BEN'S NIGHTMARE

 

By:  Lynne G.

 

For the past month a cougar had been raiding the local ranches in the area.  Groups of ranchers had gone out looking for this big cat, but so far the cougar had not been shot, even though it had been seen several times.

 

The cougar struck both day and night, and it's favorite pray seemed to be calves, chickens, young pigs and some foals.  So far no humans had been attacked.

 

Ben Cartwright had gone into Virginia City early that morning.  Ben's three son's, twenty year old Adam, fourteen year old Hoss, and seven year old Little Joe each had their chores that needed to be done that morning.  When Ben was away from the ranch, Adam was in charge of keeping his two younger brothers busy and out of mischief.  Hoss wasn't a problem, as he did what he was told, but Little Joe was always getting into mischief and not always finishing up his chores.

 

For some reason that day Little Joe was in a bad mood as he usually was when Adam was in charge.  " Will you get busy and finish your chores please," Adam told his youngest brother.  " Oh come on Adam, I'm tired," pleaded Little Joe.  " I know you are tired, but you need to finish your chores before Pa gets home.  Now get BUSY !" Adam angrily told the boy.  Little Joe just stood there with his little hands on his hips, and he said," I'll finish em later."  " NO WAY KID," shouted Adam.  Little Joe turned and walked towards the house, but he turned around and yelled, " YER AN OLD MEANY, ADAM !!" Then stuck his tongue out at his big brother.

 

Adam ran after the boy, grabbed him, picked him up and started to carry him towards the water trough.  " PUT ME DOWN ADAM !!  PUT ME DOWN PLEASE !!" shouted Little Joe.  " So you want down, do you little buddy ?  OK, I'll put you down," Adam told the boy.  With that said, Adam dropped his little brother in the water trough.  Little Joe spit some water out of his mouth and he told Adam, " that wasn't very nice Adam."  He just sat there in the trough.  " Are you going to finish up your chores now ?" asked Adam.  " Nope," said the boy as he continued to sit in the trough.  " OK, go to your room and stay there til I tell you to come out," Adam told his little brother.  Little Joe climbed out of the trough and headed for the house. 

 

When he opened the front door, Hop Sing was standing there, and when he saw the dripping wet little boy he said, " Why you wet?  No come in house dripping water. Take clothes off where you are."  " But Hop Sing.  I..." Little Joe started to say before Hop Sing cut him off.  " Take wet clothes off NOW.  Then go up to room and get dried off and in dry clothes,"  Hop Sing told Little Joe.  " Geez, it ain't my fault I got all wet," Little Joe said as he took his wet clothes off, dropped them on the floor and then he ran up to his room.

 

Adam and Hoss were watching their little brother take his clothes from the yard.  " I guess Hop Sing wouldn't let him in the house dripping wet like that," laughed Hoss.  " You are probably right Hoss.  That cute little butt of his will probably get a tanning when Pa gets home and he finds out that Little Joe didn't finish up all his chores," Adam said.  Hoss just nodded. 

 

Adam was planning to check the fences in the Northern pasture when Ben returned home, so he had Sport saddled already.  When Ben rode up, Adam and Hoss were standing there talking.  " Hi Pa," they both said.  " Hi boys.  Where's Little Joe?" Ben asked.  Adam told him what happened with the boy that morning.  Ben was angry with youngest son now. 

 

While Adam and Hoss were busy doing their chores, Little Joe decided he didn't want to stay in his room, so he climbed out his window, and climbed down to the ground.  Once he was on the ground, he headed for the creek behind the house. 

 

Little Joe loved to play in the creek.  He loved to look for frogs, tadpoles, and throw rocks in the water.

 

While Ben was talking to Adam and Hoss, they heard the yowling of the cougar towards the back of the house.  Ben grabbed his rifle as did Adam and they ran in the direction of the yowling. 

 

Suddenly the cougar appeared and Ben aimed and shot.  He missed as the cougar took off running.  So Ben aimed and shot again, and this time he hit the cougar.  They ran over to the big cat and it was dead.  " Good shot Pa,"  Adam said, as they looked at the dead cougar.  " It sure was big.  What are we gonna do with it now?" asked Hoss.  " I guess we'll bury it," Ben said. 

 

After the cougar was buried Hoss suddenly said," Gee, I'm surprised Short Shanks didn't come down here or yell out the window, wondering what all the shooting was about."  " Your right son, I'm surprised that little brother of yours hasn't come down either," said Ben.  About that time HopSing came outside.

 

" Mr. Cartlight, little boy not in his room," said a concerned Hop Sing.  " Are you sure he wasn't just hiding from you Hop Sing?  You know how he loves to do that," Ben said.  " No, Hop Sing look,  little boy not there, but his window wide open though," said Hop Sing.

 

" Just great ! He doesn't listen to what I tell him Pa," complained Adam.  " Come on, he couldn't have gone far.  Let's go look for him," said ben" JOSEPH !"  " SHORT SHANKS !"  " LITTLE JOE, WHERE ARE YOU?" they were shouting.

 

Little Joe was playing in the creek when he heard the cougar.  He was getting scared as he knew the cougar was very close by.  So he got out of the water and slowly looked around for any movement.  He again heard the cougar, but as he was getting ready to head back to the house, he heard the sound of a rifle shot, as something slammed into his chest and his world turned black.

 

His family checked the yard, the barn, the tree house, and everywhere in the house, but they couldn't find Little Joe anywhere.  " Pa, you don't think he is playing in the creek do you?" asked Adam.  " OH NO...." said Ben, now very concerned and he hoped that the boy wasn't there.  The three Cartwrights left the house and headed towards the creek.

 

" JOSEPHJOSEPH !" yelled Ben as they ran toward the creek.  Suddenly in front of them was the still form of Little Joe, with blood covering the front of his shirt.  " JOSEPH-OH MY GOD !!!!!" screamed Ben as he, Adam and Hoss ran over to the youngest Catrwright

 

Ben threw himself down on the ground next to his son.  Tears ran down his face and his body trembled as he picked up his son in his arms and he held him tight.  " WHAT HAVE I DONE.." Ben cried over and over as he felt for a pulse on the boy's neck.  The child's pulse was racing, but Ben wouldn't let go of the boy, and he continued to hold him tightly, while crying and he kept saying, " I'M SORRY BABY.  MY GOD, WHAT HAVEI DONE?"  Adam and Hoss kneeled there in shock at the sight of the deathly pale and bloody little brother. 

 

Finally Adam snapped out of his shock and shouted," PA, WE HAVE TO GET HIM TO THE HOUSE, AND SOMEONE TO GET PAUL HERE FAST !  PA PLEASE !"  Ben was in total shock now.  Adam and Hoss pulled Ben to his feet while he still held Little Joe to his chest.  " PA !!", Adam yelled at Ben.  Ben looked at Adam and Hoss and he took off running towards the house carrying his baby son in his arms. 

 

Adam and Hoss were screaming for Hop Sing.  Hop Sing ran out of the house to see what all the screaming was about.  " What yell for...?." shouted Hop Sing.  Then he saw Ben carrying the very limp body of Little Joe.  " HOP SING !! GET HOT WATER AND TOWELS FAST !!!" yelled Adam. 

 

About that time Charlie rode into the yard and Hoss yelled for him to get get Dr. Paul Martin, that Little Joe had been shot bad.  Charlie rode out fast.

 

Ben carried Little Joe up to his room, and laid him on his bed.  The child was having a hard time breathing.  " Please baby, don't leave me. Please dear God don't take my baby.  Oh God, I'm so sorry.  I didn't know he was in the way.  I didn't mean to shoot my baby.  Oh God, NO " cried Ben. 

 

Hop Sing came into the room with lots of hot water and towels.  He was shocked at the sight of Little Joe who looked dead.  There was so much blood on the boy. 

 

By now Ben just stood by his son's bed not moving.  He just stared at his child, as Adam, Hoss and Hop Sing got the little boy undressed.  Hop Sing washed the boy the best he could, but with so much blood ruuning out of the child, it was hard to keep him clean.  " He's losing too much blood Adam," cried Hoss.  " I know Hoss," said Adam as he pressed down a towel onto the bullet wound in his little brothers chest.  " Come on baby.  Hang on please.  Little Joe don't you die on us, you hear." Adam begged.

 

Hop Sing could feel how cold the childs skin was getting, and he was also shivering.  " Need to cover up boy," Hop Sing shouted.  " I'll keep the towel on the wound, and you cover him up Hoss, Adam said.

 

Hop Sing made Ben sit down on a chair.  Ben kept mumbling, " Oh God.  What have I done?" over and over.  He was in deep shock.  Hop Sing knew what Ben needed right then and now, brandy.  So he left the room quickly, and was soon back with a bottle of brandy and some glasses.

 

He poured some brandy into a glass and handed it to Ben, but Ben didn't respond, so Hop Sing put the glass of brandy up to Ben's lips and made him take a swallow.  Ben just stared at his baby son. 

 

Adam put a clean towel on the bullet wound and he noticed that the bleeding had slowed down.  " Thank God," he softly said.  He leaned down to his baby brother and whispered into the child's ear to fight hard and don't give up.  He also told the child how much he loved him.  Hoss sat there holding the small hand and he said,"  Please Punkin, ya just gotta be OK.  I love you so much baby.

 

When Paul entered Little Joe's room, he went right over to the unconscious child.  " Oh Paul, please help him.  It's so bad, " said Adam as he got out of Paul's way.  Paul pulled the covers off Little Joe, removed the bloody towel, and he stood there in shock at the sight of the little boy.  " Oh my God,: he said softly.  He listened to Little Joe's heart and his lungs and he shook his head.  " Hop Sing, I need lots of hot water.  I need to operate now.  Adam, Hoss I need more light fast."  Paul said.  He looked over at Ben and he walked over to him and put his hand on Ben's shoulder.  " Ben, are you alright?" asked Paul.  All Ben said was, " I shot my baby," over and over, as he just stared at the boy he loved more than life it's self. 

 

When Hop Sing came in with more hot water, and Adam and Hoss brought more lamps in, Paul asked them to please take Ben out of the room and take him to his room.  Paul got out something to make Ben sleep for several hours.  When he returned from Ben's room, he had Hop Sing stay and help him, while he sent Adam and Hoss down stairs.  Paul began to operate on Little Joe.

 

Down stairs, Adam and Hoss sat there staring at the stairs, not saying anything.  They were busy praying for their little brother and also for their father.  They knew this was killing Ben mentally

 

" Hoss, if Little Joe dies, it will kill Pa," Adam softly said.  " I know Adam.  I'm really scared.  He just has ta be OK.  He just hasta," cried Hoss.  Adam put his arms around Hoss and they both cried. 

 

While Paul was operating on Little Joe, both he and Hop Sing kept praying that this special little boy would survive.  The surgery was going slow.  Paul was having a hard time finding the bullet, but he had finally found it and he removed it.  He proceeded to repair the damage that the bullet had done. 

 

Finally after four hours, Paul slowly made his way down the stairs.  Both Adam and Hoss stood up trying to read the look on Paul's face. 

 

" Paul, how is Little Joe?" asked a very worried Adam.  " Adam, Hoss, I'm not going to lie to you.  Little Joe is in bad shape.  He has lost too much blood for my liking.  The bullet tore through several blood veins, which I have stitched back together.  His right lung was punctured, and I've stitched it back together as well.  The bullet also cracked one of his ribs." Paul told Adam and Hoss.

 

" Little Joe is very weak, due to blood loss.  Hop Sing has gone down the back stairs to the kitchen to make up some water with sugar in it, which will help rebuild the blood he has lost.  The important thing is to watch out for infection.  He needs to be kept as still as possible.  I'll be staying here for a few days, since I want him to remain in a deep sleep, which will keep him from moving around.  I also need to be here for your father as well.  He is in deep shock, which I need to monitor..  I need you two and Hop Sing to be here for Ben as well.  I'm still not sure if Little Joe will survive or not.  It's just too soon to tell,"  Paul said.

 

" Paul, can we go up and see Little Joe?" asked Adam softly. " Yes, and stay with him as long as you want.  I'm going to check on your father now," said Paul

 

Adam and Hoss both sat down on chairs next to their little brother's bed.  " Oh Adam, he's so pale, and his skin is so cold," Hoss softly said, as tears ran down his face.  " I wish there was something we could do for him Hoss," Adam said, as he held his little brothers small hand.  " Please little buddy, you really have to fight this time.  You hear me baby?  Just fight," pleaded Adam, with tears also running down his face.

 

Hop Sing walked back into the room with a baby bottle with the sugar water mixture in it.  " Please put pillows behind little one's head, so I can give him this," Hop Sing said.  Hop Sing sat down on the edge of the bed, and he very gently opened the child's mouth and he placed the nipple in his mouth, and the child naturally started to slowly suck and swallow. 

 

" Well, will ya look at that, he's drinking, he's drinking !" Hoss excitedly said with a big smaile on his face.  " He sure is," Adam said also with a big smile on his face.  Hop Sing was pleased that his bottle idea was working so well. The three of them just sat there and watched the little boy take to the bottle.  When Paul walked in the room, he had to smile at the sight in front of him.  " Hop Sing, what a wonderful idea you had.  That's just what he needs," Paul said.

 

" More bottle in kitchen.  I use for broth too.  That way Little Joe can get stronger too," Hop Sing proudly said. 

 

The next morning, Little Joe had a slight fever, which was expected, and Paul hoped it wouldn't go any higher.  Little Joe had been given the bottle several times during the night and each time he took it easily.

 

When Ben woke up, he headed straight to Little Joe's room.  " Good morning Ben.  How do you feel this morning?" asked Paul.  Ben just looked at his baby son laying so still in bed, and he answered Paul, that he was fine.  " Paul, I shoot my baby," Ben softly and sadly said. 

 

Paul put his arm around Ben and made him sit down.  " Ben, listen to me please.  Little Joe is doing OK.  His fever hasn't gone up for a few hours, which is a good sign.  His pulse is stronger this morning and his breathing is much easier.  His lungs sound good and clear.  He's been given broth and sugar water during the night and this morning, which he is taking easily.  I'm going to keep him in a deep sleep for a couple of more days, because I don't want him moving around in bed.  Now Ben, come on down stairs and have some breakfast.  You need to keep up your strength so you can take care of this little boy here," Paul told Ben. 

 

Ben looked up at Paul, stood there and said," OK," very softly.  Ben and Paul were soon sitting at the diningroom table, and Paul told Ben to eat, which he did, even though he didn't say anything. 

 

After Ben had some breakfast, he went straight up to Little Joe's room.  Hop Sing was giving the boy his bottle.  Hop Sing looked up at Ben and he asked Ben if he would like to give Little Joe the rest of his bottle.  Ben nodded at Hop Sing.  Hop Sing handed Ben the bottle and he told him to go slow and easy, so Little Joe wouldn't choke.

 

Hop Sing watched as Ben gave the child the bottle.  " Thank you Hop Sing," Ben said.  Hop Sing smiled at him as he left the room

 

Ben was still very quiet.  He had to be told everything to do.  Paul gave him sleeping powders at night.  Sleep was the best thing for Ben.

 

Four days later, Paul let Little Joe wake up slowly.  The boy still had a very slight fever, that Paul was thankful it stayed the same for several days.  Little Joe seemed to get a little stronger each day, and even though he was still pale, even that was getting better also. Paul told the Cartwrights that the child would be fine in a few weeks.  He was still weak, and in some pain though.

 

Ben seemed to be better also, since he knew his baby would be fine.  Ben sat there holding his his son's small when the boy slowly opened his eyes, and he smiled at Ben.  " Hi Pa," the boy softly said.  Ben smiled back at him, leaned down and kissed his son's forehead, as tears filled up his eyes.  " Hi sweetheart.  How do you feel son?" asked Ben.  " Kinda tired Pa.  I'm sorry I snuck out of my room today," the child softly said. " Oh Little Joe, I'm so sorry you were hurt son.  Sweetheart, that was several days ago when you got shot.  I didn't see you when I shot at that cougar.  I thought that I had lost you precious.  I was so scared baby.  Can you please forgive me for shooting you son?" begged Ben.  " Pa, it wasn't yer fault.  It was that old cougar's fault.  I love you Pa,"  Little Joe told Ben as he looked in Ben's sad eyes. 

 

Paul, Adam, Hop Sing and Hoss had been standing there listening to Ben and Little Joe talking, with tears running down their faces.  " Hey look, sleeping beauty is finally awake," Adam said as he walked over to his little brother's bed.  " Hi little buddy.  How are you feeling?" asked Adam.  " I'm kinda tired Adam, but I'm fine," the boy responded

 

" Dadburnit Punkin, you sure gave us a big scare.  Some way to get out of doing yer chores, huh?" Hoss said as he messed up the child's hair. 

 

" Little Joe, it time for lunch now.  Family go down and eat lunch, while I feed little boy," ordered Hop Sing.  Hop Sing sat down and began to spoon feed Little Joe.  " Open up now," Hop Sing told the child as he put the spoon in the boy's mouth.  Little Joe ate all his broth that Hop Sing had fed him.  Then he went back to sleep.

 

" Well, I think I can head back to town now Ben.  I'll be back out tomorrow to check on Little Joe.  Ben, how do you feel?" asked Paul.  " I'm feeling much better now Paul.  Thank you for saving my baby.  I don't know what I'd do without him.  He's my life," said Ben as he was smiling. 

 

Little Joe continued to get stronger everyday.  Finally he was able to get out of bed after two week.  His legs felt a little wobbly at first, but he took it slow.  Everytime he got up now, either Ben, Adam Hoss or Hop Sing were next to him to lend a helping hand. 

 

He was even allowed to go outside, but only if he sat down in the rocking chair on the porch.  He didn't mind, as long as he was outside. 

 

" Pa, when can I ride Star again?" asked Little Joe.  " Not till next week son," said Ben.  " That long?" questioned Little Joe.  " Yes, and no sooner," Ben told his young son.  The little boy smiled at Ben and he said, " OK Pa."

 

Even though Little Joe was feeling better, he still tired easily, which didn't make him very happy.  He giggled to himself while he thought, " at least I don't have ta do chores for a while yet."

 

Two and a half months later, it was usual battle to get Little Joe to do his chores on time.  One evening while Ben read his newspaper, Adam was reading his newest book, and Hoss and Little Joe were playing checkers, Little Joe said, " Pa, I think I need a vacation from my chores,"  Ben looked over at his impish little boy and said, " don't even think about it Joseph."  Adam and Hoss just started to laugh at their little brother.  " Well, I do, cuz I've been workin' really hard this week, and ya dun't want me to over do it now, do ya?" Little Joe said with a big grin on his sweet innocent looking face.  Everyone laughed, and Ben said, " That's my little boy !"

 

THE END

 

 

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