Chapter 1:
The Only Thing A Man Could Do

It had been windy all day. Dark clouds were building up on the horizon and leaves brushed by the Virginia City school house. The yard was full of children playing tag and enjoying the last minutes of their recess. In the meantime, Miss Jones was sitting at her desk writing something on a piece of paper. Forcefully she scribbled the letters while her pen squeaked noisily. Then the teacher lifted her head.

"Joseph, first you forget your homework, then I catch you daydreaming, and now this!" She paused.
"Why can't you follow the example of your brother Adam? I'm sure he never did anything like that. Adam is such a fine young man... and sometimes it's hard to believe that you two are related."

Little Joe's eyes narrowed. He clenched his fists and forced himself to remain silent. Miss Jones shook her head, folded the piece of paper, and handed it to Joe.

"I want it back tomorrow, signed.", she said strictly.

Joe took the note, pressed out a "Yes, Ma'am", and hoped to be released.

"You're suspended for today. Now go home and change that attitude of yours.", she said with her finger pointed at him.

Little Joe turned and stomped outside. On the way to his horse, he vigorously kicked a stone that was lying on the ground. The horse neighed at the sound and moved nervously. Joe put his right hand on the animal's neck and calmed it down.

"Shhhh. I didn't mean to scare you.", he said in a soft voice. Then he pressed his lips together and stuffed the note in his saddlebags.

"Joe!"

He turned and saw his friend Mitch running towards him.

"Joe, what happened?", he asked heavily breathing.

"Just leave me alone, will you...", he whispered.

"Are you gonna be in trouble?", the boy asked.

Joe ignored his friend and quickly mounted up. Then he rode off and left Mitch behind in a cloud of dust.
As soon as the school house was out of sight, Little Joe pulled the reins. He bit his lip and took the note out of his saddlebags. Joe had trouble reading Miss Jones' handwriting but he noticed that she had forgotten about the homework and the daydreaming. A little smile appeared on his face, however, it faded rapidly as he read the rest of the note.

A few minutes later, Joe felt a raindrop on his hand. "No...", he exclaimed in disbelief and looked up to the sky. Another drop hit his cheek. "My lucky day.", he growled and kicked his horse hoping to get home before the drizzle turned into pouring rain.

oooOOOooo

"Is that you, Little Joe?", came a deep voice from the study as he opened the door.

"Yeah Pa, it's me."

Joe heard footsteps as he hung up his hat and suddenly Ben was standing in front of him.

"Did the rain catch you?", he asked smiling.

"Only a little, the horse was faster.", Joe said with a tired grin.

"Good." Ben touched his son's shoulder. "Put your jacket next to the oven so it can dry."

Ben went into the kitchen to get another cup of coffee. On his way back he glanced at the grandfather's clock and raised an eyebrow. Then he sat down on his desk again and attended to his book work. While turning the pages Ben cleared his throat: "Joe, you're home early...any particular reason?" Joe didn't answer.

"Joseph?", Ben repeated. He looked up and saw his son rummaging through his saddlebags, finally pulling out a wrinkled piece of paper.

"Miss Jones...ehm...wants it signed.", Joe mumbled and put the note on his father's desk. Ben's face darkened as he unfolded the note. He took a deep breath and started reading. Joe was staring at the floor.

"Is it true?", Ben asked after he was finished.

"Yeah", Joe said confidently.

"Come again!?"

Joe looked up. "Yes, Sir. It's true."

Ben took his pen, reluctantly signed the note, and folded it.

Then he looked deeply into his son's eyes: "What have I told you about fighting in the classroom?"

Joe hesitated. "That it is unacc... unaccessible."

"Unacceptable."

"But I had to defend myself! You told me that it's alright, if it is self-defense!", Joe said excitedly.

"This note says that you've started it!" Ben held up the piece of paper and then dropped it back on the table. "Why, Joseph?"

"Bill's provokin' me!", Joe shouted.

"How?"

Joe walked closer to his father's desk and looked him in the eyes. "I'll tell you how: Billy said that the Cartwrights are the biggest crooks in all Nevada, 'cause nobody could afford a spread like the Ponderosa with honest money... that's what he said!" Joe talked so fast, it was hard for Ben to follow.
"Then he asked me how many people we cheated out of their savings!", he yelled. "You see why I had to give him a fat lip!" Joe's right fist hit the desk.

Ben was taken aback. He would have never thought that such rumors were spread among the children and he understood Joe's excitement.
But that was not the point.

Ben stood up and turned to Joe. "Joseph, it says here" he pointed on the note "that not only his nose was bleeding, but that you kept hitting him after he was lying on the ground." Ben paused for a second, then went on in a forbidding voice: "You lost your temper, young man and there is no excuse for that. If someone attacks you with words you will fight back with words or tell the teacher, but you won't use YOUR FISTS! Ben smacked down his hand on the table. Then he sat down and added in a calmer voice: "Don't you see that Billy only WANTED to provoke you?"

"But after what he said I had to..."

"You did not have to hurt him like this!", Ben said sternly.

"But Pa! He..."

"No buts. As soon as I'm finished here we will ride to his place. You will apologize and pay for the doctor's bill out of your savings."

Anger flashed over Joe's face, but he squeezed out a "Yes, Sir" and turned around.

"I didn't say you're excused."

Joe turned back to his father.

"Young man, I don't want any more notes like this. From now on you will restrain that temper of yours. Is that understood?", Ben said in a voice that nobody would contradict.

"Yes, it's understood.", Joe said sulky. Ben noticed that his son's eyes did not show the slightest trace of contrition.

"Now... go up to your room and do your homework."

Little Joe took the note and put it in his pocket. Then he grabbed his books and hurried upstairs. Ben sighed as he watched his youngest taking two steps at one time trying to get away as fast as possible.

Upstairs, Joe dropped his books on the floor and walked to the window. "Losing my temper, my foot.", he whispered through clenched teeth.
"I defended the family honor and I'd do it again... and if Pa wants to have my hide for that, I'll... I'll run away."
Joe stared out of the window while raindrops were running slowly down the pane.

Ben could not concentrate on his work any longer. He knew only too well that Joe hasn't learned his lesson. Ben leaned back, took a deep breath and started thinking. He could not allow his son to run around like a loaded gun, resorting to violence at the slightest provocation. Punishing him was no solution either, it would only make him feel unfairly treated. After all, Joe believed that he did the right thing by defending the Cartwright name. Maybe he understands after we visit Billy, Ben hoped.

Ben was wrong. Little Joe squeezed out an emotionless "I'm sorry" and even after Billy's father apologized for his son's utterances, Joe kept his angry face. On the way back he didn't say a word and Ben could tell that his son's pride was hurt because he had to apologize for something that was - at least in Little Joe's eyes - the only thing a man could do.

To be continued soon...

I hope you have enjoyed it so far. If you have (or have not) - please, please, please give me a short review! I'm a poor judge of my own stuff, so I need our help.

P.S. I'm not a native speaker. If anything sounds strange then this might be the reason ;)