Summary:  The 1965 San Francisco earth tremor causes the Cartwrights to stop to consider a few issues.
Rating:  PG   6,435 words

The Call of Nature

“At precisely fifteen minutes to one PM Oct 8th, 1865,
the City of San Francisco was visited by
the heaviest shocks ever felt in the vicinity
 by the oldest inhabitants.”

“The Daily Alta California”
October 8th 1865

Adam Cartwright stepped down from the coach and tried to regain his balance as the ground beneath him suddenly shook. “What was that?” he heard the driver of the coach say in astonishment. Adam looked up at him surprise, not quite sure what to answer. As he opened his mouth to say something in reply, the man’s attention was diverted as the horses he was controlling suddenly became quite agitated and began prancing around and tossing their heads. “Whoa there!” the driver cried, trying to soothe the animals. Within a minute he had them somewhat under control again, but they were still obviously agitated. 

“What was that?” the driver said again, this time to no one in particular. Adam looked around the busy street where everyone had suddenly stopped and were all looking at each other as if asking the very same thing. Just as he could sense the crowd breathing a collective sigh of relief that nothing more severe had ensued, Adam began to feel the ground underneath his feet shifting again. Instinctively he grabbed hold of a hitching rail that was beside him and used it to steady himself as the ground began to shift beneath his feet.

Adam dropped to his knees and held onto the rail as around him people began to scream and run in all directions. He looked up and saw a large crack appear in the wall of the tall building across the street and several large pieces of plaster fell to the street below from the first floor. Several people ran out of the building and across the street, narrowly avoiding being hit by it.

Beside him, Adam suddenly heard a loud high-pitched scream and he turned to see a young woman struggling towards him with a young baby in her arms and a toddler beside her. He lunged forward and grabbed the child from his mother, cradling him in his arms as the mother sank down beside him. “I’ve got him,” he shouted over the sound of the chaos that was unfolding around them. “Hang on!” The woman looked at him gratefully and nodded slightly as she leant against the side of the building behind them both. The baby was screaming in her arms and she tried desperately to cover it with her shawl to shield it from the debris that was falling all around them now. Adam tried to ignore the struggling toddler’s screams in his ear and desperately held onto the youngster with one arm and the hitching rail with the other while around them the ground shifted in undulating patterns.

By now people were beginning to take cover and several horses had got loose and were running up and down the deserted street, a couple dragging carriages behind them. The high walls of the building opposite swayed as if made of paper and the roof began to crash down with resounding intermittent crashes. Adam prayed that no one was inside under all that weight. He glanced up to the top of the building behind himself and the young woman and said another prayer that it would hold firm, as they would no doubt be hit by the front wall if it began to fall.

As suddenly as it had begun, the shaking stopped and there was an eerie silence in the street. All that could be heard was the sobbing of several women and the shrieking of the toddler in Adam’s arms and the snuffling noises of his baby sibling in the young mother’s arms. “Do you think it’s over?” the young woman asked fearfully, checking that the baby was all right under her shawl.

“I sure as hell hope so ma’am,” said the driver of the carriage as he stood up. “Scuze the language,” he added absently.

The young woman nodded and looked at Adam, her terror still evident in her face. “Do you think it’s over?” she repeated.

Adam shook his head. “I’m not sure ma’am,” he said. “Best stay put for a few minutes just in case though.” He let go of the little boy in his arms who instantly crawled over to his mother and sat on her lap. She stroked his hair soothingly as she spoke again. “Thank you mister,” she said.

Adam nodded at her absently as he surveyed the damage around them. The street was practically unrecognisable as the busy thoroughfare it had been several minutes ago. The building opposite was a pile of rubble and the one next to it wasn’t much better. Several other buildings in the street had either parts of their walls or roofs missing and the sidewalk and street itself was uneven with large cracks visible right across it in several places.

Adam stood up tentatively and noticed several other people doing the same. Everyone looked around in a dazed fashion as if they couldn’t believe their eyes … as indeed they couldn’t. “I think it’s safe to move now ma’am,” Adam said, bending down to help the woman to her feet. 

She clutched the baby to her breast and held onto her little boy by the hand as she also looked around. “I’ve never experienced anything like that,” she breathed softly.

Adam shook his head. “Neither have I,” he admitted. “And I hope I never do again.” He glanced down at the frightened young woman and her two children. “Do you have far to go home?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Just two streets,” she said. “Thank you for helping us Mr ….” 

“Cartwright,” replied Adam as he tipped his hat. “Adam Cartwright.” He picked up the little toddler and motioned to her. “I’ll see you home safely ma’am.” 

She hesitated. “That really isn’t necessary,” she said half-heartedly.

“I insist,” said Adam. “Come.” 

She gave him a grateful smile and allowed him to lead her through the chaos and the dazed people that surrounded them. The toddler sat quietly in Adam’s arms as if in shock and even the baby by now had quietened and was still in its mother’s arms. By the time they had reached the street that the woman pointed out to Adam, the eerie silence had been shattered by the rush of people running to get to wherever their loved ones were to check on them. The toddler and the baby seemed to sense everyone’s distress and remained quiet as Adam and their mother picked their way carefully through the piles of debris along the way. 

Suddenly a man ran towards them, his face a mask of anxiety and his head cut and bleeding. “Thank God!” he shouted and swept the young woman into a tight embrace. 

Adam stood by with the toddler still in his arms as the two embraced. As soon as she freed herself form her husband’s embrace, the young woman turned to him and spoke. “Mr Cartwright helped us,” she informed him as she reached up to touch his cut head. “Are you all right?” 

“I’m fine,” he assured her. “It’s nothing.” He reached out his hand to shake Adam’s. “How can I thank you?” he asked.

“Think nothing of it,” replied Adam, handing the man his young son. “You’d best get that cut seen to if you want my advice though.” 

The man held onto his little boy tightly with one arm and placed the other around his wife and baby. “I will Mr Cartwright,” he said. “And again, thank you.” 

Adam tipped his hat to them before walking back down the chaotic street again. He was horrified to see ancient trees in the park nearby ripped up as though they were small saplings, their giant roots exposed and looking stark as they reached upwards towards the sky. There would be so much cleaning up to do in the city, Adam surmised. He thanked the Lord that he hadn’t been hurt and said a silent prayer that no one had been seriously injured during the earth tremor.

As he approached his hotel, he saw a large crowd of people gathered in front of it and instantly realised why. A water pipe had broken outside the building and water was flooding everywhere. One harassed policeman was trying to stop the crowds from pressing too close and getting wet, while also trying to answer numerous questions from bystanders about the state of the building. Adam felt sorry for him and stepped forward. “Is there anything I can do to help?” he asked.

The policeman gave him a grateful look before grabbing him by the arm. “Just stand here and stop them all from going up that way,” he said before turning back to answer another question. Adam did as he was asked and spent the next half hour directing people around the debris and the wet filth in the middle of the street. Everyone co-operated and listened to his instructions and from what Adam could see most of them were still in a daze as a result of what had happened. They weren’t ready to question, but simply took advice from someone who told them what to do. From what Adam could see, this city wasn’t going to recover any time soon from this afternoon and the devastation that the earth tremor had caused.

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Hoss looked up and nudged Joe. “Quit it will ya?” said Joe testily as he nearly overbalanced with the sack of grain he was easing onto the back of the buckboard. “I nearly dropped that!” Hoss nudged him again and pointed to their father who was approaching along the sidewalk. One look at him was enough for both of them to see that he was distressed about something and they both looked at him anxiously.

“What’s the matter Pa?” asked Joe quickly. “What’s wrong?” 

Ben waved a piece of paper in the air. “It’s a wire from Adam in San Francisco,” he said.

Joe and Hoss exchanged a look. “Is something the matter with him?” asked Hoss. “Did something happen?” 

Ben nodded. “Something has happened,” he replied. “But your brother is all right thank God,” he added quickly as he noticed the anxious looks spring to both their faces instantly. “He sent a wire to let us know that he’s fine.” 

Hoss looked puzzled. “Any reason why he shouldn’t be?” he asked.

Ben sighed. “Apparently there’s been an earth tremor in San Francisco,” he said. “Quite a big one by the sound of it.” He looked across the street. “There’s the stage from Sacramento coming in now. I’ll see if there’s any news in the latest newspaper. He stepped off the sidewalk and crossed the street, followed by Hoss and Joe. 

“Is Adam leaving for home sooner than he thought now Pa?” asked Joe as they approached the stage.

Ben shook his head. “No. In fact, he says in his wire that he’s going to stay on a bit longer than expected. It seems that there are quite a few folks in the city needing help and he’s volunteered his services.” 

Joe made a face to Hoss. “Must be a lot of damage then,” he said. “Do they have a newspaper Pa?” 

“I hope so,” said his father over his shoulder. Ben waited until the driver had alighted and helped the few passengers from the stage before approaching him. “Morning Vern,” he said. “I was hoping to get the latest newspaper from California if you brought any.”

The driver reached up on top to where he’d been sitting and pulled down a stack. “Here,” he said. “I managed to get a few of the Daily Atlas before I left Sacramento. I suppose you’ll be wanting ta read all bout that earth tremor seeing as how Adam’s in Sacramento.” 

Ben gave the man as half-smile as he handed him several coins in exchange for the paper. It never ceased to amaze him how everyone around here seemed to know everyone else’s business, but he figured that it had its advantages at times. “Yes,” he said, glancing at the paper.

“Adam OK?” asked Vern.

“It appears so,” replied Ben, scanning the front page. “My goodness it seems bad. Those poor people.” 

“Read it out Pa,” suggested Joe as the word spread and several people began to cluster around.

Ben cleared his throat and began:  

“The second shock was very severe, and high walls waved and swayed in the air like willow branches in the wind. Windows, wherever pinched or slightly strained, were wrecked in an instant; plastering came down in showers, bells rung, walls cracked and general consternation ensued.”

“Wow!” said Joe, giving a soft whistle between his teeth. “Wish I’d seen it!” 

Ben gave his youngest son a severe glance. “This was no fun, I can assure you of that young man,” he admonished him. “People’s lives and property were at risk here!” 

Joe swallowed and instantly looked ashamed of himself. “Yes sir,” he muttered and pulled his hat forward over his head to hide his face a little.

“Was anyone killed Pa?” asked Hoss.

Ben scanned the paper again. “I don’t think so,” he said. “Here’s a bit more.” 

“Scarcely a house in the city that does not show some mark of the visitation, in cracked walls, open joints, flaked plaster, or a cranky position and many of the heavy brick structures are so shaken up and twisted as to be dangerous to the occupants.” 

“Them poor folks,” breathed Hoss and several people around him nodded in agreement. “Makes ya wanna do something for em don’t it?” he said.

Ben sighed again. “Yes,” he said. “I’m sure that there are many displaced and unhappy families in that city today.” He nodded around at the crowd. “I’m sure there’ll be more news presently,” he said, noting several people with anxious expressions on their faces. He knew that everyone in the town probably had friends or relatives in San Francisco, just as the Cartwrights did.

The crowd began to buzz with the news and Ben drew Joe and Hoss to one side. “I think we’d better get on home boys,” he said in a low voice. “Leave everyone to their thoughts now.” 

“Pa?” asked Joe as they crossed back over the street again and headed towards their buckboard.

“Yes son?” replied his father. 

“I was just thinking,” mused Joe. “Ya never know when something like that is gonna happen do ya?” 

Ben shook his head wearily. “No son,” he acknowledged. “You never do.” 

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Adam handed the old man a plate of hot steaming soup and smiled as he took hold of it with two shaking hands. “Steady there,” he said gently. “Here, I’ll put it on the table for you.” 

The elderly man looked up at him gratefully. “Thank you young man,” he said. He picked up his spoon and took a tentative sip. “It’s so good to have something hot.” 

“Are you staying here tonight?” asked Adam, as he handed another bowl of hot soup to a young woman sitting nest to the elderly man.

“Yes,” he said. “I’ll be here until they tell me that my building is safe to go to. They say it might be a week.” 

“You’re lucky,” said the young woman. “My building is completely destroyed. The front wall was completely destroyed so they’ve decided to knock the rest of it down as well.” 

“What will you do now then?” asked Adam, stirring the pot of soup in his hand. He continued to walk around the table filling up people’s bowls as he listened.

The woman sighed. “I really don’t know,” she said. “I’ve lived in San Francisco all my life and I don’t want to leave, but after what’s happened I can’t honestly say that I feel safe enough to stay.” 

“That’s just nonsense,” scoffed a man opposite her. “Earthquakes like that one could happen anywhere. We were just unlucky that’s all.” 

“We sure were,” said another man. “I heard tell that the front walls of the City Hall building are badly cracked and you can see the rafters in some places. Some people even heard the bell in the tower ringing when the quake hit …. It was so strong.” 

The woman paled. “Do you think it’ll happen again?” she asked.

The man shrugged. “Who can tell?” he said casually, sipping his soup. “I sure hope not though. There’s enough folks round here without anywhere to live now as it is.” He looked around the crowded community hall and then up at Adam. “You lose your home too mister?” he asked.

Adam shook his head. “I’m from out of town,” he said. “Just helping out while I’m here.” 

The woman smiled at him. “That’s good of you,” she said. “Folks like us with …” she caught her breath on a sob. “… with nothing left now really appreciate it.” 

Adam smiled at her and patted her on the arm comfortingly. “It’s the least I can do,” he said. “It’s a dreadful thing to have happened.

“Sure is,” said the first man miserably. “There’s whole families … some of em with tribes of young kids too … all with no where to g now.” He made a face. “I guess the City Council will try their best, but they won’t be able to do everything at once. There’s an awful lot of re-building to be done.” 

“I saw a large housing block on the corner of Battery and Washington street so badly damaged that the fireman who climbed up onto the roof said that he could see clear down to the basement form up there,” said the elderly man. He shook his head sadly. “It don’t bear thinking about.” 

There was silence around the table for a moment as everyone pondered their own difficult circumstances. After a moment the first man spoke again.  “I heard tell that the house of the California Engine Company on Market St is so badly damaged that the Chief of the Fire Department has ordered the engine to be removed to the Corporation Yard for safety. It looks as if the whole building will have to come down.”

“Surely not,” said Adam.

The man nodded. “Looks like it,” he said. “That’s not going to help them to get their jobs done either,” he added. “Seems that everywhere you look in this city of ours at the moment there’s going to be things to be done.” He looked around the busy hall again. “Thank God for places like this where we can at least get a hot meal and a roof over our heads. Thanks for the soup mister.” 

“You’re welcome,” said Adam thoughtfully as he moved onto the next table.

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Ben stopped outside his son’s bedroom and was surprised to see that Joe was sitting on the windowsill looking out into the moonlit yard thoughtfully. “Joe?” he said in a low voice. “I thought you would have been asleep hours ago son.” 

Joe looked up at his father and shook his head. “I couldn’t sleep,” he said in a soft voice. “I was thinking about all those poor people in San Francisco.” 

Ben nodded and sat down on a chair next to him. “So have I,” he acknowledged.

Joe shook his head. “Sure musta been scary,” he said. “I really didn’t mean what I said today bout wishing I could have seen it. I wasn’t thinking about how bad it musta been.” 

“I know son,” said his father. 

Joe grinned at him. “I spose it was just one of those times like you always say,” he said. “When my mouth works before my brain.” 

Ben returned the grin. “I have been known to say that a time or two haven’t I?” he said.

Joe nodded. “Yeah. Well anyways, I’ve been thinking … makes you kinda wonder why God does that sorta thing don’t it? It just don’t seem right.” 

Ben sighed and shifted to a more comfortable position in his chair. “Lots of things in this world don’t seem right to us at times Joe,” he said. “We’ve just got to believe that God knows what He’s doing.” 

Joe frowned. “Yeah, but why would he do that to all those people?” he asked. “They didn’t even know it was coming. They had no warning or nothing.” 

Ben thought for a moment. “I don’t really any answer as to why Joe, but I do know that sometimes we don’t give God enough credit for warning us.” 

Joe gave his father a startled look. “What do you mean?” he asked.

“I mean that perhaps if they’d stopped and read the signs then they might have know it was coming,” replied Ben. “Nature usually has a way of telling us things if only we’d stop and look around us and take note.” 

“I don’t get it Pa,” replied Joe. “What do you mean? Are you saying that God sent them messages or something before the quake hit?” 

Ben nodded. “In a way,” he said. “Who really knows? All I know is that I’ve seen many natural disasters over the years …. Some of them at sea years ago and some of them right here on The Ponderosa … and every time there has been some sort of warning.” He smiled at Joe’s puzzled face and leant over to stroke the back of his neck soothingly. “I’m not explaining myself very well am I?” he said with a gentle smile. “You know the best person for you to have this conversation with would actually be your brother.” 

Joe made a face. “Mr Know-It-All Adam is in San Francisco Pa. You know that,” he said.

Ben raised an eyebrow. “Actually this time I wasn’t meaning Adam,” he said. “I was referring to Hoss.” 

Joe looked even more startled than before. “Hoss?” he spluttered. “How come?” 

Ben smiled once more. “Talk to him tomorrow about it and you’ll see what I mean,” he said, getting up. “Sometimes we don’t give Hoss enough credit for things you know Joe. That brother of yours knows an awful lot about nature and God’s ways and I’m sure he’d be willing to share his thoughts with you on the topic.” He reached down and felt Joe’s arm through his thin nightshirt. “Now into bed with you,” he said. “You’re cold sitting here.” 

“OK Pa,” said Joe, getting up. “I’ll talk to Hoss about it all tomorrow. Night.” 

“Good night son,” said his father as he walked towards the open doorway. “Sweet dreams,” he added with emphasis.

Joe smiled, before getting into bed.

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Charles Whittaker looked up from his desk and smiled as the young man walked into his office. “Adam!” he said, standing up and holding his hand out to shake. “Good to see you. I’d heard that you were in San Francisco. How’s your father?”  He motioned for Adam to sit down.

“Fine thank you sir,” replied Adam, sitting down on the other side of the desk. “How are you? No damage to your building by the look of it.” 

Charles sat down as well. “No thank God,” he said. “We were lucky. It’s business as usual here.” He sat back in his chair and crossed his legs. “So … what brings you here? What do you have on your mind?” 

Adam gave him a half smile. “What makes you think I have something on my mind?” he asked.

Charles returned the smile. “Because I know you Cartwrights. Your father doesn’t have any particular business with my firm at the moment and if you had wanted to make a social call you would have done it when you first arrived a week ago.” He raised his eyebrows. “So I’m figuring that you’re wanting to talk about something.” 

“You thought right,” replied Adam. “Actually, I was hoping for your help with something.” 

“Of course,” said Charles. “Anything for the son of my good friend Ben. Are you all right? Were you hurt in the quake? Any of your luggage damaged?” 

Adam shook his head. “No … I’m fine,” he said. “I was lucky too. Actually I wasn’t thinking about myself. I was thinking of others.” 

“Go on,” said Charles, picking up a pencil and tapping it on the desk. He gave Adam a thoughtful look and considered just how like his father he was.

“Well in the last few days I’ve been helping out where I can,” continued Adam. “At one of the local shelters they have set up for the homeless people.” 

Charles nodded. “Poor wretches,” he said. “There are a lot of families really feeling this I know. It’s good of you to help son.” 

Adam waved the compliment aside. “It’s the least I can do,” he said simply. “Anyway, it started me thinking. I’ve been listening to an awful lot of stories from people who’ve lost everything and I was thinking that there must be something that can be done for them.” 

Charles nodded again. “Go on,” he said. 

“Well I was thinking of some sort of relief fund,” said Adam. “I know that the city will help them for now, but once the immediate relief is over there’ll be nothing for hundreds of people who will need support for a long time to come. Maybe a relief fund to help them build new homes again would be the answer.” 

Charles tapped the pencil on his chin thoughtfully. “Yes,” he said. “I see wheat you’re saying. So why have you come to me?”

“You know the city,” said Adam sitting forward in his chair eagerly. “You’d know who to go to get this thing going. I thought that I’d wire my father and I’m sure that he’d send a considerable donation to start things off, but it’s going to need some strong business men to really get it moving.” 

“And the backing of the city council,” said Charles.

“Yes,” agreed Adam. “And I thought that you might have those connections too. So what do you say? Are you willing to help?” 

Charles sat forward in his chair. “I surely will,” he said. “I think it’s a wonderful idea Adam and I’m sure that I can rally quite a few of the business men in this district to make some considerable contributions to it. Are you willing to help organise some meetings?” 

“I’ll do whatever it takes,” said Adam, a grin spreading over his face instantly. “Thank you.” 

Charles shook his head. “I’m the one who should be thanking you young man,” he said. “Lone of us should have thought of this sooner for those poor people.” He stood up. “It’s going to take a considerable amount of time you know Adam. Are you prepared to stay in the city for a while longer until this thing gains some momentum?” 

“I sure am,” said Adam enthusiastically, getting to his feet as well and shaking Charles’ hand. “I’ll wire my father immediately and let him know what I’m doing.” 

“Come to supper at my house tonight,” replied Charles. “I’ll see if I can get a few others there and we’ll talk.” 

“Yes sir,” said Adam as he turned to the door. “Thank you.” He stopped and turned as Charles spoke his name.

“Adam, I just wanted to say that your Pa would be proud of you,” said Charles. “I’ve known Ben Cartwright for a great many years and you’re very much like him young man.” 

Adam looked startled for a moment and then smiled. “Well, considering what I think of my father, that’s the greatest compliment you could have given me,” he said. 

“It was meant to be,” replied Charles simply. “Absolutely.” 

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Joe sat down on an upturned barrel and grinned at Hoss who was raking out a stall in the barn. “Ain’t you got nuthin ta do?” asked Hoss testily. “Whatcha grinning at me like that fer anyways?” 

Joe shrugged and bent down to pick up a piece of hay which he stuck in his mouth and began to chew on it. “Oh I’ve got things to do,” he said casually. “I just ain’t doing em yet.” He grinned at his brother again. “Pa said I should have a talk with you,” he continued.

Hoss stopped raking and gave his brother a suspicious look. “What about?” he asked. “What have ya done now?” 

Joe put on an offended look. “Me?” he said defensively. “What makes you think I’ve done anything?”

“Cause ya usually have,” replied Hoss, starting to rake again.

“Well I haven’t,” said Joe huffily. “Actually, Pa suggested that I ask you advice about something.” 

Hoss’ expression instantly changed to one of pride. “Yeah?” he said. “Well ask away then little brother. What can I help ya with?” 

Joe took the piece of straw out of his mouth before replying. “I was talking to Pa last night bout the earth quake in San Francisco,” he began. “He reckoned that nature gives us warnings bout things like that and he said that you’d be the best one to tell me bout it.” 

Hoss nodded thoughtfully and stopped work again to lean on his rake. “I reckon he’s right Joe,” he said. “We do get lotsa warning bout things if only we’d stop and listen to em and look fer em.” 

“Yeah but like what?” persisted Joe. 

Hoss thought for a moment. “Well, like the weather fer a start,” he said. 

“Like when your bunions hurt before a storm?’ giggled Joe.

Hoss gave his younger brother a frustrated look. “In a way,” he admitted. “Ya see Joe, the weather jest don’t happen all at once. We gotta look fer the signs in the clouds and the wind and …” 

“Like looking at what kind of clouds like we used to when we were kids?’ suggested Joe.

“Sure,” replied Hoss, warming to one of his favourite subjects now. “Only not looking fer shapes and stuff … more like what kinds they are.” 

“Well storm clouds are easy to spot,” said Joe casually. “There’s nothing hard in that.” 

“Yeah,” agreed Hoss. “But ya I’m talking bout all the other kinds of clouds …. Not just wether they’re while or black. I don’t know all them fancy names fer em … Pa could tell ya that having been a sailor and all …. But I do know that if ya look at em closely then you can tell what’s gonna happen.” He motioned for Joe to follow him as he walked to the open doorway of the barn. “See up there?” he said, pointing to the sky. “See how them clouds is thinner on the inside than on the edges?” 

“Yeah,” said Joe, looking up. “You can see the sun through em. So what?” 

“Well they’re kinda grey in the middle, but bunched up on the outside,” said Hoss. He sniffed the air. “It usually means a bit of snow or rain is about.” 

Joe looked at him sceptically. “Yeah?” he said.

Hoss nodded firmly. “Yeah,” he said. “Now if the middle of em was more … well kinda rippled … less grey, then the rain would be only a drizzle.” He grinned at Joe who was looking at him with admiration. “Ya just gotta learn ta look is all.” 

Joe looked at the clouds above for a moment while Hoss went back to his raking again. “Hey Hoss?” he said. “Maybe we could go cloud watching when we’re fishing sometime … like when we were kids? Only you could teach me more bout what they mean.” 

“Sure,” replied Hoss. “Any time Joe.” 

Joe sat down on the barrel again. “So what else?” he persisted. “I mean … apart from clouds. What else do ya look for?” 

Hoss scratched his head. “I dunno,” he said. “Lotsa things I reckon. “Which way the wind is blowing, whether or not the temperature stays up or down fer long …. Ya gotta put it all together fer it to mean much. Sometimes ya can jest tell by smelling the air.” 

“Yeah?” Joe looked at his brother with new insight.

“Yeah,” said Hoss. “There’s other ways too of course but. Like looking at plants.” 

“Plants?” giggled Joe. “Yeah right!”

Hoss glanced at his brother. “I’m serious Joe,” he said. “If ya bother to stop and look, ya can tell a lot from plants. Whether or not they curl up their leaves  … how long they open their flowers for. They’re all signs of what happening with the weather.” 

“I never thought of looking at plants,” admitted Joe. “I know that horses can get might skittish when there’s a storm coming though.” 

“Now just horses,” said Hoss. “Lotsa animal do. Ever watched birds?  They get mite agitated before a storm. Even ants make fer higher ground when a storm is coming up. Squirrels do too.” 

Joe thought for a moment. “I reckon they do,” he agreed. “Problem is though, how many people in cities like San Francisco would get the chance to watch for animals and plants like that?” 

“Or look at clouds and such,” agreed Hoss. “That’s the thing Joe. Out here where God meant fer us ta be, it’s easy to watch fer them things. I reckon them poor folks in the cities ain’t got much hope of knowing bout them things. They’s too busy getting from one place to another to care and even if they did …. Well they can’t exactly stop and watch fer squirrels can they?” He shook his head sadly. “Jest goes ta show what I’ve always said Joe. God never meant fer us ta live in big cities. I’m happy out here close ta the land and nature where we’re meant ta be. It seems ta me that everything gets a bit lost in them cities.” 

Joe gave his brother an admiring look and Hoss looked somewhat embarrassed. “You sure know a lot don’t ya Hoss?” said Joe after a moment.

Hoss shrugged. “I can’t say it in them fancy words,” he said. “But I know how I feel. I just don’t explain it too well Joe.” 

Joe shook his head. “You explain it just fine brother,” he said. “No one could have said it better.” He smiled at his brother and Hoss returned the look.

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Adam stepped down from the stage and looked around before reaching up and catching the bag that the driver threw down to him. “Thanks Vern,” he said. “See you next time!” He turned to his father and brothers who were standing waiting for him and held out his hand. “Long time no see,” he said.

Ben took his son’s hand and pumped it up and down enthusiastically. “How are you boy?” he asked. “Is everything all right with you?” 

Adam nodded as he shook Hoss’ hand and then punched Joe playfully on the arm. “I’m fine,” he said. “Much better off than those poor people back in San Francisco.” He looked around again. “An experience like that really makes you appreciate what you have.” 

Ben nodded. “Let’s talk on the way home,” he said, leading the way to where their buggy was tied up. He waited until Adam had put his bag onto the back seat and then climbed up beside it, before saying with a great deal of pride in his voice. “You did very well son. I’m proud of you.” 

Adam smiled down at his father. “Thanks,” he said. “And thanks for the money you sent. It really helped to get things started.” 

“So the Relief Fund took off then?” asked Ben as he climbed up onto the front seat next to Hoss.” 

Adam nodded. “Sure did,” he said. “A lot of businessmen really got behind it and one thing just led to another. They should be able to fund quite a few apartment buildings now for a lot of homeless families.” He shifted over for Joe to sit next to him before adding. “I thought I might go back again in a couple of weeks just to see if I can help them get it to the next phase. If that’s all right with you,” he added.

“Of course it’s all right with me,” said his father over his shoulder. “Whatever we can do to help those poor people.” 

“Tell us about it Adam,” urged Joe. “Was it real scary?” 

Adam nodded. “Well I must admit that it was,” he said. “I’ve never been so scared in my life. It was as if no one had any control over anything for a few minutes there. I honestly thought that the building behind me would come toppling down on top of me for a while. Whole streets were wiped out and buildings that had stood for years just disappeared. Even in the park … large trees were uprooted.” 

Ben shook his head again. “Poor people,” he murmured. “I remember years ago when I was on a ship on the coast of Brazil. We experienced a hurricane at sea and saw later on what it had done to some of the towns along the coast. Whole villages just simple wiped out. There’s an awful lot of suffering in this world.” 

“Me and Hoss was talking about it,” said Joe. “Bout how nature gives warnings and stuff, but lots of people just don’t listen to em. Hard for em to in towns but, ain’t it?” 

“It is indeed,” said his father. “People become conditioned to not heeding the signs of nature, that’s true.” 

“Well I don’t know if anyone could have predicted that earthquake,” said Adam. But I must admit that some skittish horses just before made me wonder if something was about to happen. Animal sure seem to have a second sense about these things.” 

“They sure do,” said Hoss. “They know a lot more than we do that’s fer sure.” 

Ben smiled at him. “I learnt an awful lot about nature when I was a sailor and more since,” he said. “But you seem to have an instinct for such things son. Its not a learned thing with you … it comes naturally.” 

“Hoss looked embarrassed and pleased at the same time. “Aw Pa,” he said.

“I’m serious,” continued Ben. “Take the compliment for what it’s worth son. You’re the best I know of at such things.” 

“He sure is good at it,” agreed Joe. “He can tell the weather just by looking at clouds and plants and stuff. Hoss knows an awful lot.” He looked at his brother proudly and Hoss puffed out his chest.

“Pity there aren’t more men lie you around Hoss,” said Adam. “Maybe we’d all be better prepared for the force of nature if there were.” 

“Amen to that son,” said Ben. “Amen to that.” 

The End