{"id":1408,"date":"2014-04-20T10:45:07","date_gmt":"2014-04-20T14:45:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1408"},"modified":"2025-02-18T19:13:29","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T00:13:29","slug":"wish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1408","title":{"rendered":"Wish (by Belle)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/strong>Adam and Joe are fighting again. This time they learn to be careful what\u00a0they wish for!<\/p>\n

Rating: K+ \u00a0<\/strong>(11,424 words)<\/p>\n

Wish<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cNot my problem, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam leaned against the tree gazing at his youngest brother with cool indifference.\u00a0 He figured it was bad timing that led them to meet on the Virginia City road\u2014Adam on the way into town for the evening; Joe coming home from school.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, brother, it\u2019s not your problem.\u00a0 In fact, it ain\u2019t even a problem at all.\u00a0 It\u2019s just a favor.\u201d\u00a0 Joe cajoled.\u00a0 \u201cRemember, I asked you for help last week, and you said you would be glad to give me a hand.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I didn\u2019t think you intended to wait until the last minute to get back with me.\u00a0 And, as it happens, I have plans.\u201d\u00a0 Adam started back to his horse, but he didn\u2019t get far before Joe grabbed his arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, it won\u2019t take you that long to look over my paper.\u00a0 I have to read it to the class tomorrow, and I want to do a good job.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t look it over tonight, I won\u2019t have time to fix anything and copy it over for tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I\u2019ve already gone through grammar school.\u00a0 I\u2019m not doing your homework.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just told you!\u00a0 I wrote the paper.\u00a0 I just want you to look at it and tell me if I missed anything.\u00a0 C\u2019mon, you love John Donne, and you did promise to help.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, you\u2019re sixteen years old\u2014you won\u2019t even be in school after next tomorrow.\u00a0 It\u2019s a little late to show interest, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot you know,\u201d Joe muttered. \u201cStop bein\u2019 so selfish and give me a hand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Selfish!? That<\/em> was rich coming from his spoiled youngest brother.<\/p>\n

Adam shook off Joe\u2019s arm and swung onto Sport. \u201cLook, baby<\/em> brother, you left this until the last minute as always.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got better things to do than wait around to pick up after you again.\u00a0 So, toddle on home, finish your paper, and you can bring your education to its predictably ignominious end.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, at least I\u2019m not the end of an ignoramus!\u201d \u00a0Joe yelled furiously.<\/p>\n

Adam was frankly shocked-not at the insult, but rather that Joe could manage such a play on words.\u00a0 Must have been an accident<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne night, Adam! I\u2019m asking you for one night to help with somethin\u2019 important that I thought you might even like doin.\u2019\u201d\u00a0 Joe was crowding Sport and pulling at Adam\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, well maybe, I\u2019d like one night where no one needs me to do something, fix something, or think of something for them.\u00a0 Did you ever think of that?\u00a0 Oh, no, that wouldn\u2019t occur to Little Joe Cartwright who gets whatever he wants handed to him on a silver platter.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDammit, Adam.\u00a0 I strain my guts out around here and never get a lick of credit!\u00a0 All I get from you is crap about bein\u2019 younger and smaller.\u00a0 I wish you would get down from your high-and-mighty perch long enough see what someone else is goin\u2019 through.\u201d<\/p>\n

At that point, Adam figured he could spare the time to thoroughly thrash the kid.\u00a0 Deliberately\u2014gracefully, even\u2014he slid off Sport. Taking a moment to roll his shoulders and stretch his long arms, he advanced on Little Joe who steadfastly held his ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first thing I\u2019m going to teach you, boy, is to watch your language.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to give you the tanning you so richly deserve.\u00a0 You know what I wish, Little Joe?\u00a0 I wish you would grow up and figure out just what responsibility feels like.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unnoticed, the sky darkened as clouds skittered along chased by an unexpectedly chill wind. Distant thunder rumbled, and the breeze that was summer soft a few minutes before kicked up dust and gravel from the trail.\u00a0 Cochise and Sport snorted and fussed, alarmed by the oncoming storm and disturbed by the ruckus a few feet away.\u00a0 As the brothers circled each other, fists clenched and furious, the storm broke driving rain and wind on top of them.\u00a0 There was no time at all to react; no time to seek shelter or even to speak to each other before a tremendous bolt of lightning struck the nearby tree shattering the trunk and hurtling limbs and debris into the air to fall heavily on the combatants.<\/p>\n

XXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s head was pounding when he managed to open his eyes to see . . . not much of anything.\u00a0 The rain was gone.\u00a0 Sodden pine boughs covered him, and his skin still tingled from the lightning strike.\u00a0 Convincing his arms and legs to move took a little while, but eventually he was able to move the dirt and branches so that he could push up on his elbows.\u00a0 A few feet away under a pile of limbs and debris, someone else was fighting a similar battle.\u00a0 A frightening realization choked Adam.\u00a0 Joe!\u00a0 <\/em>His brother had been right beneath the tree when the strike occurred.\u00a0 How badly had the kid been hurt?\u00a0 \u00a0Adam hauled himself to his hands and knees and crawled toward the figure.\u00a0 Every movement seemed to shake the pine needles, bark, and dirt tangled in his hair into his face.\u00a0 Brushing impatiently at the hair in his eyes, Adam barely noticed the blood slicking his fingers.<\/p>\n

Panic drove him to fling bark and boughs from the mound covering his brother.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s legs were moving sluggishly and he could hear the kid moan.\u00a0 \u201cHold on, boy, you\u2019ll be all right,\u201d Adam kept repeating.\u00a0 Adam was unsure what sort of injuries the debris might be hiding. He steeled himself to deal calmly and rationally with whatever needed to be faced.\u00a0 Unfortunately, right at the point he grabbed Joe\u2019s black shirt and rolled him over, Adam knew that he hadn\u2019t prepared himself at all\u2014not one little bit.\u00a0 The face staring back at him, hazel eyes blinking away the dirt, was the face of Adam Cartwright.<\/p>\n

It must be a head wound . . . a concussion . . . delirium . . . because this, this is not possible!\u00a0 <\/em>Adam sat back abruptly fighting to retain control and make sense out of nonsense.\u00a0 He scrubbed his sweaty palms on his pants and pushed hair out of his eyes.\u00a0 No, no, no . . . my hair\u2019s not that long!\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

In dazed fascination, Adam sat there and watched himself <\/em>pull free of the wreckage.\u00a0 He watched \u201cAdam Cartwright\u201d run his hands over his face.\u00a0 Those hands lingered on the beard-shadowed jaw, and then touched the neck and chest above the open collar of the shirt.\u00a0 When both pairs of eyes finally met, the reaction was instantaneous, furious, and identical.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you do?!\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n

XXXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n

The shouting lasted longer than necessary, but not nearly long enough to be satisfying. Although their new reality was literally right in front of them, there was no explanation in sight. Somehow, some way, Adam was Joe and Joe was Adam. No matter how much he paced, or how hard he pinched the bridge of Joe\u2019s nose, Adam couldn\u2019t figure out how or why it all happened.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care how.\u00a0 I don\u2019t care why.\u00a0 Just fix it.\u201d\u00a0 Joe was sitting on the ground, head in hands, long legs stretched out in front, the mud making a perfect mess of the black pants and shirt.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd just what do you expect me to do!\u00a0 Summon another lightning bolt?\u00a0 Perform surgery?\u00a0 Conduct a s\u00e9ance?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe flung himself back into the dirt, arms and legs flung wide.\u00a0 \u201cWhat are we goin\u2019 to tell Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I don\u2019t know, Joe. Maybe . . . \u2018well, Pa, we were having a bit of an altercation earlier this afternoon when an errant lightning bolt struck somehow switching our souls into one another\u2019s body.\u00a0 By the way, what\u2019s for supper?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe rolled over face down and covered his head with his hands.\u00a0 Just looking at him ticked Adam off.<\/p>\n

\u201cKnock it off, Joe.\u00a0 You\u2019re making me look ridiculous.\u201d\u00a0 The words were barely out of his mouth before he found himself flat on the ground.\u00a0 Joe was using his newfound heft to pin Adam to the ground and shake him until his head was spinning again.\u00a0 Try as he might, Adam couldn\u2019t shove Joe off him, and it was getting a little hard to breathe.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet off me, Joe, you don\u2019t know my own strength!\u201d<\/p>\n

How much do I weigh, anyhow? Maybe I do need to lay off the flapjacks,<\/em> Adam found himself wondering.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop talkin\u2019 like that!!\u00a0 What are we gonna do?\u201d\u00a0 Joe rolled off him finally, but not before punching him once in the shoulder for good measure.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook,\u201d Adam said rubbing at the new bruise on his shoulder, \u201cuntil this . . . condition . . . wears off, I think we\u2019re both going to have to pretend to be the other brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think it will wear off?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked softly.<\/p>\n

Lord, how does he get my face to do that?<\/em>\u00a0 Adam was certain he had never before worn such an expression of plaintive hopefulness.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, Joe\u201d Adam said with a whole lot more confidence than he felt.\u00a0 \u201cIn the meantime, you know, just act like me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn other words, walk around like I\u2019ve got a stick up my butt?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt least I don\u2019t have my head up there!\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead of giving Adam the punch to the jaw he expected, Little Joe snorted and giggled\u2014in the baritone range.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Still laughing, he grabbed a large pinecone in his right hand and chucked it at Adam\u2019s head.\u00a0 Without thinking, Adam snatched it out of the air with his left hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that was interesting,\u201d mused Adam.\u00a0 Perhaps our bodies retain preferences borne of habit.\u00a0 <\/em>Testing his theory, Adam carefully approached an understandably skittish Cochise.\u00a0 Trying not to think too hard about what he was attempting, he grabbed the saddle horn and vaulted perfectly into the saddle.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis just might work, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

XXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n

The brothers planned their strategy, such as it was, on the ride home.\u00a0 Fool Pa, Hoss, and Hop Sing; get through supper unnoticed; and escape to Joe\u2019s room to \u201cwork on Joe\u2019s paper.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Adam was sure that given a little time with some of the books in his room, he could find them a way out of this fiasco.\u00a0 Since Joe was being uncharacteristically quiet on the ride back, it allowed Adam an opportunity to consider the problem in peace.\u00a0 By the time they arrived at the house, Adam remembered he had both volumes of Faraday\u2019s Experimental Researches in Electricity<\/em> in his room.\u00a0 Perhaps that was the place to start.\u00a0 Despite the pounding headache and numerous lightning and brother-induced injuries, Adam was feeling cautiously optimistic.<\/p>\n

They took a bit longer than normal caring for their horses considering their anxiety about facing their father and brother.\u00a0 After dawdling as long as possible, they gave up and headed into the house.<\/p>\n

Clearly, their absence had been noted.\u00a0 Or at least Joe\u2019s absence had been noticed.\u00a0 They had barely gotten through the door to hang their hats and lay their gun belts on the sideboard before Pa was in front of \u201cLittle Joe\u201d checking him over.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat in tarnation happened to you, boy?\u201d<\/p>\n

As agreed, \u201cAdam\u201d took the lead.\u00a0 \u201cNot a big deal, Pa.\u00a0 Ran into a little squall on the road and caught a few broken branches.\u00a0 All\u2019s well.\u00a0 What\u2019s for supper?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA little squall!\u00a0 Joseph, you look as if a tree fell on top of you!\u00a0 Come over here and let me take a look at that gash on your head.\u201d\u00a0 Adam allowed himself to be led over to the settee.\u00a0 Pa held \u201cLittle Joe\u2019s \u201cchin in a warm hand, and his worried eyes searched for signs of serious injury.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa,\u201d growled Joe.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s fine.\u00a0 Tell him, Little Joe<\/em>, you\u2019re fine.\u201d\u00a0 The spark in Joe\u2019s eyes could have lit a bonfire.\u00a0 Adam hated to see the kid suffer.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa,\u201d Adam murmured, \u201cI am a little shaken up.\u201d\u00a0 Ben ran a hand through his hair and eased him back to recline on the settee.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Hop Sing hustled in from the kitchen carrying a basin of water and a towel that he deposited on the square table.<\/p>\n

\u201cMista Adam very dirty.\u00a0 Change clothes now; wash up.\u00a0 Supper ready soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam watched Joe\u2019s mouth fall open in apparent dismay. He could almost read his little brother\u2019s mind. Very dirty!\u00a0 Go change?\u00a0 Is that all I get??\u00a0 <\/em>Adam settled back allowing his father to fuss over him, wipe the blood from his forehead, and hold a glass of water for him to sip from.\u00a0 Wonder if I could convince Pa that I need a glass of brandy?<\/em><\/p>\n

Apparently Joe had the same idea.\u00a0 Adam watched with narrowed eyes as Joe sauntered over to the decanter and poured himself a healthy portion.\u00a0 Raising the glass in salute, Joe brought it to his lips.<\/p>\n

\u201cUh, brother . . .\u201d Adam started to caution him, but it was too late.\u00a0 Joe knocked back the brandy as if it were lemonade. The resulting choking fit nearly brought him to his knees.\u00a0 Eyes streaming, Joe waved his father off and climbed unsteadily up the stairs to change clothes.<\/p>\n

XXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n

By the time supper was served, Adam was starving.\u00a0 In fact, he couldn\u2019t remember the last time he felt so empty.\u00a0 Piling his plate with roast pork, sweet potatoes, and string beans, he caught the amused glances between Hoss and his father.<\/p>\n

\u201cHard to believe this one was ever a picky eater, ain\u2019t it, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss laughed as he dug into his own meal.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Joseph is a growing boy.\u201d\u00a0 Ben smiled with pride.\u00a0 Adam glanced over at Joe.\u00a0 Definitely looking a little green around the gills.\u00a0 That\u2019ll teach him not to gulp good liquor.\u00a0 Adam was so tickled that he apparently missed what was being said to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa\u2019s talkin\u2019 to you, dumb ass.\u201d\u00a0 Joe\u2019s petulant voice broke in on his thoughts.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, what\u2019s gotten into you tonight?\u201d\u00a0 Pa was shocked and furious at his language.\u00a0 Joe immediately apologized.\u00a0 Ben harrumphed a little in irritation and turned back to his \u201cyoungest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I was saying, are you looking forward to finishing school?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir.\u00a0 Is there anything for dessert?\u201d\u00a0 Now, Adam remembered the last time he felt so famished.\u00a0 He<\/em> was sixteen.\u00a0 Basking in Hop Sing\u2019s approval, Adam devoured a large piece of apple pie while Joe drummed his fingers impatiently on the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Little Joe<\/em>, if you\u2019re through stuffin\u2019 your face, let\u2019s get upstairs and work on that paper.\u201d\u00a0 Joe grabbed his brother firmly by the arm and tugged him out of the chair.\u00a0 Being hauled away from the table, or anywhere else for that matter, was a new experience for Adam.\u00a0 He tolerated being shoved up the stairs into Joe\u2019s room until the door was closed behind them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is your problem?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy problem?\u00a0 I think that\u2019s pretty obvious, ain\u2019t it?\u00a0 Can we please try to figure out how to fix whatever this is?\u201d\u00a0 Adam couldn\u2019t really argue with Joe\u2019s priorities.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine.\u00a0 I\u2019ll look over your paper while you go into my room and bring out a couple of books for me to look at. You\u2019re looking for Michael Faraday\u2019s Experimental Researches in Electricity[i]<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0 Don\u2019t touch anything else!\u201d\u00a0 Adam could nearly hear Joe roll his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat.\u00a0 Where do I look?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam sat down at the desk with Joe\u2019s essay spread out in front of him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very simple.\u00a0 Books are shelved alphabetically by author and grouped by subject.\u00a0 Starting at the top left, you\u2019ll find books on Agriculture, followed by Architecture, Botany, and so forth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine.\u00a0 Got it\u2014E for electricity and F for Faraday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, look under R.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cR?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRecent Acquisitions.\u00a0 Anything under six months old.\u00a0 And make sure you are looking in the non-fiction reference section. The books won\u2019t be on the P-cubed shelves.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe what?!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cP-cubed.\u00a0 Poetry, plays, and prose, of course.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Adam hardly looked up as he penciled various changes on Joe\u2019s paper.\u00a0 He did hear the bed creak when Joe flung himself across the mattress.<\/p>\n

\u201cAaargh, my head hurts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Joe, we did have a tree fall on us.\u201d<\/p>\n

XXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n

The last thing Joe remembered before dropping off to sleep in Adam\u2019s bed was his fervent prayer that by morning everything would be back the way it was supposed to be.<\/p>\n

The first thing Joe realized as soon as he opened his eyes in Adam\u2019s bed was that nothing was the way it was supposed to be.<\/p>\n

A soft knock at the door preceded Hop Sing arriving with a basin of hot water and towels.\u00a0 Joe watched curiously as Hop Sing laid out shaving equipment on the dresser in front of the mirror and slipped out wordlessly.\u00a0 Rubbing his hand across his jaw, Joe felt the bristly beard.\u00a0 Accustomed to shaving only for special occasions, whether he needed to or not, Joe was unexpectedly excited at the prospect.\u00a0 He jumped out of bed and began searching through Adam\u2019s clothing for something to wear.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, let\u2019s see, big brother, looks like my choices are black or black.\u00a0 Wait, there\u2019s a red shirt crammed in the back.\u00a0 Nah, don\u2019t want folks to notice anythin\u2019 different.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe dressed quickly and shaved carefully.\u00a0 Adam sure has a lot more hair to fuss over.\u00a0 <\/em>Regarding himself in the mirror, he unbuttoned the top of his shirt to allow more of the manly chest to show.\u00a0 Then he carefully folded the shirt sleeves up above the elbow and flexed his biceps a bit- just to see the effect.<\/p>\n

Joe studied \u201chis\u201d wavy black hair.\u00a0 Maybe a little less pomade and a lot more curl<\/em>. Joe had just arranged a nice curl right up front when Adam showed up without knocking, naturally.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you were an early riser, brother.\u00a0 You don\u2019t have much time before you need to leave for school.\u201d\u00a0 Gosh, this older brother stuff is fun<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks for the reminder, Joe.\u00a0 Of course, it took a while to search through all of your drawers to find a pair of matching socks.\u00a0 And speaking of drawers, little brother, that\u2019s<\/em> something I couldn\u2019t find.\u201d<\/p>\n

My, my, he sure is lookin\u2019 cranky.\u00a0 <\/em>Joe continued to put the finishing touches on \u201chis\u201d hair.\u00a0 \u201cHuh, imagine that.\u00a0 Never liked those things myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI discovered that yesterday.\u00a0 WHAT are you doing to my hair?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought I\u2019d try somethin\u2019 different.\u201d\u00a0 Joe flashed a cheeky grin at his brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you\u2019d better comb it correctly,\u201d Adam hissed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I think it looks better this way.\u201d Joe continued to artfully manipulate the dark waves.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn that case, I suppose I\u2019d better get a haircut after school.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two brothers glared at each other in an apparent standoff; it wasn\u2019t surprising who gave in first.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine. \u00a0I\u2019ll comb it straight.\u00a0 Just don\u2019t . . . don\u2019t cut it.\u201d\u00a0 Joe went to work undoing his previous work.\u00a0 Adam watched as long as he could before intervening.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust stop; I\u2019ll do it.\u201d \u00a0Adam snatched the brushes away and began vigorously brushing \u201cAdam\u2019s\u201d hair.\u00a0 Apparently, he wasn\u2019t being particularly gentle if the yelps were any indication.\u00a0 Yelping led to cursing that moved to arguing which progressed quickly to shoving until they heard someone clearing his throat behind them.<\/p>\n

The brothers turned to find Hoss leaning against the door frame, arms crossed and brows drawn together.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you fellas like, I\u2019ll rustle you up some hair ribbons or maybe a bonnet.\u00a0 Otherwise, you need to come down to breakfast.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss turned on his heel and stalked off, shaking his head in disgust.<\/p>\n

XXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n

School was a revelation to Adam.\u00a0 He\u2019d barely managed to tie Cochise to the hitching rail before he was surrounded and assaulted with back claps, slaps to the back of the head, and playful shoves from most of the boys.\u00a0 It was a bit unnerving; Adam hadn\u2019t been, well, touched<\/em>, this much since freshman hazing at Harvard.\u00a0 Moreover, every one of them felt compelled to remark on the injuries evident from the night before.\u00a0 If this kept up, Adam felt sure he was going to have a doozy of a headache well before lunch.<\/p>\n

As for the girls, that was a different problem.\u00a0 Adam had an adult man\u2019s preference for grown women.\u00a0 However, he couldn\u2019t deny that in his present state, he was a little unsettled by all the focused attention from females that just yesterday he would have considered little girls.\u00a0 Nearly every girl over thirteen greeted him with cooing words of sympathy often accompanied by batting lashes and soft hands on his arm.\u00a0 He was going to have to give Joe more credit for his powers of concentration.\u00a0 With this much distraction, it was a mystery that the kid\u2019s grades weren\u2019t a whole lot worse.<\/p>\n

When Miss Jones rang the bell, Adam was more than ready to start the day.\u00a0 He slipped into the proper seat in the back of the room alongside the handful of soon-to-be-graduates:\u00a0 Mitch, Seth, Tuck, and Anne Marie.\u00a0 She gave him a little frown of concern; but, thankfully, kept whatever she was thinking to herself.\u00a0 Looking around, Adam was struck by how few of Joe\u2019s schoolmates he knew.\u00a0 As attendance was called, he paid particular attention determined to match names to faces.<\/p>\n

Evidently, the last day\u2019s agenda was recitations.\u00a0\u00a0 Beginning with the youngest members of the school, each student was tasked with presenting their final essay to their schoolmates.\u00a0 This allowed plenty of time for audience daydreaming and given his current predicament, Adam took full advantage to mull over the plans he and Joe had discussed the night before.<\/p>\n

As he had hoped, Faraday\u2019s books had given Adam an idea of how to proceed.\u00a0 Sadly, his brother lacked the proper insight and had protested the plan rather vehemently, preferring to focus on the risk of pain and serious injury rather than consider the potential for advancing scientific knowledge.\u00a0 Whiny little wimp! <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>It had taken considerable persuasion on Adam\u2019s part to convince Joe to go along with the idea.\u00a0 Of course, it had helped that Joe had had no ideas of his own at all. They had agreed to meet after school for dinner in town with Hoss and stop at the mercantile and hardware emporium to pick up the necessary supplies.\u00a0 Adam could hardly wait to get started.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood heavens, this is taking forever,\u201d<\/em> he thought as he listened to child after child stand and read their little essays.<\/p>\n

Casting about for some entertainment, he watched Seth and Tuck write notes to each other. Anne Marie was drawing something in her sketch book, and Mitch was watching Anne Marie.\u00a0 Apparently she found the mass of dark hair cascading down her back uncomfortably hot.\u00a0 Keeping her eyes on her drawing, she absent-mindedly\u00a0clasped both hands under her hair and lifted it away from her neck.\u00a0 She shook her head\u00a0releasing her hands to allow the locks to fall back into place\u2014except for one long curl drifting forward on descent to brush Mitch\u2019s hand.\u00a0 He shivered slightly at the touch and glanced over in embarrassment at Adam.<\/p>\n

Leaning closer to \u201cLittle Joe,\u201d Mitch whispered, \u201cI dream about that hair sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded in sympathy.\u00a0 He could definitely understand that.<\/p>\n

XXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n

The timber camp was bustling with activity when Joe arrived.\u00a0 Familiar with the camp layout and most of the crew from previous visits, Joe cheerfully greeted every man he passed on the way to the foreman\u2019s shanty.\u00a0 Letting himself into the office, he found Solly, the foreman, going over a ledger.\u00a0 Solly glanced up and stared at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened to you, boss?\u00a0 Tangle with a puma on the ride in?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis? Nah, just a little accident last night.\u201d\u00a0 Giving Solly his most winning smile, Joe pulled up a chair and leaned back so that the front chair legs were off the floor.<\/p>\n

Solly squinted at him.\u00a0 \u201cI ain\u2019t never seen you smile like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe blinked.\u00a0 \u201cWhat do you mean?\u00a0 I smile.\u201d\u00a0 Adam smiles, right?\u00a0 Of course, he smiles<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure ya do, sometimes, but not with all those teeth showing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe dropped the chair back on the floor.\u00a0 Fighting back a rising panic, he reminded himself that he had to act like Adam.\u00a0 Turning the barrel of the chair toward Solly, he straddled the chair resting his arms on the chair back.\u00a0 Controlling his face was going to be a lot more challenging than controlling the chair.<\/p>\n

Think like Adam, act like Adam, be Adam<\/em>.\u00a0 Joe tried to talk himself into the proper state of mind.\u00a0 I\u2019m sensitive, brooding . . . tortured.\u00a0 <\/em>Dang, he was cracking himself up!\u00a0 Joe erupted into a giggling fit that had Solly out of the chair and in his face.\u00a0 The foreman even took a suspicious sniff in his direction.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs the pressure getting to you, son?\u201d Solly asked him sympathetically. \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t be the first fella to turn to drink.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?!\u00a0 No, I ain\u2019t drinkin\u2019!\u00a0 I\u2019m fine, you know, just a\u00a0 . . . tickle in my throat.\u00a0 So you . . . you just give me a report on what\u2019s goin\u2019 on around here.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Joe didn\u2019t have to pretend to be serious now.\u00a0 Fearful that Solly was onto him, Joe glared at the foreman\u00a0as if\u00a0daring him to ask more stupid questions.<\/p>\n

Apparently, glaring was expected behavior.\u00a0 Solly settled back into his seat and began his report.<\/p>\n

XXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n

The assignment, \u201cUsing selected works from the chosen author, demonstrate the continuing relevance of great literature to mid-nineteenth century American youth,\u201d<\/em> was perhaps a little ambitious given the student body.\u00a0 According to Joe, Miss Jones had provided exemplars of \u201cgreat\u201d literature from which to choose\u2014by drawing authors\u2019 names from a hat.<\/p>\n

Anne Marie\u2019s exposition of Richard Lovelace\u2019s To Lucasta, Going to the Warres<\/em> had been a solid, respectable presentation.\u00a0 Maybe a little romantic for Adam\u2019s taste, but he was willing to excuse that as typical of a sixteen-year old girl.\u00a0 Tuck\u2019s presentation on Ben Jonson\u2019s, Epicene<\/em>, was beyond tedious, and Adam strongly suspected that Tuck had copied most of it from some reference book.\u00a0 Seth\u2019s presentation was just uncomfortable; he recited Shakespeare\u2019s love sonnets while leering at Sara Edwards.\u00a0 Adam longed to throw a bucket of water on him.\u00a0 Worst of all was Mitch\u2019s miserable essay on John Milton\u2019s Paradise Lost.<\/em>\u00a0 The kid needed to stick to those arm wrestling matches Joe was always yammering about; clearly, Mitch had no future as a literary critic.<\/p>\n

Adam was quite pleased with himself.\u00a0 The extra time he had taken last night to rewrite Joe\u2019s essay had certainly paid off.\u00a0 When he finished, Miss Jones\u00a0applauded loudly.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, that was exceptional! The appendices comparing seventeenth century social customs and economic conditions to the present day were unexpected but much appreciated by everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Well, maybe not much<\/em><\/strong> appreciated unless everyone\u2019s appreciation was demonstrated by snoring, throwing paper wads, and making faces at the presenter.\u00a0 Philistines<\/em>.\u00a0 The most attentive audience member, Anne Marie, was looking at him as if he had two heads which was perhaps not far off the mark.<\/p>\n

When Adam returned to his desk, he found a note intricately folded and addressed in delicate script to Little Joe.\u00a0 Keeping the letter out of the sight of his classmates and teacher, he opened it quietly.<\/p>\n

Little Joe, Do you like Maddie Porter?<\/p>\n

Mark one<\/p>\n

yes\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 no<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam could appreciate the direct approach.\u00a0 Would Joe like Maddie Porter?\u00a0 He peered around the room trying to remember just who she was.\u00a0 Ah hah, she was the petite blonde with the big blue eyes and fetching figure.\u00a0 Yes, Adam was betting that Little Joe did, in fact, like Maddie Porter.\u00a0 Feeling magnanimous following his recent triumph, Adam decided to do Little Joe a favor.\u00a0 He made three dark lines under YES, refolded the paper, and sent it on its way back to the original sender.\u00a0 Little Joe could thank him later.<\/p>\n

XXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n

Solly gave Joe a complete report on the status of operations at the camp\u2014of which Joe remembered not a word.\u00a0 However, Joe was very good at appearing to listen attentively, and he was certain that he had Solly fooled.\u00a0 When Solly had asked him how to handle a couple of thorny issues, Joe had turned it back on the foreman, asking Solly for his opinion, thoughtfully considering the answer, and then giving Solly permission and authority to take care of business as he saw fit.\u00a0 The man beamed at the confidence \u201cAdam\u201d showed in him, and Joe felt pretty darn good himself for handling things so well.<\/p>\n

XXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n

There were worse ways to spend the day Adam thought as he dug into the generous lunch Hop Sing had packed.\u00a0 The oldest boys were gaggled together under a tree eating lunch; the girls were chattering and giggling a few yards away.\u00a0 Adam suspected something was amiss when Anne Marie detached herself from the girls and headed toward them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat were you thinking?\u00a0 Why did you tell Maddie that you liked her?\u00a0 You know she only wants to make Tyrone jealous!\u201d\u00a0 Anne Marie punctuated her complaints with a few slaps to the back of his head.<\/p>\n

Geez, didn\u2019t anyone teach these kids to keep their hands to themselves?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI was wonderin\u2019 why ol\u2019 Tyrone was lookin\u2019 so ticked off.\u00a0 You\u2019re in for it now, Little Joe.\u201d For someone who was supposed to be a friend, Seth didn\u2019t seem all that concerned for Little Joe\u2019s welfare.<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t take Adam long to figure out who Tyrone was among the gang of boys in the school yard.\u00a0 He was the kid with clenched fists and steam coming out of his ears.\u00a0 So that\u2019s the boy Maddie wants to make jealous?\u00a0 <\/em>Well, beauty was supposed to be in the eyes of the beholder.\u00a0 If Maddie\u2019s taste ran to slack-jawed, bug-eyed, freckle-faced buffoons, Adam figured Tyrone must be the man of her dreams.\u00a0 Tyrone might also be the man of Little Joe\u2019s nightmares.\u00a0 The guy was much taller and heavier than Little Joe.\u00a0 And since Adam was currently residing in Little Joe\u2019s body, this could be cause for concern.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, Adam\u2019s easy day looked to be taking a turn for the worse.<\/p>\n

XXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n

Joe knew that Adam routinely toured the camp and spoke to the crew when he visited.\u00a0\u00a0 Accordingly, Joe wandered about the place, stopping at the kitchen to get a sandwich and poking into things here and there.\u00a0 Everything looked fine to him, and everyone was pleasantly respectful.\u00a0 Joe had known all along that Adam bellyached about stuff just to hear himself talk.<\/p>\n

Of course, a lot of the men had stopped \u201cAdam\u201d to talk.\u00a0 They asked his advice on personal matters; they asked him to post letters and send along messages; and they asked him to pick up items in town for them.\u00a0 All these requests were a bit unnerving.<\/p>\n

Finished with their lunch, the crew headed back to work.\u00a0 Joe figured he would hang around a little longer and then go on into town.\u00a0 On the way to the kitchen hoping to catch a few leftovers, Joe heard voices coming from one of the bunkhouses.\u00a0 Thinking someone might be sick, hurt, or slackin\u2019 off, he decided to take a look-see.<\/p>\n

Walking quietly up to the door, he watched as a couple of grimy no-goods poked through personal belongings that clearly weren\u2019t their own.\u00a0 Anything of interest, anything that looked like it might be of value was dropped into a canvas bag.\u00a0 Joe caught just a little of their conversation\u2014something about hiding the stuff near Snake Creek.\u00a0 Stealing in general was a pretty serious offence in Joe\u2019s eyes, and stealing from your buddies was just plain despicable.<\/p>\n

\u201cHold it right there, fellas.\u201d\u00a0 The look on their faces was priceless.\u00a0 They hadn\u2019t heard him coming, and when they turned around and saw the \u201cboss,\u201d the younger thief looked like he might keel over in a faint.\u00a0 Joe remembered who they were then.\u00a0 The older guy was Chet and the kid was Chet\u2019s brother, Ken.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t believe that stuff belongs to you,\u201d Joe drawled in the most menacing manner he could manage.<\/p>\n

The kid blustered about a bit, trying to come up with some sort of story, but he gave up soon enough.\u00a0 Chet didn\u2019t try to talk his way out or offer any excuse; he just stared at Joe as if he would as soon shoot him as answer him.\u00a0 That stare made Joe just a mite queasy until he remembered who the yahoo thought he was staring at.\u00a0 Joe was pretty sure the guy was intimidated by Adam, and Joe wanted things to stay that way.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow I suggest that you two drop that stuff and clear out of here.\u00a0 We don\u2019t want back-stabbin\u2019 thieves around here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou owe us for four days\u2019 work,\u201d Chet growled.<\/p>\n

Can you believe this guy?\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em>Joe looked at him and thought about it for a minute.\u00a0 He could probably drag these guys into town and turn them into the sheriff, but it could be more trouble than it was worth for the little bit of stuff they had pilfered.\u00a0 Paying them a few days\u2019 wages and sending them on their way might be the better plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cPayday\u2019s tomorrow.\u00a0 Clear out of here now and find me in town later.\u00a0 We\u2019ll settle up then.\u201d\u00a0 Joe waited for them to leave and followed until they got on their horses. After bestowing a final glare and growl in their direction, Joe left them to find Solly in order to let the foreman know he needed to hire a couple of more guys.\u00a0 Joe didn\u2019t even hear what Chet had to say.<\/p>\n

\u201cSettle up later?\u00a0 You can count on it, Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

XXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n

Thankfully, recess ended before any unfortunate violence erupted.\u00a0 Miss Jones had prepared grade reports for all of the students, and she released everyone but her graduating students early.\u00a0 Adam could hear the younger kids whooping and hollering out in the school yard for a bit until they all cleared out and headed home.<\/p>\n

Miss Jones was beaming at the small group in front of her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just so pleased and proud of you all.\u00a0 Finishing school is a great accomplishment, and I commend you all for your diligence and perseverance.\u00a0 I know that you and your families are looking forward to Monday\u2019s commencement program.\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019d sure like to be in the audience and not on the stage Monday<\/em>.\u00a0 Adam mused as she rambled on.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat brings me to the matter of the commencement speaker.\u00a0 I have considered the matter carefully.\u00a0 Anne Marie, your work has been excellent all year.\u00a0 I really couldn\u2019t have asked for better.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Anne Marie blushed a little at the praise.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, Joseph, you have made tremendous strides this year.\u00a0 You have worked hard, and I can say that, finally, it looks like you have achieved close to your potential. And after hearing this morning\u2019s presentation; well, it\u2019s clear that this level of effort is worthy of reward.\u00a0 You will be the commencement speaker.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, it was Adam\u2019s turn to blush. Good job, Cartwright. The Harvard graduate triumphs over a little girl.\u00a0 Pa will be so proud.<\/em><\/p>\n

A little flicker of disappointment crossed Anne Marie\u2019s face before she\u00a0\u00a0gave “Joe” a gracious smile.\u00a0 The boys clapped \u201cJoe\u201d on the back and congratulated him for getting them out of making a speech.\u00a0 Miss Jones picked up her things and left them to clean out their desks.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnne Marie,\u201d Adam hesitated.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to . . . you aren\u2019t upset, are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

She gave him a brilliant smile and patted his hand.\u00a0 \u201cNot at all.\u00a0 You earned it, Little Joe.\u00a0 I\u2019m proud of you.\u201d\u00a0 Gathering her things, she waved to the boys and left the building.<\/p>\n

\u201cMitch, you don\u2019t think she\u2019s mad, do you?\u201d\u00a0 Adam felt terrible.\u00a0 I need to make this up to her somehow.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMad?\u00a0 No, I don\u2019t think so . . . but, you know what, I\u2019ll walk her home and make sure she\u2019s all right.\u201d\u00a0 Mitch left his side so fast that Adam didn\u2019t have a chance to say another word.<\/p>\n

Adam sighed. Everyone was gone.\u00a0 It was time to meet his brothers and get down to the real business of solving this ridiculous problem.\u00a0 His mind on the task ahead, he wasn\u2019t paying attention to his surroundings when he stepped through the door into the schoolyard.<\/p>\n

He sure wasn\u2019t expecting the punch that felt like it could have knocked his head off. Dropping his books, he looked up just in time to see Tyrone aim another punch at his face.\u00a0 Instinctively, Adam ducked and scooted away.\u00a0 Poor old Tyrone swung and missed\u2014which just made the big galoot madder.\u00a0\u00a0 Fists up and elbows in, Adam danced around on the balls of his feet, hoping that Tyrone would wear himself out swinging.\u00a0 Unfortunately, soon it was evident that the only way Tyrone would wear himself out would be\u00a0by punching \u201cJoe.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0Adam was beginning to consider the wisdom of crying \u201cuncle\u201d when Tyrone was lifted off him and tossed aside like a sack of grain.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s enough of that.\u00a0 You get on outta here,\u201d Hoss bellowed at Adam\u2019s tormenter.<\/p>\n

Tyrone didn\u2019t stop to argue; but he did pause long enough to shout, \u201cYou stay away from my girl, ya hear?\u201d before he ran as fast as he could down the road.<\/p>\n

Hoss bent over Adam, concern and exasperation competing for room on his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeems to me that you got into a fight on your very first day of school.\u00a0 Seems only right that you should have a fight on your very last day.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss helped Adam over to the pump and wiped the blood from his nose.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t fighting,\u201d Adam wheezed with as much dignity as he could command.\u00a0 \u201cI was jumped.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see, and why was you jumped?\u201d<\/p>\n

Since there was really no good answer to that question, Adam decided to let it go.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, clean up.\u00a0 We gotta meet Adam for an early supper at Miss Daisy\u2019s.\u00a0 Lucky for you, Pa\u2019s not comin\u2019 home \u2018til late and won\u2019t see you right away.\u00a0 He told you he\u2019d tan you if you got into another fight at school.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m too old to be tanned.\u201d\u00a0 I mean, I\u2019m really too old.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what you said the last time you got tanned.\u00a0 Come on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Perfect.\u00a0 Just perfect.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

XXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n

It was a long ride from the timber camp into town.\u00a0 Joe was accustomed to long rides; he wasn\u2019t so accustomed to being alone while he made them. Usually, rides with his brothers meant that Joe would be teased, provoked, and lectured until he lost his temper. A long ride alone meant he got plenty of time to think.\u00a0 Joe was beginning to think that he hadn\u2019t done nearly as fine a job through the day that he first imagined.\u00a0 In fact, he was experiencing something both unfamiliar and uncomfortable\u2014regret.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t like any of this was his fault.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t asked for a stupid lightning bolt to come out of the blue and turn things around so badly.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t his fault that he didn\u2019t have any actual experience with logging operations, or business, or bossin\u2019 other folks around. In a tight spot, a fella had to fall back on what he knew best, right?\u00a0 What Joe knew how to do best, he had done pretty well.\u00a0 He\u2019d been slick and mostly kept out of trouble.\u00a0 Usually at this point in the day, he\u2019d be feeling pretty pleased with himself.\u00a0 Instead, his stomach was queasy, and his mind kept replaying that incident with Chet and Ken in the bunkhouse.\u00a0 Adam would say Joe had taken the easy way out of trouble.\u00a0 Now Joe was wishing that he\u2019d taken the trouble to do things the hard way.<\/p>\n

Missing the last day of school bothered Joe more than he would ever have believed.\u00a0 He\u2019d wanted to present his paper, see his friends, and somehow celebrate the end of all those hours in that room.\u00a0 Instead, he was in over his head masquerading as an adult while Adam got to experience Joe\u2019s last day of school.\u00a0 Well, Adam\u2019s probably makin\u2019 a better job of it than I would anyway.<\/em><\/p>\n

He was tying Sport to the rail when Hoss and Adam turned the corner to head to the caf\u00e9.\u00a0 Even from a distance, it was clear that Adam had had a busy day.\u00a0 When they had left home that morning, \u201cLittle Joe\u201d looked about how someone would expect to look if a tree had fallen on top of him.\u00a0 This afternoon, it looked as if the tree had been followed by a land slide.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened to you?\u201d\u00a0 Joe couldn\u2019t believe it.\u00a0 How had his smart, self-controlled brother gotten pounded?<\/p>\n

Holding the door open, Hoss waved his brothers inside the restaurant.\u00a0 They quickly found a table, and Daisy had coffee in front of them within moments.<\/p>\n

\u201cI pulled a big ol\u2019 bug-eyed kid off him.\u00a0 Kid said Joe was messin\u2019 with his gal.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss supplied information that Adam wished had gone unsaid.<\/p>\n

Joe felt \u201cAdam\u2019s\u201d eyes were going wide at the news.\u00a0 Lord, I am goin\u2019 to be feelin\u2019 a world of hurt when we get things fixed.\u00a0 <\/em>He sighed and felt a little better seeing his brother look embarrassed.\u00a0 They all sat quietly waiting for Daisy to bring the blue plate special\u2014chicken and dumplings with a side order of ice for \u201cLittle Joe\u2019s\u201d cheek.\u00a0 The meal was delicious as always, and Joe finally felt himself begin to relax a bit.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, did you get your grades?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss was asking.\u00a0 Joe lost that relaxed feeling.<\/p>\n

Adam look flummoxed for a second.\u00a0 Then, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope that looked a little worse than it had when he had received it.\u00a0 Adam sat quietly studying it and wondering how to proceed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAin\u2019t you gonna open it?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss prodded.\u00a0 Adam shook his head and offered it to Joe.\u00a0 Joe pushed back from the table and mouthed \u201cno.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, give it over here then.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss snatched the envelope from Adam\u2019s loose grip and eased it open.\u00a0 He scanned the paper as if he was contemplating a poker hand at the Bucket of Blood.\u00a0 Joe held his breath until he saw Hoss break out into a wide grin.\u00a0 Hoss tossed the paper down and ruffled \u201cLittle Joe\u2019s\u201d hair.\u00a0 \u201cThose marks are pretty good, punkin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam picked up the paper and checked over the grades himself.\u00a0 Not bad, buddy.<\/em>\u00a0 Apparently Joe\u2019s schooling wouldn\u2019t come to such an ignominious end after all.\u00a0 He grinned at Joe and handed him the paper.\u00a0 Adam watched the flash of pride and satisfaction cross Joe\u2019s face; Joe was so pleased he was nearly bouncing in the chair.\u00a0 When Adam caught his eye, Joe remembered himself and did his best to settle down.\u00a0 Well, might as well tell the rest of it.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Jones announced the commencement speaker this afternoon.\u201d\u00a0 Adam was trying to sound casual.<\/p>\n

Joe was digging into the apple cobbler in front of him.\u00a0 \u201cIs Anne Marie excited?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Adam coughed a little.\u00a0 \u201cWell, Miss Jones actually felt that given all the effort through the year and the improvement shown,\u201d he looked up to see Joe\u2019s suddenly suspicious face.\u00a0 \u201cShe announced that Little Joe . . . I . . . would be giving the commencement speech.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAfraid so.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe got up so abruptly the chair fell over and hit the floor with a bang.\u00a0 He glared at his brother uncertain just how to say what had to be said.\u00a0 Hoss halted his congratulatory clap on his little brother\u2019s back and looked up, clearly perplexed.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne day.\u00a0 It was just one day.\u00a0 How could you mess things up so bad?\u201d\u00a0 Joe couldn\u2019t go any further.\u00a0 Adam shrugged helplessly and studied the plate in front of him as if the dinner scraps held answers.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine.\u00a0 I\u2019m goin\u2019 to pick up the payroll for tomorrow.\u00a0 Little Joe<\/em>, you got somethin\u2019 to do, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded.\u00a0 He had the list of needed supplies in his pocket.\u00a0 Little Joe was to tag along with Adam in the morning so that after taking care of the payroll they could find the space and privacy to construct the device Adam had in mind.<\/p>\n

They both hurried out the door and turned in opposite directions without saying another word to each other or Hoss.\u00a0\u00a0 Watching their backs, he sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess dinner\u2019s on me.\u201d<\/p>\n

XXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n

The Bucket of Blood lay between the restaurant and hardware emporium.\u00a0 Adam hustled down the street, list in hand, going over the items to make sure that he hadn\u2019t forgotten anything.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t notice and had no real reason to care that Chet and Ken were coming out of the saloon fresh from their attempts to soothe their bruised egos and bad attitudes.<\/p>\n

Chet grabbed Ken\u2019s arm to prevent him from going further and watched \u201cLittle Joe\u201d head down the street seemingly intent on some errand.\u00a0 Looking across the street, they watched \u201cAdam\u201d enter the bank no doubt to obtain the payroll.<\/p>\n

Chet\u2019s face lit up like Fourth of July.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoy, I know just how we\u2019re gonna settle with Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

XXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n

Adam stepped outside the hardware store clutching a bulky sack full of necessary items for his device.\u00a0 There was no sign of his brothers.\u00a0\u00a0 Maybe a stop at the telegraph office is a good idea.\u00a0 It\u2019ll just take a few minutes to look over a Daniel cell[ii]<\/strong>.\u00a0 <\/em>Once again, thinking more about his mission than his surroundings, Adam ambled past the alley separating the hardware store and haberdashery.<\/p>\n

He sure didn\u2019t see what was coming.\u00a0 A brawny hand reached out from the shadows and jerked him by the collar into the alley dumping his bag to the ground.\u00a0 Before he could make a sound, a huge arm was around his torso pinning his arms to his sides and lifting him off his feet.\u00a0 As Adam struggled to catch his breath and gather his wits, a hand closed over his mouth and nose.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/em>Adam kicked and twisted with all his strength but with no success; the guy was just too big for him.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The lack of air was taking its toll as well.\u00a0 By the time black spots started crowding out his vision, the fight was pretty much out of him.\u00a0 Vaguely, Adam sensed that he was face down in the dirt.\u00a0 A ball of cloth was stuffed in his mouth and another cloth tied tightly around his mouth and knotted at the back of his head.\u00a0 His arms were pushed into sleeves of a coat much too large for him and, a floppy brimmed hat was slammed onto his head.\u00a0 What did I do this time?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cDo as you\u2019re told, boy, and maybe you\u2019ll live through this.\u201d\u00a0 Fetid breath hissed against his cheek.\u00a0 The voice was vaguely familiar, but he couldn\u2019t see who was speaking.\u00a0 The coat collar was turned up high, and a hand pushed his chin toward his chest.\u00a0 A second man grabbed his elbow, and he was drug forward, his feet barely making contact with the ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you take care of the note?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the pinto\u2019s saddlebag.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam was sure he recognized those voices from somewhere.\u00a0 Before he had time to figure it out, he was lifted into a saddle and his hands were tied to the horn.\u00a0 The too long sleeves were jerked down to cover the rope.\u00a0 Someone swung up behind him, and he could hear another man mount a second horse.\u00a0 The man seated behind him maintained a painful grip that ensured Adam\u2019s head was down and his face obscured by the coat collar and hat.<\/p>\n

There was a horde of miners in the street changing shifts and another horde of cowboys headed toward liquid refreshment.\u00a0 No one paid any attention to the three of them, and in a horrifyingly short time, Adam and his kidnappers were down the road out of Virginia City.<\/p>\n

XXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n

Joe was aggravated.\u00a0 The line at the bank was long, and he was itching to get out of there and head home.\u00a0 By the time he finished up his business and took possession of the canvas bag full of cash, it had been nearly an hour. It didn\u2019t help that he had been stopped three times on the street by friends and neighbors asking for favors.\u00a0 He\u2019d had to promise Ned to take a look at a horse, to go by the Miller place about the best way to dig a new well, and find time to stop by the Kentuck to check the supports.<\/p>\n

Geez, can\u2019t anyone figure out anything by themselves! How does Adam put up with it? \u00a0<\/em>Joe was so frustrated that he didn\u2019t notice Hoss until he nearly crashed into him.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe with you?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss asked him.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u00a0 He had to get some stuff that we\u2019re takin\u2019 with us to the timber camp in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I expected him before now.\u00a0 You don\u2019t think he\u2019s gone into a saloon to have a beer, do ya?\u201d<\/p>\n

I would have done that, but I ain\u2019t so sure about Adam<\/em>.\u00a0 \u201cAnything\u2019s possible.\u00a0 Let\u2019s take a look.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like all boom towns, Virginia City\u2019s places of entertainment outnumbered its places of worship. It took Joe and Hoss some time to peek into the various drinking establishments.\u00a0\u00a0Avoiding only\u00a0the roughest and most run-down establishments they were certain their youngest brother wouldn\u2019t visit, they were irritable and concerned when they couldn\u2019t find him.<\/p>\n

With nothing more to go on, they headed to the hardware store to see if he had come that way.\u00a0 Jake confirmed that \u201cLittle Joe\u201d had come by and left with a sack full of purchases. Stepping out onto the boardwalk, they took a look around.\u00a0 Hoss spotted the signs of trouble first.<\/p>\n

Just inside the alley, they found the sack lying in the dirt, items scattered and trampled.\u00a0 The signs of some sort of scuffle were evident.\u00a0 Grabbing up the stuff, they ran to their horses.\u00a0 Cochise was still tied, and Hoss made short work of going through the saddlebags.\u00a0 He came upon a note stuffed into one of the bags.\u00a0 After glancing at it, Hoss gave the note to \u201cAdam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam Cartwright.\u00a0 If you want your brother back, bring the payroll to Piney Gulch at dawn.\u00a0 Come alone.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone took him.\u201d\u00a0 It didn\u2019t take a perceptive person to see the naked emotion on Hoss\u2019s face.\u00a0 Nobody messed with his brothers, especially Little Joe.\u00a0 However, Hoss was surprised to see that his stoic older brother was pale and trembling.\u00a0 Dang, this has hit ol\u2019 Adam hard<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook, Adam.\u00a0 He\u2019ll be all right. \u00a0We\u2019ll find him and deal with the yahoos who took him.\u00a0 Little Joe can handle himself.\u00a0 It ain\u2019t like he\u2019s never been taken before; the boy could write a book on hostagin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam\u2019s\u201d face twisted in disbelief.\u00a0 \u201cI could not . . . he couldn\u2019t . . . just shut up, Hoss.\u00a0 This is different.\u00a0 We gotta find him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss watched his brother pace a bit.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know who did it.\u00a0 It was those lowlifes I fired this morning, Chet and Ken.\u00a0 I heard \u2018em talkin\u2019 about their cache somewhere on Snake Creek.\u00a0 I\u2019ll bet that\u2019s where they\u2019re holed up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, that\u2019s a pretty good ride from Piney Gulch.\u00a0 Are you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I ain\u2019t sure.\u00a0 But I think so.\u00a0 You go tell the sheriff what we know, and maybe get someone to go find Pa.\u00a0 I\u2019ll ride up to the creek.\u00a0 If I don\u2019t find \u2018em before dark, I\u2019ll head toward the gulch and meet you there.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two brothers exchanged grim looks of determination.\u00a0 \u201cAdam\u201d swung into Sport\u2019s saddle and galloped out of town toward Snake Creek.<\/p>\n

XXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n

The ride to Snake Creek was awful.\u00a0 All the sore spots Adam had collected over the past hours were making themselves painfully known.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t get a good breath because of the gag, and his wrists were rubbed raw from the ropes.\u00a0 The worst part was being clutched tightly against his smelly kidnapper, Chet. Adam had finally realized who had him, but he wasn\u2019t at all clear why these two guys had taken him in the first place.<\/p>\n

Adam was just grateful to stop when they reached their destination, a campsite at a rocky clearing alongside Snake Creek.\u00a0 Ken untied his hands and helped him off the horse.\u00a0 With the gag removed and some water down his throat, Adam took a chance and asked them what was going on.<\/p>\n

\u201cBlame yer high-and-mighty brother, kid.\u00a0 He fired us and threw us outta the camp like yesterday\u2019s wash water.\u00a0 Told us he\u2019d settle with us later.\u00a0 I figured we\u2019d decide how to settle up.\u201d\u00a0 Chet spat the words at him while he yanked Adam\u2019s arms behind him and retied his wrists.<\/p>\n

\u201cRansom, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYep, your big brother\u2019s supposed to meet us at dawn tomorrow with the payroll.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam thought he might try reasoning with the men.\u00a0 \u201cYou know, kidnapping\u2019s pretty serious.\u00a0 My Pa and brothers are going to be mighty put out.\u00a0 If you let me go now, you have plenty of time to get of here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chet looked at Adam, his eyebrows raised in disbelief.\u00a0 \u201cYou hear that, Ken?\u00a0 Little Joe\u2019s concerned about us.\u00a0 Ain\u2019t that nice?\u201d\u00a0 Ken nodded. The kid didn\u2019t look nearly as sure of things as his older brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe, I ain\u2019t interested in hearing your mouth all night.\u00a0 You can shut up now or I can shut you up.\u00a0 Got it?\u201d\u00a0 Adam nodded; he was in no mood to be gagged again or knocked out.<\/p>\n

The possibilities for this turning out well seemed rather limited to Adam.\u00a0 Chet and Ken didn\u2019t seem very worried about the fact that he knew who they were.\u00a0 That seemed shortsighted on their part unless they didn\u2019t intend on keeping him alive.\u00a0 Adam figured he could wait for rescue or try to escape.\u00a0 Trussed up like he was, escape was iffy.\u00a0 The only remaining option seemed to be to wait for rescue.<\/p>\n

Well, this is just perfect<\/em>.<\/p>\n

XXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n

All my fault.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Joe had slowed Sport to an easy lope soon after they got clear of town.\u00a0 No point in hurting Adam\u2019s horse, too.\u00a0 He should have been watching for signs of the kidnappers, but the only thing on his mind was that his brother was in trouble, and Joe had made it possible.<\/p>\n

I was in charge.\u00a0 I was responsible.\u00a0 I took the easy way out.<\/em><\/p>\n

Scrubbing his shirt sleeve across the wetness blurring his vision made him curse out loud.\u00a0 No time for acting like a little kid.\u00a0 And he sure wasn\u2019t going to make Adam look ridiculous.\u00a0 He pulled Sport to a skidding halt so that he could take a few calming breaths.\u00a0 It was going to be dark soon.\u00a0 If Joe was going to find them, he needed to do so quickly.\u00a0 He was close enough to the creek that he could see its green banks and trees.\u00a0 He thought he could even hear the creek.\u00a0 If he could hear the water, there must have been a lot of runoff from a storm up high.\u00a0 When the conditions were right, the Ponderosa used Snake Creek[iii] to float logs down to the Truckee.\u00a0 It would get plenty deep and mighty cold.\u00a0 Where would those weasels hide loot?\u00a0 <\/em>If they were using a place along the creek, they might stick stuff along the banks in the many rock outcroppings.\u00a0 That didn\u2019t seem like the smartest idea to Joe given the creek\u2019s tendency to overflow.\u00a0 But, those guys didn\u2019t seem like the type to come up with the smartest ideas anyway.<\/p>\n

Joe squinted in the diminishing light and could just barely make out smoke marking some campfire maybe a mile away.\u00a0 Really?\u00a0 That\u2019s the best they could do?<\/em>\u00a0 Joe studied possible routes toward the campsite looking for a path that would take advantage of the most cover.\u00a0 Making up his mind, he checked his weapons and headed out.\u00a0 It was time to rescue his brother.<\/p>\n

XXXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n

Apparently a bottle of whiskey and the potential for ill-gotten gain made Chet talkative.\u00a0 He rambled on about how the world had mistreated him, how rich folks like the Cartwrights kept regular guys like him down, and how it wasn\u2019t even really a crime to stand up for yourself and take what should have been yours in the first place.\u00a0 Adam noticed that even Ken was looking a bit irritated.\u00a0 Chet might have forgotten that \u201cLittle Joe\u201d was there until Adam gave a snort of disgust at a particularly wild complaint.\u00a0 Reminding Chet of his presence was a mistake.\u00a0 Chet was around the campfire in an instant.\u00a0 He delivered a hard open-handed slap across Adam\u2019s face, bouncing his head off the rock behind him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you know about anythin\u2019, Little Joe?\u00a0 You\u2019ve always had stuff handed to you on a silver platter.\u00a0 It\u2019s past time you learned how much other folks put up with.\u201d\u00a0 Chet pulled his arm back for another blow.\u00a0 Fortunately, Ken stepped in and led his inebriated brother away, casting a warning glance over his shoulder at Adam clearly signaling, \u201cDon\u2019t rile him.\u201d<\/p>\n

A silver platter, huh? Where have I heard that?<\/em>\u00a0 Well, not counting the lightning bolt, in the last twenty-four hours, he had been manipulated by a scheming female, pummeled by her jealous beau, and abused by a couple of moronic kidnappers.\u00a0 If today was representative of Little Joe\u2019s life, it wasn\u2019t quite all fun and games after all.<\/p>\n

XXXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n

It burned Joe up to see his brother slapped.\u00a0 He was ready right then and there to jump out and draw down on those yahoos.\u00a0 Unfortunately, he wasn\u2019t in the right position to do more than risk putting Adam in the crossfire.\u00a0 He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully.\u00a0 If he could just work his way around so that he could put himself between Adam and those guys . . .\u00a0 The distinctive sound of a\u00a0gun being cocked reminded him that he had forgotten to keep his eyes on both<\/strong> of the kidnappers while planning his next move.\u00a0 Son of a . . . <\/em><\/p>\n

Raising his hands, Joe got to his feet.\u00a0 Ken gestured for him to drop his gun and move toward the clearing.\u00a0 Ken had already pulled the payroll bag from Sport\u2019s gear.<\/p>\n

It took a minute for Chet\u2019s boozy eyes to focus properly on \u201cAdam.\u201d\u00a0 Chet stepped over to \u201cLittle Joe\u201d and pushed the pistol against his prisoner\u2019s head.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoss, it ain\u2019t polite to arrive so early to the party.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChet, here\u2019s the money.\u00a0 Let\u2019s take it and get out of here.\u201d\u00a0 Ken threw the bag at Chet\u2019s feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll definitely do that, brother.\u00a0 We\u2019ll take the money and get out of here.\u00a0 But first, we need to tie up some loose ends.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chet raised an unsteady arm to take aim at the man in black.\u00a0 Even Chet realized that the influence of all that rotgut he\u2019d sucked down would impact his shooting abilities.\u00a0 But everyone present, even Chet, also realized that at such close range, a steady hand hardly mattered.\u00a0 Ken tried to ease him out of his murdering mood. Chet was having none of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cTime to settle up, Cartwright.\u201d\u00a0 Chet took a deep breath and pulled the hammer back.\u00a0 Murdering the boss would be a pleasure. Before he had a chance to exhale, he was flat on his back with a writhing, kicking, head butting \u201cLittle Joe\u201d on top of him.\u00a0 The two rolled in the dirt while \u201cAdam\u201d took advantage of the distraction to wrest the\u00a0gun away from Ken.\u00a0 Sadly, the element of surprise can only take a man so far, especially when that man\u2019s hands are tied and he\u2019s a whole lot smaller than the man he\u2019s surprising.\u00a0 The two of them had nearly rolled into the creek before it was clear that Chet had regained the advantage.<\/p>\n

The scuffle seemed to shake some of the booze out of Chet\u2019s system, and he had his arm around \u201cLittle Joe\u2019s\u201d neck taking considerable pleasure in squeezing the air out of him.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop there, Cartwright, or I\u2019ll kill him right now.\u201d\u00a0 Chet gripped his hostage even harder, drawing an involuntary grunt from Adam.<\/p>\n

Not seeing any way out, Joe dropped the\u00a0gun he had snagged from Ken and stepped back.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnough is enough, Cartwright.\u00a0 You ain\u2019t smart enough to know when you\u2019re beat.\u201d\u00a0 Chet was grinning from adrenaline and victory. \u201cYou got anything to say to this little smart ass?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe was only sixteen, but he had learned just recently that he hadn\u2019t learned nearly enough about the world, life,\u00a0or anything else.\u00a0 However, there was one thing that he was beginning to understand about himself: Little Joe Cartwright did love a grand gesture.\u00a0 And this situation seemed to call for a really grand gesture.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrother,\u201d he called toward Adam.\u00a0 \u201cI get it.\u00a0 I understand now about responsibility and selfishness and making an effort.\u00a0 I understand what it means to feel responsible \u2018cause I\u2019m responsible right now for getting you into this.\u00a0 I\u2019m real sorry for all of it, and I wish I could fix it.\u00a0 I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was hard enough to breathe with Chet\u2019s arm pressed against his windpipe, but the emotion in Joe\u2019s eyes and voice made the lump in his own throat even worse.\u00a0 Well, if his baby brother could admit his mistakes, so could he.\u00a0 Adam Cartwright dug deep and let go of his legendary reserve and formidable reticence.\u00a0 With a voice trembling only slightly from emotion, he looked into Joe\u2019s eyes and said it.<\/p>\n

\u201cDitto.\u201d<\/p>\n

The profound silence was unbroken except for the thunderous sound of the storm-filled creek.\u00a0\u00a0 Chet looked at his own brother and the Cartwright boys.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, fellas, that was what I would call a tender moment.\u201d\u00a0 He removed his arm from around Adam\u2019s neck and contemplated the scenery.<\/p>\n

\u201cToo bad, the moment\u2019s over.\u201d\u00a0 Lifting \u201cLittle Joe\u201d under his bound arms, Chet tossed him into the creek.\u00a0 With a stifled cry of panic, the remaining Cartwright leaped into the water after his brother.\u00a0 Chet shouted with glee, \u201cNow, that\u2019s what I call a two-fer!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ken regarded his brother with revulsion.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was the meanest thing I ever saw.\u00a0 Ma was right; you are lower than a snake\u2019s belly.\u201d Without another word to his murdering brother, Ken ran to mount his horse and headed downstream.<\/p>\n

Chet just couldn\u2019t stop grinning as he picked up the canvas bag heavy with cash.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis day just keeps gettin\u2019 better.\u201d<\/p>\n

XXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n

Swimming in an ice cold, flooding creek is always a challenge.\u00a0 Swimming with all your clothes on makes it a heckuva lot worse.\u00a0 Add the problem of having your hands tied behind your back, and your chances of staying alive long aren\u2019t that good.\u00a0 No matter how hard he fought the ropes and tried to swim, water filled Adam\u2019s mouth and nose.\u00a0 In vain, he struggled to break the surface and gulp some air.\u00a0 Adam couldn\u2019t see anything through the onslaught of water, and he wasn\u2019t too sure whether he was face up or down in the creek.<\/p>\n

Adam figured it was only matter of a time before he drowned outright or was knocked senseless against the rocks and then drowned.\u00a0 As he started to lose consciousness, he felt one of his elbows snagged and held.\u00a0 When his head broke the surface, it was only the tiniest of remaining instincts that prodded him to take a few breaths before his head plunged beneath the water again.\u00a0 The air he\u2019d swallowed did allow him briefly to understand that he wasn\u2019t snagged so much as entangled with something larger and stronger determined to fight the current. Sadly, the gulp of air wasn\u2019t enough to keep him from blacking out.\u00a0 When he came to, Adam felt inexplicably stronger.\u00a0 His head was mostly above water, and amazingly his arms were no longer bound behind him.\u00a0 Instead one of his arms was hooked around the torso of his little brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cCartwright!\u00a0 Cartwright!\u00a0 Look over here!!\u201d\u00a0 With difficulty, Adam found the source of the shouts.\u00a0 Ken was on shore swinging a lariat.\u00a0 Adam weakly raised an arm and caught the loop of rope thrown to him.\u00a0 Hanging on to his brother as well as the rope while they were hauled ashore took resources of patience and strength Adam hadn\u2019t realized he possessed.\u00a0 When they were close enough, Ken secured the rope to his horse and pulled the brothers out of the water.\u00a0 It took both men to haul Little Joe\u2019s limp body across the rocks onto a patch of grass.<\/p>\n

Little Joe\u2019s eyes were closed.\u00a0 His face was pale and tinged a ghastly blue.\u00a0 Adam couldn\u2019t see him breathing and in the absence of any better ideas, he turned Little Joe over his lap and started pounding his back.\u00a0 There was no response for so long Adam was certain that there was no longer hope.\u00a0 Finally, Little Joe convulsed and began coughing up creek water.\u00a0 Finally, his ragged choked breathing settled into something a bit less labored.\u00a0 By the time Little Joe was able to open his eyes and understand that he had lived through the day, he had been wrapped in Ken\u2019s bedroll and situated in front of a small fire.<\/p>\n

The day had turned to night.\u00a0 The first thing Little Joe saw when he opened his eyes was the inky black of the sky overhead and the flickering light from the campfire.\u00a0 The second thing he was aware of was his brother Adam\u2019s face hovering anxiously over him.\u00a0 It took a little while to understand just what measure of miracles had occurred while he was out cold.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, big brother\u201d Adam\u2019s face broke into a grin at the sound of Little Joe\u2019s voice.\u00a0 \u201cGuess we won\u2019t need your machine after all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess not.\u201d<\/p>\n

Did elder brother look a little disappointed?!\u00a0 <\/em>Little Joe shuddered a bit remembering Adam\u2019s explanation of the device and its effects.\u00a0 Noticing the shiver, Adam pulled Little Joe close to him, rubbing his arms to warm him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure what I planned would have been any more dramatic or dangerous than what actually happened,\u201d Adam muttered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did happen?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKen has more conscience than people think.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t stand watching us killed, and he hauled us out of the water.\u00a0 He\u2019s gone to get Sport.\u00a0 Once you feel better, we\u2019ll try to get home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I mean, what happened to us?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam shook his head.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t understand the last twenty four hours any better than Joe did.<\/p>\n

They remained quiet for a little while, grateful for rescue, grateful for their lives . . . just grateful.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t believe it.\u201d\u00a0 Joe\u2019s voice was still weak and raspy from nearly drowning. \u201cDitto!\u00a0 Ditto!\u00a0 I throw my heart out onto the ground in front of those two varmints and the best that you can come up with is \u2018Ditto\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam was apologetic.\u00a0 \u201cLittle Joe, I just couldn\u2019t improve on your speech.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh, that\u2019d be a first. \u00a0Lordy, Adam, what happened to me today?\u00a0 I feel like I\u2019ve been run over by a stagecoach\u2014twice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHush, Little Joe.\u00a0 You need to save your strength.\u00a0 You have to give another speech in a few days.\u201d\u00a0 Joe rolled away from him and put his head in his hands. \u00a0\u00a0Adam reached over and squeezed Joe\u2019s shoulder. He\u2019d thought Joe was shivering again; instead he could hear Joe laughing and muttering, \u201cThat\u2019s just perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n

It<\/em> really is perfect, little brother. Things really are perfect.<\/em><\/p>\n

XXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n

A few hours made a world of difference.\u00a0 It was only few hours after being pulled from the creek that Pa and Hoss found them and took them home. Before the night was over, Chet found himself in the hands of the posse.\u00a0 He and his brother were cooling their heels in Sheriff Coffee\u2019s jail.\u00a0 Ken\u2019s chances for clemency looked a whole lot brighter than Chet\u2019s.<\/p>\n

A couple of days of rest and parental hovering ensured that Joe recovered enough to be on stage for commencement Monday evening.\u00a0 In his best suit, sporting many spectacular bruises, Joe gave his speech.\u00a0 The speech was pure Little Joe\u2014self-deprecating, wry, and a little cheeky.\u00a0 He wrote every word himself.<\/p>\n

When the ceremony concluded and the audience had convened to the refreshment table, Miss Abigail approached the Cartwright clan to offer her congratulations to the graduate and best wishes to the family.\u00a0 Before stepping away, she tugged on Adam\u2019s arm and insisted on whispering in his ear.\u00a0 Joe watched his brother\u2019s eyes go wide.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did she say to you?\u201d\u00a0 Little Joe whispered.<\/p>\n

Adam choked a little before replying, \u201cshe said, \u2018I knew it was you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Many thanks to the insightful and awesome Cheaux for the beta-read.<\/em><\/p>\n

[i] Faraday is best known for his work regarding electricity and magnetism.\u00a0 Although Faraday received little formal education he was one of the most influential scientists in history.<\/p>\n

[ii] The Daniell cell was invented in 1836 by John Frederic Daniell, a British chemist and meteorologist, and consisted of a copper pot filled with a copper sulfate solution, in which was immersed an unglazed earthenware container filled with sulfuric acid and a zinc electrode.\u00a0\u00a0 It was commonly used to provide electrical current for telegraph machines.<\/p>\n

[iii] Old Sheba<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

Summary: \u00a0Adam and Joe are fighting again. This time they learn to be careful what\u00a0they wish for!<\/p>\n

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