Summary:  Adam is tired of the responsibility of looking after his little brother Joe
Rating:  G  9,710 words

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Responsibility

 

The lamp cast a shadow on the wall as Adam shifted his position to tilt his book towards the low light that emanated from it.  He turned a page contentedly and cuddled down further under the covers, content to hear the rain pattering on the bedroom window.  He felt very snug and cosy lying there with nothing to do but read and stretched contentedly under the covers.

 

Suddenly the quiet was shattered by a little voice beside him. ‘Adam?’  

 

Adam looked up to see his little brother standing beside him, one hand behind his back and the other planted firmly in his mouth. ‘What are you doing here?’ he said sternly. ‘You’re supposed to be asleep.’

 

Little Joe took his thumb out of his mouth and grinned. ‘Come in your bed,’ he said happily.

 

Adam pulled the cover up around his shoulders. ‘No. Go back in your own bed,’ he said firmly.

 

Little Joe shook his head. ‘No,’ he said just as firmly. ‘Come in your bed.’  He tried to climb up into his brother’s bed, but it was too high and he slid down again. 

 

‘Go away,’ said Adam crossly. Little Joe shook his head again and tried once more without success to get into his brother’s bed.  Adam sighed as he flung back the covers and felt the cold night air on his skin.  He got out of bed, picked up the little boy and carried him back to his bedroom.  ‘Now stay there,’ he instructed as he deposited Little Joe in his bed and left the room.

 

He was just getting cosy again when he felt someone’s eyes upon him and looked up to see Little Joe once more standing and looking at him. ‘I told you to stay in bed,’ he said crossly.  His little brother didn’t answer, but simply stood looking at him as he sucked on his thumb. ‘Go away!’ shouted Adam, louder than he had meant to, but his words only brought another grin from his little brother. Adam made a face and got out of bed again.  He picked up the little boy, none too gently this time and marched down the hallway with him.  As he reached his brother’s doorway he heard a sound behind him.

 

‘What’s the matter?’ asked his stepmother as she appeared at the door of his parents’ bedroom.

 

‘He won’t stay in his bed!’ said Adam angrily. ‘He keeps coming into my room and disturbing me!’

 

Marie took her little son from Adam’s arms. ‘I’ll put him back into bed,’ she said. ‘Keep your door closed and then it won’t be a problem.’

 

Adam glared at her. ‘I don’t see why I should have to!’ he said. ‘That kid should learn to do as he’s told.’

 

Marie raised an eyebrow. ‘Go back to bed Adam,’ she said. ‘And put your lamp out.  You’ve been told before not to read this late.’  She frowned. ‘Now hurry up.’

 

Adam stomped off down the hallway. Trust Little Joe to get him into trouble!  That kid always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time! 

 

⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥

 

‘More bread David?’ asked Marie giving their neighbour a lovely smile.

 

‘Thank you,’ he said taking a slice. He passed the plate to Martha his wife and turned to Ben again. ‘It’s so nice of you both to have us over for a meal.’

 

‘Well its hard when you’re new in a district,’ replied Ben. ‘I remember how other folks helped me when I arrived with the boys, so it’s the least we can do.’

 

‘After all we’re neighbours now,’ said Marie. ‘You don’t know how nice it is for me to have a woman close by.’ She glanced around the table. ‘Sometimes I feel a bit out numbered with all these men around.’  She leant over to catch Little Joe’s cup before he spilt the entire contents over the tablecloth.  ‘Careful Little Joe.  Hoss stop fidgeting please.’

 

Hoss gave his stepmother a pained expression. ‘Can I go now?’ he asked. ‘I’m all done.’

 

Marie glanced at Ben. ‘Yes alright,’ she said. 

 

‘Come on Adam,’ said Hoss as he got up from the table.  Adam stood up as well, ready to follow his brother.  At fourteen he liked to think of himself as grownup, but the talk around the table had bored even him and he was just as anxious to escape as his younger brother.

 

‘Me too!’ announced Little Joe and began to bang his spoon on the table.

 

Adam grabbed Hoss by the arm. ‘Come on,’ he said in a low voice. He had no intention of being lumbered with their little brother.  At two years of age Little Joe was quite a handful and Adam didn’t want the responsibility of being left with him.

 

‘Me too!’ repeated Little Joe, banging his spoon even louder this time and trying to get down from his chair. 

 

‘Take your little brother please Adam,’ said his father, taking the spoon out of Little Joe’s hand to stop the noise.

 

‘I can’t,’ said Adam. ‘We’re going fishing this afternoon.’

 

‘Me too!’ said Little Joe. ‘Me fish!’

 

‘No little one,’ said Marie giving his curls a pat. ‘You’re too little to go near the water without Mama or Papa with you.’ Little Joe stuck out his lower lip and began to pout.  He hated being called little.

 

‘Marie and I want to have some time with David and Martha, so I’d like you to watch your brothers outside for a while please Adam,’ repeated Ben. ‘You can go fishing another time.’

 

‘But Pa!’ 

 

Ben gave his eldest son a look that made him close his mouth again.  With a frown, Adam lifted his little brother down from his chair and took his hand ungraciously. ‘Come on Hoss,’ he muttered, giving his father a dark look.

 

‘Don’t take him out of the yard please Adam,’ called Marie. Adam said nothing in reply, but closed the door none too quietly as he left the room with his brothers. He pulled on Little Joe’s arm as he sat down on the front porch, Hoss settling down beside him.  Little Joe squealed.

 

‘Be quiet, you,’ said Adam angrily. ‘You’ve done enough without carrying on as well.’

 

Hoss stared at his older brother. ‘Now we can’t go fishing,’ he said mournfully.

 

‘Tell me about it,’ said Adam glaring at his brother. ‘And its all his fault!’ he pointed at their little brother who was happily digging in the dirt with a stick. ‘I don’t see why I should have to have my afternoon spoilt just because he’s such a baby!’

 

‘Yeah,’ agreed Hoss sadly. ‘Well what can we do instead Adam?’ he asked.

 

‘What can we do with him tagging along?’ replied Adam. ‘You heard Marie say he couldn’t go out of the front yard.’

 

Hoss sighed.  ‘Well it ain’t Little Joe’s fault,’ he said. ‘He can’t help it iffen he’s too little to go fishing I spose.’

 

Adam glared at their little brother as if he could help it. Little Joe looked up at him and grinned, oblivious to his older brother’s feelings. He held up a worm that he’d dug up to show him. ‘Look!’ he said excitedly. ‘Worm!’

 

Adam continued to glare at him. ‘So what!’ he muttered under his breath and looked away.  

 

Little Joe stood up and waved the worm under Adam’s nose. ‘Worm,’ he repeated. 

 

Adam turned and glared at him again. ‘Get lost,’ he said angrily. Little Joe’s bottom lip quivered and his eyes filled with tears as he looked at his brother. ‘Oh stop being such a baby,’ said Adam.

 

Hoss frowned. ‘He is a baby Adam,’ he said. ‘He can’t help it.’

 

‘Well I’m sick of him,’ said Adam as he kicked his boot in the dust. ‘I don’t get to do anything because of him!’  He glanced over at the little boy who was busy inspecting his worm again. ‘Why did I have to be born the eldest?’

 

Hoss was silent, not knowing if an answer was expected of him. He kicked his boot in the dust in imitation of his older brother and hung his head. Suddenly Adam’s voice made him look up sharply. ‘Stop that!’

 

Little Joe had one hand up to his mouth and his eyes were wide as he stared at his older brother.  Hoss watched as Adam swiftly pulled his little brother towards him and hit his hand away from his face.  There dangling from Little Joe’s mouth was half a worm, the other half obviously having found it’s way inside the small pink lips. ‘Open your mouth!’ Adam yelled. ‘Spit it out!’  He prised open the little boy’s mouth and pulled the worm out before throwing it on the ground. ‘That’s dirty!’ he yelled loudly. ‘Don’t do that again!’

 

Little Joe began to cry and took a step back from his brother. ‘Aw, leave him alone Adam,’ said Hoss. ‘He don’t know no better.’

 

Adam glared at Hoss. ‘He does!’ he declared. ‘He knows not to eat worms.  He’s just doing it to get me into trouble for not looking after him properly.’  He turned to Little Joe again who was quietly sobbing. ‘You be quiet!’ he said and shook him. ‘Do you hear me Little Joe?  Shut up!’  He gave him a hard smack on the bottom and the little boy’s sobs turned into howls. He ran over to Hoss and cuddled into him.

 

‘Boys! What’s going on out here?’ Their father’s voice came from behind them and they all turned at the sound of it. 

 

Little Joe ran over to his father, his sobs coming thick and fast now.  He buried his face into his father’s legs, just below the knees which was as high as he could reach. ‘Papa,’ he sobbed. ‘Papa.’

 

Ben looked down at his little son and picked him up. ‘What’s going on here?’ he repeated looking at both Hoss and Adam sternly. ‘What did you do to him?’

 

‘Nothing,’ declared Adam. ‘He’s just being a pain.’

 

Little Joe raised his head, the tears streaming down his face and looked at his father. ‘Worm,’ he said dejectedly.

 

Ben looked puzzled. ‘What?’

 

‘He was eating a worm,’ said Hoss. ‘He had it in his mouth.’

 

‘I see,’ said Ben. ‘Was there any need to get him so upset about it though?’

 

Adam stood up, his hand on his hips. ‘How come it’s always our fault,’ he said angrily. ‘How come he never gets into trouble even when he’s done something wrong?’

 

Ben stared at his son. ‘Because he’s only a baby,’ he said. ‘And both of you are old enough to know better.’

 

‘Well he shouldn’t eat worms!’ Adam declared, aware as the words came out of his mouth just how silly they sounded. ‘I’m sick of him anyway!’

 

Ben glared at him. ‘Oh you are, are you?’ he said. ‘Well that’s just too bad Adam.  Whether you like it or not your brother is a part of this family and ……’

 

‘Well I wish he wasn’t!’ Adam interrupted. ‘I wish he’d never been born!  All he ever does is make my life hard and stop me from doing what I want to!  I’m fed up with him!’

 

Ben blinked. He hadn’t expected an outburst like this from his normally mild-mannered oldest son, that was for sure. ‘I think you’d better go up to your room and think about what you’ve just said,’ he said quietly. ‘Nobody wants to hear that kind of talk from you.’

 

‘Gladly!’ declared Adam and stomped off inside before another word could be spoken. Ben stared after him in amazement as he cuddled a sobbing Little Joe.  

 

⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥

Ben entered his son’s room and looked at him a moment before speaking. ‘Would you like to tell me what that was all about?’ he asked the boy who was sitting on the windowsill.

 

‘Nothing,’ said Adam sulkily. 

 

‘Well it didn’t sound like nothing to me,’ replied his father. ‘You’ve got both your brothers upset and I’d like to know why.’

 

Adam glared at his father. ‘I’m just tired of having to look after that kid all the time.’

 

‘I take it you are talking about your baby brother?’ asked Ben frostily. 

 

‘Yes,’ said Adam. ‘Every time I turn around he’s in my way and I’m sick of it.’

 

Ben sat down on the edge of the bed. ‘Well first of all young man you are not expected to look after him all the time as you put it.  And secondly, as a member of this family I expect you to take on your share of responsibilities and that includes minding your little brother at times.’

 

‘Yeah but I never get to do what I want to!’ Adam declared.

 

‘That is not true Adam and you know it,’ replied Ben. ‘Don’t blame your baby brother for your bad mood young man.’ Adam didn’t reply, but simply stared out of the window as his father continued. ‘I’d like to know what suddenly brought this on Adam. You’ve always been very good about minding both your brothers when you’ve been asked to before. I thought you enjoyed their company.’

 

Adam shrugged. ‘I do,’ he said. ‘I mean, I do sometimes.  It’s just that……’

 

‘Yes?’

 

‘Well sometimes I just get sick of having them around and I want to do things by myself you know?’  he looked at his father. ‘Especially Little Joe.  It seems like he’s always in the way.’

 

‘Well son, that’s what part of being a family is all about,’ replied Ben. ‘Sometimes we all just have to put up with each other even when we may not feel like it.  It’s part of the responsibility of being a family member.’

 

Adam shrugged. ‘Yeah I know,’ he said in a low voice. ‘I’m sorry.’

 

‘Well I don’t think I’m the one you have to apologise to,’ replied Ben. ‘You upset both your brothers you know.’

 

‘I’ll make it up to them,’ said Adam.

 

Ben stood up and patted his son on the back. ‘Come downstairs when you’re ready to,’ he said. ‘And I don’t expect to hear more talk like that again.  Understood?’

 

‘Yes sir,’ said Adam as his father left the room. 

 

⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥

 

‘Oh…… and boots for Hoss,’ added Marie. ‘We mustn’t forget those.’

 

Ben added boots to the list and smiled. ‘Anything else?’ he asked teasingly. ‘Hoss I think you’ll have to get me another piece of paper to add all these things your Mama is suggesting.’

 

Marie hit her husband on the arm. ‘Stop it!’ she said. ‘You know as well as I do that we need each and every one of those things.’

 

Ben returned the smile as he put down his pencil and picked up his coffee cup. ‘Alright,’ he said. ‘Anything you need Adam?’

 

Adam’s eyes shone.  He really enjoyed the fact after all the years of having to do without things that his father was now able to buy at least some of the things for which he had always craved. ‘Well I could do with a ….’

 

‘No!’ Little Joe interrupted as he shook his head to avoid the spoonful of food that Marie was trying to shovel into his mouth. ‘No!’ he repeated.

 

‘A what?’ asked Ben, his voice rising over that of his youngest son’s.

 

‘A sketch book,’ finished Adam.

 

‘I didn’t know that you enjoyed sketching,’ said Ben.

 

‘Well I don’t really….. it’s just that…….’

 

‘Don’t want it!’ shouted Little Joe. ‘No!’

 

Adam tried again. ‘I thought that I’d like to….’

 

‘Want milk!’ declared Little Joe.

 

Adam raised his voice over his little brother’s. ‘I thought about trying some still-lifes,’ he said. ‘I’ve seen some pictures of…..’

 

‘Joseph sit down!’ said Ben angrily and reached over to pull his youngest son back into his chair. ‘What were you saying Adam?’

 

Adam sighed. ‘I thought I’d try some still-lifes,’ he repeated. ‘In that art book you gave me there are…..’

 

Little Joe reached over to grab his cup of milk again. ‘Sit down,’ said Ben sternly. ‘There are what Adam?’

 

‘There some pictures of…..’  Little Joe made another grab for the milk and tipped the cup sideways.  The trail of milk spread across the tablecloth and headed straight for Adam’s side of the table.  Within seconds he felt the sticky trail of liquid as it ran down onto his pants. He jumped up quickly, trying to mop it up with his napkin. ‘Now I’m going to have to get changed!’ he said angrily. ‘Thanks a lot Little Joe!’

 

‘He didn’t mean to do it Adam,’ said Marie quietly.

 

‘He never means to, but he does it all the same!’ said Adam angrily. 

 

‘Adam, do not speak to your stepmother like that!’ said Ben sternly.

 

‘Sorry,’ said Adam quietly.

 

‘You’d better go and change those pants,’ said Marie. ‘Hurry up though.  We need to leave for town soon.’ She set Little Joe’s cup upright again and looked at Ben as Adam left the room. ‘Hoss would you go upstairs and get my shawl for me please?’ she asked.

 

‘Sure,’ said Hoss and followed his brother upstairs. 

 

‘I don’t know what’s gotten into that boy lately,’ said Ben.

 

‘He’s just growing up Ben,’ replied Marie. ‘He wants some space that’s all.’

 

‘Well there’s no need for him to be rude about it.’

 

‘I don’t think he means to be.  He just can’t seem to help himself lately,’ replied Marie. ‘I’m sure it’s just a phase.’

 

‘Well I wish he hurry up and grow out of it,’ Ben said. ‘I’ve had just about enough of his moods.’

 

⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥

 

Ben reached up and helped Marie from the buggy, then stepped back as Hoss scrambled down as well.  He looked up at Adam was sitting with little Joe on his lap and reached for his youngest son. Adam looked at his father. ‘I’ll take him for a while if you like Pa,’ he said. ‘I could look after him while you’re busy.’

 

Ben tried to hide his smile.  He knew exactly why the sudden interest in looking after his brother, but he was willing to play the game.  ‘Well thank you Adam, but I wouldn’t want to give you all the responsibility of looking after him.’

 

‘I don’t mind Pa,’ replied Adam as he handed Little Joe to his father and then climbed down onto the street.  ‘I’ll be real careful of him.’

 

‘Well it would give Marie the chance to get those boots for Hoss,’ his father mused . ‘And I have some business at the bank to look after.’

 

Adam grinned. ‘Gee thanks Pa,’ he said as he reached for his little brother. ‘Come on Little Joe.  You wanna go with me?’

 

Little Joe held out his arms and bounced from his father’s arms into the outstretched ones of his brother with a giggle. ‘Go wiv Adam,’ he said gleefully.  He bounced up and down in his brother’s arms and clapped his hands at the thought of it.

 

Marie looked across at her stepson. ‘Adam be careful of him,’ she said. ‘You know what he’s like.’

 

‘He’ll be fine,’ replied Adam as he gave his little brother a tickle and grinned when he was rewarded with a giggle from the little boy. ‘Won’t you squirt?’

 

‘I want you back here in half an hour,’ said Ben. 

 

‘OK,’ said Adam as he turned to go. ‘Say ‘bye bye’, Little Joe.’

 

‘Bye bye,’ said Little Joe and waved over his brother’s shoulder as he carried him away.

 

‘Can’t I go with em?’ asked Hoss. ‘I can get them boots any old day.’

 

‘We’re getting them today,’ replied his stepmother.  She watched anxiously as Adam crossed the street, his little brother in his arms. Ben noticed the expression on her face. 

 

‘He’ll be fine with him,’ he assured her. ‘Adam’s very sensible, you know that.’

 

‘Yes I know,’ she said. ‘I just wonder why he’s suddenly so keen to look after Joe.  Yesterday he didn’t want anything to do with him.’

 

‘I think that eldest boy of ours has a very good idea of just how useful his little brother can be at times,’ replied Ben with a twinkle in his eye. ‘Look.’ He pointed to where Adam had stopped and was holding Little Joe up so that he could be admired by a few young girls who had stopped to look at the cute little boy.

 

‘Oh,’ said Marie with a giggle. ‘I see.’

 

‘See what?’ asked Hoss as he peered across the road trying to make out what they were talking about. 

 

‘I see that you need those new boots,’ said Marie with a wink at Ben. ‘Come on. We’ll meet you back here Ben.’

 

Ben continued to watch Adam as another young girl joined the group and tickled Little Joe in Adam’s arms. Ben laughed again. ‘That eldest boy of mine is not silly,’ he said out loud as he shook his head and strode off towards the bank.

 

Across the street, Little Joe was in his element as he became the centre of attention for four girls.  He cooed and clapped his hands happily as he giggled at them and listened to their endearing comments.  

 

‘He is so lovely Adam.  I bet he’ll break some hearts when he’s bigger.’

 

‘Hello Little Joe.  Who’s a good little boy?’

 

‘Can he talk Adam? What does he say?’

 

‘Look at that curly hair!  You are such a cutie aren’t you?’

 

Adam smiled at the girls and obligingly answered their questions, happy that his ploy of attracting the opposite sex had worked.  He even began to feel kindly towards Little Joe who was inadvertently helping him.  He took full advantage of the attention that he was getting through his little brother and used the time profitably to check out the girls and try to sound interesting to them.  

 

After a while he realised that he was doing quite well, for he managed to keep the conversation going and even had them laughing a couple of times.  Unfortunately, as the girls’ attention shifted to himself, it left Little Joe who didn’t take kindly to that development at all.  He wriggled in Adam’s arms and tried to interrupt.

 

‘Adam!’ he said, trying to turn his brother’s head to face in his direction.

 

‘Shh!’ said Adam, turning back to smile at one of the girls.

 

‘Adam!’ repeated Little Joe.

 

‘I said be quiet,’ said Adam, trying to keep the frustration from his voice for the sake of the girls. 

 

‘Wanna get down,’ said Little Joe, wriggling even more and attempting to throw himself down towards the ground, but Adam held onto him tightly.

 

‘Adam!’

 

Adam frowned at his younger brother and bent down to put him on the ground while he continued to talk. Little Joe looked up at his brother and tried to loosen his hand from the tight grip he had on it, but Adam frowned down at him and shook his head.  For a moment the little boy was still, then he began to hop from one foot onto the other as he giggled to himself.  

 

Little Joe looked up at his brother again. ‘Adam!’ he called.

 

‘Be quiet Little Joe,’ said Adam. ‘I’m talking.’

 

‘Wanna go!’

 

‘Shh!’

 

Little Joe tried to prise his hand out from his brother’s grip.  He looked up and grinned at the girls hoping that one of them might help him, but none of them responded to him any more as they were too busy talking to Adam.  After a few minutes of trying, Little Joe managed to loosen his hand from his brother’s one finger at a time and shook it angrily.

 

‘Stand still,’ instructed Adam as he turned to reply to one of the girls’ questions. 

 

Little Joe stamped his foot angrily and pouted at his brother. ‘Wanna go!’ he repeated.

 

‘Shh!’

 

‘Wanna go!’  This time his little voice was more insistent.  When Adam didn’t respond at all he took a step sideways while he watched his brother for a reaction.  When none came, he took another step and then another. 

 

Adam was enjoying the attention he was receiving from all the girls. He couldn’t remember a time when he had had the opportunity to hold a conversation with four girls at once and he was happy to bask in it while he could.  He felt very pleased with himself and smiled engagingly at them.

 

Suddenly a disturbance in the street made him turn sharply. He saw a horse rear up out of the corner of his eye and reached instinctively for his little brother beside him, but his hand grabbed hold of thin air and his heart missed a beat as he realised that the child wasn’t standing next to him any more. He glanced down anxiously, then his eyes darted into the street again as the horse came to a standing position and the rider yelled loudly.  Adam’s eyes fixated on a small bundle of clothing in the middle of the street and he began to yell as the thought connected in his brain.

 

‘Little Joe!’

 

He vaulted over the hitching post and ran as he had never run before into the middle of the street, reaching his little brother as the rider slid down from his horse and landed beside him in the dirt.  The man was babbling incoherently as he clutched at Adam’s arm. ‘I didn’t see him!  He just darted out in front of me……… Oh God!’

 

Both of them looked at the little body lying so still in the dirt beside them.  Adam reached out to pull his baby brother towards him, but the rider’s hands stopped him. ‘Let me go!’ he shouted. ‘He’s my brother….let me go!’

 

The man shook him. ‘Listen to me!’ he shouted in the boy’s face. ‘Leave him still or you might hurt him more.  Do you hear me boy?  Leave him still!’

 

Adam stared at the man for a moment, not comprehending what he meant. He tried to shake himself free of the man’s grasp, but was held firmly. ‘’Get a doctor!’ shouted the rider to the gathering crowd. ‘Someone get a doctor!  There’s a hurt child here!’ He turned back to Adam. ‘Stop it!’ he shouted. ‘Do you hear me boy?  Stop it!’

 

Adam stopped struggling and turned towards his baby brother again.  Little Joe was lying face up in the dirt, his eyes closed and his arms and legs sprawled around him.  Adam gulped as he looked at him. ‘Little Joe!’ he whispered. ‘Little Joe, open your eyes!’

 

Suddenly the crowd parted and Ben Cartwright threw himself forward next to his two sons.  His eyes quickly swept over Adam and he nodded slightly as if satisfied that he was alright before travelling to the still little body in the dirt. ‘Joseph!’ he said brokenly. ‘Oh my God! Joseph!’  He reached out to his little boy, but kindly hands held him back.  He looked across at Adam, his eyes mirroring the pain that was in his son’s eyes and they locked eyes for a moment without speaking. ‘What happened?’ he said.

 

The rider cut across him. ‘The little boy just ran out in front of me,’ he said. ‘Oh God, I’m so sorry!’  Ben looked at him silently.  

 

Suddenly the crowd parted again and Paul Martin appeared.  He knelt down next to the figures on the ground and surveyed the scene quickly. ‘Bring it here!’ he commanded as two men put a plank of wood onto the ground next to Little Joe.  Gently Adam watched as Ben and Paul slid it under Little Joe and then lifted it.  He stood up and followed his father down the street, his heart and head thumping.  His mind was numb as he tried to block out the thought of what might have happened to his baby brother and he caught his breath before he could release a sob.

 

As they reached the doctor’s office he made to enter with the two men, but hands held onto him again. ‘Where’s Marie?’ someone asked him. ‘Where’s your stepmother Adam?’

 

Adam looked around and swallowed as he tried to gather his thoughts. ‘She’s….. in the Mercantile with Hoss,’ he said after a moment’s hesitation. ‘I gotta go in there!’  He struggled to enter the doctor’s office after his father and was relieved to feel the hands let go of him.  He entered Dr Martin’s outer office and looked around for his father.  Just as he spied him and Dr Martin in the inner office bent over a small figure on the examining table, there was a scuffle behind him and he turned to see the distraught figure of Marie coming through the crowd.  She ran through the doorway, followed closely by Hoss. 

 

‘Adam!’ she cried. ‘Where is he?’  She took one look through the doorway and darted forward into the arms of her husband who stepped forward to hold her back and away from the table. ‘Ben!’ she cried, collapsing into his arms. ‘Let me go to him!’

 

Ben held her close. ‘Marie don’t,’ he said softly. ‘Let Paul do what he has to.’  She drew closer into his arms and nodded briefly, her eyes never leaving the table in front of her.  For a few moments there was silence…… a silence so deep that the clock could be heard ticking in the room.  

 

Paul stood up.  ‘He’s still breathing,’ he said briefly. ‘His reflexes seem to be alright.’  Ben let out the breath that he had been holding with a sigh.  He tried to smile at Marie, but failed miserably.  Instead he held her even closer as both of them stared at the still form of their little son as he lay on the examining table. ‘Just leave me alone with him for a few moments,’ said Paul. 

 

Marie shook her head. ‘No,’ she said quietly. 

 

Ben looked down at her. ‘Marie….’ He said.

 

She shook her head, still staring at the little body on the table. ‘No,’ she repeated. ‘I’m staying.’

 

Ben nodded and walked her over to a chair next to the table and sat her down on it.  He stood beside her, clutching her hand tightly as they both stared at Paul. Paul nodded at them and then bent over the little boy again.

 

‘Come away boys,’ said a kindly voice and Adam looked over his shoulder to see Roy Coffee standing behind him. ‘The doctor needs some quiet now and your Ma and Pa need to be alone here with your little brother.’  The sheriff took Hoss by the hand and motioned for Adam to follow him.

 

Adam shook his head. ‘I’m staying here,’ he said quietly. 

 

Roy took a step towards him. ‘Adam, you’re not going to do any good here and your Pa would want you to leave now,’ he said. ‘I want both of you to come with me.’  He placed a hand on Adam’s shoulder, but Adam shrugged it off.

 

‘No,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘I’m staying here with…with my little brother.’

 

Roy tried again. ‘Adam, Hoss needs to leave here,’ he said quietly. ‘He needs you to be with him son.  You need to look after your brother now until your parents can leave here.’

 

Adam looked down at Hoss’ tear-streaked face and nodded. ‘Alright,’ he said. ‘I’ll come.’ He took his brother by the hand and followed the sheriff outside.

 

⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥

 

Adam stared across the table at Hoss, wondering how he could still eat.  It seemed to him that they were so different in that respect.  He couldn’t have swallowed anything to save his life, and yet his brother was shovelling down his meal as if it was masking the pain and fear that he was feeling. Adam decided that it probably was.  He sighed.  Nothing could stop the hollow feeling that he had inside as far as he was concerned.

 

Every fibre of his body was strained to hear any noise outside.  He glanced across at Sheriff Coffee who was seated on the other side of his office and the Sheriff smiled at him as if reading his thoughts. ‘I’m sure it won’t be much longer now Adam,’ the man said kindly. ‘Someone’s sure to come soon to let us know what’s happening.’

 

Adam nodded his head briefly and went back to watching Hoss.  It was the first time his younger brother had stopped asking questions since they had arrived at the Sheriff’s office and for that Adam was grateful, for he had found it so difficult to answer Hoss’ queries. The events of the past hour were beginning to seem unreal to him and there was a part of him that felt that if he just opened the door and walked across the road to the doctor’s office he’d find everything had been a dream and his baby brother would be perfectly fine.  But the other part of him knew that this nightmare was very real and as much as he longed for the wait to be over he also dreaded hearing what the news might be.

 

He closed his eyes briefly and saw his baby brother’s body again as it lay in the dusty street.  It was a sight that would be forever etched into his brain and he longed for it to just disappear.  He knew that this was all his fault and he knew that right at this moment his parents must be cursing him, but he just couldn’t allow himself to think that far yet.  He just had to focus on praying for Little Joe and hoping that the news when it came would be good. Adam knew that he couldn’t live with himself if the news wasn’t, and he prayed as he had never prayed before.

 

Why had he been so selfish?  It had only been last night that Pa had lectured him about responsibility and today he had chosen to ignore it for his own personal reasons.  Nothing should have gotten into the way of looking after that little boy and Adam cursed himself over and over again as he sat there, for allowing this to happen.

 

Suddenly the door opened and Ben Cartwright entered the room. Hoss sprang from his seat and was at his father’s side in an instant, his arms around his waist.  Ben held him close as he closed his eyes for a moment, then he opened them again and looked at Adam intently as he stroked Hoss’ head.

 

‘Is Little Joe alright Pa?’ Hoss asked the question that Adam wasn’t capable of verbalising. ‘Is he gonna be alright?’

 

Ben continued to stroke his son’s head. ‘We hope so son.  Doctor Martin and Mama are with him now.’  He looked over at Roy who had also risen. ‘Thank you for looking after the boys Roy.’

 

Roy shook his head. ‘They can stay here for as long as you need them to,’ he said. ‘What did the Doc say?’

 

Adam swallowed, part of him wanting to block out his father’s reply to the question.

 

‘He’s still unconscious,’ replied Ben in a quiet voice. ‘Paul can’t really determine anything until he wakes up.’

 

Hoss looked up at his father. ‘But he will wake up won’t he Pa?’ he asked. ‘Little Joe will be alright won’t he?’

 

Ben tried to smile at his son. ‘You need to pray that he will Hoss,’ he said after a moment’s hesitation and Adam read the fear in his father’s voice and expression.  Part of him shrunk inside as he acknowledged it. ‘Adam?’ asked Ben looking at his son intently. ‘Are you alright?’

 

Adam put his head down and didn’t answer, all his self –loathing making him incapable of meeting his father’s eyes. Ben took a step towards his oldest son. ‘Adam?’ he asked again.

 

Adam looked up into his father’s eyes and took a deep breath before speaking. ‘It was my fault Pa,’ he said quietly. 

 

Ben stared at him for a moment before speaking. ‘This isn’t the time to deal with that now son,’ he said. ‘We’ll talk about it later.’

 

Adam swallowed again, knowing that his father was probably hating the thought of him at the moment and was just anxious to get back to Marie and Little Joe.  Sure enough, the man’s next words betrayed his thoughts, at least in Adam’s eyes. ‘I need to get back now boys,’ Ben said. ‘Adam, I want you to look after Hoss for me please.’  Adam nodded briefly, wondering why his father would still be entrusting Hoss to his care after all he’d done.  Then he remembered that Sheriff Coffee was staying with them and his father’s words were probably just as hollow as they sounded to him.

 

‘I wanna come with ya Pa!’ said Hoss tearfully. ‘I wanna see Little Joe and tell him ta wake up!’

 

Ben knelt down in front of his son. ‘Hoss, I can’t take you over there now,’ he said gently. ‘I want you to stay with Sheriff Coffee and Adam and be good.  You can pray for your little brother.’ 

 

Hoss nodded tearfully. ‘OK Pa,’ he said. ‘But tell Little Joe I love him, will ya?’

 

Ben closed his eyes for an instant and held onto his son tightly. ‘I sure will Hoss,’ he said. He gave Adam a brief look and then turned and left the room.

 

Hoss began to cry and Adam walked over to him and put his arm around his shoulders. ‘You heard Pa,’ he said. ‘Come and sit down.’ He led the boy back to the table and sat him down again.

 

Hoss looked at his brother. ‘Is Little Joe gonna die Adam?’ he asked in an anxious voice.

 

Adam stared at the table. ‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘You heard Pa.  We’ve gotta pray that he doesn’t.’  He rested his arms on the table in front of him and put his head down as he allowed his emotions to overtake him. Behind him, Sheriff Coffee rubbed his shoulders as he sobbed. 

 

‘He’ll be alright boys,’ the man said, but his words had a very hollow ring to them.

 

⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥

 

Adam sat on the edge of his bunk and stared at Hoss sleeping in the bunk next to him.  He was glad that he had finally fallen asleep and noticed that the tears on his face hadn’t dried yet.  He thought it was strange to sleep in a jail, but then he guessed that Sheriff Coffee couldn’t very well take them home with him when he was still on duty.  Hoss didn’t seem to mind, so he didn’t see that he should either.

 

He glanced up at the small barred window and the night sky beyond it and wondered if God was really up there listening to their prayers at all.  He sighed as he stood up and walked to the outer office. Sheriff Coffee looked up at him and smiled. ‘Is Hoss asleep?’ he asked. Adam nodded. ‘You can’t sleep?’ the Sheriff asked. Adam shook his head. ‘Come and have a hot drink then,’ the man invited.

 

Adam came forward and took the cup the Sheriff handed him.  He looked at it in his hand, but made no attempt to drink it.  After a few minutes, Roy spoke. ‘Adam it’s not doing anyone any good you being like this you know.  Your Ma and Pa wouldn’t want you to blame yourself.’

 

Adam looked up at the Sheriff. ‘But I am to blame,’ he said. ‘I didn’t watch him as I should have.  Marie asked me too and I didn’t do it.’

 

‘Everyone makes mistakes.’

 

‘Yeah, but I……’

 

‘You what?’

 

‘I…… nothing.’  Adam couldn’t find the words to tell the man how he was really feeling.  He remembered back to the conversation he had had with his father and the things he had said to him about Little Joe.  He had wished he had never been born!  He had said that he was tired of him!  He hung his head in shame to think of how he had felt about his baby brother.  

 

All he could think of now was the little boy’s cute smile and the way in which his eyes lit up when he looked at his big brothers.  He remembered the little body snuggling into his at night and the slurping noise he made when he sucked on his thumb. He could almost hear it if he concentrated hard enough.  He remembered the stubbornness of the little boy when he was told to do something that he didn’t want to do. He remembered the little arms reaching out for his when he wanted to be picked up.  He remembered the wet baby kisses he had slurped all over his face so generously. For some reason he remembered the worm dangling out of his mouth and the impish grin he had given when he had placed it there. Adam felt as if his heart would burst with the pain.

 

‘Is it alright if I go over to the doctor’s office for a while?’ he asked. ‘Hoss is asleep so he’ll be alright.’

 

Roy hesitated. ‘I don’t know if that’s a good idea son,’ he said. ‘Your Pa asked you to stay here.’

 

‘Please?  I just gotta find out how he is.’  Adam looked at Roy pleadingly. ‘Just for a few minutes?’

 

Roy patted him on the shoulder. ‘Alright,’ he said. ‘But you come straight back if your Ma and Pa are busy,’ he said. ‘I’ll watch you walk over in the dark.’

 

Adam nodded and opened the door.  A chilly breeze struck him and he realised that he should have put on his coat, but he didn’t stop to rectify the situation.  Being cold was the least of his worries and he definitely wasn’t about to stop now and go back to get it.  He crossed the dark and silent street quickly and opened the door of the doctor’s office.  The outer room was empty and he could see a light from the room next door, so he walked over and stood framed in the doorway as he surveyed the scene inside.

 

There on a bed was his baby brother and he caught his breath to see how still the little boy was.  He looked almost as if he was merely asleep or perhaps…… Adam shut his mind to that prospect.  Doc Martin was sitting next to him, with his stethoscope placed on the little boy’s chest.  Adam nearly smiled as he thought about how Little Joe would have been reacting to that if he were awake. He hated anything to do with the doctor and usually fought with all his might when the man came near him.

 

On the other side of the bed sat Marie.  Adam caught his breath again as he looked at her face……so white and drawn as if she were ill herself.  Even at this distance he could see that her body was tense and her expression was a study of anxiety and despair as she stared intently at the little body next to her.  She clutched a tiny hand in hers, as if the very feel of it would transfer her strength into the little still body that was her baby boy. Adam swallowed and closed his eyes for a moment.  The scene before him was one of despair.

 

‘What are you doing here?’ Adam turned sharply to see his father standing beside him. He swallowed again.

 

‘Hoss fell asleep,’ he said. ‘Sheriff Coffee said I could come over for a few minutes to see…’ his voice faltered and he took a deep breath. ‘To see how Little Joe is.’

 

Ben put his hand on his son’s shoulder. ‘Come out into the other room,’ he said quietly. He steered Adam through the doorway and sat him down on a chair, then sat down next to him. ‘He’s still the same,’ he said.  ‘There’s been no change.’

 

Adam nodded, looking at the floor. ‘That’s not good,’ he said. ‘I guess the longer he’s unconscious, then the….’ His voice faltered again.

 

Ben put his arm around his son’s shoulder again. ‘That’s true,’ he said. ‘The longer he’s unconscious then the worse it looks. I won’t lie to you Adam, it’s very serious.’  His own face showed the despair that that he was feeling. 

 

‘Is he going to die?’ Adam realised how much like Hoss he sounded, but he just couldn’t help it.  He felt about eight years old at the moment and wished his father would hug him.  But unfortunately he knew that the chances of that happening were very slight.  His Pa was probably barely tolerating his presence at the moment in view of what he’d done.

 

Ben was silent for a few moments before replying. ‘I don’t know son,’ he said. ‘I honestly don’t know.’

 

There was silence in the room. ‘Adam?’ asked Ben. ‘What is it?’  Adam stared at his father silently. ‘There’s more to this than just worry about your little brother isn’t there? What is it?’

 

‘I told you before…..it’s my fault that this happened.’

 

‘Son, we all make mistakes.  No one is blaming you for this.  I realise that…..’

 

Adam jumped to his feet. ‘You don’t understand!’ he cried. ‘I didn’t watch him as I should have. He got away from me because I was too busy talking to the girls and I didn’t check on him!  He was my responsibility Pa and I didn’t….. I didn’t….’  his voice faltered as the tears began to fall down his cheeks. ‘If he dies it’s my fault!’  he finished.

 

Ben tried to draw his son closer to him, but Adam pushed him away and stood up. ‘I know how you’re feeling about me Pa and I don’t blame you!’ he declared. ‘You and Marie have every right to feel that way.’

 

Ben frowned at his son. ‘Adam, you’re not listening to me.  I know you made a mistake son…but that’s something we all do.  You didn’t mean for your baby brother to get hurt, so of course Marie and I don’t think badly of you.  All I want is for you….’

 

Adam brushed his father’s words away as he headed for the door. ‘It’s alright Pa,’ he said. ‘You don’t have to lie to me to try and make me feel better.’  He opened the door.

 

‘Adam!’ said Ben standing up. ‘Adam, son….’

 

Adam walked out into the cold dark night, not heeding his father’s voice behind him.

 

⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥

 

Adam shivered as another windy gust blew up the narrow alleyway.  He felt as if was going right through him, and in a perverse way was quite pleased that it did.  Why shouldn’t he suffer?  His little brother was suffering and he felt as if he should be too.  Maybe if he took a chill and died it might make everyone happy?  He knew in a strange way that it would serve him right if he did.

 

He huddled in towards the pile of crates against which he was sitting.  He didn’t really know why he hadn’t gone back to the Sheriff’s Office when he left his father, all he knew was that he needed to be alone and didn’t want to face anyone with any more explanations.  It probably would be better for his family as well if they didn’t have to be bothered with him.  They all had enough to do worrying about Little Joe without him getting in the way.

 

The thought of his baby brother made him stop again and say another short prayer.  He didn’t know how many times in the last few hours he had prayed like this, all he knew was that he needed to keep doing it.  If it gave his brother a chance at life, it was worth a million such prayers and if it didn’t……. if it didn’t, then he needed to pray for the little boy’s soul.  His own soul needed prayers as well after what he had done, but that would have to wait until a later time.

 

Adam turned his tear-streaked face up towards the night sky and felt the chill of the air on his skin.  He stared at the stars twinkling above him and spoke aloud. ‘Please God!’ he said softly. ‘Please don’t let him die.  He’s too little.  He never did anything wrong…..well, not enough to have this happen to him.  He’s only a baby God……please don’t let him die!’

 

He lay back, feeling the rough wood dig into his skin and welcoming the discomfort it brought to him.  He glanced over at the doctor’s office and noticed that the light was still burning and guessed that it would be so all night.  In spite of himself he felt his eyes beginning to close and jerked them open again.  He had no right to sleep when his brother needed his prayers.  He began to pray again, aloud this time, but the words began to lull him asleep and his eyes closed as he surrendered himself to unconsciousness.

 

⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥

 

‘Adam?’ 

 

Adam opened his eyes and tried to focus on the face in front of him. ‘Pa?’ he said softly.

 

‘Yes,’ said his father. ‘Wake up son.’

 

Adam slowly sat up and looked around him.  The sun had risen and it was early morning. He looked up into his father’s face silently.

 

‘You’re freezing,’ said Ben as he took off his jacket and placed it around his son. ‘I need to get you inside where it’s warm.’  He pulled the boy to his feet and tried to put his arm around him, but Adam pushed him away. 

 

‘I’m fine,’ he said.

 

‘You’re not fine,’ replied his father. ‘Come on son.  You need to get inside.’  He took a step towards the boy again, but Adam took a step backwards.

 

‘I’m fine, I told you,’ he said.

 

Ben tried again. ‘Why didn’t you go back to Roy’s office?’ he asked. ‘We’ve been looking everywhere for you.’

 

Adam shrugged. ‘You shouldn’t have bothered,’ he said.

 

‘Adam that’s enough!’ said his father angrily. ‘I told you before that we don’t blame you for what happened.  Would you just believe me?’

 

Adam looked at his father intently. ‘Well I blame me,’ he said. ‘If Little Joe dies….’

 

‘He’s not going to die,’ interrupted Ben. 

 

‘What?’

 

‘He woke up about two hours ago,’ continued his father. ‘He’s going to be a bit stiff and sore for a while, but Paul thinks he’ll be fine.’

 

Adam continued to stare at his father, not sure if he was hearing correctly. ‘You’re sure?’ he said finally.

 

Ben smiled at him. ‘I’m sure,’ he said. ‘You know how tough that little boy is.  Did you really think he wouldn’t come through this?’

 

Adam felt his body dropping with the relief. ‘Well, yeah I did,’ he said. ‘He looked as if…. as if he was going to….’  He found that he couldn’t speak and looked at the ground. It seemed to tilt towards him and he staggered slightly before feeling his father’s strong arms around him.

 

‘Son, come inside where it’s warm,’ said Ben. ‘We’ll talk in there.’

 

Adam allowed himself to be led up the alleyway by his father.  He leaned against the man for support, tears streaming down his face with every step that he took.

 

⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥

 

‘Adam!’ said Little Joe happily, trying to sit up in the bed.  Marie pushed him down again onto the pillow and he frowned at her. ‘Want Adam!’ he declared.

 

‘Lie still, little one,’ said his mother. ‘Adam,’ she gestured to her stepson. ‘If you don’t come over here he’ll get off the bed in a minute.’

 

Adam walked over to the bed and sat on the edge of it, noticing the bruises on his baby brother’s face as he did so. ‘Hi squirt,’ he said softly.

 

‘Adam!’ said the little boy delightedly, grinning at him. ‘Wanna go!’

 

‘Not right now little buddy,’ said his older brother. ‘You’ve got to stay in bed for a while.’

 

‘Wanna go Adam bed!’ declared Little Joe, struggling to get up again, and frowning at his mother as she tried to keep his head on the pillow.

 

‘Well if this is anything to go by, then he seems to be fine,’ said Paul Martin behind them.

 

They all laughed, relieved to feel the strain of the past hours leaving them.  Adam took his little brother’s hand and smiled at the angry expression on his face as he tried to get up again.  As Pa always said……. he sure was one stubborn little cuss. 

 

⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥

 

‘He’s finally asleep,’ said Marie as she got to the bottom of the stairs. Ben gestured to her and she joined him on the sofa in front of the fireplace. Laying her head on his shoulder, she breathed a deep sigh. ‘It feels like a week since we were home,’ she said.

 

‘Only two days,’ replied Ben softly. 

 

‘The longest two days of my life,’ she said. ‘I thought we’d lost him Ben.’

 

‘So did I.’

 

‘I don’t know what I would have done if….’  She choked on her words.

 

‘Stop that,’ he said gently. ‘It didn’t happen, so there’s no need to keep thinking like that now.’

 

‘I know.’  There was silence for a few moments. ‘Where’s Adam?’

 

‘In his room.’

 

‘I wish he would stop blaming himself for all of this.’

 

‘That’s easier said than done,’ replied Ben. ‘He did do the wrong thing after all and he knows it.’

 

‘Not wrong enough to be responsible for Little Joe nearly killing himself though.’

 

‘Try telling Adam that.’

 

‘I think I will,’ she said getting up. ‘Coming?’  She held out her hand to him and he stood up and took it.  Together they climbed the stairs wearily and walked along the hallway until they reached their eldest son’s room. 

 

‘Adam?’ said his father as they entered the boy’s bedroom.

 

Adam looked up from the book he was pretending to read. ‘Yes?’ he said 

 

‘We’d like to talk to you,’ said his father sitting beside his son on the bed.  Marie sat opposite them on a chair. ‘It’s about what happened to Little Joe.  We want you to know that even though you probably weren’t as careful as you could have been with him, neither of us blames you for what happened yesterday.’

 

‘I know,’ said Adam flatly. ‘You already said that.’

 

Ben looked at Marie. ‘And we meant it,’ she said. ‘You have to stop blaming yourself Adam.’

 

‘I don’t,’ he said in the same dull tone.

 

Marie raised her eyebrows as she studied her stepson. ‘Well you could have fooled me!’ she said sharply, causing the boy to look up at her. ‘Adam, you know that Little Joe is dearer to me than anything in this whole world,’ she said. ‘He’s just…..well he’s my precious baby.  I love him more than my own life, but even so if things hadn’t turned out as well as they have I would still never have stopped loving you because of it.’

 

‘You should.’

 

Marie sighed. ‘I couldn’t,’ she said gently. ‘That’s what families are all about Adam.  We love each other through the good times and the bad.  We even love each other when we make mistakes.’

 

Adam looked into her eyes. ‘But you don’t understand,’ he said. ‘It was more than just me being careless with him. I was mean to him too and I told Pa I wished he wasn’t around all the time.’

 

‘Everyone knows you didn’t really mean that,’ she said with a smile. Adam hung his head again and studied the floor. ‘Adam, there are times when I think like that too,’ Marie continued.  ‘But it doesn’t mean that I don’t love you and your brothers dearly.  It just comes from frustration that’s all.’

 

He looked at her confused. ‘You do?’ he asked.

 

‘Of course,’ she said. ‘Some days I just wish I could have some time to myself without all of you around.  Especially Little Joe.  He’s a very demanding child you know.  It doesn’t mean that I don’t love him dearly though.’

 

‘I didn’t know you felt like that,’ he said thoughtfully. 

 

‘Well, I do at times as well,’ interrupted Ben. ‘No one would be human if they didn’t son.’ He rubbed his hand on the back of his son’s neck. ‘Now would you go to bed and stop worrying about all of this?  The crisis is over and everything turned out just fine.’

 

Adam smiled at his parents. ‘Thank you,’ he said softly.

 

Marie bent over and kissed him lightly. ‘There’s nothing to thank us for Adam. You’re our son and that’s all there is to it.’

 

Adam blushed with embarrassment. Since Marie had come into his life three years ago he had come to feel quite close to her, and hearing her refer to himself as her son touched him deeply.

 

Ben patted him on the arm. ‘Now get some sleep,’ he said. ‘Something tells me we’re all going to need our energy tomorrow to keep your baby brother in his bed for another day.’

 

Adam laughed aloud at his father’s joke, happy to let his tension out verbally. ‘I think you might be right Pa,’ he said.

 

⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥⬥

 

‘Adam?’

 

Adam rolled over and stared at the shadow next to his bed. Tired though he was, it had proved difficult to get to sleep after the events of the last two days and he wondered sleepily what time it was. 

 

‘What are you doing out of bed?’ he said sternly.

 

‘Wanna come in your bed,’ said Little Joe, trying to climb up and get under the covers.

 

‘Go back to bed,’ said Adam, trying to sound cross but failing miserably.

 

‘Wanna come in your bed,’ repeated his little brother, trying to pull the covers down.

 

‘Oh alright,’ said Adam and reached down to pull the little boy into the bed with him.  He shivered as he felt the cold little feet on his legs and snuggled down to warm both of them.  Little Joe put his thumb in his mouth as he cuddled into his brother and Adam heard the familiar slurping sounds that he was so used to.

 

After a few moments the sound stopped and he heard his brother’s little voice next to his ear. ‘Love Adam,’ he said softly.

 

‘I love you too little buddy,’ said Adam contentedly and snuggled even closer to the little body. ‘I love you too.’

 

The End