(Author’s note: this story is the sequel to Love’s Last Whisper. It contains a few graphic scenes, as with most that I write, but it doesn’t go over the edge of decency. It is perhaps the most involved story I have ever written, and regular readers will note that it contains rare Adam scenes! I hope the effort to portray the entire Cartwright family true to character in this one pays off. I have to thank several people for their help. First, Leesa, who got this handed to her one section after another with few breaks (thank you for putting up with my zeal==and for hanging in there as we waited such a long time for the Pa/Joe stuff!) Also helping in the proofing and suggestion area were my friends, Deb, Carol and Jane. Thank you all for a fun ride with this one. Wrangler will be away for a bit but this long one hopefully will tide you over! Thanks for all your help, support, and love always!)

Checkmate: The Return Of Bristol Ford

By:

Wrangler

(Checkmate: In chess, to put (an opponent’s king) in check from which no escape is possible, thus winning the game.)

Ben Cartwright stood at the counter in the Crystal Palace Saloon and sipped on his beer. He couldn’t help smiling over all his good fortune of late. Not only had he sealed the deal with the shipping magnate, Cirus De Santo, to provide the timber for four new clipper ships, he had also just received word that the Ponderosa’s bid for railroad ties for a new spur line had won over all other offers. The working vacation was turning out better than anticipated when Ben had left with his sons Hoss and Joseph for San Francisco. Now, after only four days spent enjoying the local scenery and business meetings with De Santo, Ben had finally earned an afternoon by himself.

Ben signaled the bartender for another beer as he took a peek at his pocket watch. It was only four o’ clock and he would still have some peace and quiet before his rambunctious son Joe was to join him there for dinner. Spinning the brew in his beer mug around pensively, Ben thought on all the stories that the young man would soon be entertaining him with. Joe was a pure joy, though a chatterbox at times. But, that was his nature and he was the apple of his father’s eye. Not that he didn’t feel likewise about his middle son, Hoss, nor his eldest, Adam. It was just different. Ben felt the twangs of loneliness when he thought on his other two boys. Adam was away in Boston, a summer trip he had planned the previous year. Hoss had enjoyed the few days with both his father and little brother in San Francisco, but had left for Virginia City that morning due to the new timber contract. Ben hated to see his middle son leave, he had wanted to tour a few of the ships with Hoss. ****Hoss****Ben thought to himself and a smile spread across his face. ****that boy of mine----still a kid at heart--no matter how old he gets! He would have stood in pure awe looking at those ships!****Ben knew that Hoss would ask all kinds of questions about his father’s past seafaring days, and he would have enjoyed telling the same old tales to his son. He might even have come up with a few he hadn’t heard. But, unfortunately, as second oldest, Hoss knew he had to head home and make sure all was lined up with the timber crews. It would take his talent to show the men what trees were to be cut, and what ones would be preserved for conservation purposes. Ben had promised that the next trip to San Francisco would be Hoss’ and he would accompany him.

“Excuse me, sir---are you Ben Cartwright?” a man asked as he walked up alongside of Ben.

Ben looked at the very fashionably dressed man and offered him a nod along with a smile. “That would be me all right,” Ben said offering the man his handshake. “And you?”

“Dustin Freemont---I’ve heard the rumor that you are supplying the needed materials for the new ships the company I work for is building.”

“Yes---and very happy to have that opportunity!” Ben replied cheerily.

“May I offer you a drink?”

“Thanks---not quite through with this one---but why don’t you join me at a table and we will chat?”

“That would be my pleasure, Mr. Cartwright,” Dustin responded gratefully.

Soon Ben and the man who had introduced himself as a representative of the shipping line, were swapping past histories and having a good conversation. Dustin talked of several ships which Ben had actually commandeered years before. They also spoke of happenings in the East and general politics and seemed to hit it off quite well.

“I hope you will come back and visit us here again, Mr. Cartwright--it’s been wonderful getting to know you a little. I have heard about the great Ponderosa and your family for years, but it’s kinda nice to put a face with the name!”

“Well---first off---call me Ben from now on. And, I will make it a point to see you when I return. That might be awhile from now though, we have a great deal of timber to cut for your company and for the railroads. I am sure it will keep me and my boys busy for months!”

“Oh yes---your sons---there are three of them I’m told?”

“Oh yeah---three wild young men----but pretty decent individuals if I do say so myself! And you, Dustin? You have any children?”

“No, Ben---never got around to getting married---and I’m afraid at my age now---and with all the traveling I do---it’s not likely,” Dustin replied, with regret in his tone of voice.

“You don’t look all that old to me---as a matter of fact---you look close to my own age!”

Dustin laughed and raised his glass and took a long sip, “I’m in my early fifties now---I guess it’s not exactly out of the question yet!”

“Ah--then you are only a year or two younger than me---there’s still hope!” Ben chuckled. “Of course----if you do end up finding a woman and having children---let me tell you it’s not always a picnic!”

“You sound like the voice of experience to me---I’ll take your word for that. So your boys----are they all with you now enjoying our city?”

“Well--no--actually Adam, my eldest is with friends in Boston--that’s where he went to architectural college. Next in line---Eric---who we call Hoss---well if you saw him you’d know why---he just left this morning heading back home to handle the timber crews. Then there’s the youngest,” Ben paused and checked his watch. It was a little before five o’clock. “His name is Joseph----and he’s around here somewhere probably flirting with some gal. He’s going to join me for dinner soon---you are welcome to stay and join us if you’d like?”

Dustin smiled and set down his beer mug and stood from the table, “Give me a rain check on that, Ben---I would love to meet your family---perhaps on your next trip here! Right now I’m afraid I have to get back to the office. Business is calling me away again first thing in the morning. It’s been wonderful to chat with you---look me up the next trip, all right?”

Ben stood and shook the man’s hand to bid him farewell. “I’ll do that, thank you. And thanks for helping me pass the time while I wait for that youngster of mine!”

“Goodbye,” Dustin said and turned to leave the saloon.

Ben looked back at his watch once more. ****You aren’t late YET Joseph---but I’m sure you will run true to form and stand up your father for at least a half of an hour.****Ben thought to himself and headed towards the dining room area.

The lobby to the Imperial Hotel connected to the Crystal Palace Saloon, and beyond it stood one of the finest dining rooms in San Francisco. Ben chose it for it’s wonderful fare as well as the fact that it was also the hotel that he had selected to house him and his two sons during their stay. The waiter sat Ben towards the back of the restaurant at a table he had grown to be accustomed to during his many times eating there. He accepted the offer of a before dinner cocktail and then began to go over the menu choices. When he heard someone pulling the chair out from across the table, Ben looked over the top of his menu expecting to see his youngest son. He was momentarily shocked when he saw who was seated at the table across from him. Ben’s hand went down to his hip in search of his six gun.

“Don’t do that,” the other man warned and pointed behind him where across the room stood two men with holsters they revealed hiding under their long coats. “You wouldn’t stand a chance, Ben.”

“Bristol! What are you doing here?” Ben asked as he weighed the odds of pulling out his gun and possibly causing the whole restaurant to be caught in a gun battle.

“We have some unsettled business----it’s taken quite awhile--but it’s finally the time!” Bristol replied with a menacing smile.

“Three years---three years we looked for you---to settle up with what you did!”

“Oh---yes----the theft of your wife’s casket---I remember it well---though it didn’t exactly go as I had planned. I can assure you that this new plan will go off without a hitch.”

“I wish I had killed you that day---” Ben began but was soon cut off.

“Oh yes---the feel of your hands against my throat--- how could I forget!” Bristol laughed and rubbed at his neck. “Good thing that little boy of yours stopped you from doing the deed, huh?”

“Your partners are all doing hard time---and so will you when I turn you in to the authorities here!”

“I don’t think so, Ben. In fact---I am sure you won’t turn me in. On the contrary--you are going to do exactly as I tell you---or you will have something more to mourn than your late wife.”

Ben scanned the dining area, his mind occupied with one thing; where was Joe? He was worried that the boy would walk in on what was happening and there would be blood shed.

“Looking for your kid? Don’t worry about him----I had a few of my girls flirt with the boy, that’s what’s keeping him from your dinner date. But, he will be here soon!”

“What do you want?”

“You are going to sit there and listen. The lives of your sons hang in the balance.”

“My sons?” Ben asked, wondering if the man thought that Hoss was still in town.

“Yes--your sons! Hoss----he’s on his way to Virginia City even as we speak. Let’s talk about him and then we will get to Joseph.”

Ben swallowed hard, wondering if Bristol and his gun hands had somehow gotten to his middle son. Looking across the table at the insane man, Ben’s blood went cold wondering what awful plan he had come up with this time. It had been bad enough to have encountered Bristol Ford some three years prior. That plan had been to steal the remains of Ben’s third wife, and the mother of his youngest son. For weeks the whole family was thrown into a whole new grief as they waited to find out who had stolen the casket and why. When they were finally lucky enough to get to their beloved’s coffin back, Bristol had managed to escape with one of his henchmen. Though they had tried their best to find the evil man he had eluded their grasp. Now here he was, with a sadistic smile plastered on his face and a plan far worse than the first.

“Now---I have a man who is riding to Sacramento on the same stage as that huge boy of yours. Their lay over there before changing to the stage to Virginia City affords my man the opportunity of stopping in to see if there’s a telegraph from me waiting. Now that wire will either tell him to go ahead and kill Hoss, or to simply get off the stage in Virginia City leaving your son unharmed. That’s going to depend on what his father does in the next few minutes.”

“You’re lying!”

“Look into my eyes---still think I am?” Bristol shot Ben a grave look as he replied.

“You haven’t told me what you want with me---and why you are doing this!”

“Well the why of it---that’s the simplest thing to explain. I hate you, Cartwright, and I’ve grown to hate you even more these past few years. Fortunately for me I escaped your dim witted detective three years ago---and now have amassed a great wealth- far more than before you sent me away from Virginia City eleven years ago. Your greed destroyed me, made me lose my ranch and everything I owned but, I have it ALL now---money, power, friends---there’s only one thing missing from my life. I have no children---so I am taking one of yours!”

“You’re mad!” Ben exclaimed, but tried to keep his voice down low enough to avoid the gunmen from trying anything.

“No, I am not----I am calculating and fair. I could have killed Hoss already---and your Joseph for that matter. But, I have plans for the boy.”

“Leave my sons out of this---if you want some crazy form of revenge for something that I had no control over--then take me!” Ben insisted.

“You broke me, Ben---I lost it all---now you are gonna realize what it’s like to lose something that’s precious to you.”

“You might just as well kill me----you’re not taking my boy,” Ben warned.

“Oh I figured you’d respond as such---that’s why YOU are not my target. Now---I’ve already told you the plans for Hoss---now as to Joe---this is what you must do to keep him alive. When he comes in here in a minute you are going to sit right where you are. You are not to say one thing about there being danger. And don’t plan on whispering--” Bristol stopped and pointed at two other men sitting at tables on either side of Ben’s table. “They see or hear you warn Joe and he is dead---right here in this chair---his life is over!”

“What are you saying?” Ben asked in disbelief. “What are you going to do with him?”

“I am going to give you a minute or two to look into your youngest son’s eyes before I take him away from you forever. I am going to come in here---and pull him out of here. And you---well---you are going to sit right there. No protests on your part or he dies! No fond goodbyes----you just sit there and watch me take him away. Then, you are gonna sit right there at the table until I send word that you can leave the restaurant. Got it, Ben?”

Ben felt an uncontrollable desire to reach across the table and strangle the man who now stared joyously towards him. He wished that Joe had not pulled his hands from off Bristol’s neck years ago. That would have ended the evil. Now it had come back to haunt the whole family once again.

“I can’t do it,” Ben finally spoke the words.

“You WILL do it---or one of those four men---two up front---and one at either side of you will kill your son. NOT only that---I will send the wire to have Hoss killed. Two sons in one day? You think you can handle signing both of their death warrants?”

“How do I know---how do I know you won’t send the wire anyway---and how do I know you won’t kill Joseph once you take him out of here?”

Bristol laughed and stood from his chair, in preparation for Joe’s arrival. “You’ll do as you’ve been told---or you will have two more caskets to set next to that wife of yours. Now---if you do EXACTLY as I’ve instructed you will still have the full count of three sons tonight. Of course one will still be in Boston---yes I did check on Adam by the way. And Hoss will be safely heading home---and Joseph. Well---he will not be killed---just never yours again!”

“I’ll track you down this time, Bristol----as God is my witness--you will pay for what you are making me do to my son!” Ben vowed.

“Well--until that fateful meeting---you’ll just have to be content to know that Joe is mine. Now-please excuse my rudeness---but I must go off to the alcove to await his arrival. Keep watching me as I leave---if you want---but be assured that all eyes are on your performance,” Bristol said as he walked towards the back of the dining room.

Ben sat at his table, his hands held up to his face wondering if he could do as he had been told to do. He didn’t think it was humanly possible to sit across from his youngest son, knowing that the boy was about to be abducted. Ben felt that it would be the ultimate betrayal. How could he ever forgive himself? Ben also wondered how he could forgive himself if he didn’t do as instructed and it ended up costing the lives of both Joe and Hoss. His head bent in prayer, Ben struggled for the strength to find the right answer.

“Hey Pa!” Joe called from across the room smiling as he walked closer to his father’s table.

Ben watched as the two gunmen in front of the room slipped their hands down along side their coats. He cast a look at the men sitting at the two tables next to him and watched them nod towards him. Soon, the happy go lucky youngest Cartwright pulled up the chair and plopped down on it.

“Sorry I’m a little late---ran into a couple girls---they seemed real nice,” Joe winked towards his father and placed his napkin on his lap. “Hey? Why so gloomy?” Joe asked as he noticed the wrinkled forehead of his father. “Everything’s going good isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Ben replied, trying to clear his throat and etch the image of his son’s face into his brain for safe keeping.

“Hey----talked to that doorman and he says there’s one heck of a play at the theater tonight--think we can catch it, Pa?”

“Yes---” Ben paused and could see Bristol starting to make his entrance from behind where Joe was seated. “Yes that would be fine, Son.”

“Can’t wait to tell old Hoss what he missed!” Joe laughed and took a sip from his water glass.

It was at that moment that a hand reached from behind Joe and it took all the internal fortitude he had left for Ben not to jump from his chair and attack Bristol Ford’s advances. Before Joe knew what was happening, the man had his six gun in his possession.

“What the---” Joe said flinging his head back to see what was going on.

“Come along, Joe!” Bristol smiled and with the assistance of one of his hired gunmen he wrestled Joe’s arms behind his back and pulled him to his feet.

“Pa! Pa--help me!” Joe pleaded as Bristol started to pull him away from the table.

Ben sat there, his mouth hanging open but no words coming from it. He never budged an inch, never gave any sign that he was upset over the events taking place in front of his eyes.

“Pa----Pa---don’t let them take me!” Joe screamed as he was pulled out of the restaurant.

The customers at the other tables looked at the strange sight happening. But, the hired guns at the front of the room flanked Bristol and his friend and ushered Joe out before anyone made a move.

“Sit right there until we tell you, Cartwright,” a man to the right of Ben whispered.

Ben sat at the table, giving no verbal response as to what had happened. But, no matter what he did to try to quell his anguish it could not prevent the tears which streamed down his cheeks. He had just seen his youngest son, the light of his life, stolen from him and worse yet, was that he had given the boy the impression that it didn’t matter.

By the time that Joe had made it out to the front of the hotel, he was starting to lose strength. He had fought with all his might the strong hold of the two men who had his arms pinned against his spine. Bristol had given the nod to his hired gun and the man brought forth a handkerchief that was swabbed in ether. He placed it against Joe’s face and the boy coughed as though he was choking before his body crumpled up and became dead weight. Bristol and the other man pulled the unconscious Joe into their waiting carriage and the driver sent the team away.

“Went like clockwork, Boss!” the hired gunman smiled as he sat across from the man.

“Yes, Cole---like clockwork. I told you it would!” Bristol replied as he stared next to him where Joe rested slumped against the carriage door. “As soon as we have the kid taken care of you can go to back to the hotel and get one of the other men to deliver the message to Cartwright. We’ll let him sit there and stew awhile----I only wish I could be there to see the look on his face now!” Bristol laughed.

The carriage pulled up in front of a huge mansion that Bristol had purchased as an investment. He wasn’t planning on staying there long, but knew he would need a place off the beaten path while Ben Cartwright was still in San Francisco in case he got nosy. Bristol and Cole pulled Joe out of the carriage and dragged his lifeless body down the cobblestone walkway and into the house. They had already taken the time to remove the young man’s holster and tossed it next to the door.

“I’ve had his room prepared already---help me get him up the stairs,” Bristol said to Cole and slowly they ascended the winding staircase.

Joe was hefted like a sack of grain onto the four poster bed by the two men. They then went about securing his wrists and ankles with leather straps onto the posts of the bed in case he should come back around before they were ready to handle him.

“Have a nice sleep, Joseph!” Bristol said as he slapped the boy’s cheek and turned back towards the door. He and Cole walked into the hallway, taking the precaution of locking the door behind them. Bristol had already made arrangements to have the windows in the bedroom nailed shut and painted black. It was all part of his long ranged plan to make sure that his prisoner was disoriented whenever he awakened.

Ben opened his pocket watch and sighed heavy heartedly. It had been hours since Joe had been taken from him. The waiter had come back to the table numerous times to see if the elder Cartwright was ready to order. Each time Ben had waved the man off. He knew he couldn’t eat anything, not with his stomach churning with apprehension over what had befallen both of his sons. Hoss would, most likely, just be pulling into the town of Sacramento. Ben wondered if Bristol had called off his henchman yet. How could he trust someone so evil with the lives of his two boys? Hoss was a force to be reckoned with, Ben never doubted that fact. But, being caught unaware was the problem. No doubt Hoss would even strike up a conversation with the stranger, friendly as was his nature. Ben prayed that nothing had happened to endanger his son and that Hoss would be returning safely to Virginia City late the next day. Then there was the issue of his youngest. Seeing the boy and hearing him scream for his father’s help was something that Ben would never in his life forget. That image was plastered in his mind and his heart as well. Now Joe was in the hands of someone who was quite obviously insane. He wished that he could just run out of the restaurant and begin his search for the boy. But, having followed Bristol’s instructions to the tee, Ben couldn’t chance a slip up now. The eyes of the gunmen had not left Ben for one minute. They still sat patiently at the two tables and every now and then laughed and nodded towards the troubled father.

****Oh Joseph-----I promise you----with every ounce of strength I have left--that I will find you----and explain why I couldn’t help you tonight. Please God---please---I beg you to help me----and to help my sons. Please don’t let harm come to them!****Ben prayed.

It was already eight o’clock in the evening and the dinner patrons had diminished in the dining room. But, still, the guards around Ben were posted and he sat waiting for word from Bristol. He had not eaten, but did indulge in a good strong shot of liquor to calm his nerves and ease the wait. Soon there was some activity by the front of the room and a man approached his table with an envelope held in his hands. He reached over to Ben and handed it to him.

“Here’s your instructions, Cartwright---and Bristol told me you’d better read them good. One slip up and you know what’s gonna happen to your kid!” the man warned and turned back for the door.

Ben so wanted to shoot the man in the back as he had casually strolled out of the restaurant. But, instead, with his fingers trembling, he opened the envelope. A letter was enclosed and inside of it was a stagecoach ticket.

Ben read the letter to himself, ****The enclosed ticket has been purchased for you. You are to take the morning stage to Sacramento tomorrow. You will then proceed to Virginia City and back to your ranch. Just as promised, you will find your son Hoss, alive and well. You are NOT to stop by the authorities tonight OR in the morning before you leave. My men are watching your every move and Joe’s life will depend on what you now do. Get out of town. When you return to the Ponderosa you will await my further instructions. Have a wonderful trip, Ben, so sorry we couldn’t have had a longer chat! Be assured I will take good care of Joe. Unless, of course, you decide to go against my instructions. Sincerely---Bristol Ford. P.S. You may now leave the restaurant and go back to your hotel suite. I believe you have some packing to do! Never mind Joseph’s clothes, I have taken care of all of that for you.****

Ben cast a wary eye towards the other guards around him and saw them nod. Evidently they were well aware what was in Bristol’s letter. He pulled himself to standing and let his right hand drop alongside his body. Ben had to once again fight the desire to pull out his gun and take care of the men who had partaken in the abduction of his son. He slowly walked across the restaurant and headed towards the lobby of the hotel. Instinctively knowing he was being followed, Ben made his way up the stairs to his second floor suite. Reaching into his pant’s pocket he drew out the room key and pushed open the door. Ben walked into the three room suite which had housed himself and his boys earlier in the day. He made his way into the room that Joe and Hoss had shared and could see that Bristol’s men had been there. Clothes were tossed around haphazardly and Joe’s prized possession lay smashed on the bedroom floor. Ben knelt down and cradled the locket baring Marie Cartwright’s picture in his shaky hands. It was then that the tears flowed from his eyes and he cried out for his youngest son.

“Joseph! What have they done with you?” Ben sobbed and held Marie’s picture to his chest, as if it were her in the flesh and she had the power to heal his broken heart. He knew that Joseph treasured the memento of the woman he had hardly known, but always loved. Now, the boy was without the comfort of the locket to help him through whatever was taking place at the hands of Bristol. Ben walked sadly over to the bed and sat down. He reached for Joe’s favorite jacket and ran his hands over it. It looked as though Bristol had only taken the bare minimum as far as his son’s clothes were concerned.

“I’ll get you back, son----I promise you----wherever you are---never forget I love you,” Ben spoke aloud and pushed away his fallen tears. He then began to pack up Joe’s remaining clothes. Ben would take them back home with him, but he vowed that he wouldn’t stay at the Ponderosa long. There was no way he was going to sit by calmly and wait for Bristol’s instructions. He would, however, do as he had been told and take the early stage to Sacramento and then onward to Virginia City. But, once finding that Hoss was safely at home, Ben promised himself that he would head back out after his youngest.

Later that night, Ben tossed and turned in bed unable to shut off his thoughts. He had packed up all his belongings as well as those that were left of Joe’s. But, he had been unable to fall asleep so he had taken the time to write a letter to his son, Adam, which he intended on sending as soon as he reached Virginia City. He asked his eldest boy to catch the first train west to help in the search for his little brother. Ben felt a little bit better after he had confided in his son all the awful details of what had transpired that day. He felt as though he was trying to convince himself more than he was Adam that he had tried to do the right thing for all involved. Now, hours later, he wasn’t all that sure. All Ben could think of was the fact that he had no idea if either of his younger boys were alive. He prayed for their safety again, and also for the ability to fall off to asleep. Ben knew he would need all his wits about him the next day to think of a plan of his own.; a plan to get Joe back and to seek revenge against Bristol for what he had done.

On the other side of town Joe was just beginning to come out of the haze that the ether had left him under. His head hurt so bad that his eyes were throbbing as they finally came open and stared towards the lamp next to the bed. Slowly the vision of Bristol Ford’s face came into view and Joe began to fight against the leather straps holding him in place on the bed.

Bristol smiled to see the young man coming back to him. He tapped his cigar ashes on the floor and moved closer to where Joe lay.

“Welcome to your new world, Joseph. So glad to have you here like this. My the years have served you well,” Bristol laughed.

“Let me go you bastard!” Joe screamed and struggled to free himself.

“No, not right now. You must first become accustomed to your new way of life. Once that is accomplished you will have a little more freedom. Today is the first day of your new life, consider it a whole new wonderful experience. You are going to learn so much from me!” Bristol said and tapped the young man’s face.

“When my father gets to you---he’ll wipe that stupid smile off your face, Bristol! He almost killed you once--this time he’ll do it for real!” Joe warned.

“Your father?” Bristol asked, as if he was shocked the boy had used the word. “You mean Ben Cartwright? You mean the man who sat there in the restaurant and let me pull you from him? You don’t really think he’s gonna come after you do you? Come on, Joe---weren’t you paying attention?”

Joe bit at his lip, trying to erase the pictures from his mind which Bristol had just painted. He remembered it so clearly now, the cries to his father and the man just sitting there and doing nothing to assist him. Joe fought back the bitterness of tears, unsure of what to make of his father’s actions, or rather, lack of them.

“Ah-----I seemed to have struck a nerve, huh, Joe? Guess what Ben did then----come on guess!” Bristol chided his prisoner.

“Go to hell!”

“Okay----you give up? I will tell you then. He calmly ate his dinner---then went to his room. Seems your father is leaving for home tomorrow,” Bristol explained and watched the way the news affected Joe. The young man was having trouble fighting back tears.

“You’re a damn liar!” Joe muttered and again tugged on his bindings.

“No---sorry---he’s going---I saw him buy the ticket. But you really can’t blame the old man, Joe---he’s got so many orders to fill--just doesn’t have time to look for his kid. Not that he would anyway. He let me take you---don’t you get it yet? He gave ME the permission to bring you here. A deal so to speak. And----you’d better get use to the idea---cause Ben is not coming to your aid---he’s going home.”

Joe turned his face away from the man who seemed to enjoy taunting him. No matter how hard he tried to fight back his tears, nonetheless a few escaped his eyes and rolled down to the pillow. Bristol moved even closer to Joe and grabbed him by the chin forcing his gaze.

“What’s this!” Bristol exclaimed with a sadistic grin. “It’s not a tear I see is it?” He lowered a finger down to Joe’s cheek and pulled back the liquid. Bristol drew his finger to his mouth and tasted the fluid. “I’ll be darned---it IS a tear----very salty!” Bristol laughed.

“You are insane! If I could get my hands loose I would strangle you! I wish to God I hadn’t stopped my father three years ago!” Joe screamed.

“Joe----you gotta calm down, boy---screaming like that and all---not very polite! You wouldn’t want to make your host angry would you?” Bristol asked, and as he did, he grabbed a handful of Joe’s curly hair in his fist. “You have so much to learn---Joe---oh I’m sorry--does this hurt? You don’t look too comfortable!”

Joe stared up at the evil sadistic man and refused to say a word. He knew there was currently no way out of his plight and decided to wait for a better chance later.

“You didn’t answer me---that’s impolite---now once more---does this hurt?” Bristol asked again pulling even harder on Joe’s hair. Joe resisted a response, though his face was contorted in pain. “You’d better say something---or I will pull it out---and you wouldn’t look quite as handsome with no hair, Joe!”

“Yes---yes it hurts,” Joe whispered.

“Louder!” Bristol insisted.

“Yes it hurts!” Joe screamed out.

Bristol chuckled and released the boy’s hair and settled back down in the chair next to the bed and reignited his cigar. “Sorry about that, Joe---but unless you speak up how’s a person to know you’re not feeling well?”

“What’re you going to do with me?”

“You’ll find out. I’ve got my hands full looks like---you’re a hard nut to crack! But, I am sure we can come up with a workable relationship. You know---like you used to have with your father? Sure---that’s what we’ll be like--father and son! But, first you need some sleep so I will let you alone until morning. Now--is there anything I can get you before I go? I could get you some water---tuck in your covers---whatever you want!”

“I want you dead---can you do that for me?” Joe replied, his anger mounting.

“No---sorry--but I can make YOU dead---so you need to remember that. Now---get some sleep--we’ve got lots of things to do tomorrow. Maybe---if you’re a good boy---I will allow you to see Ben Cartwright leave on the stage. Would you like that?”

“My father won’t leave San Francisco until he has me back!”

“We’ll see---goodnight. Sleep well!” Bristol laughed and stood and walked to the door.

Joe watched as the man left the room and heard the key turn in the lock. He looked up at his wrists and tried to pull his head farther up on the bed to try to figure a way to loosen his restraints. No matter how hard he tried he couldn’t get to them due to the tight hold of the restraints on his ankles. Finally he gave up and just stared up to the ceiling. His thoughts went back once more to his pa.****Why didn’t you go after me, Pa? Why didn’t you help me?**** Joe’s thoughts echoed in his head.****I know you won’t leave me---there has to be a reason for all this----you’ll find me tomorrow---I know you won’t head back to the Ponderosa without me!**** Joe closed his eyes and tried his best to get some sleep. He knew that somehow his father would rescue him in the morning.

Sunrise over San Francisco was breathtaking. The sunlight glimmering on the bay and the ships in the harbor painted a tranquil picture that usually gave Ben Cartwright pause as he recalled his seafaring days. But there was little beauty in the scene that morning as he fumbled with the last of his luggage and headed for the door to his suite. He dreaded the long ride to Sacramento and later the change of stages that would take him home. Ben looked around the room one last time, knowing he was missing something. He felt as though he had left his soul there, but it wasn’t in the hotel it was in the possession of one Bristol Ford. Sighing to himself resolutely, he headed out of the suite and down the stairs. Ben ordered a quick cup of coffee and swallowed it in just a few big gulps. Food was still out of the question. He knew it would probably just come right back up if he attempted breakfast. Ben paid his bill at the front desk and then walked outside towards the stage depot.

Joe had been released of his leather restraints that held him to his bed and then was taken forcefully to the second floor of a building across the street from the Overland Stage Depot. To someone from another town other than San Francisco, the comings and goings of men sinisterly moving to and fro with a bound hostage would raise many suspicions. But, in a town that was famous for hijackings and shanghais, the sight would draw little attention. That along with the fact that the men that Bristol had hired had quite a bit of experience, made it possible for them to drag Joe around with no interference from the outside world at all. Bristol made good and sure that the boy remained restrained so that he wouldn’t be able to holler down to the street below. He did, however remove Joe’s blindfold in time. Staring through the large pane of glass towards the stage, which was about ready to pull away, Joe saw his father. Luggage in hand, Ben handed his ticket to the driver and boarded the stage. Joe’s heart fell in his chest and what little hope he still had in his heart faded away.

“So---you think your father REALLY cares, Joe? You think he even gave you a second thought? There he goes!” Bristol smiled as the stage headed on its way out of town.

“Pa--” Joe whispered underneath his gag as the stage disappeared from sight.

“Okay--enough with the fond farewells-- let’s get back to your new home and start on your lessons!” Bristol gleamed and pulled Joe’s blindfold back down across his face.

Joe walked along, assisted by Bristol’s henchmen. His gait was slow and deliberately stubborn, making them half carry him back down to the carriage left waiting on the street. The ride back to the mansion was a quiet one. Joe sat there and took in the obnoxious odor of Bristol’s cigar. All the while he was fighting his emotions. He wanted to scream for help, but the neckerchief would muffle any attempts to get his words out. The carriage pulled up at the house and Joe was again dragged inside. Bristol and Cole pulled him up the stairs and back into the room where he had spent the previous night. They pushed him down on the bed where he sat waiting for his gag and blindfold to be removed.

“Well now I hope you have finally accepted the reality of your situation, Joe. It’s time to get on with your lessons!” Bristol said and pulled the blindfold and gag from his hostage.

“You resisted my attempts this morning to give you some breakfast. Now if you are planning on starving yourself you can just forget it! Cole---go bring up some food for the kid!” Bristol directed and his partner left the room.

Joe watched the man’s movements as he sat in the chair. He knew that his legs were now free, but there was the matter of his wrists which were still secured behind his back. That was the only thing stopping him from trying to run for the door.

“I can see the wheels in your little head turning, Boy, don’t think such things! It’s only going to cause you more woes. Now---you will eat your breakfast---though it’s a bit cold---and then you are going to do some writing for me.”

“I am not eating,” Joe muttered as he turned his face away from Bristol’s stare.

“Oh yes you are! You are going to eat and drink and bathe--all the things to keep you alive. Now, as for how long it’s going to take you to do those things--well---we will see,” Bristol warned. He started to get up from his chair as Cole walked back in with a plate.

“Here,” Cole said and handed the food over to Bristol.

“Untie his hands,” Bristol commanded.

“You kidding? You know he’s gonna try something, Bristol!”

“Do as I tell you, Cole,” Bristol replied.

Cole shook his head angrily, but did as he had been instructed. He reached behind Joe and untied the rope that held his hands pinned in back of him. Joe pulled his hands out in front of his body and tried to get the circulation back into them. He also sized up the situation and tried to gauge which man he could take on first.

“Take the plate in your hand, Joe, and eat your food,” Bristol said standing over him.

Joe took the plate and pulled it towards him. Just when the two men had gotten the impression that the boy was going to do as told, he shot the plate up in Bristol’s face and ran for the door. Cole sidestepped his boss and grabbed Joe by the arm. Joe flailed his fists, punishing Cole’s stomach. Bristol was over to them both and grabbed Joe around the neck, getting him in a good headlock.

“I told you the kid would try something!” Cole yelled madly.

Bristol dragged Joe over to the bed and pointed for Cole to tie the boy’s hands back again. Cole was happy to do it, and made sure that he tied them very tightly. Then, Bristol reached under Joe’s chin and directed his gaze.

“Rule number one of today---you do NOT try to escape!” Bristol yelled and smacked Joe across the face with his other hand.

Joe reeled from the blow to his face but didn’t respond verbally.

“Rule number two---you will eat when we tell you!” Bristol grabbed the plate off the floor and threw the eggs and toast on it. When he brought it over to Joe it was covered in debris that was on the wood floor. “Since you have refused to eat by yourself- --looks like I will have to feed you. Open your mouth!”

“Go to hell!” Joe answered vehemently.

Bristol smacked Joe again, this time causing the boy’s lip to be cut by the ring on his finger. Joe still refused to open his mouth. Bristol sat down on the bed next to Joe.

“Joe--Joe --Joe----why must you provoke me so? I tried to be nice to you---but you just can’t behave! Now---open your mouth or I will have Cole open it for me and stuff this inside! Now which will it be?”

Joe gazed over at Cole. He knew he had raised the man’s temper due to the couple of punches he had planted in his mid-section. He wondered how violent the two men planned to get. It seemed as though there must be a plan of some kind to keep him alive. Joe wondered if he was being held for ransom. But, if he was, he couldn’t figure out why Pa would’ve left town. The Cartwrights had a good sum of money in two different banks there in San Francisco, so it couldn’t have been due to not being able to come up with the proper amount of funds.

“Open!” Bristol called again and grabbed Joe’s chin as Cole approached the bed.

Joe decided he would do as he was told for the time being. He knew that Bristol meant business and didn’t relish the idea of choking on food should he have it stuffed down his throat. Slowly he opened his mouth, and though it was degrading, Joe began to eat what was spooned in by Bristol. When he was at last done with the full course of the meal, Bristol held up a glass of water and Joe washed down the grime filled breakfast.

“Now--that wasn’t so bad was it Joe?” Bristol smiled and handed Cole the plate and glass. “Now----I think you need to get washed off. I took the liberty of gathering a change of clothes for you, which your father gladly parted with. Let’s walk over to that basin and get cleaned up and then we will get started on other things.”

Joe was pulled to standing as Cole set the plate and glass on the floor. He knew that the boy was probably going to resist again, and wanted to have his hands free just in case.

“I’m going to untie your hands now, Joe, now be a good boy this time, okay?” Bristol said standing behind his victim. He carefully untied Joe’s hands and stepped back a bit. “Now--take off your clothes, wash up and I will hand you clean ones to change into.”

Joe turned and stared over at the two men. He couldn’t believe what Bristol was asking him to do this time. There was no way that he was going to strip down in front of the two maniacs.

“I’ll wash off---but I don’t need to change my clothes,” Joe protested.

“You want us to take them off of you?” Cole called over to the boy.

“Why don’t you just leave me in here---I’ll wash off and then you can come back?” Joe tried to reason with them both.

“No---I’m afraid you haven’t proved yourself to be trustworthy yet, Joe. Now---take off your clothes. I won’t be asking you again,” Bristol demanded.

Joe sucked in a deep breath, trying to figure out which would be more humiliating. He could remove his clothes in front of the men or resist and have his clothes stripped from his body forcefully. Bristol took a step towards him and reached for Joe’s shirt.

“I’ll do it!” Joe insisted and undid the buttons of his shirt.

Cole laughed and sat down on the bottom of the bed. “The kid’s modest ain’t he?”

“We’re all friends---don’t know why!” Bristol replied laughing.

Joe removed his shirt and bent towards the water basin and rinsed his face first. Then he took the washcloth and soaked it and began to wash off his arms and chest. He dried off with the towel and turned back towards Bristol.

“Come over here and pull those boots off so you can get out of those pants,” Bristol said and motioned towards the bed.

Joe slowly made his way to the bottom of the bed where Cole still sat smiling. The man was obviously very amused to see him being degraded. Joe sank down on the bed and pulled off his boots, socks and then his pants. All that was left was his underwear.

“Finish washing off,” Bristol pointed over towards the basin.

Joe did as he was told, hoping to get it over with. He couldn’t help noticing the reflection of the two men staring at him through the mirror set above the wash basin. Joe could feel their eyes looking through him and it made his skin crawl. He vowed to seek revenge against them both at the soonest possible opportunity. He finished cleansing his entire body and Bristol handed him the set of clothes. Joe was upset to see the fresh pair of undershorts, meaning he would have to remove the old ones. He turned away from both of the men and pulled the old ones off quickly and almost jumped into the new ones. His face beet red with embarrassment, Joe reached for the pair of pants held in Bristol’s hands.

“I guess we taught you a little lesson in humility today didn’t we, Boy?” Bristol smiled to see how uncomfortable Joe was.

Joe didn’t reply. Instead he buttoned his trousers and reached again for his shirt. Soon he had new socks on his feet and his boots were back in place.

“Feel all nice and clean now, Joe?” Cole laughed at him.

“You are two sick humans, you know that?” Joe snarled, having taken more than he could stand.

“That brings us to rule three doesn’t it?” Bristol asked, staring for a moment towards Cole.

“Yep--think so, Bristol,” Cole nodded.

“You will not call us names--you WILL show us respect. If you don’t --well---you will be punished for each infraction.”

“Go ahead and kill me!” Joe yelled.

“No---not likely!” Bristol replied and grabbed Joe’s arms, pinning them behind him. “Now you apologize to us right now---or you will get the first of your punishments.”

“First?” Joe laughed in spite of himself. “Like being fed, slapped, and forced to undress in front of you sadistic bastards wasn’t punishment!”

“You’ll see what REAL punishment is, Joe. I DID warn you--but unfortunately you were born with a rather hard head. Now we will have to show you what happens when you say such awful things. Cole come here!” Bristol ordered and his partner came over to assist him. “Now, Cole---you are a pretty observant person--what have you learned about Joe so far?”

“Well--let’s see,” Cole paused as he moved in closer to help hold Joe’s arms. The boy was trying to fight off Bristol’s hold but it wasn’t doing him any good. “I know he’s got a smart mouth---must be because he thinks he’s better than us! He doesn’t follow orders either.”

“What else?” Bristol persisted.

“Well--he sure doesn’t like to undress in front of us. Looks like that bothered him the most!”

“Exactly,” Bristol nodded and looked into Cole’s dark eyes. “So---guess he’s gonna have to do it all again, what do you say?”

“Yeah---serves him right for calling us bastards,” Cole fumed.

“Okay---you heard the consensus, Joe----gonna have to strip back down and do it all over again. Maybe doing it once or twice will keep that mouth of yours shut from now on!” Bristol said spinning the boy back around.

Joe made his move and broke free of the man’s hold and was able to make contact with Bristol’s face. A sharp left hook to his jaw sent Bristol back against the bed. Cole grabbed Joe and held him around his chest.

“Get those clothes off of him!” Bristol shouted and reached for the leather restraints. “He can stay undressed here in this room for awhile until he makes a full apology!”

Joe struggled as Cole attempted to remove his shirt. He planted his boot heel firmly on top of Cole’s foot, which momentarily made the man let go. Bristol was waiting and threw a punch which knocked Joe to the floor. That was followed by a few hits by Cole which knocked their hostage unconscious.

“Strip him down--then we’ll tie him up. When he comes back around he’ll know better next time!” Bristol ordered and helped pull Joe off of the floor and dragged him over to the bed.

Joe had no idea how long he had been in the deep fog inside his brain. He remembered hearing sounds and feeling his body being tugged and pulled, but little else. When his eyes blinked open he groaned from the bruising to his face and gazed over towards the lamp. He tugged on his wrists, and realized he had been knocked out long enough to be rebound by the leather restraints. Suddenly his body felt a chill and Joe realized that he had been removed of all clothing, other than his thin cotton underwear. When the awful reality hit him head on, Joe couldn’t stop the tears which poured out of his eyes and slid quietly down onto the pillowcase. He wondered how long he had been unconscious and what had happened during that time. There was no doubt in his mind that the men who held him captive were insane. That was now a given. They wanted to break him, break him emotionally and physically. Joe tried with all his soul not to fall into the pit of depression over his awful plight. Surely his father would return and get him out of the hell he was a prisoner to. How could he have just ran off and not bothered to search for him? Doubt and fear fell across Joe’s mind sending another kind of chill throughout his entire being. He knew that his only hope at the moment was to bite back his ire towards Bristol and his partner. Joe believed that things would not get any better for him if he continued to hurl insults at the men, even though he cursed their lives. He reasoned that he would have to try to follow Bristol’s rules, if only temporarily. Joe knew that they meant business and it was his own fierce pride which had caused the insults to his body and mind that morning. Laying there on the bed, almost nude, Joe decided to play Bristol’s game, or to at least give the impression he was. He was filled with anger, humiliation, confusion and fear. But, worst of all was the underlying belief that was starting to grow stronger; the belief that his father had allowed all of it to happen by not pulling him from Bristol’s clutches.

Joe wasn’t sure how long he had been left in the room. Without any light of day to determine the passing of time he was lost in a continual moment of despair. It seemed like hours, perhaps a whole day, Joe was unsure how long it had been from the time he was stripped of his outer clothing and left tied to the bed. Finally, Bristol came into the room and approached his captive.

“Kinda cold in here isn’t it, Joe?” Bristol asked smiling as he touched the raised bumps on Joe’s right leg.

Joe shivered from the man’s touch and tried to move his leg away from Bristol’s fingers.

“Are you ready to apologize yet--or do you need some more time to think about your behavior?”

Joe swallowed the bile welling up in the back of his throat. He thought he would lose the awful breakfast which had been forced on him. ****Play the game, Joe---play the game---bide your time---until they let down their guards****Joe thought to himself and forced a verbal reply.

“I’m sorry,” Joe replied quietly.

“Sorry for what?” Bristol encouraged Joe onward with his apology.

“Sorry for saying what I did to you.”

“No---gotta go better than that. Now---you say this---I’m sorry for acting like a disobedient brat!”

Joe bit at his lip as he stared up at the evil man who was enjoying his little game.

“I’m sorry---for being---a brat,” Joe finally mustered the internal strength to get the words out of his mouth.

“Disobedient brat, Joe!”

“I’m sorry---for being---a disobedient brat.”

Bristol laughed and settled down on the side of the bed next to Joe. “Now--that wasn’t so hard was it? Now---if you will just ask me nice---I will hand you your clothes and you can get dressed.”

“Please---give me my clothes,” Joe replied, and felt sure now that he would puke.

“You’re not going to try to escape again?”

“No,” Joe answered.

“No Sir--isn’t that what you meant to say?” Bristol asked raising his eyebrows for effect.

“No---Sir.”

“Okay---good enough for me---I am a forgiving person after all,” Bristol said and walked across to the door and let Cole into the room. “I think Joe has something he wants to tell you Cole”

Cole walked over to the bed and stared down at Joe. “Oh---kid finally accepted his lot in life, huh?”

“Apologize to Mr. Rivers, Joseph,” Bristol ordered.

“I’m sorry---” Joe replied, holding his breath to ward off the illness in his stomach.

“No---do it like you did before---with feeling! Come on--if you want your clothes that is!”

“I’m sorry for being a disobedient brat,” Joe spoke out in one quick breath.

“Okay--guess I’ll forgive you this time!” Cole laughed and turned to Bristol. “So---we gonna untie him again? Cause I’m telling you, Bristol---it that boy punches me again---he’s gonna really get it this time!”

“Joe has learned his lesson. Now untie his ankles and I will get his hands.”

Soon Joe had the bounds loosened and he pulled himself to a seated position, never taking his eyes off the two men who still hovered over him.

“Here you go!” Bristol said and handed Joe his clothes.

Joe went right for his pants, pulling them on first. Next came his shirt and then his socks and boots. He was soon dressed and sat on the bed wondering what was next. Joe noticed that the men were watching his every move, and he knew there was no chance of escape.

“Now what?” Joe sighed, defeated in spirit, but feeling a tad bit better to have his body covered.

“I told you this morning that you have some writing to do,” Bristol began and walked towards the small desk across the room. He drew out a match and lit the kerosene lamp and then grabbed a handful of paper.

“Writing? Oh--let me guess---a ransom note?” Joe asked, and hoped with all his heart that was what the man had in mind.

“Joe---still don’t understand do you?” Bristol sighed and sat next to the kid on the bed. “There IS no ransom note---you are not being ransomed. You have been given to me--by your father.”

“That’s a lie!” Joe shouted and soon felt Bristol’s hand on his leg, squeezing it.

“You aren’t being a disobedient brat again are you? Cause those clothes come off quite easily----and may stay off the next time!” Bristol warned.

“No--no Sir,” Joe whispered and dropped his head down. The last thing he needed was to again be humiliated and stripped of his clothing.

“As I was saying---your father and I made a bargain--the details of which are inconsequential now. So, if you are still thinking that the great and powerful Ben Cartwright is going to burst into this room--well---stop!”

“My father would never make a bargain with you! Not after all you did to my family three years ago. He hates you--and you know it!” Joe argued. He had to say the words in order to hear them echoed in his own mind. If he came to believe Bristol’s allegations, Joe knew he would have little left to live for.

“Did you see him just sitting there last night as we dragged you out?”

Joe just hung his head lower and didn’t reply.

“Answer me!” Bristol yelled.

“Yes, Sir,” Joe responded.

“And did you notice how he never even called out to you--never made a run towards the door--never even pulled out his gun?”

“Yes sir,” Joe mumbled, trying to fight away the awful images again.

“And---this morning--did you see him get on that stage?”

“Yes, sir.”

“You are a smart boy---- I am sure you can connect the dots here. Now let’s get to your assignment shall we? I’ve got here ten pieces of paper. Come over to this desk and I’ll show you what you need to do,” Bristol pulled Joe to standing and they walked to the desk. He pushed on Joe’s shoulder, encouraging him to sit down in the chair. Next, he handed Joe a pencil.

“This paper is lined for your convenience. There are fifty lines on the front and fifty on the back. That--in case your mind is still failing to comprehend things--means there’s one hundred per sheet. Ten sheets---that would be one thousand total lines. Now---on each of those lines you are to write what I am gong to dictate. Get the pencil ready!”

Joe reluctantly took the pencil in his left hand and awaited instructions.

“Write these words----I hate my father----got it?”

Joe looked up at Bristol, shock and confusion filled his green eyes. He knew he couldn’t write any such words. No matter what Pa’s motives were for leaving him there in San Francisco with Bristol, there was nothing that his father could do that would make Joe hate him.

“NO---I can’t,” Joe said setting down his pencil.

“You WILL---now pick up that pencil before I lose all patience with you!” Bristol hollered.

Joe scooped up the pencil and drew in a deep breath. He knew what would happen if he refused the man’s request. Staring over at Cole, Joe felt that the sadistic man was just waiting for his disobedience so that he would get another crack at humiliating him further.

“Now--first line--go on---I hate my father!” Bristol said pointing to the top line.

Joe scrawled the words, with a heavy heart and a trembling hand.

Bristol drew the paper up to examine it thoroughly. “Needs work--but I am sure---after you have done it a thousand times---it will look better than this first one!” Bristol laughed and set the paper back down in front of Joe.

“Why? Why are you doing this to me?” Joe pleaded for an answer.

“Because I want you to understand your lot in life now, Joe. Your father does not want you---you have got to get that through to your brain. It’s for your own good! I can’t get anywhere until you finally concede that the man does not love you and left you here on purpose.”

“I’ll never believe that--never!” Joe replied, fighting again the tears that were welled up in his eyes.

“Get to writing!” Bristol demanded and turned with Cole towards the door. “And, Joe---don’t think of trying an escape. The windows are reinforced with steel bars, and the door is locked. And---posted outside of your room is one of my many men. Now--you have lots of writing to accomplish. It’s a little after four---I will give you until eight when your dinner will be brought up to you. I’m sure you won’t fail to comply this time. You do know the consequences!” Bristol reminded Joe and walked out of the room with Cole.

Joe flung his pencil across the room and cursed out loud. He covered his face with his hands and wept. His tears fell on the paper, spilling onto the word “father’. Joe tried to bring himself around to the dull reality that he had to do as Bristol had commanded him to do. He knew that the next punishment would be worse than the first. Slowly, Joe pulled himself up from his chair and walked across the room to retrieve the pencil. Pushing aside his tears, he settled back down in the chair and began his assignment.

Exhaustion finally found Ben Cartwright. He leaned against the window inside the Overland Stagecoach and fell into a disturbed sleep. The lay over wasn’t very long, but each hour spent traveling farther and farther away from his youngest son was excruciating. Ben grabbed a sandwich and a canteen of water when he boarded the connecting stage in Sacramento. He prayed for a fast journey back to Virginia City. Ben hoped he would find his son, Hoss, safe and unharmed once he made it back to the Ponderosa. He didn’t trust Bristol, and it wouldn’t surprise him all that much to learn that he had ordered the assassin to do away with his target in spite of his promises.

There were two other passengers on the stage to Virginia City and Ben had glanced their way during the long trip, wondering if one could possibly be another planted hit man that Bristol had chosen to keep a watchful eye out to see if he tried to contact the authorities in either Sacramento or when they arrived in Virginia City. Ben simply nodded their way when they tried to strike up a conversation, but he would have no part of idle chit chat. His heart felt like a ton of bricks and his stomach churned with anxiety as he waited to reach his ranch. Ben had fallen to sleep with the picture of Joe’s face in his mind. He remembered the look of total betrayal that the boy had worn as he was being carried out of the restaurant. That image would haunt him every hour of every day until he had the boy safe in his arms again.

Two long day passed before Ben planted his boots back on Virginia City turf. It was late in the afternoon when he stepped down from the stage and made his way to the ticket booth. Ben was glad to see his old friend Pete still working behind the window. He walked over to the man and held out his hand as if to shake. Pete smiled up at Ben and then noticed there was a letter in Ben’s palm.

“Pete---send this as soon as you can,” Ben said quietly, keeping a wary eye out for strangers as he did. The two men from the stage had already made their way down to the hotel, but he wasn’t sure if someone else was in Virginia City keeping tabs on his movements.

“Sure, Ben---how was your trip?” Pete asked, confused by the other man’s strange demeanor.

“Fine,” Ben lied and turned and headed towards the livery stable.

Ben left his and Joe’s luggage with the caretaker at the livery, and told the man he would come back for it the next day. He was in far too much of a hurry and could not afford to take the slower method of buckboard back to the Ponderosa. Ben mounted his rented mare and sent the horse into motion hurrying back home. He never realized how long the trip from Virginia City to the ranch house was before. It never seemed as far as it did that day. Darkness was falling as he dismounted in front of the hitching post up by the house. Taking a deep breath to ward off the dreadful thought of something having happened to his middle son, Ben jogged up to the front door and opened it apprehensively.

Upon entering the ranch house the first thing that Ben spotted was the ten gallon hat hanging on the hat rack. He then saw the large holster that belonged to Hoss. Though that offered some valued relief, Ben knew he wouldn’t be able to draw another breath until the boy was there in front of him.

“Hoss!” Ben shouted towards the stairs.

Just a few seconds later the big man came strolling in from the kitchen, a surprised look on his face. “Hey! Pa! What’re you doing back so soon?”

“Hoss!” Ben cried out and threw his arms around his rotund son and hugged him with such intensity that Hoss could barely breathe himself.

“Pa?” Hoss said, as his father finally released his embrace. He noticed the tears welling up in his father’s dark brown eyes, and that sight sent a panic throughout his soul. “What the heck is wrong? And---where’s Little Joe?”

Ben’s eyes closed for a minute after hearing the question his son posed to him. Where was Little Joe? If only he knew! Slowly, fighting back a sudden weakness to his knees, Ben made his way over to his chair in front of the fireplace and sank down onto its velvet cushions.

“Hoss----so much has happened,” Ben began as Hoss moved over next to him. “I don’t know where to start.”

“Pa---you’re kinda scaring me---nothing’s happened to Joe has it?”

“Yes----but before I tell you---did anything strange happen to you on your trip home?”

“Huh?” Hoss asked, bewildered by the question. “Nope--not that I can think of---why?”

“Did you ride with a man from there to Sacramento and on to Virginia City?”

“Well---there were a couple passengers---most of them got off in Sacramento. There was one guy---a nice feller---rode with me to Virginia City. Think his name was Todd---yeah Todd Billings. We chatted most of the trip. He’s just passing through--on the way to Salt Lake I think he said. Okay--now why?”

“Did you notice him going to the telegrapher’s office in Sacramento?”

“Yeah--matter of fact I went with him----showed him where it was. Why?”

“Was there a message waiting for him?” Ben continued.

“Yeah----I saw him get one---looked kinda relieved when he read it. I asked him---he said it was about business. Now--come on Pa---tell me what this is all about!” Hoss exclaimed. He didn’t know what the trouble was, but one look at his father’s face told him it was something awful.

“That man---he was a hired killer---and he was waiting on a telegraph---a telegraph from Bristol Ford!”

“Huh? Bristol Ford! That snake is still around?”

“Yes----he paid the man to travel with you---and was going to tell him to kill you--unless---” Ben stopped and headed over for a heavy shot of brandy. His heart hurt with what he would soon be telling his son.

“He was gonna kill me!” Hoss yelled and followed his father to the brandy decanter.

Ben poured two drinks, and tossed his down after handing the other glass to his son. He poured yet another shot and stared up into Hoss’ confused blue eyes.

“Bristol came to me---the night you had left for home. I was in the restaurant at the hotel waiting for Joseph. He told me what he had set up---and that---if I didn’t go along with his plan he would send the appropriate wire and you would be shot. I was so scared for you, Son---so scared!”

“I never knew that jasper was planning on nothing! He seemed like a regular guy,” Hoss confessed sadly.

“That’s what frightened me so---you were unaware of the danger---it would have been so easy for him to get the drop on you---I couldn’t let that happen!”

“But---where’s Joe?”

“Bristol made me agree to just sit there---wait for your brother to come and join me at the table. Then---he showed me the four gunmen he had all around the room--including at the tables next to me. He told me that if I warned Joseph---in any way---that Joe would be ambushed right there---and that he would send that telegraph and you would also be killed. I couldn’t do that---I couldn’t risk the both of you. Oh---dear Lord--what have I done to Joseph?”

Hoss threw his arm across his father’s shoulder and tried to console the man. He was now fully aware of the stress his father had been under and worried about his health. “Tell me what happened to Joe.”

“They came in there---Bristol and one of his henchmen---and they pulled Joe up from the table. All I could do was sit there and watch. I couldn’t go to him--couldn’t comfort him--help him in any way. If you had seen the look on his face--heard-the way he begged me to help him--” Ben stopped and pulled his hands up to his face totally bereaved by what he had done.

“Pa---you didn’t have no choice---you know that!” Hoss insisted, he could see how his father’s painful decision was eating him up alive. “If you had reached for him---the kid would be dead---looks like I would be too! He put you in a position where there wasn’t anything else you could do. I know that and trust me, Pa---when we find Joe---HE will understand too!”

“He made me take the next stage out of town back here. He said if I warned the authorities Joe would be killed. I left the next morning. Now I don’t have any idea where Joe is ---or what they are doing to him. Oh Joseph---” Ben whispered and saw again his son’s pleading face.

“Well---we’ll go after that son of a bitch and make him give Joe back--don’t you worry about that Pa!” Hoss announced, his fists opening and closing trying to control his rage.

“I’ve sent a letter to Adam----but it’s going to be weeks before he’ll make it home.”

“Heck with the letter---we’ll wire him!”

“I was going to do that---but I think we are being watched. Maybe we can have one of the ranch hands send one over at Carson? They wouldn’t be as noticed. We need all the help we can get now.”

“So--what do we do now?” Hoss asked as he followed his father back over to the living room.

“Bristol said to do nothing---just wait for his instructions. Damn him! Damn that man to hell!” Ben yelled.

“Pa---something came for you----as I was leaving town the day I arrived on the stage. It had come in on the same stage in the mail. I was heading back here when Pete got a hold of me. It was a letter addressed to you,” Hoss remembered and reached over to the sofa table and pulled the envelope towards his chest. “Here.”

Ben noticed the handwriting on the front, and his heart almost stopped. He knew it had to be from Bristol. Ben tore the envelope open and pulled out the letter inside. He then read it out loud to his son.

“Congratulations, Ben! You did as instructed and you have three sons who are all alive. Now, do not try to come back to San Francisco. If I see you or any of your boys in town Joe will have a fatal accident. He’s mine now, in payment for all you took from me all those years ago. You have a lot of lumber to get to now, so concentrate on your great wealth. Signed---Bristol. P.S. Have a look at that chess board of yours in the study,” Ben finished reading the letter and stared up at his son. They exchanged woeful glances and stood and approached Ben’s desk. Off to the corner was where Ben always set his prized chess set that Adam had purchased in Italy. The two men made their way next to the chess board. The pieces had been moved around and were not in the normal arrangement like Ben always left it. The white king was confronted by numerous black pieces. Ben knew what that meant, but just to aid in his complete understanding was a small piece of paper that was tied around the white king.

“Checkmate,” Ben read the piece of paper and stared over at Hoss.

Bristol Ford wasn’t the only one who knew how to play chess. Ben Cartwright excelled at the game. Once his despondency subsided his anger took over, and it was one of the strongest forces in the world. Nothing could bring out the fierce Cartwright determination more than when one of the family was threatened. Within a few days Ben and Hoss had seen to it that telegraphs had been sent to not only Adam, but also to their old friend the noted Pinkerton detective Dex Farwell. Dex’s response came first. Though he was just finishing with a case that had taken him to Kansas, he was more than eager to leave the remaining details in the hands of his associates and hop a train west towards Nevada. He would have had a perfect record of cases solved over his twenty plus years as a detective had it not been for Bristol Ford. Dex had been with the Cartwrights three years prior and though the remains of Marie Cartwright had been returned to the family, Dex never got over the fact that the evil man had escaped. He had searched for Bristol, even when the Cartwrights had stopped. Dex had gone so far as to journey to London where he had followed Bristol’s trail. After several months of wasted efforts, Dex had to return to the states due to other cases which needed his expertise. So, when the detective got Ben’s wire he was more than eager to proceed to the Ponderosa and try to capture Bristol, thereby making his record one hundred per cent.

Adam had been entertaining old college buddies at a local tavern in Boston when the telegraph had arrived from his father. The message was cryptic, but clearly his presence was needed back home. He had been advised of the danger in returning to the Ponderosa and had been instructed to take residence in a hotel in Carson City once he made it closer to home. Adam thought of all the possible scenarios. Pa’s message simply read, “Need you home. --stop---Joe missing--stop---will explain---stop---arrive in Carson City--stop---send word when you get in--stop---be very careful son--stop---love---your father”. He tucked the telegraph inside his coat pocket and had kept it there throughout the long trip home. Adam knew, even with the best connections that it would take at least two weeks to get into Carson City. He prayed it wouldn’t be too late as far as Joe’s safety was concerned. Watching out the window of the train taking him to St. Louis, Adam idly rubbed his bearded chin. He had begun growing it as soon as he arrived in Boston as a lark. Seeing his old college room mates, he noticed that some had gone on to teach at their alma mater and they all sported beards. Blending in with his old chums seemed appropriate and Adam knew he would be shaving it off before he made it back from his vacation. Now, he was glad that the beard was growing thicker each day. From his father’s message he assumed that a disguise might come in handy. Adam was smart enough to read between the lines. He knew that if Pa wanted him to go to Carson City instead of back to the ranch house then it meant they were all being watched. ****What’s happened to you THIS time, Little Joe? Can’t I go away for a couple of months without you falling victim to some scheme? Pa must be out of his mind--the way he fusses over you!****Adam thought to himself shaking off the tad of jealousy that always existed. From the very moment of Joe’s birth, it was known to all that Joe was the apple of his father’s eye. Not that their Pa didn’t love all of his sons. Not that he didn’t show it in the way he supported the efforts of the two oldest. It was just something a little different with Joe. Maybe it was because Joe seemed to draw trouble to him like ants to a sugar cube? A part of Adam was upset to have his vacation halted so abruptly, but the larger part of him was just plain scared for the boy. Though he fought with the youngest, Adam felt responsible for him, too. That had gone back all the way to the death of the boy’s mother, Marie. The months that it had taken his father to mourn the love of his life had also been months that he couldn’t comfort his sons. Adam, being the oldest, did his very best to keep the two younger boys in line during that time, often acting as a surrogate father. Of course they had the assistance of the caretaker and Chinese member of the family, Hop Sing. The little man had been a tremendous help with all three of Ben’s sons, but especially the little five year old, Joe. Adam closed his eyes and wondered how Hop Sing was handling Joe’s absence. He knew that the Chinaman loved the curly headed Little Joe as though he was his own son. ****I bet things are pretty rough right now at the house. I hope I can take some of the burden off all three of you! That crazy little brother of mine! What is it that throws you in the midst of such calamity all the time, Joe? Whenever you are pulled from us, for whatever reason, you take away the very heart and soul of the Cartwright family. Maybe it’s that impish look you wear half the time--or that contagious laughter that melts Pa like putty in your hands? Whatever it is---you know how to endear yourself into even the coldest of hearts. You are the most aggravating---irritating--son of a gun---but--****Adam tried to shake away the fear that was beginning to come to the forefront of his mind. Joe had survived events in the past which would have killed other men. Adam worried now that Joe’s number had finally come up, and he might not be able to elude fate this time. ****Okay---Kid---hang on----our Pa---Hop Sing---Hoss---and even the one you enjoy aggravating the most---me---are gonna rescue you!****Adam leaned against the window of the train and offered a few prayers for the boy’s safety before falling off into an exhaustive sleep.

Back in San Francisco, Joe had no earthly idea how much time had transpired since the day Bristol Ford forcefully removed him from the restaurant and took him to live in his house. In all actuality it had been just over two weeks. Joe, if he had been given that information, wouldn’t have believed it. In his mind it seemed like an eternity. He had endured so many battles with Bristol and his henchmen that now his nerves were wearing thin. After that first day, when he had been stripped of his clothes and later forced to write time after time that he hated his father, Joe had bounced back and forth between stubborn determination and willing compliance. His numerous acts of disobedience had caused him both embarrassment and physical pain.

It was Joe’s desire that the men who held him hostage simply take his life and let it be over with. After enduring so long without a hint of information as to what, if anything, his father was doing to rescue him, Joe was beginning to have his doubts if he would see his family again in life. He had nightmares almost all the time, and they were always the same scenario. Joe would be sitting somewhere and his father would be smiling at him, when he would suddenly be yanked away screaming. Sometimes Ben would just sit there, as he had that first night, and do nothing. Other times he would laugh. Those were the worst. Joe would bolt up from his bed in fright and then the tears would come.

Thinking Bristol would eventually tire of his game, Joe presumed that there would actually be an exchange of money and he would be ransomed after all. That hadn’t happened. And, each day that passed made the boy grow more depressed and more bitter towards his father. Of course there was also the growing hatred he felt towards Bristol and his men and it sickened him to think of all they had done to him. They seemed to draw great pleasure from seeing him succumb to their daily demands. Joe had tried as best he could to fight back his displeasure and go along with whatever they asked, but, there were days when he longed for them to just kill him. Apparently Bristol had no such desire and was trying his best to break his spirit.

“Have you finished that letter, Joseph?” Bristol asked as he strolled into the bedroom.

Joe turned in the chair at the desk and looked over at the man. “I told you---I’m not going to do it. Now---do whatever you want to me---I am not going along with it this time, Bristol!” Joe answered, defiance showing in his hazel eyes.

Bristol walked over to the bed, opposite Joe, and sank down on the bottom. “You KNOW what’s going to happen to you, right?”

“Nothing that you haven’t already done,” Joe mocked the man.

“Do you know how long you have been here?”

Joe’s eyes flashed with hope that his captor would give him some information. Maybe he would finally reveal what the real plan was? “No---how long?”

“Guess,” Bristol smiled.

“A lifetime?” Joe replied, and instead of sarcasm, he spoke in truth.

“No--not nearly that long, Boy!” Bristol laughed and moved next to his hostage. “Sixteen days. That’s nowhere near a lifetime, Joe.”

Joe looked down at the floor wondering if the man was toying with him again, or if, in fact he had been there only a little more than a couple of weeks.

“Do you understand? You are not going to be rescued. Wouldn’t it be wiser, than to hope for help that will never come, that you do as I tell you and we enter into a working relationship?”

“My father---he’s going to come back--trust me!” Joe spoke the words he had said so many times that they were losing all semblance of reality to him.

“Your FATHER is busy with the timber contracts for that fleet of ships. How many times do I have to tell you? He’s home---along with your brother Hoss. They have gone on with their lives---it’s time you did.”

“Then why do I have to write this letter?” Joe spoke out angrily. “I mean---if it IS true---what difference would it make?”

“The letter is basically for you---so that you will address the issue and come to terms with it. Now---how far have you gotten?’ Bristol asked and pulled the sheet of paper closer so he could read it. There was only one word on the sheet, just the letter “I”. “Not good, Joe---you’ve had all morning and part of the afternoon to accomplish the task I gave you.”

“I am not writing it---I am not saying that I hate my father---I am not telling him that I never want to see him again! Go ahead----hit me----humiliate me---hell I’m getting use to it!” Joe yelled and stood from his chair, facing the man head-on.

“I’m not going to hit you, Joseph. There’s no need for that type of violence. I wish you wouldn’t resist the way you do---but---eventually you’ll come around,” Bristol said and turned back for the door. He paused and cast his gaze over at the boy who stood there with confusion on his face. “I’m going to bring Mr Rivers up here----I know a way to get you to do what you’ve been told to do,” he said cryptically and headed out of the room.

Joe walked over to the bed and sat down. He wondered what was going to happen. Though he hated Bristol, Cole Rivers had done even more to him over the two weeks as far as physical abuse went. Bristol was into mind games, whereas his partner liked to invoke his own forms of torture. Most of the time, it took Bristol to pull the man from Joe in order to prevent serious harm. Joe looked at the four posters of the bed and wondered if he was going to be tied, as he so often had, when he refused to comply. He sighed and looked across the room at the sheet of paper. Joe could not bring himself to write the letter to his father, though he sure wanted to ask the man why he had left him in San Francisco and apparently never looked back. Pa had now had plenty of time, Joe presumed, to come back from Virginia City with an army of mountain men to help rescue his son. Why hadn’t he done that? Joe shook his head wondering if anything that Bristol had told him over the weeks had really been factual. Could Pa be more concerned with filling a shipping order than he was with the life of his youngest son? Before Joe could further ponder on the issue the bedroom door opened again and in came Bristol and Cole.

“Hey--what took you guys so long?” Joe quipped. “You know it gets kinda lonely in here. So what kind of game do you want to play today?”

“Still has his smart mouth,” Cole grumbled as he moved over towards Joe with Bristol at his side.

“Well----you want me to take off my clothes so you can watch me put them back on---or are we gonna play the old tie Joe down game?” Joe laughed, not that he thought it was funny, but to prevent the fear from showing on his face.

“Nothing like that, Joseph,” Bristol said and put his hand on Joe’s shoulder and stared into his eyes. Though the boy was doing a good job of pretending he was beyond caring, Bristol could read the uncertainty on his face. “Let me ask you something----” he started but Joe cut him off.

“Oh--sure---go right ahead---ask me anything you’d like---I am, after all, a captive audience!”

“Want me to shut the kid up for you, Bristol?” Cole asked.

“No--not necessary. Okay, Joseph, since you seem to be very receptive to conversation today I’ll continue. What’s the longest time you’ve ever stayed awake? A day---two?”

Joe stared into the man’s eyes and wondered what he was getting at. “Stayed awake? Now let me think--” Joe paused, pretending he was thinking pensively. “I guess two days--yeah two days. Now let me guess----you’re gonna play a new game---and it’s called let’s see how long Joe can stay awake?”

“Exactly!” Bristol laughed. “No-one ever said you weren’t a bright boy. So, let’s all guess---you first, Cole--how many days will Joe stay awake?”

“Maybe two---three at the most,” Cole answered.

“And you, Joseph? You think you can beat three days?”

Joe stopped answering. He walked over to the bed and sat down. Bristol and Cole were much too happy with their new game and he had decided not to play.

“What’s the matter---don’t know the answer to that one---and don’t want to venture a guess?” Bristol said as he neared the bed.

“Well---actually I am kinda tired right now---maybe I’ll take a little nap. So--game over!” Joe replied caustically.

“Wrong answer, Kid,” Cole smiled. “Starting right now you are gonna stay awake. Those eyes ain’t closing until we see that letter written. So, the game doesn’t really end until YOU decide it ends!”

“He’s right, Joseph---I’m going to have my men in here with you around the clock preventing you from sleeping. I actually have seen men go insane due to lack of sleep. So, you might want to reconsider and go ahead and write that letter.”

“Oh---I’m not worried,” Joe sneered towards both men, “I’m already insane so it should have little effect on me!”

Bristol tapped Joe on the left cheek and chuckled. “One thing I do admire about you, Joseph---and that’s the fact that you are full of youthful optimism---unfortunately you also have a stubborn streak which gets you in deeper with me. Cole is taking the first watch---then I will be in to spell him. By the looks of it---we are in for an amusing couple of days at your expense. And, I can guarantee that you will write that letter---now or days from now. Your choice of course.”

Joe stood and walked over to the desk. He looked down at the paper and lifted the pencil in his hand. He then turned and looked directly at Bristol and broke the pencil in two.

“Kid’s asking for it!” Cole called over to his boss.

“It’s all right, Cole, there’s plenty of pencils here in the house. When Joe’s ready to write I will get him another. See you later, Joseph,” Bristol stated and turned for the door.

“Hey---Bristol---what do I do if he starts to nod out on me?”

“Anything you want to!” Bristol replied, and there was anger in his eyes as he looked towards Cole.

Cole laughed and walked over to the bed and sat down across from Joe.

“Well, I have plenty of things to do then!” Cole winked towards Bristol as he walked out of the room.

Joe stared over at Cole and his heart felt as though it was lodged in his throat. Cole was damned and determined to do him harm and he had just received the go-ahead from his boss.

“What’s in all this for you, Cole?” Joe asked the man as he sat once again on the bed.

“Oh---you know--it’s a job,” Cole grinned.

“Must pay awfully good----or is it that you just like a job where you can torment people?”

“A little of both, Kid. What’s it to you?”

“You know my father-----he would pay you a whole lot more than Bristol pays you---that is if you were to help me get out of here,” Joe offered, figuring it was worth a try.

“Oh yeah? And----why would he want to pay me?”

“Because he wants me back!”

Cole laughed loudly and shook his head amused, “Joe, you gotta be the stupidest kid I ever met! Your father made a deal with Bristol---haven’t you figured that out yet? How do you think your old man won that shipping contract? You don’t really think it was because the Ponderosa bid was the lowest, do you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Never mind,” Cole said and stood and walked towards the desk for a match to light his cigarette which he had just rolled.

“No! Tell me---what do you know about this?”

“I’ve already said more than I should have---just leave me alone. Go write that damned letter so I can get out of this room. I don’t feel like playing babysitter today.”

“You were lying anyhow---” Joe started and then looked directly in the other man’s eyes. He didn’t give the appearance that he was, but Joe hoped that he could make him blurt out something that would be a better story than hearing the same basic story that Bristol had alluded to for weeks.

“Kid, you got a bad case of denial----someday you’ll figure it all out--but you ain’t getting another thing from me. Now stop pestering me and write!”

Joe folded his arms across his chest and shook his head.

“Suit yourself. Bristol gave me the go ahead---so if I see you nodding off--well---let’s just say you will be sorry,” Cole threatened and lit his cigarette and settled down in the chair by the bed.

One thing that could be said of Joe Cartwright, and that was that he was stubborn to a fault. He had outlasted almost everyone who had come in and out of his room for days. It was getting harder and harder to keep his eyes open, but Joe forced himself. It wasn’t until the morning of the third day that he finally began to succumb to exhaustion and had closed his eyes. Unfortunately it was Cole’s shift when that happened. As soon as he saw the boy nod off he walked across the room and yanked him up by the arm.

“Let me sleep!” Joe mumbled and tried to slink back down on the bed.

“No--you haven’t written that damn letter yet! You know the rules----you want to sleep you start writing.”

“Can’t---too tired,” Joe replied and felt himself pushed across the room. Cole manhandled him, pushing him down roughly into the chair at the desk.

“Write that letter!” Cole yelled and drew a pencil out of his shirt pocket. Joe had already broken a half dozen pencils during the two days he had been without sleep, but Bristol kept a new batch ready just in case.

Joe dropped his head down on his arms and was almost asleep when Cole yanked his head back. He pulled Joe’s hair and forced his gaze. Cole was just about ready to throw a punch when Bristol entered the room.

“Kid’s falling asleep----and he still hasn’t written the letter!” Cole protested.

“We’ve got company----leave the boy in here---we’ll deal with him in a little while,” Bristol replied and gave Cole a nod to let him know that the plan was working.

Joe was drowsy and his body begged for sleep, but having heard something about a visitor snapped him back into reality. Looking over at Bristol and the intensity on his evil face gave Joe the impression that the visitor must have something to do with him. Could it be that his father finally had found him? Joe’s heart leapt with joy and anticipation.

Cole let go of Joe and moved over to his boss. “He’s here already?” he asked the other man.

“Next door---come on---this won’t take long!” Bristol insisted and the two men walked out of the room.

As soon as Joe was sure that both Bristol and Cole were out in the hallway he hurried to the door to try to listen out for information on who the mysterious visitor was. He sank down on his knees, still battling fatigue, and tried to hear through the keyhole. After a few minutes the deep baritone voice of Ben Cartwright could be heard. It sounded as though it was just in the other room. Joe moved over to the wall and pressed his ear up against the paneling. Parts of the ensuing conversation were muffled due to the thickness of the wood separating both rooms, but every now and then Joe could make out a word or two spoken by both his father and Bristol Ford.

“I’m in here, Pa!” Joe yelled and beat his fists on the wall, using up what little strength he had left. He sank down against the wall and prayed for his father to come to his aid. When there was no response to the fierce pounding of his fists, Joe tried again to hear what the conversation was about. He heard a few distinct words, spoken by his pa, and those had come as a shock. The more he tried to figure out why he would’ve said what he had, the more distressed Joe became.

***No--that wasn’t part of the deal----yes----I understand----as long as he’s not harmed*** were the words he could make out that had come from Ben Cartwright.

***He’s fine---no I haven’t said a word about the contract we rigged for the Ponderosa---no he will never know***were words he made out coming from Bristol.

***I’m leaving on the next stage----plenty of timber to be cut----no----we won’t----keep to your bargain and I will hold up my end***again, more words from Ben.

***Made you a fortune----Ponderosa holdings have grown----can’t blame you----saved the ranch---no further contact with the kid ---- cut your losses and move on***again, were words Joe made out from Bristol.

“Pa! I’m in here!” Joe yelled one last time and hit the wall with all his might.

***have to go----no use trying to explain----reported him missing---no questions asked---will be writing in future---lots to do at home***were Ben’s final words that Joe heard.

The brief conversation culminated in the sound of a door opening and closing. Joe folded his arms around his legs and cried. Pa really had made a deal with Bristol, and the realization of that had quashed any hope Joe had left. He was dizzy from lack of sleep, but not so exhausted that he couldn’t recognize his own father’s voice. It had been him, and worst of all Joe knew that Ben had heard his pleas from the next room and had done nothing. Just like he had the night in the restaurant.

Bristol turned the lock in the door and looked down at Joe sitting up against the wall. He moved across the room and knelt down next to him. “I’m sorry you had to hear that----there were other guests in the house downstairs----we had to talk in private and that was the only place to do it. I know you think I am the most evil human that ever walked the earth---but I never intended on you overhearing what you did.”

With eyes brimming with tears, Joe looked up at his captor. He looked sincere, and his tone was apologetic.

“Hand me a pencil,” Joe whispered, pushing back his tears.

Bristol pulled out the pencil from his vest pocket and handed it to the boy. Joe pulled himself off the floor and with great effort made his way over to the desk. Sitting down, Joe pulled the sheet of paper in front of him and wrote the words, “I hate you, Pa. I never want to see you again. I will never forgive you for what you’ve done to me. Joe.” He turned and handed the sheet of paper to Bristol.

“Can I go to sleep now?” Joe asked sadly.

Bristol patted Joe on the shoulder and nodded. “Yes, Joseph---you go on and sleep.”

Joe walked to the bed and lowered himself down on the mattress. He buried his face in the pillow and wept until sleep over took him. Bristol stood there looking at the boy and a smile filtered across his lips. ***Worked perfectly***Bristol thought to himself and turned towards the door.

Three weeks to the day that Joe was abducted Hoss burst into the ranch house baring news for his father. He carried a note he had received from a messenger in Carson City over to his father’s desk and sank down in the chair next to his pa.

“Just came----we’re set!” Hoss announced exuberantly. He noticed the dark circles that his father wore under his eyes, and knew that the man had gotten only a few hours of sleep each night since Joe had been taken. Hoss hoped with all of his heart that the news contained in the note would ease some of his father’s pain.

Ben reached for the note and began right away to read it. It had been sent by Dex Farwell.****Arrived last night, will set up meeting place. Come to Silver Spur Saloon this evening and wait for messenger.****Ben read the note and stuffed it inside his vest pocket. “Thank God Dex made it in---any news from Adam yet?”

“Not yet----Ling Chow promised he would send word once he saw him in Carson. Hop Sing’s cousin has sure been a great help,” Hoss replied.

“Yes---yes he has. I know this place is being watched. How else could Bristol have gotten access to this chess set! I think we’ve got them thrown off for right now at least. What with you riding up to the saw mill most days, it leads them to think we are working on filling those contracts,” Ben said and stood from his desk.

Hoss could see it in the slumped shoulders. Pa was still beating himself up over the decision he had made weeks ago. He had tried to get through to his pa that there was no other reasonable avenue that he could have chosen. Bristol had been very accurate when he had told the family that they were in checkmate.

“I’m going to get ready to head into Carson. You meet me at Twin Forks Meadow in an hour. That will make it look less conspicuous,” Ben called across the room as he reached for the banister post.

“Hop Sing come to!” came the protesting voice of the housekeeper as he moved over to his boss.

“Hop Sing---as much as we would like you to come along---we just can’t chance it. We can’t ALL show up in Carson City tonight,” Ben tried his best to calm the man.

Hop Sing stood staring at Ben, his own dark eyes looked just about as distraught as the boy’s father’s did at the moment. “Hop Sing vely worried about Little Joe---want to help family!”

Ben moved closer to the other man and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “I know you are, Hop Sing---and you ARE helping. What you worked out with your cousin over in Carson has been a tremendous help to us. Just try to be patient just a little longer. The detective is finally here----and Adam should arrive soon. Then we will get to the business of bringing Joseph home.”

“Hop Sing cousins on Barbary Coast can go rescue boy---just say when---there many relatives there!”

Ben tried for a brief smile, but it lost it’s way to his lips. He couldn’t think of smiling until he had his youngest home. He did, however, pat the Oriental’s shoulder and nod his way. “Let’s see what Dex has to say about that---before we try something that might cause Little Joe harm. Now---Hoss---you go on ahead---I’ll meet you in a little while.”

“Right, Pa,” Hoss nodded and headed back for the door.

Hop Sing grabbed Ben’s elbow as he turned for the stairs.

“What is it, Hop Sing?” Ben asked, hoping the man didn’t want to protest his not going to Carson City further.

“Not your fault, Mister Ben----must try to let go of guilt---Little Joe love Papa vely much. Will be home soon!” Hop Sing insisted.

“Thank you, Hop Sing,” Ben nodded towards the man, appreciating his sentiments, though he still felt personally responsible for Joe’s predicament and wouldn’t be able to let go of the guilt until he was back home and safe.

Ben slowly ascended the stairs, with Hop Sing’s concerned gaze following him.

Carson City fell to darkness as Hoss and Ben Cartwright stood at the counter at the Sliver Spur Saloon waiting as patiently as possible for their contact to find them. Finishing his second mug of beer Hoss whispered over to his father.

“What time is it?”

“Ten minutes after the last time you asked,” Ben sighed, never taking his pocket watch out of his pant’s pocket.

“What’s keeping them?” Hoss asked, worried that something had happened to Dex.

Just when Ben was about to answer his son’s question, a short Oriental man walked up to them and bowed his greeting.

“Ling Chow----so nice to see you,” Ben announced and bowed his head as well.

“How is number three cousin?” the man asked quietly.

“Very well thank you.”

“Have new recipe to give to Hop Sing. Please take to him,” Ling Chow said and handed Ben a small piece of paper.

“I sure will---thank you,” Ben replied, knowing that there was no such recipe.

“Blessings upon all who dwell in your home---and elsewhere,” the Chinese man said and headed out of the saloon.

Ben gave the note a quick once over and turned towards his son. “Across the street---room in the back of the mercantile. Let’s go,” Ben whispered as he tossed his money on the counter and turned away with Hoss at his side.

Dex was cautious, Ben gave him that. He had cloaked the meeting place in secrecy just in case the Cartwrights had been followed. They passed through the mercantile casually and saw the owner nod their way to let them know he knew the importance of no formal greeting. Soon both men were inside a back store room and sat down at the small table and waited. It wasn’t more than a few minutes before Dex Farwell came in through the door.

“Dex! So glad to see you!” Hoss stood and shook the detective’s hand briskly.

“Good to see you Hoss---Ben--” Dex replied as he offered the elder Cartwright his hand as well.

“Can’t tell you how much it means to us---that you are on this case,” Ben said gratefully.

“Yeah----I was wondering if Bristol would poke his head up eventually---just sorry it had to be this way. Let’s sit down, Gentlemen.”

The three men sat at the table and were just about to get into the discussion when there was a knock at the door. Ben seemed edgy and he shot Dex a concerned look.

“It’s okay, Ben---I was expecting one more man,” Dex said as he moved towards the door.

A man dressed in a dark blue suit approached the table. He wore a mustache and thick beard. The stranger stood and stared down at both of the Cartwrights, and then laughed.

“Don’t recognize your own son?” Adam asked and patted his father on the shoulder.

Ben jumped to his feet and embraced his eldest son. He couldn’t believe that he could be fooled by the change in the young man’s appearance.

“I---I wasn’t expecting you---and what’s this?” Ben asked, referring to Adam’s facial hair.

“A disguise of course! And looks like---since it worked on you--and my brother over there--well it might work in San Francisco!”

“Adam---glad to have you back!” Hoss smiled and shook his brother’s hand.

“Well, we’re all present and accounted for--shall we get on with this?” Dex asked as they all sat back at the table.

“I met Adam today---he came in on the afternoon stage. Naturally we haven’t had the chance to figure out all that’s happened yet, just the few things you told me in the wire about San Francisco being the target--so, Ben, let’s hear the whole story,” Dex suggested.

Ben sighed and tried to pull the whole event out from the pit of his stomach where it had lodged for weeks. He went on to explain the situation, trying not to leave any details out. The other men around the table sat in silence and took it all in. Ben closed with the letters he had from Bristol. There was the one he received at the restaurant which had contained the stagecoach ticket, as well as the one that was waiting for him when he arrived back at the Ponderosa.

Dex studied the notes and then passed them down the line for Adam to get a good look.

“That little message at the end of that one--” Ben began, “it was in reference to the chess board in my study. Somehow he managed to get someone to break into the house and arrange the board to form a checkmate scenario. He’s very sure of himself---and quite obviously has spies planted around the ranch and Virginia City.”

“Yes, I figured as much by your wire--that’s why we’re not taking any chances,” Dex nodded.

“So what do you think? I mean--that note says that if Bristol spots any of us in San Francisco that Joe will be killed!” Hoss asked the detective.

“Well---you and your father are out of the question---that’s for sure. But---your brother here---I think he can accompany me to San Francisco and wouldn’t be recognized as being a Cartwright.”

“Wait just a minute!” Ben interjected loudly. “I’m going along and bring Joseph home---it was my fault the boy’s there.”

Dex reached over and quieted the upset father by the touch of his hand. “Ben---I know what you’re thinking---and I know how you feel---but if you want Joe back alive we’ve got to be careful. I’ve sent some of my contacts to San Francisco already and have heard back from two of them. Seems that maniac was able to come into quite a large sum of money while he was over in Europe. He’s got it all---manpower, money---and Joe. We’ve got to watch ourselves. You and Hoss need to stay put. Make it look as though you are getting those orders filled in case Bristol’s men are watching.”

“We been doing that----got almost half of the first shipment ready to leave,” Hoss mentioned.

“The hell with the orders! I want my son!” Ben burst out, pushed to the brink of despair. He had hoped that he would be going back to San Francisco to personally liberate his boy. Now, the reality of the situation was hitting him squarely between the eyes.

“Ben--come on--you gotta relax,” Dex said quietly.

“He’s right, Pa---you go getting all upset isn’t gonna help Joe. The kid would go nuts if he found out you got sick over this,” Adam offered sympathetically.

Ben sighed and tried again to find some internal strength. “I know---it’s just--well--never mind.”

“YOU couldn’t have stopped this, Ben---I know what’s going on in your head right now. I’ve dealt with hostage situations---in fact one such case was with that youngster of yours as I recall. We got him back before---we’ll bring him back again!” Dex assured the man.

“So--what’s the plan then?” Hoss got back to the situation at hand.

“I’m going to wait on word from one more of my contacts. I expect that to come in the morning. I’ve arranged with the telegrapher here in Carson to watch out for anything that comes for me or for the Cartwright family. He seems like a trustworthy man, and I’ve paid him well.”

“Yes---Harold Thompson, he’s a good man---that’s why we trusted him with the wires we sent to both of you. Not that Pete in Virginia City is evil---just that he does have a bit of a mouth on him,” Ben added.

“As soon as I get my wire, Adam and I are heading to San Francisco. He’s a business man looking for real estate and I am his business partner. As soon as we have Joe’s whereabouts figured out we will make our move and snatch him out of Bristol’s hands. I promise you to keep the lines of communication open between here and San Francisco. So, you and Hoss head back home and Adam and I will get some sleep before we hop the next stage.”

Ben stood and again shook the detective’s hand. He looked into Dex’s eyes and read the intensity that was in them. “I know you trailed that bastard for a long time, Dex, you kept going after we stopped. I blame myself for giving up years ago.”

Dex moved towards the door along with Adam and Hoss. “Ben, sometimes the crazier a person is the smarter he is. Unfortunately Bristol is both. But, I will guarantee you this---he will not get away from me this time!”

“Thanks, Dex,” Hoss nodded towards the man in preparation to head home.

“Try to be patient---both of you---we’ll be in touch,” Dex smiled as he pulled open the door.

“Adam----sorry you can’t spend some time with us----I’ve missed you, Son,” Ben said with eyes that were starting to brim with tears.

“Ah Pa---I’ll be back with the kid in no time! And I’ll let him know how he messed up my vacation too!” Adam laughed and winked, trying his best to put his father at ease.

“Be careful---both of you!” Ben warned and headed out of the room with Hoss.

“We will,” Dex promised, and watched the two Cartwrights leave the mercantile. “Let’s get some dinner then we’d better get some rest. We’ve got quite a few miles between us and Joe right now.”

“Yeah---but tomorrow we begin the journey to bring him back,” Adam answered, full of determination, and walked towards the hotel with Dex.

Bristol Ford sat in his study and enjoyed the aroma of one of his imported cigars. He relished all he had accomplished over the three weeks that he had kept Joe Cartwright hostage. In fact, he felt it had been a stroke of pure genius to have formulated such a fool proof plan to get the boy to finally start showing signs that he hated his father. It had taken a great deal of planning, and had been in the works long before he heard that Ben and his sons were coming to his town to seal the deal with Cirus De Santo. From the very first moment the wheels had turned in his brain lining up even the minutest detail to assure success. Bristol knew he had broken Ben Cartwright, and it had taken an awful lot of years to do it. He had lied, stolen, and even killed to get to the position he found himself to be in as a wealthy San Francisco business man. His staff were all trustworthy, especially Cole Rivers. He was the only one of his hired guns who had stuck with him through thick and thin, including a go-round with the Cartwright family three years before. Theirs was a partnership based on mutual hatred of the wealthy family which owned close to a fourth of the Nevada territory. Now, the tide had changed and Bristol was the one making the rules and playing his own game.

“Kid’s been awfully quiet since he overheard that conversation, Bristol,” Cole announced as he came into the room.

“Yes, that sure was unfortunate that he had to hear old Ben, huh?” Bristol laughed and offered his partner some brandy. “Of course it helped a tad that he was a bit groggy from lack of sleep. You did very well with your part too, Cole. Letting just the right amount of information slip out prior to that conversation to cause him to start thinking about Ben’s thirst for wealth being more important than his baby son. You are quite a good actor my friend!”

Cole laughed and sipped on his drink. “You’re not so bad yourself! And finding Jared to help us with the little charade was perfect! So---you thought on what we’re gonna do next? He ain’t fighting us no more---but he still looks plenty angry. How you gonna sway him your way now? I mean, even if he’s mad at his dad---that’s still not saying he’s gonna start thinking of you in a better light.”

“Cole--the mind is a powerful thing---but also very delicate when pushed to the breaking point. Once he snaps completely he will easily mold into what I want him to be,” Bristol grinned at the thought of his evil intentions.

“So---I continue to be the lead man as far as abuse goes? Or do you plan to step in and take over?”

“Just as we agreed---you are the one who deals out the rough stuff, allowing me to win him over. I have a wonderful new idea that is sure to bring him around to my side. I think you will like it too!” Bristol grinned and leaned in a little closer to spell it all out to the man.

Ben had paced his study for so long that he was sure he would have to replace the floor boards. Three days had elapsed since Dex Farwell and Adam had caught the stage west and headed to their target destination. Ben knew they should be there but still no word had come. He had sent Hoss into Carson City early that morning but the young man had returned empty handed. He would send him back the next day and hopefully there would at least be a wire informing them that both Adam and Dex had gotten some leads as to Joe’s whereabouts.

Hoss arrived late that afternoon. He had ridden most of the day and was exhausted from worry and the many miles he had traveled. After returning from Carson City earlier he had gone back out again, this time to Virginia City for some supplies. He unloaded the wagon and carried Hop Sing’s order into the kitchen and then headed right for his father’s study. There was something he needed to show him.

“Pa---this was in today’s mail. I didn’t open it---but looks a little like that first one you got,” Hoss explained as he handed the envelope over to his father. He could see the man apprehensively staring at the handwriting. Ben knew it was from Bristol.

“I’m almost afraid to look,” Ben muttered and slowly loosened the envelope’s flap and pulled out two sheets of paper. The top sheet was a letter to him from Bristol. Ben read that one aloud to his son.

“Ben---looks like you are doing exactly as I instructed. Congratulations for knowing when you are beat! In keeping with my end of our little agreement I have enclosed a note to you from Joseph. I hope this eases your mind some. It does show he is adjusting nicely to his new environment. Bristol Ford,” Ben stopped and pulled the second sheet of paper closer. His mouth fell open as he read it to himself.

“What is it, Pa? What did Joe say?” Hoss asked. He had noticed the way Ben slumped in his chair and folded his hands in front of him gripping the piece of paper.

Ben did not speak, there were no words to describe what he was feeling at the moment. He knew his boy’s handwriting. The letter was genuine. No-one could match so perfectly the backward scrawl of Joe Cartwright. Hoss couldn’t stand to see his father in such obvious distress. He pulled the letter out from between his father’s hands and read the contents.

****I hate you, Pa. I never want to see you again. I will never forgive you for what you’ve done to me. Joe.**** Hoss read the note to himself and it wasn’t until then that he fully realized why his father was so pale and drawn.

“Pa---” Hoss started, choking up on his words, “Joe had to have been forced to write this kind of nonsense. You know that kid loves you more than anybody in the world! Don’t let it get to you. It’s just Bristol’s way of hurting you even more than he has.”

“And---if it wasn’t---if it wasn’t coerced, Hoss? What then? Joe must believe that I intentionally left him there with that man!”

“Don’t sell the kid short, Pa. I bet you he fought tooth and nail not to write that thing!”

“That scares me even worse,” Ben replied, fighting back tears. “If he was forced---to write that--to me---there’s no telling what they are doing to him mentally or physically now. Each day that goes by---and it’s closing in on a month---is another day he’s hurt. And here I sit and do nothing---just like--” Ben cut himself short and stood from his desk. He felt so old, so inadequate as a father as he walked across the room towards the staircase. “I’ve got to be alone for awhile, Son,” he muttered and headed towards his bedroom.

****Little Joe---what are they doing to you, Boy? How could you write this?****Hoss thought to himself as he folded the letter and moved it into the other room. There was no point in his father having to look at it when he made it back downstairs. It had served Bristol’s evil purposes; Ben was beside himself with sadness and guilt.

Adam and Dex had arrived in San Francisco as planned. They took up residence at the home of an old friend and associate of the detective. That afforded them the secrecy they required and allowed them to set up a permanent camp to send and receive messages. They waited until dark to fall before they walked down the bustling streets searching for Dex’s contacts who had been planted days before. It didn’t take long before they had their first lead that took them back to the scene of the crime at the restaurant where Joe had been abducted. They spoke to the waiter who had served Ben that night and listened to what he had to say about what he had seen. Given a few more bits of information they headed out again in search of someone who might know where Bristol was hold up.

Unfortunately for the Cartwrights and Detective Farwell, Bristol’s henchmen far outnumbered Dex’s contacts. On top of that, though Adam had gone unrecognized as being a member of the Cartwright family, Dex was almost immediately spotted as he came out of the restaurant. Cole Rivers remembered very well the hard nosed gumshoe who had followed both he and Bristol to Europe years earlier. Cole ran right back to Bristol with that information.

“Thought Farwell had stopped tailing us years ago. Guess Ben violated a rule huh?” Bristol said to Cole as he pulled on his coat.

“You don’t seem very upset, Bristol. You know that detective----he’s probably got men planted all over this city by now. He’s probably checking out the town and will know our position before long!” Cole exclaimed, surprised by the calmness of his friend.

“I was expecting a move---this doesn’t phase me. I’ve had a plan just in case. Now---looks like tonight’s the night for you to go ahead with our other scheme. Let me go up there first and announce to the boy that I will be gone for a day. That sets up your scenario as well as explaining my absence. I will lead Dex Farwell on a bigger goose chase than the last one---so don’t sweat it,” Bristol replied and headed up the stairs to confront Joe.

Joe had been in his own personal hell for over a week. He was without any hope of being freed of his prison. But, even worse than the fact he was still in bondage, was the fact that his father had arranged it all. Joe settled into a life full of both anger and dull resolve. His temper flared occasionally, but most of the time he sat and stared into nothingness.

“Joseph----you didn’t eat much of your supper I am told,” Bristol said as he walked over to the boy on the bed.

“I ate enough,” Joe replied blankly.

“Do you want another book? I have a whole library downstairs,” Bristol offered.

Joe stared over at the man and shook his head. Though Bristol had become a bit more human of late, Joe still despised the man. He battled his emotions daily trying to decide who he hated the most, Bristol or his own father. Bristol was evil, that was a given. But Ben Cartwright had sold his own son to gain a shipping contract. Joe tried not to believe it, but he couldn’t shake the voices he had heard through the wall. Slowly, he had come to accept the awful reality that his father was now lost to him forever.

“No, Sir,” Joe said and sank back against the pillows on his bed.

“I have to go out on business ---won’t be back until late tomorrow. Mr. Rivers is in charge until that time. Do me a favor---please don’t rile the man. He was just about to pummel you this morning when I came in here.”

“Why should you care what happens to me?” Joe shot back.

“It’s not as bleak as you think it is, Joseph. I have plans to get you out of here in a few days. Take in some scenery. But, that won’t be allowed if you continue to misbehave.”

“You’re gonna trust me out of this house? Yeah---I just bet. The last time I had a gag and a blindfold. That’s not exactly my idea of taking in the sights, Bristol.”

“It won’t be like that next time---that is---if you show me that you can be trusted,” Bristol replied.

“I CAN’T be trusted---thought you had figured that out already!” Joe laughed. “The first chance I get I will leave this place!”

“And go where, Joe?” Bristol asked quietly.

Joe sat up on the bed and realized what the man was asking. He had no idea where he could go now. It wouldn’t be back to his father and he had made no future plans.

“I don’t know,” Joe answered, looking down towards the floor.

“I’ll see you tomorrow night, Joe---do as Mr. Rivers asks you and you’ll be fine,” Bristol said and turned and left the room.

Bristol walked into the hallway where Cole stood waiting. “You’re up next---I am sure you will make it good!” Bristol nodded to the man and headed towards the staircase.

Cole wore a sinister smile as he entered Joe’s room. He noticed the kid was laying on his back staring up towards the ceiling. Cole knew he had to rile the boy in order to accomplish his goal. He proceeded over to the chair next to the bed and sank down onto it.

“How you doing, Kid?”

Joe didn’t make eye contact with the man, he continued to stare and tried his best to ignore him.

“You glad to hear Bristol’s gone for a while? That just leaves me in charge of making sure you are a good boy.”

“One maniac is the same as another as far as I’m concerned,” Joe finally replied.

“Oh no---Joe---don’t you remember our rules? After all these weeks---you’d think you would have learned your manners.”

“Oh yeah---rule number--what was it again? One hundred and thirty three?” Joe laughed. “There’s too many of them to remember, Cole---why don’t you give me a clue?”

“Well--it had to do with calling us names. Remember now? Remember stripping down to your skivvies that first day? Oh---I can still see your face---it was so red Joe! I’ve laughed about that every time I think of it,” Cole grinned to see that his statement had made Joe sit up on the bed and face him.

“So--what do you want from me? You want me to apologize for calling you a maniac?”

“Yes--that’s right, I do,” Cole nodded.

“Then---prove that you aren’t one--let me out of this place!” Joe exclaimed.

“Real funny, Kid.”

Joe’s skin crawled every time Cole referred to him by that name. The term “kid” had followed him almost all of his life. Joe remembered all the battles he had over the years as he tried to get his oldest brother to stop calling him that. But, now, it was far worse. To have Bristol’s evil associate constantly calling him kid, was driving Joe to his wit’s end.

“I am twenty years old--hardly a kid. By the way---I take offense to that term so I guess we are even, huh? YOU called ME a name and I called YOU a name. Game ends in a tie!” Joe laughed.

“You are a kid---but I am not a maniac so it’s not the same. Now---you need to apologize or there’s gonna be a punishment and Bristol ain’t here to bail your butt out this time!” Cole said as he stood from his chair.

Joe stood and faced down his opponent. He had hit his temper’s peak and there would be no backing down. Joe knew it would just be a matter of time anyway, as Cole had been spoiling for a fight with him for days. Now, with Bristol absent, he realized that it was going to happen no matter what he did to try and stop the man.

“Okay--I’m sorry----that you’re a maniac!” Joe snapped back.

“See you in a minute,” Cole smiled and walked to the door. He made it to the hallway where another man had been posted in case Joe tried to escape. Cole returned with the other sentry and approached the boy. “Grab his hands, Dave, we’re gonna tie him up. The kid’s smart mouth has gotten him into trouble again!”

Joe backed away from the bed and tried to sidestep the advances of the two men. It was no use. Soon they had Joe’s arms pinned behind him and pushed him down on the bed. Next they tied his ankles and wrists to the four posters with the leather straps that had been used when he was first abducted.

“I’ve got it now,” Cole nodded to the other guard and he walked out of the room. “Hey, Kid---know why you are faced down this time?”

“So I don’t have to look at you?” Joe replied, refusing to be broken by anything Cole had planned.

“You won’t be laughing once I get through with you. Think some corporal punishment is in order. You’ve had it coming since the day you punched me in the gut. Now let’s see how long it takes you to apologize!” Cole pulled off his belt and began to strike Joe’s back.

Joe gripped the leather straps that pinned him to the bed and tried with all that he had left inside of himself not to cry out loud. He refused to give the evil man the satisfaction. The belt found its target, striking Joe numerous times across the shoulders, then across the lower back and moved down to his buttocks. Still, Joe never uttered a sound.

“Well--you’re a tough kid----though I think I see a couple tears in those eyes of yours!” Cole laughed as he turned Joe’s face so he could get a good look at the anguish he wore. “Where’s the apology, Joe? Or you want more?”

Joe refused to speak. He knew if he said what he really wanted to say that he would be in for even more torment. Instead he squeezed his eyes shut tightly and hoped the man would tire of his awful game.

“Bet that hurts, don’t it?” Cole asked as he pushed his hand down on Joe’s battered back. “I hit you awfully hard---you’re gonna have some nasty welts tomorrow, Kid. Now---last chance---where’s my apology?”

Joe never made another sound, he just lay there unmoving waiting for Cole’s next assault.

“I just had a great idea! Yeah----let’s get you up for a minute, Joe!” Cole said and untied the ankle restraints.

Joe wished that he wasn’t so weak at the time. If he just hadn’t taken so many lashes he might be able to knock the other man to the floor when he went to remove the straps on his wrists. But, when Cole untied them Joe could just barely move his body, he was in such awful pain. Cole pulled the boy up roughly and headed across the room, half dragging Joe with each step they took. There was a wardrobe sitting in the corner of the bedroom. The only items inside were just the few pieces of Joe’s clothes. With a fast move, Cole threw out the clothes onto the floor and shoved Joe inside. Joe crumpled down to the base of the wardrobe and Cole forced up his legs so that they were squeezed up against the boy’s chest. Joe was wedged in tight when Cole slammed both doors shut and turned the key.

“Comfortable in there, Joe? Can I get you anything?” Cole yelled through the wood.

Joe finally allowed the tears to fall from his eyes now that his tormentor could not see him doing it. He fought to breathe due to being sandwiched inside the cabinet so tightly. Joe could feel the blood as it dripped down his back and puddled underneath the seat of his pants. He couldn’t believe what was happening. Yes, Bristol and Cole were crazy. But, in the weeks that he had been a prisoner he had never sustained this type of torture. Knowing now that Bristol would be gone for a long time, Joe was getting the awful impression that Cole would keep him inside the chest until the next night.

“Please----please let me out--” Joe begged weakly through the doors to the wardrobe.

“No----you had it coming to you, Kid. You got enough air through the cracks in there--it won’t kill you or nothing. You won’t starve neither. But, it sure will make you think twice before you call me a bad name again, won’t it?” Cole called in to the boy and then walked away.

Joe prayed that exhaustion would take over so that the pain would not be so strong. His entire back was killing him, but being in the dark and cramped on top of all that was really one of the worst things anyone had ever done to him. Joe wished he could have prayed for someone to save him, but there was no-one left to ask for. If Pa had fabricated a story about him being missing then there was no use in believing that any member of his family would go to San Francisco looking for him. No, Pa wouldn’t be saving him this time, nor ever again. He was in the awful position due to the direct actions of Ben Cartwright. There was only one person now that Joe could hope to save him from his imprisonment in the wardrobe and that was Bristol Ford

If Bristol had used his brilliant mind for the betterment of mankind instead of the destruction of the Cartwright family he would have been deemed a genius and respected as such. Instead, however, he thrived on the playing of the game. The current one was to send Dex Farwell around in circles until he would be forced to give up in his pursuit. It had worked before and Bristol was more than confident that it would work again. He had already planned on what to do should the remaining members of the Cartwright family appear in San Francisco in an attempt to find Joe. Everything was neat and tidy and wrapped with an ominous bow.

It hadn’t taken very long to put the plan into motion, in fact, only a few hours. People generally caved in to the requests of the wealthy pseudo businessman and were easily bought. Knowing just the right contacts to pass on his devious information to, Bristol lost no time spreading the news of his departure. He had the tickets purchased in his own name and made sure to get an additional four others to make it sound plausible. Bristol knew the workings of the detective’s mind, having observed him during the last hunt. Just as he had several years prior, he made sure that he didn’t hide under a presumed name as far as his boarding of the clipper ship the Sapphire. He knew that Dex would fall for it, as he had the last time he had departed the states and headed to Europe.

Bristol set up each detail with an enthusiasm that went beyond sanity. He relished each and every piece of the ploy that he had masterfully arranged. By the following day, when the magnificent clipper ship set sail out of San Francisco Bay everyone standing on the docks would testify that he had indeed gone aboard, and with him, four others. Bristol knew the assumption that would be drawn, but went a few steps farther, just in case the detective got a little too nosy.

Adam and Dex had done fairly well the night before, though the information that they had gleaned stopped short of a location as to where Bristol had taken Joe. They turned in late that night but were right back at it early in the morning. Dex finished his coffee and pulled on his suit coat. He stared down at Adam and could tell that the man was getting impatient. Just about to offer a word of encouragement, Dex was sidetracked when there was a knock on the door of the kitchen. He walked across the room and pulled the door forward and peered down at an Oriental man.

“You got something for us, Cho Li?’ Dex asked as he led the man inside.

“Heard bad news---vely bad---number four cousin work fishing boat---he come in to shop little while ago. Ship leave already---boy on it!” he spoke out in broken Chinese. The man was a distant relative of Hop Sing’s and had become acquainted with the Cartwright family years ago.

Adam stood and grabbed his coat, his face showing great apprehension. He prayed that the Oriental was mistaken. “Let’s go!” he insisted and turned out of the house with both men.

One by one Dex checked out Cho Li’s story. Every person who had watched the clipper ship board told the very same story. He walked with Adam up to the De Santo shipping and ticket office and pulled opened the door.

“May I assist you gentlemen? Do you need reservations?” a man asked as they approached his desk.

“No---we would just like to get a look at the manifest for the ship that left early this morning,” Dex answered.

“We don’t generally give that type of information out to the public--unless of course it is for the authorities,” the clerk replied as his eyes went back and forth between Adam and Dex.

Dex reached inside the inner pocket of his suit and pulled out his credentials. He held the identification information in front of the clerk’s eyes. “Will this do?”

“Yes---Mister---Farewell,” the clerk nodded.

“That’s Farwell,” Dex corrected, “I just want to have a look at your boarding records and perhaps talk to any stewards who may have been out on the dock as the ship took on passengers.”

“Always happy to help the authorities!” the clerk announced and reached for the manifest for the voyage of the Sapphire. “Here you are.”

“Thank you kindly,” Dex nodded and pulled up a chair and began going over the list.

“What good is that going to do, Dex?” Adam whispered. “You don’t really think Ford would book passage under his own name do you?”

“Did last time,” the detective grumbled as he looked down the list. There were quite a few passengers listed, and it wasn’t until he reached the third page that he saw the notation, “Bristol Ford, son Joseph, and three associates.”

“Can’t believe it!” Adam fumed as he saw where Dex’s finger had stopped on the page. “We were a day too late!”

Dex closed the book and stared back again at the clerk. “Can you direct us to any of the stewards now?”

“Yes---follow the cobblestone walkway to the main dock. You will find Jeff O’ Malley and Burt Griffin. They helped take the tickets this morning and may be of some help. Of course--the ship was filled almost to her capacity---the Sapphire is the jewel of the De Santo line. But, we are in the middle of construction of several others!” the clerk said, trying to get one last plug in for the company he worked for.

“Thank you,” both men said as they walked out of the office.

“You Jeff O’ Malley?” Adam asked as they made it down to the former docking site of the huge clipper ship.

“That’d be me---who might you be?” the man asked, showing a smile as he reached to shake Adam’s hand.

Adam looked over at Dex, wondering if there was a point in him addressing himself as Steve Bridges, the assumed name he had chosen. It seemed pretty futile if Joe had already left the country. Dex read the indecision on his friend’s face and offered the steward his hand.

“That’s my partner Steve Bridges----and my name is Dex--just wondering if we could ask you a couple of questions regarding the passengers who boarded the Sapphire this morning?”

“Well---there sure was a lot of them---what with them and the amount of goods we stowed in her hull---we’ve been working for days getting her ready to launch.”

“This man---in particular---he would’ve been traveling with a young man--in his twenties. The boy has dark curly brown hair---about five foot ten. The man he’s traveling with registered as Bristol Ford,” Adam jumped in to try to ascertain as much as possible before the man wondered why they were so interested in finding such information.

“Now---let me think---that name does kinda strike a bell---hold on--” the man stopped in mid-sentence and waved his co-worker over to them. “This is Burt Griffin---Burt this is Steve and Dex.”

“How’d you do, Gents--what’s the problem?”

“They wanted to know if we boarded a man named Bristol Ford--and his son.”

“He would’ve been traveling with perhaps three other men in the party,” Dex threw in, hoping to jog their minds.

“Wait a minute--” Burt said, and he chewed on the end of his cigar as if in deep thought. “Yeah---Jeff---you remember don’t you? The man---the one with the sick kid?”

“You’re right---must’ve been him--though can’t swear I heard the name Bristol when they came aboard,” Jeff nodded.

“Sick kid?” Adam asked warily.

“Yeah---he had two of his business associates help him with the kid. He said the boy was pretty sick. Got a hold of some bad liquor or something he said.” Jeff added.

“Did you get a good look at the kid?” Dex asked.

“Naw---not really---kinda slight looking----with a head full of curly hair. That’s about all we could see from under that huge coat he was wearing. The kid’s father said he put his overcoat around the kid’s shoulder since he had the chills.” Burt replied.

“I’d like you to take a look at these two pictures for me,” Dex said as he pulled out a picture of Joe Cartwright and an old newspaper clipping which bore the likeness of Bristol Ford.

“That’s the father I think---yeah---looked a bit older though,” Burt announced and pointed at the weathered newspaper clipping. Though it was only basically an ink sketch of the evil man, it was detailed enough to highlight his facial features. “Don’t know about the kid--could’ve been him---hair looks kinda like it--but his face wasn’t showing.”

Adam and Dex shared a discouraged glance and then the detective tried one last time.

“And you are both sure that they all boarded---and stayed on the ship?”

“They were up on the deck last time I seen them---someone was helping them with the boy--getting him down to the sleeping quarters,” Jeff replied.

“Yeah---nobody---other than the dock workers left the ship before leaving the harbor,” Burt added.

“Thank you both,” Dex said and stared over at Adam. “Let’s go.”

The two men walked along the boardwalk deep in thought. It had just been plain bad luck to have missed finding Joe by one solitary day. Dex cursed the evil Bristol Ford for once again staying one step ahead of him. They walked inside a small cafe and ordered coffee in order to go over the information.

“What am I supposed to tell my father? When he hears that Joe is off to Europe he will be beside himself with worry. I don’t know how much more the man can take either--not with all that’s happened,” Adam sighed and stirred the sugar into his coffee cup.

“I’ll admit it looks bad, Adam, but---let’s not give up yet. Just in case it’s some kind of scheme to get us to quit and go home, we’ll keep trying. That man---Jeremy Bolding---the one I introduced to you yesterday. He told me that he would have the whereabouts of Ford by this evening. He’s a thorough man---let’s see what he has for us before we give up hope.”

“You think there’s a chance that Bristol didn’t get on that ship with Joe? Honestly?”

“I just don’t know---to be totally frank about it. But, it won’t hurt to track him to wherever he had taken the kid. Maybe---just maybe luck will be with us for a change. Let’s sit tight---my man said he’d meet us tonight then we’ll see.”

“You don’t give up very easily, do you, Dex?” Adam asked, reading the determination on the detective’s face.

“I promised your father I would bring Joe back. I will keep that promise---even if I have to take the next ship out of here,” Dex nodded.

“I hope it doesn’t come to that---but I agree,” Adam replied.

Bristol arrived back home around eight o’clock that evening. He had watched from afar the detective along with the man who walked with him to the docks. Feeling very content that his plan had worked, Bristol was very anxious to finish yet another brilliant scheme concerning Joe. He made his way into the house and spotted Cole coming down the stairs.

“So? Did it work?’ Cole asked as he hit the bottom step.

“Perfect---I told you not to worry. Now--have the men got everything packed up?”

“Almost everything’s out of here---with the exception of a few things including your little hostage.”

“Good work---we will leave at dawn. Now--tell me---did you have a nice talk with the boy?” Bristol laughed.

“Yeah---poor kid---didn’t know I was egging him on. Fell for it no problem,” Cole nodded fighting back his glee.

“And---you have him in the wardrobe still?” Bristol asked, having already been very specific about what he wanted his partner to do with Joe.

“Yeah--he whimpered awhile but stopped this morning. Busted up his back a little--not enough to kill him---just to make him good and sore. That--along with being squashed up in there should give you the desired effect.”

“Well done!” Bristol congratulated the other man, patting him on the back. “Now---you go on up there and I will make my grand entrance in a couple of minutes. Now remember--this little fight between us has to look real!”

“Yeah---well just don’t be too rough. I don’t mind a little push---I mean for the cause and all--but nothing that’s gonna tick me off, okay?”

“Just follow my lead---the kid won’t be looking too closely anyhow. Now go on up there!”

Cole entered the bedroom and settled into the chair. He hadn’t heard a sound out of his prisoner for a long while. Not worried, since he had put his own ear up to the wardrobe and detected the sound of breathing, Cole waited for his signal from Bristol to start the real show. That opportunity came soon. Bristol entered the room and looked over at his henchman.

“Cole?” Bristol called, loud enough to filter through to where Joe was contained.

“Hi ya, Bristol---you get that business deal all done?” Cole smiled and stood from his chair.

“Yes---made the transaction---but--” Bristol gave a pregnant pause to make it sound real and then said, “I don’t see Joseph----what have you done with him?”

“Oh---that---well the kid got to wising off at me---even though I warned him. Then, when he wouldn’t apologize I decided he needed a good lesson in manners,” Cole explained.

“Where is he!” Bristol shouted, trying to show his impatience with the other man in his tone of voice.

“Relax---I put him over there in the closet---he’s fine---just a little battered. But---I told you he had it coming! You did give me permission you know.”

Bristol strode briskly across the room and tried to open the doors of the wardrobe but couldn’t. He turned and called to Cole. “Get me the damn key!”

“Okay okay---the kid is fine---don’t know why you’re all up in arms about this,” Cole argued and walked over to the wardrobe and handed Bristol the key.

Bristol opened the doors and looked down to see Joe stuffed inside the wardrobe, his knees bent and pressed up against his chest.

“What the hell have you done?” Bristol yelled and turned on Cole.

“I just gave him a good old fashioned whooping. He’s okay. Come on, Kid---time to get out of there!” Cole said as he reached for Joe’s arm.

“Let him be, you idiot!” Bristol said vehemently and pushed the man aside and tried to remove Joe from the wardrobe himself. “I got you, Boy---take it slow,” he coaxed the battered young man.

Joe could barely move, even with Bristol’s hands assisting him out of the cabinet. By the time he was standing on solid ground he slumped in the man’s outstretched arms, his legs going out on him.

Bristol could tell that there was blood coating the young man’s clothes. He looked over at Cole and called to him, “Get some ointment, liniment ----and some pain powders!”

“Ah---he’s okay--the kid just don’t have his sea legs yet!” Cole protested once more.

Bristol reached with his right hand, still holding onto Joe with his left one, and shoved his partner towards the door. “Do it now!” he demanded.

“Okay okay I’m going!” Cole answered and turned out of the room.

Bristol walked Joe slowly over to the bed and eased him down. Joe groaned as he made the trek across the room. His muscles ached from confinement and his back was in terrible shape. On top of that his pants were damp from not having the opportunity to use the privy.

“Joseph----you’ve got to come out of those clothes. Lean back ---let me go get you a wash cloth for you to clean yourself up some,” Bristol said, concern filling his tone of voice.

Joe leaned back, bracing his body weight with his elbows, and tried his best to blink back tears of pain. The lamp light burned at his eyes after being shut up in the dark for an entire day. He watched as Bristol made it over to the wash basin and soaked a cloth in water and then rubbed the bar of soap on it. He grabbed a towel in his other hand and made his way back to the bed.

“Let me help you,” the man offered and reached towards Joe’s boots.

“No-” Joe whispered, trying to regain the strength to take care of himself. He felt as weak as a newborn kitten and was having trouble bending his legs in order to try and remove his boots himself.

“Come on---here,” Bristol said and knelt next to the bed and carefully pulled off the boy’s right boot. Joe had stopped protesting and allowed the man to pull off the other one. His muscles were so knotted up that he could barely bend as he fought to remove his pants.

“Let me get you some fresh undershorts----you go ahead and wash off,” Bristol said as Joe made an attempt to get out of his pants and underwear. He hated to undress in front of his captor, but the man had saved him and he was dying to get out of his urine soaked pants. Joe felt so embarrassed by his present condition that it took all his pride to prevent any further tears from leaving his eyes.

Joe washed his legs and moved up towards his waist. When the washcloth hit on his backside Joe groaned loudly due to the deep cuts from Cole’s belt. He lightly dried off the area and then looked up to see Bristol standing there with the underwear in his hands. Joe made sure to keep the towel in front of his lower body, covering as much as possible.

“Go ahead---I’ll just look the other way.”

“Thanks,” Joe mumbled, appreciative for that one small favor. He pulled on the clean undershorts and the effort made him groan once more.

“Now---let’s get you fixed up. Honestly, Joseph---I don’t understand why you would rile Cole like you did! I never wanted you harmed like this,” Bristol complained as he reached for Joe’s elbow and again pulled him to standing.

Joe leaned into Bristol as they moved to the side of the bed, his legs still refusing to function right as he eased down onto the mattress. Bristol could see the raised welts and several opened cuts on the boy’s back.****Cole---you really played your part to a tee didn’t you?****Bristol thought to himself.

“Here! Think you should let the kid suffer---if you ask me!” Cole said as he entered the room with several items on a tray.

Bristol placed the tray on the night stand and then looked directly at Cole. Joe could not see the two men’s faces, as he was spread out faced down on the bed at the time. Bristol gave Cole a slight smile and a wink and then started in on him.

“I never told you to beat the boy half to death, Cole!” Bristol shouted.

“You told me I could do whatever I wanted to, remember? Besides he called me a maniac---and he called you the same thing!”

“Get out of here before I take a belt to you and show you what it feels like!” Bristol demanded.

“Fine! I didn’t want to play babysitter anyhow!” Cole fired back and turned and left the room.

Joe didn’t see the exchange between the two men but he did hear it. He couldn’t help feeling grateful to Bristol for what he had said to the evil man.

“Here,” Bristol said, after he mixed the powdery substance in a glass of water. “This will help with the pain.”

Joe turned slightly on the bed and reached for the glass. “What is it?” Joe asked warily.

“It’s just going to take the edge off---it’s not enough to knock you out. Now drink it.”

Joe did as instructed and settled back down against the pillows.

Bristol took a seat in the chair and waited a few minutes for the medication to start to work. He knew that Joe would go into a sleep like state where he would know what was going on but would be too groggy to protest. This was all part of the next plan, one Bristol was sure would help to win the boy over to his side at last.

“How are you feeling now?’ Bristol asked after fifteen minutes had passed.

“Head’s kinda funny,” Joe muttered. “Little dizzy too.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised---you haven’t eaten in a day---or had anything to drink--have you?”

“No---he wouldn’t let me out of there.”

“You just settle down now, Joseph. I’m going to work on that back. You’ve got a few places where Cole broke the skin. You don’t need an infection to set in.”

Joe watched Bristol out of the corner of his eye. The man dipped the fingers of his right hand into a small jar, pulling out a thick looking ointment. It didn’t make any sense to him at the time. Why would the man help heal him when it was his own partner who had caused the damage in the first place? For that matter why would he yell at Cole instead of Joe for riling the man so?

“I’m okay---you don’t need to do that,” Joe whispered as the man moved to the side of the bed and sat down.

“I feel responsible for what Cole did to you. I didn’t think he would resort to this kind of thing. I thought the most he would do--if you got out of line- would be to tie you up again,” Bristol answered and then began to dab the ointment onto each of Joe’s cuts.

Joe flinched from both the sting of the medicine and also from the touch. It didn’t seem right, it didn’t feel right either. Joe’s mind started to go hazy on him and before he could ask Bristol to remove his hands from off his back his brain filled with all kinds of strange thoughts. He closed his eyelids as they were growing very heavy, and thought about his father. He could almost feel the touch of Ben Cartwright. So many times his father would be the one who took care of him when he was hurt. Patiently Pa would provide comfort as he applied medicine to an injury or slowly rubbed his back to relieve stress caused by an illness. Joe wished it could have been his pa now, fixing his cuts, softly caressing his hair to ease him into slumber. But that pa no longer existed, had he ever? Joe was confused by the whole terrible events that had led up to that night and to Bristol being the one who now doctored his injuries. How could the man be this compassionate? Hadn’t he been the one who had stolen his mother’s casket three years ago? Could he be the one who his father tried to strangle to death? The same hands that were now in place over his shoulders and were slowly moving down his back were the same ones that had snatched him out of the restaurant that night, now so long ago. Which hands were worse? The hands that did the abducting or the hands that stayed down at Ben Cartwright’s side and had done nothing to save his own son? Joe’s mind faded in and out playing on thoughts over all that had happened. One minute Bristol’s touch would seem so inappropriate that he wanted to bolt up from the bed. And, the next moment his touch seemed as gentle as that of his father’s. It had been an emotional roller coaster for the boy, and he longed to get off. But, even if he succeeded in escaping, Joe knew his life was forever destroyed due to the bargain his father had made.

“Relax---I’m not going to hurt you---have to go a little lower to tend these other ones,” Bristol whispered and his hands eased down to the deepest cuts which were on Joe’s buttocks.

Joe tensed up and wanted to shove the man’s hand aside. It felt unnatural to have a stranger touch him there. He was feeling so lightheaded that his protest never left his mouth. Instead he just groaned as Bristol spread the ointment onto his cuts and continued down to his legs. Joe wondered what he was doing. He didn’t have any lash marks there, so why were the man’s hands venturing farther down his body?

“W--what are you doing?” Joe finally managed to make the words come out of his mouth.

“I’ve got some liniment now, Joseph, I’m going to get the knots out of your legs and back. I’ll be careful not to touch those bruises. Settle down now--it’s okay,” Bristol explained calmly.

The man’s touch seemed deliberately planned to lull his captive into a calm acceptance of what was happening. If it hadn’t been Bristol doing it, Joe would have enjoyed the massage as it was starting to ease the tension in his muscles. But, again, it WAS Bristol and Joe’s body broke out in goose bumps as the man slowly kneaded his muscles. His moves were rhythmic and soothing and it wasn’t long before Joe’s mind allowed him to give in to the feeling and lose his inhibitions. What difference did it make anyway? He had drawn such great comfort in the strong but caring hands of his father only to have the man betray him. So what if Bristol was evil, at least he was outright with it, and didn’t hide behind the name Cartwright! Joe’s head began to sink further down into the pillow as his body finally gave up it’s guard and allowed the moment to stand on its own merit. It was, no matter what else, human contact and Joe had longed for comfort after having endured hours of pain and fear due to Cole’s actions. The medicine was at it’s full power when Bristol moved from Joe’s legs up again to his shoulders and worked to relieve the knots there.

“You’re starting to loosen up at last---how’s it feel?” Bristol asked quietly.

“Feels---feels good---” Joe mumbled, barely audible now.

“Good---I’m glad, Joseph---let’s get the knots out of your neck and shoulders now. You go on and fall asleep if you want to. I’m sure that in the morning you will feel a hundred per cent better.”

Joe pressed his right cheek against the softness of the pillowcase and slowly began the descent into the abyss of peaceful slumber. Bristol continued to massage the boy’s back, avoiding the places where welts were raised up on the surface. He marveled that such a young man had such defined muscles, especially in his upper arms. The kid was, as Cole had said often, very tough. Working around the sinewy rolls of musculature, Bristol wondered if the boy’s father had ever done such a thorough job. No, he believed that he beat Ben Cartwright in all things, including the art of massage. Bristol smiled when he noticed the boy’s face seemed to be so peaceful as he lay there in slumber. Minutes before, having been twisted with both pain and anxiety over what was happening, Joe’s jaw-line had been tight whereas now it was undefined and totally relaxed. He knew his act of kindness wasn’t read as just that by the young man. Bristol knew that it had also been a moment where Joe had wrestled with himself for control of his own body. It had only taken the combination of some pain powders and Bristol’s infinite power of persuasion to talk Joe into complete surrender. The boy, who had been nothing more than a hostage for weeks was now coming over to the other side. Bristol smiled as he straightened Joe’s undershorts and pulled up the comforter to cover him with. ****Checkmate again.****Bristol thought to himself chuckling softly.

Joe awoke to strange sounds and a room which was cast in a bright glow. After having spent so many weeks without the sunlight, he had to wince his eyes closed to get use to the intensity of the brightness. Opening them back again, he looked at his surroundings and his mind was steeped in confusion. He felt drugged and wondered if it all wasn’t some kind of bizarre dream he was having. Pulling down the covers, Joe noticed he was dressed in a nightshirt. He didn’t recall having put one on either. As he moved in the bed, the pain came to the forefront and he eased onto his side from his stomach.

Turning towards the sounds again, Joe could see the window along with the sheer curtains that were dancing from the breeze. His nostrils took in the strong scent of salt air as his ears listened to the faint sound of distant seagulls.

“Well--it’s about time you woke up. How are you feeling, Joseph?” came the voice from the other side of the room.

Joe moved his head and noticed Bristol standing by the doorway holding a cup in his hand.

“Brought you some coffee---figure you could use it to help clear your head,” Bristol said and walked over to Joe and handed him the cup.

“Where---where am I?” Joe stuttered.

“I told you I was going to let you get some sightseeing in didn’t I?” Bristol smiled as he took a seat next to the bed.

Joe rubbed at his eyes with his left hand and then choked down the strong coffee. It helped to dislodge the tightness in his throat. “How long have I been out of it?”

“Two days. You were in pretty sad shape---remember?”

“Yeah,” Joe nodded and the visions of his last conscious moments came back into his mind. He felt embarrassment over what had transpired between him and Bristol and his face flushed thinking about it. The last thing he remembered was the man doctoring his wounds.

“Your back is much better----I’ve been tending to it for two days. But, I would say you need one more day in bed before venturing outside.”

“Outside? You’re gonna let me out of here?” Joe asked surprised.

Bristol nodded and reached over and patted the boy’s arm, “Yes, it’s time you got some exercise. So, you rest a little while today and tomorrow you and I will go for a walk.”

“You still didn’t say where I am,” Joe reminded the man as he handed him back the coffee cup.

“Up the coast a ways---I think you will like it here. It’s quite beautiful.”

“Why are you being so nice to me? I mean---you fixed me up---even yelled at your friend in defense of me. Why?” Joe asked, filled with confusion.

Bristol smiled patiently and then reached into his coat pocket. He pulled out a deck of cards. “You good at playing cards?”

Joe wondered why the man had changed the subject to cards. He thought maybe he was still out of his head and dreaming the whole incident. “I guess,” Joe mumbled.

Bristol removed a solitary card from the deck and held it out with its back facing the boy. “Do you know what card I’m holding?”

“No.”

“Why don’t you know?” Bristol continued.

“Because----I can’t see the other side,” Joe remarked, trying to bite back his sarcasm.

“Exactly!” Bristol said exuberantly. “You only see one side---and it’s the back side--so you have no idea which card it is.”

Joe thought for a moment before replying. He wondered what the man was getting at by his analogy. “I still don’t get it---I was asking you why you were being so kind to me---now you’re talking about cards!”

“Joseph---your whole life you have been looking at the back of a card--so to speak. You only know what has been told to you. You only believe the things that you’ve taken for face value. This whole incident between you and me has been judged by what facts you had to go on. Those facts were due to Ben Cartwright’s opinions and little else.”

“I don’t want to talk about him!” Joe exclaimed and settled back down against the pillows. He didn’t want to think about his father’s betrayal.

“What do you really know about me? You think I just randomly stole you away from your father? I know that’s what you thought at first, right?” Bristol asked but could tell that the boy had clammed up due to his pent up anger and hurt. “Then----later---you overheard the conversation between Ben and myself. That was the beginning of this card slowly turning to the other side. You were starting to see the picture better.”

“You have always hated my family----you almost destroyed us when you took my mother’s casket. I haven’t forgotten that, Bristol.”

“Did you ever wonder why I did it, Joseph? I didn’t need the money----though your father was perfectly willing to pay.”

“You did it to destroy us.”

Bristol reached out again and touched Joe’s arm forcing his gaze. “Not to destroy all of you---just Ben. I don’t hate you----I would’ve figured you’d know that by now. Though I did have to teach you a bit of manners when you first came to me, I didn’t do it to destroy you. Did your father ever explain to you what he did to me years ago?”

“He said something about you losing your ranch---and that you blamed him for it.”

“Your father double crossed me---eleven years ago. The timber bid---we were both up for it ---Ponderosa and Bar W. I went to Ben, I told him how important it was for me to get that contract---that it meant life and death for me and my family. He agreed to pull out of the competition. He lied.”

“Your family?” Joe asked, curiosity getting the better of him. He had just presumed that someone like Bristol Ford would have no kin.

“My wife----my son--” Bristol responded sadly and his gaze tracked down to the floor. “When the Ponderosa won that bid I lost it all. I came home to find them both very ill. The doctor said it was typhoid fever. I did everything in my power to save them---but they died a week later. I had lost everything. My ranch was gone---but worse yet---my wife and son were dead. I left after I buried them and decided to go as far away from Nevada and your father as I could. I wanted so badly to get a gun and kill him.”

Joe watched the man as he described all the awful events that had taken place in his life. He couldn’t help feeling sorry for him for all he had lost. It didn’t excuse what Bristol had done, especially the theft of Joe’s beloved mother’s casket. But he was starting to get a handle on why the man had acted in the manner that he had.

“You came back----to get revenge on my father----but you escaped. That was three years ago. What happened to you to make you come back again---and to make the arrangement with my father? And, why would he agree to let you take me? I heard something about the contracts for the shipping deal,” Joe mentioned, trying his best to tie things up in his own mind.

“Did Ben always tell you about the financial workings of the Ponderosa? Did he tell you that the ranch was in jeopardy?”

Joe looked shocked by what the man had just said. “No---I don’t get into those kinds of things with him. Or---I guess I should say---I didn’t get into such things. I know that he was counting on the De Santo deal. But, he never said anything about the ranch having serious financial problems.”

“Well----last year that began to happen. And I got wind of it. I had spent some time in Europe during the previous two years---and with a great deal of luck and business savvy I was able to come into another large fortune. I did some investigation into the Ponderosa’s profit and loss margins. It was then that I knew that your father would need a large timber order just to stay solvent.”

“So---how did you meet up with him?”

“Four months ago----your father came to San Francisco---I believe you stayed home that trip. That was when he submitted his bid for the De Santo line. I had some friends there---and though the bids were supposed to remain sealed---I confess that I got a peek at them. I undercut the Ponderosa. Once I won, I contacted your father. I told him to meet me in San Francisco. That’s when you and your brother Hoss came along. I also saw to it that the Ponderosa won the railroad bid, but that was simply to get your brother out of the way. Your father and I agreed to terms---though they had the railroad contract that wouldn’t be enough to keep the Ponderosa afloat. That’s when he settled on my terms. I gave him the De Santo contract and he gave me his son. It was just good business. I didn’t need the money---I have more than enough. But, I wanted some form of payment for what that man had stolen from me. Yes---it’s true--I can never replace my own son in you. And I will never get over the loss of him or his mother, but it seemed like an appropriate method to even the score.”

Joe shook his head, he was so despondent over the fact that he had been exchanged for a contract. It made twenty years of beliefs crash to the ground. Bristol had spilled the whole story at last. It still didn’t make sense, but then again, nothing would. Joe remembered hearing his father’s voice and that had confirmed the story in his own mind. Even after listening to Bristol’s perspective Joe wasn’t happy with his role in the deception. But, after he, himself, had been sold out by the man he most trusted in the world, Joe could understand why Bristol hated Ben Cartwright. Joe had similar feelings towards the man who had destroyed his soul with his betrayal.

Bristol gave Joe enough time to think on all he had told him before speaking again. Finally, he sat back in the chair and held up the card he had used originally. “King of spades---see it now?” Bristol smiled as he showed the boy the face of the card.

“Yeah----I can see it now, all right. So----what happens to me now?”

Bristol tucked the card back inside the deck as he stood from the chair. “You are going to rest that’s what! Tomorrow I’ll take you down to the shore and we can breathe in some good sea air. I’ll go bring you in some breakfast. Be right back,” he said and turned for the door.

“Bristol?” Joe called as the man pulled open the door.

“Yes?”

“I hate him too,” Joe confessed in regard to his feelings towards Ben Cartwright.

Bristol tried his best not to give away the fact that he has just told one of the biggest lies of his entire life. He had to look concerned and sincere. He simply nodded towards Joe, understanding written across his face. “Be right back, Joseph.”

Adam Cartwright pulled off his suit coat and absently stroked his heavy growth of beard. The stagecoach rocked back and forth, and had he not had so many worries on his mind, it would have lulled him into a tired sleep. But, every time Adam closed his eyes his thoughts fell to his father and how he was going to take the news he would soon be bringing him. He knew there was no way he could tell his pa that they had failed in their mission, not by telegraph at least. Dex had opted to stay in San Francisco a few more days, though Joe was long gone and heading to London via clipper ship.

Adam shook his head and cursed under his breath consumed with feelings of anger and incompetency. They had been so close! If only Dex’s contact men had been a bit sharper they would’ve been able to pull Joe from Bristol’s clutches before they had boarded the Sapphire. Though at first they thought that perhaps Bristol had somehow jumped ship and was using the whole trip to Europe as a clever ruse, they soon found out differently. Busting into Bristol’s mansion early in the morning the day after the ship left port they both discovered that it had been no ruse to throw them off. Everything was gone, and the only piece of information they could find was boarding information for the Sapphire, and, even that, had been stuffed in the waste barrel outside of the mansion. There were some signs that Joe had been at the house for awhile. Adam still cringed when he thought on the leather straps he and Dex had found mounted to the four poster bed in one of the second floor bedrooms. That, along with the black paint that was coating the window in the room, told a big part of the story. Joe was held against his will with little chance of escape.

It took some persuasion on Adam’s part for Dex to remain in San Francisco instead of hopping the next schooner out of the harbor. He had finally relented once they sat and reasoned it all out. Dex decided, since he couldn’t beat the Sapphire to its first port which would be London, he would try to get the jump on Bristol a different way. He immediately sent a wire to his friend and associate in New York. After checking passage records, Dex knew that a ship headed to London from the New York port would have a good head start over the Sapphire, which had a much longer route down around South America. Dex offered to pay the man well if he would take the Brigadier, yet another clipper ship, and head over to London to beat Bristol there. The Brigadier was to set sail two days after the wire was sent. Dex had waited until he received confirmation that the friend had agreed to go and try to intercept Bristol and would escort Joe Cartwright back to the states. That was all Dex could do at the moment regarding Joe’s safety, but he insisted on staying in San Francisco a little while longer to try to glean what information he could from others who might know more about Bristol’s overseas operations.

That left Adam to go back to the Ponderosa and tell his father and brother the bad news. Hoss would rally around Ben, offering him comfort and assuring him that Joe was going to be returned. It was Adam’s job to have to explain how he and Dex had let the boy slip from their grasp. He had sent the telegraph which had stated only that he would be arriving in two days and that he would explain. But, since Adam didn’t want to build up any false hope in the meanwhile, he also mentioned that Joe would not be arriving with him at the time.

The trip back home seemed like an eternity, but Adam finally disembarked on the home turf in Virginia City. Hoss had met his brother’s stage. But, Ben was noticeably missing. Hoss had tried to explain to his older brother that their father wasn’t doing very well. He filled Adam in on the letter that they had received from both Bristol and Joe. Hoss did his best to comfort his brother. He could tell that the man was internally seething over the failure of his mission. By the time they pulled the buckboard up in the front yard, Hoss had gotten the whole low-down and was filled with the same dread as Adam. Pa would not be taking the news well.

Ben had greeted both of his sons and could automatically tell, with just one look that Adam had more bad news to deliver. He walked with his two boys over to the living room and braced himself for what was forthcoming. Adam went to great pains to explain each and every move both he and Dex had made. His tone was both apologetic and disheartened. Ben listened intently to the whole story as it unfolded. He waited until Adam was completely through before standing from his chair and looking down on his sons.

“You did the best you could, Son---not your fault,” Ben said and rested his hand on Adam’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Pa----I wish I could’ve done something a little different---and maybe we would’ve gotten to Joe in time.”

“Don’t blame yourself--you hear?” Ben replied.

“All right----I won’t---that is if YOU don’t. Pa---this Bristol Ford----he’s gotten the upper hand so many times it’s almost bizarre---but every dog has his day!” Adam insisted and pulled himself to standing.

“So---that Gene feller---Dex’s friend--he’s gonna get to London before Bristol and Joe get there?” Hoss jumped into the conversation.

“Yeah---the ship was leaving ---I guess today actually---and it should get into port a couple weeks before the Sapphire,” Adam nodded.

“But----that’s a two month journey from New York--” Ben paused and thought back to his days standing at the helm. “Two months to get to London---two weeks to intercept the Sapphire---and two months once another ship leaves London for New York. Then---weeks to get back west from there. Joe’s already been gone a month---it’s gonna be the better part of a year before we have him back. If then.” Ben sighed, and felt as though his heart would disintegrate in his chest. “No telling what Bristol has done to him already----and all those months---how is Joe gonna be able to handle this?”

“Ah---Pa---don’t sell Joe short---I bet you he’s fighting that maniac tooth and nail. Believe me its not going to be a picnic for Bristol having Joe with him!” Hoss insisted.

“Yeah---Hoss is right----that kid could talk the devil out of a glass of ice water. He’s as tough as they come!” Adam exclaimed and hoped that his attempt at some levity would help to heal some of his father’s wounds.

“He hates me,” Ben whispered and reached for the letter that Hoss had squirreled away. His eyes fell on the awful things that Joe had said in it.

“Come on, Pa--” Adam objected, “Joe could never hate you----you should know that! He loves you as much as we do---sometimes I think even more. And that’s an awful lot of love.”

Ben sighed and set the letter back on the coffee table and stared over at his sons. “Why don’t you go get cleaned up---I know you’ve had a long trip. Hop Sing has a welcome home dinner ready for you.”

“Don’t feel like eating---but I will to make Hop Sing happy,” Adam commented as he headed towards the staircase. “Guess I can shave this off now,” he mentioned as he rubbed at his chin. Looking back towards his father he wished he hadn’t said it. The man looked so devoid of hope. Slowly Adam climbed the stairs.

Joe stood on the shoreline facing the Pacific Ocean. The strong winds gave a fierceness to the whitecaps which rolled swiftly to the beach. It looked as though a storm from way out on the horizon was coming in at a fast pace. The ocean churned as the waves crashed against the rock laden shore sending a spray of salt water high into the air. Bristol had been right about one thing, Joe thought as he walked slowly towards the manmade pier which jutted out past the waterline, the fact that the scenery was breathtaking. The winds whipped through the abundance of brown curls on his head, forcing the bangs down into his hazel eyes. Joe didn’t care. He was happy to be out of the confines of the house that had been his new residence for over a week. Bristol’s men still stood guard up on the high ground above the beach. But, having shown the man that he wouldn’t attempt an escape, Joe was free to move back and forth along the ocean front.

Making his way to the sturdy but barnacle encrusted posts of the pier, Joe pulled himself up onto the structure and walked out to its end. Once there, he sat down and allowed his legs to dangle over the edge. It was very peaceful, almost as peaceful as his favorite spot on the shore of Lake Tahoe. Joe watched as seagulls danced above him in the sky and gave their familiar calls. The sea wasn’t the deep azure blue like the lake which acted as a border to the Ponderosa Ranch, but it was beautiful nonetheless. Joe tried to erase from his mind all the high sea tales his father had told him over the years. Looking pensively at the sea-green tones of the choppy waters, his thoughts went to other things. He had given up on the nagging thoughts that had lingered in the recesses of his mind for weeks as to why his father would have traded Bristol his own son for the lucrative De Santo contract. Now, it was more or less a quiet resolve on that issue that allowed Joe to move on. If Ben Cartwright valued profits over his youngest son, then Joe would not let that bother him any longer. Bristol had mellowed somewhat, now that he had gotten his point across and had gained Joe’s trust. The young man still wasn’t happy with Cole Rivers, to say the least. But, in his defense, Bristol had pulled the man away as close guard and Cole hadn’t laid a hand on Joe since the night of the beating.

Caught up in his reflections, Joe didn’t hear the boot steps coming down the pier. It wasn’t until he felt the hand on his shoulder that he realized he had company.

“Joseph? Looks like a storm is coming in. Why don’t you come on into the house now---you’ve been out here for hours?” Bristol said looking down at his prized possession.

“Hours?” Joe asked staring up at the man. “Didn’t know I’d been out here that long. Guess I just kinda lost track of time---sorry.”

“That’s all right---I’m fond of the view myself,” Bristol replied as Joe pulled himself back to standing.

“Mind if I walk the shore one more time, Bristol?”

“No----if you’re sure you’re up to it?”

“Yeah---my back is just about all healed.”

“Well, then---mind if I walk with you for a spell?” Bristol asked, keeping the decision open for the boy. He had found that by giving Joe a little freedom it had helped him to win his trust

“No, I don’t mind,” Joe nodded and walked down to the end of the pier and waited for Bristol to join him on shore. Soon they were walking side by side admiring the view and commenting on the ocean’s power.

Cole looked down at the sight of Bristol and his hostage walking along as if they were friends and no longer combatants. He chuckled and turned to one of the other guards and remarked, “Dave---that there shows you how smart our friend Bristol is!” Dave followed Cole’s gaze and witnessed Joe and Bristol’s walk.

“The kid hasn’t even tried to run off---can’t believe Bristol got so far along with him so quick!” Dave replied.

“Never underestimate our boss. Never deceive him either by the way. That’s one man that you don’t want to rile!”

“Yeah---I’ve seen what he can do, Cole,” Dave nodded.

“Wish old man Cartwright could see this touching scene!” Cole laughed and then waited patiently for Joe and Bristol to make their way up to the house.

Sitting at his desk in the study, Ben flipped through his calendar. He had crossed out every day since his youngest son was abducted. July had passed, as had August, and it was now the end of September with still no word about his whereabouts. Ben knew that the Brigadier would have made it to port in Liverpool weeks ago. He hoped with all his heart that the man Dex had assigned to the task had met the Sapphire by now and had succeeded in snatching Joseph out of Bristol’s evil clutches. If all had gone as planned, Ben had learned of a return trip by the clipper ship Tradewinds that would pull out of port in just a few days. He flipped through the calendar, this time stopping on the month of December. It would take two full months, barring any problems, for the Tradewinds to arrive in New York Harbor. That would be the first week of December. Ben prayed that word of their arrival would come via telegraph that week. Even though it still meant another three weeks to get to Nevada by train and stagecoach at least the worry would be over at that point. If only he knew that Joe was safe and sound and that he had been rescued! Ben shook his head as he tucked the calendar back inside his desk drawer.

Hoss and Adam had handled the lion’s share of Ponderosa business for months. They knew that their father didn’t care at that point what profits were turned in by the completion of both contracts for the railroad and the shipping line. Ben was worrying himself to the point of ill health and both of his remaining sons had gone so far as asking the family physician to drop by for a chat. Ben knew when Paul showed up that it wasn’t just a case of him passing by that day. He read his sons concern and understood the reason behind it, but he knew there wasn’t much anyone could do to alleviate the situation until the youngest was back on home turf and in his father’s tight embrace.

Ben tried to force himself to do other things, but always he would return to thoughts of Joe. He carried Marie’s locket in his shirt pocket every day since he had it repaired. Ben longed for the day when he could hand it back to his boy. He prayed that wherever Joe was that he realized how much he was missed by all. Hop Sing had tried to keep the family going too. Though the spring was out of the Oriental’s step, he rarely made mention of how much his heart hurt over the youngest being gone.

Settling down in his favorite chair by the fireplace, Ben stared over at the dancing flames. No matter how much he kept the fire stoked, the room seemed cold and empty. He closed his eyes and tried to envision Joe sitting on his usual perch on the hearth smiling and laughing. How he missed that laugh! Ben was beginning to forget what it sounded like now. Whenever he saw Joe’s face in his mind’s eye it was always the face that had fear and disbelief painting it. Ben would pull his son’s letter out from its selected position in the family Bible every now and then and stare at the words the boy had written. It cut through his body and soul. He had tried for months to believe that Joseph had been coerced into writing it, as his other sons had suggested. But, the words were there nonetheless and Ben owned them by his inability to explain to the boy what had really happened that night in the restaurant. He had played out every scenario possible, to see if there would’ve been another option than to just have sat there and let Joe be stolen from him. Ben knew most likely that Hoss would now be dead if he had chosen to intervene. But, even that fact did little to dissuade him from hating himself for offering Joe as a sacrifice. ****December---just let me get to December, Lord, and keep Joseph safe until I can explain why I did what I did.****Ben prayed and tucked the letter away again.

Joe stood on the busy boardwalk and watched as fishermen meandered about bringing with them the fruits of their labor. The fishing had quite obviously been very good of late, and the markets lining the oceanfront town of Eureka were well stocked with the catch of the day. Staring out towards Humboldt Bay Joe watched vessel after vessel pull into port and the sailors unload their nets. Coming towards port was a larger schooner, one that was due to carry away some of the fine redwood lumber that the area was known for.

Bristol had given his bodyguards the afternoon off, and the men were happy to be free from their normal duties. Cole, David, and two of Bristol’s other men walked off towards one of the many saloons in the town. Bristol had grown to trust Joe enough to figure that the boy didn’t pose as much of a flight risk as he had months before when he was taken from San Francisco in the early summer. Lighting his cigar, he moved to stand next to Joe and dropped his hand down onto the boy’s shoulder.

“Bustling little town, isn’t it Joseph?”

“Yes, Sir---never been here. My brothers brought some stock up here a few years ago to Fort Humboldt, but I didn’t get to go along that trip,” Joe replied, and an old pain resurfaced. For, no matter what he thought about his father, he did truly miss his two brothers. Joe figured that they had not been involved with Ben Cartwright’s little bargain. There was no way either Hoss or Adam would have gone along with it, Joe reasoned.

“Well---we’ve gone down to the docks already. How about we take in one of the saloons? You look like you could use a drink,” Bristol smiled and was happy to see the boy nod his agreement.

The Redwood Tavern was even more packed than the Silver Dollar Saloon on payday. Joe and Bristol pushed past the masses and made it over to the corner of the bar. Bristol ordered for them, a beer for Joe and a brandy for himself.

“Thanks,” Joe said and took a swig of his beer. He hadn’t partaken in any alcohol in months and the brew tasted awfully good as it went down his throat.

“Look over there!” Bristol pointed over to a table where four men were playing poker.

Joe watched as the men seemed to be having quite a game. He could hear their voices even over the loud buzz of conversation in the crowded saloon.

“Didn’t you once tell me you were good at cards, Joseph?”

“Well----I’ve had good days and bad---don’t know if I am all that good,” Joe nodded and a smile broke out on his face. “My brother Hoss--” Joe began but cut himself off. Summoning forth the name of his beloved brother made the pangs of separation seem worse.

“Go on---tell me!” Bristol insisted.

“Well----he said that I was the only person he’d ever seen who could draw to an inside straight---and not cheat!”

“Ah--that does sound like a challenge to me,” Bristol chuckled and sipped on his drink, “I’ll tell you what---let’s get you into that game over there and you can show me!”

Joe shook his head, “No---I’m not really all that good--just kinda lucky here and there. Besides----remember I don’t have any money!”

“You do now,” Bristol grinned and drew out his wallet. He counted out two hundred dollars and handed it to the boy.

“But---what if I lose all this?” Joe worried.

“It’s only money, Joseph---and besides---you haven’t had any real fun in a long time. Let’s go get you into that game!” Bristol laughed and directed him over to the table.

Joe was telling the truth in the fact that he wasn’t all that skilled in the fine art of poker playing. He had won his share over the years, and was a little more seasoned than he had been when he first took up the game. But, it had also been the plain truth that he usually was lucky to just break even. There had been some times when he had returned to the Ponderosa without a cent to his name.

This afternoon was different. Joe had won almost every hand he played. From a stake of two hundred dollars, he parlayed the money into eight hundred and fifty dollars before the game was over. He bid the other men good day and turned out of the saloon with Bristol at his side.

“Here,” Joe said and handed the man the full amount of money.

“No---it’s yours. You keep it---maybe you’ll find something here that you want to buy. We’re staying another two days, you can shop whenever you want.”

“Can’t think of anything I want,” Joe replied, “and besides---this was your money to begin with. I don’t feel right about taking it all.”

“Well then----I have a proposition for you. If I remember correctly you once told me you were very good with horses. You told me you’ve gone on buying trips and also do quite well as a bronc buster.”

“Yeah---well--that is something I know I can do,” Joe nodded, it was one of the few skills he had that he could always fall back on.

“There’s a string of horses at a ranch not twenty miles from here. I never was much good at getting the most for my money as far as livestock went. Come with me tomorrow and you can advise me which ones are worth the money. I’ll let you choose the horses and we’ll take them back down the coast and I’ll let you gentle them. Then---whatever the resale profits we make ---I will split with you. How’s that sound?”

Joe was thrilled with the offer. He had spent most of his time down at Bristol’s place on the coast just walking the ocean front and reading. Joe longed to go back to breaking horses and feeling like he had some personal worth.

“You’re not planning to gentle them on the beach are you?” Joe asked confused.

“No---have a corral set up a few miles from the house--you’ve just never been there. So? What do you think?”

“Yeah---yeah I’d like to help you pick out the string---and break them. I don’t care too much about the money part---heck you pay for everything I need anyhow. But---it would be doing something that I’m good at.”

“Good! Then we’ll go out tomorrow,” Bristol smiled. He knew what was missing in Joe’s life. Bristol had been worried that the boy would still try to run off if he didn’t find something to keep his mind and body occupied. He had planned the whole trip around the idea of getting Joe back into the saddle. Bristol had even arranged for the men around the poker table to lose to the boy. It had worked like a charm. Now Joe walked along next to him and wore a smile on his face as they headed off to the hotel.

The late October wind cut through the man’s jacket, forcing him to turn up his collar. He had made a long journey, always staying just enough behind the six men. Making sure to keep a cold camp each night of the trip, in order to remain undetected, the stranger waited to learn where the trail would end before taking action against them. Six long days and nights finally brought Jeremy Bolding to the summit that looked down on the large compound that was owned by Bristol Ford. He watched from a good distance as the men released the string of horses into the corral and then headed towards the ocean front residence. Jeremy had spotted the evil man and his four henchman leaving Eureka with Joe Cartwright along in their entourage. It had been pure luck, Jeremy knew, as he was only in Eureka to visit relatives and was not expecting to run into his former target.. Though it had caught him so much off guard that he didn’t have the opportunity to send a wire to his associate Dex Farwell, Jeremy did have enough time to grab a hold of some supplies before starting his mission to learn of Bristol’s destination.

Dismounting in a close outcropping of trees, Jeremy watched as Joe Cartwright followed Bristol and the other men into the house. He wondered how it could be? Dex and he had discussed the fact that Bristol had definitely boarded the clipper ship, taking Joe along with him to Europe. That had been months ago. The hunt had been called off, though Dex had informed Jeremy that he had sent someone to try to intercept the boy in England. Jeremy frowned and spit out his chaw of tobacco. He couldn’t believe that Bristol had led them astray once again. Both Dex and his oft-time partner, Jeremy Bolding, had made the journey to Europe two years earlier trying to get their hands on Bristol for what he had done to the Cartwright family. Now it looked as though the evil man had done an even better job at eluding them both this time.

Jeremy knew that one against five was not the kinds of odds he was willing to chance, so, he headed further south. He would arrive in San Francisco by nightfall and send an important telegraph to Dex. Vaulting up into his saddle, Jeremy turned his horse and kicked at its sides. His mind was set on only one thing, and that was finally having the chance to bring Bristol Ford to his knees. This time, Jeremy promised himself, the maniac would not get away!

Dex Farwell seemed to always be in demand for his time and expertise. Other than the two times that Bristol Ford had succeeded in escaping his grasp, Dex was still one of the most successful detectives in the country. Since he knew that he had more than a month before he would learn whether his man in England had been successful, he had accepted an assignment which took him to Salt Lake City. It took Jeremy several telegraphs to various other contacts before he determined where he could contact Dex. The wire that was finally sent was simple and to the point. It read, “Ford never made that ship***stop***spotted in Eureka tracked back to San Francisco area***stop***still has hostage***stop***will await your arrival***stop*******

Jeremy.”

Dex had just about wrapped up the case he had been working on for weeks. The robberies that had plagued the small town just to the east of Salt Lake City were now over. The criminals, having confessed under interrogation, were held for trial. As the detective headed back to his modest hotel room, he was approached by a teenager.

“You Dex Farwell, right?” the boy asked, holding a piece of paper in his right hand.

“Yes, that would be me,” Dex smiled and nodded.

“Mr. Parker over at the telegrapher’s office sent me to give this to you. It just come in a few minutes ago,” the boy announced and handed Dex the message.

“Thank you, Son,” Dex replied and drew out a silver dollar for the boy, “this is for your fast service!”

“Thanks---thanks a lot!” the boy exclaimed, happy to have received such a large tip.

Dex turned the key in the door and entered his hotel room. Walking over to the table, he pulled out a match and lit the oil lamp. Settling down into a chair close by, his eyes scanned the telegraph. It was then that his blood went cold.

****Damn you, Bristol! Did it to me again----should’ve known. Well, this time I’ve got the jump on you. You are about to find out that you aren’t all that good as a chess player!****Dex thought to himself and then hurriedly packed for the trip west to Nevada.

Joe felt just a little awkward at first, as he climbed onto the first wild horse in preparation to gentle it. He slid his boots precariously into the stirrups and motioned to one of Bristol’s hired hands to remove the blind fold from the animal. As soon as the man pulled it off, the horse charged around the corral trying its best to knock off the rider. Joe’s experience kept him atop the bucking bronc and he refused to let the animal get the better of him.

Bristol stood against the wooden railing and smiled as he witnessed the determination on Joe’s face. He could also detect the look of pure joy as the boy finally gained control over the horse and leapt down from the saddle. Bristol knew at that moment that he had made another wise move in coming up with something to keep Joe occupied. He could tell that his hostage was moving slowly towards the role of associate and away from the role of familiar foe. They had spent a lot of time together in the past months. Bristol had learned just about everything that made the youngest Cartwright “tick”. By now, most evenings were spent in the family room over a game of chess or cards and Joe was becoming more attuned to his new way of life.

One by one Joe challenged the wild horses, and one by one they gave in to his expertise. By nightfall, Joe had broken half the horses in the string already. He walked towards Bristol as he brushed off his chaps.

“That one was the toughest of the bunch I think!” Joe laughed as he reached for the canteen to take a good long swig of water.

“You amaze me---you really do, Joseph! Don’t recall ever seeing anyone else with your kind of talent!” Bristol smiled and patted the boy’s shoulder. “Did you work up an appetite yet?”

“Sure have---I’m starving!” Joe replied and walked with Bristol towards the awaiting carriage.

“Well, you were too stubborn to eat lunch---not wanting to leave those broncs alone! I’d bet you were famished,” Bristol said as he took the reins in his hand and drove them both back towards the main house.

“It’s been awhile since I’ve broken a horse,” Joe started and tried to think of the right thing to say to the other man, “I---well---I want to thank you for doing this for me. It felt good to be doing something important.”

“Nonsense! I should be thanking you, Joseph. You helped to select the proper horses and it’s been you alone who has tamed them. Just a few more and we can find a buyer. Then, remember our deal---we split the profits down the middle!”

“Hey--maybe we can get some more you think? I mean---once these are sold and all.”

Bristol grinned to see Joe so excited and happily planning on future events. “Well, let’s get this string broken and sold---then we will see.”

“Okay,” Joe nodded and leaned against the back of the carriage and closed his eyes. He was content to know he had put in a full day of work. It made him feel that he had some worth yet, even if it was only in his eyes and those of Bristol Ford.

Adam stood in the living room of the Ponderosa ranch house packing his gear to go up to the timber camp to join his father and brother when there was a loud knock on the door. He tossed his saddlebags on the sofa table and made his way towards the sound. Pulling open the door he was shocked to see Dex standing there.

“Dex? What are you doing here? I thought you were over in Salt Lake City?” Adam asked as he led the man into the house.

“I had just finished up the case I was working when I got an important wire. It was from Jeremy Bolding---remember him?”

“Yeah--he was with us in San Francisco. So---what was it about? I know it can’t be about Joe----the soonest we’ll hear about him will be next month.”

“Yes---that’s what I thought too,” Dex replied, showing his anger in his tone. “Bristol was slicker than we gave him credit.”

“Huh?”

“Jeremy was up in Eureka visiting relatives----he just happened to spot both Bristol and Joe leaving town.”

“What!” Adam shouted. “They were on that ship---everyone we talked to swore to it!”

“Evidently he boarded the Sapphire---with an impostor pretending to be Joe. And---he must have slipped off right before it left port. Jeremy followed Bristol and his men down south. He’s staying somewhere not far from San Francisco. Jeremy is waiting on us to get there now. Where’s your father?”

“Hoss finally talked him into going up to the timber camp. They’re doing the last cuts before winter---the trees have to be down the mountain before the snow starts up.”

“How long would it take to get him and Hoss back here?”

“That’s a good two hours ride---each way.”

“Too long---we’ve got to get to San Francisco---there’s a stage leaving Carson in three hours. Gives you and me just enough time to get our gear and head over to the stage line.”

“Hate to leave without letting Pa know what’s going on,” Adam replied, knowing his father would want to rescue Joe himself.

“Go on and write him a brief note--but then we’ve gotta head out.”

Adam hurried over to his father’s desk and grabbed a piece of paper from the ledger book. He scrawled a quick note, just enough to let both Pa and Hoss know what was happening. The letter read, ***Dex arrived here with news about Joe. Bristol never boarded Sapphire. Joe is still in San Francisco area. No time to get you or Hoss, catching the afternoon stage out of Carson. Will wire once we arrive. Don’t worry, this time Joe will be coming back with us. Adam.”

While Dex and Adam were on the stage heading west, Joe was spending his days finishing breaking the string of horses. It had been three solid days of hard work and some falls, but he accomplished his task a day ahead of schedule and was as pleased with his performance as his mentor Bristol. Cole had headed south of San Francisco in his mission to secure a buyer for the horses. He returned just as Joe and Bristol were eating their supper that night.

“Well? Was Mr. Frame interested?” Bristol called over to his partner as the man pulled up a chair at the dining table.

“Yeah---says he wants to see them. I told him we’d bring the whole string once they’re broken,” Cole replied as he filled his plate.

“Well--guess we can go see him tomorrow then---as Joseph finished the last of the string today.”

“That quick?” Cole asked surprised. “Guess I underestimated you, Kid.”

Joe looked over at Cole and simply nodded his way. He hated the man’s constant reference to him as “kid”, but had learned to just ignore it. Bristol had made it a point not to leave him alone with Cole ever since the night months earlier when he had beaten him so badly. Joe hadn’t forgotten nor forgiven the evil man’s cruelty, but he no longer feared him. He knew that Bristol was set on protecting him from Cole and the other evils in the world. Joe had grown to be secure in that fact, and also in knowing that Bristol considered him almost a surrogate son. It was a far change from his position with Ben Cartwright and the life that he had left behind. But, Joe was beginning to feel comfortable in his new role. The nightmares had all ceased to be, and Joe was no longer tormented emotionally over how his father had betrayed him and sold him for monetary gains. Life as Joe Cartwright no longer existed and all the memories of the Ponderosa and his family faded as each day passed. He was simply “Joe” now, and though it seemed a rather strange partnership, him and Bristol Ford, Joe had come to accept the fact that there was no looking back to the past. He had obtained everything he needed. There was food, clothing, a warm place for him to lay at night, and now a job that was satisfying to him. That special part that had always been deep inside of Joe, the part that needed to feel loved, had been plucked from his heart the night that his father was heard talking to Bristol. In its place was calm acceptance that there was only one person that he could truly count on; himself.

“Why don’t we go and see Mr. Frame tomorrow---and take the horses with us?” Bristol suggested. “I’m quite sure that as soon as he sees them that the deal will be made.”

“Can I come too?” Joe asked.

“You broke them didn’t you?” Bristol smiled towards the boy. “The three of us will go.”

“Thanks,” Joe smiled gratefully and then set his napkin on the table. “Well---if it’s all right I think I’ll turn in now.”

“Yes, you’ve had a long week--you go on then. Sleep in awhile and we’ll head out around noon.” Bristol replied.

“Yes, Sir. Goodnight Bristol---goodnight Cole.”

“See you, Kid,” Cole said, still eating his dinner.

“Goodnight Joseph- --- sleep well,” Bristol called across the table as Joe turned towards the stairs.

Once Joe was out of ear-shot Cole looked over at Bristol and said, “I can’t believe what you’ve done with the kid, Bristol. You’ve got him yes sir-ing you---and heck---he’s even smiling!”

“Yes----I think Joe is as broken as one of those horses of his. He’ll come in handy in the future I’m quite sure.”

“So---what’s new with that stupid detective? I know you’ve been keeping tabs on him.”

“Oh yes---the illustrious---if not dim-witted Dex Farwell!” Bristol laughed and reached for his brandy. “I checked---he’s in Salt Lake City working on a case up there.”

“Gave up on finding Joe after the Sapphire left San Francisco, huh?”

“Well----I heard he sent a friend of his from New York to intercept the ship. But, even if that man makes it in time---and the Sapphire should have hit port weeks ago---he still has to jump back on a boat and sail to the states before he can clue Dex in on what happened. That gives us at least another month before we make the next move.”

“And what move is that? What’s the plan?”

“First week of December we are actually getting on a ship---not in San Francisco---but back in Eureka. I’ve already arranged passage.”

“Europe again?” Cole asked, not at all surprised that his boss was still on top of everything.

“No---South America. We’ll stay there awhile and decide where we will relocate permanently.”

“Never been to South America---hope they have good looking women there!” Cole winked and poured himself some brandy.

“I have----and yes they are very beautiful----maybe I’ll give you a couple weeks off once we get there.”

“Sounds good to me. We taking the other men?”

“Dave----he’ll come---but that’s it. Joe doesn’t need much guarding anymore. He’s accepted his new life fairly well.”

“Yeah---I see that. I know you just took him to make old Ben hurt, but it seems to me you’ve grown fond of the kid here lately.”

Bristol leaned back in his chair and his eyes scanned towards the staircase. “He’s not such a bad kid----can’t help it if he was raised by Ben Cartwright. I’ve never thought about having kids----been too busy my whole life. But----it might not be so bad---this father business.”

“You mean that whole story about you and your wife and son was a lie?” Cole asked indignantly and then burst into laughter. He knew exactly what Bristol had told the boy.

“Well--you’ve got to admit it----it helped to sway the boy my way. It helped to paint his pa as little more than a mercenary.”

“Yep----everything you’ve done---has worked perfectly this time. Only wish we could see how it’s hurting the Cartwright family.”

“Oh I’ll drop old Ben another letter in a couple of weeks--you know something to add some salt to the wound. The way he was with that youngest kid of his---- well, I can tell you one thing---this is killing the old man. This is better than the theft of his wife’s casket, that’s for sure!”

“Yeah---I toast to your brilliance!” Cole smiled and touched glasses with his boss.

Adam and Dex had hit the ground running once they stepped down out of the stagecoach in San Francisco. Dex sent word through another associate for Jeremy to come to their room at the hotel to fill them in on what had gone on during the eight days since he had sent the telegraph. Grabbing a couple of sandwiches and a bottle of wine, Adam and Dex waited impatiently in the hotel room for Jeremy to appear.

Two hours passed by slowly, but finally there was a knock on the hotel door and Dex walked across the room and soon found Jeremy standing out in the hall.

“Come on in!” Dex exclaimed as he shook his friend’s hand and led him inside.

“Came as quick as I could,” Jeremy said and looked over at Adam.

“You remember Adam Cartwright don’t you? Of course he is minus one beard right now,” Dex grinned and watched as the two men shook hands.

“Hardly recognized you,” Jeremy said to Adam.

“So---what do you know----is Joe okay?” Adam started right in.

“He looks good----I saw him earlier today. I found a good vantage point over-looking Bristol’s seafront estate. I’ve gone out there daily since I tracked them all back down the coast.”

“What’s been going on---much movement?” Dex jumped in to the conversation.

“Lots----they brought a string of horses down from Eureka. That’s how I spotted them. Anyway---Bristol set up a corral a couple miles from the main house. Joe spent the first week they got back breaking the horses.”

“Breaking horses?” Adam asked, confusion filling his face. He knew his little brother liked gentling broncs, but he was surprised he would do it for the evil Bristol Ford.

“Yeah----and it looked to me like the boy was having a good time. Didn’t have any guards on him most of the time. I watched him and Bristol together---and I know this is gonna sound crazy--” Jeremy paused and looked at Joe’s brother.

“What?” Adam asked.

“Joe seemed to be having conversations with that man--like they were old friends or something. Unless the kid is just leading him along waiting for his chance to get away---I don’t know.”

Dex thought for awhile and nodded towards Adam. “I’ve worked quite a few abduction cases. It might be just like Jeremy said---Joe is just leading Bristol on. Or---as bizarre as it sounds---sometimes the captive actually starts to identify with his captor.”

“It doesn’t make sense to me!” Adam exclaimed. “I would’ve thought Joe would have tried to escape long before now.”

“Maybe he has---we don’t know what’s gone on these past months. Now just simmer down, Adam,” Dex replied and turned back towards Jeremy. “You think we can over take that compound?”

“Yeah--well that’s how I’ve been thinking for weeks now. Like we would get a bunch of men together and take them head on. But--” Jeremy was cut off by Adam before he could finish his statement.

“But what? Let’s go!” Adam protested.

“Just settle down-----I am not suggesting we don’t go and rescue your brother---I just have a better plan. Now--if I can continue?” Jeremy asked and watched as Adam eased back in his chair and nodded.

“Go ahead,” Dex insisted.

“Well---I had it all thought out. I’ve memorized the entrances and exits, and counted the guards---all the while planning on making a raid once you were here with me. But, today---well I got as close as I could to try and hear what Bristol was up to. And--well---you’re not going to believe this---but they are coming here to town tonight!”

“Here? Why?” Dex asked surprised.

“I overheard that they were going to celebrate the sale of the horses. Bristol’s gonna bring Joe here to a restaurant---not sure which one yet.”

Adam smiled and stared over at Dex, “Hey----how appropriate huh? Bristol stole my brother from my father right here in a restaurant---now we will return the favor!”

“Okay---it’s gonna take some deep thought and planning---but we can do it!” Dex agreed. “Jeremy----get as many of your contacts as you can and bring them up here. We’ll put our heads together--but we’ve got to have it all set up before Bristol makes it into town.”

“Won’t take long to get the men---I’ve told most of them that you were coming and I’m sure they are at the ready. Be right back!” Jeremy replied and headed out of the door.

“I’ve waited a long time to finish this game---but I promise you, Adam, I will get Bristol into checkmate before tonight’s done!” Dex vowed and walked over to his suitcase in order to get his weapons ready.

Joe looked around the palatial surroundings of the finest restaurant that San Francisco had to offer. Bristol watched the expression on the boy’s face and knew that he was impressed. The Mariner Reef was not only the most expensively designed but also the most popular restaurant in the town. Bristol chose the place in order to impress Joe with an elegant night on the town after many months in captivity. He ordered champagne and toasted his charge with the finest French wine the restaurant had in its cellar.

“To your expertise with horses!” Bristol smiled and raised his glass.

“Yeah---well---it wouldn’t have been possible without you,” Joe countered and touched his glass to Bristol’s.

“We turned quite a profit didn’t we?”

“Yeah---well from the looks of this place---and the prices on the menu---we’ll probably just break even,” Joe laughed and sipped his champagne.

“Good food, good wine, and good company. It’s all worth it,” Bristol replied. “So--what do you want to order?”

Joe studied the various entrees pensively as Cole approached the table.

“You sure you don’t need me?” Cole asked his boss.

“No---you go on and have some fun---meet us in two hours over at the saloon across the street. Joe and I will be fine.”

“Okay---if you’re sure,” Cole paused and stared down at Joe.

“I am,” Bristol nodded and Cole turned and walked out in search of a cold beer and a game of poker.

“Something tells me that your friend doesn’t trust me,” Joe indicated Coles’ behavior.

“He’s not the most trusting sort--that’s for sure,” Bristol agreed. “I understand how you feel about him too, Joseph--but he’ll ease up once you’ve earned his confidence.”

“He thinks I’m gonna run off, doesn’t he?”

“Yes----I’m afraid he does.”

“Like you said---months ago---where would I go anyhow?” Joe reminded the man as he poured another glass of champagne.

“Joseph----I know that this hasn’t been easy on you---right from the start. But, I hope you’ve come to think of me as a friend now---and not an enemy,” Bristol stated earnestly.

Joe looked up into the man’s eyes and read the sincerity in them and nodded over to him. “I know that now----and you don’t have to worry about me going anywhere. You’ve done a lot for me----and---well---I’d rather be here than out somewhere alone.”

“I’m very pleased to hear that. I’ve grown quite fond of you,” Bristol smiled and reached for his menu. “Now--let’s decide on something shall we?”

Joe pulled the menu up in front of him and scanned the fare trying to think of what he should order. His thoughts suddenly went back to another time, another restaurant and another man sitting across the table from him; his pa. The old pain resurfaced with greater intensity than he thought possible. Joe struggled to push away all thoughts of Ben Cartwright. It was at that moment that the waiter came up from behind his chair.

“You gentlemen ready to order?” the waiter asked.

“I’ll have the oysters and lobster tail with a salad,” Bristol replied.

“Guess I’ll have the steak and shrimp,” Joe decided and turned to look up at the waiter.

“Very good,” the waiter said and reached for the two men to hand over their menus.

As soon as the menus cleared the hands of Joe and Bristol a sudden commotion began at the table to the left. They turned towards the sound and then four men rushed from the other direction. It happened so fast, that most of it was more like a blur to them. Bristol realized long before Joe did, that they were being rushed. He caught sight of Dex Farwell out of the corner of his eye and immediately reached for Joe’s arm, pulling him towards him.

Joe’s brain registered that something awful was about to happen the moment that Bristol began pulling him towards him. He saw the men rushing towards them and in his mind Joe truly believed that Bristol was trying to protect him from harm. It was then that Joe saw the barrel of a gun and dove in front of Bristol. The shot that rang out dropped both Bristol and Joe to the floor with its impact. Joe’s body had protected the man from injury but had suffered a gunshot to his right leg up towards the thigh. Bristol reached inside his vest for his hidden derringer. Adam saw the move as he came in from the opposite side. He aimed and shot directly towards Bristol’s chest. Joe lay on the floor next to Bristol horrified to see the scene unfolding in front of his eyes. He saw the bullet slam into Bristol’s chest and then felt his brother’s hands trying to tug him away from the man. Joe fought with all his might against Adam’s hold.

“Let me go! What have you done!” Joe screamed and finally broke away and knelt down next to the fallen man.

Bristol looked into Joe’s eyes and saw the tears that were leaving them. He then stared over and saw the look on Dex’s face and the confusion which the man, who he recognized as being Adam Cartwright, wore. Bristol knew that he had suffered a fatal wound, and that the game was finally over. He prayed that Joe’s attempt to save his life proved that the boy would not be returning to his father the same as he had been before being abducted. Bristol felt that it would be his final success, if he had indeed caused an impenetrable rift between Ben and his youngest.

“Don’t forget----he sold you----Joseph,” Bristol whispered as he clutched his chest, “looks like he went back on his agreement once again---don’t trust him---don’t ever trust him,” Bristol said his last words and then keeled over against the wall.

Joe hadn’t even felt his gunshot wound, he had been so consumed with what the man had said in his dying breath. The blood from both Bristol’s chest wound and Joe’s leg wound intermixed on the wooden floor forming a small crimson puddle. Adam and Dex exchanged bewildered glances. They never expected the boy to throw himself towards the evil man thereby being hit by a bullet. Joe leaned up against Bristol and touched his arm and whispered, “I won’t.”

Adam and Dex reached down to pull Joe up, though he struggled against them until his body went limp and he passed out in their arms. They carried him to the hotel and sent one of the other men for the doctor. Two of Dex’s other partners had already tracked down Cole and he was taken down to the police station and booked on kidnapping and other charges.

Adam paced the room frantically as he waited for the doctor to come to the hotel. Every now and then he would glance over at Dex. He knew the detective felt a mixture of emotions at the time. They had finally rid the world of one Bristol Ford, but that happiness was now clouded due to the fact that the evil man’s hostage lay injured on the bed. Worst yet was the fact that it had been Dex’s own weapon that had sent the bullet into Joe’s leg.

“It wasn’t your fault,” Adam insisted as he reached over and touched Dex’s sunken shoulder.

“I got the kid shot----never thought that he would try to protect Bristol. I had that man dead in my sights when Joe made his move---it was too late!” Dex spoke words laced with regret.

“Yeah--well----did you see the way he looked at me when I shot that bastard? Joe looked at me like I had killed some kind of saint! Neither of us were prepared for Joe’s behavior tonight. I’m sure the kid will do okay----he’s tough.”

Dex settled down in a chair next to the bed and sighed, “It’s finally over---after all these years---Bristol is dead---Cole Rivers is in custody---and his other henchmen will be taken into jail before this night’s out.”

Adam was just about to comment when the door flew open and Jeremy came into the room with the doctor in tow.

“Where’s he hit?” the doctor asked as he walked to the water basin to rinse his hands.

“Upper leg----bullet went clean through----I wrapped the wound but it looks pretty bad,” Adam replied.

“I’m Doc Brentwood---and you are?” the doctor stared over at Dex and Adam.

“This is detective Farwell---and I’m Adam Cartwright---the kid in the bed is my little brother Joe.”

“Well---let’s have a look,” the doctor replied and sat down on the side of the bed and pushed aside the sheet and bedspread. He inspected the wound and administered some antiseptic while he probed the gunshot. “Gonna need some stitches here and there---and it’s hit the femur before glancing off and coming out the other side. Nasty wound,” he commented and looked over at the three men.

“Can he be moved? This kid’s gone through pure hell for quite awhile. He was abducted and held hostage for months now---and I’d sure like to bring him home,” Adam asked.

“Let me get him fixed up as best I can---then we’ll take a look tomorrow and see how he’s doing. First I’m gonna need to get these sutures in then we have to wrap the leg to help with that break.”

“You stay and help the Doc, Adam---I’m gonna wire your pa,” Dex said and stood to leave.

“Be sure to tell him that Joe’s okay----you can mention that he’s hurt---but I don’t want him to rush on out here when we’re probably gonna be heading home anyhow,” Adam called over to the detective.

“I’ll just let him know that Bristol is dead, that Joe is with us---and that we will wire again tomorrow,” Dex nodded and left the room.

Ben stood at the front door to the ranch house and held the telegraph in his shaking hands. He had read it over and over again but still it wasn’t registering in his brain. His voice betrayed him the first time he tried to call to his son Hoss. It had come out strained and with little volume. Summoning all his strength he tried once more and bellowed out his son’s name. Soon Hoss came thundering down the stairs.

“What’s wrong Pa?” he asked as he made it to the bottom landing.

“They’ve got him---your brother----he’s safe!” Ben replied, ignoring the many tears which were streaming down his face. It had been days since both he and Hoss had returned from the timber camp only to find Adam’s abbreviated note. That was when the worry had heightened almost to the unbearable level. Ben was just about to board a stage the next day, but Hoss has assured him that Adam and Dex would get their man this time.

“And Bristol?” Hoss asked, choked up himself at the time.

“Bristol’s dead----it’s over---it’s all over. A couple of days and we will have Joseph here---after almost six months---my boy is coming home!”

Hoss hugged his father, so delighted by the news.

“Hey--Hop Sing!” Hoss yelled and the Oriental padded out into the living room.

“What all shouting for?” Hop Sing asked groggily, having been sound asleep when he had first heard Ben’s call to his son.

“Little Joe---he’s safe----Adam and Dex got him!” Hoss announced.

Hop Sing’s face lit up like a bright sunrise and his dark eyes seemed to glow with joy. “When come home? Hop Sing must start cooking vely special welcome home dinner!”

“A few days yet, Hop Sing---but by the end of the week I am sure,” Ben smiled.

“Father and brother vely happy Hop Sing vely happy!” the cook sighed, relieved that the boy would soon be back where he belonged.

Ben glanced back down at the telegraph and pushed aside his joyous tears.****Oh Joseph---I can’t wait until you are here and safe and I can explain to you what happened.****Ben thought to himself as he tucked the paper inside his vest.

Adam had watched his brother from the chair next to the bed all night long. He dozed a couple of times, but would awaken with a jolt if Joe stirred in the bed. At times the boy’s face seemed contorted with pain and his brother worried that Joe was suffering from either his injuries or from the trauma of all he had gone through at the hands of Bristol. The doctor had administered a shot of sedation medicine in order for his patient to get a good long rest. He had also spoken to Adam about what had gone on with his brother and was shocked to learn the details about the abduction. He knew the name Cartwright, and had heard about the Ponderosa ranch in Nevada and was amazed that the boy on the bed had been away from his family for such a long time. The doctor reassured Adam that Joe’s injury, though severe in nature, was not life threatening. He urged the man to get some rest and told him that he would return the next morning to check on Joe’s recovery.

Standing to release some of the kinks from his back, Adam walked over to the window and peered out. The city never slept. There were still people milling about on the lamp lit walkways in front of the hotel and down the street. Adam pulled out his pocket watch and moved closer to the lamp. It was four a. m. and still Joe had not shown any sign of waking from his forced slumber. He stared down at the boy and noticed the curls on his forehead had dropped down into his eyes. Joe’s hair was actually quite long, and Adam smiled when he thought of how his father would protest the sight. But, that would come long after the man had held the boy to his breast and welcomed him back home.

****What did that man do to you, Little Brother?****Adam thought to himself as he reached for the boy’s forehead to detect a fever. He was well pleased to find the skin only slightly warm to the touch. ****Why would you protect Bristol after all he’s put our family through?****

Joe turned slightly on the bed but then settled down and his breathing softened.

**** I’m gonna take you home. You have no idea how much you’ve been missed---by all of us! Pa’s been half out of his mind worrying about you---and Hoss has lost weight wondering what’s been going on with you. Hop Sing---well --you know he considers you his son----he’s not smiled in months. And me---the brother you fight with the most---well---I’ve missed you just as much. You irritate me so much---but it’s not been the same since you’ve been gone. Just as soon as the doc says I can get you on a stage I’m taking you back to where you belong. There is no Ponderosa without you----there’s no Cartwright family without you either!**** Adam sank back into the chair and waited for daylight.

Joe’s eyelids felt as though they weighed ten pounds as he tried his best to blink them open. Through hazy vision he could see the lamp light and turned towards it. There next to the night stand he saw the image of the man in the chair. Adam was sleeping peacefully after a night of keeping constant vigil. Joe’s temper immediately flared when he remembered how his brother had sent the bullet into Bristol’s chest, killing the man right in front of his eyes. Pulling down the bedspread and the sheet Joe tried to pull himself off of the bed. A groan inadvertently passed from his lips and it was just loud enough to summon his sleeping sibling.

“Joe?” Adam whispered, looking over to where the boy was trying to get out of bed. “Stay put you’re hurt!” he exclaimed, once reality had told him what was going on.

Joe didn’t reply, instead he set his left foot on the floor, and tried to rely on it to hold his body weight long enough so he could grab his clothes laying on another chair close by.

“Joe! I ain’t playing now---get back in that bed!” Adam called to the boy, louder in volume. He walked around the bed and faced his brother head on.

“Go away---leave me alone!” Joe shouted, hatred painting his face.

“Listen----Joe----just settle down----everything’s all right----just crawl back into bed and I’ll explain--” Adam tried to reason with the boy, with a forced calm to his voice.

“I don’t want to hear nothing from you! Now leave me alone!” Joe screamed again and pushed his brother’s arm away from him.

“Joe---the Doc says your leg’s busted--now get off of it right now!”

Joe turned and tried to keep his balance as he reached for his shirt and pants. Adam didn’t know what to do with the kid, he sure wasn’t going to listen to reason but he was going to get himself hurt if he didn’t get back into the bed. He was worried about getting rough with his brother, not wanting to cause further damage to his body nor heighten his emotional problems. Hurrying out into the hallway of the hotel Adam knocked furiously on Dex’s bedroom door.

“What is it?” Dex asked as he met his friend in the hall. He could read the anxiety on Adam’s face and hoped Joe hadn’t taken a turn for the worse.

“I can’t keep Joe down--he’s trying to leave! Will you go and fetch the doctor for me?”

“Sure---let me pull my boots on and I’ll go get him,” Dex agreed and turned back into his room.

By the time Adam had re-entered the hotel room Joe had somehow succeeded in pulling on his left pant leg and was trying his best to get his heavily wrapped right leg into the other side.

“That’s enough of that, Joe----you’ve got to stay down--for your own good!” Adam said exasperated and yanked Joe’s good leg out of his pants. That made Joe take a swing at his brother, but fortunately he missed his mark.

“Let me go!” Joe shouted to deaf ears. Adam was having no part of the discussion.

“In bed!” Adam replied and pulled Joe over to the bed and forced him down on his back.

Joe struggled against his brother’s hold, hurling insults at him as he did.

“Get your damn hands off of me! I’m not staying here with you!” Joe shrieked.

“Not until you stop fighting me and stay put,” Adam countered and then stared down at Joe’s bandage, where the crimson stain was apparently starting to spread. “You’ve opened that leg wound again----just because you’re stubborn. Now calm down before you make it even worse.”

“Murderer!” Joe yelled as he looked venomously into his brother’s eyes.

Adam was momentarily taken aback by his brother’s words. He could see the hazel eyes of the kid shooting daggers towards him and knew that it was due to Bristol’s death. “Joe---I had to kill him---he pulled that derringer---I had no choice!”

“You shot him down in cold blood----you and Dex----I saw the both of you!”

“Joe---what the devil is wrong with you? Bristol stole you away from us six months ago----we came to rescue you----why are you so mad?”

“Leave me alone!” Joe screamed and turned his head towards the pillow and away from Adam. He didn’t want to hear any of his lies. Joe was starting to believe that perhaps Adam had been in on the deal with Pa and had planned on killing Bristol all along. He didn’t trust anyone anymore and it showed in the way he refused to talk to his own brother even though Adam was trying his best to explain why he had come to San Francisco.

The doctor took one look at the scene going on between Adam, who still held his brother pinned on the bed and Joe who was doing his best to get free, and decided that the situation needed an immediate resolution. He hastily prepared a syringe and forced the sedation into the fold of Joe’s left elbow. The boy battled both the doctor and his brother for a few minutes and then fell off to sleep due to the medication’s impact.

“He’s out of his head, Doc----he thinks I’m his enemy now----it just doesn’t make any sense!” Adam insisted as he was finally able to come up off the bed. He turned towards Dex and his face was full of concern for his brother’s sanity.

“Joe’s been through an awful lot, Adam,” Dex began softly, trying to calm the worried man, “we have no idea what kinds of things Bristol put into his head all these months. I told you the other day---that sometimes hostages come to identify with their captors---especially after a long time spent in captivity. I’m sure we can help him----but in my opinion the best place to do that would be his own home. Surrounded by the people who love him---he’s got a better chance of coming out of it. What do you think, Doc?”

The doctor had busied himself with tending Joe’s leg wound, but had also listened intently to what both men had relayed. After he had re-bandaged the boy’s leg he turned towards Adam and Dex.

“Well---as much as I’m not too thrilled with moving this young man---it’s not gonna do much good to keep him here and sedate him every time he comes around. If you think he will respond better to his normal surroundings, then I guess that’s best. Tomorrow’s Wednesday and the stage to Virginia City isn’t nearly as crowded mid-week---so I think you’d best take your brother on home, Mr. Cartwright. I’ll give you some powders to help keep him calm on the trip. Once you get him home you make sure he’s seen by the family physician. I’d suggest a cast on this leg as soon as the stitches come out. That will take about a week.”

“Thanks, Doc----I’ll do my best to keep him calm on the trip home. Dex---can you stay with him until I get back? I’m gonna go get the tickets for the stage and wire my father.”

“Yeah---sure I’ll stay,” Dex nodded.

“No---you both go---and grab you some breakfast too! I’ll stay here with the boy until you are both back. Bring another plate back with you and I’ll help you get it down the kid. He needs some nourishment before you start your journey,” the doctor instructed.

“Thanks, Doc----I appreciate your help,” Adam smiled over at the man. He hated to leave his brother, but felt he was in capable hands.

“Come on, Adam---we’ll take care of business first then go and get some grub,” Dex said as he draped his arm around Adam’s shoulder for moral support and they turned and left the room.

Adam didn’t know what was in store for him on the long trip back to Virginia City. He had been supplied with enough sedatives to keep his little brother well sedated, but hadn’t counted on the boy coming around when they changed stages in Sacramento. There had been an actual fight which culminated in Joe sending off a good left hook which busted his brother’s bottom lip. Adam had to rely on the help from the stage driver in order to get Joe to settle down long enough to take his medication. Fortunately there had only been one other passenger on the journey to Sacramento and the next leg back to Virginia City, the Cartwright brothers had the luxury of having the stage to themselves. Joe thrashed about every now and then but for the most part fell into a deep slumber as the coach rocked back and forth heading home.

Ben had received Adam’s wire the day before his sons had left San Francisco. He had checked with the stage line in town and learned the arrival time from Sacramento. The telegraph had come as somewhat of a surprise to the worried father and the one brother who had stayed behind. Adam mentioned the need of a buckboard for the return trip to the ranch house. He also stated that Joe had been shot during the rescue attempt. Trying not to alarm his father too much, Adam had made it a point to mention that Joe was in no grave danger from his wound.

Standing out on the sidewalk in front of the Overland Stage Depot in Virginia City, both Ben and Hoss paced back and forth. Continually checking Ben’s watch, they worried that the stage had encountered difficulty as it was over an hour delayed.

“It’ll be here soon enough, Pa, why don’t you go sit and rest a spell on that bench?” Hoss asked staring over at his father’s careworn face.

“I’m fine. That stage has never been on time---never!” Ben grumbled and continued his pacing.

“Joe’s gonna be okay---stop worrying---it ain’t good for you!”

“Six months held hostage---and now an injury on top of it all! That kid has gone through more than we can imagine,” Ben replied.

“Look! Here it comes!” Hoss announced as he spotted the front of the team of horses rounding the end of town.

Ben felt as though his heart was lodged firmly in his throat. He had so much he needed to say to his youngest son, so many things he wanted to explain about the boy’s abduction. But, foremost he wanted to look at Joseph and see that he was truly all right. He couldn’t help wondering what the boy had thought about that night. A half of a year had passed by already and Ben worried that his son might have gotten the notion that his father wasted valuable time in trying to get him back home.

The stage pulled up in front of the depot and the driver jumped down and pulled open the door allowing Adam to step down.

Adam took one look at his father and brother and read their anxiety ridden faces. “Gonna need a hand getting Joe to the buckboard. Hoss help me out with him!”

Hoss watched as Adam maneuvered his body back up into the coach and carefully pulled his little brother forward. Hoss reached for the boy’s legs as his older brother grabbed Joe under his arms.

“Careful of that right leg----that’s the one that’s busted!” Adam called down to Hoss and they pulled Joe out of the stagecoach.

Ben saw that his son was out cold and all thoughts of a joyous reunion faded fast. He walked briskly behind his sons as they made their way to the buckboard and carefully set Joe down on the mattress brought from the ranch.

“I’ll ride back here with him,” Ben stated and climbed along side the injured boy.

“That ain’t no surprise to us, Pa,” Hoss winked and turned towards Adam. “Hey--what happened to you?”

“Oh,” Adam paused and touched at his busted bottom lip, “this---well--I’ll tell you about it when we get home.”

“How long has your brother been out like this?” Ben asked worriedly.

“I gave him some sedatives about an hour ago, Pa,” Adam replied.

“Sedatives?” Ben countered, confused as to why the boy needed them.

“It’s a long story----let’s get Joe home---and I’ll fill you both in on everything. He should sleep for awhile. But, he’s gonna need Doc Martin soon after we get him to the house.”

“I’ve already talked to Paul, he said he would be out in a couple of hours after Joe’s settled in,” Ben nodded and settled down next to his son. “Let’s get the boy home where he belongs.”

Adam and Hoss walked back to the stagecoach and grabbed the few pieces of luggage and then stepped up in the front of the buckboard. Hoss sent the team of horses forward heading back to the Ponderosa. After they passed the confines of Virginia City, Ben pulled the collar up to his coat to ward off the chill. They had been lucky that the snows had yet to start falling, though the wind was brisk. Ben stared down at his slumbering son and sighed at the sight he had prayed for. Joe was alive, somewhat worse for wear, but alive nonetheless. He reached down and pulled the boy closer so that his head rested on his father’s strong chest. Ben then tucked the blanket around his son in order to keep him warm and secure. After closing his eyes to offer a sincere prayer to the Lord for bringing Joe home, Ben’s hand softly stroked the abundance of curls on the boy’s head. He could hardly believe that he was actually holding his youngest after so long. Ben reached inside his coat and pulled out the locket of Marie and stared down at her image. ****Our boy is back, My Love, and he’s safe.****Ben thought as tears filled his brown eyes. “Oh, Joseph----I’m so sorry---sorry for not protecting you---sorry for not being able to tell you why I had to leave you there. I’ll never forgive myself for what I had to do----I only pray that you will---once I tell you why I did what I did. You may have been gone for six months---but you’ve always been here in my heart----and whenever I’ve closed my eyes---I’ve always seen this picture of you---laying in my arms---safe like you are now. We’re going to get you back to your own home---back in your own bed----and you never have to worry about that despicable man, Bristol Ford, again! You’re going to be okay----I promise you---everything’s going to be okay,” Ben whispered to his son as the boy continued to sleep peacefully there in his father’s loving embrace. For that one solid moment in time the world was back as it had been before the boy was abducted. The family was intact, and Ben had hope in his heart that the awful ordeal was finally over. Ben pressed his lips against Joe’s exposed forehead and kissed the warm skin. “I promise you---I’ll never let anyone take you from me again.”

When the Cartwright family pulled their wagon up in front of the homestead, Adam cast a glance back at his father before jumping down from his seat next to Hoss. He felt distressed to see Pa there holding Joe as though all was well. Adam knew that there was a whole lot that the older man didn’t know nor suspect and unfortunately it would be up to the eldest son to drop the bomb shell. Hoss climbed down and walked behind the buckboard and carefully lifted his baby brother into his massive arms. Ben was right behind him as they hurried into the ranch house. They weren’t at all surprised to see Hop Sing standing at the door holding it open for them.

“Little Joe---he all light?” Hop Sing sang out when he noticed how lifeless the boy looked there in his brother’s arms.

“Yeah---let’s just get him up to his room,” Adam said and soon they were all following Hoss up the staircase.

As gently as possible, Hoss spread his brother out on the bed and then turned to make room for his father. Ben approached his youngest son and heard him groan. He hoped that was a good sign that the boy was coming back from his forced slumber. Joe simply rolled his head to the left side and went back under.

“How much did you give him, Adam?” Ben questioned, his worry increasing by the minute. Joe had stayed unconscious the whole long trip back to the ranch along with the last leg of the stage journey home.

“I followed doctor’s orders, Pa---don’t worry,” Adam insisted and watched Hop Sing as he headed to the water basin.

“I clean Little Joe---get in fresh clothes!” the cook announced as he readied a wash cloth and grabbed a towel in his hand.

“Yes--let’s make him more comfortable,” Ben nodded and began loosening Joe’s clothing in order to get a nightshirt on him after he was washed down.

“I can do---you go!” Hop Sing ordered as he stared at his boss.

“No---WE can do,” Ben countered and slowly removed his son’s shirt and then his belt.

“Pa---maybe you should let Hop Sing do this----we really need to talk before Joe comes around,” Adam jumped back into the conversation, worried about what might happen should Joe awaken during his bed bath.

“We have all night to talk---right now I’m tending your brother!” Ben replied and gently pulled off the boy’s boots and then his pants. He could see the bandage on Joe’s upper thigh, and noticed some fresh blood.

“The doctor stitched it---but he said it’s gonna bleed a little,” Adam mentioned, noticing the looks on the other men’s faces.

“He got the bullet out okay?” Hoss asked his brother.

“Bullet went right through---but splintered the bone.”

“Paul will be here shortly----he’ll see to whatever needs to be done. Let’s get him washed down quickly before he catches cold on top of all this!” Ben commanded and reached for the wash cloth from Hop Sing’s hand.

As soon as the coolness of the cloth hit Joe’s face his eyelids began to tremble. Slowly he opened his eyes and fought to clear his vision. Ben saw it first, as he was bent over the boy trying to wash some of the trail dust off of his face and neck.

“Joseph? Joseph---can you hear me, Son?” Ben smiled as his free hand went up to the boy’s head.

Joe moved his head from one side to the other and took in the faces of all four men. Thinking the sight before him was that of some strange dream he closed his eyes once more. He wanted to go back to where it was safe.

“Little Brother? You’re home-----it’s okay---open your eyes!” Hoss persisted, standing on the opposite side of the bed from his father.

Adam watched as Joe’s eyes came open again and dreaded what would happen once the boy realized he was back at the ranch. It didn’t take long before he could see the familiar spark of rage taking over his brother’s face.

Bolting up in the bed, Joe reached out with his left hand and shoved his father away. He caught the man off guard, and Ben stood back stunned.

“Joseph---it’s okay---relax ---you’re home---you’re safe,” Ben reassured the boy calmly.

“Get away from me! Leave me alone!” Joe screamed and pulled himself back against the headboard.

“Little Joe----no worry---family with you now,” Hop Sing jumped in, hoping his voice would settle the boy.

“I don’t want to be here! I told you not to bring me here, Adam!” Joe warned his brother with his eyes.

“Joseph----this is your home----we’ve missed you so, Son---whatever has you upset---we can work it out. Now---you’ve got to settle back---that leg is bleeding,” Ben insisted and dropped his hand down on the boy’s right shoulder.

Joe slapped his father’s hand away from him and yelled at the same time, “I hate you! I never wanted to come back here! Leave me the hell alone!”

A bystander would have been able to hear a pin drop in Joe’s bedroom at that exact moment. Four very stunned men stood alongside the bed with their mouths hanging wide open in astonishment. Even Adam, who had battled the boy on the way back home, had no idea how Joe felt about their father. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard him say to the man who loved the kid so much. Glancing over at Pa he looked as though he had just suffered a mortal wound to his heart after hearing that his youngest son hated him.

“Everyone clear this room----except you, Hop Sing---I’ll need you!” came the voice at the doorway.

All the men standing next to Joe’s bed turned to see Doctor Paul Martin standing there, medical bag in hand. He had heard the whole conversation thus far, and had decided that rather than watching it escalate he would assume the role of dictator and usher everyone out.

“You all heard me----go on downstairs and get some coffee---brandy--whatever---just give me some time to tend my patient,” Paul stated sternly and moved to stand right next to Ben, He placed a hand on the man’s shoulder and stared into his eyes. One look told the grieved father that Paul knew what he was doing.

Crestfallen, the three men started to file out, but Adam paused briefly to give Paul some information about Joe’s condition.

“The doctor in San Francisco put those stitches in----says the bullet went right through--but splintered the femur. He said that it’s gonna need a cast once the stitches can come out. He gave me sedatives to get Joe here,” Adam explained.

“Thank you----now go on---Joe and I are old friends,” Paul insisted and watched as the family walked out closing the door behind them.

Downstairs Ben sank into his chair by the fireplace and rested his head in his hands. He could still hear his son’s voice telling him that he hated him and the pain from the words was unbearable. Adam knew it was time to do whatever he could to try to explain some of the story to both his father and brother, but first he poured three strong shots of brandy and brought over the glasses.

“Here----gonna need this when I tell you the facts,” Adam said and handed the glasses to his father and brother. He sat down on the settee next to Hoss and tried to put it all together in his head.

“What the heck is going on, Adam?” Hoss was the first to ask. Ben was still sitting stunned across from his sons.

“I wanted to spare you this----that’s why I wanted to talk to you before Joe woke up. I guess I’d better start with the rescue. We heard that Bristol was taking Joe to town to celebrate the sale of some horses. Seems Joe helped the man pick them out up in Eureka---that’s where Jeremy Bolding spotted them---and sent the wire to Dex. Anyhow---he took those horses down to his compound about twenty miles from San Francisco. Bristol had a big spread there and decided to give Joe something to do. So, Joe broke the horses---they made the sale---and thus the trip to town. We decided to snatch Joe back--the same way as he was taken. The plan worked good---well until things started to happen that weren’t expected.”

“Like what?” Hoss asked, taking in the story so far.

“We started a commotion on one side of Joe and Bristol’s table---the plan was that when they turned their attention towards the sound that we would rush from the other side and grab Joe and nail Bristol. Unfortunately Bristol spotted Dex---I guess out of the corner of his eye. Then he pulled Joe over to him---I don’t know why---maybe as a shield? Joe saw what was going down and instead of trying to break away from the man---he jumped in front of a bullet that Dex sent towards Bristol. Joe got shot in the process.”

“What!” Ben thundered, he had stayed calm and quiet up to the part about Joe saving Bristol and then could no longer stand it. “Why would Joe take a bullet meant for that maniac?”

“I--I’m not all that sure, Pa--to tell you the truth,” Adam admitted quietly and then continued, “it caught us off guard--that’s for sure! Then I saw Bristol reach inside his vest and he pulled out a derringer---there wasn’t any other way---I had to shoot him.”

“Can’t say I’m sorry about that,” Hoss nodded.

“Well---that’s when it got even worse---as far as Joe’s behavior. He got so mad at me---and Dex---refusing to come with us----the man was laying there dead---and still Joe wouldn’t willingly leave! We struggled with the kid----until his leg wound made him pass out.”

“Doesn’t make any sense---none at all,” Ben whispered in disbelief.

“We got him to the hotel while Dex’s men nailed Cole in the saloon across the street. Cole took a shot in the arm--but survived. He’s now in jail and Dex stayed back to try and interrogate the creep. Dex was hoping maybe we could learn something about what they’ve done to Joe that would help us.”

“I’m getting the impression that your busted lip has something to do with our little brother,” Hoss said pointing at his brother’s face.

Adam nodded, “Yeah---that was done on the way here---the kid tried to get away from me---swearing he would never come back here. I got the driver to help me---and we sedated him. The doctor in San Francisco thought that coming back here---well-- would help the boy’s emotional state. He wasn’t all that thrilled about Joe traveling with his leg like it was, but thought his behavior would improve once he was back with his family.”

Ben pulled himself up from his chair, and it seemed to take a great effort. He faced the fireplace and watched the flames awhile before speaking. There was no way he could shake the image of Joe screaming at him up in his room. It was breaking his heart.

“What could have made Joe hate me? He must think I didn’t defend him---that I left him there to die. That letter he wrote---he meant it---he’s hated me all these months because I didn’t help protect him from Bristol,” Ben said sadly.

“Pa,” Hoss replied standing up, “that don’t make much sense neither. I mean---even if Joe was mad at you---that sure don’t mean he would come to like Bristol---not enough to take a bullet for him. Joe’s a good kid and all---but I just don’t see him saving that bastard! There’s a whole lot we don’t know----and won’t know until we can talk to Joe.”

“If I can just talk to him---explain what happened that night--then---perhaps---” Ben trailed off as he heard the doctor coming down the stairs.

“How is he?” Hoss asked as Paul came down into the living room.

“I gave him a mild sedative---just enough to settle the boy down--but not knock him out. Hop Sing’s going to make him something to eat---and then maybe we will put him down for the night,” Paul replied and then stared over at Ben. He knew the man was hurting from the scene that had unfolded earlier. “His leg will be all right--provided we can keep him off of it. I’ll cast it when I remove the sutures. He doesn’t look too bad physically, but I know from what I just witnessed that he’s got some pretty big emotional problems. You want to clue me in?”

Adam repeated the story he had just told his family to the doctor. Paul sat back patiently in his chair and took it all in. He muttered an “I see” here and there, but waited until the eldest Cartwright brother was done before offering an opinion.

“Well, we’ve got some facts---but not nearly as many as we need. You said Dex was questioning that Cole fellow?”

“Yeah----said he would let us know if he came up with anything worthwhile,” Adam remarked.

“I suggest you all take it slow with that young man. We’ve no idea how much abuse he’s suffered---as long as he was gone. I know he’s full of anger and rage----and I know you’ve suspected something was very wrong--ever since you got that letter months ago. Let’s just try to stay calm if we can. One day at a time. We can fix him physically----but emotionally we may be in for the long haul I’m afraid,” Paul said guardedly.

“Is it okay if I go and see him?” Hoss asked hopefully.

“Might not be a bad idea---we know he’s mad at Adam---and well---you too right now, Ben. Hoss might be able to keep him calm for awhile. Go trade off with Hop Sing, Hoss, he’s got to make some food for the boy.”

“Do you expect me---after six months---to stay away from my son?” Ben asked incredulously.

Paul stood and reached for Ben’s arm, trying to offer what comfort he could. He knew how not seeing Joe would eat at the man’s insides. “Of course not----I know you need him---just the same way he will eventually come to need you, Ben. But---maybe it would be best if you made your visits when he was calm.”

“You mean---see him only when he is sedated?”

“No---but how about---for the time being only---you stay with him an hour after he’s taken the medication that I will leave for you to give him? That way he should still be conscious, but with no fight in him.”

Ben sighed and closed his eyes, trying to fight back his anger over what Bristol had done to his son. He never truly believed that Joe hated him, but he had thought the boy would have some serious questions for him once he got home.

“Agree?” Paul questioned.

“Agreed----if it will help Joseph----I’ll do it,” Ben caved in. No matter what he was feeling, he was far more worried about the emotional torture that Joe had gone through.

Hoss relieved Hop Sing of his watch over his little brother and the cook headed down to the kitchen to prepare food for the family. Pulling the chair closer to the bed, Hoss settled into it and reached over for his brother’s hand. The boy appeared to be fading in and out, his eyes fighting to stay open.

“It’s okay, Short Shanks, I know you’ve had a bad time of it---but I promise you that nobody’s gonna hurt you again. Not as long as your big brothers are around--that’s for sure---and your pa too!”

Joe blinked a couple of times, trying to once again draw a clearer picture of Hoss into view. He could feel the big man’s hand holding on to his and it did provide some comfort amid the confusion of being back home.

“Don’t let him back up here----okay, Hoss?” Joe muttered, growing weak from the medication.

“Who?” Hoss asked, and prayed that the response wouldn’t be who he thought.

“Ben Cartwright,” Joe replied bitterly.

“Joe----he’s your father---and he loves you more than anyone in the world. Don’t you know that, Boy?” Hoss tried his best to get through to his brother.

“I hate him,” Joe stated flatly and closed his eyes to rest them.

“Why, Joe?”

“Ask HIM!” Joe snapped back, suddenly getting a burst of energy just by thinking of his father’s betrayal.

“Joe----I know what you must be thinking---but honest----Pa didn’t have no choice but to leave you in San Francisco---if you’ll just listen to me I’ll explain it all to you,” Hoss protested, but still tried to keep his voice in control.

“I don’t want to hear none of his lies! You weren’t there anyhow----you were heading back here. You don’t know what he did.”

“Joe---now just listen--” Hoss started but Joe cut him off quickly.

“I DON’T want to talk about it----just go away-----just go away!” Joe fired back, his temper mounting again. His body was fighting a losing battle between the medicine’s power and the anger that had burned through his soul.

“Okay---okay---Joe---we won’t talk about none of that. Not till you’re ready. Just lay back there and rest. You’ve got to get healed up----and getting all riled ain’t gonna help none,” Hoss tried again to make his brother relax.

“Just leave me be, Hoss-----I know you---you would never have gone along with it----I know Adam did----and I know your father did----but I don’t hold no bad feelings towards you. I’m tired now----just let me sleep,” Joe whispered and turned his face away from his brother.

Hoss sat in the chair wondering what Joe meant by what he had said.****Go along with what Joe? And what do you mean Adam was in on it? I just don’t understand where you’re coming from on any of this. And why won’t you even acknowledge Pa as your father?****Hoss thought to himself as Joe fell back off to sleep. He reasoned whatever the boy had grown to believe about Pa must have been coaxed along somehow by Bristol Ford. His blood boiled just thinking of the vile man and how, even in death, he was still pulling all of their strings.

Hop Sing had prepared a bland meal of beef soup and toast, as was directed by Doctor Martin. He brought it up the stairs and by that time Joe was starting to come out of his slumber again. It took a little persuasion, but the cook and normal caretaker of the family was able to get Joe to take in as much as he could. Satisfied that it was a good start, Hop Sing removed the dishes and headed back to the kitchen. It was Paul’s turn to check on the boy, and he met Hoss who was still up with his brother.

“Glad you ate your dinner, Joe. You’ve got to build up your strength so your body can repair that bone in your leg,” Paul said as he moved next to his patient and felt of his forehead. “At least you’re not running a temperature---so we have that going for us.”

“When can I get the hell out of here?” Joe asked caustically.

Paul sighed and sat down next to Joe on the bed. “One thing at a time, Joe. I’ve got to cast that leg---and that’s not going to be for a couple of days. Gotta get those stitches out first. Once the cast goes on it’s gonna be at least a month--maybe longer--before it can come off. That bone you busted is the longest in the human body, it carries most of your body’s weight. That set’s going to be very important to prevent you from going lame. So, you’ve got to remain calm and keep still, got it?”

“Take me into town with you----I can stay at your place, Doc,” Joe tried to bargain with the man.

Paul shook his head and reached for the bottle of medicine. Hoss handed over one of the tablespoons Hop Sing had left for Joe and soon the doctor had the dose ready for his patient to swallow.

“Come on---open up! This will help you rest up,” Paul urged.

Joe swallowed the liquid and washed it down with a glass of water.

“Well? You gonna take me or what?” Joe asked again.

“Joe---that leg of yours probably shouldn’t have been moved out of San Francisco, in my opinion. We are not going to move it any more than we have to from now on!”

“I don’t want to stay here!” Joe shouted.

“Do you want to spend the rest of your life walking with a crutch?” Paul countered sternly.

“I don’t care,” Joe mumbled and then started to feel the medicine taking over. He felt dizzy and his vision was starting to blur.

“You will----soon---but right now all that matters is that you follow doctor’s orders, Young Man!” Paul smiled and patted Joe’s arm as he stood from the bed.

Joe’s eyes had closed and the doctor could tell that they weren’t going to open any time soon. Paul walked over to Hoss and whispered to him.

“Tell your father he can come up here now. I know it’s killed him to be away this long.”

Hoss grinned and headed out into the hall while the doctor took his place in the chair.

Ben had only half-eaten his dinner. He felt as though he would lose what little food he had taken in. His stomach felt tied in knots and his head hurt with worry. Ben carried his dinner plate into the kitchen and handed it to Hop Sing.

“I can’t eat anymore right now----maybe you can wrap this up?” Ben said.

“You no like?” Hop Sing returned.

“No---I liked----I’m just not very hungry I guess.”

“Little Joe---he come around--you see! Father not need to get upset--not good for you!” Hop Sing chastised out of deep concern for his old friend. Ben had become more like a surrogate brother and less like a boss over the many years that the Chinese man had been with the Cartwrights.

“I know,” Ben nodded and turned out of the kitchen. He met Hoss coming towards him.

“Doc says you can go ahead and stay with Joe now---he’s about out of it,” Hoss explained.

“Thank you, Son----Adam is out putting away the team--why don’t you go and get him and the two of you eat dinner? I’ve already had mine.”

“Sure, Pa,” Hoss replied and turned towards the front door.

“Hoss?” Ben called after his son.

“Yeah?”

“Did Joe---well---did he say anything? Were you able to explain anything yet?”

Hoss didn’t want to repeat the things that Joe had related to him, knowing they would only hurt his father more. “No----he wasn’t talking much, Pa----and he said he didn’t want to get into anything just yet,” the big man tried his best to dance around the truth as best he could.

“Okay---I’ll go sit with him,” Ben said, disappointment framing his face.

Ben sat down in the chair next to his son’s bed after speaking for a few moments with Paul. The doctor had reminded him to take it slow and to give Joe time to get accustomed to being home. He also told Ben that whatever had happened to Joe might take awhile to resolve so he needed to be as patient as possible with the boy. Ben agreed and thanked his old friend for all of his help. Paul announced that he would be returning to check on Joe the next morning and packed up his medical bag and headed back to town.

Wondering how many times he had kept vigil over that youngest boy of his, Ben sighed and carefully pulled the covers up around Joe’s shoulders. His fingers couldn’t resist touching the boy’s face gently, hoping not to awaken him. It was becoming increasingly unbearable not to pull his son into his arms and let go of his pent up emotions once and for all. He finally had Joe back, but could not explain his actions to him. That hurt. Ben believed that he was only a couple of sentences away from Joe’s understanding the situation and changing his attitude about what had happened in San Francisco forever.

****I wish I knew what that man did to you, Joseph. I wish I could unlock all that is in your mind so I would be able to help you. How can you hate me? How can you hate someone who loves you so much? I’d give my life for you---if only that had been the choice instead of your brother’s life and your own! Looking at you now---laying there so helpless----so hurt in so many ways---I can’t stand it. All I want to do is pull you into my arms and take it all away!****Ben thoughts made him ache inside far worse than before. He dropped his hand down onto the boy’s right arm and held on as he prayed he could have that night in the restaurant. If only he had been able to fight Bristol’s attempt to take Joe from him. The haunting hazel eyes that stared back at him that night burnt through his soul and had left a hole there.****You really think I just let him take you, Joe? After all we’ve been through---all these years? I just don’t understand----how could you possibly think that? Haven’t I showed you how much I love you ever since you were an infant? I hovered over you----trying my best to be both mother and father to you, Boy. There’s never been a time I didn’t worry about you---even when I knew where you were and what you were doing. Can’t you still see that when you look at me?****Ben shook his head disheartened and walked over to the window. It was almost dark and Ben could tell that it was getting cold quick. It wouldn’t surprise him to find the ranch covered in snow the next morning as it was mid-November.****You always loved the snow----I can still remember all the times you burst into my room to let me know the first flakes of the year had fallen. You’ve always been such a joy to me---to this family. To see you so full of anger and contempt----it’s just not like you, Joseph!****Ben walked back again to the chair and slumped down onto its cushions.****What did I expect? I should have known all along you would blame me----who wouldn’t? You were pulled away from that table while I watched and did nothing---said nothing to indicate I cared what was happening. Now---six months later---here I am----and you have suffered due to my compliance with Bristol! It’s not your fault----I don’t blame you, Son.****Ben covered his face in his hands and pushed back tears.****I just want you back----the way you were----you always looked up to me---always turned to me when you were troubled---or hurt. Now---I can’t even sit next to you without you looking at me with hatred in your eyes.****Ben stopped again and placed his hand on top of his son’s wrist.****Just let me explain, Joe----just give me the chance----and we can get it back---all we had between us all these years. No matter what that vile evil man did to your mind----look at me with your heart and not your head and you’ll know I love you more than life.****Ben tried to shut off his thoughts and instead watched his son’s peaceful slumber. No matter what else, he did thank God that the boy had made it home. Now he prayed that Joe would come back to them emotionally.

The stillness of the wee hours of the morning fell over the ranch house. Everyone in the family had adjourned to their bedrooms hours prior; everyone with the exception of Ben. He had fought off the weariness that the emotional events of the day had forced upon his body. But, by the time five a.m. neared, his head dropped over to the side and rested against the back of the chair. Soon he was falling into a deep sleep, finally surrendering his constant vigil over his son.

While his father was just beginning his journey to the land of Nod, Joe was coming out of his medicine induced sojourn there. The lamp wick had been lowered, but there was still enough light emitted from it for the boy to notice the features on the face of the man who sat there at the side of the bed in the chair. Joe’s mind fought with his memories of the past and the awful reality of the present. If it had been any other time he would have drawn comfort just in knowing that his pa was at his side. That had always been a given, something that was as constant as the stars in the sky. Now, staring over at the white-haired middle aged man, Joe found no comfort at all. In fact, his presence there only made him feel worse.

Joe wondered how it could be the same person he had considered a hero in his mind and heart. There had never been anyone in his life who could hold a candle to his pa. Ben Cartwright was the rock on which his son had planted his hopes his dreams and his ambitions. He had always been the one Joe most emulated and yearned to grow in his image. Through so many years, twenty in fact, Joe had memorized each and every worry line on his father’s face. He could close his eyes and see them as vividly as if he were gazing point blank at the man. Joe knew he had caused some of them, due to the trials and tribulations of his youth. But Pa wore them like medals of honor, something he was proud of. Joe never, until six months prior, had to question the man’s love for him. He could read it in the burnt sienna eyes that could read his thoughts with little effort. Pa had shown it in the way he constantly offered him a shoulder on which to cry, or a hand to help him up from the depths of despair. Had it all been a lie? What could have changed the man so much that he would sell his own son for a timber contract? Joe shook his head, but no tears left his eyes. That was another trait of his own which died months earlier. He had always been known as the most openly emotional Cartwright, second only to his father. Now tears had no place in his world. He had cried an ocean’s worth those first few months, and then there were no more left to shed. Knowing that his father didn’t love him had caused him to shut down in the caring department. Bristol had shown him that such deep emotions were useless. And, Joe knew the man was right. There was no point to loving anyone. It only opened a person up for pain and heartache. Joe had decided that a life spent trusting no-one was much more valid than a life spent trusting someone who might cause him pain. Bristol was right in a lot of ways, in Joe’s mind. You had to keep your guard up at all times to prevent someone from trying to break you down and open you up for further harm.

Ben made a slight move in the chair and his son quickly closed his eyes just in case. He didn’t want the man to know he had been staring over at him. Joe didn’t want the man to know that he had even thought about what the two of them had once shared. He was resolved to the fact that he would have to wait a couple of weeks there on the Ponderosa in order to heal from his wound, but, once healed he would leave never to return.

“Joseph?” Ben whispered and leaned closer to the boy’s bed. He was sure that his son was awake, though his eyes denied the truth. Ben had always been more in-tuned to his youngest child than to the older two, and could sense that Joe was pretending to be asleep. As soon as his hand reached for the boy’s arm, though gently done, the boy confirmed the fact that his father’s intuition was still right on the money.

“Go away,” Joe muttered and pulled his arm out from under his father’s touch.

“You thirsty, Son?” Ben asked, ignoring what the boy had said.

“If I am I’ll get it myself,” Joe countered, still not looking at his father.

Ben stood and poured a glass of water and handed it to his son, hoping that he wouldn’t reject his offer. Joe took the glass and set it right back down on the night stand. He was having no part of Ben Cartwright, nor his futile attempts to make peace. Ben sighed and sat back down in the chair.

“Joseph----I have to talk to you---I have to explain. Would you please---please listen to me?” Ben pleaded.

“Ha! Yeah---sure I will!” Joe laughed bitterly. “Why don’t you pound your fists on the wall like I did---think that would get my attention? It didn’t get yours!”

“What?” Ben asked, totally unaware as to what Joe was referring.

“Don’t play dumb---you KNOW what you did---it might work with the others--but I was there, remember?”

“You mean the restaurant? Is that what you’re talking about?” Ben asked again.

“Go away----go away or I swear broke leg or not I will get out of here!” Joe warned. He was totally unamused by his father’s pretense and it showed on his face.

Ben stood and shook his head bewildered by the amount of hostility that his son had shown towards him. Not wanting the boy to make good on his promise to leave, Ben turned and walked to the bedroom door.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Joseph---I wish to God that I did,” Ben said as he paused in the doorway. “No matter what you think---or feel towards me right now----I love you,” Ben tried to get through to his son one last time.

“You got one hell of a way of showing it! Now go!” Joe shouted.

Ben walked out of the room, pulling the door closed behind him. He headed down the hall to his middle son’s room and knocked lightly on the door.

“Pa?” Hoss mumbled as he stifled a yawn. “What’s wrong?”

“Could you go and sit with your brother for awhile?”

Hoss could read the sadness on the other man’s face, and knew without asking that he had had another go round with Joe. “Sure---sure, Pa, let me get out of this nightshirt and I’ll be right over there. Why don’t you try to grab some shut eye? You look pretty rough.”

“Think I will,” Ben nodded and turned down the hall, heading for his bedroom.

Time passed with long days full of anxiety for all the Cartwrights. Joe still adamantly refused to listen to anything his father had to say about the abduction. His only thoughts were of getting better so he could leave the Ponderosa for good. Paul did what he could, mostly in the healing department. He had removed the sutures and placed a cast on Joe’s leg that went from his upper thigh all the way down to his ankle. The doctor did what he could to try to reason with the youngest Cartwright, but to no avail. Adam steered clear of his brother’s room, having been shouted at every time he had gone in there during the first two weeks. Hoss and Hop Sing remained Joe’s only two allies as far as he was concerned, but he forbade them from discussing what had happened in San Francisco.

Ben was at loose ends, not knowing what he could do to break whatever hold that Bristol still had on his son. He had prayed endlessly for an answer to their problem, still sure that if Joe knew the real facts that all would be resolved right away. Just as the doctor had ordered, he stayed away from the boy while he was fully awake, but he did sit with him at night. That was taking its toll on the worried father and it could be read on his face by all the others in the house. With more than two weeks having passed with still no kind of conversation between Joe and his pa, Ben was wondering if they would ever be able to hash it all out.

Joe had longed to get out of his room, feeling as much a prisoner there as he had at Bristol’s mansion in San Francisco. The only thing that was different was the fact that no-one tied him to the bed or used brute force against him. It was a prison nonetheless in the boy’s troubled mind. Late one night, almost three weeks after he had been brought back to the ranch, Joe decided he had endured enough captivity for one life time and planned an escape. Hoss had stayed with him that night, after his little brother had once again shouted for his father to leave the room. The big man had dozed off in the chair, just as Pa was known for doing. Joe silently pulled himself out of his bed on the opposite side from where Hoss kept vigil. He made it over to the single crutch that had been propped over by his dresser. Joe had only used it when nature called and he had to use the privy. But, now it would enable him to make his escape. He quietly pulled open his dresser drawer after he had removed his nightshirt. Joe hurriedly donned a shirt but then had to stop and think how he was going to manage pulling on his pants. The huge plaster cast would not allow him to place his right leg through the pant leg. Joe reached on top of his dresser and took his pocket knife from it’s sheath. As cautiously as he could muster, Joe slit one side of the right leg of the pants, hoping it would give him enough room to throw his cast through.

Limping over to the bottom of his bed, Joe managed somehow to force the cast though the pant leg and stood again. After pulling on his left boot, he wrapped his belt around his waist and glanced over at Hoss.. Joe was relieved to hear the man snoring, totally unaware of his brother’s attempt at escaping the bedroom. As stealthily as possible, with the crutch slung under his right arm pit, Joe made it to the doorway. Slowly he pulled the door open and headed out into the hall. It took a long while to reach the staircase, as Joe had tried to pass the rooms of Adam and his father without giving away his position. Once he set his left foot on the top stair, Joe knew he was home free. All he had to do was get down the staircase, make it over to the front door and then he would ease across the yard to the barn. Joe knew there was no way he could throw his plaster encircled leg around his pinto’s back, but he would be able to get to the buckboard fine.

It had taken close to ten minutes to descend from the top of the stairs, but Joe’s patience paid off as he hit the living room floor intact. He slowly crossed to the front door just in time to hear his name bellowed out.

“Joseph! What in the devil are you doing!” Ben shouted, standing on the last step of the staircase.

“Leave me alone!” Joe sneered towards his father.

“I’ll not leave you alone!” Ben replied, his tone raised in concern. He hurried across the living room and met his son face to face by the door. “You get yourself back to your room now. The doctor told you to keep off that leg---and you’re going to do just that!”

“I’m not staying here---not one more minute,” Joe answered as he pulled on the doorknob, seeking freedom.

Ben reached around his son and slammed the door shut, then he blocked Joe’s escape with his body. “Get back up to bed, Joseph----before you do more damage than you’ve already accomplished!”

“You can’t tell me what to do anymore!” Joe shouted.

“I am your father- and YES I CAN! Especially when you are trying to hurt yourself!” Ben countered forcing Joe’s gaze.

“You gave up that right when you gave ME up!” Joe snapped.

“I did NOT give you up----I’ve been trying to tell you for weeks now---but YOU won’t listen!”

“I don’t want to hear your lies---I’ve had my fill of them!”

Ben grabbed Joe by the upper arms and fought to control his pent up emotions. He couldn’t believe that a son of his could call him a liar to his face, but that was exactly what Joe had been doing for weeks.

“Then tell me what lies you think I’ve told you----can you do that? Or are you just going to continue to accuse me without any explanation as to why?” Ben asked, trying to get through to the boy yet again.

“I hate you!” Joe yelled, and in his eyes his father could tell that the boy was sincere in what he had said.

“Hoss!” Ben bellowed towards the stairs, hoping his son would hear his call.

Joe struggled against his father’s hold, but he was not as strong as the other man and could only stand there helplessly. Soon Hoss came lumbering down the stairs.

“Joe? What’re you doing down here?” Hoss asked, confused by the scene at the front door.

“Take your brother back to his room,” Ben ordered.

Hoss made his way over to his little brother and stared over at his father. Pa looked like he had taken a direct shot to the heart. Hoss knew that meant Joe was doing his best to hurt their father in any way he could manage.

“Come on, Joe---let’s get back upstairs,” Hoss whispered and took hold of Joe’s left arm, as his father stepped back.

“Let me alone, Hoss----I’m leaving!” Joe protested.

“Not tonight you ain’t,” Hoss replied and hoisted the boy into his arms and headed for the stairs.

Ben watched as Joe tried his best to come out of his brother’s arms all the way up the flight of stairs. Fortunately, Hoss was the strongest man in the area and had little problem managing the boy or the heavy cast on his leg. He made it into the boy’s room and gently placed his brother onto the bed.

“Now just simmer down, Youngin’,” Hoss said exasperated.

“You can’t keep me prisoner here!” Joe fumed.

“Nobody’s keeping you prisoner, Joe---you know that! But that leg of yours ain’t gonna heal if you get up on it. Now stop acting like a little kid and settle down,” Hoss called down to his brother.

“I thought that at least YOU were still my friend---guess I was wrong. Hell you’re probably in on this too!”

Hoss sank down on the bed next to his brother and shook his head wearily. “I am your friend. Little Brother, I love you and you KNOW it too! But, I ain’t gonna stand around no more and listen to you saying awful things about our Pa neither. That man loves you----and if you weren’t so confused you’d know it.”

“Loves me?” Joe laughed, sarcasm ringing in the air. “He sold me----sold me for the price of a contract!”

“Huh? Joe---that’s not the truth! Why in heaven’s name would you believe such garbage? Is that what Bristol told you?”

“I heard him say it----I heard Pa say it---with his own voice----that’s how I KNOW it!” Joe finally gave up some important facts to his brother.

“What! Joe----you’re wrong!” Hoss insisted.

“Go away----I ain’t talking to you anymore----I ain’t talking to any of you!” Joe screamed and rolled his body away from his brother’s stare.

“No---not this time---you’re gonna have to explain it to me!” Hoss shot back, and as he did, he spun Joe’s body back towards him.

“Go away!”

“You’re saying you heard Pa say he sold you out for a contract? When---where?”

“He was at Bristol’s place----weeks after I was taken out of that restaurant!” Joe blurted out.

“Little Brother---that’s impossible----after Pa left San Francisco he stayed here at the ranch---I know cause I’ve been with him every single day till we got you back!”

“Then you’re lying too. Now go away Hoss!” Joe protested and turned away from the man again.

Hoss stood from the bed totally perplexed over what the boy had conveyed to him. He could believe that Bristol would lie to the kid, but how could Joe think he heard their father in San Francisco when he had been at the Ponderosa the whole time?

“Stay in that bed-----we’ll get this resolved one way or another,” Hoss called down to the boy and walked out of the bedroom. He needed to go and talk with his pa.

Ben was surprised to see Hoss as he turned out of the kitchen with a cup of strong coffee held in his hand. He figured his son would be standing guard over his little brother.

“What’s going on? Has Joseph settled down?” Ben asked.

“We need to talk about some of the things he just told me. Let me go grab some coffee and I’ll be with you in a minute,” Hoss replied turning towards the kitchen.

“Make that two!” Adam called coming down the stairs. He had awakened to the sound of shouting earlier and had not been able to go back to sleep.

“Okay---bring you some,” Hoss nodded and walked into the other room.

Ben sank down in his chair as his eldest boy moved to sit across from him. Hoss was soon back into the living room and handed his brother a cup brimming with coffee.

“Thanks,” Adam said accepting the brew. “So? You two want to tell me what the heck is going on? It’s the crack of dawn you know!”

“Joe tried to sneak out of here, Adam. Him and Pa had another go round and I carried him back to his room,” Hoss explained settling down onto the settee.

“What did Joseph say to you, Hoss?” Ben wondered.

“Well----couple of things---none that make any sense though. He says he thinks I am “in on it” with you two. Whatever the heck that means! But, he did say something that really has me baffled.”

“What?”

“He says that you sold him for a contract---I guess he’s talking about that De Santo deal is all I can figure,” Hoss replied.

“Sounds like something Bristol put in the kid’s head,” Adam jumped in with his own thoughts.

“Yeah---well---that’s what I thought--but Joe says that he heard it from somebody else--not Bristol,” Hoss said, gauging his words.

“Who might that be? That Cole fellow?” Ben asked.

“No---Pa---Joe insists he heard it from you,” Hoss answered somberly.

“Me!” Ben sounded off loudly. “Why would I have said such nonsense? And how could I have told him anyway-----I didn’t even see Joseph for six months!”

“Settle down, Pa----let Hoss finish---we’ll figure this out,” Adam tried to calm his father.

“Joe says that you were at Bristol’s mansion in San Francisco weeks after he was taken from that restaurant. I tried my best to tell him that you’ve been here on the ranch with me this whole time---but he wouldn’t listen,” Hoss explained.

“Bristol must have really messed with that boy’s head,” Adam remarked, full of contempt for the evil man. “That has to be it.”

“I’ve had enough waiting----I’m going to have a talk with that boy right now and settle this once and for all!” Ben insisted and stood from his chair. He set his coffee cup on the table and walked towards the staircase.

“Pa----don’t think Joe’s gonna be open for no conversation right now,” Hoss warned as he followed Adam over to the stairs after their father.

“Well I am!” Ben fumed and headed up to his son’s bedroom.

Joe was still laying on his bed fully dressed, just like Hoss had left him minutes earlier when his family walked into the room. He shot a glance towards them and then rolled on his side away from their approach.

“Joseph-----we’re going to talk this out right now,” Ben began and he reached for his son’s shoulder and repositioned him over on his back.

“I don’t have anything to say to you---none of you. If you want to keep me a prisoner here then that’s just fine! But, as soon as this cast comes off I am leaving,” Joe spoke out in a low controlled voice.

“You told Hoss that you heard me at Bristol’s place in San Francisco---that you heard me say that I traded you for a contract. That’s the most ludicrous story I’ve ever heard! First of all, I only saw Bristol that one night---the night he snatched you away from me. Secondly, I would NEVER---I repeat---NEVER sacrifice YOU or either of your brothers for a contract. How could you believe that?” Ben insisted and sat down on the bed next to his son.

“I heard YOU----think I don’t know your voice? Or maybe you’re saying I’m crazy--is that it?” Joe fired right back.

“I’m saying you are mistaken----badly mistaken!” Ben countered reaching for Joe’s chin to force him to stare into his eyes.

“It was YOU----in the next room---talking to Bristol! You can deny it till you go blue I don’t give a damn! But, YOU know what you’ve done to me----and I know---so cut out the protests, it won’t work this time!”

“Look at me!” Ben shouted, as Joe yanked his face from out of his father’s grasp. “Look into my eyes and tell me I’m lying to you!”

“You’ve lying to me,” Joe replied bitterly. “You’ve been lying so long you’ve gotten good at it. I’m just not going along with them anymore. Now leave me alone!”

“Joseph---” Ben paused, his voice trembling with heartache, “I know you don’t mean this---any of this. How can six months away from me----destroy twenty years of what we’ve had? I have loved you more than any father could love a son---and you honestly believe I would trade you for a contract?”

“As far as I’m concerned we never had anything! You destroyed it all---just like you destroyed me with what you did. Don’t ask ME why you did what you did---ask yourself! But, don’t expect me to believe you now----I heard you that night----I begged you to help me! I know you heard me calling for you----beating my fists against the wall--and you did NOTHING! But---why would you? You set it all up of course----I was expendable then---so don’t expect me to care about you---this ranch --or anything else now! Go away-- leave me alone--I hate you!”

Ben pulled himself up from the bed slowly, never taking his eyes off the boy laying there. He knew that Joe honestly believed his father had sold him out and that he had heard a conversation between Ben Cartwright and Bristol Ford. Pa knew his boy, and knew when he was being completely truthful. The betrayal, mistrust, and hatred was there in the hazel eyes, there was no denying it. Ben knew he had to find out what had happened all those months ago in order to free his son from his misconceptions. Until he figured out what had gone on, there was no point in trying to explain the truth of the events leading up to Joe’s abduction.

“You don’t hate me, Joseph-----you think you do---but you don’t,” Ben whispered and walked out of the room.

Hoss followed his father out to the hall to offer what moral support he could give, but Adam decided to stay with his youngest brother for a little while. He settled down in the chair and stared over at the boy who was dead set on ignoring him.

“Joe----you’re a smart kid----you can’t possibly believe that our father would value you so little that he would give you up for a contract. I know you are hurt---and God knows what that bastard Ford did to you--but you’ve got to realize how wrong you are,” Adam spoke out in soft comforting tones.

Joe remained as he had been since his father had left the room. His back was turned on his brother and he had no intention of conversing with the man. As far as he was concerned Adam was as much of a traitor as their father was. He had told his brother that he didn’t want to return to the ranch, but he had drugged him to force his compliance.

“Come on, Kid, talk to me!” Adam protested, after several minutes pause.

That was all it took to seize Joe’s attention. He had heard the solitary word “kid” and it sent haunted reminders of abuse to the forefront of his mind. Joe could see Cole standing there in front of him taunting him with the term. He hadn’t taken it from Cole, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to take it from his brother! Joe turned around, grabbing at his cast to maneuver his body once again on his back.

“Call me that again, Adam, and I swear I’ll kill you!” Joe shouted.

“Huh?’ Adam asked, confused by his brother’s sudden outburst. “I didn’t call you anything, Joe!”

“You called me kid----do it again and you’ll live to regret it!”

“Joe-----I’ve called you that most of your life---I didn’t mean anything by it---settle down,” Adam apologized. There had to be a reason for his brother’s anger over hearing the term. Yes, he knew that Joe had protested the reference, but it had never sent such a hateful gaze as it had that moment.

Joe reached over to the night stand and lifted his water glass with his right hand and flung it towards his brother while shouting, “Get out of here!”

Adam caught the glass in mid-air as it was launched, but the water soaked his shirt as he made the move. His own anger was beginning to rise, staring once again at the violent young man looking his way. He placed the glass back on the night stand, but out of range of his brother’s grasp.

“If you want to hate somebody---hate Bristol for doing this to you, Joe. Turning your rage on us is getting old, you know?” Adam called over to his brother.

“Why would I hate Bristol?” Joe sneered towards Adam, “At least he was honest with me---more than I can say for your father!”

Adam leaned over and took up a fist full of Joe’s nightshirt in his hand. “He’s YOUR father too! If you weren’t laying there with a busted leg I’d teach you some manners!”

Joe closed his eyes and went back to a place in time where he had heard a similar statement. Hadn’t it been Bristol and Cole who said that same thing? Now Adam was the one who thought he was just a kid and needed a lesson. The whole idea of it sent Joe’s left hand over to his brother’s grasp and he slapped Adam’s hand away from him.

“Go to hell!” Joe screamed.

Adam had to use all the patience he possessed inside not to smack his little brother at that moment. He looked into the eyes of the boy he had watched grow from infancy and it sent a coldness throughout his body. Joe was so changed by his captivity that it was shocking. Though he was known to have a volatile temper, the youngest Cartwright was also known to have a deep love for his family. How could it be the same person? What had caused the boy so much pain that it had changed his entire personality?

Adam moved away from his brother’s bed, saying nothing further. He had to take pity on the kid, not knowing how the seeds of hate had been planted. Just like the rest of the family, Adam wished that they could find out in order to help him. No matter what the boy said, nor what he did, he was still Adam’s little brother, and he refused to give up on him. He pulled the bedroom door open and stepped out into the hallway.

Joe was glad to have peace after a morning long battle with his family. The bricks that had built the wall that kept him from loving his father were solid and they were not going to come down. He knew that the man was playing a part, as if he could fool his youngest son into believing he hadn’t heard him that night at Bristol’s. That made Joe all the more angry. It was yet another case of Ben Cartwright lying, in his opinion. The lucrative contract for the De Santo line had gone to the Ponderosa due to the deal Ben had made with Bristol. He had traded the man one son for the deal that had saved the ranch from faltering. Now, it seemed as though Ben had decided that he could renege on the whole thing. That was why Bristol now lay buried and Joe was a prisoner in his room. The boy could only assume that people had started to ask questions as to who had kidnapped him and why. Ben must have worried that he couldn’t keep up the charade and had gone after Bristol. Dead men tell no tales. Joe figured that his father then went about the plan to play dedicated father and had him rescued and brought back home. The only thing that made no sense was that the man was acting like the whole conversation between him and Bristol at the mansion had never happened. Did he really presume that his son would go along with that? Joe couldn’t believe it, it was just too audacious the whole thought of it. What did the man want from him? Did he expect him to forgive and forget and go back to their former relationship? Joe felt what he and his father had once shared had been nothing more than a clever deception. Ben Cartwright valued his land more than he valued his youngest son. It was just that simple.

Hoss and Adam had talked in private most of the morning. They went over every single piece of information that they had gleaned from their conversations with Joe. It still made no sense. Adam had kept Dex abreast of what was going on at the ranch for weeks. There wasn’t much to tell him other than how Joe’s behavior had baffled everyone around him. Dex had sent several wires letting the Cartwrights know that he was still trying to wear Cole down to learn more of what had transpired between Bristol and his hostage. He hadn’t been very successful as of the last wire which they had received earlier the previous week. Adam decided to ride into Virginia City and send word to the detective of what Joe had told them that morning. He prayed that, with the further details, Dex would get more from Cole than he already had.

The week following Joe’s escape attempt had turned out to be the most exasperating for everyone on the ranch. The boy had clammed up and wouldn’t talk to anyone, save Hop Sing. Ben forced himself to stay out of his son’s bedroom, only peeking in on the boy at night when he was sure he was asleep. It pained him so much to be so close physically but so distant emotionally from his youngest son. Ben had quite a few in depth conversations with his friend Paul Martin trying to come up with a logical explanation for his son’s hatred. Paul had little to offer other than moral support. He had repeated the fact that he thought Joe had suffered some kind of awful trauma at the hands of Bristol and his partners and that it had to be what was allowing him to keep his aloof attitude going towards the family. Unfortunately, Paul had no way to unlock what was imbedded in the boy’s brain. All he could suggest was that they wait and hope he somehow snapped out of it. Paul was eager for the Cartwrights to learn some of the details from Dex once he arrived from San Francisco. He agreed with the general consensus, and that was that only Cole would know what had happened while Joe was in captivity. If the detective could make Bristol’s partner spill his guts they might just find a way to free Joe of his hurt and anger.

By the time Dex Farwell had received Adam’s most recent telegraph, he had already put in many hours of interrogating Cole Rivers. Bristol’s evil henchman had proved to be a tough nut to crack and Dex was worried that he might never learn the whole truth of Joe Cartwright’s abduction. Armed with the new information that the Cartwrights had sent to him via telegraph, Dex tried one last time to shake the criminal enough to make him give up the vital details that were needed in order to help Joe come out of his emotional prison. Finally, Cole relented. He knew he had a sentence being handed down soon that would assure him some long prison time. Dex spoke with the district attorney and they agreed to reduce the man’s sentence, but only if he gave them what they wanted. It didn’t seem like that much of a plea bargain to Cole, but it did lessen the required ten years for kidnapping to eight years and he jumped at the offer. Bristol’s other cohorts would be doing close to the same amount of time so he knew he’d be in good company for quite awhile.

Armed with some important details, Dex used his detective skills to track down an important member of Bristol’s team. Though the man had been nothing more than a bit player, he was valuable in the fight to help Joe realize the truth. Dex sent another telegraph to the Cartwrights, which informed them he would be reaching Virginia City in a couple of days. He would not be traveling alone.

Adam and Hoss met Dex the afternoon his stage reached town. Coming down the stairs of the coach were Dex Farwell, Jeremy Bolding, and another man unfamiliar to the Cartwright brothers.

“Dex---Jeremy! Great to see you,” Adam smiled and shook their hands as they disembarked. “Jeremy--this is my brother Hoss.”

“Nice to meet you,” Jeremy nodded towards the big man.

Adam stared over at the stranger who seemed to be hanging in the background on purpose. “Who you got there?” Adam asked Dex.

“I’ll tell you all about that. How about you get your dad and meet us at the hotel this evening. We’ve got a lot of things to go over,” Dex replied, trying not to give too much information just yet.

“Sure---but thought you’d be staying at the ranch? We got rooms all set up for you---and you know Hop Sing wants to thank you with a big meal,” Hoss jumped in.

“Well---there’ll be a time for that---just not right now, Hoss. What do you say we meet at the International House this evening around seven?”

“That’s fine----we’ll go tell Pa that you made it in and come back with him later,” Adam agreed.

“Don’t let on to Joe just yet, Adam----we’ve got to handle this a certain way,” Dex instructed.

“That won’t be hard----he’s not talking to any of us now. The kid only speaks to Hop Sing,” Adam sighed, thinking about all that his youngest brother had put the family through during his month back home.

“Hopefully we’ll be fixing that real soon. Now----let’s get settled in at the hotel,” Dex said and Jeremy handed the luggage to his friend.

“See you later!” Hoss called out as the three men headed down the sidewalk making their way over to the hotel.

“Wonder who that man is?” Adam asked his brother as they walked back to the buckboard.

“Don’t know---but awfully strange Dex didn’t even introduce him, huh?”

“Guess we’ll find out tonight,” Adam replied and stepped up to the driver’s side of the wagon and sent the team back towards the ranch.

Ben hated to feel so hopeful, worried that he was setting himself up for more disappointment. He had listened to what Adam and Hoss had conveyed once they returned from town and he was curious over who the mysterious person was that Dex had brought along with him. As he dressed and readied for the ride to Virginia City Ben decided that any hope was better than none, and they sure weren’t getting anywhere with Joe any other way. Determined to help the boy in any way he could, Ben mounted his horse and rode along with his two sons to town.

Dex led the Cartwrights into his hotel suite and they all exchanged greetings. Ben made sure to thank both the detective and his associate for having succeeded in pulling Joe from Bristol’s clutches. It was the first chance he had to do it, as Dex and his partner had remained in San Francisco the whole month since Joe’s return.

“So? Where’s this mystery man?” Ben finally asked.

“He might not be all that mysterious to you, Ben,” Dex offered and walked towards one of the three bedrooms contained in the large hotel suite. He signaled the man to come out and soon Ben was staring over at a familiar face; Dustin Freemont.

“You remember him?” Dex asked as he walked with the other man over to the sofa.

Ben looked up from his chair and his face showed his confusion, “Freemont--wasn’t it?”

“Well--that’s one of his names at least!” Jeremy added sarcastically.

“What?” Ben replied.

“He has several assumed names, Ben. Him being a con artist and all,” Dex explained. “Remember when you first met him?”

“Yes---of course I do. The night that Joe was taken----the two of us sat at a table and talked for an hour or more. He introduced himself as Dustin Freemont---and that he worked for the De Santo company. I don’t understand---what does he have to do with all of this?”

“Go ahead, Jared, it’s your turn to do some explaining,” Dex told the man.

Jared stood and paced the hotel suite, worried about how he could properly tell his story. He knew that the Cartwright family would want his neck in a noose once they learned of his part in Bristol’s plan. Nevertheless, he had agreed to come forth with his story in order to escape prosecution and now he had no other choice.

“My name is Jared Hawkes---not Dustin Freemont. And--no---I never worked for the shipping company. It’s just the excuse I used in order to talk with you in length that day.”

“Why!” Ben demanded.

“Bristol Ford----he offered me money---that’s why. Five hundred dollars free and clear. And alls I had to do was to listen to you, learn about you and your family. I accomplished all that in the hour we spoke.”

“I still don’t understand----you spoke to me--yes---but what else did you have to do with my son’s abduction?” Ben replied.

“Bristol learned of my talents----a long time ago. I happen to be a master of forgery---and he used me for that in the past---but I can also impersonate people.”

“Impersonate?” Hoss jumped in. “You don’t look nothing like my Pa---if that’s what you mean!”

“Not a person’s appearance, Mr. Cartwright----their voice,” Jared countered.

The three Cartwrights in the room all exchanged bewildered glances. It seemed unfathomable. Could the man be telling the truth?

“You mean----you used your voice to impersonate my father?” Adam asked.

“Yeah--that’s what I mean. I didn’t know what Bristol wanted from your son---I swear I didn’t. But---I know I’m guilty because I never asked any questions neither. He handed me a well scripted scene---him and I rehearsed and then we did it there at his place.”

“Let’s hear it,” Adam countered, still in disbelief over what the man had said.

“I’m Ben Cartwright of the Ponderosa ranch, my sons are Adam, Hoss, and Joe---who I refer to as Joseph,” Jared gave them all a sample of his talents. They all looked at him with their mouths dropped in amazement.

Ben stood and faced down the man, his anger lighting up his face. “Your little charade has done insurmountable damage to my son---and to this family! Was it worth it? Tell me was five hundred dollars worth putting my boy through an emotional hell?” Ben thundered out.

Jared looked up at the man and his eyes showed that he regretted his decision to make a quick buck. “No---no Mr. Cartwright---it wasn’t worth it. I came here---not just because Dex offered me a deal---I want to repair the damage I’ve done. If you’ll just let me see your son---maybe I can make amends for my part of the deception”

Dex stood and positioned himself between Ben and Jared. “Ben---he didn’t know the details of what Bristol was up to---yeah --he was unethical--to say the least--but he’s willing to help. That’s all we should care about now.”

Ben nodded and sat back down in a chair. “How do we do this? Does he just walk into my son’s room and say “hi I can talk like your father?”“

”No---I’ve got a better plan. Let’s talk about some of the things that Cole told us regarding Joe’s captivity and then we’ll set the scene for Jared to come to the ranch and help us.”

All the men in the room huddled together and went over some of the facts that Cole Rivers had conveyed to the detective and then they went about planning on how to bring Jared in on the situation. They adjourned late that evening deciding to meet at the Ponderosa in the morning.

Joe was propped up against the pillows on his bed just killing time until lunch. Hop Sing had already helped him wash and dress for the day and he was thumbing through an old book he had read three or four times already. The leg underneath his cast was itching like crazy, which only made his mood all that more cranky and to top that off his two brothers walked into his bedroom unannounced.

“Get out!” Joe yelled over at the two men. He had told them over and over again that he did not want them anywhere around him. Joe viewed it as a total disregard for his feelings that they would simply drop by.

“No--not today, Little Brother. We need to talk with you,” Hoss replied with determination on his face as he crossed over to his brother’s bedside.

“I have nothing to say to either of you. What--are you both deaf? Get out!”

“Not until we get something straight with you,” Adam jumped in to assist Hoss.

“Yeah---we’ve been thinking about that story you told us awhile ago. Something just don’t ring true, Little Joe,” Hoss continued.

“Oh really? Well--if it’s a lie you’re concerned with go ask your father--he’s big on those you know!” Joe fumed.

“No---it’s about that night you said you heard Pa talking in the next room. Remember? You were at Bristol’s house at the time?” Adam asked.

“What about it?”

“I don’t think you know what you’re talking about--that’s what! You can’t hear through a wall very well you know! Like if someone was talking in the room next to yours---you wouldn’t be able to make out who it was,” Adam led Joe on.

“The hell I couldn’t!” Joe snapped back at his brother.

“Wanna try to prove me wrong?” Adam asked.

“If I prove you wrong----will you stay the hell out of my room?”

“Deal,” Adam nodded and walked towards the door, leaving Hoss next to Joe by the bed. “I’ll go in there now and you two can tell me what I say and whether you could tell if it was my voice.”

“He’s a moron,” Joe muttered and looked up at Hoss. “Of course we’re gonna know it’s his voice--hell he just said he’s going in there!”

“Yeah---but he wants to see if you can really hear what another fellow’s saying with a good thick wall in between you and them,” Hoss explained.

Soon the two brothers could hear Adam’s voice coming from the next room.

“Told you----now tell me you couldn’t make out that it was Adam?” Joe asked his brother.

“Yeah---got a point there, Little Brother---but listen---what’s he saying?”

Joe moved closer to the wall behind his headboard and strained his ears to catch the words that came from the next room.

“No--that wasn’t part of the deal--yes---I understand---as long as he’s not harmed. Have to go---no use trying to explain--reported him missing--no questions asked. Will be writing in the future--lots to do at home,” were the words that could be heard from the room adjacent to Joe’s.

Joe’s body tensed when he heard them, for they were the exact words he recalled hearing his father say that night so many months ago. And, not only that, the voice was Ben’s. Joe wondered why his father would go along with the test that Adam had suggested. It only incriminated the man more now.

“What’s going on?” Joe finally was able to ask his brother. His voice seemed strained from the pent up hurt that the words had caused him both times.

“What did you hear, Little Brother?’ Hoss asked innocently.

“You know what I heard! You know that’s Pa in the next room with Adam!” Joe shouted.

“You sure about that?”

“Why are you doing this to me, Hoss?” Joe asked, feeling like his brother was purposely trying to hurt him more than he already was.

“I just want to be sure you thought you heard what you did,” Hoss explained.

“I just heard Pa---saying what he did that night at Bristol’s! Now tell me he wasn’t there!” Joe shouted.

“Just a minute,” Hoss said and reached for his brother’s crutch laying up against the wall. “Come with me a second.”

“Where?” Joe asked again as Hoss helped him over to the side of the bed.

“Just over to the window and I promise I’ll leave you alone.”

Joe had no idea what his brother was up to, in fact he had surmised that the whole family was quite obviously insane or trying to drive him to the point of insanity by their little pretense. Slowly he limped to the window with his brother at his side.

“Look there!” Hoss pointed out the window.

Standing over by the hitching post in front of the barn all the way across the front yard was Ben Cartwright. Joe followed his brother’s gaze and couldn’t believe his eyes! There was no way that his father could be all the way across the yard so soon after speaking in the next room.

“I ---I --don’t understand--” Joe muttered.

“Joe---that voice you heard---it did sound like Pa’s---heck I would’ve thought the same thing if’n I was you! But it wasn’t our Pa----it was an impostor!” Hoss insisted and then hollered for Adam to come back into the bedroom.

Walking into the room with Adam was Jared Hawkes. The two men stopped and looked across the room to where Joe and Hoss were standing by the window.

“I was the one who impersonated your father that night, Joe. I was paid by Bristol Ford to do it. I didn’t know he was going to hurt you---I didn’t know any of the details. But---I’m still guilty for my part in it. I’m sorry---truly sorry,” the man apologized.

Joe just stood by the window leaning heavily on his crutch. He hadn’t uttered a sound for minutes, unable to think of anything to say.

“Come on up, Pa!” Hoss yelled out the window to let his father know the charade was now over.

“It was Bristol all along, Joe---he’s been pulling your strings---leading you to believe the worse----in order to get you to stay with him. He planned everything down to the minute,” Adam said quietly.

Joe limped towards his bed and sat down. He felt as though all the energy had been drained from out his body. The three men standing around him moved when Ben Cartwright entered the room.

“You can handle it from here, Pa,” Hoss said, patting his father’s shoulder and nodding to him that everything had worked out just as planned.

“Thank you all,” Ben whispered towards his sons and to Jared as well.

Soon the only two people in the bedroom were Joe and his father. The air seemed heavy with emotion as Ben moved to the chair and sat down. Joe had yet to say anything or to even look at his father at all.

“Joe?” Ben started quietly. “I’m sorry we had to do it like that--but we didn’t know of any other way to handle it. I guess we could’ve just brought Jared in here and let him speak in my voice--but we weren’t sure you would accept that.”

“He’s the one----he’s the one who was at Bristol’s that night?’ Joe asked, still trying to sort it all out in his troubled mind.

“Yes---but you see----we didn’t know anything about it until yesterday. Dex took what we had told him about you saying you heard me that night and went with the information to Cole Rivers. He finally admitted what they had done. It wasn’t until Dex got into town yesterday that we knew about Jared.”

Joe covered his face in his hands and rocked his head back and forth. There were no tears leaving his eyes but he looked so despondent that it made his father almost regret what they had all just done.

“Joseph----are you all right?”

“I’m----so confused---so confused,” Joe whispered, still not looking towards his pa.

“I know----this has all been a nightmare for you---but, Son, it’s going to let go of you. You just need to know what really happened so you can sort it all out. I’d like to tell you---that is--if you’ll listen?” Ben pleaded with his son.

Joe didn’t reply verbally, but he did nod his head to give his father the okay to begin his long-awaited explanation. Ben sank back in the chair and gathered his thoughts. He had waited so long to tell his boy what had happened, that now the words seemed lodged in his throat both anxious and a bit hesitant to come out. He finally began, keeping his gaze directed towards his son hoping that what he had to convey would pull him towards his father and not farther away.

“That evening---I waited for you to come to the restaurant. I met a man about an hour before you and I were supposed to meet for dinner. That man introduced himself as Dustin Freemont. He claimed to work for the De Santo company. We had a long conversation talking about this ranch--you boys---and just general topics. It wasn’t until yesterday that I learned his real name was Jared Hawkes---the man who just left this room,” Ben started his explanation. He noticed how Joe still sat with his head held in his hands, his face turned away from his father. “We talked for about an hour and then he left and I took a table in the restaurant. I waited for you to join me. As I was going over the menu a man sat down across from me. Thinking it was you, I looked up only to see it was Bristol Ford sitting there smiling over at me. It was then he began to explain to me about the new game he decided to play with this family. He told me that he had a man riding to Sacramento with your brother Hoss. Bristol said that the man was a hired gunman. He said that if I didn’t go along with his scheme that once they both arrived in Sacramento that the gunman would find a telegraph waiting on him that would tell him to kill Hoss,” Ben paused to see if his words were understood. Joe dropped his hands down in front of him and glanced over at his father. Ben took that to mean that the boy was paying close attention, so he continued, “I had no way of knowing if Bristol was telling the truth or not--and I had no way of warning your brother. Bristol said he wanted to take you from me, right there in the restaurant. Then he showed me the hired guns he had sitting at both sides of me and also in front of the bar. He said that when you came in I was to just sit there---not warn you in any way---and simply watch as he snatched you from me. I told him I couldn’t do that---and I begged him to take me instead. But, that was not his plan. He warned me that you would be killed on the spot if I said one word about what was going to happen----or if I tried to help you in any way. If I had just had more time----if I just knew of another way---” Ben stopped as his guilt over the situation resurfaced and hit him head-on. “But---there wasn’t time---and there wasn’t anything else I could do. He warned me not to run after you---not to go to the authorities either. I was to sit there calmly while I watched them pull you out of the restaurant and then wait for instructions. He said if I didn’t do as instructed you would be killed---and so would Hoss. It was only moments later that you came walking in. Seeing you there---smiling at me---talking of plans to go to the theater was unbearable, Joseph! I wanted to keep you from that maniac---- I would have jumped in front of all of those guns to prevent them from taking you! But,----there was also Hoss to be considered. I felt at the time that I could get you back---soon---and once I knew Hoss was safe I would make Bristol pay for what he had done. I had no idea that it would be another six months before I would lay eyes on you again,” Ben’s voice showed the strain he had been under for months due to his decision. He watched as Joe looked back down towards the bed and away from his father’s eyes. “It killed me to see the way you looked at me---the way you screamed for my help----I’ve had that in my mind every moment since they took you from me. I can only imagine what it looked like to you, Joseph----and I know it was part of the reason you came to hate me!” Ben paused again and stood in order to pace the floor while rehashing the rest of his story. “I sat there for hours--waiting for Bristol’s instructions. The guards at the tables next to me watched my every move--there was no leaving the restaurant! Finally a messenger brought a letter from Bristol. It said that the wire would be sent to the hired gun in Sacramento and he would be called off your brother. But, it also contained a ticket back home. Bristol warned me to get on the first stage the next morning or you would be killed. Again---I had no choice. I went back to the hotel room and discovered his men had been up there. Some of your things were missing. And your mother’s locket,” Ben stopped and reached inside his vest and pulled out the woman’s picture and handed it over to his son, “they broke this---but I had it repaired. I’ve been praying for the day that I could give it back to you.” Joe took the locket in his hand and stared at the picture. Ben could see it in the boy’s eyes that he had missed the locket. He did expect the image of Joe’s mother to send some tears down his son’s cheeks but that didn’t happen. Ben wondered how his son could hold it in like he had for so long. His youngest son often showed his grief, sadness and even his joy with tears. When Joe didn’t say anything about the locket, Ben continued with his story, “I packed up our gear and headed out of town the next morning. If you only knew how badly I felt--how much I missed you! I decided to do exactly what Bristol instructed, find out if Hoss was okay and then return to San Francisco and rescue you. It didn’t matter to me by that point if I had to tear the entire town apart in order to get to you, Joseph, I just wanted you back!”

Joe closed his fingers around the picture of his mother and cast a quick glance over at his father and then simply looked back down at the bed. He was listening intently on everything Pa was conveying but his mind was still heavily weighed down with the lies that Bristol had told him. It seemed impossible to detect what the truth was at the time.

“When I got back home I was relieved to see your brother alive and well. He confirmed the story about a stranger he had ridden with to Sacramento and on to Virginia City. Your brother even showed that man where the telegraph office was in Sacramento and he said that there was, indeed, a letter waiting for the guy. Bristol wasn’t lying about that part at least. It was then that we discovered he sent a letter on the same stage that had carried Hoss back here. It was further instructions on what he expected us to do. He said if anyone of us was spotted again in San Francisco that you would be killed. He said he was not going to harm you, but that you were no longer my son, just his possession! It concluded with a p s, which said to check my chess set in the den. There I found Bristol had sent someone to move my board pieces around into a checkmate scenario. We knew then that the ranch and Virginia City were being watched,” Ben stopped yet again and resumed his position in the chair. He was already feeling played out from what he had told the boy and there was still so much more to the story. Clearing his throat he began again, “We sent word through Carson City to your brother Adam. We also contacted Dex. It was hard waiting for them when all I wanted to do was to bring you home,” Ben brushed aside several tears which had fallen from his eyes just thinking about the whole terrible ordeal. Looking back over at his son, Ben could tell that the boy was struggling to process all the information into his mind, and was trying his best to make sense of it. “Adam and Dex arrived in Carson and we came up with a plan to rescue you. Dex insisted that Hoss and I remain here and proceed with fulfilling the timber contracts. He wanted it to look as though we were following Bristol to the letter just in case any of his spies were still watching the comings and goings around here. But---I’ll say it again---and as many times as it takes to register in your head---I never cared about those contracts. YOU were my only concern! I know Bristol wanted you to believe differently---but all of what he told you was a pack of lies, Joe. If you hadn’t gone through all the trauma that you have---you never would have believed what he told you. I don’t blame you there. I only blame myself for not protecting you,” Ben hesitated once more, he wanted so badly to reach for his son at that moment. If only he could pull the boy into his arms and prove to him that all that Bristol had forced him to believe was untrue! But, gauging the look on his son’s face, Ben knew he had to keep his distance for the time being. “Adam and Dex went on to San Francisco. Dex had his associates watching out for Bristol and his men. Unfortunately it seemed as though they arrived a day late. After questioning witnesses, including some of Hop Sing’s relatives, they learned Bristol had obtained passage on a clipper ship---the Sapphire--and headed to Europe. Everyone swore you were on board with him and his men. Adam and Dex ran down all the leads they could--even finding the mansion where you had been originally taken. Bristol was gone to Europe as far as everyone thought. We had our one and only stroke of luck a little over a month ago. Jeremy Bolding, one of the men who had worked the case with Dex, spotted you and Bristol leaving Eureka bringing those horses back down the coast. That’s when we put together the other plan to rescue you. I was up with your brother Hoss at the timber camp when Dex arrived here from Salt Lake where he was working on another case. There wasn’t time to get us and Adam joined him in the new mission. By the way---Dex did send a man from New York to London hoping to intercept the Sapphire when she pulled in to port. Up till then we thought Dex’s contact would rescue you in London and bring you back to the states. We’ve all been counting down the days until he returned and wired us that he had you. Just yesterday a telegraph came from the man---saying Bristol never got off the ship. So--you see, Joe----we did everything in our power to get you back here---Bristol was just a whole lot more devious than we were,” Ben said and stood once again in order to relate the final details. He walked over to the window and watched as the snow began to fall. “First snow fall---kinda late for the year---but still just as pretty a sight as always,” Ben mused, thinking about how Joe would have been outside enjoying the flurries had he not been weighted down with a cast and a world of troubles. “Well--you pretty much know the rest I guess. Adam and Dex and his men found out you were going to be brought to San Francisco for a celebration over the sale of those horses. They learned what restaurant you had gone into with Bristol and decided they would take care of the man once and for all. Of course they didn’t plan on you jumping in front of that bullet---Dex was very upset about you getting hurt! And---Bristol having pulled that derringer on your brother--well---his death was unavoidable. Not that I will ever mourn that man--not after all he has cost this family!”

Joe leaned back against the headboard and closed his eyes. He was as spent as his father now was after hearing the whole long story. His confusion was well painted on his face as was his sadness. Ben realized that it would take awhile for the boy to think about all he had heard and didn’t want to upset him any further. He walked over to the night stand and reached for some of the medicine that Paul had left to sedate his patient. Pouring some of the liquid onto a tablespoon Ben brought it over to Joe’s mouth.

“It’s been an emotional day for you, Son. Why don’t you take this and maybe get some rest? We can talk more later--if you want to,” Ben offered his son the medicine.

Joe accepted the spoon and swallowed the dose eagerly. He had heard and seen so much already that all he wanted now was some sleep. The problems and confusion would still be there when he awoke, but Joe just wanted some peace and quiet. Ben handed Joe a glass of water to wash the bitter taste of the liquid from his son’s mouth. This time, unlike all the times in the previous weeks that he had tried to offer Joe a drink, Joe took the glass from his father. He drank the full contents and instead of setting the glass back on the night stand he handed it back to his pa.

Ben took that small gesture as a good sign. The boy still wasn’t talking, but it showed that he was starting to think about all he had heard. There was also no hostility in his clouded eyes at the time and Ben was relieved by that.

“I’ll let you get some rest, Joseph. You lie back now and I’ll be in to check on you in awhile,” Ben said quietly and watched as his son sank back down on the bed and closed his eyes. The anxious father was pleased to see that his son still held Marie’s picture tightly in his hand, refusing to set it aside. It was a start and when Ben walked to the door he felt as though a world full of weight was starting to lift from his shoulders.

“I know this isn’t going to go away over night--not after you’ve been through so much for so long, Son. But---I want to tell you again---that I would never willingly let anyone take you from me. If there had been any other way----” Ben paused, finding the guilt coming back upon him again. “Well---get some sleep. I love you, Joe,” Ben whispered and closed the bedroom door.

Ben walked slowly down the stairs thinking about how Joe had taken the explanation he had just offered. When he made it into the living room he was met by Adam and Hoss who had been waiting and wondering how things had gone upstairs.

“How’d it go, Pa?” Hoss was first to ask.

“Well---I told him the whole story. He’s pretty confused right now,” Ben answered as he walked across the room and settled in a chair by the fireplace.

“What did Joe say?” Adam continued where Hoss had left off with the questioning.

“He really didn’t say anything--but---I could tell by his face that he was listening the whole time. He’s got so much to process in his head----he’s gone through so much turmoil.”

“You think he’s gonna be okay now, Pa?” Hoss asked hopefully, as he sat across from the man.

Ben shrugged his shoulders and gave a tired sigh, “Joe’s gone through six months of hell. He’s been lied to---so much---and by someone who was proficient in the art of deceit. I know he wants to believe me----but as to whether we can wipe out a half of a years worth of torment simply by telling your brother the truth---I don’t know.”

“Hank drove Jared back into town. The guy apologized another half a dozen times. I hate that we agreed to drop charges against that man---but he sure helped us break through Joe’s shell,” Adam commented as he poured his father a shot of brandy and handed it to him.

“Thanks---I can use this right about now,” Ben nodded and sipped on the drink. “I know what you mean, though, just like knocking two years off of Cole River’s sentence. They were unfortunate necessities I guess. Without the information that Dex got from Rivers---and the proof that Jared showed the boy--well--he might never have let me tell him the story that I just told him. We can only pray that it will prove to be a fair trade.”

“So--what’s Joe doing now?” Hoss asked, his eyes tracking up the stairs towards his brother’s room.

“I gave him some of that medication that Doc left. Figured he could use it. We need to let him rest and then we’ll figure out what to do next. You know Joe’s heard the story we had for him but we’ve yet to learn the details behind his captivity. There’s no telling what Bristol put him through emotionally or physically. I’m sure Cole Rivers only scratched the surface in his confession to Dex. I’m hoping that Joseph will be able to talk to us about what he went through in order to work it out in his head”

“Want me to go and stay with him?” Adam asked.

“No---he’s okay---as okay as he can be I guess. He’ll sleep for awhile I’m sure. Hopefully when he wakes up maybe he’ll talk to us,” Ben replied, hoping he was right.

Joe slept a long while, having succumbed to the emotional events of the day. He came back around shortly before dinner and found his father to be there waiting in the chair next to the bed.

“I was starting to get worried---you’ve been out of it for quite awhile. Are you all right, Son?” Ben asked soothingly.

Joe nodded and looked over towards the door. Adam and Hoss were just entering the room. He watched as they approached his bed and stood at the end of it. Joe knew they were a bit cautious over how their brother would react to their presence in his room.

“How you doing, Little Brother?” Hoss began the conversation.

“Okay,” Joe said, but didn’t mean it. He was far from okay but decided there was no real reason to act hostile towards any of the men in the room. The confusion over all that he had heard earlier was easily read on his face and in his sad eyes. He was no longer the angry hate- controlled person he had been since he had been rescued, but he was far from the bright happy go lucky youngest member of the family that they were all use to.

“You feel like eating some supper? Hop Sing made your favorite,” Adam offered cheerily.

“I guess,” Joe whispered, though food was the last thing on his mind at the time.

“Why don’t we give your brother a couple of minutes to get his bearings and then we’ll bring up dinner, Boys,” Ben stated as he stood from the chair. He could tell that Joe was feeling a bit overwhelmed by their presence surrounding him.

“Yeah----we’ll be back up in a little while, Joe,” Hoss nodded, taking his cue from his father’s tone. He and Adam turned for the door followed by their father.

Joe sank back against his pillows and tried to control the uneasiness he was feeling inside. He assumed that all three men had meant well, but Joe knew he wasn’t ready to open up to anyone just yet. He couldn’t shake the thoughts and visions of Bristol, nor all the things he had gone through. There were still too many questions that had gone unanswered in his mind and he knew that he might never be able to address them all. Part of him wanted to run away from all he had seen and heard and part of him wanted to pour his soul out to his family. The battle in his mind waged on and Joe wasn’t sure if he was going insane or not. He couldn’t stand to lay in bed any longer. The uneasiness was mounting and it was getting the better of him fast. Carefully Joe lifted his cast imprisoned right leg and set it on the floor next to his bed. He reached for his crutch and pulled himself to standing. Slowly Joe moved across his bedroom floor over to the window. There was just a faint light outside which was cast from the dying porch lamps below. Joe could see the snowflakes as they settled against his window pane. His mind wandered and as it did, the image of Bristol Ford appeared in the glass before him.****Ben Cartwright sold you out----I told you never to trust him, Joseph. Remember? You said you’d never trust him again?****Joe could hear the man’s deep voice in his mind.****You know he’s lying to you---just like he lied all those other times. Your father only cared about that contract---he only cared about saving the ranch. You were expendable!****Joe winced his eyes shut as tight as he could get them and tried to drown out the sound of the man’s voice.

“Get out of my head!” Joe shouted.

“Joseph?” Ben called over to his son. He had heard the boy screaming just as he had reached the doorway.

Joe turned and saw his father and then collapsed onto the floor in a dead faint. Ben hurried to his side and lifted him in his arms, carrying his son over to the bed. He had no idea what had frightened the boy so badly to have made him pass out like he had. Settling him underneath the comforter Ben hurried to the wash basin and soaked a cloth to put on Joe’s forehead. He returned to his son’s side and placed the cooled cloth over his brow.

“Joe? Joe can you hear me?” Ben whispered.

Joe’s eyelids trembled and then blinked open. He had no recollection of having passed out and wondered for a moment what his father was doing sitting so close to him. The man had kept his distance for weeks. Joe couldn’t figure out what was going on.

“What was it, Son? What scared you so?” Ben continued to try to find the answer.

“It was Bristol,” Joe mumbled and rolled his head away from his father’s gaze. He felt confused and scared and didn’t know how to stop either emotion.

“Bristol’s dead, Joseph---he can’t ever hurt you again,” Ben explained calmly.

“Please----please just leave me alone,” Joe pleaded with his father. Between the image of Bristol coming on him so quickly, and his father reappearing in the room as he had, Joe was caught between opposing worlds. He wasn’t ready to face either man, alive or dead.

Ben didn’t want to get up from the bed. He just wanted to hold his son and make all the pain go away once and for all. But he could read by the way Joe had turned away from him that the boy wasn’t yet ready to confide in him. Though it hurt him, the whole thought of it, Ben had to give Joe the distance he needed or risk losing what little territory they had gained in their relationship earlier in the day.

“Can I bring you dinner up? Think you could eat a little something, Joe?” Ben asked as he stood from the bed.

Joe shook his head and whispered, “I just want to be alone right now. I don’t want anything.”

Ben sighed and readjusted the cloth on his son’s forehead. He figured the boy wouldn’t mind that one small gesture. Then the anguished father turned for the door. “I’ll be in my room if you need me, Son,” Ben said as he walked out of the room.

The grandfather clock standing by the entranceway of the house chimed two times. But the only one in the living room to hear it was Joe. He stood, propped up with his crutch, in front of the blazing fireplace. The house was otherwise as quiet as a church and Joe had sought the serenity in order to try and work some things out in his mind. The walls in his bedroom had seemed as though they were closing in on him and Joe knew he needed to get out of there, if only for a short while. He was glad that his father’s bedroom door was shut so that he could ease down the hallway undetected. Now, standing there looking at the flames dancing on the fire logs Joe’s mind wandered back to the night he had written the letter to his father. He had found it again, stuck inside the family Bible sitting on the coffee table. Gazing down at his handwriting now it seemed like so long ago since he had scribbled the three anger induced sentences on the paper.

Caught up in his memories, Joe didn’t hear the sound of his father descending the stairs. It wasn’t until he caught a glimpse of the man in the long velvet robe that he even looked over at him. There was an uneasy stillness between the two Cartwrights. That was something that would have seemed odd some seven months prior, as Ben and his youngest had been so close for so long and had shared a love that most fathers and sons would have envied.

Ben held his gaze on his youngest and his heart ached to move closer to him. It had been too long since he had wrapped his arms around the boy and showed him that he was loved. Looking at the hazel eyes, Ben only read sadness in them now, the hatred had subsided. Slowly he approached his son and stood inches away from him. It was then that the worried father saw what was in Joe’s hands.

Joe made eye contact with his pa and then stared back down at the piece of paper. His words wouldn’t come, though he really wanted to talk to him now. Ben finally broke the silence, unable to stand it any longer.

“I just peeked in on you a minute ago----I was worried when you weren’t in your bed,” Ben began, his words chosen as carefully as he could.

“Thought I had tried to run off again?” Joe asked earnestly, remembering his attempt at escape a few weeks earlier.

Ben shook his head, “No, Joseph---I didn’t think that.”

“I found this--” Joe began, indicating the letter, but his words choked up in his throat and he couldn’t continue He had so much he wanted to explain to his pa now, but wasn’t sure he could do it.

Ben nodded, knowing from the looks of him that his son was upset and was trying to explain why.

“You know I meant all this when I wrote it--” Joe started again, but when he saw how his words had hurt his father he stopped.

“Go on,” Ben insisted. He had to know the truth about the letter once and for all.

“I hated you----hated you so much! I would never have written this if I didn’t--no matter what they did to me.”

“I know that, Son,” Ben replied and tried not to show how mortally wounded he was from the boy’s confession. He knew Joe had to get it all out or he would never accept what had happened.

“If I hadn’t hated you-----I couldn’t have survived,” Joe whispered and tried to move away from the fireplace but was having a hard time maneuvering his crutch into position.

“Let’s get you off that leg---come on over to the sofa,” Ben offered and pulled his chair back to allow Joe to make the move across the room.

Joe settled down on the settee and set his heavy cast out in front of him.

“Here,” Ben said and lifted the massive cast so that it rested on top of the coffee table.

If it had been any other time Joe would have laughed to see his father allowing him to rest a foot up on the sacred piece of furniture. He had so often been reprimanded for doing so that it had become like a game between father and son. Now, however, the seriousness of the situation did not warrant any levity. Joe had just confided in his father that his hatred for him had been real and there wasn’t anything funny about that.

Joe tried to regroup his thoughts and began once more, “If I still loved you, Pa---then there would’ve been no way for me to survive what you had done to me. Knowing you just let them take me---that you didn’t even try to help me that first night was awful. But, I didn’t believe that you were a part of a plan back then. I was so sure that you would rescue me that night---there was no doubt in my mind. But---you didn’t---you didn’t rescue me. The next morning Bristol took me back into town---I was blindfolded so I didn’t see where we were until they removed it from me. We were across the street from the stage depot---and there you were---getting on the stagecoach---leaving town without me!” Joe tried to explain what had led up to his hatred by detailing the events. Ben sat there next to him on the sofa and tried not to interrupt. “I couldn’t believe you would leave without me! You knew I was in Bristol’s clutches--there was no way you would leave me there. But you did,” Joe said and forced his tears to stay at bay. There was no way he would cry, not ever again. Life with Bristol had hardened him beyond emotional displays.

“You know now---why I left, Joseph, don’t you?” Ben finally felt compelled to jump in.

“I know what you’ve told me---yeah. But---that’s now---not back then. I had no idea what was going on. Bristol and Cole hinted about some kind of a trade---but I didn’t believe them---even after you left on that stage. They put me through so much during those first weeks,” Joe stopped again, fighting back the awful images which had crept inside his mind.

“Tell me,” Ben whispered, still hoping to unlock Joe’s memories so that they could both deal with them head-on.

“They tied me---they humiliated me---you name it. Mostly head games at first--trying to break me. I didn’t cave, Pa---not for a long while--not until that night--the night I wrote that letter,” Joe confessed.

“What happened the night you wrote it?”

“Well----Bristol wanted me to write those things to you---and I refused. So, they decided to keep me awake until I gave up and wrote it. I figured I could outlast all of them---so I wasn’t all that worried. I was wrong though,” Joe sighed wearily and looked again at the letter still held tightly in his hands. “It was the third night---and I was so tired---so tired. But, I still refused to write the damn thing. That’s when Bristol came in the room and got Cole. They mentioned something about a visitor being in the next room---and that they’d deal with me later. I can still remember feeling that you had finally come to save me! I just knew it had to be my father in the next room. I moved over to the wall and pressed my ear up against it. That’s when I heard---heard that you had traded me for the De Santo contract---to save the Ponderosa from defaulting on its loans. It was sketchy---I couldn’t hear all that clearly--but what I heard matched up with what Cole had told me earlier. You didn’t love me---if you did---you never would have traded me for monetary purposes!”

“You know that was a lie----now--right?” Ben asked worriedly. Looking into Joe’s fiery eyes he could see the boy appeared to be stuck in the past. His emotions seemed centered on that awful night.

“That night I believed it----it had come right from your own mouth. I just wanted to die right there on the floor when I heard what you said to Bristol. You took twenty years of my life and made it an awful joke! I never felt so alone in my life--then I did at that moment. That’s when Bristol came back into the room. He admitted it had been you and him talking and that he was sorry that I had overheard the conversation.”

“Bastard,” Ben mumbled, mainly to himself. Just thinking about the head games that the evil man had forced on his son made his hands tighten into fists.

“I had to hate you----because if I loved you I would’ve just laid there and died that night. If I hated you I could go on. That’s what I did,” Joe admitted sadly. He wished he could pace the room to get out the rest of the story, but his leg would not allow him to move from his position on the sofa. He could tell that what he had already conveyed to his pa had cut him to the quick. Part of Joe felt awful for doing it, but part of him wanted the man to hurt. And he had no idea why.

“Tell me what happened then,” Ben urged on.

“Well---I wrote the letter---and I prayed that you would hurt as badly as I did at that moment,” Joe stated bluntly.

“If that was your intent--well---you succeeded,” Ben nodded as tears filled his eyes. He would never forget reading the letter for the first time.

Joe looked away from his fathers eyes, not wanting to feel sorry for him. Then he continued. “He let me go to sleep then. The next weeks are a blur to me--in fact there’s a lot that’s a blur to me now. The next big event came right before Bristol moved us from the mansion to the seashore.”

“That would’ve been when he pretended to board the Sapphire,” Ben nodded.

“Well a day or so before that---Bristol told me that he was going away for awhile and left me in the hands of Cole Rivers. That guy hated my guts----he was always trying to push me into a fight. That came shortly after Bristol left,” Joe paused as he remembered the fight he had with the man.

“What did he do?”

“After a little name calling he tied me to the bed and whipped the heck out of me!” Joe exclaimed, still angered over his inability to do anything about what had transpired between him and Cole.

“He what?” Ben asked, exasperated at the thought of it all. He could only conclude that it was one part of his confession that Cole had purposely left out due to what the repercussions of his actions would have been. There wouldn’t have been a plea bargain if Ben had known what Bristol’s number one man had done to his son.

“He beat me bad---real bad. Then----to make it worse---he shoved me into this cabinet in the bedroom and locked me in there.”

Ben’s face took on an ashen appearance due to the awful details he was now hearing. “Oh--Joseph--” he whispered.

“I sat in there for so long---in the dark---bleeding. The worst part of it was that I didn’t have anything to pray for by then. I mean---who was gonna save me from it? Not you--not anyone! It was then that I realized that the only person who would come and let me out was Bristol. He was my only hope.”

Ben shook his head angrily, “He planned it all----everything! He wanted you to turn to him, Joe. This was obviously yet another scheme to win your trust while destroying what you and I had.”

Joe nodded and sighed, “Maybe that’s the case now, Pa---but back then----I believed he would save me and he did. He got me out of there----he sent Cole away from my room. Then--” Joe stopped once more as he remembered the strange events that had happened that awful night. He could still feel Bristol’s hands on his body, as he doctored his many wounds.

“Then what?” Ben tried to coax his son onward so they would have the whole truth out in the open.

“He fixed me up----he doctored my wounds----he worked on my body to get all the knots out of it from being locked inside that damn cabinet for so long,” Joe explained, but his face showed that he was holding back again.

“Is that---is that all he did?” Ben asked, worried that Bristol might have harmed his son in other ways while the boy had been so vulnerable.

“Yeah---that’s all---he just fixed me up--gave me something to knock me out,” Joe insisted, pushing aside the night from his mind again. “Next thing I knew we were in that house he had by the ocean. That’s when he explained why he was being so nice to me. He told me he never wanted to destroy me---just you!”

“Oh he did, did he? And did he tell you why?”

“He said that you went back on an agreement eleven years ago---and because of your deceit he lost his ranch. On top of that he came home to a wife and son who were sick with the fever. He said he lost them both and hated you ever since.”

“Joseph---you didn’t believe all that did you?”

“What was I to believe, Pa? Believe you were a saint?” Joe asked incredulously. “You had sold me for a contract, remember? Bristol’s explanation seemed logical at the time. I even felt bad for the man.”

“Bristol Ford has never been married--he never had any children either. That was one part of the story that Cole Rivers did tell Dex--though he politely left out the fact that he had beaten you so badly! Yes, the man lost his ranch---but there was never an agreement between him and me. There was no agreement eleven years ago---and there was no agreement concerning you either!” Ben insisted fiercely.

“Shouldn’t really surprise me, I guess,” Joe nodded and looked down towards the table, still fighting his emotions. Bristol had been so believable with his lies that as each one came to task Joe was having a hard time accepting he had been duped so thoroughly.

“Go on--continue.”

“Well----after awhile things weren’t really so bad. I mean, yeah, I was basically a prisoner but I had some free rein here and there.”

“Did you ever try to escape, Son?”

“Escape?” Joe asked, confusion filling his expression. “Escape and go where? I mean---you didn’t want me---where was I to go?”

Ben felt so bad for his son at that moment, knowing the boy honestly believed that he was unloved and unwanted. He held his position on the settee, still fighting his urge to pull Joe into his arms and prove to the boy that he had been very wrong.

“No---I didn’t try to escape---no need to. Bristol knew I was bored so he took me up the coast and we stopped in Eureka. He even gave me the stake in a poker game. I won a lot of money that day---and we used it to buy a string of horses to take back with us.”

“Cole told Dex that Bristol paid off the men in that saloon to lose to you that day, Joe.”

“Guess that figures----knowing my luck,” Joe sighed and then tried to get the last of his story out. “We brought the horses back down the coast to Bristol’s place. I broke all of them and we sold them a week or so later. Then---well----just like you already know---we went to San Francisco to celebrate.”

“Tell me about that night, Joe.”

“Well----we were sitting there in the restaurant---kinda like you and me, you know?”

Ben nodded, he figured that Bristol must have felt pretty cocky. He had gotten the boy to hate his father and to turn his loyalties over to him by then. “Yes--go on.”

“Then everything happened so fast----Dex came in from one side---and Bristol pulled me over to him,” Joe paused when he thought on the familiar scenario. “The way I wish you had tried to save me---that night.”

“If only I could have,” Ben replied sadly.

“I saw Dex’s gun aimed at Bristol and I dove in front of the bullet to save Bristol.”

“But--why, Joe?” Ben asked, so confused by his son’s actions.

“Because----he was all I had----he was the only person who cared about me!” Joe snapped back, and for just a moment his anger towards his father was back in full force.

“Joseph---that was all a lie,” Ben calmly reminded the boy.

Joe dropped his head back down as reality came back to him. “Yeah---I know. But---I didn’t back then---and I was trying to save him. He pulled out his derringer--and that’s when I saw Adam coming in from the other side. Adam killed him. But---even in Bristol’s dying breath he said that you had sold me out--that I should never trust you. He knew he was dying, Pa--and still he said it. I don’t understand.”

“Joseph----the man was insane. All he cared about was the playing of the game. All life was to him was a sick and twisted chess match. He had no hopes of redemption. All he cared about was destroying you and me and this family.”

Silence fell over the living room once more. Joe was trying to recover from his long involved explanation of his months in captivity while his father was trying to think of what he could do to help heal the boy’s emotional wounds. Joe still clutched the paper in his hands, refusing to part with it.

“Joseph----do you understand now---understand how much thought Bristol put into this whole dastardly game of his?” Ben asked after waiting for his son to regroup his emotions some.

“I know what you’ve told me---I know what I told you. But----there’s still so much I can’t explain.”

“Can I help you with it?”

Joe stared directly into his father’s eyes this time. Pa’s face was the picture of compassion and love and it made Joe’s heart hurt worse than it had. “Can you explain to me why I wrote this?” Joe asked, and this time there was a quiver to his voice.

“You wrote it---just like you told me---so that you could survive.”

“But---Pa---how could I say these things? How could I believe these things that I wrote on here? No matter what they did to me---I never should have doubted you. It just shows that I am either shallow, stupid, or that I’m easily broken.”

“No--not at all,” Ben argued and this time his right hand found its way up to Joe’s left cheek and remained there. “Bristol calculated how you would feel once you heard that man who sounded just like me. It was the only way he could get you to believe these things. You said yourself that even when you saw me leave town you still knew I’d come and save you. It took him weeks to accomplish all that he did!” Ben tried his best to get through to Joe. “It has nothing to do with being stupid--shallow---or easily broken. You’re none of those things! It has to do with being human.”

“I’ll never forgive myself for writing this, Pa. And---for how it hurt you,” Joe motioned towards the letter in his hands.

“I’ll never forgive myself for allowing you to be taken from me,” Ben countered.

“No---no that wasn’t your fault, Pa! If you hadn’t gone along with Bristol Hoss would’ve been killed---and so would I! There wasn’t anything else you could have done,” Joe protested.

“Why is it that you can forgive me---and yet you can’t forgive yourself?” Ben asked his son quietly.

Joe pulled the letter up in his hands and replied, “Because of THIS, Pa! Because of this!” It was at that moment that something happened that Joe had not planned on. Tears formed in his eyes and were soon coursing down his cheeks. It was as though months of pent up hurt had decided at that precise minute to let go. Ben spotted the release and made the move that he had put off for too long. He drew his son into his arms and hugged him close to his chest.

“It’s all right, Joseph---it’s all right now,” Ben whispered as he held his son in his arms and gently caressed the thick brown curls on the boy’s head. “Nothing matters now---nothing but the fact that you are here, you are safe, and you know that I love you.”

“When I thought that you didn’t love me---when I thought that you had just left me there never to return----I felt so empty, Pa----so empty. I shouldn’t have written that----I’m sorry---so sorry,” Joe cried.

“Not any sorrier than I am, Joe----to have left you there with Bristol. You’ve endured so much----don’t ever say they broke you. They didn’t. As long as you can still love---you’re not broken,” Ben assured his son.

Joe stayed there, locked in his father’s embrace for a good long while. With his head resting on his pa’s shoulder, he felt more safe, secure and loved than he had in months. Held there like he was, Joe couldn’t for the life of him imagine how he could ever have thought the man didn’t love him. It was never more evident, the magnitude of his pa’s love, than it was at that moment. Ben eventually pulled back some, but still kept his hand on his son’s shoulder to offer what comfort and security he could. Looking intently at Joe, he knew that the boy was still hurting, but not nearly as bad as he had been.

“When you took that out of the Bible---you didn’t happen to notice where it was, did you, Joseph?” Ben asked.

Joe brushed aside his tears on his shirt sleeve and shook his head confused by the question. “What do you mean?”

“Well----that letter you’re still holding---I didn’t just stuff it randomly inside the Bible. I placed it somewhere that I knew would help me. Maybe it will help you some?” Ben answered and pulled the Bible off the coffee table and thumbed to the chapter and verse he was alluding to.

“First Corinthians, chapter 13, verse seven. How about reading it for me?” Ben asked his son and handed him the Bible.

Joe stared down at the words. He knew the verse well, having been taught it as a child. He went on to do as his father had asked. “It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, love never fails.”

“It doesn’t you know?” Ben smiled and placed the Bible back on the table. “Love never fails. That simple truth kept me going because I happen to believe it.”

Joe stared at the letter again. And, his father noticed that each time the boy’s eyes fell on the paper, that it was making him more upset over the fact that he had written it himself.

“Can I have that now?” Ben asked and reached for the letter.

Joe relinquished the paper to his father and watched as the man made his way over to the fireplace.

“You know Bristol had this peculiar little habit of putting people in checkmate. I think I’ve finally figured out a way that we can do the same to him!” Ben smiled as he held the letter in his hands.

“How?” Joe asked.

Ben crumpled the paper in his hands and then tossed it into the blazing fire. “Like that! Now---it’s in Hell with him.”

The very corners of Joe’s lips turned up ever so slightly after hearing what his father had said. Though he was far from all over his long ordeal, he was starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Ben caught sight of his son’s weak smile, and it was enough to lift his own spirits. He walked over to the boy and reached down for his arm.

“Now, Young Man, I believe you need to get that leg back to bed,” he said as he pulled Joe to standing and handed him the crutch.

Joe moved in step with his father to the stairs and paused momentarily as his gaze went towards the fireplace and to the last embers of the letter burning away. He looked up into his pa’s eyes and whispered. “I love you, Pa.”

Ben sighed, so glad and relieved to hear his son’s heartfelt words after so long a wait. He draped his arm around Joe’s shoulder and pulled him closer and replied, “I know you do, Son. Love never fails.”

Epilogue:

The winter turned out to be a harsh one as it fell over the Sierras and blanketed the mountains and the flatlands with a heavy coating of snow. Despite the frozen temperatures outside the ranch house, the inside was filled with a warmth that had more to do with love than the heavily stoked fireplace. The Cartwright family was back intact. Though Joe had an awful lot to deal with emotionally, he was slowly turning back into the warm and caring person that they had all loved for twenty years.

Dex Farwell and his associate Jeremy Bolding had left for other cases to solve. But, they received the heartfelt thanks of the entire Cartwright family along with a hefty sum of money to pay for their services. Dex was content just in the fact that he had restored his record to a perfect one hundred per cent with Bristol’s demise and had offered to waive the fee. Ben would not hear of it, and had made sure that the detective was well paid for his work which had gone above and beyond the call of duty.

Hoss and Adam were pleased to have the family back to normal as was the cook and caretaker, Hop Sing. They all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas together and had more to be thankful for than ever before. Joe enjoyed the heavy snow fall as much as he enjoyed his many presents Christmas morning. It made his father’s heart leap with joy to see his youngest son heading out into the snow, with his crutches still slung underneath his arms. Ben tried not to make a fuss about Joe getting his cast wet. He didn’t want to do anything that would dampen Joe’s spirits after being so hurt for so long by what Bristol had done.

By the time spring finally came, Joe was glad to be free of his cast and his restrictions to the house. He adjusted back into ranch life as if he had never spent a day away from the Ponderosa. There were a couple of times when the name Bristol Ford would pop up and Joe would find himself haunted by old wounds. But, in time, he learned to recover from the mention of the evil man with little problem

Late spring found both Ben and Joe standing on a dock overlooking San Francisco Bay. The newly constructed clipper ship, the Amethyst, had just been launched. They had represented the Ponderosa at the christening ceremony and now watched as the huge ship set sail on her maiden voyage. Ben was pleased to have his youngest son standing there at his side and found great comfort in the fact that Joe had agreed to accompany him on the trip. He had worried that coming back to San Francisco might open up old wounds with the boy, but he appeared to be doing fine so far.

“She’s something isn’t she, Pa?” Joe grinned as he kept his gaze directed towards the Amethyst.

“Sure is, Son! That’s about seventy per cent Ponderosa pine heading out to sea,” Ben laughed and threw his arm around Joe and stood and watched the horizon until the ship disappeared from view.

“I wish I had been a part of that one, Pa. You know I had nothing to do with the timber that helped build it,” Joe reminded his father that the wood had been chosen and hewn and shipped to the De Santo line while he was still held hostage.

“Don’t you worry none----there’s three more ships still waiting for timber from the ranch. By the time those orders are filled you’ll be whining to me that you are sick of ships!” Ben warned jovially.

“You’re probably right about that one,” Joe winked and turned with his father down the boardwalk. “So---our first night in town---what’re we gonna do now, Pa?”

Ben stopped in his tracks and stared into his son’s questioning eyes. He hated to bring up the past, but felt that Joe would be able to handle a small reminder. “Well---if memory serves me correctly----I think I owe you one dinner, huh?”

Joe laughed, and his father was relieved to see the boy took the reminder as it had been meant. “Oh yeah----you owe me one all right! Think you owe me champagne---lobster--the works--as a matter of fact!”

“Well---let’s go then,” Ben smiled and started back down the walk until his son tugged on his arm and halted him in his tracks. “What’s wrong?”

Joe looked like he was deep in thought for a moment and then he finally spoke up. “If I’m gonna agree to go to dinner with you there’s gonna have to be a couple of conditions,” he stated firmly.

“Oh? And what might those be?” Ben grinned, knowing by the impish smile his son wore that he was going for the jugular. Ben braced himself.

“Well--now---I just have two of them--don’t worry.”

“And what are the two conditions, Joseph?” Ben played right along.

“Since we had a slight bit of trouble last time---I think it’s only fair---that the first condition is that I choose the restaurant.”

“Well---I guess that’s fair,” Ben nodded, amused by his son’s reference to the “slight” trouble that they had encountered. That had to be the understatement of the century!

“Yeah---and I know two of them that won’t be in the running neither!” Joe exclaimed and then went back to his stern countenance.

“You choose the restaurant, got it. Okay what’s the second condition?” Ben asked warily.

Joe threw his arm around his father’s shoulder and smiled as he replied, “Last condition----is this- no matter what restaurant we end up at---we leave TOGETHER this time!”

Ben reached over and ruffled his son’s curly hair playfully and replied, “We go in together---we come out together---good plan! How did you get so smart anyhow?” Ben laughed.

“Oh---been watching the best chess player I know ---picked up on a few things,” Joe replied with a twinkle to his eyes.

“Checkmate,” Ben announced proudly and watched his son’s face light up.

“You’re the best there ever was, Pa,” Joe nodded, and he made sure that his father knew that he meant the compliment from his heart.

“You’re coming along, Joseph, won’t be long before you’ll exceed your old man,” Ben winked and then grabbed Joe’s arm tugging him along. “Now enough with the compliments. I’m starved!”

The two Cartwrights walked down the boardwalk and crossed the street just as the gas lamps one by one came on, lighting the way towards the row of restaurants and stores. All was as it should be, because Ben and his son were together, and because it would always remain that way.

The End

4-6-03

By: Wrangler

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