Honeymoon and Arguments, part 1

by: Lyn R.

The day after his wedding Adam lazed late in bed with Carole in his arms. He was loath to get up; enjoying the feel of his wife’s body snug against his, but eventually Carole persuaded him to let her go, she was starving. With all the excitement she had hardly eaten anything the previous day. Carole started to get dressed, promising to fetch one of Adam’s brothers to help him up; he was too heavy for her. Adam agreed, but when she was dressed she came and sat down next to him burying her head in his shoulder. Puzzled Adam lifted her up and to his surprise she was bright red, blushing furiously. Adam asked “What’s the matter my love?”
Carole couldn’t meet his eyes and stared out of the window “I just feel embarrassed. Not sure how I can face your father or your brothers.”
For a moment Adam couldn’t understand and asked “Why?” and then it quickly dawned on him and he pulled her close “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about carrying out normal urges, fulfilling needs. You weren’t embarrassed with me and what happens between us is none of my family’s business.” Despite his words Carole wouldn’t let him go and Adam kissed her forehead “Darling you have to face the world sometime. Much as I enjoy holding you as you said earlier I’m starving.” Carole was half laughing, half-crying but nodded “Alright I’ll go find Joe or Hoss.” She wiped her face and patted her hair into place and emerged into the outside world.
As she started to go downstairs Little Joe put his head out of his room “Good morning sister-in-law.” She turned to him blushing and Joe came over and kissed her on the cheek “Everything okay Carole?”
She nodded “Adam wants a hand to get dressed. I was going to look for you.”
Suddenly serious Joe asked, “He didn’t do any harm with all that walking yesterday?”
“No he seems fine.”
Joe grinned broadly “I’ll go and get him up.” He found Adam lazing back in bed and looking very pleased with himself and very content. Joe grinned down at his brother “Worth waiting for Adam?”
Adam grinned happily up at Joe “Less cheek from you young man. Just get me dressed I’m starving.” Joe did as he was bid and then wheeled Adam downstairs. Ben came over “What do you want breakfast or lunch?”
Adam laughed “I don’t care as long as its food. If you’re not allowed to lie in on your honeymoon, when are you?” Ben had been worried that Adam had overdone things the previous day but one look at his son’s face had dispelled all doubts.
For the next ten days Adam and Carole enjoyed themselves, lazing around or picnicking out on the range. The weather was perfect and they were able to show Carole’s parents around the Ponderosa.
Will and Laura and the kids had to return to San Francisco and Ben thanked his nephew for his help. It had been invaluable but now with Joe fit and the flume repaired the ranch was in good case again. Shortly before they were due to leave Adam asked Will to walk out back with him. Adam was gradually dispensing with the chair but he wasn’t strong enough to risk leaving the house unattended. Will went out with his cousin, Adam using his arm to lean on and just steady himself over the rough ground. Eventually Adam conceded defeat and sat down. For a while the cousins didn’t speak and then Adam said, “I’m so glad you came back. Don’t leave it so long again.”
Will smiled “You know why I did, but it ain’t relevant now. We’ll be coming back, sorta regular I reckon. Laura and your Carole have become real friendly.” Then he changed the subject and the cousins discussed the latest spate of rumours that had emerged about the mines. Later that day Adam sat and watched Will and Laura leave, happy that his cousin could now come home when he wanted to,
By the end of the ten days when Carole’s parents were going onto San Francisco, Adam had completely dispensed with the chair. He had arranged to stay with Carole’s parents in Hillsboro for ten days later in the year, just before they returned west from their honeymoon, so Carole wasn’t too upset watching them leave. She had loved having her parents there, revelling in showing them her new life and letting them get to know her marvellous new husband. Adam let his little brother take the Kings in to catch the stage on the first leg of their journey; it was easier for Carole to say goodbye to her parents in private at the ranch.
Adam was planning to go to New York and stay there for a fortnight, then spend another two weeks in Boston before travelling to Hillsboro for ten days. He intended to set out four days after Carole’s parents left, determined to get home in time to complete his new house and move in before Christmas.
Ben wasn’t too happy at the idea, but he knew Adam was too stubborn to make it worthwhile arguing. Adam might have dispensed with the chair but only the previous day he had seen Adam collapse on Joe’s bed unable to make his own room after the effort of climbing the stairs. It was a long tough trip for a weak man. Ben hadn’t said anything and he had tried not to watch his eldest son too closely, or at least not to let Adam see. Still Adam was happier now than Ben could remember him being for years.
Two days before they were going east, Adam wanted to go into town and draw out some cash and arrange for drawing rights in banks in New York and Boston. Little Joe had to go to town to collect some supplies and he offered to drive his brother in. Adam gratefully accepted, he hadn’t even attempted to ride yet, knowing that his legs were still far too weak to grip properly. It was a long way to town, further than Adam had yet been and he found the jolting of the wagon on the ruts in the road, hard to take. He did his best to hide it from his brother and Joe recognised his unwillingness to talk and let him off at the bank. They arranged to meet in the Palace saloon in an hour once they had both completed their errands.
Adam stood on the sidewalk for a moment watching the bustle of Virginia City. Then he walked slowly into the bank and asked to see Mr Harris, the manager. Harris was a good friend of the Cartwrights and he knew that Adam had only been back on his feet for a couple of weeks, so he invited him into is office and got him sitting down and gave him a coffee laced with brandy. Adam was grateful to sit down in a chair which didn’t move and the drink went down well. Adam outlined what he required, and while Harris was surprised that he intended to travel so soon it was none of his business, he just made the arrangements that Adam wanted. It took Harris about twenty minutes and after that period to relax Adam felt much better. Harris offered to send one of his clerks with Adam over to the Palace but Adam insisted that it wasn’t necessary he was okay. Adam took it slowly and reached the Palace without any real difficulty. He saw Dan de Quille in his usual position at the bar and made his way over to his friend. Dan was surprised to see Adam on his feet, especially on his own and Adam grinned at his friend as Dan said “Come and sit down Adam I’ll get you a drink”
Adam laughed “I’m okay, don’t fuss Dan, but I will have a beer. Joe is meeting me here as soon as he gets the stores loaded.”
Dan sat down with his friend and asked how he was enjoying married life. They chatted for a while and then Adam mentioned that he was going east in two days time. Dan made no effort to hide his opinion and told Adam that he was a fool, he was nowhere near fit enough to face the long journey. All he would do was to make himself ill again and end up flat on his back, far from family and friends, and terrify Carole. Adam just grinned at his friend as Dan told him what a fool he was being in forthright terms. Adam said “I’ll be fine as soon as we reach the train, the only bit I’m dreading is the stage. Anyway if we leave it any longer I’ll end up back east for Christmas.” Dan snorted but as he tried to carry on the argument, Adam’s grin faded, and he said very firmly “I don’t want to discuss it Dan” Dan knew Adam too well to carry on with that expression on his friend’s face and he allowed Adam to change the subject.
Half an hour later Joe came in having loaded everything and he got a beer and joined Adam and Dan. As he finished his beer he looked at his brother “You ready to go home Adam?”
Adam nodded and pulled himself to his feet. He looked tired and Joe said “Do you want a hand?” but his brother just pushed past him and walked out to the buckboard and pulled himself aboard. Roy saw Adam and, glad to see his friend back on his feet, wandered over to have a word and it was ten minutes before the brothers could get away. The traffic was as bad as usual and it took Joe nearly half an hour to edge through it to the Ponderosa road.
Adam was very tired and he found the wagon jolting very hard to take. Little Joe kept glancing at his brother, who was white even to his lips, but he knew Adam too well to say anything and concentrated on finding the easiest possible route, wanting to get Adam home to recover.
Eventually two miles short of the house Adam had to ask Joe to pull up and help him down. Joe did so and Adam was violently sick. Little Joe held his brother until the paroxysm was over and then washed his face and gave Adam the canteen to wash out his mouth. Adam pulled away from his brother and moving up the hill, laid down and tried to relax as that damned pain in his gut hit him again. Joe left him in peace for ten minutes and then went up and sat down next to him, but without speaking. The brothers sat in silence for a while and eventually Adam broke it “I want your promise Joe, not to tell Pa or Carole what happened.”
Joe rested on one elbow and looked down at his brother “Are you still going on this trip in two days time?” Adam nodded and Joe shook his head “Then I’m afraid I can’t promise they have a right to know. Maybe one of them can talk some sense into that thick skull of yours.”
“I have to go Joe. I promised Carole.”
“She’s the last person, who would want you to go while you’re still unfit. All you are going to do is worry and upset her if you go now. Why not leave it just for a few weeks?”
Adam shook his head “No I want to be in my own home for Christmas, unless we go now there won’t be any chance of that.”
Little Joe sighed heavily “You won’t be in any home for Christmas if you kill yourself through being pigheaded.” For a minute the brothers sat glaring at each other and then Adam said “I’ll be okay once we get on the train. We’ll travel first class and I can rest and take it easy. Those sleepers are quite comfortable now.”
Joe shook his head “Adam be sensible it’s an eighteen hour stage ride to the train terminus. We were only in the wagon for an hour and a half and I was taking the easiest route. It will be twice as rough on the stage. You’ll never make it.”
Adam glared at him, “I will somehow” but he knew his brother was talking sense and he dreaded the stage trip. They sat in silence for a while and then Adam said “Joe I know I’ll be alright on the train. I can rest then and by the time we get to New York I’ll be fine.” Joe didn’t look altogether convinced but Adam went on “I admit I’m dreading the stage trip, especially after today but I’ll manage somehow. I am not putting this trip back. The foundations of my house are being laid and I trust you and Hoss to put up the shell from my plans but I am going to supervise the inside. I’ve waited a long time for my own home and I want us to be in it for our first Christmas.”
“You said that before big brother, still don’t make you fit.” Joe considered his brother maybe their father could dissuade him.
Adam eased himself up onto one elbow and faced his brother “I am going in two days time Joe, but if you agree, maybe not by stage.”
Joe was puzzled, but he said, “I’m listening.”
“If you would come with us to the rail terminus, take our own buckboard, then we can stop when we want and we needn’t rush. I’m sure I’d be okay then, but it’s a long drive there and back for you.”
Joe bit his lip staring at his brother “I don’t mind the drive and it would be easier, but it would still be better if you waited, just another couple of weeks,”
Adam shook his head, the stubborn look that Joe knew so well on his face, “We are going as planned, either you take us or we’ll catch the stage.”
Joe knew he had never once changed his brother’s mind, once that expression appeared and he gave way, “Alright, provided Pa and Carole agree, I’ll take you, but we’ll take longer than the stage.”
“We were going to have to wait twenty-four hours for the train anyway, so we can take our time.”
“Okay I guess we can take it reasonably easy.” Joe smiled “You win as always big brother.”
“One more thing Joe, don’t tell Pa or Carole about this. I don’t want to worry them.”
Joe shook his head “Oh no, not this time big brother. Maybe one of them might get through that thick skull of yours.”
Adam pulled himself to his feet “I won’t change my mind Joe, so what’s the point?” Joe got and faced his brother, knowing Adam was right, noone was likely to change his mind. He sighed and went part way “Well maybe I won’t tell them, but I ain’t making any promises. Now if you feel up to it we’d better get on home before Pa sends out a search party.”
Adam put his arm round Joe’s shoulders “I know you’re only worrying about me little brother but don’t fuss. I’ll be okay.” He let Joe help him up onto the wagon and they soon reached the house.
Ben had been worrying how Adam would cope with the trip into town and he was relieved to see his son looked fine as he walked in. Ben had tied to dissuade Adam from going East so soon but he knew why his son was eager to go and get back and knew also that it was a waste of time to continue arguing. All he could do was to tell Carole that if it became necessary, in her opinion, to telegraph and one of them would come immediately to help out wherever they were. She had promised to let him know even if Adam objected, as his father knew he would.
Carole had already done her best to dissuade Adam. They could always take a trip the following year and he had now met her parents, but Adam flatly refused to consider any change in his plans. He wasn’t giving in just because he wasn’t as strong as he had expected. There was no knowing what would come up next year to stop them, even hopefully a pregnancy. She was going to have the trip that he had promised her.
Adam told Carole the change he proposed and she was delighted. At least his brother would be around to help them onto the train. Once installed in the train they could sit back and wait to arrive in New York where Adam had arranged for Edwin Booth to meet them. Carole went straight down to find Little Joe. Joe had wondered how she would feel about having a third along at the start of their wedding trip, but she dispelled all his doubts and worries of playing gooseberry. Carole gave him a big hug “I’m so relieved Joe. I was dreading the first part. Once we are on the train I can cope. I know he's not fit enough to go and he won’t listen to me when I say I don’t care. With your help it will be okay.”
Joe grinned “You chose him. Pigheaded and obstinate. But I’ll get you on the train."
Adam had told his father what he wanted and Ben was glad to get even that concession. He didn’t push for the reason but he made his son promise to send them word if he needed help. Adam promised but laughed at his father, he’d be fine Ben said “I know you’re already immeasurably better than when you got married but you’re still pretty weak. All that I ask is that you don’t overdo it, risk undermining your health by not asking for help. You owe Carole that much, it’ll only worry her,”
Adam gripped his father’s shoulder momentarily “Alright I promise, if it will put your mind at rest, but honestly I will be okay.”
Ben cuffed his son gently “Sure you will Adam, just take it easy.”
Later that night when Adam and Carole had gone up to their room, Ben said “Right Joe what happened to make Adam agree to take you along. I suggested it three days back but he wouldn’t have any part of it.”
Joe was surprised “I didn’t realise you had already suggested it Pa. It was Adam’s suggestion not mine.”
“What happened, or did he make you promise not to tell me?”
Joe grinned his father knew them very well “He tried Pa but for once I didn’t. It wasn’t anything much, just the trip tired him more than he expected. You know that road at this time of year, it’s terribly rutted and however careful I was he got well jolted. I think he finally realised that he’d never make eighteen hours in a stagecoach. At least in the buckboard we can stop if he needs to.”
“Was he sick?”
Joe nodded “Very, but I think if he had only got me to stop a bit earlier and taken a break instead of trying to fight it, he’d have been okay. Anyway it’s a waste of time arguing with him. I’ve tried and so has Carole.”
Ben said “Add me to the list. He’s as obstinate as a mule.”
Little Joe grinned “Or maybe even as obstinate as his old man.”
Ben ruffled his son’s hair “A little less of the old!”
Two days later the buckboard was packed and the three were ready to leave. Hoss had detailed instructions for the house building, and promised to have the shell completed by the time they returned. Ben just told them to have a good time and then with Hoss he watched the buggy leave. Hoss tried to reassure his father “Joe will get them on the train and then big brother can go play for a while. He’s earned it.”
Ben forced a smile “I’m sure they will have a great time.”
Hoss answered the concern he could see in his father’s eyes “Stop worrying Pa, Carole will look after him.” Ben nodded, warmed by his big son’s presence and putting his arm round Hoss’ shoulders he headed into the house.
Little Joe had made his brother promise to speak up as soon as he felt the need of a stop and not to fight against it until he was ill. They took it very steady and Adam seemed to be standing up to the jolting very well. After a bit he took over the reins and having something to do made him feel easier. Gradually however the rough jolting had its effect and he fell silent and was slowly losing colour. Little Joe had no great faith in his brother’s sense when it came to admitting his own weakness and he’d been keeping a close eye on Adam. As Adam’s remarks became more and more forced Joe looked questioningly at Carole, who nodded. Little Joe said “I think its time we stopped for lunch.” Adam protested it was only eleven thirty but Carole agreed and so he pulled off the road. Adam let Joe help him down and then he lay back and relaxed. Little Joe looked down at his eldest brother, wondering whether it was worth reminding his brother of his promise. Adam opened his eyes, looked up at Joe and grinned faintly “I’ll be good little brother.”
Joe shook his head “Impossible!” but he was grinning. Then he left his brother to rest while he helped Carole to lay out the food, which Hop Sing had provided. Gradually as he relaxed Adam felt better and he managed a good meal. After coffee they decided to head on and take another break later, rather than a longer break now.
They made good time during the day, stopping every couple of hours to let Adam recover. They kept going until dark, so that they wouldn’t have to rush the following day. By the time they finally stopped Adam was exhausted and didn’t want any food or even coffee. He was too tired to even put on an act. Joe helped Carole get out Adam’s bedroll and wrap his brother up warmly. Adam lay back and shut his eyes and he was soon asleep. Joe prepared coffee while Carole picked at some food, staring anxiously at her husband. Joe tried to reassure her “Take it easy. He’s stood up to the journey much better than I expected. It won’t be such a long day tomorrow. I didn’t expect him to get through the day without being sick."
Carole accepted the coffee Joe offered her “I just wish he would have agreed to leave this trip until he was fit.”
“I know how you feel Carole, but you knew how pigheaded he was when you married him. Do you really want him any different?”
Carole had to laugh “I guess not Joe.”
The following afternoon, they reached the terminus of the railroad much to Adam’s relief. Little Joe checked them in at the hotel and then leaving Adam and Carole to take it easy, he went and checked their train bookings and the exact time the train would leave the following day. Then his duties discharged, Joe wandered into the saloon to get a drink.
At the hotel Adam was gratefully lazing out on the bed. Carole sat by his side and Adam was trying to convince her that he was fine but he wasn’t getting very far. Eventually he took hold of her and pulled her down next to him and kissed her. She protested “Joe will be back in a minute.”
Adam laughed “My little brother will have gone to the saloon, he’s earned it. Anyway he was well brought up, he’ll knock.” Half an hour later she was breathlessly forced to admit the maybe there wasn’t all that much wrong with him.
Little Joe was chatting with a couple of cowboys, who had worked for the Ponderosa the previous year. They had heard rumours of the fight and wanted to know what had actually happened. Little Joe filled them in briefly and they were protesting that nothing exciting had ever happened while they were working on the ranch. Joe said, “We could have done without that fight too. I was flat on my back for over a month and Adam’s only been back on his feet for a couple of weeks.” As they talked a girl came down the stairs. She was blonde and very lovely, tiny but with all the right curves in the right places. Joe couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was dressed like the other saloon girls, but she wore no paint and as she approached Joe was convinced that she didn’t need any. He excused himself and moved along next to her and offered to buy her a drink. She accepted and they went over to a table in the corner. Little Joe introduced himself and learnt her name was Marie. He grinned “That’s a beautiful name, same as my mother’s” They sat chatting easily for half an hour and then Joe had to get back to the hotel, knowing that Adam and Carole were expecting him to join them for dinner. Joe asked if she would be there that evening and Marie nodded, so he said, “I hope I’ll see you later.”
Joe went back to join Adam and Carole, still under her spell. She was very different from most saloon girls that he had known and he was very sure that he wanted to see her again. He went and washed and changed rapidly, trying to snap out of his daydream, not wanting to have to answer questions.
Adam and Carole were ready and waiting. Adam grinned at his brother “I guessed you’d head for the saloon, we were just about to start without you.”
Joe flared up “I only had three drinks.”
Adam clapped his brother on the shoulder “Easy Joe, you earned however many drinks you want, putting up with me.”
Joe grinned sheepishly “Let’s go eat.” It was a quiet meal, Joe was miles away and Adam very tired. As soon as they’d finished their meal Adam said that he was going to bed. Carole wanted to take the opportunity to wash her hair and then proposed to have a read.
Joe promised to join them for breakfast and get them onto the train, which was due to leave at nine-thirty. Adam asked, “You okay for cash?”
“Yeah I’m fine. I’ll try not to get arrested so don’t worry.”
Adam laughed “I gave up worrying years ago, send word if you end up in jail.” Joe punched his shoulder “Go get some sleep big brother I’ll see you in the morning.”
Joe went back to the saloon and eagerly scanned the crowd but the petite saloon girl was nowhere to be seen. Joe wandered over to the bar and got himself a beer and waited impatiently for her to come in. After a while Joe wandered over to join a large crowd, watching a high stake poker game. There was one heavy winner, a tall dark-haired man, who had all the earmarks of a professional gambler. His luck was well in and Joe saw him scoop three pools of over a thousand dollars each, within ten minutes. One of the players was losing very badly and also drinking heavily. He was gradually getting redder and redder in the face and Joe watching came to the conclusion that trouble was likely. Joe knew the man’s face was familiar and eventually he placed him, a cattle buyer name of Ellsworth. Ben had done business with him, but only once, as Ellsworth had tried to underpay him. Joe recognised that it was none of his business; all he wanted was to see Marie again. Eventually his patience was rewarded and he saw her coming down the stairs. Joe had gone back to the bar for another beer and he watched Marie head straight over to the poker game. She stationed herself behind the successful gambler and Joe noticed the way the man turned and put his arm round her waist.
Joe didn’t like it but had to admit that it was none of his business. He wandered over and stationed himself right opposite her. For a moment she didn’t notice him but then looking up she recognised the young cowboy and smiled at him. Joe wanted to get her on her own to talk to but he knew this wasn’t the time, so he just grinned and waited hopefully maybe he would get an opportunity later.
As he waited tensions round the poker table flared higher, until eventually Ellsworth accused the gambler of cheating. The crowd immediately drew back as the two men rose to clear their guns. For once in his life Joe went with the crowd and didn’t try and interfere in what was patently not his business. Within a few seconds the crowd had backed right away from the men. They both went for their guns and the shots were virtually simultaneous, both men fell. Marie threw herself down by the gambler and Joe moved forward to see if he could help, but one look at the man’s glazed eyes showed that he was past help. Marie seemed to realise it at the same timeand burst into tears burying her face on his chest. One of the other saloon girls helped her to her feet and led her off. Ellsworth had only been hit in the shoulder and two of his friends helped him to his feet, just as the sheriff arrived. Joe accepted that there would be no chance of talking to Marie, and somehow not feeling like a drink, left the saloon and went back to the hotel.
After Joe left there were plenty of witnesses that it had been a fair fight and the sheriff soon left, having ordered some of the men to take the body down to the undertakers. Ellsworth, with a pad on his shoulder wound, insisted on going upstairs to see Marie. He was rich and powerful in the town and there were plenty to help him do what he wanted. Marie was lying on the bed sobbing, when he pushed the door open. As she realised whom it was she whirled up, to stand her back against the wall, as though expecting a physical attack. Ellsworth said “You came to town with him, you were his woman. He was a card sharp and we don’t want trash like you in this town. You were part of it, you have two hours to get out of town.” Marie cowered back in the corner, she wanted to protest that he wasn’t a card sharp but somehow she couldn’t find the words. Ellsworth went on “If, after that, you are still around, we’ll ride you out on a rail.” Then he turned and went downstairs.
One of the other saloon girls, who had been in town longer, said “He means every word of it Marie and he won’t find any difficulty in getting men to do his bidding. You’ve got to get out of town.” Marie was stunned, but two of the girls hastily packed her bag for her and one went to try and hire a horse. She was unsuccessful, as the livery stable had already been warned and wasn’t prepared to let any of the girls have one. Time was getting short and eventually Marie said “I’ll walk out of town and cadge a lift tomorrow.” Nobody had any better suggestion to make and the girl trudged out of town. She was stunned by the last couple of hours and all she wanted was to get away, on her own, to try and come to terms with it.
The following morning Joe was up early and called for his brother for breakfast, before they were ready, much to Adam’s surprise. He had expected to have to root Joe out and probably have to deal with a hangover. He told Joe to come on in; Carole was just doing her hair. Little Joe was very quiet but insisted that there was nothing wrong, just a shooting over a poker game the previous evening had somehow cast a pall over proceedings and he’d come home early. Adam looked suspiciously at his youngest brother, but Joe said “Honest Adam, I wasn’t involved at all.” Then he changed the subject. Adam sensed that there was something more that Joe wasn’t telling him, but as his brother obviously didn’t want to discuss it, Adam didn’t push. Instead Adam sat down and made a detailed summary of exactly where they would be and when, just in case something should come up and they needed to contact him.
After breakfast Joe got them installed in the first class sleeper which would be theirs until they reached New York. Then he slipped off to find the attendant for that section. He gave the man fifty dollars and asked him to do what he could for the couple, like keeping one bed made up all day, in case Adam needed it and if necessary bringing food along to the cabin. Joe explained that his brother had been badly hurt and was still not fully fit. The man, a middle aged Italian, promised to keep an eye on them and Joe felt sure that he could be trusted to do as he promised. Then Joe went back to take his leave of Adam and Carole, having done all he could to make life a little easier for his brother. Joe kissed Carole and told the pair to have a good time and he would see them in October. It was time for him to leave and Adam walked along the train with him and again thanked his brother for his help. Joe cuffed him gently “Take care of yourself Adam.”
Joe stood and watched the train pull out with a silent prayer that his brother would cope and come back home fit and well. Then he went to fetch the buckboard to head home. He couldn’t resist wandering into the saloon once more before he went home, just to see if there was any sign of Marie. She wasn’t in sight but Joe got a beer and got into conversation with one of the other girls. He learnt what had happened the previous night, after he had left the saloon, and that Marie had been run out of town. The girls weren’t even sure which road she had planned on taking, so there was nothing Joe could do. No longer feeling like a drink Joe left his beer half finished and headed for the buckboard so sorry for the young girl but unable to help. It was gone ten now and she had probably long since got a lift.
Joe edged the buckboard out of town, still furious that they could treat a young grieving girl like that but barring keeping his eyes skinned on the way home there was nothing he could do; although he would dearly have like to see her again. He headed south on the road to Virginia City.
Marie had taken that road hours earlier, vaguely aiming for Virginia City. A large mining town, there would be plenty of saloons and she would be able to find a job without any trouble. Once clear of town she had taken refuge in a thicket, protected from sight, where she had sat too stunned to cry for hours and then slept late. She was only just making her way back onto the road as Joe stood watching the train leave. As she reached the road Marie suddenly began to feel very vulnerable. For the last three years she had lived under the gambler’s protection. Jim Harris had been good to her and she was very fond of him. He had prevented other men bothering her but now she was on her own. Marie had talked glibly of getting a lift but now she came to consider it she wasn’t so optimistic. She knew that most wagons with women aboard would only going a short distance and anyway she looked what she was, a saloon girl. No respectable woman would stop for her. In the middle of nowhere she could well imagine what most men would want from her, a price she wasn’t willing to pay. So she trudged along hiding when she saw a wagon coming, until she got a look at the occupants, and then staying hidden sure that they wouldn’t help her or she couldn’t trust them.
As midday approached she began to feel hungry, as well as the thirst, which had been plaguing her for the last couple of hours, but she hadn’t thought to bring any food or even a canteen. Then she saw a buckboard coming and she recognised the young cowboy she had been talking to the previous day. He had seemed kind and she was tired so she decided she had to risk it and came out of the scrub and waved. Joe pulled up immediately and jumped down. He went over to her “Are you alright? I heard in town what had happened.”
“I’m fine but could you give me a lift to the next town?” Little Joe could see how cold and drawn she looked and his heart went out the to the poor girl. He didn’t notice the tawdry clothes, just the beautiful grey eyes.
Joe smiled reassuringly at her “I’ll take you wherever you want to go but first you look as though you could do with some hot food and some coffee.” Marie just looked at him and Joe pulled the buckboard of the road and set about making a fire and getting coffee on. Then he started cooking, slabs of bacon with beans, and pulled out some bread that he had bought in town before leaving. Joe passed her some coffee as he turned the bacon “Not fancy but my brothers say that it’s all I can cook without ruining, not that either of them are much on cooking.”
Marie sipped her coffee and looked up almost shyly at him “You’re like the answer to a wish. I was cold, scared and starving.”
“I hoped I’d find you but I thought you’d have got a lift ages ago.”
Marie bent her head over the cup again “I was scared to stop any of the wagons I saw, but I recognised you from yesterday and you seemed...”she broke off not knowing quite how to say what she meant.
Joe realised why she would be scared and was quick to reassure her “I promise you’re safe with me.”
Marie managed a wan smile “I believe you.” Joe piled a plate with food and passed it to her before getting his own and sitting down opposite her to eat. When the food was gone and he had replenished their coffee cups, Joe risked asking if she was aiming for anywhere in particular.
Marie shook her head “Wherever you’re going. Eventually I’ll go to Virginia City I expect but I’m in no rush.”
Joe grinned broadly “That’s easy, it’s exactly where I’m heading.”
Marie looked up suspiciously but Joe said “Honest, I’m part owner of a ranch only an hour’s ride from Virginia City.” She was surprised at that; he was good looking but otherwise looked much like any of the other cowboys who frequented the saloons. However a closer inspection showed her that his clothes, gun and the horses were all top quality.
Joe went on “Why do you want to go to Virginia City, do you know anyone there?”
“I expect there will be a few faces I know but mainly it’s because there will be plenty of saloons and I'll be able to get a job.”
Little Joe didn’t like the idea of her returning to saloons but he knew that he had no right to interfere and for once he kept his mouth shut not wanting to lose the little trust that he had built up. When they had finished their coffee Joe suggested that they get started, he didn’t want to spend more than one night on the journey.
As they travelled Joe explained why he had been in town. He talked of his pig-headed eldest brother and Marie soon got the impression of a close knit family. She had heard of the Cartwrights of the Ponderosa but even though Joe had told her his name, it took her a long time to realise that he was from the Ponderosa. He didn’t fit into her normal experience of rich men. She knew that he must be wealthy but she wouldn’t prey on the kind hearted young man. She might be a saloon girl but she had her own code of conduct.
Gradually during the afternoon, Joe drew her out and she told him a little of her life. Her parents had come west hunting for gold in California when she was five and her mother had died a couple of years later. She had been dragged round the mining camps by her father for the next eight years. Then she had been orphaned at fourteen, and with no education, not even knowing how to sew a seam she had had no choice but to go into a saloon. She didn’t tell Joe very much but he had seen enough round Virginia City to know what her life as a young girl and then a saloon girl must have been. Yet through it all she had somehow retained am aura of innocence and fragility which he found greatly appealing. The gambler Jim Harris had given her a veneer of class, her speech was good and she had been blessed with a low pleasant voice, but it was just a veneer. She could sign her own name but she couldn’t read.
Eventually as it grew dark, Joe stopped in a little glen by a river that he knew. He lit a fire and Marie insisted on preparing the food. Joe prepared two sleeping trenches for them; he had the blankets that Adam and Carole had used so they were able to be comfortable. Once they had eaten Joe tucked her up and kissed her gently on the forehead “Sleep well Marie.”
Marie grinned sleepily up at him and then exhausted she snuggled down.
Little Joe lay down and considered the stars but he had never felt further from sleep. He lay quietly for a while, wondering how his brother was making out on the train, and then eventually when he was sure that she was asleep, he got up and heated up some coffee.
Joe sat drinking his coffee and watching Marie’s small, curled up, form. He was attracted to her in a way that he had never felt before. Physically she was much more petite than the girls who usually attracted him, but although small she had all the right curves in the right places and a beautiful heart shaped face. Joe found it difficult to take his eyes of her and he felt a great urge to protect her. Life hadn’t exactly used her kindly so far and above all else Joe wanted to put that right, but he couldn’t imagine her amongst his family. Carole had fitted in so well, but the prospect of introducing an illiterate saloon girl was daunting to say the least. Eventually Joe told himself he was being foolish, he had only known her two days and she had just lost her lover. There was time to spare before he need worry about his family, in fact he was being foolish even considering them. Joe had no illusions about the relationship between her and Harris but even so it didn’t dispel the aura of innocence surrounding her, At last thoroughly confused and wondering just how such a girl could come to dominate his thoughts so quickly, he fell asleep.
Meanwhile on the train Adam found the motion more trying than he had anticipated. He did his best to conceal it from Carole without much success, but he was quite truthful when he said that it was much easier than the wagon. The trouble was, any attempt to read made him feel sick and there was a limited interest in the view from the window. Carole was worried, at least on the wagon they could stop; here there would be hardly any stops until they reached their destination. Adam had a firm grip on himself, but he didn’t just want to sit and think, feel sorry for himself, Unable to read he wanted to talk, Carole soon realised that he was okay as long as she could keep his mind occupied. As soon as the conversation lagged she could see him begin to lose colour as nausea threatened to overtake him. Carole encouraged him to tell her about the beginnings of the Ponderosa and his memories of the journey west. At first Adam wasn’t sure but Carole was genuinely interested and she made sure he saw that so he spent long hours telling her of their trip out. Some things he could remember himself and others he had heard his father speak of, When it came to the years in which the Ponderosa was founded and began to grow, his own memory was much clearer. Carole came to realise very clearly just why he was so close to his brothers. After Joe’s mother died it was the twelve year old boy who took over the functions of both mother and father as Ben was lost first in grief and then in his efforts to build up his ranch. He had left his sons in the care of Hop Sing and the occasional tutor. Their bodily needs were well looked after but it was Adam who taught his young brothers and hugged them when they were hurt, put them to bed with stories and went to them if there were nightmares. She also realised for the first time that Adam was nearly entirely self-taught. Until he was fourteen Ben had been his only teacher, apart from a few brief periods in schools at different towns along their journey. Although Ben had tried to provide tutors for his sons once they were settled, the one who lasted the longest was only there for three months, before the lure of the gold field in California became too great. After he left not only did Adam teach himself but with such help as his father had time for; he had taught his younger brothers. He had finally gone east to college when he was seventeen, qualifying in architecture and engineering before returning home in 1859 for the exciting discovery that the black sludge that bedevilled the gold prospectors was in fact silver. Virginia City was founded that fall, shortly after his return. Ben had been involved from the beginning, grubstaking prospectors and as Virginia City grew, so did the insatiable demand for lumber and the Ponderosa grew out of all recognition. Finally reaching its current size of over one thousand square miles. They had remained involved with the mines, however much they fought against it, culminating with the fight with the Bank of California over the Hale and Norcross. Carole encouraged Adam to talk and she learnt a lot, about her husband and his family to say nothing of the history of Nevada, over those long days on the train. They talked until late at night when eventually Adam would fall asleep, exhausted by the nagging pain in his stomach. Only once in those days did he give in to the nausea, which continually threatened and that was after a two hour stop at St Joseph, Missouri. It had come as a blessed relief but on starting up again, Adam couldn’t help himself. As Carole bathed his white face and got him lying down, she felt like exploding at her pig headed husband, who for no good reason had insisted on putting himself through this. She knew that it was too late to do anything except hope that he would be fit for the return journey. Adam had long conceded to himself that he was a fool, but he was more grateful than he would say for Carole’s forbearance in not pointing it out.
Little Joe tried to persuade Marie to come and stay at the Ponderosa, wanting to give her time to get over Harris’ death but Marie wouldn’t hear of it. She didn’t have any money and needed to get a job. She was already in his debt for all the kindness he’d shown her and she had no claim on him. Joe had to agree but he didn’t want her disappearing into one of the cheap places on ‘D’ street. He was sure that Don McBride the owner of the Bucket O’Blood would do him a favour and if she had to work in a saloon, it would be hard to find a better one. Joe knew that Don protected his girls. That was one offer that Marie wasn’t about to turn down, she had always hated the round of saloons looking for a job, with all the innuendo of a job at a price. A price she wasn’t prepared to pay. Joe went to see Don and he was quite willing to offer her a job, He had room for another girl and would take Joe’s words for her looks. Joe asked Don to keep an eye on her; she’d had a rough few days and if she was in any trouble to send for him. Don asked “What is she to you Joe”
Joe shrugged “I only met her day before yesterday, gave her a lift here.” Don wasn’t convinced but knew that it was a waste of time trying to push Joe, he just hoped he wasn’t buying in to trouble with Ben Cartwright.
Joe saw her safely installed and then, promising to come to town and see her in a few days, he headed on home. He was thoroughly confused about Marie but one thing he did know he wanted to see her again.
Ben was very glad to see his youngest son home and wanted to know just how Adam had stood up to the journey. Little Joe spent half an hour convincing his father that Adam had been a lot better than they had expected, that he had had a good night’s sleep before joining the train, and that he had ensured assistance on the journey. Eventually Ben accepted that Joe was telling him the truth and not putting on an act and Joe demanded food, he was starving. Ben immediately apologised, he’d only been thinking about Adam not his youngest son, and he went out to Hop Sing to get food, Hoss came in from the barn and joined his brother in a snack although he had eaten earlier and he too wanted to know how Adam was. Then Hoss brought up a problem at the lumber camp. It wasn’t very serious but by the time they had talked and argued out the best way round trouble, Joe was whacked and headed for bed.
It wasn’t until he was standing looking out of his window over the Sierra Nevada that he realised he hadn’t even mentioned Marie to his father or brother. He hadn’t intended to hide the fact that he’d brought her home with him, but all either his father or brother had been interested in was Adam’s condition. Naturally enough, and Joe was so uncertain about Marie he knew he had used the excuse to avoid talking about her. Subconsciously maybe, but now it would seem to make too much of it to tell them. He stood for ages staring out at the mountains, trying to sort out his feelings for this girl, who out of the blue had come to dominate his thoughts.
For three days Joe fought against the urge to go to town and see her, but when on Saturday Ben suggested that his sons collect the mail and have a night in town, he could no longer fight against it. There was a dance on and as Ben pointed out they hadn’t taken an evening off since the wedding. Hoss laughed “Little brother did, when he took Adam to the train, weren’t there any pretty girls there, Joe?”
Little Joe wondered what his brother had heard and exploded “Mind your own business.” and flung outside. Ben and Hoss thoroughly puzzled were left staring at each other. Ben finally said “Have you any idea what’s up with him? He’s been like quicksilver ever since he got back.”
Hoss shrugged “I don’t know Pa. He’s spent the last three days biting my head off every time I open my mouth. He’s done one hell of a lot of work but he’s danged hard to live with.”
Ben could only nod “I know what you mean. Maybe it’s just a sort of anticlimax now everyone has gone and the excitement is over.”
Hoss shook his head “I don’t think so Pa, someone or something is eating at him but I can’t imagine what.”
Ben sighed heavily “Oh well maybe he’ll use up some of his excess energy at the dance and we’ll get a bit of peace and quiet.”
Joe spruced up and rode into town with his brother but when they reached town he surprised Hoss “I want a drink. I’ll see you down at the dance later.” Hoss wasn’t sure what Joe was up to but from the expression on his face it was some form of devilment and he said “Guess I could do with a drink now that you mention it.”
Joe turned on his brother again “Well go and get one but leave me alone. I don’t want an elder brother tagging along.” With the he turned on his heel and walked across the street, leaving Hoss scratching his head and wondering what on earth was eating his little brother. Eventually deciding that Joe was old enough to take care of himself, Hoss headed on down to the dance. He reckoned that he had earned a good time whatever Joe was up to.
Joe headed for the Bucket O’ Blood and as he went in he saw Marie standing alone by the bar. It was still early and the place was almost empty. She seemed even lovelier than the pictures of her, which kept swimming in front of him over the last few days, especially as she smiled a greeting at him. Joe went over to join her and as Don looked questioningly at him he said “A beer and whatever the lady would like.”
Marie joined him at a table and immediately began to thank him “I can’t thank you enough for finding me this job. Don is a dear and he protects his girls in a way I’ve never had before,”
“I know that. That’s why I brought you here but don’t get too fond of Don.”
Marie looked questioningly at him and Joe realised that he was getting into deep waters and hastily changed the subject. They sat chatting until the early hours, oblivious of the noise and the other people, at least on Joe’s sides. Drinking enough to keep Don happy but not really needing it. Joe found her as easy to talk to as she had been on the trail, He soon found that although she was completely uneducated she wasn’t stupid. She knew the west and the problems on the ranches and in the mines just as well as he did.
Little Joe asked her what she did during the day and learnt that she was on duty from five in the evening until the early hours plus two afternoons, but she was off until five the next day.
Joe persuaded her to go for a ride with him the following day and, when she agreed, he took Cochise down to the livery stable and booked in at a hotel for the night. Lost in his thoughts of Marie, Joe didn’t even consider whether his father or brother would be concerned at his non-return. Joe had a one-track mind at that moment and that was on the slip of the girl sitting opposite him drinking cold tea. He had often thought of himself as in love in his life but none of them had ever affected him like this scrap of a girl. Joe didn’t know if this was love, he just knew he couldn’t get her out of his mind and he had a great urge to protect her. As the saloon closed up soon after two, Joe walked Marie home and arranged to pick her up at ten.
Hoss had been puzzled when Joe didn’t put in an appearance at the dance. It wasn’t like his little brother to miss one without a good reason. He wasn’t that fond of gambling or drinking unless he had his friends with him and, as far as Hoss could see, they were all at the dance, both male and female. As the evening wore on Hoss felt definitely uneasy and when the dance broke up at 11.30 p.m. he wandered out to look for his brother. Cochise was gone and not knowing that Joe had taken him down to the livery stable, Hoss assumed that his brother must have ridden home. When he reached the house and there was no sign of Cochise in the barn, or Joe in the house, Hoss sat down really worried. Ben had gone to bed, but eventually Hoss decided that he needed to get his father’s advice. He needed to talk it over and decide whether he should go looking for his brother, so he went in to wake Ben.
Ben was surprised when Hoss shook him awake and demanded to know what was wrong. Hoss sat down heavily on the chair by the bed “Probably nothing Pa but I ain’t real sure. I had to know what you think.”
Ben pulled himself up and pulled his dressing gown round his shoulders “Alright Hoss explain.”
Hoss told him what he knew, finishing up with an exasperated sigh, “I know it don’t amount to much Pa. He’s probably fine and if’n I poke my nose in I’ll get it bitten off again, but jest maybe he’s in trouble. Do you think I ought to ride back to town and look for him?”
Ben thought about what his big son had said and about the way Joe had been behaving and then looked up seeing the deep concern in Hoss’ blue eyes “If anything had happened in town Roy would get word to us. The way he’s been behaving the last few days its odds on that he’s off on some ploy of his own. I think we leave it for now. Then if he’s not back by morning you can go in and make a few enquiries.”
“Okay Pa. I’m sorry I disturbed you, I jest couldn’t make up my mind.”
“No matter Hoss, get to bed now I’ll see you in the morning. Ben settled down again as his big son headed for his own bed, but Ben found sleep elusive. For the umpteenth time over the last few days he found himself trying to work out what Joe was up to, unsuccessfully.
The following morning, as Joe hadn’t reappeared, Hoss headed into town. Hoss went to see Roy first to start his enquiries. Roy said that he had seen Joe in the Bucket O’Blood the previous evening but he hadn’t been in any trouble. Hoss wandered over to the saloon to have a word with Don McBride. There for the first time he heard how Joe had brought in a saloon girl the week before, begged a job for her, and that he had spent the whole of the previous evening with her. He was surprised that Hoss didn’t know, but Hoss pretended not to have seen Joe except in passing as he had been working up at the limber camp. McBride said, “He’s out with her today as far as I know.”
“What’s she like?”
McBride shrugged “ Nice enough kid. Very petite, blonde, pretty. Although I wouldn’t have thought she was Joe’s type. Illiterate but not stupid.”
Hoss got himself a beer and changed the subject, not wanting to make it too obvious that he was checking up on his little brother. After a while he headed on home to let his father know that Joe was okay. Hoss was cross with his brother, there had been no need to worry them, if he was intending seeing a girl all he had to do was to say so.
When Hoss told his father what he had found out Ben was furious. He disliked finding things out third hand and he hated the idea of Joe being deliberately underhand with him. It wasn’t like Joe as Hoss pointed out. Usually even when he had done something wrong, he would brazen it out with a fair amount of braggadocio, and eventually talk his way out of trouble. He sometimes stepped out of line, but none of his family had ever learnt how to stay cross with him for any length of time.
Meanwhile Joe had taken Marie up to Lake Tahoe and they had spent a quiet day up by the Lake. He was falling ever deeper under her spell, which was somehow enhanced by her determination not to trap this kind young man. In the days she had been in Virginia City she had heard a lot about the Cartwrights, especially about the wedding between his erudite eldest brother and the schoolteacher, She knew that she couldn’t fit in with that sort of family. It would be so easy to fall in love with Joe, but she wouldn’t come between him and his family, they obviously meant too much to him. She had tried to avoid being alone with him but Joe could charm what he wanted from most people and she was by no means immune. She had accepted the invitation to ride out with him almost against her will, but she had had a wonderful day and consoled herself that she deserved a few happy memories and next time she would refuse.
Little Joe got her back to the saloon in time for her shift and then rode home in a pleasant dream, after an idyllic day. He hadn’t given his family a single thought until as he went in to the house and took his gun-belt off, his father said, “Where the hell have you been young man?”
Joe looked up badly shaken by his father swearing and that was compounded by the expression on Ben’s face. He suddenly realised what he had done and moved forward. "I’m sorry Pa. I should have told you. I stayed in town overnight. I didn’t think, I didn’t mean to worry you.”
Ben glared at him “There seems to be a lot you haven’t told me, like this saloon girl you got a job for.”
Little Joe’s temper flared as he realised that someone had been checking up on him, the knowledge that he was in the wrong and should have told his family didn’t help and he erupted “Its none of your business. I’m of age and I’ll thank you not to check up on me.”
With that he ran upstairs to his room and slammed the door.
Ben was about to follow, he wasn’t going to be spoken to like that by any of his sons, but Hoss put out a restraining hand.
Ben looked down at Hoss who said, “You weren’t exactly tactful Pa, slamming into him as soon as he came in. He did apologise for not telling us he was staying over.”
Ben looked down ruefully at Hoss and then calming down a little he sat down “I was furious with him Hoss. I don’t like to think of any of you deliberately deceiving me.”
“You don’t know that he did Pa, but if you go up now all you two will do is have a first rate row. Leave it for a bit and give him a chance to explain.”
Ben managed a grin “You taking over Adam’s job as the peacemaker of the family now he’s married?” Hoss just grinned at his father.
Upstairs Joe was inwardly seething. The one thing that was guaranteed to get him into a fury was to find his family checking up on him. H e had fought it for too long, as the youngest of the family envying the independence of his older brothers. Now he felt it was unfair of his father to go for him without giving him a chance to explain and the uncertainty of his feelings for Marie didn’t help. He just didn’t want to discuss her with his family, He knew he would end up somehow apologising for the illiterate saloon girl and he didn’t know how to explain to them that it didn’t feel like that when he was with her.
An hour later he was driven downstairs by hunger, they’d only had a snack lunch. Hoss saw him come down and knew by the set of his brother’s jaw that he was in no better mood. Hoss tried to avert the inevitable explosion, wishing that Adam was there to help him. He succeeded in persuading them both to leave discussion until after food hoping it would mellow them.
As they moved back to the fire with coffee, Joe began kicking at the logs. Ben said “Stop that Joseph, you’re not a child now.”
Joe turned “Then why do you insist on treating me like one. I’m entitled to my own private life. You never cross question Adam like you do me."
Ben glared at him “Adam never deliberately deceived me or left me to find out from outsiders that he was supplying saloons with girls.”
Joe erupted “I didn’t deliberately deceive you. When I got home the only thing you were interested in was Adam. You never gave me a chance to tell you anything. I sometimes think that the only son you care about is Adam. He’s the clever one, the oldest. He married to suit you. Everything is always Adam. I’m surprised you even noticed I wasn’t here over night.” Joe stood looking down at his father who had sunk white faced into a chair. Joe was aghast at what he had said. He’d just been lashing out, trying to hurt, trying to avoid talking about Marie. He felt as though he was standing outside himself, watching and he didn’t like what he was seeing but he didn’t seem to be able to stop it. He bit his lip hard and turned away and ran back upstairs to his room, before he made things even worse, if that was still possible.
Ben was completely taken aback by what Joe had said. He admitted the truth of Joe’s first statement, when Joe did return all he had wanted to know was how Adam had stood up to the journey. After all his eldest son had been very ill. But for the rest he had no favourites amongst his sons, maybe Adam worked closer with him in running the ranch. Certainly he was very proud of his clever eldest son but he was equally proud of Hoss gentle strength and Joe’s skill with horses to say nothing of his charm and good looks. There had never been any jealousy between his sons as far as he knew and he was very worried how deep were the feelings in Joe, which had just erupted into words.
Hoss went over and gripped his father’s shoulder “Don’t take no notice of him Pa he don’t mean it, just in a bad temper.”
Ben looked up at his big son “Are you sure Hoss. Sometimes the truth emerges in anger, I know I have been worried about Adam recently what with that wound and his back and his marriage, but you all three mean as much to me.”
Hoss smiled at his father “I know that Pa and I’m sure Joe does too.”
Ben wasn’t convinced and a few minutes later he went out and saddled up Buck and headed up to the Lake. He stood there having cleared his wife’s grave of a fallen branch He could see Joe’s angry face in front of him, and he heard again his youngest son’s angry tirade. He sat for hours up by the Lake wondering how much of it Joe had meant and how deep it went. He wished that Adam was at home, maybe he could have talked to his youngest brother. He asked Marie to help him and their son but for now he was too upset for even her face to be clear in his mind and eventually he headed home to bed, still sorely worried.
Little Joe stayed in his room. Hoss had come up to try and talk to him but Joe had told him to get out and Hoss had withdrawn hoping Joe would calm down given time. Joe couldn’t understand himself. He knew all three of them counted equally with his father, it was just a fact that none of them had ever doubted, throughout his life he had known it was true. Equally Joe knew that if his father had gone with Adam and he had been left at home, his first thought would have been exactly the same concern about Adam. Joe knew he ought to go and apologise to his father and eventually he headed downstairs to look for him haunted by his father’s white face. Hoss was in his room but Hop Sing told Joe that his father had gone out for a ride. Joe could guess where his father had gone. He had been there that day with Marie and he couldn’t face seeing his father there, so he retreated to bed.
The following morning Hoss had an early breakfast and headed up to the lumber camp before the others were down, hoping that left alone they would sort out their argument and come down to normal.
Ben had just poured himself coffee when little Joe, looking very sheepish, joined him. Joe immediately said, “I’m sorry for what I said last night Pa. I don’t know what got into me. I was just furious that you’d been checking up on me.”
Ben sat back “What do you expect Joseph. You are out all night without any word; we’ve had enough trouble this summer to get into the habit of expecting the worst. Hoss woke me up when he got home. You hadn’t appeared at the dance you supposedly went to town for and Cochise was gone from where you had left him. He had expected to find you here and he wanted to know whether he ought to go back to town to look for you. We compromised as we both thought you capable of looking after yourselves. Decided to leave it until morning.” Ben waited to see if his son was going to say anything but Joe just sipped his coffee and looked at his father.
Ben went on “You had been so moody since you got home, I thought you might have taken a ride up to the Lake. When you still weren’t home. Hoss rode into town to check in case you were in trouble. He had a word with Roy who’d seen you in the Bucket O’Blood and then Don McBride told him about this girl, assuming that Hoss already knew. Hoss said that he made out he hadn’t seen you for a few days and having learnt you were out with her, he came home to let me know you were okay.”
Joe couldn’t meet his father’s gaze staring into his cup he said “I’m sorry I should have told Hoss when I took Cochise down to the livery stable. But the dance was going on and I didn’t want to waste time with other people. I knew if I went in it would be hard to get away. I really hadn’t intended to stay in town when I rode in. I didn’t mean to worry you Pa.”
Ben frowned “What really worries me Joe is what you said last night. I know I’ve been concerned with Adam this summer but –“
Joe interrupted “I didn’t mean what I said Pa. I was just lashing out trying to hurt and I didn’t like myself for it. I know we all three mean as much to you and I could have bitten my tongue off for speaking like that.” He looked up and met his father’s eye for the first time “I did come looking for you later but you’d gone out.”
Ben studied his son for a moment and then got up and walked round the table and gripped Joe’s shoulder “Alright Joseph we’ll forget anything was said.”
Little Joe lent back against his father twisting round and looking up “I didn’t mean to deceive you Pa, there just never seemed a moment to tell you. Marie was in a bit of trouble through no fault of her own and she was stranded. I gave her a lift to Virginia City and she seemed nice, so I asked Don to give her a job. I didn’t think she deserved to end up in the saloons down on ‘D’ street. That was all there was to it.”
Ben, sensing that Joe didn’t want to discuss it, changed the subject to ranch business much to his son’s relief. Ben had to go to Sacramento on business and was leaving the following day, so he had a number of jobs to pass over to Joe to deal with in his absence.
Over the next week Joe went into town every night. Often he couldn’t get away from the house or wherever he was working until eight or nine at night, but he couldn’t resist the chance to spend an hour or so with Marie. Marie remonstrated with him; he wasn’t getting enough sleep often only three or four hours a night and he would make himself ill. Hoss tried once to talk some sense into Joe, but Joe’s temper was still precarious. He exploded at his brother and told him to do his own job and mind his own business. Then Joe rode off leaving Hoss to wish either Adam or his father were there, he couldn’t control his younger brother.
By the end of the week Joe was sure, no matter how unsuitable it might be judged, he was in love with Marie and he wanted her for his wife. He remembered telling Adam that he thoroughly approved of Carole and his brother’s answer that he was glad but that he wouldn’t have given a damn if Joe hadn’t. That was how Joe felt, he wanted Marie and he didn’t give a damn that his family would disapprove. He even decided that he’d rather break away from them, leave the Ponderosa, if that was what was needed to have Marie. Having made up his mind his temper settled down and by the Ben came home he was back in his normal sunny mood.
On the way home Ben had collected a telegram from Carole to say that they had arrived in New York and were staying with Edwin Booth. Carole had promised to tell him the truth and she said that although they were very glad to have arrived, Adam had withstood the journey very well. His mind at ease over his eldest son, Ben had time to spare to wonder what Joe was up to. Dan had told him Joe had been in town every night over the last week. Ben was determined to see this girl who seemed to have her claws in his son. He was not keen on his son marrying a saloon girl, although he tried not to judge them too harshly, knowing that for a girl on her own there was often no choice. She wasn’t on duty when he was in town, so he planned to go back one evening and have a look, but he wanted to do it without making it too obvious to Joe or he would be unbearable to live with.
On arrival in New York Adam managed to get a porter to carry their things and then, much to his relief, he saw Jim Forrester coming towards them. Jim was Edwin Booth’s manager and close friend and both of them were old friends of Adam’s. Jim hurried over “Good to see you Adam. Edwin had a matinee today, he’ll see you for dinner.” Adam nodded grateful to see his friend, he was very tired and had tensed up, scared noone would be meeting them, not really feeling up to coping with the hustle and bustle of New York. It was all very well in Virginia City a place he knew like the back of his hand, but he’d only been to New York twice and the last time when he had spent four days there awaiting his ship, the circumstances hadn’t been such that he enjoyed himself. Now the tension made the pain in his back and gut return and he felt weak and ill. Jim frowned as he considered his old friend “You look all in Adam.”
“I’m okay just tired.” And then he introduced Carole to Jim and vice versa. Jim decided that he needed to get Adam home, so he helped Adam into the cab he had waiting and then Carole, before getting the luggage aboard. As the cab started on its jolting way across the cobbles Adam lost what little colour he had. Jim looked anxiously at his friend “Its not far, Adam just five blocks.”
Adam managed a grin “I’ll be okay don’t fuss. What hotel are we going to? I need to let my family know.”
“You’re not, you’re staying with Edwin. There’s plenty of room and its central. His people will make you more comfortable than any hotel.”
Carole looked at Adam questioningly, she knew Adam had been at college with Edwin Booth but she didn’t know how close the men had kept and this seemed an imposition on the famous actor. Adam just smiled “I should have guessed when I asked Edwin to book us in.”
Jim nodded “Yes you should. Mind you I don’t know if you knew that Edwin had bought this house. Anyway we have stayed at the Ponderosa often enough, its time we repaid some of your hospitality,”
Adam was too busy fighting the threatening nausea to answer and, it was with heartfelt relief, that he realised the cab had stopped outside an imposing house. Jim helped him into the sitting room and then went and poured him a brandy. Adam sipped it gratefully and then lay back in the chair and closed his eyes to give himself time to recover. Jim patted his shoulder “Take it easy for a bit Adam, your wife and I will get your things upstairs to your rooms.” Adam nodded and relaxed.
Carole kissed his forehead and then followed Jim out into the hall and started to try and explain, but Jim cut her short. “Don’t worry. We know all about his injury and that he wasn’t fit to travel, Little Joe sent us a long telegram explaining. In fact after that I half expected to have to pick him up on a stretcher.”
Carole said “You’re very kind. He’ll be alright after a good night’s sleep. It was just all the travelling.”
Jim grinned down at her seeing her embarrassment at being a nuisance. For now he left the luggage piled in the hall and took her into the dining room and poured them both coffee. “Seems to me Adam has been doing his usual, hiding just how much he helps people. I reckon you ought to know. We owe your husband more than we can ever repay. He took us in and protected Edwin from the outside world when most people wouldn’t have anything to do with him, after his stupid brother assassinated Lincoln.”
Carole didn’t know what to say. She had known, as had the whole country, that John Wilkes Booth was brother to the famous actor and she had heard that Edwin had disappeared from the public eye for eighteen months. Rumour had it that he was drowning his sorrows in drink. She hadn’t known and Adam had never mentioned his part in those months. Now Jim filled her in. After six months of solid drinking ostracised by the world, Jim had, in desperation, applied to Edwin’s old college friend. They had stayed at the Ponderosa on several occasions after seasons in San Francisco and he had hoped that perhaps the peace there would help. Adam hadn’t sent an answer but three days later he had arrived himself, scared that his friend, blamed by so many for his brother’s deeds, would refuse to involve anyone else. Edwin had been in a drunken stupor and Adam had loaded him and his possessions on a wagon. He had been half way home before Edwin awoke. Edwin had protested vehemently that he wasn’t going to involve his friends, he had seen rotten fruit hurled at Forrester simply because he was with Edwin and Edwin’s name was Booth. One day it would be something more substantial and he wasn’t taking the risks of his friends being hurt. Adam had ignored him they were already on the Ponderosa. He did agree that Booth’s name need never be heard, as far as the hands were concerned he had two friends staying and if he didn’t want to Edwin needn’t leave the ranch. Edwin desperately needing a place to hide away had allowed himself to be persuaded and had gone to the ranch. For weeks Adam made regular trips to buy whisky and brandy for his friend and spent long hours drinking with him, until Ben had got quite concerned at the amount Adam was drinking, although Adam was only drinking one to every five of Edwin’s. Gradually over the weeks the peace and calm of the Ponderosa and his friend’s presence had its inevitable effect and Edwin’s drinking began to tail off and eventually ceased. In another couple of months Edwin was able to face the world again and even eight months later take up his career. Jim had never known just how Adam had effected the change and Adam had always claimed it was merely the effect of time. Edwin himself always insisted that it was Adam’s presence in those long dark drunken hours that had kept him sane and given time a chance to perform its magic. Jim realised that Carole knew nothing of those times and he told her briefly what had happened and why she need never feel self conscious in asking Edwin for anything.
Then they got the luggage upstairs and Carole unpacked. Only then did Carole return downstairs to find her husband. Adam looked very much better for the chance to rest somewhere that didn’t move. Jim had followed Carole in “Edwin won’t be home for about an hour and a half, so dinner will be at six-thirty. He has another show this evening starting at eight. We have two bathrooms here, so may I suggest you both go and have along soak.”
Carole and Adam looked at each other delightedly and Adam grinned “That’s the best idea I’ve heard yet.” Jim nodded and went out to arrange for the baths.
Carole went over to her husband “Jim is very nice and very kind.”
“I was sure you’d like him and you’ll like Edwin too."
“Jim was telling me how Edwin stayed at the Ponderosa after Lincoln’s assassination.”
Adam took her in his arms “I suppose I should have told you, but really we just provided a quiet place out of the public eye, so that he could come to terms with himself.” Before Carole could say anything Jim reappeared to say that their baths were ready.
By the time Edwin got home from the theatre they were both dressed and downstairs. Adam still looked white and drawn and after the initial greeting Edwin told his friend he was a fool to have come so far, saying that they had had a telegram from Little Joe. Adam punched his friend gently “I can still handle you. I didn’t escape a family’s fussing just to have you taking over. I’ll be fine tomorrow.”
Edwin shrugged his shoulders “You always were pigheaded.” Then he went over to Carole “You have your hands full, if you’re going to control him.”
Carole smiled “Even his father gave up trying that years ago. I don’t think I’ll attempt it.”
Edwin had to get back so they moved into dinner. Adam was only picking at his food but they didn’t nag him, the damage was already done. Edwin wanted to know what they planned to do in New York and offered the services of his carriage, the driver knew New York better than anyone. He could show them all that was worth seeing and he knew the best places to shop, not always the fanciest on the outside but with reliable and reasonable goods. That was one offer Adam wasn’t about to refuse, he didn’t know New York very well, and one thing they had done on the train was draw up an impressive shopping list of things for their house. Most of it would have to be shipped from the east. The thought of arranging it terrified Carole but Adam had been used all his life to ordering things from the East and arranging shipping to Frisco and then transport across the Sierras. Now with a railroad to bring goods to a point close enough for their own wagons to take over, it seemed like child’s play to him.
Edwin insisted that they came to the theatre the following evening, he was playing Hamlet and Carole was delighted at the prospect. Adam sighed heavily looking at his old friend “It would be Hamlet. Did you arrange it deliberately?”
Edwin just shrugged “Its time you saw it and maybe you’ll change your mind.”
Adam laughed “I doubt it.”
Puzzled Carole looked from one to the other but it was Jim who explained. “Adam never approved of the way Edwin reads Hamlet, they will argue over it for hours given half a chance,”
Carole looked at her husband as though he had committed lèse majesté “But Edwin is a great actor, everyone says so, what do you know?”
The three men all burst out laughing “That puts you in your place Adam.” Edwin said.
Adam grinned broadly “I’ll explain our differences when we’ve seen the play, but constructive criticism never hurt anyone”
Edwin snorted “Constructive!”
The next day after a long sleep Adam felt better than he had since the injury and he was in a good mood as they trailed round the sights of New York. In the end it was Carole who called a halt and demanded food. She was worn out even if he wasn’t. Carole wasn’t convinced that he wasn’t just putting on an act until she saw the amount of food he put away, making up for this lack of hunger the previous day. With the prospect of a late night at the theatre she insisted on a quiet afternoon and as Edwin was at home she sat back and listened as the two friends chatted, catching up on news as Adam hadn’t seen his friend since he was in Boston the year before. Adam had found the time that afternoon to buy a beautiful white gown for Carole to wear that evening as Edwin had warned him the theatre would be full of fashionable people, it was a gala evening. He had the new suit he’d had for his wedding and that was in the height of fashion, but Carole had nothing suitable. When they went up to dress for dinner she was astounded to find the new dress on her bed. She looked up questioningly at Adam and he explained and said, “I think I know your size quite well I just hope it fits.” It was perfect but it was lower cut at the front than anything she had worn before and she looked over at Adam. He smiled “You look lovely.” and he fastened the diamond and sapphire necklace that he had bought her round her neck. He left her to do her hair and went and changed into his suit with a new lacy fronted white shirt he made a fitting escort. As they went down both Edwin and Jim came over and complimented her on her beauty. Adam grinned “My taste always was excellent.” And he got a punch from Edwin for his conceit.
When they reached the theatre Edwin said “Its a good thing you don’t look like country yokels, you have the Presidential box.” Carole looked worriedly at Adam but Edwin said “Don’t worry, nothing is too good for my friends and you will grace it better than anyone I can think of from among New York’s so called polite society.”
Adam wasn’t altogether surprised and said, “We should have a good view of the stage.”
Carole sighed, “What worries me is that everyone will have a good view of us.”
Adam grinned widely “Well at least they will have something beautiful to look at.” Carole realised that she wasn’t getting any sympathy for her worries and as she knew she had never looked better she was able to go into the box with a fair degree of composure.
It was well known among the polite society that Mrs Van der Bilt, the acknowledged head of that society through her husband’s millions, had been refused the Presidential box on this gala evening on the grounds that it was already taken. She had had to accept the second box on the opposite side of the stage. Noone knew who had taken it certainly noone in New York Society would dare. Thus the attention of the whole theatre was centred on seeing who occupied it. As Edwin showed Adam and Carole to their seats, a great buzz of talk arose as the famous actor showed two strangers to their seat. As Edwin withdrew Carole became aware the opera glasses galore were all focused on them and she turned to Adam “Everyone is looking at us.”
Unconcerned Adam said “A just tribute to your beauty my love. Anyway don’t worry the houselights are going down.”
To her relief Carole saw he was right and she gave her attention to the play. She had only visited the theatre a few times in her life and had never seen Hamlet and she was soon enthralled.
By the time Edwin appeared at the beginning of the second scene, Carole had completely forgotten where she was. However a number of people in the theatre were more interested in this strange couple than in Shakespeare. They attended the theatre more to be seen than for the play. The rumour going round was that they were some sort of English nobility. Mrs Van der Bilt was not content with rumour and had Forrester brought to her at the first interval. She demanded to know exactly who they were and Forrester didn’t dare antagonise her. She was too influential in New York. He explained that Mr and Mrs Cartwright were very good friends of Edwin Booth’s and came from Nevada. She looked across at them with her glasses and said. “I wish to meet them. Arrange it for the next interval.” She looked as though she didn’t believe a word he had said and Jim felt he had to agree. Mrs Van der Bilt had fixed ideas about wild westerners and couldn’t believe the cultured looking man and woman came from there. Jim went over to Adam and asked him to see her, explaining his problem. Adam agreed to be polite.
At the end of the second act, she came over to the Presidential box and Jim introduced her to Adam and Carole. Carole had heard of her in Boston, her opinions were very far reaching. Between that and with her mind still in Denmark, Carole wasn’t much help to her husband. Adam had had plenty of experience in England of similar attitudes and didn’t have much trouble carrying the conversation She looked down her long nose at him “ I believe you come from Nevada?”
Adam nodded “I’m part owner of a ranch near Virginia City.” She looked him up and down through her lorgnettes “You don’t look the part.”
Adam would dearly have liked to ask her when she was last in Nevada but he had promised to be polite. He began a discussion of the play as innocuous and mentioned he’d seen it in London. She began to ask about London and, as he’d been presented at Court, decided he was acceptable to New York society and invited him to a soiree at her house in two days time. Adam forced a polite smile, he’d have loved to refuse but he couldn’t do that to Jim and Edwin and anyway maybe Carole would enjoy it, so he accepted with appropriate thanks. Then as the play was about to restart she went back to her own box. She spent the next interval catechising Forrester on what he knew about the Cartwrights and, on hearing that he came from the Ponderosa, she remembered hearing of the ranch. That put her seal of approval on these strangers although she still objected to them being given the Presidential box. She excused it on the grounds of Edwin Booth being a long-term friend but made it clear to Forrester that she did not expect it to happen again.
The word soon passed round the theatre and the crowd was even more intrigued. All of them had heard of Virginia City and many of the Ponderosa and this pair didn’t fit with their preconceptions.
At length the play ended and Adam and Carole went backstage to join Edwin in his dressing room. Carole was still completely under the spell of the play much to Edwin’s delight “I don’t have to ask you if you enjoyed it.” He said and then turned to Adam and looked questioningly at his old friend.
Adam grinned “I enjoyed it Edwin. I think overall it was more effective than the version I saw in London but I still think it would be more effective if you underplayed it rather than ranting so much.” Edwin laughed “Leave it until we’ve got some food then you can argue all night if you want to.”
Adam grinned “Okay by me.”
When they got home Carole began to understand what Jim had meant as Adam and Edwin began arguing about the play. Adam knew it almost as well as Edwin and could recite large chunks of it, especially having just seen it, and he did so to try and prove his case for underplaying the lines. Carole had thoroughly enjoyed the play and at first she was worried that her husband’s criticism would upset Edwin, but she soon realised that the two men were enjoying their argument. As Adam made his point she began to find herself agreeing with him it would be effective. Edwin proclaimed that Adam was behind the times but Adam insisted that he was ahead of them. They argued for hours until eventually at nearly four am Edwin called a truce, He laughed at Adam. "You’re supposed to be ill and yet you look as fresh as ever and I’m whacked,”
Carole was delighted Edwin was right Adam looked fit and well and very happy. As they went to bed Adam said “I told you I’d be fine once we got to New York, now aren’t you glad we came?”
Carole thinking of the long miserable journey stared at him and shook her head “You are an obstinate fool but now we are here I am thoroughly enjoying it.”
Over the next two weeks they filled every day with shopping and sightseeing and spent the evening at the theatre, concerts or parties. Once they had attended Mrs Van der Bilt’s soiree, which Adam found he actually enjoyed, as for once the music was provided by professional opera singers not amateur ‘talent’; the invitations flooded in. They were enjoying themselves so much that when Adam suggested they stay an extra week in New York and only spend a week on Boston, Carole was delighted. Adam telegraphed their change of plan home, just in case someone wanted to contact him and then they made plans for their third week.
Back home Little Joe was his usual sunny self, much to his father and brother’s relief. Since he had made his decision to make Marie his wife, he had cut down on his visits to town, only going in three times a week. He still wasn’t discussing her at home but he didn’t hide the fact that he was seeing her. Neither did Ben hide the fact that he disapproved. Despite Joe’s good temper Hoss could sense the tension between his father and brother which kept threatening to erupt into a row. The fight with Addison had left a multitude of problems in its wake and even with the flume repaired for them so that they wouldn’t make the loss, which at one stage seemed inevitable, Ben had his work cut out. There were all sorts of details to sort out, not helped by Adam’s absence so that the work he usually did all fell to Ben. Thus his temper, not the most equable at the best of times, was distinctly erratic.
Little Joe had made it obvious to Marie exactly what he wanted and she had done her best to dissuade him. A girl from a saloon was not the right companion for a wealthy ranch owner. Unfortunately the very fact that she worked in a saloon made it impossible for her to forbid Joe to come near her. Despite her good resolutions when he wasn’t there she couldn’t act cold when he with her. She fought against falling in love with him, sure it would only lead to heartbreak for her but it was a losing battle and Joe sensed it. He was falling ever deeper under her spell and now he could even face introducing her to his family. He knew it would cause ructions with his father at first but he was sure that when they got to know her they would come to love her just as he had. He said as much to Marie but she had heard too much about Adam and asked how he was going to feel with an illiterate saloon girl as a sister-in-law. Him who had been presented at the court of Queen Victoria, friend of Lords and such like.
Joe said “My brother will like you as long as you make me happy. Don’t judge Adam by what you hear. I admit he sounds terrifying but don’t forget he’s also my brother and noone could describe me or Hoss as geniuses, yet we never have any trouble getting along with him.”
Marie shook her head “I can’t make you happy Joe. All I will do is drive a wedge between you and your family. Maybe with some men it wouldn’t matter but it would matter to you.”
Joe insisted “They will accept it and come to love you. They can’t do anything else.”
Marie erupted, “You’re living in a fool’s paradise Joe. I can’t change what I am and what I am has no part on the Ponderosa. Why don’t you accept it and leave me alone before we both get hurt.”
Little Joe took her in his arms, it was a Sunday afternoon and they were up by the Lake. “Its much too late for that Marie. I think it was too late the first moment I saw you.” He held her tight and kissed her passionately. For the next hour they were oblivious of everything except each other and as they lay back in each other's arms, Joe asked again "Will you marry me Marie?”
She looked questioningly at him “Because of this? I wanted it as much as you did. I’m no virgin I lived with Jim Harris for three years.”
Little Joe laughed down at her “I know that and it’s irrelevant. I’ve made love to girls before and I’ve never felt it necessary to marry them. I’m asking you because I love you and I want you for my wife.”
Marie pulled away and sat up “I’m not sure Joe, maybe, but it depends on what your family say. Please you’ve got to give me time to think.”
Little Joe pulled her to him and held her tight “Take all the time you need but I’ll warn you now I won’t take no for an answer.”
For a further week Joe patiently wooed her but she still insisted his family would never agree and she wasn't coming between him and them.
Ben knew how often Joe was seeing her, but he was still hoping that it would burn out as so many of Joe’s affairs had in the past. He spent long hours when he should have been working thinking about his youngest son. It wasn’t the match he wanted for his son. Ben even thought of buying the girl off and getting her to go somewhere else but he knew it would ruin his relationship with his son if Joe ever found out and that was far too precious to risk. In his heart Ben knew that the relationship would be ruined even if he succeeded and Joe didn’t hear. There would always be the fear that one day Joe would find out. In some ways it would be a basic failure of trust, his son was a grown man and however hard it was to accept Ben could only try to dissuade him. Ben finally made up his mind to have a quiet talk with Joe about it, at least it would get it out in the open and relieve the tensions between him and his son of which he was only too aware. Hoss was due to take a herd of horses over to the army post in two days time and Ben determined to talk to Joe that night, knowing that they wouldn’t be interrupted.
Little Joe for the same reason had hit on that evening to tell his father that he was getting married as soon as Adam returned home, with or without his father’s blessing. He knew that Ben would try and dissuade him, but Joe was sure he could make his father see Marie through his eyes and come to realise that this was right for his son.
Hoss wasn’t too happy about leaving; he would be gone for just over a week and he guessed that there would be an explosion without anyone to keep the peace. Still contracts had to be met and maybe it would be better if his father and younger brother had their row and cleared the air. Hoss tried to tell Little Joe to go easy but Joe just walked off and Hoss decided he'd done his best and they would just have to get on with it. Hoss headed out early the following morning and Ben rode with him for a short time, checking over the horses to make sure they would all keep up the reputation the Ponderosa had been establishing for first rate animals. Then Ben had to cut up to the mines. Hoss pulled up to take his leave of his father and let the rest get out of earshot. Ben could guess why and he wasn’t surprised when Hoss said, “Don’t be too hard on Joe, Pa.”
Ben smiled at his soft-hearted big son, always looking out for his little brother even when Joe treated him badly. “Hoss I just don’t want him ruining his life.”
“Maybe she’s a nice girl. I haven’t even seen her,”
“Maybe but maybe she just wants all the nice things that a Cartwright can buy her. All I want is for him to take time to find out, is that so unreasonable?”
Hoss shook his head “No Pa, but I don’t think that’s quite the impression you’ve given Joe.”
Ben gripped his arm “Don’t worry Hoss we’ll talk it out like we always have. You have a good trip and we’ll see you in a week’s time.” Hoss nodded and rode off, still troubled but hoping that they would indeed talk it out.
Ben rode on up to the mines and sorted out the men’s bonuses and began to make the arrangements for the next load of ore to go to the stamp mills. It was late afternoon when Ben had completed his business and he headed home but the direct route was along Rock Canyon. Ben was thinking about his youngest son and remembering Joe’s fall there, which had heralded all the trouble with Addison. Considering the nature of the terrain Ben was not using his common sense in allowing his thoughts to wander so far, but he paid heavily for it. Buck put his foot on a stone, which gave under him, and threw his master heavily, as he tried to retain his own feet. Ben fell badly his leg crumpling under him and he fell onto a large rock catching it in his ribs. He didn’t completely lose consciousness and maintained his hold on the reins, but it was several minutes before he could do more than lie still and try to regain his breath. After five minutes Ben pulled himself to his feet, his right leg hurt badly but it seemed to take his weight. His whole side felt as though it was on fire and Ben was sure he must have broken some ribs, but for now the main task was to get home. Buck was still standing patiently by him and Ben took hold of the saddle horn and lent against his horse for a moment. Then summoning all his strength Ben managed to pull himself into the saddle, The pain in his right thigh sent coloured lights dancing in front of his eyes but he retained his senses and sent Buck off in a walk towards home. Afterwards he never remembered anything of that ride, his side was on fire but it was his leg, which sent sharp bursts of pain every time Buck moved.
By the time he reached the house Ben was beginning to run a fever and he was light headed, but he had made up his mind to talk to Joe this evening. He wasn’t going to let a little thing like a fall stand in his way, neither was he going to take an unfair advantage over his son by letting Joe know that he was hurt. That could wait until after their talk. Ben dismounted stiffly and had to hold onto the hitchrail to stay on his feet. Then moving into the shadows of the porch he called for Kirk and asked him to take care of Buck, Kirk agreed without comment for once and Ben waited for him to lead the horse off before he limped into the house. He poured himself a stiff drink and then sank into a chair by the fire, Gradually the brandy took effect and Ben began to feel better and became confident that he could carry it off in front of his son. While he stayed still his leg didn’t hurt so much and the pain in his side was down to a bearable dull ache. After two more brandies he felt fit to face Joe.
Little Joe rode in from the lumber camp and was surprised to find his father sitting doing nothing in front of the fire. He commented on it and Ben said, “I was waiting for you to come home Joseph. I think its time we had a talk.”
Joe said, “Fine by me. I wanted to talk to you this evening anyway.” He threw himself into the chair opposite his father. For a moment there was silence and then Joe broke it “I’m going to marry Marie, Pa. As soon as Adam comes home, with or without your blessing.”
Ben wasn’t thinking clearly with a rising temperature and that bald statement lost him all hold on his temper. H shook his head and said bitterly “Quite a jump from a tinhorn gambler to a Cartwright and even he had the sense not to offer marriage.”
Little Joe had been prepared to discuss it reasonably, wanting to make his father see that it wasn’t the disaster he thought but at this he lost his temper too, never very secure. “How dare you speak like that about my future wife.”
Ben gave a short laugh “Its nothing to what most people will say and anyway it’s the truth.”
The two men were now both furious and had risen to their feet on either side of the fire. In their anger Little Joe looked more like his father than he ever had, noone could have mistaken them for other than father and son. They flung angry words at each other, Ben telling his son how he’d been caught by a trollop, and Joe proclaiming, that he was of age and had had enough interference.
Ben said “I will not have that female in my house.”
Joe glared at him “Don’t worry she won’t even come on your ranch and neither will I.” with that he went over to the credenza and began buckling on his gunbelt.
Ben thundered at him “”If you walk out that door, you’re no longer a son of mine.”
Joe grabbed his hat “Don’t bother to write!”
Ben suddenly realised what he was doing and he wanted to tell his son that he didn’t mean a word of it. He went to Joe and put a hand on his shoulder but Joe angry pushed his father away and walked out. He heard his father cry out as he went out the door but assuming it was sheer fury, Joe didn’t even look back. Joe ran out to the barn, swiftly saddled Cochise and rode out without even a backward glance.
The push Joe had given his father was sufficient to upset Bern’s precarious balance. It hadn’t been a blow, just a shove, but Ben fell awkwardly and cried out in pain at the sudden agony in his leg as the cracked bone was displaced and the pain was sufficient to release him into unconsciousness. Hop Sing heard the cry and the fall and seeing his master was out cold, he ran down to the bunkhouse for help. The men there had heard the argument. The Cartwrights had always tended to argue at the top of their voices and it was nothing new. The men even knew why Joe was arguing with his father, dating a saloon girl against his father’s wishes. Now hearing that Ben was unconscious, they jumped to the conclusion the Joe had beaten up his father. In a way it was surprising as none of them remembered any of the boys lifting a finger to their father but it seemed obvious from the facts. Two of them went in with Hop Sing to get Ben up to his bed and another one rode to town to get the doctor.
In town Joe had headed straight to the Bucket O’Blood. In his anger he hadn’t fully taken in that his father had disowned him but the ravages of that argument showed only too clearly on his face. Friends who would normally have spoken to him, took one look, and steered clear of him. Joe saw Marie sitting talking to a young cowboy and went straight over to her and grabbed her arm “You’ve got to come out back. I must talk to you.”
The cowboy recognised Joe Cartwright and hastily left the table but Marie protested “I can’t. Not now Joe I’m working.”
Joe pulled at her arm “You’ve got to. I’ll square it with Don.”
Seeing the expression on Joe’s face, Marie realised that something was seriously wrong and she let Little Joe lead her outside. Joe held her close for a minute burying his aching head in her hair, fighting for control. Eventually he pulled away and gripped her arms “You’ve got to marry me, now, tonight.”
Marie stared at him “Have you gone mad Joe? What about your family?”
Little Joe laughed bitterly “You don’t need to worry about them any more. My father told me quite clearly I’m no longer his son, so you can forget about them. There’s just me. We’ll go north, maybe even to Canada and start afresh.”
Marie stared at him and then sighed “Oh Joe.” She sat down on the step and looked up at her love. She had been scared that something like this would happen. She had asked one of the other girls Janie, who had been in town for several years and knew all three brothers. Janie had laughed at her, everyone knew the Cartwrights were too close a family. They might shout at each other, even occasionally fight but they would never turn their back on each other, whatever happened the other Cartwrights would accept it in time.
For a long moment Marie sat staring at Joe, seeing the hurt in his eyes and knowing whatever he said that he couldn’t be happy away from his family and his beloved ranch. Marie had come to know him very well over the last few weeks and had realised what few did, just how sentimental he was under his facade. One of his main charms was his irrepressible love of life, but she sensed that would die if he was torn from the land into which his roots were so deeply planted. Her brain raced in the few seconds she scanned his face and she made up her mind. She only had one course open to her, she loved him too much to ruin him and so she put all her energies into the best job of acting she had ever done.
She got to her feet, mask firmly in place and shook her head “I’m not marrying you Joe. You’d better go back and make it up with your Pa.” Joe stared at her stunned as she went on “What have you got to offer me, a $30 a month cowhand without even a job. How are you going to keep me? It was one thing to marry Joe Cartwright of the Ponderosa, he was rich but plain Joe Cartwright has nothing.”
Joe protested “But I love you and you love me.”
She laughed and Joe didn’t even notice the hollow ring “Fine you love me but that won’t keep me fed and clothed. I loved a rich young man, you’re no longer him. Go home to your Pa little boy, I told you it was a fool’s paradise.”
Joe went to try and take her in his arms but she pushed him away “I’ve got a job to do.” Marie pushed past him and went back into the saloon, where she ran straight up to her room and threw herself sobbing on the bed.
Little Joe sat in the alley for over half an hour, stunned, hating to admit that his father had been right. Eventually he went out to fetch Cochise, wanting to get right away, not much caring where, but fate had one more blow for him that night. On the sidewalk he met two cowboys who had been thrown off the Ponderosa a few months back for setting traps against orders. They were now working in the mines but still harboured resentment. On seeing Joe they came over wanting to rub in the rift that they had heard of in the high n’mighty Cartwright family. One clapped Joe on the back “Congratulations Joe.”
Joe looked up puzzled and the other one said “I hear you finally broke away from your old man, beat him up for good measure.”
His friend back him up “Yeah I’d like to see the old man now, hear you even broke his leg.”
Joe looked at them in disbelief but then down the street he saw one of the Ponderosa hands riding next to Doc’s buggy and he could only believe the men were telling the truth. He pushed unseeingly past then to Cochise and he heard again is father’s cry as he left the house and now he realised it had been a cry of pain not of anger. Hardly surprisingly Joe couldn’t remember what he had done but he had seldom been so furious and he was scared that he had badly hurt his father.
Thoroughly confused, his whole world in turmoil, Joe went over to the bank where the manager was working late. As a special favour Mr Harris let Joe clear his account and then with some $2 200 Joe rode out of town, He couldn’t go home and face his father. He had been wrong but he couldn’t admit it and now he had hurt his father. He rode out not knowing where he was going or what he intended to do. He rode for hours and eventually reached the glen where he had camped with Marie. There Joe dismounted and built a fire. For hours he sat staring into the fire seeing alternately his father’s angry face as he said that Joe was no longer his son and Marie’s cold withdrawn face as she said that plain Joe Cartwright had nothing to offer. Joe sat for hours unable to think clearly, sure only that he couldn’t return to his father with his tail between his legs. Ben had disowned him and that was before he had hurt his father; Joe could only think he would be even more certain that he wanted nothing more to do with his youngest son. Scared how badly hurt his father was and praying that Ben would come to know that he hadn’t intended to hurt his father, Joe sank into deep black despair. Joe tried to face the thought of never again returning to the Ponderosa, never again visiting his mother’s grave on the promontory, never again seeing his father or his brothers. Joe sat staring into the fire, trying to face the idea of a life alone and far from home. He hardly moved all that long night as he tried to blot out the memories of the previous day. Then, towards dawn, he realised that at last he understood how Adam must have felt when he ran away to England and with that realisation came the knowledge that he had to talk to his eldest brother. For the first time he consciously took in where he was and realised that he had set out on the long journey to join his brother, even before the had given it a thought. He knew it wasn’t tactful to intrude on his brother’s honeymoon, but his need was too urgent to await Adam’s return. Joe was sure that Carole would understand and just maybe Adam could sort things out and make everything better just as he had when Joe was a kid, at the very least Adam might be able to arrange things so that he could come home again. Eventually his decision made Joe relaxed and the strains and tensions of the previous night had their inevitable effect and he fell asleep.
Back at the house Doc had arrived before Ben had recovered consciousness. Paul had heard the men’s story and their conclusion that Joe had beaten up his father but he had known the Cartwrights for many years, indeed most of Joe’s life. Paul found it very hard to credit. He had known the brothers fight, twice Hoss had quite badly hurt his eldest brother when losing his temper Hoss had used his huge strength, but to the Doc’s knowledge none of the three boys had ever lifted a hand against their father.
Doc went up to his patient and with Hop Sing’s help he began to examine the injured man, He found the extensive bruising down Ben’s right side with four broken ribs and then he found the broken thigh. He couldn’t begin to imagine how Joe could have inflicted such injuries but deciding that Ben was the only one who really knew what had happened, Paul turned his attention to repairing the damage. Paul had already set the bone and put Ben’s leg in plaster before Ben began to stir. Paul finished fixing traction for the leg and then, moved up to hold Ben still gently moistening his mouth. Ben asked for Little Joe but the Doc couldn’t help he concentrated on his old friend’s physical condition. “Take it easy Ben, you’ve got a broken leg and broken ribs.”
Ben, now fully conscious realised who was there and then looked round the room but nobody else was there. Paul, not knowing how to tell Ben about the rumours flying around, kept things strictly factual “One of the hands fetched me, Hop Sing had found you unconscious on the floor.”
Ben lay back and stared at the ceiling and Paul risked a question “How did it happen Ben?”
“I took a heavy fall of Buck this afternoon. I was going to send for you but it didn’t seem too urgent and then I moved wrong somehow, I remember a sharp pain in my leg and I guess I passed out.” His story fitted the injuries and Doc smiled down at him “I imagine that you cracked the thigh bone when you fell and then somehow displaced it later. I’ve got it set but its going to have to stay in traction for at least a couple of weeks, make sure the bone stays aligned while it starts healing. You are going to have to stay put in bed, give it a chance to heal, knit together before you put any weight on it even in the cast.”
“How long?”
“I’m not sure Ben but you’re no longer young, bones don’t heal as well and it will probably take twice as long as one of your sons would Let’s say two months as a minimum.”
Ben was horrified, he hated being stuck in bed but the Doc went on. “I know how you feel Ben but often enough you have had to advise your sons to be patient, now you’ll have to take your own advice.”
Ben was silent and Paul went over and poured him a drink and as he passed it to Ben his old friend asked, “Have you seen Little Joe, Paul? He left just before I fell again and he doesn’t know I was hurt.”
Paul knew he had to tell Ben what was being said, much as he hated the idea. Someone was going to do so and it might be marginally easier coming from an old friend. He moved over to stare out of the window wanting to give the older man at least some privacy. "Your hands heard you arguing with Joe and then you were found out cold. Word has gone round town that Joe beat you up. I don’t know whether Little Joe had heard, but when I saw him he turned his back and walked away.”
Ben sat stunned at what he’d heard but after a minute he got control of his voice “Its not true Joe didn’t touch me. I told you what happened.”
“I believe you Ben. Your injuries aren’t consistent with Joe going for you anyway, but that isn’t going to stop the rumours.”
Then as though it was some sort of nightmare Ben remembered how Joe had left the final few minutes of their argument unrolled in his mind and he remembered how he had disowned his son. He hadn’t meant a word of it, it had been pain and brandy, fever and temper talking but how could Joe know that. He looked so ill that Paul hastily poured him a large brandy and fed him some of it. As a little colour returned to Ben’s lips Doc sat back “Ben where are Hoss and Joe? I know Adam is back east but you really need one of them here.”
Ben sipped a little more brandy and pulled himself together, he wasn’t going to allow outsiders in on family dissension, not even such an old friend as Doc. “Joe’s gone north on business. I can’t reach him for a few days and Hoss has gone south into Arizona with a horse delivery. He’ll be back in a week but e can’t make it back any faster. He’ll be at his furthest point before I can contact him. Don’t worry Hop Sing will look after me.”
There wasn’t anything that Doc could do so he made sure that Ben had everything that he needed in close reach and promised “I’ll be back the day after tomorrow Ben and I’ll do my best to scotch these rumours.” Ben nodded and closed his eyes.
Ben lay there feeling old and helpless. Now when he most needed his sons he was alone and worse than that he had driven of his youngest in a way that he would have been the first to condemn in someone else. He could imagine Joe out there somewhere, either alone or with that girl. Ben knew his son well enough to know Joe would be as miserable as his father was, but he would be too proud to return immediately, especially if he believed that he really had hurt his father. Ben hoped and prayed that Joe would get in touch within a few days, when his temper had cooled down, even if only with Hoss and then he would be able to apologise to his son.
The next week seemed the longest Ben had ever spent. There was no word from Joe at all and none from Hoss, although Ben hadn’t expected to hear from his big son. Dan and Roy and his partners in the mine, Fair and McKay, all came out to visit him and they did their best to hide from him the rumours that were rife round town. However they couldn’t hide the fact that nobody had seen Little Joe for days and it was hard to talk to Ben. Each in turn gave up the effort, all taken aback at just how much he seemed to have aged over the last days.
Ben tried to work in bed if only pass the time, but he spent long hours unable to do anything except fret and miss his sons like hell. He knew Marie was still in town so Joe was somewhere on his own, rejected by his father, and maybe rejected by his girl as well. Ben sensed that his son was desperately unhappy and personally he was feeling more miserable and alone than he had in years. He had never felt so far apart from his sons, wanting desperately to see one of them, but he wouldn’t let anyone worry Adam. It would take his eldest son two weeks to get home anyway and he wasn’t about to ruin Adam’s honeymoon by his own stupidity in dealing with his youngest son. Adam had waited a long time to find happiness and he had more than earned the right to enjoy himself for a few short weeks, without the demands of family on him. Ben was counting the hours until Hoss could be expected, he was the only person that Ben could tell the truth and allow to make enquiries to try and track Joe down.
Little Joe sat on the train, heading north towards his brother. He hardly ate or slept and sat staring out of the window, The faces of Ben and Marie were forever floating in front of him and there was no way to blot them out. Joe kept seeing his father’s white face as his youngest son accused him of only caring about Adam. Joe was past rational thought; he was just existing somehow to get through the hours until he could reach Adam that was his only aim. The expression on his face was enough to keep the other travellers at a distance as he sat motionless for hour after hour staring out of the window, living through his own private hell of despair.
In Virginia City Roy and Dan were down at the Doc’s. They had all visited Ben and been shocked by how old and ill he looked. It was obvious that Joe’s absence was worrying him and they had no idea where Joe was. All three men believed Ben’s denial that Joe had hurt him, but something wad badly wrong. Each in turn had tried to persuade Ben to talk but none of them had succeeded. They sat over coffee and discussed their failure but didn’t know what to do to help their old friend. It was difficult to know how to help, what Ben needed was Joe or at the very least one of his sons, but with Adam back east and Hoss away that wasn’t easy to arrange. Dan suggested that at least they could get the Vicar to go out and have a chat, maybe he could get Ben to talk, Dan was sure that Ben would feel better if only he could be persuaded to talk whatever was bothering him over with someone. Roy didn’t think it would any good but admitted it couldn’t do any harm. Roy hadn’t liked to see his old friend looking so old, drawn and beaten. Dan said he would have a word with the vicar and Roy decided to telegraph around the local towns and try and pick up word on Joe that was the medicine that Ben really needed.
The vicar went out to see Ben that afternoon but found him withdrawn and unwilling to discuss personal topics. Ben would discuss mine business or the weather but each time the Vicar tried to turn the conversation to his sons, Ben answered in monosyllables and quickly returned to impersonal topics. Eventually the vicar decided the only way to try and help was to ask straight out "We all know you had a row with Joe, Ben. Is that what is worrying you? You'll feel better if you talk about it."
Ben sat silent for a moment, staring at the ceiling, then he said “I know you mean well but I don’t discuss family matters with outsiders. Joe is away on business. We didn’t part on the best of terms but I am close enough to my sons for that not to matter in the long term.” The vicar had to accept Ben’s refusal to discuss it and he allowed Ben to change the subject and soon after he left.
Ben lay back, he knew all his friends were worried about him, but even in front of them he didn’t feel well enough to put on an act. He couldn’t remember when he’d last spent such a black week. Often things had gone more disastrously wrong, but this time he was badly hurt and all his sons were away, The only pleasant thoughts he had were of his eldest son, but in those long pain filled hours it was Little Joe, who filled his mind. He was convinced that somewhere Joe was sitting as miserable as he was and if only he could speak to his son and apologise then he could clear up this whole unholy mess.
Eventually that week came to an end and Hoss rode into Virginia City to pay the bank draft, he’d received from the army, into their account. Dan saw him in the Palace as Hoss came in for a beer before returning home. Dan moved over to join Hoss as the big man took his first long drink “Have you been to the Ponderosa yet?”
Hoss’ grin of welcome vanished and he looked worried “No. What’s wrong Dan?”
“Your Pa is stuck in bed, took a bad fall. I think maybe we ought to go over to Roy’s office, where we can talk.”
Hoss rapidly downed his beer, frowning worriedly and then followed Dan out and across to the jail. He perched on the desk and looked at the older men. Dan and Roy looked at each other neither wanting to tell him the rumours that were rife but knowing that someone had to. Puzzled Hoss said, “Just how bad is Pa? Joe’s looking after him I take it? Why didn’t Joe let me know?”
Dan poured out two coffees and handed one to Hoss “It’s not good, your Pa will be stuck in bed for a couple of months, he’s bust his thigh and several ribs. He says he had a fall from Buck but few people in town believe him, even though Doc says his injuries are consistent with that. Most people think Little Joe beat him up and Joe has disappeared.”
Hoss stared at Dan in total disbelief, stunned by what he’d heard. “No that ain’t right Joe’s never raised a hand to Pa in his life. Why would anyone say that?
Roy got out a bottle of whiskey and poured a large slug in the big man’s coffee “Easy Hoss. I ain’t saying it’s true, but your hands heard Joe and your Pa arguing and then Joe rode out. A minute later Hop Sing is demanding help because your Pa is unconscious on the floor. What do you expect folks to think?”
Hoss shook his head “I know Pa and Joe had an ongoing row over that saloon girl but I can’t believe Joe would ever hurt Pa and I know my little brother would never leave Pa unconscious.”
Dan said “Ben denied it, says Joe didn’t know he was hurt but something is worrying him. He’s aged twenty years in the last week Hoss. He looks old and defeated.”
Hoss got to his feet “You say Joe’s disappeared?”
Roy nodded “He was in town that night and left heading north but nobody has seen him since.”
Hoss shook his head with a big sigh “I don’t know, but I guess the first thing to do is to see Pa. I sure wish Adam was here.”
Roy gripped his shoulder “You know if there’s anything we can do you only have to ask.”
Hoss managed a smile “Sure, Roy I know that.” Then he headed home as fast as he could.
As he rode in Kirk appeared “About time you got home Hoss. I’ll take your horse go to your Pa.” Hoss nodded and hurried inside taking off his gun and coat as he went. Hoss went straight up to his father’s room and as he went in he realised the justice of Dan’s comments. Then as Ben looked up and saw his big son after what seemed an eternity, he felt the hot tears scald his eyelids. Hoss moved swiftly over to sit by his father and put his arm round Ben’s shoulders. Ben lay back against his big son and suddenly things seemed better, he was no longer alone, Hoss couldn’t speak for a moment, even after Dan’s warning, he had never seen his father so weak and ill and with the mark of defeat so clearly stamped on him. Hoss didn’t like what he saw and he wasn’t sure of the best way to help, he just knew that he had to try.
Eventually Hoss said, “Dan and Roy told me the gist of what’s been happening. Just how bad are you hurt Pa?”
Ben had pulled himself together, warmed by his son’s strength and affection “My right thigh is broken. Doc reckons it’ll be about two months before I can walk again. Otherwise it’s just broken ribs and bruising and that’s already beginning to fade.”
Hoss stared down at his father “When did you last eat a good meal?”
“I haven’t been hungry.”
Hoss frowned, “That don’t help nothing. I’ll go and get Hop Sing to prepare two trays and then we can talk.” He went downstairs, wanting to give his father some time to gain control. Hoss hadn’t missed how close Ben was to breaking down and that was very unusual for Ben Cartwright.
Ten minutes later Hoss went back in with trays piled high with food. He helped his father into a more comfortable position and then issued his orders. “Pa, for once you are gonna do as I say. Eat that first. Then you can explain what you and Joe have been up to that’s got you in this state and the whole town talking.” Ben went to speak but Hoss shushed him “Not a word until we’ve eaten. I’m starving and from what Hop Sing says you dern well should be.”
Ben went to protest but his son’s worried eyes stopped him and he just said, “It’s good to have you home Hoss.” His son’s presence dispelled some of the darkness that had surrounded him and while Ben couldn’t finish the food, he made a fair attempt.
When Hoss had cleared the trays and brought coffee, Ben was ready to talk. Hoss pulled up a chair by the bed. Ben couldn’t look at his son he stared down at the quilt slowly tracing the pattern on it but eventually he started talking “I think I have done just about everything wrong that I could this last week. I can’t believe how big a mess I’ve made of everything.”
“Be easiest if you tell me from the beginning Pa.”
Ben nodded and with a deep breath he did his best to comply. “When you left I was determined to have a talk with your little brother that evening, There had been a growing tension between us for weeks and it was driving me slowly mad. Even if we had a row I reckoned it would at least clear the air and it would hardly be the first time. I was thinking about Joe all day, especially once I’d finished up at the mine. Rock Canyon isn’t the most sensible place to let your attention wander but I paid for it. Buck stepped on a stone that gave under him and as he tried to save himself I took a fall and landed badly. I knew I had broken at least a couple of ribs and Doc reckons I cracked my thighbone. I was winded but I’d kept hold of the reins and once I got my breath back I found my leg would support me and I managed to remount and ride home. I knew I’d broken ribs but it didn’t seem that urgent and I was determined to have it out with Joe so I decided to talk to him before calling Doc. Ben looked up at his big son “I must have been light headed. I know I was running a temperature but after a couple of brandies it seemed clear. Have it out with Joe without putting him at a disadvantage by letting him know I was hurt, then get the Doc.”
Hoss shook his head in near disbelief “You’re a fool at times Pa. Can you wonder Adam is so derned pigheaded.”
“I know Hoss I’ve been telling myself for the last week what a stupid fool I was, but it seemed right at the time. The inevitable result was that I lost my temper with Joe the moment he spoke. I should have known I would. Joe said that he was marrying Marie as soon as Adam came home with or without my blessing. I blew up at him said something about it being a big step up from a tinhorn gambler to a Cartwright and he hadn’t bothered to offer marriage; so of course Joe lost his temper too. We stood either side of the fire lashing out verbally, I know I didn’t mean what I said and I’m sure Joe didn’t either.” Ben fell silent but Hoss sensed that his pa hadn’t finished and just waited. At length Ben went on “I told Joe that I wouldn’t have that girl in my house and he said neither of them would set foot on my ranch. He went over to the door and began buckling on his gunbelt. I was furious but it was fever and brandy speaking.” Ben closed his eyes and then hardly audible he said “I told Joe if he walked out the door he was no longer a son of mine.”
Hoss was badly shaken by that and could only grip his father’s arm in mute reassurance, Ben looked up at him “I didn’t mean it, not even then. I suddenly realised what I was doing; moved to stop him but Joe brushed past me. I fell and displaced the bones in my leg and passed out. He must have gone out with out a backward glance. I haven’t seen him since and I don’t know where he is.”
As Ben finally fell quiet Hoss poured his father a brandy, realising just why is father was in such a state. He did his best to reassure his father “Once Joe calms down, he’ll know you didn’t mean it, he knows your temper. I know you always say he inherited his temper from his mother but Adam and I always reckoned he got some of it from you. He must know as well as I do that you wouldn’t disown any of us, no matter what we did.”
“I hoped that but he’s been gone over a week with no word. Then there are those stupid rumours in town that he beat me up. What effect will those have on him?”
“I don’t know Pa. I’d guess he’s thoroughly confused. Have you made any enquiries?”
Ben shook his head “No I just said that he was away on business. I couldn’t explain to anyone except you.”
Hoss gripped his father’s shoulder “It’ll work out Pa, just as soon as I can find Joe. I’ll knock your two heads together. Try not to worry. Little Joe knows you too well and loves you too much for it not to be okay once he’s had time to think. For a start I think I’ll ride back into town and have a word with the cause of the trouble, maybe she knows where Joe is. You get some sleep,”
Ben yawned “I do feel sleepy, must be having someone to talk to. I haven’t been sleeping too well,”
Hoss pinned his faith in the strong dose of laudanum he’d put in his father’s coffee but thought better of mentioning it. He helped his father to settle down comfortably and the left him. When Hoss looked in twenty minutes later, having changed clothes, he found his father fast asleep.
Hoss rode into town with plenty of food for thought. He was frankly amazed that even under the influence of fever, brandy and temper his father could ever disown one of his sons, it went so far against everything his father had ever said. Hoss had stayed cheerful in front of his father but he couldn’t help feeling that Joe might believe that if Ben had changed sufficiently to say it, maybe he had changed enough to mean it. Now more than ever before he wished for his eldest brother’s advice, but he couldn’t even get it by telegraph, because Ben had forbidden him to worry Adam on his honeymoon. Hoss had to admit that Adam head earned time to enjoy himself.
Once he arrived in town Hoss went straight to the Bucket O’Blood. He checked that Don hadn’t seen Joe but pointedly ignored Don’s questions just asking Don to point out Marie. Hoss did insist that the rumours doing the rounds were total rubbish. Hoss had never seen Marie and now that he did he was very surprised. Marie was desperately unhappy, knowing that Joe hadn’t returned home as she wanted and scare that he had done something stupid after his double rejection. She lived in dread of word coming to town that his body had been discovered and she had her own personal worries as she began to fear that she was pregnant. She went through the motions of living but her smile was mechanical and never reached her eyes. The lovely blonde hair and the heart-shaped face were still there but Hoss could see little in her that would have attracted his brother. Hoss waited for an opportunity to speak to her and it wasn’t long coming, she couldn’t keep the men interested these days. When she was on her own Hoss moved over and asked her to join him at a corner table, Once they were seated Hoss introduced himself and she started at the name and would have stood up and left but Hoss reached up and stopped her. He said, “Please don’t go. I just want the answers to a couple of questions.”
She sank back down in her chair and Hoss went on hurriedly “I won’t hurt you or anything. I just want to find my brother.”
Marie looked up at the big man “I haven’t seen Joe for a week.”
Hoss said, “I know my little brother came here after he’d had a row with Pa, what happened then?”
Marie stared at him seeing the deep concern on his face, she wanted to get away from him but just maybe this big man could help Joe so she told him in a few brief words about Joe's proposal and what she had said to Joe. Then she stood up and looking at Hoss she could see the worry and compassion for his brother mirrored on his face. She said “I haven’t seen him since and I don’t know where he was going but I hope he’s alright,” With that she turned and left him. Hoss sat there staring into space for over an hour, guessing how Joe must have felt, rejected on all sides that evening and trying to puzzle out what his little brother would have done in that frame of mind. He wasn’t getting anywhere and eventually Don came over with a large whisky and handed it to Hoss. He sat down opposite Hoss “You look as though you need that.”
Hoss sipped it slowly “Thanks Don, guess I do have a lot on my mind.”
“Don’t judge her too harshly, she’s been miserable herself since she sent Joe off.”
Hoss just nodded not wanting to discuss things, he downed the whisky and murmuring thanks left the saloon.
As he stood in the street, Hoss noticed a light on at the bank and knew Mr Harris was working late as he often did. Hoss decided to see if he could find out if Joe had any money and headed over to the bank. Mr Harris was an old friend but at first he was very dubious about Hoss’ request. “It’s not really my business to reveal to you what your brother did. He didn’t touch the Ponderosa account.”
Hoss sat down heavily and his face showed his deep worry “Look Mr Harris I know you’ll have heard all these rumours. They ain’t true but Joe did have a row with Pa and did leave home. We don’t know where he is, I just need to know if he at least has some cash.”
“Alright Hoss. Your brother isn’t broke. He cleared his personal account took out over two thousand dollars.”
“He didn’t give you any idea where he was going?”
“I’m sorry Hoss. I don’t think Joe knew. He looked sort of stunned almost dazed.”
Hoss got to his feet “I see, well thanks anyway Mr Harris.”
As he turned to go out the older man said “What you told me will go no further.”
Hoss forced a smile “Thanks again Mr Harris. Guess it’ll all work out.” Then he headed out and wandered down to Roy’s office. Hoss found the sheriff drinking coffee. As Hoss came in Roy poured out another cup and waved him to a chair.
Hoss sank down in the chair and gratefully accepted the coffee. Roy having considered the big man pulled out a bottle of whisky and poured a hefty slug of it into Hoss’ cup. Hoss forced a smile for the sheriff “What a mess! Far as I can make out Pa and Joe had a row, Joe left in a temper. Then Pa fell, hurt his leg again and passed out. Joe came to town and had another row with Marie. Then he probably heard he was supposed to have beaten up Pa. Anyways he drew out all his personal cash and rode out of town. Noone has seen him since.”
Roy nodded “That about sums it up. How’s Ben?”
Hoss said “Pa always hates being on bad terms with any of us. Rows flare up from time to time but they usually disappear real fast. Pa’s scared that something has happened to Joe and if I read her right Marie is scared he’s killed himself.”
That did shock Roy and he looked up questioningly at Hoss “Were the rows that serious?”
Hoss sighed heavily and then got up and went over to the window “They could have been. But my brother’s no coward. He’d never take his own life. However bad things look. Joe loves life too much.”
Roy bit his lip worried at Hoss even admitting the possibility “I’ve been telegraphing around but there ain’t no news of him. Not anywhere.”
Hoss grabbed his hat “I expect he’s just disappeared up into the hills, somewhere quiet to have time alone. Sort himself out, he’ll be back when he’s ready. Be fine.”
Roy nodded “Sure Hoss but just let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
Hoss grinned faintly “Thanks Roy. It’ll work out. I’d better be getting home. With Pa in bed and both my brothers away the work has been piling up some.”
Hoss rode up to Lake Tahoe on the way home and sat down staring out over the Lake. He tried, for the thousandth time, to work out where Joe would have headed. He could only get as far as the thought that Joe would have avoided civilisation, needing time to think but that didn’t exactly help. Eventually Hoss went on home and after checking that his father was asleep, he went to bed. He couldn’t sleep, lying awake for hours thinking round in circles.
The following morning he went in to his father. Ben was awake but feeling much better for a good night’s sleep and the fact that he had at least he had one son home with him. As Hoss came in he looked up questioningly. Hoss sat down by the bed “No real news Pa. I had a chat with Marie. Little Joe went to her after he left you. He wanted to get married that evening and said they’d go north maybe to Canada and start afresh, that he’d broken with us and the ranch. She said..” Hoss sighed heavily and sipped the coffee he had brought up before continuing “She told him she wasn’t marrying any thirty dollar a month cowboy without even a job and that he should go home. Then he drew out all his own cash. Mr Harris said he looked sorta stunned but at least he has money, more’n two thousand dollars. Dan saw him leave town heading north. That’s it Pa I ain’t got any idea where he’d have gone.”
Ben sat staring into space for a long time then he looked up seeing his big son’s anxious face “Poor boy rejected on all sides, where can he have gone?” Hoss just shook his head and Ben went on “He’s out there somewhere confused and miserable, if only he’d come home.”
Hoss shrugged “I guess it’ll take him a while to come to terms with himself sufficiently to come home and admit that you were right. At least he’s got plenty of money but he could be anywhere.”
“I know all we can do is wait for word from him. We still have contracts to meet and work that must be done."
Hoss wanted to help; wanted to dispel the look from his father’s eyes, but he didn’t know how so he allowed his father to turn the talk to ranch business. With Ben stuck in bed and both his brother’s away, a lot of the work fell on Hoss’ shoulders. José was handling the autumn roundup as he had the spring roundup and with the flume in action again they would be able to fulfil all the timber contracts on time. Ben had hired some extra men but Johnny was still managing to run things on a day to day basis although the paperwork was handled at the main house. Hoss knew he had to get up to the lumber camp and check with Johnny and once he started to make a list of things he ought to do it looked more and more impossible.
Over the next few days Hoss was working very long hours but he did make time every day to spend with his father and try to keep Ben’s spirits up. At least his father was handling a lot of the paperwork, glad of something to do, to take his mind of his youngest son. Ben’s problem was that every time he raised his head, he seemed to see his youngest son, sometimes it was his son’s angry face as he argued or when he accused Ben of only caring for Adam, but more often he saw Joe stunned rejected and desperately unhappy. Ben felt as though his heart was constricted and his head felt as though there was a tight band round it. If only he could get to his son and talk to him. He was very grateful for Hoss’ presence and tried to remain cheerful in front of his son, but Hoss could only see the pain in his father’s eyes, which he knew only Joe could dispel. Hoss had only seen that expression once before and that was when Adam ran away to England. It had gradually disappeared as the tone of Adam's letters changed when he decided he would come home. Then at least Ben hadn’t had to blame himself for driving Adam away as he did with Joe.
In New York Adam and Carole were coming to the end of their third week, all their shopping was done and the arrangements made to send it to the railway terminus. Carole was worried about the money they were spending but Adam told her not to worry, he had plenty left in his own personal account, he hadn’t touched the Ponderosa account. Carole frowned, she had never understood how they sorted out money and she said so. Adam grinned, “I’m not surprised. It isn’t really a system more a sort of haphazard arrangement. All four of us can draw unlimited on the Ponderosa account at need, but if you do draw money from it then you have to explain why. When we were younger, Pa made it two signatures required, but not now. Pa pays Hoss and Joe and me a salary just like the other hands, maybe a bit more for the responsibility but realistic. The sort of salary I could get from any other ranch. Then in addition Pa set all three of us up with personal accounts when we were seventeen. He decided that we ought to have some money to do what we wanted, gamble if we wanted, whether on the stock market or cards, treat ourselves, or buy presents. Money we can use without having to make any explanation. At the end of each year when we know the profit the ranch has made we have a discussion. Decide how much goes into our personal accounts, what the ranch needs reinvested, it can get a mite heated at times.” Adam smiled at his wife who was watching fascinated. He went on “ If we buy stocks and they go up then the profit goes into the personal account. Pa and I both own shares in the Hale and Norcross amongst other mines, although Pa backed it with the Ponderosa at one stage. If there were trouble then of course we’d all throw in our personal cash. Joe tends to spend his, I don’t know what he does with money, it always seems to slip through his fingers although he’s good at scrounging from Hoss and me.” Adam gave a rueful grin thinking of the number of times he had succumbed to his youngest brother’s wiles. “Hoss just draws his when he wants something or someone else is in need, softest touch in town. He rarely invests it, just not interested. Pa and I have been lucky on the stock market. We both know the mines quite well and at the moment we are both independently wealthy apart from the Ponderosa, but the mines are always unpreditcable and it could disappear tomorrow. The Ponderosa is real and it will still be there when the mines are finally in borrasca.”
Carole considered what he said, there were so many things she still had to learn about her new family. She asked tentatively “What are we going to do about house keeping money, do I just run up bills at the store or what?"
“I’d rather we paid at the time, the stores have problems sometimes with lack of cash. I'll open you a drawing account and pay in quarterly. It may take a year or so to settle down to how much you need but we’ll sort it out.” He grinned impishly “I promise you won’t be short of cash, plenty to buy that fetching little hat or the new dress you need to keep your husband interested.”
Carole gave him a mock glare “Am I going to have to work on that?”
Adam lent forward and kissed her “Not all the time you have those beautiful big eyes.” He pulled her towards him and any thought of money instantly vanished. An hour later they had to rush to get ready as they were going to watch Edwin in MacBeth. They had the Presidential box again but this time there was only a sprinkling of society present.
Adam and Carole joined Edwin and Jim for dinner after the show, a final celebration as the honeymooners were moving onto Boston the following day. It was a cheerful happy group; Carole had quickly slipped into an easy comradeship with both Edwin and Jim. They discussed the play but neither Carole nor Jim was prepared to let the friends argue about the play all night. Adam gracefully agreed, not one of his favourite plays, he was content to congratulate Edwin on his performance and allow them to change the subject.
The four friends sat and chatted over a range of subjects tentatively arranging for Edwin and Jim to come out and stay in Adam’s new house next spring when Edwin was hoping to arrange a season in Frisco. They were joined for a short time by a friend of Edwin’s, Rutherford Hayes, who was Governor of Ohio. Hayes had heard of the Ponderosa and was interested in what Adam could tell him about Virginia City. Hayes stayed chatting for half an hour and then returned to his own party. Edwin watched him go and then commented. "That’s one very clever politician." I shouldn’t be surprised to see him President one of these days.” Adam showed his surprise at that, he hadn’t even heard of the man before and yet he had a considerable number of contacts in Washington.
Jim smiled “Edwin may be right. I’ve often been surprised that you haven’t taken up politics Adam. You were in on the birth of Nevada and with the backing of the Ponderosa it wouldn’t be that difficult for you to get into the Senate.”
Adam laughed at that “There are at least two very good reasons why you’ll never see me there. Firstly politics bores me to tears. To have to listen to long, bad speeches by men, whom you neither agree with nor respect, is a great waste of time in my opinion. There are too many compromises and too much mud slinging for my taste. Secondly although I like Washington well enough for a visit. To live there, or here or in Boston would slowly drive me mad. I finally learnt my lesson in England. I was brought up on the wide, open spaces and I can’t live happily for any length of time away from them.”
Edwin shrugged “Pity though. You’re the sort of person we need in politics Adam, honest with principles.”
Adam grinned at his friend “Thank you for those kind words but we still have a fight on the ground in Nevada and I think I’m needed there. One thing I’ll guarantee I have no intention of getting into politics.” Then deciding the discussion was getting too serious he changed the subject. They sat chatting until after two in the morning and then retreated home to Edwin’s study to sit around the fire with brandy, loath to go to bed, as it would signal the end of a very pleasant three weeks. Eventually Adam pulled Carole up from her position curled up against him “Come on my love we should get a few hours sleep, we have a train to catch at midday.”
They had done nearly all their packing the previous day, so even getting up at ten, they had time for a leisurely breakfast. When it was time to go Edwin and Jim both came to see them onto the train. Adam thanked his friend for his hospitality and Carole added her thanks, they had had a wonderful time, but Edwin pushed it off; he was only sorry they couldn’t stay longer. It was little enough in return for all the times he’d been to the Ponderosa.
As they settled into their private carriage and the train pulled out Carole found herself in tears, she had had a wonderful time and didn't want it to end. Adam saw and put his arm round her shoulders “Would you want to live in New York?”
Carole pulled away and immediately said, “No I’d hate it.”
Adam sighed “I always knew it I will never understand women! If you don’t want to stay here, then why the tears?”
Carole nestled against his shoulder “I’ve had a marvellous three weeks, seen more plays and heard more music than in the rest of my life put together and I’m sorry it’s over. But while I enjoyed every minute of it, if I built my whole life round those things like Mrs Van der Bilt and the others I’d be bored to distraction in a few months.” She looked up at her husband “They even hand over their children to outsiders almost from birth. I think they lose the most important things in life. I’d rather have a baby’s babbling than the most magnificent symphony. I came home from Frisco before and found home seemed half dead now I wouldn’t swap the view over the Sierras for the contents of the New York Academy. All this is wonderful for a vacation but not real.”
Adam pulled her tight to him, for a moment hardly able to speak through the lump in his throat and he just kissed her firmly. “Darling I love you. I’d always prayed I’d find a woman, who felt as I did, become a true partner. I never wanted someone who would just look pretty and keep the home neat. I wanted someone who could share all my life, books, music, art but also the Ponderosa. I just never imagined that when I finally found her that she would be so very beautiful.”
Carole smiled up at him her eyes glowing “I love you Adam” and then snuggling close she shut her eyes and soon she was fast asleep. Adam sat staring out of the window remembering incidents from the last weeks and rejoicing that he felt so much better, the motion of the train wasn’t worrying him as he supported his sleeping wife.
Little Joe was nearing New York. He was paying the price for lack of food and lack of sleep and was beginning to feel really ill. His eyes were sunk in their sockets and he had a fine beard not having shaved since he left home, He had been slowly losing weight and looked very drawn. Joe had a perpetual headache, which even at time disturbed his vision, sometimes he saw double, at other times it was just blurred. No longer capable of thinking coherently Joe was just existing almost in a vacuum, hardly noticing the passage of the miles or even time, with only one idea in his mind to reach his brother. From time to time Joe pressed his hand over his aching eye trying to block out Marie’s face or his father’s face, which rose accusingly in front of him, but most of the time Joe just stared unseeingly out of the window in a kind of torpor. When he finally reached New York Joe found that he had a twenty-four hour wait before he could catch a train to Boston. He had never been in New York before but he didn’t care enough to explore and just walked out of the station and into the first hotel he saw. He got himself a room and hardly made it onto the bed before lack of sleep caught up with him. Joe slept the clock round but the sleep somehow made him feel worse not better. He awoke feeling as though he had a bad hangover, which as he had only been drinking black coffee seemed manifestly unfair. Joe gathered himself together and washed his face before going down for food. Even the sight of food turned his stomach and he settled for more coffee. Then needing to pass the time somehow he decided to go for a walk. He walked round New York for more than four hours but afterwards he was never able to remember where he had gone or what he had seen. Eventually it was time for the train and Joe headed onto Boston resuming his sightless staring out of the window.
Adam and Carole left Boston on the way to Hillsboro as Joe caught the train to Boston. It was only eighty miles to Hillsboro but they had to go by stagecoach and Adam still found that troubled him, even on the reasonably good roads in the settled East. They had spent most of the time in Boston with old friends of Adam's. Although Boston had seemed exciting to Carole when she was a child, after the social whirl of New York, it seemed very quiet. Adam had always enjoyed trips to Boston and he delighted in the opportunity to take his wife to his mother's grave, almost feeling as though he was introducing the two women. However after an enjoyable week, neither of them was particularly sorry to move onto Hillsboro, for ten days with Carole’s parents before they returned home. Adam was rather surprised not to have had word from his father, who usually dropped him a line if he was away for any sort of extended period. Adam was beginning to miss the peace and quiet of the ranch and he longed to take Sport out for a long ride on his own. It was many months since he had toured the ranch last and he was feeling the need of it.
The last day on the coach to Hillsboro seemed forever to Little Joe. He was close to physical and mental breakdown, after nearly a fortnight without proper food or sleep. He sat staring out of the window not even realising the attention he was attracting. Joe had set out on the long trip without even a clean short or underclothes. Although he had bought some clothes in New York he was still basically dressed in his ranch clothes and they were out of place in New England, Not thinking he was even wearing his gun and the passengers looked askance at him. The driver had tried to pluck up the courage to speak to him but Joe’s burning eyes had stopped him. Without his razor he had perforce grown a beard and after a fortnight it was well established. Above his beard his cheeks were sunken throwing his cheekbones into prominence. His eyes were sunk deep into their sockets but burnt intensely with his continual blinding headache. The scars on his forehead from the beating he’d taken earlier in the year were showing clearly. There was an unhealthy grey tinge to his face and he was continually seeing double now. But he still had only one thought in his mind to reach his elder brother and, as he had done as a kid pour out all his troubles to Adam, who would somehow solve all his problems.
In Hillsboro Adam and Carole had spent a quiet couple of days. He had to be introduced to all her relatives and the friends she had grown up with but Carole insisted on keeping the mornings to themselves. Carole was very proud of her husband but her mother had warned her that most people considered that she had thrown herself away on a westerner, who was, by definition, wild and uncultured, if not completely illiterate. They had changed their minds slightly on learning that he was part owner of a thousand square miles but after all that was in the west. Carole had been furious but her mother had pointed out that she who laughs last, laughs longest. They would all have a shock when they met Adam.
Adam had bought several suits and a whole collection of lacy white shirts in New York. Adam remained faithful to his favourite black but when not working he was quite happy to change black shirts for fancy white ones. Ben had instilled good clothes sense in all his sons and Adam had honed his in Europe. He kept his basic clothes simple with no jewellery except for the signet ring that he wore as a wedding ring, which had a single diamond in one corner and the Ponderosa brand in the diagonal corner. In colour it was nearly always black and white although he sometimes wore a dark red but his clothes were well cut and his tall muscular body with slim hips and long legs showed the clothes of to perfection. Carole always felt a thrill of pride when her husband dressed for a social event. Too many of the boys she had grown up with wore over fussy clothes with too much jewellery and couldn’t come close to her elegant husband.
When they first went downtown to visit her cousin, who was holding a welcome party for them, they were greeted by a sort of stunned silence, much to Adam’s amusement. Carole was thoroughly embarrassed, knowing that Adam couldn’t fail to notice the reaction and knowing her love well enough to know that he would guess the reason. Adam did, he had met the same reaction many times in Europe but he found it amusing and it certainly didn’t worry him, so he grinned down at his wife “Won’t you introduce me to your cousin, my love?”
Brought back to the present with a bump Carole began to introduce her husband around. Later in the evening when Adam was chatting with her cousin’s husband and some of the other men, who all wanted to know what it was really like out west, Carole was cornered by her two cousins and two other old friends. They made it very clear that they thought Adam was gorgeous and a very good catch. When they heard about the home he was building for her and the things they had bought in New York, their opinion was reinforced. When they left Carole knew that her husband had made a very good impression on all her relatives and friends. She had expected him to but now looking at the admiration in the faces of her friends, she felt very proud and happy. Adam seemed to like her friends as well, an impression he was trying hard to give and avoided any controversial issues. A lot of them weren’t really the sort of person he normally called friend, very dogmatic, especially on religious issues, but he was careful to avoid any potentially awkward issues.
They were going down to the bookshop on their third afternoon in Hillsboro when Adam suddenly stopped dead. Carole was worried “Are you alright?”
“Sure I’m fine, but I’m seeing things, that’s Joe over there.”

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