Summary:  Based on “All Ye His Saints”.  This is my version of the episode as I always wanted it to be.
Rating:  G  10,610 words

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In God We Trust

 

Based on the original episode
‘All Ye His Saints’
by William Blinn

This is my version of the story, as I always wanted it to be

 

 

Little Joe Cartwright swung on the top of the fence post happily as he watched the men with the horses inside the corral. He smiled and waved as Charlie stepped out of the barn and headed towards him.  Charlie smiled back at the curly-haired youngster and walked over to ruffle his hair affectionately. ‘Hello there,’ he said. ‘What are you up to youngun?’

 

‘Nuthin,’ said Little Joe as he continued to swing on the fence post. ‘I’m jest watching the men is all.’  He looked over Charlie’s shoulder. ‘Where’s my Pa?’

 

‘Your Pa is in the barn,’ said Charlie as he leant on the fence beside the young boy.  ‘He’s still flushing out those owls in the loft.’

 

Little Joe’s eyes widened. ‘Oh boy!’ he said and began to climb down from the fence. ‘I’m gonna watch!’

 

Charlie pulled him back up again by the collar of his shirt.  ‘No you aren’t,’ he said. ‘Your Pa told you to stay out of there and he meant it.’

 

Little Joe gave the man one of his most charming smiles. ‘But he only meant I couldn’t go in there by myself,’ he said. ‘It’d be okay iffen you took me in.’

 

Charlie laughed aloud at the boy’s words.  It was typical of the youngest Cartwright to try and wheedle his way around his father’s instructions.   Charlie had been foreman on the ranch long before this boy was born and he’d seen him do it many times … not usually with success … and many times Little Joe had felt the wrath of his father’s anger because of it. He ruffled the boy’s hair again and grinned at him. ‘I don’t think so,’ he said. ‘I ain’t ready ta get on the wrong side of your Pa just so you can watch him shoot a few owls young’un.’

 

Little Joe frowned. ‘But ….’ he began.  He stopped as his two brothers rode into the yard and his frown turned to a smile, for here might be two more accomplices to his plan.  ‘Hi Adam!’ he called. ‘Hi Hoss!’

 

His older brothers waved at him before dismounting. Little Joe climbed down from the fence and ran over to them. ‘Can I ride Sport?’ he asked as he jumped up and down excitedly, seeing in his request a way to get into the barn.

 

Adam grinned at his little brother and picked up the wriggling child. ‘Up you go then,’ he said as he placed him in the saddle. Little Joe bounced in the saddle excitedly and clapped his hands. ‘Make him go Adam,’ he ordered. ‘Make him go fast!’

 

Adam held on firmly to the horse’s reins and ignored the little boy’s demands as he led the animal around the yard a couple of times slowly while Little Joe continued to bounce in the saddle. ‘Keep still or you’ll fall off,’ he said finally.

 

‘I won’t fall off,’ said Little Joe. ‘I can ride good.’  He grinned as Adam led the animal into the barn, followed by Hoss. ‘Hey Pa!’ he called out. ‘Look at me … I’m on Sport!’

 

Ben Cartwright looked down from the loft where he’d been hunting the owls that Charlie had mentioned. ‘You’re back boys,’ he said delightedly. ‘Any problems?’

 

‘No Pa,’ replied Adam as he tied up Sport and pulled Little Joe down from the saddle. ‘Mr Bates said thanks for the loan of the horses.  He’ll get them back to us next week.’

 

‘That’s fine,’ said Ben as he began to climb down the ladder that led up to the loft.

 

‘Did ya get any of them owls Pa?’ asked Hoss with an anxious expression on his face. Ben smiled at his son as he leant his rifle against the wall of the barn and walked towards him.  He knew how soft hearted his middle son was and how he would hate to think of any animal suffering. ‘No son I didn’t,’ he said. ‘I ….’

 

There was a sudden bang and Ben slumped forward into the hay on the floor.  All three Cartwright boys stood stock still in horror as they watched their father’s fall and witnessed the fallen rifle as it discharged.

 

‘Pa!’ called Adam as he sprang forward towards the man. He knelt in the hay beside his father and held his head in his hands as he bent over him. ‘Pa!’

 

Hoss stood still for a moment, willing the scene before him to change before he realised that it was in fact reality.  He took a step forward and watched his older brother kneeling beside his father and swallowed before asking the dreaded question. ‘Adam?’ he said. ‘Is he ….’

 

Adam shook his head as he lifted his grief-stricken eyes to his brother ‘No,’ he said. ‘He’s still breathing. Get help Hoss!’

 

Hoss turned and ran to the doorway.  As he opened his mouth to yell he sensed a small movement beside him and glanced over to see Little Joe running towards his father and brother. ‘Pa!’ yelled the shocked child. ‘Pa!’

 

Hoss yelled for help before turning back towards his family and running to kneel beside Adam who was trying to hold onto his father and pull his little brother away from him at the same time. ‘Joe!’ he shouted. ‘Joe, get back!’

 

Little Joe was taking no notice of his eldest brother but continued to yell for his father as he pulled at his clothing.  Adam looked up at Hoss anxiously. ‘Help me get him off him Hoss,’ he begged.

 

Hoss pulled his younger brother off their father and hugged him to his chest while he whispered in his ear. ‘Shh,’ he kept saying. ‘Shh Little Joe … be quiet!’

 

Little Joe wriggled in his brother’s strong grasp.  The tears were running down his face and he wasn’t ready to listen to anyone. ‘No!’ he yelled and kicked out at his brother. ‘Let go of me Hoss!  Pa!’

 

Hoss held his little brother in a tight grip, watching over his shoulder as Adam gently cradled their father’s head in his lap.  A noise behind him told him that help was at hand and he watched silently as Adam and Charlie lifted Ben and carried him out of the barn and into the house.  He picked up Little Joe and held onto the now hysterical child as he followed them through the crowd of ranch-hands that had gathered outside towards the house.

 

‘Someone ride for a doctor!’ he heard Charlie shout as they reached the front door and entered the house. Adam led the way into the guest room and they put Ben down on the bed there as Hop Sing entered the room, his eyes wide.  Without a sound he left and was back within moments with an armful of towels and a basin of hot water.

 

Hoss continued to watch the unreal scene in front of him as Adam peeled back their father’s shirt to reveal a large and bloody bullet wound.  They all looked at it silently, except for Little Joe who was still kicking and screaming hysterically at his brother to let him down.  Suddenly Charlie strode across the room and held out his hands for the child. ‘Give him to me Hoss,’ he said to the boy. ‘You go to your father.’  Hoss looked up at the man, the tears running down his cheeks.  He nodded and let go of his little brother before going towards the bed and standing next to Adam.

 

Hop Sing knelt by the side of the bed and began to press towels onto the wound in Ben’s side.  On the bed, their father groaned softly and tried to move away from the pain, but Hop Sing was relentless in applying the pressure and didn’t allow the man to escape from his touch. Adam took a cloth and wet it before putting it on his father’s forehead and wiping it gently. He looked up at Hoss and nodded slightly.

 

‘Doc Martin will be here soon,’ he said, trying to sound positive. ‘He’ll help Pa Hoss. You’ll see.’

 

Hoss nodded and wiped the tears from his face with his shirtsleeves.  Both brothers looked down at the ashen face of their unconscious father on the bed in silence while behind them, Charlie tried unsuccessfully to soothe the small boy in his arms.

 

 

**********

 

 

Paul Martin stood up and wiped his brow before looking across the bed at Hop Sing. ‘That’s all I can do for now,’ he said. ‘You stay with him Hop Sing while I talk to the boys.’ Hop Sing nodded and sat down next to the bed, watching Ben’s face intently as the doctor left the room.

 

As Paul Martin entered the great living room he saw Adam standing in front of the fireplace staring into it.  He walked over to the young man, but it wasn’t until he put his hand on his shoulder that Adam looked up as if surprised to see him there. ‘Doc!’ he said. ‘How is he?’

 

Paul looked around before answering. ‘Where are the boys?’ he asked.

 

Adam pointed to the sofa where Hoss was slumbering, covered by the Indian blanket that Adam had taken from the railing of the staircase and placed on him. ‘I didn’t have the heart to wake him up to send him upstairs,’ he said.

 

‘And Little Joe?’

 

‘He cried himself out a while ago and I put him to bed,’ replied Adam. ‘He’s sound asleep. How’s Pa?’

 

Paul motioned for Adam to sit down in his father’s easy chair and sat down in front of him on the coffee table. ‘I’ve taken the bullet out and given him some painkillers,’ he said. ‘I won’t lie to you Adam … it doesn’t look at all good.’ The colour drained from Adam’s face as he stared at the doctor silently. ‘It’s up to God now,’ said Paul, hating to see the look in the young man’s eyes. He patted him on the shoulder. ‘Why don’t you try and get some sleep?

 

Adam shook his head silently, his eyes travelling over to where his younger brother lay sleeping on the sofa. ‘They’re both so young,’ he said softly. ‘I don’t know how ….’  He looked at the doctor beseechingly. ‘With Marie dead less than a year it just isn’t fair Paul.  How can this be happening to us?’

 

Paul shook his head, not sure what to say to the young man.  This was the part of his job that he hated.  The death-watch.  Especially when it was someone whom he admired and respected as much as he did Ben Cartwright.  His heart went out to his friend’s motherless sons who would most likely soon be fatherless too.

 

Suddenly there was a slight noise behind them and both men turned to see a small nightshirt-clad figure standing on the bottom step watching them. ‘What are you doing out of bed?’ asked Adam as he walked over to pick up his little brother.

 

Little Joe took his thumb out of his mouth and looked into his big brother’s eyes. ‘I waked up,’ he said simply.

 

Paul watched as the young man walked up the stairs with the child in his arms and shook his head.   Adam was right.  It just didn’t seem fair that so much heartache could come to one family like this.  First there had been Ben’s first two wives whom Paul had never known and then Marie last year.  Now Ben himself.  Paul wondered how much more these boys could stand. He turned around as Hoss stirred behind him and began to mutter in his sleep, and pulled the blanket up around the boy while he said a silent prayer for the sons of his friend.

 

 

**********

 

 

Adam laid the child on the bed and pulled the blankets up around him.  Now try and go back to sleep,’ he said softly.

 

Little Joe stared up at his brother with wide eyes. ‘Adam?’ he said.

 

‘Yes?’

 

‘Can I sit on your lap for a bit?’

 

Adam picked up a blanket and wrapped it around the little boy tenderly before picking him up and putting him on his lap as he sat down on the bed.  Somehow the feel of his little brother’s small body gave him some much-needed comfort.

 

Little Joe turned his tear-streaked face towards his big brother. ‘Adam?’ he said softly. ‘Is Pa dead?’

 

Adam hugged the child to him tightly. ‘No buddy,’ he said softly. ‘He isn’t dead.’

 

‘Is he gonna die?’

 

Adam hesitated. ‘He didn’t want to lie to the boy, but he hated telling him the truth. ‘I hope not,’ he said finally.

 

Little Joe wriggled on his brother’s lap and sat up.  He peered into Adam’s face intently. ‘Iffen he does then will he go ta heaven like mama did?’ he asked.

 

Adam caught his breath and swallowed before answering. ‘Yes,’ he said in a low voice.

 

Little Joe began to sob again. ‘I don’t want Pa to go away ta heaven Adam!’ he said.

 

Adam hugged his little brother to his chest and looked up at the night sky as he tried to hold back his own tears. ‘I know,’ he said. ‘Neither do I.’

 

‘Then why will God take him there?’

 

Adam sighed. ‘God takes people to heaven when He wants to,’ he said after a bit of thought. ‘We don’t really know why.’

 

‘The doctor said that is was up to God now,’ said the child. ‘Did he mean that God’s gonna decide iffen Pa goes ta heaven or stays here with us?’

 

Adam sighed. ‘I guess he did,’ he admitted.  He stared out of the open window at the treetops outside and was quiet with his own thoughts for a moment.

 

‘Adam?’

 

‘Yes?’

 

‘I’m not gonna like God no more iffen he takes Pa ta live with him in heaven,’ declared Little Joe firmly.

 

Adam shook his head ‘No, you mustn’t say that buddy,’ he said. ‘We have to love God. Remember when Pa read you that in the Bible?’ Little Joe nodded solemnly. ‘Pa would want us to keep loving God even if he dies,’ continued Adam. ‘It’s the right thing to do.’

 

‘Where is heaven Adam?’ asked Little Joe.

 

‘Heaven?  Oh … its very far away,’ replied his brother.

 

‘That picture of heaven in Pa’s Bible has clouds all around it.  Is it up in the sky?’

 

Adam shrugged. ‘I guess so,’ he said vaguely. ‘No one know exactly where heaven is buddy.  We only know that it’s where God lives.’

 

Little Joe nodded. ‘I see,’ he said. ‘Iffen I pray to God, will he let Pa stay with us and not die and go there?’

 

Adam swallowed. ‘Maybe,’ he said. ‘But maybe not. God does what he knows is best buddy. Sometimes we can’t understand it, but we know that he does it for the best.’

 

Little Joe stared out of the window towards the mountains in the west.  ‘Those mountains are very close ta heaven, don’t ya reckon Adam?’ he said softly. ‘They touch the sky up there.’

 

Adam smiled down at his little brother. ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘They sure do.  Pa always said that this was God’s own country.’

 

Little Joe’s eyes widened. ‘He did, didn’t he?’ he said excitedly. ‘I reckon God lives here round here then huh?’

 

‘Yes,’ replied Adam. He stood up with his little brother in his arms. ‘Now you need to get some sleep,’ he said in a tired voice as he laid the child back into his bed. ‘Try and close your eyes for a while.’

 

‘Okay,’ said Little Joe and stuck his thumb in his mouth. ‘Night Adam.’

 

Adam touched the little boy on the forehead for a moment. ‘Night buddy,’ he said as turned and left the room.

 

Little Joe rolled over in bed and stared out of the window at the mountains tops in the distance. ‘Please make my Pa not die and go to heaven with you God,’ he sobbed. ‘Are ya listening to me?’

 

He listened intently to the silence around him and then got out of bed again and padded on his little bare feet over to the window.  ‘I reckon you’re too far away up there ta hear me God,’ he said. He turned away from the window, pulled his dresser drawer open and began to rummage through it for his clothes.

 

 

**********

 

 

Adam looked up at the night sky and felt the cold wind on his face.  He shivered slightly as he felt the touch of snow that was in the air and pulled his coat tighter around him.  A couple of stray tears ran down his face and he cursed himself for his weakness as he brushed them away.  After all, he didn’t have time to mourn in this way.  He needed to be strong as he always had been for his little brothers. He’s always been there for them before when both his stepmothers had died and now …. He caught his breath as the realization of what was about to happen hit him with full force … and now that Pa was … He hung his head and gave in to some more tears.

 

‘Adam?’

 

He brushed them away quickly before turning to see Paul Martin standing behind him. ‘Is Pa …’ he asked.

 

Paul sat down beside the young man. ‘No,’ he said. ‘He’s still hanging on. I was just worried about you, that’s all.’  He looked at the young man beside him and put his hand on his shoulder. ‘How are you holding up?’

 

Adam shrugged his shoulders. ‘I don’t know,’ he admitted. ‘I just feel … so helpless.’

 

Paul nodded. ‘We all do,’ he said in a low voice. ‘Son if there was anything I could do for your father then you know that I’d ….’

 

Adam gave him a brief smile. ‘I know,’ he said. The two of them sat in silence for a few moments. ‘It’s just so hard to take Paul,’ said Adam after a while. ‘First Ma … Hoss’ Ma that is … and then Marie.  Now Pa.’  He hung his head and put his face in his hands. ‘I just feel so sorry for Hoss and Joe,’ he said. ‘They’re too young to go through all this again.’

 

‘Not to mention you,’ sympathised Paul. Adam was the one he felt most sorry for in all of this.  The young man was going to have not only the grief of his father’s death to deal with, but the worry of his two young brothers as well.  Paul had watched him less than a year ago shoulder the responsibility of everything when his stepmother had died and he knew that he was dreading having to do it again.

 

Adam nodded. ‘I was just up with Little Joe in his room,’ he said. ‘He’s terrified that his Pa is going to leave him like his mama did.’  He looked at the doctor.  ‘I remember when I was a little kid and I realised one day that all the other kids had two parents and I just had one,’ he said. ‘Pa tried to explain it to me, but I still felt different to everyone else.  And then Inger came along and filled the gap that I’d always had and I loved her for that. I was just about Little Joe’s age when she died,’ he explained.

 

‘I remember after that when Pa would leave me and Hoss with others in the wagon train while he went away hunting or scouting with the other men.  I would be so scared that he wasn’t going to come back for us.  Even later on when we were settled here and he’d have to go off on trips before Marie arrived to live with us. He’d leave us with neighbours.  They were good people, but I was still frightened that he wasn’t ever going to come back and then what would happen to us?’  He shook his head. ‘It scared me so much Paul.  I know just how Little Joe is feeling right about now and I hate to think what that little guy up there is going through.’ His chin began to quiver in an uncharacteristic display of emotion and he looked away as he tried to compose himself. ‘It’s a pointless story I guess,’ he said in a low voice. ‘Sorry.’

 

Paul put his hand on Adam’s shoulder. ‘Adam, never apologize for compassion,’ he said gently. ‘We all need more of it in our lives.’ Adam nodded and wiped his eyes with his sleeve.  Paul stood up. ‘I’ll go and check on your father again,’ he said and walked away to give the young man time to compose himself in private.

 

Adam turned his face once more to the sky and prayed as he had never prayed before.  He smiled through his tears as he remembered his little brother saying how he was going to ask God to let their Pa not die and he wished that he had the simple faith of a child right about now.

 

 

**********

 

 

Hoss yawned as he sat up and stretched.  He looked around, surprised to see that he was downstairs in the living room and not up in his bed as usual.  Then suddenly the realisation hit him of what had happened.  He stood up and looked around anxiously. ‘Adam?’ he called. ‘Adam where are ya?’

 

The door to the guestroom opened and Adam looked out. ‘Keep your voice down,’ he said.

 

Hoss looked at his big brother anxiously. ‘How’s Pa?’ he said.

 

Adam wiped his hand over his eyes wearily. ‘Still the same,’ he said. ‘Come in if you want to.’  He opened the door to allow his brother to enter the room and Hoss saw Hop Sing and Doc Martin sitting across from each other on opposite sides of the bed. His father was lying so still under the blankets, his face ashen and his eyes closed.

 

Hoss looked over at Adam who put his hand on his young brother’s shoulder and together they stared at their father. ‘It’s a good sign that he ain’t … dead yet, ain’t it?’ said Hoss, addressing Paul Martin. ‘Iffen he was gonna die then he would have by now, don’t ya think so Doc?’

 

Paul Martin looked at the young boy kindly. ‘We’ll just have to wait and see Hoss,’ he said and went back to listening to his patient’s heartbeat through his stethoscope.

 

Hoss looked at Adam again. ‘He’s gonna be all right, ain’t he Adam?’

 

Adam tried to smile at his younger brother, but didn’t quite make it.  ‘It’s like the Doc says Hoss,’ he replied. ‘We’ve just got to wait and see.’  He tightened his grip on his brother’s shoulder. ‘How about going upstairs and getting into some clean clothes?’ he suggested. ‘You could check on Little Joe for me and get him dressed as well while you’re up there.’

 

Hoss nodded and left the room with his head down. Adam sat down again on the chair that he’d vacated and stared at the man in the bed again for a long time while Hop Sing and Paul Martin quietly did things around him.

 

After a few minutes Hoss came back into the room. ‘Adam?’ he said. ‘Joe ain’t in his room.’

 

Adam sighed. ‘Then find him for me will you Hoss?’ he said. ‘He might have gone to sleep in one of the other bedrooms.’

 

Hoss shook his head. ‘No,’ he said. ‘He ain’t upstairs at all.  I done looked everywhere.’

 

Adam sighed again. The last thing he needed right about now was trouble with Little Joe. ‘Okay,’ he said. ‘I’ll check down here while you go and look in the barn in case he snuck out there.’  He stood up reluctantly and went out into the living room while Hoss left the house. ‘Joe!’ he called. ‘Are you down here?  Joe?’  He walked into the kitchen. ‘Little Joe?  Come out this minute!’  He frowned as he realised that the boy was nowhere to be seen.

 

Suddenly the kitchen door opened with a bang and Hoss came running into the room. ‘Adam!’ he said, his eyes wide. ‘Little Joe’s gone!’

 

‘What do you mean gone?’ asked Adam.

 

‘His pony is gone,’ replied Hoss. ‘And he’s taken some other stuff too!’

 

‘What other stuff?’ asked Adam, his heart beginning to beat quickly. ‘Tell me Hoss .. what other stuff?’

 

‘A bedroll for a start,’ said Hoss.  ‘His jacket and hat is gone too.’  His eyes widened even more. ‘Where do ya think he’s got to Adam?’

 

Adam stood still and tried to concentrate on his brother’s words. After his sleepless night his brain took a few minutes to register exactly what Hoss was telling him and he shook his head to clear it.  He remembered back to his conversation with his little brother the night before with a sinking heart. ‘I think I know,’ he said softly and looked out of the window towards the mountains in the west.  He prayed that the child had only just gone and that it wouldn’t be too hard to catch up with him.

 

Adam looked at Hoss. ‘Hoss saddle Sport for me will you?’ he said. ‘I’m going after him.’

 

‘But Adam …’ began Hoss. ‘What about ….’ He indicated the spare room where their father lay.

 

Adam walked over and put his hands on Hoss’ shoulders. ‘Listen to me Hoss,’ he said. ‘I’ve got to get Little Joe back.  There’s nothing I can do for Pa right now and he’d want me to go after Joe.  You know that.’

 

Hoss nodded. ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘I’m coming too.’

 

Adam shook his head. ‘No,’ he said. ‘I need you to stay here Hoss. I can get after Joe much quicker by myself and I’ll have him back here in no time at all.  Besides, one of us should stay here, don’t you think?’

 

Hoss nodded reluctantly, torn between his desire to go after his little brother and the need to stay with his father. ‘Okay Adam,’ he said. ‘But hurry back with him won’t ya?’

 

‘I will buddy,’ said Adam. ‘I promise.’

 

 

**********

 

 

Little Joe slid down from his pony and bent over to look at the animal’s leg. ‘What’s the matter boy?’ he said anxiously. ‘Ya hurt?’  The pony looked over his shoulder at his young rider, his left foreleg held up in the air.  Little Joe ran his hand down the leg the way he’d seen his father and brothers do when they were examining an injured horse. ‘Ya got a sore leg have ya?’ he said. ‘Well that’s too bad fellar.’  He straightened up again and patted him on the flank. ‘Guess you’re gonna haveta go on home now boy,’ he said as he looked up the steep hillside. ‘Ya can’t go on with a sore leg ya know.’

 

The little boy waved his hand at the pony. ‘Go on now!’ he said. ‘Get on back home.  I’ll be all right.’  The pony didn’t move, but simply stared at the child.  Little Joe frowned, picked up a handful of rocks and began to throw them in the direction of the pony … being careful not to hit him. ‘Go on home now!’ he yelled. ‘Go on!’  He watched in satisfaction as the pony finally got the message and began to trot back down the way they had come.

 

Little Joe hitched up his pants and put his bedroll over his shoulder before turning and beginning to climb up the steep hillside again.  Patches of snow were glistening on the ground around him and he could see his breath as the exertion of the climb made him begin to breathe heavier. He looked upwards and gave a small sigh as he noticed how far away the top of the mountain was, but determinedly kept going.  All that he could think of was how he needed to find God so that he could ask him to let his Pa stay with his family and not take him to heaven. If God lived up there at the top of that mountain then that’s where he’d just have to climb to … no matter how hard it was.

 

He got to a steep pile of rocks and looked around for a few moments for the best way up. With a determined nod he hitched up his bedroll again and began the slow and laborious ascent to the top of them, being careful not to slip. He began to feel uneasy and felt as if someone was around, so reluctantly he looked up to see a weathered old face glaring down at him from the top of the rocks.  Little Joe clung to the side of the rock and stared at the face for a full minute, taking in the long beard, the wild hair and the piercing look in the eyes as the man stared back at him.

 

He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.  Instead he felt himself go dizzy and he let go of the rock to put his hand up to his head.  The movement cause him to lose his footing and he felt himself slipping downwards.  Little Joe cried out as he hit the bottom of the rocks and in a moment had passed out. The man stood still for a moment looking down at the boy and then began to climb down to him, but stopped suddenly and looked into the distance as he spied a rider approaching. With a hard look he fingered the rifle in his hand and withdrew again behind the rocks.

 

 

**********

 

 

Adam rode slowly, checking out his little brother’s pony’s tracks every few minutes.  The boy had obviously been out quite a while to have travelled this far and Adam felt his concern for the child growing with every minute.  As well as being far from home, the weather wasn’t the best and at this altitude snow was still on the ground and the icy winds blew a chill right through him.  Adam tightened his coat around him and pushed his collar up as he squinted into the distance in the hopes of seeing a small boy ahead of him.

 

He really couldn’t believe that the child had got this far already.  He sure was one stubborn little cuss and Adam thought about how he would give him a piece of his mind once he’d found him. He knew that the boy was desperately worried about his father and wanted to keep him from dying at all costs, but all he’d really succeeded in doing as far as Adam was concerned was making matters worse. Not only did he have Pa back at the ranch probably dead by now, but he also had the worry of his little brother out here probably in danger of being hurt as well.

 

The more he thought about it, the more worried he became and if it hadn’t been for the steepness of the ground and the patches of snow around Adam would have spurred his horse into a faster gait. He heard a sudden noise over to his left and turned to see in amazement his little brother’s pony standing near the shelter of some trees contentedly munching on a small patch of grass.  With a rising heart he turned his horse and rode towards it, sliding down from his saddle before he’d even come to a complete stop.

 

‘Joe?’ he called. ‘Little Joe can you hear me?’  There was no response so he turned to the pony and noticed that he was favouring one leg.  He patted him absently. ‘Where’d he go fellar?’ he asked softly. At that moment he heard a yell and caught turned sharply in the direction that he thought it had come from.  He caught up the reins of the two animals behind him and walked quickly towards a great pile of rocks, taking care not to stumble into any snowdrifts.  As he rounded the corner he was appalled to see his little brother sprawled out on the ground in front of him and dropped the reins as he sprinted over to him and picked him up.

 

‘Little buddy! He said anxiously as he felt the unconscious child for any breaks. ‘Little Joe can you hear me?’

 

The little boy moved feebly in his arms and whimpered softly as he held onto him.  Adam hugged him tightly to his chest and offered up a prayer of thanks to God that he’d found the child.

 

 

**********

 

 

‘Little Joe’s eyes fluttered open and he looked up dizzily into the concerned brown eyes staring down at him. ‘Pa?’ he said softly.

 

Adam stroked the child’s face. ‘No buddy,’ he said softly. ‘It’s Adam. How are you feeling?’

 

Little Joe looked around at the small fire beside him and tried to focus his eyes. ‘I gotta headache,’ he said finally, feeling the lump on his head tenderly.

 

‘I’ll bet you have,’ said Adam as he pushed the little hand away gently. ‘Don’t touch it. I’ll have to get you back home to Doc Martin and he’ll take a look at that head of yours.’

 

Little Joe frowned. ‘I can’t go back yet,’ he said. ‘I ain’t talked ta God yet Adam.’

 

Adam shook his head. ‘You’re doing as you’re told,’ he said firmly as he reached for a cup beside him and held it to the youngster’s mouth. ‘Here … drink this.’

 

Little Joe sniffed it suspiciously. ‘What is it?’ he asked.

 

‘Coffee.  Drink it.’

 

The little boy looked up at his brother. ‘But Pa don’t let me drink coffee,’ he protested.

 

Adam smiled. ‘He won’t mind just this once,’ he replied. ‘It’s very weak, but its hot and it’ll warm up your tummy before we start back.’

 

Little Joe obediently took a sip of the bitter liquid before answering. ‘I done told ya I ain’t going back yet,’ he said. ‘I need ta tell God not ta take Pa to heaven yet Adam.’

 

Adam put down the cup and  bent down close to his little brother’s face. ‘I know you want to help buddy,’ he said. ‘But God isn’t up here.’

 

Little Joe frowned again. ‘Yes he is!’ he insisted. ‘I done saw him already.’

 

Adam hesitated and felt the child’s head again. ‘Really?’ he said. ‘What did he look like?’

 

‘Well …’ the little boy thought for a few moments. ‘He was real old and he had a big beard and long hair just like in Pa’s Bible picture.  And he had a tired face.’

 

Adam sighed. ‘You didn’t really see God little buddy,’ he said gently. ‘You just hit your head and then had a dream about him that’s all.’

 

‘No,’ Little Joe insisted. ‘I did see him Adam. It was before I fell … not after.’

 

Adam pulled the little boy closer to him and rested him against his lap. ‘Joe you know the difference between telling the truth and telling a lie don’t you?’ he said.

 

Little Joe nodded at him, his eyes wide. ‘But I ain’t telling a lie Adam. Honest!  I did see him just like I said.’

 

‘Well …’ Adam hesitated as his little brother stiffened in his arms and stared over his shoulder.  He turned sharply to see a man standing behind him with a rifle pointed directly at them both.  He reached instinctively for his gun, but stopped as the rifle was raised even further.

 

‘Don’t even think about it son,’ the man said. ‘Now take that gun out and put it on the ground nice and easy like.’  He watched carefully as Adam did as he was bid and then picked it up, one finger on the trigger of his rifle as he did so. Adam hugged his little brother to him even tighter, not taking his eyes off the man for an instant. ‘Now get up,’ instructed the man as he motioned with his rifle. ‘Hurry up!’

 

Adam stood up slowly, keeping hold of Little Joe and placing him behind him and away from the man. ‘Who are you?’ he asked. ‘What do you want with us?’

 

‘I’ll ask the questions,’ said the man gruffly. Now get hold of that horse and get on up there.  If you know what’s good for you, you won’t make any sudden moves or …’ his eyes focused on Little Joe for a moment and Adam swallowed. ‘Or the you might be sorry,’ the man concluded.

 

Adam grabbed hold of the reins of his horse and held onto Little Joe’s hand firmly as he began to walk up the steep ascent.  He was grateful that the child hadn’t opened his mouth or protested in any way, as he wasn’t sure just how serious this man was about hurting them.  In fact the little boy seemed to be in awe of the man and simply stared at him with his mouth open as they walked.

 

‘What are you looking at kid?’ said the man after a while.

 

‘You,’ replied Little Joe.

 

‘Well don’t!’ he snarled at the child.  He motioned with his rifle again and Little Joe felt Adam’s grip tighten on his.

 

He looked up at his brother. ‘See Adam?’ he said. ‘I done told ya I saw him!’

 

Adam looked down at his little brother and shook his head. ‘Shh!’ he said. ‘Be quiet!’

 

‘But ….’

 

‘You listen ta him kid,’ said the man behind them. ‘Now shut up and keep moving if you know what’s good for you son.’  Adam quickened his pace, anxious to get wherever they were going as soon as possible, but acutely aware of the child beside him and the responsibility of keeping him safe.

 

After about an hour of walking he felt Little Joe beginning to lag behind and drew to a stop. ‘The boy needs to rest,’ he said to the man over his shoulder and fel the rifle pushed between his shoulder blades.

 

‘I said to keep moving,’ the man snarled at him.

 

Adam stood his ground, even though he could feel his heart beating wildly in his chest. ‘He can’t keep going,’ he said. ‘At least let me put him on the horse.’

 

The man hesitated for a moment. ‘Hurry up,’ he said.

 

Adam hoisted Little Joe up into the saddle and continued to climb the slope, pulling the animal and the child behind him.  They went upwards for another half hour before he saw something in the distance and realised with a shock that it was a small cabin. ‘Over there,’ instructed the man behind him and shoved him in the shoulder blades again with the rifle. ‘Tie the horse up.’  Adam did as he was instructed and pulled Little Joe down from the saddle and held onto him.

 

‘What now?’ he asked.

 

The man glared at him and motioned inside the cabin. ‘Get in there,’ he said.

 

Adam entered the small cabin and looked around.  It was furnished with some rustic homemade furniture … a bed, a table and a few odds and ends.  ‘Home sweet home,’ he said sarcastically.

 

‘Shut up!’ said the man and pushed him again with the rifle. ‘Now sit down over there in the corner and keep still.

 

Adam walked over to the corner and sat down, pulling Little Joe down beside him and placing him against the wall.  He stared at the man, getting his first real look at him. He was just as Little Joe had described him … long hair and beard … and an old face, although Adam suspected that he wasn’t as old as he looked. He appeared very weather-beaten and Adam wondered just how long he’d lived way up here.

 

Little Joe stirred beside him and he held onto the child tightly. ‘Shh!’ he said before the boy could speak.

 

Little Joe wriggled free of his brother’s grasp and sat up straight, looking the man directly in the eye. ‘I done saw you before I fell,’ he said to the man.

 

The man ignored the child and spoke to Adam instead. ‘What are you doing up here with a kid?’ he said gruffly.

 

Little Joe’s eyes widened. ‘Don’t ya know?’ he said.

 

The man turned to the boy. ‘How the hell would I know?’ he said gruffly.

 

‘But you know everything don’t ya?’ said Little Joe with wide eyes. ‘You have to.’

 

The man looked confused for a moment as he studied the child. ‘You get on out there and get some wood for the fire,’ he said after a few moments. ‘Go on … get!’

 

Little Joe made to get up, but Adam pulled him down again. The man levelled the gun directly at the child and Adam loosened his grip on him reluctantly. ‘Go on Joe,’ he said softly. ‘Be quick and get straight back in here.’

 

‘Okay,’ said Little Joe happily.  He was eager to do anything that God told him if it meant helping him to make the right decision about his Pa.

 

Both men watched as the child left the cabin and the man sat down on a chair and rested the rifle against the top of the table as he stared at Adam. He picked up a jug and took the stopper off with his teeth before taking a swig of it. ‘You’re a tough kind ain’t ya?’ he said after a while.

 

Adam stared back at the man. ‘No,’ he said.

 

‘Sure ya are,’ the man insisted. ‘You have to be to survive in this country. You’re all tough kids.’  He motioned with his finger to the door. ‘That kid your brother?’

 

‘Yes.’

 

The man nodded and took another swig of his whisky. ‘Thought so,’ he said. ‘Well?  What you doing all the way up here with a youngun like that?’

 

Adam was silent for a moment. ‘I was looking for him,’ he said finally. ‘He ran off.’

 

The man made a face. ‘I see,’ he said. ‘Unfortunate for you that he ran this way then, ain’t it?’  He chuckled as if he’d made a huge joke and took another swig of his whisky.

 

‘Who are you?’ asked Adam feeling that he might be able to get the man talking and distract him long enough to get hold of the rifle.

 

The man stared at him for a moment. ‘Ya don’t know?’ he asked. Adam shook his head. ‘Name’s Tom Cain,’ the man said, watching the young man intently to see if there was any reaction to his statement.  He wasn’t disappointed.

 

Adam jerked. ‘Tom Cain!’ he said.

 

‘Ya heard of me ain’t ya?’ said Tom gruffly.

 

Adam stared at the man. ‘You’re supposed to be dead!’ he said.

 

‘Well I ain’t is I?’ said Tom with another chuckle.

 

‘Summit Ridge massacre,’ mused Adam, half to himself.

 

‘That’s right,’ replied Tom, leaning forward. ‘Summit Ridge massacre.  You heard of it ain’t ya?’

 

‘Everyone round these parts knows about Summit Ridge massacre,’ replied Adam with a sneer at the man.

 

Tom took another swig of the drink. ‘Yeah I guess they do,’ he acknowledged. ‘Damn government!  They put a price on our heads after that night ya know.  As if we did anything wrong.’

 

‘I’d call killing all those innocent people wrong,’ said Adam with a hard look at the man.

 

Tom looked confused for a moment. ‘People?’ he said. ‘They weren’t people boy … they was injuns.’  He leant back in his chair and looked at the ceiling for a moment. ‘We rode in that night and killed the lot of em,’ he said. ‘All the braves as well as the squaws and kids.’  He gave Adam a hard look. ‘Don’t look at me like that,’ he said. ‘It weren’t no different than killing young wolf cubs after all.  We figured we’d get em while they was young … before they had the chance ta grow into young bucks and start killing themselves.’  He turned sharply as Little Joe came back into the room with an armful of woods. ‘Put it down over there kid,’ he said as he fingered his rifle.  Adam went cold as the man looked at his little brother and he took the opportunity to slowly reach for a log of wood next to the fire as Tom watched the boy.

 

‘Go on,’ said Tom gruffly. ‘Give me an excuse ta kill you.’  Adam immediately withdrew his hand. ‘I’m going to anyway,’ said the man. ‘You’re just saving me the time ta get drunk enough ta do it is all.’

 

Adam swallowed. ‘Little Joe, come on over here,’ he said and pulled the boy towards him.  He placed him against the wall again and held him tightly to him as Tom once again took a swallow of his whiskey.

 

 

**********

 

 

Roy Coffee dismounted in the front yard and looked at the house for a few moments before tying up his horse.  He hated to think what might be going in there and it was with a great deal of dread that he approached the front door and knocked on it.  It was opened by Hoss and after one long look at his father’s friend the boy flung himself into the man’s arms and began to sob.  Roy held him for a few moments and allowed him to cry out his grief before speaking. ‘I came as soon as I heard,’ he said gently.

 

Hoss nodded and wiped his eyes on his shortsleeves before replying. ‘Doc Martin and Hop Sing is in with Pa in the front room,’ he said.

 

The sheriff took off his hat and put it on the credenza before putting his arm around the boy and walking with him into the guest room off the dining room.  One look at Ben in the bed was enough to tell him that the reports he’d heard hadn’t been exaggerated and his heart constricted at the sight of the pale and unconscious man.  He nodded to Hop Sing and then glanced over at Paul Martin. ‘Has he regained consciousness at all?’ he asked.

 

Paul shot a look at Hoss before shaking his head.  Hop Sing stood up and walked over over to the boy. ‘Come with me,’ he said gently. ‘We go get more towels for your Papa.’  Hoss nodded and followed the man out of the room.

 

‘I’m glad you’re here,’ said Paul as Roy sat down on the opposite side of the bed and stared down at his friend.

 

‘Why?’ Roy said. ‘Don’t look like there’s much that can be done.  Leastways nothing that I can do.  You’re the doctor Paul.’

 

Paul shook his head. ‘I don’t mean for Ben,’ he said sadly, giving the man in between them a sad look. ‘There’s not much hope at all I’m afraid. ‘No … I meant Adam and Little Joe.’

 

Roy looked around. ‘Where is Adam?’ he asked.

 

‘Little Joe took off last night,’ explained Paul. ‘Adam went after him this morning and they haven’t got back yet Roy.  I’m worried for them .. and for that boy out there.  He’s nearly beside himself with grief for his father and now his brothers are missing.’

 

‘Adam’s a sensible young man,’ said Roy. ‘I’m sure he’s fine.’  He hesitated. ‘But maybe I’d better get a few men and go after them just in case.’  He stood up and touched Ben lightly on the shoulder and gave him a mournful look. ‘I’ll get Charlie and a few of the others and get on after the boy.’  He turned away.  ‘Don’t worry Paul.  I’ll bring them back safely.’

 

Paul nodded and went back to staring at Ben again as the sheriff shut the door quietly. ‘Sleep well old friend,’ he murmured sadly.

 

 

**********

 

 

‘What are ya looking at kid?’ said Tom gruffly as he watched Little Joe staring at him.

 

‘You,’ said the child. He shut his eyes and joined his hands together.

 

Tom watched him, amazed. ‘What the hell are ya doing now?’ he asked.

 

Little Joe opened his eyes and stared at the man with a stricken look on his face. ‘Don’t you know?’ he said anxiously. ‘Didn’t ya hear me?’

 

‘Hear ya say what?’ asked Tom crossly. The child wasn’t making any sense as far as he was concerned.

 

‘I was praying to you,’ explained the child. ‘I was asking you to make my Pa better.’

 

Tom looked confused. ‘I don’t even know ya Pa kid,’ he said. ‘Shut up.’

 

Little Joe got to his feet and approached the man before Adam could reach out and stop him. ‘Joe!’ he called. ‘Get back here!’

 

Little Joe ignored his brother and continued to walk towards Tom. ‘You do so know my Pa,’ he said to the man. ‘Are you gonna take him to live with ya?’

 

Tom stared at the child for a few moments. ‘What on earth is the brat talking about?’ he asked Adam crossly. ‘Make him shut up will ya?’

 

Little Joe leant on the table and stared at the man. ‘Can you please let him live with us instead?’ he pleaded. ‘We don’t want him to live with you in heaven.’

 

Tom laughed. ‘I ain’t going ta heaven fer a long time yet kid,’ he said.

 

Little Joe looked relieved. ‘You ain’t?’ he said.

 

Tom shook his head. ‘Nuh,’ he said. ‘Heaven’s not gonna get me fer a mighty long time.’

 

Little Joe looked confused. ‘But don’t you live there?’ he asked.

 

Tom shook his head ‘The brat’s crazy,’ he said. ‘What’s he on about?’ he asked Adam.

 

Adam gave the man a dark look. ‘Our Pa was hurt in an accident,’ he said. ‘My brother was up here looking for God to ask for his help to save him.’

 

Tom gave the young man an incredulous look. ‘And he thinks I’m God?’ he said in disbelief and then threw back his head and gave a great roar of laughter. ‘Well I’ll be!’ he said. ‘What do ya know?  Me … God!’  He looked down at the trusting child in front of him and then over at the young man in the corner. ‘Well in a way I guess he’s right, ain’t he?’ he said. ‘I do have the power of life and death over both of ya don’t I? I guess that makes me God in a way don’t it?’

 

Adam gave the man a withering look. ‘That’d take a great stretch of the imagination,’ he said contemptuously.

 

Tom glared at him and fingered the rifle in his hands. ‘I don’t know,’ he said with a snarl. ‘Seems about right to me.’

 

Little Joe continued to stare at Tom with trust in his eyes. ‘Well?’ he said after a while. ‘Are you gonna save my Pa? Please God?’

 

Tom gave another chuckle as if the idea really amused him. ‘Tell ya what kid,’ he said, bending forward and putting his face close to Little Joe’s. ‘I’ll save ya Pa on one condition.’

 

Little Joe’s eyes widened. ‘What?’ he breathed.

 

‘Cain!’ said Adam from the corner. ‘Stop it!’

 

Tom gave Adam a hard look. ‘You shut up!’ he said. ‘I just having a little fun with the kid is all.’  He turned to Little Joe again. ‘I’m gonna give ya a little test,’ he said. ‘If ya pass it, then I’ll save ya Pa.’

 

Little Joe swallowed, his eyes wide. ‘What iffen I don’t pass it?’ he asked.

 

Tom shrugged, the amusement clear in his eyes. ‘Well then I can’t help ya Pa,’ he said simply. ‘It’s up ta you kid … ya wanna try?’ Little Joe swallowed again and slowly nodded his head.

 

‘Cain!’ said Adam again. ‘Tell the boy you’re lying!’

 

Tom shot another dark look at Adam. ‘Well I ain’t exactly lying,’ he explained to Little Joe. ‘Like I told ya kid … it’s a test. Okay?’

 

Little Joe nodded again, his eye wide with fear at the thought of what his test might be, but knowing that he’d be willing to do anything to save his Pa.  At that moment there was a sound outside the cabin and Tom turned sharply and jerked his finger on the trigger of his rifle. ‘Get back there in the corner!’ he ordered the boy as he strode over to the window.

 

Adam reached for Little Joe with one hand and the log of wood next to him with the other, but he wasn’t quick enough.  Tom turned in an instant and hit him over the head with the end of the rifle, sending him crashing down into the corner. He strode over and pointed the barrel of the gun directly into Adam’s unconscious face, but Little Joe reached up and held onto his arm. ‘No!’ he cried. ‘You can’t do that!  You’re God!  You can’t kill my brother!’

 

Tom Cain hesitated for a few seconds, looking down into the trusting face of the small child beside him.  He shoved Little Joe aside and said gruffly, ‘You look after him then kid,’ before picking up another gun and running from the room.

 

Little Joe stared after him and then knelt down on the ground next to his unconscious brother. ‘Adam?’ he said anxiously. ‘Adam?’

 

Adam groaned as he began to come back to consciousness.  Little Joe smiled with relief as he realised that his brother wasn’t dead and then stood up again. ‘I gotta go after him Adam,’ he explained. ‘I ain’t done the test yet.  Iffen I don’t then he might still take Pa ta heaven with him.’  He ran from the room quickly, banging the door behind him.

 

 

**********

 

 

Roy Coffee held the canteen close to Adam’s mouth and watched in satisfaction as the young man drank a few swallows. ‘That’s it,’ he said. ‘You’ll feel better if you get some water into you.’

 

Adam looked up at the man and struggled to sit up. ‘I … I have to get going Roy,’ he said. ‘Little Joe …’

 

Roy pushed him down onto the bed again. ‘I know,’ he said. ‘You’ve already told us. You’re in no fit state to go after the boy Adam … you leave it to us.’  He covered him with a blanket. ‘Now I want you to just lie still until we come back for you … and don’t worry. We’ll get the boy.’  He gave the young man a worried look before leaving the room.

 

Adam sat up as he heard the horses outside leaving.  His head was pounding, but it was nothing to the pounding in his heart as he thought about Little Joe out there somewhere with Tom Cain and what that might mean for the child.  He held his hand to his head as he swung his feet to the ground and tried to stand up.  For a few moments he thought he wasn’t going to make it, but after leaning against the wall for a while the dizzy feeling gradually stopped and he felt stronger.  Slowly he made his way to the front door and left the cabin.

 

 

**********

 

 

Little Joe looked up for the tenth time at the figure of the man in front of him. ‘Wait!’ he called. ‘Wait God … I’m coming with ya!’

 

Tom Cain turned again and glared at the small boy. ‘Get away from me kid!’ he said angrily. ‘Go back where ya belong.’  He scanned the horizon anxiously and saw the distant figure of the men that he’d seen earlier from the cabin window and then began to climb the steep slope again, hearing to his dismay that the child was still following him.

 

Tom climbed until he reached a section in the rock face that he’d discovered long ago.  It formed a natural fortress against anyone who might try to make their way up here, as he had a clear view of the ground below him as well as the protection of the rock above him.  He reached for the box of shells that he’d stashed there long ago and checked both guns, regretting that there would be the need for more killing this day.  Suddenly he heard a small sound beside him and looked up in irritation to see Little Joe standing there. ‘What the hell are you doing here?’ he shouted.

 

The child flinched, but stood his ground. ‘I ain’t done my test yet,’ he said. ‘You ain’t told me what it is!’

 

Tom shook his head in irritation at the stubborn child and pushed him aside onto the rock behind him. ‘You stay there,’ he said gruffly. ‘And don’t move.’

 

‘Yes God,’ said Little Joe obediently and sat down on the rock as he’d been told to do.  He watched as Tom continued to check and load both guns. ‘What ya gonna do with them?’ he asked tentatively. ‘Are they part of the test?’

 

Tom ignored the boy and scanned the view below for any sign of the men who’d been following him. He watched in dismay as they dismounted form their horses and pointed up towards him, before taking up their positions behind some rocks. ‘Get outta here!’ he shouted. ‘I’ve got the boy!’

 

Down below, Roy Coffee’s heart froze at the sound of the man’s words. ‘What are we gonna do Roy?’ whispered Charlie beside him. ‘Form what Adam told us he won’t hesitate to kill the boy.’

 

Roy nodded ‘I know,’ he said. ‘Guess we’ll just have to wait it out for a while and hope that he uses up all his ammunition.

 

Charlie scanned the area. ‘How about I go back down and try to get up behind him on the other side of the slope?’ he suggested.

 

Roy shook his head ‘You’ll never make it,’ he said. ‘He’d spot you before you got halfway up there.’

 

Charlie sighed. ‘Well we just can’t leave the boy up there with him,’ he said. ‘We don’t have much choice Roy.’

 

Roy nodded. ‘I guess you’re right,’ he said. ‘We’ll give you five minutes to get into position and then we’ll open fire and try to distract him. He patted the man on the arm. ‘Good luck,’ he said.

 

‘You too,’ said Charlie with a determined look before turning away.

 

Roy signalled to the others and then checked his gun as he waited.  Suddenly he lifted his head as he heard a noise and to his dismay he saw Adam running past him and up the slope towards Tom and Little Joe. ‘Adam!’ he called out, but the young man kept running, concern for his little brother the only thing in his head and blocking out everything else.

 

Roy signalled to the other men to fire as a volley of bullets rained down on them from up above.  As he fired his gun over and over again at the top of the slope his heart was in his mouth as the son of his friend ran amongst the bullets from the top of the slope that miraculously fell around him without finding their mark.  He prayed that the shots were giving Charlie the cover he needed.

 

Up above, Tom Cain fired over and over again at the young man running towards him.  Suddenly he felt a tug on his arm and turned to see Little Joe clinging to him desperately. ‘No!’ the boy cried. ‘That’s my brother down there God!  Don’t shoot at him!’

 

Tom flung the child off and stood up to aim the rifle directly at Adam as he came towards him.  Suddenly there was a loud shot from behind and he was flung forward onto the ground, blood oozing from his back.  Little Joe looked up in horror at Charlie standing on the rock above him and then stared down at Tom again.  Tears began to fall from his eyes and he sobbed uncontrollably. ‘You killed God!’ he shouted to Charlie. ‘You killed God Charlie!  Now my Pa will die!’

 

Charlie stared down at the child and then at the man on the ground in silence.  He signalled to Roy that all was well and watched as Adam ran towards his brother and grabbed him in a hug. ‘Are you all right?’ he heard the young man gasp out.

 

Little Joe squirmed out from his brother’s embrace. ‘Charlie killed God!’ he sobbed, the tears falling down his cheeks. ‘He killed God Adam and now Pa is gonna die fer sure!’

 

Tom Cain raised his head slightly from the ground as he heard the child’s words. ‘No kid!’ he said weakly.

 

Little Joe and Adam turned towards the man as Tom mustered the strength to raise his head even further. ‘It ain’t true!’ he said. ‘Listen ta me kid.’ Little Joe stared at the man on the ground. ‘I ain’t God kid,’ Tome said feebly. ‘And I ain’t got nothing ta do with whether or not ya Pa lives.’

 

Little Joe sniffed and buried his face into Adam’s shoulder as his brother held him close and Tom locked eyes with Adam for a moment before closing them with a sigh. Adam swallowed as the life went out of the man in front of him and he hugged his sobbing little brother to him tightly.  He looked up at Charlie for a moment and then beyond him to the clear blue sky at the top of the mountain. ‘He couldn’t save Pa!’ sobbed Little Joe into his shoulder.

 

Adam shook his head. ‘No,’ he said softly. ‘But he may just have saved himself.’

 

 

**********

 

 

Paul Martin watched as the men rode into the front yard.  He put his hand on Hoss’ shoulder as he stood beside him and smiled down at the boy. ‘You tell them,’ he said.

 

Hoss leapt forward and ran towards Adam’s horse. ‘Adam!’ he said excitedly as his brother dismounted and reached up to pull down Little Joe as well from his position on the front of the saddle. ‘Pa …. He’s awake!’

 

Adam stared at is younger brother. ‘What?’ he said.

 

‘He’s awake Adam. He waked up bout an hour ago,’ said Hoss excitedly. ‘Doc Martin says it’s a miracle!’

 

Adam stared over his brother’s shoulder at the doctor who smiled and nodded his head at him. ‘Yes son,’ he said quietly. ‘It is.  He stirred about an hour ago and all the signs are looking good.’

 

Hoss tugged at his brother’s arm. ‘Come on,’ he said. ‘Come and see him.’  Adam allowed himself to be led forward, one arm holding Little Joe who was perched on his hip with his head cuddled in against his shoulder and his little arms clinging tightly to his neck. He entered the house as if in a daze and allowed Hoss to pull him into the spare room where his father was lying in bed watching them with a smile.

 

‘Pa.’ Adam said softly.

 

Ben held his hand out weakly towards his boys. ‘Adam,’ he said. ‘Hoss … come on over here.’

 

Adam sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the man in disbelief while Hoss knelt beside him, a grin plastered all over his face. Ben smiled up at them both and then touched Little Joe on the leg. ‘Joseph,’ he said softly.

 

Little Joe lifted his head and looked at his father in disbelief. ‘Pa?’ he said. Ben smiled at him and the child’s eyes widened. ‘Ya didn’t go ta heaven Pa,’ whispered Little Joe.

 

Ben smiled weakly. ‘No I didn’t go to heaven son,’ he said. ‘I’m staying here with the three of you.’ Little Joe beamed through his tears and looked up at Adam.  Adam hugged him close as he smiled back at his little brother and Hoss laid his head on his father’s arm contentedly.  Ben sighed as he smiled at his three boys and offered up a silent prayer of thanks to God.

 

 

 

The End