starlite023

Missing Pieces

Written by: Starlite

Today was a good day, the man thought as he rode out of Virginia City onto the dusty road that would take him home. He'd had the fortune of going into town to pick up the mail that day and was rewarded by an eagerly awaited package. The package contained his gift to his father for his father's fiftieth birthday, which was still almost a month away. Pleased at his exceptional good fortune, that not only had his gift arrived early, it had turned out better than he expected. He eagerly looked forward to seeing his father's face when he presented him with it at the party he and his brothers were planning, to celebrate this milestone in his father's life.

While in town, he had even treated himself to a haircut and a shave. He wouldn't want his father on his case over having his hair too long. Not that he ever let his hair get that way as far as he was concerned.

Taking a deep inhale of air, the man raised his head and took note of the clouds on the horizon.

"Looks like rain," he said to no one in particular, "Guess we better not dawdle or we're gonna get wet." Reaching out he patted the neck of his horse.

Figuring if he increased his pace and with any luck he might be able to make it to the ranch house without getting soaked. The man turned in the saddle to check and ensure that the contents of the packages were secured his saddlebags.

Looking back to the horizon, he decided to not take any chances and withdrew the velvet pouch that held his father's gift from his coat pocket. Opening the right saddlebag he slipped the gift into the pouch before closing the flap and buckling it into place. His head jerked sharply upwards as he heard a crack of thunder roll across the sky.

               ***************

Slowly and methodically the silver-haired man dressed, trying to concentrate on the task at hand and push aside the memory that haunted his every waking and sleeping thought. He felt so incredibly old and tired. His hands felt stiff and he fumbled with the simple task of buttoning his shirt.

As he had every moment for over the last three weeks he tried to convince himself that everything was as it always had been. He tried to reassure himself that all three of his sons were down at the breakfast table, squabbling over some insignificant issue or who would do what chore. Last night's dream was just that, a dream, a horrible nightmare and nothing more, his sons were safe and home and downstairs.

Yes, they were safe, he wished as he picked up his pace and headed from his room and down the hall. Seeing his son's closed door, he stopped momentarily on his way. Closing his eyes and saying a small prayer he opened the door.

His heart sank once more as he took in the familiar surroundings of his son's empty room. The bed was made and hadn't been slept in for weeks. A fine layer of dust now coated the younger man's possessions, somehow frozen in time without the room’s owner.

Ben Cartwright slumped onto his son's bed as his legs failed him. He clutched one of the pillows to his chest and inhaling deeply swore he could smell the boy's cologne. Closing his eyes he could see the young handsome face with twinkling eyes and heartwarming smile. What he wouldn't give to be able to just hear his son's voice once more. Overcome with grief and despair, he buried his head in the pillow as tears streamed down his face.

*************

Ben Cartwright's sons looked up from their breakfast plates as they heard the heavy footfalls slowly descend the stairs. They glanced first at their father then back across the table at the other. Both men took note of their father's appearance and demeanor then shook their heads in desperation. Their father seemed even slower and more withdrawn today, as if that were possible. Everyday since the disappearance they'd watched as their father slowly but surely sunk into a deep depression for which they knew no cure.

The older brother looked down at his plate, then pushed it away unfinished. He had no real appetite and couldn't really remember the last time he did. The other son turned pleading eyes to his brother hoping that there was some way maybe he could reach their father.

Crossing the room without really seeing, Ben Cartwright stumbled into the dining area, glancing sadly towards the vacant chair before settling himself into his own. Lost in a trance, he paid no attention to the oriental cook who appeared at his elbow to pour his morning cup of coffee.

"Morning Mista Cartlight," Hop Sing greeted the master of the household, he had pasted his best smile on his face in the hopes of raising his employer's spirits.

Ben Cartwright continued to stare at the unoccupied chair at the table. Not even noticing the man with the long braid serving him his breakfast.

Hop Sing missed the old Ben Cartwright he had known for many years. He decided that he preferred the one who yelled all the time to this one who wouldn't speak.
Turning his head to look in the same direction, Hop Sing shook his head sadly as he began to mutter silently in Chinese before heading back to the kitchen.

"Pa."

Lost in a trance, Ben didn't even notice that one of his sons had addressed him. When their father hadn't responded, both of their sons looked over to him in concern.

"Pa!" His son tried speaking louder and placing his hand onto his father's arm.

"Hum, yes son?"

"Pa, why don’t cha come with us today instead of riding into town? We sure could use your help."

"Yeah, Pa. We really need another hand with moving the cattle down to the winter pasture."

"Ah, no sons. I've things to do, I need to go into town." Ben responded mumbling and almost incoherent.

A few weeks ago, had they even suggested their father join them instead of his daily trip to Virginia City, he would have shouted at them in defiance and outrage, now he was so lost in deep despair. Neither man was sure if they preferred the Ben Cartwright from a few weeks ago or the one they saw sitting at the table with them now. All they knew for certain was they wanted the Ben Cartwright back that they had always known, the strong confident man they knew as their father.

The man that sat before them was merely a shadow of the man they had known their entire lives. Ben Cartwright was drowning in depression and his sons knew of no way to save him.

Not able to bear the look of immense sorrow displayed upon their father's face anymore, they turned their attention once again to their own plates and toyed with the food they found there.

As had become the daily ritual, both sons stayed by their father's side while he pretended to eat, then drank a cup of coffee before he would head out to the barn to saddle his horse and depart the Ponderosa for the long and unfulfilling ride into town.

**************

Roy Coffee glanced up to the clock on the wall. Soon Ben Cartwright would arrive as he had done everyday for over the last three weeks. You could almost set your watch by him, Roy thought sadly to himself. He knew his friend would ask him the same old questions and make the same old inquiries around town, for which there were no new answers. His son was gone, disappeared right off the face of the earth as though he'd never existed.

Finding answers was a difficult task from the beginning. The town had been full of strangers that day. There had been drifters, gamblers, out of work miners, ranch hands moving south for the winter and even a wagon train headed westward before the first snows. There were leads everywhere and Roy did his best to follow all of them, but everyone he followed led to the same conclusion - no one knew what had happened to Ben Cartwright's son.

Now Roy watched as a once proud and vibrant man, rapidly age before his eyes. With each coming day he wondered how much longer the man he called a friend, could go on with such overwhelming grief before he fell ill due to depression and despair.

Looking across the room Sheriff Coffee rose and headed to the small wood stove in the corner to make a fresh pot of coffee. He knew with the chill in the air, that his friend would welcome the warm drink. Completing his task, he proceeded to the door to await Ben Cartwright's arrival.

Just as the coffee began to boil he stepped out onto the front stoop of the jail, and greeted his friend as he dismounted his horse. Roy Coffee was a little shocked to watch as Ben Cartwright almost stumbled from the saddle.

"Afternoon Ben." Roy Coffee greeted the other man as cheerfully as he could muster.

"Roy. Any news?" Ben Cartwright inquired mournfully with just a small air of hope.

Roy hated to perform this dreaded task; this had to be one of the worst parts of his job. He thought informing a family member that a loved one was dead was dreadful. But at least with death, there was closure and healing. This torture Ben Cartwright was enduring was a large open wound that might never heal.

Sadly, the sheriff of Virginia City shook his head in response.

"Nothing new today Ben, I'm rightly sorry."

"Yes, yes, I know Roy." Ben mumbled as he stumbled up the stairs to the porch of the jailhouse.

"Come on in Ben, I've got some fresh coffee on the stove and ya sure look like ya could use a cup." Roy gave a small sad smile and took his friend inside and sat him down in a chair near the stove.

Leaving his friend to warm himself and gather his emotions about him. Roy went to the stove and took his time pouring two cups of coffee. Turning around he went back to his friend.

"Here ya go Ben," Roy offered and waited until Ben raised his downcast face. He grimaced when he saw the anguish in the once proud man's face.

Roy Coffee wanted to desperately help his friend through his grief and only knew of one solution - find this man's son. But he was at a lost as to how to accomplish that, which seemed more unobtainable as the days went by.

Ben reached out to take the offered cup of coffee and tipped his head in a small nod of thanks. As soon as Ben received the cup, Roy sat on the edge of the desk in front of him.

"Been to the General Store today?" Roy inquired in a fatherly tone.

Ben nodded morosely in response.

Roy knew Ben had already been to the General Store, but asked anyway. It had become part of the daily ritual between him and Ben Cartwright.

"Nothing new," Ben was almost despondent.

Roy Coffee shook his head sadly in acknowledgement. He knew there was no new information, but he knew of no other way to help his friend except with his support.

The two men sat quietly and drank the warm liquid. In his melancholy, Ben Cartwright never even noticed how hot the liquid was as it slightly burned his tongue.

Roy waited and watched as his friend drank his coffee. Taking a long look down at his own empty cup before cocking his head to the side, he took a deep breath before speaking.

"Ben," Roy studied the man before him and waited until he had his attention.

"Yes Roy."

"Ben, you know ya can't go on like this. This ain't right ya know?"

Ben returned his gaze to the bottom of his cup and the coffee grounds he found there.

"Now you know I'm rightly sorry about whatever's happened to your boy. But this just ain't no good, and you not helping anyone by it." Roy continued, hoping his friend would hear him.

He paused to take a look at the silver haired man sitting in the chair before him. Taking a small breath, he shook his head before starting again knowing what he said next would cut the man to the quick. But it had to be said, and Ben Cartwright needed to hear it.

"He was a fine boy, Ben. A son a father could be proud of. But he's gone, and you have to accept that and get on with your life."

Roy watched as pain filled glassy eyes raised to silently plea with him for release from their torment. Trying to convey strength and assurance to the distraught man, Roy gave him his only piece of advice.

"Go home Ben. Go home. Take care of your ranch and see to your sons. They need you now, there ain't nothing more you can do for your other boy now, just let me handle it."

Ben nodded in acceptance and slowly rose from the chair, handing his empty cup back to the sheriff. Roy watched as the man almost stumbled to the front door.

As the door closed behind Ben Cartwright, Roy Coffee stated to no one in particular. "I'll see ya tomorrow Ben."

               ****************

He awoke on the hard dusty ground with a splitting headache. Shaking his head and stretching to clear the cobwebs that had formed, he took note of where he was. He found himself sitting near the side of the road by the crossroads to Virginia City and the Ponderosa.

Lovely, he thought, must have fallen off my horse. Looking up to the sky he noticed the sun was in the eastern sky and much lower on the horizon then it should be.

"Oh, isn't this special, I've spent the night on the road, Pa is gonna rip me a new one." He muttered to himself. Looking across the road he spotted his trusted steed. "Better get home before Pa misses me at breakfast."

Rising to stand, a sudden wave of dizziness and nausea almost overtook him, which was followed by an immense throbbing of his head. Wincing, he raised his hand and felt the area, which seemed to be the source of his discomfort. He found a rather tender spot near the back of his head but was relieved that he found no blood on his hand after withdrawing it from his head.

Gathering his wits about him and taking a deep breath to settle his stomach, he strode across the road to his horse. After mounting, he turned the animal toward home encouraging the horse into a canter.

               **************

Silence reined in the large house on the Ponderosa. Today was a new day, but it was the same as the day before. It was the same day they had relived for over three weeks. The remaining members of the household only went through the motions of living but with no true spirit.

The three Cartwrights sat once more at the dining room table going through the pretence of the breakfast meal when they heard the sound of footsteps crossing the front porch.

"Who could that be, it's awfully early for callers?"

"Don't know, I'll check." Rising from the table, the younger man headed for the front door. He stopped suddenly as the door swung open before him. Stunned at first, he found himself gawking at the man who stood in the open doorway, before crying out his brother's name.

***************

Roy Coffee checked his pocket watch to confirm the time displayed matched the wall clock. In a little more than an hour he knew his friend would again ride into town. He was almost certain his discussion with Ben the day before was just wasted words. If nothing else, Ben Cartwright was a very determined man, Roy thought mildly amused. Afterall, it was the same thing he’d been saying to him for over a week now with no effect.

Deciding to make his daily rounds before his friend needed his consult, he stacked the papers he had been reading neatly into a pile on the upper corner of his desk. Putting his eyeglasses into his front shirt pocket, he rose from his chair and walked to the door.

Pausing to stand in the doorway of the jail, Roy Coffee glanced down the dusty road and remembered the last time he saw Ben's boy as he rode out of Virginia City towards the Ponderosa. He had run into Ben's son as he exited the General store with several packages in his hand and an excited expression on his face.

"Whatcha got there?" Sheriff Coffee asked, startling the younger man who had been so intent in viewing the contents of the parcels he hadn't even noticed the other man's presence.

"Look at this Roy, it's my gift for Pa for his birthday." The man proudly held out the small object for the Sheriff to see.

"That's right purdy. Is that from you and your brothers?" Roy inquired.

"No, just me."

Now Roy Coffee kept an eye out for the gift, figuring it was either the reason for the man's disappearance, or it would led him to the answers for what he believed was the younger man’s ultimate demise.

The Virginia City sheriff believed there were two possible explanations for young Cartwright's disappearance. One was that that someone must have seen that Cartwright son that day with the present for his Pa, and decided to acquire it and whatever money the man possessed for themselves. The other, was that Ben's boy was the victim of a kidnapping gone bad. All those Cartwright boys were stubborn, hard headed and fiercely independent just like their father and wouldn't take kindly to being held hostage.

Whatever the reason, sooner or later, Roy believed the gift would again make an appearance and would lead him to the answers Ben Cartwright so desperately sought.

Shaking his head sadly, he headed down the bustling street.

               ***************

"ADAM!" Little Joe Cartwright exclaimed rushing forward to hug his brother in a fierce embrace.

Adam Cartwright noticed the rapidly changing looks on his younger brother's face. First it looked like Joe had just seen a ghost; which was replaced by one of immense joy and barely controlled tears before Joe buried his face in his older brother's chest with his arms circling around Adam’s upper torso.

"Nice to see ya too, Joe." Adam responded, more than a little baffled by his younger brother's emotional reaction.

Looking up from his younger brother's head. He saw his father approach. To Adam he seemed much older than he had appeared just yesterday.

With tears streaming down his face Ben Cartwright rushed forward and hugged his son strongly to his chest and kissed the top of his head. Adam was shocked and taken aback at his father's actions, which were even more intense than his younger brother's.

Glancing over his father's shoulder he sought out his other brother's face hoping for some clue as to what was going on. He saw Hoss standing near the corner to the dining room with his hands thrust deeply in his pockets with a tear making its way down one of the cheeks of his large face.

"Welcome home, Adam."

Was all Adam heard the giant of a man utter before he too made his way over to where they stood and placed his arm across his older brother's shoulders in a strong embrace.

To each of them, they felt a need to touch Adam as if reassuring themselves that he was really back among them and that he was real and not a dream. Their actions only confused Adam more.

"Come son, sit down and tell us where you've been." Ben Cartwright instructed as he lead his oldest son over to the settee in front of the fireplace. Totally bewildered, Adam obeyed.

Looking up to his father and brothers’ faces, Adam was uncertain as to what they expected him to tell them. He had never been greeted this way before when he’d only been gone for one night.

"I went into town for the mail." Adam responded honestly and a little hesitantly due to his growing confusion.

"Went into town for the mail!" Little Joe exclaimed. "You've been gone almost a month. Where were you?"

Adam stared at his younger brother. He was not surprised at his younger brother's mercurial disposition, which had quickly changed from elation to anger, but at what his brother had said.

Almost a month, why would Joe say such a thing? Adam wondered. Surely it must be some type of jest his brother was pulling, Adam decided. Looking to his father's face, then to Hoss, he realized it was no joke. In their eyes he saw confirmation of his brother's statement. Totally shocked, somewhat bewildered and feeling lost; Adam didn't know what to say. Shaking his head in confusion, he lowered his gaze to the floor. He found the dull pounding in his head had grown even more intense and his stomach began to churn in protest. Reaching out he placed his hand to the back of his head and muttered.

"I've only been gone a day, I just went to town to get the mail."

           *****************

Reaching the General Store, Roy Coffee leaned against one of the front porch posts and thought once again about the missing Cartwright son. Once more he replayed his last encounter with the younger man, hoping that somewhere he was just missing a clue as to Adam Cartwright's whereabouts.

Roy shook his head and chuckled as he remembered their last conversation.

"That little brother of yours sure is a pistol, ain't much for the cards though."

Adam surmised that Roy was referring to the brawl the sheriff had broken up the day before in the saloon. The one that involved his baby brother over a poker game.

"Ain't that the truth," Adam drawled. "You should've seen him at breakfast this morning, trying to hide that black eye from Pa with his hand."

Adam then recalled the panicked look and stammering that followed when Joe tried to explain how he got the injury over a card game, that he'd lost, as usual, not to mention forgetting to check the mail. Adam had almost choked on his coffee when trying to keep from laughing aloud as his brother let out a small squeak and flinched when their father bellowed his exasperation with his youngest. Well at least he remembered the supplies Adam smirked.

"You know, your father would probably have a little less silver if that one had been a girl."

Adam pensively appraised the suggestion. He even let his mind imagine what his brother would look like and decided that Joe would have been a pretty good-looking young lady. Instead of Joe chasing anything in skirts, he mused, his little 'sister' would be the one chased. Considering all the possibilities, he decided he preferred the task of having to keep Joe out of trouble. It seemed, if at all possible, that it would be an easier task than trying to keep trouble at bay.

"No, I think Little Josephine would be even more trouble than he is now." Adam shook his head and chuckled in response to the sheriff's idea.

Sheriff Coffee joined in the joke as he too realized the validity of Adam Cartwright's statement. Both men shared a laugh over the visual imagery of Little Joe Cartwright as a female.

"Well, I'd best be on my way if I want to make it home before dark." Adam announced and shoved the gift into its velvet pouch before dropping it into his coat pocket. Tearing the wrapping from the other parcel, he shoved the two books under his arm then handed the wrappings to the older man. "Could you get rid of these for me, thanks."

Roy Coffee shook his head and grinned as he watched Adam Cartwright put one book into a saddlebag and mounted his horse with the other still in his hand. He'd lost count how many times he'd seen this man with a book in his hand.

Adam tipped his hat to the sheriff then opened his book turning his horse down the road towards home.

Roy Coffee was abruptly brought back to the present as he watched a reckless rider approach riding at a run atop a painted horse. The rider stopped just in front of the store and yelled down to him.

"He's home, he's come back!"

               ***************

Doc Martin observed the scene before him quietly. Ben Cartwright sat on the arm of the settee next to his long believed lost son. He had one hand resting on the younger man's shoulder as though Adam would disappear if he let go.

To Paul Martin, Adam Cartwright appeared much thinner and paler than he remembered. With each of the sheriff’s questions, the doctor watched as Adam grew even more quiet and withdrawn. The doctor could tell that Adam just didn't know what had happened to him.

"Adam, can ya tell me what ya can remember?" The Virginia City sheriff inquired patiently.

Shaking his head, Adam answered quietly while studying the long thin fingers of his slightly trembling hands.

"I went to town to get the mail."

"But boy, that was more than three weeks ago." Roy added gently, hoping to draw more out of the man.

Adam wanted to shout back at the man that he just didn’t know, but took a deep calming breath before attempting to answer. Shrugging his shoulders, he shook his head then looked up to the man who was warming himself in front of the fireplace. Before he could respond, his youngest sibling intervened.

"Come on Adam, tell us where you've been. You've got to remember something." Joe interrupted. His patience was beginning to wear thin with his older brother’s lack of explanation for his whereabouts.

"Hush, now Joe. This ain't none of your affair." Hoss chastised his younger brother.

"Not my affair! Older brother here goes off on a holiday for almost a month, then comes back acting and saying he's been gone only a day and we're just supposed to understand and accept it!"

"That's enough Joseph!" Ben Cartwright shouted. He knew that Joe didn't really mean what he was saying. The anger Joe was displaying was just from the same frustration and confusion they all were feeling over the entire situation.

Ben felt his son's shoulder slump lower as Adam began to accept the fact that over three weeks of his life were unaccounted for. Ben watched as his son raised his right hand to his face and pinched the bridge of his nose with his index finger and thumb. It was one of Adam’s regular habits when he was frustrated or troubled.

"I don't know. I just don't know." Adam quietly mumbled as he sought out his father's face for reassurance.

Ben quietly nodded his head back at his son, his eyes showing his acceptance of his son's answer as the truth. He felt his heart cringe as he realized how lost and confused his son appeared. His son was always a very confident individual who was always in control of every aspect of his life. How horrifying it must be for Adam to now find himself in this situation. For him, he could only be ecstatic; his son was home and was safe which was all that mattered.

Adam's head felt as though it would explode and again raised his hand to rub at the tender spot on the back of his head.

Paul Martin noticed the action and moved forward to check the younger man's head.

"That's enough for now. Adam do you mind if I take a quick look at you?" The doctor inquired as he moved to stand over the dark haired man.

Adam offered no response so the doctor tipped his chin upwards and peered deeply into each one of Adam's bewildered eyes. Pursing his lips in thought, Dr Martin gently moved Adam's hand away from his head. Turning Adam's head slightly to the left, he ran his fingers through Adam's hair on the right side of his skull and noticed as Adam winced.

Peering closer, the doctor found what he was looking for. Along the right side of Adam's head starting just above the hairline at the base of the skull and running upward almost to his right ear was a scar. The recent wound was healed and well concealed by Adam's thick black wavy hair.

               *************

It had been almost an hour since Doc Martin had disappeared upstairs with Adam in tow. Ben Cartwright found himself wearing a path in the rug as he paced the large room downstairs.

Roy Coffee had asked to look at Adam's coat and saddlebags, but for what reason only the sheriff knew. Whatever he sought, he hadn't found it. All that appeared were two new books that Adam had received the day he disappeared. Roy put the books back where he found them in the saddlebags and Joe placed the bags into the side cabinet near the front door where they kept their guns.

Hoss had quietly excused himself from the room to take care of Adam's horse and had only returned when the doctor appeared on the stairs.

"How is he?" Ben questioned anxiously as he saw the doctor descend the stairs.

"He's gonna be fine Ben. I've given him something to make him sleep and he's resting. I expect that he'll sleep until sometime this evening." The doctor assured his friend.

"Why don't you sit down, all of you." Paul Martin instructed gesturing to the men standing about the room and then to the settee and chairs in the room.

Doc Martin would wait until everyone was seated and watched as Ben Cartwright headed to his red leather chair and sat down quickly. Hoss took a seat on the hearth in front of the fireplace, as Roy Coffee sat on the settee with Joe Cartwright perched on the corner of the table in front. He felt a little awkward as everyone stared up intently at him, clearing his throat he proceeded.

"Adam has suffered a severe blow to the head, which fractured his skull." Paul Martin heard the gasp of Adam's father and held up his hand to stall any questions that were forthcoming from the men seated before him. "I'm not exactly sure what caused it, but it appears to be a gun shot wound."

"A gun shot wound? Adam's been shot?" Hoss exclaimed in disbelief.

"I said it looks like a gun shot wound. The wound itself has healed nicely and it appears that whoever took care of him did an exceptional job."

"Whoever took care of him? Doesn’t he know who it was?" Ben inquired. His mind was still reeling from the doctor’s diagnosis. He would like to thank them personally for helping his son.

"No he doesn't know Ben, we may never know who it was."

"What, you're losing me here Doc?" Roy Coffee chimed in, exasperated with the turn of events. "First you say that Adam was shot, maybe. Then you claim that someone took care of him, but he doesn’t know who. And to top that off, Adam only thinks he went to town for the mail and has only been gone a day?"

Paul Martin nodded his head in response and once again held up his hand to hold off anymore questions. Clearing his throat once more, he tried to clarify what he'd been trying to tell them while still attempting to answer everyone's unspoken questions.

"From what I can tell, Adam has suffered a serious traumatic injury to his head. That injury probably left him unconscious and quite possibly in a coma. That's why he doesn't remember the lost of time, and only thinks he's been gone one day. As far as who took care of him and why? I don't know and with him being unconscious he doesn't know either. All I know is that he would've needed to have help in his condition to survive."

"Could he remember in time?" Joe questioned as he looked down at his hands. He was feeling guilty for his earlier outburst of anger at his brother.

"Maybe, maybe not. I think he might have already told us everything he can about what happened."

Ben Cartwright closed his eyes and took a deep breath before asking, "What can we do to help him?"

Paul Martin smiled to offer reassurance to his old friend.

"Just give him time, don't push and he'll be fine. If he remembers anything, all well and good, if he doesn't…" Doc Martin shrugged in response. "He's pretty upset and confused right now so just give him time and understanding so he doesn't suffer a relapse."

"We can do that, right Pa? We'll take right good care of him." Hoss offered. All he heard was that his older brother was going to be okay and to Hoss that was all that mattered.

Ben Cartwright let out a large sigh of relief and patted his big son's hand. Glancing skyward he gave a silent prayer of thanks to his Maker before looking back across the room to the doctor.

"Thank you, Paul."

"You're welcome Ben. But I didn't have anything to do with it. Just be thankful your son has such a hard head."

"And I never thought his New England Yankee Granite Head was good for nothing." Joe stated meekly.

Ben shot his youngest boy a look of exasperation before breaking out into a large smile as Hoss joined in with laughter on the private family joke.

               ***************

After Paul Martin and Roy Coffee departed the Ponderosa, Ben Cartwright spent the afternoon sitting at his son's bedside watching him sleep. Slowly, he felt a tremendous burden lift from his shoulders with each breath his son took. He fought the urge to reach out and touch his son occasionally for fear he might awaken. For now, it was sufficient to just be near his oldest boy.

Hoss and Joe had stayed around the ranch house as well instead of going out to help move the cattle down to the winter pasture. Neither one wanted to stray very far from the house now that their brother had returned home.

Adam awoke in the early evening to find his father sitting at his bedside. He was unable to look at his father's face. Instead he decided to study the pattern of the quilt that covered him. Adam was feeling more than a little guilty at what heartache his disappearance must have put his father and brothers through.

"You hungry son?" Ben asked gently when he noticed that Adam was now awake.

Adam nodded, but continued to stare at his quilt as he tugged gently at a loose thread.

Ben reached out and placed his hand on his son's right shoulder giving a gentle squeeze as he rose from the chair. He stopped to face his son when he heard Adam speak.

"Pa?"

"Yes son," Ben looked down and saw Adam's still downcast face.

"I'm sorry Pa." Adam felt he owed his father an apology for all the pain his unexplainable absence must have caused. He had seen the anguish upon his father and brothers' faces when he walked into the house that morning.

"There's nothing to be sorry about Adam." Ben expected this reaction from his son and hoped that he could make Adam understand.

"Yes there is, I've hurt you and made you worry, not to mention, Hoss and Joe. I don't know what else to say, I never meant for this to happen, I just don't know..."

"I know you didn't son. Didn't Paul explain what happened to you?"

Adam quietly nodded in response, somehow the doctor's explanation still wasn't enough to erase guilt that he was feeling.

To Ben, watching Adam struggle with his conscience, he was reminded of a very small boy confessing for some wrong doing and now waiting for his punishment. He never had the heart to be too hard with this child, as Adam was always hard enough on himself.

"Look at me son." Ben waited for his son to look up and meet his gaze.

"All that matters now, is that you're home and you're going to be fine. Whatever else isn't important."

Looking into his father's dark eyes, Adam knew he'd been forgiven.

               *****************

Adam hazily awoke to what he believed was the sound of people talking. The words came from voices he didn't recognize yet were vaguely familiar. What was said didn't make sense either. Startled, he quickly forced himself totally awake only to find himself alone in the early dawn of his own room.

Shaken and unable to go back to sleep, he decided to get up. He had a lot of catching up to do. Climbing out of bed, he went to the washstand where he saw the face of a very gaunt and hollowed-eyed apparition of himself staring back. After shaving and washing, the realization of his ordeal finally sunk in, as he dressed and found his clothes hanging limply about his body.

Ben Cartwright awoke feeling the best he had in ages. Today was his birthday, his son was home and his family was whole once more. Dressing quickly, he began to head down for breakfast.

Reaching his oldest son's door, he was overcome with a sense of panic as he realized the door was tightly shut.

What if his son was still missing? Maybe it was just a dream and his son was really gone? Frantically and without knocking, he swung open the door to his son's room.

His heart skipped a beat when he saw his son's bed empty and the bed hastily made. A cold hand of panic gripped his stomach as fear began to creep over him. The feeling suddenly passed when he heard voices coming from the room downstairs.

Quickly, he turned and made his way down the hall and to the stairs where he found his sons, all three of his sons, sitting at the breakfast table. He was overjoyed and his heart swelled with pride finding them all together once more.

Walking past his oldest son, he reached out to place a hand on Adam's shoulder before taking his seat at the head of the table. Adam had noticed his brothers making the same gesture as each one joined him at the breakfast table. Even the family’s Chinese cook, Hop Sing, hovered nearby all morning insuring that he had whatever he needed including his favorite foods.

No one noticed that Adam was up early that day, as it had always been his normal habit to get up with the dawn. Adam still was uncertain as to what day it was, and needed to check with his two brothers on the status of their father's birthday party and plans. He was disappointed, but not surprised that given the circumstances of the past weeks, his brothers had cancelled the celebration.

What he was shocked to discover was that today was his father's birthday, and his gift hadn't arrived. Or at least, neither Hoss nor Joe knew of any package for him from Boston.

"So Pa, you joining Roy and Paul in town for lunch?" Hoss asked shoving a forkful of eggs into his mouth. Now that his brother had returned so had his appetite.

"Well, I hadn't planned to." Ben responded trying to conceal his glance across the table at Adam.

"Why not, you three always get together for lunch on your birthdays?" Joe added, then looked across the table at Hoss. Meeting his brother's gaze, both younger sons stole quick glances out of the corners of their eyes toward their older brother.

Adam purposefully kept his eyes on his plate. He knew they were stealing glances at him. Looking up, Adam surveyed each member of his family before clearing his throat to speak.

"Go to town Pa and have lunch with your friends. I promise I won't run off and join the circus." Adam stated with a droll voice, with his left eyebrow raised as a pointed gesture to his father.

Ben chuckled in spite of himself. He had really missed his son's dry sarcastic wit. Both Hoss and Little Joe joined in on the laughter. It was good to hear their father happy again.

"Yeah, don't worry Pa. We'll keep him out of trouble." Joe offered.

"Now why doesn't that give me a warm and fuzzy feeling." Ben scoffed, his tone dripping with the same sarcasm exhibited earlier by his oldest son.

           *******************

With a little more prodding and encouragement from his sons, Ben Cartwright reluctantly mounted Buck and headed to Virginia City to meet his friends at the International House for his birthday lunch. Adam waved to his father as he saw him look back at him again for the third time in as many minutes. He thought back to breakfast that morning and worried that his father might not ever trust him again, he wondered if his family felt he needed a keeper.

Though the doctor had explained the situation to him and his family, he still felt something was missing. He had so many questions, and nobody to look to for the answers. The nagging feeling left him frustrated and doubtful, and with his family stealing glances and touches at every opportunity, only made him more uncertain.

Shaking his head and turning around to walk back to the house, he felt a large arm drape across his shoulders with another hand grasping him on the nape of his neck.

Adam looked over to the larger man who was his little brother. Hoss's eyes reflected an understanding and reassurance, which Adam sought desperately. Leave it to his kind-hearted brother to understand what he was feeling. Adam watched as the blue eyes began to twinkle with amusement as a grin formed on Hoss’s face.

Glancing to his other side, he found his youngest brother grinning from ear to ear, though he found Joe’s smile infectious, Adam knew that look meant trouble.

"Guess what Adam, we got just the thing for you to do." Joe smirked.

Adam stopped in his tracks but found his body still being moved forward by Hoss's strength.

"Yep, something that Pa would really appreciate." Hoss added, with his own tooth-gapped smile.

Looking from one to the other, Adam began to feel a little nervous. He knew his brothers were up to something, and whatever it was, it couldn't be good.

"What?" Adam asked hesitantly, looking for a quick exit before they made him muck out the stalls in the barn.

"The Books!" Hoss and Joe exclaimed in unison as they dragged their older brother into the house.

Within minutes and after just a modicum of protest for effect, Adam found himself working on a stack of ledgers. All of the books were terribly out of date and had not been worked on in weeks. At first, he couldn't believe his father had let this side of things get so out of hand. Then remembering why, he decided he understood.

Joe and Hoss left their brother to the task they thought him well suited for that day. Their father had asked that they keep his mind occupied and what better way then tallying numbers. They left their brother to his dreaded ordeal and went outside to handle the more strenuous chores.

Completing the last ledger, Adam sighed with satisfaction and looked across the room to where his brothers had placed their birthday gifts to their father. Getting up from the desk he walked over to where they sat near the fireplace. He ran his hand across the finely tooled leather of the saddle that Hoss was giving to their Pa, and used the cuff on his shirt to polish the silver 'C' on the stock of the rifle from Joe. He felt a twinge of regret that his gift was not among them.

Suddenly feeling the urge to get out of the house. Adam strode over to the door and grabbed his hat, gun belt and coat and headed out of the house across the porch and over to the barn.

Joe watched as his brother purposely walked across the yard and into the barn. He was curious as to where his brother was intending to go. He still had his suspicions that there was more to Adam's story than he was telling, but he was unable to explain why which made him feel guilty that he didn't trust his oldest brother.

Joe was still staring at the open door of the barn when Hoss walked up and startled him.

"Whatcha staring at, short shanks. That ain't gonna get that wood chopped."

"Older brother." Joe retorted his eyes flashing in anger as he jerked his head toward the barn.

"Adam? What's he doing in the barn?"

As the question left Hoss's lips, Adam pulled a now saddled Sport out of the barn, mounted and quickly rode away.

Joe started to walk toward the barn as Adam departed. Hoss grabbed his arm to hold him back.

"Dadburnit Joe, just where do ya think your going?"

"I'm going to follow him!" Joe responded angrily pulling his arm free, then added as an after thought to placate his older brother. "I know Pa will want us to keep an eye on him."

Shaking his head, Hoss knew there was more to this than what Joe was saying. Wanting to keep peace between his brothers Hoss followed Little Joe into the barn to saddle his horse.

               *****************

Adam had managed to put some distance between him and his brothers before they had a chance to go after him. He had decided he would go to the spot where he'd awaken the day before. He wanted to see if he could just remember something, anything to explain what had happened to him.

By the time that Hoss and Little Joe had their horses saddled, Adam had managed to get out of their sight. Joe became increasingly agitated at their slow pace while Hoss slowly tracked their brother's trail.

"Can't you do that any faster?"

"I'm doing the best I can, this here's a well traveled road. You know that Joe." Hoss replied evenly, trying to keep his patience in tack. "What are you so fired up about anyway?"

As Hoss checked the roadway, Joe ignored his question and scanned the horizon and down the path of the road. He was surprised when he saw a black clad figure sitting on a boulder near the shoulder of the road by the crossroads.

"Look Hoss, there he is." Joe exclaimed pointing down towards the crossroads before kicking his horse into a gallop.

Hoss had barely seen what his younger brother had indicated, but before he could stop him, he watched as Joe spurred Cochise and started down the road.

"Wait, Joe, don't!" Hoss called out to his brother's retreating back.

As they rode towards the crossroads, Hoss could tell by the way Adam was sitting that something was wrong, he'd realized it by his brother's slumped shoulders, downwards glance and right hand on the back of his head. Joe was too far ahead of him to stop him or warn him off, so all Hoss could do was try and be there before Joe's rash behavior set Adam off.

Adam didn't even hear the approach of the two horses at full gallop. He was too absorbed in his own thoughts as he struggled to find the missing pieces to the last couple of weeks. All he found was his head pounding once again as he pressed his mind for answers.

Joe dismounted his horse and stormed over to stand before his brother.

"What do you think your doing Adam?" Joe demanded an answer; his hands were clenched in anger. In his mind, he believed that Adam was trying to leave again. Just like he'd done when he went to college and just like what had happened over the last couple of weeks.

Adam barely heard his brother's question and looked up into his brother's face with a look of such confusion and pain that Joe gasped. To him, his older brother was always so certain of himself, so in control, that Joe was taken aback by the lost man who sat before him.

Hoss arrived in time to see Adam's stunned look and noticed his younger brother's shocked face. Closing his eyes, he prayed for the guidance as to how to help his brothers. Stepping forward, he put a reassuring hand on Joe's shoulder and gently pushed him aside to take a closer look at Adam.

"Say Adam, looking for something?" Hoss asked innocently.

Adam took a deep ragged breath to compose himself, and Hoss watched as Adam managed to slip into his usual façade of self-assuredness.

"Yeah, my mind. I seemed to have lost it hereabouts." Adam joked half-heartedly trying to ease his brothers' discomfort.

"Now don't you go fretting about things Adam, they'll come in time." Hoss offered hopefully. He remembered what the doctor had warned them about and was afraid Adam would make himself sick. Taking his eyes off Adam, Hoss watched as Joe glanced around nervously at the ground.

Joe was ashamed of his actions earlier and regretted his distrust of his oldest brother. Trying to get into the spirit of the jest and hoping he could help his brother with some humor he asked.

"I don't see it laying around, do you Hoss?"

Hoss's mouth fell open as he looked at his younger brother as though he was the one missing his mind. Hoss was too dumbstruck to speak.

Seeing Hoss's reaction to Little Joe's question caused Adam to actually laugh out loud and shake his head. Little Joe chuckled as he joined in, also amused at Hoss's confusion. Realizing that the joke was on him, Hoss found himself smiling and then laughing as well.

Poor Hoss, somehow the joke always ended up on him, Adam mused.

Hearing his brother's laugh and actually seeing a small smile grace his older brother's face; Hoss needed to confirm that Adam was alright.

"How ya feeling Adam?" Hoss asked, looking deep into his brother's expressive eyes.

“I feel like Rip Van Winkle.” Adam added wistfully.

“Rip Van Who?” Hoss asked, not certain what Adam was talking about.

“Winkle.” Adam replied, slightly amused by Hoss’s crinkled up nose and squinted eyes.

“Ain’t he the guy who went bowling with them little fellas?” Little Joe questioned.

“Bowling?” Hoss inquired, getting even more perplexed at this strange conversation.

“It’s a game Hoss, kinda like horseshoes, except you use a small ball to knock down pins.” Adam patiently instructed.

“Pins?” The only pins Hoss knew of were the kind used for sewing and he couldn’t see knocking them down with a ball, let alone being able to stand them up first.

Chuckling, Adam shook his head and stopped Joe from trying to explain further.

“It’s a story written by Washington Irving, about a man who only thought he was gone for a day and returned home twenty years later.” Adam’s voice trailed off as he thought about the similarities of the plot to his own woeful tale.

At least I was only gone a couple of weeks, Adam mused wistfully.

Joe was beginning to finally understand what his brother was going through

"Nah, Adam, now why'd ya come here for anyhow?" Hoss soothed, hoping that he could help his brother in some way.

"I don't know, I was hoping to find some answers."

"What from the trees, or that rock you're sitting on?" Joe continued to tease, trying to get the mood to get lighten up again.

Hoss shot his brother a warning glance, afraid that Joe might push too hard and depress Adam further.

Instead Adam just gave his brother a pensive look and replied, "Something like that."

Hoss and Joe both found themselves confused at this response. Adam took small comfort at their baffled expressions and smiled slightly at seeing their mutual bewilderment. Somehow, he needed them to understand what he was feeling.

Though Joe was totally lost by the lesson, Hoss understood what Adam was trying to show them. He wished that he could help his brother in some way, but was totally lost as to how.

"Didja find any answers?" Hoss questioned, and this time it was Joe's turn to gape at his older brothers.

"No." Adam responded dejectedly, returning his gaze to his boots.

Hoss felt enormous disappointment that Adam hadn't found the answers that he so obviously needed. He watched as his brother slowly stood and dusted off the seat of his pants. Wanting to bring back the feeling of happiness they had felt just moments before, Hoss tried some levity of his own.

"I don't understand why you're so all fired worried. I mean it ain't likely you'd run off and got yourself married or some such nonsense."

Picking up on his brother's joke, Joe added, "Now Hoss, older brother here, might have done just that. Just think, it probably was a shotgun wedding. Boy, that gal must've been pretty ugly for him to want to forget it that bad."

Hoss started laughing when he thought of suave sophisticated Adam in that predicament.

Adam closed his eyes and gave Joe his usual smug 'give me a break' look before he swung his fist towards his baby brother's face. Knowing Adam's typical reaction was meant in fun, Joe easily ducked the playful blow and swatted away his brother's hand.

Hoss watched the interplay between his siblings and laughed even harder over his own joke.

"Ha, ha, ha." Adam mimicked, reaching out he gently slapped his other brother's face with each 'ha', adding a slightly harder slap on the third one before walking away to retrieve his horse.

Joe began to giggle in his high-pitched silly fashion, which only made Hoss give way to a full belly laugh.

Adam couldn't help but smile as he grabbed his reins and looked back at the two laughing fools, which were his younger brothers.

Hoss and Little Joe were still laughing at their brother, when they noticed a very dark expression cloud Adam's face where once before they had found quiet amusement. Hoss was instantly worried that they had hurt Adam's feelings with their laughter. With a cutting motion of his hand to Joe to silence him, Hoss stepped forward and grabbed Sport's bridle to stop Adam from suddenly riding away.

"What is it Adam?"

Adam continued to stare towards the horizon, studying it as though seeing it for the first time.

"Adam, what do ya see?" Hoss pressed as he turned to look over his shoulder at what his brother was seeing.

Seeing his Hoss's action, Joe too turned and looked at the horizon. All he could see was a storm forming in the distance.

"Adam." Hoss became more insistent and moved his hand to his brother's arm and shook gently.

Shaken from his trance, Adam tightly grasped on to the thought that had formed there. Looking toward the back of his saddle, he noticed that he didn't have his saddlebags.

"Hoss, where are my saddlebags?"

"Don't know for sure Adam, back at the house I guess."

"They're back at the house in the sideboard by the door." Joe offered.

Joe remembered putting the bags away after Sheriff Coffee had inspected them the day Adam returned. Why were they so important to Adam and the sheriff he wondered?

Joe and Hoss both recognized the determined look on their older brother's face and quickly mounted to follow him. No words were spoken as the three men rode back to their home.

Reaching the hitching rail near the front porch, Adam hastily tied his horse's reins before practically running across the porch and into the house with his brothers following quietly behind.

Opening the front cabinet door of the sideboard, Adam quickly found his saddlebags. Taking them across the room to the table in front of the fireplace, Adam dumped the contents out.

All Joe saw, were the two books. Figures, he mused, only Adam would have a revelation over some boring literature.

Stunned Hoss just stood watching his brother's frantic actions as though he were searching for something. He watched as his brother ran his hands through the bottom of both bags, then grabbed one of the books to thumb through its pages. Finding nothing, Adam picked up the other book and repeated the gesture.

Both brothers stared in awe as Adam pulled out a small velvet pouch that was neatly tucked away between the pages of the book. They watched an expression of extreme happiness wash over Adam's face as he snatched up the pouch and exclaimed "Yes!" loudly before disappearing up the stairs to his room.

Shrugging their shoulders and rolling their eyes, Hoss and Little Joe looked at each other in sheer confusion. They doubted they would ever understand their older brother.

               *********************

Through unspoken agreement, Hoss and Joe had decided not to tell their father about their little adventure with Adam that day. They were sure he wouldn't be pleased to know that Adam had been out riding around the countryside in search of his memory. Besides, neither felt they could really explain it, in fact they weren't sure they really understood either.

All they knew was that the little velvet pouch Adam had found tucked between the pages of one of his new books, now had a small royal blue ribbon tied in a bow around it and was laying with their gifts near the hearth of the fireplace.

Ben arrived later that afternoon after having a very enjoyable lunch with his old friends. He found his oldest sitting in his favorite blue chair, thoroughly engrossed in what appeared to be a new novel and relished the sight. His younger sons were playing the usual game of checkers with Hoss sitting on the couch across from his little brother, who was perched on the low table.

"Joseph, get your feet off the table." Ben bellowed in amusement as his youngest son jumped. Would that boy ever learn, he mused.

"Yes, Pa." Joe responded meekly as he tried to right himself and find a comfortable position with his feet on the floor.

Adam looked up from his reading and glanced at the young man squirming before him. It was hard to believe that when his father had been Joe's age, he already had a small infant son and they were traveling westward to fulfill his father's dream.

"Did you have a nice time?" Adam asked innocently, noting out of the corner of his eye that Hoss had covered his mouth with his hand not daring to speak.

The brothers had agreed to tease their father when he returned home. They wanted to see how long it would take for his curiosity to get the better of him and want to know what was covered by the red blanket from the stairs.

"Yeah Pa, did you have a nice lunch?" Joe piped in.

"Yes I did as a matter of fact." Ben responded, taking a quick glance towards the bundle in front of the fireplace. He knew something was up.

Seeing his father's action, Joe grinned and turned his face toward Adam who sat as impassively as usual, but Adam did manage a small wink of his eye in response to his brother's unspoken question.

Not noticing the interaction between his brothers due to his concentration on the checkerboard, Hoss decided it was his turn to play along.

"So Pa, whatcha eat?"

Joe began to giggle, while Adam grimaced before a small grin formed on his face and he rolled his eyes at Hoss's question. Hoss definitely had a one-track mind.

Taking a quick peek at his father from veiled eyes, Adam noticed that his father was still studying the blanket- covered bundle by the fireplace. Winking to his brothers, Adam decided to continue the charade.

"Speaking of food, I'm famished. Let's eat." Adam stated, rising from his chair and starting to make his way across the room to the dining table.

Following their brother's lead, Hoss jumped up at the same time as Joe and knocked him to his backside on the floor. Both Ben and Adam shook their heads and groaned aloud over Hoss and Joe's antics. Hoss quickly tried to help his little brother to his feet, but Joe waved off his hand.

"Stay away from me, I can get up by myself." Joe protested.

Hoss shrugged and started to saunter into the dining room.

"Ah, boys. Just what is this?" Ben asked pointing to the blanket as his curiosity got the better of him.

"Oh that? That's a blanket, Pa." Adam answered sweetly with his eyebrows slightly raised, his tone sounded as though he were talking to a very small child.

Joe had to cough to conceal his giggle as he covered his mouth with his hand, then crossed his arms over his chest and looked to the floor. Standing behind his father, Hoss stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back and forth on his feet with a broad smile covering his face.

"Yes, I can see it’s a blanket, Adam." Ben grinned slightly, playfully annoyed by his son's attempt at obfuscation. "But what I want to know is what it's doing there?" Ben announced with his voice raising a little louder in mock anger as he pointed toward the fireplace hearth.

"Laying around," Joe giggled impishly.

Ben shot his youngest son a sharp stare, which caused Joe to whimper, followed by immediate silence. Joe turned sad pleading eyes to his older brother wondering if they should continue the joke. Following his youngest lead, Ben turned his attention to his oldest son. Adam’s eyes were open wide twinkling with amusement and wore an unmistakable innocent smirk across his face. Seeing no help there, Ben turned around to address his middle child and found him intently studying his boots.

"Would someone please tell me what is under that blanket?" Ben asked patiently trying to keep his tone in check. He knew his sons were just teasing him, but now he really wanted to know what was under the blanket.

"Why don't you look." Adam suggested mischievously, before glancing over to his cohorts in crime.

"I think I will." Ben replied, then walked over to the blanket as his sons circled around behind him.

Pulling off the blanket he handed it back to Adam, who in turn handed it to Joe. Joe briefly glanced down at the blanket in his hands, then passed it to Hoss. Looking behind him and finding no one to pass it to, Hoss quickly tossed it onto the settee.

Ben Cartwright was awed and speechless as he looked at the gifts before him. Running his fingers over the leather of the saddle, he knew that Hoss had done the tool work himself.

"The saddle is beautiful son." Ben stated as he looked over to his middle son. Hoss puffed up his chest in pride.

Picking up the rifle, he felt the cold smoothness of the inlayed 'C'.

"I hope you like it Pa." Joe said.

"Very much son, very much."

Glancing down, Ben found the small velvet pouch adorned by the blue ribbon sitting in the saddle seat. Picking it up, he looked over to his oldest son. In his opinion, Adam’s return was the best gift his son could have given him. Seeing the expectation in his son's eyes, he carefully untied the ribbon and slid out its contents.

Hoss and Joe moved closer to view the object their father now held. They too were curious to see what the small pouch had so secretively contained.

In his hand, Ben Cartwright held a small slender rectangular silver container about the size of a man's wallet. Ornately engraved on the outside cover was the letter 'C'. Turning it on its edge, Ben noticed a small clasp and opened it.

Ben gasped as he saw what was contained inside. There displayed in a small glass frame was a picture of him and his sons. The photograph had been taken the last time they were in San Francisco. On the backside of the cover was again the ornately etched ‘C’; intertwined on each corner was the first initial of each of the Cartwright men corresponding to where they were shown in the picture.

"You like it Pa?" Adam questioned, watching his father's reaction intently.

Ben looked up to his son with tears in his eyes. "It's beautiful son, where did you..."

"I noticed that you always stuck your picture of us into your wallet anytime you went out of town. Knowing that one couldn't hold up much longer gave me the idea. So I came up with some designs and sent them off to a friend in Boston who knew of a silversmith." Adam shrugged as his voice trailed off. He didn’t want to brag, and now was embarrassed by the attentive and emotional gaze from his father and brothers.

"But when did it arrive?" But before Adam could respond, Ben realized he already knew the answer. "This is what Roy was looking for, his clue to finding you."

Adam nodded slowly in response and looked down to the floor. "I remembered it today."

Ben quickly moved to embrace his son.

"Thank you son," he whispered into his Adam's ear. Releasing him, he turned to hug Joe and Hoss each in turn to thank them for their wonderful gifts.

While his sons were deep in discussion over some detail of the saddle, rifle or picture case, Ben distanced himself from them so that he could admire his greatest gifts - his sons.

The End

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