Meanwhile, back at the ranch:

Hearing Candy ride away on a business excursion he'd given his word to see to himself plain didn't sit right. Put his teeth on edge. Made it hard to think positive thoughts. Even made his wrist hurt more.
Watching it happen was even worse. Put a period at the end of a bad sentence. One that sentenced him to hard time he was going to have to spend completely alone.

Joe knew that these negative feelings had something to do with the fact that he'd been planning on spending downtime around the ranch with Candy. Having a friend nearby while he recuperated would've helped take the edge off the ache already building in his brain at the prospect of having nothing to do.

The other source of sourness originated in the fact that Joe'd previously been excited at the prospect of spending some quality time with his most work oriented brother. Hard to believe, but he'd actually been looking forward to being administrative help on the tiny herd relocation drive.
After all, he fact that Adam hadn't been back all that long, coupled with the guy's life long love affair with anything work related, meant Joe still had lots of things he wanted to catch him up on and unknown numbers of things he wanted to be caught up on. And considering work was just about Adam's favorite thing in the world, it would have been the perfect opportunity for both.

Joe turned away from his window and sighed to himself, rubbing the feeling of sleep off his face and knowing bone deep that he was gonna need some sort of distraction from all the disappointments, discomforts, and restrictions the next couple days were panning out to be.
That or he'd come down with a nasty case of cabin fever.

So, putting on his clothes for the day, Joe glanced in his mirror and nodded at the convicted face it reflected back at him.
He was gonna do something fun today. He owed it to himself.

Grumbling at the great difficulty in 'pulling' on his boots with the use of only one hand, Joe thought of how nice it would be to take a little ride through the nearby woods. The paths were well worn and cleared regularly, so he wouldn't have to worry about jumping obstacles or having to turn back halfway.
Yeah, he thought, giving his hair a quick comb, he'd sneak out directly after breakfast, and he'd let the Ponderosa pines show him a good time. Cochise'd love it too!

So, after filling his belly on some top quality cooking, compliments Hop Sing, Joe waited for Hoss and their pa to step away from the table and out of sight, before hurrying himself out the front door.

A quiet ride was gonna be a great distraction from 'resting'. So long as he could get Cochise saddled- No. His arm hurt just thinking of doing that. Enough that he paused on the porch to give his plans a second thinking over.

Hm. He could never mind the saddle. He'd ridden bareback plenty times, so all he needed was her bridle... which he couldn't work the cinchers on with only one working hand. Not quickly anyway.
He could probably never mind that too. He had gotten some experience taking her out in her soft, rope halter in a pinch. And on a cushy ride like the one he was planning? Didn't even really need a bridle in the first place. Cochise was a good horse after all.

Yep. Everything would work out just fine, Joe thought as he stepped off the front porch on a beeline for the barn. So long as he didn't-

"Joseph? Where are you headed this fine morning?" Get caught. Uh-oh.

Joe turned to see his father walking hatless from the front door, right for him. Ben never left the house without his trusty hat, so he must've heard sneaky bootsteps on the porch and rushed out to head them off.
"Pa, I swear it, I'm just goin' out to read a book on th-the paddock fence out here. You know; fresh air bein' good for the soul and all," Joe said, in his most convincing tone.

"Mmhm. Is that so?" Joe nodded at the stern look. "Well, then why is it you're wearing your riding gloves?" Ben asked, pointing to the offending, damning evidence.

"Uh... They make me feel like I'm really dressed? Sir," Joe tacked on for good measure.

"Mmhm. Dressed for riding? Joseph?"

"Eh-heh?" Said the son who'd been caught red hand- er, black gloved. Unsure how to deflect the oncoming wrath.
"L-listen, I can explain every-"

"No need, Joseph. No need," his pa said, surprising Joe by shaking his head in a disarming fashion. "I know you resent being cooped up for so long, with instructions not to ride. 'Grounded', so to speak. But tearing off after your friend... Candy," he said the name as if he'd had to try hard to remember it, even though Joe knew he'd memorized it within five minutes of signing him on to the Ponderosa work force, "just won't do, Joe. I sent him in your stead for a reason."

"I know, Pa: I can't rope, wrangle, nor be of any help with a tender paw," Joe said, head starting to hang.

"Now, that's not true. Not most of it anyway," Ben insisted. "You could be of great help regardless most any physical limitations." Joe looked up at the encouraging words. "But, in this case, Candy is a wonderful, willing substitute and therefore, you are free to pursue instead another, far more noble use of your time:" Joe held his breath as his pa paused to leave room for a guess that he knew wasn't coming. "Healing."

"Oh, but, Pa-"

"But nothing, son," his father hushed, a gentle yet firm hand finding its way over the pair of younger shoulders and helping steer Joe away from the bountiful temptations of the outside world, back up the porch, through the front door, and into the relative safety of their comfortably appointed living room. "Very few people ever wasted their efforts nor time healing. Reading too is a worthwhile endeavor and I encourage its pursuit," he intoned, pulling his youngest son down to sit beside him on the sofa. Arm still across the compact shoulders, as if he were suspicious Joe might make a run for it if he removed it.

"Well, Pa, nothing against healing an' all, but what if I lose my edge? Huh? What if I forget h-how to-to-to rope a dogie? Huh? What'll happen to all those poor motherless calves then?" Joe asked, trying to be subtle about shirking his father's clutches and getting absolutely nowhere with it.

"Well, I never heard of an expert rancher 'losing an edge' over a few days of recuperation," Ben said, quite sensibly.

"Yeah, but, hasn't it been a few days? I think I can already feel the dulling," Joe said, just about resigned to the utter inescapability of Ben Cartwright's well practiced fatherly 'embrace'.

"It's been one. Barely. The evening you rode up half asleep and filthy does not count and it's too early this day to add to the tally just yet."

"Yes, Sir," Joe said in response to the hint of brimstone he could smell on the words.

"Joseph."

"Mmhm?" Joe asked, eyes downcast.

"This is not a form of punishment. This is a company imposed vacation for someone who both deserves and needs it. Do you understand?"

"Mmhm."

"What was that, Joseph?"

"Yes, Pa."

"Good lad. Now, why don't you take off those gloves, boots too if it pleases you, pull out that book I saw you enjoying yesterday after dinner, and relax awhile? Hm?"

"Well, uh, one-one thing about that, Pa?"

"Mm?"

"You wouldn't think it, but it's kinda hard turnin' all those pages with the same hand you're holding a book in."

"Ah. That would be why the good Lord gave you a nose," Ben said with a wry smirk. "I thought they'd've taught that in Sunday school?"

"Oh. Maybe I missed that day," Joe said, given pause by the novel sentiment. "I'll give that a try," said while using a combination of front teeth and gumption to remove his uninjured arm's black glove.

"Then it's settled!" The man with the silver hair said, freeing up Joe's shoulders to give his own hands a good clap. "A nice read is better than taking off after a friend who agreed to take over your appointment while you recovered any old day," Ben insisted. Likely aware he was still falling just a tad short of the 'convincing Joe' mark, but obviously pleased by the progress he had made.

"About that:" Joe started, at the risk of sounding repetitive. "I had been thinking of going out for a ride, but I wasn't gonna 'tear off'. I just wanted to give Cochise a stretch before she started thinkin' I'd forgotten about her," Joe said, reasonably.

"Oh, I don't think she'd ever forget about you. You spoil that horse after all. Too many carrots and apples and sugar cubes," Ben said in mock fatherly disapproval. "Don't worry: I'll have our groom put her in the paddock for some well earned relaxation."

"Oh, so now you wanna 'not punish' my horse too?!" Joe said in mock childish disapproval.

"Absolutely." Said with a straight face as the senior Cartwright levered himself to a stand.

"Alright then. Now that we understand each other, I think I'm 'bout ready to start on that 'relaxation' I've heard so much about," Joe said as he picked his book off the coffee table. Right where he'd left it the night before.

Ben chuckled and made for the door. "A good idea if ever I heard one!" Then, hat on his head where it belonged, one hand grasping the doorknob, ready to twist and win himself some sunshine, the proud father glanced back and gave his head a fond shake.
"And, Joseph?"

"Yeah, Pa?"

"Keep your feet off the table."