Roy came out of the telegraph office just in time to see Hoss and Ben being shoved through the door of the jailhouse. He knew if he were to go over to the jail alone he’d be thrown in with them. He looked around and headed for retired Judge Arthur Reynolds home. The man had tried many cases in Virginia City and knew Ben Cartwright personally. If anyone could help, it would be him. Roy knocked loudly on the door and entered when a gruff voice told him to come in.
Roy walked into the house and Reynolds stood up from his chair as soon as he recognized the man who’d entered. “Well, well, Roy Coffee, what are you doing in Carson City? Don’t tell me we’ve finally managed to convince you to come to work for us?”
“Sorry to disappoint you, Art, but that’s not why I’m here.”
“Can’t fault a man for trying,” Reynolds said. “What can I do for you?” he asked when he noticed the worried frown on Roy’s face.
“Ben Cartwright and his son, Hoss, were just put in your jail.”
“Why?” Reynolds asked angrily.
“Probably because we’ve been asking about Roland Spencer,” Roy said.
“Roland Spencer owns our so-called Sheriff. What’s Spencer done now?”
“We think he had something to do with the beating of little Joe Cartwright,” Roy said.
“Papers said it was done by his brother, Adam,” Reynolds said.
“Papers were wrong. There’s a man out there who looks just like Adam Cartwright, except he has blue eyes.”
“How is little Joe?”
“He was stabbed by this same man and his brother Adam was knocked out and left out in the cold to die.”
Arthur Reynolds face grew more concerned as he listened to what Coffee told him. “Are they ok?”
“They were taken from their ranch sometime early last night and we think Spencer is involved.”
“Damn! That sounds like something Spencer would do. He’s just like his father, ruthless and mean. Let’s go get Ben and his son out of jail,” Reynolds said grabbing his coat.
“How?” Coffee asked.
“This towns fed up with Sheriff Shafer,” Reynolds explained. “It won’t be a problem getting some of them to come to the jail with us. Most of the businessmen in this city know Ben personally and they won’t stand for this,” Reynolds said as he closed the door of his house.
“Joe,” Adam called his brothers name softly. The fire had died down and Stanton had fallen asleep at the table. The only lamp had gone out hours ago and only the dwindling fire cast shadows. “Joe,” Adam called again and was relieved as his brother moaned softly and began to move. “Sh, Joe, I’ve almost got my ropes undone but I’m gonna need your help.”
Joe’s head pounded and he could barely move his stiff body, “Adam,” he said.
“Listen, Joe, everyone’s asleep. I’m gonna see if I can get the ropes off and grab one of the guns. I need you to lay still until I cut your ropes.”
“No, Adam, untie me now. We’ll have a better chance if we’re both free,” Joe explained.
Adam looked at his brother and realized he was right. Between the two of them they would be able to attack from both sides. Carefully, without too much movement, Adam began the tedious job of untying his brother’s ropes. Both brothers breathed a sigh of relief when the ropes finally dropped away. Joe kept his hands behind him for a few seconds when he heard Stanton mumble something in his sleep.
Stanton opened his eyes and glanced sleepily at the prisoners, “Still here, I see,” he mumbled and closed his eyes to sleep once more.
“Shafer, this town is sick and tired of you and it’s high time we did something about it,” Reynolds said as he slammed the jailhouse doors open and stepped inside.
“Now, Judge, what seems to be the problem?” Shafer asked shakily. He was surprised to see the old man was alone.
“The problem is you,” the retired judge told him. “You are a disgrace to the badge pinned to that dirty shirt. Remove it and hand it over.”
“I’m sorry, Judge, but you don’t have that authority anymore. Mr. Spencer pays my wages and only he can fire me.”
“I may not but there are others who do.”
“Really, how come they never came with you?” Shafer grinned as his confidence soared.
Reynolds looked around the Jail and spotted Ben and Hoss standing at the doors to their cells, “Come in boys,” the judge yelled towards the door.
Immediately the small jailhouse began to fill with men of all ages. Ben smiled as he recognized Roy Coffee holding the door. He watched as the jail became crowded and still the townsmen kept coming. Most of them had known Ben and done business with him over the years and all had a look of outrage.
“I may not have the authority to make you take off that badge but the council does. Mayor Wilkes would you do the honours?”
“I’d love to,” Wilkes said as he stepped forward, removing a clean napkin from his shirt pocket as he did. He reached out and pulled sharply on the grimy badge Shafer wore. The badge came off and Shafer fell back in his chair.
“You can’t do this,” he said angrily.
“We already have,” Wilkes said as he passed the badge to a new man. “Get this cleaned up. Now that we have put this dirty little man out of a job we can find a real man to do it.”
“Well said, Mr. Mayor,” Reynolds told him never taking his eyes from Shafer. “Pass over the keys,” he ordered.
Shafer licked his lips and reached into his pocket, “I’m going to Mr. Spencer,” he said hoping the name would put fear back on the faces of the townspeople.
“Spencer and his men have left Carson City,” Wilkes told him.
“No,” Shafer said unbelievingly as he passed the keys to the judge.
Reynolds walked to the cells and opened the door for Ben and Hoss. Ben was immediately out and grabbed Shafer by the shirt, “Where is he holding my sons?” he asked angrily.
“You can’t do this to me,” Shafer cried as he tried to pull away from the vicelike grip.
“Where are my sons?” Ben asked again, this time pulling Shafer face next to his. Ben’s stomach churned at the stale smell of tobacco and whiskey but he didn’t release the unpleasant man.
“I... I don’t know.”
“If I find out you’re lying and something happens to my boys you won’t live long enough to stand trial,” Ben told him.
“Y... you hear that, Judge, he threatened m... me!”
“Sorry, I never heard a thing. Any of you fellas hear anything?” Reynolds asked. There was a chorus of, no, not me, never heard a thing from each of the men present.
Shafer knew he was in trouble, “I... I don’t know where they are. Mr. Stanton and his men have them but never told me where,” he said.
Ben released his grip and Shafer sank back in his chair, rubbing his neck where his collar had rubbed.
“Is there anyone who might know?” Ben asked.
“I... I don’t know,” Shafer said nervously.
“Tell me the...” Suddenly Ben heard the retort of a gun and felt Shafer’s body go slack in his arms. “Please tell me who else knows,” Ben pleaded as men ran from the jail in search of the shooter.
Shafer’s eyes took on a glazed look and he knew there was no hope. He looked into Ben Cartwright’s eyes and whispered, “L... Lila...” he said as his eyes closed in death.
“Lila Stanton,” Wilkes said softly.
“She’s the one Joe helped,” Hoss said to his father.
“Where can we find her?” Ben asked Reynolds and Wilkes.
“She used to work in the saloon but she left town last week,” Wilkes explained.
“Any idea where she might have gone?” Ben asked.
“None at all. She just left her house and belongings and never said a word,” Wilkes told them.
Roy Coffee came back into the office followed by a couple of the townspeople.
“Did you find anything, Roy?” Hoss asked.
“Nothing. It looks like he had a horse with him and just took off. A few of the men have gone looking for him,” he answered.
“How long ago did Spencer leave?” Ben asked no one in particular.
“Near as we can figure he left just after you two were thrown in here,” Wilkes explained.
“That gives him almost three hours. Did anyone see which way he went?” When no one answered Ben shook his head. “There’s got to be some way to find Spencer or Lila Stanton.”
“We’ll be able to track Spencer in the snow, Pa,” Hoss suggested.
“Let’s do it,” Ben said and hurried out the door. Large fluffy snowflakes fell to the ground as the men left the office. “Is anything going to go right for us?” he asked as he looked at the sky.
“I don’t think you’ll find anything in this weather,” Wilkes said as the wind rushed around the corners of the buildings. The snow that had threatened Carson City for nearly a week came down with a vengeance.
“Pa.”
“There’s nothing we can do, Hoss. Not until this storm ends,” Ben said.
“Have you got a place to stay yet, Ben?” Reynolds asked.
“We only got into town this afternoon. Haven’t had a chance to check in anywhere.”
“Why don’t you, Hoss, and Roy come stay the night at my place? I got plenty of room.”
“Thanks, Arthur. Hoss can you take the horses to the livery?”
“But, Pa.”
“Hoss, we’re all bone tired and I don’t think we’ll do Adam or Joe any good if we do something foolhardy. Please just put up the horses,” Ben told him tiredly.
“Yes, sir,” Hoss said, walking towards the horses.
“I’ll see you at Arthur’s house, Son,” Ben called above the wind.
“When?”
“Now, Joe,” Adam told his brother and the two men moved as one. Adam dove for Tucker, who lay face down on the cot. He grabbed the all to familiar body and reached for the holstered gun. The two men rolled off the bed and spilled to the floor.
Joe hit Stanton with such force that the he was thrown from the chair and landed on the floor next to Wilson. Stanton’s gun flew from his holster and the three men grabbed for it.
Wilson had been sleeping on the floor and had removed his holster and placed it on the hanger by the door. He grappled with Joe and Stanton for the gun and soon three hands were wrapped around the barrel.
Roland Spencer stood outside the door listening to the commotion happening inside, “Damn fools,” he said to his two companions. He pulled out his own gun and smiled as the others did the same. Spencer shoved the door open and was not surprised to see the two Cartwrights beginning to get the upper hand on his own hired hands.
Adam had seen the two men on Joe and had decked his look-alike, the blow knocked Tucker down with such force that his head bounced resoundingly off the floor and he lost consciousness. Adam immediately went to the aid of his younger brother. He grabbed Wilson’s hand and pulled the man from on top of Joe.
Joe grinned at his brother as he pulled Wilson away. Adam easily got control of the gun and pointed it at Stanton’s head, “Don’t make me pull the trigger,” he said as the door was shoved open and a cold wind blew into the cabin. He barely had time to realize it was Roland Spencer when a gunshot rang out.
The bullet tore into the wall behind Joe’s back and nobody moved. Adam still held the gun to Stanton’s head as Spencer’s men followed him into the tiny cabin.
“Put the gun down, Cartwright, or your brother dies,” Spencer ordered.
“Don’t do it, Adam,” Joe called as he stood up.
“I think we have a standoff here,” Adam said, even though he knew Spencer didn’t value Stanton’s life.
“That’s where you’re wrong, Cartwright,” Spencer said as he shot Stanton, who dropped like a stone to the floor. “See what I mean?” Spencer laughed as he pointed the gun back at Joe. “Now put the gun down or your brother’s next,” he said cocking the trigger.
Adam let the gun drop from his fingers. It made a thudding sound as it hit the floor next to the dead man.
“No, Adam,” Joe said as he saw their only hope of escape fall from his brother’s hand.
“You should have listened to him, Cartwright,” Stanton said as he shot Joe in the right leg, just above the knee.
Joe screamed as he fell to the floor clutching his right leg.
“You lousy...” Adam began and dropped to the floor as a bullet tore into his right arm.
“Now maybe you two will shut up for a while,” Stanton said as he went to the table and sat down, never removing the gun from Adam.
“Joe crawled to his brother and the two Cartwrights sat holding their wounds while Stanton’s men hovered over them.
“What do ya want us to do with em?” Wilson asked.
“Get Stanton’s body outta here and wake Tucker,” Spencer said angrily.
Adam and Joe sat beside each other, each checking the seriousness of the others wound. Adam’s shoulder bled freely and Joe reached onto the cot and tore a piece out of the sheet. He pushed it under his brother’s shirt covering the wound as best he could.
The bullet just grazed me, Joe. Let me have a look at your leg,” he said and tore Joe’s pants down the seam. Adam could see where the bullet had entered just above the knee and had exited through the back. He felt around the wound until he was sure there was no major damage. The bullet had gone straight through, not touching the bone and Adam breathed a sigh of relief as he tore another piece from the sheet. “You just lay back and rest that leg, little brother,” he ordered.
Neither Cartwright realized they’d had an audience until Spencer’s voice interrupted them, “How touching. You both know it’s a waste of time. Surely you realize you’re dead men anyway.”
“You don’t know the Cartwrights very well,” Adam answered. “A Cartwright never gives up,” he said proudly as he finished wrapping Joe’s leg. He helped Joe to his feet and laid him back on the cot. “Stay there,” he ordered. For once Joe didn’t argue and lay back against the musty smelling pillow.
Spencer watched as his men removed Stanton’s body. He listened to Wilson trying to wake Tucker without success. Angry at Tucker for almost letting his revenge get away from him he grabbed the bucket of melted snow and poured it over the unconscious man.
Tucker sputtered, shook his head and wiped the water from his face, “What did ya do that for?” he asked, anger showing on his face as he grabbed for Roland Spencer.
“You stupid fool,” Spencer said as he pushed his gun into Tucker’s well-muscled stomach. “I came here expecting to find the Cartwrights under control and instead I find they almost have control.”
“Stanton musta fell asleep,” Tucker told him fearfully as he moved away from the gun. “Where is Stanton anyway?” he asked.
“Stanton’s dead.”
“No loss there,” Tucker said, sighing as the other man put his gun away. “What’re you gonna do about Lila?”
“Lila left town. I don’t know where she’s gone or if she’ll be back. Doesn’t matter anyway. I have to leave the area as soon as this storm let’s up.”
“Why?” Tucker asked.
“I have to. They know I had something to do with kidnapping those two,” he said indicating Adam and Joe.
“Maybe we should kill them and be done with it,” Tucker suggested as Spencer’s two men came back inside.
“We stick to the original agreement. You and Wilson stay here and do the job I’m paying you for,” Spencer said.
“What difference does it make whether we do it now or on Christmas Eve?” Tucker asked.
“My father died on Christmas Eve because of the Cartwrights. I want Adam Cartwright to watch his brother die on the anniversary of the day I watched my father die.”
Tucker saw the madness in Spencer’s eyes and knew better than to argue. “So I kill them on Christmas Eve and meet you where?” he asked nervously.
“If you want the rest of your money you’ll meet me in San Francisco in three weeks. Not before!”
Tucker needed the money Spencer had promised him for this job. He knew he had little choice; he’d do as the man wanted. He’d wait till Christmas Eve, kill the Cartwrights, collect his money, and never see Roland again.
The storm ended the next afternoon. Ben, Hoss and Roy immediately went to see the new sheriff about getting some extra men to search for his missing sons. The job of sheriff had been temporarily given to a man named Frank Parsons. He’d lived in Carson City most of his life and knew a thing or two about the law.
Parsons helped the men of Virginia City gather ten volunteers to help with the search. They were to go out in groups of four and search all the cabins within a ten-mile ride of Carson City. Everyone was to report back to Carson City by nightfall. The newly fallen snow made it tough to search, but nobody turned away from the assigned search areas.
Adam and Joe were given very little in the way of food and what they did get would normally have been fed to the dogs. They knew they had to eat what they were given if they were to have a chance of being rescued. The longer they remained alive the better their chances of being found.
Adam watched as his brother tossed in his sleep. Joe’s wound was making it impossible for him to stand and Adam knew he could not escape without his brother. He prayed Spencer would leave soon because the man was becoming unstable. He’d glare hatefully over at them and point his gun at them as if he were going to shoot. At one point he went as far as shooting the gun at the ceiling causing splinters to rain down on them.
“The storms over,” Spencer said from the door.
“Does that mean you’re leaving?” Tucker asked.
“In a hurry to get rid of me, Billy?” Spencer asked.
“No, sir,” Tucker said, the fear building at the change in Spencer.
“Doesn’t matter whether you want me to or not, does it? Just make sure you carry out my instructions.”
“I will, Mr. Spencer,” Tucker said.
An hour later Roland Spencer and his two men left Tucker and Wilson to carry out the death threat against the Cartwrights.
Adam sat next to Joe and made sure he kept his leg elevated.
“Adam, I’m sorry,” Joe said quietly.
“For what, Joe?”
“I should have known Spencer had hired Lila just like you said,” Joe told him.
“We’ve all been fooled by a pretty lady, Joe. I’m sorry for the things I said to you that day.”
“But you were right! Everything you said was true.”
“Not everything, Joe,” Adam told his brother. “I may have been angry but I should never have said you were good for nothing. You’ve proven over and over that you know what you’re doing when it comes to the Ponderosa and I’m proud to call you brother.”
“Thanks, Adam, that means a lot to me,” Joe said, his voice laced with pain and weariness.
“Get some rest, Joe,” Adam told him.
“Only if you will,” Joe said. Adam lay down on the floor next to the cot and closed his eyes, but didn’t sleep. He couldn’t take the chance Tucker would do something while they were both helpless. He knew Joe needed to rest so he closed his eyes and listened for his brothers breathing to relax in sleep. It wasn’t long before he heard it and he sat back up before he gave in to exhaustion as well.
That night a solemn group of men made their way back to Carson City. There had been no sign of the missing men in the areas they’d searched. Each man vowed they’d meet Ben, Hoss, and Roy at dawn the next morning to start a new search area.
The next five days went quickly and there was still no sign of the missing Cartwrights. It was Christmas Eve morning and Ben sat on his horse ready to start searching for his boys. The men from Carson City had given up, mostly because they wanted to spend Christmas with their families. Ben didn’t blame them; he wished he were home, with his boys, decorating their own Christmas tree. Over the years it had been a Cartwright tradition to gather round the tree and tell each other what they meant to each other. Last year he’d watched each of his sons shed tears when he told them they meant more to him than life itself. He’d meant every word and now he was willing to give up his life if it meant his boys would be returned safely.
Hoss mounted his horse and looked at his father. He knew his father hadn’t rested the night before. Not only because the little cots in the line shack were uncomfortable but for the same reason he hadn’t. It was Christmas Eve and his brothers were still missing. The search party was now down to the three of them. Roy Coffee had proven once again how he felt about the family by staying with them in what seemed to be a fruitless search. The dark lines under Bens eye told him just how worried his father was.
Roy knew things had gone from bad to worse. The longer it took them to find Adam and Joe the more the possibility arose that they were searching for their bodies. He knew that with most kidnappings, the quicker the victims were found the better the chance of finding them alive. Time was not a friend to them now as it seemed Adam and Joe were probably already dead.
“Wake up, Joe,” Adam called to his brother. They lay side by side on the floor where Tucker had thrown them the night before after using ropes to tie their hands and legs. Joe’s leg wound had reopened with the rough treatment and Adam had listened to his low moans even in his sleep.
“Hmm...” Joe moaned.
“Come on, Joe, you gotta wake up,” Adam said his own body protesting the ropes and lack of rest.
“What’s wrong?” Joe asked tiredly.
“Time is running out, Joe,” Adam told him.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s Christmas Eve.”
Joe had lost track of time since he’d been shot and his eyes glazed with fear as he realized what Adam meant, “Tucker’s supposed to kill us tonight,” he said softly.
“We have to do something. Do you think you could walk on that leg?” Adam asked.
“I’d give it a good try, but you should go without me. Maybe you could bring back help.”
“Yeah, sure, little brother. I’m gonna leave you to these two,” Adam told him.
Joe knew Adam was being sarcastic but not in a rude way. He knew Adam would never leave him, the same way he would never leave Adam. “We’re in this together,” Joe said and started working on his ropes.
“Together,” Adam said and worked on his own ropes.
“What are you two doin?” Wilson asked from the table.
“I was just trying to work out a cramp in my leg,” Joe snapped.
“A cramp in your leg is the least of your worries, kid. That leg won’t bother you anymore after tonight,” Tucker said, and the two men laughed.
Adam and Joe just glared at them. Both knew these men would carry out their threats and there was little they could do about it if they couldn’t get the ropes loose.
Tucker stood from the table and walked over to his two captives. He held a plate of leftover, congealing eggs. As he bent to place them on the floor, blue eyes met brown eyes. “I don’t think I’ll bother wasting the time to remove your ropes,” Tucker said and turned his back to Adams angry eyes.
“You’ll pay for this,” Adam said softly.
Tucker heard the vehemence in Adam’s voice and hurried back to the table.
Wilson had overheard Adam’s words and didn’t miss the look of fear that came over Tucker’s face. “Hey, don’t let him worry ya. He’s all trussed up like todays turkey. Let’s just play some cards till its time to carry out Spencer’s orders,” he said as he placed a deck of cards on the table.
As the day wore on the three riders began to get more and more dejected. The darkening sky gave proof that it would soon snow again adding more problems to the search. It was almost completely dark but they continued on, knowing time was running out.
They were cold and hungry but neither man wanted to stop. Something told them that they had to find Adam and Joe today or it would be to late.
Ben noticed that they’d unconsciously strayed towards Lake Tahoe and its majestic beauty. He knew there was a cabin within riding distance and he headed his horse in that direction.
Hoss saw his father change direction and swung Chubb towards him, “Hey, Pa, where are ya goin?”
“I think I know where they are,” he said and his eyes lit up.
“Where?” Hoss and Roy asked in unison.
“Roland Spencer’s father had a cabin just north of here. It was so long ago I’d forgotten about it. They have to be there,” Ben said wistfully. ‘Please, God, if I were to have just one wish on this special Eve it would be to have my sons back with me. I need my sons. They are what make life worth living. Adam was your first gift to me those many years ago and he’s grown into a fine man. Hoss was your second gift and I thought a man could never want anything else. Then you gave me the gift of Joseph. Each boy lost his mother at an early age and we had to go on for each other. If even one of my sons were taken from me I don’t know if I could go on. Please grant me this special wish,” Ben said as the clouds parted to reveal a lone falling star.
“Hey, Pa, did you see that. It’s a wishing star. I wish we could find Joe and Adam,” Hoss shouted in childlike abandon.
Roy smiled in spite of the cold and weariness he felt. This really was a special family. “That’s a special wishing star, Hoss, that’s a Christmas wishing star,” he said, remembering fondly the night his own mother had told him about the Christmas wishing star.
“Then God’s gonna let us have our wish, Pa,” Hoss said and his heart felt light for the first time since Joe and Adam had been kidnapped.
“It’s time, Cartwright,” Tucker said as he reached down and pulled Joe to his feet. Joe struggled as best he could but was soon dragged to the door.
Adam tried to stand but found himself held down by Wilson’s booted foot and a gun placed at his head. “Don’t do it, Tucker!” he yelled.
“Say goodbye to your brother,” Tucker told Joe.
“A... Adam,” Joe said, his voice quivering in fear.
“I’ll give you whatever you want, Tucker. It’s Christmas Eve, you don’t have to kill him,” Adam tried to reason with the man, his own fear rising to the surface.
“Sorry but Spencer would find a way to get to us if we were to let you go. Let’s get this over with. Outside,” he told Joe.
“Hey, Tucker, I thought you were supposed to kill him in front of his brother,” Wilson reminded him.
“We may be stuck here for a while yet and I don’t want to look at bloodstains while we’re here. I’ll bring this one outside and then come back for his brother. Spencer never said I had to do it inside.”
“I guess your right,” Wilson told him grinning down at the pinned man.
“Come on, Kid, let’s get this over with,” Wilson said opening the door and shoving Joe through it.
“No! You can’t do this!” Adam screamed as the wind tore into the cabin with a vengeance. “Please, God, don’t let this happen,” he cried as the door banged shut and tears of anger and frustration streamed down his cheeks. He fought Wilson with all his strength. With a great heaving shove he threw the man to the floor and got to his knees. His bound legs and arms made it impossible to get all the way to his feet and he fell back as Wilson regained his feet and shoved him back down.
*******
Joe fell out side the door; he felt the cold crawl deeply into his body as he lay in the cold snow. He shivered from fear as much as from the bitter wind.
Tucker bent down and cut through the ropes, “Get up,” he ordered.
“Go to he...”
“I said get up,” Tucker said grabbing Joe by his bound arms. He pulled Joe off the stoop and made him stand in front of him.
Joe’s injured leg shook as it took the full weight of his body. He knew this was the end and he turned his face to the sky, “Please, God, keep Adam safe till Pa and Hoss find him,” he prayed.
“You’re brother will join you shortly. Now don’t stray to far. I’m just gonna get your brother,” Tucker grinned as he turned back to the cabin.
Joe used every ounce of his dwindling strength to launch himself at Tucker.
Suddenly the dull sound of a gunshot reached his ears and Adam felt despair and anger overwhelm him. He knew there was nothing he could do now to save his little brother but at least he could do something to the man who’d killed him.
Ben Hoss, and Roy were close enough to the cabin to see the door open and two men emerge, bathed in shadows. Ben recognized the form of his youngest son immediately. He hurried his horse towards the cabin and raised his gun just as the smaller form launched himself at the other man. Ben didn’t hesitate as he saw the light flicker off the gun in the other mans hand as he pointed it towards his son. He fired and watched the man drop to the snow covered ground.
Joe watched the crimson stain spread on the pure white snow but didn’t understand what had happened. He looked up just in time to see his father jump down from his horse, “Pa,” he cried. “Help, Adam!”
Ben hurried to his son knowing that Hoss and Roy were already headed for the cabin.
Adam didn’t care whether he lived or died as he once more launched an attack on Wilson. He caught the surprised man off guard and the two fell heavily. Wilson rolled away from Adam and raised his gun just as the door slammed open.
Hoss saw the gun in the man’s hand pointed at his brother. He saw the man’s finger twitch and shot his own gun before the man could deploy his bullet into his brother.
“Hoss,” Adam said in relief.
Hoss was shocked by the haggard look on his brother’s face as he hurried across the room. “Thank God, Adam,” he said.
“Thank God for what?” Adam said as tears streamed down his cheeks. “Letting Joe die.”
Hoss’s face frowned in confusion at Adam’s statement and he placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder, “Adam, Joe ain’t dead. He’s outside with Pa,” he explained.
“I’m right here, big brother,” Joe said as his father helped him into the cabin, closing the door behind him.
Adam waited for Hoss to finish untying the ropes and hurried to his brother. Joe was now seated on the cot where his father had placed him.
Roy Coffee checked the man on the floor and wasn’t surprised to find he was dead. Hoss’s shot had been accurate and the man had died instantly.
“Joe... how... I thought... Tucker shot. I though I’d... lost you,” Adam stammered.
“Pa shot Tucker before he could shoot me, Adam,” Joe said, his eyes sparkling with unshed tears. “They found us,” he said simply.
“They sure did, little brother,” Adam said his own eyes alight with relief as he wrapped his arms around his family. “How’d you find us?” he asked when they finally released one another.
“With Gods help,” Ben said and went on to explain. “We’d been riding all day and ended up just south of here at Lake Tahoe. I remembered this cabin once belonged to Roland Spencer Sr., and we decided to check it out. I can’t explain how we ended up at the lake except to say God must have had a hand in it. He brought us to you and now I have my three greatest gifts with me once again.”
“Joe, remember when we used to watch for wishing stars?” Hoss asked.
“Sure, Hoss,” Joe said as his father tended to his injured leg.
“I saw one tonight and made a wish on it. I guess you could say it was a Christmas wish on a Christmas star and it worked. Thank God it worked,” Hoss told them.
“Pa, can we go home?” Adam and Joe asked in unison.
“You sure you’re up to it?” Ben asked looking from one son to the other.
“I need to go home,” Joe said.
“I do too,” Adam said and couldn’t take his eyes from his brother. Both men knew how close they’d come to death on this Christmas Eve. They wanted to celebrate it at home with their family.
“Let me get the horses ready and we’ll leave immediately,” Ben said.
Hop Sing sat on the couch gazing into the embers of the dying fire. It was nearly midnight and still no word from his beloved family. The tree Hoss and Ben had cut for the family had been erected in it’s usual spot by a few of the ranch hands, but Hop Sing had not put one decoration on it. Until his family was home he had no reason to celebrate. He wished with all his heart for the Cartwrights to come through the door and back into his life. He needed them as much as they needed him.
Slowly, feeling his age, he went to the fire and added a few pieces of wood. He glanced around the lonely house and felt a tear drop from his eye. A sound at the door made him jump to his feet. His eyes lit with happiness as the family he longed to see entered the house. Ben and Adam supported a limping little Joe between them. “You back. You come home. This best Christmas Hop Sing ever have,” he said as Ben and Adam helped Joe to the couch. Hop Sing looked around, “Where Hoss?” he asked worriedly.
“He and Roy are putting the horses up, Hop Sing,” Ben told the happy man. “Can you make some coffee?” Ben asked.
“Hop Sing make coffee and sandwiches,” he said as he smiled at his family.
“Pa, I think we’d better get Joe up to bed,” Adam suggested.
“I’m fine, Adam,” Joe said, wearily closing his eyes.
“Sure you are, little brother,” Adam laughed. “That leg of yours needs to be elevated.”
“I can do that down here,” Joe said. “Sides, what about your arm?”
“What about your arm, Adam?” Ben asked as Roy and Hoss hurried in, closing the door behind them
“Nothing wrong with my arm, Pa,” Adam said.
“Let me see, son,” Ben said and Adam could tell by the determined look on his father’s face there was no point in arguing. Ben took one look at his oldest son’s arm and had Hop Sing bring in warm water and clean towels. He quickly cleaned Adam’s shoulder and placed a clean bandage on it. When he was finished he looked at his eldest and youngest sons. “I think it’s time you were both in bed. I’ll send one of the men for Paul at first light,” Ben said.
“But, Pa,” Adam protested.
“But...” Joe began until their father lifted his hand in the signal that there would be no arguments. An hour later the Cartwright house was quiet. Adam and Joe were snuggled comfortably in their own beds, where they slept peacefully for the first time in over a week.
Christmas morning dawned crisp and clear. The Cartwright family were busy trimming the tree as Hop Sing set the table for breakfast. Paul Martin came to the ranch early and after examining both Adam and Joe determined that they were going to be fine. Joe was to stay off his leg for another week, and despite his sputtering lay on the couch while the others trimmed the tree.
By mid-afternoon the family was ready to settle down and enjoy Christmas. Paul Martin and Roy Coffee had both gone back to town leaving the family in front of a roaring fire.
Adam passed Joe his gift bringing a happy smile to the tired face. Hoss, Ben, and Hop Sing each passed out their gifts and in the end Joe placed his gifts on the floor, a disappointed look on his face.
“Is something wrong, Joseph?” Ben asked as he sat beside his son.
“Not really, Pa, I just feel bad that I didn’t get anything for any of you.”
“Joseph, I think I can speak for everyone when I say that having you and your brother here is the greatest gift of all. Material things mean nothing compared to having all of you with me. Merry Christmas, boys. Merry Christmas, Hop Sing,” he said.
“Merry Christmas, Pa, Merry Christmas Hop Sing,” Adam, Hoss, and Joe said.
“Merry Christmas to my family,” Hop Sing said happily.
Roland Spencer stayed away from San Francisco. He sent one of his men with the money for Billy Tucker. When the man returned he told him Tucker hadn’t showed up at the hotel. Spencer knew something had gone wrong and he angrily hit the wall with his fist. “Someday Adam and Joe Cartwright will pay for this!” he vowed.
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