Tears Before Bedtime

by Kaci

Summary: Little Joe is kidnapped after Marie’s death.

Thanks to Vron for letting me use the title of this story! This story is complete.

Adam, Hoss and Little Joe were getting ready to check out of the hotel in San Francisco. Adam had not wanted to bring his little brother’s along with him on such a long trip, but after Marie’s death he didn't have a choice. His father had collapsed and had been barely coherent for days, leaving Adam to deal with the ranch’s problems. Then out of the blue...one morning he had found that his father had left the ranch, leaving him to cope with everything.

“I want to see the big ships, Adam!” Joe piped up, he giggled and ran around the room, blowing on the little whirlwind that Adam had bought him. Adam smiled at his little brother, who had barely a stitch of clothes on.

“Me too!” Hoss chimed in laughing, lifting Little Joe high in the air swinging him around the room. “Little Joe, where are your clothes?”

“Over there, but I don't like wearin’ clothes.” Pouting he let Hoss dress him for the journey. “Will we see Injuns?”

“No, no Injun’s. But if you're good, I'll get you a bag of candy before we leave.” Hoss finished putting on Joe’s socks and cowboy boots.

Adam gave them a stern look, not really angry, but trying to keep both Little Joe and Hoss in line. “Okay, we'll take a quick tour before we catch the stage. But both of you have to stay with me, all right?”

“We promise!” Hoss said quickly.

The man had been waiting for several hours following the group of three brother’s around the city. As soon as the oldest boy left to buy tickets for the stagecoach, leaving the middle brother in charge of the little one, he had seen his chance.

“Son, could you help me?” The man looked around trying to remain inconspicuous.

Hoss looked at the man then looked around for his seventeen year old brother Adam but didn't see him. “Uh....sure Mr. What ya need?”

“Oh...I promised my wife that I would take her some flowers but I seem to have lost my billfold, I think maybe it’s right down the street somewhere. Could you help me look for it? I'll be glad to pay you an award.”

At the mention of an award Hoss started thinking about the candy store. “Okay.” Turning to Joe he said firmly, “Little Joe, you stay right here I'll be right back.” Patting him on the back he ran down the street looking for the man’s billfold.

As soon as Hoss left the man grabbed the child by the hand and ran with him. Joe at first was unsure what was happening but soon he became afraid. “Mr! Mr.! Stop!” The man leaned down and picked up the child in his arms and continued running.

Adam returned to find both of his brother’s gone. “Hoss! Little Joe!” He started looking around with his heart racing, just then Hoss came running up the street waving his hand. “Hey Adam.”

"Where's Little Joe?"

“Joe?” Hoss looked around like he would see him nearby.
“He was here a minute ago.”

Adam shook Hoss hard...”where is he?” fear roughened Adam’s voice.

“I don’t know.” Hoss’s blue eyes filled with tears. “I was looking for a man’s billfold and he was goin’ pay me a reward.” Hoss eyes searched for the man but he had also disappeared. “Maybe the man took Little Joe with him.”

Adam ran his fingers through his dark hair, feeling helpless. “Look, let’s see if we can find them. Hurry!” The two boys started looking in the nearby stores hoping to find their little brother but Little Joe had vanished.

In the meantime the man finally set the child down to walk. “We have to hurry.”

“I want Hoss!” Joe pulled back on the man’s hand trying to get him to let go. “Let go of me!” Joe started kicking at the man’s shin with his cowboys boots.

"Adam!"
“Stop it you little brat! I knew this wasn’t going to work.” The man took Joe’s shoulders in his hands and shook him hard. “BE QUIET!” As the little boy cried he again picked him up in his arms, resigned to carrying him to the rendezvous with the man who was paying him.

After day’s of searching, Adam and Hoss sat in the hotel room hoping that their father would contact them soon. They had tried to locate him for the last week, but so far no luck, they had left messages at all the hotels in San Francisco.

Ben Cartwright had left the Ponderosa after his wife Marie had accidentally died, leaving no address, but the comment he would be in San Francisco. Ben had left Adam a note to take care of the boy’s and he would be home soon. That had been two months ago. Ben had felt guilty but he couldn’t do anything about it right now. He needed time...lots of time to cope with Marie’s loss.

Adam went to the sheriff but so far no one had seen his little brother, Joe. The boy had simply disappeared in the city. He and Hoss were on the streets every day looking for Joe, but they really had no clue how to proceed. Adam was only seventeen while Hoss was eleven. Adam knew his Pa was going to blame him and he was at a loss how to explain the kidnapping. They had come to San Francisco on business for the ranch, Adam unable to leave his brother’s at home because there was no one to care for them.

“Hoss, tell me again what the man said.” Adam hugged his brother to him. They were sitting on the small bed in the hotel room. Hoss had been crying for days, no amount of consoling could stop his guilt.

“Adam, I’ve told you, and told you, the man said he lost his billfold and would I go look for it.” Hoss’s big blue eyes brimmed with tears. Adam pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket to dab at Hoss’s eyes. “Blow.” Hoss sniffed blowing his nose hard.

Sighing, Adam went over and picked up his tan jacket on the chair. “Okay, let’s go, we’re not doing any good here.” The two brother’s left to try to track Little Joe again, it was so frightening to lose their baby brother, the fear of never seeing Little Joe again, had Adam in a panic.

Little Joe was tossed on a bed in a run down hotel on the edge of town. The man had been cursing for the last twenty minutes, but Little Joe didn’t understand why. “That damn man, he promised to pay me for you, but oh no, he didn’t even show up at the rendezvous site!”

Clutching his head he kicked the dresser hard. “It’s all your fault we were late, if you hadn’t been sreamin’ and cryin’ we might have made it there in time!” Joe was picked up again and shaken before being tossed back on the hard bed. “Stop your caterwauling!”

Joe, with tears running down his face, sniffed and wiped his eyes. “I want Hoss, Mr.”

“Isn’t that too bad...you ain’t gettin’ Hoss, kid. You ain’t gettin’ anyone! Just shut your yap, or I’ll shut it for you.” The man poured himself a glass of whiskey, eyeing the young boy. “If I can’t sell you to someone....” he glared at Joe.

Joe rolled over in a ball, crying for his Mama. Pulling the dirty blanket over him, he hid in the covers.

Little Joe sat kicking his feet against the chair, the noise driving the man to distraction. “Kid,if you don’t stop that I’m goin’ take you over my knee and tan ya good.” Joe scrunched his face tight, he hated the man, he was going to make his life miserable for taking him.

“I wanna go home, Mr! I want Hoss!” Little Joe stuck out his lower lip in a pout. The man had spanked him several times; if only the man could have asked Joe’s family, they would have told him that only made him more determined to have his own way.

“SHUT UP!” The man sitting with his elbows on the table let his head fall into his hands. He hated the child he had kidnapped, a more obnoxious little brat he couldn’t find. “One more word and I’m goin’ to dump you on the street, kid.”

“Good, I hate you!” Joe had no more muttered the words than the man jumped up from the table, dragging Little Joe out the door,cursing an shaking him hard.

“Okay...this is goodbye!” The man threw Joe down in the street and strode off from him, literally dusting his hands together.

Joe sat up, the tears running down his small face and wiped his eyes. “I hate you!” he yelled after the man running away from him. Getting to his feet he looked around the area but it was deserted. Sniffing, he started walking down the lonely street on the edge of town. * At least that bad man was gone...if only he could find Hoss. He wanted to go to his Mama, but she was gone too.* With just the thought of her, he started crying again.

Hop Sing slowly walked along the road, unhappy with his life. He had arrived on the boat several months ago, but had not found any job that suited him. Oh, he had washed dishes and worked in the laundries, but the hours were very long...and he didn’t like this dirty city. He wanted to find his family but hadn’t yet found any of his relatives. He knew there was some in Utah territory, but he was very afraid of traveling out of the city into the unknown.

A little boy was walking in front him, he would stop every few minutes and look around then rub his nose with his sleeve. Hop Sing hurried to catch up with him.

“Why you cry, little boy?” Hop Sing caught his breath when the child looked up at him. Two green eyes drowned in tears, a light dusting of freckles on his nose and a head full of curly hair. He was a beautiful child wearing expensive but dirty clothes who shouldn’t have been alone.

“I want Hoss!”

“Horse, you lost horse?’

“No, I want my brother, Hoss! I can’t find him.”

“I see...you lost.” Hop Sing looked around the area expecting to see someone looking for the child but couldn’t see anyone.

“What your name?”
“Little Joe.” Joe had been studying the oriental man while he had been talking, he took the man’s hand in his, holding it hard. The kidnapping had a profound effect on Joe, he was terrified of being alone again, afraid the bad man would come back.

The man smiled at the child, he was quite taken with the little thing. “Here, I help you find family.” Together they started down the street together. “I take you home with me.”

Ben Cartwright arrived late that day at the hotel, his fatigue was quite apparent. He had not been able to leave Marie behind him, every minute, every second he would remember his beautiful wife in his mind. She had been one of the three loves of his life, he simply couldn’t bear to lose her. “Mr. Cartwright, I have a message for you.” The man handed him the message... Ben absentmindedly put in his pocket.

“Thank you.” He followed the bellboy to his room, where he would be able to collapse on his bed and rest. He couldn’t deal with anything right now.

Hop Sing had fed the child some rice, gave him a bath and dressed him in one of his shirts for him to sleep in. He found Joe very sweet and cuddled the boy to him. “Tomorrow, special day.You know what day?”

Joe shook his head no, while he laid his head on Hop Sing’s shoulder. His thumb finding is way to his mouth to suck on.

“Tomorrow, fool of April day.”

“What’s that mean, Hop Sing?” Little Joe murmured sleepily.

“I not sure, but men think it very funny. We wait and see. Many strange holidays in America.” Rocking the child back and forth he felt the small body fall into sleep. Kissing him gently on the cheek, he laid Little Joe in his bed.

~~~~

“Mr.” Hop Sing waited patiently to be noticed but the man continued to ignore him. “Mr.” he repeated again to the hotel clerk.

“Get outta here, chink.” The man turned his back on the oriental man hoping he would go away.

“Is Mr. Carlight, here?” Hop Sing waited patiently, he was used to bad manners from the people that lived in San Francisco. This was the tenth hotel they had been to that morning, usually with the same reception this man was giving him. Little Joe couldn’t remember the name of the hotel where he had been staying, so they had to keep looking.

The clerk swung back around and glared at him. “You get out of here. Now!”

Hop Sing blinked then looked down at the ground and turned away with the little boy beside him. Patting the small hand in his he smiled at the child. “It’s okay, we wait outside. Maybe you see your brother, okay?”

Little Joe nodded, not understanding why the man behind the desk wouldn’t talk to them. “Hop Sing, I’m hungry, can we get some food?” Little Joe sat on the sidewalk watching the people go by. “Where’s Hoss?”

“I not know, Little Joe. Here rice cake Hop Sing bring for you.” Little Joe squeezed onto Hop Sing’s lap, pushing aside the paper bag. The rice cake was delicious, Joe licked his lips eating it quickly. A few bites were left when Little Joe realized that Hop Sing didn’t have anything to eat.

“Here, eat!” Little Joe pushed the cake up to Hop Sing’s mouth for him to take a bite. Hop Sing pushed it away from him.

“No, Little Joe, you eat, you growing boy.”

“NO! We have to share Hop Sing, Mama always says to share.” Joe’s green eyes widened when he remembered his Mother was no longer alive. “I miss Mama.” He curled up in Hop Sing’s lap and started to cry.

“Shh...shh...it’s all right, Hop Sing here.”

Ben Cartwright walked up to the reception desk, giving the hotel clerk his key to the room. There were a few things he wanted to do that day, maybe send a telegram home to his sons. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see them, but he just couldn’t cope right now with any more problems. Leaving the hotel he absently noticed a Chinese man sitting on the sidewalk rocking a small child in his arms. Ben smiled the little boy reminded him of Little Joe. Nodding at the man, he tossed him a silver dollar and strode away. Little Joe slept peacefully never seeing his father.

Adam and Hoss had walked down every street in the city, it was useless. Adam knew they would never find their little brother again. He dreaded seeing his father, his Pa would never understand how he could have lost a five year old child. Why, why did he leave him alone for an instant? Stupid, it was just plain stupid! Hoss was almost in constant tears, blaming himself, he was only eleven years old way to young to feel this guilt. Damn it! It was all Pa’s fault, every bit of it. Adam pulled Hoss into his arms, hugging him hard. “Look, maybe Joe’s found a way to get home, we need to go home to the Ponderosa.”

“Adam, Joe don’t know the way home. He can’t even ride his pony to the lake by himself,” Hoss replied. He kept thinking about the man that had taken Little Joe, he wasn’t nuthin’ but a liar and a cheater.

“Hoss, we have to leave, I don’t want to but we need to contact Pa. Please be good.” Adam was at the point of exhaustion over losing his little brother. Sitting up nights while his brother slept, he tried to figure out how he should proceed. Hoss was just as much his responsibility as Little Joe had been. Maybe he could take Hoss home and come back to San Francisco to resume the search for his baby brother.

Hoss nodded, all hope gone. His little brother would never be found, he knew that in his heart, like just like his Mama would never be seen again.

The boys headed back to the hotel taking their time. Each lost in thoughts of Joe when they saw a tall silver haired man walking in front of them. Looking at each other they ran to catch him.

“Pa! Pa!” Ben turned at the sound of Hoss’s voice. He was completely shocked to see his two oldest sons running toward him.

“Hoss! Adam! What are you doing here?” Ben pulled Hoss into his arms hugging him hard. He couldn’t believe how large his son had grown in the last two months. “Adam, what’s going on? Why aren’t you at home?”

“Pa, I had to come to San Francisco, you left all the business arrangements in my hands...the note came due, I had to sign it, or we would have lost part of the ranch.” Adam almost stuttered out his excuse, he had never felt so shy around his father.

“The note?” Ben sighed, he had forgotten all about the ranch loans. “Okay, let’s go back to the hotel and talk.” The three started off when Adam ground to a halt.

“Pa, I’m sorry, but I....” Adam was terribly afraid to tell his father about Joe. “Pa, Little Joe...”

“Who is Little Joe staying with? Charlie?” Ben wasn’t really paying attention his mind wandering toward Marie.”

“NO, Pa....we brought Little Joe with us...but” Adam hesitated.

“Here, Joe’s here? Is he at the hotel? You should have never left him alone, even with a babysitter.” Ben harshly ground out loud. Looking for a carriage he heard Hoss sob out loud. “What’s the matter?”

“Pa, we lost Little Joe. We can’t find him anywhere.”

Adam whispered.

Ben paled, feeling faint, they had lost his baby, Marie’s baby. “ADAM, how could you!” Ben shook Adam hard, pushing him away. “He’s just a baby! How long ago? An hour or two?”

Adam straightened, looking his father in the eye. “No....over a week ago.” Adam bit the inside of his cheek, fearing the look in his father’s eye. “It was an accident...”

“ACCIDENT! YOU LOST MY SON!” Ben raced back to the hotel dragging Hoss along behind him. They swept past Hop Sing and Little Joe sitting on the curb of the sidewalk. The clerk jerked back when a large hand pounded on the desk. “We need the sheriff!”

“Sheriff, sir?” One look at the man’s irate face and he spoke quickly. “I’ll send for the police at once. If you want to wait in your room, he’ll be here shortly, sir.” Mopping his face, he watched the large man and his two children turn away. Hmm, you could never tell about people, he dispatched an errand boy quickly for the sheriff.

Hop Sing carried the child in his arms, it had been a long day, time to go home. Maybe tomorrow would be better, find brother tomorrow. Unaware of the crisis around him, he hummed as he walked away with the child of Ben Cartwright.

Several weeks after finding out that his son was missing, Ben Cartwright was sure his baby, Little Joe, would never be found. The police had scoured the neighborhood’s just as his sons had, but no one remembered a little boy with curly hair and green eyes. Hoss couldn’t describe the man that had taken him, so they were at a loss at what to do. Finally, the police recommended that they hire a detective to search for the lost boy.

“Pa, do you forgive me, I’m so sorry!” Hoss sobbed the tears running down his face. “I didn’t mean anything to happen to Little Joe.”

“Shh..son, please it will be all right. We’ll go home.”

“You too, Pa?” Hoss waited hoping that his father would return with them.

“Yes, son, all of us.” Ben gathered Hoss into his arms, hugging him tightly. “Look, I’m going to book the tickets on the stage for us, then I’ll be right back. You stay right here in the hotel with Adam, okay? I’m going to hire the man the police recommended to find Joe. He’ll bring him home to us.”

Ben turned to his eldest son, “Adam, do not leave Hoss for a moment, do you understand me?” Ben’s tone of voice was enough for Adam to know how angry his father still was at him. He had tried to explain but he knew in his heart that there was no excuse for losing his little brother, Joe.

“Yes, sir.” Biting his lip, he turned to look out the window of the hotel, wishing he could still be out looking. It wasn’t fair for his father to treat him like a child.

Ben felt has if his heart would break with Joe’s disappearance. First, Joe lost his mother, now his family. How would he have ever told Marie that he had lost her only son? But, he knew he needed to return his remaining children to the Ponderosa and check on the ranch. They had searched everywhere for his youngest son, maybe someone would contact them for ransom.

Little Joe and Hop Sing walked down the dirt road, singing a song. Joe was learning Chinese at a fast pace, they had been together several months now and Joe clung to his new friend. They were traveling west to the Utah territory, to find Hop Sing’s relatives. When they couldn’t find Joe’s brothers, Hop Sing decided to try at Virginia City. Little Joe said that was the closest town to his ranch and since Hop Sing had relatives there he decided to take the gamble. Hop Sing had been afraid to leave Joe alone everyday when he worked in San Francisco, never knowing if someone would harm the child or not. He knew a strange white man had been searching for Little Joe and he was afraid it was the kidnapper.

They had caught several rides with people on the trail, but they were now without transportation again. Joe would walk a while then demand to be carried when he tired. Hop Sing would always smile, holding the child in his arms, he would dream of a place that he and Joe could live together. By now, Hop Sing was attached to the boy as a parent.

The detective Ben had hired finally found a clue to the boy. The desk clerk at the hotel admitted that a Chinese man had asked for a Mr. Cartwright, and he had a little boy with him. He had hid his involvement, afraid to lose his job. Now, at least the detective had something to tell his employer.

Ben, Adam and Hoss were like lost souls when they had arrived home. But, several months later, they were returning to their old routine. They would always miss Little Joe but Ben realized that his sons couldn’t go on feeling guilty for the rest of their lives. Besides, it hadn’t really been Adam’s fault, it was his, for leaving his family to begin with.

Hop Sing and Joe arrived in Virginia City, to a bustling mining town in the Utah territory. They were exhausted but after asking around they found the Chinese community, where it opened it’s doors to the weary travelers. Hop Sing had told Little Joe to use the last name Sing, so the kidnapper wouldn’t find him and Joe agreed.

Little Joe chattered away in Chinese happy to be with friends. Joe, now was as happy with Hop Sing as he had been with his family.Time takes a toll on little children’s memories, he loved Hop Sing dearly and accepted him as his father. After asking around, Hop Sing found that the Cartwright’s were well known ranchers in the area, living out on the Ponderosa. The problem was he could not now give up the child to his real father. He had taken on the responsibility of being a parent and found he loved Little Joe too much to be parted from him.

Hop Sing hired out to the only clean hotel in town, working all day menial work for low wages. But, he was not afraid to leave Joe with his family. Joe fit right in, playing and working along side the other Chinese children. Hop Sing had not told his family who Little Joe really was. He said he was an orphan he found living in San Francisco.The lies kept adding up but he was not giving away his child.

Adam rode slowly down the street his mind on the ranch work he needed to get done, when a group of children ran out in front of his horse....screaming and laughing. His horse reared then he got Sport under control. “Watch it you kids!” Adam yelled at them. The children laughed and ran on, one little boy stopping for a second to stare at Adam. Adam glanced at him then started to ride on when he swung back around for a closer look, but the child was gone. Adam broke out in a sweat, that child looked like his little brother, his imagination was running riot. Now, he was seeing things.

The detective rode into town and asked directions to the Ponderosa. He wasn’t exactly sure what to say to Ben Cartwright, but he needed to paid for the last month’s work. Ben and Hoss invited him into the house, where he told how the desk clerk had lied about seeing anyone. Ben paled when he realized how close he had been to Little Joe that day. Sitting down, he bent is head, the tears swelling in his eyes.

Adam walked into this scene, to find his father and brother, broken by this latest news. “Thank you, Mr. Johnson for all your efforts. Has there been any other sighting’s of Joe or this man?”

“Yes, I’m sure I’ll find them eventually. The Chinese man has been seen several times with a white child in tow. They might be very close to here. He’s probably going to ransom Little Joe to you, so keep your guard up.”

Adam hesitated about mentioning seeing a boy that looked like Little Joe in town. If had been Joe, why didn’t he yell out to him? Why did he run away? Also, telling his father and brother, would give them false hope. Getting the detective alone, he related his story to the man, hoping that he would be able to track Joe in Virginia City, if indeed it was Joe.

“Pa, can I speak to you alone?” Adam smiled at Hoss but he wanted to talk to his father without upsetting his little brother.

“Of course. Hoss will you collect the eggs.”

“Sure,Pa.” Hoss went unwillingly out the door, he was always sent out of the way, when Pa and Adam talked.

“Pa, it’s been several months now that Joe has been missing...I just want you to know that I’ve changed my mind about attending college. I can see where it will be so difficult...”

“Adam, stop.” Ben sat down in the chair to take a deep breath. “Adam, it was unfair of me to blame you for Joe’s disappearance. It was my fault, I should have been taking care of him myself, not you. You don’t know the evil ways of men...you’re too young to understand the ways of the world.” Ben stared into his oldest son’s eyes. “You are more a man than I am. You coped with your fears and stood up for Little Joe. I know that you’ll do well in college, you have integrity and scope to see the big picture of life. I hope that you can forgive me, for not being there for you.”

Adam felt the tears slide down his face...his father loved him, and forgave him. “Oh...Pa.” They fell into each other’s arms, letting go of the pain that had held them for months.

The detective rode back to town to talk to the Sheriff, hoping he would get some information on the Chinese community. Roy Coffee listened to the man, but wouldn’t let him take matters into his own hands. Instead Roy set off for the Chinese section of town.

Roy knew the Cartwright’s vaguely. He’d seen Ben’s beautiful wife Marie several times with the little boy by her side at the mercantile. He liked little kids but had not paid that much attention to the child, except to notice his green eyes, since most kids had dark brown or blue.

Roy stood and watched all the children playing in the group, there were several white kids, playing with the Chinese children. None of them seemed to be upset or frightened, so after a few minutes he walked over to them. “Hey, kids. I just might have a bag of candy here for you.”

“Hi Sheriff!” The kids yelled, none of them were afraid of Roy Coffee. “Candy!” Ten little hands reached out their hands for a piece of peppermint.

“Okay, okay...one at a time.” Roy held the bag up high. “You tell me your name and you get a piece of peppermint.”

The kids jumped around excited by their good luck. One by one they told their names for the candy until one little boy, drew his attention. “What’s your name, partner?”

“Joe!” The shining green eyes smiled up at the friendly sheriff. “Thank you!” Joe sucked on his peppermint stick, the happiness radiating out of him.

“What’s your last name, Joe?”
“Sing, I’m Joe Sing.” Joe ran away with the other kids playing. Sheriff Coffee knew that it was Little Joe Cartwright, but he let him go. He would send a message to Ben Cartwright immediately.

~~~~

Ben Cartwright’s heart was racing as he rode swiftly to Virginia City. He had received a message from Roy Coffee, the sheriff, that his son had been found. All these months he had been hoping for this miracle and now it was here. He had never met the Sheriff before, but he knew the town council had hired him with good recommendations.

The door to the office was open and Roy was sitting behind his desk, going through wanted posters, when a large middle aged man hurried through the door. He knew exactly who Ben Cartwright was, after all, he was the biggest rancher in the district.

Standing he held out his hand. “Mr. Cartwright. I’m Roy Coffee.”

“Hello Sheriff. You sent me a message about Little Joe?”
“Yes sir. I saw Little Joe yesterday and I even gave him a piece of peppermint.” Roy smiled fondly at the memory. “He’s a cute kid.”

“Thank God.” Ben wiped his face with hand, feeling weak.

“Where is he?”

“Well, I’ve been checking, and apparently the kidnapper is right here in Virginia City with him.”

“I want that man arrested immediately!” Ben snapped out.

“Let’s go get my son.”

“That might be a problem. I mean know where he is but he is in the Chinese community and I just can’t throw my weight around without upsetting some folks. Yesterday, Joe was playing right out on the street, so I imagine he will be again today. I’ll get him as soon as he appears.”

“I want him right now! I don't care about upsetting anyone feeling's, this is my child were talking about.

“Look, Mr. Cartwright, I'm the Sheriff here in town, we'll do it my way, you understand?”

Ben threw his hat on the desk but sat down to wait. About fifteen minutes later the Sheriff put on his gun belt and left the office with Ben Cartwright. His first stop the mercantile to get another bag of candy, then he started walking the streets of the town.

Little Joe Cartwright set at a table kicking his feet against it. It wasn't fair, he didn't mean to hit little Sari. He'd gotten mad at her because she had taken his toy that Hop Sing had bought for him. Now, Hop Sing had made him sit in the chair for twenty minutes then he had to apologize to Sari for his bad behavior. “It’s not fair, Hop Sing, she was bad, not me!”

“It’s not nice to hit anyone, Joe. You know this!” Hop Sing told the boy again.The question and been asked and answered ten times already. “Now, you may get up, but I will take you to Sari to say you sorry. You understand?”

“Yes, I guess.” Joe hung his head but he was thankful his twenty minutes sitting was over.

The Chinese man and the boy walked through the streets looking for the group of children that were playing. “Look, Hop Sing, there’s the Sheriff and he’s got candy again!” Joe started to run to him, when he felt his hand taken and pulled back. “I want candy!”

“Shh...” Hop Sing wasn't sure about getting so close to the law. They might be still looking for Joe and he couldn't bear to lose him.

Ben Cartwright, looked at all the children but he didn't see his son among them, disappointed he turned away and saw Little Joe standing with an oriental man down the street. “Little Joe!” he screamed starting to run to his son. The man grabbed up Joe, running away as fast as he could with the boy. “Stop!” Ben felt like his heart would burst with love as the little boy looked over the man’s shoulder and waved at him.

“Hop Sing, stop!” Joe beat on his back. “That’s my Pa! Stop!” Joe was wriggling so hard that he almost fell out of Hop Sing’s arms. “Let me down!” Hop Sing finally gave up, he would have to give boy back. He sat Joe down in the street and watched the tall man sweep Joe into his arms.

“JOSEPH!” Ben tears ran freely down his face as Little Joe clung to him. “BABY!” He couldn't stop crying, his tears soaking Little Joe.

“PA!” Joe cried as his father held him lovingly in his arms. “Where’s Hoss?”

“What, you want Hoss?” Ben laughed then hugged him harder. “Hoss is at the ranch, exactly where you're going right now.”

Roy Coffee had taken Hop Sing’s arm leading him off to jail. The two men were almost at the office, when a scream rent the air, “HOP SING!”

Ben couldn't hold his son as he started to kick to be let down. Finally, setting him on the ground, Little Joe ran to his friend screaming his name. “Hop Sing! Where are you going?”

Hop Sing turned to his boy, but smiled through his tears. “I go with Sheriff, you stay with honorable father.”

“NO!” Joe pushed Sheriff Coffee away from his best friend in the world. “I want Hop Sing!”

“Little Joe, come to Papa, Joe.” Ben pulled the child up in his arms, walking quickly away with him while the boy cried.

“Here.” Roy opened the door to the jail cell, shutting and locking it. “Now, you sit down, we're going to have a long talk, Mr. Sing.”

Ben arrived home with a sleeping Little Joe in his arms. He placed the child on the settee in the great room, letting him rest. Joe had cried to himself to sleep calling for the kidnapper, which Ben didn't understand at all. He was happy but also distressed that he wasn't able to comfort his son after his ordeal.

The front door opened and Hoss and Adam walked in, they had missed all the excitement that day. ‘Hi Pa.” The two boys threw their hats on the credenza.

“Hi boys, I have a surprise for you.” Ben put a hand on each of his son’s shoulders, and walked them to the front of the settee, where Little Joe lay sleeping.

“Little Joe!” Hoss yelled he couldn't help but pull his little brother into his arms, waking him up. “Joe,” the tears were running down Hoss’s face, his baby brother was home.

Adam looked in shock at his father. “I....what....how did he get here?”

“The Sheriff found him in Virginia City.” Beaming Ben soaked up the sight of his two younger sons loving each other.

“I thought I saw him that day.” Adam murmured. “Little Joe?”

Joe looked up at his big brother smiling, his green eyes shining. “Adam!” Holding up his arms to be held, he felt himself being picked up in his brother’s arms. “I missed you.”

“Did you, baby?”
“Yes, but you ran away from me. Why did you and Hoss do that?”

“Little Joe, we didn't run away, the man took you away from us, don't you remember?”

Joe shook his head yes. “The nasty man took me.” Joe laid his head on Adam’s shoulder putting his thumb in his mouth. Adam had always taken care of him and he felt safe in his arms.

“Little Joe, did the nasty man hurt you?” Ben was afraid to ask the question, but he had to know.

“Yes...he dragged me then he slapped me. But I kicked him good.” Joe said around his thumb. Adam reached up dragging Joe’s thumb from his mouth. “He bad man, he throw me in the street and run away from me.”

“Shh..you're safe now, sweetheart.” Ben cupped his boy’s head with a tender hand. “Adam, why don't you take Little Joe had wash him up for dinner. Hoss you help me cook something, okay?”

As they sat down to eat Little Joe looked at his food and frowned. “You didn't cut up my meat right,Papa.” Little Joe spoke up sharply.

“That’s the way I always do it Little Joe.” Ben was taken aback by Joe’s response.

“No, Hop Sing does it different. Where is Hop Sing?” Joe looked around the room, noticing for the first time that his friend wasn't with them. “Where is Hop Sing! I want Hop Sing!”

“Joe, baby, Hop Sing was the nasty man that kidnapped you, he’s not going to hurt you anymore,” Ben assured his son.

“HOP SING not nasty man! I love Hop Sing!” Little Joe started sobbing, then he jumped out of the chair and ran to the front door but couldn't open it. “I want Hop Sing!”

Ben ran over and picked up Joe trying to quiet him but the boy was in a full temper, refusing to be quiet. Kicking, screaming, he refused to be still. “Adam, help me.”

Adam tried to take Joe into his arms but Joe was

fighting as hard as he could,until he went limp in his father’s arms. “Pa, is he all right?”

“Yes, yes I think so. He’s just been through so much.” Ben cuddled Little Joe to him, sitting down in the large red chair. “Maybe you should go for Doctor Martin, Adam. Send him out right away.”

“Sure, Pa.” Adam hurried into Virginia City, going first to the doctor then he decided he would take a look at this kidnapper for himself. The sheriff’s office door was open and he stepped inside for the first time, to find Roy Coffee behind the desk. “Sir, are you the Sheriff?”

“Yes, son, what can I do for you?”

The doctor checked over Little Joe but he didn't find anything wrong with him. “I think just the stress he’s been through Ben, was enough to set him off in a temper tantrum. It must be very strange for him to be home after all this time.”

“Yes, I guess so. But Paul, he wants the kidnapper? Why would he?”

“Ben, you have to understand, the man took care of him for months. It’s perfectly natural to want the person that kept you fed and alive.”

The door opened and Adam strode through the door with the Sheriff and Hop Sing. “Adam, what are you doing here with that man!” Ben barked.

“Pa, I think there has been a terrible injustice done here. It wasn't Hop Sing that kidnapped Little Joe, but another man. Hop Sing saved his life and as kept him safe for months.”

Hop Sing looked around the great room but finally his eyes lit on the small boy laying on the settee. “Little Joe,” he whispered. He hurried over to the settee sweeping him up in his arms, crooning to the small child in Chinese. Joe woke up seeing Hop Sing and started crying, while he held on to him tightly.

“Hop Sing, you're back.”

“Yes, Little Joe. Are you sick?” the worried man asked.

Joe shook his head no, but sobbed against his friend.

“They wouldn't bring you to me, I love you, Hop Sing.”

“I love boy, too. Shh..you go to sleep, Hop Sing, here now.” He rocked the child until Joe slowly closed his eyes. Hop Sing glanced at Ben Cartwright. “I not hurt boy, I love him.”

“I see that.” Ben watched the man as he carefully rocked his child. “Would you be interested in a job, Mr. Sing?”

“Not Mr. Sing. Just Hop Sing. What I do here? I not know cows.”

“No, I mean here in the house. You could cook, clean and help take care of Little Joe.” At the look of understanding on the oriental’s face, Ben realized this was the best solution.

Hop Sing stared at the big man with his large sons, then he looked down into the face of the small child he rocked. “I like that. “

Joe woke up in his room, with Hop Sing sitting beside him. “I had a bad dream, Hop Sing.”

“It okay now, sometimes there are tears at bedtime, but now you dream sweet dreams, Little Joe.”

“Hop Sing, are they going to make you go away again?”

Hop Sing could hear the fear in the boy’s words.

“No, Mr. Carlight, your father...he say I can stay and take care of house and boy. You like this Little Joe?”

“Oh yes!” Joe raised his arms to be held tightly in Hop Sing’s arms.

“You sleep.” Hop Sing laid him back down, then covered him up. “I be here forever, Little Joe, though I not tell this to family. It better they think they in charge.”

Joe snuggled down in the blankets with a smile on his face. He still missed Marie but he was glad Hop Sing would always be with him. Sometimes his father’s loud voice scared him, but with Hop Sing here he knew he would be safe.

Hop Sing sat down in the rocking chair, thinking how strange life had turned out. He was now the care keeper of a young boy and his family. He would do a good job for this family, they were now....his family. And he could always tell them he could go back to China if they not do as he said. Nodding his head he rocked back in forth in the old rocking chair, planning on the next day’s meals.

Finis

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