Chapter 5
Joe left Cochise in at the livery stable. He had some banking business to do in town and then he was intent on stopping into the mercantile and buying some candy for Annie. He felt bad, what with the new house and the lost contracts he hadn't been spending as much time with her as he should. And she was so patient and sweet about it. He nearly laughed out loud when he thought about the time she pulled him into the spare bedroom. Man that was something!. He grinned wickedly to himself and decided it was too hot a day for thoughts like that. But yes married life was definitely to his liking. Annie was full of surprises.
~o~
He sauntered along to the bank, a contented smile playing on his lips, when a scene across the street stopped him in his tracks. He quickly put himself behind a parked wagon as he watched Marshal Haggard talking with Hank Bishop. Haggard seemed to be talking very earnestly with him about something and Joes eyes widened as he saw Bishop take a wad of cash from a side pocket and hand it over to Haggard. Joe couldn't believe it. He actually felt sick.
~o~
Joe didn't confront the man immediately. He waited until they were both back on the Ponderosa. He hoped so much that he was mistaken but as he approached Haggard in the tool shed he knew deep down he wasn't.
~o~
Haggard looked up from his work but continued mending the saddle strap as Joe entered.
"Hi ya Joe, hot enough for ye?" He asked.
"It was you all along wasn't it" Joe said. It was a statement not a question.
"You were selling information to Hank Bishop".
Haggard knew the game was up.
"How could you, you're my pa's oldest friend" Joe said with hurt in his eyes.
Haggard put down his work and faced the boy.
"I had to Joe. I was desperate. These are desperate people. To loose at cards to them is to loose your soul".
"My Pa trusted you" Joe yelled "you betrayed his trust".
Joe turned to leave.
"Where ye going Joe".
"Where do ya think" Joe said through tight lips.
"Can't let you do that son, Joe please listen to me".
Haggard went to stop Joe at the door. He could see his whole life going up in smoke. Hid long career on the Ponderosa. He struggled desperately with the boy trying to prize his fingers from the latch, he had to explain. But explain what, it was over. It was all over, the boy would tell, the boy would ruin everything.
Joe hissed at the sudden surge of pain. He began to slip from the older mans grasp, Haggards hands already streaked with his blood. He pulled the rusty knife from the boy and threw it to the ground.
Haggard stood looking down at the prone body. He listened to the many voices of the cow hands milling about outside. He would never get away. He had to think fast.
~o~
The colour drained from Bens face as Haggard carried Joe into the main room.
"Oh God" Ben uttered as he helped his friend carry Joe to the couch. The boy was passed out, his face pale and clammy. Ben ripped his shirt upwards from his pants and gazed in horror at the angry gash at his side.
Ben pulled a napkin from the coffee table beside him and pressed it to the wound to staunch the bleeding.
He didn't realise Hoss was standing nearby until he said he'd go for Doctor Martin. Hoss hurried out to the Barn.
Adam sauntered in minutes later and froze as he saw his father and Haggard hovering over someone on the couch.
"What happened" he asked.
"Someone attacked Joe" Ben told him.
"I'll ride for the doc" Adam turned to leave.
"Hoss is gone for him. Adam, get Hop Sing in here" Ben said keeping a hand pressed to Joes side.
Adam returned a minute later with the cook who bent low to see what he could administer to Joes wound. Joe squirmed as beads of sweat broke out on his forehead and face. Fever had took hold already.
"I give something, please remove shirt" he nodded heading back to his kitchen.
"Who could have done this?" Adam wondered as he winced at the sight of the gash in his little brothers side.
Just at that moment Haggard remembered the scene at the window, that boy with Joes wife. Inspiration dawned.
"Somebody with a grudge, somebody who wanted him out of the way perhaps" Haggard muttered as he helped Ben remove his shirt.
Somebody who wanted him out of the way.
Heat rose from Adams neck to his face as anger took hold. He knew exactly who it was who hurt his little brother.
"Pa I'll be back in a minute" he muttered as he left the house intent on finding Sam Pender.
Haggard glanced at the door as Adam left. His gamble had paid off. Adam had suspected the boy of fooling around with Joes girl. Adam would kill the kid and this would buy Haggard some time to get away. He still had the money Bishop had given him. He'd make his exit as soon as he had a chance.