Summary: Joe is home sick, but things go downhill for this young Cartwright.
Rated: K+ (635 words)
A Deadly Day
Was written for:
Kill A Cartwright Challenge
Ben, Adam and Hoss were all riding into Virginia City to have lunch with some friends that came to town for a visit.
“Pa, I have an odd feeling somethin’ is gonna go wrong,” Hoss spoke up from his saddle.
“You worry to much, Hoss,” Ben replied making Adam and Hoss laugh.
“Yeah, I tend to worry don’t I,” Hoss chuckled and continued his ride to Virginia City.
*~*~*~*~
Hop Sing was busy in the living room and never heard Joe come downstairs until Joe started coughing in the living room, “number 3 son go back to bed!” Hop Sing ordered but didn’t get an answer. Slowly making his way to the living room he found Joe asleep on the settee.
*~*~*~*~
Ben, Adam and Hoss arrived at the restaurant, thanks to Hoss, Ben was now more worried about his youngest son then he was before.
“Let’s go visit with Mr and Mrs Simmons and their daughters Amiliea and Bethany,” Ben spoke as he dismounted his horse Buck.
Adam and Hoss dismounted their horses also and followed their father inside.
*~*~*~*~
At the house a soft knock came echoing through the house, slowly rising up from the settee, Joe climbed to his feet to see who came to bother him.
Arriving at the door he took the cold to the touch metal door knob in his hand and tugged on the door to reveal some masked men standing there. A sigh came from Joe when the first guy said, “tie him up and put him in the chair.”
He was to sore and tired to even think about fighting, the only fighting he was doing was fighting the sleep that was trying to over come him and take over his body, which he would love to happen in a way.
*~*~*~*~
Ben, Adam and Hoss were enjoying a great meal with some old friends, “well, since it looks like we’re almost done, how about we all head over to the Ponderosa after we’re finished?” Ben suggested getting nods of agreement from the rest of the people at the table.
A few moments later everyone got up to go to the Ponderosa for coffee.
*~*~*~*~
The main bad guy looked over and saw that his hostage was asleep, “wake him up!” he demanded one of the other guys.
A guy nodded and went over to Joe and shook him, “he ain’t waken up,” the guy said and shook Joe more.
Upon hearing horses arriving the guys all left out the back door and took off on a run.
Ben, Hoss and Adam all entered followed by their good friends and spotted Joe asleep in the chair, “Hoss take Joe upstairs to bed,” Ben told his middle child softly.
With a nod Hoss went over to Joe, when he touched him a confused look came to his face, “Pa, he’s burning up,” Hoss spoke and shook Joe, “Joe, come on Little Joe rise and shine buddy.”
No response from Joe.
Mr. Simmons went over to Joe, “Hoss, rush him to his room, I’m a doctor and he’s not doing well.”
Hoss nodded, lifted his brother and rushed him up to his room.
A few hours later Mr. Simmons came downstairs with a sad look on his face, “I’m sorry Ben,” were the first words out of his mouth.
Everybody knew what that meant, they have lost Little Joe Cartwright.
Thank you for reading.
Hey, Rose,
You had me going for a minute. Then I realized you were just pulling our respective legs—yanking ‘em hard! Because once I considered the details I realized Ben Cartwright would never have left a sick Joe; Where was Hop Tsing?, Did Joe’s ropes evaporate?, additionally, Ben wouldn’t have just told Hoss to put him in his bed; he would have run to him, when Hoss said he was burning up. Finally, he would have been right there in Joe’s room with that doctor, he wouldn’t just be patiently waiting news. Beyond all that too many Little Joe fans would be hunting the author!!! So I forgot to note the date, so I am sure it must have been April 1!!!! You had even me fooled! So, MY mind is made up, so everyone laugh at me but don’t try to prove that I am wrong. See my Daddy’s Daddy and their ancestors took care of that by their last name. I claim my option to play the wRIGHT card on this.
Joking!! Written with tongue firmly in-cheek!.
Judy
I wrote a story where Marie’s death affected Little Joe mentally. His mental age never goes higher than that of an eleven year old, he’s a lot more sensitive as to how people treat him and things they say to and about him, and he dies from complications of double pneumonia at the age of 35.
This is sad