Summary:\u00a0 Wedding bells are on the cards for Joe.<\/p>\n
Rated:\u00a0 T<\/p>\n
Betrothed, Betrayer and Betrayed Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n Part 1<\/a> <\/p>\n Bethrothed, Betrayer and Betrayed – Part 1<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cA toast!\u201d Ben Cartwright called in a loud voice. The hubbub of the party died away slightly as everyone focused on their host and reached for their glasses. Seeing that he had everyone\u2019s attention, Ben went on, \u201cA toast to my son, Joseph, and his bride to be, Dawn.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph and Dawn,\u201d murmured the crowd.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d Joe replied for them both. He had one arm around the waist of his beautiful brunette fianc\u00e9e. He smiled into her velvety brown eyes and raised his glass to her. \u201cTo you, my darling.\u201d<\/p>\n Returning the smile, Dawn whispered, \u201cI love you, Joe Cartwright!\u201d<\/p>\n Next moment, they were surrounded by a crowd of well-wishers, each one wanting to pass on personal messages of congratulations to the young couple. Joe\u2019s unique laugh could soon be heard pealing across the great room as the jokes flew.<\/p>\n Standing over by the fireplace, Ben glanced at his other two sons. \u201cShe\u2019s a lovely girl,\u201d Ben declared.<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss nodded. \u201cShe is indeed,\u201d Adam replied. \u201cJoe\u2019s done well for himself there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJist think,\u201d Hoss mused, happily, \u201cI could be an uncle by this time next year.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I could be a grandfather \u2013 at last!\u201d Ben agreed, clapping his middle son on the shoulder. \u201cIt\u2019s about time one of you boys settled down!\u201d<\/p>\n ****************<\/p>\n \u201cWhen\u2019s the wedding to be, Joe?\u201d asked Mitch Devlin, Joe\u2019s long-time friend.<\/p>\n \u201cIn about 6 weeks,\u201d Joe replied.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy so long?\u201d Mitch answered. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t want to wait, I can tell you!\u201d<\/p>\n Laughing and blushing, Dawn replied, \u201cI have to get a few things, and ask my relatives if they\u2019re going to come out. That all takes time.\u201d<\/p>\n Someone else came up to speak to Dawn, and Joe found himself standing on the outskirts of the group, admiring his bride to be. He still could not believe his good fortune. A hand clapped heavily onto his shoulder and a familiar voice said into his ear, \u201cClose your mouth, Joe, you\u2019re drooling.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re jealous, Adam,\u201d Joe responded, without looking around.<\/p>\n \u201cMe?\u201d Adam protested. \u201cI don\u2019t think so, little brother.\u201d As Joe turned to look at him, Adam smiled warmly. \u201cBut I do want to congratulate you again, Joe. Dawn is everything I could have hoped for in a sister-in-law.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Adam,\u201d Joe replied. He blinked back moisture in his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cDid you show Dawn those blueprints?\u201d Adam asked. He had designed a house for Joe and Dawn as his wedding present. They were going to start work on it as soon as Joe and Dawn were married.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes lit up. \u201cShe loved them, Adam,\u201d Joe replied, enthusiastically. \u201cI can hardly wait until we get started on building it!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs soon as you\u2019re safely married,\u201d Adam agreed. \u201cWe don\u2019t really have time to begin before that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Joe agreed. \u201cDawn wants to go to Sacramento to do some shopping first.\u201d<\/p>\n The hint of a frown crossed Adam\u2019s brow. \u201cAre you going with her?\u201d he asked, seeking to keep the disapproval out of his tone. They had round-up starting the next week and could ill-afford to have Joe gallivanting off to Sacramento.<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Joe sighed and looked crest-fallen. \u201cDawn says it\u2019s a girl thing and she\u2019s going with that crowd she hangs out with.\u201d<\/p>\n Relief flooded through Adam. \u201cWell, did you really think she would take you with her when she was buying her wedding dress?\u201d he asked. \u201cBesides, I can\u2019t see you sitting happily in dress shops all day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess not,\u201d Joe replied, his eyes drifting back to Dawn. The band started playing a slow dance. \u201cExcuse me, Adam; I\u2019m going to dance with my fianc\u00e9e.\u201d He broke through the people gathered around Dawn and held his hand out to her. With a smile, Dawn put her hand in his and followed him out on the floor. Soon they were completely oblivious to everyone else in the room as they danced.<\/p>\n *****************<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry I\u2019m not going to be here when you get back,\u201d Joe told Dawn as they waited for the Sacramento stage to come in. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be weeks before I see you again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou sound just like a little boy when you say that,\u201d Dawn chided him, gently.<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Joe sighed. \u201cBut I\u2019m going to miss you.\u201d<\/p>\n Caressing his cheek with her gloved hand, Dawn sighed, too. \u201cThis is the best time for me to be away, since you\u2019re away, too, darling.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Joe agreed. He leant his cheek into her hand. \u201cHave a good time.\u201d He reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew a pile of bills. \u201cHere, this should buy you what you need.\u201d<\/p>\n Dawn pulled back and put her hands behind her. \u201cI can\u2019t take your money, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course you can,\u201d Joe replied, impatiently, trying to grab one of her hands.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, not until after we\u2019re married,\u201d Dawn insisted. \u201cJoe, I have money, you know that.\u201d Her eyes glazed with tears. \u201cMama left me money for my wedding outfits, and I want to use that. Joe, please.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI understand that,\u201d Joe replied, gently. \u201cBut, how\u2019s this? You take it, just in case you run out and if you don\u2019t use it, you can give it back to me. What do you say?\u201d He used his \u2018puppy dog\u2019 look on her, the one that was so effective on Ben.<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t let him down. \u201cOh, all right,\u201d she relented.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s my girl,\u201d Joe smiled. He glanced over her shoulder as the stagecoach rattled into sight. The others girls who were going with Dawn rose from where they had been waiting on a bench and gathered up their bags. \u201cI love you,\u201d Joe reminded Dawn. He kissed her briefly on the lips before handing her into the coach and giving her bag to the driver.<\/p>\n Joe gazed after the coach until it was out of sight, then slowly walked across to the store, where he paid for the supplies that were loaded onto the buckboard, waiting for him. Feeling unaccountably lonely, Joe set off for home.<\/p>\n ***********************<\/p>\n It had been a whirlwind romance for Joe and Dawn. Dawn had arrived in Virginia City just a few short months before, with the five girls who were her friends. They had rented a house together and were soon the talk of the town. The matrons didn\u2019t approve of six young girls living together, unchaperoned by someone more mature. The girls, Julie, Louise, Valerie, Beth and Kate, plus Dawn, didn\u2019t care. They kept their own hours, and would quite often disappear for days on end. They were polite and well-dressed and they all seemed to have money. The mystery was tantalising the whole town.<\/p>\n About a month after their arrival, Joe and Dawn met at a dance. Joe had been away to San Francisco with his father, and so did not know of the arrival of six very eligible young ladies in town and was instantly attracted to Dawn, who was wearing an eye-catching red velvet dress with gold embroidery at the hem. Joe had gone stag that night, since he had been away for a while and so there was no problem in going over to introduce himself and ask the beautiful young lady to dance.<\/p>\n Dawn was just as attracted to Joe, having seen him the instant he walked into the room. Joe was by far the handsomest man Dawn had ever seen, and her friends were jealous when Joe proceeded to devote the rest of the evening to her. He and Dawn chatted away like old friends and as the dance drew to a close, Joe asked, \u201cCan I see you home?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d Dawn replied. \u201cI\u2019ll just get my wrap.\u201d She went to get her wrap while Joe shrugged on his green jacket.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope you won\u2019t get into trouble for staying out so late,\u201d Joe commented as they walked slowly down the street. \u201cI never thought to ask if you had to be home by a certain time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m my own mistress, Joe,\u201d Dawn replied. \u201cI can please myself. My parents are both dead. My friends already went home, so the house won\u2019t be empty when I go in.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cI didn\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo reason why you should know,\u201d Dawn assured him. She slowed as she reached her home.<\/p>\n \u201cCan I see you again?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like that very much,\u201d Dawn replied.<\/p>\n \u201cTomorrow?\u201d Joe suggested. \u201cI could take you for a picnic by the lake.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll bring the picnic,\u201d Dawn insisted. \u201cI\u2019ll see you at two.\u201d With a bewitching smile, she vanished into the house.<\/p>\n ***********************<\/p>\n That picnic was just the first of many. Joe could hardly bear to be parted from Dawn, and the few times she had to go away for a day or two were torture to him. He was slightly less enchanted to discover that her five friends had gone with her each time, but Dawn explained to him that they were all close and the girls were going with her for support. Although she didn\u2019t say it in so many words, Dawn implied that she was going to visit a relative who was \u2018not quite all there\u2019. Joe assumed that there was some kind of mental handicap, and didn\u2019t probe, respecting her devotion to this unknown relation.<\/p>\n Apart from that, Joe got on very well with her friends. Kate had a very deep voice for a girl, and was constantly being teased about it by the others. Julie had long blonde hair that she spent a lot of time coaxing into ringlets. Val had a different boyfriend every week. Louise devoured books at a great rate and Beth was a singer, with a beautiful voice. They were all quite different to each other and all the best of friends.<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t come as any surprise when Joe proposed to Dawn and she accepted. Ben, Adam and Hoss had met Dawn on several occasions, and had all come to like her very much. Joe had been a different person since he had met her. He had matured, and was calmer, less likely to lose his temper. Joe always had a great enthusiasm for life, but it grew after he met Dawn. Joe was cheerful whatever the provocation and didn\u2019t even mind when it was pouring with rain and he was thigh deep in mud. As Adam said, his unrelenting cheerfulness was enough to make your teeth ache!<\/p>\n On the night of the engagement party, after the girls were home, Julie, Louise, Val, Beth and Kate sat down with Dawn for a serious talk. \u201cSo what have you decided to do?\u201d Kate asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll have to give it up,\u201d Dawn replied regretfully. \u201cI can\u2019t keep on doing this when I\u2019m married to Joe. He\u2019ll want to come and meet this \u2018relative\u2019. I\u2019ll have to tell him that they died.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut you\u2019re so good at it,\u201d Beth protested. \u201cYou have the best ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was bound to happen to one of us sooner or later,\u201d Dawn sighed. \u201cI was just first.\u201d She wiped away a tear. \u201cI\u2019ll miss it, girls, there\u2019s no getting away from it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne last time, before the big day?\u201d begged Julie. \u201cAfter all, you need to buy your trousseau, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Joe\u2019s going on the cattle drive,\u201d Val chimed in.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease,\u201d added Louise.<\/p>\n \u201cAll right,\u201d Dawn agreed. \u201cWhich bank are we gonna rob, girls?\u201d<\/p>\n **********************<\/p>\n The cattle drive went off relatively uneventfully. The steers arrived at market still well fleshed out and Ben received top dollar for them. The money was banked, the drovers paid and Ben and his sons got a well-earned rest in a comfortable hotel.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you all right, Joe?\u201d Ben asked, after they had finished eating. Adam and Hoss had gone for a beer, but Joe had declined, sitting on with his father as Ben had a brandy. Joe played with the untouched glass of brandy in front of him.<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Pa, why do you ask?\u201d Joe replied.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve been very quiet, that\u2019s all,\u201d Ben responded. \u201cAnd you didn\u2019t want to go with your brothers for a beer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve just been thinking,\u201d Joe shrugged. \u201cAnd I didn\u2019t fancy a beer. I don\u2019t want to flirt with some saloon girl, Pa and I\u2019m not in the mood for playing cards.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFeeling the responsibilities of a married man creeping up on you, eh, son?\u201d Ben asked, squeezing Joe\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cI hadn\u2019t thought of that,\u201d Joe responded. \u201cI just don\u2019t want to do it tonight. I\u2019d rather get an early night so I\u2019m ready to leave at first light.\u201d He smiled. \u201cI\u2019m missing Dawn.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Ben replied, with a slight sigh, for he did know. He still missed Marie more than he could say. He was glad Joe had found someone to love. \u201cI\u2019m really happy for you, Joe. Dawn is a wonderful girl. As soon as we get back, we\u2019ll start getting organised to build your new house. Are you sure Dawn doesn\u2019t mind living with us in the mean time?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cQuite sure, Pa,\u201d Joe replied. He smiled suddenly and Ben felt as though the sun had suddenly come out. \u201cI can hardly believe it, Pa. Do you know what I mean? Dawn is gorgeous, and she loves me as much as I love her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI felt the same way about your mother, Joe,\u201d Ben agreed. \u201cShe was so beautiful and dainty and I couldn\u2019t believe that she loved me. It was difficult for her, to come into a house where there were two young boys. To begin with, Adam resented her, but he soon grew to love her.\u201d Joe nodded, for this was not a secret. Adam openly admitted that he had resented Marie\u2019s sudden intrusion into their lives, but they had become friends. \u201cIn a way, it\u2019ll be difficult for Dawn, too, coming into our family. We are all so close, and she is alone. You\u2019ll need to be patient with her, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will be, sir,\u201d Joe assured him. \u201cI can hardly wait to be married, Pa and to have a family.\u201d<\/p>\n Cautiously, not wanting to squash Joe\u2019s dreams, he ventured, \u201cWhat if you can\u2019t have a family?\u201d Ben knew of many people who had no children.<\/p>\n \u201cI have Dawn,\u201d Joe responded. \u201cThat\u2019s all that matters.\u201d He smiled. \u201cBut I want to give you grandchildren, Pa. I want to be a good father, like you are to us.\u201d<\/p>\n Touched by the unexpected compliment, Ben blinked back tears. \u201cI\u2019m sure you\u2019ll be a wonderful father, Joe,\u201d he replied. \u201cI wish you and Dawn as much happiness together as your mother and I knew, and a long life together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d Joe whispered. He suddenly, just for that moment, felt like his father\u2019s equal; a grown up man, with adult responsibilities. Soon, he would have a home and a family of his own. He felt unbearably excited. He flashed his beautiful smile at Ben.<\/p>\n It was a poignant moment for Ben. His last-born son was about to embark upon a new life. For that fleeting instant, Ben felt old and wished that Joe could be a little boy again. But not for long. Joe was an adult now and Ben was intensely proud of him, as he was of all his sons. But their relationship would be changed now, to accommodate another; perhaps several others. He could hardly wait to cradle Joe\u2019s children in his arms, as he had cradled Joe so long ago. He lifted his glass, and Joe lifted his untouched glass of brandy.<\/p>\n \u201cTo the Future!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo the Future,\u201d Joe agreed and they drank.<\/p>\n ****************************<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re in kinda a hurry ta git goin\u2019 this mornin\u2019, little brother, ain\u2019t cha?\u201d Hoss teased as Joe finished the last bite of his breakfast and pushed his chair back.<\/p>\n \u201cNot really,\u201d Joe denied. \u201cBut some of us didn\u2019t come back in the early hours and so were easier to get up this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s decided to reform, since he\u2019s going to be an old married man,\u201d Adam told Hoss. It wasn\u2019t often Adam had too much to drink, as he hated to lose control of himself. But the previous night, he and Hoss had spent quite a bit of time discussing Joe\u2019s upcoming marriage and both had become rather maudlin and were paying the price that morning.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam sure is jealous that I\u2019m getting married before he is, Pa,\u201d Joe stated.<\/p>\n \u201cNo I\u2019m not!\u201d Adam cried, and winced, for his head was thumping and the vehemence of his outcry made it worse.<\/p>\n \u201cThe lady doth protest too much, methinks,\u201d Joe quoted and fled the room before Adam could gather his resources.<\/p>\n \u201cI wish I\u2019d never let him read Hamlet,\u201d Adam muttered, darkly.<\/p>\n \u201cYou wanted to introduce him to Shakespeare,\u201d Ben reproved mildly. \u201cYou can\u2019t really complain if he\u2019s taken to quoting back at you, after all these years.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe not,\u201d Adam retorted, \u201cbut I\u2019m going to anyway!\u201d They all laughed.<\/p>\n *********************<\/p>\n The trip back went much more quickly than the journey there, as was to be expected. Joe seemed to lead the way the whole time, leading to more teasing from his brothers. But Ben had noticed a change in the way that both boys, but Adam in particular, treated Joe. Adam had often found it difficult to treat Joe as an adult \u2013 a problem that Ben could identify with. He had struggled with this problem with all his sons, but had overcome it successfully, for the most part. But suddenly, Adam wasn\u2019t teasing Joe as much and listened more closely to what his youngest brother had to say. In return, Joe was more relaxed in his dealings with his brother and Ben hoped that this was the beginning of a long-lasting peace between his two most stubborn sons.<\/p>\n \u201cIt ain\u2019t gonna be the same with Little Joe gettin\u2019 married, is it, Pa?\u201d Hoss asked, as he and Ben rode behind Joe and Adam, who were deep in some discussion about Joe\u2019s new house.<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Ben admitted, with a nostalgic sigh. \u201cEverything will change.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut they\u2019ll be good changes,\u201d Hoss insisted, as though Ben was arguing with him. \u201cAn\u2019 we\u2019ll git used ta them real quick, so it don\u2019t really seem like there\u2019s bin any changes.\u201d He frowned. \u201cDo that make sense?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I know what you mean,\u201d Ben replied, smiling. \u201cDawn will become a part of our lives quickly and because we like her so much, she won\u2019t seem like a stranger. Joe will still love us and be part of the family, even if he does have a family of his own.\u201d<\/p>\n The frown cleared from Hoss\u2019 brow. \u201cThat\u2019s what I meant,\u201d he agreed. \u201cI jist couldn\u2019t say it as good as you, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, we\u2019ve all been thinking the same thing, I guess,\u201d Ben told him. \u201cI\u2019m sure Adam has been thinking the same, and Joe, too. It\u2019s a big change in our life, Hoss. But a good one, as you said.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss suddenly sniffed suspiciously. \u201cDadburnit, but I wish Ma were here to see this,\u201d he announced huskily.<\/p>\n Tears suddenly filled Ben\u2019s eyes and he had to raise a hand to dash them away. \u201cSo do I,\u201d he admitted. \u201cSo do I.\u201d<\/p>\n **********************<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels so right, Adam,\u201d Joe explained as they rode along. \u201cAll those other girls \u2013 Laura, Amy, Julia Grant and Julia Bulette \u2013 I did love them, but not like this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEach love is different, Joe,\u201d Adam reminded him, having heard Ben say this many times. \u201cAnd you\u2019re older now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I know I was too young before, especially with Amy, but this is different, Adam. It feels as though Dawn is the other half of me, and I never expected love to feel like this.\u201d Joe sighed as he looked around him. \u201cI can\u2019t wait to get married, to know that she\u2019s waiting at home for me every night. I want to shout my happiness from the hilltops!\u201d<\/p>\n A pang of envy swept through Adam. He had felt the same way about Ruth Halverson, but had lost her. She had gone with the Shoshones, to save his life and he never found a trace of her ever again. Adam had grieved for her for a long time, and although life was sweet again, there were still times when Ruth\u2019s memory crept up on him unexpectedly. They could have had several children by now, he thought, wistfully. He had been older than Joe was now when he found someone to love, and sometimes it seemed to Adam that Joe had everything in life handed to him on a plate. But he brushed the unworthy thought aside. Yes, Joe\u2019s life had been different from Adam\u2019s in many ways, but the most important thing had been the same \u2013 the steadfast love of their father.<\/p>\n Reaching across the small space that separated them, Adam squeezed Joe\u2019s shoulder. Joe looked surprised, for Adam was sparing with his caresses. \u201cI\u2019m really happy for you, buddy,\u201d he told Joe, his voice rough with emotion. \u201cI hope you know that.\u201d<\/p>\n Deeply moved, Joe didn\u2019t attempt to blink away the tears that welled in his eyes. \u201cI know,\u201d he replied, simply.<\/p>\n *********************<\/p>\n Dawn\u2019s trip to Sacramento had not gone as well as she and the others had hoped. They had been robbing banks for about two years by the time Dawn met Joe. It had started out as a theoretical discussion. One of the girls had seen an article in the newspaper about a gang of bank robbers who had been caught. She challenged the other girls to come up with fool-proof ways to rob a bank. And somehow, the game had become serious. A few weeks after reading the article, the girls, heavily disguised, had robbed that very bank and escaped with almost $10,000.<\/p>\n To begin with, they were horrified at what they had done. All six girls had gone to the same girls\u2019 school in New York State and knew each other well. They all had respectable backgrounds and knew right from wrong. But when they realised that they had got away scot-free, the excitement of planning another robbery soon asserted itself and they carried on.<\/p>\n It seemed safest to the girls to move away from their home. After all, there were only so many banks to rob in New York State, and they couldn\u2019t risk being identified. Dawn\u2019s parents had both died just after the first robbery, and everyone assumed that she had been left money to live on. Some of the other girls still had parents living, and they weren\u2019t too happy at the thought of their daughters leaving for the Wild West alone, but the girls were determined, and so they went.<\/p>\n It had taken them those two years to reach Nevada, robbing banks along the way. The money they had stolen allowed them to live very comfortably indeed, and they had become greedy and over confident. And they paid the price at Sacramento.<\/p>\n Waiting for a lull in the bank traffic, the girls had entered when they thought the bank was deserted. However, they hadn\u2019t realised that there was a customer in with the manager, and he was still there when they burst in. Incensed that these villains were going to take the money he had just withdrawn, the man drew his gun and fired. Beth was hit and went down, bleeding profusely. The other girls fled, leaving her there. By the time the manager was ripping off her mask, Beth was already dead.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a girl!\u201d the manager exclaimed, looking up in disbelief at his staff.<\/p>\n \u201cI shot her,\u201d his customer stuttered. \u201cI didn\u2019t know it was a girl.\u201d<\/p>\n Later, as he repeated this to the sheriff, the sheriff replied, \u201cIt doesn\u2019t make any difference that it was a girl. She was robbing the bank and deserved everything she got!\u201d<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t take long for the news to hit the papers and the sensation of the year was soon headline news from coast to coast.<\/p>\n *******************<\/p>\n \u201cHow can she be dead?\u201d Julie demanded. The remaining five girls had locked themselves in their room in the hotel and the initial shock was beginning to wear off.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve just got to be more determined in future,\u201d Kate asserted. \u201cWe have to learn to shoot first!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn future?\u201d Val gasped. \u201cYou mean, you want to go on?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s exactly what I mean,\u201d Kate replied. \u201cWe can\u2019t give up!\u201d She gestured to Dawn. \u201cDawn needs the money to pay for her wedding dress and clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight!\u201d asserted Louise. \u201cBut we can\u2019t stay here. Let\u2019s go home and rob the bank there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn Virginia City?\u201d Dawn protested. \u201cWe can\u2019t do that! I\u2019ve got to live there for the rest of my life!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t have to,\u201d Kate told her. \u201cMarrying Joe is your choice.\u201d<\/p>\n Gazing at Kate, Dawn snapped, \u201cYes, it is my choice! All right, we\u2019ll rob the Virginia City bank.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen let\u2019s go buy your dress and get the next stage home,\u201d Louise suggested. \u201cAfter all, we can\u2019t go back empty handed, can we?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, we could,\u201d retorted Val. \u201cBut since we\u2019re here\u2026\u201d She grinned at the others.<\/p>\n As they pinned on their hats, it didn\u2019t occur to any of the girls that they were acting like the hardened criminals they had become.<\/p>\n ********************<\/p>\n \u201cHi, honey!\u201d Joe cried as Dawn opened the door for him. The grin ran away from his face as he observed Dawn\u2019s red eyes. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d he demanded, anxiously. \u201cWhat\u2019s happened?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIts Beth,\u201d Dawn answered, her mouth trembling. \u201cShe went missing when we were in Sacramento.\u201d She gulped. \u201cShe\u2019s dead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so sorry,\u201d Joe muttered. He followed Dawn inside and shut the door behind him. \u201cHow\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t know,\u201d Dawn replied. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to know.\u201d<\/p>\n They had reported Beth missing when they were leaving Sacramento, telling the sheriff there that she had been meeting her boyfriend and hadn\u2019t come back for the stage. The sheriff, realising that the description of Beth fitted his bank robber, had just told the girls she was dead.<\/p>\n \u201cI see,\u201d Joe mumbled. He assumed from Dawn\u2019s statement that Beth had been raped and murdered. He reached out and pulled Dawn to him, wrapping his arms tightly around her. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry, sweetheart.\u201d<\/p>\n Snuggling into Joe\u2019s shoulder, Dawn sighed. \u201cSo am I,\u201d she replied. \u201cHer body was sent back east and the funeral was today.\u201d It had been much harder for them to come back to the house than they had expected, but they had all had a good cry and were feeling better. \u201cHow did your trip go?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery well,\u201d Joe replied, feeling the grin creeping back. \u201cWe got a good price for the herd and we didn\u2019t lose a single one on the way!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m pleased for you, Joe,\u201d Dawn assured him. She looked closely at her fianc\u00e9 for the first time and saw the dark shadows under his eyes, and the slightly thinner cheeks. \u201cYou look tired, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am, a bit,\u201d Joe admitted. \u201cSleeping on the ground for weeks on end is tiring.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you go home and get some rest?\u201d Dawn suggested. \u201cThis isn\u2019t a good time for you to be here, as it happens. We\u2019re doing girly things for the wedding.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can take a hint,\u201d Joe smiled. He bent his head to kiss her. \u201cSee you later.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI love you,\u201d Dawn called, as Joe mounted up.<\/p>\n \u201cI love you, too,\u201d he called back and waved as he trotted away.<\/p>\n \u201cAbout time, too,\u201d Kate said, tartly as Dawn went back into the living room. \u201cThis dress will never be ready if you spend all your time mooning over Joe Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n ********************<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019 expect ya back so quick, Shortshanks,\u201d Hoss noted, as Joe led Cochise into the barn. \u201cI thought you an\u2019 Dawn would be whisperin\u2019 sweet nuthins in each other\u2019s ears all night.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe laughed. \u201cI had planned on doing that very thing, big brother,\u201d he agreed. \u201cBut Dawn and the others were doing \u2018girly stuff\u2019 for the wedding and I can take a hint as well as the next man!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s gettin\u2019 ya real well trained already, seems ta me,\u201d Hoss teased him. He clapped Joe on the shoulder and almost knocked him over. However, Joe was used to such buffeting and didn\u2019t say anything.<\/p>\n \u201cTrained,\u201d Joe scoffed. \u201cSure; right; uh-huh.\u201d He carried on unsaddling his horse. \u201cDid you hear that, Coochie? He thinks Dawn is getting me trained.\u201d He shot an amused glance over his shoulder at his big brother and best friend.<\/p>\n \u201cSerious, Joe,\u201d Hoss ventured. \u201cI\u2019m real glad you an\u2019 Dawn is gettin\u2019 hitched. She\u2019s a real nice girl.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Hoss,\u201d Joe replied, touched.<\/p>\n \u201cIts gonna seem some strange,\u201d Hoss went on. \u201cHavin\u2019 a gal livin\u2019 with us. But we\u2019ll git used ta it real quick. An\u2019 soon ya\u2019ll have a home o\u2019 yer own, an\u2019 that\u2019ll seem strange at first, too.\u201d Joe had stopped moving by now and was gazing at Hoss intently as his brother struggled his way through what he had to say. \u201cAdam an\u2019 me, we\u2019re real happy fer ya, Joe. Ya\u2019ll make a great pa some day, too, I jist know ya will.\u201d Running out of words, Hoss decided to show Joe how he felt instead. He reached out and pulled his younger brother into a bear hug.<\/p>\n They never knew how long they stood there like that, but when they finally did break apart, Joe wasn\u2019t the only one with wet eyes. \u201cThanks,\u201d Joe croaked. \u201cI love you, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWatchin\u2019 ya standin\u2019 up there at the alter,\u201d Hoss said, \u201cwill be the proudest day o\u2019 ma life!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMine, too,\u201d Joe agreed. \u201cMine, too, big brother.\u201d<\/p>\n ******************<\/p>\n Time moved on inexorably towards the wedding date. Joe\u2019s new suit was finished and hanging in his wardrobe. He was spending the evenings breaking in his new pair of boots so that they would be comfortable for dancing after the wedding ceremony. He endured a few jibes from his family, but they didn\u2019t last long; they were all soon engaged on the same activity!<\/p>\n Everything seemed sharper to Joe during this time. He relished being alone with his family, knowing that soon the family dynamic would be changing. It was bittersweet, because Joe was longing to get married and have Dawn sitting with him at the breakfast table, yet he would miss the times when it was just he and his family. Every moment seemed more precious.<\/p>\n Ben finally cornered Joe alone by the corral one evening. He had been trying to have some time alone with Joe for a few days, but the boys\u2019 excitement over the wedding had prevented Ben from managing this. However, a discreet word with Adam and Hoss had finally netted the result he wanted.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe?\u201d<\/p>\n Turning, Joe smiled at his father as he stopped petting Cochise. The horse pushed him with his nose, and Joe automatically began stroking his horse again, although his attention was on Ben. \u201cHi, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not interrupting, am I?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, of course not,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cI was just daydreaming.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I wonder what about?\u201d Ben teased. Joe laughed. \u201cI wanted a word with you, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n In the past, those words would have made Joe tense up and demand to know what he\u2019d done wrong. Not this time. Joe\u2019s smile was still on his face and he nodded. \u201cGo on.\u201d<\/p>\n Now that the time had come to start, Ben wasn\u2019t sure what he wanted to say. \u201cJoe, I just want you to know how happy I am for you. I never thought you would be the first of my sons to marry, but I\u2019m delighted. I like Dawn very much.\u201d He paused for a moment. \u201cAnd I think your mother would have liked her, too.\u201d<\/p>\n Tears suddenly sprang into Joe\u2019s eyes. \u201cDo you really think so?\u201d he whispered. \u201cI\u2019ve wondered.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t say it if I didn\u2019t think so,\u201d Ben told him. He moved to drape his arm around Joe\u2019s shoulders. He felt a lump in his throat. \u201cJoe, I so wish your mother was here to see you getting married. I\u2019m sure she\u2019s giving you her blessing from heaven, but it\u2019s not the same as her being here. I know I\u2019ll feel the same when the time comes for Adam and Hoss to get married.\u201d He had to pause to get his voice under control. \u201cBut I know your mother would be as proud of you as I am, Joe. You\u2019ve grown into a fine man.\u201d<\/p>\n For a moment, Ben thought Joe wasn\u2019t going to speak. But then Joe cleared his throat. \u201cThat\u2019s the only thing missing,\u201d he whispered. \u201cMama. I can barely remember her face without her picture in my hand, and mostly I can\u2019t remember her voice, or her perfume. But over the last few weeks, it\u2019s as though I saw her just the other day. I can almost feel her with me. Does that make sense, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, it makes sense to me,\u201d Ben agreed. \u201cYour mother has seemed closer to all of us lately. I\u2019m not sure why. But we were only a complete family \u2013 all of us together \u2013 when your mother was alive. Don\u2019t get me wrong, Joe, I\u2019m not saying that you, me and your brothers aren\u2019t a complete family, because we are. Adam never knew his mother, and Hoss never knew his. The only mother that all three of you knew was yours. That gives her a special bond to us all. Right now, its not Elizabeth or Inger that Adam and Hoss are missing; it\u2019s Marie.\u201d<\/p>\n The tears that had been in Joe\u2019s eyes now spilled down his cheeks. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to admit how much I wanted Mama to be here,\u201d he croaked. \u201cI didn\u2019t want it to seem that I wasn\u2019t totally happy. I am, Pa. But I want Mama here, too.\u201d He looked at Ben. \u201cWill I always feel like this when something special happens?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I think you will,\u201d Ben nodded. \u201cBut this feeling won\u2019t dampen your happiness. You\u2019ll think of your mother at special times, and that\u2019s only right. Don\u2019t let the memory of your loss spoil your joy in what\u2019s happening now. You\u2019ve moved on from her death, as we all have. But at times like this, when something momentous happens, it\u2019s natural to think of her. But remember, son; she wanted you to be happy. She\u2019ll be watching over you during the ceremony, I\u2019m sure.\u201d Tears sparkled in his eyes, too. He missed Marie more fiercely at this time than he had done for many years.<\/p>\n \u201cI love you, Pa,\u201d Joe said, and threw his arms around his father.<\/p>\n Closing his arms around his son, Ben rested his cheek against that curly head and a wealth of memories flooded over him. The pang of loss was never totally overcome, but Ben was glad he had had a chance to talk to Joe. He was ready, now, to let his son move on.<\/p>\n ********************<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll pick up the mail,\u201d Joe said over breakfast a few days later. \u201cI have a few things to do in town anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll right,\u201d Ben agreed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you have to do?\u201d Adam asked, curiously.<\/p>\n A smile broke over Joe\u2019s face. \u201cI have to collect the wedding ring,\u201d he replied. \u201cAnd I want to put a down payment on that stove for the house.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood thinking,\u201d Adam approved, as though he had final say on Joe\u2019s activities. \u201cIt would be good if the stove got here about the time the house is finished.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I thought so, too,\u201d Joe agreed. \u201cHow\u2019s the timber cutting coming along?\u201d The timber operation was Adam\u2019s concern, but Joe was eager to know how long it would be before his house could be started.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry, Joe,\u201d Adam replied, with a patronising tone in his voice. \u201cThe timber for your house will be cut in time. We\u2019ll get started building after the wedding, like I promised!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGlad to hear it,\u201d Joe retorted. He pushed his chair back. \u201cAnything else you need in town, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, son, nothing,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cOff you go.\u201d As Joe rose, he asked, \u201cHave you got enough money?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Pa,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cI\u2019ve got it saved up. I just have to go to the bank and draw it out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n Grinning, Joe nodded. \u201cQuite sure, Pa,\u201d he replied, patiently. \u201cI\u2019m a big boy now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGet out of here!\u201d Ben scolded.<\/p>\n \u201cSee you later,\u201d Joe called as he grabbed his jacket and gun belt and popped his hat on.<\/p>\n \u201cI wish Joe would learn not to bang the door,\u201d Ben commented, as the front door slammed resoundingly behind his youngest.<\/p>\n \u201cI think you might have to admit defeat on that one, Pa,\u201d Adam commented ruefully. \u201cOr else leave it to Dawn!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh,\u201d Hoss interjected, \u201cbut will she be able to make him keep his feet off the table?\u201d<\/p>\n They all laughed. \u201cSomehow, I have my doubts,\u201d Ben commented.<\/p>\n ***************<\/p>\n The ride into town passed in a welter of excited thoughts for Joe. One week from today, he thought, and we\u2019ll have been married for 24 hours! A grin began to spread over his face and he wondered if he would have time to pop in and visit Dawn. He hadn\u2019t seen as much of her since he came home as he would have liked, thanks to the pressure of work on the ranch.<\/p>\n Arriving in town, Joe hitched Cochise outside the bank, and headed up to the goldsmith\u2019s shop first. The wedding ring had been paid for when Joe bought Dawn her engagement ring and it only required to be collected. The goldsmith greeted him pleasantly and brought out the ring for Joe to admire. Although the ring was just a plain band of gold, Joe had had the smith engrave their initials and the date of their wedding on the inside of the ring. Joe was pleased with it and tucked the little jeweller\u2019s box securely into his inside jacket pocket before he went back into the street. He didn\u2019t want to lose it!<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s next stop was to collect the mail and he spent some time chatting to Rudi, the clerk, who always knew all the town gossip and never hesitated to pass it on. But Joe\u2019s attention wasn\u2019t on the stories of who was seeing who and who had dumped who. He was impatient to get on with his business, and with a final smile at Rudi, he made his escape.<\/p>\n His next stop was the bank, where he was going to withdraw the money to put a down payment on the stove that he and Dawn wanted from a company back east. Joe just hoped that they would be able to get the one that they wanted. They had seen it in a catalogue and it was the latest design and, according to Cameron at the store, was selling like hotcakes back east.<\/p>\n There were several other horses hitched beside Cochise at the bank, but Joe didn\u2019t think anything of it. The bank was usually quite busy. He patted his jacket pocket, where the mail now resided next to the ring, and smiled when he felt the slight bulge there. Whistling cheerfully, Joe opened the bank door and went in.<\/p>\n ********************<\/p>\n He froze, half way into the bank as a masked man turned a rifle on him. Someone gave him a shove and Joe stumbled forward a step and heard the door close behind him. The manager and cashiers were huddled against the far wall, while two other men kept them covered and a fifth man emptied the safe. There were no other customers in the bank. Joe slowly raised his hands and felt his gun being lifted from his holster.<\/p>\n No one spoke. Joe looked around, sensing something odd about the situation. Frowning, he glanced at the man in front of him, and realised how small he was. Suddenly it dawned on Joe; these were kids robbing the bank! That explained why they were all so small and thin. They were just kids.<\/p>\n Looking at them with this in mind, Joe guessed that they might well be more dangerous than older, more experienced bank robbers would be. \u201cTie him up,\u201d instructed a youth with a half-broken voice that Joe found somehow familiar.<\/p>\n The youth with the rifle put it aside and drew a length of rawhide from his pocket. He went over to Joe and motioned for him to put his hands together. Reluctantly, Joe complied, reflecting that the youth didn\u2019t want to speak so that he didn\u2019t betray himself. But for all that the boy was young, he knew about knots as he tightened the rawhide around Joe\u2019s wrists. Joe tried not to wince aloud and hoped that the boys would soon be through robbing the bank so that someone could untie him.<\/p>\n With Joe\u2019s hands securely bound, the youth picked up his rifle again. \u201cCome on,\u201d growled the one with the half-broken voice. \u201cHurry up and let\u2019s get out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n Frowning, Joe knew that he knew that voice. Where had he heard the speaker before? It would be an important clue for Roy when it came to hunting these youths down. He was still wracking his brains when the youth who had been rifling the safe straightened up.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d growled the leader and they all began to back towards the door, keeping the bank staff and Joe covered.<\/p>\n Looking at them all once, more trying to memorise their general appearances, Joe made eye contact with the youth who had been rifling the safe. He gasped audibly and took a step towards them. He would know those velvety brown eyes anywhere.<\/p>\n \u201cDawn!\u201d he gasped.<\/p>\n Instantly, the youth with the rough voice cocked his gun and Joe suddenly realised where he had heard that voice before and knew that he knew the identity of all five bank robbers. He took another step forward, and Kate grabbed his arm, putting the gun against his temple.<\/p>\n \u201cGag him!\u201d she ordered and Joe looked at Dawn with horrified disbelief as she dragged the bandanna from Joe\u2019s own pocket and gagged him tightly, avoiding his eyes all the time. \u201cWe\u2019re taking Joe with us,\u201d Kate told the bank staff. \u201cAnyone makes a move to come after us and he\u2019s a goner, got it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got it,\u201d the manager replied in disgust.<\/p>\n The girls dragged a stunned Joe outside, where there was a sudden outcry as people in the street realised what was going on. They surged forward, only to fall back as Kate once more brandished her gun alongside Joe\u2019s head.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re taking you with us,\u201d Kate told Joe. \u201cGet onto your horse!\u201d She helped him on, used one rein to quickly tie his hands to the saddle horn, then mounted her own horse, grabbing Joe\u2019s remaining rein and leading him after them as they galloped out of the town.<\/p>\n The door to the bank burst open and the manager hurried out. \u201cGet the sheriff!\u201d he yelled. \u201cThey robbed the bank and have taken Joe Cartwright hostage!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Next Story in the Betrothed, Betrayer and Betrayed Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nPart 2<\/a><\/p>\n