“It needed doing,” Hoss said simply.

But why did I need to be the one to do it! Adam did not speak but dropped his forehead to his arms. Hoss shifted slightly, and Adam felt the solid warmth of his younger brother as their arms pressed together.

“I ‘member the first time Pa put leather across your backside.” Hoss spoke softly as he gazed at a young colt feeding at his mother’s side.

“You were too young,” Adam stated as he continued to stare at the intricacies of rough-hewn wood.

“Not saying I remember it all clear, but I do remember.”

Adam sighed. After his father had left the room, his little brother had come soft-footed and silent. As he lay on his stomach clutching a pillow, he had felt Hoss gently crawl onto the bed and drape an arm around his neck nestling carefully against his back, warm and solid. He had told a friend at college once that the story of Aaron holding up the prophet’s hands always made him think of his younger brother.

Hoss continued, “After ya went to sleep, I went out into the main room, and Pa was fixing supper. He was all fumblely-like.”

When his father turned to look at him, he had said, “Adam went to sleep.” He had been too young to know the word, but he had made the statement an accusation, nonetheless. His father’s hand had begun trembling, and Pa had turned abruptly and strode out of the cabin. He had followed peering slowly around the door to see his father standing a few feet away.

“Ain’t seen Pa cry many times, but I remember he did that evening. ‘Member it clear, maybe because it scared me.” Hoss paused not speaking of what he had done.

He had watched his father’s shoulders shaking as a tendril of fear snaked upward to squeeze his heart. Then he had darted to his father, wrapped his arms around Pa’s waist, and buried his head in the cloth of Pa’s pants. Pa had turned, kneeled, and pulled him into his arms. “We’ll be good from now on, Pa.” he had whispered.

Pa’s crying is a scary thing.  Adam agreed silently. “I never knew; you didn’t say anything.”

“No, I thought on it some though. Now that I’m grown. . .”

“Grown?”

Hoss could not see his brother’s face, but he knew that Adam’s left eyebrow had risen, and the edges of his lips had curled. He and Adam both knew that there were only two men in the world who still looked at every inch and pound of Hoss Cartwright and saw a boy.

Hoss nudged Adam’s side with his elbow. “Now that I’m grown, I think maybe, well, that it’s good. Some things shouldn’t come easy.”

“Joe thinks it did.”

“Did you think it was easy for Pa?”

“Only until the aching stopped.”

“Joe’s smart has you, ya know.” Hoss knew that this time Adam’s right eyebrow would be rising. “How many?”

Adam knew what Hoss was asking and gave him the number.

“Pa would have given him a good two or three more.”

“Probably.” Adam and Hoss both knew that when it came to a tanning from their pa, even two was a significant number.

“Like I said, Adam, it needed doing; Joe knows he done wrong.”

“He could have. . .” Adam pushed the thought away. He turned his head and looked at Hoss for the first time. “You’ll never have to, not to Joe anyway.”

“Never had to take one from you either.” Hoss allowed a grin to display the gap in his teeth. “Good thing I timed my birthing right smack between the two of ya.”

Adam’s voice softened to a whisper. “Sometimes being smack dab between us isn’t a very pretty place.”

Hoss shrugged. “There’s a price to pay for everything. I ‘spect I got a bargain all things considered.”

Adam shook his head. “Hoss, how do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“You never rail against the verities of life.” He caught the look on Hoss’s face and added, “Complain about the way of things.”

“If you mean I don’t go butting heads with a mountain, you’re right. My head ain’t as hard as yours and Joe’s. ‘Sides it don’t make no never mind to the mountain.”

“No, I have to agree; it doesn’t.”

“Little Joe he, well, you know Little Joe, Adam.” Hoss questioned his brother with his eyes.

“I know what Little Joe needs. I’ll go to him in a bit.”

Hoss squeezed Adam’s shoulder. “Good.”

They watched the colt with his mother for a time before they walked back to the house.

AJAJHAJAJ

Adam opened the door to Little Joe’s bedroom and slipped inside. The sound of the door’s closing caused the boy to stir. Adam walked over and settled on the edge of the bed. Little Joe turned from his side toward his brother. When he winced, Adam snatched him into a hugged that removed his little brother’s backside from contact with anything but air.

“I’m sorry, Adam, really sorry.”

“You scared me, kid.” It was an admission not an accusation.

“Didn’t mean to. I won’t do it again.”

“Please don’t.” Adam felt Little Joe’s arms tighten around his neck. “You’re forgiven.” He patted the boy’s back, and then did something he had not done since before he had left for college. He pressed his lips into his brother’s curls.

“You going to tell Pa when he gets home?”

“I can’t not tell him, but I’ll square it with him straight off.”

“You sure?” Little Joe trusted greatly in his elder brother’s abilities, but Pa was Pa.

“Promise. Oh, you’ll hear a word or two on the subject, but that’s all.” Adam gave Joe’s back another pat.

“From Pa that’s enough.” Little Joe’s woebegone tone elicited yet another pat.

“I know.” Adam did not add, “I’ve been there myself,” but Joe heard the sentiment.

He pulled back from his brother’s chest. Kneeling on the bed, he gave his big brother a sheepish smile and asked, “Can I wear my nightshirt down to supper?”

“Yeah, and Hoss will no doubt have a nice plump pillow already placed on your chair.”

Joe had not been expecting an affirmative reply. Perhaps ill-advisedly, he stated, “Pa would never let me.”

Adam ruffled Little Joe’s hair. “I’m still your brother.”

“Yeah.” Joe’s tear-stained cheeks made his smile even more poignant.

“Go put it on then and wash up.” In one swift move, Adam had both Joe and himself standing beside the bed. He turned the boy toward his dresser and nudged him forward.

“Okay, Adam.” Little Joe exemplified obedience as he complied.

Adam left the room and closed the door behind him. Then he leaned back against the solid wood and closed his eyes. He drew in deep breaths and released them slowly.

“ADAM! LITTLE JOE!” Hoss’s voice preceded him up the stairs. “Hop Sing says get to the table quick ‘cause iffen you ruin his dinner, he’s going back to China.”

“Did you hear that, Joe?” Adam called over his shoulder into the pine of the door.”

“Yeah, I’m coming” came Joe’s muted reply.

Adam watched Hoss mount the final steps as he pushed the door open behind him. As their nightshirt-clad little brother walked out of his bedroom, they exchanged a look. Adam checked to make sure Hoss was set to respond and then reached out. Grabbing Joe’s waist, he lifted the boy and tossed him forward to their over-sized brother. Little Joe reacted with an instinctive memory and giggled when Hoss caught him and hoisted him over his shoulder. All three Cartwright boys heard their father’s bellow in their minds.  Boys! Do not toss your little brother! Adam’s and Hoss’s chuckles mixed with Little Joe’s giggles. Pa was away, and they could indulge in a little horseplay. That was the way of things with brothers.