Chapter

The Meeting

The school day had ended and Adam had come to pick Joe up and take him home. This was the agreement that they'd come to after the sit-down with Ms. Jones, the sheriff and his pa; after the last fight he'd gotten into defending that Indian boy, Sharp Tongue. Joe was to be dropped off every morning and picked up every afternoon until the end of the school year which fortunately for him was now just a few days away. He'd had suffered through weeks of this humiliation and had just about enough of it. He'd be glad when the school year was over. But then there was the drive to think about. His family would be leaving him for weeks. This would be the first time being left by himself for so long. Of course, this wasn't his family's first drive but this would be the first time Hoss would be going. So, it's not going to be the two of them rabble rousing and tearing things up.

Adam had stopped into the general store with a list of things still needed for the drive. Joe was told to wait in the cart, which he would have done had he not heard a curious whimpering from the alleyway around the corner. Something in the cries seemed desperate, piteous and deserving of attention. Turning the corner, Jaxon, the street kid was shaking down some new kid. One that Joe's never seen around these parts and whom was years younger than the both of them. The kid was way too young to stand a chance.

"Hey why don't you pick on someone your own size?"

"Joe, why don't you mind your own business." Came Jaxon's response, but Joe was not going to go away and leave the kid in the hands of this miscreant.

"Let him go!"

"Will you get out of here? It's got nothing to do with you."

"You let him go first."

"Or what?"

"Or I'll…"

"Joe look at you." Jaxon cut him off. "What are you going to do? You think you can take me on? You scrawny little good for nothing." This cut Joe but it wouldn't be enough to get him to go breaking his word to his pa about no more fights.

When the little one turned to Joe, he saw something that would be. "You hit him?" He saw as the boy looked at him revealing a full-fledged black eye. Now that on the other hand, that was enough. Jaxon glanced at the quivering boy in his grasp, perceiving what Joe was seeing. He looked back up just as Joe was charging in.

Joe was tumbling with Jaxon, rolling around on the ground. His troupe standing around cursing and shouting.

"Yeah! Hit him!"

"Give it to him good!"

Joe knew well enough that though he was smaller than Jaxon by a good foot or more it was not the underdog they were cheering for. Joe could feel that this was a battle he was not going to win, but sometimes it wasn't about winning or losing it was just about teaching someone a lesson, which Joe was doing his best to do.

It didn't take much for Jaxon to get the upper hand. He was sitting on top of Joe, swinging down fist upon fist, wailing into him. Joe had his arms up protecting his face and head. Just when Jaxon got too brash. Joe went in with a fist of his own, connecting with Jaxon's jaw. The look in Jaxon's eyes told Joe that this might have been his undoing. He might have really done it this time. Before he knew it Jaxon was being pulled off of him.

"Hey! Break it up here." The sheriff who was alerted to the commotion had come in to see what the uproar was all about. "What's going on?"

"He started it." Joe accused wiping at his mouth.

"I started it?" Jaxon threw back astonished, feigning innocence.

"Look at what he did to the little one?" The sheriff saw the dark bruise under the little one's eye.

"Come on. I'm taking you both in." He grabbed Jaxon with one arm, Joe with the other.

"What about that one?" Joe asked of the new kid afraid that leaving him to the devices of the rest of the gang would not be in the little one's best interest.

"Somebody grab him too." He said out to the gathering crowd. Higgins, the store clerk, broke through the onlookers with purpose and lifted the boy into his arms following them out.

The deputy who was up the street a way's hurried down when he saw the sheriff dragging the boys across the street and on into the jailhouse.

"You sit there." He told Joe, indicating the nearer of the two chairs which sat in front of the sheriff's desk. "Weren't you supposed to be picked up from school?" The sheriff started in on Joe right away.

"I was." The youngest Cartwright responded snootily crossing his arms and slinking down into his chair.

"Then where is your brother smart mouth?"

"I saw it all sheriff." Mr. Higgins was eager to volunteer.

"What did you see?"

"This boy here," he said, indicating Jaxon. "started picking on this one here." He indicated the small one. "Little Joe there, came around the corner and saw what was happening and stepped in to stop it. I would have done something myself 'cept I was with a customer." The sheriff seemed less than eager with accepting this tale but submitted to this account.

"Alright, get this one back to the cages." He ordered his deputy who had come in by this time, pushing Jaxon towards him.

"You're mighty lucky young man." He said, turning to Joe. "That you didn't start this fight. Otherwise, you'd be right back there with him and your pa would be getting himself an earful from me." Joe was still upset that he was here in the first place to fully appreciate his 'luck'. "Somebody go get Adam. He is in town, right Joe?" Joe was fuming.

"Yes sir. Saw him at the mercantile." The deputy offered before handing the sheriff back his keys.

"Uh, he was there. Left a list with me but had to run up to Ridley's right quick." Higgins corrected.

"Go get him. He could straighten this one out." The deputy ran out the door, nearly running into the man walking down the boardwalk.

"Now, as for you." The sheriff went over to the little one bending tenderly before him. "How about your parents? Where are they?" As he asked this, the dark-haired man, who seemed to be about mid-thirties appeared in the doorway turning everyone's head. He surveyed the room, concern in his eyes.

"My son!" He exclaimed, seeing his charge behind the bulky lawman, he went right to the little one. The sheriff stood back to give the pater open access to his son. "Oh, Scotty. Are you okay?" He stroked back the boy's hair to get a good look at his face. The bruise under his eye shone strong. The man took a breath and lowered his head. Filling his lungs with another breath he turned and asked. "How did this happen?" There was a tremor in his voice. His eyes darted about the room before finally settling on Joe who sat with clenched fist.

"Oh, it wasn't him." The clerk recounted. "The one that did it is back in the cages. This one saved your boy." As the stranger strove to understand he stood lifting his boy into his arms.

"Is that right?"

The stranger made himself comfortable taking the chair his son was in, sitting the boy on his lap now as the clerk retold the story. The man peeked around to take a look at the miscreant they spoke of.

"What's going to happen to that one?"

"Well, mister this isn't the first time something like this has happened involving that boy. I can assure you; he'll be made to answer. I'm going to get him out of my town if I could help it. He's still young enough, I think I can swing it so that he gets into a home of some kind. If not, he'll get right to a prison cell instead. That'll be alright by me too." The father listened attentively.

"Will there be a trial?"

"There might have to be." The stranger rolled out his shoulders. Leaning forward a bit with his boy still in his lap he stuck a thumb in his waistband to adjust his shirt or perhaps scratching an itch. He did something then that nobody expected.

"I'd like to pay for his release." He said sitting back.

"You want him released?"

"I don't want to press charges."

"That boy who just beat your son. You don't want to do anything about it?"

"That's right."

"Now you're not just saying this so you could take your revenge out on him later."

"Nothing could be further from the truth. I'd like to forget this ever happened."

The lawman sighed before turning to the clerk. "I suppose nothing more is needed from you." He said, releasing him of any further responsibility and allowing him to get back to his store.

A few minutes later Adam was coming through escorted by the deputy. Joe knew the first thing Adam would want to do was blame him and this pissed him off but Joe knew all he would have to do is sit there and let the others do the explaining for him. Let Adam eat his words. The man was sitting with the little boy in his lap now in the seat next to Joe's. Joe was slumped in his chair, clenching and unclenching his fist which he knew Adam noticed right away.

"Somebody want to explain to me what's going on?"

"One guess." The sheriff smirked. The older man holding the child clued Adam in.

"My child was attacked." Adam gave Joe a sharp look expecting him to explain. He didn't have to. For the third time in ten minutes, the events were retold in front of the budding vigilante and by this time Joe was beginning to feel pretty good about himself. "That boy over there is a hero. He saved my son. Apparently, there's an older boy that was messing with him."

"Jaxon." The sheriff added. "The clerk confirmed this."

"This boy stepped in and saved him." The father said.

"Where's Jaxon now?"

"We've got him back there in the cages." The sheriff answered.

"So, am I free to take Joe home?"

"I think I've got what I need."

"What's going to happen to Jaxon? Is there going to be any sort of a trial?"

"Actually, the father here has decided not to press charges. It's darn lucky for him if you ask me."

"It was a fight. These things happen." The father dismissed. "I don't see any reason to get all up in arms over this. Besides it wouldn't have happened in the first place if Scotty had done what I asked." He said looking down into the boy's face and rubbing his cheek in tender admonishment. "You were supposed to stay in the cart, weren't you? We're knew here in town." He looked back up at the men. "I was just stopping into the general store. I told you these streets can be dangerous." He said back to his boy. "You're lucky this boy was here." The boy hung his head. "It could have been a lot worse."

"You guys are free to go. I'll release him once you guys finish up your business here in town." The sheriff said, indicating Jaxon. "I don't want him causing any more trouble with you guys today."

"I'll be taking Joe right home."

"I thought you were picking up supplies?"

"I was, but I suppose that'll have to wait. I left the list with the store manager. I'll come back later and pick them up."

"How about you?"

"I've got a little bit more to do in town. Like I said we're new here. We're just picking up supplies before heading home."

"You got a place already?" Adam asked, ready to offer their home if needs be.

"Yeah. A cabin out near Rock Lake."

"Rock Lake? So, you're taking the old Smith's place." The stranger shrugged. "You're our neighbor." Adam smiled.

"Oh. Nice to meet you." They shook hands cordially. "Name's Tomlinson."

"I'm Adam and that one there is Joe."

"Joe. Nice to meet you." He nodded obeisance. "Hey so, pardon my enquiry, I heard the Cartwright's live out in that area." Adam gave the sheriff a sideways smirk. The sheriff smiled back. "You know them? They supposedly own some great piece of land. They're supposed to be some big names in these parts."

"Mister. Don't you know? You're talking to the eldest one right here."

"Oh?" He was chagrined. "Well then, nice to meet you." He shook his hand again. This time with more enthusiasm.

"If you need anything from us to help you get settled, you let us know. Really anything."

"It should be me doing for you. Your boy did something for me. I owe you big time."

"Don't think of it."

"Let me return the favor."

"Really. That won't be necessary."

"No please, I'd like to. Let me invite you for dinner. You're whole family."

"You may come to regret that."

"Why are there a lot of you?"

"No, there's only two more of us, but we come with large appetites." The man smiled humorously.

"Well, that's perfectly alright. You're all welcome and go ahead and bring your large appetites too. Uh, when can I expect you?"

"Well, I didn't necessarily say we were coming."

"Oh." The man looked hurt.

"Let me talk with my father first. We'd have to get his say so."

"You're not the man of the house?"

"No sir." Adam at twenty-two smiled, knowing he was being humored. He may have felt old enough to handle adult situations such as these, but believing he was old enough to have a boy of Joseph's age was a little much. "This little rapscallion is my brother."

"Oh well then, you run it by your father and I'll expect you tomorrow if that's alright."

"We better give it a couple of days. My pa's been pretty swamped lately. You see we're making last minute preparations for an upcoming cattle drive."

"A few days is fine. That'll give me a chance to unpack and get settled in."

"You sure this won't be putting you out?"

"Nonsense. It would be a great way to break in the house and keep me from procrastinating with unpacking the dishes. We'll be happy to have you."

"I'll send word to you to let you know if we're coming."

"Good."

"If you could kindly stop back in before you leave? I'll let this kid sit on this." The sheriff reminded again referring to the boy in the cage.

"You sure this won't be of any trouble?"

"Naw, it'll give him time to cool off. There ain't going to be no trouble, is there Mr. Jaxon?" Tomlinson peeked into the cell, meeting the boy's eyes for the first time. "Let me tell you something Mr. Jaxon It's darn lucky for you, if you ask me." The sheriff barked out to the cages. "You may have gotten away with it today, but if I find out about just one more fight you been in, I'm throwing the book at you. You'll be taken out of here so fast there'll be no time to say good bye to that group of no-good miscreants you've got doing your bidding. You hear me?" The young man stared back spitefully. "Bah!" The sheriff waved him off dismissively. Like that the men parted ways.

~.~

"You were supposed to wait in the wagon." Adam said after they cleared the outskirts of the town limits. Joe didn't defend himself. Adam pierced his lips and let it be riding near the rest of the way without another word. He couldn't let it go completely. Their pa would sure have some words to say of his own, so as they neared the house some forty minutes later Adam spoke up again.

"You know pa's not going to be happy about you being in another fight."

"But it wasn't my fault. You heard them."

"I know. We just have to get pa to understand that." Joe looked up at his older brother. Adam was being nice to him for a change. Joe crossed his arms and slunk down. "I'll tell you what. Just let me do the explaining." Joe smiled softly to show his appreciation. As they pulled up to the front and stopped, Adam reminded Joe. "Just go right in and get washed up. I'll talk to pa."

"Good evening." Their pa greeted as the boys came in. "About time you two made it back." Joe didn't greet back. With timid posture he walked right past and on towards the stairwell. Ben saw what Joe was scurrying to put away.

"Joseph, you've been in another fight." Joe stopped at his father's acknowledgment. He wanted to do what Adam suggested but he didn't quite make it up. Caught in between, turn around and face his father or continue on up. He tried for continuing on up and slowly, with head bent, took another step. "Joseph!" His father demanded his attention. Joe squeamishly turned to face his pa, sporting a split lip and tousled hair and filthy clothes.

"It wasn't my fault." He defended.

"It never is." Joe looked to Adam to see if he would stay true to his word.

"He was defending some boy in town." Now Ben turned his aggravations towards his eldest.

"Why didn't you come straight home?"

"I was filling up on supplies for the drive. Hopsing gave me a list. I told you about this pa."

"You were supposed to stop by before picking him up. You knew you were supposed to head straight home right after. This is the very thing we're trying to avoid."

"I got out of the house a bit later than I wanted to. I'm sorry pa."

"It wasn't his fault." Joseph stepped in.

"No, it is not." His pa barked his agreement. "It's yours. If you didn't go around looking for fights at every opportunity, then we wouldn't be in this mess right now, would we? Having to jump through hoops just to get you to school and back. Other boys drive themselves. Oh, but not you. You can't be trusted. You've got to go looking around for fights everywhere you go.

"He was defending a new kid."

"He's always defending the new kid!" He barked. "That's always your excuse isn't it boy?"

"He was six years old!"

"Don't you raise your voice to me boy."

"It was that Jaxon kid." Adam clued in.

"Jaxon?"

"Mm-hh-mm."

"The one Hoss's age?"

"That's right?" Ben was stifling his rage.

"Son, do you realize how much bigger that boy is than you. I'm sorry, I've got to ask. Do you have a death wish? It's like you're trying to get yourself killed."

"No, but I couldn't just stand by and let that kid get hurt." Ben was fuming.

"Go get yourself cleaned up."

"He was roughing him up."

"Go!" He barked. Joe stormed up the stairs, deliberate with each step.

"I beg your pardon pa," Adam continued when Joe was out of the room. "but you always taught us to stand up for what is right. That's all Joe was doing." Ben slunk back to his desk.

"That's all he ever does." He responded, taking an exasperated seat at his office chair. "You don't get the feeling that he goes around looking for fights just to prove himself?"

"He likes to puff out his chest, sure. What kid his age doesn't? But I don't think he's ever been in one fight where somebody else didn't have it coming."

"And you think you're a good judge on that."

"I think so. Yeah."

"What other kid has been ordered by the sheriff and his instructor to escort him every time he gets into town?"

"It wasn't an order. You all came to an agreement that this would be in Joe's best interest."

"Yes. To keep him out of trouble."

"If it were anybody else, they wouldn't be making this effort. They're all on Joe's side. Why can't you be?"

"Because I don't want to see him hurt either. I'd just wish he'd learn to walk away more."

"Pa. That boy Joe was defending was five /six years old. If Joe had walked away, what do you think could have happened to this boy? Jaxon was ruffing him up. He gave the kid a black eye. Now if you really believe that Joe should have turned his back on that one then I'll support that. But where do we draw the line? You always taught us to stand up for what's right. Now if you want to go back on that then so be it. When Joe comes back out here, we can sit him down and we'll both make that clear to him." Ben tilt his head and cinched his lips as he glared.

Joe who had been upstairs listening, held in a snicker at Adam's discourse. "Now, is this true across the board? Should we get Hoss in here too? You could sit us all down and tell us you no longer believe in what you do." Sometimes Adam's too old for his own good. Ben considered.

"Alright Adam."

"Or is this just true for Joe?"

"Alright. You've made your point." Joe left the hallway in a titter, knowing his older brother just won the argument.

"What's going to happen with Jaxon?"

"What do you mean?"

"Has he been arrested?"

"He was detained, but the boy's pa paid for his release. He's refusing to file charges."

"Really? The boy, who is ten years older, assaults his son and he's paying to get him released?"

"Yeah, I thought that was strange too. He's new in town. I think he just doesn't want to make waves. Wants to make a good impression."

"Or maybe he's not too keen on making enemies the moment he gets into town."

"Geez, let a man get settled in first." Adam exaggerated humorously, and they both chortled. Ben grew serious again as he contemplated.

"Tell me Adam, what am I going to do with that boy?"

"Relax pa. Joe is being hailed a hero." He glanced up at his oldest boy then relaxed back into a smile. "In fact, on that note, we've been invited to dinner as a thank you."

"Joe has?" He asked curiously.

"All of us. The gentleman seemed real keen on meeting the whole family."

"Really?" Adam nodded in assurance. "Not tonight?" Ben vexed.

"No." I set it for the end of the week. I also told him it was tentative. Told him I'd send word."

"Just who is it we're supposed to be dining with?"

"His name's Tomlinson. He's our new neighbor. Took up the old Smith's place." Ben considered.

"I'm not sure if we could make it. I'm really swamped, what with hiring new hands for the drive, bringing in the herd, and finding someone to care for Joe while we're away."

"I thought Miss Suther's was going to do that?"

"She's going east to visit her sister. She won't be back until summers end."

"How about Miss Flachmeyer?"

"Yeah, I thought of her. I was going to head into town to see if she'd be willing."

"Ah pa." Joe comes back down the stairs with Hoss following behind. "Not Flachmeyer. She smells."

"Joe. That's not nice."

"Well, she does. I'm just being honest."

"There are certain things you're allowed to keep to yourself. Besides there aren't many options in this town. Not many people willing to take on a kid for this length of time and on such short notice."

"Especially a rowdy little hell-raiser like yourself." Hoss teased as he came down behind Joe.

"You two washed up?"

"Yes."

"Yes sir."

"Sit. Supper's been waiting for you."

"Can't I just go with you?" Joe asked as he took a seat. Hoss sitting at his side.

"Joe. This is Hoss's first drive. He's sixteen years old. What in your right mind makes you think that you're old enough?" Ben answered as he and Adam took their seats around the table.

"I'm not asking to push the herd. I just want to go."

"No. It's too dangerous." Hopsing began bringing out the dishes.

"I grew up around these cows. I don't see why all of a sudden it would be too dangerous now."

"Dealing with these bovines in the confines of a fence is a lot different than out there in the open range. That's a whole different beast out there."

"That's right Joe. There's stampedes."

"I've been around them when they've stampeded before."

"Again it's a lot different in a fence line plus you weren't that close when it happened. Out there anything could happen."

"That's not the only danger. We'll be passing through miles of desert where water is scarce."

"And Indians."

"They don't scare me." Joe said sullen.

"Joseph, you are too young and that's final." He slunk down wallowing in his pity.

"I'll go by Miss Flachmeyer's tomorrow after I drop Joe off." Adam offered. "I've got to pick up the supplies anyways. I left the list with the clerk."

"I'll tell you what. I'll go. You can go out and help Hoss with the round-up tomorrow."