{"id":7108,"date":"2002-09-18T11:32:57","date_gmt":"2002-09-18T15:32:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7108"},"modified":"2025-09-25T15:33:43","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T19:33:43","slug":"a-blank-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7108","title":{"rendered":"A Blank Space (by Rona)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/span>Joe is found badly beaten on the road.\u00a0 He doesn’t know how he got there.\u00a0 Can the Cartwrights find out in time before tragedy strikes?<\/p>\n

Rated: K+ (10,800 words)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A Blank Space<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd where is your brother this time?\u201d demanded Ben Cartwright, as Adam and Hoss came into the house, clearly minus Little Joe, the youngest son. \u201cCan that boy never be on time for a meal?\u201d<\/p>\n

Exchanging wary glances, the brothers wondered what was annoying their father this evening. Joe\u2019s lateness was commonplace, but since supper wasn\u2019t due for another 15 minutes, he could hardly be classed as late quite yet. \u201cI ain\u2019t seen Little Joe all day, Pa,\u201d Hoss said. \u201cBut he ain\u2019t late yet, is he?\u201d<\/p>\n

Glaring at Hoss, Ben realised that, indeed, Joe was not yet late. \u201cNo, he isn\u2019t,\u201d Ben admitted shortly, and went back to sit behind his desk, picking up some papers, and scanning them with a ferocious frown.<\/p>\n

After a further exchange of glances, Adam found he\u2019d been elected spokesman. \u201cIs there something wrong, Pa?\u201d he asked, cautiously.<\/p>\n

\u201cWrong?\u201d repeated Ben, as though he\u2019d never heard the word before. \u201cWhat makes you think there is something wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d hedged his oldest son, \u201cyou seem annoyed. We just wondered why, that was all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben \u2018harrumphed\u2019, and gave Adam a long look. \u201cIt\u2019s these timber contracts. It looks like the mines might not be able honour them. I\u2019ve been checking out the small print, and I have Hiram doing the same. It would be a disaster if they couldn\u2019t pay for the timber.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was a matter of grave concern, Adam acknowledged. It would make the coming winter much harder if the mines backed out of this contract. \u201cI see,\u201d said Adam. \u201cIs there anything I can do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, thank you, son,\u201d Ben said, in a softer tone. \u201cI\u2019m sorry I took my mood out on you. Why don\u2019t you get washed up? Supper will be ready soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

The family sat down to supper 15 minutes later. Joe had not appeared. As the meal went on, and there was still no sign of him, Ben\u2019s dark brows drew down, and both Adam and Hoss knew that Joe would catch a lecture when he did finally show his face. Conversation was scarce, as there appeared to be too many risky topics.<\/p>\n

But as the evening wore on, Ben\u2019s angry scowl became one of concern. Joe was very late, even if he had decided to go to Virginia City without telling anyone. The long summer day had faded, and it was dark outside.<\/p>\n

Finally, Adam and Hoss went to bed, but they knew Ben would stay up, pacing the floor until Joe got back. \u201cI\u2019ll tan his hide myself,\u201d Adam commented to Hoss as they went upstairs. \u201cHe knows how Pa worries about him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope nothin\u2019s happened to him,\u201d Hoss responded, and Adam gave him a look compounded in equal parts of amusement and annoyance. Hoss always stuck up for Joe, no matter what.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only thing that\u2019s happened to Joe is that he\u2019s got stuck inside a bottle of whiskey!\u201d And with that tart comment, Adam took himself took himself to bed.<\/p>\n

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

Next morning, with no sign of Joe, Adam began to regret his harsh words the previous night. Ben was obviously deeply worried; Hoss, too, and he felt a twinge of concern. Perhaps something bad had happened to Joe. It might be nothing more serious than his pony going lame, but something was wrong.<\/p>\n

They set out immediately after breakfast. Only Hoss had eaten a noticeable amount, but for him, it barely counted. They headed for the south pasture, where Joe had been working the previous day. There was no small talk as they rode out.
\nAbout a mile before the south pasture, they spotted Cochise, Joe\u2019s pinto pony, standing by the side of the road. A huddled figure close by could only be Joe. Urging the horses to greater speed, they swiftly closed the distance to where Joe lay.<\/p>\n

Sliding down from Buck\u2019s back, Ben rushed to Joe\u2019s side. Joe lay face down on the road, and with fear and trepidation, Ben gently turned him over.<\/p>\n

A huge, bloody gash ran diagonally from Joe\u2019s hairline to the outside of his right eyebrow. The skin around it was bruised and swollen. A ragged gasp tore from Ben\u2019s lips. He felt frantically for Joe\u2019s pulse, and was relieved to find it there, slow, but steady. \u201cJoe?\u201d he said. \u201cCan you hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n

There was no response. Joe was pale, and Ben checked him over for other injuries. Apart from a lot of bruises, the only other thing he found was a displaced shoulder. Praying that there were no bones broken, Ben looked up at Adam and Hoss. \u201cWe need to get him home and seen by a doctor.\u201d He looked at the pinto. \u201cHow\u2019s the pony?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s got a bullet crease along his haunch,\u201d Adam said. \u201cHe\u2019s a little lame, but not much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019s Joe?\u201d Hoss asked. Concern furrowed his forehead. \u201cHe ain\u2019t hurt bad is he, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cI\u2019ll take him in front of me. Hoss, you go for the doctor. Adam, bring Cochise along. Help me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa,\u201d Adam said, as he bent over his supine brother. \u201cJoe\u2019s gun is missing.\u201d<\/p>\n

They had a quick look round for it, but there was no sign of it. \u201cWe don\u2019t have time for this,\u201d Ben said, and they abandoned the search.<\/p>\n

Between them, they got Joe onto Buck and Ben mounted behind him. Hoss set out at a gallop to get the doctor, and Ben and Adam began the long ride home.
\nBy the time they got back to the ranch, Joe was groaning steadily. Neither Ben nor Adam was sure if this was a positive sign or not. They got him into the house and into bed before Paul Martin, the doctor and friend of the family, arrived. Paul was quite used to dealing with Joe\u2019s injuries. He had a decided knack for getting hurt.<\/p>\n

The examination didn\u2019t take long. \u201cNo broken bones,\u201d Paul confirmed, which was a relief to Ben. \u201cI\u2019ll set his shoulder, and then stitch up his head. It won\u2019t leave a mark as long as it\u2019s done now. If we leave it, he\u2019ll be left with a bad scar.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Ben\u2019s help, Paul put Joe\u2019s left shoulder back into place, and bound up his arm firmly. As the shoulder popped back into position, Joe let out a cry, and his eyes flew open. There was no recognition in the green depths, and after a moment, they closed again. \u201cI\u2019d better work fast,\u201d Paul commented. \u201cHe must be on his way up if he felt that. Hold his head still, Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moving with a sureness of touch, Paul swiftly cleaned the gash and began to take stitches in it. Joe began to mumble, and flailed an arm around. Adam was summoned, and held down Joe\u2019s arms, as Ben held his head still. Finally, it was done, and Paul bandaged his handiwork. \u201cAll right, let\u2019s get him awake,\u201d he said, and got out the smelling salts.<\/p>\n

The pungent smell soon had Joe coughing, and shortly after that, his eyes opened again. They were dull and dazed with pain, but it was clear that Joe knew where he was. \u201cPa?\u201d he said. \u201cHow\u2019d I get here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood enough,\u201d Paul said. \u201cHe knows you, and knows where he is. That was a bad bump, Ben, so don\u2019t expect too much from him. Keep him quiet, and in bed for a few days. You know the drill.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Paul,\u201d Ben said, gratefully, as Paul let himself out of the room. He turned his attention back to Joe. \u201cJust stay quiet, son. We found you lying on the road. You\u2019ve had a nasty bang on the head.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat road?\u201d Joe asked, plainly confused. \u201cI haven\u2019t been near a road all day.\u201d He tried to move his left hand to touch Ben, and winced in pained surprise. \u201cWhat happened? I\u2019ve been in the house all day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Glancing at Adam, Ben gave himself time to think of what to say. Joe had apparently no memory of the previous day at all. The day he\u2019d been all day at the house had been two days ago. \u201cJoe, don\u2019t worry about it, son,\u201d Ben soothed. \u201cYou\u2019ve just forgotten what happened because of the bump on your head. You\u2019ve hurt your shoulder, too, that\u2019s why your arm is bound up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI got an awful headache,\u201d Joe mumbled, and from that statement alone, Ben knew that Joe wasn\u2019t entirely himself. He denied illness at every turn.<\/p>\n

\u201cDrink this,\u201d Ben said, and helped him drink down a powder Paul had left for him. A little while later, Joe fell asleep again.
\n************<\/p>\n

Over the next few days, Joe slept quite a lot between bouts of devastating nausea. Paul called regularly to check on his young patient. However, after that, Joe began to recover, and was soon up and about, moving gingerly to a chair by the window. After a week, Paul removed the stitches from Joe\u2019s head, which was a nasty process. Joe was quite pale after it was over. By then, his shoulder was healing nicely, and Paul said he could leave off the bandages, as Joe was complaining more than usual, as he was naturally left handed, and hated having to ask for help to do simple every day tasks. The complaints were a sign that Joe was well on the road to recovery. The only stumbling block was his lack of memory of the day he was injured.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, Paul told you that your memory might never come back,\u201d Ben repeated, patiently one evening. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it, son. You might wake up tomorrow, and remember everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI might,\u201d Joe agreed, so gloomily that Ben found it hard not to laugh. \u201cBut, Pa, you don\u2019t know what its like. I have a \u2013 a blank space in my mind. Like going to the bookcase for a book, putting your hand out for it, and its gone. I know that day happened, but I don\u2019t know what happened in it!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt must be very frustrating for you,\u201d sympathised Ben. \u201cYou\u2019re right; I don\u2019t know what its like. I wish it had happened to me, and not you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking across to where Ben sat in his favourite red leather chair, Joe shook his head. \u201cWhat?\u201d he said. He moved to put his feet up on the table, but caught the warning look in time. \u201cYou want to be hit on the head, have a displaced shoulder and your pony shot? Pa, are you mad?\u201d<\/p>\n

Smiling, Ben shook his head. He poured Joe some more coffee, and watched as the youth aborted another move to put his feet on the table. It was a habit Ben deplored, but all his sons seemed to want to do it. Adam and Hoss were out, and Ben was glad of the chance to have a private chat with Joe. \u201cIt\u2019s the curse of all parents,\u201d Ben explained, sipping thoughtfully at his own cup. \u201cWe want to protect our children from harm, and we can\u2019t. You three boys are all grown up now, and have to live your own lives. But all parents would rather that they got hurt, than that their children did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seeing Joe frowning as he thought it through, Ben added, \u201cLook at the way you and your brothers protect each other. It\u2019s the same instinct.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see where you\u2019re coming from,\u201d Joe said. \u201cBut I wouldn\u2019t wish this on my worst enemy. It\u2019s horrible. I\u2019d hate if it had happened to you, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

They sat in silence for a while, Ben absorbed in thinking about his three boys, and Joe gazing into the fire as though mesmerized. It was Joe who broke the silence. \u201cPa, have you found out anything I did that day?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA little,\u201d Ben admitted, and took another sip of coffee to allow himself thinking time. \u201cWe know that you saw Doug Waters about lunch time, and spoke to him briefly. We know that you had mended all the fences in the south pasture. But more than that, no. Its like you were invisible for the rest of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid I go into town?\u201d Joe asked, hesitantly. He knew that his illicit afternoons off made his father furious, but he just couldn\u2019t help himself sometimes.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Ben responded, dryly, and Joe blushed. \u201cJust for once, you didn\u2019t.\u201d He continued to eye Joe, and the young man squirmed uncomfortably under his father\u2019s gaze. But then Ben couldn\u2019t hold the frown any longer, and laughed. \u201cNo, Joe, I\u2019m afraid that we have no real idea what you did that day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did I want with Doug Waters?\u201d Joe asked, trying hard to disguise the disgust in his voice, and not quite succeeding.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou apparently asked how he was getting on, and then rode off.\u201d Ben had been well aware of the undercurrents in Joe\u2019s tone, and he was interested to see if Joe would volunteer anything.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d grunted Joe. \u201cI did kind of wonder what I would talk to him about other than that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blandly, Ben lifted an eyebrow in an unspoken query. He continued to eye Joe over the rim of his coffee cup, although the coffee was actually now finished.<\/p>\n

Shifting position uneasily, Joe seemed to be searching for the right words. \u201cThere\u2019s something a bit odd about Doug,\u201d he finally offered. \u201cI don\u2019t know what it is, but I don\u2019t really like him. I can\u2019t talk to him, somehow. He\u2019s always watching me when he\u2019s around.\u201d<\/p>\n

This wasn\u2019t news to Ben. Adam and Hoss had also commented on Doug’s apparent fascination with Joe. There was a similarity of build and colouring between the two men. Doug was a few years older, somewhere between Joe and Hoss in age. He had recently come to work wearing similar clothing to Joe and had begun to talk in a similar way. To Ben, it seemed odd that a man of his age should be indulging in adolescent hero-worship, but he knew that imitation could be the sincerest form of flattery, even if Joe wasn\u2019t flattered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it must be hard for him,\u201d Ben said, judiciously. \u201cAfter all, it must be very difficult to go from being boss on your own place to being an employee on someone else\u2019s.\u201d Waters had inherited his father\u2019s ranch, but he wasn\u2019t anything like the businessman his father had been, and soon the ranch was in financial trouble, and the only way to salvage anything had been to sell up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that, Pa,\u201d Joe said, irritably. \u201cI just don\u2019t like him, that\u2019s all. I can\u2019t be expected to like everyone.\u201d
\n\u201cI guess not, son,\u201d agreed Ben, sagely. \u201cNow, how about an early night, since you\u2019re due back at work tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you trying to say here, Pa?\u201d Joe asked, jokingly. \u201cThat I can\u2019t get up in the morning?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWould I say a thing like that?\u201d Ben protested, innocently.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou would!\u201d Joe attested, and beat a hasty retreat upstairs. \u201cNight, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood night, Joseph,\u201d replied Ben, softly.
\n***********<\/p>\n

As usual, Ben was right. Early night or not, Joe could not get up on his first calling that morning. Part of it was habit. While he\u2019d been ill, he hadn\u2019t been wakening early. He sat at the table and forced some food down his throat, although he was feeling too sleepy to be really hungry.<\/p>\n

Mindful that Joe had been ill, Ben had thought of placing him on light duties, but as soon as he said the word horses, Joe lit up like a Christmas tree, and Ben hadn\u2019t the heart to tell him he\u2019d originally earmarked Adam to do the breaking. So he put them both onto it. From the amused look on Adam\u2019s face, Ben knew that his oldest son was aware of what had happened.<\/p>\n

When they arrived back that evening, dusty and stiff, Joe looked more like himself than he\u2019d done for a long time. The blank space in his memory wasn\u2019t troubling him as much, now that he was busy again.<\/p>\n

And so the pattern continued over the next week or two. Joe seemed to have put his fretting behind him, although he was no nearer regaining his memory. He even appeared to have made his peace with Doug Waters, as he made more of an effort to get along with him.<\/p>\n

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

About a month later, Joe found himself looking for strays with Waters. It was, on Joe\u2019s behalf, an unfortunate pairing. Waters was definitely becoming stranger in his behaviour. Everyone had noticed how he went to great lengths to look like Joe. Joe had tried hard to be flattered, but he wasn\u2019t. Waters was just an irritant.<\/p>\n

There weren\u2019t many strays. Pausing for a drink, Joe eyed Waters as he rode up. \u201cI think I\u2019ll go up there and have a quick look,\u201d Waters said. \u201cIts pretty steep from this side, but there\u2019s a real nice meadow at the top, and there\u2019s an easy route up from the other side of the hill.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d Joe agreed. \u201cBetter be careful though. The shale on this slope is pretty loose.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be fine,\u201d Waters said, with a grin. He jumped down off his pony, and began to climb up on foot.<\/p>\n

Taking the rein of Waters\u2019 pony, Joe rode a little way and dismounted, tying both horses to the branch of a tree. He patted Cochise, and walked back to watch Waters\u2019 progress. Far away down the valley, he saw 2 tiny figures riding in his direction. They were really too far away to identify, but Joe was sure they were Adam and Hoss.<\/p>\n

Turning, Joe watched as Waters scrambled up the slope. The cowboy was agile, he admitted. No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than Waters\u2019 foot slipped, and a stream of small rocks raced down the slope. \u201cHey, be careful!\u201d Joe called. He started to climb up, then stopped to see what was happening.<\/p>\n

Glancing over his shoulder, Waters raised a hand in acknowledgement. He moved along a bit further, and then a boulder rolled out from under his grasp. Within seconds, Waters was sliding down the slope in an avalanche of shale.<\/p>\n

The landslide swept down and engulfed Joe, too, and he found himself racing down the hill, unable to stop.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cHey, Adam,\u201d Hoss said. \u201cLook at that! There\u2019s a landslide! Ain\u2019t that where we just saw Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

Frowning at the cloud of dust ahead, Adam nodded. \u201cYeah, it sure is! Let\u2019s go!\u201d He urged Sport into a gallop, and Hoss quickly followed.<\/p>\n

They thundered along, and arrived there a few minutes later. The dust was settling. At the far side of the landslip, they could see Cochise and another horse still tethered, although very agitated. Of Joe and Waters, there was no immediate sign. \u201cJoe!\u201d Hoss shouted. \u201cJoe!\u201d<\/p>\n

No answer. \u201cWe\u2019ll never find them by shouting alone,\u201d Adam said. \u201cBe careful, and let\u2019s get out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Warily, they moved onto the mass of displaced earth and rocks. \u201cHere\u2019s Waters,\u201d Hoss exclaimed, and bent down to examine the unconscious cowboy more closely. Adam cocked an eye at Hoss and continued the search for Joe.<\/p>\n

A flash of green caught his eye, and he looked closer. Half buried under the debris, Joe lay unconscious, a large boulder pinning him down. \u201cHoss, over here!\u201d Adam crouched by Joe and felt for a pulse. It was there, and reassuringly steady.<\/p>\n

Creeping carefully over the loose debris, Hoss arrived at Adam\u2019s side. They tried valiantly to move the boulder, but had no luck. Waters regained consciousness, and came over to help, but they still had no luck. By now, Joe was awake, too, and in pain. He bit his lip to stop himself from crying out.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is no good,\u201d Adam said, finally, wiping the sweat from his brow. \u201cWe need more men, and some tools. Waters, you get back to the ranch and ask pa to send out some men with crowbars and ropes. Hoss, you go into town and get the doc. I\u2019ll stay here with Joe. And hurry!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam went over to Sport and took his canteen and bedroll from the saddle. He made his careful way back to Joe, and tucked the blanket round him. \u201cHere,\u201d he said, and offered Joe a drink, supporting his head.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was fully dark, and had been for several hours, before the buckboard carrying the injured Little Joe returned to the house. The hands had laboured long and hard to free him, and a huge cheer had gone up when he was finally hauled to safety. The hands had set off back to the bunkhouse in a party mood, but the family were more somber. Waters had escaped lightly, with only scrapes, bruises and a mild concussion. Joe, having been further down the slope, had come off worst, but still surprisingly lightly.<\/p>\n

The boulder had done very little damage. Luckily for Joe, most of the weight of it was not leaning on him. If it had been, Joe would have died instantly. As it was, he had broken ribs, innumerable abrasions, a broken collarbone and a bump on the head. Paul Martin had stayed with Joe all through his ordeal, and travelled back to the house with the family. Joe dozed throughout the journey, doped up with one of Paul\u2019s pain medications.<\/p>\n

It was only after he was home that the real treatment of his injuries could begin. His abrasions were cleaned with alcohol, the ribs taped up, and the collarbone set. Paul put his right arm in a sling to ease the discomfort as much as possible. After that, he left for home. It was nearly midnight by then.<\/p>\n

Exhausted, Ben sat by Joe\u2019s bedside as his son slept. Adam and Hoss both came in to see Joe before they headed for bed. All three of them, Ben, Adam and Hoss, were covered in cuts and scrapes, courtesy of their battle to free Joe. \u201cWaken me later on, Pa,\u201d Adam said. \u201cYou need to rest, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, son,\u201d Ben said. \u201cI\u2019ll waken you if I need to.\u201d He smiled at Adam, who frowned at him. \u201cAll right, I\u2019ll waken you later. Now, you two get off to bed. It\u2019s been quite a day.\u201d<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t long before the house was silent. Joe moved restlessly in his sleep, throwing the covers off. Ben anxiously felt his forehead, but it was reassuringly cool. He tucked Joe back in again, taking care not to hurt him. Joe slept on. Shortly after 2 am, the bedroom door opened, and Adam came in. Ben had been dozing, and woke with a jerk, checking Joe immediately. He still slumbered on, and there was no fever.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo to bed, Pa,\u201d Adam whispered. \u201cI\u2019ll sit with him. Don\u2019t worry; I\u2019ll wake you if anything happens.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reluctantly, Ben took himself off to bed. The sheets were cool, and he sighed deeply as he lay down. It didn\u2019t see any time at all since Joe had been last laid up. They could manage the chores around the ranch without him, but it did create more work all round. Ben stretched out in his bed and was asleep in seconds.<\/p>\n

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

Next morning, Joe was understandably subdued. He was a mass of bruises, and was appalled to see that his family had suffered small injuries during his rescue. Being confined to bed for the second time in 10 weeks was proved rather too much for Joe\u2019s temper. The pain and his own helplessness caused him to snap at the very people who had laboured so hard to rescue him. Knowing that he was taking out his temper on them unjustly caused Joe to become even snappier. Finally, to stop any more outbursts, he lapsed into a sullen silence.<\/p>\n

Even Ben\u2019s understanding was strained by Joe\u2019s behaviour. Adam had abandoned him after the first snarling answer to a perfectly ordinary question, and Hoss had thrown in the towel by mid-afternoon. Hop Sing went around muttering fiercely under his breath. As Joe slept, Ben sat wearily by the fire. He understood Joe\u2019s frustration, but they were all under pressure, and one more ungoverned outburst, and Ben thought he might give Joe the hiding of his life.<\/p>\n

Into this came Waters. \u201cI came to see how Little Joe is,\u201d he explained, holding his hat respectfully in his hands. \u201cI feel so bad about what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was an accident,\u201d Ben replied, although he resented the intrusion into his peace. \u201cJoseph will be fine. Thank you for coming. He\u2019s asleep right now.\u201d Ben eyed Waters closely, seeing that the hat in his hand was the identical twin to Joe\u2019s one, which hung behind the door. The colouring and style of his clothes was very like Joe\u2019s. \u201cHow are you settling in here?\u201d he asked, suddenly curious.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, fine, thanks, Mr Cartwright. I like it real well.\u201d Waters nodded, as though agreeing with himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d Ben smiled, knowing that he couldn\u2019t mention Waters\u2019 seeming pre-occupation with looking like Joe. \u201cWell, I\u2019ll tell Joe you called.\u201d Ben ushered the man out, and resumed his seat by the fire. There was paperwork on his desk requiring his attention, but he couldn\u2019t summon the will to look at it. He was still sitting there when Adam and Hoss came home.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d Adam said, as he spotted his father. \u201cIs everything all right?\u201d He instinctively glanced towards the stairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Ben responded. \u201cI guess I\u2019m just tired. Are you boys all right?\u201d He rose and walked over to them, his hands thrust into his pants pockets.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re fine,\u201d Adam answered for them both. \u201cHow is Grumpy this afternoon?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAsleep the last time I looked,\u201d said Ben. \u201cI haven\u2019t been up for a while. I thought he could do with some peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

Exchanging glances with Adam, Hoss said, \u201cAre you sure you\u2019re all right, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMeaning?\u201d Ben demanded.<\/p>\n

\u201cUsually when one of us is ill in bed, we can\u2019t pry you away,\u201d commented Adam, dryly. \u201cI know Joe was impossibly rude and ungrateful this morning, but he can\u2019t have been that bad, surely?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, he could,\u201d Hoss interjected, surprising both the others. Hoss was Joe\u2019s unfailing advocate. The realisation that even Hoss had had enough of the tantrums caused Adam and Ben to smile at one another. \u201cI ain\u2019t never seen him so bad,\u201d he continued, oblivious to the interaction between father and brother. \u201cI coulda plumb turned him over my knee!\u201d<\/p>\n

Somehow, Hoss\u2019 admission had lightened the gloomy atmosphere. \u201cWell, I suppose he\u2019s really too big for that now,\u201d Ben laughed. \u201cBut I felt much the same way myself. Why don\u2019t I go up and see how he is, and then we can eat supper and get an early night. Yesterday took a lot out of all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the end, they all three went up, and found Joe awake and penitent. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he said, as soon as the door opened. \u201cI shouldn\u2019t have been so rude to you. I know it\u2019s not your fault that I\u2019m here, and you were only trying to help.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you suppose that this is the same brother we left here this morning, or have the fairies been in and done a swap?\u201d Adam enquired. His dry tones covered the relief he felt that Joe had come to his senses. Of all the moods he found most difficult to handle, Joe\u2019s ungoverned anger led the way.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Laughing rather shame-facedly, Joe had the grace to blush. \u201cI am sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know you are, son,\u201d Ben said, sitting down beside him. \u201cHow do you feel?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine, I guess,\u201d he replied, totally untruthfully, for he ached all over. \u201cBut I could do with some help.\u201d He screwed up his face, and the others laughed at his strained expression. \u201cI need to go,\u201d he explained, and blushed even harder. Laughing, Adam and Hoss left as Ben retrieved the chamber pot from under the bed.<\/p>\n

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

Time passed, and Joe returned to work. His enforced inactivity had driven nearly all the family mad. It was quite a relief for them all when he was able to ride again, and soon they fell back into the familiar pattern of ranch life. Waters\u2019 odd behaviour seemed to have stabilised, although he still dressed like Joe. Once or twice, Adam had spotted him from behind, and been momentarily unsure who he was looking at. It was a choice topic of ranch gossip among the hands. One or two had teased Waters about it, but he appeared not to understand what they were talking about.<\/p>\n

The mining contract Ben had been so worried about sorted itself out with no loss of money on either side. The felling of the required timber was well under way. Ben and Adam spent quite a lot of time supervising the timber operation, leaving Joe and Hoss to deal with the rest of the work.<\/p>\n

One morning, Ben was later leaving to go to the felling site. Adam was already gone, but Ben had had some papers to look at first. Waters happened to be in the yard when Ben went out, and he hastened to saddle Buck for Ben.<\/p>\n

He led the horse out, and held his head while Ben prepared to mount. \u201cMr Cartwright, can I ask you a question?\u201d he ventured.<\/p>\n

Settling himself into the saddle, Ben smiled. \u201cOf course,\u201d he replied. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were real friendly with my parents, weren\u2019t you? Especially with my Ma. Did you know them a real long time?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I knew them both well,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cI did what I could to help them settle in when they arrived in Nevada. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you remember when I was born?\u201d Waters enquired.<\/p>\n

Puzzled, wondering what on earth Waters wanted, Ben shook his head. \u201cNo, Doug, you were about 2 when you got here. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought my Ma said I was born after we got here. She said Pa wasn\u2019t my real father. She suggested that someone else was.\u201d Waters tilted his head up, and gave Ben a hard glance. \u201cSomeone round here, she said. I wondered if you knew who if was.\u201d<\/p>\n

Non-plussed, Ben stared at him for several seconds. \u201cDoug, I have no idea what your mother meant when she said that. As I say, you were a toddler when you came here. Sorry, I can\u2019t help you. Now, I\u2019ve got work to do.\u201d Ben tugged the bridle from Waters\u2019 hand, and turned to leave. He had the nasty feeling he\u2019d just been accused of being Waters\u2019 supposed father.<\/p>\n

**********
\nThe strange conversation stayed with Ben all that day. He wondered what Waters\u2019 mother had said. She had died a few years previously, and Ben had liked her very much. She reminded him of Marie, Joe\u2019s mother. They were the same type, lively and fun to be with. She had livened up many a party that the Cartwrights had attended. When Marie died, she had done what she could to help out the family, offering to take the boys to stay over for a time, but Ben had needed the reassurance of having his sons close by, and had refused. Ben had been grateful for the help she had given him at that time, and had done his best to help her when he could. He had mourned her passing, but she had never been more than a friend \u2013 a married friend at that. Ben wondered where on earth Waters got his crackpot ideas from.<\/p>\n

Although he had noticed his father\u2019s pre-occupation, Adam hadn\u2019t had the chance to ask him about it all day. So it wasn\u2019t until they were riding home in the soft dusk that he had the chance to question him. \u201cDo you want to talk about what\u2019s on your mind?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I do,\u201d Ben replied, and proceeded to tell Adam the story. Adam listened, and by the end, agreed that it sounded as though Waters thought Ben was his father.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you going to do?\u201d Adam wanted to know.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat can I do?\u201d countered Ben. \u201cI can\u2019t say more to dispute the facts. I have no idea if John Waters was Doug\u2019s father or not. I know I\u2019m not! But you know how it can be with ideas. Once you get something into your head, it can be very difficult to shift, despite facts. I think we just have to act as though Doug never spoke.\u201d Ben shrugged his shoulders. \u201cI haven\u2019t been directly accused, and I can hardly sack him for dressing like one of my sons. I think we just need to keep an eye on him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wonder what put that idea into his head?\u201d Adam shook his own dark head. \u201cIs it just because he looks a bit like Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI really don\u2019t know,\u201d Ben said. \u201cBut, Adam, I don\u2019t think we should tell Joe about this. You know what he\u2019s like. He\u2019d be out there beating Waters to a pulp, demanding answers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood thinking,\u201d agreed Adam. \u201cAfter what happened with Clay, I don\u2019t think Joe would be very receptive about having another half-brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shooting Adam a sharp look, Ben frowned. \u201cAt least we knew that Clay was Joe\u2019s brother,\u201d he said, reprovingly. \u201cAnd we know Waters isn\u2019t!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa, I didn\u2019t mean to sound like I was doubting you. Of course I\u2019m not. I remember Doug when he arrived here. Its nonsense to suggest he\u2019s your son.\u201d Adam gave his father a smile. \u201cBut I\u2019ll keep this to myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

It began to seem to Ben that Doug Waters was always under his feet. The timber contracts were fulfilled, and the cutting crews were laid off. The denuded hillside was re-planted, in accordance with Ben\u2019s philosophy. Waters seemed to always be in the crew that Ben had helping him out.<\/p>\n

Then another small crisis took Ben\u2019s attention from Waters. One of the mines Ben had shares in had a flood, and he and the boys had joined the rescuers. It was a dirty, dangerous job, but none of them shirked their responsibilities. Only two miners were drowned.<\/p>\n

However, they needed the mine back working again, and the decision was made to blast through the collapsed tunnel to free the water, and open up the workings again. Normally, either Ben or Adam tried to be around when there was blasting to do, but on this occasion, Hoss decided to go along, too. Joe elected to stay at home. It was no secret that Joe didn\u2019t like the dark all that much, and felt mildly claustrophobic in the mines.<\/p>\n

Having spent the afternoon mending some broken tack, Joe was just saddling Cochise to go for a ride when Waters came galloping into the yard. \u201cJoe, come quick!\u201d he panted. \u201cThe blasting has gone wrong. Your Pa and brothers are all trapped in the mine!\u201d<\/p>\n

Paling, Joe leapt onto Cochise, and raced out of the yard after Waters. He tried to convince himself that his family would be all right, that the miners would have got them out by the time he got there, but fear shortened his breath. \u201cPlease, God, let them be all right,\u201d he prayed.<\/p>\n

All was quiet at the mine when they arrived. The Cartwright family\u2019s horses were tethered over by the wooden shack, which passed for an office. \u201cWhere is everyone?\u201d Joe demanded. He slid off Cochise, and looked around.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey must be in the mine shaft,\u201d Waters offered. He watched as Joe ran across to the entrance to the mine, hesitated momentarily, then plunged in. Casually, he walked the horses further away from the entrance, and drew out his pocket watch. The explosives were due to go off any time now, and Joe would finally be gone.<\/p>\n

A few moments later, Joe re-appeared from the tunnel, and looked around. He spotted Waters, and began to walk towards him. It was apparent that Joe was furious. He had seen instantly that nothing had changed from the last time he had been in the mine, and he was wondering what Waters was playing at. It was a pretty nasty trick, if it was meant as a joke. If it wasn\u2019t\u2026 Joe didn\u2019t let the thought go any further.<\/p>\n

There was a sudden tremendous explosion behind Joe. A blast of hot air, laden with dust and debris, erupted from the mouth of the tunnel. The concussion from the explosion and the blast of air lifted Joe from his feet, and threw him about 10 feet through the air. He landed hard, and skidded along the ground before finally coming to rest.<\/p>\n

From his vantage point, Waters dropped Cochise\u2019s rein, and calmly mounted his horse. He rode away, not waiting to see the men spilling from the safety of another shaft further away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMr Cartwright, look!\u201d exclaimed the foreman, Bill. \u201cThere\u2019s somebody lying there. It looks like\u2026\u201d His voice trailed off.<\/p>\n

Following the pointing finger, Ben saw why Bill had stopped so suddenly. It looked like Joe! His heart missed a beat, and then Ben was running towards to prone figure on the ground. After a heartbeat\u2019s hesitation, Adam and Hoss were on his heels.<\/p>\n

Carefully turning Joe over, they were relieved not to see any obvious injuries, apart from skinned hands and face. Willing hands lifted the unconscious youth and carried him to the office, where Ben soaked his neckerchief and used it to bathe the dust and dirt from Joe\u2019s face. After a few minutes, Joe groaned, and his eyelids fluttered. \u201cJoe? Are you all right, son?\u201d<\/p>\n

A few more seconds passed before Joe\u2019s eyes opened fully. He looked blankly at Ben for a moment, then his hand drifted up to clutch his temple. \u201cMy head,\u201d he groaned. His gaze sharpened on Ben. \u201cPa! You\u2019re all right!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d Ben assured him, wondering why on earth Joe was concerned about him. \u201cHow do you feel?\u201d<\/p>\n

Frowning, Joe said, \u201cWhat did you say?\u201d His hand went to his ear, and pressed. The gesture seemed to be painful. He gazed intently at Ben, fright in his green eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe? Can you hear me?\u201d Ben asked, concerned. Even before he had finished speaking, Joe was talking.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t hear anything. My ears are ringing. They hurt.\u201d Joe\u2019s face screwed up, and he bit his lip. \u201cOh, Pa, it hurts.\u201d Tears welled in his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cEasy, son, easy,\u201d Ben soothed, even knowing that Joe couldn\u2019t hear him. He gathered the distraught youth into his arms, and looked over his shoulder at the shocked faces of his other 2 sons. \u201cWe need the doctor,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll get Joe back to the ranch. Is his horse here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight outside,\u201d Adam replied. \u201cWant a hand?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI might.\u201d Ben leaned back, and tilted Joe\u2019s face up to his. \u201cLet\u2019s get you home,\u201d he said, mouthing each word clearly. Joe nodded, although it obviously hurt him. Ben put his arm under Joe\u2019s and helped him to stand. Joe was understandably shaky for the first few moments, but as he took a few steps, he became steadier. He accepted help to mount, and they rode slowly for home.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cThere\u2019s an improvement already, Ben,\u201d Paul said. \u201cIt\u2019s only been a couple of hours, yet he can hear better than he could when I got here. I\u2019m convinced the damage isn\u2019t permanent. His balance is good, and if there is severe injury to the ears, the person also has problems with their balance. I think Joe just needs time. It may be a few days before he\u2019s back to normal. If there\u2019s no big improvement in a week, then bring him in to see me. You don\u2019t need to keep him in bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a relief,\u201d Adam commented.<\/p>\n

Grinning, Paul agreed. \u201cI\u2019m sure! But he will be rather more vulnerable than usual. It\u2019s very disconcerting not to be able to hear properly. A warning shout would pass him by right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you very much,\u201d Ben said, and rose to see the doctor out. Closing the door behind Paul, Ben turned thoughtfully to his other sons. \u201cI wonder what Joe was doing there,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s not like him to be interested in the blasting. Nothing seems to have happened here that needed my attention.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re unlikely to get information out of him tonight,\u201d Adam noted.<\/p>\n

Sighing, Ben agreed. \u201cYou\u2019re right. I\u2019m going up to sit with him. Ask Hop Sing to bring up a tray for Joe. He must eat something.\u201d
\n************<\/p>\n

Lying with his eyes shut, trying to outlast his throbbing headache, Joe flinched when Ben touched his arm. His eyes snapped open, and he looked terrified. When he saw it was just Ben, he relaxed. \u201cPa,\u201d he said. He tried a smile, but it wasn\u2019t very convincing.<\/p>\n

\u201cPaul says you\u2019ll be fine,\u201d Ben said, loudly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to be fine?\u201d Joe repeated, unsure if he\u2019d understood properly. The ringing in his ears was dying down, but it still blocked most of the sound going in. When Ben nodded, Joe\u2019s eyes filled with tears of relief. It was horribly disorienting to only hear ringing. Normal, everyday sounds, which he had taken for granted, had disappeared. Wiping a slightly shaky hand over his face, Joe said, \u201cPa?\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking at Joe, Ben mouthed, \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did Waters tell me you were trapped?\u201d Joe was unsure how loudly he was speaking, and watched his father intently to see his reaction.<\/p>\n

React Ben certainly did. He straightened up, and frowned at Joe for a long moment. Then his head went up, and a look of revelation crossed his face. His mouth moved, but Joe couldn\u2019t hear any of the sounds coming from it. He hadn\u2019t expected such a reaction, and was rather surprised by it. \u201cPa?\u201d he said, touching Ben\u2019s arm, to be sure he was noticed.<\/p>\n

Catching Joe\u2019s hand, Ben nodded. He held up a finger, and turned away. Vaguely, Joe understood that his father was shouting for the other members of the family. He was totally perplexed. He wished fiercely that his family had learned more than the very basics of the sign language he had taught Ann Croft. If they had, he could at least communicate with them.<\/p>\n

The confusion seemed to make his headache worse, and he closed his eyes again for a moment. When he opened them, Adam and Hoss were there.<\/p>\n

There was a long discussion, with Adam looking resigned and nodding a lot, and Hoss asking several questions, frowning and looking unhappy. Ben did most of the talking, gesturing to Joe every now and then. It was all very frustrating. Joe tried to follow what was going on, but failed. He began to feel tired, and his eyelids drooped as he gave up the battle to understand what was going on.<\/p>\n

A cool hand touched his arm, and he jumped, opening his eyes. The hand belonged to Adam. He held a notebook in his other hand. Did Waters tell you we were in trouble? he wrote.<\/p>\n

Nodding, Joe frowned. \u201cYes, he did. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n

Writing furiously, Adam finally showed Joe the pad again. Joe pushed himself up on the pillows, and took the pad. His jaw dropped. Adam had written Waters thinks Pa is his father. Of course, it\u2019s not true. But he seems to have this idea set in stone. We were concerned by his odd behaviour. It seems he was trying to kill you. He knew when the charges were due to go off. We now wonder if he deliberately climbed that slope to start a landslip, or if it just gave him an idea or two. Joe, we\u2019re going looking for him. Don\u2019t worry, you\u2019ll be safe. Hop Sing is here, and we\u2019ll leave someone on guard outside. You rest, we\u2019ll be back soon.<\/p>\n

Wide-eyed, Joe looked frantically at his family. \u201cBe careful,\u201d he begged them.<\/p>\n

We will, Adam wrote. You rest and you\u2019ll feel better soon.<\/p>\n

Patting Joe on the shoulder, Hoss smiled at him before leaving. Adam squeezed his shoulder, and Ben caressed his curls before kissing his forehead. Joe watched them go, his heart beating wildly. He looked again at what Adam had written, and he feared for his family. For a long time, he sat stiffly in bed, trying to hear past the noise in his ears, but finally, exhaustion conquered him, and he slid deeper into the pillows and fell asleep.<\/p>\n

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

There was no sign of Waters anywhere. He seemed to have disappeared into thin air. Hoss went into town to apprise Roy Coffee of the situation, and he rode out to the ranch to discuss it further with the family. Joe was up and about, but Roy was surprised to find him sitting huddled in Adam\u2019s blue velvet chair, rather than sitting on the settee, as was his wont. He soon discovered that it was because Joe could see everyone coming in and out of the house. Joe seemed distracted, and Roy left him in peace, rather than try and shout his questions.<\/p>\n

Indeed, Joe was distracted. Ever since he wakened that morning, he had a nagging feeling that there was something he ought to tell Ben, but he couldn\u2019t think what it was. Combining that with his ringing ears and throbbing head, he really wasn\u2019t in the mood for company. It was a relief that Roy didn\u2019t seem to want to talk to him.<\/p>\n

Handing Joe a cup of coffee, Ben sat down to talk to Roy, watching Joe from the corner of his eye. \u201cI told Waters that there was no way I could be his father,\u201d Ben said, concluding his story. \u201cBut he didn\u2019t believe me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMighty strange,\u201d Roy agreed. He, too, cast a glance at Joe, who now had his eyes shut. \u201cBut why is he just picking on Little Joe? What about Hoss and Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wondered about that, too,\u201d Ben admitted. \u201cBut then Adam pointed out that Waters is a little older than Joe, but younger than both Hoss and Adam. Perhaps Waters got it into his head that I\u2019d abandoned his mother when Joe was born. Maybe that\u2019s why he started dressing and acting like Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCould be,\u201d agreed Roy. \u201cWe\u2019ll keep a lookout for him. How\u2019s Joe doing anyway? What did the doc say?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHis hearing should come back with time,\u201d Ben told his friend. \u201cIt has improved a good bit already.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not like Joe to sit over there. I thought that chair was Adam\u2019s territory.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smiling, Ben said, \u201cWell, and so it is. But Joe can see everything from there, and as long as he\u2019s awake, we can\u2019t surprise him. That boy\u2019s had more shocks in the last 24 hours than he\u2019s had all his life!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess it would be a mite uncomfortable at that,\u201d Roy said. \u201cI never really thought about it before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNor me,\u201d agreed Ben. He gave Joe a fond look. It was apparent that he was asleep. He was talking under his breath, as he often did. Ben hoped he wouldn\u2019t waken into a full-scale, screaming nightmare, as he had done the previous night. The youth was exhausted.<\/p>\n

Showing Roy to the door, both men were halted in their tracks when Joe yelled, \u201cCochise!\u201d Pausing, they looked round. Joe\u2019s head was rolling against the back of the seat. Ben frowned, and started towards him. \u201cWhat the hell…\u201d Joe went on, and Ben\u2019s frown deepened. He didn\u2019t approve of bad language. But Joe was still asleep. \u201cWaters, no! No!\u201d With a scream, Joe bolted upright, his eyes wide and staring.<\/p>\n

\u201cEasy, son, easy,\u201d Ben said, forgetting Joe\u2019s transgression in the face of his obvious distress.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa,\u201d Joe said, and he was panting. \u201cWaters! He bushwhacked me! He shot at Cochise! He hit me! He said he wanted to kill me! He said I stole you from him!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe! Joe! Slow down!\u201d Ben shook his son, remembering that Joe couldn\u2019t hear him.<\/p>\n

After a moment, Joe\u2019s body relaxed, but he still was wide eyed. \u201cI remember, Pa,\u201d he said, clutching his father\u2019s sleeve. \u201cI heard the shot, and Coochie bolted. But he pulled up lame, nearly fell, in fact, and I came off. That was when I knocked my shoulder out. I turned to see who had fired at us. There was Waters. I was so mad! And he rode up to me, and I asked what he thought he was doing.\u201d Joe stopped and swallowed, and Ben guessed that was where the profanity came in. \u201cHe told me you were his father, and I\u2019d stolen you from him, and he was going to kill me! And he swung his rifle at me. It hit me, and I fell, but I wasn\u2019t quite out, because I saw him get down off his horse, and he came towards me and kicked me.\u201d With a gulp, Joe ran out of story and air at the same time.<\/p>\n

\u201cConclusive proof,\u201d Roy said. \u201cI\u2019ll make out a warrant for his arrest right now, Ben. I\u2019ll let you know when we find him. Meantime, be careful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Roy,\u201d Ben said, and let his friend see himself out, as he remained kneeling protectively by his son. Joe\u2019s eyes were tearless, but his skin was cold and clammy as the delayed shock hit him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, Pa?\u201d Joe asked at last.<\/p>\n

Shaking his head, Ben extracted himself from Joe\u2019s grip and fetched the notebook. I don\u2019t know, Joe. Waters has got it into his head that I am his father. It\u2019s not true, but he believes it. I think he might be jealous of you, and that might be why he was copying you.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know where he is, do you?\u201d Worried green eyes stayed focused on Ben as he shook his head. \u201cI see.\u201d Looking down, Joe knew how vulnerable he was right then. He didn\u2019t remember feeling like this ever before. He never wanted to feel like that again.<\/p>\n

Ben touched his knee, and Joe looked up again to find his father proffering the pad of paper once more. Joe, I want you to stay indoors until Waters is caught. We don\u2019t want anything to happen to you.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, Pa,\u201d Joe agreed, listlessly. He knew what Ben asked made sense, but he hated to be cooped up.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Over the next few days, Joe began to notice an improvement in his hearing. The throbbing headache had gone, and that seemed to help immensely. The family were now holding conversations again, albeit they were still shouting at Joe. On the down side, however, there was still no sign of Waters. Reluctantly, Ben began to allow Joe to go out of the house to the barn. They had posted a guard near the house.<\/p>\n

At first, Joe felt better about staying close to home when he wasn\u2019t confined solely to the house, but soon the restriction of the yard began to chafe, too. Joe liked his own company, and although he relished the companionship of his family, he needed time alone, like everyone else. The constant presence of an armed guard around the house and barn wore on his nerves.<\/p>\n

However, the day came when, sooner than expected, Joe managed to slip his guard, and cross to the barn unnoticed. He took the brush and began to groom Cochise. The pinto had seldom been groomed as often, even by Joe\u2019s exacting standards. Both man and horse enjoyed the company, and Joe whispered away to the horse as though Cochise could understand him. Perhaps he could.<\/p>\n

As Joe\u2019s hearing returned, little sounds often seemed louder to him. Now, the hissing of the brush across Cochise\u2019s glossy coat sounded very loud to Joe, and he didn\u2019t notice the sound of footsteps entering the barn. When the shadow fell on him, Joe had only a fraction of a second to look up and see Waters before the cowboy\u2019s upraised arm began to fall, bringing a gun down on Joe\u2019s unprotected head. But Joe used that fraction of a second. \u201cPA!\u201d he screamed. Then he knew no more.<\/p>\n

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

Inside the house, Ben lifted his head, frowning. Had he heard Joe shout? Or was it just his over-active imagination? He listened, but there was no further sound. Uneasy, Ben put down his pen and rose to his feet. He decided he would check on Joe, just to be on the safe side.<\/p>\n

As he opened the door, Ben noticed movement in the barn. Smiling, chiding himself for being overly concerned, he almost shouted to Joe, then remembered that Joe wouldn\u2019t hear him. Shaking his head, Ben began to walk to the barn. After only a few steps, he realised that he couldn\u2019t see Fred, who was on guard duty. Ben paused, and looked around. The uneasy feeling came back full force, and he turned on his heel and went back into the house for his gun.<\/p>\n

The house seemed very quiet, and Ben wished that Adam and Hoss were there. Going to the kitchen, Ben found Hop Sing in the midst of plucking a chicken. \u201cHop Sing, could you go quietly and see if you can find my sons, please? I\u2019m not sure, but I think something is wrong. Fred seems to have disappeared, and Joe is in the barn alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

For an instant, Hop Sing just looked at Ben, then he dropped the half-plucked chicken on the table and nodded. \u201cI get sons, Mr Catlight,\u201d he assured his employer. \u201cYou go see number three son okay. I be very quick.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Hop Sing,\u201d Ben said, gratefully, and went back into the main room. He was very uneasy now, and he strode swiftly to the door, and went back out into the yard. There, leaning against the edge of the house, was Fred. He was clutching his head, and blood ran between his fingers.<\/p>\n

Adrenalin charge through Ben\u2019s body. He went over to Fred, and touched his shoulder. Fred looked up. \u201cBoss,\u201d he said. \u201cI never saw nobody.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, Fred, you sit down and rest,\u201d Ben ordered. \u201cI\u2019ll get the doctor as soon as I can.\u201d Cautiously, Ben walked across the yard to the barn.<\/p>\n

The barn door was partly closed. Ben drew his gun, and gently pushed the door open. At first glance, the barn seemed deserted, apart from Cochise and Buck, who were both in their stalls. Then, further back, at the edge of Sport\u2019s stall, he spotted Joe lying on the floor. For one dreadful moment, Ben thought he was dead.<\/p>\n

From the shadows, Waters watched, and then stepped out to confront Ben. \u201cHello, Pa,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not your father, Doug,\u201d Ben said, as evenly as he could.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are,\u201d insisted Waters. \u201cMy Ma always said I looked like Joe. She said we were so alike we could be brothers. I reckon that makes you my Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking at the troubled young man, Ben\u2019s heart was heavy. There had been a joke among the four of them one evening \u2013 he and Marie, and John and Martha Waters \u2013 he remembered, that their sons looked alike, and could be brothers. But it was only that \u2013 a joke. Waters must have overheard, and put two and two together and made five. \u201cIt was a joke,\u201d he said, knowing words would be useless.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t a joke!\u201d Waters insisted. \u201cI\u2019m your son! This mis-begotten whelp took my place.\u201d He kicked Joe, who groaned.<\/p>\n

Taking a step or two further into the barn, Ben could now see Joe clearly. His hands were tightly bound behind his back, and there was a rope around his neck. Appalled, Ben realised that it was a choke chain, and if Joe struggled, he could end up choking himself. Swallowing against the nausea that rose in his throat, Ben tried once more to talk sense into Waters. \u201cIf I was your father that would make Joe your brother. Why do you want to kill him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe stole you from me,\u201d Waters said. \u201cYou would\u2019ve stayed with my Ma if he hadn\u2019t come along.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was no point in denying it any more, Ben saw. Waters wouldn\u2019t believe anything he said. Somehow, he had to get Joe to safety. \u201cDoug, please let Joe go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Pa, I can\u2019t do that. I\u2019ve got to kill him. If he\u2019s alive, you\u2019ll love him, not me! I\u2019ve got to kill him.\u201d Waters kicked Joe again.<\/p>\n

By now, Joe was conscious. He struggled against the restraint on his hands, and immediately, began to choke. Opening his eyes, Joe saw Ben standing near the barn door. \u201cPa,\u201d he said, desperately.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not your Pa, he\u2019s mine!\u201d screamed Waters, yanking Joe up by the collar and shaking him. \u201cMine, do you hear! Mine!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben took several steps forward, but stopped as Waters swung his pistol to rest against Joe\u2019s head. \u201cStay back, Pa,\u201d he warned. \u201cStay back.\u201d Ben, looking at him in horror, suddenly realise that the pistol he held was the one that had gone missing when Joe was attacked, all those weeks ago. Ben had since replaced it for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoug, if you kill him I\u2019ll never love you,\u201d Ben warned, willing to try anything to save his son. \u201cHow could I love a son who killed one of his brothers?\u201d<\/p>\n

For an instant, Ben thought he had got through to him, but he was wrong. Waters let out a wail of anguish, and turned on Joe. \u201cHe\u2019ll never love me! It\u2019s all your fault!\u201d And he dropped Joe to the ground, and began to kick and hit him, punching and clubbing him with his pistol.<\/p>\n

In two giant strides, Ben reached the cowboy\u2019s side, and grabbed him away. He punched Waters in the face, saw him go down, and turned to free Joe. With strength born of desperation, he yanked the rope from his son\u2019s neck, and untied the knots. Joe was conscious, although blood streamed down his face. \u201cJoe! Are you all right?\u201d he asked, pulling the youth towards him.<\/p>\n

Looking over Ben\u2019s shoulder, Joe saw Waters getting to his feet, his gun still in his hand. \u201cPA!\u201d Joe yelled, and tried to get to his feet. His legs wouldn\u2019t support him. He only got as far as his knees before Waters\u2019 gun crashed down on Ben\u2019s head, and he fell to the floor, unconscious.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow it\u2019s just us, brother,\u201d Waters said, menacingly.<\/p>\n

Frantically, Joe scrambled for Ben\u2019s gun, got hold of it, and whipped it up. He was too slow, his reactions dulled by the blows to the head he had received. Waters snatched up an axe handle and smashed it along Joe\u2019s arm. The heavy handle broke Joe\u2019s wrist and hand. Ben\u2019s gun fell to the hay-strewn floor with a dull thud. Joe screamed with pain.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been looking forward to this for a long time,\u201d Waters said, circling round his two victims, until he was between them and the door. \u201cI\u2019m going to kill you, brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not your brother,\u201d Joe husked. He set his jaw against the pain, and glared at Waters. \u201cMy Pa is an honourable man. If he had fathered you, he wouldn\u2019t have left your mother. We may look a little alike, but I\u2019m not your brother.\u201d
\n\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter what you think,\u201d Waters said. \u201cYou\u2019ll be dead soon, and I\u2019ll have Pa all to myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot quite,\u201d said a hard voice from behind Waters. \u201cHad you forgotten about Hoss and I?\u201d<\/p>\n

Stunned, Waters turned to look at Adam. Joe took his chance and threw himself at Waters\u2019 legs. Taken by surprise, Waters crashed to the floor, his gun discharging harmlessly into the roof. Adam dashed across the barn and yanked Waters to his feet, ploughing his fist into his face two or three times. Waters went down and out.<\/p>\n

For a moment, Adam stood over Waters looking at him with anger and contempt. Then his attention shifted to Joe and Pa. \u201cAre you all right?\u201d he asked, and Joe, overcome by relief, slumped to the ground, as close to fainting as he had been in a long time.<\/p>\n

Dimly, Joe was aware of Hoss\u2019 arrival at the barn, and of Adam gently rousing Pa. It was only as Ben began to talk, assuring Adam that he was fine, that Joe realised that he had heard everything said in the barn quite clearly. The knowledge was a revelation, and for a second, Joe couldn\u2019t breathe. He opened his eyes, and looked up into his father\u2019s concerned face. \u201cPa, I can hear again,\u201d Joe said. \u201cI can hear!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, that\u2019s wonderful,\u201d Ben said, reaching to pull him close. His hand only grazed the outside of Joe\u2019s left hand, but it was more than enough. Joe let out a scream of pain, and Ben hastily withdrew his hand. \u201cSorry, son,\u201d Ben breathed. He looked up at his two older boys, and winced at the pain in his head. \u201cI think we need the doctor,\u201d he said, and was glad to let his sons take over.<\/p>\n

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

There was quite a lot for Paul Martin to do at the Ponderosa that night. Ben and Fred both needed a couple of stitches in their head wounds. Joe needed his broken hand and wrist set, and his various cuts and bruises tended. Finally, Paul was able to leave, and had Roy Coffee\u2019s company back to town. Roy had needed Paul to look over Waters before he was locked up. As he left, his parting words to Ben were, \u201cAnd you get some rest!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPaul\u2019s right, Pa,\u201d Adam said. \u201cYou need to get some rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d Ben protested. \u201cI\u2019ll go up and see Joe, and then maybe I\u2019ll rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Giving an exasperated sigh, Adam accompanied his father up to Joe\u2019s room, where Hoss kept his younger brother company. Hoss looked up and smiled at welcome at his father. Joe stirred, and opened his eyes. \u201cPa. Are you all right?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just fine, son,\u201d Ben said, softly, and sat down on the edge of the bed to stroke Joe\u2019s curls gently. \u201cHow are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sighing, Joe closed his eyes briefly. \u201cI\u2019m okay,\u201d he said, but he sounded anything but convincing. His face was stiff and tight with bruising, and Paul had put a plaster cast on Joe\u2019s arm, so that only the very tips of his fingers were poking out. \u201cI was worried about you,\u201d he said, opening his eyes and looking at Ben. \u201cI thought Waters had killed you. I was so relieved to hear your voice. I\u2019m so relieved to hear everyone\u2019s voices. Are you sure you\u2019re okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

Smiling and nodding, Ben found that his throat was too tight for words.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Adam, thanks for the rescue,\u201d Joe said, turning his head to smile at his oldest brother. \u201cI\u2019m glad you were there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo am I,\u201d Adam said. \u201cThink of all the extra chores I\u2019d have to do if you weren\u2019t around.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d Joe said, but he couldn\u2019t help laughing. He winced as he moved slightly. Ben immediately looked concerned, but as he leant over Joe, he couldn\u2019t help a wince himself. Fathomless green eyes expressed their concern, and Joe put out his hand to touch Ben\u2019s arm. \u201cPa, you should be in bed,\u201d he chided, and then it dawned on him what he had said. \u201cHey,\u201d he grinned, \u201cI sound just like you!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd at the risk of sounding like an echo\u201d Adam interjected, \u201cI think you should be in bed, too. Come on, Pa, let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Grumbling half-heartedly, Ben allowed himself to be persuaded to his feet. He gave Joe\u2019s head a last caress. \u201cI love you, son,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

As they walked along to his room, Ben said, \u201cI must thank you, too, Adam. If you hadn\u2019t arrived when you did, both Joe and I could be dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad I did,\u201d Adam said. \u201cPoor Waters. Imagine living all that time, and not believing that his Pa was really his father.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sitting heavily on the edge of his bed, Ben allowed Adam to help him off with his boots. \u201cI think Doug did know, once, that his father really was John Waters. But after his dad died, and he lost their place, his mind began to play tricks on him. Coming to work here, and being reminded all the time about how alike he and Joe are, well, it must have disturbed the balance of his mind. He must have blanked out his love for his father. A bit like that blank space Joe said he had in his mind when he had lost his memory.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you\u2019re right,\u201d agreed Adam. \u201cBut rest assured, Pa, we all know who fathered us. Now, get some rest! Good night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood night, son,\u201d Ben said. He lay back, and thought of his three sons \u2013 so different, yet so alike. Through the wall, he heard Joe\u2019s laugh, then Adam and Hoss bidding Joe good night. Then came the shout that delighted his heart. \u201cGood night, Pa,\u201d shouted Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood night, Joe, Hoss,\u201d he called back. He closed his eyes and said a prayer of gratitude that they were all safe together under one roof. Waters hadn\u2019t appreciated his family while they were alive, and his longing to have what the Cartwrights had had made him turn to murder. Ben was grateful his sons appreciated each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood night, boys,\u201d he said, and fell asleep.<\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0Joe is found badly beaten on the road.\u00a0 He doesn’t know how he got there.\u00a0 Can the Cartwrights find out in time before tragedy strikes?<\/p>\n

Rated: K+ (10,800 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":11265,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23,41,1007],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7108","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-hurtcomfort","category-joe-cartwright","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-41-id","wpcat-1007-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/normal_MBK-JC2.jpg?fit=400%2C320&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7108","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/45"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7108"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7108\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7108"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7108"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}