u2019s rear as he did so.<\/p>\n Once Joe was mounted, with his hands retied at the front, Dusty turned their horses in the direction where the main herd was still located. Bart Meadows stepped forward to give him last minute instructions.<\/p>\n “As soon as you\u2019ve sorted out the kid, get going as quickly as you can and meet the others at the old Dawson place just outside of Placerville.”<\/p>\n “Okay, but what about you?”<\/p>\n Bart smiled, \u201cI\u2019ll head back to the herd as usual. Don\u2019t want those Cartwrights\u2019 getting suspicious now do we?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got some gall I\u2019ll give you that,\u201d Dusty laughed. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t want to hang around if it was me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeh, well you\u2019re not me. Just get going and do what you have to.\u201d<\/p>\n Dusty knew better than to stick around after being given an order, so taking hold of Cochise\u2019s reins he headed off as quickly as he could.<\/p>\n When they were about a mile from the herd, Dusty surmised that this was as good a place as any to do the deed. Looking round he decided it was feasible the wolf could have been spotted in the area and was just the place where a fool kid would go hunting. He stopped and pulled Joe from his horse and untied his hands. Taking the boy\u2019s own rifle, Dusty motioned for Joe to take the lead, and without another word the two of them climbed high up into the hills.<\/p>\n The moment of truth had finally come and Dusty was finding out that cold blooded murder wasn\u2019t quite as easy as he thought it would be. He had killed many a man in his time; it was an occupational hazard, but never at point blank range and never a kid.<\/p>\n “Don\u2019t look at me like that boy,” Dusty demanded, wishing he hadn\u2019t made the mistake of examining the boy\u2019s face before shooting him. Joe\u2019s eyes were swimming with unshed tears and his fear was plain to see. “Turn around,” Dusty now instructed. Maybe it would be easier if he didn\u2019t have to look at his victim.<\/p>\n As Joe slowly turned his back on the man, his shoulders trembled with trepidation of what was to come. Again this did not go unnoticed by Dusty and he berated himself for being sentimental. \u2018Get a grip on yourself,” he whispered under his breath, \u2018remember it\u2019s him or you. You could just as easily be hung for stealing cattle as murder.”<\/p>\n Dusty stood up close behind his captive and taking the boy’s own rifle in his right hand he reached forward and put his finger on the trigger. Pointing the gun at Joe’s chest he whispered “sorry kid” and prepared to fire.<\/p>\n Joe’s reaction was instinctive; he was a Cartwright after all and he wasn\u2019t giving up without a fight. Kicking backwards he landed a hefty blow on Dusty’s shins, causing the man to drop the gun and clutch his leg in pain, but not before the gun had gone off.<\/p>\n Joe didn’t get the chance to feel the euphoria of success; the bullet that exploded in his chest made him double in pain and roll down the hill into oblivion.<\/p>\n Dusty scrambled shakily to his feet and frantically strained his eyes to see where the boy had fallen. Joe lay motionless on his stomach as a mounting pool of blood began to seep from beneath his body. The fleeting moment of concern that Dusty had had for the boy’s welfare was past and now all he felt was panic surging up in him for the crime he had committed. He had to get away and quick. The law would certainly hang a man for rustling cattle, but for killing a child, the mob was likely to tear him limb from limb.<\/p>\n As Dusty rode off to meet up with the rest of the gang, the morning sun rose high in the sky, and he prayed that the boy was telling the truth and his family wouldn’t come looking for him until supper time, giving him more than enough time to get away from the scene of the crime.<\/p>\n *********************<\/p>\n Little Joe Cartwright\u2019s first conscious thought was one of total confusion. Where was he? Why did he feel so strange? At this point his brain was still numb with shock and the agonising pain that would follow was still a few moments away.<\/p>\n Joe tried to rationalise his thoughts, put them in some sort of order, but the effort to concentrate was just too much for him and he gave up. He wasn\u2019t in his bed, that much he was certain, but where was he? \u201cI\u2019m outside\u201d he surmised, \u201cI can feel the sun.\u201d With that thought, Joe tried to lick his dry lips and that\u2019s when it happened.<\/p>\n The excruciating agony that racked his body was instant. One moment he felt nothing but the sun on his face, the next he could feel nothing but pain; total enveloping pain. Many times during his short life he had been hurt or ill, but nothing that had gone before could compare with this. His whole body was on fire and if asked, and he had been able to answer, he couldn\u2019t have told anyone which part of his insides was torturing him the most.<\/p>\n For what seemed a lifetime, Joe writhed and thrashed about the hard ground as he tried to break free of the body that was causing him to wish he was dead. The pool of red liquid that spilled out from under him grew larger and larger and a steady stream of blood and mucus ran from his nose and mouth. Without even being aware, Joe lost control of his bodily functions and his own urine and excrement expelled from him and added to the whole indignity that goes hand in hand with dying in such dire circumstances.<\/p>\n The full heat of the midday sun was burning relentlessly down before Joe\u2019s body finally relinquished its instinctive fight to survive and he succumbed to a darkness that promised an end to his torture.<\/p>\n *********************<\/p>\n Ben Cartwright made it back to Virginia City from his business trip early on Wednesday afternoon. He decided to pass the time away with Roy Coffee until school finished so that he could return to the Ponderosa with Joe.<\/p>\n Right on time Ben stood outside the school house waiting for Little Joe to emerge. At precisely 3.30pm the bell rang and Miss Jones opened the door and allowed the children to leave.<\/p>\n Several minutes later Ben stood looking at an empty school yard with a frown on his face. He dismounted from his horse and, with a knowing sigh he entered the school house expecting to find Joe held back for some misdemeanour or other. But he was surprised to find an empty room with only Miss Jones sitting at her desk, preparing for the next day\u2019s lessons. When she looked up to see Ben Cartwright standing before her with a deep frown on his face, she was on her feet immediately to greet him.<\/p>\n “Mr Cartwright,” she declared in her high pitched voice. “How nice to see you. Have you come to discuss Joseph?”<\/p>\n “In a manner of speaking,” Ben replied. “Namely where is he?”<\/p>\n Miss Jones was most perplexed. “But I thought that was what you had come to tell me? Joseph hasn\u2019t been to school today, nor has Bobby Wilkinson. ”<\/p>\n “Oh haven\u2019t they,” Ben growled, trying hard to keep his temper under control.<\/p>\n “I\u2019m sorry Mr Cartwright, but I wasn\u2019t unduly worried when Joseph didn\u2019t attend, after all he told me how busy it is at the ranch at this time.”<\/p>\n It was now Ben\u2019s turn to look perplexed. “I\u2019m sorry Miss Jones, but I don\u2019t see what that has got to do with Joseph\u2019s attendance.”<\/p>\n “As you know Joseph has had quite a bit of time away from school lately, but he explained how short handed you are and I fully understand his first duty is to you and the ranch. But I must say I\u2019m a little surprised,” Miss Jones continued with a slight sniff of her nose. “I hope you don\u2019t mind me saying Mr Cartwright, but I would have thought, with you sitting on the School Board, Joseph\u2019s education would have been your first priority.”<\/p>\n Ben Cartwright was completely taken aback. “I can assure you Miss Jones, Joseph has not had permission to be away from school. When his brothers were his age, or even younger, there were times I couldn\u2019t have survived without their help on the Ponderosa, but those days are long gone and I have plenty of grown men to do the jobs that need doing.\u201d<\/p>\n Miss Jones began to fluster. “Oh Mr Cartwright I do apologise, if I had any inclination whatsoever that Joseph was not telling me the truth I would have informed you immediately.”<\/p>\n Ben raised his hand and tried to calm her. “Don\u2019t worry Miss Jones; this is not in any way your fault. Joseph is my responsibility and you can be sure of one thing; Joseph will be at school tomorrow and every day for the rest of the year. He may not be able to sit down properly for the next few days, but he\u2019ll be here, I can promise you that.”<\/p>\n The ride home to the Ponderosa was not an easy one for Ben as he wondered where he had gone wrong with his youngest son. Joe always tried to push the boundaries further and further, which meant he needed to come down harder on him than he had with his other two sons. Why couldn\u2019t he be more like his brothers? Adam had given Ben a fair few sleepless nights in his time, but nothing compared to his youngest. As for Hoss; well he was no angel but he had always been respectful and, when his father had set a rule, he tried his best to follow it.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s initial anger was cooling when he arrived home but inside he felt a deep hurt. He had always prided himself on being a truthful man and he thought he had instilled that same honesty in his sons, but it looked very much like he had failed to install that particular commandment in his youngest.<\/p>\n Almost as soon as Ben walked through his own front door, Hop Sing was there to greet him with a coffee. “Boys not home yet, Mr Cartwright” Hop Sing announced, “but supper will be ready on time. If they late Hop Sing won\u2019t be warming up food, Hop Sing have plenty to do taking care of house and laundry without running round after boys that know better than be late \u2026\u2026.”<\/p>\n Before Hop Sing could continue with his tirade Ben cut him off in midstream, “I\u2019m sure the boys will be home on time Hop Sing and if not, they can reheat their own suppers.”<\/p>\n Hop Sing seemed mildly satisfied and walked back towards the kitchen, when Ben asked, “Is Joseph home yet?”<\/p>\n “Little Joe go stay with friend last night,” Hop Sing called over his shoulder. “He not come back yet. He should tell Hop Sing if he not coming back. Hop Sing prepare food for boy and boy not here. Waste time, all time waste Hop Sing time.”<\/p>\n Ben was saved from any further explosions, when the front door opened and Hoss entered.<\/p>\n “Hi Pa,” Hoss called cheerfully. “How was your trip?”<\/p>\n Adam entered just a few seconds behind his brother and was also anxious to know how Ben had faired.<\/p>\n “It went well,” Ben replied, “but we\u2019ll talk about that after supper. Right now I have more important things on my mind.”<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss exchanged worried glances. “What\u2019s up Pa?” Hoss asked full of concern.<\/p>\n “Not \u2018what\u2019 \u2013 Who?” Ben replied, a deep frown on his face.<\/p>\n “Little Joe?” Adam stated with irritation. “Come on, what\u2019s he done now?”<\/p>\n “It appears your younger brother has been skipping school quite a bit lately and has been using the excuse that I need him to help out on the ranch.”<\/p>\n Hoss sucked in his breath; skipping school was serious enough, but lying to the teacher \u2013 Joe had really gone and done it this time.<\/p>\n “I take it from that he wasn\u2019t at school today?” Adam asked, feeling his own temper rise at Little Joe\u2019s deception.<\/p>\n “No he wasn\u2019t and neither was Bobby Wilkinson,” Ben acknowledged. “So whatever they have been up to we can safely assume they were in it together.”<\/p>\n “What does Joe have to say for himself?” Adam asked.<\/p>\n “He\u2019s not home yet,” Ben replied, glancing at the grandfather clock to check on the time. “I would have thought he would be home by now in order to keep up the pretence that he had been to school after all.”<\/p>\n A worried frown crossed Hoss\u2019 face. “Don\u2019t you think we may be judging Little Joe a bit hastily Pa? If both him and Bobby weren\u2019t at school today and Joe ain\u2019t arrived home for supper, maybe, just maybe, there is a problem at the Wilkinson\u2019s that we just don\u2019t know about. Some one could be sick or something.”<\/p>\n Adam raised his eyes to the ceiling, “If this was the only time Joe had been absent from school Hoss, I may be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but you heard what Pa said. Little Joe has been skipping school quite a lot lately.”<\/p>\n “Still,” Ben pondered. “I think Hoss is right, we should check out that everything is okay at the Wilkinsons\u2019 before we jump to conclusions. If Joseph hasn\u2019t returned by the time we finish supper, I suggest we ride over and pay them a visit.”<\/p>\n Forty minutes later, the Cartwrights saddled their horses and set out for the Wilkinsons. Even though Ben didn\u2019t want to admit it, there was something gnawing away inside of him. He couldn\u2019t explain what it was, but a sense of foreboding was hanging over him and he couldn\u2019t shake it off.<\/p>\n As they rode into the Wilkinson yard they found Matt Wilkinson preparing to saddle his own horse. On seeing the Cartwrights\u2019 approach he called out,<\/p>\n “Hi Ben. Boys. I was just saddling up to ride over to your place.”<\/p>\n “Is there something wrong?” Ben asked, the concern beginning to mount for his youngest son.<\/p>\n “Well that\u2019s what I was going to ask you,” Matt replied. “When Bobby didn\u2019t come home from school, Molly couldn\u2019t remember whether he said he was staying one or two nights at your place, and well, you know what women are like. Once she started worrying there was no stopping her, so I thought I\u2019d better ride over and collect Bobby and bring him home.”<\/p>\n By this time Ben had dismounted and was stood next to his friend. “But Little Joe said he was staying with you, not the other way round.”<\/p>\n Matt Wilkinson sucked in his breath and counted to ten. “That boy of mine has been getting away with far too much lately. His mother\u2019s influence,” he added by way of explanation. “I think you better all come inside.”<\/p>\n It was a very surprised Molly that looked up from her needlework when the four men walked into the house.<\/p>\n “Oh Matt!” she exclaimed, jumping to her feet trying to straighten her dress, while at the same time pushing loose strands of hair back over her ears. “You might have given me some warning we had company.”<\/p>\n “Molly, nice to see you again,” Ben acknowledged removing his hat.<\/p>\n “Mrs Wilkinson,” Adam and Hoss chorused, nodding their heads in greeting.<\/p>\n Realisation seemed to hit Molly all at once. “Bobby?” she cried. “Has something happened to Bobby?”<\/p>\n “Not yet,” her husband growled in return,” but believe me woman when that boy gets home, all your pleas won\u2019t save his hide this time.”<\/p>\n Matt then explained to his wife how Bobby and Joe had each said they were staying at the others home when in fact they weren\u2019t. Of course that now begged the question where in fact the boys were and why hadn\u2019t they returned home?<\/p>\n “I wonder if the girls know anything about it,” Matt asked, before calling to the twins to join them.<\/p>\n The sisters came shyly into the room, holding tightly onto each others hand. Picking up the little girls and sitting them on his knees, Matt looked very seriously at his daughters.<\/p>\n “Now girls,” he began. “Do you know where Bobby was going when he left home yesterday afternoon?”<\/p>\n With wide eyes fixed on their father, both little girls shook their heads furiously.<\/p>\n Knowing he would need to be more specific to get any real information from the children, Matt tried again. “Did either of you speak to Bobby before he left?”<\/p>\n This time only one little girl shook her head; the other one dropped her chin onto her chest. Matt smiled, now he was getting somewhere.<\/p>\n Handing Josie to her mother he concentrated on Jenny. “Jenny did you speak to Bobby?”<\/p>\n This question was met with a bottom lip being sucked firmly between her teeth. “Jenny?” Matt asked, in a slightly sterner voice. That was enough to get a response and Jenny nodded her head. “What did Bobby say to you Jenny?”<\/p>\n “He said he was going to buy me some candy on Saturday,” Jenny replied now beginning to smile.<\/p>\n “Now why would your brother offer to buy you candy little girl? He isn\u2019t usually so generous with his money.”<\/p>\n “It\u2019s a secret,” Jenny whispered. “I\u2019m not supposed to tell.”<\/p>\n Matt looked at the assembled men and smiled, it was like drawing teeth, but he would get there in the end.<\/p>\n “Now you have a choice young lady,” Matt determined. “You can tell Papa what Bobby was up to and forego the candy, or you can keep quiet and get a tanning alongside your brother.”<\/p>\n “MATT!” Molly exclaimed.<\/p>\n “Quiet Molly,” Matt barked. “Now what\u2019s it going to be Jenny?”<\/p>\n Jenny swallowed hard; it really wasn\u2019t much of a choice. “Bobby took his rifle with him,” she said quietly.<\/p>\n “AFTER ALL I SAID,” Ben exclaimed so loudly that both little girls burst into tears.<\/p>\n “Oh, I-I-I\u2019m so sorry,” Ben apologised, blushing with embarrassment. His own children had grown up with his deep, gruff manner, but he easily forgot how frightening his booming voice could appear to someone else\u2019s small children.<\/p>\n Molly cuddled the small girls to her, but couldn\u2019t wait for Ben to elaborate on his statement.<\/p>\n “There has been a wolf bothering the herd this past week and Joe was all for hunting it down. I said no, but it looks as if that young man has gone strictly against my wishes and dragged someone else into his little escapade.”<\/p>\n The two fathers traded angry looks and consoled each other with how they would chastise their errant offspring. It was several minutes before Molly could get their attention drawn back to her fears.<\/p>\n “Aren\u2019t you forgetting something?” she asked in a voice shrill with emotion.<\/p>\n “What\u2019s that?” her husband queried as four sets of eyes turned in her direction.<\/p>\n “Where are the boys? They should have been home long before now,” she stated. “While you are standing here deciding how they should be punished, something must have happened to them, otherwise they would have been home and we wouldn\u2019t be having this conversation.”<\/p>\n Molly\u2019s words sunk in and all four men looked suitably chastised. “Where do we start Pa?” Hoss asked anxious to get going.<\/p>\n “We\u2019ll start where the wolf was last seen,” Ben replied, already heading towards the door.<\/p>\n As they rode out of the yard, the sense of foreboding that Ben had been feeling returned and all thoughts of punishment left his mind. Getting the boys home, safe and well, was now his first priority.<\/p>\n *********************<\/p>\n The light was fading fast as the men approached the herd and there had still been no sighting of Bobby or Joe. As they rode forward, Adam, who had gone on ahead, came riding back towards them.<\/p>\n “Charlie and the boys haven’t seen or heard anything Pa,” Adam said, trying to keep the concern from his voice. “Do you want Hoss and me to ride over by Turner’s Rock?”<\/p>\n Ben nodded his head. “If you find anything, you know the signal. What about Charlie and the rest of the men?”<\/p>\n “They’re going to start looking as well Pa. I’ve sent Freddie Baxter back to the Ponderosa to have as many men as possible ready to ride out at first light. There doesn’t seem much point in having them start looking in the dark.”<\/p>\n Ben looked at the darkening sky and acceded; there wasn’t much of a moon tonight and really it would make more sense for them all to wait until morning, but he couldn’t bring himself to ride home.<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss rode together in silence, neither of them wanting to voice what the other was thinking. Much as their little brother had no business doing what he did, the fact he hadn\u2019t returned did not bode well for his safety. Finally Hoss could stay silent no longer.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you think can have happened to them Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam took a deep breath as he thought how best to answer. Hoss was one of the biggest men he knew, but he also had a heart to match. If anything happened to Joe, Adam dreaded to think of the effect it would have on his middle brother. Then again what would it do to his father? What would it do to him?<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no point speculating Hoss. We just don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss\u2019 face pinched with concern and Adam felt it necessary to add. \u201cLook Hoss we may ride round the next corner and find the young fools walking home because they didn\u2019t tie their horses securely. There\u2019s no reason to think the worst.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss smiled but the smile never reached his eyes. There was no way Joe would be out there for a second night through choice. He just didn\u2019t want to think of all the things that could have happened to two half grown boys who had more bravado than sense.<\/p>\n Several more minutes passed without another word being spoken before Hoss again voiced his concerns. \u201cDo you think they could have found the wolf?\u201d<\/p>\n Before Adam had time to answer, three shots rang out into the night in quick succession. The hairs on the back of Adam\u2019s neck stood on end as he glanced over at Hoss. As his brother\u2019s concerned eyes focused on him with hopeful expectation, no words were needed; the brothers turned their horses as one and rode off in the direction of the signal.<\/p>\n Colin Curtis had been the one to fire the shots and he sighed with relief when he saw Ben Cartwright and Matt Wilkinson riding towards him only minutes later.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it?\u201d Ben asked anxiously, as his eyes scoured the surrounding area trying to ascertain why the man had raised the alarm.<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam arrived just as Curtis was leading the two men over to a clearing through the trees. Moments later the disappointment showed on everyone\u2019s faces; he had not found the boys. What he led them to was the boys\u2019 camp from the night before.<\/p>\n It was obvious that no one had been back there for quite a while. There was evidence of their meal from the previous evening but the provisions they had packed for breakfast were untouched.<\/p>\n Hoss voiced what everyone was thinking. \u201cNow we know for sure something\u2019s very wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben was about to add his own concern to that of his son, when three further shots rang out into the night. The men assembled quickly remounted and once again rode off in the direction of the gunfire.<\/p>\n This time they were lucky, and even before they arrived at the spot, they knew someone had been found. Several men were kneeling on the ground, obscuring the view, but it was obvious there was someone injured\u2026..or worse!<\/p>\n The two fathers were the first to dismount and each ran forward hoping it was their son and that they were safe, but at the same time feeling great sympathy for the man that would be disappointed.<\/p>\n The child on the ground was in a sorry state and the men visibly flinched when they got their first look at him. Dried blood stained the earth beneath his injured head and his right leg was twisted and gnarled beneath him.<\/p>\n \u201cIs he\u2026.\u201d Matt Wilkinson began, too afraid to voice the dread that filled his heart.<\/p>\n \u201cN-n-no, no,\u201d the man kneeling next to the boy whispered a little unsure of himself. \u201cHe\u2019s breathing, but he\u2019s in a bad way.\u201d<\/p>\n Matt and Ben quickly took charge of the situation. Ben instructed one of the men to ride as quickly as possible for Doc Martin and escort him to the Wilkinson house. He then sent Hoss on ahead to warn Molly that they were bringing Bobby home and to have everything prepared for them. He could have sent one of the men, but he knew that Hoss would be the best one to break the news to the worried mother without causing undue alarm.<\/p>\n Adam and Matt Wilkinson tended to Bobby as best they could. They cleaned away the dirt and blood and bandaged his head and leg with the materials they had to hand. He was no longer bleeding, but he was unconscious and that was always a bad sign. The leg injury they suspected was caused by an animal and that alone could bring its own problems, but they didn\u2019t have time to dwell on the matter just then.<\/p>\n Making the best of a bad situation, Bobby was soon ready to travel and Adam lifted him into his father\u2019s arms as he sat on top of his horse. Swaddled in blankets and without regaining consciousness, Bobby was very carefully transported back to his home and mother.<\/p>\n Molly Wilkinson had everything ready by the time her husband arrived. Bobby\u2019s bed was stripped and changed, pans of water boiled on the stove and liniment and bandages were laid out in readiness. From Hoss\u2019 description of her son\u2019s condition she knew the doctor would be in need of all those things and besides, keeping busy kept her from dwelling on Bobby\u2019s injuries.<\/p>\n Matt carried his son to his room and together with his wife he did his best to cleanse Bobby\u2019s head and leg while waiting for Doctor Martin. The twins, woken by the disturbance, looked on in fear and confusion as their big brother showed no signs of life. Hoss intervened and taking the little girls by the hand, he took them back to their own room and sat with them, talking soothingly, until they fell asleep once more.<\/p>\n Hoss was in the yard loading a buckboard with blankets and anything else he thought might be needed, when a buggy pulled up and Paul Martin descended carrying his black bag. Hoss breathed a sigh of relief and said with feeling,<\/p>\n \u201cThank goodness you\u2019ve arrived Paul, the little guy\u2019s in a bad way,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd Joe?\u201d the Doctor asked, knowing full well that one child was still missing.<\/p>\n Hoss shook his head. \u201cWe ain\u2019t found Joe yet Doc. Pa asked me to wait here until you arrived, but now I\u2019m gonna head out and rejoin the search.\u201d<\/p>\n Doc Martin laid a comforting hand on Hoss\u2019 shoulder as he passed. \u201cGood luck Hoss. When you find him it\u2019s best you bring him here. It\u2019s going to be a long night.\u201d<\/p>\n *********************<\/p>\n Joe heard voices; they were calling his name over and over again. At one point he felt that if he could move his hand he could reach out and touch them, tell them he was here and ready to go home. But Joe couldn\u2019t move, he couldn\u2019t talk, in fact he couldn\u2019t even open his eyes.<\/p>\n The agonising pain of before was gone and had been replaced with a dull ache that came and went in waves, washing over his body with persistent never ending regularity. He no longer writhed in agony but lay passive and accepting of his fate.<\/p>\n The cold of the night had penetrated Joe\u2019s clothes and the dampness seemed to have seeped through his very being, but he didn\u2019t care, it didn\u2019t matter, he just wanted the darkness to claim him and his world to be at peace.<\/p>\n The voices were calling his name again, they were growing louder and more and more insistent, but they were too late, way too late. Joe was no longer listening; his brain along with all of the rest of his bodily functions was shutting down and soon the welcoming oblivion he desired took him to a place of safety.<\/p>\n *********************<\/p>\n Pulling his thick jacket closer to him Ben Cartwright shivered; this surprised him because he wasn\u2019t feeling cold. It happened again. Icy fingers seemed to take hold of his spine and grip with such force he sucked in his breath and waited for the moment to pass.<\/p>\n \u201cYou all right Pa?\u201d Adam asked, noting the distressed look on his father\u2019s face in the half light that announced that dawn was almost upon them.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to find him Adam,\u201d Ben replied desperately. \u201cWe have to find him and we have to find him quick.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll find him Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t understand,\u201d Ben whispered, fighting to hold the tears at bay. \u201cHe\u2019s dying. Don\u2019t ask me how I know, I just do. I can feel him slipping away from me and I have to get to him before it\u2019s too late.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam didn\u2019t know what to say, but he didn\u2019t doubt his father\u2019s words. Joe and his father had always had a link between them that was difficult to understand. So often in the past each of them had somehow known when the other was in danger or hurt.<\/p>\n There was the sound of horse hooves and within moments Meadows rode up alongside them.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it Bart?\u201d Adam asked, glad of the distraction.<\/p>\n \u201cJust wanted to let you know that a couple of the men back at the bunkhouse found the kids\u2019 horses out on the range. One of horses not far from Turner\u2019s Rock and Joe\u2019s horse looked to be on its way home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWas there any sign of\u2026.?\u201d Ben started to ask, almost afraid to put his fears into words.<\/p>\n Before he could finish Bart reassured him. \u201cThere was no blood or anything on the horse Mr Cartwright. Fact is, apart from being hungry it was fine.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben took small comfort from the words; whether the horse had been involved or not, he knew Joe was injured, perhaps dying, somewhere out there, helpless and all alone.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere are you son?\u201d Ben whispered to himself. \u201cJust give me a sign and I\u2019ll come and get you.\u201d<\/p>\n The words were hardly spoken, when the eerie low-pitched hoot of a Great Gray owl rang out into the early morning light. Each of the men sat silently on their horses looking up into the sky; the \u201cwhooo-ooo-ooo-ooo\u201d of the bird the only sound to be heard.<\/p>\n There was a flapping of wings in the distance and Ben instinctively turned his horse in that direction. He didn\u2019t know why he felt this way, but Ben knew without a shadow of a doubt that this was the sign he had been waiting for.<\/p>\n Calling over his shoulder to Bart Meadows, Ben instructed. \u201cFind Hoss and get him to bring the buckboard, best ways he can, over to where that owl is flying.\u201d<\/p>\n Bart raised his eyes in askance of Adam at the strange request. \u201cJust do as Pa says,\u201d Adam ordered and turning his horse he rode off after his father.<\/p>\n As it turned out the owl was almost half a mile away and Adam marvelled, not for the first time, at just how far its calling could be heard on a clear night. Adam recalled that this particular bird was often referred to as the \u2018Great Gray Ghost\u2019 which made him shudder, and he sent up a silent prayer of hope that this was not an omen of death.<\/p>\n The bird now hovered not twenty feet above Ben and Adam\u2019s heads and the two men looked at each other and then surveyed the ground in front of them. Nothing! Even in the half light their eyes could scan most of the surrounding land and it didn\u2019t reveal anything to alarm them. Then without warning the bird swooped down to the ground and became hidden in the undergrowth over by the rocks.<\/p>\n Father and son dismounted and hurried forward on foot. As they neared the rock base the owl let out a bloodcurdling screech and with much flapping of wings it soared high into the sky once more. The long grass, from where it came, covered the bird\u2019s secret for a moment longer, but as the men rushed forward it very quickly became apparent that their search had finally come to an end.<\/p>\n Lying on his stomach, curled almost into the foetal position, was the motionless form of Little Joe Cartwright. Even in the dim light, both men noted the dry pool of blood stained earth that surrounded the body and marred the land.<\/p>\n \u201cJ-J-Joe,\u201d Ben croaked, in a voice so full of emotion that Adam felt as if his own heart had been torn out.<\/p>\n The distressed father was almost too afraid to touch his son, not knowing if he was alive and, if so, how serious his injuries were. With a shaking hand he lightly pressed his fingers to Joe\u2019s neck. Adam held his own breath and waited.<\/p>\n \u201cT-t-there\u2019s a pulse, I\u2019m sure there\u2019s a pulse,\u201d Ben finally declared, wiping his moist eyes with the back of his hand. But now was not the time for weakness, he must be strong for his child and take control of his emotions.<\/p>\n With the help of Adam, they slowly turned Joe over onto his back so they could see the extent of his injuries.<\/p>\n \u201cDear God\u201d Adam exclaimed, at the first sighting of his little brother\u2019s broken body. Besides the obvious wound to Joe\u2019s chest, his face was almost unrecognisable and his body looked twisted and misshapen. Dried blood marred his handsome face where it had run unchecked from his mouth and the stench that came from his soiled clothes was almost enough to make them gag.<\/p>\n The sound of the buckboard was heard before they had time to make a full examination and Adam stood up and shouted to his middle brother to \u2018hurry\u2019 with the blankets and bandages.<\/p>\n Hoss, together with Bart Meadows and several of the men from the ranch gathered provisions and ran over to where Ben and Adam were once again kneeling in the grass. Surprisingly Hoss felt almost elated; the fact that Adam was shouting for blankets meant that his little brother was alive and as Doc Martin always said \u201cWhere there\u2019s life, there\u2019s hope!\u201d And now he had hope!<\/p>\n As Hoss looked down on his baby brother he pulled his lips back in a tight grimace. Things looked bad, but they could be worse, and, like his father before him, he steeled himself to keep a grip on his feelings; now was not the time to break down.<\/p>\n Adam was unbuttoning Joe\u2019s shirt to look at his chest injury, when Hoss placed a restraining hand on his shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cBest leave that be Adam,\u201d he advised. \u201cJoe\u2019s shirt\u2019s stuck good to that wound right now and if you go pulling at it, he\u2019s likely to start bleeding again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes you\u2019re right,\u201d Adam conceded. \u201cLet\u2019s just bandage him over the top of his clothes and hope the wound doesn\u2019t open up when we move him. The quicker we get him to the Doc the better.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben had been busy checking Joe\u2019s limbs and as far as he could make out there were no broken bones, but under the circumstances that was probably the least of their worries.<\/p>\n Bart Meadows looked on with dismay. How could it be the kid was still alive? He would shoot Dusty himself next time he saw him for not checking to see if the boy was dead or not. There was nothing else for it; he would just have to find a way to finish the job himself, but looking at the state the kid was in, he might not have to. Bart\u2019s mind was in turmoil, after all he didn\u2019t just have Joe to worry about, there was also the Wilkinson kid. What if Joe had been lying and the other kid also knew that Bart was involved with rustling.<\/p>\n \u201cBart,\u201d a gruff voice called out for a second time.<\/p>\n \u201cY-Yeh. What?\u201d Bart answered as he tried not to let his feelings show.<\/p>\n \u201cI just asked you to turn the buckboard round,\u201d Adam barked with impatience.<\/p>\n \u201cSure boss,\u201d Bart replied, making his way over to the buckboard and taking hold of one of the horses\u2019 bridles. He manoeuvred them backwards and forwards in the tight space, until the buckboard was facing the way they had come and in the direction of the Wilkinson ranch.<\/p>\n Ben climbed into the back of the buckboard and placed the remaining blankets on the hard floor as a makeshift bed to protect his youngest. Hoss climbed into the driving seat and Adam, for the second time in a matter of hours, handed a gravely injured child to its father.<\/p>\n Leaning back against the front side of the buckboard, Ben cradled his son\u2019s head in his lap. Pouring water onto one of the clean bandages, he placed the wet cloth between the boy\u2019s dried and cracked lips and slowly dripped more water onto it. Joe\u2019s skin looked dried and parched after such a long time without water and this was the only way Ben could try and rectify the situation.<\/p>\n They had travelled for almost a mile before Ben was rewarded for his efforts. Even though mentally Joe had given up the will to live, his body was fighting back and Ben could see small movements as Joe began to suckle like a baby on the cloth between his lips. It wasn\u2019t much, but Ben began to feel the same elation his middle son had felt back at the clearing. There was still hope.<\/p>\n On arrival at the Wilkinson home, Hoss climbed down from the buckboard and rushed to help his father with his little brother. Ben very gently lifted Joe into Hoss\u2019 outstretched arms before jumping down himself. As they headed towards the door Adam was quick to follow, when he felt a hand on his arm.<\/p>\n Bart Meadows held out a rifle in his hand. \u201cThis was lying on the ground up where Little Joe was found. I figured the boy must have tripped and fell and the gun went off.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam looked at Little Joe\u2019s rifle for a second before taking it from Bart\u2019s outstretched hand. \u201cYeh,\u201d he said distractedly. \u201cYou\u2019re probably right. You best get back to the ranch and let Charlie and the others know what\u2019s happening.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay Boss,\u201d Bart Meadows replied. \u201cI\u2019ll call back here in the morning and see how things are.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam walked on as Matt Wilkinson opened the door to the ranch house and ushered them inside. Without any hesitation he took them straight to his and Molly\u2019s room.<\/p>\n \u201cPut him in here, Molly\u2019s got it all ready\u201d Matt insisted. \u201cI\u2019ll fetch the Doc.\u201d<\/p>\n Moments later Doc Martin and Molly Wilkinson came bustling into the room.<\/p>\n Without time for idle conversation Doc Martin took charge. \u201cAdam, Hoss I need room to move in here. Bring some hot water from the stove and then make some coffee; we\u2019ll be needing plenty of it before this day is over.\u201d He knew better than to ask Ben Cartwright to move; it wouldn\u2019t be worth the fight.<\/p>\n The two men stood for but a moment before leaving the room. The Doc was right. He needed to get on with his job and they would only be in the way.<\/p>\n Molly had everything prepared and once Hoss had returned with hot water to fill the bowls they were ready to start.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s get him stripped off and cleaned up so I know what I\u2019m working with here,\u201d the Doc instructed, opening his black back and laying out his instruments on a clean cloth.<\/p>\n Ben and Molly quickly but gently stripped most of Joe\u2019s clothes away, only leaving one side of his shirt intact, afraid to disturb the injury before the doc was ready. With a mother\u2019s gentleness and experience, Molly washed Joe\u2019s battered body, but all the time tears flowed unchecked down her beautiful face.<\/p>\n *********************<\/p>\n Something was happening inside Little Joe\u2019s head. The peaceful oblivion that he had been lingering in was disturbed and he was transported back in time to a place of long ago. The feeling was familiar and reassuring. He was a baby again and suckling at his mother\u2019s breast. His mother\u2019s comforting hand stroked his head as the milky liquid trickled down his throat and sent him to sleep once more.<\/p>\n The hand was in fact his father\u2019s and the milk was nothing more than water, but to Little Joe in his limbo state between life and death, it was the deciding factor that gave him the will to live.<\/p>\n The second time Joe became conscious his thoughts were less confused. He could hear his father\u2019s voice and that of Doc Martin. There was also another voice, speaking quietly and softly. Again Joe thought of his mother, but even in his perplexed state he knew it couldn\u2019t be. In a moment of realisation he recognised Mrs Wilkinson\u2019s voice and relaxed; he must be at the Wilkinson ranch. Pain was only just starting to penetrate his barely conscious mind, but so far it was not enough to make him panic.<\/p>\n Gentle hands were touching him and he was aware of his clothes being removed. Mrs Wilkinson was talking to him, reassuring him he was going to be all right, and he felt at peace. Her hands were now moving over his body again, and he could feel the warm water\u2019s sting as it penetrated the many cuts and scratches on his skin.<\/p>\n Then it hit him, in a moment of clarity, Joe realised what was happening. Mrs Wilkinson was washing his naked body. Under other circumstances that thought alone would have made Joe die of embarrassment. This was the women who he thought was the most beautiful creature God had ever made. He had never allowed his mind to go much further than that, after all she was a married woman, the mother of his best friend! And besides his Pa would kill him if he thought he was having unclean thoughts about anyone, let alone Mrs Wilkinson.<\/p>\n But somehow he wasn\u2019t embarrassed and he wondered why. The realisation was a while coming, but when it did he smiled wistfully to himself. Mrs Wilkinson was without doubt a beautiful woman, but that\u2019s not what Joe would see when he looked at her in future.<\/p>\n She was a mother; a very caring loving mother, and maybe that\u2019s what Joe had craved from her all along. Mothering. Deep in the recess of his mind, she reminded him of his own mother, and if he could have moved or talked, he knew he would be bawling now, bawling like a baby for the mother he had lost and never would see again.<\/p>\n All these thoughts were quickly ripped from his mind, because in the next instant the excruciating pain, that had eluded him for the last few hours, came back with a vengeance.<\/p>\n *********************<\/p>\n Doc Martin ignored most of Joe\u2019s superficial injuries, he knew before he looked that the injury to Joe\u2019s chest was going to be the one that decided whether the boy lived or died. His own personal skills and expertise were probably going to be one of the biggest deciding factors in the situation.<\/p>\n Taking the cloth from Molly\u2019s hand, Doc Martin began to soak Joe\u2019s shirt gently away from his skin, but even so, when he eventually began to tug on it, the wound immediately began to ooze more blood from the opening.<\/p>\n \u201cGun shot,\u201d Doc Martin declared unnecessarilythen lifting Joe up gently, he hopefully checked his back for an exit wound, but there was none.<\/p>\n \u201cRight let\u2019s operate, we can\u2019t waste any more time.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone in the room, as well as the men outside, were shocked and upset at the heart wrenching scream that escaped from Joe\u2019s lips when the knife went in. Doc Martin had wrongly assumed that his patient was deeply unconscious and was as distressed as Ben to know that Joe was in fact awake and in agony.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry Ben,\u201d Doc Martin apologised. \u201cI can\u2019t stop now; you\u2019re going to have to hold him.\u201d Then to make sure his patient remained as still as possible, he shouted to the men outside. \u201cHoss get in here now we need you.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben Cartwright took hold of Joe\u2019s shoulders and with a firmer grip than he would have liked, he pressed Joe\u2019s body back against the bed. Hoss entered the room and, quickly assessing the situation; he took up a position at Joe\u2019s feet and held the flaying legs between his strong arms.<\/p>\n The bullet had gone into Joe\u2019s chest at an angle and lodged itself not far below Joe\u2019s left shoulder. It was difficult to get to and Molly Wilkinson wiped the sweat from Doc Martin\u2019s brow several times as he sought to dig deeper into the boy\u2019s flesh.<\/p>\n Joe was on fire; the agonising pain that had consumed his body while lying on the plain was back with the same intensity as before and he screamed for a return to the oblivious state from which he had come. His wish was finally granted and, to the relief of all those assembled, his body went limp and the screaming finally stopped.<\/p>\n Just for a moment Ben felt the panic rise up in him, but Doc Martin was quick to reassure. \u201cIt\u2019s all right Ben, he\u2019s still with us thank God. At least this way he\u2019s out of pain and it\u2019ll make my job a lot easier.\u201d<\/p>\n True to his word seconds later Doc Martin announced \u2018Got it\u2019 and pulled the bullet from Joe\u2019s body. Within thirty minutes Joe\u2019s wound was stitched and bandaged and his other injuries attended to.<\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u201d Ben asked once the doctor finally stood away from the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you want me to say Ben,\u201d Paul Martin replied testily; it had been a long night for them all. Then seeing the distress on his friend\u2019s face he added more tenderly. \u201cLook Ben you know as well as I do, any gunshot wound is serious. Little Joe\u2019s holding his own for now but the next few days will be crucial.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut what about his insides?\u201d Ben stated in dismay. \u201cAll that blood from his mouth?\u201d<\/p>\n Doc Martin smiled reassuringly, \u201cHe bit his tongue Ben, that\u2019s where all the blood was coming from. Don\u2019t worry he may not be able to talk quite as much as he usually does, but it\u2019s nothing to worry about. And now, I have another patient to look after.\u201d<\/p>\n Guilt crossed Ben\u2019s face. In his concern about his own son, he had completely forgotten about Bobby Wilkinson. Ben turned with embarrassment towards Molly, who was doing her best to look busy. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry,\u201d he began.<\/p>\n \u201cNonsense,\u201d Molly replied. \u201cYou have no reason to be sorry, you were concerned about your son as you should be. Don\u2019t worry about Bobby, he\u2019s sleeping peacefully and Matt is with him. Now let\u2019s get Little Joe sorted and we\u2019ll all have a bite to eat. You must be starving. I just hope that eldest son of yours has the water boiling and hasn\u2019t gone to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben and Hoss gently lifted Little Joe from the bed so Molly could change the sheets, then covering him lightly with a blanket they all left the room.<\/p>\n Adam was immediately on his feet. \u201cHow did it go?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine, just fine,\u201d Ben answered in a voice that spoke of years of practice. \u201cBut I think we could all do with a cup of coffee, then I\u2019ll go back and sit with your brother. I don\u2019t think he\u2019ll stir for quite some time.\u201d<\/p>\n After coffee the good doctor went on his way with a promise that he would return later that day. Ben, armed with a blanket, went to sit with Joe, while Hoss and Adam dozed in chairs by the fire. Matt Wilkinson, like Ben, dozed by his son\u2019s bedside, for he had insisted that Molly climb into bed with the twins for a couple of hours sleep. The woman was completely exhausted and she would need as much energy as she could muster to deal with her extra visitors as well as two very lively little girls during the daylight hours.<\/p>\n It was late morning when Adam awoke with a start. He was momentarily disorientated as he looked into the identical faces of two curious little girls, standing about two feet from his chair in their nightclothes.<\/p>\n \u201cHello\u201d Adam smiled, trying not to alarm them. \u201cWhere did you two come from?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe live here,\u201d Josie reminded him, before poking her finger up her nose.<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s face must have displayed his disproval, because the little girl quickly removed the offending finger and wiped it on her nightdress. Memories of Little Joe flooded Adam\u2019s mind and he was glad that at least the boy had grown out of some of his more disgusting habits.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing in our house?\u201d Jenny now asked.<\/p>\n Adam was saved from giving an answer when the door to the bedroom opened and Matt Wilkinson came into view.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you little mischief makers have decided to make an appearance,\u201d Matt smiled, pulling the nightcaps from the little girls heads and allowing their golden manes to fall over their shoulders.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy is Mama asleep in our bed?\u201d Jenny asked. \u201cAnd why was Bobby hurt?\u201d she added with bottom lip trembling.<\/p>\n Seeing the tears forming in the little girls\u2019 eyes, Matt was quick to scoop them up and sit them on his knees.<\/p>\n \u201cMama is very tired because she didn\u2019t go to bed until very late. Bobby fell off his horse and hurt his head, but he\u2019s going to be fine. Now will you do something for Papa?\u201d<\/p>\n Two little heads nodded in unison and Matt continued. \u201cI want you to go to your room and very quietly put your clothes on without waking your mother. Then you can come back here and help me make breakfast. Do you think you can do that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes sir,\u201d the girls replied, but then Josie added. \u201cBut Papa I can\u2019t do up the back of my dress.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I think I can manage that,\u201d Matt replied. \u201cJust do what you can, but remember, very quietly.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss woke up shortly afterwards and went into the kitchen to boil water for coffee. By the time the water boiled everyone in the house but Bobby and Joe were awake. \u201cHow are the boys?\u201d were Molly\u2019s first words.<\/p>\n \u201cBobby\u2019s fine\u201d Matt assured her. \u201cHe had a very peaceful night.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about his leg?\u201d Adam asked. The memory of the boy\u2019s gnarled and twisted leg still fresh in his mind.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Doc made a good job of cleaning it up and straightening it out,\u201d Matt replied. The fact that it was an animal bite they couldn\u2019t overlook, but at this time there was no reason to believe the wolf (if that is what it was) was rabid.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about Joe?\u201d Hoss asked, anxious for news of his brother.<\/p>\n Ben took a deep breath; his news was not so good. \u201cHe\u2019s had a pretty restless couple of hours,\u201d he began. \u201cHe feels warm to the touch; I just hope the wound doesn\u2019t become infected.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Doc should be back later,\u201d Adam reassured. \u201cHe\u2019ll know what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell if you don\u2019t mind, I could sure use a cup of that coffee I can smell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCertainly Ben,\u201d Molly replied heading towards the kitchen. \u201cAfter we\u2019ve had some breakfast I\u2019ll fetch some cool water and we\u2019ll see about bringing Joe\u2019s temperature down.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben smiled his thanks and was just about to head to the outhouse, when Bobby\u2019s voice called from the bedroom.<\/p>\n \u201cMa, Ma, are you there?\u201d<\/p>\n Molly stopped what she was doing and, together with her husband and the girls, rushed to Bobby\u2019s side.<\/p>\n The Cartwrights\u2019 smiled at one another. \u201cThat\u2019s a good sign,\u201d Adam assured. \u201cAt least he sounds okay. Maybe now we\u2019ll find out what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n Shortly afterwards Ben returned to Joe\u2019s room and was busy bathing him with cool water when the door opened and Matt entered.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you think it\u2019s okay to leave him for a minute Ben, I think you should hear this.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben dried his son\u2019s body and covered him with a sheet before leaving the room and following Matt into Bobby\u2019s room.<\/p>\n As everyone crowded round the bed, Bobby began to explain to them in a halting and shaky voice, what had happened.<\/p>\n \u201cWe found the wolf Mr Cartwright and Joe had him in his sights when we saw these men.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat men?\u201d Matt asked. Up until this point he thought all their suspicions were right and the boys had been injured while tracking the wolf.<\/p>\n \u201cRustlers,\u201d Bobby explained, not prepared for the reaction that word would bring.<\/p>\n \u201cRustlers!\u201d Ben, Adam and Hoss said in unison. \u201cWhat rustlers?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere were these men taking a couple of dozen cattle away from the herd. Joe and me decided to follow them and see where they were going.\u201d<\/p>\n Matt Wilkinson restrained himself from telling his son what a dumb thing that was to have done as he wanted to hear the end of the story first.<\/p>\n \u201cWe followed them for ages and then they took the cattle into this ravine. Joe and I climbed to the top of a rock to watch them and it turned out there wasn\u2019t just those cattle; they had hundreds of them.\u201d<\/p>\n The men looked at each and scowled. How had they not been aware of rustlers?<\/p>\n \u201cOnce we saw what was happening, Joe said he would stay and keep an eye on them and I was to go for help.\u201d Bobby stopped talking.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened after that?\u201d Ben asked, anxious for an explanation of how the boys\u2019 received their injuries.<\/p>\n Bobby\u2019s face clouded over in confusion. \u201cI\u2019m not sure Mr Cartwright. Last thing I remember was riding towards the ranch; I didn\u2019t see the wolf until it was too late. Then nothing until I woke up in bed just now. I really don\u2019t know what happened to Joe.\u201d Tears pooled in the boy\u2019s eyes and Molly was quick to intervene.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s had enough questions for now,\u201d she declared, ushering the men from the room.<\/p>\n Outside the bedroom door the four men stood deep in thought. Rustlers!! This was something they hadn\u2019t even considered.<\/p>\n Hoss was the first to break the silence. \u201cDo you think the rustlers had anything to do with Little Joe being shot?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think so Hoss,\u201d Adam replied. \u201cBart Meadows found Joe\u2019s rifle not far from where we found Joe. I checked and it had been fired. He seemed to think that Joe maybe stumbled and the gun went off, which seems feasible considering where we found Joe. A fall down that hill would account for his other injuries. He must have got fed up waiting for Bobby and come to get us himself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeh, I guess you\u2019re right,\u201d Hoss answered, still finding it hard to think of his little brother lying out there all day and night injured and alone.<\/p>\n It was later in the day when Doctor Martin returned to the house. Seeing all the serious faces gathered round the dining table, he quickly asked. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong? How are my patients doing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBobby\u2019s fine,\u201d Matt Wilkinson replied. \u201cHis leg hurts and I\u2019m sure he has quite a headache but he\u2019s awake and talking.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd Joe?\u201d the doctor asked looking at Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cHis temperature\u2019s rising,\u201d Ben replied.<\/p>\n \u201cI was afraid of infection,\u201d Doc Martin acceded. \u201cI\u2019ll need to take another look at the wound.\u201d<\/p>\n Doc Martin was right. Joe\u2019s wound was infected and needed immediate attention.<\/p>\n \u201cBetter get ready to hold him Ben, just in case,\u201d Paul Martin cautioned. He wasn\u2019t prepared to take the chance that Joe would regain consciousness in the middle of the procedure.<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss also positioned themselves at each side of the bed in preparation.<\/p>\n The site of the wound was red and oozing puss. Doc Martin had no choice but to open the stitches and clean out the wound. He was as careful as he possibly could be but as soon as he touched the infected area, Joe began to moan and squirm across the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cHold him tight,\u201d Paul instructed. \u201cJust remember it\u2019s for his own good.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s moans turned to cries of anguish as the Doc squeezed and probed the open wound. His cries turned into a long piercing screech of agony when iodine was used to clean the surrounding area, but it had to be done and his family knew it.<\/p>\n When it was over Ben held his son to him and soothed him until the cries turned to sobs and finally to moans, before Joe finally slipped back into the welcoming darkness of sleep.<\/p>\n Ben was visibly distressed by the experience and Paul put a comforting hand on his friend\u2019s shoulder. \u201cDon\u2019t worry Ben, it\u2019s unlikely he will remember any of this when he wakes up.\u201d<\/p>\n Several hours later the men were talking in hushed whispers around Joe\u2019s bed as Ben bathed his body in an attempt to keep the fever from rising. Joe\u2019s muttering suddenly startled them from their conversation.<\/p>\n \u201cPa, Pa,\u201d Joe called, his voice weak and distorted as a result of the injury to his tongue.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m here Joe,\u201d Ben reassured, taking his son\u2019s hand while at the same time soothing the boy\u2019s head with a wet cloth. \u201cEverything is going to be okay.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s rustlers Pa,\u201d Joe cried out, his head tossing from one side to the other. His eyes opened and he looked at his father in a fevered state. \u201cThe rustlers Pa, where\u2019s the rustlers?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHush,\u201d Ben pacified. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing to worry about, the rustlers are gone.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe in his delirious state did not comprehend what his father was saying and he rambled on and on about the rustlers. Ben continued to talk quietly to him, when suddenly Joe tried to sit up and for a second his eyes cleared and he looked at his father and whimpered. \u201cH-h-he shot me Pa, he shot me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho does he mean Pa? Who shot him?\u201d Hoss asked, an unbridled anger beginning to rise within him.<\/p>\n Adam leaned over the bed and gently taking hold of Joe\u2019s chin, he looked into his little brother\u2019s pain filled eyes and asked softly, \u201cWho was it Joe? Who did this to you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRustlers,\u201d Joe stated again, but his eyes had clouded and no one was sure whether he was answering Adam\u2019s question or just rambling again.<\/p>\n Ben wouldn\u2019t allow them to ask him anymore questions, instead he gave Joe the medicine the doctor had left for him and sat with him until he drifted back to sleep.<\/p>\n As night fell, Adam insisted that Ben take his place by the fireside and he sat next to Joe\u2019s bed. Shortly after midnight Adam had drifted off to sleep when he was woken by Joe calling his name. Rousing himself immediately, he leaned over the bed and asked, \u201cWhat is it Joe? Are you in pain?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThirsty,\u201d Joe answered.<\/p>\n Adam quickly poured a glass of water and held Joe\u2019s head while he sipped until he had his fill. Lying Joe\u2019s head back on the pillow, Adam decided to try and get some answers before sleep overtook his brother once more.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe, do you know who did this to you?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes were still heavy with sleep but he tried hard to focus on Adam\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cDusty,\u201d he said simply. \u201cHis name was Dusty.He was in on it as well Adam. He\u2019s one of them.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam was confused. \u201cWho\u2019s one of them Joe? Do you mean Dusty? Who\u2019s in on it?\u201d<\/p>\n But Joe was already losing concentration, his head sank back into the pillows and he drifted off into a peaceful drug induced sleep.<\/p>\n Adam didn\u2019t know how long he stood there looking at his little brother. When he finally did move, he realised his fists had been clenched so hard that his nails had broken the skin and blood tricked from between his fingers.<\/p>\n *********************<\/p>\n Exhaustion and worry had taken its toll on Ben Cartwright and he slept the sleep of the dead that night. When he opened his eyes the following morning, he found the house a bustle of activity around him. The smell of bacon frying and fresh coffee filled the air as Molly sang softly to herself in the kitchen. Hoss was talking quietly in a corner to Matt and the sound of children\u2019s laughter flowed through the window from outside.<\/p>\n Shaking himself awake, Ben stretched out his taut limbs and wished everyone a good morning.<\/p>\n Molly came forward with a steaming cup of coffee in her hand and passed it to Ben. \u201cGood morning sleepyhead,\u201d she smiled. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t have thought it possible for someone to have a good night\u2019s sleep on those old chairs.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve slept in many a worse place, I can tell you,\u201d Ben informed her, taking the coffee gratefully and downing half the cup in one mouthful. \u201cHow did the boys\u2019 sleep?\u201d<\/p>\n Just then the bedroom door opened and Adam stepped outside. \u201cJoe\u2019s doing better Pa. He still has a temperature, but it doesn\u2019t seem to be getting any worse. The doc was here an hour ago and he thinks we should keep Joe sedated for the next couple of days until the worst is over.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded his head and quietly paid thanks to a higher being for answering his prayers. \u201cWhat about Bobby?\u201d<\/p>\n Molly Wilkinson couldn\u2019t have looked happier. \u201cBobby\u2019s doing fine Ben. He\u2019s got a pretty sore head and won\u2019t be walking around much for a week or two but he\u2019s certainly on the mend. He has his appetite back and has eaten more than two grown men this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss then chipped in. \u201cThe men found the wolf Pa. They were out all day and night and didn\u2019t return until they caught it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd?\u201d Ben asked, anxious to know the worst.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no reason to believe it was rabid Pa. Bobby\u2019s going to be all right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank God,\u201d Ben replied for the second time that morning.<\/p>\n Adam stood quietly for a moment longer, but he knew he couldn\u2019t put off the inevitable.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss and I are riding out after the rustlers once we get packed up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut you don\u2019t know where to start looking?\u201d Ben stated in exasperation. The last thing he needed right now was to be worrying about his older sons.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe was coherent during the night Pa. He told me the name of the man that shot him. When the doc was here earlier, Joe mumbled something about them going to Placerville. They have a head start, but if they still think no one suspects anything, they could get careless.\u201d<\/p>\n His sons were grown men and Ben knew in his heart that if Joe was out of the woods he would be going with them, but that didn\u2019t stop him worrying. Adam had a steely coldness in his eyes that he didn\u2019t often see and he dreaded to think what he would do if he was faced with the man that shot his little brother. Looking at Hoss he saw the same determined expression on his face and anxiety washed over him. How could he stop his sons doing something they might later regret? Salvation came from an unexpected source.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go with you boys,\u201d Matt Wilkinson stated simply, giving Ben a reassuring look that made the older man nod his head in thanks.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no need Matt,\u201d Adam rebuffed. \u201cYour place is here with your family.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy family is fine,\u201d Matt replied. \u201cJust remember, that could just as easily be Bobby in there with a bullet hole in him. Those men need to be found.\u201d<\/p>\n Less than an hour later the men were ready to travel. Matt hugged his wife and children goodbye, while Adam and Hoss said their goodbye to Ben and Little Joe.<\/p>\n Joe was oblivious of his brothers\u2019 departure. Hoss stroked Little Joe\u2019s face and whispered. \u201cDon\u2019t worry Shortshanks, you\u2019re gonna be just fine. We\u2019ll get those varmints that did this, you can bet on that.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam didn\u2019t say a word. His mouth was set in a hard line and the only giveaway to his true feelings was the persistent tic in his left cheek.<\/p>\n As the three men mounted their horses, Bart Meadows came riding into the yard. He was furtive and guarded as he scanned the faces of the men in front of him to see if they showed any signs of knowing his part in the events of the last few days.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m glad you dropped by,\u201d Ben called, unaware of the sigh of relief that his words evoked. \u201cThe boys are heading out to Placerville, so I would appreciate it if you stayed here to give a hand, as there\u2019s plenty to do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlacerville?\u201d Bart asked in surprise. \u201cWhy Placerville?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe didn\u2019t fire the rifle that shot him,\u201d Hoss stated in a voice so low, it could almost have been Ben talking.<\/p>\n \u201cThen who?\u201d Bart asked, trying to stop his voice from shaking as his throat involuntarily constricted making him swallow several times.<\/p>\n \u201cRustlers,\u201d Ben said simply. \u201cLittle Joe came across them and they shot him to keep quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShot him!\u201d Bart exclaimed, feigning shock. \u201cBut he\u2019s just a kid.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why they have to be found,\u201d Adam spoke for the first time. \u201cThey won\u2019t get away; that I guarantee.\u201d<\/p>\n Bart now swallowed the bile that was rising in his throat. \u201cHave you any idea who they are?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss shook his head. \u201cJoe mentioned one name, but he\u2019s too sick to say any more. The Doc\u2019s gonna keep him sedated for the next couple of days, but we can\u2019t afford to hang around any longer while those murdering scum get away.\u201d<\/p>\n As the men finally rode off and Ben and Molly returned to the house, Bart Meadows was left alone to ponder. Sedated for the next couple of days. In that case he needed to act fast, he couldn\u2019t allow the boy to wake up and spill the beans. At least there was one less problem to worry about; the Wilkinson boy mustn\u2019t have seen him otherwise he wouldn\u2019t be standing there now a free man.<\/p>\n *********************<\/p>\n There was very little banter between the brothers and Matt Wilkinson during the whole of that day. They all rode hard and fast, only stopping when they needed to rest the horses or answer the call of nature, but when the sky darkened and night began to fall they finally decided to make camp.<\/p>\n It would have been a cold camp if Matt hadn\u2019t taken it upon himself to light a fire and prepare a hot meal. The brothers hardly tasted the food on their plates, which to Matt\u2019s mind was just as well, as Molly often said his cooking left an awful lot to be desired.<\/p>\n The brothers were in no mind for conversation and it was Matt Wilkinson who finally broke the silence. \u201cWhat you boys figuring on doing when we get to Placerville?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss looked to his older brother for guidance, but Adam remained silent.<\/p>\n Matt wasn\u2019t willing to let the matter drop, Ben was a close friend and he owed it to him to steer the brothers in the right direction. \u201cI think we should get the help of the sheriff when we get to town. From what Roy Coffee says, Dan Baker\u2019s a good man; he\u2019ll do what\u2019s right.\u201d<\/p>\n Again Hoss looked to his brother, but Adam still remained silent. \u201cWhat do you think Adam?\u201d Hoss finally asked.<\/p>\n Adam took his time, slowly sipping on his coffee before standing up and throwing the remaining dregs into the fire. \u201cWe\u2019ll do whatever we have to,\u201d he said quietly, and without further explanation he pulled out his bedroll and made preparations for sleep.<\/p>\n But sleep was a long time coming for Adam that night. His thoughts were all on his youngest sibling and he found himself thinking back to their last proper conversation. His little brother had been so curious about Adam\u2019s relationship with Marie, and Adam now wished he had taken the time to talk to Joe about his mother. Little Joe\u2019s memories of Marie were fleeting and more often than not were probably fabricated round stories he heard from his father and brothers rather than his own experiences and he craved for every little snippet they could give him.<\/p>\n Adam made a promise that night that when he got home he would sit with his brother and answer, as best he could, all the questions Joe had, anything to make the boy happy. Marie had been part of Adam\u2019s life for less than seven years, but he had to admit, in those seven years she had changed all their lives for the better.<\/p>\n Ben had been a good father to his two young sons, but lack of money and work, the constant battle for survival and the pressure of having two small dependents, had made him an overly serious, though loving, man. His sons had no doubt that their father cared deeply for them, but Ben was not overly demonstrative and the two small boys had yearned for affection.<\/p>\n When Marie had entered their lives, Hoss was only five years old and he gave himself to her completely. She was the mother he had never known and he loved her from the first moment she had taken him in her arms and cuddled him. At not quite eleven, Adam had not been quite so easy to win over. He would have dearly loved to give her his heart, but he had been hurt too many times in the past and he wasn\u2019t about to let another woman inside the protective wall he had built around himself.<\/p>\n Adam was never sure when the change had come about; it could have been the birth of his youngest brother, but was more likely the time his father was about to thrash the living daylights out of him for his insolence and Marie had stepped between them and defused the situation. From that moment on, Adam found an ally in Marie; she had a way of talking to Ben that helped him see things differently and brought about a new understanding between father and son.<\/p>\n Over those seven years Ben had softened; he was still a strict disciplinarian and his sons knew only too well the difference between right and wrong, but laughter and fun had become just as important in their lives. When Marie had died, Ben had been lost to them all for a short while, but he never forgot the lessons he learned from his beautiful young wife and his family were the beneficiaries.<\/p>\n The haunting memories made sleep impossible for Adam and he couldn\u2019t shake off an overwhelming feeling of guilt. Guilt for not protecting his young brother against those mindless thugs; guilt for not listening to him when he wanting to talk; but mainly the guilt he felt was for allowing the barriers he had built as a young boy to be erected once again. He loved his family beyond life itself, but he also knew he could appear aloof and unfeeling at times. His father and Hoss understood his need for this semblance of self preservation, but he had often witnessed the hurt in his youngest brother\u2019s eyes when he had been overly harsh or critical about his actions. Joe didn\u2019t understand that Adam\u2019s harshness was often borne out of concern for the boy\u2019s own welfare.<\/p>\n And with that thought floating in his mind, Adam had hardly closed his eyes before morning was upon them.<\/p>\n *********************<\/p>\n When they arrived in Placerville, Matt was determined they would get off to the right start; he owed that much to his friend. \u201cWhy don\u2019t we go to the Sheriff\u2019s office first and see if he has any information?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss looked to his brother, leaving him to make the decision. \u201cYou do that,\u201d Adam stated coldly. \u201cI need a beer.\u201d With that he dismounted outside the saloon, tied up his horse and walked between the saloon doors, not waiting to see if the others were following him. Shrugging his shoulders at Matt, Hoss followed in his brother\u2019s footsteps.<\/p>\n Matt decided not to follow. He set off to find the sheriff; he didn\u2019t like the way things were going and they had only just arrived. Before all this happened, Matt Wilkinson would have staked his life on Adam Cartwright doing the right thing, now he was not so sure.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo beers,\u201d Adam barked at the bald headed little man behind the bar.<\/p>\n \u201cComing right up,\u201d the man replied, not fazed at all by the hard looking man, dressed all in black and his much larger looking friend. They had all sorts passing this way over the years and he had learned to deal with the meanest of them.<\/p>\n The brothers drank their beers in silence, each feeling there was nothing left to say that hadn\u2019t already been said.<\/p>\n Over in the corner of the saloon a group of men were playing poker. The game had obviously been going on for some time and one man in particular seemed to be having a lucky streak. A pile of notes were stacked up on the table next to him and the saloon girls were buzzing round like bees to honey pot in the hope of sharing some of his good fortune.<\/p>\n Adam leaned with his back against the bar and took a sip of his slightly warm beer. He surveyed the room in front of him with uninterested eyes; he just wanted to eat, sleep in a real bed for one night and then be on his way. If they could pick up any information about the rustlers at the same time that would be a bonus, but he didn\u2019t expect to get that lucky.<\/p>\n \u201cHey Joe bring another bottle of whisky\u201d one of the saloon girls shouted. \u201cThere\u2019s thirsty men over here.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss visibly flinched at the calling of the name, but if Adam felt anything it didn\u2019t show because his face remained impassive.<\/p>\n Joe came out from behind the bar with a bottle of rot gut in his hand and sauntered over to the poker players. \u201cThat\u2019s quite a game you\u2019ve got going,\u201d Joe remarked before heading back to the bar and chalking up the money owed on a slate he was keeping for the man who was having the winning streak.<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss had just downed the last of their beer and were about to head out after Matt when they were stopped dead in their tracks.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m out,\u201d one of the men at the table spat, throwing down his cards in disgust. In quick succession all the other men, but one, followed suit. \u201cYou know Dusty, you are one lucky son of a bitch.\u201d<\/p>\n Dusty laughed loudly and scooped the pile of money from the centre of the table over towards him, totally unaware of the interest now being shown in him from the two strangers at the bar.<\/p>\n \u201cYour name Dusty?\u201d Adam asked; his voice so low that everyone in the bar stopped talking and looked in his direction.<\/p>\n \u201cYep I\u2019m Dusty,\u201d the man replied, placing his cards face down on the table and letting his right hand slide down his side towards his gun. \u201cWho wants to know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy name\u2019s Adam Cartwright and this here\u2019s my brother Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n If the brothers had had any doubt that the man in front of them was the one they were looking for, the reaction to their words confirmed their suspicions.<\/p>\n Dusty\u2019s eyes turned from one brother to another and the fear was evident in his voice when he asked, \u201cWhat do you want with me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShot any kids recently Dusty?\u201d Adam growled, standing away from the bar, his own right hand hovering over his gun in readiness.<\/p>\n The men sitting round the table with Dusty were quick to move away from him and out of the line of fire.<\/p>\n Dusty was a lot of things but he wasn\u2019t a fool. If one brother didn\u2019t get him the other certainly would. He decided to try and talk his way out of the situation.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat makes you think it was me that shot your brother? I wasn\u2019t the only one there.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s eyes darkened even more at the man\u2019s unintentional but stupid gaff. \u201cI never mentioned anything about my brother being shot, but it was your name I was given as the guilty party,\u201d Adam confirmed, then much to the relief of his middle brother, he added, \u201cBut we\u2019ll let the law decide one way or the other.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy that double crossing murdering scum,\u201d Dusty exclaimed. \u201cIt was him that told me to shoot the kid in the first place. If I\u2019d had my way, we would have just tied him up and left him there.\u201d<\/p>\n Everything that happened after that happened so quickly the brothers hardly had time to react. Dusty knowing the chips were down unwisely went for his gun and was able to fire one shot before Adam returned fire and brought him down.<\/p>\n Luckily the amount of whisky that Dusty had consumed had affected his aim and he only managed to wing Adam before he himself was shot in the chest and slumped to the floor.<\/p>\n Dusty remained conscious as the brothers hovered above him and Adam asked with a sense of urgency, \u201cWho told you to shoot him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBart Meadows,\u201d he managed to whisper at he gasped for breath. \u201cThe double crossing son of a bitch. He gets me to kill the kid; then he points the finger at me.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam looked at each with open mouths, before turning back to the injured man. \u201cBart Meadows? What does he have to do with all this?\u201d<\/p>\n A look of puzzlement came over Dusty\u2019s face. \u201cWasn\u2019t it Bart that told you it was me?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Hoss replied. \u201cIt was Joe who told Adam your name.\u201d<\/p>\n Dusty was even more confused. \u201cYou mean the kid ain\u2019t dead?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam felt the anger building in him once more. \u201cHe\u2019s still alive, no thanks to you.\u201d<\/p>\n The man on the ground flinched away from the angry words, but he had more to say. \u201cI know you won\u2019t believe me, but I\u2019m glad the boy\u2019s not dead; you know the kid had spunk.\u201d But Adam and Hoss were no longer listening to him.<\/p>\n \u201cBart Meadows,\u201d Adam repeated through gritted teeth. \u201cYou know what this means?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss didn\u2019t need to reply, words weren\u2019t needed. They had left the one person who wanted their little brother dead to help look after him.<\/p>\n Precious time was wasted explaining to the sheriff what had taken place and Dusty decided to come clean and tell where the rest of the gang were holding out as he awaited a visit from the Doctor. So with his prisoner now safely locked up in jail, the Sheriff prepared to form a posse to hunt down the rest of the rustlers hiding out at the Dawson\u2019s old ranch,<\/p>\n However, Adam, Hoss and Matt wanted to be on their way back to Virginia City; already a sense of dread was passing over them and a gnawing fear that they were already too late.<\/p>\n Hoss snapped his fingers together and cried excitedly, \u201cSend a telegram, Adam. Let Sheriff Coffee and Pa know what\u2019s happened and let\u2019s hope that Meadows hasn\u2019t harmed Joe before they get it.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam readily agreed and the telegram was quickly drafted and sent. Shortly afterwards the three men were ready to make their two day return journey, when Hoss remembered that his brother was hurt.<\/p>\n \u201cBetter get the doc to take a look at that arm first Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam brushed off Hoss\u2019 concern. \u201cIt\u2019s only a scratch Hoss; we don\u2019t have time to waste.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cScratch or not,\u201d Hoss insisted. \u201cLet the doc clean it up and I ain\u2019t taking no for an answer.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam knew it was futile to argue with Hoss when he was being this stubborn and as soon as the doc attended to the prisoner, he allowed him to quickly clean and dress his own injury.<\/p>\n Luckily he was right and it was only a flesh wound, but once the iodine and dressing had been applied it began to sting like red hot needles. Gritting his teeth together and fighting against the pain Adam mounted his horse and set off after Hoss and Matt with grim determination, praying silently they would not be too late.<\/p>\n *********************<\/p>\n As the events in Placerville took their course, Bart Meadows finally got his chance to shut Joe up once and for all. Ben Cartwright had decided Joe was stable enough to be left in the care of Molly for the rest of the day so that he could ride back to the Ponderosa and check that everything was running smoothly.<\/p>\n As Ben left he called Bart Meadows over to him.<\/p>\n \u201cMeadows,\u201d he began. \u201cI\u2019m going to head back to the ranch and probably won\u2019t be back until early evening, I\u2019d appreciate it if you stay close to the house in case Mrs Wilkinson is in need of anything. And if the Doctor arrives can you let him know I would like to speak to him?\u201d<\/p>\n Meadows tried to still his excitement. \u201cHow\u2019s the boy doing Mr Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s face softened. \u201cHe seems to be doing fine, the fever\u2019s gone and his wounds are starting to heal. I\u2019ve cut back on his medication and I\u2019m hoping the Doc will allow him to wake upas I think he\u2019s ready.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m glad to hear that Mr Cartwright. All the men have been real worried about the little guy.\u201d<\/p>\n But the words belied his true feelings; inside Bart Meadows was a desperate man. He couldn\u2019t afford to wait any longer; the kid would need to be disposed of.<\/p>\n Later that afternoon his opportunity finally came.<\/p>\n Molly was outside the house hanging washing on the line when she realised the twins weren\u2019t where they were supposed to be.<\/p>\n \u201cMr Meadows,\u201d she called over to Bart. \u201cHave you seen the girls?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey were heading towards the creek last time I saw them Ma\u2019am.\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy those little imps,\u201d Molly said under her breath. \u201cThey know fine well they are not allowed by the creek on their own. As if I haven\u2019t got enough to do.\u201d Then turning back to Meadows she asked. \u201cWould you mind listening out for the boys, while I go get those little scamps? They\u2019ll not be wandering off again in a hurry when I get my hands on the pair of them.\u201d<\/p>\n Bart was quick to agree. \u201cSure Mrs Wilkinson, don\u2019t you worry about the boys, I\u2019ll be right outside if they need anything.\u201d<\/p>\n Molly gave a last glance back at the house a worried frown on her face. \u201cThanks. Bobby\u2019s resting in his room and Joe; well Joe\u2019s still sleeping, so you shouldn\u2019t have any problem.\u201d<\/p>\n As soon as Molly was out of sight, Matt crept into the house. Standing in the living room he surveyed the surroundings and tried to judge where Joe would be. Just then he heard a cough behind one of the doors and a shuffling from inside. That had to be Bobby.<\/p>\n With no time to waste, Meadows quietly made his way towards the room he believed Joe to be. Opening the door without a sound, he slipped quickly inside and crossed over to the bed. Subconsciously holding his breath he finally let the air escape when he realised he had made the right choice.<\/p>\n An unconscious Little Joe lay motionless on the bed. The boy\u2019s breathing was deep and long and his face was pale; the skin cool to the touch. There was no longer any signs of the fever that had ravaged Joe\u2019s body only a few hours before and Bart knew he had to act now or face the consequences.<\/p>\n Lifting Joe\u2019s head slightly, Meadows inched the pillow from beneath him and then allowed the boy\u2019s head to fall back onto the bed. With just a moment\u2019s hesitation he placed the pillow over the boy\u2019s face and pushed it down as hard as he could; in effect cutting off Joe\u2019s air supply and smothering him.<\/p>\n *********************<\/p>\n Joe was dreaming he was home on the Ponderosa in his own bed and everything was fine. He was in that dreamlike state between sleep and consciousness and was happy to stay there, safe and content, devoid of the pain that dogged him in his last wakeful hours.<\/p>\n But Joe\u2019s peace was short lived; one moment he felt safe, then before the next breath left his lungs his whole body was alerted to danger. He didn\u2019t have time to analyse his anxiety before his airway was cut off and he felt powerless as a great weight seemed to come down upon him.<\/p>\n Joe struggled as much as he could, his hands fruitlessly trying to push the weight from him as his legs flayed under the bedcovers. The blackness was about to claim him once more and as his eyes opened, for perhaps the last time, he was momentarily faced with the demon of his nightmares. Bart Meadows looked back at him without remorse; it was his life or Joe\u2019s, and for him the decision was easy.<\/p>\n As Meadows watched the life draining from the boy below him, he was unaware of the door opening behind him. Ben Cartwright took but a moment to assess the situation and with the rage of a lion protecting it\u2019s young, he sprang forward and literally pounced on the man before him.<\/p>\n Meadows didn\u2019t know what hit him and he put up no defence against the blows that reigned down on him. It may have had a very different ending if Roy Coffee hadn\u2019t entered the room when he did and, with the help of Doctor Paul Martin, pulled Ben away from the beaten man on the bedroom floor.<\/p>\n \u201cEnough Ben, ENOUGH,\u201d Roy shouted, trying to get through to his friend. \u201cI\u2019ll take over now, you just see to Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n At the mention of Joe the red mist began to clear and in a rush of realisation Ben released his hold on his son\u2019s attacker and went to Joe\u2019s bedside. \u201cOh Joe,\u201d he cried, ashamed that in his rage his son had been forgotten.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s all right Ben,\u201d Paul Martin reassured. \u201cDon\u2019t worry his breathing is returning to normal. It was close, but thank God you returned when you did.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe took his first full lungful of air and started to cough. This was followed by a choked sob and then the boy started to cry uncontrollably.<\/p>\n Despite the Doc\u2019s protests, Ben pushed Paul aside and took his young son in his arms and cradled him protectively, soothing him gently until his sobs ceased and he was quite once more. Ben\u2019s own heart almost broke when the only word Joe could utter was a heart wrenching \u201cPa\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all right,\u201d Ben soothed once more. \u201cIt\u2019s over Joe, it\u2019s all over. He won\u2019t hurt you anymore.\u201d As Ben cradled his son, Doctor Martin decided it would be best if Joe was sedated once more, the boy\u2019s obvious distress was doing him no good.<\/p>\n Just at that moment Molly arrived home with two chastised children and walked into the confusion. She hurriedly made her way into the bedroom, afraid of what she might find. \u201cWhat\u2019s happened,\u201d she cried. The room was full and there was no way of knowing just what had taken place.<\/p>\n A quick explanation was given as Roy Coffee handcuffed his prisoner and escorted him from the room. \u201cBut how did you know?\u201d she asked Ben. \u201cHow did you know to come back?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben couldn\u2019t offer any real explanation, at least not one he could put into words easily. The feeling he had had when riding to the Ponderosa was the same one he had felt just before they found Joe. His boy was in danger and, even if it turned out to be a wild goose chase, he knew he had to return to the house and make sure that Joe was all right.<\/p>\n \u201cNever mind the reasons why Ben, it\u2019s just as well you did come back when you did,\u201d Molly said in a grave voice. \u201cBut how did Sheriff Coffee come to be here?\u201d<\/p>\n It was the doctor that filled in the gaps. \u201cIt seems Adam and Hoss caught up with the one they call Dusty and he pointed the finger at Bart Meadows. Adam sent a telegram to Roy and I met up with him on his way here to arrest Meadows and to let Ben know what was going on.\u201d<\/p>\n Molly sat down on the bed and pushed her hair from her face. With a weak smile she looked at Ben and asked, \u201cDo you think life will get back to normal now?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben smiled and shook his head. \u201cI don\u2019t think life will ever be normal with those two boys of ours. Do you?\u201d Molly rolled her eyes and Ben added. \u201cAnd from what I\u2019ve seen over the last few days, even when the boys are grown, I think you\u2019ll likely have your hands full with the twins.\u201d<\/p>\n Molly put her hands over her ears and tried to shut out Ben\u2019s words. \u201cOh Ben please, I really don\u2019t want to think about it. I sometimes worry that those girls of mine will make the boys look positive angels in comparison.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben drew in a deep breath and looked down at his now sleeping youngest son. \u201cSpeaking of angels, I still have one young man to question about telling lies to his teacher and his brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut not today Ben,\u201d Molly whispered, standing up and also gazing down at Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, not today,\u201d Ben agreed quickly; he could never be that heartless. \u201cI\u2019ll leave that little talk until he\u2019s well enough to appreciate the message I\u2019m trying to get over to him. But it\u2019s my duty to make him see how his lies could so easily have brought disaster upon us all.\u201d<\/p>\n Just then a noise from outside the door caught their attention and Molly rushed to see what it was.<\/p>\n \u201cBobby Wilkinson,\u201d she said sharply. \u201cWhat are you doing out of bed?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI heard people shouting,\u201d Bobby replied, shuffling along the floor on his bottom. \u201cI didn\u2019t know what was happening. Is Joe alright?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben appeared at her side and bending down he scooped the young boy up into his arms and carried him back to his own room, saying at the same time. \u201cJoe is going to be fine, but like you young man, he needs to stay in bed if he\u2019s to make a full recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n Molly followed Ben into the room and went about making sure that Bobby was comfortable. As Ben turned to leave, Bobby looked up at him with pleading eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cMr Cartwright, I\u2019m real sorry about what happened. Joe and I shouldn\u2019t have sneaked off like that and lied about it.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben turned back into the room and walking over to the bed he asked the question, which he already knew in his heart the answer to.<\/p>\n \u201cWhos idea was it?\u201d<\/p>\n Bobby squirmed in the bed and lowered his head.<\/p>\n Taking the boy\u2019s chin in his hand he raised his face and said softly, \u201cI need to know the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n With watering eyes Bobby swallowed hard and said in almost a whisper, \u201cI guess it was Joe\u2019s idea, but I went along with it, so I\u2019m as much to blame.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben ruffled the boy\u2019s blonde locks. \u201cI agree you should have said no, but Joe should never have asked you to do it in the first place. For that he has to take responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cM-M-Mr Cartwright you ain\u2019t gonna tan him are you?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben and Molly exchanged an amused glance. Both boys had suffered so much, but still the idea of a tanning was the worst thing they could think of.<\/p>\n \u201cWell let me decide how to deal with Joseph shall we and I will leave your punishment to your Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes sir,\u201d Bobby replied, squirming once again as he thought of the talk he still had not had with his own father.<\/p>\n Molly\u2019s face suddenly turned to one of worry. \u201cWhere did they go to? Those little scamps have wandered off again.\u201d With that she hurried out of the room calling the twins names at the top of her voice, but receiving no answer.<\/p>\n *********************<\/p>\n The three men rode as if their life depended on it to get home, each harbouring dark thoughts as to what they might find when they reached their destination. Adam\u2019s arm ached but he gritted his teeth with grim determination; he wouldn\u2019t be the one to hold them up, no matter how he felt.<\/p>\n As they finally rode up to the Wilkinson ranch everything seemed unusually quiet. There was no sign of Molly, the children, Ben or Bart Meadows. Hoss glanced nervously at Adam, but it was Matt that put into words what they were all feeling.<\/p>\n \u201cThis doesn\u2019t look right, there\u2019s something wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss nodded in agreement. Dismounting from their horses they approached the house almost silently, each of them feeling the others nervous energy.<\/p>\n Matt withdrew his gun and signalled for the others to do the same. Pushing open the door the men inched their way inside. The front room was empty; the only sign of life being the fire glowing in the hearth. Adam made his way over to the room Joe had been using and pushed open the door with his foot, his gun pointing straight ahead. Again the room was empty. Hoss\u2019 face mirrored the distress of his brother\u2019s; were they really too late.<\/p>\n Unable to contain his anxiety any longer, Matt began to call out for his wife.<\/p>\n \u201cMolly\u201d he shouted, but when he received no reply, he called out even louder. \u201cMOLLY\u201d.<\/p>\n The door to the twins\u2019 room opened and an angry Molly came bustling out. \u201cWhat on earth is all the fuss about?\u201d she whispered through clenched teeth. \u201cAnd for goodness sake put those guns away.\u201d<\/p>\n The men looked at her with open mouths, all three at a loss for words. \u201cI saw you riding up a few minutes ago,\u201d Molly continued. \u201cBut I didn\u2019t come out as the twins were just dropping off to sleep and if they knew you were home, there was no way I would get them back to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cB-b-but Joe, what about Joe?\u201d Hoss blurted out, completely confused.<\/p>\n Suddenly realisation crossed Molly\u2019s face and she was contrite. \u201cOh I\u2019m sorry,\u201d she began. \u201cI know how it must have looked. Joe\u2019s gone\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGone,\u201d Adam cried in disbelief.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, not gone. Well yes gone, but with your father. Ben took Little Joe home this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s okay, Joe\u2019s really okay?\u201d Hoss asked, still not convinced.<\/p>\n Molly smiled warmly. \u201cYes Hoss, Joe is going to be fine. Doctor Martin gave your father the all clear for Joe to travel and your brother was anxious to be back in his own bed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut what about Bart Meadows?\u201d Adam interrupted; still not comprehending how things had turned out.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you all sit down and I\u2019ll make some coffee,\u201d Molly instructed. \u201cI have quite a story to tell you and I\u2019m sure you have one to tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam realised they were still holding their guns. Putting them back into the holsters, they removed their hats and sat down; the energy draining out of them as the stress of the last week began to take its toll.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll just check on Bobby and the girls first,\u201d Matt said quietly, leaving the brothers alone so the good news could sink in.<\/p>\n *********************<\/p>\n A whole week had passed since Joe had returned to the Ponderosa and the doctor had decided he was well enough to be helped downstairs and spend the day convalescing in the front room.<\/p>\n Once breakfast was over, Hoss helped Joe over to the settee, made him comfortable and then headed outside to saddle the horses. Meanwhile Adam took last minute instructions from his father before crossing over to Joe and ruffling his hair.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know Pa, I think we ought to get one of Hop Sing\u2019s basins out of the kitchen and give the boy a haircut. He\u2019s beginning to look like Janie Mills, but not as pretty.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam jumped back laughing as his little brother swung a fist in his direction; things were finally getting back to normal.<\/p>\n Joe glared at his big brother and was about to climb from the sofa and follow Adam towards the door, but a single \u201cJoseph\u201d from his father stopped him in his tracks and he had to content himself with sticking out his tongue in his brother\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n Ben let the childish behaviour pass and he waited until he and Joseph were alone before crossing the room and sitting down on his favourite chair; the time had come for him and Joe to have their little talk, it couldn\u2019t be put off any longer.<\/p>\n Joe at once sensed what was to come and he shuffled uneasily on the sofa and his chin fell to his chest as he was unable to look his father in the eyes.<\/p>\n Ben looked at Joe for a long time, waiting for Joe to return his gaze. When Joe eventually raised his head, Ben asked, \u201cDo you have anything to say to me Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe bit on his bottom lip, his eyebrows rose and he tried to look as innocent as possible. \u201cWho me Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben did not answer; he just continued to stare at the boy in front of him.<\/p>\n Joe knew the pretence was pointless, his father could see right through him. Taking a deep breath he said in a quiet voice. \u201cI\u2019m sorry Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded in acknowledgement and then asked. \u201cNow maybe you can explain to me why you lied to me, your brothers and your teacher?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe tried to defend himself. \u201cI never lied to Miss Jones Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs that right?\u201d Ben queried. \u201cDid or did you not, tell Miss Jones that you couldn\u2019t attend school because you had to help out on the ranch?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell not exactly, I said that it was busy at the ranch and she just assumed that I had to stay home.\u201d<\/p>\n Much as Ben was sympathetic to Joe\u2019s ongoing recovery, he was not prepared to let that pass.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you told Miss Jones how busy we were at the ranch, did you imply that you were needed here? Was it not your intention to deceive your teacher?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I guess so.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben was not about to let him off the hook that easily. \u201cJoseph, have you any idea how disappointed I was to learn that a son of mine was lying?\u201d<\/p>\n The idea of his father\u2019s disappointment was the worst possible punishment Joe could think of; his eyes filled with tears and a lump formed in his throat.<\/p>\n \u201cI-I-I am sorry Pa. I didn\u2019t really think of it as lying\u2026.j-j-just wanted to have a bit of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben steeled himself not to look into the green orbs; he must be resolute in his chastisement.<\/p>\n \u201cLying is lying Joseph there are no half measures, but more than the disappointment it caused to me and your brothers, have you thought of the almost dire consequences of your actions?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe swallowed hard and shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cNot content with telling lies yourself, you then encouraged a friend to take part in your deception. When I said that you were not to hunt the wolf Joseph, I didn\u2019t do it to stop you having fun; your safety is always my main concern.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes sir,\u201d Joe managed to whisper.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it hadn\u2019t been for the grace of God, two families could have been burying sons last week and your brothers could be behind bars for taking the law into their own hands. In fact Adam was shot confronting that man; I could have buried two sons.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe couldn\u2019t hide his distress any longer, the enormity of what he had done weighed down on him and the tears began to flow. Ben held off as long as possible, but his willpower gave out and crossing over to the settee he pulled his young son into a tight embrace.<\/p>\n Sobbing onto his father\u2019s chest, Joe struggled to get out his words, \u201cI-I-I promise Pa, I\u2019ll never lie again. I won\u2019t ever do anything to make you ashamed of me Pa, really I won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not just me you need to apologise to Joseph,\u201d Ben admonished, trying hard to keep up a hardness he did not feel.<\/p>\n \u201cI know Pa and believe me the first chance I get, I\u2019ll go see the Wilkinsons and Miss Jones.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t forget your brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI-I-I won\u2019t Pa, I promise. And from now on I\u2019ll be as good as Adam; I will, really I will.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben patted his son\u2019s back and smiled, \u201cAs good as Adam\u201d he mused. In that case he was in for a long hard road. There were more than twelve years between Adam and Joe and if the past was anything to go by the next five years were going to be very interesting, very interesting indeed.<\/p>\n The end.<\/p>\n
\nMolly emerged from the bedroom fully dressed with the two little girls in tow. Ben appeared looked dishevelled and in need of a shave, trying to rub the sleep from his eyes.<\/p>\n