Hoss' New Bed

"Pa! Look out, Pa!" Adam shouted to his father as he ran across the street toward him, pausing for a horse and rider.

Ben Cartwright, head of the Cartwright family, turned at his eldest son's shouts, wondering what was the matter. He had turned into what appeared to be an attempted bank robbery. Ben pulled his gun, ready to stop them if he could when all hell broke loose.

The two men coming out of the bank were momentarily stunned when they saw Ben holding his gun on them. Off to his right, out of his line of sight, a man was riding up to the bank dragging two horses with him. He released his hold on the horses and ran full bore down on Ben. Adam pulled his gun from his holster but he couldn't get a clear shot…there were too many people on the street.

Adam could only watch in horror as the man on the horse barreled into his father, sending him 10 feet up into the air, the elder Cartwright twisting his body trying to lessen the fall he knew was inevitable. The two men jumped on their horses and the trio sped off at a dead run. Ben landed heavily on the ground on his right side, his arm under him. Adam ran to his father and knelt beside him, fear written on his features.

"Pa?" Adam asked hesitantly.

"I think I'm all right, son," Ben replied, trying to sit up.

"I think you better let me be the judge of that," town Doctor Paul Martin said sternly, appearing out of the crowd.

"Someone help me get Ben to my office," Paul steadied Ben.

"I'm fine, Paul," Ben tried to protest, his breathing rapid and shallow.

"Nonsense, Ben. You're bleeding…we need to check you out."

Amid continued protests, Ben was carried to Paul's office and taken inside. Paul made Adam wait in the waiting room while he examined his father. Adam paced nervously. He sent one of the local teens to the ranch to tell his brothers what had happened and then he continued with his pacing.

"Ben, you need to calm down. I can't examine you if you keep trying to leave."

"I told you I'm all right, Paul. We need to get a posse and go after those bank robbers," Ben tried to rise when Paul applied pressure to the nasty gash on his forehead.

"Ouch!" Ben said, closing his eyes to the pain.

"Ben, Roy's already doing that…you just need to sit here and let me tend to you. Or do I need to go out to my waiting room and bring Adam in here?" Paul snarled.

Ben acquiesced and allowed Paul to finish his examination. Paul was careful and diligent in his examination, something Ben was sure was a stalling tactic just to get him to stay put until the posse was gone without him. When Paul touched his right side Ben nearly came unglued. Paul opened Ben's shirt and was dismayed at what he saw. The dark spongy bruise covered a good portion of his patient's right side.

"I was afraid of this…Ben you've got broken ribs. That horse was running pretty fast when he hit you…you're lucky the damage wasn't as bad as it could have been. And you landed pretty hard on your side…you broke at least three or four ribs from what I can see so far," Ben just shook his head.

"How bad?" Ben asked between clenched teeth.

"Bad enough, I'm afraid. You'll not be joining that posse, Ben. That kind of hard riding could send one of these ribs right through your lung. And judging by the dizzy spells you've been trying to hide I'd say that you have a concussion as well. And don't give me that look Benjamin Cartwright…" Before Ben could protest Roy stuck his head in the room.

"Doc, I just wanted to check on Ben before we took off. How's he doing?"

"Fine," Ben stated, trying to push Paul away.

"Terrible," Paul answered in unison with Ben.

"Uh…Doc which is it fine or terrible?" Roy asked worried.

"I'm fine, Roy…if I can get the okay from Paul I'll be joining you," Ben stated.

"Ben will be doing no such thing, Roy," Paul glared at him, "he's got several broken ribs, a concussion, a cut he managed to pick up, and a badly bruised shoulder. The only place he's going is to bed."

"But he's going to be okay, doc?"

"Yes given time he'll be fine," Roy nodded and ducked back out of the room.

"Paul, I feel fine…I can join the posse," Ben remarked.

"No Ben, you don't feel fine. You aren't feeling much pain right now because of that shot I gave you. When it wears off you'll be feeling anything but fine. I'm giving Adam some powders and some pills along with the appropriate instructions," Paul continued to chastise Ben as he taped his ribs and stitched the wound in his head, then he put his right arm in a sling that held his arm tightly to his chest.

"He'll need to rent a buggy to take you home, You won't be able to sit a horse for at least a month most likely longer," Paul saw the look on Ben's face and decided he needed to nip this patient in the bud.

"Adam!" He shouted and Adam entered the room at a run.

"Doc?" Adam asked.

"Your father here seems to think he's indestructible…but I know better. He really needs to stay here for a few days but I don't have the time to baby sit his obstinate hide and I know Hop Sing will see to it that he obeys my instructions."

"Is he going to be okay?"

"He will be if he obeys my instructions. And Adam…"

"Yes, Paul?"

"He is NOT to join that posse under any circumstances. I don't want him even sitting on a horse for at least the next month."

"Of course he's not joining the posse. What would make you think I'd…" Adam began defensively.

"Not you, Adam…HIM. Ben seems to think he can jump on his horse and join that damned posse. I don't know if you wanted to or not but I would appreciate it if you would get your father home first and give my instructions to Hop Sing."

"I am here gentlemen, you don't need to talk about me like I'm not."

"Sorry, Pa."

"Sorry, Ben but someone has to have a clear head and right now that isn't you."

"Now, Adam, after you get him home put him in his bed. Tie him to it if you have to. He's not to leave it for at least four or five days and I want Hop Sing to mix one of these powders the minute you have him settled. I'll be out as soon as I finish tending to my other patients."

Adam nodded and tucked the powders into his shirt pockets. He left and quickly returned with a buggy. They carefully loaded Ben into the buggy, stopping once when he groaned. Paul didn't like how stubborn Ben was being and decided that must be where his sons got it. Paul had never seen a worse bunch of men when it came to getting treatment for their illnesses than the Cartwright men. He gave Adam some last minute instructions before turning to Ben and admonishing him.

"Ben, you do what I told you or you'll regret it. Broken ribs are nothing to mess around with. You put your stubborn pride to rest for a while and let your family take care of you," Ben merely nodded, the pain medication Paul had given him already beginning to take its hold on him, causing his eyelids to droop.

"Adam, keep your eye on him on the ride home. He'll not tell you if he's hurting but I think you know your Pa well enough to tell when he's hiding it. Go as slow as you need to, all that jostling is liable to really hurt," Adam nodded.

He got the buggy slowly started toward the Ponderosa, frequently looking at the now slumbering man next to him. He would make sure his father followed the doctor's instructions to the letter. He would never admit it to anyone but seeing his father take that fall had really shaken him up. Adam slowed the buggy and steered it around a pothole in the road, cringing when he heard his father try to repress a groan. It took nearly the rest of the day, Adam refusing to push the horse any faster than a brisk walk, despite his father's assurances he was fine.

"Hoss! Joe! Hop Sing!" Adam shouted as he pulled the buggy into the yard.

The door to the house opened as the side door to the kitchen opened and the men came running to see what help they could offer. They rushed to the buggy.

"What exactly happened, Adam? That kid you sent only said Pa was hurt," Hoss asked as he took in the buggy.

"Pa got hurt trying to stop some guys who were robbing the bank. Help me get him inside."

Hoss gently lifted his father out of the buggy while Joe grabbed his hat and gun belt. Hop Sing took up his usual position when a Cartwright was injured; he ran ahead and got the door, chattering in Chinese. When they reached the living room area, Ben tried to get Hoss to set him down on the settee but Adam just pointed to the stairs and told Hoss Doctor Martin had insisted on it.

Ben had started to argue when Adam glared at him. He thought better of it and just nodded. He did insist on walking up the stairs under his own power. When Adam nodded Hoss set his father down but didn't take his hand off his back as he followed him slowly up the stairs.

Once he was settled, very reluctantly, in his bed Adam gave Hop Sing the powders and the instructions from Paul. Hop Sing nodded and left the room, happy that he didn't have to be there for the discussion he had no doubt was about to take place.

"Son," Ben began, "we need to go after those men…"

"Pa, you heard Doc Martin. You aren't going anywhere. Now just lay back and get some rest. Hop Sing will be back with your medicine. After you take it we'll discuss things."

"Here Mr. Cartlight's medicine…he take now and sleep," Hop Sing said as he came back into the room.

"Yes, Hop Sing," Ben replied, "I will take the medicine…Adam would probably have Hoss force feed it to me if I didn't. But I won't be sleeping just yet," Ben glared at his eldest son who only rolled his eyes and glared back.

After Ben had drained the glass, Adam sat quietly for a long moment, both trying to think of the best way to proceed and waiting for his father's medicine to take effect. When he noticed Ben's eyes begin to droop he looked at his father and chose his words very carefully.

"Pa, Joe and Hoss will go join the posse. I'm going to stay here and look after you."

"Adam," Ben slurred, the medicine trying to draw him into the darkness, "Hop Sing will be here with me. But I'd feel better if you went too. You know what those men look like Hoss and Joe don't," Ben was struggling to stay awake.

"But Pa…"

"Don't argue, son. You heard Paul…I'll be fine. I'll just be sleeping anyway. Now go. But be careful I didn't like the look I saw in that big one's eyes,"

"If you're sure Pa…I would like to catch up to that posse."

"Go on, son. Be safe all of you."

Ben finally lost his battle to stay awake and his eyes fluttered then closed and Adam breathed a sigh of relief that his father would finally get some rest. He told his brothers to hurry and get ready and Hop Sing went to pack them some food, just in case, he had said.

Within half an hour they were ready to ride out. Adam cast a last glance up toward his father's room and then they went outside, mounted and rode out. Hop Sing went back into the house and headed up to his bosses room and sat in the chair beside the bed, watching him.

Ben woke to a darkened room. Night, Ben mused. I've been asleep quite a while. He tried to sit up, wincing and groaning and fell back to the pillows. His head swam and he steadied himself on the headboard of the bed frame. Hop Sing wasn't there so that must mean he was in the kitchen preparing dinner. He listened, trying to tell what was going on by the sounds coming up the stairs. He heard glass shatter and he swung his legs off the bed, barely able to suppress a groan.

He moved the covers and forced his tired and sore body to move. He pulled his pants on not bothering with the shirt he knew he couldn't put on. He crept to his door and cracked it open. He could hear voices down in the living room area but couldn't quite make out what they were saying so he quietly made his way to the stairs.

"Who else is here, Chinaman?" The big man roughly shook Hop Sing.

"No one here light now…all family gone."

"You're lying," the big man shook him again.

"Hop Sing no lie…family gone…won't be back till tomorrow. Out looking for you," Hop Sin spat.

"You better be telling us the truth," the big man motioned to the stairs and told partner to check.

Ben grabbed a flower vase from the table in the hall and stood just off the top of the stairs. He waited until the man reached the top step and when he came off of it Ben raised the vase as high as he could and brought it crashing down on the back of the man's head. He bent over and took his gun from his gun belt and headed down the stairs. The big man had Hop Sing by his braid and swung around as Ben came down the stairs slowly.

"So you're the only one here are ya? Get down here mister," the big man snarled.

"Let my cook go. He can't do you any harm," Ben said.

"You get down here or I'll kill him."

"What is it you want?" Ben demanded.

"I want money and by the looks of this place you got a lot of it. I'm pretty sure you have a safe around here so let's get down to business," the man drug Hop Sing toward the stairs.

"I'll get you the money, just let him go."

"First you give me that gun…" the man held out his hand.

"Not until you let Hop Sing go."

"Mister, I ain't got a lot of patience, you just give me that gun and no one need get hurt."

Ben had been paying so much attention to his cook and family friend he failed to keep an eye on the man he had hit. The man snuck up behind Ben and reached around and grabbed his gun back, jerking hard on Ben's right arm, causing him to groan.

"Hey, Red, this here's the one from the bank today!"

"Well…well, bring him on down here."

The man shoved Ben down the stairs, laughing when he winced in pain and held his side. When they reached the bottom the big man tossed Hop Sing aside like he was a rag doll and reached for Cartwright. Ben pulled back and glared at him.

"You best be on your best behavior mister…" he snarled, "else I just might have to get rough with you."

"You've already done that once today isn't that enough?" Ben snarled in reply.

"Oh lookie, Butch, he's a feisty old coot," the big man laughed as he struck Ben in his side, knocking him to his knees.

"Mr. Cartlight!" Hop Sing yelled and rushed to his boss' side.

"Cartwright?" Red repeated, "You mean to tell me this here's the Ponderosa, old man?"

"Yes it is. Now get out of my way and I'll get you what you want and you can leave," Ben tried to push past him.

"Not so fast, Cartwright…" the man grabbed him and spun Ben around, "ifn you are this Cartwright fella then that means you could be worth a whole heap more than what you got in that there safe."

"I have the payroll in there…take it and leave," Ben growled.

"Oh I plan on taking that money…and I'm takin you too."

"Now open that safe and don't try anything or the Chinaman gets it."

Ben crossed to the safe behind his desk and knelt down to turn the tumbler. He closed his eyes as a wave of pain and dizziness swept over him. He steadied himself on the safe as he pulled out the cash box. He had trouble rising and ended up pulling himself into the chair at his desk. The man took the cash box and opened it. It was full of money.

"Now take it and get out!" Ben yelled.

"I don't think so, Cartwright. Like I said you're coming with us."

"Mr. Cartlight no go…he hurt bad today…he needs to be in bed."

"Too bad for him…let's go Cartwright."

"Hey, Red, maybe you should have him write the ransom note and leave it here with the Chinaman," Butch suggested

"Good thinking, Butch. Mr. Cartwright you write a note to your family…tell them if they try to come looking for you they'll only find you dead. We want $10,000 by tomorrow noon…tell them to leave it at Eagle rock. If they do we'll leave word where they can find you if not…well, I'm sure you can guess what'll happen."

Ben wrote the note and told his sons not to worry just do what they were asked to do. He handed the note to Red and tried to get up. His head swam and the thought he would pass out but he thought of his sons and forced himself to move. They headed out to the barn, careful not to rouse any of the men who might be sleeping in the bunkhouse. They saddled one of the horses, kicking Hop Sing when he told them Ben wasn't supposed to be on a horse.

"Red, what do we do about this Chinaman? We gotta tie him up and gag him or something or else he'll be screaming the second we ride out."

"Yeah, here…here's some rope…tie him up and use this in his mouth," Red took off his bandana and handed it to Butch.

After they made sure it would be a while before Hop Sing could work his way free of the ropes, they put Ben on his horse none too lightly. Red stopped before he mounted and looked at Hop Sing. He went over to him and took his gun out and before Ben could shout to stop him, Red hit him on the head and Hop Sing slumped over.

"Why did you do that?" Ben asked, "He was gagged he couldn't alert anyone."

"Shut up, Cartwright or I'll shoot you and just leave with this money."

They rode in the direction of Eagle rock and Ben thought he would die; the pain was so great he saw streaks of white light before his eyes. Now he understood why Paul had said he wouldn't be able to ride for a while. The pace Red had set was a fairly slow one, knowing it would be hours or even morning before anyone knew Cartwright was missing. But he kept prodding Ben's horse wanting him to pick up the pace. Ben's side felt like it was on fire and it was all he could do to stay in the saddle when Red finally halted in front of an old mine shaft.

"We're here, Cartwright…get off your horse," When Ben failed to move fast enough Red yanked him out of the saddle.

"Red…go easy on him. We don't want him to die."

"What do I care after we get the money we're leaving without him anyway."

Red entered the mine and went back far enough that they could have a small fire and not be spotted. He deposited Ben in a corner by a rock like he was a sack of potatoes. He built a small fire and put a pot of coffee on. It was going to be a long night. He sent Butch out to act as lookout while he stayed by the fire with Ben.