"They shot him!" cried Joe, as Ben dismounted and tore towards his older son.
Joe had gone white with anger. He urged his horse forward into a gallop towards the rocks.
"Joseph!" Ben roared. "JOSEPH! Get back here – NOW!"
As Joe approached, one of them appeared, as clear as daylight. He immediately recognized him. It was a Paiute boy he had played with at school. That he had defended against bullies more than once.
"JOSEPH!" came Ben's terrible bellow once more.
Years of respect for his father and habitual obedience made him pull up, despite his rage. He cantered back to the two figures under the midday sun. For the moment he could not feel the grief that was gnawing at his heart when he saw his beloved brother lying, writhing with pain, with an arrow sticking out of his shoulder. All he could feel was white-hot anger. Ben was leaning over Hoss and gently coaxing him to drink from his canteen.
"You are not to go after them, Joseph. Do you hear me? I absolutely forbid it!"
"But, Pa, I know them. It's White Feather. And it'll be his brother with him. "
"I don't care! You'll get yourself killed! Go home. Get Hop Sing to prepare and one of the men to go for the doctor. Go! Now!"
"I know where they'll go. I'll tear them apart! I'll - "
"JOSEPH CARTWRIGHT!" Time was when his father's voice would have frozen his blood. But now he was a man... "If you want your brother to die, carry on. For once in your life, DO AS YOU'RE TOLD!"
A knife went through Joe's heart. He set back towards the Ponderosa.