{"id":1075,"date":"2008-07-16T19:31:23","date_gmt":"2008-07-16T23:31:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1075"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:12:17","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:12:17","slug":"fever-dreams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1075","title":{"rendered":"Fever Dreams (by DBird)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><em><span class=\"label\" style=\"color: #000000;\">Summary:\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Inspired by the episodes &#8220;My Brother&#8217;s Keeper&#8221; and &#8220;The Crucible.&#8221; About a wolf, Peter Kane, and the way a brother protects his own.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><em><span class=\"label\" style=\"color: #000000;\">Rated:<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0K+ \u00a0WC 3000<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong>Fever Dreams<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><em>* Inspired by the episodes, &#8220;My Brother&#8217;s Keeper&#8221; and &#8220;The Crucible&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"chapter\" style=\"color: #000000; text-align: left;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Hey, brother. You keep telling me not to worry. Everything will be all right.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Don&#8217;t know what you&#8217;re talking about. I&#8217;m not the worrier in the family. We all know that. Life rolls over me easy, like water from a stream. You&#8217;re the one who&#8217;s always thinking too hard about things. Don&#8217;t you worry yourself, Adam. Everything will turn out just fine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">You&#8217;re right about one thing. Something&#8217;s wrong with me, but I&#8217;m not sure what to do about it. Right now, I&#8217;m lying on my own bed, and my body is hot and cold and hurts so much that I bite through my lip trying to hold it in. I&#8217;m drifting off again. Back to the dream. Sorry. A fellow can&#8217;t stay in this kind of pain for long, and you can&#8217;t hardly blame me for not wanting to stick around. How did you get me all the way home anyhow? Can&#8217;t remember much, but it must have been one hell of a ride. Strange voices in the room. Irish. Talking about periodicals and medicine and God knows what else. I&#8217;m only listening for your voice. I have things I need to tell you, but none of it comes out right. Moaning down deep in my throat. Everyone is talking hushed, like someone is dying. If it was me, you&#8217;d think I&#8217;d know it. But you keep talking to me, low and gentle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;It&#8217;s all right, Joe,&#8221; you say. &#8220;You&#8217;re going to be all right.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">But I could have told you that.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">I&#8217;m awake enough to be sorry for the way our hunting trip turned out. About the wolf and the bullet, and the long, long ride back. I only remember enough of that ride to know what it cost you. You keep telling me that wolf can&#8217;t get to me now. I want to believe you. You always tell me the truth; it&#8217;s something I&#8217;ve always been able to count on. But I&#8217;m having trouble getting through the next minute right now, big brother.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">It&#8217;s funny where pain can take you&#8230;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Fever dreams. And I&#8217;m drifting again. In my mind, I&#8217;m going back to the high country, back to our hunting trip at the gorge. Dreaming of our last night at camp. I&#8217;m there again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Neither of us sleep much, knowing that the wolf is out there. The moon&#8217;s so bright, it feels like the sky glows over our heads. He bays into the night. He&#8217;s taunting us, and I&#8217;m ready to go after him right then and there. You won&#8217;t let me. Foolhardy, you say. We don&#8217;t have time for foolish mistakes. You can&#8217;t go wolf hunting in the dark.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">We wake up to the damn wolf, still howling. In a sour mood, I heat the water for coffee over the fire. It&#8217;s our last morning before we&#8217;re supposed to head back, and you&#8217;re laughing at me for being so upset about going home without getting what we&#8217;re after. You say I&#8217;d only give up on bagging that wolf when I&#8217;m as gray-haired as Pa.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to tell Pa you said that,&#8221; I say with a sidelong glance, and you grin and push me off the log.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Hey,&#8221; I protest and make a half-hearted attempt at shoving you back.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">You smile but tell me, &#8220;We&#8217;re going home today. And I don&#8217;t want to hear anything else about it.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">That&#8217;s what you say. But you don&#8217;t fool me, brother. You want that wolf just as bad as I do.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Sure, you&#8217;ve got plenty of reasons for us to get back to the ranch. Can&#8217;t keep hunting a rogue wolf forever, no matter how many calves we lose. Hoss can&#8217;t do our chores on his own for any longer. It&#8217;s not fair, and we&#8217;ve been gone long enough. We&#8217;re short-handed this week, what with Hop Sing and the hands out on the range. You&#8217;re not even sure why Pa sent both of us on this trip in the first place. I was going off alone, but right before I left, Pa asked you to come along. Didn&#8217;t make much sense, and when you asked why, he said it was just a feeling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Call it a father&#8217;s intuition.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">That&#8217;s what Pa said when I was coming down the stairs. I froze, eavesdropping on the landing. You shrugged at him, raising an eyebrow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;He&#8217;s got to grow up sometime, Pa.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Humor me,&#8221; Pa said with a smile. &#8220;I&#8217;d feel better knowing you were together.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">I grumbled about it, but truth be told, I was glad for the company. And so were you. It&#8217;s been a long time since we were out on a trip together&#8230; It goes way back to our last stop at Eastgate. Before you set off on your own. I remember that trip as well as you&#8230;. but we don&#8217;t talk about that much. In fact we don&#8217;t talk about it at all. It happened before we lost you. Before you were lost in the desert with Peter Kane&#8230; There&#8217;s things that don&#8217;t get said. Even in a family like ours.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">So I try to talk you into staying with me a little longer. We can&#8217;t give up now. Not when we&#8217;re this close to hunting him down. Sure, it&#8217;s been days, and that wolf&#8217;s been leakin&#8217; out of the landscape each and every time we think we&#8217;ve got him cornered. I don&#8217;t give up easy, and you know what? Neither do you. We&#8217;re alike that way. You can call it obstinacy if you gotta put a fancy label on it. Pa calls it being plain mule-headed. I call it wanting to win. And we both want to win, don&#8217;t we, brother?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Sure wish I could have had him in my sights just once,&#8221; I tell Adam over coffee. It&#8217;s afternoon already, and we&#8217;ve been resting up after a fruitless morning of chasing that wolf up and down every ravine in the county. I can&#8217;t stand it. I pour out my coffee and reach for my rifle. I can hear him; he&#8217;s got to be nearby. &#8220;You know, he doesn&#8217;t sound that far off.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Where you going?&#8221; you ask me.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Have a look see. You take it easy.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">You don&#8217;t stop me, and I don&#8217;t stick around the campfire long enough for you to change your mind. As I swing into the saddle, I see you shake your head and pour out the water over the smoking embers. After that, I don&#8217;t look back. We&#8217;re in this together, but I&#8217;m going to get there first.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">On my horse, I maneuver through rocks and boulders, edging toward a small bowl at the bottom of the gorge. That wolf is waiting for me there. I just know it. Then I see him. I get off a shot from my rifle, but he darts around the corner. The word &#8220;nemesis&#8221; comes to mind. It&#8217;s your kind of word, the kind I like to stay away from, but that wolf has earned it this time. The ravine is too narrow. I can&#8217;t follow on horseback any further, and I swing down, loosely tying Cochise to some chaparral. Stay there, boy. I&#8217;ll be right back.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">I&#8217;m close enough I can almost smell that wolf. Animal sweat and dust are mixing it up underneath the bright sun. I crouch behind a big outcrop of rock. My back&#8217;s up against it, and I can feel the bones in my arms aching, just from holding my rifle upright. Then I see him. I get off another shot but miss. Something is happening. The dream is fading. I&#8217;m sweating something fierce, and I don&#8217;t know why.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">There&#8217;s something I&#8217;m forgetting. Something that has already happened. I sway in my dream, closing my eyes, and violent pain comes flooding in. What the matter with me? How can I be this sick, like I&#8217;m coming down with something I don&#8217;t understand? I&#8217;m fine, I&#8217;ve got to be fine. We both should be fine. I&#8217;ve been looking forward to this for a time. Ever since Kane took our last trip together and turned it into something else, something ugly. Something we don&#8217;t talk about.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Adam! Adam!&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">I&#8217;m hurting, and I&#8217;m crying out so you&#8217;ll hear, but I can&#8217;t remember why. I open my eyes, and I&#8217;m back in my bedroom. You&#8217;re hunched over me, worried as hell, and I&#8217;m sorry about that. But I can&#8217;t tell you not to worry. Words are getting stuck in my throat. I feel like I&#8217;ve swallowed ashes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">I&#8217;ve got to get back to the hunt. This isn&#8217;t over. The wolf is still waiting. Close my eyes, back off from the pain, finish this. So I&#8217;m creeping around the rocks. Gotta stay focused. Don&#8217;t think about Kane torturing my brother in the desert. Just go after that wolf. Stay focused. I will be fine, but that wolf won&#8217;t be fine once one of us has a clear shot at him. Doesn&#8217;t matter which one of us pulls the trigger. You or me. One way or other, it&#8217;s a Cartwright who took care of it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">I&#8217;m skirting the edge of the ravine, playing the game. Hunter and prey. Which is which? I could swear that the wolf is tracking me, but last night, you rolled your eyes when I said so. Told me I&#8217;m imagining things. I don&#8217;t imagine things. That&#8217;s not me. But I also don&#8217;t worry, and I keep hearing you in my head.\u00a0<em>Don&#8217;t worry. It&#8217;s all right Little Joe. He can&#8217;t get you boy.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">It makes no sense. You&#8217;re not with me anymore. I&#8217;m alone and sweating up something fierce, and it&#8217;s not from the sun this time. Hot and cold, up and down, the world is spinning under my feet. I can hardly keep standing on it. Shaking my head to clear it, I have to move on. I&#8217;m sidestepping along an arch of rock that tunnels down to the canyon. The sun&#8217;s low in the sky but already hot. Montpelier Gorge borders the high desert. Too close for comfort.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">I&#8217;ve never liked the desert. Can&#8217;t stop thinking about Eastgate. Salt Flats. Telegraphing Pa that I&#8217;d lost you. Worst two weeks of my life, Adam. Don&#8217;t want to leave you alone again. Never good to be alone. Kane took two weeks from you that we won&#8217;t ever get back. Pa says I&#8217;ve got to let go of it, but I still feel like it was my fault. I shouldn&#8217;t have let you go off alone, shouldn&#8217;t have stayed to watch the trial of Obadiah Johnson. I told Hoss how I felt, and he said that kind of guilt is foolishness talkin&#8217;. Only God can know what&#8217;s going to happen, and only God has the good sense to know why. There ain&#8217;t no changing it. What&#8217;s done is done, but I can&#8217;t forget the day I saw you cry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Can&#8217;t forget Peter Kane and his blistered face. Evil. I knew it the second I laid eyes on him. You were delirious, half dead, dragging a dead man behind you. Do you remember it? We don&#8217;t talk about it. Not ever. Some things are best put aside, but for some reason, I can&#8217;t do that now. Pain&#8217;s wearing me down. Can&#8217;t rein in my imagination. I keep thinking about those two weeks in the desert. The dead man&#8217;s body strapped to that travois you rigged, hauling it across the scrub. It took a whole lot longer for you to come back to us. Pa said to let you be. Pa said that there are some things a man never forgets, but he does move on, and in time, you would heal. He said you have to take healing on faith, even if you don&#8217;t see it happen.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">I want to get things right this time. God helps those who help themselves. I hope that&#8217;s not true, God. I don&#8217;t think I can help myself or you or anyone else right now. You should keep talking to me. I&#8217;m calling you, but you&#8217;re not anywhere. Things aren&#8217;t right. I&#8217;m getting confused like I&#8217;m tracking in circles. God, it hurts. The sun burns hot, I&#8217;m tracking this wolf, and I can&#8217;t remember where I&#8217;m supposed to be going. Was I shot? I think I was shot, but it&#8217;s not making sense even to me. Everything hurts, and I don&#8217;t know where you are, Adam. Can&#8217;t track my own thoughts, let alone a wolf.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;re nearby, and I should let you know where I am. I should call out and let you know my position. Instead, I hold back, even though I know better. This is my call. Giving you warning would scare away the wolf, and I want this bad. So do you. When you agreed to let me have one more try at going after him, you laughed. Can&#8217;t remember the last time you laughed like that, almost like you were having a good time. You used to laugh all the time, before you met Kane. Gotta be a good thing that you&#8217;re laughing again&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">I&#8217;m coming around the rock towards the wolf. Finally. The clear shot I&#8217;ve been waiting for. I lift my rifle to my shoulder. Steady, Joe, steady. I&#8217;m about to get off a shot, when it all falls apart. I hear the crack of gunfire before I feel it. Slammed down against the rocks, the bullet&#8217;s impact is more surprising than painful. It surprises the wolf too, and he&#8217;s lunging at me. On top of me. I&#8217;m fighting as hard as I can. Desperately, but I can see his teeth bared and feel them sinking down into my arm. I&#8217;m bleeding. There&#8217;s blood everywhere. Oh God, I&#8217;m going to die&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">I open my eyes. I&#8217;m back in my own room, and I&#8217;m crying out for you. This time, you hear me and come closer. You sit on the edge of the bed, and I grab onto you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Adam? Adam. Get him off me. I&#8217;m shot, I&#8217;m so shot. Please, oh please&#8230;&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">You&#8217;re gripping my arm tight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Joe, he won&#8217;t get you. It&#8217;s all right, Joe. You&#8217;ll be all right, boy.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">I&#8217;m groaning deep in my throat, because I&#8217;m back there again. Trapped underneath the wolf, fighting with everything I&#8217;ve got to stay alive a little bit longer. Get him off me. Got to keep those fangs away from my throat&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">But then I hear it. Two blessed shots. You did it, Adam , you really did it! You are hunched over me, after kicking aside the body of that wolf.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Joe, I didn&#8217;t mean it, I didn&#8217;t see you.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">You&#8217;re upset and shaking, but I don&#8217;t feel it. I don&#8217;t feel any pain yet, just admiration for some damn fine shooting. Wish it was me who got in that shot, but if it couldn&#8217;t be, then I&#8217;m awfully glad it was you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;You got him, Adam.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Yeah, I got him.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Bitter. You sound bitter. If I could only fight off the darkness that&#8217;s coming over me, I&#8217;d tell you not to be. There&#8217;s no room for bitterness, Adam. That&#8217;s what you learned from Kane, ain&#8217;t it? We all got to go through what we got to go through in this life. Don&#8217;t go and borrow trouble. Wouldn&#8217;t change this for anything.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Cool cloth on my forehead. I open my eyes, and I&#8217;m back in my room. You&#8217;re still with me, but this time we&#8217;re alone. No strange voices. You&#8217;ve got a glass to my lips, and you&#8217;re lifting my head, so I can drink it down. It&#8217;s bitter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Doc Hickman&#8217;s medicine, Joe,&#8221; you are saying quietly, &#8220;and it was hard won. You need to drink all of it. It&#8217;s going to see you through this.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Adam,&#8221; I gasp, but it&#8217;s too much for me to say anything else. Maybe it&#8217;s for the best. It&#8217;s like the sound of your own name breaks you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Your eyes fill up, and you whisper, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean it, Little Joe. I didn&#8217;t see you.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Guilt. I&#8217;m too tired to tell you to let go of it. Life&#8217;s too short. Next time, let&#8217;s go fishing. I&#8217;ll bring the bait. You bring the poles. The trout will be rising come morning. Thanks for keeping me company, brother. Fever dreams can be lonely. I start to smile, and you stare at me, bewildered. Maybe that medicine&#8217;s good for something after all. I&#8217;m already starting to feel easy. No worries. Pain&#8217;s reining me in, even if the medicine takes the edge off it. Who knows if morning&#8217;s gonna come? Doesn&#8217;t matter. One way or the other, it&#8217;s been a good ride.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">We&#8217;re both holding on to what we can. You&#8217;ve laid up a lot for yourself, Adam. You hold onto your guilt. I&#8217;m holding onto your hand. People mend from things all the time. If you healed from Peter Kane, then maybe I&#8217;ll get better to boot. If not, then I reckon I&#8217;ll be waiting for the rest of you. Come along when you can.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">From far away, I can hear Pa calling my name. &#8220;Joseph! Joseph!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;He&#8217;s up here, Pa!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Heavy footsteps on the stairs. The door swinging open, slamming into the wall.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Thank God, you&#8217;re here, Pa.&#8221; My brother&#8217;s broken voice. Always my brother&#8217;s voice beside me.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">And I&#8217;m taking a long breath. Short exhale. Closing my eyes. I don&#8217;t dream about wolves anymore.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">You got him, Adam. I just knew you would.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>THE END<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"toplink\" style=\"color: #000000; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"copyright\" style=\"color: #000000; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Disclaimer:<\/span>\u00a0All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_1075\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"1075\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif?resize=16%2C16&#038;ssl=1\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary:\u00a0Inspired by the episodes &#8220;My Brother&#8217;s Keeper&#8221; and &#8220;The Crucible.&#8221; About a wolf, Peter Kane, and the way a brother protects his own.<\/p>\n<p>Rated:\u00a0K+ \u00a0WC 3000<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":1242,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-whn","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-13-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2857,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza31.jpg?fit=573%2C389&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":61919,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=61919","url_meta":{"origin":1075,"position":0},"title":"A Wise Man Said (by JC)","author":"JC","date":"January 14, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Insightful observations from the Journal of Hop Sing Rating: G\u00a0 \u00a0WC: 445 Venerable Hop Sing has been a mostly silent witness to pivotal Ponderosa events through the years, Cartwright triumphs, tragedies, and misadventures. But he has been taking notes. Here are a few excerpts from his journal, his observations\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Hop Sing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Hop Sing","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1010"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/vlcsnap-error737.png?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/vlcsnap-error737.png?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/vlcsnap-error737.png?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/vlcsnap-error737.png?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6298,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6298","url_meta":{"origin":1075,"position":1},"title":"I&#8217;ll Protect You (by CwrightGirl)","author":"Cwright Girl","date":"May 3, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 A WHIB for \"My Brother's Keeper\". Adam's POV. This is a rewrite of the scene where Joe is deliriously calling out to Adam when Joe has a fever. In this version, Adam tries to calm Joe down. There is no Shelia in the version. A look at brotherly love.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Drama&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/brotherskeeper2.jpg?fit=452%2C496&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6204,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6204","url_meta":{"origin":1075,"position":2},"title":"Scars on the Inside (by Annie K Cowgirl)","author":"Annie K Cowgirl","date":"September 3, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0In memory of the beloved episode My Brother's Keeper. It's been five years since the accident and Adam still hasn't forgiven himself for shooting Joe. Rated:\u00a0K+ (935 words)","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Chaps and Spurs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Chaps and Spurs","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=39"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Pdvd_007.jpg?fit=720%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Pdvd_007.jpg?fit=720%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Pdvd_007.jpg?fit=720%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Pdvd_007.jpg?fit=720%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":64,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=64","url_meta":{"origin":1075,"position":3},"title":"A Wolf in Sheep&#8217;s Clothing (by the Giggly Sisters)","author":"The Giggly Sisters","date":"August 1, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Did Adam really shoot Joe by accident in My Brother's Keeper? Or was there something more sinister going on? the Giggly Sisters investigate. Rated: K+ (1,575 words)","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Humor&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Humor","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Bonanza24.jpg?fit=526%2C372&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Bonanza24.jpg?fit=526%2C372&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Bonanza24.jpg?fit=526%2C372&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4716,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=4716","url_meta":{"origin":1075,"position":4},"title":"My Brother&#8217;s Keeper&#8211;WHI (by Puchi Ann)","author":"Puchi Ann","date":"April 29, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Ever wished that the Reardons had not been part of \"My Brother's Keeper\"? \u00a0This story is a rewrite of the episode, with some added scenes, that provides an alternative to them with greater focus on the Cartwrights and the addition of one, hopefully more likeable, character, a young ranch\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;What Happened Instead&quot;","block_context":{"text":"What Happened Instead","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=27"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/brotherskeeper.jpg?fit=610%2C488&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/brotherskeeper.jpg?fit=610%2C488&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/brotherskeeper.jpg?fit=610%2C488&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6302,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6302","url_meta":{"origin":1075,"position":5},"title":"Encounter With the Past (by debpet)","author":"debpet","date":"August 7, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0An unexpected encounter brings up painful memories for Adam and leads to danger for him and for Joe. \u00a0 Rated:\u00a0K+ \u00a0WC \u00a06600","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Drama&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Abigail.jpg?fit=510%2C680&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1075","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1075"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1075\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1242"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1075"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1075"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1075"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}