Summary: The Founders Day horse race was a tradition for Adam and Joe Cartwright, but the question always is – which brother will win?

Rating: G, Word Count: 772

Did we win?

Adam sauntered up beside Joe after he spied his youngest brother leaning against the corral railing.  In the distance festive band music played and cheers could be heard.  Founder’s Day was a big celebration for Virginia City.  

Adam watched two horses prance around the ring with nervous energy.  These were horses the brothers had tamed from the wild and were going to ride in the Founder’s Day horse race. 

Adam swung under the rail, whistled for his horse and began to saddle him.  Out of the corner of his eye he saw Joe do the same.  Joe was wearing his best business face as he walked his horse over towards Adam.  

“Look Adam, since I did most of the training on these horses and all you and Hoss did was catch ‘em, don’t you think we should split the winnings more fairly?  Say sixty-twenty-twenty?”  

Adam scowled at his brother.  “No, I don’t.  You know well and good we all chased them and trained them. Thirty percent down the line or you can tell Pa about the race when he gets home tomorrow.”

Joe’s panicked expression was all the confirmation Adam needed.  “Ok thirty percent.”

As Joe led the way out of the corral, Adam smirked.  Joe would never quit trying to get a deal that got him more money.  

At the starting line, Hoss was giving last minute instructions to his brothers.  “I’ve been over the course.  It’s got some muddy sections after yesterday’s rain but if you keep to the center of the road you’ll be fine.  Be careful comin’ back inta town though.  Some of the road is pretty soft and it’s hard to avoid.”

Joe and Adam nodded, shook hands with Hoss then each other.  Joe smiled his most charming smile, “May the best brother win.”  Mounting up they got ready for the wild ride ahead of them.  

The gun sounded and they were off.  Joe shot ahead and Adam paced himself.  They had to make two circuits of the short race path.  He found his spot in the center of the road and fought to defend it, all the while keeping an eye on Joe who was holding onto second place.  They had managed to avoid the muddy spots on the first round but a few other riders weren’t so lucky.  On the second round, Adam gave his horse its head and took over second place right on Joe’s left flank.  With the competition now between them, the brothers easily pulled ahead of the other riders.  Their mustangs were holding their own while the other horses were showing obvious signs of tiring.  

Rounding the final curve, Adam was in the lead by a length, his horse heaving and breathing hard.  He steered his horse to the side of the road to avoid the worst of the soft dirt.  He glanced back to see if Joe followed.  What he saw made his heart stop cold.  

Joe ran straight into the soft dirt at full speed.  The horse’s front legs sank down effectively stopping the horse in its tracks.  Joe kept going right over the horse’s head and landed flat and hard on his back.  If Adam’s horse hadn’t been squealing as he reined his horse hard around he would have heard the air being forced out of Joe’s lungs as he hit the ground.  Joe lay perfectly still in the middle of the road with his horse off to the side, sides heaving.  As Adam jumped from the saddle he heard, felt and saw about a half dozen riders bearing down on them.  Panicked, he hooked his hands under Joe’s arms and dragged Joe with all the strength he had left  to the side of the road just seconds before the horses thundered past.  

Leaning Joe against a wall, Adam collapsed down beside his brother trying to catch his own breath and to see if Joe was even breathing.  

In town, word of the Cartwright brothers’ accident spread like wildfire.  Hoss jumped on Chubb and reached the location in seconds.

Seeing Adam trying to help Joe stand, Hoss ran up and took the other side.  Joe looked around dazed and finally located his oldest brother’s face.  Joe managed a weak smile at Adam and asked in a quiet voice,  “Did I win?”

Adam put his arm around Joe and traded a look of fear and relief with Hoss. His voice faltered in response, “Yeah, little brother, we all won.”

The End

This short story was based on the song and video “May We All” by Florida Georgia Line with Tim McGraw.

Song and Lyrics – https://play.google.com/music/preview/T5ejuslsbp3gn6rjf3oqnphkacu?lyrics=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=lyrics&pcampaignid=kp-lyrics

Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT4ryVop_Fc