Summary: \u00a0A WHN for the episode Emily. Can a leopard really change its spots? How did Joe manage to cope with Emily living in Virginia City?<\/p>\n
Rated:\u00a0 K+ (9,220 words)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A Long Shadow<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe?\u201d Ben said, gently. His son lifted his chin from his chest and blinked tiredly at Ben. \u201cWe\u2019re home.\u201d He slid his arm under Joe\u2019s left arm to assist his son from the buggy. On the other side of Joe, Doc Martin offered his assistance, too.<\/p>\n Utterly weary, Joe didn\u2019t object when his brother Hoss came over to help him into the house. Candy, their foreman, went before them, opening the doors. Paul Martin smiled to himself as he followed the small procession. One thing you could rely on with the Cartwrights; they were always there for each other.<\/p>\n \u201cComplete bed rest for two days, Joe,\u201d Paul ordered as Ben and Hoss helped Joe back into bed. \u201cAnd then I\u2019ll come and see how you are.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll right,\u201d Joe nodded, tiredly. He was sore and exhausted and he just wanted to sleep. He was quite grateful to feel a needle slide into his flesh and leave behind some painkiller. He was asleep in moments.<\/p>\n Ben ushered the others out and paused for a moment, looking at his son before he closed the door quietly. It had been an exhausting morning for Joe, emotionally as well as physically. Joe had been shot a couple of days before, and then almost framed for murder. That morning, he had been cleared, but Ben knew it would take Joe some time to get over this. The person who had framed him with her lies had been a woman Joe had once intended to marry. Emily McPhail, nee Anderson, had appeared in Virginia City and encouraged Joe, not telling him that she was married. Nor had the lies stopped there. She had told her husband, a deputy marshal, that Joe had asked her to run away with him to live in South America. This lie was the one that had put Joe in the frame for robbery and murder. Emily had, in the end, admitted her lies, but by then, Joe had been proved innocent by other means. Ben felt a deep, abiding anger for Emily and fervently hoped he would never see her again.<\/p>\n Downstairs, Marshal Calhoun was waiting for Ben. \u201cMr Cartwright, I\u2019m glad everything has been cleared up,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll be heading back to town now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you and McPhail staying on in Virginia City?\u201d Ben asked, shaking the marshal\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n \u201cFor the time being, yes,\u201d Calhoun answered. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was just wondering,\u201d Ben replied, evasively. His heart cried out in protest, though. He hoped that McPhail would throw his worthless wife out onto the street, but judging by the scene he had witnessed as they rode away from where Joe had been shot, there wasn\u2019t much hope of that. He knew how hard it would be for Joe to see Emily going about the town as though nothing had happened. \u201cGoodbye, Marshal and thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n Closing the door, Ben turned to look at Candy and Hoss. Hoss\u2019 blue eyes were as troubled as Ben\u2019s. \u201cShe ain\u2019t gonna leave, is she, Pa?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, son, I don\u2019t think she\u2019s gonna leave,\u201d Ben replied, heavily. His gaze drifted to the stairs, as though he could see Joe through the roof.<\/p>\n \u201cIts gonna be tough on Joe,\u201d Candy observed. **********************<\/p>\n It was far easier than any of them had expected to keep Joe in bed for the next couple of days. Joe had been badly injured, and although the trip to the site of the shooting had been sanctioned and supervised by the doctor, it had been too much for Joe\u2019s first outing. He slept for a good part of the remainder of that day, and was quiet during his two days of bed rest. Ben was deeply worried.<\/p>\n Lying in his bed, Joe\u2019s thoughts were of Emily. He had loved her deeply and the fact that she had omitted to tell him that she was married, and then wanted him to run away with her, hurt him very badly. Joe berated himself for a fool, for having his head turned by a pretty face. He chided himself for falling in love too easily, before he really knew Emily. For Joe could see, only too well, that had he married her, he might have been in Wade McPhail\u2019s shoes, and wondering if his wife was faithful to him.<\/p>\n Marriage was something that Joe didn\u2019t take lightly. He had been engaged a few times and in love more times than he could count. Only once had he actually said the vows to a girl, and he had been quite relieved when she had backed out. Joe hadn\u2019t loved Tess; he had felt sorry for her and guilty because his bullet had ricocheted and blinded her. Joe had been prepared to be her eyes for the rest of her life. He liked Tess a lot, but he hadn\u2019t loved her, although at the time he had convinced himself that he did. Emily\u2019s betrayal had shaken his belief in his instincts and shaken his belief in love. Perhaps the gossips were right; perhaps he did love too easily.<\/p>\n Suspecting Joe\u2019s thoughts, although not knowing them for sure, his family gave Joe space but let him know they were there if he wanted to talk. Joe did want to talk; but he didn\u2019t have a clue what to say. Every thought began and ended the same way; I was a fool. He didn\u2019t think his family needed him to say that. It was patently obvious.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n \u201cReady ta git up, Shortshanks?\u201d Hoss asked cheerfully as he came into Joe\u2019s bedroom. Ben had helped Joe dress a short while before, but Hoss had hoped a few minutes alone might persuade Joe to open up to him.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess so,\u201d Joe replied, and smiled. It lacked his usual sparkle.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on then,\u201d Hoss smiled, pretending he didn\u2019t notice how subdued Joe was. He put his arm under Joe\u2019s left arm and pulled. Joe rose easily to his feet and rested against Hoss for a moment as he tried out his legs. They felt remarkably weak, but he had lost a lot of blood and been confined to bed. \u201cAll right?\u201d Hoss asked, checking that Joe\u2019s sling was comfortable on his right arm. \u201cYa ain\u2019t in any pain, are ya?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I\u2019m all right,\u201d Joe assured him. \u201cAs all right as I can be for now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do that mean?\u201d Hoss asked, turning towards Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, nothing,\u201d Joe evaded, but Hoss wasn\u2019t fooled.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe, don\u2019t give me that,\u201d he said in disgust. \u201cI know ya well enough ta know that there\u2019s somethin\u2019 goin\u2019 on in that mind o\u2019 yers. Whyn\u2019t ya tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d have thought you already knew,\u201d Joe replied, seriously. \u201cYou all know I made a fool of myself with Emily. That night in town, when Wade and I fought, you couldn\u2019t say anything to me when Wade told me Emily was his wife. You were thinking what I fool I\u2019d been, and I can\u2019t blame you for that. I was a fool, Hoss. I was a fool to fall in love with her in Monterey and I was a bigger fool to fall in love with her all over again in the street that morning. That\u2019s what you\u2019ve all been thinking, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n After looking at Joe for a long moment, Hoss sat him back down on the edge of the bed. \u201cNow ya listen ta me, Joe,\u201d he began. \u201cI didn\u2019t say nuthin\u2019 in town that night, cos I know ya well enough ta know ya ain\u2019t gonna go an\u2019 steal another man\u2019s wife! It was as plain as the nose on yer face that ya didn\u2019 know Emily was married! Anyone what says any different don\u2019 know ya! An\u2019 we knew ya wouldn\u2019 run off with another man\u2019s wife! An\u2019 ya certainly wouldn\u2019 rob an\u2019 murder ta do so! The only person as thinks yer a fool is ya!\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss\u2019 declaration of love and trust touched Joe and the tears glittered in his eyes. \u201cBut I do still love her, Hoss,\u201d Joe admitted in a low voice. \u201cIf that doesn\u2019t make me a fool, what does?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYa cain\u2019t help yer feelin\u2019s,\u201d Hoss told Joe gently. \u201cDon\u2019 cha think I felt the same when you an\u2019 Adam showed me what Helen Layton were really like? I loved her, Joe. An\u2019 I loved Regan the same way. I didn\u2019 stop lovin\u2019 them right off cos I discovered they wasn\u2019t who I thought they was. It took time. Ya c\u2019n love someone an\u2019 not like them, ya know. Love an\u2019 like ain\u2019t the same thing. Right now, ya still love Emily \u2013 but think, Joe. Is the Emily ya love a real person? Or is she someone from yer memory that time has changed ta be better\u2019n she really was?\u201d<\/p>\n This was a new thought for Joe and he gazed at Hoss as he tried to absorb it. Was it absolution come too cheaply? Was Hoss just saying this to make him feel better? \u201cI fall in love too easily,\u201d Joe commented bitterly.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe ya jist think ya fall in love too easily,\u201d Hoss corrected him gently. \u201cBut love ain\u2019t ever a bad thing, Joe, unless ya use it to hurt another, an\u2019 ya ain\u2019t able ta do that. Don\u2019 change none, little brother, cos yer a pretty fine person jist like ya are.\u201d<\/p>\n A great wave of relief and gratitude broke over Joe at his brother\u2019s words. Hoss loved Joe, but he was completely honest and if he thought Joe had been a fool, he\u2019d have said so. All too often, Hoss was over-looked or suffered in comparison to his younger, louder, better-looking brother, but he didn\u2019t grudge Joe the limelight. It wasn\u2019t Hoss\u2019 natural habitat, as it was Joe\u2019s. But Hoss was by no means the simpleton that many people expected by his outer packaging. His was the profound wisdom of a man in tune with nature. \u201cThank you,\u201d Joe whispered and brushed a sleeve across his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cYer welcome,\u201d Hoss replied. \u201cYa ready ta go downstairs now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m ready,\u201d Joe replied and allowed Hoss to help him up once more. This time, he stood more erect and his head was held high. Hoss smiled as he saw the change in posture from a few minutes before. This was the Joe he knew and loved.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go then,\u201d Hoss agreed and they walked towards the door.<\/p>\n *************************<\/p>\n \u201cSo what\u2019s the verdict in town?\u201d Joe asked, as Hoss came to join them at the table for supper a few nights later.<\/p>\n Helping himself from the plates and bowls before him, Hoss sighed. \u201cAbout what ya\u2019d expect,\u201d he replied. \u201cEmily ain\u2019t bein\u2019 looked on too favourable. Wade seems ta have had a bit more sympathy till everyone realise that he weren\u2019t gonna throw her out.\u201d He applied himself to his food.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd?\u201d Joe prompted as he scooped up some of his own supper. Ben had cut Joe\u2019s food up for him without being asked, and Joe smiled gratefully. \u201cThanks, Pa.\u201d He glanced back at Hoss, who seemed to be taking an inordinately long time to chew his first mouthful. \u201cWhat are they saying about me? You might as well tell me now, Hoss, because I\u2019ll hear as soon as I\u2019m able to go into town.\u201d<\/p>\n Casting a rueful glance at their father, Hoss swallowed unhappily. \u201cSome folks feels bad fer ya, Joe,\u201d he began. \u201cBut there\u2019s some \u2013 not many \u2013 what think ya were plannin\u2019 ta run off wi\u2019 Emily. They think yer a cad, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n Dropping his head over his plate, Joe told himself that that was exactly what he had expected to hear about himself. It didn\u2019t make the hearing of it any easier. Joe had always been popular in town and his friendly personality and easy, natural charm had won him many friends. But now it sounded as though the few who did not like him were having a field day with his reputation.<\/p>\n A hand squeezed his arm sympathetically and Joe looked up to meet Ben\u2019s worried brown eyes. He smiled, but it wasn\u2019t convincing. \u201cI\u2019m all right,\u201d he asserted.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll blow over,\u201d Ben predicted. \u201cTomorrow or the next day there\u2019ll be some new scandal to divert everyone\u2019s attention away from you.\u201d<\/p>\n It would\u2019ve been churlish of Joe to scorn the comfort his father was offering. \u201cYes, of course,\u201d he agreed. But a small voice inside reminded him that there were a few in Virginia City who loved seeing the Cartwrights brought low and who would be loath to let anyone forget Joe\u2019s part in this, innocent though it had been. And Joe\u2019s love for Emily began to curl up and die with this realisation.<\/p>\n **************************<\/p>\n It took Joe a few weeks to get his strength back and he was quite willing, for once, to do as the doctor ordered and take things slowly. By the time he was venturing into town to collect supplies with Hoss, over two months had passed since the shooting.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to go, Pa,\u201d Joe pleaded as Ben stood by the wagon. \u201cYes, sir,\u201d Joe replied, sulkily. He climbed onto the wagon seat where Hoss was waiting patiently for him, trying to pretend that he hadn\u2019t heard the altercation between father and brother.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t overdo it!\u201d Ben called after them as the wagon began to move. \u201cRemember you\u2019ve been sick!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t win,\u201d Joe grumbled to Hoss. \u201cFirst he tells me to help you, then he tells me not to overdo it! I wish he\u2019d make up his mind!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll keep ma eye on ya,\u201d Hoss assured him placidly. \u201cBut Pa\u2019s right, ya know; the longer ya put off goin\u2019 inta town, the harder it\u2019ll be.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI had noticed,\u201d Joe muttered and Hoss glanced at his younger brother, seeing his set, white face and the tension that blazed from every pore of his body.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll be all right,\u201d he predicted, but that didn\u2019t give Joe any comfort at all.<\/p>\n ***********************<\/p>\n Like many ordeals, the thought was worse than the actual event. There were a few cold stares, but a lot of people came up to Joe, expressing their delight at his recovery. Gradually, Joe began to relax and Hoss hid a smile as he saw his gregarious younger brother chatting to a young lady. However, he made Joe help him with some of the supplies, while making sure Joe didn\u2019t over-tax his healing shoulder. \u201cHow about a beer?\u201d he suggested, when the last of the supplies was loaded.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy not?\u201d agreed Joe and they went across to the saloon.<\/p>\n There was a momentary hush as the brothers went in, and Joe tensed, but after that moment, conversation started up again and Joe appeared to be forgotten. He relaxed and leant against the bar. Hoss ordered two beers and had taken only one sip of his when he put it down on the bar with a bang. \u201cDadburnit!\u201d he exclaimed in annoyance. \u201cI done forgot somethin\u2019. Ya stay here, Joe an\u2019 I\u2019ll be right back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWant me to come with you?\u201d Joe asked, feeling that he ought to volunteer, but not really wanting to do any more lifting that day. The muscles in his shoulder were taking their own sweet time to heal and Joe could feel them aching steadily.<\/p>\n \u201cNa, I think I c\u2019n mange,\u201d Hoss assured him. \u201cI\u2019ll be back in a minute.\u201d He hurried out of the door. Joe idly wondered if Hoss had forgotten his usual dime\u2019s worth of sweets.<\/p>\n \u201cBetter watch out, boys,\u201d said a voice from somewhere behind Joe, rather more loudly than necessary. \u201cJoe Cartwright\u2019s in town. You\u2019d better hurry home ta keep an eye on your wives!\u201d<\/p>\n Gritting his teeth, Joe tried to pretend that he hadn\u2019t heard the voice. He had recognised it immediately; Bert Hastings had once worked for the Cartwrights, but he had been sacked for stealing. Since then, he had done odd jobs here and there and dedicated his time to making Joe\u2019s life a misery. Quite why he had singled Joe out was a mystery that they had never been able to answer. In truth, Hastings was jealous of Joe and took great delight in trying to bring the young cowboy down a peg or two. This situation with Emily was tailor-made for his nefarious needs.<\/p>\n \u201cLeave him alone,\u201d objected Cosmo, the barman. He cast an uneasy glance at Joe\u2019s set face.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy should I?\u201d Hastings challenged, and stepped up beside Joe. \u201cHe tried to steal the deputy marshal\u2019s wife an\u2019 the money an\u2019 if\u2019n he hadn\u2019t been a Cartwright, he\u2019d a bin hanged like anyone else!\u201d<\/p>\n Gritting his teeth even harder, Joe fought the impulse to bury his fist in Hastings\u2019 face. He knew he was in no fit state to fight anyone, no matter the provocation. He kept his eyes fixed on his beer, hoping that someone he knew would stand up for him. But none of the patrons of the saloon was a particular friend of Joe\u2019s and nobody spoke up in his defence.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019re you doin\u2019 here, Cartwright?\u201d Hastings asked. \u201cAin\u2019t no wives in here for you ta steal.\u201d He laughed uproariously at his own joke and several voices joined in. Joe didn\u2019t reply.<\/p>\n His natural belligerence heightened by the drink and the audience, Hastings wouldn\u2019t give up. He grabbed Joe by the left shoulder and swung him around, hanging on to Joe\u2019s jacket to prevent the other man walking away. \u201cI asked you a question, Cartwright,\u201d he snarled, breathing beery fumes into Joe\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cBack off!\u201d Joe told him. He tried to shrug Hastings\u2019 hand off his jacket, but the other man was as tall as Hoss and although not quite as broad, could easily make two of Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cBack off?\u201d Hastings repeated incredulously. He shook Joe. \u201cD\u2019you hear that, boys? This little wretch had the nerve ta tell me ta back off! I wasn\u2019t the one trying ta steal someone else\u2019s wife, Cartwright.\u201d He shook Joe again for good measure.<\/p>\n By now, Joe\u2019s blood was really up, but he was managing to hang onto his temper only by the thinnest of margins. He wished Hoss would hurry up and come back from wherever it was he had gone. \u201cGet your hands off me,\u201d Joe warned, quietly.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d Hastings replied. He turned, pushing Joe between himself and the bar. He shoved Joe hard against the bar. \u201cYou ain\u2019t got no call ta tell me what ta do, Cartwright! I ain\u2019t no wife-stealer.\u201d He shoved Joe against the bar again, harder this time. A jolt of pain shot through Joe\u2019s back.<\/p>\n By now, Hastings\u2019 drunken companions were egging him on, and he needed very little encouragement. \u201cWe don\u2019t stand for no wife-stealers in this town!\u201d he cried. \u201cI\u2019ll show you what we do ta wife-stealers!\u201d He drew back his fist and crashed it into Joe\u2019s stomach.<\/p>\n There was no chance for Joe to retaliate. He doubled over and received another punch to the jaw, snapping him back upright and forcing him onto his back on the polished surface of the bar. Joe felt pain shoot through his shoulder.<\/p>\n Next moment, Hastings pulled Joe back to the floor and punched him again and again and again. Joe could barely breathe and it seemed to him that there was a lot of noise in the saloon. Another blow sent him spinning across the room and over the top of a table to crash painfully to the floor. At that point, Joe lost consciousness.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe? Can ya hear me, boy?\u201d Hoss wiped the wet rag over Joe\u2019s face again and was rewarded with a groan. \u201cCome on, little brother, wake up,\u201d Hoss coaxed.<\/p>\n Slowly, Joe opened his eyes. He hurt all over, and for a moment, he couldn\u2019t remember why. Hoss\u2019 concerned blue eyes looked down at him and Joe groaned again. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d he mumbled.<\/p>\n \u201cJist take it easy,\u201d Hoss advised him. \u201cThe doc\u2019ll be here soon. Ya were in a fight, Joe. D\u2019you remember?\u201d<\/p>\n The memory came back all of a sudden and Joe groaned again. \u201cHastings,\u201d he muttered. He wondered why his words were slurred and gingerly raised his hand to touch his torn, swollen and bleeding lip. \u201cWhere is he?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRoy\u2019s got him locked up tight down the jail,\u201d Hoss replied, relieved that Joe seemed to remember. His brother\u2019s face was a mass of swelling, and blood trickled persistently from a cut by his left ear. \u201cCosmo told us Hastings started the trouble.\u201d Hoss\u2019 heart had missed a beat as he came back into the bar in time to see Joe flying across the room and landing, face down and unmoving, on the floor. Luckily for Hastings, Roy Coffee, the sheriff, had come in then, too, or Hoss might well have killed the other man with his bare hands. \u201cCosmo got Roy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood,\u201d Joe grunted, knowing that Hoss wanted him to stay awake at least until the doctor arrived. \u201cThanks.\u201d He just wished Cosmo had managed to fetch Roy a little sooner.<\/p>\n The few minutes that it took Dr Martin to arrive saw Joe\u2019s head clear a good bit. Because of Hoss\u2019 insistence, Joe was still flat on his back on the floor, but his aches had died back to a few specific places, such as his stomach, face and shoulder. He seldom had had reason to be glad of the doctor\u2019s arrival, but he was relieved to see him this time. Sure enough, it only took the doctor a few more minutes to ascertain that Joe was badly bruised, but had broken nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cBut don\u2019t go getting into any more fights,\u201d Paul warned as Hoss helped Joe to his feet. \u201cYour shoulder came out of this one all right, but I can\u2019t guarantee it will again. It needs another month of light work before its back to anywhere near normal, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t exactly start this one, Doc,\u201d Joe protested. \u201cAnd I didn\u2019t even throw a punch! But I\u2019ll do my best to accommodate you, I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo home and rest,\u201d Paul smiled.<\/p>\n *********************<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s reaction was everything Joe had expected and he let Hoss do most of the talking as he was assisted inside and made to rest on the sofa, as though he was an invalid, Joe thought with amusement. He wouldn\u2019t have admitted under torture that he was hurting, but Ben was adept at reading Joe\u2019s expressions and body language and knew that his son was sore.<\/p>\n As Hoss went off to unload the supplies, Ben sat on the table opposite Joe and looked at him closely. \u201cI\u2019m all right, Pa,\u201d Joe assured him once more.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m glad, son,\u201d Ben replied, truthfully. \u201cBut I\u2019m sorry this happened. I didn\u2019t think there would be anything like this.\u201d<\/p>\n Making a face, Joe admitted, \u201cNeither did I. Bert Hastings has always had it in for me, Pa. Maybe it was foolish of us to have gone to the saloon, but there hadn\u2019t been any trouble up until then.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you were going to go to the saloon at some point,\u201d Ben replied, philosophically. \u201cI\u2019m just glad it wasn\u2019t any worse than it is, Joe.\u201d He patted Joe\u2019s hand and they smiled at one another. \u201cDid you see\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEmily and Wade?\u201d Joe asked. \u201cNo, luckily. I don\u2019t think I could\u2019ve faced either of them. But I suppose we\u2019ll meet up sooner or later.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, let\u2019s just hope it\u2019s later,\u201d Ben suggested and Joe nodded. The later the better as far as he was concerned and he hoped it might be never.<\/p>\n ************************<\/p>\n By the time another month had gone by, Joe felt that he was as fit as ever. His problems with Emily seemed to have blown over, as Ben had predicted. Although Joe had seen Emily in town, he had never been close enough to her to speak to her and he was more than content to keep it that way. He couldn\u2019t understand now how he had ever thought he could love her.<\/p>\n There had been an awkward encounter with Wade in the store one afternoon. The store had, of course, been busy that day and everyone in the store had eavesdropped with impunity as Joe and Wade made stilted conversation as the store keeper took his own sweet time filling Joe\u2019s order for more coffee. It was all hideously embarrassing, and Joe had been pleased to see that Wade looked as awkward as he felt.<\/p>\n One of the witnesses to the meeting had been Bert Hastings, who had looked at Joe malevolently, but had said nothing, obvious feeling constrained by the presence of the deputy marshal. Wade was something of an object of pity in the town, but as time passed, most people were able to see beyond this and realised that he was an able deputy.<\/p>\n But Hastings wasn\u2019t prepared to \u2018live and let live\u2019 as far as Joe was concerned. He had spent a few days in jail after his fight with Joe and was warned as to his future conduct. It was another black mark to chalk against Joe\u2019s name and Hastings could hardly wait to pay Joe back for it.<\/p>\n ************************<\/p>\n The inevitable meeting with Emily happened at, of all inauspicious places, the church. Joe had fidgeted his way through the service in his usual fashion, causing Ben to wonder if Joe would ever be able to just sit still. As they moved down the aisle to leave, Joe caught a glimpse of Emily and Wade on the other side of the church. Joe deliberately turned his head to avoid catching her eye.<\/p>\n Behind him, Ben stopped to speak to someone and Hoss was already deep in conversation with the parson about something. Candy patted Joe on the arm as he stopped to chat to someone he knew. Not really wanting to talk to anyone, Joe drifted over to where the buggy was hitched. He wondered how long the others would be.<\/p>\n \u201cHello, Joe,\u201d said a soft voice from behind him and Joe stiffened. Turning slowly, he wasn\u2019t surprised to see it was Emily.<\/p>\n \u201cEmily,\u201d he replied and tipped the edge of his hat to her.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re looking well,\u201d Emily persisted, before Joe could turn away from her, as he had intended to do.<\/p>\n \u201cI am well,\u201d Joe replied, his tone icy and controlled. \u201cGoodbye.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be like that, Joe,\u201d Emily protested. \u201cWhy can\u2019t we be friends? I still love you.\u201d She reached out her hand to put it on his sleeve and Joe took a step back.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, you don\u2019t,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cYou don\u2019t love me and I most certainly don\u2019t love you! Go away, Emily. This is what started the trouble the last time and I almost died because of it. Go away!\u201d This time, he turned his back and took a couple of steps away from her. He discovered that he was trembling. After a moment, he heard the rustle of silk as Emily walked away.<\/p>\n Putting the buggy horses between himself and the spectators, Joe leant against a tree and felt sick. Emily would never change, he realised and didn\u2019t envy Wade in the slightest.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter, Cartwright?\u201d hissed a voice. \u201cToo many people here for ya ta risk kissin\u2019 yer lady-love?\u201d<\/p>\n Pushed too far, Joe turned and bumped solidly into Hoss, who had materialised out of nowhere and interposed himself between Joe and Hastings. \u201cI think ya ought ta watch yer mouth, Hastings,\u201d Hoss warned, keeping his voice low. \u201cOne o\u2019 these days its gonna git ya inta trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt seems to me,\u201d Candy drawled, \u201cthat it got him into trouble before, an\u2019 he ain\u2019t learned anything from it.\u201d The ranch foreman was leaning on the other side of the tree, polishing his gun barrel idly on his shirt sleeve.<\/p>\n Out-numbered, Hastings discovered that discretion was the better part of valour and made an ignominious exit. Joe discovered that his fists were clenched and his breath was panting raggedly in his chest. \u201cThanks,\u201d he muttered, although he could remember a time when Hoss\u2019 intervention in this kind of situation would have sent him into a furious temper.<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019 want ya causin\u2019 a scene outside the church,\u201d Hoss replied.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did Emily want?\u201d Candy asked, the inflection he put on her name showing his extreme dislike of the woman.<\/p>\n Taking a deep breath, Joe glanced around to make sure no one else could overhear him. \u201cShe told me she still loves me,\u201d he replied, almost inaudibly.<\/p>\n \u201cDadburnit,\u201d Hoss muttered unhappily while Candy groaned eloquently. \u201cYa better make sure ya stay away from her, Shortshanks, ya hear?\u201d Hoss ordered.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry, big brother,\u201d Joe assured him. \u201cI have no intention of going anywhere near her ever again!\u201d<\/p>\n Looking over the backs of the horses, Joe saw Emily was looking right at him and a shudder of foreboding ran down his spine. Would he ever be free of her?<\/p>\n ***********************<\/p>\n It seemed to Joe that every time he went into town he ran into Emily and Bert Hastings. He hoped that it was just paranoia that suggested to him that they were keeping watch for him. He began to do everything he could to avoid going to town, and if he had to go, he wouldn\u2019t linger and avoided the saloons at all costs.<\/p>\n But the strain was beginning to tell on Joe. His temper grew short and the dark circles under his eyes told their own tales of the sleepless nights that he was suffering. Joe\u2019s appetite fell away and Ben began to measure every mouthful of food that Joe ate with anxious eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s gonna fret hisself away to a frazzle,\u201d Hoss commented to Ben one morning when Joe had been particularly prickly over breakfast and had finally stormed outside, leaving the better part of his meal on the plate. \u201cAin\u2019t there anythin\u2019 we c\u2019n do, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m open to suggestions,\u201d Ben replied, wearily. Father and son exchanged glances. \u201cThere\u2019s a horse sale in town tomorrow,\u201d Ben suggested. \u201cTell Joe to go and see if there are any we might like to buy. That should take his mind off Emily.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a good idea,\u201d Hoss agreed, knowing Joe\u2019s love of horses. \u201cThat should cheer him up some.\u201d He hurried after his brother to tell him.<\/p>\n The idea wasn\u2019t quite the resounding success that Ben and Hoss had hoped for. Joe had made an effort to seem enthusiastic about the sale, but it was a visible effort, which took the shine off the idea for Joe\u2019s family. Joe, for his part, saw the reaction and immediately felt terrible for hurting them, which in turn led to him being even snappier than he had been previously. By the time they left for the sale, everyone felt out of sorts.<\/p>\n **************************<\/p>\n The horse sale had attracted a lot of sellers and buyers. People milled about, assessing the potential of the yearlings and weanling foals, peering at the horses\u2019 teeth and checking out their feet. Despite himself, Joe felt his spirits rise. Emily was unlikely to be at the sale and surrounded by his family, Hastings was unlikely to bother Joe. It was an immense relief.<\/p>\n There weren\u2019t many horses of sufficient quality for Joe and the Ponderosa to be interested in, but he and Ben checked out a few of the likelier candidates and together decided which ones they would bid for. Ben decided that he would do the actual bidding, and Joe was content to let him.<\/p>\n The bidding was underway when a small boy appeared at Joe\u2019s side and tugged on his sleeve. Bending over, Joe smiled at the youngster. \u201cMister, a big man in a tall white hat told me ta tell ya that he\u2019ll meet ya at the Silver Dollar an\u2019 you\u2019re buyin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Smiling Joe ruffled the boy\u2019s hair and hunted in his pocket for a coin for the child. \u201cThanks,\u201d he replied. He hadn\u2019t seen Hoss since just after they arrived, and now that Ben and Candy were over at the main pen doing the bidding, Joe was at a slightly loose end. He turned away from the horse pens and headed down an alley towards the middle of town and the Silver Dollar saloon.<\/p>\n *************************<\/p>\n The knock at the door was unexpected. Emily went over warily. She hadn\u2019t made any friends in the town at all. Everyone shunned her for her part in framing Joe for the attempted bullion robbery. None of the other matrons of the town was willing to be seen with the hussy that had tried to cheat on her husband with another man.<\/p>\n The small boy that stood there smiled up at her, and proffered a note. \u201cA man in a green jacket told me ta give ya this,\u201d he informed Emily and thrust the note into her hand before scurrying off. He had made more money that afternoon than he had ever seen before and his conscience was not moved by the lies he had told either Joe or Emily.<\/p>\n Her heart suddenly pounding, Emily opened the note. Emily, meet me in the alley by the Silver Dollar saloon. Come at once. Joe.<\/p>\n A bubble of joy burst in Emily\u2019s heart. Joe did love her! She threw the note into the kitchen fire and rushed out of the house. Wade was working and Emily knew she wouldn\u2019t be missed for some time to come.<\/p>\n ***********************<\/p>\n The alley didn\u2019t seem the most likely of trysting places as Emily drew closer to it. She hesitated momentarily, then remembered that it was Joe who was waiting for her. Joe would never suggest meeting somewhere that wasn\u2019t safe. Boldly, she stepped into the alley and away from the deserted main street.<\/p>\n At first, she thought Joe wasn’t there, but as she walked further up the alley, she saw a man with his back to her. \u201cJoe!\u201d she called, then realised, too late, that this wasn\u2019t Joe. She turned to leave, but two other men had appeared silently behind her.<\/p>\n Frantically, she turned to flee the other way, but the third man was now very close to her and she was trapped. \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter, darlin\u2019?\u201d drawled the man. \u201cDon\u2019t cha wanna kiss me like ya did Joe Cartwright?\u201d Hastings laughed crudely.<\/p>\n \u201cLeave me alone!\u201d Emily warned. She backed towards a wall, trying to protect herself as best she could.<\/p>\n Laughing, Hastings made a lunge for Emily and caught her wrist. He reeled her in towards him and one of his pals made a grab for her breast. Emily screamed.<\/p>\n ************************<\/p>\n Almost at the entrance to the alley at the other end, Joe stiffened when he heard the woman scream, then barrelled through the alley, determined to help whoever it was. He saw the three men and the blonde hair. He charged up, but he didn\u2019t catch the would-be rapist by surprise. Hastings turned and met Joe\u2019s heedless charge with a well-timed punch.<\/p>\n Undeterred, Joe caught his balance as he reeled away, and came back at Hastings. He managed to knock Hastings away from him, against the building on the opposite side of the alley, and dived at one of the other men holding Emily. Joe knew he had no chance against three of them, but he had to try. He threw the other man to the ground and dived on the remaining one. By then, Hastings had regained his feet and was closing in on Joe with a look of murderous glee on his face. \u201cRun, Emily!\u201d Joe cried.<\/p>\n Sobbing, her clothing torn, Emily ran from the alley towards the main street. Hastings grabbed Joe from behind and his accomplice went after Emily again. Joe fought furiously, but there were now two of them pounding on him and at a shout from Hastings, the third man came back, too.<\/p>\n There was no one on the street as Emily rushed screaming from the alley. But she wasn\u2019t totally alone in town. In the Silver Dollar, where he had gone to escape the crowds at the horse sale, Hoss heard the screaming. \u201cCome on, fellars, someone\u2019s in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n The realisation that it was Emily in trouble gave Hoss a momentary pause, but he thrust aside the twinge of doubt and hurried up to her. \u201cEmily, what\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUp there!\u201d she cried. \u201cThey\u2019ve got Joe! They\u2019re killing him!\u201d She crumpled to the ground, sobbing bitterly, and trying to cover herself with the rags of her clothing.<\/p>\n Hoss didn\u2019t wait to hear any more. He turned and ran up the alley.<\/p>\n ************************<\/p>\n The fists and boots had been flying and Joe was barely conscious. He became aware that the pounding had stopped and forced his eyes to open, determined not to give Hastings any more satisfaction than he already had. Hastings\u2019 face was only inches from Joe\u2019s and he held Joe upright by his fist twisted in the front of Joe\u2019s jacket. His gun was resting on Joe\u2019s cheek.<\/p>\n \u201cI got ya good this time, Cartwright,\u201d Hastings sneered. \u201cI\u2019m gonna have a bit of yer lady-friend, too. But first, I\u2019m gonna put ya out o\u2019 yer misery!\u201d He cocked his gun.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll\u2026hang\u2026for\u2026this,\u201d Joe panted. Breathing seemed to be an enormous effort and his body hurt so much in so many places that he could no longer catalogue them all.<\/p>\n \u201cHold it!\u201d cried a voice and Joe recognised it as Hoss. He started to turn his head, but Hastings suddenly swung Joe around, so he had the injured man in a choke hold, and placed the gun at Joe\u2019s temple.<\/p>\n \u201cBack off, Cartwright!\u201d he snarled.<\/p>\n Frozen in place, Hoss looked at Joe\u2019s battered and bleeding face and wondered that his brother was still conscious. \u201cLet him go,\u201d he warned Hastings.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I don\u2019t think so. Me an\u2019 my friends here is gonna leave now, an\u2019 we\u2019re takin\u2019 Joe with us.\u201d He gestured with his gun. \u201cYa git in the way, an\u2019 I\u2019ll blow his brains out.\u201d<\/p>\n Reluctantly, Hoss gave ground, backing slowly down the alley as Hastings and his pals dragged Joe with them. Hoss could see that Joe was in a great deal of pain. His younger brother\u2019s legs were barely able to support him. Hoss clenched his fists and vowed that he would make Hastings pay!<\/p>\n As they reached the entrance to the alley, Joe stumbled and fell, dragging Hastings down with him. Cursing, Hastings regained his feet and hauled Joe upright. He quickly grabbed Joe\u2019s left arm and twisted it up his back. Joe groaned.<\/p>\n From behind Hoss, Emily suddenly cried out. \u201cJoe!\u201d She pushed past Hoss, no longer caring that her clothes were torn, and threw herself at Hastings.<\/p>\n The distraction proved to be exactly what Joe needed. He drove his right elbow hard into Hastings\u2019 gut, grunting with the pain that shot up his arm, and tried to slither out of the hold. Hastings held on and Joe felt a surge of pain scream through his arm. He thought it was broken. Joe hurt all over, but he couldn\u2019t let Emily fight Hastings. He forced himself to his feet and grabbed the fist that Hastings was about to drive into Emily\u2019s face. \u201cRun, Emily!\u201d Joe cried. \u201cRun!\u201d<\/p>\n She did just as he said, and ran away from the fight, across the street, aiming for her home. Joe swung an ineffectual punch, and got it returned with interest. He collapsed to the ground as he heard what sounded like an enraged grizzly bear charging towards him. Joe rolled away as Hoss grabbed Hastings.<\/p>\n By now, the street was full of people as the sounds of the fight and the screaming had attracted their attention. As Joe staggered to his feet, he could hear the tenor of the sounds from the spectators changing tone and he squinted to see what was causing the excitement.<\/p>\n In the middle of the street, Emily had tripped over the torn edge of her skirt and had fallen. And charging down on her was the afternoon stage to Sacramento. \u201cEmily!\u201d Joe staggered out into the street, intent on reaching Emily and bearing her to safety before the stage could reach her.<\/p>\n But he had no chance. As the screaming began, Hoss whirled and saw Joe running headlong to his death. \u201cJoe!\u201d he cried.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The town was subdued. Darkness had fallen hours ago, but the saloons were almost deserted and the streets were empty of people. Leaving the undertaker\u2019s office, Sheriff Roy Coffee stood for a moment on the sidewalk, breathing in the cool night air. He hoped he would never have to see such a scene again. Roy was no stranger to death and had seen it in many guises. But this was different. He swallowed hard to stop himself regurgitating the contents of his stomach. What he had seen was something he would never forget.<\/p>\n Wearily, he made his way over to the doctor\u2019s office. Hastings and his friends were locked up and likely to go to jail, if not hang. Roy wouldn\u2019t be sorry whatever happened to them. He had felt very much the same way as Hoss Cartwright, who had almost killed Hastings with his bare hands. Yet the law must take its course and Roy was averse to lynchings.<\/p>\n Opening the door to the doctor\u2019s office he saw that Hoss and Candy were still in the waiting room. Candy sported a bandage around his head where he had been struck a glancing blow from the hoof of one of the stage horses. The young cowboy had been very lucky indeed. \u201cAny change?\u201d Roy asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Hoss grunted. \u201cPa\u2019s still with the doc in there.\u201d He gestured to the surgery. Roy sighed, bit his lip and then sat down to wait, too.<\/p>\n They sat there about an hour before the surgery door opened and Ben came out. He looked haggard and worn, with dark circles under his eyes, as though he hadn\u2019t slept in days. Roy knew those circles would get worse before they got better. \u201cBen?\u201d he questioned.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe\u2019s awake,\u201d Ben replied and at those words everyone smiled. They were the words they had been hoping to hear, yet had feared would never be uttered. \u201cHe\u2019s going to be all right.\u201d<\/p>\n There was an unseemly scrum at the door as Hoss, Candy and Roy all tried to get through it together. Hoss won mainly because he was so much broader than the other two. He hurried across to the examination table where Joe lay, covered by a sheet.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s face was badly bruised, his eyes black and his lips split and swollen. Like Candy, he wore a bandage around his head where he, too, had been struck by a flying hoof. Joe\u2019s left shoulder was heavily bandaged and in a sling and more bandages peeped out over the blanket that was drawn up to his chest.<\/p>\n \u201cHow is he?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n \u201cAlive,\u201d Joe croaked and Hoss beamed. Joe\u2019s eyes opened a bit \u2013 all the swelling would allow \u2013 and tried to smile. \u201cThanks\u2026 to Candy,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was nothing,\u201d Candy muttered, embarrassed.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a lot more than nothing,\u201d Ben replied. He had heard the story as he was hurried to Doc Martin\u2019s office once it was all over.<\/p>\n As Joe had made his suicidal attempt to save Emily, Hoss had started to run after him, knowing that he was already too late. Seemingly from out of nowhere, Candy had appeared and dived at Joe, catching him around the waist and bearing him to the ground. The stage had gone past, barely missing the two young men. Emily had stood no chance, even though the driver tried to swerve to miss her. The stage had over-turned, which is when Candy and Joe had been struck by flying hooves.<\/p>\n By then, Hoss had arrived and he dragged his brother and friend away from the danger. The people of the town had rallied around, fetching the doctor, rescuing the unfortunate passengers from the stage and making sure Hastings and his cronies didn\u2019t escape. Ben had been summoned from the horse sale and hurried to Joe\u2019s side at the doctor\u2019s.<\/p>\n Initially, Paul Martin had feared that Joe had punctured a lung, seeing how tight his breathing was. But although Joe had broken ribs, his breathing eased as Paul assessed his condition. Joe\u2019s left shoulder was dislocated and as Paul got it manipulated back into place, Joe\u2019s breathing had eased enough that Paul stopped worrying about a punctured lung.<\/p>\n There was enough else to worry about. Along with the dislocated shoulder and broken ribs had been the head injury. Paul had been deeply concerned about it, because Joe was unconscious for such a long time. The beating that Joe had taken had been horrendous and Paul knew he would be sore for a long time to come. There was enough bruising round his kidneys to make Paul wonder about damage there, but over the next few days, although Joe peed blood, no other damage appeared to have been done. It had been a great relief to Ben and Paul when Joe had roused and knew where he was.<\/p>\n \u201cWell,\u201d declared Paul Martin briskly. \u201cNow that you\u2019ve all seen he is alive, you can all go away and get some sleep. You especially, Candy! Your concussion isn\u2019t going to get better if you don\u2019t rest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m staying!\u201d Ben stated and Paul smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cHow did I know you were going to say that?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re a\u2026mind reader?\u201d Joe guessed, which made them all smile.<\/p>\n Soon, it was only Ben, Joe and Paul alone in the surgery. \u201cPa, what happened to Emily?\u201d Joe asked. He had very little memory of anything that happened after Candy stopped him running to Emily.<\/p>\n Behind Joe, Paul nodded silently and Ben swallowed. \u201cShe died, son,\u201d he replied, softly. He had not seen her remains and he hoped she would be decently buried before Joe could think of asking to see her.<\/p>\n What little colour there was in Joe\u2019s face drained away, leaving the bruising standing out in stark relief against his pale skin. Ben had always known that Joe had a lively imagination, but he could wish at that moment that it wasn\u2019t so, for Joe was all too clearly imagining what had happened to Emily \u2013 and what had so nearly happened to himself. \u201cI sent her\u2026to her death,\u201d Joe muttered, brokenly.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Joe!\u201d Ben denied.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I did,\u201d Joe insisted. \u201cI told her to run.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd did you tell her to run into the middle of the street?\u201d Ben asked. \u201cDid you know that the stage was coming?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d Joe cried. \u201cOf course not!\u201d Tears stood in his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cThen how can you say you send her to her death?\u201d Ben asked, his voice softer now. \u201cShe had only to take a few steps back and she would have been safe. Joe, this is not your fault.\u201d He stroked the hair back off Joe\u2019s head. \u201cYou saved her from being raped, Joe. You saved her from being beaten. Were you going to follow her around for the rest of her life to make sure she was all right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Joe admitted. He blinked away the tears. \u201cI\u2019m all right now,\u201d he assured Ben. \u201cI guess I just wasn\u2019t thinking straight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what being knocked out does for you,\u201d Paul agreed. \u201cI think you could sleep now, Joe. But I\u2019m afraid I\u2019ll have to keep wakening you during the night.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust be gentle,\u201d Joe reminded him and closed his eyes. He fell asleep in seconds.<\/p>\n **********************<\/p>\n \u201cWhere were you going when you went into the alley?\u201d Marshal Calhoun asked Joe the next day. Joe was at home, sitting up in bed, resting his sore, weary body against a pile of pillows. It was a scene eerily reminiscent of a few months before, when Calhoun thought Joe had been trying to steal the bullion.<\/p>\n \u201cI was going to meet Hoss in the saloon,\u201d Joe replied.<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019d ya know I was in the saloon?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n Frowning, Joe replied, \u201cBecause of the message you sent me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat message?\u201d Calhoun asked, at the same time as Hoss exclaimed,<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t send ya no message!\u201d<\/p>\n There was a pause while everyone eyed everyone else. \u201cWho gave you the message, Joe?\u201d Calhoun asked.<\/p>\n \u201cA little boy,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cHe was about \u2013 I dunno \u2013 9 or so. Blond hair, blue eyes. He was a really cute little guy. I gave him some money and he ran off.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see.\u201d Calhoun looked thoughtful. \u201cI\u2019ll go and see if I can find him and find out who did give him that message to deliver.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHave you discovered what Emily was doing in the alley?\u201d Joe asked. \u201cWas she just attacked walking along the street?\u201d Emily\u2019s funeral had been held earlier that afternoon. Ben had deliberately timed Joe\u2019s journey home to coincide with the funeral. A surprising number of people had turned up at Emily\u2019s funeral, but sadly, most of them were there out of morbid curiosity, not respect or liking for the dead woman. That was something Ben intended to keep from Joe for as long as he could.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Calhoun answered. \u201cBut as soon as I know, you\u2019ll know.\u201d He nodded to them. \u201cBye, folks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think you should rest, Joe,\u201d Ben suggested as the marshal left. \u201cCandy, you look tired, too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess I am,\u201d Candy admitted. He rose and smiled at Joe. \u201cSee ya later, pal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSee ya,\u201d Joe responded. He looked thoughtful, too, but Ben didn\u2019t want Joe tormenting himself with speculation. He handed Joe a pain powder he had mixed up earlier and Joe reluctantly drank it down.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t long before it worked and Joe was soon slumbering away. Candy went to lie down and Hoss and Ben went back downstairs. Ben might not have wanted Joe to speculate, but that didn\u2019t stop he and Hoss doing so. But they didn\u2019t reach any conclusions and so had to content themselves to wait for the marshal.<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n It was a couple of days before Calhoun came back. By then, Joe was creeping slowly about the house. He had, thankfully, stopped peeing blood by then and his aches had died down slightly, although the bruising was at its height. His head was free of its bandage, but he still bore the sling and his ribs would be bandaged for the foreseeable future. Candy was back at work, his persistent headache gradually losing its hold.<\/p>\n When Calhoun arrived, Joe was sitting in Ben\u2019s chair, reading a book. Ben himself was ostensibly doing the books, but in actual fact was keeping a discreet eye on Joe while pretending to tot up figures. Hoss had been in the barn with Candy and they had both come over to the house to hear what the marshal had to say.<\/p>\n \u201cI found the little boy,\u201d Calhoun began, after enquiring about Joe\u2019s health. \u201cNice little fella. Cute, like you said, Joe. He had delivered a message to you and a note to Emily. Hastings paid him a couple of dollars to do it. The kid ain\u2019t never seen so much money. His family is dirt poor, so he wasn\u2019t going to turn it down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t suppose he could read what the note said,\u201d Joe mused.<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d agreed Calhoun. \u201cBut I think we could all guess what the note said.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe thought it was from me,\u201d Joe sighed. \u201cPoor Emily.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHastings thought he would get Wade after he knocked out both you and Emily and err\u2026 well\u2026 I\u2019m sure you can guess what he had in mind for Emily.\u201d Calhoun looked embarrassed. The Cartwrights and Candy all nodded. \u201cOf course, Wade was out of town that afternoon, running an errand for me. But Hoss\u2019 arrival changed the plans. Hastings has admitted he was planning to kill Joe then. He\u2019s admitted everything. The boy identified him, too. I\u2019ll be pretty surprised if he escapes a hanging.\u201d Calhoun rose. \u201cYou\u2019ll be needed to testify, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d Joe replied. He wasn\u2019t looking forward to it.<\/p>\n *******************<\/p>\n The trial the following week was quite straight forward and relatively painless. Hastings admitted everything in the hopes that he might escape hanging, but that was the sentence in the end. His two sidekicks got 20 years each.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re very quiet,\u201d Ben remarked as he helped Joe remove his shirt from his injured shoulder that evening. \u201cYou aren\u2019t brooding, are you?\u201d<\/p>\n Smiling, Joe shook his head. \u201cI\u2019m tired,\u201d he admitted. \u201cBut I was thinking about Emily, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI thought you might be,\u201d Ben replied, sitting down to help Joe with his boots. \u201cWant to tell me about it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI loved her, Pa,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cWhen I met her in Monterey, I loved her. I don\u2019t know if she behaved like she did with Wade then or not, but I\u2019m beginning to think maybe she did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMmm,\u201d Ben murmured, non-committally.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I\u2019ve been thinking for months now that I had a lucky escape. I don\u2019t know how I would have reacted to having a wife like that.\u201d Joe obligingly put up his uninjured arm for Ben to slide the nightshirt over his head. The weather was turning cooler now. \u201cAnd I pity Emily, Pa. She didn\u2019t have the good sense to make the best of what she had. She continually hankered after more.\u201d Joe looked up at Ben. \u201cAnd I\u2019m sorry about the way she died.\u201d He shuddered. \u201cWhen I think of those final few seconds\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t!\u201d Ben ordered hastily, putting his hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder. \u201cDon\u2019t ever think of those last seconds, Joe. You\u2019ll go mad if you do. You can\u2019t live with those thoughts. Thanks to Candy, you have your life to live and I know that somewhere out there, there is a girl who is made for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you really think so?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI know so,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cJoe, the girl who catches your heart will be a very lucky young lady.\u201d<\/p>\n Smiling and touched, Joe slid under the covers. \u201cYou\u2019re just prejudiced, Pa,\u201d he teased.<\/p>\n \u201cNever,\u201d Ben teased back, but as he left, he thought that any young lady who captured his sons\u2019 hearts would be equally as special as his sons were. Emily had never been right for Joe and Ben was thankful that they had never married and that Joe was not now trailing around the town looking like his own ghost, as Wade was.<\/p>\n Emily cast a long shadow and Ben knew it would be some time before it was behind them. But he was sure it was behind them. On an impulse, he opened Joe\u2019s door again. The sleepy green eyes turned his way.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew you\u2019d realise that you\u2019d forgotten to say goodnight,\u201d Joe muttered and smiled lovingly at his father.<\/p>\n At that moment, Ben knew they were already all right. Joe was not lying brooding about Emily. She was gone.<\/p>\n \u201cGood night, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n\u201cMighty tough,\u201d Hoss sighed.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWhether you want to or not, young man, you are going!\u201d Ben decreed. His face was stern. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to go into town sometime, Joe, and the longer you leave it the harder it\u2019ll be. Hoss can\u2019t manage these supplies alone and you are going in to help him. Do I make myself clear?\u201d<\/p>\n