Thunder’s Echo
A WHN to “The Thunder Man”

By: Helen B

The earth shook with the force of the explosion. Joe coughed trying to clear the dust from his lungs. His eyes stung and he rubbed them, only succeeding in making them sting more.

Suddenly the pain hit. Joe clutched at his head, feeling like his head itself was going to explode. He fell to his knees, his legs no longer able to support him and was violently sick. Taking deep breaths he tried to overcome the nauseous feeling. He was startled when he felt a gentle hand on his back.

Joe looked up and stared at Adam in alarm as he watched his brother’s lips moving but could hear no sound.

Adam held onto Joe’s arms as he sought to calm him. Joe turned his head slightly and Adam felt his stomach clench when he saw blood start to trickle from Joe’s left ear. He gently turned his brother’s head so he could look at the other ear. It was also bleeding. At that moment, Joe felt the wetness and wiped at it with his hand. The horror showed in his eyes when he pulled his hand away and saw the blood on his fingers.

The pain in Joe’s head wasn’t decreasing, he felt like he was going to pass out and before that occurred, Joe wanted to make sure that Adam knew what had happened.

“Adam, it was Poole who killed Ann Wilson,” Joe swallowed before continuing, “He killed Mrs Gibson as well. He tried to make it look like an accident but it wasn’t. He killed her. She’s in the house. I had to shoot him, Adam, he had nitro in his hand he was going to throw it.”

The words had come out in a rush and Joe hoped that his brother had understood.

Adam nodded, guessing the nitro had exploded after Joe shot the man and that Joe had then been caught in the explosion. “Lie down,” Adam said as he looked at his brother and tried to form his words clearly in the hope that Joe would understand him.

Adam tried to maneuver Joe into lying down on the ground but Joe brushed his brother’s hands away and shook his head. Joe quickly realized the movement of his head was a mistake. Blackness closed in and Joe slumped unconscious into his brother’s arms.

Adam carefully laid his brother on the ground and ran his hands over the young man’s body to check for broken bones. He sighed with relief at finding no other injuries, the head injury worried him enough.

Adam looked around in frustration, worried about how he was going to get Joe home. He thought about taking Joe into the house but he knew he couldn’t leave his injured brother alone while he went for help so the only alternative was to get Joe home to the Ponderosa.

Adam ran inside the house, stopping as he saw Mrs Gibson’s body, he could see immediately that she was dead. He ran into a bedroom and grabbed two blankets. Going through the house again, he covered Mrs Gibson with one and then went to Joe and wrapped the other blanket around him.

Adam ran to the barn, knowing Mrs Gibson had a carriage. He quickly harnessed the horse to it and led it over to his brother. As carefully as he could, Adam lifted Joe into his arms, placed him in the carriage and then climbed in beside him.

**********

Adam pulled into the Ponderosa yard and was calling for his father before the carriage came to a stop. “Pa! Pa!”

Ben pulled open the front door, knowing by the tone of his eldest son’s voice that something was wrong. “Adam, what….” Ben’s words trailed off when he saw his youngest son slumped on the seat next to his brother. Ben ran to the carriage, reaching out to touch Joe’s face.

Ben stared in horror at the blood still slowly leaking from Joe’s ears. The worried father raised his eyes to meet those of his eldest son. “What happened?” Ben asked anxiously, “How was he hurt?”

“He was caught in an explosion, Pa. Let’s get him inside and I’ll tell you what I know.”

Ben’s worried eyes raked his young son’s body and Adam said, “He doesn’t seem to have any broken bones. I think it’s safe to move him.”

Ben nodded and reached into the carriage to take Joe into his arms. Adam jumped down and ran around to the other side. “I’ll take him Pa.”

“No, it’s all right, Adam. I’ve got him.” Ben turned and quickly carried his son into the house. Adam went ahead to open the doors.

**********

Ben lay Joe gently on the bed and stroked the hair away from his face. “Has he been conscious?”

Adam nodded. “For a short time. I was on my way home and I heard the explosion.” Adam had been away buying some stock. “It seemed close to Mrs Gibson’s house so I went to check it out. Joe was conscious and coherent enough to tell me what had happened. He told me that Poole was the killer, Poole killed Ann and ….”

“Poole!” Ben interrupted, sharply.

Adam nodded and continued, “Pa, Joe said Poole killed Mrs Gibson.”

Ben drew in a shocked breath and shook his head. “That poor woman.”

“I don’t know the whole story. We’ll have to wait until Joe’s able to tell us more but he said that Poole was threatening to throw nitro. Joe had to shoot him. There was an explosion and Joe was caught in it.”

Ben looked at Adam and asked, “Is Poole dead?”

“Yes,” Adam replied, “he is.”

Ben nodded and turned back to Joe.

“Pa,” Adam rested his hand on his father’s shoulder, “Joe can’t hear.”

Ben bit his lip and then said, “Go for the doctor, Adam. Tell him we need him here immediately.” Ben hoped that Doctor Martin would be in town and not off somewhere at another ranch. “Then go and see Clem Foster. Tell him what you know. Go out to Mrs Gibson’s place if he needs you to.”

Adam turned worried eyes to his little brother. “But, Pa, I ….”

“I know you’re worried, Adam,” Ben broke in, “But there is nothing you can do for Joe right now. I’ll take care of him and I’m sure the doctor will know what to do to help him,” Ben silently prayed he was right, “and we need to know what happened out there.”

Adam nodded and turned to leave, but Ben called, “Adam, one more thing. Hoss is in town getting supplies. Tell him what’s happened and that he’s to go with you.”

“All right, Pa,” Adam replied, he didn’t say it out loud but he knew there was no way that Hoss wouldn’t return straight home when he found out Joe had been hurt.

**********

Adam rode into town at a speed his father would have deemed unsafe. He was relieved to find Doctor Martin in his office and quickly told the man what had happened and what he knew of Joe’s injuries. The doctor was soon on his way out to the ranch.

Adam then went over to the Sheriff’s office but Clem wasn’t there. He walked around town trying to locate him, finally walking back to where he had started from, Adam saw Clem walking into the office.

Starting across the street, Adam looked over at Miller’s general store and saw the Ponderosa buckboard parked there. He debated whether he should go and tell Hoss about Joe first or go and talk to Clem. The decision was taken out of his hands when Hoss came out the door and saw him.

“Adam,” the big man called, “What are you doing here?”

Adam walked over and drew his brother down the street, out of earshot of other people before saying, “Something’s happened, Hoss.”

Hoss looked into his brother’s eyes, fearfully. “What?” he asked, anxiously.

“Joe’s been hurt.”

“What’s happened!” Hoss all but shouted.

As quickly as he could, Adam told Hoss what had occurred at Mrs Gibson’s house and the condition he’d found Joe in.

When Adam had finished, Hoss immediately turned and strode towards the buckboard. Adam grabbed his arm. “Pa wants us to see if Clem needs us to go out to Mrs Gibson’s place with him.”

Hoss shook his brother’s hand off his arm. “You go,” he said, “I’m going to Little Joe.” Adam let Hoss go, knowing there was no way he could stop him. In truth he wished he could go with Hoss but he still had to go and see Deputy Foster.

**********

Once again Adam told the story of what had happened at Mrs Gibson’s house. Sheriff Roy Coffee was out of town, Deputy Clem Foster was in charge. Adam was relieved when Clem said it wouldn’t be necessary for Adam to accompany him out there. The deputy knew the Cartwright family well and he could see how anxious Adam was to return to his family. Clem said he could find a couple of men to go out to Mrs Gibson’s with him and told Adam, “As soon as we’ve finished out there, I’ll call out to the Ponderosa.”

Adam nodded. “Thanks, Clem. I’ll let Pa know,” he said, as he walked out the door and then ran to his horse.

**********

Hoss had driven the team hard and Adam caught up to him not far from the house.

Ben had taught his boys that a man always looks after his horse before anything else but as they arrived at the house, both men had only one thing on their minds, Joe. Leaving the horses in the yard, they rushed inside.

Ben had heard the horses run into the yard and now he heard feet pounding up the stairs.

“How is he?” Hoss asked as he rushed into the room.

“Still unconscious,” Ben replied, worry evident in his voice.

Hoss turned anxious eyes towards the doctor. “Doc?” he asked, questioningly.

“I’m sorry but at the moment I just don’t know how serious his injuries are. If it was a broken arm or leg, I could set it and tell you he’d be fine but with a head injury it’s just impossible to know what damage has been done until he wakes up.”

Hoss knelt beside the bed and reached for his brother’s hand, squeezing it gently. “He’ll be all right,” Hoss said, quietly, almost to himself. “He has to be. He just has to be.”

“The bleeding from his ears has stopped,” Doctor Martin said, wanting to give the family some encouragement. “That’s a good sign.”

Adam rubbed a hand across his eyes and fought to get his emotions under control. Wanting to be by himself for a while, he said, “I’ll take care of the horses.” He walked out of the room and Ben followed him. Half way down the stairs, Adam was stopped by his father. “Adam,” Ben called, “I thought you were going to go with Clem?”

Adam didn’t turn around as he replied, “He said he didn’t need us to. He’s going to come out and see you after he’s been to Mrs Gibson’s. You didn’t really expect me to stay away did you?” Adam added quietly.

“No,” Ben shook his head, he knew his boys well, “I didn’t think you would.”

Adam took another step down and his father said, “I’ll call you if there’s any change.” Adam nodded abruptly, quickly finished walking down the stairs and out the front door. Yes, Ben knew his boys well. Where others outside the family thought Adam emotionless and cold, Ben knew his eldest son’s feelings ran as deep as anyone’s, he just found it hard to express those feelings. Ben had caught the tears in Adam’s eyes before he had turned away in Joe’s bedroom. He knew Adam sought solitude now to get those feelings under control.

**********

Two hours later, Adam returned to the house. Deputy Clem Foster came out to the Ponderosa to let the Cartwrights know that he’d had the bodies of Mrs Gibson and William Poole taken to Virginia City. He had also collected Adam and Joe’s horses from Mrs Gibson’s and brought them with him to the Ponderosa. Clem then left quietly, leaving the family to their vigil.

Hour by hour, day drifted into night and night into day, still there was no change in the young man who lay so still in his bed. Joe had not so much as moved.

Doctor Martin hadn’t voiced his fears yet but he was beginning to believe that Joe would never wake. The others didn’t need him to voice those fears though, that fear was already their own.

**********

They had all been taking turns talking to Joe, hoping to rouse him. They’d managed to force some water down his throat but the doctor knew it wasn’t enough. He watched as Adam once again tried to get water into Joe while Hoss supported him. Ben wiped away the water that spilled down Joe’s chin.

“We’re not getting enough water into him,” Doctor Martin said.

“What can we do?” Ben asked, anxiously. “He won’t swallow.”

“I know,” the doctor nodded. “We could force some tubbing down his throat and that would allow us to slowly pour some water in.”

Ben visibly shuddered, not liking the thought of doing something that would cause Joe pain or distress. “Is it dangerous?” he asked.

The doctor nodded. “It’s something I would only do if I thought there was no other alternative. I’d have to be very careful when inserting and removing the tubbing and we’d need to go very slowly so that he doesn’t choke.” Ben looked uncertain and Doctor Martin continued, “If we don’t do something soon, he will become severely dehydrated, his body won’t be able to withstand that,” the doctor paused, “he’ll die.”

“It’s not something I want to do to Joe either, Pa,” Adam said slowly, “but we have no choice.”

“I wish we didn’t have to do it,” Hoss said sadly, “He’s defenceless now. He’s relying on us to help him and we’re goin’ ta hurt ‘im.” Hoss’ words were pain filled.

“Pa and I feel exactly the same way, Hoss, you know that. But you have to tell yourself that we are doing this to help him,” Adam added quietly, “He’s unconscious, Hoss. He won’t feel it.”

Ben was sitting in a chair by his son’s bedside. His older sons had tried at different times to get him to take a break but he had refused to leave. Hoss walked to the other side of the bed and picked up his younger brother’s hand, squeezing it gently, he said, “Come on, Little Joe. Wake up. Please just open your eyes for me. Please Joe.” There was no response from Joe.

Ben looked over at Doctor Martin. “Do it,” he said simply, and then he turned back to Joe.

The doctor started to pull what he would need from his medical bag, the family kept their eyes on Joe. Suddenly Adam frowned, wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him and then he saw it again. “Pa!” he shouted excitedly, “Joe moved his leg!”

Ben looked down towards the foot of the bed and held his breath as he waited. When the movement happened again, three faces broke into relieved smiles.

“Joseph, come on now,” Ben encouraged, holding his son’s hand and stroking the hair back from his forehead. “You’re so close, you can do it. Come on, son, wake up.”

Doctor Martin had moved back to the bed and waited as anxiously as Joe’s family. Joe’s eyelids flickered and finally after what seemed to be a monumental struggle, he finally opened his eyes.

“Oh, Joseph,” Ben said lovingly, caressing the side of his son’s face. “How do you feel?” Ben looked at Joe’s face and prayed his son could hear him.

“Thirsty,” Joe said softly, “Can I have a drink?” he barely managed to croak the words out.

Joe began to wonder if his family had gone crazy when they all laughed and Adam and Hoss nearly knocked each other over in their rush to get to the water jug.

Hoss frowned as Adam reached the jug first and started to pour some water into a glass. He was soon happy again though, helping to rearrange some pillows behind Joe, while Ben supported him. Once Joe was propped up a little bit, Adam handed their father the glass, Ben held it while Joe drank.

When the glass was empty, the doctor stepped up to the bed. “Well, young man, let’s take a look at you. He carefully looked into Joe’s ears and asked, “Can you hear me all right?”

“Yes,” Joe replied quietly, to the great relief of his family.

“Do you remember what happened?” Doctor Martin asked.

“Yes,” Joe said slowly, as he thought, he looked at his father, “Poole was the killer, Pa. He killed Ann and Mrs Gibson.” Joe’s breathing quickened as he remembered what had happened.

Ben sought to calm him. “Try not to think about it, Joe. Just concentrate on getting well.”

Doctor Martin was trying to examine Joe but the young man kept weakly trying to brush the doctor’s hands away.

“It’s my fault, Pa,” Joe said, clearly upset.

“No, son,” Ben replied comfortingly, “You didn’t….”

Joe cut his father off. “You don’t understand. You know I asked Mrs Gibson if she knew that tune, New Orleans Woman?” When Ben nodded, Joe continued, “When I went over there, I found the sheet music for that song ripped up and thrown on the floor. Then Poole came in and told me that Mrs Gibson had been accidentally caught in an explosion and killed. I knew he’d murdered her though, Pa.”

“Joe, calm down,” Doctor Martin said firmly. Joe didn’t take any notice.

“If I hadn’t asked her about that music she’d still be alive. She told me she’d heard it somewhere, she must have remembered and let on to Poole. It’s my fault, Pa.”

The doctor shook his head in frustration and looked at Ben. “He needs to calm down. Now! I don’t want to have to give him something to knock him out after he’s been unconscious for so long but he can’t go on like this.”

Ben gently pulled Joe to him and held him tightly in his arms, whispering, “It’s not your fault, Joseph. I was the one who suggested you go over to Mrs Gibson’s and ask her about the music. It’s not your fault. It’s going to be all right. Come on now, shhh.” He slowly rubbed his son’s back and it wasn’t long until he felt Joe’s body relax and Ben knew he’d fallen asleep. Ben held his son a while longer and then carefully laid him down, arranging the pillows and blankets to make him comfortable.

Ben turned to Doctor Martin. “What do you think?”

“Well, he didn’t let me do much of an examination but his hearing seems to be fine. The force of the explosion must have caused some temporary loss of hearing but that’s settled down now. We’ll need to keep an eye on him but I think he’ll be all right. I better get back to town. I’ll come out again tomorrow to check on him. Send for me if you need me before then. I’ll leave some sleeping powders with you. Try to avoid using them if you can but use them if you have to.”

**********

The following day, Ben was sitting with his youngest son, talking about all that had happened.

“I feel so guilty, Pa. Like it’s all my fault. If only I hadn’t talked Mr Wilson into bringing Ann to my birthday party, they would all still be alive. Ann, Mr Wilson, Mrs Gibson, Pa, they’d all still be alive!” Tears pooled in Joe’s eyes and he raised his left hand to wipe them away.

Ben reached out to grab Joe’s right hand and held it tightly encased in his own. “Don’t, Joseph. Don’t take this on yourself. We talked about this after Ann died and we were looking after her uncle, remember? I told you that we all do things that we are sorry for but we can’t torment ourselves over them for the rest of our lives. Joseph,” Ben said, firmly, “you were doing a kindness when you asked Ann’s uncle to bring her to your party. You had no way of knowing what would happen. You can not blame yourself, it’s not your fault.”

Joe turned away, making no reply.

**********

A week later, Joe was up and around, albeit on still shaky legs. He was still suffering from headaches so bad they made him physically ill.

Walking down the stairs late that afternoon, Ben looked up as he heard the front door open. As his two eldest sons were about to call out a greeting to him, Ben raised a finger to his lips.

Adam frowned and asked quietly, “Another one?”

Ben nodded, grimly.

While walking over to his sons, Ben looked at the clock, “It started about two hours ago. He’s just gone to sleep.” Ben sat down in his leather chair and shook his head. “I just wish there was something we could do.” When Joe first started suffering the headaches, Doctor Martin had told them that they could stop at any time but there was also a possibility that Joe would continue to have them for the rest of his life. “I want one of you to ride into town tomorrow and ask the doctor to come out again. He might know of another doctor somewhere who might be able to help.”

Adam sat down in the blue chair across from his father and steepled his fingers in thought. “Do you think that Joe would be up to a trip, Pa? He can’t even sit up when one of those headaches hits.”

“I’ll have to see what Doctor Martin thinks. Hopefully we could get a doctor to come here. Cost is no object if we can find someone who could help your brother.”

**********

Ben looked up from his meal and saw Joe slowly walking down the stairs. He got up and pulled his son’s chair out. When Joe reached him and sat down, Ben ran a hand across Joe’s back and then took his own seat, asking, “How are you feeling?”

“A bit better, thanks, Pa.” Joe replied.

“Do you feel like something to eat, Little Joe?” Hoss asked, “We’ve kept yours warm in case you woke up. I’ll get it,” he said as he stood up.

“No thanks, Hoss.” Joe replied quietly, “I don’t feel like anything.”

“You have to try and eat something, Little Joe,” Hoss said with concern.

Ben agreed, “Your brother’s right. At least try.”

Without saying a word, Hoss left to get Joe’s meal. When the food was placed in front of him, Joe toyed with his fork before finally starting to eat. After a few mouthfuls, he put the fork down, avoiding eye contact with his family who watched him worriedly.

**********

The next morning Adam rode into town to ask Doctor Martin to go out to the Ponderosa.

After Adam rode back, he and Hoss had stayed around the yard and when Doctor Martin came out later that afternoon, they went inside to hear what he had to say.

After examining Joe, Doctor Martin sat in the great room talking to him and his family. “So, you get no warning before the headaches start?” the doctor had asked the same questions before but wanted to go over them again.

“No,” Joe shook his head, “One minute I feel fine and the next the pain is so bad that I have to stop whatever I’m doing.”

“Then what happens?” Doctor Martin prompted, “Is your vision clear when it happens?”

Once again Joe shook his head, “Everything goes fuzzy and then black, I don’t know where I am or what’s happening around me.”

“We put him to bed,” Ben said, “after a couple of hours sleep, the headache is mostly gone.”

“And you are still getting the headaches everyday, Joe?” the doctor asked.

“Yes,” Joe confirmed, “ And sometimes I have more than one a day.”

“I’m sorry that I can’t be of more help, Joe, but I just don’t know of anything that might stop them. I’ll contact some of my colleagues and see if they have any ideas or suggestions. It may take a few weeks though.” Before Joe could ask, Doctor Martin continued, “I know you want to start riding again but I just don’t think that’s wise at the moment. So, no, riding is out and no working, I want you to take it easy.”

“Taking it easy doesn’t help,” Joe snapped, “I haven’t done any work all week and they still keep happening.”

“Joseph,” Ben said reproachfully, “It’s not the doctor’s fault.” He understood his son’s frustration but couldn’t allow rudeness.

“I’m sorry,” Joe apologized, “I’m just sick of feeling this way.”

“I know,” the doctor replied. “Try not to worry. They could just stop suddenly at any time but I’ll go back to town now and get some letters written and we’ll see what comes of them.”

**********

A few days later, Joe was in the barn brushing his horse. He was chaffing at the confinement and his family’s constant vigil of him. Joe had fought his father almost every step of the way to the barn. Ben constantly worried when Joe was out of his sight but he knew his son needed some time to himself though so he had finally allowed the trip to the barn.

Joe frowned as he heard a sound, wondering if he was imagining things. He shook his head, ‘No,’ he thought, ‘I can definitely hear it.’ It was someone whistling a tune. A tune he knew. Joe’s skin rose in goose bumps. The tune was New Orleans Woman.

Joe looked around him, wondering where the sound was coming from. Suddenly the whistling stopped. Ben walked in and found Joe pale and shaking, frantically turning one way and then the other as if searching for something.

Quickly going to his son’s side, Ben asked, “Joe, what’s wrong?”

“Did you hear it?” Joe asked, “Did you hear it, Pa?”

“Hear what, Joe?” Ben replied.

“Whistling,” Joe frowned, “someone was whistling New Orleans Woman.”

“No,” Ben said calmly, taking Joe’s arm, “There’s no one here but us, Joe. You must have been mistaken. You’re tired, come inside and ….”

Joe shook his father’s hand off his arm angrily. “I heard it, Pa! I heard it!” Joe threw down the brush he was using and walked away.

Ben followed. Joe was walking around the surrounding area, obviously searching for the source of the noise he said he had heard.

“Come on, son,” Ben tried again, “You know it’s not possible. It’s just your mind playing tricks. Things like that happen sometimes. You’re overtired that’s all it is.”

Joe was confused, now he was beginning to wonder if he really had heard the whistling after all. Joe returned to the house with his father.

**********

Hop Sing was in San Francisco visiting some relatives and wasn’t due back for a few weeks. Ben had thought about getting someone else in but had decided they could manage on their own. Ben had cooked the meal that night and after they’d eaten, Joe took some dishes through to the kitchen to make a start on the washing up. Putting the dishes down, he scrapped the leftovers onto one plate and took them out to the scrap barrel, as he turned to go back inside, he heard it again, the whistling. The same tune.

“Who’s there!” Joe shouted.

Meanwhile, Hoss had gone into the kitchen to give Joe a hand. Finding no one there, he went outside in search of his brother.

“Joe!” he called, “Little Joe, are you out here?”

Joe swung around at the sound of his brother’s voice. “Hoss, did you hear it?”

“Hear what, little brother?” Hoss asked when he reached Joe. “What are you doin’ out here in the dark?”

“I heard someone whistling New Orleans Woman, Hoss. I heard it earlier, too, I know I did,” Joe replied firmly.

“I didn’t hear nothin’, Joe,” Hoss said honestly, “and who’d be out here whistling. Have you been eating that loco weed?” Hoss joked.

“You’re as bad as Pa!” Joe shouted angrily, “I’m not crazy. I know what I heard.”

**********

Ben and Adam were at Ben’s desk working on a contract when Joe stormed inside and walked up the stairs.

“Joseph,” Ben called, “What’s wrong?”

Hoss came running into the room, calling, “Little Joe, wait! I’m sorry, I…”

Their only reply was the slamming of Joe’s bedroom door.

Ben and Adam turned their eyes to Hoss, who hung his head down guiltily.

“What happened?” Ben asked.

“Little Joe wasn’t in the kitchen so I went outside looking for him. When I found him, he asked me if I had heard whistling….”

“New Orleans Woman?” Ben interrupted.

Hoss nodded and Adam looked from one to the other. “What’s this about?” Adam asked.

“Earlier today when Joe was in the barn, he said he heard someone whistling that tune,” Ben said.

“Did you hear it?” Adam asked his father. Ben shook his head and Adam looked over at his brother. “What about you, Hoss, did you hear anything?”

“No, I didn’t,” Hoss replied, flushing guiltily he continued, “I told Joe he must have been eating loco weed. I was only joking,” he rushed on to say, “but I shouldn’t have said it. That’s what made Joe so mad.” He looked at his father, “Joe told me I was as bad as you and stormed off.”

Ben nodded. “I told Joe he was just tired and imagining things.”

“Do you think he really did hear it?” Hoss asked, “It ain’t like Joe to be hearin’ things that aren’t there.”

“It doesn’t seem likely,” Ben replied quietly.

“It wouldn’t hurt to ask the hands,” Adam said, “I’ll go out to the bunkhouse and ask. They may think it’s a strange question to be asking them but as least we’ll know, one way or the other.”

Adam went out to talk to the men and when he came back in, he shook his head slowly. “It was none of the men.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about,” Ben said, trying to convince himself as well as his sons, “He’ll be fine tomorrow.”

**********

Breakfast was quiet the next morning. Joe was still angry and refused to listen to Hoss’ apology.

Later, after Adam and Hoss had left for work, Ben sat at his desk. Joe hated feeling like he was being watched but with the severe headaches and blackouts he’d been having, Ben wouldn’t leave him at the house alone.

Still thinking about what he had heard the day before, Joe walked towards the barn. As he got closer, someone stepped out from behind the side of it. Joe looked at the man in shock and confusion. “Poole,” Joe whispered. The man smiled and waved before turning and running out of sight.

Joe started to follow but suddenly a headache struck and sent him to his knees. Joe stumbled to his feet, fighting the darkness that was closing in on him. He felt hands trying to grab him and pushed them away. “Poole!” Joe shouted, lashing out with his fists.

The pain intensified and Joe could no longer stay on his feet. Joe started to sway and this time didn’t feel the hands that reached for him again.

Ben lowered Joe to the ground and knelt with Joe’s head in his lap. “Oh, Joseph, what are we going to do?” he said worriedly to himself, gently stroking Joe’s forehead.

**********

Ben managed to get Joe up to his room and into bed. He sat with his son until he heard horses ridden into the yard. Looking out the window and seeing it was Adam and Hoss, he went downstairs to talk to them.

Ben walked into the barn where his elder sons were unsaddling their horses. “Hello, boys,” he said, “How was your day?”

“Fine, Pa,” Adam replied. Turning to greet his father, he stared in shock, “Pa, what happened to your eye?”

“Who hit you?” Hoss asked, angrily. Ben’s eye was swollen and bruised.

“Joe had a bad headache again today, when I went to help him, he was confused. He didn’t know it was me with him,” Ben said, quietly.

“Joe hit you?” Adam asked, shocked.

Ben nodded. “Like I said, he didn’t know it was me.” Ben knew he had to tell them all of it. “I think he thought I was Poole. He shouted that name just before he hit me.”

Adam and Hoss were silent for a moment and then Adam asked, “Pa, do you think we should get the doctor out to take a look at Joe?”

Ben shook his head. “I don’t know. I just don’t know what to do. I think he still blames himself for the deaths of Ann and her uncle and now Mrs Gibson. It’s on his mind all the time. I don’t think there is anything a doctor can do to help but then we can’t just stand by and do nothing when Joe seems to be getting worse.”

“What did Joe say after he found out he hit you?” Hoss asked.

“He hasn’t woken up yet,” Ben replied, “We still have that to face.”

**********

An hour later, Ben was back sitting with Joe in his room while Adam and Hoss were downstairs. Ben knew Joe would be upset when he saw his father’s black eye and learnt how the man had gotten it and Ben wanted to talk to him alone.

Joe started to move restlessly and finally woke.

Suddenly, Joe’s hand reached out and grabbed his father’s arm, he said one word, “Poole.”

Ben leant forward. “What do you mean, son? What about Poole?”

“He was here, Pa. I saw him. He….” Joe broke off, “What happened to your eye?” Joe asked as he stared at his father’s face.

“It’s nothing, son. It doesn’t matter,” Ben tried to brush Joe’s concern away, he himself worried about something else. “What do you mean, Poole was here, Joseph?”

“I know it sounds impossible,” Joe said urgently, “but I saw him, Pa. Out by the barn.”

Coming into the room to check if his father needed anything, Adam was at first relieved to see Joe awake and then concerned when he overheard the conversation.

Joe saw the troubled look that passed between his father and eldest brother and his temper flared. “I know you don’t believe me and I don’t know how it’s possible but I am telling you what I saw!”

“What exactly did you see?” Adam asked.

“There’s no point in telling you more,” Joe snapped, “I’ve already told you and you don’t believe me.”

Hoss had heard Joe’s voice and went upstairs, “What’s wrong?” he asked, coming into the room.

“Joe says he saw Poole,” Adam answered him.

“Joe….” Hoss started.

Joe cut him off. “There’s no point in talking to any of you. I’ve told you what I saw, I can’t do more than that. I can’t make you believe me.”

“Calm down, little brother,” Hoss said as he sat on the edge of Joe’s bed. “You saw Poole die. You saw his body. You know he’s dead. Whoever you saw, Little Joe, it wasn’t Poole.”

Joe shook his head, his eyes showing his own confusion. “Common sense tells me that he’s dead but I saw him.”

“Did you get a good look at this person?” Adam asked, “Maybe there was just something about them that reminded you of Poole.”

“I saw his face,” Joe said, firmly. “It was him. He smiled at me and waved. Then he ran out of sight around the side of the barn. I started to chase after him and…” Joe’s words trailed off, as he was unable to recall what had happened after that. Joe rubbed at his head, “I don’t remember what happened after that.”

Adam wanted Joe to understand that he was confused about what he’d seen and he told Joe, “Pa found you near the barn. You didn’t know who he was. You thought he was Poole. You….”

“Adam,” Ben snapped. “That’s enough.”

“He has to know,” Adam replied. “It wasn’t Poole he was fighting, it was you.”

“I hit you?” the words were spoken quietly but the shock in Joe’s voice was plain.

Ben and Hoss both shot Adam a glare and Adam avoided their eyes, feeling guilty enough.

“I’m so sorry, Pa,” Joe said, shocked at learning what he’d done.

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. It was an accident, Joe. You didn’t realize it was me. I know you didn’t mean it, don’t worry about it.” Ben comforted, “It’s nothing.”

“I don’t remember,” Joe was clearly confused, “Why can’t I remember hitting my own father? Pa, what’s happening to me?” Joe’s hands were clenched, “I feel like I’m going crazy.”

“Don’t say that,” Ben stroked Joe’s arm, “Don’t even think something like that. I’m sure there’s an answer to this. We’ll sort it out. You just try not to worry.” Ben continued to talk to Joe until he finally went back to sleep. Ben, Adam and Hoss then went downstairs to talk.

“I think we need to ask Doctor Martin to come out,” Adam said, seeing his father about to protest, Adam continued, “Pa, Joe is hearing and seeing things that aren’t there. He is getting worse not better. We need to get a doctor’s opinion.”

Ben nodded reluctantly. “Ride in tomorrow and ask him to come out.”

**********

The next morning, Ben, Adam and Hoss were eating breakfast before Adam left to ride into town. There was a knock on the door. Adam opened the door.

“Adam,” one of the ranch hands said, frantically, “there’s a fire in the North pasture.”

Ben and Hoss both jumped up. “I’ll saddle the horses,” Hoss said and ran out to the barn.

“Get going,” Adam told the hand, “Round up as many men as you can. We’ll catch up.”

When the man left, Adam turned to his father, “Are you coming with us?”

Ben shook his head. “I can’t leave Joe.”

“What’s going on?” Joe asked, walking down the stairs still wearing his nightshirt.

“There’s a fire in the North pasture, your brothers are just leaving to go out there now.”

Joe knew that if the wind got behind the fire, the damage it could do would be massive. “You go too, Pa,” Joe said, firmly. “It’s bad enough that I can’t help out. You need to go.” Joe knew there was no way his family would let him go with them, they would spend more time keeping an eye on him rather than fighting the fire.

“Joe, I can’t…” Ben started.

Joe cut him off. “Don’t worry about me, Pa. I’ll stay in bed. If I do get a headache, I’ll be in bed and it won’t matter.” Ben didn’t look convinced and Joe added, “Please, Pa. I don’t want us to lose everything because of me. You’re needed there. I’ll be all right.”

Ben knew that if he didn’t go and the fire wasn’t stopped, unreasonable as it would be, Joe would blame himself. “Saddle my horse,” he said to Adam, who nodded and quickly left.

“Come on, Joe,” Ben said, “Let’s get you back to bed.” He put his hand on his son’s back as they went up the stairs.

When he got Joe back in bed, Ben was ready to leave. “I won’t be long. I’ll come back as soon as I can.”

Joe nodded. “I’ll be all right.”

“Promise me that you will stay in bed, Joe,” Ben asked.

Joe nodded again and said, “I promise.”

**********

It was four hours later when Ben rode into the Ponderosa ranch yard.

The fire was out. Adam and Hoss had stayed there with some of the men to make sure they didn’t miss any burning embers.

Leaving his horse, Ben rushed inside and upstairs to check on Joe. He quietly opened the bedroom door in case Joe was asleep and was shocked to see an empty bed.

“That boy,” Ben mumbled to himself, “Will he never learn to do as he’s told.”

The worried father walked out of the room, calling, “Joseph! Joseph! Where are you!” He walked down the stairs and through the kitchen, still calling for his son. He received no answer.

Ben walked out to the barn, praying he would find Joe’s horse there. His heart sank when he saw that Cochise’s stall was empty. Ben walked around to the corral in case Joe had turned the horse out there but Cochise wasn’t there either. Ben slammed his hand down on the rail. “I shouldn’t have left him,” he muttered to himself.

**********

Two hours later, Ben met up with Adam and Hoss as they rode home.

“Pa!” Hoss called when he saw his father riding towards them, “What are you doin’ out here?”

“Looking for your brother,” Ben replied.

“What!” Adam asked, shocked, “Why isn’t he at home? Where is he?”

“That’s what I’d like to know,” Ben replied, both worry and anger lacing his words. “When I got home, he wasn’t there. I’ve been out searching for him since then.” Ben clenched the reins tightly, “I’m worried.”

**********

With darkness descending upon them, Ben’s worry was growing. They had decided to ride back to the house in the hope that Joe had returned.

As they rode up to the house, a man stepped down from the porch and called, “Hello, Mr Cartwright, I’ve been waiting for you.” It was Deputy Sheriff Clem Foster.

The Cartwrights dismounted and Ben asked, “Clem, what are you doing out here?” Intuition told Ben it was bad news.

“I need you to come into town, Mr Cartwright,” the deputy said, “It’s Joe.”

“What’s happened?” Ben asked, anxiously. “Is he all right?”

“Mr Cartwright, I don’t know any way to tell you this other than just to tell you straight out. I’ve got Joe locked up in my jail. He murdered Lucy Myers.”

“What!” Ben shouted, “That’s utterly ridiculous!”

“I’m sorry, Mr Cartwright, but there’s no doubt.”

“I have no doubts either,” Ben’s voice rose even louder, “I have no doubt that my son didn’t murder anyone.”

Adam glared at Deputy Foster and asked, “Why do you think it was Joe?”

“Lucy was at home alone today,” Clem Foster told the family, “When her parents returned from town they found her dead in the house. She’d been stabbed. Joe was lying next to her on the floor, unconscious, the knife in his hand. He had her blood all over him. He’s lucky Tom Myers didn’t kill him there and then.”

Ben drew in a deep breath, trying to calm down.

“Mr Cartwright,” Deputy Foster said, hesitantly, “Before Lucy was killed, she was ….” the deputy paused, uncomfortably, “Well, she was attacked.”

“How dare you!” Ben raged, when he realized what the sheriff was hinting at. “You know Joseph, how can you believe my son capable of such filth. Get off my land.”

“Pa,” Adam put a hand on his father’s arm and asked the deputy, “What does Little Joe say happened?”

“He says he doesn’t remember. He’s not making much sense, actually. I’ve had Doctor Martin over to the jail to check him out.” Clem was worried about how Ben would take his next piece of news. “Mr Cartwright, Joe told me that the last thing he remembers was seeing Poole in his room.”

Deputy Clem Foster saw the look that passed between the three Cartwrights. “You don’t seem surprised to learn that Joe is seeing dead men,” Clem said, wondering what was going on.

“What did Joe say happened after that?” Adam asked.

“He says he remembers a struggle and that Poole pulled a gun on him. After that he says he doesn’t remember much except a pain in his head.”

“Whatever’s happened, Joe ain’t murdered anyone,” Hoss said, his faith in his brother unshakable, no matter what the evidence, “And he’d never touch a woman like that.”

Ben nodded in agreement. “We need to get into town and get this mess sorted out.”

“Before you see Joe,” Clem Foster said and took a step back as though worried one of the Cartwrights would strike him, “Doctor Martin sedated him. He says Joe’s delusional.”

Ben didn’t say another word as anger consumed him. He just turned, mounted his horse and rode towards Virginia City. Adam and Hoss followed.

**********

Deputy Clem Foster led the men into the jail, the second deputy jumped to his feet anxiously as the door opened.

“Clem,” said Deputy Mark Richards, “I’m sure glad your back. There’s been talk by some of the men about taking matters into their own hands.”

‘I want to see my son,” Ben said.

Clem Foster nodded to Mark Richards. “Let them through,” he turned back to Ben, “I’m sorry about this Mr Cartwright, but rules are rules. Your guns stay here.”

“Why are you doing this, Clem?” Ben asked, “I thought you knew Joe better than to believe him capable of something like this. Are you trying to prove your authority because Joe questioned your competency when you were unable to find Ann’s killer?”

Clem scowled. “That has nothing to do with my arrest of Joe, Mr Cartwright. Right now the evidence points to Joe. I’m just doing my job.”

Without a word, Ben, Adam and Hoss removed their gunbelts, the dark looks the family shot at the deputy though left him in no doubt how angry they were at him. They followed Deputy Richards into the cell area.

Ben’s eyes went immediately to Joe who was asleep on one of the beds in a cell. Doctor Martin was sitting in a chair in the same cell. Deputy Richards opened the cell door so they could go in.

Ben squatted down beside the bed and gently tried to wake his son. When he got no response he looked questioningly at the doctor.

“I’ve given him a powerful sleeping draught. He’ll probably sleep for a few more hours yet.”

“Do you believe this rubbish Clem Foster is saying, that Joseph killed that girl?” Ben asked.

“Under normal circumstances, I would say of course not,” Ben frowned, starting to think he was not going to like what the man said, the doctor continued, choosing his words carefully, “But there have been cases where after a severe head injury someone’s personality has completely changed. I’m sorry, but I do believe it might be possible.”

“Joseph would never do what they are accusing him of. Never!” Ben said, furiously.

“He seems to have some kind of obsession with William Poole,” the doctor said, “When Joe was brought in here, he was out of it. I can only guess that he was struck by another headache. When I was examining him, he woke up. He just kept going on about Poole. He said that he’d seen Poole, talked to him. The doctor looked at the family sadly, “That’s not rational. You have to admit that there is something seriously wrong.”

Ben seemed to be ignoring the doctor’s words. He was gently stroking the hair away from Joe’s forehead when he saw a bruise and abrasions where it had bleed near his temple, a lump had formed there. “What happened here?” Ben asked, looking over at Doctor Martin. “How did he get this?”

Doctor Martin shook his head. “I did see that. I cleaned the area up. I don’t know for sure how it happened. It might have occurred when Joe blacked out, he could have hit his head when he fell or ….”

When the doctor’s voice trailed off, Adam asked, “Or what?”

“Or Lucy might have hit him, trying to fight him off,” Doctor Martin said, quietly.

“Well, he’s already guilty in your mind, ain’t he!” Hoss snapped. “Are you going to help Clem Foster build the gallows!” Hoss’ face was red with rage.

“It’s all right, Hoss,” Adam said, trying to calm his brother. “It doesn’t matter what they think, we know Joe didn’t do it and we have to concentrate on finding a way to prove it.”

Adam was just as angry as Hoss but he knew that letting Hoss pound the living daylights out of Clem Foster or Doctor Martin wouldn’t help the situation.

“Get out,” Ben said angrily to Doctor Martin, then turned away from the man.

**********

It was another two hours before Joe woke. He blinked sleepily, trying to focus on his father. Ben had been sitting on the other bunk across from Joe with his two older sons, when they had noticed Joe starting to move around. Ben immediately went to squat beside the bed again.

“It’s all right,” Ben comforted when Joe’s eyes opened, “Your brothers and I are with you now. It’s going to be all right.”

Joe was struggling to sit up, Ben helped him and then sat beside him. Ben’s arm rested comfortingly and supportively around Joe’s waist, his hand gently rubbing Joe’s side.

Joe looked over at his brothers. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I’ve dragged you all into now. Pa,” he looked at his father, “what Clem’s saying. I didn’t ….”

Ben quickly cut him off. “Joseph, I know you didn’t. The three of us are as confused as you as to what happened but we know you are innocent. I don’t want you to doubt that for a second.” Ben looked into Joe’s eyes to make sure he understood, “We know.”

“That’s for dang sure, little brother,” Hoss said, firmly, “And don’t you go frettin’, we’ll get this all sorted out, I promise.”

“But…” Joe coughed, as he spoke and rubbed his throat.

Hoss grabbed the canteen they’d asked Clem to get for them. He pulled the stopper out and handed it to his brother. “Here ya go, Little Joe.”

Joe drank greedily, thankful to sooth his dry throat. He managed to smile slightly as he handed it back. “Thanks, Hoss.”

“Do ya want me to get you somethin’ to eat?” Hoss asked, wanting to do anything that would help his brother to feel better.

“No, thanks, Hoss. I don’t think I could keep any food down,” Joe replied, honestly, his stomach roiling at the mere thought of food.

“What were you going to say, Joe?” Ben asked.

Joe was silent for a moment and then he said, “The three of you believing in me means everything to me. I want you to know that. I don’t think I could stand it if you thought I was guilty.”

Hoss tapped his little brother’s knee. “Well, you don’t have to worry about that.”

Joe nodded and Ben prompted, “But?” he asked, sensing there was more Joe wanted to say.

“You believing in me won’t help much if everyone else thinks I’m guilty,” Joe said.

“Joe,” Ben started, searching for words that might comfort.

Joe shook his head. “I know what they’re saying, Pa.” Joe looked into his father’s eyes and the worried father clearly saw his son’s distress.

“Lucy and I went to school together, Pa. We were friends. I’d never hurt her but her parents believe I killed her. That I ….” Joe’s voice trailed off and his face turned pale.

“Bucket!” Ben called out.

Adam quickly grabbed the bucket that had been left in case Joe needed it. Joe was still retching long after there was nothing left to bring up.

Ben kept up a continuous one sided conversation. “That’s it, Joe. Deep breaths. That’s it. You’re doing fine, son. That’s it.”

Finally, Joe was able to lift his head. Hoss handed Ben the canteen and Ben wet his bandana, wiping Joe’s face, he asked, “How do you feel? Do you want us to get the doctor?”

Joe shook his head. “No, I’ll be all right.” Ben handed him the canteen and Joe rinsed his mouth out before taking a drink.

After Joe handed the canteen back, Ben noticed him rubbing his head and frowning. “Do you have a headache?” Ben asked.

“No, not really,” Joe replied, “Not like I have been getting. My head hurts but like someone hit me.”

Adam moved to sit on the other side of Joe on the bunk. “You’ve got a bruise on the side of your head like someone hit you,” Adam said, “Do you remember how you got it?”

“No,” Joe replied as he rubbed his head again.

“Maybe we should leave the questions for a while,” Hoss said, noting his young brother’s still pale face.

“I wish we could,” Adam said, “But we don’t have time. We need to find out what happened out at the Myers place.” He looked at Joe, “I’m sorry, Joe. I know you don’t feel like it but you need to tell us everything you remember. Everything. It could be one little thing that’s the clue.”

“I saw Poole,” Joe said, quietly but firmly. He stopped, waiting for them to tell him it wasn’t possible but no one said anything. In truth they didn’t know what to say. Finally Adam nodded. “All right, Joe. I want you to tell us exactly what happened.”

Joe’s eyes turned to his father and Ben nodded encouragingly, “Go on.”

Joe took a deep breath and thought back.

Joe reached for the book on the table beside his bed. He felt like getting up but he knew how worried his father had been about him lately and Joe didn’t want to break the promise he’d made him.

Without realizing it, Joe had fallen asleep. He was woken by a sound outside his door. Thinking it was his father, he sat up. His jaw dropped open in shock when the door opened and Joe saw William Poole.

Joe kicked the blankets aside and started to get out of bed but Poole was on him in a moment. Joe saw a gun in the man’s hand and started to grapple for it. Suddenly pain exploded in Joe’s head and everything went black.

Joe’s voice trailed away, he looked at his family, “That’s all I remember.” He looked pleadingly into his father’s eyes, “I don’t know how to explain it, Pa. I don’t know what else I can say. I know Poole’s dead but I’ve seen him and he’s alive! It doesn’t make sense”

Suddenly they heard raised voices coming from the outer office. “Murderer! Let us through, Deputy. We want to string us up a murderer. The only reason he’s not hanging is that he’s a Cartwright!” Maybe Joe Cartwright killed Ann and Mrs Gibson and blamed it on Poole!”

Inside the Cartwrights heard the shouting. “How can they say such things, Pa,” Hoss asked, disbelievingly, “Little Joe was at his own birthday party when Ann was killed. There’s no way he could have even been there and they know that,” Hoss nodded his head towards the raised voices outside, “So how can they believe what they are saying now?”

“When a mob gets together, common sense is usually forgotten, Hoss,” Ben sighed with resignation, “Right now, they don’t care what the truth is.”

Clem Foster’s voice shouted over the other voices. “There hasn’t been a trial yet. Break it up. I want you all to go back to your houses. Break it up now.” There was the sound of a scuffle and then Clem was at the cell door. “They’ve gone,” he paused, “for now. This town’s running wild with the news and there’s a lot of anger.”

“Let us take Joe home,” Ben said.

“I’m sorry, Mr Cartwright,” Deputy Foster replied, “I can’t do that. Joe will have to stay here until the trial.”

“When will that be?” Adam asked.

“Circuit Judge will be here in a week,” Clem answered.

“Joe’s not well, you can’t keep him locked up here,” Ben said angrily and glared at the deputy.

“I’m sorry,” Clem replied and truly meant it, “but that’s the way it’s got to be.”

“One of us will stay with him then,” Adam said, “If that’s all right with you, Deputy,” he added sarcastically.

“That’s fine,” Clem nodded and left the room.

Despite having been asleep for hours, Joe was still feeling the effects of the sedative and was finding it hard to keep his eyes open.

Ben and Adam got up from the bed and Ben gently pushed Joe into lying down. “You go back to sleep for a while. Don’t worry, I’ll be here when you wake up.”

As soon as Joe’s eyes closed and he was asleep, Ben turned to his older sons. “Go and see Hiram Wood and see if there is anything he can do to get Joe out of here now.”

“Then what?” Hoss asked.

“We have to find a way to prove that Joe’s innocent,” Ben replied.

Hiram Wood, the Cartwrights lawyer had been on the way to the jail, having heard what had happened, when Adam and Hoss found him. There was nothing he could do to get Joe released from jail but he set to work on the case.

**********

Adam and Hoss got a room at the hotel and ordered a meal to be delivered so they could eat and talk privately.

“Ya know,” Hoss said, “I can’t help thinkin’ about the other time Mr Wood defended Little Joe against murder charges. He was accused then of pushing Mary Parson off a cliff but it was Mr Wood’s young assistant who had set Joe up.”

Adam nodded and the brothers eyes locked in thought.

“Do ya reckon someone is settin’ Little Joe up again?” Hoss asked.

Adam shrugged. “Seems the most likely thing. But how does it explain that Joe says he’s seen Poole?”

“When Mary Parson was murdered, they blamed Joe because Mr Hardner said he’d seen Joe but it turned out that he was going on Joe’s clothes and stuff, he never actually saw Joe’s face.”

“I know,” Adam nodded, “But we’ve asked Joe repeatedly and he insists he saw Poole’s face.”

Neither man really felt like eating, they just pushed the food around their plates.

“What do ya reckon is goin’ ta happen, Adam?” Hoss asked sadly.

Adam shook his head, at a loss for an answer. “Let’s go back to the jail,” he said.

**********

Two days passed and things remained much the same. Either Ben, Adam or Hoss were with Joe in the jail constantly. They never left him alone for fear that the townspeople would get past Clem Foster and the other deputy and take matters into their own hands, carrying out their threat of hanging Joe. Since they weren’t allowed to keep their guns with them while they were at the jail, while one of them stayed with Joe, another would keep watch from the hotel window. The third working with Hiram Wood to clear Joe but things weren’t looking good. Hiram had told Ben that he should be prepared that things could turn out badly. The only positive thing was that Joe had not suffered another headache.

That morning, while Hoss was with Joe at the jail, Ben took the opportunity to talk to Adam.

“Adam,” Ben said, “there’s something I need to discuss with you.”

“What is it?” Adam asked, knowing by the tone of his father’s voice that it was something serious.

“I know I’ve always taught you boys not to go against the law. That the law is the law even if we don’t always agree with it.”

Adam nodded slowly, beginning to guess where this conversation was leading. “You also told me, Pa, that there are times when rules do have to be broken. Hoss and I stand with you on this, Pa.”

“Adam, if Joe is found guilty, I intend to break him out of jail. I won’t let them hang my boy. I don’t know where we will go, somewhere in the South, maybe even to Europe. I can’t ask you and Hoss to be a part of that. To leave everything here.”

“You won’t be able to do it alone. You’ll need our help,” Adam said, firmly, “You’re not asking us to do this, Pa. I’m telling you we are with you. Joe’s our brother and there’s no way we could let him be hung. He’s innocent. He shouldn’t be going through this. No matter what happens, Pa, we’ll be together.”

When Ben talked to Hoss later that day, the conversation was practically the same. As much as Hoss would miss the Ponderosa, he would willingly give it up to save Joe.

**********

Ben spent the night with Joe. The next morning, Joe was very quiet, finally he said, “Pa, I know you, Adam and Hoss are doing everything you can but the evidence against me is bad. I don’t want you to feel guilty if,” Joe paused, “well, you know.”

“Joseph,” Ben grabbed Joe’s arm and gently squeezed it, “I don’t want you to worry about that, do you hear me? We are going to get you out of here, I promise.”

“But ….” Joe’s voice trailed off when his father shook his head.

“No buts. Your brothers and I talked about this yesterday,” Ben glanced at the door leading to the sheriff’s office, making sure it was closed and they couldn’t be overheard. “If the worst happens and you are found guilty, we will get you out. Do you understand what I’m saying, Joseph?”

“Yes, Pa,” Joe said, softly, “But you can’t do that. You’d all have to leave here with me, leave the Ponderosa. I can’t let you give that up.”

“The Ponderosa would mean nothing to me without my sons. It’s a piece of land, Joseph, it can be replaced. You, cannot. It doesn’t matter where we go, as long as we’re together. We can start again.”

“Are you sure?” Joe looked into his father’s eyes.

Ben pulled his son to him and hugged him tightly. “Very sure,” he whispered into Joe’s ear.

**********

Adam went over to the jail to relieve his father. He noted how tired both men looked. “Didn’t you get any sleep last night?” he asked.

Ben glanced sympathetically at Joe. “Joe had a couple of nightmares last night.”

“That’s not surprising,” Adam said understandingly. “Why don’t you go and get some sleep for a bit, Pa, before you go and see Mr Wood.”

“I’ll be all right. I’ll see you later,” Ben patted Joe’s arm, “You remember what I said,” he smiled when Joe nodded.

Deputy Foster unlocked the cell door, Adam and Ben traded places.

After Ben and Clem Foster had left, Adam turned to Joe. “How do you feel?”

“All right,” Joe replied listlessly.

Adam was worried that Joe was starting to become discouraged. “We are going to get you out of here, Joe.”

Adam saw the sadness in his brother’s eyes when Joe turned to look at him. “Pa told me what you are going to do. I appreciate all you are doing but I don’t want you to give up your lives for mine. It’s not fair to you and it’s not worth it.”

“Our lives don’t consist of just the Ponderosa, Joe. We don’t consider that leaving it is giving up our lives,” Adam sat down beside Joe on the bed and looked into his brother’s eyes, “And on top of all that, Joe, we do consider that it’s worth it. You are worth it!”

Joe ran a hand across his eyes, wiping away the tears that had sprung into them. “Thank you, Adam,” he replied quietly.

Before Joe had a chance to say more, Adam patted him on the back and said, “We haven’t given up on clearing you.”

“There’s no way to prove I didn’t do it, Adam,” Joe shook his head, “Even I’m beginning to have doubts.”

Adam frowned. “Doubts about what, Joe?” When his brother didn’t answer, Adam asked more forcefully, “About what, Joe?”

“Poole,” Joe replied simply.

When Joe didn’t say anymore, Adam tried to keep his frustration in check, he asked, “What about him? Don’t you think you did see him now? Is that it?”

Joe got up and started to pace the floor as he talked. “Last night I kept dreaming of that day in my room, when he came in. I’d have sworn on the bible that it was him, Adam, but now ….” his voice trailed off.

“And now?” Adam prompted.

“I kept seeing his face in my dreams last night. Every time I closed my eyes it was there. There was something not quite right about it though,” Joe found it difficult to explain what he meant. “It’s like the two of them look the same but there’s something about them that makes them different.”

Suddenly Joe spun around and went back to the bed. Sitting next to his brother, he grabbed Adam’s arm. “The man in my room, he had blue eyes! Poole’s eyes were brown.”

“You’re positive about this, Joe?” Adam asked excitedly.

“Yes,” Joe said firmly, “but how can two people look so alike?”

“It has to be more than just someone who looks like him, Joe. He’s deliberately made you look guilty. It’s someone who for some reason wants to punish you for Poole’s death.”

“A brother?” Joe asked, understanding where Adam was leading.

“Yes,” Adam nodded, he patted Joe on the back. “I told you that one little clue was all we needed.”

“But how do we find him?” Joe asked.

“You let us handle that,” Adam replied confidently, “We’ll find him.” He patted Joe’s back, “I have to tell Pa and Hoss this and then I’ll be right back, all right?”

Joe nodded and smiled, the first he’d smiled in days.

“Deputy! Deputy!” Adam shouted. When Clem Foster opened the door, Adam said, “Let me out, Clem.”

After Clem Foster unlocked the door, Adam walked out and through the office, going to stand outside. He looked up to the hotel room that the family was occupying and saw Hoss at the window. He signalled him to come down.

When Hoss crossed the road to meet him, Adam asked, “Where’s Pa?”

“Went to talk to Mr Wood,” Hoss replied. Adam wasn’t surprised to hear their father had skipped having a sleep.

“Hoss,” Adam said, grinning, “Joe’s remembered something very important.” Adam told his brother what Joe had remembered and the conclusion they had reached.

“That’s great,” Hoss said, happily, but then he frowned in thought. “Is that enough though? What does Clem say?”

“I haven’t talked to him yet,” Adam said, “Go and get Pa and Mr Wood. I’ll wait here. We’ll talk to Clem together.

**********

“That’s not evidence,” Deputy Foster replied, regretfully, when he heard what had gotten the Cartwrights so excited.

“But don’t you see,” Ben said, in exasperation, “This explains everything.”

Clem shook his head. “It explains nothing, Mr Cartwright. Joe’s horse was found out at the Myers place You’re telling me that Joe now remembers the man in his room wasn’t Poole because he had blue eyes but he can’t tell us how he got from your place to the Myers. He can’t tell us what happened there.”

“He can’t tell us what he doesn’t know,” Adam snapped, angrily. “Are you deliberately being obtuse or are you really just that stupid.”

Deputy Foster’s eyes popped wide open in surprise. He’d been on the receiving end of the youngest Cartwright son’s anger, he hadn’t expected to face it from the eldest. Even more surprising to the lawman was that Ben didn’t reprimand Adam.

“Find me some real evidence,” Clem said, trying to stay calm, “And then I’ll listen.”

“We shouldn’t have to find the evidence, Deputy, that’s your job, remember?” Adam was furious.

Clem Foster pointed his finger at Adam. “Now you listen here, Adam Cartwright.”

Adam knocked the Deputy’s finger away and Ben stepped between them. “That’s enough,” Ben said, “This isn’t getting us anywhere.”

Adam turned to his father. “You’re right, Pa.” He rubbed a hand across his forehead as he thought. “We know Poole was in Carson City, why don’t we send a wire there and find out if anything happened while Poole was there and if anyone saw another man that looked like him?”

“Good thinking, Adam,” Ben said. “We’ll wire surrounding towns as well, something might have happened before Carson. Someone might have seen something as he passed through.”

**********

The following day, the family waited anxiously for replies to come. Ben was in the sheriff’s office, when Adam stormed in, throwing a newspaper on the desk, he pointed to the front page and said, “Look at that.”

Ben looked down at the headline that read, ‘Blue Eyed Apparition Sought in Murder Case.’ Ben read the article and then threw the paper against a wall. “They’ve made it sound like we’ve made this man up. How did they get the story, anyway?”

“Oh, I know how they got it,” Adam said, angrily, “Arthur, in the telegraph office and after we told that little worm to keep it to himself. I’ve just been down there and confronted him about it.” He rubbed his hand, leaving no doubt as to what the confrontation had entailed.

“It doesn’t matter though, does it?” Clem Foster asked. “If you think there is another man, wouldn’t publicity help?”

“He’d want to wait around until after the trial, to make sure Joe’s found guilty,” Ben said, “There are a thousand places he could hide in or around Virginia City. We’d never find him just searching. Now, if he suspects we’re onto him he might bolt or be more careful about staying concealed.”

**********

Late that night, Ben sat in the sheriff’s office. Roy Coffee had finally returned after being away for weeks. Roy had escorted a prisoner to another town and stayed for the trial. Arriving back in Virginia City he had found the town in an uproar.

Sheriff Coffee had been shocked when he heard the details of what had happened while he’d been away.

“Now you’re back, Roy, there might be a bit more common sense shown around here,” Ben said, “Surely you can see that Joe has to be released.” Ben stood, placing his palms on the desk, learning forward, he faced his friend.

Roy rose from the seat behind his desk to stand up. “I’m sorry, Ben, but until I have a chance to talk to everyone involved and do some investigating of my own, Little Joe has to stay where he is.”

“This is ridiculous,” Ben shouted, “I ….”

Ben stopped speaking when the door was flung open. “Pa!” Adam waved some papers and handed them to his father. Some telegrams had finally come through. They pieced part of an awful story together. There had been other young women murdered in towns while Poole had been there but if any suspicion had ever fallen on him, he’d had an alibi. No one had ever seen Poole with a man who looked like him but some of the telegrams said Poole had brown eyes while others said he had blue eyes.

After they’d read them, Ben put the telegrams down in a pile on Roy Coffee’s desk. “Two different sets of colored eyes,” he said, thumping his hand down hard on the papers, “because there are two different men.”

Roy Coffee shook his head in disbelief. “I owe you an apology.” He picked up the telegrams and looked through them again. “To me this is evidence that Joe’s innocent but it might not be enough to satisfy other people in this town.”

Suddenly there was a loud explosion and dirt and debris went flying around the office as everyone ducked for cover.

At the same moment, Ben and Adam had the same thought; Joe. “Keys!” Ben shouted at Roy Coffee, the sheriff threw his keys to Ben, who then tried to open the door leading to the cells, only to find that it wouldn’t open.

“Come on!” Adam shouted and ran for the front door of the office. Going out the door they met Hoss who was just running across the street. Hoss had been keeping watch and had seen and heard the explosion. He’d started to run down the stairs before the dust had cleared. Clem Foster also came running, he had been away from the jail getting something to eat.

When they reached the back of the jail, the men were shocked. The jail section was gone, it had been demolished in the explosion. It was some debris that was blocking the door to the area from Roy’s office. “Joe!” the men called, “Joe! Where are you?”

People who had heard the explosion came running from everywhere. The Cartwrights were still searching for Joe but some of the townsmen turned on Sheriff Coffee. “Let him go, didn’t you,” one of the men shouted, “Just because he’s a Cartwright you are going to let him get away with murder.” Other voices shouted in agreement.

Ben, Adam and Hoss, who at first had been afraid that Joe had been hurt or killed by the explosion, now realized he wasn’t there. “Pa,” Hoss called from where he was looking, he held up his hand and in the lantern light, Ben saw Hoss’ palm was red. Wherever Joe was, he was hurt.

“Helped your son escape, Cartwright,” someone yelled, “Might have known you’d think you were above the law.”

Ben turned to Roy and said, urgently, “I’m giving you my word, Roy, my boys and I had nothing to do with this.”

“That’s good enough for me, Ben,” the sheriff replied.

“We have to find Little Joe,” Hoss shouted, knocking some men aside so he could get past them.

“You’re not going anywhere, Cartwright,” a man pulled a gun on him.

“Calm down, everyone!” Roy Coffee raised his voice to be heard over the crowd and held up his hands, “Calm down and listen to me.” He quickly told the gathered crowd about the telegrams and what they’d found out. Some people clearly didn’t believe what Roy was saying while others were beginning to have doubts about Joe’s guilt.

“Roy,” Ben said, urgently, “Joe’s not here. Someone must have set this explosion to get to him and they’ve taken him!”

“Whatever you believe,” Roy called out to the gathered men, “We have to find Joe. I need some volunteers for a posse.” Men volunteered and left to saddle their horses.

“Where do we even begin to start looking?” Adam asked, “We didn’t see anything. We don’t know where he’s taken Joe.”

“Do ya think it’d be worth lookin’ out at Mrs Gibson’s place. Where Poole was killed?”

“Yes,” Adam nodded, “That’s a good idea, Hoss. We’ll try there first.”

**********

Joe woke slowly, disorientated. The last thing he remembered was the explosion. His hands were bound tightly behind his back. He had cuts and bruises all over him, there was some blood on the floor from wounds that were still bleeding. Looking slowly around, he knew he wasn’t at the Ponderosa but he was in a house. As his eyes moved to the piano, he realized it was Mrs Gibson’s house. His eyes focused next on a pair of legs and he looked up into the face of a blue eyed Poole.

“You killed Lucy,” Joe said, quietly.

The man smiled evilly. “Yes,” he answered proudly, “I did, I surely did.” The smile vanished and he kicked Joe hard in the ribs, “And you killed my brother.” Joe curled his body in on himself as much as the bonds would allow, gasping in pain when Matthew Poole delivered another kick.

Joe knew he had to try and get away. He knew it was unlikely that he could escape but Matthew Poole would certainly kill him if he didn’t so he could lie there and let Poole kill him or he could die trying to escape.

Joe kicked out at Poole as hard as he could, thankful the man had not tied his legs together. Joe struggled to his feet and shoved the off balance Poole over.

As Joe went to run past the fallen man, Poole grabbed his ankle and tripped him over. With his hands tied behind his back, Joe had no way to break his fall and he hit the floor hard.

Winded, Little Joe struggled to pull air into his lungs. Poole was on him in a moment, he grabbed Joe and twisted him onto his back. Joe brought his knee up hard into Poole’s stomach and when the man fell away in pain, Joe struggled to his feet and this time he managed to get out the front door.

In a tackle from behind, Poole brought Joe down again. This time Poole straddled the young man as Joe turned over onto his back and immediately put his hands around Joe’s throat, squeezing. Joe struggled hard but tied and injured, he was no match for the madman’s strength.

On the verge of passing out, Joe could make no sense of what happened next. Poole had heard horses coming closer and with no time to hide anywhere, he pulled Little Joe to his feet and held Joe in front of him.

Ben, Adam, Hoss, Sheriff Coffee, Clem Foster, Tom Myers and four other posse members rounded the bend and came upon the scene. “Joseph!” Ben shouted. Poole was backing towards the house. A knife that he had pulled from his boot, held to Joe’s throat. Poole’s hand was gripping hard at Joe’s hair and pulling his head back painfully. “Come any closer,” he shouted “and I’ll cut his throat.”

Ben’s stomach churned. He was so relieved that his son had survived the explosion at the jail but he was terrified about what might happen now.

Joe was barely conscious and had trouble just staying on his feet but he had become aware of what was happening and he knew his father was there.

“Kill him, Pa!” Joe shouted as loudly as he could.

Matthew Poole cruelly pulled Joe’s head back further and the knife cut a line across his throat, blood trickled out.

“Stop it!” Ben screamed at the man, “Stop it before you kill him.”

Poole laughed. “That’s the idea.”

“At least tell us why,” Adam said, trying to divert the man’s attention.

“He killed my brother,” Poole said, “My twin brother. William was only ten minutes older than me but I always looked up to him. We did everything together. We surely did.”

“Even murder?” Roy Coffee asked.

Matthew Poole didn’t reply and Mr Myers called out, “Why did you kill Lucy? Why did you kill my daughter?”

“It was always William who did the killing. If he thought he might need an alibi, I’d make sure I was seen around town somewhere. He messed up here. He was always whistling, if it hadn’t been for that he wouldn’t have got caught, he surely wouldn’t have.” The blue eyed Poole started to whistle New Orleans Woman but then suddenly broke off to continue talking, “I wanted to prove I was as good as William, I surely did. That I could kill and get away with it, too. And I had to make Joe Cartwright pay for killing my brother.” He yanked Joe’s head back again, “That was the bonus, being able to set him up.” Poole laughed, “I bet you all thought he was crazy, didn’t you.” He looked down at Joe. “I set that fire and I waited for an opportunity to get you alone. I hit you with my gun, that’s how I knocked you out. Got you dressed, saddled your horse. I took you with me and afterwards I put the blood on you and left you there. I wanted to see the Cartwright name ruined. For that I was willing to deprive myself of killing you with my own hands and let the gallows do the job but since you escaped that, I’ll have to do it myself now. I surely will.”

Matthew Poole moved the knife and Joe’s family frantically looked for an opening to shoot Poole but there was no way without hitting Joe.

“No!” Hoss yelled, as the knife cut into the side of Joe’s neck.

Joe’s eyes met Adam’s. With Poole standing close behind him, Joe’s fingers found Poole’s groin and he clutched tightly, twisting with all the strength he had. Poole loosened his gip in shock as he bellowed in pain and rage. It was enough for Joe to pull free and in that moment, Adam took the shot. Matthew Poole went down.

Ben, Adam and Hoss were at Joe’s side in an instant. Ben yanked off his bandana, holding it against Joe’s neck, trying to stem the bleeding. “It’s all right, Joseph. It’s all right,” he comforted.

“I’ll hold that, Pa,” Adam said, taking over from Ben, so that Ben could lift Joe’s head and shoulders from the ground. Ben supported his son while Hoss cut the ropes that held his hands bound behind his back. Careful of the welts on his brother’s wrists caused by the ropes, Hoss chaffed Joe’s hands.

“Poole’s dead,” the Sheriff said as he went over to the Cartwrights.

“Good,” Hoss replied, feeling no sorrow for the man.

“Ben,” Sheriff Coffee said, “Do you want to take Joe inside the house and I’ll send someone for the doctor?”

Joe reached up and grabbed his father’s wrist. “I want to go home.” Ben looked over at Adam who pulled the bandana aside to check the wounds. “The bleeding here’s under control,” Adam said, looking down at the other wounds that covered his brother’s body, noting that none were bleeding too badly now, he said, “We can patch him up enough to get him home.”

Ben patted Joe’s arm. “All right, Joe. We’ll take you home.” He looked at Sheriff Coffee and asked angrily, “If that’s all right with you, Roy? Joe is free now, isn’t he?”

Roy Coffee looked uncomfortable as he nodded. “Of course, Ben. I’m sorry about all of this.”

“So am I, Sir,” Deputy Foster looked over at them guiltily.

Ben ignored the lawmen and Roy walked away to start getting Matthew Poole ready to tie on a horse so they could take the body back to town. The Cartwrights had been friends with Roy Coffee for years. Roy considered Ben one of his best friends, but now the sheriff wondered if that friendship was over.

The rest of the men in the posse looked as uncomfortable and guilty as the sheriff and his deputy, they also mumbled their apologies, feeling ashamed for the way they’d acted and what they’d believed about Joe. “We’ll go back to town,” one of the men said, “I’ll send Doctor Martin out to your place, Ben.”

Ben simply nodded that he’d heard. Mr Myers, knelt down on the ground beside the Cartwrights and held his hand out to Ben. “I’m sorry, Ben. I know it isn’t much to say but I hope you know I mean it. I should have known things weren’t the way they seemed. I hope you can forgive me, Ben.”

Ben was still angry with everyone who had believed his son guilty but his heart went out to Tom Myers for the man’s loss of his daughter. He shook hands with the man.

Tom Myers then patted Joe’s arm. “I’m sorry, Little Joe. I hope one day you will be able to forgive me, too.”

“It’s all right, Mr Myers,” Joe said, “I know how it must have looked to you. But I’d never have hurt Lucy. I’m sorry she’s dead.”

Tom patted Joe’s arm again. “I know, son. I know.”

Hoss had gone into the house to get a sheet that they tore into strips to make bandages. Once they had finished patching Joe up, Adam brought his horse over to where Ben and Hoss waited with Joe, and asked, “Ready to go, Pa?”

“Yes,” Ben nodded and looked down at Joe. “Do you think you can stand up? We’ve got to get you onto Adam’s horse.”

Joe nodded and started to push himself up but Ben and Hoss’ hands were soon there to help him. Adam held his horse steady while Ben and Hoss helped Joe to mount and then he swung up behind his youngest brother.

**********

Arriving in the front yard of the Ponderosa, Adam quickly dismounted and reached up for his brother. “Easy, Joe,” he said as he helped Joe to dismount, “Can you walk?” Joe nodded and Ben was quickly at Joe’s other side, helping him inside and up the stairs to his room.

After removing Joe’s dirty and blood stained clothes and cleaning him up, they got him as comfortable as they could in bed. Pulling the covers up, they waited for Doctor Martin to come.

Joe was in pain and the family talked to him to try and distract him from it. “Hey, Joe, what did you do to get him to let you go?” Hoss asked. Joe’s body had been blocking their view and they hadn’t been able to see what Joe had done.

Joe’s face flushed and he looked a bit embarrassed as he said quietly, “I grabbed him hard where it hurts a man the most.”

It took the other men a couple of seconds to get Joe’s meaning and then they all burst into laughter.

“That’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Joe,” Ben said after he had stopped laughing. “That was quick thinking and a very smart thing to do.”

“Pa’s right, Joe,” Adam said and Hoss nodded in agreement.

Joe looked at his eldest brother. “You always said that I should fight dirty if it meant staying alive.”

“That I did,” Adam agreed, nodding, “And I’m pleased that you are finally taking my advice,” he joked, then he grew serious, reaching out to gently squeeze Joe’s hand, “You did great, kid.”

**********

Finally after Hoss had looked anxiously out of the bedroom window a dozen times, the doctor arrived.

After Doctor Martin checked Joe over he gave him something to help with the pain and then set to work, putting some stiches in Joe’s neck.

The doctor looked guiltily at the young man he was working on. “Joe, I owe you an apology,” Doctor Martin stopped work for a moment, glancing at Ben, Adam and Hoss, “All of you,” he added, before turning back to Joe and continuing to put the stiches in.

No one replied and the silence stretched awkwardly. “It’s all right, Doc,” Joe said, finally, when the doctor had finished the stitches and started to wrap a bandage around Joe’s neck, “I guess I can’t blame you for thinking I was seeing things,” Joe said, then continued, jokingly, “but I hadn’t even been drinking.”

Joe’s family laughed, relieved that he was feeling well enough to joke. Doctor Martin breathed a sigh of relief that Joe was letting him off the hook. The doctor didn’t think he would ever be completely forgiven by the family though.

**********

A week later, Ben, Adam and Hoss were at the table eating breakfast, they looked up when they heard Joe on the stairs.

“Good morning,” Joe said, walking over to the table to sit down.

“Good morning, Joseph,” Ben replied, “I didn’t expect you up this early. How are you feeling today?”

“Good, Pa,” Joe answered, helping himself to eggs and bacon. “I thought I’d help Adam and Hoss out with the ….”

“Well you thought wrong,” Ben cut his son off, firmly. “I know you want things to get back to normal,” Ben continued, understandingly, “and they will but not just yet. Joe, the doctor said it’s going to be at least another couple of weeks before you can even start to think about going back to work.” To the relief of everyone, the headaches that had been plaguing Joe had stopped but he now had stitches in his neck, cracked ribs and bad bruising across his stomach which had been inflicted by Poole as well as numerous cuts and bruises from the explosion. Hoss looked across the table at his younger brother, hating the thought of all that his brother had been through and the pain he knew Joe was still feeling. Every time Hoss thought of the Poole twins, he felt his anger build. Trying to force the dark thoughts away, Hoss joked, “Hey, Joe, you’re usually tryin’ ta get outa work, not talk your way into it.”

Adam laughed and said, “Hoss is right, Joe. Enjoy it while you can.”

The smile died on Hoss’ lips when he found himself staring at the bruises still visible above the bandages around Joe’s neck where the blue eyed Poole had tried to choke the life out of Joe. Joe self consciously raised a hand to his throat.

“I’m sorry, little brother. I’m so sorry we didn’t get to you sooner,” Hoss blinked away the tears that had formed in his eyes. He’d apologized repeatedly in the last week, feeling guilty that Poole had gotten to Joe. On top of already feeling guilty that he had laughed when Joe first told him that he’d seen Poole.

“It’s all right, Hoss. Really,” Joe looked into his brother’s eyes, “You had no way of knowing what would happen. No one could have known he’d blow up the jail.”

Ben and Adam knew exactly how Hoss felt, they felt the same way. They’d been protecting Joe from the townspeople but let him fall into the hands of a madman.

Joe looked around the table at his family and said, “I’m so grateful to you. You blame yourselves because Poole got to me but you saved my life. If you hadn’t found me when you did he would have killed me.”

“I’m sorry that I didn’t believe you, Joseph, when you first said you heard the whistling,” Ben said, “If I had, we might have prevented all that followed.”

“Me too, little brother. I can’t tell ya how sorry I am that I laughed when you told me that you’d seen him,” Hoss added, sadly.

Joe looked at this father and smiled as he said, “A wise man told me that we all do things we’re sorry for but we mustn’t torment ourselves over them.”

Ben returned the smile. “That sounds like a very wise man indeed, Joseph. And are you taking that advice, too?” Ben asked.

Adam and Hoss saw the look that passed between their father and young brother and guessed who the wise man was.

“Yes,” Joe nodded, “Finally.” He looked at his family and continued, “Of course you had doubts. I can’t blame you for that. I actually saw him standing there by the barn and I still had a hard time believing it. But even though you had your doubts that I’d seen Poole, you knew I hadn’t killed Lucy. That you believed me and were willing to give up so much for me, means everything to me. Thank you isn’t enough.”

“You don’t need to say thank you,” Adam said, “There is no way that we would ever have believed you would murder someone. No matter what evidence there was.”

“Well, it’s lucky I had a family who believed in me because a lot of other people were ready to hang me on that evidence.” Joe looked at his father. “Even Clem and Doctor Martin thought maybe I had. Roy, too.”

Ben nodded slowly. “Yes,” he agreed, sadly, “Sometimes friends let us down.” Even though Doctor Martin had apologized the night they’d brought Joe home and Roy Coffee, Clem Foster and some of the townspeople had also come out to apologize, the Cartwrights hadn’t completely forgiven them. Perhaps in time they would.

“To family,” Adam said, Joe’s right hand was resting on the table. Adam reached out, putting his hand over Joe’s, “the people you can count on when everyone else lets you down.”

“To family,” Hoss said, putting his hand over Adam’s.

“To family,” Ben smiled at each of his sons and put his hand over Hoss’.

“To my family,” Joe said, tears sparkling in his eyes, “the best I could have hoped for,” he put his left hand over his father’s.

The End

Note: The characters of Mary Parson, Hiram Wood and Mr Hardner are from the episode “The Secret.”

January, 2007

RETURN TO LIBRARY