{"id":8772,"date":"2014-07-06T17:00:42","date_gmt":"2014-07-06T21:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=8772"},"modified":"2025-08-01T13:29:16","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T17:29:16","slug":"the-truth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=8772","title":{"rendered":"The Truth (by BluewindFarm)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary<\/strong>:\u00a0 Missing scenes, The Trap.\u00a0 A man’s belief that his wife is having an affair sets events into motion that ultimately drive Joe to challenge a lawman to a gunfight; the only way he can see to prove his innocence, of the affair and of two murders.<\/p>\n

Rating: \u00a0T \u00a0(1,940 words)<\/p>\n

A Chaps & Spurs Challenge Story.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Truth \u2013 WHN (or missing scenes)<\/strong><\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t supposed to end this way\u2026\u00a0 My actions should have vindicated me, but I don\u2019t feel any better than before I stood in the middle of the main thoroughfare of Virginia City and waited for Booth Shannon to come out to face me.<\/p>\n

Booth\u2019s bullet struck me, and I\u2019ve been shot before so I know it should hurt like a son-of-a-gun.\u00a0 But in my now darkened world, there is nothing to feel; other than the emptiness and desolation.\u00a0 My actions were that of a desperate man, anyone in my position would have done the same.<\/p>\n

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

Burk Shannon had sent for me to help with some rustlers that had been after his herd.\u00a0 We thought we were close, that they were holed up in the draw, so we split up, and then\u2026 someone fired at me and I yelled several times to Burk.\u00a0 And when the shots fired again, I returned fire.\u00a0 When no other shots came my way, I found out that I\u2019d shot and killed a friend, Burk Shannon.<\/p>\n

My mind went blank when I realized it was up to me to be the one to tell Hallie that her husband was dead, by my gun.\u00a0 Second thinking the events; we shouldn\u2019t have split up, we should have stayed together.\u00a0 My mind kept demanding answers that no one could answer.\u00a0 Why didn’t Burk answer my yells? Why was he firing at me?<\/p>\n

Later, after his funeral, I agreed to drive Hallie home.\u00a0 As we drove along, to say I was shocked when she implied I had accidentally <\/em>killed Burk, in order to marry her.\u00a0 A joke\u2026 it had to be.\u00a0 She admitted she had wanted to spite me by saying she was going to marry Burk in order make me jealous enough to marry her all those years ago.\u00a0 How much plainer could I make this, other than to say that I don\u2019t want to marry her and I wasn\u2019t in love with her.\u00a0 And then she said she was going to tell Roy the truth\u2026 her version of the truth.\u00a0 She had to have suffered an emotional breakdown or something over Burk\u2019s death.\u00a0 That was the only explanation I could come up with for the way she was talking.\u00a0 And so I walked away.<\/p>\n

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

Imagine my horror at learning Burk\u2019s brother, Marshall Booth Shannon, was in town and was asking questions that implied Burk\u2019s death wasn\u2019t an accident.\u00a0 He arrived with his own idea of what happened out in the draw; and a letter from his brother.<\/p>\n

Later, Pa told me that Hallie had even tried to plant the notion that something was between us, thank heavens Pa knew me better.\u00a0 Turns out that even Roy believed the rumor\u2026\u00a0 He read the letter from Burk to his brother saying I was having an affair with his wife.<\/p>\n

Roy implied he was looking into the possibility that the original shooting wasn\u2019t an accident, and I agreed.<\/p>\n

Burk was after me because of what he had written to his brother… a lie.\u00a0 And so, Roy convinced Pa it would be better all around if I spent the night in jail.\u00a0 And then, Pa had papers ordering my release… Booth said that Hallie admitted I had murdered Burk, before she ran away. Booth and a posse had spent the night out looking for Hallie; only to find her at the bottom of Piaute Falls, dead.<\/p>\n

Booth made more accusations, saying that I killed Hallie because she knew the route I\u2019d come home, and that she went out there to tell me that she was going to tell the truth, that I had killed her husband on purpose.\u00a0 Booth went on to say that I\u2019d killed her to shut her up, to save my own hide.\u00a0 But with Booth being a lawman, he said he knew that he didn\u2019t have proof, but he’d see me answer in a court of law.\u00a0 Booth had prosecuted, judged, convicted, and sentenced me\u2026 Now I only had to wait for the execution.\u00a0 In Booth\u2019s mind, I was bound for the gallows and he would move heaven and earth to get to prove my guilt.<\/p>\n

He swore he\u2019d haunt me, that any time I looked over my shoulder he would be there as a reminder of \u2018the truth\u2019.\u00a0 He wanted to scare me so much that I\u2019d run to the law\u2026 and admit his truth.<\/p>\n

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

Riding into town, the hushed tones of the people, our friends, indicated they didn\u2019t believe in a second accident involving the Shannon family.\u00a0 They believed Booth\u2019s vile lies.<\/p>\n

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

Booth had put a price on my head, claiming he wanted evidence to prove that I had murdered Hallie and Burk; all because of a letter that held no fact or truth.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t covet a friend\u2019s wife; we had been childhood friends\u2026 that was all. \u00a0I had told her\u2026\u00a0 I didn\u2019t love her.<\/p>\n

All my life I\u2019ve lived here, and these people who I thought knew me, believed the rumors.\u00a0 Unable to accept the stares from friends\u2026\u00a0 The accusations in their eyes\u2026<\/p>\n

How can a man prove himself?\u00a0 How can I prove myself to Booth, and all the rest? \u00a0Vengeance is thine said the Lord, evidently Booth forgot that part of the bible. \u00a0The truth will win out is what Pa always said.<\/p>\n

Truth?\u00a0 Justice is blind; Adam said Lady Justice wore a blindfold to indicate objectivity and impartiality.\u00a0 But I know the truth\u2026\u00a0 She doesn\u2019t want to see the truth, she listens to the lies\u2026 lies are more colorful than the plain truth.<\/p>\n

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

The truth, the truth will win\u2026 I knew I had to stand up for myself.\u00a0 Booth had to be made to believe.\u00a0 If he wouldn\u2019t listen to my words\u2026 it\u2019s said that actions speak louder than words.\u00a0 My only alternative was to stand up to Booth, my actions\u2026 maybe I can remove the blindfold.<\/p>\n

No more games\u2026\u00a0 I have to prove myself; my words are the truth\u2026 \u00a0His truth, my truth\u2026\u00a0 There is only one truth and I have to prove it to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be waiting for you out in that street.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Standing in the middle of the street, my back to the saloon. \u201cIt\u2019s not murder if I draw first,\u201d I\u2019d told Booth when he implied that he was fast enough that it would be no contest.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not a fool and I\u2019m not a boy; he tried to belittle me.<\/p>\n

Go home? How? I can\u2019t go home, not until I prove myself.<\/p>\n

Turning around to face him; the truth has to win\u2026<\/p>\n

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

I felt myself spun around as Booth\u2019s bullet slammed into me and knocked me to the ground face down.\u00a0 The wound doesn\u2019t hurt.<\/p>\n

Justice is still blind\u2026<\/p>\n

The lie won\u2026<\/p>\n

Guilt ate at me\u2026\u00a0 The truth should have won.<\/p>\n

****<\/p>\n

\u2018The truth should have won\u2026\u2019 was my last conscious thought as my life slip away.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cYou\u2019re going to be okay, Joe.\u00a0 You\u2019re alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Focusing hard on Pa’s voice as he spoke those words, the words that pulled me from the darkness of oblivion.\u00a0 My eyes opened to a dimly lit room, somewhere, oh the doctor’s office. With my father hovering over me; a brief smile appeared on his face as I looked into his worried eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d my guilt spoke.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t know what else to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

I knew my actions must have upset my family, but what other recourse did I have?<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand, Joe. \u00a0Booth pushed you into this\u2026 I wish I could have done something to prevent it all from happening.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou tried Pa, but people don\u2019t want to hear the truth\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I listened to you.\u00a0 I heard you.\u00a0 I know what you said is the truth.\u00a0 Roy does too. I tried to get Booth to understand…\u00a0 We\u2019ll find a way to get through to Booth, and the others.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

After lots of poking and prodding, and my refusing the laudanum, Doc Carpenter finally left me alone.\u00a0 There was still Pa and Roy; two mother hens looking over their lost chick.\u00a0 \u00a0I needed to be alone.\u00a0 I needed to think.\u00a0 Closing my eyes, I wish I didn’t hurt so bad.\u00a0 And then I was alone.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

~The End\u00a0 (Or so I thought.\u00a0 I wrote the following in response to the March 15, 2023 Pinecone prompt))<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Epilogue:<\/p>\n

I didn’t want to take the laudanum that Doc Carpenter had tried forcing on me.\u00a0 Pa had agreed and motioned doc to leave, stating he’d stay and keep an eye on me.\u00a0 Even with my chest hurting, I feigned falling asleep hoping Pa and Roy would leave me alone.\u00a0 There was so much I had to think about; what happened, what I needed to do next.<\/p>\n

Even with the door closed, I could hear the words spoken between Pa and, that wasn’t Roy.\u00a0 That was Marshall Shannon.<\/p>\n

“Shannon, you could have killed him.\u00a0 Why didn’t you?”<\/p>\n

“Standing out in the street….\u00a0 Well, I knew he’d been telling the truth.\u00a0 He didn’t have to fight me.\u00a0 But he was standing there, ready to die if he had to.\u00a0 A killer wouldn’t have done that.\u00a0 Well, you know…. you were right about Burke…”<\/p>\n

And I listened.\u00a0 Wait a minute, Booth was in love with Hallie?\u00a0 The pain in my shoulder intensified as I came to understand it wasn’t just because Booth thought I murdered his brother to get his sister-in-law, he wanted me out of the way so he could get the woman he first loved?\u00a0 I WASN’T IN THE WAY!<\/p>\n

Inhaling deeply, damn, reaching for my shoulder, I wish Pa was in here.<\/p>\n

I heard my name spoken as the door opened.\u00a0 Looking over, with hat in hand, there stood Booth, looking scared to face me or was it guilt?<\/p>\n

Following Pa’s lead earlier, “Shannon.”<\/p>\n

“I just wanted to say, I’ll be heading out.\u00a0 Going back home.”<\/p>\n

“And what of me?”<\/p>\n

“There won’t be any charges brought against you.”\u00a0 Twisting the hat around his hands, “They say that truth is rarely pure and never simple.”<\/p>\n

I guess that’s as much of an apology as I’m ever going to get.\u00a0 Looking him square in the eyes; if I could have stood, I probably would have been nose to nose with him.\u00a0 \u00a0But since I’m flat on my back, I let the tone of my words hit home.\u00a0 “It can be, unless someone is lying, or emotions get in the way of hearing… listening and accepting the facts; not twisting them into something to fit your narrative.”\u00a0 Dang, that didn’t sound as strong as I hoped.<\/p>\n

But I guess I got my point across.\u00a0 Booth nodded before looking back over his shoulder.\u00a0 “I’ll uh…\u00a0 \u00a0I’ll make sure that everyone knows you didn’t do anything wrong before I finally leave town.”<\/p>\n

“My family will appreciate it.”<\/p>\n

“Take care Joe Cartwright.\u00a0 I hope…\u00a0 Well, just take care of yourself.”<\/p>\n

With that, he turned and left, and I closed my eyes.\u00a0 Praying that the tears wouldn’t fall.\u00a0 Truth is all I ever wanted.<\/p>\n

“It’s okay Joseph.”\u00a0 Pa’s rough-hewed hand brush against my forehead, checking for fever no doubt.\u00a0 \u00a0Nodding, yeah, well maybe not all I ever wanted — but a close second to Pa.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tags: Ben Cartwright, Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright<\/p>\n

This story inspired by:\u00a0 The Trap, written by: \u00a0Ken Pettus<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

Summary:\u00a0 Missing scenes, The Trap.\u00a0 A man’s belief that his wife is having an affair sets events into motion that ultimately drive Joe to challenge a lawman to a gunfight; the only way he can see to prove his innocence, of the affair and of two murders.<\/p>\n

Rating: \u00a0T \u00a0(1,440 words)\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":8774,"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":[39,23,1008,41,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8772","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chaps-spurs","category-drama","category-family","category-hurtcomfort","category-whn","wpcat-39-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1008-id","wpcat-41-id","wpcat-13-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1675,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/The-Trap.jpg?fit=500%2C375&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4460,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=4460","url_meta":{"origin":8772,"position":0},"title":"The Gift (by JoeC)","author":"JoeC","date":"April 28, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Joe get's a special birthday present Rating:\u00a0 K\u00a0 (553 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Chaps and Spurs"","block_context":{"text":"Chaps and Spurs","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=39"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/joe-chaps-21.jpg?fit=314%2C547&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2979,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2979","url_meta":{"origin":8772,"position":1},"title":"Captain Joe (by frasrgrl)","author":"frasrgrl","date":"November 24, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 \u00a0This story is in response to November's Chaps and Spurs Challenge. 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