Riding to catch up with his brothers, Trevor was unprepared for the gunshots coming from Steven.
"Hey what are you doing? We want them alive!" He shouted to Steven.
Steven and now Johnny kept firing at the Cartwright's. With sadness he realized he'd taught his brothers too well at firing a gun as two of the Cartwrights hit the ground. The larger brother went back for the other two and picked up the kid. Trevor wondered if his own brothers would do that for him or any of their family.
Trevor slowed his horse and motioned for his brothers to do the same. They finally caught up to the three brothers. The Cartwrights had made it to an outcropping of rocks and boulders. Trevor Realized that this had been a stroke of genius on the Cartwrights because they could only attack from one direction. Out numbered and weaponless this was the best strategy they could have used.
"Alright dismount. Steven and Johnny take the left, Davey and I will cover the right side." Trevor told his brothers. "And Steven remember we need them alive."
"Oh come on there are three of them. If I take one of them out we still have two more. Plus their Pa won't know until it's too late." Steven whined
"NO! You'll do as I say. No more killing. You had your way with the stage and look where that got us. NO MORE!" Trevor retorted with rage.
"OK, OK, Johnny let's head out." With that Trevor and Johnny headed off to the right. Ten yards away Trevor saw a man he'd never seen before come around the boulders with a gun. He was quickly embraced by the largest Cartwright. He stood transfixed at the display of emotion that the two men showed each other. He realized that this must be Ben Cartwright. He caught movement of to his right as Davey kept walking and raised his gun.
"DAVEY NO!" He shouted at the same time he heard "HOSS GET DOWN!" and then a gunshot. Davey went down fast and didn't get up. The elder Cartwright had been faster and had shot Davey. Now the gun was pointed in his direction.
"Throw down your gun slowly." Said the deep low voice of Ben Cartwright. Trevor threw his gun down and ran over to Davey. Davey was dead, there was no question about that. He heard a man close to him and grabbed Davey's gun. Knowing that it wasn't worth the price. The life he had lived. The same life he'd given to his brothers. Trevor wondered if anyone would remember him and his family when he was gone. Bringing up the gun he aimed at the elder Cartwright, but never got the chance to fire.
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Hoss stood over the man he knew as Trevor with a smoking gun. He was angry at the man for giving him no choice, but to end his life. It was never easy taking a life even in self defense. Hoss didn't have much time to lament on what he'd done. Off to the right Adam was in over his head.
"Come on Pa we've got to help Adam."
Running over Hoss found him pinned to the ground with a man trying to choke him. Another man was standing over Joe with a gun pointed at his head. Hoss saw red and ran at the man that was threatening Joe. The man wasn't expecting to be attacked and was thrown to the ground. Hoss landed on top of him, lifted his right arm, and threw a punch harder than he'd ever thrown. The man went still after one punch.
"Get off of him now or I will shoot you." Hoss heard Ben say to the man on top of Adam. The man stood with his hands in the air. "Hoss go get his gun. Adam are you alright son?"
"Yeah Pa I'm fine. I am glad that I was wrong and that you came for us early." Adam said as he tried to stand. He lost his balance and Hoss jumped over to catch him from falling. The man that had attacked Adam took advantage of the distraction and started to pull his gun. Again Ben was faster and shot him first. He fell to the ground dead. Hoss and Adam looked toward their father.
"Glad that you could make it Pa." Adam said.
Looking around Ben didn't see his youngest. "Where is Joseph?"
"Over here Pa" Hoss answered kneeling beside Joe. He had yet to move and Hoss could feel the heat coming from Joe. Snow was accumulating around the pair as Joe laid on the ground.
"What happened to your brother Hoss?"
"He got knocked around when we first met up with these guys and then he hit his head again when Adam got shot" Hoss explained.
"Adam got shot!"
"Yeah Pa it was through his left shoulder. It's painful, but he'll live."
"Not if I have anything to do about it." Said the man that Hoss had knocked out. "Now drop your weapons."
Hoss and Ben dropped the weapons.
"Where are my brothers?"
"I'm sorry to tell you this son, but you're the only one left." Ben said as calmly as possible.
"They're my brothers! They didn't leave me! Where are they?" He said pulling up the gun a little higher.
"Son they didn't leave you. They are dead."
"Dead? But they can't be." The man looked around to see the bodies of his family spread around the rocks. "You Cartwrights killed them! I'll kill you all! Starting with the 'big man'." He said pointing his gun at Hoss. He pulled back the hammer, but before he could pull the trigger a gunshot rang out and the man fell to the ground.
Adam stepped from behind some rocks with a gun in hand.
"Thank goodness, Adam" Ben stood and walked over to his eldest. He really looked at Adam and saw the pain in his eyes along with exhaustion. "Adam why don't you come over here and sit with Joe."
"Pa I'm fine. I've ..." Adam started.
"I'll say who's fine and right now Adam you are most certainly NOT fine." Ben said taking command of the situation. "Hoss let's see if we can round up our horses so we can head for home." Hoss and Ben turned to go. "Adam stay here and look after Joe" Ben said over his shoulder.
Adam would never admit just how glad he was to have his Pa here making the decisions. Pulling Joe off the ground and onto his lap he leaned against a rock and promptly fell asleep.
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Walking back with Buck and Sport, Ben was worried. Worried about Adam, Hoss and Joe. Especially Joe. Worried about the weather and would they be able to make it home. Coming around the corner his worried melted away as he found his eldest and youngest together asleep. Well Adam was asleep, Joe was beyond sleep at the moment. Tying Buck and Sport to a tree he walked over to his sleeping sons. Kneeling down on the snow Ben put his hand to Joe's forehead.
"Oh Joe." He said feeling the fever beneath his hand. At his touch Joe started to move. It was what Ben had been waiting for, some sign that Joe was waking. "Joe come on boy it's time to wake up. " Ben said as Adam slowly woke at his fathers' voice.
Moving his head from side to side Joe fought to wake up. "Joe get up Pa's here." Adam said trying to get his brother to open his eyes.
"Pa?" Joe said quietly "I'll be up in a few minutes."
"Come on it's snowing and we've got to get you home." Ben continued.
"Home? I thought we were home. Pa what's going on?" Joe said confused.
"Remember Joe we ran into some new friends" said Adam. "Now why don't you open your eyes for us?"
"Adam? Are you alright? You sound terrible. I feel terrible. Adam I want Pa." Joe said as his voice started to trail off.
"I'm right here Joe" Ben said. "Can you stay awake for me?"
"Pa" Joe said opening his eyes to just slits. He found his fathers eyes and a small smile appeared on his face. "Looks like Adam was wrong" he said as his eyes closed again.
"Joe" Adam said shaking his brother gently, but he didn't stir. "Looks like he's out again Pa."
"Who's out again?" Hoss asked as he walked up with Chubb and Cochise behind him.
"Joe woke up briefly, but he didn't last long. What did Joe mean when he said that you were wrong Adam?" Ben said turning to his oldest.
"Well I'm surprised he heard that, he was out of it when I said it. Don't worry about it Pa. He was right, I was wrong. Here help me with him, we've got to get moving." Adam said as he tried to get out from under Joe. Hoss picked his brother up as Adam stood with the help of his father.
"Adam can you ride?" Ben asked.
"Yeah I can make it, I'm fine." Ben shook his head at the obstinate response from Adam, who was still "not fine".
Ben helped Adam mount Sport and then he climbed onto Buck. With Ben on Buck Hoss handed Joe up to the waiting arms of his father never once stirring. Hoss grabbed Cochise's' lead line and jumped onto Chubb. With the snow still falling they made their way from the boulders toward home. The bodies of their tormentors lying in the snow. Ben gave them a last look of regret that they'd killed them. Wishing that he could at least bury them, but with Joe shivering in front of him he knew there was no time.
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The ride home was treacherous. With the snow coming down harder and pilling up it was a slow ride home. Ben was surprised that Adam was still sitting in his saddle after several hours of riding. They rounded a corner and Ben smiled as the house came into sight.
Stopping in front of the door Ben called out to Hop Sing. "Hop Sing" Hop Sing appeared at the door in moments.
"Hop Sing could you please turn down Adam and Joe's beds, get a big fire going, and boil some water." Ben asked from Buck. "Hoss take Joe please. I'll help Adam."
"I'm fine" Adam said as he dismounted. Apparently Adam wasn't "fine" as his legs didn't support his weight and he fell in a heap on the ground.
Ben hurried over to Adam to help him stand. "Sure you're fine." Ben said as he and Adam walked into the house. Getting Adam up the stairs proved to be too hard for Ben by himself.
"Hoss" he called. "Come give me a hand with your brother." He came down the stairs and the two of them got him to bed. Hop Sing arrived with hot water, bandages, and clean pajamas. "Thank you Hop Sing."
"You're welcome. You want Hop Sing to go get doctor?"
"No we'll have to make do without. The snow is showing no signs of letting up. Let's wait until it stops." Ben said as he helped Adam get changed.
Hoss who had been with Joe came into Adam's room. "Pa, Joe is asking for you."
Walking out of Adam's room and into Joe's he found Joe in his pajamas with many quilts over him.
"Pa"
"I'm right here son" Ben said as he crossed the room to Joe's bedside.
"Pa are we home yet?" he said trying to keep his eyes open.
"Yes Joe we made it home."
"Adam and Hoss? Where are they? Are they ok?"
"Hey Joe I'm right here" Hoss said walking up to the bed. "Adam is in his room, but he'll be right as rain. Don't you worry none."
"I'm glad Hoss..." Joe said as his eyes closed.
"Joe can you stay awake for me son?" Ben asked raising his hand against Joe's head. His fever was down.
"Just a few more minutes of sleep Pa." Joe whined falling into a light sleep.
Ben chuckled some things will never change. Hoping that the worst was over for their family.
"Pa?"
"Adam what are you doing out of bed?"
"Just checking on Joe."
"Well I'm no doctor, but I think your brother will be fine, he just needs some rest. Now you need to head back to bed."
"But Pa"
"Ah! No buts! You need rest just as much as your brother. Now get going. Hoss why don't you go and make sure Adam gets settled into bed."
"Alright Pa I'm going" Adam said as he walked out with Hoss close behind him.
Ben grabbed a chair and brought it closer to Joe's bed. He was tired. With the events of the last few days he wasn't surprised. But the feeling that something was off in the world had passed. His sons had a way to go before they would be well again, but they were on the right path. Settling down into the chair Ben watched his youngest sleep. Thinking about how quickly some things change and how some things never seem to change. His sons were young men now, striving for independence. But no matter, they were still and always would be his children. With thoughts of his family Ben relaxed into a light sleep.
THE END
To those who stuck with this story thank you. It has been an adventure that has taken many paths.
