He had discovered it in his grandpa’s attic, and to his surprise Hop Sing had agreed that he might play with it. That had been a surprise. Hop Sing had even had one of the hands bring it down and place it in the yard. He guessed Hop Sing understood how hard it had been for him to have his pa, grandpa, and uncles all gone and was willing to let him do most anything new to keep his mind off missing them. He had rolled around the yard in it, and then ridden down the slight rise that led to the corrals.

He had enjoyed coasting down that path for the better part of two afternoons before the excitement waned. His best idea had come to him that night, and the next afternoon he had rigged his pony so that he could stand in the seat facing the back, reins in hand. His pa had read to him about chariots, and this was as close as he expected to get on the Ponderosa.

His charioteering did not last long though. Hop Sing had put an end to it with the threat of his wooden spoon. Having suffered from that very spoon only a few days before, he surrendered immediately and returned to coasting down the rise and rolling around the yard.

Adam was the first to ride into that yard. The sight that greeted him froze him for a second and then spurred him off his horse in a mad dash toward his son. He pulled the boy from the wheelchair into his arms before the child realized his father had returned.

“Pa! Pa! You’re home. I missed you, Pa.”

Adam was incapable of speech and simply hugged the child more tightly to him. His eyes remained fixed on the wheelchair that had once loomed as his prison.

Ben, Hoss, and Little Joe exchanged glances. The child felt the tension in his father’s body and misinterpreted it.

“I had permission, Pa. I did. Hop Sing said I could. Are you mad, Pa?”

Hoss was the first to reach them. “Ole Adam, ain’t mad, Punkin. Your pa’s just doing some of his deep thinking. Ya know how he gets when he’s thinking. Now get over here and welcome your Uncle Hoss home.” Hoss slipped the boy from Adam’s arms. Little Joe and then Ben took their turns at welcome-home hugs giving Adam time to push his memories away.

Taking his son into his arms, Adam hugged the boy and ruffled his hair. “I missed you too, Son, more than you can know.”

The boy’s smile flashed the same dimples as his father’s.

“I was good, Pa.” A shadow passed across the child’s face. “Well, mostly.”

“Mostly?”

“I, I wandered just a bit, Pa, just a bit. Hop Sing sp…spanked me.” The final words were barely a whisper.

Adam gave his son a stern look. “Did you learn your lesson?”

“Yes, sir.”

“All right then.”

Hop Sing had stepped out onto the porch. “He good boy, Mistel Adam. You no fuss. All Caltwlights come inside and eat.”

Little Joe snatched his nephew from his brother and whispered into his ear. The boy’s giggle rang out as Joe carried him into the house followed by Hoss.

Ben placed his hand on his eldest son’s arm. “Adam?” That one word asked a dozen questions.

“It’s okay, Pa. It just…startled me, I guess. It was a long time ago. A lifetime ago.”

Laura, the fall, his paralysis. All of it was a lifetime ago. Adam gave the wheelchair a slight shove with his foot. “It’s just wood and metal, Pa, nothing more.”

Ben placed his arm around Adam’s shoulders, and they walked into the house together.

Next Story in The Wheelchair Series:

She Left