Summary:  As Ben prepares to marry Joe will not only gain a step mother but also a step brother.

Rated: K+ (11,345 words)

The Step Brother

Joe Cartwright was looking forward to getting home. He had been away for nearly a month on a cattle drive with his brother. Hoss had remained behind in California where he was visiting with friends and would not be returning home for another week or so. Joe’s spirits were high as he finally rode onto Ponderosa property. He loved his home dearly. He had been born here on the Ponderosa and was always happiest when he was home on the great ranch.

Riding up to the house, he slid from his horse Cochise and made for the front door, hoping that he would find his father and his eldest brother Adam at home.

“Pa, Adam!” he called loudly, as he went inside.

“Welcome home, Joe,” Adam greeted him; he was seated on the couch in front of the fireplace, and had been engrossed in the newspaper.

“Hi Adam,” Joe was pleased to see his brother. While the two did not always see eye-to-eye Joe had missed having Adam around the last few weeks. “Pa about?”

“He’s in Virginia City. I’m not expecting him back until this evening. How did things go on the drive?”

Joe gave his brother the money and the bill of sale for the cattle they had driven to California, then spent a while regaling Adam with tales of his travels over the last few weeks. “Okay,” he said as he finished his narrative. “I’m going to stable Cochise, then I think I’ll get a long, hot bath. Wash all this trail dust off before dinner.”

 

****

 

When Ben Cartwright led his horse, Buck, into the barn that evening he was pleased to see Cochise in his stall. That meant his youngest son was home. The house always seemed very quiet when Joe was away, he thought, his son’s lively personality was always missed. Going inside, Ben saw Adam sitting alone at the table, eating.

“Hey, Pa,” he greeted his father as Ben hung up his hat and removed his gun belt. “You’re just in time for supper. Hop Sing’s stew,” he indicated the tureen on the table. “Still good and hot.”

“I see Joe’s home. Where is he, in his room?”

“He’s right behind you. I guess the journey must have just worn him out.”

Ben turned and smiled fondly at the sight that met his eyes. Joe was fast asleep on the couch. “I guess I’ll leave him be,” he said softly. “He looks peaceful there.” Joining Adam at the table, he helped himself to a plate of the beef stew.

“How did you make out in Virginia City?” Adam asked as his father began to eat.

“Very well. In fact very well indeed, I asked Mary if she would do me the honour of becoming my wife and she has graciously consented.”

Adam raised his eyebrows as he regarded his father. “Pretty quick work, Pa,”

Ben frowned at him. “Perhaps,” he conceded. “But I know that she’s the right one Adam, even after just three weeks I can’t imagine being without her.”

“Without who?” Joe’s sleepy voice inquired as, roused from sleep by their voices, he struggled into a sitting position and yawned widely.

“Since you’ve been away Pa’s been courting,” Adam told him. “And it seems we’re about to have ourselves a step-mother and step-brother.”

Joe grinned at his father. “And you say I’m impulsive,”

Adam laughed at the look on Ben’s face. “He’s got you there, Pa.”

Joining in his sons’ laughter Ben was forced to agree.

 

****

Joe wasn’t exactly sure how he felt about the news of his father’s impending marriage. He could hardly remember his mother, and ever since her death the Ponderosa had been an all-male household. It would be strange to have a woman around the place. “So tell me all about her,” He said to Ben, joining his father and brother at the table. “What’s she like and where did you meet her? Tell me everything.”

“Her name is Mary Kendall. And she has son, Zack, who’s the same age as you.”

Mary was visiting relatives in Virginia City and Ben had had met her when Mary’s cousin had introduced them after Sunday church service. He had immediately felt himself drawn to the tall, slender woman with the dark blonde hair and gentle smile. Things had progressed quickly from there and, within a very short time. Ben realised that he was falling in love. The day before yesterday Mary had told him that she was leaving for home, her visit was at an end and she had to return to New York. Ben was devastated, immediately realising how much Mary had come to mean to him. So, he had ridden into town today to ask her to marry him and come to live with his family on the Ponderosa. To his delight, she had consented.

“I just know that you’ll like her, Joe.” Ben told his son eagerly. “She’s coming out to stay with us tomorrow. Her cousin’s are leaving for a visit to their daughter, so I invited Mary and Zack here.”

“She’s a nice woman, Joe,” Adam put in. “Pa’s right, I’m sure you’ll like her.”

But Adam wasn’t so sure Joe would like Zack. On the one occasion that Adam had met the youth he hadn’t been at all impressed. Zack was eighteen, the same age as Joe, but he was very different. He had struck Adam as a spoilt brat, used to getting his own way all the time, and the way he spoke to his mother was nothing short of insolent, certainly more than Ben would ever tolerate. Adam had grave reservations about how Zack Kendall would fit in on the Ponderosa.

 

****

Joe stood beside Adam and watched as his father helped his bride-to-be from the surrey. Mary’s hand on his arm, Ben walked across to his sons, behind him a blonde, sullen looking youth alighted from his horse.

“Mary, you already know Adam,” Ben introduced his fiancée, “and this young man is Joseph.”

“Welcome to the Ponderosa, Ma’am,” Joe said with a welcoming smile. “I’m very pleased to meet you.”

“And I you, Joseph,” Mary turned to speak to Ben, “You have such handsome boys, my love, they certainly take after their father.”

“As my mother seems to have forgotten to introduce me,” interrupted Mary’s son, coming up behind his mother, “I’ll do it myself. The name’s Zack.”

Mary reddened slightly. “I’m sorry dear. I was just about to introduce you to Joseph.”

Joe held out his hand to Zack. “Call me Joe,” he said, “seems we’re going to be related.”

“Seems so,” Zack ignored Joe’s outstretched hand. “Give me a hand with the luggage,” he said, indicating the pile of cases in the back of the surrey.

Joe frowned, but catching his father’s look, which plainly told him to watch his temper, went to help unload.

 

****

 

“If I behaved like that Pa would throw a fit!” It was late evening and dusk was falling, throwing its shadows over the ranch, the air taking on a faint chill as night approached. The Cartwrights and their two guests had not long finished their evening meal and now Adam and Joe were sitting out on the porch getting a little air.

Hop Sing had prepared a veritable banquet as a welcome to the Kendall’s. Mary had enthused over the food, obviously enjoying it. Zack, however, was not so impressed. Joe had been stunned by the youth’s attitude, he had complained that the meat was overcooked, the vegetables undercooked. When his mother had praised Hop Sing, being rewarded by a smile from the little man, Zack had remarked that his mother was a far better cook and that Hop Sing would. ‘Need to make way in the kitchen.’

“And Pa never said a word!”

“I suppose he feels that it’s up to Mary to deal with Zack,” Adam said. “I just hope he didn’t hurt Hop Sing’s feelings too badly.”

“Pa wants me to show Zack around the ranch tomorrow,” Joe grimaced. “I can’t say that I’m looking forward to it. You were right about Mary though Adam, she seems real nice.”

The two brothers sat in silence for a while, each busy with their own thoughts. Around them the dusk deepened to full darkness, the night sky dotted with stars, a soft breeze whispering through the pines.

“It’s not ever going to be the same around here though, is it?” Joe broke the silence, his tone slightly wistful. However much he wanted to see his father happy, he realised that it was not going to be easy to learn to share him with Mary.

“No,” Adam replied. “I guess not,” He also had been thinking about his father’s impending marriage and the changes it would bring. Perhaps, he thought, it was time he moved out, got his own place, left his father and his new wife to build a life together. Perhaps it was time to move on.

 

****

“Trees and lakes,” Zack drawled, “seen one, seen ‘em all.”

Joe frowned. He had just about had enough of Zack’s attitude. The two young men had ridden out that morning for a tour of the Ponderosa. Joe was proud of his home and usually he enjoyed showing it off to visitors, but Zack was notably unimpressed. He had dismissed the cattle as “Just cows,” the horses earned a, “seen better,” and now it seemed, even the magnificent scenery wasn’t to his taste. Conversation had been difficult as well, Zack ignoring Joe most of the time, answering any direct questions with little more than monosyllabic replies. Joe had learned little about the youth.

“You got better where you come from?” Joe’s tone was clipped, his father had asked him to try and make friends with Zack, the boy had few friends. ‘I can see why.‘ Joe thought

“I’m just not interested in the countryside,” Zack replied. “Give me a city any day,” his voice took on a little animation as he spoke. “The theatres, the bars, the shows. You don’t know what you’re missing stuck out here in the back of beyond.”

Joe looked at him in surprise; it was the most he had heard him say. Perhaps he was homesick, Joe thought, he could sympathise with that. When he was away from the Ponderosa he felt the same way. “I’m sure you’ll get to like it. And Virginia City’s not that far away.”

“I don’t intend to ‘get to like it’.” Zack’s voice was harsh. “I hate this place, and I don’t mean to hang around here for long.”

Joe was heartily pleased to hear that, but he held his tongue, suggesting that they return to the house, which Zack eagerly agreed to do.

 

****

 

The next few days passed slowly, Joe and Adam saw little of Mary and Zack, they were too busy about the ranch. When the family were together Zack was rarely present anyway, he seemed to spend most of his time in town. Joe couldn’t help feeling a little resentful that Zack appeared to come and go as he wished, returning at all hours, and frequently the worse for drink.

Instead of being angry with Zack about his behaviour Ben seemed to be going out of his way to be nice to the youth. Watching his father one morning as he talked with Zack, an arm around the boy’s shoulders, Joe was surprised to realise that he was feeling jealous. Ben seemed to have been spending all his time with Zack and Mary lately. Joe realised he hadn’t been alone with his father since they had arrived at the ranch. He mentally reprimanded himself for the thought. Shouldn’t the most important thing be that his father was happy, and Mary certainly made him happy, so Joe would just have to learn to tolerate Zack. He was relieved, however, when Hoss returned home from California. He had been missing him, Hoss was a friend as much as a brother and someone in whom Joe could confide.

Hoss was elated to discover his father’s marriage plans and he took to Mary straight away. He even did his best to be friendly to Zack. “He’s just feelin’ left out,” he told Joe, when his young brother complained about Zack. “He don’t feel he fits in here yet, give it some time Joe.”

“I’m the one who’s left out,” Joe complained. “Pa spends all his time with the Kendall’s lately, he hardly speaks to me any more, except to complain if I’m late for dinner, or late back from town. And all the time Zack gets away with doing the self same thing and not a word said about it.”

“Seems like the green eyed monster’s gotta hold of you little brother.”

“I’m not jealous,” Joe said vehemently, denying his feelings. “I like Mary well enough and I can see that Pa’s happy, I just feel that if Zack is going to be a part of this family, then he ought to get treated the same as us.”

Hoss nodded, there was some justification in what Joe said. At the moment the way that Zack was allowed free rein was causing his little brother to feel resentful, which didn’t auger well for their future relationship as step-brothers. Hoss decided that he would speak to Adam about it, then Adam could approach Ben. Their father was probably more likely to listen to his eldest son, he was usually respectful of Adam’s point of view.

 

****

 

Joe was working at the corral when Zack strolled across to find him. Seating himself atop the wooden fence he watched as Joe dismounted from the horse he had been breaking.

Looking up Joe saw Zack and scowled, wondering what the youth wanted with him. ‘Just lounges around the place all day doing nothing,‘ he thought bitterly. ‘About time Pa found some work for him to do.’

“You want me for something?” he asked, walking slowly across to join Zack by the fence.

“Just thought I’d come out for a little talk.”

Joe was surprised, Zack had shown no desire to talk to him before. “What about?”

Zack turned to look at him and Joe saw malevolence in his grey eyes. “I just got through talking to my mother. Seems that you’ve been complaining about me to your big brothers. You think I’m getting unfair treatment around here.”

Joe didn’t reply, he couldn’t deny the accusation.

“So now,” Zack continued. “Your Pa’s asked at my mother to get me to toe the line, be a good little boy like you. And he wants me to do some work around the ranch, your idea again, I gather.”

Joe still didn’t reply, he was angry at Zack’s words but also pleased that his father was taking action to bring Zack into line.

“You might have to do what your Pa tells you,” Zack was also angry, his voice raised. “But I don’t. I guess I’ll have to go along with it for now, but I’ll get back at you Joe Cartwright, see if I don’t.” With that, he jumped down from the fence, and stalked off towards the house.

 

****

 

Dinner was a quiet meal, the hostility between Joe and Zack quite clear to everyone at the table. Ben sighed inwardly, he had hoped that the two youths would become friends; it would have made the assimilation of the Kendalls into his family so much easier. Unfortunately it seemed they were more enemies than friends at the moment. He thought back to Adam’s conversation with him this morning. It was true, he realised, that Zack was getting away with doing things that Joe was being called up on. He had hoped that Mary might have suggested that Zack curb his behaviour, he had been unwilling to reprimand the boy himself and perhaps jeopardise their future relationship. He should have realised how that would look to Joe, he chided himself now. Still, Mary had agreed with his suggestion that Zack attempt some work around the Ponderosa and Ben hoped that the situation would now improve. He looked to his other two sons, Hoss was concentrating on his food, as always, but he was keeping up a lively conversation with Mary at the same time, Adam on the other hand, was solemn, brooding over something.

“I called in to see Roy Coffee this morning,” Ben said, as the table grew quiet. “Seems like some of our neighbours have been having a little trouble.”

“What sort of trouble?” asked Adam, coming out of his reverie.

“They’ve been robbed, mostly of money, though some jewellery and a few guns have also gone missing.”

“Does the sheriff know who’s to blame?”

“He has an idea about the culprits. He thinks that the two Bryant boys may have something to do with it. Dan Carpenter was robbed and he saw the Bryant’s up by his place a couple of hours before he discovered the theft. But there’s no proof, Roy searched their place but found nothing.”

“Those two are bad news all right,” Adam frowned. “Best keep an eye out around here, there’s plenty of things here that could attract a thief.”

 

****

Joe paid for the purchases that his father had asked him to buy in the mercantile. Leaving the store he decided that he had time for a beer in the saloon and could still make it back home in time for dinner.

Crossing the dusty street, Joe entered the bar. “I’ll take a beer,” he called to the bartender, who filled a glass with the cool amber liquid and handed it to Joe. Leaning back against the bar Joe looked about him, hoping to see someone he knew. The place was crowded, all the tables taken by men drinking, smoking and gambling.

As his eyes scanned the saloon, Joe’s gaze was drawn to three young men sitting at a table towards the back of the room. He recognised the two Bryant boys, Andy and Jim. And sitting with them, his back to Joe, was Zack.  Recalling the conversation at dinner the previous evening Joe wondered exactly what Zack was doing with the Bryant’s and, deciding to see if he could find out, he strolled across to join the three.

“Well, well,” Zack drawled, looking up as Joe reached the table. “If it isn’t Little Joseph Francis.”

Joe flushed angrily; he’d had no idea that Zack was aware of his middle name. “Afternoon, Zack,” he said, deciding to ignore the jibe. “Andy, Jim mind if I join you?”

“Sorry, Joe,” Zack’s tone was scornful. “But this is a private conversation.”

Joe shrugged and walked away. His dislike for Zack Kendall was growing stronger by the hour.

 

****

 

Joe was just beginning his journey home, driving the wagon loaded with the supplies he had purchased earlier, when Zack came up alongside him mounted on his horse.

“Wait up, Joe,” he called.

Joe halted the wagon and waited while Zack dismounted, tied his horse to the back of the wagon and then climbed up beside Joe. “Thought I’d ride back with you,” he said, leaning back in the seat as Joe urged the horse forward once more. “Got a little something I want to discuss with you.”

“What?”

“I don’t like you, and you don’t like me. But let’s get one thing clear, if you run to your father with tales about me, then it’s going to be you that ends up in trouble.”

“I don’t tell tales.”

“My Ma tells me everything,” Zack continued as if Joe had not spoken. “I know so much about you Cartwrights you just wouldn’t believe it. Everything your father tells my mother, I get to know. So, if you tell your old man that I’ve been meeting with the Bryant’s, I’ll soon know about it.”

“Is that supposed to scare me?”

“It works both ways Cartwright. I can convince my Ma of anything. Her precious boy can get away with anything. And I’m darn sure that she can convince your father of anything, just remember that. If you try to get at me, who do you think he’ll listen to, you or her?”

Joe didn’t reply. He had never before doubted that his father would believe him in any situation, but he had never seen his father this involved with a woman before.

 

****

 

Zack had appeared to be asleep for most of the remainder of the journey. On arriving at the ranch, Joe leapt down from the wagon. He was angrily starting to unload the goods from the mercantile when Zack roused himself, climbed down and came to get his horse. He paused to watch Joe for a moment. “I heard about your mother,” he said slyly. “That kind of amused me.”

Joe stopped what he was doing immediately, turning to face the youth, hands clenched into fists. “What about my mother?” he asked, his voice icy.

“Seems odd to me,” Zack goaded. “Mr ‘High and Mighty’ Cartwright marrying a woman who was, shall we say, less than respectable?”

Joe’s eyes blazed with anger, his fists came up, ready to swing.

“Joe!” Ben, coming from the house, saw the situation with alarm. “Joseph. Stop!”

But Joe was beyond the point of no return, afire with anger. His temper finally snapping, he swung hard at Zack and sent the youth sprawling in the dirt.

Reaching Joe, Ben grabbed his son’s arm to restrain him. Angrily, Joe shook him off.

“Leave me alone!” he yelled, his eyes still fiery. “He had it coming!”

Mary, hearing the commotion came out from the house. Seeing her son still lying where he had fallen, nose bloodied, she ran to him. Kneeling on the ground beside Zack she rounded on Joe. “How dare you!” she cried. “How dare you hit my son.”

“What’s all this about Joe?” Ben asked anxiously. “What did Zack do to make you so angry?”

“I’m so sorry, Mr Cartwright,” Zack said, rising to his feet with his mother’s assistance, and brushing himself down. “I have tried my level best to make friends with Joe, but he just doesn’t seem to like me.”

Ben turned to his son. “I’d like an explanation, Joseph,” he said sternly, putting a hand on Joe’s shoulder.

Joe moved away from his father’s touch. He felt hurt and betrayed. He hadn’t thought his father would ever divulge that information about his mother. Behind Ben he could see Zack smirking at him. Turning abruptly, he walked rapidly away, side-stepping his father’s outstretched arm as he attempted to stop him.

Adam, who had watched everything from the doorway of the barn, followed his younger brother inside.

 

****

 

Knocking on Joe’s door, but not waiting for a reply, Adam entered his brother’s room. He found Joe lying on the bed, arms folded behind his head.

“What do you want?” he snapped.

Adam crossed the room to sit on the bed beside his brother. “Calm down. I’m on your side here,” he studied Joe with concern, noting the hurt expression in his brother’s eyes. “What’s the problem?”

“How could Pa do that?” Joe burst out, anger flaring once more.

“What’s Pa done? I thought it was Zack that was the problem.”

“Pa told Mary about…about my mother. And Zack just had to get a dig in about it. That’s why I hit him.”

Adam was aghast; he knew how sensitive his little brother was on the subject of his mother, how protective he was of her memory. He was surprised that his father would confide the details of his third wife’s past to anyone, even his wife-to-be, and even if he had, that Mary would pass on those details to her son was unthinkable. “Perhaps you should have a talk with Pa about this,” he counselled. “See what he has to say about it.”

Joe shook his head stubbornly. “No, I don’t want to talk to Pa. Not after what he told Mary.”

“I’m sure Pa would never have told Mary about Marie if he thought for a moment that it would get back to Zack. He wouldn’t want to hurt you, Joe.”

“You know, I reckon Zack deliberately provoked me into hitting him because he thought I might tell Pa about seeing him in the saloon this afternoon with the Bryant’s.”

“You saw him with the Bryant boys?” Adam’s tone was thoughtful. He had noticed that Zack seemed to have money to burn the last few weeks. Various storeowners and barkeepers that Adam knew in Virginia City had expressed surprise to him that Zack had been spending so freely in their establishments. Now Adam began to wonder if he had found the source of the youth’s apparent wealth.

 

****

 

 

In Mary’s room, Zack lay sprawled out on the bed, watching his mother as she dressed for dinner. He felt well satisfied with himself, he had certainly upset the apple cart with young Cartwright, and he recalled with pleasure the angry look Joe had given his father. Zack was well aware that Joe felt that his father had betrayed his mother’s memory by telling Mary about her past.

“He sure doesn’t think his old man’s such a hero now.”

Mary turned to look at her son, smoothing down the folds of her blue gown. “I wish you hadn’t told Joe that. Suppose he asks his father about it?”

“He won’t, Ma. And, even if he does, you just deny all knowledge. Say he must be making it up to get me in trouble. You can convince old Ben, I’m sure.”

“Well I’m not so sure,” his mother replied, a frown touching her brow. “Ben is perfectly charming to me, kind and gentle, but I don’t think he’s as malleable as the other three.”

“Just so long as you get him to the altar. Then we get rid of him and take our share of this place.”

This would be the fourth wealthy man that Mary had married in the past three years. The other three had met with unfortunate ‘accidents’ within months of the wedding ceremonies, leaving Mary most of their fortunes. But Mary and Zack were fond of good living and the money had soon run through their fingers. Reading an article about Ben Cartwright and his ranch, in a San Francisco newspaper one day, Zack had suggested to his mother that they should pay a visit to Mary’s cousin in Virginia City and see if they could make Ben’s acquaintance. The plan had gone even better than he had hoped, though Zack had to admit the three Cartwright sons were an unfortunate complication. If they weren’t around, he thought, the fortune coming to his mother after Ben’s death would keep them in the manner to which they were accustomed for the rest of their lives. But one murder would be enough, he had decided, four would just be too suspicious, they would just have to settle for a quarter share of Ben’s wealth.

“And I don’t like all this snooping around you’ve got me doing,” his mother was complaining now. “Hop Sing has almost caught me twice now.”

“Then be more careful! I need to know all these things to stay one step ahead of the Cartwrights. It was a godsend you found that journal with the story of Joe’s mother in it. You should have seen his face Ma!” he sighed with satisfaction. “Now I just need to work on old Ben a little. Make him think I really want to be part of the family.”

 

****

 

“Ben dear, I really think you should just let Joe be,” Mary said anxiously. She watched Ben’s face seeing the uncertainty in his dark eyes.

“He’s obviously upset over something,” Ben told her. He was worried about Joe, in the days since the fight with Zack his youngest son had remained quiet and uncooperative, barely speaking to his father, not speaking at all to Zack.

“It’s understandable,” Mary reached for his hand, gently squeezing it. “It’s hard for him to accept Zack and me, but I’m sure he will given time, and at least you and Zack are getting on better.”

Ben nodded in agreement. As the relationship with his own youngster had deteriorated so the one with Zack had flourished. The boy had been working well on his chores around the ranch and spending less time in town. He had even asked if it would be all right to address Ben by his Christian name as they were going to be related, a request which Ben agreed to happily. It wasn’t just Joe that worried Ben either, Adam too was acting strangely. He had become very quiet over the past few days, and Ben would often catch him staring off into space, an abstracted look on his face. At least Hoss was the same as normal, Ben thought, thankful for the equable temperament of his middle son. Perhaps Mary was right, it was a big adjustment for Joe to make, and if he just left well alone for a while, hopefully it would work itself out in the end.

 

****

 

“You want to rob the Cartwrights place?” Jim Bryant stared at Zack in consternation. “Ain’t that a bit like bitin’ the hand that feeds ya?”

“I’m just about out of ready cash,” Zack told him with a frown. “The Cartwrights got more money than anyone else round here and I aim to get some of it.”

The Bryant boys exchanged glances. Stealing petty cash from the local ranches was one thing, but going up against the Cartwrights was quite another.

“I dunno,” Andy said nervously. He didn’t like to go against Zack. The youth had a dangerous temper, well hidden most of the time, but both Andy and his brother had seen flashes of it and it scared them. “Ben Cartwright keeps all the money locked up in the safe, and even if your Ma can get us the combination, well, then she’d be the first person they suspected.”

Zack smiled coolly. “We just wait till my Ma’s alone in the house. And then we make it look like we tortured her to get the combination. Old Ben thinks more of her than money, he won’t suspect anything, it’ll be easy, boys.”

Andy and Jim weren’t so sure. They had definite reservations about this scheme, but neither felt inclined to go against Zack so, reluctantly, they listened to his plans for them.

 

****

 

“Zack!” Andy exclaimed in horror as the youth backhanded his mother across the face, causing her nose to start bleeding.

“Gotta make it look good, boys, ” Zack laughed. He pushed Mary into the chair behind Ben’s desk and roughly began to tie her up.

Jim looked up from where he knelt before the safe. “It’s open!” he cried and he and his brother began scooping the contents out and loading them into a sack.

Finished binding his mother, Zack turned to help them. “Hurry up,” he urged. “The three boys and Hop Sing are in town but old Ben only rode out to check on the herd, he could be back any time.”

Spurred on by this information, the Bryant’s hastily cleared the safe, taking only cash, tossing documents unheeded to the floor.

“Right, Ma,” Zack said to his mother as the three youths prepared to depart. “You know what to say if…”

The opening of the front door interrupted him. Ben entered wearily. It had been a hard day and he was looking forward to relaxing a little with Mary before dinner. Stopping dead inside the door, he stared at the scene before him. “What the devil’s going on here!” he shouted. Panicked, Andy Bryant pulled his gun and fired wildly, one of the bullets found its target, however, and Ben went down, blood flowing from his head.

“You damn fool!” Zack yelled, “I could have talked myself out of this.”

“And left us to carry the can,” Jim sneered. “No chance, Kendall, we’re in this together.”

Zack hesitated, staring at the fallen figure of Ben Cartwright. Swiftly reaching a decision, he knelt before his mother. She too was gazing at Ben, tears in her eyes. Despite her plans for him, Mary had found herself becoming fond of Ben and was sorry that the shooting had taken place.

“Listen, Ma,” Zack told her urgently. “You had nothing to do with this right? You know nothing. Let Ben believe it was just me involved. I’m going to have to go with these boys now and hide out for a spell, you just carry on with the plan. I’ll be in touch.”

Mary nodded. She knew that in the end she would go along with any plan Zack made for her. She loved her son but she also feared him, knowing just how cruel he could be.

 

****

 

The three Cartwrights were in a sombre mood as they returned to the ranch from Virginia City. The telegram that Adam had been awaiting had arrived an hour ago, and its contents brought dismay to the three of them.

“I sure ain’t relishing telling Pa about this,” Hoss remarked to Adam as they rode abreast along the dusty trail. “It’ll just about break his heart.”

Joe, so angry at his father when he left that morning that he had even refrained from saying goodbye, was feeling bad. Whatever his Pa had done, however much he had hurt him, Joe loved his father and couldn’t bear to think of him being hurt this much.

Adam rode in silence, his thoughts busy. When he had persuaded Sheriff Coffee to wire New York for information on the Kendall’s he had little idea of the devastating reply they would receive. Further information had been sought from San Francisco and Baltimore and the last telegram that had arrived had confirmed the previous two. Adam had been looking only to find some evidence that Zack Kendall could be involved in the thefts that had taken place. These wires suggested that not only Zack, but also his mother, was involved in something far more serious.

Riding into the yard the brothers dismounted and tethered their horses to the hitching post. Joe and Hoss looked to Adam as he took the telegrams from his pocket and prepared to face his father with the unpalatable truth about his fiancée.

Pushing open the door, Adam stopped short, met with the horrifying sight of his father lying unmoving in a pool of his own blood. Dropping the telegrams he rushed to Ben’s side, Hoss and Joe close him.

Relieved to find that at least Ben was still breathing, Adam turned to his brothers’. “Hoss,” he instructed urgently. “Ride in for the doctor, quickly.”

Hoss wasted no time in obeying, turning immediately and heading for the door.

“I don’t think we should move him,” Adam said worriedly. “Not till Dr Martin’s seen him. Joe go get a blanket, we’ll try and make him more comfortable.”

Joe ran for the stairs, sick with fear. Returning with the blanket his brother had requested, he saw Mary still tied to the chair by his father’s desk.

Handing the blanket to Adam, Joe walked over to his father’s desk. Wordlessly he untied Mary. She rubbed her wrists where the ropes had bit into her skin, then slowly rose from the chair and walked across to Adam and Ben.

“How is he?” she asked shakily.

Adam jumped, all his thoughts had been with his father, he hadn’t even realised that Mary was in the room. “What happened here?” he asked her. “Who shot my father?”

Mary sat down unsteadily on the couch, her eyes fixed on Ben. “I’m so sorry, Adam,” she said with a sob. “I couldn’t stop them, they overpowered me. It was Andy and Jim Bryant, they robbed your father. Andy was the one who shot him.” Her eyes filled with tears that spilled over and ran down her cheeks unheeded. “And Zack was with them.”

 

****

“I think he’s going to be fine,” Paul Martin told them as he finished his examination. “It’s just a graze really. He should be waking up soon and he’ll have a fierce headache, but other than that he should be fine.”

The three brothers heaved a collective sigh of relief. Now that they knew their father was in no danger it was time to turn their attention to Mary Kendall.

“Hoss, would you go and sit with Pa?” Adam asked as the doctor left. “Joe and I have something we wish to discuss with Mrs Kendall.”

Mary had remained sitting on the couch, sobbing quietly. Adam and Joe approached her now and stood, backs to the fireplace, facing her.

Looking up at the two men, Mary was shocked by the expressions on both their faces. “I never had anything to do with this,” she said quickly. “I never suspected that Zack was involved with the Bryant boys, honestly.” She turned to look at Adam, then at Joe but saw no understanding on their faces. In fact they looked remarkably alike in that moment, both showing condemnation and dislike in their expressions. Silently Adam handed her the three telegrams that he had been intending to show his father.

Puzzled, Mary took them and read the contents. The first, from New York, gave details of her background. All told of her marriages, the unfortunate deaths of her husbands, and of how she had rapidly taken the money bequeathed to her and left. In all cases foul play had been suspected but not proven. Law officers in all three cities were interested in linking the cases together and talking again to Mary and Zack.

“They were all accidents,” Mary’s voice was panicked now. “You can’t believe I had anything to do with their deaths.”

“Oh, but I do,” Adam’s tone was icy, “and I believe you had my father lined up as your next victim. Sheriff Coffee will be arriving soon and I think he’d going to be very interested in speaking to you.”

Terrified, Mary burst into tears. “But it wasn’t me!” she wailed. “It was all Zack’s idea. We had no money, nowhere to go and he persuaded me that I should marry them for their money. But it was him that killed them, not me.”

“We’ll find Zack,” Joe spoke up angrily. “Neither of you are going to get away with this.”

 

****

 

“I just can’t believe it,” Ben spoke sadly. “Not of Mary.”

“I wish it weren’t true, Pa,” Adam’s voice was sympathetic. “But Mary admitted it. A scheme that Zack thought up and carried through, but Mary went along with it.”

Under Roy Coffee’s firm questioning Mary had confessed to her part in all three killings. The thing that horrified Adam most was that Zack had begun his killing spree at the tender age of fifteen.

The sheriff had organised a posse which, at that moment, was out searching for Zack and the Bryant’s.

As Dr Martin had predicted, and much to his sons’ relief, Ben had woken with nothing more serious than a severe headache.

To Adam had fallen the unpleasant task of telling his father what had transpired with Mary and Zack.

Ben shook his head in dismay. He knew that what Adam had told him was the truth but it didn’t stop the feeling of despair that swept through him as he realised that he had lost Mary. He had been so happy the past few months since he met her. But, once more in his life, happiness was to be denied him. Sinking back on his pillow, he turned his face away from Adam. “I think I’d like to be alone for a while now, son. I need some time to think about things.”

Worriedly Adam left the room, descending the stairs to join his brothers who were waiting anxiously for him.

“Well?” Joe queried. “How did he take it?”

“Not good,” Adam sat down on the couch. He was very concerned. His father had looked shattered when he heard the news, almost as if he were grieving for Mary. “This has shaken him badly. He really loved her.”

“After what she did!” Joe exclaimed. “He should hate her.”

“It’s hurting Pa to know that Mary wasn’t the person he thought she was,” Adam explained. “He really thought he had found someone he could be happy with. Someone to spend the rest of his life with. Now he finds that she was involved in a plot to kill him. He must feel very unsure of his own judgement right now, he was so wrong about her.”

“How can we help him?” Hoss asked, hating the fact that his father was hurting so much.

“I don’t think we can. We have to let Pa come to terms with this on his own.”

 

****

 

Joe sat down on the veranda with a sigh of relief. He was exhausted. The last few weeks had been busy on the Ponderosa and all four Cartwrights had been working from dawn to dusk. Ben had thrown himself into his work as soon as he was well enough, and since then there had been no let up. And he was driving his sons’ just as hard as he drove himself.

Catching sight of his father now, approaching from the stable, Joe got to his feet. He knew Ben would chew him out if he caught him not working. He was aware that his father’s recent bad temper was due to the situation with Mary, knew his father was hurting, but the constant criticism he attracted lately was beginning to wear him down.

“Have you finished those horses already?” Ben called, as he neared his youngest son.

“All done.”

“Then you can get out and help your brothers on the fences.”

“Pa, I’ve been working since sun up,” Joe protested. “Couldn’t I finish early for a change.”

“Now, Joseph!” Ben voice began to rise angrily.

Joe shrugged and walked off to saddle Cochise. Ben watched him go, feeling a twinge of guilt. Joe did look tired, he realised, and they had all been working hard lately. Perhaps it was time they took a break. But the thought filled him with dismay, he needed to keep working to keep at bay the feeling of emptiness that threatened to engulf him. Despite what he now knew about Mary he missed her presence on the ranch.

 

****

 

Joe was feeling resentful as he headed out to join his brothers. It was time the three of them presented a united front to their father, he mused. Enough was enough, and they couldn’t keep up this pace for much longer. Still it was good to be out riding after a hard days work at home. Joe felt his spirits lift as he took in the glorious scenery around him.

It was then that Joe noticed something out of the ordinary. There was a small group of trees off to his right and, amongst them, he was sure he saw a flash of red. The posse that had searched for Zack and the Bryant’s had found no trace of them and Sheriff Coffee was of the opinion that they had left the area. But there was always the possibility that they had returned, so Joe was wary as he rode over to the trees.

As he drew near, the red that he could see came into focus as the body of a man in a red shirt lying face down on the ground. Dismounting from Cochise, he drew his gun and warily approached the still figure. He nudged the body with his foot, which elicited a groan from the man. Crouching down, Joe reached to roll the man over, and found himself looking at Jim Bryant!

“Throw your gun down Joe,” the voice came from behind him but Joe recognised it at once as Zack. “There are two guns on you, so don’t try anything stupid.”

Reluctantly Joe placed his gun on the ground beside him.

“Now stand up and move back over here,” Zack instructed.

Joe did as he was told. Turning, he saw Andy Bryant and Zack. The past few weeks had not been kind to the fugitives, they looked thinner, dirty and tired.

“I hear you Cartwrights turned my dear Mama over to the law,” Zack said, motioning for Joe to sit on a nearby rock. “I’m not very pleased about that, Joe.”

“Sheriff Coffee’s still looking for you boys,” Joe told them. “There’s a small matter of three counts of murder that he’d like to talk to Zack about.”

Zack grinned widely. He stood, gun in hand, watching Joe, the two Bryant boys behind him. “Seems to me my Mama will be in jail awhile,” he drawled, “and whatever you think, Joe, I do love my Ma. She’s done her best for me over the years. Seems to me I should try and gain some revenge, don’t you think fellas?” He addressed the question to Andy and Jim, who nodded in agreement. They were prepared to go along with Zack whatever he suggested, in the time they had been on the run he had shown himself to be a dangerous person to cross.

Zack moved closer to Joe who remained still, watching him. “Here’s my plan,” he said. “I’m sure you’ll like it Joe. I thought of it as soon as I saw you ride into view. I thought to myself, if I can take Little Joseph Francis hostage who’s going to come looking for him? Why, his two brothers and his father, Mr high and mighty Ben Cartwright himself.” Zack laughed suddenly, the unexpected sound making Joe start. “And then,” Zack continued, taking mock aim with the gun he held. “I can just pick off old Ben as easy as you like. Your Pa for my Ma Joe, there’s justice for you.”

 

****

 

Initially, Ben was annoyed when Adam and Hoss returned to the ranch without Joe, but as the afternoon shadows lengthened towards evening he found himself growing concerned. “You never saw Joe at all?” he asked Hoss for at least the third time.

“I done told you, Pa.” Hoss was also growing worried about his little brother. Pa had told Joe to help him and Adam, and it wasn’t like Joe to outright disobey his father.

“I think we ought to go look for him,” Adam spoke up. “I know Roy thinks Zack and his friends have moved on but I’m not so sure.” He saw Ben flinch at the mention of Zack’s name but concern for his youngest brother overcame any consideration of his father’s sensitivities at the moment.

“You’re right, Adam,” Ben came to a decision. “Let’s go and find your brother.”

 

****

 

“Lookee here, boys,” Zack called to Andy and Jim. “Here come the Cartwrights, just as I predicted.”

Joe’s heart plummeted, dread sweeping over him as he saw Zack begin to target his father. “No!” he cried, getting to his feet, but immediately Jim and Andy grabbed his arms, holding him back.

“Naughty, naughty,” Zack said as he ripped the bandanna he wore from around his neck and roughly gagged Joe.

Horrified, Joe watched as Zack aimed his gun. He struggled desperately against his captors and managed to break free. He flung himself at Zack just as the youth fired at Ben. The bullet went wild and Joe fought hard to wrest the gun from Zack’s grip.

“Leave it, Zack,” yelled Andy. “We gotta get away.”

Zack managed to twist away from Joe. Looking up he could see the Cartwrights galloping towards them. Andy and Jim had already mounted their horses and now Zack ran for his. As Zack began to mount his horse, Joe threw himself at the youth. The two young men tussled, then, suddenly, the sound of a gunshot split the air and Joe fell. With not even a backward glance, Zack leapt into the saddle and the three fugitives galloped away.

 

****

 

“That’s Zack and the Bryant’s!” Adam yelled to his father as he saw the three horsemen.

Ben spurred his own horse forward, an unspeakable dread was clutching at his heart. He could see Cochise by the trees and knew that something dreadful had happened to Joe.

“Joseph!” Ben reined in Buck and dismounted rapidly as he caught sight of his son lying motionless on the ground beneath the trees. Dropping to his knees beside Joe he saw the blood on his son’s chest.

“Get him back to the ranch,” Adam said urgently, as he reached his father and brother. “I’ll go fetch the doctor.”  Turning, he ran back to his horse and rode rapidly away towards Virginia City.

“I’ll take him,” Hoss picked his brother up gently in his arms. Ben mounted Buck, and Hoss carefully handed Joe up to his father.

They headed for home, Hoss leading Cochise. Ben rode as fast as he dared, one hand on the reins, the other clasping Joe tightly to him. ‘Please Lord,’ he prayed silently. ‘Please don’t let me lose Joseph.’

 

****

By the time Adam returned with the doctor, Ben and Hoss had got Joe into the house and into bed. The wound in his chest was still bleeding, despite their efforts to staunch the flow, and he was still unconscious.

“Adam, Hoss wait downstairs,” Doctor Martin instructed, opening his bag. “Give me room to work on your brother.”

As his two elder sons left the room, Ben anxiously watched the doctor examine Joe. The frown on his friend’s face as he worked sent the worried father’s heart plummeting.

“He’s not too good,” Paul said as he finished. “He’s lost a lot of blood. I’m going to have to get that bullet out and I’ll need your help. I don’t think it’s hit anything vital but it’s caused a lot of damage.”

 

****

 

Adam and Hoss could do nothing but wait and the doctor had been with Joe for nearly two hours. Lighting the lamps as darkness fell, Hoss was beginning to despair. “What in tarnation is taking so long?” he said to Adam who was sitting on the hearth, staring into the fire.

Adam didn’t reply. He was thinking about Zack. While Doctor Martin was getting his equipment together to come and tend to Joe, Adam had run across to the sheriff’s office and let Roy Coffee know what had transpired. The sheriff had promised to get a posse out on Zack’s trail by first light the following morning. Adam intended to be with them, and if anything happened to his little brother, he promised himself, he wouldn’t return until he found Zack and made sure he got what was coming to him.

Hearing the doctor’s tread on the stair Hoss and Adam looked up expectantly, almost afraid to ask how Joe was as they saw the grim look on Dr Martins face.

“He’s still with us,” The doctor reassured them quickly, seeing the fear on their faces. “But he’s not too good. We got the bullet out of him, but he’s sustained massive blood loss and his body is in shock. All we can do now is wait, and hope that he’s strong enough to pull through.”

“Can we see him?” Hoss asked, his voice cracking with emotion.

Dr Martin nodded. “Tell your father I’ll be back up in a while, I’m just going to get a cup of coffee.”

As the doctor headed off to the kitchen Adam and Hoss slowly climbed the stairs to their brother’s room.

 

****

 

In the soft glow of the lamplight Ben watched his youngest son, lying so still in the bed. It was two in the morning and around him the house was still. Ben had finally managed to persuade Adam and Hoss to get some rest. The two had left reluctantly, but judging from the snoring that he could hear, Hoss at least was managing to sleep. Dr Martin, at Ben’s insistence, had taken his bed, asking to be woken immediately if any change occurred in his patient’s condition.

Gently touching Joe’s brow, Ben was concerned to find that his fever had not diminished. Fear lay heavy in Ben’s heart, his son was so pale, so still. Joe had probably caused his father more worries in his short life than Adam and Hoss ever had, but Ben could not bear to contemplate life without him. The Ponderosa would be bereft without his lively presence and Ben knew that if Joe died part of him would die with him. He turned as the bedroom door opened quietly and Adam entered the room.

“Any Change?” he asked softly.

Ben shook his head. “If you’re going out with the posse in the morning you need to get some rest.”

“I couldn’t sleep. I just kept thinking of Joe and of Zack.”

The two remained silent for a while, both watching Joe.

“Pa,” Adam ventured at last. “Can I ask you a personal question?”

Ben nodded.

“Zack told Joe that you had told his mother all about Marie. About her background, everything. Did you tell her?”

Ben stared at Adam in shock. “Of course not,” he denied angrily. “I would never divulge that to anyone Adam, you know that.” Then a thought struck him. “Is that why Joe was so cold with me? He thought I betrayed his mother?”

“He was hurt, Pa. I couldn’t believe you would do such a thing, but if you didn’t, then how did Zack know?”

“I think I know answer to that,” both men started, they hadn’t heard Hop Sing enter the room. The little cook had brought a tray of coffee up to Ben and had just caught the tail end of the conversation. “Two times I find Missee Mary looking through Mister Cartlights private things. Once she read journal from locked drawer.”

Ben was dismayed at this revelation. To have opened the locked drawer meant Mary must have searched his room. And Zack knowing about Marie, Ben could well imagine how Joe must have felt when he heard that.

 

****

Hop Sing waited while Ben drank a cup of coffee. He didn’t really want the beverage but the little man stood, waiting patiently, until Ben had drained his cup, then satisfied, he picked up the tray and left the bedroom.

“You go and try to get some sleep, Adam,” Ben told his oldest firmly. “I’ll wake you if anything changes.”

Unwilling to leave Joe’s bedside, but realising that he needed to rest if he was going to ride with Sheriff Coffee the next day, Adam eventually retired to bed.

Alone with Joe, Ben found tiredness overtaking him and, just before dawn, he slipped into a fitful doze.

“Pa?” Ben started awake at the sound of his son’s voice to see Joe watching him. His eyes were bright with fever but he appeared aware of his surroundings. “Did you get Zack?” he asked Ben.

“Sheriff Coffee has a posse going out in the morning,” Ben told him, then looking at the window he saw that while he had been sleeping the sun had risen and morning had arrived. He felt Joe’s brow again, relieved to find that he didn’t feel as hot as he had done in the night. “How are you feeling Joseph?”

“I’ll be all right, Pa,” Joe, as usual, made light of his injuries. “I feel a bit shaky, but I’ll be fine.”

“I think we’ll let Dr Martin be the judge of that, young man,” Ben’s tone was severe but the smile he gave Joe belied his words. Joe returned his father’s smile and Ben’s spirits rose at his son’s grin. “I’m going to get the doctor,” he told Joe, getting up from the bedside. “But before I do, there’s something I want you to know.” Ben gently grasped his son’s hand as he told him what they had found out, that Mary had, unbeknown to him, read his journal and imparted the information within to Zack. “I would never have told anyone about your mother,” he said earnestly. “And I am so sorry that you were hurt.”

An expression of great relief crossed Joe’s face. The sense of betrayal he had been carrying with him, since Zack had goaded him about his mother, finally dispersed.

 

****

 

 

“He’s on the mend, Ben,” Dr Martin told his old friend. “he’s very weak and there is still a trace of fever, but I think he’s going to be all right. Watch him carefully over the next few days and if he doesn’t continue to improve let me know at once.”

Thanking the doctor and assuring him that he would send for him if Joe did get any worse, Ben saw him to his horse.

Adam and Hoss were in the yard, preparing to ride out and join the posse. They were relieved at the news that their little brother was improving.

“Roy said he’d meet me up by where we last saw Zack,” Adam told his father. “I don’t know how long we’ll be gone, Pa, but I intend to catch up with Zack Kendall, however long it takes.”

Hoss saw the look of concern on his father’s face, “Don’t you worry none,” he said reassuringly. “We’ll be fine, you just watch out for Joe.”

“Be careful,” Ben warned as he watched his two eldest sons mount up.

Raising a hand in acknowledgement of his father’s words Adam turned his horse and headed out of the yard, Hoss following close behind.

 

****

“I’ve picked up a trail,” Sheriff Coffee called as the two brothers’ joined him at the spot where Joe had been shot. “They have a long start on us, so we’d best get after them straight away.”

Adam and Hoss fell in with the half dozen men that formed the posse and headed out towards the mountains.

It was nearing midday and the posse were well into the foothills when they were surprised to be hailed by a rider coming down to meet them. Adam strained his eyes to make out the features of the man. “I believe that’s Jim Bryant!” he said to Roy. “And looks like he has a body with him.”

With guns drawn, the men watched as Jim Bryant rode closer to them. As he drew nearer they saw that Adam was right, slung across the saddle in front of Jim was the body of his brother Andy!

“I’m turning myself in,” Jim yelled, as he reined his horse to a stop a short distance away from the waiting posse.

Sheriff Coffee ordered Jim to throw down his weapon and then dismount. Jim obeyed and Roy and the Cartwrights also dismounted and walked over to him.

Adam reached down and picked up Jim’s gun from where it had fallen, handing it to the sheriff. “What happened to Andy?” he asked Jim. “And where is Kendall?”

“Kendall!” Jim said bitterly. He looked behind him at the body of his brother. “It was Kendall that shot Andy,” he told them. “Andy wanted to come home, to give ourselves up, after all we got family in Virginia City to think about. I know Andy shot your Pa,” he said, turning to look at the Cartwrights. “But he never killed him, and the rest of what we did was just theivin’. Andy thought if we turned ourselves in, the court might go easy with us.”

“But Zack tried to stop you?” Adam asked.

“He got into a fight with Andy,” Jim said sadly. “My brother tried to walk away, but Kendall just up and shot him. I think he was sorry he done it afterwards. I thought he was going to kill me too, but he just told me to bring Andy home.”

“So where’s Kendall at now?” Hoss asked urgently.

“Just back up the trail aways. When I left him he was just standing there, gazing off at nothing. Seems to me he’d given up. Reckon he’s just waiting for you fellas to come and get him.”

Leaving Jim with two men from the posse to guard him, the sheriff led the rest of them up the dusty trail into the mountains. They hadn’t ridden longer than half an hour when they came across a sight they had not expected. Zack Kendall lay dead beside his horse. The youth had obviously taken his own life, the top of his head practically blown away, the gun still gripped in his lifeless fingers.

Adam shuddered at the grim sight. He couldn’t imagine what had driven Zack to this. Perhaps he thought capture was inevitable and preferred death by his own hand to the hangman’s noose, or perhaps he was remorseful over the killing of Andy Bryant and genuinely regretted his actions. Whichever option was correct, it was probable that no one but Zack himself would ever know.

 

****

 

Ben opened the door to Roy Coffee’s knock

“Afternoon, Roy,” he welcomed the sheriff. “What brings you out here?”

Roy came inside, greeting Joe who was seated on the couch. Though much improved, the youngest Cartwright’s injury was not yet fully healed and, much to his chagrin, Ben had insisted that he remain in the house until it was. Always a difficult patient, his father and brothers had been driven to distraction the past few days, as he grew more and more anxious to return to work. Ben remained firm, however, Joe would not leave the house until he got the all clear from Dr Martin.

Roy shuffled his feet uncomfortably. He didn’t like what he had to tell Ben, he had seen how badly his old friend had been affected by the arrest of Mary Kendall and now that Ben appeared to have recovered from his grief, Roy was unwilling to reopen the wound.

“Spit it out, Roy,” Ben said, seeing the sheriff’s hesitancy.

“Mary Kendall wants to see you,” Roy saw the look of pain that crossed Ben’s face and the anger that flashed in Joe’s eyes, and was sorry that he was the one to have brought them this news. “I just got back from visiting her. Had to go and tell her about Zack. It just about destroyed her, Ben. Killer he may have been, but she sure loved that boy. She begged me to ask you if you would see her, said she needed to say sorry in person.”

Joe saw the look on his father’s face at Roy’s words. “You’re not going, Pa?” he asked in dismay.

Ben stood where he was, a tumult of emotions raging within him. In the last few weeks, when Joe had been so ill, the worry over his son and taking care of him had forced Ben to put Mary out of his mind. As Joe recovered, Ben found that his thoughts had turned once again to Mary and of what could have been. But instead of the bleak despair he had felt before, Ben had become angry. Angry that he had been duped in such a way, angry that he had been responsible for bringing Zack into their lives, an action which could have caused his own death, and had caused serious injury to his youngest son. But now found himself curious to see Mary again, to see if he could work out how she could have taken him in so easily. Whatever she had done, Ben reminded himself, she had paid for it in a terrible way with the loss of her son. Remembering the fear he had felt when Joe was hurt, Ben felt that he could not deny her request to see him.

 

****

 

The prison building was huge and imposing. A warder led Ben to the women’s quarters. A female warder came to meet him and took him through a maze of corridors. Arriving at last in a large, sparsely furnished room she instructed him to wait. Ben sat on one of the uncomfortable wooden chairs that lined the room as she went off to fetch Mary.

It was close on half an hour later that the female warder returned, bringing Mary with him. Ben stood up as they entered the room, surprised to find that, despite all that had transpired between them, he still felt a rush of affection at the sight of her.

“Ben,” she came towards him, arms outstretched. “It’s so good to see you.”

He took her hands, studying her closely. He could see the sorrow in her face, see how she grieved for her son. “I’m sorry about Zack. You must miss him very much.”

Mary’s face fell, tears brimming in her eyes. “I do. I loved him so much Ben. I know the terrible things that he did, but to me he was always my baby, and I loved him whatever.”

Ben realised, with a sense of relief, that though he felt sorry for her loss, the feelings of love were gone. “Why did you ask to see me?” he asked her curiously.

“I had to see you,” her voice was solemn. “I needed to say how sorry I am for what happened. I know that what Zack and I did was wrong, but if you only knew what life was like for us you’d understand. My first husband was a harsh, cruel man and when he died Zack and I were left with very little. Zack came up with a plan to make us plenty of cash and, I’m ashamed to say, I went along with it. Then, when my second husband died and we inherited the money… it was so good Ben, we could live in style for a while. But then the money ran out and we were forced to put Zack’s plan into action again,” Mary’s tears were flowing freely now, running down her cheeks and dripping onto the table in front of her.

“And then I met you,” she continued. “And as I got to know you I realised that you were different from my other husbands. You were strong, caring and loving, but no pushover. I was sorry that Zack’s misguided attempt at robbery left you injured Ben. I realise now that I was falling in love with you.”

Ben considered his next words carefully before speaking. “I was falling in love with you too,” he told her. “But the person I was falling for never really existed did they? You only wanted to seduce me to get your hands on a share of the Ponderosa. I’m very sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine how hard it must be for you to lose a son. But, because of Zack, I nearly lost Joe and that is something I cannot easily forgive.”

“But you know the Governor,” Mary cried, clutching at Ben’s arm. “You could put in a good word for me. Please, Ben. Please help me get out of here.”

Repulsed, Ben broke away from her. He left the prison with a sense of elation, at last he was free of Mary Kendall.

Outside in the dusty street Adam, Hoss and Joe awaited him. The three had insisted on accompanying their father on this trip and now they waited anxiously to see what damage Mary had wrought. They were surprised to see Ben smile as he greeted them. “I’m fine, boys,” he told them. “Let’s go home.”

The four Cartwrights headed out towards the Ponderosa. Ben watched his sons as they rode. Whatever he had felt for Mary had gone, he realised. For a while he had hoped that he could recapture the love he had shared with his sons’ mothers, but he had been duped. Mary was not the person he had believed her to be. Ben had seen the concern on his sons’ faces, he knew how much they cared for him. Perhaps there never would be another Mrs Ben Cartwright but at least he had his three sons, he was blessed indeed.

 

Tags:  Family, Fourth Wife, revenge, SJS