Summary: Adam is left to contend with a youth who is trying to find his way to adulthood…
Rating: PG Words: 5060

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The Bransters thank Corina for forwarding this story to include in the Preserving Their Legacy Project.

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Author’s Note: I thank my beta readers for helping me make this ALOT better!!!!!

The Long Days of Spring

Young Joseph Cartwright squirmed in his chair. It was the fifth time that sweat had run down the back of his neck. He sighed and stared out the window where the clouds were only miniature in the huge Nevada sky.

All of a sudden his private thoughts were jumbled when the school teacher, Miss Abigail Jones, admonished him. “Joseph, this is the 6th time today that you have been staring out of the window when you are supposed to be doing you school work.”

Joe looked up, “I’m sorry ma’m.”

He glanced out the window once more and retuned to his math. Oh, how he hated math. All these 2x+ 5- 14x (-6x + 0) s He automatically reached up a hand and rubbed it across his forehead. Then his eyes returned to the view outside the widow beside him. He could see the shed where his horse and the other student’s horses were. Cochise was swatting his tail back and forth, and finally nipped his neighbour, Mitch Devlin’s horse. All of a sudden a giggle bubbled forth. It was too funny to contain.

He immediately clamped a hand over his mouth as Ms Abigail turn towards him. “Little Joseph, please come up here.”

Joe slowly stood up, and with feet dragging, went up to the front of the school room. “Yes, ma’m?”

“Put your hands down on the desk.”

Joe sighed because he knew what was coming. He dropped his hands down on the desk, palms down, and shut his eyes tightly. Ms Abigail furiously smacked Joe’s hands a few times with her big ruler. Finally Joe yanked his smarting hands off the desk when she let him go.

“I’ll paddle you next time, Joseph. Now go and sit back down and finish your studies. You will stay after school!”

Joe almost burst into tears as he went back to his desk. This was the 5th time this week that he had to stay after school. Good thing it was Friday. The thing scared him the most was that Pa was out of town, and it was Adam who held the fate of his youngest brother’s punishment. His oldest brother would definitely fork out the punishment in physical means. It would be the 5th time that week that he would have to ride into town and face Ms (Abigail) Jones. There was a reason that Abigail Jones was a Ms. It was because she was just waiting to become Mrs. Cartwright. She had had the hugest crush on his oldest brother for as long as he could remember. But Adam would have nothing to do with her, and got really up-set when he had to come to the school to get Joe. Joe grinned to himself and retuned to the last problem in his math book. It read 2x+ 5- 14x (-6x + 0.) He almost looked out the window, but instead chewed on his pencil and concentrated on the problem before him. He scrawled the numbers and letters out at an irritated pace. 2x +5+ 84 to a 2 power -14 xs. Finally the problem was done. He circled the -12x+5 +84 to a 2 power and slapped his book shut.

The other students were about done, and that meant that they could leave. But he would have to sit there until Adam came looking for him. And it was likely that Ms Abigail would give him more studies to do. The 14 year old boy kicked the desk leg as hard as he could. As he did, it cracked very loudly and as if in slow motion, broke and collapsed, because he was leaning on it. All of his belongings in it flew out as he fell on top of the mess. The whole class room erupted in laughter as Ms Abigail marched down to the broken desk and grabbed Joe. He was pulled off the mini earthquake by his ear, and marched back up to her desk.

Joe stood there with his head down because one of the legs from the broken desk had hit his ribs and had knocked the breath out of him. As he struggled to breathe, Ms Abigail retrieved her paddle. It had big holes in it and would hurt very, very much. For a second Joe froze, and then he smiled to himself. She had never hit anyone with it. He was sure she wasn’t going to hit him, just threaten him. But the next thing he knew, he was on his knees and she was applying it to his bottom. He just grabbed the desk for support and squeezed his eyes as tight as he could. He was crying by the time the agitated teacher was finally finished. She marched off to dismiss the other students, as Joe collapsed on the floor trying to cover his bottom and face at the same time. He could see out of the side of his eye that Mitch was the only one not laughing and that he felt bad for his best friend, but couldn’t do anything about it. Finally Mitch turned and left as Ms Abigail marched back up to Joe. Joe had managed to sit up by then.

Ms Abigail just barked at Joe to go to another desk. He slinked back to a seat and managed to sit in a position were it didn’t feel too bad. As he sat there staring out the window, his heart started to rebel. Why did he have to be physically punished by a little school teacher when he was 14!!! That was just wrong. When she came down and gave him another assignment, he refused to do it. He had never felt so rebellious, and he knew he was in trouble now. The tears came again as he stared down at the lists of equations.

It was way later that afternoon and as the clock was creeping up to 5:00 when Adam rode in. Ms Abigail gave a little shriek and quickly straightened her dress and pinched her cheeks.

She swept by the forlorn boy and pulled the door open. “Oh Adam, it is so good of you to come get your little brother. He has been sitting there all afternoon.”

Adam glanced down towards Joe and then turned back to Abigail. He tipped his hat to her and side stepped her. “I’ll just get him and take him home.”

She immediately stepped in front of him. “Oh Adam, I haven’t told you yet what he did!!!”

Joe glanced back to check out his brothers face. It was dark and menacing, and he was trying to avoid Abigail. Joe’s heart gave a little leap and his stomach turned over. He scrambled to get his belongings together as Abigail made him sound like a horrible little boy.

“You are SO wonderful, but your little brother here is half devil. He actually broke a desk and would not do his work.”

Adam looked over at Joe. Joe could tell that he half doubted the teacher. “Did you do that Joseph?”

Joe dropped his head, “I didn’t mean to!! I promise. And she paddled me for that!!!”

Adam turned around to Ms Abigail. Joe could tell that Adam was trying to figure out what happened and get out at the same time.

“Well Adam.” She gave him a coy smile and stopped. He gave a deep sigh and leaned casually against the door frame, crossing his long legs.

“Someone, please tell me what’s going on.”

Joe jumped to his chance since he was now standing in front of his brother. “I promise I did my work. At least as much as the other kids.”

He stopped abruptly because Ms Abigail was rubbing her hand on Adam’s arm and smiling at him. Joe just about cracked up at his brother’s discomfort, but then remembered that he would have to answer to the same brother later on for his actions.

He continued, “Then I was just looking out the window, and Ms Abigail hit my hands with her ruler. Then I went back and started to work. She told me I would have to stay again after school. I was a little irritated, so I kicked the desk leg. I didn’t mean to break it, I promise!!!!! Then she paddled me in front of everyone.”

To Joe’s total shock, Adam turned around and pushed Abigail off of him, then he grabbed her wrists. “If what my brother had said is true, you’re in trouble with me.” She gave a little gasp and pushed him away. Then she leaned towards his lips and went for the kill. Adam jumped back, and hauling Joe with him, ran out of the door and across the school yard. Before Joe knew, he was on his horse and flying out of the yard. Adam rode Sport the faster that Joe had ever seen before.

Finally a few miles from the school house, Adam dismounted and collapsed into the deep green grass. Joe slowly slid off Cochise, wondering what was about to happen. He attentively stood there waiting. Finally after Adam caught his breath, and wiped all the lip marks off his face, he patted the ground beside him.

“Ok, Joe, start from the beginning and tell all.”

Joe took a breath and just told it all. Adam sat there chewing his finger and thinking.

Finally he looked at Joe. “I can’t believe that you were disrespectful to Ms Abigail.”

Joe wrinkled his nose. “But Adam, you were even worse. You ran away from her!”

His brother replied, “Little brother that is none of your business. Now Pa left me in charge, I shall have to sort this out. I understand that Ms Abigail already paddled you?”

Joe just nodded his head. “So I suppose that you would rather apologize to Ms Abigail, and wash your mouth out with soap, instead of having another paddling. This time I would be obliged to deliver it.”

Joe turned around, “You wouldn’t really do that to me would ya Adam?”

Adam sighed and looked down at his boot. “Joe, I don’t want to punish you, but I have to. We can wait until Pa gets home if you want.”

The boy stomped his foot. “AWWWWW Adam!!!! I’m 14. I am way too old to get spanked like a kid!”

Adam put his arm around his little brother. “So, which punishment do you want, or do you want to wait till Pa comes home?”

Joe stood there mediating on his choices. He could go into the class room tomorrow and apologize to that annoying Ms Abigail, and when he got home that afternoon, he would have to wash his mouth out with soap. OR, he could let Adam tan him. And last of all, he could wait until Pa got home. But that would disappoint Pa and might make the punishment worse. He knew he couldn’t do that. He also knew he didn’t want Adam to tan him. When Adam did that, he didn’t have any problems with holding back. Especially if he believed it was well earned, like now. And his bottom was already so sore that he couldn’t sit. But he didn’t want any of the soap and apologizing either. He would take the tanning like the man he believed he was.

“I’ll take the tanning Adam. But can’t we get home first?”

“Ok, little brother. Just don’t try to run off or I’ll do all four to you.” Joe stiffly mounted up and rode right behind Adam all the way home. He didn’t want to eat soap, apologize to Abigail, get the promised tanning, and face Pa.

When the two brothers arrived in the ranch yard, there were several ranch hands in the barn helping Hoss with the haying. Adam bluntly told Joe to go to his room and wait for him. All the ranch hands looked up and started laughing. They knew what “go to your room and wait for me” meant. Adam just glanced over at them, not caring that they were laughing. But Joe turned red and stomped out of the barn and up to his room. Adam just shrugged and started un-tacking Cochise and Sport.

Hoss came over to him. “Wot did lil’ Joe do ta make ya wanna tan him?”

Adam grinned up at Hoss, “I don’t want to, but I feel like I should.” Then Adam went on to explain what had happened, but he left the part out about fleeing from Abigail Jones. Finally when the eldest Cartwright son left the barn, it erupted in laughter.

Joe sat sulking in his bedroom. He could not believe that this was happening, and he didn’t know if he could take it from Adam. He got up and limped over to the mirror. After unbuckling his belt and pulling his pants down he inspected his backside’s reflection. There were quite a few marks, but he could not look closer because he heard Adam’s heavy foot steps coming up the stairs. The young man rushed over to the bed and perched on the edge of it. Finally Adam walked in and came over to Joe. Joe’s breath caught in his throat. This fully grown brother was totally serious.

“Kneel down, by the bed,” was all that he said. Thinking it was terribly unfair; Joe dropped to his knees and buried his face in his hands. He could hear Adam leaning over him. As he sucked in his breath, the first wallop sent him into orbit. He yanked away from Adam, screaming in pain and crying.

Adam dropped his belt and grabbed Joe, “Are you alright?” Joe just shook his head and hovered on the bed. Adam finally convinced Joe to let him check the damage done by Ms Abigail, and then trudged down the stairs for an aloe plant.

He ran into Hop Sing coming up the stairs. “What you do to little Joe?”

“Hop Sing, nothing that you need to worry about. I was just giving him a well earned clouting.”

Hop Sing smiled, “Little Joe probly needed spanking! He bad boy, verily bad boy sometimes.” and then went back downstairs.

Ten minutes later, Adam came back into Joe’s room. The boy was lying on his stomach on the bed, nursing his inner wounds. Adam sat down beside Joe and rubbed his back.

“Joe, I didn’t know that you were hurt so bad. Or I would have never touched you. I promise!!”

Joe just snuffled “Its ok Adam, I choose the punishment.” Adam shook his head as he smoothed the aloe on the deep marks.

“Don’t worry; I’ll talk to the school board. They will probably take that paddle away, or else I’ll use it on Abigail myself.”

Joe snickered. “I can see that Adam.”

Adam laughed, “Now, I think you have been punished enough. Don’t you?”

To his surprise, Joe lifted his head and glanced back at Adam, “No, Adam, I’ll take the punishment like a man.”

Adam shook his head, “Joseph, I’m just not going to hit you again. And anyways you’re not a man yet. Enjoy being a kid.”

Joe gave him the evil eye then scrambled off the bed while fixing his pants.

“Adam, I want a punishment.” Adam placed his hand on Joe’s forehead to check for fever. “Joe I don’t understand why you want to play like you are all man now, but I’ll get the soap if you want me to. Come on down to the kitchen.”

Joe grinned to himself. All his friends always were in awe that Adam was in charge of punishing him. And it was so fun to tell all the stories of how he was brave and went through it. He followed Adam down the stairs. When they got to the kitchen Adam grabbed a bar of soap and handed it to Joe. He didn’t think that his little brother would do it, but he never ceased to be amazed. Adam was laughing when Joe took a big bite out of the soap and then rinsed his mouth out.

He smacked Joe on the back. “Good going little man. Now back up to your bed room were you can just do your home work.” Joe grinned at his brother and danced up the stairs to his math.

The next day came rapidly and before the Ponderosa knew it, the sun was washing over the mountains and flooding into the valleys. Finally it reached the Ponderosa ranch house and crept into little Joe’s room. He was already waking up, but when his face was bathed in the morning sun, he sat up. As he did, he quickly remembered his injuries from the day before. All sudden his eldest brother’s voice filled the room. As Adam was walking down the hallway, he was singing Early One Morning. Joe lay back down and rolled over so his back was to the door. He finally shut his eyes and drifted off. Today was Saturday, so no need in getting up early. It was a few hours later when the clock was drifting towards 9:00, when Adam went back up stairs to get his little brother out of bed. He whistled Joe’s favourite song all the way upstairs. Finally he entered the room and went over to shake Joe. Joe just lay there, not moving. It still surprised the whole family, of how Joe could sleep through almost anything.

Adam leaned down and yelled into Joe’s ear, “WAKE UP!”

Joe just moved away from him and kept sleeping. Adam glanced up, a smile playing on his lips. He moved across the room, and brought back the pitcher of cold water. In a moment of childish play, he poured the contents on his little brother’s head.

Joe immediately shot off of the bed, yelling like an Indian. “Why did you do that Adam?”

“I had to wake you up some how, boy.”

Joe glared at him and climbed back onto the bed, “Remember, I’m a man now.”

Adam rolled his eyes. “Ok, what ever, kid, time to get up.”

Joe glared at him, “I don’t want to, and you can’t make me.”

“I can’t?” Joe shook his head and grasped the covers. Adam grinned and reached over to tickle his brother, but Joe’s punch met his nose half way.

Adam grabbed his nose as the blood trickled down. “Ok, you have done it now, kid. I ought to take a strap to you.”

He turned a stormed out of the room to cool down. Joe looked down at his hand were his brother’s blood still lingered. He quickly wiped it on the sheets and burst into tears. He didn’t know why he felt so rebellious. His Pa had mentioned why in the talk about the birds and the bees, but he couldn’t remember now. He felt sure Adam was going to take a strap to him but probably on the legs, so he could spare his backside from anymore damage. But it hurt a lot worse on legs because the skin was thinner. After a very long time, Joe heard Adam coming back up the stairs, and his stomach turned over.

He sat frozen on the bed when Adam came in. “Joseph, go down to the barn.”

The boy was shaking all the way down and out behind it. Adam directed his brother over to the bench, and then sat down beside him.

“I don’t know why you hit me, but you had better explain yourself.”

Joe burst into tears, much to his embarrassment. “I don’t know Adam; I don’t know why I feel mad all the time. And then I cry too.”

Adam placed his arm around his brother’s shoulders. “Joseph, you are going through a very difficult time right now. Your body is going through a lot of changes, inside and out. I know by experience that this is a very hard time in your life. You are happy one moment, and the next one you are crying. It’s very normal and a part of life as you grow up. It’s not your fault that you are very emotional right now. But that does not mean that you don’t have to control yourself. You can’t go around hitting people, understand?”

Joe nodded and rubbed his nose. “But why do I feel this way?”

“Joseph, you are changing from a little boy to a man. There are a lot of things going on inside of you right now. Soon you will have to shave and your voice will change permanently, you will have noticed it has already started.”

Joe grinned at Adam, but tears were still twinkling in the green depths. “And maybe someday I’ll have a crush on a girl?”

Adam smiled, “Yes, you will change in that aspect to. But I’m sure that you don’t want to hear about the birds and bees from me. However let me say one thing. Stay OUT of the saloon bedrooms until you are a lot older. When you are 18 or so, you can go and satisfy your curiosity there. Ok?”

Joe turned as red as a beet, but nodded.

Adam sighed and scuffed his foot in the dirt. “Joe, I still think you need a punishment for punching me. Maybe that will teach you not to do that next time.”

Joe yanked away from Adam, “OH PLEASE DON’T.” He burst into tears, and Adam almost relented, but replied, “Stay there and I’ll be right back.”

Joe slouched onto the bench and waited for Adam to reappear with the strap.

Adam finally came back, “Joe?”

Joe got up and leaned over Adam’s knee. Adam didn’t hit him hard at all, but Joe still burst into tears. Adam dropped the strap on to bench and hugged his brother tight. Joe clung tightly to his brother and sobbed.

It was later that morning when the two brothers walked back to the house. After Joe had finished his crying fit to Adam, they had done the chores and then made their way out to the corral where the men were breaking in some new horses. When they got back to the house, Hop Sing was waiting with lunch. He wasn’t happy because they were later than usual. After the usual tirade of Chinese, Adam finally convinced him not to go back to China, and then they ate. Immediately after lunch, Joe asked if he could go in to Virginia City.

“Pa’s birthday is soon and I want to get him something that I saw.” Adam finally Okayed it and Joe bolted out of the house, whilst Adam just laughed and went back to work; maybe later that afternoon he would go to and join Joe.

Joe quickly tacked Cochise and rode away from the ranch towards Virginia City. When he got to his destination, he went in to the general store.

The owner, Mr. Jacks said, “Howdy Joe. Looking for something?”

Joe grinned up at the big and friendly man. “Yes sir Mr. Jacks. I want a birthday gift for Pa but I don’t know what to give him.”

Mr. Jack showed Joe his range of wares and finally Joe picked out a pair of beautiful silver stirrups. After paying, he left and strolled down the street.

As he came to The Bucket of Blood Saloon, one of the saloon girls spotted him and came over. “Hey, where did you come from? You’re cute!”

Joe grinned at the girl. She had light blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes.

“Come on in and I’ll buy you a drink.”

Joe followed the girl into the saloon, the place where his brother had warned him not to go. He decided the saloon was a pretty safe place, so he turned all his charm on for the young lady. Before the 14 year old boy knew what was happening, his desires ran wild. Joy just smiled and asked him to go upstairs and ‘talk’ with her.

Just as Joe got to the stairs, a loud “JOSEPH” made him freeze. He slowly turned around to see Adam standing in the doorway.

“Adam?!” was all that the boy could choke out.

Adam reached his brother in 5 long strides.

He pushed Joy away. “What were you going to do to my brother? He’s only 14.”

Joy’s mouth flew open, “He’s just a kid? Oh my. Well he’s cute, but a little young for me.” She leaned down and placed her ruby red lips on Joe’s and then walked away to find another man.

Adam took Joe by the arm and led him over to the bar. “2 beers Sam, please” Joe looked at Adam under his eye lashes. He knew that his brother had caught him on the way to a “saloon bedroom,” the very place he had been warned not to go that morning. He dropped his head in his arms, totally shamed. But he knew that deep within him, feelings that he couldn’t suppress were bubbling up to the surface. These were not bad feelings, or cheap feelings, but just normal feelings about girls in particular. Joe finally raised his head and looked back into Adam’s sooty eyes.

Adam smiled, “Joe, didn’t I warn you to stay away from those rooms?”

Joe bobbed his head, “I’m sorry Adam, and I won’t do it again. I promise.”

This time he meant it for good. Adam’s smile turned into a grin. “At least until you are older. I’ll admit that I have been up there quiet a few times myself.”

Then he turned to the bar tender, “Thank ya Sam,” and tossed 2 coins onto the counter.

He passed the drink to Joe. “Go ahead, have your first one.”

Joe grinned, “Thanks Adam.” He took a deep sip like his brother, but couldn’t swallow it right off. After he did swallow it, he choked and coughed for a few minutes.

Finally he turned to Adam. “That stuff is foul. How can sit there and drink it?”

Adam laughed, “You will get used to it Joe, you will get used to it.”

The two brothers finally headed for the door, but before they were gone, Joy walked by. Joe just stared at her underneath his eyelashes, and then turned his back to her.

The two brothers emerged into the sunshine and went over to their horses. Joe took the silver stirrups out and showed them to Adam. Adam told Joe that he was a sweet boy. Joe wrinkled his freckled nose, and then mounted up and loped out of town. There were many girls that turned their heads and watched him go, their hearts all longing for the wild young man. And the young man knew that they all wanted him. He was certainly going to break many hearts as he grew older.

That night Adam was sitting at his desk working on a drawing of a mill, when Joe walked into his room. Adam’s dark eyes watched his brother go over and plonk himself right in the middle of his bed.

“Hey Adam.”

“Hey Joe.”

Joe sat there for a while, looking through one of Adam’s architect books.

Finally he yawned and rolled over, “Adam?”

“Yes Joe?”

“Do you still have those old toys of mine?”

“Yes, they are in the desk.”

Adam reached down and opened the door. “Here they are.”

He pulled out Joe’s old toys: a well worn teddy bear, a few blocks, and a big book of fairy tales. Joe grinned and hopped off the bed, coming over to the toys. He collected them and carried them back to the bed. After a minute or two, Adam glanced over his shoulder. Joe was lying on the bed, looking through the big book. Adam smiled and returned to his work, concentrating on the drawing that he was doing. It just wasn’t fitting together properly. He made the size of the shaft a little bit smaller, and that seemed to work. After a few minutes, he glanced back at Joe who had become very quiet. The boy was lying asleep on the bed; his arms were wrapped tightly around the old and faded teddy bear. Adam quietly got up and crept over to get a good look into Joe’s face. He knew that this boy was almost grown, and this was probably the last time he would ever see him so open like that. He sat down beside his brother and reaching down, trailed his finger down Joe’s cheek. After a moment, he had to reach up and wipe away the tears in his eyes. This boy was changing so fast that it was going to be hard to keep up with him. He reached down and gathered up the 14 years olds slim frame and carried him down the hallway to his own bed. As he entered Joe’s room, he could hear his Pa coming in downstairs. Adam grinned; he was glad that this little rapscallion was not his charge anymore.

After he undressed Joe and slipped him into the bed, Ben came in. “Hi Adam.”

Adam grinned and rushed over to his father. “Great to see ya Pa, I’m soooo glad that you are home. Your baby son has almost done EVERYTHING while you were away.”

Ben just laughed and then caught sight of the silver stirrups. He picked them up.

“What are these?”

Adam reached across the bed.

“A birthday gift to the loved father of this family.”

He put them beside him. “You will still act surprised?”

Ben smiled, “I’ll be the most surprised father in Nevada.” At that, he leaned down and stroked his son’s cherubic face.