Snowbound
by
Janice Sagraves

ONE

White. For three days that was all anyone had seen. White for as far as the eye could see lazily floating to earth like tiny particles of gossamer and gradually accumulating on everything. It wasn’t something that people in this part of the United States weren’t used to and this time of year it was to be expected. Just the same, it nevertheless tended to turn most a decided shade of blue, either from pining for the advent of spring or being out in the cold too long. Either way blue – in its myriad of varying shades – was the color of choice, though not necessarily of preference, along with acre after acre of white. White to trudge through to milk the cow and gather the eggs. White to make a man miserable as he tried rescuing equally miserable cattle. White, white, white and more white. The fact this was February and March wasn’t far away kept the hearty breed that inhabited this neck of the woods going, but for now it was still winter.

*******

Adam Cartwright was endeavoring to eat his breakfast but he could feel his youngest brother’s intense green eyes right on him and it was disconcerting to say the least. This was nothing new, it had been going on for some time now, and it was unwelcome. He looked up from his barely touched plate, and his mouth set into a firm pucker. “Joe, didn’t Pa ever teach you that it’s impolite to stare?”

“I most certainly did. Joseph.”

“I don’t know,” Joe Cartwright said, propping his elbow on the table and resting his chin in his hand. “Maybe it’s me, but I just don’t think I can ever get used to it.”

“Well, you can try,” Adam said evenly and stroked his neatly trimmed, heavy black mustache. He returned to his food but still sensed that emerald gaze locked on him and it was destroying his appetite.

Ben Cartwright started to pick up his coffee cup and caught sight of Joe. “I also taught you not to put your elbows on the table.”

“Sorry, Pa,” Joe said and brought his arm down and started attacking his untouched fried egg. He knew he could never adjust to this. His brother looked like a bandit. The image of Adam in a large sombrero and wearing crossed bandoleers over his chest with a pistol on each hip elicited a giggle. Now Joe found himself the object of three concentrated stares and it had the same effect it had been having on his older brother.

“What’s so funny, Joe?” Hoss Cartwright asked, temporarily forgetting his breakfast as a piece of fork-impaled ham hung suspended halfway between his mouth and the plate.

“Nothin’,” Joe clipped and went after his egg with renewed fervor. “Eat your breakfast.”

Now it was Adam’s turn to titter as he went back to his own food.

The rest of the meal went smoothly and Joe was the first to finish. He excused himself and got up and went to get his hat and gun belt. Then he went into the study to get his heavy plaid coat from the rack in the corner then started back for the front door.

The cross between a scream and a strangled groan brought the remaining Cartwrights up from the table. They almost ran over each other in an effort to find out what had caused Joe to unleash such a sound.

“Joe, what…?” But the words died in Ben’s throat as he entered the parlor with his other two sons.

Joe was standing at the open front door and beyond the opening was solid snow! Ben dashed around behind his sturdy mahogany desk and threw back the red curtains. It was impossible to get beyond the porch because of the frozen wall that closed it in, forming a cold pocket. Adam and Hoss rushed back into the dining room and opened the heavy shutters that had been closed against the night. White was pressed up against the panes.

“Hop Sing!” Ben bellowed as he went into the dining room and met the little cook coming out of the kitchen.

“Yes, Mista Cartlight.”

“Did you gather the eggs this morning?”

“Yes, Mista Cartlight.”

“How? We’re completely snowed in as far as I can tell.”

“Through night snow catch on trellis and make tunnel from back porch to chicken house.”

“And you didn’t think this was important enough to tell us about,” Ben said with one raised eyebrow.

“Hop Sing busy fix bleakfast. Not have time stand and talk.”

“Well, can you get to the barn that way?” Adam asked.

“Just chicken house,” Hop Sing said, shaking his head. “Still not have time to talk. Now I go clean up.” He eyed each one of them then blustered back into the kitchen.

“Well, boys, it looks like we’re closed in,” Ben said as his hands went to his hips.

A spark of amber glittered through Adam’s dark hazel eyes. “Not completely,” he said and bolted for the stairs.

Ben shrugged then he and Joe and Hoss followed after him, finding it difficult to keep up with his long legged enthusiasm. He led them into Joe’s room at the front of the house and went straight to the window. Unlike the ones downstairs it was unencumbered and allowed access to the outside world.

Pushing the draperies out of the way, Adam raised the sash with a grunt and icy air entered as he stuck his head out. “We can make it to the barn from here if you don’t mind behaving like a mountain goat.” Then he eased onto the roof, and three other heads poked out after him.

The air was clear as a fine crystal goblet with a crisp bite to it that nipped at exposed faces and hands. Charcoal clouds crowded the slate-colored sky – all but obscuring the sun – and the snow was drifted against the house and other buildings and piled around the trunks of the trees. The yard was maybe five feet deep but the surrounding land wasn’t so bad – possibly three or four – and there was no way of knowing how solidly packed it was without testing it. Little frozen bits swirled around and stung as they made contact with uncovered skin.

Without an invitation Joe and Hoss joined their brother.

“Wow,” Hoss said with obvious awe. “Nothin’ but white for as far as the eye can see.” His blue eyes scanned the countryside. “This don’t come as no surprise after the way it was howlin’ an’ cuttin’ around all night long.”

“I don’t ever remember seeing it like this,” Joe said with wonderment. “Not this much, anyhow.”

“Oh, I don’t know, Joe,” Adam said as his twinkling eyes darted to his youngest brother. “I remember once when it buried that high mountain behind the house.”

Joe’s lip curled, making his nose wrinkle. “Ha, ha, very funny.”

“Now I’m gonna go see about the horses. Anybody wantta come with me?” Adam asked as he stepped to the edge of the roof and looked out toward the barn.

By this time Ben had come out and was standing closest to Joe. “I don’t know, Adam, do you think that’s such a good idea?”

“Well, somebody’s gotta do it so it might as well be me. And somebody has to dig the men out of the bunkhouse.”

“I guess you’re right. But don’t you think you should put on your coat first?”

“It’s not really that bad. The wind isn’t blowing so it don’t feel so cold,” Adam said as he glanced at his father.

“I’ll go with you,” Joe said as he looked warily over the edge.

“An’ so’ll I,” Hoss said with exuberance that didn’t extend to the rest of the family.

Joe and Adam looked at each other then caught the same kind of expression on their father’s face.

“I don’t know, Hoss, if that’s such a good idea,” Joe said. “You’re just liable to go straight through to the ground.”

“Joe’s got a valid point,” Adam said as that eyebrow rose. “We don’t know how densely packed it is and…”

“I can at least give it a try, an’ if’n I see it ain’t gonna hold I can come on back.”

“Yeah, but Hoss,” Joe started, “by then it could be too late. You could be…”

“Ah, Joe, stop worryin’ so much,” Hoss said and stepped off the roof onto the snow that sloped up to meet it. Much to everyone’s’ surprise it held. “I’ll be careful.” His confidence slightly built, he took another tentative step, then another. “See, Joe,” and he took a third but – without warning – the snow gave way, and he went through. His brothers made a mad grab but weren’t fast enough and he found himself in frozen up to his armpits, his arms out at his sides. He had apparently gone as far as he was going to go, and they could only see about an eight of Hoss Cartwright.

Adam and Joe grabbed his arms and tugged with all the might they had but Hoss simply wouldn’t budge.

“It’s no good,” Adam puffed. “He’s wedged in there pretty good.”

“I like how you’re careful,” Joe said as he stooped at the edge of the roof, leaning his elbows on his knees. “Now it’s gonna take the rest of the day just gettin’ you outta there. And only because we can’t get a team up here.”

Blue fire shot in Joe’s direction. “That ain’t a durn bit funny, Joe.”

“I’m sure he won’t think so when he helps dig you out,” Ben said as he rested a hand on his youngest son’s shoulder. “Right, Joseph?”

Joe went sick. “Right, Pa.”

“I doubt if we can find the tool shed in all this. It’s probably almost completely covered.” An impish smirk turned Adam’s lips. “I wonder how long it’d take if we used teaspoons?”

“You ain’t funny neither,” Hoss groused.

“Well, whatever we use we’d better get at it,” Ben said as he eyed his largest son dubiously. “We don’t have enough fire wood to thaw him out once he’s solidly frozen.”

Hoss’ head fell forward and his eyes closed. He was living with a family of funny men. Here he was in snow almost to his neck and they were making jokes at his expense, and pretty poor ones at that. Before long he wouldn’t be able to feel his feet and legs and where would they be then? If that happened the joke would be on them. The thought gave him a small amount of satisfaction, and one corner of his mouth crooked. Now it was his turn to play a joke.

TWO

The thin blade of the knife slipped through the crack and caught the latch that held the barn loft door shut. In less than a second it opened out and a long leg came in first, followed by the rest of Adam. He crawled through the hay and sat down, breathing heavily. Joe came in after him – himself puffing – and sat next to his brother.

“Well, we made it,” Joe said as he fell back in the soft, sweet hay.

“Now if we can only find something to dig ‘im out with.”

Joe giggled.

“And while we’re here we’ll see to the horses and Iris,” Adam went on.

“You don’t suppose we could just leave ‘im there ‘til the spring thaw, do you?” Joe asked as he musingly stared at the ceiling.

“That would be nice, but you know how Pa gets,” Adam said as he moved toward the ladder. “And I can’t see myself carrying all that food to him.”

“No, I guess not,” Joe said as his face scrunched, and he started after his brother.

The minute the horses heard their names in the familiar voices their ears pricked and swiveled, and Sport and Cochise were especially excited.

“Good morning, son,” Adam said as he gave the sleek chestnut an affectionate swat on the rump. When he got to the animal’s head he began scratching between the large, dark eyes, something Sport relished.

Cochise was getting the same treatment in the next stall over. The velvety nose snuffled in his master’s unruly hair, taking in the well-known scent. With a gentle pat on the jowl, Joe began filling the horse’s own private feeding trough.

After all the animals were taken care of they began scrounging around for something to get their brother out of his predicament. Joe was checking around by the stall where the milk cow was kept when a sharp ‘Ah-hah’ caught his attention, and he looked around.

“I always knew that Burt’s habit of not putting things away would come in handy some day,” Adam said as he went toward his brother with a shovel in each hand.

“Aren’t you the same one that said his shiftlessness was gonna get ‘im into trouble?” Joe asked with a skewed grin.

“Yeah, and it’s the truth, just not today. Here,” he said and thrust the implements into Joe’s arms.

Joe fumbled to keep from dropping them as his brother spun on his heel and started back for the ladder. “I’ll go first then you hand ‘em up to me. The sooner we get back to the house, the sooner we can start digging out that big oaf.”

“And the sooner we can get back inside where it’s warm.”

“Exactly,” Adam said and started climbing.

Ben had retrieved a blanket from Joe’s bed and it was now wrapped around Hoss’ shoulders and arms, not that it helped that much. But Pa meant well so Hoss kept the fact that his legs had a notion to go numb to himself. He’d thought about shivering in hopes that it would warm him somewhat, and if his brothers didn’t get back soon he’d do just that.

“How are you doing, son?”

“Not so bad. If’n you don’t notice that it’s cold as whiz. But there is one good thing about it,” Hoss said as he snuggled the blanket around him.

“And what’s that?”

“I cain’t feel my stomach, so’s I don’t know if’n I’m hungry or not.”

Ben chortled and shook his head and slapped him on the back.

“Hey, Pa!”

Ben looked up at the sound of his oldest son’s voice and saw his other two boys picking their way toward them and Joe had two shovels. It was slow going and Ben was afraid that one or both of them would go through as well.

“I found these in the back where Burt hid them,” Adam went on.

“What, again?” Ben said with a discordant tone. “How many times have we told him about that? Ah, well, I guess this time we can let it pass.”

Joe handed one of the shovels to Adam as they came around on either side of their hopelessly wedged brother and began to dig.

“Pa, why don’t you go on in and get some hot coffee?” Adam said as he threw a load of snow off to the side. “We’re gonna be here for a while.”

“You better hope we ain’t,” Hoss said gruffly as his snappish eyes went to his older brother. “’Cause you two are gonna havta drag me into the house if’n my legs is too froze up to walk.”

Joe’s face turned as white as the landscape and his pace picked up. “That I don’t think I can do, not after this.”

“Don’t anybody worry about that, we’ll get you out before you turn blue,” Adam said with a snitter.

“You best see you do.”

“I’ll go bring back the pot and enough coffee for everybody. That way we can spell each other, and it’ll go faster that way.”

“Sounds like a good idea, Pa,” Adam said as he began making a little headway.

Ben ducked back in through the window as Adam and Joe continued their toil and Hoss continued to bide his time and trying not to freeze.

*******

It had taken about half an hour of back breaking work to get enough of the snow away from Hoss so that his father and brothers – with some assistance from him – could work him free. By that time his legs were well frozen as was the rest of him and it was an effort to get him to his room after a brief respite on Joe’s bed.

“Are you sure you’re all right,” Ben asked as they settled Hoss into the big chair by his window.

“Yeah, Pa, I’m fine. I just gotta git some o’ this chill outta my bones, is all.” He shivered exaggeratedly and pulled the blanket closer around him. “Dang, but I’m cold.”

“Mista Hoss need to warm up,” Hop Sing said as he blustered in with a tray. There was a pot of hot tea liberally laced with cinnamon, a cup and saucer and a small plate of some of the little cook’s special red pepper crackers, guaranteed to even heat up a cadaver. “You catch death.”

Hoss eyed the thin crisps dubiously and with not so fond memories. He’d had them before when he’d caught a chill and he remembered all too well the sensation they brought to his mouth and tongue and the way they seared his throat after only one. Now he knew he was going to have to eat all of them, and he figured that to be about ten. His lips had already begun to tingle at the mere thought.

“Boss! Boss!”

Quizzical looks were exchanged then heads came around toward the hall.

“That sounded like Hugh,” Adam said as one eyebrow rose.

“But I thought…” Joe started.

“So did I,” Adam said then headed out the door with his youngest brother right behind him.

They returned to Joe’s room and found a head with curly blond hair sticking from beneath a grubby, sweat-stained hat poked in through the window.

“Hugh,” Adam said as he came around the foot of the bed, “how’d you get out of the bunkhouse?”

“Me ‘n the fellers got the door open and started diggin’ with whatever we could find and got it open enough for me to slip out, what with me bein’ so rail skinny.”

“Come on in, Hugh, before you slide off and break something,” Joe said.

The head ducked out and a gangly leg wrapped in woolly chaps came in followed by the rest of Hugh Kelso. “I swear in all my born days I ain’t never seen this much snow,” he said as he removed his hat and riffled his fingers in his dense hair. His wide saddle tan eyes roved about the room he found himself standing in. He’d been working here for nearly two years and this was his first time in the big house.

“Coming from Arizona, I’m not surprised,” Joe said with a half grin.

“I came after shovels, but Mort told me to come here first to see that everything’s all right.”

“Everything’s just fine here,” Adam said then looked to his brother. “Joe, why don’t you go with ‘im, I’ll be along after I get my coat?”

“All right. Come on, Hugh.”

Hugh went back out and Joe followed after him. Adam let his father and Hoss know what was going on then started downstairs. Going straight to the study he took his yellow coat from the rack and shrugged into it then headed back for the staircase. This morning had started out normal enough, but it was turning into a real adventure. The whole first floor was sealed in, Hoss had played at being a snowman, and his back still twinged from digging the big lummox out. But it was exhilarating and he wasn’t complaining. He hadn’t felt this alive in ages, and he found himself looking forward to what the day had in store for him. One corner of his mouth turned as he reached the top landing. It was almost like being a child again, and he didn’t feel the least bit guilty over the fact that he was enjoying himself. He was simply having too much fun.

*******

Things had settled down some since morning and dinner was taken without mishap or interruption. A passage had been cleared from the bunkhouse so that the men wouldn’t be incarcerated any longer. Little work was able to be gotten at except what could be done inside the house or the barn. The books were caught up but that left guns to be cleaned, knives sharpened, floors swept and other menial chores, but they kept a man busy.

Adam sat on the settee in the process of oiling his pistol; an idea gradually creeping into his brain. As his hands worked it became more and more firmly implanted.

“Still, keeping busy, I see,” came at his side.

“It’s better than cabin fever,” Adam said as he quickly glanced up at his father. “Pa, I’ve been thinking over something.”

“And what’s that?” Ben asked as he sat in his favorite red leather chair.

“I know it’s too late today, but in the morning I think I’ll gather some supplies and take to the Maddens. With all those mouths to feed, I’m sure Mrs. Madden can use them.”

Ben’s face blanched slightly as his fingers dug into the arms of the chair. “Not by yourself, I would hope.”

“No,” Adam said as he focused on his job and sequestered a grin. “I thought I’d take a brother along, but after this morning I don’t think Hoss should be the one.”

“Well, as long as Joe doesn’t mind.”

“He doesn’t,” Joe said brightly as he bounced energetically down the stairs. “I think that’s a great idea, and maybe it’ll give me a chance to brush up on the finer art of making snowballs.”

“You seemed to be doing all right back in December.”

“Yeah, but Pa, that’s been almost two months.” Joe flopped down in the tall blue chair on the other side of the hearth. “A man can get rusty if he doesn’t keep in practice.”

“All right,” Adam said as his impish eyes darted toward his brother, “as long as you realize that that works both ways.”

“As you say, brother,” Joe said with a broad grin as he brought his legs into the chair.

Some of Ben’s anxiety waned as he watched his two sons. His mind drifted back to some wild snowball fights from when they were younger and it made him laugh inside. When they weren’t going at each other Hoss made the perfect target for them to gang up on. Those were some of the few times he had ever seen Adam let go until last year. As he reached for his new Christmas pipe he settled back into his chair and fingered its intricately carved ivory bowl. He could only imagine what tomorrow’s outing would be like, and it took the sharp edges off of his disquiet.

THREE

It was barely light when things got underway to move out. All that was to be taken was toted up to Joe’s room and moved out onto the roof. Hoss – after his run in with the snow the previous day – and Ben didn’t venture onto it and tossed the items down to Adam and Joe who were waiting below. Everything was being loaded onto a flat sled that would be dragged by a rope tied around its front.

Cumbersome-looking snowshoes were strapped to Adam’s and Joe’s feet and – despite their unwieldy appearance – made moving around a lot easier since they kept the two men from going through as their brother had.

“All right, Adam, that’s the last of it,” Ben said loudly.

“Good. Then I think we’re ready to head out.”

“Not just yet.” Hoss took a small sack tied securely with twine from his coat pocket and tossed it down to them. “That’s candy for the youngens,” he went on as his little brother caught it. “I bought it last time I was in town an’ just hadn’t got around to gittin’ it out to ‘em.”

“All right, Hoss.” Joe said as he held up the precious parcel then snuggled it in with the other supplies. “We’ll see they get it, unless I get into it first.”

“You see you don’t little brother.” Hoss admonished as he jabbed a finger toward Joe.

“I’ll make sure he doesn’t,” Adam said as he as he brought his coat collar close around his neck.

“Now you two be careful. This snow hides a lot, and you won’t be able to tell what you’re walking up on until you’re on it.”

“We will, Pa. And depending on when we get there we may have to spend the night and probably start out again in the morning or maybe the day after, depending on what needs to be done, so try not to worry,” Adam said as he brought the rope over one shoulder.

“I’ll try.”

“I’ll make sure he don’t,” Hoss said as he slapped a hand on his father’s back. “Now you two best git a move on. The day won’t keep forever.”

After an exchange of farewells Ben’s sons started out past the barn. He couldn’t help the anxious stirrings that skittered around deep in his chest as he watched them go, but he knew it wouldn’t help to try to talk them out of it. Adam was stubborn as an ox when he set his mind to something, and, in that respect, his younger brother could be just like him. Hoss’ reassuring hand moved to his shoulder and squeezed and it helped just knowing his middle son was there, but still he worried.

They stood there until Adam and Joe disappeared past the structure and the swish of their feet and the sled over the snow gradually faded.

“All right, Hoss, let’s go back inside.” Ben took a long, soulful breath. “I’d like to sit in front of the fire.”

With his father’s urging Hoss went in first. Ben grasped the bottom of the sash then gave one last look in the direction his sons had gone. He knew he had to trust in their judgment and let them do what men had to do. Much to his sadness, they weren’t children anymore, and he had to let them go. With a quick prayer for their safety he turned and went inside and closed the window.

The trek was getting off to a relatively smooth start. The weight of the supplies helped the sled bite deeper into the snow, and it glided along without any problems. Feet would have normally gone right through but the snowshoes did exactly what they were made for. Frosty clumps continued to fall from the trees as the wind picked up some and swirled around little whiffs of white powder.

“I wonder how long it’ll take to get to the Madden’s?” Joe asked as he walked along behind the sled.

“It depends on how easy we have it,” Adam said as he adjusted his hands on the rope. “If it continues like this, I’d guess maybe four hours or so. But, like Pa said, the snow hides things. A dip gets filled in that you can see in the spring.”

“Or a tree that a summer storm brought down.”

“That’s right, but, at any rate, we’ll get there before dark.”

“That’s suits me just fine.” Joe shivered and snuggled his coat closer around him. “I don’t care for the idea of being out here when the sun goes down. It’s cold enough as it is right now.”

Adam snickered and shook his head.

“Did I just say something funny?” Joe asked with a touch of heat to his words.

“No, I was just picturing Hoss buried in snow up to his arms.”

Joe’s quick giggle filled the tranquility. “Yeah, that was quite a sight, and I was half a mind to leave him right there. Maybe one of these days he’ll learn to listen to what others try to tell ‘im.”

“Like you always do?” Adam said with a dark hazel glance back.

It was a quick look but Joe caught what was in it right off. He’d never been one for listening and his brother was reminding him of it. He thought of arguing about it, but knew there was no sense to it, and he wasn’t in the mood anyway. “I can hardly wait to see the looks when we get in with all this stuff. But Suzanne Madden is a proud woman.”

“Not so proud that I think she’d let her children go hungry, especially when they get a look at that dressed side of pork and two of Hop Sing’s fattest ducks.”

“It makes me hungry just thinking about what she’ll do with ‘em.”

“That’s right; you’ve never had her cooking. Well, I can tell you that you won’t be disappointed. The one night I was there she worked magic with nothing more than bacon and potatoes.”

Joe smacked his lips. “I can hardly wait.”

“Well, it’ll be a while yet.”

With that last exchange they lapsed into silence. Their breath formed vaporous plums in the crisp air as they trudged on. Joe’s eyes kept darting to the little sack nestled in among the other goodies, and he wondered if he could slip just one sweet, tempting piece.

“I told Hoss I’d keep you out of that so just keep your hands to yourself,” Adam said without looking around.

Joe’s lips set into a flat, even line. His oldest brother had an uncanny knack of knowing what he was thinking almost before he did.

“The jerky in your coat pocket’ll havta do,” Adam went on.

Joe grimaced as he scooped up some snow with a gloved hand and began eating it. It was cold and wet and numbed his sweet tooth.

Every now and then the snapping of a branch beneath its weighty burden would sound about them to join with their puffing and the scuffing of their feet. Other than that it was still and peaceful without any other signs of life. These two interlopers warranted caution among the wild population so they were given plenty of room.

As time continued its languid momentum forward, mannish voices returned and wafted into the trees. The conversation was on nothing specific, just whatever happened to come into a brother’s mind. Every now and again it was punctuated by laughter and the sounds of nature.

“All right,” Adam said as he stopped and turned to his brother, slipping the rope from his shoulder, “it’s your turn. I’ve done my time so know you can have a crack at it.”

“And you were doing such a good job.”

One corner of Adam’s mouth pinched and the familiar eyebrow rose. “That doesn’t work on Pa and it won’t work on me. I’d think that by this time you would’ve learned that.”

“Well, now, you can’t fault a fella for trying,” Joe said as he walked past him with a playful grin and gave Adam a thump on the arm. “But I’ve never been one to shirk.” He took the rope and brought it over his shoulder.

“Since when? If I had a double eagle for every time you’ve gotten somebody else to do your work I could buy the whole state of Massachusetts and still have plenty left over.”

“But not you, huh, brother?”

“I’m wise to you, now let’s get going before the rest of the day catches up with us,” Adam said then started on ahead. “I’d like to…”

But the sentence was cut short as the dip he stepped into gave way, and he disappeared from sight.

“Adam!”

Joe dropped the rope and lunged forward, falling onto his knees where his brother had vanished. “Adam!” he shouted as he began clawing furiously at the snow that had filled in the hole. “Adam, can you hear me?”

There was no answer and the drumming of his pulse in his ears was all he heard. His breathing came in quick, jagged jerks as he dug frantically. This couldn’t be happening. After all they’d been through Adam couldn’t simply be gone. Not so easily and not so fast. What would he do if he was, and what would he tell Pa?

FOUR

Joe had been digging for what felt like forever and had made little headway, for with each handful he raked back more came in to take its place. It was like trying to make a hole in the ocean. He didn’t feel the cold, in fact, he didn’t feel anything except escalating fear that threatened to choke off his lungs and strangle his rapidly beating heart. He batted away tears that burned like tobacco juice and dripped into the snow.

“Please, Adam, please, you’ve just got to be all right,” ran through his madly racing mind. “You can’t be gone.”

His arms had begun to ache, and he was losing feeling in his hands, but he wouldn’t stop, he couldn’t. Time was vital and too precious to waste, so he kept on going.

“Lose something, Joe?” came at his back. It was slow to materialize what he had heard but when it did he froze solid as his fingers clawed into the cold. His breath whistled through his teeth then those algid emerald eyes came around. His brother was standing behind him – his hands resting on his knees – big as life and smirking as if nothing was wrong. A spark lit a fuse at the base of Joe’s skull and it ran down his spine. His left hand balled into a hard fist and before he realized what he was doing he took a fierce swing. It connected with Adam’s jaw and the force of it drove him reeling back into the snow.

Almost immediately the anger began to dissipate and the chill was finally allowed to move in as the heat dissolved. Lucid thought gradually returned, and he looked at his hand, his fingers still knotted into a tight wad. From there his gaze went to his brother lying next to the sled and a knot rose into his throat that could throttle an elephant. “Adam,” he rasped.

He crawled to his brother’s side just as Adam was regaining some of his faculties and started rubbing his chin. “Adam, I’m sorry,” Joe said as he helped him to sit up.

“Remind me not to slip up on you like that again,” Adam said as he worked his jaw. “That’s the second time I’ve been flattened by a brother since I got home.”

“What happened?”

“You hit me is what happened?”

“No, I mean, where did you go? One second you’re there and the next you’re gone like a puff of smoke. Where were you?”

“Oh, it was one of those little caves that dots the property,” Adam said with annoyance. “It came out along a bank. Some trees and rocks had blocked the snow so I didn’t have much trouble getting out. It took me longer than that to get back to you.”

“I thought you were gone.”

“I was.”

“No, I mean, really gone.”

Adam blinked back the fading pain in his face and looked at his brother. There – in the gentle green – he could see the fright alive and well and watching for any sign of weakness or pain. He also caught traces of guilt laced in with in it. “I’m all right, Joe,” he said with a skewed grin as he patted his brother’s wrist. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t’ve come up behind you like that. Now let’s quit playing in the snow and get going.”

“Are you sure you’re all right? I didn’t hurt…”

“Nah, you’d have to kill me to hurt me,” Adam said, giving his brother another pat. “Now let’s get going.” He pushed himself away from the ground and worked his feet under him then, with his brother’s help; he was standing again, wobbly though it was.

“You’re absolutely sure…”

“Joe, would you be satisfied if I said it in French, Spanish and Paiute? I’m all right. Now pick up the rope and let’s get a move on.” He looked to the sky. “This is taking longer than I’d hoped it would and it looks like the snow could let fly again at any time.”

Joe did as he was told and they got under way again, but Adam was never far from his attention. He was constantly aware of his brother and watched his every move. At the slightest hint that anything was wrong he would be at his side. Joe’s heart pinched as he replayed Adam falling after he’d struck him and cursed silently for having such a quick, fiery temper. He knew that if he’d seriously injured his brother he would have never been able to live with himself or, for that matter, Pa.

The sun – shrouded with a haze of winter clouds – continued its descent toward the other side of day after reaching its zenith. Jerky and biscuits were brought out and eagerly gone after and washed down with cold water from a canteen. The brotherly talk continued but the earlier altercation was not brought up.

“We should be getting to the Madden’s before too much longer, providing I don’t fall into anymore caves,” Adam said as he reached the canteen back to his brother.

“Well, if you decide to you let me know first. I thought my heart was gonna stop. It was like the ground swallowed you whole.”

“Felt like it too,” Adam said as he closed the cloth bag around his remaining jerky and stuffed it into his coat pocket. “And I was lucky there wasn’t anybody home. Judging from the sign it’s an animal’s den. Something that likes meat, going by the bones scattered about.”

“That would’ve livened things up all right.”

“And I would’ve learned how to run in snowshoes,” Adam said with a snicker.

Joe’s exuberant cackle joined it and resonated through the stillness. “I wonder what Hoss and Pa are getting in to? What with being walled into the house like they are. I can just imagine Hoss getting stuck in the snow again and Pa having to dig ‘im out.”

“So can I and I’d rather not.”

Joe laughed again but then went somber as his gaze directed itself to the back of the sled that his brother now pulled. Adam glanced back at his brother’s sudden silence. He could see something was disturbing him from the look on his face. The thought to let whatever it was lie was fleeting. “What’s on your mind, Joe? And don’t tell me it’s nothing, I’ve known you too long.”

“What if I said I’d rather not talk about it?”

“I’d say that’s your privilege, and I’d also say that I won’t let up until you do. I know how you can be when you’ve got something bothering you, especially when you don’t wantta talk about it.”

After what rounded out to nearly a minute Joe finally went on. “It’s not anything that we haven’t already talked about. It’s this business of you leaving home. You haven’t talked much about it since January, and I… was kinda hoping you’d changed your mind.” Joe went pensive again. “But you haven’t, have you?”

“No, Joe, I haven’t.”

“And there’s still nothing any of us can say or do to change your mind?”

“The answer to that is no too. Do you remember what Pa always told us when we were children? That when he grew up we’d go where our lives took us? Well, my life is taking me away from the Ponderosa. That, however, doesn’t mean it’s taking me away from my family.”

“Doesn’t it? We’ll be here and you’ll be, where? Boston? You haven’t told any of us where you plan on going.”

“I guess because I haven’t really settled on any one place, though Boston is a possibility. But when I figure it out my family’ll be the first to know, after me of course.” He grinned puckishly but it was lost on his younger brother so he just turned back around and they walked on in silence.

FIVE

Suzanne Madden sat in an aged rocking chair in front of the fireplace, an inviting blaze dancing and flickering in the stone hearth. Libby, her five-year-old daughter and youngest child, sat in her mother’s lap nestled into the warm security of comforting arms. Her other two daughters and two youngest sons sat in the floor gathered around her feet. Her soft, melodious voice was relating a tale from her childhood and held the children’s rapt attention, even though they had heard it many times before.

Being snowed in as they were there was little to do except chores and tell stories and read in the free time. Jake, the oldest who had just turned sixteen, had managed to clear a small space at the top of the cabin’s only door, enough for him to get outside. He had gone to check on the cow and one bandy rooster and three hens. His brothers and sisters had wanted to go with him but their mother told them that they would have to wait until it was easier to get outside.

Suzanne finished telling about the big blizzard when she was seven back in New Hampshire, leaving only the crackling of the fire.

“Mama,” Libby said as her bright aqua eyes roved to her mother’s face, “are we goin’ to be snowed in like you was for five monfs?”

“No, dear, I don’t think so,” Suzanne said as her hold tightened on her daughter. “Next month is March and with March comes spring.”

“And that’s when Jake starts his new job for the Cartwrights and we move into our new house,” ten-year-old Royce said as he riffled his fingers in his thick, curly ash blond hair.

“Well, now son, the house hasn’t even been built yet.”

“But it will be, won’t it?” Royce asked with a frown. “Adam promised that it would.”

“Then it will,” she said with a reassuring smile.

“And Joe’ll be there too,” Sarah – a year younger than Jake and the only other child with her father’s blond hair and honey brown eyes – said wistfully.

“I expect that they all will,” Suzanne said as she watched her daughter. She knew that Sarah had developed a crush on Joe Cartwright after meeting him at Thanksgiving. She also knew that the girl would probably grow out of it, but for now she would let her be. It wasn’t doing any harm and – as a mother – she was pleased with Sarah’s choice.

As the talk continued she began to notice that her fifth born – turning eight in less than a week – had turned his attention away from his family. “Is something wrong, Ellis?”

“Do you hear that?” he asked with his eyes focused toward the front door.

“I hear it too,” fourteen-year-old Irene said as she pushed a red strand back from her forehead.

“Hear what?” But as she said it she became aware of a slight scraping mixed in with a crunching sound. She looked in the direction her son was and cocked her head to one side so she could listen better. As she did the noises grew and a few times the door was struck. The children started talking all at once, and she called for complete silence. It didn’t take long for her to realize what she heard, someone was digging in.

Lightly placing Libby on the floor she went to check it out, and her brood trooped along after her, the youngest bringing up the rear. In spite of the warmth of the room the knob was cool against the flesh of Suzanne’s hand and fingers as she grasped it and opened the door. No sooner had she done this when a tousled red head poked down in front of her.

“Hi, Mam. I got some extra shovels and some help, so I thought I’d finish the job,” Jake Madden said with a broad smile.

“Help?” she said as her greenish-blue eyes were almost instantly drawn to the one in the fawn-colored hat that appeared across from her son. “Afternoon, Mrs. Madden,” Joe Cartwright beamed. “We should have enough dug out enough to make comin’ and goin’ easier in just a little bit.”

“Land sakes, you didn’t come all this way alone, did you?”

“No,” came as a rich baritone, “he came with me.” Adam Cartwright sprang noiselessly into the partially excavated exit. “We brought a few things we thought you might need, what with so many bellies you need to fill.”

“Oh, you didn’t have to do that, Mr. Cartwright. We’ll manage all right.”

“I know that,” Adam said, “but what are neighbors for if not to help each other. And besides, Jake is gonna be working for us before long, and we always take care of our men. So here we are. Now the sooner we stop talking the sooner we can get this done, and if you don’t mind, a pot of hot coffee would be nice when we’re finished.”

“I’m afraid we don’t have any coffee, and haven’t since December. Will chicory be all right?”

“Joe,” Adam said as he glanced at his brother.

Joe disappeared and after several seconds a brown paper sack tied with twine was tossed to Adam as the young man returned.

Adam handed her the package. “I thought we could spare some, seeing as we have plenty. Now we’ll get back to work.”

Jake reached down and closed the door and the work recommenced. Suzanne looked down at the precious bundle through a mist of tears then held it close against her throat as if clutching the most valuable prize in the world. Since her husband’s death her pride had taken a back seat to the welfare and needs of her family and – though it might sting at times – she didn’t turn down help for their sakes. Her eyes closed as her head bowed, and she said a silent ‘thank you’ for such people as the Cartwrights.

*******

By the time a way was cleared out of the house the enticing aroma of hot coffee wafted outside along with that of baking biscuits. Jake was the first to come in, dragging the sled behind him through the roofless tunnel produced by the drifted snow and followed by the brothers.

“Wait’ll you see what they brought us,” Jake puffed.

“And we managed to dig out the smokehouse enough so that we could get the side of pork in there along with two of Hop Sing’s best ducks that he sent along,” Adam said as he closed the door.

“Oh, my,” Suzanne sighed, “that smokehouse hasn’t seen anything but wild meat in a month of Sundays and not much of that.”

“And there’s flour and sweentin’ and canned peaches and dried apples and cornmeal,” Jake said on one long drawn out breath. “Now you can make Johnnycake again.”

Joe got down on his knees and scrounged around until he found what he was looking for. “And Hoss sent this for the children,” he said as he handed the tied sack to her.

Young eyes sparkled as they gathered around their mother as she undid it and looked inside.

“Candy,” Irene gushed.

Suzanne looked around at them, and her full lips spread. “I don’t think one piece before supper will hurt anything.”

She held the bag down and one by one small hands delved into it and came out with a treasure that was quickly popped into mouths.

“Joe, hand me that item you watched me pack so carefully,” Adam said as he stepped around behind his brother.

Joe began scrounging again and came out with a long clear glass bottle filled with purple-black liquid. Adam took it and placed it in Suzanne’s hand.

“This is for you. It’s blackberry brandy.”

“Blackberry brandy? Now where on Earth did you ever get blackberry brandy?”

“I make it, it’s sort of a hobby of mine,” he said as one corner of his mouth crooked. “And I thought you could use something special too.”

Her eyes glittered as she looked down at the wonderful gift, and her fingers tightened around its slender neck. “I haven’t had blackberry brandy or any kind of cordial for that matter in the longest of times. I’ll relish every drop of this, thank you,” and she hugged the bottle close. “Now why don’t you and your brother sit down? I know you’re well chilled and exhausted and probably starved along with it. That goes for you too, Jake.” She delicately placed it on the mantelpiece with the candy next to it then went about setting up the men. “I have fresh baked biscuits right from the oven and that coffee you asked for.”

As her oldest and the Cartwrights took places at the scarred and battered dining table – with Sarah’s help – Suzanne went about getting things placed before three very hungry men.

Once that was done she stood back and watched with sheer contentment as they devoured their food and emptied the coffee pot. There talk and laughter swelled inside her, and she had to fight the urge to weep with full happiness. It was good to have men’s voices in the house again and it made her realize how much she missed it.

SIX

It was getting close to six o’clock by the time Adam, Joe and Jake got enough of the snow cleared away so that they could get into the barn. The light had already begun turning dusky and – even though the days were growing longer – darkness still came fairly early.

The large doors swung out only about half way but it was enough for the three of them to get inside. Jake had managed to get in that morning through the loft much as Adam and Joe had done at home. The cow had been milked, but the pail had been left there with a cloth over it until he could come back for it, and the eggs still had to be gathered.

“I’m glad you two decided to stay tonight,” Jake said as he opened the wire-mesh door to the small chicken coop nestled in the back across from the cow’s stall. “But don’t you think tomorrow’s too soon to start back?” He picked up an empty wooden box from the floor.

“I told you outside that we’ll see,” Adam said as he drug the sled over the floor and propped it against a stall divider. He got a stool and another bucket and proceeded with the evening milking.

“Well, I’m sure we could find some things that need to be done around here,” Joe said with a furtive side glance at the boy.

“Don’t you start too. I said, we’ll see,” Adam said as he gave the cow’s side a pat. “Now let’s finish what we came out here to do then go back into the house. It’ll be dark before long, and I for one am eager to see what your mother can do when she has more to work with.”

Joe tilted his head back and closed his eyes and sniffed. “I don’t much care what it is with a smell like that.”

“That make’s you and me,” Adam said as his fingers continued to work. “I’m hungry as one of Hoss’ bears. Jerky and biscuits just goes so far. Even when they’re as good as the ones your mother bakes.”

“That they sure are,” Joe said as he finished pouring the oats they had brought into the nearly empty bin.

“You know,” Jake said as he stuck an egg into the box, “when I got up this morning and saw all that snow I didn’t expect to see anybody until the thaw.” He snickered. “Then I look up and there you are with that loaded sled. It was just like Christmas and Thanksgiving rolled into one.” He put in a couple more of the hen fruit. “If it snows like this again next winter you two can come to our new house.”

Dark hazel and emerald eyes met quickly but the boy was so busy with his chore that he didn’t catch it.

“Well, that takes care of you, old girl,” Adam said as he gave her another pat. He put the stool back then took up both pails. “Now if you’re both done let’s go, and the last one inside mans the churn.”

As he took off – his legs winding him forward and the weight of the milk proving no problem – Joe and Jake exchanged wild looks. Jake grabbed another egg but in his haste dropped it and it crunched at his feet. However he gave it no mind and slammed the coop door then latched it and headed out with his box of eggs after Joe.

“Don’t forget the doors, Joe,” Adam said and kept right on going.

Joe’s face crumpled as he rushed back and swung them shut then dropped the bar in place. He and Jake started off after his brother but they couldn’t keep up with those long legs.

*******

After supper everyone sat around the fire as Suzanne and Sarah finished washing the last of the dishes. Adam had been given the honor of the rocking chair and Libby was in his lap cuddled close to his chest with his strong arms around her. The rest of the children were in the floor on the natty, threadbare rug. Joe and Jake sat in dining chairs that had been pulled up.

“Having fun, Joe?” Adam asked evenly as his impish eyes darted in his brother’s direction.

Joe grimaced and his head waggled from side-to-side as he continued working the churn dash up and down.

“Why don’t you sit here?” Adam asked as Suzanne came in from the kitchen alcove drying her hands on her apron. “I’m sure Libby wouldn’t mind.”

“Don’t you dare budge. I can sit in one of the table chairs or in the floor with the children.”

“Why don’t you Mama? It’d be fun,” Irene said as she scooted over to make a place close to the hearth.

“All right, I’ll do just that. But first,” and she stepped to the hearth and picked up the bag of candy, “I think a treat is in order.” She sat down and demurely tucked her legs under her and once again sweet, sugary morsels were snared.

Sarah, however, wasn’t interested in childish pursuits as she sat at Joe’s feet and watched him adoringly. So intense was her scrutiny that he felt a flush build at the base of his scalp and work its way onto his face. He smiled self-consciously as his arms continued to work.

“Adam,” Libby said as her jaws worked on a gumdrop, “where’ll our new house be?”

“Wherever your mother wants it,” Adam said as he pushed a silky red curl back from the child’s face. “But I figure you’ll all be happy with whatever spot she chooses.” His eyes flitted to each child’s face, and he grinned. “I know of some very nice places with lots of trees and fresh water.”

“Will it be a big house?” Royce asked eagerly.

“Well, it’ll definitely be bigger than this one. And Hoss is already working on a cabinet for the kitchen so you won’t have to take this old one along.”

“Pa built it when we first came,” Jake spoke up. “I even helped him with it.”

“Then we’ll just have to make the kitchen big enough for both of them, won’t we?” Adam said with a clandestine glance at Suzanne.

Her heart fluttered, it had been so long since a man had looked at her that way. The firelight shimmered in his warm, dark eyes and the corners of his fine mouth turned up into a smile that made them dance. He looked good and natural with a child in his arms – as had her Raul – and it made her ache with yearning. Her fingers tightened into the sack as his rich voice floated around her, though the words had become lost in a jumble of thoughts and feelings. “Isn’t that right, Mama?” A small hand squeezed against her arm. “Mama?”

Suzanne looked around into the bright, round face of her youngest son. “What, dear?”

“Isn’t it right that Papa would want us to be happy and safe, even if it was away from the house he built?”

“Yes, dear, very right,” she said as she took the boy’s chin in her gentle fingers. “Now, it’s getting late, and I think it’s time for all of you to be in bed.”

This was met with a collection of young groans.

“There’ll be plenty to do tomorrow, and I don’t want you falling asleep at your chores,” she went on. “Now scoot.”

“What about me?” Jake asked. “I am sixteen now, and I am the man of the family.”

Love shone in a mother’s face as she looked at her first-born. “That’s goes without saying, and I think you should.”

“And I’m a woman,” Sarah said as she came gracefully to her feet.

Those honey-colored eyes came around, and Joe couldn’t miss the meaning deep inside them. The churning stopped, and his hands clenched around the wooden handle. He was used to the fairer sex paying attention to him, but this one was still only a girl. He smiled awkwardly and found himself coming to appreciate what Adam had been through with Amelia Banning.

“I need for you to get the young ones to bed,” Suzanne said as she put a hand softly on her daughter’s shoulder, “and I think you should turn in too. I’m really going to need your help tomorrow, and you should be well rested.”

“All right, Mama.”

Suzanne kissed her on the cheek and together they herded the children into the bedroom. Once the door closed and the adults were left to themselves, she went to the rough cabinet her husband had made. She took out four mismatched glasses and handed out then took down the bottle of brandy. “I think this is the perfect way to close what has been a very productive day,” she said and removed the cork. “People don’t call as much as they used to and this is the perfect opportunity.” She filled Adam’s glass then Joe’s. “And to tell the truth, I’ve wanted to try this all day.” Then she turned to her oldest and pride radiated inside her. “You’re taking care of your family as a man, so I think you can have spirits like one. As long as this is as strong as it gets and you don’t over do it.” Aqua lights flitted in her mischievous eyes then she filled her son’s glass half full. After pouring her own she put the bottle back and turned to Adam. “Adam, would you mind making a toast?”

“I’d be honored,” he said as he stood and lifted his glass. “To friends, family and turkeys,” and his eyes flicked rakishly to Jake. “If it hadn’t been for that big ol’ gobbler and my own clumsy feet the Cartwrights and the Maddens might never have come together. And to lasting friendship and the warmth of hearth and home that we hold close and dear.”

Joe and Jake stood and glasses clinked and brandy was taken. Jake’s eyes watered as even the sweetness of the berries couldn’t mask the alcohol to his untrained, young palette. He fought back a cough lest he give himself away and act like a little boy. His mother had called him a man, and a man wouldn’t get strangled.

Adam didn’t miss it, and he knew that Suzanne and Joe hadn’t either, but no one let on. The boy was trying hard to fill his father’s shoes and fulfill his obligation to his family. Adam could remember doing the same when he was roughly the same age. He smiled secretively and basked in the glow of those with him.

SEVEN

The dawn came as always with the promise of a new day and better to come. The sky still bore the color of slate and the clouds seemed even more pregnant with the possibility of snow. Morning’s hush still hung about the land and over the trees like a heavy quilt.

It had been originally planned to stay only one night, but after a brief confab, Adam and Joe had decided that another day wouldn’t hurt. They knew they were running the risk of being caught in Mother Nature’s fury, but they felt they should stay and help out, and worse things could happen than being closed in with Suzanne Madden and her children.

A breakfast of fried eggs and ham with gravy, biscuits and plenty of butter and honey had made sure that no one walked away hungry. Now Adam, Joe and Jake were in the barn working it off with chores that they hadn’t gotten to the day before and the collection of more eggs and the morning milking. Decidedly male talk and laughter gave life to the rustic building.

Everyone was so busy that they didn’t notice when Libby wandered outside, but Adam certainly did when she came into the barn.

“Libby,” he said as he put aside the scoop that he had used to feed Rosie, the cow, “what’re you doing in here, and without a coat?”

“Everybody in the house was too busy,” she said as Adam lifted her up. “I thought you would see me.”

“Well, I certainly do,” he said with an amused grin.

“Libby, you have to go back in the house. It’s too cold out here,” her brother said.

“But I want to stay with Adam. He sees me.”

“Your brother’s right. It’s too cold out here for little girls without their coat and mittens. Now you wait right here while I finish up,” he said as he stood her down by the door, “then I’ll take you back inside.” He took his coat off and put around her then went to complete his chore.

As little ones are want to do, it didn’t take Libby long to get bored and restless. She began poking at things and exploring, though she didn’t stray far from her spot.

The child’s presence soon became lost as they continued to work.

After about fifteen or so minutes Adam turned – an old ax handle in his hand – and saw at once that the little girl was gone. “Where’s Libby?”

Joe and Jake looked at him then around them.

“She was right there by the door,” Joe said and took a deep breath. “But I’m not sure how long ago that was.”

“Musta gone back to the house,” Jake said with a shrug.

Adam felt an uneasiness squeeze his insides. He figured – hoped – that she had simply become bored and gone back into the house. But he knew only too well that taking anything for granted out here could get a person killed. As he stepped so that he could see out the doorway, his blood froze in his veins and his hand choked on the long piece of wood. “Libby,” he whispered.

His rapidly beating heart clogged his throat and drove him forward. As he did, Joe and Jake dropped what they were doing and followed him. Adam went dead in his tracks and held out his arm as they came up behind him.

The child stood trembling before them, the bulky coat threatening to swallow her, and her small fingers bunched around its lapels. Less than a foot in front of her was a large, gray wolf, saliva dripping from its canines and its low, menacing growl seemingly everywhere. The animal was more between them and her and one shot could easily hit her, of this Adam was painfully aware.

“Libby!” Jake shouted.

“Quiet,” Adam said with a wince as he pushed the boy back. “Don’t startle it. Libby, sweetheart, don’t move.”

“I’m scared,” she said in a tiny voice, her eyes never leaving the animal.

“I know you are, honey, but I want you to stay real still. Jake, when I tell you, I want you to grab your sister and run into the house as fast as you can and close the door.”

“But Adam…”

“Don’t argue with me, just do it. Joe, how fast can you use that thing?” Adam said with a nod to the pistol on his brother’s hip.

“Fast enough,” Joe said as he cautiously slipped the leather loop from the hammer, and his hand rested on the stock.

“I hope it is.” Adam gulped hard and raised the handle as he moved stealthily closer to the wolf. The crunching of his feet in the snow seemed like the echo of gunfire in a canyon. He had to get the beast’s complete attention and lure it from the child and only hope Joe was indeed ‘fast enough’.

Time slowed nearly to a stop and it felt like forever until Adam was in position. “Get ready, Jake, and Joe, don’t you miss.”

“I won’t, brother.”

Then the front door opened and Sarah screamed.

“Now Jake!” Adam shouted as he brought the handle down against the wolf’s flank.

The animal whirled – losing all interest in the girl – and snarled with pain and anger. Jake grabbed his little sister and dashed for the house. Joe’s gun cleared leather, and he took aim. Sarah was pushed back inside by Jake and the door slammed behind them.

Adam didn’t have time to think as the wolf lunged at him. He raised the club again and stepped back, but his foot caught in the snow, and he felt himself falling back. As he hit the ground the breath was knocked from him and a shot rent the crystalline mountain air. The next thing he was conscious of was the animal on top of him. His vision blurred and his fingers loosened on the ax handle and cotton filled his brain. A voice was coming at him through a fog and the pressure on his chest released.

“Adam, are you all right?”

Adam blinked away some of the gauze and looked into the concerned face of his brother. “Joe,” he rasped. “Did you miss?”

“I didn’t miss,” Joe said as he helped him to sit up. His eyes went involuntarily to the growing crimson splotch in the snow as it ran from the large furry body.

Adam rubbed the back of his neck and inhaled deeply of the bracing air. It invigorated and cleared his head and his eyes even more. “Libby?”

“Jake got her into the house. Now I think I need to get you inside too, and I don’t want any back sass. That thing landed right on top of you.”

Adam definitely wasn’t going to argue with him. This was one of those times that make a man’s life flash in front of him and it had left him more than a little shaken. “You won’t get any from me.”

“Good,” Joe said and helped him to his feet. He could feel his brother’s muscles quivering and couldn’t miss the trace of fright that still lingered in his eyes. Adam had never been one to let fear betray him, but after what had happened last summer, he held very little back. Joe imagined that this was the man that his brother had held at bay all these years and kept others from seeing, the true Adam Cartwright.

Suzanne opened the door and before her stood two men that she thanked her lucky stars had come into her life. She could see that Adam was shaken and his brother held a tight grip on his arm. A faint smile turned his lips and light glinted in his eyes. Without a word she stepped aside, and Joe helped him inside. She watched as he was led to the rocking chair and sat down. He pulled Libby into his lap and wrapped his comforting arms around her as she cried as only a badly frightened little girl could. Visions of Raul entered her head and it made her heart ache.

*******

Libby had cried herself to sleep against Adam’s chest and Jake – per his mother’s instructions – had put her to bed. Joe had then taken the five remaining Madden children on an outing with the pretext of taking the wolf into the woods to burry it in the snow, but Suzanne knew that it was really just to get them away from the house for a while.

Adam stood before the hearth absentmindedly jabbing at the logs with the poker. Suzanne could see that the aftereffects of what had happened were slow in letting go. She took a cup and saucer from the rough cupboard and filled it from the hot coffeepot then sat it back on the stove. Her petticoats and skirt swished softly as she went to him with light steps and held it out to him, but his attention remained fixed on the flames.

She gently touched his arm and her breath caught as his troubled eyes came around. He leaned the poker against the stone then took it and thanked her and took a sip as he looked back into the fire. She suspected that more than just the incident outside was on his mind. The time when he was thought dead the previous year and his experiences before and after returning home were not closely guarded secrets and were becoming legend in these parts. Jake had brought much back to her that he had picked up doing odd jobs in town and from the neighbors.

“Are you all right? Maybe you would like to talk about what’s bothering you?”

“I’m fine. It’s just not everyday that you come close to getting killed.” He took another sip.

Now she knew it was more, but she wasn’t going to pry. She sensed more about this man than she actually knew. That he was stubborn and strong willed and independent she already had knowledge of, yet she’d heard that the man that had returned to his family was in some ways very different. Dr. Martin – once when he was out late last summer for Ellis’ broken arm – had even commented about it when it came up more as an aside.

He put the cup and saucer down on the heavy oak mantle piece with a clink and simply stared at it.

“You’re a good man, Adam Cartwright. You saved my child’s life, and for that I’ll always be grateful.”

“Jake and Joe had something to do with it,” he said modestly and kept his gaze riveted to the cup.

“But it was your life that was the most threatened. You could’ve gotten yourself killed.”

“It would’ve been worth it,” he said as one side of his mouth crimped.

She put herself between him and the fireplace and looked into those haunted eyes and it awakened feelings in her deepest recesses and again her hand rested against his cheek. Before she really knew what was happening, her lips tenderly smothered his and they were warm and moist and bore the hint of coffee. Strong fingers dug into her shoulders, and she felt all that was womanly lost in their touch. “Raul,” she whispered as she put her head on his chest, but then her eyes flew open for this wasn’t Raul. She pulled back and looked into his face and saw only compassion. “I am so sorry,” she gasped as she tugged herself from his grasp. “I don’t know why I did that.”

“It’s all right, I understand. And it wasn’t the slightest bit unpleasant.”

“No, I…”

“I said I understand.”

She could see that maybe he really did. Her eyes squeezed shut as she rested the side of her head against his shoulder and tears broke free of her thick lashes, and his consoling arms went around her and held her against the loneliness.

A small patch of frost had been cleared from the window next to the front door and a pair of intense aqua eyes was locked right on them.

EIGHT

That night at supper things had pretty much returned to normal. Reinvigorated by her nap Libby had sprung back from her scare as most five-year-olds would, especially when made over by older siblings and adults alike. Sarah made sure that she got a seat next to Joe and couldn’t do enough to meet his needs. Jake, however, was quieter than usual for him and seemed to have little interest in his food. He pushed it around his plate with his fork and his gaze stayed directed down.

“Jake, sweetie, aren’t you hungry?” Suzanne asked.

“No, Mam,” he said hardly loud enough to hear as his head lowered even more.

She got up and went around to him and felt his forehead. “You don’t seem to be feverish.” Putting her hand under his chin she raised his face to her. “And you aren’t flushed. Do you feel bad?”

“No, Mam. I’m just not hungry for some reason.” His eyes darted piercingly toward Adam too quickly to be caught. “Can I be excused? I don’t want anymore.”

“But you haven’t eaten…”

Before she could finish he pushed away from the table and stormed out and slammed the door.

“Jake!” and she started after him but Adam stopped her.

“Let me do it. Sometimes a man just needs to talk to another man.”

She agreed, and he went after him. The nearly full moon cast its light onto the snow, turning it a cold, eerie shade of gray. It was deathly quiet and not a breath of air stirred. His mind was focused on finding Jake, though, and he took no notice.

As he stepped into the barn he lit a lantern hanging on a hook to the right of the big doors as he came in. Its soft glow threw shadows into corners and its flickering light gave life to things that had none during the day. The only other living thing he saw was Rosie, who was munching contentedly. “Jake.” But he was only met with more silence. “Jake, are you in here?” A scraping sound caught his ears, and he looked up as a sifting of hay fluttered down from the loft. With a crooked grin, he went to the ladder and started up. Upon reaching the top his eyes scanned the murky half light and they came to rest on a motionless form back against a wall. “No sense trying to hide now, you’ve been seen.”

“Go away.”

“Not until we talk about what’s wrong,” Adam said as he finished his assent. “And don’t try telling me that nothing is. I was sixteen too once, and I remember what it was like.” He went over and sat down next to Jake – crossing his long legs in front of him – but the boy refused to look at him. “You’ve been in a grumpy mood ever since you got back. Did something happen while you were gone?”

“It sure did.”

For some reason this raised Adam’s antenna and an idea nibbled at his mind, but he figured it best if Jake said it. “Talk to me, Jake.”

But he wasn’t about to and still refused to look around. He had been too wrapped up in enjoying the evening, especially Libby, but now Adam knew just exactly what the problem was.

“Jake,” he said softly and put a hand on the boy’s back.

“Why did you kiss my mother?” Jake stormed as he whirled about. “That’s right, I saw you!”

“I kinda suspected you had, and in point of fact, she kissed me.”

“Liar! She loves my dad!”

“Yes, she does, and that’s why she did it.”

“Liar! Liar! What else went on?”

“Nothing and I’m not lying. Jake, she still loves him so much that it makes her very lonely, and I just happened to be there. Do you know what she called me?”

“I know what I’d like to,” Jake said harshly as he jerked around again giving Adam the back of his head.

“She called me Raul. She may’ve kissed me, but in her mind it was him, and with her eyes closed it was easy to see him.” His arm moved around the boy’s shoulders. “Jake, you have to remember that your mother is still a woman and a very attractive one and someday you and your brothers and sisters will leave home. You’ll start your own lives as grown people and your own families, and she’ll be let alone…. My father met and married three women that he loved dearly, and the pain of losing them is something that’s still very much with him. Yet, even with us around, I know he gets lonely for somebody else to share his life with.”

Slowly, Jake looked at him and shadow hid his emotion.

“I think it would be good for her if she could find somebody, and I’d be willing to bet that it would make your father happy too. I don’t think he’d want her going through the rest of her life loving his memory instead of having somebody who’d make her happy. Don’t you?”

“I… I don’t know,” Jake stammered. “I never thought of it that way. I just always thought I’d be the one taking care of her like she’s always done for me.”

“Well, you think about it, and I think you’ll see that I’m right. So, now you’re not mad at me anymore?”

“No, I guess it just kinda shook me seeing another man kissing her.”

A lull slipped in and only Rosie’s eating and the cooing of a contented hen could be heard.

“Adam.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you love her?”

Adam grinned and gave him a pat. “No, but don’t get me wrong. She’s a fine woman and any man could count himself lucky to have her.”

“Like my dad.”

“Just like your dad.”

“Adam.”

“Yeah.”

“What was your mother like?”

There was another silence.

“I wasn’t fortunate enough to grow up with mine like you’ve been, she died giving me life, but my father’s told me about her, and I have a small portrait of her in my room. He didn’t want me going through life not knowing her.”

“Do you miss her, even though you never got to be with her?”

“More than I think anybody knows.”

“Would you tell me about her?” Jake said as he nestled into the soft hay. “I’d really like to know, if you don’t mind telling me.”

“I don’t mind,” Adam said and settled down next to him.

The soft voices mixed in with the sounds of the barn as anger and mistrust were replaced with friendship and understanding. Night continued to deepen as did the bond between two eldest sons.

*******

Adam and Jake were still deep into their conversation, though the subject had changed, when Joe’s head poked over the top of the ladder. “I bet you two are half frozen to death,” he said as he came up into the loft. He was carrying their coats and swaddled in his own. “I decided I’d waited long enough to bring you these,” and he held up the heavy winter garments. “What’ve you two been doing out here?”

“Just talking and getting to know each other better,” Adam said as he took the coats from him and handed Jake his. He began slipping his arms into the sleeves. “We had a little misunderstanding that needed to be straightened out, and one thing just kinda led to another.”

“What kinda misunderstanding?”

“I’ll tell you about it on the way home, that is, if Jake doesn’t mind?”

The boy glanced warily at Joe as he was buttoning up. “I guess it won’t hurt to tell Joe.”

“Speaking of home, I think we oughtta get a fairly early start in the morning,” Joe said as he stuck his hands in his pockets. “I was looking at that sky this afternoon, and I figure we’re gonna get hit again before long, maybe even tomorrow.”

“I couldn’t agree more, but for now, why don’t you sit down and join us? The hay’s good and warm and so’s the company,” Adam said and gave Jake a quick wink.

“Oh, really? Well, now I like the warm inside just fine. And the company’s a lot prettier than either one of you.”

“I have noticed how Sarah’s been staying around you an awful lot.”

Jake giggled and the green eyes flew in his direction.

“And you have to admit that she is a mighty pretty girl,” Adam went on. “Just about to turn fifteen in April isn’t that right Jake?”

“That’s right. On the eighteenth,” Jake said with a muffled snigger.

“You’re not one bit funny,” Joe said with a huff.

“I’m not trying to be, Joe,” Adam said as innocence fell over his face.

“Good, because you’re not makin’ it.” Then Joe whirled and went back down.

As soon as they heard him bluster out Jake fell back into the hay with rollicking laughter. Adam knew that maybe he shouldn’t have teased his brother about the situation, but he was just returning the favor. Both Joe and Hoss had given him seven kinds of grief about Amelia Banning and it was payback time. And it felt good just so long as nobody got hurt. The feelings of a teenaged girl bruised easily so they would have to tread lightly.

*******

The house had been dark for little over an hour when the wind began picking up. The silence of the night was displaced by its whistling through the trees and the soft sigh it produced as it brushed the snow-covered ground. Dark clouds played over the moon, only allowing it to peak briefly from their cover from time to time. Even the nocturnal denizens remained in burrows, dens and nests so as not to get caught in one of nature’s temper fits. Gradually, soft white flakes drifted lazily to earth to join their brethren already gathered there and nestled the Sierras in an additional blanket of white.

NINE

When Adam awoke he was slow to become aware of his surroundings. Jake had relinquished his place on the settee for Joe while his friends were there, and he lay not seven inches away, his blanket pulled over his head with only his face exposed and knees drawn to his stomach. Adam sat up from the floor with a grunt and riffled his fingers in his heavy hair, leaving it in black spikes.

“Mornin’, brother,” came in the form of Joe’s even voice from the darkness.

“Are you sure about that?” Adam said as he blinked away sleep. “How long’ve you been awake?”

“Long enough to know that we aren’t going anywhere this morning.”

“What’re you…?” Adam threw back his covers and – quick as his slumber-stiffened body would let him – groped his way to join his brother on the worn settee.

Joe was sitting sideways with one curtain pulled back and looking out. A shaft of vaguely discernable light was allowed to enter. Adam followed what he could make out of his brother’s gaze and a rock filled the pit of his stomach. He could remember watching Hop Sing sift flour for cakes when he was a boy and this reminded him of it. As they fell the flakes were so close together that a polar bear could have hidden among them.

“How long has this been goin’ on?”

“I don’t know it was like this when I woke up, and that hasn’t been long, but from what I can tell it looks like it’s been a while.”

Adam harrumphed and ruffled his hair again. “Hoss and Hop Sing are really gonna have their hands full with Pa if we don’t get home today.”

“Well, now, when he sees this he’s gotta expect us to stay right where we are.”

“Or imagine us buried in it just waiting for it to thaw so somebody can find us, if we got here at all. You know how he’s gotten.”

“And it’s all your fault,” Joe said lightly.

But Adam wasn’t amused and the muscles in his jaw tightened. “And I suppose getting near beaten to death was my fault too?”

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

Adam let out a breath and his body relaxed. “I know you didn’t. I’m sorry, Joe. But I do feel guilty for the change in Pa, for the changes in all of you.”

“Well, now, that wasn’t your fault. It’s not like you went looking for Vince Decker and told him to do what he did. But we’ll get through it; we always have in the past.”

“You know, as much as I love it out here there’s a small part of me that’ll be glad to leave.”

“Leave?” shot at them through the darkness.

The brother’s heads came around and they could only just make out a dark form coming toward them.

“I thought you liked here it with us?” Jake’s disembodied voice asked. “Or were you just saying that?”

“Of course I like it with you and your family, that’s not what I mean.”

“Then what do you mean?”

Adam was glad that he couldn’t see the boy’s face and catch the hurt that he knew was in those aqua eyes. “I’m leaving the Ponderosa… and the whole state of Nevada.”

The room went silent enough for a man to almost hear another’s heartbeat. The blackened silhouette stood before them as unmoving as a statue carved from marble and as mute.

“That gives us a whole seven months to work on ‘im,” Joe said brightly but nothing came back.

“Jake, I’ve lived out here for most of thirty-five years come May. I’ve never been married and when I do I’d like to settle down in my own life.”

“But couldn’t you do that here?”

“Not at this point.”

“You said something about being almost beaten to death. Does this have something to do with that?”

“I guess it does,” Adam said on a long sigh. “It opened my eyes to a lot of things.” He reached out and took what felt like a blanket-covered arm. “Now why don’t you sit down here with us and we can watch it snow together.”

“And talk?”

“And talk,” Joe put in.

They scooted apart to make room and Jake took a place between them. Three sets of eyes looked back out the window and Jake felt a strong arm go across his back. Since coming out here he hadn’t made many friends, living so far from even their closest neighbor and he hadn’t been in town much, even when his dad was alive. When he did go – always on Mr. Grubb’s barrowed horse – it was usually to work at some odd job or to fetch the doctor and not to socialize. But one of his friends was Adam Cartwright and his brother Joe had become another and now he was losing the former. He knew that distance wouldn’t take away that friendship, but it wouldn’t be the same, and he wished he could make things different though he knew he couldn’t

*******

By the time full light came dreary and weak as watered down milk the snow had slacked off to little more than a flurry. But – as Joe had said – they weren’t going anywhere. Through the night enough had fallen to fill in a lot of where they had dug out, though the trench to the front door was still partially there since the wind hadn’t been blowing so hard. Hopefully, getting out wouldn’t be so difficult or back breaking this time.

Again Jake had little appetite, but this time both Adam and Joe knew why.

“Mrs. Madden, Adam wasn’t exaggerating when he said you were one heck of a fine cook. I didn’t think anybody could make better biscuits than Hop Sing,” Joe said then bit into one.

“Thank you, my husband was always partial to them too,” she said as she spooned ham gravy onto her plate. “Do you think you’ll be able to start home today or can we expect to have you for another night?”

Jake’s fork hovered over his food as his eyes went straight to Adam.

“It’ll probably take us the best part of the morning to clear this out and if the snow picks up again that’ll fill it in,” Adam said as he cut up his ham slice. “And being on foot like we are we don’t want to get caught in it if we can help it. So I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”

“Well, if you do decide to stay I think today would be a good time to roast one of those ducks you brought, and Sarah could bake a molasses cake.”

Oh boys and goodies circulated around the table and Libby began bouncing in her chair and clapping her petite hands at the prospect.

“We may just stay anyway, whether it stops snowing or not,” Adam said with a devious twinkle to his dark eyes.

“Oh, please stay. It’s only for one more night,” Sarah begged as she looked at Joe dotingly.

Joe smiled at her and didn’t really taste the bite of egg he mechanically thrust into his mouth. He was afraid this would only get stickier as they went along, and the last thing he wanted was to hurt her. She reached out and placed her hand tenderly on his wrist. His fingers tensed on the handle of his fork and the food lodged in his throat and refused to go down. He was definitely going to have to talk with Adam about teenaged girls with crushes.

Adam ducked his head and hid his grin. The discomfort nestled deep in his brother’s eyes made his thoughts chuckle. Joe’s cute remarks and ribbing about Amelia were coming back on him. With a snort his head came around, and he caught Suzanne looking at him in an unguarded moment. Her cheeks turned rosy, and her head dropped, and she focused all her attention on the contents of her plate. The incident before the fireplace the previous day was still very much alive between them. He knew why it had occurred, and he didn’t fault her for her lonesomeness. He’d told her he understood and after all these years of being around Pa and having no one of his own to share his life with he could honestly say that. A jagged breath rattled through him, and he returned to his meal, though his appetite had been seriously damaged.

TEN

By the time breakfast was finished and the dishes done the flakes had stopped falling, and a hole had been poked in the overcast, allowing a shaft of pale yellow light to escape. The new snow took on the appearance of rich cream as the glow from above painted it. The boughs of the surrounding trees hung in unspoiled splendor and only the occasional animal track marked the frosty landscape.

Adam, Joe and Jake were already at work clearing a way to the barn again when nine o’clock rolled around. Things were proving to be a bit harder going since this snow was wetter and heavier due to slightly warmer temperatures.

Jake was in the process of laughing at something Joe had said when a firmly packed icy glob splatted against the side of his head, removing his hat. Some of it splashed onto Joe’s coat and elicited a cackle from its wearer.

The giggles and laughs couldn’t be missed as Jake looked quickly around at his three younger siblings. Irene, Royce and Ellis were standing at the end of the house and the boys were practically doubled in half with mirth. Their brother, on the other hand, wasn’t so amused and his brow knit into a scowl.

“I don’t have time for this,” Jake growled as he clawed the slushy mess from his hair. “We’ve got work to do.”

But he’d no sooner said that when another snowball caught him in the other side of the head. What he saw when his eyes came around was Adam standing there with the fingers of his gloves clenched in his teeth. The wet on his hands glistened in the sunlight and the look on his face bore not the slightest trace of guilt.

“Uh-oh,” Joe said as he took a couple steps back so as not to get caught in the impending retaliation.

Without a word Jake removed his gloves and stuffed them into his pocket then scooped up a handful of snow and began methodically packing. Soon a barrage of white projectiles was flying in all directions, and Joe was caught in the melee. He dashed toward the barn in self defense and began assembling his own arsenal.

Now general bedlam reigned supreme. One hit Adam in the back of the head, knocking his hat off, but he paid no attention to it as he turned and fired. His aim was deadly as he caught Joe square in the face who – in an effort to escape – tripped and fell.

“Oh, now you’ve done it, older brother!” Joe yelled as he began making his weapon.

Irene was in the act of gathering a handful of snow when Ellis ran over her in blind but gleeful flight and they both went down.

Jake’s hair was tousled into wet disarray. As he turned he found himself in the center with all attention on him. He was just starting to throw at no particular target when he was pelted by a sudden volley and few missed. “Hey!” he cried as he flung his arms over his head.

“All is fair in love and war!” Adam shouted.

Royce had pulled himself away from the others and was in the process of making a small cache of snowballs when he looked up and discovered that he was now everyone’s target.

Inside the house Suzanne and Sarah were busy with their chores for the day and Libby – who had developed a case of the sniffles – wasn’t allowed out, much to the child’s chagrin. The sound of laughter, whoops and shouts could finally be dismissed no longer.

“What on Earth is going on out there?” Suzanne said as she looked in that direction.

Without being asked to Sarah went to the window on the other side of the door. “Mother,” she said as she glanced back, “you ought to see this.”

Suzanne let the broom drop and rushed to Sarah’s side, Libby tagging after her. What met her was pure pandemonium. Snowballs were flying frenetically and some even managed to hit their marks. A small moan escaped her and her hand went to her mouth as Adam took a hit.

“Mama, can I see?” Libby asked as she tugged at her mother’s apron.

Suzanne gathered her up and turned so that the little girl could see. The three simply watched and couldn’t help laughing at the wild antics going on before them.

Suzanne hadn’t enjoyed herself this much in a long time and it swelled her heart with joy. She hadn’t stood and just watched her children play in a long time, and she had forgotten what a delight it was to behold. And to watch two grown men joining in the fun like oversized schoolboys made her feel like a child again, and she wished she could do the same.

*******

Even after the fray ended and Adam, Joe and Jake made themselves go back to work – with Irene, Royce and Ellis helping out – snowballs continued to be exchanged from time to time. When the combatants eventually tramped in wet, cold and exhausted with reddened hands and cheeks, a pot of coffee and cups of hot milk liberally sprinkled with nutmeg awaited them. The fireplace quickly became the most popular spot in the house and they got as close to it as they could without singeing themselves. Sandwiches of hot ham were made and gone after eagerly.

“Boy, this sure does taste good,” Jake said as he took a bite.

“And after you finish, young man, I want you to go to the smokehouse and get one of those ducks.”

“Yes, Mam.”

“Well, now we haven’t exactly said we’re gonna stay,” Adam said with a sly smirk.

“The sun is a little dim and could disappear at any time,” Joe said as he took a slug of his coffee. “Even if we start out after we get done eating it’ll be even later…”

“And it’ll be well dark before we get home,” Adam picked up. “I can just imagine what that’d do to Pa.” He shivered. “His two roaming sons coming home in the black of night in weather like this.”

“We’d get a bawling out that’d take the bark off a tree,” Joe added.

“For sure.”

“Then you’ll stay?” Sarah asked as she sidled closer to Joe.

“I think we’d better,” Adam said with a grin.

This met with hearty approval from the youngest members of the Madden clan.

“Wonderful,” Suzanne said as her eyes met with Adam’s. “And for dessert we’ll have that molasses cake. Sarah is a wonderful baker.”

“I’m sure she is,” Adam said over the rim of his cup.

Jake couldn’t miss the look that passed between Adam and his mother, but he couldn’t be sure what it was. His friend had told him that he didn’t love her, and she still loved his father, and he’d believed him. He took a sip of his coffee as he watched them. Maybe they didn’t know how they felt, he’d heard of it happening. And maybe it was something completely different. Maybe it was only loneliness, he’d heard of that too. He turned to Joe who he could see had caught it just like he had. He still wasn’t sure he cared for the idea but he was after all, a man now, and he would have to let his mother decide for herself. And this was Adam.

*******

The enticing aroma of roast duck filled the house from rafter to floorboard and intermingled with those of molasses, spices and cooked vegetables. It was enough to make anyone’s mouth water and their belly eager with anticipation.

Joe pulled a chair out for Suzanne then took his place between Sarah and Irene.

“Adam, would you lead us in Grace?” Suzanne said as she took the hands of the children on either side of her.

“I’d be honored to.”

Hands were clasped around the table and heads lowered.

“Oh, Father, we thank thee for thy bounty that has been placed before us and for thy blessings. We thank thee for one another and for thy love which sustains us. And thank you for family and friends and home and let us always return to them when we are parted. Amen.”

Joe could feel the lump coming into his throat. He knew what was on Adam’s mind and it was something he didn’t like thinking about. It would be spring in a few short weeks and summer would follow quickly after and when that season was ending it would mean his brother’s departure. He watched as Adam carved the duck and passed out luscious dark slices and realized that this could possibly be the last time he would see him do that.

Someone asked Joe to pass the mashed parsnips – a gift from the Cartwright’s root cellar – and brought him from his ruminations. He did so obligingly then began filling his own plate.

“So, when are you leaving in the morning?” Suzanne asked offhandedly as she cut up Libby’s meat.

“Right after breakfast,” Adam said as he took up some of the leather britches. “We need to get back home and it’d be better to get caught in the snow in daylight than after dark.”

“Do you think it’ll snow again?” Jake asked as he tore off a bite of bread and poked it into his mouth.

“Can’t really say.” Adam poured buttermilk into his glass from the earthenware pitcher. “This time of year things can be pretty unpredictable. But it’s better to play it safe than die regretting your decision.”

“And Pa’s probably pretty well beside himself by this time,” Joe said with a skewed grin. “I figure Hoss and Hop Sing really have their hands full after this long. We were only supposed to be gone one day. I bet he thinks we’re buried in a drift someplace.”

“That really isn’t funny.” Suzanne’s fine brows knit together as she filled her youngest daughter’s glass. “I was so worried about Jake when he went out at Thanksgiving. I imagined all sorts of terrible things when he still wasn’t home by dark. Parents that don’t worry about their children aren’t worth the salt it would take to pickle a moth.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” Joe said with a quick glance at his brother.

“But by a blessing he ran into your brother, and if I’d known then what I do now, I wouldn’t have been worried at all. It was a fine day when the Cartwright and Madden families came together.” Suzanne’s eyes darted from one brother to the other. “A fine day indeed.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Adam said with a smile.

“Mama,” Libby started around a bite, “how do you pickle a moth?”

Conversation was quickly replaced with laughter. Libby – knowing that she was the center of attention – beamed from ear-to-ear.

*******

Adam was just finishing spreading their blankets in the floor when Suzanne came out of the bedroom. Her soft bluish-green eyes went about the room as she came toward him.

“Where are Joe and Jake?”

“They’re outside making sure everything’s fastened up tight.” He plumped the two pillows. “Wolves and cougars sometimes have it hard finding food when the snows come and wouldn’t think a thing about stealing a chicken or breaking into the smokehouse. And Rosie would make a fine feast.”

“I would hate for that to happen. It would be hard without a cow and the children would grieve so. She came all the way from New Hampshire with us, and she’s a part of the family.”

Words ceased, and he watched her as she sat on the end of the settee next to Joe’s pillow and folded bedding.

“Adam.”

“Yeah.”

“About yesterday.”

“Yesterday’s gone and it’ll soon be tomorrow.” He brought his legs up in front of him and wrapped his arms around them. “You were here, and I was here and, well, sometimes these things just happen.”

“But I…”

“No,” he said and held up his hand. “You weren’t kissing me, I know that…. And I explained that to Jake.”

“Jake?” she said as her eyes went wide.

He grinned sheepishly and rubbed his nose. “He saw us.”

“So that’s why he was so quiet last night. I just figured something had happened while they were gone.”

“So did I at first, but he was so mad at me it wasn’t hard to figure out. After I laid things down for him, though, he understood, so he said. He’s a grown man now, so I just talked to him like one.” He leaned forward on his legs. “But this is just between you and me. He might decide to talk to you about it,” he snorted, “but I didn’t.” That single eyebrow rose, and his roguish eyes glittered.

“You didn’t say a thing.” The corners of her mouth curled. “And if he says anything it’ll be news to me.” She stood and started for the bedroom then stopped and turned back to him. “Thank you for all you’ve done and for being a friend to my son and saving my daughter’s life.” Her smile deepened. “Now I know that all the good things I ever heard about you are true…. And I’m glad the worst thing wasn’t because if it had been I never would have known such a good man…. Good night.”

“Good night…, Suzanne.”

The light from the fire lit her aqua eyes, and her sensuous lips pulled into a pensive bow then she went into the bedroom and closed the door.

Adam took a deep breath. Since he’d first met this woman it hadn’t been lost on him how easy on a man’s eyes she was, not to mention how well she filled out her clothes. He knew she had been a good wife to Raul Madden and was a wonderful mother, he could see that without paying much attention. And when he was around her she did arouse certain manly sensations in him, but love wasn’t one of them. He hadn’t lied about that to Jake, and he didn’t think he was lying to himself.

The sound of Jake’s and Joe’s voice’s drawing closer made him look toward the front door. Locking his fingers behind his head, he laid back on his blanket. No, he didn’t think he was lying to himself.

ELEVEN

The sun hadn’t even topped the trees when Adam and Joe came out of the house followed by seven Maddens. The sled had been brought from the barn and was waiting. Adam finished tugging on his gloves and Suzanne handed him a fair-sized, cloth-wrapped bundle.

“This is going to taste good along the way,” he said as he placed it on the sled.

“This snow makes the distance longer and a man gets hungry. And Sarah insisted on putting in some of her molasses cake,” Suzanne said as she brought her heavy shawl closer around her.

“Joe liked it so much,” Sarah said as she looked dreamily at the younger Cartwright.

“It was the best I’ve ever eaten,” Joe said with a meek grin.

Libby squeezed past the legs of her family and walked up to Adam and pulled at his coat, and he picked her up.

“Can I come with you?”

“I wish you could, sweetheart, but your mother needs you here. But when warmer weather comes you’ll be coming to live in your new house, and we can visit more often. Would you like that?”

The small head nodded furiously and the red curls bobbed.

“Good,” he said and handed her over to her big brother. “And I might even be able to find a pony that likes being ridden by little girls.”

“A pony? Oh, goodie,” and she clapped her petite hands.

Adam stepped closer to Suzanne. “I wish we could stay longer but we really need to get back to the house.” He took her hand and clasped in both of his. “Pa’s probably paced holes in the floors as it is.”

“Maybe we can repeat Thanksgiving, but this time you and your family’ll come to my house, and I’ll do the cooking.”

Sadness fleetingly streaked through Adam’s eyes.

“Adam, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.” His finely sculpted mouth turned at one side. “I’ll let Jake explain.”

“I will,” Jake said as he tightened his grip on his little sister.

“And I know you’ll do a good job of it,” Adam said and gave him a pat on the arm. “Watch after ‘em.”

“I will.”

“Now we’d best get going. We’re racing the weather,” his dark hazel eyes turned up to the sullen sky, “and I don’t cherish the idea of possibly getting caught in a snowstorm.”

He kissed Suzanne on the cheek, and her fingers knotted in his grasp. As he moved back his brother moved in and shook her hand.

“It’s been a real pleasure, ma’am, and I don’t think I’ve eaten better. Adam was right about your cooking.”

“Well, anytime you want to come back, the door’s always open.”

“I’ll do that.” Then he moved to Jake. “Adam’s already told you to take care of your family so I won’t. But I am gonna say that your Pa’d be real proud of you.”

Jake thanked him for that then Joe stepped to Sarah. The cold winter light warmed in his emerald eyes as he looked at her then – without a word – he gently took her chin in his hand and kissed her lightly on the cheek. As he joined Adam the girl’s hand went to the spot.

After a minute of silence the brothers started off, Adam dragging the sled behind him. Waves and ‘good-byes’ followed them as they moved on. With a last look back and a final wave they trudged forward.

“That was nice, Joe,” Adam said as he turned to him.

“I learned from the best.”

With a shared laugh and a slap on an older brother’s back they continued on their way, the sound of their snowshoes swishing over the surface of the frozen terrain. It was still early and it was a good thing, because this was going to be a long journey, even with the lighter sled. And they could only hope they didn’t run across anymore hidden caves.

*******

The hazy sun was almost directly overhead when they decided to stop and eat the food that had been packed for them. They sat side-by-side on the sled and Adam handed him a sandwich. Joe held it up and took a good smell then bit into it. The cold duck mingled with the home baked bread and sent delightful sensations through his taste buds. He hadn’t eaten but one strip of brittle jerky since breakfast, and his stomach welcomed this and clamored for more.

“Adam,” he said as he scooped up a handful of snow, “You said you’d tell me about that ‘misunderstanding’ you had with Jake.” He put it into his mouth and let it melt. “What was the problem? I thought you two were good friends.”

“We are, but even good friends can have misunderstandings. You oughtta know that by now.” Adam’s eyes twinkled mischievously as he bit a corner from his sandwich.

“I do,” Joe said as his brows lowered. “But that still doesn’t tell me what was wrong.”

“All right, but this is to go no further than the family. I wouldn’t want the busybodies in town to start any gossip that could hurt Suzanne.”

“You have my word on it.”

“That’s good enough.” Adam turned his attention back to his food and hesitated to go on. “He saw me and his mother kissing.”

Joe froze, caught in mid-chew, and his eyes shot around to his brother. “So that’s what the looks between you and her were all about. Who, I mean… which one of you…?”

“I’m not one to kiss and tell,” Adam said with an ornery smirk.

“Very funny,” Joe said around a mouthful. “Was it you or… her?”

“Well, let’s just say that after she did it she called me Raul and then couldn’t apologize fast enough.”

“It didn’t…”

“No, Joe, it didn’t happen again, and we didn’t want it to.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Relatively. Now let’s finish up and get moving,” and he gave Joe a smack on the arm. “We need to give Hoss and Hop Sing some relief.”

“I don’t have any doubt about that.”

The brother’s sank into their meal with gusto. There wasn’t time for anymore words; they had to get going again. Home and family and a warm fire beckoned.

*******

The return trip home was uneventful and they made good time so it was still broad daylight when they rounded in. Much of the yard had been cleared and a tunnel dug from the front porch. Pa and Hoss and the men had been hard at work while they were gone and now they didn’t have to scramble around on the roof like mountain goats. Hoss came out of the barn just as they stopped in front of the house, Joe now pulling the sled.

“Boy, am I glad to see you two,” he said as he came toward them.

“I just bet you are,” Adam said as that eyebrow rose. “How’s Pa been?”

“How’d you expect ‘im to be? You was sposed to be back two days ago. It’s not as bad as it used to be, but it’s bad enough. Everything he could think of that could o’ happened, he did. I thought Hop Sing was gonna brain ‘im with a skillet a couple times.”

“Sorry about that, but there was a lot to do.”

“So how’s the family?”

“They’re just fine. That Libby’s growing like a weed, and Sarah’s sweet on Joe.”

“No foolin’,” Hoss said with a broad, gap-toothed grin.

Joe’s brow wrinkled, and his mouth set as he put the sled aside.

“I guess you’re not the only one who’s irresistible to women,” Hoss went on and gave his little brother a poke in the ribs.

“Ha, ha, ha,” Joe said caustically as his eyes narrowed.

“Well, now Joe, you thought it was funny when it happened to me with Miss Abigail and then Amelia,” Adam said as he rested a hand on his youngest brother’s shoulder. “Now the boot’s on the other foot and it pinches just a little bit, doesn’t it?”

Hoss laughed and his nose crinkled.

“I wouldn’t laugh,” Joe said crossly, “it’s your turn next. And don’t you laugh either, ‘cause I could tell some things on you too.”

“Go ahead, Joe, I’ve got nothing to hide.”

Joe had just opened his mouth when the front door cut him off

“Well, well, well,” Ben said briskly as he rushed toward them with his arms wide, “when did you get back?”

“Just as few minutes, Pa,” Adam said and gave Hoss a quick wink. “Did you miss us?”

“Oh, not much,” Ben said robustly as he got between his newly returned sons and put his arms around their shoulders. “I knew you two could take care of yourselves. Now let’s go into the house. I know you’re both chilled to the bone, and you can tell us all about your visit while you warm by the fire. Hop Sing just made a pot of coffee and has a fresh batch of doughnuts.”

“Sounds good, Pa,” Adam said.

“Were there any problems?”

“Not much, Pa,” Joe said as he was steered toward the door along with his brother. “But we’ll tell you all about it.”

As they went inside Hoss shook his head and followed after them and closed the door. Adam and Joe were back and now things could settle down to a more normal routine. At least for now, for with the passage of time Stretch became a more prominent member of the Cartwright family, and his rascally inclinations more a force to be reckoned with. But right now all that mattered to a father was that his sons were home, safe and sound.

THE END

RETURN TO LIBRARY