{"id":7129,"date":"2003-07-30T15:02:49","date_gmt":"2003-07-30T19:02:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7129"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:07:48","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:07:48","slug":"affinity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7129","title":{"rendered":"Affinity (by Rona)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/span>Sent to help at a neighbour\u2019s ranch for a couple of weeks, Joe and Danny run into prejudice that leads to tragedy.<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 K+ (9,960 words)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Affinity<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I think you and Danny should be the ones to go over to Mr Andersen\u2019s place and give him a hand,\u201d Ben Cartwright decreed over breakfast. \u201cIt\u2019s only for a couple of weeks, until he\u2019s fit to work again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir,\u201d Joe murmured. He took another slug of his coffee and stifled a yawn. \u201cWhen do we go?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTomorrow,\u201d Ben decided. \u201cYou tell Danny today and you can leave first thing tomorrow.\u201d Ben glanced at Joe\u2019s empty plate. Although his youngest son\u2019s silence was more indicative of his tiredness after a late night doing goodness only knows what, it had allowed him to eat his meal before it got cold, which was something of a change for Joe in the morning. Once Joe got to wrangling with his brothers, his meal was forgotten.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll go tell him now,\u201d Joe said, and excused himself from the table.<\/p>\n

Glancing up, Ben caught a speculative glance from Adam. \u201cWell?\u201d he queried.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you really think Joe and Danny are the best choices to send to Andersen\u2019s?\u201d Adam asked, in his blandest tone. Ben wasn\u2019t fooled for an instant. He cocked an eyebrow to invite Adam to go on. \u201cThey can both be kind of volatile, you know, and Andersen isn\u2019t the most tolerant guy we know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I don\u2019t think there\u2019ll be a problem,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cSven has become more easy going over the years. And you know your brother; he\u2019s always charmed Sven. And both he and Danny are hard workers, you can\u2019t deny that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess,\u201d Adam responded, doubtfully. But he wasn\u2019t convinced. Sven Andersen was a man of his father\u2019s age, a bachelor with a short temper. It was true that Joe had always got along very well with the curmudgeonly man, but that had been on short visits lasting a matter of hours, not days, or even weeks. And for all Ben\u2019s assurances that Andersen was more relaxed these days, Adam had heard that since he had hurt himself the previous week, his tolerance was even more limited than it had been.<\/p>\n

\u201cIts settled, Adam,\u201d Ben told him. \u201cWe have enough to do round here without you questioning my every decision. Now, let\u2019s get to work.\u201d He pushed back his chair and Hoss, the middle son, stood too, looking relieved. For a few days now, Adam and Ben hadn\u2019t been getting along. The disagreement they had had was quite minor, but both men thought they were right and both were too stubborn to let go of the argument quite yet. It made life very uncomfortable for everyone else round about.<\/p>\n

Heaving a sigh, Adam rose, too. He couldn\u2019t quite say why he was suddenly so uneasy about this new assignment of his brother\u2019s. He hoped it was simply that he was out of sorts, not some kind of premonition.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cSure thing, Joe,\u201d Danny responded. He was rhythmically brushing his horse, Concho, prior to saddling him. \u201cWhen do we leave?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter breakfast tomorrow,\u201d Joe replied. He went across the barn to saddle his own horse, Cochise.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s Mr Andersen like to work for?\u201d Danny asked. He\u2019d been with the Cartwrights for two years and people who didn\u2019t know often mistook him for Joe\u2019s brother, as they were of a similar lean build, with dark curly hair. Joe\u2019s hair had a more chestnut tinge to it, and his smile flashed more readily, for he had had an easier life than Danny, but they were both good looking young men. \u201cI don\u2019t recall ever meeting him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think you have,\u201d Joe replied, trying to think back. \u201cWe haven\u2019t seen as much of him in recent years. He and Pa started out here about the same time. But I think he\u2019s all right. I\u2019ve never worked for him, myself.\u201d He flashed a grin at Danny.<\/p>\n

Grinning right back, Danny jibed, \u201cSome people round here would say you\u2019ve never worked for anyone at all!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, so now you\u2019ve been talking to those brothers of mine, have you?\u201d Joe scolded. \u201cYou ought to know by now not to listen to a word they say! Huh, some friend you are!\u201d<\/p>\n

But he was unable to keep up the front of being offended when he saw Danny\u2019s grinning face. Laughing together, they led their horses out of the barn and mounted up. As they rode away, Adam came out of the house. He paused as he watched them leaving and again felt that pang of foreboding. He wished he could think of a way to stop them going to Andersen\u2019s the next day.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cTake care of yourself, son,\u201d Ben said, as Joe swung into the saddle the next morning. \u201cBe sure and do everything you can for Sven. And behave yourself, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will, sir,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cBye, Pa. Bye, brothers.\u201d He lifted a hand in farewell and rode across the yard. Danny fell into place beside him and they headed off for Sven Andersen\u2019s place, which was about 35 miles away.<\/p>\n

\u201cIts sure goin\u2019 to be quiet with Joe gone, ain\u2019t it?\u201d Hoss said, as he and Adam went to get their horses.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt least I\u2019ll get peace to read,\u201d Adam replied. His disagreement with Ben still wasn\u2019t healed and, knowing that Joe was siding with Ben, Adam found it difficult to be pleasant to his youngest brother. His farewell had been decidedly cool and Joe had responded in kind. They had had a brief spat, in which little was said, but much was felt and Adam had had the final word by turning his back to Joe and refusing to watch him ride away.<\/p>\n

\u201cDadburnit, Adam, if\u2019n you ain\u2019t worse than Joe when you\u2019s in a mood,\u201d Hoss grumped. \u201cGood thing one o\u2019 us Cartwrights c\u2019n keep their temper, that\u2019s what I say.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blinking, Adam wondered if he\u2019d really been that bad. Worse than Joe? Was that possible? He resolved to try and keep his bad mood under better control as he mounted his horse and followed his younger brother out of the yard.<\/p>\n

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

It was well into the afternoon before Joe and Danny arrived at the Andersen ranch. Andersen was a tall, heavily built man, with greying fair hair and piercing blue eyes. Joe had explained on the way over that he was Swedish, like Hoss\u2019 mother had been. He was going around on a stick, his right foot swathed in bandages where he had burnt it the previous week.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a fire,\u201d Andersen told them, gruffly, as he showed them into the house. \u201cMy barn burnt down and my hand was killed. Until I am well again, I asked your father if he could help me. So you are here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good to be back again, sir,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cThis is Danny Kidd. Danny\u2019s worked for us for the last two years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shaking Danny\u2019s hand, Andersen looked him over. \u201cDanny Kidd,\u201d he mused. \u201cIt seems to me that I heard Ben talk about you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCould be,\u201d nodded Joe. \u201cDanny\u2019s a real good worker.\u201d He grinned at his friend.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t that,\u201d Andersen replied, doubtfully. He shrugged. \u201cIt will come back to me. Now I will show you where you sleep.\u201d He led them into the small bunkhouse adjacent to the main house. It had a couple of bunks in it and was clean and warm. \u201cI don\u2019t allow drinking or swearing,\u201d he informed them. \u201cYou will eat with me in the house. If you are not on time for a meal, you will not eat. Supper is at 6.\u201d He left.<\/p>\n

\u201cPhew, he\u2019s tough,\u201d Danny commented, rolling his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess he is,\u201d Joe replied, throwing his saddle bags down on a bunk. He sat down to test the bedsprings.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you think we\u2019ll be doing?\u201d Danny asked, copying Joe and finding that the bunks were firm but comfortable.<\/p>\n

\u201cI dunno,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cChores, pretty much like at home, I guess.\u201d He stretched. \u201cI just hope he doesn\u2019t want us to rebuild the barn!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe,\u201d Danny ventured, after a moment\u2019s silence. \u201cYou don\u2019t suppose he remembers your Pa talking about me being in prison, do ya?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sitting up, Joe met his friend\u2019s worried eyes. \u201cHe might,\u201d he replied, honestly. \u201cWe didn\u2019t make a secret of it, Danny. And apart from that trouble with the Carters, things have gone well, haven\u2019t they? After all, you\u2019re a free man now, and have been for over a year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that,\u201d Danny muttered. \u201cBut, Joe, you know there are always people who don\u2019t believe that a person with a prison record can ever go straight. And they are right, a lot of the time. How do I convince him I\u2019m not one of that kind?\u201d<\/p>\n

This wasn\u2019t the first time that Joe and Danny had had this discussion, and Joe didn\u2019t for one moment suppose it would be the last. For all that Danny had been free for the last two years, it hadn\u2019t been easy for him to overcome the conditioning of the last 10 years. In fact, Danny had been institutionalised since he was five, and Joe was learning that that created habits that were hard to break. But most of the people he had come in contact with since his release after saving Joe\u2019s life had accepted him at face value. Joe just hoped Sven Andersen did the same.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou convince them the same way you always have,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cBy working hard and being honest. I know it\u2019s hard, Danny. But you have to prove yourself a lot less now than you did in the beginning, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Danny answered. He found a crooked grin for Joe. \u201cI was right that day, when we fought, you know. I asked if I\u2019d have to prove myself to everyone I met and you said yes. And then I said something about it being hard and not wanting to do it. Well, I was right, it is hard, and there are still days that I don\u2019t want to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Joe said, quietly. He had been a witness to Danny\u2019s journey from wounded, caged animal to the happier, more relaxed individual he now was. It was a testimony to Danny\u2019s strength of character, and to Joe\u2019s steadfast friendship that he had completed the journey. Right from the beginning, Joe and Danny had been friends, and their affinity had just deepened over time. \u201cI wish you didn\u2019t have to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I do,\u201d Danny replied, briskly. \u201cAnd it has been worth it, Joe. It has been worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d Joe answered, smiling. He knew they had come through another crisis.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Supper was surprisingly good, but mindful that they had to be up early next morning, and had had a long ride that day, Joe and Danny didn\u2019t linger after the meal. They washed up the supper dishes and brought in kindling for the morning before heading off to bed.<\/p>\n

But sleep didn\u2019t come easy to either of the young men that night. Joe was thinking about what Danny had said to him earlier and wondering, not for the first time, if Danny would one day leave to go somewhere where his name wasn\u2019t known, where he wouldn\u2019t have to prove himself to everyone he met. Joe wouldn\u2019t blame him if he did go, but he would miss him.<\/p>\n

Across the room, Danny listened to the faint howling of a wolf. He was uneasy. Andersen had eyed him speculatively all over supper and some deep instinct was telling Danny that this man would not be happy to discover that he had an ex-con working on his place. Sighing, and rolling over again, Danny tried to convince himself that he was just tired. It was natural to be apprehensive, he chided himself silently. He\u2019d only ever worked at one place \u2013 the Ponderosa, where tolerance was expected from everyone and enforced. Of course he was going to be nervous working for a new boss, even if it was only for a few weeks.<\/p>\n

The night was well advanced before either of them slept.<\/p>\n

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

Danny\u2019s instinct was proved right as they went in for breakfast the next morning. Andersen glared at them both as they trooped in, yawning. Silently, he pointed to the frying pan on the stove and sat down by the fire.<\/p>\n

Exchanging glances, Danny and Joe went to fry the bacon and eggs that were sitting out. The silence was stifling, and it wasn\u2019t until they were at the table that Andersen spoke. He gave thanks to the Lord and they began to eat. Almost at once, though, Andersen began his attack.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know what you are,\u201d he declared, looking at Danny. \u201cI remember what Ben said to me. You are a convict.\u201d He shot a sour glance at Joe. \u201cHow could you bring such a man here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDanny\u2019s not a convict,\u201d Joe protested, hotly. \u201cIts true, he was in prison, but he\u2019s a free man now. He\u2019s worked for us since getting out and he\u2019s proven himself honest and reliable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou Cartwrights always were a trusting lot,\u201d Andersen answered, sceptically. \u201cOnce a convict, always a convict.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll leave this morning and go back to the Ponderosa, sir,\u201d Danny interjected, quietly.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo you won\u2019t!\u201d Andersen objected. \u201cI don\u2019t want you going about my land without someone to keep an eye on you. Who knows what you might do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMr Andersen,\u201d Joe began, but the older man talked over him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou stay here and do the yard chores where I can see you, young man. Soon as you finish eating, you get to work. Joe, I want to talk to you.\u201d Andersen filled his mouth and glared at them.<\/p>\n

After another exchange of glances, Joe and Danny went on eating, although neither of them had much appetite now. It was going to be a long couple of weeks at this rate. Joe was incensed by Andersen\u2019s attitude, but he remembered his father\u2019s warning about behaving himself and bit back the harsh words that sprang to mind. Losing his temper wasn\u2019t the way to make Andersen see sense.<\/p>\n

As soon as they finished eating, Andersen gave Danny a verbal list of yard chores to do and motioned to the door. Shooting Joe another look, Danny meekly said, \u201cYes sir,\u201d and went out to get on with them.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow that he is gone,\u201d Andersen began, \u201cI can tell you what I intend to do. Joseph, I have sold this ranch. I move in two weeks, which is why I asked your father for help, rather than hire someone new to help me. I have bought a house near here, but I don\u2019t want everyone knowing where I have gone. I don\u2019t want people \u2018visiting\u2019 me. Being nosy more like. What I want you to do, Joseph is start taking my belongings to the new house. I will tell you how to find it. But I don\u2019t want you telling the convict where it is, understand? I don\u2019t want him going over there some night and stealing my stuff. I am sorry you have to share the bunkhouse with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDanny is my friend,\u201d Joe stated, quietly, although his temper was flaring. \u201cI don\u2019t mind sharing the bunkhouse with him. I\u2019m perfectly safe, as is your new house. Danny isn\u2019t a thief.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBelieve what you will, Joseph,\u201d Andersen returned patronisingly. \u201cBut I know I\u2019m right.\u201d Beckoning to Joe, he led him into the other room, where several trunks and boxes stood ready. \u201cHitch up the wagon and you can take these over to the other house.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

For a single man who\u2019d never been married, Andersen sure had a lot of stuff to move, Joe thought, ruefully, as he manoeuvred a large sideboard into the new house. He had been given explicit instructions as to where all the stuff was to be left, so he shoved the sideboard over to one wall and dusted his hands off on the seat of his pants. That was the last load for the day, and he left the house, carefully locking the door behind him.<\/p>\n

It was a lovely house, Joe thought as he drove away. It was secluded, but not too far from the main road, with views over to the mountains and Lake Tahoe. But Joe couldn\u2019t figure why Andersen had bought a mansion like that, when he lived alone. Shrugging, Joe headed back to the ranch and his supper. He wondered how Danny had got on that day. He had only seen his friend in passing.<\/p>\n

Supper was a strained meal. Danny\u2019s closed face reminded Joe only too clearly of the months when he had first arrived at the Ponderosa and he made no attempt at conversation. Joe tried, but found Andersen almost as silent as Danny. Finally, even Joe\u2019s ebullience was dampened by the atmosphere, and after doing the dishes, they headed back to the bunkhouse as quickly as possible. Joe was infuriated when Andersen patted him consolingly on the shoulder as he was leaving.<\/p>\n

\u201cTough day, huh?\u201d Joe asked, as they walked across the dark yard.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou could say that,\u201d Danny responded. \u201cHe rode my back all day, Joe. Nothing I did was good enough for him, but he sure knew how to sing your praises.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cI didn\u2019t know he was going to be like this and I\u2019m sure Pa didn\u2019t either.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not your fault, Joe,\u201d Danny assured him. \u201cI was just letting off steam.\u201d He smiled sideways at Joe. \u201cSo what have you been doing all day?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, keep it under your hat,\u201d Joe confided, \u201cbut he\u2019s moving off the ranch in a couple of weeks, which is why we\u2019re here, and he has me moving his stuff for him.\u201d He groaned and stretched his back theatrically. \u201cI\u2019m not supposed to tell you where the house is, but I\u2019m going to anyway. If something were to happen to me between here and there, I\u2019d rather someone reliable knew where to come looking for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMakes sense to me,\u201d Danny replied, touched by his friend\u2019s declaration of trust. \u201cGiven the amount of accidents you have, that sounds really sensible. In fact, that\u2019s not like you at all, Joe. Are you ailing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHa-ha!\u201d Joe retorted, but was unable to hide his laughter. As the two of them settled for the night, Joe described the location of the house and what it was like inside.<\/p>\n

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

Over the next two days, Joe helped Danny with the neglected chores around the yard. They worked well together, able to chat without the chat slowing their hands any, which was why Ben had assigned them to work together. Unfortunately, despite Joe\u2019s attempts to charm Andersen, he was still coming down hard on Danny. Had it not been for Danny\u2019s insistence that Joe say nothing, there might have been an almighty explosion of Joe\u2019s temper. But with his friend working so hard to prove himself, Joe bit his tongue.<\/p>\n

On the third day, Joe was sent back to the new house with a bed frame that Andersen had purchased, and which had just been delivered to the ranch. Joe was given strict instructions as to which of the bedrooms it was to go in. \u201cSet it up for me, son,\u201d he asked and Joe agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be back as soon as I\u2019ve done this,\u201d Joe told him. \u201cI hope it won\u2019t take too long.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re a good boy, Joe,\u201d Andersen told him. \u201cI wish I had a son like you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smiling, for he couldn\u2019t think of a way to answer that statement, and he couldn\u2019t tell Andersen that he wasn\u2019t a boy anymore, Joe climbed into the wagon once more and set out. He could see Danny chopping wood, and knew that at least some of that wood would have to be transported up to the new house. Well, that would probably be his job for tomorrow. Andersen was certainly working them hard.<\/p>\n

It was a warm day and the air in the house was stuffy. Joe carried in the pieces of the bed frame and laid them all out on the floor before he set to and put it together. He tried desperately hard to open the window in the bedroom and let some air in, but it was painted shut. Joe thought about hunting for something to pry it open with, but in the end decided that it would be quicker to just build the bed and leave.<\/p>\n

It was a handsome frame of wrought iron with brass knobs on each post. Joe had never seen one quite like it and wondered how on earth it would hold together, as he began to slot the pieces into place. However, once he\u2019d figured out a way to brace the already built bit against a wall to stop it all falling apart, it went together quite easily and was then screwed into place. By the time he was finished, a couple of hours later, Joe was quite confident that it wouldn\u2019t come apart.<\/p>\n

Tidying up the rubbish that had come wrapped around the frame, Joe wiped the sweat from his forehead. The inside of the house was like an oven. Checking the windows, Joe discovered that they were all painted shut. He knew that Andersen would be furious with whoever had painted the house, but that wasn\u2019t his problem.<\/p>\n

Going back out to the wagon, Joe stood for a moment, relishing the cooler air outside. He would hate to be stuck inside that house for any length of time, he thought. Climbing back onto the wagon seat, Joe smiled as he realised that their first week was almost over. He could bet Danny knew that too and was counting the days until they were headed back to the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n

Getting the horse moving, Joe\u2019s smile faded. He couldn\u2019t wait to get home either.<\/p>\n

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

As Joe had expected, his chore for the next day was to stack the wagon with wood and take it up to the new house. \u201cThe convict can help you load up at this end,\u201d Andersen observed, scathingly. Danny\u2019s face darkened, but he didn\u2019t say anything.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt least we\u2019re working together this morning,\u201d Joe commented, as they hitched the wagon. \u201cI\u2019m sorry this has been such a bad trip. I\u2019m sure Pa wouldn\u2019t have asked you to come along if he\u2019d known what Andersen would be like.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGuess I shouldn\u2019t complain,\u201d Danny sighed. \u201cHe\u2019s at least just sticking to insults. After all, we both know some men would have come after me physically.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m still sorry he\u2019s being so horrid,\u201d Joe persisted. \u201cIt\u2019s not fair. You\u2019ve worked really hard this last week and he\u2019s done nothing but complain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIts not your fault, Joe,\u201d Danny reminded him. \u201cCome on, let\u2019s get this wood stacked. Remember, you have to do all the work at the other end!\u201d<\/p>\n

Grimacing, Joe grumped, \u201cThanks for reminding me, pal!\u201d They grinned at each other as they began to stack the wood.<\/p>\n

The wagon was half full when disaster struck. Joe had noticed the previous day that there was a loose board in the side of the wagon, but by the time he had got back to the ranch, untacked the horse and gone in for supper, he had forgotten all about it. As Danny moved away to pick up a log that had rolled away from the rest of the stack, the board gave way as some of the logs in the wagon settled. One moment, everything was fine, the next, the logs were pouring out of the wagon on top of Joe!<\/p>\n

Hearing the noise, Danny whirled and stood frozen for a moment. \u201cJoe!\u201d he cried and leapt forward, pushing logs aside to grab his friend beneath the arms and haul him free.<\/p>\n

It was perhaps not the most sensible thing to do, but Danny was terrified that the rest of the logs would come toppling out of the wagon, and he was right. He had barely dragged the unconscious Joe clear when the side of the wagon gave way completely.<\/p>\n

Kneeling by Joe\u2019s side, Danny took in his condition. Joe was unconscious, his head bleeding from a wound near his hairline. His clothes were dusty and torn, and Danny could see blood on Joe\u2019s skin. He wasn\u2019t sure enough of himself to find out if there were broken bones, but he thought it likely.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d cried a voice and Danny turned to find Andersen covering him with a gun.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe wagon gave way,\u201d he panted. \u201cJoe got caught under the logs. I\u2019ve got to go for the doctor, Mr Andersen. Joe might be hurt bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou did this to him!\u201d Andersen cried. \u201cI knew you were up to no good! I\u2019ll see you swing for this!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you saying?\u201d Danny shouted. \u201cJoe\u2019s hurt; he needs a doctor! I\u2019ll go into Virginia City and bring back Doc Martin.\u201d He rose to his feet, unwilling to leave Joe to this man\u2019s care, but having no other choice. The wagon was clearly too badly damaged to put Joe into and he didn\u2019t want to waste time hitching the ancient buckboard. But as he turned towards the stables, he felt something strike him hard on the head. It was the last thing Danny Kidd knew for quite some time.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cSheriff Coffee! You must help me!\u201d Sven Andersen burst into the jail house in Virginia City and all but fell into the chair before the desk. Roy looked startled.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s the trouble?\u201d he asked, in his gruff but kindly way.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe Cartwright,\u201d Andersen puffed, putting his hand onto his heaving chest while he tried to get his breath back.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about Joe?\u201d Roy asked, frowning. He knew that Joe had been over at Andersen\u2019s ranch for the last week, but he couldn\u2019t imagine what kind of trouble the boy could have got into while over there.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s disappeared,\u201d Andersen panted. \u201cThat convict, Kidd, he went off with Joe today and when he came back, he had blood on his clothes and Joe was gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Going white, Roy asked, \u201cWhere is Kidd now?\u201d He knew Danny, and found this hard to believe.<\/p>\n

\u201cTied up in my buckboard outside,\u201d answered Andersen, his breathing now under control. \u201cI managed to knock him out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hurrying outside, Roy saw that Danny was indeed tied up and a trickle of dried blood down his face gave mute testimony to the force of the blow Andersen had used. When Roy went over to him, Danny glanced round, but it was clear he was dazed, for he offered no greeting.<\/p>\n

Bringing Danny in and putting him, reluctantly, in a cell, Roy summoned Doc Martin, who declared that Danny had a slight concussion, but wasn\u2019t well enough to answer questions. \u201cBut I gotta ask him, doc,\u201d Roy protested. \u201cLittle Joe\u2019s missing, an\u2019 he\u2019s the only one as knows where he is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think you\u2019ll get a coherent answer, Roy,\u201d Paul told him. \u201cBut go on.\u201d He stood aside as Roy went over to the bunk where Danny was lying.<\/p>\n

\u201cDanny,\u201d Roy said, repeating his name until the young man looked at him. \u201cDanny, where\u2019s little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

Blinking, it seemed for a moment as though Danny didn\u2019t understand the question. \u201cJoe\u2026wagon\u2026help him,\u201d Danny muttered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s he talking about?\u201d Roy asked, glancing at Andersen.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe side of my wagon gave way when they were loading it,\u201d Andersen replied. \u201cIt was after that that they rode off, to borrow one, and only Danny came back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frowning, for this made no sense to Roy at all, he glanced at Paul. \u201cThis blood his?\u201d he asked bluntly.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly on his face,\u201d Paul replied. \u201cThe rest belongs to someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll keep him here for the meantime,\u201d Roy suggested to Paul. His friend nodded. \u201cI\u2019ll organise a posse an\u2019 send someone out to the Ponderosa to tell Ben and the boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will go home,\u201d Andersen said. \u201cI am quite willing to testify against him, sheriff.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI doubt if it\u2019ll come to that,\u201d Roy claimed. He had never liked Andersen, but he knew there were enough people in Virginia City that would believe Danny was guilty of assault or murder to get a conviction, should this matter come to trial, even on such shaky evidence as he had right then. It was a worrying thought.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Consciousness seeped back into Joe\u2019s mind and he tried to move slightly and relieve the ache in his lower back. He had barely moved his legs an inch when pain assaulted him from all over and caught his breath. Joe\u2019s stomach roiled queasily and his head began to pound. Joe couldn\u2019t stop a groan from escaping.<\/p>\n

After a time, the pain subsided slightly and Joe opened his eyes. He had no idea what he had expected to see, but this wasn\u2019t it! He was lying in the upstairs bedroom of Sven Andersen\u2019s new house, on the very bed frame he had constructed the previous day.<\/p>\n

None of this made sense to Joe, and he tried to sit up and look around. Just lifting his head provoked such a feeling of nausea as his head whirled alarmingly, that he lay back down at once. Breathing shallowly though his nose, Joe closed his eyes in the hope that the walls would stop spinning and they eventually did.<\/p>\n

Memory was coming back now, and Joe could remember the wagon side exploding at him and the logs falling. Mercifully, his memory stopped there. But now Joe knew why he hurt all over. But what he couldn\u2019t figure out was why he was where he was. The accident had happened at Andersen\u2019s ranch. How had he come to be out here?<\/p>\n

Realising that he was lying in a desperately uncomfortable position, Joe tried to bring his arms down from their position beside his head. It was only when he did that that he realised that he was a prisoner, for his hands were tied to the head of the bed.<\/p>\n

Snapping open his eyes, Joe ignored the sick feeling as he twisted around until he could see the knots binding him. His body screamed in protest at the movement, and despite his determination, he could not maintain his position and slowly straightened up. It didn\u2019t really help. His ribs were agony; his hips ached, his back throbbed and his legs were so sore that a simple look carried enough weight to make them worse. And as for his feet\u2026 Joe choked back a mirthless laugh. Whoever had brought him here had taken off his boots, but not done anything to tend his injuries. He could see blood on his body through tears in his clothes and the familiar, persistent throb of his head told Joe he had some sort of head injury.<\/p>\n

Later, he wouldn\u2019t be able to guess how long he fought and struggled against the ropes that kept him captive. The pain and nausea became so bad that he was glad when he slipped into oblivion once more.<\/p>\n

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

The thunderous knocking on the front door drew Ben Cartwright out of sleep and he was still rubbing his face groggily as he opened the door. \u201cRoy!\u201d he exclaimed, stepping back. \u201cCome in. This is a surprise. What can I do for you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Closing the door, Ben took a closer look at his friend and felt an unaccountable throb of alarm. \u201cRoy, what is it? What\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, it\u2019s Joe,\u201d Roy replied, miserably. He\u2019d been rehearsing what he was going to say all the way from town, but those carefully memorised words were suddenly gone.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u201d Ben repeated. He paled. \u201cWhat about Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems there was some kinda accident at Andersen\u2019s place,\u201d Roy began. \u201cI ain\u2019t too clear on it, but Joe an\u2019 Danny went off to git a wagon an\u2019 Danny come back alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Ben said, shaking his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cAndersen, he claims that Danny killed Little Joe. He knocked Danny out, an\u2019 he\u2019s back in my jail right now. He ain\u2019t well enough ta be moved, Doc says. He\u2019s got blood on his hands that ain\u2019t his though. I\u2019m gettin\u2019 up a posse, Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m right with you,\u201d Ben replied, snatching up his hat and gun belt. \u201cAdam and Hoss are just down by the corral. They\u2019ll come too.\u201d He paused and looked at Roy. \u201cYou don\u2019t think Danny did anything, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know I don\u2019t, Ben,\u201d Roy protested. \u201cI know that boy an\u2019 he ain\u2019t got a mean bone in his body. Ol\u2019 Andersen\u2019s got a screw loose somewheres, I reckon. But we won\u2019t know the truth o\u2019 this until Danny is well enough to talk or we find Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d Ben suggested.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cJoe?\u201d The voice was persistent. Joe wished it would go away and let him die in peace. However, the voice repeated his name once more and Joe finally opened his eyes.<\/p>\n

The walls were spinning violently and Joe instantly felt sick. \u201cPa,\u201d he muttered. \u201cI don\u2019t feel so good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPoor boy,\u201d the voice went on, and Joe realised that it wasn\u2019t Ben who was talking. He squinted desperately to focus on the face above him.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr Andersen,\u201d Joe croaked. He tried to move, but discovered that he was still tied to the bed. \u201cLet me go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy poor son, are you not comfortable?\u201d Andersen crooned. He fumbled with the ropes holding Joe\u2019s right hand, and for a moment, Joe thought his nightmare was over.<\/p>\n

His muscles were so cramped that the pain as his arm was brought down to his side took Joe\u2019s breath away. His ribs throbbed and breathing was painful. But as Joe\u2019s head cleared again, he realised that instead of setting him free, Andersen was tying him to the side of the bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d he cried. \u201cLet me go!\u201d He struggled against the restraints, but his awkward position and the pain that seemed to consume his whole body effectively combined to prevent him from breaking free.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe,\u201d Andersen soothed. \u201cDon\u2019t fight me, Joe. You will be happy here with me. I\u2019ve got rid of the convict for you and once he is dead, I will send you back to your father.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d Joe whispered. \u201cWhat have you done?\u201d Raising his head, and ignoring the nausea, Joe called, \u201cDanny!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, Joe, you don\u2019t have to pretend with me,\u201d Andersen told him. \u201cI know you were too scared of your father to tell him you didn\u2019t like the convict, but I understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s not like that!\u201d Joe cried, but his throbbing head was now making speaking difficult and bright lights were going off at the peripheral of his vision. He swallowed against the bile rising in his throat. \u201cPlease, get my Pa,\u201d he begged. \u201cPlease,\u201d he mumbled, his voice trailing off.<\/p>\n

Within moments, Joe was unconscious again. Andersen finished tying his hands to the side of the bed and patted Joe on the head. He didn\u2019t see the injuries Joe had sustained and didn\u2019t realise how ill the young man was rapidly becoming. The only thing Sven Andersen was thinking of was ensuring that Danny Kidd was hanged.<\/p>\n

\u201cConvicts,\u201d he muttered as he left the room, locking the door behind him. \u201cToo many convicts in this world. They should all be hanged.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

As the posse rode up to the Andersen ranch, they could see Sven Andersen sitting on the front porch. He made no effort to join them as they dismounted from their horses and didn\u2019t even turn his head. Perplexed by this behaviour, Ben mounted the steps and called his name. \u201cSven?\u201d<\/p>\n

When there was no response, he went over and shook the man gently. Andersen\u2019s head lolled on his shoulders. Alarmed, Ben knelt by him, but he could see he was too late. Glancing up, he told the others the bad news. \u201cHe\u2019s dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

His sons\u2019 grim faces grew grimmer at his words. Now, the only person who could help them find Joe was Danny, and from what Roy had told them, it might be some time before Danny was in a fit state to tell them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d better have a look around here afore we take him into town,\u201d Roy suggested.<\/p>\n

They split up, although there wasn\u2019t much to search. Hoss went into the house. Roy went over to the small smokehouse and Ben and Adam went round the back. There, they found the spilled logs and something that struck terror into both their hearts \u2013 Joe\u2019s hat.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can see the blood on the ground,\u201d Adam said to Roy in a deceptively calm tone. He continued to point out the signs to Roy, although the sheriff could read them as well as Adam could. \u201cSomeone was pulled free from under the logs \u2013 Joe we must presume \u2013 and then was loaded onto a buckboard or something. But the ground is hard and we can\u2019t follow the tracks any further.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be dark soon,\u201d Ben commented and his voice was strained.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere ain\u2019t nuthin\u2019 else we c\u2019n do here,\u201d Roy agreed. \u201cLet\u2019s git Andersen into that buckboard an\u2019 take him back to town. Maybe Danny\u2019s feelin\u2019 better an\u2019 c\u2019n help us.\u201d
\n\u201cI hope so,\u201d Ben muttered. \u201cI hope so.\u201d He went over to mount his horse, and stood for a moment, eyeing the fallen logs, before mounting. He wondered where Joe was and how he was. It was Ben\u2019s unspoken fear that wherever his son was, he was alone, and dying.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When next Joe opened his eyes, it was dark. It didn\u2019t matter to him particularly. Just because he couldn\u2019t see the walls spinning didn\u2019t mean that he couldn\u2019t feel them spinning. The heat was stifling. He felt dreadful; his head was throbbing, his mouth was dry and his body was wracked with pain. Moving his legs slightly to relieve his cramped muscles caused pain to shoot up his left leg from his foot. There didn\u2019t seem to be a single bit of his body that didn\u2019t hurt.<\/p>\n

The worst problem for Joe was his thirst. His tongue was so dry it seemed to be sticking to the roof of his mouth and even licking his lips didn\u2019t help. Cracking open his eyes, Joe peered through the rosy darkness in the hopes of spotting some water nearby, but, as far as he could tell, the room was empty apart from the bed.<\/p>\n

Lying carefully back down, Joe tugged once more at the ropes that held him captive, but they were no looser than they had been and he was unable to break free. His wrists were raw from his struggles, but Joe hardly noticed them. They were just one more misery among many. His temperature was beginning to climb as his dehydration increased.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease come, Pa,\u201d Joe mumbled, barely able to form the words. Nausea gripped him again and this time, Joe wasn\u2019t able to conquer it. He leaned as far over the edge of the bed as he could and retched helplessly. The uncomfortable position, combined with the heaving, played havoc with his injured ribs and by the time Joe had recovered enough to lie flat, he could hardly manage to catch his breath.<\/p>\n

There seemed to be only one way for him to bear the pain and that was to lie absolutely still. Gradually, concentrating hard, Joe forced his tense muscles to relax, but he discovered after only a few short minutes that they were all tight again. A moan escaped his lips and he could feel tears burning behind his closed eyelids. Eventually, he slept again.<\/p>\n

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

As the posse arrived back in Virginia City, they saw that there was a crowd gathered outside the jail. Puzzled and worried, they hurried down there. Roy dispatched one of the men to take Andersen\u2019s body to the doctor and he and the Cartwrights rode down to the jail.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s goin\u2019 on here?\u201d Roy demanded.<\/p>\n

Clem Foster, Roy\u2019s deputy, came out of the jail with his shotgun in his hands, looking relieved. \u201cThey\u2019re bayin\u2019 for Danny Kidd\u2019s blood,\u201d he told Roy. \u201cAndersen\u2019s told them about Joe bein\u2019 missin\u2019 and they want to drag Danny out here, beat the truth outa him then string him up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Turning to the crowd, Roy shouted, \u201cListen to me!\u201d He paused for a moment and the muttering died down. \u201cDanny Kidd is in my jail because he\u2019s too ill to go anywheres else. We ain\u2019t got no proof that he done anything\u2019 wrong! Joe Cartwright is missin\u2019, but Danny ain\u2019t got anythin\u2019 to do with it!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAndersen said he did,\u201d shouted an anonymous voice from the crowd.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all know Andersen didn\u2019t have no time for folks as had had a brush with the law,\u201d Roy replied. \u201cBut that don\u2019t make Danny guilty. He ain\u2019t bin charged with anythin\u2019 an\u2019 he won\u2019t be.\u201d
\n\u201cDon\u2019t you want him charged for killin\u2019 your boy, Cartwright?\u201d the voice shouted.<\/p>\n

Turning, Ben sent a burning look into the crowd. \u201cI don\u2019t know that Joe is dead,\u201d he said, coldly. \u201cBut I do know this; Danny Kidd would never hurt Joe. Never! Why don\u2019t you folks go back to your homes and your families?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, go on, get outa here,\u201d Roy added and made shooing motions with his hands. They all stood there until the crowd began to disperse, with much muttering and mumbling.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m real sorry about that, Ben,\u201d Roy apologised as they went inside. \u201cThat Andersen had a big mouth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not your fault, Roy,\u201d Ben told him. He glanced at his sons, seeing the toll the day had taken on them. Hoss looked worried, a frown seeming to be a fixture between his eyes. Adam looked impassive, but Ben knew that he was suffering just as much, if not more, than Hoss. For Adam couldn\u2019t help but remember that his last words with his brother had been harsh and he had turned away, rather than bid him goodbye.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s see Danny,\u201d he suggested.<\/p>\n

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

All that day, Danny had drifted in and out of consciousness. When he was awake, he knew who he was, but not where he was. Clem, following the advice Doc Martin had given, didn\u2019t tell him he was in the jail. He simply kept an eye on Danny, cleaning up the bucket when necessary and giving him water at regular intervals. Danny often spoke Joe\u2019s name when awake, but without any realisation that he was doing so.<\/p>\n

However, by the time the Cartwrights arrived, Danny\u2019s periods of lucidity were growing longer. As Ben went into the cell, Danny stirred and opened his eyes. For a moment, he gazed at Ben in disbelief then blinked furiously, as though to clear his vision.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake it easy, Danny,\u201d Ben soothed, sitting down on the edge of the cot beside him. \u201cHow do you feel?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot too good,\u201d Danny ventured in a cracked voice. A hand passed a tin cup to Danny from behind Ben and the young man drank eagerly.<\/p>\n

\u201cDanny, do you remember what happened?\u201d Ben asked, gently. The urge to shake the answers from him was almost overwhelming, but Ben resisted.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were loading the wagon,\u201d Danny reported, in a dull voice. He put one hand onto his head, and winced. \u201cThe side of the wagon collapsed and Joe got caught under the logs. I pulled him out and then Mr Andersen said it was all my fault and I think he hit me on the head.\u201d The dark, worried eyes, still slightly glazed, came up to meet Ben\u2019s. \u201cHow\u2019s Joe? Is he all right? He looked hurt bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDanny,\u201d Ben began, then hesitated, trying to compose himself.
\nThe colour leached out of Danny\u2019s already pale face. \u201cJoe\u2019s not dead?\u201d he gasped.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no,\u201d Ben cried. \u201cJoe\u2019s not dead.\u201d He swallowed hard. \u201cAt least, as far as we know, Danny. Joe has disappeared. Andersen said that you\u2019d ridden off together and come back alone. Danny, he said you\u2019d killed Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d never hurt Joe,\u201d Danny denied, vehemently. \u201cYou gotta believe me, Mr Cartwright. That isn\u2019t true!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do believe you, Danny,\u201d Ben assured him. \u201cBut, Danny,\u201d he leant forward. \u201cJoe is missing. Andersen is dead. Can you think of anywhere that Joe might be?\u201d<\/p>\n

Silence fell. Danny closed his eyes and screwed his face into a frown as he forced his sluggish brain to work. Ben glanced over his shoulder and exchanged looks with his sons and Roy Coffee. Ben had no idea what time it was, but he could feel the grains of sand trickling through the hourglass of Joe\u2019s life as they sat there. Out in the main room of the jail, the big wall clock ticked away the seconds solemnly.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, Danny\u2019s eyes opened, and he struggled onto his elbows. \u201cThe house!\u201d he exclaimed, as though that enigmatic statement made sense. \u201cI bet he took him to the house!\u201d<\/p>\n

A surge of disappointment passed through Ben\u2019s body. \u201cBut we checked the house, Danny,\u201d he said. \u201cThere was almost nothing in it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Again, the frown creased Danny\u2019s face. Ben could feel the effort he was making. Then his face cleared. \u201cNot the ranch house,\u201d he said, his voice excited. \u201cThe new house!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat new house?\u201d Adam asked, crowding in.<\/p>\n

Impatient, both with his own weakness and the others\u2019 lack of understanding, Danny shook his head, wincing at the pain. \u201cYou don\u2019t understand. Andersen had sold the ranch. He\u2019d bought this house, and he told Joe where it was. Joe was taking all his stuff up there for him, while I did the chores. Joe wasn\u2019t supposed to tell me where the house was, but he did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere?\u201d Adam demanded.<\/p>\n

Again the pause. Danny looked uncomfortable. \u201cI only know how to get to it from the Andersen ranch,\u201d he admitted. \u201cI can\u2019t quite remember\u2026\u201d He lapsed into silence again.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t getting us anywhere!\u201d Adam exclaimed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, hush!\u201d Ben ordered, annoyed. Danny was doing his best and it was clear to them all that he\u2019d had a bad head wound only a few short hours before. He was doing very well under pressure.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake me to the ranch,\u201d Danny begged. \u201cI can tell you better from there. Please, Mr Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll get a wagon brought to the back door,\u201d Roy said and nodded to Clem. \u201cAin\u2019t no reason the boy can\u2019t go with you, Ben,\u201d he went on. \u201cHe ain\u2019t bin charged with anythin\u2019 an\u2019 I reckon he\u2019s the best chance you got o\u2019 findin\u2019 Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d Ben agreed. \u201cDanny, are you sure you\u2019re up to this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure!\u201d Danny insisted. He sat a bit further up and tried for a smile. It wasn\u2019t convincing, so he abandoned the attempt. \u201cJoe\u2019s my friend. I don\u2019t want any harm to come to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, boy,\u201d Ben breathed. \u201cThank you very much.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The wagon was brought to the back door of the jail by a round about route, to avoid the few men who still hung around outside the jail, waiting for the chance to make trouble for Danny. Ben thought they were contemptible.<\/p>\n

Dawn was only a few hours away, and as they neared the Andersen ranch, the first faint tendrils of light could be seen along the eastern horizon. Danny was dozing, warmly wrapped in blankets against the chill of the night.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re here, Danny,\u201d Ben said, rousing him. He looked at Adam and Hoss and wondered if he looked as bad as they did. Adam\u2019s face was darkened by a day\u2019s growth of his heavy dark beard, and even Hoss looked slightly shaggy, although his blonde beard was more difficult to see. Ben felt his own chin and sighed at the rasping sound his hand made.<\/p>\n

It took a few minutes for Danny to wake properly and he peered around blearily. After a moment, he closed his eyes, and was clearly reliving a conversation under his breath. After a minute, his eyes popped open and he nodded. \u201cI remember now,\u201d he stated firmly. \u201cFollow this track for about half a mile and there\u2019s a turn off to the left. Joe said it was faint, but he\u2019s been up there quite a few times since then, so it should be more noticeable now. A bit further along there\u2019s another left turn and the house is about a mile further on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d Adam urged and they set off at once.<\/p>\n

As Danny had said, the turn offs were more noticeable and they found them without any difficulty. By now, the light was growing and Hoss hurried the team slightly. Ben could feel his breath shortening as his anxiety grew. His heart hammered erratically in his chest and his hands were shaking. He resolutely did not allow himself to wonder what they would do if Joe was not in the house.<\/p>\n

The moment the house came into view, Adam touched his heel to his horse and raced towards it. Pulling up by the porch, he flung himself from his horse and dashed up the steps. The door was obviously locked by the way he rattled it. By then the wagon had reached it and Ben jumped down, admonishing Danny to stay where he was.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, Hoss,\u201d Adam urged and together, they put their shoulders to the front door.<\/p>\n

It took several attempts and both men were bruised when the door finally gave way, but neither of them seemed to notice. Inside the hall, they paused. \u201cSpread out,\u201d Ben told them. He hurried into the downstairs rooms, while Adam took the stairs two at a time. Hoss went to check the kitchen at the back of the house.<\/p>\n

The downstairs rooms were empty and Ben was part way upstairs when he heard a crash, then Adam\u2019s voice shouted, \u201cHe\u2019s up here, Pa!\u201d There was such urgency in his voice that Ben found himself running upstairs.<\/p>\n

Hurrying through the door of the room, Ben stopped in dismay as he beheld the figure on the bed. Joe\u2019s breathing was an audible grunt, and he lay desperately still. The room stank of vomit and was like an oven. Ben crossed to Joe\u2019s side, taking in the torn, bloodstained clothing and the terrifying pallor of his youngest son. And then his eye fell on the ultimate wrong done to the boy \u2013 the ropes tying him to the bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got to get him to a doctor,\u201d Ben cried and with Hoss\u2019 help, they gently freed Joe and carried him downstairs to the waiting wagon.<\/p>\n

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

It was a nightmare trip back to town. Ben\u2019s concern was chiefly for Joe, who was very ill, but Danny had exhausted himself helping the Cartwrights to find their missing loved one and had taken a turn for the worse, too. Ben was very relieved when they reached the doctor\u2019s office and Paul was in.<\/p>\n

Joe was quickly settled in the office, while Danny stretched out on the couch in the waiting room. Paul, after a single look at the Cartwrights, knew he had no chance of getting them to leave. Sighing, he began to cut off Joe\u2019s clothes.<\/p>\n

\u201cHas he moved at all?\u201d Paul asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Ben replied, worriedly. \u201cHe\u2019s taken some water, but that\u2019s about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that\u2019s good,\u201d Paul replied. He began to check Joe over, beginning with the head injury. By the time he reached the young man\u2019s feet, he had a catalogue of injuries. \u201cAll right,\u201d he began, straightening. \u201cJoe\u2019s got a serious concussion. That\u2019s just to begin. He\u2019s got broken ribs on both sides His left fore arm is broken just below the elbow. His left ankle is broken. Both knees are dislocated. He\u2019s covered in cuts and bruises and there is some evidence of crush damage to his pelvis. He\u2019s very dehydrated and he\u2019s running a fever. I\u2019ll do what I can for him, but the only person who can pull Joe through is Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Time had developed an elastic quality, Adam thought as he glanced at the clock in the waiting room again. The hands didn\u2019t seem to move for what felt like hours at a stretch, then, when he looked again, they had leapt onwards, leaving him with huge blank spaces in his memory.<\/p>\n

Across the room, Ben and Hoss sat slumped in their chairs. There were sandwiches on the table, provided by one of the local cafes, but none of them had been able to eat a single bite. The coffee had long gone; it was the only thing they had been able to stomach.<\/p>\n

Nearby, Danny was sleeping again, but he was looking better. The rest had done him good and Roy and Clem had made sure that everyone knew that Danny had been instrumental in saving Joe\u2019s life. However that had not stopped a hardened few, who still insisted that Danny was to blame for everything that had happened to Joe. Andersen\u2019s poison had found more than a few sympathetic ears.<\/p>\n

Looking at Danny, Ben wondered if he would stay on. A lot had happened to him and Ben wouldn\u2019t blame him if he decided to leave and go somewhere where he could leave his past behind. He would be sorry if that happened, for Danny was a good worker and a nice man to get along with. He and Joe had a special affinity that Ben would be sorry to see broken. Right then and there, Ben resolved that if Danny did leave, he would leave with money in his pocket; good money, so that if he wanted to buy a spread of his own, he would be able to do so. They owed Joe\u2019s life to Danny twice over now. Giving him money seemed such a small thing to do in comparison.<\/p>\n

At last, the surgery door opened and Paul came out. He looked utterly weary, but he was smiling slightly. \u201cJoe\u2019s conscious,\u201d he reported, and stood back so that he didn\u2019t get crushed in the rush. With a smile, he followed them into the room.<\/p>\n

Sure enough, the youngest Cartwright son was awake and he managed a slight smile as he saw his family. \u201cI thought I\u2019d never see you again,\u201d he whispered. \u201cAndersen took me to his house and left me there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all right, Joe,\u201d Ben soothed, stroking his hair. \u201cYou\u2019re safe now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs Danny all right?\u201d Joe asked, his eyelids dropping. He felt no pain, thanks to the injection Paul had given him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Danny\u2019s all right,\u201d Paul said. \u201cHe\u2019s like you, got a hard head.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d Joe replied and slipped into a healing sleep.<\/p>\n

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

It was almost a week before Joe was well enough to be allowed to go home. Danny had gone back with Adam and Hoss that first day, while Ben stayed in town with Joe. To begin with, Joe slept a great deal, but when he was awake, he told his story in dribs and drabs.<\/p>\n

\u201cAndersen had a real down on Danny from the start,\u201d Joe told Ben. \u201cI was annoyed when he tried to make out that you had forced us to be friends, and he wouldn\u2019t believe me when I told him that it wasn\u2019t true.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSven Andersen had undergone a change, Joe,\u201d Ben told him. \u201cYou remember that I told you he had died?\u201d Joe nodded. \u201cWell, Paul examined him after we brought him back and he determined that Sven had had a series of strokes and they were gradually altering his personality. By the end, we don\u2019t think he was completely aware of what he was doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bitterness that Joe had been feeling towards Sven Andersen dissolved in a rush of pity. How awful, to lose oneself like that, he thought. \u201cHow\u2019s Danny coping?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, not too bad,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cThe talk in the town is dying down, but there will always be one or two people who don\u2019t believe he\u2019s innocent, the same as there were before, I\u2019m afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll leave,\u201d Joe mumbled. \u201cI know he will.\u201d He raised tired, teary eyes to Ben. \u201cI wish there was some way to show him how grateful I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure we can find a way,\u201d Ben soothed and watched as Joe fell into sleep once more.<\/p>\n

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

Months passed before Joe was finally on his feet again. He had had a hard time of it, being virtually helpless for a lot of the time. However, time had once more brought about recovery and Joe was back in the thick of things as soon as he was able.<\/p>\n

During his time in bed, he and Adam had managed to resolve their differences again. Joe hadn\u2019t realised that Adam hadn\u2019t bid him a proper goodbye the day he left for Andersen\u2019s and so hadn\u2019t been nursing the grudge Adam had been expecting. It had come as rather a blow to realise that he had offered an apology when it wasn\u2019t needed and he felt a bit snubbed that Joe hadn\u2019t noticed his turned back. But, in retrospect, it did seem an extraordinarily childish thing to have done and he was glad that he had apologised for doing it.<\/p>\n

About six weeks after he had begun working again, Danny sought Joe out in the privacy of the barn. \u201cJoe, I\u2019m leavin\u2019,\u201d he stated, simply.<\/p>\n

Putting down the brush he\u2019d been using to groom Cochise, Joe looked at Danny. \u201cI knew you would,\u201d he replied. \u201cWhere are you going to go?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Danny answered. \u201cWest, into California, to begin with. After that, I don\u2019t know. I\u2019ll just see where the mood takes me.\u201d He looked at Joe. \u201cI\u2019m sorry to leave you, Joe, but I can\u2019t live here any longer. Those people still believe the worst of me, and I can\u2019t take it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish there was something I could do for you,\u201d Joe told him. \u201cI owe you my life twice over!\u201d<\/p>\n

Smiling, Danny tried to hide the moisture that sprang into his eyes. \u201cIf not for you, I wouldn\u2019t be free now,\u201d he reminded his friend. \u201cAnd your father\u2019s given me money. Enough money to buy a small spread. Who knows what I might do, Joe? The sky\u2019s the limit!\u201d<\/p>\n

Moving away from his horse, Joe threw his arms round his friend and gave him a brief hug \u2013 all that Danny could tolerate. \u201cI\u2019m gonna miss you,\u201d he quavered. \u201cBe sure and write, you hear?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hear,\u201d Danny replied, in a voice as unsteady as Joe\u2019s.<\/p>\n

And to Joe\u2019s delight, he threw his arms round Joe and hugged him back.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cPost for you, Joe,\u201d Ben Cartwright called as he came into the house from town. \u201cLooks like Danny\u2019s writing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank, Pa,\u201d Joe replied, catching the letter and tearing open the envelope.<\/p>\n

Looking round at Joe a few minutes later, Ben saw that there was a big smile on Joe\u2019s face. \u201cThat looks like good news, son,\u201d he encouraged. \u201cYou gonna share it with us?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know Danny bought that spread in California last year?\u201d Joe asked. \u201cWell, this letter is asking me to be the best man at his wedding!\u201d<\/p>\n

Cries of delight came from all round. Ben found himself blinking back tears. So much good had come from the friendship between these two young men, and he couldn\u2019t now regret that Danny had left them two years previously. He was a good man, and he no longer had to prove himself to anyone.<\/p>\n

Good could sometimes come out of evil. In fact, Ben thought good frequently did come out of evil, although it wasn\u2019t always apparent at the time. Here was another example and he hurried to open a bottle, pour out drinks and offer a toast.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo friendship,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n

His three sons lifted their glasses high.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo friendship.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For Claire, my sister and my friend<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

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

Summary: \u00a0Sent to help at a neighbour\u2019s ranch for a couple of weeks, Joe and Danny run into prejudice that leads to tragedy.<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 K+ (9,960 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":11258,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,13],"tags":[16],"class_list":["post-7129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-whn","tag-joe","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-13-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1701,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/The-Friendship.jpg?fit=478%2C340&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":47239,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=47239","url_meta":{"origin":7129,"position":0},"title":"To Become a Man (by Lynnette Smith)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"June 30, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Synopsis: When Danny Morris, a friend of Joe's whom he taught how to handle a gun, murders Laura Peterson and escapes with her money, Joe feels responsible and goes after Danny along with Adam and Hoss. 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