{"id":11903,"date":"2011-02-17T04:20:00","date_gmt":"2011-02-17T09:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=11903"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:23:35","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:23:35","slug":"half-a-man-by-hazelmom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=11903","title":{"rendered":"Half a Man (by HazelMom)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:<\/strong>\u00a0 Hoss fights his family while they fight for his life.<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 K+\u00a0 (15,371 words)<\/p>\n

(Author\u2019s note: Characters appear from several episodes including The Scapegoat, The Tax Collector, The Wild Ones, Gift of Water, The Good Samaritan, Half a Rogue, Lothario Larkin, Enter Thomas Bowers, and Once a Doctor.)<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Half a Man<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam scanned the elegant dining room frantically. It didn\u2019t take long for him to spot a head distinct from the others. He weaved around tables and brushed against several diners in his hurry. He mumbled apologies, but didn\u2019t wait for responses. He felt out of breath when he got to the table even though he\u2019d scarcely exhausted himself. He\u2019d been feeling out of breath for a couple of days now, and it had nothing to do with physical exertion.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Elegant Thomas Bowers looked up at him and nodded, gesturing for him to sit. Across the table was another elegant man, but one that Adam didn\u2019t know. The man extended his hand, \u201cAllow me to introduce myself. I\u2019m Dr. P. A. Mundy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThanks for joining us, Doctor. I realize that you both must be quite confused as to why I brought the two of you together.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it\u2019s certainly pleasure for me,\u201d Dr. Mundy said, \u201cI\u2019ve heard Mr. Bowers here sing several times in London, and feel quite privileged to be in his company.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAh, Doctor, your reputation as a surgeon precedes you as well.\u201d The opera singer said as he gestured for a waiter. \u201cWhat will you have to drink, Mr. Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam swallowed, sweat beading on his brow. \u201cI wish I could say that this is a social call. It is with greatest urgency that I talk with both of you about something you have in common.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thomas Bowers nodded and looked at Mundy. \u201cWe\u2019ve already discussed our mutual friend. We have no idea what\u2019s going on, but we\u2019re at your service.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGood!\u201d Adam almost felt like he should have taken that drink. \u201cI just hope we\u2019re not too late.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***********<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss Cartwright pointed the shotgun at his pa\u2019s chest. It was the last thing either man imagined him doing, but it was happening and he didn\u2019t seem to show any inclination to relax his aim.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben turned his head to where Doc Martin was standing, a look of shock etched into his face. \u201cPaul, you better leave me alone with my son.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll get Joe,\u201d the doctor said as he grabbed his bag.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo! My son and I just need some time alone. You hear me, Paul?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you get those knives out of here, Doc! I don\u2019t want to see those knives again!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The old family doctor was startled by Hoss\u2019 outburst, but grabbed the knives, and backed out of the room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss laid on his side with the gun propped in his father\u2019s direction. The big man was sweating profusely and breathing like a locomotive. \u201cIt ain\u2019t no good, Pa; I ain\u2019t going to let it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben let out breath before speaking slowly. \u201cSon, listen to me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo Pa, you listen to me.\u201d The gun started to shake in his arms. \u201cHe ain\u2019t touching my leg. I ain\u2019t going to be no one legged man.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben suddenly felt as weak as a colt on its first effort to stand. He backed up until he hit the wall and reached for a chair a few feet away. \u201cI can\u2019t lose you, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI ain\u2019t trying to die, Pa. I\u2019m gonna\u2019 lick this thing.\u201d He finally let the gun relax in his grip.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, the infection is spreading up your leg. It will kill you. Doc says so, and I\u2019ve seen it happen to men more than once. We have to take the leg or this infection\u2019s going to take you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The big man slumped a little, and Ben could tell that the fever he was battling was sapping what little energy his son still had. With effort, Hoss kept his head up. \u201cI seen men walk away too. They just needed a little time. Doc\u2019s too happy around those knives. He\u2019d cut me just as soon as look at me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not true. Paul Martin would never hurt you unless there was no other way.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss relaxed his head into the pillow, and for a minute all Ben could hear was his heavy breathing. Then Hoss pulled himself up again. \u201cHe wants to cut too soon, Pa. We gotta\u2019 wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIn a couple of days, it might be too late.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019 head sank back into the pillow. For a few minutes, the two of them waited in silence. Then Ben got up, and approached slowly. Hoss lay with his eyes closed, but there was nothing about him that seemed peaceful. Ben grasped the barrel of the gun, and started to pull it away from him. His son\u2019s eyes flew open, but Hoss made no attempt to stop him. Ben looked into his eyes, and there was a sense of helplessness there so profound that his breath caught and he let go of the gun, letting it drop softly onto the bed again. Instead, he sat on Hoss\u2019 bed. \u201cEric, so many men live happy, productive lives without\u2026a limb. Think of Horace Gunther, Dave Brennan\u2026they have families, they are good, productive men.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss grunted. \u201cHorace is a banker and Dave lost an arm, and even then good ol\u2019 Dave spends most afternoons on his front porch sucking on a whiskey bottle, the pain\u2019s so bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not thinking. It\u2019s the fever\u2026and the whiskey. You aren\u2019t being logical, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019 eyes found the whiskey bottle on his nightstand. \u201cYou going to take it away from me?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben shook his head. \u201cI can\u2019t imagine the pain that leg must be giving you right now. Your foot has got to be twice the size it oughta be.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to be a sorry man, Pa. I don\u2019t want to need whiskey to see myself through the day. I don\u2019t want to be stuck at a desk fumbling with numbers. I can\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know, Hoss. It won\u2019t be like that. It\u2019s the man that makes his circumstances not his injuries. You can get around on a crutch. You\u2019ll use a buggy. I was thinking — you know there oughta be a way to build a saddle you could balance on.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss shook his head slowly. \u201cIt ain\u2019t no good, Pa. We\u2019re just gonna\u2019 have to wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben let out a frustrated sigh. \u201cIf it\u2019d help, I\u2019d have Doc take my leg too. Eric, there\u2019s got to be a way; I won\u2019t lose you to this. I can\u2019t\u2026you must think I\u2019m a stronger man than I am\u2026you can\u2019t understand what this\u2026Oh Eric.\u201d Ben looked away as he tried to contain the jagged breaths coming up from his chest.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss closed his eyes against the moisture welling up in them. He reached over and took his father\u2019s hand. \u201cPa, you\u2019re the one who doesn\u2019t understand. If this was happening to Joe or Adam, it\u2019d be different. All I have is the strength that God gave me. I can\u2019t sit at a desk. I ain\u2019t got the brains for it. The purpose I have in this world is what I can do with these arms and my strong back. I can\u2019t lose that. I can\u2019t be some useless man sitting on the porch with a whiskey bottle, watching his brothers and Pa work themselves into the ground. I ain\u2019t made for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt wouldn\u2019t be like that.\u201d Ben could manage only a hoarse whisper as he fought the emotion rising in his throat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss sighed. \u201cAdam would make it work. His brain is his most powerful tool. Joe\u2026well, Joe can be anything he wants, legs or no. I\u2019m of this land. I can\u2019t be shut in. I need the work. I can\u2019t live with being useless.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben looked down at the quilt that covered his son. It was Inger\u2019s work, intricate and colorful. She had been a woman of so many talents. He tried to imagine her in the room with them now. She\u2019d undoubtedly say something plain and true in this moment. There were no secrets for that woman. She was good and kind and hid absolutely nothing. Hoss was his mother\u2019s son, and if she had lived, there would have been a bond between the mother and son that would have surpassed any he could\u2019ve built with the boy. Ben knew this and knew also that she would not be struggling with him like he was. She would have said her piece and then given the boy the space to work it out. She would have done that because she was the strongest of them all, and her faith would have seen her through. But Ben felt none of the strength he remembered in Inger; in his heart, he felt nothing but fear and frustration. He closed his eyes and prayed that she would guide him with their son.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I want things. I want a family. I want to build a life. You know what it\u2019s like for a feller who looks like me and doesn\u2019t know how to talk fancy. I can barely catch a gal as it is. Without my leg, I\u2019d be\u2026I\u2019d be\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The door swung open and Joe came barreling through. He grabbed the shotgun from the bed, and dropped it to the ground. \u201cHow dare you point that at Pa! It\u2019s not enough that you\u2019re killing yourself; you gotta take your flesh and blood with you!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph!\u201d Ben was on his feet. \u201cHe wasn\u2019t going to hurt me!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Little Joe backed away from his father, but kept his eyes narrowed on Hoss. \u201cI never figured you for a coward.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s enough! Leave him be!\u201d Ben reached his son and pushed him toward the door.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss raised up on an elbow, the exertion of it etched into his features. \u201cI don\u2019t want to fight with you, Little Joe. If I don\u2019t got time\u2026I don\u2019t want us to end bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe pushed his father out of the way and advanced on Hoss. The boy\u2019s eyes were red and blurry. \u201cThen you can\u2019t do this, Brother. You ain\u2019t thinking. You gotta let the doc do his work.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss closed his eyes before responding. \u201cI can\u2019t see it, Joe. I can\u2019t see it being anything but a misery for all of us if I let him take the leg. You\u2019re not picturing the burden it would be.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe struggled with his emotions. \u201cHoss, you\u2019re my brother. You would never be a burden. The only burden for me would be losing you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI just need some time to think it through.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThere ain\u2019t no time. Pretty soon, it won\u2019t matter what you choose. You gotta listen to the doc!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben walked up behind his son and put his hands on his shoulder. \u201cJoe, Hoss\u2019 right. He needs a little time.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe pulled away. \u201cI swear, Hoss, when you fall asleep, I\u2019m coming for that leg. I swear it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss turned his head away from them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben closed his eyes and saw his second wife, her blue eyes sparkling. She never faltered no matter how difficult the circumstances; she always weathered it with a hopeful smile. Memories of Inger seemed especially vivid today and he was grateful for this. A sense of peace washed over him, and he walked over to his son\u2019s bed. \u201cI won\u2019t let him, Hoss. As much as I want the same thing, I won\u2019t let anyone, even Joe, take away your right to choose for yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss didn\u2019t respond.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben sighed, and herded his youngest son out of the room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***********<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The rapping woke Ben, and he groaned as his neck protested from the angle he\u2019d slept on it. He pulled himself out of the chair he\u2019d slept in by the fire. Joe was sleeping in one corner of the sofa, and Doc Martin was draped over the other end. He stumbled past them and went to the door. He opened it to a smiling Roy Coffee. The sheriff walked in and slapped him on the back. \u201cIt looks like a good day, Ben. Sun is shining, the birds are singing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe and Paul Martin lifted sleepy heads. Coffee nodded at them. \u201cHow\u2019s the big boy o\u2019 yours?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben looked down. \u201cHe\u2019s very sick, Roy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy kept his smile. \u201cWell, we\u2019re about to turn that around.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Paul Martin stood up. \u201cRoy, I don\u2019t think you understand how serious this is.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI do. I know you haven\u2019t gotten that stubborn Missouri mule to make the right decision. And I know that we\u2019re about to give that mule a big ol\u2019 push.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben furrowed his brow. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with you, Roy?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy cocked his head. \u201cYour eldest and I have been burning up the wires. I must have had 6 from him in the last three days. I figure, the way he\u2019s traveling, he\u2019d oughta be here by noon.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben breathed a sigh of relief. Adam\u2019s presence would help. He\u2019d been here last week when things started to go bad, and had headed to San Francisco for a specialist even though Doc Martin felt that it was nothing more than pure folly. At first, Ben had been angry, but then he understood that Adam needed the distraction. With him back, maybe the three of them together would have more impact on Hoss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Through the open door, the sounds of hooves and wheels sounded. Roy whirled toward the door. \u201cBoy, they didn\u2019t take any time at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d Joe was on his feet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy shook his head. \u201cNaw. I just arranged a little party is all.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben followed him out the door. Wagons were pulling up in the yard. Kids poured off the back, and men helped their wives down. Ben squinted as he recognized the Gant family, the Tyrees, the Larkins, the Jessups, the Henrys, and the Watsons. Ben turned to Roy. \u201cWhat are you thinking? We don\u2019t have time for this.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBen, you and the boys can\u2019t shift him, and let me tell you why. He thinks he\u2019ll be a burden to you. He think it\u2019ll be like dying watching everyone else work while he sits. He thinks he won\u2019t be a man no more.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben threw his arms up. \u201cHow do you know this?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t, but these folks did. Waldo started talking to some of the families Hoss helped. You know he pulled them through some pretty bad times, and I think they really came to understand some things about him, maybe things you and the boys don\u2019t. You gotta remember he was there for them at their lowest points, and Hoss is at his. They know what he\u2019s feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2026I don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy looked him firmly in the eye. \u201cHoss isn\u2019t just a son and a brother. It ain\u2019t just about what he can do around this ranch. He\u2019s changed lives, and it didn\u2019t have nothing to do with him being a big, strong man.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Waldo Watson climbed onto the porch and shook Ben\u2019s hand. His wife Nancy was doing her best to corral the three younguns of theirs in the yard. Lafe Jessup, Lothario Larkin, Jason Gant, Wade Tyree, and Jock Henry followed. Waldo shuffled his feet a bit as he was still something of a shy man. \u201cWe was wondering if maybe we could go up and sit with the big feller for a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben blinked. \u201cAh, I\u2026we haven\u2019t checked on him this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Doc Martin stepped out of the house behind him. \u201cI just did. He wants to know what\u2019s going on. If you visit, you gotta keep it short, boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Waldo nodded. \u201cYes sir, Doc. I don\u2019t figure none of us are long on speeches anyhow.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The six men piled into the house after the doc. Still shocked, Ben turned to stare at his yard which was crowded with wagons, women, and running children. Only Jason Gant had been a father when Hoss had come into his life, and Hoss had been hugely responsible for bringing these babies into being. He\u2019d brought four of the couples together and birthed two of the children. He stopped and counted fifteen younguns in the yard. For a moment, his breath caught at the impact his boy had on people who\u2019d been little more than strangers before he\u2019d walked into their lives. The women were organizing tables, and three of them had already invaded Hop Sing\u2019s kitchen through the side door. The Chinese cook was herded into the front yard loudly protesting. Abigail Tyree put her hands on her hips and regarded him. \u201cListen, Hop Sing, we know you haven\u2019t been sleeping any better than the Cartwrights. You talk a good game, but you got real feeling for that big man upstairs. We\u2019re taking over for a bit. Going to give you a chance to catch your breath. Maybe you can spend a few minutes with Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine, Missy Abigail. Don\u2019t need nothing.\u201d The cook added a few bits of Chinese under his breath.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prudence Jessup stepped up next to Abigail and pointed a finger at him. \u201cThat heathen muttering will do thou no good, Hop Sing. Thee should know better than to stand up to a group of determined women. We\u2019re going to take good care of thee kitchen, I swear it to the good Lord. Now scat. We\u2019ve got work to do.\u201d She walked past him into his kitchen without another word.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hop Sing shook his head and looked up at Ben Cartwright. Ben nodded and the Chinese cook gave up and climbed the porch to stand with his boss. Ben turned his head to the right and found his son, Joseph, standing there. Joe caught his eye and smiled grimly. \u201cYou think maybe that Abigail Tyree could foreman one of our logging crews?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben chuckled a bit in spite of the circumstances. \u201cSomehow I could picture her doing that, and running that growing family of theirs at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe scary,\u201d Hop Sing added, his arms folded across his chest. \u201cGive me a rustler with a big gun any day over another minute of her. She like a tiger with burning eyes. The other one is like Chinese witch who strikes in the dark.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy chortled. \u201cThat Mrs. Jessup is something all right. Makes me think I oughta hire her on as a deputy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, sheriff,\u201d Hop Sing said, shaking his head in emphasis. \u201cBad idea. She turn Virginia City into ghost town for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They all laughed. It felt good, having this bit of release in the midst of such desperate circumstances.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben smiled at Hop Sing. \u201cTake their advice. Get some sleep. Sit with Hoss. You\u2019ve running non-stop since this whole thing started.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hop Sing glared at him. \u201cThere is no sleep. The yard is filled with screaming children. The house is filled with nosy women. There is no place for Hop Sing to rest. I like it better when there is only Cartwrights in the house. I go to polish the silver. It\u2019s the only thing left for me.\u201d With that, he turned and marched back into the house.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s smile disappeared and he looked down. \u201cI sure hope they turn him around.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe put a hand on his father\u2019s shoulder, and the two of them stood there for awhile as the children played and the women worked.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***********<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Doc woke Hoss gently. \u201cSon, some folks are here to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss opened his eyes slowly. He squinted, and it took a moment before he recognized the faces gathered over him. His breathing was uneven, and his face red with fever.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHey there, Little Buddy.\u201d Lafe Jessup\u2019s voice was soft, nothing like the roughneck Hoss met a few years ago.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jock Henry peered around his arm and smiled at Hoss while Lothario Larkin doffed his hat. \u201cIt sure is good to see you, boy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wade Tyree and Jason Gant stood back, hats in hand, and Waldo Watson pushed his way past Jock Henry. \u201cHey Big Fella, sure sorry to see you laid up like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss looked at them all for a moment as if struggling to understand it all. Finally he spoke, \u201cWhat are you all doing here? You got work on your ranches.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wade Tyree advanced, his hands dug deep into his pockets. \u201cWe heard you were ailing, and we heard that you was resisting help from the doc.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss shook his head slowly, too weak to lift it off the pillow. \u201cYou don\u2019t understand. I can\u2019t do without my leg. I ain\u2019t much use to anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jason Gant leaned over Lothario. \u201cNo, it\u2019s not true, Hoss. We understand desperate better than most men. We know what you\u2019re feeling, and ya\u2019 can\u2019t tell us we don\u2019t. You were with us when we were going through desperate times.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s my leg, fellers.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wade chuckled. \u201cWell Hoss, it was my life. Before you showed up, I was nothing but a common drunk.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSame here,\u201d Waldo nodded. \u201cLest you forget, I was going to kill myself when you found me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss grunted. \u201cCouldn\u2019t have saved ya\u2019 without a leg.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot true, Hoss. I wasn\u2019t going to jump. You saved me by believing in me, by caring when no one else did.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jock wormed his way back through the men. \u201cWhat would Hoss Jr. say if you kicked the bucket?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss screwed up his face. \u201cJock, I done told ya\u2019 a million times that you can\u2019t call him junior unless he\u2019s named after you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI sure can. You\u2019re a member of the family.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wade snorted. \u201cEspecially if there\u2019s some work that needs doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jock frowned at him. \u201cAin\u2019t true.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTax bandit,\u201d Wade muttered under his breath.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jason Gant pulled Jock back behind him, and took his place. \u201cHoss, you stayed with me and my family when it was certain I was going to lose my place to drought. It wasn\u2019t your strong back that saved me. It was your determination and faith. Nobody can tell me you\u2019re going to find that in no leg.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right, Little Buddy. If you remember correctly, you had faith in me when no one in their right mind would have. I would have lost Prudence for sure if not for you. She\u2019s carrying our third baby now, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss looked at him with blurry eyes. \u201cThat\u2019s a real blessing, Lafe.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the thing, Hoss. We all got kids, and we all tell them stories about you and what you did for us. I sure hate to have to tell them the story about the time you gave up.\u201d Wade said this and stood silently with his head down.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFellers\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNaw, Hoss, we\u2019ll let you talk in a minute.\u201d Waldo was molesting the brim of his hat something fierce. \u201cIf any one of us were in this very situation, you\u2019d be right there, urging us to live for our families, and you wouldn\u2019t give up on us \u2018til we made the right choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s right, Hoss,\u201d Lothario said. \u201cIt\u2019s the pure truth, it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss stirred. \u201cI don\u2019t have a family\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHate to interrupt,\u201d Jason said, \u201cbut you got a whole passel of families that claim you. Only reason we even let you stay on this here ranch is \u2018cause we\u2019d have to fight off your pa and brothers for ya\u2019 and we ain\u2019t savage enough to try it. Your excuses ain\u2019t no good, Hoss. They just don\u2019t work.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wade stepped forward again. \u201cThis is the last thing I\u2019m going to say, Hoss. Your leg ain\u2019t got nothing to do with why you\u2019re so important to us. It ain\u2019t got nothing to do with why your pa and brothers need you either. Plain fact is that you\u2019re scared, and I can appreciate that. But we were too. Sometimes, I think it would have just been easier to give up, but you wouldn\u2019t let us, so I figure we ain\u2019t but gotta give you the same choice as you gave us.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss closed his eyes tightly for a moment. The faces were all too much, the energy of their concern overwhelming.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jock found a way between Jason Gant and Lothario Larkin. \u201cWe\u2019ll come and sit with ya\u2019, Hoss. We\u2019ll take turns when you\u2019re getting better. I know that missing leg\u2019ll hurt, but we\u2019ll be right there for ya\u2019. I don\u2019t care nothing about whether you can ever help me again. I\u2026 we just want you better. Ain\u2019t no other reason.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben stepped into the room silently. He had heard much of their conversation from the hallway, and he wasn\u2019t ashamed of the tears in his eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss tried to hoist himself on his elbow, but the exertion was too much. He let his head rest back into his pillow. \u201cYou don\u2019t give a feller much of a choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDoes that mean you\u2019ll\u2026Hoss, what does that mean?\u201d Waldo stepped closer.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right. I guess I\u2019m scared more than anything else. I guess I\u2019m not sure what life\u2019ll hold for a feller like me\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lafe reached in and squeezed his arm. \u201cLosing a leg is bad, Little Buddy, but losing your family, losing your land\u2026these things ain\u2019t at all better. We made it. You can too.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss looked past his friends and saw his pa. \u201cGet Doc, Pa. Tell him to bring up his knives.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There were sounds of a commotion below, and then pounding as men ran up stairs. Everyone stood back as a big man in a raccoon coat carrying a buffalo gun burst through the door. Jock Henry dived for a space under the bed, and Waldo turned, his fists ready. Joe burst through after the big man and ran straight into Waldo. \u201cIt\u2019s okay,\u201d he said breathlessly. \u201cIt\u2019s just big Jim Layton. He\u2019s just a little eager. Nothing to worry about.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe heaved a sigh as the men relaxed and Jim ambled over to the bed, his raccoon coat giving off a ripe odor. Joe imagined he would have to find some way to separate that man from his nasty fur.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jim leaned over Hoss. \u201cI hear you been giving Doc Martin trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss managed a grin. \u201cI ain\u2019t seen you in a coon\u2019s age. The truth is ya\u2019 smell like a coon too.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jim grinned. \u201cLikewise, pardner, but I ain\u2019t here on no social call. I\u2019m giving you about a minute to make the right decision. Otherwise, I\u2019m going after that leg myself and it ain\u2019t going to be pretty.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss sank back into the pillow. \u201cYou\u2019re a little late with your threats, Jim. I already caved. You come at me with that frogsticker you use, and things are going to get a little brisk around here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jim threw back his head and laughed. \u201cYou\u2019re still the king of the mountain. It ain\u2019t gonna\u2019 matter if you got a leg or not. You\u2019re always gonna\u2019 be the king to my way of thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben turned and went for Doc Martin.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

**********<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Even though much of this had been Adam\u2019s idea, nothing prepared him for the spectacle in front of the house. Tables were set up as if for a big party. Children chased each other around the yard while women brought out platters of food. Men were going in and out of the barn, and it was clear that they were working. Waldo Watson was geared out for smithing and others carried pitchforks and shovels. He stopped the carriage and let Dr. Mundy and Thomas Bowers step down. Both men headed straight for the house. He climbed down, and was surprised to find Jock Henry there, ready to lead the team into the barn. The activity suggested that nothing bad had happened, and he prayed that he would go in to find his middle brother laughing and joking with Little Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Heart pounding, he headed into the house. Hop Sing was standing at the table littered with all the silver in the house. He was studiously polishing a candlestick when he saw Adam. With his head, he gestured at the stairs. \u201cYou better go up, Mr. Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam shed his coat and hat, and bounded up the staircase. The door to his brother\u2019s room was open, and he could see that Dr. Mundy was already at work with Dr. Martin. The two of them were bent over his brother\u2019s leg. Eyes closed, Hoss lay still, Thomas Bowers at his side speaking softly to him. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to find his father and brother standing at the wall.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good to see you, son. You must have ridden hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam searched their eyes. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe chewed on his lip before speaking. \u201cHe\u2026uh, agreed to let Doc take the leg a few hours ago, but, uh\u2026Doc hasn\u2019t. He\u2019s worried Hoss is too weak. He thinks it might be too late. Mundy\u2019s taking a look for himself.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The two doctors straightened up and Paul Martin turned to the Cartwrights. \u201cDr. Mundy and I think it\u2019s best if\u2026well, Dr. Mundy has a procedure he would like to try.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben nodded. \u201cAnything.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBen, I don\u2019t want you to get too hopeful. Hoss is a very sick young man. I don\u2019t know that anything can change the outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s mouth moved but no words came out. He cleared his throat and tried again, \u201cPlease try.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Mundy and I are going to need the room. Please ask Hop Sing to bring us bandages and some boiling water.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI got it, Pa.\u201d Joe was out the room before anyone could respond.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI was a medic in the union army,\u201d Thomas offered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mundy nodded. \u201cThen you stay.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam took his father\u2019s arm and gently pulled him from the room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***********<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Cartwrights sat at one of the tables in the yard, and let women press food on them. More than anyone, Joe didn\u2019t eat well under stress, and Ben tried to remember the last time he\u2019d seen the boy eat an actual meal. He wanted to fuss, but it took energy, and none of them had the strength for it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam pushed his hat back on his head, and regarded the spectacle unfolding up in the barn loft. Jim Layton was hanging out the barn loft window holding a rope that had Jock Henry barely hanging on at the other end. Jock started to squeal, the women started to shriek, and the children stood there with eyes wide open waiting for the little man to fall.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jason Gant pushed in next to Layton and made him lower the little man to the ground. Wade threw his hat on the ground, and started cursing at both of them. Jim defended himself, saying that Jock Henry wasn\u2019t doing anything up in the loft but watching him work and making comments. Jock responded with his thoughts on the state of Jim\u2019s brain capacity. Lafe Jessup advanced on both of them, and threatened to throw down with whoever was willing, and it started moving in the direction of a free-for-all until Prudence Jessup marched into the middle, eyes blazing. A few minutes of scolding was all that was needed, and Jock and Jim stalked off in different directions while Lafe meekly followed his wife back to the table.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wade came over, hat in hand. \u201cI sure am sorry about that. Don\u2019t know who thought putting those two jokers together on a job was a good idea. Ah, it won\u2019t happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben smiled. \u201cIt\u2019s kind of you all to help out. It\u2019s not necessary, though.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wade shook his head and sat down, reaching for a drumstick from a platter of fried chicken. \u201cIt sure is necessary. You remember how Hoss was when I was drinking. He never gave up; not for a moment. I\u2019ll admit he got a little over-involved, but he just wanted the best for me and Abigail. Every morning when I wake up, I think about what a lucky man I am. I got three kids running around my place, and there\u2019s laughing and crying and talking everywhere I turn, and the truth is, I love every minute of it. Hoss pushed me toward that, and he didn\u2019t let me walk away, though God knows I tried. I ain\u2019t ever forgetting that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jason Gant sat down beside him. \u201cWade, you should have seen him at my place during the drought. He wouldn\u2019t give up when it was plain as day I was going to lose the place. And then each of these fellers came, and showed me the true meaning of being a neighbor.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded. \u201cYou reap what you sow. Pa; you always taught us that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, but you boys have translated it in ways I never imagined. The men you have become is a blessing to me every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lafe reached over Joe and grabbed a piece of chicken. \u201cI never figured a word like blessing would ever have a lick of meaning for me. Prudence has taught me a lot, but I wouldn\u2019t be here if Hoss hadn\u2019t taken care of her and foaled our critter\u2026I mean, baby.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe birthed mine, too,\u201d Jock Henry said as he squeezed in next to Adam. When Adam looked down at his plate a moment later, he found that his last piece of chicken had disappeared. Jock was looking guilty, but Adam didn\u2019t say anything. There was a good chance he\u2019d never have gotten it down anyhow.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHoss has been midwifing, huh? I never knew.\u201d Roy walked up with a pitcher of lemonade. \u201cBoy\u2019s just full of hidden talents, ain\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jim came up to the table and Adam felt Jock tense beside him. Roy raised an eyebrow, and set a practiced glare on Jim. The big mountain man growled a bit under his breath, but held his tongue. Lothario brought a chair for himself and Jim, and they pulled up to the table. Jim accepted a glass of lemonade. \u201cI don\u2019t know about you fellers, but I figure I would\u2019ve hung if not for the big ol\u2019 grizzly bear upstairs. You can\u2019t owe a man more than that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lothario nodded. \u201cI imagine you can if you\u2019re dying of a broken heart and taking every gal you see along for the ride.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy looked heavenward and shook his head. \u201cI never thought I\u2019d be sitting within arms reach of Lothario Larkin without a pair of cuffs in my hands.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They all laughed. Waldo accepted a glass from Jason, and said, \u201cFor me, I think it\u2019s all about believing in a man when the rest of the world has written him off. I don\u2019t know another feller who can do that like Hoss can.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben nodded slowly. \u201cYou\u2019ve all become our dear friends and we\u2019ll always be grateful for that. You all being here today means the world to all of us, but I don\u2019t know if Hoss is going to make it. Doc doesn\u2019t think it looks good.\u201d He stopped for a moment and swallowed. Around him, men looked down at the table. \u201cI figure the best gift you could give him is to learn from his example and pass on those lessons to your children.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI never figured on a man as powerful as Hoss Cartwright would ever die,\u201d Jock murmured softly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam stood up. \u201cI\u2019m not giving up on my brother yet. He\u2019s as stubborn a man as ever lived. He told me before I left for San Francisco that he\u2019d be alright, and I\u2019m holding him to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe got up beside him and clapped him on the back, doing his best to put conviction in his voice. \u201cI\u2019m with you, Brother. We\u2019re not going to let him walk out on all the work, are we?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On their feet, the two brothers didn\u2019t quite seem to know what they were going to do with themselves until Adam put his arm around his young brother\u2019s shoulder and steered him toward the barn. \u201cJoe, how about we go see what Jock and Jim did to our hayloft.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Neither man had much heart for it, but there are times when the worry will overwhelm a man if he doesn\u2019t move around. Ben watched his two sons go into the barn, and felt grateful that he still had two of the finest men in Nevada territory in his life.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey sure have a lot of faith in their brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben broke his reverie to find Roy sitting across from him. The rest of the men were on their feet getting ready to work again. Ben attempted to change the subject. \u201cSo while you\u2019re here, who\u2019s watching the store back in Virginia City?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cClem\u2019ll do fine. I figure there\u2019s enough characters out here that need watching. This ain\u2019t no vacation I\u2019ll tell you that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben looked at the barn again. \u201cI don\u2019t want them to get their hopes up. Losing Hoss will crush them, both of them. Joe is closer to him, but Adam relies on Hoss. He learns from Hoss\u2019 heart. Being around Hoss teaches him how to open up and share his own heart. I worry about what this will do to them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou lost three wives, Ben. I can understand why you\u2019re afraid to hope. I lost one wife, but it was enough to leave me gun-shy about expecting too much my whole life. You\u2019re preparing yourself. It\u2019s natural. These boys are going to have to travel their own path through this, though, and right now, they just ain\u2019t ready to say good-bye.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019ll make it harder.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy looked up and squinted at the sun. \u201cI don\u2019t know. That big boy o\u2019 yours has more grit than just about anybody I know. My guess is that he\u2019s not going \u2018til he\u2019s darn good and ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***********<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The sun grew deeper and the color of dusk started to show in the sky. The children had long since quieted, and a few were napping in their mama\u2019s laps. The men had finished what work they could find, and everyone just sat silently watching the house, waiting for a sign.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben and his sons stayed out there with them. Somehow the house seemed too small to hold all of the feeling they had inside. Ben wanted to tell the families to go home and tend to their own lives. He knew they all had stock that needed tending, but he didn\u2019t want to break the spell. Maybe if enough people wished the same thing at the same time, God would hear them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Paul Martin opened the front door just as the sunset hit the back of the house. It was as if the man was bathed in light. He walked to the edge of the porch and looked for Ben. Ben stood up and waited, making it clear that any words the doc had was for all of them. Doc cleared his throat. \u201cHe made it through the afternoon. Dr. Mundy removed all the dead flesh, and cleaned the wound. He\u2019s going to leave it open, and tend to it every few hours. He has a few other tricks up his sleeve, I\u2019ve never seen before. It was really something.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben frowned. \u201cYou didn\u2019t take the leg?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHoss is too fevered. We didn\u2019t think he could survive the trauma.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does this mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Doc sighed deeply. \u201cHe\u2019s very ill, but he has the good fortune to have one of the finest medical minds in the world by his side. I honestly can\u2019t tell you what the next hours will bring, but, for right now, he\u2019s holding his own.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jim stepped up. \u201cThat ain\u2019t telling us nothing!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy walked up to Doc and turned to the crowd. \u201cSimmer down, folks. Docs\u2019 been working all day. We know better than to expect an answer right away. The truth is that you all need to be getting back to your own lives now. You done your part; now it\u2019s up to Hoss. I don\u2019t mind telling you all that I\u2019m feeling mighty good about it too. The big man don\u2019t give up easy, and we all know that firsthand, don\u2019t we? It\u2019s best you all get back to your stock and such. I\u2019ll send a deputy around to your places if there\u2019s any changes.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Folks stirred and murmured, but seemed unsettled.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy waved his arm. \u201cGo on now, folks. Go on now. Hoss wouldn\u2019t want you sitting here stewing like you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Slowly, families started to gather up children, dismantle tables, and load up food. Every one of them stopped and gave Ben their best wishes. Roy took him by the arm and steered him toward the house. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about a thing. An hour from now, you\u2019ll never know they were here. Go sit with your son. I\u2019ll take care of all this.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

************<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They all took turns with Hoss, sitting with him at all hours. Mundy didn\u2019t sleep much as he was checking on Hoss almost every hour. Thomas Bowers was similarly devoted, and it was a wonder to see these two distinguished men act as nurses to a sick cowboy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At dawn on the third day, Joe opened his eyes and raised his head. It was his shift to sit with Hoss, and he\u2019d fallen asleep in the early morning hours, his head resting against Hoss\u2019 mattress. The sun was beginning to spill into the room. Joe rubbed his neck, and tried to remember the last night he had actually slept in his own bed. He reached over, and put his hand on Hoss\u2019 arm. He was greeted with a grunt, and he sat up, startled.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sparkling blue eyes looked back at him. Joe gripped his arm. \u201cHoss! Talk to me, Buddy. How ya\u2019 feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss stirred a bit. \u201cFeel a little peaked, to be honest. Sure could use something in my belly.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe threw back his head and laughed. \u201cOf course, you could, Big Brother. What else would you be feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe got up, but before he could out the door, Hoss grabbed his hand. \u201cHow bad is it, Little Joe? I can feel the aching. Is it below the knee or above?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe frowned at him for a moment. Than he realized what his brother was asking. He came back to the bed and looked down at Hoss. \u201cThey didn\u2019t take it, Hoss. Doc Mundy was able to save it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss screwed up his face. \u201cI don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam went to San Francisco for Mundy. Thomas Bowers came too. The ranch has been crawling with people you\u2019ve helped at one time or another all week. Keeping you alive has been a real group effort.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI have my leg.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe narrowed his green eyes. \u201cYou do, Brother, but you almost died for it, and that don\u2019t sit well with your family or all the people you\u2019ve helped over the years. Anything like this ever happens again, and I ain\u2019t going to put up with your fussing about how you\u2019re no use to anyone without a leg. I\u2019m going to knock you over the head and just take it. Hear me now. I\u2019m giving ya\u2019 fair warning on that, Brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Joe. I shouldn\u2019t have waited like I did. I should have had more faith in all of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, picture me in that same situation. You wouldn\u2019t have stood for it, and that\u2019s the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s right, Hoss.\u201d Adam was leaning against the doorframe. \u201cYou aren\u2019t just a big bundle of muscle to this family or to the people you\u2019ve helped over the years. You\u2019d be who you are, whether you are a big man or a little one\u2026or one without a leg.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben pushed past his eldest and headed for Hoss. He had one hand on his son\u2019s forehead and the other checking his pulse before anyone could get a word out. Hoss knew better than to put up any resistance. The anxiety radiating off his pa told him all he needed to know.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben let out a deep breath, and fell into a chair next to the bed. \u201cI never let myself hope for this.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss turned his head. \u201cI worried ya\u2019, Pa. I\u2019m sorry for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben shook his head. \u201cYou\u2019re going to fine, Son. That\u2019s all that matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI should have listened.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben sighed. \u201cYes, Hoss, you should have. You could have lived without the leg. You would have had hard times, but you would have made it work. That\u2019s the kind of man you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hop Sing poked his head. \u201cI thought I heard big booming voice. You hungry?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLike a grizzly bear on the first day of spring, Hop Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Good! I get you soup!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow about a nice steak?\u201d Hoss smiled hopefully.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou pushing it, Big Man. You get soup and nothing more \u2018til I hear from Doc Mundy. He and Mr. Bowers sleeping hard now. Been up every hour for three days to keep you alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t believe how Tom and Doc Mundy came all the way from San Francisco for me. And I don\u2019t know if I was dreaming, but there was other folks here too, wasn\u2019t there? I would believe I only dreamed of ol\u2019 Jim, but I remember smelling him too. He was wearing that ol\u2019 flea bitten coat of his, wasn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam stepped forward. \u201cWe had a whole yard full of them: the Jessups, Watsons, Henrys, Gants, Tyrees, and Larkins. Kids were running around, and people were helping with chores\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMost of which we had to redo by the way,\u201d Joe added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey were here for you, Brother. They just wanted you to get better.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a lucky man.\u201d Hoss found it hard to meet anyone\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all lucky, son. If you lose, we all do. It\u2019ll always be that way. That\u2019s why we got to stick together, help each other out.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss nodded. The sun was full in the window now. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Adam. \u201cIt\u2019s a beautiful, Hoss. Maybe later, we\u2019ll help you downstairs and you can sit in the sun.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe smiled at him. \u201cWe\u2019ll bring out the checker board and let you win a few.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss sank back into his pillow. The day was young and his family was with him. It was hard to figure how life could get any better than this.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*****End*****<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(Author\u2019s note: Characters appear from several episodes including The Scapegoat, The Tax Collector, The Wild Ones, Gift of Water, The Good Samaritan, Half a Rogue, Lothario Larkin, Enter Thomas Bowers, and Once a Doctor.)<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam scanned the elegant dining room frantically. It didn\u2019t take long for him to spot a head distinct from the others. He weaved around tables and brushed against several diners in his hurry. He mumbled apologies, but didn\u2019t wait for responses. He felt out of breath when he got to the table even though he\u2019d scarcely exhausted himself. He\u2019d been feeling out of breath for a couple of days now, and it had nothing to do with physical exertion.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Elegant Thomas Bowers looked up at him and nodded, gesturing for him to sit. Across the table was another elegant man, but one that Adam didn\u2019t know. The man extended his hand, \u201cAllow me to introduce myself. I\u2019m Dr. P. A. Mundy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThanks for joining us, Doctor. I realize that you both must be quite confused as to why I brought the two of you together.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it\u2019s certainly pleasure for me,\u201d Dr. Mundy said, \u201cI\u2019ve heard Mr. Bowers here sing several times in London, and feel quite privileged to be in his company.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAh, Doctor, your reputation as a surgeon precedes you as well.\u201d The opera singer said as he gestured for a waiter. \u201cWhat will you have to drink, Mr. Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam swallowed, sweat beading on his brow. \u201cI wish I could say that this is a social call. It is with greatest urgency that I talk with both of you about something you have in common.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thomas Bowers nodded and looked at Mundy. \u201cWe\u2019ve already discussed our mutual friend. We have no idea what\u2019s going on, but we\u2019re at your service.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGood!\u201d Adam almost felt like he should have taken that drink. \u201cI just hope we\u2019re not too late.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***********<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss Cartwright pointed the shotgun at his pa\u2019s chest. It was the last thing either man imagined him doing, but it was happening and he didn\u2019t seem to show any inclination to relax his aim.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben turned his head to where Doc Martin was standing, a look of shock etched into his face. \u201cPaul, you better leave me alone with my son.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll get Joe,\u201d the doctor said as he grabbed his bag.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo! My son and I just need some time alone. You hear me, Paul?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you get those knives out of here, Doc! I don\u2019t want to see those knives again!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The old family doctor was startled by Hoss\u2019 outburst, but grabbed the knives, and backed out of the room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss laid on his side with the gun propped in his father\u2019s direction. The big man was sweating profusely and breathing like a locomotive. \u201cIt ain\u2019t no good, Pa; I ain\u2019t going to let it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben let out breath before speaking slowly. \u201cSon, listen to me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo Pa, you listen to me.\u201d The gun started to shake in his arms. \u201cHe ain\u2019t touching my leg. I ain\u2019t going to be no one legged man.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben suddenly felt as weak as a colt on its first effort to stand. He backed up until he hit the wall and reached for a chair a few feet away. \u201cI can\u2019t lose you, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI ain\u2019t trying to die, Pa. I\u2019m gonna\u2019 lick this thing.\u201d He finally let the gun relax in his grip.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, the infection is spreading up your leg. It will kill you. Doc says so, and I\u2019ve seen it happen to men more than once. We have to take the leg or this infection\u2019s going to take you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The big man slumped a little, and Ben could tell that the fever he was battling was sapping what little energy his son still had. With effort, Hoss kept his head up. \u201cI seen men walk away too. They just needed a little time. Doc\u2019s too happy around those knives. He\u2019d cut me just as soon as look at me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not true. Paul Martin would never hurt you unless there was no other way.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss relaxed his head into the pillow, and for a minute all Ben could hear was his heavy breathing. Then Hoss pulled himself up again. \u201cHe wants to cut too soon, Pa. We gotta\u2019 wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIn a couple of days, it might be too late.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019 head sank back into the pillow. For a few minutes, the two of them waited in silence. Then Ben got up, and approached slowly. Hoss lay with his eyes closed, but there was nothing about him that seemed peaceful. Ben grasped the barrel of the gun, and started to pull it away from him. His son\u2019s eyes flew open, but Hoss made no attempt to stop him. Ben looked into his eyes, and there was a sense of helplessness there so profound that his breath caught and he let go of the gun, letting it drop softly onto the bed again. Instead, he sat on Hoss\u2019 bed. \u201cEric, so many men live happy, productive lives without\u2026a limb. Think of Horace Gunther, Dave Brennan\u2026they have families, they are good, productive men.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss grunted. \u201cHorace is a banker and Dave lost an arm, and even then good ol\u2019 Dave spends most afternoons on his front porch sucking on a whiskey bottle, the pain\u2019s so bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not thinking. It\u2019s the fever\u2026and the whiskey. You aren\u2019t being logical, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019 eyes found the whiskey bottle on his nightstand. \u201cYou going to take it away from me?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben shook his head. \u201cI can\u2019t imagine the pain that leg must be giving you right now. Your foot has got to be twice the size it oughta be.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to be a sorry man, Pa. I don\u2019t want to need whiskey to see myself through the day. I don\u2019t want to be stuck at a desk fumbling with numbers. I can\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know, Hoss. It won\u2019t be like that. It\u2019s the man that makes his circumstances not his injuries. You can get around on a crutch. You\u2019ll use a buggy. I was thinking — you know there oughta be a way to build a saddle you could balance on.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss shook his head slowly. \u201cIt ain\u2019t no good, Pa. We\u2019re just gonna\u2019 have to wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben let out a frustrated sigh. \u201cIf it\u2019d help, I\u2019d have Doc take my leg too. Eric, there\u2019s got to be a way; I won\u2019t lose you to this. I can\u2019t\u2026you must think I\u2019m a stronger man than I am\u2026you can\u2019t understand what this\u2026Oh Eric.\u201d Ben looked away as he tried to contain the jagged breaths coming up from his chest.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss closed his eyes against the moisture welling up in them. He reached over and took his father\u2019s hand. \u201cPa, you\u2019re the one who doesn\u2019t understand. If this was happening to Joe or Adam, it\u2019d be different. All I have is the strength that God gave me. I can\u2019t sit at a desk. I ain\u2019t got the brains for it. The purpose I have in this world is what I can do with these arms and my strong back. I can\u2019t lose that. I can\u2019t be some useless man sitting on the porch with a whiskey bottle, watching his brothers and Pa work themselves into the ground. I ain\u2019t made for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt wouldn\u2019t be like that.\u201d Ben could manage only a hoarse whisper as he fought the emotion rising in his throat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss sighed. \u201cAdam would make it work. His brain is his most powerful tool. Joe\u2026well, Joe can be anything he wants, legs or no. I\u2019m of this land. I can\u2019t be shut in. I need the work. I can\u2019t live with being useless.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben looked down at the quilt that covered his son. It was Inger\u2019s work, intricate and colorful. She had been a woman of so many talents. He tried to imagine her in the room with them now. She\u2019d undoubtedly say something plain and true in this moment. There were no secrets for that woman. She was good and kind and hid absolutely nothing. Hoss was his mother\u2019s son, and if she had lived, there would have been a bond between the mother and son that would have surpassed any he could\u2019ve built with the boy. Ben knew this and knew also that she would not be struggling with him like he was. She would have said her piece and then given the boy the space to work it out. She would have done that because she was the strongest of them all, and her faith would have seen her through. But Ben felt none of the strength he remembered in Inger; in his heart, he felt nothing but fear and frustration. He closed his eyes and prayed that she would guide him with their son.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I want things. I want a family. I want to build a life. You know what it\u2019s like for a feller who looks like me and doesn\u2019t know how to talk fancy. I can barely catch a gal as it is. Without my leg, I\u2019d be\u2026I\u2019d be\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The door swung open and Joe came barreling through. He grabbed the shotgun from the bed, and dropped it to the ground. \u201cHow dare you point that at Pa! It\u2019s not enough that you\u2019re killing yourself; you gotta take your flesh and blood with you!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph!\u201d Ben was on his feet. \u201cHe wasn\u2019t going to hurt me!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Little Joe backed away from his father, but kept his eyes narrowed on Hoss. \u201cI never figured you for a coward.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s enough! Leave him be!\u201d Ben reached his son and pushed him toward the door.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss raised up on an elbow, the exertion of it etched into his features. \u201cI don\u2019t want to fight with you, Little Joe. If I don\u2019t got time\u2026I don\u2019t want us to end bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe pushed his father out of the way and advanced on Hoss. The boy\u2019s eyes were red and blurry. \u201cThen you can\u2019t do this, Brother. You ain\u2019t thinking. You gotta let the doc do his work.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss closed his eyes before responding. \u201cI can\u2019t see it, Joe. I can\u2019t see it being anything but a misery for all of us if I let him take the leg. You\u2019re not picturing the burden it would be.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe struggled with his emotions. \u201cHoss, you\u2019re my brother. You would never be a burden. The only burden for me would be losing you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI just need some time to think it through.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThere ain\u2019t no time. Pretty soon, it won\u2019t matter what you choose. You gotta listen to the doc!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben walked up behind his son and put his hands on his shoulder. \u201cJoe, Hoss\u2019 right. He needs a little time.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe pulled away. \u201cI swear, Hoss, when you fall asleep, I\u2019m coming for that leg. I swear it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss turned his head away from them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben closed his eyes and saw his second wife, her blue eyes sparkling. She never faltered no matter how difficult the circumstances; she always weathered it with a hopeful smile. Memories of Inger seemed especially vivid today and he was grateful for this. A sense of peace washed over him, and he walked over to his son\u2019s bed. \u201cI won\u2019t let him, Hoss. As much as I want the same thing, I won\u2019t let anyone, even Joe, take away your right to choose for yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss didn\u2019t respond.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben sighed, and herded his youngest son out of the room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***********<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The rapping woke Ben, and he groaned as his neck protested from the angle he\u2019d slept on it. He pulled himself out of the chair he\u2019d slept in by the fire. Joe was sleeping in one corner of the sofa, and Doc Martin was draped over the other end. He stumbled past them and went to the door. He opened it to a smiling Roy Coffee. The sheriff walked in and slapped him on the back. \u201cIt looks like a good day, Ben. Sun is shining, the birds are singing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe and Paul Martin lifted sleepy heads. Coffee nodded at them. \u201cHow\u2019s the big boy o\u2019 yours?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben looked down. \u201cHe\u2019s very sick, Roy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy kept his smile. \u201cWell, we\u2019re about to turn that around.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Paul Martin stood up. \u201cRoy, I don\u2019t think you understand how serious this is.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI do. I know you haven\u2019t gotten that stubborn Missouri mule to make the right decision. And I know that we\u2019re about to give that mule a big ol\u2019 push.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben furrowed his brow. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with you, Roy?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy cocked his head. \u201cYour eldest and I have been burning up the wires. I must have had 6 from him in the last three days. I figure, the way he\u2019s traveling, he\u2019d oughta be here by noon.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben breathed a sigh of relief. Adam\u2019s presence would help. He\u2019d been here last week when things started to go bad, and had headed to San Francisco for a specialist even though Doc Martin felt that it was nothing more than pure folly. At first, Ben had been angry, but then he understood that Adam needed the distraction. With him back, maybe the three of them together would have more impact on Hoss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Through the open door, the sounds of hooves and wheels sounded. Roy whirled toward the door. \u201cBoy, they didn\u2019t take any time at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d Joe was on his feet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy shook his head. \u201cNaw. I just arranged a little party is all.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben followed him out the door. Wagons were pulling up in the yard. Kids poured off the back, and men helped their wives down. Ben squinted as he recognized the Gant family, the Tyrees, the Larkins, the Jessups, the Henrys, and the Watsons. Ben turned to Roy. \u201cWhat are you thinking? We don\u2019t have time for this.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBen, you and the boys can\u2019t shift him, and let me tell you why. He thinks he\u2019ll be a burden to you. He think it\u2019ll be like dying watching everyone else work while he sits. He thinks he won\u2019t be a man no more.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben threw his arms up. \u201cHow do you know this?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t, but these folks did. Waldo started talking to some of the families Hoss helped. You know he pulled them through some pretty bad times, and I think they really came to understand some things about him, maybe things you and the boys don\u2019t. You gotta remember he was there for them at their lowest points, and Hoss is at his. They know what he\u2019s feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2026I don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy looked him firmly in the eye. \u201cHoss isn\u2019t just a son and a brother. It ain\u2019t just about what he can do around this ranch. He\u2019s changed lives, and it didn\u2019t have nothing to do with him being a big, strong man.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Waldo Watson climbed onto the porch and shook Ben\u2019s hand. His wife Nancy was doing her best to corral the three younguns of theirs in the yard. Lafe Jessup, Lothario Larkin, Jason Gant, Wade Tyree, and Jock Henry followed. Waldo shuffled his feet a bit as he was still something of a shy man. \u201cWe was wondering if maybe we could go up and sit with the big feller for a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben blinked. \u201cAh, I\u2026we haven\u2019t checked on him this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Doc Martin stepped out of the house behind him. \u201cI just did. He wants to know what\u2019s going on. If you visit, you gotta keep it short, boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Waldo nodded. \u201cYes sir, Doc. I don\u2019t figure none of us are long on speeches anyhow.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The six men piled into the house after the doc. Still shocked, Ben turned to stare at his yard which was crowded with wagons, women, and running children. Only Jason Gant had been a father when Hoss had come into his life, and Hoss had been hugely responsible for bringing these babies into being. He\u2019d brought four of the couples together and birthed two of the children. He stopped and counted fifteen younguns in the yard. For a moment, his breath caught at the impact his boy had on people who\u2019d been little more than strangers before he\u2019d walked into their lives. The women were organizing tables, and three of them had already invaded Hop Sing\u2019s kitchen through the side door. The Chinese cook was herded into the front yard loudly protesting. Abigail Tyree put her hands on her hips and regarded him. \u201cListen, Hop Sing, we know you haven\u2019t been sleeping any better than the Cartwrights. You talk a good game, but you got real feeling for that big man upstairs. We\u2019re taking over for a bit. Going to give you a chance to catch your breath. Maybe you can spend a few minutes with Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine, Missy Abigail. Don\u2019t need nothing.\u201d The cook added a few bits of Chinese under his breath.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prudence Jessup stepped up next to Abigail and pointed a finger at him. \u201cThat heathen muttering will do thou no good, Hop Sing. Thee should know better than to stand up to a group of determined women. We\u2019re going to take good care of thee kitchen, I swear it to the good Lord. Now scat. We\u2019ve got work to do.\u201d She walked past him into his kitchen without another word.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hop Sing shook his head and looked up at Ben Cartwright. Ben nodded and the Chinese cook gave up and climbed the porch to stand with his boss. Ben turned his head to the right and found his son, Joseph, standing there. Joe caught his eye and smiled grimly. \u201cYou think maybe that Abigail Tyree could foreman one of our logging crews?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben chuckled a bit in spite of the circumstances. \u201cSomehow I could picture her doing that, and running that growing family of theirs at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe scary,\u201d Hop Sing added, his arms folded across his chest. \u201cGive me a rustler with a big gun any day over another minute of her. She like a tiger with burning eyes. The other one is like Chinese witch who strikes in the dark.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy chortled. \u201cThat Mrs. Jessup is something all right. Makes me think I oughta hire her on as a deputy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, sheriff,\u201d Hop Sing said, shaking his head in emphasis. \u201cBad idea. She turn Virginia City into ghost town for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They all laughed. It felt good, having this bit of release in the midst of such desperate circumstances.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben smiled at Hop Sing. \u201cTake their advice. Get some sleep. Sit with Hoss. You\u2019ve running non-stop since this whole thing started.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hop Sing glared at him. \u201cThere is no sleep. The yard is filled with screaming children. The house is filled with nosy women. There is no place for Hop Sing to rest. I like it better when there is only Cartwrights in the house. I go to polish the silver. It\u2019s the only thing left for me.\u201d With that, he turned and marched back into the house.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s smile disappeared and he looked down. \u201cI sure hope they turn him around.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe put a hand on his father\u2019s shoulder, and the two of them stood there for awhile as the children played and the women worked.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***********<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Doc woke Hoss gently. \u201cSon, some folks are here to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss opened his eyes slowly. He squinted, and it took a moment before he recognized the faces gathered over him. His breathing was uneven, and his face red with fever.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHey there, Little Buddy.\u201d Lafe Jessup\u2019s voice was soft, nothing like the roughneck Hoss met a few years ago.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jock Henry peered around his arm and smiled at Hoss while Lothario Larkin doffed his hat. \u201cIt sure is good to see you, boy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wade Tyree and Jason Gant stood back, hats in hand, and Waldo Watson pushed his way past Jock Henry. \u201cHey Big Fella, sure sorry to see you laid up like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss looked at them all for a moment as if struggling to understand it all. Finally he spoke, \u201cWhat are you all doing here? You got work on your ranches.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wade Tyree advanced, his hands dug deep into his pockets. \u201cWe heard you were ailing, and we heard that you was resisting help from the doc.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss shook his head slowly, too weak to lift it off the pillow. \u201cYou don\u2019t understand. I can\u2019t do without my leg. I ain\u2019t much use to anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jason Gant leaned over Lothario. \u201cNo, it\u2019s not true, Hoss. We understand desperate better than most men. We know what you\u2019re feeling, and ya\u2019 can\u2019t tell us we don\u2019t. You were with us when we were going through desperate times.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s my leg, fellers.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wade chuckled. \u201cWell Hoss, it was my life. Before you showed up, I was nothing but a common drunk.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSame here,\u201d Waldo nodded. \u201cLest you forget, I was going to kill myself when you found me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss grunted. \u201cCouldn\u2019t have saved ya\u2019 without a leg.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot true, Hoss. I wasn\u2019t going to jump. You saved me by believing in me, by caring when no one else did.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jock wormed his way back through the men. \u201cWhat would Hoss Jr. say if you kicked the bucket?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss screwed up his face. \u201cJock, I done told ya\u2019 a million times that you can\u2019t call him junior unless he\u2019s named after you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI sure can. You\u2019re a member of the family.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wade snorted. \u201cEspecially if there\u2019s some work that needs doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jock frowned at him. \u201cAin\u2019t true.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTax bandit,\u201d Wade muttered under his breath.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jason Gant pulled Jock back behind him, and took his place. \u201cHoss, you stayed with me and my family when it was certain I was going to lose my place to drought. It wasn\u2019t your strong back that saved me. It was your determination and faith. Nobody can tell me you\u2019re going to find that in no leg.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right, Little Buddy. If you remember correctly, you had faith in me when no one in their right mind would have. I would have lost Prudence for sure if not for you. She\u2019s carrying our third baby now, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss looked at him with blurry eyes. \u201cThat\u2019s a real blessing, Lafe.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the thing, Hoss. We all got kids, and we all tell them stories about you and what you did for us. I sure hate to have to tell them the story about the time you gave up.\u201d Wade said this and stood silently with his head down.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFellers\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNaw, Hoss, we\u2019ll let you talk in a minute.\u201d Waldo was molesting the brim of his hat something fierce. \u201cIf any one of us were in this very situation, you\u2019d be right there, urging us to live for our families, and you wouldn\u2019t give up on us \u2018til we made the right choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s right, Hoss,\u201d Lothario said. \u201cIt\u2019s the pure truth, it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss stirred. \u201cI don\u2019t have a family\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHate to interrupt,\u201d Jason said, \u201cbut you got a whole passel of families that claim you. Only reason we even let you stay on this here ranch is \u2018cause we\u2019d have to fight off your pa and brothers for ya\u2019 and we ain\u2019t savage enough to try it. Your excuses ain\u2019t no good, Hoss. They just don\u2019t work.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wade stepped forward again. \u201cThis is the last thing I\u2019m going to say, Hoss. Your leg ain\u2019t got nothing to do with why you\u2019re so important to us. It ain\u2019t got nothing to do with why your pa and brothers need you either. Plain fact is that you\u2019re scared, and I can appreciate that. But we were too. Sometimes, I think it would have just been easier to give up, but you wouldn\u2019t let us, so I figure we ain\u2019t but gotta give you the same choice as you gave us.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss closed his eyes tightly for a moment. The faces were all too much, the energy of their concern overwhelming.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jock found a way between Jason Gant and Lothario Larkin. \u201cWe\u2019ll come and sit with ya\u2019, Hoss. We\u2019ll take turns when you\u2019re getting better. I know that missing leg\u2019ll hurt, but we\u2019ll be right there for ya\u2019. I don\u2019t care nothing about whether you can ever help me again. I\u2026 we just want you better. Ain\u2019t no other reason.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben stepped into the room silently. He had heard much of their conversation from the hallway, and he wasn\u2019t ashamed of the tears in his eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss tried to hoist himself on his elbow, but the exertion was too much. He let his head rest back into his pillow. \u201cYou don\u2019t give a feller much of a choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDoes that mean you\u2019ll\u2026Hoss, what does that mean?\u201d Waldo stepped closer.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right. I guess I\u2019m scared more than anything else. I guess I\u2019m not sure what life\u2019ll hold for a feller like me\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lafe reached in and squeezed his arm. \u201cLosing a leg is bad, Little Buddy, but losing your family, losing your land\u2026these things ain\u2019t at all better. We made it. You can too.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss looked past his friends and saw his pa. \u201cGet Doc, Pa. Tell him to bring up his knives.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There were sounds of a commotion below, and then pounding as men ran up stairs. Everyone stood back as a big man in a raccoon coat carrying a buffalo gun burst through the door. Jock Henry dived for a space under the bed, and Waldo turned, his fists ready. Joe burst through after the big man and ran straight into Waldo. \u201cIt\u2019s okay,\u201d he said breathlessly. \u201cIt\u2019s just big Jim Layton. He\u2019s just a little eager. Nothing to worry about.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe heaved a sigh as the men relaxed and Jim ambled over to the bed, his raccoon coat giving off a ripe odor. Joe imagined he would have to find some way to separate that man from his nasty fur.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jim leaned over Hoss. \u201cI hear you been giving Doc Martin trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss managed a grin. \u201cI ain\u2019t seen you in a coon\u2019s age. The truth is ya\u2019 smell like a coon too.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jim grinned. \u201cLikewise, pardner, but I ain\u2019t here on no social call. I\u2019m giving you about a minute to make the right decision. Otherwise, I\u2019m going after that leg myself and it ain\u2019t going to be pretty.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss sank back into the pillow. \u201cYou\u2019re a little late with your threats, Jim. I already caved. You come at me with that frogsticker you use, and things are going to get a little brisk around here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jim threw back his head and laughed. \u201cYou\u2019re still the king of the mountain. It ain\u2019t gonna\u2019 matter if you got a leg or not. You\u2019re always gonna\u2019 be the king to my way of thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben turned and went for Doc Martin.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

**********<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Even though much of this had been Adam\u2019s idea, nothing prepared him for the spectacle in front of the house. Tables were set up as if for a big party. Children chased each other around the yard while women brought out platters of food. Men were going in and out of the barn, and it was clear that they were working. Waldo Watson was geared out for smithing and others carried pitchforks and shovels. He stopped the carriage and let Dr. Mundy and Thomas Bowers step down. Both men headed straight for the house. He climbed down, and was surprised to find Jock Henry there, ready to lead the team into the barn. The activity suggested that nothing bad had happened, and he prayed that he would go in to find his middle brother laughing and joking with Little Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Heart pounding, he headed into the house. Hop Sing was standing at the table littered with all the silver in the house. He was studiously polishing a candlestick when he saw Adam. With his head, he gestured at the stairs. \u201cYou better go up, Mr. Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam shed his coat and hat, and bounded up the staircase. The door to his brother\u2019s room was open, and he could see that Dr. Mundy was already at work with Dr. Martin. The two of them were bent over his brother\u2019s leg. Eyes closed, Hoss lay still, Thomas Bowers at his side speaking softly to him. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to find his father and brother standing at the wall.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good to see you, son. You must have ridden hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam searched their eyes. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe chewed on his lip before speaking. \u201cHe\u2026uh, agreed to let Doc take the leg a few hours ago, but, uh\u2026Doc hasn\u2019t. He\u2019s worried Hoss is too weak. He thinks it might be too late. Mundy\u2019s taking a look for himself.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The two doctors straightened up and Paul Martin turned to the Cartwrights. \u201cDr. Mundy and I think it\u2019s best if\u2026well, Dr. Mundy has a procedure he would like to try.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben nodded. \u201cAnything.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBen, I don\u2019t want you to get too hopeful. Hoss is a very sick young man. I don\u2019t know that anything can change the outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s mouth moved but no words came out. He cleared his throat and tried again, \u201cPlease try.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Mundy and I are going to need the room. Please ask Hop Sing to bring us bandages and some boiling water.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI got it, Pa.\u201d Joe was out the room before anyone could respond.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI was a medic in the union army,\u201d Thomas offered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mundy nodded. \u201cThen you stay.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam took his father\u2019s arm and gently pulled him from the room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***********<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Cartwrights sat at one of the tables in the yard, and let women press food on them. More than anyone, Joe didn\u2019t eat well under stress, and Ben tried to remember the last time he\u2019d seen the boy eat an actual meal. He wanted to fuss, but it took energy, and none of them had the strength for it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam pushed his hat back on his head, and regarded the spectacle unfolding up in the barn loft. Jim Layton was hanging out the barn loft window holding a rope that had Jock Henry barely hanging on at the other end. Jock started to squeal, the women started to shriek, and the children stood there with eyes wide open waiting for the little man to fall.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jason Gant pushed in next to Layton and made him lower the little man to the ground. Wade threw his hat on the ground, and started cursing at both of them. Jim defended himself, saying that Jock Henry wasn\u2019t doing anything up in the loft but watching him work and making comments. Jock responded with his thoughts on the state of Jim\u2019s brain capacity. Lafe Jessup advanced on both of them, and threatened to throw down with whoever was willing, and it started moving in the direction of a free-for-all until Prudence Jessup marched into the middle, eyes blazing. A few minutes of scolding was all that was needed, and Jock and Jim stalked off in different directions while Lafe meekly followed his wife back to the table.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wade came over, hat in hand. \u201cI sure am sorry about that. Don\u2019t know who thought putting those two jokers together on a job was a good idea. Ah, it won\u2019t happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben smiled. \u201cIt\u2019s kind of you all to help out. It\u2019s not necessary, though.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wade shook his head and sat down, reaching for a drumstick from a platter of fried chicken. \u201cIt sure is necessary. You remember how Hoss was when I was drinking. He never gave up; not for a moment. I\u2019ll admit he got a little over-involved, but he just wanted the best for me and Abigail. Every morning when I wake up, I think about what a lucky man I am. I got three kids running around my place, and there\u2019s laughing and crying and talking everywhere I turn, and the truth is, I love every minute of it. Hoss pushed me toward that, and he didn\u2019t let me walk away, though God knows I tried. I ain\u2019t ever forgetting that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jason Gant sat down beside him. \u201cWade, you should have seen him at my place during the drought. He wouldn\u2019t give up when it was plain as day I was going to lose the place. And then each of these fellers came, and showed me the true meaning of being a neighbor.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded. \u201cYou reap what you sow. Pa; you always taught us that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, but you boys have translated it in ways I never imagined. The men you have become is a blessing to me every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lafe reached over Joe and grabbed a piece of chicken. \u201cI never figured a word like blessing would ever have a lick of meaning for me. Prudence has taught me a lot, but I wouldn\u2019t be here if Hoss hadn\u2019t taken care of her and foaled our critter\u2026I mean, baby.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe birthed mine, too,\u201d Jock Henry said as he squeezed in next to Adam. When Adam looked down at his plate a moment later, he found that his last piece of chicken had disappeared. Jock was looking guilty, but Adam didn\u2019t say anything. There was a good chance he\u2019d never have gotten it down anyhow.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHoss has been midwifing, huh? I never knew.\u201d Roy walked up with a pitcher of lemonade. \u201cBoy\u2019s just full of hidden talents, ain\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jim came up to the table and Adam felt Jock tense beside him. Roy raised an eyebrow, and set a practiced glare on Jim. The big mountain man growled a bit under his breath, but held his tongue. Lothario brought a chair for himself and Jim, and they pulled up to the table. Jim accepted a glass of lemonade. \u201cI don\u2019t know about you fellers, but I figure I would\u2019ve hung if not for the big ol\u2019 grizzly bear upstairs. You can\u2019t owe a man more than that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lothario nodded. \u201cI imagine you can if you\u2019re dying of a broken heart and taking every gal you see along for the ride.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy looked heavenward and shook his head. \u201cI never thought I\u2019d be sitting within arms reach of Lothario Larkin without a pair of cuffs in my hands.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They all laughed. Waldo accepted a glass from Jason, and said, \u201cFor me, I think it\u2019s all about believing in a man when the rest of the world has written him off. I don\u2019t know another feller who can do that like Hoss can.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben nodded slowly. \u201cYou\u2019ve all become our dear friends and we\u2019ll always be grateful for that. You all being here today means the world to all of us, but I don\u2019t know if Hoss is going to make it. Doc doesn\u2019t think it looks good.\u201d He stopped for a moment and swallowed. Around him, men looked down at the table. \u201cI figure the best gift you could give him is to learn from his example and pass on those lessons to your children.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI never figured on a man as powerful as Hoss Cartwright would ever die,\u201d Jock murmured softly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam stood up. \u201cI\u2019m not giving up on my brother yet. He\u2019s as stubborn a man as ever lived. He told me before I left for San Francisco that he\u2019d be alright, and I\u2019m holding him to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe got up beside him and clapped him on the back, doing his best to put conviction in his voice. \u201cI\u2019m with you, Brother. We\u2019re not going to let him walk out on all the work, are we?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On their feet, the two brothers didn\u2019t quite seem to know what they were going to do with themselves until Adam put his arm around his young brother\u2019s shoulder and steered him toward the barn. \u201cJoe, how about we go see what Jock and Jim did to our hayloft.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Neither man had much heart for it, but there are times when the worry will overwhelm a man if he doesn\u2019t move around. Ben watched his two sons go into the barn, and felt grateful that he still had two of the finest men in Nevada territory in his life.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey sure have a lot of faith in their brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben broke his reverie to find Roy sitting across from him. The rest of the men were on their feet getting ready to work again. Ben attempted to change the subject. \u201cSo while you\u2019re here, who\u2019s watching the store back in Virginia City?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cClem\u2019ll do fine. I figure there\u2019s enough characters out here that need watching. This ain\u2019t no vacation I\u2019ll tell you that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben looked at the barn again. \u201cI don\u2019t want them to get their hopes up. Losing Hoss will crush them, both of them. Joe is closer to him, but Adam relies on Hoss. He learns from Hoss\u2019 heart. Being around Hoss teaches him how to open up and share his own heart. I worry about what this will do to them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou lost three wives, Ben. I can understand why you\u2019re afraid to hope. I lost one wife, but it was enough to leave me gun-shy about expecting too much my whole life. You\u2019re preparing yourself. It\u2019s natural. These boys are going to have to travel their own path through this, though, and right now, they just ain\u2019t ready to say good-bye.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019ll make it harder.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy looked up and squinted at the sun. \u201cI don\u2019t know. That big boy o\u2019 yours has more grit than just about anybody I know. My guess is that he\u2019s not going \u2018til he\u2019s darn good and ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***********<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The sun grew deeper and the color of dusk started to show in the sky. The children had long since quieted, and a few were napping in their mama\u2019s laps. The men had finished what work they could find, and everyone just sat silently watching the house, waiting for a sign.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben and his sons stayed out there with them. Somehow the house seemed too small to hold all of the feeling they had inside. Ben wanted to tell the families to go home and tend to their own lives. He knew they all had stock that needed tending, but he didn\u2019t want to break the spell. Maybe if enough people wished the same thing at the same time, God would hear them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Paul Martin opened the front door just as the sunset hit the back of the house. It was as if the man was bathed in light. He walked to the edge of the porch and looked for Ben. Ben stood up and waited, making it clear that any words the doc had was for all of them. Doc cleared his throat. \u201cHe made it through the afternoon. Dr. Mundy removed all the dead flesh, and cleaned the wound. He\u2019s going to leave it open, and tend to it every few hours. He has a few other tricks up his sleeve, I\u2019ve never seen before. It was really something.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben frowned. \u201cYou didn\u2019t take the leg?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHoss is too fevered. We didn\u2019t think he could survive the trauma.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does this mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Doc sighed deeply. \u201cHe\u2019s very ill, but he has the good fortune to have one of the finest medical minds in the world by his side. I honestly can\u2019t tell you what the next hours will bring, but, for right now, he\u2019s holding his own.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jim stepped up. \u201cThat ain\u2019t telling us nothing!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy walked up to Doc and turned to the crowd. \u201cSimmer down, folks. Docs\u2019 been working all day. We know better than to expect an answer right away. The truth is that you all need to be getting back to your own lives now. You done your part; now it\u2019s up to Hoss. I don\u2019t mind telling you all that I\u2019m feeling mighty good about it too. The big man don\u2019t give up easy, and we all know that firsthand, don\u2019t we? It\u2019s best you all get back to your stock and such. I\u2019ll send a deputy around to your places if there\u2019s any changes.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Folks stirred and murmured, but seemed unsettled.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy waved his arm. \u201cGo on now, folks. Go on now. Hoss wouldn\u2019t want you sitting here stewing like you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Slowly, families started to gather up children, dismantle tables, and load up food. Every one of them stopped and gave Ben their best wishes. Roy took him by the arm and steered him toward the house. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about a thing. An hour from now, you\u2019ll never know they were here. Go sit with your son. I\u2019ll take care of all this.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

************<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They all took turns with Hoss, sitting with him at all hours. Mundy didn\u2019t sleep much as he was checking on Hoss almost every hour. Thomas Bowers was similarly devoted, and it was a wonder to see these two distinguished men act as nurses to a sick cowboy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At dawn on the third day, Joe opened his eyes and raised his head. It was his shift to sit with Hoss, and he\u2019d fallen asleep in the early morning hours, his head resting against Hoss\u2019 mattress. The sun was beginning to spill into the room. Joe rubbed his neck, and tried to remember the last night he had actually slept in his own bed. He reached over, and put his hand on Hoss\u2019 arm. He was greeted with a grunt, and he sat up, startled.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sparkling blue eyes looked back at him. Joe gripped his arm. \u201cHoss! Talk to me, Buddy. How ya\u2019 feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss stirred a bit. \u201cFeel a little peaked, to be honest. Sure could use something in my belly.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe threw back his head and laughed. \u201cOf course, you could, Big Brother. What else would you be feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe got up, but before he could out the door, Hoss grabbed his hand. \u201cHow bad is it, Little Joe? I can feel the aching. Is it below the knee or above?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe frowned at him for a moment. Than he realized what his brother was asking. He came back to the bed and looked down at Hoss. \u201cThey didn\u2019t take it, Hoss. Doc Mundy was able to save it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss screwed up his face. \u201cI don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam went to San Francisco for Mundy. Thomas Bowers came too. The ranch has been crawling with people you\u2019ve helped at one time or another all week. Keeping you alive has been a real group effort.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI have my leg.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe narrowed his green eyes. \u201cYou do, Brother, but you almost died for it, and that don\u2019t sit well with your family or all the people you\u2019ve helped over the years. Anything like this ever happens again, and I ain\u2019t going to put up with your fussing about how you\u2019re no use to anyone without a leg. I\u2019m going to knock you over the head and just take it. Hear me now. I\u2019m giving ya\u2019 fair warning on that, Brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Joe. I shouldn\u2019t have waited like I did. I should have had more faith in all of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, picture me in that same situation. You wouldn\u2019t have stood for it, and that\u2019s the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s right, Hoss.\u201d Adam was leaning against the doorframe. \u201cYou aren\u2019t just a big bundle of muscle to this family or to the people you\u2019ve helped over the years. You\u2019d be who you are, whether you are a big man or a little one\u2026or one without a leg.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben pushed past his eldest and headed for Hoss. He had one hand on his son\u2019s forehead and the other checking his pulse before anyone could get a word out. Hoss knew better than to put up any resistance. The anxiety radiating off his pa told him all he needed to know.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben let out a deep breath, and fell into a chair next to the bed. \u201cI never let myself hope for this.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss turned his head. \u201cI worried ya\u2019, Pa. I\u2019m sorry for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben shook his head. \u201cYou\u2019re going to fine, Son. That\u2019s all that matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI should have listened.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben sighed. \u201cYes, Hoss, you should have. You could have lived without the leg. You would have had hard times, but you would have made it work. That\u2019s the kind of man you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hop Sing poked his head. \u201cI thought I heard big booming voice. You hungry?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLike a grizzly bear on the first day of spring, Hop Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Good! I get you soup!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow about a nice steak?\u201d Hoss smiled hopefully.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou pushing it, Big Man. You get soup and nothing more \u2018til I hear from Doc Mundy. He and Mr. Bowers sleeping hard now. Been up every hour for three days to keep you alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t believe how Tom and Doc Mundy came all the way from San Francisco for me. And I don\u2019t know if I was dreaming, but there was other folks here too, wasn\u2019t there? I would believe I only dreamed of ol\u2019 Jim, but I remember smelling him too. He was wearing that ol\u2019 flea bitten coat of his, wasn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam stepped forward. \u201cWe had a whole yard full of them: the Jessups, Watsons, Henrys, Gants, Tyrees, and Larkins. Kids were running around, and people were helping with chores\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMost of which we had to redo by the way,\u201d Joe added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey were here for you, Brother. They just wanted you to get better.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a lucky man.\u201d Hoss found it hard to meet anyone\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all lucky, son. If you lose, we all do. It\u2019ll always be that way. That\u2019s why we got to stick together, help each other out.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss nodded. The sun was full in the window now. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Adam. \u201cIt\u2019s a beautiful, Hoss. Maybe later, we\u2019ll help you downstairs and you can sit in the sun.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe smiled at him. \u201cWe\u2019ll bring out the checker board and let you win a few.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss sank back into his pillow. The day was young and his family was with him. It was hard to figure how life could get any better than this.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*****End*****<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 Hoss fights his family while they fight for his life. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 K+\u00a0 (15,371 words)<\/p>\n

(Author\u2019s note: Characters appear from several episodes including The Scapegoat, The Tax Collector, The Wild Ones, Gift of Water, The Good Samaritan, Half a Rogue, Lothario Larkin, Enter Thomas Bowers, and Once a Doctor.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8565,"featured_media":2192,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_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":""},"categories":[23,41],"tags":[14,15,17,16],"class_list":["post-11903","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-hurtcomfort","tag-adam-cartwright","tag-ben","tag-hoss","tag-joe","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-41-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1443,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/hoss1.jpeg?fit=300%2C168&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":13179,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13179","url_meta":{"origin":11903,"position":0},"title":"Half Brothers (by No1ButJoe)","author":"No1butjoe","date":"July 28, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Joe asks Adam the meaning of the words \u201chalf brother\u201d. Can Adam explain it correctly so a ten-year old Joe can understand? Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Word count: 1250","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":37623,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=37623","url_meta":{"origin":11903,"position":1},"title":"Scars That Never Fade (by HarpistforHim)","author":"HarpistforHim","date":"October 25, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0Time had passed since Eastgate, though perhaps not enough. One year after the events of The Crucible, Adam finds that certain hurts never heal, and some scars never truly fade. A WHN\/Later for The Crucible. Rating: G\u00a0 Word Count: 1,173","rel":"","context":"In "Adam Cartwright"","block_context":{"text":"Adam Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1005"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/normal_The_Crucible_47.jpg?fit=400%2C298&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":28994,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=28994","url_meta":{"origin":11903,"position":2},"title":"I’ll See You Outside (by McFair_58)","author":"mcfair_58","date":"May 15, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: A What Happens Next for 'The Magnificent Adah'.\u00a0 As Hoss finishes one last beer, Little Joe heads outside to saddle Cochise and wait for him - little knowing the deadly danger that lurks in the dark. Rated: PG-13 for brutality, violence, and graphic images Word count: 14770","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","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\/2020\/10\/Cheryls-Joe-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C916&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Cheryls-Joe-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C916&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Cheryls-Joe-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C916&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Cheryls-Joe-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C916&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Cheryls-Joe-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C916&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13643,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13643","url_meta":{"origin":11903,"position":3},"title":"Three Halves Make a Whole (By Questfan)","author":"Questfan","date":"December 18, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: When seven-year-old Little Joe gets the wrong end of an idea and twists it out of shape, it's up to his family to straighten things out. An early prequel story before Adam has left for college. Word Count: 3041 Rating: K","rel":"","context":"In "Prequel"","block_context":{"text":"Prequel","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=30"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/feature-4.jpg?fit=387%2C387&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10357,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=10357","url_meta":{"origin":11903,"position":4},"title":"Hide and Seek (by bahj)","author":"bahj","date":"September 7, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Be careful what games you play! Rated: Family Friendly \/ Word count: 1074","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","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\/ponderosapine.jpg?fit=270%2C404&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14992,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14992","url_meta":{"origin":11903,"position":5},"title":"Elegy for a Cartwright (by Starlite)","author":"starlite","date":"September 14, 2000","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0A continuation of 'Elegy for a Hangman'. Rated:\u00a0 PG\u00a0 (6,500 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","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\/2017\/09\/Elegy.png?fit=744%2C492&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Elegy.png?fit=744%2C492&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Elegy.png?fit=744%2C492&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Elegy.png?fit=744%2C492&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11903","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\/8565"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11903"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11903\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11903"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11903"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11903"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}