Loss Of Memory

Part two

By: Lynne G.

After a long ride from Free Peak, California, Stoney and Little Joe had finally arrived in San Francisco in the middle of the afternoon. The first thing they did was to take their horses to the stable, and from there, they went to check into their hotel. Stoney always stayed at the Grand Hotel when he was in San Francisco.

After they had checked into their room, they both had a nice relaxing bath, then dressed into clean clothes. They felt much better with all the trail dust off of them, and they now headed down to the diningroom to get some dinner.

" This sure is a big town ain't it Stoney? I ain't never seen such a big town before," Little Joe excitedly told Stoney. Stoney smiled at the youngster and he replied, " Yes, San Francisco is a large city, and tomorrow after we take our furs to the wholesale house, I will show you around town. How does that sound?" " Oh goodie ! Sure sounds great to me. Thank you Stoney," the tired and yawning boy responded.

Right after dinner, Stoney and Little Joe went straight up to their room and they went to bed, as they were both very tired.

As Stoney and Little Joe were eating their dinner, the Cartwrights rode into San Francisco with a very large herd of cattle.

Once they had the moved into the large stock yard, they met up with the man who had bought the cattle, a man by the name of Jacob Walker, who was the vice president of the San Francisco Restaurant Association. Jacob always bought Ponderosa beef, since it was the best beef by far.

As the Cartwrights were in the stable, they noticed a large pile of top quality furs that were most wrapped in paper so they stay clean.

" My goodness, that's a lot of furs, and they look very well taken care of too," Adam commented. " Yes, those furs belong to Stoney Landers. He comes here once a year to sell the furs to the fur buyers who come here from all over the world. He got here a few hours ago, " Max Underwood the stable owner explained.

" Stoney makes a very good living trapping and he a very nice and very caring man too. This year he has a helper with him, a boy named Barry. He's a good looking boy and he sure does know a lot about furs, and I know that Stoney has taught him well," Max added.

" Yes, there is good money to be made trapping. It's a lot of hard work, but it is well worth the time. It's good to start young. Sounds like young Barry has a good teacher," Ben replied as he smiled at Max. " Yes, that he does. So Ben, tell me, how are you doing and how are things at the Ponderosa these days?" Max asked.

" I'm doing alright, and things are fine at the ranch. It's just so hard without Little Joe though. I can't believe that it has been just over a year since my boy has disappeared. I wished to God I knew what happened to him, and I still keep hoping that he is still alive somewhere, but as more time goes by, I guess I should begin to face the truth that my baby is gone for good, Ben softly and sadly told Max.

" I am so sorry Ben, Adam, Hoss, I was so hoping that by now, the boy would have been found and was safely back home where he belongs," Max relpied as he laided his hand on Ben's shoulder. " Thank you Max, that means a lot to us, that you were still thinking about Little Joe," Ben replied.

After the Cartwrights had checked into their hotel, they all had a bath and quickly dressed into clean clothes and they headed down to the diningroom for some dinner. They had missed seeing Stoney and Little Joe by just under two hours.

The next morning the Cartwrights went straight to the bank to cash part of their check they received from the sale of the cattle so they could pay their hands who had helped on the cattle drive. The rest of the check was put into a cashiers check that Ben could deposit in the Virginia City bank once they returned home.

While the Cartwrights were at the bank, Stoney and Little Joe went to the stable to get their furs so they could take them to the wholesale house.

When Little Joe noticed the Cartwright horses, he froze and stared at the horses. The horses had sensed the boy and they looked at the boy and they began to whinny loudly at him.

As Little Joe stood there with his eyes wide open and his mouth open as well, Stoney became concerned by his young friend's behavior, and by the way the horses were reacting towards him too.

" Barry, are you ok boy?" Stoney asked. He had to repeat the boy's name several times before the boy came out of the trance he seemed to be in. Stoney put his arm around the boy's shoulder and he could feel the youngster trembling badly. " Strange," he thought.

The horses continued to whinny and look at the boy as Little Joe continued to stare at them. " Those horses seem to know you Barry. Do you know them son?" Stoney asked as he never seen anything like this before.

Little Joe opend his mouth again. " I...I...I dunno They seem kinda familar, but..." was all he could say.

Max had seen the way the horses and the boy were reacting and he too, had never seen anything like that either.

" Max, who do those horses belong to?" Stoney asked as he was still watching with a lot of interest to the scene happening in the barn.

" They belong to Ben Cartwright and his two sons, Adam and Hoss. They came in late yesterday afternoon from a cattle drive. They raise the best beef the and Restaurant Association here in town buy only their beef. Ben had a younger son, but the boy disappeared just over a year ago, and no trace of the boy has ever been found," Max explained.

" That is so sad. I wonder what ever happened to the boy? Stoney asked as he looked at Little Joe and he wondered if this boy could be the missing boy, but then he didn't know where the Cartwrights lived. " Max, tell me, where do the Cartwrights live?" Stoney asked.

" They live in the Nevada Territory outside of Virginia City ," Max said. Stoney knew that Barry wasn't the missing boy, since Virginia City was a long way from where he had found the boy. " Thank you Max. I was just wondering where they lived," Stoney replied.

" Well, come on now son and lets get going over to the wholesale house with our furs," Stoney suggested as he and Little Joe picked up the furs and headed for the door. Max watched as the Cartwright horses continued to watch and whinny at the boy until he and Stoney had left. They gave one last whinny and went back to eating their grain.

" Now, if that ain't the strangest thing. Do you horses know that boy?" Max asked as he patted Buck on his silky neck.

Stoney and Little Joe were surprised at how much money their furs sold for. Little Joe had never in his young life seen that much money. Stoney got a kick at the look on the boy's face, so he let the youngster hold the ten thousand dollars.

" WOW, I ain't never seen so much money before Stoney !" the boy declared. " Yup, that is more money than I have ever received for my furs before. A lot of money for sure. We need to get straight over to the bank and get this money put in a cashiers check that we can put in the bank in Placerville," Stoney suggested. Off to the bank they went.

After the Cartwrights had paid their hands, they went to the stable to check on their horses. As soon as Max saw them, he hurried over to them to tell them how their horses had reacted to young Barry, and how the boy had reacted to the horses.

As they listened to what Max was telling them, their hearts skipped a beat. With a gasp, Ben asked," Max, what does the boy look like?

" Well, Barry's about this tall," Max said as he held up his hand to show the Cartwrights how tall the boy was. " He has brown curly hair, very large green eyes, a great smile, and the silliest giggle I have ever heard," Max explained.

Ben gasped again and he felt as if he was about to pass out. " Pa, it's gotta be Little Joe !" Hoss almost shouted.
He couldn't believe what he had just heard either.

" Max tell us, where are Stoney and the boy now?" Ben excitedly asked. They took their furs over to the wholesale house about two hours ago. Then they headed over to the bank. I saw them when I stepped outside for a few minutes. Why, is there something wrong?" Max asked with concern in his voice.

" There's a chance that the boy is my missing son, Little Joe. The description fits him perfectly," Ben explained. " But how would the boy end up with Stoney? He would never take a child from his family," Max wondered. " I'm not saying that he took him, but maybe he found him or something?" Ben replied. " Could be. Didn't think of the Ben. I hope and pray that the boy is Little Joe," Max said.
" Us too," Adam declared.

The Cartwrights quickly went back over to the bank to ask Phil Anderson, the man who Ben always saw when he was in town, to ask him if he knew where Stoney and the boy were staying.

" Excuse me Phil, but do you know Stoney Landers, the fur trapper?" Ben excitedly asked. " Hi again Ben, boys. Yes I do. He always deals with me when he sells his furs. Why do you want to know?" Phil asked as he was wondering why Ben would want to know about Stoney.

" Tell me Phil, where can I find him, please? Ben almost begged. "He and young Barry are staying at the Grand Hotel. Ben, what's wrong?" Phil asked with concern now.

" I think Barry is actually Little Joe. Max described him, and that description fit Little Joe perfectly. Do you know where Stoney lives?" Ben asked, as all he could think about was his missing boy.

" He lives in the mountains near Free Peak, California," Phil replied as he looked closely at the reaction on Ben's face. " Free Peak, why that's in the direction of Placerville !" Ben gasped. " Thank you Phil," Ben said, but before Ben, Adam and Hoss could leave the bank, Phil stopped him.

" Ben, would you please let me know if it is Little Joe. I have been very worried about him," Phil told Ben. " Yes, we will Phil," Ben replied as they left the bank and they quickly headed over to the hotel, which just happened to be the same hotel in which they were also staying at.

They walked up to the front desk and Ben asked the clerk, " Excuse me please, but can you tell me which room Stoney Landers and the boy are staying in?" After the clerk looked up the room number, he gave it to Ben. " They aren't there now, but they should be back shortly," the clerk told the Cartwrights. " Thank you," Ben said.

" Pa, what do we do now, go and look for them or wait here?" Adam asked. " Let's wait outside on the bench so we can see them walking back here. I hope to God the boy is my baby !" Ben said as he was getting choked up. " So do we Pa," both Adam and Hoss replied, they were both also tearing up at the thought that they might have found their baby brother after all this time.

Stoney was showing Little Joe the sights of San Francisco. " Well Barry, what do you think of San Francisco?" Stoney asked. " It is so big. I can't believe all the people comin' and goin'. I ain't never seen so many people before either. Ya know Stoney, I like the harbor the best. All them boats and they are so big too !" Little Joe excitedly told Stoney.

" Yes the harbor is a very interesting place to see. Those ships go all over the world bringing supplies and people to this area," Stoney explained. He loved to see all the excitement written all over the boy's young face.

After about an hour or so, Stoney and Little Joe began to walk back towards the hotel.

That entire day, Little Joe kept thinking back to the horses in the stable that morning, and the way they kept acting towards him. He seemed to be having bits of memory about the horses and a very large ranch. He thought he remembered that a lot of men worked on the ranch, and he also kind of remembered a large log house, but he couldn't seem to remember where that was.

" Hey Pa, it's them, and it's Little Joe ! Oh my God !" Hoss almost shouted as he tried to control himself. " It's my baby, it's my Little Joe !" Ben cried, as Adam had put his hand on Ben's trembling shoulder. " Thank God !" Adam whispered.

The Cartwrights watched as the man and the boy walked past them and into the hotel. Little Joe's heart skipped a beat as he looked at the men sitting there on the bench, and his mind was racing, knowing he had seen the men before, but where?

As Stoney got their key, Little Joe turned around and he stared at the front door that they had just come in from. " Come on Barry, lets go up to our room," Stoney suggested. He had to repeat this to the boy a couple more times before the boy reacted. Stoney put his arm around the boy's shoulder as they went up the stairs to their room.

The Cartwright sat there in shock at first, not truely believing their eyes, and they had to keep asking themsleves if they were dreaming that they had just seen Little Joe.

Finally they stood up and Adam went to get their room key and they headed up the stairs.

" Pa, what do we do now?" Hoss asked. He had wanted to grab his little brother and hold him so bad, but he held back.

" We go and introduce ourselves and ask some questions on why Stoney has Little Joe," Ben suggested. They could tell that Little Joe seemed to have no memory of them, and that was extremely concerning to them.

As soon as Little Joe sat down on a chair, he couldn't stop thinking about the men he had seen as he and Stoney arrived back at the hotel. He kept searching his mind as to why they seemed familar to him, but he couldn't answer that question for anything. There was so much going on in his mind, that was getting a slight headache.

The knock on the door startled him as Stoney went to see who was there.

" Mr. Landers, we're sorry to bother you. My name is Ben Cartwright, and these are my two sons, Adam and Hoss. Can we talk to you for a few minutes please?" Ben softly asked as he smiled at Stoney, who returned Ben's smile.

" Sure, come in please. I'm Stoney Landers and this youngster is my friend Barry. What would you like to talk about?" Stoney asked. He could tell these men seemed a little nervous.

Ben wanted nothing more than to hold his long lost son, but he knew he couldn't do that, yet.

" Hi Barry. It's very nice to meet you son," Ben said. It didn't seem right that he should call his son by another name. " Nice ta meet ya too," the boy replied as he kept looking at each Cartwright as his mind continued to race.

" Stoney, would it be possible to talk to you in private please?" Ben asked. " Yes. Barry, if you don't mind son, could you please wait in the bedroom so I can talk to these gentlemen?" Stoney suggested. " Ok," the boy said as he stood up and walked to the bedroom and he closed the door and he sat down on the bed as he continued to think why these men seemed familar to him. His head seemed to be spinning.

" Please, sit down," Stoney suggested as they all sat down. " Now what did you need to talk to me about?" Stoney asked as he looked at the men.

" Thank you. Oh, where to start?" Ben said as he let out a big sigh. " Over a year ago my youngest son, Little Joe disappeared when he attempted to ride to Placerville from our ranch, the Ponderosa in the Nevada Territory. Hoss and myself were in Placerville on business for almost two weeks."

" Little Joe missed me so much, that he decided to ride to Placerville to find me. Adam, here was in charge of the ranch, and taking care of his little brother for me."

" When Adam sent us that telegram telling us that Little Joe was on his way to find us, we knew we needed to stay put until Adam got there. Once Adam reached us, we began to search everywhere for my boy. We search everywhere between Placerville and our ranch, but all we found was his horse and his hat."

" Stoney, Barry is actually Little Joe. Where did you find him if you don't mind me asking?" Ben asked.

" No. I don't mind at all. I was on my way home from San Francisco from selling my furs last year. I had spent a couple of days in Placerville to do my banking, getting more supplies and I also visited my friends who live in the area."

I wasn't too far from my cabin when I saw a young boy laying off to the side of the road. He was unconscious from hitting his head on a rock, and he had dried blood on his face and hair.

I cleaned his face and hair the best I could, and when he regained consciousness Mr. Cartwright, the boy didn't know who he was or where he had from. I took him up to my cabin in the mountains since it was so much closer than Placerville. I made sure he was well cared for. He still has no memory of who he is or where he came from. I'm so sorry to say."

Everytime we needed to go to Placerville I asked around if anyone knew who the boy was, but no one did. I don't recall seeing any missing person's posters in town either."

" I taught him how to trap and I also named him Barry, after a very dear friend of mine. He is a wonderful boy Mr. Cartwright, and a very fast learner I might add."

" This morning when we went to the stables to get our furs so we could take them to the wholesale house, the boy saw your horses and I think he sort of knew them, and the horses certainly seemed to know Barry..I mean Little Joe.

Another thing was when we were on our way to San Francisco, we went past a small cattle ranch, and when the boy saw the cattle he just stared at them."

" I asked him if cattle meant something to him, and he said that he wasn't sure. I'm beginning to think that he might be starting to remember some things," Stoney explained to the Cartwrights. " I hope to God he is," Ben replied.

As the men continued to talk, Little Joe was laying on his bed trying so hard to remember where he had seen those men that seemed to be getting more familar to him. He closed his eyes for a few minutes to think.

Then suddenly, he sat up, gasped and he began to tremble as the tears filled up his eyes and began to run down his face. He was having trouble trying to catch his breath for a couple of minutes as well.

All of a sudden he began to shout out, PA, PA, PA !" He jumped up and ran towards the door. The men had also jumped up as soon as they heard the boy call out, and they watched as if in slow motion, the door flying open and Little Joe ran out and he leaped into Ben's waiting arms.

" Oh Pa, I remember ! I remember !" the boy cried as his body trembled. " Oh God, Little Joe, oh baby, I love you so much ! I have missed you more than you will ever know. I love you so much sweetheart, and I never gave up hope that you would come back to us," Ben cried as he held his son for dear life as he sat down with his young son held tightly in his arms. He didn't want to let go of his boy for anything.

Adam and Hoss kept touching their little brother as they too were crying. Stoney stood there in tears also. It was an extremely emtional time for everyone in the room.

Stoney was thrilled for the family, especially for Little Joe, but yet at the time, he felt a very sad knowing that the boy would be going home with his family. He loved the boy as if he was his own son, and he knew that he would dearly miss the boy.

As Ben finally was able to get himself under control of his emotions, he asked Little Joe what had happened to him. Everyone was very anxious to know what had happened to the boy.

Taking a deep breath, Little Joe began to explain what had happened to him.

" After camping out that first night, I headed out at first light ta continue on ta Placerville. I didn't sleep at all cuz of all the noises at night and I was scared."

" Anyway, Tony was gallopin' along when he stumbled and I 'member fallin' off him then everythin' went black."

" A while later, I felt someone washin' my face and I could hear a voice softly talkin' ta me. I opened my eyes, and my head hurt and everythin' was so blurry. Stoney was talkin' ta me and he gave me a drink of water. Oh Pa, I...I couldn't 'member nothin' at all, like who I was or where I had come from or where I was goin'. Nothin' at all."

" Stoney was so nice ta me, and he helped me sit up fer a few minutes before he picked me up and carried me to his horse, and he put me on his saddle and he got up behind me and he held me while we rode ta his cabin. He took really good care of me Pa."

" He taught me how to trap and take care of the furs too. He gave me a name too. I've had a good time with Stoney."

" Then when we were on our way to San Francisco, I saw a small cattle ranch and there was something about a cattle ranch that came into my mind. It was so weird, like I had been on a cattle ranch somewhere, but I didn't know where."

" When we went to the stable that next morning, this morning, I saw your horses and for some reason they seemed familar and they whinnied at me."

" When Stoney and me was walking back ta the hotel, I noticed you, Adam and Hoss lookin' at me, and ya all seemed kinda familar too, but I couldn't figure out why."

" When I went inta the bedroom so ya could talk with Stoney, I kept thinkin' why you were all familar ta me, then I remembered everythin' Pa !" Little Joe cried as he was snuggled into Ben's chest while he was still sitting on Ben's lap.

Ben kissed the top of Little Joe's head as he continued to hold him tightly. " Thank God ! When we went to the stable to look in on the horses this morning, Max told us about what had happened with you and the horses, sweetheart. We couldn't believe what he had told us."

" I asked him to describe the boy to us, and as soon as he told us, we knew that it was you sweetheart. Max then told us that you and Stoney had gone to the bank so we rushed over there to find out where you and Stoney were staying."

" When I'm in San Francisco on business I always deal with Phil Anderson at the bank, so I asked him if he knew where you and Stoney were staying and he told us."

" We then hurried over to the hotel, which just happens to be the same hotel that we are also staying at too. The clerk told us us that you and Stoney were out at the moment but should be back soon, so we decided to wait for you. As soon as we saw you son, we knew that all of our hopes and prayers had been answered."

" I wanted to rush to you sweetheart and hold you in my arms, but I knew I couldn't because you didn't know us, but now I can hold you again, because you have your memory back again," Ben explained.

Little Joe looked up at Ben through the tears in his eyes, and he asked, " Pa, what happened ta Tony?" " I'll Adam explain that to you son," Ben said.

" I found him limping down the road as I was riding to Placerville to meet up with Pa and Hoss. His leg was a little sore, but other than that, he was fine. I took him with me onto Placerville where Pa and Hoss were waiting for me."

" We searched for you everywhere between Placerville and the Ponderosa, but all we ever found was your hat. Tony's at home waiting for you little buddy," Adam told his baby brother as he smiled at him.

" Thanks Adam fer findin' Tony fer me. How is Hop Sing?" Little Joe asked. " He's fine, but he misses ya somethin' awful Punkin," Hoss replied. " I can't wait ta see him," Little Joe softly said as he now had the hiccups.

Ben went on to tell Stoney all about Hop Sing. " He certainly sounds like a wonderful, caring man, and a real member of your family Ben," Stoney said. " Yes, he certainly is and we would be totally lost without him in our lives," Ben happily replied.

" Stoney, if you aren't in any hurry to get back home, we would love to have you come to the Ponderosa with us for a visit and we could show around the ranch too," Ben suggested.

" Thank you Ben, but I really do need to get back. I have to go to the bank, and I also would like to visit with my friends and be able to let them know that Barry, I mean, Little Joe has found his family. How about I come for a visit in a month?" Stoney suggested.

" That sounds wonderful !" Ben happily replied. " Oh goodie Stoney !" Little Joe squealed.

Stoney looked at Little Joe, smiled and said, " Little Joe, I want you to ride Candy back home, and keep him for me, and when I come for my visit, I'll take him back home with me."

" Are ya sure 'bout that Stoney?" the youngster asked. " Yes, I'm sure, and I know that you will take excellent care of him too," Stoney replied as he ruffled up the boy's soft curly brown hair. " Thanks Stoney, and dun't worry cuz I will take really good care of him !" Little Joe declared.

" Stand up little brother so we can get a good look at you, since we haven't seen you for over a year now !" Adam suggested. Little Joe stood up and stood there feeling a little weird that his family wanted to take a good look at him.

" My goodness, you seem to be a little taller now son !" Ben declared. Surprised, Little Joe replied back, " I am? Really ?" " Yes, really," Ben happily replied. Ben figured that the boy was maybe an inch taller, but he certainly didn't seem to weigh any more than he had before he had disappeared.

As Hoss stood there looking at his little brother, he smiled and said, " You still look as beautiful as ever Punkin !" " Ah Hoss, I ain't beautiful. Horses are are beautiful !" Little Joe stated. That cause everyone to laugh.

" I totally agree with Hoss that our baby brother is still as beautiful as ever !" Adam laughed as he winked at Hoss. " I also agree that my son is beautiful !" Ben added. Stoney had also agreed to that matter.

Stoney joined the Cartwrights for dinner that night. He thoroughtly enjoyed being with the family as well. He was also very happy that Little Joe had such a wonderful loving family too.

The End of part two.

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