Summary:  Adam is forced to take a young Little Joe on an overnight trip.
Rating:  G  15,623 words

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Just the Two of Us

 

Adam pulled the reins and brought the horses to a halt before grinning at Hop Sing who was seated beside him. “There is it Hop Sing,” he said, pointing to the stagecoach on the other side of the street. “I told you that we’d make it in time.”

 

Hop Sing nodded as he began to clamber down from the high seat of the buckboard. “Am very grateful Mr Adam,” he said, reaching for his bag in the back before giving the young man a worried look. “You sure you will be all right?” he asked.

 

Adam nodded as he tied the reins to the seat and slid across the seat towards the sidewalk side of the buckboard. “Of course,” he assured the man. “You forget about us and just go to your cousin Hop Sing. He needs you.”

 

Hop Sing nodded and then inclined his head towards the buckboard where a small curly-haired boy was attempting to climb from the back of the buckboard up onto the high seat. “But with Mr Ben away ….” he began.

 

Adam reached over and picked up his youngest brother, dangling him under his arms for a second before planting him firmly onto his feet on the sidewalk. “Joe and I will get on fine,” he said soothingly, clutching his brother’s hand tightly. “Just get on that stage before it leaves without you.”

 

Hop Sing nodded and smiled at Adam before bending down and patting Little Joe on the head. “You mind your brother,” he said.

 

Joe tilted his head back and grinned back up at Hop Sing as he tried to disengage his hand from Adam’s. “I will,” he said. “Come back soon Hop Sing!” he shouted as the cook scurried away across the street towards the stage. Joe gave his brother an annoyed look. “Let go, will ya Adam?” he said in a frustrated tone.

 

But Adam had no intention of letting go of the child’s hand as he’d had too much previous experience of what could happen if the young boy was let loose in such a public place. Instead, he picked him up again under the armpits, placed him on the hitching rail beside him and held onto him tightly. “Wave to Hop Sing,” he said, waving himself as the stage lurched forward. “There he goes.”

 

Little Joe dutifully waved as the stage took off and disappeared around the bend in the street. “When’s he coming back from Carson City Adam?” he asked.

 

“I’m not sure,” replied his brother, leaning against the rail. “When his cousin is well enough, I guess.”

 

“Will he be back before Pa and Hoss?” persisted Joe.

 

“I don’t know squirt,” said Adam, swinging his brother back onto the ground. “But I doubt it. Pa and Hoss are due back from their hunting trip in a couple of days.”

 

Joe gave an exaggerated sigh. “I sure wish I could go hunting with Pa,” he said mournfully.

 

“You will when you’re bigger,” Adam assured him. “It’s Hoss’ turn now.”

 

Joe drew himself up to his full height so that he was level with Adam’s hip. “Pa always says that too,” he replied. “But I’m bigger now.”

 

Adam ruffled his brother’s curly hair. “Still not big enough,” he said with a grin. “Hoss didn’t start to go hunting with Pa until he was about eight, so you’ve got a while still to wait.”

 

Joe frowned as he tried to figure it out. “But … but that means another five years to wait!” he exclaimed. “That’s too long Adam!”

 

Adam ruffled his hair again. “More like three years,” he said, for Joe’s concept of numbers was still a bit sketchy, to say the least. “Come on, let’s go and pick up the mail, will we?”

 

“OK,” said Joe happily, his mind turning away from the topic in a trice. He tried to duck under the hitching rail and take off running along the sidewalk, but Adam was too quick for him and held onto his collar, effectively pinning him back. “Hey!” shouted Joe, trying to squirm out of his brother’s grasp. “Let go Adam!”

 

“You just hold on there,” said Adam easily, scooping up his brother’s hand before letting go of his collar. He led the way along the sidewalk and Joe followed happily.

 

“We getting the mail now Adam?” he asked, swinging on his arm.

 

“Uh huh,” Adam said.

 

“Then what?” asked Joe.

 

“Then we’re going home,” replied his brother. “I’ve got things to do.” He grimaced as he considered all the chores that had piled up … his own as well as Hoss’ ….. since his father and brother had left on their trip. This morning’s excursion into town hadn’t exactly been planned and had set everything back a few hours too, but that couldn’t have been helped. Hop Sing had received word late last night from his uncle that his cousin in Carson City was ill and he needed to go to him in a hurry. As his uncle had already booked the Cartwright cook a ticket on the stage this morning, Adam had really had no other option than to bring him into town himself.

 

He considered for a moment how strange it was going to feel back at the house that evening with just himself and Joe there. Pa and Hoss had been gone on their hunting trip now for three nights and when Adam had settled Little Joe into bed each night he and Hop Sing had sat and talked in front of the fireplace, which had been nice for both of them. But tonight there would be no one with whom to share those evening hours. Not that Adam particularly minded, for he could be quiet a solitary young man and enjoyed his own company, but all the same it would feel strange to be in a near-empty house when he was used to all the noise and movement there.

 

He cast his mind back reluctantly to how things had been just a few short months ago. Even when Pa had been in town or away on one of his short business trips there had always been Marie, Joe’s mother, to keep him company when his brothers had been asleep in bed.  Now, of course, she was gone and the emptiness in the house was at times intense. He wondered how his Pa could stand it really …. for if Adam felt it as keenly as he did, then it must be unbearable for his father.

 

It had been obvious to Adam from the moment he’d laid eyes on his beautiful new stepmother at the age of eleven that his father absolutely doted on her, and if truth be told he really didn’t blame the man. At first Adam had put up a steely front and vowed not to allow another mother into his life, but Marie hadn’t taken long to crack through his veneer and win his heart just as Hoss’ mother Inger had before her. He smiled to himself as he considered what good taste his father had in women …. for he didn’t doubt for one minute that his own mother had been one special lady as well. That’s what Pa had always told him, anyway.

 

One thing about Ben Cartwright … he might have had a lot of tragedy in his life, but he certainly had also had a lot of love … and he never stopped reminding his sons of that fact.

 

All the same, Marie’s death a few months ago had left a huge hole in the family and Adam was just pleased to see his father beginning to act like his old self again after so many months of mourning. Actually, he was only just now beginning to feel like his own self too, for he seemed to have done nothing except look out for others these past few months.

 

He’d been so worried about Pa and how he was handling things, and had also been trying to keep Hoss’ chin up and Joe occupied, so that his father could have some space while he needed it. Now that Pa was acting more like himself again, Adam had been looking forward to concentrating on his own life again, only now …. He glanced down at Joe’s curly head and shook his own slightly, berating himself for feeling that way.

 

It wasn’t that he didn’t love his father and brothers …. It was just that lately he didn’t seem to have any time to himself. He knew that Pa felt guilty about Hoss having been pushed aside for a time, for what with his own grief and tending to Joe’s myriad of problems after the loss of his mother, Ben had felt that Hoss had been somewhat neglected in the middle of it all. Adam agreed of course, for Hoss was the sort of boy who rarely demanded any attention for himself …. so different to Joe, he thought ruefully as he watched the small boy jump around several cracks in the sidewalk. Hoss deserved to go on this hunting trip with his father and it certainly wasn’t Pa’s fault that he picked this week to go just when Hop Sing was also needed by his family, but it seemed to Adam that … once again … he was left holding things together.

 

“This is great, ain’t it Adam?” said Joe happily as he jumped over another crack and then swung on Adam’s arm as he grinned up at his brother. “Just the two of us!”

 

Adam smiled down at his small brother and instantly felt guilty for feeling the way he did. “Yeah,” he said. “Just the two of us ….. real good Joe.”

 

“Well, hello there!”

 

Adam was momentarily shaken by the loud voice beside him. “I’m sorry,” he said, holding out his hand to the sheriff. “I didn’t see you come up Roy.”

 

Roy Coffee gave him a wink and then bent down to scoop up Little Joe who was jumping up and down in his excitement at seeing the sheriff. “Well how are you both?” asked Roy, bouncing Joe up and down a couple of times in his arms before placing him on his shoulders and jiggling him around up there. Several people on the street smiled at the sight of the young boy and the middle-aged man in such a pose, but it was one that they were well used to, for Sheriff Coffee was one of those men who had a way with children.

 

Adam knew that several people considered Roy Coffee to be a bumbling old fool, but his father wasn’t one of them and Adam had always agreed with him. It took a special man to keep this town in line without many of the dramatics that existed in some towns in these parts due to the hard-nosed style of law-enforcement. Roy Coffee had a way of going about things quietly without any fuss, yet still managed to know exactly what was going on in Virginia City at any given time. For a sheriff in a town such as this to have such a skill and yet still be able to relate as he did to all it’s citizens … from the elderly down to small children such as Little Joe … showed a rare character. Roy Coffee was such a man.

 

“Hop Sing leave you to your own devices then, did he?” asked Roy as he stopped jiggling Joe on his shoulders.

 

Adam gave the man a strange look. “How on earth did you know that?” he asked. “He only knew himself last night!”

 

“Seen him just get on the stage,” said Roy easily. “Bound for Carson City no doubt. Family problems again?”

 

Adam nodded. “Sick cousin,” he stated simply, knowing that the sheriff would understand, for Hop Sing’s family was extensive and several of them were well known to be needy at the best of times.

 

“Pa and Hoss not back yet?” asked Roy, grabbing hold of Joe’s feet to stop them kicking at his chest.

 

“No,” said Adam. “In a day or two.”

 

“It’s just the two of us,” Joe said in a loud voice, tapping the sheriff on the hat to get his attention. “Ain’t it Adam?”

 

Adam nodded. “Sure is squirt,” he said.

 

“You getting the mail?” asked Roy and added when Adam nodded, “I’ll walk along with ya then.” He ambled down the street alongside the young man, ignoring Joe’s cries for him to giddyup. “You might wanna check out the telegraph office,” added Roy after a few steps. “I was in there earlier when a wire came through for ya Pa.”

 

Adam frowned. “Pa’s not expecting anything,” he said. “I wonder what that’s all about?”

 

Roy shrugged. “Wouldn’t know,” he said. “How is ya Pa Adam? Doing better now?”

 

“I think so,” replied Adam. “He said that this hunting trip was for Hoss’ sake, but just between us Roy, I think that he needed it himself as well.”

 

Roy nodded knowingly. “I reckon you might be right,” he agreed. “It does a man like ya Pa good to get in touch with the land at times like these.”

 

“Times like what?” enquired Joe from up above.

 

“Never you mind, young fellar,” said the sheriff easily as he reached up and took Joe down from his shoulders. “Well, I’ll leave ya both here then.” He tipped his hat towards Adam and took off across the street without another word.

 

Adam quickly grabbed hold of Joe’s hand again and dragged him into the telegraph office. “Hi Bert,” he said, tipping his own hat to the young man behind the counter. “Roy Coffee says that there’s a wire for Pa.”

 

“Sure is,” said Bert, beginning to ruffle through a pile of papers on his desk. “I was gonna have it sent out to the Ponderosa tomorrow if you or your Pa hadn’t come in by then.”

 

“Pa’s gone hunting with Hoss,” Little Joe informed the man as he climbed up onto a chair next to the counter and placed his elbows on it. “It’s just the two us …. Me and Adam.”

 

“Is that so?” said Bert as he handed a piece of paper to Adam and then frowned as he saw the look on the young man’s face. “Trouble?” he asked.

 

Adam looked up from the paper. “I’m not sure,” he said, biting his lip. “It’s from Sam Reynolds in Reno about that cattle deal Pa did with him. Seems that he’s going to sell them to someone else if he doesn’t get his money by Friday.”

 

“That’s the day after tomorrow,” said Bert. “Why’s he in such a dang-blamed hurry all of a sudden?”

 

“I’m not sure,” replied Adam. “But one thing I know for sure is that Pa really needs those cows to start breeding before winter.”

 

Bert nodded. “Well I suggest you get that message out to your Pa pronto,” he said. “He’ll have to get the money to Reno right quick if he wants them.”

 

“Pa’s not home,” said Little Joe. “Didn’t ya listen to what I done said before? It’s just the two of us …. Me and Adam.” He pointed to the telegraph machine. “Is that gonna make them clicking noises now?”

 

Adam shook his head, as he and Bert ignored Joe’s comment. “I couldn’t get to him in time,” he said. “He’s out hunting along the Truckee somewhere, but I couldn’t be exactly sure about his location.” He bit his lip again. “Maybe I’d better wire Sam Reynolds and ask for a few more days,” he said. “He’s reasonable man, so I’m sure that would be OK.”

 

Bert handed him another piece of paper. “You write it out and I’ll send it,” he said.

 

“Hey!” shouted Joe excitedly. “It’s doing it! It’s making them clicking noises!” His eyes lit up excitedly as he watched the small hammer on the telegraph machine begin to move. “What’s it saying?” he asked excitedly.

 

Bert didn’t answer, but merely sat down at his desk and began to write. Joe watched him in an interested fashion as Adam bent over the counter and wrote out his message. “What’s it saying?” Joe asked again, trying to lean over to see what Bert was writing. Not that it would have done him any good even if he had been able to make out the words on the page, because he couldn’t read yet.

 

“Here,” said Adam, handing over the paper when Bert finally looked up. “How long will it take to get a reply?”

 

Bert shrugged. “Depends on whether Sam is around town when the wire arrives,” he said. “If he’s out on his ranch, then it could well be tomorrow before someone gets it to him.”

 

“And the day after before I get a reply,” said Adam in a worried tone. “And if the answer is no then it’ll be too late to get any money to him.” He took the paper back from Bert and crumpled it in his hand. “I didn’t think of that,” he admitted. “I’ll have to get the money to him myself then. Thanks Bert.” He tipped his hat at the man and then gestured to Little Joe. “Come on squirt,” he said.

 

“But I wanna stay and do some of them clicks on that machine!” protested Little Joe. “Can I?” he asked Bert.

 

Bert shook his head. “Not today young’un,” he said. “Best go with your brother now.”

 

Joe pouted, but got down from the chair and followed Adam from the building. They stood on the sidewalk together, Adam deep in thought and Joe watching a couple of passing horses. “Come on,” said Adam after a moment’s silence.

 

“Where we going now Adam?” asked Joe as his brother grabbed him by the hand and took off at a fast pace along the sidewalk.

 

“To the bank,” said Adam absently.

 

Joe wrinkled up his nose. “The bank!” he said in a disgusted tone. “Ain’t nuthin interesting there!”

 

Adam ignored the comment and continued to walk along quickly, dragging Joe beside him. “Hey!” said Joe finally as he ran a few paces to keep up. “You’re going too fast Adam!”

 

Adam immediately slowed down and tried to match his paces with the much shorter ones of his little brother. As they entered the bank he looked around and then headed straight for the lone teller who was standing behind the counter. “Morning,” he said, tipping his hat to the man. “Would Mr Bristol be around?”

 

“Adam!” said George Bristol, the bank manager as he came out of his office and smiled at them. “Nice to see you. Your father in town with you?”

 

“Pa’s gone hunting with Hoss,” Joe piped up before Adam could reply. “It’s just the two of us.”

 

“I see,” said George Bristol. “And how are you, young man?” He ruffled Joe’s hair fondly and Joe grinned up at him.

 

“Can I see all your money?” he asked, hopefully.

 

George chuckled. “Not right now,” he said, winking at Adam. “How can I help you Adam?” he asked.

 

Adam took a deep breath. “Well, like Joe says … Pa’s away for a few days and I’ve kinda got a problem,” he said. “Would it be possible to withdraw five hundred dollars, Mr Bristol?”

 

George Bristol immediately shook his head. “I’m sorry son,” he replied. “But I’m not authorised to give you that kind of money from your father’s account,” he said. “You not being of legal age yet, he’s not signed any document to allow you access.” He gave Adam a worried look. “Is it anything I can help you with personally?”

 

Adam shrugged. “Thanks, but not really,” he explained. “Get down from there Joe!” He hauled his little brother down from the counter where he was dangling from his fingertips. “It’s to do with a business deal over in Reno,” Adam continued.

 

“Reno?” asked George. “That wouldn’t be the deal Ben’s doing with Sam Reynolds now, would it?”

 

“Yes,” said Adam.

 

“Well you’re in luck if that’s the case,” said the bank manager. “Your father came in and arranged for a Bank Draft for the amount he needed last week. I’ve got it in my office waiting for him.”

 

Adam’s eye lit up. “And would it be possible …”

 

“For you to take it?” George finished for him. “Certainly! There’s no problem with you taking something your father has already signed for. Come into my office and I’ll get it for you.” He held the door to his office opened and waiting while Adam grabbed Joe and dragged him into the room.

 

Joe’s eye lit up as he looked around the small office. “Is this where you keep all the money?” he asked excitedly.

 

George chuckled again as he walked over to his desk. “Not quite,” he said. “Here it is Adam.” He handed Adam the bank draft and Adam took it gratefully. “I hope that solves your problem,” he added.

 

Adam’s eyes flitted to Little Joe for a second and hesitated for a few seconds. “Just about,” he said.

 

George Bristol raised an eyebrow as he followed Adam’s gaze. “Let me guess,” he said. “You need to get to Reno with that bank draft and this one is stopping you?”

 

Adam shrugged. “Well, not exactly stopping me, but .. well …. slowing me down, so to speak.”

 

George put a hand on Adam’s shoulder. “Let me help you out son,” he said. “Millie and I would be happy to look after him for you for a day or two.”

 

Adam immediately shook his head. “I couldn’t …” he began.

 

“Nonsense,” interrupted George. “Millie is pretty much confined to the house at the moment with the little one ….” Adam nodded understandingly, visualising for a second the pretty blonde toddler that was the light of the bank manager’s life. “… and Joe would be company for little Sally. They’d ….”

 

“I ain’t being comp’ny for no one!” interjected Little Joe immediately, his sharp ears picking up on what the adults were talking about.

 

Adam knelt down on one knee and drew his little brother towards him. “Joe, listen,” he said. “I have to get to Reno. It’s real important and ….”

 

“I can come with you!” stated Joe firmly. “I ain’t keeping no dumb baby girl comp’ny!”

 

“Adam gave George an apologetic look. “But you like Sally,” he persisted. “Remember when you played with her at the picnic last month?”

 

Joe folded his arms over his chest and glared at his brother. “I ain’t keeping no dumb baby girl comp’ny!” he stated again and Adam’s heart sank, for he knew well the stubborn look on his brother’s face and exactly what that meant.

 

“But ….” he tried again.

 

“I’m coming with you,” insisted Joe firmly. “It just you and me while Pa and Hoss ain’t here … member? Just the two of us.” He gave Adam a pleading look.

 

Adam sighed and stood up to face George. “I guess I’ll take him with me,” he said, shrugging again.

 

George frowned. “Are you sure?” he asked.

 

Adam nodded. “I’m sure,” he said. “Believe me, Mr Bristol … he may be little, but when he gets one of his notions into his head there’s just no telling him otherwise.”

 

“I ain’t little!” said Joe indignantly, drawing himself up to his full height.

 

Adam pointed his finger at his brother. “You be quiet,” he warned. “Or you’ll be staying right here regardless.” Joe shut his mouth, but continued to give them both an indignant look. “Thanks Mr Bristol,” said Adam, shaking the man’s hand. “You’ve been a great help.”

 

George nodded his head. “Good luck with it son,” he said. “And if you change your mind, just bring him over before you leave.”

 

Adam tipped his hat to the man and jerked his thumb at Joe who followed him out of the room, looking over his shoulder to give the bank manager one last mutinous look before they left the building. “Well thanks a lot!” said Adam crossly as they emerged from the bank. “It wouldn’t have hurt you to stay with Mr Bristol and play with Sally for a day or two.” He pointed his index finger at his brother accusingly. “One day you’ll enjoy keeping girls company.”

 

Joe shook his head stubbornly. “Nuh uh!” he replied with a mutinous expression on his face. “I don’t like girls! I kick em!” He places his hands on his hips and glared at Adam.

 

“I know you do,” said Adam, remembering several times when his little brother had in fact done just that. “And you got a tanning for it each time from Pa, remember?”

 

Joe did remember and his expression instantly turned to a sympathetic one for himself. “Anyways,” he said. “Us men got too much work to do without thinking about girls,” he declared. “We gotta get to Reno, Adam!”

 

Adam shook his head. “You just ….” he began and then stopped as he waved to someone across the street. “Ross!” he called.

 

Ross Marquette came ambling across the street, grinning at Adam. “What are you doing in town, Cartwright?” he drawled as he leant against the hitching railing.

 

“Long story,” said Adam. “I thought you’d be busy working on that ranch of yours?”

 

“Just came in to get some supplies,” said Ross. “Hi buddy,” he added to Joe who grinned up at him. “The Bonner boys are in the Silver Dollar. How about coming over for a couple of drinks?” he said to Adam.

 

“I can’t,” said Adam, indicating Joe with his thumb. “Besides, I’m kinda in a hurry. I’ve got some business in Reno and I have to organise a ticket on the stage.”

 

Ross frowned. “Well you’re not going to get one today,” he said. “I’ve just been past there and the stage from Carson isn’t coming in until tomorrow morning now. Seems they’ve had some trouble on the way.”

 

“What kind of trouble?” asked Adam.

 

“Not sure,” said Ross.

 

Adam bit his lip as he thought. “Well, I’ve got to get there as soon as I can,” he said after a moment. “I guess I’ll have to ride across the ridge myself. If I leave by lunch time I could get there mid morning tomorrow.”

 

“What’s so important?” asked Ross, watching Joe swing around the hitching rail.

 

“I’ve got to get a bank draft for Pa there,” explained Adam. “Business that can’t wait.”

 

Ross laughed. “You Cartwrights,” he said. “There’s always some business deal going on with you lot, ain’t there?”

 

Adam grinned at him. “You’ll be laughing out of the other side of your face Marquette, when The Ponderosa is the biggest ranch around these parts,” he said. “Pa has big plans for our spread.”

 

Ross shrugged. “Well, I’m happy with my small ranch,” he said. “Not as much work.” He jerked his thumb at Joe. “What are you going to do with the kid?”

 

Adam sighed. “Not much I can do,” he said. “I’ll have to take him with me.”

 

“That’s a tough climb on horseback,” observed Ross.

 

Adam nodded. “I know,” he said. “But I don’t have much choice really.”

 

“Adam and me is going to Reno,” Joe informed Ross, as he stopped swinging on the railing. “Just the two of us.”

 

“Lucky you,” said Ross, ruffling his hair. “What about leaving him with the Devlins?” he said to Adam. “Mrs Devlin is in town and she’d be happy to take him.”

 

“I’m not staying with no one!” Joe said angrily. “I’m going to Reno with Adam!”

 

Adam made a face at Ross. “See?” he said. “It’s not worth the trouble.”

 

Ross ruffled Joe’s hair again. “He sure is a feisty one, ain’t he?” he said. “Well, good luck Adam with whatever the deal is. I’ll be in town Saturday night. Meet you in the Silver Dollar if you’ve a mind for a drink or two.” He winked as he straightened up. “Bye buddy,” he said to Joe. “Have a good trip.”

 

Adam nodded to him, grabbed Joe’s hand and walked briskly down the street. “Ross is our friend, ain’t he?” Joe said as he struggled to keep up with Adam.

 

“You got that half right,” mumbled Adam, his mind full of other things.

 

Joe frowned as he tried to make out what his brother meant and the thought kept him quiet until they reached the buckboard. He tried to climb up onto it, but as the first step was level with his chin he didn’t have much success. He frowned as Adam lifted him up onto the seat. “I can do it!” he declared. Adam said nothing as he hitched up the reins. “Hey!” shouted Joe suddenly. “We didn’t get the mail!”

 

“The mail will have to wait,” replied Adam as they headed out of town. “We’ve got more important things to do right now.”

 

“Yeah,” agreed Joe, leaning back on the seat as they left Virginia City behind them. “We got to get to Reno, ain’t we?”

 

Adam said nothing and full two minutes passed as Joe studied the landscape around him. “Hey Adam?” he said after a while.

 

“Mmm?”

 

“When we get to Reno, can we see the ocean?”

 

Adam gave his brother a strange look. “Why on earth would you think that?” he asked.

 

“Ain’t it near the ocean?” asked Joe, puzzled.

 

“No. You’ve been to Reno before. Don’t you remember?”

 

Joe thought for a moment. “No,” he said. “What’s it like?”

 

“Like Virginia City,” said Adam. “Just stores and stuff.”

 

“Oh,” Joe thought for a few more minutes. “Well, can we go to see the ocean on the way home from Reno?”

 

“Joe, the ocean is a long way away. Too far for us to go and look at.”

 

“Sam Ferisco is near the ocean,” Joe declared. “Pa told me so!”

 

“Sam who? … oh, San Francisco,” said Adam, nodding. “Yes, that’s near the ocean, but Reno isn’t.”

 

Joe sighed and placed his chin in his hands as he considered that. “One day I’m gonna be bigger and I’m gonna go to Sam Ferisco and see the ocean,” he said. “And I’m gonna sail on a sailing ship like Pa did when he was a sailor.”

 

“Mmm,” said Adam.

 

Joe looked at his brother to gauge his reaction. “And I’m gonna sail right round the whole world,” he said.

 

“Mmm,” said Adam.

 

“And I’m gonna visit all sorts of places,” said Joe.

 

“Mmm,” said Adam.

 

“And I’m gonna see whales and por …. porpusses like Pa done told me about,” finished Joe.

 

“Good,” said Adam.

 

“This is great, ain’t it Adam?” said Joe.

 

“What?”

 

“Just the two of us,” said Joe happily, swinging his small legs and kicking Adam in the shins.

 

“Yeah,” said Adam sarcastically as he shifted his legs. “Real great.”

 

It was late morning when they reached the Ponderosa ranch house and as they rode into the front yard Joe frowned. “Hey!” he shouted. “You brought us home Adam! We’re sposed to be going to Reno with Pa’s bank paper!”

 

“We have to pick up some things first,” said Adam, getting down from the buckboard. “Besides, we can’t drive the buckboard to Reno over the mountains.”

 

“How are we getting there then?” asked Joe, trying to climb down and nearly falling in his attempt. He frowned as Adam caught hold of him and lifted him down to the ground. “I can do it!” he declared.

 

“We’re riding on Sport,” said Adam, over his shoulder as his walked towards the house. “Hurry up! We’ve got to get going!”

 

Joe ran after his brother towards the house and into the living room. He watched as Adam walked straight over to their father’s study, sat down and began to write. “What are you writing Adam?” he asked, leaning on the edge of the desk and watching his brother curiously.

 

“I’m writing a note to Pa to explain where we’ve gone, just in case he and Hoss get home first,” said Adam without looking up.

 

Joe nodded. “Can I do some writing too?” he asked.

 

“No,” said Adam, continuing to write.

 

Joe frowned. “But I wanna practise them letters for my name like you taught me!” he said.

 

Adam sighed. “Go upstairs and get some things out of your dresser,” he said. “We’re going to need a change of clothes for tomorrow.”

 

“Tomorrow?” asked Joe, his eyes wide. “How come?”

 

“Because we’ll be sleeping on the trail tonight,” said Adam. “Now go and get some clothes for tomorrow. Put them in the saddlebags that Pa gave you … the ones he let you have when he got his new ones.”

 

Joe nodded, his eyes wide with excitement. “OK,” he said and turned to run up the stairs. Pa’s old saddlebags were his most cherished possession and since he’d been given them he’d lived in the hope of one day being able to use them. It seemed to him that everyone in this family was always going on trips except him, and now the time had finally come for him to have a big adventure too.

 

Within five minutes he was stomping down the stairs again, dragging the saddlebags behind him. Adam stood and propped up the finished note on his father’s desk and then turned to the boy. “You all packed?” he asked.

 

“Yep,” said Joe confidently. “All done. I’m ready!”

 

Adam raised an eyebrow and took the saddlebags from his brother before looking inside them. “What on earth ….” he said, shaking his head. “I told you to get some clothes for tomorrow. What’s all this?”

 

“Important things I gotta take,” said Joe, trying to snatch the bags back but failing to do so, as Adam was holding them far too high for him to reach. “Give em to me!”

 

Adam shook his head. “Come upstairs again,” he said. He led the way upstairs and into his own room, stopping to quickly put a few items of clothing into his own saddlebags before going into Joe’s room. “Now,” he said. “Let’s you get sorted out properly. He tipped Joe’s bags onto the bed and both of them stood looking at the contents spread out before them. “You’re not bringing your marbles,” Adam said.

 

Joe pouted. “I might need em!” he declared.

 

“No,” said Adam firmly, opening up the dresser drawer and taking out a suitable change of clothing for his brother. He stuffed it into the bags, adding a comb from the top of the dresser as well. “That’s all you need,” he said. “None of this other stuff.”

 

Joe pouted again as he studied the items on the bed. There was a small bag of marbles, a couple of toy soldiers, a pair of socks and a small knitted horse. He’d also stuffed into the bag three rocks and a slingshot. “I wanna take it,” he said stubbornly.

 

“No,” said Adam firmly. “You don’t need it and we have to travel light.” Joe’s bottom lip dropped and Adam held up his hand immediately. “If you start whinging then I’m dropping you off at Mr Bristol’s on the way,” he warned.

 

Joe immediately stopped blubbering, but he dropped his head and studied the floor. Adam rolled his eyes and sighed. “You can take one thing,” he said. “Hurry up and choose.”

 

Joe grinned up at him and immediately picked up the knitted horse. “He’d get lonely without me,” he explained as he handed it to Adam.

 

Adam nodded. “Hurry up,” he said, walking out of the room. “We’ve got to get our other things together.”

 

“What other things?” enquired Joe, running after his brother. It seemed to him that this trip was getting more and more exciting and it hadn’t even begun yet.

 

“Food and water,” said Adam over his shoulder as he descended the staircase. “Hurry up!”

 

As they entered the kitchen, Joe’s eyes lit up again. “Can we take all them cookies that Hop Sing made for us?” he asked happily.

 

“Just a few,” said Adam, taking a couple of canteens down from a hook on the wall and filling them at the kitchen pump. Joe climbed up on a stool, placed his elbows on the bench and watched in fascination as Adam packed a few items of food into his saddlebags.

 

“That ain’t enough,” said Joe when it was obvious that his brother had finished.

 

“That’s all we need,” said Adam. “Just enough for supper tonight and breakfast in the morning. We can buy more food in Reno for the trip home. Here … eat this.” He held out a sandwich to Joe. “It’ll be a long time before we get to eat again.”

 

Joe took the sandwich and munched on it happily as he watched Adam put the remainder of the food into the saddlebags.

 

“Come on and I’ll get Sport saddled,” said Adam, munching on his own sandwich.

 

“If I had my own pony …..” began Joe as they left the house.

 

“ ….. you could ride him yourself,” Adam finished for him. “I know. I’ve heard that a thousand times already. Well, you don’t have your own pony yet, so you have to ride on front of Sport with me and that’s just the way it is. Besides,” he added as they entered the barn together. “This is going to be a rough ride and you need to be sitting with me.”

 

“I could do it by myself!” Joe bragged. He climbed up on one of the railings of Sport’s stall and watched as Adam began to saddle the horse. “Hey Adam?” he asked. “Who’s gonna feed the other horses while we’re gone?”

 

“What other horses?” asked Adam, indicating the empty barn. “Pa and Hoss took theirs, remember?”

 

“Brandy and Blacky,” persisted Joe. “They’ve been working hard all morning pulling the buckboard and they need food!”

 

“We’ll turn them out into the corral pasture,” said Adam. “They’ll be happy with the grass there for one day. Move out of the way, will you?” he added impatiently.

 

Joe followed Adam out of the barn and into the front yard, sitting on the edge of the water trough as his brother attended to the other two horses. Finally, all was ready and Adam lifted his brother up into the saddle before settling himself behind him and taking hold of the reins.

 

“I gotta go,” said Joe suddenly as Adam turned the horse away from the house.

 

Adam sighed and dropped his brother down to the ground again by the arms. “Hurry up!” he said and waited while the boy scampered around to the outhouse. Adam drummed his fingers on the saddle horn impatiently while he waited for Joe to reappear and cursed himself for not telling the child to go before. When Joe reappeared, Adam bent down to haul him back up into the saddle and within a minute they were trotting out of the front yard, much to Joe’s delight. He bounced up and down on the saddle a couple of times and clapped his hands in glee as he looked up at his brother seated behind him. “We’re on a trip for real!” he shouted excitedly. “Just the two us … you and me Adam!”

 

Adam winced. “Don’t shout,” he said wearily. “I can hear you just fine.”

 

“Which way are we going Adam?” asked Joe, his voice slightly moderated as he looked around him in excitement.

 

“Up along the Truckee river and then along the ridge until we get to Bluff Peak,” said Adam. “From there we’ll be able to reach the high country and across the pass to Reno. We should be able to make it as far as the pass by nightfall.” He spoke more to himself than Joe to get it straight in his own head, but his little brother nodded knowingly, for he’d heard and been to some of the places before.

 

“I’ve been to Bluff Peak already,” he informed his brother.

 

“I know,” said Adam easily. “Sit still, will you? I don’t want you bouncing around like that all the way.”

 

Joe tried to sit still, but it was beyond him and within two minutes he was once again wriggling on the saddle in his attempts to look at both sides of the passing scenery and not miss anything. “There’s a jackrabbit,” he said suddenly.

 

“Uh huh,” said Adam, absently.

 

“And there’s a mountain chickadee,” said Joe, pointing to a small bird in the tree above them.

 

“Uh huh,” said Adam.

 

Joe grinned at nothing in particular. “This is great, ain’t it Adam?” he said.

 

“Uh huh,” said Adam. “Ow!” he added. “Would you keep still, for pity’s sake?” He rubbed his shin absently where Joe had inadvertently kicked it and thought about how many hours he still had left in the saddle with the young wriggler in front of him.

 

“Who’s pity?” asked Joe.

 

“What?”

 

“Who’s pity?” asked Joe again. “You said for pity’s sake, but I don’t know who pity is.”

 

Adam sighed. “It’s just an expression,” he said wearily.

 

“What’s a espression?” asked Joe.

 

Adam sighed again, thinking how long this journey was going to take. “Just something people say,” he said. “Why don’t we play a game Joe? Let’s see who can keep quiet the longest?”

 

Joe grinned. “OK,” he said. He was quiet for a full minute before opening his mouth again. “I’m sick of this game,” he said. “Let’s play another one instead Adam.”

 

Adam sighed again … yes, it was going to be a long few hours.

 

A couple of hours later, Adam was just about at the end of his tether. He had tried ignoring the constant chatter that emanated from his brother’s mouth, but without fail this only caused Joe to persist with his questions even more. Every time Adam was able to block out the talking in front of him, inevitably his brother’s wriggling would result in a sharp, albeit unintentional, kick in his shins. By the time they reached the Truckee River, Adam was well and truly sick of his brother and regretted not having been firmer and leaving him behind in the care of the Bristols.

 

He knew that he shouldn’t blame the child, but it seemed as if Joe just never shut up and confined as they both were on the same saddle, it was becoming increasingly hard to take. Everything that Joe noticed along the way was commented upon and everything that ran through his mind came tumbling out of his mouth seconds later. Pa always said that his youngest son was just like his mother in that way and Adam knew it to be true.

 

Marie had always spoken her mind straight out and left everyone in absolutely no doubt as to what she had been thinking. Her son was exactly the same. Adam felt a sharp pang in his heart as he thought back to Joe’s mother, dead only a few months. Although she’d only been his stepmother, he had come to love her deeply … as he had Hoss’ mother before her … and it had hurt terribly when she had been taken from them.

 

Joe had taken it hard and had reverted to some of his baby ways, which they all had to cope with. Hoss seemed to just retreat into himself when it had happened, which was one of the reasons why their Pa had wanted some time alone with him to draw him out of himself again. Pa himself had simply not coped at all for a short time and was only recently behaving like himself again and as for Adam himself …. He shook his head, feeling that he couldn’t allow himself the luxury of being honest even with himself about how much it had hit him when she died.

 

He knew that Pa cherished each of them dearly because he had lost their mothers, but he’d never realised before Marie died just how much death could affect a person. Adam had grieved for Hoss’ mother Inger and remembered many nights crying his eyes out for her in the back of the wagon as he snuggled close to baby Hoss, but it had been the grief of a child who really didn’t understand how things were with the world. When Marie died, he had finally known what it was to grieve as an adult with all the implications that brought with it, and he sincerely hoped that neither of his brothers had to go through such a thing when they were fully grown.

 

Instinctively, he clutched Joe a little tighter towards him, causing the boy to look up at him sharply. “Let go Adam!” he demanded. “You’re squeezing my bref out of me!”

 

Adam smiled down at him. “Well that might not be a bad idea,” he said wryly. “Maybe if you had no breath left, then you’d be quiet for a bit.”

 

Joe didn’t seem to even hear the comment, but simply wriggled on the saddle a bit more and pointed excitedly towards the Truckee River which had just come into view. “There is it!” he shouted. “There’s the Truckee River Adam!”

 

“There’s no need to shout so loud,” Adam admonished. “You’ve seen it before.”

 

Joe’s eyes lit up as he surveyed the sparkling river in front of them. “Yeah,” he admitted. “But never when we’ve been on a trip before,” he added.

 

“What’s that got to do with it?” asked Adam.

 

“It’s more exciting,” stated Joe, as if that settled everything. He twisted around on the saddle and tried to look up at Adam. “Are we gonna stop here?’ he asked.

 

“Yes,” replied Adam, bringing Sport to a halt. “I think it would be a good idea to stretch our legs a bit.” He swung down from the saddle and pulled Joe down after him, relishing at the feeling of being able to straighten his legs again.

 

“I coulda got down myself!” stated Joe, glaring at his brother.

 

Adam ignored the comment and reached into the saddlebag. “Here,” he said, handing Joe a few cookies and then taking a couple for himself.

 

“Can we go and look at the river Adam?” asked Joe excitedly as he munched on the cookies. “Can we? Huh?”

 

Adam nodded and, taking one of the canteens off the saddlehorn, walked with it down to the river. Joe followed, trying to keep up with brother’s long strides and as Adam slowed down as he approached the river, Joe scooted ahead of him. “You stop right there!” Adam shouted at him and Joe immediately halted mid-stride and looked at his brother enquiringly. “Stay away from that water!” commanded Adam, pointing his finger at the boy meaningfully.

 

Joe pouted. “But I wanna look at it!” he said.

 

Adam caught up with him and grabbed him by the hand. “The water in that river goes real fast Joe,” he explained. “It’s dangerous for someone as little as you. You stay right back from it, you hear?” When Joe said nothing, but merely dug his toe in the dirt and refused to look at his brother, Adam turned on his heel and began to drag the child back the way they’d come.

 

“I promise!” shouted Joe quickly. “Don’t put me back on Sport Adam! I wanna see the water!”

 

“Then you do as you’re told,” said Adam firmly. “I’m not having you fall into that river, you hear? I know what you’re like.”

 

Joe nodded dutifully and allowed himself to be led back to the river with his hand firmly gripped in that of his brother’s, but his face told a different story. “I ain’t little!” he muttered under his breath.

 

“What was that?” asked Adam, stopping in his tracks and staring down at the boy.

 

Joe looked up at him. “I’ll hold your hand like you told me to,” he said. “But I ain’t little!”

 

Adam made a face, knowing full well that the comment had been an insult to his brother. “I just meant that you’re young,” he said, by way of explanation. “When I was your age Pa wouldn’t have let me near a big river either.”

 

“Or Hoss when he was little?” asked Joe, becoming interested in the thought of either of his brothers being his age.

 

Adam gave a short laugh. “Our brother Hoss was never little,” he said. “Even when he was young he wasn’t little.” His mind drifted back to the younger brother who had always been too large for his own good. “Pa would still have stopped him going near the river though,” he added.  That explanation seemed to satisfy Joe who forgot about being cross and looked around eagerly. “Let’s sit down and look at the river for bit, OK?” suggested Adam and Joe nodded.

 

The two brothers sat down on a fallen log in the sun and for once Joe was silent. Adam stretched out his long legs in front of him and sighed. This was just how he liked it, he decided …. sitting in the sun next to a river with absolutely nothing to break through the peace and quiet of …

 

“Hey Adam?”

 

Adam sighed again. He might have known that the silence wouldn’t last long with his youngest brother around. “Yes?”

 

“Why does the river move from here all the way to down there?” Joe traced the flow of the water with his arm and gave his brother an enquiring look.

 

“Well … it’s moving out towards the ocean I guess,” said Adam.

 

Joe shot his brother an accusing look. “You said we weren’t going near the ocean!” he said.

 

“We’re not,” explained Adam. “The river has a long, long way to go before it gets anywhere the ocean Joe.

 

“Oh,” said Joe and was silent again.

 

The sound of the rushing water suddenly made Adam think of other things. “You’d better go while we’ve stopped,” he said.

 

“I don’t need to go,” Joe informed him.

 

Adam raised an eyebrow. “Well, try,” he said. “I don’t want to stop later on just because you didn’t go now.” He stood up. “Come on,” he said.

 

Joe reluctantly stood up also. “Can we go in the river?” he asked with a devilish sparkle in his eyes. “We could make big splashes if we did!”

 

“No,” said Adam. “That’s dirty. Now go.”

 

The two brothers stood side by side in thought as they did what they needed to. However, as Adam was busy taking a few seconds to straighten up his clothing he sensed Joe moving out of the corner of his eye and turned to frown at his brother who had turned around and was directing a stream of liquid into the river. “Didn’t I say not to ….” Adam began.

 

The sound of his voice startled Joe who was leaning his body towards the water and he suddenly lost his balance and slipped towards the river. Adam made a grab for him, but only succeeded in propelling the two of them even closer to the edge of the water and they both fell in with a resounding splash.

 

Joe’s head went under for a moment, but Adam immediately pulled him back up again, holding him high out of the water. Fortunately, the river wasn’t too deep at that point and he could easily stand up in it, clutching his little brother under the armpits to keep him mostly out of the water. In two strides Adam was out of the water again and glaring at Joe dangling in front of him. “What did you do that for?” he demanded angrily. “Look what you’ve done now! Both of us wet through!”

 

Joe bottom lip began to tremble as his brother shook him slightly from side to side. “I … I didn’t …” he began.

 

“You did!” interrupted Adam angrily. “I told you not to do that!” He shook him again so that Joe’s legs swung from side to side again, his small penis dangling out of his trousers where he’d left it moments before.

 

“I just … wanted to see it splash!” declared Joe, swallowing and getting his bravado back again. He began to wriggle in Adam’s grasp. “Let me down!” he shouted.

 

Adam plonked him down on his feet and the two brothers stood glaring at each other. Adam shook his wet hair and then Joe did the same. “All wet!” muttered Adam angrily and strode over to Sport. “If you move one muscle you’re in big trouble!” he shouted over his shoulder. “Keep still!”

 

Joe swallowed again, knowing by the sound of his brother’s voice just how angry he was. He dutifully stood still and waited until Adam had returned and flung his saddlebag at him. “Get out of those wet things,” Adam grunted. “We’ll both have to change and wear the clothes we brought for tomorrow now.” He sat down on the ground and began pulling off his trousers, muttering under his breath as he did so.

 

Joe sat down next to him and began to pull down his own trousers. “What … what will we wear tomorrow?” he asked tentatively.

 

“We’ll have to wear these again, unless our wet things dry in the meantime,” grunted Adam. “Which I doubt.” He glared again at Joe. “I should give you a tanning for pulling that stunt,” he said.

 

Joe quickly scrunched away from Adam and attempted to pull off his boots. As he did so, water fell out of one. “They’re all wet,” he said, unnecessarily.

 

“Of course they’re all wet,” said Adam crossly. “What did you think?” He grabbed the small boots and put them on a rock next to him in the sun. “They won’t dry out again in a hurry either.” He pointed his finger at Joe. “Honestly! If we weren’t so far from home I’d turn straight around and take you back again Joe! If I didn’t have to deliver ….” His jaw dropped as he remembered the bank draft and he quickly reached into his pocket and drew it out.

 

Joe’s eye widened. “It’s all wet,” he said, looking at the sodden piece of paper in Adam’s hand.

 

“Yes, it’s all wet,” snorted Adam. “And who’s fault is that?”

 

Joe shrunk back away from his brother, just in case he had a mind to follow through with that treat of a tanning and both brothers looked at the piece of paper in dismay. “Well, that’s that I guess,” said Adam after a minute’s silence. “So much for Pa’s bank draft.”

 

Joe looked at it closely. “I can still see letters on it,” he said hopefully.

 

Adam looked as well. “Hmm,” he said. “Well, maybe. This bit here is a bit smudged, but I can still make out the names at least,” he mused. “Maybe ….” He placed it on the rock next to Joe’s boots. “We’ll see how it looks when it dries out,” he added. “I told you to get dressed!” he said, stripping his own shirt off.

 

There was silence as the two brothers undressed. Suddenly Adam was aware of a snuffling sound and he glanced at Joe out of the corner of his eye. “There’s no need to carry on like that,” he said gruffly, his heart softening a little at the sight of a large tear that was rolling down the child’s cheek. “Here,” he added. “You’re putting your arms in the wrong sleeves of that shirt. Let me do it.”

 

Joe sat as still as he could while Adam attended to his clothing. “I’m sorry Adam,” he sniffed. “I didn’t mean to wet Pa’s bank paper. Will it dry out OK?” He looked up at his brother hopefully.

 

“Maybe,” said Adam, feeling a tad guilty for being so cross with the boy. “Hold still, will you?” He looked across at the paper and examined it again. “I think so,” he said in a milder tone. “But that was still a very naughty thing to do Joe!”

 

“I’m sorry,” said Joe again. “I really am Adam.”

 

Adam gave his brother a half smile. “Well just don’t ever do it again,” he said. “If I hadn’t been here to fish you out, that river could have carried you off. Haven’t Pa and I always told you to be careful around water?”

 

“Yeah,” admitted Joe, and then his eyes lit up. “But I can swim now! I coulda swum outta there by myself!”

 

Adam shook his head at his brother’s ability to always defend himself, even when he was in the wrong. He stood up. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s get going. We can’t wait around here until these things dry.” He stuffed their wet clothing into the saddlebag and pulled on his wet boots with distaste.

 

“What about my boots?” asked Joe.

 

“You don’t need them on,” said Adam, scooping them and the bank draft off the rock. “We’ll hang them from the saddlehorn and hope they dry out. Come on!”

 

Adam lifted Joe up onto the saddle again, hung his small boots in front of him on the saddlehorn and put the saddlebag over the horse again. The bank draft was nearly dry in the hot sun, so he carefully put it into his pocket, hoping that it would survive the rest of the journey.

 

One thing was certain, he thought grimly as he turned Sport away from the river and they trotted off again, life was never dull with Joe around. As he received yet another kick in the shins from the wriggling boy in front of him he had cause to think of one positive outcome from the whole event … a small boy’s kick was a lot less painful when his foot was only encased in a sock instead of a hard boot.

 

Adam steeled himself for a continued onslaught of questions from his brother, but to his surprise there wasn’t a word from Joe. A heavy pressure against his stomach soon told him the reason for it and he smiled down at the inert small body in front of him. Joe’s head lolled to one side, his eyes were shut tight, his arms dangled down by his sides and his expression was … for once … angelic … as he slumbered.

 

“Well thank the Lord for that,” mumbled Adam, thinking that he was in the mood to half-kill this small annoying brother of his if he’d started pestering him with his endless questions again. He rode as gently as he could so as to not disturb the child, happy in the thought that he would at least have some peace and quiet for a while.

 

Joe’s slumber lasted over an hour and by the time his eyes were open and he was once more ready to face the world with renewed vigour, the sun was beginning to drop beneath the distant mountain and the shadows were lengthening. Adam waited until he rode into a small clearing with a rock face behind it before declaring that they would stop for the night.

 

Joe could hardly contain his excitement at the thought and nearly slipped out of the saddle in his eagerness to get down.

 

“Would you hold on a minute?” said Adam. “Let me get down first.”

 

“Hurry up Adam!” shouted Joe happily. “I wanna see!”

 

“There’s nothing to see,” said Adam, pulling his brother off the saddle. “There’s nothing here.”

 

Nevertheless, Joe quickly scouted around the small clearing to see what it was like. Within two minutes he was back beside Adam and nodded wisely. “This will do fine,” he said.

 

Adam snorted. “I’m glad that you approve,” he said. “Now do something worthwhile and collect some sticks for the fire, will you?” Joe nodded and ran off to do this most important job. “Don’t go out of this clearing!” shouted Adam as he took the bedrolls off from behind the saddle and began to organise the camp. He kept one eye on his little brother as he got things in place and by the time Joe had a substantial pile of wood ready he was mixing some dried beans with water for their supper. “Now watch how we start the fire,” he said, taking up a flint.

 

Joe watched in fascination as Adam began to strike the flint. “Can I do that?” he asked.

 

“No,” said Adam. “Just watch.”

 

Within minutes he had a good blaze developing and the beans were on the fire ready to heat up.

 

Joe wrinkled up his nose. “Is that all we’re having for supper?” he asked in distaste.

 

“No,” replied Adam. “We’ve got some of Hop Sing’s biscuits to sop it up with. “Stir this.”

 

He watched as Joe stirred the small pot proudly and it wasn’t long before the two brothers were seated in front of the blazing fire eating hungrily. “This is good, ain’t it Adam?” said Joe happily.

 

“Not bad,” said Adam.

 

“Just the two of us,” added Joe. “Hey Adam?”

 

“Mmm?”

 

“Do you reckon that Pa and Hoss are having their supper right about now?”

 

“Probably.”

 

“I reckon so too,” said Joe. “Bet they don’t have good beans and biscuits like we do.”

 

“Pa took plenty of food,” said Adam, putting down his plate. “Neither of them will go hungry.”

 

“Hoss is always hungry,” said Joe, putting down his plate as well. “What do we do now Adam?”

 

“We get some shut eye,” said his brother. “I’ll clean up these plates while you go over there in the bushes.”

 

“I don’t need to go,” said Joe.

 

“You go,” said Adam firmly. “I’m not having you pee all over me in the middle of the night just because you were too lazy to go now.”

 

Joe made a face. “I don’t do that no more,” he said indignantly, but stood up and walked over to the bushes nonetheless.

 

Adam raised an eyebrow in response to his brother’s remark as he began to scrape off the plates, knowing full well that his brother did in fact still have accidents through the night. Since Marie had died the child had taken to constantly wetting the bed and having bad dreams and he knew that their Pa was worried about it. Hopefully he would grow out of it soon, but in the meantime Adam had no intention of taking any chances.

 

“Get under the blanket,” he said as Joe came back. “It’s going to be cold tonight.”

 

Joe scrunched under the blanket and lay facing the fire. “This is nice,” he said happily. “Are you coming to sleep now Adam?”

 

“In a minute.”

 

Joe lay and watched his brother organise a few things, his eyelids drooping as he did so. Finally Adam took off his boots and pulled his own blanket around him, drawing it close against the chilly night air. “Now go to sleep,” he said. “We’ve got a big day tomorrow.”

 

“I ain’t sleepy,” said Joe through a huge yawn. He rolled over onto his back and looked up at the stars. “Do you reckon that Pa and Hoss are looking at the stars now too Adam?”

 

“Mmm.”

 

“Pa says that Mama is a star now,” said Joe in a small sad voice. “Which one do you reckon she is Adam?”

 

Adam sighed and rolled over onto his back as well. “I don’t know,” he said, staring up at the stars himself. “Probably one of the real bright ones.”

 

“Is your mama a star too?”

 

“Mmm.”

 

“And Hoss’ mama?”

 

“Mmm.”

 

“That’s nice,” said Joe in a small voice.

 

Adam felt a delicious warmth overcome him and his eyelids drooped as he felt sleep approached. Suddenly he heard a small snuffling sound and reluctantly dragged his eyes open again to stare at his little brother through the darkness. “What’s the matter?” he asked.

 

“I want my Mama!” sobbed Joe.

 

Adam drew his small brother towards him and allowed him to sob out his sorrow for a few minutes on his shoulder. “Look up at the stars,” he said after a few minutes. “See her up there?”

 

“Where?” snuffled Joe, turning his head to look up. “Which one? I don’t know which one Adam.”

 

“The very brightest one,” said Adam, pointing to the North Star. “See?”

 

Joe sniffed a couple of times and then nodded. “Yes,” he said in a small voice. There was silence for a few minutes and then he asked. “Why does God make people die and then be stars Adam?”

 

Adam sighed. “I don’t know.”

 

“God is mean.”

 

“No,” said Adam, holding his brother tighter. “God isn’t mean. We just don’t understand why, that’s all. Now try and go to sleep. If you do, you might have a dream about your Mama …. Remember when you had one last week? That was nice, wasn’t it?”

 

Joe nodded in the darkness. “OK,” he said. There was silence again and Adam was just drifting off when suddenly Joe sat bolt upright. “Where’s my horse?” he said.

 

“What?”

 

“My horse!” shouted Joe, trying to disengage himself from the blanket. “He’ll get lonely if he don’t sleep with me!”

 

“Keep still,” said Adam and reluctantly unrolled himself from the blanket. He shivered as he stood up and walked groggily over to the saddlebag. He reached inside, found the small knitted animal and brought it back to Joe. “Here,” he said. “Now go to sleep.”

 

Joe cuddled the toy into his chest lovingly as Adam got under the blanket again. His eyelids began to close and the last thing he remembered before he drifted off to sleep was the sound of Joe slurping on his thumb.

 

When dawn finally broke Adam was actually glad to have an excuse to get out from under the blanket and stretch his legs. He was sure that he was black and blue from being kicked by Joe all night and it felt as if he hadn’t had more than a couple of hours sleep. Pa always said that Joe was a restless sleeper, but he’d never appreciated just how bad he was until now.

 

He stretched in the pale dawn light, then set about getting the fire built up again and the breakfast organised. By the time Little Joe had opened his eyes the bacon was sizzling in the pan and a delicious smell was wafting across the clearing.

 

Joe sat up, his curls all tousled and in disarray. “I’m awake!” he announced happily.

 

“Get your boots on,” said Adam as he pushed the bacon around in the small pan. “They’re dry now.”

 

Joe did as he was told and then came and squatted down next to Adam to watch the bacon fry. “It sizzles,” he said delightedly.

 

“Uh huh,” said Adam. “Here … hold out your plate and I’ll put some on it.” He poured himself some coffee and then sat down next to Joe, the two of them eating hungrily.

 

“This is a good breakfast Adam,” said Joe. “You cook better than Hop Sing.”

 

Adam gave a short chuckle. “Don’t let him hear you saying that,” he said.

 

“He can’t hear me,” said Joe in a puzzled tone. “He’s a long ways away in Carson City.”

 

Adam nodded. “Mmm,” he said. “Hurry up and finish what’s on your plate. I want to make sure that we get to Mr Reynold’s ranch this morning.”

 

“I thought we was going to Reno?” asked Joe, putting the last of the bacon into his mouth and handing his plate to Adam.

 

“Mr Reynold’s ranch is near Reno,” said Adam. “But not in the town itself.”

 

Joe frowned. “But you said we was going to Reno!” he said accusingly.

 

Adam rolled his eyes. “Near Reno,” he explained. “Not into the town itself.”

 

“But you said Reno!” insisted Joe stubbornly. “You didn’t say near Reno, you said Reno!”

 

“What difference does it make, for pity’s sake?” asked Adam as he kicked some dirt onto the fire.

 

“And you still ain’t told me who pity is neither,” said Joe in a stubborn tone.

 

Adam picked him up and plonked him onto his saddle. “Just sit still,” he said, swinging up into the saddle himself. “And try not to kick me as much as you did yesterday, will you?”

 

Joe stared up at his brother as they took off. “Ain’t you gonna shave?” he asked. “You’ve got whiskers coming through.”

 

Adam ran his hand over his chin. “Not much point,” he said, half to himself and then added in a louder tone. “I’ll shave tomorrow when we’re home again.”

 

Joe ran his fingers across his own chin in imitation of his brother. “I’m gonna shave when I get bigger too,” he said proudly.

 

“Uh huh.”

 

“Adam?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Why do people have eyebrows?”

 

Adam sighed. “It’s going to be a long morning,” he muttered.

 

And indeed it did seem like a long morning. Joe peppered him with endless questions as he had the day before and by the time they’d reached the high country he was well and truly sick of answering them.

 

“Hey this is good!” shouted Joe suddenly into Adam’s ear as his brother urged Sport up the first incline of the passes. “We’re going up real high!”

 

“Just you sit still,” instructed Adam. “Sport has to work hard enough getting two of us up here without you squirming around on the saddle. I mean it Joe … sit still for a while.”

 

Joe tried hard and managed to sit relatively still for a short while, although not as still as Adam would have liked. He didn’t say anything to the child in front of him, but this section of the high country could be tricky to ride over and as he guided Sport with expert hands, he also kept a tight hold on the small body in front of him at the same time.

 

“Look down there!” shouted Joe excitedly as they rounded a bend and the sight of a vast plain opened up in front of them. “Is that near Reno?”

 

“Sure is,” said Adam, turning Sport’s head along the trail. “Sit still.”

 

“It sure is pretty,” said Joe, looking down on it.

 

Adam pulled Sport to a halt and looked down himself. “Sure is,” he agreed. “It’s like Pa always says … this is God’s own country.”

 

Joe nodded, although he wasn’t quite sure what his brother had meant by the comment. “I’m never gonna leave here,” he said confidently. “I’m always gonna live in Nevada cause I like it the best in the whole of the world.” He looked up at his brother. “Are you always gonna live here too, Adam?”

 

Adam hesitated, knowing full well that within the next year he would in fact be leaving for a time to go back east to college and indeed if it hadn’t been for Joe’s mother dying he would be there right now. While he wanted desperately to experience life back east and open his mind to new and exciting things, he was also dreading his departure and the fact that he would be leaving behind his Pa and brothers … as well as this land that he loved.

 

“Adam?” persisted Joe. “You ain’t answered my question. Are you always gonna live here?”

 

Adam smiled down at him sadly, not wanting to diminish the brightness of his brother’s smile, for he had suffered enough with the loss of his mother without the thought of facing the temporary loss of his brother as well. “You know what Pa said when we first arrived here in Nevada?” he asked, trying to avoid the question.

 

“No, what?”

 

Adam urged Sport down the trail as he spoke. “I remember Pa stopping our wagon one day and telling me to get out.” His mind drifted back to a day many years before that had forever been etched into his mind as a very significant one. “He picked up Hoss and ….”

 

“Picked up Hoss?” giggled Joe. “Pa couldn’t never pick up Hoss! He’s too big!”

 

“He was a lot smaller then,” explained Adam. “Even if he was a big baby he was still only a little boy. Anyway … he picked up Hoss and told me to follow him. We walked to the top of a ridge just like this one ….” He looked around as the memory came flooding back into his mind. “And Pa put his arm around my shoulder. He said to take a good look around because it was a sight to rival heaven itself and that I should always remember my first look at Nevada …. because it was going to be our new home.” He sighed. “It seemed as if we’d been travelling forever to get to that spot, which I suppose we had in a way, and it seemed strange to me that we’d finally made it.”

 

“Where was I that day?” enquired Joe.

 

“You weren’t born yet,” explained Adam. “That was before Pa met your Mama.”

 

“He met her in New Orleans,” said Joe proudly. “He told me so.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“And then they came back to Nevada and I was borned,” continued Joe.

 

“Uh huh.”

 

“Pa says I was the first Cartwright borned in Nevada,” boasted Joe. “And he says he hopes I won’t be the last.” He frowned. “What does he mean when he says that Adam?”

 

“He means that he hopes one day that he’ll have lots of grandchildren,” said Adam.

 

Joe thought about that one for a while. “Where will he get them from?” he asked.

 

Adam chuckled. “From us,” he said. “You and me and Hoss. One day when we have children, then they’ll be Pa’s grandchildren.”

 

Joe gave Adam an appalled look. “I ain’t ever having no children!” he exclaimed. “I ain’t ever getting married!”

 

Adam chuckled again. “One day you might change your mind buddy,” he said.

 

“Are you gonna get married some day Adam?”

 

“Maybe. I hope so. When I find the right girl.”

 

“Hoss says that he saw you kissing Margie Simmons at the church picnic last month,” said Joe, giving his brother a penetrating look. “Does that mean that you’re gonna make Pa some grandchildren with her now?”

 

Adam blushed slightly. “Hoss should learn to mind his own business,” he said, making a mental note to give his other brother a piece of his mind when he got home. He pointed ahead of them. “Look. There’s the Reynold’s ranch over there. We made it.”  He spurred Sport into a trot and turned his head in the direction of the distant spiral of smoke that could be seen towards the distant hills.

 

“There’s cows!” shouted Joe excitedly. “Look Adam! There’s cows!”

 

“Stop shouting in my ear,” Adam admonished him. “You’ve seen plenty of cattle before.”

 

“But these ones ain’t Ponderosa ones, are they?” asked Joe, bouncing around on the saddle. “They ain’t got the pine tree brand on em!”

 

Adam marvelled, not for the first time, about just how observant his little brother could be. It was amazing at times just how much he picked up on and he figured that in years to come he would probably know as much about this country as anyone. It was like Pa said …. a man who was born in a place really knows it.

 

“That’s right,” he said. “They’ve got the Reynold’s brand on them.” He spied a couple of men in the distance and trotted towards them, holding up his hand in greeting.

 

“Who are they?” asked Joe, pointing to them as they approached.

 

“Probably Mr Reynold’s hands,” said Adam, drawing Sport to a halt. He tipped his hat at the two men. “Howdy,” he said. “I’m looking for Mr Sam Reynolds.”

 

One of the men jerked his thumb to a man sitting on a horse a short distance away. “Over there, young fellar,” he said, giving Little Joe a curious look.

 

Adam nodded again and trotted over to the man. “Mr Reynolds?” he asked as he drew to a halt. “Mr Sam Reynolds?

 

Sam Reynolds nodded. “Sure am,” he said. “Can I help you?”

 

“Adam Cartwright,” said Adam, holding out his hand.

 

Sam Reynolds reached over and shook it. “Ben’s boy?” he asked. “Pleased to meet you, young fellar.” He grinned at Joe. “And who might this be?” he asked.

 

Joe held out his hand in imitation of his brother. “I’m Joe Cartwright,” he said, sitting up straight in the saddle. “Howdy!”

 

Sam chuckled as he shook the small hand. “Well, well,” he said. “So you’re Ben’s boys?” He gave Adam a curious look. “You brought this little’un all the way across that pass?” he asked.

 

Adam nodded. “Yes sir,” he said. “He might be little, but he’s tough. He handled it just fine.”

 

Joe straightened up even further in the saddle and glared at his brother. “I ain’t little!” he declared.

 

Sam chuckled again at the youngster’s indignant look and ruffled the boy’s curls. “So it would seem,” he said before turning to Adam again. “I suppose you’ve come about the business I have with your father?” he asked.

 

“Yes sir,” said Adam, drawing the bank draft out of his pocket. “I got your wire yesterday.”

 

“I’m sorry about that son,” said Sam. “But I had another offer for that cattle and I needed to close the deal with your Pa real quick. Business is business …. I hope Ben understood.”

 

“Actually, Pa doesn’t know about it yet,” said Adam. “He’s gone on a hunting trip and won’t be back for a day or two.” He held out the bank draft. “So I brought the money for you.”

 

Sam took the piece of paper and gave Adam a curious look as he opened it.

 

“I’m sorry,” said Adam, feeling somewhat foolish as the man studied the paper. “It got wet. You can still read most of it, so I hope it’s OK.”

 

“It fell in the river with Adam,” explained Joe, trying to be helpful.

 

Sam tried not to laugh at the look on Adam’s face. “I see,” he said, folding it up and putting it into his own picket.

 

“Will it be all right?” asked Adam anxiously. “I mean … I dried it out and ….”

 

“I’m sure it will be fine,” interrupted Sam. “You can tell your Pa that I’ll start driving that cattle over the ridge early next week.” He grinned at both of them. “Now you two need to come along to the house and meet my wife Martha. She’d love to meet you both and get the chance to spoil this one here for a bit.” He indicated Joe with his thumb, but Adam shook his head.

 

“I’m sorry,” he said. “But we need to get back home. I don’t want to spend another night on the trail with Joe.”

 

“I understand,” said Sam. “But you’re going to need lunch and Martha would love to feed you before you go. It won’t take long.”

 

Adam hesitated, thinking of the sandwiches in his saddlebags that were to be their lunch and which would no doubt be stale by now. “Well,” he said. “That’s very kind of you …”

 

Sam patted him on the back. “No trouble at all,” he said. “I’ll ride back to the house with you and Martha can give you both a good feed. We’ll have you back on the trail in plenty of time to make it back by nightfall.”

 

Adam nodded. “Thank you,” he said.

 

Sam gave a few orders to his men and then he and Adam trotted off together. “Your Pa has told me a lot about you boys,” he said. “And your brother …. Hoss, isn’t it?”

 

“Yes,” said Adam.

 

Sam gave him a searching look. “You the one who’s got a mind to go to college?” he asked.

 

Adam glanced quickly at Joe before replying, noting with relief that his little brother was far too busy watching the cattle around them to be paying much attention to their conversation. “Yes,” he said. “I’m hoping to.”

 

Sam nodded thoughtfully. “Ben talks a lot about you,” he said. “He’s right proud of you, boy.”

 

Adam blushed slightly as he felt a surge of pride wash over him. He shrugged, not quite knowing what to say as the man continued. “To hear your Pa talk, you’re a real clever young man,” he said.

 

Adam said nothing, not quite knowing how to respond.

 

Sam reached over and slapped the young man on the back and winked at him. “I reckon all Pa’s are proud of their sons,” he said. “But you might say that Ben Cartwright sure thinks a mighty lot of you.”

 

“Hey mister?” Joe piped up, saving Adam the embarrassment of thinking of a reply. “Is this all your cattle?”

 

“Not all of it young’un,” said Sam. “Just a part of my main herd.”

 

Joe nodded knowingly. “We got cattle too,” he informed the man. “And horses. Pa puts the pine tree brand on em cause they live on The Ponderosa.” He leant over and gave Sam a knowing look. “The Ponderosa is my Pa’s ranch,” he said.

 

Sam chuckled. “He sure ain’t shy, is he?” he said to Adam.

 

Adam shook his head. “No,” he agreed, for shy was the last word that he’d use to describe his brother. “He sure isn’t.”

 

As they rode towards the house, Joe continued to question Sam about his ranch, which quite amused the man. “So I suppose you help your Pa run the Ponderosa?” he teased, when Joe stopped to draw breath.

 

“Yep!” said Joe proudly. “Adam and Hoss help him too sometimes.”

 

Sam chuckled. “Well, I’d say that your Pa is one lucky man to have three fine sons to help him,” he said, drawing his horse to a halt. “Well, here we are and there’s my Martha come to meet us.” He indicated a short woman who was standing on the front porch of the house smiling at them. “I’ve brought a couple of young fellars home for lunch!” he called to her.

 

Adam got down from his horse and lifted Joe down as well. “I can get down myself,” Joe protested loudly.

 

“Two of Ben Cartwright’s boys,” Sam explained to his wife. “This here’s Adam and this young’un down here is Joe.”

 

“Pleased to meet you,” said Martha. She smiled at Adam and then went down on one knee in front of Joe. “Isn’t he just a darling?” she said, pinching his cheek.

 

Joe scowled at her, for if there was one thing he hated above all others, it was someone pinching his cheek. It seemed to him that lots of ladies did it and he never could figure out why. “Poor little thing,” added Martha giving him a sympathetic look, for everyone in the district knew of Ben Cartwright’s recent loss. She stood up again and faced Adam. “You boys much be starving,” she said. “Now come along into the house and I’ll give you a good feed.”

 

Sam winked at Adam and followed them into the house. “Sit down here,” said Martha. “I’ll set a couple more places at the table.”

 

“We don’t want to put you out ma’am,” said Adam, taking off his hat.

 

“No trouble at all,” said Martha, buzzing around happily. “We don’t get many visitors out this way, so it’s a nice treat.”

 

“The boys can’t stay long,” Sam warned her. “They have to get home by sundown.”

 

“Well they’re not going to get too far on empty stomachs,” said Martha, dishing stew out onto several plates. “Here you go boys. You eat that up.”

 

Joe wrinkled his nose up at the sight of the food. “I don’t like that,” he declared.

 

“Shh!” said Adam “That’s not very polite Joe!”

 

“Isn’t he a darling?” said Martha as they all sat down. “Now you just taste it sweetheart and I’m sure you’ll like it.”

 

Joe gave her a disbelieving look, but did as he was told. Apparently he must have agreed with her, for he kept eating, much to Adam’s relief. Many times he’d witnessed the battle of wills between Joe and his parents about his eating habits and he knew just how stubborn his younger brother could be when faced with a plate of food that he didn’t like.

 

“This is real good stew, ma’am,” said Adam politely.

 

“Thank you dear. Have some more.” Martha filled his plate a second time and then poured him some coffee. She placed a glass of milk in front of Little Joe, causing the child to wrinkle up his nose again.

 

“I don’t like milk,” he declared.

 

“Nonsense,” said Martha in a matter-of-fact tone. “It’s good for you, so drink it up, precious.”

 

Joe gave Adam a look, but Adam simply shook his head slightly. Joe reluctantly put the glass to his mouth and took as small a swallow as possible.

 

“Cute little thing, isn’t he?” said Martha.

 

Joe scowled at her. “I’m not little!” he declared, sitting up straight so that his chin was level with the table. He reached up and speared another piece of meat, sticking it into his mouth and chewing on it as he glared at her.

 

Martha didn’t seem to notice his look, but merely leant across the table and pinched his cheek lovingly. “Poor little thing,” she cooed. “Your Pa certainly has had a tragic year Adam.”

 

Adam nodded as he swallowed a mouthful. “Yes ma’am,” he said. “He sure has.”

 

“Have some cake,” Martha suggested, uncovering a large plate of cake in the middle of the table. “I made it this morning.”

 

“Martha makes delicious cake,” said Sam.

 

Joe’s eyes widened. “I like that,” he said, pointing to it eagerly.

 

“Then drink up all your milk and you can have some,” Martha promised as she cut a generous slice for Adam. Joe didn’t hesitate as he downed his glass of milk and then accepted his own slice of cake with a smile. “Dear little thing,” said Martha, ruffling his hair. “You must take some more of this to eat on the trail Adam. I’ll wrap it up for you.”

 

“Thank you,” said Adam as he pushed back his chair. “We really must be going now though. I want to get home before dark. Hurry up Joe,” he added.

 

Sam also pushed back his chair. “I’ll be seeing you off then son,” he said.

 

“Thank you for the meal ma’am,” said Adam, accepting the wrapped cake from Martha before picking up his hat. “Hurry up Joe.”

 

“It was lovely to meet you dear,” said Martha. “And you too, precious,” she said, pinching Joe’s cheek yet again. “Adam, make sure you look after this little one well on that ride across the ridge. He’s very little to be making that ride.”

 

“I ain’t little!” declared Joe yet again. “Don’t no one ever listen to me when I say that?” Everyone laughed, which only caused him to become more indignant and he glared around at them all.

 

“Joe is tough,” said Adam, much to Joe delight and his scowl instantly turned to a smile at his brother’s words. “He’ll make the ride OK.”

 

Joe nodded and followed Adam to the front porch. “Thank you ma’am,” he said, remembering his manners just in time.

 

“You’re most welcome,” said Martha. She bent down on one knee in front of him and gave him a sudden hug and Joe for once didn’t pull away as Adam expected him to. Instead, he seemed to lean in towards the woman for a moment and Adam’s heart lurched as he considered just how infrequently his little brother now felt a motherly touch.

 

“Come on Joe,” he said when the two had let go of each other. He hoisted his brother up onto the saddle and then swung into it himself. “Bye,” he said tipping his hat at the couple. “And thanks again.”

 

“Adam?” asked Joe as they trotted off.

 

“Yes?”

 

“Why do people pinch a fellar’s cheek all the time?”

 

“To show that they like him,” replied Adam. “It’s a sign of affection.”

 

Joe rubbed his cheek thoughtfully. “Well I sure wish they’d find another way to show it,” he said. “I hate people pinching my cheek.”

 

Adam made a face. “Well, it’s best to just put up with it,” he said.

 

“They never pinch your cheek!” Joe declared.

 

“I’m too big,” replied Adam. “Ladies used to do it to me when I was your age, though.”

 

“Wish I was bigger then,” said Joe mournfully. “I reckon my cheek will be all red by the time I get bigger if everyone keeps doing it but.”

 

Adam smothered a chuckle as he turned Sport towards the west and they broke into a gallop.

 

The way back across the pass was uneventful, except for Joe’s non-stop talking and by the time they were approaching the Truckee River later that afternoon they were both ready to stop and munch on Martha’s leftover cake and share a drink of water. This time there was no going near the river for Joe, however, as Adam kept him well away from it … not prepared to go for another dip in it’s icy waters.

 

“When will we get home Adam?” asked Joe as he munched on his cake.

 

“In a couple of hours,” said Adam, happy at the thought of sleeping in his own bed that night.

 

“It’s been great, ain’t it? Just the two of us?” said Joe, smiling up at his big brother.

 

Adam nodded and put his arm around the boy. “Sure has,” he said and was surprised to find that he actually meant it.

 

“Can we go on another trip one day?” asked Joe. “Just the two of us?”

 

Adam smiled down at him. “What about Pa and Hoss?” he teased. “Don’t you think they’d feel left out if we left them behind?”

 

Joe thought for a moment. “Maybe I could go on a trip with you,” he mused. “And I could go on a trip with Pa too. And then maybe I could go on another trip with Hoss.” He grinned. “That way they wouldn’t get hurt feelings and I’d get three trips instead of one.”

 

Adam snorted. “Good reasoning,” he said, marvelling at the devious mind of the little boy.

 

“Huh?” said Joe.

 

“Good thinking,” Adam explained. ‘Come on. We’d better get going if we’re going to get home before dark.” He lifted Joe up onto the saddle.

 

“I can do it,” said Joe automatically as Adam settled into the saddle behind him. For a moment he leant back against his brother and cuddled into him. “I liked going on our trip Adam,” he said. “Just the two of us.”

 

“I did too buddy,” said Adam, taking up the reins.

 

“I love you Adam,” said Joe.

 

“I love you too squirt,” replied Adam, in a rare admission of his feelings. He put his arm around his little brother and held him tight as they trotted towards their home.

 

The sun was about to set as the two brothers rode into the front yard of the Ponderosa ranch house. Suddenly, Joe sat up straight as he spied a figure standing on the front porch. “Pa!” he shouted in his loudest voice, startling Sport and causing Adam to wince. “Pa!” he shouted again. “Pa’s home, Adam!” he shouted unnecessarily.

 

Adam pulled the horse to a halt and allowed Joe to slide down into his father’s arms. “Pa!” the little boy shouted as his father hugged him tightly to his chest. “We went on a trip Pa!” he added, his voice muffled against Ben’s shirt. “Just the two of us!”

 

“I know,” said Ben, laughing.

 

Hoss came to stand next to his father, grinning at his two brothers. “We had a great hunting trip,” he boasted. “I got to use Pa’s rifle twice.”

 

“Did ya shoot anything Hoss?” asked Joe, his eyes wide at the thought of it.

 

“Nah!” Hoss admitted. “But Pa shot a deer and we caught lots of fish.” His eyes lit up. “We’re having some of both fer supper tonight. Pa’s cooking it cause Hop Sing ain’t here.”

 

“I know,” Joe said and then turned to his father. “We went on a long trip Pa,” he explained. “We went to the river and then over the mountain on Sport. Adam fell in the river … and that man’s got lots of cattle just like you …. the lady makes good cake, but we’re not telling Hop Sing …. and we cooked on the fire …. my boots got wet … the mountain was real tricky to ride over, but I didn’t get scared … and we watched the stars and saw mama up in the sky just like you said …. and …

 

Ben held up a hand. “Slow down,” he said to the excited boy. “There’s plenty of time to hear all the news.” He laughed as he put him on the ground and gave him a small playful swat on the backside. “Now the two of you scoot into the house and get washed up for supper.” He smiled as Hoss and Joe did as they were told and ran towards the washhouse, each of them talking non-stop to the other in their attempts to tell all the news of the past few days.

 

Ben turned to Adam who had dismounted and had come to stand next to his father. “I read your note,” he said. “Thank you for taking that bank draft to Sam, son. Any problems with it?”

 

“Well, it got a bit wet on the way,” admitted Adam sheepishly. “But it turned out to be OK.”

 

“Wet?” said his father with a twinkle in his eye. “Would that be the incident when you fell into the river that Joe was referring to?”

 

Adam shrugged. “Yes,” he admitted.

 

Ben put his arm around his son’s shoulder as they walked towards the house together. “Well if I’m not mistaken, I’d bet that the incident had something to do with Joseph?” he mused.

 

Adam shrugged again. “Yes,” he admitted and they both chuckled.

 

“Apart from that, was it a good trip?” asked Ben. “I know how demanding your youngest brother can be.”

 

Adam grinned at his father. “Actually it was a good trip,” he said. “All things considered.”

 

“Glad to hear it,” said Ben. “Come on …. Let’s get in for supper.”

 

 

The End