Adam watched the first rays of dawn brighten the morning sky. Etta was curled up beside him. His arm lay protectively across hershoulders. He could feel the curve of her breast against his palm.
The night lay in his mind. A precious jewel he would keep with him forever. He remembered her whispered words to his vow that he would go to the ends of earth to make her his own, his wife.

“I don’t think l can wait that long.” her breathy whisper set them both to chuckling. Which set them to something entirely different. The slight pressure of her tightly muscled yet soft bottom against his groin assured him she was awake.

“Get thee away from me Jezebel” he whispered into her ear. “l am but a mere mortal. A man that needs his sleep before that darned feathered, morning alarm of yours…” even as he spoke a loud ‘cock’a’doodle do’ heralded the dawn. He held her close, they both shuddered with laughter.

“There now l am done for. I shall be turned into a misshapen, wizened old goat. I shall not be good for man nor beast.”

“That’s true,” Etta agreed turning her body to his. “though you’d still be good for woman…this woman.”

He pressed his lips against her forehead. He daren’t meet his lips with hers. The passion that had been sampled was still racing through him. Speeding to settle within his loins.

He had thrown caution, upbringing, manners and morals, in fact everything he held dear, to the wind. The love and desire for this woman had taken his reserve. His willpower lay crumpled and tattered alongside the garments that were strewn across the floor.

Etta could see his desire for her in his eyes and body. This battle for control she hoped he would lose. But no Adam Cartwright was a man of a greater inner strength than he himself knew. One backward step led to another. As he walked away from her, snatching at his clothes. Their gaze upon each other never wavered, till finally he turned on his heel and left the bedroom. Closing the door silently behind him.

Etta lay where he had left her. Her fingertips touching her forehead. The last spot he had placed his lips. She could still feel his touch. Tracing her fingers down from her forehead to her lips she kissed the tips. Her eyes closed to the smell and the warmth of the man she loved. The man she knew loved her.

It came as no surprise to Hoss that Etta and Adam were more than just friends. Though he was not aware of the intimate step their relationship had recently taken. He felt that Etta Tone and his brother were made for each other. To have Etta as a sister suited him just fine. It tickled him that Adam, who normally was not one to openly show his feelings. Not like little Joe, who felt it the most natural thing in the world to kiss and cuddle his gal, regardless of an audience.

Adam could not stand in close proximity to the woman without touching her shoulder or encircling her waist, or pushing a stray wisp of hair from her forehead or neck. Where ever he felt it was being a nuisance. She too would affectionately link her arm in his. Brush nothing from his shirt front. Or unknowingly catch between her fingers one of the small, dark curls that nestled at the back of Adam’s neck. He catching those seeking fingers in his, would bring her hand to his mouth and place a butterfly kiss in it’s palm.

They both though were more than careful in front of little Joe. Which wasn’t difficult as Hoss noticed that during the day his brother tended to spend as little time as possible in the bedroom. Hoss didn’t dwell on this as he figured with Adam spending the nights with little Joe, he was allowing Hoss to have time during the day with his injured brother.

The fact was that for Adam it was becoming stressful to see his brother regress to his childhood. Hoss had not been witness to any of little Joe’s night terrors, and therefore had not seen little Joe as himself. It was one thing for Adam to relate the night happenings. Which, in his usual calm manner and at Hoss’s request, he did every morning. It was though for Adam a traumatic experience to share those few precious moments of his young brothers lucidity. Especially when those moments came with a great deal of suffering. It was Adam’s preference to spend less time with the young Joe.

The arrival of Thomas Simms to the house was a welcome sight for them all. Especially bringing as he did a wire from the Ponderosa. Of course not much information can be given in thIS means of communication. It was as Adam and Hoss had expected their father had left for San Fransisco, apparently with Barney Fuller. Hoss queried the possible reason but Adam was unconcerned saying that although Pa and Barney Fuller couldn’t be classed as firm friends. They were tied to the same contract, and to Adam it seemed not unreasonable for them to travel together. It at least gave their father a companion on the long Stagecoach journey. A journey that both Adam and Hoss knew their Pa did not enjoy.

Adam immediately collared the doctor regarding his brothers condition. Thomas Simms was more than pleased to hear that little Joe had come out of the coma and even more than interested to hear about this change in his condition. He suggested that he give the boy a check over. Which he was going to do anyway. That then he would discuss the situation with Adam and see if there was anything else he could help Adam with.

Little Joe wasn’t very much pleased with seeing the doctor and grumbled during the examination. Asking where Doc Martin was. Finally bringing a chuckle from Thomas Simms as he decided that he now preferred this new doctor as his hands were warmer. When the doctor decided he didn’t see why Joe couldn’t sit out on the porch, in the sunshine for a few hours a day. Joe told him that he was the ‘bestess’ doctor he ever knew’.

After lunch Hoss kept little Joe occupied. Adam, Etta listened to Thomas Simms advice. The doctor was of the opinion that Joe possibly still had some swelling of the brain. The fact that Joe was having moments of what he called normalcy he found to be a good sign. He hoped that once the swelling had subsided he could make a full recovery. He was also of the opinion that the boy would be better at his own home, in familiar surroundings. The down side being that the journey, over a week in the back of a wagon was not advisable. Well at least not at the moment. He asked Adam if he was willing to make a journal of these night time incidences. Both Adam and Etta agreed.

As it was still impossible to send a wire to the coast. Adam asked if Tom would send a reply to Candy c/o The Ponderosa, Virginia City. The doctor replied that he was more than happy to.

Adam decided to advise Candy that they would be back as soon as Joe was able to travel. Giving no details as to extent of Joe’s injuries. He still hoped that his brother would be returned to himself, before he would have to advise his father. Thomas Simms advised he would let Adam know as soon as the lines to the coast were repaired. Adam knew that his father being a creature of habit would be staying at the usual Hotel. He hoped that the wire that eventually would be sent could contain good news.