Only Helping a Friend
Part Three

By: Lynne G.

Little Joe couldn't believe that Ben was still so angry with him, and he was at a loss at what to do, so he rode back towards Virginia City with a very heavy heart.

During the next several days, cattle rustlers were stealing cattle from the Ponderosa and other neighboring ranches. The Ponderosa hadn't been hit too bad yet, but that was about to change.

Sheriff Roy Coffee had a posse together in hopes to catch the rustlers. While Roy was walking back towards the jail, he noticed Little Joe walking towards him.

" Hi Roy," the youngster greeted his old friend. Roy smiled at the boy, and replied, " Hi yourself son. Your Pa still won't let you back on the Ponderosa?" Roy inquired.

" No he won't. I'm gonna check out of the hotel, but not sure of where to go yet," Little Joe sadly said. " Little Joe why don't you come and stay with me? I have plenty of room at my place, and I would really love to have you stay with me. What do you say?" Roy asked.

Little Joe looked up at Roy, and he agreed to stay with Roy. " Thank you Roy, I really appreciate your kind offer. Just let me go and check out of the hotel and I come straight back to the jail," Little Joe suggested. " That's fine. See you in a few minutes then," Roy replied.

When Little Joe had moved his things into Roy's extra bedroom, Roy asked, " Did you hear about the cattle rustling in the area?"

" Yup, I did hear about it. So far looks like the Ponderosa hasn't lost too many cattle yet, but I'm sure that will change. Have ya seen them yet Roy or have any idea who they might be?" the youngster asked.

" No, not yet son. I would love to make you a deputy. I could really use your help, since you know every part of the Ponderosa, and where good places would be to hide cattle where no one would find them. I know that you are too young to be a deputy Little Joe, but I could really use your help son. What do you say?" Roy asked hoping that the boy would say ' yes '.

" I know I'm not allowed on the Ponderosa anymore, but I will help you Roy. The faster we get them rustlers, the better it will be for everyone. The small cattle ranchers can't afford to lose any cattle," Little Joe told Roy.

" Ya know Roy, just maybe I can find out who them rustlers are, and make like I wanna join em, and that way I could keep ya informed at what their plans are. I could tell em that I wanna get even with Pa for what he has done to me," Little Joe added.

" That sounds mighty dangerous son, but if you think you could do that, then I will fill the posse in on your plans. I'm sure those rustlers all know that you aren't welcome on the Ponderosa anymore, and that you want to get even with your Pa just like you said," Roy replied as he looked at Little Joe. The boy nodded back at Roy.

Little Joe walked over to the saloon just to inquire about cattle rustling, and that he wanted to get even with Ben. He wasn't really old enough to go into the saloon, but he wanted to help catch the rustlers.

There weren't many men in the saloon, but at one table towards the back of the saloon there sat several men who were listening to the boy at the bar.

It didn't take long for one of the rustlers to come over to Little Joe so he could talk to the boy.

" So, ya want to get even with old man Cartwright do you?" Merv Strann asked as he looked at the youngster standing before him.

" I sure do. He had no right ta kick me off the Ponderosa. I wanna make him very sorry he did that to me !" Little Joe angrily told Merv, which caused Merv to smile.

" You know kid, I think we could certainly use your help, if you are sure about what you just said," Merv replied. " I'm sure,' the boy declared.

" I can't believe that your old man kicked one of his sons off the mighty Ponderosa. I know I certainly wouldn't put up with it, and I would want to do something to get even with him too, Merv happily said.

" Come with me and I will introduce to my friends," Merv added. Merv and a nervous Little Joe walked back to the table where the rest of the rustlers sat. Little Joe thanked Merv for his offer to help him out.

After Little Joe had met the rest of the rustlers, they knew that they could trust the boy. They were surprised to see all the hate written all over the boy's young face.

" Where ya staying kid ?" Rick Zatterburg asked. " At Sheriff Roy Coffee's house, Little Joe said. " Your friends with the sheriff right?" Rick asked. The boy nodded.

" This sounds even better. That way you can keep us informed as to where the posse will be so we can keep clear of them," Jon Wells explained.

Little Joe acted as if he was thinking about what the rustlers had told him. " Yeah, I could do that, but I need to know where I can meet up with you guys to let your know about which way the posse is headin'," Little Joe suggested. " Sounds good to us kid!" Merv replied. He liked the boy and knew that he would be very useful to them.

A few days later, Merv told Little Joe to meet them that night at 7pm at the south pasture on the Ponderosa where the two large boulders were, and they would make their plans as to where to put the cattle. Little Joe agreed to the plan.

After Little Joe told Roy about where and what time he was to meet up with the rustlers, Roy began to have second thoughts about having Little Joe there with the rustlers.

" Son, I think it is still too dangerous for you to be there tonight. I know the posse along with Adam and Hoss will be hiding close by, but I'm worried that you could get hurt, and I don't want anything to happen to you son," Roy explained with concern in his voice.

" Dunt worry Roy, I'll be careful. Trust me !" Little Joe said hoping Roy would agree with him. Letting out a big sigh, Roy replied, " Alright, but you be careful Little Joe !" Little Joe smiled at Roy and thanked him.

Roy told Adam and Hoss what Little Joe had told him earlier that afternoon, and they were also very concerned about their little brother's safety as well.

" I still don't like the idea of Little Joe being there. If we could only figure out a way to keep the boy safe," Adam said as he was trying to come up with a plan for the boy.

" Adam, what if'n we tell him that Pa wants to see him at the house ?" Hoss suggested. " He wouldn't believe that, especially after Pa saw him at Marie's grave, and told him to leave. It was a good suggestion though Hoss," Adam replied.

Adam and Hoss didn't mention the plan to Ben, since they didn't want him in the way or to see Little Joe there. They thought that Ben might chase the youngster away.

Without their knowledge, Ben did hear part of what Adam and Hoss had been talking about. He heard where and what time the rustlers would be at the pasture, but he didn't hear the part about his youngest son being there.

Just a couple minutes before 7pm, Little Joe rode up to the rustlers. " Right on time kid. Did anyone see you heading out this way?" Merv asked.

" Nope, and I double checked to make sure too. I'm looking forward ta teachin' my old man a lesson !" Little Joe said, even though it hurt him deeply to say those words. Little Joe still loved Ben with all his heart, even after his Pa had kicked him off the Ponderosa.

As Little Joe and the rustlers were talking over their final plans as to where Little Joe suggested a good hiding place for the cattle, the posse along with Adam and Hoss were carefully hidden watching and listening to the plans, they were all shocked to see Ben suddenly ride up towards the rustlers.

" What's Pa doing there?" Adam nervously said, as he couldn't believe his eyes. They all knew they couldn't stop Ben without giving themselves away

As soon as the rustlers and Little Joe saw Ben riding up to them, they all took out their guns and they pointed them at Ben, including Little Joe. The boy felt so strange at pointing a gun at his own his own father, but he had to make the rustlers see that he meant business.

" Stop right where you are old man, and throw down your gun NOW !" Merv warned. Ben stopped Buck and he did what he was told to do, and he slowly took his gun out of his holster and he dropped it on the ground.

" Now get off your horse, slow and easy old man," Merv suggested. Again, Ben did as he was told to do. As he turned to face the rustlers, he was shocked to see Little Joe standing there with the rustlers and the boy's gun pointed at him.

" I might have known you'd be mixed up in this Joseph !" Ben angrily said. Little Joe's mind was racing as he was trying to figure out a way to get Ben out of there.

" You shut up old man ! I dunt care what you think. I just might blow out your damn braines right here and now !" Little Joe shouted at Ben.

Everyone was shocked at what the boy had shouted at Ben. Even the rustlers were surprised at the boy's out burst, but it convinced them that boy had truely meant what he had told them about wanting to get even with Ben.

Little Joe's heart was breaking at what he had shouted to Ben, but he knew he had to convince the rustlers that he meant business.

The posse, Adam and Hoss were all completely shocked at what Little Joe had shouted at Ben. " I can't believe what Little Joe shouted at Pa !" said a very shocked Hoss.

" Hoss, he didn't really mean it. He has to make himself sound and look convincing to the rustlers. This must be killing that boy to have to do this and to say what he did to Pa," Adam sadly told Hoss.

Ben was totally speechless. Never ever had any of his sons talked to him like that.

" I say we kill old man Cartwright right now, then get the cattle out of here," Jon suggested. The other rustlers agreed to what Jon had just suggested. Little Joe felt numb.

" Ok kid, go and tie up your old man for now, and I think we need to take care of the cattle first, then we will kill the old man," Merv suggested as he was the leader.

Little Joe nodded and he began to walk over towards Ben. The boy's body was trembling as he walked to his father, but he couldn't look at Ben for anything.

Just before Little Joe had reached Ben, Merv, called out to him. " Hey kid, stop a minute." Little Joe stopped walking and he slowly turned around to see what Merv wanted now.

He was shocked to see that all the rustlers had their guns pointed at him.

" Hey, what's goin' on ?" the boy nervously asked, as he couldn't understand why they would have their guns pointed at him for.

" Drop your gun kid, and go and stand next to your old man," Merv told the wide eyed boy. Little Joe did as he was told. His body was now shaking badly and he felt as if he were about to pass out.

As Little Joe stood next to Ben, he could feel his father's anger towards him. He knew that he needed to keep his eyes on the rustlers every second.

From their hideout, Roy and the men weren't sure at what to do. They didn't want Ben or Little Joe to get shot, so they had to nervously wait to see what was going to happen next.

" Sorry about this kid, but we don't want any witnesses. We thank you for all of your help, and we won't ever forget that either kid. Now, you get to watch your old man died first, then it will be your turn," Merv explained. He really did like Little Joe, but as he had said before, they didn't want any witnesses.

As Merv started to pull the trigger on his gun, Little Joe sensing at what was happening, threw his own body in front of Ben and he knocked Ben to the ground as he felt a sudden burning pain hit his chest and his world turned black.

The posse began shooting at the rustlers, which startled the rustlers. They had no idea that the posse was there, and they began to fire back at the posse, but they didn stand a chance, and a few minutes later, all the rustlers lay dead.

Everything happened so fast for Ben. One minute he was standing next to Little Joe, and the next minute the boy dove at him, knocking him to the ground, and he heard all kinds of gun shots.

Adam, Hoss, Roy and the posse carefully ran over to where the rustlers, Ben and Little Joe all lay on the ground. Adam and Hoss headed straight for Ben and Little Joe. They could hear Ben yelling at Little Joe to get off of him.

" Pa, Little Joe, are you two alright?" Adam shouted. " I'm fine ! Get him off me now !" Ben shouted back.

Hoss carefully moved Little Joe and he was shocked to see blood covering Ben's back. Then he realized that the blood was coming out of his little brother.

" Oh no ! Oh God no ! Little Joe !" Hoss shouted. Adam stood there staring at the boy, knowing that the boy had taken the bullet meant for Ben.

" Oh God Adam, he's hurt bad !" Hoss cried as he was trying to stop the blood from running out of the boy's chest.

Adam was now on his knees next to Hoss. " Just keep your fingers on that wound. " Please dear God, help our little brother please !" Adam mumbled. He knew it didn't look very good for the severely wounded boy.

Ben stood there staring at Little Joe as he was in shock. Adam stood up and put his hand on Ben's shoulder and explained to Ben what Little Joe had been doing.

Suddenly without any warning, Ben fell to his knees and he cried. " My baby ! I'm so sorry Little Joe. I didn't know. Oh God what have I done ?" Ben cried over and over as he watched his youngest son bleeding to death.

Hoss kept applying as much pressure on the large hole in Little Joe's chest as he kept praying that the bleeding would stop.

Finally the bleeding had slowed just a bit, and Adam tried to clean the bullet hole the best he could. He lucky had found a clean shirt in his saddle bags that had and now was ripping up to use on the Little Joe.

Ben never left Little Joe's side. He kept mumbling over and over, " What have I done ?" Adam was again kneeling next to Hoss and Ben trying to comfort Ben as Hoss got Little Joe ready to take home.

Clem Foster, one of the deputies rushed off to get Dr. Paul Martin and have him hurry out to the Ponderosa as Little Joe needed him badly.

Ben sadly looked up at Adam as the tears ran down his face. " Adam, it's all my fault. If I would have only let Little Joe come back home, none of this would have happened. Why do I have to be so damn stubborn? My baby is dying and it's all my fault," Ben cried.

" Pa, it's not your fault. Stop talking like this ! Little Joe would have been here helping us to catch the rustlers anyway. You know how he is. Pa, please, we need to get Little Joe home now," Adam explained to Ben.

Ben sadly looked at Adam and he mumbled, " I need to hold my boy and get him home where he belongs. Please let me hold him," Ben pleaded.

" Sure Pa. Why don't you go and get up on Buck and we'll hand him up to you," Adam suggested.

Ben quickly got on Buck and he sat behind the saddle as he watched Hoss very carefully carry Little Joe over towards him. Adam and Hoss gently put their little brother on the saddle and Ben held him tightly and keeping pressure on the bullet wound on the boy's chest, and they soon were on their way home.

They had no sooner got Little Joe into his bed when Dr. Paul Martin ran into the room, and straight over to Little Joe.

Little Joe was extremely pale and his lips now had a lightly blue look to them. The boy's skin was also getting cold to the touch as well, and he was having trouble breathing.

" Adam, please takes these scalpels down to Hop Sing to sterilize. I also need lots of hot water up here too, and Hoss, could you please get me lots of towels and an extra lamp too?" Hoss took off to get Paul everything he asked for.

" Ben, you can stay here with Little Joe until I'm ready to operate on the boy," Paul told Ben. Ben nodded as he continued to hold his son's smaller cold hand in his two larger warm hands.

" Please son, please don't leave me. I need you so very much Little Joe. I am so very sorry sweetheart for what I have done to you. I'm so proud of you for helping Ty get back together with his family. Please Little Joe, please don't leave me son. I love you more thna life it's self. Fight baby fight hard to live," Ben whispered into Little Joe's ear.

Paul stood there with tears in his eyes at the scene in front of him. He loved Little Joe as if the boy was his son. He had brought the tiny baby boy into the world a month early, sixteen years ago.

Paul knew that Little Joe was a fighter even back then, the night he was born, and he hoped and prayed that the boy would again fight with everything he had in him to survive this night as well.

Everything was now ready for Little Joe's surgery. Adam and Hoss took Ben downstairs to wait. Hop Sing would be assisting Paul with the surgery.

Downstairs the Cartwrights prayed to God to please let Little Joe live. The boy was the most important person in their lives and the all needed him so very much.

Ben couldn't forgive himself for what he had done to the boy whom he loved more than life. Adam and Hoss could feel the tremendous pain their father was going through, and they would do everything within their power to help Ben over come the awful feelings he was going through.

The surgery was taking a longtime because of where it was located in the chest.

Paul's main concern was all the blood Little Joe had lost. It was entirely too much blood. The bullet had just barely missed the boy's heart, for which Paul was grateful for.

Little Joe's body was in shock which wasn't helping the boy's condition. Hop Sing could tell by looking, that it wasn't looking very good for Little Joe to survive this time.

Hop Sing was praying hard for the boy. He needed the boy very much in his life too, and he loved Little Joe as if he were his own son.

The End of part 3

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