After the Quarantine

By Ella

Author’s Notes: Though I am a big fan of the Ponderosa episode "The Quarantine," I felt a key piece was missing, regarding Ben’s treatment of Little Joe’s fears. This short story is my extended ending to the episode, to rectify this oversight.

My thanks to Kathryn, for her proofreading.

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As the last of their guests left the ranch, Ben leaned heavily against the porch upright. He was surprised at the effort it took to raise his arm as he gave one last wave to Eli Orowitz. The storeowner smiled wearily, lowering his own hand before turning to face Ruth as she slapped the reins, urging their horse homeward.

Jumping slightly at the touch to his shoulder, Ben turned to find concerned blue eyes trained upon him.

"Time for you to go back to bed, Pa."

Adam spoke so firmly, Ben couldn't keep from smiling, when he caught a glimpse of himself in the determined face before him. Still, the older Cartwright resisted.

"Bed? Why we’ve only just finished breakfast. I feel – "

"Tired," Adam finished. "And you look it too, Pa."

Ben frowned. "Adam – "

Shaking his head, Adam took his father’s elbow. "Pa, Hop Sing agrees with me. And, since we’ve put our faith in him through this whole ordeal, I see no reason for us to stop now." He looked Ben square in the eye, challenging, "Do you?"

A small sound from behind them made Ben turn to face the open door. Hop Sing stood in the doorway, head tilted slightly to one side, eyes questioning.

Ben felt the heat of his eldest son's eyes against his cheek. "I seem to be outnumbered here."

Adam gave a sharp nod. "That’s right." He gestured toward the door. "So, we’d all appreciate it if you’d go back to bed and relax for the rest of the day. Get some more sleep. There’s nothing that needs to be done around here, that the boys and I can’t handle."

As if on cue, Hoss and Joe, approached from the barn. Dropping his voice, for his father’s ears only, Adam added, "If not for yourself, then do it for Joe, Pa."

The words hit like a punch to the gut and Ben looked more closely at his youngest, who was near enough now for his father to see worry lingering in his brown eyes.

Everything happened so fast, I never had a chance to address Joseph’s fears. It was so obvious when he ran to me yesterday – the way he threw his arms around me, holding on to me for dear life. I could hear the terror rising in his voice. But then Carlos panicked over Isabella succumbing to the cholera. I had to let Joseph go, so I could restore order. I became ill myself, only a short time later. Dear Lord, what has the boy been thinking since then? The expression on his face. How is it I haven’t noticed up until now that he’s still troubled over everything that’s occurred?

Meeting Adam’s eyes once more, Ben nodded slowly. "Very well, Adam, I’ll rest for the remainder of the day … on one condition."

Adam frowned. "What condition, Pa?"

"I want everyone else to rest as well. Do only the necessary chores, then take time to relax. Take a nap even." Ben turned to face their cook. "This means you too, Hop Sing. You’ve been working non-stop. You must be exhausted."

Hops Sing brushed his forehead with the back of his hand. "I feel a little bit tired, yes … but – "

Ben shook his head. "No buts. Everyone is to take it easy today. Whatever chores that can be put off until tomorrow, we will delay. My word is final. Understood?"

Joe stepped up onto the porch. He looked into each of the faces surrounding him, then up at his father. "We understand, Pa. But now ya need ta get back ta bed." He reached up, trying to stretch his short arm around his father’s waist, then grabbed Ben’s arm to drape it across his shoulders. "Here, you lean on me and I’ll help ya."

Forehead creased with concern, Ben dropped to his knees and took the youngster’s hands in his own, squeezing them slightly as he spoke. "Little Joe, Pa is fine now, son, thanks to Hop Sing."

The boy pressed his lips together, his chin puckering, as all his bravery suddenly dissolved. When his eyes began to fill, he threw his arms around Ben’s neck. "I prayed, Pa. I prayed real hard. Oh, Pa … I was so scared."

Holding the boy closer, Ben spoke gently. "I know you were, son. But God listened to your prayers. Everyone is all right now. Please, Little Joe. Please don’t worry anymore over this."

The boy buried his face in his father’s shoulder. "But … what if … what if … Pa … " Joe’s sobs choked off the rest of his words. Ben stood, lifting him.

"There now, it’s okay. Pa’s here, son. Let’s go inside and talk about this."

A look of concern passed between Adam and Hoss as they followed the others into the house. Hop Sing headed for the fireplace, in order to add some more wood to the dying fire, as Ben sat down on the bench with his son.

Joe wiped his wet cheeks, sniffling. "I'm sorry, Pa, for acting like a baby."

Pulling out his handkerchief, Ben handed it to his son. Little Joe mopped his eyes then blew his nose, all the while searching his father’s face.

"There's nothing for you to be sorry for, Little Joe. I'm the one who needs to apologize. I knew you were upset, but things happened so fast, I never had a chance to talk with you. So much happened, in too short a time." He traced his boy’s features with his eyes, then reached out to run his fingers lightly down Joe’s cheek. "I think you have some things you’d like to talk about. I'd like you to discuss them with me, son. You’ll feel better if you do."

Joe looked around to study the rest of the family, standing nearby. He licked his lips. "But ... but you were going to rest. I'm keeping you from doin' that."

Leaning back in his seat, Ben drew the boy close. "Well, you and I are resting here together, aren’t we? And, to tell the truth, I won't be able to relax until I feel I've addressed your concerns, son. Do you understand?"

"Yessir, Pa."

The boy nodded as he leaned more heavily against his father's chest. The events of the last couple days swam in his head. Jack had died. Just like that. Yet, only a short time before, he and Shelby had given them all an exciting show, when Shelby shot an apple from the top of Jack's head (1). Then, one by one, their friends began to get sick. Then Pa. It was like living in a nightmare. All the people he cared for in his world were threatening to leave him and he was unable to stop what was happening around him. What if they all died? What if he was left alone – completely alone?

Joe began to shake and even his father’s tight embrace couldn’t stop the trembling. Ben ran a hand down the back of the boy’s head. He spoke softly, but his words were an order, just the same.

"Talk, son. Tell me what you’re thinking."

The tears started again, but Joe spoke through them. "I was afraid all of you would die and I’d be by myself. All alone. All alone. That happens, Pa. It happens. I heard some of the immigrants talking one day, when I was down at the field. Some little girl’s family – they all died and she got left behind (2). She weren’t even as old as me. The lady who was tellin’ the story … she … she … she and her family picked the little girl up. Now she’s ridin’ with them. Oh, Pa. I don’t want ta live with some other family. I don’t want that ta happen ta me. Ever."

Ben bit into his lip, to keep from giving in to his own emotions. The boy is right. Whole families died on the trail West. And then there were those, like the little girl, who didn’t die, but wished they had, unable to cope with the fact that they were alone. When we lost Inger – dear Lord, that cut was so deep, I didn’t think I could go on without her. But I had two boys to think about. God gave me those boys – they gave me the strength to bury her and move forward. Then God took Marie ... In a blink, she was gone. But again, I had my boys. The good Lord gave me no choice, but to continue.

What if? That’s where Joe’s thoughts are now. What if his whole family died? What would he do? Who would take care of him? No – who would love him? Who would he have to love? How does a father answer these fears? What does he say?

Ben nodded to himself. Experience had long since given him the answer he needed now.

"Joseph?" Ben waited. After a moment, Joe swallowed hard, then pulled his head away from his father’s shoulder. Using the handkerchief he still gripped tightly in his fist, the boy scrubbed his face, then bravely met Pa’s eyes.

"Yes, Pa?" His chin buckled, but he swallowed again, determined not to give in to more threatening tears.

"Joseph, I don’t have the power to make promises about life and death. Those sorts of things, only God can determine. And if God decided in these last trying hours to take all of us but you … well, son … He would have given you direction. God would have found a way to lead you out of the darkness that would surely have swallowed you. Joseph, I know that is true, deep in my heart, I know it."

Joe opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

Adam watched his brother suffering. He watched his father grasping at how to remove the child’s fear. He considered his own reactions to the recent events at their ranch, remembering how Hoss had come out to the barn to retrieve shovels. His brother’s voice, so calm, so casual – ‘Jack died. We’re gonna bury him.’ The words had caught Adam off guard. And yet, he’d accepted it. He’d accepted it. Death. It was so much a part of his life. They’d come West to start a new life after Elizabeth was gone. But death had followed them. There was no escaping it. How do you explain that to a boy?

A boy. I was a boy – younger than Joe – when I experienced death for the first time. Timmy Payne (3). The fever took him on the trail. Mama knew I was upset and she sat me down and talked to me. She told me God would take care of Timmy. Then she said God would take care of his mama and papa who were crying for him. Mama made me believe that God would make things better. But then, such a short time after, God took her too. And I tried, with everything in me, I tried to believe her words. But all I felt was sick and cold inside. She was gone. Pa was despondent. If not for Erik, I wonder what would have become of us.

Yes. Erik. I realize now, that that is what Mama Inger meant. God found a way to make us move on. When Elizabeth died, Pa had me to think about. When Inger died, we had Erik. But what of Joe? Who would take care of him, if we all died? Who in town would look after him, if all the people here at the Ponderosa had been killed by the cholera?

Ben’s words broke into Adam’s thoughts. "I have a Will, Little Joe. You know what that is, don’t you, son?"

"Yes, Pa."

Sighing, Ben explained carefully, "Your mother insisted I keep that important document up to date." He swallowed hard. "When she … when she passed on … and … after Adam turned twenty-one … I took a trip to Sacramento and found a lawyer there. I had him re-write my Will. In the new document, I made Adam responsible for the care of you and Hoss, in the event of my death. And in the case …" Ben drew in a breath for fortitude, "in the event that something should also befall Adam, I named your mother’s sister as the alternate choice, for raising you two."

Joe’s eyes widened, as did his brothers’. "Tante Jeanette?"

Ben nodded. "Yes, that’s right." His eyes found each of his sons, before he looked back at Joe. "But I also stipulated that she could not sell the Ponderosa. That was for you boys to determine together, when you became of age. We sacrificed too much, in order to get this land and to build this house. I … I couldn’t have it sold, by someone who took no part in those sacrifices. I wanted you boys to have the chance to think about what selling it meant. And I didn’t think you would sell it, if the choice was yours to make."

Joe found Hoss’ eyes and the older boy nodded his agreement. The youngster looked up at Ben. "No, sir. We sure wouldn’t. The Ponderosa is our home. And it’s a good business. We’re makin’ a success of it."

Squeezing Joe’s shoulders, Ben nodded. "That’s right. And … even without … Adam and me … you and Hoss could have found a way to build it into the ranch of our dreams." He poked Joe in the chest. "And if necessary, you would find a way to do that on your own, son." Cupping a hand behind his son’s neck, he squeezed, as he emphasized, "But you don’t have to. Your family is still here and we’ll do this together. Won’t we?"

Again, Joe looked to all his family, including Hop Sing. They all nodded their agreement and the boy looked back into his father’s waiting.

"Yes, Pa, we sure will." He squared his shoulders, then added in the most serious voice he could conjure up, "But one thing first."

Brow furrowing, Ben asked, "Oh? And what might that be?"

Joe slid off his father’s knee, stood up straight, then pointed sharply to Ben’s bedroom door, ordering sternly, "You, young man, need to get to bed."

Ben’s mouth dropped open. But amid the laughter that surrounded him, he nodded and stood.

"Yes, sir!"

The End.

(April 2006).

(1) As told in the Ponderosa episode "Quarantine."

(2) My thanks to Marion (by way of Nancy) for recommending the book " Growing Up With the Country: Childhood on the Far West Frontiers," by Elliott West, University of New Mexico Press, 1989. It influenced my thinking here.

(3) Adam’s friend who died of the fever in "Journey Remembered," a Bonanza episode.