ETTA (by ansinico)

 

Hoss and Joe were on Adam even before he made it down the stairs. Adam was more concerned with the whereabouts of Etta. When told she was using the bath house, he put his brothers mind to rest. Telling them that Pa was fine and had gone back to sleep. Also telling them that he thought Etta was right in her assumption. He gave them a synopsis of Ben’s recollection of the last evening. Hoss was concerned that Adam hadn’t told Pa about Etta, but Adam said he thought Pa was still a bit out of it and bleary. He hoped that with more rest he would be better able to cope with the situation. Joe was on tenterhooks, his nervous tension, which he couldn’t pace off, in his usual manner, was evident. His concern was that his Pa believed that he had raised his hand to him. He wanted nothing more than to go to Pa and set him straight. Adam and Hoss’s placation’s that their Pa was confused and not sure of anything, and anyhow was sleeping, did little to calm Joe’s mind.

So engrossed in their conversation none of the brothers had heard Etta return to her room. It wasn’t until she was beside them that they were aware of her presence. Etta could see that Joe was agitated. Adam explained the reason for it. She sat beside Joe and sympathized trying to calm him.

Hop Sing took that opportune moment to emerge from the kitchen and announce that the Doctor was on his way. He had been tending his herb garden and had seen the buggy approaching. Adam breathed a sigh of relief. Joe would have something else to think about. Hoss was at the door and had it opened as Paul made to knock. The doctor was a little surprised by the welcoming committee. He immediately asked about Ben’s condition. He was more than gratified that the man was following his instructions. Hop Sing appeared with a fresh coffee pot and set it on the table. Hop Sings beaming, half moon smile, closed his eyes to mere cracks on his face. His question of the doctor, that he had come to remove lita’s Joe’s leg, put a smile on everyone’s face but Joe’s. Paul Martin seeing the pleading, agonised look on the young Cartwright’s features. Changed his mind and decided to leave the welcoming cup of coffee until after Little Joe’s ‘amputation’.

It wasn’t long before the doctor, alone, returned to the room to claim his fluid reward. Sipping the awaited brew he told his audience that he had strapped Joe’s knee just for support. He asked Adam if he still had the cane he had used after his accident, as Joe would be needing it for a while. Adam replied that it was around somewhere. Hoss said he was sure he had seen it in the barn and went off to prove himself correct.

Upstairs, Joe swung his legs from the bed. Clasping the bedstead for support he tested the strength in the bandaged leg. The muscles in his thigh and calf protested but held. Gingerly he took a wobbly step. The familiar cramping, pinching sensation, niggled but didn’t give him too much pain or discomfort. Making it to the door he made his way out into the hall. Using the wall to help him he worked his way along the corridor to his father’s room. Without any mishap he managed to make into the bedroom. Stretching out his hand he reached out for the end bed rail. By accident he jolted the bed. Ben rolled over from his side onto his back and opened his eyes.

“Sorry Pa, didn’t mean to wake you.” spider walking his hands along the edge of the bed Joe made it to the chair and thankfully lowered himself into the seat. Ben pushed himself a little further upright.

“No need to apologise son, it’s time l woke. How are you?”

“Me? Oh yeah, l’m fine. You wanna drink of something?”

“Some of that water son, that will do me fine.” Joe refreshed the glass and handed it to his Pa. Ben had pushed himself up until he had achieved a sitting position. “nothing tastes as good.” Joe grinned his agreement.

“Sure you’re feeling OK?” Ben smiled lovingly at his son for his concern, and patted the hand that Joe had rested on the bed covering.

“l’m sure son. In fact l feel so refreshed. I am ready to get up an have something to eat…l’m hungry.”

“l dunno Pa, the doc’s downstairs. He aint gonna be too happy.” Ben’s smile widened. He pressed his head back against the head board and chuckled.

“Making the doc happy has never concerned you before son, has it?” Joe joined his Pa in a wide smile.

“Guess it hasn’t, at that.”

“I don’t think he will be too surprised if l follow in your footsteps, do you?” Joe’s smile gave way to a giggle.

“I reckon as how we’re gonna find out, aint we? Do you need some help Pa?” Ben looked his son up and down. The boy’s pale face, weight loss and bandaged leg that was exposed by the side split in the material of his pants.”

“I really think it’s you that needs help son.” Joe shrugged his acceptance of his fathers words.

Struggling to stand up from the chair. Ben told Joe to stay where he was. His son, after all had seen his fathers bare legs before. Pushing the covers away Ben, lowered his legs to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed.

“Pa?” Ben noted his son’s look of concern change to something more. Worry, uncertainty, he couldn’t put his finger on it. Ben pulled the covers back over his legs. Not that he was cold but that he wanted to keep the comfort of the warmth contained around himself. “Pa, l wasn’t gonna hit you Pa, why did you think l was going to hit you?” So that was it. Ben felt a stab of annoyance that Adam had told Joe and possibly Hoss of his dream. But then he thought he hadn’t given Adam any reason not to speak to his brothers. After all they had all been in the room last night. Yes, he remembered, they had all been in the room. This wasn’t a dream at all. This had happened. But Marie, how could she have been there.

“I am sorry Joe,” Ben leaned toward Joe and gave his son’s arm a reassuring squeeze. “my head is still pretty much mixed up son. I remember you coming at me. Swinging your arms.”

“l saw you fall Pa, l tried to catch you. I still had that dam cast on. l lost my balance.” Ben’s brown eyes flashed a rebuke. “sorry Pa. I’d never raise my hand to you Pa.” Ben leaned further forward and clasped Joe’s neck, Joe leaned into his Pa’s hand. His body started to tremble. With ease Ben pulled his son from the chair. Ben and Joe sat together, side by side on the bed.

“I missed you Pa. Thought l’d never see you again. If it wasn’t for Etta l woulda died.” hugging his boy to him Ben recalled the medical report that Paul had given him to read. He stayed silent and allowed Joe to release his emotions. His hand found it’s way to the back of Joe’s head. He stroked his fingers through the thick curls. Joe’s sob’s quietened. His frail body stilled. Taking a deep, lungful of air Joe pushed himself away from his father’s embrace. “l’m sorry Pa.” he said as he wiped a sleeved arm across his mouth and nose. Ben thumbed the tears from his cheeks.

“No need to be son, no need at all. You lay there and rest while l get dressed.” Doing as he was told, Joe lay back in the warm bed. Joe didn’t object when his father helped him to settle his legs on the covers. He closed his eyes and floated back to his childhood and the many nights spent in his Pa’s bed. A bad dream, a nightmare or simply just because he wanted to be near his Pa.

“Joseph…Joe,” he could hear his father calling him. He didn’t want to go back to his own bed. It would be cold, he wanted to stay where he was. “Joseph.” his body was shaking. “open your eyes son.” Joe’s look of puzzlement made Ben smile. Their positions were reversed. Ben sat on the chair. While Joe was prone on the bed. He pushed himself up on his elbow.

“You’re dressed, that was quick…or did l fall asleep.” Joe made no effort to move from the bed.

“Yes son you did. l am dressed and l am very hungry.”

“But it’s cosy here.” Joe frowned and pouted like a sulky schoolboy. The sulky face melted into a smile of affection

“l can see that…tell me son this young lady of Adam’s…Etta isn’t it?” Tell me something about her.?”

“Pa, maybe you should be talking to Adam.”

“I will Joe. Etta was there last night wasn’t she?” Joe veed his brows and lowered his head. “there is something…something special about her isn’t there? Something different?” Ben persisted with his questions. Joe was uncertain. He thought Adam would want to be the one to speak to his father about Etta. But then, giving it thought. It was his mother that Etta resembled.

“Pa, Etta is a lovely woman. Yes, there is something very special about her. It maybe what gave you such a shock. It sure did to me…and Hoss…and Adam, well everyone.” The picture of last night and everyone in the room flashed into Ben’s head. The woman standing beside Adam. Adam’s arm around her shoulder. It was Etta, his son’s fiancee. Etta not Marie. Slowly everything started to fall into place. Etta Tone…that was her name Etta Tone. Etta was the image of Marie Cartwright. Joe could almost read his father’s thoughts. He saw understanding flow into his father’s eyes.

“Etta looks like your mama doesn’t she? She is the image of your mother.”

A soft knock opened the door. Hoss, holding a wooden cane stood in the doorway.

“Sorry Pa, Joe…aint ‘terrupting anything private?” Joe looked for his fathers approval. Ben nodded and called Hoss in.

“No son, come in, your brother was telling me about Miss Tone.”

“She sure is one fine lady, Pa, an yeah, she sure do look like mama Marie. Miss Etta’s been more than a powerful help to us Pa. Iffun it weren’t fer Miss Etta.” Hoss gave a quick glance to his brother who was now sitting on the side of his Pa’s bed “well…Pa…Miss Etta she dun pulled us outta one tight spot.” Ben studied his sons…their faces, open and sincere.

“Your brother doesn’t feel somehow obliged to Miss Tone?”

“Heck no, old granite head never feels obliged to anybody…Pa he is so in love with that gal well his…” Hoss finished his brother’s explanation.

“Fit to bust Pa…he aint obliged…not for saving shortshanks scrawny hide anyways…never seen any two critturs so suited.” Ben stood up from the chair and stared at his two sons as if the were nincompoops.

“Well, come on then, I reckon it’s about time l was introduced to my daughter-in-law to be.”

A wide smiled crested Hoss’s face as he hauled the grinning Joe from the bed. He thrust the cane into his brothers hand. Together they followed their father from the room.

 

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Author: ansinico

1 thought on “ETTA (by ansinico)

  1. That was terrific. I like Etta – she is the perfect foil for Adam.
    Please let’s have more of this story.

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