<\/p>\n
Summary: \u00a0<\/strong>In an effort to convince Will to stay, memories are stirred like the embers of a dying fire.<\/p>\n Rating: \u00a0 (27,050 words)<\/p>\n Relatives and Reasons<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n He sat in the blue chair with his bare feet resting on the low table. His eyes had adjusted to the darkness well enough for him to watch as the door slowly opened and the slim body of his youngest cousin slipped inside. He remained quiet, planning to go unnoticed, as he watched Little Joe place his hat on the proper peg and his gun belt softly on the credenza. It was not until Joe slipped off first one boot and then the other that a slow smile spread across Will\u2019s face. Drawing in a deep breath, he thrust a single word into the silence in perfect imitation of his uncle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe spun around managing to keep his boots from clattering to the floor by clutching them to his chest. His eyes too were adjusted to the darkness and took only seconds to identify the man staring at him from the interior of the room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWill! What in the blazes! I\u2026\u201d Joe\u2019s hoarse whisper sputtered away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThought I was Uncle Ben.\u201d Will Cartwright\u2019s statement ended with a soft chuckle. \u201cHe went upstairs to bed early tonight as you hoped he would.\u201d The tone was remarkably like one that Little Joe had often heard highlighting his elder brother\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBlast you, Will. What are you doing sitting around in the dark like some big spider?\u201d Little Joe\u2019s voice remained a harsh whisper as he advanced across the floor on his stocking feet.<\/p>\n .<\/p>\n \u201cJust thinking, cousin. Don\u2019t worry; I\u2019ll not mention the hour of your return to your father.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe snorted and came to a stop in front of his cousin. \u201cDo you think I care if you do? I\u2019m not a child, Will!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd I\u2019m not the one holding my boots.\u201d Will\u2019s teasing tone matched the mocking smile that Little Joe was sure was on his cousin\u2019s face despite the fact the moonlight filtering into the room did not allow either man to clearly make out the features of the other.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe snorted again. \u201cJust because I have some consideration for others who might be sleeping.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sensing his cousin\u2019s rising ire, Will shrugged. \u201cHave it your way. Everyone else is sleeping actually.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe let the wind leave his sails as he peered through the darkness. His cousin wore only his pants and an unbuttoned shirt. \u201cWhy aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will shrugged again. \u201cWho knows? Something woke me earlier, and I don\u2019t like to toss about in bed, at least not alone. Anyway, I decided to get up and come downstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa wouldn\u2019t begrudge you a brandy, you know.\u201d Little Joe settled himself on the settee as he spoke.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know. Do you want one, or have you had enough of the demon whiskey already tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cActually, I\u2019ve had exactly three beers the entire evening.\u201d Little Joe leaned back and placed his own feet on the low table in front of him. \u201cAnd an extremely fine run at the poker table.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCongratulations, so it was cards and not whiskey or women that kept you from your bed. Would Ben be pleased about that?\u201d Will\u2019s tenor was teasing once again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot particularly, but, well, I\u2019m not a little boy, and Pa knows that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will lips curled. \u201cAhh, but the question is does he always remember it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid Uncle John?\u201d The rejoinder left Joe\u2019s lips like a ball automatically tossed back to its original sender.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe didn\u2019t have much of a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe\u2019s teeth sunk into his lower lip. \u201cOh, yeah, you were only. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSixteen. Well, closer to seventeen actually.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa tried to find you after the letter came about Uncle John. All he could find out is that you might have signed onto a ship. He tried and tried to find which one, but there wasn\u2019t a trace.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAh, yes, my voyage as an able-bodied seaman.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hearing the edge on his cousin\u2019s words, Little Joe asked, \u201cDidn\u2019t you like the sea?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot as an occupation. Perhaps if one could begin the seafaring-life as a captain, I would have felt differently.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve no objection to traveling by ship though.\u201d Little Joe felt as if his cousin\u2019s comment had been made simply to fill the silence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid you ever think of . . .well, did you know. . . I mean, there would have been a place for you here. Didn\u2019t you know that, Will?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cActually, I did.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen why didn\u2019t you come to us?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will set his feet on the floor, stood, and walked over to the brandy decanter without answering. \u201cDo you want one, cousin?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, just an answer.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will finished pouring his drink and then turned back to face Little Joe. \u201cI wasn\u2019t looking for another family. I didn\u2019t want roots anymore than my father did.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe Bible says there\u2019s a time for everything. Maybe Uncle John would have finished his time for wandering and found a time for roots.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will walked back to his previous seat. \u201cAre you asking if this is my time for roots?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGuess that is what I\u2019m asking.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will downed his brandy in one swallow and set the glass on the table. \u201cI don\u2019t know, Joe. Until your father brought me here, I would have said that time would never come for me, but now, well, I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa wants you to stay.\u201d It was a simple statement of the truth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDo you and your brothers?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Do we?<\/em> Little Joe was less sure of the answer to that question. \u201cYou\u2019re our cousin; there will always be a place for you on the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reaching for the brandy glass, Will remembered it was empty and simply turned it around and around in his fingers. \u201cBecause Ben has instilled a strong sense of family obligation in each of you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, he did, but that\u2019s not all of it. Actually, we\u2019ve started to like you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will\u2019s low chuckle once again floated between them. \u201cYou know, Little Joe, I expected to have this conversation with Adam not you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam would be telling you not to stay just long enough to hurt our pa when you leave.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd how long would that be?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe shrugged. \u201cIt\u2019s probably been too late since the day you set foot on the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will\u2019s sigh barely reached Joe\u2019s ears. \u201cI\u2019ve thought about what it might have been like if I had come here after my father died. I almost did.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe wished he could light a lamp and see his cousin\u2019s face clearly but was afraid the darkness was part of the reason Will was saying as much as he was.\u00a0\u201cWhat changed your mind?\u201d Little Joe\u2019s tone did not demand an answer but simply requested one.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI was going through my father\u2019s things. I found a letter from your father to mine. It must have been written soon after my mother died. It asked my father to bring me and come to the Ponderosa. It offered us both a place here. My father hadn\u2019t accepted the offer then; when I thought of that, I couldn\u2019t come.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat didn\u2019t mean that Uncle John wouldn\u2019t have wanted you to come.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps not, but at that moment to me it did.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd now?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLike I said, I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not the same thing, you know. Your pa, well, he would have been going to his younger brother; well, maybe it was his pride; maybe he wanted to come, well, after he, well. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFound his pot of gold?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa doesn\u2019t think of you as no poor relation, Will.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will ended the conversation. \u201cYour father\u2019s opinion would be that we both should be in bed.\u201d Standing, he turned toward the stairs, \u201cGood night, cousin.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe watched as Will ascended the stairs and then went to his own bed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Turning his head at the sound of footsteps on the stairs, Adam took the final sips of his morning coffee as he watched his cousin descend. \u201cGood morning, Will.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMorning, cousin.\u201d Will strode across the floor and settled himself at the dining table. Picking up the coffee pot, he poured himself a cup. Then he asked, \u201cMore for you?\u201d Adam nodded, and Will refilled his cousin\u2019s cup before setting the pot back on the table and reaching for a platter of fried ham.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re up early,\u201d remarked Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will lifted his shoulders in a slight shrug. \u201cNever earlier than you though.\u201d He reached for a bowl that still held a serving of eggs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing will bring some out hot in a minute; I\u2019m sure he\u2019s heard that you\u2019re down.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThese are fine. Could you pass the preserves?\u201d Will had plucked a biscuit from the other platter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPeach or cherry?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n An odd expression flickered across Will\u2019s face. \u201cThere\u2019s always a choice, isn\u2019t there,\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s right eyebrow rose slightly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will shrugged again. \u201cPeach. Your family sets an awfully fine table.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam heard a tone underlying his cousin\u2019s comment that made the statement something other than a simple compliment. \u201cHop Sing sees to that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will opened his mouth to speak but paused when Hop Sing walked into the room with a fresh bowl of scrambled eggs and a plate of griddle cakes. \u201cThese hot; eat now,\u201d the cook commanded.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir!\u201d Will drawled as he rolled his eyes, but he speared two griddle cakes and placed them on his plate. Hop Sing made an untranslatable comment in Chinese, shook his head, and departed. Will grinned. \u201cHe is one hell of a cook.\u201d Will glanced at his cousin, chewed, and swallowed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing is more than just an excellent cook.\u201d There was an edge to Adam\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will set down his fork and leaned back in his chair. \u201cIs there something stuck in your craw, cousin, or was it just that my language offended?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour language is your affair though Pa prefers that swearing remains outside the house.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour pa prefers that it stays out of his sons\u2019 mouths entirely.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTrue.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not his son.\u201d There was a challenge in the words and the look that Will threw across the table, but then he added, \u201cStill, out of respect for him, I\u2019ll speak more carefully while I\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And how long will that be?<\/em>\u00a0 Adam took a sip of coffee. \u201cWas Uncle John a swearing man?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will studied his plate for a moment before he answered, \u201cNo, so I imagine we can surmise that our grandfather wasn\u2019t either.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Our grandfather<\/em>. Even though the words had not been stressed, they repeated in Adam\u2019s mind. \u201cBut you. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCan be.\u201d Will gave a cocky grin. \u201cActually, I picked it up on my first sea voyage. A ship can be quite educational when it comes to some aspects of life. Of course, not in the same way as college.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam sensed something beneath Will\u2019s mocking tone, and a question slipped from his lips, \u201cDid you want to go to college?\u201d To Adam an affirmative answer was readable in Will\u2019s face for a second before Will resumed eating.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNever gave it a thought.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam already knew that his cousin could state a lie convincingly and simply wondered why Will was reluctant to admit the fact. Adam picked up his coffee and took a long sip. Then both men turned toward the stairs at the sound of someone descending.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMorning!\u201d Hoss\u2019s voice was cheery. \u201cBreakfast smells good!\u201d He sat down in his usual place and reached for the coffee. \u201cLittle Joe better start stirring, or I\u2019m going to eat every dang egg on this ranch before he gets to the table, the biscuits too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will speared two more griddle cakes, and Adam grabbed another biscuit before he observed wryly, \u201cLittle Joe may not mind this morning if you do.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss glanced over at his brother while spreading preserves, \u201cCame in late, did he?\u201d He popped an entire half biscuit into his mouth and chewed slowly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHis stomach shouldn\u2019t be a problem; he wasn\u2019t drunk.\u201d At his statement both his cousins\u2019 eyes turned toward Will questioningly. \u201cI was up.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, that\u2019s good.\u201d Hoss smiled, and his grin widened as Hop Sing walked in with more eggs and griddle cakes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLast plate; no more eggs,\u201d the cook stated as he set down his burden and left.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo, Pa\u2019s already eaten,\u201d Hoss observed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded. \u201cLeft early this morning for Carson City.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, then, this is all mine if Joe don\u2019t get down them stairs right quick,\u201d Hoss stated as he filled his plate.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam swallowed the last of the coffee in his cup and grabbed a biscuit. \u201cGuess I\u2019ll go up and give him fair warning.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss gave his brother an inquiring gaze and then shrugged as he watched Adam mount the stairs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam rapped on Little Joe\u2019s bedroom door and then entered. His brother was still in bed with the covers pulled over his head, but a low moan emitted from the bundle as Adam\u2019s boots clicked across the wooden floor. \u201cBetter rise and shine, Little Joe!\u201d Adam announced cheerily.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t wanna!\u201d The announcement was muffled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss has started on the last bowl of eggs, and the griddle cakes are almost gone.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAin\u2019t hungry!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou sure about that; it\u2019ll be a long spell before lunch.\u201d Adam held the biscuit next to the bedclothes in the general area of Little Joe\u2019s nose.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe uncovered his face and opened his eyes. His view was blocked by the biscuit. \u201cWell, maybe. . .\u201d His hand snaked out of the cloth surrounding it and aimed at the enticement in his brother\u2019s hand. Adam pulled it up and out of reach.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, little man, not until you\u2019re up and out of that bed.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam!\u201d Little Joe eyed his brother. \u201cOh, all right, I\u2019m getting up. I\u2019m getting up.\u201d Joe pushed the bedclothes off his body and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. \u201cGimme!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI said up and out.\u201d Adam passed the food swiftly under his brother\u2019s nose and back out of reach.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI swear, Adam, you just like to torment a fellow,\u201d fumed Little Joe, but he pushed himself off the bed into a standing position. Adam handed him the biscuit. Little Joe ate half of it in the first bite. \u201cYou could have put on some preserves,\u201d he grumbled and then shoved the other half into his mouth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd you could have been to breakfast on time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe rolled his eyes. \u201cI got in a little late last night.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cA little?\u201d Adam\u2019s eyebrow rose with practiced skepticism.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOkay, a lot late,\u201d Little Joe admitted as he walked past his brother to the wash basin.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s hand started to swing toward the passing behind but came up and rubbed his chin instead. Will, told the truth. He was late, but there\u2019s no sign of a hangover<\/em>. Adam stood with his arms across his chest and his hands tucked into his armpits watching his brother complete his morning ablutions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSomething else you wanted?\u201d Little Joe inquired as he wiped his face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBesides you up and at it? Not really.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe turned and faced his brother. \u201cIf that was all you wanted, Hoss would be up here fetching me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s hands dropped. \u201cThere is that.\u201d He settled himself into a lean that left him half standing and half sitting on Joe\u2019s bed. \u201cWill was awake when you came in?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d Joe continued to dress as their conversation flowed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid he say why?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSaid he couldn\u2019t sleep, is all.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo, you talked?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cActually, we did.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt was a private conversation, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs that so?\u201d Adam\u2019s tone inferred his brother had something to hide.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot that there was anything much to be private about, really.\u201d There was exasperation threaded through Joe\u2019s tone.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, then?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou can be awful nosey, elder brother. Pa should have taught ya better.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe tried.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe snorted. \u201cI did ask him about his staying. Told him Pa really wanted him to.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat did he say to that?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAsked if you, Hoss, and I wanted him to.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam rubbed the bridge of his nose. \u201cWhat did you say?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI told him we had started to like him and that he would always have a place here.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s so.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid you know Pa wrote to Uncle John and asked him to come live on the Ponderosa when Will\u2019s mama died?\u201d Joe sat down on the bed to pull on his boots.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cActually, I did.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWonder what that would have been like,\u201d Joe mused aloud. \u201cYou met Uncle John, didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but I was really young; I don\u2019t remember much about him really.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, anyways, he didn\u2019t, and Will didn\u2019t after he died, and Will doesn\u2019t know if he\u2019s staying now.\u201d The sentence ended with a double stomp as Joe settled his boots on his feet and stood. \u201cI\u2019m going down and see what that galoot of a brother of ours has left me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam rose slowly and followed his brother from the room. When they arrived at the dining table, Joe sat down and immediately filled his plate with the remaining ham and eggs. Then he smeared one biscuit with peach preserves and one with cherry. Finally, he snagged the only remaining griddle cake and soaked it in syrup. Adam remained standing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss poured himself a third cup of coffee. \u201cWell, you\u2019re a lucky fellow, Short Shanks, seeing as how I was a bit lacking in appetite this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat I\u2019m lacking is another griddle cake. Ya could have at least saved me two,\u201d Little Joe\u2019s voice carried a definite whine.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEarly bird catches the worm, Joe, early bird catches the worm,\u201d Hoss chided and chuckled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe simply snorted and snatched the last biscuit from the small basket.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his head and began giving the day\u2019s assignments, \u201cWill, you can give me a hand moving some steers down from the high meadow. Hoss, you can oversee the men working on the south corrals. Little Joe…\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll have the last of those horses broke by noon,\u201d Joe asserted as he washed a mouthful of food down with a large swallow of coffee.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss’ brow furrowed, \u201cAdam, weren\u2019t. . .\u201d Adam caught his brother\u2019s eye and gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head. \u201cFine then. I\u2019ll tell Hop Sing you and Will need lunch but Little Joe will be eating at the house.\u201d Hoss rose and departed for the kitchen. Adam\u2019s eyes went to his cousin who was still seated.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs that fine with you, Will?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will Cartwright gazed up at his eldest cousin, and a slow smirk curled his lips. \u201cJust fine, cousin, just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ************<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHere\u2019s your coffee.\u201d Will handed Adam the cup and took a sandwich from him in return. Both men settled on the grass next to the small fire they had started simply for the purpose of brewing a pot. They were in a meadow next to a small creek with the steers they had collected grazing to their right. Adam sat with his back against a tree and studied the man seated across from him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo listening ears about even if we set to shouting,\u201d Will observed and then took another bite of his sandwich.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDo you think there will be a reason for shouting?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, but I do wish you\u2019d get to saying whatever it is that you brought me here to say.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chewing the last bite of his own sandwich, Adam took the time to wash it down with a swig from his cup. \u201cGood coffee,\u201d he stated seeming to ignore his cousin\u2019s comment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnyone\u2019s coffee would taste good in comparison to your own, cousin.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam leaned his head back against the rough bark. \u201cSo true.\u201d He settled his gaze on Will\u2019s face. \u201cWhy haven\u2019t you decided whether you\u2019re staying or going?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will took a long swallow from his own cup. \u201cHow long did it take you to decide whether you were staying or coming home?\u201d he inquired in return.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFour years or four seconds depending on how you look at it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will\u2019s lips curled. \u201cWell, I\u2019ve already gone past the four seconds, but I doubt I\u2019ll take the whole four years.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy pa. . .\u201d Adam began.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs a family man with a very inclusive definition of family,\u201d Will inserted swiftly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd that is a bad thing?\u201d Adam\u2019s voice sharpened, and he straightened his back.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo. It\u2019s just. . .\u201d Will\u2019s voice faded. Then he resumed the conversation. \u201cI was surprised to find that your father had named one of his sons after our grandfather.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam failed to hide his surprised at both the statement and the veering of his cousin\u2019s thoughts. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will answered with a question, \u201cDid you grow up hearing many stories of your father\u2019s father?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s mind flickered through several memories before he answered, \u201cMy father tended to speak more of our future than of his past.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe told you stories of his sea days and tales of boyhood adventures with and without his big brother; he spoke reverently of our sainted grandmother, right?\u201d He did not wait for Adam\u2019s acknowledgement but continued, \u201cHave you ever thought of how little you know about your paternal grandfather, cousin?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs there something you think I should know that I don\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo. Like yours, my father rarely spoke of him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen why are we?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI suppose because of two things that he did say.\u201d Adam\u2019s eyebrow rose in inquiry, and Will continued, \u201cHe said once that his brother and father had parted badly. Another time he said there was a deal too much of his father in his brother Benjamin.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s gaze hardened. \u201cAnd this somehow is a reason for you to hesitate when it comes to making a life here?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will shrugged and once again veered from the conversational path. \u201cDo you remember when you and your father stayed with my family?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam decided to simply answer. \u201cNot really, not clearly anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNeither do I except for one thing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOne thing?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cA spanking. I did something mean to you, and your father spanked me for it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam leaned forward and sputtered, \u201cAnd nearly thirty years latter this is a problem?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, it is simply the one thing I remember. That and the fact that my father allowed it because your father was family.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI fail to grasp your point, cousin.\u201d Adam\u2019s tone made it clear that he felt the reason he did not was because Will was deliberately trying to obscure any real point.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid you know that my parents wanted your father to leave you with us at least until he was settled and could provide you a more secure life?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A thread of anger curled around Adam\u2019s heart. \u201cObviously my pa didn\u2019t accept any such offer.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cObviously.\u201d Will rose to his feet. \u201cYou want to know whether I\u2019ll stay or go.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, when I decide I\u2019ll let you know.\u201d Will turned and walked toward the horses.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam threw the last of his coffee at the fire as he stood. Kicking dirt over the flames, he cursed beneath his breath. When the fire was completely smothered, he sighed. He walked to his horse chiding himself for thinking that he would get a straight answer out of his cousin when Will clearly was not ready to give one. He mounted Sport with one more thought.\u00a0 He is a Cartwright after all!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam walked into the washhouse and found Hoss soaking in the largest of the tubs. Hoss’ eyes were closed, and Adam considered pushing his brother\u2019s head beneath the water.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe would, but I\u2019m counting on you having more sense, Elder Brother,\u201d Hoss commented without opening his eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s hands slid into his armpits, \u201cSo you\u2019ve taken up mind-reading?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI was reading your mind before I was reading books,\u201d Hoss retorted as he straightened his back.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his head and grinned. \u201cYou do a better job of it too.\u201d He started filling another tub with hot water.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBeing as I\u2019m tired, you can just tell me about why you changed your plans and went off with Will today.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to talk to him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI knew that, brother; what I want is to know what you talked about.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAsked him if he plans to stay or go.\u201d Adam added a bucket of cold water.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe is as of yet undecided.\u201d Adam set two buckets of water next to the tub and began to undress.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t think he\u2019ll stay, do ya?\u201d Hoss inquired.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Not unless he can get out what is stuck in his craw.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust what is that?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWish I knew.\u201d Adam lowered himself into the warm water with a sigh.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMaybe he just don\u2019t see exactly what his place would be.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMaybe.\u201d Adam leaned back and closed his eyes. He listened to Hoss finish his bath and dress before speaking again. \u201cJoe talked to Will last night. Are you going to take a shot at him?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s fretting Pa; he wants Will to stay.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam opened his eyes. \u201cHoss, have you considered that Pa might have, well, an extra reason for wanting Will to stay?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cExtra reason?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, one beyond just the fact that Will is his brother\u2019s son.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa believes in family, Adam; he believes in family real strong, and Will\u2019s family.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s true, but. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss studied his brother\u2019s face. \u201cBut what?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa left his family. His parents and his brother and all his other relatives.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss’ brow furrowed. \u201cYeah, he did. He had a dream, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe did.\u201d Adam agreed, but his brother saw the speculation in his eyes. \u201cAre you going to talk to Will?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI expect I will before long.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam leaned back and closed his eyes. He heard Hoss take a step and grinned. \u201cAs you said earlier, I expect you to have better sense.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss chuckled as he walked out the door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will heard the door open and someone step out onto the porch. He sighed and did not turn but continued to stare at the night sky. Hoss crossed the porch to stand next to his cousin.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPretty night,\u201d he commented after a few seconds.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will let almost a minute pass before he said, \u201cI haven\u2019t decided.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know.\u201d Hoss hooked his thumbs in his pockets. \u201cJust thought if there was some question ya needed an answer to, I might be able to help you find it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Several more seconds passed before Will spoke. \u201cYour father takes obligations very seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou think that\u2019s all you are to Pa, an obligation?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow could I be much else?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll give ya that when he went to fetch your body it was out of obligation, but you weren\u2019t dead, and he fetched you, not a corpse, back here. It\u2019s you not an obligation that he wants to stay here.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy do all of you think it\u2019s so important to him?\u201d Will\u2019s demand was sharp-edged, and Hoss turned to peer at him through the darkness.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t think; we know. As to why. . .\u201d Hoss shrugged. \u201cWhat kind of invitation are you looking for, Will?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t need any kind of invitation. I don\u2019t need a home or family ties or anything else the mighty Ponderosa has to offer.\u201d Will spun to stand with his back to Hoss and took a step away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s lots of things a man don\u2019t absolutely need that make his life better when he has them,\u201d Hoss observed casually. Then he turned and walked into the house leaving Will alone and staring at the sky once again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben Cartwright studied his nephew as they ate. When Will once again left the house immediately after dessert, Ben picked up his pipe and followed the young man down to the corrals.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will leaned with his arms crossed on the top rail staring into the darkness. Ben walked up and stood next to him. Lighting his pipe, Ben took a deep draw before speaking.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry if you feel pressured.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve no need to feel sorry. You saved my life, helped me save my name, and offered me a home here.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben noticed Will had not said that he did not feel pressured. He smiled slightly. His sons, particularly Adam, had given him a great deal of practice in giving as much importance to what was not said as to what was. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to stay out of obligation, Will. You have a place here and always will, but you also have the choice to never take it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wills arms uncrossed, and he gripped the rough wood of the rail with both hands. \u201cMy father offered you a place with us once.\u201d Will\u2019s tone held a challenge.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs there something from the past that we need to discuss?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will turned to face his uncle. \u201cAre you trying. . .is there some reason you feel. . .\u201d Will did not complete his question. \u201cMy father always said the two of you were close when you were young; he never said why you weren\u2019t later.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben drew in some smoke and then released it. \u201cWe went our separate ways. With so many miles between us. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt was more than that.\u201d Will\u2018s retort snapped between them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Honesty is the best policy! He\u2019s a man not a child.<\/em> \u201cYes, there was more. It\u2019s a long story.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDoes it involve my mother?\u201d Will\u2019s voice was harsh.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyebrows rose as it occurred to him that his nephew\u2019s conjectures might be far worse than the truth. \u201cIt involves the Cartwright family.\u201d Will\u2019s silence was expectant. Ben set down his pipe and continued. \u201cYou never knew your grandfather. He was a good man, a good Christian man.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t name your first born after him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, I understood my father better after having a son of my own.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat was there to understand?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cA great deal.\u201d Ben turned to lean his back against the rails of the corral. \u201cMy father loved his wife and his sons, but he was not an affectionate man. He had a temper, he was stern, and he was rigid in his judgments. Still, he provided John and me a good home.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy father said you and your father parted badly.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo, we did, and so did they.\u201d He had committed himself to the telling, so Ben continued, \u201cMy brother was eighteen when he came to my father and told him he planned to marry. My father deemed it wiser that they wait. Then John told him there was a reason the marriage must take place as quickly as possible.\u201d Ben heard the sharp intake of Will\u2019s breath and knew his body had stiffened. \u201cThe banns were read the next Sunday and on the following Sunday your parents were married.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLess than a month later your mother lost the child.\u201d Ben paused to listen for a comment, but Will made none. \u201cPerhaps things might have. . .\u201d Ben ran his hand through his hair. \u201cYour grandmother died six months later, and then there was the matter of the ring.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe ring?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy mother had one possession of real value, a ring. Its monetary value, though, was of less importance than the fact it had come from her mother who had received it from her mother whose husband had given it to her on their wedding day. My mother, having no daughter, would no doubt have given it to her eldest granddaughter, but, well . . . Some thought it would properly go to the wife of her eldest son.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSome people?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour mother and John too, but not your grandfather. I don\u2019t think it was the ring really but what John felt our father\u2019s refusal signified. He thought Father saw your mother as unworthy to wear it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy mother. . .\u201d Will\u2019s anger was understandable.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWas a good woman. I did not say that it was true or even that Father felt that way, but I think John felt he did, and your mother voiced her thoughts. He and your mother moved away. The first of many moves that each took them further and further from our family home. John didn\u2019t disappear; he wrote, and both Father and I wrote back, but still.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd what did my father think his younger brother believed?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJohn knew that I still lived in our father\u2019s house, at least for the next year.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd then you went to sea?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, against my father\u2019s wishes and without a goodbye.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d The anger was gone from Will\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGrief does not simply bring sadness. It can bring other things, anger among them. I know this now, but I didn\u2019t then. My father\u2019s grief for the wife he loved, mine for my mother. . .there was not one thing, nothing as simple as a single fight.\u201d Ben faced his nephew and placed a hand on his shoulder. \u201cMy father and I lost each other during that time. By the time I found him again, he had long been laid to rest beside my mother, and all my memories of him had been tinged with regret.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWouldn\u2019t that make not losing your brother even more important?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJohn and I never lost each other, not really.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen why didn\u2019t you stay and later why didn\u2019t he come to the Ponderosa?\u201d When Ben hesitated, Will said, \u201cYou disliked my mother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, she was a good woman.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat then!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe was not a good wife for my brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd you are the one to judge?\u201d The anger had returned.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou wanted reasons; I am giving you those I know, those your father demanded also. I did not feel that I could stay; I didn\u2019t want things between us to fester, to destroy. I went west as I had dreamed. When John wrote to me of your mother\u2019s death, I wrote to him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve read the letter.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen you know I wanted you both here.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe didn\u2019t come.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, he didn\u2019t.\u201d Ben shook his head in regret. \u201cI think he may have felt, well, that to come then would have been a, perhaps it is too strong a word, but I think he felt it would have been a betrayal.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cA betrayal.\u201d Will uttered the words as if repeating a lesson.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben again placed his hand on Will\u2019s shoulder. \u201cAre you hesitating because you feel to stay would in some way be a betrayal of your father?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf you think that, why did you tell me, why did you add. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou asked; you have a right to the truth. I hope you will see the truth. I hope you will see that there is nothing to be gained by your leaving, but there may be a great deal gained by us all if you stay.\u201d Ben picked up his pipe. \u201cI… you\u2019re my nephew, Will, and wherever you find a place in this world, you will always have one in my heart.\u201d A night bird called, and then silence settled over them. After a minute, Ben walked back to the house.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam looked up from the ledgers as his father walked into the room. Ben had a cup and saucer in each hand.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve brought you coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam reached out and took the cup from Ben. \u201cThanks, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben sat down across from his son. \u201cAlmost finished with those?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAlmost.\u201d Adam took a sip. Looking directly at his father, he set down the coffee and cleared his throat. \u201cPa, we all. . . I mean each of us has let Will know that there is a place for him here.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd he\u2019ll decide in time if he wants to take that place. Until then. . .\u201d Ben shrugged.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam cleared his throat again. \u201cWhen we were talking, Will and I, he, well, he asked me about something, and…\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyebrows rose inquiringly as his son shifted and left his sentence incomplete. \u201cIs there something you\u2019d like to ask me, son?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWill pointed out that, well. . . it\u2019s true that you seldom speak of Grandfather Joseph.\u201d Adam cocked his head to the side. \u201cIs there a reason?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere is always a reason.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam heard the evasion. \u201cIf you\u2019d rather not speak of it.\u201d He made a dismissive gesture.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSome of those we have lost can be spoken of with less pain than others.\u201d Ben set down his coffee. \u201cTruth be told, my father was his mother\u2019s son.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t know my great-grandmother either.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s lips curled upwards at his son\u2019s retort. \u201cNo, you didn\u2019t. Adam, my father was not a man who expressed affection easily.\u201d Ben saw a thought flicker in Adams\u2019 face and shook his head. \u201cYou have some of my father in you, Adam, as do your brothers, but in comparison to your grandsire you are quite affectionate with your family.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s eyebrow slid upward. \u201cIs that so?\u201d His tone implied improbability.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes sparkled. \u201cAbsolutely.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam took a swallow of coffee and then grew serious. \u201cUncle John told Will you and Grandfather parted badly.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes darkened. He looked at his son and slowly released his breath. \u201cYou can remember my grief after Marie. \u201c He paused. \u201cAfter Inger too, for that matter.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour grandfather loved your grandmother very much as did I and John.\u201d Ben set down his coffee cup and leaned forward. \u201cGrief pushed my father and me apart, Adam. I understand now what I didn\u2019t then, but the knowledge came too late. Regret is a painful thing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry if. . .I shouldn\u2019t have spoken of it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head. \u201cNo, no, you boys should know more of your grandfather. There are good memories I should share.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIn your own time, Pa, in your own time. Now I best get back to these books.\u201d Adam eyes dropped to the ledgers before him, and Ben departed to work of his own.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will walked over to his uncle\u2019s desk and reached for the paper Ben had requested. His arm brushed against the frame of Inger\u2019s picture and set it rocking. Will reached to still it and then paused to stare at the likeness.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDo you have a likeness of your ma or pa, Will?\u201d Hoss’ voice startled his cousin, and he stepped away from the desk.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, I don\u2019t.\u201d Will made his voice dismissive.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDo you favor Uncle John?\u201d Little Joe\u2019s question was causal, but the eyes of everyone in the room settled on Will.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, at least no one ever remarked on a strong resemblance.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou favor our father actually.\u201d Ben\u2019s statement caused all eyes to swivel to him. \u201cHe had a full mustache, and he was taller, but then he was one of the tallest men in the county.\u201d Ben mentally acknowledged the reason for the surprise in his sons\u2019 eyes and studied his nephew\u2019s face. So, John, you told your son no more of Father than I did mine, or was it even less?<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI,\u201d Will began then seemed to change his mind, \u201cI\u2019ve never seen a likeness of my grandfather.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, you boys couldn\u2019t have nor of your grandmother either.\u201d Ben\u2019s sigh was audible to all. \u201cI do wish the daguerreotype had been invented long ago. Even Father might have allowed that was worth the price.\u201d The shift of Little Joe\u2019s body as he exchanged a glance with Hoss caught Ben\u2019s eye. He cleared his throat, \u201cYour grandfather was. . .\u201d He cleared his throat again and with a wry smile continued, \u201cLet\u2019s just say he was very conservative when it came to money.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe was a skinflint?\u201d The inquiry was voiced by Will, but its match was in the face of each of Ben\u2019s sons.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cActually,\u201d Ben\u2019s eyes took on an odd sparkle as he answered, \u201cactually, I have heard more than one person call him that.\u201d Then his eyes grew serious again. \u201cHe had known some truly hard times when it came to money. Mostly, I think, he wanted to protect us from those, to not make his father\u2019s mistakes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHis father\u2019s mistakes?\u201d This time it was Adam\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour great-grandfather was an irredeemable gambler.\u201d Ben watched his listeners\u2019 amazement and then added, \u201cBut the most generous and charming man you\u2019d ever meet nonetheless.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot a riverboat gambler?\u201d Joe made his voice sound amazed and then lost himself in a giggle at the look on Ben\u2019s face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt is sure enough a shame there ain\u2019t no likeness of Uncle John though,\u201d Hoss interjected returning to the original topic of discussion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere was the silhouette though,\u201d Ben mused and then looked at Will. \u201cYou have seen that haven\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will shifted slightly before answering, \u201cWhen I was little.\u201d He shifted again. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t with Pa\u2019s things later.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cA silhouette?\u201d Adam intended his words to be a nudge.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben leaned back, drew on his pipe, and made the decision to tell the story. \u201cJohn had left school and started working. He\u2019d come in every Saturday and hand his wages to Father. Father would set aside ten percent for the Sunday offering and then count out ten percent into John\u2019s hand. John would go up to our room and divide those coins evenly. Half went into an old cigar box he had scavenged somewhere and half into his pocket. You can\u2019t imagine how I envied him that money in his pocket. Anyway, he had been working for nearly a year before he spent any of the money in that cigar box.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOn a silhouette?\u201d Ben had long ago become use to his youngest\u2019s interruption of every story he was told.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot just the silhouette. There was a town about five miles to the south, you see, and every other year a fair was held there. One night while Mother cleared the dishes, John spoke up. He asked if he might have permission to go to that fair on Saturday, his master having already given the boys working for him the day free. Father allowed as to there being no reason John shouldn\u2019t attend but pointed out that he would have to go shank\u2019s mare and be home before dark so as not to worry our mother. I was nearly choking on envy when John spoke again and asked Father if I might accompany him. Father looked at John and said, \u2018Benjamin has no pocket money of his own, you know.\u2019 I wanted to shout that I was willing simply to trail behind without spending a penny, when John said that it would be his treat. Father nodded and said, \u2018He\u2019s your responsibility then.\u2019 Truth be told, that trip to the fair was one of the finest gifts I ever received.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou walked five miles to a fair.\u201d That observation came from Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou had no pocket money?\u201d was Little Joe\u2019s inquiry.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben ignored them both and continued, \u201cWe left at dawn with most of the money from the cigar box in John\u2019s pocket, a packet of food from Mother, and a skein of water. It was a beautiful fall day, and our spirits were as bright as the weather. Father had admonished me privately as to the consequences if I didn\u2019t give John due obedience and respect, and I\u2019m sure he had lectured John on his responsibilities. Truth is, I had no desire to spoil the day with poor behavior. John, for his part, was in a magnanimous mood though he explained repeatedly that his pockets were only so deep and serious decisions would have to be made as to how any money would be spent. We pondered possibilities as we walked and arrived at the fair midmorning. It was a grand sight, I\u2019ll tell you. For a while all we did was wander about with our eyes hanging out trying to see everything at once, and there was plenty to see even if John hadn\u2019t had a penny in his pockets.\u201d Ben leaned back with a smile on his face and a distant look in his eyes. \u201cAfter a time all the sights and sounds and smells sorted themselves out, and we set our minds to choosing how John\u2019s savings could best be spent. We had decided on one show which advertized amazing feats of daring and then a feast from the food booths for each of us when we spotted the man cutting silhouettes. We went over to watch. There were maybe half a dozen people waiting. One by one, they went to stand against a canvas hung between two trees. The man would take a sheet of black paper and start to snip. Minutes later he would hold up an image. The image wasn\u2019t detailed, mind you, but still it was somehow unmistakably the person who had been posing. Actually, I\u2019ve seen other silhouette makers, but I\u2019ve never seen a better one.\u201d Ben paused and shifted in his seat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo, ya had yours done?\u201d Hoss’ inquiry nudged Ben back to his tale.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJohn wanted one from the moment he saw them.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut you didn\u2019t.\u201d The observation was Adam\u2019s.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, I thought them nice but far too dear. I wanted to see that show, and my mouth had been watering the whole time we\u2019d been at the fair.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s interjection came next. \u201cBut it was Uncle John\u2019s money, so you had no say.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cActually, I did though I had no right to one. John was more than fair. In the end, we decided Mother\u2019s sandwiches would do if we bought some cool cider, and John would have his silhouette done. That would leave just enough to let the two of us see a less expensive show in one of the smaller tents. John got in line, and when his turn came the man asked if he wanted a single or a double. You could have a double silhouette done for half again as much, and I\u2019d been standing next to John the entire time. I piped up and told the man we had only enough for a single. John stared down at the money in his hand, and I could tell he wanted to have me with him, but he didn\u2019t want to take away what he\u2019d promised me. The silhouette maker must have noticed something earlier, or he was just a kind man who understood the look in John\u2019s eyes. Anyway he made a remark about having a hankering to do two brothers together and motioned the both of us toward the canvas. John sputtered, but the man waved his hand and declared, \u2018Two for the price of one!\u2019 He stood us with me in front of John and John\u2019s hand on my shoulder. When he glued that black silhouette against another sheet of white paper, there the two of us were as plain as day. He hung it up with some others on a line. People could leave them for safekeeping while they explored the fair, and they did double duty as advertising. We went off and had a glorious time until midafternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid something happen then, Pa?\u201d There was a shadow of concern in Hoss’ voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, the time simply came when we had to leave, and I couldn\u2019t talk John into even half-an-hour extra. He was adamant about not bringing me home late to Father. He was right, of course. We got the silhouette, and John carried it like it was precious crystal. Father was sitting on the bench in front of the house smoking his pipe when we walked up. He drew out his watch, looked at the time, and then smiled. \u2018You\u2019re home on time and look no worse for wear, so I\u2019ve but one question, John, and you know how I feel about lying. Did Benjamin mind you the entire time?\u2019 I can tell you I was glad that John could answer in the affirmative. Then Father said Mother was waiting for us, and we all went inside. It was Mother noticed the silhouette in John\u2019s hand. When John rolled it out to show it, she gasped and started to cry. For a moment John and I both thought we had done something wrong, but Father reassured us, and Mother started exclaiming and insisting that the silhouette be hung in the parlor. It was after Father made a frame for it. Father was an excellent carver when he set his hand to it. That frame was a thing of beauty in itself.\u201d Ben\u2019s voice dropped to almost a whisper. \u201cAnd a sign of Father\u2019s approval.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt had your initials.\u201d Will\u2019s voice drew Ben\u2019s eyes to his nephew.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo it did.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShame as to how it ain\u2019t still here for us all to see.\u201d Hoss’ sense of loss was clear in his voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, a real shame,\u201d As Adam spoke, he scrutinized his cousin.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, things often get damaged or lost when one moves about,\u201d Ben observed, \u201cAt least memories never do.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam watched Will shift and turn away to face the fire. He knows what happened to that silhouette. I wonder. . .<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI was thinking you or Uncle John would get into some trouble.\u201d Little Joe\u2019s musings interrupted Adam\u2019s thoughts.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa ain’t you, Little Joe. Some folks can go a whole day without no shenanigans.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, sure but. . . ” Joe giggled, \u201cmaybe the stories we need to hear are the ones about Great grandpa. A gambler did ya say, Pa? Imagine that!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben snorted, ignored Joe, and turned his attention and the discussion back to business. When the discussion was finished, Adam noticed that Will had left the room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam announced that he was headed to bed and ascended the stairs with a thoughtful stride. When he was about to enter his room, he gazed down the hall and made a decision. Rapping on Will\u2019s door, he waited for a response. Seconds later his cousin\u2019s \u201cCome in\u201d came faintly through the wood.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will was leaning against the window frame when Adam entered, \u201cSomething you need, cousin?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust the rest of the story.\u201d Adam stopped and leaned against the dresser.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will shrugged. \u201cLike your father said, things get damaged and lost.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou know when and how.\u201d It was a declaration not an inquiry.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will did not deny that he knew what had happened to the silhouette in its hand-carved frame. He made a dismissive gesture. \u201cDoes it really matter?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam countered with \u201cIt does to you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will\u2019s body tensed, and his entire weight settled onto his feet. \u201cI\u2019m not obligated to tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou’re not answering might say more than any answers you\u2019d give.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will looked appraisingly at his cousin. \u201cHave you always insisted on inspecting other people\u2019s dirty laundry?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam made no reply, but his arms crossed on his chest as his gazed remained fixed on Will\u2019s face. The seconds passed into minutes. Will finally turned and gazed out of the window as he spoke. \u201cMy mother and father had an argument. After he stormed out, my mother threw the silhouette against the back wall of the fireplace. The frame broke. Then it all fell into the fire and burned.\u201d Will turned and looked at Adam. \u201cMy mother wasn\u2019t quite as saintly as yours. She had a mean temper.\u201d Before Adam responded, Will strode across the room and out the door. Adam straightened as the door banged against the wall and then went to his room hoping his father would wait until morning to investigate what had happened between his son and his nephew.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will stepped out into the hallway but paused as the voices drifted from the open doorway of Little Joe\u2019s room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLeave me be, Hoss. I\u2019ll get up in a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll get up now, little brother, if\u2019n ya don\u2019t want me liftin\u2019 you outta that there bed and totin\u2019 ya down to the table just as you are.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t do that, ya big galoot.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWouldn\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo! I ain\u2019t wearing a nightshirt. Pa\u2019d have a fit.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s your worry, Short Shanks. It wouldn\u2019t be my moon shining for the world to see. Pa told me to see ya was at the table on time this morning, and one way or the other that\u2019s where ya gonna be.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAll right all ready. Get out then if you want me to get up and get dressed.\u201d A distinct whine had entered Little Joe\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t leaving until ya got your boots on.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss!\u201d Joe\u2019s indignant wail was followed by the sound of creaking bed springs and thumping feet.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will heard boots on the floor behind him and turned to see Adam coming down the hall. Will looked toward Little Joe\u2019s open door and stepped back to let Adam pass. Instead Adam stopped and leaned against the wall with a smirk on his face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou really don\u2019t need to worry about Joe\u2019s modesty; it only asserts itself when he has ulterior motives like extra minutes in bed.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will crossed his arms and leaned into the wall behind him. \u201cSome men do like their privacy.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEveryone does at times, I suppose, but as I said personal modesty was never one of my baby brother\u2019s chief concerns. He once mooned a whole camp meeting on a dare.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cReally? I would have thought. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe underestimated Pa\u2019s ability to recognize a son in any position.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTo his regret, no doubt.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTo his regret most definitely.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd never took another dare.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe.\u201d Adam rolled his eyes at the absurdity of the statement. \u201cJoe still takes dares, foolish ones, risky ones, and every other kind. But you have to give it to the kid; he owns up and takes the comeuppance when it comes. He never did tell Pa who made that particular dare.\u201d Adam straightened and resumed his saunter down the hall. Will watched him pass and then cleared his throat. Adam hesitated.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWas it you or Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam looked back over his shoulder, gave a shrug of ignorance, and then turned and walked to Joe\u2019s door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGet a move on, Joe. Pa wants us all getting an early start.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s disgruntled voice answered, \u201cGet this big lug of a brother of ours out of my way then. How\u2019s a body suppose to get dressed with half the town standing around watching and bellowing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will started down the hallway giving only a sideways glance as he passed Joe\u2019s room, but it managed to capture all three of his cousins, and his mind registered the fact that there was no rancor in any of the faces.<\/p>\n \n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou can just tell me to shut up, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will turned his head and gave his youngest cousin a wry grin. Raising one eyebrow, he asked, \u201cI can?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam does. He says it\u2019s a brother\u2019s prerogative; I guess that can go for a cousin too.\u201d Little Joe gave a nonchalant shrug. \u201cHoss just starts hearing without thinking like my chattering was the same as some squirrel\u2019s, so it doesn\u2019t get under his skin.\u201d Joe shifted on the wagon seat. \u201cNow Adam, well, he listens until he wants to think about something else, then he can\u2019t take it and tells me to shut up.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd do you?\u201d Will drawled giving Joe a pointed look.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe grinned, \u201cSometimes.\u201d They were still a ways from the fencing they had set out to repair, so Joe settled more comfortably on the wagon seat before speaking again. \u201cAdam says they had trouble shutting me up even before I learned to talk and that it\u2019s been impossible since.\u201d Joe deepened his voice in imitation of his elder brother. \u201cBlessed silence is an anathema to you, Joseph,\u201d he intoned and then giggled. \u201cHoss says the first thing I\u2019ll do when I get to the Pearly Gates is start in bending St. Peter\u2019s ear or else Old Nick\u2019s if I ain\u2019t that lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will heard no trace of concern in Joe\u2019s voice. \u201cHe might enjoy the conversation.\u201d Will\u2019s comment elicited another giggle from Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhen Adam first came back from school and had some money in his pockets and he really wanted some peace and quiet, he\u2019d bet me a nickel I couldn\u2019t go a half-hour without talking.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd did he have to pay up?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAbout half the time. Guess he thought it was worth it though \u2018cause he did it quite a few times before Pa got wind and put a stop to it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy\u2019d he stop it?\u201d Little Joe shrugged. \u201cHe never really said.\u201d Joe took a breath and then veered the conversation. \u201cDid ya know our great-grandpa was a gambler?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think it was his occupation, cousin, just his avocation.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, Pa sure doesn\u2019t advocate gambling. I mean, he makes a bet now and then, and he don\u2019t go around ranting on the subject, but, well, he\u2019s had a few things to say when he thinks I\u2019ve spent too much time at a poker table, and he\u2019s got this frown when any of us. . .\u201d Joe let his thought fade and looked over at his cousin. \u201cWhere did Uncle John stand on the subject?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will shifted and then cleared his throat. \u201cHe hardly ever played cards, and I only know of one bet he ever made.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGuess he didn\u2019t take after his grandpa then.\u201d It was a comment lightly made, and Joe was not prepared for the serious tone of Will\u2019s response.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy pa said once that he had learned about high stakes from his grandfather.\u201d Little Joe held his tongue, and Will\u2019s next comment seemed more of an internal observation than a shared confidence. \u201cI think Pa didn\u2019t bother with gaming because he always gambled for the highest stakes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLike gambling all ya got on a new dream?\u201d Little Joe slipped the question in softly and waited in silence for an answer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOver and over again.\u201d Will straightened then and flicked the reins in his hands. His voice was flippant when he said, \u201cBet ya a nickel you can\u2019t stay silent until we get to that fence.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe laughed. \u201cYou\u2019re on, cousin!\u201d In one swift motion, he went over the back of the wagon seat, stretched out, and tipped his hat over his face. Will glanced over his shoulder and rolled his eyes before focusing once again on guiding the team.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They were late getting back to the ranch. The afternoon had been filled with one small delay after another. The lights in the ranch house had been lit before Will drove the wagon into the yard.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe hopped to the ground. \u201cI\u2019ll pay up on our bet and see to the team, Will; just you see to it that there\u2019s something left when I get to the table.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know about that, Joe; I\u2019m not planning to get between Hoss and any of Hop Sing\u2019s cooking. He nearly took my hand off when I reached for the last chop last night.\u201d Will\u2019s gaze went from his cousin to the porch at the sound of the house door opening.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss stepped out and called, \u201cYou two best get your ornery hides into this house right quick. Pa\u2019s had Hop Sing holding supper, and they\u2019ve both got up a full head of steam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will exchanged a glance with Joe and then shrugged. \u201cI\u2019m on my way to wash up unless no one at the table would mind mud, sweat, and stink.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss ran his eyes over his cousin and brother. They were filthy and looked the worse for wear, but nothing indicated a serious problem had delayed them. \u201cHop Sing don\u2019t let nothing smelling like the two of you at his table.\u201d He gave an exaggerated sigh. \u201cI guess I\u2019ll just have to see to that team, so the two of you can get clean enough to be presentable before I wither away from lack of food.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe gave a whoop of glee. \u201cGood thought, brother. We\u2019ll see who gets to that table first.\u201d He headed toward the washhouse at double speed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will looked over at Hoss. \u201cHe lost our bet.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss smiled. \u201cAin\u2019t the first time I\u2019ve covered his debt. Go on and get washed. Hop Sing\u2019s serving chicken and dumplings tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, then. . .\u201d The rest of Will\u2019s comment faded as he dashed off after his cousin. Hoss gave a shake of his head and cooed to the horses, \u201cCome on, boys, you\u2019re needing your supper too, I suspect.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss came in the front door as Will and Joe descended the stairs in clean clothes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat delayed you, Joseph?\u201d Ben rose from his chair.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis and that, Pa, but the job\u2019s done now. Had to replace more posts then we planned, but things should hold up for a good while. Boy, something smells good.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben Cartwright could read his youngest son well enough to realize no further interrogation was necessary. \u201cWell, then let\u2019s get dinner started.\u201d Everyone moved toward the dining table as Hop Sing came in from the kitchen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo more wait! Dinner now!\u201d He set a large tureen in the middle of the table and retreated back to the kitchen muttering in Chinese.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The next few minutes were occupied with the filling of plates. When the discussion that followed turned from occurrences of the day to plans for the morrow, Little Joe studied his father\u2019s face and cleared his throat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYa know, Pa, Will and me put in some extra work time today, so maybe we could shave a bit off tomorrow. Just enough to be cleaned up and in town before the night\u2019s half gone.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben paused and glanced from his youngest to his eldest. \u201cIf nothing unexpected comes up, I would think all of you boys could be done in time for us to sit down to an early supper. Then anyone who desires to head into town would have the opportunity to enjoy themselves without having to be out until the wee hours of the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe kept from rolling his eyes at his father\u2019s last comment and instead flashed a smile at the entire table. \u201cSounds like a plan. I\u2019ll make sure Hop Sing knows.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss reached for the last biscuit in the basket. \u201cA night in town does sound pretty good. What about you, Adam; are you coming in too?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s eyes swept around the table. \u201cI believe I shall.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe studied Adam\u2019s face for a second before exclaiming, \u201cGood! What about you, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head. \u201cI think I\u2019ll take advantage of the quiet this house so seldom sees, but you boys enjoy yourselves.\u201d Then catching the sparkle that came into his youngest son\u2019s eyes, he added, \u201cWithin reason of course.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will watched the glances that his cousins shared as Little Joe hurried to state, \u201cOf course, Pa, everything within reason.\u201d Then with a grin he added, \u201cWe won\u2019t do anything that great-grandpappy wouldn\u2019t approve of.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The look Ben shot Joe caused his son to shift nervously, take a mouthful of dumplings, and then declare loudly, \u201cHop Sing, I believe these are the best dumplings you\u2019ve ever made.\u201d<\/p>\n \n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLooks like this hand is mine.\u201d Will Cartwright smiled as he swept the money in the middle of the table toward the stacks of coins in front of him. No one else at the table smiled, and a quite large miner slapped his cards on the table with a growl.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re awful lucky tonight, mister. There wouldn\u2019t be a reason for that, now would there?\u201d The sneer on his face made it clear to everyone what the miner felt was the reason behind Will\u2019s luck at the poker table.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will picked up his beer and took a swallow before he answered, \u201cIt appears Lady Lucky is feeling comfortable on my shoulder. Perhaps she likes the smell of bay rum.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His comment brought snickers from the other players around the table as the miner\u2019s unwashed body sent off an odor that was decidedly less pleasant than Will\u2019s bay rum.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The miner was intelligent enough to recognize the insult immediately. \u201cWhy\u2026\u201d he jumped to his feet and curled his hands into fists. \u201cI don\u2019t know who you think you are, you. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The scrape of Little Joe\u2019s chair as he pushed it back distorted the miner\u2019s next words and drew his attention.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSince we haven\u2019t all introduced ourselves, gentlemen, allow me to do the honors. His name is Will Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCartwright?\u201d the miner sputtered recognizing the name immediately.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m his cousin Joe Cartwright.\u201d Little Joe paused and without even glancing over his shoulder gestured with his thumb. \u201cHe\u2019s my brother Adam.\u201d The room had grown quiet enough for Joe to hear the footfalls approaching, and his grin widened. \u201cAnd that would be my brother Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam read the miner\u2019s reaction to Hoss’ arrival and used his \u201cbull of the woods\u201d voice, \u201cSince it\u2019s a long ride to the Ponderosa, and everyone seems to have lost interest in the game, I propose we Cartwrights head for home.\u201d He emphasized the words \u201cwe Cartwrights\u201d, saw capitulation in the miner\u2019s stance, and sent a look toward his cousin.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, it is a long ride.\u201d Will picked up his winnings and stood. Little Joe followed suit, and the four Cartwrights walked out of the saloon shoulder to shoulder.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa will be best pleased when we all get home at a decent time,\u201d Hoss observed as they stood outside the door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe knew when he was being prodded but decided his pa\u2019s good books might be the preferable place to be. \u201cHe will at that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf he survives the surprise,\u201d Adam drawled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not like I\u2019m never home on time,\u201d Little Joe sputtered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, but home early and with money in your pocket, now that is a red-letter day.\u201d Adam\u2019s tone was blatantly teasing. Little Joe snorted, and opened his mouth for a rejoinder, but Hoss spoke first.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s got ya there, Short Shanks!\u201d Hoss’ good natured-laughter erupted and enveloped them all. \u201cIn fact, ya may have to use the stirrup to get up on Cochise with all that silver in your pockets.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe performed his swing mount and smirked down at his brothers. \u201cNever!\u201d Come on, you old codgers, moonlight\u2019s wasting.\u201d He giggled at his own joke.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss slapped Will on the back. \u201cBe glad to give you a boost, cousin, seeing has how you\u2019ve got even more weight in your pockets than little brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will shook his head. \u201cThanks but no thanks, cousin.\u201d He mounted his horse with ease.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAh, that\u2019s right, Will, you are the big winner. I don\u2019t suppose anyone told you about the Cartwright poker tradition.\u201d Adam mounted Sport and waited for his cousin\u2019s inquiry.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat Cartwright poker tradition?\u201d Will asked as it was clear by the expressions on Hoss’s and Joe\u2019s faces that any poker tradition was news to them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy the one that says the big winner always buys the first round the next time we\u2019re in town,\u201d Adam replied easily and nudged Sport into the road.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe reacted immediately, \u201cYeah, that\u2019s one tradition I\u2019ve always believed in upholding.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd just how long has always been?\u201d Will asked with a pronounced edge to his voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy as long as the tradition has been in place.\u201d Joe grinned widely.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will shook his head and then declared, \u201cSince we wouldn\u2019t want to break tradition, the next time the drinks are on me!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe gave a whoop, and the four set off at a pace of which Ben Cartwright definitely would not have approved.<\/p>\n \n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam led the way out of the barn followed by Hoss. Little Joe walked slightly behind his brothers and paused when he heard Will say his name. He looked over his shoulder and turned when Will walked up to him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIn the saloon you didn\u2019t even turn around to look.\u201d The question in Will\u2019s statement was obvious to Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDidn\u2019t have to. There\u2019s never been a time in any saloon when Adam hasn\u2019t had at least one eye on me. Now, Hoss, he keeps one ear cocked for my voice. That big brother of mine can smell Hop Sing\u2019s cooking a mile away and hear my voice at least that far. Wasn\u2019t a chance in Hades they wouldn\u2019t be standing at my back.\u201d Little Joe gave his cousin a conspiratorial smirk. \u201cLots of times it\u2019s a burr in my backside, but sometimes it comes in handy.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAlong with the Cartwright name? You could see his face change the minute you said it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa\u2019s worked real hard to make the Cartwright name mean something; around here it does.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will\u2019s arms slipped across his chest. \u201cBen made it clear that he doesn\u2019t agree with the Bard\u2019s \u2018a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.\u2019 I don\u2019t suppose any of you would ever say \u2018and I\u2019ll no longer be a Cartwright.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe knew that his father and cousin had fought about Will\u2019s plan to bury another man under his name in an attempt to escape the counterfeiters who were pursuing him. The ease with which Will had been willing to forfeit his name had confounded them all. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to be Cartwrights, Will.\u201d Joe\u2019s declaration was clear and vehement; the query that followed was soft and hesitant, \u201cAren\u2019t you?\u201d When his cousin made no immediate reply, Joe ventured further, \u201cWasn\u2019t Uncle John?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy father was always a proud man.\u201d Will\u2019s voice held a flatness Joe could not decipher.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s voice became the barest whisper, \u201cWeren\u2019t you proud of him?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Even in the dim light, Will could read in Joe\u2019s voice and stance the incomprehensibility of a Cartwright not being proud of his father. \u201cMy mother never was.\u201d Will was in motion before he uttered the first syllable and left Joe staring open-mouthed at his back.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will ambled into the kitchen. Hop Sing turned from the vegetables he was chopping. \u201cMista Will up. Hop Sing fix some breakfast.\u201d Hop Sing set down his cleaver.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, all I want is some hot coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou need eat. Hop Sing fix eggs and. . . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t have to Hop Sing. If there\u2019s a biscuit or two left from the breakfast I slept through, that and some coffee will do fine. It will leave me more room for your Sunday dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing shook his head, muttered in Chinese, and pointed to the kitchen table. Will walked over and took a seat as Hop Sing brought over a cup and the coffee pot. He set them down and went to get the biscuits he had placed in the warming oven to keep until the fifth Cartwright had come down.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Hop Sing.\u201d Will took a second swallow of hot coffee before breaking open and buttering a biscuit. \u201cEveryone\u2019s off at church, I suppose.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAll Cartwrights go to church Sunday. Every Sunday if snow not block road; if does, read Bible together.\u201d Hop Sing\u2019s tone made it clear that he thought Will should have joined all the Cartwrights.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAre you asking why I don\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing no ask, not his place, but listen if you tell.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will rolled his eyes but replied, \u201cI attended faithfully while my mother was alive. After she passed, well, it was harder when my father and I were moving around.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cStill father took?\u201d Hop Sing voiced it as a question, but his tone stated he was sure of the answer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, more Sundays than not.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen why you not go now?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will shrugged. \u201cOut of the habit, I suppose.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGo to church should be more than habit.\u201d The admonishment was clear in his voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, it should,\u201d Will agreed. He chewed a few seconds, and then asked, \u201cHas Uncle Ben ever tried to get you to church, Hop Sing?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMista Cartwright no press Hop Sing change what he believe. He think man must make own choice.\u201d Hop Sing went back to chopping. \u201cHop Sing go to church once to hear Mista Adam sing to his god. Mista Adam sing beautiful to God.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will made no comment. Instead he buttered another biscuit and smeared it with peach preserves.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNext Sunday you go church; please Mista Cartwright all family be at church.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMaybe,\u201d Will replied as he shoved the remainder of his biscuit in his mouth. He refilled his cup and departed taking his coffee with him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe sat between his pa and Adam on the hard wooden pew. His eyes on the preacher, he sat as if giving rapt attention. He remained still, though, after the preacher gave a resounding \u201cAmen\u201d and asked the congregation to stand. He was still sitting when his father leaned over and hissed, \u201cJoseph!\u201d It was not until Adam\u2019s hand settled on his shoulder with a pain-inducing squeeze that he gave a startled jerk, glanced around, and sprang to his feet as the first verse of the hymn reached its conclusion. When the service was complete, he was not surprised that his father\u2019s hand settled on his arm as the rest of the congregation exited the church. He looked into the scowl on Ben\u2019s face and gave a sheepish grin.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t asleep, Pa, really. I, I was just thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou should be pleased, Pa, that the reverend\u2019s words elicited such a deep meditation.\u201d Adam\u2019s tone was silky and sarcastic. The fact that Little Joe ignored Adam\u2019s tone changed Ben\u2019s own.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat were you thinking about, Joe?\u201d he inquired mildly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust, um, just something Will. . .\u201d Joe words faded, and then he asked, \u201cPa, what was Will\u2019s ma like?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWill\u2019s mother? Why. . .what was Will\u2019s mother like?\u201d Ben repeated his son\u2019s question but made no attempt to answer it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYea, Hoss and I we never met her, you know, only Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben looked past Joe and into the face of his eldest. \u201cDo you remember your aunt?\u201d Adam shook his head. \u201cI thought you might remember. . .\u201d Ben swallowed and then said, \u201cShe was a good, Christian woman.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but. . .\u201d Joe shifted and plunged ahead, \u201cwas she. . . did she. . .Will said she wasn\u2019t proud of Uncle John.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben took in a long breath and let it out slowly realizing that all three sons waited for his answer. \u201cYour aunt,\u201d he began and then paused to draw in another breath, \u201cshe grew up in the same town as John and I. Not that our families were close, mind you, but it was not a large town. Her father was a deacon in our church, a rigidly religious and unforgiving man. Your aunt, well, she never learned much about forgiveness in that house. She and your uncle, well, truth be told. . .\u201d Ben hesitated. They\u2019re all grown men!<\/em> he admonished himself. \u201cThey made an inappropriate choice and when the consequences revealed that, her father condemned her for it. He never forgave her for the shame he felt she had brought to his family. Your aunt, well, she never forgave herself or your uncle for that mistake and carried the burden of believing that anyone who knew condemned her for it. The guilt. . . well, it tainted many things between your uncle and his wife.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid you condemn them, Pa?\u201d Little Joe voiced the question that was in the mind of all Ben\u2019s sons.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, never in the way she thought I did.\u201d There was a deep weariness in Ben\u2019s voice. His sons exchanged glances, but none of them voiced a further inquiry or opinion. They all moved toward the door of the church. It was not until they had exited, and his brothers had moved out of earshot that Adam said to his father, \u201cWhat was it you thought I might remember?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben studied Adam\u2019s face and then replied, \u201cShe spanked you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFor good reason?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou gave her a reason, but she\u2019d been looking for one because I had spanked Will.\u201d Ben watched the shadows fill Adam\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs that. . .is that why you didn\u2019t leave me with them when they asked.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour uncle asked.\u201d Ben\u2019s voice dropped to a whisper, \u201cNo, son, that wasn\u2019t the reason. You were even younger when we left Boston and Abel would have been nothing but loving. The simple truth is that I could never bear the thought of not having you with me. If my selfishness…\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam interrupted, \u201cNever, Pa, never.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Several congregants in the churchyard noticed Ben Cartwright touch his son\u2019s cheek and walk off with his arm around Adam\u2019s shoulder. Some even commented on the man\u2019s affection for his sons.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe could make this game a little more interesting, Cousin.\u201d Little Joe\u2019s voice had taken on a silky tone. Ben glanced up from the Bible he was reading and settled his gaze on Little Joe and Will.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd how might we do that, Cousin?\u201d Will drawled the last word and raised his left eyebrow.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, a little wager on the outcome makes anything more interesting.\u201d Joe\u2019s eyes had take on a definite sparkle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss looked up from the leather he was braiding. He glanced over at Adam whose eyes had left his book, and they exchanged a significant look. Then Hoss cleared his throat. \u201cUmm, should we warn him, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A slight smirk gathered on Adam\u2019s lips. \u201cYou mean should we warn our innocent cousin, or remain loyally silent to our little brother?\u201d Both players attention immediately went to the conversation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, that\u2019s what I mean. What do ya think?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, it is quite the dilemma. I never did like seeing a lamb led to the slaughter, but then Joe is our baby brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe had started to bristle and at the word baby<\/em> his cheeks flushed. Will turned toward Hoss and asked, \u201cJust what do I need to be warned about?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Little Joe sputtered, \u201cjust what does he need to be warned about?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI guess since ya both asked, I might as well tell ya, Will, that when it comes to checkers Joe can cheat slicker than new boots on ice.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCheat!\u201d Indignation put Little Joe on his feet.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow, Joseph, you know that skillful maneuvering of checkers without your opponent\u2019s knowledge is one of your more well-developed talents.\u201d Adam\u2019s cool tone only served to heat his brother\u2019s temper.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou do, Short Shanks. Though to be fair you only do it when ya playing somebody from the family, and that\u2019s cause we let ya when ya was little.\u201d Hoss smiled and kept his voice warm while gauging how far he and Adam had prodded Joe\u2019s temper.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe cheats at checkers?\u201d Will cast an appraising gaze at his opponent.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cQuite well,\u201d Adam answered, \u201cbut, like Hoss said, he only cheats members of the family.\u201d Adam sent Will the same glance he would have sent Hoss. Will caught it and smiled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLast time I checked my last name was still Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen I wouldn\u2019t make any bets on checker games with Little Joe. Hoss or I haven\u2019t in years.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe took a step toward Adam but stopped dead when Ben\u2019s voice rang out, \u201cJoseph!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut Pa…\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSon, nothing they have said is untrue.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa!\u201d It was an indignant wail, and the room erupted with laughter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf ya want to gamble with Little Joe, Will, stick to cards. He\u2019s honest as the day is long when it comes to cards,\u201d Hoss observed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Then Adam added, \u201cAnd you can always tell when he\u2019s bluffing because. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam!\u201d Joe\u2019s voice drowned out his brother\u2019s. Adam laughed and shook his head.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEnough.\u201d Ben\u2019s voice carried above all other sounds in the room. \u201cI don\u2019t think bets or cards are appropriate on the Sabbath.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe threw his body onto the settee and muttered, \u201cI bet great-grandpappy bet on Sundays.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou would be wrong, young man, and you\u2019d best be glad he isn\u2019t here to hear you say that. Grandfather did not abide disrespect. He had a quick, hard hand and would have considered someone your age still only half grown.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe slumped lower. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean any disrespect. You said he was a gambler.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd he was, but he was also a good Christian man. Besides he promised my grandmother never to gamble on Sunday. It was a promise he never broke.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGreat-grandmother didn\u2019t approve of his gambling then?\u201d This query came from Will.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere were many things of which my grandmother did not approve. She had more reason to condemn gambling than most.\u201d Ben paused and then lightened his tone. \u201cSabbath was strictly kept in our homes. That checkerboard and even Dickens would have remained on the shelf.\u201d Both Adam\u2019s eyebrows rose. Ben smiled and turned his gaze on Will, \u201cAnd all beds were empty on Sunday mornings unless the doctor had already been called. In fact we attended services both morning and evening.\u201d Will shifted, and Little Joe made sure only his brothers saw his eyes roll. \u201cI remember one time. . .\u201d Ben looked at his sons faces. A small smirk flitted across his lips. \u201cBut Will has probably heard that story, so. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will shared a glance with his cousins, leaned back, crossed his arms, and said, \u201cI\u2019m sure I haven\u2019t. Pa seldom told tales on himself.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd you expect that I shall?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow, Pa, if you don\u2019t, who will?\u201d Hoss nudged gently.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, actually, John and I had thoughts similar to Joe\u2019s about Grandfather, laying strictness about the Sabbath at Grandmother\u2019s door. When Father took Mother to visit her sister, John and I were sent to stay with our grandparents. That Sunday we attended services with them, of course. Then Grandmother was sent for. She served as a midwife at times, you know.\u201d Ben stopped, shook his head, and continued, \u201cNo, I don\u2019t suppose you did, but nevertheless, she was called to assist in a birthing, so we knew she would be gone for hours, most likely until the next day. Grandfather settled in by the fire, and John and I slipped out of the house. We weren\u2019t quite foolish enough to get out a deck of cards in Grandmother\u2019s house, but we reasoned the barn would do and if Grandfather stumbled upon us the most we would get was a scolding.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe found you,\u201d was Hoss’ observation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou were wrong,\u201d came from Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow old were you?\u201d inquired Little Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJohn was thirteen and should have known Grandfather better, but when it came to our grandsire, he had always been a favored and coddled boy.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will raised an eyebrow. \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben gave his nephew a smile and said lightly, \u201cWell, it often seemed that way to me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben looked at his youngest. \u201cMust you have every detail, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe grinned, \u201cEvery last one, Pa!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head. \u201cThe short version is that Grandfather found us playing cards and stood watching long enough to hear that we were betting, not money mind you but chores. When he said our names, the heart stopped in the both of us. John tried to wheedle our way out of trouble, but it only made him first in line. Grandfather made clear his opinion of our breaking the Sabbath that way and then impressed that opinion on our backsides. We could not help but fidget through services that night and prayed that our father would think Grandfather\u2019s punishment sufficient when he returned.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid he?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, in the end he did. It was the only time Father was that lenient.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour grandfather interceded?\u201d Adam voiced the words as a question but just barely.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy father gave heed to his father until the day Grandfather died.\u201d Ben managed to make the observation ring with the opinion that he expected his sons to heed his father\u2019s example. \u201cGrandfather reminded Father that when he taught a lesson no extra instruction was needed and that Father should know that better than anyone.\u201d Ben saw Little Joe\u2019s gaze go to Adam and an odd smile turn up Joe\u2019s lips.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe felt his father\u2019s gaze and shifted in his seat. Then a grin spread over his face. \u201cI guess all the quick, hard hands in this family can be laid at great-grand pappy\u2019s door then, though I remember you saying that great-grandfather was a charming man.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, he charmed many people who never felt his hand on their backside.\u201d Ben chuckled. Then a gentle smile settled on his face. \u201cHe often charmed even those who did. In truth, Grandfather\u2019s hand was as quick to pat or pet, and he gave hugs that are rivaled only by yours, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe was a big man then?\u201d Will\u2019s voice joined the discussion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTall and strong. All my uncles were tall too. The Cartwrights were known as tall men.\u201d All eyes immediately went to Little Joe who simply snorted. Ben\u2019s voice softened. \u201cYou may not have inherited his height, Joseph, but, well, a certain easiness you have with people, the ability to reach out physically, well, I\u2019ve often thought how like my grandfather you are in that way.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A faint blush rose in Little Joe\u2019s cheeks, and he squirmed at the words. Hoss drew the attention away from his little brother. \u201cDid he have a long life, great-grandfather I mean?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe lived to be eighty-two. Barring accidents, the Cartwrights were also known for living to a ripe old age.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLongevity. Now that\u2019s something we can all be glad is in our bloodline,\u201d Adam observed drily.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAin\u2019t it though!\u201d Hoss’ exclamation filled the room with laughter that included Will\u2019s.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam waited until his brothers and cousin had gone upstairs to bed. Then he spoke to his father, \u201cYou wrote to your grandfather when I was little.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI wrote to my grandfather until I had word of his death.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shifted and leaned forward resting his elbows on his thighs. \u201cI remember. You and Marie had just returned from New Orleans. You were going through the mail that had been waiting for your return. You told me your grandfather had died. I\u2026\u201d Adam cleared his throat, \u201cI never asked you about him. I wondered but. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou weren\u2019t really taking to me at the time,\u201d Ben finished for him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, I wasn\u2019t, but, well, did you and your grandfather part badly? Is that why you\u2019ve never really talked about him before?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, no,\u201d Ben sighed. \u201cI suppose I just, well, I thought I was just keeping the past in the past. Maybe I thought if I put my toe in the water, I\u2019d slip and fall in head first.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd now?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI realize there are things I should share with all of you boys.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam stayed silent for a few seconds and then asked, \u201cGrandfather Joseph\u2026 well, I remember you telling me I had only one grandfather.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy father died before you were born.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFighting a fire. He was injured. Your mother had told me she was with child, and I had planned to write my father with the news. It would have been my first letter in a long time. I thought there was no rush. The letter from my grandfather came before I did. He said\u2026 he said Father struggled for three days and then\u2026 then he just gave up.\u201d The heaviness in Ben\u2019s voice was clear to his son.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBefore we left for the West I took you to meet your great-grandfather.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s voice was barely audible when he said, \u201cI wish I could remember.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s was just as low when he added, \u201cI wish he could have meet Hoss and Little Joe.\u201d Then he gave a shake of his head. \u201cSome wishes can\u2019t come true. Still. . .\u201d He rose. \u201cIt\u2019s late, son.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd morning will come early.\u201d Adam followed his father up the stairs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As they sipped the last of their lunchtime coffee, Little Joe felt Will\u2019s eyes on him and then saw them slide away when he turned his head toward his cousin. \u201cYou heard?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will did not bother with \u201cHeard what?\u201d but answered, \u201cBen is sometimes difficult not to hear.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd this morning was one of those times.\u201d Joe thought of the dressing down his father had administered to him before breakfast and shrugged. \u201cAt least both the house and the bunkhouse have thick walls, or else every hand on the ranch would know all our business.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBen definitely has a knack for dressing a man down. Stance, eyes, voice, just the right edge on his words. It\u2019s no wonder that you all, well, would rather avoid giving him reason.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe smiled. \u201cYeah. Adam says Pa must have developed that skill when he was an officer on The Wander<\/em> what with Adam\u2019s grandfather there for an example. I think that\u2019s probably true, but that to get as good as he is Pa had to be born with a natural talent.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat is Hoss’ opinion?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe agrees with me and says God gave Pa the talent \u2018cause he knew how much he was gonna need it with the three of us for sons.\u201d Will laughed. Joe let a small smirk lighten his face. \u201cNow I think maybe it\u2019s just another of those Cartwright traits. Adam\u2019s got a pretty good way with a dressing down himself. Did Uncle John?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will hesitated a moment before saying, \u201cHe could get the job done when he set his mind to it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe noted the hesitation and the tone. \u201cBut he didn\u2019t very often?\u201d Will did not respond. Little Joe nudged. \u201cWas Uncle John not a strict father?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cStrict?\u201d Will muttered the word. He glanced over at Little Joe. His cousin\u2019s expression loosened Will\u2019s tongue. \u201cMy mother was the strict one. When I was little, she took care of the discipline; he really didn\u2019t have to very often, except when I really, really messed up.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd when your mama passed?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa, well, I guess you\u2019d say he kept a slack rein on me most of the time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMost of the time?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will chewed the corner of his lip. \u201cAbout some things Pa had no give. I\u2019d do something thinking if I got caught out, well, that I could slide my way around him just to find out. . .\u201d Will\u2019s words dropped away. Little Joe simply waited. \u201cThere were things he just didn\u2019t put up with. I always knew I was dead when he\u2019d stand there all granite and blazing eyes and say \u2018A Cartwright doesn\u2019t. . .\u2019 well whatever a Cartwright doesn\u2019t that I just had.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve heard \u2018A Cartwright doesn\u2019t\u2019 more than a few times myself. Do ya think they got that one from our grandfather? It sounds like maybe he was stricter than Pa even.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat phrase has probably been handed down father to son through a long string of Cartwrights, Cousin.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Hey, Will, you think you\u2019ll use it on your kids some day?\u201d Little Joe\u2019s eyes danced.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy kids? Don\u2019t plan on having any, little cousin. I\u2019ll leave home and hearth with a wife and kiddies to your branch of the family tree.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAh, Will, we were hoping you\u2019d get busy and give pa some grandnephews and nieces, so he\u2019d be in less of a hurry for grandchildren.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will shook his head, and his voice became droll, \u201cI\u2019m afraid I shall have to decline. I nominate Adam as the best man for the job.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d Joe laughed and then added in a more serious tone. \u201cAdam would make a good pa.\u201d He chuckled softly, \u201cHe\u2019s been practicing on me and even Hoss for a long time.\u201d Joe glanced over at Will. \u201cDid you ever wish you had brothers, Will?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOnce in a while, I guess I thought about having one.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWould you have wanted him to be older or younger?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will shrugged. \u201cHe could have been either.\u201d Will rose and tossed the rest of his coffee on the ground. \u201cWe\u2019ve got work to do, cousin. We\u2019d best get on with it if we don\u2019t want another display of Ben\u2019s indisputable talent.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe watched his cousin mount up and wondered just what thought had cast the shadows onto his cousin\u2019s face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cReverend, I\u2019d like you to meet my nephew, Will Cartwright.\u201d Ben placed his hand on Will\u2019s shoulder. The smile on Ben\u2019s face beamed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cVery pleased to have you with us.\u201d Reverend Potter shook Will\u2019s hand vigorously. He had heard about the appearance of Ben Cartwright\u2019s nephew in Virginia City and had expected to see him at services much sooner.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will cleared his throat. \u201cThat was quite an interesting sermon, Reverend.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully, we\u2019ll be seeing you regularly from now on.\u201d The speculation in town was that the nephew would seize a good thing when it was handed to him on a silver platter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will cleared his throat again, and Ben saved him from a reply. \u201cWe\u2019re just hoping to keep him on the Ponderosa for a while at least.\u201d Ben then moved forward letting other parishioners step up and take the reverend\u2019s attention. After a few steps, Will repeatedly found himself being introduced to politely smiling townsfolk.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDo you think we should go and save him?\u201d Little Joe stood between his brothers at the side of the churchyard.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam rubbed his chin, and the sound that issued from his throat was unintelligible. \u201cUmrump.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIffin\u2019 there\u2019s any hope of Will deciding to stay, we\u2019d best. That\u2019s Gertrude Larson and her momma headed their way,\u201d Hoss declared and started to move forward. Little Joe laughed and fell into step beside his brother. Adam decided enough cavalry had gone to the rescue and stayed put.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSeems everyone at church this morning wants to make your cousin\u2019s acquaintance.\u201d Roy Coffee had come to stand at Adam\u2019s right.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWill does seem the popular fellow this morning,\u201d Adam replied dryly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEspecially to families with eligible females of the right age,\u201d Roy observed. Adam turned to look at the sheriff and raised his eyebrow. \u201cThe thought of another bachelor on the Ponderosa named Cartwright has the town matchmakers chaffing at the bit.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid they are destined to be disappointed; I don\u2019t think Cousin Will is the marrying kind.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roy Coffee\u2019s voice grew serious, \u201cHave you figured out just what kind he is, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s right hand came up and tugged his left ear. Roy was one of the few people who knew the entire story of Will\u2019s involvement with those counterfeiters. \u201cHe\u2019s an honest man, Roy; I have no doubts about that really.\u201d He gave his ear another tug. \u201cHe hasn\u2019t any designs on a share of the Ponderosa, not the way some people might think.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re sure about that, are ya?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With a final tug, Adam declared, \u201cPositive.\u201d He watched as his father, brothers, and cousin started striding purposefully in his direction. \u201cWe plan on lunch at the International, Roy; would you like to join us?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t mind if I do,\u201d Roy agreed affably, and they moved to join the family group.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGuess I still have room for some apple pie,\u201d Roy Coffee leaned back and patted his stomach.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cChocolate cake for me!\u201d Every man at the table could have predicted Joe\u2019s choice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam rolled his eyes and requested cherry pie as did Will while Ben and Hoss opted to join Joe. Joe smiled at the girl taking their orders and elicited a promise that his piece would be the biggest.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDurn, Little Joe, now why would a smart gal give a puny fellow like you the biggest piece when a fellow my size is sitting at the table,\u201d Hoss grumbled good naturedly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe flashed a huge grin and preened. \u201cNow, do I really need to explain, big brother, or will one good look at me do?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss shrugged. \u201cNo matter how big that piece is it ain\u2019t gonna be bigger than the two pieces I intend to have before I\u2019m through.\u201d Hoss rubbed his chin thoughtfully. \u201cOr maybe if Roy says it\u2019s prime, I\u2019ll just top my cake off with a big slice of that apple pie.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head and looked across the table at Roy. \u201cIs it any wonder that Hop Sing has to send in for supplies two or three times a week?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd I thought the third time in a week meant one of the boys had a hankering for town and bribed him,\u201d Roy replied with a grin of his own.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow, don\u2019t go giving away Little Joe\u2019s secrets,\u201d Adam said dryly which set Joe sputtering. Luckily, the girl arrived with their desert and took attention from the conversation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After a few bites of pie, Roy started it again. \u201cMaybelle Lewis\u2019s solo sounded real nice this morning.\u201d He turned his head to give Adam an inquiring look. \u201cHaven\u2019t heard no hymns from you in a good while. When are ya planning to give the congregation another solo?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shifted in his seat, glanced at his father, and then said, \u201cNot until I can\u2019t avoid giving the reverend a definite answer, so you should be safe for a while yet.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow, Adam . . .\u201d Ben began. It was Will\u2019s voice that interrupted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing said he had gone to the church to hear you sing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd did he mention that happened only once?\u201d Adam said in an attempt to be self-deprecating.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cActually, he said, and I quote, \u2018Mista Adam sing beautiful to God.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd he was right,\u201d Ben declared. \u201cYou sing often enough for your own pleasure, son, and the pleasure of others, I simply don\u2019t understand why you agree so seldom to sing for God\u2019s pleasure in His house.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe looked at his elder brother and smirked, \u201cI guess you ain\u2019t noticed that Adam has to wade through every unmarried female church-goer and most of their mamas when he does.\u201d Joe felt Adam\u2019s boot on his shin, but as he had expected the blow he managed not to yelp.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYep, our big brother\u2019s voice singing them holy words does seem to put some less than holy thoughts into some minds. Adam just don\u2019t want to encourage that kinda thinking in God\u2019s house, Pa.\u201d Hoss chuckled and managed to avoid Adam\u2019s boot.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes darkened. \u201cI don\u2019t think your brother\u2019s use of his God given talent to praise the Lord should be an object of jest.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI think it should stop being the topic of discussion completely.\u201d The glare Adam sent his middle brother did connect.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid Adam inherit his voice from the Stoddards or the Cartwrights?\u201d Will\u2019s question turned heads in Ben\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNeither.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNeither, but . . .?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe inherited it from my mother\u2019s father, and he was a Winfield.\u201d Ben watched as each of his sons and his nephew appeared to register for the first time that they had more than one great-grandfather. \u201cMy mother\u2019s family lived more than a day\u2019s travel from us, so we did not visit often, and my Grandfather Jacob died when I was nine. My clearest memory of him is of his singing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI always thought. . .\u201d Adam\u2019s soft mutter faded away but not before Ben heard it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour mother loved music and to me her voice was beautiful, but in truth, well, a marvelous singing voice was not one of my criteria in choosing any of my wives.\u201d Ben looked at Will, \u201cIt was Brother John that fell in love with a singer.\u201d Will\u2019s eyes widened, and Ben saw the amazement in their depths. \u201cYour mother had a truly lovely signing voice, Will.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will\u2019s eyes were locked on his uncle\u2019s, and he seemed to forget the presence of others at the table. \u201cI don\u2019t. . .she did?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, she often sang at services, sometimes with her sister and sometimes alone. John told me once that he first realized, well, that he had feelings for her while he was listening to her sing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Confusion set into Will\u2019s eyes. \u201cShe never. . .I don\u2019t remember ever. . .well, with everyone at church but not. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben ran his thumb around the rim of his coffee cup once, then again, and again. \u201cYour grandfather had some very strict, very, shall we say Puritan religious views. Your mother and her sister were only allowed to sing hymns. He felt the gift of their voices should be used only in the praise of God. Oh, not that they didn\u2019t sing outside of church but only hymns.\u201d Ben paused, and his thumb traced the outline of the rim yet again. \u201cIt\u2019s not a story I know firsthand, but, well, we lived in a small town and in a small town. . .\u201d Ben shrugged and then continued, \u201cYour mother would have been, oh, fourteen or fifteen. There was some sort of social gathering, and a group of young people started singing popular songs of the day, old favorites, and the like. Your mother joined in. They were having a grand time until your grandfather walked up. He grabbed your mother by the arm and took her home. Word had it that her punishment was quite severe. No one I know ever heard her sing anything but a hymn after that. Even after she married John. . .well, your mother kept strongly to the beliefs she was taught as a child.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s sons sent glances racing around the table but held their tongues. Roy shifted uncomfortably. Will dropped his eyes to his plate and took a large forkful of pie. A heavy silence hung over the table.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure a shame she gave up singing,\u201d Hoss observed softly. \u201cI remember Ma singing around the house, singing lullabies to Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Not even lullabies, Ben, not even a lullaby to Will<\/em>. His brother\u2019s voice echoed in Ben\u2019s head. \u201cMarie did love to sing. We were fortunate to hear her often.\u201d Ben\u2019s voice still caressed the name of his wife.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will looked up in time to catch the roll of Adam\u2019s eyes, and the nearly imperceptible wince when Hoss’ boot connected with Adam\u2019s calf.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roy Coffee took it upon himself to lead the conversation in a different direction and began a discussion of a new proposal by the city council. After Hoss’s second piece of cake, Roy announced that he had to depart and took his leave.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa.\u201d Little Joe\u2019s hand absent-mindedly tapped his empty fork against the table, \u201cI\u2019ll see the rest of you later at the house.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss nudged Adam. \u201cGonna do a little courting, are ya, Short Shanks.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUh,\u201d Joe cleared his throat, \u201cuh, no, I… I thought I\u2019d go up to the lake for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s voice held a different tone than Will had expected when he said, \u201cTry to be home in time for supper.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI will, Pa.\u201d Joe grinned. \u201cI promise.\u201d He was on his feet and headed for the door in seconds.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben gazed around the table. \u201cAre the rest of you headed home, or. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI need to keep an eye on Sunbeam,\u201d Hoss declared, \u201cso I\u2019ll be riding with ya, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI want to start that new book I picked up Friday.\u201d Adam stated as he rose.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI,\u201d Will began, paused, and then said, \u201cI\u2019m headed home too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will waited until Ben and Hoss had pulled ahead to move his horse closer to Adam\u2019s. He voiced his question softly but directly, \u201cI gathered that you did not enjoy Marie\u2019s signing as much as Ben did, am I right?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam looked over at his cousin. \u201cMy stepmother had a pleasant voice, soft and often lilting, but she sang off-key, sometimes a little and sometimes a lot but without exception off-key.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd your musical sensitivity found that offensive.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot offensive.\u201d Adam gave his cousin another glance. \u201cAt first, I found it grating, later, well, I guess you could use the word enduring. I missed her singing after she was gone.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “My father was pleased when he got Ben\u2019s letter saying he had married yet again; it made me wonder. . .\u201d Will did not complete his thought.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWonder what?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, my mother had been gone for, um, a few months. I wondered if he might marry again and give me a stepmother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut he never did?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, he didn\u2019t, but then most of the places we went, well, let\u2019s just say the pickings were lean and already gleaned.\u201d Will did not look at Adam when he asked, \u201cAre you glad your father did?\u201d Then before Adam could answer, he added, \u201cOr are there two answers to that question? Ben did give you two stepmothers.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI. . .I never think of Inger as anything but my mama. Truth is I loved her before Pa did.\u201d There was the edge of affront in Adam\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat wasn\u2019t true with Marie though, was it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, but I learned to love her in time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo, the answer is that you are glad?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam stopped his horse to turn toward his cousin. \u201cMy stepmothers gave me my brothers. That alone would make me glad.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat would be a better reason than most,\u201d Will observed as his heels sent his mount loping down the road.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will walked down to the working barn and found Hoss leaning against the half-wall of a stall that held a pregnant mare. \u201cBen says that supper will be within the half-hour. He put Hop Sing\u2019s soup on to heat and is cutting meat for sandwiches even as we speak.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll head back with ya then. I don\u2019t think she\u2019ll be needing me before tomorrow,\u201d Hoss replied.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDo you think she\u2019ll have a problem with the birthing?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss wiped his hands on his pants. \u201cAin\u2019t no real reason to think she won\u2019t be able to handle it all herself.\u201d He wiped his hands again. \u201cIt\u2019s just a feeling I have.\u201d He took a few steps toward the door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI thought Little Joe did most of the work with the horse operations?\u201d Will fell into step next to Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe does; he\u2019s been overseeing them for about four years now.\u201d Will could hear the pride in Hoss’ voice at his brother\u2019s accomplishment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut he\u2019s up at the lake, and you\u2019re here with the horse?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, well, yea, but that ain\u2019t . . .I mean. . .I\u2019m the one who sees to some things. Adam calls me the Ponderosa midwife. Joe, well, Joe\u2019s got a way with horses, but, well, he ain\u2019t got a way with a birthing; he\u2019s too excitable. When a mama\u2019s bringing a youngun into the world, well, they need them that\u2019s calming with them, steady and calming.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will gave his cousin an appraising glance and conceded mentally that if he was having to give birth, he might well prefer Hoss at his side than Little Joe. He decided to ask a different question. \u201cWhy did Joe go up to the lake? I would have thought it more likely he would stay in town or, like you said, go off courting.\u201d Will listened to Hoss clear his throat. \u201cHe wouldn\u2019t be meeting some girl up there, now, would he? Ben seemed. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe went up to the lake to visit his mama.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cVisit his mama?\u201d Will\u2019s voice held confusion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMa\u2019s buried up by the lake. Little Joe, well, he goes up to visit her grave real regular. Pa knows he goes up there to, well, that he feels like he can talk to her up there. It helps Joe think things through.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh. . .I. . . I see.\u201d Will seemed uncomfortable. \u201cWe, I mean, Pa and I visited my mother\u2019s grave until we moved. After that, well, we were never close enough.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam\u2019s mother is buried in Boston; he visited her grave when he went back East to school. My mama, well, I know about not being close enough.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou always say Ma when you are talking about Marie.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe was my ma, the only one I remember, like my mother was Adam\u2019s mama.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou were closer to Marie than Adam was.\u201d Will made it sound like a foregone fact.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow, I don\u2019t know as that is exactly right. It was different with me and Ma than with Adam and Ma, but I don\u2019t know as how closer is the right of it. I might\u2019ve loved her quicker and all but. . .\u201d Hoss shrugged, \u201cLove ain\u2019t for measuring with a ruler.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDoes Joe, I mean he was what, less than five; how well does he remember his mother?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss rubbed his chin. \u201cHe remembers some, but truth probably is that a lot of what he remembers is remembering what Adam, Pa, and me have said. We always talked to Joe a lot about Ma.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou did?\u201d Will chewed the corner of his lip before an admission slipped out. \u201cMy pa and I didn\u2019t, well, we didn\u2019t talk much about my mother after she was gone.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa never could talk to me and Adam that much about our mamas either. I guess, well, I guess the three of us trying for Joe made it easier. \u2018Sides when Joe gets his hook into a question, well, he just never lets ya slip off.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d Will\u2019s sarcastic drawl set Hoss laughing. \u201cSo Joe feels he knows his mother and can talk to her.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYea, he does. Joe thinks of his mama as an angel watching out for him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s nice for him.\u201d Hoss wondered if it was envy he heard in his cousin\u2019s voice. Then the sound seemed more like bitterness. \u201cWas she an angel here on earth?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot many angels walking around down here full time.\u201d Hoss thought about things he now knew about Will\u2019s mother. \u201cAdam says Joe, well, the word he uses is idolizes; Adam says Little Joe idolizes his mama, and I guess he does. Of course, we kept giving him mostly angel memories, so I expect it\u2019s to be expected.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam doesn\u2019t idolize Marie though.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, he saves that for my mama.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot his own?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot the same way. She\u2019s the angel from the story; his mama was the angel in his life.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss smiled. \u201cPa and Adam are always telling me I\u2019m too quick to see the good in people, and to just keep on seeing it; well, that might be true, but it don\u2019t mean I don\u2019t see folks clear. I guess I just don\u2019t mind folks having warts is all.\u201d They had reached the ranch house yard, and the sound of a horse and rider drew the attention of both men.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHey, Short Shanks, you\u2019re just in time to keep your promise.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe swung down from Cochise. \u201cYea, that\u2019s me and my perfect sense of timing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss laughed and, in a few seconds, Little Joe and Will joined him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam closed his book and stretched. \u201cI think I\u2019ll follow Joe and Hoss’s lead and turn in.\u201d He rose. \u201cGood night, Pa. Night, Will.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood night, son.\u201d Ben watched Adam ascend the stairs and then switched his gaze to his nephew who sat silently staring at the cards laid out before him. While Will had supposedly been playing solitaire for the past hour, Ben noted that not more than three plays had actually been made. He rose and walked over to stand next Will.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After a few seconds, Will acknowledged his uncle\u2019s presence by turning his head and looking up into Ben\u2019s face. \u201cIs there anything else you know about my mother that I don\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere are always a great many things we don\u2019t know about a person, even those we know and love best.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n To Will Ben\u2019s statement sounded like a platitude and even more like an evasion. \u201cWell, next time you decide to share a tidbit about my mother that makes me look like. . . like a. . . well, I\u2019d appreciate being informed without an audience.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry if you were embarrassed, Will; there\u2019s really no reason you should be.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere isn\u2019t?\u201d The words snapped, and a long breath escaped with a hiss. \u201cI didn\u2019t know. . . hadn\u2019t even thought. . .\u201d Will slapped the cards he still held onto the table. \u201cAdam says Marie sang off-key.\u201d The words had a cutting edge.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben smiled. \u201cShe did.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will shook his head ruefully. \u201cYou found it enduring, I suppose?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Instead of answering Ben said, \u201cYour mother couldn\u2019t dance.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy grandfather allowed his daughters to dance?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo. John tried to teach her after they were married, but she had two left feet. He teased that she said dancing was of the devil simply so no one would know.\u201d Ben chuckled and then added, \u201cJohn loved to dance.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will swallowed. \u201cHe did. I didn\u2019t know until one night; it was at least two years after my mother passed. We were in a camp town. I was so surprised when I saw him. He danced for hours that night.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat brother of mine would dance with anyone: little girls, old ladies, wallflowers. Father would grumble after a dance that John always needed new soles on his shoes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe didn\u2019t dance while he was married to my mother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, he wouldn\u2019t.\u201d Ben\u2019s voice was soft and melancholy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will pushed back his chair and rose on one swift motion. \u201cOne more thing to lay at her door, hey, uncle?\u201d Will spun on his heel and strode toward the stairs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWill!\u201d Ben took a step forward but then stopped. After a second, he walked toward the fireplace, placed a foot on the hearth, and leaned against the mantel to stare into the dying flames.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe pulled Cochise to a walk and looked back over his shoulder at his cousin. \u201cYeah, Will?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTell Hop Sing I won\u2019t be there for supper.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cochise was reined to a complete stop. \u201cYou won\u2019t be to supper? Why not?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going into town; I\u2019ll get something there.\u201d Will\u2019s words were quick and clipped.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut. . .\u201d Joe sputtered as Will had spurred his horse into a fast trot. Little Joe chewed his lower lip. He\u2019s had a burr under his saddle all day<\/em>. Making a decision, Joe shouted out to one of the hands returning with them. \u201cHank, tell them up to the house that Will and I headed into town and not to hold supper; we\u2019ll be eating there.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll see to it. Is something. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe shook his head. \u201cJust need a bit of relaxation. Tell my pa, well, tell him not to worry if we\u2019re a little late getting back.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure thing.\u201d Hank waved and rode on toward the ranch house.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe turned Cochise toward Virginia City. The horse gave a whinny of protest. \u201cI know, Cooch, and I\u2019m sure I\u2019m gonna be regretting this the next time I see Pa, but. . .\u201d he gave a mental shrug and set Cochise into a gallop designed to catch up to his cousin.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat the . . .\u201d Will had stopped at the sound of the approaching rider.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe pulled his horse beside Will\u2019s with a flourish. \u201cThought I\u2019d join you, Cousin!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cA night on the town just sounded too appealing to let you have it all to yourself.\u201d Little Joe flashed a broad grin.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will raised his eyebrow. \u201cBen\u2019s not going to be too happy,\u201d he observed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, but, hey, you\u2019ll get half his efforts, so. . .\u201d he broadened his grin, \u201cLet\u2019s go!\u201d Cochise shot off at the nudge of Joe\u2019s heels. Will shrugged and followed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe leaned his chair back on two legs and sipped his beer. Will had declined the suggestion of a meal at the International House, and Joe had followed him to a saloon on D Street which obviously catered to a less demanding clientele than the Silver Dollar or even the Bucket of Blood. Supper had consisted of overcooked beef stew and undercooked biscuits washed down by his first tepid beer. Now they sat at a sticky table that rocked listening to an out of tune piano. Will had made no move to join one of the three poker games currently in progress, nor had any of the half dozen girls enticing the men to drink caught his attention, and his first beer was only half gone.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe took a larger swig and then wiped his hand across his mouth. \u201cLooks like I\u2019m just gonna have to ask what in Hades we\u2019re doing here!\u201d He settled his chair back on four legs and leaned forward, \u201cThere are other saloons in town if. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re free to go where you like, Cousin.\u201d Will\u2019s tone raised Joe\u2019s hackles, but Joe bite back his first reply.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhen ya got a burr under your saddle sometimes another set of eyes can help you find it and pull it out.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will leaned back and stared at Little Joe. \u201cPerhaps the only burr under my saddle is . . .\u201d Little Joe expected to hear some version of the word you<\/em>, but Will shrugged and said, \u201cLook, little cousin, I don\u2019t know why you followed me here, but maybe you should just call it a night.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd maybe you should just tell me what you\u2019re doing eating lousy food and barely drinking lousier beer while that music sets our teeth on edge.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe food wasn\u2019t that bad.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe pot scrapings Hop Sing throws out are better.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat may be true. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMay be?\u201d Little Joe challenged and let his lips turn up slightly. Will shrugged again. \u201cAdmit it, Will, or next time Hop Sing\u2019s cutting pie, I\u2019ll just happen to mention. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOkay, okay, we gave up seats at one of the best tables in the territory for, well, bar fare and not too good a bar fare at that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou going to tell me why?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s just say nostalgia.\u201d Little Joe\u2019s nose wrinkled at the word. Will sighed. \u201cCousin, I\u2019ve eaten a durn sight more suppers like tonight\u2019s than any other kind. You\u2019re spoiled, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam\u2019s told me that lots of times.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI meant the lot of you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This time it was Little Joe who shrugged. \u201cIn some ways I guess that\u2019s true, but just what about that is eating you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNothing, nothing at all.\u201d Will picked up his beer and downed the remainder in one long swig. \u201cLooks like I need to go get another.\u201d He rose and strode to the bar.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe chewed his lower lip and took a few seconds to look around the room. Two men walked in as his eyes focused on the door. Good Lord not those two!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Fairley brothers spotted Little Joe immediately and sauntered over standing close enough for the rank odor of their sweat to reach Joe\u2019s nose.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow if it ain\u2019t Baby Boy Cartwright just as big as you please down here elbowing aside the riffraff,\u201d Jake Fairley boomed. Little Joe told himself neither Fairley was worth the effort and simply took a sip of his beer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIff’n I\u2019d known we was gonna be in such high and mighty company, brother, well, I just mighta taken myself a bath. Nawww, the pretty boy here has got this place smelling like a Ladies\u2019 Society tea as it is.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure it won\u2019t take long for you to have it smelling like a pigsty again.\u201d The words slipped off Joe\u2019s tongue as he set down his mug.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, pretty boy, does the smell of a real man offend you? Guess when you\u2019re raised with the smell of a French trollop\u2019s perfume filling the house. . .\u201d Little Joe\u2019s fist ended Jake\u2019s insult and sent the elder Fairley sprawling across the table behind him. He came up swinging, and his brother moved at Little Joe from the right only to find himself pushed back by a fellow he had never seen before. Will blocked Jonah\u2019s first jab, but the second connected and sent Will backward into the wall. The fight didn\u2019t end until four chairs, two tables, and over a dozen glasses had been broken; and Roy Coffee had fired a shot into the back wall over the heads of the four combatants.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe listened to the snores of the Fairley brothers as he pondered the fact that things could be worse. After all, he was sharing the cell with only Will and not the Fairley brothers, the cell had two bunks, both bunks had a decent blanket, and Roy Coffee kept his entire jail clean and free of any vermin with more than two legs. Roy had given them clean towels and warm water to clean up any blood, and no one\u2019s injuries amounted to more than cuts and bruises, even if every single one of them ached. Old Frank Nagin had volunteered to ride out to the Ponderosa that night. Of course, his motivation was probably the fact he knew Ben Cartwright would never send him back so late but would give him a bed in the bunkhouse and a good breakfast in the morning in addition to paying him for his messenger duties. At least Pa and his brothers would know they were in one piece. The thought that Pa would also know he was spending the night in jail and why was a matter best not dwelt upon. Joe sighed. There was no doubt in his mind that hoping Hoss would bring in the money for the damages and arrange their release was wasted effort. Little Joe chastised himself for pure stupidity. He was going to pay the piper a hefty sum, and he had not even gotten to dance. He glared over at Will who was sprawled on the other bunk. Will took no notice as his hat was tipped down over his eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s this for nostalgia, Cousin?\u201d Little Joe\u2019s voice held the sharp edge of frustration.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBeen in worse.\u201d Will rolled onto his side and pushed back his hat. \u201cIf someone had had the foresight to bring enough money to cover the damages as well as the fine, we could be almost home by now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, if only someone had had a little foresight. Of course, my brothers say I never think ahead.\u201d Joe\u2019s sarcasm dripped onto the floor. Will stepped over it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNext time, I\u2019ll remind you to tuck a little spare cash in your boot.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust the place for a few bills when you\u2019re pulling a cow out of a mud hole.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, there is that.\u201d Will agreed amiably and chuckled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe shook his head and stretched out. \u201cAin\u2019t no sense in spending the night awake.\u201d He pulled the blanket up to his shoulders.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, there isn\u2019t.\u201d A few minutes passed before Will spoke again. \u201cI take it this was just a continuation of an old fight.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cReal old. The Fairley brothers picked me out for a target when I was, oh, about eleven. Jonah\u2019s only two years older than me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAny particular reason?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI had what they didn\u2019t. That seemed to irritate them real bad. I don\u2019t run into them much anymore, though.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSorry I saw to it that you did tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe leaned up on one elbow. \u201cThe fight wasn\u2019t your fault, Will. Thanks for jumping right in.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo thanks needed, little cousin.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shook his head at the little<\/em> but let it pass without comment. A few silent minutes passed before Will spoke again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the first fight you remember being in?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe was not surprised at the question. The tone was a familiar one for men who spent time sitting in the dark around flickering campfires.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUmm, I was maybe six, no five, \u2018cause my mama. . .yeah, I was five, and I got into a fight with Jimmy Miller behind the church during the Fourth of July picnic.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWho won?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNobody really. We were rolling around throwing a few punches and pulling hair when Adam came along and jerked us apart.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid Ben set off a few early fireworks when he heard?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe never heard. Adam popped each of us a good one on the behind, scared us both to death about getting caught fighting on church grounds, and then cleaned us up before sending us back to our mamas.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI would\u2019ve thought, well. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but Adam weren\u2019t as grown then as later, and, well, I was little enough to be real pitiful when I was scared.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLucky for you.\u201d Will sent Joe a wry grin.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah. What about you?\u201d They both knew the rule for these conversations was tit for tat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSix. Second day of school during the lunch recess. Fought Andy Crawford because we both wanted to sit next to Missy Dexter.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWho won?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will\u2019s voice softened. \u201cBoth of us really. Not at first, of course. The teacher broke it up and gave us each three good licks with her switch.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t call that winning,\u201d Joe observed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, but, well, when we were leaving for home Ephraim came up and stopped us both. He went down on his heels and put a hand on each of our waists.\u201d Will\u2019s voice told Joe his cousin was deep in his memory. \u201cHe was Missy\u2019s big brother. He, well, he told us that his folks were raising Missy to be a lady and ladies didn\u2019t like folks yelling and hitting and rolling around in the dirt and making them part of a commotion. He said if we really liked Missy, we would have asked her who she wanted to share the bench with her. He said other things like that and had us shake hands. The next day he got the both of us, and he and Missy and Andy and I had lunch together. Missy brought a dozen sugar cookies.\u201d He paused and then murmured, \u201cI haven\u2019t thought of Missy and Ephraim in years.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat Ephraim seems like a good sort.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, he, well, he sort of kept an eye on Andy and me after that, well, for a while anyways.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAwhile?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe Dexter\u2019s up and moved about three months later. Andy and I stayed friends, though, for years.\u201d Will rolled over with his back to Joe. Joe had learned to listen to a person\u2019s breathing to tell if they were asleep. He knew Will was still awake when he drifted to sleep himself.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n Good Lord in Heaven, he sounds just like Pa.<\/em> The thought crossed Will\u2019s mind yet again as Ben\u2019s voice continued to bellow. Fighting the urge to lower his eyes to the floor, Will shifted slightly and gazed over his uncle\u2019s left shoulder. Ben had arrived about twenty minutes after the Fairley brothers\u2019 departure. The door between the outer office and the cells had wacked the wall to announce Ben\u2019s entrance. Since then his uncle had paced in front of their cell pausing periodically to glare at the two inmates. His voice had fluctuated from thunderous roar to vehement hiss and back again. And he\u2019s just as good at making me squirm, inside anyway. Probably because I can\u2019t really disagree with anything he\u2019s said<\/em>. Will opened his mouth and then closed it without speaking; his cousin\u2019s final advice when they had heard Ben\u2019s voice in the outer room had been \u201cStay quiet and just ride it out.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs that clear!\u201d Ben\u2019s voice was flat and hard as a steel blade. Will heard Joe\u2019s \u201cYes, sir\u201d and felt it sufficient.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs that clear!\u201d The volume had increased two-fold, and Will blinked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cVery clear, Uncle.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd it will be done completely and correctly before you even think of coming back to the house.\u201d Ben dropped the finger he had been pointing at Little Joe and turned on his heel. \u201cIf you are extremely lucky, Hop Sing will leave your supper in the warming oven.\u201d With that Ben strode out to pay Roy what was needed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will turned and looked at his cousin. \u201cYour theory on getting only half his efforts was a poor one. Clearly, he simply doubled them.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe shrugged. \u201cIt\u2019s like most kinds of misery, though; ain\u2019t as bad when you have company.\u201d He grinned. \u201cI counted seven times before I quit. How about you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe said \u2018A Cartwright doesn\u2019t\u2019 at least ten times. He also used every single word I have ever heard for self-centered behavior.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, and Pa knows quite a few.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roy Coffee\u2019s entrance with the cell key ended their conversation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe looked at his cousin. Will\u2019s legs and arms were encased in mud while the rest of his body was splattered heavily with the same muck, and from the feel of it his own body must appear much the same.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCompletely and correctly done?\u201d Will drawled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded. \u201cCompletely and correctly, so in, oh, say an hour and a half, we should be home ready for that meal in the warming oven.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure there will be a meal in the warming oven?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, and if he got over being mad quick enough Hop Sing will have made something that doesn\u2019t dry out or go tough with the sitting.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBetter add a half-hour to that estimate just for getting this muck off.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss will see that there\u2019s plenty of water hot when we get home and if we\u2019re lucky he\u2019ll volunteer to see to the horses.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTaking care of little brother, uhh?\u201d Will observed as he mounted his horse.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI told you sometimes it comes in handy,\u201d Joe replied as he swung onto Cochise.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They rode a few minutes in silence before Joe ventured an inquiry. \u201cWill, you know, I mean. . . well, Pa treated you like he did me, not like a hand or like a guest or anything.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will slowed his mount and looked over at Little Joe. \u201cYeah, I noticed that he treated me like his youngest.\u201d He turned his head away. \u201cIf it had been Adam and you last night, would it have been Adam and you doing a complete and correct job?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe\u2019s brow wrinkled. \u201cI can\u2019t see Adam. . . yeah, it would have been the two of us doing the same dirty job to pay the piper.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cReally.\u201d The edge of disbelief was clear in Will\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cReally.\u201d It was a statement of affirmation. \u201cWill,\u201d Joe started then let his voice fade, and they rode in silence for the next few minutes. Then Little Joe said softly, \u201cAdam and I talked about it once. He said, well, lots of things, but one thing he said was everyone has a piper to pay one way or another; he said Pa was a better man than most to let set the price.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what Adam said?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, and he said something else too; he said that if the thought of getting punished chaffs to just think of it as atonement.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAtonement?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, atonement.\u201d Little Joe let a grin lighten his countenance. \u201cHoss, well, Hoss has always seen the sense in, well, laws and rules and family ways and such. He says if ya go and do wrong, don\u2019t go grossing about the price of learning your lesson.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs this lesson going to be marked paid in full or does further atonement await us?\u201d Will\u2019s tone had grown lighter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa won\u2019t be mad tomorrow, still a little irritated maybe, but not mad.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen let\u2019s pick up the pace and get the blazes home.\u201d Will spurred his horse into a gallop and Little Joe followed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss met them in the yard shaking his head and grumbling the entire time he was taking the reins of the horses and telling them there was hot water in the wash house and that Hop Sing had made beef and noodles and raspberry cobbler, but they better not expect any cobbler because he had just finished the last of it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As Will and Joe settled into two tubs, Joe dunked his head and then leaned back against the high back and closed his eyes. He heard Will echo his own sigh.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After a moment Joe heard, \u201cYou came with me because…well, because you count cousins about like brothers.\u201d Will\u2019s voice was soft and not sure enough to eliminate the question there.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Joe answered just as softly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThanks, cousin.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re welcome.\u201d Little Joe\u2019s manners had been well taught.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will came down to breakfast before his cousins and took a seat to the right of his uncle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCoffee?\u201d Ben lifted the pot and filled a cup when Will nodded. \u201cYou\u2019re up early.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot earlier than you.\u201d Will filled his plate while Ben sipped his coffee. After a few bites, Will set down his fork. \u201cUm,\u201d Will swallowed again, \u201cLittle Joe, well, he only went to town, well, he wasn\u2019t being self-centered.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben raised an eyebrow. \u201cOh, he wasn\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, and he had good reason to deck that Fairley fellow.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo doubt, and there is no doubt he will have good reason again.\u201d Ben\u2019s tone was simply one of agreement. He took a swallow of coffee. \u201cDid Little Joe try just leaving?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShould he have to leave just because two obnoxious bullies walk in?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, he shouldn\u2019t have to, but sometimes should<\/em> has nothing to do with wise. Taking on the two of them in a place where there would be more of their kind than Joe\u2019s. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe wasn\u2019t alone, and the only reason he was there was me.\u201d Will\u2019s voice had gone tight with tension.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNext time he might be.\u201d Ben set down his cup. \u201cJust why were you in that saloon?\u201d Will shrugged. \u201cBetter yet, Will, why you did sign onto a ship and go to sea?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt seemed like the thing to do at the time. What does it matter now?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBecause I think your reason for going to sea was much the same as one of mine.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This time it was Will\u2019s eyebrow that rose. \u201cPa said you always had an interest in the sea.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAn interest but never a true yearning. John never mentioned any interest on your part in the sailing life.\u201d Ben leaned forward and stared directly into his nephew\u2019s eyes. \u201cI went to sea to get beyond the reach of my father. Did you go to sea to get beyond my reach?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will\u2019s eyes dropped away from his uncle\u2019s gaze. \u201cWhy would I have needed to bother?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou were not of age; the court would easily have made me your guardian.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI was old enough to take care of myself, obviously.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOld enough when necessary does not mean old enough to be preferable.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will\u2019s gaze snapped up and fixed on Ben\u2019s face. \u201cIf I had been there when you came, if I had said no, would you. . .would you have forced me to come with you to the Ponderosa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d Ben\u2019s answer held not a trace of equivocation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou think you could have?\u201d Will challenged.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d Ben smiled. \u201cI was younger then too and just as stubborn as I am now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd just as sure you\u2019re always right!\u201d Will hissed as he pushed back his chair and stood.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben reached out and caught Will\u2019s forearm. \u201cJohn would never have let my sixteen-year-old son face the world alone.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will shook off Ben\u2019s arm. \u201cI\u2019m long past being sixteen.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd there is still no reason for you to face the world alone.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Without a word Will strode from the room. A few seconds later, Adam walked to the table and took his seat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou heard?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSome. I didn\u2019t mean to. . .\u201d Adam began. Ben made a dismissive gesture. \u201cPa,\u201d Adam paused, \u201cWhy is he so angry with you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s angry with many things, Adam; I\u2019m simply the one that is here.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cStill. . .\u201d Adam let his comment go unspoken. He cleared his throat. \u201cYou know there\u2019s a good chance. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat he won\u2019t stay?\u201d Adam nodded. Ben\u2019s gaze turned toward the door that Will had slammed behind him. \u201cHe may leave, son, but he will leave knowing that he has a real family\u2026 that he has a place to come home to.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s true.\u201d Adam poured himself a cup of coffee and listened to Hiss’s footsteps descending the stairs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t say he shirks work,\u201d Hoss observed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a hard worker,\u201d Adam agreed, \u201cand a smart one.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe and Joe work well together.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018They do.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe waded right in when Joe took on them Fairley brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe was the reason Joe ran into the Farleys in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe took his comeuppance same as Little Joe. Joe said he didn\u2019t do no grossing while they were working.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s left hand slipped upward and tugged his right ear. \u201cThis morning he told Pa it was his fault about Joe being there.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI heard a door slamming.\u201d Hoss\u2019 statement was clearly a question.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe idea of Pa stepping up and taking him in when Uncle John died seems to set him off.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe told Little Joe that Uncle John kept a real slack rein; he can see Pa wouldn\u2019t have.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think. . .like you said he took his comeuppance without grossing. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s really about reins, tight or slack.\u201d Adam\u2019s ear received another tug.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah. You know if something\u2019s stuck in a body\u2019s craw they have to spit it up or it could choke \u2018em.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa said when he finished the books he was going to take a ride up to the lake.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe should have them done by now. You got a reason in mind for getting Will there?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI will by the time I ride over to Will.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will slowed his horse and looked out at the lake. Then his gazed moved to focus on the man standing beside the grave. He considered turning his horse around, but Ben looked up and motioned him forward.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will stopped his horse next to Buck and dismounted. \u201cI don\u2019t mean to intrude. Adam wanted me to give you this.\u201d Will took a folded piece of paper from his pocket and offered it to his uncle. Ben unfolded the note and read it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe seemed to think it was important.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt is.\u201d Ben turned his gaze to Marie\u2019s grave. Will\u2019s eyes followed; he noticed the flowers lying against the dark stone.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss said Joe comes here to talk to his mother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe feels closest to her here.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDo you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A melancholy smile settled on Ben\u2019s lips. \u201cNot really, just as I feel no further from Elizabeth or Inger because I cannot visit their graves.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou loved them all?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes came back to his nephew\u2019s face as he replied simply, \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell. . .\u201d Will turned back toward the horses.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI think you would have liked Marie.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will stilled. \u201cWould she have liked me?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will turned abruptly back toward his uncle. \u201cJoe punched that Fairley fellow because he insulted his mother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s face showed no surprise. \u201cLittle Joe has never yet and never will let an insult to his mother pass.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWould any son?\u201d Will\u2019s voice held a challenge.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot any Cartwright son.\u201d This time Ben turned away and stood facing Marie\u2019s grave. \u201cIt made Marie furious that the boys let others use her to goad them into fights.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will blinked. His voice had lost its edge when he asked, \u201cWas it always the same insult?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cVariations on the same theme.\u201d Ben slapped the hat in his hand lightly and repeatedly against his leg. \u201cMarie was a beautiful woman. She was very young when. . .\u201d Ben\u2019s voice faltered. He swallowed. \u201cShe faced many troubles and some of them pushed her into choices. . .well, there are some people that saw them as . . .\u201d Ben turned to look directly into Will\u2019s eyes. \u201cShe was always truthful with me. The choices she made. . .I would not have made them for her, but they meant nothing to me. She was a good and loving wife. I loved her; I still do.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will returned Ben\u2019s gaze with one equally as intense. \u201cMy father loved my mother.\u201d He tensed as if anticipating disagreement.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cVery much,\u201d Ben replied, \u201cCartwright men always and only marry women they love, and then they love them completely, sometimes inexplicably, but always forever.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid you leave out undeservedly, uncle?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou said she was not a good wife.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI never said she was undeserving or that she didn\u2019t love John. All of the reasons they could not make each other truly happy cannot be laid at her door.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust some of them?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWill, your mother. . .\u201d Ben searched for words.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will inserted his own, \u201cWas not a loveable woman. Isn\u2019t that what you meant by inexplicably?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head slowly. \u201cActually, I was thinking more of my grandmother.\u201d Ben saw Will\u2019s expression of surprise. \u201cMy grandmother was an extremely straight-laced, rigid, sometimes even dour woman who seldom displayed any sign of affection for anyone. I use to marvel at the idea that my grandfather married such a woman, but then I realized he must simply have been head-over-heels in love with her because he still was.\u201d Will made no reply. \u201cYour mother and father married when they did because of the child, but they were in love long before that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd you would know.\u201d Sarcasm dripped from Will\u2019s words.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cActually, I would. Little brothers see and hear a great many things, and I knew my brother well, William.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will shifted and dropped his eyes to the ground. \u201cMy mother was the only one who ever called me William.\u201d He looked up. \u201cJust what did little brother see?\u201d There was flippancy in his words but pleading in his eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI followed them once. I planned a prank because, well, John had let something slip to Father and I thought my brother deserved a little retribution, but as I lay hidden watching them. . .\u201d Ben drew in a deep breath, \u201che made her laugh, and she reached out and touched his cheek . . .his fingers twirled her hair. . .he looked so. . .he looked at her the way I had seen my father look at my mother, had seen my grandfathers look at my grandmothers, my uncles at my aunts. . . I played no pranks that day; there are some things even a boy recognizes shouldn\u2019t be ruined. Instead I covered for John when Father came looking for him and his chores were still undone.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will swallowed thrice before speaking. \u201cShe thought. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAbout some things, Will, your mother was simply wrong.\u201d Ben\u2019s hand reached out, but Will moved suddenly and swiftly away. Ben stayed silent as his nephew mounted and sent his horse immediately into a gallop.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think I ever saw Ma more furious!\u201d Hoss declared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe had every right to be,\u201d Adam observed as he moved his bishop to take Will\u2019s rook. \u201cThe dining table was a shambles, every pastry she had spent hours preparing was either smashed, smeared on something, or inside the two of you while the most exacting biddies in the territory were expected in minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, the place was a sure a mess, and so were we. Then Joe sees how mad Ma is and sets to squalling at the top of his lungs. I figured she\u2019d give us all a reason to be squalling any second.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid she?\u201d Will reached out and moved a pawn.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, she grabbed up Little Joe and plopped him in Adam\u2019s arms, hissing at us to get him and ourselves cleaned up before anybody could see us. Then she shouted for Hop Sing. That\u2019s the first time baby brother ever got a cold water bath. We was all in clean clothes with our wet hair slicked down before the first buggy rolled up. Onliest time I remember Joe actually staying put when Adam set him on a chair and told him to stay, but then Adam\u2019s face could\u2019ve turned a three-year-old to stone easy as not.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou were mad?\u201d Will\u2019s eyebrow did a sardonic rise as he looked across the chess board.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy little brothers had once again managed to get me into a peck of trouble, and all I had been doing was trying to learn.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou should\u2019ve learned to keep both eyes on Little Joe before then, \u2018specially when he was your responsibility; instead you stuck your head so far up that math problem dynamite could have gone off without you knowing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam gave Hoss a pained and pointed look. \u201cShall we mention that I should have already learned about keeping an eye on you whenever there are sweets around.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI woulda only eaten one.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe had been forbidden to even look at them.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour getting mad at us is what started the food flying.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam blew a breath out of his nose and rolled his eyes. \u201cIt didn\u2019t help my mood that I was expected to listen to Little Joe sniffle and Hoss mumble about getting our tails lit up while I spent my afternoon taking care of buggy teams and little brothers and thinking about how those ladies would get an earful about me and what Pa was going to do about it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI see.\u201d Will watched Adam reach for his knight. \u201cAnd the ladies knowing was the worst of it, right, cousin?\u201d Adam\u2019s hand hovered and then moved a pawn instead.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201c \u2018Cepting that fuming was all for nothing,\u201d Hoss drawled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will looked up from the board. \u201cIt was?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMarie just apologized for the late and simple refreshments and let the ladies lay whatever reason they thought up at her door.\u201d Adam\u2019s thumb ran along the edge of the table. \u201cIt was only sometime later that I realized, well, the sacrifice she made doing that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMa knew ya real well by then, big brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe had remained silent. He had heard the story before, more than once, and sometimes almost thought he could remember something of it. He spoke softly, \u201cAnd she never punished us.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, she barely gave us a scolding, and when she told Pa about it, she made it sound like we\u2019d paid the piper and all he needed to do was laugh about the funny parts.\u201d Adam looked at Will\u2019s last move and realized he would be losing his queen. With a mental shrug, he feinted with his bishop. \u201cMa never could stay mad when Joe and Hoss looked pitiful.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss looked across the checkerboard at Joe and mouthed softly, \u201cOr at Adam when he was embarrassed.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will reached out and tipped his king to the board. \u201cYou\u2019ll have me in a few moves, cousin. I\u2019ll just concede and take myself up to bed. Good night all.\u201d Will\u2019s departure was as quick as it was abrupt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben caught Adam\u2019s eye with a silent question. Adam shook his head. \u201cHe would have had me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben rubbed his chin. \u201cAre any of you ready for bed?\u201d Each of Ben\u2019s sons knew he expected a negative answer and gave one. Ben followed his nephew up the stairs. He knocked at Will\u2019s door. After a few seconds Will opened it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBen?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI would like to speak with you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCould it wait until morning? I am really. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUnwilling,\u201d Ben stated flatly. \u201cNo, Will, it should not wait until morning.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will shrugged as he stepped back, and Ben entered the room. Ben looked around and saw the small ways that the room had become his nephew\u2019s instead of just a guest room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, what is it that couldn\u2019t wait?\u201d Will\u2019s voice was harsh and demanding.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben turned to look Will square in the face. \u201cWhat was it about that story that sent you running?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI,\u201d Will blinked, \u201cI hardly ran.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat about that story bothered you?\u201d Ben\u2019s voice remained calm but was still insistent.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat could have? A sweet story with a sweeter ending: a mother who understood and couldn\u2019t punish her sons. Well, son and stepsons.\u201d Will made the words dismissive and walked past Ben to his bed. \u201cNow, if that is all you wanted. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat is not all I wanted!\u201d The words snapped with authority, and Will jerked. \u201cWill.\u201d There was no response as Ben studied his nephew\u2019s back. \u201cWilliam!\u201d This time there was a slow and insolent turn.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, Ben.\u201d It had been years since Ben Cartwright had heard that particular tone. He drew in a deep breath.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe shall talk, and while we do I would appreciate your remembering that, no matter what, I am your uncle.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd a Cartwright is never disrespectful to an uncle.\u201d The tone of Will\u2019s words matched the smirk on his lips.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot if he doesn\u2019t want a reminder of lessons he learned at a very young age.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou weren\u2019t around for me to learn them at a young age, uncle,\u201d Will retorted smoothly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, I was not, and that is one of the things in my life that brings me regret. I have always regretted that my sons grew up without more family near; your father regretted that for you too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAs much difference as that made.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben straightened. \u201cDo you think I owe you an apology for not living nearby?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d The syllable was uttered grudgingly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere are still many with whom you share a blood tie in your father\u2019s hometown. Would you like for me to arrange for you to meet them? You could go home in your father\u2019s stead; right what you feel is an old wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Surprise widened Will\u2019s eyes. This time his answer was sputtered, \u201cNo, I\u2026I don\u2019t think that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben gestured to the bed. \u201cSit down. I want to tell you about something.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will tried once more for a flippant air. \u201cI\u2019m a little old for bedtime stories, uncle.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen start acting like it. Only a child hides behind his own petulance.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFine!\u201d Will sat down, but not a muscle in his body relaxed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben swung a chair nearer the bed and seated himself on it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy father had four older brothers. Only Grandfather\u2019s eldest son left the town where he was born for a life away from the family. My father\u2019s other brothers, their wives, and children; they were all a nearly daily part of John\u2019s and my lives.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd the prodigal son?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy oldest uncle came home three times that I can remember. The first time he stayed one week, the last one he stayed five. I was twelve.\u201d Ben paused, but Will said nothing. \u201cThe day before he was to leave again, he was chopping wood and I was stacking it. We stopped for a break. I had been cheeky towards him that entire morning and during that break I crossed the line into total disrespect.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cImagine that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben ignored the comment and continued. \u201cI can see him now standing there with his hands on his hips fixing me with the same glare my father would have had. \u2018 Does my baby brother allow his sons such displays of disrespect,\u201d he growled. I said, \u201cNo,\u201d but purposefully left off the sir. I watched his fingers clench as he asked, \u2018Would any of my brothers allow it from you?\u2019 Having just a small bit of sense left, I answered, \u2018No, sir,\u2019 that time. \u2018You can rest assured that I shall not either!\u2019 He picked me up by my arms, strode to the fence, and slapped me down on the top rail where we could be eye to eye. \u2018First we shall settle the problem between us,\u2019 he said and there was no doubt in my mind that he would have the truth from me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd what was the truth?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI was angry that he was going. My grandfather, my father, my uncles. . .we had started to hope that he had come home for good. I told him he was hurting people by leaving and that he didn\u2019t even care.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd what did he say to that?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat he had made no promises to stay and had to live his life as he saw fit. I told him if he didn\u2019t want to be around and be my uncle, it was perfectly alright with me. He put his hand on my shoulders, looked me in the eyes, and told me, \u2018Here or thousands of miles from here, lad, I\u2019m your uncle, and I always shall be.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo that\u2019s the moral of this little story?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPart of it.\u201d Ben pinned Will in place with a look. \u201cI\u2019m not finished. My uncle then explained to me that he loved all of his family, cared about us, but could not live his life to suit us. He said he hoped that I would understand that when I grew older. Then he said he might not have many opportunities to fulfill his duties as an uncle, but when he was there he would, and, as a Cartwright did not allow children to grow up impudent and disrespectful, he would have to give me a necessary lesson in manners.\u201d Ben\u2019s lips turned up at the corners, \u201cBe glad, nephew, that you are too old for the same type of instruction.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will dropped his eyes but then lifted them again, \u201cAnd did you understand that he couldn\u2019t live his life to suit you or your family?\u201d Will\u2019s intention was clear.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot immediately, but after a time. That\u2019s not what I want of you, Will.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it you want then?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI want you to understand. I want you to choose for the right reason. I don\u2019t want you thinking that your bridges need to be burned.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFine. I understand. Now. . .\u201d Will started to stand. Ben\u2019s hand settled on his forearm.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve not finished. My father\u2019s youngest brother had seen the last of it, and I soon felt his arm around my shoulders.\u201d Ben paused as his mind filled with the memory.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs eavesdropping, then, another Cartwright trait?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben smiled. \u201cBad habit but occasionally it turns out for the best.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis was then the wise uncle.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAll my uncles had their own wisdom. This was the uncle, though, that was most gentle with the dispensing of his.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd exactly what wisdom did he dispense that time?\u201d There was an edge to Will\u2019s tone, but it was not as sharp as before.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI told him about what had happened. He shook his head and said, \u2018So you think he should stay because we want him here?\u2019 I said that he had no good reason to go. \u2018There\u2019s always a reason, Ben my boy, and always a great deal you don\u2019t know about people and the past. It\u2019s not that you think he has no reason; it\u2019s that you don\u2019t like the reason you think he has.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow profound!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBe as flip as you like but listen to me. My uncle was right. When we don\u2019t know the reason for another\u2019s actions, we give them one of our own making. A great deal of hurt has been caused by people assuming the worst reason instead of the best.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs that what you think I\u2019m doing?\u201d This time Will made it to his feet.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat is what I think you, your mother, John, my father, myself, and countless others have done one time or another.\u201d Ben was on his feet also. \u201cI doubt anyone would say I haven\u2019t fulfilled any family obligation I might have toward you. Duty, William Cartwright, is not the reason I want you here; neither is guilt. If I wronged your father or your mother, that was between us and settled long ago.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen why\u2026 why does it matter to you at all!\u201d The anger was there again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs it so hard to accept that I loved your father and that I care about his son? That I have always cared?\u201d Will walked past Ben without a word but simply went to stand at the window and stare out at the night. \u201cYou never answered my first question, Will. Why did the boys\u2019 reminiscing upset you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After a few seconds, Will asked, \u201cYou said it made Marie furious when others used her to make your boys fight, but Joe, well, he was so little. Surely. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI was speaking of Adam and Hoss. Mostly Adam really.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid he love her?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAfter a time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will turned to look at Ben. \u201cAnd she loved him?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes. She loved all of my sons.\u201d There was no trace of hesitation or equivocation in Ben\u2019s statement. Will turned to look out the window.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So that\u2019s it!<\/em> Ben closed the distance between himself and his nephew and placed his hand on Will\u2019s shoulder. \u201cYour mother loved you, Will, you and John, but in truth you above all others.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, she never mentioned it to me.\u201d By the final syllable, the bitter edge had been lost in the despair. Ben\u2019s hand squeezed gently, and he drew to within a hair\u2019s breadth of Will.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid you know that your mother miscarried four children before you and three after?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI knew. . .no, no, not that many, but shouldn\u2019t that mean. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t say that what I believe is the irrevocable truth, but I\u2019ve had many years to ponder things, to try to understand. I think what I\u2019ve come to believe is true. You can listen and decide for yourself.\u201d Ben\u2019s fingers tightened gently on the shoulder beneath them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAre you going to tell me that my mother never learned to be affectionate? Would you have me lay it all at my grandfather\u2019s door?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, though I think that played a part. My father loved John and me though there were times when his actions left us to wonder. I did not learn to cuddle my sons from my father, and your mother\u2019s father was not the only person in her world.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat then?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFear.\u201d Ben exhaled the word and then swallowed. \u201cMost of all fear.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFear?\u201d Incredulity turned Will toward his uncle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben spoke softly and steadily. \u201cAfter their marriage, John and your mother lived for a time with us. I was the one who ran for my grandmother when the pains of the miscarriage began. It would have been better, I think, if the midwife had been anyone else.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWill, despite everything, both John and your mother wanted that child; they loved each other, and the thought of the child brought them great joy. The loss of that child brought great despair, especially to your mother. She felt the loss of the child was her punishment from God for conceiving that child before her wedding vows. My grandmother was just the person to reinforce those thoughts. Each miscarriage that followed, well, I believe each one made your mother sink deeper into that belief. John thought so too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe two of you spoke of it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes. Your mother thought God was punishing her for her sins by denying her children. She said it more than once to John.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut then she had a child. She had me. Didn\u2019t that mean anything to her?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt meant a great deal. I think the happiest time in your mother\u2019s life was the year and a half after you were born.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd then?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe lost another child, and God had turned his face from her again.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cStill. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd there was a new and very powerful fear. If God became angry enough, he might punish her by taking you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo, she. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe dealt with that fear in a way that put a wall between the two of you and between her and your father. She became inflexible in her attempt to give God no reason for anger, not at her and not at you. Did she push you away so that when it happened there would be less pain, or was she trying to fool God into thinking that it wouldn\u2019t be the worst punishment of all? We can\u2019t know another\u2019s mind, Will. I\u2019ve no doubt she loved you. Maybe she thought if she said the words she would be pointing God\u2019s wrath at you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut. . .but. . .\u201d Will choked on the words.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben took the risk and drew his nephew into his arms. His mouth next to Will\u2019s ear he whispered, \u201cEven if, and I don\u2019t believe it for a moment, but even if she didn\u2019t love you as much as I believe she did, the lack was in her and not in you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t. . . .not after I was very small. . .I didn\u2019t say it either.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s arms tightened. \u201cEven so the love was there.\u201d It had taken his eldest six months to cry for Marie; Ben\u2019s heart ached at the thought it had taken Will all these years to cry for his mother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMistah Will need better breakfast. Sit down. Hop Sing make. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCoffee and biscuits are fine. I want to get an. . . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing saw Ben Cartwright enter the kitchen and read clearly the motion of Ben\u2019s head. \u201cYou see he eat, Mistah Cartwright. Hop Sing need get eggs.\u201d Hop Sing made a swift exit as Will turned to face his uncle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to get an early start. There was a lot I didn\u2019t get done yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut a great deal else was accomplished, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d Ben stepped closer to Will.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will\u2019s answer was soft. \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben read his nephew\u2019s stance and noted that Will\u2019s eyes had moved constantly so as not to make contact with Ben\u2019s. Ahh! But I\u2019ve dealt with this before<\/em>. Ben spoke in a stage whisper that could travel only to Will\u2019s ears. \u201cLast night was a private time between an uncle and his nephew.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI… I know you wouldn\u2019t, well, I know you wouldn\u2019t carry tales.\u201d Will shifted from foot to foot, and his arms came across his middle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou should know something else, but then you\u2019ve had little chance to learn it. No matter how old a son is, a father is allowed to hold his child and soothe his tears.\u201d Ben\u2019s eyes finally caught and held Will\u2019s. \u201cAnd an uncle can claim the same right.\u201d He held Will\u2019s gaze for a few more seconds and then released it. \u201cThe early start can wait. I expect you at breakfast with the family.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will cleared his throat. \u201cYes, uncle.\u201d The smile that turned each set of lips upward was very much the same.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam set his after-dinner coffee on the credenza, stepped out onto the porch, and went to stand beside his cousin. Will\u2019s legs were stretched out before him, and his chair leaned back on two legs. Adam gazed down and cleared his throat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNeed something, cousin?\u201d Will\u2019s body remained relaxed, and his question ended with an upturn of his lips.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI need to know if you\u2019ll be here long enough to handle overseeing the timber production on the Ophir deal if we land it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat would take what? Four to five months.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019d have to count on closer to five.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will leaned forward and settled the front legs of his chair firmly on the planks of the porch. \u201cA job that big is usually overseen by you or Ben, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWould I have to run my decisions by one of you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo. We\u2019d discuss what needs to be done, what\u2019s expected, but no, not any more than any of us would consult with the others.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will stood and walked to the edge of the porch leaving his back to Adam\u2019s appraising gaze. \u201cI told you that I\u2019d let you know when I decided.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s hands slid beneath his forearms, and he leaned his hip against the chair Will had vacated. \u201cAnd have you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes. You can plan on my overseeing the Ophir contract.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s right eyebrow slid upward. \u201cYou\u2019ve found a reason to stay?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will turned to face his cousin. \u201cActually, I found that I have no reason to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen you\u2019re saying you\u2019ll stay until there is one?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will stepped forward stopping inches from Adam. He looked directly into Adam\u2019s eyes. \u201cThat would be the real truth in any case, wouldn\u2019t it, cousin?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re in charge. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll see the job through.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s lips curled into a wry grin. \u201cSo, you do have the Cartwright sense of commitment.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will returned the grin with an amazingly similar smirk. \u201cMust be inherited.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa will be pleased.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, I think Pa just might be.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s chuckle was soft and low. \u201cIt never hurts to please your pa from time to time.\u201d He turned and gestured toward the door. As Will started to walk inside, Adam fell into step beside him. By the time they passed the credenza, their conversation was as easy as their saunters.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *****End*****<\/p>\n