Highway to Bonanza

by Donna

Dedication:  No copyright infringement intended.  Thank you to Tigger, Valerie, Puchi Ann, Susan, Judy, Mary Beth, and Irene for reading the story as it emerged and encouraging me to put the words into story form.  A special thank you to Michael Landon, whose work obviously inspired the story.  I probably should also thank David Dortort, because if he hadn't cast Michael as Little Joe, there wouldn't have been a "Little House" or "Highway." 

**********

"So what's the assignment this time, kemo sabe?" Mark Gordon asked his passenger and sidekick, Jonathan Smith.  They had been driving for several hours now, without a clue of where they were going.  It was getting dark and they needed to find a place to stay for the night.  

"Don't know yet," Jonathan, a man with curly hair and an infectious grin, answered in a matter-of-fact manner.  

"You never know yet!  Isn't there a rule that says angels always know their assignments?"  Mark asked with frustration.  As an ex-policeman, this man with a salt-and-pepper beard was used to following rules.  

"Nope," Jonathan replied.   

"Well, there ought to be!" Jonathan laughed at his partner's impatience.  When would Mark ever learn that the Boss' timing was not always Mark's?  

"I'm serious," Mark exclaimed.  "Why doesn't he let you know so you can tell me?"  

"Probably because you'd take your eyes off the road while you were complaining about his timing?"  Jonathan explained.  They looked at each other and laughed, but the laughter was short-lived.  Suddenly, a covered wagon leaned across the road.  

"Stop the car, Mark!" Jonathan shouted.  Mark obeyed, rubbed his beard and then stepped out of the car.  

"Is that our assignment?  What's a covered wagon doing across the road?  We're not in Amish country."  

"But we're in the Boss' country," Jonathan responded. " Let's see what the folks ahead need."  

Jonathan and Mark rounded the corner of the ailing wagon and found a woman wearing a long-sleeve blouse, long skirts and a bonnet struggling with a wheel that apparently had fallen off the wagon.    

"Caroline, you have no business trying to lift that wheel.  I'll take care of it," the man, wearing a striped shirt, suspenders and homespun pants, scolded.   

"All right, Charles, but you know that we have to get to Mary and Adam's so I can talk to her before their wedding.  Her last letter has me worried," the woman explained.  

"Caroline, you worry too much."  

"As if you don't worry yourself, Pa!" she teased.  

"We'd be glad to help you folks," Jonathan offered.  Mark stood behind Jonathan, eyes darting back and forth between the two men.  There was something eerily familiar about the man.  

"I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore, Toto," Mark whispered to Jonathan.  

"That's because we're in Dakota Territory," Jonathan whispered back.  

"Guess we're here to help them get on their way?" Mark asked.  That man still looked familiar, but Mark couldn't place him.  

"In more ways than one," Jonathan answered.  

"What do you mean?"   

"There's something wrong with their daughter."  

"Sick?" Mark asked.  

"No."  

"What is it, then?"  

"He hasn't told me yet," Jonathan said.  

"You just told me there's something wrong with their daughter. Don't you know anything?" Mark asked in frustration.  

"I know that her name is Caroline and his name is Charles.  She's concerned about Mary, who I assume is their daughter, and that's all I know. Satisfied?"  

Approaching the couple, Jonathan said, "Looks like you need a hand with that wagon.  My partner here and I know something about wagons.  Let me take a look."  

The man nodded.  Jonathan stooped down next to the wagon, examining both the wheel and the axle it had fallen off of.  After a few minutes, he said "No damage to the axle.  We should be able to get your wagon back on the road in no time."  

"Thank you, Mr. –," Caroline started.  "My husband and I are much obliged to both of you."  

"Jonathan Smith," he said.  "This is Mark Gordon.  I know you're Caroline and Charles, but I don't know your last name."  

"Ingalls," the man answered as he helped Jonathan place the wheel back on the axle.  

"Charles, I saw a stream nearby.  I'll fetch some water for the three of you," Caroline called out to him, carrying the water bucket.  

"That would be very welcomed," Charles agreed.   Mark held the wheel in place as Jonathan single-handedly bolted it back in place.    

Charles marveled at Jonathan's strength.  "How did you do that?"  

"He's an angel," Mark explained.      

"A what?" Charles asked, not quite believing Mark's words.  

"You've read about angels in the Bible, haven't you, Charles?" Jonathan asked.  

"Sure, Gabriel announced the birth of Jesus, and an angel visited Abraham to tell him that he and his wife would have a baby," Charles responded.  

"Where you folks headed?" Jonathan asked, ready to change the subject.  Charles seemed to believe, but there was no point in dwelling on the subject.  

"We're on our way to our daughter's wedding," Charles answered.  "In fact, we're due there for the wedding tomorrow.  Where are you fellas going?"  

"We've been on the road for awhile, doing odd jobs and helping other folks like you and your wife," Jonathan explained.  

"I've got a great idea.  How about you come with us to our daughter's school?   Their handyman left last week and they sure could use the help."  

"Now, Charles, they may have other plans," Caroline suggested as she returned with the water bucket.  After all, we don't know these men, she thought to herself.  

"We'd be delighted to help," Jonathan answered.  "How about we follow you?"  

Charles offered,  "We could give you a ride in the back of our wagon.  It's not that crowded back there."  

"If your wife doesn't mind two strangers in her wagon," Jonathan said.  He nodded at Caroline, who blushed.  

"Let me just lock—" Mark started to say.  

"What Mark wants to say is that we want to talk this over for a minute.  We'll be right with you folks," Jonathan explained.  

Once Jonathan and Mark were alone, Mark continued his sentence with "my car."  

"It's not there."  

"What do you mean, it's not there?"  

"Take a look," Jonathan gestured.  Mark walked behind the wagon and immediately saw what Jonathan meant.  All he saw was landscape, not even a highway.  

"Where did you put my car?"  

"It's safe, don't worry.  These folks need our help, in more ways than one."

"What do you mean? And why do I think I've met this Ingalls fellow before?"  

"Questions, questions.  Nothing wrong with asking them, but why not let the Boss take care of his business and we'll take care of helping these folks?"  

"How?"  

"I don't know yet," Jonathan answered with a laugh as he walked back to the Ingalls' wagon.  

"Cute, Jonathan, real cute!" Mark muttered to himself, following Jonathan.  Jonathan shook his head and laughed.  

"We'll take you up on the offer," Jonathan told the Ingalls.  Both Jonathan and Mark climbed into the back of the wagon and Charles yelled a command to start the team.    

**********

As they traveled, Caroline and Charles took turns telling Jonathan and Mark about their children, especially their daughter Mary. Mary lost her eyesight a year ago after a bout with scarlet fever and moved to a school for the blind so she could adapt to her new life.  During the transition, she fell in love with her teacher, Adam Kendall, who also was blind.  His encouragement led her to become a teacher, too.  Which was exactly the dream they had had for Mary's future before she lost her sight.  

Upon arriving at the school, the Ingalls wagon was met by a lone, distraught dark-haired man.    

Charles called out, "What's wrong, Adam?  Where’s Mary?"  

"She went out with Mrs. Terhune and the children, but didn't come back with them. I'd go look for her myself, but that won't help her too much," Adam answered.  

"Caroline, you show Mark what needs to be done.   Jonathan and I will go looking for her," Charles directed.  

"But you don't know where she is, Charles," Caroline protested.  

"I think Jonathan knows where she is," Charles suggested.  Jonathan nodded and Mark looked at him, a bit puzzled.  This farmer still looked familiar, but he couldn't figure out why.  

"Mark, Caroline needs you to help her with some of those chores she was telling us about.  I have an idea where she might be."  

"Jonathan, how could you know?," Caroline asked.  

"Caroline, if anyone knows where Mary is, it'll be Jonathan.  I'd bet on it," Mark answered with authority.     

Guess Mark has more faith than I thought, Jonathan mused as he maneuvered into the front of the wagon with Charles.  He whispered something to Charles, who set the team in motion.  

**********

Charles and Jonathan surveyed the landscape.  Prairie, prairie everywhere.  No place a person could hide, it was so wide open.  But there was no sign of Mary.  And storm clouds were gathering.  

The grass blew as if it didn’t know which way to move, first one way and then the other.  

Charles looked at Jonathan, wondering if he was who he said he was.  No reason to doubt the man’s word, but wouldn’t Jonathan know where Mary was on this vast sea of wind-tossed grass?  

“Where would Mary go if she was upset?” Jonathan asked.  

“She’d go to her thinking place.  But that’s in Walnut Grove, many miles away.”  

“Describe her thinking place,” Jonathan suggested.  

“She’d want to sit under a tree, with the sunshine on her face.”   

“Hm, and the sunshine’s disappearing.  Think, Charles.  Look around you.  Where would she go?”  

Charles took another look around, and saw a river ahead.  

“Mary would sit under a tree next to that river.  I used to find her sitting by our local fishing hole.”  

“Then let’s look by the river!,” Jonathan exclaimed.  With a glimpse of Charles’ concerned expression,  he added “I’m sure she’s all right.”  

“I hope so.  And if you say she is, I’m sure she is,” Charles said, laughing at his doubt.  He was in the company of an angel, but he doubted.   Charles nodded in gratitude.  

The team responded to Charles’ command and headed straight to the river.  The river ran for miles and miles in either direction; which way did Mary go?

“Tell me more about that fishing hole, Charles,” Jonathan suggested.  

“The fish are huge.  Best kind I ever did taste.  Caroline makes the best fish dinner.”  

“Let’s see if I got this straight.  Huge fish?  Sounds kinda fishy to me, Charles,” Jonathan said with a laugh. As they had followed the river up a hill, it curved around and Jonathan motioned for Charles to stop.  

“Why?” Charles asked.  

“You’re starting to sound like Mark,” Jonathan teased.  “I’m just thinking that we might get a glimpse of what’s down the other way from here.  What would Mary be wearing?”

“Something blue.  Her favorite color is blue.”  

Charles stopped the team and both men climbed down for a look. Something blue caught Charles’ attention.  He pointed to it, and he and Jonathan headed off in its direction.  Sure enough, there was Mary.

"So what's my daughter doing out here alone?" Charles asked, more relieved than angry.    

"Oh Pa, it's been awful!" Mary exclaimed as soon as he sat under the shade tree.  Usually she enjoyed being outdoors, but today she was too upset to appreciate it.  

"Has Adam been mean to you?" Charles asked with fatherly concern.  Blind or not, no man was going to hurt his daughter.  Jonathan nodded in agreement; no one should ever hurt this girl. He stood back to let them talk and waited to see what he needed to do next.    

"No, Pa.  Adam's been wonderful. But, I'm having these strange dreams, Pa," Mary continued.  "They keep coming back to me."  

"Maybe we can talk about it?  You used to tell me your bad dreams."  

"But Pa, I'm about to be married.  A married woman can't run to her pa over a bad dream."

"You're not married yet, young lady.  And I'll always be your pa.  Now tell me the dreams or I'll swat you on the backside like I used to do."  

"Pa, that was Laura."  They both laughed, remembering her younger sister's mischievous behavior as a child.  "It really was a strange dream.  I was visiting this ranch in Nevada Territory, and there were three brothers, Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe."  

" ‘Horse’?" Charles asked.  

"No, Hoss.  He was a big man.  Practically the biggest man I ever saw in my life."  

"That big, huh?," Charles teased.  

"Well, pretty big.  Adam's average size, and Little Joe's—" 

"Little?"  Charles offered.  

"Littler than Hoss.  But full-grown.  He kept teasing me and teasing me, sort of like you do, Pa," Mary explained.  

"You don't say," Charles answered.  

"If you keep interrupting, I won't!" she exclaimed.   Charles promptly closed his mouth and attempted to keep a straight face.  

"Joe was showing off for me, the way boys used to do, when I could see," Mary continued.  

"I remember one young man who showed off for you for weeks and you never seemed to notice," Charles noted.  

"Pa! Just listen, okay?"  

"Yes, darlin'."  

"Hoss was standing in the yard of their ranch, it's called the Ponderosa…"  

‘You stay away from that Mary, Joe,’ Hoss said, leading his horse toward the barn.  

‘But, Hoss, she has the prettiest blue eyes!  I think she likes me,’ Joe said from atop his horse, as he patted the mane.  

‘All the girls like you, Joe.  Now look into my pretty blue eyes and promise you won't so much as blink at her.’  

Joe held up his hand solemnly.  ‘I promise.’ 

Oldest brother Adam joined them in the barn and asked ‘What are you two planning now?’  

‘Oh, just blinking,’ Joe answered, bursting into a fit of giggles. He leapt off his horse and kept giggling as he attended to the horse’s grooming.  

‘I warned you,’ Hoss said in a tone that meant business.  

‘I promise,’ Joe said in mock seriousness.      

‘What did little brother promise now?,’ Adam asked as he joined his brothers.  ‘To stay away from Mary?’ 

Hoss laughed, while Joe frowned.  ‘Something like that, big brother,’ Joe answered. 

‘Make sure that you do, little brother.’ 

“Hoss and Joe looked at each other, then I woke up.”   

“A few nights later, the dream started the same way, Hoss and Little Joe discussing Joe's interest in me, and brother Adam joining in the discussion.”  

“The last time was last night, but this time the dream was different.  This time, Adam said ‘Make sure that you do, little brother, because I'm going to marry her myself’." 

Charles sat for a moment as Mary concluded her story, tears forming in his eyes.  

"What does it mean, Pa?" Mary asked.  Charles looked at Jonathan, who shrugged. 

Jonathan took a moment, looked up to heaven and said, "Well? The man's looking for an answer. What do I tell him?" 

After a moment of quiet reflection, Jonathan had the answer.  

"Sounds like she's going to marry Adam," Jonathan told Charles.   

"I think it means you're going to marry Adam," Charles replied. 

"But why would Little Joe want to talk to me, much less look at me?  I'm blind." 

"But you have a beauty from within."   

Jonathan gave him a "thumbs-up" and left father and daughter to continue their conversation.  Mary's smile was back, and it was time to prepare for a wedding.

**********

The next morning at breakfast, Charles asked Mary how she slept last night.   

"Like a baby, Pa," Mary said, the old sparkle back in her face. 

"No Ponderosa, then?," he asked. 

"No sign of it anywhere last night.  Ma, I'd like you to look at my dress once more.  I want it to be perfect!" 

"I'm sure it'll be lovely, Mary," Caroline said.   

“The Ponderosa?” Mark asked. First Dakota Territory, now the Ponderosa? 

"Just a silly dream I had," Mary answered. 

Charles and Caroline exchanged looks, relieved that Mary was no longer concerned about her dream.  Jonathan smiled and Mark looked perplexed. 

"I'll explain it to you later, Mark," Jonathan said. “Give me a hand with getting the dining room ready, because there’s going to be a wedding this afternoon."   

**********

Mrs. Terhune brought the children in and made sure they were seated.  A few minutes later, Adam and the preacher stepped to the front of the room, where Mary and Charles would soon appear.  Caroline sat on the bride's side of the aisle and cried. Her baby was getting married.   

Charles and Mary stood in the hallway, waiting for the processional music to begin.  As the music started, Jonathan and Mark nodded to Charles, then started to walk out the shcool's door.  Mission accomplished.  Or ALMOST accomplished.

**********

Mark and Jonathan stepped outside, expecting to be where they left the car.   They were on a dirt road now, and the car was nowhere to be seen.  A strong wind blew around them and upon them. 

“Jonathan, where did you put my car?” Mark demanded, wiping dust from his face. 

“I didn’t put it anywhere,” Jonathan shouted over the wind.  “Don’t even know where we are.” 

The road led into a town, which Mark thought looked familiar, but decided that everybody and everyone in this adventure looked familiar so he might as well ask where they were. 

"I know we're not in Kansas or Dakota Territory.  Where are we now?,"  Mark asked.  "Or do we know?" 

"Not sure yet, Mark," Jonathan answered, looking around to get his bearings. 

"Looks like a place I used to see in the westerns," Mark suggested. "I know, it looks like the set for that television show, 'Bonanza'." 

" 'Bonanza'?" Jonathan asked. 

"Yeah, it's a western, set in the 1860s.  You've seen it, Jonathan." 

"'Fraid not." 

"Three brothers, Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe, just like in Mary's dream," Mark explained. 

"Don't know it.  Haven't watched much TV lately." 

"It was on a long time ago.  But it's still on in reruns." 

“Maybe he can tell us where we are,” Jonathan suggested as he pointed to a young man of about 17 years of age in a green jacket, tan pants and brown shirt.  The boy was running against the wind, holding his hat with one hand and looking over his shoulder.  He was so preoccupied that he collided with Jonathan.  

"Oh, hello," the young man stammered apologetically, as he steadied himself by grabbing Jonathan’s shoulder.  He then started to dust off the older man, as if he could erase his lack of attention.  

"What's the hurry, son?" Jonathan asked. 

"My brother Adam's chasing after me. If I let him catch me, it won't be pretty." 

"Just take it easy, Joe," Jonathan said, putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder. 

"How'd you know my name?" Joe asked. 

"Just a guess, son.  Just a guess." 

"My brother won't take it easy.  Gotta go. You didn't see me!" he yelled as he ran off. 

"The kid in the dream?" Mark asked. 

"The kid in the dream," Jonathan answered. 

"Is this the next assignment?"  Mark asked. 

"I think so.  Maybe you better tell me about 'Bonanza'," Jonathan suggested. 

"What do you want to know?  It was on TV for 14 years, and see, there was this man named Ben Cartwright.  He had three sons—," Mark started. 

"Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe.  That much I know," Jonathan said with a laugh. 

"And Joe's the kid who just ran into you, but you know that, too." 

"And Joe's brother is after him.”  

"What you don't know is that this is Virginia City, or it looks like Virginia City.  Their ranch is outside of town." 

"The Ponderosa," Jonathan noted. 

"If you keep interrupting me, I won't tell the story," Mark said with impatience.  Jonathan nodded, trying to keep a straight face and failing miserably in the attempt. 

"Show me around, this is where our assignment is, " Jonathan suggested.  If they were going to be here for awhile, he might as well know something about his surroundings.  He saw the saloon and the jail, and the livery stable.  Looked like there were streets beyond this main road, and the reason for them being there might be found on one of them. 

Mark stood and looked around for a minute.  

"Well, there's the livery stable.  Let's start in there." 

"Why are we starting there?," Jonathan asked.  He decided not to resist the opportunity to question Mark for once. 

"Or we could start in the saloon, or at the jail.  Your choice, kemo sabe." 

"You know the lay of the land.  Onward to the livery stable," Jonathan said as Mark led the way. 

From the door of the livery stable, an older man was busily tidying up one of the stalls.  Mark looked around and saw a pinto pony tied up at the closest stall. 

"Hey, have you seen the kid who owns that horse?" Mark asked.  Doubting that Joe was in the stable, he wondered why he was asking the question.  Maybe the saloon and the current poker game would have been a better first choice, as he remembered the TV show they were walking around in. 

"Who's asking?" the man asked.  He looked both men in the eye, and a look of suspicion registered on his face.  

"Name's Mark, Mark Gordon.  I'm a friend of his pa's, and you know how Ben Cartwright is about that boy.  Wanted to make sure he's okay." 

"Sure, Joe's fine.  Full of energy, probably down at the saloon."  The man continued working, and Mark motioned Jonathan to their next stop.    

Inside the saloon, Mark and Jonathan took one look around and saw no Joe.  Mark found the barkeeper and asked if he had seen Joe recently. 

"No, sir.  Can't say as I have.  Is he in trouble again?," the man asked. 

"Not that I'm aware of.  We ran into him in the street and he ran off in a hurry." 

"That's Little Joe," the barkeeper said with a smile.  Mark smiled back and Jonathan shook his head.  Mark wasn't the only one who needed to learn about waiting, from the sound of things. 

"Where now, Jonathan?"  Mark asked as they left the jail, again with no sign of Joe.  Jonathan took another look around, and shook his head.  No telling where that Joe went off to.   

Just then, someone let out a blood-curdling "NO!"  Jonathan and Mark exchanged looks.

It came from the stable," Jonathan told Mark. Both men ran to the stable, to find the man they had questioned standing over a blindfolded Joe, lying on the dirt floor with his hands and feet tied. The man was about to strike him with a large piece of timber. 

Joe's attacker had his back to the doorway.   Mark grabbed another piece of timber from a stack outside the barn and struck the man from behind, while Jonathan leaped in front of Joe.  The attacker fell forward and lay motionless. 

Joe sat there, bracing himself for the blow that didn't come.  He heard wood connect with bone, but felt no pain.  How could that be? 

"Joe, it's okay," Jonathan said in a reassuring tone as he took off the blindfold. 

"Pa?" Joe asked.   

"No, it's not your pa.  Just someone who's looking out for you," Jonathan explained as Joe shook free of the cloth and looked up at Mark.  

"Hey, you're the fella in the street.  Where's your friend?" he asked Mark. 

Then he noticed Jonathan, holding the material that so recently blocked his vision and the ropes that had held him prisoner.  Joe stood up and looked them both in the eye. 

"Thanks," the boy whispered. "Thought I was a goner that time." 

"Why would he want to do that to you?" Mark asked.  Joe shrugged as he looked at his attacker. 

“Beats me,” Joe said with a shrug, then giggled at the irony of his words. 

"Mark, I think we need to get the sheriff.  Have him see to Joe's—er—friend," Jonathan suggested uneasily.  The man wasn't stirring. 

"In a minute, Jonathan.  Boy, are you impatient!" Mark said.  Both Jonathan and Joe laughed. 

"My pa tells me that all the time," Joe explained. 

"Speaking of your pa, we need to get you home.  You've had quite an afternoon.  Almost running me over, almost getting whacked over the head…," Jonathan said. 

"Oh, that's nothing," Joe shrugged.  But the look in his eyes told them otherwise. 

"Mark, I think we need to get the sheriff.  That man may be dead.” 

Joe looked at his would-be attacker, now unconscious and harmless, and said  “He’s certainly not going anywhere.” 

"At the moment, no.  But the sheriff needs to know what happened,”  Jonathan said. 

"Are you sure you aren't my pa?" Joe asked.  He laughed and Mark and Jonathan joined in. 

"Seriously, we do have a problem here.  Mark, you get the sheriff and I'll stay here with the boy." 

"I'm not a boy.  I'm 17 years old. I'm a cowboy, just like my brothers Adam and Hoss.  Oh, Adam is going to kill me!"  

"Why?"  Mark asked. 

"He thinks I'm sweet on his girl, Mary--" 

"Are you?" Jonathan asked.  Joe fidgeted and muttered something under his breath. 

“What did you say?” Jonathan asked. 

“I said ‘Kinda.  She used to tell me stories like Mama did’,” Joe said with tears in his eyes.  

"I'll go get the sheriff, and you knock some sense into this kid," Mark said with a shake of his head. Joe and Jonathan exchanged glances. 

"What's his name over there tried, remember?"  Jonathan asked.  Joe burst into giggles and Mark left for the sheriff, grumbling something about kids and angels. 

"Thanks again, Jonathan," Joe said.  Jonathan nodded, then rested a hand on Joe’s shoulder. 

“No thanks necessary, Joe.  You yelled for help, and we helped you.  Bet you’d do the same for Mark or me” Jonathan said. 

“Wonder how long it’s going to take for Mark to find Roy?” 

“I don’t know.  Mark seems to know his way around here pretty well.” 

“I’ve never seen either of you before. Are you new in town?” 

“We’re passing through,” Jonathan explained. 

“I know you from somewhere,” Joe said, puzzled. 

“We know each other now.  Why do you think this guy wanted to clobber you?  You’re a smart young man from the looks of things, you must have some idea,” Jonathan suggested. 

“He thought I took his money.  I came back from The Bucket of Blood to take Cochise home, and he was looking for some money he lost.  Next thing I knew, I was tied up and gagged and he was blaming me for taking it.” 

“Was this the money?” Jonathan asked, picking up a wad of bills near the unconscious figure.   Joe looked at the wad in Jonathan’s hands, confused. 

“How did you know—“ Joe started.   

“I saw something fall out of his sleeve when Mark hit him.  You hold onto it, and I’ll check out our friend here.” 

Jonathan checked the man’s pulse; still alive, just not joining in the party. 

“Who are you, really?” Joe asked. 

“Would you believe me if I told you?” 

“Try me,” Joe said. 

“I’m an angel.” 

“A what?” 

 “An angel.” 

“Did my mother send you?” Joe asked.  His mother died when he was five, but he often visited her graveside, especially when he was in trouble.  Maybe she sent an angel this time because things happened so fast, he didn’t have time to ride out to her. 

“No, son.  God sent me.” 

“Why would God send an angel?” 

“That I don’t know.” 

“I thought angels knew everything.” 

“And I thought that boys your age had more respect for their elders,” Jonathan answered.

“How old are you, Jonathan?” 

“Old enough to be your father.  Now, what will we do with your friend here?” Jonathan asked.

“No sign of injury other than the bump Mark gave him.”  Joe impishly handed Jonathan the ropes and helped him to tie the man’s wrists together.  “An angel, huh?” Joe thought to himself as they sat down to wait for Mark and the sheriff. 

**********

“All right, Roy, where is he?,” a tall, dark, handsome man asked as he burst into the sheriff’s office.  “I’ve looked everywhere for Joe and it’s as if he’s disappeared off the face of the earth.” 

“Adam, take it easy on those door hinges.  We just installed new ones from the last time you were looking for Joe here,” Roy answered.  An older gentleman with a kind face, he had heard enough Cartwright trouble for one day. 

“If you really know Joe Cartwright, you should know that this is his brother, Adam,” Roy suggested. 

“Oh, Adam Cartwright.  Nice to meet you,” Mark said. 

“What do you know about Joe?” Adam asked.  He took a hard look at Mark, figuring out whether he was friend or foe. 

“I know that he’s down at the livery stable, and some guy tried to clobber him.” 

“Who tried to clobber him?” Adam asked as he moved to the door.  No reason to stand around here all day when he knew where that kid brother of his was. 

“Don’t know his name, but my partner’s taking care of things down there.” 

“ I’d like to see my brother.  You coming along, er-?” Adam asked.   

"Mark, Mark Gordon.  Absolutely.  Wouldn't miss this for the world," Mark said.  Would Adam see any kind of resemblance between Jonathan and Joe, or was it just Mark's wild imagination?

Adam led the way to the stable, eager to set anything straight that Joe caused.  Joe used to come to him for help, but then Adam went away to college and Joe grew up, seemingly overnight.   Now, Joe thought he didn’t need anyone’s help, least of all his older brother’s.   

Mark followed at a brisker pace than he would have liked.  They would get there when they got there, there was no reason to run, he thought to himself.  Then he laughed at himself, wishing to go slower instead of being impatient to get there.  

Adam reached the doorway first, and stood.  No words, no action, just stood.  Joe stood alone, his resolve quivering and shaking.  This wasn’t going to be easy, he thought.  He barely believed he had talked to an angel, would anyone else believe him? 

“This man was about to hit Joe when we found them,” Jonathan explained as he appeared from behind the door,  holding the unconscious livery man up by the collar.   

“Why would ol’ Gus want to hit you, Joe?  Other than for you being your usual stubborn self?,” Adam asked.  

“I’m stubborn?  I’m stubborn?,” Joe asked, his voice moving higher and becoming more shrill by the moment.  

“Yes, you, little brother,” Adam said, knowing that “little brother” would further agitate Joe. 

“Boys, I don’t have all day for your arguing,” Roy said from behind Mark.  Joe and Adam stared at each other in silence. 

“Sheriff Coffee, this is my partner, Jonathan Smith,” Mark explained in the quietness. 

“Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Smith,” Roy said.   

“The pleasure’s mine,” Jonathan said with a  handshake.  “Do you need us to make a statement?  Mark’s probably told you the story.” 

“That depends on Joe,” Roy said.  “You goin’ to press charges, son?” 

Joe thought for a moment, looked at Jonathan. 

“It’s up to you, Joe,” Jonathan said.  Joe shook his head “no.” 

“Then I say we take this man to a doctor and that’s probably the end of it,” Roy said.    Adam and Jonathan put him on a horse, which Roy led down the street. 

 “What did you get yourself into this time, Joe?,” Adam asked with a laugh once Roy was gone. 

“You-you mean you’re not sore about Mary, Adam?,” Joe asked with a quiver in his voice that seemed to extend to his mouth and his limbs.  “I can explain everything, I really can.” 

“Then start explaining,” Adam said as he crossed his arms and stared at Joe more intently. 

“Well, you see, ol’ Gus had me tied up and threatened to knock me senseless.  I thought I was a goner for sure this time, Adam.  I heard something hit and it didn’t hurt.  Then Jonathan here untied me and Mark went to get the sheriff.” 

“There’s more to the story, Joe, and you know it,” Jonathan said, his eyebrows raised in warning. 

“Adam, I wanna take Mary to the dance on Saturday night,” Joe blurted out. 

“Why you?  I’ve been escorting her around town for months,” Adam reminded him. 

“And I appreciate you taking such good care of her, Adam.  I’d say it’s my turn, though.” 

“Does Hoss want a turn, too?” Adam asked sarcastically.  “Let’s settle this once and for all!” he commanded as he motioned them away from the stable. 

Jonathan followed, Joe sulked, and Mark shook his head.  Angels, kids, and men of the west.

On a well-maintained homestead, a tall, proud woman in her late thirties stood on her porch, watching a band of men and horses approach.  She nodded as she recognized Adam and his horse and smiled as she recognized the paint pony and his rider. 

“Come on up to the porch, boys,” she called out to them in a strong, welcoming voice.  “And bring your friends.” 

“Anything you say, Mary,” Adam called out.  He tied Sport to the hitching post in front of Mary’s porch and tipped his hat in her direction.  The slatted porch extended along the front of the house, with wooden benches along its edge and a wooden chair just for Mary.  A rail extended the length of the porch, straight and strong. 

Joe tied Cochise to the hitching post as far from Adam as he could.  Adam was going to win this argument, too, he figured. 

Joe moved to Mary’s chair and dusted it off for her.  She showed pleasure in his manners.  But Joe was too upset with his brother to notice.  Jonathan looked at Mark and shook his head. 

“That boy has a lot to learn about brotherly love,” Jonathan whispered to Mark. 

“It’ll have a happy ending, though,” Mark whispered back. 

Jonathan gave Mark a big grin and said “You’re right,” as they followed Adam, Joe and Mary onto the porch. 

“Hold it right there.  And drop your guns,” called out a man from the end of the porch.

His gun was aimed right at Mary. 

Joe and Adam immediately dropped their guns.  Mark raised his hands and said “I don’t carry a gun, whoever you are.” 

“And I’m the President of the United States,”  the man said.  “Drop your gun, NOW. Or I’ll shoot you.” 

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Jonathan recommended with the voice of authority.   He moved in front of Mary, knowing no bullet would touch him.  One of the perks of being an angel. 

“And where’s your gun?” the gunman asked, cocking the trigger of his revolver. 

“I don’t need one, “ Jonathan replied with a sly grin.  The man shot once, and Jonathan caught the bullet with his bare hand.  He shot twice more and Jonathan caught both of them in the same way.   

“Is that the best you can do?” Jonathan asked, arms crossed over his chest and one eyebrow raised.   Nothing in his expression betrayed that Joe was sliding behind the gunman with an unloaded revolver he’d found on the porch.  Mark, Adam and Mary stood silently, each taking in the situation. 

“And what business is it of yours?  I can blow you to kingdom come,” the man mocked. 

“I don’t have anything to worry about from you,” Jonathan said, showing him the three bullets.  Joe stood directly behind the man, motioning Adam, Mary and Mark out of harm’s way.   They each slipped down the steps of the porch as Jonathan stood firm, keeping the gunman’s focus on him. 

Almost the instant the three were gone, the man asked, “Hey, where is everybody?” 

“Everybody?” Jonathan asked, as if perplexed.  At that moment, Joe forcefully slammed the butt of the gun over the man’s head, knocking him to the ground.  Joe knelt down to feel the man’s pulse, he was dead. 

“Good job, Joe,” Jonathan said. 

“But he’s dead, Jonathan,” Joe said with sadness in his eyes. 

“If you hadn’t hit him, we might all be dead,” Jonathan reminded him. 

“Not all of us, Jonathan,” Mary said as she walked up the porch steps with Adam and Mark. 

“Mark, you didn’t tell her!” Jonathan scolded. 

“He didn’t have to,” Mary said, approaching Jonathan and squeezing his hand.  

“What’s going on here?” Adam asked. 

“You mean that angels are bulletproof,” Joe suggested.  Jonathan nodded. 

Adam  looked at Joe, then at Jonathan and Mark. 

“Will someone tell me what’s going on here?” Adam demanded. 

Mary explained.  “Jonathan is an angel, Adam.” 

“Where’s the wings, the halo?  And what does Joe mean, ‘angels are bulletproof ’?” Adam thundered. 

“Angels don’t always wear wings or halos,” Jonathan said. 

“ Joe means that Jonathan is protected against bullets,” Mary added. 

“But you’re not protected against bullets,” Adam reminded his brother.  “Why’d you go and do a fool thing like sneak up on him?” 

“Just being my brother’s keeper,” Joe said, with a catch in his voice.  Adam said nothing, but the pat to his brother’s back at that moment said volumes.   Jonathan winked at Mark.  It looked like Joe knew more about brotherly love than either of them thought. 

“Now what can I help you boys with today?” Mary asked after a few more minutes of silence. 

“Huh?”  Adam asked. 

“Well, you came out here for something.  And it wasn’t just to protect this maiden in distress,” Mary said with a laugh. I’m no maiden, she thought.   I’m almost the age Joe’s mother would be if she was alive. 

“You do appear well able to take care of yourself,” Jonathan noted.   A woman alone in Nevada Territory would have to take care of herself, he thought. 

 “Joe, I don’t even know your friends’ names,” Mary said as they moved to sit down on the porch. 

“Jonathan Smith and Mark Gordon, meet Mary Thompson,” Joe introduced as she served coffee. 

“How do you know the Cartwright boys?” she asked Jonathan.   

“Just passing through,” Jonathan said. 

“And rescued Joe over there,” Mark said. 

“ ’Rescued Joe’?,” Mary asked. 

“Old Gus was about to hit him, but Joe yelled and we investigated,” Mark said. 

“The man running the livery stable?,” Mary asked with alarm. 

“One and the same,” Joe said.   

“Gus didn’t say why he wanted to hurt you, did he?,” she asked Joe, patting his shoulder for a minute as she seemed lost in thought. 

“Said I took money from him. Hey, how about I take you to the dance this week, instead of Adam?” Joe blurted out. 

The silence was deafening.  Mary looked at Joe, then Adam. 

“But why, Joe?” Mary asked. 

“Because you’re the prettiest woman I’ve ever seen,” he said.  Mary laughed. 

“Joe, you’ve seen a lot of pretty women.  I have my good qualities, but ‘pretty’ isn’t one of them,” she said. 

 “Er-you used to tell me stories and sing me lullabies like Mama used to,” Joe said with a choked voice.  Everyone sat in silence as Joe struggled to regain his composure. 

“I miss Marie,too,” Adam finally said, the anger gone.  He and Joe exchanged nods. 

“Well, if you were going to go with one of us, who would you choose?,” Joe asked calmly. 

Mary stood silently.  She looked first at Joe, then at Adam.  She remembered the first time she saw Joe as a young boy, riding Cochise and getting into mischief.  He made her laugh and she wanted to give him the motherly attention she later learned he missed out on. 

She thought of Adam, arguing with Joe and protecting him.  Adam reading poetry, playing his guitar and talking about the buildings he wanted to design when he was in college. 

“I’m flattered, boys,” she finally said.  “How about I go with both of you?” 

“What?” all four men asked. 

“Sure.  I’ll go in the buggy with both of you.  Save the last dance for my Joe, who Jonathan and Mark so bravely saved from old Gus.” 

“Huh?” Joe asked, confused. 

“Well, Joe,” Mary said, “you remind me of my younger days, when anything was possible and I dreamed of finding that special someone to share my life with.” 

Joe smiled and relaxed.  Mary gave him a big hug and brushed the curls out of his eyes.  Joe’s eyes welled up with tears at her motherly touch. 

“And Adam,” she continued, “represents the logical Mary who keeps this place humming and running smoothly.” 

“Then it’s settled,” Adam said.  “Joe and I will both take you.” 

“But I get the last dance!,” Joe exclaimed.  Everyone laughed at his enthusiasm. 

The three of them talked about the arrangements for Saturday's dance, unaware that Jonathan and Mark were gone.  Mary looked at the empty seats and said, "Where did they go"  I wanted to thank them for saving your life, Joe."

Joe looked on the porch railing and picked up three bullets.  "Who was that angel?" as he handed one each to Mary and Adam and put one in his pocket for himself.  They shook their heads, thankful for their good fortune.

"So what happens next with the Cartwrights? Mark asked as they climbed into their car, which was exactly where they had left it.  The road was again a modern highway and there was no sign of wagon tracks.  However, a motel appeared up the highway that wasn't there before.  

"You know the Cartwrights better than I do.  What do you think?" Jonathan asked.

"I don't know yet, but it'll be a shame if she suffers the Cartwright curse," Mark said.

"The 'Cartwright curse'?  What's that?"

"All the women the Cartwrights love end up dead or moving away."

"Lots of bodies buried there, then?" Jonathan asked.

"Hm-hmmm.  What's our next assignment?"

"Other than getting a room for the night at that motel over there, I don't know yet," Jonathan said.  Both men laughed heartily as Mark steered the car onto the highway.

***The End***

Return to Donna's Home Page