{"id":12111,"date":"2002-11-01T11:20:08","date_gmt":"2002-11-01T16:20:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12111"},"modified":"2026-01-20T15:50:02","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T20:50:02","slug":"back-to-reality-by-debbieb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12111","title":{"rendered":"Back to Reality (by DebbieB)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0<\/strong> When Adam takes Joe along on a business trip, things go from bad to worse.\u00a0 After Joe gets bitten by a sidewinder, it is now up to Adam to save not only his baby brother’s life but his own life as well.<\/p>\n

Rated: <\/strong>PG (8,800 words)
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Back to Reality<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam laid his bundle gently on the ground, making sure that the old blankets were snugly tucked around the still form before he straightened himself to his full height and stretched the kinks from his weary body.<\/p>\n

Adam pulled the cork from his canteen and took a long swallow of the water that had long since lost its coolness.\u00a0 Wiping the sleeve of his soiled shirt across his parched lips, Adam squatted down and pulled the corner of the blanket back, revealing the ashen face of his twelve-year old youngest brother.<\/p>\n

Little Joe moaned softly, his eyelids fluttered slightly as he struggled to open his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, you want a drink, buddy?\u201d Adam asked as he gently raised his brother\u2019s head up so that Joe could place his lips against the rim of the canteen.<\/p>\n

Adam held the water container to his brother\u2019s mouth and gave the fevered boy time to drink his fill.\u00a0 \u201cYou hurting Pal?\u201d the older sibling asked.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes had closed against the sun that shone brightly overhead.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m cold, Adam\u2026and my leg\u2026it feels like it\u2019s on fire,\u201d moaned Little Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know Joe, I know.\u00a0 Here let me check the wound again.\u201d\u00a0 Adam pulled the blanket from about Joe\u2019s lower body and removed the make shift bandaged from the festered area, cringing when he spied the reddened wound on Joe\u2019s right leg.\u00a0 \u201cThat bite doesn\u2019t look too good Joe, we best be on our way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam applied some of the water to the snakebite and cleaned as well as he could around the area.\u00a0 Joe moaned softly and Adam glanced back at his brother\u2019s face, noting the painful expression etched onto the boy\u2019s features.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, buddy, I don\u2019t mean to hurt you,\u201d soothed Adam, being careful not to cause his younger brother any more pain than was necessary as he replaced the wrap about the bite, readjusted the tourniquet he had fashioned with his belt, and pulled the blankets back about Joe\u2019s body.\u00a0 Joe had begun to shiver, Adam knowing that the chills were caused by the snakebite and giving a swift glance at the faraway mountains, wondered if he would be able to get the boy the proper help needed in time to save his life.<\/p>\n

Adam placed his arms under Joe\u2019s body and scooped the smaller boy up, into his arms.\u00a0 \u201cI hate this happened to you Little Joe, but I\u2019m just as glad that it wasn\u2019t Hoss\u2026I don\u2019t think I could have carried him this far,\u201d whispered the older brother.<\/p>\n

From beneath the horse scented old blankets, Adam could hear the soft giggles that his brother had not been able to stop.\u00a0 \u201cOh\u2026please Adam, don\u2019t make me laugh\u2026it hurts,\u201d complained Joe good-naturally.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t meant to be funny little brother, I\u2019m serious,\u201d replied Adam, though he could not help but smile at the thought.<\/p>\n

Just as quickly, the smile faded and Adam turned serious again.\u00a0 \u201cWe better try to get as close to those mountains as we can. Maybe by the time we manage to get that far, Pa and Hoss will have realized that we didn\u2019t get home when we said we would and will be looking for us,\u201d Adam told Joe, though he doubted that that would happen, but he didn\u2019t want to scare the boy.<\/p>\n

Adam knew that with having to walk, they were at least a good two, may be even three days from the hills that fronted the high peaks where the Ponderosa was nestled.\u00a0 He was worried sick about the boy, fearful for his life even, and he wondered why he had not been more careful.<\/p>\n

Adam had known that the snake was there, he just hadn\u2019t had enough time to yell out to his brother to be careful, before the sidewinder struck.\u00a0 Joe had pulled his horse to a stop and dismounted. It appeared as if Joe\u2019s horse had picked up a stone in his shoe, and when Joe had raised his mount\u2019s leg to inspect the hoof, the snake seemed to come out of nowhere.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s horse had reared in fright, knocking the boy off his feet and thus angering the reptile even more as the boy tumbled into the snake\u2019s path.\u00a0 Joe saw the snake too late; the rattler had struck out, striking Joe on the calf of his right leg.\u00a0 Adam had drawn his pistol and fired, killing the snake with the first shot, but during all the ruckus, Joe\u2019s horse bolted passed Adam\u2019s, and when the shot rang out, Adam\u2019s horse had reared also, tossing Adam in the dirt, next to his younger brother.\u00a0 Both horses took off at a run, slinging the sandy dirt all over the two brothers who were trying to scramble to their feet.\u00a0 It was only after Joe tried to stand up that either Cartwright boy realized that Joe had been bitten.<\/p>\n

Adam immediately, ripped Joe\u2019s trousers and using his knife, lacerated the skin where the snake had sank his sharp fangs, in order to allow the bleeding to wash out what poison it could.\u00a0 He gave a quick glance at Joe, who was fighting back tears in an attempt to be brave, and began sucking on the opened wound, hoping to pull more poison from his brother\u2019s body.\u00a0 After washing the gash with the water from his canteen that Adam had found along with his bedroll, Adam wrapped the incision with strips of cloth torn from his own shirt.\u00a0 Both the canteen and bedroll had been knocked free from his saddle when he had grabbed for a handhold once his horse had reacted to the snake and the gunshot.<\/p>\n

When Adam had finished cleaning the snake bite, he examined the snake its self and was relieved to find that the rattler was not the most deadly of its species, but only one in which the bite could make a man deathly ill.\u00a0 Joe however, being as young as he was, Adam was well aware of the fact that the poisonous bite could wind up killing his brother if he did not get Joe to a doctor as soon as possible.\u00a0 Now, with both horses on the loose, there was no other recourse than to carry the boy in his arms.<\/p>\n

Joe moaned softly from beneath his blanket.\u00a0 \u201cTake it easy Joe, we\u2019ll rest again in a little while,\u201d Adam assured his brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre we almost there, Adam?\u201d whispered Joe as he tried to free his face from the blanket that blocked his view of the mountains.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, we have a long ways to go yet,\u201d explained Adam as he stopped to catch his breath and reposition his arms that had begun to grow numb from the weight he was carrying.<\/p>\n

Not that Joe was all that heavy, it was just awkward carrying someone for such distance within the folds of your arms, regardless of how strong a man thought himself to be.\u00a0 In the heat of the desert sun, a man constantly on the move could have his strength sapped from him in a very short time.\u00a0 And Adam knew that his strength was fading fast.\u00a0 Glancing over his shoulder from where they had just come, Adam could only speculate that he and Joe had traveled about five or six miles.\u00a0 Looking into the horizon, Adam knew that they had far more miles to travel than what they had already put behind them.<\/p>\n

Adam trudged onward, cursing himself with every step that he forced his weary body to take.\u00a0 It had been his idea for his younger brother to accompany him to Angelus where his father had needed him to go to check on some minor complaints made by the miners there where Ben held interest in part of the mines.\u00a0 The return trip through the desert flats had been Adam\u2019s idea.\u00a0 There, he had hoped to show young Joseph the fossils he had found the year before that were embedded in the rocks where once the river had flowed, thousands of years before.\u00a0 It had taken some fast-talking on his part to persuade his father to allow the younger boy to go along, both from him and from Little Joe as well.\u00a0 Finally, when Ben could take no more of their begging, pleading and reasoning, their father had at last relented, giving Joe the needed permission to tag along.\u00a0 Thinking back, Adam wondered if it had been such a good idea in the first place.\u00a0 Had he not been so intent on rebuilding his relationship with his younger brother, Joe might have been spared the agony and suffering he was now being made to endure; for that, Adam held him self totally responsible.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa!\u201d moaned the boy from beneath the blankets.<\/p>\n

Adam stopped and lowered Joe to the ground, and pulled back the blanket.\u00a0 \u201cNo, buddy, it\u2019s just me,\u201d Adam said and placed his hand to Joe\u2019s brow.\u00a0 The fever had not seemed to get any worse, and Adam sighed in relief.\u00a0 Again, the older Cartwright brother checked the injury and groaned softly when he saw that the swelling had begun to creep higher up Joe\u2019s leg.\u00a0 When Adam\u2019s fingers touched the tender areas, Joe nearly screamed out in agony.<\/p>\n

\u201cOH!!!\u00a0 Please\u2026don\u2019t Adam\u2026that hurts\u2026it hurts really bad.\u00a0 I wish Pa was here,\u201d cried the frightened boy who could no longer hold back the tears that had been threatening to spill over.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish he were here too Little Buddy,\u201d Adam muttered to himself.\u00a0 \u201cPlease Joe\u2026I know it hurts, but try not to cry, it isn\u2019t good for you to get so upset\u2026it only pumps the venom through your system faster,\u201d pleaded Adam as he wiped the tiny droplets of water from his brother\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on Pal, we have to get going,\u201d said Adam as he started to rewrap the blanket about Joe\u2019s body.<\/p>\n

Joe forced his hand up and grabbed his brother\u2019s arm.\u00a0 \u201cAdam,\u201d cried Joe, \u201cplease, I want you to promise me something\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it Joe?\u201d Adam asked as he bent down so that he might be better able to hear and understand his brother\u2019s request.<\/p>\n

\u201cYa gotta promise me that\u2026that if I\u2026die\u2026you won\u2019t leave me out here by myself,\u201d groaned wept Joe, suddenly more frightened of being left alone in the middle of the desert by himself than of dying from the poisonous bite of the sidewinder.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, you\u2019ve got to stop talking like that, you hear me boy?\u00a0 First of all, you are not going to die, you got that?\u00a0 You are not going to die, and second\u2026I would never leave you alone, not out here, not anywhere, do you understand that?\u201d\u00a0 Adam\u2019s voice had taken on a deeper tone, blood pumped faster through his veins, making his heart to start pounding within his chest cavity.\u00a0 He knew Joe was terrified and he couldn\u2019t blame the boy, so was he.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be mad\u2026I\u2019m sorry Adam, really\u2026it\u2019s just that\u2026I\u2019m really scared Adam\u2026bad,\u201d whined Joe, the tears starting fresh.<\/p>\n

Adam took in a deep breath of air to calm himself, letting it out slowly.\u00a0 Turning, he smiled down at his brother, masking his own fear, \u201cI\u2019m sorry little buddy, I\u2019m not mad at you, but you don\u2019t really think I would leave you, do you?\u00a0 Don\u2019t you know that Pa would have my hide if I even so much as thought about doing such a fool thing?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe forced himself to smile at his brother, \u201cYeah, I guess he would.\u00a0 I don\u2019t mean to be such a baby\u2026you won\u2019t tell anyone\u2026will you?\u00a0 I mean\u2026about me crying\u2026if my friends ever found\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry Joe, I\u2019m not going to tell anyone, anything.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think you\u2019re acting like a baby at all\u2026I mean, if it were me instead of you, I\u2019d probably be doing the very same thing.\u00a0 There\u2019s nothing wrong with a man crying Joe, nothing at all,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s not?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019ve cried plenty of times\u2026oh, not so anyone could see\u2026but I have,\u201d confessed Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo foolin\u2019?\u00a0 When?\u00a0 Name one time,\u201d asked Joe, his pain and fear momentarily forgotten as he held his breath in anticipation of his brother\u2019s answer.<\/p>\n

Joe had often wondered whether his oldest brother had always been immune to tears, or if his heart was just so empty that Adam held no tears in his soul for anything.\u00a0 It had seemed so to the youngest member of the family on several occasions.\u00a0 Joe was surprised to find out that Adam did cry, even in private when no one else was there to see or hear him.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s lips twisted into a hint of a smile as he gazed into his brother\u2019s eyes and saw the curiosity shinning through the pain that had minutes ago brought forth an onslaught of tears.<\/p>\n

\u201cLots of time Joe, like when Inger died, and then again when your mama died.\u00a0 Those were the saddest times in my life; and I used to cried when Pa had to wallop me when I did something that he had told me not to do.\u00a0 And I cried the day I left for college.\u00a0 No one ever knew about that, I waited until the stage had pulled away from the station, I was alone, there wasn\u2019t anyone else riding that day.\u00a0 I could hear you screaming my name and begging me not to go, not to leave you.\u00a0 It tore my heart right out of my chest, and believe it or not, I almost asked the driver to stop so that I could get off and come back.\u00a0 But I knew I couldn\u2019t, I promised your mama, our mama, that I would go and get an education.\u00a0 She wanted it for me as badly as I had wanted it for myself and I knew if I had gotten off and came back, I would never have the courage to try again\u2026so\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you went, to make Mama proud, right?\u201d smiled Little Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, to make Mama proud, and Pa, and my little brothers.\u00a0 Now enough, we need to get walking.\u201d\u00a0 Adam moved to pull the cover back over his brother but stopped when Joe placed his small hand on his arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks for tellin\u2019 me Adam\u2026I\u2026I\u2026well, you know what I mean, I love you,\u201d smiled Joe and closed his eyes, embarrassed at his small confession.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I know Joe, and I feel the same way, I love you too, kid,\u201d whispered Adam and ruffled the top of Joe\u2019s head as he planted a kiss on top of Joe\u2019s head.<\/p>\n

Adam noted the brave little smile that caused his brother\u2019s lips to twitch and then watched as the smiled turned into a frown when he raised Joe into his arms.<\/p>\n

The miles seemed to drag by, Adam\u2019s arms ached from the weight he carried and he wanted to scream out his own agony.\u00a0 But he had no choice, Joe\u2019s life lay in the balance and Adam had to make sure the scales remained in his favor.\u00a0 If Joe died, how would he ever be able to break the heart wrenching news to his father?\u00a0 Or how would he ever be able to live with himself?\u00a0 Adam pressed his lips tightly together to keep his scream from spilling forth and pushed ahead.\u00a0 Those were his steps, one at a time, slowly, ever so slowly until the sun had passed below the tips of the high mountains far on the horizon.\u00a0 Adam all but staggered to a halt, nearly falling to his knees as he lowered Joe to the ground behind a large boulder where they would be protected from the dark desert night wind that blew constantly.<\/p>\n

Joe moaned as he felt his pain ridden body placed on the solid ground, the blanket the only thing that separated him from the particles of dirt and sand that were tossed about by the breeze when his body made contact with the earth.<\/p>\n

Adam quickly uncovered his brother\u2019s face.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s eyes were closed and Adam gave a sigh of relief that at sometime during the course of the early evening, Joe had passed out.\u00a0 Adam quickly pulled the cover back that had shielded Joe\u2019s features from the sun\u2019s hot rays, glad that Joe\u2019s face had not been burnt, as his own face had been.\u00a0 Pulling the bandage from his brother\u2019s leg, Adam was appalled by the sight of Joe\u2019s flesh where the sidewinder had sank his fangs.\u00a0 When the older brother placed his opened hand to the tender area, he was shocked at the heat that radiated into his palm.\u00a0 Quickly he grabbed the canteen, shaking it hard.\u00a0 It was nearly emptied, and Adam frowned.\u00a0 Without water, his baby brother would die, the inflamed and swollen flesh, and the raging fever would eventually pump the snake\u2019s poison to all areas of the boy\u2019s body that was slowly beginning to fail him even now.<\/p>\n

Adam glanced around him in all directions as if hoping to see water, but there was none.\u00a0 He turned back to the canteen and pulled the cork from the spout, pouring a small amount onto the strips of his shirt that he had used to bandage the opened wound, being careful not to waste a drop.\u00a0 Joe groaned softly and began tossing his head from side to side.<\/p>\n

\u201cNO!\u201d he cried out, shattering the stillness of the fading day.\u00a0 \u201cPlease\u2026don\u2019t leave me\u2026Adam, ADAM!\u201d wailed Joe.<\/p>\n

Adam punched the cork roughly into the spout and moved to gather the fraying child into his arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cEasy there little buddy,\u201d muttered Adam as he lifted Joe\u2019s head into his lap and grabbed the canteen again.\u00a0 \u201cHere, drink some water Joe,\u201d urged Adam, pressing the spout to Joe\u2019s lips.<\/p>\n

Joe tossed his head, making Adam spill part of the water.\u00a0 Adam quickly moved the canteen and watched in horror as the precious liquid dribbled down his brother\u2019s chin.<\/p>\n

\u201cNever mind pal, I\u2019ll have to think of something else.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam poked the cork back into place and set it aside.\u00a0 As he glanced down at his brother, Joe opened his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cHey, Pal.\u201d\u00a0 Adam smiled down at Joe, and brushed back at the damp curls that blocked his brother\u2019s view from seeing him.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s pain filled eyes sought his brother\u2019s and he tried to smile when he at last found his brother\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cHow you are feeling, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d lied Joe.<\/p>\n

Adam heard the catch in the boy\u2019s voice as he rose and placed Joe\u2019s head gently on the blanket covered ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I just bet you are,\u201d Adam smirked, more to himself than to the boy.\u00a0 \u201cYou lie still Joe, I\u2019m going to see if I can find us something to eat, but first I\u2019m going to get us a fire going.\u00a0 No, on second thought, I think I\u2019d better set us a snare, with any luck, we might catch us a Jackrabbit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m only going to be gone for a few minutes Joe, do you understand?\u201d Adam stooped down so that he could tell his brother that he was leaving him, just long enough to set a snare, in hopes of catching them something to eat.<\/p>\n

Joe had closed his eyes and Adam was afraid that the boy had not heard him.\u00a0 Gently he shook Joe\u2019s shoulder, \u201cJoe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard,\u201d whispered Joe softly, his eyes still closed.\u00a0 \u201cBut hurry\u2026please\u2026Adam,\u201d he added as Adam stood to his feet, pulling from the frayed end of his blanket, a long sting to use as his snare.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will Joe, I promise.\u00a0 You just lie still and save your strength, I\u2019ll be right back,\u201d the older brother promised.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s only response was by nodding his head.<\/p>\n

Adam was back in minutes; in his arms he carried pieces of sagebrush for his fire along with two pieces of thicker branches of the tumbleweed that he planned on using to start his flame.\u00a0 Adam worked for several minutes, becoming annoyed when his attempts at rubbing the two sticks together failed repeatedly to start his fire.\u00a0 Tossing the sticks aside in a moment of anger, he briefly wondered if he and his brother would be able to eat the hare raw, rather than cooked, if he should even be lucky enough to catch one.<\/p>\n

Adam shook his head in frustration and picked up the two sticks once again, his last thought, appalling.\u00a0 This time he placed his body closer to the small pile of twigs that he was working slowly into a smoking stage.\u00a0 This time, Lady Luck seemed to smile down on the weary man and with a gentle puff to the small embers, a bright flame burst forth.\u00a0 Adam quickly protected his small blaze from the wind that had suddenly whipped around the boulder and threatened to dose his fire.\u00a0 By adding more and more of the sagebrush and tumbleweeds, Adam\u2019s fire was soon stronger than the wind that endangered his efforts.<\/p>\n

Checking on Joe and finding the boy sleeping, however fitful, Adam slipped once again from the light that illuminated his campsite, to check on his snare.\u00a0 Much to his pleasure, a fat squirming jackrabbit was caught tightly in his trap.<\/p>\n

Adam removed the hare from the trap and while holding the rabbit in one hand, used his free hand to reset the snare.\u00a0 With any luck, he and Joe could have another rabbit for breakfast, before being on their way.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry Jack,\u201d whispered Adam, \u201cbut my kid brother needs what you can give him tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once the rabbit was skinned, Adam soon had the rabbit roasting over his fire and with the scent that emitted from the roasting meat, Adam could hear the lone whining sounds of distant coyotes.\u00a0 The howling sound made him shiver and he could not help but to glance over his shoulder in Joe\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n

Joe had pushed back the blanket that had covered him the entire day and raised himself up on one elbow.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d he muttered in a strained voice.<\/p>\n

Adam noticed how wide his brother\u2019s eyes had become and the frightened look on his young face.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s heart lurched in pity for his young brother.\u00a0 Getting to his feet and moving next to Joe, Adam stooped down beside of his brother and placed his hand on the trembling shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just the coyotes, Little Joe, guess we aren\u2019t the only ones hungry tonight,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2026\u201d muttered Joe, casting his eyes up to look into Adam\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cYa reckon they\u2019ll try to come closer?\u201d he asked worriedly.<\/p>\n

\u201cNaw, don\u2019t worry Joe, they\u2019re more afraid of us than we are of them.\u201d\u00a0 Adam tried to make his voice sound convincing, but in his heart, he wasn\u2019t sure of much of anything right now.\u00a0 Wanting to change the subject to take Joe\u2019s mind off of the advancing coyotes, Adam returned to the fire and pulled a leg from the rabbit that still hung over the fire.<\/p>\n

\u201cThink you could eat a little of this?\u201d he asked as he blew on the hot meat trying to cool it before handing it to the boy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll try,\u201d said Joe weakly as he accepted the piece of rabbit from his brother\u2019s extended hand.<\/p>\n

Adam helped Joe into a sitting position, noting the look of pain that filtered across the pale face and again, Adam\u2019s heart picked up tempo, for he could only image the acute aching that must be gnawing at his brother\u2019s leg.<\/p>\n

\u201cTry to eat what you can, Joe.\u00a0 You need all of the strength you can muster.\u00a0 Tomorrow is going to be a hard day.\u00a0 But from what I could see before it got too dark, we should be able to make it to the base of the mountains by tomorrow evening,\u201d Adam explained to his brother, in hopes that the boy would eat enough.<\/p>\n

That was just in case he failed in catching a second rabbit for their breakfast, thought Adam.\u00a0 The older brother waited until he was sure that Joe had eaten his fill before he pulled a small portion off for himself.\u00a0 Adam, though hungry, would save the remainder of the hare for Joe to have to eat for the next day.\u00a0 Pushing his own hunger aside, Adam slipped his neck scarf from his neck and wrapped the rabbit into the folds, saving the rest until the next day, assuring himself that at least his sick brother would have food to fill his belly.<\/p>\n

Joe lay among the folds of Adam\u2019s body as together the two brothers huddled close to the dying fire.\u00a0 Adam had had to get up several times during the night and add fuel to the dying embers in order to keep the blaze roaring.\u00a0 Several times he had spotted the red eyes of the coyotes as they sat just outside of the rim of light provided by his fire.\u00a0 Adam knew that they posed no real threat, they were just scouting the area for a free meal and once they found nothing there to fill their hungry bellies, they had moved on.<\/p>\n

Adam shivered for he was cold.\u00a0 When the horses had bolted and run off, they had taken with them what supplies remained, plus both his and Little Joe\u2019s jackets.\u00a0 They sure could have used them about now, along with Joe\u2019s bedroll and the extra blankets that he had thought to bring with them.\u00a0 Though it was mid-June, the nights were always cold on the desert, but before, Adam had always liked camping out in the wide-opened spaces and had Joe not been so sick, he would have enjoyed the time spent with his younger brother.<\/p>\n

Joe moaned and Adam could hear the agony that seemed to drip from the boy\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n

\u2018Damn,\u2019 he cursed himself as he rearranged the blanket to fit more snugly around Joe\u2019s slight form.\u00a0 \u2018Why?\u00a0 Why?\u2019 His heart scream, \u2018had he been so insistent that he be allowed to bring Joe along.\u2019<\/p>\n

He knew the reason\u2026he had been home for almost two years now since coming back from college where he had spent four years of his life.\u00a0 He had been surprised when he had returned and found that his little brother was not much of a kid anymore.\u00a0 Oh, he realized that Joe would have naturally grown up some, but Adam had not been prepared for the headstrong, impulsive and somewhat standoffish near preteen that had greeted him at the station when he had stepped down from the stage.\u00a0 His youngest brother\u2019s greeting had been less than warm and Joe had seemed almost angry with him from the first moment he had disembarked.\u00a0 It had taken months for the young boy to begin to warm to him, though they had often argued and butted heads, Adam had never stopped loving the boy who had always meant so very much to him.\u00a0 And, reasoned Adam, he knew that beneath that tough-boy exterior that Joe tried to maintain in his oldest brother\u2019s presence, Adam knew the boy loved him as well, though he rarely showed it.<\/p>\n

As time passed, the two brothers both seemed to come to terms with the hurt that had resulted with Adam\u2019s going away and over time, the relationship had begun to change and with that change a bond had formed.\u00a0 And it was for those reasons that the oldest Cartwright brother strove daily, to be to the youngest Cartwright, someone to whom Joe could respect and look up to, and whom, when in times of need, could come to him with his problems or worries.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d the weak plea was sounding from beneath the warm blanket.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah Joe, what\u2019s wrong buddy, are you hunting?\u201d asked Adam as he brushed back Joe\u2019s thick hair from his brother\u2019s brow.<\/p>\n

\u201cWater\u2026please,\u201d begged Joe, \u201cI\u2019m thirsty,\u201d He said, his voice sounded raspy to his older brother.<\/p>\n

Adam groaned softly to himself as he reached for the canteen and gently shook it.\u00a0 He could tell by the way that the water sloshed noisily around in the bottom of the container that it was near empty.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, but just a sip or two, and try to hold the last bit in your mouth for a few seconds,\u201d instructed Adam, pulling the worn cork from the spout and raising Joe\u2019s head carefully placed the opening against Joe\u2019s lips.<\/p>\n

Joe placed his hand over Adam\u2019s and pushed the canteen upward, getting his mouth full of the tepid water.\u00a0 Swallowing, he dropped his hand to his side and allowed his brother to hold the receptacle in his larger hand until he swallowed the mouth full.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not very good,\u201d complained Joe, looking into his brother\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

Adam could not help the smile that tugged at his lips.\u00a0 \u201cI know buddy, but it\u2019s all we have, therefore, it is better than nothing.\u201d\u00a0 \u2018Which nothing is what we will have, soon enough,\u2019 his mind told him.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry\u2026I ain\u2019t meanin\u2019 to be such a pain in the neck for you, Adam, honest,\u201d whispered Joe, his eyes filling with tears.\u00a0 \u201cYou think we will make it?\u00a0 I mean, honestly Adam, do you?\u201d he asked weakly.<\/p>\n

Adam was aware of his brother\u2019s tears and fighting his own, he smiled down at the boy.\u00a0 \u201cDidn\u2019t I tell you before that I\u2019d get you home?\u00a0 Don\u2019t you trust me anymore Joe?\u201d Adam teased gently.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s face suddenly lost that painful expression that seemed to always be present and he tried smiling up at Adam.\u00a0 \u201cCourse I trust ya, big brother.\u00a0 Far as I know, ya ain\u2019t never lied to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam pursed his lips together, his mind racing, \u2018well little buddy, this may be a first, then,\u2019 his thoughts whispered to his heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019ve never lied to you Little Joe.\u00a0 I\u2019ll get you home, I promise or we\u2019ll both die trying,\u201d he muttered to the boy, realizing too late that he had just voiced his own fears.<\/p>\n

\u201cDie?\u00a0 We ain\u2019t gonna die, are we Adam?\u201d asked Joe in a more worried voice than before.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot if I have anything to say about it, we aren\u2019t,\u201d said Adam, deciding to be honest with his brother.\u00a0 \u201cBut Joe, you need to understand that things don\u2019t look too good right now.\u00a0 That leg of yours is in bad shape; and we\u2019re almost out of water, not to mention the fact that we have about ten miles to walk tomorrow,\u201d explained Adam.\u00a0 He needed Joe to understand that what they had to face, was a real challenge for a healthy man, much less a bone weary man toting a wounded boy in his arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know Adam\u2026and I\u2019m sorry for being so much trouble, you wouldn\u2019t have been in this mess if I hadn\u2019t of hounded you about taking me with you,\u201d said Joe, wiping the tears from his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, listen to me, it\u2019s not your fault, and I\u2019m certainly not mad at you for this.\u00a0 My God kid, I wanted you to come with me as much, maybe even more, than you did.\u00a0 It was my idea in the first place, to bring you with me, I mean,\u201d Adam confessed to his brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou really wanted me to come with you?\u201d Joe asked, surprised that Adam had felt that way.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d smiled Adam, \u201cyou\u2019re great company, when you want to be,\u201d he added with a laugh.\u00a0 \u201cAnd, I like spending time alone with you, don\u2019t you enjoy it?\u201d he taunted gently.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know I do Adam.\u00a0 I\u2019ve always like being with you.\u00a0 I\u2026I missed all the things we used to do, after you went away.\u00a0 And then when you came back\u2026well, you were always too busy to have time with me, or so it seemed then.\u00a0 I was mad at you, did you know that?\u201d Joe asked almost shyly.<\/p>\n

\u201cMad at me?\u00a0 Why Joe, why were you mad?\u201d questioned the older brother.<\/p>\n

Joe, who had raised up, with Adam\u2019s help, into a sitting position, glanced sideways at Adam and swallowed, \u201cI thought you didn\u2019t love me anymore\u2026I thought you didn\u2019t want me\u2026I know now that wasn\u2019t the reason you left.\u00a0 But\u2026Mama went away, and then you left me too.\u00a0 I was confused, I didn\u2019t understand why mama had to go, and she didn\u2019t come back, and then you left and then only you came back.\u00a0 I suppose I thought that when you came back, you\u2019d bring Mama back with you.\u00a0 I guess I just acted like a baby\u2026I didn\u2019t want either of you to leave me and when you both did, I wanted both of you to come back and be with me.\u00a0 Guess you think that\u2019s silly don\u2019t you?\u201d sniffed Joe.<\/p>\n

Adam slipped his arm about Joe\u2019s trembling shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cNo Joe, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s silly at all.\u00a0 I know how much losing your mama hurt you, but that was something that couldn\u2019t be helped, she didn\u2019t leave you because she wanted too, you know that, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, of course I do, now that I\u2019m not a kid anymore,\u201d replied Joe.<\/p>\n

Adam smiled to himself at his brother\u2019s statement.\u00a0 \u201cWell, Joe, I didn\u2019t leave you because I wanted to either.\u00a0 Going to college was something that I had always dreamed about being able to do.\u00a0 I wanted to learn more than what I was learning here.\u00a0 Oh, Pa taught me everything there was to know about ranching and running a big operation such as the Ponderosa, but I knew there was far more to be learned, and I wanted to learn as much as of it as I could.\u00a0 To make it better and even easier for Pa, for all of us.\u00a0 But that didn\u2019t mean that I had stopped loving you or Pa and Hoss or the Ponderosa even, all of you are and will always be the most important things in my life.\u00a0 I knew that someday Joe, I would be coming home.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry if you ever thought that I wouldn\u2019t, and I\u2019m sorry for hurting you by leaving, but it was something that as a man, I needed to do.\u00a0 Don\u2019t you understand that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe smiled again, \u201cCourse I understand that, took me a long time too though.\u00a0 And Adam, don\u2019t worry, I ain\u2019t mad at you about it, not anymore at least.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam ruffled the top of Joe\u2019s head.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s nearly daybreak, let\u2019s get going, we have a long way to go, and I\u2019m not looking forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe either, but we\u2019ll make it.\u00a0 I just know we will,\u201d Joe smiled weakly.<\/p>\n

Adam kicked sand and dirt over the fire, which had nearly died out on its own and made sure that the embers were completely smothered before being on their way.\u00a0 He sure did not want to risk the chance of a brush fire sweeping out across the desert and burning everything in its path as it did so.<\/p>\n

Carefully he wrapped the blanket about Joe, giving his brother an encouraging smile before covering the boy\u2019s face from the sun that seemed to be getting an early start at heating up the land.<\/p>\n

When Adam raised Joe into his arms, the boy groaned loudly and Adam felt his brother\u2019s body stiffen slightly.\u00a0 \u201cSorry Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy leg\u2026oh God Adam, it hurts worse today.\u00a0 And my stomach\u2026uhmm\u2026\u201d moaned Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust try to relax Joe, I\u2019ll try to take it easy,\u201d Adam assured his brother as they set out across the arid land.<\/p>\n

Adam walked and walked, his arms aching, his legs barely able to force his feet into taking another step.\u00a0 His mouth was dry from lack of water; he had given the last of the precious liquid to his brother who had begun to wither in acute pain, making it nearly impossible to hold the boy securely in his arms.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s lips were parched, the dryness had cracked them and they had begun to bleed, Adam staggered several times nearly dropping his bundle as he forced himself to remain upright.<\/p>\n

\u2018Dear God, Pa\u2026I need you\u2026\u2019 cried Adam silently, though his mouth was unable to allow the prayer to slip passed his swollen lips.<\/p>\n

The brothers had stopped several times to rest.\u00a0 Joe had fallen into a tormented type of unconsciousness and when Adam had inspected the bite area, he had been horrified to see the alarming amount of swelling and the fiery redness of Joe\u2019s flesh, the decaying skin around the snake bite.\u00a0 He glanced up, looking toward the mountains, \u2018just a little more to go,\u2019 he thought and picked Joe up again.<\/p>\n

He heard himself groan as he strained to get up, \u2018please God,\u2019 he moaned as he began stumbling forward.\u00a0 His mind wandered, he knew that he should have left Joe where they had spent the night, he knew that he could have made better time to reach help without lugging the boy every step of the way.\u00a0 He had almost done it too, left Joe, just for the time it would have taken him to get help, but he couldn\u2019t, his conscience would not permit him too.\u00a0 He had promised his brother that no matter what, he would not leave him alone, so he had gathered the sick boy into his arms and forced himself to trudge forward.<\/p>\n

He prayed every step of the way that he would not be too late in getting help for the boy.\u00a0 He prayed that by now, his father and Hoss would have found the horses that had bolted and run away.\u00a0 Adam prayed that this dear boy now knew just how much he had always meant to him and that should either of them not make it back, they would die together, Joe held firmly in his arms.\u00a0 Adam fought to control his fears, his mind as well as his body was being sapped of its strength, his determination was fading quickly, too quickly and it scared him, the battle that waged war on his heart and soul pushed him forward until at last, he stumbled and fell.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s body thumped to the ground, and Adam heard the boy cry out in anguish as he hit the hard clay surface beneath him, rolling out of reach of Adam\u2019s arms that pawed the earth in a futile attempt to break his fall.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s face hit the dirt, his lips bleeding even more, and his nose which had scraped the hard packed earth had also started to seep bright red droplets.\u00a0 As hard as he tried, Adam could not force his eyes to open or his body to respond to his unspoken commands to get up.<\/p>\n

He was unaware of the length of time that he lay prone to the spot in which he had fallen.\u00a0 Much later he was able to force his eyes opened and he slowly and painfully raised his head, searching his surroundings.\u00a0 His befuddled mind could not remember where he was, or what he was doing here, nor could it recall the young boy who lay just feet away, out of his reach and his sight.\u00a0 The only thing that registered in his troubled thoughts was that his arms seemed empty, as if he had forgotten something, and the strange feeling left him frightened and unsure of what was happening to him.\u00a0 He stretched out his arms in front of his eyes, as if hoping to see what he felt sure should have been there, but there was nothing, not a single thing to jar his memory.<\/p>\n

Adam stumbled to his feet and staggered forward several more yards before falling again to his knees.\u00a0 In the far reaches of his disconcerted mind he could hear his name being called repeatedly, but in his confusion, Adam gave it no further thought as he once again slid to the ground and allowed the welcoming darkness to claim him yet again.<\/p>\n

\u201cADAM!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA\u2026DAM!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLooky Pa, down there!\u201d Hoss pointed toward the lone figure of a man who lay crumbled in a heap at the foot of the slope.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, hurry,\u201d shouted Ben, kicking Buck hard in the sides.<\/p>\n

Both Ben and Hoss carefully guided their horses down the rocky slope, being careful to pick and choose their way, lest the horses begin to slip on the loose gravel and rocks that threatened to unbalance them.<\/p>\n

Ben all but jumped from his horse and ran to Adam\u2019s side, being careful to turn the younger man over on his back.\u00a0 \u201cBring the canteen Hoss, hurry,\u201d his father called out to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, Adam,\u201d Ben called, gently patting his son\u2019s sun blistered cheeks; \u201ccan you hear me son?\u00a0 Please, Adam, open your eyes,\u201d encouraged Ben, when Adam began to moan softly.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere Pa, try giving him a drink,\u201d suggested Hoss who had joined his father at his brother\u2019s side and handed the canteen to his parent.<\/p>\n

Hoss pulled the cork free of the spout and helped Ben to hold Adam\u2019s head upward.\u00a0 At first the cool refreshing liquid dripped from Adam\u2019s chin, his lips still too dry to allow him to take in the water.\u00a0 Hoss gently rubbed at the parched mouth giving Adam soft words, encouraging him to try to open his mouth.<\/p>\n

The words must have gotten through the fog that still clouded the older brother\u2019s mind for Adam\u2019s lips parted and Ben raised the canteen a second time.\u00a0 Adam swallowed a small amount and then seemed to snap from his dark corner and grabbed the canteen, nearly spilling the contents in his haste to quench his thirst.<\/p>\n

\u201cEasy son, easy,\u201d Ben instructed and removed his son\u2019s hand from the water receptacle.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s face had fixed on the sound of his father\u2019s voice and he batted his eyes several times, attempting to see the man that cradled him so lovingly and tenderly in his arms.\u00a0 His eyes at last found his father\u2019s and Adam could no longer contain the emotions that had been so long hidden within his heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cOH PA\u2026PA!\u201d wailed Adam, burying his face into his father\u2019s vest and making a sound so piteous that it brought tears to the eyes of both his brother and father.<\/p>\n

Ben glanced up at Hoss, \u201cDear God,\u201d he whispered, and looked back down at his sobbing son.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, son, shh\u2026it\u2019s okay now, you\u2019re safe, Hoss and I are here with you.\u00a0 Please son, don\u2019t,\u201d whispered Ben, clinging tightly to his oldest child.<\/p>\n

Adam forced himself to take a deep breath and looked up into his father\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam\u2026\u201d began Ben slowly, glancing at Hoss and then back at Adam.\u00a0 \u201cWhere\u2019s Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s expression suddenly changed and turned to a look of horror.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u201d he whispered.\u00a0 \u201cJOE!\u00a0 OH GOD, JOE!\u201d screamed the man, frightened beyond reason.\u00a0 \u201cI LEFT HIM\u2026OH GOD! NO!\u201d he bellowed as he fought against his father\u2019s embrace trying to rise to his feet.\u00a0 \u201cI PROMISED HIM I WOULDN\u2019T,\u201d sobbed out Adam, once again burying his face in his father\u2019s leather vest.<\/p>\n

Hoss got quickly to his feet and began retracing his brother\u2019s steps where Hoss could see Adam\u2019s heavy footprints embedded in the sand.\u00a0 It was only minutes before Hoss spotted the familiar brown blanket that was always used as their bedrolls.<\/p>\n

As the large man dropped to his knees, he could hear soft moaning and whining sounds from beneath the cover that was draped over Joe\u2019s head.\u00a0 When Hoss raised the blanket, his heart skipped a beat, for there lay Joe, covered in sweat and dirt, tears streaming down from his closed eyes and leaving little white tracks through the dirt on his cheeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe,\u201d cooed Hoss, brushing back the wayward curls from his little brother\u2019s brow.\u00a0 \u201cHey punkin,\u201d he whispered, unwrapping the blanket.\u00a0 He eyes immediately spied the infectious flesh of the snakebite and quickly scooped the boy into his arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere Pa, I\u2019ve found him, but he\u2019s hurt badly, looks like he\u2019s been snake bit,\u201d shouted Hoss as he rushed back to his father\u2019s side.<\/p>\n

Hoss lowered Joe\u2019s body down beside of Adam\u2019s so that his father could inspect the wound.\u00a0 \u201cDear God,\u201d voiced Ben, shaking his head in wonder that he had even found his two sons alive after seeing the hell that they had both been through.<\/p>\n

\u201cJOE!\u201d screamed Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, it\u2019s okay son, you didn\u2019t leave him, he\u2019s right here. See?\u201d Ben helped Adam turn so that he could see his brother and be assured that Joe was now safe.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s okay son, you didn\u2019t lie to him, you got him back safely.\u00a0 Adam,\u201d said Ben, seeing the faraway look that had suddenly glazed his oldest son\u2019s eyes, \u201cdo you understand?\u00a0 Adam\u2026Adam\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJOE! JOE! I DIDN\u2019T MEAN TO LEAVE YOU!\u201d Adam bellowed at the top of his lungs.<\/p>\n

Ben placed both hands on his son\u2019s shoulders and shook.\u00a0 \u201cAdam\u2026Adam\u2026Son!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s eyes began to open slowly as he searched for the sound of his father\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?\u00a0 What?\u00a0 Pa, what\u2019s wrong?\u201d asked Adam, startled to be jarred awake.\u00a0 \u201cOh,\u201d he moaned and grabbed his head, \u201cI\u2026I\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMust have been dreaming,\u201d supplied Ben.\u00a0 \u201cThat must have been a heck of a nightmare,\u201d smiled Ben as he sat down on the edge of Adam\u2019s bed.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s expression still bore the fear he must have been feeling during the course of his nightmare.\u00a0 \u201cIt was Pa\u2026the worst ever.\u00a0 I think I know now why Little Joe always wakes up screaming like he does,\u201d said Adam weakly giving his father a small smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cWant to tell me about it?\u201d asked Ben.<\/p>\n

Adam shook his head to clear the cobwebs.\u00a0 \u201cIt was about Joe, we were in the desert and he had been bitten by a sidewinder\u2026I thought he was going to die\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho\u2019s dying?\u00a0 Who got bit by a rattler?\u201d the excited voice called out from the doorway.<\/p>\n

Both Ben and Adam\u2019s attention darted to the barefooted twelve-year old that stood in the doorway, clad only in his striped nightshirt, a crooked little grin on his otherwise handsome young face.\u00a0 Joe rushed around the corner of the bed and plopped himself down next to Adam, his hazel eyes dancing with excitement.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid ya have a night mare?\u201d he asked his older brother.\u00a0 \u201cWho got bit by a snake and who nearly died?\u00a0 Was it someone I know, who Adam, who?\u201d interrogated the excited boy.<\/p>\n

Adam laughed, \u201cCalm down Joe, I\u2019ll tell you all about it some other time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam suddenly became serious and looked at his father.\u00a0 \u201cPa, since Joe\u2019s awake, do you mind if I have a few minutes alone with him?\u00a0 I have a couple of things I\u2019d like to say to him, that is if you don\u2019t mind his staying up for a little while.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben knew that whatever it was that Adam had to get off his chest, it needed to be said now, and obviously it needed to be said to his younger brother and in private.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure son, just try not to make it too long.\u00a0 You both have a long ride tomorrow, Angelus is quite a ways,\u201d smiled Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t, and thanks Pa.\u201d\u00a0 Adam waited until Ben had left them alone and being sure that the door was securely closed, turned to face his little brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s up big brother, am I in trouble again, Adam?\u201d questioned Little Joe, watching his brother\u2019s face for any signs that might confirm his fear.<\/p>\n

Adam laughed and then patted the space on the bed next to him, indicating that Joe sit on the bed beside of him.\u00a0 \u201cNo sport, not this time.\u00a0 I just have some things I want to say to you, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThings, what kind of things? Bad things?\u201d worried Joe, giving a sideways glance at his brother\u2019s face, still unsure of his brother\u2019s reasons for wanting to speak privately to him at this odd hour of the night.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, just things that I\u2019ve wanted to tell you for a long time.\u00a0 Things that I should have said to you a very long time ago, when your mama first died.\u00a0 I should have made a point then to say them, but I just couldn\u2019t find the right words, Joe.\u00a0 And then when I went away to college, I tried then to tell you what I really felt, but for whatever reason, I didn\u2019t.\u00a0 But I promised myself that once I got home, I would tell you then.\u00a0 But that didn\u2019t work out either, cause you had changed, and I had changed and it seemed as if we had grown so far apart by then that the right time had never seemed to come up.\u00a0 So, I just continue to let it go\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam\u2026\u201d interrupted Joe.<\/p>\n

Adam cut his eyes down to see Joe\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cYeah?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre these things that you couldn\u2019t tell me, cause you thought I was always mad at you?\u201d asked Little Joe, his eyes suddenly filling with tears.\u00a0 \u201cCause if they are, I guess I should tell you now, that I really wasn\u2019t mad at you, just hurt cause you left me when I didn\u2019t want you to go.\u00a0 I was scared, that\u2019s all, just scared that you wouldn\u2019t come back to me, like Mama.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam felt his own eyes fill with water and quickly slipped his arms about his brother\u2019s shoulder pulling him in close enough that Joe was able to rest his head against Adam\u2019s chest.\u00a0 Giving himself time to get his emotions under control before continuing, Adam took a deep breath at last and proceeded.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeems like we both had our signals crossed, didn\u2019t it?\u201d smiled Adam as he leaned down and placed a kiss on top of Joe\u2019s head.\u00a0 Adam could feel Joe nod his head yes in response to his question.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I first want you to know that I think you\u2019re a super kid.\u00a0 No man could ask for a better kid brother than what you are.\u00a0 I\u2019m proud of you\u2026and Joe\u2026I know that we lock horns a lot, and that we rarely agree on anything, but I want you to know\u2026that has never made a difference in how much you mean to me.\u00a0 I love you, Joe.\u00a0 I love you as much as if you were my own son.\u00a0 I think that\u2019s probably why I\u2019m so hard on you all the time, I just want the best for you little brother, I hope you realize that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe turned so that he could face Adam and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cI know I can be a real pain in the butt most of the time, but I really don\u2019t mean to be.\u00a0 I\u2026I\u2026love you too, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe raised up enough to slip his arms about his brother\u2019s neck and buried his face in the curve, resting his head on Adam\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s own arms embraced the boy tightly and held him for a long time within the folds of his arms.<\/p>\n

So he had, had a terrible nightmare.\u00a0 Some good had come from it, he had realized just how much he loved the boy he held so close to his heart and he saw the lengths that he would go to, to keep the boy safe.\u00a0 Adam had no doubt that he would give up his life to protect Joe from all evil that threatened to take the boy from him and he hugged Joe tighter, making the smaller boy groan softly.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, you trying to squish me or what?\u201d giggled Joe, wrenching free of the arms that held him.<\/p>\n

Adam laughed, \u201cSorry.\u00a0 Now sit back, I have things on my heart I need to tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe nestled into the folds of his big brother\u2019s arms, resting his head back against Adam\u2019s chest. Here, he knew that he was safe and he raised his head slightly, smiling up at the man who held him.\u00a0 No words were needed, for each could feel the love that flowed from their own hearts into the heart of the other.<\/p>\n

It was nearly dawn when Ben passed by the door to Adam\u2019s room.\u00a0 He knocked softly, but received no invitation to enter.\u00a0 Ben, being unable to squelch his curiosity, gently forced the door opened just a smidgen and peeked inside.\u00a0 He could do nothing to stop the smile that creased his face.\u00a0 Curled into a huge ball, legs and arms intertwined as one lay his eldest son and his youngest.<\/p>\n

Ben laughed softly and as he turned, saw the twitching lips of his youngest and watched as they formed a smile and then heard the tiny giggle that passed from deep within the smaller boy.\u00a0 Whatever had been funny, must have somehow reached out to Adam, for Adam\u2019s own soft laugher could be heard in return.<\/p>\n

Ben would never know what had just then transpired between his two sons, only that whatever had been spoken in private had closed the gap that time had eroded in the relationship between the two.\u00a0 Ben stepped into the hallway and closed the door softly, smiling at God\u2019s sweet intervention as he went in search of Hop Sing\u2019s morning coffee.<\/p>\n

THE END
\nNovember 2002<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary:\u00a0 When Adam takes Joe along on a business trip, things go from bad to worse.\u00a0 After Joe gets bitten by a sidewinder, it is now up to Adam to save not only his baby brother’s life but his own life as well.<\/p>\n

Rated: PG (8,800 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9052,"featured_media":10704,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1091,23,41,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adam-joe","category-drama","category-hurtcomfort","category-prequels","wpcat-1091-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-41-id","wpcat-30-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2504,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/HP8b.jpg?fit=636%2C520&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14285,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14285","url_meta":{"origin":12111,"position":0},"title":"Tucked Away (by DJK)","author":"DJK","date":"May 10, 2002","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0A lost book and a lost love leads to a moment between brothers. Rating: \u00a0G \u00a0(1,090 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Adam \/ Joe"","block_context":{"text":"Adam \/ Joe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1091"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":49048,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=49048","url_meta":{"origin":12111,"position":1},"title":"Growing Up in Different Times (by Harpistforhim)","author":"HarpistforHim","date":"March 29, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: When Joe goes through old memories, it dawns on him that he hadn't considered how different his oldest brother's childhood was from his own. With the help of a few old trunks of treasures, Joe learns more about Adam's past and how, despite their distinct upbringings, they both share\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Adam \/ Joe"","block_context":{"text":"Adam \/ Joe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1091"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_2672.jpeg?fit=1200%2C889&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_2672.jpeg?fit=1200%2C889&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_2672.jpeg?fit=1200%2C889&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_2672.jpeg?fit=1200%2C889&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_2672.jpeg?fit=1200%2C889&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":551,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=551","url_meta":{"origin":12111,"position":2},"title":"Almost (by the Tahoe Ladies)","author":"Tahoe Ladies","date":"April 17, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0A close call for someone..... Rated \u00a0K \u00a0Word Count:\u00a0 3152","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\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13868,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13868","url_meta":{"origin":12111,"position":3},"title":"The Intruders (by Camera Chic)","author":"Camera Chic","date":"July 1, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: While Ben is away on a trip, Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe are taken hostage at the ranch. Rating: PG for violence\u00a0 (4,710 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\/2014\/04\/storm.jpg?fit=615%2C407&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/storm.jpg?fit=615%2C407&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/storm.jpg?fit=615%2C407&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5944,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5944","url_meta":{"origin":12111,"position":4},"title":"I Won’t Be Spoiled No More (by Patina)","author":"patina","date":"November 3, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Rating: K+ Word Count=8753 Summary:\u00a0Adam is injured when he and Joe are working on fence repairs. It's up to Joe to get the doctor while Hoss takes Adam home.","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\/05\/SAS-Stories.jpg?fit=613%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/SAS-Stories.jpg?fit=613%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/SAS-Stories.jpg?fit=613%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3070,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3070","url_meta":{"origin":12111,"position":5},"title":"Brothers, Above All (by freyakendra)","author":"freyakendra","date":"October 7, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: While the Civil War pits brother against brother, a night on Hell's battlefield pulls Joe and Adam into a fight that only one can survive. (Response to ML's 2012 birthday challenge.) 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