Ben, Adam, Hoss, and Joe rode up to the Virginia City Church, greeting people along the way. They dismounted and almost immediately separated as Joe ran off to join Mitch and Seth who were talking to a small group of girls, Ben stopped to speak to a group of older men, and Adam and Hoss made their way towards the minister, Dave Clayton. "Adam, Hoss, it's good to see you," Dave shook hands with them. "I understand that Mrs. Blaine has returned to Virginia City, and is in poor health. Lucy and I would like to visit her later this week if she's up to it. "
The brothers looked at each. "News travels fast," Adam commented.
Dave laughed, "I'll agree with you there – especially when the ladies of Virginia City spread it," he added in a lower voice. They all laughed, and Hoss said, "I'm sure Mari would love to have a visit from you. She hasn't seen anyone but us, and I know she must be tired of our ugly faces."
"That would be nice, Dave," Adam agreed. "I'm sure she'd like to see someone who isn't a Cartwright or a nurse."
"All right, then, I'll let Lucy know."
Adam and Hoss entered the church and took their accustomed pew to wait for Ben and Joe.
Outside Joe and his friends were talking with a group of girls from school. One, Mary Beth, asked Joe, "Is it true that Mariette Blaine is back here now?"
"Yes, her husband died, and she was alone in San Francisco. Hoss brought her home, and she's been sick. It's good having her back." Joe smiled at Mary Beth – she was the prettiest girl in school.
"My mother said she was surprised that your family took her back at all since her husband went to prison. She said no true lady would have stayed in San Francisco alone, that Mrs. Blaine was probably no better than she should be." The voice came from behind Joe
Joe turned to face the Lundy Miller. Taller and bigger than the other boys, Lundy often bullied the small children at school.
"My sister is a lady and she stuck by her husband, and it's none of your mother's business."
Lundy shoved Joe hard and knocked him down. "You little shrimp, my ma can say whatever she wants, and if she wants to talk about your slut of a sister-" Lundy broke off as Joe jumped up and punched him hard in the mouth.
The fight was on as Joe, smaller and lighter than the other boy, ducked his blows and managed to land a good one on Lundy's nose. Lundy finally grabbed Joe around the middle and began to squeeze him as hard as he could. Joe was sure his ribs were breaking, and then he was unable to catch his breath. There was a ringing in his ears and black spots before his eyes when suddenly he was free. Ben and Mr. Miller hauled them away from each other.
"Boys, what's going on here?" Ben demanded. He had Joe by the collar, and continued to hold him. Joe's face was pale, and he wasn't sure the boy could keep his feet.
They faced each other, panting. Finally Lundy spoke, "He hit me first, Pa. I was just defending myself."
Ben looked down at Joe. "Is this true, Joseph?"
Joe looked down at the ground. "Yeah, Pa, I hit him first," he admitted. Ben felt a tug on his coat sleeve and looked around to see Mary Beth there.
"Lundy insulted Mrs. Blaine, and when Joe told him to stop, Lundy shoved him down. Then he called Mrs. Blaine a bad word that I am not even supposed to know," Mary Beth told Ben, "and that's when Joe hit him."
Mr. Miller gave Lundy a shake. "Is that true, boy?"
Faced with witnesses, Lundy didn't have the courage to lie to his father. "Yeah, Pa, it's true," he mumbled.
Mr. Miller looked at Joe. "Boy, are you all right?"
Joe didn't realize that the man was speaking to him and didn't answer right away. Mary Beth put her hand gently on his arm. "Joe, Mr. Miller wants to know if you're all right."
Joe looked up at the big man. "Yes sir, I'm fine."
Miller studied him a second. "Yeah, I reckon you'll do." He looked at Ben. "I'll find out what my boy said and where he heard it. I apologize for him." He turned Lundy around by his collar and pulled him down to where their buggy was tied. "Get in the buggy while I get your mother." He turned to go into the church, and Lundy glared in Joe's direction. I'll get that Joe and Mary Beth, he thought. Just then his mother climbed into the back of the buggy with him, and began to wipe the blood from his face with her handkerchief. "My poor darling boy, "she murmured. "What that Cartwright ruffian did to you!" Lundy tried to shrug her off him. "I'm fine, Ma, just leave me alone, will you?"
Adam and Hoss came out of the church and went over to their father and Joe. "Miss Mary Beth, your mother is looking for you inside," Hoss told her. The girl looked at Joe and smiled.
"Bye, Joe, I'll see you tomorrow at school." She walked towards the church and gave him a backwards glance.
Joe looked up to see his father, Adam, and Hoss gathered around him. "I'm fine, Pa. I'm sorry about fighting at church, but I couldn't let him say those things about Mari."
"What did he say, Joseph?" Ben asked.
"Nothing, Pa, he just repeated some things his ma said. Pa, if we're not going to church, can we go home?"
"Sure, son, you and I'll go home." He put his arm around Joe's shoulders as they walked to their horses. Adam and Hoss walked behind them, and Hoss watched his little brother carefully as Joe climbed slowly onto Cochise. Instead of using the swing mount he'd just perfected, Joe put his foot in the stirrup and pulled himself up.
"Joe, did that boy hurt you?" Hoss asked.
"No, Hoss, I'm fine," Joe answered almost too quickly.
Adam and Hoss exchanged a look, and then saw their father watching Joe closely. They rode out of town at a slow pace, and Hoss noticed Joe holding his arms tight to his sides. He called a halt, and climbed down from Chub. "Get down, Joe."
"I'm fine," Joe said.
"If you're fine, why are you holding yourself like that?" Hoss looked over at Ben. "I think that big kid cracked a couple of his ribs. He's been holding himself pretty stiff since we left church."
"No, he didn't, I'm fine, Pa." Joe repeated. Ben reached over and lifted Joe onto Buck. "Paul's coming this afternoon for dinner. He can take a look at you then."
Joe opened his mouth to object, and Ben said, "Not another word, Joseph." With Joe in front of him, Ben was able to cushion the boy as they rode. Adam and Hoss followed behind with Cochise. When they reached the house, Ben climbed down from Buck and then reached up for Joe.
"I'm not a kid, Pa, I can get down by myself." Joe pulled away.
"You've seen me help your brothers down when they were hurt, and you've seen them help me, Joseph. Now slide down to me." Ben held his arms up, Joe rolled his eyes, and slid down. They entered the house with Ben calling for Hop Sing. The cook came out of the kitchen. "Is there something wrong?" he asked. He took in the state of Joe's clothes and shook his head. "You've been in a fight, Joe." It was a statement not a question, and Ben answered for his son.
"Yes, and he seems to be having trouble with his ribs. The other boy was much larger and he squeezed Joe pretty hard."
"Take him upstairs," Hop Sing directed. "Lien-Hua is with Miss Mari in the bathing room. I'll get her and join you."
"No!" When his family looked at him in surprise, he explained sheepishly, "I see Lien-Hua every day. I don't want her to see me like this."
"All right, I'll help Hop Sing with you. Come on, boy." Joe went up the steps as Ben shook his head and followed him. Adam and Hoss grinned.
"Remember when you were that shy?" Adam asked.
"No remembering to it, brother, I'm still that shy," Hoss said.
...
Paul sat back and looked over at Ben. "I think he's got a couple of cracked ribs, and he'll have some pain for a few days, but there's not much point in wrapping him. I'd keep him home from school for a few days."
To Ben's surprise, Joe looked alarmed. "Pa, I have to go to school!"
"Do you and Mitch and Seth have some devilment planned? Or is this about Miss Mary Beth?" Ben was seldom so insensitive about his sons' young loves, but with Joe one never knew.
Joe flushed angrily and started to answer his father, but, for once, he thought before he spoke, and he shut his mouth. He took a deep breath and answered his father calmly. "Pa, Lundy - he's mean. He picks on little kids and I think he'd hit a girl. I think he'll be waiting for Mary Beth. I've got to go to school."
Ben thought for a minute. "Joe, tomorrow I'll send Adam and Hoss in to get your assignments from Miss Jones, and they can check on Mary Beth."
Joe tried one last time. "Pa, my lessons are hard. I can't do them without help from Miss Jones."
Ben gave him a bored look. "Just stop, Joe. Either Mari or Adam can help you with your school work. You're not going to school for a few days, so just accept it."
Joe sighed, and Paul stood up. "I've got one more patient to see, I think." He left and Ben looked at Joe.
"If you'd like to have a tray in here, Joe-"
"Thanks, Pa, but I'd like to eat downstairs with the family."
"All right - rest for awhile, and one of us will come for you when dinner's ready."
Ben went downstairs to find Adam and Hoss waiting in the great room. "How's Joe, Pa? Paul says he's got some cracked ribs."
Ben shrugged. "You know your brother, Hoss. He wants to go to school tomorrow - he's concerned that the Miller boy might try to hurt Mary Beth since she spoke up for him today."
"I'll get Joe's assignments from Miss Jones tomorrow, and check on Lundy Miller then," Adam said. They looked up as the door opened, and Paul came out.
"How is she?" Ben asked. He was almost afraid to hear the answer, but Paul smiled. "She's doing much better, Ben. These days of rest have helped her along with Hop Sing's herbal teas and baths and Lien-Hua's good care of her."
"You mean her heart's getting better?" Hoss asked.
Paul thought carefully before he answered. He wanted there to be no misunderstanding. "She's growing stronger, Hoss, and her heart is no worse, but the damage is done. She will never be able to lead the active life she-"
"Never?" Paul turned to see Mariette standing behind him. "I'll never be better? I'll never be able to work or ride or do any of the things I did before?" Tears began to stream down her cheeks, and she looked at Hoss. "You should have left me alone in the city, Hoss. It might have been kinder."
Hoss went to her and took her in his arms. "Hush, don't you talk like that. Paul's a doctor, but he doesn't know everything. You're doing better, Mari, and you can't expect to be healed in a week. You spent almost two years alone with no one to help you or take care of you, and it's going to take awhile for you to get well." He led her into her room. "Now you wash your face and come out and eat supper with us."
"I'm not hungry, Hoss. I don't think I can eat." Mari said.
"You don't have to eat - just sit there and keep us company." Hoss smiled down at her. "You can do it for me, can't you?"
Mariette looked up at him. "I can do it for you." He left her and she washed the tears from her face. When she came out of her room, Hoss was waiting for her, and he led her to the table.