Summary:<\/b> \u00a0We all know how Adam felt towards his youngest brother. But have you ever really known how he felt, deep, deep down into the very core of his heart and soul? Adam pays tribute to his baby brother after Joe fights for days keeping him alive.<\/p>\n
Rated G \u00a0WC 13,500<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Wind Beneath My Wings<\/strong><\/p>\n Little Joe mounted his horse<\/strong> in a bounding motion and kicked sharply at Cochise\u2019s flanks.\u00a0 He had to ride fast to get home for he knew he was already late and Joe dreaded facing his oldest brother\u2019s wrath for the second day in a row.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben and Hoss Cartwright had had to make a trip to Sacramento and had taken their housekeeper, Hop Sing, along with them so that he might visit his cousin while the two Cartwrights tended to business.\u00a0 As usual when Pa was away Adam had been left in charge of everything at the ranch, including his youngest brother.\u00a0 That alone was a daunting task for the second in command and for his young charge, it was a force to be reckoned with.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe resented the fact that Adam was boss.\u00a0 It seemed to Joe that Adam always managed to find the very worst of chores, work or even errands for him to do while in control.\u00a0 Even this morning Adam had sent him on a number of uninteresting and boring tasks.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n First the morning chores had to be completed, which really did not bother Joe; he did those every day anyway.\u00a0 But then he had to do Hoss\u2019 and part of Adam\u2019s chores as well.\u00a0 Joe had fumed, he had made plans to meet with his friends and discuss arrangements for their upcoming fishing trip.\u00a0 But when Adam claimed he had too much paper work to do to tend to his barn and yard chores, he then assigned them to his younger brother.\u00a0 As the morning had eased its way into afternoon Adam had suddenly claimed that he wasn\u2019t feeling well.\u00a0 He had given Joe orders to ride into town, collect the mail, stop at the mercantile, pick up papers at the bank for him and then come straight home.\u00a0 Joe usually enjoyed a trip into town, but his brother had left him no time for enjoying the day and had insisted that he not dally, having given him a set time in which to accomplish his errands or face the consequences when arriving home.\u00a0 Joe had been furious when his brother had then dismissed him as if he had been no more than one of the hired hands and gone to his room for a nap.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Not wanting a repeat of his brother\u2019s lectures, which Joe considered worse than his father\u2019s, Joe had sullenly ridden off into town to do his brother\u2019s bidding. Things had taken longer than he had intended them too and as the afternoon wore on, Little Joe\u2019s bad mood continued to worsen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe had just finished his last errand and as he emerged from the bank his path crossed with that of his best friend, Mitch Devlin.\u00a0 The two fifteen year olds had stood chatting about their up coming fishing and camping trip and had lost time of the hour.\u00a0 Joe suddenly realized that the sun had moved, dropping lower into the fading blue Nevada sky.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe urged Cochise on.\u00a0 Adam was sure to be nearing his boiling point by now, having stressed the point of not dallying, Joe realized too late that he was in for it when he faced his brother.\u00a0\u00a0 Joe tried to think of an excuse for his tardiness that would satisfy Adam and would hopefully get him off the hook.\u00a0 The idea of just confessing to his brother that he had had to wait his turn at the mercantile, wait for the postmaster to sort the mail and then wait again at the bank before finally running into Mitch and then having lost time chatting did not even enter his mind.\u00a0 Adam would have taken the truth, considered the waiting lines, took the boy\u2019s age into consideration and probably have let him off with a gentle reprimand and that would have been the end of it.\u00a0 But Joe\u2019s bad mood tossed together with his over-active adolescent mind was not running in that direction, for some reason he always expected the worst when it came to confronting his oldest brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dusk had settled in by the time the boy and his horse reached home.\u00a0 The first thing that Joe noticed when he rode into the yard was that there were no lights on in the house.\u00a0 The boy smiled to himself and briefly wondered whether Adam was still napping.\u00a0 If so, he thought as he hurried into the barn to care for his horse, maybe he could use that to his advantage.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As soon as Joe finished with tending Cochise, he worked fast at finishing his and Hoss\u2019 evening chores.\u00a0 Thinking it might help to put his older brother in a better frame of mind, and seeing as to how Adam had not even started his own chores, Joe also did those as well before he at last entered the house. Joe smiled in satisfaction to himself and his foul mood began to lessen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The house was dark and silent as Joe entered and he shivered slightly at the eerie feelings that invaded his body. Quickly he lit the lamp on the credenza just inside the door and then moved to light the lamp that stood beside the red leather chair in front of the fireplace.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe was surprised somewhat that Adam had allowed the fire to nearly die out in the large fireplace and he began to place small pieces of kindling to the dying embers letting the fire catch.\u00a0 When the flames grew bigger he added larger logs that would keep the fire going at least until he retired for the night.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Not wanting to face his brother just yet and with his tummy rumbling, Joe went to the kitchen to make himself something to eat.\u00a0 The kitchen remained the same as when he had left after lunch, which told the boy that his brother had not been in to make something for himself.\u00a0 Joe wondered briefly if Adam had been sleeping the whole day and laughed to him self at the thought and then sobered when he remembered that Adam was not the type to do things such as sleep the day away unless he really was feeling poorly.\u00a0 Joe crammed the last of his sandwich into his mouth, washed it down with a glass of milk and then went in search of his brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d shouted Little Joe as he stopped to stoke the fire once more.\u00a0 \u201cHey Adam!\u201d Joe called again but still did not receive an answer.\u00a0 Hazel eyes turned toward the stairs as if the boy expected to see his older brother suddenly appear.\u00a0 Minutes later Joe had the fire blazing, warming the great room that suddenly seemed too cold to the boy who cast troubled eyes about the room and felt small goose bumps rising on his arms.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Something\u2019s not right,\u2019 Joe told him self as his stomach seemed to do a flip-flop, making him suddenly queasy.\u00a0 Joe started up the stairs calling softly for his brother, knowing in his heart that it was unlikely that Adam had napped this long.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d Joe called as he stopped at his own bedroom door and peered into the dark room not really expecting to find anything.\u00a0 At Hoss\u2019 door the boy did the same before finally moving to Adam\u2019s door where he paused briefly.\u00a0 Joe took a deep breath to slow the rapid beat of his heart and knocked softly on the door.\u00a0 When he received no permission to enter, he gently and quietly opened the door and stepped inside.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The room was in total darkness, the windows had been shut and the heavy drapes pulled closed shutting out the last rays of evening light.\u00a0 The odor that assaulted Joe\u2019s nose caused him to gag slightly.\u00a0 Joe was in fear of losing his sandwich he had just eaten.\u00a0 It was obvious that his brother had indeed been sick for the air reeked of vomit.\u00a0 Joe reached for the matches that sat next to the lamp stuck one and putting the small flame to the lamp\u2019s wick, brought light into the room.\u00a0 Turning to the window Joe pulled back the drapes and opened the window just enough to allow fresh air to enter the room and sticking his head part way out drew in a deep breath filling his lungs with the cool night air.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes sought out his brother\u2019s still form lying face down on the bed.\u00a0 \u201cAdam,\u201d called out Joe in a panic as he moved quickly to the bed and reached out his hand to place it on the sleeping man\u2019s shoulder intending to wake his brother.\u00a0 Instantly Joe pulled back as if his hand had touched a hot fire.\u00a0 Adam was burning with fever and Little Joe\u2019s heartbeat increased its tempo as the heart filled with fear and worry.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe crawled onto the bed beside of Adam to make turning the older boy onto his back easier.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s face was drenched in sweat, his hair was ruffled and damp and he moaned softly as if in pain.\u00a0 \u201cAdam, wake up.\u00a0 Please Adam,\u201d cried Joe when Adam made no response to his gentle prodding.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe placed his hand on the sweating brow and grimaced as the heat radiated into his open palm.\u00a0 Joe gave his brother another shake, this time a little more forceful.\u00a0 \u201cAdam, come on, please.\u00a0 Can you hear me?\u201d cried Joe in a pleading voice.\u00a0 Fear\u2019s fingers tightened around the young boy\u2019s heart threatening to still rapid beating and Joe felt his eyes fill with tears.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n From the far corners of his darkness, Adam could hear the voice crying out to him.\u00a0 He knew the voice; it belonged to his youngest brother.\u00a0 But why was the boy pleading with him, what was wrong?\u00a0 Adam fought to answer the voice, to reach out to that someone, but he was so tired and so sick that when the pleading voice stopped calling for him, he gave up trying.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe pulled himself from the bed and gently placed a pillow under the head of his brother.\u00a0 Next Joe pulled Adam\u2019s boots from his feet and tossed them into the floor.\u00a0 Raising his brother\u2019s long legs Joe pulled the covers from beneath Adam\u2019s body and with care Joe covered his brother, making sure that he tucked the blankets all around the edges.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Suddenly Adam\u2019s body began to tremble and more of the soft moans escaped from his parched lips.\u00a0 \u201cAdam?\u201d Joe said in a whispered voice in hopes that the sick young man would open his eyes. Joe\u2019s eyes never left those of his brother\u2019s and he watched as Adam\u2019s eyelids fluttered and tried to open.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n From somewhere within the dark recesses of his mind, Adam could once again hear his name being called and he struggled to respond.\u00a0 Joe, it was Joe who kept calling out to him.\u00a0 The boy still sounded frightened, something must be wrong Adam\u2019s mind kept telling him. \u2018Hold on little buddy, I\u2019m coming,\u2019 shouted Adam but made no sound that Joe could hear other than the soft moans.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam licked his dry lips trying to bring moisture to them.\u00a0 The eyelids fluttered again and moments later opened.\u00a0 Adam swallowed, finally able to speak in a weakened voice.\u00a0 \u201cWater,\u201d begged the sick man.\u00a0 Joe ran to the pitcher and seeing that it was empty returned to the bedside.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be right back Adam, I promise.\u00a0 I have to get some water,\u201d cried Joe as he ran from the room and to the kitchen to bring the fresh water and cloths to bathe his brother\u2019s fevered brow.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When Joe returned Adam had his eyes closed.\u00a0 Joe poured the cool liquid into the glass and sat on the edge of the bed next to his brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam, wake up.\u201d\u00a0 Joe gave a sigh or relief when he saw the long dark lashes begin to flutter once again and then open.\u00a0 Joe smiled his relief and offered Adam the glass.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHere, drink this,\u2019 Joe said as he helped raise his brother\u2019s head enough so that he could hold the glass to Adam\u2019s mouth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam drank deeply from the glass\u2019 contents and when his thirst was satisfied he allowed his head to return to the pillows. \u201cThanks Joe,\u201d he stated softly and watched the fear in the worried eyes that stared back at him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, it\u2019s going to be okay.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be alright.\u201d\u00a0 Adam fought to comfort the frightened boy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe placed a cool cloth on Adam\u2019s heated brow and smiled weakly at his brother.\u00a0 \u201cYou just had to pick now to be sick, didn\u2019t ya big brother?\u00a0 Everyone\u2019s gone from the ranch except you and me.\u00a0 Couldn\u2019t ya have waited a few days until Pa got home?\u201d teased Little Joe as some of the tension began to leave his body.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSorry buddy,\u201d replied Adam weakly and suddenly moaned as he grabbed his stomach.\u00a0 \u201cThe pan Joe, quick,\u201d he sputtered as he hung his head over the side of the bed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe reached for the pan and placed it to Adam\u2019s mouth just as the sick boy retched.\u00a0 Joe turned his head, his own stomach becoming squeamish at the nauseating sounds of his brother being sick.\u00a0 As soon as Adam had finished, Joe handed a clean damp cloth to him and carried the pan from the room and returned minutes later with a clean one in case Adam might have need of one later.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Exhausted, Joe pulled the chair up close to the side of the bed and watched as Adam\u2019s eyes closed in sleep.\u00a0 Joe had fought the first battle of what he knew would be a long night and he felt relieved when he at last heard the steady breathing of his brother, a sure sign that the older boy slept soundly.\u00a0 Joe debated with himself as to whether or not he should ride for the doctor or to remain where he was.\u00a0 For now Adam slept so Joe relaxed back into the comforts of the old chair and before long had fallen asleep himself.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Much later Joe was awakened by the mournful sounds coming from the bed.\u00a0 Instantly he was on his feet.\u00a0 \u201cAdam,\u201d Joe called softly as he placed his hand on the fevered brow.\u00a0 Adam made no response to the touch other than to continue his moans and tossed his head from side to side.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe wet the cloth and gently wiped the sweat from Adam\u2019s face.\u00a0 If possible, Adam\u2019s fever had climbed higher and fear clutched at Joe\u2019s heart once again.\u00a0 \u2018Oh God, help me please, tell me how to help my brother,\u2019 Joe prayed silently.\u00a0 Joe knew he had to find some way to cool his brother\u2019s feverish body.\u00a0 He had never known anyone, let alone a member of his own family who had ever felt as hot to the touch as Adam was now.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe continued with the cool cloths but each time that he turned to dampen the cloth new beads of perspiration would suddenly reappear.\u00a0 Joe watched in horror as suddenly Adam\u2019s entire body stiffened and began jerking and twisting causing Joe\u2019s eyes to overflow with tears and spill down his cheeks.\u00a0 Blood appeared at the corners of the sick man\u2019s mouth and the younger boy recognized the fact that Adam was chewing on his tongue.\u00a0 Immediately Joe rolled the cloth tightly and placed it into his brother\u2019s mouth to stop him from mauling his tongue further.\u00a0 Using all the strength that he could force from his own tired body, Joe rolled Adam onto his side and removed the pillows from beneath the head of his brother.\u00a0 Not sure what else to do to help, Joe remained near Adam\u2019s bedside and watched until finally the body stopped convulsing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe wiped away his tears and removed the cloth from Adam\u2019s mouth.\u00a0 Grabbing a clean cloth and wetting it in the cool water, Joe cleaned the blood from Adam\u2019s face and returned the older boy to his back.\u00a0 Next Joe gently lifted the sweaty head and placed the pillows underneath.\u00a0 Joe sat on the edge of the bed feeling as if all of his strength had drained from his weary body.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tired and scared, the younger boy draped his arm across the body of his older brother, lowered his head onto Adam\u2019s chest and wept.\u00a0 \u201cPlease Adam, ya gotta wake up, ya gotta be okay,\u201d cried Little Joe, the sobs catching in his throat and causing him to hiccup.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m scared, I don\u2019t know what to do\u2026please Adam\u2026wake up.\u201d\u00a0 Joe lay in that position for several minutes before he became aware of a hand gently rubbing the back of his neck.\u00a0 Slowly, Joe raised his head and peered into the dark clouded eyes of his brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam!\u201d Joe said in a choked voice as tears of relief replaced tears of fear.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam gave his brother a weak smile and gently reached up and wiped away the younger boy\u2019s tears.\u00a0 \u201cSorry buddy,\u201d Adam mumbled softly.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re doing just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened to ya?\u00a0 Ya scared the hell outta me!\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam forced a weak smile, \u201cBetter not let Pa hear you talking like that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe returned the smile knowing that his brother was right.\u00a0 Pa would not tolerate his son\u2019s use of foul language and would not hesitate to clean the mouth with a good washing of Hop Sing\u2019s lye soap if his warnings fell upon deaf ears.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cStill bossing, heh, big brother?\u00a0 You nearly scare me to death and yet ya still insist on being the boss!\u201d teased Little Joe as he replaced the damp cloth to the feverish brow.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe,\u201d whispered Adam, \u201clisten to me.\u201d\u00a0 Adam\u2019s voice was beginning to fade and he was starting to have trouble remaining conscience.\u00a0 \u201cYou have to get these clothes off of me.\u00a0 Then you need to get some ice from the cellar and pack it around my upper body.\u00a0 Think you can do that little buddy?\u201d\u00a0 Adam\u2019s eyes flickered twice before closing and Joe watched as his brother\u2019s head rolled to the side and his body relaxed into unconscienceness.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe quickly pulled the covers back and began doing as Adam had instructed.\u00a0 First Joe tried to remove the black trousers that Adam wore.\u00a0 This was no easy task as Adam was a much larger man that his younger brother.\u00a0 Joe struggled to pull the pants down the length of Adam\u2019s body.\u00a0 Being unconscience, his brother was like dead weight and Joe felt his eyes fill once again with tears of frustration.\u00a0 Finally Joe climbed onto the bed and straddling the long body, the trousers were more easily pulled down the muscular legs and slipped over the feet.\u00a0 Joe jumped from the bed and pulled the covers up to Adam\u2019s waist.\u00a0 Unbuttoning the dark shirt, the smaller boy tried to pull the larger boy up into a sitting position to slide the shirt over the arms.\u00a0 Unable to remove the shirt and hold the body in an upright position, Joe gave the shirt a hard jerk from behind causing the material to tear.\u00a0 Lifting one piece at a time from each arm he was finally able to take the shirt off.\u00a0 Holding Adam in his arms briefly Joe muttered into his ear, \u201cSorry about the shirt big brother.\u201d\u00a0 Carefully, Joe let his brother\u2019s body slide back against the soft folds of the mattress and pillows.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe was amazed at the heat that radiated from the still form lying on the bed. Using the cloth he washed the sweat from Adam\u2019s face and continued to wash away the beads of perspiration that glistened on Adam\u2019s arms and shoulders.\u00a0 The dark hair that amassed his brother\u2019s broad chest was matted and damp from the profuse sweating and Joe worked diligently to clean and cool the heated body, trying to make his brother more comfortable.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When Joe finished with his brother\u2019s bathing, he pulled the covers up until they were under the chin and tucked them in all around.\u00a0 Adam had begun to shiver and his body began trembling.\u00a0 Joe feared that Adam would have another convulsion and stood as if rooted to the spot until he felt sure that it was safe enough to leave him alone long enough to go to the ice cellar as Adam had instructed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It took several trips to and from the cellar to bring enough ice to satisfy himself that Adam was packed well enough to accomplish what he hoped to do.\u00a0 Joe sank wearily into the overstuffed chair, rested his head against the soft back and prayed silently for guidance.\u00a0 Soon he was fast asleep and only when his head fell forward did he awaken with a start.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes searched his brother\u2019s face and saw that Adam rested peacefully.\u00a0 He felt for fever and sighed in relief to know that Adam\u2019s fever had cooled somewhat.\u00a0 The rumbling sound in his stomach told Joe that he was hungry and he remembered that he had not eaten since earlier in the evening, several hours ago.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe walked to the window and peered out, he must have slept longer than he thought for it would be daylight soon he told himself.\u00a0 Glancing at Adam who was still sleeping deeply, he decided this would be a good time to make himself some breakfast.\u00a0 Joe moved to the bedside and once again checked his brother\u2019s fever.\u00a0 Satisfied that he could leave the sick man for a short time he hurried to the kitchen.\u00a0 Once there he surveyed the mess left from the night before and shrugged his shoulders.\u00a0 There was no time to do any cleaning, he had to eat, go out to the barn and care for the animals and still keep a close eye on his brother.\u00a0The convulsion that Adam had had scared him.\u00a0 He had never witnessed a person having one before and now wished that he had paid more attention to his teacher when they had discussed in class what to do if you should see a person having one.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s mind had been elsewhere and now he chided himself for allowing his thoughts to wonder when he should have been paying closer attention.\u00a0 The lesson that was taught that day might have made this day easier reasoned Joe and he promised himself that from now on he would be more mindful of what Miss Jones was teaching.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe started the fire in the cook stove and set the coffeepot to brew on the back burner.\u00a0 A short time later Joe had himself a hastily prepared breakfast of eggs and toast.\u00a0 Quickly he downed what he could of his meal, leaving the rest on the plate uneaten and wondered if Adam would be able to eat some of the eggs and toast.\u00a0 He decided to fix a tray just in case his brother was awake and hungry.\u00a0 As hungry as he himself had been Joe reasoned that Adam was twice as hungry.\u00a0 He recalled the morning before and remembered that Adam had only taken a few bites before pushing back his plate and knew that the older boy had not even made an attempt at eating any lunch.\u00a0 By suppertime he had been much to sick and had been napping to think about eating.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Carefully Joe carried the breakfast tray to the sick room and was pleased to see that Adam was awake.\u00a0 Joe set the tray on the table next to the bed and checked for fever.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFevers down,\u201d smiled Joe.\u00a0 Adam returned the smile with one of his own, though much weaker.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSomething smells good, did you cook it?\u201d asked Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, if ya can call it cooking.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know how Hop Sing manages.\u00a0 Think you could eat some?\u201d Joe questioned hopefully.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI hope so Joe, I\u2019m starving,\u201d Adam smiled up at his brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam turned slightly causing small ice chunks to fall to the floor.\u00a0 Joe hurried to pull the corners of the wet blanket and tarp he had borrowed from the barn together and removed the remaining ice from around Adam\u2019s body.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThanks Joe,\u201d Adam said as he pulled himself into a sitting position.\u00a0 Joe stacked the pillows behind Adam\u2019s back and laid the tray across his lap.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou eat, I\u2019m gonna carry this wet blanket and tarp down to the wash room.\u00a0 When you\u2019re finished I\u2019ll get you cleaned up and get you a warm nightshirt,\u201d offered Little Joe as he yawned deeply.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam watched the boy and could see how tired he looked and cursed himself for his own weakness.\u00a0 \u201cJoe, you look beat buddy.\u00a0 Why don\u2019t you lie down for a spell?\u00a0 I\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe stopped at the door and turned to face Adam.\u00a0 \u201cNo, I\u2019m fine, really.\u201d\u00a0 Joe knew he was lying, he felt that he might collapse at any moment.\u00a0 He knew if he stopped for a breather that he would be out in no time.\u00a0\u201cYou eat, then we\u2019ll work on making you comfortable.\u00a0 Then after I get the chores done, I might rest, but not before.\u00a0 Now eat, please,\u201d added Joe as he left the room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam removed the cloth that covered his tray and felt his stomach lurch at the sight of the half-cooked eggs and toast that Joe had tried to prepare for him.\u00a0 He hated the thoughts of hurting the young boy\u2019s feelings but Adam knew he could not eat.\u00a0 His stomach was still hurting and queasy and the smell instantly made him gag.\u00a0 Quickly he covered the tray and set it to the side.\u00a0 The coffee smelled better and Adam knew he needed liquids rather than soft food so he sipped at the hot brew.\u00a0 Adam smiled to himself; Joe had made the coffee a mite on the weak side, where their father tended to go much too strong.\u00a0 At least he tried, thought Adam.\u00a0 Poor kid, he\u2019s worn his self out taking care of me, not to mention the fact that the boy was scared beyond measure and still trying to keep all of the chores caught up.\u00a0 Adam feared that if help didn\u2019t arrive soon, his younger brother would also be sick.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe came into the room and sat down on the side of the bed.\u00a0 \u201cFeeling better?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSome.\u00a0 Joe, I couldn\u2019t eat anything.\u00a0 Just the smell nearly made me sick.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry that you went to all of that trouble pal,\u201d Adam explained and pointed to the tray.\u00a0 \u201cCoffee was good though, better than Pa\u2019s,\u201d Adam forced a small laugh.\u00a0 Joe grinned, Pa\u2019s coffee making was a joke to every coffee drinker on the ranch and both brother\u2019s knew the teasing that their father took when it was his turn to do the brewing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, what I need is liquids.\u00a0 Broth, tea, coffee, that sort of thing.\u00a0 And all that you can force down me.\u00a0 With this fever jumping up and down, I will dehydrate quickly if I don\u2019t keep pumping them in.\u00a0 I wanted you to know, just in case I go out on you again, okay?\u201d explained Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe lowered his head to keep his brother from reading the alarm and uncertainty on his face.\u00a0 Adam though sensed what was going on with this younger brother and took one of the boy\u2019s hands into his own.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t worry so much.\u00a0 You\u2019re doing just fine Joe.\u00a0 Pa or Hoss could not do any better themselves if they were here,\u201d encouraged Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe met his brother\u2019s dark eyes and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cThanks Adam.\u00a0 That means a lot, coming from you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI meant it buddy.\u00a0 I\u2019m proud of you.\u00a0 You will do just fine.\u00a0 Remember, liquids and cool compresses,\u201d Adam reminded his brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe stood taking the empty coffee cup from Adam\u2019s hand and setting it on the table along with the tray he removed from the bed.\u00a0 \u201cI won\u2019t forget.\u00a0 But I sure wish Pa were here.\u00a0 Maybe I should go for the doctor?\u201d Joe asked, the hope showing on his distraught face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam moved the pillows down and laid his head on them.\u00a0 \u201cSave yourself the ride little brother.\u00a0 I ran into Paul the other day in town and he told me that he was going to Carson City this week.\u00a0 They were having some kind of doctor\u2019s convention and he wouldn\u2019t be back until the middle of next week.\u201d\u00a0 Adam saw the near panic that raced across his brother\u2019s young face before the boy could turn away and it tore at his heart.\u00a0 The last thing he had wanted to do was to be the cause of anxiety to the boy.\u00a0\u00a0 As it was his brother was terrified, worn out from tending to his needs, the chores, and trying to do all of this with little to no rest.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGreat, that\u2019s just great,\u201d muttered Joe more to himself than to his older brother.\u00a0 Looking back at Adam who had closed his eyes, Joe sighed deeply.\u00a0 \u201cI have work to do.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be back to check on you in a little while.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThanks Joe.\u00a0 I\u2019ll just rest,\u201d said Adam never opening his eyes.\u00a0 When he heard the door close softly he opened one eye, peered at the back of the door and smiled. \u2018Poor kid,\u2019 he told him self.\u00a0 He had heard the whispered mutterings of the boy who was trying so hard to keep up a brave front.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe forced himself not to stop what he was doing though his tired body begged him too. By mid day Joe had completed not only his own chores but also those of both of his brothers.\u00a0 Hunger gnawed at his insides and Joe finally made his way to the house.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Pa,\u2019 cried out Joe silently as he headed for the kitchen, \u2018I wish you were here.\u2019\u00a0 Joe felt his eyes filling with tears, \u2018I need ya Pa.\u00a0 Adam needs ya.\u2019 Joe wiped his tears and stood looking around the kitchen. \u2018Broth,\u2019 thought Joe, \u2018I don\u2019t even know how to make broth!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe wiped his tears again.\u00a0 His weariness was becoming more evident as he scanned the kitchen area again moving more slowly and with shoulders slumped.\u00a0 \u2018Tea,\u2019 he remembered Adam saying and moved to find Hop Sing\u2019s herbal tea canister.\u00a0 Joe checked the fire, added a small amount of wood and put the teakettle on the burner.\u00a0 Within minutes Joe had the water boiling and poured it into the teapot with the herb tea.\u00a0 Joe grabbed the last clean cup from the cupboard and putting it with the teapot onto the tray, carried it up stairs to Adam\u2019s room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam was sleeping as Joe entered the room placing the tray on the table close to the bed.\u00a0 Joe placed his hand on his brother\u2019s brow and was shocked at how hot Adam felt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHey big brother,\u201d Joe gently shook Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHmm,\u201d sighed Adam and slowly opened his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cJoe,\u201d whispered the sick young man as he squinted his eyes trying not to force them opened.\u00a0 \u201cMy head hurts,\u201d he complained quietly.\u00a0 Adam rubbed his brow and then his eyes. \u201cCould you hand me that wet rag, please?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe wet the cloth in the fresh water he had also carried from the kitchen and watched as his brother laid it over his eyes.\u00a0 Adam thought how much better that made his eyes feel.\u00a0 The pressure in his head was causing it to pound in time to the beat of his heart and he rested his head back into the softness of his pillows and willed the pain to go away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe poured the hot tea into the cup before sitting down on the side of the bed.\u00a0 \u201cI made you some tea,\u201d Joe said as Adam removed the cloth from his eyes and worked at pulling himself up into the sitting position.\u00a0Joe smiled slightly, \u201cI don\u2019t know how to make broth,\u201d he added sadly as his chin quivered ever so slightly and he fought to control the tears that blurred his vision.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam took the offered teacup, sipped slowly and returned the boy\u2019s sad smile.\u00a0 \u201cTea is fine Joe, really.\u00a0 It tastes good,\u201d Adam added watching Joe struggling with his emotions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe swallowed the lump that was stuck in his throat before he tried to speak.\u00a0 \u201cI used some of Hop Sing\u2019s herb tea.\u00a0 That\u2019s what he always makes for me when I\u2019m sick.\u00a0 So I figured that if I had to drink it, then you should too,\u201d Joe said and finally forced himself to laugh.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe waited until Adam took another sip of tea before he spoke.\u00a0 \u201cAdam?\u201d\u00a0 Joe looked into Adam\u2019s dark eyes and could see the pain his brother was feeling reflecting back at him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah Joe?\u201d Adam answered as he took another sip and set the cup on the table that Joe had pulled closer to the bed earlier.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYa reckon Pa and Hoss will come home early?\u201d Joe asked, the hope showing plainly on his tired face.\u00a0 How he prayed that his father and brother would indeed return home earlier than planned.\u00a0 He did not know how much longer he could hold out; he was worried about his sick brother and though he refused to admit it, he was still scared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam saw the hope flickering in the care-worn eyes and hated to squelch any hope the boy may be holding but he also knew that he had to be truthful as well.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, I doubt it little brother.\u00a0 You know Pa said he couldn\u2019t possibly even start home until mid-week.\u00a0 That\u2019s still another day, then no less than two or three days traveling time, if the weather is good.\u00a0 Adam watched as Joe\u2019s hopes quickly turned to disappointment.\u00a0 He laid a reassuring hand on the slim shoulder of his brother and felt the small tremors that passed through Joe\u2019s body.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLook at me Joe,\u201d commanded the older brother as he lifted the boy\u2019s quivering chin.\u00a0 \u201cWe will manage.\u00a0 I promise to try not to be too much of a burden on you,\u201d smiled Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s face reflected his shock.\u00a0 \u201cYa ain\u2019t no burden Adam, you\u2019re my brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam pulled the boy down to his chest until the curly head rested over his heart.\u00a0 Gently Adam petted the curls that tickled his chin.\u00a0 \u201cI love you little buddy,\u201d whispered Adam and swallowed the lump that caught in his throat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI love you too Adam,\u201d replied Joe reluctant to move.\u00a0 He could hear the beat of Adam\u2019s heart and the sound brought comfort and strength to his own heart.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m scared Adam.\u00a0 What if\u2026\u201d began Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShh\u2026nothing bad is going to happen.\u00a0 At least I\u2019m not planning on anything bad.\u201d\u00a0 Adam gently squeezed the back of Joe\u2019s neck.\u00a0 \u201cBut if it should, you just remember that I know that you did the very best that you could.\u00a0 Do you understand me, Joe?\u00a0 Look at me, do you understand me?\u201d Adam held the slim shoulders with both of his hands and forced his brother to look into his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cAnswer me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe met his brother\u2019s gaze.\u00a0 \u201cI understand, but I\u2019ll never forgive you if it does,\u201d Joe said and gave his brother a half-hearted grin.\u00a0 Adam laughed and pulled the boy back down onto his chest.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe will get through this, together Joe.\u00a0 Just you and I and we will both be fine, I promise,\u201d said Adam silently praying he was speaking the truth and not giving the boy false hopes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shivered as he continued to chip away at the ice.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s fever had continued to rise and twice more the sick man had convulsed.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s nerves were frayed and every muscle in his body was tensed so that he ached from head to toe.\u00a0 But he had to have the ice ready in case he needed it to pack Adam in the cold chucks once again.\u00a0 Joe filled the pitcher he had carried with him with small chips of broken ice.\u00a0 Adam had complained repeatedly of his mouth being dry so Joe thought that possibly his brother could hold the smaller pieces under his tongue until they melted.\u00a0 The small amounts of water that Adam had tried to drink had only succeeded in making him vomit.\u00a0 Once when his brother had been retching, Joe had had to grab the water bowl and retch himself.\u00a0 Joe scolded himself for having a weak stomach but the sounds of his brother gagging had been too much for his empty stomach to bare and he had ended up with the dry heaves.\u00a0 Afterwards both brothers had exchanged weak smiles and Adam had once again returned to a fitful sleep as Joe had carried the soiled pan and dish from the room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now as Joe entered the sick room he saw that Adam was awake but that the face was bathed in sweat and the cheeks rosy red from the heat of the fever that insisted on lingering.\u00a0 Joe hurried to Adam\u2019s side and offered him small pieces of the chipped ice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHere Adam, hold some of these in your mouth.\u00a0 Maybe it will help.\u201d\u00a0 Joe held the spoonful of chips out to his brother and Adam opened his mouth allowing the younger boy to deposit the cold ice onto his parched tongue.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam took the glass and spoon from Joe and pointed to the chair next to the bed.\u00a0 \u201cSit,\u201d he ordered through clamped teeth so that the chips would not fall from his mouth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFor just a few minutes,\u201d Joe replied as he plopped his weary body into the welcoming comforts of the old chair.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam swallowed the melted ice and watched Joe as he rested his head.\u00a0 The fatigue that his young brother felt was written into the fine lines of his young face and did not go unnoticed by the older brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cClose your eyes Joe.\u00a0 Just for a few minutes,\u201d Adam instructed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo Adam, I have\u2026\u201d started Joe but Adam cut him off.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, do as I say.\u00a0 I may need you later and you won\u2019t be much help if you\u2019re dead on your feet.\u201d\u00a0 Adam thought a little guilt might cause the boy to stop and think, thus giving him the needed time to rest.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe did think about Adam\u2019s words and knew that his brother was right.\u00a0 He had been going at this now for three days and it was taking its toll on his body.\u00a0 Joe reasoned that he would be no help to Adam if he could not keep his eyes opened so Joe did as he was ordered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOkay, but only for half an hour or so,\u201d agreed Joe shutting his eyes.\u00a0 Adam took another spoonful of the ice chips and before they had time to melt Joe was fast asleep in his chair.\u00a0 Adam smiled to himself, set the glass and spoon on the table and closed his own eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When Joe finally woke it was dark outside.\u00a0 He must have been more tired than he realized, he thought.\u00a0 He checked Adam\u2019s fever and shook his head in dismay.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s fever had skyrocketed once again and he was burning up.\u00a0 Joe ran to the kitchen for more fresh water and hurried back to Adam\u2019s bedside.\u00a0 After dipping the cloth into the water that he had added small amounts of water too, he washed his brother\u2019s face and brow working down the neck and both arms.\u00a0 Adam stirred slightly and called out to him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe placed the cloth on the fevered brow and leaned close so that Adam might be able to hear.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m here Adam.\u00a0 Lay still and rest.\u201d\u00a0 Joe heard his own voice catch in his throat. \u2018Another long night,\u2019 he told himself.\u00a0 \u2018Oh Pa, where are you?\u00a0 Hurry home, please, we need ya.\u00a0 Pa, please,\u2019 begged Joe\u2019s heart.\u00a0 Joe sat back down in the chair and rested his head on the side of the bed next to Adam.\u00a0 \u2018I am so exhausted, so drained,\u2019 he mumbled to himself as his eyes closed in sleep.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe yawned and stretched before rising from the chair and walking to the window.\u00a0 As he peered out into the darkness he saw that the moon had cast a soft glow onto the yard below allowing him to see the horses that moved about the corral.\u00a0 Joe watched as the stallion that Adam had recently broken nipped at the neck of a mare as he neared her.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s mind went back to the day that he had watched his brother attempting to ride the big horse.\u00a0 Time after time the stallion had tossed Adam to the ground and each time he had gotten up, dusted off his hands and mounted the bronco once again.\u00a0 He and Hoss had teased their older brother unmercifully all the while hiding the pride that they really felt in their young hearts for the older brother who with determination, was finally able to master the animal.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam moaned softly and Joe turned from the window, closing it a little before moving to the bedside.\u00a0 Joe watched his brother\u2019s face for any discomfort but saw that Adam, for now, slept peacefully.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe moved to the bookcase and in the dim light stood reading the titles of the books that Adam had acquired throughout the years.\u00a0 Without realizing what he was doing, he extended his hand out and gently ran his fingers across the leather bound volumes.\u00a0 Joe felt his eyes fill with tears as his hand stopped at one worn book, the last in the row.\u00a0 Carefully Joe removed the book from the shelf and opened the cover, \u2018Moby Dick\u2019; his eyes clouded again as his eyes remained glued to the title.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n How many times over the years as a small boy had he crawled into the lap of the young man who now lay fighting the fever that raged within his body, and had listened in awe as his brother read to him?\u00a0 Sighing deeply, Joe closed the book and returned it to its proper place in the bookcase.\u00a0 Joe slowly walked back to the chair which remained as close as possible to the ailing brother and fervently prayed that he would once again be allowed to hear his brother read to him from his favorite story.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe leaned back and closed his eyes.\u00a0 As sleep claimed his tired body, sweet memories invaded his dreams.\u00a0 He could see Adam as the older boy helped him through the window and onto the roof of the house.\u00a0 Joe was seven, Adam nineteen and Hoss who was thirteen was stuck in the chimney.\u00a0 It was Christmas Eve and Joe had insisted that Hoss try going down the chimney just to be sure that Santa could fit.\u00a0 Adam had gotten caught up in the scheme surprising not only his brothers but their father as well. That Christmas had been special, Adam had worked hard keeping the magic going one last Christmas time just for his sake.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was the sound of his own laughter that woke him from his happy dream.\u00a0 Adam was awake and Joe was surprised when he saw the small smile that caused the face to dimple.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMust have been a good dream,\u201d the ill man said weakly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe could feel his face reddening as Adam continued to stare at him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI was remembering the Christmas that Hoss got stuck in the chimney,\u201d he laughed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAh, how could I ever forget?\u00a0 Hoss was stuck, my face was black and all three of us were caught red handed when Pa came home early,\u201d Adam laughed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes began to sparkle and he giggled as he shared the memory with his brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBoy, I thought our goose was cooked for sure when Pa walked into the house and saw Hoss\u2019 boots dangling in his chimney.\u00a0 But then when he started laughing, I thought something was bad wrong with him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTrue, but then he told us about the time that he and Uncle John did the very same thing,\u201d added Adam.\u00a0 Adam closed his eyes and Joe sat down on the bed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAre you feeling alright Adam?\u201d\u00a0 Joe\u2019s voice had lost its laughter and had taken on a tone of concern.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam opened his dark eyes suddenly when he recognized the anxiety in the boy\u2019s voice.\u00a0 \u201cJoe, I\u2019m okay.\u00a0 Don\u2019t worry so.\u00a0 My head still hurts some but I was just resting my eyes,\u201d Adam reassured his anxious brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re sure,\u201d Joe said rising from the bed and moving to the bookcase.\u00a0 His hand briefly touched the last book on the shelf.\u00a0 Turning to Adam, he asked, \u201cWant me to read to you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam had seen where Joe\u2019s hand had stopped and knew that the last volume had always been his youngest brother\u2019s favorite.\u00a0 Sensing how his brother must be feeling and wanting to put the boy\u2019s fears to rest, he agreed.\u00a0 \u201cSure Joe, why don\u2019t you pick one?\u201d suggested Adam knowing full well that Moby Dick would be his brother\u2019s choice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe instantly pulled Moby Dick from the shelf and returned to his seat.\u00a0 Opening the cover of the book he briefly glanced at his brother and returned the smile before beginning his oral reading.\u00a0 An hour later both Adam and Joe were fast asleep, Adam propped against the pillows and the book laying opened across Little Joe\u2019s lap.\u00a0 Later the book fell to the floor and without waking, the boy moved so that he might rest his head on the bedside next to his brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Later to Joe\u2019s dismay, Adam\u2019s fever had spiked once again and Joe worked with cooling the over heated body.\u00a0 Adam thrashed from side to side and it took all of the younger boy\u2019s strength just to keep the sick man from falling out of bed.\u00a0 Into the wee hours of the morning and then only when Adam\u2019s strength had drained and he had fallen into a fitful slumber did Joe allow himself to return his head to the bed next to his brother and close his wear eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe woke when he felt a hand on his head and when he raised up he looked into the smiling face of his brother.\u00a0 Adam looked better this morning, his face had lost some of the redness caused by the fever and his eyes seemed to have a brightness to them that had been missing since he had been ill.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood morning sleepy head,\u201d smiled Adam as he watched his brother attempt to rub the sleep from his eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHey, big brother,\u201d yawned Joe.\u00a0 \u201cHow ya feelin\u2019?\u201d he asked as he stretched and then rubbed his lower back trying to work the stiffness out.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam watched the boy as he moved around and realized that the boy had not gotten much sleep.\u00a0 Sometime very late into the night Adam\u2019s fever had reached an all time high, the boy had worked for hours bathing his brow and face with the ice chilled water.\u00a0 Finally just before dawn the fever had at last broken and both brothers had collapsed into sleep, though Joe had only rested with his head on the side of the bed.\u00a0 Adam had felt the boy reach for his hand during those early hours and in his sleep the younger brother had held tightly to his older brother.\u00a0 Adam now saw the relief that was plainly written across the face of his kid brother and he smiled up at him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThanks to you my little hero, I feel better, much better,\u201d Adam complimented the boy.\u00a0 \u201cYou did a great job, Joe.\u00a0 You will always be my hero.\u00a0 I figure, if you had not been here, I would have very likely have died,\u201d smiled Adam his face taking on a serious expression.\u00a0 \u201cThank you Joe, for everything,\u201d he added as he reached for the boy\u2019s hand and pulled him down onto the bed and drew him to his breast.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe wrapped his arms around Adam\u2019s neck and both brothers gave the other a tight hug.\u00a0 \u201cI told you we would make it, didn\u2019t I?\u201d asked Adam as he pulled Joe back so that he might better be able to see the boy\u2019s face.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s eyes had filled with tears and though he tried, he could not stop them.\u00a0 Adam realized that this was his brother\u2019s way of releasing the tension that he had been harboring for the last four days and drew the boy to him once again and allowed him to cry until his tears were spent.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Feeling somewhat embarrassed by his tears; Joe at last pulled back from his brother\u2019s embrace and wiped at the last of his tears as they rolled off his chin.\u00a0 Joe smiled broadly at his brother and stood from the bed.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019ll bring you some breakfast then I have to catch up on the chores.\u00a0 Pa and Hoss should be back tomorrow and I am way behind on the work.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, I think when Pa finds out what all you have done, he won\u2019t be so concerned about what you didn\u2019t do.\u00a0 Besides, I\u2019m on your side, he won\u2019t be angry, I promise,\u201d Adam encouraged.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked hopefully at his brother, \u201cLet\u2019s hope you\u2019re right big brother.\u00a0 Think you could eat some eggs and toast this time, providing of course I cook them done?\u201d laughed Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam joined in the laughter, \u201cMake sure they are well done little brother, I detest runny eggs.\u00a0 I don\u2019t like them squawking at me while I\u2019m trying to eat them.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe giggled and turned to leave the room.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll bring you some coffee too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, before you go, would you mind handing me my writing paper and that pencil from my desk, please?\u201d asked Adam as he pulled his pillows in behind him so that he could sit in an upright position.\u00a0 \u201cAnd that tablet to hold the paper.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gathered the items that Adam had requested and handed them to his brother.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019ca gonna do?\u00a0 Write a letter?\u00a0 Or is that your last will and testament?\u201d laughed Joe, curious as to what his brother was going to do.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam returned the smile and looked up at his younger brother.\u00a0 Adam had something in mind that he wanted to do for this boy who had dedicated his life to caring for him during his illness the last several days.\u00a0 He was proud, very proud indeed, of his brother and he had meant it when he had said that Joe was his hero.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, it is in a way a testament, but not my last, I hope.\u00a0 You will see later, now how about my eggs?\u00a0 I am starving, and I know you must be too, now get,\u201d laughed Adam as he tossed a pillow at his brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe saw the pillow headed in his direction and shut the door before it could make contact with his head.\u00a0 Joe opened the door just enough to show his face and stuck his tongue out at his brother. Adam made a grab for the second pillow and acted as if he were fixing to throw that one at his brother also but Joe saw the sudden movement and slammed the door shut.\u00a0\u00a0 Adam could hear the boy\u2019s laughter as he walked down the hall and Adam smiled to himself.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam stared at the blank paper and shortly began writing.\u00a0 The words seemed to flow onto the paper as he wrote.\u00a0 He had debated with himself over several ideas as to what to do for his young brother who had worked so hard at helping him through his sickness and had finally decided on this particular thing he was now working on.\u00a0 He liked this idea best and thought that perhaps Joe would too.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe was back a short time later and carried with him the breakfast tray and coffee.\u00a0 He also brought his own breakfast so that he could eat with his brother.\u00a0 \u201cHope these eggs are better this time,\u201d laughed Little Joe as he sat the tray on the table and turned to his brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so hungry little brother, I think this morning I could eat almost anything,\u201d smiled Adam as he sat his writing materials off to the side to make room for the tray that Joe placed across his lap.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam and Joe ate their breakfast in companionable silence until Joe at last stood from his seat.\u00a0 \u201cPa and Hoss should be home tomorrow, I\u2019d better get busy.\u00a0 I\u2019ll just be in the barn and yard, so I\u2019ll open the window a little more and if you need me, you call, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be fine Joe, don\u2019t worry. I think I might even venture to go downstairs for a little while.\u00a0 This room is beginning to close in on me and the odor isn\u2019t doing much for my stomach either,\u201d Adam informed his brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam, do you think you really should?\u00a0 It\u2019s sorta soon, your fever just broke.\u201d\u00a0 Joe cast troubled eyes on his brother.\u00a0 The last thing Joe wanted right now was for his brother to have a relapse and be sick all over again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, if I don\u2019t get out of here for a while, I\u2019ll go crazy.\u00a0 You know what it is to have to stay in bed forever, or have you forgotten?\u201d teased Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t forgot.\u00a0 It\u2019s just that I never get to go downstairs so soon after being sick.\u00a0 Pa is always here to make me stay put and if he doesn\u2019t then you or Hoss do it for him.\u201d\u00a0 Joe laughed and Adam couldn\u2019t help but join him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was true, poor Joe.\u00a0 Adam was beginning to see why his brother had always hated to be the youngest, everyone, himself included, was always telling the boy what to do, when to do it and why to do it.\u00a0 And, he thought shamefully, the praise was always slow in coming and sometimes forgotten altogether.\u00a0 It must be hard for the boy, being the last in line, always knowing that what you have accomplished had already been accomplished by one of your older and larger brothers.\u00a0 To be the last to learn something new that had been learned years before by the same two brothers, thought Adam.\u00a0\u00a0 Joe must feel as if he is walking in our shadows.\u00a0 What\u2019s left for him to discover that Hoss or I have not yet discovered?\u00a0 How must the kid really feel?\u00a0 No wonder he has such short fuses so much of the time.\u00a0 Hoss and I are constantly getting all the glory for things and poor Joe just gets our crumbs.\u00a0 No wonder he was always complaining about things not being fair continued Adam with his thoughts.\u00a0 Seeing it as Joe would probably see it, it really wasn\u2019t fair.\u00a0Where would either he or Hoss be if Joe had not been a part of their lives?\u00a0 Didn\u2019t the boy know how much they loved him, worshipped him nearly?\u00a0 Didn\u2019t he realize that any of them would willingly lay down their lives to protect him and keep him safe?\u00a0 No, probably not, we forget to tell him.\u00a0 Instead we boss, yell, tease, criticize, blame, chastise, and poke fun at him.\u00a0 We are always reminding him that he is still a kid, referring to him as \u2018boy\u2019 and telling him that he will always be the baby in the family. No wonder he thinks we don\u2019t care about how he feels, we give him the impression that we really don\u2019t, when in fact we care a great deal. Adam felt shame flow through him and he sighed deeply trying to wash away the feeling.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam hoped to change that, the boy had more than proved that he was capable of handling things in a crisis.\u00a0 Adam shuttered to think what might have happened to himself during the last few days had his young brother not been here to take over for him.\u00a0 As far as Adam was concerned, he owed Joe his life, and this time he would not forget the praise.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe helped Adam get cleaned up and dressed before helping him downstairs.\u00a0 Joe didn\u2019t like the idea of leaving Adam alone in the house to fend for himself, but he knew that he had to care for the livestock, muck out the stables, which had not been done for two days.\u00a0 He had to at sometime try to clean Hop Sing\u2019s kitchen before the little China man came home and saw what a mess he had left it in.\u00a0 He had to gather the eggs, the chicken coop needed to be cleaned out and it was already mid-morning.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll see ya later, call me if ya need anything,\u201d said Joe as he grabbed his hat from the peg and went out the door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam sat down in his blue chair and stretched out his long legs.\u00a0 It felt good to be out of his bedroom.\u00a0 The air downstairs was fresher; his room had taken on that sick smell when a prolonged illness lingered.\u00a0Adam picked up the paper he had been scribbling on and read again the words he had written.\u00a0 Twice more he read them aloud so that he could hear with his own ears how the words sounded when put together.\u00a0\u00a0With the pencil he started marking out some words, adding others here and there and finally held it up to read it aloud once again.\u00a0 Satisfied with what he had written, he then picked up his guitar and began strumming.\u00a0 Before long he had managed to work out a melody and set the words he had written to that tune.\u00a0 Again he made small changes until at last he was pleased with how he had put together the lyrics and the music.\u00a0 He laid aside his work and stretched.\u00a0 Suddenly tired and not wanting to tackle the stairs by himself he moved to the settee, stretched out his long body and shut his eyes.\u00a0 Soon sleep claimed him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n While Adam napped, Joe worked non-stop on the chores.\u00a0 He turned Cochise and Sport out into the corral so they could move around more freely.\u00a0 Then he mucked out the stalls and spread fresh hay.\u00a0 When he finished there he went into the tack room and giving a sigh of relief, found that the room was fairly clean.\u00a0 Stopping just long enough to pick up a halter that had fallen from its peg and return it he closed the door and went out, pleased with what he had accomplished is such a short time.\u00a0 Next he gathered the eggs from the hen house and carried them to the kitchen.\u00a0 Joe came from the kitchen into the great room to check on Adam and found him sleeping peacefully on the settee.\u00a0 The room seemed chilly to Joe so he took the Indian blanket from its place on the railing and covered Adam with it.\u00a0 Next, Joe added more logs to the fire and when the fire had built to his satisfaction, Joe quietly went out to finish his work.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By the time early afternoon had arrived, Joe had completed nearly all of his chores, the yard and barn chores and even managed to chop a small pile of wood for the fire.\u00a0 He gathered several of the smaller pieces in his arms and carried them to the kitchen to be used in the cooking stove.\u00a0 Joe stuck his head around the corner of the kitchen and was pleased to see that Adam had awakened and was sitting up.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe brought some sandwiches out to the dining table and went back to the kitchen for the coffee and cups.\u00a0 After several minutes he returned to the dining room where Adam had already helped himself to one of the sandwiches.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI had to wash you a cup, everything in the kitchen is dirty.\u00a0 Hop Sing is gonna kill me if he gets back before I get it cleaned up,\u201d said Joe as he sank into his chair and smiled weakly at his brother.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll clean it up after we eat.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam watched as Joe slowly nibbled at a sandwich and could see the eyes drooping slowly.\u00a0 \u2018He\u2019s exhausted and worn completely out,\u2019 thought Adam.\u00a0 \u201cAfter you eat Joe, I need you to help me back to my bed.\u00a0 I think I will stretch out up there for awhile.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure,\u201d answered the boy softly as his head nodded gently downwards.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCome on little buddy, I think you need a nap worse than I do.\u201d\u00a0 Adam rose from his seat and slipped his arm under Joe\u2019s and together the two brothers made their way to the stairs.\u00a0 Working together each one thinking they were helping the other, they slowly climbed the steps.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s use your bed Joe.\u00a0 My room needs a good airing.\u201d\u00a0 Adam opened the heavy door and led Joe inside.\u00a0 Watching his younger brother\u2019s face, Adam smiled; the boy was practically asleep on his feet.\u00a0 With a swift movement, Adam had managed to pull the covers back and help Joe to sit on the bed.\u00a0 In a minute he had the boy\u2019s boots removed but before he could pull the pants off, Joe\u2019s upper body had fallen backward across the bed.\u00a0 Adam lifted Joe\u2019s legs and moved them onto the mattress.\u00a0 He then rolled the boy over onto his side and pulled the blankets up to his shoulders.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe opened his eyes briefly and began muttering.\u00a0 \u201cAdam,\u201d he called in a very low voice.<\/p>\n \u201cStay with me, just in case,\u201d whispered Joe and patted the side of the bed next to him. He was afraid that Adam might be sick again and he wouldn\u2019t hear him if his brother needed his assistance.\u00a0 And he wouldn\u2019t admit it even to himself, but he didn\u2019t want to be left all alone either, he wanted the reassurance that Adam\u2019s presence left him with.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam thought that if he refused, the boy would not remain in the bed.\u00a0 \u201cAlright Joe, but I have to get a couple of things first.\u00a0 You rest and I\u2019ll be right back,\u201d agreed Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPromise?\u201d\u00a0 The question had been nearly unintelligible.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI promise.\u201d\u00a0 Adam left the room and gathered the things he wanted and returned minutes later.\u00a0 He slipped his own boots from his feet and decided to get comfortable so he stripped down to his long johns and crawled under the covers with his brother.\u00a0 As he laid his head into the soft folds of the pillow, he felt his body grow weary.\u00a0 He had stayed up much longer than he had planned and now it was taking a toll on him.\u00a0Adam shut his eyes and before long, both brothers were sleeping peacefully.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe should be home by 10:00 Pa. What\u2019ca think Adam and Joe have been up to?\u201d laughed Hoss as he thought about his two brothers who had remained behind.\u00a0 They had both wanted to be the ones to go with their father to Sacramento but when the straws had been drawn, Adam and Little Joe had pulled the losing two.\u00a0 He and Hop Sing had for the first time both managed to have the winning lengths.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cProbably Adam has had his hands full keeping that young scamp brother of yours out of trouble, I dare say.\u00a0 Adam has probably had to do not only his chores but also yours and most of Joe\u2019s as well.\u00a0 You know as well as I that Joseph can be very difficult for your older brother when I am gone,\u201d grinned Ben.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s just hope Adam has managed to keep things running smoothly.\u00a0 I am tired, I want nothing more than to get home, grab a bite to eat and crawl into my own bed.\u00a0 I am too old to be sleeping on the ground again tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know what ya mean Pa, about sleeping on the ground, I got cold last night.\u00a0 We should have taken the stage like Hop Sing plans on, exceptin\u2019 I didn\u2019t wanna wait another two days to get home.\u00a0 I sorta miss them brothers of mine,\u201d confessed Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s not tell them though, but I miss them too,\u201d laughed Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was past 10:00 p.m. by the time that father and son entered the yard.\u00a0 Together they took their horses into the barn and tended to their needs.\u00a0 \u201cWell, at least it looks like one of them kept the barn cleaned out,\u201d commented Hoss and then the large boy laughed.\u00a0 \u201cIt was my turn, that means Adam probably had to do it cause little brother would have put up a fuss about it not being his turn.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben joined his middle son in the little joke, \u201cyes, that sounds like Joseph.\u00a0 \u2018Never do anything that you can talk your older brother into doing for you\u2019, that\u2019s Joe\u2019s way of thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAw Pa, wonder if that kid will ever learn the meaning of responsibility?\u201d asked Hoss as he pushed his over sized hat back on his head and then tossed his saddle across the rail.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head, \u201cI fear that we have several years ahead of us before we see that happening, but, I love him just the same.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, me too.\u00a0 Joe is just\u2026Joe.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t want him any other way,\u201d agreed Hoss as he and his father headed for the house.\u00a0 \u201cHey Pa, wonder why all the lights are out?\u00a0 Think they\u2019re already in bed?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben had noticed that the lights were not burning in the house but had not really given it much thought due to the later hour.\u00a0 Joe was suppose to be in bed no later than 9:00 p.m. so Ben thought that perhaps Adam had turned in early also.\u00a0 Neither boy was expecting them to return until tomorrow so they would not have waited up.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe better be, it\u2019s past his bedtime.\u00a0 Adam probably just turned in early.\u00a0 Probably had a busy day, look at that wood box, it\u2019s full.\u00a0 And looks as if Adam split some of those logs as well,\u201d Ben pointed to the pile of wood that had been split and stacked in a neat pile next to the house.\u00a0 \u201cNo wonder he\u2019s already in bed.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben and Hoss entered the house and removed their hats, coats and side arms. Ben lit the lamp on the credenza and surveyed the room.\u00a0 Everything looked as it should, neat and clean.\u00a0 Only Adam\u2019s guitar was out of place, instead of propped against his blue chair, it rested on the settee.\u00a0 Ben picked it up and returned it to its proper place.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s grab a snack then turn in,\u201d suggested Ben and moved to the kitchen, Hoss close on his heels.\u00a0 Ben stopped suddenly causing Hoss to bump into him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong Pa?\u201d asked Hoss peering over his father\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 Suddenly Hoss\u2019 clear blue eyes seemed to double in size as he took in the scene before him. \u201cWhew\u2026\u201d he let his breath out slowly, \u201cWill ya lookit this mess?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI am looking,\u201d growled Ben.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t those two brothers of yours know how to wash dishes?\u00a0 There isn\u2019t a clean dish in this kitchen.\u00a0 And what is this?\u201d Ben wrinkled up his nose and pointed to something on a plate.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss stared down at the molded glob and scrunched up his face, \u201cYour guess is as good as mine.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust you wait until morning, I will have both their hides for leaving this kitchen in this kind of mess.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to bed, no way am I eating something from in here.\u201d\u00a0 Ben turned and walked out of the kitchen and started up the back stairs that led from the kitchen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019m hungry any more either.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss turned down the lights and joined his father on the stairs. \u201cNight Pa,\u201d Hoss patted his father\u2019s back.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood night son, God bless.\u201d\u00a0 Ben stopped first at Adam\u2019s bedroom door and quietly knocked. Ben gently opened the door and peered inside.\u00a0 The smell that emitted from the room instantly told him that someone had recently been sick, namely Adam.\u00a0 His eyes searched the bed and when he realized that his oldest was not in the room he quickly stepped back into the hall and closed the door on the odor.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben moved down the hall to Joe\u2019s room and foregoing knocking, pushed the door opened and stepped inside. His eyes went instantly to the bed where he found his oldest son sitting propped against the pillows. The lamp was burning low and Ben had to step closer to the bed to see the older boy\u2019s face.\u00a0 He was sleeping soundly.\u00a0 Beside him on the bed lay Joe who was curled into a ball and snoring softly. Ben reached out and laid his hand on Adam\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cAdam?\u201d whispered Ben so as not to wake the younger boy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n At his father\u2019s touch Adam opened his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cPa?\u201d He smiled, \u201cyou made it home.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben sat on the edge of the bed next to his son. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u00a0 Who\u2019s been sick?\u00a0 I stopped in at your room and could tell someone had been sick enough to throw up.\u00a0 You or the boy there?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa, it\u2019s a long story.\u00a0 But to make it quick, I have been very ill.\u00a0 Joe here has taken care of all the chores and of me.\u00a0 He has worn himself completely out.\u00a0 Poor kid has been sleeping for several hours as it is.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben watched his son\u2019s face and could tell even in the dim light that the boy\u2019s features held the look of someone who had been ill for several days.\u00a0 \u201cWhat happened?\u00a0 Are you feeling better now?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m tired and a little weak, but other than that, I\u2019ll be fine Pa.\u00a0 Joe here nursed me back to health.\u00a0 Poor kid, I must have scared him to death.\u00a0 My fever was very high and I think I must have had some convulsions.\u00a0Now, don\u2019t get that look on your face.\u00a0 I told you I am fine now.\u00a0 The fever broke very early this morning,\u201d Adam assured his father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben couldn\u2019t stop his hand from reaching out and feeling his son\u2019s brow for fever. \u201cYou seem cool enough now.\u00a0 Why are you in here?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa, my room needs to be aired.\u00a0 Neither Joe nor I could stand another night sleeping in there.\u00a0 Not that Joe has had much sleep, he hasn\u2019t.\u00a0 He\u2019s been with me around the clock, except for going out and tending to the chores.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben smiled, \u201cGuess that explains the mess in the kitchen.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded his head in agreement.\u00a0 \u201cYou saw that already I take it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI saw.\u00a0 Just wait til Hop Sing gets here tomorrow and sees it.\u00a0 He\u2019ll probably go back to China!\u201d laughed Ben softly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa, don\u2019t be mad at Joe.\u00a0 He did all he could, really, you would have been proud of him.\u00a0 I know I am.\u201d Adam explained to his father all that Joe had done and how well the young boy had nursed him.\u00a0 Adam added that he had feared that had Joe not been around, he himself might not be there now.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss stuck his head in the door and whispered,\u00a0 \u201cI heard ya talkin\u2019.\u00a0 Ya okay Adam?\u00a0 How\u2019s Little Joe?\u201d\u00a0 The worry could be heard in his voice and he wanted to know what was going on and why Adam was in bed with Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re both okay Hoss.\u00a0 Go to bed, I know you must be tired,\u201d turning to Ben he smiled.\u00a0 \u201cPa, you go on to bed too.\u00a0 I\u2019ll stay here with my little hero tonight.\u00a0 Tomorrow we can air my room, then I can get back into my own bed.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben stood and Adam snuggled down into the bed.\u00a0 \u201cNight Pa.\u00a0 I\u2019m glad you\u2019re home.\u201d\u00a0 Ben pulled the covers up around Adam\u2019s chest and moved to the opposite side of the bed. A stray curl had fallen onto Joe\u2019s brow and Ben could not resist the urge to gently push it back.\u00a0 Leaning down he placed a kiss on his son\u2019s cheek and glanced at Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood night son.\u00a0 I\u2019m glad you\u2019re feeling better.\u00a0 Call me if you need anything,\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI will, see you in the morning.\u201d\u00a0 Adam turned over onto his side and slipped his arm across the sleeping boy next to him.\u00a0 Ben smiled at the sight and gently closed the door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss stood in the hall waiting for his father and still wanting answers.\u00a0 \u201cIs everythin\u2019 okay in there Pa?\u201d he asked with baited breath.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben clamped his hand on the large shoulder of his middle son.\u00a0 \u201cI have an idea that everything is perfect in there, son.\u00a0 Adam has been very sick; Joe has worn himself out taking care of not only your older brother but things around this ranch as well.\u00a0 This, I might add, is in direct contradiction to our earlier conversation we had on his ability to take responsibility for things.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLittle brother did all the chores?\u00a0 Mucking out the barn, chopping all that wood, and takin\u2019 care of Adam?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss seemed surprised.\u00a0 Maybe he had short-changed his youngest brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAccording to Adam,\u201d smiled Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss shook his head slowly, \u201cGosh Pa, now I feel bad about the things I said about Joe earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss, you didn\u2019t mean anything bad, I know that, now go to bed son, it\u2019s late.\u00a0 Adam and Joe will no doubt fill us in on everything in the morning.\u00a0 Good night son, God bless.\u201d\u00a0 Ben left Hoss still standing in the hall and entered his own room.\u00a0 As he closed the door he noticed that Hoss had slipped quietly into Joe\u2019s room.\u00a0 Ben knew how his son felt, he wanted to assure himself that both his oldest and his youngest brother was okay.<\/p>\n Minutes later Ben heard the door softly open and then close and could hear the sounds of Hoss\u2019 bare feet tiptoeing against the floor as he made his way to his own room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was nearly noon when Little Joe woke with a start from a sound sleep.\u00a0 Instantly he realized that Adam was no longer in the room with him and wondered where his brother might be.\u00a0 Jumping from the bed and grabbing his trousers and shirt Joe quickly pulled them on.\u00a0 As he started for the door he remembered his boots and snatched them from the foot of the bed where they had been tossed.\u00a0 When Joe opened the door he could hear talking downstairs and right away recognized his father\u2019s voice.\u00a0 With excitement building at the sight of seeing his father, Joe ran down the stairs making loud clomping sounds on the wooded steps as he descended.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben looked up from his seat at his desk and when his eyes met those of his youngest son, his face broke into a welcoming smile.\u00a0 Joe bounded with joy into his father\u2019s opened arms and he wrapped his own arms around his father\u2019s neck.\u00a0 Ben\u2019s arms engulfed the boy and he squeezed tightly as Joe smothered his father\u2019s face with kisses.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss stood close by and exchanged smiles with one another both knowing what a welcomed sight it was for the father and son to be reunited.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s happy to see you, Pa,\u201d laughed Adam.\u00a0 He knew very well that the young boy was happy that their father had at last gotten home.\u00a0 He knew how hard this youngest brother of his had worked and cared for him and knew that Joe was glad now to pass part of the heavy responsibility back to his father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben continued to maintain his hold on Joe and smiled back at Adam.\u00a0 \u201cIt appears to be so,\u201d he laughed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked up at this father and with one last hug turned to wrap his arms around the mid-section of his middle brother.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m glad to see you too, Hoss.\u00a0 I just wish you guys could have gotten home about four days ago,\u201d he laughed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAw shucks, Short Shanks,\u201d beamed Hoss, \u201cbig brother here\u2019s been tellin\u2019 us what all ya dun for him.\u00a0 Sounds ta me like ya didn\u2019t need our help,\u201d Hoss praised Little Joe.\u00a0 \u201cHe even seems ta think you\u2019re some kind of hero or somethin\u2019.\u201d\u00a0 The pride could be heard in his voice as he held his arms around Joe\u2019s shoulders.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam had taken this morning while Joe had slept soundly to tell his father and brother all that had been going on in their absence.\u00a0 He had also confided in them his feelings about how he and Hoss were always ragging the boy about unimportant things and how he suspected the boy felt about their doing so.\u00a0 It shamed him to a degree to know that they had been angering the boy unknowingly with their words and actions.\u00a0Hoss agreed with his older brother and as Ben listened to their conversation, he was pleased when both brothers promised each other that from now on they would treat their younger brother with more understanding and respect.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe stepped back from Hoss\u2019 embrace and watched the faces of his family members.\u00a0 \u201cWhat?\u201d he asked, wondering why all of them were looking at him with those funny looks on their faces.\u00a0 \u201cWhat have I done now?\u201d\u00a0 Joe was getting suspicious though the only thing he could think of that he might have done was to sleep until noon and then he remembered Hop Sing\u2019s kitchen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe turned to his father. \u201cIt\u2019s the kitchen, right?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben burst into laughter, \u201cWell, the kitchen was a mess but Hoss and I cleaned it up for you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben continued his laughing.\u00a0 Hoss and Adam couldn\u2019t help but join in when Joe let his breath out in a huff, relief showing plainly on his handsome young face. \u201cJoseph, for once you have done everything right.\u00a0 Sit down, please.\u00a0 I think Adam has something to say to you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe sat in the chair next to his father\u2019s desk and watched as Adam crossed the great room and picked up his guitar and returned.\u00a0 Hoss stood to Joe\u2019s right his arms folded across his massive chest and Ben sat down in his desk chair and crossed his legs.\u00a0 Adam made him self comfortable sitting on the corner of his father\u2019s large oak desk, one leg dangling as he softly strummed the strings on his guitar.\u00a0 After making a couple of minor adjustments to the tuning bar he ran the pick down the strings one final time then faced his youngest brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, I just want you to know how much I appreciate what you have done for me the last several days.\u00a0 I know it was hard on you, I know at times you were scared.\u00a0 I was scared myself, but I knew I was in capable hands.\u00a0 I trusted you buddy, and you didn\u2019t let me down.\u00a0 I want you to know just how much that means to me.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t find any words except these to tell you how I really feel about you.\u00a0 I love you, little buddy, please don\u2019t ever forget that.\u00a0 I wrote this for you, I hope you like it.\u201d\u00a0 Adam began playing his guitar and looking into the hazel eyes of his youngest brother, he began singing in his rich baritone voice:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018It must have been cold there in my shadow\u2026<\/p>\n To never have sunlight on your face\u2026<\/p>\n You\u2019ve been content to let me shine\u2026<\/p>\n You always walked a step behind\u2026<\/p>\n I was the one with all the glory\u2026<\/p>\n While you were the one with all the strength\u2026<\/p>\n Only a face without a name\u2026<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And everything I\u2019d like to be?\u2026<\/p>\n Well I can fly higher than an eagle\u2026<\/p>\n But you are the wind beneath my wings!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It might have appeared to go unnoticed\u2026<\/p>\n But I\u2019ve got it all here in my heart\u2026<\/p>\n I want you to know I know the truth\u2026<\/p>\n I would be nothing without you\u2026<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Did you ever know that you\u2019re my Hero?\u2026<\/p>\n And everything I\u2019d like to be?\u2026<\/p>\n I can fly higher than an eagle\u2026<\/p>\n But you are the wind beneath my wings\u2026<\/p>\n You are the wind beneath my wings\u2026<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe rose from the chair, tears dripping from his chin and as Adam set aside his guitar and moved from the desk, the brothers clasped their arms around each other and stood locked in one another\u2019s loving embrace.\u00a0Ben and Hoss smiled at each other and Hoss dabbed at his own tears moving to wrap his arms around his two brothers.\u00a0 Ben laughed, \u201cWhy not?\u201d and joined in hugging his sons.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThank you Adam,\u201d whispered Joe from inside the huddle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI meant it Joe, you are my hero and the wind beneath my wings!\u201d answered Adam softly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n THE END<\/strong><\/p>\n December, 2001,<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2018Wind Beneath My Wings\u2019 sung by various artists, no infringement intended.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Thanks to my sidekick, Jennie Allender for allowing me to use a part of our Christmas story as Joe\u2019s dream.<\/em><\/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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Merry Christmas Everyone!!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tags:<\/strong> Adam Cartwright, Ben Cartwright, Hoss Cartwright, JAM, Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright<\/p>\nDid you ever know that you\u2019re my Hero?\u2026<\/h1>\n