I do NOT own Bonanza or any of the original Cartwright characters.

Star's Hope

Chapter Seven

After locating footprints behind the barn, Little Joe and Hoss had started following them. They figured they might be able to stick with the trail someone had so carelessly left behind them. Why they were so driven was something they didn't really know. It's not like anything was taken out of their barn. As they rode their horses, Little Joe's mind wandered back through time, back to the time he actually served in the Union Army during the Civil War.

"Name's Jason Mitchell…" The introduction to the man had been brief and he'd served with him for two months, and then Jason had been sent to serve in a different unit. "He has a taste for alcohol, if it weren't for that he'd be a Lt. for sure." He'd overheard a man say as Mr. Mitchell and his new troop had separated from theirs. "Good enough man, but can't stand anyone who doesn't see things his way." That comment had been buried in the back of Little Joe's mind ever since his commander had commented about the departing private. Now, it pushed its way to the front; it gave Little Joe cause to ponder. Is that why Mitchell was harassing his pa and Miss Brooke so badly, for the mere fact that Jason's way did not agree with Ben's? Little Joe couldn't help but shake his head. How many people had he known willing to fight just because someone didn't agree with them? What a waste of precious time.

They'd passed more than one pine tree, crossed a couple of creek beds and lost the trail more than once, before they found themselves looking down upon the Mitchell place as they sat on their horses on top of a hill. The whole time they'd been following the trail Little Joe had found himself praying they'd find they'd been completely wrong about whom their predator had been. Now, it looked as if they'd been right from the beginning. When he headed down the hill, Hoss stopped him. "What cause are we going to give them for tracking him down? It's not like we're missin' something important'. They're gonna wanna know why we took the time to follow him. Come to think about it, pa will, too." Hoss looked up at the sky. It was starting to turn ugly.

Little Joe looked up too. As much as he hated to admit it, Hoss was right. It was going to be hard to explain to his father why he'd felt so compelled to follow the trail when no one was hurt and nothing was missing. He turned his horse around and headed back home. "I'm still keeping an eye on the Mitchells. He's up to something."

By the time they reached home Ben and Candy were standing on the porch looking as if they expected answers the day before. Hoss headed for the barn while Little Joe faced his father. "Where'd you go?"

"Wanted to see if we could find out who had been in the barn. Sorry, we were gone longer than I expected to be." Little Joe rested his hand on his hips and looked at his pa uneasily.

His son's word put Ben on edge. He'd been in the barn after his sons had ridden off. Finding everything intact, he was confused as to their actions. "So?" he looked asked as Hoss walked up next to Little Joe. Hoss told them what they'd found.

"We didn't confront him, Pa," Hoss added as he finished talking, "The way he is, without evidence of him actually takin' anythin', we figured we'd only be askin' fer trouble." The fact that he'd had to talk Little Joe into turning back instead of demanding answers was something he conveniently left out.

Ben was relieved to hear that, though he was troubled that it appeared that Jason Mitchell had been in the barn in the first place. Why on earth would he have need of being there? Did he hate Brooke so much that he'd actually come onto Ponderosa land to do her harm? He was brought out of his thoughts as Star came out of the house and ran to his side. She grabbed hold of his leg and wrapped herself around it. Little Joe laughed at the sight, and then excused himself as he headed home; his wife would be madder than a wet hen if he was too late getting home.

"Looks like ya got the same thing growin' on yer leg that I had the other day, Pa. Iff'n the doc looks at it, ya think he can fix it?" Hoss was winking at his sister as he said it. Star laughed as Ben looked down at her and chuckled.

"I don't know, son, that thing growing on my leg looks awfully familiar. I think I've had it before." He was grinning from ear to ear. He loved it when his daughter did things like this. It made being a father at his age worth it.

Star let out a squeal of delight as her father reached down, pried her arms off his leg and lifted her up. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her feet found their way around his middle; well, as far as a five year old's legs would go. She was still clinging onto him when Brooke walked out the front door. She'd heard the horse riding off and came out as soon as she could. She was disappointed to find Little Joe had left already.

"Why he take off without warning, come back and leave not say goodbye?" She folded her arms and scowled slightly.

Hoss looked at his father. He didn't know what to say. He didn't want to upset Miss Brooke by telling them what they'd found, but if he answered her question honestly, he was afraid of doing just that. He was saved from having to think of something when his father stepped in. Ben, too, didn't want his wife upset more than she already was.

"He's a grown man, dear. He doesn't have to answer to us, just to his wife." He grinned at the thought of what Rosa could very well be saying to her husband at that moment. "Let's get Star back in the house. It looks like it might rain." He was relieved when Brooke followed him back into the house and did not question him farther. He could only hope he, or the boys, could actually catch Mr. Mitchell next time.