Forgotten Past
By Miranda Rochelle Inc
Chapter 2: Ben's Nightmare
Ben Cartwright had been searching for his seven year old, youngest son, for hours. His middle son looked up at him with fearful eyes, "We'll find 'im, won't we, pa?"
Ben dismounted his faithful tireless horse and put his arms around the thirteen year old, "Don't worry, son." He sounded as if he was trying to convince himself more than the boy, "We'll find him."
"Mr. Cartwright!" Charlie, one of the hands, called, "Mr. Cartwright! I found him!"
Ben turned quickly to see Charlie riding into the yard, pulling Joe's horse along. Joe sat on his horse, tears streaking down his face. The boy took one look at his father and started to scream and tug the horse free. "No! I told you! I can't! I have to leave!" Joe looked straight into his father's eyes and started to cry harder. "Papa! Get out of here! Let me go!"
Ben stared at his son, "Joe, what's wrong?"
Joe shook his head and didn't answer. "No! Papa, you, Adam and Hoss need to leave!"
Ben smiled slightly, relieved that his boy was now safe, even if he was hysterical. "Why do we need to leave Joe?"
"'Cause he'll kill all of us!" Joe said frantically.
Ben shook his head, "No, Joe, you're safe now, no one can hurt you." He walked closer to his son and noticed that he had a dark bruise on his cheek and a bit of dried blood under his nose and at the corner of his mouth. "Joe, who-what happened to you?"
The faint click of a gun being cocked sounded and Ben turned to see one of his most trusted hands, and friend, pointing a revolver at his head. "I happened to him, Ben."
"No!" Joe screamed again. And Hoss ran to his father's side.
Ben instinctively pushed his middle son behind him, "James?"
Thomson ignored him, "Joe?" He asked, not turning his eyes away from Ben, "What were you told, boy?"
"No!" He yelled again, "I di'n't mean to! I tried! I didn't come back on purpose! They dragged me back!"
"Todd," James called, "get the kid."
Ben watched in horror as another one of his "trusted" hands walked over to his youngest son and grab him, "Leave my son alone!" He yelled and took a few steps toward him.
Todd turned to his "boss" and Joe looked up at him, "Papa, don't!" He pleaded, which made Ben freeze in his tracks.
Ben watched helplessly as Todd threw his son to the ground. He didn't care what his son wanted, he started to get even closer, but three more of his hands drew their guns on him.
"Don't try, Cartwright!" One warned.
"Than pick on a man, not a boy!"* Adam yelled.
Adam Cartwright," James said with a smirk. He turned to face the eighteen year old who had his gun aimed right at his heart, "Always have to be first, eh, Adam?"
Joe scrambled to his feet, "No! I didn't want to come back! I did what you told me! You can't hurt 'em! You can't hurt my family! You promised."
James smirked, "You're here now, ain'tcha? You went back on your end of the deal. I told you what would happen." He walked up to Joe and aimed his gun at the boy, "Drop the gun, Adam." Adam stole a glace at his father, who nodded, then with a sigh, threw the gun to the ground near James. "Good; Jason, Tom, Andy, Hank, you know what to do." Two of the men grabbed Adam, one went to Ben to help Todd, and the last grabbed Hoss. Ben immediately began to struggle, James sent him a warning glance, "I have no qualms over killin' a seven year old, Ben, not after what you did to my son."
Ben froze yet again, "Leave my son alone! I didn't do anything to your son! I didn't even know you had one!"
"It doesn't matter! I know that it was your fault! And I'm gonna get my revenge!" He holstered his gun and balled his hand into a fist and swung it at Joe. It hit the boy squarely on the cheek and sent the boy crashing to the ground. James reached down and picked the boy up by his collar, he was breathing hard, trying his best not to cry from the pain. "Tell your papa how much it hurts." When Joe didn't answer, James grunted and threw the boy to the ground again, it earned him a slight whimper, but that was all.
Ben tried desperately to fight off the two men holding him with little success. "Leave Joe alone! He's just a boy! If you want vengeance, take it out on me! Leave him alone!"
James shook his head and mounted the horse Joe had been riding. "Stand up boy!" He spat at the little boy. Joe made no move to stand; he turned his head to look into Ben's eyes. The boy's eyes were filled with unshed tears. "Well?!"
It broke Ben's heart to see the boy in obvious pain; he cursed himself for being to weak to help his sons. He was supposed to be strong! He had promised each one of his wives that he would protect them. He couldn't fail! Not now!
Joe's eyes remained locked on his father's; it was painfully obvious that he felt as helpless as Ben.
"Fine, boy." James said, drawing his gun, he aimed it right at Ben. "You knew what would happen."
Joe scrambled to his feet, screaming "no" at the top of his lungs. Ben closed his eyes and took a deep breath, awaiting the pain of the shot. He jumped when he heard the shot, but was even more surprised that he didn't feel any pain. He heard his sons screaming and slowly opened his eyes. His heart stopped at the sight before him, just as if the bullet had gone straight through. Joe was lying face down on the ground, his limbs out at odd angles, with blood started to seep into his shirt from the bullet wound in his back. The men holding him seemed just as shocked, so Ben was able to pull away and fall to his knees at his youngest son's body. His mind barely registered the sound of James' horse riding away, as he carefully pulled his son into his arms.
"Joe," he asked huskily, "Joseph, speak to me!" Tears gathered in his eyes, "Joe!"
"P-papa-?" Joe chocked out. "I-are you...okay?"
Ben hushed his son, "I'm fine, Joe," he answered, his voice breaking. "You're going to be alright son. Its alright." He looked up slightly, never fully taking his eyes off of his baby, "Adam, go get Doc Martin!"
"Pa!" Adam argued, "We can't let him get away! I wo-"
"Then tell Roy to go after him!" Ben snapped, cradling Joe closer, "I will not give him the satisfaction of killing any of my sons! Roy will go after him! Now go!"
"Yessir!" Adam yelled, angrily wiping the tears out of his eyes. "You fight till I get back, Joe!" He ran to complete his orders.
"Pa," Joe whimpered, "I'm cold." He started to sob, "It hurts, papa."
Ben's tears slid down his face, "I know, Joe, I know. Just keep fighting, for me, Joe." He cautiously stood, being as gentile as possible. "For me." He looked over his shoulder, frightened to look away from Joe, "Hoss, get me some blankets."
The thirteen year old looked frozen in shock. "Hoss! I need those blankets now!"
Hoss nearly jumped out of his skin, started crying and nodded quickly at his father, then ran inside.
Joe started trembling in his arms, "Its alright, Joe, its alright."
"I-" Joe tried to force out the words. "'m s'ry, p'pa. I's ma flt. 'm s'ry."
Ben couldn't believe what the boy was saying, "No! No, it isn't your fault, Joe. Joe!" The boy fell limp in his father's arms. Ben couldn't remember how to breathe, as he thought the Lord had taken his youngest son away from him, but the poor child's raspy, shallow, breaths brought him out of that shock. He carefully walked to the settee as Hoss started to lay blankets down. He set his youngest son on them and covered him with two more. He pulled them down slightly ripped the neckerchief from it's place and held it firmly to the wound.
Joe whimpered again and made a very weak and vain attempt to move away from the pressure. "P'pa, don le'v m...e."
Ben took his son's small hand in his, "I won't, Joe. I'm right here." Tears fell unchecked from his eyes.
***
Ben sat up quickly in his bed. He was trembling; he pinched the bridge of his nose. It had been years since he had had that nightmare. He wiped away the tears that were trailing down his face. He had a terrible feeling that this time, James would make sure that Joe died in Ben's arms.
A/N: Howdees! Wow! Another chapter done. I hope you all like it. Sam especially! Love you! :-* You know that I'll always be your fangirl! And a special thanx to Horisont! My first reviewer! I took a peek at your page...I think I'll read some of your stories, I love Gundam. And I thank Jade as well, my second reviewer! I'm glad that I'm not the only one who likes 60's T.V. ::CoughStarTrekROCKScough:: It's cool to know that I'm not the only Bonanza fan out there. Michael Landon is sooooo hot! ::Swoon:: Today's episode was sad though...it was about Ben and Inger's travel west, poor Ben. The Cartwright "kiss of death" strikes again. Though I think I could deal if I could kiss little Joe. There are some other great Bonanza fics out there, ones that I liked.
Hold up...I just thought of something...Jade....and Horisont...you're both reviewers to my anime stories...well, hey! Who knows? Maybe I can get all of you anime peeps into 1960's American T.V.?! (And if you already like Bonanza, even better!) Well, night! Next chapter will be up next weekend! (There are strict rules about me NOT going online on weekdays)
By Miranda Rochelle Inc
Chapter 2: Ben's Nightmare
Ben Cartwright had been searching for his seven year old, youngest son, for hours. His middle son looked up at him with fearful eyes, "We'll find 'im, won't we, pa?"
Ben dismounted his faithful tireless horse and put his arms around the thirteen year old, "Don't worry, son." He sounded as if he was trying to convince himself more than the boy, "We'll find him."
"Mr. Cartwright!" Charlie, one of the hands, called, "Mr. Cartwright! I found him!"
Ben turned quickly to see Charlie riding into the yard, pulling Joe's horse along. Joe sat on his horse, tears streaking down his face. The boy took one look at his father and started to scream and tug the horse free. "No! I told you! I can't! I have to leave!" Joe looked straight into his father's eyes and started to cry harder. "Papa! Get out of here! Let me go!"
Ben stared at his son, "Joe, what's wrong?"
Joe shook his head and didn't answer. "No! Papa, you, Adam and Hoss need to leave!"
Ben smiled slightly, relieved that his boy was now safe, even if he was hysterical. "Why do we need to leave Joe?"
"'Cause he'll kill all of us!" Joe said frantically.
Ben shook his head, "No, Joe, you're safe now, no one can hurt you." He walked closer to his son and noticed that he had a dark bruise on his cheek and a bit of dried blood under his nose and at the corner of his mouth. "Joe, who-what happened to you?"
The faint click of a gun being cocked sounded and Ben turned to see one of his most trusted hands, and friend, pointing a revolver at his head. "I happened to him, Ben."
"No!" Joe screamed again. And Hoss ran to his father's side.
Ben instinctively pushed his middle son behind him, "James?"
Thomson ignored him, "Joe?" He asked, not turning his eyes away from Ben, "What were you told, boy?"
"No!" He yelled again, "I di'n't mean to! I tried! I didn't come back on purpose! They dragged me back!"
"Todd," James called, "get the kid."
Ben watched in horror as another one of his "trusted" hands walked over to his youngest son and grab him, "Leave my son alone!" He yelled and took a few steps toward him.
Todd turned to his "boss" and Joe looked up at him, "Papa, don't!" He pleaded, which made Ben freeze in his tracks.
Ben watched helplessly as Todd threw his son to the ground. He didn't care what his son wanted, he started to get even closer, but three more of his hands drew their guns on him.
"Don't try, Cartwright!" One warned.
"Than pick on a man, not a boy!"* Adam yelled.
Adam Cartwright," James said with a smirk. He turned to face the eighteen year old who had his gun aimed right at his heart, "Always have to be first, eh, Adam?"
Joe scrambled to his feet, "No! I didn't want to come back! I did what you told me! You can't hurt 'em! You can't hurt my family! You promised."
James smirked, "You're here now, ain'tcha? You went back on your end of the deal. I told you what would happen." He walked up to Joe and aimed his gun at the boy, "Drop the gun, Adam." Adam stole a glace at his father, who nodded, then with a sigh, threw the gun to the ground near James. "Good; Jason, Tom, Andy, Hank, you know what to do." Two of the men grabbed Adam, one went to Ben to help Todd, and the last grabbed Hoss. Ben immediately began to struggle, James sent him a warning glance, "I have no qualms over killin' a seven year old, Ben, not after what you did to my son."
Ben froze yet again, "Leave my son alone! I didn't do anything to your son! I didn't even know you had one!"
"It doesn't matter! I know that it was your fault! And I'm gonna get my revenge!" He holstered his gun and balled his hand into a fist and swung it at Joe. It hit the boy squarely on the cheek and sent the boy crashing to the ground. James reached down and picked the boy up by his collar, he was breathing hard, trying his best not to cry from the pain. "Tell your papa how much it hurts." When Joe didn't answer, James grunted and threw the boy to the ground again, it earned him a slight whimper, but that was all.
Ben tried desperately to fight off the two men holding him with little success. "Leave Joe alone! He's just a boy! If you want vengeance, take it out on me! Leave him alone!"
James shook his head and mounted the horse Joe had been riding. "Stand up boy!" He spat at the little boy. Joe made no move to stand; he turned his head to look into Ben's eyes. The boy's eyes were filled with unshed tears. "Well?!"
It broke Ben's heart to see the boy in obvious pain; he cursed himself for being to weak to help his sons. He was supposed to be strong! He had promised each one of his wives that he would protect them. He couldn't fail! Not now!
Joe's eyes remained locked on his father's; it was painfully obvious that he felt as helpless as Ben.
"Fine, boy." James said, drawing his gun, he aimed it right at Ben. "You knew what would happen."
Joe scrambled to his feet, screaming "no" at the top of his lungs. Ben closed his eyes and took a deep breath, awaiting the pain of the shot. He jumped when he heard the shot, but was even more surprised that he didn't feel any pain. He heard his sons screaming and slowly opened his eyes. His heart stopped at the sight before him, just as if the bullet had gone straight through. Joe was lying face down on the ground, his limbs out at odd angles, with blood started to seep into his shirt from the bullet wound in his back. The men holding him seemed just as shocked, so Ben was able to pull away and fall to his knees at his youngest son's body. His mind barely registered the sound of James' horse riding away, as he carefully pulled his son into his arms.
"Joe," he asked huskily, "Joseph, speak to me!" Tears gathered in his eyes, "Joe!"
"P-papa-?" Joe chocked out. "I-are you...okay?"
Ben hushed his son, "I'm fine, Joe," he answered, his voice breaking. "You're going to be alright son. Its alright." He looked up slightly, never fully taking his eyes off of his baby, "Adam, go get Doc Martin!"
"Pa!" Adam argued, "We can't let him get away! I wo-"
"Then tell Roy to go after him!" Ben snapped, cradling Joe closer, "I will not give him the satisfaction of killing any of my sons! Roy will go after him! Now go!"
"Yessir!" Adam yelled, angrily wiping the tears out of his eyes. "You fight till I get back, Joe!" He ran to complete his orders.
"Pa," Joe whimpered, "I'm cold." He started to sob, "It hurts, papa."
Ben's tears slid down his face, "I know, Joe, I know. Just keep fighting, for me, Joe." He cautiously stood, being as gentile as possible. "For me." He looked over his shoulder, frightened to look away from Joe, "Hoss, get me some blankets."
The thirteen year old looked frozen in shock. "Hoss! I need those blankets now!"
Hoss nearly jumped out of his skin, started crying and nodded quickly at his father, then ran inside.
Joe started trembling in his arms, "Its alright, Joe, its alright."
"I-" Joe tried to force out the words. "'m s'ry, p'pa. I's ma flt. 'm s'ry."
Ben couldn't believe what the boy was saying, "No! No, it isn't your fault, Joe. Joe!" The boy fell limp in his father's arms. Ben couldn't remember how to breathe, as he thought the Lord had taken his youngest son away from him, but the poor child's raspy, shallow, breaths brought him out of that shock. He carefully walked to the settee as Hoss started to lay blankets down. He set his youngest son on them and covered him with two more. He pulled them down slightly ripped the neckerchief from it's place and held it firmly to the wound.
Joe whimpered again and made a very weak and vain attempt to move away from the pressure. "P'pa, don le'v m...e."
Ben took his son's small hand in his, "I won't, Joe. I'm right here." Tears fell unchecked from his eyes.
***
Ben sat up quickly in his bed. He was trembling; he pinched the bridge of his nose. It had been years since he had had that nightmare. He wiped away the tears that were trailing down his face. He had a terrible feeling that this time, James would make sure that Joe died in Ben's arms.
A/N: Howdees! Wow! Another chapter done. I hope you all like it. Sam especially! Love you! :-* You know that I'll always be your fangirl! And a special thanx to Horisont! My first reviewer! I took a peek at your page...I think I'll read some of your stories, I love Gundam. And I thank Jade as well, my second reviewer! I'm glad that I'm not the only one who likes 60's T.V. ::CoughStarTrekROCKScough:: It's cool to know that I'm not the only Bonanza fan out there. Michael Landon is sooooo hot! ::Swoon:: Today's episode was sad though...it was about Ben and Inger's travel west, poor Ben. The Cartwright "kiss of death" strikes again. Though I think I could deal if I could kiss little Joe. There are some other great Bonanza fics out there, ones that I liked.
Hold up...I just thought of something...Jade....and Horisont...you're both reviewers to my anime stories...well, hey! Who knows? Maybe I can get all of you anime peeps into 1960's American T.V.?! (And if you already like Bonanza, even better!) Well, night! Next chapter will be up next weekend! (There are strict rules about me NOT going online on weekdays)