Chapter 4

Vince rode straight to the Ponderosa. He looked around, but could not see anyone. He dismounted and tied his horse to the hitching post. He walked to the

ranch house and looked inside, but saw no one. He turned around and walked into the yard.

"Mr. Cartwright?!" He hollered. "Ben Cartwright?"

The group was eating in the bunkhouse. Ben looked out the window. "That's Vince Phillips," he reported. He put on his gunbelt and hat and headed for the door.

Adam did the same. "I'm going with you," he said.

"Ben Cartwright! I wanna talk to you!"

"I'm going down there," Hoss told Roy as he spurred his horse.

"What can I do for you, Vince?" Ben asked cautiously, walking toward the young man. Adam was on his flank. Both men were prepared to draw if they had to.

"I don't want you to buy our ranch," Vince said. His hand hovered near his gun.

"Well, Vince, your Pa owns the ranch, and he wants to sell it." Ben noticed the arrival of his middle son. Hoss took up a position on his right side, and Adam held firm on his left. "I'm trying to help your family by buying that ranch."

"Well, Cartwright, we don't need your help. My brother and I can handle that ranch just fine."

Evan Phillips ran his horse as hard as he could to the Ponderosa. He'd finally put all the pieces together in his head, and realized his brother was about to do something stupid again. He had to stop him. He saw his brother standing in the yard, facing three of the Cartwrights. "Vince!" He screamed, trying to get his attention. Vince ignored him. Evan jumped off his horse and ran closer to his brother. "Vince, forget it. Pa's going to sell. We can't stop it. Just give it up, will you?"

Vince grinned a sideways grin. His fingers twitched over his gun. "No, Evan, you're wrong. There's still one way to stop it, if Mr. Cartwright won't listen to reason."

"Are you threatening me, boy?" Ben asked menacingly.

Roy was off his horse, gradually walking closer to the group with his gun drawn.

A slight glimpse of fear was evident in the younger Phillips' eyes. His breathing quickened.

Evan took two steps closer to his brother, and said quietly. "Vince, c'mon. Don't do something foolish. If you hurt Mr. Cartwright, you'll go to jail and we'll still lose the ranch. Think about what you're doing!"

"Shut up!" Vince yelled at his brother.

Evan continued. "If you want to keep the ranch, killing a man is not going to help! Now, turn around, get back on your horse-"

"Shut up!" Vince screamed, and pulled his gun on his brother. Evan, too, pulled his gun. Both brothers faced each other, prepared to fire.

"Put the gun down, Vince!"

"Shut up, Evan!"

"Put the gun down!"

"I'll kill you, Evan!"

"Put it down!"

The Cartwrights watched in horror as a gun fired. Vince's gun flew from his hand and he fell to the ground, holding his wrist. Evan stood, gun still trained on his younger brother.

Vince slowly lifted his head and glared at his brother. An animalistic scream escaped him as he charged at his brother and wrestled him to the ground. Evan's gun flew from his hand and landed harmlessly in the dirt. The two young men wrestled viciously.

Adam grabbed Evan while Ben and Hoss pulled Vince off of him. Roy emerged from his hiding place and shot his gun in the air to get their attention. "That's enough, boys!" he yelled.

Ben looked to Hoss. "Let's get him to the house, have a look at that hand." Hoss nodded and they led Vince into the ranch house.

Adam could feel Evan shaking in his grip, but knew he wasn't angry any more. He let go of him. "Come with me, Evan," he said softly, and guided him with a hand on his shoulder.

Adam led him to the barn, where Evan sat down heavily on a hay bale. "I shot him," he said, "my own brother."

"You had to. He was about to throw away his whole future. You saved him."

"He'll never forgive me."

"You might be surprised."

Evan stood up. "I've got to go talk to him."

Adam stopped him by blocking his way. "Give him some time to cool down first."

Vince was not angry now, he was in pain. Hoss offered him a drink of whiskey, which he took greedily. Ben leaned over him with a scalpel. "Let's see what we can do with this," he said. He glanced at Hoss, who gripped the boy firmly, immobilizing him. Ben cut the boy's wrist slightly. He jerked away from the pain, but Hoss kept him stationary. Ben put the scalpel down and picked up the tongs. He reached out and pulled the bullet out of Vince's wrist.

Ben smiled at his patient. "There, that's the worst of it," he said, as he wrapped bandages around the wound. "You'll be all right."

Vince sighed relief and after Hoss released him, leaned back on the settee. Ben began putting the medical supplies away. "M-Mr. Cartwright?" Vince said. He was still shaking. Hoss threw a blanket over him.

Ben turned. "Yes, Vince?"

"I'm sorry. For everything." As he said this, he gestured to the fire damage in the house.

Roy stirred from where he'd been watching in the corner of the room.

Vince looked at the Sheriff. "I started the fire, Sheriff. I brought some friends with me, but it was my idea, and I did it."

Ben patted the boy on the shoulder. "Why don't you rest a while," he said. Then he turned to Roy and led him outside.

"He broke the law, Ben. You're lucky no one was seriously hurt."

"I know that Roy. But the boy's father is dying. He's desperate. He didn't know what to do!"

"It's up to you, Ben. It's your house that was damaged."

They walked back inside, followed by Evan and Adam. Ben stood over Vince. "Vince, I've talked it over with the Sheriff, and if you'll agree to repair the damage here," he gestured to the boy's hurt wrist, "as much as you're able, then I won't press charges against you."

Evan smiled and gave Vince an encouraging look. Vince grinned from ear to ear. "Yes, sir, Mr. Cartwright! I'll surely do that!"

Ben stood near the door of the carriage and shook hands with his good friends. "I'm so glad you came to stay with us. And I'm glad to see the two of you so happy."

Carrie gave him a kiss on the cheek. "And to think, all you had to do was nearly burn down your house!' She smiled.

Paul chimed in, "You really go out of your way to ensure the happiness of your guests!" They all shared a laugh.

As Ben helped the two into the carriage, Carrie said, "I do hope those Phillips boys will be all right."

"Oh, I don't think there's anything to worry about. I talked with Mr. Phillips. He agreed to let the boys keep the property. I took half of the stock off of their hands so it will be more manageable for Evan until Vince comes around. They'll be fine."

"Oh, good. I'm so glad to hear it," she smiled at Ben.

"Safe journey," he said.

They waved at the Cartwrights as they drove away.

THE END