Summary: A birthday and an anniversary bring memories.

Rated:  T   Word count: 541

 

Birthdays and Anniversaries

 

“Any idea what’s got Candy in such a black mood the past few days?” Hoss asked his younger brother as he watched the retreating back of their foreman.

 

“Not a clue.” Joe Cartwright’s gaze followed his brother’s. “He’s been keeping to himself, but he does seem to have a burr under his saddle. I don’t know whether to try talking to him or not.”

 

“Might be worth a try.” Hoss wiped the sweat from his forehead.

 

“Umm, maybe.” Joe took his hat from his head.

 

“Now’s as good as time as any,” Hoss urged.

 

Joe ran his hand through his hair. “Yeah, I guess he might as well bite my head off for asking as for anything else.” Joe headed briskly after Candy Canaday and found him sitting on the bench nailed to the back of the barn. Without asking for an invitation, he sat down beside his friend.

 

“Best way to get something out of your craw is to start talking.”

 

Candy did not even flick his gaze in Joe’s direction. “Nothing to talk about.”

 

Joe sighed. “Folks are always saying I’m a good talker, but I thought you knew me well enough to know I can be a good listener too.”

 

Candy snorted softly. “Let it go, Joe.”

 

“Even if I do, you aren’t gonna have any peace. Hoss’ll have his try, and if he can’t get it out of you, there’s always Pa.”

 

Candy turned, stared at his friend, and shook his head. “Give it a day or two, and let it pass.”

 

“You’re sure it’ll pass?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Joe raised his right eyebrow imitating a look often used by his Pa and elder brother.

 

Candy rolled his eyes. “It’s just a bad time of year for me, is all. I’m sorry if I’ve been taking it out on everybody else.”

 

“Why’s it a bad time?”

 

“Bad memories.”

 

“Oh.” Joe knew about days of the year that brought dark memories. “Still, talking can help sometimes.”

 

“All right!” It came out as an exclamation of exasperation. “Wish me happy birthday, Joe.”

 

“It’s your birthday!” Surprise caused Joe to straighten with a jerk. It had never occurred to any of the Cartwrights to ask Candy the day of his birth.

 

“Yep.”

 

Joe gave him a puzzled look. “You’re not worried about getting old, are you?”

 

“No, I told you, this time of year brings some bad memories.”

 

“Your birthday?”

 

Candy’s voice became soft and flat. “On my tenth birthday I waited for my father to get back from patrol. He’d been teasing me before he left about the wonderful birthday present he was going to give me. I waited all day and most of the night before I fell asleep sitting at the window. I waited the next day too. It was about supper time when the major came and gave me the news.”

 

“The news?”

 

“My father had been killed. I never did find out what he’d planned to give me.” Candy stood quickly. “It’ll pass, Joe. It always does.” Candy strode off leaving Joe seated with a gaping mouth.

 

“His birthday. . .” Joe muttered shaking his head slowly. Then he rose and walked slowly back to tell Hoss.