Only Helping a Friend
Part Two

By: Lynne G.

As Little Joe sat there trying to control his emotions, Morton looked at Mary who had tears running down her face, and he knew at that instant, that they needed to give Ty another chance.

Morton who by now also had tears in his eyes looked at Little Joe, smiled and said, " Joe, we really appreciate what you have explained to us, and I could tell by looking into your eyes that you are telling the truth and that this is very important to you."

" Thank you sir, and it is very important to me. I could see the pain in Ty's eyes when he told me everything about his life, and I knew he meant every word of it, and that he wanted so badly to be part of your family again," Little Joe softly replied as he looked at Morton.

" Son, would you please go and ask Ty to please come in the house," Morton asked. " Yes sir. thank you sir," the youngster replied with hope in his voice.

Little Joe quickly went outside to where Ty was nervously waiting for his young friend. As soon as Ty saw that big smile on Little Joe's face, he suddenly had hope in his heart.

" Ty, yer father would like ya to go in the house, so I'm gonna stay out here so you can be alone with yer parents. Go ahead, cuz I think everything's gonna be just fine," Little Joe said with a lot of encouragement in his voice.

Ty looked down at Little Joe, smiled and gave the boy a hug, and he softly said, " Thank you Little Joe." Then he slowly walked towards the house.

When Ty reached the door, he took a deep breath, and he opened the door and walked into the house.

Little Joe stood there feeling very nervous, but also excited at the same time, and he softly asked God to make everything work out for Ty and his family.

Ty stood there facing his parents for the first time in almost eight years. He felt so nervous that his legs felt wobbly.

Mary quickly ran over to her son and put her arms around him and she cried. " Thank God you are back home again son. I have missed you so very much and I have prayed every day that one day you would come home a changed man. Thank you Ty. I love you so much !" Mary tearfully told her son.

" Oh ma, I've missed you so much too, and I am so so very sorry for the way I use to be and for all the grief I gave you. Please, please forgive me," Ty begged as he cried in his mother's loving arms.

Morton stood there watching his son and his mother holding each other and he too had tears running down his face.

After several minutes, Morton finally said, " Welcome home son. I have missed very much, and I have prayed for you everyday that God would give you the strength to turn your life around so you could return home. My prayers have been answered." Morton was now holding his very emotional son. " I love you Ty," Morton softly told Ty.

" Thank you Pa. I love you too, and it is wonderful to be home again, if you'll have me," Ty replied. " Son, we want you to stay here with us and your brother and sister. Just wait until they hear that their younger brother has come back to us. I know they will be extremely excited," Morton told Ty.

" Ty, you certainly have a wonderful and very caring young friend in Joe. He seems like a very nice boy," Mary said.

" He is ma, and so is his family. Everyone calls him Little Joe. Oh, I need to let him know that everything is just fine !" suddenly explained.

Ty quickly walked over to the front door and he went to get Little Joe.

" Little Joe, my family wants me back ! You have to come back in the house now. I can't thank you enough for what you have done for me. You feel like a little brother to me and I thank God for you Little Joe. I have my family again !" Ty excitedly said as he gave the youngster a big hug.

Little Joe was in tears with so much happiness for Ty and his family.

Little Joe was greeted with big hugs from both Mary and Morton. The boy could see all the love in the eyes of Ty, and his parents, and he silently thanked God for what he was able to do for the family.

The Mortons filled Ty in about his older brother, Mick who owned the general store in town, and about his older sister, Meg who owned the dress shop in town.

Little Joe was enjoying what he heard about Ty's brother and sister, and he thought of Adam and Hoss at that moment and he wondered what they were doing.

Little Joe was so happy for Ty and his family, but his own heart was breaking knowing that he wasn't welcomed at his own home anymore.

" Ty, there is so bad news that you need to know son. About two years ago there was a bad flu that came through town, and sadly Mick's wife, Diane and their four children died. They had two boys and two girls, Mick Jr, and Tyler. The girls names were Sandy and Jannie. The boys were twins and four years old and the girls were ages five and six." Morton explained.

" Mick was having a hard time dealing with their deaths, but he seems to be doing better, and now with you back in our lives aagin, he will be feeling even better," Morton added.

" Pa, I didn't know. Had I known, I would have written to Mick. I wish I would have been able to meet Diane and the kids. I'm amazed that they named their son after me after all the trouble I caused," Ty said.

" Son, Mick loves you very much and he missed you. He always said that he wanted to name his son after you. He said it made him feel closer to you," Morton explained.

" I don't know what to say," Ty softly replied, " but I am going to thank him for that honor." Ty added.

" Son, there is more bad news, and I'm sorry to say that Meg's husband, Dan also died from the flu. They weren't able to have children. Meg was very ill with that same flu, but thank God, she survived it. Your mother and I were very lucky that we didn't get it too," Morton said with sadness in his voice for Meg and Mick.

Ty just shock his head at the sad news that he had just been told. " Mr and Mrs. Connor, I am so very sorry for all of your losses. We heard about that flu, but thankfully it didn't reach down as far as us," Little Joe said. " Thank you Little Joe," Mary said.

After several more minutes, Morton excused himself and he quickly went to tell Mick and Meg the happy news and invite them to dinner that night.

Mick was so excited that he couldn't wait to see his younger brother again after all those long years.

From the store, Morton went to tell Meg the good news, and she too couldn't wait to see her brother either.

Mary insisted that Little Joe stay with them while he was there, and the boy was grateful for the offer which he accepted.

Mary had made a special welcome home dinner for Ty that night and the entire family was there.

As soon as Mick and Meg arrived at the house, there were a lot of tears and hugs.

" Ty, it is so great to see you again. It's been much too long since we've seen you. I can't tell you little brother how much I have missed you," Mick told his brother as they hugged each other.

" I have missed you too brother. Pa told me about Daine and the kids. I am so very sorry, and if I would have known, I would have written to you. I want to thank you for naming one of your son's after me. I wish I would have had the chance to meet him and the rest of your family," Ty told Mick.

" Thank you Ty, that means a lot to me. In time I will tell you all about my family. It's still too soon for that. I just want to to know about you little brother," Mick suggested.

" Get over here little brother ! I want my turn too you know," Meg declared. " Oh Meg, I can't tell you how much I have missed you. You are so beautiful !" Ty said as he had tears in his eyes once again.

" Thank God Ty you are home again were you belong. I feel like my life is whole again with having you back with us," Meg tearfully said. " Thanks Meg. I'm so sorry about Dan, and I know how hard that must have been for you, but thank goodness you survived that flu," Ty told Meg as they continued to hold each other.

Mick went over to Little Joe and he gave the boy a big hug. " Thank you for bring my brother back to us Little Joe, and for being a true friend for him. I will always be very grateful for you for that," Mick said as he continued to hug Little Joe.

" I'm happy I could help him Mick. Family is so very important to have," the youngster replied as he was trying his best not to tear up and cry in front of everyone in the room.

Meg also went over to Little Joe and gave him a big hug and a kiss for helping return her brother. " Little Joe, you have no idea what it means to us to have Ty back in our family again. There has been so much sadness in this family, and now there is nothing but happiness thanks to you, and you will always be a part of our family from now on," Meg explained to the youngster.

" Thank you Meg, I don't know what to say. I feel honored to be part of your wonderful family. That really means a lot to me. Thank you again," Little Joe softly replied.

Dinner was wonderful as Mary had made a true feast for her family. Little Joe didn't eat very much as all he could think about was his own family.

" Little Joe, you haven't eaten very much. Are you feeling alright?" Mary asked with concern written all over face.

" I'm fine ma'am. Just really tired is all. May I be excused please ? I'd love to here with all of you, but I really would like to go to bed if you don't mind," Little Joe softly said.

Mary smiled at him and replied, " Sure honey, get some good sleep." " Thank you ma'am. Goodnight everyone ," Little Joe said as he got up from the table and went upstairs to his room. " Goodnight Little Joe, and thank you again," they all said.

" What a great kid he is. His family should be so proud of him !" Morton declared. Everyone agreed. Of course, none of them knew that the boy was no longer welcome at his own home.

Little Joe cried himself into a very restless sleep that night. He didn't know what he was going to do with his life anymore. He knew that he was welcomed with open arms from the Connor family, but it just wasn't the same as having his own family.

" Ty, have you thought about what kind of work you want to do yet?" Mick asked. " Not really, but I know that something will turn up, and I'm willing to try any kind of work," Ty said.

" I could sure use your help at the store, and if you would be interested you can have a good job working there with me. What do you say?" Mick asked, hoping his brother would say yes.

" That sounds great to me Mick. I can't thank you enough for your offer. Thank you so much !" Ty excitedly replied. " Great ! You can start next week after you rest up and relax for a week !" Mick happily suggested. " That sounds perfect Mick," Ty declared.

Ben had been having a hard time dealing with his feelings. He spent a lot of time in Little Joe's room thinking about his young son, and he hoped the boy was doing alright. He wanted the boy back home so much, but he seemed to let his stubborness take over his feelings.

Adam and Hoss missed their little brother so much and they kept asking Ben to let the boy come back home, but as usual Ben's stubborness would take over.

Several days later, Ben received a letter in the mail from Morton Connor.

" Pa, here's the mail and there's a letter for you from a Morton Connor," Adam said as he handed Ben the letter.

" I don't know anyone by that name. I wonder who he is?" Ben questioned as he looked at the envolope in his hand. He couldn't for the life of him figure out who this man was who had written to him.

Ben opened the letter and he began to read the letter.

" Dear Mr. Cartwright,
I know that you are probably wondering who I am, so let me explain why I have written to you."

" I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your wonderful son, Little Joe. Your wonderful and very caring son has given our family a very precious gift, our son Ty."

" You should be so very proud of your boy Mr.Cartwright. Little Joe made us, well mostly me, realize the big mistake I made years ago by disowning Ty, and wanting nothing to do with him. Your boy explained how Ty has turned his life around and how much he wanted to be back in the family."

" Our family is complete again, thanks to your wonderful boy. "

" Thank you Mr. Cartwright."

" Morton Connor."

Ben was speechless at what he had just read. Adam and Hoss were in tears as they looked at their father, who also had tears in his eyes. Ben just sat there holding the letter in his hand. Ben then laid the letter down and he sighed.

" Pa, please let Little Joe come home again. I'm so proud of him for what he did for Ty and his family. That boy knew all along that he could get them back together again. He's a good kid Pa," Adam told Ben hoping that he would say that the boy could come home again.

" Pa, Adam's right. Please let little brother come home. Please !" Hoss tearfully asked.

Ben listened carefully to his sons, and he wanted to say yes, but he let his stubborness take over again.

" I'm sorry, but he's not welcome here anymore, and that's all I'm going to say on the matter," Ben declared as he went outside.

" Adam, I can't believe Pa won't let Little Joe come home. What's wrong with him?" Hoss sadly asked. " I don't know Hoss, but I do know that I want our little brother back home where he belongs. Hopefully Pa's stubborness will just go away and his heart will tell him what to do," Adam suggested.

" Yeah, and maybe he will think more of what Mr. Connor said in his letter," Hoss hoped.

One day while Ty and Little Joe were talking, Ty could tell that the boy seemed very sad. " Little Joe, you seem so sad lately. Is everything alright?" Ty asked with concern.

" Huh? Oh, yes everything is fine. I was just thinking that I need to get back home and I'm really going to miss you and your wonderful family. You have all been so kind to me, and have made me feel like a member of your family," Little Joe softly explained to Ty.

" We will hate to see you leave us . When are you planning on leaving?" Ty asked. He didn't want the boy to leave, but he knew that Little Joe needed to get back home again.

Taking a deep breath, Little Joe told Ty, " I think I will leave tomorrow. I really miss my family Ty."

" I don't know how to thank you for helping me the way you have. You are a wonderful and very caring boy and you will always be welcome here you know," Ty tearful told his dear young friend.

" Thank you Ty. That really means a lot to me," Little Joe replied as he too was tearing up.

Everyone hated to see Little Joe leave, but they knew the boy needed to get back to his family. A lot of tears fell that next day when Little Joe left. None of them knew about the heartache that the youngster was feeling, and that he wasn't welcomed back at his home anymore.

Little Joe took his time going back to Virginia City, and just under two weeks later, a very tired Little Joe rode into town. He took Cochise to the stables and took care of him. All he wanted to do, was to sleep in a bed instead of on the hard cold ground.

He checked into the International House, had a nice relaxing bath and he went straight to bed. He didn't bother to eat before going to bed.

The next morning Adam and Hoss arrived in Virginia City with the buckboard so they could get supplies. They didn't know that their little brother was in town. The boy had been gone for almost two months now.

Adam and Hoss had just finished loading up all the supplies in the buckboard, when Hoss suddenly grabbed hold of Adam's arm.

" Adam, look ! Ain't that Little Joe?" Hoss declared as he pointed to a boy walking towards the stables.

Adam looked at the skinny boy wearing a green jacket as he walked towards the stables.

" Oh my God Hoss, it is Little Joe !" Adam gasped as he and Hoss took off after the boy in question.

Little Joe suddenly heard his name being called, and he quickly turned around and saw his brothers running towards him. He got a big smile on his face, and he soon found himself in Hoss's arms being held lovingly. He had tears in his eyes as Hoss held him.

" Oh little brother, yer back ! Oh God Little Joe, we have missed you so much boy !" Hoss cried as he didn't want to let go of his brother.

" Hey little buddy, thank goodness you've come back to us. It's just isn't the same without you. We love you so much kid !" Adam said with a lot of emotion in his voice.

Soon they were up in Little Joe's hotel room to continue their very emotional reunion. Little Joe felt so much love from his brothers at that moment, and it was the kind of love that he needed and had missed so much.

" Is Pa still mad at me?" the boy quietly asked. Adam and Hoss looked at each other and they knew they needed to tell their brother the truth.

" I'm afraid so little brother, but don't give up on him. We know that he misses you badly, but he won't admit it. You know how stubborn he is. Once he knows that you are back in town, I know that he will want you to come back home," Adam told the emotional boy.

The sad look on Little Joe's face was heart breaking for them. " Hey Punkin, why don't ya come home with us?" Hoss suggested.

" I wish I could Hoss, but until I know fer sure what Pa really says, I better just stay here in town," the youngster sadly replied.

After Adam and Hoss left, Little Joe decided that he wanted to go and visit his mother's grave, since it had been a long time since he had been there.

" Hi mama. I'm sorry I haven't been able ta visit ya lately. I have missed being here with you. I did it mama, I got Ty back with his family again. They are such a nice family, and they were so happy to have him back again. I wish Pa would let me come back home again," Little Joe sadly said with tears running down his face.

Ben decided that he needed to go up to Marie's grave. He was shocked to see his youngest son kneeing by the grave. He wanted so badly to run over to the boy and hold him, and tell him how sorry he was for what he had told his son before he left that morning. He also wanted to tell his son how proud he was of him for actually getting Ty back with his family, but he let his stubborness take over again.

" What are you doing here? You know that you aren't welcome on the Ponderosa anymore. I want you off my land NOW !" Ben shouted.

Totally startled by Ben's angry voice, Little Joe jumped up and he turned to face his angry looking father.

" Pa, please let me come back home again. Please ?" the boy begged. " I said get off my land and I mean it !" Ben angrily replied.

Looking down at the ground and not believing what he was hearing, the boy softly replied, " Yes sir." Little Joe was completely distraught as he slowly walked over to Cochise and he got on his horse and took one last look at Ben and he rode off.

As Ben stood there he called out to his son to please come back, but the boy didn't hear him. Little Joe was in tears as he rode back towards Virginia City.

The End of part two.

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