“Adam,” Sophie Cartwright gently laid a hand on her husband’s shoulder, “are you going to be shy about this again?”

Adam looked up at his beautiful wife. “No, darling.” He replied. “I’m tired of everything. Why be wary?”

Sophie suddenly felt guilty. “Adam,” she whispered, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t press you so hard about this.”

He smiled and patted her hand. “It’s not your fault, love. The time has come. I have tried everything else. Asking did nothing, begging did nothing, yelling did nothing, maybe I can appeal to his emotional side.”
“Joe, I don’t understand what you are finding so hard. I give you a simple task to do and you just sit and stare at me like I have two heads. What’s wrong with you, boy? Look up get lively!”

“Adam, I can’t help you all the time. Sarah is pregnant. She needs me more than the ranch does.”

“Joseph Cartwright, your wife will be fine. Women are born to have babies. They get used to it. Besides Sophie is here to help her.”

“This is her first child, Adam. I am not going to let your wife be around when she needs me. She cannot be alone.”

“Joe, she has six months to go! And this ranch needs you much more than Sarah does!”

“What were you like when Sophie was pregnant with Faith?”

“That was different!”

“How was it any different? Tell me that, Adam.”

“Pa was alive, then, Joe. And he had you to help him.”

“Pa was alive. Yes your world fell apart when Pa died didn’t it, Adam? You went from being Pa’s favorite and having him hold your hand to suddenly realizing that it took a lot of work to take care of a ranch.”

“I was Pa’s favorite! If anyone got their hands held around here, Little Joe, it was you. You got away with more things that Hoss and I ever could. Do you remember when you pulled a gun on Pa when you were passionately in love with that Bishop girl? Hoss and I would have gotten our behinds whipped but Pa let you get away with it!”

“Adam, I wish you wouldn’t bring up the past! Those days are over. I’m grown now. I have a wife and a child on the way.”

“If you’re grown enough to have a wife and a child then you are certainly grown enough to help out around this ranch!”

“All right! Fine! I’ll help you! Now will you please leave me alone!”

There was a worried look in Sophie’s eye. Since Ben’s death Adam had taken over the running of the ranch. He had asked Joe to help him but the youngest Cartwright was so wrapped up in himself and his pregnant wife that he often neglected doing things Adam told him to do. So Adam shouldered the burden. He and Sophie had spent their anniversary together and had hardly seen each other since. They were both tired. Then last night Joe and Adam had fought. He stood up and walked towards the door that led to Joe and Sarah’s suite of rooms.

Sophie watched him for a minute then she sank into the chair her husband had just left. There was a picture of Ben on the desk and picking it up she looked at it for a moment. “What happened?” she whispered softly. “What happened?” People used to call Hoss the glue that held the brothers together but Sophie was positive that it was actually Ben.

When Sarah answered Adam’s knock she frowned at the sight of her brother-in-law. “Adam.”

He was about to tell her she did not sound happy to see him but he bit his lip and realized that no matter what it took he had to get Joe and Sarah out of his house. “May I come in?”

“I suppose so.” Sarah replied, reluctantly opening the door to admit him. “Joe is in the bedroom. Do you want to see him?”

Adam nodded. “Yes.” He had to finish building Joe’s house and get the two of them out of there.

Adam walked through the addition of the house that he had built and lent to his brother towards the room Joe and Sarah made a bedroom. Joe lay on the large bed on his back. He turned his head as the door opened and his eyes narrowed when he saw his brother. “Well?” he demanded pulling himself up on one elbow.

“I want to talk to you.” Adam answered spreading his hands in front of him as though to ward off the invisible bullets his brother was hurling. “I will not cavil, Joe.”

“When don’t you fight with me?” Joe mused. “Well?” he asked quickly.

“Joe, I need your help.” Adam sank into a chair next to the bed. “When Pa was here I used to help him run the ranch.” He felt like he was repeating himself. It always started off like this.

“When Pa was here!” Little Joe burst out. “When Pa was here, Adam, the ranch ran smoothly and we hardly ever fought.”

“Oh, dear, God, not again!” Adam thought. He took a moment to recollect himself then calmly replied, “Pa’s not here anymore, Joe.” He could feel a hot flush spreading over his face.

“Maybe that’s part of the trouble.” Joe mused cooling down slightly when he saw the blood rush to Adam’s face turning his normal tanned face into a scarlet.

“I’m graveled.” Adam shook his head and swallowed his pride. “I need help. I don’t want a foreman, Joe, I want a co owner. And that’s what you are. Pa did not leave the Ponderosa to me, Joe. He left it to us and to our children. Let’s take care of our heritage together, brother. What do you say?”

Joe was silent as he processed Adam’s appeal. Then he nodded. “All right, Adam, I will. Send Sarah in here will you?”

Adam nodded and rose from his chair. It was over. Either Joe would understand and help or he would forget and continue with the way it had been going. But as Adam walked towards the door he turned back to his brother and smiled, “Thank you, Joe.”

When he entered the main house Sophie crossed the room to stand at his side. “Adam?” she asked her eyes pleading. He looked so old, so tired.

Adam shook his head. “I’m afraid it was palaver, Sophie.” He answered. “He promised to help but how long do his promises last?” Adam sank onto the settee and Sophie sat beside him. “Adam,” she whispered, “if Little Joe does not help what will you do?”

Adam frowned. “I need help, Sophie. I guess I’ll have to hire a foreman. The question is who?”

Sophie was silent for a moment. Then she laid her hand gently on her husband’s arm. “Adam, when you were in Europe there was a foreman that worked for your father. He left before you returned.”

Adam turned to look at his wife. “How do you know this?”

“One of the girl’s in town told me.” She replied. “Why don’t you think of rehiring him? If your Pa trusted him, can’t you too?”

Adam nodded. “I guess.” He replied. “What was his name?”

“Candy.” Sophie replied. “Candy Canaday.”

“We’ll see.” Adam would promise nothing. “I want to give Joe a chance. But I’ll think about it.”

Neither Adam nor Sophie noticed the door to Joe and Sarah’s room close silently.

“Hey, Sarah!” Minnie Anderson called as Sarah left the millinery shop. “Why didn’t you tell us Candy was coming back?”

Sarah Cartwright turned pale. “He isn’t.” she replied nervously. “He left before Adam came home. My husband and Adam run the ranch now.”

Minnie smiled. “I saw Candy at the station earlier.” She answered. “Adam and Sophie met him there. I bet they will be back at the Ponderosa before you.”

“So that’s why Adam and Sophie and gone into town.” Sarah thought angrily. To get Candy and drop her husband. She had heard the conversation between her brother-in-law and his wife. There was going to be trouble afoot when Joe found out. “It’s obloquy.” Sarah insisted angrily. “A malicious story made up by people who are jealous of the Cartwright’s.”

Minnie laughed. “I bet not.” She answered. “But when you come back into town let the old crowd know. There are several of us that are still single.” She winked at Sarah, turned and walked away.

As Sarah got into the wagon she started to wonder if Candy really was back. Or was it all gossip like she hoped? But most importantly if Candy was back what would happen to Joe and to her?