{"id":13946,"date":"2007-12-12T14:27:18","date_gmt":"2007-12-12T19:27:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13946"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:11:14","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:11:14","slug":"the-snipe-hunt-by-susan-g","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13946","title":{"rendered":"The Snipe Hunt (by Susan G)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary<\/strong>:\u00a0 Joe pulls Hoss into another prank that could cost more than he bargained for.<\/p>\n

Word Count: \u00a027,300 \u00a0Rated: \u00a0T<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Snipe Hunt<\/strong><\/p>\n

The sun was already up as Joe Cartwright strolled down the stairs from his bedroom at the Ponderosa. Tucking in his shirt and brushing the sleep from his eyes, he climbed down toward the main part of the house. Joe knew he was late for breakfast but the extra sleep had seemed more important than breakfast, at least at the time. Now, however, the smell of coffee and bacon made his mouth water. Joe walked a little faster, and slid into his seat at the dining room table.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMorning,\u201d Joe mumbled at no one in particular as he reached for the coffee pot. However, the other two people sitting at the table acknowledged his greeting in a manner that left Joe in no doubt that they were aware he was late.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGood morning, Joseph,\u201d said Ben Cartwright in a tone which said it was NOT a good morning.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNice of you to join us,\u201d Adam Cartwright added in a wry voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSorry I\u2019m late,\u201d Joe replied contritely as he sipped his coffee. \u201cI overslept.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd could there be a reason why you overslept?\u201d asked Ben, his voice still stern. \u201cMaybe it was because you didn\u2019t get home until after midnight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa,\u201d Joe repeated, his voice even more contrite. \u201cI just lost track of time last night.\u201d Joe reached for the platter of bacon and eggs on the table. There were only two strips of bacon and a small bit of scrambled eggs left. \u201cI see Hoss has eaten,\u201d Joe commented ironically as he emptied the contents of the platter onto his plate. \u201cWhere is he?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s in the barn getting your horses ready,\u201d Ben answered, his voice still reflecting his unhappiness with his youngest son. \u201cHe wanted to get out to the north pasture and get started on fixing that windmill before the day was half gone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, yeah, the windmill,\u201d said Joe, shifting uncomfortably in his chair. \u201cI forgot.\u201d He started to eat quickly. \u201cI\u2019ll get going as soon as I finish eating.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd when you\u2019re finished with that, I want you and Hoss to take another count of the calves out there,\u201d Ben continued in a voice that brooked no argument. \u201cAdam and I are going to finish the branding schedule today.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir,\u201d Joe agreed obediently, as he continued to eat.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI hope you didn\u2019t lose all your money playing poker last night,\u201d Adam remarked as he sipped his coffee. \u201cIt\u2019s two weeks until payday, and I\u2019m not loaning you any money.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t like that, Adam,\u201d protested Joe. \u201cI ran into Charlie Parker and his brother at the Silver Dollar. Frank was telling us stories about all the things he did at college, and I just lost track of time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFrank Parker\u2019s home?\u201d Ben asked with a frown. \u201cI thought he had a job with a mining company in Denver.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe does, Pa,\u201d Joe answered. \u201cHe\u2019s just home for a week or so. He doesn\u2019t have to be in Denver until the end of the month, so he thought he\u2019d visit his family before he started his new job.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow did he like college?\u201d asked Adam curiously. \u201cI saw some of his letters, and he didn\u2019t say much about how he was getting along with the other students.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe had kind of a hard time at first,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cHe said the fellows there treated him like some kind of country bumpkin. But after awhile, he started to fit in and he really had a good time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam nodded. \u201cI remember that. Same thing happened to me. If they find out you are from the West, they think you\u2019re a hayseed. How did he get them to accept him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you know Frank,\u201d said Joe with a grin. \u201cHe loves playing jokes on people. He played a couple of jokes on the fellows there, and pretty soon they were laughing at each other, and not him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam smiled. \u201cI guess that\u2019s one way of handling it,\u201d he agreed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe started to chuckle. \u201cHe pulled some really crazy stunts. He even got three of the fellows in the house where he was living to go on a snipe hunt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe didn\u2019t!\u201d Adam exclaimed with a laugh. \u201cI didn\u2019t think anyone fell for that one anymore.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA snipe hunt?\u201d asked Ben. \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an old trick,\u201d Adam explained. \u201cUsually, the older students get the new ones to do it. They tell them that there\u2019s a rare animal called a snipe running around, and a big reward if they catch one. They have to go out hunting for it at night. The new guys spend the night hunting in the woods with a sack and a lantern, usually making some strange sounds that they\u2019ve been told attract the snipes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever heard of a snipe,\u201d Ben said with a frown.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s because there is no such thing,\u201d replied Joe with a laugh. \u201cIt\u2019s all a big joke.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the hunters come back in the morning, there\u2019s usually a whole crowd of people waiting for them,\u201d Adam added with a chuckle. \u201cBy then, the new fellows have figured out it was a trick. They\u2019re usually pretty sheepish, and the older guys really have a good laugh at their expense.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFrank said he heard about it from one of his professors,\u201d said Joe, still grinning. \u201cHe thought it was the funniest thing he ever heard. He couldn\u2019t wait to try it. When the three fellows got back in the morning, Frank had the whole house waiting for them. After that, Frank said he was treated as just one of the guys.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t believe he actually got three of them to go on a snipe hunt,\u201d Adam observed, shaking his head and smiling.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you know Frank,\u201d said Joe. \u201cHe can be a pretty smooth talker.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is all very educational,\u201d Ben interrupted. \u201cBut it\u2019s not getting that windmill fixed.\u201d He looked at Adam. \u201cOr the branding schedule done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hastily, Joe finished the food on his plate and gulped down the last of his coffee. \u201cI\u2019m on my way, Pa,\u201d he said, wiping his face quickly with a napkin. Joe stood and hurried to the front door. He grabbed his hat, jacket and gunbelt from the peg by the door, then rushed out of the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

After finishing his coffee, Ben also rose from the table. \u201cWell, Adam?\u201d he asked. \u201cAre you ready to start on those schedules?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Sighing, Adam threw his napkin on the table. \u201cYeah, I\u2019m ready,\u201d he agreed reluctantly. He watched as Ben walked from the dining room toward his desk in the study. \u201cMaybe we ought to start raising snipe,\u201d Adam muttered to himself.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cLittle brother, do you mind if I give you some advice?\u201d Hoss said as he rode with his brother toward the north pasture.<\/span><\/p>\n

Oh no, Joe thought. When Hoss used that tone of voice, he was going into his \u201cbig brother\u201d mode. \u201cCould I stop you?\u201d answered Joe with a sigh.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201dJoe, you got to learn to be more responsible,\u201d Hoss continued in a condescending tone. \u201cYou have to stop running around at night, and get to work on time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, like you, I suppose,\u201d Joe snorted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, yes,\u201d acknowledged Hoss. \u201cPa knows he can count on me not to do anything foolish. He knows I\u2019m reliable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, and I suppose you\u2019ve never done anything foolish in your life?\u201d Joe said in a skeptical voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, maybe when I was just a youngster, I did a few silly things,\u201d Hoss admitted. \u201cBut I\u2019ve grown out of that stage. Now Pa knows I\u2019m the steady and level-headed one in the family,\u201d he finished in a superior tone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, right,\u201d Joe replied wryly. \u201cYou\u2019re just a rock. We all should look to you as a model of behavior.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t go that far,\u0094 said Hoss modestly. \u201cBut it wouldn\u2019t hurt you to be more like me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As an idea began to form in his head, Joe got a gleam in his eye. \u201cYou\u2019re right, Hoss,\u201d Joe agreed, suddenly very conciliatory . \u201cI should try to be more like you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou should,\u201d Hoss acknowledged again, nodding his head. \u201cPa would think a lot better of you if you did. He knows what kind of a son I am.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Hoss,\u201d said Joe, trying hard to keep a grin off his face. \u201cI\u2019m going to make sure Pa knows exactly what kind of a son you are.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Joe and Hoss finished the repairs on the windmill by noon. Joe had said little as he worked. He was too busy creating a plan in his mind, going over the details and refining them as he schemed.<\/span><\/p>\n

When the windmill was finally running, Hoss suggested they have something to eat before checking on the calves. Hop Sing had filled a saddle bag with sandwiches and apples, and Hoss was eager to fill his growling stomach. Joe enthusiastically agreed.<\/span><\/p>\n

The two brothers sat under a shade tree, relaxing as they ate. Hoss had three sandwiches stacked in front of him. \u201cNice of you to save me something,\u201d grumbled Joe as he looked at the one sandwich in his hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a full-grown man,\u201d Hoss explained. \u201cI need a big meal to keep me going.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re full grown, all right,\u201d agreed Joe. \u201cWe\u2019ve got steers smaller than you!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shaking his head in amazement, Joe watched as Hoss quickly down his sandwiches. Joe ate his sandwich almost as rapidly, afraid Hoss would want his lunch also. Both were biting into crisp apples as they lingered in the shade. Joe glanced sideways at Hoss. His face twitched a bit as he decided now was the time to put his plan into action.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey Hoss, know what I heard in town?\u201d Joe said as casually as possible as he bit into his apple. \u201cFrank Parker said he thought he saw some snipe up by Pinetree Canyon the other night?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSnipe?\u201d Hoss replied with a frown. \u201cWhat\u2019s a snipe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know what a snipe is?\u201d asked Joe in surprise.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t be asking if I did,\u201d Hoss answered in a reasonable voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re a very rare animal,\u201d Joe explained. \u201cHardly ever seen. Frank was telling us that back East, they\u2019re paying $1,000 to anyone who can catch one.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA $1,000 for one animal!\u201d exclaimed Hoss. \u201cOh, Joe, you\u2019re joshing me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I swear it\u2019s true,\u201d Joe told his brother earnestly. \u201cSnipe are so rare that all the menageries are trying to get some so they can show them. Maybe even breed them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d said Hoss with astonishment. He looked at Joe with a puzzled expression. \u201cWhat do they look like?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe frowned. \u201cWell, I\u2019ve never actually seen one,\u201d he admitted. \u201cBut I hear they\u2019re a small, furry animal about so big.\u201d Joe spread his hands about a foot apart. \u201cKind of a cross between a raccoon and a prairie dog.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow come I ain\u2019t never heard of them?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Joe replied shrugging his shoulders. \u201cMaybe because they haven\u2019t been seen around here before.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA $1,000,\u201d mused Hoss. \u201cThat\u2019s a lot of money.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt sure is,\u201d Joe agreed in a nonchalant voice as he threw his apple core away. \u201cAnd the man who caught one would probably be famous. Probably get his picture in the paper. Maybe even get invited to meet the president.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMeet the president?\u201d Hoss said in surprise.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d Joe confirmed. \u201cEveryone would want to meet the man who actually caught a snipe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf it\u2019s such a big deal, how come everyone\u2019s not out looking for them?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI told Frank to keep quiet about it,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cI didn\u2019t want word to get around. Why, there\u2019d be people all over the Ponderosa. It would make the California Gold Rush look like a picnic.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For a minute, Hoss sat thinking quietly. \u201cJoe,\u201d he asked at last, \u201chow do they go about catching those snipe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe grinned, then quickly put a serious look on his face. \u201cI don\u2019t know exactly,\u201d he answered, scratching his head. \u201cFrank says you can only hunt them at night. You have to attract them by making a calling sound like they make, then quickly scoop them into a sack.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA calling noise?\u201d Hoss asked curiously. \u201cWhat kind of calling noise?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I think it sounds something like this,\u201d said Joe. \u201cCooo-eeee\u201d he added in a high-pitched, trilling voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCooo-eeee.\u201d Hoss tried to imitate his brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, a little higher than that,\u201d Joe admonished his brother. \u201cYou have to make your voice really shrill.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCooo-eeee.\u201d Hoss tried it again. His voice was shrill.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s it!\u201d Joe said, enthusiastically. He turned his head so Hoss couldn\u2019t see the grin on his face. He couldn\u2019t keep a straight face any longer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCooo-eeee,\u201d Hoss cried again, trying out the snipe call.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou really got it,\u201d said Joe, turning back to Hoss. His lips twitched as he desperately tried to keep from laughing. \u201cSay, Hoss,\u201d he added. \u201cYou\u2019re not thinking about going snipe hunting, are you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I was considering it,\u201d Hoss admitted. \u201cI mean, a thousand dollars is a lot of money. And it would be real important for people to be able to see a snipe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, sure,\u201d Joe agreed in an earnest voice. \u201cYou\u2019d be making an important contribution to the world.\u201d Joe rubbed his chin. \u201cTell you what. Why don\u2019t you go tonight? I\u2019ll help you sneak out of the house, and make sure you have everything you need.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSneak out?\u201d said Hoss in surprise. \u201cWhy would I do that? I\u2019ll just tell Pa where I\u2019m going.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no, you can\u2019t do that,\u201d Joe answered quickly. \u201cYou can\u2019t tell Pa or Adam or anyone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy not?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause, uh, because you want to surprise everyone, don\u2019t you?\u201d Joe explained, thinking rapidly. \u201cIf you tell everyone, they\u2019ll all be out there hunting, too. All those people would scare the snipe away.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I guess they would,\u201d admitted Hoss. \u201cBut I feel funny about not telling Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, think about how proud Pa will be when you bring a snipe home,\u201d said Joe earnestly. \u201cWouldn\u2019t it be great to surprise him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss thought a moment, then smiled. \u201cYeah, I guess you\u2019re right,\u201d he agreed. He turned to Joe. \u201cDon\u2019t you want to come with me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I do,\u201d said Joe. \u201cBut I don\u2019t want to steal your thunder.\u201d He put his hand on Hoss\u2019 arm. \u201cThis will be your triumph, brother. I want you to be known as the man who went on the snipe hunt in Nevada.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGee, thanks, Joe,\u201d replied Hoss gratefully. \u201cYou\u2019re some brother.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Hoss, you just don\u2019t know what kind of brother I am,\u201d Joe said truthfully. He turned his head away, and rolled his eyes to the sky. His body was twitching with concealed laughter. \u201cYou just don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Joe and Hoss talked about the snipe hunt off and on during the rest of the day as they counted the calves. Joe embellished his story whenever he could, adding new details about how the snipe lived in the thick brush, and how they were attracted to the bright light of a lantern at night. Hoss listened earnestly, and nodded in understanding at each new piece of information. Joe even had Hoss practice his \u201csnipe call\u201d several times. By the end of the day, he could hardly keep from bursting out laughing.<\/span><\/p>\n

The sun was starting to lower in the sky when Joe and Hoss finally finished the calf count and headed toward home. \u201cNow remember,\u201d Joe reminded his brother. \u201cDon\u2019t tell anyone about going snipe hunting tonight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t,\u201d promised Hoss. \u201cYou sure you want to sneak out tonight and help me gather all my gear? It\u2019s going to be pretty late before I start out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, I wouldn\u2019t miss it,\u201d Joe said solemnly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, you\u2019re the best little brother a man ever had,\u201d observed Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAw,\u201d Joe replied modestly. \u201cI\u2019m just trying to be more like you. You know, sensible and down to earth.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss nodded his understanding. Then he grinned. \u201cI can\u2019t wait to see the look on Pa and Adam\u2019s faces tomorrow at breakfast.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t wait either,\u201d said Joe with a grin.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Hoss and Joe said little at dinner that night. Hoss gave the calf count when the pair returned to the house and briefly assured Ben that the windmill was now in working order. Over dinner, he answered his father\u2019s questions about the herd in the north pasture with a distracted air, and several times, he had to ask Ben to repeat a question. Joe ate silently, not trusting himself to join in the conversation without giving something away. He watched his brother carefully, his lips twitching in silent laughter every time he thought of Hoss\u2019 going out hunting later that night.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the meal, Hoss glanced at Joe from time to time and occasionally gave his little brother a wink and grin. Joe nodded his head in encouragement.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s going on with you two?\u201d Ben finally asked in exasperation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean, Pa?\u201d Joe replied in an innocent voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe means you two are acting even stranger than usual,\u201d remarked Adam as he ate his dinner. \u201cWhat are you two cooking up?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, nothing,\u201d said Hoss, his voice as innocent as Joe\u2019s. \u201cWhat would we be cooking up?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Adam admitted. \u201cBut whenever you two start acting like this, it usually means trouble.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not fair, Adam,\u201d said Joe in a hurt voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt may not be fair, but it\u2019s true,\u201d Adam replied dryly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, whatever you two are planning, I want you both up on time tomorrow,\u201d ordered Ben sternly. \u201cWe\u2019re going to start branding in the morning, and we won\u2019t have time for any foolishness.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to worry about that,\u201d promised Joe. \u201cIn fact, I think I\u2019ll probably be up early tomorrow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, me too,\u201d added Hoss. \u201cIn fact, I\u2019ll probably have a surprise at breakfast.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSurprise? What surprise?\u201d asked Adam suspiciously.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNothing, Adam,\u201d Joe answered quickly. \u201cHoss just means you\u2019re going to be surprised at how early he is going to be up tomorrow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, that\u2019s what I mean,\u201d agreed Hoss a bit lamely.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam looked back and forth between his two brothers, then he shook his head and sighed. \u201cOn second thought, I don\u2019t think I want to know,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m probably better off if I don\u2019t know what you two are planning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After quickly wiped his mouth with his napkin, Joe stood. \u201cPa, I think I\u2019m going to head on up to bed,\u201d he announced. \u201cI want to get plenty of sleep for tomorrow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben froze, his coffee cup halfway to his mouth. \u201cYou\u2019re going to bed early?\u201d he asked in amazement. \u201cAre you feeling all right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine, Pa,\u201d Joe assured him. He looked across the table at Hoss. \u201cDon\u2019t you think going to bed early is a good idea, Hoss?\u201d he asked pointedly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? Oh, yeah,\u201d Hoss agreed as he hastily finished eating. He wiped his hands on his napkin, and then stood. \u201cI think I\u2019ll hit the sack, too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Both Ben and Adam watched in stunned silence as Joe and Hoss left the table and headed immediately up the stairs to their rooms. \u201cWhat do you think is going on?\u201d Ben finally asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, Pa,\u201d answered Adam. \u201cBut whatever it is, I think we\u2019re all going to regret it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The clock by the door was striking midnight as Hoss crept silently down the stairs. He was fully dressed and carried an unlit lantern in his hand. He stopped at the bottom of the stairs and stood for a moment, listening. Satisfied that the house was quiet, Hoss walked slowly across the room to the door. He opened the front door slowly, and winced as the door made a small squeak. Hoss stopped and looked around the room again. Then he quickly slipped out of the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

Walking rapidly, Hoss crossed the yard to the barn. The night seemed unusually quiet. Even the crickets seemed to be asleep. Hoss wondered if Joe had forgotten his promise to help, and was still asleep. He shrugged unconcerned as he opened the barn door. If Joe was still in bed, Hoss would manage on his own.<\/span><\/p>\n

As soon as he was inside the barn, Hoss lit the lantern. He held it high, trying to brighten the dark structure.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss?\u201d A voice suddenly came out of the darkness to Hoss\u2019 right. \u201cWhere you been?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss jumped. \u201cWho\u2019s there?\u201d he whispered loudly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Immediately Joe emerged from the dark shadows of the back of the barn. \u201cIt\u2019s just me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDoggone it, Joe,\u201d Hoss complained. \u201cYou near scared ten years off me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSorry,\u201d apologized Joe. \u201cWhere have you been?\u201d he asked again. \u201cIt\u2019s after midnight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had to wait until I was sure Pa and Adam were asleep,\u201d Hoss explained.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d said Joe, his voice full of disbelief. \u201cI thought that was snoring I heard when I passed your room. I guess it was just some sick animal.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss glared at his brother. \u201cJoe\u2026\u201d he started.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got your horse all saddled,\u201d Joe interrupted quickly. \u201cI see you remembered a lantern.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYep,\u201d said Hoss enthusiastically. \u201cAnd I\u2019m going to grab one of those grain sacks to take with me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGood, good,\u201d Joe encouraged his brother, his lips starting to twitch again. \u201cNow, you remember the snipe call, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d replied Hoss. \u201cCoo\u2026\u201d Joe quickly put his hand over his brother\u2019s mouth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShhhh!\u201d Joe said urgently. \u201cYou want to wake everyone up?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSorry,\u201d apologized Hoss as Joe removed his hand. Hoss walked to the stall and led his horse out. He grabbed an empty grain sack from a stack on the top of a barrel, then tucked the sack under the back of his saddle. He hooked the lantern over the horn of his saddle. Joe watched with a smile.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I can\u2019t thank you enough for telling me about this,\u201d Hoss said earnestly, putting his hand on his brother\u2019s shoulder. \u201cI\u2019m going to pay you back, I promise.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure you will,\u201d agreed Joe with a grin.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI tell you what,\u201d Hoss continued. \u201cOnce I get that $1,000, I\u2019m going to give you some of it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to do that,\u201d replied Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I do,\u201d insisted Hoss. \u201cOnce I get that money, I\u2019m going to give you $50.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c$50!\u201d Joe exclaimed. \u201cWhy you cheap\u2026\u201d Joe stopped himself quickly. \u201cGee, thanks, Hoss. That makes me feel even better about what I\u2019m doing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI knew it would,\u201d said Hoss with a superior smile. He mounted his horse. \u201cI\u2019d better get going.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Giving a quick nod, Joe pushed the barn door open. Hoss gave him a wave, then chucked his horse forward. Joe stood by the door and watched until he was sure Hoss was too far away to hear him. Then Joe started to giggle. His giggle quickly turned into a full laugh. Tears began streaming down his face as he roared with laughter, As Hoss rode off into the darkness, he didn\u2019t see Joe leaning against the barn, weak with laughter.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Hoss spent the rest of the night in Pinetree Canyon. He dismounted and tied his horse to a tree at the entrance of the canyon, then started into the underbrush cautiously. Holding the brightly shining lantern in one hand and the sack in the other, Hoss began to hunt earnestly for snipe. From time to time, he would stop and yell out a shrill \u201ccooeee\u201d, then wait for some response.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the night wore on, Hoss\u2019 enthusiasm for the hunt began to fade. He was getting tired, and he hadn\u2019t seen anything resembling the animal Joe had described. He had flushed out a fox, and sent some frightened squirrels scurrying into the night. He had even heard an owl respond to his call. But Hoss couldn\u2019t seem to find any trace of the elusive snipe. As he tramped through the underbrush, he could feel the branches scratching at his arms. Bits of dirt and twigs began clinging to his shirt and pants as he crawled deeper into the brush. Hoss gave out a few more snipe calls in an unenthusiastic voice. He wasn\u2019t surprised when all he heard in reply was a few crickets.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the dawn began to break, an uncomfortable idea began to form in Hoss\u2019 head. He quickly dismissed his suspicion, blaming his lack of success on just bad hunting luck. But as the sky began to lighten, Hoss started to wonder more and more about Joe\u2019s instructions on how to hunt snipe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, Hoss decided to call off the hunt. The sun was beginning to rise over the horizon, and he knew he needed to get home in time for breakfast. His father had made it very clear at dinner last night that he expected ALL his sons to be on time and ready for work today. Hoss blew out the lantern as he returned to his patiently waiting horse. He stuck the sack under the saddle again, and hooked the unlit lantern over the saddle horn. Then he mounted and headed for home.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss was about halfway to the ranch house when he saw the three riders. He recognized them as Ponderosa hands, and wondered what they were doing riding out so early. He hailed the men, who rode slowly over to Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMorning, Hoss,\u201d one of the men said with a sleepy smile.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMorning, Vince,\u201d answered Hoss. \u201cWhat are you fellows doing out here so early?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Joe asked us to ride out here before we went over to start on the branding,\u201d explained Sam, another of the hands.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe was up this early?\u201d Hoss said in surprise.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, actually, he came by the bunkhouse last night and asked us,\u201d admitted Vince. \u201cHe said some crazy fellow had been spotted up by Pinetree Canyon, and he wanted us to make sure we chased the fellow off.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSome crazy fellow?\u201d Hoss replied cautiously.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, he\u2019s been running around at night up there,\u201d explained Sam. \u201cGot a lantern and a sack, and making all kind of crazy sounds.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss shifted uncomfortably on his horse. He quickly reached down to push the sack further under the saddle. \u201cWhat else did Joe tell you?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe said the guy thinks there\u2019s some animal called a snipe out there,\u201d answered Billy, the third rider. Billy laughed. \u201cA snipe. Can you believe that? Whoever heard of a snipe!\u201d The other two hands laughed also, and Hoss nervously joined in with his own laugh. Then, suddenly, Hoss frowned as realization hit him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Hoss?\u201d asked Vince with concern.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNothing, Vince,\u201d Hoss answered quickly. \u201cLook, I just got back from Pinetree Canyon and there\u2019s no one there. You fellows can go on and head to the north pasture.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFine with us,\u201d Sam replied, turning his horse. \u201cIt\u2019ll save us a long ride.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou be sure and tell Joe we came out,\u201d said Billy, as he turned his horse also.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d promised Hoss, an angry look on his face. \u201cI\u2019m going to have a real long talk with my little brother.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Ben was surprised to see Joe already at the breakfast table when he came down the stairs. He was even more surprised to see Hoss\u2019 chair was empty; usually Hoss was the first one down in the morning. Ben looked at Joe and then the empty chair as he approached the table. He turned Adam, who was also sitting at the table and gave his oldest son a questioning look. Adam just shrugged his shoulders.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMorning, Pa,\u201d Joe said with a smile as Ben slid into his chair.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGood morning, Joseph,\u201d answered Ben. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to see you up early for a change.\u201d He glanced at the empty chair. \u201cWhere\u2019s Hoss?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe grinned. \u201cI think he got up early,\u201d he said in a gleeful voice. \u201cI think he had something to do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben frowned as he poured himself a cup of coffee. \u201cHoss knows we\u2019re starting the branding today. What could he be doing that is so important?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Before Joe could answer, the front door opened and Hoss walked in. He removed his hat and gun, and laid them on the table next to the door. Then he walked slowly to the dining room.<\/span><\/p>\n

Still sipping coffee from his cup, Ben looked at Hoss in surprise. Hoss\u2019 face showed his fatigue. Twigs and small leaves still clung his to clothes. A few light scratches were visible on his forearms.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMorning, Pa,\u201d said Hoss as he sat down at the table. He turned to Adam. \u201cGood morning, Adam,\u201d he added. Hoss looked at Joe and glared. Then he pointedly ignored his little brother, reaching for the coffee pot. Joe merely grinned at his brother\u2019s snub.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, where have you been?\u201d asked Ben.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust out,\u201d Hoss answered shortly as he poured himself a cup of coffee.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, why don\u2019t you tell Pa and Adam what you been doing?\u201d suggested Joe with a chuckle. Hoss glared at his brother and ignored him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d asked Adam with a frown.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBig brother has been out hunting,\u201d Joe explained as he continued to chortle.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph,\u201d warned Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe ignored his brother\u2019s implied threat. \u201cHe was out all night,\u201d he continued. \u201cLooking for snipe.\u201d Joe couldn\u2019t hold it in any longer. He burst out into laughter, his shrill twitter filling the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been doing what?\u201d said Ben, his lips beginning to twitch with laughter also.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, one more word out of you and I\u2019m going to bash you,\u201d Hoss threatened his brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Joe continued to ignore Hoss. \u201cHe went on a snipe hunt,\u201d he said in a voice so weak with laughter that he could hardly talk. Adam and Ben looked at each other. Then both joined Joe in laughter.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt ain\u2019t funny,\u201d stated Hoss with a frown.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, yes, it is,\u201d Adam said, as he wiped the tears of laughter from his eyes. He took a look at Hoss and started laughing again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou should have seen him,\u201d Joe told his father and oldest brother as he continued to laugh. \u201cRiding out in the middle of the night with a lantern and sack.\u201d Ben and Adam started to laugh harder as both started to picture Hoss in their mind.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you show Pa and Adam how you do a snipe call?\u201d suggested Joe as he leaned back in his chair, holding his sides. \u201cHow\u2019s it go? Coooeeee!\u201d That started Joe on a whole new round of laughter. Ben and Adam joined in.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat does it!\u201d announced Hoss in an angry voice. He pushed himself up and stood at the table. \u201cLittle brother, I\u2019m going to throw you clear to the barn.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I\u2019m scared,\u201d replied Joe, raising his eyebrows, clearly unafraid.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben put his hand on Hoss\u2019 arm. \u201cHoss, sit down,\u201d he said as he tried unsuccessfully to put on a straight face. \u201cJoe\u2019s just having a little fun.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA little fun,\u201d replied Hoss disgustedly as he sat back down. \u201cHe had me tramping through the woods all night. I even crawled through a sticker bush looking for those snipe.\u201d Hoss\u2019 statement sent the other three men into new gales of laughter.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing, bring me some breakfast,\u201d Hoss yelled, trying to ignore the hoots of laughter around him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quickly, Hop Sing padded in from the kitchen. He was carrying a plate covered with a napkin. He put the plate in front of Hoss, then took a step back. Hoss pulled the napkin off the plate, then stared down in puzzlement.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing, there\u2019s nothing here,\u201d stated Hoss. The plate before him was empty.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Hop Sing replied with a grin. \u201cLittle Joe tell Hop Sing about Mr. Hoss\u2019 hunt. He tell Hop Sing how you look for pretend animal. So Hop Sing cook pretend animal over pretend fire to make pretend meal.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hop Sing\u2019s statement was the last straw for everyone. Joe went into uncontrollable laughter, falling off the chair as he held his sides. Ben and Adam both howled. Hoss frowned angrily at his father and brother, then pushed himself away from the table. He stood and walked angrily out of the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, all right, that\u2019s enough,\u201d Ben said as he wiped his eyes. Joe picked himself up off the floor and sat back at the table while Adam continued to chuckle. \u201cWe\u2019ve had a good laugh at Hoss\u2019 expense. But we have to get started on that branding.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRight, Pa,\u201d agreed Joe with a grin. \u201cMaybe we can let Hoss brand all the snipe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d better be careful that he doesn\u2019t brand you!\u201d Adam warned with a grin.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll get over it,\u201d Joe replied with a shake of his head and a chuckle. \u201cHe always does.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Despite his apparent unconcern, Joe made it a point to stay clear of Hoss all day. The word of Hoss\u2019 snipe hunt spread among the hands, and the men had a good laugh as they discussed it. But no one dared say anything to Hoss. One look at the dark frown on Hoss\u2019 face every time someone started to say something quickly discouraged any kidding.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Joe wasn\u2019t so easily discouraged. He couldn\u2019t resist riding by his brother a few times as Hoss was branding the calves, and letting out a yell of \u201ccooeee!\u201d He also was quick to ride away as Hoss looked up and brandished the hot iron in his hand menacingly.<\/span><\/p>\n

By noon, the work of chasing calves and branding them was fully occupying everyone\u2019s attention. It was hot, dusty, and hard work. When Hop Sing arrived with the noon meal in a wagon, everyone was more than ready to take a break.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hop Sing made sure Hoss had a full plate and extra biscuits to make up for his missing breakfast. Hoss nodded his thanks to the cook then strolled over to a small strand of trees where Ben and Adam were eating. \u201cWhere\u2019s Joe?\u201d Hoss asked as he sat wearily on the ground under a tree.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe thought it might be safer to eat elsewhere,\u201d replied Adam with a grin.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe probably thought right,\u201d said Hoss frowning.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, you\u2019re not really mad at him, are you?\u201d asked Ben with concern. The last thing wanted was his sons fighting among themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss thought a minute, then gave his father a wry grin. \u201cI guess not,\u201d he admitted. \u201cI let myself be talked into that snipe hunt. I should know by now not to listen to that little brother of mine when he starts making big plans.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d said Ben, nodding in satisfaction.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut don\u2019t tell Joe that,\u201d Hoss added. \u201cHe deserves to be a little nervous for awhile.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe probably deserves a little more than that,\u201d noted Ben. \u201cI think I can come up with a few unpleasant chores for him to do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to do that,\u201d replied Hoss. \u201cI\u2019ll think of my own way to get back at him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want you two going at each other,\u201d Ben cautioned with a frown. \u201cThese things have a way of getting out of hand.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey won\u2019t, Pa,\u201d Hoss promised. \u201cBut, you have to agree, Joe deserves to be taught a lesson.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat might not be so easy,\u201d said Adam. \u201cHe\u2019s going to be on his guard for a while.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know, Adam,\u201d Hoss agreed with a sigh. \u201cI\u2019ll just have to think of something he don\u2019t expect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Ben, Adam and Hoss were already at the dinner table when Joe came downstairs that evening. He had lingered in his room when they had returned home at the end of the day, unwilling to face Hoss\u2019 anger for longer than he had to. He also wondered what Hoss was planning to do to retaliate. Joe was sure Hoss was not going to let his joke go unanswered.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trying to appear unconcerned Joe walked slowly to the dinner table. He stopped abruptly as he started to sit down on his chair. He gently shook the chair, making sure it was sturdy, then felt the seat for any foreign objects. Satisfied that the chair was not sabotaged, Joe finally sat down.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cautiously, Joe picked up his glass of water, and smelled the contents, then sipped the water carefully. After placing the glass back on the table, Joe turned his plate over and inspected it. He also shook out his napkin to the side, watching for something that might have been wrapped in it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss watched Joe\u2019s antics with a smile. He had spent most of the afternoon trying to figure out how to repay his younger brother for sending him on a snipe hunt. So far, he hadn\u2019t come up with any good ideas. Most of the things he thought of were impractical or too complicated. Now as he watched Joe, Hoss thought of the perfect payback. He would do nothing. At least, he would do nothing for awhile, he amended to himself.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, are you going to eat or simply play with your place setting?\u201d Ben asked in exasperation as he watched Joe inspecting his knife.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, Pa,\u201d said Joe, hastily replacing the knife. He looked directly at Hoss. \u201cI just wanted to be sure no one had left any surprises for me.\u201d Hoss simply smiled back at his brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, if you two spent as much time and energy thinking about running this ranch as you do about playing jokes on each other, we\u2019d all be better off,\u201d Ben continued sternly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, Pa, I ain\u2019t done nothing,\u201d said Hoss in an innocent tone. \u201cI would never do anything to Joe. I wouldn\u2019t harm even one of those hairs on his head that he\u2019s so proud of.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe eyed his brother suspiciously. \u201cWhy are you being so forgiving?\u201d he asked with a frown.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI told you, Joe,\u201d Hoss said reasonably. \u201cI\u2019m the reliable one in this family. I don\u2019t go around playing jokes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, well, if that\u2019s true, it\u2019s the first I\u2019ve heard of it,\u201d muttered Joe as he reached for a platter of chicken on the table. Joe stabbed a chicken breast with his fork and transferred it to his plate. He put the platter back, and picked up the breast. He hesitated before biting into the meat, turning the chicken over and inspecting it carefully.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, eat your dinner!\u201d roared Ben.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir,\u201d Joe said and quickly bit into the chicken. He was relieved to find it tasted just as good as it looked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI want both of you to listen to me,\u201d ordered Ben. \u201cI\u2019m not about to have the work on his ranch interrupted by your shenanigans. We have branding to finish and strays to round up, and those fences on west range need repair. You two concentrate on your work, you understand. No more tricks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir,\u201d agreed Hoss. Joe nodded, but as he did, he glanced suspiciously at Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

As he watched and listened, Adam shook his head. \u201cPa, why couldn\u2019t I have been an only child?\u201d he complained<\/span><\/p>\n

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

For the next three days, Hoss did nothing to Joe \u2013 and it drove Joe crazy. Every time he started to mount his horse, Joe checked the girth. He cautiously sipped the water out of his canteen. He checked under his saddle regularly, looking for burrs. He even flung the covers off his bed when he went to his room at night.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss watched with glee as Joe nervously checked everything he touched for some sort of sabotage. He laughed to himself as Joe watched his brother suspiciously every time Hoss got near him. Hoss began to find reasons to casually stroll by Joe as Joe was working, causing his younger brother to break out into a sweat. Hoss decided that this was the best revenge he could have devised.<\/span><\/p>\n

By dinner on the third day, Joe was a nervous wreck. He knew Hoss was planning something; he just couldn\u2019t figure out what. Hoss, for his part, just smiled serenely every time he got near Joe, knowing it was making his younger brother even more nervous.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph,\u201d Ben said sternly to his youngest son at the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Pa?\u201d answered Joe with a distracted air. He was checking the top of the salt shaker before seasoning his food.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, will you pay attention to me?\u201d Ben repeated in exasperation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, sure, Pa,\u201d replied Joe, nervously setting the salt on the table. He knocked the shaker over, spilling salt all over the table. As Joe quickly set the shaker upright, Hoss grinned.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, you have been walking around here for days like you\u2019re waiting for a stick of dynamite to explode,\u201d said Ben. \u201cNow, this has got to stop. You\u2019re not only driving yourself crazy, you are driving the rest of us crazy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa,\u201d Joe apologized. He glared at Hoss. \u201cIt\u2019s just that some people around here are making me a little edgy.\u201d Once more, Hoss simply smiled at his brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I have had enough of this,\u201d stated Ben. \u201cTomorrow, I want you to ride up to Needlenose Canyon and check for strays. Bill Fletcher said he saw some of our cattle up that way. You know how narrow that canyon is and how many twists it has. If some of our cattle wandered in there, they might never find their way out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNeedlenose Canyon!\u201d Joe exclaimed with dismay. \u201cI\u2019ll have to spend most of the day climbing around those rocks, looking for strays.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, you will,\u201d agreed Ben. \u201cDo you have any objections?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no,\u201d Joe said hastily. \u201cI\u2019ll go right after breakfast.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWould you like me to go with you, Joe?\u201d Hoss offered innocently.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe frowned. \u201cWhy?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo reason,\u201d Hoss replied. \u201cJust thought you\u2019d like the company.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes narrowed. \u201cWhat are you planning?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNothing,\u201d answered Hoss. \u201cAbsolutely nothing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, would you please stop being so suspicious of your brother,\u201d Ben said angrily. \u201cNow I want you to ride to Needlenose Canyon tomorrow and look for those strays.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir,\u201d Joe agreed contritely. He looked again at Hoss and frowned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once again, Hoss just smiled.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Adam was in the barn fixing some harness when Hoss walked in the next morning. Hoss looked around, noting the stall where Joe\u2019s pinto usually stood was empty. \u201cJoe gone already?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam nodded as he continued to work. \u201cYeah, he left about an hour ago,\u201d he said. He looked up at Hoss. \u201cWhen are you going to let him off the hook?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean, Adam?\u201d Hoss asked innocently.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t give me that innocent look,\u201d replied Adam. \u201cYou should have seen Joe. He was as edgy as a mouse being stalked by a cat. He checked his horse and his gear twice before he left, and then he lit out of here like he was on fire. How much longer are you going to wait before you get back at him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFact of the matter is, Adam, I can\u2019t think of something to do to get even,\u201d Hoss admitted. \u201cI\u2019ve been chewing on it for days now, but nothing comes to mind.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean, Joe thinks you\u2019ve been plotting all this time, and in reality, you can\u2019t think of anything?\u201d said Adam with a laugh.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Hoss confirmed, chuckling with his brother. \u201cFunny, ain\u2019t it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPoor Joe,\u201d said Adam as he continued to laugh. \u201cHe\u2019s never going to get to relax.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019ll think of something soon,\u201d Hoss promised.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d better,\u201d Adam replied. \u201cOtherwise our baby brother is going to have a nervous breakdown!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Joe rode slowly through the canyon, looking for the strays. It was the first time in three days that he felt relaxed. Hoss was nowhere around, and he knew his horse and gear were all in one piece. For today at least, Joe thought, he didn\u2019t have to worry about Hoss\u2019 revenge.<\/span><\/p>\n

As he rode, Joe guided his horse carefully. Needlenose Canyon got its name because it was so narrow at its start that there barely was enough room for a horse to get through. The canyon widened after a few hundred yards, but it was still very narrow. The sides of the gorge were steep and tall, with the lip of the canyon a good six feet over a rider\u2019s head. The ground was dotted with rocks that had slid down its slick side. Joe rode past a few trees which grew intermittently in the canyon, carefully avoiding the small stream which flowed along the edge of the floor of the chasm. The canyon ran straight for awhile, then began to twist and turn as it neared the mountains.<\/span><\/p>\n

Slowly, Joe rode through the canyon until it began to corkscrew into the mountains. He pulled his horse to a stop as he neared the first turn. Experience had taught him that it would take less time to check the canyon by following the small path that ran along its side on foot than to ride through the twists and turns at the floor of the canyon. He would be able to see into the many draws from the path and wouldn\u2019t have to follow the trail at the bottom all day until he reached the end of the canyon.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dismounting, Joe tied his horse to a bush, glancing up as he heard the rumble of thunder. The sky above him was darkening, and he could see black clouds ahead up in the mountains. \u201cLooks like we\u2019re going to get a little wet, Cooch,\u201d Joe said to his pinto as he patted the horse on the neck. Joe slipped off his jacket and tucked it under the back of his saddle. The day was hot and muggy, the air thick as a result of the gathering storm. Joe figured he was probably going to get wet as he walked through the canyon. It would be nice to have a dry jacket to put on when he got back to his horse. Joe rubbed his horse affectionately on the nose. \u201cYou wait here for me,\u201d he told the pinto. \u201cI\u2019ll be back in an hour or so.\u201d Joe walked around the back of the horse and began climbing the narrow path up the side of the canyon.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was a half an hour later when Hoss rode into the canyon. He had decided to follow Joe, giving his brother reason to be more nervous than ever when he showed up. He chuckled to himself as he thought of what Joe\u2019s reaction would be when his little brother saw him. Hoss really didn\u2019t have anything specific in mind, but Joe wouldn\u2019t know that.<\/span><\/p>\n

As he reached the end of the straight trail in the canyon, Hoss saw Joe\u2019s horse tied to the bush. He looked around, but there was no sign of Joe. Hoss sighed. He had timed it wrong. Joe was probably still climbing up the path through the canyon, checking the draws. Riding up to Joe\u2019s horse, Hoss took another look around, but the canyon floor was empty. Suddenly, Hoss had a idea. Reaching down, he quickly untied the reins of Joe\u2019s horse from the bush. Chuckling softly, he turned his own horse, and began leading Joe\u2019s mount away with him. The pinto, familiar with the smell of the man and horse that were leading him, following placidly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss began to smile as he rode out of the canyon. Poor Joe, he thought with a grin, he\u2019s going to have to walk home. Hoss figured it would take Joe about three hours to walk back to the house, and he\u2019d be tired and sore when he got there. Serves him right, Hoss said to himself as he thought of the long, tiring night he had spent on his snipe hunt. Hoss heard the rumble of the thunder and looked up at the sky. Joe\u2019s going to be tired, sore AND wet, Hoss thought, correcting himself. That was even better. He laughed as he rode slowly out of the canyon.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Joe followed the path along the side of the canyon, peering into the draws below as he walked. He didn\u2019t see any cattle. In fact, he didn\u2019t see anything. It was as if all the animals which normally dotted the landscape had suddenly disappeared. Joe glanced up at the sky again as he heard another, deeper rumble of thunder. He looked toward the mountains ahead, and frowned. The face of the mountain was clouded by a dark mist, and Joe could tell it was raining hard up ahead. He decided he had better head back. The storm up ahead looked like a bad one, and it was heading his way.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quickly, Joe turned and started walking back down the narrow path. The path was steep, and he couldn\u2019t move very fast. But he hurried as much as he could, wanting to get started home before the storm got too bad.<\/span><\/p>\n

When he reached the end of the path, Joe stopped and a stunned looked came over his face. His horse was gone! Joe looked around, trying to see if Cochise had pulled away from the bush and was grazing elsewhere. He thought he had tied the reins tight, but maybe the thunder has startled his horse. Joe walked quickly to the bush where he had tied the reins. He frowned as he inspected the bush. It didn\u2019t look like any branches were broken or pulled out. Joe called out and whistled, hoping to attract his horse. He stood watching and listening for a minute, but there was no response.<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking up at the darkening sky, Joe tried to decide what to do. He didn\u2019t want to leave his horse wandering in the canyon but he also didn\u2019t want to get caught in the storm. He decided to follow the twisting trail into the canyon a bit, hoping Cochise hadn\u2019t wandered too far.<\/span><\/p>\n

Walking rapidly down the trail into the canyon, Joe called and whistled. The air around him seemed unusually still. Not even a bird chirped in response. Joe walked until he heard another clap of thunder, and felt a few sprinkles of rain. Then he turned to walk back out of the canyon.<\/span><\/p>\n

The few sprinkles of rain turned quickly into a downpour, and Joe was soaked by the time he returned back to the mouth of the twisting trail. He again checked the bush where he had left his horse again. Looking down, Joe suddenly spotted a second set of tracks near the shrub. Joe bent and peered at the rapidly disappearing hoofprints. He didn\u2019t need much of a look. He\u2019d recognize the prints of Chub, Hoss\u2019 horse, at a glance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe stood with a wry smile on his face. Hoss finally got his revenge, Joe thought. In a way, he was relieved. He was getting tired of waiting to see what his older brother was going to do to him. Now he knew. He had a long walk home in the pouring rain. Joe shrugged. It could have been worse.<\/span><\/p>\n

Walking at a rapid pace, Joe started down the narrow trail. The rain was now falling harder than ever, and the ground was turning muddy and wet. Joe couldn\u2019t remember the last time it had rained this hard. He noticed the steam was becoming swollen, and puddles were forming as the rain came down too hard and fast for the ground to absorb. Joe started walking faster. He had a bad feeling about this storm, and didn\u2019t want to be trapped in the canyon.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe heard the roar before he saw the water coming out of the canyon. He knew almost at once what caused the noise. The heavy rain had started a flash flood.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even as he began running, Joe knew there was no way to outrun the rushing torrent behind him. He glanced at the sides of the canyon as he ran, but they were too steep for him to climb. He spotted a tree growing near the side of the canyon. Joe knew it wasn\u2019t much of a chance, but it was the only one he had. He ran toward the tree, and jumped to grab a low hanging branch just the wall of water came roaring out of the canyon.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Laughing to himself, Hoss led Joe\u2019s horse toward the ranch house. He could just picture the look on Joe\u2019s face when he climbed back from the canyon and found his horse gone. He almost wished he had stayed around to watch.<\/span><\/p>\n

Feeling the splatter of the rain, Hoss looked up at the sky. Away from the canyon, the storm didn\u2019t look too bad. Hoss glanced over his shoulder toward the mountains, then frowned. The clouds near the mountain looked black and angry; the storm was much worse there. Hoss shifted uneasily in his saddle. He wondered how bad the storm really was up near the canyon. Then he shook his head. Joe would be fine, he reassured himself. He\u2019d be tired, and sore and wet when he got home, but he\u2019d be fine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss rode on, but he was no longer laughing. He had an uneasy feeling about leaving Joe on foot in that canyon, especially during a rainstorm. He knew there was no way out of that canyon except through the very narrow entrance. Hoss thought briefly about going back for Joe, then dismissed the idea. The whole point of the joke would be lost if he went back.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Hoss!\u201d a voice called, breaking into the big man\u2019s thoughts. Hoss looked up and saw Vince, one of the hands, riding toward him. Hoss pulled his horse to a stop.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, have you been up near the mountains?\u201d Vince asked as he rode up.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was in Needlenose Canyon,\u201d replied Hoss with a frown. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSam just came in from the west,\u201d Vince explained. \u201cHe said the creek there is over-running its banks. He figures it must be raining real hard up in the mountains. I figured I\u2019d better ride up that way and see how bad it really is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019 frown deepened. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t raining when I was up in the canyon,\u201d said Hoss slowly. \u201cBut the sky did look pretty bad.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf the creek to the west is flooding, it must be coming down real hard up there,\u201d Vince replied. \u201cMight even be some flash floods.\u201d Vince suddenly noticed the pinto. \u201cHow come you\u2019re leading Joe\u2019s horse?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

His uneasy feeling growing, Hoss shifted in the saddle again. \u201cIt\u2019s a long story,\u201d he said. Hoss thought a minute. He could ride faster if he wasn\u2019t leading another horse. Hoss threw the reins of the pinto at Vince. \u201cLook, you take Joe\u2019s horse back to the barn. I\u2019m going back up to Needlenose and look for him. If you see Adam or Pa, tell them Joe\u2019s up by the canyon and he\u2019s on foot. I\u2019m going to see if I can find him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s he doing on foot?\u201d asked Vince, as he wrapped the reins to Joe\u2019s horse around his hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t got time to explain,\u201d Hoss answered. His feeling of dread was growing. Hoss turned his horse and kicked the animal into a run.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Joe grabbed the limb and pulled himself up into the tree just as the torrent of water roared by. He let out a sigh of relief. That was too close, he thought. He turned to look back toward the mountains, and saw that the water was continuing to flow. Bushes, small tree limbs, and other debris were carried along by the flood. Joe turned back to hug the trunk of the tree. He could feel the tree shuddering as it was buffeted by both the current of the water and the debris.<\/span><\/p>\n

Clinging to the tree, Joe tried to picture the flood as it continued down the canyon, and he didn\u2019t like the picture that formed in his mind. As the water flowed toward the narrow mouth of the canyon, the water would start backing up. There simply was no place for it to go except through the narrow opening and only a small stream would be able to escape. He glanced up at the sky, and saw the rain was continuing to come down hard. The black clouds hung over the canyon and the mountains like a curtain. The storm showed no sign of letting up.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe heard a thud and felt the tree shudder. He looked down and saw the water below him seemed to be getting even deeper. Joe hugged the trunk tighter and prayed that the roots of the tree were deep.<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking up, Joe saw another branch over his head. It looked thick enough to hold him, and close enough to reach. He decided climbing a bit higher on the tree was probably a good idea. Moving cautiously, he pulled himself up so he was standing on the first limb. He grabbed the branch over his head with one hand, making sure he had a solid grip. Then he moved his other hand to the limb. He grasped the branch tightly, then slowly pulled himself up.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s muscles stretched as he pulled himself up until the branch met his chest. He threw himself over the branch, then grabbed at the trunk of the tree. The limb wasn\u2019t as thick as the one below, and it bent a bit under Joe\u2019s weight. For a minute, Joe thought it might break, but the branch held. Joe pulled his legs up, and then slid his hands up the trunk. With one more pull, he found himself sitting on the branch.<\/span><\/p>\n

After hugging the tree tightly for a minute, Joe twisted his body so he could look around. He could see the top of the canyon; his head was only a few feet below it. But the lip was a good ten feet or more from the tree. Joe knew there was no way he could jump from the tree to the top of the canyon. He looked up at the branches above him, and saw they were thinner than the one on which he was perched. He doubted if they would hold his weight. For better or worse, he was stuck on the second branch.<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking down, Joe could see the water below him was getting deeper. It looked no more than a few feet below the first branch. He looked back into the canyon, and saw a river of water was continuing to cascade down from the mountains. Joe knew he was in trouble. Even if the stormed stopped right then, the water would continue to get deeper. He looked up at the sky. Rain pelted him in the face. The storm showed no sign of letting up.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHelp!\u201d Joe yelled at the top of his lungs. He knew it was probably a futile gesture. There was no one around to hear him. And even if someone was nearby, he doubted if they could hear him over the roar of the water. But Joe figured he didn\u2019t have much else to do. So he hugged the trunk of the tree and yelled.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Hoss\u2019 feeling of dread had grown into a full-panic as he rode closer to the canyon. The closer he got to the canyon, the worse the storm was getting. The ground was soft and soggy, and he passed a stream that had already over-run its banks. He urged his horse on at a faster pace.<\/span><\/p>\n

As he neared the entrance to Needlenose Canyon, he no longer had to wonder if Joe was in trouble. He knew for sure. The trail to the canyon was now a raging river. The water was flowing out of the canyon with a strong current.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe!\u201d Hoss shouted. He hoped Joe had made it out of the canyon already. \u201cJoe!\u201d he shouted again, then stopped to listen. The only sound was the rushing water. Hoss pulled his gun out of his holster and fired it twice into the air, then listened hard. He heard only the water rushing past him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking around, Hoss thought about what to do. He saw the narrow trail that led up the side of the canyon. It was steep and muddy, but Hoss thought his horse could make it up the trail. The only problem was that the trail was on the other side of what was now a raging river.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss studied the water. The current was swift, and brush and other debris were flowing along with it. But the water wasn\u2019t too deep; Hoss figured it was maybe a few feet at most. He chucked his horse forward. Chub obediently began to walk, but stopped at the edge of the water. The horse wanted no part of the river in front of him. Hoss urged the horse forward. Slowly, almost delicately, Chub put a leg into the water. Hoss kicked his horse again. This time, Chub moved forward, and entered the water.<\/span><\/p>\n

Digging his heels into his horse’s side, Hoss urged the animal forward. He knew if Chub stopped, the current might sweep them both away. Hoss\u2019 horse was well trained; it continued across the river and out the other side.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now out of the flowing water, Hoss didn\u2019t give his horse a chance to stop and rest. With another kick, he urged the animal toward the steep trail. Chub crossed the soggy ground and started up the trail. The horse dug its hooves into the muddy ground and started to climb. It\u2019s front legs slipped on the slick ground. Hoss patted his horse on the neck and urged him on. Chub dug his forelegs into the ground. In this case, the weight of the horse and its rider offered an advantage. Chub\u2019s hooves pressed through the mud into solid ground. The horse was able to steady itself. With a few more slippery steps, Chub climbed the trail.<\/span><\/p>\n

The rain was still falling as Hoss urged his horse on until the trail reached the top of the canyon. The ground leveled out as the trail ran parallel to the canyon. Hoss had been too busy urging his horse up to the trail to look into the canyon. Now he rested his horse at the crest and turned toward the canyon. Hoss gasped in horror at the sight.<\/span><\/p>\n

Needlenose Canyon was filled with water. Hoss could see the water was backing up at the mouth of the canyon as a river of water tried to flow through the narrow opening. The water line was about halfway up the side of the canyon\u2026and rising. The river was full of debris as it swirled in the canyon, pushed by a strong current. Waves crashed violently against the sides and the front of the canyon as the water sought a way out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Staring at the scene below him, Hoss got a sick feeling in his stomach. Joe was a strong swimmer, but he was no match for the raging torrent in the canyon. If he had been caught in the flood\u2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss didn\u2019t let himself finish the thought. There were lots of places in the canyon where Joe could have climbed to escape the flood, he told himself. Hoss just needed to find where Joe was. Hoss chucked his horse forward, riding slowly, his eyes glued to the canyon below.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

With morbid fascination, Joe watched water rising below him. The water rose quickly, and now covered the branch underneath him. It was only a foot or so from the sole of his hanging foot.<\/span><\/p>\n

Glancing up at the sky, Joe saw no relief. The rain was continuing to fall, a curtain of water pouring out of the heavens. Joe shuddered. He was cold and wet, soaked to the skin. And the water was continuing to rise.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe had yelled himself hoarse and fired his gun until he had only one bullet left. No help had appeared. He hadn\u2019t really thought it would, but he had to try. Now, he thought, he needed to think about what to do when the water reached his branch.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not that there were many options to choose from, Joe thought. He could climb as far as possible up the tree and hold on. That was about it. His only hope was the water would stop rising before it covered him, and that was a slim hope. Of course, he thought in an almost detached manner, the water could always knock down the tree before then, or rip him away from his precarious perch.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe felt the water beginning to lap at the bottom of his boots. Quickly, he pulled his feet up on the branch. He decided that this was as good a time as any to stand on the branch and raise himself higher from the raging flood below. Cautiously, he moved on the branch, hanging on to the trunk of the tree. He was surprised at how stiff and cold his hands felt as he pulled himself up against the trunk. He shivered slightly, only now realizing how cold and wet he really was. His clothes were soaked, clinging to him like a second skin.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Joe stood on the branch, he felt the tree vibrate. The current of the water and the almost constant battering of the debris was weakening the tree\u2019s hold in the ground. Joe wondered again how long the tree could stand against the raging flood.<\/span><\/p>\n

Taking a deep breath, Joe decided he would fire his last bullet, then toss his gun and holster into the water below. If he did end up in the water, the weight of the gun and holster would pull him down. Joe laughed grimly. He wondered why he was worried. Heck, the current would probably smash him against the side of the canyon long before he drowned, he thought.<\/span><\/p>\n

Clinging tightly to the trunk of the tree, Joe pulled his gun from his holster. He fired it into the air, listening the to the echo of the shot. He pulled the trigger again, just in case he had miscounted, but heard only a click. He tried twice more before being convinced the gun was empty. With almost a nonchalant air, he tossed the gun into the water and watched as it quickly sunk. He reached down and unbuckled the holster from around his hips, and threw that into the water also. The holster floated briefly before the current washed it away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe wondered if he should take off his boots. If he did have to try to swim, the boots would fill with water, pulling him down. Joe laughed grimly again, reminding himself that if he ended up in the water below, it wouldn\u2019t make much different if he was wearing boots. He felt the tree shudder once again. Joe grabbed the trunk tightly and waited.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

At first, Hoss wasn\u2019t sure that the sound he heard was a gunshot. The noise of the water made it difficult to hear, and his concentration was directed at the canyon below as his eyes searched every possible place where a man could be perched above the water. But the echo of the shot hung in the air for a moment. And Hoss realized his brother was signaling him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe!\u201d Hoss shouted, as he tried to figure out from which direction the shot had come. He waited a moment but there was no answer. \u201cJoe!\u201d he shouted again. Hoss frowned as he thought about the shot. The sound had a dull echo to it, meaning it hadn\u2019t come from somewhere close. That meant Joe was up ahead of him someplace. Hoss urged his horse forward, his eyes searching the canyon ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss almost didn\u2019t believe it when he saw Joe. The wet bundle of clothes clinging to a tree in the canyon didn\u2019t look like his little brother. In fact, Hoss could barely see him through the rain. But there was no mistaking that mop of dark hair. Even wet and dripping, Joe\u2019s hair stood out in dark contrast against the muddy water and tan branches of the tree.<\/span><\/p>\n

Peering through the rain, Hoss could see Joe standing on the branch of the tree. The water was swirling around his ankles, and the tree seemed to be swaying in the current. Hoss urged his horse as close to the edge of the canyon as he dared, then leaped from the back of the animal. \u201cJoe!\u201d Hoss shouted. \u201cHang on!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss!\u201d Joe yelled back in a raspy voice. He clung tightly to the tree. \u201cHurry!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Turning back to his horse, Hoss quickly untied a thick rope from his saddle. He rushed to the edge of the canyon, trying to gauge how far the tree was from where he was standing. He guessed it was about ten feet. Hoss knew he had enough rope.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I\u2019m going to throw you a rope,\u201d Hoss shouted. \u201cWhen you get it, tie it around you. But don\u2019t go into the water until I tell you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe nodded his understanding of his brother\u2019s instructions.<\/span><\/p>\n

After making a lasso at the end of the rope, Hoss swung the rope over his head. When he felt he had enough momentum, Hoss threw the end of the rope toward Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

The rope landed in the water, a foot or so from Joe. Joe reached out to try and grab it, but the rope was too far away.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHang on, Joe!\u201d Hoss called as he quickly pulled the rope back toward him. \u201cI\u2019m going to try again. Stick your arm out so I have something to aim at.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Widening the lasso on the rope, Hoss swung it over his head again. He saw Joe stick his arm out and crook it, making a target for Hoss. Hoss had often roped moving cattle and racing horses, so Joe\u2019s arm should have been an easy target. But Hoss had never made a throw that was this important. His arms trembled and his heart was in his throat as he launched the rope across the water.<\/span><\/p>\n

This time, Hoss\u2019 aim was true. The lasso settled gently over Joe\u2019s arm. Joe quickly pulled his arm back, tightening the rope around it, making sure he didn\u2019t lose it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTie the rope around you!\u201d Hoss shouted.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pulling the rope toward him, Joe widened the loop. His cold and stiff hand had a difficult time working the rope loose from his arm. He was also trying to widen the rope with one hand. His other arm was wrapped around the tree in a death grip.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, Joe widened the rope enough to slip it over his head and shoulders. He pulled one arm up through the loop. Transferring his grip on the tree to his other arm, he pulled his second arm through the loop. He tightened the rope around his chest, pulling it so tight that he could barely breathe. He check the knot to make sure it was secure. Joe put the heel of one boot against the branch and eased it off. The boot instantly filled with water and disappeared. Joe did the same with his other boot. He also eased off his socks and watched them wash away. Joe made sure his bare feet were set on the branch. Then he waved at Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWait a minute!\u201d Hoss yelled. He held tightly to the end of the rope as he hurried back to his horse. Hoss wrapped the end of the rope around the saddle horn and tied it. \u201cYou hold still now, you hear,\u201d Hoss ordered Chub. The horse stared back at him balefully, as if insulted that Hoss would think he would move. Hoss patted the horse affectionately as he dug into a saddle bag draped over the back of the animal and pulled out a pair of gloves. Hoss quickly pulled the gloves over his massive hands. Then he walked back to the edge of the canyon and gripped the rope.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, Joe,\u201d shouted Hoss. \u201cI\u2019m ready. Jump into the water and I\u2019ll pull you over here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This was the moment Joe had dreaded. He knew the only way to safety was to enter the swirling water. But the thought of jumping into the water terrified him. He stood for a moment, staring at the fast rushing water below him. He could see the ripple of the current and the debris rushing by. Joe was frozen as he stared at the flood below him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe! Did you hear me?\u201d Hoss shouted. \u201cI\u2019m ready! Jump!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe looked up at Hoss, his eyes wide with fear.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, Joe!\u201d yelled Hoss in encouragement. He knew the terror Joe must be feeling. He couldn\u2019t imagine having to fling himself into that river. But he also knew it was the only chance to save his brother\u2019s life. \u201cI\u2019ll pull you over!\u201d Hoss shouted again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking down into the water again, Joe tried to force himself to jump \u2013 and failed.<\/span><\/p>\n

In other circumstances, Joe might have stood on that limb for a long time, trying to gather his courage. But suddenly, he felt the tree vibrate violently, as if the roots were finally beginning to give up their struggle to hold firm to the earth. Feeling the tree lurch abruptly, Joe knew he was going to end up in the water soon \u2013 one way or the other. He might was well go in on his own. Joe closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then he leaped into the water.<\/span><\/p>\n

Two things happened almost simultaneously as Joe hit the water. First, he immediately sunk under the surface, the weight of his body and wet clothes dragging him down. Second, the current pulled him rapidly downstream.<\/span><\/p>\n

Immediately, Joe started to kick his legs and pull on the rope, trying desperately to reach the surface before his lungs ran out of air. He could feel the current pushing against him, making it even hard to reach the surface. Suddenly, the rope went taut. Joe felt as if he were being bent over backwards. The rope around his chest was holding him firm, as the current pushed his head and lower body downstream.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kicking as hard as he could, Joe pulled on the rope with every ounce of strength he had. Just when he felt his lungs would burst, his head broke the surface. Coughing and gasping for air, Joe pulled even harder on the rope, trying to ease himself upstream against the current. The rope slid through his wet hands, cutting and burning his palms. Joe cried out as he felt the rope burn, but he forced himself to hold tight to lifeline.<\/span><\/p>\n

As soon as he saw Joe launch himself into the water, Hoss tensed his muscles and gripped the rope tightly. He knew the current would pull Joe downstream initially, and that he would have to pull his brother up against the current. He saw Joe disappear under the water, and silently urged his brother to the surface as he held the rope tight. It seemed like forever before Hoss saw that mop of dark hair break the surface.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss dug his heels into the ground as he and the flood engaged in a tug-of-war, with Joe as the prize. Hoss slowly inched his hands down the rope, pulling Joe toward him with every tug. Hoss felt as if he were pulling against an army of mules. His arms ached and his leg muscles stiffened. But Hoss continued to pull on the rope. Inch by inch, he managed to bring Joe closer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Continuing to kick, Joe struggle against the current, but he was tiring fast. He fought to keep his head above the water, but the current kept pulling him down. He choked on the water being forced into his mouth and nose. Joe felt the rope digging into him as the water tried to force him downstream. He felt his back arch as the two forces fought over him. His legs twisted violently behind him and Joe felt a wrenching pain in his back.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss pulled and tugged at the rope, refusing to let the water drag Joe away. His arms were burning from constant pulling, and his legs were beginning to tremble from the effort. The rope began to coil at his feet, thought, as Hoss started to win his battle against the flood.<\/span><\/p>\n

But the water wasn\u2019t ready to give up its prize so easily. Joe was only a few feet from Hoss when the current suddenly swirled. Joe was hurled into the canyon wall as the water pushed him aside. Joe cried out in pain as his back crashed into the rocky surface. He felt the little air left in his lungs being forced out in a violent rush. His body went limp as he gasped for air. A red haze of pain filled his vision. Joe felt the water splash into mouth, and he tried to raise his head out of the water. But every movement seemed to send a wave of pain down his back.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss both felt and saw Joe being yanked aside by the current. He felt the trembling of the rope as Joe hit the canyon wall. He saw Joe\u2019s body go limp. Hoss watched Joe\u2019s head bob as his brother tried to keep his face out of the water. Hoss knew if he didn\u2019t get his little brother out of the water fast, the river would win the battle. Calling on a strength he didn\u2019t know he possessed, Hoss pulled the rope rapidly toward him. He tugged at the rope with every ounce of strength he possessed. Finally, Joe was close enough to reach.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss stamped his foot firmly on the rope to hold it in place, then reached down to grab Joe\u2019s arm. He pulled Joe\u2019s arm toward him, then grasped his brother under the shoulders. With one last might yank, he pulled Joe out of the water.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dragging Joe a foot or so from the edge of the canyon, Hoss laid his brother on his side. He could hear Joe gasping for air. Hoss pounded Joe violently on the back, and Joe began coughing and spitting up water. Joe\u2019s gasps became even more rapid as his lungs desperately sought more air. Hoss pounded Joe again, and once more, Joe coughed and spit up water. Finally, Joe\u2019s breathing became less desperate, his gasps slowing to deep breaths. Joe was breathing hard and rapid, but he was breathing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sitting down next to Joe, Hoss let his body go limp. His arms and legs were trembling with exhaustion. He also felt weak as the fear for his brother started to fade and relief replaced it. He knew the rescue had come close to being a disaster\u2026..too close.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss heard Joe groan as his brother continued to suck in air. He quickly knelt at Joe\u2019s side. \u201cJoe, are you hurt?\u201d he asked with concern.<\/span><\/p>\n

Too exhausted and breathless to talk, Joe didn\u2019t answer. He shifted slightly on the ground and let out a loud moan.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss ran his hands down Joe\u2019s arms and legs, feeling for broken bones. He was relieved that everything seemed to be intact. He felt Joe\u2019s ribs, and those also seemed to be in one piece. He saw the cuts and rope burns on Joe\u2019s hands. Hoss knew Joe\u2019s hands were probably sore, but not enough to cause him the pain he seemed to be feeling.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gently, Hoss rubbed Joe on the shoulder. \u201cJoe, can you hear me?\u201d he asked, his voice filled with worry. \u201cWhere\u2019s it hurt?\u201d Again, there was no response except Joe\u2019s ragged breathing. Hoss rubbed his brother\u2019s shoulder a bit harder. \u201cJoe, answer me,\u201d Hoss said urgently. \u201cI can\u2019t help you if you don\u2019t.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe tried to answer. His mouth tried to the form the words, but no sound came out. Joe took a few more ragged breaths, and winced in pain. \u201cBack,\u201d he mumbled in a barely audible voice. \u201cHurt my back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Trying to rid himself of a knot of fear, Hoss swallowed hard. He knew how to set a broken leg or patch up some broken ribs. But a broken back\u2026.Hoss quickly ran his hand down Joe\u2019s spine. He was relieved to feel nothing that indicated a broken bone. Hoss pulled Joe\u2019s shirt up so he could take a close look. He could see some deep bruises forming on the lower part of Joe\u2019s back. Hoss ran his hand down his brother\u2019s spine again. Again, he couldn\u2019t feel anything that was out of place. Hoss pulled Joe\u2019s shirt down.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe,\u201d Hoss said in a voice which he hoped didn\u2019t betray his concern. \u201cI want you to move your arms for me. Do you hear me? Move your arms.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For a moment, Joe laid unmoving on the ground. Then slowly he lifted his arms. He raised them only an inch or so, and then let them flop back to the ground.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss nodded. \u201cGood,\u201d he said encouragingly. \u201cThat\u2019s good. Now I want you to move to your legs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Again, Joe didn\u2019t react right away to Hoss\u2019 request. He was still breathing hard, and he was beginning to shiver.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, move your legs,\u201d Hoss commanded a bit more forcefully.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe moved his legs, but just barely. As he did, he felt a sharp pain in his back and a burning sensation ran down the back of his left leg. Joe groaned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unsure about what to do next, Hoss sat back on his heels and thought. He saw Joe move his legs so he knew his brother\u2019s back wasn\u2019t broken. But he also saw the excruciating pain Joe felt when he did move his legs. Hoss knew Joe had injured his back; he just wasn\u2019t sure how bad it was.<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking around, Hoss tried to decide what to do. The rain had slowed to a mist, but Hoss could see the water in the canyon was still rising. It wouldn\u2019t take long for the flood waters to reach the top of the canyon, and flow over it.<\/span><\/p>\n

The land around the top of the canyon was fairly barren. Only a few bushes and a couple of scrub trees were in sight. There was nothing Hoss could see that he could use to make a travois.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once again, Joe groaned, bringing Hoss\u2019 attention back to his brother. He could see Joe was starting to shiver. The air was cooling as the storm moved on. Joe was laying on the muddy ground, exhausted and soaked to the skin. Hoss knew it wouldn\u2019t take much for Joe to catch a chill.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sitting quietly for a moment, Hoss tried to reason through the situation. He couldn\u2019t leave Joe; the water was still rising, and Joe could easily be caught up in the swirling current again. He didn\u2019t have a blanket or anything warm to wrap around Joe; if he didn\u2019t get his brother warm soon, Joe could easily become chilled and sick. He didn\u2019t have anything to use as a travois, and besides, Hoss wasn\u2019t sure he had the time to make one. The rising water and Joe\u2019s shivering told him he had to get his brother out of here \u2013 now.<\/span><\/p>\n

He hated the thought of it, but Hoss knew there was only one thing he could do. He was going to have to put Joe on his horse and ride with him back to the house. Riding a horse was going to be painful for Joe, and might even damage his back further. But Hoss knew he had no choice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA stupid joke,\u201d Hoss muttered to himself. \u201cI had to get even, didn\u2019t I?\u201d Hoss shook his head, feeling disgusted with himself.<\/span><\/p>\n

Moaning softly, Joe began to shiver even more. Hoss knew he couldn\u2019t wait any longer. Bending down over his brother, he said softly, \u201cJoe, we\u2019ve got to get you home, and there\u2019s only one way to do it. I\u2019m going to have to put you on my horse.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d Joe said, shaking his head. \u201cLeave me here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I can\u2019t do that,\u201d replied Hoss urgently. \u201cThe water\u2019s still rising. And we have to get you dry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Joe muttered softly again. \u201cToo tired.\u201d He winced in pain. \u201cHurts too bad.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I know it hurts,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cBut we have to do this. You have to trust me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Slowly opening his eyes, Joe looked up at Hoss. He seem to stare at his brother for a long time. \u201cAll right,\u201d Joe agreed. Hoss patted him on the shoulder.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quickly, Hoss untied the rope from around Joe and gently slid it away from him. He looped it quickly and tied it back on his saddle. Hoss wanted to be sure he had the rope, just in case they needed it again. Then he patted Chub on the neck. \u201cYou have to walk real slow and real gentle,\u201d he said to the animal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Turning back to Joe, Hoss took a deep breath. \u201cJoe,\u201d he said, \u201cI\u2019m going to lift you as easy as I can and put you on my horse. Are you ready?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With a dazed expression on his face, Joe looked up at his brother and nodded.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bending down, Hoss slipped his arms under Joe\u2019s legs and shoulders and lifted his brother off the ground.<\/span><\/p>\n

The muscles in Joe\u2019s back immediately tightened and went into a spasm. Joe screamed in pain and arched his back. Hoss froze as he felt Joe arch in his arms.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d Joe cried as he felt the pain. \u201cPut me down!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Quickly, Hoss laid his brother on the ground again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Immediately, Joe began twisting his body, his face contorted with pain. Finally, the muscles in his back loosened, and Joe collapsed to the ground. He laid in the dirt, breathing hard and softly grunting in pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Joe,\u201d Hoss said in a sorrowful voice. \u201cI\u2019ll try to be more careful this time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d replied Joe in a desperate voice. \u201cJust let me stay here. Please.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Glancing back at the canyon, Hoss saw the water was nearing the lip. \u201cJoe, I can\u2019t do that. We\u2019ve got to get out of here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPlease,\u201d Joe begged. \u201cPlease don\u2019t lift me again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019 face showed the anguish he felt at Joe\u2019s words. \u201cJoe, I\u2019ve got no choice,\u201d he said, trying to explain. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to get out of here. We\u2019ve got to get you home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Once more, Joe\u2019s face contorted as he was racked with pain from another spasm. He shivered as the cool air blew over his wet skin. All Joe could think of was he wanted some relief from his misery. He didn\u2019t really think about what he was saying. \u201cNo!\u201d Joe insisted. \u201cYou have to leave me. It\u2019s your fault. Don\u2019t make it worse. Please.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As if he had been slapped, Hoss recoiled at his brother\u2019s words. He was already blaming himself for what happened, and Joe\u2019s words confirmed to him that he was responsible for his brother’s plight. Hoss felt a pain worse than anything Joe was enduring.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Joe,\u201d said Hoss in a voice filled with misery. \u201cI\u2019m really sorry. But I can\u2019t leave you here.\u201d Taking a deep breath, Hoss bent and scooped Joe up in his arms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once again, Joe screamed in pain as the muscles in his back protested the movement. This time, though, Hoss ignored his brother\u2019s cries and screams. He turned quickly and threw Joe onto the back of his horse.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe slumped forward, desperately trying to find some relief from the pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quickly climbing up on the back of the horse, Hoss settled himself behind the saddle. He reached forward and grabbed the reins, putting one massive arm around Joe\u2019s waist, holding his brother tight. Then he gathered the reins in his other hand. He nudged his horse with his heels, pulling the animal’s head around as he did so. Chub turned away from the canyon and started walking.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss kept the horse moving as slowly as possible. He could feel Joe trembling both from the pain and the cold. Joe continued to ride bent forward, trying to ease his agony.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll get you home, and you\u2019ll be fine,\u201d Hoss promised his brother as they rode. \u201cI know you\u2019re hurting, Joe, but it\u2019ll be over soon. I promise you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s only response was another grunt of pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The ride back to the house seemed endless to Hoss. He took the long way away from the canyon, trying to avoid the steep hill and rough ground. It added more time to the journey, but Hoss knew it was easier on Joe. At least, that\u2019s what he hoped.<\/span><\/p>\n

For his part, Joe no longer cared. He was in pain, he was cold, and he was wet. He couldn\u2019t remember when he felt this miserable. He heard Hoss\u2019 voice but he was too tired to try to understand the words. All he knew was he had to endure this ride. Periodically, Joe roused himself enough to beg Hoss to let him off the horse. In his misery, Joe didn\u2019t realize the anguish he was causing his brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss winced as he listened to Joe\u2019s pleas, but he rode on. He felt how cold and wet his brother\u2019s skin was, and he could feel Joe\u2019s shivers as he firmly held his brother on the horse. He knew getting Joe home right away was the best thing to do, but knowing he was right didn\u2019t make it any easier for Hoss to listen to Joe\u2019s groans and begging.<\/span><\/p>\n

It took almost two hours but finally Hoss saw the barn in the distance. He was never so happy to see any structure in his life. \u201cJoe, we\u2019re almost home,\u201d said Hoss as he urged his horse on. \u201cJust hang on for a little while longer. We\u2019re almost there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t answer. He had finally given in to the pain and exhaustion, and let himself slide into a merciful state of unconsciousness.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even before he got to the yard in front of the ranch house, Hoss began yelling for help. As he guided his horse toward the front of the house, he saw the door of the log building open.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben walked out of the house rapidly, his face showing both confusion and concern. He stopped for a moment when he saw Hoss and Joe coming toward him Joe was riding on the front of his brother\u2019s horse, bent over and limp as a rag doll. His clothes were still wet, and his damp hair was plastered to head. Hoss was holding Joe tightly around the waist, his face a picture of anguish.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Hoss halted his horse, Ben rushed forward. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d he cried in alarm. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa, he got caught in a flash flood in the canyon,\u201d explained Hoss quickly. \u201cHe hurt his back. I\u2019d don\u2019t know how bad.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A dozen questions flashed through Ben\u2019s mind, but he immediately pushed them aside. He lifted his arms toward Joe. \u201cHand him down to me,\u201d Ben ordered.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trying to get a better grip on Joe as he prepared to ease him off the horse, Hoss pulled his brother\u2019s shoulders toward him. The movement immediately sent Joe\u2019s back into another spasm.<\/span><\/p>\n

As he felt the muscles tighten, Joe screamed in pain. The back of his leg burned once more. He felt as if someone was running a hot poker down his leg.<\/span><\/p>\n

Horrified, Ben froze as he watched Joe writhe in pain. Then he forced himself to move, to reached up and pulled his son off the horse. He knew that moving slowly would cause Joe more pain than one quick movement. Ben tried to close his ears to his son\u2019s groans as he yanked Joe toward him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Immediately, Ben laid his son on to the dirt in the yard. Joe relaxed as he felt the hard, flat ground under his back.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kneeling next to Joe, Ben stroked his son\u2019s head, trying to comfort him. Then, he looked up over his shoulder at Hoss, who was still sitting on his horse. \u201cHow long ago was he hurt?\u201d asked Ben anxiously.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA couple of hours, Pa,\u201d Hoss answered in a voice that reflected his anguish. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to put him on a horse, but I couldn\u2019t figure out any other way to get him home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nodding his understanding, Ben moved his head to looked past Hoss. A couple of the hands had come out of the barn when they hear Hoss\u2019 shout. They stood a few feet away, uncertain about what to do.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSam, ride to town and get the doctor!\u201d Ben ordered one of the men. Sam turn and ran into the barn.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sliding off his horse, Hoss knelt next to Joe. Joe\u2019s eyes were closed. He was breathing hard, and grunting in pain. He was also shivering. \u201cPa, we\u2019ve got to get him warm,\u201d said Hoss urgently. \u201cHe\u2019s been in those wet clothes for a long time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe will,\u201d Ben stated with a nod. \u201cBut we\u2019ve got to move him carefully. I don\u2019t want to injure his back any worse.\u201d Hoss winced at the words. He wondered how much damage he had done by putting Joe on his horse.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once more, Ben turned back to the men standing around. \u201cVince,\u201d he shouted. \u201cGet that old door out of the back of the barn. We\u2019ll use that to carry Joe into the house.\u201d Vince ran immediately into the barn.<\/span><\/p>\n

It took only a few minutes for Vince to drag the battered piece of wood from the barn and lay it on the ground next to Joe, although to Hoss it seemed as if it took the man forever. Ben, Hoss and Vince lifted Joe gently from the ground, with Joe groaning in pain at the movement. Quickly, the men settled him on the door. Then the three lifted the wood and carried Joe into the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing!\u201d Ben yelled as he pushed the front door open. \u201cHop Sing, get some hot water! And put some bricks into the oven!\u201d Ben didn\u2019t wait to see if his orders were going to be obeyed. He helped Hoss and Vince maneuver the make-shift stretcher through the living room and toward the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

It took some doing, but the three managed to carry Joe up the stairs on the board and to his room. Ben pushed open the door of the bedroom with his foot. \u201cLet\u2019s keep him on the board,\u201d Ben instructed the others. \u201cJust lay it on the bed.\u201d Vince and Hoss nodded and waited for a moment as Ben quickly pulled the covers off the bed with one hand. Then they laid the door, with Joe still sprawled across it, gently on the bed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVince, go see what\u2019s keeping Hop Sing!\u201d Ben ordered. As Vince left the room, Ben began stripping the wet clothes off his youngest son. \u201cHoss, what happened?\u201d Ben asked as he worked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa, there was a flash flood up in Needlenose Canyon,\u201d explained Hoss. \u201cWhen I found him, Joe was holding on to a tree, and the water was coming up fast. The only was I could get him out of there was to throw him a rope. He got pretty battered and bruised before I could get him out of the water.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nodding with understanding, Ben slowly eased the wet shirt off his son, trying to move Joe as little as possible. \u201cToss me that towel,\u201d said Ben. Hoss went to the wash stand and grabbed the towel hanging over the side. He brought it over to the bed and handed it to his father. Ben immediately began drying Joe\u2019s face and chest. Then he threw the towel over his shoulder and moved to remove Joe\u2019s pants.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow did he get caught in that flood?\u201d Ben asked as he began drying Joe\u2019s legs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss hesitated. \u201cIt was my fault,\u201d Hoss admitted slowly. \u201cI followed him out there, and took his horse when he wasn\u2019t around.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou what!\u201d exclaimed Ben as he looked over his shoulder in astonishment.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I didn\u2019t know it was going to rain,\u201d Hoss said quickly. \u201cIt was just a joke. You know, payback for that snipe hunt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben didn\u2019t say anything in response. By now, he had taken Joe\u2019s wet clothes off, and his son was laying naked, shivering on the board. Quickly, Ben pulled the covers up to Joe\u2019s chin. \u201cHe\u2019s really got a chill,\u201d Ben murmured in a worried voice. \u201cI hope it\u2019s not too bad.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I didn\u0092t mean anything to happen, honest,\u201d said Hoss, his voice filled with anguish. \u201cIt was just a stupid joke.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Silently, Ben finished tucking the covers around Joe. Then he turned and put his hand on Hoss\u2019 shoulder. \u201cI know you didn\u2019t, son,\u201d Ben replied gently. \u201cI know you wouldn\u2019t do anything to hurt your brother.\u201d Hoss nodded, but his face was still full of misery.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d better get out of those wet clothes before you catch a chill, too,\u201d Ben added. Hoss hesitated, unwilling to leave Joe. Ben gave him a push on the shoulder. \u201cGo get changed. I\u2019ll call you when the doctor gets here.\u201d Hoss stared at the unmoving figure on the bed for a moment. Then, with a sigh, he turned and left the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

***************\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss stood staring at the fire in the living room, hoping the flames would offer him some comfort. He had rushed to Joe\u2019s room when the doctor arrived. But his worried hovering over Doctor Martin had been such a hindrance that the doctor finally ordered him out of the room. Hoss now waited for the doctor\u2019s verdict, hoping for the best but expecting the worst. Hoss knew Joe was sick and hurt, and he knew it was all his fault.<\/span><\/p>\n

When he heard the front door open, Hoss barely looked around. He saw Adam rushing in. With a shrug, Hoss turned back to stare at the fire.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, what\u2019s going on?\u201d Adam asked his brother. \u201cI saw Sam outside, and he said Joe\u2019s been hurt. What happened? How bad is it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe doc\u2019s still with him,\u201d answered Hoss, not bothering to turn to face his brother. \u201cI don\u2019t know how bad it is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened?\u201d Adam asked in a persistent voice. \u201cHow did Joe get hurt?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss took a deep breath before answering. \u201cHe got caught in a flash flood up in Needlenose Canyon. I pulled him out of the water, but he got pretty battered in the process. His back is hurt. He also got a bad chill.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow did he manage to get himself caught in a flood?\u201d Adam asked in a puzzled voice. \u201cI saw his horse in the barn. Why didn\u2019t he just ride out of there? And how did his horse get back? This doesn\u2019t make sense.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This time, Hoss looked up at the ceiling before answering. \u201cIt was all my fault, Adam,\u201d he said in a low voice. \u201cI followed Joe out to the canyon. I thought it would be funny to make him walk home, so I took his horse when he was climbing up the side trail.\u201d Hoss looked at Adam, his face full of misery. \u201cI didn\u2019t know it was going to rain that hard. Honest, Adam, I didn\u2019t. I would have never done it if I thought something like this would happen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know you wouldn\u2019t,\u201d agreed Adam in a soothing voice. He laid a comforting hand on Hoss\u2019 shoulder. \u201cIt was just an accident.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Hoss insisted, shaking his head. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t no accident. It was a stupid, mean thing to do. I should have never left him out there on foot. I should have known something could have happened.\u201d Hoss turned back to stare into the flames.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam stood next to his brother, for once at a loss for words. He wanted to comfort Hoss, but he didn\u2019t know what to say to the big man.<\/span><\/p>\n

The sound of footsteps on the stairs drew both Adam\u2019s and Hoss\u2019 attention. Doctor Martin climbed down the stairs, his bag in hand, followed closely by Ben.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not in any danger,\u201d the doctor assured Adam and Hoss when he saw the worried looks on their faces. \u201cBut he is a pretty sick boy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow bad is it?\u201d Adam asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s got a chill,\u201d answered Doctor Martin. \u201cI\u2019ve given him some medicine to make sure he doesn\u2019t get any worse. He\u2019s exhausted from both the chill and the pain. Right now, he doesn\u2019t have a lot of strength to fight off any infection. He\u2019s also running a fever, but that\u2019s to be expected. He needs to be kept warm, and given plenty of warm liquids. As long as the fever doesn\u2019t go any higher, he should come through this fine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDoc, what about his back?\u201d Hoss asked fearfully.<\/span><\/p>\n

The doctor glanced at Ben before answering. \u201cHe wrenched it pretty bad,\u201d replied Doctor Martin. \u201cAnd there\u2019s some deep bruising. He\u2019s going to need to be in bed for awhile.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut he\u2019ll be all right,\u201d persisted Hoss. \u201cI mean, there\u2019s no permanent damage, right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d the doctor answered slowly. \u201cBut backs are tricky things. Some injuries like this clear up in a short time. Others linger for quite awhile. We\u2019ll just have to wait and see.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A look of anguish crossed Hoss\u2019 face. He turned away from the men standing in front of him and stared into the fire.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs there anything we can do to help Joe?\u201d Adam asked quickly. \u201cI mean, are some exercises or something?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The doctor nodded. \u201cYes, there are,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen he\u2019s a little stronger, I\u2019ll show you what to do. But the best thing for now is bed rest.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Slowly, Hoss turned back to the doctor. \u201cHe was in a lot of pain when I brought him in,\u201d Hoss stated. \u201cI had him sitting on my horse for a couple of hours. Did that make it worse?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Again, Doctor Martin glanced at Ben again before answering. Ben had told him what happened, and he suspected Hoss was going to ask the question. He just wasn\u2019t sure how to answer it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt didn\u2019t help things,\u201d the doctor said carefully. \u201cRiding probably caused some more pressure on those injured muscles and nerves. I\u2019m not surprised he was in a considerable amount of pain.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss closed his eyes as another look of anguish crossed his face.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rushing forward, Ben put his hand on Hoss\u2019 arm. \u201cHoss, you had no choice; you had to bring him in on your horse,\u201d Ben said quickly. \u201cIt was the fastest way to get Joe home. If you had waited, he probably would have been sicker than he is now. Getting him home and warm as soon as possible was the best thing you could have done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Opening his eyes, Hoss looked at his father. \u201cNo. I should have never put him on that horse. He begged me not to do it, but I didn\u2019t listen to him. I should have found some other way to get him home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Doctor Martin walked over to Hoss. \u201cBen\u2019s right,\u201d he advised the man. \u201cYou did what you could under the circumstances. It was the devil\u2019s choice, Hoss. If you had waited, he might have become much sicker, maybe gotten pneumonia. Putting him on that horse may have hurt his back, but it save his life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou did the only thing you could,\u201d Adam chimed in. \u201cYou don\u2019t have anything to blame yourself for.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss looked around at the men standing near him. \u201cYou don\u2019t understand, do you?\u201d he said with a shake of his head. \u201cIt was all my fault\u2026everything. Joe should never have been in that canyon on foot. He wouldn\u2019t have been, if it weren\u2019t for me. If it hadn\u2019t been for me, he would have been out of there before the flood. He would have been safe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, you didn\u2019t mean it,\u201d stated Ben in a soothing voice. \u201cI\u2019m sure Joe knows that. I\u2019m sure he forgives you for what happened.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss looked at Ben, his face hard. \u201cHow\u2019s Joe going to forgive me?\u201d he asked in a flat voice. \u201cHow can he forgive me when I can\u2019t forgive myself.\u201d Hoss pushed past Ben and walked across the room. The other men in the room watched in stunned silence as Hoss walked out of the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Night had fallen by the time Hoss returned to the house. He had ridden out to the lake and spent hours sitting in his favorite spot, looking for answers and comfort. But neither came. Images of Joe screaming in pain and begging Hoss to let him off the horse flashed over and over in Hoss\u2019 mind. He wondered how he could face his brother again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Knowing he couldn\u2019t stay away forever, Hoss had finally ridden back to the house. When he brought his horse into the barn, he saw Sam and Vince were cleaning the stalls and putting out fresh hay. Sam had asked about Joe. Both men were shocked when Hoss told them curtly — almost angrily — to mind their own business. The hands on the ranch were used to a gentle, easy-going Hoss. Sam and Vince had never seen him acting like this.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss walked from the barn to the house like a man facing his own execution. He knew he had to see Joe, to talk with him. He wanted to beg forgiveness from his brother, even though he knew probably wouldn\u2019t get it. He couldn\u2019t forget Joe\u2019s words up in the canyon, when Joe blamed Hoss for what happened. He hated the conversation he was facing with Joe, but he knew he had to have it.<\/span><\/p>\n

With a grim look on his face, Hoss walked slowly into the house. Adam was sitting at the dinner table, finishing his meal. He rose from the table as soon as he saw Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGlad you\u2019re back,\u201d Adam said with relief. \u201cWe were getting worried. Want something to eat?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not hungry,\u201d replied Hoss with distracted air. He stood in the middle of the room, staring at the top of the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou haven\u2019t had anything since breakfast,\u201d countered Adam. He gave Hoss a weak smile. \u201cYou must be ready to fall over in a dead faint,\u201d he added, trying to kid his brother with a familiar joke.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI said I ain\u2019t hungry,\u201d declared Hoss in an angry voice. Adam stiffened in surprise.<\/span><\/p>\n

Walking past Adam, Hoss headed toward the stairs. He stopped at the foot of the steps, squared his shoulders and slowly climbed to the second floor.<\/span><\/p>\n

When he got to the door of Joe\u2019s room, Hoss stopped again, hesitant to enter. He looked into the bedroom through the partially opened door.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not surprisingly, Hoss observed his father was sitting in a chair next to Joe\u2019s bed. He could see the board on which they had carried Joe into the house was under the mattress of Joe\u2019s bed, giving the mattress more support and firmness. Hoss stared at Joe laying on the bed with his eyes closed, covers pulled up to his shoulders. His brother\u2019s head was laying on a very thin pillow, keeping his back as straight as possible, and Joe\u2019s face was flushed with fever.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sensing someone was standing at the door, Ben turned to look. He gave a small sigh of relief when he saw Hoss staring into the room. He had been worried about Hoss, almost as worried about him as he was about Joe. Adam had wanted to go after his brother when Hoss left the house, but Ben had stopped him. He knew his sons. Hoss needed some time to work things out on his own. But it hadn\u2019t kept Ben from worrying.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss,\u201d said Ben softly. \u201cI\u2019m glad you\u2019re back, son.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nodding curtly, Hoss silently acknowledged his father\u2019s words. \u201cHow\u2019s he doing?\u201d he asked, gesturing at the bed with his head.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben looked back to Joe. \u201cAbout the same.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With grim determination, Hoss took a step into the room. \u201cI\u2019ve got to talk with Joe,\u201d he declared.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, he\u2019s in no shape to talk,\u201d replied Ben gently. \u201cThe doctor pumped him full of medicine and pain killers. He\u2019s going to be asleep for hours.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen I\u2019ll wait,\u201d Hoss stated. He leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Getting to his feet, Ben walked across the room. \u201cHoss, he\u2019s not going to be awake for a long time,\u201d he explained. \u201cAnd even then, he probably won\u2019t make a lot of sense. That medicine is pretty strong. You\u2019d be better to wait awhile .\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I have to talk with him,\u201d repeated Hoss doggedly. \u201cIt can\u2019t wait. I\u2019ll stay until he wakes up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben sighed. \u201cAll right,\u201d he said reluctantly. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you sit with him for awhile.\u201d Ben knew Joe would probably sleep through the night. But if it made Hoss feel better to stay with Joe, he was willing to let him. \u201cI\u2019m going to get some coffee.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nodding, Hoss walked purposely toward Joe\u2019s bed and sat down in the chair that Ben had left. Hoss sat stiffly and uncomfortably, as if a condemned man waiting for his judgment. Watching his son, Ben shook his head sadly at the sight. Then he quietly left the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sitting by his brother\u2019s bed, Hoss searched for any sign that Joe was awake. At first, Joe laid unmoving and in a deep sleep. But the fever and the medicine started uneasy dreams in Joe\u2019s mind. He was beginning to picture the flood again, and in his dreams, the pictures were more terrifying than reality.<\/span><\/p>\n

Murmuring, Joe shifted slightly on the bed as he sought to escape the flood in his dream. Anxiously, Hoss watched and listened. \u201cJoe,\u201d he asked hopefully. \u201cJoe, are you awake?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Again, Joe murmured, and Hoss, desperate to talk to his brother, took the sound as a sign that Joe was awake.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I\u2019ve got to talk with you,\u201d said Hoss in a choking voice. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry about what happened. I never meant for you to get hurt. It was all just a stupid joke.\u201d Hoss waited and watched, looking for some reaction from his brother. When none came, he continued. \u201cI know how much it hurt you when I put you on the horse. I didn\u2019t mean that, either. I just didn\u2019t know what else to do. I know I probably made things worse, but I didn\u2019t mean to. Honest, I didn\u2019t. I\u2019m really sorry, Joe. Can you forgive me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In his drugged and fevered sleep, Joe heard the voice but he couldn\u2019t understand the words. The voice seemed to drone on and on. Joe wished it would be quiet. He wanted to sleep, to escape the terrifying dream that kept flashing through his head. The voice was insistent and Joe didn\u2019t want to listen. Finally, the voice stopped. But the images didn\u2019t go away. Joe saw the water coming at him again. Only this time, he couldn\u2019t reach the tree. He was trying to run, but his feet were stuck to the ground.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sitting forward in the chair, Hoss watched and waited hopefully for some response from Joe. He could see his brother moving uneasily on the bed. \u201cJoe, I am really sorry,\u201d Hoss said again, his voice pleading. \u201cI know it\u2019s asking a lot. But do you think you can forgive me for what I did?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Once again, Joe heard the insistent voice, and in his dream, he saw the water rushing toward him. It was all too much, too overwhelming. \u201cNo!\u201d Joe cried. He lifted his hand, trying in vain to stop the water he saw in his dream. \u201cNo,\u201d he repeated in a softer voice, a voice filled with despair.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss recoiled as he heard Joe shout. He saw his brother\u2019s hand move as if to brush him aside. He heard the sadness in Joe\u2019s voice as he said no again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Crushed, Hoss turned away. He knew Joe would blame him for what happened; he was blaming himself. He had had a faint hope that Joe might forgive him. Now he knew that hope was false. Hoss closed his eyes as he felt the sadness descend on him. His shoulders slumped as he admitted the truth to himself. He had destroyed the most precious thing he owned. He had destroyed his brother\u2019s trust in him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Getting to his feet, Hoss quickly crossed the room. He stopped at the doorway and looked back at the bed. Joe was lying still again, his dream disappearing as he sunk back into a deep sleep. Hoss pursed his lips, and blinked as he felt the tears in his eyes. Then he walked out of the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Ben returned to Joe\u2019s room, he was surprised to see no one but Joe. He frowned, wondering where Hoss had gone. Hoss had seem so insistent about staying with Joe, about waiting for him to wake. He wondered what had changed Hoss\u2019 mind. Ben quickly crossed the room. He laid his hand on Joe\u2019s forehead, and his frown deepened as he realized his son\u2019s fever was still high. Ben watched his youngest son for a moment. Joe\u2019s breathing seemed deep and regular; he was still asleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben hesitated, wondering if he should go look for Hoss. The big man seemed so upset and Ben wanted to talk with him. Then Joe shifted slightly on the bed, and let out a small groan as he did. Joe\u2019s intermittent dream of the flood had returned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quickly, Ben moved to sit in the chair. He laid a hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder, and stroked it gently as he tried to calm his son. \u201cShhhh,\u201d Ben said softly. \u201cIt\u2019s all right, Joe. Everything is all right. Go to sleep. Shhhh. Go to sleep.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In his fevered mind, Joe heard a voice again, but it was a different one. He still didn\u2019t understand the words, but this time, he felt comforted by the voice. He slipped back into a dreamless sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

Relieved that Joe was once again sleeping, Ben settled back in the chair. He would talk with Hoss later, he decided. Joe needed him more right now. Hoss was upset, but he would get over it, Ben thought. He always did. Once Joe was well, things would be back to normal. Ben relaxed in the chair and smiled briefly. In a few weeks, his two youngest sons would be back to playing tricks on each other. Ben frowned. At least, he hoped they would. He looked around the room again, uneasy about the fact that Hoss had left. He glanced at the bed. \u201cGet well quickly, Joseph,\u201d Ben said softly.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Ben descend the stairs the next morning, tired and hungry. He was surprised to see the table in the dining room was empty. Ben knew Adam was with Joe, but he thought Hoss would be eating breakfast.<\/span><\/p>\n

As he walked toward the table, Ben frowned. Hoss was really acting strange, he thought. He hadn\u2019t come back to Joe\u2019s room, and usually, when something was wrong with Joe, Hoss hovered like a mother hen. When Adam had come to sit with Joe for awhile, Ben went to Hoss\u2019 room. He had knocked on the door and asked Hoss if he could come in. His son\u2019s response was a gruff, \u201cLeave me alone. I don\u2019t want to talk.\u201d Ben had thought about forcing the issue, but respected his son enough to listen to his wishes. He had left Hoss\u2019 room and went to his own for a brief nap.<\/span><\/p>\n

When he woke, Ben had checked on Hoss again, but this time, he heard only a loud snore when he stopped at Hoss\u2019 door. Ben had grinned, knowing that ungodly noise meant Hoss was asleep. Then he had returned to spend the rest of the night with Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

But seeing the empty table made Ben uneasy once more. It wasn\u2019t like Hoss to skip a meal. Eating was one of the things Hoss enjoyed most out of life.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing!\u201d Ben called as he neared the table. \u201cHop Sing, do you have any breakfast for me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wiping his hands on a towel, Hop Sing rushed out of the kitchen,. \u201cHow Little Joe?\u201d he asked with concern.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s much better,\u201d Ben assured him. \u201cHis fever is down, and he\u2019s resting easy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, that good,\u201d said the Chinese cook with a smile. \u201cI fix him good breakfast.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, he won\u2019t be awake for awhile,\u201d Ben advised. \u201cAnd then he\u2019ll probably only be able to handle some broth. Why don\u2019t you fix me that good breakfast instead.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As Hop Sing nodded, he felt a feeling of relief. If Mr. Cartwright was more concerned about food than Joe, then Joe must really be getting better. \u201cHop Sing fry some eggs. Make toast. Get breakfast pretty quick,\u201d stated the cook.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing, wait,\u201d called Ben as the cook turned back toward the kitchen. Hop Sing turned again. \u201cWhere\u2019s Hoss?\u201d Ben asked. \u201cDid he eat already?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Immediately, Hop Sing\u2019s face turned sad. \u201cMr. Hoss up early. No want breakfast. He just drink coffee and leave.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss didn\u2019t want breakfast?\u201d Ben said in surprise.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Hoss very upset,\u201d answered the cook. \u201cHe yell at Hop Sing, tell Hop Sing to leave him alone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s eyebrows rose as his surprise grew. Hoss never yelled at Hop Sing. Hoss liked Hop Sing\u2019s cooking too much to do anything to make the cook mad. \u201cDid Hoss say where he was going?\u201d Ben asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d replied Hop Sing. \u201cHe just leave house and go to barn. Hop Sing see him ride off.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A bit frustrated, Ben shook his head. He had really wanted to talk with Hoss. Ben berated himself for not forcing his son to talk with him last night. Now he would have to wait until Hoss decided to come home.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing fix breakfast, start broth,\u201d the cook said, turning back to the kitchen. Ben nodded distractedly, his appetite gone. He knew two of his sons were hurting, but only one\u2019s pain was physical.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

It was noon before Ben had a chance to talk to the hands about Hoss. His morning had been taken with caring for Joe. Doctor Martin had arrived shortly after Ben finished his breakfast, and Ben had waited anxiously in Joe\u2019s room while the doctor examined his son. When he was reassured that Joe was improving, Ben let out a sigh of relief.<\/span><\/p>\n

The doctor\u2019s examination had waken Joe. He was still groggy from the medicine and fever, but he was awake enough to complain about being hungry. Feeding Joe had proved to be a chore. Ben tried to lift Joe\u2019s shoulders from the bed to place a thick pillow under them but that had caused Joe pain. Laying flat was the most comfortable position for Joe, but he couldn\u2019t eat in that position. Finally, Adam managed to stuff enough of the pillows under Joe\u2019s back and shoulders to raise his brother\u2019s head slightly. It was still an uncomfortable position for Joe, but the pain was bearable.<\/span><\/p>\n

Still acting as nursemaid, Ben spooned the broth into Joe, pleased that his son took all of it. He took advantage of Joe\u2019s conscious state to spoon medicine into him, also. Ben laughed a little when Joe made a face at the medicine. But Ben\u2019s laughter died quickly when he saw Joe wince and grimace with pain. Joe\u2019s back muscles were beginning to tighten again, and his injured back was reacting against even the small time Joe spent sitting up. Ben quickly removed the pillows from under Joe\u2019s back and settled his son as flat as possible on the bed. When Joe continued to grunt in pain, Ben gave Joe a dose from the second bottle the doctor had left. That medicine had eased Joe\u2019s pain but also sent him back to sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

For an hour or more, Ben had sat with Joe, making sure his son was as comfortable as possible. He used a wet cloth to cool and clean his son. He helped Hop Sing change the sheets when the cook brought some clean bedding to the room. He shifted the pillow under Joe\u2019s head, easing any possible strain on his son\u2019s back.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, Ben decided Joe was as comfortable as possible. He laid his hand on Joe\u2019s forehead, assuring himself one last time that Joe\u2019s fever was almost gone. What Joe needed most now was rest and quiet. And Ben had another son to worry about.<\/span><\/p>\n

As he left Joe\u2019s room, Ben tried to figure out where Hoss might have gone. There were numerous places on the Ponderosa that Hoss used as his private retreats when he needed to be alone. Ben decided he would systematically check them all until he found Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

A half a dozen of the ranch hands were riding in for their noon meal when Ben left the house, heading toward the barn. He waited as the men dismounted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHave any of you seen Hoss?\u201d asked Ben as the hands as they walked toward him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Several of the men looked at each other. They seemed uncomfortable about answering. \u201cI saw him this morning up by the lake,\u201d Vince finally volunteered reluctantly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid he say anything?\u201d asked Ben.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vince shook his head. \u201cI hollered at him, but he just ignored me,\u201d the hand answered. \u201cHe just kept riding.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about the rest of you?\u201d demanded Ben. \u201cAnyone else seen Hoss?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI saw up about an hour ago,\u201d Sam said. \u201cHe was up near Needlenose Canyon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was he doing up there?\u201d Ben asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d answered Sam. \u201cHe seemed to be just sitting there, staring into the canyon. I asked him if he was all right, and he just about bit my head off. Told me to go away and leave him alone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Thanking the men with a distracted air, Ben walked slowly toward the barn, then abruptly turned and walked back to the house. He had changed his mind about going after Hoss. He could spend all day trying to find his middle son. Ben decided to wait. He knew Hoss would come home eventually. Maybe by then, Hoss would have worked things out in his own mind. At least, Ben hoped so.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Adam and Ben were sitting at the table, eating dinner when Hoss finally returned to the house. He had spent the day, riding around the ranch, thinking and looking for answers. The only problem was, Hoss wasn\u2019t sure he knew the questions. He only knew that his little brother was hurt, and it was his fault. And he didn\u2019t know what to do to make it up to Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben looked up expectantly as Hoss entered the house. \u201cHoss,\u201d he said in a voice that was much to hearty. \u201cGlad you\u2019re back, son. Come and have something to eat.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Silently, Hoss threw his hat on the table by the door. He slipped off his gunbelt, and laid it on the table. He walked slowly to the dining room and then stopped and frowned as he saw his father and his brother sitting at the table. \u201cWho\u2019s with Joe?\u201d Hoss demanded in an angry voice. \u201cYou didn\u2019t leave him alone, did you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2019s sleeping,\u201d Adam answered. \u201cHe\u2019s much better. His fever\u2019s gone and there doesn\u2019t seem to be any other effects from\u2026from that dunking he took.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about his back?\u201d asked Hoss hopefully. \u201cHow\u2019s that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Not sure how to answer Hoss\u2019 question without upsetting the big man, Adam and Ben looked at each other. \u201cHe\u2019s still in a lot of pain,\u201d Ben finally admitted. \u201cBut Doctor Martin told us to expect that. He said it\u2019s going to take a while before those muscles and nerves heal.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019 shoulders slumped. He nodded sadly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome sit down and eat something,\u201d Ben urged his son. \u201cYou must be starved.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI ain\u2019t hungry,\u201d said Hoss, but he sat at the table anyway. Ben quickly reached for the empty plate in front of Hoss, and filled it with potatoes and meat from the platters on the table. Hoss watched disinterestedly as Ben put the filled plate in front of him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, you have to stop blaming yourself,\u201d declared Ben as he watched his son. Hoss just shrugged his shoulders. He picked up his fork and poked at the food on his plate. But he didn\u2019t eat.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure Joe doesn\u2019t blame you,\u201d added Adam.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss looked up. \u201cHow do you know?\u201d he demanded. \u201cDid he tell you that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, no,\u201d Adam admitted. \u201cHe\u2019s been asleep most of the day. The doctor has him on pain killers until his back feels better. But I\u2019m sure he doesn\u2019t blame you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know nothing, Adam,\u201d Hoss muttered.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reaching over, Ben put his hand on Hoss\u2019 arm. \u201cI know you wanted to talk with Joe,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019ll probably be awake in a little while. Why don\u2019t you go sit with him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe don\u2019t want to see me,\u201d Hoss stated stubbornly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not true,\u201d Ben countered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes it is,\u201d insisted Hoss. He dropped the fork he had been playing with, and stood up. \u201cI\u2019m going to my room.\u201d Hoss walked out of the dining room and quickly went up the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s taking this hard,\u201d Adam commented as he watched his brother disappear at the top of the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou know how he feels about Joe,\u201d said Ben. \u201cJoe\u2019s more than his brother; he\u2019s Hoss\u2019 best friend.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam nodded, acknowledging the fact that his two brothers were closer to each other than to him. It was a fact that he had long ago accepted. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to get him to talk to Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI agree,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cBut Joe\u2019s so groggy right now, I don\u2019t think we should push it. Joe\u2019s liable to say something he doesn\u2019t mean, and that will make things worse.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think things can get worse,\u201d said Adam.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Joe improved slowly but steadily over the next two days. He was still in some pain, but the pain was more bearable than before. He took less of the medicine and stayed awake longer. But he still found it uncomfortable to do anything but lay flat on his back. He asked about Hoss several times, wanting to see his brother. Adam and Ben both assured Joe that Hoss was fine, that he was busy with work around the ranch. They told him that Hoss had visited him when Joe was a sleep. Joe found that odd, but didn\u2019t make an issue out of it. He was more concerned with trying to sit up without pain right now.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Joe\u2019s condition improved, Hoss\u2019 mood seemed to darken. He snapped at everyone, and ate little. The ranch hands began avoiding him. They had looked on Hoss as a gentle giant. But now, Hoss seemed to be an angry bear, and none of the hands wanted to risk what might happen if they crossed him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Several times, Ben tried to talk with Hoss, to reason with him. He tried to get him to visit Joe. But Ben\u2019s pleadings fell on deaf ears. Hoss was convinced that Joe hated him, and no one could tell him otherwise.<\/span><\/p>\n

For his part, Hoss spent most of his time alone, riding around the ranch. He was mourning the loss of his brother\u2019s trust and affection. As he rode, Hoss thought back on all the tricks he and Joe had played on each other over the years. At the time, they seemed funny and playful. Now Hoss thought they were just stupid.<\/span><\/p>\n

A regular visitor to the Ponderosa was Doctor Martin, who showed up every morning. On his fourth visit, he examined Joe\u2019s back carefully. \u201cThose bruises are healing nicely,\u201d he commented as he pulled the covers back over Joe. Doctor Martin was alone with Joe. Adam was taking care of ranch business and Ben had gone to get some hot towels the doctor had suggested for Joe\u2019s back. No one knew where Hoss was.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d said Joe, his voice sounded cranky. \u201cI\u2019m getting tired of just laying in this bed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The doctor smiled. Joe\u2019s complaining meant he was feeling better. \u201cWell, unfortunately, you\u2019re going to have to lie here a while longer,\u201d explained Doctor Martin. \u201cYour back is far from healed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With a nod, Joe acknowledged the truth of the doctor\u2019s statement. Even though he was tired of being in bed, he also knew his back hurt every time he moved. \u201cDoc, tell me the truth,\u201d Joe asked in a nervous voice. \u201cAm I ever going to get out of this bed?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Doctor Martin looked startled by Joe\u2019s question. \u201cOf course you are,\u201d he said. \u201cWhy would you think otherwise?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it\u2019s been almost a week, and my back is still killing me,\u201d Joe answered. \u201cI just thought\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou just thought you would get up and out of bed in no time,\u201d the doctor finished for him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, something like that,\u201d Joe admitted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, for one thing, it\u2019s been only four days, not a week, since you were hurt,\u201d Doctor Martin stated. \u201cAnd you have to give your body time to heal. I know it feels like you\u2019ve been in bed forever, but it\u2019s only been a few days.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Blowing out a breath of air, Joe nodded. \u201cAll right,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019re the doctor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad you\u2019ve finally admitted that,\u201d replied Doctor Martin with a smile. Then his face turned serious. \u201cJoe, I do want to start you on some exercises. I want to keep those muscles in your back loose. I\u2019m going to show your Pa what to do. But I won\u2019t lie to Joe. The exercises are going to be painful. You\u2019re going to think they\u2019re pure torture. But they\u2019re necessary. And if you do them, you\u2019ll be back on your feet in a few weeks. If you don\u2019t do them, you could be in this bed for months.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hearing the doctor\u2019s words, Joe swallowed hard. Neither alternative seemed very attractive. \u201cIsn\u2019t there some other way?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d stated Doctor Martin firmly. \u201cThere\u2019s no short cuts. You either do those exercises and put up with the pain they cause, or you resign yourself to being in bed for quite awhile. It\u2019s up to you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For a moment, Joe chewed on his lip uncertainly, then he smiled weakly. \u201cYou sure know how to inspire a guy, doc.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

At that moment, Ben walked back into the room, his arms filled with towels. \u201cThese are nice and hot,\u201d he said. He stopped as he saw the look on Joe\u2019s face. Ben turned to the doctor. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNothing,\u201d Doctor Martin assured Ben. \u201cI was just explaining to Joe how you\u2019re going to have to torture him for awhile.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben frowned. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d he demanded.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t look so fierce, Ben,\u201d Doctor Martin replied with a smile. \u201cI was just making a very bad joke. Let\u2019s get those towels under Joe\u2019s back. Then I\u2019ll show you what I meant.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe sighed with contentment as the warm towels sent heat radiating through his back. \u201cThat feels good,\u201d he muttered.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nodded encouragingly, Doctor Martin smiled at his patient, then turned to Ben. \u201cI\u2019m going to show you some exercises I want you to help Joe do. They\u2019re going to be painful, Ben, but I assure you they are necessary. Joe knows he has to do them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With an air of uncertainty, Ben looked at the doctor, and then at Joe. Joe nodded encouragingly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d Ben said with a sigh. \u201cShow me what to do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Walking slowly into the house, Hoss had decided the time had come to face his little brother. He knew that he had been putting it off long enough. Adam had said Joe was feeling better. Maybe he\u2019s ready to forgive me, Hoss decided.<\/span><\/p>\n

Crossing the big room, Hoss started toward the stairs, then froze. He heard a loud scream of pain coming from the top of the stairs. Hoss knew Joe was in agony. He didn\u2019t know why, but he suddenly knew he couldn\u2019t face Joe now. Hoss turned on his heels and walked out of the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Adam and Ben sat at the table, but neither was eating their noon meal. Both very aware of the empty places at the table. Joe was resting, exhausted by painful exercises the doctor had prescribed. And once again, Hoss had disappeared.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben wasn\u2019t sure who was more exhausted by the session, him or Joe. He had wanted to stop at Joe\u2019s first scream of pain, but both Joe and the doctor insisted he continue. Ben reluctantly had continued moving and bending Joe\u2019s legs while the doctor watched. At the end of twenty minutes, Joe was covered with sweat. His jaw was sore from gritting his teeth. After the first scream, Joe had tried hard to endure the pain in silence.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you all right?\u201d Adam asked his father. Ben looked pale and tired.<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking up, Ben gave his oldest son a shaky smile. \u201cI\u2019ll be all right. At least, those exercises are over, thank God.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you said the doctor wanted Joe to do exercises every day,\u201d said Adam with a frown.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe does,\u201d replied Ben. \u201cHe also said that the pain will be less the more Joe does them.\u201d Ben took a deep breath. \u201cI hope he\u2019s right.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa, we have to do something about Hoss,\u201d declared Adam. \u201cHe\u2019s miserable, and he\u2019s making everyone else miserable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat would you suggest I do?\u201d Ben asked in a tired voice. \u201cI\u2019ve talked to him until I\u2019m blue in the face. He just won\u2019t listen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGet him to talk to Joe,\u201d urged Adam. \u201cThat\u2019s the only solution. I asked Joe, and I know he doesn\u2019t blame Hoss. But Hoss won\u2019t believe that until he hears it from Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you suggest I do it?\u201d Ben asked. \u201cHe\u2019s a little big to hog-tie and drag up the stairs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, Pa,\u201d admitted Adam. \u201cBut we\u2019ve got to do something. Both he and Joe are miserable, but Joe\u2019s going to get better. I\u2019m not sure Hoss will.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d said Ben with a sigh. \u201cI\u2019ll try to think of something.\u201d He looked at Adam with sorrowful eyes. \u201cI wish we had never heard of a snipe hunt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Hoss rode through the narrow opening to Needlenose Canyon. The water had finally disappeared, leaving behind a muddy trail. Hoss guided his horse carefully, trying to keep the animal from slipping. As he rode, Hoss\u2019 eyes searched the canyon.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Hoss returned home late last night, his father was waiting to talk with him. Hoss didn\u2019t mention the scream of pain he had heard. Ben didn\u2019t know Hoss had heard it.<\/span><\/p>\n

After trying unsuccessfully to get Hoss to visit Joe, Ben had suggested that Hoss go back to the canyon to look for Joe\u2019s gun. He reminded Hoss how much Joe thought of that pistol. Ben knew the odds were slim that Hoss would find it, but he thought it was worth a chance. If Hoss could find the gun, he would have a reason to see Joe. Hoss reluctantly had agreed to look the next morning.<\/span><\/p>\n

As he rode through the canyon, Hoss shook his head. He couldn\u2019t believe what the flood had done to it. Mud and debris were spread over the floor of the canyon, and covered the walls as well. Hoss almost turned around and went home. He thought it was fruitless to search for a gun among the muck spread throughout the canyon. But he thought again about his father\u2019s words and how much Joe liked that gun. He couldn\u2019t do much for his brother, but he could find the pistol.<\/span><\/p>\n

For almost an hour, Hoss searched. At first, he saw nothing, but he made himself ride around the canyon slowly again and again. Finally, he saw something odd sticking out of the mud near the mouth of the canyon, and dismounted to inspect the item. It was one of Joe\u2019s boots. The sole was torn from the bottom of the boot, and what was left was filled with mud. Hoss tossed the boot away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mounting his horse again, Hoss decided to make one more circuit of the canyon before he left. The sun was rising in the sky, and the angle of the rays were changing. As Hoss made one last lap around the canyon, he saw something glinting in the mud up ahead. Hoss urged his horse forward. He dismounted as he neared the mound of mud. Something metal was definitely in that pile of muck; Hoss could see the sun glinting off it. He reached down and pushed the mud around with his hand. He felt something solid. Hoss pulled his hand out of the mud, holding his prize. He smiled triumphantly at the pearl-handled pistol in his hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quickly mounted his horse, Hoss turned the animal toward the mouth of the canyon. He couldn\u2019t wait to get home to show the pistol to Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Adam had decided the time had come to talk with Joe. Ben had insisted that they not tell Joe about Hoss; he felt that Joe had enough to handle right now without worrying about his brother. Adam had disagreed, but he gave in to his father\u2019s wishes. Now, he decided that Joe had a right to know what was going on. More importantly, Joe was the only who could help Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

As he climbed the stairs, Adam wondered if he was doing the right thing. Joe was still in a lot of pain, and the exercises were exhausting to him. But Adam thought about Hoss, and he knew something had to be done.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam knocked softly on Joe\u2019s open door. \u201cCan I come in?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe raised his head slightly from the bed. \u201cSure,\u201d he answered in surprise. He wondered why Adam was being so formal. His brother had been in and out of the room regularly for the last week.<\/span><\/p>\n

Slowly, Adam walked in and sat down in the chair next to Joe\u2019s bed. \u201cI want to talk with you about Hoss.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Turning his head, Joe looked at Adam. \u201cHoss?\u201d he said with a frown. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with Hoss?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam shifted uncomfortably in the chair. He wondered how he was going to explain this to Joe. Suddenly, his idea didn\u2019t seem like such a good one. \u201cHoss is miserable,\u201d Adam explained. \u201cHe thinks you hate him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHate him?\u201d Joe repeated in surprise. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe blames himself for what happened to you,\u201d said Adam. \u201cMore importantly, he thinks you blame him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would he think that?\u201d Joe asked. \u201cI haven\u2019t even seen him since he hauled me out of that canyon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Once again, Adam shifted uncomfortably. \u201cWell, as near as I can tell, you must have said something in the canyon. And he told us you begged him to get him off his horse when he was bringing you home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruefully, Joe shook his head. \u201cAdam,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t remember what I said after Hoss pulled me out of the water. I was so tired and my back hurt so much, I couldn\u2019t think straight. All I know is that I would have drowned in that canyon if Hoss hadn\u2019t been there. I owe him my life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen tell him that,\u201d urged Adam. \u201cHe\u2019s been roaming around the ranch like some kind of wounded bear. He hasn\u2019t eaten enough to keep a bird alive. He growls at the hands, and he won\u2019t talk to Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell me?\u201d Joe demanded.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you were pretty sick, and Pa figured you had enough problems without worrying about Hoss,\u201d replied Adam.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou should have told me,\u201c admonished Joe. He started to sit up in bed, then groaned as the pain started shooting up his back.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLay still!\u201d Adam ordered as he pushed Joe back down on the bed. \u201cWhat are you trying to do, kill yourself?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have to see Hoss,\u201d insisted Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll send him up when he gets back,\u201d Adam promised. \u201cBut you have to lay still. You know what the doctor said. Bed rest and exercises for at least another week.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I know,\u201d said Joe, his voice filled with disgust. He looked up at Adam. \u201cDon\u2019t ever hurt your back,\u201d he advised. \u201cIt\u2019s really a pain.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam laughed at Joe\u2019s pun. \u201cYou must be feeling better if you\u2019re making bad jokes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I am,\u201d Joe said. \u201cI\u2019m also missing the dance tomorrow night. I was hoping to take Sally Williams.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be awhile before you go dancing,\u201d stated Adam. \u201cBesides, didn\u2019t you know? Sally Williams is engaged. She\u2019s going to marry Clint Jones.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d exclaimed Joe. He shook his head. \u201cI\u2019m never going to get to dance with Sally now,\u201d he said sadly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, there\u2019ll be other girls,\u201d Adam consoled his brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI guess,\u201d agreed Joe with a grin. \u201cBut who\u2019s going to want a crippled up cowboy like me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, you\u2019ll find someone,\u201d Adam replied, grinning in return. \u201cMaybe some poor girl will take pity on you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Hoss had spent a long time cleaning Joe\u2019s gun. He wanted the pistol be as good as new when he gave it to him. It had taken a lot of work. The mud had seeped into almost every part. But Hoss oiled and polished it for hours. He even took it out behind the barn and tested it when he was finished. He was pleased with the result. The gun looked good, and it worked like it had just come out of the shop.<\/span><\/p>\n

With a light step, Hoss climbed the stairs to Joe\u2019s room, happy that he could finally give something to Joe that would lift his brother\u2019s spirits. Maybe Joe will be so happy to see the gun, he won\u2019t be mad at me, Hoss thought.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Hoss neared Joe\u2019s room, he heard voices. Hoss slowed, deciding he didn\u2019t want to interrupt if Joe was discussing something important with Adam or Pa. As Hoss neared the room, he recognized Joe\u2019s voice. He stopped to listen.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo! I\u2019m never going to get to dance with Sally now,\u201d Hoss heard Joe say. He winced at the comment.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, there\u2019ll be other girls,\u201d Adam\u2019s voice replied.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI guess,\u201d Hoss heard Joe say. \u201cBut who\u2019s going to want a crippled up cowboy like me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, you\u2019ll find someone,\u201d came Adam\u2019s reply. \u201cMaybe some poor girl will take pity on you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Turning abruptly, Hoss walked away from the room. He couldn\u2019t believe Adam\u2019s insensitive comment to Joe. Hoss had no idea that Joe\u2019s injury was that bad. His father had insisted that Joe was going to be all right. Now Hoss knew they had lied to him. Joe was going to be crippled, and it\u2019s all my fault, Hoss thought. He shook his head. He couldn\u2019t stay at the Ponderosa any longer. He couldn\u2019t spend the rest of his life watching his little brother suffer because of something he did. He couldn\u2019t face seeing the accusation and the hatred he knew he would see in Joe\u2019s eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss walked toward his room. As he passed a small table in the hall, he dropped Joe\u2019s gun on it. Then he walked into his room to start packing.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Adam spent the rest of the afternoon with Joe. He had gone to his room to get the chessboard and walked right by the table. He never noticed the gun sitting on top of it.<\/span><\/p>\n

It took some doing but Adam managed to set the chessboard on the edge of the bed so Joe could see it. The two brothers spent three hours playing chess, ending up with a win by each and a draw. Adam could see that Joe was getting tired, so he purposely scooped up the pieces at the end of the third game. \u201cTime for you to rest,\u201d he ordered his youngest brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe nodded, not disagreeing. The truth was he was tired and sore. \u201cTell Hoss to come up as soon as he gets home,\u201d Joe reminded Adam. \u201cI\u2019ll talk with him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI will,\u201d promised Adam. \u201cBut it might be late. He\u2019s been spending all day riding around, and not coming home until after dark.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care,\u201d Joe said, as his eyes began to grow heavy. \u201cYou tell that big lug to get up here. Have him wake me up if he has to. I\u2019ll set him straight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam smiled at Joe\u2019s words. \u201cI will,\u201d he promised again. \u201cNow you get some rest.\u201d Adam walked out of Joe\u2019s room, and walked down the hall to his room to put the chessboard and pieces away. As he headed down the hall to his own room, Adam passed the table again. This time, he noticed the gun.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stopping quickly, Adam frowned as he picked up the gun from the table. He turned the pistol over, wondering where it came from. It looked like Joe\u2019s gun. Adam turned the butt of the gun toward him and saw Joe\u2019s initials scratched in the bottom. Now Adam was even more puzzled.<\/span><\/p>\n

With a shrug, Adam put the gun back on the table, and headed toward his room. He decided he would ask his father about the gun at dinner.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Hop Sing set the table only for two. He didn\u2019t bother to put a plate out for Hoss any more. He didn\u2019t even bother to keep food warm in the kitchen. Hoss didn\u2019t seem to care about eating these days. That made Hop Sing sad. He liked it when his cooking was appreciated. And no one appreciated his cooking more than Mr. Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing, have you seen Hoss?\u201d Adam asked as he neared the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Mr. Adam,\u201d the cook replied, shaking his head sadly. \u201cMr. Hoss, he no like Hop Sing\u2019s cooking any more. He no like anything. He very sad about Little Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d said Adam. \u201cBut I\u2019m hoping we can change that. Joe wants to see Hoss as soon as possible.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d a voice asked from behind Adam. Adam turned to see Ben standing behind him with a frown. \u201cWhat did you say about Joe wanting to see Hoss?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI told Joe,\u201d Adam said simply.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI thought we had agreed to wait,\u201d stated Ben, his voice rising in anger.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Adam said, his voice matching his father. \u201cYou decided we should wait. And I decided we shouldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, I know what\u2019s best,\u201d Ben insisted in an angry voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy? Because you\u2019re older?\u201d Adam answered, his anger growing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, because I\u2019m older and wiser,\u201d replied Ben.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou may be older, but you\u2019re not always wiser,\u201d Adam said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m wiser because I\u2019m older,\u201d Ben insisted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOlder doesn\u2019t always mean wiser,\u201d Adam answered.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben started to answer then stopped. He stared at Adam for a minute, then burst into laughter. \u201cThis is the most ridiculous conversation I\u2019ve ever heard,\u201d declared Ben, chuckling.<\/span><\/p>\n

Grinning at his father, Adam agreed. \u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d he said. \u201cWe sound like some kind of comedy team.\u201d Then Adam sobered. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa. I just felt Joe had a right to know. And he does want to talk to Hoss. He said he would set him straight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose you\u2019re right, Adam,\u201d agreed Ben with a sigh. \u201cLord knows, I haven\u2019t had any luck getting through to Hoss. I can\u2019t even get him to see Joe. I sent him up to the canyon looking for Joe\u2019s gun, hoping that would give him a reason to see Joe. But he hasn\u2019t come back, so he must not have found it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou sent Hoss looking for Joe\u2019s gun?\u201d Adam asked with a frown.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d replied Ben. \u201cWhy? What\u2019s wrong with that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI just saw Joe\u2019s gun upstairs,\u201d Adam said. \u201cIt was on the table in the hall.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow did it get there?\u201d Ben asked with a puzzled expression.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss must have brought it back,\u201d stated Adam. \u201cBut he didn\u2019t give it to Joe. I was with Joe all afternoon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat doesn\u2019t make sense,\u201d Ben said, frowning. \u201cIf he found the gun, why didn\u2019t he give it to Joe? He knows how much Joe prizes that gun. I would have thought he would be happy to give it back to him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam thought hard, running his conversation with Joe over in his mind. \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he replied slowly. \u201cMaybe\u2026\u201d Adam stopped and shook his head. \u201cNo, he couldn\u2019t have believed that,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s too strange, even for Hoss.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBelieved what?\u201d Ben asked, exasperated. \u201cAdam, what did you say?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Joe and I were joking around,\u201d explained Adam. \u201cJoe said something about being crippled.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCrippled!\u201d said Ben in a shocked voice. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t think he\u2019s going to be crippled, does he?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no,\u201d Adam reassured his father. \u201cWe were just joking. But if Hoss heard us, he might have misunderstood.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For a moment, Adam and Ben looked at each other. Both seemed to have the same idea. They turned as one and rushed up the stairs to Hoss\u2019 room.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not bothering to knock, Ben pushed open the door to Hoss\u2019 room, then stopped dead. One of the dresser drawers was half opened. The comb and razor were missing from the washstand next to Hoss\u2019 bed. And most telling of all, the miniature of Hoss\u2019 mother was gone from the wall.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam looked over Ben\u2019s shoulder into the room. \u201cHe\u2019s gone,\u201d Adam stated unnecessarily. Ben nodded in shocked silence.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll go after him,\u201d said Adam, turning to leave. \u201cHe couldn\u2019t have gone far.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll go with you,\u201d Ben offered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, you\u2019d better stay here,\u201d advised Adam. \u201cSomeone has to look after Joe. You\u2019ve got to keep him doing those exercises.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Torn between the concern for both his sons, Ben hesitated. \u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d he agreed reluctantly. \u201cBut you find him, Adam. You find him and bring him home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI will,\u201d said Adam. \u201cEven if I have to drag him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Hoss rode slowly through the tall pines. He had been gone from home for almost a week, a week spent wandering through the mountains. He had no destination in mind. He just rode.<\/span><\/p>\n

Normally, riding through the mountains would have lifted Hoss\u2019 spirits. He loved the mountains, with their crisp, clean air and quiet beauty. But this time, the mountains failed to work their magic on him. Hoss was as miserable as a man could get.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss had thought leaving the Ponderosa would make him feel better. He thought he could leave all the pain and the sorrow behind him. But now Hoss knew he hadn\u2019t. He had brought it all with him.<\/span><\/p>\n

But after a week of riding, Hoss missed his family. With every mile he rode away from the Ponderosa, he seemed to miss them more. Several times he had thought about turning around and heading home. But then the image of Joe\u2019s begging him to get him off the horse would flash through Hoss\u2019 mind. The pain that image caused him with almost physical. Hoss couldn\u2019t face Joe. He just couldn\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n

Slowing his horse near a stream, Hoss decided to make camp. He wasn\u2019t really hungry or tired, but he didn\u2019t have any place to go, and didn\u2019t know what to do if he got there. Making camp gave him something to do.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss was sipping coffee from a battered cup when he heard his horse snicker softly behind him. Hoss looked up to see a rider coming out of the woods.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFinally!\u201d Adam exclaimed. \u201cHoss, I\u2019ve been looking for you for a week.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHello, Adam,\u201d replied Hoss quietly. He watched his brother dismount, but made no move to greet him.<\/span><\/p>\n

With long strides, Adam walked over to the campfire. \u201cMind if I have some coffee?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHelp yourself,\u201d answered Hoss, shrugging. \u201cBut I only have one cup.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam squatted next to the fire. \u201cThat\u2019s all right,\u201d he said. \u201cYour coffee is terrible anyway.\u201d Adam looked at his brother. \u201cDon\u2019t you think you\u2019re a bit old to be running away from home?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not wanting his older brother to see the misery on his face, Hoss looked away. \u201cAdam, I couldn\u2019t stay. I couldn\u2019t stay knowing Joe was going to be crippled, and it was all my fault.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever gave you the idea that Joe was going to be crippled?\u201d asked Adam.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI heard you two talking,\u201d Hoss explained. \u201cI knew Pa hadn\u2019t told me the truth. I knew Joe was never going to walk again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, you got it all wrong. Joe\u2019s going to be fine,\u201d stated Adam.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t lie to me, Adam,\u201d Hoss said, glaring at his brother. \u201cI heard you. I heard Joe call himself a cripple.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe were joking!\u201d exclaimed Adam. He rolled his eyes toward the sky. \u201cThe jokes in this family are really getting out of hand.\u201d He looked back at Hoss. \u201cHoss, Joe\u2019s going to be fine. I swear it. He doesn\u2019t blame you for what happened. He told me he owed you his life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Stubbornly, Hoss shook his head. \u201cI don\u2019t believe you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Exasperated, Adam took a deep breath. \u201cHoss, I wouldn\u2019t lie to you,\u201d he said. \u201cBut if you don\u2019t believe me, come home and see for yourself. Talk to Joe. He\u2019ll tell you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t, Adam,\u201d replied Hoss, his voice full of misery. \u201cI can\u2019t face him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For a minute, Adam studied Hoss across the fire. \u201cI would have never taken you for a coward,\u201d he said quietly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI ain\u2019t a coward,\u201d Hoss replied angrily.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh yeah?\u201d said Adam. \u201cYou\u2019re afraid to face Joe, afraid to admit you might be wrong. You ran away. I don\u2019t know what else to call you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not a coward,\u201d Hoss repeated angrily as he stood and faced his brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

His face showing no concern, Adam merely looked up at Hoss. \u201cThen prove me wrong. Come home with me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Turning away, Hoss studied the stream for awhile. Adam held his breath as he waited for Hoss to decide; he wasn\u2019t sure what he was going to do if Hoss didn\u2019t come on his own.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, Hoss turned back to Adam. \u201cI\u2019ll come home,\u201d he stated. \u201cBut just to prove how wrong you are. I\u2019ll show you that Joe hates me. Then I\u2019m going to leave again. And this time, you won\u2019t find me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Relieved, Adam let his breath out. He knew Hoss was wrong. But the only one who could convince Hoss was Joe. \u201cPut that fire out,\u201d Adam ordered his brother. \u201cI want to get home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

It only took two days for Adam and Hoss to reach the Ponderosa. Hoss had ridden a slow, meandering route away from the ranch. The ride home was fast and straight.<\/span><\/p>\n

As he neared the ranch, Hoss slowed his horse. Adam pulled his horse up also, slowing his pace to match his brother\u2019s. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d asked Adam. For the past two days, he had been trying to convince Hoss that Joe was fine, that Joe didn\u2019t hate him, and that his homecoming was going to be a happy one. Adam thought he had succeeded. Now he wasn\u2019t so sure.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d Adam repeated. \u201cGetting cold feet?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Hoss replied, but there was a note of uncertainty in his voice. Then he shook his head. \u201cWell, maybe,\u201d admitted Hoss. He looked at Adam. \u201cAre you sure Joe\u2019s going to be all right?\u201d he asked for the hundredth time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Joe is going to be fine,\u201d Adam answered patiently. \u201cHe\u2019s going to be fine, and he doesn\u2019t hate you. How many times do I have to tell you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss nodded, but his face showed he was unconvinced. With a sigh, Adam urged his horse forward. Hoss followed him slowly.<\/span><\/p>\n

The door of the ranch house opened as soon as Adam and Hoss rode into the yard. Adam figured his father must have been waiting and watching for them. Ben ran from the house and into the yard as soon as the pair stopped their horses.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss!\u201d cried Ben. He rushed forward as his sons dismounted. Ben looked toward Adam, who nodded and grinned, then put his hands on Hoss\u2019 shoulder. \u201cDon\u2019t you ever do something like this again,\u201d Ben said sternly. \u201cI\u2019m too old to have my sons running out on me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAw, Pa,\u201d replied Hoss as he blushed slightly. He was embarrassed at the emotion his father was showing. \u201cI\u2019m sorry. I was just so worried about Joe, and I guess I wasn\u2019t thinking straight.\u201d He looked into his father\u2019s eyes. \u201cJoe is going to be all right, isn\u2019t he?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you ask me?\u201d a voice said from behind Ben.<\/span><\/p>\n

A startled expression crossed Hoss\u2019 face as he looked over his father\u2019s shoulder. Joe was standing in the doorway of the house. He had a huge smile on his face.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe walked slowly toward his brother. He moved stiffly, and was leaning heavily on a cane. But he was walking.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHot diggity!\u201d Hoss shouted when he saw Joe. He rushed past Ben and toward Joe. Hoss threw his arms open, preparing to give his brother a bear hug.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, don\u2019t!\u201d Joe cried in alarm.<\/span><\/p>\n

Immediately, Hoss skidded to a stop and dropped his arms. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Joe,\u201d he apologized. \u201cI forgot.\u201d Hoss looked into Joe\u2019s eyes. \u201cI\u2019m sorry about everything,\u201d he added. \u201cI never meant for you to get hurt. Honest.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou big ox, I know that,\u201d said Joe with a grin. \u201cActually, I thought it was a pretty good joke, you’re taking my horse. At least, I did for awhile.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I promise you, I ain\u2019t never going to do anything like that again,\u201d Hoss promised earnestly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t say that, Hoss,\u201d advised Joe. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be pretty dull around here if you mean it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss is right,\u201d Ben stated, as he walked toward Hoss and Joe. \u201cThis whole thing started because you two can\u2019t resist playing tricks on each other. I think it\u2019s time you both stopped.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAw, Pa…,\u201d Joe started to say.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t \u2018Aw, Pa\u2019 me,\u201d Ben interrupted. \u201cFrom now on, I want you two to behave yourselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to worry about me,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cI swear I ain\u2019t never going to play any more tricks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t say anything. He just smiled, a gleam dancing in his eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

For the next few weeks, Hoss threw himself into the work around the ranch with renewed fervor. He had apologized to Hop Sing, and to the hands. The ranch hands watched him warily for a while, but they finally decided the angry bear was gone, and the gentle giant was back. Hop Sing just smiled happily as he watched his meals disappear.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe was sitting in the rocker in front of the house as Hoss rode up. His back was improving, but he was still too stiff and sore to ride. He also insisted he was much too sore to do any chores. Ben had doubted that Joe couldn\u2019t at least clean guns or repair tack, but he decided not to make an issue of it. At least, he wasn\u2019t going to make an issue of it for another day or two.<\/span><\/p>\n

As he watched Hoss halt his horse and dismount, Joe smiled. He was glad Hoss was back to his old self.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow you feeling, little brother?\u201d Hoss asked as he walked up to the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m improving,\u201d Joe answered. \u201cPa\u2019s going to let me ride in the wagon to Virginia City tomorrow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, that\u2019s great,\u201d enthused Hoss. \u201cThat means you\u2019ll get to see the Founder’s Day horse race. I hear Clint Smith thinks he\u2019ll win this year.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, he\u2019s only going to win because I\u2019m not riding,\u201d Joe grumbled. Suddenly, Joe\u2019s mouth twitched. \u201cYou seen any of the handbills for Founders Day?\u201d Joe asked casually.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019ve been too busy,\u201d answered Hoss. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, no reason,\u201d said Joe. \u201cI just wondered if you were going to enter the contest.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cContest?\u201d Hoss asked. \u201cWhat contest?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re giving a prize this year for the fellow who can untangle reins the fastest,\u201d explained Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUntangles reins?\u201d Hoss said with a puzzled look. \u201cThat\u2019s kind of strange, ain\u2019t it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, it\u2019s one of those fun contests,\u201d replied Joe. \u201cYou know, like chasing a greased pig.\u201d Joe looked at Hoss with a serious expression. \u201cThey\u2019re offering a $50 prize, though.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c$50 prize!\u201d Hoss said in amazement. \u201cThat\u2019s a lot of money.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt sure is,\u201d agreed Joe. \u201cI was going to enter. But I don\u2019t know if I\u2019ll be able to do it, with my bad back and all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s too bad,\u201d sympathized Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Hoss,\u201d Joe said suddenly. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you enter?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMe?\u201d replied Hoss in surprise. \u201cNo, I couldn\u2019t do that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy not?\u201d asked Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith these big ol\u2019 hands?\u201d Hoss answered, pushing his hands out. \u201cI\u2019d just fumble around.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHmmm,\u201d mused Joe, nodding thoughtfully. \u201cTell you what. There\u2019s some tangled reins in the tack room. I was going to use them to practice on. Why don\u2019t you try them instead. You could see how long it takes to untangle them, and then decide if you want to enter.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Immediately, Hoss\u2019 face brightened. \u201cHey, that\u2019s a good idea, Joe, You don\u2019t mind? I mean, you was going to practice on them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, you\u2019re my brother,\u201d Joe said earnestly. \u201cI\u2019m happy to let you have them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGee, thanks, Joe,\u201d replied Hoss gratefully. \u201cI really appreciate it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAny time, Hoss,\u201d said Joe with a wave of his hand. \u201cAny time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Turning his back to Joe, Hoss walked toward the tack room. Joe waited until his brother was out of sight, then burst into laughter.<\/span><\/p>\n

Strolling out of the house, Adam looked curiously at Joe, who was still giggling and laughing. \u201cWhat\u2019s so funny?\u201d asked Adam.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe just shook his head and laughed.<\/span><\/p>\n

A bit baffled by Joe\u2019s behavior, Adam shrugged his shoulders. He nodded toward Hoss\u2019 horse. \u201cWhere\u2019s Hoss?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Still laughing, Joe looked up at his oldest brother. \u201cHe\u2019s in the tack room, working on those tangled reins,\u201d Joe answered with a chuckle.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI thought Pa told you to do that,\u201d Adam said with a frown.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Hoss wanted to do it,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cHe wanted to practice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPractice?\u201d Adam asked. \u201cWhat for?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor the \u2018Untangle the Reins\u2019 contest in Virginia City tomorrow,\u201d answered Joe. He began laughing again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor the what?\u201d Adam said with a puzzled expression. Suddenly his face cleared as he understood. \u201cJoe, you\u2019re incorrigible,\u201d Adam commented with a laugh.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I guess I am,\u201d agreed Joe with a giggle. \u201cBut you have to admit it\u2019s funny.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d better not let Pa find out what you did,\u201d Adam advised, grinning. \u201cHe still doesn\u2019t think playing tricks on each other is so funny.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry, I\u2019ll tell Hoss,\u201d promised Joe. \u201cBut not till he\u2019s finished untangling those reins.\u201d He chuckled again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, one of these times Hoss is just going to haul off and bash you,\u201d Adam warned.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe,\u201d agreed Joe. \u201cBut it\u2019ll be worth it. I\u2019ll die laughing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Suddenly, Adam sobered. \u201cThat\u2019s not so funny, Joe,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s what almost happened in the canyon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe grew somber also. \u201cI know, Adam,\u201d he agreed. \u201cBut we can\u2019t just sit around here and be polite to each other all the time. For one thing, that\u2019s boring. And we wouldn\u2019t be who we really are.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam thought for a minute, then nodded. \u201cI guess you\u2019re right,\u201d he said with a sigh.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure I\u2019m right,\u201d stated Joe. \u201cJust think how things would be around here if we didn\u2019t laugh with each other. It\u2019s things like that snipe hunt that make life fun.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe could use a little less fun sometimes,\u201d Adam remarked sternly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Adam,\u201d disagreed Joe. \u201cThe tricks and jokes, well, they\u2019re just a way of showing how much we care for each other. We wouldn\u2019t bother with them if we didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI hope Hoss knows that,\u201d Adam said wryly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe does,\u201d Joe assured him. He pulled himself stiffly out of the chair. \u201cI guess I\u2019ll go help Hoss practice,\u201d he added. Joe giggled again.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Adam watched Joe walk stiffly across the yard toward the tack room, he thought about what his youngest brother had said. Maybe Joe is right, he admitted. Laughter is important. If you don\u2019t laugh, you don\u2019t really live. You just exist.<\/span><\/p>\n

With a smile slowly spreading across his face, Adam started walking toward the tack room also. He decided he needed a good laugh.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary:\u00a0 Joe pulls Hoss into another prank that could cost more than he bargained for.<\/p>\n

Word Count: \u00a027,300 \u00a0Rated: \u00a0T<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10338,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,4,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13946","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-drama","category-humor","category-hurtcomfort","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-4-id","wpcat-41-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1382,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":25249,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=25249","url_meta":{"origin":13946,"position":0},"title":"Late Return (by Silver Sven)","author":"silver sven","date":"December 25, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: The family had to rearrange the allocation of their work. Therefore, Joe had to ride out on his own. Did he manage his work? Rating: G Word Count: 750","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\/2019\/12\/advent.jpg?fit=480%2C413&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":46851,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=46851","url_meta":{"origin":13946,"position":1},"title":"The Voice (by Imogene)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"November 24, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0A voice visits Joe during the night Rating:\u00a0 G Words:\u00a0 1,520","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\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":38049,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=38049","url_meta":{"origin":13946,"position":2},"title":"Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (by fanofoldtvshows)","author":"Fanofoldtvshows","date":"December 25, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Joe reads to his nieces and nephews on Christmas Eve. Written for day 23 of the 2021 Advent Calendar. Rating: G Word Count: 1070","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/30wreath.jpg?fit=450%2C549&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6966,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6966","url_meta":{"origin":13946,"position":3},"title":"Tying One On (by BluewindFarm)","author":"BluewindFarm","date":"May 6, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Three Cartwrights look out the window in disbelief of the scene below. Rating :\u00a0 K+ (840 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Adam Cartwright"","block_context":{"text":"Adam Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1005"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/ac-pic.jpg?fit=335%2C328&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":60979,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=60979","url_meta":{"origin":13946,"position":4},"title":"The Pillow (by AdamsMyHero)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"August 2, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Joe steals Adam's pillow which leads to a week of unrest and trouble for the whole family! 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