Summary: \u00a0This story came about following a discussion on what we would change on certain episodes.\u00a0 I decided to take up the challenge for Death at Dawn.<\/p>\n
Rated:\u00a0 T (7,060 words)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Death Withheld – An alternative look at \u2018Death At Dawn\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll come with you to see the judge to the stage, Pa,\u201d Joe Cartwright announced.<\/p>\n Frowning, Ben Cartwright turned to look at his youngest son and saw the utter determination on Joe\u2019s face. Joe had been very calm and mature in the way he had behaved following the murder of Cameron, the store-keeper and the subsequent trial of Farmer Perkins. Now, Perkins was in the jail, waiting to hang at dawn and then there would be no further need for the Cartwrights to act as deputies. \u201cI can manage, Joe,\u201d he rebuked his son, mildly.<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Joe replied and smiled slightly. \u201cBut I think we still ought to be careful, at least until Farmer Perkins is hanged. Sam Bryant might try something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe\u2019s right, Pa,\u201d Adam agreed. In the jail house yard, the monotonous sound of hammering was beginning to get on everyone\u2019s nerves. But the gallows had to be ready for 5 am, and the carpenter had no choice but to work through the night.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m only going over to the stage stop,\u201d Ben protested, exasperated.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but it\u2019s why yer goin\u2019 ta the stage stop that interests us,\u201d Hoss interjected. \u201cYer goin\u2019 ta make sure the judge is all right, ain\u2019t ya?\u201d<\/p>\n Opening his mouth to protest that this was not the case, Ben hastily thought better of saying that and closed his mouth again, for it was quite true. He was worried about Judge Scribner reaching the stage stop in safety. Who knew what kind of revenge Sam Bryant and his men might have in mind? \u201cI\u2019ll be fine,\u201d Ben said, instead.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it would be wise, Pa,\u201d Adam persisted. \u201cPerhaps not Joe going with you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was my idea, Adam,\u201d Joe interrupted. \u201cAnd I\u2019m going with Pa, no matter what any of you say.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll right,\u201d Ben capitulated. \u201cBut I\u2019m sure nothing will happen. We\u2019ll all be perfectly safe.\u201d He nodded. \u201cAll right, Joe, let\u2019s go.\u201d Ben opened the door for the judge and the three men went out onto the hostile street.<\/p>\n *********************************<\/p>\n There were quite a few people milling about the streets in a state of high excitement. Ben thought that he would have been quite safe going with the judge on his own, but he could understand his sons\u2019 worries. As he had expected, there were a few people waiting for the weekly stage to Sacramento.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be fine now, Ben,\u201d the judge assured him. \u201cYou and Joe go off and do whatever it is you have to do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re sure,\u201d Ben replied.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m quite sure,\u201d the judge smiled. He shook hands with both the Cartwrights. \u201cGoodbye, Ben, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood bye, sir,\u201d Joe replied and he walked across the street with Ben a step or two in front him.<\/p>\n It was growing dark. The people who had been on the street were gradually disappearing and it was much quieter, apart from the noise coming from the saloons. Ben had never been able to fathom why people treating hangings like a party. He hated to have to watch a hanging and he had never done as some parents did, and forced his young sons to watch one.<\/p>\n Ben was so lost in his musings that the attack caught him completely by surprise. He had the vague impression of someone jumping at him from out of the alleyway and then something crashed down onto his head. As he tumbled to the ground, Ben heard Joe cry out his name just before darkness overwhelmed him.<\/p>\n Stunned by the attack, Joe jumped forward, heedless of his own safety. \u201cHey!\u201d he protested. He was grabbed from behind and a couple of fists thumped into his stomach in quick succession. A hand was clapped roughly over his mouth and his arms were twisted up behind his back.<\/p>\n There was movement in the street and one of the men who had grabbed Joe jerked his head towards the alley. \u201cLeave the old man,\u201d he decided. \u201cWe don\u2019t want them catching us.\u201d<\/p>\n Still struggling hopelessly, Joe was dragged away into the covering darkness.<\/p>\n ******************************<\/p>\n A confused babble of voices brought Ben back to consciousness. He groaned as pain radiated through his skull and a hand touched his arm. \u201cPa, can you hear me?\u201d The voice was Adam\u2019s.<\/p>\n Slowly, Ben forced his eyes to open and looked into Adam\u2019s worried brown eyes. \u201cI\u2019m all right,\u201d he gasped, but another groan belied his words. He looked around him and discovered that he was in the jail again, and the sheriff was ushering a crowd of people out of the door. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were attacked by some of Bryant\u2019s men,\u201d Adam reported, his voice tense.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember,\u201d Ben sighed, and closed his eyes for a moment, hoping that the banging in his head would settle down. It took him a moment to realise that the worst of the banging was coming from the yard outside. With that realisation came memory. \u201cWhere\u2019s Joe?\u201d he asked, opening his eyes and trying to sit up.<\/p>\n \u201cTake it easy, Pa,\u201d Hoss urged, preventing Ben from sitting up. But his tone had told Ben everything he needed to know and he gazed at his two sons with growing dread in his heart.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve got Joe, haven\u2019t they?\u201d he demanded and Adam reluctantly nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cWe think so,\u201d he clarified. \u201cJoe was grabbed by the three men who attacked you and hasn\u2019t been seen since.\u201d<\/p>\n Too shaken to speak, Ben lay back down. Where was Joe? What did Bryant intend to do with him? He looked up to meet the worried gazes of his sons. Bryant had said that they would pay for convicting Perkins. Ben hadn\u2019t liked to believe it; now he had to.<\/p>\n **************************<\/p>\n Fighting every step of the way, Joe was dragged through the deserted back streets of the town to the abandoned livery stable. The men opened the door and once inside, threw Joe to the floor. He just barely caught himself before he sprawled flat on his face and pushed himself into a sitting position, taking in the scene before him.<\/p>\n Sitting at a table was Sam Bryant. That was no surprise to Joe. He looked at the men who had brought him there and found that he recognised them all. There was McNeill, a bully a few years older than Joe and Bertram and Turner, both of whom were particularly close to Bryant.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy did you bring him?\u201d Bryant asked, looking at Bertram. \u201cI thought we agreed you\u2019d get the old man.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe knocked him out, but the boy was there, too,\u201d Bertram explained. \u201cHe shouted and we saw someone coming so we took him instead. Does it matter? He\u2019s a Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n Rising, Bryant walked over to Joe. When Joe tried to rise, McNeill kicked him back down. Bryant smiled. \u201cMaybe this is for the best,\u201d he mused aloud, looking down at Joe. \u201cThe old man would have been good, but could be the boy will be a better hostage. You can take a note over to the jail. Let\u2019s see how keen Ben Cartwright is on hanging Farmer Perkins when his son\u2019s life is at risk.\u201d He gestured. \u201cTie him up.\u201d<\/p>\n Determined not to be tied, Joe leapt to his feet and made a break for the door. McNeill was on him in a moment, knocking Joe off his feet and pummelling him with verve. Joe had no chance. It was only when he was lying still, gasping for breath, that McNeill dragged his hands behind his back and tied them brutally tightly. He then bound Joe\u2019s feet and dragged him across to one of the stalls, where he threw Joe down in a heap.<\/p>\n As the aching in his body subsided slightly, Joe looked over his shoulder and was disconcerted to see Bryant looking down at him. \u201cYou\u2019d better hope your daddy loves you, boy,\u201d Bryant warned. \u201cOr else you\u2019re going to die very young.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa will do what\u2019s right,\u201d Joe retorted. \u201cPerkins will hang.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if he does, then so will you,\u201d Bryant smiled. \u201cOf course, I may have to give him an added incentive to insure his cooperation.\u201d He reached out and picked Joe up by the lapel of his vest. \u201cHow much can you take before you\u2019re begging your father to release Perkins?\u201d<\/p>\n Swallowing against the sudden dryness in his mouth, Joe hoped that he was able to hide his fear. \u201cI can take anything you can dish out,\u201d he boasted.<\/p>\n Laughing at Joe\u2019s bravado, Bryant dropped him back into the straw and walked away. Joe watched him writing on a piece of paper and started to work the bonds that bound his wrists behind him. He had to get free!<\/p>\n ******************************<\/p>\n A quick but thorough scout around the main parts of town hadn\u2019t turned up any sign of Joe. Discouraged, Adam and Hoss headed back to the jail, where they found Ben looking slightly better. The sheriff let them in and quickly barred the door behind them.<\/p>\n \u201cNo sign,\u201d Adam reported, dropping into a chair.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019re we gonna do?\u201d Hoss asked, hitching one hip onto the edge of the sheriff\u2019s desk.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to know that too,\u201d Sheriff Biggs agreed, as he came over and sat down. \u201cAre you still set on hanging the farmer?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe have no choice,\u201d Ben replied, tonelessly. \u201cIf we don\u2019t, then we tell everyone that they can murder with impunity.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut what about Little Joe?\u201d Hoss demanded, his face aghast. \u201cWhat\u2019ll they do to him if\u2019n Perkins hangs?\u201d<\/p>\n The anguish on Ben\u2019s face was an answer of sorts. He didn\u2019t know what the real answer was though, but he feared the worst. Yet how could he back down now? He had persuaded Beth Cameron to testify on the strength of his promise that Perkins would hang if she did. Could he now renege on his promise? He didn\u2019t want to sacrifice Joe, but nor could he exchange Joe for Beth. Ben was under no illusions that Beth would be safe if Perkins was let free. \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cBut we can\u2019t afford to back down.\u201d<\/p>\n Troubled, but unable to contradict his father, Adam looked away. \u201cBesides, we still don\u2019t know for sure that they have Joe,\u201d he muttered, trying to be optimistic.<\/p>\n The sudden pounding on the door startled them all and they all reached for weapons. Rising, Biggs went to stand cautiously to one side of the door. \u201cWho is it?\u201d he called. There was no response.<\/p>\n Carefully, Biggs opened the door and peered around it. The street was deserted, but he could clearly hear the laughter from the saloon. As he started to step back in, he glanced down and saw something lying by the door. Crouching, he retrieved the bundle, took it inside and locked the door again.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it?\u201d Adam asked. He reached for the bundle and then his heart skipped a beat and his hand froze in mid-air, for he had recognised Joe\u2019s tan vest with the deputy\u2019s badge still attached to it.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d Ben queried and rose as he saw how pale his son had become. At once, he recognised Joe\u2019s vest, too. Hoss swallowed audibly.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a note,\u201d Biggs announced and picked it up. \u201cRelease Farmer Perkins and you will get your son back alive. If you don\u2019t, your son will hang.\u201d<\/p>\n The silence in the office was profound, broken only by the regular, monotonous beat of the hammer in the yard where they were building the gallows.<\/p>\n **************************<\/p>\n As McNeill advanced towards him with a knife, Joe glared at him defiantly. They had never got on at school and McNeill had thoroughly enjoyed making Joe\u2019s life a misery. He had bullied the younger boy relentlessly, goading Joe into numerous fights. Joe was still wary of him when they met, but he was determined not to show any fear, despite the large knife that McNeill was wielding.<\/p>\n \u201cGonna give yer pa a present, Joe,\u201d McNeill crooned, sticking the knife under Joe\u2019s chin. \u201cWhat d\u2019ya think? A finger, maybe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou won\u2019t make him back down,\u201d Joe retorted, pleased that there was no betraying quiver in his voice. \u201cPerkins is going to hang. Bryant isn\u2019t in charge of this town any more.\u201d<\/p>\n Furious at the lack of fear, McNeill dealt Joe a savage backhand slap. The blow knocked the bound man over and Joe bit his tongue and felt the coppery taste of blood. Before he could recover his breath, he found himself hauled upright, with McNeill looming over him, the knife poised. \u201cDon\u2019t say that, boy!\u201d he hissed. \u201cSam Bryant is in charge of this town and don\u2019t ya forget it! If Perkins hangs, ya\u2019ll hang and I\u2019m gonna be the one to do it.\u201d He shook Joe harder. \u201cYa better be careful, boy, it\u2019s a few hours till dawn. Who knows what fun I could have with ya before then?\u201d He brought the knife up into Joe\u2019s line of vision and pressed the blade against Joe\u2019s cheek. \u201cMaybe ya won\u2019t be so pretty when I\u2019m finished with ya!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMcNeill.\u201d The voice was disapproving. Only when his tormentor turned his head did Joe allow his gaze to meet Bryant\u2019s. \u201cNot yet,\u201d Bryant reproved him. \u201cI just need his vest. Now hurry up. The sooner Cartwright gets this message, the sooner the farmer will be freed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll right, Sam,\u201d McNeill agreed, sulkily. He slid the blade of the knife under Joe\u2019s vest, not caring that the cutting edge also slid through the thin material of Joe\u2019s grey shirt and cut the skin below. The cuts were superficial, but they burned all the same. Joe bit the inside of his cheek to keep from crying out. McNeill looked disappointed as he slit through the suede. He repeated the manoeuvre on the other side of Joe\u2019s vest, and again, Joe kept quiet. As the remains of his vest were torn from his back, Joe kept his head up and his gaze on McNeill. He was determined not to show the fear he felt worming through his belly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWill he go through with it?\u201d Adam asked. \u201cI don\u2019t think he will. I think he\u2019ll realise that if we have hanged Perkins anyway, he\u2019d be foolish to hang Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what if yer wrong, Adam?\u201d Hoss asked. They had been discussing the matter endlessly, the cut up remains of Joe\u2019s vest lying on the sheriff\u2019s desk in a silent reminder of his peril.<\/p>\n \u201cLook, we\u2019ve never seen Bryant doing his own dirty work,\u201d Adam explained. \u201cHe usually gets someone like Perkins to do it for him, doesn\u2019t he? But something like this? He can\u2019t afford to let someone else do it. He has to go through with it himself and I think he\u2019s too clever for that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t know how ruthless he is,\u201d Ben commented. \u201cHe commands a lot of respect, but how does he get that respect in the first place? For all we know, he does it by over powering somebody.\u201d He looked up and met Adam\u2019s dark gaze. \u201cHe may think that Joe wouldn\u2019t be hard to intimidate, since he\u2019s young.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss snorted. \u201cThen he don\u2019t know Joe too well, do he?\u201d he remarked and they smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cTrue,\u201d Ben agreed. He tried to put himself into Bryant\u2019s shoes, but couldn\u2019t do it. He couldn\u2019t imagine threatening to kill someone to have a murderer set free.<\/p>\n \u201cSo what are we going to do?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n \u201cHang Perkins,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cAnd look for Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n The ropes were loosening. Joe kept his movements as small as he could as he battled free of the ropes. His wrists were bleeding, but that didn\u2019t matter to Joe. All that mattered was that he was finally making some progress towards getting away. There was an open window at the back of the stall he was lying in and although it was small, Joe was sure he could get through it. The last loops fell from his hands and Joe lay still, glancing towards Bryant, who chose that moment to rise and walk out of Joe\u2019s sight. Frantically, Joe wrestled with the ropes that bound his feet and they came loose easily. Not wasting any more time, Joe scrambled to the back of the stall and jumped for the window.<\/p>\n \u201cHey!\u201d The cry told Joe that he had been spotted at once, but he paid no heed and wriggled with all his might. The space was tight and he felt his shirt ripping as he squeezed his shoulders through, but the cost in torn skin was worth it to him as he fell to the ground outside, rolling to absorb the impact.<\/p>\n Springing to his feet, Joe glanced both ways before turning to the right and running off. He heard pounding footsteps behind him, but he didn\u2019t risk a glance over his shoulder. That way could easily lead to a fall.<\/p>\n Veering left, Joe raced full speed along the next alley. If he could just keep ahead of his pursuers, he could make it back to the main street where he would be safe. Joe stumbled, but caught himself, panting, resisting the temptation to see how close his captors were.<\/p>\n From ahead, Joe could suddenly hear other footsteps. He didn\u2019t know who the person was, but reasoned that it was as likely to be someone he could trust as someone he couldn\u2019t trust. He ran towards the sound.<\/p>\n As Sheriff Biggs came into view, Joe felt overwhelming relief course through his veins. He was safe! \u201cSheriff!\u201d he cried and felt something slam into his shoulder, knocking him off his feet.<\/p>\n The echo of the thud as he hit the ground was quickly followed by a shot. Lifting his head, Joe was horrified to see the sheriff fall to the ground, unmoving. He tried to get to his feet, but pain was radiating outwards from his shoulder. Joe felt rough hands grab him and he struggled weakly to get free. He was dragged quickly back the way he had come and a gag was thrust into his mouth as his hands were twisted up his back. Something was ripped from his shoulder and the pain was so intense that Joe almost blacked out. He was barely conscious as he was hurriedly dragged back to the stable and the gag was removed.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you thought you could escape did you, boy?\u201d Bryant sneered, forcing Joe\u2019s chin up. \u201cI can see we\u2019ll have to watch you!\u201d He let go of Joe. \u201cTie him up again and this time do it properly,\u201d he ordered. \u201cAnd we\u2019ll try the noose out for size while we\u2019re at it.\u201d<\/p>\n Waves of pain lapped at Joe\u2019s consciousness as his hands were tied roughly behind him again. Once they were further secured by a rope going around his waist and back over his bound hands, Joe was dragged over to a pile of boxes and forced to climb them. He stood, wavering, on the top and Bryant climbed onto a chair and fitted a noose over his head, tightening it around his neck.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a good fit, boy,\u201d Bryant sneered. He peered into Joe\u2019s face, taking satisfaction from the pain he could see etched there. \u201cHow does it feel?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa won\u2019t back down,\u201d Joe croaked. His head was reeling and something warm was trickling down his back. Joe knew he was bleeding badly.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he will,\u201d Bryant insisted and Joe almost asked him why he thought he knew Joe\u2019s father better than Joe did. But the effort of framing the question was too much for him. He stood quiescent as the noose was loosened again and then McNeill dragged him down from the boxes, allowing him to fall to the floor. The impact hurt his shoulder anew and he couldn\u2019t prevent a cry from escaping his lips.<\/p>\n Dragging Joe across the floor to the stall once more, McNeill knelt to tie his feet together. This time, he threaded the end of the rope through the metal ring set into the wall that was intended to keep horses from straying and then tied it around Joe\u2019s ankles again. There would be no escape. \u201cYa made me look like a fool, boy,\u201d McNeill hissed as he knelt by Joe on the pretext that he was checking the rope that bound his hands. \u201cBut I got even with ya.\u201d He held up his Bowie knife. \u201cI knew what I was doin\u2019 an\u2019 the sheriff ain\u2019t gonna be tellin\u2019 yore daddy where ya are!\u201d<\/p>\n Left alone, Joe closed his eyes. The pain in his shoulder had abated slightly now that he was no longer moving and he didn\u2019t feel so dizzy lying down. A movement on the periphery of his vision made Joe look that way.<\/p>\n The noose swung backwards and forwards, a constant reminder of his fate.<\/p>\n *****************************<\/p>\n The cry of \u201cSheriff!\u201d echoed faintly through the streets, but Adam recognised the voice at once. He spun around and began to run towards the voice and was shocked when he heard a shot. Adam forced his feet to move faster, but he knew that he would be too late. There was no return of fire. Gun drawn, he barrelled round the corner and saw Biggs sprawled on the ground. Blood poured from his chest.<\/p>\n There was no one else in sight, and Adam cautiously holstered his gun before kneeling by the sheriff. Biggs was still alive, but he was gravely wounded. Adam looked up, wondering what would be best to do, when he heard footsteps and moments later, Hoss panted into view.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam! Are ya all right?\u201d Hoss gasped.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d Adam replied. \u201cBut Biggs is hurt. We need to get him to Doc Martin.\u201d He helped Hoss to pick Biggs up, evoking a groan from the injured man. \u201cI heard Joe\u2019s voice,\u201d he added. \u201cJust before the shot. I thought\u2026\u201d Adam couldn\u2019t go on, but Hoss knew what he had thought.<\/p>\n \u201cYa thought it were Joe what was hit, didn\u2019 ya?\u201d he asked, gently.<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Adam nodded. \u201cThere was no sign of him, but I couldn\u2019t leave Biggs to look.\u201d The anguish was clear in Adam\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n \u201cCourse ya couldn\u2019,\u201d Hoss agreed. He walked steadily towards the doctor\u2019s house, but his thoughts were with his younger brother.<\/p>\n *********************************<\/p>\n \u201cThis is bad news,\u201d Ben commented, as Adam finished his report. Biggs would live, but he was going to be out of action for some time to come. Ben\u2019s eyes drifted to the clock. It was almost 4 am. Perkins was due to hang in an hour and Joe was still missing. Ben clenched his jaw and swallowed hard to fight down the fear that threatened to rise up and overwhelm him. Much as Ben desperately wanted to let Perkins go and get Joe back, he knew that he didn\u2019t dare risk doing so. Virginia City would become a lawless desert if he did.<\/p>\n \u201cHow are you feeling, Pa?\u201d Adam asked. Ben had regained a lot of his colour and looked much better to Adam\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine, son, thank you,\u201d Ben replied, rather distractedly. He rose and walked over to the door that separated them from the cells.<\/p>\n As he had expected, Perkins was awake, slumped on the narrow cot. \u201cTime is running out,\u201d Ben told him, coldly. \u201cDo you want to see a preacher?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI killed a preacher once in Kansas,\u201d Perkins responded, rising and coming to stand close to the bars. \u201cFor preachin\u2019 at me!\u201d He laughed, the irritating giggle making Ben want to strike him. \u201cWhere\u2019s yore boy, Cartwright? Ain\u2019t seen him. Could it be that Sam\u2019s got him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got less than an hour left,\u201d Ben replied, ignoring the question. \u201cIf I were you, I\u2019d make my peace with God.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you ain\u2019t me,\u201d Perkins sneered. \u201cSam ain\u2019t gonna let me hang. I don\u2019t have nuthin\u2019 ta worry about.\u201d He giggled again.<\/p>\n Silently, Ben left the cells, closing the door behind him. Perkins smirked to himself as he sat back down on the cot.<\/p>\n *************************<\/p>\n \u201cWhere do you think you\u2019re going, Turner?\u201d Bryant demanded loudly.<\/p>\n Jolted out of the light doze he had fallen into, Joe craned his neck to peer around the stall partition. The way he had been tied, his feet were slightly raised in the air, and he couldn\u2019t use them for leverage to change his position.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m leavin\u2019, Sam,\u201d Turner replied. \u201cYou ain\u2019t gonna win. The farmer\u2019s gonna hang an\u2019 I don\u2019t want ta be around when he does.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCoward!\u201d McNeill cried.<\/p>\n Drawing his gun in a quick movement, Turner aimed it at Bryant. \u201cDon\u2019t make me shoot you,\u201d he warned them. \u201cSam, I\u2019ve done your dirty work for the last time. Ben Cartwright ain\u2019t gonna back down. He\u2019s gonna hang Farmer Perkins and there ain\u2019t nuthin\u2019 you can do about it. But I ain\u2019t gonna stay here and watch you hang an innocent boy. Bertram\u2019s already gone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSam\u2019s done everything for ya!\u201d McNeill argued. \u201cYa rotten traitor!\u201d<\/p>\n Putting his hand onto McNeill\u2019s arm, Bryant shook his head. \u201cLet him go if he wants. I don\u2019t want anyone working for me whose heart isn\u2019t in it.\u201d He fixed Turner with a level gaze. \u201cBut I\u2019ll remember this when Perkins is set free.\u201d<\/p>\n Shrugging, Turner slipped through the stable door. He looked unperturbed by the implied threat.<\/p>\n \u201cHow could you let him go, Sam?\u201d McNeill cried, turning to his mentor.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m better off without him if that\u2019s the way he feels,\u201d Bryant replied. \u201cAnd you\u2019re still here.\u201d<\/p>\n Mollified by that admission of trust, McNeill started to preen himself. He glanced over towards Joe, and was enraged to see Joe peering round the partition. \u201cHe\u2019s seen it all!\u201d he cried. \u201cCartwright saw Turner leave!\u201d He raced across the barn.<\/p>\n There was nothing Joe could do, nowhere that he could run. He was lying flat on his back, on top of his bound hands and his legs were tied to a metal ring in the wall. But that didn\u2019t stop him trying to squirm across the floor to get away, despite the pain the movement awakened in his injured shoulder.<\/p>\n McNeill\u2019s boot caught Joe in the left ribs and the force of the kick rolled him onto his right side. Joe\u2019s bad shoulder felt like it was going to explode as his weight was placed on it and Joe\u2019s legs were twisting painfully. He groaned and rolled back, just in time for another hard kick to his ribs. This time, he was flipped over onto his face.<\/p>\n \u201cStop it!\u201d Bryant ordered. He dragged the enraged McNeill away from the helpless prisoner. \u201cWe need to keep him alive for a little while yet. It\u2019s not quite five.\u201d He patted McNeill\u2019s shoulder. \u201cAfter all, you do want to see him hang, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Sam,\u201d McNeill grinned, his killing rage draining away as though it had never been.<\/p>\n \u201cGood,\u201d Bryant grinned. \u201cNow, go down to the jail and see what\u2019s happening.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll right,\u201d McNeill agreed. He trotted obediently to the door and slipped through.<\/p>\n Watching his henchman go, Bryant then turned his attention back to Joe. He bent down and flipped Joe over onto his back again and smiled grimly at the yelp of pain that Joe let out. \u201cYour time is almost up,\u201d he told the young man with chilling quietness. He moved down to Joe\u2019s feet and began to free them from the ring in the wall. \u201cAre you ready to die? It seems a shame for someone so young to die so needlessly, but if your father thinks as little of you as that, then perhaps it doesn\u2019t matter so much.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t understand,\u201d Joe scoffed. His back burned with fire and he could feel fresh blood oozing from the wound on his shoulder, but he was waiting for Bryant to free his feet so he could make a break for freedom again. \u201cThis isn\u2019t about me any more.\u201d<\/p>\n Giving Joe a hard look, Bryant turned his attention back to the length of rope in his hand. He tied it around Joe\u2019s knees. \u201cThat\u2019s surprisingly perceptive of you,\u201d Bryant observed. \u201cI didn\u2019t think you were clever enough to work that out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere are a lot of things you didn\u2019t think of,\u201d Joe retorted and gasped as Bryant\u2019s fleshy hand struck him hard on the mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t change anything,\u201d Bryant told him, hauling Joe to his feet by the tattered remains of his shirt. \u201cYou\u2019re still going to hang. How long do you think you can balance up there with your legs tied like that?\u201d<\/p>\n Fear fluttered in Joe\u2019s belly and he felt a strong urge to urinate. \u201cI\u2019m just sorry I won\u2019t be around to see you hang, Bryant,\u201d he declared. He jerked his head aside as Bryant once more struck at his face. He missed, but caught Joe across the face with his return swing.<\/p>\n \u201cYou think you\u2019re so smart,\u201d Bryant hissed in his face. \u201cWell, we\u2019ll see who the smart one is, won\u2019t we, boy?\u201d He dragged Joe across the floor and bodily lifted him onto the boxes. Joe teetered uneasily on his bound feet as Bryant settled the noose over his head. \u201cAre you ready to die?\u201d Bryant asked.<\/p>\n Much as Joe wanted to smile in his face, he couldn\u2019t. Frozen with fear, he awaited the end.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s in that area of town?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n \u201cWarehouses, sheds, the old livery,\u201d Adam replied. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was just trying to think if there was somewhere that was suitable for Bryant to keep Joe,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cBut there are too many!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot really,\u201d Hoss denied. \u201cMost of them warehouses is real full o\u2019 stuff, Pa. There wouldn\u2019t be room fer Bryant ta hide Joe in one of them.\u201d<\/p>\n His dark eyes suddenly alight with excitement, Adam nodded. \u201cHoss is right!\u201d he cried. \u201cBut they could be in the old livery! Plenty of room in there!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got to check it out,\u201d Ben declared, rising. He glanced at the clock. It was five minutes to five. \u201cBut one of us has to stay here to see Perkins hanged.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll stay,\u201d Adam offered quickly. He was no keener than the rest of the family to see the grisly sight, but he knew that the tender-hearted Hoss would hate to do it and Ben desperately needed to see that Joe was all right. Adam did, too, but that couldn\u2019t be helped. \u201cYou go and get Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, son,\u201d Ben breathed, putting his hand on Adam\u2019s arm. He nodded to Hoss and they hurried out of the door.<\/p>\n Once they were gone, Adam took a deep breath and went to the cells. \u201cOn your feet, Perkins,\u201d he ordered. \u201cTurn around and put your hands behind you.\u201d<\/p>\n For a moment, he thought the other man was going to refuse, but with an insouciant grin, Perkins did as he was bid. Adam quickly tied his hands behind him. \u201cAin\u2019t gonna do ya no good,\u201d Perkins told Adam as the latter opened the cell and pulled Perkins out. \u201cSam ain\u2019t gonna let me hang.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI would put a bet on that,\u201d Adam replied, coolly, \u201cbut you aren\u2019t going to be around to pay me.\u201d<\/p>\n Just for a moment, the other\u2019s confident mask slipped, but as he was made to go up the gallows steps, he was still grinning and giggling to himself. The hangman adjusted the noose around his neck and made sure Perkins was standing on the trapdoor. Adam watched, but the person he saw with a noose around his neck was his youngest brother.<\/p>\n Blinking, Adam looked at his watch. \u201cIts five,\u201d he announced and the trapdoor opened. Adam looked away.<\/p>\n It was done, and nothing could recall Perkins to life. As Adam walked slowly back into the jailhouse, he wondered if it had really been worth it. What if Joe had died, too?<\/p>\n ***************************************<\/p>\n There was a crowd outside the jail, but Ben and Hoss managed to get through them without saying anything. Most people were too inebriated to prevent their purposeful pushing. But once they were onto the side streets, they became more cautious. It wouldn\u2019t do to somehow walk into a trap.<\/p>\n But what they walked into wasn\u2019t a trap \u2013 it was McNeill.<\/p>\n Hoss grabbed the smaller man in one big hand and shook him. \u201cWhere\u2019s ma little brother?\u201d he demanded.<\/p>\n When he was angry, Hoss could be very intimidating and he loomed over McNeill. \u201cI…I don\u2019t know,\u201d McNeill stuttered unconvincingly.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat d\u2019ya want me ta break first, Pa?\u201d Hoss enquired.<\/p>\n Even though Ben knew that there was no way on earth that Hoss would really harm McNeill with such cold blooded deliberateness, he was still shaken by the venom in his son\u2019s voice. \u201cA finger?\u201d he hazarded.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll start there,\u201d Hoss agreed and dragged McNeill\u2019s hand up in front of his face. He got a good grip on the pinky finger. McNeill\u2019s face was white.<\/p>\n \u201cThe livery,\u201d he whispered. \u201cThe old livery. Please, don\u2019t hurt me.\u201d<\/p>\n Looking contemptuously at him, Hoss drew back his fist and punched McNeill in the face. The other man went down and out and Hoss dropped him to the street. \u201cScum,\u201d he muttered. \u201cC\u2019mon, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat was very impressive, son,\u201d Ben commented, as they hurried towards the livery. \u201cRemind me never to get on your bad side.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw, Pa, I wouldn\u2019 really have hurt the little weasel,\u201d Hoss muttered, embarrassed.<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Ben replied and they smiled briefly at each other.<\/p>\n As they neared the livery, they slowed and crept up quietly, but there was no one on watch. They eased to the front and Hoss put his hand on the door. They both had their guns drawn. For a moment, their eyes met and then Ben nodded.<\/p>\n As he jumped in through the door, Ben saw Bryant\u2019s hands on the box that Joe was standing on. He didn\u2019t hesitate; he simply fired. The bullet caught the fat man in the side and he staggered back, his hand going to the wound in his side.<\/p>\n But it wasn\u2019t enough to stop him. Grimly, Bryant reached for the box again. Ben fired again. The bullet caught Bryant in the chest. He staggered back a step and looked surprised. \u201cHe\u2019s going to hang, Ben,\u201d he croaked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Ben replied. He kept his gun raised, ready to fire once more, but Bryant was finished. He sat down suddenly in the straw.<\/p>\n \u201cMy town,\u201d Bryant panted and collapsed backwards. His chest heaved for a moment, then Ben clearly heard the death rattle in his throat.<\/p>\n Only then did Ben become aware that Hoss was standing on a chair, holding Joe in both hands. \u201cPa, quick,\u201d he called and Ben hurried over, reaching for his knife as he did so.<\/p>\n It only took them seconds to free Joe from his bonds. He looked dreadful, his face pale, his clothing torn and bloodstained. He appeared to have fainted. Ben held him close while Hoss cut the ropes that had kept him captive. \u201cJoe, can you hear me?\u201d Ben asked. \u201cJoe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s bleedin\u2019, Pa,\u201d Hoss commented, drawing back the torn edges of Joe\u2019s shirt to look at the deep knife would on the back of his shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to get him to a doctor,\u201d Ben replied. He slid off his sheepskin coat and wrapped it around Joe. He tried hard not to touch the wound on Joe\u2019s back, but his hand brushed over it and Joe groaned. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Joe,\u201d Ben whispered, hoisting his son into his arms.<\/p>\n \u201cHe won\u2019t \u2026 give in,\u201d Joe panted, his eyes still tightly closed. Ben raised his eyes to look at Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe?\u201d Ben probed. \u201cJoe, its Pa, can you hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d Joe murmured. His eyelids cracked open and Joe looked blearily at the face above him. He swallowed. \u201cPa.\u201d The relief in his voice caused tears to stand in Ben\u2019s eyes. \u201cYou\u2026 found me.\u201d His eyes slid shut again and Joe nestled closer to Ben\u2019s chest.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll get him to the doc,\u201d Ben whispered to Hoss. \u201cYou go and get Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Pa,\u201d Hoss agreed. He gestured to Bryant. \u201cHe\u2019s dead, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood,\u201d Ben replied and carried his precious burden out of the old livery stable.<\/p>\n ***************************<\/p>\n Several times on the way to the doctor\u2019s office, Joe roused slightly, opening his eyes and looking at Ben\u2019s face as though he could hardly believe what he was seeing. A few times he groaned. Ben soothed him, crooning meaningless sounds to comfort his injured son. The journey seemed endless, yet Ben delighted in the solid feel of his son\u2019s body in his arms. Joe was safe!<\/p>\n \u201cThe wound is deep,\u201d Paul Martin told Ben, leaning over Joe. \u201cI\u2019ll need to take stitches in it.\u201d He felt Joe\u2019s ribs once more and Joe winced miserably. \u201cAnd it feels like Joe might have some broken ribs here, too.\u201d He sighed. \u201cJoe\u2019s had a good beating, that\u2019s for sure. These knife cuts on his shoulders are superficial, luckily. I\u2019ll clean up and bandage his wrists. He\u2019ll be weak from blood loss for a while, but Joe has been incredibly lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Ben replied, hoarsely. He glanced at Adam and Hoss who stood near by. They looked as relieved as he felt. He wondered if they knew how close he had come to letting Farmer Perkins go. How he had agonised over his decision to go ahead, despite Joe\u2019s captivity and danger. Would Joe understand what he had done and why? Ben didn\u2019t know the answer to that one yet and wouldn\u2019t until Joe was feeling a bit better.<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t take so very long to get Joe patched up and he fell into a deep sleep, aided by the pain medication that Paul had given him. Seeing that Joe was in good hands, Adam went back to the jail, for Biggs would be some time before he was back on duty and someone had to be around, just in case. Hoss fell asleep in a chair, worn out by the night\u2019s events.<\/p>\n Ben was dog tired, but he couldn\u2019t sleep. He wouldn\u2019t be able to rest properly until he was sure that Joe knew why his life had been left on the line. He had underestimated Bryant\u2019s ruthlessness and that mistake had almost cost his son his life. Ben dropped his head into his hands and wept silent tears of remorse.<\/p>\n The release of tension must have lulled him into sleep, Ben realised as he dragged his eyes open later. He blinked and then realised that he had heard Joe say his name. He moved quickly so that he was sitting in his son\u2019s field of vision. \u201cHow do you feel, Joe?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n \u201cThirsty,\u201d Joe replied. Ben took the hint at once, supporting Joe\u2019s head so he could sip the water. With a sigh, Joe lay back down again. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d he asked, his voice stronger now.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you remember?\u201d Ben enquired.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember McNeill being sent to go and see what was happening at the jail,\u201d Joe answered. \u201cThen Bryant put me on the boxes and put the noose around my neck.\u201d Joe\u2019s voice shook slightly on the last few words. \u201cThen\u2026\u201d Joe swallowed and looked embarrassed. \u201cThen, I think I must have fainted.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat wouldn\u2019t surprise me, Joe,\u201d Ben soothed. \u201cYou\u2019ve lost a lot of blood.\u201d He smiled and Joe smiled back. \u201cHoss and I were coming to look for you. We met McNeill and Hoss made him tell us where you were. We arrived just before Bryant had the chance to \u2013 do anything and I shot him. Hoss caught you and we brought you here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you hang Perkins?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n This was the moment, Ben thought. This could be the moment when he lost his son. Bracing himself as best he could, Ben nodded. \u201cYes,\u201d he said, simply.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew you would,\u201d Joe replied and the satisfaction in his voice caught Ben by surprise. \u201cI told Bryant that you would and he didn\u2019t believe me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe, I didn\u2019t want to lose you,\u201d Ben explained, not sure whether to believe Joe\u2019s satisfaction. \u201cBut I couldn\u2019t back down on this.\u201d<\/p>\n The gentle fingers on his lips caught Ben by surprise. \u201cPa, you don\u2019t need to tell me,\u201d Joe assured him. \u201cI knew you had to do it. I knew.\u201d Joe smiled, not telling Ben that he wasn\u2019t sure that he himself could have stuck to his guns if it had been the other way round and Ben had been the one facing a noose. He pushed the thought from his mind, deciding that nobody could make that kind of decision without being in the situation and Joe would just as soon never face that choice. \u201cDid you say you shot Bryant?\u201d Joe was beginning to feel sleepy again. He was surprised to see that it was daylight outside. It felt like the middle of the night.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, he\u2019s dead,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cHe won\u2019t hurt anyone again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not sorry,\u201d Joe said, defiantly, waiting to see if Ben was shocked.<\/p>\n \u201cNeither am I,\u201d Ben agreed, although that wasn\u2019t entirely true. He was sorry that he had been forced to kill another human being, but he wasn\u2019t sorry that Bryant was dead. It seemed like a contradiction to Ben, but he didn\u2019t quite know how to sort out his feelings, so he didn\u2019t try.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen can I go home?\u201d Joe asked and yawned. He winced as the jaw-cracker pulled at his split lip.<\/p>\n \u201cLater,\u201d Ben replied, smiling. \u201cJust sleep now, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe town\u2019s safe now, Pa, isn\u2019t it?\u201d Joe murmured, his eyes dipping closed.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, it\u2019s safe,\u201d Ben agreed. He sat holding Joe\u2019s hand until his son was deep in sleep, then he rose and went to the window.<\/p>\n Gazing into the bright sunlight, Ben gave thanks that this day had turned out so differently than he had expected. Life seemed to have a sharper clarity than usual. Death had come, but not to his family. For them, death withheld her hand\u2026<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Author’s Note”\u00a0 The aforementioned discussion occurred on BonanzaInAussieland.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n