"Pa! Pa! Come quick!" Little Joe shouted.
His brown eyes widened in astonishment at the sight just outside their front door. There laying in the dirt was a young woman and she looked half dead.
Pausing a moment at the door, Joe grabbed a canteen of water. He knew that the woman was in immediate need of attention and he'd see to it that she got it.
"Hey, hey, Ma'am..." Joe cooed gently. Knowing that he had to keep his voice as warm and friendly as possible so avoid frightening the strange girl.
Crouching down beside her, he let his rough hand gently stroke her cheek. "Come on, come on. Wake up. Please," he encouragingly remarked. But her eyes didn't flutter open and she barely stirred.
Two shadows crossed over the fallen girl's figure and Joe turned his head to meet the gaze of his concerned father and elder brother Adam.
"What happened here," the silver haired father questioned.
Joe shrugged and answered, "I don't know ... Pa. She was like this when I came outside. And I'm afraid she isn't looking to good."
The eldest of Ben's sons leaned over his younger brother's shoulder to assess the situation himself.
"You got that right," he remarked, confirming Joe's observations.
"Adam, saddle up and fetch the doctor from Virginia City. Joe and I will see what we can do here," Ben commanded his eldest son.
"Sure Pa. I'll start on my way now," Adam immediately answered. Without further delay the suave eldest was on his way.
Little Joe sighed and whispered an apology," forgive me, ma'am."
As the last word slipped from his tongue, he poured some water on her dust covered face. Suddenly, the water seemed to revive her. The curly haired girl's eyes fluttered open in alarm and her brows furrowed in confusion.
"Whe...where....where am...am I?" She sputtered in a dazed and fragile tone.
Ben, who had joined his son in kneeling at the girl's side, softly answered. "You're on the Ponderosa Ranch, Miss. I am Ben Cartwright and this is my son, Joe."
In a patient and fatherly tone Ben inquired, "who might you be and what brought you here?"
