Friday dawned clear and bright. The Cartwright brothers and Hop Sing were eager to be on their way home. Etta’s feelings were mixed. The house held many memories for her, some good some bad. She had thought that the leaving of it would be an easy task, but no. Yesterday evening she and Adam had strolled through the meadow for the last time. The last walk to the small headstone. A place to where she was never a visitor until she had the tall Cartwright for company. Her melancholy was evident. It was only Adam’s arm around her shoulders and his soft voice that drew her out of herself. She had not thought she would feel the pull of the cold, carved stone. Always believing that Matthew and little Matty were buried deep in her heart, which they were. There were tears in her eyes as she and Adam made their way back to the house.

Hop Sing, being now as familiar with Etta’s kitchen than his own. He had risen early from his comfortable bed on the sofa in the main room. Well before the feisty cockerel had marked the hour. The Chinese cook busied himself preparing breakfast. The aroma of frying bacon and fresh brewed coffee were a lure for the rest of the sleeping household. Roy Coffee, the sheriff, having opted to bed down in the barn, even he and Hoss. They too were not immune to the pleasing, smells of cooking that wafted from the open kitchen window into the barn.

Adam returned bare chested to the bedroom he shared with his brother. He snatched at his shirt and shrugged it over his shoulders. All the while watching Joe as he struggled with difficulty into the pants that Etta had given him. Adam rather sheepishly offered to give him a hand. Joe declined flashing his brother a look of feinted disapproval. While inwardly enjoying the guilty look of discomfort that furrowed his elder brothers brow. Adam sat down beside his wriggling brother.

“I guess we should talk?” Joe maintained his facade of dissatisfaction.

“If you say so, though what you do is your own business.”

“I do feel that l should explain. My example is hardly that of an elder brother who prides himself on self control.” Joe ceased his struggles and had to turn his face away from his brothers. His resolve was slowly beginning to crumble. Finally he managed to pull the wider than normal trouser leg over the bulky cast. He was wearing an old pair of Matthew Tone’s pants. Which were just about wide enough to pull over the injured leg but far too wide in the waist. Joe’s slim frame, noticeable smaller since his accident. Lacking as it was in flesh and muscle. Joe was struggling now to hitch his belt to the last hole . Adam’s seriousness had not exactly the desired effect he was hoping for. His brothers stifled giggles were never silent for long. Joe gave Adam a playful dig in the arm.

“Don’t fret elder brother. Your sinful secret is safe with me.”

“This is no laughing matter Joe, l wouldn’t feel happy with a certain person finding out.” Joe adopted his infamous look of unblemished innocence.

“Who ya meaning…Pa or Hoss?”

“I mean Pa of course, though l suppose Hoss too he…” this time Joe’s laughter wasn’t stifled. As Adam got more flustered Joe’s mirth was stirred. “well you know what l am trying to say. And you are making it damned difficult, you soulless hyena.”

“Who me?” Joe was affronted at his brothers description. But not for long. “aw come on Adam. I’m not a twelve year old kid anymore. You and Etta are in love and happy…what is it you would say…oh yeah, consenting adults, that’s it, you and Etta are consenting adults.” Joe, using the bedstead to pull himself up to his feet gave his brother a disreputable, wolfish grin. “and brother, you been doing a lot of consenting. If it were me granite head l’d be plenty loose and plenty happy.” Joe stretched an arm to grab for his makeshift crutch. Adam beat him to it. Joe could see what was on his brothers mind. He could do nothing to prevent it. Already his injured leg was wobbling beneath him. His returned giggling claimed the rest of his strength.

“Well kid, it aint you.” Adam thrust the wooden broom handle firmly into Joe’s chest. A blow, without any force, without any malice. It knocked the openly laughing, little Joe flat on his back and left him floundering on the bed. Joe’s crazy, manic laughter followed Adam from the room.

“What in tarnation is wrong with shortshanks?” Hoss asked as Adam entered the kitchen wearing a face of serene calm.

“Little brothers having trouble with that walking aid thing you made for him. Any coffee?”

“How come?” Hoss though didn’t wait for any reply. He hastened to his laughter stricken sibling. Which was just as well. As he would not have understood the reason for dimples to book end the smiling mouth of his older sibling. As too Hop Sings muttered ‘too much foolishment’ went unheard by the concerned middle Cartwright.

The table was laden and ready when Hoss returned assisting the still chuckling little Joe.

“What in tarnation did ya say ter set him off?” Hoss asked of Adam as he seated himself at the table. He was less than concerned with Adam’s reply of .

“It doesn’t take much, does it?” He had other things on his mind and his plate. The smiling Joe nodded his good mornings and he too was soon tucking into a hearty breakfast.

It was impossible for Etta to take everything she wanted with her. Enough space had to be left in the back of the wagon so as to place a mattress and bedding for Joe’s convenience. They were undecided whether to return at a later date with a couple of wagons. Or to arrange for whatever she required to be freighted back to the Ponderosa. It didn’t take long for the band of travelers to be ready for the off. A cloud of dust on the trail confirmed what they all had thought would happen. Thomas Simms would be with them shortly. Etta and Hop Sing were of one mind.

“Missy Etta stay. Hop Sing make coffee pretty quick.”

True to his word Hop Sing had a pot speedily brewed and bubbling by the time Thomas Simms brought his buggy to a standstill. Over the steaming cups Thomas assured Etta that he would keep an eye on the house and chickens. Of course with his own undertakings he could not guarantee that he could keep a regular check on the property. He already had somebody in mind that he knew would be willing. To ride out every day. Feed the chickens, tend to the milk cow and see that the house was secure.

Etta advised that as they would be travelling at an easy pace. She was taking Mallow with her. She had had the milk cow since she was a calf. Mallow was a gentle beast more of a pet than live stock. Etta couldn’t be parted from her. Hoss’s round face beamed with happiness. He too had become overly fond of the soft bovine.

On hearing of Etta’s engagement Thomas was like a pup with two tails. After shaking every ones hand. He then insisted that if his wife didn’t get an invite to the wedding. Etta and Adam would be responsible for the ending of his own marriage as Harriet would never leave him over threshold again. The doctor reminded them, though not wanting to put any pressure on their own arrangements. That he had to be in Boston in three months. Etta and Adam stared wide eyed at each other.

“Within the next three months it is then.” Adam squeezed Etta’s hand as he made the announcement. Hoss twirled little brother in a beefy bear hug. Joe yahooing at the top of his voice brought a scowl of reproach from Hop Sing, followed by a smile of benevolent inscrutability for the happy couple.

Kisses, hugs, handshakes, slapped backs and shoulders dispensed with. The entourage took to the trail. Joe was more than pleased to be astride his beloved Cooch. As soon as Dr Simms had given the OK. Joe had been taking short rides around the meadow and corral, mainly to get the animal used to the awkward disproportionate weight she would have to carry. At first Cooch twisted her head and neck to view the problem on her left flank. Trying to nip at Joe’s cast leg. After a while she seemed to be able to adjust to her masters unevenness. Horse and rider were once more attuned to each other.

Roy Coffee and Thomas Simms stood on the porch until the wagon and riders had disappeared around the bend in the trail.

“Didyer find out anything?” Roy asked. He raised a hand to his forehead in an effort to shelter his eyes from the sun.

“l may have, whether it will be of any help, l have no idea.” the doctor replied adopting the same position as the sheriff. “why don’t you come back for a spot of lunch before you head off?”

“That’s rite neighboroughly. l’ll take yer up on that offer.” tying his horse to the back of the buggy. The sheriff climbed up beside the doctor. With a snap of the reins the doctor and the sheriff headed back to Turner’s Town.

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

The going was indeed steady and easy. With every ones agreement it was decided to push on until dusk before stopping for any length of time or to set up camp.

Adam and Etta were happy to ride side by side in front of the wagon. Hoss and Chubb scouted ahead. Loping off, then bringing his big Morgan to a resting halt. Allowing the wagon and riders to catch up with. Hop Sing was in the seat of the wagon. Reins in hand, his head already planning a menu for the oncoming wedding.

Joe to everyone’s surprise had taken to the comfort of the wagon. In no time at all the pull and stress on his leg had gone from a dull throb to an excruciating cramp. He now lay under the shade of the half covered wagon. Dozing and waking at will. The well used track was hard packed and even. The movement of the wagon finally lulled Joe into a deep sleep. Hoss’s concern was marked. Seeing Cochise tied to the rear of the wagon he trotted to meet the small procession. Screwing his eyes against the sun, his face a picture of anxiety. Hoss asked if little Joe was OK.

“Sure he is, look at him he is sleeping peacefully, isn’t he?”

“Aint like him though.” Adam smiled a small, almost secret smile. He recalled Joe’s words earlier in the day.

“He is not a twelve year old kid anymore Hoss. He knows how far he can push himself.”

“Yer reckon,” Adam and Hoss were staring down on their sleeping brother. “how come he don’t look much older than that now?”

“I guess he will always look like that kid to us big brother.”