At first it seemed to become a quiet day. But that would change soon for nine year old Simon Fowler.
His father Jason Fowler said to him, “You join in with stealing the cattle of the Cartwrights. Or otherwise I will have to kill you.”
“I stop with it. Let me go creep”, Simon yelled while he got beaten up by Jason.
In one second Simon hit him hard and thereby he saw chance to flee. His uncle Jim saw that and shot a bullet at the boy but nor Simon neither a tree got a bullet from the revolver of Jim.
Somewhere not so very far from the incident was the eldest son of Ben Cartwright, Adam, on his way home. When he heard the shots he looked for cover with his sorrel Sport for not to be hit. A moment later it was quiet again. Adam decided to continue his journey. Suddenly he got a travel companion next to him.
Adam looked at the young cowboy and asked, “Hello kid. What are you doing here?”
Simon didn’t dare to say anything due to fear and looked away
But because Adam was so calm Simon got courage and he said slowly, “I am on the run for my father and uncle. They demand that I join in with stealing the herd of the Cartwrights. I refused to so my pa beat me up. I am Simon Fowler.”
“Adam Cartwright. So a few outlaws have plans to steal our cattle? Good that I know that. Then I can tell it the others. Where do you live anyway?”, asked Adam.
“Everywhere and nowhere. I have never had a home. My mother died just after my birth. Since then I always have been on the road with my father and uncle. The two are very merciless and very hard outlaws”, Simon told on his own.
“I take you down to the Ponderosa. I live there with my father and two brothers. If you help us to prevent that cattle theft we help you with a new future”, said Adam.
The boy liked that proposal and he nodded. From time to time Simon looked around him to see if he wasn’t being followed. That wasn’t so.
Adam and Simon rode the whole day through until the Ponderosa in sight. The boy looked with amazement how big the ranch was. He had already heard about it but not exactly how big that ranch was.
“Is that all yours or is there more?”, Simon asked curious.
“I will show it you one time”, Adam promised while they rode upon the yard.
Simon felt becoming timid but Adam asked, “We have more guests at the ranch. You are no less than we are. Even though your father is an outlaw. Are you coming?”
He dismounted and hitched the sorrel. Simon doubted for a moment and got then off his horse too. He hitched his horse and looked at Adam questionable.
“Just wait here”, the eldest son of Ben Cartwright said and he went into the ranch house.
Simon looked around the yard and through his mind went, ‘They won’t accept me anyway.’ Simon was small for his age but smart though. He had clear green eyes and short black hair. At a young age he was once hit by a ‘lost’ bullet coming from the hunting rifle of Jason. That shot had made the boy visible crippled. That made sure that Simon got beaten up by both pa and uncle. But now Simon had come to the Cartwrights he hoped for a better future. But he didn’t had much faith in it. He was only the son of an outlaw. Meanwhile Adam was busy telling his father and brothers about Simon Fowler and his father and uncle.
“Pa, that lad needs our help. He is outside”, Adam ended his story.
He looked at the others with a questionable look.
Ben got up and said, “First then we shall have to get to know Simon.”
The rancher with Adam outside and they saw the boy standing.
“Simon, come here. I want to introduce you to my father”, said Adam.
Slowly Simon came closer.
“Simon, this is my pa. Pa, this is Simon Fowler”, said Adam.
“Welcome at the Ponderosa, Simon. I think that first you better can go to the doctor. Shall we go?”, was the question of Ben for Simon.
He looked at Adam. This one nodded.
Quite soon Ben and Simon were on their way to Virginia City. Sometimes the rancher looked at the boy who looked terrible. The whole way to town Simon kept silent even though he knew that he could trust Ben.
Once arrived in town Ben stopped the carriage in front of the practice of doctor Paul Martin.
“Simon, you can trust Doc. Just come along”, said the rancher calm.
Hesitating Simon climbed out of the carriage and he followed Ben inside.
Paul looked up and asked, “Ben, what can I do for you?”
“Adam came home with this boy. His father beat him up without any valid reason. Can you examine him?”, the rancher asked calm.
“Just leave him here for a moment. I will help him”, said Paul.
“I am with the sheriff”, Ben replied and he went away.
“What is your name actually?”, asked Paul.
“Simon Fowler”, said the boy timid.
While Paul examined him he asked, “Your pa had beaten you up well. Did he always do that?”
“He always enjoyed doing it. His brother did the same thing”, Simon said then.
“You are in good hands with the Cartwrights. They will help you with your problems. I will set your wrist in plaster and then I shall bring you to the office of the sheriff”, said Paul.
Simon nodded. That happened quite soon and Simon carried his broken wrist in a sling.
While Simon was at the doctor’s Ben told sheriff Roy Coffee and deputy Clem Foster about the arrival of Simon at his ranch.
“Is Simon by co-incidence the son of Jim Fowler?”, asked Roy.
“No, Simon is his nephew. The little lad is timid though”, said Ben.
“That doesn’t surprise me. You don’t beat up a child for nothing, do you? What can a nine year old boy do against two grown-ups?”, asked Clem.
It was quiet for a while until the door went open and Paul came in with a taken care Simon Fowler. Because everyone was looking at him Simon felt uncomfortable with the law authorities.
“Simon, you look much better now. Shall we go home?”, Ben asked the boy.
Simon nodded.
On the way to the Ponderosa Ben noticed that Simon was tired and sleepy.
“At home we are gonna eat and after that you are gonna sleep well. There is a bedroom for you”, told the rancher.
Simon was too tired to react. Her blinked with his eyes to stay awake. Finally they reached the ranch.
“Just go inside. They wait for us”, Ben said to the boy who didn’t know what he had to do.
With some hesitation Simon went inside where Adam and his brothers were waiting for him and their father.
“Hello Simon. May I introduce you to my brothers? That is Hoss and the other is Joe”, Adam said to the boy.
Simon gave a timid laugh. Though he didn’t dare to come closer.
“Hello Simon. Adam has told us already about you”, said Hoss.
“I hope only good things”, said Simon.
Everybody laughed.
“Of course only good things. You look nice with that broken wrist”, said Adam.
“Well, I am left handed anyway”, was the reaction of the boy.
Then Ben came into the living room and he said to his little guest, “I see that you have already met my other sons. Simon, we go to have supper in a second and after that you go to bed.”
All four saw how tired Simon was. Quickly they went to eat. The boy was too timid to serve out on his own.
“Simon, give your plate. Then I will serve you”, Ben said who noticed the situation.
That happened and silently Simon ate his meal. Shortly after supper he went to sleep till far in the following morning.
It was the brothers Fowler quite soon clear that Simon had escaped from their claws.
Jim said furiously, “If you hadn’t beaten up that brat he was still here. If Simon may talk to a sheriff of marshal, we hang literally and figurative. This is all your fault.”
“He is much too timid to talk to strangers anyway”, was the reaction of Jason.
They decided to look for Simon and to kill him. The sooner the better. Both outlaws hated Simon whose self-confidence became less with each crime committed. They enjoyed this thought. The brothers didn’t know where Simon had rode to. They decided to go to Virginia City on good luck. It was also the first town on their way.
On the way Jim said, “We take him along and use him right away to rob the bank. When that is done we shoot that kid dead on the street.”
“Good idea. That rat only causes trouble”, his brother said.
Quite late after breakfast Simon came downstairs. The boys were already with the herd and Ben sat working behind his desk.
“Morning Simon. Have you slept well?”, the rancher asked when he saw the boy coming.
“Better than ever Mr Cartwright”, said the boy.
At the same time he looked around.
“Isn’t Adam here?”, he asked amazed.
“No. He and his brothers are with the herd. If you want you may go there too”, replied Ben.
Timid Simon shook of no and then he asked, “It is too late for breakfast, isn’t?”
Ben understood it and went to the kitchen.
“Hop Sing, would you like to make some breakfast for Simon?”, asked the rancher.
The Chinese cook replied, “Hop Sing make breakfast for Simon. Let boy come.”
In the meantime Simon had followed Ben already.
While he ate Simon said to the rancher, “Must I come along to the herd? Soon uncle Jim or pa sees me.”
“You are the only one who can see and recognize him. If you help us I make sure that you can stay living here in town”, said Ben.
“Adam said that to me also. I do it”, said Simon.
Quickly he ate on and after that he went with Ben to the herd. Underway the boy didn’t say anything but when they got sight of the herd he did. Adam saw the couple coming and rode towards them.
“Finally awake Simon?”, Adam asked the boy.
“Yes. Is that the whole herd?”, Simon asked looking at the herd.
Ben nodded.
“They will never succeed. If you give me a revolver they won’t succeed for sure”, said Simon.
Ben and Adam looked questionable at each other for a moment.
“Can you shoot?”, Ben wanted to know.
The boy nodded.
“Show it to us then”, said Adam.
They rode to a quiet place and dismounted. Adam put a few cans in a row and walked to his father and Simon. He drew his revolver and gave the fire weapon to Simon.
Ben said, “Shoot a hole in each can. As quick as you can.”
“Easily done”, said Simon.
He drew the revolver, looked with closed squeezed eyes at the cans and made a hole exactly in the middle. Ben nodded impressive and looked at his eldest son. This one knew what his father was going to do and looked at Simon.
“Simon, you get a belt and a holster and a revolver. You do listen to Adam and you stay by him”, said Ben said on a fatherly tone to the boy.
Simon promised that.
Quite soon Simon was incorporated with the hands. They did notice that he came restless at nightfall.
At a certain moment Simon said to Adam, “Adam, can we go back to the ranch? I am afraid in the dark.”
“We stay here tonight. Cattle rustlers usually strike at night”, Adam explained.
Simon nodded. The whole evening it remained quiet at the herd. Soon Simon fell fast asleep. Nobody suspected that Jason Fowler kidnapped his son and took him down to their cabin. There Simon got woken up by Jim.
“Now you won’t get away. Tell everything you have heard about the Cartwrights”, Jim said while he hit his nephew.
Simon looked at him but silent as the grave. Hereby the outlaws got more angrier with the boy. With a smack of a rifle he knocked both out cold. Simon took the flight on his horse and he rode in the direction of Virginia City.
He looked constantly behind him but nobody followed him to his relief. He reached town exhausted and he stopped his horse in front of the office of the sheriff. Simon jumped off his horse and fell into the office. The deputy was working when the door went open. Clem could receive the boy just in time. He put him in a cell and let him sleep there.
The next morning the disappearance of Simon was noticed by both the Cartwrights and the brothers Fowler. Nobody knew that he was with the authority of Virginia City. After his breakfast the boy told Roy and Clem what had happened that night.
Roy said, “You go now under guidance of Clem back to the Ponderosa.”
The boy said, “That is not needed. I do know the way.”
They knew that Simon could be trusted and let him go. Simon was already halfway when Jason cut him off.
“You haven’t opened your mouth to anyone, have you?”, his father asked.
“You will find out. My testimony is already on its way to Reno. I have told everything to the sheriff”, Simon said hoping they he got believed.
He turned his horse and rode in quick pace back to town followed by Jason on his heels. Simon didn’t notice that he would be accused of murdering his father.
Once arrived in Virginia City they dismounted. When they stood opposite each other a crowd formed around them. Jason was challenging his son but Simon didn’t react to it.
Jason said, “I strictly have forbidden you to carry a weapon so……”
“I don’t belong to you anymore. Leave me alone”, Simon said angry.
Jason hit him in the face and a bullet hit him after that in the heart. Jason fell dead on the ground. The culprit rode quickly away unnoticed. By the noise and and the commotion the deputy came closer and he saw what had happened.
“Clem, that lad shot down his father. Arrest him”, said Josh Kendall, a hand of the Double-R-Ranch.
Clem didn’t react to it but took the weapon out of the holster of Simon and took the boy to the office. Roy was very amazed when he saw Simon again.
“Simon, tell what happened when you left here”, the sheriff said calm.
Simon did that after a long silence.
“We know that you didn’t do it but we keep you here for your own safety. Try to get some sleep. I will go to the Ponderosa”, said the deputy.
So said, so done.
Ben was very amazed when Clem said where Simon was.
“He doesn’t realize really what has happened. That’s why he stayed behind with Roy”, was the last of the story of Clem.
“I go and get him. Is his horse still there?”, asked the rancher.
The deputy nodded. They went away.
Simon was very absent when Ben came to get him.
“Keep him at the ranch for the first few days. There were quite a lot of watchers when his father got killed”, said Roy.
The rancher nodded. Simon looked very timid at the men.
“How is he in contact with your sons?”, Clem, wanted to know.
“He can get on great with especially Adam. Are you coming?”, asked Ben.
Slowly Simon got up and he walked along.
On the way to the ranch Simon asked worried, “What will happen to me now?”
“You stay with us for the time being”, replied Ben replied calm looking at him.
The rancher noticed that Simon didn’t have much hope for a new future.
Jim Fowler decided to blacken Simon totally in Virginia City. This has succeeded partly by killing Jason. Though Jim didn’t know that Simon had the law behind him.
Simon behaved very well at the ranch. Since the murder at his father the boy hadn’t shown himself anymore in Virginia City. The Cartwrights noticed how big the fear of Simon for his uncle was. He was silent and his timidity became bigger all the time. He avoided each contact with the members of the Cartwright family.
One evening the boy was outside with Adam by the corral.
“Simon, you have nothing to fear from your uncle. We are also here”, Adam said suddenly.
“No one has ever been nice to me. You were the first one who was. So……”, Simon replied timid.
He looked away from Adam who noticed that Simon wanted to have a regular life and needed that too and quickly too. Once inside Adam told that to brothers and father.
Ben said to the boy, “Would you like to be stable boy here. I still can use one well.”
“You mean me?”, Simon asked unbelievable.
The rancher nodded. Simon didn’t understand it really but agreed somehow.
“You start tomorrow. Adam will tell you everything how you must do it. Any questions?”, asked Ben.
Simon shook of no and went to bed. All four watched him go.
“He has missed very much in his young life. He hardly trust anyone”, Adam said after a while.
“It will take a lot of time and trouble before he really can be happy. I go and look if he is sleeping already”, was the answer of his father.
He got up and went upstairs. The rancher went into the room of Simon but the boy wasn’t sleeping yet. Ben saw that the boy was awake and went to sit on the bed. Simon looked up and got distrusts again.
“Simon, I know that you are awake. We will be there for you as good as possible”, said Ben.
“I know that but I am afraid that uncle Jim will blow me away. He thinks that I am a traitor”, Simon said worried.
Ben grabbed his hand and said, “You are not. We will think of something to get him. Don’t you worry. Good night.”
He remained by Simon until he had fallen asleep. This happened quite soon.
Simon tried to do his work as a stable boy as good as possible but it didn’t really work out. After a big row with foreman Jerry Malone about nothing Simon felt superfluous at the Ponderosa. When Ben heard it of Jerry the rancher let Simon come to him for a talk in private.
Directly Simon said, “I know that you don’t believe me so I will leave straight away.”
“You just stay here. Jim Fowler is still walking around free. Jerry said to me that you aren’t used to listen. You have to learn that though. Or you will never end up well”, the rancher said calm.
Now he began to understand why some of his hands had come to complain about Simon.
“If you don’t fire me I quit. I don’t belong here anyway”, reacted Simon.
“Just go to Virginia City this afternoon and don’t come back before supper”, Ben ordered at that moment.
Simon left at once being angry with everyone.
When he arrived in town he directly got stopped by the deputy.
“Simon, dismount and come along. That is an order”, said Clem.
Simon did that and asked, “What have I done?”
“Why have you robbed the bank last night?”, asked the deputy directly.
“I haven’t been here for weeks. Let alone at night”, Simon defended himself.
“You are much too clever for a nine year old boy. There is also the case that you are being wanted so just confess”, Clem said looking at him.
“I didn’t know that this was such a lousy town but with a deputy like you it is no wonder. You don’t care what happens to me. Don’t you have anything else to do than to chase me dep?”, Simon said suspicious.
“I don’t have to take this from you Fowler! It would have been better if you would never had come here. No wonder why we get so many complaints about your behavior”, Clem said angry.
“I have just as much right to come here like anyone else. So leave me alone”, the boy bit at him.
“This was a quiet town before you came. Come on brat”, said Clem.
“It will be more quiet when you are away”, Simon said furious.
He mounted on his horse and rode on purpose the deputy over. Clem fell down and broke that way his right arm and wrist. This deed stirred more strong feelings by the deputy. Simon left Virginia City in a few seconds.
After the arm and wrist of Clem were set in plaster the deputy went to the ranch of the Cartwrights. Ben and Adam saw him coming.
“Ben, Adam, is Simon Fowler here? He is wanted for a bank robbery last night. I wanted to arrest him but he rode me over on his horse. You don’t know where he is?”, asked Clem.
They both shook of no.
“Simon is the last couple of days unruly. Nobody wants to work with him anymore. Are you gonna look for him?”, Ben asked him then.
“Yes and if I find him he won’t have a good time yet”, was the answer of Clem.
He left the yard. Adam decided to look for Simon on his own. He had a vague idea of where the boy could be.
After he had injured the deputy and left town Simon just rode around. He knew that he was in very deep trouble and impossible could return to the Cartwrights. Suddenly he saw a deserted cabin and he rode towards it. Simon dismounted and hitched his horse. Once inside he fell asleep on the bed. Hereby he didn’t notice that Adam had come in. Adam looked for quite a while at the boy who suddenly woke up. For a second he looked sleepy at Adam and was then wide awake.
“What are you doing here?”, Simon asked fierce.
“I can ask you that too”, Adam said calm.
“I asked you first”, Simon defended himself.
“I was looking for you. It appears that you have attacked Clem Foster. Is that so?”, asked Adam.
“He started. So don’t look at me. You too think that I am worthless”, Simon said fierce.
Adam said, “You just think that the whole world is against you.”
“Just leave me alone. You mustn’t think that I go along with you because that won’t happen anyway. I don’t belong at your ranch anyway. I don’t understand what you are doing here”, replied Simon.
“Clem is looking for you. If he finds you you won’t have a good time. Who injured now an authority man?”, asked Adam.
“That rotten deputy had asked for it. He accused me that I have robbed the bank last night. Adam, I haven’t done it”, Simon said desperate.
“Does Clem know that you are afraid in the dark?”, asked Adam.
The boy shook of no. Suddenly it had began to rain heavily outside so Adam and Simon were forced to stay in the cabin.
“Come, then we go put the horses into the stable”, said Adam.
Simon got up and walked along with him. The horse of Simon was very restless when the boy wanted to put him into the stable. In an unseen moment the animal gave him a kick and Simon fell against the stable wall. Here after the horse ran away. Adam could keep his horse Sport in control. When Sport was hitched tight Adam went to Simon toe.
“Can you stand up?”, he asked calm.
Simon put his hands in those of Adam and got up shaking. Slowly Simon could walk to the cabin. Adam put him on the bed. While Adam closed the stable door Simon slowly got awake. He was in great pain and moaned softly.
When Adam was back Simon said, “I am never gonna ride a horse again.”
“Where do you feel the pain? You have been hit quite well”, Adam remarked.
Simon pointed at his stomach and left leg. Adam examined him but couldn’t find much.
“As soon as it is dry I go for help. Try to get some sleep”, he said.
Quite soon both fell fast asleep till the next morning.
The deputy could find Simon very difficult and gave it up when it started to rain. At the Ponderosa too everyone began to wonder where Adam and Simon remained. But the bad weather made that everyone stayed inside.
“I think that Adam has found Simon and that they are sheltering somewhere. They will come”, Ben said calm but worried to Hoss and Joe.
Later that evening the foreman asked Ben, “Mr Cartwright, I have thought about the row which I had with Simon. I had told him to do something where he was too little for. Is he there already?”
“No, Adam isn’t here either”, replied the rancher.
Now he understood why Simon was so difficult the last few days. They didn’t know either that Jim Fowler had committed the bank robbery.
The next morning it was dry and Adam said, “I go home to get help for you. Here you have my rifle.”
“Alright Adam”, said Simon said a bit cheerful despite the heavy pains he still had.
Soon Adam reached his elderly house. His father and brother Hoss were outside on the yard when he came riding.
“Pa, Hoss, I have found Simon but he is badly hurt. He had gotten a kick from his horse in his stomach and to his left leg. Can I take the wagon along?”, Adam asked in one piece talking.
“Just take it along. Hoss, you go along too”, Ben said directly.
That happened.
In the cabin Simon was a bit asleep when the door went open.
“Adam?”, he asked at that moment.
“No, it’s me your sweet uncle”, said the outlaw and he closed the door.
Simon put the rifle of Adam under his blanket.
Jim said, “When the Cartwrights come we kill them. After that I do it to you.”
“You shot pa dead and robbed the bank last night. Why do you blame me then?”, asked Simon.
“You are an easy target. Your timidity is good for my advantage”, Jim laughed.
He put the shutters in front of the windows so it became dark in the cabin. Simon knew that there was help on the way and remained calm. Another good thing was that Simon could see better in the dark than Jim. Simon decided to tease his uncle.
“Soon Adam comes with the sheriff for you. I have told everything”, the boy said suddenly.
Jim shook of it and and said, “You dirty rat. I don’t wait for the arrival of the Cartwrights but I kill you on the spot here.”
What none of them knew was that Clem had come closer and found trouble. He had noticed that the shutters were closed while they normally were open. Via another road he saw Adam and Hoss coming. He rode towards the brothers.
“Adam, Hoss. Is there someone in that cabin?”, asked Clem.
“I found Simon there yesterday. He is hurt though. Why?”, Adam asked on his turn.
“The shutters are before the windows. Normally that isn’t so. Perhaps Simon is being held hostage by his uncle”, the deputy suggested.
The brothers nodded. They went to surround the cabin which made Jim worried.
Clem saw a back door and said to Hoss, “Cover me”, which Hoss did.
Clem sneaked to the door and went inside silently. Simon saw the deputy but didn’t let anything show. Jim was filling himself up with whiskey which he had found. Suddenly Jim got up and he pointed his pistol at Simon. Jim couldn’t see Clem but it was the other way around well. Clem gave the boy a sign that he had to shoot. Simon got the rifle and shot Jim dead. The outlaw fell down dead near the table. Adam and Hoss came inside and saw what had happened. Clem confirmed the death of Jim and went then to Simon.
He went to sit on the bed and said, “I have to offer you my apology. You won’t be prosecuted because it was self-defense.”
“I am sorry that I rode at you yesterday. Uncle Jim shot pa dead and robbed the bank that night. I never could have done that because I am afraid in the dark”, Simon confessed.
Clem nodded and took the body of Jim along. Adam and Hoss helped Simon to the wagon where after they rode to Virginia City.
Paul Martin examined Simon but the boy didn’t have much else than some pain.
“You will have to walk around on crutches from now on. Your left leg will stay lame”, Paul said to the boy.
Leaning on crutches Simon walked with Adam and Hoss to the sheriff. There the boy made a statement.
Roy said, “You are now really innocent. We will find a family for you. Until then you stay with the Cartwrights.”
Simon agreed.
It took a few days before Simon realized well that everything was behind him now.
One morning Ben asked him, “I bring you to school. Are you coming?”
Simon nodded and walked limping to the carriage.
Arrived at the school Ben said to his protégé, “Simon, you behave well. Adam will come and get you this afternoon.”
“I promise”, Simon said a bit timid.
Ben watched him go and knew that the boy now could manage on his own. First the others looked strange at how he walked but quite soon not anymore. Simon turned out to be very intelligent and had caught up very soon.
It cost the authority a lot of trouble to find a family for Simon. But it succeeded quite well after a few weeks.
One evening Simon was doing his homework in the dining room where there was a knock on the door. Ben answered the door and saw this neighbors standing.
“Hello Tom, Paula. Come in. What can we do for you?”, the rancher asked surprised.
“We got to hear from Roy that Simon was looking for a home. He is very welcome at our place”, said Tom.
Simon pricked up his ears when his name fell.
“There he sits. Simon, come here for a second”, said Ben.
The boy came and Paula saw how he walked.
“Have you always been crippled?”, she asked.
“Yes”, he said timid.
“We have come to ask you something. Would you like to live with us?”, asked Tom.
“Do I get your family name then?”, was the question of Simon.
Tom nodded. Everybody looked at the boy and he agreed.
“Ben, meet your new boy next door”, said Tom.
Paula helped Simon to pack his stuff and the farewell was heavy for him but that was also the case for the Cartwrights.
While the Morrisons drove away from the Ponderosa Adam said, “I think that we shall see Simon a lot more.”
“I think so too”, his father assented.
Simon was living with Tom and Paula for a few months when there came troubles for him again. It went very bad at the ranch but that was kept from the boy by them and foreman Josh Kendall. Virginia City too didn’t know this. Besides that Simon wasn’t feeling himself at home although he had it good.
On a certain day Simon came home from school and he only saw Josh. They were no friends with each other and they had a row each day. Due to this Simon began to hate the ranch more and more. Sometimes he thought about leaving. He wasn’t so loved too in Virginia City. His past played a part of it too.
That certain afternoon Simon dismounted and he hitched his horse. Then he went into the ranch house through the kitchen. In one look the boy found the bodies of his foster parents. Simon realized right away that he would get the blame so he packed his saddlebags and 50 dollars from his foster father and he left the ranch in the direction of Carson City. The foreman saw him leaving in a hurry.
“Boy, he is in a hurry”, Josh said to himself.
He went to the ranch house and found the bodies of his employer and his wife.
“So, now that lad is gone. I go to Virginia City to warn Clem”, Josh said satisfied.
He mounted on and rode to town.
When Josh had told everything to the deputy the foreman said, “Must Simon be questioned too? If that is the case, he is away. I don’t know where he has gone to.”
“We will find him because he probably will be with the Cartwrights. Thanks for telling I will collect the bodies”, Clem said calm but shocked by the news about the death of the Morrisons.
Josh went back to the ranch. Up till now his plan was a success. He went Scot-free and that little outlaw got the blame for something he hadn’t done.
Meanwhile Simon was already halfway to Carson City. He couldn’t care less if he got the blame for it or not. He was an outlaw and to make it worse crippled too. What he didn’t know was that Adam Cartwright was in Carson City for some business around the Ponderosa.
Meanwhile Clem took the mortal remains of Tom and Paula away from the ranch. When he had arranged that he went to look for Simon Fowler who seemed to be disappeared trackless. The deputy went to question everywhere where Simon came often but nobody had seen him since he came out of school. Clem knew that the boy wasn’t seen in town but it was needed that he found him. The news that Simon Fowler had killed his foster parents went alike wild-fire through town. Hoss heard it in the Silver Dollar saloon.
“I can’t believe that. He would never do something like that”, Hoss defended his boy next door.
“Simon is and remains the son of an outlaw so…….”, said Josh Kendall.
A heavy discussion began about the innocence of Simon until the sheriff ended it.
He said, “As long as Simon doesn’t say nothing he remains innocent.”
Without any suspicion Adam came into the saloon and he saw at a table his boy next door sitting. He walked to it and went to sit there too.
“Simon, you are far away from home too”, said Adam.
“You too. Leave me alone”, Simon reacted fierce.
His voice betrayed much emotions.
“You can always talk to me. Do your parents know that you are here?”, asked Adam.
Simon shook of no and looked away.
“Come on because you have had more than enough”, said Adam.
He took him along. Simon hardly could walk and held himself tight on Adam. In their hotel room Simon fell asleep on the bed. Adam wondered why Simon was alone and in Carson City too. Something terrible must have been taken place at the Morrison ranch. He had never seen Simon drunk before. He decided to go bed as well.
The next morning Simon was in a very bad mood and he hardly said a word to his traveling companion. After a while they arrived at the Ponderosa. Reluctantly Simon dismounted and he hitched his horse. Here after he went with Adam inside where the deputy was already waiting for him.
“Pa, Clem, what is the matter?”, Adam asked amazed when he saw the deputy.
Simon looked at Clem with a distrusting look.
“Tom and Paula Morrison have been killed yesterday. Simon, do you know more about this? Josh Kendall saw you riding away”, said Clem.
“You are gonna arrest me now I guess? I haven’t done it, in case you might think that”, reacted Simon.
“I don’t think that at all. Where were you last night?”, Clem asked calm.
Simon looked at Adam and kept silent.
“I found him on a saloon in Carson City. He was so drunk that we took a hotel room. He slept the whole night through”, Adam said after a long silence.
“You don’t believe me anyway so deputy, arrest me right away for the murder at my foster parents”, Simon said angry.
“Simon, to be clear: I am not arresting you but I do give you house arrest here at the Ponderosa. Can I trust you?”, Clem asked seriously.
It took a long time before he got an answer.
Finally Simon said, “You can trust me.”
The next moment Clem left the ranch and and he went back to Virginia City. When the deputy was away Simon felt very betrayed.
He said, “He just hates me very much.”
“He doesn’t have that at all. Clem is just doing his job. You are now the main suspect because you were their foster son”, Ben explained.
He saw in that Simon didn’t believe him but couldn’t help him.
“You probably believe too that I have killed them?”, Simon asked furious.
“Simon, calm down first. Tell what happened after you came home from school yesterday”, the rancher said calm.
Simon didn’t feel like doing that and he kept silent. Ben and Adam decided to leave him alone for a while. Simon went to his old room to be alone and to think. On bed he suddenly started to cry which Little Joe heard.
He opened the door and asked, “Is everything alright Simon?”
“No! Your pa and brother suspect me from killing my foster parents while I even haven’t done it”, Simon said upset.
Little Joe went to sit on the bed and asked quietly, “They really don’t do that. I think that someone has framed you. Is there someone at the ranch whom you didn’t get on with?”
“The foreman didn’t like me. He started each fight”, the boy said drying his eyes.
“I believe that we must hear him out. Don’t you think so too?”, asked Little Joe.
Simon nodded agreeing. He got up and went with Little Joe downstairs. Ben and Adam looked at their young guest and knew that he was innocent.
Ben asked, “Simon, we go and get your clothes and stuff and you move in here. We help you prove that you are innocent. What do say about that?”
“I still remain the son of an outlaw. Nobody will believe me”, was the reason of Simon.
“Have you killed your foster parents?”, Ben asked serious.
“No, they were already dead when I came home form school. Only Josh was there so I can never have done it. I was at school. Miss Jones can confirm that too”, Simon answered excited.
“Everyone says that you have done it though. Your reputation isn’t too well here in town and in the area. So keep your calm”, Adam advised Simon at that moment.
“You rather believe the inhabitants of Virginia City than me. The good name of the Cartwrights must remain clean”, the boy reacted sarcastic.
Hereby the Cartwrights noticed that Simon still had trouble with having respect for others.
“Adam, just bring him to the sheriff and say that he has killed the couple Morrison”, said Ben.
He continued with his paperwork.
Simon said angry, “If that deputy wants to get me into his cell he will have to catch me first. He will never get me.”
The next moment Simon left the ranch house with the plan not to come there ever again. Adam went after him to bring him to the sheriff.
When the couple rode into Virginia City Simon felt that everyone was looking at him. At the office of the sheriff they dismounted and hitched then tight. Adam grabbed Simon tight and dragged inside.
Adam said to Clem, “Lock this lad up because he has killed his foster parents.”
“Come along Fowler!”, the deputy just said.
He picked him up and threw him into a cell.
In the meantime Adam said to Roy, “Simon doesn’t have to come at the Ponderosa anymore. Pa ordered me to bring him to you. I suspect that Simon knows much more than he tells.”
“We shall make him talk. Tell your pa that”, was the answer of the sheriff.
Adam nodded and went back home.
Clem asked Simon, “You are in deep trouble again. You’re satisfied now?”
“I didn’t do it. That foreman did it. Why don’t you question him?”, Simon asked fierce.
“He saw you riding away. Quite clear that you are the culprit then”, reacted the deputy.
He left the boy alone.
“Simon can never have done it because he was at school around the time that his foster parents got killed. Miss Jones said that to me yesterday. Why does Ben Cartwright say then that Simon is the culprit? I go to the Ponderosa to find out”, said Roy.
He went away to get more clearness in this complicated murder case. Simon decided to sleep to be no bother to everyone.
At the Ponderosa Roy said to Ben, “Why did I actually have to arrest Simon of you? He hasn’t done it.”
“I want to teach him to get respect for others. But seeing that he is unteachable it will have to be this way. We know that he is innocent but he is only safe in jail. The foreman Josh Kendall knows more about it. Simon is scared to death of him. Do you understand why I have done this?”, asked the rancher.
Roy nodded and asked, “I go to the ranch of Tom Morrison. Would you like to explain this to Simon?”
Ben promised that and went to town.
Simon laid in the cell on his bed. He really couldn’t care anymore if they though that he was the culprit. As soon a she got the chance he went away. ‘I don’t stay any longer than needed in this rotten town. And Adam Cartwright must stay away from me too’, was the thought of Simon. He felt very let down. Clem tried to talk to him again but Simon didn’t give much information.
The chance for freedom became suddenly bigger when Clem came in with the lunch for Simon.
“Simon, here is your lunch”, said Clem.
He unlocked the cell. In one second Simon pushed the door open. Clem got pushed aside and the tray fell on the ground.
Simon ran out of the office and took his horse along.
In no time he had left the town. By the cells the deputy was still coming round. According to him a whirl had just come by. But he was soon himself again and he raised the alarm. At the moment that Clem wanted to ride away he saw Ben Cartwright coming.
“Ben, that killer of a Fowler has just escaped. Are you helping searching?”, asked the deputy.
Ben agreed.
It didn’t take very long before they had found Simon. The boy had fallen off his hors. His face was damaged by the fall.
“Look, there is our criminal”, said Clem.
They dismounted and walked up to him.
“It wasn’t very smart of you to escape. I shall have to bring you back to jail”, said the deputy.
“Never! I am innocent”, Simon said while he looked dirty at Clem.
“Clem, let me have a talk with him for a moment”, said Ben.
The deputy nodded.
Ben went to sit next to the boy and asked calm, “Simon, I wanna talk to you. The reason why you are placed into he cell is that you are safe there. The foreman of your foster parents knows more about it. So are you coming back?”
“On 1 condition: that I may tell my story”, said Simon.
“That is alright”, said Clem.
Ben got up and walked to his horse. Simon had trouble getting up.
“Simon, are you coming?”, Clem asked after a while.
“First you have to help me to get up. I have injured my ankle”, was the answer.
Ben and Clem helped him on his horse. The men mounted then on their horses and started with the journey back to Virginia City.
The sheriff and the deputy listened patiently to the story of Simon and let him finish. It didn’t become very clear to them who now the culprit was.
The sheriff asked, “You go now along with Mr Cartwright and stay at the ranch as long as this case isn’t solved. If you wanna go away, then only with permission. Can we count on you Simon?”
“Yes sheriff. I will stay at the Ponderosa”, Simon said a bit absent.
Due to lack of evidence Roy was forced to set Simon free.
“You are free but we keep an eye on you. Remember that Simon Fowler”, he said to the boy.
Simon went limping outside.
“Ben, go first to see the doctor for his ankle”, said the deputy.
The rancher nodded and took the boy along.
Doctor Paul Martin checked the ankle and said, “You have made quite a smack Simon. I will wrap up your ankle and as soon as you get home you are force to rest. No running or walking on that ankle for at least three weeks. Ben, make sure that he sticks to that.”
“That will happen. The boys are there also”, said the rancher.
The ankle got wrapped up and after that Ben and Simon went back to the ranch. Underway Simon didn’t say much although Ben spoke to him.
Suddenly the boy asked, “Aren’t they gonna look at me about what had happened today with me?”
“No, they won’t do that. Believe me”, answered the rancher.
Simon knew that too but still he had his doubts.
After the arrival Ben supported Simon inside.
Adam saw how he walked and asked teasing, “Simon, shall we hold a race between you and Joe?”
“Very funny Adam Cartwright! I may not even walk on it”, Simon reacted directly.
Ben put him on the settee and said, “You keep lying here. Just let Adam be. You know what he is like.”
“I shall think that he is jealous at me because he has to work and I may not do that”, was the reaction of Simon.
The eldest son of Ben was wise enough not to react. Ben told him about what Simon had said and done earlier that day. The boy saw how they looked at him and felt very betrayed by the Cartwrights. He knew that nobody believed him what his innocence concerned.
Josh made his tracks disappear clearly so nobody could suspect him from murder. Now his employers were dead and Simon away the foreman neglected the ranch and he spent a lot of time with throwing alcoholic liquid into his throat. Before the Morrisons died Josh never did this. Though he didn’t know that Simon had already been in touch with the in sheriff. Josh had the opinion that the young outlaw deserved the gallows and announced that in public too.
At a certain moment he said, “They should give that brat the gallows right away.”
“Why? He is innocent”, Adam said who just walked into the Lucky Nugget saloon with his brothers.
“I saw him riding away from the ranch. Besides he is an outlaw. So what do you want more for evidences?”, Josh asked slightly touched by the reaction of Adam.
“He was at school when the killings were committed. You and the Morrisons were all at home then. Simon is innocent”, said Adam.
“Shut up Cartwright. Because you happen to have the biggest ranch of the area it doesn’t give you the right to defend a murderer. I go now to the sheriff to say that Fowler must get the gallows right away”, Josh answered angry.
“No way. The sheriff has his hands already full with Simon without your interfering”, Hoss suddenly said.
Now that was the limit for Josh. He started to fight with Adam. The foreman was already quite drunk. Hereby he was filled with less power than Adam who was very sober. Adam could avoid the first smack of Josh just in time. With a smack the eldest Cartwright boy hit Josh to the ground. The foreman got up unstable and hit him against a table which fell by it. The people around gave the fighters room. For a moment he murder case was forgotten. A fight in the saloon was always very amusing. Adam took revenge for the smack and threw Josh with a nice pitch against the bar. The glasses shattered. Josh saw a bottle of whiskey standing and threw it at his opponent. Adam knew to avoid the flying bottle and the bottle flew through the window outside. Now Josh was really angry. The final hour had started for Adam Cartwright. But the booze had slowed down and the sight of Josh somehow. From the bar he took an attack and he hit instead of Adam Hoss in the face. The second son of Ben Cartwright pulled out and with hit from a a big fist the foreman laid moving less to the bar on the ground. Adam looked at Hoss and gave an approving smile. The furniture had changed somewhat, mainly the tables. These were divided in two or more parts. When the fight was over the deputy visited the saloon.
He looked around and said to Adam, “I assume that this renovation had to do with Simon? His case keeps the whole town busy.”
“Good guessed. The foreman said that Simon directly deserved the gallows. He became angry with me and so there was a fight. I guess he knows more about”, Adam said smiling.
“Seeing the damage you are right. How is Simon?”, asked Clem.
“He feels very betrayed by everyone. But he keeps himself well despite that he can hardly walk. Pa is worried about Simon”, answered Hoss.
“I take Josh along for questioning. Did you do this for Simon?”, Clem wanted to know before he arrested Josh.
“We believe that he is innocent”, said Little Joe who went to interfere as well.
Clem nodded and said to Josh, “Come on Kendall. You are arrested for starting to fight in the saloon.”
With difficulty Josh got up and walked along with Clem. The Cartwright brothers decided to go back to the Ponderosa.
Josh denied everything. Because the sheriff had no evidence against him the foreman got released a few hours later. Josh grabbed his horse and rode in a hurry back to his ranch. His hate against Simon had now become bigger. He couldn’t wait till the death of the little outlaw. That chance came sooner than was expected.
On a Sunday morning for the first time in weeks Simon went to church with the Cartwrights. Sometimes he behaved rough at the ranch. Most of the time this led to a reprimand of Ben. That morning the boy behaved himself very nicely.
After the service the reverend said to Ben, “It seems that Simon isn’t very loved in town.”
“Say that again. At the ranch there is often a row caused by this gent here”, Ben said looking at the boy.
Simon asked, “I assume it is about me again?”
It sounded more like a blame than a question. The rancher looked stern at the boy for a second and Simon walked away at once.
“I understand what you mean, Ben. The whole town talks about him”, said the reverend.
When the Cartwrights wanted to go home they couldn’t find Simon anywhere.
“I thought that he was with you”, Ben said to his sons.
“He was with you, wasn't he?”, asked Hoss.
“Yes, but he walked away later on. I assumed that he went to you. Simon is a hopeless case. Let’s see if he is at the ranch is”, said Ben.
They rode back home but there was no Simon Fowler and his horse wasn’t in the corral either. No one could suspect that the boy was kidnapped and being held by the foreman.
Josh walked around Simon and said grinning, “Soon you will be dead and no one will suspect me of doing it. They rather suspect you than me.”
“I am innocent. Pa and ma were already dead when I came home from school”, Simon yelled angry.
This reaction made the foreman so angry that he almost hit the boy to death. Simon got up and ran away.
“Stay here little killer”, Josh said very angry.
Simon turned around , looked into his eyes and said, “You have killed them!”
The following moment the boy ran outside and he mounted don his horse. Josh did the same thing. Simon rode in the direction of town but didn’t just make it in time. Near the edge of Virginia City pakte Josh got his rifle and he shot the horse of Simon dead. The boy fell on the ground and remained lying on the ground.
“So, he is a goner”, Josh said laughing.
He rode to him. Simon laid lifeless so Josh went to the sheriff.
“Sheriff, Simon Fowler tried to kill me. I was just a bit faster”, the foreman said to Roy and Clem.
They knew that Simon was innocent and Roy asked, “Where is Simon Fowler?”
“I left behind at the edge of town. Can I go now that I have told it?”, asked Josh.
“Not yet Kendall. I will get him”, Clem said who felt wetness.
Roy nodded and went to question the foreman. Clem went away and found the young outlaw who slowly woke up.
“Simon, everything alright?”, asked the deputy.
“No, Josh shot my horse dead. He kidnapped me after church and almost beat me to death. Here after I fled away”, Simon said a bit upset.
“He came to announce us that you have tried to kill him. As soon as he is away we make an arrangement for your safety. Can you stand?”, asked the deputy.
With a lot of difficulty Simon got up and he went to Virginia City with Clem.
The deputy and Simon stopped in front of the Silver Dollar Saloon. They dismounted and walked into the drinking place.
“Sam, keep this lad here as long as possible or until a Cartwright comes”, Clem said to the bartender.
“Alright Clem”, said the bartender.
When the deputy was away Simon asked, “What must I do?”
“Let’s see. Collect the empty glasses from the empty tables”, answered Sam.
Simon worked very hard to the satisfaction of Sam. Half way the afternoon Simon suddenly got a push in his back. He fell on the ground and the glasses broke. Some splinters ended up in his face.
“Get up Fowler. Or have you lost your nerve?”, Josh asked challenging.
Simon looked up and and said, “’Coward!”
He shouldn’t have said that because the foreman picked him up and hit him hard. The boy had no single chance against Josh who took advantage of that. Simon knew that no one would defend him. As a gift form heaven the Cartwright brothers went to pay a visit to the Silver Dollar Saloon. Already by entrance they saw something of the fight.
“Hoss, Joe, that is Simon. Come on”, Adam said directly.
They pushed everyone aside to the front and saw their stable boy beating up by Josh Kendall. Adam gave Hoss an approving nod which was a sign to step in.
Hoss went to Josh and said calm, “How can you do that to a nine year old boy? You must take someone of your own height and age, not a little boy.”
By this reaction Josh lost his concentration for a second ad he left Simon alone. Hereby Simon fell on the ground. Adam and Little Joe went to him.
“Joe, go get Doc right now”, Adam said who saw that the boy was heavily injured by his eyes and ankle.
In the meantime Hoss gave Josh a treatment like that never had happened. Meanwhile Adam took Simon out of the saloon.
Outside Simon asked, “Will everything alright with me now?”
“I think so. The sheriff wants to hear your version. Don’t you worry because I stay by your side”, Adam said calm.
Simon felt much better despite the injuries. The sheriff and the deputy had heard the noise and came to. Clem went to occupy himself with Simon.
“Simon, can you come with me?”, asked the deputy.
“I can’t even walk or see”,the boy protested fiercer than he actually meant.
Adam took Clem aside and asked, “Josh beat Simon up before my younger brother does the same to him right now. Can doc have him first?”
“I understand it. He has beaten you up well boy”, Clem said while he looked at the boy.
“He has killed my foster parents to get the ranch that way. Now I am homeless again ”, said Simon.
Adam and Clem noticed how desperate the boy was.
“Simon, you can always live with us and work as a stable boy. I think that pa won’t object to it”, Adam tried to say to him but Simon didn’t believe him.
Meanwhile Little Joe and Paul Martin had arrived.
“Let me see your ankle. That doesn’t look good. I want that you come with me. In my practice I can take care of you”, said Paul.
Simon got up wit the support of Adam and limped to the practice of Paul Martin.
In the meantime after the fight Hoss said to the sheriff, “Roy, arrest this scum right away. He tried to beat up Simon. Simon is innocent concerning the murder at Tom and Paula Morrison.”
“Will do Hoss. Kendall, you are arrested for murder and attempt to murder. Come on”, the sheriff said to the foreman who didn’t have much talk anymore.
Little Joe walked to his brother and said, “You are probably very thirsty of this chore, aren’t you? Come, then I buy you a drink.”
“Good idea of you Joe. Where are Adam and Simon?”, asked Hoss asked while they walked to the bar like nothing had happened.
“Simon is with Doc Martin and Clem wanted to see him as well. Adam is there for moral support. I think we have a stable boy in the crew”, was the answer of Little Joe.
“That is our brother Adam. Always good for moral support”, Hoss reacted laughing.
After Simon was treated medically he gave his statement to the sheriff. Also by the confession of Josh Simon got believed this time.
“Simon, you go now back to the Ponderosa. There you stay from now on. Adam, are you taking him along with your brothers?”, asked Roy.
“Will do. Are you coming Simon?”, asked Adam.
He grabbed the hand of Simon to go home. The boy got up and walked along with him. The young outlaw couldn’t see anything because both his eyes were wrapped up in bandages. Simon got a new horse and went with the brothers to the ranch. The closer they came to the ranch the more worried Simon became for the reaction of Ben Cartwright.
They noticed that and Adam said, “If you tell what had happened pa really will understand.”
“He will listen to my story but then send me away for good”, Simon claimed.
“Pa won’t send someone away without a good reason. So you neither”, Hoss said calm.
But this didn’t help either for Simon to make him feel better.
At the Ponderosa Ben began to get very worried abut the place of abode of Simon Fowler. The boy wasn’t used to listen to grown-ups which brought him into trouble a lot. When his sons kept staying away he decided to ride towards them.
“Look, there is pa. He probably wondered where we were”, Hoss said laughing.
“How can I look when I can’t see nothing?”, was the remark of Simon.
The brothers laughed about this remark.
They stopped by Ben who asked, “So you thought about your father for once?”
“Sorry that it took so long but we have a good reason for it. Simon has a lot to tell”, said Adam.
Ben said while he looked at Simon, “I can almost guess what has happened to you. At home I wanna hear everything.”
“Alright but won’t you send me away then Mr Cartwright?”, Simon asked worried.
“I only send someone away when I have found a good reason for that. I think that you have that”, answered the rancher.
They rode to the ranch where Ben helped Simon off his horse. The rancher took the boy by the hand and they went inside. In the living room Simon told everything.
Ben heard everything and said then, “You keep on living and working here as a stable boy. You sleep in your old room.”
“Must I start tomorrow?”, the boy asked somehow relieved.
“No, first you will have to recover from your injuries. Deal Simon?”, asked the rancher.
Simon nodded and let notice that he was tired. Shortly he went to bed.
After two weeks completely bed rest Simon was recovered. He had calmed down but still his criminal past kept on hunting him time after time. The hands left him alone except behalve foreman Jerry Malone. Jerry had the job to keep Simon assignments at the yard. The Cartwrights became more fond of Simon and it was the other way around too. Though sometimes he lost track. But by the hard hand of Ben the boy found the right track again. Simon kept silent when it concerned his problems.
By his behavior Simon noticed that nobody liked and ignored him. At a certain moment he decided to go away from Virginia City and Nevada in the middle of the night. When in the ranch house everything was quiet the boy sneaked downstairs. Though he hadn’t counted on Hoss who was in the kitchen for a midnight snack.
Simon was almost outside when Hoss asked him very amazed, “Simon, what is the matter? Mustn’t you sleep?”
“I am leaving Nevada. Nobody likes me. Why should I actually stay then?”, Simon asked on his turn.
He really didn’t see no way out anymore.
Hoss noticed that and said, “You only have had bad luck in your life.”
“That will stay that way too. I wish I never was born”, the boy answered depressed.
He looked ahead of him without saying anything.
Hoss said, “Try to talk about it to pa or Adam tomorrow.”
“It doesn’t help anyway. Your pa will give me another sermon again. I go away”, was the reaction of Simon.
He walked to the front door and went away. Hoss watched him go shaking his head but didn’t go into action. At the corral Simon got his horse and put his saddle bags on it. Here after he mounted on. Before he left the yard the young outlaw threw one last look at the Ponderosa. Then he gave his horse the spurs. After Simon had made a few miles he went to ride more quite so that he could think about everything. Simon came to the final conclusion that he had it quite well with the Cartwrights and that he needed very much help to lead a normal life. The boy turned his horse and rode back to the ranch. It started to become light already when Simon rode upon the yard. He knew that he had to answer a lot of of questions but he took that into the bargain. Simon put his horse in the corral and walked hesitating to the ranch house. He swallowed a few times and knocked then at th door. Ben answered and was very amazed to see Simon.
“Mr Cartwright, can we talk?”, Simon asked shy.
The rancher nodded and said, “Just come with me to my office.”
The boy followed him inside.
Ben indicated Simon to sit down and said, “Start with your story boy.”
“Well, my whole life I have been on the run. Here I noticed that I never had a home. I now that Tom and Paula were good for me but they had troubles by my arrival. Everywhere I come I cause troubles for others and myself”, Simon said hesitating.
“Tom and Paula already had problems before you came here. It is your problem in case you think that. I hire you as a stable boy and you shall live here in the house. I know it is difficult for you but we help you with it. Deal Simon?”, Ben asked looking at him seriously.
“Deal Mr Cartwright”, Simon said calm.
“Go unpack your saddle bags and then eat your breakfast”, the rancher ordered.
Simon got up and did what he had to do.
When Simon was upstairs Ben said to his sons, “Simon thinks that he causes trouble everywhere. I count on it that you talk him out of that. It will be difficult but I hope you will succeed.”
“We will keep him so busy that he can’t even think about it. Is there no possibility for him to request amnesty? Maybe then he can deal with his past”, was the proposal of Adam.
“I will go and find out about it. Don’t tell him nothing yet about amnesty”, the rancher said calm.
At that moment kwam Simon came downstairs again and he saw the faces of the Cartwrights but didn't ask any further. He would find out one way or another. Quickly he went to ea this breakfast and then to do his work. The young outlaw felt much better now Ben Cartwright knew about his problems.
When the case of Josh Kendall was due in court Simon had to testify. He didn’t feel like doing. Though he still did it. Ben and Adam had come with him for moral support.
After Simon had given his testimony said judge Franklin, “Hereby Josh Kendall gets convicted to the gallows till death follows. This case is closed.”
Josh got dragged away by the deputy.
The sheriff came to Ben and asked, “Ben, can I see you for a moment?”
“Sure Roy. Adam and Simon, wait for me outside”, said the rancher.
The couple went outside.
Roy asked Ben, “The governor has approved the request of Simon for amnesty. Only, there is one thing missing. The date of birth of Simon. You don’t know it either, do you?”
“No, he rather keeps silent about it. I can understand it but he should know it”, said Ben.
The sheriff agreed with it.
“As soon as I have the papers Simon gets them. Is he staying with you at the ranch?”, he asked.
“Yes for the time being but I notice that he wants to go back to school. He is also very intelligent. Maybe he will become a lawyer”, was the reaction of Ben.
He went outside where Adam and Simon waited for him.
A few weeks later Simon behaved very remarkable. It was very busy at the ranch. Nobody had time to care about him.
During a break Jerry asked him, “Is there something Simon? Everything is solved now, isn’t it?”
“Nobody has time for me. I go back to work again”, Simon said careless.
He walked away. Jerry watched him go shaking his head. Constantly Simon looked around him to see if nobody was watching him. When that wasn’t so he grabbed his horse and he mounted don. In a quick pace Simon had left the Ponderosa. When he knew for sure that nobody could see him Simon stopped with riding. He dismounted and went to sit against a fallen down tree.
He said softly to himself, “They won’t see me anymore. Today is my birthday and nobody has thought about it. Not even Adam!”
He went to lie on the ground sobbing and after a while he fell asleep.
At the ranch Jerry saw that the stable boy was gone.
He went inside and said to the rancher, “Simon is gone. He was very quiet today.”
“Is there something with him? Adam, go search him with your brothers”, said Ben.
The brothers went away. Soon they had found him. They dismounted and Adam woke him up.
“Simon, are your chores finished at the ranch?”, asked Adam.
“No, why? It doesn’t matter if I am there or not. You only think about yourself”, Simon said fierce.
“Is there something that you went away without telling?”, asked Little Joe.
“No”, the boy said short.
They noticed there was something.
“Why are your birthdays get celebrated but not mine?”, Simon asked suddenly.
“Is it your birthday today? Then you should have said that. We didn’t know that. Are you coming?”, asked Hoss.
The boy nodded, got up and mounted and just like the three brothers.
In the living room Simon said, “Mr Cartwright, Jerry, I am sorry that I ran away. It is today my tenth birthday but nobody ever paid attention to it.”
“It is alright. Simon, you finish your chores and after that you go to your room until I come to get you”, said Ben.
Simon went to work.
The rancher said to the others, “This is for him very important. You make sure that he gets a saddle. It is not good to ride without a saddle.”
“Alright pa”, Adam said on behalf of his two brothers.
They went away.
Ben said to his cook, “Hop Sing, can you make a cake? Simon is having his birthday.”
“Hop Sing make nice cake for birthday stable boy”, answered Hop Sing.
Ben went to his office and read the amnesty papers for Simon Fowler. His sons didn’t now about this neither. The rancher did the papers in a yellow envelope and wrote on the front, “For Simon Fowler.”
Simon stayed in his room until Ben came to get him for supper. The boy noticed that something was going on but didn’t ask about it. During supper Simon was notably silent.
“Don’t you have anything to tell Simon?”, Ben asked at a certain moment.
The boy looked up amazed and shook of no.
“Well, I think that you are totally speechless when you have read this”, said the rancher.
He gave Simon the yellow envelope. Amazed Simon opened the envelope and he got the file out.
He read it and asked, “Does this mean that I am free from my outlaw past?”
“Yes, indeed. Adam knew that it was bothering you o I decided to arrange amnesty in your name. Satisfied?”, Ben asked on his turn.
“We also have something for you Simon”, said Adam.
He got the new saddle. Simon was indeed speechless by the unexpected attention. Especially when Hop Sing came in with the cake. The Cartwrights noticed that Simon was prepared to start a new life.
That evening Simon sat outside with Ben for a moment
Suddenly the boy said to his employer, “Mr Cartwright, if you have no objections to it I go back to school. Then I can study on for a profession so that I can lead a normal life.”
“I have no objections to that at all. I will support you as much as possible. I know for sure that you will make it in the future. You are a fighter”, said the rancher.
Simon hardly could deny that. Now he could make a new start and was determined to make a success of it. The Cartwrights would help him with that.