" IT WAS ONLY SUPPOSE TO BE A JOKE "

By: Lynne G.

Adam Cartwright and his brother, Hoss, had had enough of their little brother's jokes pulled on them, and Adam decided that it was time for him and Hoss to get even with the eleven year old boy.

" What's ya got in mind Adam?" asked Hoss as he could tell that Adam was trying to come up with a plan for Little Joe.  " I've got it Hoss.  We are going to tell him that he is adopted," Adam said.  " Oh, I dunt think that's a very good idea Adam.  Ya know how sensitive that boy is.  It might really hurt him," said a very concerned Hoss.  " Not if we do it right.  Besides I've teased him on that before and he just laughs it off," Adam explained.

" Pa, can I go to San Francisco with ya please?" asked Little Joe.  " No son, you have school, and I have a lot of business that I need to do.  I wouldn't have anytime to look after you," Ben told his youngest son.  " I dunt need no lookin' after.  I ain't no little boy no more," Little Joe said trying to convince Ben to say yes.  " Joseph, you are a little boy.  Your only eleven years old.  Now thats all I want to hear about it.  The two weeks I'm gone will go fast with you being in school and having your chores to do," Ben told him.  " But Pa..." was all Little Joe was able to say as Ben said, " Joseph, enough !"  Little Joe felt like crying, so he ran up to his room, slammed the door shut, ran over to his bed, laid down and he started to cry.

Ben just sat there and watched as his upset son ran up the stairs, then slam his door shut.  He shook his head and looked at Adam and Hoss, who were both looking at Ben, then at the stairs.  " Does he always have to make things difficult?" Adam said.  " No he doesn't Adam.  He just doesn't like it when I have to go away on business.  If it were only for a couple of days, then I might take him with me, but not for two weeks.  Can you imagine what kind of mischief that boy would get into for two weeks with me being in meetings all day?" Ben said.  " I see what you mean Pa.  Don't worry, Hoss and I will keep that little imp out of trouble and make sure that he gets to school on time," Adam told Ben.

As the stage left Virginia City with Ben inside of it, Little Joe stood there and watched until the stage was out of sight.  He felt very sad and very upset, as he hated it when Ben was away and he was trying so hard not to let his tears run down his face.  Adam and Hoss watched as their little brother tried to keep his emotions under control.  " Hey little buddy, you better head off to school now.  Do you still have that note for Miss. Jones explaining why you are late for school today?" Adam asked.  " Yeah, I got it.  Adam please can't I just go back home.  I really don't feel like goin' ta school taday," Little Joe softly and sadly asked as he looked up at Adam and Hoss with his sad looking green eyes.  " Sorry little brother, you need to go to school.  Now get going," Adam told the boy.  " But my tummy hurts," Little Joe said.  " Go to school !" Adam said as he pointed towards the school. 

Little Joe grabbed Tony's reins and he slowly walked to school with his head down.  " Adam, if Short Shanks ain't feelin' good, maybe he should go home and go back to bed," Hoss stated.  " Hoss, he' s not sick.  He's just upset because Pa is gone.  Now come on we have work to do.  We'll start our joke on him tomorrow," Adam said as he and Hoss got on their horses and headed back to The Ponderosa.

The next day was Saturday, and as the Cartwright brothers sat down for breakfast, Little Joe had been fairly quiet that morning.  He just pushed his breakfast around on his plate without eating any if it.  " Come on Punkin, ya gotta eat some breakfast," Hoss said as he watched his little brother.  " I ain't hungry Hoss," Little Joe softly said.  " Look Little Joe, we know you miss Pa, but you need to eat.  Now at least eat some of it, so you can get your chores done," Adam said.

Little Joe still wouldn't eat any of his breakfast, but he did drink his milk.  " I swear little brother, you are nothing like Hoss and I.  Are you sure you're our brother?" Adam asked.  Little Joe looked up at Adam, and he said," Now, whats that s'pose ta mean?  Are ya tellin' me that I ain't a Cartwright?"  " Well, just think about it," Adam said.  Little Joe looked shocked as he got up from the table and he headed out to do his chores. 

" Hoss, did you see that look on his face?" Adam asked.  " Yeah I saw it, and I still dunt like it none, especially not with him so upset that Pa is gone for two weeks," Hoss told Adam.  Adam just looked at Hoss and shook his head.  " Well, maybe my timing wasn't right, but maybe he will think about that and it will keep him out of mischief while Pa's gone, Adam explained.

The next day Adam was still making remarks about Little Joe not fitting into the family, which was not only upsetting Little Joe, but also Hoss.  Later that afternoon, Adam and Hoss noticed that their little brother was slowly coming out of the barn and he had his head down as he was walking towards them.  Adam said to Hoss, " I think he has the right to know that he was adopted."  Little Joe heard that and he stopped and looked at Adam and Hoss.  " What do you mean by that Adam?  I ain't adopted !" Little Joe shouted.  " Look little brother, it's time you heard the truth.  It is true that you were adopted when you were a baby.  Marie couldn't have children, so they adopted you," Adam said as he looked at his little brother's face, and he wished now that he hadn't said that.  Hoss was about to tell Adam to be quiet, that what he had just said wasn't true.  "Punkin"..was all he said before Little Joe ran towards the house and up the stairs to his room in tears.  Hoss was very angry and he turned to look at Adam and he said," Now look what you did.  Ya just dun broke that boy's heart, and I thought you was so smart with that fancy education of yours, but I guess I was wrong !" 

" Oh Hoss, your right.  I really didn't think he would take it so seriously.  He never has before, but now he is so upset with Pa not here.  I'm sorry," Adam softly told Hoss.  " Dunt tell me yer sorry big brother, tell our baby brother yer sorry," Hoss said.  " I think I'll let him settle down a bit first, and then I'll set it straight with him.  Poor kid.  Why is it when we decide to get even with him, it always back fires on us?" asked Adam  " It's not 'we' big brother, it's you," Hoss told him.

Little Joe's mind was racing now.  " No wonder I ain't like Adam and Hoss, I ain't a Cartwright after all.  I can't stay here no more," he said to himself.  He walked over to his dresser and took out some clothes, and he put them into his saddle bags.  He then walked over to his window, opened it, and he climbed out.  As he climbed out of the window, he took one last look at his room.

He finally made it to the ground with his saddle bags and he went into the barn to saddle Tony.  The tears were running down his face and he found it hard to see with all the tears in his eyes.  He put the saddle on Tony along with his saddle bags, then he walked Tony out of the barn and he got on his horse.  He just sat there for a couple of minutes trying to think of where he could go.

Hoss was coming out the front door when he saw his little brother leading Tony out of the barn, so he hurried over to the distraught boy.  " Hey Punkin, where ya goin'?"  " Away from here.  I dun't belong here no more.  I ain't one of ya," Little Joe told Hoss as he was crying.  Hoss put his large hand on Little Joe's leg, and he was about to tell the boy that this was all a joke, but Little Joe kicked Tony's sides and he raced off.  " LITTLE JOE COME BACK HERE !" Hoss shouted, but Little Joe didn't stop or look back. 

Hoss took off running towards the house shouting for Adam.  " What do you want Hoss?  What's wrong?" Adam asked as he came out of the door.  " Adam, Little Joe has run off.  He's real upset, and he said he couldn't stay no here no more.  We gotta after him Adam !" Hoss shouted.  " Hoss, he'll be back.  Just give him time to settle down.  He's probably going to his momma's grave," Adam said trying to calm Hoss down.  " But ya didn't see how upset the boy was.  I'm goin' after him," Hoss told Adam as he headed back towards the barn.  " Hoss please, just give him some time.  I really didn't think that he would be so upset," Adam sadly said.  " I tried ta tell ya, but ya said not too worry.  Dadburnit Adam, you've really done it this time.  Ok, I'll give him a couple hours, then I'm goin' after him," Hoss angrily told Adam. 

Little Joe just rode for hours, and he was now a long way from The Ponderosa.  He decided to go to Placerville, California to start a new life for himself.  As it was starting to get dark, he stopped for the night.  He found a place where there was grass for Tony to eat.  In his big hurry to leave home, he didn't have any food for himself, but he did have a full canteen of water.  He couldn't build a fire to help keep himself warm, since he didn't have any matches with him.

He sat there leaning back aginst a tree with his knees up which he was hugging to keep warmer.  All he thought about was what Adam had said to him.  He wondered who his real parents were now.  Everything happened so fast, that at first he thought that he was having a bad dream.  He really didn't get much sleep that night.  He just dozed off and on all night.

Hoss had looked for several hours for any trace of his little brother, but he couldn't find any tacks made by Tony, and now he getting worried about the boy.  " Adam, I tell ya, he ain't anywhere around here," Hoss said.  " He's probably at Mitch's," Adam said.  " No he ain't.  I went there and they ain't seem him all day, and none of his other friends have either.  Adam, we just gotta find him.  He's just a little kid," Hoss said as tears ran down his face.  " Your right Hoss.  We'll get started at first light.  He has to be around here somewhere," Adam told Hoss as he put his arm on his brothers's shoulder.

Little Joe had ridden for almost three days now, when he decided to stop at a ranch to see if he could do some chores for some grain for Tony.  He was really hungry, since he hadn't had anything to eat since he had left home, and he only had a couple of bites of his breakfast that morning.  He was getting very light headed from not eating, but he really didn't care, as he just wanted grain for Tony.  He was also exhausted from not sleeping either.  As he continued to ride he saw a small ranch, so he decided to stop to see if the owners could use some help. 

Little Joe knocked on the door, and he waited to see if someone would open the door. 

Clara Norton had been in the livingroom when she heard a knock on the door, so she went to see who was there.  When she opened the door, there stood a young boy looking up at her.  She smiled at the sweet faced boy and she asked," What can I do for you honey?"

Little Joe looked up at her and said," Hi ma'am, I was wonderin' if I could do some chores for ya, in trade for some grain for my horse?  I'm a good worker ma'am."  Clara smiled at Little Joe and told him that he should ask her husband, Chester, who would be home in about an hour.  " Is there anything I could do in the mean time ma'am?" asked the boy.

" Yes, come to think of it, I do need some more wood for the wood boxes.  If you would like to chop some for me, then you can have some grain for your horse.  Why don't you take him into the barn, and put him in one of the empty stalls.  The grain box is on the left side of the barn," Clara told Little Joe.  " Thank you ma'am, I really appreciate that.  I'll just take care of him and I'll get ta choppin' the wood for ya," Little Joe said, as he walked back to Tony and he took him into the barn.

Little Joe had just finished chopping the wood and he refilled all the wood boxes for Clara as Chester rode into the yard.  " Chester, this is... I don't even know your name honey, she said.  " It's a... Robbie Wright ma'am," Little Joe said.  " Robbie came by and offerd to to help with chores in trade for some grain for his horse.  He chopped the wood for the wood boxes and he also refilled all the wood boxes for me too.  He did a wonderful job too," Clara told Chester.  Chester looked down at Little Joe and said, " It's nice to meet you Robbie.  " It's nice to meet you too sir," Little Joe said.  "Please call me Chester," Chester told the boy.  " Yes sir...I mean Chester.

Both Chester and Clara could tell that Little Joe was exhausted from the way he looked.  " If you like, I could stay on for a few days, and do chores for ya, and I would stay in the barn, so I wouldn't be in your way," Little Joe told them. 

" You sure can stay Robbie, and we could use the help, but there's no need for you to stay in the barn.  We have lots of room in the house.  Where are you from son?" asked Chester.  " I'm from the Nevada Territory, near Virginia City," Little Joe told them.  " Do you have a family son?" asked Clara.  " No ma'am, I dunt.  That's why I'm on my way to Placerville to start a new life," Little Joe said as he put his hand on his forehead and closed his eyes.  He was getting very dizzy and he had a headache.  He swayed and collasped to the floor, which startled both Chester and Clara.  " ROBBIE !" shouted Clara as they kneeled down to the fallen boy.

Chester picked Little Joe up and carried him over to the sofa.  Clara got a wash cloth and she began to bathe his face.  " Robbie, can you hear me honey?" Clara kept asking.  Finally Little Joe slowly opened his eyes, and he looked up at Chester and Clara.  " Are you alright son?" they both asked.  " I'm ok, just hungry.  I haven't had anything ta eat for four days," Little Joe softly told them. 

" Oh you poor child.  Why didn't you ask for something to eat for yourself?" asked Clara.  " I dunno.  I knew that Tony needed some grain.  I'm sorry," he quietly said.  " Sweetheart, you have nothing to be sorry about.  I think it's best if you just have some broth until your stomach is use to food again.  You just stay here and I'll get you some broth." Cara told him as she brushed the curls off his face and smiled at him.  " Ya better do as she says son, she the boss in the house.  You just take it easy.  OK?" Chester said.  " But I need ta do chores for ya," Little Joe told Chester.  " Don't worry about that now.  You need to eat and rest, and get some meat on them bones of yours," Chester told him as he smiled at Little Joe, and ruffled up the boys' hair. 

Little Joe ate a bowl of broth that tasted so good to him, and he was ready to fall asleep, so Chester carried him into one of the bedrooms, laid him on the bed, took his boots off, then Clara covered him up and kissed him.  Little Joe was in deep sleep before Chester and Clara had left the room.

" That poor boy, he's so sweet.  It's so sad that he doesn't have a family.  He's so young too.  Did he anything with him when he got here?" Chester asked.  " He had his saddle bags on his horse.  They're probably in the barn," Clara told Chester.  " I'll go get them for him," Chester said as he went out the door and to the barn.

A couple of days later, Little Joe felt much better, and he was eating solid food again.  He and the Norton's got along great, and Little Joe enjoyed helping them out.  He stayed with them for two weeks, before he headed off to Placerville.  They wanted him to stay with them, and they tried to get him to change his mind about leaving, but Little Joe wanted to go onto Placerville, which was still a days ride from the Norton's ranch. 

Adam and Hoss had looked everywhere for Little Joe, but they couldn't find any trace of the missing boy.  They had sent out several ' missing person ' posters, but they hadn't heard any information back yet.  They were both dreading the next day when Ben was due home.  Adam felt like crawling into a hole and staying there. 

Little Joe had safely made it to Placerville and he had found a job at the livery stable taking care of horses.  The owner of the stable, Mr. Derek Paulson, let the boy live in the small room at the stable.  He was very impressed at how well Little Joe could handle horses.

Adam and Hoss headed into Virginia City to pick up Ben from the stage depot.  Sheriff Roy Coffee saw Adam and Hoss waiting at the depot, so he headed over to them.  " Adam, Hoss, have ya found Little Joe yet? asked Roy.  " Hi Roy, no we haven't, and now we have to tell Pa that his baby is missing," Adam softly said.  Roy felt bad for Adam and Hoss, knowing how they felt about the joke that Adam had pulled on his little brother, causing the boy to run off.  " Good luck boys.  I hope Little Joe comes home real soon," Roy said.  " Thanks Roy," Hoss sadly said.

A few minutes later the stage pulled up in front of the depot.  " Hi boys !" greeted Ben as he stepped off the stage, and he hugged both of his sons.  " Hi Pa," they both said.  " It's great to be back again.  How is Little Joe and how are things at the ranch?" Ben asked.  " Things are ok," Adam softly said.  Ben could tell by the looks on his son's faces that something wasn't quite right.

On the way home, Adam told Ben about Little Joe.  Ben sat there in shock at what he was hearing. " My God Adam, why on earth did you tell him something like that when you knew how upset he was that I was away?" Ben angrily asked Adam.  " I just wanted to pull a joke on him," Adam said feeling terrible.  " He' just a little boy Adam, and you know how sensitive that boy is.  How could you, and you, Hoss, why would you go along with something so stupid for ?" Ben shouted.  " Pa, I didn't go along with Adam on this.  I tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn't listen to me," Hoss sadly said.

Hoss, why did you let Little Joe ride off like that, and not tell him the whole thing was a stupid joke?" Ben asked.  " Pa, I tried to stop him, but he was so hurt and crying, that I didn't get a chnace to tell him before he raced out of the yard.  I wanted to go after him, but Adam said that we should just let him settle down a bit," Hoss sadly said.

For the next several weeks, the Cartwrights continued to look for Little Joe without any success.

Little Joe was settling into his new life in Placerville as Robbie Wright.  Derek wanted the boy to come and live with him and his wife, but the boy just wanted to live at the stable.  Even though he enjoyed being with horses all the time, he was very lonely.  He tried not to think of his ' former ' family, but he couldn't help it.  He dreamed about them at night, which would make him wake up crying.

Not long after Little Joe had settled into Placerville, there was a jail break, and a prisoner escaped from jail.  Morgan Jensen was a bank robber who had been awaiting trial.  Jensen had made his way to Virginia City and after a couple of days there, he robbed the bank.  He was captured right away following the robbery. 

Sheriff Roy Coffee had sent a telegram to Placerville for Sheriff Earl Walker, telling him that Jensen had been captured, and that he was recovering from a bullet wound he received in the robbery.  Roy also told Sheriff Walker that he would bring Jensen back to Placerville and stay for his trial.

Little Joe was taking a break from his job, and he walked down the street towards the bakery as he wanted some cookies.  He didn't see Roy, who was talking to Sheriff Walker.  Roy did a double take when he saw Little Joe and he gasped.  He excussed himself from Sheriff Walker and he hurried over towards Little Joe. 

" LITTLE JOE !" Roy shouted loudly.  Little Joe suddenly stopped walking and he turned around.  He watched as Roy ran up to him and Roy gave him a big hug.  " My God Little Joe, where have you been boy?  We have been looking everywhere for you, son," Roy said as he continued to hug the now trembling boy.

Roy looked down at Little Joe, who had tears in his eyes.  " Hi Sheriif Coffee.  I live here now, and I have a new name too," he said softly.  " Oh Little Joe, you don't belong here son.  You belong on The Ponderosa," Roy told him.  "No, not no more.  I ain't a Cartwright no more.  I dunt have a family no more either.  I have a job here, so that's where I live now," Little Joe softly told Roy.  " Little Joe, son, you are a Cartwright, and you are NOT apoted.  Adam was pulling a joke on you.  Hoss tried to tell you, but you rode off so fast, he didn't have a chance to tell you.  The whole thing was Adam's idea, and Hoss had no part of it.  He went lookin' for you not long after you left.  Listen son, they are very worried about you.  Please Little Joe, let me take you home where you belong son," begged Roy.  " I...I can't.  I..I have ta get back ta work now.  Bye Roy," Little Joe said as he ran back towards the stable.  Roy just stood there and watched the boy run off.

Roy headed straight for the telegraph office to send a telegram off to Ben.  He hoped and prayed that Ben would get here fast, and get Little Joe to change his mind. 

Sheriff Walker had seen Roy and Little Joe talking and he wondered what that was all about, so he walked over to the telegraph to see Roy.  " Roy, it looks like you know Robbie from somewhere?" Earl questioned.  " Yes I do.  His name is really Little Joe Cartwright, and he ran away from home after his oldest brother pulled a joke on him that really upset him," Roy said.  Roy went on to tell Earl the whole story.  " I have a ' missing person  poster on that boy in my office.  I guess I really didn't give it much thought, but come to think of it, Robbie, I mean Little Joe, looks just like the drawing on the psoter.  That poor boy.  He's a good boy, and Derek said that he is doing a wonderful job at the stables," Earl told Roy.

Ben had just come out of the bank when he heard someone calling out to him.  He stopped and turned around to see who was calling his name.  He saw it was Warren from the telegraph office running towards him.  " Ben, thank goodness I found you.  I have a telegram for you from Roy," Warren said as he handed the telegram to Ben.  " Thank you Warren," Ben said as he read the telegram.  " OH THANK GOD !!  Roy found Little Joe in Placerville !" Ben said as tears filled up his eyes.  " I need to reply to Roy," Ben said as he and Warren ran back to the telegraph office.  Ben told Roy that he would be there in two and half days, and to please make sure that Little Joe says put.

Ben hurried home to get some clothes together, and some food too.  Adam and Hoss weren't home so Ben left them a note with the wonderful news about their little brother.  Hop Sing was beside himself with happiness.  He missed Little Joe so much.

Roy reveived the telegram from Ben, and he decided not to say anything to Little Joe about Ben being on his way, as he didn't want the boy to run off again.

The trial for Morgan Jensen was set for the next day.  Roy took Little Joe out to dinner that night.  He told the boy about Jensen robbing the bank in Virginia City, and that the trial was the next day.  Little Joe found this interesting as he remembered when Jensen broke out of jail here in Placerville.

Roy noticed that Little Joe wasn't eating very much of his dinner.  " Are you alright son?  Your not eating very much?" asked a concerned Roy.  " I'm not very hungry," Little Joe told him.  Roy took a good look at the boy and saw how skinny he was now.  Roy decided not to say anything about that either.  He also noticed that the boy never smiled at all, and he was very quiet all the time.  Roy hoped that Ben could help his young son.  It really bothered Roy to see this once happy go lucky boy looking so sad.

The day of the trial had arrived.  In the jail, Sheriff Earl Walker went into the cell to get Jensen ready for his trial.  Two of the sheriff's deputies were there guarding the door to the cells in case Jensen tried to escape.  Just as Earl was getting ready to put the handcuffs on Jensen, Jensen suddenly grabbed the sheriff's gun and he shot Earl.  The deputies shot Jensen, killing him.   They rushed over to Earl who was holding his shoulder.  Roy had seen the shooting, and he went to help the deputies get Earl to his feet, and the deputies took Earl to the doctor's office.  Roy made sure Jensen was dead, which he was, so he closed the cell door and locked it.  Then he headed off to the doctor's office.  Sheriff Earl Walker would be just fine.  Luckily it was just a flesh wound, and only required a few stitches to close the wound.  Now instead of a trial, there would be an inquest as to what happened at the jail that resulted in the shooting.

Little Joe had been busy in the stable when he heard gun shots, so he headed towards the stable doors to peek outside.  All he saw were people running towards the sheriff's office.  Then he saw the two deputies helping Sheriff Walker towards the doctor's office.  When he saw Roy walk out the door of the Sheriff's office, he ran over to Roy to find out what happened.  Roy told Little Joe what had happened.

" Sheriff Coffee, is Sheriff Walker gonna be ok?" asked a very concerned Little Joe.  " He'll be fine Little Joe.  It looks like a flesh wound," Roy told him.  " What happens now?  There can't be a trial with the robber dead," Little Joe asked.  " There will be an inquest about what happened at the jail.  That will probably be tomorrow," Roy told the boy.  " Thanks fer tellin' me Sheriff Coffee. I gotta get back ta work now," Little Joe said as he walked back over to the stable. 

The next day Ben rode into Placerville, and he headed straight over to the hotel to check into his room.  He took his saddle bags up to his room instead of waiting till later.  From there he led Buck over to the stable where he knew Little Joe worked.

Little Joe was busy in the stable and he didn't hear or see Ben and Buck walk in.  Ben stopped as soon as he saw his son, and he was shocked at how skinny the boy looked.  He wanted so much to run over and hold his son, but he held back as he didn't want to scare the boy.

" Little Joe," Ben softly called.  Little Joe suddenly turned around and his heart skipped a beat when he saw Ben standing there.  He didn't say anything, but he had his mouth open.  " Hi son, how are you?"  Ben softly said.  Again he wanted to run over to the boy and hold him.  " I..I..I'm fine Pa..I mean, Mr. Cartwright," Little Joe said as he was trying to control his emotions.  There were so many thought running through his mind right now that he couldn't say anymore.

" Little Joe, we need to talk son," Ben said.  " I dunt have nothin' ta say.  I ain't Little Joe no more.  Please, just leave me alone," Little joe said as tears wre starting to fill up his eyes.  He was so confused now, and he didn't know what to do.  " Alright, I'll leave, but could you please take care of Buck for me?" Ben asked.  The boy just nodded.  Ben left Buck and walked out the door.

Little Joe sniffed and wiped his tears off his face.  He then walked over to Buck and led him into an empty stall, where he unsaddled the horse, rubbed him down, and gave him some grain.  Little Joe laid his head on Buck's side and he started to cry.  Ben had been watching his son taking care of Buck, and when he saw the boy lean against Buck and start to cry, he knew he needed to go to his son.

THE END of part one.

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