A Battle of Wills – #4 (by Robin)

Summary:  Part four of A Battle of Wills

Word Count:  12,100

A Battle of Wills

Chapter 1

The first snows fell in October damming small streams and blocking trails. By late November, subfreezing temperatures were becoming commonplace. The lake was iced over and only the fast running streams, like Cherry Creek were not totally frozen.

Ben Cartwright pulled his tan shearling coat tighter around his chest as he walked to the house for breakfast. He and Hoss had just finished some of the morning barn chores and were heading into the house for breakfast.

“Pa, How much colder do you suppose it will get?” His breath made clouds of steam around his head.

“I hope we have enough wood cut to get through the winter, son.”

“I guess we better start getting some more cut this week. I think we had better real soon, Pa. It is only December and that wood pile has a good dent in it,”

”Make sure you have the men stack some extra. I have a feeling we are going to be helping out some of our neighbors before this winter is over.”

Winters could be very cold in the Sierras, but this year – so early in the season – the weather was bitter. The sky had been steel gray for over three weeks; there had been no glimmer of sunshine. Snow was falling again and the gusty wind was unforgiving.

The Cartwrights had tried in vain to keep the large ranch house warm. Their home was cold during the day and the nights were simply intolerable. No one was sleeping well and everyone was on edge.  Ben and his sons slept under heavy blankets and quilts to try and keep warm during the night. Hop Sing heated bricks in the stove, wrapped them in flannel and placed them in the beds before each man went to bed.

On the worst nights, much as he did as a small boy, Joe wound up climbing into bed with whichever member of the family who would tolerate his cold feet and tossing and turning. Usually the brother who was least objecting was Hoss.

When Joe, as a small boy, stopped sharing the bedroom with Hoss, he moved into a small room on the north side of the ranch house with the weakest drawing fireplace and he always complained during the winter. Hoss suspected that the most important reason his younger brother selected the room was because he was able to sneak out at night by climbing out his window and jumping off the shed roof. When he told Adam his suspicions, the oldest brother laughed. He told him to either mind his own business or to sneak out with Joe and have some fun but to leave him out of it.

”Pa told we should start letting little brother make his own decisions and let the chips fall where they may.”

Hoss chortled. “ One of these nights, that roof is gonna ice up and Little Joe will slide down and break his dang fool neck.”

Adam shrugged. “Or Pa will wise up and be standing there waiting and Joe will knock him flat.”

Both brothers chuckled at the picture of Ben sprawled in the snow with Little Joe tangled up with him. “Guess that will teach him to stay home or use the front door.”

Chapter 2

As Ben walked up the steps to the porch, that morning he was irritated by the stiffness he felt in his knee. Ever since he had fallen off his horse a few years earlier, his knee had given him trouble when ever it got too cold or a storm was coming.

They walked into the house and hung their coats and hats on the rack near the door. Ben stared out the front window and frowned. “Nasty cold snap for so early in the
year.”

“We need to finish moving the herd to winter pasture as soon as possible,” Hoss pointed out to his father. “I don’t want to loose any more than we have to.”

”Maybe we should think about hiring some extra men.” Ben flexed his sore knee and moved into the dining room. Right after breakfast he and Adam would take a look at the books and the payroll and see if they could comfortably manage a few extra hands. It wouldn’t be hard to find good men if he had the money for the wages as so many of the spreads in the area were going under.

Ben glanced at the table and noticed that his two oldest sons were busy with their morning meal. Hop Sing brought another platter of ham to the table. “Mr. Cartlight, sit down while this still hot. I have more fresh biscuits for you in minute.” He went back into the kitchen.

Ben sat down at the head of the table and picked up his red checked napkin.

”Pa, don’t forget that we need to get into the town to meet the stage and meet Governor Flanagan.” He poured his father a cup of coffee and passed it to him. Mim Wallace had finally succeeded in getting the governor to meet in regard to reopening the case of her husband’s murder. Many people still felt Bob Harrison had hired the men who shot Foster Wallace. Many of Virginia City’s most prominent citizens agreed with her.

“How are you and Mim doing with searching for Foster’s notes?”

Adam shook his head.” Not too well. Phil Bartlett felt there was a notebook or some correspondence that Foster had that could link Harrison with the murders. But so far none of us can find it. Phil looked through all those files in the Enterprise office during the week and couldn’t find anything.”

”If you could find any links that would certainly get the Governor to reopen the case or at least appoint an investigation board,” Ben said. He looked grim. Everyone knew that there was more to the case than two angry saddle traps gunning Foster Wallace down a few years earlier. But without some evidence there was no possibility of linking Harrison with the murderers. Harrison got off scott free and sold most of his land to the Union Pacific for a huge profit and moved back east.

“I planned to spend the afternoon in the office with Mim trying to sort out some of the old files and back issues that are stored in the cellar. Are you sure you need me to go through the payroll?“

”No, Adam you go help out Mim. This information is vital if you can dig it up. Meet the stage and bring her back here with Flanagan for dinner. Hopefully you can find something worthwhile. If not, maybe we can convince Ted Flanagan to take some kind of action based on what we tell him.”

”I hope so, Pa,” Hoss added. “ Maybe you could let Little Joe talk to him too.” Joe had been in the Enterprise office the night of the murder keeping Katie Wallace and Phil Bartlett company. The three of them had to testify at the trial and Kate’s parents moved to San Francisco subsequently to take her out of the violent atmosphere of Virginia City.

“Keep an eye on the weather, Adam. I don’t want you to get stuck in a storm.” Ben reminded him. Even though his sons were grown he still worried about their safety during this strange winter.

”Why don’t you take Little Joe with you and he can meet the stage while you are working and you all can ride back home together. Bring Dandy in with you for the governor to ride.”

“Joe is still sound asleep,” Adam leaned back in his chair and grinned at his father. He crossed his arms and waited for the fire works.

Ben Cartwright was annoyed that Joe was still sleeping but was not in the least surprised. Although Joseph seemed to enjoy boundless energy during the day he was also the member of the family that required the most sleep and these cold and sleepless nights had begun to take their toll on him.

His youngest was also notorious for being difficult to awaken. Everyone avoided dealing with that task even when Joe was small. The only one who had any success was big Hoss. For some reason, Joe would never rage at his largest brother’s intrusion into his slumber and Hoss was never bothered by his baby brother’s temper.

Ben and Adam looked across the table at Hoss who was ravenously digging into his second helping of pancakes and bacon and totally oblivious to their eyes.

“Adam pass me the butter.” Hoss looked up and realized his family was staring at him.

“Hoss, I got to be leaving real soon. Could you do me the favor?”
He looked up from his breakfast. All eyes were on him as he put the last morsel of pancake in his mouth.”Huh?” He sat with the fork half way to his mouth.

”Hoss, go wake up Little Joe. Just tell him that the governor is bringing his beautiful fifteen-year-old daughter or a gaggle of dancing girls to meet us. And then when he finds out there is no one but Governor Flanagan we can tell him that he dreamed it all.” Adam the storyteller contrived.

“Toss him in a snow drift if his head gets too hot.” Ben suggested. “Just open the window of his room and roll him down that shed roof.” He winked at Adam. Their father knew very well that Joe was climbing out the window and had his own plan worked out to catch his youngest son. Ben was not pleased that Joe was playing poker with the disreputable Bonner brothers and drinking with Frank Dayton at the Silver Slipper.

Before Hoss could finish up his third portion of pancakes, Joe was stumbling down the stairs. He was dressed in his warmest woolen trousers. By the look of the bulk of him had put on at least one extra set of long johns. The boy had topped the outfit with Adam’s red woolen shirt. His curly brown hair was sleep tousled and he was still rubbing his eyes as he sat down at the table.

”We were just about to wake you up, Little Brother. You saved me a trip up the stairs.” Hoss smiled. He passed the almost empty pancake platter to his brother.

“Hey, that’s my new shirt you have on there.”

”I’m cold through to my bones Adam. I’ll take care of your shirt. Don’t worry. You’ll get it back.”

“I hate when you go taking my clothes without asking.” From his seat opposite, Ben raised his hand to indicate that Adam should stop talking before an argument ensued.

“How would you like to go into town and do me a favor today, Buddy?” Adam looked at Joe sitting to his right. “Could you meet the stage and come with me to bring Mim and the Governor back here for me? Pa needs to work on the payroll and those bids.”

The thought of leaving the fireside and riding in the cold to Virginia City was not at all appealing to Little Joe until he realized that he would have an opportunity to kill a few hours socializing. He could manage seeing some of his Town friends before the stage came into town if he left right away with Adam. He hadn’t shared his charm with any of the young ladies of Virginia City since the family went to church two Sundays earlier. And maybe he would drop by and see Miss Melissa Peters. Joe hated to think she could have forgotten about him. She would know how to warm him up on a cold afternoon in her parlor, especially if her father was working at his hardware store for the afternoon.

“Guess I could do that for you.”  Joe smiled sweetly.

Chapter 2

The wind picked up, coming from all directions, tearing at their jackets and driving the damp snow under their upturned collars. Joe was glad he had bundled up that morning but it was not enough when the wind blew through the open prairie.
It wasn’t long before Adam was chilled to the skin and Joe was wondering if he had made the right choice. It was growing increasingly difficult to make their way. The horses were pushing hard through deep snow up to their hocks and Adam had to keep encouraging Dandy on a lead behind him.

Adam remembered his father’s warning about the weather and smiled ruefully. “Well, I did keep an eye on it, Pa. It just outsmarted me, is all.” he imagined himself telling his angry father. But his father had also told Adam to allow his little brother start making some of his own decisions with out his older brothers correcting him. This ride was Joe’s decision. Maybe Adam should have not let him take such a risk and include him in it.

“I can’t believe we are taking this long to get to Cherry Creek. We walked this in a half hour from town when we were kids to go swimming.“ Adam observed as he pulled on Dandy’s reins. “Dang horse,” he growled under his breath. “Why did we agree to take this stupid nag?”

”Pa thought old Dandy would be easier for Governor Flanagan to ride. Who knows how well he sits in a saddle.”

Adam chuckled “ Hope his top hat and high collar didn’t get too wilted by the snow.”
Joe laughed imagining his Pa’s fancy pants high-class friend, the Territorial Governor.

“We aren’t even half way to the creek,” Joe shook his head. “Look, there is the dip just before the first bend in the trail.”

“Isn’t that where Pa caught up with you playing hooky that time?”
”No that was the place where Roy Coffee caught me playing craps with your pals the Bonners. The place that Pa caught me was further up.” Adam glared at Joe at the reference to the Bonners being his friends but the wind blown snow blocked his face.
Within a half hour some damp snow was beginning to mix with the rain and Joe was
starting to become uneasy. Still no sign of the stage and now they was far outside of town. “What a fool I am.” Joe thought to himself. They had ridden out on the road quite a way and not even told anyone where they were going. As far as anyone knew, he was sitting in the parlor of Melissa Peters trying to steal a kiss and Adam was working alone in the Enterprise office going through the files for Mim. No one would even think to come hunting for the two brothers until dinnertime. Maybe not even until tomorrow.

The light was fading with the temperature, and the wet snow began again in earnest, blown wildly by the wind. The icy flakes stung their faces.

When the Virginia City Overland Stage master told Joseph Cartwright that the stage was overdue by four hours and probably broken down by the Carson City fork or off at Cherry Creek bridge, it seemed so simple to ride out and find their guest and bring him home on their own. If they found the stage and headed home from there over the north end of the ranch, they would be home for supper. It seemed so very simple when he walked into the Enterprise office and suggested the plan to Adam.

”Why wait around town for the stage to show up? We’ll go find the stage.” Mim could easily get out to the Ponderosa on her own before the bad weather kicked up and the two brothers would go get the governor.

Besides, Joe was furious that Melissa had not even let him into her house. She was entertaining a “gentleman” and how could he have the nerve to show up after not paying attention to her for weeks. Then her father came to the door and told Joe that he had thirty seconds to get off his porch or he would thrash him for keeping his daughter out so late last night.

Last night? Last night he was home listening to Hoss snore and Adam gripe about the problem of finding any of Foster’s notes in the old files. Who was Melissa running around with and then telling her father she was with Joe Cartwright?

Where could the stage be? “You can’t hide a whole stage… even in a blizzard”. Joe shouted to his brother over the wind. Joe prayed that this was not turning into a blizzard.

“Damn. For years, Pa had kept telling him to think things out before he did anything. Here he was dashing out on Cochise, trailing Dandy behind him because some fool girl gave him a hard time. Here he was riding along the snow-drifted road looking for a lost stage in the middle of a blizzard. That is surely not something either of his older brothers would do. Why didn’t Adam tell him to go soak his head like he usually did? Adam usually had more sense than he did and he agreed like they were riding out on a picnic with a basket full of Hop Sing’s fried chicken and lemonade. His father would certainly have come better equipped and have left word where he was headed if he rode out in a storm.

Joe felt his stomach tighten in alarm.

Maybe it wasn’t alarm. Maybe it was only hunger. He sighed and remembered Hop Sing’s breakfast hours before. He could use a good meal himself. He had been too tired and too rushed to eat much and had assumed Melissa would surely invite him in for lunch. He should have bought himself a meal in town before they rode out and now he was regretting it.

“No stage, no story and just getting frozen for nothing.” Adam reflected aloud, almost like he was reading his younger brothers mind. When Joe sauntered into the Enterprise office telling him that the stage was four hours late, this ride seemed like a brilliant idea. Joe figured that the stage must be stuck somewhere between Virginia City and the Carson City fork or down by the rickety Cherry Creek Bridge.  “That’s only a few miles outside of town.” Joe enthusiastically pointed out. “We used to walk down there to go swimming.”

He had suggested to Adam that they should ride out to the stage themselves. The two of them could get Mr. Flanagan off the stage and head back to the house by way of the undeveloped railroad right of way that skirted along the edge of the ranch. The land that used to belong to the Harrison place.

Joe was uncomfortably aware that if they didn’t spot the stage soon they would have to head back to town. Then they would be in even worse shape. No stage and the horses would be too worn out to get them home. Cochise was a stronger mount than the horse Adam was riding and lumbering Dandy

And even if the two brothers did find the stage, who knows what kind of rider the Governor was. Adam said he was some relation of his college friend, Dennis. Adam said that the guy had gone to Harvard. Joe doubted the fellow had much backbone when it came to living out west. Some fancy pants dude in a frock coat from back east was going to get them frozen dead in the snow.

The days were short at this time of the year and the weak sun would be gone very soon. The horses were getting skittish and tired. The encroaching darkness and the blowing snow were making it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead.

“I can’t believe how cold it is out here.” Adam said as a gust of wind hit them.

”Its not that cold.” Joe lied and tossed a handful of snow he grabbed from a bush at his brother.

”Quit, Joe. I’m cold enough without more snow down my neck.”

The snow seemed to be lightening up. Or was it just a temporary lull in the storm? Their father had told them stories about hurricanes when he was at sea. There was a calm in the middle of a hurricane Ben had told the boys. Then the storm would reverse back and come back stronger. That “eye” was when many men lost their lives because they thought the storm was through and would set sail. Then they would get slammed in the trap of the second part of the storm.  Adam thought that was how the Sea Breeze had sunk with Charles Bruce, Jr. and Dennis’ father based on what his grandfather had told him years earlier. Rather than staying in port waiting out the second half of a hurricane, they raised sails and went out to be destroyed by the returning storm.

“You think this is like the eye of a hurricane. Like the ones Pa told us about. ?” Adam knew more obscure and trivial knowledge that any two almanacs.

”I doubt it, Joe. I think that only applies to hurricanes not snowstorms. This may just be the end of the storm.

“ But look at the sky over that way.” Adam pointed off to the ridge in the west where the sun was setting. “Looks like another storm is sweeping in behind this one.”

“It may not be a hurricane, but Pa was right.”

”What do you mean?”

“ Pa said, weather can play some cruel tricks on a man.”

Adam nodded. “And so can Melissa Peters Little Brother.” Adam had wanted to add a few words of advice to his young brother about certain females, but remembered he had promised his father to let his brother make his own mistakes. And chasing after flirtatious Melissa was as big a mistake as chasing after a stage in the snow.

Joe scanned the road in front of them and could not see any sign of the missing stage.

“Hope the storm is winding down and done.” Joe looked over his shoulder at Adam.

“I hope the stage is right around that bend.” He shouted back.

“I hope that Melissa Peters realizes that she drove me out into a vicious storm and regrets her cruelty and disdain enough to go to the dance with me next month.” Joe added tossing his arms into the air and dramatically emoting to the trees and the wind.

”I hope you realize that we are probably going to freeze our sorry butts before we find this damn stage.” Adam parried.

“I hope we find Pa’s friend.” Joe added.

”I hope you don’t wreck my new red shirt.” Adam laughed.

The two Cartwrights rode on through the snow.

Joe slowed for an instant and said,” The stage!”

Snow came so early that lots of the trees still had their leaves – all kinds of trees and branches came down from the extra weight and one large willow tree had fallen across the Cherry Creek Bridge. Snow had drifted and blown across the obstruction. The rickety bridge had partially collapsed under the weight and when the stage approached the driver could not cross and was trapped on the wrong side of the creek. The driver had decided to attempt to move some of the rubble from the road and unhitched the horses. He thought he could attempt have the team pull the fallen tree off to the side of the road.

As the Cartwrights approached the stage, through the wet white flakes, the riders could see three men trying to clear out the drift.

“We sure are glad to see you. Did the Overland stage agent send you out?”

”No sir, “ Joe called. “We heard you all were stuck and came looking for one of your passengers. We were supposed to meet him down the line at Virginia City.”

Adam dismounted and walked over to get a better look at the mess on the bridge. “I’m Adam Cartwright from the Ponderosa. Anyone hurt?”

“No sir,” the driver answered.” We hardly have anyone on the stage. Don’t seem like we have too many folks traveling in this bad weather.”

“We’re looking for one of your passengers, Governor Flanagan. We were supposed to meet him.”

The men continued to dig into the drift as the damaged bridge creek and snow fell around them. Joe climbed down from Cochise. He tied the reins of all three horses to a low frozen branch and walked up to stand next to Adam.

The wrangler with the blue muffler stopped his industrious digging and looked over at the Cartwright Brothers with the steely eyes of a man who rides the range. “Flanagan? That’s me. I’m Theodore Flanagan.” He grinned at the Cartwrights with a toothy smile. He leaned against his shovel and extended his gloved hand to Adam.

Joe and Adam were totally shocked to find their guest was dressed in buckskin and pitching in to dig out the stage rather than the wimpy top hat wearing dude they had imagined. No wonder he got elected. He was a true politician and took on the demeanor of his constituency when he went out amongst the voters.

“How do you do? It is very nice to finally meet Ben Cartwright’s boys.” He grinned broadly below his wide moustache, his eyeglasses reflecting the quickly fading light.

“And you too sir.” Joe grinned his most charming smile as he shook the Governor’s hand.

“We brought Dandy for you to ride back home with us.” He was finally relieved to have found the stage and the governor. Maybe he had not made such a bad decision after all. The snow was easing up and they would be heading home with Flanagan. Adam and his father would be impressed with his cleverness.

Chapter 3

The stage driver had explained his strategy to Adam. It sounded simple. Dig out the rubble from the bridge. Unhitch the team and walk them across the weakened bridge. Leave one horse behind to pull the empty stage across. All they needed to do was dig out some of the fallen trees and snowdrift.

As they were discussing the options, Joe started poking around the coach. “Don’t think you’ll be able to do that. This wheel is just about broken through. Look at the spokes.”

The driver walked over and examined what Little Joe had pointed out.”Dang, if you ain’t right. We won’t be going far with that.” He gave the wheel a kick and it was just enough to break the last bit of the splintered wood and the coach collapsed onto the axel. Joe shoved the driver out of the way just in time to avoid being hit by the edge of the coach.

“Thanks son, I would have been hurt by that if you hadn’t pushed me.”

Joe shrugged his shoulders, “No thanks necessary.”

Joe figured that if he lent them a hand they would be on their way sooner. He grabbed a coil of rope from his saddle.

“We can use one of our horses to haul some of that tree off the track. Ace is pretty strong.” The driver nodded appreciatively in agreement and Joe started to examine the best way to tie off the lines.

The ice of Cherry Creek had seized up and disengaged some of the bridge pilings and supports from the bank. The bridge had been rickety at best before the winter and Adam was not sure if the bridge could hold at all.

“Joe, let me look around here and see how strong that bridge really is and how much damage the ice did to the underside.”

Joe chuckled to himself. Pa had always pointed out to his boys that if a piano had to be moved, Hoss would lift the entire piano and Adam would always offer to carry the sheet music and analyze the composition. And Joe would smile and take the bow and walk off with the soprano soloist.

“To bad Hoss isn’t here to help with lifting the piano. Just watch your step, Brother.” Joseph reminded him. He knew that when Adam got started following up an engineering project he would loose the sense of what he was doing and had tripped over his own feet on more than one occasion. “Don’t let your education get in the way of your feet.”

Adam walked down the track pulling out a stub of a pencil and a small notebook from his pocket. He wanted to sketch out if there were any broken supports or beams and figure the stress that the weight of the stage and the horses would make crossing. Before any of the stage crew could holler a warning, Adam stepped right between the loose boards covering a hole in the bridge. He crashed down the snowy incline and right through the ice covered Cherry Creek.

“Hahn” they heard him scream as his foot hit air instead of bridge.

“Adam!” Joe shouted as he saw his brother’s head disappear under the bridge. He ran down the road to the point his brother had slid down into the creek and jumped down the slope. Flanagan and the driver and the other passenger scrambled after him.

Adam had fallen through the ice and was waist deep in the icy water of Cherry Creek.
”Hey Big Brother, Do you feel as stupid as you look?” Joe hollered to his brother.

”Get me out of here before I freeze to death.” Adam pleaded. His hat had fallen into the water and now he was totally blinded, cold and wet. He did feel foolish but he was not going to ever admit it to his little brother.

Joe realized that as ridiculous as his brother looked he needed to get him out and dry fast or he would be in serious trouble. He looked down into his gloved hands at the coil of rope he still was holding. Pulling off his gloves with his teeth, Joseph quickly knotted the rope into a slip knotted lariat. He narrowed his eyes and estimated what it would take to reach his brother. “Just like a stuck heifer” Joe laughed to himself.

“Adam, you dumb ass, I’m going to toss you a rope. Just stand still and quit your bellowing. You sound like a sickly milk cow. Mooooooooo.”

Flanagan started to laugh.” What are you going to do?”

”I’m going to rope him and pull him out. If you two can give him a hand, I think we can pull him out before he freezes solid and avoid anyone else getting too wet.”

The young rancher tied the end of his line to a nearby tree trunk. Then Joe twirled the rope lariat over his head and lofted it over his brother in one swoop. “Tie it around your chest Adam and we’ll pull you out. Unless you want to wait until spring…or tie it around your neck and we can hang you and put you out of your misery,” Joe teased.

“Get me out of here!” Adam pleaded. Joe suddenly realized that this was no joking matter. Adam was going to be soaked through and they still had a long ride home to the Ponderosa.

The other two men grabbed Adam as he struggled out of the water and helped him up the bridge to the road. “Get him dry by a fire ” The stage driver directed. Joe unwound the rope from his brother and added his shoulder to the rescuers pulling his half drowned brother up the slope.

As they reached the top, the stage team ran off back towards Carson City leaving the men with a broken down stage and no horses except the ones the Cartwrights had brought.

Chapter 3

It was truly dark by now, the snow dense and blinding. Despite a good idea, there was no way the men could dig out the stage nor pull the frozen rubble off the trail. The stage crew had pulled the stage upright but with the broken wheel there was no way they were going to get that stage anywhere. And after the team rode off there was no horse capable of pulled the coach anyway. They all finally agreed with Joe’s suggestion that he could leave them Ace and the driver and the other passenger would ride down the road to Virginia City on that horse. After the snow ended, the stage company would sort through whatever needed to be done.

The governor and the Cartwrights would attempt to ride back to Ponderosa ranch on two horses, Dandy and Cochise. The snow seemed to have abated a bit. Flanagan and the Cartwright brothers were anxious to be on their way.

Governor Flanagan was riding Dandy. Joe got his brother on Cochise and climbed on behind him.

By the time the three had ridden a few miles, the snow started again and the sky was dark. The frigid air stiffened and froze Adam’s wet clothing and he shivered steadily. Joe tried his best to keep Adam warm but there was not much more he could do. He had given Adam the red wool shirt and Governor Flanagan had found a pair of extra dry pants and a sweater in his bag but it was not enough. Adam was still wearing his wet boots and had not really warmed up thoroughly when they dried him off.

”Just hold on Adam, we’ll be home soon.” Joe put his arms around his brother and held tightly on to him. He thought of all the times Adam and Hoss brought him home from school in bad weather riding in front of them when he was small.

”Joe, don’t let him fall asleep.” The governor called from behind him. Dandy’s breathing sounded labored and tired in the cold air, but they didn’t dare stop for all their sakes. Joe
huddled in his coat, his hands barely able to keep hold of the reins and Adam at the same time.

He felt as if they were trapped in some horrific nightmare…trudging endlessly home with the wind tearing at him, the snow blinding him and muffling all sound. He was exhausted from the cold and the long day in the saddle, but he didn’t dare stop, as he had to get his brother back home.

“Hang in there my boy. Here’s my scarf.” Governor Flanagan reached across from Dandy and handed Joe the blue wool muffler he had worn around his neck. “Wrap it around your brother’s neck and ears.” Adam had lost his hat in the fall into Cherry Creek.
Joe tucked the scarf into Adam’s coat.” Is that better”

”Thanks,” Adam said weakly. His teeth were chattering.

“Sing a song or something, Adam. The governor said you shouldn’t fall asleep. Sing one of those songs Pa taught us from when he was at sea or one of the songs you used to sing with Dennis in college.”

”I can’t, Joe. I’m too cold.”

“Sing the dirty one you made up with Dennis about the mermaids and the sailors.”

“Stop it, I’m too cold.”

“You gotta… or tell me some mythology story or tell me what Roy Coffee is doing or what about Miss Barbara. Think about what she has going on at the Altamont Saloon.” Joe had to make sure he stayed awake. “Adam, what is Mim going to put in the headline?”

“Don’t know.” Adam muttered. “Bank robbers, election day. Don’t know. Just let me be.”

Joe reached around to swat at his brother and wake him up. Adam was confused and was irritated by the sluggishness that seemed to have invaded his brain and tried to hit Joe back.

“Adam!” Joe hollered and grabbed his larger brother around his chest and hung onto him before he knocked them both from the saddle and into the snow. ”Sit still and stay awake.”

Adam was stiff and confused, cold beyond shivering. He was pretty much frozen and clearly exhausted beyond belief.

They came to the place the trail forked off towards Carson City and they needed to head down hill to the south, to the Ponderosa.

“Are we getting close to your home?” The governor asked as they left the trail right of way. Joe was surprised at how well the man sat in his saddle. Governor Flanagan pulled his horse side by side with Joe. He reached over and grabbed Adam by the front of his frosted coat. He hoisted Adam up a bit more upright as he started sliding out of his brother’s grip.

“Thanks, he was sliding out of my grasp.” Joe reached around Adam’s limp form and tried to tuck the scarf around his neck. He hugged his brother to his chest trying to keep him warm and from sliding off Cochise.

“Are we close?” Governor Flanagan asked again.

“If it was clear we would be at the house in about a half hour. But I don’t know now.”

”What do you think with this storm? Do you think we should try to stop and make a camp? Adam looks quite rung out,”

“Not for now, sir. It’s rough going, but it’s totally flat wide-open pasture along here. There is not really any windbreak or shelter or firewood or any thing between here and the house that we can use for cover. I think we should just keep on. I think we passed the worst of it. It should be an easier go for the rest of the run and I really want to get my brother home.” Joe was relieved to see the landscape change and the hills flatten out. Through the falling flakes he could see some familiar landmarks. He was born on this ranch and knew it like the back of his hand even when it was dark and blanketed by snow.

Governor Flanagan blew out his breath thoughtfully, “ I think we can make it if we keep our wits about us. You are doing a fine job, Lad.” Joe thought if they kept up the pace, and nothing else happened they could get home in less than an hour.

“Do you want me to ride in front of you for a while and break a path for you?”

”Can you manage, Mr. Flanagan? I think Cochise could use the help. She isn’t used to carrying two people for so long.”

“I think I can manage. Just holler if I head off course.”

“See that fence line. We are almost there.”

Chapter 4

Ben and Hop Sing heard someone in the front hall. It was Hoss returning from outside chores and checking the stock before bed. He was stamping the snow from his huge boots. Ben walked over to the door way and took his son’s coat from him and hung it by the fire to dry.

” We need to ride out and look for them, Pa. Snow’s slowing’, but the wind’s fierce and it’s cold as a can be. I told the hands and most of them said they would be ready to go whenever you gave word. “

“No! I can’t let anyone else get lost out there.”

”But Pa!” Hoss protested.

“I know it’s hard to wait, Hoss, but it’s the only choice we’ve got. Who knows if they even headed back home? They all may have stayed in Virginia City for the night and we would be riding out in a storm looking for someone who is not even there.”

“And what if they didn’t stay in town and started for home. What if they did that Pa and got stuck in the storm and didn’t find shelter?” He was clearly upset and worried about his brothers.

From the other side of the room Mim answered “Then chances are we won’t find them till spring thaw.”

There was a long silence, they both heard Mim. “I’m sorry, Ben, but you know it’s the truth. I can’t believe you asked Little Joe to go meet the stage. It was bad enough when I came out here from town. Flanagan isn’t worth Joe getting hurt.”

“Pa, I should have been out there with them. Joe is too young to manage and who knows if Adam was with him. He could have stayed in Carson City to finish looking for those papers and not even been with the governor. “

“ Bet Adam stayed in Carson City. Bet Little Joe is trying to get home on his own with the governor.” His voice was so low that his father turned trying to catch what his son had said.

“I can’t stand the not knowing.” Hoss said as he wrenched his arm from his father’s grasp and started for the front door.

“No one is going out looking for them, Hoss. Do you understand me?” Ben ordered.

“But Pa.”

”No one Hoss. I’m not going to have anyone else get lost in the storm when we have no idea if they even headed out here. The two of them can be sitting in the dining room of the International Hotel eating dinner. “

”Hoss listen to your father. That’s a fool’s mission, boy.” Mim said.” I’ve known of men freezing between the house and the barn when they get lost in a storm.

Chapter 5

Ben’s powers of persuasion were running low by the time the frozen riders got home. Both Hoses and Hays Newkirk were itching to ride out and hunt for Little Joe as soon as they could. Even Hop Sing agreed with Hoses. “Mr. Carlight, I tink Hoss is right”

No one but Ben Cartwright was appreciating that they didn’t even know what route the men had taken. They just were feeling helpless and hopeless sitting and doing nothing. A few times during the evening, one of the hands would check the barn to see if Sport or Cochise were in their stall or would knock at the door and ask if Joe and Adam had yet returned. Even Dean Newkirk had come up to the house to see if Joe was home and to volunteer to go out with them and find him.

The storm had finally worn itself out and the sky was clear for the first time in two days. The men would wait for the first pale glimmers of dawn to start streaking the night sky before they saddled up and went hunting for Little Joe, Adam and Governor Flanagan

Ben had just told Hoss for the fifth time that there was no way he would allow anyone go out in the snow looking for anyone until he was sure anyone was missing and certainly not before the morning light when they heard something from outside.

The sound of horse’s hooves in the snowy yard sent big Hoss charging to the window, and then to the door as they recognized the two horses. He identified Governor Flanagan’s husky figure on Dandy and he could spot Cochise. But it looked like Joe was holding someone on the saddle in front of him. “

“Where’s Sport and Adam?”

”Bet Adam stayed in Carson City and Joe wound up riding alone through the snow with Governor Flanagan on his own “ sighed Mim thinking how hard Adam was trying to find the missing papers.

“Hey, Looks like Little Joe is carrying Adam in front of him.”

“Halloo in the house “ they heard Governor Flanagan call loudly.

“Hey Pa!” Joe shouted.

“Geez, Adam is riding doubled up with Joe. What happened? “ Hoss rushed to the door and grabbed his hat and coat. Ben followed on his heels, coatless.

“Hoss, Pa, give me a hand with Adam. He is froze through.” Joe hollered as he saw his brother and father charge out the door.

“Hop Sing.” Ben hollered to the cook.” Rustle up some hot water and lots of food. My boys are back and they look like they ran into trouble.”

Mim grabbed her brown coat and ran out after Ben to help his sons.

Governor Flanagan had climbed down from Dandy and he and Hoss were taking Adam out of his younger brother’s tired arms. “What happened to him, Joe?” Hoss gasped as he lifted Adam from his brother’s arms.” Where have you all been? How’d he get frozen like this?”

Adam looked pale, and half dead. His clothes were encrusted with ice and his hair and eyelashes were white with frost. Hoss cradled him in his strong arms and carried him into the house followed by his father and Governor Flanagan. “Guess we got home.” Adam whispered weakly as he got inside. His teeth were chattering.

Joe slid down from Cochise. He stood trembling wearily, holding on to the saddle, his hands resting on the neck of his horse. “Mim, help me out, my legs are too stiff to walk,” he croaked. His hands started shaking from exhaustion the cold and most of all relief. His icy gloved hand clutched tightly to the reins. He was finally home and the responsibility for Governor Flanagan and Adam was finally passed over to his father.

Mim put her arms around Little Joe and reached up to pry his stiff fingers from the reins. He slid off Cochise and stiffly hit the ground. Mim hugged the boy and helped him take a few stiff steps “What happened to you all, Joe? Where have you been all night?” She was so relieved to see him that she gave him a big kiss.

Two of the wrangler who had seen the commotion in the yard from the bunkhouse rushed across the yard and took the two horses. “You ok, boy?” one of them asked. Joe nodded, too tired to say much more.

“Just help get me inside to my Pa, Mim and I’ll tell you all about it. Just don’t ask me to meet any more stages for you for a long time. I don’t care if it’s the territorial governor or the Queen of England.”

”How about a coach full of pretty girls, Joe?”

”Well maybe, for you Mim.” She hugged him again.

Inside, Hoss had carried Adam to the settee and started peeling the frozen clothes off his brother as Ben stoked up the fire. Hop Sing brought them hot tea and quietly closed the door Hoss had left open. He ran upstairs for dry clothes and blankets and then went back to the kitchen to put up more hot water.

“Hoss, bring the bathtub in here and set it by the fire,” Ben requested quietly. In the next few minutes Adam became the stationary center of a vortex of activity as his father and Hoss tried to warm him up. Hop Sing, coming in with a steaming kettle, added its contents to the water in the tub, and returned to the kitchen for more hot water.

Just as Hop Sing poured the second kettle of boiling water into the tub, Mim came back into the front room with her arms filled with blankets. She blushed as she saw Ben drop Adam’s wet trousers and drawers to the floor.  She looked the other way as she said “I’ll go make some hot soup for you men,” She walked back into the kitchen following Hop Sing.

Hoss and Ben helped Adam climb into the copper tub and gave him a cup of hot tea to drink while he soaked. “I don’t know if I can ever warm up.” Adam shivered. He stayed there until he thawed out and the water started to cool. His father helped him climb out and dry off. Hoss handed him dry clothes.

Meanwhile, Hop Sing had helped Joe up the stairs with Governor Flanagan following close behind.

“I guess you need some fresh clothes, Governor Flanagan. Come up and let Hop Sing get you some of Adam’s. He is closest to your size.”

After making sure Joe was taking off all his wet things and Hop Sing took Governor Flanagan down the hall to his Adam’s room and offered him a fresh set of long johns and warm pants and shirt from Adam’s dresser. “You can roll up legs and cuffs if you need. Mr. Adam taller than governor.”

He showed The governor the guest room and walked back down the hall to Joe’s room and made sure he was all right.

“You go eat something and sit by fire.” Hop Sing ordered.

”I’m to tired to chew.” Joe wearily told him.

“Hop Sing made hot soup. You no need chew.”

Hop Sing helped him down to where the rest of the family was gathered by the hearth sipping hot soup. Joe sagged into the leather chair on the left side of the hearth and Mim wrapped a warm blanket around his shoulders. Governor Flanagan, dressed in some of Adam’s clothes was seated opposite him on the edge of the hearth. He had neatly cuffed the taller mans trousers and rolled up the sleeves of the shirt.

Chapter 6

As they all sat by the fire Governor Flanagan and Joe began to answer their questions, and bit-by-bit, his family fitted pieces of the day together. For a minute, Ben thought Melissa Peters had been on the stage and her new beau had tossed Adam off the bridge but Governor Flanagan straightened the confusion out. Soon Adam warmed up and started to get a bit of color in his face as he sipped the second cup of tea and soaked his feet in a basin of hot water.

By the time Hop Sing gave the men some hot food and Mim had brewed up another pot of coffee and Governor Flanagan had related the previous day and night’s events the sun was almost up. Ben, Hoss and Mim listened anxiously to Governor Flanagan’s explanation of their journey as Hop Sing replenished their plates and cups. “And just as sure as he was roping a calf, Joseph tossed that loop right around poor Adam and pulled him to safety.” He enthusiastically described. The governor looked over to Joe and realized the boy was sound asleep.

Ben could tell that Joe had reached his limit, for the boy had turned away and closed his eyes. In an instant he was sleeping soundly sprawled in the chair. Ben quietly tucked the blanket around his son and let him rest. As much as Adam was a storyteller and Joe loved to be the center of attention, his sons had clearly been bested by their guest. The governor never ran out of steam as he told them about the long ride and how well Joe had managed to get them home. There was no doubt how the man got elected. He loved to talk and campaigning just came naturally.

Mim had once told Ben “Flanagan wants to be the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral. That man holds a crowd in the palm of his hand and he wishes he had a bigger hand.”

Standing and stretching, Hoss moved toward the fireplace and grinned at the boy snoozing in his father’s favorite chair. Smiling at his little brother, he then walked over and gently lifted Adam’s foot from the basin of hot water in which it was soaking. “Looks like the color is good and you don’t have any frost bite. You are real lucky, Adam.”

Adam nodded. “I was worried about that. I am kind of partial to each of my ten toes.” He wiggled his toes and put his feet back into the water.

“Adam, what the hell did you and Joe think you were doing riding out for the stage?” Ben questioned his son. “You especially. You weren’t even dressed for it.”

”Pa you told me to let Joe start making some of the decisions for himself.”

”You are damn lucky.” Ben looked at his oldest son. “I told you to let Little Joe make some decisions on his own but not go out and drown yourself or freeze your…” He stopped realizing that Mim was listening. Always the gentleman, he caught himself before he used a colorful word for what anatomical part his son almost had frozen off. .”Freeze your ears.” Ben corrected himself politely.

Hoss snickered at his father’s sheepish face knowing full well what body part he didn’t want any of his boys to freeze off. “Is there any more soup left?” he asked trying to ease his father’s embarrassment as well as warm up the frozen travelers. “Adam looks like he is ready for more.”

Mim smiled happily that Adam was looking much better. She took his bowl from his hand and said, “I’ll get it. Anyone else? Mr. The governor more soup?”

Governor Flanagan shook his head and continued recounting how Joe had made the decision to leave a horse with the stage crew.

Mim walked back into the kitchen to refill Adam’s dish. As soon as she was alone in the kitchen she laughed to herself about Ben’s embarrassment. She had been married almost twenty years before her husband had been killed. She certainly knew what body parts her friend Ben Cartwright was talking about. But she was flattered that Benjamin thought enough of her to be so polite to a lady. He raised his boys to be respectful and mannerly and she greatly admired him. She was relieved to see them all home safely. Especially Little Joe whom she had watched grow up since he was born.

“I told you to let the boy make some decisions but I didn’t tell you to go drown yourself and then freeze your tail off for a few hours.” Ben stood up and added another log into the roaring fire. “Are you all getting warmed up?”
The governor and Adam nodded. Joe was already soundly asleep in the red leather chair.

”Don’t mean you should take a header off the bridge, Adam” Hoss handed him another piece of bread. “Ain’t swimming season for months yet, brother.”

“I lost my gun right out of my holster. And my hat. Guess we’ll find them when the snow melts and we can go swimming down by the bridge” He pulled the blanket closer to him and shivered.

Joe had sipped only one cup of tea before he fell sound asleep sprawled in his father’s leather chair. Hoss took the empty cup from his little brother’s chapped hand.

“This boy can fall asleep sitting’ on a horse or on a picket fence,” he told Governor Flanagan.  Joe’s head was tipped back and his arm dangled over the side of the chair. His curly brown hair had dried sticking out in a halo and his cheeks were red from the wind. The tips of his mismatched socks, one blue and one red, stuck out from the plaid blanket. A locomotive could have chugged into the room and not awakened him. He looked more like a small boy, than the man he was struggling so hard to become in his father’s eyes.

Governor Flanagan looked carefully at him for the first time in the light, with out the snow falling and the cowboy’s face hidden by a hat and scarf. The governor suddenly realized that the clever young man who had met his stage, pulled Adam out of the water, and guided them through the storm was hardly more than a young boy. He had assumed he was much older.

“Ben, how old is that boy?”

“Seventeen.” Ben stood up and tucked the blanket tighter around his youngest boy. He smoothed his curls off his forehead, thankful to finally have his all his boys home and safe.

“He’s quite a lad, Benjamin.”

“Yes, Governor Flanagan, we think so. Ben smiled proudly. He is the only one born here on the Ponderosa.”

“This wild country shapes a man’s character indeed.” Governor Flanagan looked down at young Joe sleeping so soundly.

Chapter 6

Boston General Hospital

“Hey where are you going with him?” Dennis hollered. The two men looked up and dropped Joe onto the floor with a crash. They spun around and took off down the corridor. Dennis ran down the hall after the two men. Emily O’Mara ran quickly over to Joseph, sprawled on the floor. Joe’s head was tipped back and his arm dangled awkwardly.

Someone help! She hollered. She went over to Joe and touched his face. “ Joe, are you all right?”

As first there was no reaction. Then Joe began to stir a bit. His head moved slowly, and his eyelids fluttered. A small grunt of pain escaped Joe’s lips and he winced. Then he slowly opened his eyes. “What happened?”

Mrs. Shelly the nurse came running down the hall followed by Doctor Meyer. “What is going on here?” she asked seeing Joe on the floor and a very attractive young woman leaning over his prostrate body.

Just at that moment, Benjamin Cartwright came striding into the room. He saw the commotion and his son lying in a heap on the floor of his hospital room “ Joseph?”

Joe opened his eyes a bit and looked at his father, surprised to see him. He had heard his Pa’s voice as well as the doctor’s. He knew they had been talking but he wasn’t sure what had been said. The throbbing pain in his shoulder and his aching head seemed to have robbed his brain from comprehending anything except how miserable he felt. His stomach was growling too. He realized he was lying on the cold hard floor wearing a hospital nightshirt and a whole lot of bandages.

“I don’t know how he got over there. The last time I checked him he was sleeping.” Mrs. Shelly told Doctor Meyer. The dark haired surgeon knelt next to the patient.

“ Joseph, we need to get you into the bed,” said Doctor Meyer softly. “Can you help us do that?

Joe stared at his father, trying to make sense of the words. He was in the hospital and needed to get back into the bed. He was so confused he didn’t even realize his hospital nightshirt was barely covering him. Emily was getting the view of her lifetime and turned her back to the young rancher in embarrassment. She was used to living in the company of her sisters and mother or young ladies in the Boarding School and had never seen a man in such a state of disarray. Not that he wasn’t attractive she thought, but it was so impolite for her to stare.

Seeing Joe’s uncomprehending face, the doctor shook his head a bit. “We’re going to have to do it without Joe’s help. Would you sit him up, Mrs. Shelly?” Without waiting for an answer, Ben and the nurse helped Joe get back into the bed.

“Hey Pa? When did you get here?” Joe suddenly realized his father was here in the hospital.

Standing at the back of the room, Emily watched as Mrs. Shelly slowly eased Joe into a sitting position. “Is he all right? “ she asked anxiously. Her hand went to her graceful throat.

Ben Cartwright stood next to her.  He heard Joe’s groans and saw his son’s head flop forward to his chest as Joe’s bandaged shoulders rose from the hard polished floor of the hospital room.

“Mr. Cartwright,” the doctor called over his shoulder, “come over and help me.”  Ben walked over to them.

“Ease him forward slowly,” Dr. Meyer said to Mrs. Shelly. The doctor nodded and knelt on the floor next to Joseph. The doctor hoped none of his hard work and surgical skills in repairing the patient’s injuries got damaged when the young man hit the floor.

Ben was kneeling next to Joe, gently stroking his son’s head and murmuring words of comfort. He looked up as Mrs. Shelly approached. “What would you like me to do?”

Dr. Meyer eased his right arm under Joe’s knees and wrapped his left arm around his bandaged shoulders. Moving to the other side of his son, Ben did the same. The two lifted Joe off of the floor as gently as possible. Despite their efforts to be careful, Ben could see that his son was wincing in pain. Mrs. Shelly scrambled ahead of them after them and turned down the blankets on the bed.

Pulling gently on Joe’s legs as Mrs. Shelly pushed Joe forward, Ben slowly drew his son toward him. Joe’s long legs were dangling over the edge of the bed as they eased him up and put him back into his rumpled bed. He groaned softly and eased himself under the covers.

“Take it easy, son,” Ben murmured.

“How in the world did you get out of the bed?” the doctor asked Joe again. “And why?”

“Last thing I remember is you coming in here and telling me you were going to take me down for the surgery,” Joe settled into the bed. He looked around and realized a room full of people surrounded him. And his father was there.

“I saw some men coming in here just a few minutes ago and assumed it was Mr. Cartwright and Mr. O’Mara coming to visit,” the nurse added.

“There were two men running out of the room when my brother and I came down the corridor. Dennis chased them down the stairs,” Emily told them.

The doctor checked the bandages and adjusted the sling on Joes arm holding the cast. “The stitches held fine. He looks none the worse for wear.” And pulled the cover up over his patient. “Mrs. Shelly, call me if there is any problem. I have to be back in surgery in ten minutes for Mr. Donovan.”

Mrs. Shelly was tucking the covers around Joe as Dennis walked back into the room. Giving Joe a last stroke on the head, his father scrambled to his feet and headed toward the door.” Did you catch them?”

Dennis shook his head. “I never saw two guys run down a stair case so fast. How is Joe?”

“He is back in bed and the doctor thinks he is none the worse for wear. What do you think this is all about, Dennis?”

“Ben, I can’t imagine who those men were but they sure were trying to do something to Joe. I think they were trying to carry him out of the hospital, maybe kidnap him.

“Kidnap Joe? What in heaven’s name for?”

“I have no idea but you Cartwrights do forget how rich you are. But two big guys in suits were dragging him out of here and as soon as they saw Em and me coming down the hall they bolted.”

”Who were they?”

Dennis shrugged his beefy shoulders.” I hardly saw who they were, other than the fat guy was wearing a derby. Him and a thousand other guys in Boston. Is he all right?”

“He’s asleep,” said Emily before Ben could ask. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

“You think we should take him home today? You both are welcome at my house.” Dennis offered.  Adam Cartwright was his oldest and dearest friend as well as his business partner.  Dennis would do anything to take care of the Cartwright family. They had already agreed to O’Mara’s offer of having Joe spend his convalescence in his large Boston home but Joe was not yet ready to leave the hospital.

Ben shook his head “Dennis, he just had surgery. He needs to be here in the hospital for at least a week or he is going to be worse off than he started. I’m staying right here to make sure my son is all right. If the hospital doesn’t like it they’ll have to toss me out at gun point.”

“The doctor says Joe needs a lot of rest,” said Emily. “Do you think we should just call the police?” Emily was not used to so much excitement. She had spent the last fifteen years living most of her life in the refined atmosphere of the Miss Phipps Academy and an exclusive women’s college, first as a student and then as a teacher at Miss Phipps.

“I don’t know Dennis, nothing really happened. Maybe the men just walked into the wrong room. What are the police going to do? Find a man with a derby who walked into the wrong room?” Ben was still not convinced as Dennis was that there was any thing more sinister going on than Joe trying to take a walk when he was still groggy from the anesthetic. Ben was more than used to Joe’s antics that wound up getting him into trouble. “Maybe the men just walked in when Joe fell down and were trying to help him out.”

“I think we better figure on staying here until morning.” Dennis suggested.

Ben’s face showed the uncertainty he was feeling. He still felt uncomfortably vulnerable to whoever was disturbing his son earlier. At the same time, he had no desire to do anything that might hinder Joe’s recovery. Sighing, Ben made up his mind. The two men were only a potential threat. Maybe it was just some strange mishap that they were all misunderstanding. Joe’s serious injuries and need for rest was very real and vital.

“I’ll sit here all night if I need to.” Benjamin told the O’Maras. “Why don’t you take Emily back home. I’m sure Amanda is worrying what became of the two of you.”

“Well I’m going to get your bags from the hotel bring you to my house. You will be much more comfortable and I’ll feel a whole lot better if you stay in one of our guest rooms.”
Ben nodded. “Thanks Dennis.”

“If it is all right with you, Mr. Cartwright. I would like to keep you company here tonight. Dennis you go home without me. I’ll be just fine. You can send the driver for me in a few hours to take me home.”

Dennis smiled at his sister. He knew arguing with his sister Emily would just be a waste of breath. “Just don’t get yourself in any difficulty.”

Sighing, Ben looked out into the darkness. “It’s going to be a long night.”

“Mr. Cartwright, I’ll stay with your son,” said Emily. “Go get something to eat and some rest. You had a long trip.”

Shaking his head, Ben refused the offer. “I’m fine. You can’t stay here on your own. That would be improper for a young lady like yourself and maybe dangerous.”

Just at that moment, he nurse walked into the room. Mrs. Shelly sighed. “What is it about men?” she asked. “None of you are willing to ever admit you might be tired or hungry.”

“Didn’t you know we are the stronger half?” asked Ben with a small smile. He looked at his sleeping son looking pale and weak lying bandaged in the hospital bed in direct contrast with Emily O’Mara’s sturdy vigorous appearance. The pretty young teacher had upswept dark blonde hair and the same determined gray eyes as her brother.

“Of course you are,” agreed Mrs. Shelly wryly. “Now, Mr. Cartwright, go get something to eat and some rest so you can relieve me in a little while. I’ll be more than happy to stay here with Miss O’Mara and make sure the patient is fine. We have plenty of sturdy orderlies to make sure no one bothers your son. I can make sure one sits down the hall until you return, sir.”

” I am sure no interlopers would have the impertinence to return tonight,” Emily added.
Ben nodded wearily. He hadn’t eaten anything all day waiting in the hospital corridors for the results of Joe’s surgery. The idea of some dinner was very appealing.

”When you get back, I’ll leave. I don’t like the idea that someone might be disturbing one of my patients. There is a clean café directly across the street from the hospital that stays open late. The food is plain, but quite tasty,” the nurse directed the rancher.

“All right,” agreed Ben. He climbed to his feet and walked slowly toward the corridor. “I’ll be back in less than an hour. Thanks.”  Boston had changed so much in the decades since Ben Cartwright had been in the city.

Settling on the chair next to Joe, Mrs. Shelly checked her sleeping patient once more. Assured that he was as comfortable as possible, she let her thoughts drift.

“Is he going to be all right? “ Miss O’Mara asked the nurse from the other chair.

“I am sure but it may take some time. For a patient to have this complex surgery is a difficult decision to make. He must have been suffering quite a bit. Our Dr. Meyer is the best physician in the country with this type of procedure. I understand that is why Mr. Cartwright came hereto Boston from all the way in Nevada. It is fortunate that they have the resources to come all the way here and have the private hospital room. The wards are not at all very nice. Had the patient been there, I would not have allowed a fine lady like yourself to have visited nor remained on her own.”

For a while the two women sat quietly, side by side in the dimly lit hospital room.

Mrs. Shelly wasn’t sure how long she had been lost in her thoughts when she felt someone watching her. She looked down to see Joe Cartwright’s hazel eyes staring up at her. She could see that when he was in good health, he was probably a very handsome and well built young man. But the ordeal of his injuries had left their marks. He was very, thin and pale and had dark circles under his eyes.

“I didn’t realize you were awake,” she said briskly as she smiled at him from her face. Emily smiled from the other chair.

Joe looked around. “Where’s my father and Dennis?” He asked Emily.

“We are standing guard. Dennis headed home and your father is getting some food and rest,” replied Emily. She smiled at Joe. She had imagined Adam’s “little brother” as Dennis had called him was still a youngster. She had forgotten that over the years, she had grown up and so had Joe Cartwright. He was a handsome man not the little boy that Adam used to talk about when he was a college student eating dinner with the O’Mara family years before.

“Are you hungry young man?” Mrs. Shelly asked.

Joe shook his head. “To tell you the truth, I feel a little nauseous.”

”It’s from the ether. Just have some water.” The nurse poured a cold glass from the bedside pitcher and helped Joseph to sit up enough to take a few sips.

“You’re a close family?” Mrs. Shelly asked trying to distract her patient as she took his vital signs. Some how she had assumed that Miss O’Mara and the patient were related.

Joe nodded.” My oldest brother, Adam and Dennis are business partners.”

“Dennis is my brother, Mr. O’Mara.” Emily clarified.

“My other brother Hoss..” Joe sighed. “Hoss was killed last year.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” replied Mrs. Shelly. “That must have been hard for you.” She started checking Joe’s bandages. She poured him some medication.  “What about your mother.” She held the glass to Joe’s lips and made sure he swallowed the entire dose. Then she gave him some more water.

“She died when I was little,” said Joe. “Pa pretty much raised us up on his own. I don’t remember very her much. More stories that I was told than anything else.”

“You never forget someone you loved,” said Emily O’Mara. “Not really. You might not recall any of the things they did, or even the appearance of their face, but somewhere tucked inside, they’re always with you in your heart. Like after my father died. He was lost at sea when I was small.”

Joseph was thinking of his brother Hoss. The pain of his murder the previous summer was still fresh in his heart.

Emily could see that Joe really was worn out and his eyes were closing.

“You need to get some sleep,” said Emily. She plumped up the pillow. “Your father should be back from dinner soon.”

“Miss O’Mara, you call me if Mr. Cartwright needs anything. The orderly will sit in the hall until Mr. Cartwright’s father returns.”

“I am sure we will be fine. Thank you.”

Continue on to The Battle of Wills Part 5

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