"This can't be happening!" Joe Cartwright's thoughts screamed at him as he sat at his brother's bedside, holding vigil over the heavily bandaged body of his oldest brother. This was all his fault--how could his father, let alone his big brother ever forgive him for almost killing him!
As he watched the steady rise and fall of Adam's chest, the previous several hours played over in his mind yet again. He tried to analyse again. 'Why didn't I remember to stop him?' It was just supposed to be a joke...a stupid practical joke! If things had played out as planned, Adam would have fallen off his horse and gotten muddy. He wasn't supposed to be lying here unconsious, almost totally swathed in bandages!
Much to the dismay of both Ben and Adam, Hoss and Little Joe had been embroiled
in a "practical joke" war for the better part of a week when Little
Joe decided it was time to drag his eldest brother into the fray as well.
A little dab of axel grease on each stirrup and just a touch of hog lard
on the pommel, and Adam was almost certain to make a "not so graceful"
dismount before he even got started! In Joe's mind, he was always so smug
about his riding ability, he needed to be taken down a peg or two. He had
heard him say often enough that he could never be thrown by any animal he
wasn't trying to break, bout time to prove him wrong!
EARLIER THAT MORNING AT BREAKFAST
"Boys" started Ben as he wiped his mouth with his napkin and retrived his coffee cup. "Since the rains have been so heavy for the past few weeks, I need you to forgo your normal chores for the rest of the day..."
Joe's grin broadened at the thought of spending the day in Virginia City. "Gee thanks pa! You mean we get the day off?!?" he interrupted, not realising his father was still talking.
Hoss and Adam exchanged glances. They knew the direction their little brother's mind was running but wisely chose to remain silent.
Ben shot a warning glare toward his youngest, squashing any further exuberance. "...and check out the herds in the southern and eastern pastures. The area around those particular locations tend to flood and the rains may have caused some problems. If you see anything that needs fixing, make note of it and we'll make plans after dinner tonight to deal with it tomorrow."
"Sure thing pa." Said Adam as he wiped his mouth with his napkin and placed it on his now empty plate. "I'll take the eastern section since it's the worst." He pushed his chair from the table as he stood to leave, addressing his brothers. "I'll leave it to the two of you to decide who goes with me, but hurry up. I don't want to be out in this mess all day." With that, he headed toward the barn to saddle his hourse.
Joe and Hoss watched him leave. "Yes sir Mr. Bossy Boots!" Said Joe sarcastically as he saluted the now closed door. He seem to have forgotten that his father remained.
Ben cleared his throat. Joe cringed, realizing his mistake as he turned back to his father. "I suggest you heed your brother and get a move on young man."
"Yes pa." said Joe quietly as he stood to leave.
"Joseph." Ben stopped them as they started toward the door. "In the interest of family harmony, I think you should go south and give your brother a wide birth." Joe just looked confused. He couldn't remember any reason to avoid Adam at present. Ben continued, "If you decide to get froggy and pull one of your asinine pranks on him, he may try to kill you, and I can't say that I'd blame him one bit!"
Joe just grinnd at his father, the mischeviousness shining in his eyes. "If you insist pa. I promise to behave...for now." With that he ducked out the door before Ben could say anyting further.
Joe stopped short on the porch, causing Hoss to barrel into him, almost knocking him off the steps. "Warn a feller next time Joe!" Abmonished Hoss as he grabbed his arm to keep him from falling into the yard.
"Sorry big guy." He apologized. "You go on ahead Hoss, I forgot something up in my room." he said as he turned to re-enter the house.
"OK but hurry. I'll saddle your horse for you."
"Thanks" yelled Joe as he ran back through the door.
-------------------------------------
To save time, Adam had saddled both brother's horses once he had finished with his horse, Sport. Just as he finished tightening the cinch on Cochiese's saddle, Hoss entered the barn, water dripping off his ten gallon hat.
Adam grinned as he watched his big, little brother shake like a dog, trying to dislodge at least a portion of the rain water dripping off his slicker.
"Many more days like this and we're all goina grow gills!" Hoss fumed as he slapped his ha against his leg before placing it back on his head. "Pa decided it'd be safer for Little Joe ifn I went with you instead of him."
Adam remained silent as an eyebrow arched questioningly as he looked in Hoss' direction.
"Pa figured ifn Joe pulled another of his silly jokes on you, you'd probably toss him under the nearest ornery bull and watch him get stomped on!" A small laugh bubbled up from the other side of the stall.
A chuckle erupted from Adam. "If you ever tell Joe this, I'll have to hurt you but...in hind sight, some of the jokes were a bit funny."
"You mean like the cookin' grease in my hat?"
"And the itching powder in your long johns!"
Hoss chuckled quietly. "Good thing he didn't know you was helpin' me get back at 'em! I never would have thought of sewing the fly closed on his underwear...or his head gettin' so big it wouldn't fit in his hat no more!" The brothers fell silent for a moment, each fondly remembering the aformentioned incidents.
"By the way." Started Hoss, sobering for the moment. "What did you do with the rest of them hats like Joe's? We wouldn't want him to find 'em and put two and two together."
"Don"t worry." Laughed Adam. "I know they cost me a small fortune to have made but, I burned them out in the north pasture. The rain has long since washed away all the evidence!"
"Good thinkin'." Hoss said in appreciation as he thought once again that his big brother had to be the most devious person he had ever met! 'I'd hate to have him for an enemy!' he mused as he took Chubb's lead.
The brothers pulled their slickers closer around their necks and their hats further down on their heads before taking their respective mounts and exiting the barn. Neither noticed the figure hidden in the shadows of the first stall.
"So that's it!" said Joe to no one in particular as he stepped from his hiding place once he heard hoofbeats leaving the yard. Something about Adam's well schooled features over the past few days told Joe it was time for a little eves dropping on his brothers. He knew Hoss wasn't devious enough to think of some of his retaliatory strikes.
"I should have known Hoss had help...they had Adam written all over them!!!" A mischevious twinkle appeared in Joe's eyes as he watched the trail his brothers had just taken.
"Well Mr. High and Mighty," he said to the back of Adam's long gone horse, "...looks like you're going to get drawn into this if you want to or not!"
As he brought Chochise into the yard, even the most casual obsever could see the wheels turning in his head as he continued his one sided conversation with his most trusted companion...his horse, as if the animal could understand. "OK Cooch, this has to be a good one. What do you suggest?" As if in answer to Joe's question, the horse made a slight sidestep, causing Joe's foot to miss his stirrup. As a result, Joe landed on his butt in the mudpuddle he was standing beside.
"YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING ANIMAL! LOOK WHAT YOU DID YOU..." Joe stopped in mid rant. "...absolutely BRILLIENT creature that you are!" He gave Cochise a hearty pat on the muzzle as he stood. "This'll be one major shot to his ego won't it?" After picking up what he would need, (a small container of axel grease), he was on his way, a new spring to his step. Now all he had to do was complete his section and go "help" his brothers.
As it turned out, Joe's section needed very little and he was soon able to finish his assigned tasks and leave the area. As he reached the area where Adam and Hoss were working, the rain had lessened to only a steady drizzle and the sun was threatening to break through the clouds. Hoss was the first to notice his approach.
"Hey little brother, where'd you come from?" he yelled from his postion atop his horse.
Adam eyed him suspiciously. "That was fast, are you sure you did everything you were supposed to?"
Joe rolled his eyes at the accusations but, his mood remained upbeat because of the prank about to unfold. He knew Adam was just as miserable and grumpy as the rest of them. "Yep...it doesn't take me as long as it does you old folks to finish anything." He quipped, hopping to throw them off guard.
Adam smiled in spite of himself. "Careful you young 'whippersnapper' or us 'old folks' will toss you in that mud hole over there and leave you!"
'Perfect!' Thought Joe as he took note of the mud puddle Adam threatened him with. 'Now, how can I get close enough to him to grease his stirrup?'
When the sun broke through the clouds, Sport unwittingly provided an opportunity. Joe was on the ground, removing the ropes from a hefer that had gotten trapped in the mud. He handed the rope to Adam with his right hand.
"Here you go big brother, don't say I never did anything for you!" While he was talking, his left hand slipped lightly over Adam's stirrup and on the bottom of his boot, coating each.
"My aren't you the helpful one today." Remarked Adam. His suspicious side kicked in. "OK, what did you break and how much is it going to cost me to get it fixed before pa finds out?"
Joe finged a hurt look. "Can't I do something for my beloved oldest brother just because I care? Can't I do something just because I can?" Joe placed his hand on his chest for dramatic effect.
Adam and Hoss exchanged glances before turning back to their little brother. "NO!" they replied in unison. Even Joe burst out laughing.
"I hate to burst you laughing (old) hyennia's bubbles but...for once...I'm just in a good mood."
The brothers continued to work side by side for the next couple of hours "relocating" stuck cattle, inspecting the fences, and just generally enjoying each other's company. Adam never had a reason to get off Sport and Joe all but forgot about his prank.
"Hey Adam, we 'bout done here?" called Hoss as he approached
from the area near the bog where he'd been removing yet another cow that
didn't know any better than to try to walk through the mud. "I've been
smellin' Hop Sing's Hong Kong Mulligan and biscuits for the past hour and
I'm a starvin' clear down to my toenails!"
"Didn't Adam tell you before we left?" piped in Joe, trying to
turn serious.
"What?"
"Pa wants us to camp here tonight and finish up in the morning. He said he'd send a supply wagon on toward dinner time."
Hoss and Adam turned their horses toward home. "You can sleep out here in the mud and the sludge if you want little brother but we're going home. I'm almost as hungry as Hoss at this point. Besides," he said, tapping Hoss on the end of his nose. "have you ever known that nose to be wrong about Hop Sing's cooking?"
"Good point." Conceded Joe as he rode along side his brothers. The three cantered off toward home in companiable silence.
-------------------------------
It all happened so fast, it took several hours to figure out what actually happened. As the horses rounded the barn, the ranch hand working on the wagon tripped over the handle of the pitchfork lying on the edge of the wagon, knocking it off. When he stumbled, the bale he was moving flew out of his hands and landed on the ground, directly in front of Sport, causing him to rear in fright. Normally, it would have been no problem for Adam, the most skilled horseman in the area, to remain in the saddle but...with the greased stirrup, his feet slipped out. He pitched forward, his left ribcage connecting with the pummel.
With the wind knocked out of him, he was tossed from the saddle, his head slamming into a nearby corral post. His unconscious body fell limply to the ground beside the wagon, sliding several feet before comming to a complete halt, face down.
Before he stopped moving, Hoss and Joe were off their horses, rushing to theif fallen brother. Joe reached for his shoulder, intent on turning him over to assess the damage.
"Careful Joe!" Cautioned Hoss, stopping him from further movement. "He took some pretty hard whacks!"
"Don't you think I don't know that?!?" He screamed, knocking Hoss' hand off his shoulder. "You check that side, I'll get this one, then we'll turn him over." The two worked together, checking Adam for broken bones.
"He's got a good sized goose egg on the side of his head." said Hoss, setting back on his haunches. "Guess that's why he's still out." Joe didn't appear to be listening. He laid a shaking hand on Adam's hair.
"Has anyone gone for the dr.?" No response. "Joe! Has anybody gone after the dr?" Joe was in a daze, his eyes revited to Adam's inert body.
"I sent Jasper just as soon as he landed." Said Howard,the ranch foreman. He felt partly responsible as he ws the one who tossed the bale in front of Sport. "Since Joe's pretty much out of it at the moment, you want me to help you turn him over?" He asked Hoss.
Hoss noted Joe's behavior, but his concern for Adam pushed it to the back burner for the moment.
"Yea Howard." he said positioning himself at Adam's head. "Get down their beside Joe and let's turn him over." Howard moved to kneel beside Joe and placed his hand on Adam's hip and legs.
A low, menacing growl came at his right elbow. "Get your hands off my brother!"
"What?"
Before anyone could stop him, Joe landed a fist in the man's face, all but breaking his nose. "I SAID KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY BROTHER!" Howard sat back in stunned silence, he wasn't sure how to react.
Hoss grabbed Joe's shoulders over Adam's body, forcing him to look him in the eye. "What's the matter with you boy? We ain't got time for this!!!" He yelled in Joe's face as he released one shoulder and pointed to Adam's head. "Now get up there and steady his head while we turn him over got it?!?"
He didn't wait to see if Joe obeyed his orders, but moved to Adam's mid section with Howard.
When Adam's body was turned, the men got an even greater surprise. His chest was a blood soaked mess! Somewhere in the midst of his tumbling, Adam connected with the completely forgotten pitchfork, the prongs puncturing his upper torso. On the plus side, the weight of his body kept the prongs from going in any further and puncturing his lungs. On the negative side, the prongs had dug four evenly spaced trenches over his entire torso, alternately making evenly spaced deep puncture marks. He had lost a lot of blood but, due to his position, it had soaked into the muddy ground unnoticed.
A strangled cry erupted from Joe as he pulled Adam into his arms. "I'm so sorry Adam...I'm so sorry Adam...I'm so sorry..." he kept muttering to himself as he buried his face in Adam's hair and rocked back and forth.
"Joe we gotta get him into the house!" Joe was totally focused on Adam as he continued to rock his big brother back and forth, his arms wrapped protectively around him. "JOE! We gotta get him in the house!"
Hoss laid his hand on Joe's shoulder as he attempted to get his attention. "Joe we have GOT to get him in the house and cleaned up before the doc gets here!"
While Joe's attention was on Hoss, Howard attempted to take Adam from him. When he noticed another pair of hands on Adam, his arms tightened protectively around his body. "Touch him again and I'll kill you where you stand!" he growled, fire shooting from his eyes, bright with tears.
Hoss was at a loss. He had to get Adam inside, and the only way he could see to do it was to knock Joe out and take him away from him. As he mentally prepared himself to raise a fist against his little brother, he heard a horse rapidly approaching.
--------------------
Ben, having seen one of his ranch hands from the ridge above the house in a flat gallop headed toward Virginia City, felt his heart leap into his throat. His fatherly instincts told him that this time it was one of his sons.
The scene that greated him as he rounded the barn was a total shock! He wasn't sure what he was expecting, but this wasn't it. Joe sat on the ground, his arms wrapped around Adam and his face buried in his hair. Hoss, with his fist drawn back, was apparently about to hit his little brother and Howard was standing behind Joe preparing to catch Adam before Joe hit the ground. And Adam. Ben's heart lodged in his throat. Adam lay in his brother's arms unconsious, his face ashen, and his chest covered with blood. In other words...he looked dead.
"Hoss what's going on?" demanded Ben, knealing beside Adam,
almost afraid to touch him. "What happened to your brother? Why are
you trying to knock out your little brother?" The questions just kept
tumbling out.
.
Hoss dropped his fist, the relief at seeing his father evident in his face.
"Pa!" he exclaimed. "You gotta help me! We gotta get Adam
in the house and Joe won't let go of him!"
Ben turned to Joe who had yet to take in his father's presence. His face was still buried in Adam's hair.
"Joe." Ben prompted gently, placing a hand on his son's head to get his attention. Tear filled eyes greated him.
"I killed him pa! He's dead and it's all my fault! I killed him..."
Ben spoke gently, "Joe he's not dead. Let Hoss take him in the house so we can take care of him till the doctor gets here...ok?" He spoke gently, as if addressing a small child. "Can you do that for Hoss?"
It took a moment, but Joe finally loosened his grip and held Adam's body slightly away from him. Hoss grabbed the opportunity and pulled Adam into his arms standing with ease. Adam's head fell backwards. Joe gently lifted it and laid it on Hoss' shoulder, his forehead against Hoss' neck.
"Thanks pa." he said with a small smile. To Joe, "Come on punkin, go open the doors for me so you and me can take care of big brother here."
As Hoss laid Adam on his bed, Hop Sing appeared at the door of his bedroom with clean towels and a bowl of hot water. He also carried a bucket of cold water on his arm. "to take care of large lump on head."
Just as Ben and Hop Sing began to clean the dirt and blood off Adam, Dr. Martin appeared in the doorway. He wasn't surprised when no one answered the door at his knocks. Having spent almost as much time with the family in the house for one son or the other, he let himself in and followed the sound of voices upstairs to Adam's room. He immediately took charge.
"Hoss, Joe, can you wait downstairs please?" Without a word, Hoss took Joe's arm and steered him toward the door. After they left the room, "Ben, I know you want to be here for Adam but, it'll be easier for me and I can work a lot faster if you wait downstairs and let Hop Sing help me. Besides, it looked like Joe needs you right about now."
Against his better judgement, Ben agreed. With a parting caress to his son's cheek and a kiss to the forhead, he left the room knowing Adam was in the best of care.
Downstairs he found Hoss sitting on the hearth, his chin resting on his steppled fingers. his eyes resting on Joe.
Joe was sitting in Adam's chair, the chair's cushion hugged tightly to his chest.
Ben was preplexed to say the least.
"How's Adam?" asked Hoss, noting his father's appearence.
"Dr. Martin said he'd call if he needed anything." Watching Joe a moment he finaly asked, "How long has he been like this?"
"Since the second Adam stopped moving."
"Can you at least tell me what happened? I know what kind of a horseman your brother is and, quiet frankly, this doesn't make sense."
"Near as I can tell (it all happened so fast), Howard and Jasper were unloading the hay wagon. Howard stumbled on the pitchfork on the edge and knocked it off. From there he lost the bale he was moving and tossed it off the wagon. It hit the ground in front of Sport just as he got close to the coral fence. From there it just don't make no sense to me."
"What do you mean?"
"Joe just kept muttering something about killing him and asking him to forgive him."
Ben turned to his youngest but decided it was a waste of time. "Hoss, once we know what's going on with Adam could you dig around a little and see if you can figure it all out?"
"OK pa."
A noise from the top of the stairs interrupted any further discusion as three sets of hopeful eyes turned to Hop Sing. As he made his way to the foot of the stairs, he stopped in front of Ben.
"Dr. Paul said he need to see you right now." he said, balancing a load of bloody towels as he made his way past.
Ben's heart lodged in his throat as he took the stairs two at a time, stopping only when he reached his eldest's bedroom door. He paused, opening the door quietly for fear of disturbing his son.
With the blood and dirt cleared away, he looked much better but, to Ben, he was still deathly pale. He approached the bed cautiously and picked up the only part of his son that wasn't covered in bandages...his left hand.
He raised qustioning, distraught filled eyes to the dr. to find...laughing eyes looking back at him?
"It's ok Ben." Laughed Dr. Martin. "Trust me he won't break!" Ben looked puzzled.
"I've always suspected that this family had a guardian angel but Adam's just proven that you have a whole slew of 'em!"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, as bad as he looked when I got here, I sent you out of the room because I honestly doubted I could do anything for him." Ben's eyes returned to his son as he gripped the precious hand a little tighter.
"The argument with the fence post has given him a nasty concussion and he's going to have to stay in bed for at least a week with it."
"What about the bloody mess his chest was in? How much damage did the pitchford do?"
Dr. Martin cleared his throat, turning serious. "That's the thing." He started. "From the trajectory of the fork, it should have punctured the corated artery in his neck." he pointed out the area on Adam's throat. "And if it had...he would have bled out in less than a minute...there's no way to stop it."
Ben paled a he clutched the precious hand to his chest. "Instead, it deflected off his collar bone and, as it traveled down his chest, it bounced off at least six of his ribs, preventing it from puncturing his lungs. Granted the fall broke his collar bone and cracked his ribs but none of the tracks made by the fork were even an inch deep. They won't even have to be stitched, just bandaged."
Ben raised hopeful eyes to his friend, "You mean..."
"I mean he's going to be just fine." Said Paul gently, looking the distraught man directly in the eye. "and once he wakes up with the mother of all headaches, he isn't even going to want to get out of that bed for a while." As he stood he pulled several packets of white powder from his bag. "When he wakes up, you can give him one of these for pain. Just be careful and read all the directions because this stuff can be addictive."
Paul sobered a bit, changing the subject. "I know what kind of horseman Adam is, do you have any idea what happened?"
"From the explanation I got from Hoss, it sounds like a freak addicend but...who knows."
Paul snapped his bag shut to leave. "Well...my work here is done." he said, striking a dramatic pose, trying to lighten Ben's mood. "If you need me, you know where to find me."
"Thanks Paul."
"Any time."
"Could you send the boys up on your way out?"
"OK but he needs his rest so don't disturb him...any of you!"
Joe and Hoss made their way up the stairs to their older brother's room. The boys entered the room to find Ben sitting quietly at Adam's bedside holding his hand, watching him sleep.
"Pa?" adked Hoss quietly as he took the other chair. Joe stood at the foot of the bed, staring at Adam's bandage wrapped body.
"Dr. Martin said he's going to be OK!" said Ben, finally looking up. It looked as if a hugh weight had been lifted from his shoulders. "Aside from six cracked ribs and a broken collar bone he has a concussion."
Hoss breathed a sigh of relief, "That's great pa! He had me plumb scared there for a while."
Joe continued to stare.
"Joseph?" no respone.
"Joseph?" asked Ben again, quietly approaching his youngest with caution. "He's going to be alright." he laid a finger on his son's cheek and turned it so he had to look him in the eye. The love and compassion he found there made Joe want to crawl into a hole aand die! How was his father going to feel about him when he found out he was the reason his first born was lying there covered in bandages that he was the reason his big brother was almost killed?
"Then why won't he wake up?" he asked, his voice cracking. It didn't go unnoticed by Ben.
"He has a severe concussion son, it could be hours before he wakes up." he explained putting his arm around Joe's shoulder. "Now, why don't you and Hoss go downstairs and have some dinner? I'll stay here with your brother for a while."
"OK" chimed in Hoss as he stood to leave. "Come on little brother." Joe allowed himself to be led from the room once again.
------------------------------
Several hous later, Hoss and Ben sat in the great room, each lost in thought.
"Have you figured out what's eatin' Little Joe yet pa?" asked Hoss finally. "I can't figure it out. He's been with Adam through gunshots, broken bones, that time last summer when that Booth gal and her husband tortured him almost to death*** and he was always, ALWAYS cool as can be and did what needed to be done. Now he ain't nothin but a basket case!" Ben just shurgged.
The discussion was ended by a knock at the front door. Hoss opened the door to find Howard, the ranch foreman standing on the other side, hat in hand, twisting it nervously.
"Howard!" exclaimed Hoss as he stepped aside to allow him entrance. He turned to his father. "Pa I asked Howard to check around and see if he could figure out what happened."
Ben brightened, "That's an excellent idea! Howard, what did you find out?"
Howard hesitated, not really sure if he wanted to continue. "Howard?" questioned Hoss.
"Hoss, Mr. Cartwright..." he began, continually twisting his hat in his hands. "I'm not really sure how to tell you this but...I...uh..."
"Spit it out man!" exclaimed Ben. He was getting more frusted by the moment!
"Sir, there was axel grease all over Adam's saddle."
"And?" asked Ben. This was getting confusing.
"I wouldn't have thought anything about it," Howard said, "but it was almost an inch thick."
Ben was still confused. "Mr. Cartwright this was deliberate. Somebody wanted Adam to come off that horse!"
Ben was speechless. Hoss laid a hand on Howard's shoulder, getting his attention. "I ain't disputin' your word Howard, but could ya show me what you found? I want to see for myself."
"Sure Hoss. If you'll excuse me Mr. Cartwright." Ben continued to stare after the retreating figures, his mind working continuously, trying to figure out who would want to harm his son. He'd just have to wait for Hoss to get back.
------------------------------
Twenty minutes later, a very troubled Hoss reentered the house. He walked straight past his father, not even acknowledging him, and straight to the hearth.
"Son?" Ben prompted gently, placing his hand on Hoss' back.
"Well, pa." said Hoss, his eyes remaining on the fire before him. "Everything was just as Howard said it was. There was enough grease on Adam's stirrup to send him half way to Reno!" Hoss turned to face his father. He held out his hand to Ben. "Pa, there's something else." He handed Ben a small container. "I found this in Joe's saddle bag."
Ben held in his hand a small jar. He could see the grease still inside, but wasn't prepared to accept what he knew to be true.
"Pa, it looks like Joe put the grease on Adam's saddle." Hoss explained quietly. He didn't want to blame his little brother but, knew his father would want the whole truth.
"You mean to tell me Joseph did this to his brother?" he asked quietly, his eyes never leaving the container.
Hoss could see the anger slowly building in his father's eyes even though he wasn't looking at him. "Yessir." he mumbled.
Ben's fingers closed tightly around the jar, almost crushing it. "Joseph did this to his brother?" His voice increasing in volume with each word out of his mouth as he turned to his middle son.
"Now pa..." Hoss started moving to lay his big, beefy hand on Ben's back. Ben shrugged it off.
"HE DID THIS ON PURPOSE!!!" Ben's voice reverberated all through the house. Even with Adam's door closed, Joe still heard. It would have been impossible to miss! He know his father would hate him now...heck, he hated himself! Once again his impulsive nature won out against his better judgment, and now Adam was paying the price for it.
Joe leaned forward on the bed, Adam's hand tightly clasped between his own as he spoke to the still form in front of him. "I'm so sorry big brother." he cried, tears streaming down his cheeks as he pressed the charished hand to his lips. "It was only supposed to be a joke to get back at you for helping Hoss!"
Unfortunately, with the door closed, Joe couldn't hear the rest of the conversation from downstairs. Ben was still fuming as he paced back and forth in front of the fireplace, trying to calm down.
"Now pa" ventured Hoss from his postion on Adam's chair. "do you honestly, in your heart of hearts think for one minute Joe would do anything to hurt Adam on purpose?" he could see some of th fire leaving Ben's eyes. "You and I both know he loves that big monkey up there more than anything. Heck, he hardly even argues with him anymore and, if you ask me, he only does it now because Adam expects him to!"
Ben chuckled, "You're right son. What I saw when I rounded the barn scared me so badly, guess I didn't think." he looked to Hoss, his stance totally relaxed. "Ya know son, I'd say 'out of the mouths of babes', but I don't think you qualify anymore."
Hoss laughed as he stood. "You got that right!" he patted his father on the back on the way past. "I'm gonna head on up to Adam's room and see if he's awake yet."
"Think I'll go with you, I'd like to know myself."
--------------------------------
The two of them entered Adam's room to find Joe's head leaning on Adam's bed apparently asleep. Adam was wide awake. His face showed the obvious pain he was in, but he continued to watch is little brother sleep.
Ben went immediately to Adam's bedside and picked one of the packets left by Dr. Martin. "how are you feeling son?" He asked in a stage whisper as he read the packet directions.
Trying not to disturb Joe, Adam answered almost as softly. "Like Sport and I went ten rounds with a whole herd of Jigger Thuramn's bull...and lost!"* He spotted Hoss standing behind his father. "Hoss could you take 'Sleeping Beauty' down to his room please? I want to talk to pa."
"Sure thing brother." Smiled Hoss as he slipped his arm around Joe's waist and picked him up as easily as if he were still a small baby. "Glad to see them purty eyes open again!" he said as he left with a still sleeping little brother in his arms.
By now, Ben had completed mixing the drug for Adam and was preparing to lift his head so he could drink it. "That's not laudnum is it?" Adam eyed the glass suspiciously. "You know that stuff gives me nightmares!"
"No it's something stronger. It's Morphine. Dr. Martin said it would help with the killer headaches you obviously already have." he said pointedly, noting the pain etched on his son's face.
"Not yet pa." he said, raising his only unbandaged hand to stop him. "Not just yet. I want to know what happened?"
"What do you remember?" he asked tentatively.
Adam smiled. "Telling Joe he could camp in the mud and sludge if he wanted to but Hoss and I were hungry and going home." His smile faded. "the next thing I remember was waking up to the sound of Joe crying 'It's all my fault' and feeling like I got caught in Hop Sing's laundry wringer!"
"I'll make a deal with you." said Ben standing by the bed with the glass still in hand. "You take this and I'll give you the condensed version before it takes effect. After you wake up, I'll tell you the full story...ok?"
"Sounds fair." he concided as he allowed his father to lift him to a more comfortable position. "But I know you, I want more than 'you had an accident'!"
Ben laughed, "Ok, how's this? It was a freak accident and Joe's convinced he caused the whole thing because he tried to pull a practical joke on you." He laid his son back on the pillows and pulled the covers up to his chin. "and THAT my darling hard headed first born is all you're getting until AFTER you wake up!" Ben got a mischevious glent in his eye as he leaned closer to Adam's head. "and since you're too weak to get away from me this time..." he planted a kiss on the unbandged side of Adam's forehead.
"Yes papa." Grinned Adam as he eyes slid shut. If his father was joking around, it couldn't be too serious.
-------------------------------
When Adam once again opened his eyes, the sun had gone down. The glow from the lamp on his bedside table eluminated the figure of his father as he sat, reading one of the many books from Adam's rather extensive collection.
"Pa?" he asked weakly. Ben was instantly at his side.
"How do you feel sleepy head?" he joked, filling a glass of water for Adam.
"Like I only tangled with a couple of ornery steers! Guess that means I'm getting better." he said as Ben helped him to sit up so he could drink. "What time is it?" he asked, glancing out the window.
"About 1a.m." Ben answered as he sat back in his chair. "I made Joe go to bed about a hour ago. I had to promise him I'd be here with you the rest of the night."
"Wow, this must really have him worried. Are you going to finish the story now?"
Ben spent the next hour replaying the day for Adam, including his reactions when he came upon the scene in front of the barn.
"Wow." was all he could think of to say. "No wonder he was so far gone when I first woke up."
"What do you mean?"
"Remember when I accidently shot Joe when we were after the wolf up on Mont Pelier?"** Ben nodded. "I went through the same thing, only it wasn't a joke, it was stupidity plain and simple."
"Nobody blamed you for that, least of all Joe."
"I knew that...after a while. At the time, I was so far gone that, if you remember, I fully intended to leave the Ponderosa and go back East with Sheila Reardon."
"Yea, the only thing that stopped you was Joe."
"Just hope I can do the same for him." Adam groaned slightly as he shifted positions, his face loosing some of it's color.
"Are you alright son?" Asked Ben, instantly worried. "Do you need something for the pain?"
"No" breathed Adam, "Just give me a minute."
"Can I do anything to make you more comfortable?"
"Yea." grinned Adam. "Get me a really long stick so I can scratch under all these bandages!!!"
Ben laughed aloud as he began to scratch lightly on the bandaged parts of his son's chest and shoulder. "Sorry, but this is all you get for now." Ben continued the motion, watching as Adam relaxed back into sleep. Once he was in a drug free, healing sleep, Ben made himself comfortable in the overstuffed chair by the window. He knew Adam would be alright by himself, but he wanted to be close by just in case he needed anything.
-------------------------
The next morning, Ben awoke to the sounds of a muted conversation between his two oldest sons. He knew he was eves dropping on his sons but, pretended to still be asleep and listened.
"He's afraid to come in here Adam, he thinks you hate him."
"That's the most ridiculous thng I've ever heard!"
"He also thinks pa hates him. He heard part of the conversation between pa and me yesterday when we first found out wat happened." Ben inwardly cringed.
"He was in here, and he heard what you two were saying DOWNSTAIRS?"
"Pa was upset."
"Oh." Everyone knew when Ben Cartwright was upset, he could be heard almost all the way to Virginia City.
"Let me guess the rest of it...pa calmed down before Joe heard the rest of the conversation, and hasn't spoken to pa yet?"
Ben made a mental note to speak with Joseph before breakfast. He decided it was time to let his sons know he was awake and raised a hand to rub across his face.
"Good morning boys." He said as if he'd seen them for the first time.
"morning pa." said Hoss turning away from the bed. "Sorry if we woke you. I just wanted to see if 'clutsy' here was awake yet."
Adam swated him with his unbandaged hand. "Now brother was that nice?"
"No." admitted Hoss with a grin. "but it was fun!" To his father, "Pa, I'm going down for breakfast, do you want me to bring yours up with Adam's?"
"Sounds good, but send Joe up with it. I think it's time the three of us talked."
Hoss seemed almost relieved. "Sure pa. Maybe between the two of you, you can keep this one in bed!" he ducked out the door as Adam's pillow bounced off the door frame.
"Ya missed." he laughed, sticking his head back in the door long enough to lob the pillow back to the bed.
"Remember you 'Missouri Mule' I won't be in this bed forever!"
Ben watched his middle son's retreating back as he made his way down the hall, thinking once again how blessed he was to have his sons around him. When he turned his attention back to the bedridden son, his smile vanished. Adam had lost all color, his left hand was cluching his ribs atop a blood soaked bandage.
"Adam what's wrong?" He demanded moving his hand aside to get a better look. Blood had seeped through one of the bandages.
Adam was breathing rapidly. "Don't think I should have thrown that pillow at Hoss." He breathed through the pain. "Think I broke something loose again!"
Ben picked up one of the morphine packets from the night stand. "let me mix one of these up for you. Maybe it'll stop some of the pain till Dr. Martin can get here."
"I'd prefer you didn't." Ben heard from the doorway. Paul had just arrived to check on Adam and perhaps have a morning, breakfast visit with an old friend. Looked like breakfast would have to wait.
"I'm sorry Adam," he started as he came on into the room and set his bag on the chair Ben had just vacated, "but I need you fully consious and aware to find out what the problem is." Adam just nodded, in too much pain to move.
Paul turned toward the door. "Joe I know you're still out there." Ben looked to Adam in surprise. They had forgottn about trying to talk to Joe, and this wasn't going to help their case any.
"Run downstairs and get Hoss and get back up here." Continued Paul from the doorway oblivious to the exchange. Joe still hadn't come far enough into the room for his father to see him. "I'm going to need both of you and Hop Sing for this."
"Paul what's wrong?!?" Ben demanded anxiously.
"Well." started Paul, removing his jacket as he spoke. "If I had to venture a guess, and since it ws only yesterday that this happened, I'd say when he lobbed that pillow he jarred one of his broken ribs out of alignment and it moved far enough to break open one of the slashes on his chest." He laughed at the almost identical looks he ws gettting from the bed. "Don't worry you old mother hen. I was on the way out here to go over some instructions with the whole family anyway."
"Until his chest heals a bit, his ribs are going to have to be re-wrapped daily and, I'm sorry Adam, but it's going to hurt."
By this time, the rest of the family had arrived and were gathered around the foot of the bed. With a quick glance at Joe, Adam noted the red rimmed eyes and the splotchy face. He made a mental note to talk to Joe as soon as the dr. was finished.
"Now" Paul continued, oblivious to the exchanges going on around him. "Hop Sing I need a stack of fresh bandages for his chest and bindings for his ribs. Ben, Hoss, I want one of you on each side when Hop Sing gets back to gently-and I do mean gently lift him off the bed. Joe, I want you next to your father to help me cut the bandages away, it'll take too long to unwrap them."
At that momnt Hop Sing reappeared at the door with an armful of bandages. Dr. Martin appeared surprised. "That was fast!"
Hop Sing flashed a knowing smile as he laid the bandages on the night table. "Hop Sing here while boys grow up...always have closet full of bandages ready."
"Good man. Ok everyone into position." Joe moved to the head of the bed next to his father. He pretended to be busy with his scissors so he didn't have to look at either his father or his brother.
"How you doing Little Buddy?" Adam asked quietly, trying to get his attention.
"Fine." mumbed Joe playing with the scissors.
"When we get through here stick around for a few minutes ok? We need to talk."
Joe looked at his brother expecting to see blame and lothing in his eyes. Instead he found love, concern...and pain. The pain he'd caused. The pain that was going to keep him confined to that bed because of an unthought out practical joke! A tear made it's way down his cheek. He wiped it away, hoping no one noticed. Adam did.
"Ok gentlemen." Paul interrutpted Joe's thoughts, "let's get started. Hoss, back of his head and below the collar bone. Ben just below Hoss on his neck and under his shoulder, closer to his spine..." Ben followed his instructions. "Ok working together on three, we dont want any more of his ribs moviing--and one, two, three...gently now...lift."
The color drained from Adam's face. "Paul can't we give him something for pain?" Asked Ben, hating to see his son suffer.
Paul shook his head. "It would take too long to kick in and we need to get this done as quickly as possible." he said monitoring his patient. "Now gentlemen, this is what we'll have to do on a daily bases for at least the next week. By then, his chest should be healed enough not to have to change the bandages daily."
The doc and Joe cut the bandages up each side so they could be peeled away from Adam rather than taking the time to unwrap. Next Dr. Martin and Hop Sing cleaned and re bandaged his chest while Ben and Hoss held him steady and Joe stabalized his broken shoulder.
Ben watched Adam's pain wracked face. "How you holding up son?"
"Fine." he breathed through clenched teeth. "Just don't expect me to dance any jigs for the next day or so."
"Now Big Brother." interjected Hoss trying to get his mind off the pain for a moment. "You and me both know you'd be out bustin broncs with Joe tomorrow if pa'd let you!"
Adam looked at Joe. "What do you think Joe?" He asked breathing through the pain. "Do you think we could talk pa into letting me back on a horse anytime soon?"
By now Dr. Martin had finished enough of the bandaging that Joe could release Adam's shoulder. Joe looked into his brothher's laughing, pain filled eyes. He mumbled "excuse me" and bolted from the room.
"What was that about?" asked Paul, looking up from his task for an instant. With Hop Sing's help he finished the last of the bandages. "Ok men, lower him back to the bed." he mixed up a glass for him as he settled back ont the pillows. "I'm going to give you something to take the edge off the pain. It'll probably knock you out until tomorrow morning."
"Can it wait until I talk to Joe?" he asked, wanting nothing better than to just gulp it all down in one drink and slid into pain free darkness.
"Fraid not son." said the doc. "You'll have to wait until morning to talk to your little brother." Ben lifted his head to help him down the bitter liquid.
Dr. Paul?" called Hop Sing from the doorway with both arms full of bandages. "Since whole family not eat breakfast and miss lunch, would you like to stay for early dinner?" he looked to Ben for approval. Ben nodded.
"Sounds good Hop Sing, what are we having?"
"For you Dr. Paul I make roast pork and sweet potatoes For family who can't make it for big breakfast Hop Sing make...cold eggs!"
Adam drifted off to sleep to the sounds of a room filled with laughter.
------------------------------
Ben finally found Joe, sitting in the loft against a bale of hay, staring out the window toward the house. He didn't even seem to notice his father's approach as he twirled a hay stem in his fingers.
"It's all my fault pa." he said, not looking at his father. Ben could hear the pain filled pleading of a little boy, his voice cracking on the barely restrained guilt and tears. "All I've ever hear from you for years was to be careful, one of my jokes was going to get somebody hurt but did I listen? Of course not...I knew better..." he continued rambeling, the tears unashamedly making their way down his cheeks as he threw the hay stem toward the wall. "Just because I wanted to pull one over on him for helping Hoss! All that was supposed to happen was his foot slip when he got off and he fell on his butt in the mud." he chuckled slightly. "Can you imagine the look on his face when the 'graceful one' landed butt first in a mud puddle?" The smile faded. "Instead of dirty, he's lying in that bed, wrapped in bandages, in pain...and I put him there..."His voice faided as he decended into tears. "I almost killed him!" he sobbed, covering his face with his hands.
Ben, who had remained silent up to this point, wrapped his arms around his son and pulled his head down to his shoulder. He held him for a few moments, letting him cry out his pain and anguish as he rubbed his back, trying to comfort him.
"I know you're mad pa." Joe said, finally raising his head to look at his father.
Ben's heart went out to him.
"I heard you and Hoss talking yesterday when you first found out." Ben just looked confused. "You were very--VERY mad. You were yelling loud enough for me to hear you in Adam's room."
"Oh." said Ben, finally understanding. "Son," he stared, laying a hand on Joe's shoulder to steer him toward a bale and set down. "Now, I know I've talked till I'm blue in the face to you about your pranks getting out of hand and now," he gestured toward the house and Adam's bedroom window, "I think you understand why."
Joe looked away as he plucked another hay stem.
"I also know you love your big brother and wouldn't do anything to hurt him, especially this badly, on purpose. As Hoss so aptly pointed out to me yesterday, this was an accident, a freak accident that no one...and I do mean no one, least of all you...could have seen coming."
"You don't hate me?" he asked, looking hopefully into his father's eyes.
Ben could have cried. He sounded so much like a lost little boy again. "No son, I do not hate you. You pulled a small prank by your standards, that took on a life of it's own and it ended with horrific results but...I do not hate you."
Joe smiled slightly, wiping the tears from his cheek as his gaze returned to the upstairs window he'd been staring at since he'd retreated to the loft. "What about Adam?" He spoke so softly, Ben almost didn't hear him. "I'm not sure I can face him again after what I've done to him."
Ben sighed as his gaze followed his son's to the upstairs window. "He doesn't remember anything past giving you permission to camp out in the mud yesterday." A strangled cry came from his left elbow.
"I told him everything last night. Know what? He does't blame you, Joe. he wasn't angry; he wasn't upset; and most of all...he...does...not...hate...you." Ben stretched each word for emphasis. "As a matter of fact, he's worried about you."
"About me? Why?"
"Because he's been where you are. He knows what you're feeling." Joe was confused. "He couldn't."
"The only difference is you didn't have to perform surgery on him after shooting him."
A sudden light of understanding lit Joe's face. "That wasn't his fault pa. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Ben smiled slightly. "In other words?"
"It was an accident." Finished Joe, a new light of understanding crossed his face. He felt somewhat better after their talk, and tried to put on a brave face for his father. "I'm still not sure I can face him just yet."
Ben patted him on the leg, "You've got a slight reprieve tonight." he said as he stood to leave. "The pain killers Paul gave him knocked him out cold. He'll be asleep until sometime tomorrow morning."
-------------------------------
When Adam opened his eyes it was the early, predawn hours. His bedside lamp was turned low, but cast just enough light to see Joe propped in the chair next to the bed, snoring lightly.
"Joe" he called quietly. He didn't want to startle his brother, but he was badly in need of a drink of water. Joe continued sleeping. He moved his unbandaged hand to the one resting on the bed beside of him. His hand brushed joe's. Joe was instantly awake and at Adam's side.
"Sorry to wake you Joe."
"That's alright." he breathed, wiping the sleep from his eyes. "What's wrong?"
"I just need a driink of water." Joe helped him to rise far enough to drink, then settled him back on the pillows." "What time is it?"
"About 2:30" said Joe looking to the bedside clock. "Now, close your eyes and get back to sleep." he ordered.
Adam grinned as he settled back on the pillows. "Yes papa." he said. "What about you?" he asked, "You need sleep too."
Joe laughed, propping his feet once more on the chair in front of him. "You know me, I can sleep anywhere."
"Good point."
--------------------------------
The next morning, Joe was relagated to bringing Adam his breakfast so the two of them could talk while they ate. They talked about anything they could think of including about the accident. Joe appologized yet again and Adam forgave him yet again; and as far as Adam could tell, put it behind them. They even formed a new sort of bond, stronger than before.
Each day after Adam's bandages were changed and the pain killers wee adminstered (if needed), Joe stayed with him until he fell asleep. Each morning, when he awoke, Joe was at his bedside. He read to him, and attended to his every need.
On the fourth day, Dr. Martin declared that Adam's chest was sufficently healed. "And if your vision stays clear, you should be out of that bed in a day or two."
Adam looked hopefully at the dr. "There's only one of each of yu now and the pain's only annoying...can I get up for a while now?" he looked at his father's skeptical face.
"If you promise to take your brother with you, I guess an hour in the sunlight wouldn't hurt."
Adam's face beamed as he tossed the covers off. Joe stepped forward to take his arm.
Ben stopped him. "Ah, no offense son" he said, "but if he' going outside, I'd prefer Hoss go with him. That way if something goes wrong, he can just carry Adam back inside." Joe looked a little crestfallen but understood.
With his robe tied tightly around him and Hoss firmly ensconced at his side, Adam slowly made his way down the stairs and toward the front door.
Ben, Paul, and Joe watched from the landing. "You think he's gonnna be ok Pa?" asked Joe anxiously. Ben smiled. Joe reminded him for all the world of a parent letting their child go out into the world for the first time alone, not their 12 years senior big brother!
"Yes son," he answered, saying a silent 'thank you' to the heavens toward their guardian angels, "I think he's going to be just fine."
----------------------------
Hoss and Adam made their way slowly across the yard toward the barn, greating the hands returning from the range for the day.
"Well Adam!" greeted Howard as he dismounted in front of the barn and tied his horse to the coral fence. "You sure look a whole lot better than you did the last time I saw you!"
"Thanks Howard...(I think)." Smiled Adam.
The two of them made their way to the coral fence to watch the horses. Sport,
seeing Adam trotted over to stick his head through the fence to say hello.
Adam absently stroked his muzzle, his mind lost in thought.
"What's the matter big brother? Gettin' tired already?" asked Hoss preparing to steer him back toward the house.
"Not just yet Hoss, I need to ask you something."
"What's on yer mind?"
"Joe. This whole incident shook him up more than a little didn't it?"
"Yea it did. he's still not totally convinced you don't blame him for the whole thing. He's spending all his free time trying to make it up to you."
"Yea. he's agreeable, he's attentative, he goes out of his way to make sure I have everything."
"Hoss."
"Yea?"
"I want my wise cracking, prank pulling, argumentative little brother back! This one's driving me nuts! Want to help me snap him out of it?"
"How?"
"Let me think on that one for a while?"
Hoss laughed as he steered him back toward the house, thinking once again that his brother had to be the most devious person he'd ever met. With time on his hands to think...this should be good! "Come on big brother, you've been out long enough for a first visit."
----------------------------
The next few days continued on pretty much as the days before with Joe Adam's almost constant companion.
"Ah Joe?" started Hoss, sticking his head into Adam's room, "You have a visitor."
"Who is it?"
"That you'll have to see for yourself." he said. He looked a bit nervous as he scratched his head. "Pa's downstairs talkin' to her right now."
'Her?!?' Thought Joe. He hadn't been to Virginia City for a while, who could it be? When Joe got to the landing, he saw his father sitting on the settee talking to a female seated with her back to the stairs. From what he could see of her from the back, she appeared to be the dreaded Laura Dayton!
'What could she possibly want with me?' thought Joe as he made his way down the stairs. He had no desire to be even civil to that...woman after what she had done to Adam!****
Ben stood as Joe entered the room. "Joe...son...you have a visitor." he said hesitantly as he indicated the lady in the chair.
Joe sighed as he braced to greet Laura. he stopped in his tracks. This was a total and complete stranger! She looked a bit familiar, but he couldn't be sure. She wasn't unattractive but she was...unusual looking to say the least.
"I don't believe we've had the pleasure ma'am?" said Joe extending his hand to her. "I'm Joe Cartwright."
The woman jumped to her feet. "Oh Joe, you kidder." she laughed as she threw her arms around him. "I can't believe I'm finally here after all this time!"
Joe was stunned to say the least. "Uh, ma'am who are you?!?" he asked, extracting himself from her arms.
Ben excused himself, anxious to extract himself from the area. "I think you two have a lot to talk about. I think I'll go see to the lady's horse." Wtih that, he was gone.
"Oh Joe." she cried, "how can you be so mean to your darlin' Lula Belle?" she whimpered with a pronounced southern accent into her handkerchif. "I have your letter right here askin' me to come to Virginia City so we could be married!"
She handed joe the letter in question. It was indead in his handwritting but, he didn't remember writing it, who this woman was, or ever having met her! He circled behind the sofa, still reading. According to this, he had indeed asked her to come!
"Forget that silly letter Sweet Cakes!" said Lula Belle, appearing in front of him. "let's get on to the fun stuff!" Her arms shot aroun him once again, but he ducked before she could get a firm hold on him. He backed away, circling the furniture, afraid to turn his back on her!
"What's the matter honey?" she asked, closing in on him. "You weren't shy the last time we were together!"
By this time, Joe was backing toward the door. This was the first time he'd ever ran from a woman, but at this point he was more afraid of her than his reputation! Besides, his friends weren't here to see his flight, no one would know about it!
As he backed out the door and down the steps, that accursed woman stayed right with him. Lucky for him he knew the layout of the area, so he didn't have to watch were he was going!
As he backed off the last step however, he stumbled over two buckets of honey that had been left for Hop Sing by one of the hands.
When Joe stood, he found himself covered in the sticky substance, but didn't care-she was still right behind him! He fell to the ground again, this time in the area where Hop Sing had just fed the chickens so he was now almost completely covered in the chicken feed where it stuck to the honey.
Considering most of their food was now on Joe, the chickens joined in the chase, pecking at Joe, in whatever area they could reach that had their food still stuck to him!
As he swatted the chickens away from him, he ripped his feed encrusted shirt off and threw it to the ground, distracting most of the animals as he continued his retreat toward the barn.
It suddenly occured to him that he heard a distinctly male laugh that sounded awfully familiar. When he turned back to Lula Bell, he found the laughing face of his 'friend' Mitch Devlin!! He stood with a blonde wig in his hand. He'd even shaved off his mustache for this!
"Mitch?" questioned Joe.
"Don't blame me!" Mitch laughed as he pointed behind Joe. "It was their idea!"
Joe turned to find Adam standing by the barn door, supported by Hoss on one side and his father on the other.
"GOTCHA!" The shouted together!
THE END!