The Farm #5

~THE WEDDING~

by jfclover

The unexpected can be the best surprise of all. Joe and Andy had kept in touch over the past year, but both young men kept busy with their own lives and only wrote occasional letters. Neither had time to make the trip—Andy to the Ponderosa or Joe to Placerville—but they’d remained in touch.  

When Adam brought home a packet of mail, he handed a letter to his brother. “It’s from Andy,” Joe said as he slid his finger under the flap and pulled the single page out to read. “Holy Toledo, Pa!”

I set my pile of correspondence on the desk and looked up. “Good news?”

“I guess. Andy’s getting married. He’s asked me to be his best man.”

I stood from my desk. “That’s great news, Son. When’s the big day?”

“A month from … what’s the date today?”

“The 20th.”

“A month from tomorrow, and you’re all invited to the wedding.”

I slid my arm across Joe’s shoulder and squeezed the back of his neck. “I’ll clear our schedule. Can you do the same?”

“Yeah, I think so. Major Morrison is expecting delivery on the 10th, and Jimmy and Markus wouldn’t mind a few days off. They’d like that.”

“All right. We’re set to go then.”

It was good to see Joseph excited. He’d had a tough year. His first real attempt to make a name for himself went well until the day someone—never accused or convicted—blasted Joe’s back with a shotgun. His recovery was slow, more mental than physical, but he persevered and got back on track before the business failed.  

Joe had hired two young men to help select and gentle new mounts and had already made several deliveries to the army. Andy had done well also. Just a few months ago, he’d been promoted to manager of the Cary House, a goal he set for himself and reached at a very young age. Given the disaster of their teen years, both boys had adjusted to normal life and succeeded in becoming fine, respectable young men in a very short time.

As Andy’s marriage drew near, we decided to spend a few extra days in Placerville and call it a much-needed getaway. Joe had worked hard to get his last string of horses ready for the major while Hoss and Adam spent long days in the saddle moving our steers to the south pasture for better grazing. Everyone needed a break, and attending the wedding would give us a perfect opportunity to sit back and relax.

As soon as the marriage was announced, Joe worried about a wedding gift until I suggested a fine set of dishes and stemware similar to what his mother had ordered after arriving on the Ponderosa. “Your mother wasn’t about to eat off tin plates and drink out of tin cups.”

“No?” Joseph always smiled when one of us mentioned his mother, even if we didn’t prop her as high on a pedestal as he had.

“She believed that living on a ranch didn’t mean we had to live like barbarians, and the first thing on her agenda was to order dishware and glasses from an outfit in San Francisco.”

“You think Andy and Marianne would like that?”

“I don’t see why not, especially the bride. Mr. Cass might have a catalog down at the mercantile. If you rode to town today and placed an order—”

“—we’d have the dishes in time for the wedding.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

Joe’s enthusiasm over Andy’s nuptials became the talk every night during supper. Although he didn’t know much about Marianne—he’d only met her a couple of times—he was excited for his best friend. When he mentioned what he’d paid for the fancy dishes, I asked if he’d let us all chip in and make it a gift from the whole family. He jumped at the offer.

Since the crate would be awkward and heavy, Cass suggested the tableware be shipped directly from San Francisco to Placerville, and Joe agreed, but when I suggested we take the stage instead of riding our mounts, my sons balked at the idea. Traveling by coach was easier and safer than riding horseback that far and since I was still king of the castle, I insisted on that mode of travel.

Joe hadn’t seen Andy in months, and the day we were to depart, he could barely contain himself. “The carriage is ready, Pa.”

“Your brothers are still busy in the barn, Joseph. If you’d helped with the morning chores, you’d all be finished by now.”

“I had other things to do.”

“Such as?”

“You know … things.”

No, I didn’t know but his nervous energy drove me half-crazy. I shouldn’t complain though. I’d wished for the “old” Joe for so long, and not the sullen, quiet son that returned from Johansson’s farm, that I should be jumping for joy but sometimes …

We left the buggy at the livery and waited for the westbound stage. When we boarded, Hoss and Adam climbed in first, and Joe and I sat directly across. It seemed we were the only passengers until a last-minute arrival, a man dressed in a brown suit and black satin vest slid in next to Joe.

“Charlie Davis,” he said. He offered his hand to Joe before flashing a glance at the rest of us.  

 “Name’s Joe. These are my brothers and my pa.”

“Nice to meet you folks. On your way to the coast?”

“No,” Joe said. “Just Placerville.”

“Interesting. That’s my stop too.”

The coach lurched forward, and a cloud of dust swirled as we headed out of town. Mr. Davis adjusted the tails of his vest and leaned back in the seat for a long, dusty ride. He was a young man, maybe Hoss’ age with a faded scar on his left cheek that marked him as a man who’d done battle, but many men had scars. Accidents happened, and maybe I’d been too quick to judge.

I leaned forward to see past Joe. “Do you have business in Placerville, Mr. Davis?”

“Yes, Sir, I do. And you?”

“A celebration of sorts. A wedding.”

“How nice.”

My boys weren’t ones to make small talk, and the conversation died a quick death. I sat back in my seat and watched the well-known scenery roll by. By the time we reached the first way station, the natives had become restless and were ready to stretch their legs, especially Joseph. He’d never been one to sit still and riding long hours inside a coach did nothing for his amiable disposition. He nearly pushed Mr. Davis aside for a breath of fresh air.

“You’ll have to excuse my son, Mr. Davis.”

“No problem. I feel the same way only he appears to have more energy than I.”

“Again, my apologies.”

As Davis climbed down, I glanced at my elder sons who knew to let me pass before they dared to rise from their seats. If Joe didn’t settle down soon, Hoss would threaten to pound him, Adam would grow silent and withdrawn, and I’d be stuck in the middle of a quarrel that left everyone grumbling and restless.

The unease only grew worse, and snide remarks were thrown back and forth between the brothers. As always, mailbags cluttered the floor, and creating a decent foothold was a challenge. Bodies jerked at tight turns and shoulders were bruised by the end of the ride. When we reached Placerville, I wished we could’ve gone our separate ways, but I’d booked a suite, and we’d all be stuck together for the duration.

Andy greeted us as soon as we stepped inside the hotel. He and Joe shared a bear hug before he shook our hands and motioned his fiancée to join us. “I want you all to meet Marianne.” Just as I remembered her—a pretty girl—blonde, blue-eyed, and a lovely smile. She was a foot shorter than Andy, but they looked perfect together.

“You must be the Cartwrights. We were never properly introduced before, and I’m proud to make your acquaintance.”

“I’m Ben, and these are my sons. Hoss, Adam, and Joseph.”

She looked straight at Joe. “You don’t remember me, do you?”

“Oh, I remember. I remember quite well.”

Marianne blushed but quickly recovered. “You two were in and out of here so fast back then, I wasn’t sure.”

“A man never forgets a pretty lady, but I can’t believe you fell for this big galoot.”

“Hey,” Andy said. “You’re talking to my future bride.”

“And I’m happy for you both.”

With one arm around his fiancée, Andy draped his other arm across Joe’s shoulder. “My two best friends. I’m a very lucky man.”

“Aw, cut it out. No need to get mushy.”

We all chuckled, but we were tired and needed baths and fresh clothes. I glanced over Andy’s shoulder at Charlie Davis signing the register. 

I couldn’t blame the man for staying at the same hotel. The Cary House was the best in town.

“Why don’t you get checked in,” Andy said, “and I’ll take you upstairs so you can clean up.”

“That sounds great,” I replied.

“Dinner tonight? My treat.”

“That’s not necessary, Andy.”

“Please?”

“Works for me,” Joe said before I could argue with the young man about spending money unnecessarily.   

By the time we were bathed and changed into a fresh set of clothes, it was time for supper, and we all headed down to the hotel lobby. Andy hadn’t set a time to meet, and neither party was anywhere in sight, so I took a seat in an upholstered chair. My boys could sit or mill around. I didn’t much care. I needed a little space.

Andy came down the stairs hand-in-hand with Marianne, and Joe ran up to greet them. “Hey, Buddy. I’m starved. Where are you taking us for supper?”

“You? Starved? That’s a switch.”

I’d almost forgotten those days. Joe picked at his food for so long that I never thought he’d gain a pound. His eyes and cheeks were so sunken and drawn when we first found him, it was hard to imagine him whole again, but things were different now. He ate and slept and his emaciated body had filled out nicely. Though he was still slim, his slight frame had broadened with muscle.

I stood and greeted Andy and his bride-to-be. They looked quite dashing and seemed genuinely in love. I noticed the way he looked at her and the way he held her close, maybe a bit too close, but who was I to judge the happy couple?

“Have you ever been to The Silver Spoon?”

“Nope. Just that saloon with the good steaks.”

“The Lost Wages,” Hoss piped in.  

“I don’t want my friends sitting in a ratty saloon when they can be wined and dined in style.”

Joe stepped closer to Marianne. “When’d he become so high and mighty?”

She laughed and squeezed Andy’s hand. “He’s a big wig, you know. Not just a kid off the farm who doesn’t know how to entertain his best friends. Besides, we’re holding the wedding in the only other decent restaurant in town. He can’t take you there, can he?”

“Of course not,” Joe laughed. “Lead the way, Mr. Hotel Manager.”

“Come on,” Andy said. “You’ll love it, especially you, Hoss.”

Dinner was superb, and so was the conversation. Despite the distance between the Ponderosa and Placerville, the friendship had lasted as though they’d never spent time apart. Joe and Andy were right back where they’d been a year ago—best friends.

We heard about Andy’s climb to the top and Joe’s exaggerated tales of the horse business. The boys were proud of their accomplishments, and so were the rest of us. They’d both done well in their separate and very different endeavors.  

Joe was content calling himself an everyday cowboy. Being a Cartwright raised his status in the community, but he was satisfied with the fact that manual labor was a better part of his life. Andy was the total opposite. He wanted the suit and tie. Calloused hands and a myriad of bruises weren’t part of that look. He enjoyed the prestige that came with moving to the top of his profession.  

*

Chapter 2

We had a day to ourselves before the Saturday afternoon wedding. We found other things to do while the happy couple finalized their last-minute preparations. Of course, I didn’t know if this was a large wedding or just a few close friends. They’d both been closed-mouthed about the event.

During supper, we discovered that Marianne had been promoted when Andy became her boss. She was his secretary of sorts. She did the books, payroll, bill paying, and anything else he found tedious. Those were Andy’s words, and we all had a good chuckle at his expense. Hating bookwork was the one thing Andy and Joe had in common. They both hated “tedious” jobs.

While I visited with Red, the local sheriff, the boys headed straight to the saloon to relax and enjoy their time off without me tagging along. It was only fair that they set out on their own.

Red greeted me with a big howdy and had me take a seat in his office. Nothing much had changed. The walls were dull and gray but for a landscape picture that held a year’s worth of dust on the frame. Being well aware of Andy’s social status in the community, he seemed eager to know how Joe was making out. I explained about the horse business and how Joe had made himself a name with the army and many of the locals.

“That’s good to hear, Ben.” After connecting over the last couple of years, Red and I were on a first-name basis. “For two mistreated boys who could’ve become faces on one of my wanted posters, that makes me right proud of both of them.”

“I have to agree. They’ve each become outstanding young men.”

What I didn’t know was that Joe had left his brothers at the saloon to check on the gift he’d ordered for Andy and Marianne. It was to be shipped from the warehouse in San Francisco to Aubrey’s Mercantile in Placerville, and the crate would then be delivered to the hotel c/o Andy McDaniel.

When I met up with my sons, I was informed of Joe’s errand, but Hoss noted he’d left two hours ago. 

“Two hours?”

“Yeah, Pa. The mercantile’s just across the street. Thought he’d be back by now.”

Considering this was Joseph, there was a slew of options, but my first instinct was to think he met up with Andy and stayed to help with tomorrow’s event. “I’m sure he’ll be along.”

“Still,” Hoss said, “somethin’ don’t sit right.”

Hoss had a sixth sense about things and over the years, I’d learned to take his quirky intuitions seriously. “What do you mean?”

“I ain’t sure, but I think we oughta go find him.”

I finished my beer as did Adam and stood from my chair. “Let’s go.”

We headed for the hotel. Logic told me we’d find him with Andy, and that he’d lost track of time. I stepped up to the registrar’s counter and asked if I could speak to the manager.

“Something wrong, Mr. Cartwright?”

“No. I just need a word with Mr. McDaniel.”

“One moment.”

The little man scurried to the back room and returned with Andy. “Hey, Mr. Cartwright. What’s up?”

When Joe didn’t walk out with him, logic went right out the window. “This might sound like an odd question, but have you seen Joseph in the past couple of hours?”

“No, but I’ve been pretty busy. I haven’t had time to … why?”

“Oh,” I said somewhat embarrassed. “He left to run an errand, and I thought he might’ve stopped by before meeting back up with his brothers.”

“I haven’t seen Joe or Marianne today. She had errands too. Maybe they met up for a lemonade or grabbed a bite to eat.”

“I’m sure you’re right.” I glanced at my elder sons, but they remained stoic. “I know you’re busy. We won’t hold you up any longer.”

“When you find Joe, tell him to stop by.”

“Will do.”

The boys and I left the hotel but found ourselves rooted to the boardwalk just out front. “Where do you suppose he went?” Hoss said.

“Your guess is as good as mine.” Should I be worried? Placerville held such bad memories that I began to wonder if I was overthinking the worst. 

“Let’s spread out. You two take that side of the street, and I’ll head down toward the livery.”

“What are you thinkin’, Pa?”

“I’m not thinking anything, Hoss … not really.”

The look on my sons’ faces made me realize my concerns hadn’t stayed hidden. Adam stepped forward. “I’m sure it’s nothing,” he said, forcing a smile. “We’ll find him.”

As I glanced through every storefront window, my concern over my young son’s whereabouts turned toward anger. Joe had no concept of time. No, that wasn’t true, but he didn’t always think things through, and I wasn’t the only one concerned. His brothers worried too. The look on their faces proved that.

By the time I reached the livery at the south end of town, I was angry. A year or two younger and I’d taken Joseph over my knee. His inconsiderate behavior had us wasting half a day tracking him down. Hoss crossed the street to meet me.  

“Nothin’, Pa. Ain’t no sign of Little Joe anywhere.”

“Maybe Adam had better luck.”

Though it felt a bit awkward, I stepped inside a dress shop and questioned a middle-aged woman behind the counter. “Excuse me, Ma’am.”

“What can I do for you, Sir?”

“I’m looking for a young lady. She’s getting married tomorrow, and I thought she may have—”

“Marianne?”

“Yes, that’s her. I wondered if she’d stopped in today.”

“She was here a couple of hours ago to pick up her dress. I made it myself and I must admit … I’m sorry,” she said, red-faced. “That’s not why you’re here. Is something wrong?”

“No, Ma’am. Not at all. I’m sure everything’s as it should be.” I stepped outside.  

“No luck?”

“Marianne was here two hours ago.”

Hoss turned to me. “You think they’re together?”

“I don’t know what to think.”

We met Adam halfway up the street in front of the Cary House. “Nothing,” he said.  

“Let’s check the suite. A young man doesn’t just vanish into thin air.”

“It happened before.”

I glared at Adam. “Watch your tongue.”

“Sorry, Pa.”

*

Chapter 3

The smell of damp, molding earth wakes him from an unnatural sleep. His mouth is cotton-dry and the pounding in his head echoes like bullets ricocheting through canyon walls. He steadies himself on one elbow, and the world around him spins with fragmented shards of white lace and satin. He blinks repeatedly.

“I see you’re finally awake. Thought maybe I’d hit you too hard.”

Joe forces his attention on the voice that seems both distant and near, and his mind spins in a thousand directions. Did the crate of dishes arrive? Did he go and check? Nothing makes sense. Four walls surround him, but the voice is no more. A dream? A menacing dream?  

He pushes up to his knees and reaches for an open gash where the pulse of warm, sticky blood seeps from the back of his head. Fragmented thoughts spring to his mind too fast to recount. Did he fall or had he been hit? Nothing seems clear.

“You’re here to do my bidding, Joe Cartwright.”

Tilting his head to one side, he studies the man’s voice though recognition eludes him. Only the blood that seeps from the base of his skull is real, but he’s curious and twists from the waist to meet the unfamiliar voice.

“Who are you and what do you want?”

“After all the time we spent together, you don’t remember me? I find that unsettling, Mr. Cartwright.”

Mr. Cartwright? A flash of white catches Joe’s eye, and he clears his mind enough to focus on who’s tied and gagged and sitting in the corner of the room. Marianne. Andy’s fiancée had slipped into her wedding gown but why? Why in this broken-down shack was she dressed for the upcoming event?

The man stood between him and the only door. He isn’t armed, and Joe reaches for his pistol, but the holster still tied to his leg is empty. With sirens still pounding in his head, he wouldn’t be much good in a fight.

“What the hell’s going on?”

The voice finds Joe’s remark funny and laughs. “She’s to be my bride. We pledged our love to each other long before you and your friend rode to town.” He turns toward the corner of the room. “Isn’t that right, Mary Jane?”  

Mary Jane?  Tears form in her eyes as she fights the binding ropes and turns her head away from the menacing voice.

“Why am I here?”

“You’re the catalyst, Joe Cartwright. You’re the only one who can make this happen.”

“Make what happen?” Joe shakes the fog from his head. Understanding comes slowly.

“The marriage between two loving souls. Mary Jane Kilpatrick and Charles Davis.”

Charlie Davis.  “You’re the guy on the stage.”

“I thought it would come eventually. Sit down before you fall, Mr. Cartwright.”

Two chairs are off to the side of the room. A canteen hangs over one, and a scarred wooden table sits against the far wall. Joe glances at the woman he knows only as Marianne, not Mary Jane. “What about the girl? If she’s so in love with you, why is she tied and gagged?”

“A mere formality, I’m afraid.”

“A formality?”

“Are you going to sit down, or do you need assistance?”

Joe moves toward the table but remains on his feet. His captor is right about one thing. Standing proves difficult. Absorbing the situation proves difficult too. “Untie the girl and I’ll sit down.”

Davis still blocks the door, and Joe glances up at a moose head that’s mounted just above the crazed man. The eyes are crystal-clear as though the enormous skull with fur can watch every movement from beyond the grave. 

The fear in Marianne heightens when Davis moves toward her and pulls the rope from her wrists. She brings her hands to her lap, and tiny drops of blood mark her new white gown.  

When he removes the gag and slips the cloth into his suit pocket, Joe sits down in the chair. “Give the girl a drink.”

Davis looks up. “You’re a bossy little cuss, aren’t you?”

“You want a dead bride? I don’t know how long we’ve been here but the girl needs water.”

The canteen is within Joe’s reach. Should he try to compromise Davis’ plan by throwing himself at the man when he comes for the drink? Did he have any other choice?  

“If you’re so worried about my future bride, you give her a drink.”

Joe grabs the canteen. He kneels in front of Marianne and hands her the filthy container. “Drink slow.”

She mouths “Thank you,” but the pleading in her eyes pulls at his heart. He needs a plan, a way to escape the cold-hearted bastard who has a peculiar conception of marriage. The time needs to be right or they’ll both be killed and left to rot. With no witnesses, Davis will get off scot-free, and Andy will be devastated by the loss. He lifts the canteen to his lips, but the sound of a cocked hammer stops him cold.

“Not you, Cartwright. I have other plans for you.”

Joe stands and faces Davis. “That little derringer won’t cause much damage, you know.”

With a finger steady on the trigger, Davis pulls Joe’s pearl-handled Colt from the back of his waistband. “How about this one?”

Joe concedes and moves back to his chair at the table. “What happens now?”

Davis slips the derringer into his vest pocket and points the Colt toward Joe. He steps forward though and keeps enough distance that he feels content with his stance and safely away from his captives. “I don’t suppose you’re a preacher.”

Joe laughs. “No, not in this lifetime.”

“Then you need to find one and bring him here.”

Joe shoots to his feet. “You’re serious?”

The gun doesn’t waver. “I’m dead serious, Mr. Cartwright.”

“And if I refuse?”

“I’m afraid that’s not an option. To understand all the facts, you’d have to know the real Mary Jane, the girl who ran and hid in this pitiful excuse for a town pretending she’s someone she’s not.”

Joe glances at Marianne for confirmation, but her face is hidden in the palms of her hands. She won’t look up. She won’t acknowledge his presence. And this is his best friend’s fiancée? What Davis proposes is insane, but Andy must know. The truth has to be told, but what is the truth? I dared not ask. Questions and answers would come later.

“What if someone sees me in town?”

“Make sure they don’t.”

“Easier said than done, Asshole. I didn’t come to town on a hay wagon. You know that as well as I do. You met my father and brothers, and odds are there’s a search party out looking for me right now.”

“If anyone shows up beside you and the preacher,”—he swings Joe’s Colt toward the woman— “she dies.”

Joe looks past Davis at Marianne. “You’d kill the girl you plan to marry?”

“If I have to.”

Marianne hasn’t spoken a word. She leaves it up to Davis and me to work out the details that would make her his bride rather than Andy’s. Is this what she wants too? Having been gagged and tied to a chair didn’t give the impression she was on board with the plan. “What’s Marianne to you anyhow? I’ve never seen a bride-to-be held hostage before her wedding.”

Davis lowers Joe’s gun again and glances at Marianne. “Should I tell him the whole story, Sweetheart? How much do you want your friend to know?”

Marianne has a past, but everyone has something they’d rather not talk about. Is Andy aware, or is his fiancée keeping a secret that only she and Charlie Davis share?

“Go ahead, Sweetheart. Tell your friend all the finer points of your upbringing. Tell him who paid good money to rescue you from that hellhole. Tell him who fed you and kept you in beautiful clothes. Tell him who groomed you for two years until you could be presented in social circles as a prominent socialite. Tell him, Mary Jane.”

“That’s enough,” Joe says. “None of that matters.”

“Oh, but it matters a great deal.”

“Why? It all sounds like past tense to me.”

Davis chuckles and runs his hand through long, straight hair. Narrowed eyes bear down on Joe. “You know nothing. I brought you here for one thing, and I expect you to do as I ask. You’re aware of the consequences, and I suggest you ride fast for that preacher.”

“You can end this now and let the girl go.” Davis doesn’t move a muscle. Nothing will change the man’s mind. “Okay. I’ll go.”

“You’re a smart man, Cartwright, but I meant what I said. No posse, no family. You and a preacher, that’s all.”

“Fine. She better not be hurt when I get back.”

With his head still pounding, Joe slams the door behind him and saddles one of the horses outside the shack. Though not sure where he’s been taken, he knows that Placerville is somewhere down the mountain. The ride shouldn’t be far, but the threat of an approaching storm could slow his pace. 

Chapter 4

When we didn’t find Joe asleep in the suite and the room held no obvious clue of his whereabouts, I considered Adam’s uncalled-for remark.  “It happened before.”  What were the odds of it happening again? I cleared my mind of his ridiculous prediction and focused on logic. A young man didn’t disappear twice from a dirty little mining town born in the Sierra foothills.  

“Pa?” Hoss said.

“What.” I wasn’t in the mood for another smart remark.

“Did you check the livery?”

I stared at Hoss as though he could provide the answer. I’d walked that far, but I never actually talked to the smithy or whoever was tending the livestock. “No,” I said. My middle boy hadn’t bothered to take off his hat or gunbelt, and he shot out the door before I could say more.

“Just where do you think he’d go?”

Adam and his snide questions. “Right now, I don’t know any more than you do, Son, but I should’ve checked when I was there.”

“He wouldn’t go back out to the farm, would he?”

I fell into the nearest chair and crossed my legs. Tired, and holding off the threat of anger, I considered the possibility of another manhunt.  It had been four years since Adam sent me the wire that prompted the original search. Surely, this wasn’t the case again. Hadn’t we been through enough?   “I don’t know, Adam. Would he?”

Clouds obscured the late afternoon sun, and the suite fell into near darkness. A flash of lightning and the distinct rumble of thunder had me wondering if we were in for a storm. If so, tracking an unknown mount to who knows where would be a big waste of time.  

The temperature had dropped during the past hour. A violent hailstorm moved in and blasted the landscape with icy white pellets. Many of the town’s citizens had been caught unaware, and their sporadic movements proved animated and downright humorous. Shame on me, but I rather enjoyed the fast-paced entertainment they provided out our hotel window.  

When Hoss burst into the suite and slammed the hotel door behind him, Adam and I turned with a start. “Got some news, Pa.”

Humor from the street below vanished, and slivers of light broke through the low-lying clouds. The storm hit hard and fast, and there wasn’t much daylight left. “What, Son?”

“You know that man from the stage?”

“Yeah. What’s he got to do with this?”

“Well, I ain’t rightly sure if he has anything to do with anything, but he rented three horses from the livery. He rode off pullin’ the other two behind ‘em.”

“You think Joe and Marianne are … just what are you saying, Son?”

“I dunno, Pa. Something to think about though.”

“Could be.”

Without proof of foul play, a search party was out of the question. It was up to the boys and me to put our heads together and think like Little Joe.

“What do you want us to do?” Adam asked.

Though I wanted to say, “Mount up, Boys. Let’s ride,” I couldn’t help but think we were jumping the gun. We were overreacting. Joe wasn’t a baby. He had every right to ride out and do as he pleased, but it irked me that he hadn’t told a soul before he left. But that was Joseph. Don’t think. Just do.

“We wait.”

“For what?” Hoss didn’t like my answer.

“We don’t know if anything’s wrong. Maybe he just went for a ride.”

Hoss and Adam glared at each other as though I’d lost my mind. Maybe I had, but maybe I didn’t believe lightning could strike twice. Joseph was fine. I had no reason to think otherwise, and neither should they.

Supper was a quiet affair. Joe hadn’t returned and by eight that evening, we walked back to the hotel. Now, it was time to worry.

Chapter 5

A trail is non-existent. He’s taken the wrong turn every time and travel is slow. Taking shelter halfway down the mountain in a broken-down shack and pulling the rented horse inside with him had been a smart move but left him behind schedule. Davis is waiting. Davis has his gun and doesn’t seem afraid to use it.

The undergrowth is thick when he mounts a second time. The sun tries but fails to appear, and the clouds weigh heavy on his shoulders. The gash at the back of his skull throbs and makes his stomach churn, and he lets his horse take his lead. No food and nothing to drink hasn’t helped. He needs to find Placerville and a preacher soon.

Lights flicker in the distance, and Joe steers the bay to the left when a decent trail appears. He’s close now and begins to relax. 

A soft, gentle rain begins to fall, and he slumps forward in the saddle. As dusk turns into night, the smell of damp horseflesh takes his mind off the pounding in his head, and the horses’ smooth gait lulls him to sleep.

*

Chapter 6

We ate breakfast in the suite and even though rain fell steadily throughout the night and ruined any chance of tracking Joe down, the farm was the first place we’d look. Gunbelts were fastened, and jackets and hats were slipped on in that order. Hoss rented stout horses and we were ready to ride. The morning air was fresh and cool; the sun had yet to break through. Dark, laden clouds hung low in the sky.

A hurried knock at our hotel door made us wonder who else would be stirring just after dawn. City dwellers weren’t usually out of bed as early as farmers and ranchers. I pulled the door open and found the red-faced sheriff barging into our room.

“Red? What’s the matter?”

Breathless from racing up four flights of stairs, he managed a few simple words. “It’s your boy.”

“Joseph?”

“I have him down at my jail.”

 “Jail? For heaven’s sake why?”

“It ain’t what you think, Mr. Cartwright. Lloyd Aubrey … well, when he went out to sweep the boardwalk in front of his mercantile, he found your boy lyin’ in the street. He thought the kid was dead and came straight to me. I assure you Joe ain’t dead just cold and wet and caked with mud. I laid him on one of my cots and covered him with a couple of blankets. Then I come here.”

I glanced at my sons and tried to get my wits in order. “Did he ride in?”

“Don’t know.”

“Adam, get the doctor. Hoss, you come with me.”

We headed straight to the jailhouse, and my mind reeled with questions I couldn’t answer. Why was my son left in the street to die? How long had he been there, and who’d want him dead? We’d come for a wedding, that’s all. How could things go so wrong?

Red pushed through the front door of his office, and Hoss and I bolted toward the cell where Joe lay unconscious. I reached for my son and swept wet curls from his forehead. “Joe? Little Joe?” As he began to stir, I felt comfort in the movement. Perhaps he was only sleeping and could tell us the story himself. “Joseph?”

“Pa …”

“Time to wake up, Son.”

Joe rolled to his side and shivered. “Cold.”

“I know you are.” I turned to Red. “Any more blankets?”

Red shrugged. “Sorry, Mr. Cartwright.”

I’d sat on the edge of the cot but stood to take off my coat. Hoss did the same, and I draped them both over Joe’s slim form. “This should help.” I rubbed my hand vigorously over his back. “Better?”

“Yeah.”

When color returned to his face, and the look of death subsided, I felt relieved and realized he’d be okay. I didn’t understand any of this. What in blazes had gone so wrong? “Think you can sit up?”

“Yeah.”

I helped him into a sitting position but kept the blankets and coats tucked tight under his chin. I sat back down on the cot. Hoss and Red hovered at the cell door. “What happened, Joe? Who left you in the street?”

My son appeared confused. He looked right past me and up at his big brother. “The street?”

“Mr. Aubrey found you lying in the street in front of his mercantile. Red brought you here, and I’ve sent Adam for the doctor.”

Joe looked down toward his lap. He swallowed hard before raising his head. Tears glistened in his eyes.

“What’s wrong, Son? What happened?”

Joe studied his lap again before he spoke. “Marianne.”

Marianne?  “What about her?”

“The man on the stage … he’s got her.”

“Davis? But why?” Joe turned his head, and that’s when I noticed the raised gash at the base of his skull. “What’s this? Who did this to you?”

“Davis.”

I glanced behind me when the sheriff started forward. This unexpected chain of events made no sense. “I need to know the whole story,” Red said. “Can you start from the very beginning?”

Just as Joe began his story, Adam walked in with Dr. Hershey, who’d we’d known since Andy and Joe were brought to town after their ordeal at the farm. Since Joe often became squeamish around doctors, a friendly face was a godsend. He’d grown to like the old doctor.

“We meet again, Joseph.”

“Hi, Doc.”

I stood from the cot so Hershey could do his job. I pulled the sheriff with me. Joe didn’t need an audience. His brothers would suffice. “How about some hot coffee?”

“Comin’ right up.”

Between Hoss and Adam’s broad backs, they blocked any vision of Joe through the cell door. As far as I could tell, the bump on his head was the only injury he’d sustained, but Joseph wouldn’t admit to anything else unless his life was on the line. I trusted the doc to be thorough.

After Red filled tin cups with coffee, I carried one in for Joe and urged my other two sons to grab a cup of their own. I’d given the doctor a few minutes alone, and I knew he wouldn’t dismiss me. I wanted answers. Hershey patted Joe’s shoulder and stood from the narrow cot. I handed Joe the cup and turned toward the doctor.

“Well?”

“I treated the head wound, and I suggested he take it easy for the next couple of days, but I know that will be a problem. You see, I was invited to the wedding too, and I know Andy asked Joe to be his best man.”

“We’ll work things out,” I said. Of course, I didn’t know the whole story yet, but I didn’t say anything about Davis or Marianne to Dr. Hershey. Not until I had all the facts, would there be cause for unnecessary worry. The doctor and I shook hands.

“Hope to see you all tomorrow. What a grand day it will be.”

“I’m sure it will be, Doctor. Thanks again.”

“My pleasure, Mr. Cartwright, but keep that boy close. He seems to have a tendency toward trouble.”

“I will.” Over my shoulder, I heard my sons tell the doc thanks and they, along with Red, moved back toward the cell.  

“Doc says I’ll live.” Joe’s voice was little more than a whisper. “But everything’s messed up now. It’s too late …”

“Too late for what, Son?”

Joe breathed in heavy before he began. His story consisted of Davis, Marianne, and a preacher, and we all listened to his rendition of a day spent with an unstable man and a frightened young lady.

“Does Andy know any of this?” Joe’s eyes answered for him, and he blamed himself for not making things right. “None of this is your fault, you know.”

“If I hadn’t fallen asleep …”

“It couldn’t be helped, Son. Head wounds do that to a person.”

“But …”

“No buts, Joseph. Let’s get you back to the hotel. Think you can walk?”

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

The hotel wasn’t far, and we took it slow. Adam and I flanked Joe on either side, and Hoss followed closely behind. Joe’s story about Davis was a bit farfetched, but we had to believe it was true. Joe’s unexpected disappearance told us that much. If Marianne wasn’t in her room preparing for her big day, the facts would stand by themselves.  

Andy ran to the front door when he saw us enter. “Joseph?”

“He’s all right,” I said.

“He don’t look all right to me?”

When Joe’s legs nearly gave way, Adam and I grabbed hold and steadied the boy on his feet. “Is there somewhere we can talk?”

“My office. This way,” he pointed, and we followed. The room was small and there were only two chairs, one behind the desk and one in front. We lowered Joe in the closest, and Andy perched on the edge of the desk. 

“You don’t look so good, Joseph.”

“I’m fine.”

I turned to Andy. “Have you seen Marianne this morning?”

“No, Sir. She gave me strict orders to stay away. Said she had too much to do, and I wasn’t allowed to see her until the wedding.”

“Do you mind if I check her room?”

“What for?”

“I’ll go,” Adam said.

Andy gestured to the narrow hallway outside his office but his eyes stayed on me. “Third door on the right.”

“There may be a problem,” I said trying to stall until Adam returned. “Joe has a story to tell. It might sound bizarre at first, but I want you to hear him out.”

“She isn’t there,” Joe mumbled. “She’s with him.”

Andy’s eyes narrowed at Joe’s remark. “Who’s not where, Joseph? What’s this all about?”

Adam stood in the doorway shaking his head.

I placed my hand on Joe’s shoulder. “Do you want to tell him or should I?”

Joe looked up at his friend; his eyes glistened with tears. He dipped his head and mumbled something about not saving her. My heart went out to both young men. A groom-to-be, and a son filled with guilt over something so far out of his control that he shouldn’t blame himself but he did.

Andy’s glare was as close to Joe’s as I’d ever seen. The boy meant business, and nothing but the whole truth would do. “Couldn’t save who, Joseph?”

“Charlie Davis.”

“Who?”

“He has Marianne. Says her name is Mary Jane. He plans to marry her.”

“Marry?” Andy slid off the desk and onto one knee. He grabbed Joe’s shoulders. “Who the hell is Charlie Davis?”

“Man on the stage.”

“He rode with us from Virginia City,” I clarified.

“I must’ve been hit on the head because when I came to, Marianne and I were inside a cabin with Davis.”

“Why were you and Marianne together in the first place?”

“Her packages. I carried her packages.”

Andy nodded his head. If the boy thought my son was up to no good, he didn’t anymore.

“Davis rambled on … something about society. Something about feeding and dressing her and, I’m not sure what all he said, but we have to get her outta there. We have to go now.”

“Tell me where she is, Joe.”

“Preacher.”

“What?”

“I’m supposed to bring a preacher.”

Joe ran his hand through his hair then stood and began pacing.

“Long story short,” I said, “we need to find Marianne.”

“Me,” Joe said. “I’m supposed to bring a preacher. No one else comes or he’ll hurt her. I have to do this alone, Pa.”

I breathed in deep. I wasn’t about to let Joe go anywhere. “Is Marianne hurt?”

“She was fine when I left. Just scared.”

Andy took it all in and tried to absorb the information. He pulled Joe toward the door until Adam intervened. “This isn’t the way.”

“Tomorrow’s my wedding day, Adam! I have to find her.”

“We will,” I said. “Find Hoss. I want you two to ride with Andy.”

“Exactly where do you suggest we ride?”

My son’s sarcastic remark didn’t bode well with me, but he was right. Without Joe, we were clueless, and I couldn’t allow Joe back on a horse, not with a head injury. “You have a point, Son.”

Joe shrugged off Andy’s tight grip. “I can ride.”

“I’m afraid the doctor—”

“I know what he said, Pa, but if Hoss or Adam’s life were in danger, would you still insist I stay in bed?”

Putting Joe on the back of a horse went against good judgment. “Can we get there in a buckboard?”

Joe rolled his eyes. “You can hold my hand all the way, Pa, but I’m taking Andy up the mountain.”

For the past year, I praised my son for stepping into manhood and knowing his own mind, and, father or not, I couldn’t take that away from him. I couldn’t treat him like a child. “Okay, we’ll all go.”

With that settled, Andy changed into riding clothes while Adam looked for Hoss and readied rented horses for a ride up the mountain. I took Joe up to our suite. His mud-caked clothes had to go. At least the sun showed now and hopefully, we wouldn’t have to deal with another storm. I suggested we meet in front of the sheriff’s office. Red knew about the kidnapping and should be notified of our pursuit.

“I was just coming to the hotel,” Red said as Joe and I approached. “How’s your head, Son?”

“Fine, Sheriff.”

“Joe’s guiding us up the mountain,” I said.

“Good. Mind if I tag along?”

“I’d be grateful.”

Adam and Hoss each led five horses, and a man I didn’t recognize led another. “Here’s your horse, Sheriff.”

“Thanks.” Red-eyed the third man. “Keep an eye on things while I’m gone, Jack.”

“No problem.” Jack wore a deputy’s badge and clapped Red’s shoulder before entering the office. Everything fell into place when Andy raced up the boardwalk and the six of us rode out of town.

We rode two-by-two. Joe and Andy took the lead with Red and me just behind. Hoss and Adam brought up the rear. Red wanted to capture an outlaw, but my concern over Joe had me watching for signs of fatigue. 

He wasn’t well but I understood. I would’ve done the same thing in his place.

When the trail petered out and we were left with nothing but scrub and wild grasses, Joe pulled up his horse and studied the landscape. The rain had washed out any sign that he’d come down the mountain, and Red and I looked on as Joe glanced at Andy with regret. “I don’t know which way to go.”

Red moved forward. “We’re looking for a cabin, right?”

“Yeah.”

“There’s an old hunting lodge a mile or so up. You think that’s where the girl might be?” I couldn’t see my elder sons’ faces, but Andy and I looked on, hoping Joe would remember some minor detail that Red could identify as our destination.

“Could be.” Joe rubbed his temples with his fingertips as he struggled to remember. “Moose head,” he mumbled and turned to face the sheriff. “I think there’s a moose head.”

“Bingo. That’s it!” Red took the lead. The terrain was rough and how Joseph made it down in one piece was just short of a miracle. If he’d lost his balance up here, we never would’ve found him. When the cabin came into view, the sheriff pulled up. “Look familiar?”

“I can’t be sure, but I think so.”

When Andy started forward, Red grabbed the young man’s forearm and glared at the anxious bridegroom. “Everyone stay put. I’m going in alone.”

He handed his reins to me and with his gun drawn, he moved in on foot to the south side of the lodge then crept toward the only door. Stepping back, Red kicked with full force. The door flew open, and we all dismounted. As instructed, we stayed put but this time, I held Andy back.  

With his gun lowered, the sheriff stepped back into the sunlight and looked at his anxious posse. “They’re gone.”

Joseph stumbled forward. Running past the sheriff, he nearly fell into the cabin. Red followed, as did the rest of us. “I had to make sure,” Joe said. “I had to know if this was the right place.”

“Any thoughts on where he’d take the girl?”

Joe didn’t answer. I can’t say he even processed the question. He looked straight at his friend. “I’ll find her, Andy. I swear to God I’ll find her.”

*

Chapter 6

And so it was that we rode back down the mountain. No tracks existed. Not even Hoss could track a nonexistent trail. “I don’t see nothin’, Pa.”

Joe needed rest, and Andy had the grueling job of calling off his wedding. My elder sons and I hung back and let Joe and Andy ride down to Placerville together. When we reached the hotel, I pulled Joseph aside.

“I know how you feel, Son, but you need to lay low the rest of the day. Give the wound time to heal then we’ll all search for Marianne.”

“But Pa. You don’t understand.”

“Yes, I do, Son, and from what you said, Davis doesn’t want the girl dead, he wants to marry her, which makes me think she’s not in danger … just missing, and we’ll find her.”

Watery eyes stared up at me. Whatever troubled Joe’s mind wasn’t apparent to me, but I could tell he had mixed feelings about opening up and saying anything more. I anticipated the worst

“If I didn’t do as he asked and didn’t bring a preacher, he said he’d kill her. Don’t you understand, Pa? If Marianne dies, I’m responsible for her death.”

Joe hadn’t mentioned the death threat before, but now I understood why he’d become so desperate about tracking her down. “Does Andy know?”

“No, and I can’t tell him. Not now.”

Davis was responsible, not Joe, but I didn’t want to get into that. We’d work that out later. Joe was right about one thing. Andy didn’t need to know. It would only make matters worse. I motioned to my elder sons. “Stay with your brother.” I closed in on the sheriff. He needed to know the unmentioned part of Joe’s story.

“That changes things, don’t it, Mr. Cartwright?”

“Completely. Maybe we should split into two groups. I want Joe to stay here, but I’m afraid as soon as I leave, he’ll head out on his own.”

“You know your son well.”

“Unfortunately.”  

Terror animated Joe’s face, and I feared Andy would catch on, but the young man had work to do. There’d be no wedding, and the guests had to be informed. I couldn’t leave Joe alone. I’d have to bow out of the posse and let Adam and Hoss ride with Red. There seemed to be no other choice.

“My elder boys will ride with you then. Will that do?”

“Excellent, Mr. Cartwright. I can use their help.”

“Fine. We’re all set. I’ll tell the boys and take Joe up to the suite. We don’t need any more problems.”

Three men rode out. If they split up later, that was their choice. Joe wasn’t happy, and I’m sure he’d have words to say, but it couldn’t be helped. Andy seemed more dazed than anything else. I led both boys up the steps and into the hotel lobby.  

“Come up to the suite, Andy. We can talk in private there.”

Andy looked to Joe for confirmation. They were like that, a team that honored and respected each other’s decisions. Joe nodded before heading to the stairs. I trailed behind until I pulled the key from my pocket and unlocked the door. The room felt musty and stale. I opened the street-front window and breathed in the warm, soft air.

When I turned back toward the boys, they were holding each other in a bear hug. Which boy felt worse was a mystery, but one thing was for sure. They were together in this to the end. Their friendship was as solid as family. I cleared my throat.

“The wedding will have to be postponed.” Andy and Joe turned toward the sound of my voice.

“How could this happen, Mr. Cartwright?”

“I don’t know, but Red and my sons won’t come back without her.” The boys slumped down on the sofa, each lost in thought but not stating the obvious. The girl could be dead by now, and Davis could be heading out of the territory. It was a shot in the dark, a mystery no one quite understood. “May I ask you a personal question, Andy?”

“Shoot, Mr. Cartwright.”

I sat down across from the boys. “How much do you know about Marianne? It seems Mr. Davis knows something about her past and … I guess what I’m trying to say … is there something you know that might help us understand?”

“I don’t know exactly. She was taken to an orphanage when her parents died of fever. She said there was a family who helped her, but that’s where the story ends. I don’t know much about that family other than she said it was time to leave, and she took a stage west. Her money ran out in Placerville, so she stayed.”

“That’s a good start. Maybe Charlie Davis was part of that family.”

“It’s possible. She never mentioned their name.”

“I’m sure that’s it, Pa. He said something about feeding and dressing her, but he would’ve only been a boy himself. Maybe they grew up together.”

“That’s what I’m thinking too, Joe. Jealousy maybe? We’re only speculating, and we won’t know for sure until Red and your brothers return. Then, we can put all the pieces together.”

Andy moved from the sofa to the window. With his hands braced on the sill, he stared out. “I need to cancel the wedding.” He turned toward Joe and me. “I better do that now.”

Joe stood. “Want me to come with you?”

I wanted to shout, “No! You need to rest,” but I held back.

“Thanks, but I need to do this alone.”

After forcing Joe to lie down on one of the beds, he fell asleep in no time. The last time we booked a room at the Cary House, he’d broken his leg and was forced to leave the cattle drive. That’s when I first noticed Marianne working the lunch counter, a pretty girl but shy and reserved. Nothing wrong with that, of course, and I was happy to hear she and Andy had fallen in love and planned to marry. But she had a backstory that was pertinent now. I believe Andy had been truthful, though, and the details of her past had never been fully revealed.

The sky had grown dark by the time Adam and Hoss returned to the suite. After the wedding guests had been told, Joe wanted to be with Andy and left without me. He didn’t want his friend to be alone, and I understood although I had nothing to do all afternoon but wait and worry. At least, he’d rested some, and I was thankful for that.

“You look tired,” I said to my elder sons. Neither chose to comment. A more important issue filled their minds. “Any luck?”

Hoss plopped down in an overstuffed chair. Either he wasn’t ready or didn’t want to talk. I couldn’t tell which, and I turned to Adam for answers.

“We found her.”

“Thank God.” Adam ran his fingers across his forehead and glanced at Hoss, but Hoss kept silent. “What?” I demanded. There seemed to be more to the story.

“We didn’t find Davis. I suppose he’s long gone by now, but we left Marianne at Doc Hershey’s. Red stayed with her. We met up with Joe and Andy in the lobby. I’m sure they’re at Doc’s by now.”

“What aren’t you telling me, Son?”

Adam moved to a chair next to Hoss. “He cut her, Pa. Sliced her face from her right eye to her chin.”

“He what?”

“This is only an assumption, but Hoss and I figure Davis didn’t get what he wanted and fixed it so Andy wouldn’t want her either.”

“Dear God.”

*

Chapter 7

When Dr. Hershey finished in his surgical room, he cleaned up before entering the parlor and studied the three men waiting for word on his brutalized patient. Red saw the damage. He’d brought the girl down the mountain, but this was Andy’s fiancée, and he wasn’t sure what the young man had been told about the violent attack. Andy pushed to his feet and stepped forward.

“I did the best I could, Son.”

“What do you mean, Doc? She’ll be okay, won’t she?”

Hershey looked at Red for answers, and the sheriff did his best to explain. “I told the boys she was unconscious when we brought her in. That’s about all I could tell at the time.”

How could the doctor explain the mindset of a crazed man? The boy will recognize the severity of the wound when he sees the bandage covering half her face. “She’ll need time to heal. Patience and understanding. That’s the ticket.”

“Can I see her now?”

“She’s sedated. She won’t be able to talk.”

“That’s all right.”

Dr. Hershey led Andy to Marianne. The boy hesitated before he reached the bed, but that was expected. “She’ll sleep for a while, Son.”

“Her face.” He purred just above a whisper.

“Time and patience. Wounds heal.”

“Can I stay with her?”

“Of course. I’ll be right outside if you need me.”

Joe and Red talked in low tones and both men looked up when the doctor entered the parlor. “Coffee?” His voice was a bit too loud and enthusiastic. “I’ll make a pot.”

“Wait, Doc,” Joe said. “Is Andy okay?”

Hershey dipped his head. “In time, Joe.”  The two haven’t changed at all. Still as close as ever.  “It’ll take a while to adjust, and both parties will need encouragement. I’m sure you’ll do your best.”

As Joe raked a hand across his mouth, he nodded as though he understood, but whoever understood such cruelty? “Guess I should go back to the hotel. Pa worries.”

The doctor smiled. He knew as well as anyone how Ben Cartwright fretted over his young son. “It’s probably a good idea. Rest up a while. I’m sure Andy will catch up with you later.”

Chapter 8

Joe returned alone. His brothers and I had eaten supper hours ago, and I offered to run down and grab him a sandwich at least, but my effort to feed my youngest was quickly pushed aside. He had questions, and he hammered Hoss and Adam until the gruesome details were explained in full.

“The man’s a monster,” Adam started.

“He’s worse’n that,” Hoss added. The story had yet to be told, but my sons had set the scene. Adam would try to explain although the look on Hoss’ face told more than the story itself.

“He cut her, Joe.” Joe’s eyes begged for more and Adam continued. “Davis cut her face and left her for dead about a mile from the shack. We couldn’t find him. He’s run off, and I doubt we’ll ever see him again, but Marianne has a good chance of recovery. I’m sure the doc explained everything, but that’s all Hoss and I know.”

“No,” Joe said. “He didn’t say a thing. He didn’t tell me …”

“Is Andy with her now?”

Joe slumped back in his seat. “Yeah. Figured I’d wait here.”

“He’ll need your help to get through this, Son.”

Joe’s tear-filled eyes met mine. “I need some air.”

Hoss stood from his chair. “I’ll go with you, Little Joe.”

“Okay.”

No two siblings could be more different than Hoss and Joe in stature, but they were tightly bound, more than any father could hope for. The bond came at birth and has continued throughout Joe’s life. Hoss’ role as protector and Joseph’s need for his big brother’s compassion has seen them both through the most difficult times.

When the hotel door closed behind them, I could count on Hoss to keep Joe safe. Joseph strived so hard to overcome the past and settle into manhood that I shouldn’t sit and worry. But that wasn’t the whole of it. Even though I assured him that none of this was his fault, he would take the blow to Andy’s life personally.

“She’s in pretty bad shape.”

Adam’s unexpected remark ended my mind’s ramblings. “What’s that, Son?”

“I’ve heard stories of whores being cut like that. Disfigured … so no one would look at them again. Not that I know this girl personally, but in a way she’s nearly family.”

I hadn’t seen for myself and had no way of knowing what shape Marianne was in or what the doctor could do to minimize the scar. “That bad.”

“It’s bad.”

“Do you think …” It was a stupid question. One I shouldn’t even bring up.

“Do I think Andy can cope?”

I sighed heavily. “I guess that’s the question we’re all asking, isn’t it?”

“Could you?”

“Could I what?”

“Cope?”

I stood from my chair. “Everyone’s different, Adam. This is Andy’s decision, and he’ll do what he thinks is right.”

“And what’s that?”

I glared at my questioning son. “You and your education.”

“Come on, Pa. Education has nothing to do with this.”

True. I sounded like Joseph. Blurting out the ridiculous before thinking was his way, not mine. “I know. I’m sorry.”

“Look, Pa. We’re all upset. Why don’t you get some sleep? I’ll wait up for Joe and Hoss.”

A reluctant smile crossed my face. “I’ll wait with you.”

Chapter 9

We had a ranch to run, and two days later, I convinced Joe there was nothing more he could do. Though he hadn’t been allowed in the surgical room with Andy and Marianne, he’d sat in Doc Hershey’s parlor for hours at a time, waiting. The boys took their meals together. They’d taken long rides when Doc suggested Marianne should rest. He only returned to the suite at bedtime, often after midnight, and was too tired to talk.

Exhaustion hit us all like a stone wall with no way around. Shaking the mental picture of a young girl about to start a new life with her new husband stayed with me day and night, as I’m sure it did with all my sons. We discussed nothing else.  

When Joseph was ready to talk about the last couple of days he spent with Andy, he tried to force a cheerful slant but a deep sadness in his eyes gave a different message altogether.

“Andy’s one of the good guys, Pa.”

“How do you mean, Son?”

“She … she told him to go away … that she didn’t want him coming around, but he’s not stupid, you know. He saw through all that bull and said he’d never leave her. She cried and he cried. It’s all such a mess, but I know Andy better than I know myself sometimes. He’ll get through to her somehow.”

“I’m glad you were there to help.”

Joe’s sarcastic laugh said otherwise. “It’s all Andy, Pa. I wasn’t much help.”

“You might not think so, but I know better. Just your presence helped him more than you know. That’s what friends do, Joseph. A friend listens to the good and the bad. A friend offers companionship and compassion. You did all that, Son, and I’m proud of you.”

Joseph had a kind and giving soul, and I prayed he could put any sense of guilt behind him. Had he brought a preacher up the mountain, Davis might’ve killed them both when all was said and done. The man is sick. He’d have no use for Joe or the preacher once the marriage took place. Whether Joe had thought that far ahead, I didn’t know, and it wasn’t worth bringing up.

“We need to leave in the morning, Son.” I had misgivings over what I was about to say, but I had to give Joe the choice. “Will you be coming with us?”

“Yeah. Andy’s stronger than you think, Pa. He’ll do fine without me.”

“And Marianne?”

He shook his head slowly. “Andy knew we couldn’t stay forever and let me see her today. The bandage was still in place, even Andy hasn’t seen the wound, but he was still determined to make her his bride. He’ll win her over. He’s good at that sort of thing.”

“You seem confident.”

“Andy’s a caregiver, Pa. He’s played that role his whole life. He cared for a drunken father, and he took care of me on the farm. I probably wouldn’t be here if Andy hadn’t kept my head screwed on straight. He’ll take good care of Marianne.”

“I think you’re right, Joe.”

“I know I am.”

“Maybe Andy can join us for supper tonight.”

“He’d like that.”

We all met at The Lost Wages. It did Andy good to get away, and Joe was the hit of the party. He kept everyone’s mood more lighthearted than grim; even Andy shared a smile or two with his best friend. It was good to see that maybe there could be light at the end of such a vicious storm.

Hoss and Adam and I said our goodbyes and wished Andy well. Joe said he’d be along later. Since Andy spent nearly every waking hour with Marianne, Joe walked with him down to Doc Hershey’s, and we veered toward the hotel.

The young men would say their private goodbyes. Joe would assure Andy that he and Marianne were welcome on the Ponderosa anytime; that Andy was family and so was his bride-to-be.

I was proud of all my sons although I was especially proud of the way Joe handled himself this week and how much he’d matured over the past year. He knew when he was needed and knew when to distance himself from the situation. The boys would keep in touch, and I prayed another date would be set for the wedding. Joe seemed confident in Andy’s gift of persuasion and happy endings for all parties involved.   

Joe had come to Placerville to stand up as Andy’s best man. Though he hadn’t dressed in a suit and tie, he would always be the best man Andy ever knew. More than acting and thinking like brothers, the two young men have overcome the worst life can offer, and their friendship would last a lifetime.

The End
2020

The next and last story in this series: – The Farm #6