Summary: Part four of Home
Word Count: 9350
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Chapter 1
Ponderosa Ranch
Late summer, 1846
That morning, Ben Cartwright left his home at the Ponderosa before his youngest child even woke up knowing that the boy would make a terrible scene. Ben would be as upset to leave the child, as Little Joe was to see him go. Ben Cartwright knew that he had to get used to leaving Little Joe and more importantly, the child needed to learn that his Pa had to go about his business without the boy hanging on to him. It was probably cowardly, but much easier to ride out before the sun rose, while his four year old was still soundly asleep. He justified it by telling himself that he would be in Virginia City well before the stage arrived. In his heart, Ben knew he was not up to the task. Marie was dead less than three months and the boys were still having trouble but Ben knew he had no other choice.
Ben was forced to go to San Francisco to testify in a murder trial and could not put it off anymore. He hated to leave his sons but there was no alternative or Ben would be in terrible legal trouble. The judge had written that he would be in contempt of court and he would send a marshal out to arrest him. So with a heavy heart, and a knot in his stomach he left Adam in charge of the place. Hays Newkirk was there but Adam was still the son of the owner and would be in charge of his brothers.
There was so much that Little Joe had wanted to say to his father in the morning. He wanted to beg his father to stay with him on the ranch or take him along and had practiced what he would say when he was lying in his bed each night since Pa told him he had to take a trip. But Pa left home before Little Joe was able to say any of them. How he longed to feel the comfort of his father’s strong arm around his shoulders, but the four year old was afraid he never would again. Pa left and maybe he would never come home again.
Joe had come down the big stairs to find his big brothers eating breakfast and his Pa gone with out having told him goodbye. Little Joe immediately started to cry and rage and throw things around. Hoss grabbed his brother in a bear hug just before he was about to throw his oatmeal across the table. Adam pulled the frightened little boy onto his lap and held him as he wept. Then he made Little Joe pick up all the silverware he had thrown down and right the chairs he knocked over in his tantrum. Hoss showed the boy how to wipe up the milk that he spilled when he kicked the table.
“Joe stop making such a fuss. Pa just went away for a few days. He is not going away forever, quit your crying and go feed the chickens.’ Adam ordered. He felt badly for his little brother but he was once again saddled with the overwhelming feeling that he had too much to handle. He was growing more and more angry at being stuck again taking care of his younger brothers. Adam was growing more and more positive that he would never go back east to college the way he dreamed before Marie died. His stepmother had encouraged him and stood up to his father when Ben questioned the practicality and sensibility of the idea. Hank Wallace was tutoring him in mathematics so that he could pass the entrance exams and keep up in college. His grandfather Abel Stoddard had offered to let Adam live in his house and work for him to help pay his some of his expenses. Now Adam was growing fearful that he would be trapped forever being second in command of the Ponderosa and raising his younger brothers. He would be old and gray before Little Joe grew up.
Adam held Joe on his lap for a minute and gave him his hanky to blow his nose. “Little Joe, Pa is gonna be back in a week or so. So you go with Hoss and do your chores and soon enough the time will pass. “
Adam was torn. He felt terrible that his little brother was so upset but he had so much to do. ”Hoss you tend to him this morning and then bring him to Mrs. Newkirk. Hop Sing is going to town for supplies and can’t keep track of this guy and get anything done.“ Joe looked like he was going to start in crying again and Adam gave him a fierce dark look.
”Don’t start in Joseph. That is your job. You do the chickens and the eggs with Hop Sing and then you go stay by Mrs. Newkirk at the foreman’s house. Maybe if you didn’t wander off from Hop Sing last time he would have been willing to have you along. Hoss and I have to do work to for Pa. We have fences to check and strays to gather and then I have a load of wood to chop.“
Joe trembled on his lap. Adam rarely was so sharp with him.
Adam looked at his baby brother and felt terrible that the boy was so upset. He loved his brothers more than he could tell them and more than they could ever know. Adam decided he would try to make up to them for his sharp tongue.
“Tell you what. The end of the week I have to go to town and get the mail and I am going to go study with Hank Wallace. If you are both good and don’t make trouble, I’ll take you into town for dinner and you can come with me to the Wallace’s and you can visit with Mim and play with Katie. How is that, Buddy?” Adam smiled warmly.
“The nice little girl?”
Adam nodded. “The nice little girl. Katie is Mr. Hank Wallace’s daughter and you can play while I study with Hank.”
”Can we have dinner with the pretty ladies too, Adam?” Joe asked.
Adam turned red. He knew what pretty ladies his brother meant. The boy was referring to the saloon ladies they had met on the road. “Pretty ladies? “ Adam stammered not knowing how to answer. Pa would have answered Joe much easier. That was Pa’s job not his and now he was stuck again fielding a difficult situation with the boys.
“Sure, “ Hoss smiled widely. “That’s a good idea, Adam. That pretty Miss Barbara said we should come to their place for dinner some time. “
Joe nodded. “They said you were their hero and saved them and we should come by any time.” He loved the idea that his big brother had been a hero and he loved that the pretty ladies in ruffled dresses had made a fuss over him. “They were very pretty ladies and he was sure they would have a very nice time visiting. “Isn’t that a good idea, Adam?” Joe smiled sweetly.
“No, Little Brother. We can have dinner with the Wallaces. I’m sure they would be glad to have you two. I have dinner there every time I study and Mim is a very fine cook.”
Hoss smiled at the possibility of a good dinner. Joe nodded. If he couldn’t have dinner with the pretty ladies, he would settle for Mim and playing with that little girl Katie.
“Now scoot, and go do your chores.” Adam got up and started out the door. He prayed that his brothers would not cause too much trouble for him and he could manage all his responsibilities until Pa came back.
Chapter 2
Virginia City
Late summer, 1846
Ben had wired Adam that he would arrive on the stage on Monday, late in the afternoon. Mim Wallace told Adam that the Cartwrights should join her family for dinner as she and Foster would love to hear how Ben had managed in San Francisco. Adam accepted the invitation knowing his father would be glad to see his friends and catch up on Virginia City news before he headed out for the Ponderosa.
After they ate a wonderful meal, Ben asked Hoss to bring him his bag. He had gifts for everyone. He brought the Wallaces a package of fresh roasted coffee. He brought Little Joe a small box of tin soldiers and a new shirt. Hoss got a new pocket knife and a pair of new winter gloves.
”I knew the ones you had from last winter would be too small, son.”
”Thanks Pa.”
Ben handed Adam a purple velvet box. “I saw this and the man said this is the kind of tools engineers use, Adam. I know that is what you want to be. I hope I got the right things. Is it all right? I can send it back and change it if it isn’t. “ Ben looked anxiously at his son’s dark eyes.
Adam felt tears rush to his eyes as he stared down at the purple velvet box. He bit the inside of his cheek and pressed his fingers into his eyes, as he was embarrassed that anyone should see him crying. He slowly opened it up and saw the shiny silver metal drafting set inside. “Pa, its beautiful. Thank you.” He whispered hoarsely.
He jumped up and hugged his father around his neck. Ben wrapped his arms around the boy and held him close. For once his eldest son didn’t pull away from his embrace and hugged him back. Ben hugged the boy to him for as long as he dared. It wasn’t often that Adam let him be so affectionate.
“Hank told me where to go. Are you sure it’s the right thing Adam? I don’t want you to keep it if it isn’t right.”
“Pa it’s just wonderful. Thank you. It the best gift I ever got in my whole life.” Adam was sure his father thought his dream of being an engineer was foolish. Now, this gift showed otherwise. No ranch had used a beautiful drafting set like this one.
”I know you need things like that when you go to college in Boston.”
”To college? I can go, Pa?” Adam’s dark eyes were wide with excitement. “I can go?”
”Yes, I know you want to go. Marie wanted you to go, Adam. We talked about it before she… before she died. “ Ben struggled with the words. He swallowed hard and paused for a minute. “Mim said she would never talk to me again if I didn’t let you go.”
Mim smiled at her friend from the head of the table. “Very right, Ben. You know that.” Foster laughed at his wife. Mim could convince the Rocky Mountains that they were the Atlantic Ocean.
”I can go Pa?” Adam still couldn’t believe his good fortune. He had been too afraid to talk to his father about this dream but Pa had known all along.
“Not this year though Adam. I can’t let you this year. I still need your help and I need to put some money aside for all the costs. And help me set some things up. One more year and then you can go. Two at most. The boys will be older too. Can you wait one or two more years?”
”Two years?” Adam asked smiling.” I can go to college in two years?” He would do anything to go to college. He was so sure that Pa would never ever let him go. He certainly could wait two years. He still needed to learn more mathematics and study for the entrance examinations and make the applications. “Pa that is the best news I ever heard in my whole entire life.”
“I promise Adam, one year. Just give me a hand for a year or two at most and then you can go.’ He put his arm around his oldest son’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you son. I sometimes forget to tell you how proud.” Ben hugged him tightly.
Joe squirmed off of Mim’s lap and squeezed in between his father and Adam.” Can we go to dinner with the pretty ladies next week?” He tugged on his father’s sleeve.
”No Joseph. Not next week. Not never. “
”Never Pa? Won’t it hurt the ladies’ feelings? “ Hoss asked. He was always so concerned about hurting someone.
Mim chuckled. “Oh I am sure they won’t mind sweet heart. Little Joe, how about you coming in the kitchen with Katie and we can get some cookies I made for dessert. My special butter cookies that I make for good little boys and girls. I need your help carrying in the platter and you can let your Pa and Adam finish talking.”
Kate grabbed her friend’s hand and they both followed Mim to get some cookies.
Chapter 3
“Heard the Federal government appointed a territorial governor, Ben.” Otis sipped his coffee. Otis was a prospector who wandered through the Ponderosa a few times a year. Each time he passed through, Ben invited him to stay on for a few days. Otis had once helped Ben out when he got lost in a blizzard and the rancher was forever grateful.
“They did indeed. Man named Flanagan. Theodore Flanagan. “ Ben answered as he cut the food on Little Joe’s plate. “Joe you have to quit listening to Mr. Massey and eat some of this dinner before you fall asleep with your head in your plate.”
Joe nodded. He was listening attentively to Otis Massey’s stories and didn’t hear a word his father said. “Joe come over here and sit on my lap and eat some dinner.” Ben prodded the boy. Everyone had finished and Joe had not eaten more than a few bites.
“No dessert for Little Joe if you no eat dinner,” Hop Sing blustered as he served up the apple pie.
“Flanagan is a big blow hard, Ben” Otis added. Hoss stared at the miner. He was fascinated with his Pa’s friend. Every time Mr. Massey wandered in to Virginia City with his mule, Pa would invite him to stay on the Ponderosa for a few days and Hoss got to ride his mule as much as he wanted.
Ben laughed. Otis had an opinion on everything. “Really?”
”Big bag of wind and a crook to boot.” He took another bit of Hop Sing’s apple pie.
”Otis, why would you say that?” Adam asked. He thought his Pa was crazy having Otis stay with them The prospector would sit and tell Hoss and Little Joe tall tales and then convince Pa to stake him some money and he would ride off on his mangy mule to find his fortune prospecting for gold. The fool would never find anything except sparkly iron pyrite that he would give Hoss and Joe by the sackful. Little Joe climbed into his Pa’s lap and ate two more bites of his dinner. He had his pockets stuffed with Otis’s fools gold and looked like a he had gained ten pounds.
”Jest know the truth about the man. Saw him once up in Carson. The man had too much shine on his boots and his fingernails was too clean. He looked like a riverboat gambler and surrounded himself with a bunch of hangers on and fancy women. Ain’t got no use for a man who puts on airs. Ambitious and puts on airs is a dangerous combination, Ben. Mark my words. When I strike it rich, I won’t be a blow hard or a selfish man.” Otis smiled and helped himself to the last piece of pie. “Hoss you want me to split this with you?”
Hoss nodded and held up his plate for the pie.
Ben laughed hard. “To be sure!”
“You gonna be rich, Mr. Otis?” Little Joe asked. He climbed down from his Pa’s lap and put his elbows on the arm of the prospector’s chair. Massy patted the little boy’s curly hair and fed him a forkful of pie.
“That’s right, son. I am gonna be a rich man. One of these days I am gonna find my lucky gold strike or silver and be a rich man. You mark my words.”
Joe looked at the visitor with wide eyes.
Adam laughed. “You sure sound positive.” Adam was positive that his Pa’s pal would spend the rest of his days looking for his fortune and die wandering the dessert next to his smelly stupid mule.
“Ben, you be a good friend. You grub staked me many a time. Some day I’ll pay you back. “
”No need Otis.” Ben smiled. “We have plenty.”
”No sir, Ben. I’m going to be a rich man and get me a top hat and a fine suit of clothes. Green suit. Then I’ll find me a pretty red headed wife and build her the fanciest finest house in all the Nevada territory. A big house like they have in San Francisco.”
”A green suit?” Adam asked.
”Green as grass and I’ll find me a pretty wife.”
”Well let’s hope you find your gold.” Ben smiled.
”I’ll pay you back Ben. You and all your boys. I’ll be so rich I’ll even pay your grandchildren.”
Adam laughed so hard he almost choked on his pie.
Chapter 4
Boston Harbor
1871
Flanagan’s eyes burned with anger, and he lunged toward Joe, dragging him upward by his shirtfront. Joe bit off a cry as the movement sent renewed spikes of agony through his shoulder. Flanagan shook the younger man roughly and shoved him toward the rope ladder. “Climb down into that little boat with the rest of them, Joe.”
Joe swung his leg over the side and tried to balance himself on the rope ladder and climb down to the little catboat. His father leaned over and tried to hold tight to the end of the ladder and keep the smaller boat as close to the sloop as he could.
”Emily, grab hold of the line hanging off the other boat and try to hold us as close as you can until they climb down.”
Next Ted Flanagan and one of the sailors shoved Phil down the ladder. A snarl tore across Flanagan’s face, and he swung his hand again, watching with glee as Phillip moaned involuntarily at the pain. He turned his attention to watching his accomplice struggle with Sam Cartwright.
From the bottom of the catboat Ben and Emily looked up. This time Emily couldn’t stop her cry “Leave Philip alone.” Flanagan grunted with satisfaction and turned to his waiting men. “You and Charlie grab this kid and toss him over the side. Let’s move out.”
Sam screamed “No! Let me go?” He kicked and tried to free himself but the man took him by his arm and the seat of his pants and heaved him screaming over the rail into the sea.
Joe hadn’t quite reached the bottom of the ladder when Phil lost his grip on the wet ropes The larger man slid down and knocked Joe off the ladder into the water just as Sam came flying over the rail.
“Nooo!” Sam shrieked. All three hit the water at the same time.
Emily jumped up and grabbed a line and threw it over the side at the people in the water.” Hold on to this!” She hollered to the Joe, Philip and Sam as they bobbed to the surface.
Chapter 5
“Pa, help me get Phil into the boat,” gasped Joe as his head broke the surface of the water. Phil was weakly hanging on to the gunwale of the boat. Next to him, Joe hung onto his friend with one hand and twisted his right arm in the cast around the line that Emily had thrown them.
“Stay on that side Sam, don’t move or we will swamp. And Emily, hold the tiller.” Ben ordered. He quickly slid across the centerboard and grabbed the back of Phil’s brown jacket and hauled him over the side of the boat as Joe and Sammy pushed him up from the water.
“Sammy, hang tight to the side of the boat. Joe don’t let go of the line or I’ll loose you.” Ben was afraid if any of them drifted away he would never be able to find them in the open sea. As soon as he got Philip into the bottom of the boat, Ben grabbed onto Sam’s arms and helped him scramble over the side and fall into the bottom of the rocking boat.
His grand son leaned his back against the side of the catboat and caught his breath. “Now Uncle Joe.”
Sam knelt on one knee and watched his grandfather intently for directions.
“Joe. Put your foot on the side. When the wave bobs you up, pull yourself in. Grab onto him Sam and pull him over the side.” All the years Ben Cartwright had been at sea for Captain Stoddard had prepared him for this moment.
As Joe held on to the side of the little wooden boat, Sam clutched on to his sodden shirt and his grandfather grabbed Joe’s belt. “When I count three pull him over the side, Sam. One, two and pull!” And with a burst of adrenaline the two of them hauled Joe over the side.
Joe tumbled exhausted into the wet bottom and lay panting in a heap, crumpled next to Philip. He looked up and could see the bigger boat had pulled away into the mist and all he could see was the top of the sail. In an instant Joe could not even see that as a wall of thick gray fog surrounded the small catboat. All he could hear was the lapping of waves against the side of the boat and the snapping sound of the wind blowing the loose sail lines against the mast.
“How do you think he is?” Joe asked pointing his chin at Philip. He coughed up some salty water and spit it on the bottom of the boat.
Ben could feel the tension build in him, as he looked at the wall of fog close in around them. Phil looked dazed as he lay on the bottom of the boat.
“Not too good,” answered Ben without looking at Sam. Ben pushed a stray lock of hair from Philip’s cold wet forehead.
”Sammy are you ok?” Ben asked.
”Yes sir” The boy shivered.
“Don’t stand up or move from where you are. I don’t want to overturn this boat. It is pretty overloaded and leaky.”
Slumped against Joe, Philip’s eyes were already closed. There was a big gash on his forehead. Joe’s right arm was extended a bit, still holding the side of the boat. The cast was pretty much sodden through and soft from the constant exposure to the salt water.
Joe’s left arm was wrapped tightly around the middle of his friend. The grip was only partially intended to hold Philip in the boat. Joe needed to feel the steady movement of the other man’s breathing as a continual assurance that Philip was still alive. Joe had known Phil Bartlett most of his life and Phil had saved him and Katie when the saddle tramps shot Foster in the Enterprise. No matter what was going on with Emily, he wouldn’t let Phil die. If Joe was going to win Emily, it was going to be against a living opponent, not win her by default against a dead man.
“Can you hold on to Philip?” Emily asked Joe anxiously. She started to move toward them but Ben hollered, “Don’t shift over Em. We’ll have too much weight on that side if you do. Joe, can you manage?”
”I think so but the water is coming in pretty badly on this side.”
” Sam can you bail any of it out? Just be careful that you move slowly and don’t unbalance us. There is a bucket over near your feet.” Ben directed.
Ben glanced at the other people in the little boat. Phil was resting against Joseph in the wet bottom of the boat, his head tilted back a bit as it leaned on Joe’s left shoulder. Phil’s eyes were still closed, and his breathing, though steady, was labored. The sheen of water on Joe’s face and neck seemed to glisten in the moonlight. Joe was chilled through. His arm clearly hurt him from the strain of hanging on to Philip but they had no choice as the boat was rocked by swells.
The plaster cast on Joe’s right arm had soaked through and big chunks of it had unpeeled and lay in pieces in the bottom of the boat like a smashed white eggshells. As he shifted Philip’s weight to one side, Joseph tiredly pulled the rest of the cast off.
“Doc Meyer was going to take it off tomorrow anyway. Guess one day won’t matter much now.” Joe decided that he was not going to drown with a cast still on his arm but would not say it out loud. Maybe Pa would be able to sail them to someplace that was not England.
“Pa, is it really England on the other side of the water? How far is it?” Joe shifted Phil a little. Phil didn’t even notice. His head hung limply and his chin lay on his chest.
”Its about three thousand miles, Uncle Joe. Further than it is to home.” Sam answered his teeth chattering. He looked over at his grandfather and tried to figure what he would do. Sam was positive that Ben would take care of everything. Sam knew his grandfather had been a sailor when he was a young man and Ben Cartwright was very smart and very brave.
“We are going to get back to shore. Just keep your eyes open and watch for the fog to break. And listen too. They have a bell on the harbor light and try to listen for that or the sound of the breakers.”
Ben looked over his shoulder at his youngest son sitting in the boat behind him. Joe seemed to be carrying all of Philip’s weight. He was leaning forward with the heavier man sagging against him. Ben could see Philips’s head resting on Joe’s shoulder. It was not the most comfortable place to sleep. Ben hoped that was just what Phil was doing and not that the journalist was dying on Joe’s shoulder from the beating Flanagan’s men had given him and almost getting drowned. “Joe, hold on to him and see if you can warm him up.”
“Do you think you can get the sail up, Grandpa?” Sam had spent many days this summer sailing with his father and Dennis O’Mara. He had a rudimentary knowledge of sailboats. He was shivering and squeezed closer to Ben. Ben put his hand on the boy’s shoulder reassuringly and then pulled him close to keep him warm.
“I think I can with your help, Sammy. Grab that line. Joe, do you think you can hold that bow line when I bring the boat around? As soon as we catch some wind, we are going be tilting at an angle and we are going to tack pretty fast.”
Joe looked a little unsure. “Do I need two hands? You better show Emily what to do. She knows about boats more than I do. Just let me hang on to Phil so he doesn’t go over the side again. “ Phil was limp and his eyes were totally closed. He looked awful and the gash on his head was still oozing a lot of blood.
Ben nodded. Joe was correct, let Emily handle the line. He didn’t think Emily would have the strength to hang on to Philip’s dead weight if they couldn’t wake him up. The cold wet night hadn’t done him any good and there was no way any of them were going to get dry until they made it into shore.
“Pa, do you think anyone is out looking for us? Adam and Kate must be going crazy with Sam gone.”
“I hope so, son. But will they know Flanagan put us out into the ocean?”
Joe gently shook Philip’s hands that were loosely clasped around his waist. “Hey, Editor, wake up! You’re killing my shoulder and you need to get moving.” When Philip didn’t respond, Joe stopped and shook the other man’s arms vigorously. “Come on, Philip wake up!” He was starting to worry. Phil was half drowned and beaten over the head and now they couldn’t wake him up.
”Emily, take a look at him. If I let him go he is going to slide into the bottom of the boat and fall on his face.”
Emily leaned over and tried to see Phil’s face in the darkness. She put her hand next to his chest and could feel his heart beating and him breathing but they couldn’t rouse him. “Joe, Mr. Cartwright, we got to get him to shore. “ Emily realized she could not bear to go on if anything happened to Philip. She looked at Joe and then at Phil and knew she had made her decision. Joe had been right. He wasn’t what she had imagined him to be. Joe Cartwright had been honest with her about his life and who he was and she had tried to make their flirtation into something more. Phil Bartlett was who she belonged with. Joe had been right all along. He had said that Philip was a wonderful person. She was trying to make a fantasy into reality with Joe. Philip was real.
”That’s where we are heading.” Ben kept his eyes on the horizon, scanning in the dim light and haze for a point of land or the Harbor Light. They were running free He knew the wind and tide were blowing them southwest and he had to get that sail up and bring them around. “Sam lets get that sail up. Emily come over here and take the tiller.”
She squeezed Philip’s hand and looked at Joe.
Joe smiled and nodded at her “Go on Emily, I won’t let anything happen to him.” Emily slid across the centerboard towards Mr. Cartwright.
Chapter 6
Up on the bow of the catboat, Ben tried to concentrate on bobbing waves in front of them as he guided the tiller as the dawn broke in the east. He was finding it hard to keep his mind on sailing through the inlet and avoiding the rocky shore. His eyes felt heavy and gritty. He knew the cold; dampness and lack of sleep were taking its toll. But he also knew he couldn’t afford to rest or loose sight of the shore. The price he might pay for some sleep or an instant’s inattention was everyone’s life. They all were depending on him and Ben Cartwright would never let then down.
“ We just have to make it through the inlet and not get pushed up on the rocks as we round the light. If we can make it into the channel we are home free. That was all he could figure. How and where they would dock would come next. Ben just needed to get them within sight of land.
“ Pa, do you think we are going to be washed up on those rocks?”
Not if we get this sail up. We have to stay outside of the breakers.
“Look Grandpa! The Coast Guard!” Sam hollered. They call all see a two masted schooner sailing towards them with the American flag fluttering in the wind. They could all see the sailors on deck pointing to them and waving.
Ben took a deep breath. “Looks like the posse has arrived.”
Chapter 7
As Joe was packing the last of his things in the guest room of the O’Mara house, there was a soft tap on the door. “Joe, I came to say good bye to you.” Emily whispered. “And to make peace between us before you leave for home.”
Joe opened the door and Emily walked inside. He stood face to face with the lovely young teacher who he had pursued for months. Joe knew what little they had between them was over for good. He had hoped Emily and he would have had something more between them but he knew Philip Bartlett was far better suited to be her husband than he was.
“Joe, you were right all along. I was making you into something just as imaginary as the Little Joe the Boy Sheriff Fairy Tales that Adam used to tell me as bed time stories.” She touched his cheek. “I’m so sorry.”
Joe nodded. He pulled away from her hand. Why did he have to be right all the time? Why couldn’t he have been wrong just this once and brought Emily home with him as he had dreamed all summer?
”I don’t know what went wrong, but the feelings I thought I had for you are gone and I just can’t get it back. I’m sorry Joe. I really never meant to lead you on or hurt you. You always told me Phil was a wonderful person and…”
”And what Emily?” He knew what happened. She didn’t have to tell him. Joe saw how she had looked at Phil when they were on the boat. Emily had gone to Philip, not Joe when they finally got onto the dock.
“You were right,” she repeated, tears filling her eyes. Joe was such a wonderful man and he had been through so much but he was just not who she could spend the rest of her life with. “You said that I should marry someone who was wonderful and made my heart jump and not just someone who was convenient or the family pushed on me.
“Or who kisses great?” Joe smiled. He knew he was just making a silly joke to cover up his own hurt feelings and disappointment.
“Or who kisses great.” Emily blushed and smiled remembering the few heated moments she had shared with Joe Cartwright. “You will never be happy until you go back to the Ponderosa. I’m not the wife you deserve, the one who will make your heart jump forever, not just for a summer. I belong here in the East not on a ranch.”
“That’s where I belong, on the Ponderosa. That will always be my home.”
“Philip and I are getting married in the spring. We both want you to be there. Phil is going to ask you to be his best man. I hope you will accept.”
Joe nodded. He reached out and pulled Emily into his arms for one last hug.” I know that Em. We both knew it all along but I didn’t want to admit it either.”
“I couldn’t let you go with out you hearing this from me, in person, Joseph. I couldn’t write to you and tell you I’m not coming to see you like we discussed and I am marrying Philip Bartlett.”
Joe picked up the rest of his shirts and put them in the bag. “Tell Phil, I’ll hunt him down like a dog if he ever hurts you. That’s what we cowboys do, Em. Shoot him down like a varmint with our six guns. Like Adam told you. We Cartwrights always protect sweet women from varmints.”
She laughed. “I’ll tell him.”
Chapter 8
December 2, 1871
Dear Santa,
All I want for Christmas is a nice pony and a cart.
Love Ethel O’Mara
PS, My brother Robert said that you can’t get a pony down the chimney but I know you can.
December 3, 1871
Dear Joe,
Please see if you can obtain a pony for Ethel. We are looking for an even-tempered animal to pull a pony cart. She wants one for Christmas, but I thick we can put her off until spring and make this a birthday gift for her in April. I think you are right that winter won’t be the best time to be dealing with a cart and pony in Boston.
Robert is doing fine and I will always be grateful for what ever you did for him. He is passing all his classes and has not gotten into any trouble since he is back at Deerfield Academy. Amanda and I even got a letter from the head master complimenting us on the vast improvement in Robert since last term. I wonder if you can get a job taming other boys at Deerfield if you ever get tired of the Ponderosa. We are very grateful to you for what you did.
Looking forward to seeing you here at the wedding in the spring.
Best to the rest of the family,
Sincerely,
Dennis O’Mara
Chapter 9
Nevada Territory
Fall, 1871
Will Cartwright tossed another piece of wood onto the already blazing fire, and then he pulled his gray collar up against the night chill. He sat back against a rock and took a swig from a brown bottle of whiskey. His weary dark eyes reflected the dancing flickering flames as he stared into the fire. He was glad to have his cousin’s company right now. He passed the bottle to Joe.
“How’s your leg holding up?” Joe asked taking a sip. Years earlier Will Cartwright had been one of the few survivors of an Indian battle while he was a scout at Fort Mead. The beatings he suffered while in jail in Boston the past year had only made his lame leg worse.
”It’s OK. I live with it, Joe.” Will rubbed his knee and stretched his leg out. “I just need to get used to be up and around and not stuck in a cell.”
“Hope we get some good horses at the auction tomorrow. I want to look at that little pony they had listed too. If we get moving early, we’ll be there by noon. Hays and the other men will be up there by now.” Will was staring at the fire and drinking from the bottle. ”Are you coming up to Elm Grove with me? If I get the pony, I can bring it for Eric.”
”Joe, that baby isn’t even a year old yet.”
”He’s pretty big like Hoss. Adam told me that they used to sit me on a horse in front of Pa when I still wore diapers. He’ll use it in a year or two. What are uncles for, Will?” Joe looked at Will. There was more on his mind than horses and Joe was afraid this drinking was going to go too far. He knew the was a fine line between a few drinks and falling down the neck of the bottle and having trouble climbing out. Joe had been there himself after Hoss was murdered and tried to ease his pain the same way.
“She killed my daughter, Joe. She killed that little girl the same way she tried to poison you. Laura killed Peggy and told people she had died of a sickness.”
Joe nodded. “That is what the police in Boston told Adam. When they got Wilkes out. He told them just before he died.” He took a long drag from the bottle and passed it back to his cousin. Joe leaned back on his up turned saddle. He felt the whiskey burn a path to his belly. “Guess you can say Laura Dayton killed him too with the fire and all. Guess they both got what they deserved.”
Will stared into the flickering fire “I can’t believe she poisoned her own child. Maybe if I had been there…” Will started.”
”Laura would have killed you too,” Joe finished his sentence. He reached over and squeezed Will’s arm. “Laura tried to get you hung for a murder you didn’t commit. She and Wilkes killed his wife and would have let you swing for it.”
Joe looked at his cousin sitting near him. His shoulders were sagging and his head was down. He was wearing all the new clothes Ben had bought for him when the got to the Ponderosa. but he still had the same old beaten look that he had in jail. It had been a long day on the trail and Joe was fighting to keep his eyes open. He was desperate for sleep but was afraid to leave Will alone.
”Want another drink?” Joe offered him the bottle. Maybe Will would get too drunk to stay awake and Joe could go to sleep. Joe immediately regretted that he had encouraged Will to drink more. It was too late to pull the bottle out of his hands and pour the whiskey into the ground.
Will took the bottle and downed a good measure. “Glad you had me come home with you Joe. I don’t know what I would have done if you didn’t. You were the only one who always believed what I said.” His words were beginning to slur and his eyes looked glassy.
”Will, you’re family. The Ponderosa is your home too. Adam believed you. So did Pa. Katie too.”
Will shook his head. ”No, they just wanted me to get a fair trial, but they were pretty sure I did it. I don’t think Adam thought I set out to murder anyone. Just that I must have been burglarizing the house and killed Louella Smith when she walked in on me.” He took a long drag on the bottle and passed it to Joe.
Joe held up his hand and shook his head refusing the bottle. “Will, you didn’t to anything wrong. Laura set you up. You sat in jail too long.”
Will nodded. “Too long.” He held the bottle up to Joe offering him the last bit of whiskey. Joe shook his head again. Will drained the last drop and threw the bottle high in a spiraling arc that crashed loudly on a rock somewhere in the dark.
“We’ll have a good time in Genoa, my friend. Ever been by Miss Ivy’s? Heard she has the whole place done up in green. All the girls wear green too. Pretty girls all dressed in short sparkly green dresses and even green shoes and green lace stockings. They all sing and dance and make the customers real happy.”
”Real happy?” Will chuckled. “I could use a bit of real happy.”
”Real happy. All of ‘em got green under things too.” Joe attempted to get Will’s mind on something beside the mess Laura Dayton had made of all the lives she had touched. They both could use a bit of friendly female company.
”Miss Ivy’s you say? “
Joe smiled “ Dream about that tonight, Cousin. This isn’t Boston any more.” Joe stretched and yawned hoping Will would go to sleep. “I buy the first round, Will. Just don’t ask Hays to join us. He’ll not step foot in that kind of place.”
”Not even for a beer?”
”He and Rebecca have been married since Lake Tahoe was a puddle and she reads his mind like a gypsy fortuneteller. No, sir. I think Rebecca would take one look at his face and he would die from embarrassment to say he saw some gal’s ankle.” Joe fell backwards with his boots pointing up in the air imitating Hays going to heaven from being embarrassed.
Will chuckled at his cousin’s antics. “Don’t fall into the campfire, Joseph!”
“Will, you should have seen Hays when we were up in Denver and some bar maid tripped and fell into his lap. Thought Pa would have to carry him up to the Doctor’s office with apoplexy.”
Will laughed at the image Joe had created. “Guess I’ll turn in.”
Joe could finally close his eyes and fall asleep. “Sweet dreams, Cousin.”
Chapter 9
As they watched, several cowboys passed by and each gave her a long considering look. Joe and Will spared just one glance between themselves. She really was beautiful and totally oblivious of it. Blonde, slim but with a curvy figure that was noticeable even under the dusty purple skirt and man’s coat she was wearing. Her hair was golden blonde and pulled back in a braid at the nape of her neck. There was a blue gross grain ribbon tying the braid but the wind and her constant motion had long ago made the bow untie. The long ribbons whirled wildly in the cold air.
She was wearing a man’s blue gray Stetson jammed down on her head but the gusty wind kept whipping the wide brim back. She unconsciously would jam the hat down on her head to keep it from blowing off but each time she did, Joe got a good look at her pretty face. She had full red lips and high cheekbones. Her eyes were shiny purple blue with long dark lashes, just the type of woman that always appealed to Joe Cartwright. Blonde, shapely, and blue eyes were always at the top of Joe’s wish list. Right now she was staring at the rough looking wrangler in front of her. The man was staggering drunk and belligerent.
“Now that is one, very pretty gal over there, Cousin.” Joe nodded and narrowed his eyes appreciatively.
”Very pretty, Joe.” Will watched the woman arguing with one of the wranglers bringing round the horses. The wind whipped her long skirt around her legs and they got a flash of her legs. She was wearing dark blue stockings and black boots.
“Don’t look like it took you too long to get over Miss Emily O’Mara.” Will commented. He had been worried about Joe’s broken heart.
Joe shrugged. “I don’t think there was a whole lot to get over. Kate called it a summer flirtation. Guess she knows better than me about what thing are called. Phil and Emily are getting married back east and I’m here at a horse auction. I suppose that says it all. End of sad, sad story” Joe turned up his collar against the cold wind and never removed his gaze from the blue-eyed blonde.
“Sometimes the very thing you are looking for, isn’t really what you want,” Will Cartwright observed. “And what about sweet Bonnie Newkirk? Noticed you had an eye for her at your party. She looked pretty happy to see you back home.”
“Bonnie? She is pretty sweet Will. She’s being courted by one of Virginia City’s finest fellows.”
”Who?”
”Billy Felcher. The Reverend’s prodigal son has seen the evil of his ways and is settling down with a wife.”
”Billy? The most evil thing that boy ever did was forget to say “bless you” when someone sneezed.” Will laughed.
Billy Felcher was so kind hearted that he fed stray dogs and bailed out the town drunk tank for Sunday dinner. He had been one of the first people to welcome Will Cartwright back to the Ponderosa.
”Bill is taking over the pulpit for his father now and again and I think he and Bonnie are seeing each other. Maybe Bill will get his father to retire and make some shorter sermons. Maybe I would stay awake in church for once. I’ve had some of my best naps during Reverend Felcher’s sermons.” Joe kept watching the argument between the woman and the drunk.
“So, Joseph sounds like you have no lady trying to win your roguish heart.”
Joe nodded silently. He hadn’t taken his eyes off the woman in the purple skirt. “She must be part of the Thackery family, maybe his daughter, perhaps married to one of Fred’s sons. Fred is too ugly to have such a pretty daughter. She must be a daughter-in –law or something.” Joe tried to remember how many kids Fred had but couldn’t remember. The only thing he remembered about him was he was an honorable man and the Cartwrights had been doing business with Thackery auctions for years.
Once when Joe was young and very foolish, Thackery had managed to calm down another man who was out to shoot Joe over a card game. It was at the same time that Joe and Dean Newkirk had first met Bonnie. Fred had almost died a few years ago when a horse kicked him. He was getting older and had needed to pull back a bit from running things for over a year but his family was running the business with the same hard work and good reputation.
The beautiful young woman on the other side of the corral was really lacing into the wrangler and her voice was loud enough for the Cartwrights to hear from where they stood.
“I don’t care what you want to do or what you think is right. We told you when we hired you, there is no drinking on the job and you handle the livestock the way we want you too. If you work for Thackery Auctions and you do what we tell you to do. If I ever see you mistreating any animal like that I’ll use that horsewhip you are so free with on your butt. Now you go over to my mother in the office and get your wages and get out of here.”
The man was bellowing something back but his back was to them and the wind carried his words off toward the mountains. All they could make out was a string of curses from both parties.
”That’s one angry gal,” Will rubbed his moustache with his thumb.” He leaned over the top rail of the corral fence. His bad leg was aching a bit from being on it so much and leaned his weight on the fence.
”One angry, pretty gal.” Joe swung himself up on the top rail to get a better view of the girl. “She looks pretty hot tempered but has nice legs. She looks pretty strong. Good spirited too.”
” Maybe you should pry her mouth open and check her teeth. Joe you sound like you are evaluating a horse, not a woman. You were in Boston too long if you are forgetting which is which, Cousin. I was in jail not you.” Will threw back his head and laughed. He was glad his cousin had convinced him to go on this trip. He hadn’t had this good a time in years. “Maybe you ought to go over and check out her mane too, Joe. Or, maybe an evening at Miss Ivy’s will remind you which is which.”
Joe laughed but didn’t take his eyes off the argument that was growing increasingly furious.
Will looked up at his cousin and watched his handsome face. Joe was planning something and it involved that pretty blonde. Grinning impishly, his thumbs were hooked in his gun belt and he never took his hazel eyes off her. The wind was gusting up and whipping miniature dust tornadoes around the corral. The area was littered with broken tree limbs, twigs and dead leaves that had blown down from trees that bordered the complex.
“Go get your pay, fella and don’t let me see you any where around here ever again.” The woman bellowed. She turned her back to the drunk she just fired and started walking towards other side of the corral. The drunk reached down and grabbed a broken branch from the side of the corral and swung it like a club at her head just missing her by inches. Joe leaped off the fence and grabbed the back of the man’s dusty jacket and spun him around. Cartwright knocked the club out of the man’s hands. The man swung at Joe and connected with his jaw. Joe pounded the man with an upper cut and barreled into him knocking him to the ground. The man was bleeding from a gash on his fore head and had his wind knocked out of him.
Will walked over to the ruckus and Joe scrambled to his feet. He had saved the girl from being attacked from the rear and she hadn’t even realized what went on. She turned around and saw a strange cowboy beating on her former employee.
Dusting off his hands on his pants Joe walked over to her and said, “Are you all right, Miss?”
Rather than the reaction Joe Cartwright had anticipated, an attractive young woman thanking him profusely for his heroics, she lit in to him verbally.
“What the heck did you just do, Cowboy? I can handle this! What did you go slug him with a stick for? Now I have to pay his doctor bills. Do you think just because I’m a female that I can’t manage my employees? Are you crazy?”
“No, M’am,” Joe started to explain.
”Where the heck are you from that you go around beating up drunks?
The drunk staggered to his feet and Will stood with his hand on the man’s dirty collar. “We are from over near Virginia City.”
”My cousin, Joe was just trying to help out M’am.” Will tried to smooth things over.
“I’m Joe Cartwright from the Ponderosa and this is Will Cartwright,” Joe smiled and offered his hand.
Meg turned white and didn’t shake his hand. “Do you want to help out,” She jutted her jaw at them. “You can get him over to the Doctor’s office in town and tell him to send us the bill. And both of you get off my place.”
She turned heel and ran to the shack that was serving as the office. The ribbons on her hair flew out behind her.
“Well Joseph, looks like you did a real fine job with that gal. She really was glad to meet you. Maybe you’ll have better luck with the horses. Let’s go take this yahoo to the doctor’s and you can buy me a beer.” Will pulled the wrangler by the back of his collar and lead him to the fence. Their horses were tied at the hitching rail on the other side of the yard.
Joe stood and watched the rear view of the blond as she walked into the shack and slammed the door. He couldn’t imagine what he said that made her run off. Not only had he saved her from being slugged he had just mentioned his name and she took off in a huff.
Roughly, Will propelled the drunk towards his horse and told him to mount up. He turned to his cousin and said “Let’s get out of here before she takes your head off again. Or maybe she is going over to the office to get a gun and shoot you, Joe. Guess you charmed her all right.”
”All I did was save her from being clubbed and tell her we are from near Virginia City.” Joe looked over his shoulder to see if she came out of the shack. “Never had a woman react to me like that.”
“And you told her your name. Guess not everybody loves the Cartwrights. Boy, there is always a first time for everything. Let’s get this fella to the doctor and get his head stitched up,” Will pointed at their dizzy companion. “You think you can make it pal?”
The drunk nodded and spit on the ground next to them. “No thanks to you Joe Cartwright.” He raised his arm as if he was about to start up again and Will grabbed his coat sleeve.
”Shut up or I’ll knock you down again.” Joe muttered. “Guess I’m lost my charm being in Boston. First Emily, then Bonnie Newkirk and now Miss ‘Take My Drunk to The Doctor’.”
Joe stepped into the stirrup and swung aboard Cochise, gathering the reins into his hand. Wisely, he waited for the fellow he nailed to mount up as well before he nudged the horse from the sheltering windbreak and into the cold wind.
“What do you think about going over to Miss Ivy’s tonight, Will?” He was up for some friendly female companionship after having this blonde scream at him.
A smile broke across his cousin’s face. “Sounds good to me, Joe. You owe me a beer.”
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