Right From Wrong

By BJ Carter

Rated G+

Thanks for the use of the characters we all love and keep alive.

"Stop wiggling, it doesn't help."

"YOU TAKING THE HIDE OFF!"

"I'll do more than that if you don't sit still."

"You two better stop fighting before Pa comes out of the house and clobbers both of you he ain't in that great of a mood you know," Hoss said as he put the last of the blankets in the boiling water.

"To late," Pa said as he came off the front porch and approached his three sons, Hoss when back to work in a hurry not knowing how much Pa had heard him say, "Adam go help Hoss, I will finish this part." Pa picked up the pig-bristle brush and the lye soap and started scrubbing the shoulders and arms of his youngest son. Joe knew better than fight back at him, but having been fighting with Adam he was still wired up.

"Pa your doing it harder than Adam!"

"No, I am not, it has to be done so be still." About that time Joe's arm slipped and it landed in the middle of the tub he was sitting in, soapy water came straight up and hit Pa right in the face. Ben lifted Joe up just barely out of the water and smacked him one right on his "bare" bottom. He sat him back down not so gently, "Do you think ya can sit still now!"

Joe had tears in his eyes, mostly from the soapy water, but the scrubbing did hurt and now so did his backside. But he said, "Yes, sir," and managed to stay still long enough until Pa said they were finished. All Joe could think of was how embarrassed he was that his brothers saw his behind get smacked and how mad he was at that DUMB DOG.

Just a few hours ago they were snuggled in their beds, when Smoke had scratched at the door, Joe heard him, oh, no he though, I forgot to shut him up in the barn last night! Ben had been making Joe put Smoke in the barn for the past week, several robberies were happening at the ranches, and in town, and he thought Smoke was needed to guard the animals remember everyone must earn their keep.

Joe got up and went to put him in the barn before anyone could find out what he had or rather had not done. Smoke came in the house full force ran straight into the bunk room and up in Joe's bed. Joe flew in and grabbed him, then it hit him the smell. Smoke had evidently had a fight with a skunk and lost. Too late, he had the smell on the bed linens, Joe and the odor brought Adam and Hoss up. All the racket had also brought Pa into the picture. "Joseph, get that dog out of the house and bathed, Hoss get that window open, Adam get a fire going we have to wash these things before the smell is set in them, move now!"

Hoss wanted to ask about breakfast, but knew better, the vein on Pa's neck was bulging and that was not the time to cross him. By the time Joe had got most of the smell off of Smoke, Adam and Hoss had the room stripped and the tub boiling for the blankets, sheets, and Joe's nightshirt, but then it was his turn in the tub, that was when the scrubbing started. Adam kept reminding him he was lucky it wasn't any colder outside they could do this and keep the window open in their room. Poor Smoke, all he knew was he didn't like that skunk and he wanted Joe to come help him find it. He had not idea how much trouble he was causing for his young master.

Finally, they got to go to breakfast. Hoss was so hungry he said his stomach thought his throat had been cut. Joe's clothes did feel to good on the raw skin, and the 15 minutes standing by Pa in the bunk room about not putting Smoke in the barn like he was told, did nothing to improve his appetite. He was surprised Pa did not spank him, but the lecture was bad enough. He told him he expected more of him now that he was getting older, and that he had to do his share and remember the consequences for not doing as he was told. This time he would get off with a warning, because Ben thought the scrubbing and lecture might have done the trick. Joe knew he was on thin ice for the next few days anyway. It would not take much for him to be visiting the woodshed out back, not a pleasant thought, dumb dog.

After breakfast the boys went out to do the normal chores and clean up from the mishap. Hopsing then decided since they were set up for laundry any way they might as well get at it early this week. That got Joe some hard stares from his brothers for adding more chores to the morning ones that they were already behind on because of him.

He tried to do as much as possible, but stay out of everyone's way. Smoke tried to play and managed to get stepped on more than once.

After lunch Pa told Joe to saddle up and ride down to the first side meadow where he had seen two newborn calves yesterday. He wanted to know if they were ok and their mothers were with them. It was a short ride and not to far from the house. Mostly it was to get him and Smoke out of the way before "someone's" temper got the best of him. Knowing that someone would probably be himself.

Joe was glad to get away from the house, even if he had to take Smoke, whom he had not forgiven just yet, with him. The calves where there and so were their mothers, Joe turned and started back home. But he just couldn't make Paint go in the right direction, truth was he didn't try very hard.

***

"Adam, what is wrong?" Pa asked watching his son move very slowly toward the porch.

"I don't know Pa, just a little tired, I guess." he answered.

"Maybe you need to go lay down, Hoss and I can finish up the afternoon chores, we are nearly finished anyway."

"I'll be ok, just going in to get another set of gloves, be right back out."

But he didn't come right back out, Pa had been waiting for about 10 minutes, finally he went in to check on his son. He found him on the floor in the bedroom holding his stomach and moaning.

"ADAM!"

He grabbed his son up and placed him on his bunk, he took to giant steps to the door, "Hopsing!" come here quickly." he yelled.

Hopsing came into the room, knelt near Adam and started to examine him. Very little fever, he checked him over. He pressed on Adam's stomach, he moaned. He pressed lower and got an even louder moan. Hoss came into the room, "What is going on, Pa?"

"Your brother collapsed on the floor, Hopsing is checking him now," he said as he watched Hopsing go through all the motions of the exam.

Hopsing began to remove Adam's clothes. Adam tried to protest. But Pa told him to cooperate. As he pulled the shirt out of his pants he motioned to Ben who came over and helped him remove his son's pants. "Put nightshirt on please better nothing else, I will get started on treatment, must look at father's books once more."

"Then you know what is wrong?" Hoss asked.

"Fairly sure, but must check book," he said and hurried to his room at the back of the house.

Hopsing came back with some very foul smelling liquid in a cup. "Make him drink, must drink all, this should do the job."

Ben took the cup and started at Adam, "No, Pa I don't need any of that stuff, it smells awful," Adam was turning a little green.

"Son don't make me do you like I did when you were a child, take your medicine, NOW."

Adam obeyed, but the face he made would clabber buttermilk.

Hoss went back out the door, Adam curled up in a ball on the bed on his side, and Pa waited until he was asleep to leave the room. "Ok, Hopsing what is it?"

"Adam ate at girlfriend's house last evening, can't say what it was he ate, but something must have not been cooked good, or was not good for eating." He has what father called food poison of system. "It took him a while to get sick, that means he may have, I guess you would say blockage in lower part of stomach. Medicine will get rid of blockage, should work very quickly."

Hopsing was right, Adam was up very soon and heading for the outhouse, a place he visited several times in the next two hours. When he had settled down, Ben ask what he had eaten the night before. Nothing sounded bad until he said that Rachel had made some berry tarts. Hopsing ask the color and with Adam's answered nodded his head. Berries not the good kind, those and the crust, very sure they are reason for illness. "Adam will be ok, but will be very sore in stomach for a day or two, no heavy meals for that time either."

'Thank you, Hopsing, I don't know what we would do without you." This pleased Hopsing very much, he smiled and bowed and went back to the kitchen, just in time Adam was heading back to the outhouse.

****

During these hours that all the excitement was going on at home, Joe was have a little excitement of his own. He had followed that darn dog way farther away from the house than he should. "If Pa knew we were this far out without permission, we would get tanned for sure, dumb dog, come back here we have to get home."

Smoke headed up to some caves on the side of the hill, Joe got off Paint and followed trying to catch up to Smoke. Smoke went into a cave, Joe followed. The next thing he knew he was on the ground with someone sitting on his back holding him down.

"GET OFF ME!' Joe struggled to fight off the weight on his back.

"Be still, you won't get hurt." came the voice over him.

"Let him up, I want to see who is intruding on our meeting."

Slowly the weight came off his back Joe came up swinging, but the older boy was bigger and could hold him off. "Calm down."

Joe stopped and looked over at the boy sitting on a rock, he had Smoke and was rubbing his ears to kept him still, he also had him held so he could not help his master.

"Ain't you the one they call Little Joe?"

"You can call me Joe, your Toby Newton aren't ya?" Joe answered back.

"Yeah that's me, the two behind you are Frank and Carl, they come from the same part of the country I do. What you doing up here in the caves?" he asked.

"Just following Smoke, MY dog, Joe answered moving over toward him. He turned Smoke loose and he ran to Joe. What are you all doing up here?" Frank jumped in, "None of your damn business."

"Now Frank, don't get so worked up, Joe is here by accident, but maybe he would like to join our little group. How about it Joe are you brave enough?"

"I'm brave enough to do anything I want to, trouble is I don't know what you are talking about." he said as he knelt down by Smoke.

"Well you see we have this little group and we stick together, take care of each other, you might say we protect each other. For instance when you are at school and someone starts to pick on you, we come to help. If your Ma or Pa are giving you a bad time, we will hide you out and see that you get fed till it all blows over. Understand now?" Toby asked.

"Don't sound bad, why would you want to include me?" Joe responded.

"Yeah Toby, Carl ask, why him?"

"Joe you seem like a good kid, we can always use a new member to the group, and you fight pretty good." Toby answered.

"Why don't you meet us up here tomorrow night about 9:00 and we will make you a full member." Toby said and turned and winked at Frank.

"Maybe, I'll see if I can get away. But I gotta go now, Pa will be looking for me and Smoke. Don't want to make him mad at me, you understand?"

"Sure I do, get going, see you tomorrow." Toby grinned.

Joe got up and started over to the opening, he suddenly tripped over Smoke and fell near a blanket pulling it down. There was a pile of stuff, everything from guns to saddles and a lot more he couldn't see.

"Too bad you had to see that so soon, Joe, Toby said, guess you have to join us now for sure."

Joe got up and started to go to the opening of the cave. "Not just yet," Frank caught his arm and pushed him back inside.

"What do you mean, I have to go home, Joe said, let me out of here."

"Now Joe since you have seen our supplies, we think you better make up your mind right now if you are one of us or not, Toby told him, bring him over here Frank."

"Now Joe you need to give me an answer."

"I guess I want to be part of your group, he answered not knowing what else to say, but what do I have to do to be part of it?"

"It is simple you swear to never tell anyone about our group, you do as I say because I am the leader, and you sign a blood oath," he named off the rules.

"Blood oath, what's that?"

"Simple, I stick this knife in your thumb and you make a print on a piece of paper and then sign your name, this makes you a member we all have done it, he said, now what is it going to be?"

"What if I say no?"

"Then I am afraid you don't get to go home, he said very slow and through his teeth, and your Pa may find you someday where we leave you, or you find your Pa or maybe one of your brothers where we leave him."

Joe though for a moment, "Ok, let's get it done, I got to get home."

Toby cut Joe's thumb and made him place the blood on the piece of paper, and then he signed his name. He then told him that this made it official and that he could never tell on them to anyone, ever, or suffer the consequences. Then Toby made some more threats toward Pa and his brothers. You tell about us and you will never know what we might do. Joe agreed to be quiet, but then he ask, "Are you the ones that have been robbing the houses around here and the shops in town?"

"Best if you don't ask too many questions, Joe, now get home a for your Pa tans you for being late." Toby pushed him out and Frank and Carl made sure he was all the way out of the cave.

"What have you got up your sleeve, Toby, you know that runt might tell?" Carl asked.

"Well if he does then this little piece of paper with his name on it, may have to end up near the next place we hit, get it, ha ha ha ha." Toby laughed and folded the piece of paper and put it in his pocket. You don't think Old Man Cartwright will be so quick to do something if he thinks his baby brat is involved do ya?"

****

Joe got home and unsaddled Paint. He went in to find Hoss and Pa sitting at the dinner table. "It's about time you got home, did you get lost or something?" Pa asked holding down the anger in his voice.

"No sir, just took longer than I though to find the calves, and then Smoke ran off and I had to get him back, sorry." Not totally a lie.

"Okay, wash up quick and we will say grace when you get ready," Pa bowed his head and waited for Joe to get to table.

During supper Pa told Joe what had happened to Adam, and why he was not at the table. Joe told him the calves were ok, but did not mention in run in with the "group". That night Joe had some bad dreams and woke up in a cold sweat. Adam was having trouble sleeping also and he moved over to Joe's bunk to hold him. "Bad dream?"

"Yeah, but I don't remember it," Joe lied.

"Worst kind to have, I know, you want me to stay with you a few minutes? I don't feel much like sleeping anyway, stomach still twitching."

Joe just nodded and the two of them laid down together on the one bunk. Both were asleep in no time.

****

Joe got up to go to school the next morning, ate, did his chores, and saddled Paint. Pa told him to be home right after school, with Adam sick there would be plenty for him to do at the ranch. He said he understood and took off to town.

At school things were pretty much the same as usual, but during the afternoon recess, Toby and Frank came by, "See you tonight Joe?"

"Don't know if I can, my brother is sick and Pa's kinda antsy, maybe later in the week." he answered.

"All right, but you remember you are one of us, and we don't rat on each other to any one, got it!" Toby reminded him.

"Right, I am not gonna say anything to anyone."

The teacher came out to ring the bell, and the bigger boys took off. Joe was relieved to see them go. He knew deep down he should tell Pa about what was going on, but he couldn't be a rat, he had made a promise, and he wasn't sure if Toby's threats against his family were true. He just couldn't take the chance.

Over the next three days several other placed were robbed, some ranches and even Aunt Ruth and Uncle Eli's store had been broken into last night forcing the town council to meet to discuss the problem.

That night at home Ben was telling the boys what had been decided. "We are going to bring a temporary sheriff into town to deal with this. We don't have enough money for a permanent one yet, but there is a man Eli has heard of that will come in an work on a temporary basis to solve a problem. We only have to pay him if he catches the one's robbing the area."

Joe looked pale. "What is wrong, son? Do you know something about what is going on? If you do you better tell me now, this is serious and later might be too late."

"No Pa, I don't know anything, just thinking about school work I need to do that's all."

That night Joe slipped out of the house and went to the cave. "I needed to let you know that they are going to hire a sheriff to come for you all, you better stop what you have been doing and get out of here." Joe told them hoping above all they would do what he had asked.

"Now Joe you wouldn't be spinning a tall tale now would you, Toby said, we know this town doesn't have the money to hire a real sheriff, that is way we have stayed here so long."

"Pa says he will only be here as long as it takes to catch you. You better leave while you can."

"Joe you know you are in this just a deep as we are? You want to go with us? Toby was baiting him.

"I ain't in this, I ain't took nothin'."

"Don't matter, you know all about us and you kept it a secret, that makes you guilty, too. You better keep us informed of everything you hear 'bout this sheriff and what he's up to, or else." Frank added. Joe felt he had no choice but to go along for now, why did he let himself get in these situations. Dumb dog.

"Ben I would like you to meet the man I've been telling you about, Eli said, this is our temporary Sheriff, Roy Coffee."

"I am pleased to meet you sir," Ben replied, "and very glad you are here. I wish it could be a permanent job, but who knows maybe in a few years you can call our town home."

"I am also glad to be here, Mr. Cartwright, and I don't know where I will end up someday, but right now we have some business to discuss. Tell me everything you know about the thefts that have been taking place."

The two council members relayed every bit of information they could to the new Sheriff. He took it all down and then told them he would be in touch as soon as he knew something. He did tell them that because of the things that were being taken he suspected it was the work of a younger band of outlaws, and that would make them easier to catch.

***

It had been another week, and the stealing had continued. Every time the Sheriff was at one end of town they were at the other, "Almost like they know where I am going to be," Roy Coffee said.

Little Joe's conscience was getting the better of him. He wasn't sleeping, eating, and most of all talking. Adam and Hoss had even mentioned it to Pa. "Well, he will tell us when he is ready, have to give a person some space to make up their mind what they want to share," Ben told them.

Joe had decided to tell Pa everything as soon as possible. He mad up his mind on his way home that night. Toby had scared him long enough it was time to tell, but he had to pick just the right time. He was sneaking in as he had been doing for the past few weeks, when a hand caught his shoulder. He jumped and turned around to see Adam looking at him. "Where have you been?"

"Just out, don't do that again, I nearly choked." he said in a loud whisper.

"If Pa had caught you, you would have done more than choked. Now once more from the top where have you been?"

"Adam, I can't tell you, but it will be over soon, just don't tell Pa, ok?"

"I can't promise that, I have a responsibility to you as your older brother to help Pa keep you from making mistakes. That may mean telling on you every once in a while."

"Ok, but now just yet! It's important. Please."

"OK for now, little brother, but don't make we wait very long, that makes me an accomplice and I don't like being in trouble with Pa any more than you do so you better make it quick."

The trouble was just starting, Ben had been up getting a drink, and had heard everything that was said. He decided to see if anything he had been teaching these two had sunk in, so he would wait for them to come forward and let him in on the secret. But he would not wait long.

****

The next morning Pa was already gone before Joe got up, I'll have to tell him later, Joe thought. Inside he was happy to postpone the telling at least for the time being.

It was Saturday evening, Adam and Pa were in the barn working on some tack, "Pa, Ben knew that tone, can I tell you something, without you getting mad?"

"You sound like Hoss, Ben answered, I can't promise what I don't know, son, but you can tell me anything."

"What if I said, I knew something that would get someone in trouble if I told, but I am afraid if I don't that person might be in for more trouble?"

"I would say you have a problem, but son, you know right from wrong, you tell me what should you do?"

"I guess I have to tell, don't I?" Adam said and swallowed hard.

"Joe as been sneaking out after we all go to bed. He as done it a lot and I have just been ignoring it. I asked him about it a few nights ago, and he asked me not to tell, but my gut says that I should."

"I am glad you finally told me, I was beginning to wonder if I had done anything right in bringin' you up."

"You KNEW."

"Well, part of it, yes, Ben answered, but now I have to find out the rest of the story from Joseph."

"Pa, how do you know if it is right or wrong to wait for Little Joe to tell you? and by the way are you mad at me for keeping this from you?" Adam asked.

"Your second question is easier to answer, yes I am angry that you tried to kept this from me, but I would have been more so if you didn't tell me and I found out later. Adam sometimes knowing right from wrong is easy, being a parent never is. I will only know if I was right, when it is over."

****

It was about midnight when the knock came to the front door. Ben got up and put on his pants, the boys were coming out of their room at the same time he did. "Where's Joe, Hoss as asking as they made their way to the front door.

It was Sheriff Coffee and a deputy he had brought with him. "Mr. Cartwright, I think we have a few answers, caught two boys tonight near town. They were heading this way, followed them to a cave, looks like most of the missing stuff is in there. Do you know either of these two youngsters?"

Hoss lit a lantern and they moved out to see the two boys sitting on their horses. Ben didn't know the first one, but the second was easy, Joseph Cartwright.

Joe and Carl were sitting at the kitchen table, their hands were tied in front of them. Carl looked defiant, Joe was working at holding back tears. The look of surprise and hurt on his father's face was one he would never forget.

"So, the young one is your son, Ben?" Sheriff Coffee asked.

"Yes."

Roy didn't say any more he just turned back and looked at the two boys. "All right you two, I have to have some answers to some questions."

"You ain't gonna get nutten from us, Sheriff, right Joe?" Carl said as tough sounding as he could, then he glared at Joe, with a remember of what Toby said look.

Ben stepped in, "Roy ask your questions, Joseph will answer, both completely and truthfully. Do you understand what I said? he looked at Joe, I will not say these instructions again. And you can untie them also, they are not going anywhere."

Joe looked at Carl then back at his Pa. "I'll answered everything I can, sir."

Roy looked at the two boys, "Ben I might be able to trust your son, but I don't think I should untie both boys."

Hoss walked over behind Carl and placed his hands on the young man's shoulders, Carl tried to move but was unable to. "He ain't going anywhere either, Sheriff Coffee, untie them and ask your questions."

"Ok, Joe are there others involved in this or is it just you two?" Carl tired to look at Joe, but Hoss caught his head and made him look straight ahead, Pa just nodded at Hoss that he approved of his actions.

"There are two more that did the stealing, sir."

"Where are they now?"

"I can't say."

Ben looked at Joe, and Joe saw his hand move toward the belt he was wearing. "What I mean is, I can't tell you because I don't know." Ben relaxed a little.

"When was the last time you saw them?"

"Toby and Frank were at the cave this afternoon, I went by to tell them once more how hard you were looking for them, and to try again to get them to leave. Toby told me that you couldn't find them, and he kept saying he had an ace in the hole if you did. I don't know what that means."

"They left us alone, we were out looking for them when you must of started following us. We went back to the cave to see if they were back. Pa, I never took anything, I swear, please believe me."

Ben didn't respond to Joe's plea, he just looked at him and waited for Roy's next question.

"Ben I sent my deputy to watch the cave, I need to get back to help him, is there a place you can keep these two until I return?"

"The woodshed will be the best, we can secure it, and take out what might be used to gain freedom. Adam go and fix it for the Sheriff."

"Yes, sir," Adam said, he looked at Joe, if only I had told sooner, stopped him from going out, something, I can't believe I let this happen he was thinking and left for the shed.

Roy road away from the ranch to join his deputy. Ben started the boys toward the shed. Carl tired to make a break for it, but Hoss was right on his heels and caught him. Ben walked over and with one hand at the back of his neck picked him up slightly and walked him into the shed. Joe just went in and sat down on a pile of wood. He was quite and had never felt so alone in his life.

Ben went back out and locked the door behind him. "Pa, aren't you gonna talk to him?" Hoss asked.

"Not now son, to be honest, I don't know what to say."

"How about just I love you?" Hoss answered.

"He has known that all of his life, now he has to remember it. It will be from that love where he get's the strength to make it through this, son."

It was about dawn when Sheriff Coffee, his deputy, and two more young men came back to the ranch. One of the boys was holding his shoulder, the red stain of blood was streaking across his shirt. "They tried to make a fight of it, but when this one took a bullet in the shoulder, the other one folding pretty fast."

"Hoss go tell Hopsing we need him to take care of this boys wound, please." Hoss went off to do as he was told.

"My guess, the one that was shot, was Toby the leader, the other one is Frank, he is the brother of Carl." Hoss helped Toby down, and took him in the house for Hopsing to tend to his shoulder.

"Where is my brother, Carl, asked Frank, his tone much more reserved than the bluster Carl had used. Seeing Toby shot had took its toll on Frank. Roy said, "He is in the shed out back, he is all right for now. We will need a wagon or two to get all that stuff back to town and then back to their owners, they had a very big store of thing up there."

"I am going to take Frank and his brother Carl, back to town, I can find a place for them there to wait for their trial, I don't want to move the one that was shot to soon, and I think Joe will be better off here with you, too. Is this all right with you Ben?"

"Just fine with me, Roy, I can assure you we will keep an eye on both of them, as soon as the boy is ready we will bring him into town, and Joe will be there, too, you have my word on that."

With that Sheriff Coffee and his deputy took the two brothers back to town.

Joe was standing out front of the house watching them ride back to town. His Pa walked up next to him. "What is going to happen now, Pa?"

"Well son, the district judge will have to come in and there will be a trial to see if you all are going to jail for what you have done."

"But Pa, I told you, I never took anything, not one single thing," this time Joe could not stop the tears from flowing, they rushed from his eyes like a new tapped spring rushing from the ground out to the open. Ben bent down and took him in his arms and held him, "son we will face this together, just don't tell me anything that is not true. Only the truth from now on, understand?"

"Yes, sir, he managed to get out, but so far that is all I have told you."

Roy Coffee had sent word that the district judge could not be in Eagle Station for two days. Ben responded that he would keep Toby until that time.

Toby's wound was not serious, just painful, and he did lose quite a bit of blood. Hopsing kept feeding him to build back his strength. Ben could not get him to promise not to run off, so he had to be tied to the bed.

Joe went into the room, walked over to the bed. "anything you need, Toby?"

"Just to get the hell out of here, any chance you would help with that, like you promised when we took you into the group?" he smiled at Joe.

"No, I should have never made that promise, if I could I would just have let you hurt me that night instead of giving in to your threats. Now I am in more trouble than I have ever been in my life and my Pa's sick with worry over me. I don't like this at all, I don't like hurting the ones I love."

"Why?"

Joe looked at him, what do you mean why?, because I love them and they love me, haven't you ever loved someone, Toby?"

"Nope, not since I was five, and my Ma took off on me, didn't seem like the right thing to start doing getting hurt every time you did it. But, I have made it this far without love."

"How far is "this far", Toby? Ben ask as he came into the room. He had been behind the door, he did not mean to listen, but he wanted to make sure Joe was ok being with Toby.

It was Toby's turn to ask what Pa was talking about. "Well, young man, you are tied in a bed, shot in the shoulder, under arrest and fixing to go on trial for theft, and that may land you in jail for a long time, so I ask you how far have you gotten by not loving someone?"

Toby thought for a moment, "No one ever loved me, why should I love them?"

Joe spoke up, "If you want to be loved, you have to love, Toby. And you are wrong about no one loving you, God does, don't he Pa?"

"That is right, Joe, he said with a smile guess he was doing something right on Sunday's at least with his sons. "Joe go see if Hopsing needs any help with dinner, I want to talk to Toby."

"Yes, sir....he took off to the kitchen. "Toby will you tell me the truth about how Little Joe got caught up in this mess?"

"No, just lucky I guess, or looking for something more exciting than this ranch. He did say you would tan him for being late that first night we met, you gonna do that now for what he did?"

"That is none of your business, son, but if I do, it will be for reasons you would never understand. I love my son, I punish his actions, not him. I guess since your Ma left you, you didn't have a Pa either?"

"Oh, I had one of those, he kept me around till I was about 10, beat me regular as clock work, every time he got drunk. Afraid he must of loved whiskey more than me, cause he took good care of that whiskey bottle and spent more time with it than me."

"I am sorry."

"Don't be, made me an adult faster, learned to take care of myself, and then Frank and Carl. We took off from home about four years ago. I have done all right by us until now. Should have listened to that kid and left sooner, you going to speak up for us at the trial?"

"Why should I do that?"

"Cause if you don't I have a paper that shows that kid of yours was one of us from the beginning and he will get what we get. All you got to do is say we were working for you, you might spend some time behind bars, but wouldn't it be worth it to save that baby of yours?"

Ben grabbed Toby by the nightshirt, then let go of him. "You do what you have to do at the trial, son. I love my boy too much to lie for him or you."

Ben got up and left the room. He heard Toby yell. "That don't make no since at all, love him too much, and STOP CALLING ME SON."

Over the next two days waiting for the judge, Toby got a chance to talk to all the Cartwrights, and Hopsing. For the life of him he could not figure this family out.

*****

On Wednesday morning Ben got word that the judge was in town, this was the same judge who had tried the man who killed Marie, and presided over Ben's trial involving Isabella. Ben knew him to be a fair man. Joe had to sit with the other three who were on trial. Ben and the boys sat as close to him as possible.

The judge looked at the charges. Four boys, ages, 16, 16, 15, and 12. Charges, multiple counts of theft. How did they plea was his first question. Frank and Carl both said innocent, and looked at Toby was said nothing. Joe just looked straight ahead he didn't know what to say. "I guess I should have held a hearing first on these charges, but time didn't allow it. Sheriff Coffee present your evidence."

Roy got up and told about catching the boys with all the stolen items, how first he got Joe and Carl, then went back and caught the other two. He told how the second two tried to fight it out with him and his deputy.

The judge thank him and let him step down. Then he turned to the boys. "We don't have any eyewitnesses to the stealing, but I am convinced you boys were in on it at least. I want to know who was the leader and if any adults were involved. Who wants to talk first?"

Frank stood up, "Toby got instructions from someone, me and Carl kinda thought it might be Joe Cartwright's daddy, since Toby let him join us in the taking. We are sorry for what happened, he has been taking care of me and Carl for a while, so we kinda just do what Toby says." He sat down. Carl got up and said about the same thing. Toby just sat there, looking at Ben Cartwright, waiting to see if he would speak.

Finally the judge turned to Little Joe, "well young man, you are the youngest thief I have tried, what do you have to say."

"My Pa told me to tell everything, so here goes, I rather we, ah, my dog and me, well, ah, let me start again. Smoke that's my dog, he had a fight with a skunk, and me and him had to get a bath. That broke up the room, everyone started to laugh.

"Order, Order, go on son, but try to stay on the subject."

"Yes, sir, ah your honor sir, anyway to get us out from under foot, Pa sent us on a job, this is when I met Toby and the others. I didn't know them well, just their names. I found out by accident that they were taking the stuff, and well I just didn't tell Pa about it. I'm sorry, it won't happen again I promise, but like you said in that oath on the Bible, not like the one in blood I took with Toby, I swear I never took a think, not one thing. I didn't go on the robberys, but I did know who was doin' it and I didn't tell. That's all sir, ah your honor sir."

The judge smiled. "Ok young man, it is your turn," he told Toby.

He once again looked at Ben, there was no change in his expression, he was just watching Joe and smiling. Adam and Hoss were smiling at him, too. And it was obvious that Joe was feeling better just knowing they were there for him. "I was gonna tell you that the kid was a liar and that I had proof, but I have decided that he has more guts than all of us put together." Frank jumped up and started to say something, Roy Coffee made him sit down. "Ben Cartwright never knew about any of this, I made the decisions who to rob and when, Joe helped, but he didn't know he was doing it, I would just get him talking about people and he would say things he didn't know would get me right into their homes or business and what to look for. Frank and Carl are just followers, they do what I tell them. It's been that way since I met them a few years ago. They needed a leader and I needed to be followed. The kid is telling the truth, he didn't take anything, just us, mostly me and Frank, Carl just held the horses." He sat back down and looked again at Ben.

Ben smiled and said, "thank you."

****

The four Cartwrights were back home that evening, safe and sound sitting in the living room. Pa on the sofa with Joe sitting beside him laying back across Pa's lap look up at him. No one was more happy to be there than Joseph. "Pa, why do you think Toby did what he did, I mean telling the truth like he did?"

"Yeah, Pa, I kinda wondered that myself," Hoss added.

"He wanted me to take the blame for everything that happened, I guess he was really wanting his Pa to take the blame and I was the next best thing to it. When I wouldn't, he started to listen to this family. He told me as we left this afternoon, that someday if he had a son he thought he would make a better Pa than his did. And he said it was because of what he learned here."

"Now that this is over, Pa said looking down at Joe, what do you think should happen next?"

"I guess I kinda forgot about that, what did the judge say?"

Adam answered, "The law will not punish you Joe Cartwright for being a child and making a child's mistake, you are not guilty of a criminal act, but we will leave your fate in the hands of your father." "I guess that should apply to me, too, and I through myself on the mercy of the court."

Ben smiled, "The court will consider a guilty plea, and get back to you with it's decision. Oh, and don't worry, I have never let you off before, I don't intend to start now." Adam's smile faded quick. That tingle in his neck went all the way to his backside.

"Why don't you and I take a little walk," he said to Joe.

"About how far, Pa."

"There's a nice shed out back I think you will recall." They got up and went out back. Joe and Ben went inside the shed.

"Joe, I brought you out here to tell you I'm sorry."

"What are you talking about Pa," Joe was completely unprepared for that statement.

"I told your brother that being a parent was hard work, trying to know right from wrong when dealing with your child. This time I was wrong. I knew you were sneaking out, I heard you and Adam the night he confronted you. I could have stopped it then, but I waited to see if you would come to me. I was trying to make you see the truth and tell me. I put more pressure on you than a 12 year old should have. I am sorry. I am not ignoring what you did, I am just saying that I should have stopped it sooner and maybe the whole situation would have ended better. It was one of those times I made the wrong decision where you were concerned. I'm sorry."

"But you were right Pa, I knew all along I should tell you. At first it was because I was afraid of what the others would do to you, Adam or Hoss, then I was afraid of what you would do if I did tell you, then I was afraid of what Toby said the law would do to me for being with them. It just kinda snowballed down the hill and everything kept getting bigger. I'm the one who is sorry, and believe me next time, if there ever is one, I will tell you everything!"

"I doubt that you will ever tell me "everything" Joe, no child every does, but I am proud of what you said in court, and I know you learned a lot from this. By the way if I haven't said it lately, I love you. Now let's go back inside."

"I don't think we can Pa."

"Why?"

"I have been carrying around a load of guilt for a lot of days, scared of what you would do to me, but now I think you have to do it cause I deserve it."

"Are you sure son, because I will promise you that I will do a good job of it?"

"Yes, sir, I am sure, he said, but he voice did tremble a little. He turned around and dropped his pants and bent over the hay bale. Ben removed his belt and kept his word.

*****

That night after supper Ben followed Adam into the bunk room. Adam paled a little looking at him. "Joe's sitting on a pillow, does that seal my fate also?" he asked and looked at his father. Ben smiled.

"It has not been that many weeks since you and I had a session in the shed about a raft, I told you then I hoped it would be the last time I need to make that kind of a point with you. I think you learned a lot this time without the use of my belt. By the way the tanning was Joe's idea, not mine this time. I made the same mistake you did about waiting too long to do something about this situation. Your only problem was in hiding something from me. I have had more experience in this than you have my dear oldest child, and from now on I expect you to let me know if one of your brothers is doing something that might get them hurt. No matter what Joe was doing sneaking out late at night he could have been hurt, even if it turned out that it was innocent, understand?"

"Yes sir, I do now."

"Ok, and for the record, I still love you, too, no matter how old your are."

Ben started out the door, Adam picked up his guitar and started to play some notes, "Oh, I do have about 20 extra chores I think we can get started on the next few days just so you know the "judge" didn't let you off the hook. Courts adjourned. Adam just sighed, should have know that was coming.

That night they all were laying in their bunks, "Joe, Hoss said, why would you ask to be tanned?"

"It was just the "right" thing to do, after all the "wrong" ones, course right now, I wish I had kept my mouth shut, my butts still on fire.

OOOOOOhhhhhOOOOOhhhhhh yelp, yelp, they heard from outside.

"Joe tell me you didn't leave Smoke out, again!"

THE END