Inevitable Betrayal

By DebbieB

DLB1248@aol.com

“I’ll break him, just like I do my horses,” Cole said with an evil sneer. “Bring him into the barn.”

Joe Cartwright began fighting against the hands that held him, but his battle was in vain, the odds were against him as Cole’s two men forced him into the deepest and darkest corner of the barn.

“Tie his hands, and make sure they’re good and tight,” Cole ordered, tossing a long rope to one of the men.

Joe struggled to keep his hands from being tied, but one of the men defused the struggle by belting Joe in the side, just below his rip cage. Joe moaned and stopped battling against the pair of thugs.

The two men then forced Joe’s hands together, the palms facing as they looped the roped tightly about Joe’s wrists, making tight knots and then ran the remainder of rope between their captive’s hand, making sure that it would be impossible for the young man to work himself loose.

“Finished,” one man stated.

“Then stretch him out, toss the end of the rope over that beam and then tie it off,” ordered Cole as he watched the men to be sure his orders were being followed to his specifications. His eyes brightened as he watched the expression on his captive’s face turn to one of fear.

The two men set to work filling their boss’ orders. The rope was tossed into the air and over the beam. Jake, one of the two men working for Cole, caught the end of the rope as it sailed over the beam and fell into his hands.

With a smile at Joe, Cole gave another order.

“Haul him up!”

Jake and Wade pulled hard on the rope, forcing Joe’s arms upward, high over his head in a painful and uncomfortable fashion. Joe stifled a moan, unwilling to allow the three men to know how much pain they were causing him.

“Higher!” shouted Cole, not yet satisfied. “I want him on his toes!”

Wade and Jake gave another tug on their end of the rope. Joe felt his body hauled upward. His leg muscles tightened painfully. When the rope was tied off at the other end, only Joe’s toes remained touching the ground. Joe’s head rolled backward and the moan that he failed to stifle caused the three men to laugh. Cole tossed another, shorter length of rope to Jake.

“Now, hobble his ankles, be sure he can’t move his feet!”

As Jake bent down to do as ordered, Joe kicked out at his captor with one foot. Jake was sent toppling over, backwards and onto his behind. Wade reacted quickly and grabbed Joe, spinning him around and delivering a solid blow to Joe’s mid-section. Joe made a grunting sound as the fight went out of him.

Jake hurried to tie the rope around Joe’s ankles in a mercilessly tight manner. As he worked, Cole grabbed a fist full of chestnut curls and yanked back on Joe’s head. He leaned in close, placing his mouth near Joe’s ear.

“You’ll hang here until you give me the information I want,” Cole jeered.

“Never,” muttered Joe, already feeling the strain in his body.

“I’ll break you, Cartwright, you can be sure of it. I’ve used this same method to break wild stallions. All trussed up and unable to move, it shouldn’t take long, it never does. I’ve broken the hardest, most vicious stallions around, you’re no match for that kind of power, kid, so make it easy on yourself, save yourself the suffering, just tell me where they’re hiding your old man!”

“You’ll have to kill me first, I’d never betray my own father,” Joe swore, his voice already filled with pain.

Cole started to laugh, causing Jake and Wade to join in. Cole released his fingers from amid Joe’s hair and turned to his men.

“Let’s go, let him hang that way for a few hours, he’ll change his mind,” laughed Cole.

Cole and his cronies turned to go, leaving Joe alone in the dark barn. When the door was pulled shut and the outside latch dropped into place, Joe let out a long sigh.

*****

It was as Cole had predicted, after four hours of being unable to move, Joe was gasping in agony. Every muscle in his legs and back, all the way up to his shoulders and into his upper arms were burning in pain. Joe had tried to keep his mind on other things in an effort to deter the agonizing spasms that surged through his limbs, but the pain had become so intense that his mind had seemed to focus in on only one thing…getting free of his torment.

*****

Another hour passed before the trio returned. Sweat had beaded on Joe’s brow and dripped into his eyes. The salty droplets strung and left his eyes burning, another bit of torture that added to the young man’s current misery.

Cole stepped up to his prisoner and studied the boy’s face. His smile was wicked as he turned to the others.

“Our young guest doesn’t look too well,” he snickered. Cole turned his attention back to Joe, the smile still on his face.

“Hurts, doesn’t it?”

Joe swallowed. His head was tilted backwards. He refused to respond, but he cut his eyes around so that he could see his tormentor’s face. Without batting an eye, Joe studied Cole’s features, wanting the man’s image to become seared into his brain. At last he spoke, his voice was low, almost menacing.

“You might as well kill me now, because if you don’t, I’m going to hunt you down like the animal you are and kill you, myself.”

Cole and the others burst out laughing.

“Did you hear that, Boss, the kid thinks he’s gonna live long enough to kill ya!” Jake laughed.

Cole had stopped laughing and was studying his captive’s, expression. It was plain to see that the boy was suffering, but something in the hazel eyes told Cole to use caution. He realized then that it might take more drastic methods to bring the boy down enough that he would tell him what he wanted to know. But break him he would, swore Cole silently. He needed the information that only the youngest Cartwright could give him, and he aimed on getting it, even if it meant killing the kid.

“Cole, I asked ya…did ya hear what…”

“Yeah, yeah, I heard!” shouted Cole. “Come on, let’s get some rest, by morning the kid won’t be so mouthy.”

Cole turned to go.

“We just gonna leave him here, alone?” Jake called.

Cole spun around, an angry look on his face.

“You want to sit up all night and baby sit him?” he asked with a jeering look.

Jake glanced at Wade who stood with Cole in the doorway. He shook his head.

“Reckon not,” he muttered and followed the pair out into the brisk night air. He paused and waited for Cole to place the lock across the barn door.

*****

When Cole pushed the door opened the next morning, he could sense the eerie silence within the barn. He entered alone, wanting to see for himself if the determination he’d seen on the boy’s face the night before was still so defined. Time was running out and Cole needed the whereabouts of Ben Cartwright that only the man’s youngest son could provide.

Joe was semi-conscience, unaware that he was no longer alone or that he mumbled softly. Cole approached Joe from behind, trying to decipher the garbled words. Only one word stood out among all the rest.

“Pa…Pa…”

Cole smiled, a thought suddenly coming to mind as he moved closer to the sagging form. Tenderly, almost lovingly, he brushed damp locks from the boy’s brow.

“It’s alright, son,” Cole whispered in a deep voice.

Joe stirred slightly, his vision blurred by the pain that wracked his body. He struggled to make out the face outlined before him.

“Pa?”

“That’s right, Joe…I’m here.”

“Hurts…hurts, Pa…hurts.”

Cole gently ran the back of his hand along Joe’s cheek, all the while smiling.

“I know, but you can end the suffering, son. Just tell the man what he wants to know,” Cole said, almost laughing at the surprised expression on his captor’s face.

Joe shook his head, confused. The smile on Cole’s face vanished as anger started brewing deep inside. He took a deep breath and tried again.

“Tell him, Joe, I understand and I won’t be mad, honest,” Cole whispered, trying hard to mimic Ben Cartwright’s deep voice.

Joe moaned several times and tried to compel his eyes into focus. Something about the way this man moved, something in the way this man touched him was different than the way his father had always consoled him. It dawned on him then, that this man was not his father; this man was a poor replica of Ben Cartwright.

“Joe…where’s your father?” Cole asked angrily, forgetting that he was supposed to be mimicking the boy’s father.

Cole’s image had seared itself in the boy’s mind, just as he had hoped it would. When Cole moved slightly into the light, the fog seemed to dissipate from Joe’s eyes. His face fashioned a scowl.

“Go to hell,” he muttered to Cole.

Cole’s face turned ashen as the anger engulfed him.

“I’ll make you pay for that remark!” he screamed into Joe’s face.

The madman turned and stomped to the door, yanking it wide.

“JAKE, WADE, GET IN HERE! AND BRING ME THAT WHIP!”

Jake and Wade appeared instantly, rushing into the barn. Wade carried the whip in his hands and when Cole spied the weapon, he jerked it from his partner’s hands.

“Close that door,” shrieked Cole pointing at the opening, “I don’t want to take a chance on anyone hearing him scream!”

Cole walked back to where Joe hung and yanked back on the boy’s head. Joe groaned softly.

“It’s time, Cartwright, either you tell me where they’re hiding your old man, or I’ll rip the hide off your back…it’s your choice.”

Joe felt as if his mouth was stuffed with cotton, it was so dry. His tongue was thick and he could barely utter a word, but his meaning was clear. Joe tried to spit in the man’s face.

Enraged, Cole grabbed the back of Joe’s shirt and ripped the material, leaving the young man’s back exposed and open to Cole’s cruel abuse. Joe flinched, fearing what he knew was coming next.

Cole stepped away and then turned, facing Joe’s back. He let the coiled end of the whip fall to the ground. In one quick move, he cracked the whip just to the right side of his prisoner’s head. Joe’s body automatically drew up tightly, causing the three men to laugh.

Joe tried to look over his shoulder, but the men had moved out of his sight range. Once again the whip cracked, taunting its victim. Joe knew that the time had come and he steeled himself for the attack.

Joe’s teeth were clenched tightly when he felt the leather tear at his flesh. Bracing himself for the next lash, Joe willed himself not to cry out, but when the end of the whip slashed across his back, Joe screamed. Again and again, Joe’s screams ravished the stillness within the old barn. His bloodied body quivered and jerked as the pain intensified.

Over his head, an old owl screeched, protesting the disturbing wails. After the fifth lash crisscrossed his back, Joe’s screams ceased to be as his eyes closed and he slipped from this world into a darken world of anonymity where he no longer had need to fear his persecutors.

“Damn,” swore Cole, letting the whip rest at his side. “Get some water, I’m not finished with him yet,” ordered Cole.

Jake grabbed a bucket from the trough and filled it with water as ordered.

“Wake him up,” Cole said.

Jake tossed the water in Joe’s face, awakening the boy from his safe haven. Joe sputtered and tossed his head to remove the wetness from his eyes. Moaning pitifully, Joe tried to focus on his enemy’s face.

“Welcome back, Cartwright,” sneered Cole. “I won’t have you leaving me just yet…we have unfinished business,” he laughed, snapping the whip just enough to make a popping sound.

Joe’s eyes moved slightly, seeing the whip in his tormentor’s hand.

“Ready to talk?” Cole questioned.

Joe, his voice weak and trembling, shook his head. “I’ve already told you…I’ll never betray my father. You’ll have to kill me first,” he muttered.

Cole inhaled deeply, vowing not to let the boy push him into killing him…yet, not before he was ready too.

“I can arrange that,” he whispered in Joe’s ear and then laughed. “A very slow and painful death…you’ll beg me to kill you before I’m finished with you,” he jeered.

Cole tossed the whip to Wade and went into a back room. For several minutes he was gone and then emerged, carrying a long sharply pointed knife with him. Wade and Jake’s eyes widened in horror at the sight of the object their boss was holding in his hands.

“What the hell are ya gonna do with that thing?” stammered Wade.

Cole ran his finger along the blade, testing the sharpness, taunting his prisoner. He looked up at the two men and smiled.

“Ever seen a man skinned alive?” he asked, glancing over at his prisoner and seeing the fear that reflected back at him from within the emerald eyes.

Both men shook their heads.

“Well I have, once. It was up in Dakota Territory, I seen an Injun skin a white man, clean through. He hung the man’s hide on his teepee as a trophy. Was the most gruesome thing I’d ever seen, took that white man three days to die…but die he did, finally.”

Cole strolled over to his captive, grinning wickedly. He held the knife up so that Joe could better see it.

“You want to die…so be it,” he said, moving around in front of Joe.

Joe strained his neck around, trying to see what Cole was doing, but because of the way that his arms hung, forcing his head back, he was unable to see. Suddenly, what was left of his shirt was pulled free from his upper body. The cool air mixed with his fear and the pain raging throughout his battered body, caused Joe to shiver violently.

“I’m going to cut you, Cartwright…and if you still refuse to tell me what I want to know, I’m going to start skinning you, just like I saw the Injun do…”

Joe felt the prick of the point of the knife dip into the skin just below his elbow and move slowly, just barely slicing the skin, down to his armpit. Joe’s body arched in pain, as tiny droplets of blood appeared and began to trickle downward. Clenching his teeth, Joe refused to give his persecutors satisfaction by crying out.

Jake and Wade watched in silence, each making disgusting faces as Cole moved to Joe’s other arm and repeated the process. This time, Joe’s muffled cries could be heard as his body continued to react to the torture that Cole inflicted upon him.

“No…more…” cried Joe in muffle sobs. “Hurts…oh God…no more…”

“Where are they hiding Ben Cartwright?” Cole asked between clenched teeth, for the sight was beginning to cause his own stomach to churn. He knew the boy was quickly reaching the end of his endurance and would soon break.

“WHERE IS HE?” he said as he pressed the tip of the knife into Joe’s stomach.

“Agh…”

Cole moved the knife in an upward direction, slowly slicing the top layer of flesh.

“Tell me!” he demanded of his prey.

The pain was immeasurable for the young man. His cries continued to resound against the stillness in the barn.

“AGH!” Joe cried as Cole continued moving the knife, tearing the skin and watching as the expressions on Joe’s young face took a twisted look of torment.

Suddenly, Cole pulled away the knife, listening as a rush of air was expelled from his victim’s mouth. He turned and smiled at the two men behind him.

“Listen,” he cautioned the pair.

“Mine…agh…in…the…mine…” mumbled Joe, aware only of the fierce pain that plagued his body and limbs.

“What mine?” Cole said in a voice that belied the anticipation that pumped throughout his veins.

“No!” spat Joe, his head lolling from side to side.

Cole’s knife pricked the flesh just under Joe’s arm and in a swift movement that sent Joe’s body into spasms, sliced through the boy’s skin, stopping at the waistline.

Screams so shrill that Jake and Wade cringed and held their hands over their ears, were sent forth in blood curdling eeriness. Joe’s toes had long since given up their efforts at holding his body up. Now his knees bent, adding to the weight of his body against his outstretched arms only added to the young man’s long hours of suffering.

“Nugget…” babbled Joe incoherently.

Cole turned to grin at his pals.

“He has no idea what he’s saying,” snickered the wicked man, turning to prick the other side of Joe’s already bloodied body.

“All of it, Cartwright, spit it out…what Nugget Mine…there’s several,” Cole whispered into Joe’s ear, slowly moving the knife tip under the top layer of skin.

“PA!” screamed Joe, “HELP ME! AGHHHH…”

Cole gave the boy several moments to allow for Joe’s pleas to die down. The body sagged heavily on the ropes and spun gently to and fro in a semi-circle motion. Joe’s eyes closed, his head tilted as far back as his neck would allow and soft whimpering sounds emitted from his bruised lips.

Joe’s garbled speech made little sense to the three men. They listened anxiously for any word that might be coherent enough to be the name of Ben Cartwright’s safe haven, where the local sheriff and Joe’s two older brothers had the man hidden away.

Cole pulled his pocket watch from his vest pocket and checked the time. He glanced at his men and then at the boy dangling from the high beam.

“We’re running out of time, damn it,” he swore. “I need the name of that mine!” Cole snarled.

Jake moved to look at Joe’s face. He saw nothing but dirt and grime mixed with a little blood from the fight that had taken place the day before when they had captured the boy.

“Hey!” he screamed into Joe’s ear, making Joe moan and turn his head away.

“I want the name of that mine…now,” he yelled, jabbing his folded fist into Joe’s side that still seeped blood.

Joe, so far lost into obscurity, barely responded; only a soft moan slipped by his lips. Jake turned away, shrugging his shoulders at his two cohorts.

“You might have gone too far, Cole, the kid’s almost dead,” he said, commenting on Joe’s condition.

“Not yet, he ain’t…listen…he’s mumbling again,” Cole grinned and moved closer.

“Pa…no…stay…I’ll…go…”

The words were garbled and hard to understand. The trio moved closer in order to hear better the muddled words.

“Mine…go…there…safe…Blue…Nugget…go…Pa…safe…”

“AH HA!” shouted Cole, spinning around and grabbing his friends. “I knew he couldn’t last much longer.”

“What are we going to do now?” Wade asked, as a big smile spread across his face.

Cole looked back at Joe, pausing.

“Kill him and then go after his old man,” remarked Cole, twirling the knife around in his hands.

Without so much as another word, Cole plunged the knife into Joe’s side and then pulled it out quickly. Blood spurted out as the body spun slowly around. Cole’s wicked laughter echoed loudly as he and the others ran from the barn, leaving Joe to slowly bleed to death.

*****

Ben stared blankly into the glowing fire, occasionally casting wistful glances toward the top of the stairs. He took a deep breath and let it blow gently from his mouth. His tired face was drawn tightly in worry as he waited for the doctor to emerge from his youngest son’s room and give them his prognosis.

Ben had been worried sick, terrified that his son might die before the doctor could be summoned to the house. The sight of the wounds and the extent of abuse that his son had been made to endure had horrified him. Adam had been in a rage when the men who had found Joe, brought him home in such a condition, and Hoss, the most tenderhearted one of his sons, had broken down and cried for his brother.

The sight of his son’s body covered in blood, the long thin slices in Joe’s flesh, the whiplashes, the separated shoulders and blue hands from lack of blood flow, and then seeing the gaping hole where a knife had been jabbed into Joe’s side, had left the family with the chilling realization that death was lurking very near.

At last the sound of the upstairs door opening and then shutting could be heard downstairs. The sound drew the attention of all three Cartwrights to the top of the stairs. Ben was the first to move, making his way to the last step; he waited for the doctor.

Paul Martin’s face was a mixture of unreadable expressions. Ben glanced quickly at his two sons, noting the presence of fear in their troubled eyes.

“Well,” Ben said even before the physician had reached the last step. “How is he?”

“Is he gonna pull through, Doc?” Hoss asked.

Adam stepped forward, a grim expression on his face as he spoke.

“Why don’t we give the doctor time to catch his breath?”

“Of course,” muttered Ben apologetically. “I’m sorry, Paul…”

“No…no, I understand, Ben,” Paul muttered.

The physician’s face still expressed his concern and his hesitancy added to Ben’s present worry. Ben stepped back so that Paul could come down from the bottom step.

“Well?” he said after a long moment of silence.

Paul looked into the dark, anxious eyes.

“I won’t lie to you, Ben. Joe’s condition is very serious. He’s lost more blood than what I’d like, but fortunately I’ve managed to stop the bleeding,” he explained.

“What about the knife wound in his side?” Adam inquired.

Paul turned to Adam, nodding.

“Luckily for your brother, the blade did not go in as far as I’m sure his attacker thought. It was deflected by a rib so the gash is not as deep as it could have been, and, I might add, it did not puncture any vital organs. I stitched it up, so barring any infection I think it should heal nicely,” explained the physician. “As for his other injuries, the welts on his back and all the cuts, I’ve applied a medicated salve and bandages. I don’t foresee any problems and I doubt that there will be much, if any scaring, Ben,” Paul went on to explain.

“I did pop his shoulders back into place, which will remain quite sore for sometime, and I’ve given him something to help with the pain and to keep him sleeping for several hours. I am a little concerned about his hands. From what I can see of the rope burns about his wrists and the blue tint still in his fingers, Joe might have a little problem using his hands properly…”

“What do you mean?” Hoss interrupted to ask.

“Well, Hoss,” said Paul, turning to face the big man, “his hands and fingers went some time without proper circulation…blood flow…that it might take some time and exercising his hands before Joe can use them in the ways he did before…before all this happened to him. But let’s not worry about that right now, there’s more pressing things to worry about…”

“Meaning?” inquired Ben.

Paul took a deep breath, eyeing each man closely before he spoke.

“His mental state, once he wakes up enough to know he’s home…”

“I would think knowing that would ease his mind…” Ben said, voicing his thoughts aloud.

“I’m more worried about what’s going to happen to him once he realizes what he’s done…” began Paul.

“Which is? I don’t understand, what has he done?” Ben said, giving a quick glance at his sons.

“Ben…I don’t know how to say this,” stammered the doctor.

“Then just say what’s on your mind, Paul.”

The physician took another deep breath, unsure how to word his thoughts. When he was ready, he moved to sit down, looking up into three faces that waited expectantly.

“He…betrayed you, Ben…”

At his friend’s assumption Ben’s dark eyes widened in shock.

“WHAT!” he roared.

“What do you mean, he betrayed our father?” demanded Hoss, moving quickly to stand between his father and the physician who rose quickly to his feet.

“Think about it, how else could those men have known where you were, Ben? The only ones who did know were Roy Coffee, Adam and Hoss…and Little Joe,” Paul explained.

The three Cartwrights were silent for a long moment before anyone spoke.

“Look Ben, Adam, Hoss…I’m not saying that Joe betrayed you on purpose…considering everything he’s been through…it was inevitable, he broke…that’s all.”

“NO!” shouted Hoss angrily. “Joe’d never…no matter what was done to him, he’d never betray our Pa!”

Ben moved to place a hand on his son’s shoulder, calming the usual gentle giant.

“Hoss…Paul’s probably correct in his thinking,” Ben said, looking from one man to the other. “Your brother’s been through hell…I wouldn’t blame him one bit for…speaking up…I would want him too, rather than to see him like he is…I don’t blame him…”

“Well I don’t believe it…I don’t!” stormed Hoss.

He pushed away his father’s hand and turned his back to the group. Adam glanced quickly at his father, noted the saddened expression on his face and then moved to his brother’s side.

“He probably wasn’t even aware that he told. You know as well as I do, Hoss, that when the men brought him in, Joe was already burning up with fever and jabbering out of his head…he could have mentioned the name of the mine in his delirium,” Adam stated. “I don’t believe that under any circumstance, no matter how badly he was treated, Joe would betray Pa…or either one of us, anymore that you could believe it, the boy would rather die first, we all know that,” Adam said, turning to face his father.

“Adam’s right, son,” Ben said, placing his hand back on Hoss’ shoulder. “If he was delirious…and we know he was…he could have said anything…and never realized what he said. We have to think about Joe, right now…what’s he going to think and feel when he comes around.”

“He’s going to need you, Hoss…he’s going to need all of you,” commented Paul. “I’ve known that boy all his life, Ben, I know how deeply he feels about you and his brothers.

I also know how emotional he can be, and how spirited and proud he is…I don’t want to see that spirit broken or that pride destroyed, but it’s likely to be…if he believes that he was weak…and he will…and if he thinks for one minute that he betrayed you because of that weakness…that knowledge could do more damage than all his other injuries put together.”

The men grew silent as the physician’s words sank into their mind, giving each one cause to consider the outcome. Joe had been tortured, that was evident in his wounds, but what worse damage could be done to him mentally and emotionally if what the doctor predicated was to be found so? Suddenly, Ben shuddered for a new kind of fear had just taken root in his heart.

Adam sighed deeply and looked up at the others. “It would destroy him,” he muttered.

Ben’s chest swelled with new determination. “I won’t let that happen,” he vowed to the others.

“You got somethin’ in mind, Pa?” Hoss asked.

Ben’s lips were drawn tight and he shook his head.

“No…but I won’t allow my son to be destroyed by the likes of Cole Freedman. The man’s a monster!” proclaimed Ben.

Adam and Hoss shook their heads in agreement.

*****

The hours passed slowly as Ben kept vigil over his son. He refused to leave the room for even a few minutes or to eat a meal that Hop Sing had prepared. Adam and Hoss had finally given up trying to convince their father that he needed to rest. They soon realized that what Ben needed more than sleep or nourishment, was to be as close as possible to the boy whom he loved more than life itself. And they knew that for the boy, that special love would be his lifeline, his anchor and his hope of making a full recovery, both physically and emotionally.

“He’s warm,” Ben said, looking up when Hoss entered the room, baring a tray of food that Hop Sing had sent up from the kitchen. “But not overly, thank goodness.”

Ben moved from the bed and smiled at his middle son. “Smells good.”

“It is…I ate three helpin’s,” Hoss said in a cheery voice.

He glanced back at his brother, lying so pale and lifeless amid an array of covers. The smile on his face faded as he moved closer and studied Joe’s face.

“Sure wish he’d wake up,” whispered Hoss as he glanced back at his father.

Ben had removed the lid covering his plate and had sat down in the oversized chair to enjoy his meal.

“He will. Paul said he would sleep for hours…”

Hoss let a puff of air escape his mouth. “It’s been hours…eighteen hours, forty-two minutes and…”

“You aren’t counting, are you, son?” Ben said, halfway smiling up at the gentle giant.

Hoss blushed slightly and took the other seat.

“Can’t help it, Pa…I know doc said that sleep was what Joe needed most right now…but I’d sure ‘nough feel better if’n he’d open them eyes of his and just…smile at me.”

“Oh, Hoss…so would I, son…so would I,” confessed Ben. “But he will, I promise,” Ben said, taking another bite.

*****

It was another two hours before Joe showed any signs of waking up. He moaned softly, capturing the attention of his father and two brothers who had gathered at his bedside. Joe’s head moved slightly and the expression on his battered face told his family that he was still suffering some discomfort.

Ben moved to the side of the bed, drawing the chair as close as possible. He leaned over, tenderly brushing a wayward lock of hair from Joe’s brow.

“Joseph,” he said softly. “Wake up, son…”

“Agh,” moaned Joe, not quite awake. “Hurts,” he whispered, batting his eyes in an effort to open them.

“I know, son. Open your eyes for me, Joe. I can give you something for the pain, Doc Martin left some powders just in case you needed them,” Ben said.

“Pa…”

Ben brushed the back of his hand tenderly down Joe’s pale cheek.

“I’m here…and so are your brothers…”

“Hurt…” whined Joe, letting a rush of air blow from his lungs. “They…hurt…me…”

His words faded away as the boy forced his eyes opened, searching for his father’s face.

Ben could see an accumulation of tears collecting in Joe’s eyes that were rimmed with dark circles and dulled by the pain he’d suffered. Ben studied his son’s face, noting again how pale the boy had become and in the almost haunted eyes, Ben could see that there remained an expression of fear. He patted Joe’s hand and forced himself to smile at his son, though inside, he was being eaten alive by his own fears of what lay ahead and hatred for the men who had reduced his son to the level Joe had sunk to.

“Welcome back, son.”

Joe’s eyes had focused on his father’s face and there quite unexpectedly appeared a momentary look of peace in the hollows of the emerald eyes. Joe’s lips twisted into a tiny smile.

“I’m…glad to…be back,” he muttered, and then the smile vanished.

Joe closed his eyes for a moment and then reopened them. He glanced around, seeing Hoss and Adam standing at the foot of his bed and he nodded his head, smiling in greeting.

“Hey, buddy,” Adam said.

He saw on his younger brother’s face, the same expression that his father had seen and he couldn’t help but to glance over in his father’s direction.

“Hey…big brother,” Joe answered weakly. “Hey…Hoss,” Joe said as he cut his eyes upward and looked into his brother’s blue eyes. He forced a smile.

“Why all the long faces?” Joe asked, turning to smile at his father.

Ben snickered, a weak little laugh that sounded more like a sighing relief. He moved from the chair to sit on the side of the bed, next to Joe.

“We were just worried about you, son…that’s all. We’re all happy that you’ve decided to come back to us.”

“Ya sure did give us a scare, Shortshanks,” Hoss added.

He moved to the opposite side of the bed and leaned down, grasping Joe’s outstretched hand that his brother offered.

“Like I said, I’m glad to be back…for a while there, I wasn’t sure…I mean…I…”

Joe swallowed hard and glanced at his father for assurance.

“Well, no need to worry now, son. You’re home, you’re safe and we’re all together now,” smiled Ben as a rush of relief washed over him.

It was true, Joe was back…but in what condition…only time would tell, but for now, Ben was satisfied that his son had made it though the worst of his injuries and appeared now that physically, he would mend.

Joe moved his arm slightly closer to his father and with large expressive eyes, looked up into Ben’s face. Touched, Ben took his son’s hand in his and held it. With a soft sigh, his fingers trying hard to fold about his father’s hand, Joe’s eyes closed.

“Stay…please, stay with…me,” he mumbled softly in a quivering voice.

Ben’s emotion swelled as he leaned over his son and placed a kiss to the boy’s brow.

“You sleep son, I’ll be right here when you wake up,” Ben whispered, still grasping Joe’s hand in his own.

“Prom…ise?”

“I promise…now rest, Joseph, rest.”

Drained emotionally, Ben sat back down in the chair and glanced up at Hoss and Adam. Both young men had solemn looks on their faces. Adam’s expression was unreadable, but Ben knew his son well enough to know that deep within, Adam was seething with anger for what his brother had been made to suffer. Hoss’ expression was as plain as the nose on his face; he was hurting for his brother, feeling the pain himself…in his own heart he was suffering as well.

When Ben looked back down, Joe had fallen to sleep.

*****

Joe slept for two more hours before waking the second time. As his eyes opened, he immediately searched the room for his father, but with the lamp burning low, he was unable to distinguish his father’s figure standing at the window. A wave of fear momentarily gnawed at Joe’s gut and he tried to push himself upright.

“Agh…” he moaned, drawing Ben’s attention.

Ben spun around, just in time to see Joe fall back against the soft pillows that had been placed beneath him to add a softer backing for Joe’s broken flesh caused by the use of the whip.

“Pa!”

The anxious father rushed to his son’s bedside and bent down placing his hand over Joe’s.

“It’s alright, Joe, I’m right here,” Ben, cooed softly.

Joe took a deep breath, sighing. “I couldn’t find you,” he muttered.

“I’m sorry son…I was looking out at all the stars. I wasn’t aware that you had awoken until I heard you moaning. Are you in pain, Joseph?” Ben asked with concern.

Joe’s lips were pressed tightly together as he willed himself to ignore the painful spasms.

“Some…” he said, looking into his father’s eyes. “It comes and goes…whew…” breathed Joe, relaxing.

He smiled a little. “It only hurts when I move,” he said lightly, trying to make his worried father smile. It worked; Ben did return the smile as he placed himself next to his son on the bed.

“Then you’ll just have to lay very still, won’t you?” teased Ben.

“I suppose so,” answered Joe.

A long moment of silence followed. Ben watched the play of emotions that came and went on the young face and could only wonder what was going through Joe’s mine. Whatever it was had left a disheartened look on his son’s face.

“Son…if you want to talk about what happened to you, we…”

“NO!” said Joe sharply.

His hazel eyes narrowed and the expression he wore was one of contempt.

“I don’t want to talk about it…not now…not ever!” he told his father.

“I’m sorry, son…I just thought that perhaps talking about what you went through might help you to…”

Ben paused, shocked to see Joe’s eyes fill with what he recognized as fear. He studied Joe’s face so intently that Joe glanced away, unable to meet the dark probing eyes.

“Alright Joseph, we won’t talk about it…but if you should change your mind, you know you can come to me anytime…”

Joe glanced back up at his father. Tears had filled his eyes but he refused to allow them to fall.

“I know, Pa…but right now, all I want is to forget what happened…please, forget it…and tell me, how did the trial come out? Did they find the Freedman brothers guilty?” asked Joe, wanting desperately to change the subject.

The abuse he’d endured and still suffered was so fresh in his mind, still so real that all the young man wanted was to put the incident behind him and get on with his life. He had no memory as of yet what had actually taken place or how the days ahead would become so unbearable that Joe would reach a point where he felt as if his whole world was crumbling down around his feet.

He had been afraid, afraid of the whip, of the knife and the three men themselves…he knew that…and that knowledge alone was eating away at his heart and soul. Joe vowed to keep his deepest fears to himself and never to allow his family to know just how much terror he had felt during the long agonizing hours that he had been held prisoner of the man he deemed insane. Joe had thought himself a strong willed, determined man, unbreakable…but in the last lingering hours when Cole Freedman had used his knife to slice open the flesh on his arms and sides, Joe had learned something about himself that caused him to feel more shame than he’d ever known in his nineteen years. He had been broken…not just physically but emotionally and mentally as well and those thoughts alone caused him to shiver.

“Are you cold, son?” Ben asked as he began moving the blankets around to better cover his son’s body. He placed his hand to Joe’s brow, giving a sigh of relief that there was no fever present.

“No,” answered Joe, turning his head away.

Joe had yet to learn just how broken he had been…his inevitable betrayal of his own father would be found out later…and the news would practically destroy the young man and forever change how he felt about himself and how, in his own mind, his family felt about him.

“You didn’t say, how did it go at the trial?” Joe asked a second time.

Ben pressed his lips tightly together and sat down in the chair.

“It went just like we suspected it would. I gave my testimony and the jury found the Freedmans guilty of murder. They were hung the next morning,” sighed Ben.

“But that’s all over now…what’s important is that you get well…”

“Yeah, and don’t take too long, Shortshanks,” laughed Hoss who stood with Adam in the opened doorway. “Me and Adam don’t want to do all the work, ya know!”

Joe snickered at the funny look Hoss wore.

“I’ll try not to take too long, Big Brother.”

*****

But it did and the strain was beginning to show on the young face and in the boy’s actions. The family noticed it more in the way that Joe’s personality had taken on a sullen, angry and withdrawn countenance. Joe refused to talk to anyone about what was bothering him; he ate little and slept practically none at all. When spoken too, he snapped back in sharp retorts and cutting words that stung the others so that after a couple of weeks of the ill behavior, his brothers began finding excuses to stay away from the transformed boy.

Night and day, Joe worked with his hands and fingers. He practiced religiously with his handgun until he was at last satisfied that he could draw as quickly if not quicker than before. That small victory was the one thing that seemed to sooth his inner turmoil, but he’d find that even that was only short-lived.

*****

Joe walked from the kitchen into the great room and watched as his family began gathering their hats and gun belts. He set the cup of coffee he was drinking down on the credenza.

“Where’s everybody going?” he inquired.

Hoss looked up from buckling his belt and glanced at Adam and then at Joe.

“Why the sudden interest, little brother?” he said sharply.

Ben raised his head suddenly and glanced at his three sons, noting the contempt on Hoss’ face and the downtrodden look on his youngest son’s face.

“No reason, I guess,” muttered Joe, “I just thought…maybe…”

“We’re going into town, son…would you like to come along?” Ben asked quickly.

Joe watched his brothers’ faces and saw the look that passed between them and then shook his head.

“Naw…thanks, Pa…but I don’t think I’d be welcomed,” Joe said disappointedly.

He turned and picked up his coffee cup and headed back toward the kitchen. He hadn’t really expected his brothers to welcome him, after all, he’d been treating them like crap for so long now that the pair tended to avoid him at all costs, but still, their rejection hurt.

“Hey Joe,” he heard Adam call and stopped, turning back around.

“Yeah Adam?”

Adam smiled, his cheek dimpled and he moved closer to his brother, putting a hand on Joe’s shoulder.

“Look…I know things have been hard for you…for all of us…but we’re still family, aren’t we? So why don’t you come with us…I might even be nice enough to buy you a beer,” grinned Adam.

Joe’s eyes brightened for a moment. He glanced in Hoss’ direction, as if waiting for his middle brother’s approval.

“Hoss?” he said in a wee voice.

“Aw…shucks, Shortshanks…ya gonna stand there all day, or are ya comin’ with us?”

Joe let out a chest full of air, unaware that he’d been holding his breath.

“I’m coming with you…that is…if you really want me too?” Joe stammered.

“Joseph, I’m sure if they hadn’t meant it, your brothers would not have asked,” laughed Ben.

“I guess you’re right…you go ahead, I’ll be right out,” Joe said, grabbing for his holster.

“I’ll saddle ya horse for ya,” Hoss offered as he turned to go.

Joe reached out, placing a hand on Hoss’ shoulder. Hoss turned around.

“Thanks…and I’m sorry, for being so…”

“Forget it Joe…just remember one thing…you’re gonna have to face up to what happened, sooner or later…and ya gonna have to talk about it, and when ya ready…we’ll be here for ya, just like Pa promised…got that?”

Hoss left Joe staring at his back as he moved out the door. Joe stood alone for several moments, letting Hoss’ words sink into his brain. He swallowed hard as a vision of Cole Freedman’s face danced before his eyes, mocking him and shattering his good mood.

Brewing, Joe stomped from the house and across the yard to the hitching post where his family waited. Hoss tossed the reins to Joe and watched as Joe climbed slowly into the saddle. Without a word to the others, Joe turned his mount toward town and kicked at Cochise’s sides, breaking away from the others and taking the lead.

*****

By the time that the Cartwrights rode into Virginia City, Joe’s bad mood had lightened somewhat and he even managed to giggle at some silly thing that Hoss was telling.

“We’ll meet you boys in about half an hour, Adam and I need to see Hiram about a business matter,” Ben told Hoss and Joe.

“Sure thing, Pa,” Hoss agreed.

He turned to Joe who was looking about as if he expected to see someone, but Hoss knew that couldn’t be, it was the first time that his brother had ventured away from the house. Now that he thought about it, Joe seemed nervous that he was here and that caused Hoss to wonder. He stood behind Joe and leaned down to whisper in his brother’s ear.

“Lookin’ for someone?”

Joe spun around, a strange look on his face.

“No,” he said weakly, “I was just looking…that’s all. Seems like forever since I’ve been in town,” he stammered.

Hoss still wasn’t convinced, but since Joe had started across the street, headed for the saloon, Hoss let the matter drop and hurried to catch up. The brothers entered the bar room together and eased their way up to the counter.

“Two beers,” Hoss called out to the barkeeper.

The mugs of frothy ale appeared almost instantly.

“Come on, Joe, let’s find a table,” Hoss said as he took a long swig from the tall mug. “Over there,” he said, pointing to a table near the back of the room.

Joe picked up his mug and started to follow Hoss but was stopped before he had taken more than a few steps.

“Well, hey, Joe…long time, no see,” greeted one of the patrons.

“Say Jim, how are you?” Joe said in greeting.

“Me? I’m fine, what about you? I heard ya was laid up for a spell, ya feeling better?”

Joe took a sip of beer and nodded his head. “Yeah…I’m fine, thanks.”

“Good to see ya up and about…come out to the ranch sometime, Joe, I bought a new brood mare I’d like ya to take a look at her.”

Joe was beginning to feel a bit uncomfortable, standing there with everyone looking at him as if they’d never seen him before. He was positive that he hadn’t just imagined it; some the cowhands had strange expressions on their faces as they watched him talking with his friend.

“Sure, Jim…I’ll ride out in a day or two.”

Joe moved away from the man, weaving his way around the large group of men that milled around. When Joe was almost to the table, one man stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

Joe raised his head slowly, looking directly into the man’s deep-set eyes.

“Excuse me,” he said and tried to step around the man, but again the man blocked his way.

Joe’s eyes grew dark and suspicious as he studied the man’s face.

“You don’t remember me, do you Cartwright?” the man growled.

Instant pictures of many faces raced before Joe’s mind, but he could not put a name to the man standing before him.

“Can’t say that I do,” Joe said at last.

“Well, I remember you…”

“Good,” snapped Joe, “now get out of my way,” he ordered and tried to shove the man away, but the man refused to move.

“I’m surprised to see you in town, especially with your father,” the man sneered.

Joe heard several men inhale deeply and he quickly glanced around, wondering why.

“What business is it of yours, who I’m in town with…or without…for that matter?” Joe asked, curious about the strange statement.

The man laughed and several others standing close who could hear the conversation, snickered.

“I’d been too ashamed to show my face…”

“Ashamed…why, do you think I should be ashamed? I haven’t done anything,” Joe said, suddenly feeling the need to defend himself.

The man displayed a look of shock as he glanced around the room.

“Hear that boys? Young Cartwright claims he didn’t do anything…you believe that?”

Several men shook their heads; others made disgusting grunts of disapproval.

“See…they agree with me…”

“Come on, Joe, let’s get out of here,” Hoss said from behind.

He placed a heavy hand on Joe’s arm and tried to lead him away from the group of men who had formed a circle about his younger brother.

“What’s the hurry, big man? We just want to have a little talk with the…coward…”

Before anyone could react, other than himself, Joe’s fist plowed into the man’s face, sending him sprawling backwards and across the table behind him. Joe started to step forward, but Hoss pulled back on his arm, making him wince.

“Come on, Joe, lets get out of here,” Hoss said again, more forceful. “He’s just spouting off some nonsense…”

“No!” shouted Joe. “I want to know why this man thinks he has a right to call me a coward!”

The word had struck a cord within him and Joe had been instantly overcome with anger and doubt and more than a little curious as to why this stranger should confront him as he had.

“Look, I don’t know who you are…and I don’t care…but I want to know what the hell you’re talking about!” demanded Joe, hauling the man up by the front of his shirt.

“Your father never did think you could do any wrong…he always did take your side in everything, never mind if you were wrong…but this…I can’t believe he’d be so forgiving…”

“Forgiving of what!” Joe demanded, his face red with anger.

“You really don’t know…do you?”

“NO! Tell me!” he growled.

“I don’t understand how you don’t know…we know…all of us…everyone in town knows…” the man ranted, waving his hand about to indicate everyone in the room.

“Even your family knows what you’ve done…I can’t believe they haven’t turned on you…trader.”

Joe was too taken back to want to strike out at the man again. He stood before the crowd, looking confused by what was being said…he did not understand, but he would in the next slew of words that came pouring out of the man’s mouth.

“Know what?” shouted Joe.

“That you betrayed your own father…that Ben Cartwright was almost killed because you broke…get it, kid…you broke under pressure and nearly got your old man killed in the process!”

Stunned, Joe could not speak. His eyes widened in horror at the man’s words and had it not been for his brother standing so near to him, he might have fallen.

Hoss took Joe’s arm and gently tugged, pulling him away from the man.

“You’re lying,” Joe said to the man, glancing around at all the faces that seemed to have eyes that bore deeply into his soul.

“Ask your father…ask him how he got that knife wound in the back…ask him how Cole Freedman and his two men knew where to find him when no one but the sheriff and his three sons knew where he was hidden…ask him, Cartwright…”

Speechless, Joe looked up into his brother’s face. He saw in the blue eyes that tried to avoid looking at him…the truth…he had betrayed his father!

Joe yanked his arm free of Hoss’ vice like fingers and ran from the building. Outside, he almost fell across the hitching post, clinging tightly to the top rail with both hands. His stomach churned and Joe felt as if he might vomit. From side to side, he shook his head in disbelief.

“It can’t be,” Hoss heard his brother mutter. Joe spun around, looking up at Hoss. “I did…didn’t I?” Joe said in a pleading tone.

“Aw…Joe…that man was just spoutin’ off at the mouth. He don’t know no such thing…and neither does anyone else…”

“You’re lying, Hoss…tell me, dammit…it’s true isn’t it? I betrayed my own father!” Joe cried in sobbing gasps.

He ducked under the hitching post and swung into the saddle. As Joe turned his horse around, Hoss reached out, grabbing the bridle, preventing Joe from going any further.

“Where the blazes do ya think ya going, Joseph?” he demanded of the younger boy.

“Who gives a damn?” Joe shouted. “Certainly not my family…not after what I’ve done, now let go,” he cried, shoving Hoss’ hand away with the toe of his boot.

Joe spurred his mount and Cochise broke into a run, heading off down the street. Ben and Adam had just stepped from the lawyer’s office onto the boardwalk as Joe went racing by.

“JOE! JOSEPH!” screamed Ben, “SLOW DOWN!”

“Dadburnit,” Hoss mumbled, running over to his father and brother who stood watching the retreating man and horse.

“I’m sorry, Pa…I couldn’t stop him.”

Ben turned dark, angry eyes on Hoss. “What in blazes happened?” he demanded.

“He knows, Pa…he knows…”

“Knows? Knows what?” Ben asked, a sudden sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.

“About…you know…telling Cole where you were…some loud mouth over in the saloon told him…and in front of half the town…”

“Oh dear God,” whispered Ben.

Hoss turned to go, but Ben grabbed his arm.

“Where do you think you are going?”

“After Joe…”

“NO! I’ll go…he’ll need me, very soon now…I’m the one that should go, you and Adam go back to the ranch. I’ll be home later,” ordered Ben, already racing to mount up.

Once in the saddle, he jerked back on the reins, causing Buck to turn in a complete circle.

“I think I know where your brother might be heading…” he called, galloping off in the direction he had seen Little Joe take.

*****

Joe slid from his horse’s back, crumbling to a heap at Cochise’s feet. The boy pulled himself up and staggered over to the large granite headstone that bore his mother’s name. Joe sank to his knees, his head bent back as he clenched his teeth and doubled up his fists.

“NO!” he shrieked, sobs coming from deep within and boiling, rising to the top and spewing over.

The cries of bitter disappointment filled the hillsides as Joe poured out his grief for what he believed he had committed. Sitting back on his haunches, Joe was unaware that Ben had ridden up and now stood just feet away, listening to the heartbreaking sounds of his son’s weeping.

“Joseph?”

Startled to hear the sound of his father’s voice, Joe jerked around, wiping the dampness from his face to hide the fact that he’d been crying. Quickly, Joe got to his feet and moved away, his back he kept to his father, too ashamed to look into Ben’s eyes and see the disgust that he believed would be there.

“What are you doing here?” Joe said, glancing over his shoulder.

“Looking for you…Son, I think we should talk…”

“Talk?” shouted Joe, “what about…how I betrayed my own father…”

“You did no such thing, Joseph…”

“Didn’t I?” Joe spun around.

The tears billowed up and flooded the hazel eyes. When Joe blinked, the dam overflowed and the tiny droplets rolled down the already tear streak face.

“How else would Cole and his gang know where to find you? The only way they could have known was by me…I told them…” sobbed Joe, swiping his sleeve across his face once again.

“Joe…”

“NO! Stay away from me,” Joe sobbed, moving further back.

Joe held out his arm, raising his hand to prevent Ben from moving any closer.

“Tell me…what happened, Pa…at the mine…that man said Cole almost killed you! How?”

“It doesn’t matter, Joe…I’m alive and…”

“Well, it matters to me…I want to know what happened!” he demanded.

“Alright, son. Why don’t we sit down, over here and I’ll tell you everything…”

“No…I’ll stay right here…and you stay there…” Joe ordered, pointing his finger at his father.

“Adam and Hoss had gone out to take care of the horses…that’s when Cole jumped me from behind and pulled his knife on me. We fought briefly, that’s when your brothers came back to the mine and encountered Jake and Wade. Hoss killed Wade and Adam wrestled Jake to the ground and was forced to kill him as well. I was still fighting with Cole, until he…stabbed me in the back…when he saw his two friends dead, he ran away…”

“He got away?”

“Yes, but Roy had a posse out looking for him…Joe..

Ben heard Joe moan and saw his son scrunch up his face as if in great pain.

“The wound wasn’t bad, Joe…”

“He might have killed you…and it would have been my fault,” sobbed Joe.

“But he didn’t…don’t you see…”

“NO! I don’t see…I don’t see anything other than I betrayed my own father and it nearly cost him his life. I’m a coward…Pa…a COWARD...I broke…I couldn’t take the pain…or the suffering and I BROKE,” wailed Joe, turning to lean against the boulder that was behind him.

“I was afraid, Pa…me…mighty Joe Cartwright…was afraid of dying…of what they were doing to me…” the sobs continued as the words poured out. “Oh, Pa,” wept Joe, “I’m so ashamed…so sorry…” he cried, gulping for air to fill his heaving lungs.

Ben moved to comfort his son, but the instant his fingers touched Joe’s shoulder, the boy shied away.

“Leave me alone…will ya, Pa? Just go away…leave me be…”

“I can’t do that, son…”

Joe raised his head; his face was streaked with tears. His breath came in rapid little gasps and Ben could see that the boy was nearing a breakdown. Joe moved toward his horse, snatching the reins free of the limb where they had been tied off.

“Joseph…stop…please…where are you going?” Ben asked in desperation.

“I’m leaving…” cried Joe, stopping and leaning his head against the saddle.

“You can’t leave, son…not like this. Please…I don’t want you to go…come home with me…”

“Oh God, Pa…don’t make this any harder for me than what it already is,” sobbed Joe in broken words.

“We can work this out…”

Joe, his face stained with tears, looked at his father.

“I can’t take back what’s already done, Pa…you should know that, and I can’t stay here…not with everyone in town knowing…not with the way my own brothers look at me with such…disgust that it shows in their eyes! Don’t you see, everyone in town…everyone knows and believes that I betrayed you…”

Ben took a deep breath and stepped closer.

“Joseph, listen to me son, it doesn’t matter what everyone knows, or thinks they know about you…it doesn’t matter. But what does matter is what you know about yourself, what you believe in here.” Ben jabbed his finger into his chest, pointing to his heart.

“I know you Joseph, and I believe in you…I always have, and I always will. I know you could never betray me, any more than I could ever betray you.”

Joe made a sniffling sound and swung into the saddle.

“I wish I could believe that, Pa…but I can’t…”

Ben grabbed Cochise’s bridle and pushed on.

“Listen to me…Joe…you were in agonizing pain, you were being tortured…and you were burning up with fever, you were delirious. You might have mumbled a whole slew of words that meant nothing…nothing at all…but Cole might have thought he’d picked up a clue in the garbled bag of words.

He got lucky, son…he was desperate…he was trying as hard to save his brothers from the gallows as you were trying to keep me safe. It was just a hunch, that’s all it was, son…Cole got lucky. Don’t you understand…any man can only take so much before…”

“He breaks…sure, I know that…I broke, Pa…I almost got you killed because I was too weak…”

“That’s not true and you know it!” growled Ben.

He was reaching his wit’s end. His son was going to ride off any second and he was helpless to prevent Joe’s leaving.

“Let go, Pa…please, just let me leave…”

“Joe, where will you go?” pleaded Ben, fearfully.

“I don’t know…but I can’t stay here…I won’t stay here…”

“Please, son, I don’t want you to go…Come home…”

Joe yanked back on his reins forcing Cochise’s head upward and thus freeing his horse’s bridle from his father’s hands. Joe made Cochise back up. Ben knew that the time had come, he was losing his son.

“Promise me, Joe…you’ll let me know where you’re at?”

Joe swallowed, and looked away, shaking his head.

“I can’t promise anything,” he said, turning his horse and kicking at Cochise’s sides.

Joe rode a ways off and then stopped, turning and looking back at his father. Ben stood with arms dangling down to his sides, his face drawn and worn. Joe saw the glistening of tears in eyes that had always before, looked at him with such love. He felt his throat swell.

“I love ya, Pa…I always have, I always will. And I’d die for you if I had too…maybe someday I can prove that to you…but first I have to prove it to myself.”

Joe spurred Cochise into a gallop and rode off.

“JOE! JOSEPH!” screamed Ben, running a short distance after his son, and then stopping, gasping for air.

“I LOVE YOU, TOO, SON!” he shouted. “I love you…Joseph.

*****

The days lowly turned into weeks and still Ben, worn down to a frazzle with grief, had not received one word from his youngest son. The worry, the absence, the loneliness had taken it’s toll on the remainder of the family. It showed in their tired faces and sad eyes. Everyone about town that knew the Cartwrights, felt their sorrow, their loss and most cared enough to let the family know, especially their closest friends.

“Why don’t we go look for’em?” Hoss asked, late one night as he and his brother sat at the dining room table, ignoring their meal.

Ben looked up from his plate where he’d been toying with his food and shook his head.

“No,” he said softly.

“But why not? It’s dang near been a month since that boy took off…”

“He’ll come home…someday…but it will be when he’s ready, Hoss. I can’t make him come back…I’d have to hog tie him and drag him back…but unless he’s ready to stay and put all this behind him, he’d only run away again…”

“But Pa…”

Ben’s eyes darkened. “No butts…understand? Leave him alone, he has to work through this himself!”

Ben slung his napkin down on his plate and pushed back his chair.

“I’m going for a ride,” he said and walked out of the house, leaving Hoss and Adam to wonder.

“That’s gettin’ to be a nightly thing. Wonder where he rides too?” Hoss said, turning to his brother.

Adam took a sip of his coffee and wiped his mouth with his napkin.

“The lake most likely…Marie’s…he seems to find solace there…”

“Yeah, reckon ya right, Adam…he and Joe.”

*****

Many miles away, in Silver City, Joe was just waking up from a drunken stupor. He lay amid the rubbish and crates in a darkened alley behind the saloon where he had staggered and fell. He had no clue as to how he got there or even why he was where he was. The drunken young man wasn’t even sure who he was, in his present condition. But the one thing he was certain of, and that was the fact that his head was pounding and every muscle in his weary body ached.

Joe pushed himself into an upright position and leaned his back against the wall, surrounded by crates that hid him from a man’s view, should one happen along. He pulled his knees up to his chest and propped up his elbows, resting his head in the palms of his hands. Softly, Joe moaned, the pain was excruciating.

For several moments the young drunk remained as such. A shuffling of feet down the alley warned him that someone was approaching and he slid back, deeper against the wall, into the shadows.

His handsome face was marred by the thick growth of hair and the dirt and grime that covered his features. The clothes that covered his body were tattered and torn and Joe looked as if it had been weeks since he’d eaten any solid food. His frame was scrawny and wasted and even now, hunger gnawed at his insides, causing his stomach to react by gurgling loudly.

“Shh…” Joe whispered, placing a hand over his mid-section to silence the rumbling.

Joe could barely make out the whispering as the two men moved deeper into the alley. Cautiously, Joe got to his feet and moved closer, being sure to stay to the shadows as he slithered along the wall, stopping just feet from the two men who appeared to be plotting something.

“Ya really gonna try again?” one man said to the other.

“You’re damn right I am. He’s the reason my brothers were hanged…and I aim to see him pay…big time!” the second man swore.

Joe listened with growing interest to the conversation. It sounded to him as if one man was planning to seek revenge on someone.

“We’ll leave in the morning, Gus. It shouldn’t take us but a couple of days to reach the Ponderosa…”

“Ponderosa?” muttered Joe, suddenly alert…the Ponderosa was his home!

Joe chanced a peek around the wall, trying to get a clear view of the men’s faces. One man had his back to him, but the other man’s face he could see clearly. Joe, his eyes dulled by overindulgences, studied the man’s features, deciding that he had never seen the man before. The man with his back towards him, moved slightly, but Joe still could not see the man’s face clearly. Something about the way the man moved…the tone of his voice…and then the man laughed.

“By this time, the day after tomorrow, Ben Cartwright will be dead and buried,” the man snickered.

“Pa!” Joe’s heart screamed.

He moved a foot or two closer and watched the two men. His toe hung on a crate, sending it crashing to the ground in a loud noise. The two men spun around, guns drawn and ready to fire. Joe pressed his back to the wall, his hand sought his pistol, but it was gone!

Suddenly, an old alley cat hissed at him and went running down the alley, headed straight toward the two men. As the cat ran passed, the men started laughing and put away their guns. Joe chanced another peek……..

“Cole Freedman!” Joe’s mind screamed in silent horror.

Joe watched as the two men walked out of the alley and onto the street. He followed behind just keeping the pair in sight until they reached their horses and mounted up. Joe darted into a doorway and waited until the pair rode passed.

“I’ve got to warn Pa,” he muttered, stepping out into the light.

Without warning, Joe felt a gun pressed into his back. He stopped suddenly and glanced over his shoulder.

“Don’t move, mister…just put your hands over your head,” the man said. “Turn around, slowly,” he ordered, “and drop your gun.”

Joe did as instructed, though he swayed slightly in so doing.

“I don’t have a gun,” Joe explained.

“Why not?” the sheriff asked.

“I…reckon I lost it,” Joe said. “I…don’t remember.”

“Whew…you been drinking?”

“Yes sir,” Joe confessed, suddenly aware of his appearance and the way that he must smell.

“What were you doing lurking in the doorway of the bank?”

“Bank?” Joe looked up and for the first time saw the sign, Silver City National Bank. He gulped.

“Just resting,” he lied. “I was feeling sort of sick…dizzy.”

The sheriff used his gun to point the way. “Get going, I’m locking you up…”

“Why? I wasn’t doing anything…” argued Joe, looking around in time to see Cole Freedman and his new man disappear from sight.

“Move…I’m locking you up for public drunkenness, loitering…if you’re sobered up by morning, I’ll let you go…if the judge agrees, now get going,” the sheriff ordered, pushing the end of his pistol a bit deeper into Joe’s back.

Joe had no recourse but to do as ordered. He looked down the street again, anxious to get to his father. As Joe crossed the street, he stopped just before entering the jailhouse.

“Look, sheriff, my name is Joe Cartwright and…”

“Cartwright? You can’t possibly be one of those rich Cartwrights from Virginia City,” the man laughed. “Not looking and smelling like you do!”

“My father is Ben Cartwright…and yeah…I’m one of those Cartwrights. Look sheriff, there’s a man out to kill my father, Cole Freedman. I have to get home and warn him…if you’ll just let me go, I’ll leave town…I swear…”

The sheriff laughed again and pushed the door to his office opened, shoving Joe inside.

Joe stumbled into the room, almost falling. The sheriff grabbed Joe’s arm and held him upright, forcing him toward the back room where the cells were located. Joe, bulked and pulled his arm free, turning and taking a swing at the officer. The sheriff ducked just in time to avoid being struck. Joe stumbled forward and the sheriff whacked him on the back of the head. Joe’s body crumbled to the floor.

*****

It was morning by the time that Joe awoke. He rose up on the narrow cot and rubbed his aching head, glancing about at his surroundings. It suddenly dawned on him that he had something important that he had to tend to. The events of the night before came back to him and he stood to his feet, groaning softly.

“SHERIFF! SHERIFF!” he shouted, standing with his hands on the bars.

Seconds later the door opened and the sheriff entered, carrying a tray in one hand.

“What’s all the shouting about in here?”

“I have to get out of here…I have to get home and warn my father…”

“You aren’t going anywhere…at least until the judge says you can, now back up, I brought your breakfast…God knows from the looks of you, you need a good meal.”

Joe did as ordered and waited until the sheriff set the tray down on the little stool. He moved forward as the sheriff shut and locked the cell door.

The sheriff turned back around. “I’ll tell you something, kid…you might be who you say, you might not…but you aren’t what you appear to be. Beneath all that filth…I’d say you’re a pretty nice boy. Eat your breakfast. I have a room back here where you can take a bath. When you’re finished with that, I’ll walk you over to the judge’s office and we’ll see what we can do.”

Joe’s eyes brightened slightly and he smiled at the sheriff.

“Thanks,” he said, turning to his breakfast.

“Just yell when you’re finished.”

*****

“He just drank a bit too much, Judge…that’s all, he didn’t do any real harm,” the sheriff explained.

He and Joe stood before the Judge’s desk and waited for the judge to make his decision. The older man looked up, studying the boy’s face.

“You say you’re Ben Cartwright’s son?” the judge asked.

“Yes sir,” answered Joe.

“I’m surprised that Ben Cartwright would let his son get in the shape you appear to be,” he said, appraising Joe from head to toe with his keenly trained eyes.

“It wasn’t my father’s fault, sir…it was my own doings,” Joe stated honestly.

It was the first time in weeks that he’d been able to admit to himself that what he had let himself become, was indeed of his own making. For a long time, he had blamed Cole Freedman and what the wicked man had done to him, and then he blamed his family because he thought for sure they had turned their backs on him by not coming to find him. It was time that he faced the truth…he was to blame…for this, and many other things that had happened to him over the course of several weeks. Now it was time to go home, and admit it to his father and brothers.

“I’m glad to see that you are man enough to admit that, young man. Alright, it seems that the sheriff doesn’t have any complaints against you other than a couple of minor offenses, of which you’ve admitted. I have no other recourse but to pronounce you guilty and fine you ten dollars or ten days…”

“I don’t have ten dollars, your honor,” Joe said quickly. “And I can’t wait ten days…there’s a man out to murder my father…and I need to get home and warn him…”

“A man…what man?” the judge asked.

“Cole Freedman…he’s already tried once and failed…he’s not likely to make that mistake again…”

“Freedman? I’ve heard the name…I know,” said the judge, “I was trying a case in Virginia City a couple of months back…that’s it…your father was the star witness in a murder trial…Cory and Cullen Freedman…”

“That’s it…and Cole Freedman is seeking revenge…”

“You aren’t the boy they kidnapped and tortured…are you?” the judge asked, looking more closely at the young man standing in front of him.

Joe lowered his head. No doubt that even this man, miles from Virginia City, had learned of his disloyalty to his father. When Joe looked up, he saw the judge watching him closely. Unable to speak, Joe nodded his head.

The judge’s eyes filled with compassion and when he spoke, his voice was soft and full of understanding.

“No wonder you’re in the shape you’re in. Don’t worry, Mr. Cartwright…I don’t believe those rumors about you. I remember your father as a man of honor…he doesn’t believe them either…I hope you know that.”

“He said as much, sir.”

“But you still doubted him, didn’t you?”

“ I think I doubted myself more.”

The judge stood to his feet and moved around his desk to stand beside Joe.

“You’ve learned differently?”

“Yes sir…”

“Then go home and prove it…I’ll have Sheriff Wallace here send a telegram to the sheriff in Virginia City alerting him to the possibility that Cole Freedman may be headed that way.”

Joe grinned and grabbed the judge’s hand, thanking him.

“I appreciate this, sir…thank you!”

“Oh…don’t thank me…just wire the ten dollars when you can…otherwise, I’m sending someone to fetch you back here…you’ll spend thirty days in jail if that happens,” the judge vowed in a deep tone.

He smiled then, and laughed when he saw the look of relief cover the young man’s face.

“Get going, before I change my mind.”

*****

It was hard riding, but by late the next day, Joe was home. He stopped a short distance from the house, watching closely. Everything appeared normal, smoke was rising gently from the fireplace, the lamps were burning softly and when Joe looked, the barn had been secured for the night.

Still wary, Joe eased Cochise lightly down the slope and into the yard. Joe chose to tie his mount to the corral railing, in the shadows rather than at the hitching post closest to the door.

Joe pulled his revolver from his holster and crept silently up to the door where he pressed his ear to the thick wood and listened. No sound could be heard.

For a moment, Joe was unsure what to do, then decided to try the latch. It was locked; odd, he thought.

Knocking and standing back, Joe waited. When the door was pulled opened only a crack by the man that he instantly recognized as the one in the alley along with Cole, Joe kicked at the door, flinging it open wide. The man reacted by firing his gun at the intruder. The bullet grazed Joe’s arm, leaving an instant trail of blood dripping down the sleeve of his jacket.

Joe’s gun was knocked from his hand, but he was able to slam his fist into the man’s face, knocking the man to the floor. Joe grabbed for the man’s gun and a struggle began for possession of the weapon. Over and over the men rolled, until Joe was pinned to the floor. Hands were locked together as the struggle continued, moving until the gun was between the two. A sudden blast from the pistol brought an immediate end to the battle. Time stopped briefly as the stranger toppled over and Joe rolled free.

“GUS! What’s all that racket?” A voice that Joe recognized as Cole Freedman’s blared from upstairs.

Joe glanced around for his family. Seeing nothing to indicate where they might be, Joe slipped silently up the stairs. When he reached the top, he peeked around the corner. The hallway was empty. Joe tiptoed to the first door at the top of the stairs and eased it opened. Inside, he could see his brothers, both bound, lying face down on the floor. When Adam sensed a presence, he looked up. Joe put his fingers to his lips, warning him to stay still. Joe remained at the door, watching down the hall.

“Where in the world did you come from?” Adam asked.

“I’ll fill you in when this is over…where’s Cole…and Pa?”

“Down the hall, it sure is mighty good to see ya, Shortshanks,” grinned Hoss.

“It’s good to see the two of you, too,” smiled Joe, moving toward the door.

“Joe…hold up…what are ya goin’ to do?” Hoss whispered. “Untie us!”

“Later, I have a score to settle first,” he said, slipping through the door before either brother had a chance to say more.

Joe turned his attention back to the hallway and within seconds, heard his father’s door open. Cole slipped from the room and down the back stairs. Joe took advantage and darted down the hall.

Inside Ben’s room, Joe’s first sight was his father sitting bound tightly to his mother’s old rocking chair. Ben’s face was battered and bruised from the beating Cole Freedman had ventured to dish out. Ben’s eyes widened in surprise at seeing his son.

“Joe!” muttered Ben in a whispered voice.

Glancing out the door to be sure Cole was not returning, Joe hastened to untie his father and set him free. Ben rose from the chair and gathered his son into his arms.

“This is certainly a surprise…”

“Well, well, well,” mocked Cole who had crept back into the room.

Father and son twirled around, caught off guard by Cole’s quick return.

“Perfect…two for one,” jeered Freedman. “Payback time, Cartwright…”

Ben shoved Joe to the side, placing himself between the mad man and his son. The move only caused Cole to laugh harder. Ben stepped forward in a challenging dare, but being battered had taken its toll and Ben was sluggish, moving too slowly.

Cole raised his arm high in the air and brought his pistol down across Ben’s shoulder. Ben cried out and fell onto the bed. Cole, his laughter rose an octave, moved in for the kill. Joe sprung into action and made a dive at Freedman, knocking him away from his father who struggled to get up.

Still feeling the need to protect his own, Ben again shoved Joe aside and moved to overpower the other man. Cole’s hand moved to his waist, pulling his knife free from the scarab hanging from his belt. Before Ben could move, Cole’s arm moved upward in one sweeping motion and the knife flew from his hand.

Joe, watching the action moved as if on cue, flinging himself between his father and the oncoming knife.

“AGH!!!” he screamed as the sharp bladed weapon buried its pointed tip deeply into his chest.

Joe landed on the carpeted floor with a loud thud. The two men within the room ceased moving. Ben watched in horror while Cole’s laughter echoed against the walls.

“ERRR!” growled Ben, acting as a man processed, he charged Cole, knocking him to the floor. A fight ensued, but the battle was short-lived. Hop Sing appeared in the doorway, rifle in hand and finger on the trigger.

When Ben was hauled upright, Cole spun around, his fist folded and ready to fly.

“STOP!” the servant called.

Cole paused for a fraction of a second, then delivered the blow to Ben’s face and turned his wrath on Hop Sing. As Cole bolted forward, Hop Sing fired, hitting Cole Freedman dead center in the middle of his chest.

Cole wavered slightly before dropping to the floor, landing next to Joe.

Ben, dulled by the powerful blow, managed to crawl over to his son. Joe’s eyes were opened; blood dripped from the hole in his chest, but he was aware of his father when Ben pulled him into his arms and cradled him against his rapidly beating heart.

“Joseph,” whispered Ben, brushing away a lock of damp hair from his son’s sweat coated brow.

“Pa…”

“Shh…you’re going to be alright, son,” Ben soothed.

“Hop Sing, Adam and Hoss are tied up in Joe’s room, get them…hurry,” ordered Ben.

Carefully, Ben pulled the knife from the wound. Joe squeezed his eyes tightly and groaned. Ben lifted the boy up and carried him, in his arms, to his bed and placed Joe amid the soft pillows.

“Pa…”

“Shh…don’t talk, Joe…save your strength,” cautioned his father.

“What happened?” Adam asked as he and Hoss rushed into the room and joined their father at Joe’s bedside.

Ben smiled, a tired, wearisome kind of smile.

“Your brother just saved my life,” he explained.

Dabbing at the blood that oozed, Ben continued to talk.

“One of you, ride into town and fetch Doc Martin, hurry.”

“I’ll go,” offered Adam, “I can make better time.”

He smiled down at his brother. “Good to have you home, kid.”

“Good to…be here…”

“I told you not to talk, young man,” Ben scolded gently. “Hop Sing, bring me some fresh water and bandages, please.”

“Hoss, if you’re up to it, get this man out of here,” Ben instructed, nodding toward Cole with his head.

“Sure thing, Pa…Joe…I’m plum glad ya decided to come home,” Hoss said, winking at his brother.

Joe’s eyes began to close…

“Joseph…don’t you dare leave me again,” whispered Ben.

“Tired…that’s all, Pa,” murmured Joe.

“No wonder, what with all you have been through. That was a foolish thing you did, son, jumping in front of that knife like you did…”

“I couldn’t let him kill you, Pa…I told you once…that I’d willingly die…for you…remember?”

“Yes…I remember…but not today, son…not today you aren’t!”

Joe’s eyes became too heavy to remain opened, and by the time they did open again, more than a day and a half had passed.

*****

“He should wake up soon, Ben…I promise,” Paul Martin said. “I wanted him to sleep. That gash in his chest was deep. I’m not sure if Joe is lucky or unlucky,” snickered the physician.

“Seems like every time he’s hurt…and it should be serious, fate is standing close by and prevents his injuries from being just that.”

“I think it’s more than just fate, Paul…more like he has guardian angels watching over him,” Ben corrected.

“Yes…you’re probably right, Ben…Lord only knows he keeps them busy enough,” the doctor teased.

“Look, he’s waking up now,” Doc Martin said, moving to the bedside with Ben.

“Pa?”

“I’m here son,” smiled Ben. “How do you feel?”

“I’m fine…are you okay…what about Hoss and Adam?” muttered Joe.

“We’re fine, little brother,” Adam said as he and Hoss entered their father’s bedroom.

“It’s about time ya woke up, lazybones,” snickered Hoss.

Joe smiled and turned to his father. His eyes took on a solemn look, giving his brothers a clue that it was time to leave.

“Let’s go, Hoss, and finish our chores. We’ll be back later, Joe…you take care.”

Joe watched his brothers leave and then turned to the doctor. Paul smiled down at the boy.

“I can take a hint…don’t talk too long, young man…I want you to get plenty of rest!”

“I won’t, I promise,” Joe said.

Once alone with his father, Joe wasn’t sure how to say what was on his mind. Ben helped him to start the conversation.

“I take it that you wanted to talk to me?”

Joe nodded. “I…I wanted to tell you…I was…sorry…”

“There’s no need to be sorry, Joe…as far as I’m concerned…you didn’t do anything wrong,” smiled Ben as he pulled the chair up closer to the bed.

“I didn’t mean to betray you…”

“Joseph, you didn’t betray me son…just before you came back, Cole told me what really happened, what you really said to him. He admitted to me that he could never break you…you mumbled a bunch of mixed up words, just like I told you…and he picked out what he thought was the name of the mine. Joe…he said he was on his way to the Blue Nugget Mine, when he happened to see one of your brothers riding across the hills. He followed Adam and that’s how he found me…”

“But you were at the Blue Nugget…”

“No…that’s where we first agreed, but after you left to go back into town, we changed locations, I was at the old Ward Mining Company…we thought it might be safer there than in the Blue Nugget.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? All this time, I thought you were somewhere else!” proclaimed Joe.

“I know, son…and I’m sorry. But we made the change, after you were gone; there was no way to get word to you. I tried to tell you, afterwards, when it was all over, but you never gave me a chance. Besides, your brothers and I thought it would be safer for me, if we changed locations at the last minute, just in case the Freedman’s had gotten wind of my hideout somehow,” explained Ben. “We never dreamed that you’d be taken hostage…or tortured,” Ben said sadly.

Joe was thoughtful for a moment and then shook his head. His eyes were sad when he looked up at his father.

“You didn’t trust me, did you?”

“That’s foolish talk and you know it. Of course I trust you…you just saved my life…didn’t you? Look, son, you’re young and impetuous…but there’s a part of you that is still…naïve…innocent…and that puts you at risk. It makes you an easy target for men like Cole Freedman. I was the one who forbid anyone to tell you that we changed hideouts, because…and only because I wanted to keep you safe. I failed you, Joe by doing that…it almost cost you, your life…so if anyone has anything to be sorry for, it certainly isn’t you…it’s me.”

“Pa…no…you only did what you thought best…please, don’t feel that way…okay?” pleaded Joe.

He understood things better now, now that his father had explained it to him.

“You didn’t mean to get me hurt, any more than I meant to betray you…”

“That’s true, but the difference is, I made a poor choice…I should have sent you word…somehow.”

“No, Pa…you made the right choice.”

Ben looked puzzled.

“How do you figure that?”

Joe smiled, his eyes brightened.

“If you really had been hiding out at the Blue Nugget, most likely we’d both be dead right now instead of sitting here debating which one of us is right and which one of us is to blame.”

Joe giggled softly. “It’s all the Freedmans’ fault,” he snickered.

Ben’s laughter resounded within the room.

“You are absolutely correct, young man. If the Freedman brothers had not murdered that man…none of this would have happened to us!” Ben stated decidedly.

Joe became very serious and his voice lowered to a near whisper.

“I love you, Pa…and I meant what I said that day up at the lake…I’d die for you, if need be.”

“I know you would son. You more than proved that to me, when you shoved me out of the way of Cole’s knife.”

Ben leaned closer, his eyes dark with emotion.

“I love you, too, Joseph…more than anything else in this whole world…along with your brothers of course.”

“Of course,” grinned Joe, slipping his arms about his father’s neck. “But let’s keep them thinking that you really do love me more, okay?”

“Joseph!” whispered Ben, “you are a rascal at heart, aren’t you?” laughed the happy father.

Ben returned the hug he’d received and whispered a silent prayer of thanks, that life had at long last, been restored to normal.

*****

The next morning when Ben entered his son’s bedroom, Joe was sitting up in bed and greeted him with a smile.

“Hi…Pa…can you do me a favor?”

“Of course, son…what is it?”

“Can you lend me ten dollars?” Joe said sheepishly.

“Ten dollars…what on earth for?” Ben quizzed.

“I need to pay off a debt…I’ll explain it later…but, will you loan it to me?”

Ben began digging in his pocket for the bills.

“I suppose…if you really need it.”

“I need it…trust me…”

“I do trust you Joseph, but explain it to me, if you don’t mind,” Ben said, holding the bills in his hand.

Joe held his hand out, waiting for his father to place the money into his hands, but Ben insisted on holding on to the money.

“I sort of got into a little trouble over in Silver City…”

“What kind of trouble?” Ben asked, eyeing his son closely.

“Nothing bad, Pa, honest…I was just arrested…”

“Arrested? What on earth for?”

“The sheriff thought I might be getting ready to rob the bank so…”

“ROB THE BANK!”

“I wasn’t, honest…I didn’t even have my gun…”

“What happened to your gun?”

“I don’t know, I just lost it, I suppose…”

“You suppose…don’t you know?”

“No sir…I was too drunk to remember…”

“Drunk?”

“Yes sir…see, Pa…it was like this…when I left here, I was feeling sorta low…and I did a lot of drinking…and…”

“What about the ten dollars, son?”

“Like I was trying to tell you…the sheriff thought I was trying to rob the bank, but of course that wasn’t so, but what I was doing was hiding in the shadows, following Cole and that other fellow. That’s how I knew he was coming after you…I had passed out in the alley…from drinking too much, and when I woke up, Cole was there telling this man that he was out to kill you…so I started following them, that’s when the sheriff found me and took me to jail. But on the way, I decked him and tried to get away, but he bonked me over the head and locked me up. I didn’t know anything until the next morning when he brought me my breakfast and told me to eat and then he made me take a bath…I needed one really bad…cause, staying drunk all the time, I…really didn’t take time to bathe and I was pretty smelly…”

“Joseph, get on with it, please…what about the ten dollars?”

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you, Pa. After I took my bath, the sheriff took me over to the judge’s office and he…well, he was the judge at the Freedman brothers’ trial that you testified at and I reckon when he found out I was your son, he let me go, cause I told him about Cole gunning for you and all…but he charged me ten dollars fine…for getting drunk and all,” smiled Joe. “That’s why I need the money, or the judge is gonna send the sheriff after me and lock me up for thirty days instead of ten.”

“Oh for heaven’s sake, Joseph,” scowled Ben, rolling his eyes.

He stood next to the bed, hands planted firmly on his hips as he studied the boy’s cherub like face and funny, lopsided smile. Ben shook his head.

“Joseph, that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard! Couldn’t you think of a better reason to borrow ten dollars than with that outlandish tale?” Ben grumbled, as he walked from the room, closing the bedroom door behind him.

“But Pa!” Joe shouted, “it’s the…oh…what’s the use!”

Joe folded his arms across his chest and leaned his head back against the pillows, closing his eyes.

“I guess he’ll believe me when Sheriff Wallace shows up to take me back to Silver City!”

THE END

October 2004

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