This is my first fan fic so R&R and pleez no flames unless they're constructive.

Chapter1

"But Pa, I don't wanna go to school!" Little Joe whined.

Joe's father, Ben Cartwright, rolled his eyes in exasperation and gazed down into his youngest son's determined green eyes.

"For the last time, Joseph. You are going to school. I am not going to argue about this." Joe sighed. "But Pa..."

"Joseph! am not going to argue today! If you don't go to school now, I will have Adam or Hoss take you." This last statement had the desired effect. Ben watched his son's gaze fall to the floor in defeat.

"Oh, all right. I'll see you after school." He picked up his books and trudged out the door towards the barn. Ben waited until he heard Joe's pinto, Cochise, leaving the yard and starting down the path, then sighed. He hated arguing with any of his sons, especially Joseph. 'Oh well,' he thought. 'I'll make it up to him when he gets home from school.'

Joe traveled along the path on Cochise at a slow trot. He was still angry at his father about the argument but more angry at himself for being mad at his father. As Cochise traveled down the trail, Joe gazed into the trees, losing himself in the beauty of the forest. He was brought to reality with a bump at the sound of a gunshot, and an almost instant stinging on his cheek.

He was momentarily stunned at how close he had just come to losing his life, and slowly reached up and touched his cheek where the bullet had grazed his skin. There was another gunshot up ahead, and a thud. Joe slid off Cochise and tread quietly to where the shots had come from.

There was a clearing up ahead, and Joe hid behind some bushes at the very edge and watched the seen before him. There were two men in the middle of the clearing. One of them had obviously been on the receiving end of the last bullet, and was laying face down in the dirt, a pool of blood slowly encircling his body.

" Got you that time, you dumb bastard." The other man was saying. "You aint ever goin' to boss me arou-" he broke off looking into the surrounding trees.

He thought he had just heard a twig snap.

Joe froze, cursing himself for being so careless of where he had stepped.

"Who's there?" The man called, looking around at the surrounding forest.

Joe sat stock-still, praying that the man would pass the noise off as some sort of animal. Joe looked at the man, taking in his appearance so he could tell Sheriff Roy Coffee later of what he had just witnessed.

The man was still looking around the clearing for the source of the noise, but his back was turned to Joe. He was wearing a dark brown worn and muddy duster that went down to his knees, and black muddy jeans and boots. The man turned around and Joe held his breath, praying that he wouldn't be spotted.

Very slowly, every muscle tensed to run if he needed to, Joe started backing away from the clearing, but he had to turn his head to look where he stepped. He had gone about ten feet back when he heard a grating voice that chilled him to the bone.

"Hey, kid. What the hell do you think you're doing?" Joe's head snapped up, and for the first time Joe was staring into the stranger's light ice-blue eyes. They were completely and utterly mad. Joe found himself unable to tear his gaze away from the man's face; he felt hypnotized by the man's steady gaze.

"I asked you a question, kid. What do you think you're doin' spyin' on me ?" He took a step forward, and raised his gun. "Answer me!"

Joe's mind was screaming for him to run, and he ripped his eyes away from the mans face and turned and started to run. He heard a shot ring out behind him and dived behind the nearest tree not a moment too soon.

The side of the tree seemed to blow out in a shower of splinters that scratched Joe's face as he stood up again. He forced himself to run faster than he had ever run in hs life. No sooner had he reached the road than another shot rang out in the early morning air.

Joe gave an agonized yell as the bullet ripped into his shoulder. He stumbled, but forced himself to continue running. The world as swimming around Joe and darkness threatened to envelope him as he stumbled on don the road. Another shot rang out, and the young Cartright fell motionless to the ground.