Part One: One of Ben Cartwright’s sons is missing, will they ever learn what happened to him?  Rated:  G

Part Two:  More in the continuing saga of Missing Pieces.  Rating:  G

Part Three:  The conclusion to Missing Pieces.  Rated:  PG

Word Count:  25,225

Pieces Trilogy

Missing Pieces

Today was a good day, the man thought as he rode out of Virginia City onto the dusty road that would take him home.  He’d had the fortune of going into town to pick up the mail that day and was rewarded by an eagerly awaited package.  The package contained his gift to his father for his father’s fiftieth birthday, which was still almost a month away.  Pleased at his exceptional good fortune, that not only had his gift arrived early, it had turned out better than he expected.  He eagerly looked forward to seeing his father’s face when he presented him with it at the party he and his brothers were planning, to celebrate this milestone in his father’s life.

While in town, he had even treated himself to a haircut and a shave.  He wouldn’t want his father on his case over having his hair too long.  Not that he ever let his hair get that way as far as he was concerned.

Taking a deep inhale of air, the man raised his head and took note of the clouds on the horizon.

“Looks like rain,” he said to no one in particular, “Guess we better not dawdle or we’re gonna get wet.”  Reaching out he patted the neck of his horse.

Figuring if he increased his pace and with any luck he might be able to make it to the ranch house without getting soaked.  The man turned in the saddle to check and ensure that the contents of the packages were secured his saddlebags.

Looking back to the horizon, he decided to not take any chances and withdrew the velvet pouch that held his father’s gift from his coat pocket.  Opening the right saddlebag he slipped the gift into the pouch before closing the flap and buckling it into place.  His head jerked sharply upwards as he heard a crack of thunder roll across the sky.

***************

Slowly and methodically the silver-haired man dressed, trying to concentrate on the task at hand and push aside the memory that haunted his every waking and sleeping thought.  He felt so incredibly old and tired.  His hands felt stiff and he fumbled with the simple task of buttoning his shirt.

As he had every moment for over the last three weeks he tried to convince himself that everything was as it always had been.  He tried to reassure himself that all three of his sons were down at the breakfast table, squabbling over some insignificant issue or who would do what chore.  Last night’s dream was just that, a dream, a horrible nightmare and nothing more, his sons were safe and home and downstairs.

Yes, they were safe, he wished as he picked up his pace and headed from his room and down the hall.  Seeing his son’s closed door, he stopped momentarily on his way.  Closing his eyes and saying a small prayer he opened the door.

His heart sank once more as he took in the familiar surroundings of his son’s empty room.  The bed was made and hadn’t been slept in for weeks.  A fine layer of dust now coated the younger man’s possessions, somehow frozen in time without the room’s owner.

Ben Cartwright slumped onto his son’s bed as his legs failed him.  He clutched one of the pillows to his chest and inhaling deeply swore he could smell the boy’s cologne.  Closing his eyes he could see the young handsome face with twinkling eyes and heartwarming smile.  What he wouldn’t give to be able to just hear his son’s voice once more.  Overcome with grief and despair, he buried his head in the pillow as tears streamed down his face.

*************

Ben Cartwright’s sons looked up from their breakfast plates as they heard the heavy footfalls slowly descend the stairs.  They glanced first at their father then back across the table at the other.  Both men took note of their father’s appearance and demeanor then shook their heads in desperation.  Their father seemed even slower and more withdrawn today, as if that were possible.  Everyday since the disappearance they’d watched as their father slowly but surely sunk into a deep depression for which they knew no cure.

The older brother looked down at his plate, then pushed it away unfinished.  He had no real appetite and couldn’t really remember the last time he did.  The other son turned pleading eyes to his brother hoping that there was some way maybe he could reach their father.

Crossing the room without really seeing, Ben Cartwright stumbled into the dining area, glancing sadly towards the vacant chair before settling himself into his own.  Lost in a trance, he paid no attention to the oriental cook who appeared at his elbow to pour his morning cup of coffee.

“Morning Mista Cartlight,” Hop Sing greeted the master of the household, he had pasted his best smile on his face in the hopes of raising his employer’s spirits.

Ben Cartwright continued to stare at the unoccupied chair at the table. Not even noticing the man with the long braid serving him his breakfast.

Hop Sing missed the old Ben Cartwright he had known for many years.  He decided that he preferred the one who yelled all the time to this one who wouldn’t speak.
Turning his head to look in the same direction, Hop Sing shook his head sadly as he began to mutter silently in Chinese before heading back to the kitchen.

“Pa.”

Lost in a trance, Ben didn’t even notice that one of his sons had addressed him.  When their father hadn’t responded, both of their sons looked over to him in concern.

“Pa!”  His son tried speaking louder and placing his hand onto his father’s arm.

“Hum, yes son?”

“Pa, why don’t cha come with us today instead of riding into town?  We sure could use your help.”

“Yeah, Pa.  We really need another hand with moving the cattle down to the winter pasture.”

“Ah, no sons.  I’ve things to do, I need to go into town.”  Ben responded mumbling and almost incoherent.

A few weeks ago, had they even suggested their father join them instead of his daily trip to Virginia City, he would have shouted at them in defiance and outrage, now he was  so lost in deep despair.  Neither man was sure if they preferred the Ben Cartwright from a few weeks ago or the one they saw sitting at the table with them now.  All they knew for certain was they wanted the Ben Cartwright back that they had always known, the strong confident man they knew as their father.

The man that sat before them was merely a shadow of the man they had known their entire lives. Ben Cartwright was drowning in depression and his sons knew of no way to save him.

Not able to bear the look of immense sorrow displayed upon their father’s face anymore, they turned their attention once again to their own plates and toyed with the food they found there.

As had become the daily ritual, both sons stayed by their father’s side while he pretended to eat, then drank a cup of coffee before he would head out to the barn to saddle his horse and depart the Ponderosa for the long and unfulfilling ride into town.

**************

Roy Coffee glanced up to the clock on the wall.  Soon Ben Cartwright would arrive as he had done everyday for over the last three weeks. You could almost set your watch by him, Roy thought sadly to himself.  He knew his friend would ask him the same old questions and make the same old inquiries around town, for which there were no new answers.  His son was gone, disappeared right off the face of the earth as though he’d never existed.

Finding answers was a difficult task from the beginning.  The town had been full of strangers that day.  There had been drifters, gamblers, out of work miners, ranch hands moving south for the winter and even a wagon train headed westward before the first snows.  There were leads everywhere and Roy did his best to follow all of them, but everyone he followed led to the same conclusion – no one knew what had happened to Ben Cartwright’s son.

Now Roy watched as a once proud and vibrant man, rapidly age before his eyes.  With each coming day he wondered how much longer the man he called a friend, could go on with such overwhelming grief before he fell ill due to depression and despair.

Looking across the room Sheriff Coffee rose and headed to the small wood stove in the corner to make a fresh pot of coffee.  He knew with the chill in the air, that his friend would welcome the warm drink.  Completing his task, he proceeded to the door to await Ben Cartwright’s arrival.

Just as the coffee began to boil he stepped out onto the front stoop of the jail, and greeted his friend as he dismounted his horse.  Roy Coffee was a little shocked to watch as Ben Cartwright almost stumbled from the saddle.

“Afternoon Ben.”  Roy Coffee greeted the other man as cheerfully as he could muster.

“Roy.  Any news?”  Ben Cartwright inquired mournfully with just a small air of hope.

Roy hated to perform this dreaded task; this had to be one of the worst parts of his job.  He thought informing a family member that a loved one was dead was dreadful.  But at least with death, there was closure and healing.  This torture Ben Cartwright was enduring was a large open wound that might never heal.

Sadly, the sheriff of Virginia City shook his head in response.

“Nothing new today Ben, I’m rightly sorry.”

“Yes, yes, I know Roy.”  Ben mumbled as he stumbled up the stairs to the porch of the jailhouse.

“Come on in Ben, I’ve got some fresh coffee on the stove and ya sure look like ya could use a cup.”  Roy gave a small sad smile and took his friend inside and sat him down in a chair near the stove.

Leaving his friend to warm himself and gather his emotions about him.  Roy went to the stove and took his time pouring two cups of coffee.  Turning around he went back to his friend.

“Here ya go Ben,” Roy offered and waited until Ben raised his downcast face.  He grimaced when he saw the anguish in the once proud man’s face.

Roy Coffee wanted to desperately help his friend through his grief and only knew of one solution – find this man’s son.  But he was at a lost as to how to accomplish that, which seemed more unobtainable as the days went by.

Ben reached out to take the offered cup of coffee and tipped his head in a small nod of thanks.  As soon as Ben received the cup, Roy sat on the edge of the desk in front of him.

“Been to the General Store today?”  Roy inquired in a fatherly tone.

Ben nodded morosely in response.

Roy knew Ben had already been to the General Store, but asked anyway.  It had become part of the daily ritual between him and Ben Cartwright.

“Nothing new,” Ben was almost despondent.

Roy Coffee shook his head sadly in acknowledgement.  He knew there was no new information, but he knew of no other way to help his friend except with his support.

The two men sat quietly and drank the warm liquid.  In his melancholy, Ben Cartwright never even noticed how hot the liquid was as it slightly burned his tongue.

Roy waited and watched as his friend drank his coffee.  Taking a long look down at his own empty cup before cocking his head to the side, he took a deep breath before speaking.

“Ben,” Roy studied the man before him and waited until he had his attention.

“Yes Roy.”

“Ben, you know ya can’t go on like this.  This ain’t right ya know?”

Ben returned his gaze to the bottom of his cup and the coffee grounds he found there.

“Now you know I’m rightly sorry about whatever’s happened to your boy.  But this just ain’t no good, and you not helping anyone by it.”  Roy continued, hoping his friend would hear him.

He paused to take a look at the silver haired man sitting in the chair before him.  Taking a small breath, he shook his head before starting again knowing what he said next would cut the man to the quick.  But it had to be said, and Ben Cartwright needed to hear it.

“He was a fine boy, Ben. A son a father could be proud of. But he’s gone, and you have to accept that and get on with your life.”

Roy watched as pain filled glassy eyes raised to silently plea with him for release from their torment.  Trying to convey strength and assurance to the distraught man, Roy gave him his only piece of advice.

“Go home Ben.  Go home.  Take care of your ranch and see to your sons.  They need you now, there ain’t nothing more you can do for your other boy now, just let me handle it.”

Ben nodded in acceptance and slowly rose from the chair, handing his empty cup back to the sheriff.  Roy watched as the man almost stumbled to the front door.

As the door closed behind Ben Cartwright, Roy Coffee stated to no one in particular.  “I’ll see ya tomorrow Ben.”

****************

He awoke on the hard dusty ground with a splitting headache.  Shaking his head and stretching to clear the cobwebs that had formed, he took note of where he was.  He found himself sitting near the side of the road by the crossroads to Virginia City and the Ponderosa.

Lovely, he thought, must have fallen off my horse.  Looking up to the sky he noticed the sun was in the eastern sky and much lower on the horizon then it should be.

“Oh, isn’t this special, I’ve spent the night on the road, Pa is gonna rip me a new one.”  He muttered to himself. Looking across the road he spotted his trusted steed. “Better get home before Pa misses me at breakfast.”

Rising to stand, a sudden wave of dizziness and nausea almost overtook him, which was followed by an immense throbbing of his head.  Wincing, he raised his hand and felt the area, which seemed to be the source of his discomfort.  He found a rather tender spot near the back of his head but was relieved that he found no blood on his hand after withdrawing it from his head.

Gathering his wits about him and taking a deep breath to settle his stomach, he strode across the road to his horse.  After mounting, he turned the animal toward home encouraging the horse into a canter.

**************

Silence reined in the large house on the Ponderosa.  Today was a new day, but it was the same as the day before.  It was the same day they had relived for over three weeks.  The remaining members of the household only went through the motions of living but with no true spirit.

The three Cartwrights sat once more at the dining room table going through the pretence of the breakfast meal when they heard the sound of footsteps crossing the front porch.

“Who could that be, it’s awfully early for callers?”

“Don’t know, I’ll check.”  Rising from the table, the younger man headed for the front door.  He stopped suddenly as the door swung open before him.  Stunned at first, he found himself gawking at the man who stood in the open doorway, before crying out his brother’s name.

***************

Roy Coffee checked his pocket watch to confirm the time displayed matched the wall clock.  In a little more than an hour he knew his friend would again ride into town.  He was almost certain his discussion with Ben the day before was just wasted words.  If nothing else, Ben Cartwright was a very determined man, Roy thought mildly amused.  Afterall, it was the same thing he’d been saying to him for over a week now with no effect.

Deciding to make his daily rounds before his friend needed his consult, he stacked the papers he had been reading neatly into a pile on the upper corner of his desk.  Putting his eyeglasses into his front shirt pocket, he rose from his chair and walked to the door.

Pausing to stand in the doorway of the jail, Roy Coffee glanced down the dusty road and remembered the last time he saw Ben’s boy as he rode out of Virginia City towards the Ponderosa.  He had run into Ben’s son as he exited the General store with several packages in his hand and an excited expression on his face.

“Whatcha got there?”  Sheriff Coffee asked, startling the younger man who had been so intent in viewing the contents of the parcels he hadn’t even noticed the other man’s presence.

“Look at this Roy, it’s my gift for Pa for his birthday.”  The man proudly held out the small object for the Sheriff to see.

“That’s right purdy.  Is that from you and your brothers?”  Roy inquired.

“No, just me.”

Now Roy Coffee kept an eye out for the gift, figuring it was either the reason for the man’s disappearance, or it would led him to the answers for what he believed was the younger man’s ultimate demise.

The Virginia City sheriff believed there were two possible explanations for young Cartwright’s disappearance.  One was that that someone must have seen that Cartwright son that day with the present for his Pa, and decided to acquire it and whatever money the man possessed for themselves.  The other, was that Ben’s boy was the victim of a kidnapping gone bad.  All those Cartwright boys were stubborn, hard headed and fiercely independent just like their father and wouldn’t take kindly to being held hostage.

Whatever the reason, sooner or later, Roy believed the gift would again make an appearance and would lead him to the answers Ben Cartwright so desperately sought.

Shaking his head sadly, he headed down the bustling street.

***************

“ADAM!”  Little Joe Cartwright exclaimed rushing forward to hug his brother in a fierce embrace.

Adam Cartwright noticed the rapidly changing looks on his younger brother’s face.  First it looked like Joe had just seen a ghost; which was replaced by one of immense joy and barely controlled tears before Joe buried his face in his older brother’s chest with his arms circling around Adam’s upper torso.

“Nice to see ya too, Joe.”  Adam responded, more than a little baffled by his younger brother’s emotional reaction.

Looking up from his younger brother’s head.  He saw his father approach.  To Adam he seemed much older than he had appeared just yesterday.

With tears streaming down his face Ben Cartwright rushed forward and hugged his son strongly to his chest and kissed the top of his head. Adam was shocked and taken aback at his father’s actions, which were even more intense than his younger brother’s.

Glancing over his father’s shoulder he sought out his other brother’s face hoping for some clue as to what was going on.  He saw Hoss standing near the corner to the dining room with his hands thrust deeply in his pockets with a tear making its way down one of the cheeks of his large face.

“Welcome home, Adam.”

Was all Adam heard the giant of a man utter before he too made his way over to where they stood and placed his arm across his older brother’s shoulders in a strong embrace.

To each of them, they felt a need to touch Adam as if reassuring themselves that he was really back among them and that he was real and not a dream.  Their actions only confused Adam more.

“Come son, sit down and tell us where you’ve been.”  Ben Cartwright instructed as he lead his oldest son over to the settee in front of the fireplace.  Totally bewildered, Adam obeyed.

Looking up to his father and brothers’ faces, Adam was uncertain as to what they expected him to tell them.  He had never been greeted this way before when he’d only been gone for one night.

“I went into town for the mail.”  Adam responded honestly and a little hesitantly due to his growing confusion.

“Went into town for the mail!”  Little Joe exclaimed.  “You’ve been gone almost a month.  Where were you?”

Adam stared at his younger brother.  He was not surprised at his younger brother’s mercurial disposition, which had quickly changed from elation to anger, but at what his brother had said.

Almost a month, why would Joe say such a thing? Adam wondered.  Surely it must be some type of jest his brother was pulling, Adam decided.  Looking to his father’s face, then to Hoss, he realized it was no joke.  In their eyes he saw confirmation of his brother’s statement.  Totally shocked, somewhat bewildered and feeling lost; Adam didn’t know what to say.  Shaking his head in confusion, he lowered his gaze to the floor.  He found the dull pounding in his head had grown even more intense and his stomach began to churn in protest.  Reaching out he placed his hand to the back of his head and muttered.

“I’ve only been gone a day, I just went to town to get the mail.”

*****************

Reaching the General Store, Roy Coffee leaned against one of the front porch posts and thought once again about the missing Cartwright son.  Once more he replayed his last encounter with the younger man, hoping that somewhere he was just missing a clue as to Adam Cartwright’s whereabouts.

Roy shook his head and chuckled as he remembered their last conversation.

“That little brother of yours sure is a pistol, ain’t much for the cards though.”

Adam surmised that Roy was referring to the brawl the sheriff had broken up the day before in the saloon.  The one that involved his baby brother over a poker game.

“Ain’t that the truth,” Adam drawled. “You should’ve seen him at breakfast this morning, trying to hide that black eye from Pa with his hand.”

Adam then recalled the panicked look and stammering that followed when Joe tried to explain how he got the injury over a card game, that he’d lost, as usual, not to mention forgetting to check the mail.  Adam had almost choked on his coffee when trying to keep from laughing aloud as his brother let out a small squeak and flinched when their father bellowed his exasperation with his youngest.  Well at least he remembered the supplies Adam smirked.

“You know, your father would probably have a little less silver if that one had been a girl.”

Adam pensively appraised the suggestion. He even let his mind imagine what his brother would look like and decided that Joe would have been a pretty good-looking young lady. Instead of Joe chasing anything in skirts, he mused, his little ‘sister’ would be the one chased.  Considering all the possibilities, he decided he preferred the task of having to keep Joe out of trouble.  It seemed, if at all possible, that it would be an easier task than trying to keep trouble at bay.

“No, I think Little Josephine would be even more trouble than he is now.”  Adam shook his head and chuckled in response to the sheriff’s idea.

Sheriff Coffee joined in the joke as he too realized the validity of Adam Cartwright’s statement.  Both men shared a laugh over the visual imagery of Little Joe Cartwright as a female.

“Well, I’d best be on my way if I want to make it home before dark.”  Adam announced and shoved the gift into its velvet pouch before dropping it into his coat pocket.  Tearing the wrapping from the other parcel, he shoved the two books under his arm then handed the wrappings to the older man.  “Could you get rid of these for me, thanks.”

Roy Coffee shook his head and grinned as he watched Adam Cartwright put one book into a saddlebag and mounted his horse with the other still in his hand.  He’d lost count how many times he’d seen this man with a book in his hand.

Adam tipped his hat to the sheriff then opened his book turning his horse down the road towards home.

Roy Coffee was abruptly brought back to the present as he watched a reckless rider approach riding at a run atop a painted horse.  The rider stopped just in front of the store and yelled down to him.

“He’s home, he’s come back!”

***************

Doc Martin observed the scene before him quietly.  Ben Cartwright sat on the arm of the settee next to his long believed lost son.  He had one hand resting on the younger man’s shoulder as though Adam would disappear if he let go.

To Paul Martin, Adam Cartwright appeared much thinner and paler than he remembered.  With each of the sheriff’s questions, the doctor watched as Adam grew even more quiet and withdrawn.  The doctor could tell that Adam just didn’t know what had happened to him.

“Adam, can ya tell me what ya can remember?” The Virginia City sheriff inquired patiently.

Shaking his head, Adam answered quietly while studying the long thin fingers of his slightly trembling hands.

“I went to town to get the mail.”

“But boy, that was more than three weeks ago.”  Roy added gently, hoping to draw more out of the man.

Adam wanted to shout back at the man that he just didn’t know, but took a deep calming breath before attempting to answer. Shrugging his shoulders, he shook his head then looked up to the man who was warming himself in front of the fireplace.  Before he could respond, his youngest sibling intervened.

“Come on Adam, tell us where you’ve been.  You’ve got to remember something.”  Joe interrupted.  His patience was beginning to wear thin with his older brother’s lack of explanation for his whereabouts.

“Hush, now Joe.  This ain’t none of your affair.”  Hoss chastised his younger brother.

“Not my affair!  Older brother here goes off on a holiday for almost a month, then comes back acting and saying he’s been gone only a day and we’re just supposed to understand and accept it!”

“That’s enough Joseph!”  Ben Cartwright shouted.  He knew that Joe didn’t really mean what he was saying.  The anger Joe was displaying was just from the same frustration and confusion they all were feeling over the entire situation.

Ben felt his son’s shoulder slump lower as Adam began to accept the fact that over three weeks of his life were unaccounted for.  Ben watched as his son raised his right hand to his face and pinched the bridge of his nose with his index finger and thumb.  It was one of Adam’s regular habits when he was frustrated or troubled.

“I don’t know.  I just don’t know.”  Adam quietly mumbled as he sought out his father’s face for reassurance.

Ben quietly nodded his head back at his son, his eyes showing his acceptance of his son’s answer as the truth.  He felt his heart cringe as he realized how lost and confused his son appeared.  His son was always a very confident individual who was always in control of every aspect of his life.  How horrifying it must be for Adam to now find himself in this situation.  For him, he could only be ecstatic; his son was home and was safe which was all that mattered.

Adam’s head felt as though it would explode and again raised his hand to rub at the tender spot on the back of his head.

Paul Martin noticed the action and moved forward to check the younger man’s head.

“That’s enough for now.  Adam do you mind if I take a quick look at you?”  The doctor inquired as he moved to stand over the dark haired man.

Adam offered no response so the doctor tipped his chin upwards and peered deeply into each one of Adam’s bewildered eyes.  Pursing his lips in thought, Dr Martin gently moved Adam’s hand away from his head.  Turning Adam’s head slightly to the left, he ran his fingers through Adam’s hair on the right side of his skull and noticed as Adam winced.

Peering closer, the doctor found what he was looking for.  Along the right side of Adam’s head starting just above the hairline at the base of the skull and running upward almost to his right ear was a scar.  The recent wound was healed and well concealed by Adam’s thick black wavy hair.

*************

It had been almost an hour since Doc Martin had disappeared upstairs with Adam in tow.  Ben Cartwright found himself wearing a path in the rug as he paced the large room downstairs.

Roy Coffee had asked to look at Adam’s coat and saddlebags, but for what reason only the sheriff knew.  Whatever he sought, he hadn’t found it.  All that appeared were two new books that Adam had received the day he disappeared.  Roy put the books back where he found them in the saddlebags and Joe placed the bags into the side cabinet near the front door where they kept their guns.

Hoss had quietly excused himself from the room to take care of Adam’s horse and had only returned when the doctor appeared on the stairs.

“How is he?”  Ben questioned anxiously as he saw the doctor descend the stairs.

“He’s gonna be fine Ben.  I’ve given him something to make him sleep and he’s resting.  I expect that he’ll sleep until sometime this evening.”  The doctor assured his friend.

“Why don’t you sit down, all of you.”  Paul Martin instructed gesturing to the men standing about the room and then to the settee and chairs in the room.

Doc Martin would wait until everyone was seated and watched as Ben Cartwright headed to his red leather chair and sat down quickly.  Hoss took a seat on the hearth in front of the fireplace, as Roy Coffee sat on the settee with Joe Cartwright perched on the corner of the table in front.  He felt a little awkward as everyone stared up intently at him, clearing his throat he proceeded.

“Adam has suffered a severe blow to the head, which fractured his skull.”  Paul Martin heard the gasp of Adam’s father and held up his hand to stall any questions that were forthcoming from the men seated before him.  “I’m not exactly sure what caused it, but it appears to be a gun shot wound.”

“A gun shot wound?  Adam’s been shot?”  Hoss exclaimed in disbelief.

“I said it looks like a gun shot wound.  The wound itself has healed nicely and it appears that whoever took care of him did an exceptional job.”

“Whoever took care of him?  Doesn’t he know who it was?”  Ben inquired. His mind was still reeling from the doctor’s diagnosis.  He would like to thank them personally for helping his son.

“No he doesn’t know Ben, we may never know who it was.”

“What, you’re losing me here Doc?”  Roy Coffee chimed in, exasperated with the turn of events.  “First you say that Adam was shot, maybe.  Then you claim that someone took care of him, but he doesn’t know who.  And to top that off, Adam only thinks he went to town for the mail and has only been gone a day?”

Paul Martin nodded his head in response and once again held up his hand to hold off anymore questions.  Clearing his throat once more, he tried to clarify what he’d been trying to tell them while still attempting to answer everyone’s unspoken questions.

“From what I can tell, Adam has suffered a serious traumatic injury to his head.  That injury probably left him unconscious and quite possibly in a coma.  That’s why he doesn’t remember the lost of time, and only thinks he’s been gone one day.  As far as who took care of him and why?  I don’t know and with him being unconscious he doesn’t know either.  All I know is that he would’ve needed to have help in his condition to survive.”

“Could he remember in time?”  Joe questioned as he looked down at his hands.  He was feeling guilty for his earlier outburst of anger at his brother.

“Maybe, maybe not.  I think he might have already told us everything he can about what happened.”

Ben Cartwright closed his eyes and took a deep breath before asking,  “What can we do to help him?”

Paul Martin smiled to offer reassurance to his old friend.

“Just give him time, don’t push and he’ll be fine.  If he remembers anything, all well and good, if he doesn’t…” Doc Martin shrugged in response.  “He’s pretty upset and confused right now so just give him time and understanding so he doesn’t suffer a relapse.”

“We can do that, right Pa?  We’ll take right good care of him.”  Hoss offered.  All he heard was that his older brother was going to be okay and to Hoss that was all that mattered.

Ben Cartwright let out a large sigh of relief and patted his big son’s hand.  Glancing skyward he gave a silent prayer of thanks to his Maker before looking back across the room to the doctor.

“Thank you, Paul.”

“You’re welcome Ben.  But I didn’t have anything to do with it.  Just be thankful your son has such a hard head.”

“And I never thought his New England Yankee Granite Head was good for nothing.”  Joe stated meekly.

Ben shot his youngest boy a look of exasperation before breaking out into a large smile as Hoss joined in with laughter on the private family joke.

***************

After Paul Martin and Roy Coffee departed the Ponderosa, Ben Cartwright spent the afternoon sitting at his son’s bedside watching him sleep.  Slowly, he felt a tremendous burden lift from his shoulders with each breath his son took.  He fought the urge to reach out and touch his son occasionally for fear he might awaken.  For now, it was sufficient to just be near his oldest boy.

Hoss and Joe had stayed around the ranch house as well instead of going out to help move the cattle down to the winter pasture.  Neither one wanted to stray very far from the house now that their brother had returned home.

Adam awoke in the early evening to find his father sitting at his bedside.  He was unable to look at his father’s face.  Instead he decided to study the pattern of the quilt that covered him.  Adam was feeling more than a little guilty at what heartache his disappearance must have put his father and brothers through.

“You hungry son?”  Ben asked gently when he noticed that Adam was now awake.

Adam nodded, but continued to stare at his quilt as he tugged gently at a loose thread.

Ben reached out and placed his hand on his son’s right shoulder giving a gentle squeeze as he rose from the chair.  He stopped to face his son when he heard Adam speak.

“Pa?”

“Yes son,” Ben looked down and saw Adam’s still downcast face.

“I’m sorry Pa.”  Adam felt he owed his father an apology for all the pain his unexplainable absence must have caused.  He had seen the anguish upon his father and brothers’ faces when he walked into the house that morning.

“There’s nothing to be sorry about Adam.”  Ben expected this reaction from his son and hoped that he could make Adam understand.

“Yes there is, I’ve hurt you and made you worry, not to mention, Hoss and Joe.  I don’t know what else to say, I never meant for this to happen, I just don’t know…”

“I know you didn’t son.  Didn’t Paul explain what happened to you?”

Adam quietly nodded in response, somehow the doctor’s explanation still wasn’t enough to erase guilt that he was feeling.

To Ben, watching Adam struggle with his conscience, he was reminded of a very small boy confessing for some wrong doing and now waiting for his punishment.  He never had the heart to be too hard with this child, as Adam was always hard enough on himself.

“Look at me son.”  Ben waited for his son to look up and meet his gaze.

“All that matters now, is that you’re home and you’re going to be fine.  Whatever else isn’t important.”

Looking into his father’s dark eyes, Adam knew he’d been forgiven.

*****************

Adam hazily awoke to what he believed was the sound of people talking.  The words came from voices he didn’t recognize yet were vaguely familiar.  What was said didn’t make sense either. Startled, he quickly forced himself totally awake only to find himself alone in the early dawn of his own room.

Shaken and unable to go back to sleep, he decided to get up.  He had a lot of catching up to do.  Climbing out of bed, he went to the washstand where he saw the face of a very gaunt and hollowed-eyed apparition of himself staring back.  After shaving and washing, the realization of his ordeal finally sunk in, as he dressed and found his clothes hanging limply about his body.

Ben Cartwright awoke feeling the best he had in ages.  Today was his birthday, his son was home and his family was whole once more.  Dressing quickly, he began to head down for breakfast.

Reaching his oldest son’s door, he was overcome with a sense of panic as he realized the door was tightly shut.

What if his son was still missing?  Maybe it was just a dream and his son was really gone?  Frantically and without knocking, he swung open the door to his son’s room.

His heart skipped a beat when he saw his son’s bed empty and the bed hastily made.  A cold hand of panic gripped his stomach as fear began to creep over him.  The feeling suddenly passed when he heard voices coming from the room downstairs.

Quickly, he turned and made his way down the hall and to the stairs where he found his sons, all three of his sons, sitting at the breakfast table.  He was overjoyed and his heart swelled with pride finding them all together once more.

Walking past his oldest son, he reached out to place a hand on Adam’s shoulder before taking his seat at the head of the table. Adam had noticed his brothers making the same gesture as each one joined him at the breakfast table. Even the family’s Chinese cook, Hop Sing, hovered nearby all morning insuring that he had whatever he needed including his favorite foods.

No one noticed that Adam was up early that day, as it had always been his normal habit to get up with the dawn.  Adam still was uncertain as to what day it was, and needed to check with his two brothers on the status of their father’s birthday party and plans.  He was disappointed, but not surprised that given the circumstances of the past weeks, his brothers had cancelled the celebration.

What he was shocked to discover was that today was his father’s birthday, and his gift hadn’t arrived.  Or at least, neither Hoss nor Joe knew of any package for him from Boston.

“So Pa, you joining Roy and Paul in town for lunch?”  Hoss asked shoving a forkful of eggs into his mouth.  Now that his brother had returned so had his appetite.

“Well, I hadn’t planned to.”  Ben responded trying to conceal his glance across the table at Adam.

“Why not, you three always get together for lunch on your birthdays?”  Joe added, then looked across the table at Hoss.  Meeting his brother’s gaze, both younger sons stole quick glances out of the corners of their eyes toward their older brother.

Adam purposefully kept his eyes on his plate.  He knew they were stealing glances at him. Looking up, Adam surveyed each member of his family before clearing his throat to speak.

“Go to town Pa and have lunch with your friends.  I promise I won’t run off and join the circus.”  Adam stated with a droll voice, with his left eyebrow raised as a pointed gesture to his father.

Ben chuckled in spite of himself.  He had really missed his son’s dry sarcastic wit.  Both Hoss and Little Joe joined in on the laughter.  It was good to hear their father happy again.

“Yeah, don’t worry Pa.  We’ll keep him out of trouble.”  Joe offered.

“Now why doesn’t that give me a warm and fuzzy feeling.”  Ben scoffed, his tone dripping with the same sarcasm exhibited earlier by his oldest son.

*******************

With a little more prodding and encouragement from his sons, Ben Cartwright reluctantly mounted Buck and headed to Virginia City to meet his friends at the International House for his birthday lunch.  Adam waved to his father as he saw him look back at him again for the third time in as many minutes.  He thought back to breakfast that morning and worried that his father might not ever trust him again, he wondered if his family felt he needed a keeper.

Though the doctor had explained the situation to him and his family, he still felt something was missing.  He had so many questions, and nobody to look to for the answers.  The nagging feeling left him frustrated and doubtful, and with his family stealing glances and touches at every opportunity, only made him more uncertain.

Shaking his head and turning around to walk back to the house, he felt a large arm drape across his shoulders with another hand grasping him on the nape of his neck.

Adam looked over to the larger man who was his little brother.  Hoss’s eyes reflected an understanding and reassurance, which Adam sought desperately.  Leave it to his kind-hearted brother to understand what he was feeling. Adam watched as the blue eyes began to twinkle with amusement as a grin formed on Hoss’s face.

Glancing to his other side, he found his youngest brother grinning from ear to ear, though he found Joe’s smile infectious, Adam knew that look meant trouble.

“Guess what Adam, we got just the thing for you to do.”  Joe smirked.

Adam stopped in his tracks but found his body still being moved forward by Hoss’s strength.

“Yep, something that Pa would really appreciate.”  Hoss added, with his own tooth-gapped smile.

Looking from one to the other, Adam began to feel a little nervous.  He knew his brothers were up to something, and whatever it was, it couldn’t be good.

“What?”  Adam asked hesitantly, looking for a quick exit before they made him muck out the stalls in the barn.

“The Books!” Hoss and Joe exclaimed in unison as they dragged their older brother into the house.

Within minutes and after just a modicum of protest for effect, Adam found himself working on a stack of ledgers.  All of the books were terribly out of date and had not been worked on in weeks.  At first, he couldn’t believe his father had let this side of things get so out of hand.  Then remembering why, he decided he understood.

Joe and Hoss left their brother to the task they thought him well suited for that day.  Their father had asked that they keep his mind occupied and what better way then tallying numbers.  They left their brother to his dreaded ordeal and went outside to handle the more strenuous chores.

Completing the last ledger, Adam sighed with satisfaction and looked across the room to where his brothers had placed their birthday gifts to their father.  Getting up from the desk he walked over to where they sat near the fireplace.  He ran his hand across the finely tooled leather of the saddle that Hoss was giving to their Pa, and used the cuff on his shirt to polish the silver ‘C’ on the stock of the rifle from Joe.  He felt a twinge of regret that his gift was not among them.

Suddenly feeling the urge to get out of the house.  Adam strode over to the door and grabbed his hat, gun belt and coat and headed out of the house across the porch and over to the barn.

Joe watched as his brother purposely walked across the yard and into the barn.  He was curious as to where his brother was intending to go.  He still had his suspicions that there was more to Adam’s story than he was telling, but he was unable to explain why which made him feel guilty that he didn’t trust his oldest brother.

Joe was still staring at the open door of the barn when Hoss walked up and startled him.

“Whatcha staring at, short shanks.  That ain’t gonna get that wood chopped.”

“Older brother.”  Joe retorted his eyes flashing in anger as he jerked his head toward the barn.

“Adam?  What’s he doing in the barn?”

As the question left Hoss’s lips, Adam pulled a now saddled Sport out of the barn, mounted and quickly rode away.

Joe started to walk toward the barn as Adam departed.  Hoss grabbed his arm to hold him back.

“Dadburnit Joe, just where do ya think your going?”

“I’m going to follow him!”  Joe responded angrily pulling his arm free, then added as an after thought to placate his older brother. “I know Pa will want us to keep an eye on him.”

Shaking his head, Hoss knew there was more to this than what Joe was saying.  Wanting to keep peace between his brothers Hoss followed Little Joe into the barn to saddle his horse.

*****************

Adam had managed to put some distance between him and his brothers before they had a chance to go after him.  He had decided he would go to the spot where he’d awaken the day before.  He wanted to see if he could just remember something, anything to explain what had happened to him.

By the time that Hoss and Little Joe had their horses saddled, Adam had managed to get out of their sight.  Joe became increasingly agitated at their slow pace while Hoss slowly tracked their brother’s trail.

“Can’t you do that any faster?”

“I’m doing the best I can, this here’s a well traveled road.  You know that Joe.”  Hoss replied evenly, trying to keep his patience in tack.  “What are you so fired up about anyway?”

As Hoss checked the roadway, Joe ignored his question and scanned the horizon and down the path of the road.  He was surprised when he saw a black clad figure sitting on a boulder near the shoulder of the road by the crossroads.

“Look Hoss, there he is.”  Joe exclaimed pointing down towards the crossroads before kicking his horse into a gallop.

Hoss had barely seen what his younger brother had indicated, but before he could stop him, he watched as Joe spurred Cochise and started down the road.

“Wait, Joe, don’t!”  Hoss called out to his brother’s retreating back.

As they rode towards the crossroads, Hoss could tell by the way Adam was sitting that something was wrong, he’d realized it by his brother’s slumped shoulders, downwards glance and right hand on the back of his head.  Joe was too far ahead of him to stop him or warn him off, so all Hoss could do was try and be there before Joe’s rash behavior set Adam off.

Adam didn’t even hear the approach of the two horses at full gallop.  He was too absorbed in his own thoughts as he struggled to find the missing pieces to the last couple of weeks.  All he found was his head pounding once again as he pressed his mind for answers.

Joe dismounted his horse and stormed over to stand before his brother.

“What do you think your doing Adam?”  Joe demanded an answer; his hands were clenched in anger.  In his mind, he believed that Adam was trying to leave again.  Just like he’d done when he went to college and just like what had happened over the last couple of weeks.

Adam barely heard his brother’s question and looked up into his brother’s face with a look of such confusion and pain that Joe gasped.  To him, his older brother was always so certain of himself, so in control, that Joe was taken aback by the lost man who sat before him.

Hoss arrived in time to see Adam’s stunned look and noticed his younger brother’s shocked face.  Closing his eyes, he prayed for the guidance as to how to help his brothers.  Stepping forward, he put a reassuring hand on Joe’s shoulder and gently pushed him aside to take a closer look at Adam.

“Say Adam, looking for something?”  Hoss asked innocently.

Adam took a deep ragged breath to compose himself, and Hoss watched as Adam managed to slip into his usual façade of self-assuredness.

“Yeah, my mind.  I seemed to have lost it hereabouts.”  Adam joked half-heartedly trying to ease his brothers’ discomfort.

“Now don’t you go fretting about things Adam, they’ll come in time.”  Hoss offered hopefully.  He remembered what the doctor had warned them about and was afraid Adam would make himself sick.  Taking his eyes off Adam, Hoss watched as Joe glanced around nervously at the ground.

Joe was ashamed of his actions earlier and regretted his distrust of his oldest brother.  Trying to get into the spirit of the jest and hoping he could help his brother with some humor he asked.

“I don’t see it laying around, do you Hoss?”

Hoss’s mouth fell open as he looked at his younger brother as though he was the one missing his mind.  Hoss was too dumbstruck to speak.

Seeing Hoss’s reaction to Little Joe’s question caused Adam to actually laugh out loud and shake his head.  Little Joe chuckled as he joined in, also amused at Hoss’s confusion.  Realizing that the joke was on him, Hoss found himself smiling and then laughing as well.

Poor Hoss, somehow the joke always ended up on him, Adam mused.

Hearing his brother’s laugh and actually seeing a small smile grace his older brother’s face; Hoss needed to confirm that Adam was alright.

“How ya feeling Adam?”  Hoss asked, looking deep into his brother’s expressive eyes.

“I feel like Rip Van Winkle.”  Adam added wistfully.

“Rip Van Who?”  Hoss asked, not certain what Adam was talking about.

“Winkle.”  Adam replied, slightly amused by Hoss’s crinkled up nose and squinted eyes.

“Ain’t he the guy who went bowling with them little fellas?”  Little Joe questioned.

“Bowling?”  Hoss inquired, getting even more perplexed at this strange conversation.

“It’s a game Hoss, kinda like horseshoes, except you use a small ball to knock down pins.”  Adam patiently instructed.

“Pins?”  The only pins Hoss knew of were the kind used for sewing and he couldn’t see knocking them down with a ball, let alone being able to stand them up first.

Chuckling, Adam shook his head and stopped Joe from trying to explain further.

“It’s a story written by Washington Irving, about a man who only thought he was gone for a day and returned home twenty years later.”  Adam’s voice trailed off as he thought about the similarities of the plot to his own woeful tale.

At least I was only gone a couple of weeks, Adam mused wistfully.

Joe was beginning to finally understand what his brother was going through

“Nah, Adam, now why’d ya come here for anyhow?”  Hoss soothed, hoping that he could help his brother in some way.

“I don’t know, I was hoping to find some answers.”

“What from the trees, or that rock you’re sitting on?” Joe continued to tease, trying to get the mood to get lighten up again.

Hoss shot his brother a warning glance, afraid that Joe might push too hard and depress Adam further.

Instead Adam just gave his brother a pensive look and replied, “Something like that.”

Hoss and Joe both found themselves confused at this response.  Adam took small comfort at their baffled expressions and smiled slightly at seeing their mutual bewilderment.  Somehow, he needed them to understand what he was feeling.

Though Joe was totally lost by the lesson, Hoss understood what Adam was trying to show them.  He wished that he could help his brother in some way, but was totally lost as to how.

“Didja find any answers?”  Hoss questioned, and this time it was Joe’s turn to gape at his older brothers.

“No.”  Adam responded dejectedly, returning his gaze to his boots.

Hoss felt enormous disappointment that Adam hadn’t found the answers that he so obviously needed.  He watched as his brother slowly stood and dusted off the seat of his pants.  Wanting to bring back the feeling of happiness they had felt just moments before, Hoss tried some levity of his own.

“I don’t understand why you’re so all fired worried.  I mean it ain’t likely you’d run off and got yourself married or some such nonsense.”

Picking up on his brother’s joke, Joe added, “Now Hoss, older brother here, might have done just that.  Just think, it probably was a shotgun wedding.  Boy, that gal must’ve been pretty ugly for him to want to forget it that bad.”

Hoss started laughing when he thought of suave sophisticated Adam in that predicament.

Adam closed his eyes and gave Joe his usual smug ‘give me a break’ look before he swung his fist towards his baby brother’s face.  Knowing Adam’s typical reaction was meant in fun, Joe easily ducked the playful blow and swatted away his brother’s hand.

Hoss watched the interplay between his siblings and laughed even harder over his own joke.

“Ha, ha, ha.”  Adam mimicked, reaching out he gently slapped his other brother’s face with each ‘ha’, adding a slightly harder slap on the third one before walking away to retrieve his horse.

Joe began to giggle in his high-pitched silly fashion, which only made Hoss give way to a full belly laugh.

Adam couldn’t help but smile as he grabbed his reins and looked back at the two laughing fools, which were his younger brothers.

Hoss and Little Joe were still laughing at their brother, when they noticed a very dark expression cloud Adam’s face where once before they had found quiet amusement.  Hoss was instantly worried that they had hurt Adam’s feelings with their laughter.  With a cutting motion of his hand to Joe to silence him, Hoss stepped forward and grabbed Sport’s bridle to stop Adam from suddenly riding away.

“What is it Adam?”

Adam continued to stare towards the horizon, studying it as though seeing it for the first time.

“Adam, what do ya see?”  Hoss pressed as he turned to look over his shoulder at what his brother was seeing.

Seeing his Hoss’s action, Joe too turned and looked at the horizon.  All he could see was a storm forming in the distance.

“Adam.”  Hoss became more insistent and moved his hand to his brother’s arm and shook gently.

Shaken from his trance, Adam tightly grasped on to the thought that had formed there.  Looking toward the back of his saddle, he noticed that he didn’t have his saddlebags.

“Hoss, where are my saddlebags?”

“Don’t know for sure Adam, back at the house I guess.”

“They’re back at the house in the sideboard by the door.” Joe offered.

Joe remembered putting the bags away after Sheriff Coffee had inspected them the day Adam returned.  Why were they so important to Adam and the sheriff he wondered?

Joe and Hoss both recognized the determined look on their older brother’s face and quickly mounted to follow him.  No words were spoken as the three men rode back to their home.

Reaching the hitching rail near the front porch, Adam hastily tied his horse’s reins before practically running across the porch and into the house with his brothers following quietly behind.

Opening the front cabinet door of the sideboard, Adam quickly found his saddlebags.  Taking them across the room to the table in front of the fireplace, Adam dumped the contents out.

All Joe saw, were the two books.  Figures, he mused, only Adam would have a revelation over some boring literature.

Stunned Hoss just stood watching his brother’s frantic actions as though he were searching for something.  He watched as his brother ran his hands through the bottom of both bags, then grabbed one of the books to thumb through its pages.  Finding nothing, Adam picked up the other book and repeated the gesture.

Both brothers stared in awe as Adam pulled out a small velvet pouch that was neatly tucked away between the pages of the book.  They watched an expression of extreme happiness wash over Adam’s face as he snatched up the pouch and exclaimed “Yes!” loudly before disappearing up the stairs to his room.

Shrugging their shoulders and rolling their eyes, Hoss and Little Joe looked at each other in sheer confusion.  They doubted they would ever understand their older brother.

*********************

Through unspoken agreement, Hoss and Joe had decided not to tell their father about their little adventure with Adam that day.  They were sure he wouldn’t be pleased to know that Adam had been out riding around the countryside in search of his memory.  Besides, neither felt they could really explain it, in fact they weren’t sure they really understood either.

All they knew was that the little velvet pouch Adam had found tucked between the pages of one of his new books, now had a small royal blue ribbon tied in a bow around it and was laying with their gifts near the hearth of the fireplace.

Ben arrived later that afternoon after having a very enjoyable lunch with his old friends.  He found his oldest sitting in his favorite blue chair, thoroughly engrossed in what appeared to be a new novel and relished the sight.  His younger sons were playing the usual game of checkers with Hoss sitting on the couch across from his little brother, who was perched on the low table.

“Joseph, get your feet off the table.”  Ben bellowed in amusement as his youngest son jumped.  Would that boy ever learn, he mused.

“Yes, Pa.”  Joe responded meekly as he tried to right himself and find a comfortable position with his feet on the floor.

Adam looked up from his reading and glanced at the young man squirming before him. It was hard to believe that when his father had been Joe’s age, he already had a small infant son and they were traveling westward to fulfill his father’s dream.

“Did you have a nice time?”  Adam asked innocently, noting out of the corner of his eye that Hoss had covered his mouth with his hand not daring to speak.

The brothers had agreed to tease their father when he returned home.  They wanted to see how long it would take for his curiosity to get the better of him and want to know what was covered by the red blanket from the stairs.

“Yeah Pa, did you have a nice lunch?”  Joe piped in.

“Yes I did as a matter of fact.”  Ben responded, taking a quick glance towards the bundle in front of the fireplace.  He knew something was up.

Seeing his father’s action, Joe grinned and turned his face toward Adam who sat as impassively as usual, but Adam did manage a small wink of his eye in response to his brother’s unspoken question.

Not noticing the interaction between his brothers due to his concentration on the checkerboard, Hoss decided it was his turn to play along.

“So Pa, whatcha eat?”

Joe began to giggle, while Adam grimaced before a small grin formed on his face and he rolled his eyes at Hoss’s question.  Hoss definitely had a one-track mind.

Taking a quick peek at his father from veiled eyes, Adam noticed that his father was still studying the blanket- covered bundle by the fireplace.  Winking to his brothers, Adam decided to continue the charade.

“Speaking of food, I’m famished.  Let’s eat.”  Adam stated, rising from his chair and starting to make his way across the room to the dining table.

Following their brother’s lead, Hoss jumped up at the same time as Joe and knocked him to his backside on the floor.  Both Ben and Adam shook their heads and groaned aloud over Hoss and Joe’s antics.  Hoss quickly tried to help his little brother to his feet, but Joe waved off his hand.

“Stay away from me, I can get up by myself.”  Joe protested.

Hoss shrugged and started to saunter into the dining room.

“Ah, boys.  Just what is this?”  Ben asked pointing to the blanket as his curiosity got the better of him.

“Oh that?  That’s a blanket, Pa.”  Adam answered sweetly with his eyebrows slightly raised, his tone sounded as though he were talking to a very small child.

Joe had to cough to conceal his giggle as he covered his mouth with his hand, then crossed his arms over his chest and looked to the floor.  Standing behind his father, Hoss stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back and forth on his feet with a broad smile covering his face.

“Yes, I can see it’s a blanket, Adam.”  Ben grinned slightly, playfully annoyed by his son’s attempt at obfuscation.  “But what I want to know is what it’s doing there?”  Ben announced with his voice raising a little louder in mock anger as he pointed toward the fireplace hearth.

“Laying around,” Joe giggled impishly.

Ben shot his youngest son a sharp stare, which caused Joe to whimper, followed by immediate silence.  Joe turned sad pleading eyes to his older brother wondering if they should continue the joke.  Following his youngest lead, Ben turned his attention to his oldest son.  Adam’s eyes were open wide twinkling with amusement and wore an unmistakable innocent smirk across his face.  Seeing no help there, Ben turned around to address his middle child and found him intently studying his boots.

“Would someone please tell me what is under that blanket?”  Ben asked patiently trying to keep his tone in check.  He knew his sons were just teasing him, but now he really wanted to know what was under the blanket.

“Why don’t you look.”  Adam suggested mischievously, before glancing over to his cohorts in crime.

“I think I will.”  Ben replied, then walked over to the blanket as his sons circled around behind him.

Pulling off the blanket he handed it back to Adam, who in turn handed it to Joe.  Joe briefly glanced down at the blanket in his hands, then passed it to Hoss.  Looking behind him and finding no one to pass it to, Hoss quickly tossed it onto the settee.

Ben Cartwright was awed and speechless as he looked at the gifts before him.  Running his fingers over the leather of the saddle, he knew that Hoss had done the tool work himself.

“The saddle is beautiful son.”  Ben stated as he looked over to his middle son.  Hoss puffed up his chest in pride.

Picking up the rifle, he felt the cold smoothness of the inlayed ‘C’.

“I hope you like it Pa.”  Joe said.

“Very much son, very much.”

Glancing down, Ben found the small velvet pouch adorned by the blue ribbon sitting in the saddle seat.  Picking it up, he looked over to his oldest son.  In his opinion, Adam’s return was the best gift his son could have given him.  Seeing the expectation in his son’s eyes, he carefully untied the ribbon and slid out its contents.

Hoss and Joe moved closer to view the object their father now held.  They too were curious to see what the small pouch had so secretively contained.

In his hand, Ben Cartwright held a small slender rectangular silver container about the size of a man’s wallet.  Ornately engraved on the outside cover was the letter ‘C’.  Turning it on its edge, Ben noticed a small clasp and opened it.

Ben gasped as he saw what was contained inside.  There displayed in a small glass frame was a picture of him and his sons.  The photograph had been taken the last time they were in San Francisco.  On the backside of the cover was again the ornately etched ‘C’; intertwined on each corner was the first initial of each of the Cartwright men corresponding to where they were shown in the picture.

“You like it Pa?”  Adam questioned, watching his father’s reaction intently.

Ben looked up to his son with tears in his eyes.  “It’s beautiful son, where did you…”

“I noticed that you always stuck your picture of us into your wallet anytime you went out of town.  Knowing that one couldn’t hold up much longer gave me the idea.  So I came up with some designs and sent them off to a friend in Boston who knew of a silversmith.”  Adam shrugged as his voice trailed off.  He didn’t want to brag, and now was embarrassed by the attentive and emotional gaze from his father and brothers.

“But when did it arrive?”  But before Adam could respond, Ben realized he already knew the answer.  “This is what Roy was looking for, his clue to finding you.”

Adam nodded slowly in response and looked down to the floor.  “I remembered it today.”

Ben quickly moved to embrace his son.

“Thank you son,” he whispered into his Adam’s ear.  Releasing him, he turned to hug Joe and Hoss each in turn to thank them for their wonderful gifts.

While his sons were deep in discussion over some detail of the saddle, rifle or picture case, Ben distanced himself from them so that he could admire his greatest gifts – his sons.

 

 

A Piece Found

Hoss looked up from the new wagon wheel rim he was working on when he heard the sound of the approaching wagon.  He didn’t recognize the occupants and quickly went over to the water trough to wash his face and hands before greeting the unexpected callers.  He pumped the water onto his hands and splashed his face using his handkerchief to wipe off the remaining water and sweat from his brow.  He’d just discarded his work apron as the wagon pulled to a stop in front of the house’s porch.

“Howdy,” Hoss called out as he approached the wagon “Is there sumpin’ I can help y’all with?”

“Well, yes maybe you can.”  A young woman replied as she stood and attempted to get down from the wagon.

Hoss quickly moved to ease the woman to the ground.  Despite the cape-like cloak that she wore draped over her shoulders, he could tell she was obviously with child.  Insuring that she was firmly on her feet.  Hoss gracefully swung the younger girl from the back of the wagon, then watched as the young boy jumped safely down from the seat to land next to his large booted feet.

“I was wondering if I might see an Adam Cartwright?”  The woman inquired with a decidedly eastern accent, Hoss noted.

“Well, yes’um Ma’am you could, but he ain’t here right now.”  Hoss replied, “But we expect him home shortly.  Why dontcha come inside and rest a spell why ya wait.”

“Why thank you, that’s very kind.”  The woman replied reaching up to smooth her hair into place.

Hoss turned to escort the woman into the house.  He smiled when he overheard the woman as she spoke in a whisper to the children.

“Now Jeremy and Sarah, you mind your manners.”  She warned.

Hoss opened the front door and ushered them in before him.  Then called out to his father.

“Pa, we have some visitors!”

Ben put down the pen and laid the letter aside that he was working on and quickly rose to greet their unexpected guests.  He strode over to where the woman and her two children stood.

“Pa, this here’s…” Hoss stopped when he realized he’d neglected to get the young woman’s name.

“Olivia Duncan.”  The woman quickly offered to assist the giant of a man who stood beside her.  She placed an outstretched hand to the silver-haired man who approached her from across the room.

“Nice to meet you Miss Duncan, I’m Ben Cartwright.”  Ben responded as he shook the proffered hand delicately.  Then easily started to guide the definitely pregnant woman toward the red leather chair in the living room.  “Please come and have a seat and make yourself comfortable.  May I take your cloak?”

“Why thank you.”  Olivia replied seating herself heavily. She liked these two men instantly they were both warm and gracious.  She untied the bow from beneath her chin.

Ben took the cloak with long ease of gentlemanly practice and folded the garment in two before placing it on the sideboard near the door.

“May I offer you some refreshments?”  Ben inquired after returning to the room assuming the role of gracious host.

“We don’t want to be any bother.”  Olivia responded.

“It’s no bother.”  Ben had barely stated when their Oriental cook, Hop Sing quietly entered the room with filled tray in hand.

Upon the tray was a delicate pink and white china teakettle, two cups with saucers that matched the teakettle, two glasses of milk and a plate of large warm sugar cookies.  Hop Sing quickly unloaded the tray placing the milk glasses into the children’s outstretched hands and the cookies not far from their reach.  He left the kettle with the cups on the tray before Ben Cartwright so that he could pour.

“Missy” Hop Sing smiled broadly in greeting before disappearing back into the kitchen.

Ben poured the steaming tea into the china cup and offered the warm beverage to their guest.

“Thank you,” Olivia replied, taking the saucer with cup from her host, who now stood beside her.

Hoss walked around the back of the settee to the low table where he snagged one of the warm cookies.

“What’s your name?”  The young boy piped in, looking up at the large man towering above him munching on a cookie.

“Hoss.”

“Horse?”  The little girl questioned.

“No, Hoss, H O S S no R.”  Hoss corrected with a gentle smile.  His name always brought about the same response.

“Well that’s a funny name.”  The boy complained.

“Jeremy, now remember what I said.  You mind your manners.”  Olivia warned.

“I’m sorry,” the boy muttered as he stared at his boots.

“Ain’t no thing.”  Hoss replied, as he tousled the boy’s hair.

“Well Miss Duncan, may I ask what brings you out to the Ponderosa?”  Ben asked drawing the attention back from the children.  He had never seen the woman before and was curious as to the reason for her visit.

“Well, I was really hoping to see your other son, Adam is his name I believe.  I think we may have met about six months ago under less than auspicious circumstances.”  The young woman responded as she absent-mindedly began to rub her protruding belly.

“I see,” Ben Cartwright replied paling slightly at the woman’s gesture.

It was about six months ago that Adam had suddenly disappeared, only to reappear nearly a month later.  No one knew exactly what had happened to Adam during that time, not even Adam knew due to the head injury he had suffered.

Seeing his father’s actions, Hoss too paled then swallowed nervously.  Finding himself now staring at the woman’s belly.

Hoss and Ben’s attention was momentarily distracted by the sound of hoof beats out in the yard.  Ben looked up to his son then to the door.

“Hoss, could you…” Ben asked, indicating the front door with a slight jerk of his head.

Hoss nodded and quickly left the room and strode over to the front door.  He understood his father’s unspoken request and went to get his older brother.  Closing the door quietly behind him, he ambled over the porch to where his brothers were dismounting their horses.

“Uh, Adam.  You’ve got a visitor up to the house.”  Hoss informed his older brother with a slight tilt of his head.

Hoss’s face was almost unreadable and Adam frowned with his younger brother’s slightly suspicious actions.

“Well, who is it?”  Adam inquired, he liked to be fully informed and Hoss’s actions were making him a little edgy.

“Olivia Duncan.”  Hoss replied studying his brother’s face intently for any indication of recognition.

“Hum, I don’t think I know any Olivia Duncan.”

“Well, she sure knows you.”  Hoss accused pointing his finger at his brother.

“Just what exactly does that mean?”  Adam questioned beginning to lose his patience with his brother’s subterfuge.

“Why don’t ya just go in and find out.”  Hoss dictated.

Seeing he was getting nowhere, Adam turned on his heel and made his way for the front door.

Hoss wasn’t sure why he was a little out of sorts with his older brother.  He couldn’t believe that Adam would get a young woman into a delicate condition, but then again, no one really knew what Adam had done or didn’t do during his disappearance.

Joe’s curiosity was peaked and he began to make his way towards the front door on Adam’s heels.  He stopped abruptly when he ran into the immovable force of Hoss’s chest that stood before him.

“I’ll help ya with the horses.”  Hoss instructed, directing his little brother’s attention back to Cochise and Sport.

Adam hesitated just a second as he reached for the handle of the front door.  He had a very strange feeling that something was amiss, but didn’t know why.  Taking a deep breath to steel himself, he opened the front door and entered the house.

As the latch on the door handle released with a slight clank, the people seated in the living room looked over to the door.

Adam entered the house; stopping by the sideboard he removed his hat and held it in his hands fingering the brim with his fingers.  He felt very self-conscious as he found four pairs of eyes staring intently at him.

Seeing the familiar face, Olivia jumped up from the leather chair and crossed the room toward the man who stood at the door.

Adam watched as the woman came closer to him.  He quickly realized that she was very heavy with child.

Ben watched as the woman approached his son.  He noted that there was no recognition of any kind on his son’s face.  This woman was a complete stranger.  Trying to give his son a subtle warning he called out an introduction.

“Adam, this is Olivia Duncan.  You met her about six months ago.” Ben watched as his son’s face paled and he stepped back slightly away from the approaching woman.

Adam felt the room suddenly sway, and became slightly light headed.  He took a small step backwards from the approaching unknown woman and bumped into the sideboard by the door.  He knew nothing of what had happened to him six months earlier and he certainly didn’t know this Olivia Duncan.

Adam’s stomach churned when he absently remembered his brothers’ chiding concerning a wedding.  He sincerely hoped they weren’t right.

Olivia came up to the tall man that seemed to look so shocked before her.  She swore he actually appeared frightened of her.  Following his gaze, she saw what he was staring at.  Patting her stomach she began to laugh silently at the impression on the man’s face, before reaching out to grab Adam’s upper left arm in a friendly gesture.

“I certainly have handled this poorly.”  Olivia announced to the man before her.

Adam’s eyes were still fixed upon her stomach in mild horror.  He felt a very familiar headache make a resurgence as he stared down at the woman next to him.  Well at least she isn’t ugly, Adam consoled himself, but he still didn’t think he was ready for fatherhood.

Taking Adam’s hand Olivia guided him to sit in the chair she had recently vacated.  Then motioning for the children to scoot down the settee, she settled herself across from the very bewildered Adam Cartwright.

Ben watched as his shocked son sat down, he quickly went and poured both his son and himself a shot of Brandy.  Coming back he sat on the hearth next to his son’s chair and handed one of the glasses to Adam.  Adam gratefully accepted the offered glass and took a large sip to settle his nerves.

Taking a deep breath, Adam prepared himself to speak and accept whatever responsibility was needed to account for his actions.  Just as he opened his mouth, he was interrupted.

“I’m sorry, but there seems to be some confusion here.”  Olivia stated.  “I’m MRS Duncan, Mrs. John Duncan.  This is my niece Sarah and my nephew Jeremy.”  She indicated to the two children who sat beside her on the settee.

Both Adam and Ben let out large sighs of relief.  Adam felt the tension ease, as he closed his eyes and rested his head on the back of the chair.

“I’m sorry but you have us at a little disadvantage.  Could you please tell us what you know?”  Ben asked.  There were so many unanswered questions about what had happened to his son.  He hoped that the woman sitting across from him possessed the answers.

“I will try my best.  I think I can understand why you don’t recognize us.”  The woman continued.  “You had a very serious head injury the last time I saw you.  All I can say is that I’m very pleased to see that you have healed.”

She reached out to pat Adam’s hand as she spoke and took a quiet assessment of the man’s condition.  She could tell that Adam had recovered his health and though he was pale earlier, his face had a much healthier pallor than the last time she had seen him.  She also noted that he had regained his muscular frame and was no longer thin and frail from being bedridden.

As she spoke, Adam vaguely recognized her somewhat familiar voice.  He realized it was one of the faceless voices from his waking dream.

“My husband and I along with my husband’s brother’s family left Philadelphia almost a year ago on the wagon train headed for California.  We left the wagon train just before Virginia City and stopped off to visit with my husband’s Uncle and Aunt on their small homestead just north of here.  You see my husband and brother-in-law had arranged to purchase a small ranch just outside of Carson City.  We were heading back towards our new home when we came across your son laying in the roadway.”

Ben remembered that Roy Coffee had followed up on the wagon train that had passed through Virginia City the same day that Adam disappeared.  But neither he nor the sheriff had realized that any wagons had left the train before it continued its journey westward.

The woman paused momentarily to carefully decide on what to say next.  She glanced over to visually check Ben Cartwright and found him listening intently.  She nodded then took a breath before she continued.  She decided they needed the entire story, and would tell them everything she knew.

“The rain was beating down heavily and we had a difficult time following the path.  We almost didn’t realize there was someone in the middle of the road until we spotted his horse standing nearby.”

She glanced again to Adam who still had his eyes closed then returned her attention to the man staring intently at her.

Ben remembered the torrential rains that had poured down on the day his son disappeared.  The heavy water had washed away all traces of any horses or wagons from the roadway making tracking of his son impossible.

“We quickly helped him into our wagon, where I tended to his injury.  You see I was a surgical nurse back in Pennsylvania and have an extensive medical background.”  Olivia digressed.

Ben nodded in response.  Doc Martin had told them that whoever had helped his son would have had medical knowledge of some sort.

“Your son didn’t have any identification on him and being unfamiliar with life in the west.  We seemed to have jumped to some wrong conclusions.”  She swallowed a little and blushed slightly with embarrassment.

“Well, that’s understandable.”  Ben was slightly confused as to the woman’s embarrassment and encouraged her to go on.

“Until yesterday when we told our Aunt Jess, we didn’t have any idea that he was your son.”  Jeremy chimed in, pointing across at Adam.

“Boy, did she ever laugh at us.”  Sarah added.

Olivia shot the two children a warning glance and they both silenced immediately.

Hearing the two children’s comments, Adam finally opened his eyes to look questioningly at the woman and two children.

“You see being unfamiliar to this area of the country we made some wrong assumptions. We just thought he was alone in the world and took him with us to our new homestead.”  Olivia offered hoping to answer Adam’s unspoken question.  She wanted to avoid having to explain her and her family’s foolish and erroneous conclusion as to the wounded man’s background.

“One day while we were in town getting supplies, we left Sarah and Jeremy to look after you.  Though you were getting stronger, you still hadn’t regained consciousness, and when we returned you were gone.  You were really in no shape to travel.”  Olivia slightly scolded as she looked thoughtfully at Adam.

“Yeah, you said you had to get home cuz you was late and your Pa be mad.”  Jeremy piped in.  Then noticing the icy stare from his Aunt added, “I know, children are supposed to be seen but not heard,” before he became silent again.

Adam smiled a small smile and winked at the boy.  Jeremy reminded him of Little Joe at that age.  Adam was beginning to relax and to feel more at ease.  Though he still had no recollection of the tale the woman was telling, it was comforting to finally find some of the missing pieces to those three unaccounted for weeks of his life.

“How did I get back to the crossroads?”  Adam hoped they could tell him.  He didn’t want to alarm his father and neglected to mention that he awoke on the ground near the edge of the road.

Olivia shrugged her shoulders and shook her head in a silent response.

“You were really in no condition to ride.  Maybe that’s where you stopped for rest.”  Olivia surmised.  She really believed that was where Adam had finally exhausted the last of his reserves and quite possibly passed out.

Adam nodded in acceptance of her suggestion.

“As Jeremy already mentioned, we didn’t know until yesterday of our error.  We’re terribly sorry for any heartache that we may have caused you or your family, Mr. Cartwright.”  Olivia apologized looking first to Adam then over to Ben Cartwright.

“Dear you have nothing to apologize for.  I’m deeply indebted to you and your family for helping my son.”  Ben commented as he looked over to the woman.  He had tears in his eyes as he was reminded of the pain of those weeks.  But he was enormously grateful to the woman and her family for taking taken care of his child.

“Yes, thank you.”  Adam said quietly, not knowing what else to say.

Olivia blushed again at the men’s gratefulness and thanks.  In all her years of nursing, she still wasn’t used to people’s gratitude.  She wanted to say it was no bother, but didn’t want to sound flippant.  Realizing the time she attempted to stand quickly.

“I’m sorry but it’s time that we must be going.  I really just wanted to see for myself that you were well.”

Adam jumped up and reached out to take Olivia’s hand and upper arm to assist her gently to her feet.

“Surely you can stay for dinner?”  Adam invited, hoping to talk longer with this woman without his father around.  He still had unanswered questions and he felt she might know some of the answers.

“Yes, please stay.  We would greatly enjoy your company.”  Ben added.  He was pondering how to ask a question of this young woman without disturbing his son.

“Thank you that’s very kind, but we really have to be going before it gets much later.”  Olivia replied, motioning for the children to get up from the settee.

Seeing their aunt’s gesture the children arose from the settee and went to stand by the front door.

“Well, at least give us the opportunity of showing you a little of the west’s hospitality and entertain you with a picnic on Sunday after church.”  Adam offered still holding her hand.  He hoped that she would accept the invitation.

“Oh that sounds lovely, but I’m afraid we just can’t.”  Olivia responded and watched as both Adam and Ben’s faces fell.

“You see we’re leaving early tomorrow morning.  We’re just here to help our Aunt move to our homestead, now that her husband has passed on.”  Olivia added, feeling she owed these gentlemen an explanation for refusing their kind invitation. “In fact, we better hurry or my husband will start to worry.”

“I’m sorry to hear of your loss.”  Ben consoled, as he stood to escort their guests to the yard.

“May I thank you properly for helping me?”  Adam inquired respectfully.  Seeing Olivia nod in response, he put his arms around her shoulders and hugged her and she returned his embrace.

*****************

Little Joe was tired of waiting outside.  Hoss had been acting very strangely since he and Adam had arrived home.  Joe had a funny feeling that there was some connection between whatever was going on in the house, and how Hoss was acting.  Not liking mysteries and feeling left out; he was determined to find out what was going on and how it involved Adam.

“I’m not waiting out here any longer.”  Joe stated, rising from the chair on the porch and making his way for the door with Hoss in close pursuit.

Hoss reached him and grabbed his little brother’s upper right arm as Joe put his hand on the door handle.

“Joe, I think it’s best we wait out here.  At least till Pa calls us.”

Joe pulled his arm free from Hoss’s grasp and stated defiantly.  “You can stay out here if you want to, I’m going inside!”

Joe almost threw open the door in frustration then froze at the sight before him.  Joe’s eyes grew wide and he whimpered quietly at the image.  There was his oldest brother Adam, hugging a woman.  A very pregnant woman!  Even though he was a bachelor and not very good at math, he could guess how far along the woman was in her pregnancy and putting two and two together, came up with five.

Hoss followed Joe into the house.  He wasn’t sure of the situation between Adam and this soon to be mother, but he wanted to make sure Little Joe was respectful and didn’t embarrass their older brother.   Not noticing as Joe stopped in his tracks, Hoss ran into his younger brother knocking him further into the room.

Adam looked up to see his two younger brothers stumble into the room and chuckled.  Releasing his embrace of Olivia, Adam watched as Little Joe blanched and he smiled inwardly.  He could imagine what was going through his baby brother’s mind.  It was definitely more enjoyable to watch someone else’s shocked reaction, than to endure the shock yourself.

Joe turned pleading eyes to his father, as the young woman turned to see who had entered the house.  Getting no help from his father, Joe raised his eyebrows in a silent question as he looked to Hoss for answers.

Hoss shrugged his shoulders in response, because he didn’t know the answer either.

Seeing his brothers’ reactions, Adam started to laugh out loud.  His father and Olivia soon joined him in the merriment.  They could all tell by the expressions on Little Joe and Hoss’s faces that they too had jumped to the wrong conclusion.

Seeing the adults laughing, the two small children looked at each other in confusion not understanding what was so funny.  Shrugging their shoulders then rolling their eyes, the children made their way out to the yard.

Ben took a deep breath to calm himself.  He decided to let his sons off the hook because it appeared that their older brother wouldn’t.

“Joe, Hoss, this is Mrs. John Duncan.”  Ben introduced the woman standing next to Adam who was still giggling at the two men standing across the room from her.

“Please call me Olivia,” she offered trying to compose herself.

“She and her family were kind enough to look after me, after my accident last fall.”  Adam added with a smirk, he was still amused by the look on his confused brothers’ faces.

Joe and Hoss both let out large sighs of relief that they weren’t going to be uncles anytime soon.  Joe smacked Hoss playfully in the stomach with the back of his hand in relief.

Finally composed Olivia turned and addressed Adam. “It was nice seeing you again Adam.  And I’m pleased that your doing so much better than the last time I saw you.”

Turning she allowed Ben to place her cloak back over her shoulders.  Once in place, she deftly retied the bow.

The Cartwright men escorted Olivia out to the yard where her wagon awaited her.  The children had wandered over to the corral and were petting the horses.

“Jeremy, Sarah, it’s time to be going.”  Olivia called out to the children, who came running in response.  Turning she approached the wagon.

Ben walked over and gently took her hand as he said, “Please grace our home again.  I am forever in your debt for saving the life of my son.”  Then bending slightly he kissed Olivia tenderly on the cheek.

“Please write and let us know how you are doing from time to time.”  Ben added, he had an ulterior motive to the request.  He hadn’t found a way to ask her his question, and didn’t want to do so, while his oldest son was present.  Through correspondence, he felt he could ask her to hopefully dispel his deepest fear regarding his son’s injury.

Hoss followed his father’s example and wordlessly kissed the woman’s cheek as well, before blushing bashfully.  Olivia gazed up into the sky blue eyes and saw his unspoken gratefulness clearly displayed there.

She felt tears forming in her eyes as Joe stepped forward and took her hands to say his thanks as well, before kissing her hands then her cheek.

Adam went over and kissed Olivia’s cheek and whispered a silent ‘Thank You’ in her ear, before effortlessly lifting her up to the seat of the wagon.

Olivia was stunned by their outpouring of gratitude and was speechless.  She was brought back to reality by the sound of her nephew’s voice.

“Are you or aren’t you?”  The boy questioned, looking at the black haired man standing before him.

“Are I or aren’t I what?”  Adam replied.  Crossing his arms across his chest and looking down to address the small boy before him.

“You know!”  Jeremy exclaimed, then folded his arms across his own chest in an imitation of the tall man before him.

“No, I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage.”  Adam persisted with a small chuckle.  He was more than a little confused as to the boy’s question.

“He wants to know if you’re an outlaw.”  Sarah chimed in, looking at Adam innocently.

Adam’s eyes grew wide as his vision first flew to the young girl standing near his side.  Then back to the boy still motionless before him.  Adam’s face began to heat and his ears began to burn as he felt his face begin to blush.  He was even more aghast when he heard his little brothers begin to guffaw and cackle behind him.

“No, I most certainly am not!”  Adam responded indignantly.

“But you look like a gunslinger!”  The boy persisted just as indignant as Adam.

Ben started to chuckle both at his son’s response and the boy’s question.  Out of the mouths of babes, he mused.  He noticed absently how the little boy facing his oldest son looked so much like Adam when he’d been that age, and just as doggedly determined when he had some idea in his head.

“Jeremy!”  Olivia exclaimed in embarrassment.  She felt her face begin to blush with shame at her nephew’s relentless pestering.  She had hoped that she would be able to get out of there without having to explain further.

“Well you said…” Jeremy insisted as he turned to address his aunt.

Seeing his accuser turn to Olivia, Adam turned a patient and suspicious glance over to the young woman sitting on the bench of the wagon.

Realizing Adam’s intense questioning stare, Olivia wished she could just disappear.  Knowing she wouldn’t get her wish, she cleared her throat and attempted to answer Adam’s unspoken question.

“Well, you see, ahem, back east, there is very little information about the west.  So what there is, well, um, isn’t really very accurate.”  She winced, then hesitated still hoping for the earth to swallow her whole.

Adam let out a small groan and rolled his eyes heavenward before he ventured a guess as to the source of her misinformation.

“Dime novels?”

“I’m afraid so.”

Adam could hear his father now join in the laughter at his expense as well.  His father had often warned him about his mode of dress.

Jeremy didn’t accept the answer he’d been given and all the laughter infuriated him a little.  Determined that the man dressed in black before him was really some sort of dangerous character, Jeremy pressed the issue.

“Then why did someone shoot you?”  The boy demanded, feeling he had the upper hand in this argument.

Abruptly, Ben, Hoss and Little Joe’s laughter ceased as they turned their full attention to the child standing before Adam.

There was the unasked question that both Ben and Adam had wanted from Olivia.  Though Doctor Martin had suggested the healed wound to Adam’s head was caused by a gunshot.  He couldn’t state for certain that it was.

In a vain attempt for some type of peace of mind, Adam had done his best to convince not only himself, but also his family that he’d fallen from his horse while reading.  Even Sheriff Coffee could attest to the fact that the last time he saw Adam, he was reading while riding.  Through Adam’s continued persistence, Doctor Martin had even hedged on his original diagnosis, and conceded, that it could have been a glancing blow from one of the boulders that lined the roadway near the crossroads, where Adam first regained his consciousness.

Olivia rolled her eyes in frustration at the insensitive behavior of her nephew.  Sometimes children just didn’t have the good sense given to a bullfrog.  She turned sympathetic eyes first to Ben, then finally resting upon Adam who was now staring off into the distance.

Regaining his composure, Adam looked down to the boy before him and spoke quietly barely able to be heard.

“I don’t know.”

Adam could feel all the uncertainty and confusion of those first couple of weeks return.  He felt a familiar hand clasp his shoulder, and looked out of the corner of his eye to see his father standing at his side.

Seeing the sad look displayed upon Adam’s face was disquieting to the children.  Jeremy felt bad for hurting the man’s feelings, but didn’t know what to do or say to make things right.

Ben looked over to Olivia for confirmation and felt fear in his heart, as he saw her slowly nod her head.  His son had been shot.

“We don’t know.”  Olivia offered sadly before Ben Cartwright could ask.  Then she addressed her traveling companions.  “Children, please get into the wagon, we need to be going.”

Joe walked over and hefted the young girl easily into the back of the wagon, while Hoss picked up the young boy and seated him next to his Aunt on the bench.  They then went to stand on either side of their brother to offer their silent support, while their father walked over to address the woman once more.

Ben Cartwright approached the wagon and lifted the reins and handed them to Olivia.

“Have a safe journey.  If there’s anything I can ever do for you or your family, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  And remember, you’re always welcome on the Ponderosa.”

Olivia smiled a small sad smile in response to the older man’s offering.  She was saddened by the sudden turn of events and didn’t dare attempt to speak.  Nodding her head, she turned the horses and drove the wagon from the yard.

Adam watched as the wagon departed.  He was too stunned to speak or move.

“Come on desperado, let’s go and get a bite to eat.”  Hoss joshed trying to enliven the suddenly gloomy mood.  He put his big arm across Adam’s shoulders and directed him towards the house.

Little Joe walked over to his father and emulated Hoss’s gesture of loving support.  They silently followed Adam and Hoss into the house.

As soon as the Cartwrights had entered the house, Adam broke free from Hoss’s embrace and made his way across the room and over to the stairs.

Deeply concerned and worried, Ben watched as his oldest son ascended the stairs and disappeared down the hallway.

Through an unspoken agreement between the other three Cartwright men, Adam had not been allowed to ride alone since his mysterious return.  Ben knew that their constant hovering was beginning to chafe his fiercely independent son.  But he welcomed his son’s ire and displeasure, to the pain he’d endured during those weeks of his son’s disappearance.  Now that it was confirmed that someone had shot his son, Ben Cartwright was determined to make sure that someone would always be with Adam.

Feeling that it would be best that his son not be left alone, Ben turned and followed Adam up the stairs.

Ben quietly entered Adam’s room and found his son sitting at his drafting table, a blank sheet of paper before him.  How symbolic, he thought, the paper was just as blank and devoid of images, as were the three weeks of memories in his son’s mind.

Sympathetically, he realized that Adam was once again holding the right side of his head with his hand.  It was a gesture very familiar to him during the first few weeks of Adam’s recovery.  Over time, the gesture had faded to a memory, until today.

Adam sat staring at the blank sheet of paper before him.  He sought refuge from the suffocating concern of his family and all their relentless questions, for which he had no answers to.  The all too familiar pain had returned with a vengeance and his head throbbed without mercy as he struggled to dredge up memories that just didn’t exist for him.

More than three missing weeks of his life, a family he couldn’t recall and now to have his worst fear realized, he’d been shot.  He’d tried so hard to allay his family’s fears by convincing them his injury was the result of a fall.  He’d even been able to partially convince himself.  But now that façade had ended.  He had to accept the fact that he’d been shot, and that knowledge was the most worrisome of all, as he didn’t know who or why.

Though Adam knew he had made a few enemies over the years, even a few that had wished him dead.  There wasn’t anyone currently around that wished him such ill will or would actually attempt to take his life.  He wouldn’t even try to kid himself anymore with ridiculous ideas that maybe it was a wayward shot from a hunter.  No one hunted that close to a public roadway, and even if they did, they would’ve realized they had shot him accidentally and sought medical assistance for him.  Whoever it was shot him deliberately, and that made his blood run cold.

Ben Cartwright silently and carefully made his way over to stand behind his son.  Reaching out, he placed his hands upon his son’s shoulders and squeezed gently in a comforting manner before he spoke.

“Adam?”

Adam still did not look up in response to his father’s presence in the room.

“Adam, please look at me?”  Ben requested with quiet patience.

When Adam looked up towards his father, Ben saw the unmistakable but all too familiar confusion in Adam’s eyes.  It was the same look that was forever present, those first couple of weeks after his return.  He shuddered when he saw something else displayed there as well.  He closed his own eyes in response when he realized the unmistakable fear in his son’s haunted eyes.  Ben tightened his grip upon Adam’s shoulders to offer reassurance to both himself and his son.

Ben stood behind his son for a couple of moments before suggesting that Adam lay down to rest.  He knew from seeing Adam when he entered the room, that Adam’s tormenting headache had returned.  Initially Adam resisted, but finally relented as his world continued to spin out of control and his stomach began to protest.

Ben helped his son remove his boots, then covered his son with the quilt that lay at the foot of his bed.  Ben watched as his son turned over onto his stomach struggling to sleep.

Normally, Adam would balk at Ben’s somewhat smothering coddling, which Adam referred to as ‘Pa playing Ma’.  But right now, Adam found he needed the safety of his father’s reassuring presence.

Reaching out Ben began to gently rub his son’s back in a comforting manner.  He felt the tense shoulders and strained back muscles finally begin to relax.  He continued the loving gesture as Adam’s breaths finally deepened into restful slumber.

Remembering his own pain over Adam’s disappearance, Ben was reluctant to leave his son alone.  He sat next to Adam’s bedside feeling his son breathing beneath his light touch.  Ben intended to be there when his son awoke.

Ben looked up when he heard a slight shuffling noise coming from the open doorway.  Glancing across the room he saw his two youngest sons standing there with worry and concern etched deeply upon their faces.  They too would join their father in his vigil over Adam.

All the feeling of dread and worry from those first few frantic weeks had returned to the Cartwright family.  Though they now had the answers as to who had helped Adam and saved his life.  They even knew what had caused his injury.  What they found the most unsettling, was that they still didn’t know the answers to what was now the most frightening question of all – ‘Why?’

The End of Part II

 

 

The Last Piece

Barely concealing his anxiety, the man waited for the clerk to check his mail.  It had been weeks since he sent off his subtle inquiry and was certain his response would arrive today.  He was rewarded when the young man returned with an envelope in hand.

“Here you are sir, a letter from Virginia City.”

“Thank you,” the middle-aged gentleman replied, taking the envelope from the clerk.  Outwardly he acted nonchalant, as he turned and left the mercantile heading back to his room at the boarding house.  But his insides were knotted in anticipation over the content of the correspondence.

Walking back to the small rooming house at the edge of town, the man took purposeful yet unhurried strides up the steps.  Stopping briefly to remove his hat and pay his respects to the elderly proprietor of the establishment.  He quickly ascended the staircase and headed down the hall to his small but comfortable room.

Closing the door behind him, he rested his back against the wooden structure.  Shutting his eyes, he took a deep breath to calm his nerves.  With trembling hands he unsealed the small envelope and read the contents.

Displeasure, then rage rapidly replaced his nervousness as he crumpled the letter and threw it into the fireplace.

It was time to go home.

***********

Within days of Olivia Duncan’s departure, Adam’s fear was quickly replaced by what he always considered a more useful emotion – anger.  He was angry at whoever had shot him and put him and his family through this ordeal, angry over his father and brothers’ suffocating protectiveness and angry with himself over his inability to remember.

Now he faced his father across the large desk with his hands tightly gripping the tabletop in frustration.  He was rankled by his family’s constant overwhelming presence.

Since the day it was confirmed that Adam had indeed been shot, his father had confined him to the ranch and forbade him from going into town.   Wherever Adam went one of his brothers or his father accompanied him and that was getting on Adam’s last nerve.  He was surprised that his father didn’t demand that someone escort him to the watercloset.

Now his father had unilaterally decided that Adam would not participate in this year’s spring roundup, which was the last straw for this proud and independent young man.

“Pa, I see no reason why I have to stay at the house!  I’m not ill and I can take care of myself.”  Adam was furious as he roared across the desk at his silver-haired father.

Ben glared back with furrowed brows.  He expected his son’s ire and had no intention of backing down on this issue.

“You know perfectly well why you shouldn’t take part in this year’s roundup.”  Ben thundered back.

“I can take care of myself!”

“Oh you can, can you?”

“Yes I can!”  Adam was livid over his father’s implication.

Adam had always been able to take care of himself.  As a small boy, Adam was always very self-sufficient.  He’d also helped his father to even take care of his two younger brothers.

He raised his right hand to his face and pinched the bridge of his nose with his index finger and thumb in frustration.  Lowering his hand once more, he paused to take a deep calming breath before continuing.

Ben was still shaken over his son’s disappearance and the revelation of the past week, which had struck too close to home.  Once again, he realized that his son’s life was still in danger.  Ben Cartwright would fight fiercely to protect his firstborn son, whether his son appreciated his efforts or not.

“Look Pa, I won’t be out there alone.  Hoss and Joe, as well as, a dozen or so hands will be there as well.”  Adam hoped that taking a different tack and applying clear reason would get through to his father.

“That’s right, you won’t be alone.  Because you’ll be staying right here at the house with me.”  Ben was adamant and had no intention of giving into Adam’s wishes on this matter.

“Pa what happened, happened.  It’s been over six months…” Adam continued to patiently argue before his father cut him off.

“I don’t care if it happened over six years ago.  You will not be participating in this year’s roundup and that’s final!”  Ben boomed, as he rose from his chair to look his son square in the face.  As far as he was concerned the matter was closed.

“When Pa?  When are you going to trust me again?”  Adam almost pleaded as he looked down to the black leather tabletop.

Ben Cartwright implicitly trusted his son and always had, it was Adam’s assailant that he didn’t trust.  Ben’s tone softened as he spoke.

“I trust you son, I have always trusted you. It’s not a matter of my faith in you.”

***********

Hoss and Joe stood on the porch and listened to their father and brother’s argument.  Normally, they jokingly placed bets as to the outcome and who would win.  But not this time, this was not a laughing matter.

Though they both silently wished that their father would relent, and allow Adam to join them.  They understood his concern and sympathized with him.  They too could remember the immense pain of those weeks of Adam’s disappearance.

Hearing the loud angry banter discontinue, they knew the verbal sparring was at an end, and that Adam had lost the battle.  They quickly strode over to act as though they were finishing with the saddling of their horses by checking the cinches, when Adam came through the door and slammed it behind him.

Adam didn’t even acknowledge his brothers’ presence as he stormed across the porch.  The black mood heightened by his rage limited his vision and enhanced his single-mindedness, as he made his way over to the side of the house.  Grabbing the axe, he raised the implement over his head and swung a furious blow, splitting the log into.

Whistling softly, Joe looked wide-eyed across his saddle to his bigger brother.  He didn’t think he’d ever seen Adam so enraged.

With a slight sad shake of his head, Hoss indicated that it would be best if they were on their way.

***********

The man stumbled into the front room of his home.  Dropping the bags by the front door, he surveyed the dusty sitting room.  Yes, this was his home, his alone.

No one rushed to welcome him back from his journey.  No laughter floated among the cobweb-laden rafters.  Silence, loneliness and regret reigned here.

He picked up the small dust-covered ornate picture frame from where it sat on the desk.  Using his sleeve he removed the filth and stared down at the image of a young man looking back at him and wept.

Falling heavily into the chair beside the fireplace he gazed lovingly at the young face.  He remembered a time when the house, this house was filled with joy and laughter.  Of a son entering adulthood with all the exuberance and recklessness of youth.

He had such plans then.  He too was younger and building an empire for his child, his firstborn son.  The beloved child he had raised alone for over 15 years.  His boy, his pride and joy, his sole heir, gone now.  The bright, vivacious fun-loving child was dead, cold and buried in the family plot.

During his life he had endured such pain, hardship and heartache including the deaths of his second child, a daughter, and young wife in childbirth.

But through it all he had his son.

With regret he wiped his eyes on his sleeve then continued to gaze down at the image now blurred by tears.  Fingering the finely etched silver picture frame, his mind wandered back to a day not long past, when he saw another young man holding an ornate picture frame in his outstretched hand.

He remembered overhearing him tell the sheriff that it was a gift for his father on his birthday.  A birthday for a man who still had a son.  A man fortunate to have three living sons, when he no longer even had one, Ben Cartwright had seen to that.

He never had any animosity toward Adam Cartwright.  In fact, he liked the quiet and intelligent man who was mature beyond his years.  He was one of the few, if only people in the area that still showed him any kindness.

To him, Adam Cartwright was so like his Billy.  He was ingenious, hard-working and a loving devoted son.  Billy was everything a father could have hoped for in a child.  To him, Billy was his world.

Reflecting on the worst day of his life, he remembered watching them as they put his son’s still warm, but lifeless body into the pine box.  He recalled a slight tugging on his sleeve then looked down through teary eyes to a small boy with wavy black hair and heard him sadly say, “I’m so sorry Mr. Wills.”  Reaching out, he patted a young Adam Cartwright’s head in gratitude.

On that day some six months past, something inside of him snapped when he saw the wondrous gift from a loving son for his much-cherished father.  For on that day, it was his birthday.  But for him, there would be no grand party to celebrate, no good friends to congratulate him or wish him well, and no beautiful gifts from an adored and much loved firstborn son.

His son was dead, buried in the family plot beside his mother and sister.  Gone forever.  Gone, as were his dreams and hopes, all taken away by Ben Cartwright.

He felt cold and empty inside, as he rode out of Virginia City that day.  His intent was plain.  He wanted Ben Cartwright to know the pain he felt.  He wanted him to know the anguish of burying a child, of a birthday alone, without his firstborn son.

It had been easy to ride out of town that day and lay in wait for Adam Cartwright.  He even remembered tipping his hat in greeting as he overtook and passed the young man on the road; who was so engrossed in the book he was reading.

Finding a well-concealed spot near the crossroads he bided his time, then very easily pulled the trigger of his rifle. Young Cartwright had even accommodated him by stopping just yards from where he waited, concealed in an outcropping of rock.

He watched as the dark-haired oldest son of Ben Cartwright fell from his horse and strike the ground hard, unmoving.  He recalled staring down at the victim of his violence and was surprised at feeling not only avenged, but also immensely satisfied by the hideous act.

He had stayed watching and admiring his heinous handiwork until the rain began to pour in earnest.  Donning his raincoat, he cautiously made his way back to his home and sanctuary.

Ben’s despair and grief were more than he could have hoped for.  He took quiet pleasure in observing the elder Cartwright ride into town daily on his quest for his missing child.  He found enormous satisfaction in watching as the great proud vibrant Benjamin Cartwright slowly deteriorated into deep depression and despair, rapidly aging before his very eyes.

He was somewhat bewildered and couldn’t understand what had become of Adam Cartwright’s corpse, but he was so very certain that the young man was dead.  He’d seen to that and he was an expert marksman.

At first he relished watching Ben’s despair, then the pleasure slowly turned into nervousness.  Fearing that his guilt would soon be discovered, he departed Virginia City a couple of weeks after his heinous act.  As it was his habit to travel to a warmer climate for the winter, no one questioned his departure.

But he was back now and he was outraged to discover that Adam Cartwright had indeed managed to survive.

Sighing deeply as he stared at the handsome figure beneath the cloudy glass.  He knew what the judgement was to be, there would be no appeals, no pardon, no more hope of saving him.  He would be there on Adam’s judgement day.

***********

Adam glanced around the large room.  His temper barely restrained. He’d spent the last couple of days chopping wood and fixing rims on wagon wheels.  Using the strenuous tasks as an outlet for his frustration, he’d funneled his pent up anger into his work.  Now every wheel on the Ponderosa had a new rim and there was enough firewood to last for months.

Adam felt like an animal in a cage.  Though it was a nice cage, it was a cage nonetheless.  He’d even considered leaving the ranch for a while, maybe travel to San Francisco.  But he didn’t wish to cause his father any further heartache, and right now, the thought of large crowds of people made him antsy and nervous.

Closing the book he was reading, Adam stood to head outside for a breath of fresh air.  He needed to get away from the stifling confining space before he became claustrophobic.

“Where are you going, son?”  Ben Cartwright inquired. Pulling his pipe from his mouth, he looked up from the book he was reading to address his eldest.

Adam glanced down to his two brothers who were yet again ensconced in the perennial game of checkers.  He took a refreshing breath to try and calm his nerves, and was only marginally successful when he answered his father.

“I’m going to avail myself of the facilities.  Would you care to have someone come and hold my hand so I don’t fall in?”  Adam retorted in a bitingly sarcastic tone.  Glancing first to his younger siblings whose mouths hung open in shock, then pointedly staring in challenge at his father.

“Watch your language son!”  Ben retorted, accepting the verbal gauntlet of the slightly lewd comment his son had just made.  “You will keep a civil tongue in this house.”

Though Adam knew he deserved the reprimand, he was in no mood to be called down in front of his younger brothers and felt his blood begin to boil.  He needed out of his father’s self-imposed prison and he needed out of it now!

Ben watched as his son threw his book onto the floor and stormed from the house.  Shaking his head, he was at a loss as to how to resolve the current situation.

Ben Cartwright could understand and even sympathize with his son’s plight.  He knew the tight restrictions he placed upon his independent and proud son were chafing the young man.  But he saw no other solution.

In the last couple of days, where Adam’s fear had dissipated into indignant outrage, Ben’s had intensified into abject terror.  Even though Adam was a full grown man who was quite capable of taking care of himself, to Ben he would always be a little boy.  As his father, it was his responsibility to always care for and protect that little boy from harm.  Right now his fatherly intuition told him that his son’s life was still in danger, and he would do anything to protect his child.

Ben knew that his overbearing behavior concerning Adam’s safety could be viewed as irrational.  But he was certain he couldn’t survive the overwhelming despair and pain again, if something should happen to his oldest son.

What had Roy said to him some six months ago, ‘Let him go’.  Ben couldn’t let him go then, and he would be damned before he allowed something to happen to Adam now.  As far as he was concerned, his son needed to be protected at all costs, even if that meant making him a prisoner of the Ponderosa.

With slightly pleading eyes to his middle child, Ben sent a silent request.  Nodding in acceptance, Hoss rose from the settee and ambled toward the front door.

Little Joe looked over to his father who sat staring at the vacant space where Adam was standing moments before.  Instinctively, he knew what was going through his father’s mind.  He wished desperately for a way to help both his father and his brother, but was at a total loss.  Hoping to take his father’s mind off of Adam’s recent outburst, Joe cleared his throat.

“Ah, Pa.  How about I get us some tea?”  Joe offered.

Nodding absently, Ben replied quietly.  “Hum, yes, yes, that sounds good son.”

Hoss carefully made his way out of the house and leaned against the wall near the covered porch.  Peeking around the corner he found his older brother sitting on the table with his feet resting on the bench before him.  Adam was staring intently up at the full moon and the stars in the sky.

Clearing his throat, Hoss put his hands into his pockets and leisurely walked over to where his brother sat.  Nudging Adam gently with his shoulder, Hoss encouraged his brother to scoot over.

With a slight shy smile, Adam complied.  Adam always welcomed Hoss’s warm and friendly presence.  They sat for several minutes in companionable silence until Adam quietly spoke.

“I can’t go on like this.”

Hoss knew what Adam was saying was true, but he knew of no way to help either him or his father through this ordeal.
He closed his eyes tightly and felt a cold shiver run up his spine over his brother’s next words.

“This is killing me Hoss.”

***********

For days he watched from the hill overlooking the ranch house.  He noticed that Adam never left the general vicinity of the main house and barn.  Ben Cartwright was keeping his son close, in some type of protective cocoon by his mere presence. Unfortunately, it would not be enough.

He watched as Ben’s two other sons walked from the house and mounted their horses and rode away.  Making sure that the boys were sufficiently down the road, he followed them, wanting to see where they were headed.  Confirming that they were heading towards the branding pits and would be away for hours, he turned his horse around and made his way back down the path to the main house.

He needed to find a way to get Ben Cartwright away from the house and away from his son.  He rode slowly in the early morning sun and let his mind ponder the question.  An hour went by before the solution came in the form of a Ponderosa ranch hand.

He spurred his horse towards the hand and yelled.

“Get Mr. Cartwright, get ’em quick.  There’s been an accident at the pits and Little Joe is hurt badly!”

Stunned the ranch hand stared at him.  The hand wasn’t certain what Mr. Wills had been doing at the branding pits, but he wasn’t going to question the urgency.

Seeing the man’s hesitation, Wills added.

“Hurry now, I’ll go for the doctor!”

Wills turned his horse down the main road to Virginia City.  He stopped just out of sight from the ranch hand.  Slowly he made his way back down the path and checked to confirm that the hand had indeed headed to inform his employer.

***********

Inside the house, Ben and Adam worked on the books and a new timber contract.  Neither man spoke, and Ben discreetly observed his son from across the desk where they had placed the documents.  He thoughtfully regarded his unusually quiet son.

Although Adam had always been somewhat distant and introverted, he was always a force to be reckoned with and was definitely out-spoken on any issue.  Today it was though Adam didn’t really care about anything and was merely existing.

Adam was resigned to his fate, his independent spirit finally broken.  Ben was deeply saddened when he realized that he now was the source of his son’s suffering.

Adam stared down at the column of figures on the page and couldn’t concentrate.  He found no interest in the numbers or what they represented.  His mind was devoid of any thought.  He didn’t even have the energy or inclination for anger anymore.  He no longer cared about anything.

“Adam,” Ben quietly addressed his son.

Ben received no response from his child; it was as though Adam could not hear him.

“Adam.”  Ben restated, then reaching out, he placed a hand on his son’s forearm.

“Yeah, Pa.”  Adam replied indifferently as he looked up to his father’s face without focusing.

“How about some coffee?”  Ben suggested, drawing more of Adam’s attention.

“Huh, sure Pa.  I’ll get it.”  Adam replied as he absently stood and took a step away from the desk.

“Just a minute Adam.”  Ben watched and waited as Adam stopped then turned back to face him.

“Tell ya what son.  Let’s get this finished up and after lunch we’ll go and check up on those two brothers of yours.”  Ben suggested with a faint smile.

At first Adam couldn’t believe his ears, then a grateful smile appeared across his face as his mood lightened considerably.

“Well, if you want lunch first, you’re cooking.  Hop Sing is out helping at the chuckwagon, remember?  Adam chided.

Ben had forgotten that their regular cook was still recovering from a broken foot and wouldn’t join the roundup until next week.

“Then what’re you standing there gawking at me for.  Go and get that coffee so we can get this paperwork done boy!”  Ben bellowed in teasing fashion.  “We need to get there before Hoss shows up or we’ll be doing without lunch.”

A very happy Adam eagerly began to make his way for the kitchen before stopping and turning sideways to face his father.

“Thanks Pa.”

The grateful smile on the handsome face, the happiness in the baritone voice and the twinkle in his son’s eyes were all the thanks Ben Cartwright needed.  Ben reached across the desk and ran his fingers along the edge of the small silver picture box that he’d received from Adam on his birthday, and smiled.  It was time that he gave Adam back the reins and his freedom.

***********

Adam had just placed the tray containing the coffee pot and
two cups upon the desktop when the sound of footsteps was heard quickly crossing the porch.  Both men glanced to the front door as they heard the sound of pounding.

“I wonder who that could be?”  Adam asked hearing the loud and urgent knock.

“Don’t know.  You stay here.”  Ben instructed with a wave of his hand.  Crossing the room to the sideboard at the door, he pulled his gun from his gun belt.  Turning he open the door cautiously.

There stood one of their ranch hands.  The man appeared flushed and slightly winded.

“Mister Cartwright, ya need to come quick.  Joe’s been hurt!”  The man sputtered.

“Hurt, how badly?”  Adam questioned, as he neared the front door.

Ben shot him a thunderous look.  When would that boy ever listen?  His initial anger at Adam’s disobedience rapidly evaporated into shock when the man’s words registered in his mind.  ‘Little Joe was hurt!’

“Don’t rightly know, I was just told to come’n fetch ya.”  The man turned to address and answer the younger Cartwright’s question.

“You better go Pa.”  Adam gently suggested.  He’d watched as his father paled and seemed frozen in place.

“Yes, yes.  Adam you…”

“Don’t worry Pa.  I’ll stay here.  You just go and see to Little Joe.”  Adam tried to allay some of his father’s worries.

Adam watched from the porch as his father hurried over to the barn and quickly saddled Buck, then rode away with the ranch hand.  Shaking his head he turned and walked back into the house, saying a silent prayer that Joe wasn’t hurt badly and would be alright.

Frank Wills watched from a secluded spot not far from the ranch house, which was also near the path to the branding pits.  He watched as a frantic Ben Cartwright rode hurriedly past with the ranch hand in tow.  Good he thought; all was now going according to plan.  He urged his mount carefully down the path to the back of the barn.  Looking toward the house, he carefully pulled his horse into the barn and directed him into a stall.  Now all he needed to do was complete his final preparations.

***********

Adam looked up from the ledgers when he heard a knocking at the front door.  Making his way across the room he eagerly opened the door hoping it was news about his baby brother.  He was a little stunned by the man standing on the other side, as the family wasn’t expecting any callers.

“Mr. Wills.”  Was all that Adam could say.  His father hadn’t mentioned that he was expecting anyone.

Adam knew Frank Wills quite well.  He and his father were business associates.  In fact, Wills reminded him a great deal of his father.  Just like his father, Frank had come west with the dream of a great ranch.  The Wills’ had even had a spread almost as large as the Ponderosa until fate intervened.  Now Frank Wills made his living by leasing out parcels of that land to other ranchers and farmers in the area, only keeping the main house as his residence.

“Adam,” the man replied holding out his hand in greeting.

Adam took the proffered hand and shook it, mentally kicking himself for his remiss in manners.

“Please come in,” Adam opened the door wider and gesturing with his left hand indicated the room behind him.

“Thank you,” Wills responded grinning slightly, he tipped his hat as he entered the house.  Later removing the hat and holding it in his hands, while Adam followed him into the large room.

“I’m sorry, but my Pa isn’t here right now.  Is there something I can do for you?”  Adam asked his guest.

Frank Wills knew that Ben Cartwright was not at home, he needed to just bide his time, so he humored the young Cartwright.

“Oh, he’s not.  Do you expect him shortly?  It’s kind of urgent that I see him.”

“Well, I’m not sure.  But you’re welcome to wait if you’d like.”  Adam replied motioning to the settee so the man could make himself comfortable while he waited.

“Would you like some coffee?”  Adam offered trying to make up for his lack of good graces moments.

“Why, yes thank you.”  Frank Wills smiled a bitter smile in return.

Adam left the man standing near the settee and walked over to where the coffeepot sat on the desk.  He poured the man a cup and as he turned to take the refreshment to his father’s guest, something flying toward the side of his face caught his attention out of the corner of his eye.

Momentarily, he was shocked and numb, before feeling blinding pain.  Then Adam saw tiny pinpoints of white light as he heard the china cup crash and shatter on the floor.  Falling, Adam saw the floor rush up to meet him before darkness washed over him, and he was unconscious.

***********

Adam awoke to a blinding headache and a rebelling stomach.  Someone was standing over him speaking to him, while lightly slapping his face to rouse him into consciousness.  He found his hands tied tightly behind him and his feet bound.

“Time to wake up now.  It’s almost time.”

Squinting, Adam looked up to a fuzzy familiar face – Mr. Wills?

Adam stared dumbfounded at the man.  He was dazed, disoriented and thoroughly confused.  He felt the older man help him roughly to his feet.  Why?  Was the only thing going through his mind.

Frank Wills sneered as he read Adam’s unspoken question, and decided to answer the baffled young man.

“Because I want your father to know the pain I’ve suffered all these years.  To know the hell I’ve lived through without my son, my firstborn.  Your father had three sons, three, and I only had one and he took him from me!  Now I intend to take his from him the same way he took my Billy from me.”

Horrified, Adam tore his eyes from the face of the man before him and looked over the man’s shoulder.  Not far away, a noose descended from the rafters of the barn.

Adam remembered Frank Wills’ son, Billy.  He was a wild one, so like Little Joe in many ways.  His love of playing cards and drinking often got the young man into trouble with the law.  Like Joe, they were both a little reckless and fun loving.  But unlike Joe, when Billy was drunk he became careless and irresponsible with no respect for anyone’s life or property.

Trying to resist, Adam felt the man usher him closer to where the rope hung.  The man easily placed him up onto the stacked wooden crates below the noose.  For an older man, Frank Wills was strong like his father.

Adam remembered Billy Wills’ fate.  Adam’s father had been the sole witness to the crime and was required to attend as the sentence was carried out.  Adam had accompanied his father, it was the first time he’d seen a hanging and he didn’t relish the memory.

Frank Wills raised Adam to a standing position and placed the noose around his neck, then pulled to tighten the loop.  Wills then stepped down to stand by the stack of crates.

Dizzy and watching the room sway around him, Adam felt the warm blood trickle from the gash over his right eye and travel down his cheek.  As a last resort, he tried to reason with the man.

“Please Mr. Wills, you don’t want to do this.”

Adam watched in horror as Frank Wills pulled out a pocket watch and causally checked the time.

***********

Ben raced down the road with his heart in his throat almost choking him.  His heart was pounding so loud he could hear it over the beat of the horse’s hooves.

He reined in tight as he saw his two youngest approaching him.

Hoss and Little Joe rode down the road toward the ranch house.  They weren’t expected home, but thought their brother might enjoy a little company away from their over-protective father.  They’d even planned on asking their father if Adam could join them out on the range that afternoon.

Both were a little surprised to find their father on the road before them.  Concerned they increased their own gait and stopped when they reached the older man.

“Hey Pa, what brings ya out here?”  Hoss asked, intently studying his father’s pale complexion and worried features.

Ben ignored his middle child’s inquiry and turned his attention to his youngest son.

“Are ya hurt bad son?”

“Hurt, no Pa.”  Joe eyes widened in response and he jerked his head back in confused surprise.

Joe looked to his older brother for assistance and found Hoss just as confused as he was.  What was their father talking about?

Ben visually checked his boy and could find no injuries.  His son looked perfectly fine and healthy.  But why would someone tell him that Joe was hurt?  Panicked he turned to find the ranch hand scratching his head.

“You said he was injured?”  Ben demanded an explanation of the confused man.

“That’s what I was told, and to come and fetch ya.”  The man replied meekly fearing he would lose his job.

Hoss and Joe stared at the hand.  They still didn’t understand what was going on.

Why would someone send a hand to tell him that his son was injured when he wasn’t?

“Who?”  Ben thundered angrily.

“Huh?”  The terrified hand replied not understanding his boss’s question.

“Who said that Joe was hurt?”  Ben demanded, causing the ranch hand to back away a little.

“Why it was Mr. Wills, Mr. Frank Wills.”  The hand answered proudly, grateful that he could actually answer the man’s question.

Frank Wills, why would he send me on a wild goose chase, Ben wondered?  Then a cold hand gripped his heart tightly as he realized why.

“Adam!”  Ben exclaimed, turning Buck he kicked the animal into a run.

Watching their father, Hoss and Joe spurred their own mounts in pursuit.

***********

Adam’s attention was torn from the man standing before him as he heard the thunderous sound of hoof beats entering the yard.  He was more than relieved to see his father return with his brothers in tow.

Frank Wills pulled his colt from his holster and pointed it towards Adam.  Adam watched as Wills redirected his aim towards his family as they dismounted.

“Yell out or say one word, and I’ll kill them.”

Fearing for his family’s safety, Adam remained silent.  He worked frantically at the rough hemp that bound his wrists.  He could feel the rope burn and tear into the flesh with his struggles.  He had to get free.

Little Joe jumped down from Cochise and went running into the house yelling for his brother.  Ben was a few steps behind Joe, with Hoss bringing up the rear all the while yelling Adam’s name.

At a run, Joe quickly crossed the large room and took the stairs two at a time to check the upstairs rooms.  Hoss entered the house behind his father and went to check the kitchen.  Ben hurried over to the desk where he’d been working with his son.

As Ben reached the desk, he found the shattered cup with the drying coffee making a stain across the wooden floor.  Not far from the coffee was another stain, a small red puddle.  He was certain it was his son’s blood.

Turning, he called out to his sons as his eye caught something lying amiss on the desk.

Hoss and Joe joined their father as he picked up the damaged picture frame.  The treasured gift from his eldest for his fiftieth birthday was horribly damaged.  The glass was shattered and the ‘A’ had been scratched out.

Hoss steadied his father as Ben suddenly swayed, he found his blood begin to boil in anger.  Looking to Joe, he found him white-faced with fear.

“We’ll find him Pa.”  Hoss patted the older man’s shoulder, before grabbing Joe’s arm and pulling him after him.

Ben carefully and tenderly placed the broken gift back upon the desk.  Taking a deep breath he followed his sons in search of Adam.

Leaving the house, Hoss motioned for Joe to check the bunkhouse and rounded the corner of the ranch house to check the back of the place.  Ben headed for the barn to see if Adam’s horse was unaccounted for.

“Adam.  Adam!”  Ben yelled as he neared the barn.

Adam heard his father call out to him, then watched as Frank Wills sunk back into a corner still holding his weapon at ready.  Adam didn’t know whether to warn his father or call for help.  Fearing for his father’s life, he chose to remain silent instead.

Ben purposefully entered the barn and stopped short, shocked by the sight before him.  Adam was bound and standing on a couple of boxes with a noose around his neck.  Ben froze when he heard a pistol cock near his right ear.

“Come to relish your doing Ben Cartwright?”  Frank Wills sneered.

Eyes wide, Ben swallowed carefully, before glancing out of the corner of his eye.  There stood Frank Wills, a man he had known for years.

Ben felt a hand briskly grab his upper arm and drag him to a nearby stall.  He could feel the cold metal of a gun barrel against his right temple, but his eyes never left his son.  Frank Wills pushed him to a sitting position on the ground and wrapped a rope around his chest securing him to a post.

“It’s fitting that you arrived just in time, Ben.  Now you can watch your son hang, just like I watched mine.”

Ben remembered that Frank Wills was there the day his son was hanged.  In fact, the man insisted that he attend even though friends advised him against it.  Frank Wills claimed he had to be there for his son.

Ben closed his eyes over the sight as he recalled that horrible night some twenty years past.  He’d been walking down the sidewalk in town when he’d heard the sound of drunken laughter then a gunshot.  Running, he quickly turned a corner and saw Billy Wills facing an old intoxicated prospector who was holding one broken whiskey bottle in an outstretched hand, another full one at arm’s length in the other.  He called out to stop Billy a moment too late, as Billy fired again, only this time catching the old man square in the chest.

Billy had always insisted that Ben was partially responsible for the miner’s death because he had distracted him from his shooting.  Then again both Billy and his father, Frank, had tried to appeal the sentence in vain, on the basis that the victim was nothing more than a worthless bum and Billy was a rich man’s son.  The appeal failed and Billy was hanged.

Ben felt a cold chill run down his spine as his terrified eyes met those of his oldest son’s.

Please don’t let my father watch me hang, Adam silently prayed.  Meeting his father’s terrified gaze Adam redoubled his efforts on his bindings.

Both Adam and Ben’s attention was quickly drawn to the man who stood over the elder Cartwright.  He had pulled out a gold pocket watch from his vest pocket, which hung on a fine gold chain.  Confirming the time, he announced.

“It is time.”

Frank Wills dispassionately approached and kicked out the stacked crates where Adam stood.

Ben watched in horror, terrified as his son fell, he cried out in anguish.

“NO!”

Adam felt the platform beneath his feet disappear and dropped sharply.  He felt the thick rough twisted cord constrict around his neck and began to choke, gasping for air.  In a last frantic tug he pulled his right wrist free.

Frank Wills stepped away to watch from a short distance and stared up at the young man struggling before him.  He saw his beloved son, just barely nineteen with curly golden brown hair.  His stunning blue eyes sparkled like rare blue topaz, flashing with laughter and just a hint of mischief.  Billy had always been such a happy child and wore a dazzling smile.  He reminded him so much of his mother.

Wills watched in horror as Billy’s face turned a crimson color and became puffy as he struggled choking for breath.  He wanted to close his eyes or turn away from the sight, but he had promised his son that he would be there for him, and he couldn’t turn away now.

He prayed to God to let his boy’s suffering end.  He watched as his son’s once freckled face turned to a magenta color as his struggles ceased and he hung limp before him.  The topaz eyes now vacant and dull.  The mouth hanging open with no smile to be found.

Returning to the yard, Hoss heard his father’s frantic plea.  Rushing towards the barn he called out for his younger brother.

Ben Cartwright fought the bindings, desperately attempting to free himself and help his son.  He felt tears of frustration in his eyes as he watched his son dangling from the rope struggling for breath.

Freeing his hands, Adam reached up to tear at the cord as it dug deep into his throat.  Unable to free himself, he grasped the rope above his head and pulled.  He hoped to pull himself upwards and relieve the constricting pressure around his neck.  He fervently prayed he had the strength to hold on.

Hoss reached the opening of the barn and froze in horror at the sight before him.

“Adam!”  Hoss ran forward into the barn.  For a big man, he had tremendous speed.  He stopped just feet from his brother when he heard a gun cock.

Turning, he saw a horrified Frank Wills with a pistol pointed at him.  In fury, Hoss took a slow step toward the man.  Not seeing any response from his adversary, Hoss took another, then a third, reaching out he grabbed the weapon by the barrel and tore the gun from the other man’s grasp.  Freeing the weapon, he threw it across the barn and struck the man full force across the face with the back of his hand.  Dazed, Frank Wills fell to the floor.

“Joe!”  Hoss bellowed, returning his attention to his older brother.

Hoss went over to where Adam struggled to hold onto the rope.  Wrapping his arms around Adam’s legs he lifted to hold his brother aloft.

Hearing his brother’s frantic yell, Joe ran into the barn.  Stopping at the sight before him.  He heard someone struggling nearby and quickly bent to assist his father.

“No Joe, hurry, help Adam.  The rope, untie the rope.”  Ben pleaded.

Joe turned and ran to the loft stairs.  He quickly climbed the rungs and rushed over to where the rope had been tied to the support beam.  Pulling out his pocketknife, he worked frantically to cut it free.

Within seconds the rope frayed and pulled apart, causing the two men on the floor to topple.  Adam struck the ground hard, landing on the floor next to the fallen Frank Wills with Hoss lying across his feet.  Adam continued to choke and cough due to the restricting cord about his neck.

Seeing the young man at his feet, Frank Wills sat up and went to the fallen Adam.

“It’s alright Billy, Papa’s here.  It’s all over now, time to sleep.  Peaceful sleep.”  Frank Wills repeated over and over while stroking Adam’s hair affectionately.  Then bending down, Frank Wills kissed Adam lovingly on the top of his head.

Adam was stunned and horrified by the display of endearment from the man who had moments before tried to hang him.

Hoss rolled to his feet and stared with his mouth hanging open at the sight of this insane man’s affections toward his older brother.

After freeing his brother, Little Joe quickly descended the ladder and made his way over to his father.  Within seconds he had his father free.

“Joe, ride for the doctor and the sheriff!”  Ben ordered once he was able to move.

Without hesitation and taking only a quick glance in the direction of his brothers to insure that Adam was alive.  Little Joe quickly complied with his father’s request.  Running from the barn, Joe jumped on Cochise and spurred him into a gallop towards Virginia City.

Ben quickly crawled over to where his eldest lay in the other man’s lap.  He pulled his son gently away from Frank Wills into a sitting position.  Hoss came over and helped his father in holding Adam while their Pa carefully pulled and freed the noose from around Adam’s neck.

Hoss winced as he saw the horribly scalded rope-burned skin.  He patted, then rubbed his older brother’s back as Adam continued to gag and cough.

Gingerly, Ben massaged the tender neck, careful to avoid the painful flesh.  Through his careful ministrations, Adam’s gasping and choking eased; then ceased, being replaced by raspy breathing.  Relieved, Ben grabbed his son up and clutched Adam’s head close to his chest.

Feeling his father’s warm reassuring embrace, Adam closed his eyes and slipped into unconsciousness.

***********

Doctor Martin slowly descended the stairs, where he found Ben Cartwright eagerly awaiting his arrival on the bottom step.

“How is he?”  Ben questioned anxiously.

Paul Martin drew a deep breath and glanced across the room to Ben’s two other sons before reaching out a hand to place on the older man’s shoulders.

“He should be fine, Ben.” Doc Martin quietly assured his old friend.  He was certain that Adam would be fine physically, emotionally, he would have to wait and see.

Ben Cartwright released a large sigh and closing his eyes, offered a silent prayer of ‘Thanks’ to his God. A large grin emerged across both Hoss and Little Joe’s faces, as Joe happily slapped his older brother across the midsection with the back of his hand.

Doc Martin noted that was the happiest he’d seen those two boys in weeks.  Clearing his throat he continued.

“Now he needs to take it easy for a couple of days, and definitely no talking!”  The doctor insisted.

“Yes, yes.”  Ben replied in full understanding.

“He’ll need time and rest Ben.  Just be there for him.”  The doctor added quietly, knowing that his good friend would understand his unspoken meaning.

Ben nodded his head; he fully understood the doctor’s instructions.

“I’ve left some sleeping powders on the nightstand with instructions should you need it.  You’ll need to keep those bandages clean and dry.  I’ll be back by the day after tomorrow.  Send for me, if you need me any sooner.”

The doctor completed his instructions and picked up his hat from the sideboard, while he made his way to the front door.  As he reached the door, he stopped when he heard Ben Cartwright call out a question.

“Paul, what about Frank Wills?”

Paul Martin vividly recalled the unstable man’s incoherent ramblings concerning his dead son, when he briefly examined him earlier, upon his arrival at the Ponderosa.

Sheriff Coffee had already escorted the mentally distraught man back to town.  He was holding him until the doctor could arrive.

With regret, Paul Martin shook his head sadly, then turned back to face the concerned silver-haired man.

“I’m afraid that Frank is hopelessly insane.  When I get back to town, I’ll be drawing up the papers to have him institutionalized at the territorial sanitarium.”

It was a task that Paul Martin did not relish.  He felt enormous sadness for the once strong vibrant man who reminded him so much of Ben Cartwright.

Ben Cartwright nodded his head solemnly in acknowledgement, as the doctor donned his hat and departed the ranch house.

“Thank you, Paul.”

***********

Ben slowly and quietly entered his oldest son’s room.  He didn’t want to disturb the young man.  Ben noted the bandages on his son’s wrists, neck and forehead, as well as, a very swollen and purplish black right eye.  Adam was lying on his back in bed, staring vacantly towards the ceiling of his room.  Ben crossed the room and sat down in the chair at Adam’s bedside.

Adam heard someone enter his room and instinctively knew it was his father.  He couldn’t face his father just now; he had so many things he needed to work out in his mind for himself.  But he was so tired and wanted desperately to sleep, he didn’t want to have to think about them right now.  Adam heard his father sigh deeply.

Ben anticipated his son’s need for rest and filled a glass with water, then he mixed in one of the sleeping powders.  Bending over his son, he gently lifted Adam’s head.

“Here son, drink this.”  Ben offered with a slight catch in his voice.

Slowly and with excruciating pain, Adam swallowed the proffered liquid.  When he finished drinking his father laid his head back down onto the soft pillow.  Adam forced his eyes to close, and in doing so, a single tear escaped and traveled across his cheek down towards his ear.

He felt his father reach out and tenderly wipe the tear away with his fingertips, before his Pa’s hand moved down to gently squeeze his shoulder.  Then he felt his father’s loving and comforting hand softly caressing his arm to soothe him into sleep.

Ruefully, Adam recalled as he began to drift off into slumber, the old adage that ‘wanting was sometimes more desirable than having’, and sighed.  All these months he desperately wished he knew what had happened to him.  Now all he wanted to do was forget.

The End