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

Star's Hope

Chapter Twelve

Star sat at the kitchen table while Rosa fixed lunch. The young child was drawing; Rosa couldn't resist looking. She could tell her sister in law (boy did it feel strange to have a five year old sister in law) was drawing four people. Naturally, she figured one was Ben, one was Brooke, and one was the child herself, but who was the fourth one. Rosa just had to ask. If she didn't, it would drive her up a wall the rest of the day. "Would you mind telling me what your drawing is about?" She set a sandwich down in front of Star.

Star's face lit up as she pointed to the first image on the paper. Sure enough she told Rosa, "This is Pa. I still have to give him his guns though." She moved her finger to the next image. Again, Rosa was proven right. "This is Ma, after I give Pa his guns he's going to go get her and bring her back." That tore at Rosa's heart. She knew the child was dealing with her mother's abduction the only way she knew how. Rosa just hoped everything would indeed turn out the way they all wanted it to. "This is me," Star slid her finger over and paused before sliding her finger over to the last image, the smallest image. When she did not speak, Rosa gave her a gentle prod.

"Who is that?" She waited to hear 'the baby', or 'my sister' or 'my brother', depending on which the child wanted. However, she was stunned as Star looked up at her and, with a sincerity only someone with childlike sincerity could have, replied, "It's hope; she's watching over us." She then went back to drawing.

Rosa found herself having to quickly turn away. Hope; it was one word that held such a huge meaning. People held onto it time and time again, they had to or lose their minds. It, along with faith and prayer, had kept more than one person in life moving forward when they felt like falling down and giving up. Rosa looked out the kitchen window and found herself doing just that, holding onto hope.

Star was holding onto hope, while Ben was doing his best to hold onto his temper. "Roy, I told you everything I know! Candy took some of our hands and they are doing what they can to pick up a trail; Hoss and Little Joe are asking around town."

Roy held up his hands, "Ben, I wasn't saying there was nothing I could do. You know better than that!" He nodded towards the back cells. "I will join you in on the search the moment this Mr. Jenkins walks in my door and takes that prisoner off my hands! I'm under specific orders to stay here until that happens." Roy was pretty frustrated himself. He could care less about the man sitting behind the bars, but as a lawman, he still had his job to do. "Take Foster with you for now," he motioned towards his deputy.

While Ben talked to Foster, Hoss and Little Joe had found their way to the saloon. Neither one of them liked what they'd been hearing. "That description sounds like the men that I saw with Jason Mitchell earlier", "Might want to talk to Jason Mitchell, he was with two men that fit that description yesterday" and "I bet Jason knows them." With each sentence, Little Joe found it harder and harder to keep his temper under control. He had to, though, for Miss Brooke's sake.

Hoss was the first one through the saloon door. He had to grab Little Joe's arm the moment his brother stepped into the saloon. Jason was sitting in the corner, his back to them, and he was talking to two men that fit the description. Before the men saw Hoss and Little Joe, and before Little Joe could do or say anything, Hoss had him back outside. Joe Cartwright was confused.

"What are you doing?" Little Joe demanded in a lowered tone of voice. He might not know the motivation behind Hoss' actions, but he knew his brother well enough to know the man had his reasons. That being the case, he gave him the benefit of the doubt and kept his voice low.

Hoss looked down the street and saw his father coming out of the saloon with Foster. "Go down there, quick," Hoss answered as he pointed toward the men, "Tell Pa who is in the saloon. I'll stay here." Instantly, Little Joe saw his brother's thinking and took off running. Those men were going to be sorry they'd laid a hand on his father and Miss Brooke.

Ben saw his son running towards them and took off running himself, as did Foster. They knew full well the lad, as his father still insisted on calling him, had to have major news to be acting that way. As soon as the three men met, Little Joe pointed towards Hoss and the saloon and told Ben and Foster what was going on.

Fury and astonishment both raged inside Ben as he realized, if his son was right, what the man had done. The man was stupid! It was one thing to make it look as if you had nothing to do with an event, but to keep company with the men who did it? In open view? Jason Mitchell was nothing but an arrogant and cocky idiot! Ben took off running for the saloon, as did his son and Foster.