Ugly

by Angelene111

Hoss was different from his brothers in many ways. In speech, mannerisms and seemingly his level of education. What would cause a baron, knowing his sons would one day take over the enterprise, to not push one of them to be the best version of himself? What would cause one to fall so far and be forgotten about? We know Hoss was bullied. Could this have really been enough?

8. Chapter 8 Cause and Effect

Chapter

Cause and Affect

The Doc walked the short distance to the jailhouse. The Deputy saw the figure in the doorway with a concerned look.

"What is it Doc?" He greeted. Ms. Harper who stood against the far wall, stiffened her gait at the doc's presence. Oh no. Something went wrong. The young, blonde, freckled faced girl, hair in pig tails; sat at the desk, with a stack of papers before her also looked up alarmed. The tale she was weaving was a long one. She was telling all. "How's the boy doing?" Williams asked

"He's good. He's got some bruising. His throat's going to be a little sore for a few days, but otherwise, he's alright." Ms. Harper relaxed her gait pleased with the news.

"That's a relief." Williams returned. "The Sheriff is going to be mighty glad to hear it."

"Actually, there's something else."

"What is it?"

"Is the Sheriff here?"

"No he rode out right after he got back. He only stopped in a few minutes to see how things were carrying on. He left here, there abouts thirty minutes or so ago, to the Ponderosa."

Martin bore a troubled look. The deputy nodded subtly, bidding him to speak.

"Mr. McCabe is on his way to the Cartwright's." William's glanced back at the teacher trying to comprehend. "He said he wanted to make sure the boy paid for what he did." Ms. Harper stiffened again.

"Oh, this can't be good. I got to get out there." He said as he grabbed his hat from the desk. "Jim's on his way up. Let him know the situation." He directed the doc. "I'm going to see if I can meet up with Roy." He hated to leave the jailhouse under the supervision of civilians but his options were limited.

"Actually I've got to get back to Kyle. He's still in my office."

"I'll stay." Ms. Harper offered before Deputy William's had too much time to deliberate on it. "I'll let him know." The doc would have been the better of the options, never mind that he was a pacifist and didn't even carry a weapon. Ms. Harper didn't carry either, but she was a girl. That's why he would it rather have been Doc. He was a man. It should have been a man, but he had his own job to do. He understood the need for him to get back to his patient. Besides he didn't expect Jim to be gone too much longer. Sally's parents owned the general store in town. He expected he was on his way with them now. The young deputy reluctantly agreed and rushed past the Doc.

He swung onto his horse, turned then kicked his horse into a gallop away from the jailhouse.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay here by yourself?" The doc asked.

"I'll be fine."

"If you need me, I'm just down the street."

"I know." Martin smiled sympathetically and left the two alone. Harper felt a bit out of her league, but waited patiently with Sally for the alternate deputy to arrive. Nothing she's done so far seemed to be enough. She took on a lot of the guilt for how bad she'd allowed this to get. When the kids told the story to the Sheriff she was astounded at just how bad it was for Hoss. All this was happening under her nose. The father came to her and she dismissed him not believing herself it was as bad as all that. So much had come out and as Sally continued to write she thought about what all would continue to be revealed. Would the town judge her for this? Their trust in her would fall. They would think twice about sending their own children to school. Is there anything she could ever do to make up for the way she failed him?

~.~

"Ben." Sheriff Coffee stood at the doorway.

"What is it Sheriff?"

"I'm here about your son. Is he here?"

"Little Joe is here. Why?"

"Not Little Joe. Hoss. Is he here?"

"No, Roy. He's at school. You know that."

"He's not at school." Ben felt a lump rise in his throat.

"Where is he?"

"Ben can we talk?"

"What's going on?"

"You mind if I come in?"

"Sure yeah, of course. Pardon my manners."

"Hey Little Joe." He tousled the boy's curls. "I was wondering if we could speak in private." Ben nodded then used Hopsing to take Little Joe away.

"What is it Roy? Tell me what's happening?"

"Something happened at the school today."

Hopsing sat with Little Joe in the kitchen both chewing on leftover crumb cake. He did his best to keep the normally rambunctious child still and quiet. Preoccupying his mind. It wasn't so difficult a task as typical. The child cared just as much to listen in on the narrative of their friend, the Sheriff.

"We need to find him."

"Are you going to take him in?"

"I have to Ben. At least until we can get all this straightened out. See if McCabe wants to press charges."

"Press charges? Have you seen what they've been doing to my son?"

"I've heard about it. The children told me."

"Then you know that my son had to defend himself."

"He had no provocation. The other kids said he threw the first punch."

"Maybe this time. What about all the other times?"

"None of that matters. What matters now is this time. Did he have provocation to feel like he had to defend himself?"

"Of course he did."

"Not if he threw the first punch. The moment he did that, he became the aggressor."

"They have been tormenting my son since the beginning of the school year." Roy cleared his throat as if he knew something.

"What, Roy?"

"It might have been going on for longer than that."

"What do you mean? How long?"

"Years, maybe."

"Years? Where was Adam in all this?"

"Well, he was there Ben. Making sure it never got this bad. The kids have said this year has been the worst for Hoss because Adam hasn't been there. With Adam being gone, he hasn't been there to stop it."

"My God, why didn't he tell me? I could have been there to protect him. To stop it."

"When you found out about it, you tried to stop it."

"That's right. I went to his teacher and told her what was happening."

"And then it got worse."

"Yes. Yes, it did get worse. So you understand why this had to be done."

"Ben, I don't think you understand how serious this is."

"I don't think you understand how serious this is!" He roared. Lifting himself from his chair. "They were tormenting my child for what you claim to be years and now you want to lock him up like he's the criminal."

"Ben, I don't want to lock anybody up. But let's face the facts, your son had his hands around another kid's throat. He was going to kill him if Ms. Harper hadn't pulled him off. Now, what happened to her was an accident, she admits. But what he was doing to that kid. That was very much intentional. If he hadn't been stopped, then he'd be going up for murder."

"Murder!" Ben shouted gutturally. "My son is the victim in all this. Just how much is one boy supposed to take?"

"Ben, you've always been an honorable man and I respect you for that. You've always taught your son's that when they've done wrong they have to answer for it." He fell back into his chair defeated and rested his head in his palm.

"It's not my son's fault. It's my fault. I'm the one who told him to fight back. I told him to fight back and gave him no guidance how to do it. I just sent him off to figure it out for himself. With his strength. I never thought this would happen."

"I shouldn't be saying this." Roy spoke. "Normally I don't even like to think of it but" He sighed. "You have a lot of pull in this town. When people hear your boy's story, when they realize what he's been living through, I'm sure they'll be sympathetic. Everyone knows how gentle natured that boy is. They know he doesn't set out to hurt nobody. "I have to take him in, Ben."

"You should be taking me in instead."

"We need to let the law run its course. Hey, with any luck, McCabe won't press any charges." He snapped forward.

"He presses charges against my boy, I'm pressing charges against his, for throwing that rock at my son's head."

"First of all we don't even know it was Kyle that threw it. We'd have to get Hoss to tell us so. Right now we need to find him. He can tell us his story then. Where's your son Ben?"

"I told you, I don't know."

"Where would he go?" He shakes his head. "Does he have friends?"

"No."

"Anybody he might turn to for help?"

It dawned on him. "Yeah, the Paiutes. He's made a couple of friends among them." This worried the lawman.

"If he's there, this could make things difficult especially if they don't want to hand him over so easily. I really hope he's not there. I'll tell you what, we'll consider that a last resort. What about anywhere else? Any other friends?

"No. He didn't make friends easily."

"What about any place he might go to clear his head? Any place he might feel safe."

"The lake. Rock Lake."

"Okay. We'll try there first and work our way out."

~.~

Hoss was met with agitation as he pushed his mount onto the boundaries of tribal land. "Your Chief. I want to speak to your chief." Though cautious of the boy, they couldn't shoot the child coming in peace. They guided him through and directed him to wait outside a tent in the center of the camp. A moment later he stood before the venerable leader. The conversation went far from planned.

"You are young, Whiteman. You have family. Father, brothers. We have no place for you here. You bring trouble for my people if you stay. You bring other Whiteman. Look for you. You bring war. Go son, away from here. Go back to your people. You are not wanted here."

~.~

Ben left a worried Hopsing in charge while he went off with the Sheriff to hunt down Ben's number two son. Little Joe sat on the counter top kicking his legs back and forth as Hopsing worked feverishly around him trying to occupy his mind with other matters. The waiting was torturous for him. Little Joe, jumped down and headed for the door. "Number 3 son, stay here so Hopsing keep eye. Don't need something bad happening to you too."

"I can't keep still. I want my doll."

"Go get doll. Come right back." He went for the living room. His doll was right on the floor where he'd left it. He picked it up and stayed. Hopsing escaped back into his work forgetting about Joe's drawn out return. Joe looked at the front door. A moment later he was slipping out of it. He left his doll on the banister outside as he headed for the stables. If he was going to go after his brother he was going to have to conquer his fears. Everybody said it was going to happen sooner or later with his fiery spirit. It wasn't a matter of if, it was a matter of when. Well he guessed, today was going to be the day.

Hopsing was set into a state of uneasiness that went far beyond Hoss. Little Joe. He's been gone a while. He stopped his work and went out to go look for the boy. He wasn't in the living room where he thought the doll had been left. Maybe the doll was in his room. Neither it, nor the boy were there. Where did he go? He asked himself while glancing around. He headed for the door. Little Joe's doll laid on the banister. Little Joe had definitely come out here, but where. The horses shimmied and shied. No. Little Joe's afraid of horses. He wouldn't be in there. Still something told him this should be the first place to look.

Juniper was up on her hind legs stomping and pawing at the ground.

"It's okay girl, calm down. It's just me. It's your friend, Little Joe. He pulled at her reigns. "Woah! It's okay."

"Little Joe!" Hopsing shouted. He ran for him and pulled him away from the stomping horse.

"No. It's okay. I'm not scared anymore!" His heart beating against the walls of his chest, which Hopsing could feel as his arms wrapped around him keeping him in place, betrayed the boy.

"What numbah 3 son doing? Numbah 3 could have been stomped by hose."

"I have to go. I have to go find Hoss."

"Mistah Cotwight go get bwotha. Cotwight bwing numbah 2 son home."

"No, they don't know where he is. I know where he is. I can find him. I can bring him home."

"How numbah 3 son know and not Mistah Cotwight."

"I just do."

"Fine, you tell me I go."

"It has to be me."

"Why it got to be you?"

"Because, I'm the only one that can get him to come back." He buried his face into Hopsing and wept. Hopsing held the shattered boy.

"Mistah Cotwight find son. He bwing home."

"Why? Why did he have to leave?" He lifted his head revealing his tear streaked face. "He said he would never leave. Why'd he have to go?"

Little Joe suffered in a way he would have never imagined. The brother's shared something between them. The family itself was close-knit. He felt privileged and honored to be a part of it, but the relationship the two youngest Cartwright's shared was a bond like no other. What promises were made between the two, this was the first hearing of it. But he had no doubt words like that were shared. Words Little Joe, the boy who doesn't lie, obviously took to heart. He was willing to conquer his fears, to possibly get himself killed to bring his brother home. He looked up at the pawing horse. No saddle had yet been placed. Would Little Joe have found a way to do that if he hadn't been stopped or would he have ridden him bareback? He held Little Joe in his breast.

"You cry now."

"He said he'd never leave."

"You get it out."

"Why did he have to leave?"

~.~

Hoss was broken from his woeful thoughts by the sound of approaching horse steps. Three horses. He recognized them. They were his friends.

"We thought we might find you here." Little Feather greets.

"Why are you out here? I thought it was too dangerous."

"We're not supposed to be here, but we just had to see how you were. Make sure you were alright."

"Thanks."

"We thought you might be hungry. We brought you something." He handed over a cloth wrapped loaf of bread.

"Thanks."

"My father said something happened to you." Young Wolf spoke. "He could not say what."

"I'm sorry for coming to your tribe like that. I was really looking for you guys."

"You really caused a stir."

"It's just that you're my only friends. I shouldn't have gone. I guess, I know now it was a bad idea. I'm sorry for that."

"It's okay. They'll be alright."

"How about you? Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah, I guess.

"What happened, Horse?" Little Feather asked.

"I did something."

"What did you do? Did you kill someone?"

"I almost did. Another boy."

Hoss retold the story of how this boy was threatening him and calling him names. Saying words like 'Indian lover' and other things.

"Is this the same boy who's been hurting you?" His face gave them the answer.

"Maybe it's time to tell your pa. Just, tell your pa. They won't punish you, once you tell them. If you go home, it won't be so bad.

"I don't know about that."

"Show them your chest, Hoss. You have to show them."

"I guess I've got to go back. It'd break my pa's heart if I didn't face up to what I did."

"We could take you part ways if you'd like."

"No. It's okay. You should go back home before your missed."

"How much longer do you think you're going to be out here?"

"I don't know. I just need to clear my head."

"The sun is going down. It will be dark soon. If you are going to clear your head you should do it quick. Not safe to be here, at night, alone."

"I reckon, you're right. Thanks for coming out to see me."

"I wish we could stay with you."

"I know."

"You are our friend, Horse."

"You're my only friends."

"That's not true. Little Joe is best friend too."

"Yeah, that's not the same."

All four of them heard the oncoming men. Little Feather reached for his Bow and Young Wolf grabbed his arm to still him. Hoss recognized the men beyond the trees.

"It's okay it's just my pa." He took Hoss's word for it and lowered his guard. A man with a badge was with him.

"Should we hide?" Little Feather asked.

"It's too late now. They already know we're here."

When he found his boy, he found he was not alone. The boy's though friendly when he shared his table with them were now cautious of him and the lawman. Tension was shared by everyone as they each tried to discover the others intentions.

"Hoss, I'm here to take you into town." Young Wolf held back Little Feather as he lurched forward. Roy caught site of this but didn't react. "I need to take you in, just until we can get this whole mess straightened out."

"Do you know?" Light Feather spoke with raised voice. If Hoss wasn't going to stand up for himself he was going to stand up for him. "Do you know?" He was asking the father and the lawman. His horse rocked with his rider's agitation. "Do you know what they were doing to him?" Young Wolf tried to silence his cousin. He would not be silenced. The unfairness of it all he could not ignore. "Do you know?" He asked again.

Ben intervened for the sake of his son's friend whose heart bled for him. "Lift up your shirt son." He ordered, to say he knew. It was up to all of them together to show the Sheriff.

"Go on Hoss." Little Feather urged. He drew up his shirt to show his disgraceful, flabby, over-sized belly. Roy saw not that, but what the other's had seen. Skin marred in bruises. Old bruises. Not from today. Some maybe, but many more days, weeks old. Maybe longer. So many bruises.

"Turn around." Roy ordered. His back the same. Small ones reflecting each time he was pinched and his skin twisted between tiny fingers. Some larger ones reflecting each time he was struck. Hearing it and seeing it were two different things. Stories could be exaggerated. This was real. "Come on boy. We're going to work this out together."

~.~

The hooves come in hard and fast. Hopsing rushes to the door to come out to meet his employer. He opens just as the man was beginning to pound on the door. It was not Ben.

"Where is he?" He bellowed.

"Whey is who?"

"That boy. Where is he? I want to see him right now." Joe who sat on the staircase on the middle landing stood at the man's fury. It was apparent it was not he the man sought. "That boy's gonna pay for what he's done to my son."

"Boy not heya. Boy not come home."

"Where's Cartwright?"

"Cotwight not heya eithah." He did not want to let this man and all his anger into the house, especially with Little Joe, but he had no choice. The man pushed past him.

"Ben Cartwright!" He shouted. The frightened tot remained on the landing. He covered his ears at the booming voice. "Ben! You better get out here right now! We've got some things to discuss!"

"I tell you, Mistah Cotwight not heya." He looked around the living room then opened the door to the boy's room peering in. He glanced at the staircase and Joe stiffened. The man ran up to him, pushing past him up the stairs. Hopsing waved at Joe trying to get him to come down. They could hear the door open to the only room up there. His father's room. Joe was about to move when they hear the footsteps pummeling back down towards him. Joe pushed himself against the railing to give the man a clear passage back down.

"Where are they?"

"Hopsing not know. If you want, I tell Mistah Cotwight you come look foe dem. Dey will go to you."

"Nice try. No. I think I'll wait right here." He said taking a seat on the chair facing the dining room. Hopsing glanced at the boy. The man sat between them. Hopsing could go for the door and probably make it out just fine, but the little boy was trapped. How was he going to get to him? As if reading the Chinaman's thoughts the irate father turns to the boy whose hands were still clasped against his ears. He was scaring him.

"You. You're Ben's littlest?" Oh no. This could be bad. Hopsing had to protect him. Get him out of here. Little Joe cautiously lowered his hands.

"Mistah, maybe I take boy. Go fix snack."

"You go. I'll keep an eye on him. I'll take some coffee if you got it." No way was he going to leave Joe alone with this man. He had no idea what he was capable of.

"Coffee, no poblem. I take boy. Go get coffee."

"No. I said, I'll watch him. You go, get me some coffee. I'll keep watch of the boy. I have a few things I'd like to discuss with him anyways." Little Joe locked eyes with Hopsing begging him not to leave him alone.

"Boy get over here." The scary man ordered drawing the boy's attention.

"Mistah, deya's no poblem. I take boy. Little Joe come heya." He waved him over. Little Joe knew what Hopsing was doing. Without hesitation he went to obey stepping down from the stairs. The man jumped up and cupped Hopsing on the side of his face stopping Joe in his tracks as he watched Hopsing fall to the floor. Joe went rigid and wide eyed. His hands shooting back to his ears.

The man stared down at the Chinaman on the floor and glanced back at the boy. Stupid Chinaman. Just his luck he'd go smartin' off. Make him go do what he did and scaring the boy and all. Things weren't working out how he wanted them to. "You stupid Chinaman. Don't you understand English? I said, get me some coffee!" The fire surged in Joe to see the treatment of his trusted companion. He ran to attack the man, pounding his fists wildly into his legs.

The man grabbed Joe by the collar stopping the flurry of blows. The Chinaman pushed himself off the floor making him un-holster his side arm. "Mind your stupid business, Chinaman." He aimed at him. Little Joe kicked his feet and squirmed in a fiery temper as he was lifted off the ground with one hand.

"Let me go!" Joe shouted. "You let me go!"

"Missah, Missah Ben be heya soon. Let me take boya away. You can wait heya. No poblem. We don want no twubol."

"It's a little too late for that. You've got trouble. I'm taking him with me." Joe went rigid as these words crawled into his soul and settled in his core. His anger converting to sheer terror at the thought of being taken from his home. His knuckles lost color as his grip tightened around the man's hand.

"No!" Joe said as sort of a whimper. "Please. I don't want to go." He begged. Little Joe pulled against his grip.

"Stop fighting you little brat." He shook him to still his fight.

"Missah, missah. Please. Don't take boy. Take me. I go."

"You stupid man. What would I want with you? I'm taking the boy and you're going to tell Ben Cartwright when he returns that I want to see him and that behemoth kid of his. When that boy gets locked away where he belongs. He could have this one back."

~.~

"Sheriff! Sheriff!" The deputy slowed his horse as he saw the group coming from the trees. They met him on the open road halfway between the McCabe residence and the Ponderosa.

"What is it?"

"We've got a problem." His mind immediately went to the injured boy.

"Is it Kyle?" If he'd gotten worse this could spell real trouble for Hoss. God forbid he'd die.

"No, no. Kyle's fine." The young deputy stammered.

"Then what is it boy? Spit it out."

"It's McCabe, sir. Apparently he's pretty upset about what happened. Doc said he came out here to find your boy." Ben and Hoss exchanged worry glances.

"Alright, alright. It's okay." Roy took control. "We probably missed him on the road. He's probably going to your house. Let's just get there and talk to him. We'll all sit down and have a nice long conversation. We'll just see if we can't straighten this whole mess out."

~.~

It was twilight now. The trees always made the land appear darker than it really was. When the sun would slip down the forest was always the first to feel the effects of the oncoming night. There was still a bit of light left from the passing day, but that was quickly depleting.

To the sound of whimpering and struggling they stopped their horses.

"Shhh! You hear that?" Paduddabbu Issa held Sagwa-ni Kasa still. Numi Tobu Honi was mounted behind his brothers'. The three of them listened on as they peered through the trees.

"What do you think it is?" From the slant of the hillside they looked down upon a man fighting his hold on a little boy.

"Let me go!" They heard. Louder this time. Clearer.

"Hold still."

"Let me go!" The child pleaded.

"You little brat. I'm going to give you what for if you don't quit fightin with me."

"No, please." The boy pleaded and continued to struggle.

"Shut up boy. We got Injuns watching us." His eyes went wide and darted out looking through the trees. He saw a few braves staring down at them but couldn't tell much more about them, than they were Indians. He took his chances, they couldn't do much worse to him than this guy could do.

"Help me!" He shouted allowed. "Help me! Please help me!" He shook the boy.

"Shut up boy! Do you want to get yourself scalped?"

Paduddabbu Issa lowered his eyes at the sight. "Come on, let's go." He went to turn his horse.

"No wait." Sagwa-ni Kasa stopped him. That's Hoss and Adam's little brother." Paduddabbu Issa looked again.

"You sure?"

"Look at his curls. I'd recognize that boy anywhere."

"It is not our affair." Paduddabbu Issa said solemnly. "We have to get back." Sagwa-ni Kasa looked at his cousin incredulous.

"We have to do something. We can't just let him take him."

"What one Whiteman does to another is not our concern. What they do to Indian, that is our concern."

"What about what one Whiteman does to a little boy?"

"Not our concern." How can he be so callous? "Little boy's get hurt all the time."

"What about Hoss's brother? He's our friend."

"He is no friend of mine. Friend to you, maybe, not friend to me."

"You're right. He is a friend of mine." He shimmied his horse down the hill.

"Sagwa-ni Kasa, get back here."

"Help me! Please help me." The man covered Joe's mouth with his palm. Little Joe squirmed and got just enough of his mouth free to be able to bite down.

"Argh! You little brat. I'll give you what for." He lands a closed fist to Joe's ear and cheek bone, to which Joe saw white as his temple exploded with pain. He cradles his head as the fight leaves him.

A moment later where he saw natives, now there were none. He was despondent as the overwhelming feeling of loneliness crept in. Little Joe was born and raised in these parts. He'd never really been afraid of the forest before, even with the stories his brothers have told of the creatures that lived within. He had a feeling they told him these stories because they thought he was too wild. They were just to scare him into staying close to home. It hardly worked though. The forest was his friend. He'd always felt that. To be respected but not feared. He hated to be out here now. It wasn't the forest's fault. It was the man. He hated to be out here, alone, in the dark, with the man. It was the man he feared.

An arrow swooshed by their heads and embeds itself in the tree they'd just passed. Pulling the reins on his horse, McCabe reaches for his side arm and spots the young brave in front of him aiming down with another arrow. He's just a child passing the age of puberty. He missed once, he could take him. The rustling at his side draws his attention to another Injun. This one older. There were three on the hill. His eyes dart around looking for the third which he found at his back. He was surrounded. They were all young though. The one at his side was clearly older than the other two. Maybe somewhere between 17 and 20. The one at his back looked to be the youngest. No more than a preteen, and still had his baby face. All children. They teach them how to be heathens young. He pondered his chances. The middle child to his front, took the lead. Stepping into the clearing, arrow still drawn he used it to indicate that McCabe dismount. With the three of them it didn't seem the odds were in his favor. He could take out one, maybe two; but all three were poised and ready to fire their weapons. He slipped down from his horse. He had no intention of giving them what they wanted whatever that may be. He just had to think through it. Be smarter than them. Look for his first opening when it presented itself and not be afraid to take it.

"It's okay boy. I'll protect you." McCabe whispered to the boy who remained in the saddle.

This man can't be serious, Sagwa-ni Kasa thought. He just saw him strike Joe, who still cradled his head at the site. The blood boiled within him. He was going to get this boy away from the man. He stifled his anger and approached them cautiously.

McCabe held his ground. He wasn't going to let this boy go off to be scalped if he could help it. He got him into this mess and he was going to get him out.

Sagwa-ni Kasa trusting his brothers to keep him covered had to let the bow go with one hand in order to reach out for the reins. He was going to take the whole steed. This man could walk home for all he cared.

This was just the moment he'd waited for. The opportunity had presented itself. McCabe fast drew his pistol and fired at the brave to his side presumably his biggest threat, who barely avoided the shot by ducking behind a tree. The man ran to his horse's front expecting the brave behind him to release the arrow he held taught. He did not disappoint. Unfortunately instead of hitting the man, the arrow landed into the horse's front shoulder causing the horse to rear up and forcing Little Joe to hold on for dear life. The Injun to his front reached out to fight and got one good pistol blow to the side of his head, bringing him to his knees. The brave to his rear drew his arrow again and shot into the nearby brush sending the pained horse into further panic. McCabe grabbed for the flailing reins to still the panicked horse, splitting his attention by reaching around the horse to fire another shot at the young boy hitting him center in his fat belly. Another arrow flew in from their side, where the oldest boy had been and embedded itself into the horse's ribcage just behind the first. That was about all that tamed horse would tolerate. Pained and panicked, and realizing he was caught in the middle of a battle ground the horse darted out, pushing past his master to clear himself of the tumultuous chaos happening around him. Trampling over anything that might stand in his way which unfortunately was Sagwa-ni Kasa. The man having no more horse to shield him and feeling exposed shot up from the ground and bolted for the thicket of the trees while firing wildly towards the oldest brave at his side, his only threat left.

Paduddabbu Issa charged after fully intending to make him pay, but made it just past the clearing and into the thicket before a bewailing moan sounded at his back, stopping him. He looked back at Sagwa-ni Kasa writhing about on the forest floor. His heart fell to his stomach before thinking of the other. Where was he? His eyes looked beyond Sagwa-ni Kasa peering through the trees at where Numi Tubu Honi had been standing. The space was clear. Peering further he made out a lump on the ground that he was sure wasn't there a moment ago. It was him. It dawned on him. His stomach twisted inside him to think that the still lump was him. He looked back into the trees where the man had made his escape. He was pulled to continue the chase. Find the man and make him pay. They hadn't been able to save the boy. But he could at least make him pay for what he had done to his brothers. Make him pay for a fight they started. His eyes jumped from one to another, one trampled one shot. Two pitiful messes on the forest floor. Sagwa-ni Kasa moaned as he pushed himself upward. He ran to him first and knelt at his side.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm hurt."

"You foolish boy." Paduddabbu Issa admonished. Sagwa-ni Kasa gave him an irritable look. Was now really the time to debate ethics? Numi Tubu Honi groaned from where he lay. They both looked up at him.

"Can you walk?" Paduddabbu Issa asked.

"If you can help me up." Paduddabbu Issa pulled Sagwa-ni Kasa to his feet. Sagwa-ni Kasa, using his brother for support, hobbled his way over to Numi Tubu Honi and fell at his side. Blood leaked from a hole in his stomach. "Honi." The boy arched back in pain. "Honi talk to me."

"Nuumma." The boy cried through locked jaw. His response was bitter sweet. They hated for him to be in pain, but at least he was alive. There was pain in his eyes as he stared at his brother. Sagwa-ni Kasa looked to Paduddabbu Issa begging him to do something. Paduddabbu Issa jumped into action.

McCabe hid behind a tree as the tall Indian brave ran past him. Realizing he wouldn't get too far on foot and feeling the immediate threat of the chase gone, he had circled himself back around and found the two huddled at the side of the third. He needed to find the boy. The little one he took from the Cartwright house. He was out there alone now. Probably scared out his wits and he needed to get him back fore anything else happen to him. He could imagine how much trouble he'd be in if something did befall that boy. This whole thing would be for nothing. Making Cartwright pay and all. Not exactly what he had in mind. Oh Cartwright would pay alright if something did happen to that youngin'. He'd pay with grief. Problem was McCabe would no longer be coming out on top, looking like a hero and all for taking down a giant. Not if the way he made that giant pay was by hurting the lil one. He'd be the one to look like a chimera. He knew he had to get that boy back. Complete what he came out here to do but for that he'd need a horse. He kept hidden as the oldest brave darted about from rock to rock before going back to the injured one.

Paduddabbu Issa had peeled moss and placed it over the hole. He ripped away at his trousers and covered the moss. As he pulled it around his brother's backside, Numi Tubu Honi moaned in response. "You're going to be okay." Sagwa-ni Kasa crooned. As he tucked the cloth under Numi Tubu Honi, Paduddabbu Issa felt the warm slick wetness soaking his brother's back. He turned him over. It had gone through and through but left a gaping hole. The hole to his stomach was nothing compared to the one in his back. Sagwa-ni Kasa saw Paduddabbu Issa's face change. Paduddabbu Issa didn't want to tell him. He didn't have to. Sagwa-ni Kasa saw it in his eyes. Paduddabbu Issa went to find more moss and came back to cover that hole too.

McCabe stopped again when he felt the older brave get up again. He'd found the horses but stopped again as the young man worked. He waited until he had gone back to his kin. None of the horses had saddles but beggars can't be choosers. He opted for the strongest one and lifted himself onto its back.

As he worked the sound of hooves were heard where their horses were staged before the battle began. The braves knew exactly what had happened. At least one of their horses had been taken. Paduddabbu Issa seethed with anger.

"Look." Sagwa-ni kasa redirected his attention to Numi Tubu Honi who was playing with his mouth. He mimicked like he was drinking. They watched him play with his tongue. He wasn't mimicking. He was drinking. They both saw it. The moonlight made the liquid on his teeth appear as black tar. It was blood. He was swallowing past it. Sagwa-ni Kasa was horror-stricken.

"I've got to go get help." Paduddabbu Issa stressed. Sagwa-ni Kasa nodded. Paduddabbu Issa left them alone and rode away hard and fast.

~.~

Mister Cartwright. Mister Cartwright." Reagan met them a quarter mile outside the ranch house. "Someone took your boy."

"What?" Hopsing sent me out here to see if I could find you.

"Wait, what did you say?"

"Hopsing sent me out to find you. He said that someone took your boy. Took Joe. He said a man came into the house and was looking for you. When he couldn't find you, he took Little Joe. If you were to see Hopsing, you could see he tried to stop him."

"Is it bad?"

"He'll heal. He told Hopsing to tell you that when Hoss here gets locked up he'd let Joe go."

Ben wiped his mouth with a trembling palm.

"I'm sorry, Pa." Hoss broke him from his repine. "I never meant for any of this to happen." He turned to his son, taking on a frightfully serious tone.

"You listen to me. None of this is your fault. We'll get him back."

Things had gotten real serious, real fast. "Hoss." Roy broke in. "Go with Deputy Williams here." He had to get Hoss out of harm's way. "Deputy, put him in protective custody."

"No." Hoss protested. "I want to go with you. Help you get Joe back."

"No son. It's too dangerous for you. We'll get him back. I promise."

"Pa. I can track him. I know how. I can follow the tracks."

"Son, we'll get him. Go." Hoss was hurt at being dismissed but he dutifully obeyed. He followed the deputy away from the group.

~.~

Little Joe held on for all it was worth. When the horse took off, he'd pulled the reins tight and buried his head into the base of the horse's mane and let the horse take him where he wanted to go. He couldn't think of guiding him. He forgot how and plus he wouldn't know where to go anyways. But it was a while ago now since he lost the horse. The ride though wild didn't last all that long. He'd lost his horse some time back. He was able to hold on through the worst part. When he felt the horse slowing he lifted his head. The horse had swayed from side to side trying to catch its footing with each wounded step. He knew the horse was feeling the pain of his wound. He begged the horse not to give up on him, but give up it did. When the horse collapsed he pulled at its reins trying to get it to stand again. "Come on girl. Keep going." He begged it trying to summon the courage not to give up too. To just lay down right next to him and wait. Wait to be caught. Wait for the man to get him or death, whichever would come first. "Come on." He pleaded, fighting back tears. "Please don't quit on me. Please." He couldn't stay there for long. Looking around him he felt the night closing in. Not the night, the man. The man was closing in. The man was going to find him. The fate of this horse was not going to be his fate. To lay in the middle of a forest and die. To be picked at by critters and scavengers until there was nothing left. He wasn't going to give up now. He couldn't. He had to keep going. Without the horse he had to run. He was on foot now.

~.~

Paduddabbu Issa's village was too far away. They were in Whiteman country. He rode as fast as his horse could ride towards the nearest house he knew wouldn't turn him away. Fortunately for him, he didn't have to go that far. The men he sought were coming to him.

"Help. Please Help. My brothers." The young man dismounted and ran into the arms of Horse's Father.

"What happened?"

"Somebody took your boy. He was crying out for help." It pained the father to hear these words. Thinking about the danger his youngest was in. How frightened he must be. Praying to God he hadn't been hurt. His little baby. "We tried to get him back. We failed. My brother's, they're hurt."

~.~

The forest was dark and took on a frightening countenance. Joe couldn't tell one tree from another. He'd never seen it before like he was seeing it now. Shadows had grown in length, every one of them seeming like they wanted to reach out and grab him. No. The forest was his friend. It was the man which frightened him. The forest would protect him. Hide him like it hid the man. He considered that thought. It was hiding the man. The forest wasn't his friend. It cared nothing for him. It picked no sides. The forest was cold and heartless. It was betraying him. It hid the man in its shadows, the same way it hid all its other predators. He fought back the panic as it began to rise.

He had no idea which way was home. He couldn't shake the overwhelming feeling that no matter which way he went he was only getting further away from where he wanted to be now. In front of a warm fire embraced in his father's arms. He was running. Deeper into the forest. Deeper away from his home. Deeper lost. He was scaring himself. Allowing the fear to overtake him. He had to get control. His family would find him. No matter how lost he got. They would find him. He had to just keep reminding himself of that. They are not going to allow him to end up like that horse. They will find him. He just had to stay away from the scary man long enough to help them do that. Keep going. The man was by far closer than they. He had to get as far away from him as he could.

~.~

Young Wolf led the way back to the site of his fallen kin. Little Feather was sitting next to his brother when they found them.

"He fell asleep a while after you left." Little feather said despondently. "I can't wake him."

"What happened here?"

"Little Feather, trampled by horse."

"I'm okay."

"Walks Like Bear, shot." The youngest one seemed to be in the worst shape. Ben and Roy knelt on opposite sides. He was cold. His lips were blue. His breathing was wet and raspy. He was on the precipice of death.

"Man have your boy." Little Feather cried. "Your little one. Little Joe. He was yelling, begging for help. We tried. We really tried."

"It's okay. We're going to help your brother." Ben consoled. "Reagan, take them back to the house. Then ride out to get the Doc." Reagan nodded obediently. "Young Wolf." Ben stood to give Reagan room to work. "Which way were they headed?"

"Through those trees." The young man pointed the way.

"What would you like to do?" Ben asked the boy against Roy's discomfort allowing him to make his own decisions.

"I would like to kill him." He averred not caring that the lawman heard. It was the truth and no less than these white men would do for their kin. He didn't care if the lawman tried to lock him up. Bring on the war. His people will avenge him as he will avenge his brothers.

The grunt he heard from Little Feather drew his attention. He was under Walks Like Bear's arm trying to push him standing with his own weight. Even with the ranch owner's friend on the other side, Little Feather struggled under the weight of Walks Like Bear. It should be him helping Walks Like Bear. Not the injured Little Feather. Young Wolf ran over to take Little Feathers part. Little Feather didn't argue. He stepped back grimacing and hugging his own midsection, letting Young Wolf take over. "I must do this first." He told the rancher. He had to get them back to the house. He had to get them help. He had to make sure they were okay. Before revenge there was love. Ben understood.

~.~

"Wait." Hoss pulled the reins on his horse. The deputy stopped his too. "Look it here." Williams looked at the muddy ground where Hoss pointed. All he could make out in the darkness was a lumpy ground. "Two sets of tracks." Hoss said. "One horse and one foot."

"How can you see that?"

"Look." He dismounted and pointed at a small print. "This is a shoe print."

"A man?"

"No. It's small. It's a boy. It's Joe's."

"You don't know that." He said disbelieving.

"Yeah I do. I'd recognize his prints anywhere."

"What would he be doing on foot?"

"He's running."

"What?"

"The prints are spread out. Wide spread and the impact is deep. The horse is running too." He seemed to know what he was talking about.

"Is he chasing it?"

"No the horse is chasing him."

"How can you tell that?"

"The hooves trample the boy's prints."

"Hoss, that don't make much sense. You can't outrun a horse."

"I agree with you there. Which is why we have to go after them."

"What? No, I'm supposed to get you back to the Jailhouse."

"Joe got free somehow and now he's being chased. We have to get to him first."

"Alright. I'll go Hoss, after I get you back. I'll come back out and get him."

"It'll be too late then. He's only 6 years old. He's alone out here, running from a man that just took him outta his home. You said it yourself, you can't outrun a horse. It's only a matter of time, before he gets him again. If he hadn't already. And what's he going to do to him when he does?" The deputy was conflicted. Williams shook his head subtly as if to say, I don't know.

"If he were your brother, what would you do?"

~.~

"Doc?" He looked up to see the worried ranch hand standing in the door-frame, wringing his hat in his hands. "I'm here on behalf of Mr. Cartwright. He's got a couple boys at his home who've been hurt." Paul's features dropped as his mind went immediately to Hoss and Little Joe. They were too late. They've both been hurt. But how bad? Bad enough to summon him. He looked at his patient laying down, but not sleeping. Kyle scrunched his face as if he was going to be ill. He knew too. His father had gone too far.

"Kyle, I've got to go out there."

"Take me with you." He grabbed at his arm.

"I don't think that's a good idea. It's safer for you if you stayed here. I'll have someone come to watch over you."

"It's okay. You don't have to do that." He retreated back.

"Are you going to be alright by yourself?"

"I'll be alright."

"Stay here. Please. Until I return." Kyle agreed.

"If my pa is there," He beseeched. "Please tell him to come back." Paul put a sympathetic hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Alright Kyle."

~.~

Little Joe heard the rustling of the brush behind him. He backed himself against the nearest tree and slid down it, hiding within its shadow, doing his best to make himself as small as possible. His breath was hard and louder than he wanted it to be, from fear or from exertion at this point it was all the same. As quiet as he tried to be, this he couldn't silence. This alone would give him away. He sees the dark figure beyond the brush. He tucks his limbs into his torso hugging his knees and massaging one arm with another. The dark shadow pushes through the brush. He buries his head wishing to disappear. The shadow was just 15 feet in front of him now. Little Joe admonished himself for choosing this spot to hide. This wasn't a hiding spot at all. This was out here in the open. He was sure to be found. How could he be so stupid? It was too late now to scurry behind the tree. That action would alert the man right to him. He prayed the shadowy figure wouldn't see him. He prayed the shadow of the tree he hid against was enough, but he just wasn't sure. He prayed the man would just go away. He locked his jaw as he fought back the tears. If his breathing wasn't going to give him away his senseless crying sure would.

"Joe." The voice whispered. He looked up. "Little Joe." The voice was different. It wasn't the man. It was young. It was- he thought about his brother.

"Hoss?" The shadow turned to him. It was him. He bolted out of his hiding and slammed his curls into his brother's hip bone wrapping his small thin arms around him about as tightly as he could. His trembling hold expressing to Hoss just how frightened he had been and how equally grateful he is that Hoss has come to rescue him. He pulled Joe away and their eyes lock. The half-moon reflecting its rays off of their pale faces and the white in their eyes. His clothes were torn and his face was dirty. No not dirt. Some maybe but his eye. There was something different about it. It didn't look so much like dirt as... Hoss ran a tender thumb down Joe's cheek at the sight. His heart fell, at once he realized. The man had struck him. He bit back his anger threatening to swell. This strike wasn't meant for Joe. He thought. It was for me. To think of the large fist of a grown man planting itself against his brother's cheekbone so hard that he bruised. An image flashed through his mind. His little brother beneath the weight of him receiving an onslaught of blows that weren't meant for him. His brother pinned beneath him crying for him to stop as he took his aggression out on him. This frail thin, sweet boy; no bigger than a tot. As angry as he was at the man, he understood how he was no better than he. There was responsibility in being large. He was beginning to understand that now. McCabe took his brother out of his home because Hoss wasn't there to protect him. Hoss was a coward who tried to run away from what he had done. His little brother took his place, and was abused for it. He was not going to let that happen again. This whole thing was his fault and he was going to face what he had done. First things first, he had to get Joe out of here.

"Come on." He grabbed his hand and led the way back to his horse which waited for him at the edge of the bluff.

~.~

Kyle left the comforts of the bed and walked outside. He promised the doc he'd stay there until he returned but he didn't promise him he'd stay in bed. He brought some of the comforts of the bed with him. He wrapped himself into the bed sheet to stave off a bit of the night's cold chill. He was so anxious thinking about the way the day had turned out. His body refused to be stifled. He just wanted his father to come back for him. He took a seat on the steps of the porch and looked up and down the streets. The town sure did have a different feel in the nighttime than it did in the day. Eerie almost. It was just as busy. But a different kind of busy. A different kind of people roamed the streets now; scarier, darker, contemptible. It was busy, but lonely. He just missed his pa.

~.~

When the forest became too thick and the ground too rocky, Hoss felt the terrain was exceptionally dangerous to push his horse through, especially in the dark. He left Gracie at the edge of the bluff. It was smart of Little Joe to have picked this spot to run. It would mean McCabe would be on foot too, or risk injury to his horse. Hoss kept hold of Little Joe's hand and led him back to his horse. Gracie, chewing nervously on wild-grass and gooseberries, waited for her master to return.

A few short affirming words and a rub down the mane he turned to his brother. "Joe. I know you're scared, but I need you to get on." Expecting obstinacy, he added before Joe could dispute. "I'll be right behind you, holding you."

"It's okay Hoss. I can do it." Hoss had no idea the wild ride Joe had just endured. By comparison this should be easy. Hoss confused at first when no dispute came, grinned curiously back. In spite of the fright he had just experienced, Joe's fiery spirit was shining strong. He reached down to lift Joe.

"Hold it right there." Hoss jumped at the voice. He turned to face Kyle's father who held a gun in their direction.

"Stand behind me Little Joe." He pushes Joe behind him, acting as a protective shield.

"Hoss no." Joe peers around trying to get his brother to see him. "He doesn't want me. He wants you."

"The boy's right. So are you going to come with me, or do I have to kill you both right here?"

"Drop it!" The deputy came out of nowhere. Hoss has never been so grateful to see a lawman. His timing was impeccable. Never taking his gun from the boys McCabe faces down the lawman.

"This boy's a criminal. He's got to be taken into custody." He tries to reason.

"I said drop it." The lawman refused to hear him out.

"I get it. So you're on their side. The good ol' Cartwright's have got the corrupt law right in their back pockets. So how much do you get out of this?"

"I ain't getting paid off."

"So what is it then? Why are you helping them?"

"I just don't take too kindly to a grown man holding a gun on innocent children."

"He ain't innocent. Do you take kindly to a kid half his size having the life choked out of 'em? Cause that's what this boy did. I aim to make him answer for it."

"You want him to answer? Put the gun down. I'll take him in."

"No. I don't think you will. I'll do it." McCabe averred.

"You're not going anywhere with these kids."

"Not both. Just that one." He indicated to Hoss. "He's the one I want."

"McCabe, If you don't drop that gun and I mean right now."

"What?" He stopped the lawman mid-threat. "What are you going to do? You going to shoot me?"

"Don't tempt me."

"You're not going to shoot me. You might be stupid, but you can't be that stupid. If you fire a shot," He explained. "so will I."

"Not if it's a kill shot."

"Especially if it's a kill shot and it wouldn't even be my fault. I'd be dead how could I help it?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Reflex, son. Cause and effect. My fingers on this trigger. One good jolt is all it takes for this gun to go off, which is what will happen no matter where that bullet enters me."

"Get the gun off the boy."

"Why? So you could shoot me?" The deputy's adam's apple rose and fell betraying his cool exterior.

"So what's your plan then?"

"I'm going to do what you don't have the guts to do."

"If you fire a shot, I'll most definitely kill you."

"I'm not going to shoot them, unless you make me. No I'm taking him in and I ain't letting him out of my sight until I can find a judge that'll try him."

"I can't let you do that."

"How are you going to stop me?"

"Drop your gun now!" He fervently demanded.

"No." McCabe responded resolute. "You drop yours." The lawman tilted his head. "Drop your gun or I'll squeeze."

"One shot goes off I swear to God I'll kill you."

"Not before you've killed the both of them."

"You think you'll have the chance to fire twice?"

"No, but I don't need to. One shot. That's all I'll need." He scrunched his brows. "Look at the way they're standing." Hoss was confused. "One shot through and through. I can take them both out at the same time." His heart dropped as he looked back at his brother peering around him. He hated the thought of getting shot. He hated even more not being able to protect Joe. Is what he was saying true? Was having Joe at his back enough to get him killed, or was it a bluff? What if he forced Joe away from him and he killed him then? Was he just trying to get him to expose his baby brother? Oh he didn't know what the right answer was. He kept Joe hidden but tried to compensate by pushing Joe low, but the boy wasn't submitting. At least not to his liking. Oh this was not the right time for Joe's fiery spirit to rear up. He was afraid of drawing unwanted attention if he kept trying. "Two boys one shot. You kill me. I'll be dead but not before you've killed the both of them." The lawman eyed the frightened children. "Looks like what we have here is a standoff. One that's about to end at the count of ten. What's it going to be?" He didn't answer. "One," The lawman looked at the boys again. "Two." His head swam. "Three. I'm holding all the cards." He took a sharp breath and tightened his jaw. "Four." He tossed his pistol down. Hoss looked at the pistol incredulously, at McCabes feet. The lawman just gave up. "That's a good boy. Now raise your arms. No sudden moves or their dead." Williams adam's apple rose and fell again as he eyed the children apologetically, but he did so obediently.

"So what now?" William's asked, trying to keep the attention on him.

A long pause passed between them as McCabe considered his next move. He hadn't planned for this. He wasn't sure what to do with the lawman. "Get on your knees." Williams dropped himself down as smoothly as his athletic form could manage, his knees meeting sand and wild grass. McCabe picked up the gun at his feet and tucked it into his waistband. He took his gun off the children and pointed it at the lawman, stepping forward. He hated to have to do this, but what choice did he have? The lawman stopped him once before. He would stop the lawman from ever coming after him again. Cease the threat. The lawman knew what was coming. "You probably should have killed me when you got the chance. At least you would have saved yourself." He aimed in intending to put out his prey. Williams shut his eyes and turned away, afraid of his own mortality. Hoss jumped in front.

"Stop. You don't have to do this." William's opened to the boy standing before him blocking McCabe's line of sight.

"Get out of the way boy."

"No. It's me you want. Isn't that right?" He looked at the boy standing in his way, who sucked in a breath before proclaiming. "I'll go." Little Joe watched in horror as his brother gave himself over to this scary man, leaving him standing alone. If you promise to let him live. I'll go."

"No Hoss!" Joe shouted, drawing everyone's attention. Hoss held out an open palm directing Joe not to move. He tried to reason with the father of his greatest tormentor.

"Listen, I know you don't think very highly of me, but Little Joe ain't done nothin' wrong. He's as innocent as they come. If you kill the lawman, you'd be leaving him out here all alone. You'd be killing him too." Who's the monster then?" McCabe considered. "I'll go."

"Hoss?" Little Joe cried out. Hoss continued, ignoring his brother's pleas.

"Just leave them be. I'll go."

"What are you doing?"

"It's okay, Little Joe. Don't move. Just stay right where you are." The small boy looked back and forth between his big brother and the man with the gun. "You'll be okay. The deputy will take care of you." At this he lost it.

"NO!" He vehemently shouted and ran to him.

"Little Joe, Stop!" Hoss could barely get out the words before the boy's arms wrapped around him once again. "Oh Little Joe. Why'd you do that? You have to let go." He tried pulling him away but Joe held on.

"No. You can't leave me alone."

"Listen to me, I'm not going to leave you alone." Joe searched his brother's eyes for an explanation, hoping to God his brother would tell him he'd changed his mind. "Go with the deputy. He's gonna take care of you." Joe's face reddened in anger.

"No, Hoss. You can't go." He cried aloud. "You have to stay here! You promised! You can't be a liar, Hoss! You can't be!" What was he saying? "You said you'd never leave me!" Joe's voice cracked as he tried to get his brother to understand. "Don't you remember? You promised." The words flooded back. Lying in bed with him. Cradling him. Comforting him with his words. His promises. We're going to be old men sitting in rockers together. This was about so much more to Little Joe. He closed his eyes trying not to breakdown at the realization of what he was doing to him. He thought about how he might not make it back and what that would do to his brother. If he didn't, Little Joe would be a broken boy. He might never recover from that. He was trying so hard to be strong for him. How could he protect him? Little Joe had put himself between him and the gun. He had to get him away from this man. This was the only way. He had to do this. "You can't be a liar." Joe entreated. "Please don't be a liar. You can't leave me too." Joe drew away looking into the eyes of his brother. "Don't leave me Hoss." Hoss was giving it everything he had to not break down at his brother's entreaty. His chin quivered showing that he was losing the battle. "Please don't leave me."

"I'm sorry, Little Joe." He said with tear filled eyes. "I have to do this."

"No, wait. Wait." Joe buried his head again. Holding onto him as tight as he could, to keep him to stay. Hoss tried pulling him away about as gently as he could but Little Joe's hold on him was strong. "Don't leave me. Please Hoss." The tears he held at bay ran down his cheek. What choice did he have? He tried pulling him away but the tyke wouldn't let go. He tried with a little more force to pull him away but Joe held on.

"That's enough." The man callously yanked Joe off him and shoved him aside forcing Joe to land on the ground with a thud and a skid. Joe meant nothing to him. Hoss lurched forward, he could have punched the man right there for what he had done; but stopped as McCabe stepped back in a fighters stance and aimed his gun from waist level, showing Hoss he was fully capable and willing to shoot him if he had to. Hoss took the warning albeit reluctantly.

McCabe walked to Hoss's mount and struggled with a length of rope pulling it from the saddle.

"You." He pointed to the teen. "Tie his hands." He threw the small length of rope which Hoss caught in his chest. "Make it nice and tight." He turned to face the deputy.

"I'm sorry." Hoss said.

"It's okay Hoss." Williams assured. "Do what he says."

He walked behind the deputy and knelt down.

"It better be tight." McCabe iterated.

The tears flowed freely down Joe's face. "I hate you Hoss." Joe spurned. "You're a liar." Like a dagger to the heart. He never expected he would ever hear those words come from Joe's mouth. Especially never directed towards him. Those words stung. He hung his head.

"Take care of him, please." He finally said.

"Sure Hoss." William's wished he could have saved Hoss too. The thought of letting this boy go off with this madman ate him up inside. He couldn't protect him. He failed him. Big time. He failed. He couldn't fail a second time, by letting anything happen to the little one too. "Take care of yourself."

Little Joe watched helplessly as Hoss tied the deputy's hands. He told him the deputy was going to take care of him, but he was tying his hands. How was the deputy going to protect him with his hands tied? He was angry and bitter at all that was happening before him. He was angry at Hoss for all his lies. Everything he promised him. None of it was true. The deputy was no more going to keep him safe than Hoss was going to be there to get old with him. It was all lies. He hated his brother. No, that wasn't true. He loved his brother. His heart ached for him. He wished he could help his brother. Keep him from having to go. Keep him from being a liar. If only there was something he could do. He's got to help him. There's got to be a way. Think. He suppressed his tears. Just think. He looked around for an opportunity, and then he saw it. His open window. The lawman's horse was in the shadows. Nobody was watching him or the horse. No. He looked down in fright. He can't do that. The last horse he was on nearly killed him. That horse was wounded. It wasn't the horses fault. It was natural for the horse to act that way. Not all horses are like that. His mother's horse wasn't wounded. The very thought made him ill as the memory of his mother's death came flooding back. No. He's scaring himself. There's nothing wrong with this horse. He's tame. He's got to try. The man with the gun could hurt the horse. He might hurt the horse if he tried to run. That may be true, he thought, but he couldn't talk himself out of this. He was willing to before. Why not now? He had to. For his brother, he had to. He had to conquer his fears. He had to take his chances. Now is when it really matters. Now was when his brother needed him the most. Like his life depended on it, or at least his brother's life; he bolted for the horse and threw himself over the saddle. McCabe looked back at him not wanting to let him go.

Something about the chaos and his blood pounding within him, instead of debilitating him it aided him. Little Joe had a focus and a drive that he'd never known before. Like he'd been riding for years, everything he was ever taught came flooding back. Joe turned the horse around and kicked him into a gallop.

"Go Little Joe. Go." The deputy lauded.

Hoss was dumbfounded to see his little brother on a horse by himself at all. Though the deputy encouraged it, he had no idea how mighty of a task this was for Joe. McCabe aimed in at the boy and Hoss pushed his arm awry. He shoved Hoss down to aim in again. The lawman jumped up and charged into him. With his hands tied that's about all he could do. McCabe pushed Williams aside and let him fall to the earth, hitting the lawman with the butt of his gun on the way down. Williams stuporously tried to push himself to his knees. McCabe was caught at an impasse. The boy was too far away to get a good shot now. He didn't really want to shoot the boy anyways but he didn't want to let the boy go so easily, lest he warn the others. At this point it didn't really matter. He got what he came for. He just had to move quickly. Keep his pursuers at his back at least until he could make it to a safe place to hold out for a while. He looked down at the bound deputy who finally made it onto his knees. He got in his way one too many times. He grabbed a fistful of hair and aimed the pistol at his head. William's acutely came to his senses. With no way to fight what was about to happen, all he could do was close his eyes and accept death as it came.

"Remember our deal." Hoss stopped him. "If you let him live. I'll go with you." It was a bluff as Hoss didn't see as if he'd have much of a choice otherwise, but something must have worked. It seemed McCabe was seriously considering his words. He lifted his pistol high in the air and brought it down again with an unforgiving force.

~.~

Roy and Ben had lost the trail several times already. Currently they were following upturned dirt on the main road to Virginia City praying to God they belonged to Joe. They eyed the ground now doing their darndest not to lose the trail again. If it stayed on the road it would be relatively easy to follow, but if it trailed off into the bushes again they would want to know the moment it did. They would have to take it slow again to keep eye of the tracks under the light of the moon.

They heard him before they saw him. Up ahead in the road a shadowed rider approached at full gallop. Ben reached for his sidearm and Coffee stopped his actions. The Sheriff recognized him first. "It's Williams." He assured. He could make out his deputies light brown mare as he approached. As the shadowed rider got closer he peered at the figure more intently. Were his eyes deceiving him? The figure was too small to be his deputy. "Pa." The small voice cried out. The boy knew who they were before they knew who he was.

"Little Joe?" Ben dismounted and ran to his son. He smiled brightly in confounded amazement searching him over for answers. All at once the answers weren't important. What was important was right before him. He pulled his son off the steed and into a tight squeeze. No. He had to know. He pulled away to look into the cherub face of his boy. "How did you get away?"

"Hoss found me." He smirked in bemusement and looked down the road for the other rider but the road was empty. "Where is he?" He asked looking back at his boy. He hated to tell his father such news when he seemed so happy, but he had to.

"The man has him." He scrunched his features in a mournful grimace. "The man found us and Hoss went with him." Ben's face turned grave again. "I told him not to go, but he did anyways." The boy turned to Roy. He has the lawman too. The young one." This panged Roy about as much as it did knowing he had Hoss. "He made Hoss tie his hands."

"Did he kill him?" Roy asked.

"I don't know. He wanted to. I left before he could. We have to hurry Pa." The boy was right. They had to get to them quick. They were both in trouble.

Ben wanted to take Joe back to the house. He was safe now and wanted to keep him that way. But at the sake of his other son? The one McCabe was really after and now this lawman, they had to get to them first.

"Do you know where they are?" He vowed to keep his son safe. He just needed to find Hoss first.

"I can take you." He responded assuredly. Roy felt uncomfortable with taking Joe along but at their pace they might not reach them in time. If Joe could show them, than that would help.

They tethered the deputy's horse to Roy's and Ben rode behind with Joe in his lap.

~.~

The night had crawled on slowly. All the businesses were closed and dark, save the Grand Hotel and saloons. Kyle leaned into the post and closed his eyes drifting in and out. Not full sleep just rest. He couldn't fully sleep as the post and hard wood steps didn't offer much comfort, nor the thoughts about his Pa and the Cartwright boys. His father could have a heavy hand which Kyle has had the privy of being on the other side of a time or two. His thoughts about them two boy's being laid up in bed wondering how bad they were hurt. Just what his father did to them. How far was his pa capable of going? How much hate did he really have for them? It was his fault. He started all of this. If only he would have just left Hoss alone. He kept messing with him and messing with him until he broke. His father hated them so he thought it was okay to hate them too. He never imagined things would ever be this bad. Oh how he wished his pa would come home. Forget about all this revenge and getting even, making other people pay. He looked down the street praying so hard that his father would be with him now.

~.~

The men didn't have to go into the brush to find him. He came out to the roadway to meet them. The deputy's hands were tied at his back, even so, he was stumbling along pretty well. They could see though by the way he staggered about he was injured. Both Ben and Roy jumped down to meet him and catch him before he collapsed. Ben looked him up and down. His body fared well other than the injuries he might have sustained from the natural dangers of the woods as he stumbled along through the thick trees and rocks. Minor scrapes and tears. His face was a different matter. Blood trickled from a fiery gash in his upper cheek. His head was matted with a thick wetness as well that seeped down soaking the collar of his shirt. "He was pistol whipped." Ben explained.

"What happened?" Ben asked. Roy drew his pocket knife and cut at the rope binding his wrist.

"Hoss found the tracks on the road. He knew straight away what they were. He said that Joe was running and there was a horse chasing after." Ben looks to his young son now, who nods to confirm. "He knew they were both running and that Joe's feet came first." His binds gave way. He lifted an arm to the back of his head at the site of the wound. Roy grabbed a cloth from his saddle bag and pressed it against the wound. "He must have found a way to escape and was being pursued."

"It's true. I had the man's horse but it was injured. It took me for a ways but then it quit on me. I tried to get it back up but she just wouldn't budge. I had to leave it. I had to keep going or the man was going to find me. I didn't know where I was going, but I had to keep moving."

"He told me," Williams continued. "That if we didn't go after them, than Joe wouldn't have much time before he was caught. You can't outrun a horse." Williams turned to Roy. "I didn't want to go sir. I swear it. I wanted to get Hoss back to town just like you told me to. Get him safe. I tried to tell him that I'd come back with help, but Hoss wouldn't hear of it. He said he couldn't leave his brother out there all alone running. We followed the tracks for a bit. Then Hoss came up with a plan. He said he knew where they were going. He told me to keep following behind and he was going to ride up ahead and try to cut them off. I didn't want to let him go but it seemed like the best plan. I couldn't come up with one better. If it worked, we'd cut them off from both directions. They'd have nowhere to go. When I finally caught up to them, Hoss had found Little Joe, but McCabe had found them too. He had the drop on them. I couldn't stop him. Not without putting the boys at risk. I'm sorry Little Joe."

"Where are they? Where'd he take him?" Ben asked.

"To town. He said he was going to take Hoss in. He said he wasn't going to let the boy out of his sight until we found a judge that would try him"

"Are you okay to ride?"

"Yeah, Sheriff. He knocked me upside the skull pretty good, but I can ride."

"Good, mount up."

~.~

Two people come riding around the corner sharing the back of a single horse. "Pa?" He muttered. The boy recognizes his father as he made his way through the night. He had someone with him. It was Hoss, he could make out as he looked closer. His pa stopped the horse. He wasn't moving. He just stared down the street. Kyle wondered if it were he his pa was looking at. It didn't appear so. Hoss eventually turned back as if he was saying something to his pa. Then his pa turned the horse and walked around a corner, down a side street. Kyle wondered now if his pa saw him at all. It didn't seem like it was he his pa was staring at. Still wrapped in the white bed sheet, he walked up the road passing the jail and peeked in.

Deputy Jim was on one side of the desk, Ms. Harper was on the other. Both with stacks of papers before them. Jim seemed to be reading as his eyes scanned the pages. Ms. Harper was just staring blankly at the page in her lap. She could feel the heat of Jim's eyes every time he looked up at her and could only imagine what he thought of her. He was polite enough to keep his thoughts to himself.

The boy kept going until he made it to the street his father had turned down. He followed for a short distance. His pa stopped in front of the school house and dropped down off the horse. The horse wasn't his. It was Hoss's. He knew Hoss's horse well enough. "Pa?" He got his attention as he approached.

"Hey boy. How are you feeling son?" He acted as if nothing was wrong.

"What are you doing?"

"Son. I got him." His pa said ecstatically. "Just like I said I would." Kyle was frightened.

Hoss didn't look at him. He kept his head down. His shoulders were slumped and his face bore an ill look. His hands were bound in front of him. "Pa. How did you get him? Did you kidnap him?"

"No son. I arrested him." McCabe answered looking at his son. The marks around Kyle's throat were darker, more profound. Even in the moonlight they were profound. He reached his arm out to his boy's throat and stopped before his fingers made contact. The anger in his heart bred just as dark as the bruises. "I'm gonna make sure he pays for what he did to you." They both looked at Hoss who appeared downcast and dejected. Kyle's face did not mirror his pa's.

"What are you doing at the schoolhouse?"

"It's perfect here. Secluded. We got a good view of the outside from here. We can see people coming from a mile away. They can't get too close to us without us knowing. Nobody will bother us. We've got absolute control."

"Why didn't you take him to the jail?"

"Son. They ain't gonna hold him. They's all corrupt. No. If we want to see justice done, we've got to do it ourselves. Come on help me get him inside." He said as he pulled Hoss off the horse. Kyle looked around to see who might be watching. The streets around the schoolhouse were empty. "Hold him." Kyle did as he was told albeit frightened of the ramifications. "Make sure he doesn't try nothing." McCabe went to searching Hoss's saddle bags.

"What are you doing?"

"Looking to see if he has any more weapons. We got to take everything we can now. Who knows what we'll need. Once we go in, there's no coming back out." What did his pa mean by that? Kyle was afraid they were both digging themselves into a hole that they wouldn't be able to get back out of. McCabe found nothing but books and writing material in the first bag. In the second he found a cloth wrapped loaf of bread. He glanced at Hoss, then handed it to his son. "Here, take this. There's no telling how long this whole thing will play out for." He pulled Hoss's canteen from around the saddle horn and slung it around his shoulder. He found no weapons but his search wasn't fruitless.

"Where's Marci?"

"Injuns got to us son. They killed her." Hoss scrunched his brows considering these words. Indians?

"Come on. Let's get him inside."

~.~

They were still another mile from the edge of town. If they were lucky McCabe would have tried to take Hoss to the jailhouse. Even luckier if he handed him over to Jim. Jim might have been awfully confused with the situation. But if he was smart he'd have taken him.

Little Joe rode in the saddle with his pa. His frame was low indicating he was tiring. Ben, holding the reins with one hand used the other to pull Joe against him. The boy willingly submitted, melting into his pa. Ben continued to hold Joe with one arm. It felt so good to be in his father's arms. To finally feel safe. He felt the heaviness in his body. Sleep was threatening to take over. He wanted so much to give into it but there was so much going on in his head. So much needing to be said.

"I knew you'd find me pa. I just knew it." Ben looked down at his son's frazzled curls. "I was getting more and more lost, but that was okay because I knew that no matter how lost I got you would find me." It felt like something had reached inside him grabbed his intestines and twisted. Thinking about how terrified Joe must have been running all alone in the wilderness. Being chased by a predator. He needed so bad to find his boy. When seconds mattered it seemed they moved like molasses. As quickly as they tried to act, the gap between he and Joe was growing ever wider. All the while horrific thoughts plagued him that his boy wouldn't be reached in time. He didn't want to think about not finding his boy, or finding him, but too late. After he'd succumbed to the cruel elements or the will of a desperate man. Having this sweet, innocent, naïve boy; wonder to his last conscious breath where his father was and why he hadn't been found. He drew him in tight. His boy felt heavy against him. Had a weight to him as if he had drifted off.

"You mind if I ask sir?" Williams strode up next to Ben. "Where did Hoss learn how to track? Did you teach him?" Ben answered with a pained smile. "I only ask sir because… it was…amazing. He followed those tracks like an expert. I mean I've seen professionals track worse. He judged stride, pressure; he was able to tell who came first and even anticipate lost person behavior."

"No deputy, I had very little to do with that."

He thought of the Paiutes. The boys who took Hoss under their wing, who taught him, who befriended him. Those same boys who risked their lives to save Joe's and paid the price for it.

By the grace of God his boy was safe in his arms.

By the grace of God and by the skill of his middle boy. His middle boy who took Joe's place. Now trapped by that man. The man who was all too capable of striking a frail thin boy such as Joe, a boy he wasn't even mad at, so hard it left a welt. The man capable of gunning down children. What more was he capable of? What would he do to Hoss now that he had him? The real source of his anger.

~.~

Kyle stared out the window of the dark schoolhouse looking for on-comers. Spinning the chamber to ease is mind. His Pa let him hold the second gun he found. Trusted him to cover this view. His pa was sitting in Ms. Harper's chair. His ammo spread out among the desk. His chamber was open and his pa stared down the barrel and cleaned it with his pinky and neck scarf before reloading it again. Hoss sat like a pathetic slump against the wall by the door, not saying anything. Just hugging his legs. His pa closed the chamber again and without holstering his gun walked to the opposite window. He followed his pa with his gaze then glanced back again at Hoss who kept his head low. It was hard to tell in the darkness if he'd been crying. He was awfully quiet if he was. It's been a long time since Kyle has cried. Babies cry. Wimps. Weak men. That's what his pa says. He hasn't seen Hoss cry too often but often enough to know he was one of these weak men. In this way he was better than him. If Hoss was a stronger man he would have fought back a long time ago instead of giving way to tears. Stood up for himself instead of letting it get so bad. He's seen Hoss cry for a lot less. He wouldn't be surprised if he was crying right now. He thought about what he would do if he were in Hoss's situation. Trapped in a room with an armed stranger who wanted to see him hurt. Was that what his pa was to Hoss? He wasn't so sure he wouldn't cry too. If he were in his shoes. He sighed and stared out at the night again.

~.~

"Jim is there. That's his horse." They dismounted and rushed into the jailhouse.

"Is he here?" The father bellowed. Jim stood to greet the intrusion but was put off by the question. "McCabe is he here."

"No."

"He hasn't come in?"

"No sir."

"So Hoss isn't here?"

"Hoss? No nobody sir. Nobody's been here since Harriet's parents came and got her. It's just been Ms. Harper and I." Ben surveyed the room and the occupants within. His eyes met the papers strewn out on the desk and the like ones in Ms. Harper's lap.

"Did you know to expect him?" Roy asked.

"Ms. Harper told me he rode out to your place, said he was going to make sure Hoss paid. That's the last I knew." Ben strode forward curious about the stacks of papers. Wondering if they were what he thought they were. They were in her lap. She would only be reading something she was privy to read. He picked a few up off the desk and scanned the pages. They were written by the hands of children. He read down scanning the words. "Hit" "struck", "kicked", "spit"; jumped out at him. "Ugly" "Fat" "Stupid" These words were repeated again and again. "Slapped", 'pinched", "yanked his hair." His heart wept for his boy as he read all of what had been happening to him and it all sunk in. He had no idea all this was happening. His boy had been living a nightmare. "Monster." That one caught his attention. He read down a little further. "Die monster. Die."

"Oh God." It slipped out of his mouth. It was no wonder his self-esteem took an all-time plummet. Bombarded with words like these. The daily verbal and physical attacks. All this he kept inside. Why? Why didn't he tell anyone? Why didn't he feel like he could tell me? If he would have only known. He could have helped him. He gathered himself. He read the names at the bottom. All names of the kids in his class. Travis, he read. "Kyle was upset all day because he told on us. Ms. Harper was watching him all day so we couldn't do nothing to him. After school we caught up with him on the road. We confronted him about it." He read further down. "Kyle picked up a rock and threw it at Hoss." How's that for proof?

"He told Williams here he was taking Hoss in." Roy explained. It was curious Williams would let him, although judging by the look on Scott's face he figured he didn't have much of a choice. The small boy at his father's side was sporting a pretty good bruise himself, just under his right eye. Something had happened out there. It looked like they were in a battle. "He hasn't been by?"

"No sir. No sign. It's been pretty quiet."

"They should have been here by now." Ben said laying down the papers. "If he wanted Hoss to pay, he should have brought him here."

"I'm afraid it's not that easy." William's said. The men looked to William's to explain. "McCabe seems to be under the impression that we're all corrupt. That we've already chosen a side and it ain't his. That's why he's doing what he is because he thinks we won't." Ben shut his eyes, doing his best not to topple over at this new information.

"Where do you think they would have gone?"

"I don't know."

Ben snapped his fingers. "His ranch."

"We would have seen them."

"Maybe we missed them. He could have strayed off?"

"We would have seen him. There would have been a sign, tracks or something but the tracks came straight into the city. They have to be here somewhere."

"He could have circled back."

"Why would he do that? Come into the city just to leave again."

"Maybe to throw us off."

"McCabe thinks he's making a citizens arrest. If he really wants a trial he would want to be in a place he could be found."

"Like his home."

"Okay. I'll tell you what. We'll start at the center of town and work our way out. If by the time we're done we still have no luck, than we'll hit his home." Ben eyed his young son. The new light illuminating his dark purple cheek. He couldn't keep dragging him around in the middle of the night amidst all this chaos.

"Jim you ride out to the McCabe place. The rest of us will split up and scour the town.

"Actually I was hoping to keep Joe here." Roy looked down at Little Joe. Innocent, tired eyes peering through a discolored face. His father was right. They couldn't drag this boy around with all that was happening. The boy was injured and worn. This boy changes things. He'd be short a man if he had to leave someone with him.

"I'll stay here with him." Ms. Harper offered. Ben smiled softly with the sincerest gratitude. She stood and offered the boy her seat.

"Little Joe you stay here with Ms. Harper until we return." He was weary with the events of the night. His worry for Hoss wasn't enough to keep his body from shutting down on him. He had little fight left in him to argue.

Ben guided Joe to the chair and sat him in it. He knelt down before him. Staring at his purple face. How could someone hit a small child like this?

"Be good and do everything she tells you to. I don't need to worry about you too. Okay? Not when your brothers out there needing help."

"You don't have to worry about me pa. I'll be okay. Now that you found me. I'll be okay."

"I know you will." Ben smiled and pinched his chin. He moved to stand but Joe stopped him.

"You're going to find Hoss too ain't ya pa?"

"Yes Little Joe. We'll find him."

"Pa." Joe was chewing on something.

"What is it boy?"

"I lied pa." Ben was curious with the admission. "To Hoss. I lied. I told him something that wasn't true. It was real bad what I told him."

"What did you say?"

"I told him that I hated him. It's not true though. It's not true. I was just mad at him. For leaving me." The father smiled wanly at his son. "It was the last thing I said to him." His son too young to put into words his ever-deepening well of emotions, uses the simple words he does know. Love and hate. "What if something happens to him and he never knows the truth." Above all the reprobation Hoss has gotten over the years, Ben could imagine how much Joe's words might have crushed him. On top of all others, hearing it from someone he truly loved. This couldn't be the last thing Hoss hears. It wouldn't be fair to Hoss or Joe to end their story with those words. Still, he couldn't leave Little Joe dwelling with these thoughts.

"He knows son. He knows." He kissed his son again. It couldn't be a lie. Hoss had to know Joe couldn't really hate him. Does he? "Get some rest while you're in here. Hoss is going to need you to be strong for him when we get him back."

"Alright pa."

~.~

They started at the Grand Hotel which was at the center of town and circled their way out. Ben was the first to see it.

"There?" He pointed out. "It's Hoss's horse."