Down stairs in the parlor, four anxious men awaited word on the condition of the boy upstairs. It had been three hours since they had brought Joe home. Three long hours of watching Hop Sing run back and forth between the kitchen and Joe's room. Three long not knowing what was happening. It was taking its toll.
Hoss had returned with Roy an hour ago, leaving Clem in charge of Manson. He had regained consciousness on the trail home and confessed the whole scheme. He and his two partners, Kennings and Clay, had gotten out of prison no more then two months ago and robbed a stage. They'd gotten the gold and hid up in that cave. Manson had wanted to move on but Kennings wouldn't allow it, so he killed him. When he had found out Joe had witnessed the shooting he shot Joe then took him hostage. Clay had wanted to give the boy back but Manson wanted to keep him, so he killed Clay. Given the chance he would have killed Ben too and left Joe to die.
Now he was locked up in a cell, waiting for the Doc to come and patch him up so he could see the judge the day after tomorrow. There was no doubt that he would hang. Ben, Adam and Hoss had taken the news in with grim satisfaction. The taking of a life, any life, was never to be celebrated but this man, this man who had almost taken he life of someone so precious…they would feel no regret for his death. And if Joe dies Ben swore he'd put the noose around the man's neck himself.
Ben wasn't alone in his promises. Each man in the room was deep in thought about the adventures of a curly haired boy with lively hazel eyes and how he had touched their lives. And how on man with eyes of ice could so cruelly hurt him. Each were praying and barging the lord for a miracle.
It was the sound of footsteps on the stairs that pulled everyone out of themselves. All stood and faced Paul, not daring to breath. A tired smile crossed the doctor's lips and he nodded.
"He's one hell of a strong kid…"
It took all of Ben entered Joe's room, a joyous but tired smile on his face. Hop Sing was just finishing fussing over Joe, clucking at him in his native tongue. Ben wasn't surprised to hear his son softly answered back in the same tongue; Paul had said Joe was awake.
"He woke up just as I started to stitch the last wound. I didn't want to give him any pain killer because of the blood loss. I thought it would be too dangerous. He had to bit lip to keep from crying, but he made it. He was the best behaved he's ever been for me."
Ben had felt his hart constricted when Paul had told him that Joe had awaken and he wasn't there, and tat Joe had gone through all that pain alone. But Paul had been quick to remind Ben that Hop Sing had been there and that it would have hurt Ben more then any bullet to see Joe in pain. Ben couldn't argue.
He stood in the doorway giving Hop Sing and Joe their time. Hop Sing was as much an uncle to Joe as any blood relative; he had helped Ben and Marie raise the boy since he was a newborn after all. It had been Hop Sing who Joe had run to many a time when he was hurt or upset. And Hop Sing always fussed over the youngster more then the others.
Hop Sing looked up and smiled at Ben before saying something to Joe. Joe laughed weakly and turned his head so he could see his Pa. He gave Ben a tired smile and said a weak, "Hi Pa…"
"Hi yourself," Ben said, smiling even more. He closed the distance between the door and Joe's bed in a few quick steps and instantly began to run his hand through Joe's hair. Joe sighed and closed his tired eyes, allowing his father to comfort him.
Ben studied his son with a father's eye, taking in the pale skin ad tired face. Joe felt warm but Paul had said that was to be expected. He had told the Cartwright's that Joe's wounds had been infected, but most of the infection was gone and what remained would be gone in a day or two. Still, Ben's brown frowned with worry.
"Numba three son be well. He stay wake so he see Papa before he sleep. Fever be gone tomarrow," Hope Sing was quick to reassure the father.
"Thank you Hop Sing," Ben said earnestly, nodding his head to the small cook.
"Hop Sing make dinner before family send him back to China," joke the cook, who was rewarded with a small laugh from Ben.
"Hop Sing you don't ever have to worry about getting sent back to China, Hoss would kill us if that ever happened."
The two friends shared a laugh before the cook disappeared from the room. Ben barely noticed his attention was focused on the boy in front of him.
"Oh Joe, you're going to make me old before my time…" Ben said to no one in particular. But someone heard him.
Sleepy hazel eyes opened to look up into chocolate brown ones. A lazy smile played across Joe's face when he saw his father, he opened his mouth to say something, but only a yawn came out.
"I know Joe. Go to sleep, I'll be here when you wake up."
Joe closed his eyes still smiling. Of course Ben knew what Joe was going to say, any one could see the love in Joe's eyes. And anyone could see the love in his own eyes.
The End.
Tank you so much Kybo for letting me take over and sorry that it took me so long to finish. Hope you like what i did, I tried to follow your plot idea.
Tanks to everyone for reading and reviweing. I hope you liked it too.